Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder

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Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder inc Pacemaker April 2013

£4.95 | April 2013 | Issue 104

Incorporating

Sights on Epsom Telescope is Highclere’s big hope for 2013

Plus

• Paul Struthers on whips, wasting and weighing-room wars • Breeze-up focus: how important is timing at the sales?

• Sprinter Sacre simply sublime at the Cheltenham Festival

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9 771745 435006

www.ownerbreeder.co.uk

HighChap_TBOB_DPS_Apr13_TBOB_DPS 15/03/2013 15:38 Page 1

SO YOU THINK 10-time Group 1 winner

WIGMORE HALL Northern Dancer Turf Stakes-Gr.1 (twice)

TORONADO Champagne Stakes-Gr.2 he has run in one of r te af do na ro To r fo y rb De ll be looking at the Investec wi e W ❝ Guineas, but we have not decided which one he’ll go for at thvee rymoment. He is in the ll over the winter so we are we ry ve ne do s ha he d an great form uld make a lovely wo he t gh ou th ys wa al we pleased with him Richard Hannon Jr. 3-year-old.❞

• ALFRED NOBEL • CANFORD CLIFFS • CHOISIR • DANEHILL DANCER • DUKE OF MARMALADE • DYLAN THOMAS • EXCELEBRATION • FASTNET ROCK • FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND • • GALILEO • HENRYTHENAVIGATOR • HIGH CHAPARRAL • HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR • MASTERCRAFTSMAN • PEINTRE CELEBRE • POUR MOI • POWER • REQUINTO • RIP VAN WINKLE • • ROCK OF GIBRALTAR • SO YOU THINK • THEWAYYOUARE • ZOFFANY •

HighChap_TBOB_DPS_Apr13_TBOB_DPS 15/03/2013 15:38 Page 2

€415,000

€300,000

€220,000

Niarchos Family

Waratah Thoroughbreds

Mandore International

€220,000 Demi O’Byrne

€195,000

Paul Moroney Bloodstock

€170,000

€170,000

€160,000

€155,000

€145,000

€130,000

€110,000

Demi O’Byrne

Demi O’Byrne

MV Magnier

John Warren Bloodstock

Norman Steel

Jeremy Brummit

Suprina Bloodstock Agency

LATEST NEWedS

SHOOT OUT land the Chipping Norton Stakes-Gr.1 over a mile on March 9 his fifth Group 1 success!

Contact: Coolmore Stud, Fethard, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Ireland. Christy Grassick, David O’Loughlin, Eddie Fitzpatrick, Tim Corballis, Maurice Moloney, Gerry Aherne, Mathieu Legars or Jason Walsh Tel: 353-52-6131298. Fax: 353-52-6131382. Tom Gaffney, David Magnier, Joe Hernon or Cathal Murphy 353-25-31966/31689. Kevin Buckley (UK Rep.) 44-7827-795156.

E-mail: sales@coolmore.ie Web site: www.coolmore.com All stallions nominated to EBF.

‘October 1 deserves to now be considered the world’s top yearling sale’ Bill Oppenheim - TDN, 13th October 2012

Tattersalls October Yearling Sale 2013 Europe’s Premier Yearling Sale BOOK 1 October 8th – 11th featuring the Tattersalls Millions BOOKS 2 & 3 October 14th – 18th, BOOK 4 November 1st

Entries Close: April 11th enter online at www.tattersalls.com

Tel: +44 1638 665931, sales@tattersalls.com, www.tattersalls.com

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Apr_104_Editors_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 15:08 Page 3

WELCOME FROM THE EDITOR Publisher: Michael Harris Editor: Edward Rosenthal Bloodstock Editor: Emma Berry Designed by: Thoroughbred Group Editorial: First Floor, 75 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LS Tel: 020 7152 0209 Fax: 020 7152 0213 editor@ownerbreeder.co.uk www.ownerbreeder.co.uk

EDWARD ROSENTHAL

Advertising: Giles Anderson Tel: 01380 816 777 USA: 1 888 218 4430 Fax: 01380 816 778 advertise@anderson-co.com Subscriptions: Keely Brewer Tel: 020 7152 0212 Fax: 020 7152 0213 subscriptions@ownerbreeder.co.uk Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder incorporating Pacemaker can be purchased by non-members at the following rates: 1 Year 2 Year UK £55 £90 Europe £85 £135 RoW £99 £154 Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder incorporating Pacemaker is published by a Mutual Trading Company owned jointly by the Racehorse Owners Association and Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association is a registered charity No. 1134293 Editorial views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the ROA or TBA ABC Audited Our proven average monthly circulation is certified by the Audit Bureau of Circulation at 9,542* *Based on the period August 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012.

Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Stanstead House, The Avenue, Newmarket CB8 9AA Tel: 01638 661 321 Fax: 01638 665621 info@thetba.co.uk • www.thetba.co.uk

Incorporating

Sights on Epsom Telescope is Highclere’s big hope for 2013

Plus

• Paul Struthers on whips, wasting and weighing-room wars • Breeze-up focus: how important is timing at the sales?

• Sprinter Sacre is sublime at the Cheltenham Festival

I

must admit to having backed Oscar Delta in the Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. The 20-1 chance travelled beautifully, jumped the last in front and was all set for victory until unseating his jockey halfway up the run-in, having had a coming together with some tape masquerading as a running rail, handing the prize on a plate to favourite Salsify. Bugger, I thought. (My actual response would have made Ted Walsh blush – I think Clare Balding may have described my language as “fruity”, however bearing in mind I had yet to pick a winner all week, having bet in every race, I think it is understandable.)

My feelings of hope, excitement and expectation had now given way to shock – how can this have happened? – swiftly followed by anger, firstly at the horse, then the jockey, then the woman I saw on the replay standing on her own behind the (cursed) tape who clearly distracted my nag in his bid for glory.

But then I saw the face of hapless Jane Mangan, the teenage pilot of Oscar Delta. She had given the ten-year-old a perfect ride until disaster struck.

My punting woes were suddenly put into perspective by the sight of an 18-year-old in tears having had her dreams shattered in the strangest of circumstances.

Needless to say, my next feeling was one of pity – with perhaps a bit of embarrassment, on my part, thrown in for good measure. All in all, it was a rollercoaster of emotions, condensed into ten minutes.

Quite understandably, Ms Mangan was reluctant to come out after the race and talk to the press. Her father, Grand National-winning trainer Jimmy Mangan, was philosophical, pointing out that losing a horserace is of little consequence when there is a jockey – JT McNamara, who suffered a fall in the Kim Muir Chase – lying in a hospital bed in an induced coma with serious neck injuries. The staff at Owner & Breeder would like to send our very best wishes to JT and his family at this time.

In the midst of excitement at an event like the Cheltenham Festival, it’s all too easy to forget the dangers that jockeys face every time they go out to ride.

Yet potential disaster is only ever just around the corner and we must try never to lose sight of this fact.

One man who is definitely concerned with rider safety, amongst other things, is Paul Struthers, Chief Executive of the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA), and this month’s ‘Talking To’ interviewee. Struthers was formerly Head of Communications at the British Horseracing Authority but left the organisation under a cloud after apparently being singled out over the fiasco surrounding changes to the whip rules.

His future career in the sport looked uncertain but it’s hard to keep a good man down, as they say, and not long after he had waved goodbye to the folk at 75 High Holborn, Struthers was back as boss of the PJA, negotiating revisions to the very whip rules he had helped to implement. It would be fair to say his new job started more successfully than his old one ended.

One might have thought it would have given Struthers immense personal satisfaction to ‘get one over’ his old employers, so soon after they had cut him adrift. But no.

“There was no satisfaction from the fact I had been at the BHA and then found myself at the PJA,” Struthers tells Tim Richards (pages 38-41). “The satisfaction came from resolving a problem that I, as part of a team, was responsible for creating.

“In the two months between jobs, I had time to reflect as a racing fan and punter. I didn’t like seeing the sport I love dragged through the mud. It wasn’t a case of proving my worth at the PJA. “The bottom line was that [BHA Chief Executive] Paul Bittar had a clear view of how inadequate the rules were, so we were never a million miles apart. There was never any question of claiming the credit.”

In an industry where many people are quick to congratulate themselves, often for doing very little, Struthers’ attitude is certainly a refreshing change.

“My shock gave

Racehorse Owners Association Ltd First Floor, 75 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LS Tel: 020 7152 0200 Fax: 020 7152 0213 info@roa.co.uk www.racehorseowners.net

£4.95 | April 2013 | Issue 104

Sometimes it’s all too easy to blame the wrong person

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9 771745 435006

www.ownerbreeder.co.uk

Cover: Derby hope Telescope works under Kevin Bradshaw on Warren Hill in Newmarket Photo: George Selwyn

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

way to anger, firstly at the horse, then the jockey, then a random woman

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Apr_104_Contents_Contents 21/03/2013 13:40 Page 4

CONTENTS APRIL 2013

42

26

NEWS & VIEWS

FEATURES

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16

ROA Leader

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TBA Leader

38

PJA Chief Executive

Benefits of BOBIS

10 12

Changes Your monthly round-up

26

Tony Morris Sir Henry is one of the greats

29

Richard Edmondson Nigel Payne back at Aintree

INTERNATIONAL SCENE 30

View From Ireland Seabass’ National dream

32

Continental Tales George Baker’s Swiss role

35

Around The Globe US trainers defend Lasix use

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Paul Struthers

News National Equine Forum report

Talking To...

