Goffs DBS 2014

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE 2014

REAPING REWARDS

VENDORS SUCCESS STORIES

100 LICENSED TRAINERS

TEAMWORK

THE HANNONS AND THE DOYLES ON PICKING WINNERS

MAGNETIC NORTH 3288 HORSES IN TRAINING

16 GROUP RACE WINNERS

£230MILLION INCOME GENERATED

YORKSHIRE HOME OF THE THOROUGHBRED

POWER PLAYER

EDDIE LYNAM’S VINTAGE YEAR

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Yeomanstown Stud Your Constant Source Of Success DARK ANGEL • Group 1 Winner, Group 1 Sire • Bred and sold by Yeomanstown Stud

GARSWOOD • Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest 2014

TOOCOOLFORSCHOOL • Group 2 Winner Mill Reef Stakes, 2014 • Winner and Group 3 2nd Tatterstalls Acomb Stakes, York

MECCCA’S ANGEL • Group 3 winner Dubai International Airport World Trophy, Newbury, 2014 • Scarborough Stakes Listed, Doncaster, 2014

PEARL SECRET • Group 2 Temple Stakes 2nd, 2014 • Beverley Bullet Stakes

THAT IS THE SPIRIT • Investec Savoy Stakes Listed, 2014

MARKAZ • 2nd Somerville Tatterstalls Stakes Group 3, 2014

2014 TWO YEAR OLDS INCLUDE Adulation, Appleberry, Azmaam, Black Granite, Ciaras Cookie, Endless Drama, Fanciful Angel, Free Entry, George Bowen, Hatchet Harry, Johnny B Goode, Lazy Days in Loule, London Life, Markaz, Orkide, Rosie’s Premiere, Silver Quay

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Contents 42 09 A BIRD’S EYE VIEW

While he didn’t sell under the hammer the subsequent sale of Kool Kompany remains a DBS September Sales’ success story.

12 MAGNETIC NORTH

Yorkshire is fast becoming the racing capital of Britain, writes Lissa Oliver.

21 SELLING STORIES

A short profile of three very different vendors, their approach to sales and their successes.

24 THE QATAR CONNECTION

Qatar is a relatively new powerhouse within British horseracing, writes Tim Kent.

27 THE TURF CLUB

The sport of kings is attracting football’s premier talent, writes Tim Kent.

30 WINNING FORMULA

The Hannon and Doyle father and son partnerships have had another superb year led by DBS two-year olds, writes Catherine Austen.

36 SCHOOLING WINNERS

Based on the outskirts of Doncaster, the Northern Racing College has been a starting point for people working in all aspects of the racing industry, writes Catherine Austen.

42 ON THE ROAD

Katherine Fidler sees first hand the team spirit at DBS as she journeys with their inspection team in search of racing’s next big names to sell at their Premier and Silver Yearling Sales.

46 INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

Through the sponsorship of young jockeys DBS is getting into the field, writes Michael Orton.

49 POWER PLAYER

For Eddie Lynam 2014 has been

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more than a vintage year. Donn McClean is blown away by the power surge in his training status.

SPRING FEVER There’s been a return to form at the Spring Sales, writes Michael Orton.

HOBBY HORSES What do horse trainers do off the track? Marcus Armytage talks rare books, cycling and bull fighting with three big names.

THE INSIDE TACK Saddle up and dive in at the deep end is the advice of self-taught bridle and horse blanket designer Malcolm Arthur Hadfield.

EAT, DRINK AND EXPLORE THE HOUSE OF YORK Known as God’s Own Country, Yorkshire boasts more Michelin stars than anywhere in the UK outside

Goffs DBS Co-ordinator: Michael Orton; Managing Editor: Mary Connaughton Editor: Alanna Gallagher; Design: Jane Matthews; Contributors: Lissa Oliver; Catherine Austen; Katherine Fidler; Michael Orton, Tim Kent; Donn McClean; Marcus Armytage; Caroline Allen, Suzie Coen. Photography: Louise Pollard; Sarah Farnsworth; Dennis Kenny; Time Inc; Getty. Production: Nicole Ennis; Advertising sales manager: Paul Clemenson; Cover image: Sarah Farnsworth

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London and was named best travel destination in Europe for the second consecutive year, writes Caroline Allen.

68 RACE DAY READY

The bloodstock industry features a colourful cross section of society, especially at big race meetings.

Which one of the these fashion tribes best describes you, asks Suzie Coen.

70 SOCIAL PICS

Snapshots of the bloodstock industry at work at DBS’ eight annual sales.

72 AT YOUR SERVICE

The team at DBS is at your disposal and is prepared to go that extra mile to offer top quality black type racehorses, transport and accommodation solutions, delectable food and thirst-quenching drinks at their sales.

Goffs DBS is published by Ashville Media Group, 7 Blackhall Green, Dublin 7. Tel: (01) 432 2200; Fax (01) 672 7100 Email; info@ashville.com Material printed in this journal is not necessarily endorsed

by Ashville Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction by any means in whole or in part without the permission of the publisher is prohibited © 2014

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INTRODUCTION

Welcome

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s this a people business or a horse business? I was asked that question recently and the truthful answer is both.

As an auction house DBS must have the horses that the market demands but we rely totally on a cast of characters, vendors and purchasers, to conduct our business; and what characters they are!

In these pages there are several articles on some of the people who help make DBS each year. 2014 has been a remarkable one on the racetrack for DBS with an almost embarrassing number of classy winners. Many of them have been trained by two men, Richard Hannon and Eddie Lynam who have enjoyed outstanding seasons.

Of course, Hannon father and son work hand in hand with another father and son duo, Peter and Ross Doyle and Catherine Austen explores their highly productive partnership in “Winning Formula”. In contrast Eddie Lynam works alone at the sales with no less success especially this year where he has dominated European sprinting with two DBS graduates Sole Power and Slade Power. His story is told by Donn McLean in the aptly titled “Power Player”.

Being based in ‘The North’ has often been seen as a disadvantage for DBS as the common perception is that

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all the (racing) action is in the South of England. That myth is well and truly dispelled in “Magnetic North” by Louise Pollard who illustrates why Yorkshire is really one of, if not, the racing capital of Britain. She speaks to several of the Northern based-faces that take DBS horses to the top.

Several other pieces make fascinating reading, not least “Investing In The Future”, by our own Michael Orton, that explores DBS’ support of emerging talent.

As someone who was given a huge opportunity at a very young age, I am keen that DBS supports young talent, encourages their progress and rewards endeavour. Both Tim Kent and George Stanners came to DBS at a young age with not much more than boundless energy and a thirst for knowledge but quickly became an integral part of the DBS team.

There is the people theme again. Of course this is the horse business but it is so much about the people …

Henry Beeby, Managing Director

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DBS WINNERS

TOP class WINNERS

The numbers speak for themselves. 11 Grade 1 and 23 Grade 2 & 3 wins in NH races. 9 Group 1 and 19 Group 2 & 3 wins on the Flat. In total DBS graduates won 73 stakes races and had two 2014 Cartier Award winners: Tiggy Wiggy - Champion 2YO Filly and Sole Power - Champion Sprinter.

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Uxizandre

BOSTON BOB

Grade 1

Betfred Melling Chase

MY TENT OR YOURS

Grade 1

Christmas Hurdle

BENEFFICIENT

Grade 1

Dial-a-Bet Chase

BRIAR HILL

Grade 2

FOXROCK

Grade 2

Ten Up Novice Chase

MOZOLTOV

Grade 2

Woodlands 100 Nov Chase

Slaney Hurdle

MY TENT OR YOURS

Grade 1

Fighting Fifth Hurdle

TIGGY WIGGY

Group 1

Cheveley Park Stakes

TIGER ROLL

Grade 1

JCB Triumph Hurdle

SLADE POWER

Group 1

Darley July Cup

BOBS WORTH

Grade 1

Lexus Chase

BRIAR HILL

Grade 1

Navan Novice Hurdle

UXIZANDRE Grade 1

Pinsent Masons Manifesto Novices Chase

BOSTON BOB

Grade 1

Punchestown Gold Cup

MAKARI

Grade 1

Smethwick Memorial Chase

TIDAL BAY Grade 2

Bet365 Hurdle (West Yorkshire Hurdle)

LIEUTENANT COLONEL Grade 2

Coolmore NH Sires Novice Hurdle

FOX APPEAL

Grade 2

Novices’ Chase

VALDEZ

Grade 2

Novices’ Chase

DEPUTY DAN

Grade 2

Novices’ Hurdle

RIVERSIDE THEATRE

Grade 2

Peterborough Chase

DARAKTI

Grade 2

Premio Ezio Vanoni

SEEYOUATMIDNIGHT

Grade 2

Rendlesham Hurdle

BLACK THUNDER

Grade 2

RSA Novice Trial Chase

BUYWISE

Grade 2

Silver Trophy Chase

SLADE POWER

Group 1

Diamond Jubilee Stakes

SOLE POWER

Group 1

King’s Stand Stakes

OLYMPIC GLORY

Group 1

Lockinge Stakes

SOLE POWER

Group 1

Nunthorpe Stakes

MOVE IN TIME

Group 1

Prix de l’Abbaye

OLYMPIC GLORY

Group 1

Qatar Prix de la Foret

VERT DE GRECE

Group 1

Criterium International

ESTIDHKAAR

Group 2

Champagne Stakes

MAAREK

Group 2

Duke of York Stakes

BEACON

Group 2

Flying Childers Stakes

HERO LOOK

Group 2

Gran Criterium

BRETON ROCK

Group 2

Hungerford Stakes

GLORY AWAITS

Group 2

International Topkapi Trophy

TIGGY WIGGY

Group 2

Lowther Stakes

BAITHA ALGA

Group 2

Norfolk Stakes

KOOL KOMPANY

Group 2

Prix Robert Papin

KOOL KOMPANY

Group 2

Railway Stakes

ESTIDHKAAR

Group 2

Superlative Stakes

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GARSWOOD GROUP 1 WINNING SPRINTER

by DUTCH ART – Penchant (KYLLACHY)

GARSWOOD proves too strong for a top class field of sprinters in the Gr.1 Prix Maurice de Gheest.

Roll out the

Red Carpet

Won Gr.1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, Deauville, 6.5f, beating 8 other Group winners.

Won Gr.2 Lennox Stakes, Goodwood, 7f, beating 6 other Group winners.

Won LR

European Free Handicap, Newmarket, 7f, beating 4 other Group winners.

Won LR

Harry Rosebery Stakes, Ayr, 5f (at 2).

Also: 3rd Gr.1 Prix de la Forêt, Longchamp, 7f, (to multiple Gr.1 winners MOONLIGHT CLOUD and GORDON LORD BYRON), beating 5 other Group winners.

By Champion First Crop Sire DUTCH ART (also sire of SLADE POWER) out of a ¾ sister to the Gr.3 winner & Gr.1 placed INFALLIBLE (by Pivotal).

A pedigree that combines two of the FASTEST SIRELINES available today Also standing: DUTCH ART • INTELLO • KYLLACHY • LETHAL FORCE • MAYSON • MEDICEAN • PIVOTAL

Cheveley Park Stud

Duchess Drive, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 0DD. Tel: (01638) 730316. Fax: (01638) 730868 • enquiries@cheveleypark.co.uk • www.cheveleypark.co.uk

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DBS NEWS

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GILL’S SILVER JUBILEE

hat Gill Jeffrey joined DBS 25 years ago is both surprising and unsurprising; the former because she can’t possibly be old enough but the latter because one can’t imagine DBS without her as she ensures the smooth running of the Sales Office on sales days and HQ in Hawick. For much of her DBS career she has rejoiced in the title of “Senior Secretary” which means that she deals with the pressure of not one, but two Beebys (Harry and me, can you imagine that!?) with a smile and a “no problem” (“nae bother” is the Borders phrase) when you know she would like to strangle us on a daily basis as we expect her to remember what we can’t, find what we’ve lost and produce what we don’t know how to! Strong but polite, helpful and

resourceful, friendly but totally professional, Harry and I could not have operated without her all these years and, even though I am based in Ireland these days, she remains invaluable to both of us in so many ways. So we were pleased to thoroughly embarrass her in May by publicly acknowledging her DBS Silver Jubilee. If looks could have killed I would have been a goner but I like to think Gill was pleased that we took the time to record our thanks. It is certainly no less than she deserved as she has undoubtedly made a serious contribution to our fortunes by looking after us so well. You know the saying: “Behind every successful man ...” Thanks Gill.

MINT CONDITION POLOS Racehorses are bred for speed and stamina but those that don’t possess enough of these traits to excel on the racecourse may find a second career on the polo field, where players look for similar characteristics when searching for future talent.

One of those talent scouts is Henry Brett who captained the England polo team and has won every major tournament in England plus many more around the world. One of the leading lights in his string is the ex-Tim Easterby trained Secret Dossier, a high goal pony who was awarded Best Playing Pony during the Warwickshire Cup at Cirencester Park Polo Club. The daughter of Orpen was bought

by Easterby at the DBS Yearling Sales before she was re-sold by his Habton Grange Stables at the DBS Horses in Training

DBS MD Henry Beeby presents Gill Jeffrey with her silver jubilee gift

DBS NEWS Emily Mac Mahon and Ed Magor discuss potential purchases with Henry Brett at the September Sales

Secret Dossier in her new career

Sales and found an alternative career on the polo field. Brett was busy at the September Sales and looking for similar types to Ed Magor, who had a successful career in the other ‘sport of kings’ before injuring a shoulder and focusing his attention on other equine interests. He is starting to get back in to the summer sport and bought a Baltic King filly at DBS with the aim of playing her in competitive games next season.

Secret Dossier is presented with the award for Best Playing Pony during the Warwickshire Cup

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DBS NEWS

A star of tomorrow indeed

Limato is Timeform’s top rated 2YO in 2014

A TWO YEAR OLD HEADACHE…

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How much success is too much success? The DBS spin machine became dizzy with success as the 2014 flat season progressed with a simply staggering nine individual Stakes winning twoyear-olds from last year’s Premier Yearling crop that presented the DBS marketing team with a headache trying to choose which two-year-old to place on the 2014 Premier Sales catalogue cover and the rostrum photos in the DBS Sales Ring.

The Premier Nine is headed by the amazingly talented filly Tiggy Wiggy who is the latest success story for the Hannon/Doyle team. A filly that has become noted for her tough attitude on and off the track, she proved unbeatable in the latter part of the season which she finished on a high when taking the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes.

It was Sheikh Joaann and Al Shaqab Racing who kicked off the 2014 season for DBS sold youngsters with their colt Baitha Alga who won the Woodcote Stakes on Derby Day before posting a dominant victory in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. It wasn’t long before Sheikh Hamdan of Shadwell enjoyed top level success as well with Estidhkaar who won the Group 2 Superlative Stakes before backing up to win the Group 2 Champagne Stakes. Kool Kompany flew the flag for Middleham Park, also winning two Group 2 races, before placing second in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes. Beacon was another to pick up a Group 2 victory when winning the Flying Childers Stakes for Highclere and John Warren. Throw into the mix the unbeaten Stakes winner Limato, who Henry Candy says is “as good as any I have trained” as well Vert De Grece who made a memorable trip to France to win the Group 1 Criterium International for Roger Varian, and it is clear that 2014 has indeed been a special year for the flying Premier Sales and its two-year-old graduates.

