NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

While Ger now concentrates solely on flat horses, he started out with a dual purpose licence (National Hunt and flat). In the early years he enjoyed success at graded level with horses such as Spirit Dancer and Mukev Prince. In 2002, the much-loved grey gelding, Big and Bold, won the Power Gold Cup (Gr1) at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival with Ruby Walsh on board. But when Ger lost him to injury, he decided to abandon the National Hunt scene and Glenburnie became an all flat yard.

Ger particularly enjoys training two year olds and strives to build a string capable of winning black-type (listed and group) races. An Tadh, owned locally by Vincent Gaul, was the first group winner for the yard in 2006. For the following three years, Ger was the Irish All Weather Champion Trainer of the Year. In 2011, the Marju filly, Lightening Pearl, broke new ground winning the Cheveley Park Stakes (Gr1) at Newmarket under Johnny Murtagh. Endless Drama, Lily's Angel, Brendan Brackan, Cappella Sansevero, Medicine Jack, Psychedelic Funk, Ardhoomey and Who's Steph have since given the team great racing memories.

By the end of the 2018 season, Ger had reached the milestone of 800 winners. The following May, Siskin made his winning debut at Naas. He duly stepped up to Listed level and in early August gave Ger and Colin their first Group 1 winner on Irish soil. It was a pretty wet evening at The Curragh but nothing could dampen the thrill! Later the same month, Mustajeer landed the first running of the £1m Ebor Stakes at York. By the end of the 2020 season, there were two classic winners - Siskin (Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas) and Even So (Juddmonte Irish Oaks) - to add to the list of achievements, both won behind closed doors at The Curragh.

In August 2021, Ger reached the landmark of 1,000 career wins.