ITB_Feb-March2019 by International Thoroughbred

March-April 2019

£4.95 • ISSUE 86

Occupational stressors for racehorse trainers and their impact on health and mental wellbeing A ground-breaking paper by Simone Sear of Racing Welfare

Still dominant Inbreeding to Sadler’s Wells reaps rewards for NH breeders

NH stallions

in the making

Pedigree rankings Racegoers enjoying the action at the Cheltenham Festival 2018

Alan Porter reports on the WBRRs from an

international bloodstock perspective

FIRST FOALS IN 2019

GALILEO - OCCUPANDISTE (KALDOUN)

A LANDMARK FAMILY Sire: GALILEO – Champion: won Gr.1 Derby S, Gr.1 Irish Derby, Gr.1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S, etc: Multiple Champion Sire and Sire of Sires, incl: FRANKEL (Triple Champion, sire), TEOFILO (Champion 2yo, sire), NEW APPROACH (Champion, sire), RULER OF THE WORLD (Gr.1, sire), NATHANIEL (Gr.1, sire), SIXTIES ICON (Gr.1, sire), INTELLO (Gr.1, sire) CHURCHILL, ULYSSES, etc. Dam: OCCUPANDISTE – won 6 races, incl Gr.1 Prix de la Forêt, Gr.1 Prix Maurice de Gheest; dam of 7 winners, incl MONDIALISTE, IMPRESSIONANTE (Gr.2 Prix de Sandringham, 2nd Gr.1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, Gr.1 Prix d’Astarté; herself dam of INTELLO, by GALILEO [Gr.1 Prix du Jockey Club, Gr.3 x 2, 3rd Gr.1 x 3, promising young sire]), ONLY ANSWER (Gr.3 Prix de Saint-Georges, Gr.3 Prix du Petit Couvert, LR Prix du Cercle), PLANETAIRE (by Galileo; LR Prix Pelleas, 3rd Gr.3 La Coupe) Her grandam ELLE SEULE won Gr.2 Prix d’Astarté; dam of 10 winners, incl ELNADIM (Champion Sprinter, sire), MEHTAAF (Champion, Gr.1 1,000 Guineas, dam of a Champion). Her dam FALL ASPEN (Gr.1 Matron S); dam of: FORT WOOD (Gr.1, Champion Sire), HAMAS (Gr.1, sire), NORTHERN ASPEN (Gr.1), TIMBER COUNTRY (Champion at 2, sire), BIANCONI (Gr.2, sire), COLORADO DANCER (Gr.2, dam of DUBAI MILLENIUM [Champion, sire of DUBAWI].

STANDING AT ELWICK STUD FEE £6,000 @StudElwick

@ElwickStud

@elwickstud

t: +44 (0) 1429 856 530 e: info@elwickstud.co.uk w: www.elwickstud.co.uk

NORTHERN DANCER SADLER'S WELLS

MISWAKI

GALILEO URBAN SEA GLENEAGLES (IRE) (2012) A BAY HORSE

A champion on the track Bred in the purple!

FAIRY BRIDGE

ALLEGRETTA STORM BIRD

STORM CAT YOU'RESOTHRILLING (2005)

TERLINGUA RAHY

MARIAH'S STORM

IMMENSE

n in Ireland in 2014, Champio eo), Champion 2yr old colt and £967,538 including 2000 years 3 GLENEAGLES (IRE) (c by Galil and 2 at races 7 s, Gr.1, 2015, won 3yr old miler in Europe in eas, Gr.1, National Stakes, Gr.1, St James's Palace Stake; sire. Lagardere, Gr.1 Guineas, Gr.1, Irish 2000 Guin , placed third in Prix Jean-Luc Gr.3 s, Stake s Tyro , Gr.2 s, Futurity Stake at 2 years and £109,644 viz 1st Dam. ) (f by Storm Cat), won 2 ,races ny Stakes, YOU'RESOTHRILLING (USA s, Gr.3 placed second in Alba Stake t Sprin Naas and Cherry Hinton Stakes, Gr.2 CAUSEWAY (USA); T'S GIAN to r Gr.3; Own siste dam of five winners vizeo), see above. won GLENEAGLES (IRE) (c. by Galilo), Jt 3rd top rated 2yr old filly in Europe in 2017, Stud , Moyglare HAPPILY (IRE) (2015 f. by Galile Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, Gr.1iot Stakes, Gr.1, ing includ ,371 £662 and in Sun Char 4 races at 2 years Stakes, Gr.3, placed second Stakes, Gr.1 and Silver Flash Irish 1000 Guineas, Gr.1. filly in Europe in 2014 , third in 1000 Guineas, Gr.1 and old 3yr d Galileo), Jt 3rd top rate MARVELLOUS (IRE) (f. by including Irish 1000 Guineas, Gr.1. ing Classic, Melbourne, Gr.2 won 2 races and £160,222 eo), won 4 races including Zipp , Gr.1. TAJ MAHAL (IRE) (c. by Galil e, Gr.3, placed second in Secretariat Stakes, Arlington s, ourn Melb Cup, JRA (twice), viz C L & M F Weld Park Stake years 2 at race 1 won eo), COOLMORE (IRE) (f. by Galilont Oaks Invitational Stakes, Gr.1. Belm in third Gr.3, placed ,571 2 to 4 years in U.S.A. and £475 2nd Dam. , (f by Rahy), won 10 races at Park Breeders' Cup H., Gr.2 , ay MARIAH'S STORM (USA) Turfw , Gr.2 s, Stake ie n Lass n Oaks including Arlington Washingto gton Heights Oaks, Gr.3, Falls City H., Gr.3, Ak-Sar-Be Arlin , Gr.3 Arlington Matron H., Stakes, Gr.1; Gr.3, placed third in Spinsterdingin 2000 dam of eight winners inclu (USA) (c by Storm Cat), Champion 3yo in Europe Irish AY SEW S., Gr.1, Eclipse S., Gr.1, GIANT'S CAU nal natio Inter ding inclu andre, (9.5-10.5f.), won 9 races , Sussex S., Gr.1, Prix de la Salam Gr.1 S., e Palac s's 2000 , Jame St Gr.1 , S., Elizabeth II Champion S., Gr.1 2000 Guineas, Gr.1, Queen Gr.1, placed second in IrishCup Classic, Gr.1; champion sire in U.S.A. Guineas, Gr.1 and Breeders' (f by Storm Cat), see above. ) YOU'RESOTHRILLING (USA eo), won 1 race, third in Ballyogan Stakes, Gr.3. 2; sire. H k Panky (IRE) (f by Galil i d i C k and Orrery S Gr

• AUSTRALIA • CAMELOT • CARAVAGGIO • CHURCHILL • EXCELEBRATION • FASTNET ROCK • FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND • GALILEO • GLENEAGLES • GUSTAV KLIMT • • HIGHLAND REEL • HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR • IVAWOOD • KINGSTON HILL • MASTERCRAFTSMAN • NO NAY NEVER • REQUINTO • ROCK OF GIBRALTAR • RULER OF THE WORLD • • SAXON WARRIOR • SIOUX NATION • STARSPANGLEDBANNER • THE GURKHA • U S NAVY FLAG • WAR COMMAND • ZOFFANY •

First 2YOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s with... A. P. O'Brien x7 Ed Dunlop x3 Jim Bolger x2 Fabrice Chappet x2 Richard Hannon x2 Charles Hills x2 Mark Johnston x2 Joseph O'Brien x2 Fozzy Stack x2 Mick Channon x2 Henri-Francois Devin x2 Charlie Fellowes x2 Andrew Balding Michael Bell Saeed bin Suroor Marco Botti Chad Brown Karl Burke Roger Charlton Andre Fabre Richard Fahey John Gosden William Haggas Jessica Harrington Ger Lyons Willie McCreery Martyn Meade Hugo Palmer Sir Mark Prescott Jean-Claude Rouget Sir Michael Stoute D. K. Weld Pia Brandt Nicolas Clement Paul Cole

Yan Durepaire James Fanshawe Richard Hughes Jamie Osborne John Quinn George Scott David Simcock Ed Vaughan Ed Walker Carlos & Yann Lerner

Contact: Coolmore Stud, Fethard, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Ireland. Tel: 353-52-6131298. Fax: 353-52-6131382. Christy Grassick, David Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Loughlin, Eddie Fitzpatrick, Tim Corballis, Maurice Moloney, Gerry Aherne, Jason Walsh, Tom Miller, Neil Magee or Hermine Bastide . Tom Gaffney, David Magnier, Joe Hernon, John Kennedy or Cathal Murphy: 353-25-31966/31689. Kevin Buckley (UK Rep.) 44-7827-795156. E-mail: sales@coolmore.ie Website: www.coolmore.com All stallions nominated to EBF.

contents march-april

18 24

10 First word

The annual WBRR rankings always divides opinions, but the long-held dominance in Hong Kong of the recently retired Douglas Whyte was indisputable, reflects Paul Haigh

12 News

The ITBA’s seminar “Action Plan 2019” aimed to find answers for Irish breeders, the estimated US foal crop for 2018 is the smallest for 50 years, while Cathy Grassick considers the unusual spring

18 Still dominant

The legendary sire Sadler’s Wells is still a huge influence on NH pedigrees

26 NH stallion statistics

Leading sires of NH performers, hurdlers and chasers provided by Weatherbys

32 A ratings debate

Simon Rowlands reflects on some of the issues surrounding this year’s WBRRs

38 Justify: the clear victor

After all the chat stateside, the Triple Crown winner was the clear winner of the Horse of the Year award, writes Melissa Bauer-Herzog

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42 Cracksman: his father’s son

The son of Frankel topped the WBRR rankings, writes Alan Porter in his pedigree review of the world’s best horses of 2018

50 WBRR tables

Leading lists detailing the pedigrees of those horses rated over 119

56 Once in a generation

Beauty Generation is the highest-rated horse in Hong Kong since Able Friend, reports David Morgan, who chats with those closest to the horse

78 Photo of the month

The battle of the pre-Cheltenham media days: Nicky Henderson and Gordon Elliott

62 NH stallions in the making

Adam Potts selects young NH sires beginning to make their mark

66 Understanding mental health of racehorse trainers Simone Sear’s ground-breaking paper looking into issues affecting the mental wellbeing of racehorse trainers

74 Ask... and you will get winners!

The young son of Sadler’s Wells has moved to Dunraven Stud in Wales and is getting good results from his early crops of point-to-point runners

Cheltenham

Photo by PA Images

contents march-april

This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in whole or part without permission of the publisher. The views expressed in International Thoroughbred are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. While every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the content herein, or any consequences arising from them.

the team

the photographers

the writers

editor sally duckett publisher declan rickatson photography trevor jones design thoroughbred publishing

thoroughbred photography press association equine creative media tattersalls hkjc laura green

paul haigh jocelyn de moubray alan porter adam potts simon rowlands sally duckett melissa bauer-herzog cathy grassick

advertising declan rickatson 00 44 (0)7767 310381 declan.rickatson@btinternet.com subscriptions tracey glaysher 00 44 (0) 1428 724063 itsubs@btinternet.com

the printers buxton press accounts

the stats weatherbys

plestor house, farnham road, liss, hampshire, gu33 6jq tel: 00 44 (0) 1428 724063 info@internationalthoroughbred.net www.internationalthoroughbred.net subscriptions: email or call as on the left, or log on to www.facebook.com/internationalthoroughbred

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C £1 no ra ve 5,0 w fea n 00 tur Br in ee Tat g th t ze er e Up sal Bo ls nu s

best results best rewards more 2018 2YO Group Winners than any other European Breeze Up Sale

QUEEN OF BERMUDA Firth Of Clyde Stakes, Gr. 3

LA PELOSA Natalma Stakes, Gr. 1

now featuring the £15,000 Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Bonus “The prospect of winning a £15,000 bonus makes the Craven Sale more enticing than ever.” Ed Dunlop “We’ve always been very lucky at the breeze ups and we bought our Group 1 winner Brando at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale. The new Craven Breeze Up Bonus should prove to be a hugely attractive incentive for owners.” Kevin Ryan

Europe’s Leading Breeze Up Sale

Craven Breeze Up Sale April 15 –17

T: +44 1638 665931 sales@tattersalls.com www.tattersalls.com

first word

Questions and Answers T The annual WBRR ratings always divide opinion, but the long-held dominance in Hong Kong of the recently retired jockey Douglas Whyte was indisputable, reflects Paul Haigh

he Great February UK Equine Flu Panic is over. Or maybe not. Whereof we can not know, thereof we can not speak – as philosoper Ludwig Wittgenstein’s cook flipped when he asked her if she thought his boiled egg was cooked yet. The one thing we can guess about The Great Panic is that it makes an Irish domination of Cheltenham marginally more likely than it already was. This is not because there are more horses in Ireland, just that there are more good ones, mainly because of the relative economic advantages of owning horses over there. If the Panic comes back, there may not be a Cheltenham this year at all. Or even any Classics. If it does happen the BHA will probably make an announcement about it one morning at about 3am for everybody’s convenience and to put all our minds at rest. You can read all about it here, if you haven’t noticed it on Twitter first. Around the rest of the racing world things carried on pretty much as normal. Nothing much happens in the northern-hemisphere because – this always comes as a surprise to Antipodeans – it’s out of season, so what can you expect? Unless you live in Dubai where the management continues to proceed to near bursting point with excitement at the thought that the greatest racehorses on earth are busy congregating in the desert in preparation for the Dubai World Cup meeting that will define their exalted status. This may be true in part if Almond Eye really does make it from Japan, but otherwise the world’s greatest racehorses remain stubbornly at home waiting for the new season, and Winx remains even more stubbornly in her own country as Winx always does. Did the Longines handicappers get it right when they declared her and Cracksman joint world champions for 2018? Well, one of them is an exceptional horse when he gets his conditions, which are soft ground, preferably at Ascot and over 1m2f. The other just keeps on winning races at more or less any distance wherever she goes, as long as those races are in Australia. Winx is almost an old lady now in racing terms and the time will come when Nature decides her run must end – and it does not seem yet as if that decision is being

The Americans did nail one thing perfectly when voting Justify the Eclipse Award Horse of the Year in the face of quite a strong lobby in favour of the Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, Accelerate

made as she has posted her 30th win on the bounce in the Apollo Stakes (G2). So if we haven’t got an answer as to how she might have done if she’d taken her ability around the world, what other international questions are we going to ask ourselves? It’s rather worrying actually. Name drop alert. About a year ago I had to ring Bob Baffert about something quite different. And out of the blue he asked me why Winx didn’t run in the multimillion Everest at the “Championships” at Randwick. It was very flattering to have been asked. Maybe he just thought I was an Australian. But the truth was I didn’t have a clue, and couldn’t think of a reason except perhaps that her connections were more interested in preserving her winning streak than in seeking new challenges. Given that Aussies historically think nothing of switching middle-distance horses to sprint distances, often as a prep, it still seems strange. Long, long ago Dick Hern went on record that he would have suggested Brigadier Gerard should run in the Nunthorpe two days later if he hadn’t suffered his solitary defeat in the inaugural Benson and Hedges (now the Juddmonte International). He would have been happy to see him run over 5f because the Brigadier was just the fastest horse he’d ever trained. So, if an ultra-traditionalist Brit could contemplate such a thing, why not an enterprising bunch of Aussies? Bob was baffled anyway, and probably still is. The Americans did nail one thing perfectly when voting Justify the Eclipse Award Horse of the Year in the face of quite a strong lobby in favour of the Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, Accelerate. And they got it right because Americans are traditionalists when it comes to the Triple Crown. For them no feat can trump the achievement of scooping the three Classics in just over four weeks. Even though Justify did not run again after the Belmont, the triumph of completing a Triple Crown, of which the first two legs were run in conditions quite possibly unmatched for awfulness by any of the other 12 in history who’d performed that treble, meant that in the end there was no real argument among Eclipse voters. So the colts he beat haven’t distinguished themselves since. Well, maybe he just broke their hearts in the mud,

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first word

then the fog and finally over what in America passes for an extreme distance in New York. Accelerate’s failure to win the over-endowed Pegasus before he too retired to stud only franked the voters’ decisions. The most noteworthy human retirement in racing during the early part of this year has been Douglas Whyte from the saddle in Hong Kong. For anyone to have accomplished the probably unmatchable feat of winning the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship 13 times in a row in the most competitive race riding environment in the world is almost beyond astonishing, and his rivals queued up to pay tribute to the talents that had gone towards making this near absurd achievement possible. Zac Purton, Hong Kong’s latest contender for the “Best Jockey in the World” title, had the wit to pretend to polish the great man’s boots in public on the day Whyte finally hung them up. But amid all the encomium for the South African’s balance, his strength, his judgement of pace and his just plain racing cunning there was one talent that didn’t get quite enough attention, and that was his immense ability as a man-manager. In Hong Kong you don’t just need riding skills to become champion even once. You need the ability to win friends and influence people in a fashion undreamt of by the man who wrote the ancient bestseller. Whyte as a jockey was such a wheeler dealer and unequalled diplomat he could probably sort out Brexit even at this late stage if the right person gave him the call and a decent incentive. It will be fascinating to see if he can carry that skill over to the training career he now begins. One more name drop alert, but it’s dropping with the excuse of using an anecdote to illustrate his skill in that respect. After leaving the Racing Post I turned up in Hong Kong for a two-year stint with the Jockey Club that may well have broken many records for unimpressiveness. First day in the new job there was a press conference all the jockeys had to attend. (No idea what it was about, probably just a photo op as the HKJC is pretty fond of them). I sat staring uncomfortably at the stars ranged in front of me and wondering what even vaguely intelligent question I could ask them. Then I became aware that the eyes of “the Durban Demon” were upon me probably because he’d never set eyes on me before, and he gave me a big grin and a wink that perfectly settled my nerves. It would be ridiculously cynical to imagine he had any other motive because after all he didn’t need one. But through all that season as he

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For anyone to have accomplished the probably unmatchable feat of winning the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship 13 times in a row in the most competitive race riding environment in the world is almost beyond astonishing

fought the epic battle with Brett Prebble for the tightest of his 13 titles he had completely won me over and had one hack on his side. If he’s as good with owners he’ll have champions bulging out of his yard. ‘Your egg is ready now, Mr Wittgenstein. And will you be having the usual toastie soldiers with that?’.