George Stanners’ Scorpion colt foal certainly made the ten-hour round trip from Scotland to Wales a success when winning the award of Reserve Champion at the TBA’s Stars of Tomorrow National Hunt Foal Show at Bangor-on-Dee in July. In front of a good crowd including a few members of the DBS team and the judges – Yann Poirier, Rebecca Curtis and Bryan Murphy – George and his foal named Stuart put on a top show with his brother Ryan leading the colt’s mother Bling Noir. “We held no real expectations going down to Bangor and so we were delighted that he won the Older Colts class and went on to be judged overall Reserve Champion, it could not have worked out much better,” said Stanners. “I only have the two NH Broodmares at home as much to have an interest in the other side of the rostrum as anything else. As any NH breeder will tell you, it is not always the most profitable of hobbies however, it is something I take great pride in. The plan has always been to sell him as a foal so his next trip away will be to the DBS January Sales next year.”

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME Rose Young has been an integral part of life at DBS since she joined the company in 1967. Leaving the ring for retirement pastures she will be sorely missed, especially by the industry’s characters, whose tipple she had served up before they even entered the bar, says DBS Managing Director Henry Beeby recalling a 11am sharp call for drinks from DBS’s first Irish agent, Jack White and consignor Mickey Browne who would walk into the bar asking for a gin and tonic with ice no lemon and a gin and tonic with lemon no ice. “Only Rose knew whose was whose,” commented Beeby. “She’s the sort of person they don’t make any more. If she was a horse she’d be Lyric Fantasy, who was not expected to perform at the highest level but became a Group 1 winner. She is irreplaceable.”

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GILT EDGE GIRL SOLD FOR 550,000 EUROS AT GOFFS BREEDING SALE, NOV 2013

SIRE OF RECENT WINNER BOND’S GIRL WHO WON BIG SALES RACE AT DONCASTER

DUAL GROUP WINNER, WHO WON AT 24 YEARS OLD OVER 67 FURLONGS.

BY CHAMPION 2YO AND CHAMPION SIRE OF 2YOS DANEHILL DANCER. TIMEFORE RATED 120.

BREAKTHROUGH STALLION 2011 (Racing Post Bloodstock Awards)

SIRE OF WINNERS OF 267 RACES AND OVER £3M IN PRIZE MONEY

BIGGEST CROPS YET TO COME

SIRE OF BLACK TYPE PERFORMERS IN EACH OF HIS FIRST CROPS SIRE OF  HOOF IT, GILT EDGE GIRL, MY NAME IS BOND, LADIES ARE FOREVER,

MOVE IN TIME, ALFRED HUTCHINSON AND LADY ROYALE YEARLINGS HAVE MADE UP TO £147,000 AND SOLD WELL AT DBS PREMIER THIS YEAR.

STUD FEE: £5,000 1ST OCT 233275_1C_BOND_JR_DBS.indd 1 GoffsDBS2014_Ad Template.indd 60

CONTACT: RICHARD LINGWOOD, TEL: 01653 693887 MOBILE: 07532 240506 OR MARY LOWE  MOBILE 07900 255838 30/10/2014 09:19 31/10/2014 15:37

KOOL KOMPANY

Key Numbers

€8,000

GOFFS NOVEMBER YEARLING

£40,000 DBS PREMIER SALES YEARLING OVER

£202,000 IN PRIZE MONEY

BIRDS eye VIEW

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While he didn’t sell under the hammer the subsequent sale of Kool Kompany remains a DBS September Sales’ success story.

PHOTOGRAPHY: SARAH FARNSWORTH

The Kool Kompany story began at the DBS Premier Sales in 2013 when Rosyground Stud sold a son of Jeremy out of the mare Indian Ridge, Absolutely Cool, to Peter and Ross Doyle for £40,000. The colt provided a healthy return on his investment to Harry Dutfield who paid just £6,296 (€8,000) for him at the Goffs November Sale.

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Returning to a more prominent racing position, Kool Kompany won the Group 2 Railway Stakes at the Curragh under Fran Berry before following this up with victory in the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin under Richard Hughes.

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The Doyles are regular talent scouts for Richard Hannon’s team. Kool Kompany was sent to their East Everleigh stables to run in the colours of Middleham Park racing. It was there he was named after the Manchester City and Belgium captain, Vincent Kompany.

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The white faced colt won on debut at Leicester in April before following up in a conditions race at Windsor and going on to win the Listed Rochestown Stakes at Naas. This string of victories ensured that he was ante post favourite for the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Just 11 days later, he started as favourite for the DBS Premier Yearling Stakes at York. Despite being penalised for Group race success, he ran a huge race to finish sixth when beaten less than four lengths and giving seven pounds to those that finished ahead of him.

His seventh start came in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes when he was outstayed by a more stoutly bred rival to finish a close second in unfavorable soft conditions at the Curragh.

Richard Hughes said after the race that he “just got outstayed but ran a very good race”.

After much deliberation, Tim Palin and Nick Bradley decided to offer the colt for sale in the DBS September Sales, where he was catalogued as Lot 305A. The star juvenile had won over £196,000 in prize money for syndicate members.

A change of tactics at the Royal meeting brought with it a change of fortune when the held up Kool Kompany refused to settle and was unable to get in to the race. This was a huge disappointment to connections who had learnt an awful about the horse.

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The juvenile attracted massive interest from Hong Kong, Qatar and Australia together with domestic purchasers looking for a live chance against his own age group in the new Group 1 sprint at Royal Ascot in 2015, but no one could match the expectations of the vendor in the ring and the horse was led out unsold at £730,000.

Prior to the sale DBS Managing Director Henry Beeby had been in constant contact with Goffs and DBS agent, Mark Player, and was on the phone to Australian interests as the horse went under the hammer. Despite them not being able to buy him through the ring, a private transaction was concluded shortly afterwards. Kool Kompany was sold to an Australian owner who would return the horse to Richard Hannon.

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ARCHIPENKO Kingmambo ex Bound (Nijinsky)

Sire of a Group 1 winner with his first crop Sire in 2014 of MADAME CHIANG (Group 1 Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes and Group 3 Musidora Stakes) LADY PENKO (FR) Listed winner and Group 1 placed) RUSSIAN PUNCH (2yo Listed winner).

Also sire of 13 individual 2yo winners (to 26/10)

2014 yearlings have made up to 140,000gns.

AUSSIE RULES Danehill ex Last Second (Alzao)

Classic winning miler – Dual Gr.1 winner at 3 Sire of 10 Stakes horses to date in 2014, including: FIESOLANA (Group 1 Matron Stakes) and Listed winners AUSSIE CELEBRE, BERTINORO, DINKUM DIAMOND, KRAMULKIE. Also sire of 17 individual 2yo winners (to 26/10).

2014 yearlings have made up to 210,000gns.

LEROIDESANIMAUX Candy Stripes ex Dissemble (Ahonoora)

Eclipse Award winner from the family of DANSILI CHAMPION TURF HORSE IN USA Won 9 races and $1,658,377 incl. 3 Group 1’s over 1m on turf.

Sire of World Champion ANIMAL KINGDOM and of the winners of over $18m.

An exceptional outcross for Europe’s mares.

First European foals in 2015

SEA THE MOON Sea The Stars ex Sanwa (Monsun)

Winner of the Group 1 German Derby by 11 lengths Winner of 4 races (3 at Group level) at 2 and 3, 8f to 12f, from just 5 starts.

JOINT TOP-RATED (with Treve) on 125 (Longines World’s Best Horse Rankings, L) The first son of Champion SEA

New for 2015

THE STARS to retire to stud.

Out of a full sister to 3 Group 1 Classic winners

SIR PERCY

Mark Of Esteem ex Percy’s Lass (Blakeney)

Unbeaten Champion 2yo - Classic winning Champion 3yo Sire of 12 Stakes horses to date in 2014, including: Group 3 winner WAKE FOREST, Listed winners NAFAQA (at 2, also Gr.2 placed), LADY PIMPERNEL and INDIGO LADY. Also sire of 11 individual 2yo winners (to 26/10).

LANWADES

The independent option ™

info@lanwades.com • www.lanwades.com • Tel: +44 (0)1638 750222 • Fax: +44 (0)1638 751186

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MAGNETIC NORTH

North MAGNETIC

The facts speak for themselves. Yorkshire is fast becoming the racing capital of Britain. Six of bloodstock’s top trainers talk about the gravitational pull of its limestone rich land, spectacular scenery and bloodline heritage, writes Lissa Oliver Photography by Louise Pollard

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DBS A question for you racing fans – where do you think the largest concentration of training yards is to be found in Britain? Probably not Epsom, a good few in Middleham, maybe, and a huge number in Lambourn, but the answer, definitely, Newmarket. It’s the Racing Capital of Britain, after all. WRONG! Current directories list 75 trainers in Newmarket, 35 in Lambourn and 11 in Epsom, but there are over 100 licensed trainers looking after 3,288 horses in training in Yorkshire, some 22 per cent of the UK total figure. The majority of the trainers are based in North Yorkshire, largely in and around Malton, Leyburn and the famous Middleham Moor. Richard Guest is among the eight trainers currently listed for South Yorkshire and there are three in the county’s East Riding, but it’s North Yorkshire that seems to be challenging Newmarket for dominance, with the likes of Mark Johnston and Richard Fahey regularly sending out over 100 winners a season. This year already Yorkshire-based trainers have sent out the winners of 16 Group races and Yorkshire-trained horses have won over 5,300 races in the past five seasons.

There can be no other region in Britain as collectively passionate about horseracing as Yorkshire. Nine top class racecourses, more than any other UK region, hold 180 meetings each year and horseracing contributes nearly £230m annually to the Yorkshire economy, according to a report by the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR) at Sheffield Hallam University. CRESR estimates that more than 5,000 individuals in Yorkshire are involved in ownership of a racehorse in training in the county.

Professor Paul Lawless, CRESR, points out, “The core racing

MARK JOHNSTON, Middleham Moor In 2009, Mark became the first Flat trainer to send out more than 200 winners in a season and promptly repeated this achievement the very next season. Mark has achieved a century every season to date since 1994 and once again this season has already trained over 200 winners. Family connections have been tightly interwoven within most of the profiles and Mark is no exception, ably assisted by wife Deirdre and with sons Charlie and Angus taking an active interest in the ‘family business’ from a young age.

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Mark didn’t progress to the training ranks from the saddle, however. He first qualified as a vet, which brings a massive boon to the Kingsley House yard. Mark first started training in 1987, in Lincolnshire, and moved to the current yard the following year. In 1992 he achieved his first Group success and Mister Baileys provided a first Classic in 1994, Double Trigger bringing up the Classic double later that season in the Italian St Leger. Attraction and Jukebox Jury have since followed suit, together with stars such as Shamardal, Lucky Story, Bijou D’Inde, Royal

Rebel, Double Eclipse, Fruits Of Love and not to forget Yavana’s Pace, a testament, if any were needed, to Mark’s training skills when landing a Group One at Cologne at the grand old recordbreaking age of 10. Kingsley House these days has expanded to two additional yards and covers 270 acres. The extensive gallops flow through the scenic Yorkshire Dales and facilities include three individual grass gallops, an all-weather Tapeta gallop and an equine swimming pool, with a wide choice of turn-out paddocks to enable the horses to relax and enjoy the Dales

in as natural a manner as possible. This seems to be a key feature to most of the Yorkshire stables and another good reason why so many winners are flooding out from the region. Every aspect of Mark’s horses’ well-being is provided for. “We devise training programmes specifically tailored to help every horse achieve its potential and support those programmes with top-class services,” he says. “The yard is the only one in the country to employ two full-time vets and all their costs are covered in the daily training fees.” markjohnstonracing.com

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MAGNETIC NORTH

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industry provides some 2,300 full-time equivalent jobs in the county and, using Yorkshire Forward’s Regional Economic Model, it can be estimated that racing supports another 830 full-time equivalent jobs in the county.”

Go Racing In Yorkshire was the first regional promotion of horseracing to be established, back in 1976, and Gary Verity, the chief executive of the tourist agency Welcome To Yorkshire, explains, “Horseracing is part of the lifeblood of Yorkshire. The [CRESR] report illustrates not only how important the racing industry is to our county but the future potential of racing in Yorkshire.”

Collectively the nine Yorkshire racecourses stage 12 per cent of the national fixture list.

Attendances are consistently in the region of 20 per cent of the national figure, emphasising the popularity of racing in the county. But this alone wouldn’t explain why so many top class trainers see it as the ideal base.

Good horsemen may not be experts of geology and geography, but it’s no accident that training centres and stud farms have risen up in the best geological areas for thoroughbred production, the lime-rich and free-draining soils typical of Suffolk, Kildare, Normandy and Kentucky. The Soilscapes (DEFRA) map of Britain shows North Yorkshire sharing that sought-after limestone soil, particularly in the Dales, Pennines and Harrogate and Leeds regions.

But what else brings an increased number of top class trainers to the county? The ongoing demand for top quality land and residential farms across the UK far outstrips availability and Yorkshire is enjoying this economic boom.

In fact, last year farmland in the region reached a record level of £7,000 an acre and is predicted to top £10,000 an acre within the next two years.

The annual Savills Agricultural Land Survey showed increases of 7.5 per cent in the north during 2013, but this is still less than the 13 per cent increases in the south, making it a viable option. Rural Market Survey spokesperson, Sue Steer, says of the increase in land values in the area, “The growth of farmland prices across Yorkshire in recent times has been nothing short of staggering. In less than 10 years we’ve seen the cost of a square acre of farmland grow to such an extent that investors, not just farmers, are entering the market.”

So what we have is a lime-rich county perfect for horses and affordable for their trainers, in a central location for the country’s racecourses and with a strong populace of horseracing enthusiasts. What’s not to like?

TIM EASTERBY, Malton Tim is the son of the legendary Peter Easterby, while uncle Mick Easterby is a legend in his own right, so racehorses definitely flow through his veins. Tim was involved in his father’s yard while still at school and was a successful amateur rider. Having been assistant to his father for more than a decade, he took over at Habton Grange in 1996, with the retired Peter now acting as his assistant. With such a background it comes as no surprise that winners flowed at once. Bollin Joanne won the Group Three Duke Of York Stakes in 1997 and Bollin Eric brought Classic victory with his St Leger win in 2002. Somnus was crowned Europe’s champion sprinter in 2004 and other Group One stars include Fayr Jag and Pipalong, while Grade One NH heroes, Barton and Garruth, continue the strong dual-purpose tradition. In 2012 Tim picked up his fifth Top Trainer in Yorkshire title, with a total of 48 victories on the county’s nine tracks. He has trained over 400 winners at home and abroad in the past five years. Habton Grange is in the heart of North Yorkshire, with two yards and a third at Easthorpe Hall Stud,

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KEVIN RYAN, Hambleton Kevin sent out his first winner in 1998 and the following year Eastern Purple provided him with his first Group win. This season, having already won Group Ones in the past with Amadeus Wolf, Desert Lord, Palace Episode and Astaire, Kevin landed his first Classic, the Prix du Jockey Club, with The Grey Gatsby, who went on to take a famous scalp in the Irish Champion Stakes. With 120 boxes, Kevin has sent out over 500 winners in the past five years. Hailing originally from Tipperary, Kevin was a successful conditional jockey, riding 47 winners, but it was the training of racehorses that most appealed. He gained invaluable knowledge working as head lad to Jack Berry, before becoming assistant to Richard Fahey. After such a sound grounding, he was well-equipped to take up the opportunity to move to Hambleton Lodge and go it alone. He is ably assisted by his son Adam and daughter Amy, a much-respected apprentice jockey who rides out daily, while wife Jill is invaluable in the office.

