The master of Ballydoyle, Aidan O'Brien has threatened to quit one of the most famous stables in the world in a row over plans to build an incinerator near his training establishment. O'Brien who leads English Derby winner High Chaparral for glory in the Irish equivalent this afternoon at the Curragh believes the proposed development in Rosegreen will be a health hazard to his horses, family and staff.
"If it goes ahead we would not rear our family here and there is no doubt it will affect the horses too much. It's madness. If the pollution that could be caused by this incinerator causes even a fraction of a percentage difference in the horses' performance it is too much. You win and lose races by short heads, by the tiniest of margins", said O'Brien in the Irish Independent.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, part-owner of the O'Brien trained Rock Of Gibratlar, has leant his support to the campaign. In a letter to Coolmore Stud manager Christy Grassick he said: "I am abhorred that his proposal could be allowed to proceed. If it is constructed I will be very slow to continue my connection with the area".
But the National By-Products Limited, the company behind the incinerator, claim the new plant will burn only meat and animal bonemeal, would be completely safe from a health perspective and would never process BSE-infected products.
Filed by James Shortt
