Liam Cashman dead at 72

Liam Cashman, owner of Rathbarry and Glenview Studs, has died following a

short illness. He was 72. One of his Ireland's leading figures in the bloodstock

world, the son of Rathbarry founder Paul Cashman stood leading sires, including

the 1994 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) hero Barathea (Ire). The County Cork-based

operation was also home to the likes of Alzao, Taufan, Tagula and Acclamation,

and had scaled the heights since the decision to break into the stallion market

in the 1970s.

Cashman's first purchase proved to be a resounding success, with Kampala

earning the title of leading first-season sire in 1984 and later being

responsible for the 1988 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) hero Tony Bin. Taufan

also topped the freshman sire list in 1985 and his Prix Morny (Fr-G1)-winning

son Tagula went on to achieve that same accolade in the millennium year.

One of Cashman's greatest feats was his foresight in purchasing Barathea for

$5 million from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum prior to his finest hour

at Churchill Downs. Among the most illustrious horses bred at the Fermoy

establishment is Finsceal Beo (Mr. Greeley), one of the best distaffers to grace

the track in recent times.

The Cashman family's National Hunt arm, set up in 1991, has also been

responsible for some of the division's finest sires and one of Glenview's

current residents is Presenting, now firmly on course for a fourth jumps sires'

championship in the 2009-10 season.

He is survived by his wife Catherine, daughter Niamh and son Paul.