His horses enjoy the idyllic setting of Hambleton Lodge, set on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors, on Sutton Bank, and secluded by ancient woodland. “This offers a wonderful environment where the horses are surrounded by fresh, clean air and have the enjoyment of passing through the forest on a daily basis,” says Kevin. “The gallops can be one of the most idyllic places on a clear morning. Although it is great to see your horse fly up the woodchip, you can also witness some breathtaking views that show Yorkshire at its finest.” kevinryanracing.com

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On the moors the horses have fresh, clean air and enjoy forest runs on a daily basis.

housing over 130 horses. “We have some of the best gallops around, including a variety of grass and all-weather options. We have acres of turnout paddocks, which allow our horses to relax and play on a regular basis. Additionally, these give us the chance to turn horses out for a break or when recuperating after injury,” Tim says. He enjoys particular success with his 2-year-olds and 24 per cent of his winning total has been contributed by the younger brigade. As a regular shopper at the local sales, Tim enjoys targeting the big sales races and Somnus was the first to take the DBS St Leger Yearling Stakes, in 2002, for the stable. Midnight Martini won the £300,000 DBS St Leger Yearling stakes in 2009 and Tim has won the Weatherbys Super Sprint three times. The Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy is another always high on the agenda and Tim has won the race four times, more than any other trainer. timeaterby.co.uk

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ANN DUFFIELD, Leyburn

The thoroughbred’s origins are on Sun Hill’s doorstep. The Darley Arabian, Byerley Turk and Godolphin Arabian were mated to mares based locally.

We should begin with ladies first, but for Ann it’s very much a case of horses come first.

“While racehorses are creatures of habit, they do all differ enormously, and getting to know them, doing the right things in order to coax the best performances from them, is one of the most interesting parts of the job,” says Ann. “The thoroughbred’s origins are on Sun Hill’s doorstep. The Darley Arabian, Byerley Turk and Godolphin Arabian were mated to mares all based locally, the majority of them residing on Wyvill land, which included Sun Hill,” Ann says of her discovery when first setting up the yard there in 1999. “Despite it not being a training centre before the year 2000 it’s the only yard in the world to boast such historic credentials.” Ann and husband, George, converted a farm to the current first class training facilities. “Sun Hill offers everything a racehorse

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MICK EASTERBY, Sheriff Hutton

trainer could want, set in the most beautiful of surroundings amidst quiet country lanes, affording us the ability to take horses out in quiet surroundings for their roadwork, and the naturally hilly landscape provides the ideal preparation for getting horses really fit,” she enthuses. Fifty acres of land provide a large selection of paddocks and fields, allowing her horses time to switch off and to be in their natural habitat on a regular basis. “It has an exceptionally good six furlong uphill all weather gallop,” Ann says. “George, who helped with the design, maintains it is as good as any he has ridden on. Going uphill on such a good and forgiving surface helps reduce stress to the limbs and cuts down on injuries.” Top class winners such as Lady Rangali, Melody Of Love and Dark Reckoning are proof of the pudding and have contributed to Ann’s 123 winners since 2010. annduffield.co.uk

Mick has been training from New House Farm for half a century and famous winners include One Thousand Guineas heroine Mrs McArdy, Gimcrack hero Wiganthorpe, Champion sprinter Lochnager and popular Stewards Cup winner Hoof It. His eye for a horse, given the Easterby bloodline, is indisputable. “I’ve just bought a Classic winner!” he famously told his brother Peter, after fetching the yearling Mrs McArdy home from the sales. Showing no sign of slowing down, with son David as assistant, Mick has sent out over 200 winners in the past five seasons and has 150 boxes. He has no doubts as to why so many winners are turned out from Yorkshire stables: “We’re better trainers! And harder-working, I can give you a written guarantee on that.” The facilities boasted of elsewhere in the country are these days perfectly accessible to all, so location can be much more of a personal choice, as Mick points out. “Since I started it’s a different game, you can put a gallop down anywhere now. I was the first person to put down a gallop, 27 years ago. We were quoted a quarter of a million to lay it! So I did it myself and saved £150,000.”

Hard-working indeed. Mick costs everything and thanks to his own farm is largely self-sufficient, growing his own hay, straw and much of the feed, which gives him 100 per cent control over what his horses get, as well as keeping costs down. As a result he believes training fees in Yorkshire are up to half the price of other locations. “We’re in a wonderful location,” he says, “sat at the bottom of the Howardian Hills, it’s the most picturesque place in the world, beautiful.

Newmarket is overdone with horses, pick up a disease and it goes around and you can’t stop it. The quality of the fresh air here is wonderful, the setting is a huge benefit. The lifestyle is wonderful, but I don’t want anyone else coming here, I don’t want to spoil it!” mickeasterby.co.uk

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We’re better trainers! And harder-working, I can give you a written guarantee on that.”

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THE ROLL CALL OF WINNERS UK Group-winning Yorkshire trainers of 2014:

David O’Meara G Force; Custom Cut; Penitent

Mark Johnston Bow Creek; Hartnell; Muraaqaba

Kevin Ryan The Grey Gatsby; Hot Streak; Hamza

John Quinn The Wow Signal

Ann Duffield Dark Reckoning

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RICHARD FAHEY, Musley Bank Richard started out in 1993 and within a couple of years had not only picked up the Grade One Heineken Gold Cup with Noyan, but landed a first Flat Group success at no better place than Royal Ascot, when Superior Premium won the Cork And Orrery. In 2010 Wootton Bassett provided the stable with its first Group One and horses of the calibre of Garswood and Mayson have added further glory since. He began his professional racing career in the saddle.

Richard rode over 100 winners and shared the conditional jockeys’ title. “I gave it up before it gave me up!” he says of hanging up his boots. As a trainer, he has steadily improved season after season, progressing rapidly into the very top flight. With just over 100 horses currently in his care at Mews House, he has sent out over 800 winners in the past five seasons alone. Moving to Musley Bank in 2005, he achieved the rare feat of going past the £1m prize money barrier in 2006 and repeated this impressive tally again in 2007, sending out 100 winners in a season for the first time the following year. Last year his 164 winners netted almost £2.5m and spiralled him up to fifth in the trainers’ championship.

Acknowledging the importance of the team around him, Richard is assisted by Robin O’Ryan, heading up a team of experienced and dedicated horsemen, including jockey Tony Hamilton, who rides out for Richard daily. Current stable star Garswood may now be heading to stud duties, but with Richard’s two-year-olds this season picking up 55 victories between them, including Bond’s Girl, who has netted £300,000 in prize money, there is sure to be another leading three-year-old among them to look forward to next season. richardfahey.com

Karl Burke Toocoolforschool

Richard Fahey Sandiva

Geoff Oldroyd Ladies Are Forever

David Griffiths Take Cover

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With just over 100 horses currently in his care Fahey has sent out 800 winners in the last five seasons.

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25/9/14 12:37:26 05/11/2014 16:18

VENDORS

THE DYNAMIC DUO KITTY COWHEY AND KATIE McGIVERN When Kitty Cowhey and Katie McGivern bought a colt by Thewayyouare for €8,000 at the Goffs Sportman’s Sale in 2013, they obviously hoped for a return on their investment but, having spent many years learning from some of the best in the bloodstock business, they knew that success is rarely straightforward. Kitty began her equine career with international showjumper Tom Slattery, where she spent three years before moving to Limerick to work for Peter Molony of Rathmore Stud. During this ten-year stint she also spent time at Peter O’Callaghan’s Woods Edge Farm in Kentucky before spending three months with Gai Waterhouse and John Foot at the sales in Australia and New Zealand and going on to develop her own farm in Kildare.

As daughter of ex-jockey and successful trainer, Joana Morgan, Katie was born into the thoroughbred business. She bought her first Breezer in partnership with her mother at the age of 18. She gained further experience with leading Breeze Up consignor Willie Browne in Tipperary before teaming up with Paddy Twoomey at his Hawthorn Villa Stables. During the three years that they traded together they had success with the likes of subsequent Group 2 winner Prolific (£18,500 yearling sold for £52,000 at DBS) and Pallodio, (£14,500 DBS yearling re-sold for €72,000) who won a Group 3 and was Group 1 placed. Katie then spent two years studying physiotherapy before the lure of horses saw her travel to the Southern Hemisphere to do track work for Lee Freedman before assisting Lord Huntingdon at the sales and reuniting with Kitty to work the sales and enjoy everything that New Zealand has to offer. Kitty and Katie made it back to Ireland in 2011 and went in to partnership pinhooking foals to yearlings and yearlings to breezers. The yearlings are kept at Cowhey’s Kildare property and are consigned under her own name whilst the breezers are prepared by Katie at her mother’s yard near Meath and selling under Derryconnor Stud. A chestnut colt, by The Way You Are, that they bought as a foal at Goffs for €9,000, was to be their big

Stories SELLING

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Vendors see potential, nurture it and after much investment of time and money hope that a short turn in the ring will reap rewards. Meet three very different selling set-ups.

break, Katie explains, “From the day we got him home he was very straightforward. He had a great attitude and was one of the easier ones to break. It wasn’t long before he was behaving like an old handicapper and we ended up using him as a lead horse!

The sales companies didn’t know what to make of him and it was Tim Kent at DBS who was most keen on the horse which was the deciding factor in sending him to Doncaster. We only took him away from the farm to work on three occasions but he improved every time and Micky Cleere thought he would go well after the practice breeze. I was confident that he would run straight and Micky took him up the middle of the track and I was surprised with how well he went - it was impressive!” The breeze gained huge attention from work watchers. The fact that Toast Of New York, by the same sire, won the the Grade 2 UAE Derby in Dubai was a huge boost to the stallion’s selling power. It was this that ensured Jamie Osborne bid on the colt for owner Michael Buckley but no one had the buying power of David Redvers, who bought the colt for £90,000 on behalf of Sheikh Fahad Al Thani and his brothers’ Qatar Racing. The colt has been named Total Demolition and is trained by Olly Stevens.

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VENDORS

THE PARTNERSHIP VERE AND CLEA PHILLIPPS

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jumping horses, Vere explains. “Pinhooking is our night job but we Even just a glimpse at the website of husband and wife team Vere get a great amount of enjoyment out of buying and selling National and Clea Phillipps will indicate that the Leicestershire-based Hunt horses and love following them once they hit the track.” couple are one of the best at what they do. The pair has built Generally they have about 15 National Hunt horses on a hugely successful business with accolades and the farm. Their sales preparation keeps them busy awards in everything from racing to eventing. leading into the Spring Sales. “We offer all of our Perhaps best known for their eventing and horses completely untried so it’s a nice change show jumping horses the Phillipps have a We get tremendous as I don’t have to ride,” Vere explains. Selling strong National Hunt track record. How enjoyment from buying under Futurerate, the Phillips’ certainly have did they get started? Vere watched some come across a winning formula and have friends selling horses with DBS about 15 and selling National had the pleasure of cheering home some years ago and thought, ‘that looks easy’.

Hunt horses, following top horses. “We have sold some very good It has taken time to learn who’s who in their form once they hit horses and a lot have gone on to win blackthe industry and to develop an eye for type and graded races. Some of those include what they think will grow into a good race the track Breaking Silence, Faltering Fullback, Lead On, horse. Preferring to pinhook horses rather King High, Here Comes The Truth, Captain than breed, having National Hunt horses on Sunshine, Rick, Darna, Triggerman etc. “We haven’t the farm adds another line of profit to the business sold a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner,” Vere laughs. “Not and keeps Vere, Clea and the team busy leading into the yet!” vere-phillipps.co.uk spring, a quiet time on the farm. The day job is eventing and show Goffs DBS

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VENDORS

THE SOLO ARTIST ROBERT ROBINSON Dumfries-based Robert Robinson of Distillery Stud is a man who likes to fly under the radar. An astute pinhooker he has very quietly become a consignor of note. He grew up hunting and Point-to-Pointing and as an amateur jockey won the Northern Area Title. It was while riding for top trainer, the now deceased three times Grand National winning Captain Tim Forster, known in racing circles as The Captain, that he learned how a yard was run. When he gave up riding he returned to the family farm in Dumfries but wondered how he was going to get the adrenalin rush he had enjoyed in the saddle. “We’d always had a few broodmares and I started buying a few foals, dabbling away.”

His breeding career happened by chance. One day Willie Rooney, who used to sell Point-to-Pointers to Robinson’s father and who is the grandfather of Kevin Ross, who trained Bentom Boy to win the Irish National, called him to see if he wanted to buy Mirror Boy, a stallion owned by the Daily Mirror’s Punter Club. Robinson says he is selftaught but learned about pedigree from breeding Simmental cattle years before diversifying into bloodstock. “I never read a book but I can’t tell you how many sales catalogues I’ve devoured. I loved to trace the sire and dam lines of the ones that interest me scratching out the rest. A foal has got to have conformation, be able to walk and have a good attitude to life. I put a lot down to conformation, especially when reselling. To get your money back bloodstock agents want a looker.” DBS graduates include Regal Encore, Bless The Wings, Bold Sir Brian and Master Malt, sold at Newbury in 2012 for £140,000 to Jonjo O’Neill.

The job is evolving all the time, he says. “With the introduction of flat horses into National Hunt you’re looking for horses with strength and stamina as well as speed.” Over the last 30 years he’s gradually built up the business moving away from foals and converting the farm to stud, growing his own, as he puts it. He sends most of his mares to Coolmore because their National Hunt sires are so well bred. In 2007 he sold a distillery on his lands that had previously been mothballed by whisky company Johnnie Walker and is busy converting two old stable blocks into holiday homes. The distillery has just reopened and is being operated by David Thomson and Teresa Church as Annandale Distillery Company. “Visitors to the farm now have a place to stay especially if they want to try a dram of whisky,” he quips.

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PROFILE

THE

QATAR

Connection Qatar is a relatively new powerhouse within British horseracing. DBS is a one-stop shop for some of that country’s big names, writes Tim Kent.

Photography by Sarah Farnsworth

Q

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atari’s interests have been a rising force at bloodstock sales in recent years but it is not just the spending power of Qatar Racing and Al Shaqab Racing that is having an impact on domestic sales. Qatari trainers are making a big splash at the Horses in Training sales before shipping their purchases to race in Doha.

Traditional outlets presented problems for Qatari buyers.

Early sales meant that UK horses found it hard to adjust to the searing temperatures of the Middle Eastern summer whilst later sales made it difficult to prepare a horse for the big meetings in December each year. The new dates for DBS’ September Sales have become the ideal time for these trainers to buy and the strength of this year’s catalogue has not gone unnoticed by the big names in the State of Qatar’s racing fraternity.

