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

David 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.

“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 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.”

Ask

The latest “new face” at Dunraven Stud comes in the shape of dual Group 1 winner Ask, whose oldest crop are now seven-year-olds.

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.

He 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

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’ Hurdle.

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.

Ask