Irish Thoroughbred contingent in India

The Irish Thoroughbred Marketing team is in India to promote its November sales for Indian buyers. Traditionally, Indian breeders have been buying big from Ireland. The ITB will also be sponsoring races at Pune on Friday and Saturday and will also host a reception for prospective buyers. .
The interest in Goff’s November pregnant mares’ sales has been growing by the year thanks to the remarkable success achieved by the progeny of pregnant mares bought from these sales. The Irish Thoroughbred Marketing team, headed by Michael O’Hagan has done all the spade work which is now paying off.
Irish Thoroughbred Marketing has used all their resources to maintain a good working relationship with the key players in the Indian thoroughbred industry, says O’Hagan and this is one of the main reasons for a warm response from India, says O”Hagan..
``For many years Ireland and India have been working closely in relation to the breeding stock sales held every year in Ireland. These sales have proved to act as a source of some terrific mares and their subsequent progeny who have done well also, O’Hagan points out.
As a semi state body, ITM is charged with the promotion of the Irish Thoroughbred industry around the globe and to act as hosts to those that travel to Ireland, providing all the logistical support. January 2006 saw ITM accompany the Irish Prime Minister on an official trip to India, covering Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. This was the first race sponsorship hosted by ITM in India. In 2008 ITM sponsored in Pune on the last weekend of racing for the season, while also hosting a reception in Pune. We were honoured in 2008 with the presence of the then newly appointed Irish Ambassador to India , Mr Ken Thompson who will again join us in Pune next weekend, says O’Hagan.
Following the success of the 2008 sponsorship and discussing Ireland with Dr Cyrus Poonawalla, ITM have encouraged both Goffs and Coolmore to join this year’s sponsorship roster with both firms sponsoring on Friday 23rd at Pune while ITM sponsor on Saturday 24th also at Pune.
Commencing their trip in Delhi on Tuesday 20th and traveling on to Pune on the 21st, ITM’s Michael O’Hagan and Rolline Kavanagh will be on hand and available to answer any questions and asset in travel arrangements while in India, while Joey Cullen will be on hand from Goffs with catalogues. Leo Powell who is the managing editor of the Irish racing paper “The Irish Field” will also be traveling in the group as will Maurice Maloney representing Coolmore Stud.
Again ITM will host a reception on the lawns of the Turf Club on Friday evening October 23rd where catalogues for both Goffs breeding stock sales (November 21st – 22nd) and the Tattersalls Ireland (November 15th)

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