Jassim Ghazali is considered the champion trainer in Qatar and won the equivalent of £284,676 (1.66 million QR) during the 2013/2014 season. He trains a large string of Arabian and Thoroughbred Horses from his stable at the racetrack and won the Group 1 Qatar Derby, Group 1 Qatar Gold Cup and Group 1 HH The Emirs Trophy in Doha last season. His quest for further success meant that he travelled to Doncaster via Manchester with his family for the first time this year. Whilst his wife and children were huge supporters of the local economy with an unquenchable thirst for shopping, Ghazali was busy stockpiling future talent at the September Sales and this was topped by the £185,000 purchase of the former Richard Fahey trained Izzthatright on behalf of an existing owner who belongs to the Qatari Royal family. Ghazali commented after the sale that, ‘I came here to the sales and liked what I saw. I bought eight quality horses to take to my country and thanks to the team at DBS I will put this sale in my calendar for next season.’ The trainer of 140 winners last season bought horses from Seamus Durack, Richard Hannon, Charlie Hills, Kevin Ryan and two each from Richard Fahey and Brian Meehan.

Ibrahim Al Malki is another successful trainer of Arabian and Thoroughbred Horses and he attended the sale with former jockey Gary Carter who now divides his time between the UK and Qatar.

Al Malki trained 33 winners and won almost £45,000 (268,180 QR) during his best season in Doha but was less successful at the

DBS September Sales. Despite bidding on a number of choice lots he lacked the firepower of some of his compatriots but played a valuable role as under bidder during the two-day auction.

Hilal Kobeissi is the youngest trainer in Doha, but despite the relative small numbers within his stable he has an enviable strike rate at the local track. Having grown up in Newmarket when his father trained in the UK, the son of Ahmed Kobeissi learnt much of his trade from his father as well as a wealth of other Newmarket trainers. Kobeissi Snr campaigned the ex-Ballydoyle trained Beethoven to success in the Group 1 Qatar Derby and Group 1 HH Heir Apparent Trophy for Mohammed Kazim Al Ansari and Kobeissi Jnr attended the September Sales with Mark Marris from the UK-based Tailored Bloodstock. Between them they

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bid on a number of the stand out horses and had a large budget for the potential purchase of Kool Kompany but the strength of the Qatari Riyal and Australian Dollar meant that there were no shipping fees to be paid on this occasion but they will be back with more in 2015.

Conrad Allen spent three years working as the official handicapper in Doha before returning to the UK where he trains in Newmarket and buys horses to send back to Western Asia where he maintains the wealth of contacts built-up during his time in the Arab state. He was a priceless asset when visiting Qatar with DBS in 2014 and bought two horses at the September Sales to be trained by Zuhair Mohsen in Doha whilst he also bought Harry’s Dancer for Osama Al Dhafea at the Autumn Sales.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Mark Marris discusses the horses whilst Hilal Kobeissi watches on; Gary Carter and Ibrahim Al Malki; Jassim Ghazali inspects potential purchases; Conrad Allen takes photos for Zohair Mohshen; Jassim Ghazali talking to owners.

It was Donald McCain who put up much opposition when forcing Allen to part with £140,000 for the Karl Burke trained Truancy whilst it was a bid of £5,500 that secured the Alan McCabe trained Red Connect for export to warmer climes.

The DBS team looks forward to welcoming them into the winners enclosure at Doha racecourse in 2015.

DBS will be searching for more Qatari talent to offer at the September Sales in 2015.

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BUYERS

STRIKING NEW GROUND

GETTY IMAGES

MICHAEL OWEN

MICHAEL OWEN is best known for his exploits on the football field, but since retiring from the beautiful game in 2013 he has had more time to focus on the sport of kings alongside his media commitments and running the management agency that guides the careers of young players. Owen was introduced to racing by former England team mate David Platt who has horses in training with John Gosden, and it was this Newmarket handler who trained Owen’s first two horses, which included the Listed winning Treble Heights. This early success started an obsession for the former Manchester United and England striker who went on to establish Manor House Stables in Cheshire in 2007. The yard boasts some of the finest training facilities in the UK and includes stabling for 90 horses, a grass gallop and several allweather Safetrack gallops, an impressive owner’s lounge, an on-site veterinary clinic and equine swimming pools alongside state-of-the art staff facilities. The appointment of Tom Dascombe in 2009 showed that Owen has the same determination to succeed in his new venture as he did when representing Club and Country on the football field, and the partnership with Betfair founder Andrew Black at Manor House Stables is further proof that this is a yard with big ambitions. Success has followed this determined team who have been in the winners enclosure at Royal Ascot with Ceiling Kitty, Rhythm Of Light and Brown Panther. They enjoyed their first Group 1 victory this year when Brown Panther won the Irish St Leger under Richard Kingscote. The son of Shirroco was bred by Owen out of his original mare Treble Heights but he also spends much of time searching for more equine talent at both Goffs and DBS where he buys with Ed Sackville from SackvilleDonald. manorhousestables.com

Turf THE NEW

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CLUB

Horseracing, historically the sport of kings is attracting football’s top talent. To succeed in one sport, to get to the top of your game would seem beyond lucky. To be able to make the transfer to a second sport means joining a league of extraordinary gentlemen, writes Tim Kent.

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BUYERS

CAPTAIN TANTASTIC VINCENT TAN

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Tan also owns FK Sarajevo which is one of the most successful Vincent Tan has been a controversial figure in British football clubs in Bosnia. The Bordo-Bijeli play in red and white and is one of since his purchase of Cardiff City Football Club in 2010. The the most prominent members of the Premier League of Malaysian businessman is a different kind of player.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, where they have won two As Chairman and chief executive of Berjaya Bosnian championships, four Bosnian Cups and Corporation Berhad, which incorporates a He invested £100 one Bosnian Supercup. Tan’s wish is for the wide array of businesses and includes golfing, two clubs to cooperate and exchange players property, resorts, and gambling in a group million into Cardiff whilst taking part in a football academy to known as the Berjaya Group, his ownership in return for develop young talent in both countries. His of the Bluebirds sparked outrage among getting permission first foray into the racing world took place Cardiff supporters in 2012 when he planned at DBS in April this year when he bought his to invest £100 million in the club in return to change the strip’s first racehorse at the DBS Breeze-Up Sales for being granted permission to change the colour. with help from Dato’ Seri Teh Choon Beng club colours from blue to red. Despite fans of the Penang Turf Club who also bought colts anguish at such plans, the club went ahead with

by Tagula and Starspangledbanner for £50,000 and the radical move to expand Cardiff ’s appeal in £55,000, respectively. The Dutch Art Colt from Norman foreign markets and redesigned the badge to include a Williamson’s Oak Tree Farm was bought for £190,000 before red dragon, while their home kit was changed from blue to red. going into training with Jeremy Gask and we expect him to be This was matched with significant personal investment in the running in a fresh set of red colours very soon. club from Tan, who replaced manager Malky Mackay with Ole Gunnar Solskjær in 2014.

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The Hannon and Doyle father and son team have had another superb year led by DBS two-year-olds such as Tiggy Wiggy, Kool Kompany and Estidhkaar. Catherine Austen asks this partnership how they pick winners. Photography: Sarah Farnsworth

I

n racing, success – regular, high-level success – is never down to an individual. It is the result of a team working together with the same aim and the same ideas. The buying and training partnership of the Doyles and the Hannons is the perfect example.

Their achievements in buying horses inexpensively – most often at DBS – and winning the game’s biggest prize-pots with them are legendary. In recent weeks the highlights have been the exceptionally fast two-year-old Tiggy Wiggy’s victory in the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes and Olympic Glory taking his Group One tally to four in the Prix de la Foret on Arc day at Longchamp.

The former, a Kodiac filly who cost £41,000 at DBS’s Premier Yearling Sale in 2013, has won six of her eight starts to date and £381,182 in prize money. Olympic Glory, now four, was bought at the same sale two years earlier for £65,000 and his earnings are now approaching £1.5million.These are just two in a list that includes Paco Boy and Canford Cliffs.

“It started nearly 30 years ago with my grandfather, Jack

Doyle,” says Ross Doyle. “He was a man with many strings to his bow – horseman, athlete and car salesman. He had a long association with Doncaster, buying Right Tack (winner of the 1969 2000 Guineas and Irish 2000 Guineas) there, and horses with Capt. Ryan Price.”

The first sale Jack’s son (and Ross’s father), Peter attended was at Doncaster in 1971, where Jack and Capt. Price bought future champion sprinter Sandford Lad for 1,500 guineas.

The die was cast, and Peter developed his own successful buying partnership with trainer Liam Browne, with whom he bought the 1982 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Dara Monarch.

In the early 1980s, Jack said that he couldn’t go to Deauville that year, and told Peter to go there and meet a man called Richard Hannon.

“They had a couple of drinks at the races, and bought three or four yearlings together,” says Ross. “That was the start of it.”

Now Richard Jnr holds the reins at East Everleigh Stables, and the second-generation friendship and working relationship between the English Hannons and Irish Doyles is

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Estidhkaar

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Kool Company

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Canford Cliffs

bearing ever-more luscious fruit.

Ross was nearly sidelined by rugby but, after a business studies degree, joined his father in the business in 2001. The first horse that he and Richard Jnr bought together was Group Three winner Rag Top in October 2001.

“They are good trainers and good people,” says Peter. “The Hannons have very high standards for horses and you know where you stand. They know what they want, and we know it too. We all have the same eye.”

Richard Jnr concurs. “We laugh that it works so well because we live in separate countries and are not in each other’s pockets, so are pleased to see each other.

And we trust each other.”

Richard Jnr estimates that he buys 40 per cent of his yearlings at DBS – 39 in 2013 and 37 in 2012.

“What you get at Doncaster is racehorses,” he says simply. “They are ready-made, hardened horses from very good nurseries, which means the job is already half-done.”

Tiggy Wiggy

Traditionally, Richard Hannon Snr was known as a genius trainer of two-yearolds, and the sharp, early-maturing types found at Doncaster were ideal.

“We’ve always looked for early types and DBS has always sold them,” says Peter. “The type of horse sold at Doncaster has suited us over the years – well-balanced, earlylooking types. And over the years they have got more quality horses that stay further.”

“It used to be that we bought horses up to £100,000,” Ross says adding: “The main criteria was to find physical athletes – pedigree was a bonus. We get a bit more leeway with the Hannons than some clients – we’re able to pick a horse others might not, perhaps because the sire isn’t necessarily fashionable, which doesn’t mean the horse isn’t a great physical specimen.”

Peter says that his best buy was Canford Cliffs. A £50,000 yearling from DBS’s 2008 Premier Yearling Sale, he proved an outstanding racehorse, winning the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot on his second start. In his 3-yearold season he took the Irish 2000

Guineas, the St James’s Palace Stakes and the Sussex Stakes, while at four he started with a Lockinge Stakes triumph and then conquered Goldikova at Ascot in the Queen Anne Stakes.

“When you look at a horse at the sales, the first two or three seconds are the most important – the feeling a horse gives you, the way he fills your eye, the way he stands there like a natural. Canford Cliffs was the perfect example of those qualities,” Ross recalls. “His sire Tagula was in something of the twilight of his career, but we’d had lots of good ones by him and Canford Cliffs really stood out as a physical specimen.”

Ross’s own vote for their most satisfying purchase goes to Paco Boy, on whom they spent just £30,000 at the 2007 DBS Breeze-Up Sales. The son of Desert Style far outstretched his pedigree and raced for four seasons, winning three Group Ones and four Group Twos’ and more than £1 million in prize-money.

“What he gave back to his owners, to Richard and to the yard can’t be

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expressed,” says Ross. “He was the first horse to bring Richard (Snr) to tears!

And he came along in the early years of Richard (Jnr) and I working together, so he was a confidence-booster that we were on the right track.”

Both Canford Cliffs and Paco Boy – and other Hannon/Doyle purchases such as Zebedee – are now making promising starts to their stallion careers.

Ross adds: “Richard (Jnr) has been a huge driving force in encouraging owners to spend more on horses. He’s very good at meeting new clients and at giving them the belief and confidence to work with us. They have spent money on enhancing the facilities at home and have done the same with the horses.”

The team do sometimes now exceed that £100,000 budget, they bought this year’s Superlative Stakes and Champagne Stakes winner Estidhkaar, owned by Hamdan al Maktoum, for £200,000 at DBS’s Premier Yearling Sales in 2013, for example. But they are still more likely to spend £40,000 on the likes of dual Group Two winner Kool Kompany.

“DBS is great value. Horses are worth the money there,” emphasises Ross. “We buy 20-30 yearlings there every year, mostly at the Premier Sales, which is the most at any individual sale, and it’s been that way for the past few years.”

What sorts of things are they looking for in a horse?

“As well as having presence, a horse must have a good walk. They must be relaxed, walk with their head down and have a fluent action,” says Ross. “They must have very good knees. A lot of pressure is

put on that area and is important for them to be structurally correct.

“And it’s important that the horse is good-looking. The Hannons buy on spec, and looks are more important to catch the eye of an owner than pedigree.”

The Hannons and Doyles form a powerhouse that is the envy of many in racing – and it is built on the solid rock of purchases from Doncaster Bloodstock Sales. richardhannonracing.co.uk doyleracing.com

WINNING STREAKS HORSE PRICE

SALE

BIG WINS

TOTAL WINNINGS

PACO BOY CANFORD CLIFFS STRONG SUIT OLYMPIC GLORY TOORMORE TIGGY WIGGY ESTIDHKAAR KOOL KOMPANY

2007 Breeze Up 2008 Premier Yearling 2009 Premier Yearling 2011 Premier Yearling 2012 Premier Yearling 2013 Premier Yearling 2013 Premier Yearling 2013 Premier Yearling

3xGr1, 4xGr2, 1xGr3 5xGr1, 1xGr2 3xGr2, 1xGr3 4xGr1, 2xGr2, 1xGr3 1xGr1, 1xGr2, 1xGr3 1xGr1, 1xGr2 2xGr2 2xGr2

£1,078,287 £951,724 £346,561 £1,419,773 £260,220 £381,182 £92,937 £196,582

£30,000 £50,000 £40,000 £65,000 £36,000 £41,000 £200,000 £40,000

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SCHOOLING WINNERS

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Winners SCHOOLING

Based on the outskirts of Doncaster, the Northern Racing College is a jockey school whose graduates include Hayley Turner, Dominic Elsworth, David Allan, Joe Colliver, Conor Beasley, George Chaloner and Kevin Stott. But the NRC has also been the starting point for people working in all aspects of the racing industry, writes Catherine Austen.

Photography by Sarah Farnsworth “It’s an inspirational place to work,” says Dawn Goodfellow, chief executive of the Northern Racing College. “Taking young people – a lot of whom have not had the greatest start in life – and watching them grow and develop from working with racehorses is fantastic and very rewarding.”

The Northern Racing College (NRC) is situated just five miles from DBS Sales Complex and Doncaster Racecourse, on the other side of the M18. The three unite to make Doncaster racing’s

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Northern capital in the same way that the two Newmarket tracks, the British Racing School and Tattersalls link up in the south.