Zac Purton pretends to polish Douglas Whyte’s race riding boots as the legendary Hong Kong-based jockey prepares to hang them up after his last race ride Photo courtesy of the HKJC

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Discover more about the Shadwell Stallions at www.shadwellstud.com Or call Richard Lancaster, James O’Donnell or Tom Pennington on 01842 755913 Email us at: nominations@shadwellstud.co.uk

the news

ITBA national seminar discusses “Action Plan 2019”

The Irish bloodstock group organised a wide-ranging seminar touching on issues such as the state of the bloodstock market, taxation and financial planning and, of course, Brexit and bloodstock

The panel in the spotlight: from left, chairman Derek Iceton, Con Marnane, Dermot Cantillon, Kevin Blake, Paul Nolan, Brian Kavanagh and John McEnery

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association’s National Seminar, named “Action Plan 2019: return on investments for Irish breeder” aimed to provide delegates with some information regarding Brexit, the state of the bloodstock market and opportunities that could be out there for breeders. The difficult sales season of 2018 produced trade defined by words and phrases such as overproduction, lack of quality, polarisation, a reduction in buyers and end-users – particularly in the middle to lower levels of the market place. Bloodstock economist John Lynam

outlined the state of the market for the select yearling sales in 2018 and found that many, in fact, returned respectable results, especially if taking into account the strong returns that have been posted by these sales for the last five or six years. The Goffs Orby Sale was pinpointed as a sale that produced very strong results, in particularly due to the record-breaking sale of two million euro fillies. It was further down the trading pyramid that was really beset by difficulties with a lack of buyers. Sasha Kerins of Grant Thornton outlined opportunities that should be considered for

financial planning and proposals that the ITBA could work with to help encourage breeders financially – for example a revised system of mare depreciation, a profit roll-over relief scheme to encourage the purchase of quality broodmares, and possible relief on investments for “small rural breeders”. The invited panel consisted of breeze-up consignor Con Marnane, breeder Dermot Cantillon, NH consignor Paul Nolan, journalist Kevin Blake, the chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland Brian Kavanagh and breeder John McEnery. The panel was expertly chaired by Tara Stud’s Derek Iceton. The overriding call was essentially for

Marcel moves from Newmarket to stand at Anngrove Stud in Ireland The 2015 Racing Post Trophy winner Marcel has moved from the National Stud in Newmarket to stand in Ireland for the 2019 breeding season. He will be based at Anngrove Stud in County Laois at a fee of £3,000. The son of Lawman won

two of his three juvenile starts, including a Newcastle maiden and the Racing Post Trophy. He was trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam and owned as a juvenile by Paul Hancock, bought by international owner Paul Makin ahead of the 2000

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Guineas. He ran when down the field in the Classic and it proved to be his sole start at three. Marcel is out of the Marju mare Mauresmo, an unraced full-sister to the Group 2 Diadem Stakes runner-up Munjiz. They are from the family of the

Derby fourth, Grand Prix de Longchamp and 1986 Melbourne Cup winner At Talaq (Roberto). He is now a six-year-old and his oldest crop are yearlings Anngrove’s new arrival replaces Tobougg who died just before Christmas.

the news

King’s Best retired in Japan King’s Best, who has stood at Darley’s Japanese base since 2013, has been retired from stud duties. The 2,000 Guineas-winning son of Kingmambo is a half-brother to the amazing Urban Sea, the dam of Galileo and Sea The Stars. He was trained by Sr Michael Sotute, having been bought by Charlie Gordon-Watson for owner Saeed Suhail for 2.3 million francs as a yearling in Deauville. He sired eight Group/Grade 1 winners, including the Derby and Arc winner Workforce, the Lockinge Stakes hero Creachadoir, Sussex Stakes winner Proclamation as well as Dubai Surprise, Eishin Flash and King’s Apostle. Deputy minister Simon Coveney explains the current Brexit position and offers his full support to Irish breeders

racing and bloodstock to form closer bonds making greater use of the race framing to help encourage ownership. Such initiatives as the valuable Foran race series designed for two-year-olds who have been purchased for less than €72,000, as well as the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing’s sponsored races which award a €2,000 cheque to winning connections to be spent at Irish bloodstock sales, were warmly welcomed and encouraged to be developed further. The panel strongly believed this should extend to the racing industry in the UK. Marnane, who reported the 2018 breeze-up season to have been the most difficult he could remember, believes that it is all about “getting bums on seats” at the sales and encouraging ownership participation by these methods – though he strongly felt that the day of the lucurative sales race to be “long gone”. All panelists recommend that

breeders look closely at their broodmare bands and aim to maintain the quality and not to over-cover their mares. In the right circumstances breeders were also advised to support their produce and put them into training with an aim to make the most of the valuable horses-intraining market. Despite his busy schedule, the Tánaiste Simon Coveney, deputy prime minister of Ireland, minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, responsibility for Brexit in Irish government, spoke and chatted for an hour on Brexit. Coveney outlined the dangers of a no-deal Brexit situation, which could produce considerable transport difficulties for equine transport between Ireland and the UK; not only the fear of considerable delays dockside, but also the requirement for vet checks and health certificates all increasing costs and difficulties to trade. There may also be the threat

of tariffs placed on horses sold in the UK, and he argued that in no-deal scenario reverting to trading under World Tariff rulings was not a solution that should be considered. He promised his audience that he would continue to work in bloodstock’s, racing’s and farming’s interests recognising that all three sectors are of vital importance to the Irish economy. He did also offer some solace as he did believe he had seen some movement in the position of the Brexiteers and he was confident that some form of solution, even if delayed, would be put in place to ensure the nodeal scenario was avoided. He is not a supporter of Brexit, and fears its knock-on effects to Irish industry. However, he confirmed that the EU saw Ireland, with its strong trading links to the UK, as a special case, and that the EU would stand by and support Ireland as needed.

Alpha Centauri to visit Galileo Last season’s champion three-year-old filly Alpha Centauri is to be covered by the champion Galileo, confirmed the Niarchos family’s racing manager Alan Cooper. The daughter of Mastercraftsman won four Group 1 races in 2018 before suffering a career-ending injury after her second placing in the Group 1 Matron Stakes. Copper said the four-year-old is “absolutely sound now” and enjoying life in the paddocks. Alpha Centauri was named the champion three-year-old filly at the 2018 Cartier Awards, was voted Horse of the Year at the Horse Racing Ireland awards and was rated 124 on the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. She was the joint top-rated thre-year-old filly of 2018 with Japan’s Almond Eye.

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the news

The 2018 US foal crop the smallest for 50 years According to figures released by the US Jockey Club, the country’s estimated foal crop dropped to 19,925 last year. It is a fall of 4. 4 per cent from 2017 and, subject to final confirmation later in the year, will be the first time the US annual foal crop has dropped below 20,000 since 1966. The fall is a part of a long-term broad trend since 1986, a year which saw a height of 51,000 foals born. This had fallen to 40,000 by 1990, while 2009 produced the first sub-30,000 registration level. This fell to 21,000 in 2012, but had remained at the approximately par levels through the five years to 2017.

The breeding of racehorses in the US continues to concentrate further on the state of Kentucky with 41.4 per cent of the total crop registered born in the state. This is a small increase from 40.1 per cent in 2017 and a continued rise from 31.9 per cent in 2008. Florida was the second-busiest state with 9.4 per cent of foals born, dropping from just over 10 per cent in 2017. Falling trends have also been reflected in the number of horse races staged in the US last year – the figure dropping to 36,565, the first time the number of races staged has dipped below 37,000 since 1960 having hit a high of over 82,000 in 1989.

....Girls aloud

pring is always a busy time of the year in the bloodstock world. We have just been through the usual rota of mid-winter sales in Tattersalls, Goffs and Arqana and the breeding season is well underway with lots of new arrivals gracing the paddocks, while the covering season has started. On the racetrack the Dubai Carnival is in full swing and two-year-olds have begun their training careers proper. The jumps action stepped up a gear at the Dublin Racing Festival ahead of the big festival meetings at Cheltenham and Punchestown. Spring time is the time of hopes and dreams of future success. This year however has instead posed lots of new challenges for the bloodstock world, which has made it a difficult and concerning time for everyone in the industry. An outbreak of Equine Influenza (EI) brought racing to a halt in the UK, Brexit is looming on the horizon with little or no plans discernible and the drop in the market place has continued to affect the middle and lower market. It is indeed a worrying time, but the most pressing issue was to ensure that the spread of EI was halted to prevent a mass outbreak. Both the BHA and trainer Donald McCain are to be commended for the quick and thorough way in which they responded to the situation. While most thoroughbred horses will have followed a comprehensive vaccination programme it is important that this included protection against the Clade-1 strain of EI of Florida sublineage, which is more common in South and North America. It is very important for all of us involved in racing and breeding to be diligent when it comes to disease prevention, especially during foaling season when young animals are on the ground without vaccination and are at the most risk. As March 29 draws ever nearer, Brexit is increasingly becoming a

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Conversely, prize-money on offer grew by 3.5 per cent to a record $1117.7 (millions of dollars). It is also a record figure of prize-money per starter ($24,223) and per race ($30,551). The average price of US sold yearlings increased last year by 14.3 per cent to $78,749 from $68,923 in 2017, a second year in succession that has seen double digit gains. The aggregate for the 7,177 yearlings sold was a second-best ever at $565,182,981. And although the average price for the breeze-up two-year-olds dropped by 4.3 per cent to $85,508, it was still a second-best average price ever achieved by the sector.

Cathy Grassick discusses Equine Flu and Brexit

concern for our industry. As the UK government seemingly has little or no plans in place, it has been very difficult for our industry to make plans to cope with the loss of the tripartite agreement. This comes right in the middle of a busy breeding season and NH racing season and may impact upon both, certainly in the short term. I don’t think there is any cause for panic in the industry as all of the stakeholders and decision-makers are poised and ready to swing into action should the need arise; it is just very frustrating to have the uncertainty of the situation hanging over us. The major worry if Brexit occurs with a no-deal situation is how that will effect trade tariffs and the selling of horses for members of the EU in Britain and vica versa. The real impact may only be seen further down the line when it comes to the major auctions. I am hopeful that this is something which will be avoided and that by the time autumn rolls around the situation will be resolved and we can look forward to positive sales results. As one wise observer commented the other day, “we all survived Y2K, we should be able to survive Brexit!”. All of this aside, I for one am enjoying the spring time – we have some excellent foals on the ground so far on the farm and we are busy getting mares ready for cover. I have been busy working for my clients at the February sales and I am hopeful that we have sourced some excellent potential. I am also busy planning future matings for my many clients. In general I think that people are very cautious this year and in response to the difficult market place, they are making sure to put the maximum amount of planning into their chosen stallions so as to gain the best commercial advantage. If only we could all get our hands on that elusive crystal ball and predict the stars of the future!

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nh racing

Still dominant

Legendary sire Sadler’s Wells continues to have a huge influence on NH pedigrees

HE Year began with the influence of the 14-time champion sire Sadler’s Wells being felt more keenly than ever through the achievments of his sons Doyen, Fame And Glory, Camelot and Milan, and by astute breeding decisons made by producers of Irish NH stock.

January gave the Hickey family of Sunnyhill Stud the best start to 2019 with Battleoverdoyen supplying Doyen, the farm’s 19-year-old son of Sadler’s Wells, with his first Grade 1 winner – the gelding winning the Lawlors’ Hotel Novice Hurdle at Naas on January 6. Bred by Berry Farms, the seven-year-old is from the first Irish-bred crop of his sire (he stood for three years at Dalham Hall Stud and then two at Gestüt Auenquelle in Germany).

Battleoverdoyen: the first Grade 1 NH winner for Sunnyhill Stud’s Doyen

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nh racing Battleoverdoyen cost Gigginstown House Stud £235,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale in 2017 following his debut point-to-point success at Loughbrickland for handler Jerry Cosgrove. He is now unbeaten in four starts, winning his bumper at Punchestown in November and a Navan maiden hurdle for trainer Gordon Elliott before demonstrating his class when stepping up to Grade 1 level for the first time, puncturing some lofty reputations at Naas. He has entries in the Supreme (14/1), the Ballymore (3/1) and the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdles (4/1). His dam Battle Over was a winner over jumps in France. She is by the Blushing Groom stallion Sillery and out of the Santa Anita Listed Estrapade Stakes winner and Longchamp Prix des Reservoirs runner-up Battle Quest (Noblequest). Battle Over has produced three winners

Doyen’s fortunes as a NH sire are on the up, with his first Irish crop impressing in the point-to-point field and now translating that onto the track

bred by Caroline Berry, including a five-yearold full-brother to Battleoverdoyen. Named Swordsman (a winner and a Grade 2 fourth), he represents the same trainer and owner as his older brother. Their two-year-old full-brother made €18,000 as a foal at the 2017 Tattersalls Ireland November NH Sale, while Berry also has their yearling full-sister. Doyen’s fortunes as a NH sire are on the up, with his first crop impressing in the pointto-point field and now translating that onto the track. On the back of his first Irish-bred crop making such a smart start to their careers in 2017, Doyen’s fee was increased by €2,000 to €5,000 for 2018 and it remains at that mark. In the past two years his sales results have justified that increase with his average and median store sales prices increasing exponentially, while he also recorded his

Thumbs up by Jack Kennedy after Commander Of Fleet’s Grade 1 novice hurdle success at Leopardstown. The son of Fame And Glory holds three novice hurdle entries at Cheltenham

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nh racing

Sir Erec: the son of Camelot took himself to the top of the betting for the Triumph Hurdle after winning the Spring Juvenile Hurdle (G1) highest-priced three-year-olds in 2017 and 2018. His top-priced store horse so far is Final List bred by the Fitzpatrick family of Glen Erne Stud in County Cavan. He runs in the Gigginstown silks and cost Gordon Elliott €150,000 at the 2017 Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale. Last year’s renewal of the sale provided his most expensive filly so far – the half-sister to recent Grade 2 Champion Hurdle Trial winner Global Citizen selling for €90,000. Doyen is also the sire of Andy Dufresne, who sold for £330,000 at last year’s Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale. He made a winning bumper debut at Down Royal at the end of January. The five-year-old was purchased last March by Kieran McManus after he won his maiden at Borris House for Elliott and jockey Jamie Codd having run in the colours of Camilla Sharples, who is travelling head girl for Elliott.

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Andy Dufresne is out of the Beneficial mare Daytona Lily, who was a winner over hurdles for her owner-breeder Gillian Browne, also breeder of Andy Dufresne. Daytona Lily is the dam of winning hurdler Clondaw Rigger by Stowaway, and she has a three-year-old filly and two-year-old colt by Doyen.

Sadler’s Wells inbreeding key

The same Gigginstown and Elliott combination were also the suppliers of a first Grade 1 winner for Fame And Glory when Commander Of Fleet won the opening Grade 1 of the Dublin Racing Festival. Commander Of Fleet was a much less expensive acquisition for the O’Leary brothers than some of their other Grade 1 winners. He cost connections just €47,000 when purchased by Margaret O’Toole at the 2017 Goffs Land Rover Sale from the Hore family’s Mount Eaton Stud.

