Group one siblings: Part 2

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 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 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.

Her first foal bred in the UK was her Group 1 winner Penelopa, who was retained – it was a particularly good start!

Agreed, what a fantastic result from that covering to Giant’s Causeway. She finished second in an August 7f German Group 3 as a juvenile, then stepped up to a Listed placing on her second start as a three-year-old before winning the Group 1 Preis der Diana, three-quarters of a length clear of the Ralph Becketttrained Epsom Oaks runner-up Secret Gesture.

Penelopa is breeding for you now – what can you tell us about her progeny so far?

Her first foal, a filly by Invincible Spirit, is in training in Germany with our private trainer, who was also Penelopa’s trainer, Miltcho Mintchev.

We sold her second foal, a colt by Oasis Dream, for 260,000gns at the Tattersalls December Sale. He was purchased by Hugo Lascelles, who was acting on behalf of Lady Bamford.

Penelopa produced a lovely bay, March-born filly by Frankel this spring and she is in-foal to Muhaarar.

Do you have any more of the family producing at home?

Yes, we have another of Lady Linda’s daughters, Ledena (Pivotal). She had a cracking first colt foal by Footstepsinthesand and is in-foal to Bated Breath.

We also have Lady Linda’s half-sister called Katalea (Mr Greeley). She has a 2018 filly by Charm Spirit and is in-foal to Mastercraftsman, which is exciting after his strong 2018.

Of course, the real star of the show and now in retirement is La Cucina.

Have you any progress on Top Fox – Lady Linda’s two-year-old of this year by Frankel bought for 500,000gns last year?

He is in training with Andrew Balding.

What was the thinking behind the decision to use Kingman for Lady Linda?

Lady Linda has a Gleneagles foal… what is he like?

He is just a young stallion whom we all rated very highly and were keen to use – plus the belief that his brilliant miler speed should suit Lady Linda and that he offered both an excellent physical match and pedigree tie up.

You would have to be encouraged with the start he has made, and hope that he can build on it. He is producing strong quality good-looking stock.

Kingman half-brother to Penelopa (Tattersalls, Lot 443)

What is the yearling like as an individual?

He is an outstanding colt – big, strong, athletic with a great walk and temperament. He has it all.

The fact that the mare is back in-foal to Gleneagles should give a clue of our feelings about this colt foal – he is a fantastic individual. He will not be offered for sale as a foal this year, probably as a yearling in 2019.

You are also offering the Gleneagles yearling out of Termida...

She is a beautiful filly, she is a great mover and has a fantastic walk. She has a great outlook and is in all a stunning filly (Lot 155).

It’s extremely exciting this year to have two outstanding individuals to offer for sale in Book 1 who have everything.