Pursuing passions with uncertain outcomes seems to come easily to Kevin Doyle.
After 16 years as a professional footballer, the Wexford man is better acquainted than most with the highs and lows that sport can throw your way.
Luck plays a part, but not nearly so much in his previous career as in his current one as a breeder of racehorses, with the vagaries of the endeavour captured in the adage "breed the best to the best, and hope for the best".
Every burgeoning breeder hopes to happen upon an animal that can prove a foundation mare for their business, and the former Republic of Ireland international has found that in Augusta Kate.
The daughter of a Group One winner, in Yeats, and a Grade One winner, in Feathard Lady, Augusta Kate's finest hour on the racecourse came when landing the Grade One Mares' Novice Hurdle Championship Final at Fairyhouse's Easter meeting in 2017.
When she went to the sales a little over 18 months later, Doyle managed to snap her up for the modest sum of €85,000, mainly due to the mare's diminutive stature.
"I get just as much of a buzz from a horse I've bred whether I own it or not or whatever"
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 5, 2026
Former Ireland striker Kevin Doyle will have more than a passing interest in goings-on at Cheltenham Festival pic.twitter.com/bqtuKXBWlE
Her first three foals since arriving at Slaney River Stud are now black-type winners, in Baby Kate (by Champs Elysees), Amen Kate (by Fleminsfirth), Cousin Kate (by Maxios).
The latter two both looked set to take their chance in the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle at this year's Cheltenham Festival, until Cousin Kate met with a setback last week, leaving Doyle pinning his hopes on the Tom Cooper-trained Amen Kate.
The Doyle family have already bred a Cheltenham Festival winner, in Holywell, for Kevin's father Paddy, but the former St Pat's, Cork City, Reading and Wolves forward believes that they have a live chance of a second win at the annual extravaganza in the Cotswolds.
"She was owned by a better footballer than me, in Alan Shearer, and Lee Westwood and Ant & Dec," Doyle told RTÉ Sport. "She had illustrious ownership.
"She was a good racemare. I was very lucky to be able to buy her when I did. You need luck.
"Her first three foals are black-type Listed winners."
Amen Kate made a huge impression on her racecourse debut in a wide-margin win in a bumper at Listowel in 2024, with future Graded winners finishing in her wake in the form of Carrigmoornaspruce and Grainne A Chroi.
Four slightly underwhelming efforts followed before she shed her maiden tag over timber at Galway in October of this season and a first Listed success came at Thurles just before Christmas.
Doyle believes we are now only seeing the best of the six-year-old mare, who is a 25-1 shot for her Prestbury Park assignment.
"I think she's a great price for an each-way bet," he said.
"She started off her career winning an impressive bumper in Listowel and the horses she beat that day, a few of them came out and did very, very well.
"I think, speaking to Bryan [Cooper, trainer's son] about her, last year she had a couple of issues that they only got to the bottom of over the summer.
"You could sort of write off her form after her bumper for a while because she wasn't right and then she came out before Christmas and won impressively in a Listed hurdle.
"I think she is good value for her odds going there.
"Please God she runs a good race, who knows, but I would be hopeful."
The fortunes of Amen Kate and Cousin Kate on the racecourse will go some way to dictating how their half-brothers and half-sister fare in the sales ring when the time comes.
Amen Kate fetched €75,000 and Cousin Kate €50,000 as stores, while Augusta Kate currently has a three-year-old colt and a two-year-old colt by Crystal Ocean, as well as a yearling filly by Jeu St Eloi residing at Slaney River Stud. There's also a new arrival due any day now by Poet's Word.
Augusta Kate has proven a fertile producer, but she is 15, and all good things come to an end. The good news for Doyle is that Baby Kate only runs in the colours of the Gorm Agus Ban Syndicate in a leasing arrangement, meaning she will return home one day to continue her mother's legacy.
Kevin Doyle was speaking to RTÉ Sport's Joe Stack to preview the Cheltenham Festival