42

COVER STORY Highclere Profile of the operation and its big Derby hope

Breeze-up Preview Leading players tell all

The Big Picture Cheltenham Festival

Supporting Great British Racing

48 55

Breeders’ Digest Superstars and stallions

56 Sales Circuit From America and Australia

58 Caulfield Files Redoute’s a choice sire

88 Flashback Morley Street in 1993

Sprinter Sacre was sensational as this year’s Festival (The Big Picture, pages 16-25)

Apr_104_Contents_Contents 21/03/2013 13:40 Page 5

BLOODLINES Simply the right policy – without the fuss We are able to provide cover for: 쮿 All risks of mortality 쮿 Theft 쮿 Stallion’s congenital or permanent infertility 쮿 Broodmare barrenness 쮿 Prospective foal 쮿 Foals from 24 hours

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쮿 Yearlings unsoundness of wind 쮿 Horses at grass

FORUM 60

ROA Forum BHA to drop line charges to owners

68

TBA Forum

LEADING THE FIELD IN BLOODSTOCK INSURANCE

Stud Staff Award winners honoured

72

Breeder of the Month Roland Crellin, for Cue Card

74

Next Generation Chairman Sam Hoskins’ first column

76

Vet Forum Equine Grass Sickness vaccine trial

DATA BOOK 82

National Hunt Races Global Stakes Results Victors worldwide

86

AHEAD OF THE FIELD

Grade 1 winners

84

TO STAY

CONTACT US TODAY

Stallion Statistics Kayf Tara deserves plaudits

Our monthly circulation is certified at

9,542 Can other magazines prove theirs?

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

BLOODLINES, ORCHARD HOUSE 167 KENSINGTON HIGH STREET LONDON W8 6UG TEL: +44 (0) 207 938 3033 FAX: +44 (0) 207 938 3055 ENQUIRIES@BLOODLINES.CO.UK WWW.BLOODLINES.CO.UK Bloodlines is a trading name of Bloodlines Thoroughbred Insurance Agency Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

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I’M IN TO WIN • A prize fund of up to £2.5m.

•

An additional £6,000 per race over all Class 2-4 maidens, nurseries, novice and conditions races and Class 5 fillies maidens for two-year-olds in 2013 (approx. 415 races).

• 60% of the prize as an owner.

• Over 10 times my registration and/or nomination fee.

• An unlimited number of prizes over a horse’s career at two and three.

BE IN TO WIN A simple qualifying process makes your horse eligible for the 2013 British Owners and Breeders Incentive Scheme (BOBIS).

NOMINATION DEADLINE Owners have until Wednesday 3 April to nominate and fully qualify registered horses for BOBIS at a cost of £275.

If the breeder chose not to register the horse, the owner may pay both fees (£425 total) and be eligible for 90% of any prizes won whilst they own the horse (£5,400).

ARE YOU IN? For registration help contact Jenny McLaren at Weatherbys on 01933 440077 For all other queries contact Amy Bennett on 07811 991098 bobis@britishhorseracing.com

www.bobis.co.uk

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ROA LEADER

RACHEL HOOD President Racehorse Owners Association

Great British Racing must preserve the crown jewels That includes Newmarket – its unique status is vital to our sport’s prosperity

A

s we embark upon an exciting new Flat season, we are reminded of the difficult balancing act that any commentator on this sport has to perform in trying to reconcile our pathetically low levels of general prize-money with the fact that in many areas British racing has a deserved reputation for being the best in the world.

When the marketing arm of British racing recently metamorphosed itself from Racing For Change into Great British Racing, it did so because there are, indeed, pretty clear indications that many parts of racing’s garden are blooming. And, if we do not emphasise these positives, we shun the opportunity of making racing more attractive to the wider world, which in turn provides us with a large part of the solution to the industry’s ills.

Equally misguided, of course, would be to ignore the fact that our total prize-money in real terms has actually declined in recent years and that this has dire ramifications for the industry on many different levels, particularly for its everyday owners, trainers and work-force.

A system that requires a horse to win five or six low-grade races in a year before its keep and training costs are met cannot be anything other than unhealthy for the sport.

But let us not be curmudgeonly when we are told that the aim of Great British Racing is to broaden the appeal of British racing at every level, with the objective of increasing participation and revenues, and protecting and growing the thousands of jobs that exist within and are ancillary to racing.

And let us join in the celebration when we are reminded that, four years on from the inception of Racing For Change, we have revenues coming into the sport from a new commercial TV deal with Channel 4; racecourse attendances had increased for three years in succession before the weather intervened last year, breaking through the six million barrier in 2011; and that racing is gaining relevance and exposure in the wider

media while attracting new sponsorship deals from the likes of QIPCO and Investec.

Great British Racing is supported by racing’s key stakeholders, while in addition to its promotional responsibilities, its role is to market British horseracing to domestic and international high-net worth individuals, a function previously undertaken by British Bloodstock Marketing.

As this part of the new marketing venture begins to pick up from where British Bloodstock Marketing left off in seeking to attract investors with the mantra “buy in Britain, breed in Britain, train in Britain, and race in Britain,” we should also acknowledge the key role that the town and surrounding areas of Newmarket play at every level of the sport. Whether as a racing, training, breeding or sales centre, Newmarket’s unique status within the horseracing world must be protected and enhanced.

Whatever problems may be thrown in the path of these objectives, it is the duty of everyone in racing to ensure that Newmarket is preserved in a way that is in keeping with its rich heritage and that nothing is ever permitted to impair its capacity to provide world-class facilities.

Indeed, those concerned with the promotion of British racing must remain mindful of the pivotal role of Newmarket, of its numerous racing-related businesses and in particular the outstanding work of the National Horseracing Museum which will provide an even more powerful representation of our sport when it moves to its magnificent new home at Palace House Stables in 2015, with a new centre of excellence as part of its plans.

Great British Racing will of course have many beacons to follow in its quest to continue to widen the fan base of the sport, but the one that shines from Newmarket sends out an unmistakable message. Our town rejoiced in the title of Headquarters of Racing many years before anybody thought of putting the words of marketing and racing together.

“Our town rejoiced in the title of Racing’s HQ long before the need for marketing

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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Whether you’re a large or small breeder, a keen enthusiast or want to learn more about Thoroughbred breeding the TBA is the only organisation in the UK working for you

Join us today Call 01638 661321 or visit www.thetba.co.uk

Apr_104_TBA_Leader_TBA 21/03/2013 12:18 Page 9

TBA LEADER

RICHARD LANCASTER Chairman Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association

Positivity the key in the quest for BOBIS success Greater rewards to be reaped on the Flat than from Breeders’ Prizes Scheme

T

he breeder registration stage of BOBIS closed at the end of February with over 3,000 yearlings and twoyear-olds entered. We anticipated that two-year-old registrations would be slightly less than the yearling registrations and this proved to be right. Shrewd breeders and connections rightly identified those horses whose careers were on target and were likely to be campaigned in Britain. Whilst breeders of yearlings still have time to register their stock, the response from those who took advantage of the reduced fee of £150 suggests that the takeup will certainly grow in the second year of the scheme.

I am not minded to contrast and compare this outcome.

I would rather we find a solution to the fact that there are now two schemes for breeders and vendors in 2013. I would, however, like to acknowledge that a great deal of effort was made in a short space of time to get this far, and thank James Oldring, who stepped into the role of Project Director, and with support from Weatherbys, the TBA executive and the BBM team, got the message across that with a total potential prize fund of £2.5 million in 2013, BOBIS deserved support.

With 420 eligible races in 2013 and a further 430 races added in 2014, BOBIS will distribute a far greater reward to Flat breeders than the Breeders’ Prizes Scheme. Undeniably, the Breeders’ Prize Scheme was a victim of numerous funding cuts over the years and, although we fought hard to retain it, I believe that BOBIS will be more effective in changing behaviour and, importantly, incentivise owners to retain their broodmares in Britain.

On this month’s theme of accentuating the positives, March 4 saw the annual Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards, which are now in their ninth year, with nominations reaching their highest ever number. I would like to congratulate Cheryl Cory (Goldford Stud) and Laura Hamilton-Smith (Chasemore Farm), winners of the Stud Staff Award and David Nicholson Newcomer Award respectively.

Another industry positive was the recent launch of Great

British Racing. GBR’s Chief Executive Rod Street presented Racing Enterprises Ltd’s plans to take Racing For Change to the next stage to the TBA Board last month. Mixed early reactions to Racing For Change have abated and, although detractors cited the ‘Frankel factor’ as the reason for the tremendous success of the new Champions’ Series, the marketing and promotions side of the industry has helped to improve racing’s public profile.

Racecourse attendance grew by 7.5% between 2009 and 2011, with a record 6.1 million people going racing. A commitment from QIPCO to sponsor the British Champions’ Series until 2017 was fantastic news and, together with Investec’s commitment to sponsor the Derby extended to 2022, British racing now has a marketing function to instil confidence.

In February I outlined plans for the inclusion of British Bloodstock Marketing in this new structure and, with enhanced resources and professional support geared to encourage the purchase of bloodstock and to promote the excellence of our breeding operations, GBR’s focus will include the ‘Buy in Britain’ and ‘Breed in Britain’ message, supported by an overall marketing budget of £1m, funded by REL, the BHA and the Levy Board. The TBA will complement this marketing resource, with breeders and stud farms seen as essential participants, and we look forward to developing this relationship.

Closer to home, the Flat season starts this month. The recent announcement from the European Pattern Committee that the seven-furlong Rockfel Stakes would switch to three weeks before the Fillies’ Mile is a sensible and progressive move.

The forthcoming breeze-up sales will be one of the early indicators of the health of our industry. Whilst the economic situation does little to encourage investment, I believe that the range of initiatives that British racing has undertaken demonstrate that for the first time the industry has approached this with professionalism and, importantly, realistic funding resources. Time will tell.

“Breeders understood that with a potential 2013 prize fund of £2.5 million, BOBIS deserved support

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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NEWS Stories from the racing world

United front vital over infectious diseases TBA chief says thoroughbred industry cannot work in isolation from general horse population

CRAIG PAYNE PHOTOGRAPHY

T

BA Chairman Richard Lancaster called upon all sectors of the horse world to adhere to the HBLB Codes of Practice in a bid to combat the spread of infectious diseases in his address to the 21st annual National Equine Forum in Westminster.

Delivering a joint presentation with Dr Richard Newton of the Animal Health Trust, Lancaster said: “This is both a welfare issue, for without healthy domestic stock we cannot sustain production levels, and also an enormous consideration for our ability to freely export horses to the rest of the world.

