Kevin Blake is perhaps best known as a racing analyst and broadcaster that works for ITV Racing, At The Races and Betfair. Since 2017, Kevin has been working closely with leading trainer Joseph O’Brien as a race planner, consultant and bloodstock agent.
However, in the background behind all of that, Kevin has spent many years quietly building up Golden Farm into a thoroughbred stud. Kevin bought his first broodmare as a teenager whilst in possession of relatively little relevant experience. He spent much of his first 10 years as a breeder making plenty of mistakes and poor decisions that hit him in his own pocket, giving him an education far more valuable than any costs incurred. That experience led to him becoming established as a successful and profit-making breeder from his base in Golden Farm in County Tipperary that has enabled significant expansion in recent years.
Kevin combines his data-driven, analytical approach to racing and sales research with his hands-on experience as a breeder and wide network of contacts to seek an edge over those that approach bloodstock with a more traditional mindset. As well as his own input, Kevin works with a range of highly-specialised analysts in both the racing and bloodstock worlds in an effort to best inform his bloodstock decisions and stay ahead of the market.
Katie Phelan has accumulated a remarkable wealth of experience all over the bloodstock world. She has worked in the UK, France, America, New Zealand and Australia, most recently holding management positions in Widden Stud and Lime Country Thoroughbreds in Australia. A native of Laois, Katie is anything but a one-trick pony having earned a Masters in Political History and Conflict from Queen’s University Belfast.
Marion Masclet is a native of France that has acquired a great amount of experience in the thoroughbred business. She spent many years working for Coolmore, both in Ireland and Australia, and most recently worked in Kiltinan Castle Stud. Marion has the most lovely quiet way with horses and has been a great addition to the team along with her dog Fifi.
Matt Crosse is a lifelong horseman that is a big asset to us on Golden Farm. Matt spent most of his working life in racing, first as a jumps jockey and more recently in senior positions with trainers Tommy Stack and Jessica Harrington. A gifted horseman, Matt is also a proven sire being the father of top Flat jockeys Shane and Nathan Crosse.
Willie may have retired as a farmer, but Kevin ensures that he is kept busy helping to make sure that everything on Golden Farm is running as it should. Willie has spent his life farming the land on Golden Farm and knows every inch of it like the back of his hand. A typically practical farming man, he can turn his hand to anything and there is rarely a problem or challenge on the farm that he can’t find the solution to.
Deirdre (nee Moloney) is Kevin’s wife. From a farming background in County Clare, Deirdre is well able to lend a helping hand in the yard when required, but her professional skillset is more so in the office. She was formerly the payroll manager for a large multinational technology company and now looks after the finances of Golden Farm.
Pia Tonani is a top-class vet who specialises in the reproductive management of broodmares. Based just one kilometer from Golden Farm, she and her husband Sean have been running Castlepark Stud for the last 20 years where they board and foal over 100 mares a year for their clients. Pia has been Golden Farm’s vet for almost 20 years and she is trusted implicitly in guiding us to achieve the best possible results with our mares.
Ken McLoughlin is the farrier on Golden Farm. He was employed as the full-time farrier in Ballydoyle for over 20 years and since going out as a freelance has shod everything from a winner of the Grand National to Group 1 winners for his wide range of clients. Ken has been the farrier at Golden Farm ever since Kevin bought his first mare and having someone with his ability and experience on the team is a major advantage.
We are all animal lovers on Golden Farm, so we were delighted to welcome some bonus additions to the team in recent times. Katie has three Dachshunds called Denny, Dixie and Lola, Marion has Fifi and Matt has Moll that all spend a lot of time in the yard. They try to earn their keep with security duties and pest control of varying standards, but we enjoy having them around either way!
