Over the last number of years, Michael Halford has firmly established himself as one of the most successful trainers under both codes in Ireland, having enjoyed his best ever year in 2005 and following up with two similarly productive seasons in 2006 and 2007. 2008 saw him move into a new state-of-the-art training facility close to the Curragh and since then he has been building towards raising the profile of his yard even further. However, there is little doubt that Halford came up the hard way through the training ranks and deserves all the success that comes his way.
Principal Jockeys: Rory Cleary, Shane Foley, Johnny Murtagh
Notable Wins:
- Renaissance Stakes (Snaefell 2009)
- Silver Stakes (Deauville Vision 2009)
- Phoenix Sprint Stakes (Snaefell 2008)
- Woodlands Stakes (Snaefell 2008)
- Concorde Stakes (Eastern Appeal 2007)
- Lenebane Stakes (Princess Nala 2007)
- Bud Light Stakes (Snaefell 2007)
- Noblesse Stakes (Nick’s Nikita 2007)
- Glencairn Stakes (Quinmaster 2007)
- Athasi Stakes (Eastern Appeal 2007, Jazz Princess 2006)
- Irish Lincoln (Deauville Vision 2007)
- Autumn Fillies Handicap (Nick’s Nikita 2006)
- Irish Cambridgeshire (Quinmaster 2006)
- Galway Mile (Quinmaster 2006)
- Cork Stakes (Miss Sally 2006)
- Boyne Hurdle (Golden Cross 2006)
- Leopardstown November Handicap (Golden Cross 2005)
- Concorde Stakes (Miss Sally 2005)
- Midsummer Scurry Handicap (Miss Sally 2005)
- Brownstown Stakes (Miss Sally 2005)
- Waterford Testimonial Stakes (Miss Sally 2005)
- Oyster Stakes (Royal Devotion 2004)
- Sweet Mimosa Stakes (Daganya 2004)
- Finale Stakes (Tipperary All Star 2004)
- December Festival Hurdle (Golden Cross 2003)
- Greenlands Stakes (Miss Emma 2003)
Early Days
A good amateur rider who notched up around fifty winners in the saddle, he served as assistant trainer to Noel Meade before branching out on his own in 1983. One of his best horses in the early days was Cockney Lass, whom he trained to win a maiden at the Curragh in August 1985 before chasing home Gaily Gaily in the C.L. Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh the following October. Cockney Lass was then purchased by Dermot Weld and turned out to be a wonderfully consistent filly over the next two seasons winning many races including the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in May 1987. The late 80’s and early 90’s saw a somewhat lean period for the Halford yard, but thankfully things began to improve in the mid 90’s and he hasn’t stopped improving since.
Climbing The Ladder
In recent years, Michael has proved adept at placing run-of-the-mill horses to win a succession of races over a number of seasons. One that he did particularly well with was Dariole, who won nine races, five of which were at Tramore, while other horses which were placed to good effect were Ballymote (7 wins), Class Society (5 wins), Al Towd (5 wins), Rashay (11 wins) and Fearsome Factor (6 wins). Michael also showed his skill with Golden Cross whom he saddled to win three races on the Flat during 2003 before winning the Grade 1 Bewleys Hotels December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown in December that year at odds of 66/1.
Days To Remember
Michael will always remember the two-day Guineas weekend meeting at the Curragh in May 2003 as he saddled no less than four winners, with Miss Emma’s victory in the Group 3 Greenlands Stakes, which incidentally was his first Pattern race win, being the highlight. Tipperary All Star landed the listed Silver Stakes, while Queen’s Wharf won the Guineas Festival Handicap before Cool Cousin rounded off a fantastic two days for the stable when taking the sprint handicap. Later that year, Daganya won the listed Sweet Mimosa Stakes at Leopardstown. In 2004 there were further Listed race victories when Royal Devotion won the Oyster Stakes at Galway and Tipperary All Star obliged in the Finale Stakes at the Curragh.
Best-Ever Season In 2005
Navan racecourse witnessed two trebles from the stable in 2005, with Miss Sally, Cupids Ray and Romantic Notion all winning at the April Meeting before Sister Sox, Briland and Princess Nala obliged for the stable on the same day in early-June. Meanwhile, Miss Sally won her maiden in good style at Navan in April before taking the Scurry Handicap at the Curragh on Derby Day, and seven days later she claimed the Group 3 Brownstown Stakes at Leopardstown. She rounded off a memorable season for the stable when taking the Group 3 Coolmore Concorde Stakes at Tipperary before claiming her fifth victory of the season in the Listed Waterford Testimonial Stakes at the Curragh.