“Working to retain the high health status for the thoroughbred breed is a priority for the TBA, but we cannot do this in isolation from the remaining horse population.”

He highlighted the fact that despite thoroughbreds comprising just 5% of Britain’s equine population, the export value of the breed – £89 million in 2011 – amounted to 34% of that year’s total value of horses leaving these shores, which HMRC recorded at £262m.

“This still leaves a considerable number of other equines for whom trade is also a serious consideration and maintaining confidence in our product is vital, not only for horsemen, but for our government’s balance of payments,” he added.

With the Secretary of State for the Department for the Environment, Food and

Richard Lancaster addresses the forum

Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Owen Paterson MP, also speaking at the one-day forum, Lancaster stressed the need for continued liaison between the equine industry and the government in the monitoring and reporting of diseases both nationally and globally.

“The Infectious Diseases of Horses Order

1987 and the Equine Viral Arteritis Order of 1995 are our first weapons of defence providing a mandatory disease-reporting function,” Lancaster said. “Not only is it essential to trace and control disease spread but also to ensure confidence in Britain as a marketplace for quality horses, whatever the breed. We continue to urge the government to retain this vital legislation.”

Paterson, who outlined his family’s links with horseracing through four generations of amateur jockeys and said one of his sporting highlights of the previous year had been watching Frankel in action, acknowledged the important role racing plays in British life.

He said: “There were 9,647 horseraces in 2012. The British racing sector provides fulltime employment for 18,600 people. With an average expenditure of £500m a year on training and horse purchases, this is a huge industry.

“We have a long and illustrious tradition of equestrian sports in this country. This is something that we should celebrate and seek to export across the world. There are fantastic opportunities, not least developing the market for bloodstock and allied services. I raised the potential for this with the Chinese Ambassador in February and I know that my colleague Michael Howard has been doing sterling work as part of the recent Horseracing Industry Mission to China.”

Remember to sign your horse out of food chain In the light of the horsemeat scandal, owners are reminded that there is a section on a racehorse’s passport, which they can sign to indicate that the horse is not intended for human consumption and will not, therefore, enter the food chain. It can be found in Section IX of the passport.

Any passport not signed in this way will receive a reminder sticker when checked at the races by a BHA veterinary officer.

Jenny Hall, Chief Veterinary Officer at the BHA, said: “We’ve had that mechanism in place for a while but there’s renewed emphasis on signing racehorses out of the food chain in the light of what has happened recently. From the mandatory checks we do on racedays there are actually very few who are not signed out.”

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The BHA’s yellow sticker that acts as a reminder to sign your horse’s passport

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Apr_104_Newsv2_Owner 21/03/2013 14:00 Page 11

GEORGE SELWYN

Violin Davis hits right note with OLBG Award

The versatile Violin Davis, a winner over hurdles, fences and in a bumper

Violin Davis has been named as the fifth OLBG Mare of the Month Award winner for firstseason trainer Harry Fry and owner Andrew Polson.

The seven-year-old daughter of Turgeon has been a model of consistency this year, winning all three novice chase starts at Newbury, Bangor and Plumpton. She was also a Grade 2 winner over hurdles last year when landing the Warfield Mares’ Hurdle at Ascot.

Violin Davis joins Une Artiste, She Ranks Me, Mischievous Milly and Swing Bowler on the list of monthly award winners with just one more award to come, which will be presented at Sandown on the final day of the 2012/13 National Hunt season.

In addition to the monthly awards, for which the winning trainer receives a memento from sponsor OLBG and his staff receive a £1,000 cash prize, an overall award of one year’s free use of a brand new two-berth EquiTrek horsebox will presented to the Britishbased trainer with the highest number of individual wins by mares throughout the season.

The British Owners and Breeders Incentive Scheme (BOBIS) for 2013 has been well backed by breeders, with 1,458 two-year-olds having been entered for the inaugural scheme, including Frankel’s half-sister by Oasis Dream.

This year will see the staging of approximately 420 BOBIS races and a further 430 will be added to the scheme for three-year-olds from 2014. Owners now have until Wednesday, April 3 to qualify fully their two-year-olds.

A bonus of £6,000 is available for winning two-year-olds of all Class 2-4 maidens, nurseries, novice and conditions stakes and Class 5 fillies’ maidens in Britain in 2013.

Owners of BOBIS-eligible horses will receive 60% of the bonus, while breeders receive 30%.

The remaining 10% is paid to the trainer, jockey and stable staff of the winning horse.

A good range of leading British-based sires are represented in the scheme, but as it is not restricted solely to those stallions standing in Britain, 22% of the eligible two-year-olds are by stallions from outside the UK, including 22 by first-season sire Sea The Stars, 21 by Invincible Spirit and 15 by another Irish-based freshman, Mastercraftsman. Racehorses are eligible for the THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

scheme if they are either by a stallion who stands in Britain or if their dam is usually resident in Britain.

Louise Kemble, Chief Executive of the TBA, said: “Breeders have shown great support for the British Owners and Breeders Incentive Scheme – as they should do with so much money on offer in 2013 – and I look forward to seeing plenty of them celebrating a significant bonus once prizes start being paid out later this year.

“I’m delighted to see so many British-based stallions represented thus far in the registration process and there’s also still plenty of time for breeders to register foals or yearlings this year for future schemes. I’d urge people not to miss out on the opportunities that BOBIS affords them.”

Amy Bennett has been appointed General Manager of the British Owners and Breeders Incentive Scheme, taking over from Project Director James Oldring.

Bennett was involved in BOBIS during her previous role with British Bloodstock Marketing and is looking forward to her new challenge.

She said: “I am delighted to be taking on the role at such an exciting time in the launch of

TREVOR JONES

BOBIS team heartened by positive response

Amy Bennett: new BOBIS Manager

BOBIS. There has been an excellent take-up at the registration stage of the scheme and I am sure that owners and trainers will be just as keen to nominate their horses for the scheme.

“With over 1,600 foals of 2012 already registered for next year’s scheme, BOBIS looks set to make a real impact on prize-money in Britain in the future.”

A full list of horses that have been entered for the scheme can be found on www.bobis.co.uk

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in association with

Racing’s news in a nutshell PEOPLE AND BUSINESS Great British Racing The body previously known as Racing For Change is rebranded and expanded to include the marketing of British bloodstock globally.

William Haggas Newmarket handler purchases Mark Tompkins’s 60-box Flint Cottage Stables; Tompkins will consolidate his operation at nearby Exeter Ride.

Future Champions’ Day Newmarket raceday including the Dewhurst and Middle Park Stakes will be staged the day before British Champions’ Day this year.

Nina Carberry Grand National-winning trainer Tommy Carberry hands over to daughter Nina after suffering a stroke.

Steve Harman

Tony Calvin Betfair’s Head of Media to leave the company after almost 11 years at the betting exchange; Barry Orr takes over.

Racing Plus Racecourse Media Group, which owned 49% of the newspaper, will not continue its interest in the publication after this year.

Vice-President of Shell will succeed Paul Roy as Chairman of the British Horseracing Authority.

More people and business...

Alan Delmonte (left) is appointed Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the Levy Board. Paul Barton has been named as the BHA’s new head of stewarding following William Nunneley’s retirement. Amateur rider John Mathias is banned for 12 months by the BHA after placing four bets on races in which he was riding. New Jersey passes a bill to legalise online gambling in a move sure to attract the attention of European betting operators. GBI Racing starts broadcasting British and Irish racing in Finland for the first time. Steve Drowne is back in action on the Flat following a year out of the saddle owing to health problems. Neil Callan will no longer be retained by Roger Varian in 2013. David Bellin, Director of Broadcast and PR at Racecourse Media Group, is to leave the organisation. Ladbrokes has agreed a five-year deal with gaming software company Playtech involving advisory services plus new online games, while William Hill buys Sportingbet’s Australian business for £459m.

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Tom Doyle Jockey associated with top-class chasers Trafford Lad and Follow The Plan, on whom he caused a 50-1 upset in last year’s Betfred Bowl at Aintree, retires from the saddle.

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TWEENHILLS TIMES AN EYE FOR SUCCESS

APRIL 2013

8 TO FOLLOW WIN £1,000!

Qatar Racing and Pearl Bloodstock will be running a horses to follow competition this season for their runners, with all proceeds going to the charity Racing Welfare. Don’t miss out, pick eight horses and enter by 3rd May. The competition will run for the length of the QIPCO British Champions Series. Starting at the QIPCO Guineas Festival at Newmarket and finishing on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on 19th October 2013. Only £10 to enter!

A guaranteed minimum prize of £1,000 awaits the winner, and the top three on the leaderboard before QIPCO British Champions Day will each get free admission and lunch at Ascot on that day for two people!

Visit www.pearlbloodstock.com or www.qatarracingltd.com for more information and to enter.

DUBAI STARS

Recent purchase, Dubai Gr.2 winner Trade Storm, to run in the Dubai Duty Free

Much anticipation awaits the Dubai World Cup meeting with several Pearl Bloodstock and Qatar Racing runners set to line up.

If you need a few tips on two-year-olds to follow, here are some recommendations by David.

Premium Pressure Colt by War Front ex Judy’s Magic Trainer – David Barron Name

Breeding

Trainer

Hoku

Filly by Holy Roman Emperor ex Scylla Cadeaux

Olly Stevens

Hydrogen

Colt by Galileo ex Funsie

Peter Chapple-Hyam

Kioshi

Filly by Dubawi ex Mocca

Charlie Hills

Lightning Spear

Colt by Pivotal ex Atlantic Destiny

Ralph Beckett

Rohesia

Filly by High Chaparral ex Common Knowledge

Sir Mark Prescott

The Beastunleashed

Colt by Mastercraftsman ex Prairie Moon

David Brown

A recent exciting purchase for Qatar Racing is Trade Storm, the emphatic winner of the Zabeel Mile (Gr.2). He remains in training with David Simock and will now be targeted at the Dubai Duty Free.