The family bought Commander Of Fleet as a foal from his breeder Patricia Coghlan through Egmont Stud for €35,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale. He is the second foal out of Coonagh Cross, who was a bumper winner for Coghlan and trainer Edward O’Grady. Her first foal is the seven-year-old Presenting gelding Boston Spray, a point-to-point winner who has been placed four times over hurdles. Commander Of Fleet is from the first crop of his late sire, and is one of a number representing a growing trend of inbreeding to the great Sadler’s Wells. The five-year-old is inbred 3 x 3 to the 14-time champion sire – dam Coonagh Cross is by Saddler’s Hall, a son of Sadler’s Wells, while Fame And Glory was by Sadler’s Wells’ champion son Montjeu. Thunder From Down Under is bred on the exact same Fame And Glory-Saddler’s Hall cross as Commander Of Fleet and he

nh racing made an impressive start to his track career when taking a bumper at Fairyhouse for the Gigginstown and Elliott combination. Inbreeding to Sadler’s Wells seems to work for his dam Coolnacarriga as her other track winner Cloudy Rock, a daughter of Cloudings (Sadler’s Wells), is even more closely inbred to the late champion sire. Coolnacarriga won a bumper and has already produced two six-figure sales horses – Cool Getaway, who cost £305,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale 2016, and Thunder From Down Under, who sold to Elliott for €125,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale from Mount Eaton Stud. Meticulous, another promising recent performer for Fame And Glory, is out of the Grade 1 winner Refinement, a daughter of Oscar (Sadler’s Wells). It means that Meticulous, like Commander Of Fleet, is inbred 3 x 3 to Saddler’s Wells The five-year-old finished second to the Envoi Allen – a son of Muhtathir bought by Tom Malone for £400,000 at last February’s

Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham Sale – in the Grade 2 colts and geldings bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival. Kitikat, a bumper winner and placed in a maiden hurdle for Jonjo O’Neill and Gay Smith, is yet another winner from Fame And Glory’s first crop bred on similar lines – this time his dam Felinious boasts the mighty Kayf Tara as his damsire. Fame And Glory’s final full crop turned two this year, the five-time Group 1 winner dying of a heart attack covering a mare early in the 2017 breeding season.

Grade 1 one-two for Camelot

Like Fame And Glory, the triple Classic hero Camelot is a son of the champion Montjeu, who has excelled as a sire of NH stallions. Therefore it should come as no surprise that Camelot should be capable of producing top-class jumpers right from the outset of his stud career. On the Flat his first crop runners have

already included the Group 1 Irish Derby winner Latrobe and the Group 1 Belmont Oaks winner Athena, as well as the Group 1 Belmont Derby third and Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes winner Hunting Horn. But now Camelot is also the sire of a Grade 1 one-two over hurdles as his son Sir Erec led home stable companion and Camelot gelding Gardens Of Babylon in the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown during the Dublin Racing Festival, the pair trained by Joseph O’Brien for JP McManus. Sir Erec is also notable as he remains an entire at the age of four. He was a talented performer on the Flat for Joseph’s father Aidan, winning the Listed Martin Molony Stakes at Limerick before finishing third to Stradivarius in the Group 2 British Champions Long Distance Cup. Transferred into the ownership of McManus and to the younger O’Brien’s Piltown yard, Sir Erec is two from two over hurdles. He began his career at Leopardstown over

French stallions to the fore at Ascot on Betfair Saturday

hile the early 2019 NH action was dominated by sons of Sadler’s Wells, the mammoth Ascot Betfair Chase card was taken over by the French – five of the winners were by French-based stallions, with Mister Malarky, winner of the Reynoldstown Chase (G2), although bred in Britain and by the now Glenview Stud-based Malinas, boasting a Ger suffix. The Grade 2 Denman Chase saw Clan Des Obeaux build on his Christmas King George success and the son of Kapgarde had the perfect prep race for his Cheltenham Gold Cup challenge. It was another big race victory for his 20-year-old sire Kapgarde, who stands at Haras de la Hetraie at a fee of €12,000. As Adam Potts reviews in his NH sires article on page 62, Nickname’s untimely death is proving such a loss to the stallion ranks and the sevenyear-old Cyrname underlined that void with his all-the-way victory in the Betfair Chase (G1). Purchased privately after three runs and one win in France, the gelding has quietly improved, last year taking his first Grade 2 in the Pendil Novices’ Chase and finishing fourth in the Celebration Novices Chase (G1) at Aintree last April. This season after a third first time out in an intermediate chase, things did not go to plan at Ascot in November when he could only finsh seventh in a handicap chase. Nicholls did not run the horse over Christmas and waited for the middle of January, popping the horse out in a handicap chase at Ascot. The gelding, owned by long-term suporter of the Nicholls yard Mrs Johnny de la Hey, had clearly thrived in the interim, made nearly all and

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won by a decisive 20l. The subsequent return to Ascot for the Grade 1 reaped rewards and the horse was never troubled to become the sire’s first Grade 1 winner. With a preference for a right-handed track, Cyrname is unlikely to be seen at Cheltenham, and Punchestown is the reported target. In a subsequent interview on skysportsracing with Luke Harvey, big-race jockey Harry Cobden remarked that the horse, something of a free type at home, was becoming a little more settled and able take more work on the yard’s flat gallop. It has seemingly helped find considerable improvement. Al Dancer lived up to the Nigel Twiston-Davies hype in the Betfair Hurdle (G2) and is now at the head of the betting for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, alongside the Nicky Henderson-trained Angels Breath, the pair both owned by Walters Plant Hire. Fakir D’Oudairies, the son of Kapgarde trained by Joseph O’Brien, is up with the pair in the betting. Al Dancer is a son of the Linamix stallion Al Namix, who stands at Haras de Mirande for €2,500, and is out of the Kaldounevees mare Steel Dancer. She is now the dam of two black-type jumping performers, Al Dancer joining her French Grade 3 chase winner Tzar’s Dancer. At the recent ITBA forum Kevin Blake reported from his stats that French-breds are no more sucessful overall than Irish-breds, but it does seem that there is a lot of strength from France at the top of the pyramid. At Cheltenham in 2018, French-breds enjoyed an exceptional Festival winning 11 races at the meeting, and recent results suggest that horses with the FR suffix are once again heading to the Festival with a strong hand.

nh racing Christmas winning the juvenile hurdle and then returned to the track for his Grade 1 bow. He was bred by Gce Farms and consigned by Frank Motherway’s Yellowford Farm at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale where he was purchased by Timmy Hyde of Camas Park Stud for 170,000gns. It was a fantastic weekend for the Motherway family, who also bred and sold the Grade 1 Irish Gold Cup winner Bellshill (King’s Theatre). The shrewd Motherways have also bred and sold one of Camelot’s most expensive and potentially most exciting NH horses – a three-parts brother to the legendary hurdler Hurricane Fly. The gelding was purchased by Highflyer Bloodstock for €230,000 at last year’s Goffs Land Rover Sale. Sir Erec is yet another of this year’s Grade 1 winners to feature close inbreeding to Sadler’s Wells as he is out of the Galileo mare Quiritis, a full-sister to the Group 3 Queen’s Vase winner and Group 1 St Leger and

Sir Erec is yet another of this year’s Grade 1 winners to feature close inbreeding to Sadler’s Wells as he is out of the Galileo mare Quiritis

Group 1 Melbourne Cup second Mahler. Their dam Rainbow Goddess is a full-sister to Glatisant, the dam of the Group 1 winners and sires Footstepsinthesand and Pedro The Great, the second dam of Group 1 winner Curvy, as well as of the Group 1 winner and sire Power. Gardens Of Babylon was a €240,000 yearling when purchased by Charlie GordonWatson at the Goffs Orby Sale from partbreeder Camas Park Stud. He only ran twice on the Flat, but has already run three times over hurdles, winning a juvenile contest at Punchestown on his debut and then finishing second to Surin (by Authorized, another Derby-winning son of Montjeu) at Fairyhouse in January. They are two of three NH winners for Camelot so far, the third being the filly Miranda, winner of a four-year-old hurdle at Ludlow on her British debut for trainer Paul Nicholls in early February. A winner on the Flat in her native France last year, she is a half-sister to Vercingetorix

Clan Des Obeaux (Kapgarde) enjoyed the perfect prep race for the Gold Cup in the Denman Chase. He beat fellow French-bred, the159-rated Terrefort, a grey son of Martaline, by 11 lengths

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NEW FOR 2019

By Zoffany x How’s She Cuttin’ “....He would be an interesting choice as his own racing record is not only good but will appeal to the current enthusiasm for sprinters. His sire Zoffany will be no drawback either.” James Underwood’s Review of 2018

Rated 121 by Timeform

In a star-studded career, he defeated 20 individual Group/Grade 1 winners of 35 Group/Grade 1 races: ACLAIM, AIR FORCE BLUE, ALPHA DELPHINI, CELESTINE, GOLDREAM, GORDON LORD BYRON, HAVANA GREY, JUNGLE CAT, LADY AURELIA, LIBRISA BREEZE, LIMATO, MAAREK, MABS CROSS, MARSHA, MECCA'S ANGEL, MONGOLIAN SATURDAY, PROFITABLE, QUIET REFLECTION, SOLE POWER, and TWILIGHT SON.

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nh racing (Dylan Thomas), who was second in a Grade 2 four-year-old hurdle for Elliott four years’ ago. She was purchased for €47,000 by Malone for Nicholls at Arqana Autumn. O’Brien looks to have a strong hand in the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, as well as Sir Erec and Gardens Of Babylon, he is also the trainer of Faker D’Oudairies, who won the Grade 2 Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham on the last weekend of January. The son of Kapgarde was subsequently

purchased privately by JP McManus, and that also strengthens his already deep Cheltenham team, which includes dual Grade 1 novice chase winner Le Richebourg, a son of Network trained by O’Brien. Milan added his name to the Sadler’s Wells crew when his eight-year-old gelding Monalee, under Rachael Blackmore won the 2m4fRed Mills Chase (G2). The victory, never in any doubt after a fine jumping performance, put him in line for a shot at the Ryanair Chase (4/1) or the Gold Cup (16/1).

Below, clockwise from left, Robinsfirth takes the Grand National Trial at Haydock, Al Dancer with Jack Savage (who apparently gave up his point-to-point rides to be with his horse at Ascot), Cyrname takes a blow in the winners’ enclosure after his Betfair Chase win, and two French-breds upsides in the Swinley Chase: left, Black Cordon, the son of Laverock, with Byrony Frost, and Calipto, who is by Califet and was ridden by Charlie Deutsch Photos by Debbie Burt

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stallion stats Leading NH sires in Britain and Ireland 2018-2019: (by prize-money earned to February 18, 2019) Stallion

Runners

Presenting (GB) 291 Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Theatre (IRE) 151 Oscar (IRE) 269 Beneficial (GB) 264 Milan (GB) 278 Kayf Tara (GB) 200 Flemensfirth (USA) 247 Westerner (GB) 195 Stowaway (GB) 215 Midnight Legend (GB) 148 Getaway (GER) 191 Court Cave (IRE) 144 Yeats (IRE) 152 Mahler (GB) 147 Gold Well (GB) 159 Scorpion (IRE) 195 Robin Des Champs (FR) 92 Kapgarde (FR) 55 Voix Du Nord (FR) 31 Shantou (USA) 125 Network (GER) 51 Galileo (IRE) 76 Kalanisi (IRE) 130 Saddler Maker (IRE) 23 Arcadio (GER) 97 Doctor Dino (FR) 6 Dubai Destination (USA) 82 Martaline (GB) 81 Brian Boru (GB) 70 High Chaparral (IRE) 56 Vinnie Roe (IRE) 65 Robin Des Pres (FR) 70 Jeremy (USA) 99 Nickname (FR) 10 Walk In The Park (IRE) 21 Doyen (IRE) 67 Poliglote (GB) 26 Definite Article (GB) 64 Shirocco (GER) 86 Winged Love (IRE) 63 Authorized (IRE) 54 Craigsteel (GB) 67 Fame And Glory (GB) 56 Black Sam Bellamy (IRE) 106 Gamut (IRE) 41 Al Namix (FR) 41 Dark Angel (IRE) 19 Indian River (FR) 32

Winners 78 62 68 69 62 45 60 55 59 60 55 47 50 45 50 40 25 23 15 39 18 22 27 7 22 4 20 20 22 14 16 21 25 7 9 21 14 14 20 14 23 21 14 15 9 11 4 11

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Races won 113 98 98 108 90 57 78 77 93 90 73 72 71 69 70 54 40 35 26 48 26 30 38 10 31 9 26 29 31 19 26 32 33 11 13 31 21 21 27 25 35 27 19 20 13 18 9 12

Places 456 278 377 477 426 383 324 370 330 289 235 232 289 256 242 268 132 94 71 168 90 108 182 35 114 5 112 146 143 107 90 129 100 12 38 92 49 102 111 97 97 147 49 151 68 48 41 71

Courtesy of Weatherbys Money won 1,727,168 1,483,130 1,466,748 1,405,714 1,280,366 1,172,554 1,117,344 1,106,298 1,079,500 944,536 862,432 732,286 729,770 726,651 723,318 680,416 659,883 649,106 612,090 541,834 536,512 532,556 531,151 516,044 502,112 501,937 478,889 455,970 440,565 437,933 412,038 394,073 384,706 374,591 362,143 316,304 315,583 315,481 314,738 313,868 313,375 302,954 296,985 260,273 254,181 249,530 245,726 245,468

Wnrs to Rnrs 26.80 41.05 25.27 26.13 22.30 22.50 24.29 28.20 27.44 40.54 28.79 32.63 32.89 30.61 31.44 20.51 27.17 41.81 48.38 31.20 35.29 28.94 20.76 30.43 22.68 66.66 24.39 24.69 31.42 25.00 24.61 30.00 25.25 70.00 42.85 31.34 53.84 21.87 23.25 22.22 42.59 31.34 25.00 14.15 21.95 26.82 21.05 34.37

Earnings 5,935 9,822 5,453 5,325 4,606 5,863 4,524 5,673 5,021 6,382 4,515 5,085 4,801 4,943 4,549 3,489 7,173 11,802 19,745 4,335 10,520 7,007 4,086 22,437 5,176 83,656 5,840 5,629 6,294 7,820 6,339 5,630 3,886 37,459 17,245 4,721 12,138 4,929 3,660 4,982 5,803 4,522 5,303 2,455 6,200 6,086 12,933 7,671

DECORATED KNIGHT Chestnut 2012, GALILEO – PEARLING (STORM CAT) Fee: €12,000 (1st Oct)

RACE RECORD Multiple Gr.1 winner, £1,326,618 in prize money, 8 wins and 5 places including: 1st Irish Champion Stakes, Leopardstown (Gr.1), beating Churchill (Gr.1), The Grey Gatsby (Gr.1), Zhukova (Gr.1) 1st Tattersalls Gold Cup, Curragh (Gr.1), beating Deauville (Gr.1), Johannes Vemeer (Gr.1) 1st Jebel Hatta, Meydan (Gr.1), beating Elliptique (Gr.1), Ertijaal (Gr.1)

The Market Values Decorated Knight as Leading 1st Season Covering Sire In foal mares selling for 675,000gns, 425,000gns, 370,000gns, 220,000gns Owned, Bred & Raced by

Contact: Cathal Beale, Sinéad Hyland, Gary Swift, Patrick Diamond or Helen Boyce Tel: +353 (0)45 521251 www.irishnationalstud.ie

stallion stats Leading sires of chasers in Britain and Ireland 2018-2019: (by prize-money earned to February 18, 2019) Stallion

Runners

Presenting (GB) 143 King’s Theatre (IRE) 103 Kayf Tara (GB) 116 Beneficial (GB) 148 Oscar (IRE) 97 Milan (GB) 124 Flemensfirth (USA) 104 Westerner (GB) 91 Midnight Legend (GB) 70 Stowaway (GB) 74 Voix Du Nord (FR) 21 Kapgarde (FR) 25 Network (GER) 28 Robin Des Champs (FR) 35 Mahler (GB) 53 Nickname (FR) 8 Brian Boru (GB) 37 Dubai Destination (USA) 24 Walk In The Park (IRE) 10 High Chaparral (IRE) 16 Gold Well (GB) 49 Court Cave (IRE) 42 Arcadio (GER) 24 Scorpion (IRE) 59 Martaline (GB) 36 Robin Des Pres (FR) 37 Saddler Maker (IRE) 8 Definite Article (GB) 36 Yeats (IRE) 37 Califet (FR) 12 Vinnie Roe (IRE) 26 Della Francesca (USA) 7 Indian River (FR) 26 Doctor Dino (FR) 3 Gamut (IRE) 20 Poliglote (GB) 18 Shantou (USA) 42 Buck’s Boum (FR) 7 Fruits Of Love (USA) 16 Dom Alco (FR) 14 Winged Love (IRE) 33 Saint Des Saints (FR) 18 Dr Massini (IRE) 31 Arakan (USA) 8 Getaway (GER) 27 Kalanisi (IRE) 36 Denham Red (FR) 4 Laveron (GB) 9