In the 2005/6 National Hunt season, Golden Cross continued to fly the flag for the stable with great distinction as this smart dual-purpose performer made his presence felt in many of the top hurdle races during the winter months. He was only beaten narrowly by the brilliant race mare, Solerina, in the Hattons Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse before finishing a highly-creditable third to Brave Inca and Macs Joy in the 2006 AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown. He then added the Grade 3 McCabe Builders Boyne Hurdle at Navan to his impressive tally of wins. Aimed at the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival the following month, he looked set to record a famous victory under Johnny Murtagh when delivering his challenge at the final flight, but unfortunately went down by an agonising head to My Way De Solzen in a thrilling finish.
Consolidating Success
2006 was another successful season for Michael Halford under both codes with Miss Sally beginning her four-year-old career with victory in the Listed Cork Stakes in early May, while Jazz Princess took the Group 3 Athasi Stakes at the Curragh around the same time. Masamiyr and Lahiba landed valuable handicaps at the Curragh on Guineas weekend in late-May, while English import Nick's Nikita and Addicted completed a double for the stable on the Saturday of the three-day Derby Festival Meeting. Other notable successes during the year came courtesy of Quinmaster who landed two of the most competitive premier handicaps held in Ireland, the Tote Galway Mile at Galway and the Cambridgeshire at the Curragh. However, perhaps the best news that Halford received during of the entire 2006 season came in the opening days of November. It was then that he received word that he was to be inducted into one of the most exclusive clubs in racing as a trainer for the Aga Khan. He received 15 yearlings from the legendary owner/breeder and it confirmed to any doubters that remained that Halford was now in the big league of the Irish training ranks.
The 2007 season started off in perfect style for the Halford yard with Deauville Vision winning the Irish Lincoln by no less than eight lengths and that set the tone for the season to come. Eastern Appeal gave him a second consecutive win in the Athasi Stakes at the Curragh before the ever-reliable Quinmaster won the listed Glencairn Stakes at Leopardstown in early-June. A few weeks later Nick’s Nikita gained a notable win for the yard in the Noblesse Stakes at Cork before Snaefell won the Bud Light Stakes at the Curragh and Princess Nala bolted home in the Lenebane Stakes at Roscommon, both in early-July. The yards success continued into August with Deauville Vision winning the Ruby Stakes at Tralee before Halford became the first ever trainer to saddle a winner on the all-weather in Ireland, having sent out Ms Victoria to the opening conditions on Dundalk’s curtain raising card in August. A highly-successful season was wrapped up with the win of Eastern Appeal in the Concorde Stakes at Tipperary in October. Back in the National Hunt sphere, Halford saddled Quinmaster to win the Grade 3 "For Auction" Novice Hurdle at Navan in November, while the end of that month saw Halford saddle his first winner for the Aga Khan when sending out Dirar to win a maiden at Dundalk.
A New Beginning
2008 was a highly-significant year for Halford, as he moved his entire string from his yard near in Pollardstown at the Curragh to a brand new yard at the other side of the Curragh. In common with many trainers who make such a significant move, it took Halford time to find his feet in his new surroundings, but that didn’t stop him gaining two notable successes with Snaefell in the early part of the season, winning a valuable handicap at the first meeting of the season at the Curragh and the Woodlands Stakes at Naas the following month. That horse topped off a lucrative season for his connections by winning the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh the following August. While his seasonal tally was well down on the years that preceded it, all involved acknowledged that Rome wasn’t built in a day and the seeds were planted for greater success in the years that followed.
Snaefell was again the flag bearer for the Halford yard in 2009, easily winning a conditions race at Cork in June before acquitting himself well in stakes races for the remainder of the season, gaining a deserved success in the Group 3 Renaissance Stakes at the Curragh in September. Earlier in the season one of Halford’s most reliable servants Deauville Vision returned to winning ways with an authoritative display in the listed Mogeely Stud Silver Stakes at the Curragh in June. At the season’s conclusion, the number of wins and prize money won were similar to what had been achieved in 2008, but a flurry of winners at the backend of the season promised that better would be forthcoming in 2010.
Hitting Full Stride
As had been suggested from his strong finish to 2009, 2010 looks like seeing Halford return to top form. He has enjoyed an abundance of success at Dundalk in the opening months of the season, with Banna Boirche being particularly impressive in winning twice at the Co. Louth track. While Halford has yet to collect a stakes race this season, the old war horse Snaefell looks to be as good as ever and it is unlikely to be long before he strikes in a valuable contest.
Aside from training big-race winners, over the years Michael has also earned an excellent reputation for producing top-class apprentice jockeys, having unearthed an excellent rider in the shape of Tadhg O’Shea, whom he helped to become Champion Apprentice on two occasions. Other young stars of the future that he has taken under his wing in recent years are Rory Cleary, Shane Foley and last season’s Champion Apprentice Gary Carroll.
With his human and equine talent both in top form at present, Mick Halford looks sure to be a regular visitor to the winner’s enclosure in the week, months and indeed years ahead.
Updated May 2010.