Following a pleasing seasonal debut in the Jebel Hatta (Gr.1) at Meydan on Super Saturday, Side Glance will also line up for the Dubai Duty Free or the World Cup. In addition, Spirit Quartz will come on from his appearance in the sprint race on the same card when he runs in the Al Quoz Sprint.

Another runner is the Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup (Gr.1) winner Dunaden who will travel to Dubai to compete in the Sheema Classic, after a strong piece of work under retained jockey Jamie Spencer.

LANDMARK SUCCESS Tweedledrum provided second season trainer Tom Symonds with his first Listed success when she won the William Hill Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster on 2nd March. Her victory also provided 7lb claimer Ben Poste with his most prestigious success.

Tweedledrum lands the William Hill Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (L) at Doncaster for trainer Tom Symonds

Sniper Colt by Dubai ex Anayid Trainer – Ger Lyons

By Beat Hollow, Tweedledrum was purchased by David Redvers Bloodstock from the 2011 Tattersalls July Sales for just 16,000gns. She was Tom’s first runner, and has subsequently won five races.

STAFF PROFILE Karen Smith, Stud Secretary

What did you do before Tweenhills?

I was the stud secretary for Bloomsbury Stud for four years before its dispersal, and I’ve been a farm secretary for a variety of farms. I also helped Mapperley Stud at the recent Karaka Sales in New Zealand.

What was the appeal of Tweenhills?

I really missed racing and was holding on for the right opportunity. I had also kept in touch with bloodstock accountant Robert Levitt, who kindly recommended me to David.

Most notable horses handled?

The historic Mrs Moss family at Bloomsbury Stud is hard to beat.

Most rewarding moment?

The dispersal sale for Bloomsbury was a massive highlight for me, although it was emotional and sad as well.

Other interests?

I’ve always had my own horses and enjoy hunting. I also play hockey and like to cycle.

Tweenhills Farm & Stud Hartpury, Gloucestershire, GL19 3BG W: www.tweenhills.com T: + 44 (0) 1452 700177 / 700545 M: + 44 (0) 7767 436373 E: davidredvers@tweenhills.com

Apr_104_Changes2pp_Layout 1 21/03/2013 15:53 Page 14

CHANGES

In association with

RACEHORSE AND STALLION MOVEMENT AND RETIREMENTS

Restiadargent Daughter of Kendargent who finished third behind Black Caviar and Moonlight Cloud in last year’s Golden Jubilee Stakes moves from Henri-Alex Pantall to William Haggas.

Durban Thunder

German Group 1 winner joins the jump stallion ranks at Peria Stud in County Waterford.

Masamah

Group 2-winning sprinter switched by owner Marwan Koukash from Kevin Ryan to Marco Botti.

Nacarat Popular grey chaser is retired aged 12 after a career that yielded nine wins, including the 2011 Grade 1 Betfred Bowl at Aintree.

HORSE OBITUARIES Hernando 23

Fraar 25

French Derby winner who sired top-class performers Sulamani, Casual Conquest, Gitano Hernando, Look Here and Asian Heights.

US-bred son of Topsider who was the winner of the 1993 Caulfield Cup and sire of almost 250 winners.

Matuhi 10 Five-time winner over jumps is fatally injured after falling in the Byrne Group Plate at the Cheltenham Festival.

Sleeping Car 25 Leading jumps stallion in France, sire of Grand Steeple Chase de Paris victor Sleeping Jack and Christie’s Foxhunter winner Sleeping Night.

Kazzia 14 Daughter of Zinaad who landed the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks for Godolphin in 2002; she later produced Group 1 winner Eastern Anthem.

PEOPLE OBITUARIES Voix Du Nord 12 Son of Valanour who was a dual Group 1 winner on the track and is the sire of exciting hurdler Taquin De Seuil.

Albertine 32 Daniel Wildenstein-owned mare who was the dam of Arcangues, shock winner of the 1993 Breeders’ Cup Classic.

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Graham Lucas 70

David Metcalfe

Breeder and owner of Trade Storm, who beat Musir in the Group 2 Zabeel Mile at Meydan on March 2.

Bloodstock agent and former racing manager to Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum and Khalifa Dasmal, Metcalfe worked with Mtoto, Shaamit and Satwa Queen.

Dee Lousada 66 Jumps enthusiast who owned high-class chaser Book Of Music and multiple winner Mr Jamboree, plus The Lady Scores, shared with husband Tony.

Jessica Gay Bell 90

Founder of Kentucky’s Jonabell Farm with husband John, where they raised 1954 Derby hero Never Say Die.

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THE BIG PICTURE

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C H E LT E N H A M F E S T I VA L 2 0 1 3

RUBY SPARKLES The first day of the Cheltenham Festival belonged to Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh.

Champagne Fever (main image) kicked things off in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, defeating favourite My Tent Or Yours and AP McCoy, Hurricane Fly (top) regained his Champion Hurdle crown, and Quevega’s fifth straight OLBG Mares’ Hurdle win saw her equal the record for Festival victories set by Golden Miller in the 1930s Photos George Selwyn

Apr_104_Big_Picture_Sprinter_Sacre_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 13:49 Page 18

THE BIG PICTURE

BIG IS BEAUTIFUL He arrived at Cheltenham as the biggest banker for many a year and Sprinter Sacre didn’t disappoint his supporters with a breathtaking performance in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, storming home by 19 lengths from 2011 victor Sizing Europe; Caroline Mould’s star could travel to Punchestown for its two-mile showpiece on April 23

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C H E LT E N H A M F E S T I VA L 2 0 1 3

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THE BIG PICTURE

SOL’S THE MAN Big Buck’s may have been missing from this year’s World Hurdle line-up, yet the Stewart family almost had an able deputy in Celestial Halo (left); he travelled well stepped up to three miles but an error at the last handed the initiative to Solwhit and Paul Carberry, who claimed the prize for Ireland

Apr_104_Big_Picture_Solwhit_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 13:50 Page 21

C H E LT E N H A M F E S T I VA L 2 0 1 3

Apr_104_Big_Picture_Cooper_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 13:52 Page 22

THE BIG PICTURE

TREBLE ENJOYMENT Bryan Cooper got the taste for Cheltenham Festival success at a young age, leading in Total Enjoyment (above left), trained by his father, Tom, in the 2004 Champion Bumper. The 20-year-old took this year’s meeting by storm with three wins courtesy of Benefficient (Jewson, main image), Our Conor (Triumph Hurdle, far right) and Ted Veale (County Hurdle, above right)

Apr_104_Big_Picture_Cooper_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 13:52 Page 23

C H E LT E N H A M F E S T I VA L 2 0 1 3

Apr_104_Big_Picture_Gold_Cup_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 13:53 Page 24

THE BIG PICTURE

WORTH WAIT IN GOLD It looked unlikely for much of the extended 3m2f trip but Bobs Worth, off the track since his Hennessy triumph in December, stayed on best when it mattered most to lift the Cheltenham Gold Cup for jockey Barry Geraghty and trainer Nicky Henderson, who was landing his 50th Festival victory. The winner, in The Not Afraid Partnership silks, saw off Irish raider Sir Des Champs (left) and Long Run

Apr_104_Big_Picture_Gold_Cup_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 13:53 Page 25

C H E LT E N H A M F E S T I VA L 2 0 1 3

Apr_104_Tony_Morris_Owner 21/03/2013 12:20 Page 26

THE MAN YOU CAN’T IGNORE COMMENT

Tony Morris Luck has enabled me to live the dream, getting paid for pursuing my passion; fifty years on, it is a privilege to have seen the likes of Sea-Bird, Frankel, Lester, Henry, legends all

GEORGE SELWYN

A

pal of mine asked me the other day who was the best tipster I’d ever come across in my career. He was baffled when I answered: “Charlie Jervis.” He’d never heard of him.

That wasn’t so surprising. My friend couldn’t have conceived why I should have mentioned a name that would have meant nothing to him, and, even if he had undertaken extensive study of racecourse tipsters, that name would never have featured. Google can’t answer every question.

The name of Charlie Jervis will ring a bell with some of a certain rather advanced age, but not for anything concerned with racing.

I’m probably the only person alive now who could connect with him that way.

I should explain. I was 18 years old, still a schoolkid, but racing-mad. For the past four years all I’d wanted to do in life was to become a racing journalist. It was not something that a kid from Devon with no background or connections in the sport could realistically hope to achieve, but what teenager was ever a realist?

Following advice from Clive Graham, the renowned ‘Scout’ of the Daily Express and esteemed BBC TV paddock commentator, I had written to the Racing Editor of the Press Association, asking for a job. I was told that there were no vacancies.

But quite a few months later the situation on the fifth floor at 85 Fleet Street had changed. I arrived home from school one afternoon at 4.14pm, to be told by my mother that there had been a phone call for me.

The idea seemed ridiculous. Nobody ever phoned me.

Who could it be from?

I wasn’t to know

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immediately. “I’ll tell you when ‘Mrs Dale’s Diary’ is over,” said my mother, who was not to be distracted from her favourite 15 minutes of entertainment on the wireless.

At 4.30pm I was told. “Some man from something called the Press Association phoned, asking you to go for an interview.”

Of course, I’d never told mum about the letter I’d sent.

London here I come!

Things had to happen in a hurry – fixing a time when I could present myself in Fleet Street, getting the time off from school, and obtaining a reference from my headmaster, who hated me with the same sort of passion that I hated him.

Miraculously, it all came together. British Railways took me safely from Exeter Central to Waterloo and I successfully negotiated my way on the tube. Meeting up with the PA’s Racing Editor wasn’t a problem and my natural nervousness was swiftly banished as he took me around the department and introduced me to all and sundry

as someone who would soon be joining the team. He showed no interest in the ‘O’ and ‘A’ level certificates I’d brought. He didn’t want to read what the headmaster had written about me. He just wanted to get all that out of the way before we went up one floor to meet the Editor-in-Chief, the guy who had to approve my appointment on the staff.