Winners 37 38 32 39 23 21 19 23 24 22 8 12 11 10 19 6 16 8 4 5 14 14 7 11 10 15 4 8 16 6 8 4 8 3 7 8 9 4 6 4 5 6 8 3 7 6 2 3

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Races won 51 52 39 58 37 31 22 33 39 30 15 15 17 11 28 9 23 10 6 8 17 22 10 14 16 22 4 13 18 6 14 6 9 6 9 12 10 8 8 5 10 8 12 8 8 8 3 7

Places 236 150 240 218 143 170 128 148 138 111 47 34 53 40 99 11 64 34 15 26 88 77 35 75 53 67 12 52 59 23 35 21 57 1 26 26 45 14 29 30 51 29 56 16 40 47 3 11

Money won 1,005,579 991,165 908,609 828,450 619,552 576,431 546,981 533,436 496,841 481,827 466,213 451,109 407,324 364,006 346,353 346,029 322,058 306,677 290,073 284,925 281,906 281,407 280,985 276,149 267,152 266,466 240,485 239,028 233,582 229,335 227,676 219,494 215,106 211,009 203,137 197,902 188,579 162,890 153,102 148,990 147,574 139,100 135,480 122,211 120,083 112,320 111,750 108,566

Courtesy of Weatherbys Wnrs to Rnrs 25.87 36.89 27.58 26.35 23.71 16.93 18.26 25.27 34.28 29.72 38.09 48.00 39.28 28.57 35.84 75.00 43.24 33.33 40.00 31.25 28.57 33.33 29.16 18.64 27.77 40.54 50.00 22.22 43.24 50.00 30.76 57.14 30.76 100.00 35.00 44.44 21.42 57.14 37.50 28.57 15.15 33.33 25.80 37.50 25.92 16.66 50.00 33.33

Earnings 7,032 9,623 7,833 5,598 6,387 4,649 5,259 5,862 7,098 6,511 22,201 18,044 14,547 10,400 6,535 43,254 8,704 12,778 29,007 17,808 5,753 6,700 11,708 4,680 7,421 7,202 30,061 6,640 6,313 19,111 8,757 31,356 8,273 70,336 10,157 10,995 4,490 23,270 9,569 10,642 4,472 7,728 4,370 15,276 4,448 3,120 27,937 12,063

“I have a very nice colt who I like a lot. He should be an early type. He’s very professional with a great outlook and I’ll certainly be looking out for more of the sire’s progeny at the sales.” Clive Cox

OS Y 2 T S R I F 2019 “I have two of them and am very happy with both. They are very forward going and mentally sound.” Richard Hannon

“I’m very happy with my colt. He is sharp and forward going, everyone who’s ridden him loves him and he’ll be out nice and early.” Johnny Murtagh

“I have a few 2 year olds by him that are very sharp and willing to do everything asked of them. They will be on the track early on.” Bryan Smart

“I have two of his colts and I could not be more happy with them at this stage. They are very forward going and precocious and I am looking forward to running them.” Karl Burke

“The filly I train has a good temperament, moves well and is very willing. She has a good attitude and is going well.” Michael Dods

“I have several by him. I liked them at the sales as they looked sharp. They are cantering nicely upsides. I like the look of what I’ve got and they will be early sorts.” Tim Easterby

“I have a colt and a filly. They have good minds, are great movers and they look precocious.” Kevin Ryan

"Unfortunately, I only have two of his 2 year olds. I wish I had more. We haven’t started any real fast work yet but the first impressions from these two colts couldn’t be better.” Mark Johnston

“I particularly liked his progeny I saw at the sales. They looked strong and athletic types and are proving just that in training. They will be on the track early in the season as they seem to have speed and scope. I’m very happy with them.” Richard Fahey

“Both of ours are strong and precocious and showing the right signs at this early stage. I could not be happier with them.” Tom Clover

Fee: £4,500 Oct 1st SLF Tel: 07974 948755 or 01630 647197 www.bearstonestud.co.uk

stallion stats Leading sires of hurdlers in Britain and Ireland 2018-2019: (by prize-money earned to February 18, 2019) Stallion

Runners

Oscar (IRE) 190 Getaway (GER) 145 Milan (GB) 180 Presenting (GB) 172 Beneficial (GB) 170 Stowaway (GB) 133 Westerner (GB) 124 Galileo (IRE) 68 Flemensfirth (USA) 148 King’s Theatre (IRE) 84 Midnight Legend (GB) 96 Yeats (IRE) 111 Court Cave (IRE) 110 Kalanisi (IRE) 96 Gold Well (GB) 112 Mahler (GB) 100 Scorpion (IRE) 150 Shantou (USA) 81 Doctor Dino (FR) 3 Saddler Maker (IRE) 15 Authorized (IRE) 47 Kayf Tara (GB) 104 Robin Des Champs (FR) 62 Jeremy (USA) 67 Shirocco (Ger) 63 Champs Elysees (GB) 43 Black Sam Bellamy (IRE) 74 Doyen (IRE) 39 Dark Angel (IRE) 17 Arcadio (Ger) 71 Fame And Glory (GB) 28 Sulamani (IRE) 50 Kapgarde (FR) 38 Craigsteel (GB) 54 Vinnie Roe (IRE) 47 Al Namix (FR) 24 Poet’s Voice (GB) 16 Martaline (GB) 55 Winged Love (IRE) 39 Sir Percy (GB) 33 Teofilo (IRE) 26 High Chaparral (IRE) 46 Voix Du Nord (FR) 20 Mastercraftsman (IRE) 57 Monsun (Ger) 6 Crillon (FR) 5 Dubai Destination (USA) 59 Montjeu (IRE) 20

Winners 39 39 39 34 35 31 31 18 36 25 36 34 31 17 29 27 24 22 1 3 20 11 13 13 15 14 10 13 4 12 3 14 13 10 9 6 4 9 9 11 9 9 8 10 3 3 7 4

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Races won 54 53 52 48 46 55 41 24 43 41 49 44 44 24 39 35 32 29 3 6 27 16 18 19 21 18 15 17 8 17 5 21 16 14 12 11 7 11 15 17 12 11 11 15 5 5 11 4

Places 215 157 235 172 240 180 204 86 166 125 147 182 135 124 127 142 163 101 4 19 76 130 76 69 93 70 102 56 36 64 28 61 52 91 49 29 25 79 40 55 55 81 23 68 10 10 63 31

Money won 795,704 664,656 662,478 616,965 547,924 545,847 545,586 469,850 464,710 458,263 442,106 415,408 402,166 386,978 358,189 349,837 343,311 293,275 290,928 274,543 255,830 249,013 236,887 218,102 217,109 215,559 205,418 201,421 200,141 194,096 186,598 184,652 184,373 182,467 176,547 175,079 174,025 172,874 163,806 161,201 157,638 153,007 145,728 143,688 143,503 142,407 140,531 137,020

Courtesy of Weatherbys Wnrs to Rnrs 20.52 26.89 21.66 19.76 20.58 23.30 25.00 26.47 24.32 29.76 37.50 30.63 28.18 17.70 25.89 27.00 16.00 27.16 33.33 20.00 42.55 10.57 20.96 19.40 23.80 32.55 13.51 33.33 23.52 16.90 10.71 28.00 34.21 18.51 19.14 25.00 25.00 16.36 23.07 33.33 34.61 19.56 40.00 17.54 50.00 60.00 11.86 20.00

Earnings 4,188 4,584 3,680 3,587 3,223 4,104 4,400 6,910 3,140 5,456 4,605 3,742 3,656 4,031 3,198 3,498 2,289 3,621 96,976 18,303 5,443 2,394 3,821 3,255 3,446 5,013 2,776 5,165 11,773 2,734 6,664 3,693 4,852 3,379 3,756 7,295 10,877 3,143 4,200 4,885 6,063 3,326 7,286 2,521 23,917 28,481 2,382 6,851

simon says...

hose of us who are, or who have been, professional handicappers in the European sense of the word tend to view the annual unveiling of official ratings at the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings with mixed feelings. On the one hand, it is gratifying that the discipline – an arcane and private one for much of the time – gets its moment in the spotlight. On the other, it does seem to encourage some to make sweeping comments on matters about which they have only a passing knowledge. Ratings are among horseracing’s unique strengths. They enable comparison between horses who have never met – both in the here and now and over history – and in the process can enhance enjoyment and understanding. No other sport has that to the same degree. It is certainly possible to quibble over some of the conclusions and methodologies – as I will go on to do! – but the general benefits of such an advanced system should be indisputable, while an understanding that ratings are rather more than “just someone’s opinion” should be a given. One bone of contention in this year’s WBRRs was the assessment of British-trained Cracksman and Australiantrained Winx as joint top on 130. In effect, the handicapping committee viewed Cracksman as having repeated his best of the previous year, but Winx as having dropped 2lb from her peaks in 2017 and 2016. It is possible to pick holes in the former when it is realised that the third-placed horse in the race in which Cracksman earned his figure – the Czech-trained Subway Dancer in the QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot – does not appear in the WBRRs whatsoever, and therefore must be considered to be worth a rating of less than 115.

A ratings debate

Simon Rowlands discusses some of the issues surrounding the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings of 2018 Using the BHA’s published handicapping methodology, either Cracksman ran to no higher than 126 in that win or Subway Dancer has simply, and conveniently, been ignored. Either way, the conclusion is not entirely satisfactory. Winx’s figure is less contentious, not least because she ran to it or near to it on several occasions, though again some creative handicapping has been applied to the race

identified by the WBRRs as her best: the Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick in April when she beat the 120-rated Gailo Chop by the equivalent of only about 4lb. One “problem” with Winx is that, as a mare, she usually receives a sex allowance of 2kg (4.4lb) in her races and therefore needs to beat her rivals that much more decisively to achieve the same rating as a male. consistency, versatility and

durability does not get rewarded, merely her raw ability as reflected in her best effort in the period under review. But that is how official master ratings operate, and everyone should know that by now. Timeform ratings, which predated WBRRs by several decades, are on a level 4lb to 5lb higher but in many other fundamentals are similar. Timeform would likely argue that leading sprinters Battaash

Cracksman: the WBRR believes he repeated his best from 2018, but has ignored Subway Dancer’s run at Ascot

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simon says... Winx’s consistency, versatility and durability does not get rewarded, merely her raw ability as reflected in her best effort in the period under review (123 WBRR, currently 133 TF), Harry Angel (122/131) and Blue Point (120/129) are too low – which has a lot to do with the official pounds-per-length, being insufficient at shorter distances – as are the excellent stayers Kew Gardens (120/127) and Stradivarius (120/127). Timeform might also argue that all of the best Japanese horses – headed by Japan Cup winner Almond Eye (124/126) – are 2lb to 3lb too high, though I am personally unconvinced. Where the WBRRs have definitely got themselves in a bit of a pickle is with their recent initiative of identifying the “World’s Best Races” in a given year using methodology that is surprisingly crude. “Race strength” (see table opposite) is a well-known concept in existing handicapping practices, where you do not simply take a horse’s best annual rating – as

opposed to the rating it ran to in the race in question – failing to distinguish between horses winning and finishing further down the field, or, for that matter, go back only as far as the fourth finisher. By the WBRRs methodologies, Frankel contributed just as much to the race strength of the 2011 St James’s Palace Stakes, in which he scrambled home while running 20lb below form, as he did in magnificent victory in the same year’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. It is a nonsense, which flies in the face of tried-and-tested handicapping procedures, and the sooner it is refined, the better. It is also interesting to consider the distribution of the WBRR’s leading individual horse ratings by country. By this measure, it was a good year for Australia (51 representatives rated 115 or higher, +4.6 on the average for the previous decade), Britain (53, +4.5), Hong Kong (25, +5.1) and Ireland (25, +5.5) and a disastrous one for France (17, -9.5). France’s highest-rated horse was the Arc third Cloth Of Stars on 123 – the lowest leading French figure in the history of the WBRRs and their predecessors, the International Classifications – despite his failing to win at all in 2018. Less than half the number of French horses made the WBRRs in 2018 as in 2011: something seems to be amiss in what was once indisputably one of horseracing’s global superpowers. Winx: has extended her record again

WBRR’s leading races 2018 Group and Grade 1 races for 3yos+

Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe................................................................................. 125.00 LONGINES Queen Elizabeth Stakes.......................................................................... 123.75 Prince of Wales's Stakes................................................................................................ 123.25 Juddmonte International Stakes............................................................................... 123.00 LONGINES Dubai Sheema Classic............................................................................. 123.00 Breeders' Cup Classic..................................................................................................... 122.75 Japan Cup .......................................................................................................................... 122.50 Ladbrokes Cox Plate....................................................................................................... 122.50 The Agency George Ryder Stakes............................................................................ 122.25 Colgate Optic White Stakes......................................................................................... 122.25 Prix Ganay........................................................................................................................... 122.25 Investec Derby.................................................................................................................. 121.75 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes............................................................. 121.75 Coral-Eclipse ..................................................................................................................... 121.25 QIPCO Champion Stakes.............................................................................................. 121.25 Darley T. J. Smith Stakes ............................................................................................... 121.00 Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix)..................................................................................... 120.75 Kentucky Derby................................................................................................................ 120.75 Tenno Sho (Autumn)...................................................................................................... 120.75 Winx Stakes (Ex Warwick)............................................................................................ 120.75 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud........................................................................................... 120.25 LONGINES Breeders' Cup Turf..................................................................................... 120.25 QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes.................................................................................... 120.25 Tab Turnbull Stakes......................................................................................................... 120.25 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard ........................................................................ 120.00 Kirin Doomben 10,000.................................................................................................. 119.75 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.................................................................................. 119.75 Schweppes All Aged Stakes........................................................................................ 119.50 Champions Mile............................................................................................................... 119.25 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup............................................................................................. 119.25 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile........................................................................................ 119.25 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes ............................................................................................ 119.25 TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint............................................................................... 119.25 Chairman's Sprint Prize................................................................................................. 119.00 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup......................................................................................... 119.00 Mostyn Copper Group Randwick Guineas............................................................ 119.00 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes.................................................................. 119.00 Preakness Stakes.............................................................................................................. 119.00 VRC Sprint Classic............................................................................................................ 119.00 Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes................................................................... 118.75 Investec Coronation Cup.............................................................................................. 118.75

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simon says...

f the official handicappers had their time again, it is likely they would have rated the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile somewhat higher. That race’s winner, City Of Light (Quality Road), was assessed at 120 in the WBRRs, with runner-up Seeking The Soul not even making the 115 “cut”, but they duly finished first and second late in January’s Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park, with 128-rated Accelerate third and the Dirt Mile third Bravazo in fourth. Timeform had City Of Light on 127 going into the Pegasus, which he won by nearly 6l, and 130 coming out of it, so now equivalent to 125 or 126 on the WBRR scale. That’s good, but not as good as Gun Runner or Arrogate in the previous two runnings, and the heavilyfunded Pegasus can ill afford many more of the same. Accelerate had been a contender for Horse of The Year honours at the recent Eclipse Awards in the US, but in the event he came second to the 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. The Eclipse Awards have a lot to do with popularity – they even ran an international Vox Populi Award, which was won by Winx – and very little to do with ratings. But everyone should know that by now, also.

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The Quality Road horse City Of Light taking the Pegasus Cup, and earning $4 million for his efforts

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us racing

Justify the clear victor After all the debate, the Triple Crown hero was voted the Horse of the Year, writes

Melissa Bauer-Herzog

Justify: now standing at Ashford Stud, Kentucky at a fee of $150,000

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us racing

ne of the most contentious debates in US racing last year was the Horse of the Year discussion with punters pitting Triple Crown winner Justify versus the Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Accelerate. But the debate proved to not be as dramatic for Eclipse Award voters in January when the vote totals came out – Justify won by a clear margin with 137 more votes than Accelerate. And this wasn’t the only category with a runaway winner for the 2019 Eclipse Awards. In all, nine of the 17 Eclipse Award winners won their division by 150 votes or more with Justify the unanimous winner of Three-Year-Old Male honours, while Game Winner, Monomoy Girl and Accelerate won their divsions by a near-unanimous vote with other horses getting four votes or less. The most competitive of the divisions was male Turf horse with Stormy Liberal winning by just 19 with 12 horses getting at least one vote in the division, the female sprinter division with Shamrock Rose winning by 23 and female Turf horse in which Sistercharlie

Elusive Quality had a profound influence on the US sprinter divisions with his daughters producing nine sprint stakes winners beat Enable by just 11. A long-debated subject has been that of only allowing horses to get votes if they have two or more runs in the US, but that was another thing voters weren’t scared by. Both Turf awards saw Europeans runners, who just had one start in the country, finish second with Expert Eye taking 66 of the first place votes and Enable 119. No stallion was able to sire more than one

Eclipse winner this year, but that couldn’t be said for one of the broodmare sires. In 2018, Elusive Quality had a profound influence on the US sprinter divisions with his daughters producing nine sprint stakes winners over a mile or less in 2018. Two of those were the Breeders’ Cup winners Roy H and Shamrock Rose, who took sprinter Eclipse honours for their exploits. Exciting for US racing and Elusive Quality’s legacy is that both champions will continue racing in 2019, and Roy H is again aiming for the Golden Shaheen (G1) in Dubai. Sadly, nearly a year after he was pensioned last March, the Darley stallion, a son of Gone West, died at Jonabell Farm.

