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winter u PDATe On glancing back over previous newsletters, i realise how fortunate we are in always having some news to deliver. Our past six months have included a winner, a good sale, the purchase of a new and exciting filly and several successful social events. i thought how very different things could be if we were unlucky enough to own a NH horse which had been injured in the spring and declared 'out' for a whole year; sadly this is not uncommon. it seems appropriate to begin 2013 with a little history on where our horses are now trained, so we asked Peter Willett, Honorary President of GROG and former bloodstock advisor to the Norfolk family to cast his mind back and let us share his privileged knowledge. He said: "Lower Coombe Stables are located in Angmering Park, three miles east of Arundel and formerly part of the Duke of Norfolk's Arundel estate. High class horses have been trained in Angmering Park for more than a hundred years. Davies-Scourfield sent out Perola from Michelgrove, a mile north-east of Lower Coombe Stables, to win the Oaks in 1909, and after the death of Davies-Scourfield a quarter of a century later, bernard, 16th Duke of Norfolk, installed victor Gilpin there as a public trainer but with several horses of his own. On the outbreak of World War ii Gilpin joined the army,
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and Norfolk decided to close Michelgrove and move the training operation to a private stable at his home, Arundel Castle. After the war the stable became public and developed into one of the most powerful in the country with John Dunlop as trainer. John was the trainer of the GROG horses for the first 19 years of the scheme, a highly successful association brought to an end only by John's recent retirement. The closing of Michelgrove did not mean the end of the thoroughbred activity in Angmering Park. in 1937 bernard Norfolk married the Hon. Lavinia Strutt, step-daughter of the 6th earl of Rosebery who was one of the most prominent owner-breeders and won the Derby with blue Peter and Ocean Swell. Lavinia was as addicted to racing and breeding as her step-father, and under her influence bernard's involvement in the sport increased rapidly. Shortly before the outbreak of World War ii a stud was founded in Angmering Park to supply the horses for the Norfolk string, and this developed into one of the leading thoroughbred nurseries after the war. A number of top class horses were bred there, including the Ascot Gold Cup winner Ragstone, the St.Leger winner Moon Madness, the Coronation Cup winner and St.Leger third Sheriff's Star and finally Celtic Swing, the best of them all; he won the Racing Post Trophy by the overwhelming margin of 12 lengths and became the second Classic winner bred at Angmering Park when he triumphed in the French Derby. Sheriff's Star and Celtic Swing were trained at Angmering Park by Lady Herries, and so
accomplished the very rare feat of being bred and trained for Classic distinction at the same place. Lady Herries, the eldest of the four daughters of the Duke of Norfolk, moved from her former home in Yorkshire, where she had trained a small number of jumpers, to Angmering Park in the 1980s and as the size of the stud operation began to contract after the death of her father in 1975, her training operation expanded. After Celtic Swing's French Derby victory in 1995 the number of horses in training at Angmering Park reached a peak of 80, and an extensive new yard was built to accommodate them. However the preference of Lady Herries was to give close personal attention to a much smaller number of horses, and in the following years the size of the string was gradually reduced. This freed the training facilities for the use of another trainer and in 2006 William Knight was established as the second and major trainer in Angmering Park. His training operation was re-named Lower Coombe Stables. Lady Herries lives in a beautiful house she built herself near the stables. She still trains a few horses, mostly owned by herself and her sisters. The new home of the GROG horses has a short, but very distinguished history as a training establishment.”
DID YOU K N OW? HORSeRACiNG CLub MeMbeRSHiP iNCLuDeS 19 DAYS' RACiNG AT GOODWOOD (iNCLuDiNG THe FeSTivAL MeeTiNG) AND 43 ReCiPROCAL eveNTS. MeMbeRSHiP iS NOW ON SALe AT £319 PeR PeRSON WiTH THe OPTiON TO PuRCHASe A GueST bADGe AT £290. A £150 JOiNiNG Fee APPLieS TO NeW MeMbeRSHiP. GROG MeMbeRs can take Out HORseRacinG club MeMbeRsHip witHOut payinG tHe JOininG Fee.
i am very excited at the prospect of training the two GROG horses. Goodwood Mirage (above) is a quality individual and Goodwood Storm is a beautiful mover. WiLLiAM KNiGHT
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stable form william knight attended his first GROG event on Sunday, 2nd December when we paraded both Goodwood Mirage and Goodwood Storm in front of Goodwood House. We believe Members will be interested to note that since then William has trained four individual winners on the allweather circuit, thus confirming that his string are in good heart. Members might wish to log onto William's website at www.wknightracing.co.uk and follow his horses as the season progresses. Members will know that we regularly aim to
keep you informed of any interesting updates to our current horses' pedigrees, or those of past horses. Last season's Horris Hill Stakes (Group 3) winner tawhid, trained by Saeed bin Suroor is from the family of idle Waters and therefore, Goodwood Mirage. Van der neer, who finished second in the Group 1, Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, is out of the mare Lalectra, making him a half-brother to Goodwood treasure. He is trained by Richard Hannon who paid 55,000 Guineas for the colt as a yearling. it will be interesting to follow both these colts as three-year-olds.