Both schools started in their current form in 1984, although a version of the Newmarket one had existed previously. Both have done an exceptionally good job of training those who want to work in the racing industry ever since.

The NRC offers a wide range of courses for everyone from aspiring trainers to stud secretaries, but the majority of people who pass through its halls are there for the 12-week foundation course, which prepares them for a job in a racing yard.

“Most are aged between 16 and 18, although they can come on a day-release scheme from school from the age of 14,” says Dawn.

“They must have a love for horses and be prepared to work hard – and work outside. They must have the desire to put in the hours.

Learning that there are two six o’clock’s in a day can come as a major shock to their systems!

“But the wonderful thing about racing is that it doesn’t care where they come from or who they are as long as they want to be part of a team.”

She says that a third of those who do the foundation course have never touched a horse before in their lives.

“We get quite a few small, naughty boys whose probation officer or social worker thought racing might suit them.”

Plenty do have horsey experience, however – Hayley Turner, perhaps the NRC’s best-known graduate and the most successful female jockey Britain has ever produced, grew up riding and competing ponies and came to the NRC as part of her long-held aim to be a jockey.

Whatever their background, students are expected to take on the responsibility that comes with caring for any animal, let alone half a ton of thoroughbred racehorse.

NOTABLE NRC GRADUATES

HAYLEY TURNER

DAVE ALLAN

GEORGE CHALONER

JOE COLLIVER

As well as a host of jockeys, including Hayley Turner, Dominic Elsworth, David Allan, Joe Colliver, Conor Beasley, George Chaloner and Kevin Stott, the NRC has been the starting point for people working in all aspects of the racing industry. Katie Stephens is now clerk of the course at Bath Racecourse. She first went to the NRC after leaving school in 1994. She did what is now the foundation course, and also completed her NVQ Level Three through the college.

“That counted for a couple of A levels, and I went on to university entirely so I could get a place on the British Horseracing Authority’s graduate programme, which led to a career in racecourse management,” she says. “I owe my whole career to the NRC. I loved my time there and I’d never have ended up where I am without its help and support.” Racing Post journalist Jessica Lamb is another graduate of the NRC, as is Matt Mancini, who is director of Newmarket’s Racing Centre, which provides a hub for the town’s racing workforce and a fitness and rehabilitation service.

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“We have huge expectations of their behaviour,” says Dawn. “But at the root of a lot of young people’s troubles is a lack of self-esteem and self-confidence. What could give you the same boost in those areas as learning to ride a racehorse? We get a lot of feedback from parents saying their children are unrecognisable (in terms of behaviour) after coming to the NRC.” All of the NRC’s instructors have worked in the racing industry – such as former jockey and trainer Paul Eccles – which means that not only can they impart the precise skills needed to work with racehorses, they can also advise them on the “soft skills” necessary for such a career. Seventy per cent of those who start the foundation course go on to jobs in the industry – an impressively high statistic.

Journalist Howard Wright, who has been a trustee of the NRC since 1990 and its vice-chairman since 2004, says: “The college has an exceptional bunch of dedicated staff.

Their dedication is tremendous, and there is huge attention to personal needs and to learning life skills. I have great admiration for the staff who are prepared to give that bit more to this kids.”

Among others, he singles out student welfare office Georgina Sherry, who was nominated for a Pride of Racing award in 2013. “She’s like a mother hen – with a bit of a peck!” he says.

And he points out that operations director Joanne Ellis did the Great North Run to raise funds for the college.

Other staff have also raised money through sponsored efforts for the NRC. “It’s not a question of being on our uppers; it’s an example of how staff roll up their sleeves and get on with it,” says Howard.

Dawn is keen to keep improving the facilities at the NRC, and a new dining room and kitchen have just been completed. “We’re now having a major fund-raising effort to build a new accommodation block, particularly for the older students,” says Dawn.

Howard says that during Dawn’s watch, he has seen a lot of progress.“The NRC has got a national reputation and proper recognition among trainers and from the British Horseracing Authority. We are a grassroots establishment. The British Racing School is on a purposebuilt site with all the advantages of being in and around Newmarket, but the NRC does exceptionally well within its more limited scope and has room for a slightly different approach.”

The college received considerable attention when it was the subject of Channel 4’s Jockey School programme, and came across in a very positive light. “We got more applications in the week after the programme than we normally get in a year,” says Dawn.

It seems the NRC fulfils two roles – helping the racing industry, and helping young people. Long may it continue to do so. northernracingcollege.co.uk

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NRC SUPPORTERS

COUNTESS OF HALIFAX

KEVING DARLEY

The NRC has always been very wellsupported by the great and good of the racing industry. The current patron is the Countess of Halifax, while Trevor Beaumont, former chief executive of the Tote and former racing director of the British Horseracing Authority, is chairman.

Both are actively involved with the college and are passionate supporters Trustees include former champion jockey Kevin Darley, who also acts as a jockey coach along with Mick Fitzgerald, Sarah Easterby and Oliver Greenall.

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YEARLING INSPECTIONS

ON THE ROAD

Katherine Fidler sees first hand the team spirit at DBS as she travels with their inspection team in search of racing’s next big names to sell at the Premier and Silver Yearling Sales.

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very spring, eight cars head off in different directions from the DBS offices to travel the length and breadth of Britain and Ireland in the search for next year’s Tiggy Wiggy, Estidhkaar or Limato.

For DBS director and auctioneer Tim Kent, 2014 represents his fifth season of yearling inspections, and he knows the drill.

He knows the British weather is a fickle creature, and has coats and hats for all conditions in the car. Two blue binders contain everything he needs to know about the horses on show today, and a SatNav is primed and ready to direct him to the few yards his own internal compass can’t.

However, he also knows it’s a team effort, something he reflects on frequently during a busy day of inspections.

“I started inspecting with Harry Beeby, Michael Dale and Michael White for three or four years,” says Tim. “Harry started the sale, he’s really the founding father, so to learn from him meant you learning from the guy who’s done it all.”

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These days Harry, who retired from the rostrum, is still part of the DBS inspections team alongside current Managing Director, Henry Beeby, Michael Dale, Jeremy Mactaggart, Stuart Mactaggart, George Stanners, Katie Farnsworth and Tim Kent.

“It’s a big team effort,” says Tim. “There’s plenty of friendly rivalry and banter between us, but at the end of the day we all want the nicest horses at DBS – it doesn’t matter if it was me, Jeremy or anyone else who inspected it.”

The DBS team may have a common goal, but during the frenetic weeks of yearling inspections, which swing into action following the Spring Sales and conclude the week before Royal Ascot, they’re spread far and wide across Britain and Ireland to fulfil that aim. Around 2,000 potential lots will parade in front of them, a number that has to be whittled down to fewer than 650 for

the company’s Premier and Silver Yearling Sales.

Joining Tim on a drizzly Bank Holiday Monday in May, the first of 37 horses to be inspected that week are on show, starting at the idyllic Newsells Park Stud. Ten youngsters have been selected by the stud’s general manager Julian Dollar for consideration and, with even more years of preparing yearlings under his belt than Tim has inspecting them, he ensures the morning unfolds with military precision.

While each yearling is on show, a troop of Newsells staff ready the next, with hooves oiled and tails brushed to perfection.

Their team is more akin to the hair and make-up artists backstage at a fashion show, while out on the yard – the catwalk – it is the handler, not the horse, who is the model. Designers use models as a coat hanger to show off their clothes, and likewise, it is the handler’s job to show off the Goffs DBS

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yearling. The Newsells staff do a sterling job, and a seemless flow of yearlings are paraded before Tim and Julian, who bounce their thoughts off each other.

Tim is particularly taken with a son of Fastnet Rock and Comeraincomeshine, the dam of Listed winner Danehill Destiny, but Julian has yet to finalise where each will be offered.

“There has to be a nice balance to each draft,” says Julian. “There are a few who could go to two or three sales. We have 45 to sell this year, and we’ll send three or four to DBS.” Tim concurs: “The vendor has to balance their draft. Sometimes you lose a horse through no fault of the sales company or the horse, it’s just what works best for the vendor and how it fits in with the rest of the draft.”

After the visit, Tim writes up his notes in the aforementioned blue binders – each horse has its own insert, with their

catalogue page on one side and a chart on the other for notes on conformation, characteristics and expected value range.

“For the nicest ones you don’t have to write much,” jokes Tim. The notes don’t take long.

Next on the itinerary is Piermill Bloodstock, a relatively new operation in Coton, near Cambridge - not Chrome Lea Business Park, as the SatNav would have us believe. A quick call to part-owner Amber Mortlock rights the SatNav’s wrong, and with the farm’s historic windmill as a guide the day is swiftly back on track.

Amber and her partner William Dash have five fillies on show, all pinhooked the previous year.

“We bought all fillies on purpose,” says Amber. “The property’s too small for lots of colts.

“I’ll be crying my heart out at the sale, they all have pet names.”

HOW DID THEY DO? LOT 106 ROYAL APPLAUSE – SEMAPHORE (Trickledown Stud as agent for Moyns Park). Sold for £70,000 to John and Jake Warren for a new Highclere Racing syndicate to be trained by John Quinn.

LOT 311 FASTNET ROCK – COMERAINCOMESHINE (Newsells). Sold for £62,000 to Peter and Ross Doyle Bloodstock for Richard Hannon.

LOT 458 POET’S VOICE – LOVELY THOUGHT (Trickledown Stud as agent for Moyns Park). Sold for £75,000 to Henry Candy on behalf of Paul Jacobs, owner of DBS yearling Limato.

Amber’s fondness for the quintet is clear to see, but when the time comes to show it’s down to business for the youngsters, who know their stuff for the now familiar routine of walking and standing, standing and walking. It may sound easy, but when

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YEARLING INSPECTIONS

CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: A Dream Ahead colt looks on at Moyns Park Stud; Claire Taylor and Gerry Meehan show yearlings at Newsells Park Stud; Anthony Smyth catches the Royal Applause and Poet’s Voice colts at Moyns Park Stud; Julian Dollar and Gerry Meehan share ideas at Newsells Park Stud; a file of pedigrees with room to make notes on about each horse; Tim Kent discusses the yearlings viewed at Piermill Bloodstock with Amber Mortlock.

there’s only one chance to show a yearling, be it to a sales agent or potential buyer, first impressions count.

For Tim, two fillies by Monsieur Bond and Zebedee look to be the draft’s standouts, but both he and Amber agree the Premier and Silver Yearling Sales may come too soon for a Showcasing filly.

Diplomacy is clearly a key attribute for a yearling inspector, but equally the vendors seem keen to work with Tim and devise the best programme for their offerings.

“You’ve got to be honest,” says Tim. “If their horse is going to sell for more elsewhere it’s better to say so. Hopefully they’ll appreciate your honesty and come back next year.”

The final stop for the day is John Gardiner’s Moyns Park in Birdbrook, Essex – not as far from the day’s starting point as it sounds but still a good indicator of the miles racked up by Tim and the team.

Stud manager Anthony Smyth is on hand to welcome the day’s visitors, waiting in his four wheel drive at the end of the estate’s impressive driveway, lined by dense woodland on either side and guarded by a suitably ornate wrought iron gate.

By now the rain has subsided – although as it later transpires, only temporarily – allowing the Moyns Park yearling to be viewed au naturale, loose in the fields.

Two colts sharing a paddock immediately catch Tim’s eye – sons of Royal Applause and first-season sire Poet’s Voice. He and Anthony spend a long time discussing their merits, and after ten minutes of fending off the increasingly boisterous pair, retreat to the other side of the fence, where the talk moves on to racing.

“It’s a very sociable job,” reflects Tim later.

“Living in Lambourn, sometimes the visits will just be a short trip, but sometimes I’ll stay for lunch and discuss the yearlings, or

for further afield, I’ll stay over and we can discuss them in the evening after showing.”

The following week Tim has a visit to Wales planned, the most westerly point of his patch that stretches roughly from the M4 north to the line between the top of East Anglia and Wales. Michael Dale takes care of visits south of the M4, Stuart Mactaggart and Katie Farnsworth cover the north and Scotland, while Henry Beeby, Harry Beeby, Jeremy Mactaggart and George Stanners inspect Irish nominations.

But back to Essex, and the last colts have made a big impression on Tim. “They were both above average colts,” he says. “We have a £35,000 to £45,000 average, and we’re looking to grow that.”

One thing that can’t be ignored during the day is Tim’s multitasking ability - in between driving and inspecting he is constantly making and taking phone calls, sending emails, and making further notes.

“The rest of the world doesn’t stop just because you’re inspecting,” he says. “We wouldn’t be able to do our job without the team in the office though. During inspections it’s a bit of a ghost town in the office, with just Gill, Alison and Pam to assist us with pedigrees and any late nominations, while the accounts team , Derek, Mark and Lorna, is working hard after the Spring Sales, but we’re always reporting back from wherever we are so they can update the database and keep everything in order.”

There it is again, the word team. It’s clear that, while the job of a yearling inspector is in some ways a solitary one, it’s also one that cannot be done alone – not only do the inspectors have the backing of the DBS team, each and every vendor is also a vital part in making a sale, forming their own part of the team that has seen the Premier Sale flourish over recent years.

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YOUNG JOCKEYS

Investing

IN THE FUTURE DBS believes in helping to grow the next generation. Historically this has been done through internships or bid spotting. With their new sponsorship of three talented jockeys they’re getting into the field, writes Michael Orton.

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PHOTOGRAPH: DENNIS PENNY

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o matter what facet of the racing industry you look at, there is a common theme spread throughout which is vitally important to the future of the business, and that is ensuring that young people are given the chance to excel.

Countless scholarships and colleges scattered around the country show that there is indeed a focused effort to introduce young people to this game, so when their time comes to shape the industry they are well prepared to guide the sport in a positive direction.

DBS have taken a proactive step to

support young people in racing and in 2012 sponsored three young jockeys, namely Tom Hamilton, William Easterby and Blair Campbell, three rising stars who have certainly made a promising start in the saddle.

“DBS has always supported young people in racing,” says DBS Managing Director Henry Beeby who gave both Tim Kent and George Stanners, now both DBS directors and auctioneers, their starts at DBS at young ages. “We are always looking to get young people involved in what we do. This can be an internship in the office or getting people to bid spot at the sales”.

While looking for ways to extend their

support DBS was approached by a few young jockeys looking for sponsorship.

“We saw it as the perfect opportunity,” Beeby explains. “Judging by the results these jockeys have achieved thus far it’s been well worth it.”

Tom Hamilton picked up one of the three sponsorships in 2012 and has made a hugely encouraging start in the saddle with the 2013/14 season seeing him ride 20 Point-to-Point winners and claim the title of Leading Gentleman Rider for the Northern Area.

“Last season gave me a number of highlights including winning all four of my rides at a Point-to-Point meeting at Balcormo Mains and achieving five wins

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WILLIAM Easterby on a horse called Cave Hunter, earning the horse the title of Champion Point-to-Point Horse for the Northern Area,” Hamilton says.

Keen to get more involved in the thoroughbred industry and in bloodstock, Hamilton started bid spotting with DBS in 2012 and is now a regular face at the Sales in Doncaster. That involvement led to his sponsorship during the same year and he has since established himself as one of the most promising jockeys in the Northern Region.