Triple Crown trail underway

While most of the champions are either settling into their new careers as breeding stock or preparing for their 2019 race season, a large group of three-year-olds are already vying for spots in the Kentucky Derby and possibly the Eclipse Awards by the end of the year. The 2019 leg of the Triple Crown trail

Eclipse Award winners 2019 Category

Winner

Sire

Dam

Dam Sire

Horse of the Year

Justify

Scat Daddy

Stage Music

Ghostzapper

Older Dirt Male

Accelerate

Lookin at Lucky

Issues

Awesome Again

Older Dirt Female

Unique Bella

Tapit

Unrivaled Belle

Unbridled's Song

Male Turf Horse

Stormy Liberal

Stormy Atlantic

Vassar

Royal Academy

Female Turf Horse

Sistercharlie

Myboycharlie

Starlet's Sister

Galileo

Three-Year-Old Male

Justify

Scat Daddy

Stage Music

Ghostzapper

Three-Year-Old Filly

Monomoy Girl

Tapizar

Drumette

Henny Hughes

Male Sprinter

Roy H

More Than ready

Song Of Bernadette Bernardini

Robert LaPenta, Madaket Stables LLC

USA

122 S T Harry Angel (IRE)

2014

Dark Angel

Beatrix Potter

Cadeaux Genereux

Godolphin

122 L T Kiseki (JPN)

2014

Rulership

Blitz Finale

Deep Impact

Tatsue Ishikawa

JPN

122 L T Magical (IRE)

2015

Galileo

Halfway To Heaven Pivotal

D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier & M. Tabor

IRE

122 S T Redzel (AUS)

123

M, I

Benbatl (GB)

123 L T Cloth of Stars (IRE)

2012

Snitzel

Millrich

Rubiton

Triple Crown Syndicate, Walfam No 2 et al

AUS

122 S T Santa Ana Lane (AUS) 2012

Lope De Vega

Fast Fleet

Fastnet Rock

William St

AUS

122 L T Sea of Class (IRE)

2015

Sea the Stars

Holy Moon

Hernando

Sunderland Holding Inc

122 I D Thunder Snow (IRE) 2014

Helmet

Eastern Joy

Dubai Destination

Godolphin

UAE

122 L T Waldgeist (GB)

2014

Galileo

Waldlerche

Monsun

Gestut Ammerland & Newsells Park

122 M D West Coast (USA)

2014

Flatter

Caressing

Honour And Glory

Gary & Mary West

USA

121 L T Best Solution (IRE)

2014

Dubawi

Kodiac

Kingmambo

Godolphin

121 M D Good Magic (USA)

2015

Curlin

Glinda The Good

Hard Spun

Five Racing T’breds & Stonestreet USA

121 I D Gunnevera (USA)

2014

Dialed In

Unbridled Rage

Unbridled

Margoth

USA

121 M T Hartnell (GB)

2011 G Authorized

Debonnaire Anabaa

Godolphin

AUS

121 S T Ivictory (AUS)

2013

Mossman

Inca Lagoon

Hussonet

Michael T. H. Lee & Dr Henry Chan Hin Lee

121 L T Masar (IRE)

2015

New Approach

Khawlah

Cape Cross

Godolphin

121 S T Mr Stunning (AUS)

2012

Exceed And Excel

With Fervour

Dayjur

Maurice Koo Win Chong

121 M T Recoletos (FR)

2014

Whipper

Highphar

Highest Honor

Sarl Darpat France

121 S T Redkirk Warrior (GB) 2011

Notnowcato

Flag

Selkirk

M. B. Lee & Miss Y. C. J. Lee

AUS

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world rankings World Rankings 2018: through to horses rated 119 Rating Distance Surface

Sex

Sire

Dam

Dam sire

Owner

121 I T Saxon Warrior (JPN) 2015

Deep Impact

Maybe

Galileo

D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier & M. Tabor

IRE

121 I T Suave Richard (JPN) 2014

Heart’s Cry

Pirramimma

Unbridled’s Song

NICKS Co Ltd

JPN

120 I D Audible (USA)

2015

Into Mischief

Blue Devil Bel

Gilded Time

China Horse Club, Head of Plains

USA

120 S T Blue Point (IRE)

2014

Shamardal

Scarlett Rose

Royal Applause

Godolphin

120 M D City of Light (USA)

2014

Quality Road

Paris Notion

Dehere

Mr & Mrs William Warren Jr

USA

120

D Diversify (USA)

2013

Bellamy Road

Rule One

Street Cry

Lauren & Ralph Evans

USA

120 I T Gailo Chop (FR)

2011

Deportivo

Genoble

Marignan

O.T. I. Racing, J. Higgins et al

AUS

120 M T Grunt (NZ)

2014

O’Reilly

Ruqqaya

Van Nistelrooy

R. & C. Legh Racing Pty Ltd, Wright Racing AUS

120 L T Hawkbill (USA)

2013

Kitten’s Joy

Trensa

Giant’s Causeway

Godolphin

UAE

120 S D Imperial Hint (USA)

2013

Imperialism

Royal Hint

Lahint

Raymond Mamone

USA

120 E T Kew Gardens (IRE)

2015

Galileo

Chelsea Rose

Desert King

D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier & M. Tabor

IRE

120 M D Mind Your Biscuits (USA) 2013

Posse

Jazzmane

Toccet

J. Stables, Head of Plains Partners LLC

USA

120

I, M

I, L

Horse

Pakistan Star (GER)

D of B

Country

2013

Shamardal

Nina Celebre

Peintre Celebre

Kerm Din

120 I T Puerto Escondido (ARG) 2013

Hurricane Cat

Surf Pointq

Louis Quatorze

Facundito

ARG

120 E T Stradivarius (IRE)

2014

Street Cry

Aldebaran Light

Seatte Slew

Bjorn Nielsen

120 I T Sungrazer (JPN)

2014

Deep Impact

Mantis Hunt

Deputy Minister

G1 Racing Co Ltd

JPN

120 M T The Autumn Sun (AUS) 2015

Redoute’s Choice

Azmlyna

Galileo

Hermitage Syndicate

AUS

2013

Archipenko

Here To Eternity

Stormy Atlantic

Martin Siu Kim Sun

2014

Heart’s Cry

Hilda’s Passion

Canadian Frontier

Winstar, China H Club, SF & Head of Plains USA

2014

Friesan Fire

Crafty Toast

Crafty Prospector

St Elias Stable

USA

119 L T Cheval Grand (JPN)

2012

Heart’s Cry

Halwa Sweet

Machiavellian

Kazuhiro Sasaki

JPN

119 S T D B Pin (NZ)

2012

Darci Brahma

Pins ‘N’ Needles

Pins

Samuel Wong Yin Shun

2015

Acclamation

Exemplify

Dansili

Khalid Abdullah

2014

Teofilo

Contrary

Mark Of Esteem

Eddie Wong, Ming Chak & Wong Leung Sau Hing HK

119 I T Glorious Forever (GB) 2014

Archipenko

Here To Eternity

Stormy Atlantic

Michael Kwan Wing Lok

119 M T Impending (AUS)

2013

Lonhro

Mnemosyne

Encosta De Lago

Godolphin

AUS

119 M T Kementari (AUS)

2014

Lnhro

Yavanna

Redoute’s Choice

Godolphin

AUS

119 I T Last Winter (SAF)

2013

Western Winter

Field Flower

Silvano

Khaya Stables Pty Ltd

SAF

119 M,S T Le Romain (AUS)

2012

Hard Spun

Mignard

Strategic

A. Carusi, A. Agius et al

AUS

119 L T Levendi (AUS)

2014

Pierro

Lipari

Redoute’s Choice

E. Gelagotis, B. M. & W. Racing et al

AUS

119 M T Lightning Spear (GB) 2011

Pivotal

Atlantic Destiny

Royal Academy

Qatar Racing Limited

119 I D Mendelssohn (USA)

2015

Scat Daddy

Leslie’s lady

Tricky Creek

D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier & M. Tabor

IRE

119 L T Mikki Rocket (JPN)

Time Warp (GB)

120

I, M

120

M, I

D Yoshida (JPN)

119 S D

119 M T

Army Mule (USA)

Expert Eye (GB)

119 L T Exultant (IRE)

2013

King Kamehameha Moneycantbuymelove Pivotal

Mizuki Noda

JPN

119 I T Persian Knight (JPN) 2014

Harbinger

Orient Charm

Sunday Silence

G1 Racing Co Ltd

JPN

119 S T U S Navy Flag (USA)

2015

War Front

Misty For Me

Galileo

D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier & M. Tabor

IRE

119 S T Vega Magic (AUS)

2012

Lope De Vega

Admirable I

Magic Albert

H. W. & G. E. Daly

AUS

119 L T Wagnerian (JPN)

2015

Deep Impact

Miss Encore

King Kamehameha

Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co Ltd

JPN

119 I T Werther (NZ)

2011

Tavistock

Bagalollies

Zabeel

Johnson Chen

www.internationalthoroughbred.net

world’s best racehorse rankings European 2yo Classifications 2018: through to horses rated 110 Rating

Horse

Dam sire

Sex

Owner

Trainer

126

Too Darn Hot (GB)

Dubawi

121

Quorto (IRE)

Dubawi

Dar Re Mi

Singspiel

Volume

Mount Nelson

Lord Lloyd-Webber

John Gosden GB

Godolphin

120

Ten Sovereigns (IRE)

No Nay Never

Seeking Solace

Charlie Appleby GB

Exceed And Excel

D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier & M. Tabor

119

Advertise (GB)

Showcasing

Aidan O’Brien IRE

Furbelow

Pivotal

Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited

Martyn Meade GB

118

Anthony Van Dyck (IRE)

Galileo

Believe ‘N’ Succeed

Exceed And Excel

Mrs J. Magnier, M. Tabor & D. Smith

Aidan O’Brien IRE

Kodiac

Miss Areza

Dutch Art

Hamdan Al Maktoum

Simon Crisford GB

Pretty Pollyanna (GB)

Oasis Dream

Unex Mona Lisa

Shamardal

F W. J. & T. C. O. Gredley

Michael Bell GB

115

Calyx (GB)

Kingman

Helleborine

Observatory

Khalid Abdullah

John Gosden GB

115

Madhmoon (IRE)

Dawn Approach

Aarass

Haafhd

Hamdan Al Maktoum

Kevin Prendergast IRE

115

Royal Meeting (IRE

Invincible Spirit

Rock Opera

Lecture

Godolphin

Saeed bin Suroor GB

114

Hello Youmzain (FR

Kodiac

Spasha

Shamardal

Jaber Abdullah

Kevin Ryan GB

114

Line of Duty (IRE)

Galileo

Jacqueline Quest

Rock Of Gibraltar

Godolphin

Charlie Appleby GB

114

Persian King (IRE)

Kingman

Pretty Please

Dylan Thomas

Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd

Andre Fabre FR

114

Signora Cabello (IRE)

Camacho

Journalist

Night Shoft

Phoenix Thoroughbred & Zen Racing

John Quinn GB

114

Skitter Scatter (USA)

Scat Daddy

Dane Street

Street Cry

Anthony & Mrs Sonia Rogers

Patrick Prendergast IRE

114

Soldier’s Call (GB)

Showcasing

Dijarvo

iceman

Clipper Logistics

Archie Watson GB

113

Iridessa (IRE)

Ruler of The World

Senta’s Dream

Danehill

Mrs C. C. Regalado-Gonzalez

Joseph O’Brien IRE

Invincible Spirit

Cabaret

Galileo

D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, M. Tabor & Flaxman

Aidan O’Brien IRE

118 Jash (IRE) 116

113 Magna Grecia (IRE

Sire

Dam

113

Royal Marine (IRE)

Raven’s Pass

Inner Secret

Singspiel

Godolphin

Saeed bin Suroor GB

112

Broome (IRE)

Australia

Sweepstake

Acclamation

M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs J. Magnier

Aidan O’Brien IRE

112

Fairyland (IRE)

Kodiac

Queenofthefairies

Pivotal

Mrs E. M. Stockwell, M. Tabor & D. Smith

Aidan O’Brien IRE

112

Graignes (FR)

Zoffany

Grey Anatomy

Slickly

Gerard Augustin-Normand

Yann Barberot FR

112

Kessaar (IRE)

Kodiac

Querulous

Raven’s Pass

M. Al-Qatami & M. M. Al-Mudhaf

John Gosden GB

112

Mohawk (IRE)

Galileo

Empowering

Encosta De Lago

D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier & M. Tabor

Aidan O’Brien IRE

112

Phoenix of Spain (IRE)

Lope De Vega

Lucky Clio

Key Of Luck

Tony Wechsler & Ann Plummer

Charles Hills GB

111

Anodor (FR)

Anodin

Decize

Kentucky Dynamite

Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard

Freddy Head FR

111

Dark Vision (IRE)

Dream Ahead

Black Dahlia

Dansili

Kingsley Park

Mark Johnston GB

111

Japan (GB)

Galileo

Shastye

Danehill

D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier & M. Tabor

Aidan O’Brien IRE

111

Just Wonderful (USA)

Dansili

Wading

Montjeu

M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs J. Magnier

Aidan O’Brien IRE

111

Sergei Prokofiev (CAN)

Scat Daddy

Orchard Beach

Tapit

D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier & M. Tabor

Aidan O’Brien IRE

111

The Mackem Bullet (IRE)

Society Rock

Elkmait

Trade Fair

Katsumi Yoshida

Brian Ellison GB

110

Arctic Sound (GB)

Poet’s Voie

Polar Circle

Royal Academy

Saeed Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi

Mark Johnston GB

110

Circus Maximus (IRE)

Galileo

Duntle

Danehill Dancer

Flaxman Stables, Mrs J. Magnier, M. Tabor & D. Smith

Aidan O’Brien IRE

110

Emaraaty Ana (GB)

Shamrdal

Spirit Of Dubai

Cape Cross

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum

Kevin Ryan GB

110

Great Scot (GB)

Requinto

La Rosiere

Mr Greeley

Empire State Racing Partnership

Tom Dascombe GB

110

Hermosa (IRE)

Galileo

Beauty Is Truth

Pivotal

M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs J. Magnier

Aidan O’Brien IRE

110

Lady Kaya (IRE)

Dandy Man

Kayak

Singspiel

Joanne Lavery

Sheila Lavery IRE

110

Land Force (IRE

No Nay Never

Theann

Rock Of Gibraltar

Mrs J. Magnier, M. Tabor & D. Smith

Aidan O’Brien IRE

110

Mount Everest (IRE)

Galileo

Six Perfections

Celtic Swing

Flaxman Stables, Mrs J. Magnier, M. Tabor & D. Smith

Aidan O’Brien IRE

110

Noble Moon (GER)

Sea the Moon

Nouvelle Noblesse

Singspiel

Eckhard Sauren

Peter Schiergen GER

110

Rumble Inthejungle (IRE)

Bungle Inthejungle

Guana

Dark Angel

Rebel Racing Premier & Cheveley Park Stud

Richard Spencer GB

110

So Perfect (USA)

Scat Daddy

Hopeoverexperience Songandaprayer

D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier & M. Tabor

Aidan O’Brien IRE

110

Sydney Opera House (GB)

Australia

Sitara

Salsa

Mrs J. Magnier, M. Tabor & D. Smith

Aidan O’Brien IRE

110

Western Australia (IRE)

Australia

What A Treasure

Cadeaux Genereux

D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier & M. Tabor

Aidan O’Brien IRE

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Success points

East

2yo winners of 35 races in 2018

EAST, Gr. 3 winner, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, Gr. 1, 2nd ANGELIC LIGHT, Listed winner

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world’s best racehorse rankings Sires by number of horses rated 117+ Sire