That guy was Charlie Jervis. There were forms to fill in whose significance meant nothing to me, and everything seemed irrelevant anyway. For no rational reason, those people were determined to employ me and I wasn’t going to be given an opportunity to say, ‘No, thanks.’

But there came a homily. And that’s why I cite the name of Charlie Jervis as the best tipster I ever met.

I remember it so well. “You are getting a wonderful opportunity to work under the guidance of Mr McClean, a great expert in his field. And I hope that you won’t squander that opportunity. I have known so many men come into racing journalism and ruin promising careers simply because the racecourse is the one place in the country where alcohol is available outside pub hours. I hope you will not wreck your career through drink.”

Okay, so I was eighteen, but I’d had a sheltered upbringing. I felt I had to respond, and I did respond, with total honesty: “Well, sir, you need not worry about me on that score. I don’t drink.”

I can picture it now. Charlie leaned across the desk, removed his glasses as he gazed right into my eyes, and said: “No, but you will, my boy, you will.”

I had occasions to remember that. Not least on a day 15 years later Sir Henry Cecil and Lester Piggott, two of those most admired by our columnist

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Apr_104_Tony_Morris_Owner 21/03/2013 12:23 Page 27

PRO-BIOTICS MAGNESIUM

“In 1963 I turned

up in Fleet Street as a racing journalist and that’s what I’ve been ever since�

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

PRE-BIOTICS

14 VITAMINS

7 TRACE-ELEMENTS

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when I had my second bout of delirium tremens within a few hours.

And I frightened myself sufficiently to go on the wagon for the next 14 years. Yes, Charlie Jervis was definitely the best tipster that I ever came across.

I’ve lived to tell the tale and it’s amazing to think that this month I can look back on half a century as a racing journalist. I cycled home from school on a Friday and on the following Monday, still wearing the grey flannel suit I’d worn to school, I turned up in Fleet Street as a racing journalist. And that’s what I’ve been ever since.

Everyone can look back on things that have gone wrong and have caused upsets in their lives. I’ve had a few setbacks myself, some – well most – as the outcome of my own folly, but I have to feel extraordinarily blessed to have done so much that I dreamed of being able to do when I was a kid. It would have seemed unreal to me then, that I would often actually be paid to do what I craved.

I’ve never had enough money to do what I would like to have done, yet I can’t feel deprived and in some ways I have to think that I’ve been the luckiest man who ever lived. I’ve done what I always wanted to do, I’ve met so many wonderful people in the sport that has been my lifetime passion, and I’ve been privileged to see so many great racehorses in action.

I saw Sea-Bird win his Arc, I saw Frankel win his Guineas, I saw Lester in the late summer and autumn of 1966, when winning was the only thing on his mind. I was there for Grundy v Bustino at Ascot, I shed tears several times over Persian Punch, I’ve had wonderful moments with Shergar, with the Brigadier, with Mill Reef, experienced all of Nijinsky’s Triple Crown with him. I have had so much greatness thrust upon me – as a spectator.

Of course, when I was a kid, I was going to be a sportsman myself.

There were all those hours, kicking the ball against the garage wall, making myself as good with my left foot as I was with my right, perfecting my bowling action and cunningly managing to turn the ball as effectively with both arms. Unsurprisingly, all that came to nothing.

Eventually, I found excellence only as a spectator. But I still relish everything that my favourite sports give me, and experience all the vicarious pleasures that one can derive from seeing others achieve what, for want of a substantial increase of talent, I might have achieved myself.

So, assuming that anybody should care about what I think, who have become heroes to me in my half-century reporting this game?

Lester was way out in front in his sphere, the one true genius. Among trainers, two fellows who were exceptional as horsemen as well for their nous in preparing horses for competition at the highest level – Vincent O’Brien and Alec Head.

When I first met Henry Cecil, I don’t think he was convinced that he wanted to be a trainer. And there were certainly alternative careers open to him. But his talent as a conditioner of thoroughbreds soon became obvious and to my mind he is up there with MV and Head.

I’m not sure that I can place any other on their level, though I have inevitably become conscious of outstanding achievements of many fine trainers.

What I do know for certain is what a privileged life I have been able to lead, thanks to the most amazing luck and my devotion to a sport that continues to appeal.

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RHT FULL PAGE APRIL TOB 2013 v4_Layout 1 19/03/2013 12:11 Page 1

THE ONLINE WAY TO BUY AND SELL HORSES www.racehorsetrader.com

Tel: 020 7152 0205

E: support@racehorsetrader.com

GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEW FLAT SEASON With the 2013 Flat campaign now well under way, we’re expecting big things from the four unraced Mark JohnJohn Best two-year-olds featured here. They are among many unraced juveniles advertised on Race Horse Trader so ston Amanda it’s not too late to find a two-year-old for the forthcoming season.

Tim Easterby Richard Hannon David Pipe Stan Moore Tim Pitt Brian Meehan Eve Johnson Houghton

Perrett Bryan Smart Keith Dalgleish Jeremy Gask Harry Dunlop Tom Dascombe Sheena West

2011 lly by Shamardal Trained by Mark Johnston, this filly was bought at Tattersalls Book 2 in October 2012 (Lot 614). Her trainer knows the family well having produced the sire to win four Group 1s (including the French 2000 Guineas and French Derby). He also trained her dam, Kindling, who won several races including the Listed Willie Park Stakes.

2011 lly by Royal Applause Trained by Paul Fitzsimons, a half share is available in this Royal Applause filly who is very highly rated by her up-and-coming handler. Royal Applause is renowned for producing speedy juveniles and has sired the likes of Acclamation and Majestic Missile – both of whom are making an impression at stud themselves.

Patisserie Trained by Ann Duffield, this likeable filly is by Myboycharlie whose first northern hemisphere juveniles will be appearing this season. A Group 1 winning juvenile himself, Myboycharlie is by Danetime who produced Baltic King and Bushranger. Patisserie is out of a mare by the legendary racehorse, Swain.

Blue Bounty Trained by Mark Tompkins, this strong, attractive colt is by top-class sire Bahamian Bounty. His trainer rates him as a ‘real two-year-old type’. A 1/12th share is advertised for £1,500.

Look out for our upcoming listings of service providers, enabling you to get in touch with local vets, insurance companies and horse transporters etc.

TAKE THESE TIPS WHEN BUYING A RACEHORSE l

While there is nothing to stop you buying a horse yourself, it is recommended you take professional advice first. This can come from bloodstock agents, trainers or veterinary surgeons. Some are more experienced than others so always check their credentials first.

l It is strongly recommended that you

inspect the horse you are looking to purchase before you make an offer – even if you are using a professional advisor.

l Even if you are not using a vet to

advise, you should always get a veterinary inspection before you finalise any deal. l All thoroughbred horses have a

passport which includes necessary information such as vaccination dates. It is imperative that you have this document otherwise your horse will not be able to race. l All thoroughbreds foaled after 1999

should have been microchipped at

birth for identification. It is the vendor’s responsibility to ensure that this is done – if it has not been done for any reason, the seller must arrange for the horse to be microchipped. l Buyers are also advised to take

out insurance as soon as they purchase the horse – arrangements should be made prior to any deal.

There are plenty of equine insurers so shop around for the best rate.

April 2013

WE HAD A ‘BUYER WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS

’

With more than 350 racehorses currently being listed, Race Horse Trader is quickly proving to be a popular way of buying and selling bloodstock online.

Upper Lambourn trainer Stan Moore (pictured) placed an advert last month offering shares in a two-year-old owned by his own ‘Moore The Merrier 2013’ syndicate and was thrilled with the result.

“We were delighted with the response we got from Race Horse Trader,” said Moore.

“We offered shares in our Balmont colt on the website and had a buyer within a couple of days. The whole process was quick, easy and efficient. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Race Horse Trader as a way of finding new buyers.”

FREE PERIOD ENDS IN MID-APRIL – SO GO ONTO RHT NOW! ROA members who have a horse to sell should not delay in getting it listed on Race Horse Trader. For association members it’s completely free until April 15th and once the ad is there it will remain on the website until the horse is sold or the vendor chooses to remove it.

Apr_104_R_Edmondson_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 12:17 Page 29

RICHARD EDMONDSON COMMENT

Criticism over fatalities in last year’s race prompted Aintree’s bosses to turn to a familiar face ahead of this year’s Grand National meeting

Former defender re-signed

A

“Nigel may have been pruning roses in his garden when a helicopter landed to take him back”

figures, his walrus moustache appearing to have sieved quite a few clams and mussels down the years.

He knows what it is to deal with Aintree drama. In 1993 – the year of the false start – he earned great kudos for the time he spent on the BBC defending the course’s decisions and response. Four years later came the bomb warning and the abandoned National.

The 1997 National also remains uppermost in my mind as we were staying with friends in Crosby. We, my family at the time, comprised THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Nigel Payne (right) tasted National glory with Earth Summit and has now returned to the Aintree management

two young children, who had spent the run-up to the great race filling our hosts’ house with screams and vomit.

When we left that Saturday morning, they waved us off with watery smiles and unconvincing suggestions that we should return as quickly as possible. Around eight hours later we took them up on their generous offer and hung around until Lord Gyllene’s victory on the Monday.

Horses perished that day too and every year Aintree tries to further institute safety measures.

This spring the fences will be structurally more forgiving and the start will be 90 yards further down the course, away from the baying and stimulating audience. It will help survival but it will not guarantee it. “It’s like motor-racing,” Nigel says. “You can put in all the life-saving features and piles of tyres you like, but if someone flips there is not much you can do about it.”

The reality is it is the peril which makes the Grand National the contest it is. Take away the whole menace and you are left with a sports day egg-and-spoon race.

National winners go down as doughty heroes, tough animals that emerge from the battlefield smoke to claim their prize. Nigel Payne knows this better than most as he is a

GEORGE SELWYN

ir might be in short supply in the Merseyside region as racing awaits perhaps its biggest day of the calendar.