“DBS have been great supporters. They really helped me to kick-start my career and I am very grateful of their support. My goal for the immediate future is to keep riding as many winners as I can, especially as I get more rides under rules. I had two rides under rules in 2012 and picked up six wins last season so I’ve made a positive start.”

Son of trainer Tim Easterby and grandson of Peter Easterby, William Easterby hails from one of Yorkshire’s

most prolific racing families and rides under DBS sponsorship.

“I have grown up with racing and have always enjoyed it,” says Easterby. “I started riding at a young age and I have slowly progressed from there to where I am today.”

Easterby claimed his first winner as an amateur on just his second ride in 2011 when winning at Hamilton and last season saw him notch up nine Point-to-Point wins including the time-honoured Grimthorpe Gold Cup in April of this year.

“That was one of the highlights of the season as I won the race in 2013 as well, making me the first jockey to win the race back-to-back for 20 years.”

Easterby has a busy schedule. He attends University in Newcastle while still finding the time to ride for his father Tim. “I’m doing a Bachelor of Science at Newcastle and I’m also riding for dad on the flat when I can. I plan to ride for my mother this coming season as she has a few Chase and Point-to-Pointers and the aim is

DBS have been great supporters.

They really helped kick-start my career.

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to take a few to Alnwick to kick the season off. DBS have certainly been a big help, I am very appreciative of their support and hopefully I can kick on and get a few more winners in the coming months.”

Born and raised in the Scottish borders, Blair Campbell is another who approached DBS with a view to sponsorship and has made a promising start in the saddle.

“I originally started out in pony races at flapping days in the Borders. It was through a friend who was looking for someone to ride out that I started working for Alistair Whillans,” Campbell explains.

It wasn’t long before he made his first appearance in the winners’ enclosure, winning a Point-to-Point in Kelso in 2012.

That victory was the first of three for the 2011/12 season, all from just five rides, an accomplishment that saw him awarded the title of Northern Area Novice Riders Champion.

“All three winners came on Alan Brown’s horses, Campbell recalls. “He was very good to allow me to ride for him.

It was certainly unexpected to win the

DBS

Novice Riders Championship but it was a real thrill. That season I also rode my first winner under rules so it was one to remember.”

It was shortly after when he was walking home in Hawick that he bumped into DBS Chairman, Harry Beeby and they had a chat. “I was looking for a sponsor at the time and he said to talk to Henry (Beeby), DBS Managing Director, and that is how the sponsorship came about. It certainly means a lot to have a sponsor like DBS, they have been a huge help to me and it really gives you confidence having a name like theirs on your breeches.”

Campbell has had a quieter last 12 months due to a host of injuries including a broken wrist from a fall in a Point-toPoint at Kelso but is looking forward to the coming season.

“I am now working for Nick Alexander and have been there for over a year. I’ve had my share of bad luck recently with injuries so hopefully that is all behind me now and I can look forward to riding a few winners in the coming season.”

It certainly means a lot to have a sponsor like DBS. It really gives you confidence having a name like theirs on your breeches.

TOM Hamilton

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12/11/2014 10:15

EDDIE LYNAM

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Power PLAYER

For Eddie Lynam 2014 has been more than a vintage year. Donn McClean is blown away by the power surge in his training status.

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Y

ou could fill an Office Depot notebook with Eddie Lynam metaphors and quips. When Johnny Murtagh rode Sole Power to win the King’s Stand Stakes in 2013, Lynam said that Murtagh was the best trainer riding today. When he was asked why Viztoria was not going to run in the Rockfel Stakes, he said that the prize money she would win would not pay a footballer’s salary for a week. At Royal Ascot this year, he played down his part in his horses’ successes.

“Trainers only get 10 per cent of the prize money for a reason,” he said. “It’s only 10 per cent to do with us.”

But can he train racehorses? Can he heck. 2014 has been some year so far for Lynam. He has had winners before 2014 all right, big winners. He won the Group 3 CL Weld Park Stakes in 1988 with Tantum Ergo, who made all under Richard Quinn, and held off the late challenge of British challenger Rahik by a short head. The Park Stakes was run at the Phoenix Park that year. That’s how long ago 1988 is.

Coincidentally, he won another Park Stakes – the Group 2 Doncaster one – in 2009 with Duff, who also made all under an inspired Fran Berry. It wasn’t all that Duff won in 2009 either, with that Park Stakes win sandwiched between a brace of Irish Group 3s.

Even so, when Sole Power lined up in the Nunthorpe Stakes in 2010, Lynam was a Group 1 virgin. And the Nunthorpe Stakes didn’t look likely either on the face of it, given that he was allowed go off at 100/1, despite the fact that he was owned by a bookmaker.

Sole Power won the Nunthorpe Stakes that year. He travelled nicely through his race and he picked up well on the near side for Wayne Lordan to get home just over a length in front of the 6/4 favourite Starspangledbanner.

It was at the DBS St Leger Yearling Sales in August 2008 that Lynam spotted Sole Power.

“It’s a very strong sale now. I’ve bought a few very nice horses at the sale. History has proved that you can get a very high-class horse for a reasonable sum.”

Sole Power was then an unnamed unraced son of Kyllachy out of the Distant View mare Demerger. His half-brother Cornus had won seven times by then, mainly low-grade races, but it was the individual that Lynam liked, and he managed to buy him for £32,000.

Lynam called David Power, told him about the Kyllachy yearling and asked if he and Sabena would like in for half. He told them that he thought he could have him ready for the first juveniles’ race in Ireland the following year, and he told them not to be surprised if he won it.

David Power had no hesitation in responding in the affirmative. History had taught him to trust his trainer’s judgement. Sole Power did not win the first juveniles’ race the following season, but he shaped with a lot of promise, he finished third in the DBS £300,000 St Leger Yearling Stakes at York that August, and he won his maiden at Dundalk at the back-end of the season. They never expected at the time that he would win the Nunthorpe Stakes the following season as a three-year-old, but they did like him. They thought that

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they could have some good days ahead with him.

Lynam loved Slade Power from the start. Another DBS Premier Yearling Sale graduate, the Dutch Art colt won four of his first six races, including a Listed race at Haydock and a Listed race at Fairyhouse, shaping as if he could go right to the very top of the sprinting tree.

He has never been the luckiest horse, however. His mother tried to kill him when he was born, his first foster mother abandoned him, and he fractured his pelvis as he emerged from the stalls in the British Champion Sprint Stakes at Ascot in 2012.

Nursed back to health, gradually things started to come right. He won the Sapphire Stakes and the Phoenix Sprint Stakes in Ireland last year, then went back to Ascot and won the British Champion Sprint Stakes last October. That set him up for this year, as he started to show on the racetrack the Group 1 speed that he had been showing his trainer at home.

This season started well for Lynam and his two-pronged Power surge: Sole won the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket

to Newmarket in July and won the July Cup. Sole Power went back to York in August and won another Nunthorpe Stakes. That brought to four Lynam’s Group 1 haul for the season, remarkable for a trainer who had won just two races at the highest level for his entire career before this year.

He majors in sprinters. His six Group 1 wins have been gained over five or six furlongs. His other high-class horses in recent years, Duff, Viztoria (incidentally a Goffs graduate), Balmont Mast, have all been at their best at distances short of a mile. He says that he can’t afford the Galileos of the world, and often when you are trying to buy stamina, you just end up buying slow.

Agnes Stewart, a yearling purchase at Goffs, could turn the speed-specialist notion on its head, mind you. Second in the Silver Flash Stakes over seven furlongs at Leopardstown in July, the Clipper Logistics filly went to Doncaster and won the Group 2 May Hill Stakes before being pipped by fellow Goffs graduate Together Forever in the Group 1 Dubai Fillies’ Mile. It should not really have been a surprise that the juvenile appeared to improve for the step up in trip. She is by Lawman and she is the first foal of the Dalakhani mare Slade Power hasn’t Anice Stellato, who and Slade won the always been lucky. His won over a mile and Greenlands Stakes at The Curragh. mother tried to kill him a half and who is Cue Royal Ascot: and he was abandoned from the family of Irish Derby runnerSole won the King’s by his foster mother. up, Definite Article.

Stand Stakes on the Before this season, first day, Slade won the Lynam never had Diamond Jubilee Stakes more than four winners in on the last day. They bookBritain. Agnes Stewart’s May Hill win ended the week, and the two Group was his seventh in 2014. Also, with Sole 1 sprints of Royal Ascot went back to Power and Slade Power, he won four of Dunshaughlin in County Meath. the five Group 1 sprints in Britain this Not only that, but Lynam also won the year. It has been a phenomenal period.

Queen Mary Stakes in the interim with And it may not be over yet. Sole and Anthem Alexander. The performance that Slade are off on their travels again. Slade Noel O’Callaghan’s filly had put up, and the to Australia to take on the mighty Lankan time that she had clocked at Tipperary on Rupee in the VRC Sprint at Flemington June 5th was all the talk at Epsom on Oaks in early November, Sole back to Sha Tin day, on June 6th, so it was no surprise that again for the Hong Kong Sprint in early she was sent off as favourite for the Queen December. Last year he finished second Mary. Nor was it a surprise when she won in the race to the Japanese superstar Lord it, beating Tiggy Wiggy by a neck.

Kanaloa. This year, he could go one better.

Lynam sent four horses to Royal Ascot Lynam was once asked if Sole Power in 2014, and three of them won. It was the had always been as small as he is. pinnacle week in a season that just kept “No he hasn’t,” he said. “He shrunk rolling. during the winter.”

The roll continued. Slade Power went

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12/11/2014 10:17

SPRING FEVER

SPRING FEVER RETURN TO FORM

The Spring Sales, an event that launched DBS in 1962, has long been regarded as one of the social events of the National Hunt calendar. A revised date and a new sales complex have given it back its buzz, writes Michael Orton.

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Traditionally the Spring Sales heralded the unofficial end of the National Hunt season. Originally five days long it was billed as unmissable. Now condensed to a three-day event the sale seemed to have lost some of its unique sparkle and there was a risk that ‘the good old days’ were going to be relegated to history. However, after a period of recovery and hard work, the ‘old buzz’ has made its return and with it many regular and new clients who were drawn to this enduring and hugely popular sale.

Historically, the Spring Sales were as much a celebration of the end of the National Hunt season as it was a sale, one renowned DBS agent and consignor recalled “everyone brought their horses and their cheque books which helped to produce a roaring trade in the Sales Ring during the day and in the local bars and hotels at night. Everyone left utterly exhausted but in great spirits after a huge week.”

In the days of the old DBS Sales Paddocks on Carr House Road, a buffet lunch opened the sale which was very much a warm-up for the evening session that often went on until the wee hours of the following morning. This saw the legendary St Leger Bar swamped with vendors, trainers and owners recounting tales from the season, aided by vast quantities of the storytellers’ favourite tipple.

The iconic event suffered from an identity crisis for a few years with a revised sale date and a new Sales Complex understandably impacting on old traditions. However, it seems that this was only a momentary stumble as the unique atmosphere has returned, despite the fact that many of the evening antics are not performed to quite the same level of intensity.

It was after the 2013 Spring Sales that leading consignor Juliet Minton said; ‘it’s great to see the old buzz back’, a comment that was shared among many who attended the sale. And thanks to the clear blue skies and glorious sunshine, a collaboration by prior arrangement between DBS and the Met Office, that feel-good Goffs DBS

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factor took another step forward in 2014.

A strong catalogue is essential to the success of any sale but the promise of the Spring Sales also delivering a few days of good craic for visitors has become very important. A well-placed Pimms stand and Pimms garden that overlooked the bustle of the parade ring, slaked thirsts.

Handmade burgers and fresh steaks sizzled on the barbeque. For afters, hundreds queued to enjoy a scoop of Yorkshire’s own ice cream.

Scotland-based trainer Lucinda Russell was just one of the many to comment on the sale this year; “It’s a great atmosphere, we have bought some really nice horses

but it’s also a social scene, we have been sitting outside drinking Pimms and eating ice cream, it’s been a fantastic couple of days.”

That was music to the ears of the DBS team who are working hard to ensure this sale retains its unique identity.

“We are making a concerted effort to get this sale back to where it was,” said Henry Beeby. “In the old days, the Spring Sales was our largest sale of the year in terms of revenue. But it was more than that, it had a special place on the sales calendar and attracted all of the NH vendors and purchasers from the UK and Ireland.

“Sale companies are always looking for ways to maximise sales and we are no different but this sale, given its timing, gives us the perfect opportunity to not only offer people a great sale to come and trade horses, but also to have a good time and celebrate the end of the season before many embark on a summer break.

“The last two years have certainly been big steps in the right direction and we now need to look at how we can build on that again in 2015, although it should

be remembered that the Spring Sales still holds the record for the highest priced NH horse ever at 530,000 guineas, a figure that has remained unchallenged despite several new young pretenders recent emergence.”

This year’s sale saw a who’s who of National Hunt racing personalities in attendance but it’s the growing presence of Point-to-Point buyers that has added further vibrancy to the atmosphere. A lot of these buyers, especially in 2014, were new faces to the Spring Sales, adding a flair of excitement and enjoyment that was well received by the more regular faces.

The Spring Sales is also the only sale of its kind that combines a first choice outlet for large numbers of Horses-in-Training and NH Stores, so whether you are a leading trainer or a passionate owner with just one Point-to-Pointer, this is an event where you will find everyone trading horses under one roof.

It’s these factors that will see that the buzz continues to fizz in the 2015 Spring Sales, already marked on kitchen wall calendars throughout the UK and Ireland.

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3/10/14 12:30:38

31/10/2014 15:42

HOBBY HORSES

JAMES FANSHAWE FIRST EDITION NOVELS James Fanshawe was on holiday in Cape Town, South Africa some years ago when he walked into an intimate little second hand bookshop and happened upon a first edition of Graham Greene’s Brighton Rock for the equivalent of a tenner and soon he succumbed to an untreatable case of bibliophilia, the love of old books. Now when Fanshawe talks to his wife Jacko about speaking to his agent, she is not sure whether he is talking about a bloodstock agent or his man who keeps an eye out for more first editions in the dusty world and dark corners of antiquarian bookshops. “I love reading anyway,” he says. “I’ve always found it a great way of switching off. Now that I don’t drink alcohol but do drink lots of coffee I find I don’t go to sleep until about 11 so I tend to read quite a lot in bed. Quite often I will get up at 5.00 and read for half hour – it puts me in the right frame of mind for the day ahead.” So Fanshawe’s bookshelves now heave with first editions of Greene, Trollope, whose works often include a bit of hunting, Hemingway, Somerset Maugham, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Le Carre. “When I buy one I will read it, that’s half the point of it, but I will usually download it on a Kindle because it’s easier and there less chance of reducing the value by spilling coffee all over it,” he explained of how he protects his investment. “Also, a Kindle has a dictionary if you get to a word you don’t understand. “I started off with Maugham but I think 19th century books became better value investment because they were out of fashion for a while. I suppose the holy grail for me would be a Mark Twain first edition but, like a Galileo out of a Classic winner, they’re unbuyable.”