Nos of horses

Galileo....................................................................................... 3 Sea The Stars........................................................................... 3 Dark Angel............................................................................... 2 Dubawi..................................................................................... 2 Heart’s Cry............................................................................... 2 Kitten’s Joy............................................................................... 2 More Than Ready.................................................................. 2 Shamardal............................................................................... 2 Street Cry................................................................................. 2 Snitzel........................................................................................ 2

Sea Of Class: the Arc runner-up is one of three horses in 2018 rated over 117 by Sea The Stars

Dam sires by number of horses rated 117+ Sire

Nos of horses

Galileo....................................................................................... 2 Giant’s Causeway.................................................................. 2 Kingmambo............................................................................ 2

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Leading Dirt Horses Accelerate (USA) Gun Runner (USA) Justify (USA) Roy H (USA) Catholic Boy (USA) Thunder Snow (IRE) West Coast (USA) Good Magic (USA) Gunnevera (USA) Audible (USA) City of Light (USA) Diversify (USA) Imperial Hint (USA) Mind Your Biscuits (USA) Yoshida (JPN)

128 127 125 124 122 122 122 121 121 120 120 120 120 120 120

Leading Turf Horses Cracksman (GB) Winx (AUS) Beauty Generation (NZ) Roaring Lion (USA) Poet’s Word (IRE) Crystal Ocean (GB) Enable (GB) Almond Eye (JPN) Alpha Centauri (IRE) Battaash (IRE) Benbatl (GB) Cloth of Stars (IRE) Happy Clapper (AUS) Rey de Oro (JPN) Trapeze Artist (AUS)

130 130 127 127 126 125 125 124 124 123 123 123 123 123 123

Leading Females Enable (GB) Almond Eye (JPN) Alpha Centauri (IRE) Magical (IRE) Sea of Class (IRE) Abel Tasman (USA) Monomoy Girl (USA) Wind Chimes (GB)

125 124 124 122 122 118 118 118

Leading Three-Year-Old Colts Roaring Lion (USA) Justify (USA) Catholic Boy (USA) Blast Onepiece (JPN)

127 125 122 122

Leading stayers Kew Gardens (IRE) Stradivarius (IRE) Torcedor (IRE) Vazirabad (FR) Rainbow Line (JPN)

120 120 118 118 118

Leading intermediate runners Cracksman (GB) Winx (AUS) Roaring Lion (USA) Poet’s Word (IRE)

130 130 127 126

Leading long runners Poet’s Word (IRE) Crystal Ocean (GB) Enable (GB) Almond Eye (JPN) Cloth of Stars (IRE) Blast Onepiece (JPN) Kiseki (JPN) Waldgeist (GB) Magical (IRE) Sea of Class (IRE)

126 125 125 124 123 122 122 122 122 122

Leading middle-distance runners Beauty Generation (NZ) Gun Runner (USA) Winx (AUS) Alpha Centauri (IRE) Benbatl (GB) Happy Clapper (AUS) West Coast (USA) Good Magic (USA) Justify (USA) Recoletos (FR) Hartnell (GB)

127 127 127 124 123 123 122 121 121 121 121

Leading sprinters Roy H (USA) Trapeze Artist (AUS) Battaash (IRE) Harry Angel (IRE) Redzel (AUS) Santa Ana Lane (AUS)

124 123 123 122 122 122

Distance Categories S : 5f-6.5f : 1000m-1300m M : 6.51f -9.49f : 1301m-1899m I : 9.5f-10.5f : 1900m-2100m L : 10.51f-13.5f : 2101m-2700m E: 13.51f+ : 2701m+

MASSAAT

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TEOFILO - MADANY (ACCLAMATION) 16.1 (1.65m) Fee: £5,000 1st Oct. SLF

Classic placed Gr.2 winner over 7f. Timeform Annual rating of 122, superior to Aclaim, Marsha, Ulysses, Shalaa, etc. Half brother to 2018 Gr.1 sprinter Eqtidaar

BLACK TYPE MARES ALREADY BOOKED

Strictly limited book DON’T MISS OUT! T FIRS P CRO s 3YO9 201

HEERAAT 2006 DARK ANGEL - THAWRAH (GREEN DESERT) 16.1 (1.65m) Fee: £5,000 1st Oct. SLF

Fastest winner of the Hackwood Stakes since 2001, defeating 43 Stakes winners Won at 2, 3 and 4 • Timeform rated 117

67%

WON/PLACED to RUNNERS*

THE BEST IS YET TO COME 102 mares covered in 2017 126 mares covered in 2018 *from his first small crop, to 22.11.18 At MICKLEY STUD • Enquiries: Richard Kent T: 079 73 315722 • E: mickleystud@btconnect.com www.mickleystud.com or John Walsh Bloodstock T: +353 (0)86 2558945

Once in a

Generation Beauty Generation is the highest-rated horse in Hong Kong since Able Friend, and his owner Patrick Kwok is keen to chase the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prize-money record David Morgan chats with connections about the superstar and finds out from trainer John Moore and groom Lau Wit-Kit the gelding is not always a straightforward individual Photos courtesy of the HKJC

beauty generation

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au Wai-kit is uncomfortable. Cameras point at his face; questions land like stun grenades. His knee-length shorts brush the tops of sloppy rubber boots. A newly-unwrapped red jacket, pulled from the stable office and thrown on in haste, hides the T-shirt soaked in the sweat of his morning’s work. A white cap, pristine and bearing the logo “JGM”, covers his head. His one comfort rests at the end of a lead rope, Beauty Generation held firmly in his right hand. The tether is attached to a bay gelding’s ring bit. The horse’s head sits upon Lau’s shoulder, the ears stand alert – and then they flick. “Fifi, give me those mints,” trainer John Moore alone senses the need for an intervention. His wife hands him a green and blue packet. “I asked the owner to get a few packs of these at that shop, W.H. Smith, in Heathrow. He brought us back a whole box; Beauty Generation loves them,” confides Moore. Hong Kong’s seven-time champion trainer steps forward and palms a Polo. Hong Kong’s current champion racehorse picks it with his lips and remains calm. Lau is being interviewed for a Hong Kong Jockey Club social media campaign about the city’s latest equine hero. The videos are to showcase Beauty Generation’s status as the world’s co-equal best

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miler, according to the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. The Road To Rock six-yearold’s impeccable end to 2018 lifted his rating to 127, equalling Hong Kong’s all-time highest mark set by Able Friend, another Moore star. Cameras are rolling. “We spend so much time together so we have built a strong bond of trust. To me, he’s more than a friend,” Lau says in Cantonese. The mafoo, or groom, grew up in the New Territories, away from the tourist-scape of Hong Kong Island, and was a casual punter until he saw a Jockey Club recruitment ad. “This mafoo, he practically lives with the horse!” says Moore. “He was sick recently with a virus and spent a day in hospital and Beauty Generation wasn’t happy for a few days. “He’s definitely a handful, this horse. If anybody enters his box and

“We spend so much time together so we have built a strong bond of trust. To me, he’s more than a friend

beauty generation Beauty Generation, the New Zealand-bred son of Road To Rocks, takes January’s Group 1 The Stewards’ Cup at Sha Tin by a clear 3l Below, owner Patrick Kwok holds the trophy alongside jockey Zac Purton, trainer John Moore (right) and club chairman Dr Anthony Chow

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beauty generation

Lau Wai-Kit brings his “best friend” Beauty Generation back to the winners’ enclosure, while Moore gets the low-down from Purton

tries to work on him they have to be very careful. He will bite and kick you, he can be very dangerous. “He still bites Lau, but it’s more playful with him,” adds the trainer. Moore takes the view that champions have their quirks. The handler’s previous star Designs On Rome had a bully boy vicious streak, while the hulking chestnut Able Friend would every morning stand obstinately like a statue at the entrance to the training track. “Beauty Generation wasn’t a problem at first, but now I think he knows he’s good. He gets the VIP treatment – it’s gone to his head a bit! He’s the boss now,” the handler opines. Not just the boss of his own stable, either. Beauty Generation is forging a reputation that puts him at least alongside the absolute titans of Hong Kong racing: Silent Witness and Sacred Kingdom, Viva Pataca and Vengeance Of Rain, Good Ba Ba, Ambitious Dragon and Able Friend. The New Zealand-bred raced as Montaigne in Australia where he won two of seven races for trainer Anthony Cummings and showed promise in three Group 1 contests, notably when second in the 1m2f Rosehill Guineas. That run marked him as a Hong Kong Derby (2000m) prospect. Sha Tin’s top four-year-old Classic race is the one that Hong Kong owners desire above all others. Patrick Kwok purchased the gelding through George Moore Bloodstock and renamed him with

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“Beauty Generation wasn’t a problem at first, but now I think he knows he’s good. He gets the VIP treatment – it’s gone to his head a bit! He’s the boss now”

the “Beauty” prefix applied to horses under the Kwok family ownership. Kwok’s racing-mad father Simon Kwok and mother Eleanor head the locally-famous Sa Sa cosmetics retail chain. Beauty Generation proved to be among the best of his crop in the spring of 2017 running third to the all-conquering but ill-fated Rapper Dragon in both the Hong Kong Classic Mile and the Hong Kong Derby. A track-record win in a 2200m Class 2 handicap thereafter suggested a future as a classy HK stayer. “The trainer and jockey told me he would be a stayer and maybe a Group 3 horse or Group 2 at best,” says Kwok, 26. That all changed when Beauty Generation opened the 2017-18 season with surprising frontrunning wins in Group race handicaps at 7f and a mile and then snared the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile itself. He added further Group 1 scores in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and Champions Mile to claim Horse of the Year honours over Pakistan Star. This season has been even better: at the time of writing he is unbeaten in five races. He demolished his rivals in the same Group race handicaps as a year earlier but this time off top-weight; he smashed Good Ba Ba’s mile track record in the Group 2 Jockey Club Mile at Sha Tin, despite hanging the width of the straight; he toyed with his rivals to win a second Hong Kong

beauty generation Mile; took the Group 1 Stewards’ Cup in cruise control and then added February’s Silver Jubilee Cup (G1) to the growing CV by an unchallenged length and a half. Beauty Generation’s dominance at Sha Tin comes from an ability to lead and quicken off any tempo. “He can do things that other horses can’t,” says regular rider Zac Purton, Hong Kong’s champion jockey. “Champions just find a way to win: he can carry big weights, he can do it off any speed.” But Beauty Generation’s legacy might be one for Hong Kong alone. One tired accusation levelled at the great Winx from old world racing fans is that she is “beating up” the same soft rivals every time. That criticism holds for Beauty Generation, but he must also wrestle the fact that he is doing it at the very same racecourse each time.

here was talk of Dubai this March and even dubious whispers of Royal Ascot. Tokyo this summer might be the destination if the Kwoks do decide to travel their champ – and that “if” is sizeable at this stage. “If, at the end of this season, he’s still a fit horse, it could be Japan,” Moore says. “If he could win the Yasuda Kinen people would have to say he’s a very decent horse.” Kwok, too, would like to test his champion outside of Hong Kong, although he has reservations. “Japan and Dubai hold some bad memories for us, especially for my

Dad. Beauty Only went a bit downhill after he ran in Japan and Beauty Flash lost his way completely after Dubai,” the owner says. Moore is frustrated on the one hand with a general hesitance among Hong Kong owners to travel horses, even though the city’s gallopers have won 27 overseas Pattern races in seven countries (excluding Macau). On the other hand, he is pragmatic. “Superstition is involved,” he says. “I had an owner come to me and say ‘Able Friend went to England and he never came back as good’. But the big horse just lost the plot when he got to Ascot – they can be ratty those Shamardals. He came back and he was still brilliant until he picked up that injury. “But the owners pay the bills. With Beauty Generation, he belongs to the Kwoks. I can have my view, but it’s their call and I always respect that. They want to surpass Viva Pataca’s all-time Hong Kong prizemoney record [HK$83,197,500] so that’s our aim.” Back at the media troupe, Beauty Generation is suddenly restless. His powerful quarters move close to an inattentive sound man who is standing against the trotting ring’s outer rai and suddenly finds himself in a tightening pocket. “Ok, pull him forward,” Moore tells Lau. The mafoo is already on it. Danger averted, he leads Beauty Generation for a turn around the ring and breathes easier with the cameras and questions at his back. And, world travel or not, Lau’s appraisal of Hong Kong’s “Master Miler” is beyond prejudicial judgements of greatness: “I would describe him as my son,” he says.

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Cokoriko: the son of Robin Des Champs has got off to a fabulous early start at stud. Photo courtesy of Haras de Cercy and by Zuzanna Lupa

stallions in the making

nh sires

Adam Potts pinpoints young NH sires who are getting results on the track and in the sale ring

orecasting the future success of a NH sire is more difficult than on the Flat: jumpers begin their racing careers later and peak later than their Flat counterparts. The picture is slow to emerge, with only glimpses of a stallion’s popularity through foal and store sale prices. Too often, it is only in the final few years of a NH stallion’s active years at stud that breeders become aware of his capabilities. The French modus operandi of placing the emphasis on jumping precocity results in a more expansive programme for three and four-year-old jumpers. Therefore, a breeder can generally assess a stallion earlier than in the UK and Ireland. Coverings are spread across a more diverse group of sires, compared to the UK and the much monopolised Irish market. These are likely reasons for the assessed stallions — who are those commercially on the steepest upward curve — all having spent time at stud in France. The country’s stallion landscape appears to be more dynamic with more sires getting a chance at stud in addition to the earlier progeny performance feedback. NH stallion fees have a lower ceiling than on the Flat, and prices changes tend to be more subtle. As such, book sizes can be a useful guide to popularity — but too large a book size can mean your resulting crop can commercially get lost in the ocean. When both price and book size rises, the outlook is especially positive. This was the case with Haras de Cercy resident Cokoriko, who himself is by a top NH sire Robin Des Champs, sire of Vautour, Quevega and Sir Des Champs. Cokoriko showed ability, albeit in an unorthodox manner to most stallions — he won a Listed hurdle at Auteuil when trained by his breeder and long-time owner, JeanPaul Gallorini. A fetlock injury cut short his racing career and he retired in 2014 at a fee of €1,700. His first crop has just turned four, but his early impact has been hard to ignore. Remarkably, he produced a first-time-out two-year-old winner in his first crop, who then gained black-type in a 1m2f Listed event at Saint-Cloud before joining Paul Nicholls. Over jumps, Cokoriko has produced 12 winners from 26 runners, posting one of the best winner-to-runner ratios among those sires with over 20 runners. Among those included two stakes winners, resulting in a seven per cent stakes winners

Over jumps, Cokoriko has produced 12 winners from 26 runners, posting one of the best winner-to-runner ratios among those sires with over 20 runners and 12 per cent stakes performers to runners with his hurdlers. His best performers include Polirico, who gained wins in a Grade 2 three-year-old chase at Auteuil before reverting to win a Grade 3 hurdle at Compiegne on his final two starts. Such results leave him at the very head of the pecking order, so much so that he broke the record for the number of mares covered in a season in France with 234 mares from a fee of €2,000. His price has jumped markedly in 2019 to €6,000, and this is still unlikely to slow down his demand. His stores have realised up to €55,000, arguably from his inferior books, and pinhookers exposed to him might well be in clover should his progeny maintain their successful run. Extraordinarily, Jean-Paul Gallorini was also the owner/trainer of one of jump racing’s most popular stallions in No Risk At All. Like Cokoriko, his profile is unorthodox albeit in a different manner. By My Risk, best known as the sire of two-mile champion chaser Sire De Grugy, No Risk At All is a halfbrother to Nickname, the top-class chaser who was shaping into a most exciting sire before his untimely death at the age of 12. Despite his pedigree, No Risk At All won a Listed race at two over a mile before winning five stakes races in total, including two Group 2s over 1m2f. He was also beaten under 2l in the Group 1 Prix D’Ispahan behind Golden Lilac. Retiring to stud in 2013, he boasted both top level Flat form combined with a prestigious jumps pedigree. Such credentials made him well received, and he has covered more than 130 mares every year since he began covering duties. He finished seventh in the French top sires’ table last year, an outstanding achievement when one considers that his first crop have just turned five this year.

