group 1 siblings
Litex Commerce purchased Lady Linda at Keeneland in 2009 and her first foal bred by Britton House Stud was the Group 1 Preis der Diana winner Penelopa, a daughter of Giant’s Causeway. Stephen Corps, stud manager at the farm, tells us about the mare, her progeny and this year’s yearling by Kingman (Lot 443) Lady Linda at Britton House Stud with her 2018 Gleneagles foal
Lady Linda has been a long term resident at Britton House Stud now – what is she like as an individual?
She is a gorgeous, big, deep girthed mare with a great outlook and standing on good limbs.
Can you explain the ownership by Litex Commerce… what is Litex Commerce?
Litex Commerce is a Bulgarian company that deals in trading of fuels, importing, processing and marketing petroleum products. It is also involved in the automotive industry and owns a car plant in Bulgaria in partnership with Great Wall Cars from China. Recently, the plant has also started to produce buses and coaches for the European market. Some of the companies’ other interests include agricultural and livestock production, hotel and tourism, construction, transport and logistics to name just a few. The company is run by Grisha Ganchev, a great patron and sponsor of sports in Bulgaria, including ownership of CSKA Sofia, Litex Lovech PFC, both are successful football clubs. Mr Ganchev is head of the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation and he is also very passionate about horses. He owns a stud in Bulgaria with arabian, thoroughbred and
76
www.internationalthoroughbred.net
showjumping horses and he is particularly fond of horseracing. Britton House was bought in 2008 along with a farm in Germany for training and resting our racehorses.
How many mares do you have at Britton House? We have nine breeding mares.
Lady Linda was bought at Keeneland for $120,000 in 2009 as an 11-year-old mare. Do you know the thinking then behind her purchase?
Anthony Penfold was asked to select and purchase mares at 2009 Keeneland January Sale with the aim of upgrading the broodmare band. Lady Linda (in-foal to Exchange Rate) and her dam La Cucina (in-foal to Empire Maker) were consecutive lots and it was decided to try and secure the family by buying both mother and daughter. Lady Linda cost $120,000 and La Cucina $130,000. Both mares were left in Kentucky to foal and be bred before shipping to England with foals at foot and back in-foal. Lady Linda was bred to Giant’s Causeway and La Cucina to Mr. Greeley.