These have not been happy times recently for the Grand National, with high-profile deaths over the last two years marring the National Hunt showcase. The many will be holding deep breaths for this year’s race.

In 2011, both Ornais and Dooney’s Gate fell fatally and caused fences to be dolled off.

Twelve months ago the narrative should have been about Neptune Collonges’s narrowest of wins, but, instead, we remember the demise of According To Pete and the Gold Cup winner, Synchronised.

So what to do? The go-to man seems to be Nigel Payne, who was Aintree’s press officer for 31 years until 2006. In great agent fashion, Nigel may have been pruning roses in his Cornwall garden when a helicopter landed and he was asked to return for one, final challenge.

Since January, it has been Nige’s big ask to oversee the changes at Liverpool and, crucially, to communicate the message that the National is not necessarily a horse-killing machine.

There is no better man for the job. Nigel may no longer be puffing on a pipe stuffed with St Bruno, but he remains the most avuncular of

National winner himself. One of a six-man syndicate who contributed £5,800 each to buy a horse called Earth Summit, he was there weeping as the old nag swept by Suny Bay in the 1998 running of the race.

In his book Gold Digger, Nigel was kind enough to quote words I had written about his horse: “He is perhaps the slowest good horse there has ever been. If they had made the Titanic out of the same material as Earth Summit’s body there would have been a lot of little ice cubes floating in the North Atlantic.”

Let us hope all the Liverpool runners this year demonstrate Earth Summit’s toughness.

Let us hope we are, for a change, talking about the winner and not the losers of the Grand National.

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Apr_104_View_From_Ireland_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 12:43 Page 30

VIEW FROM IRELAND

By JESSICA LAMB OF THE RACING POST

Grand appetite for Aintree hope Leading National fancy Seabass likes his grub and has talent to match his strength

GEORGE SELWYN

L

eading Grand National hope Seabass’s “enormous appetite” is what has made him so strong, according to co-owner John Harte.

Last year’s National third is owned by Harte and five friends from the town of Dunmore in County Galway and, having been bought as a foal via a newspaper advert by a member of this Gunners Syndicate, the son of Turtle Island split his time between their farms.

Harte, a butcher specialising in Aberdeen Angus and Hereford beef, had no horses of his own, so to keep the youngster company he kept him with his premium cattle, which is where he learnt of his insatiable appetite.

He explained: “I had him on my own farm for a while and had him running around with the cattle; that’s what we thought of him at that time! He always had spirit. He was a bold little thing, very cheeky and he had a great appetite.

“You couldn’t give him enough. He’s the same way today, Ted [Walsh] says, and that’s probably why he’s grown up to be so strong.

He’s a powerful horse now and when Ruby [Walsh] rode him in his first run this year over hurdles he came back saying he felt well rested up and stronger than last year.”

Pat Glynn is the syndicate member who bought and named Seabass after his favourite fish, and it became the Gunners Syndicate because all bar one is a supporter of Arsenal, though their silks are the maroon and white of Galway United.

Glynn is a farmer and builder, while Pat

Seabass leads en route to finishing third in the 2012 John Smith’s Grand National

Gleeson is the director of a refuse company, Robbie Byrne owns Byrne’s Bar in Dunmore, the venue for the team’s meetings and celebrations, and brothers Donal and Niall Collins work for a farm equipment supplier.

All have been friends for over 20 years and, with jobs splitting them up, Seabass is a way of ensuring the clan never loses touch.

Harte said: “Luckily we all have good jobs, but that means we’re very busy all the time.

We talk regularly about the horse and try to get together at Robbie’s pub. We had a great time at Aintree last year – though the younger

On His Own was bred to stay well Champion trainer Willie Mullins’s leading hope On His Own was bred nearby in Killeagh and his “brilliant pedigree” gave his rearers high hopes from an emotional beginning.

Breeder Margaret Treacy explained: “This foal was born a couple of days after my mother died and we gave him the pet name Mickey Joe after my father and my brother.

“He turned out to be the last live foal out of our first mare Shuil Na Mhuire, who died the following year. There were awful tears that day as she really was special. We had bought her as a two-year-old and raced her with John Joe Walsh and she took us to nearly every racecourse in the country. We had such great fun with her and loved her dearly.

“We certainly had mighty hopes for this fellow because his pedigree is brilliant. He’s by Presenting out of a Roselier mare, who was out of a Strong Gale mare and they are renowned for producing good stayers.

“I do try to go racing wherever he runs and am hoping to get to Aintree. Wouldn’t it be just amazing if he won?”

30

members of the syndicate were going to bed when we were getting up!”

Natural for the National Seabass’s stable companion Colbert Station is Walsh’s second string for the National but comes from a family of “natural jumpers” and breeder Mary Murphy is confident of a bold run from the nine-year-old.

“He was a very big foal that we sold at the November sale at Tattersalls,” she said. “The family came from my husband John’s family and they are all likeable animals, with good temperaments, strong staying power and a natural jump. They are sensible horses, which is what you need in the Grand National.”

His sire Witness Box stands only a few minutes from their farm, Springdale House, in Conna, County Cork – “we were shopping local,” she joked – and his dam, Laurenca’s Girl, is out of Laurenca, a mare John’s father Tom Murphy bought in the late 1970s.

“PP Hogan used to come into the yard and buy lots of horses here,” Mary recalled. “I suppose the best ones we’ve had before Colbert Station would be the Champion Bumper winner Hairy Molly and Whats Your Problem. He was a very decent staying handicap chaser, like Colbert Station. It’s nice to see a horse come up like him; it makes it all worthwhile.”

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Apr_104_View_From_Ireland_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 12:43 Page 31

VIEW FROM IRELAND

Trainer Tommy Stack has made a habit of breaking well at the beginning of the season and though this year the yard expects to be slowed by soft ground, precocious two-yearolds remain a key part of the plan.

In the past five seasons champion trainer Aidan O’Brien has ruled in most categories of Irish Flat racing and has led the way for early juvenile victories, but hot on his heels are Jim Bolger and Kevin Prendergast, with in the region of half as many as O’Brien’s 46 wins.

Below those powerhouses in this category are the smaller teams of Ger Lyons, Stack and David Wachman. From 64 runners, Stack has achieved ten wins, creating a 16% strike-rate with his juvenile runners up to the end of June – and that’s no accident.

Fozzy Stack, the trainer’s assistant and son, said: “We do buy two-year-olds that should

“The tricky bit with

two-year-olds is that you need to have a clear run from January onwards” be sharpish as it’s quite hard to compete with the likes of Aidan O’Brien when they really get going later in the season.

“Their horses for longer distances are hard to live with too so we focus on buying horses that should be effective over six furlongs and potentially get a mile. The tricky bit with preparing two-year-olds for the first half of the season it that you need to have a clear run from January onwards. No injuries or illnesses or weather hold-ups.”

Team Stack has also proven effective at preparing older horses for early wins, but wet weather will push back reappearances of some of the more experienced runners.

He added: “One horse who could show promise early is Cape Of Approval. He’s a three-year-old who goes on soft ground and could this year progress into a Listed horse.”

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

GEORGE SELWYN

Tommy’s juvenile stats stack up well

Tommy and Fozzy Stack: fine record with their early-season two-year-olds

Jessica Harrington’s Flat string sprung to prominence when Curtain Call ran away with the 2007 Group 2 Beresford Stakes, one of the Curragh’s premier juvenile events, and has since evolved into one of the finest establishments Ireland has for producing topclass two-year-olds.

Pathfork brought Harrington her first Group 1 win when taking the 2010 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, and Dragon Pulse failed by half a length in that same event the following season.

Though last term her juvenile squad was lighter than usual, she still boasts a 18% strike-rate with early two-year-olds since that game-changing year.

Harrington said: “We have a good few fillies this year and the good weather at the end of

February into March really brought them on well so I expect to have at least two early ones, the Niarchos family’s Acclamation out of Mary Arnold and an Intikhab out of Lunar Love.

“I have a Big Bad Bob filly who might be forward enough too and am looking forward to the season getting going. We have a nice bunch hopefully.”

It can pay to follow these early types too as many are, contrary to popular perception, long-term prospects. By the last day of May, 13 of the last 20 winners of the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes had made their racecourse debuts, and last year’s Irish 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas winners and the 1,000 Guineas heroine Homecoming Queen had all made their debuts before that date.

Performance with 2yos until end of June over past five years* Trainer Aidan O’Brien John Oxx Kevin Prendergast Jessica Harrington Jim Bolger Brian Nolan Tommy Stack David Wachman Ger Lyons

Runs

Wins (%)

Plcs 1-4 (%)

173 13 109 39 140 12 64 93 131

46 (27) 3 (23) 21 (19) 7 (18) 24 (17) 2 (17) 10 (16) 14 (15) 18 (14)

127 (73) 4 (31) 70 (64) 26 (67) 85 (61) 6 (50) 39 (61) 54 (58) 67 (51)

*In Ireland only

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Apr_104_Continental_Tales_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 12:32 Page 32

CONTINENTAL TALES

SWITZE

By JAMES CRISPE, INTERNATIONAL RACING BUREAU

AN D RL

Greece creates history at St Moritz Unique hat-trick achieved at famous White Turf meeting on the frozen lake

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GEORGE SELWYN

T

he famous White Turf race meeting, staged on a frozen lake in St Moritz over the first three Sundays of February, has just witnessed its biggest (and most successful) British invasion. Four horses made the trip from these shores, gleaning three wins and two places from seven starts.

There is no doubt about the identity of the hero of the expedition – the George Baker-trained Ancient Greece. He arrived in Switzerland having won four of his 19 starts since joining Baker for just 3,800 guineas three years ago.

Those victories included a claimer and were all at a low level, hence he had an official handicap perch of just 77 – hardly the mark of a horse about to create history. But create history he did, becoming the first to win on all three days of the St Moritz meeting, gleaning £11,275 in prize-money in the process.