GOODWOOD STORM bought for our 20th Scheme, this filly boasts stacks of quality. Shamardal, her sire, stands at Kildangan Stud in ireland and this year will stand at a fee of 50,000 euros. John Ferguson, bloodstock advisor to Sheikh Mohammed says of him: "He went from being Champion two-year-old to outstanding threeyear-old, and his stud record is there for all to see, siring horses who mature early and share his aptitudes. Plain of head and slightly offset, he himself did not have the best action; but he sires stock who are sound, solid, professional, and with real ability." the last remaining shares are available at just ÂŁ925. please contact Gail brown on 07860 361444 or alison/brenda in the Membership team on 01243 755029.
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UPDATE I What a wonderful disposition this colt has. For the past six weeks he has been confined largely to the stable, only leaving his box briefly each day for a walk out in hand before being introduced to the horsewalker. Yet, he has barely put a foot wrong. We must not forget that he is an entire, one of only two that are stabled at Lower Coombe, but such is his temperament that you would not know he was a colt. On 2nd January he was ridden for the first time since his surgery in November and thankfully for him, he can now look forward to a month of trotting under saddle amongst the picturesque woods and paths of the Angmering Park estate. On 2nd February he will resume cantering and we can then dream of the season ahead! Physically he has done exceptionally well from two to three years and few could fault his conformation.
UPDATE I When our filly arrived at the Lavington Stud in Petworth fresh from the Newmarket Sales, she objected strongly to being made to 'stand up' for a photographic session. briefly we wondered whether we might have bought a typical chestnut filly with a sharp temperament to match, but we should have been more patient, as understandably our filly had endured several weeks of sales preparation before the stress of the sales and then the move to her new surroundings. So perhaps it was not surprising that three days after arriving in Petworth she objected to being placed on the catwalk! Thankfully none of this unwillingness has presented itself at Angmering and our filly is now enjoying two four and a half furlong canters on alternate days with a single canter in between and traditionally, a day off on Sunday. She carries herself well and moves nicely. So far so good.
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social events
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dates for your diary
n M O n d a y, 2 5 t H F e b R ua R y - t u e s d a y, 5 t H M a R c H I visit to Hong Kong for racing at Sha Tin and Happy valley. n t H u R s d a y, 1 1 t H a p R i l I Visit to lower coombe stables, Angmering. Watch the horses exercising on the woodchip canter and enjoy breakfast in the grounds of Angmering Park. n s a t u R d a y, 2 5 t H M a y I Racing lunch at Goodwood Racecourse. An atmospheric lunch on the final day of our three-day Meeting. Lunch, racing tipster and the perfect day's racing in May. n t H u R s d a y, 6 t H J u n e I Visit to newsells park stud, Royston, Hertfordshire. Likely to be an afternoon visit with optional overnight stay locally for racing at Newmarket the following day. n t u e s d a y, 3 0 t H J u l y I Glorious Goodwood picnic. Gazebos in the car park at Goodwood for a Drinks and Fork buffet Reception. The place to be on day one of our Festival Race Meeting! n F R i d a y, 1 6 t H - M O n d a y, 1 9 t H a u G u s t I Visit to san sebastian, basque coast, spain. Festival of racing, known as the 'Spanish Deauville' takes place every August. Fly to bordeaux, visit a local trainer and enjoy lunch at Chateau Haut-bailly. n t u e s d a y, 1 0 t H s e p t e M b e R I second visit to lower coombe stables, Angmering. This visit may be replaced by 'Horses working at Goodwood after racing' on 3rd or 25th September with tea and drinks as an alternative to breakfast. TbC n s u n d a y, 1 3 t H O c t O b e R I 'end of season' drinks Reception at Goodwood Racecourse. DvD of horses' performances throughout the season and speeches. The final event for Members of Scheme (19). n s u n d a y, 1 s t d e c e M b e R I Goodwood House ~ drinks Reception and optional lunch. Parade of horses, speeches etc. Welcome new Members to Scheme (21). Date TbC n e n d F e b R ua R y / M a R c H 2 0 1 4 I Visit to barbados for racing at Garrison Savannah Racecourse.
G O O DWO O D R AC E H O R S E OW N E R S G RO U P Goodwood Racecourse Goodwood, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 0PS Telephone 01243 755022 or visit www.goodwood.com Gail brown, Racing Mana ger can be contacted direct on her mobile: 07860 361444 or by email on gail.brown@goodwood.com
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Members as Shadwell Stud, 2012
Glorious Goodwood Picnic, 2012
N E WS L E T T E R C O N T R I B U T O R S Words I Gail brown, Peter Willett Photography I John Hoy, Jon Franklin, beverley Downie & Catherine Hollywood Design & Print I Fine Print Services Ltd