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nh sires No Risk At All has performed head and shoulders above any other stallion who has retired to stud since 2011, never mind as recently as 2013, the year he commenced covering duties. No Risk At All’s stores sold in Britain and Ireland have averaged £35,000 – strong figures from his €2,500 and €3,000 covering fees. His most expensive store sold at the 2018 Goffs Land Rover Sale is a half-brother to the classy hurdler Vision Des Flos. The youngster has been named No Risk Des Flos and was purchased by bloodstock agent Aiden Murphy for €200,000. His progeny are showing ample promise on the racecourse – the Willie Mullins-trained and Cheveley Park Stud-owned Allaho won a Grade 3 novice hurdle in the last few weeks and is shaping as a contender for the either the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle or the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

nother sire whose fee has experienced a relatively large increase recently is Doctor Dino, who is operating on a similar stakes winners-torunners ratio as Cokoriko over

jumps. Now 17, as a globetrotting racehorse he won three Group 1 races winning back-toback renewals of the Hong Kong Vase, in addition to the Man O’War Stakes at Belmont. He retired to stud in 2010 and has steadily produced winners, highlights being Group 1 Prix de Diane runner-up Physiocrate and recent Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes runner-up Golden Legend at Woodbine. Over obstacles, Master Dino has showcased his sire winning both the three-year-old and four-year-old champion hurdles in France, amassing over €700,000 in earnings. The Willie Mullins-trained Sharjah improved markedly in 2018, winning the prestigious Galway Hurdle in the summer before gaining two Grade 1 wins in the Morgiana and Ryanair Hurdles, stamping himself as a contender for the Champion Hurdle in March. His daughter La Bague Au Roi has become one of the most admirable mares in training, recently winning two Grade 1s on the bounce when beating the geldings in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase and the Flogas Novice Chase at Leopardstown. Those wins came over 2m5f and 3m and the Warren Greatrex-trained mare could easily be a live contender for both the JLT

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The 12-year-old Haras de Montaigu stallion No Risk At All has first six-year-olds in 2019. The son of My Risk has already had a Grade 3 winner in Ireland

No Risk At All has performed head and shoulders above any other stallion who has retired to stud since 2011, never mind as recently as 2013 and the RSA Novices Chase, though at the time of writing connections are planning to skip Cheltenham in favour of Punchestown and / or Aintree. Doctor Dino’s gelding Sceau Royal has emerged as one of Britain’s best 2m chasers (if you exclude Altior) with his Grade 1 win in Sandown’s Henry VIII Novices’ Chase. Doctor Dino is following in the footsteps of his sire Muhtathir: a dual-purpose stallion capable of getting Group 1 performers under either code. His fee rose from €4,500 in 2017 to €8,000 in 2018, and he is subject to another increase to €12,000 in 2019. It will leave him at the top end of the market for NH breeders, but he is still in reach.

It seems Irish breeders are becoming more willing to use a stallion with jumps form or a jumps pedigree, and that is exemplified by Diamond Boy, who has moved from Haras de la Croix Sonnet to stand at Kilbarry Lodge. The sire does, however, have an Irish connection being a half-brother to Willie Mullins’s star chaser Golden Silver. Diamond Boy was a useful stayer and he won a Listed race over 1m7f and finished a length off Melbourne Cup winner Americain in the Listed Prix De Reux over 1m4f when trained by Francois Doumen. He received 235 mares in his first season in Ireland at a fee of €5,000, which has increased slightly to €6,000 off the back of his five British and Irish sold stores averaging nearly £50,000. His son Grand Sancy gained a timely win in the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle just before the covering season hits full flow, beating a more experienced field when pitched into open company as a novice. His first crop is now six, albeit with small numbers in his initial books, so the best is yet to come. The growing tolerance of Irish breeders to adopt the French methodology of accepting NH form and pedigree is something to keep an eye on, especially as wonder mares Annie Power and Vroum Vroum Mag each visited Galileo in 2018.

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mental health

Understanding the

mental health

of racehorse trainers

Simone Sear: ground-breaking research

uch work has been done throughout the industry to support the health and welfare of racing’s human participants and consequently there are bespoke support services that exist for professional jockeys and for the general workforce of British horseracing, however nothing currently exists in the same way for racehorse trainers.

Background

The role of racehorse trainer has received little to no academic attention yet it is a role that places many demands on the business owner/manager. Their businesses are often rurally based and family owned/managed, and racehorse trainers often struggle to balance their books against juggling round-the-clock responsibilities caring for high value, unpredictable animals, looking after racehorse owners, land and buildings, prize-money, a demanding racing calendar, complex racing regulations and ensuring there is a reliable and skilled workforce. Sear has used a qualitative research approach in order to gain an understanding of a phenomenon about which little is yet known. A sample of six licensed racehorse trainers participated in the research and they ranged in business size, age, experience, gender and geographic location. The mean age of participants was 52 years and the mean size of business had 46 horses. Unstructured, anonymous interviews were

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Simone Sear, Racing Welfare’s director of Welfare, has recently completed the Thoroughbred Horseracing Industries MBA run by Liverpool University. Her paper “Occupational Stressors for Racehorse Trainers in Great Britain and their Impact on Health and Wellbeing” looks into an area that Sear and the charity believe is little understood. We have reprinted an abbreviated report of some of the key aspects of Sear’s paper, outlining the stressors experienced by trainers (most of which won’t be news to trainers) as well as the industry recommendations Sear puts forward to help racehorse trainers deal with occupational stress and mental wellbeing

audio recorded in which participants were encouraged to speak freely in order for the researcher to gain a deep understanding.

Findings

The analysis identified seven repetitive “higher-order” themes which were sub-divided into 41 further codes to represent “stressors” relating to dealing with people, caring for horses, working hours and patterns, business issues, performance, job tasks and harassment and image. There were four higher-order themes and 19 codes identified that related to the impact

that stressors had on health and wellbeing. This identified a wide range of mental health and physical health issues, which were either a result of occupational stressors or that were existing conditions exacerbated further by stressors.

What are the stressors? 1. Dealing with people

All participants mentioned that managing owner expectations was a specific stressor. Pressure around racehorse performance, often something out of a racehorse trainer’s control, was felt personally by participants on behalf of the owner as they would experience guilt, disappointment or blame if a racehorse failed to perform on the track. There was also evidence of a lack of personal and professional boundaries between trainers and owners when participants described taking phone calls during unsocial hours or when busy with other important tasks. Participants told how owners would want to speak with them as early as 7am and others who had taken calls as late as 11.30pm. Owners can call expecting to speak with a trainer during precious family time or when the trainer needs sleep and rest. Explanations were that for an owner, racehorse training is a hobby whilst it is the trainer’s business and so owners will often want to have a conversation during their leisure time, at weekends, for example. Whilst most participants accepted this is part of their role there was evidence these expectations were a strain which if left unmet would result in the loss of owners and which in turn would impact negatively on business.

mental health Participants felt loyalty from racehorse owners could be unreliable and precarious as all had experience of having horses removed from their yards at haste. There was a consensus that a racehorse owner’s expectations have changed over the decades and that today’s owner wants a very different leisure experience from those of previous years. Two participants felt that owners’ experience had changed in the last decade from those who tended to be stock people and who would accept that horses would suffer illness or sustain injury. Most felt that today’s owner expects quick results from a trainer despite the fact that the performance of a horse, to a large extent, is likely to be out of their control. As one participant was warned: “‘If this horse doesn’t pull his socks up, he’ll be gone soon’; that is always something on your mind”. The health and wellbeing of employees was also a stressor, in particular worry about injury and fatality risk from riding accidents

Participants felt loyalty from racehorse owners could be unreliable and precarious and for one participant this felt as though they were: “Leading troops into battle everyday”. Most participants felt pressure to do the right thing by their staff and the ability to pay wages, conform to external pressure around employment law, regulation and bureaucracy were stressors. Some expressed feeling additional pressure from industry bodies such as the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), Racing

What is stress?

Stress is most broadly defined as “any circumstances that threaten or are perceived to threaten one’s well-being and thereby tax one’s coping abilities”and is generally known as a pattern of disruptive physiological and psychological reactions to events that threaten a person’s ability to cope (Khalil, 2014). Occupational stress is the generic term that refers to work-related stimuli (stressors) that might lead to psychological, behavioural or physiological consequences. Whilst not all stressors will result in strains, it can be said that all strains are a result of stressors whether actual or perceived. Occupational stressors are external to an employee and are a result of their working conditions (Glazer & Liu, 2017). Stressors can be organisational, relating to business, finance, bureaucracy or administration. They can be contextual, relating to schedules, lack of resources, education, age or gender (Norris, Didymus & Kaiseler, 2017). Interpersonal stressors relate to ”stressful episodes between two or more people that involve quarrels, arguments, negative attitudes or behaviours, an uncomfortable atmosphere during a conversation or activity and concern about hurting other’s feelings, whereas intrapersonal stressors occur within a person and relate to emotions and feelings” (Kato, 2013). Whilst a certain amount of stress can be positive in helping to motivate and drive people it is when stress becomes unmanageable or beyond control that it can become problematic and manifest in physical, mental, emotional and behavioural symptoms or strains (Khalil, 2014).

Racehorse trainers: sports coaches?

Horseracing is a sport and if racehorses are the athletes then racehorse

Welfare and National Association of Racing Staff (NASS) and at times felt trainers are unfairly portrayed as “bad” employers. Others felt a double standard exists with pressure on trainers to do right by their staff, yet the same standard does not appear to exist for themselves. All trainers recognised how important their staff were to them, often had close relationships, were heavily reliant on and many cared deeply about their welfare and wellbeing.

2. Caring for horses

Caring for racehorses was a stressor identified as being most out of a participant’s control. Horses suffering illness, injury or fatality were of particular concern and all spoke about virus or disease which could run through their livestock and decimate their businesss causing significant stress: “I felt mentally off the rails as there was a virus in the yard which ran through for 18 months. It killed us and

trainers must be considered the sports coaches. Sports coaching has been found to be an inherently stressful occupation due to the requirement to fulfil multiple roles with various expectations, but further there is a direct correlation between the stress and wellbeing experienced by a sports coach and performance, with high levels of stress being found to impact on performance (Norris, Didymus & Kaiseler, 2017). Elite coaches have been found to experience almost equivalent quantities of performance and organisational stressors and that stressors relating to either the performance of the athlete or coach were those regularly cited as most stressful (Norris, Didymus & Kaiseler, 2017). Stressors included athletes failing to perform, athletes underperforming and athlete injury, with coaches stating they “dreaded key players getting injured” and stressors related to training with injury (Thelwell, et al. 2008). Stressors regarding their own performance related to the demands and expectations of the coach such as external scrutiny from parents, the public and media which often left coaches vulnerable to stress. Coaches’ personal lives were often imposed upon during their free time by parents phoning them at weekends for example (Knight & Harwood, 2009). The expectations to perform at an international standard with an inexperienced squad were also cited as stressors. Organisational stressors for sports coaches were those relating to administration, finance, overload, the environment, the team and leadership (Levy, et al. 2009). Fletcher and Scott state that the potential health and performance costs of psychological stress to sports coaches are significant and further that the rapid change and dynamic nature of stress in coaches is an ongoing problem that needs to be monitored and addressed (Fletcher & Scott, 2010).

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Advertising... “Advertising is an audio or visual form of marketing communication that employs an openly sponsored, non-personal message to promote or sell a product or service. Sponsors of advertising are typically businesses wishing to promote their products or services. “Advertising is differentiated from public relations in that an advertiser pays for and has control over the message.”

It’s a competitive market place: be in control of your stallion’s profile

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mental health

it killed the business and it killed me mentally and my confidence, but again it’s out of your control. “You try to do everything you can and you work 10 times as hard to achieve the same or less.” The same participant explained that when their horses were sick, they were sick too and that this had impacted negatively on their mental health. Sickness in livestock also impacted on racehorse performance as well as on a participant’s performance and results which in turn brought with it the threat of loss or the actual loss of horses. The impact of a virus running through a yard was not only immediate, but would have a long-term effect as one participant explained how it takes a long time to rebuild the business following a virus. Participants all felt the constant threat of losing horses, how to find and retain good horses and the actual loss of horses as a stressor. One trainer described how just getting one thing wrong could result in the loss of horses and how this was felt as a constant pressure that weighed heavily on their mind.

3. Work hours

Relentlessness and long work hours were a recurrent theme throughout the interviews and cited as a major stressor for participants. Evidence demonstrated that most were working extremely long hours over seven days

One trainer described how just getting one thing wrong could result in the loss of horses and how this was felt as a constant pressure per week with little or no time off. Early mornings combined with late nights made for typically a 12-14 hour working day for the majority of participants, which often left them physically and mentally shattered. If participants had sick horses or other emergencies to deal with then days could be longer. If there was a quieter day some said they would spend this catching up with emails, paperwork or speaking with owners. A lack of time to do everything was cited as a significant pressure and added to this was the “never-ending-ness” of it all which many said felt as though they were never off duty. Whilst most expected to work long hours, participants said the ever-increasing fixture list was an additional pressure and that a radical re-think was needed in this regard.

One participant explained how the impact of the increasing fixture list and evening racing combined with racing seven days per week over 364 days per year results in no time for a break for either trainers, staff or horses. Another described how going evening racing twice in one week had left them “flattened” leaving the racecourse at 9pm, arriving back at the yard with the horse at 12pm and eventually getting into bed at 2am, only to be up at 5am to start all over again. Time off and holidays for participants were rare and when any did take leave there was a price to pay. One participant had only taken one day off in the last year, and even then had been contacted to say a horse had been taken ill. Participants who had taken a holiday confessed to working whilst they were away and needing to work twice as hard when they returned in order to catch up. Participants had never had a complete break away from their work and one reiterated that it is the fact that you “never, ever, ever, ever get a break from it” as being a major cause of stress in their role. Two participants had also experienced owners not wanting to pay their training fees if they were away on holiday which had resulted in guilt and additional pressure. Long work hours and patterns resulted in a lack of any work-life balance and in the main work and home life were intrinsically linked and intertwined. Participants were either running the

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mental health

business with their spouse or partner resulting in the whole family also being immersed in the daily routine. The relentlessness and lack of routine also meant there was little or no time to commit to doing anything recreational for social or leisure purposes.

4. Business issues

Cash flow and finance issues were stressors identified by all participants as most struggled to balance the books or make a living from the training business alone. A sudden loss of income from the impact of losing horses left participants with a lot of empty stables and one participant explained that even losing one horse could skew the balances. Late payers or those who leave without paying impacts on a trainer’s ability to pay their supply chain and one participant described their direct debits as “eye watering” and a major cause of stress as the worry about how to pay bills caused frequent insomnia. There was consensus that charges for training fees are not enough to make the economics “stack up”, although with so

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much competition it was felt there is always someone else willing to undercut you. Another participant felt the financial reward was not enough compared to what you have to put in and that “it’s crazy that only 8-9 per cent of trainers are able to make a living out of the sport”. Some said they knew trainers who should have given up years ago instead of struggling on, while for others the responsibilities and debt were too great to walk away from. An unexpected finding was that every participant was supplementing their training business with either another business (or two or three), another job or through a reliance on a partner’s salary, skills and experience. This added further pressure to the participant’s already busy schedules and home lives. Their training business would struggle to survive without these additional income streams or skills yet at the same time participants were already stretched to capacity and did not have the time for additional work.

5. Performance

The highs and lows of operating within an

elite sport bought additional stressors. Highs came with success on the racetrack and certain perks which some said made it unique in comparison to other jobs or business. Working outdoors combined with the thrill of elite racehorses were cited alongside the elation of winning. However, elation could quickly turn to disappointment especially when winning plateaus as: “Even a horse like Frankel is going to reach a level where it won’t win anymore”. This type of disappointment is experienced personally. One participant described the excitement of their first big win, but how this quickly waned and now how a win is more a sense of relief due to the pressure to perform. For most pressure hinged on having good runners because when racehorses fail to perform the business suffers. It was, however, the publication of results and how wins and losses are reported that was felt acutely and caused stress. One participant explained how a winner in a class 6 race would bring pleasure yet the press would report the win as being

mental health insignificant and probably due to a lack of competition or such as the favourite falling at the last fence. Such reports would then sow doubt in the mind of the owner who would often see or hear about it before the trainer. With any elation lost the trainer must then pacify a disappointed owner and convince them their horse is still worthy of winning. One participant explained the impact: “So it destroys trainer’s self-esteem at the time and in the future, it destroys their financial model, creates havoc with their business, but it is much more than that because your heart and soul goes with every horse, because you kind of hope this is the one and even if they’re not very good they all matter. “We had a winner yesterday of the most shocking race in the world, but it won and the buzz is the same for the yard. “The punters love you when you’re winning but they all turn their back on you when you’re not and that happens with every trainer.” Competitors were also experienced as stressors as there was a consensus that every other trainer would take your horse “at the drop of a hat”. More than one participant spoke of the disappointment and hurt of losing a horse to another trainer, who would then go on to do well and win races with the same horse and how owners would remove horses that were underperforming in their quest to win. One participant explained that usually a horse would “come right” if left where it was, however, many owners were described as too impatient to wait and so would move, often seeking out a larger and, in their view, more successful trainer. One participant said this was particularly upsetting when they had done all the “donkey work” only for another trainer to reap the benefits. This was described as not only hurtful but as being damaging to a trainer’s reputation. Competition also caused isolation as one trainer described not being able to talk to fellow trainers when things were going wrong for fear of exposing their failures or that other trainers might repeat what they had heard to their own clients.