His tip for the future is Elmore Leonard, who wrote thrillers and books like Get Shorty and Rum Punch. He died last year. “As soon as an author dies his work goes through the roof. One or two of my books have gone up in value. I should trade them really but I don’t. I just like having them.” jamesfanshawe.com

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Hobby It is surprising trainers have time for any hobbies at all given that racing is seven days a week, almost 365 days a year with 12 month seasons for both the flat and jumps. Chuck in a couple of children and there really isn’t time for much else but having a passion to take the mind, however briefly, away from the day job is, one would have thought, essential.

Here MARCUS ARMYTAGE speaks to three trainers about their hobbies; rare book collecting, cycling and bullfighting.

GETTY IMAGE

HORSES

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MARK JOHNSTON CYCLING Like so many of our Lycra-clad friends with padded pants who now get around using pedal power, Middleham trainer Mark Johnston bought his first bicycle, a cheap mountain bike, 10 years ago when he felt he was not taking enough exercise. It has gone on to become a passion though the mountain bike was quickly discarded for a road bike. A few weeks after taking delivery of the mountain bike, he was talking about the new sport he had discovered – long before the London Olympics turned it into a national obsession – to his ‘second opinion’ vet Simon Stirk who broke the news that he, too, was a keen cylist and that should endeavour to do the Sea-to-Sea ride from Warrington to Newcastle. They completed the 180-mile course in three days and have done a big trip every year. This summer the Grand Depart of the Tour De France even came past his front door in Middleham. “We did the Tour route the weekend before it came past,” he said. “We also did Edinburgh – Aberdeen.

We usually do 70 miles a day, stay in nice accommodation, eat good food and drink nice wine.” Does it take him away from horses in all senses? “Actually I find if I’m cycling on my own it’s a good way of thinking about things and certain horses. It can be a good time to think about work. If I’m cycling with Simon we usually put the world to rights.” He added: “I’m probably one of those dangerous sportsmen they warn you about. Between July and October there’s no time to train, then I’ll go out, train for a week and do a big ride.” On one trip out to Hawes he spotted a cottage for sale in Thornton Steward.

“It was the middle of winter and I spoke to the agents and found out it was going to be sold by public auction. On the day I was out riding with Simon, we were covered in mud and pulled into the village hall where it was being held.

There was a big fire lit. “No one, apart from the auctioneer, knew who we were.

Everyone else was in suits and ties and we were in our mud splattered lycra and I think they all thought we’d just come into get warm. I sat and the back and I think everyone else was a bit taken aback when I bought it for £280,000.” markjohnstonracing.com

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SIR MARK PRESCOTT BULLFIGHTING Sir Mark Prescott, a well-known field sports enthusiast, takes four weekends off a year to go bullfighting – as a spectator rather than matador. “It’s in the diary then, isn’t it?” said Prescott. “Otherwise you’d never get away. It means that while I’m in contact with what going on here but when I’m actually watching it I’m not totally fixated on what is happening at home.” Prescott was 15 when first hooked. He had a girlfriend who was 17, he lied about his age, had just read Hemingway’s ‘The Sun Also Rises’ and, to secure her, took her, by boat and bus (a two and a half day journey) because he could not drive, to Pamplona for the annual bull run. Hemingway had mentioned the 20,000 inhabitants of Pamplona but had neglected to mention the 250,000 others who turned up for the bullrun so they could not find a bed and slept on the steps outside the government offices. Bullfighting, particularly in Spain, is reported in the arts pages rather than the sports pages. “It is an art form that can capture the mind and it is the uncertainty of it which I find so attractive. It’s like the difference between live theatre and cinema. “You can have an unpromising combination of matador and bulls which can produce moments of intense emotion. Sometimes, of course, a corrida with the best ingredients can produce nothing – racing can be like that too. ” He is a debenture seat holder at Nimes, Beziers, Ceret and Arles. His favourite bull ring is in Ceret, a popular destination for artists like Picasso and Matisse, in the northern Pyranees right on the border between France and Spain. There is an annual bull run on Bastille Day each summer when the bulls are corralled through the streets

by Camargue horsemen. “It’s probably the smallest of the bull rings I like to visit but it specialises in very big bulls,” said Prescott who is a bull-fighting aficionado. “The trouble is,” he added, “If you experience one moment of intense emotion you are forever doomed trying to repeat it – and no amount of disenchantment will set you free. You always want to see the perfect bullfight but have to resign yourself to the fact that you never will.”

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SADDLERY

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Malcolm Arthur Hadfield is a self-taught man who started his working life as a blacksmith in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. He specialises in hand made bridle work and what he jokingly calls “horse pyjamas”, the breathable blankets that thoroughbreds sleep in at night to keep them warm and in top condition. “A saddler doesn’t make saddles,” he explains. “His job is to repair and maintain them.” Now a respected specialist within the bloodstock industry his clients include Richard Fahey, Kevin Ryan and the Easterbys.

Hadfield grew up around horses and had been doing leatherwork since the age of 14. While he trained as a blacksmith a friend advised him to pursue his first love as he was “ten times better at it” than he was at being a smithy. He bought a set of tools and moved to Malton, in the heart of thoroughbred country where, by his own admission, he lied through his teeth to get work.

While driving around trying to find Herbert Jones’ yard he stopped a man to ask for directions.

That man was rival trainer Jimmy Etherington who started asking him questions about what his business with Etherington was. When he found out that he was a saddler he asked him to come to his yard the next day – having agreed a “ridiculously low” price for his services. There the saddler was set up in a loose box and presented with a wheelbarrow full of tack and worked solidly for four weeks repairing it. Etherington recommended his work to brothers Mick and

Peter Easterby. “Each trainer recommended me to another,” Hadfield recalls and he moved from yard to yard, doing repairs for Major Hudson, Bill Elsey and Sir Guy Cunard. While tough to work for each trainer took on board his recommendations.

When Hadfield said that his tack was poor quality the response was; “make me a new one”. So he did. “By repairing tack that wasn’t very well made I got to know where the weaknesses in the design lay. I got a reputation for making strong affordable tack that lasted longer.” He started experimenting with new materials because he didn’t have the money to buy traditional leather.

Necessity is the mother of invention. “I had to improvise,” he says recalling using car seat belts instead of traditional webbing on saddles only to discover that it was also less likely to chafe the horse. He was the first to make reins out of rubber and one of the first to make a martingale out of nylon. By mixing synthetic materials I was able to make tack that functioned more cost effectively.” Not all the experiments worked. He found out the hard way that horse urine rotted the flax webbing he had used in rollers to keep a horse blanket in place. But he learned from his mistakes. Clients were especially vocal in telling him when the work wasn’t up to scratch. “Initially I got lots of bad feedback but it was brilliant to hear what didn’t work. That way I could try to adapt it.” It was a challenge too to negotiate rates. “All my customers wanted me to do my work as cheaply as possible. Yorkshire men don’t like to pay the going rate for anything.”

It was Major Hudson who gave him a base for his business at his farm at Norton Grove Stud.

He did his repairs for nothing and in return Hudson gave him a business address, gratis. As his reputation grew he was able to buy a house in Malton and convert it into a shop where he now employs two other people. One of his three daughters works in the business as does one of his grandchildren as a Saturday girl.

A Hadfield, 57 Commercial St, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 9HX 01653 694095

PHOTOGRPAHY: LOUISE BOLLARD

Saddle up and dive in at the deep end says self-taught bridle and horse blanket designer Malcolm Arthur Hadfield who has become bloodstock’s go-to man for innovative tack, writes Alanna Gallagher.

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12/11/2014 10:25

MOCKLERSHILL EUROPE’S PREMIER BREEZE UP CONSIGNOR

‘FLAMING SPEAR’, Lot 137 Doncaster Breeze Up Sale, impressive winner of his maiden at York.

Mocklershill have been selling Breeze Up horses in Doncaster since 1977, Doncaster and Mockershill have a unique record in that they are the only partnership to have sold a classic winner in SPECIOSA, winner of the English 1,000 guineas.

Contact Willie Brown: 087 634 7271 Phone: 062 62000 | Fax: 062 62360 | Email: grangebarry@mocklershill.ie | www.mocklershill.ie

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15/10/2014 09:42

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12/11/2014 11:39

YORKSHIRE

&

EAT, DRINK

EXPLORE THE

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he UK’s largest county and the setting for the long running TV soap Emmerdale, and period drama Dowton Abbey, Yorkshire added another string to its bow last summer with the hosting of the Grand Départ of the Tour de France. Cricket is a longstanding tradition here with The Yorkshire County Cricket Club hailed as one of the greatest clubs in the world. What makes Yorkshire a standout star is the breadth of experiences it offers, from a busy horse racing calendar to literary leanings; heritage attractions to specialist shops; and brooding moors to green dales.

It’s known as ‘God’s Own Country’; boasts more Michelin stars than anywhere in the UK outside of London; and was this year named best travel destination in Europe for the second consecutive year for its sublime countryside and dramatic coastline. Yorkshire has a lot more to shout about than its eponymous pudding that accompanies roast beef, writes Caroline Allen.

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YORKSHIRE

Go Antiquing

Brewing up a Storm

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From the iconic Betty’s Cafe tearooms, to YORKSHIRE TEA which traces its story back to Victorian times, the region prides itself on providing Britain’s best cuppa. In 1886 Charles Edward Taylor noticed that the water of different regions affected the taste of their tea so he created bespoke regional blends. Yorkshire Tea which was awarded the royal coat of arms, still does this today. Afternoon tea is a time-honoured tradition and Yorkshire’s tea trail tempts you with inviting surroundings from former family mansions to old school houses and museums. Combine a visit to an auction with afternoon tea at Tennant’s Auctioneers’ £2.5 million showrooms in the heart of the dales. Informal teas can be enjoyed at numerous atmospheric locations including The White Horse Farm Inn, which enjoys panoramic views over the village of Rosedale Abbey, surrounded by the North York Moors.

Also on the North York moors is The Dale Head Farm Tea Garden where loose leaf Yorkshire tea and Taylor’s of Harrogate coffee are served in china cups. Speciality cakes include a Yorkshire moggy, tea bread and beer fruit cake.

Against such an inspiring backdrop, ANTIQUE HUNTING is a pleasure and can yield a varied haul. Check out the Georgian Antiques Centre, Bridlington, for furniture and jewellery; Pickering Antique Centre, incorporating vintage and vogue interiors, York for Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian paintings, prints and maps as well as silver, jewellery, pottery and porcelain, toys and kitchenalia. Also worth visiting is the Red House Antique Centre, York, 100 yards from the Minster, the largest gothic cathedral in northern Europe. At the Red House, 60 dealers sell everything from early antiquities to art deco gems. In Sheffield Antiques Quarter, Heeley, over 40 traders ply their wares - vintage, retro, antique salvage and militaria.

Go Racing

HORSERACING is in the blood in Yorkshire, with racing in York, one of Europe’s premier tracks, thought to hark back to at least Roman times. The first detailed records of a race meeting there date from 1709 and the York Racecourse Committee was formed in 1842. Other racecourses are in Doncaster; Catterick; Beverley; Pontefract; Redcar; Ripon; Thirsk; and Wetherby. Doncaster has been home to the world acclaimed Ladbrokes St Leger since 1776. At York, the Yorkshire Ebor festival in August attracts the top middle distance horses in the world. A total of 180 days of racing run throughout the year, from championship events to informal family days.

Hit the Shops From Harvey Nichols in Leeds’ historic Victorian Quarter to upstaged original ladies and gents vintage fashion, also in Leeds, to Paper Doll, independent clothing and lifestyle boutiques in York and Helmsley, that carry handmade pieces by Yorkshire designer makers to The Carding Shed in Holmfirth which includes a classic car display, automobilia and a vintage clothes shop, there are plenty of SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES. McArthurGlen, York is a designer outlet that includes Brooks Brothers; Fox Racing; Fred Perry; Hackett; Paul Smith; Tag Heuer; The Kooples; Fossil; and Penhaligon’s.

There’s plenty of unique items to bring back from the handmade designs of Bill Baber Knitwear, York to art, craftwork and designer jewellery from Spirals, Hebden Bridge.

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• Advice on buying and selling horses • Sale & purchase disputes • BHA enquiries • Stallion syndicates

• Racehorse leases

CONTACT OUR EQUINE LAW EXPERTS

• Horse ownership - Partnerships/ Syndicates

Mark Edmondson

Deborah Hargreaves

• Buying and selling training yards/ studs

Anna Hall

Justin Wadham

• Debt recovery

• Foal shares

• Bloodstock Insurance law

• Road traffic accidents

• Commercial/Business

• Veterinary negligence

E: mae@edmondsonhall.com

E: ah@edmondsonhall.com

E: dh@edmondsonhall.com

E: jw@edmondsonhall.com

T: +44 (0) 1638 560556 F: +44 (0) 1638 561656 E: mae@edmondsonhall.com www.edmondsonhall.com 25 EXETER ROAD, NEWMARKET, SUFFOLK, CB8 8AR, UK

• Livery yard disputes

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03/11/2014 11:29

Jan Wolters Abfohlsystem GmbH is the most reliable partner to horse breeders and veterinarians all over the world since 1989. This foaling system comes from America and introduces automation into the world of horse breeding.

6

first-crop winners, incl. impressive 2yo filly

EKATI’S PHAETON

Full package from €1.730 excl. VAT Available for rent: Contact your veterinarian

*Thru 10/27/14

DARBY DAN

. C O M Ryan Norton: (859) 254-0424 Tale of the Cat – Silence Beauty (Jpn), by Sunday Silence 2015 Fee: $15,000 S&N

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Please contact us: Internet www.abfohlsystem.de E-Mail abfohlen@aol.com • Phone & Fax +49 (0) 54 92 / 28 52 • Address Auf dem Wieferich 14, 49439 Steinfeld, Germany

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05/11/2014 11:31

05/11/2014 16:24

YORKSHIRE

Take the Ale Trail Fine Dining

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An array of MICHELIN STAR RESTAURANTS offer toothsome treats on extensive menus. The Boxtree, Ilkley, offers modern French classic cuisine, with a vegetarian menu.

Ten minutes from Sheffield, is The Old Vicarage, where owner and chef Tessa Bramley is renowned for her country cooking. The Yorke Arms, in the Nidderdale Valley, Harrogate, enjoys the ambience of an 18th century coaching house and shooting lodge. At The Pipe and Glass, South Dalton, near Beverley, which dates back to the 15th Century, you can indulge in anything from a steak sandwich and a pint to roast grouse with claret. The family run Black Swan, at Oldstead, combines a Michelin star with three AA rosettes, 20 miles north of York. The Star Inn, Harome,a 14th Century thatched inn, on the edge of the North Moors National Park, outside Helmsley, offers awardwinning seasonal Yorkshire cooking. For pilgrimage-worthy fish and chips, check out Quayside in Whitby; Keighley & Worth Railway Valley where 1950s carriages are the setting, the Golden Grid Fish Restaurant in Scarborough, or any of the lipsmackingly good takeaways and restaurants on Yorkshire’s fish and trip trail.

