Melbourne Cup win hands Summerhill sisters massive business boost

Top trainer Joseph O’Brien has thanked two young Meath entrepreneurs for their role in helping ‘Rekindling’ storm to Melbourne Cup victory.
O’Brien had a special message of thanks for Kate (17) and Annie Madden (15) and their company’s FenuHealth products for keeping the 14-1 shot in tip-top shape to claim the coveted three handled trophy worth A$6.2m at Flemington racetrack in front of 90,000 people.
Son of legendary trainer Aidan, Joseph (24) has been using the FenuSave product, an equine gastro health supplement developed by the Madden sisters from Summerhill, for a number of months and has been delighted with the results. 

The product, added to a horse’s feed helps prevent ulcers and gastronomical problems in horses.
“It’s amazing, we’re so happy that Joseph contacted us to say ‘well done’ after his great victory. A lot of trainers use the products now but this is just a great endorsement for us after Melbourne. We hope it encourages more trainers to take it into their yards,” said a delighted Kate Madden.
“He’s always been taking small amounts but the amounts have been getting bigger for the yards, he seems to be taking it full on now.”
It’s less than a year since FenuHealth scooped the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Meath Business & Tourism Awards in December 2016. It has turned out to be a fantastic 12 months for Kate and Annie. FenuHealth was born from the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition where the sisters competed for 3 years and were prize-winners in 2015 with their products which specialises in the prevention and treatment of gastric ulcers in horses.

 

There have been many highlights during the year especially in the horse racing sector with several of the leading trainers publicly endorsing the FenuHealth product range. 
“The first trainer to publicly do so was eight-time champion trainer Noel Meade of Tu Va Stables who so far in this National Hunt season has over 100 top three finishers, others have followed like Jim Bolger and then this week Joseph O’Brien who won the Melbourne Cup – the youngest trainer ever to do so aged 24…just goes to show that age is no obstacle either as a trainer in the case of Joseph or as entrepreneurs like ourselves” said Annie.

“It’s always fantastic when you win an award because it raises your profile that little bit but when you have have physical evidence of your customers succeeding it’s better again because obviously we hope other trainers see that and get on board thinking ‘well if they’re using it, why aren’t we’”.