6. Job tasks

Work overload combined with too many tasks was the stressor that generated most data. This was further exacerbated by delegation issues.

Competition also caused isolation as one trainer described not being able to talk to fellow trainers Whilst it was an issue for all there was a view from the participants with smaller enterprises that things were probably easier in larger training yards, although most then changed their view to conclude that in reality the tasks were probably just multiplied. A lack of routine was an issue caused by being totally flat out all of the time and jumping from one task to another. An acute pressure point in the day was around 10am when declaring runners, which could not be avoided regardless of what else

was going on. One participant who used to ride out recalled hanging off a horse doing their declarations at the same time. Travel was another major stressor, either travelling to and from the races or for smaller trainers driving the horsebox there and having to then do everything themselves once back at the yard, with the amount of travel and mileage taking its toll mentally. Participants spoke of there being no let up and one said with so many different aspects to keep on top of they felt their head might explode because the pressures were so bad. Another mentioned switching from speaking to owners to unblocking drains, mucking out, feeding horses. For another participant attending the sales whilst attempting to buy new stock with customers and vendors in one ear and the phone ringing about what was happening at home in the other, reported that it was “manic”. Delegation issues exacerbated things further as participants either could not afford additional staff, staff were unreliable or there was no-one to trust with certain tasks, so much so that one participant described the pressure as continuous with every single task reverting back to them. Delegation did appear to be a significant issue for the smaller to mid-tier trainer, however even participants with larger yards reported struggles to find, replace or afford a good assistant trainer or senior staff. If staff arrived late for work or not at all this would have a knock-on effect affecting the outcomes for the whole day. Being able to trust staff and having the time to check on their work was also a pressure, even down to checking if the right equipment had been put on the right horse correctly being an issue. One participant talked of a vicious spiral that can occur around staffing issues: “I can see some trainers end up in a situation where they say we haven’t got enough staff and it ends up like a very vicious spiral. “You get people in, but you don’t get ‘good’ people and they drag down the others and the good staff leave. “If you do get someone young who needs training they just don’t get enough attention – they can’t cope and don’t last, the whole thing becomes a mess.” Participants also said they were often the only person an owner would speak with, even when there were other staff or a spouse available who were able to talk to them. For one female trainer delegation

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mental health

The horseracing industry has a moral and ethical duty of care towards these key participants and “doing it all” was felt to be further exacerbated by trying to be a wife and mother at the same time. Regardless of gender, size of business, age or experience the sheer hard graft of it all created pressures so much so that some were unsure about how they keep going or questioned how much longer they would be able to sustain things at the current manic pace.

6. Harrasment and image

Participants all knew of and had experienced some form of abusive message, phone call or email either from punters or owners which were often attributed to advances in technology and social media. One participant had received an abusive voice mail message within a minute of their horse passing the post calling him “filth”. Other messages received used highly derogatory language from contacting a participant to call him”a paedophile” because a horse had failed to win, to abusive language being screamed down the phone, being called crooked and messages saying: “I hope your family die of cancer and your horse breaks its leg”. These were viewed as an expected and inevitable part of the job and most likely to be the work of warped or ill people. Most participants, whilst admitting this was unacceptable and even hurtful, dismissed it in most cases as ridiculous or laughable. All felt their contact details needed to be public in order to run their business so could not see an alternative to this growing problem. There was agreement that the BHA were taking action to deal with abusive messages and most claimed that jockeys probably received a whole lot worse. The portrayal of trainers, resulting in what some felt was an unfair image, did appear to cause pressure. One participant felt the media

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portrayal does not reflect trainers well. Others felt the media portrayal of trainers to be poor and that they are often reflected as people who treat their staff badly and that this was in fact far from the truth and there needed to be a reality check. Another participant had experienced their performance being debated on live TV and how this is now always on their mind and felt personally. Another recalled how it had been heart-breaking to watch the public demise of a now-deceased top-class trainer and was left wondering how a person could be expected to cope mentally with that. Another felt the governing body view trainers as people who complain all the time and perhaps think they are not important to the running of the sport.

Recommendations 1. Conduct further research of the wider racehorse trainer population in GB in order to test these findings and determine to what extent they are representative. Any such research should also include a deeper examination of the appraisal of stressors and coping strategies. 2. Further investigation should be conducted into the finance, economics and sustainability of racehorse training as an occupation as the need for additional income streams to supplement training is likely to undermine health and wellbeing. 3. A bespoke, confidential support service for racehorse trainers should be designed in order to support this workforce to gain insight and build resilience. Any such service should be designed in consultation with the NTF and its members and given the findings will need to provide support across a range of issues such as; mental health, physical health, sports psychology, business management, HR and legal advice, financial assistance and time management. 4. Consideration given to making improvements to education and training beyond initial trainer modules; a mentor programme, continuous professional development and regional training that is both accessible and achievable with funding and support made available to enable those who wish to attend management development courses.

Some felt as though they did not have a voice at the right meetings and perhaps they should as ultimately the sport is reliant on them.

Conclusions

The findings demonstrate that racehorse trainers based in Great Britain experience a variety of stressors in fulfilling the multitude of roles involved in their work. There is evidence to suggest that racehorse trainers perform a high level of emotional labour, experience a relentless “time famine” resulting from long work hours and work overload. Moreover, that operating within the context of an elite sport places them at risk of psychological distress and harassment with regards to their own performance, the performance of their horses and scrutiny from the general public, punters and the media. In addition to this racehorse trainers are subject to the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, but more often experience the lows as they face stressors common to other small-medium size business owner/ managers, intensified by a low level of financial reward and success rate. There is evidence that stressors simpact negatively on a racehorse trainer’s physical and mental health and secondary data suggests that they are more likely to suffer injury, chronic illness, emotional and physical exhaustion, mental ill health and addiction. Occupational stressors for this group are also likely to have an impact on business and productivity and ultimately on the wider horseracing industry. Participants were passionate about their work, cared deeply about their horses and the people to which they hold a responsibility but this passion is at risk of being eroded from the constant demands and pressures involved in this role. The findings show there are risks to physical and mental health and overall wellbeing from the constant exposure to stressors. The horseracing industry has a moral and ethical duty of care towards these key participants in the same way that it does towards jockeys and racing staff. Therefore, funding should be sought in order to conduct wider research and to provide bespoke services that will provide the appropriate support and more importantly this should be done in consultation with the trainers themselves.

KOROPIK

Bay 2014 by Kodiac – Kathoe (Fayruz)

GROUP WINNING SPRINTER BY KODIAC By Kodiac, record-breaking Champion Sire of 2YOs out of Kathoe, by leading sprint sire Fayruz. From the immediate family of Champion 2YO Woodstream.

RACE RECORD

NEW FOR 2019

Won 2 races at 2 & 3, 6f and placed twice incl. Gr.3 Chipchase S, 6f, Newcastle, beating Aeolus (Gr.3) and 5 other Stakes Winners.

FEE 2019:

£2,500 Oct 1st

Mahsoob

Bay 2011 by Dansili – Mooakada (Montjeu)

FIRST FOALS 2019 By sire of sires Dansili, out of MOOAKADA by Champion and outstanding broodmare sire MONTJEU.

RACE RECORD Won 5 races including 9f Earl of Sefton Stakes, Gr.3 Newmarket and 10f Wolferton Stakes, LR Royal Ascot. Timeform Rated 120

FEE 2019:

£2,000 Oct 1st

INTRINSIC

Bay 2011 by Oasis Dream – Infallible (Pivotal)

OFF TO A GOOD START AT STUD The very fast son of Oasis Dream from a Stakes winning family including MUTAKAYYEF and INTIMATION and half-sisters VERACIOUS (won Atalanta S. Gr.3) and ALAADEL (3-time winner incl. on debut at 2)

RACE RECORD Winner of the Glorious Goodwood, Stewards’ Cup – in record 1 min 10.27 secs - A race he won in a faster time than LOCHSONG or DANETIME.

FEE 2019:

£1,750 Oct 1st

CONTACT

Andrew Spalding • T: 01325 730209 or M: 07990 518751 • E: andrew@hedgeholmestud.co.uk

Hedgeholme Stud, Winston, Darlington, Co. Durham DL2 3RS - www.hedgeholmestud.com

stallion ask

Ask...

...and you will get winners!

Ask, the dual Group 1-winning son of Sadler’s Wells, has moved to Wales to stand at Dunraven Stud. Sally Ann Grassick chats with stud owner David Brace

avid Brace purchased Llanmihangel Farm, the home of Dunraven Stud, nearly 10 years ago and in that time he has developed a successful breeding operation by purchasing previous Coolmore NH sires to join his small roster of stallions in Wales. The latest addition to that list is Ask and the son of Sadlers’ Wells has come from the same proven recruitment process of stallions such as Brian Boru, Dr Massini and Mountain High. The racing bug bit Brace at an early age, but sadly his childhood aspirations to be a jockey did not become a reality. However, he bought into a partnership that owned a winning point-to-point mare named Atlanta Lady in the mid-80s, and the rest, as they say, is history. “Ever since that first mare, I have owned and trained my own horses,” explains Brace. “I have been lucky to have been champion point-to-point owner/ trainer on several occasions including last season.” That was a particularly special season for Brace and his family as his grandson Connor Brace, who is now a conditional with Fergal O’Brien, was also champion novice rider. “When I purchased the stud almost ten years ago, I had been looking for some time for a farm that not only could I live on, but could train and breed from. It has taken a long time to get where we are today, but I am proud of what we have built and the facilities we have to offer.

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“I have become far more selective with my own broodmare band in recent times, tending to concentrate on black-type pedigrees “We have approximately 150 acres of high-quality grazing and you can really see how well the youngsters have flourished on the land. “I doubt that you will find a more conveniently situated stud in the UK – we are just five minutes off the M4, although when you reach us you would think we are in the heart of the countryside. “We are very much open to all and have built up a loyal client base over the years. We pride ourselves on the personal touch and are happy to take mares all the way through their breeding journey. “I have become far more selective with my own broodmare band in recent times, tending to concentrate on black-type pedigrees. “We have the likes of half-sisters to Sam Spinner, The Giant Bolster and some lovely

Ask wins the Ormonde Stakes (G3) at Chester. The highlights of his racing career came with success in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes and in the Group 1 Prix Royal Oak

stallion ask

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stallion ask French-bred mares who have top-class pedigrees, including a close relative to one of the country’s most promising chasers, Saint Goustan Blue. I am always actively seeking new faces, but they have to be the right ones.” The latest “new face” at Dunraven Stud comes in the shape of dual Group 1 winner Ask, whose oldest crop are now seven-yearolds. Bred by Side Hill Stud from the family of Height Of Fashion, Ask won seven of his 19 starts for Sir Michael Stoute, including both the Group 1 Coronation Cup and Group 1 Prix Royal Oak in 2009.

e retired to Beeches Stud in 2011 where he stood for a fee of €3,000 until he was purchased by Brace last year. He is currently enjoying his first covering season at Dunraven off a fee of £2,000. “From the day he arrived, Ask has settled in really well to our routine: he is a lovely horse to handle and takes everything in his stride, he is a real pleasure to have around,”says Brace. “After the passing of Dr Massini in 2017 at the age of 24, I was in the market for another son of Sadler’s Wells. Once Coolmore made contact with me about Ask, I knew he was the one for me. “I have an excellent relationship with Coolmore and the team is a pleasure to deal with. Ask is now the sixth stallion I have purchased from this source. “My view is that if Coolmore stand them in the first place, they have to be of interest. You know they will be the complete package with performance, looks and pedigree. It is simply a case that they are able to bring through so many potential stallion prospects each year, that some horses, through no fault of their own, become available for purchase. “There are very exciting times ahead for Ask: he is having plenty of winners and yet his oldest crop is just seven years of age. “Trainers love them as they are tough and genuine, just like their father who was still winning Group 1s as a six-year-old. It looks like he really stamps his progeny: they are strong, athletic types with a great walk. “They are also popular commercially which is a huge bonus and I think that will only increase with time.” Ask is indeed proving his commercial value as his son Buster Valentine, a winning pointto-pointer, was purchased by Bobby O’Ryan for trainer Ruth Jefferson for £100,000 at the

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Ask: had 10 Irish point-to-points winners in 2017-18 season and is already on six for this season

“Ask has settled in really well to our routine: he is a lovely horse to handle and takes everything in his stride Goffs UK Spring HIT Sale last year. Now a six-year-old Buster Valentine has won twice over hurdles and was second in the Group 2 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdley. Ask’s progeny are already starting to make a name for themselves in this season’s pointto-points in Ireland and there are more of his promising offspring emerging all the time. “I think that we will really see the best of his progeny out in the Irish pointing field this season. He has already had six individual winners and the reports of his four and five-year-olds who have yet to run are very encouraging. “Under Rules, Just Don’t Ask looks to be highly progressive, although I would say Ask Ben is the horse to look out for; I think

anything he does over hurdles is a bonus as he will make up into a smart chaser in time.” Ask is currently standing alongside Dunraven Stud’s other resident Mountain High, a half-brother to superstar mare Islington. He currently stands for £1,250. “Mountain High is a gorgeous-looking horse with a superb temperament and pedigree to match. He is from one of the best Ballymacoll families in the book being by Danehill out of a Group 1-winning mare, who in turn has produced an English Oaks winner amongst other Group winners. “Mountain High is a Group 1 winner himself as he was successful in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud as a five-year-old. “I am sure the Danehill influence will see him becoming a leading NH broodmare sire in time and I am convinced he will sire a champion in the near future.” Dunraven Stud is entered a new and exciting chapter with the arrival of Ask and its owner is positive about the future of the stud. “Hopefully the next 12 months will bring some stability in the industry amongst all the Brexit talk, we need to rally around as a group to embrace any changes necessary. “I really want to drive the stud forward; we have the stallions, facilities and personnel to do that, we just need the results to continue on the racecourse.” It looks like Ask could be just the stallion they needed to provide those big race successes.

Branding... “The process involved in creating a unique name and image for a product in the consumers’ mind, mainly through advertising campaigns with a consistent theme. “Branding aims to establish a significant and differentiated presence in the market that attracts and retains loyal customers.” It’s a crowded market place: give your stallion the individuality he deserves

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photos of the month: battle of the pre-Cheltenham Festival media days, Nicky Henderson and Gordon Elliott

1 4 3

1. Nicky Henderson at his Seven Barrows yard shows off the 18-time winner Altior, who will be chasing a second Queen Mother Champion Chase win 2. Last year’s Grand National winner Tiger Roll (centre) during the media visit to Gordon Elliott’s stable. The son of Authorized is entered in the big race again, but is due to take in the Cross Country race at The Festival en route 3. Henderson with his Champion Hurdle hope, Buveur D’Air 4. Samcro, who has had an interrupted season due to a lung infection, leads the Elliott string. He is entered in the Champion and Stayers’ Hurdles. 5. Jockey Jack Kennedy deals with the media enquiries

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Le Havre 2 DUAL CLASSIC WINNERS & MORE THAN 40 STAKES HORSES

ALL CONCEIVED AT €5,000 FEE…

€45,000 Live Foal Sylvain VIDAL • +33 (0)6 20 99 10 15 I Mathieu ALEX • +33 (0)6 26 59 19 18

ROARING LION

MASAR

Unbeaten Gr.1 winner at 2

1 Racing Post Trophy-Gr.1, defeating ROARING LION 1st Beresford Stakes-Gr.2, by 2½ lengths 1st Maiden, Curragh st

Classic-winning miler at 3

1st 2,000 Guineas-Gr.1, (PICTURED) defeating MASAR (by 1¾l), ROARING LION (by 2½l), EXPERT EYE (by 9½l) etc. nd 2 Eclipse Stakes-Gr.1, beaten a neck by ROARING LION 2nd Irish Champion Stakes-Gr.1, beaten a neck by ROARING LION

By Japanese super-sire DEEP IMPACT. Out of unbeaten European Champion 2YO filly MAYBE. ❝ This is a colt with an array of

weapons, having a top-notch cruising speed, the turn of foot to separate himself, the stamina to operate over longer distances and, notably, the kind of pack-dominating tenacity that will ensure he makes the most of his physical gifts.❞ JAMES WILLOUGHBY, THOROUGHBRED RACING COMMENTARY, 16 MAY 2018

Fee: €30,000 Contact: Coolmore Stud, Fethard, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Ireland. Tel: +353-52-6131298. E-mail: sales@coolmore.ie Website: www.coolmore.com

ITB_Feb-March2019

Articles inside

Ask... and you will get winners

A ratings' debate

World's Best Racehorse Rankings: a pedigree perspective

Understanding the mental health of racehorse trainers