Savour the variety of ALE available across Yorkshire. There’s no shortage of characterful inns and many also offer great food and cosy accommodation. The Woolly Sheep, Skipton which got the gong for best managed pub in the Great British pub Awards this year, includes an award-winning beer garden, with Timothy Taylor’s cask ales served. Another superb outdoor setting is provided in the form of a beautiful riverside garden at The Bull Inn, at the gateway to Wensleydale, home of that much loved creamy, crumbly cheese. At The Huntsman, Thurlstone, near Barnsley, there are six real ales always on offer including three guest beers. It bans gaming machines and TV’s but welcomes well behaved dogs and children.

Stay Here Cubley Hall, Penistone, near Barnsley, is just a mile from the mid-way point on the Trans Pennine Trail. This Virginia creeper clad charming premises was built in the 1700s and was a gentleman’s residence for many years. On the edge of the Peak District National Park, and close to Sheffield and its new airport, this welcoming pub, restaurant and boutique hotel with twelve ensuite bedrooms,is the perfect place to repair to after a day on the go. Discovering the Peak District and Last of the Summer Wine country or indulging in retail therapy at Meadowhall or Leeds is easy.

Retrace the Steps of the Romans Explore Yorkshire’s rich ROMAN HISTORY. The Romans invaded eastern Yorkshire in 71 AD and built forts, including those at Doncaster and York. By the second century, three towns had been created including York. Also see how the Vikings left their mark. They captured York in 866 and shortly afterwards a separate Kingdom of Yorkshire was founded.

The Danish Kingdom of Yorkshire lasted until 954 when it was recaptured by the English. Viking legacy is also strong in Yorkshire where the dialect includes lots of Scandinavian terms.

Get a potted history at Jorvik Viking Centre, York, one of the UK’s most popular visitor attractions. Roman sites include Aldborough, the location of the old Roman city of Isurium which has an on-site museum; York’s Roman Bath Museum; and Wheeldale Roman Road, Yickering.

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Rooms available from

£35

Campanile Hotel Doncaster is situated next door to the Doncaster Dome and 5 mins walk from Doncaster Racecourse.

Located just 4km from Doncaster Train Station, 4km from the M18 Jct3 and 9km from Robin Hood Airport Hotel Campanile Doncaster is a perfect central hub to so many destinations.

BREAKFAST: 6.30am-9.00am (weekdays) 8.00am-10.00am (weekends)

Best Western Premier Mount Pleasant Hotel offers country house charm with all the convenience of a great location near Doncaster Opulent, individually furnished,the hotel is a luxurious place to stay.

The Spa bedrooms have a different theme for each room.

DINNER: 12.00-9.45pm

Afternoon teas, cocktails, Rosette for food, all day Bistro menu, fine wine and deluxe health and well-being facilities.

To book go to: www.campanile.com Call +44 (0) 1302 370770 • Fax: +44 (0) 1302 370813 Email: doncaster@campanile.com Doncaster Leisure Park, Bawtry Road, Doncaster, DN4 7PD, UK

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Telephone: +44 1302 868696 • Fax: +44 1302 865130 Email: reception@mountpleasant.co.uk www.mountpleasant.co.uk GREAT NORTH ROAD (A638), DONCASTER DN11 0HW, UK

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07/11/2014 10:28

TAKE YOUR LOVE OF RACING TO THE NEXT LEVEL We are proud to be able to offer a great range of facilities at our 2009 purpose built race yard.Our facilities include: • 4¼ Furlong Railed Sand Oval Gallop • Three Bay Stalls • Lunge Ring and Fenced Sand School • Horse Walker and Turnout Pens • Extensive Turnout Paddocks • 12 Brick Built Stables (6 barn style) • 18 Wooden Built Stables • Owners Pavilion with Refreshments

For those with a passion for racing, there is no thrill like actually owning a horse, watch it run in and potentially win a race. Group 2 Winning Trainer David C Griffiths and his team can make that dream come true.

The DCG Racing stables are located within a calm woodland setting close to Bawtry, just south of Doncaster and it’s classic racecourse. The yards outstanding purpose built facilities which include 30 stables prove to be ideally located for transport to all courses around the country.

DCG Racing offer tailored training packages for owners, syndicates or those interested in a share of a horse. Please call David on 07816 924621 for more information.

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The following are all within close proximity: • 6.5 Furlong Woodchip Round • 7 Furlong Poly Track • Indoor Arena • Schooling Fences and Hurdles on Grass • Schooling Ground • Woodland Hacking

www.theracehorsetrainer.com 07/11/2014 12:17

12/11/2014 11:36

FASHION

Hip Horse Boxers

RACEday READY

These young modern trainers keep it real and travel with their precious cargo in an Alexander Newmarket horsebox. They arrive in Barbour jackets and Hunter wellies but quickly change in the horsebox into a Mary Katranzou dress, Charlotte Olympia shoes and a Stella McCartney clutch for her and a sharply cut Paul Smith suit with an Alexander McQueen tie for him.

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The bloodstock industry features a colourful cross section of society with some breeds adding more theatre to the calender’s big race day meetings than others. Which one of these fashion tribes best describes you, asks Suzie Coen.

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5

Cool Jeepers

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HER // 1 Mary Kratanazou dress, £1,450, matchesfashion. com 2 Charlotte Olympia shoes, £575, netaporter.com 3 Fendi cuff, £227 @ mytheresa. com 4 Stella McCartney bag. £450, mytheresa.com 5 Finds head piece, £200, netaporter. com

2

Demonstrating a powerful sense of style, the cool jeepers pitch up in the latest Land Rover Sport. He’s part of a syndicate and looks terribly smart in a Burberry London trench over a Richard James suit, the sleeve of which slightly obscures his prized possession, a Breitling Professional, while she sports a Jonathan Saunders dress (the print could double as jockey silks) and a conversation-starting clutch (borrowed from her fashion editor friend).

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2

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1

2

3

HIM // 1 Paul Smith London three-piece suit, £720, harveynichols.com 2 Paul Smith shirt, £140, harveynichols.com 3 Tie, £125, alexandermcqueen.com 4 Shoes, £185, paulsmith. co.uk 5 Sunglasses, £160, finlayandco.com

5

4

HER // 1 Jonathan Saunders dress , £690, matchesfashion.com 2 Prada sunnies, £396, selfridges.com 3 Clutch, £225, luluguinnes. com 4 Bella Freud perfume, £65, harvynichols.com 5 Nicholas Kirkwood shoes, £535, matchesfashion.com 4

3 3

5

4

5

HIM // 1 Burburry London trench, £912, mrporter.com 2 Richard James suit, £688, mrporter. com 3 Shirt, £130, paulsmith.co.uk 4 Breitling watch, £5,760, beaverbrook. co.uk 5 Shoes, £395, church-footwear. com

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FASHION

Footballer Couple

Old School Owners

Flash Harry Jockey

Stepping out of an Augusta 109 helicopter (chartered from castleair.co.uk) is a footballer who owns the leg of the favourite in the 3.30 and his fiancee who’s barelegged and ‘Marbella’ tanned thanks to laurenways. com. Like a glistening vision, he strides to the parade ground in a shimmering Dolce suit and shiny patent shoes as his fiance teeters alonside him in a fierce ensemble. Subtle? No. But that’s their whole point.

After smoothly parking the Bentley in its usual spot, the old school owners gather their racing essentials from the back seat. Their smart, refined look is all about classic tailoring, subtle colour palattes and sophisticated detailing.

They’re not a bit showy although she’s dying to show off her new designer bag (a 60th birthday present from her daughter) at the ‘girls’ lunch.

Loud, colourful and compact, the Jaguar F-Type is the vehicle of choice for the Flash Harry jockey and his missus. This couple’s statement style comes in the form of a natty slim-fitting check suit by Etro teamed with chunky brogues (the extra height is a bonus) for him. While she fizzes with energy in a two-tone dress by Victoria, Victoria Beckham and colour-coordinating accessories.

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1

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3 5 HER // 1 Dress, £420, goatfashion.com 2 Nine west shoes, £95, houseoffraser.co.uk 3 Philip Treacy hat, £735, netaporter. com 4 Mulberry bag, £795, mytheresa.com 5 Weekend Max Mara necklace, £95, matchesfashion.com

3 HIM // 1 Dolce & Gabbana three piece suit, £1,400, matchesfashion.com 2 Shirt, £119, smythandgibson. com 3 Dolce & Gabbana tie, £100, matchesfashion.

5 com 4 Atelier VingtDeux sunglasses, £425, harveynichols.com 5 Shoes, £399, mrhare.com

4 4

HER // 1 Victoria, Victoria Beckham dress, £650, cricket-fashion.com 2 Victoria Beckham bag, £1,295, mytheresa.com 3 Valentino sandals, £1,510, harrods. com 4 Piers Atkinson hat, £475, netaporter.com 5 Prada sunglasses, £230, netaporter. com

2

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2 3

1 5

2 1

3 2

4

HIM // 1 Gieves and Hawke blazer, £695, matchesfashion. com 2 Gieves and Hawke trousers, £250, matchesfashion.com 3 Canali shirt, £139, harrods.com 4 Pocket square, £60, drakes.com 5 Borsalino fedora, £225, matchesfashion. com 6 Swarovski Optik binoculars, £1,773, selfridges.com

1

HIM // 1 Etro suit, £862, mrporter.com 2 Etro shirt, £191.67, mrporter.com 3 Mathieu Jerome tie, £105, matchesfashion.com 4 Anderson’s belt, £75, stuartslondon. com 5 Brogues, £390, grenson. co.uk 3

2

4

5

HER // 1 Christopher Kane dress, £1,460, harveynichols.com 2.

Alexander McQueen clutch, £885, harrods.com 3 Aquazzura sandals, £560, harveynichols.com 4 Bvlagri sunglasses, £220, selfridges.com 5 Lanvin necklace, £756, mytheresa. com

5

3

6

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SOCIAL NETWORK

Neil King and Matt Coleman

Norman Williamson and Mags O’Toole

Jonjo O’Neill and Kieran McManus

SOCIAL NETWORK Mel Smith and Dr Richard Newland

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The sales at DBS is a busy period for buyers and vendors for whom time is money. The set-up at Doncaster provides an ease of access to the yards and the sales ring as well as refreshments when you want to take some time out.

xxxxxxx

Gill Richardson The BBA Ireland team discuss yearlings at the Premier Sales

Michael Owen and Michael Bell

Angus Gold

Matt Coleman, Anthony Stroud Crowdand shotJames Given

John Warren buys another yearling

PHOTOGRAPHY: SARAH FARNSWORTH

Nicky Henderson and Sophie Waddilove

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12/11/2014 10:54

SOCIAL NETWORK

Tessa Greatrex and Anthony Bromley Norman and Laura Thomas

Taking a break...

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Philip and Sarah Hobbs

Niamh Woods and Harry Dunlop Charlie Longsdon

Di Turner

Aiden Murphy and Kim Bailey

Richard Aston

Oliver Sherwood

Tom Malone

Henry Spiller and Ed Sackville

Richard Knight, John Quinn and Sean Quinn

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SOCIAL NETWORK

Nicky Henderson and Neil King

Evan Williams, Donald McCain and James Tudor

Jonjo O’Neill and Kieran McManus

Charlie Mann

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xxxxxxx Jake Warren

Stephen Hillen and Tony Coyle Jake Warren, Elaine ‘Legs’ Lawlor and John Warren

Jamie Railton and Bobby O’Ryan

Nick Bradley, Mike Prince and Tim Palin William Haggas

Tess Greatrex, Charlie Longsdon and Warren Greatrex

Aiden ‘Mouse’ O’Ryan, Robin O’Ryan Richard Fahey Crowdand shot

Rupert Stearn

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12/11/2014 10:54

SWISS SPIRIT

(INVINCIBLE SPIRIT X SWISS LAKE)

William Buick: “Swiss Spirit’s performance in the Temple Stakes was extraordinary after losing so much ground at the start” (beating SOLE POWER & RECKLESS ABANDON) +44 (0)1725 518 254 233432_2L_DavidDennis_CMD_DBS.pdf 233326_2L_Whistbury_CMD_DBS.indd 1

1

10/10/2014

15:40

26/9/14 15:13:00

THE ULTIMATE RACEHORSE TRAINING EXPERIENCE With a 10 year career as a professional jump jockey, David and the experienced team at Tyre Hill Stables have one aim:to develop the very best in equine talent.

Over 140 acres of privately-owned farmland, which facilities include: • Three purpose-built all-weather gallops • Equine pool • Solarium • Indoor school • Horse walker

• Turn-out paddocks • Treadmill • All-weather schooling ground • EasyFix hurdles and fences

Contact David today to discuss your training needs.

Tyre Hill Racing Stables, Hanley Swan, Worcestershire WR8 0EQ 07867 974880 | info@ddracing.co.uk www.ddracing.co.uk

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05/11/2014 16:26

9,332

individual HOOF PRINTS in the DBS Sales ring.

DBS IN NUMBERS 2014

8

133,952

HOOFPRINTS on Town Moor.

H ELICOPTERS

372 DAYS racing

571

137,090

DBS ADVERTS placed

1,273

3,236

HOTEL rooms in Doncaster

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Yorkshire ICE CREAMS consumed at the DBS Sales.

AT YOUR

CAR MILES travelled.

9

individual stakes WINNING TWO YEAR olds in the Premier Sales in 2014.

166,592

AIR MILES travelled by buyers to come to the sales.

36,200

CATALOGUES produced each year. If stacked up this would measure 3.3 miles in height!

Service The team at DBS is at your service and is prepared to go that extra mile to offer top quality black type racehorses, transport and accommodation solutions, delectable food and thirst quenching drinks to every visitor.

16,656

PINTS DRUNK in Doncaster during the sales.

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12/11/2014 15:02

“Capturing the Essence of the Spirited Horse” Thomas Lund-Lack

1.

2.

3.

Commissions accepted Enquires through: ArtActiv Ltd., The Woodland Lodge, Red House Yard, Gislingham Road, Thornham Magna, Suffolk IP23 8HH

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1. Energy 3 – oil on canvas 20 x 28 inches 2. Illusion in Indigo – oil painting on board 3. Nathanial & Workforce – oil on canvas 60 x 81 cm

Tel: +441379 783208 Mob: +447701 073453 Email: info@artactiv.co.uk Web: www.tomlundlack.com

14/11/2014 14/11/2014 14:27 09:14

The

Exceptional

flight experience

With twenty years of success in business, Exchequer Leasing Limited is the first port of call for thousands of loyal customers. We guarantee you individually tailored flights to any destination worldwide in line with your busy schedule at very competitive rates. Our reputation for delivering an outstanding service is synonymous with the Exchequer Leasing brand and we continue to raise the bar in all aspects of charter service. We have a large range of superior jets and helicopters available worldwide, which provide a safe, private and peaceful environment.

We can adapt each trip to suit our client’s personal requirements, both in the air and on the ground. We provide a personal, efficient service from start to finish, following the progress of the flight, staying in touch with pilots, handling agents and drivers at all times.

Contact us now and we will provide an exceptional flight experience for you.

Exchequer Leasing Limited www.exchequeraircraft.com Email: info@exchequeraircraft.com Tel: +353 1 2833258 | Mobile: +353 86 2545445

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12/11/2014 07/11/2014 11:30 10:35