The first of these successes may have been particularly significant for Freddie Mitchell, son of trainer Philip Mitchell, as he was aboard and thus moved into second place in the rankings for the Fegentri-organised 2013 World Amateur Riders’ Championship. But the last was more memorable for Baker, as he was there to see his horse notch an unprecedented hattrick in the most thrilling fashion imaginable.

Ancient Greece seemed booked for second throughout the closing stages of the Grand Prix St Leger Club Of Lucerne, only for Jim Crowley to inspire one last lung-bursting effort, which enabled them to overtake Mont Pelato in the very last stride. “He got an amazing reception afterwards,” Baker revealed. “It was the last race and the perfect way to bring down the curtain.”

Now based at Manton, Baker splits the credit for this achievement between groom Cat Illott, who accompanied Ancient Greece throughout his three-week adventure, and the four-strong band of owners who financed the foray.

“Piers and Sue Inkin, Robert Byng and Paul Bowden have been enthusiastic supporters since I began training,” he said. “But when I first mentioned St Moritz it would have been easy for them to say it was all rather expensive – the trip cost between £5-6,000.

“In some ways the bad weather has worked in our favour as we intended to send Ancient Greece hurdling, but he is a good-ground horse so we sent him to Switzerland instead.”

British trainer George Baker (inset) enjoyed his trip to a personally familiar haunt

Baker had a personal reason why he wanted to shoot for the alpine moon. His uncle, Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Moss of the Welsh Guards, spent five years in charge of St Moritz’s fearsome bobsleigh venue, the Cresta Run, prompting a number of visits from his nephew, who recalls the Run as “utterly terrifying”.

Moss died in January and Baker was sure he would have been “pushing and shoving

“He got an amazing reception. It was the last race and the perfect way to bring down the curtain”

Ancient Greece very hard from above” as he completed his terrific treble.

Another British-trained horse to grab some Swiss francs was Elaine Burke’s Tepmokea, who finished in the money on both of his St Moritz outings. While Baker insists that an even

temperament is vital for a White Turf horse (“You could ride Ancient Greece through a brick wall and he wouldn’t flinch”), Karl Burke, Elaine’s husband, has a different theory.

“Tepmokea is quite a muscular horse and he finished tired and blew heavily after both his Swiss starts,” he reported. “Looking at the types who won out there, maybe the more wiry, lightframed horses adjust to the altitude better.”

One altitude-related theory Burke employed to good effect was the advice of his good friend, German trainer Christian von der Recke, who suggested that if Tepmokea ran immediately after his return the ‘altitude training’ might give him an advantage. So, five days after coming down the mountain, Tepmokea was thrown in the deep end in a Lingfield Listed race and responded with a career best, finishing third, two and a half lengths behind classy Planteur.

The handicapper responded by putting the Rosebery Handicap-bound Tepmokea up to a mark of 95. He reacted to Ancient Greece’s heroics rather differently.

As Baker revealed with a grin: “Phil Smith [senior handicapper] admitted they needed an extra item on the agenda of the last handicappers’ meeting to discuss my horse.

Eventually they decided evaluating St Moritz form was too complicated, so left him alone!”

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Apr_104_Continental_Tales_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 12:32 Page 33

SPAI

N

Go-ahead track La Zarzuela jumps to it In a world where, outside the heartland of Britain, Ireland and France, jump racing is becoming ever more marginalised, it is heartening to report that Spain has just staged its first hurdle race in more than 20 years. The race was run over a mile and three-quarters at La Zarzuela in Madrid on February 24 and attracted a field of seven to compete for its £4,065 first prize, including an Italian-trained runner.

It produced an appropriate winner in Orlov, ridden by Czech Josef Vana Jr. Orlov is related through his great grand-dam to the finest hurdler ever to emanate from Spain, Royal Gait, who scored six times on the Flat in Madrid before being exported to Britain and winning the 1992 Champion Hurdle.

A further 12 hurdle races are scheduled over the next eight months, largely over distances of two miles and beyond, with the showpiece being the Gran Premio de Vallas

de Primavera on June 30, with a first prize just shy of £10,000.

“We considered that hurdling would offer the kind of exciting spectacle to appeal to the comparatively young crowd we are attracting to La Zarzuela,” said Carlos Rodulfo, the

EN

A first for Europe on Swedish Derby day

STEFAN OLSSON/SVENSK GALOPP

SWED

CARLOS GUTIERREZ

Orlov and Josef Vana Jr were appropriate winners of Spain’s first hurdles race for more than 20 years

track’s strategic consultant and Chairman of the Spanish Racecourse Association.

“Hurdling also allows us to prolong the competitive life of old horses at a time when the number in training is declining.”

La Zarzuela will stage a record 49 fixtures this season, including a pivotal 13 summer nights, and prize-money has received an 8% boost on its 2012 level. The course has been enhanced by its seven-and-a-half furlong allweather circuit, which will stage some 75 races this year, being re-laid with Fibresand.

One minor blip in the successful relaunch of jumping was the death in a mid-race fall of one of the seven runners, Sandoval, which caused his jockey Roman Martin to break his collarbone.

Rodulfo is not concerned that a recurrence of similar incidents might have an adverse effect on the popularity of hurdling.

“I don’t expect the Spanish are going to argue on this issue as much as in England,” he concluded, pointedly.

Verde-Mar takes the 2011 Zawawi Cup

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Jägersro racecourse in Malmö will stage Europe’s first sprint Group race run on dirt when the six-furlong Zawawi Cup takes place on Sunday, August 11 – Swedish Derby day.

The high official handicap marks achieved by the main protagonists in its last few renewals (such as Govinda, third to Verde-Mar in 2012, who went on to finish second in Group 2 company, and the 2010 winner and 2011 third Tertio Bloom, who won in Dubai last February) have facilitated its upgrade from Listed to Group 3 status.

Prize-money has been raised by 20% from last year’s figure to 600,000 Swedish krone (£56,764) but in 2014 it is hoped that it will be further enhanced to reach the one million Swedish krone mark and bring it into line with Sweden’s three other Pattern races.

Building work is just beginning on Stockholm’s new racecourse, which will take over from the city’s current venue, Täby, by 2015. The Täby site has already been sold and will become home to some 6,000 houses once racing ceases.

The new course, which has yet to be named, is some 20 miles north of the centre of Stockholm in the district of Önsta.

Nicholas Cordrey, Director Of Racing at the Swedish Jockey Club, reported: “We hope to create something more rustic and intimate than Täby, where the 30,000 capacity was simply too big.

“The track will still be left-handed with a one mile and three furlong turf course and a dirt course of just over a mile in circumference.”

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„German Breeding is a source of class, stamina and first of all soundness.”

Barry Irwin – Team Valor

Arc and King George winner DANEDREAM sold at BBAG

Sales Dates 2013 Spring Breeze Up Sale 7th May 2013

Yearling Sales

30th August 2013

Sales & Racing Festival 18th to 19th October 2013

www.bbag-sales.de

Apr_104_AroundtheGlobe_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 12:37 Page 35

AROUND THE GLOBE THE WORLDWIDE RACING SCENE

NORT H A M E R I CA

by Steve Andersen

Plenty of support for Lasix use

T

or bettors, resulting in a 21% decline in field sizes for two-year-old races, compared to the 2011 meeting at Churchill Downs, and a 23% decline in betting turnover in juvenile races, according to statistics in Daily Racing Form.

Mike Repole, the prominent New York-based owner who won the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with Uncle Mo, cited the ban on Lasix in 2012 as a reason he did not send juveniles to the Breeders’ Cup in California.

“The Breeders’ Cup

should run under the rules of the state where they’re racing – or don’t go there” The decision to allow the use of Lasix in nonjuvenile races this year has been well received by prominent owners and trainers, many of whom wish the Breeders’ Cup would reverse its policy for juveniles.

Tom Proctor, who trained Marketing Mix to a second-place finish in the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, thought the Breeders’ Cup took too aggressive a stance with its medication

policy, disregarding existing policy in individual American states.

“I’m upset that the Breeders’ Cup tries to run racing,” he said in early March. “I think they should run under the rules of the state where they’re racing – or don’t go there.”

Mike Pegram has won four Breeders’ Cup races as an owner, most recently the 2011 Juvenile Sprint with Secret Circle as part of a partnership. Pegram, the Chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners of California organisation, is in favour of full availability of Lasix in Breeders’ Cup races. “We have to do what’s best for the horses,” Pegram said. “I wish they would have allowed it with two-year-olds.”

John Shirreffs, who trained the popular Zenyatta to win the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic, also supports using Lasix. He argues that the medication is necessary to prevent bleeding and believes the absence of Lasix, even for one race, can cause inconsistent performances and discourage gamblers.

“In my barn, a large percentage of the horses are bleeders – random bleeders, regular bleeders,” he said. “To take them out of the game would be a big mistake. In our business, the most important thing is to have repeatable performances so people can handicap.”

The Juvenile Sprint over six furlongs has been discontinued after two years because of small fields. It is the first time a race has been scrapped from the Breeders’ Cup since its launch in 1984.

GEORGE SELWYN

he anti-bleeding medication Lasix will be permitted in non-juvenile races at this year’s Breeders’ Cup after the organisation’s board of directors opted not to follow through with a previous plan to eliminate the medication at the two-day meeting at Santa Anita in November. The decision, announced on March 1, left in place a ban for Lasix in twoyear-old races, similar to the policy in effect at the 2012 Breeders’ Cup. The policy was to be expanded to all races this year.

While the decision not to change the policy was well received by many horsemen, it resulted in upheaval on the Breeders’ Cup’s board of directors.

Oliver Tait, Chief Operating Officer of Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Stud, resigned from the board in the days after the announcement. In a statement Tait said: “A true world championship, to be enjoyed and admired by all, needs to be medication free. Progress is being made in all sports around the world in relation to drugs. This is not progress.”

Despite being banned for raceday use in most countries, the use of Lasix is commonplace in North America. In their announcement of maintaining the Lasix policy, the Breeders’ Cup called for study on the “causes, effects and potential alternative methods of reducing the occurrence” of bleeding in racehorses.

The decision not to allow Lasix in juvenile races was not popular with American horsemen

Zenyatta’s trainer John Shirreffs (right) believes that it would be a “big mistake” to take Lasix out of the game

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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Apr_104_AroundtheGlobe_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 15:28 Page 36

AROUND THE GLOBE

AUST R A L I A

by Danny Power

Derby looks a done deal

Randwick Guineas victor It’s A Dundeel with English strapper Emily Murphy, a former employee of Amy Weaver

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Like most Kiwis, Baker is very much a traditionalist, who rates winning Australia’s great staying races such as the Derbys and the major Cups a far more important notch in the belt than a Doncaster.

“No New Zealand

trainer has put a wider smile on his bank manager’s face than Murray Baker” He’s also a pragmatist who will know that It’s A Dundeel will face only a couple of likely serious challengers at his own age in the Derby compared to a dozen or more under handicap conditions for all

MARK SMITH

M

urray Baker won’t be swayed by calls for him to run High Chaparral colt It’s A Dundeel in the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap rather than his target race, the Group 1 Australian Derby.

The $2 million Doncaster is staged at Randwick on April 20, a week later than the $1.5m Derby run on the same track.

The wily New Zealand trainer will have done his sums and come to the quick conclusion that the easiest way to stuff his travel bag with wads of Australian cash will be to stick to a campaign for the colt against his own age – the $500,000 Group 1 Rosehill Guineas on March 30 before the Australian Derby.

Murray Baker’s ability to convert Australian dollars into the New Zealand equivalent is a reflection of his love of our money rather than any wondrous mathematical talent.

No New Zealand trainer has put a wider smile on the face of his bank manager in recent years than Baker. That has been the result of meticulous planning in search of value, rather than taking risks.

It’s A Dundeel’s decisive win in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas at Warwick Farm on March 16 not only ticked an important box on the colt’s stallion CV as a Group 1 winner over 1,600m (an important prerequisite for speed-happy Aussie breeders), it also heralded a host of general media and social media comment on where the colt should race in the rest of his autumn campaign.

First to pontificate was Hall of Fame trainer Lee Freedman on Twitter, who said: “Love to back It’s A Dundeel in the Doncaster. 2,400m? No weight in a class 1,600m race = cash!!”

The push gained momentum when jockey James McDonald said on TVN on Sunday he believed It’s A Dundeel wasn’t at his best at 2,400m. “I think his best distance is from 1,600m to 2,000m,” he said.

Baker agrees It’s A Dundeel would take a lot of beating tracking a hot pace in a Doncaster, and there is ample time – three weeks – for Baker to freshen the colt and bring him back in distance after running in the Rosehill Guineas.

ages in the Doncaster.

The colt proved that with maturity and the aid of blinkers he has taken a step from the spring when he won the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes, beating Proisir, before two sound runs in Melbourne – second behind Super Cool in the Group 2 Vase at Moonee Valley and a late-closing seventh behind Fiveandahalfstar (Super Cool second) in the Group 1 Victoria Derby at Flemington.

The most recent horse to win the Sydney autumn Triple Crown was Octagonal in 1996, with only Imagele (1973) and Martello Towers (1959) before him. They won it when the first leg was the Canterbury Guineas (last run in 2005) and no horse has won the treble since the Randwick Guineas was introduced in 2006.

The Derby is important to Baker, who won it in 2008 with Nom Du Jeu. So, too, is the money: he will note that the current conversion rate of $A1 into New Zealand dollars is about $1.26.

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Apr_104_TalkingTo_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 13:20 Page 38

Happy in the job: Paul Struthers is relishing his role with the Professional Jockeys Association

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Apr_104_TalkingTo_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 13:20 Page 39

TALKING TO...

PAUL STRUTHERS

Learning to JUGGLE Paul Struthers held the whip hand in recent negotiations with the BHA but his biggest challenge now is appeasing his jockey members, at both ends of the spectrum

By Tim Richards • Photos George Selwyn

Y

ou were made the scapegoat for the shambolic introduction of the controversial whip rules when you were Head of Communications at the BHA. Then, as Chief Executive of the Professional Jockeys Association, you successfully argued against them. How much satisfaction did that give you?

There was certainly no satisfaction from the fact that I had been at the BHA and then found myself at the PJA. The satisfaction came from being able to resolve a problem that I, as part of a team, was responsible for creating.

Everyone makes a mistake in life and the first step is to admit it and then try and fix it. The whip rules were still a hotly debated issue four months after their introduction; it was in everyone’s interests that we were able to resolve it.

It could be argued your situation was akin to a footballer playing against his former club – they are often extra motivated to prove their worth. Can you relate to this?

In the two months between leaving the BHA and joining the PJA I had time as a racing fan and punter to reflect, and I didn’t like seeing the sport I love dragged through the mud. It wasn’t a case of proving my worth as the new Chief Executive of the PJA. In fact, at the interview for the job,

I put forward my ideas of how to resolve the whip problems.

The bottom line was that Paul Bittar had a clear view of how inadequate the rules were, so we were never a million miles apart. Had he not had a similar view to mine, the final outcome would not have been as simple. There was never any question of claiming the credit.

“The issue of jockey

Following last year’s Grand National, you criticised RSPCA Chief Executive Gavin Grant for suggesting that the winner should have been demoted due to his jockey’s excessive use of the whip. Yet wouldn’t such a rule put an end to whip misuse overnight?

I criticised Gavin Grant because he was talking nonsense – Daryl Jacob was not in breach of the whip rules on Neptune Collonges. I think he went two hits over the permitted level but the rule states that the stewards have at their discretion the ability to discount uses of the whip. That’s what the stewards did, therefore Daryl was not in breach.

I don’t believe a rule would put an end to whip misuse. If ever racing goes down that route we could end up doing away with the whip altogether and I don’t see any justification in that. You’ll always get instances where jockeys simply make mistakes.

Actually I find it helpful dealing with former colleagues who I know quite well. The new whip rules are a damned sight better, though the penalties for the offences are still fairly harsh.

But we receive very few complaints and there is now a general acceptance by jockeys of the rules. Racing undoubtedly looks better and, while I am not a rider of any sort, I think most jockeys would say they are riding better and are less reliant on the whip than before.

You are on record as saying “the jockeys are my boss”. So how tough is it to keep all jockeys happy all the time? Do the demands of those on the bottom rung of the ladder often conflict with those at the top?

Basically, the top high-earning jockeys down to those who are in it for the love of the game are bound together by a camaraderie witnessed in almost every weighing-room. But I suppose one element that can be contentious is the issue of jockey changes, which at times can make it difficult to represent them all together. They are not always as one when a leading jockey switches from one meeting to another and replaces a jockey who has already been booked.

I do wonder whether there should be some sort of compensation paid by the owner to the displaced jockey.

Did you feel in any way compromised when negotiating with your former bosses on behalf of the jockeys?

No, because I was in discussion with Paul Bittar and he had never been my boss, as he hadn’t started at the BHA when I left. I was also in talks with John Maxse and I took over from him at the BHA rather than working under him.

changes is contentious and can make it difficult to represent them all together”

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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Apr_104_TalkingTo_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 13:20 Page 40

TALKING TO... >> After Frankie Dettori’s drugs violation, you came out and said that the PJA and Injured Jockeys Fund would support him. Should the IJF really be assisting jockeys who break the rules?

It’s not for me to tell the IJF what they should or should not be doing. But I do think it is wrong to turn our backs on jockeys who break the rules if there is a support structure in place to help them. Also, in cases of jockeys’ mental wellbeing, I believe it is important that the PJA and the IJF, as well as the BHA, are supportive.

The existence of Oaksey House has helped to strengthen links between the PJA and the IJF to the point that we are investigating the viability of moving to Lambourn and joining up with Oaksey House.

Have racing politics always interested you and do you prefer to be wrapped up in that side of the sport rather than with the action on the track?

I don’t prefer the political side of the sport, and deep down wish I had got involved in the equine side when I was young. But politics are very necessary. There are two elements to this job. First, welfare and the services and advice we offer to our members. Second, the racing politics, lobbying and pushing for changes to rules, regulations and BHA policies.Through my PJA role I am a Director of the Horsemen’s Group and on the Board of Racing Enterprises Ltd. So there is always a massive amount of racing politics, which can be very frustrating.

But I am hoping that, with Paul Bittar in charge at the BHA, the different factions in the industry will come together more than in the past.

Struthers – pictured with Richard Hughes and Steve Drowne at Lingfield – defended

Jockeys aren’t the greatest talkers.

Has it been a problem getting your members to open up and express themselves? Are your joint Presidents AP McCoy and Steve Drowne full of ideas?

The change over the past four or five years has been phenomenal, due in no small part to Racing For Change [now Great British Racing], who have done a fantastic job encouraging the jockeys in media training. As a result jockeys come on and talk on television with far greater willingness. They have made huge strides promotionally and we have signed a new media rights deal with Channel

Paul Struthers: educating young jockeys is crucial in the battle against corruption The list of jockeys who have been warned off for corruption in the past few years is startlingly long. But why does this keep happening?

“The number is not insignificant, I agree,” Struthers says. “But the list of owners and punters who have been warned off is probably bigger and there have also been trainers [warned off].

“There are occasions when some jockeys find themselves in a situation that starts off relatively innocently, then the question arises about a horse’s chance with the person involved considering laying it. Pressure is then applied to the jockey, who might naively think he’s on to an easy way to make money.

“This is happening less, though there was a period, when betting exchanges were introduced, that a whole raft of owners, trainers, jockeys and punters were involved.

“Penalties nowadays are virtually career-ending and we have a good relationship with the BHA integrity department, who keep us informed of any ongoing investigations. I believe the corner has been turned, though of course there will be incidents, as there will be in other sports.”

So what exactly is the PJA doing to combat the issue of jockeys cheating?

Struthers replies: “Young jockeys coming into the sport have to do a test on inside information as part of their jockeys’ licence course; they are told about the risks, what to look out for and the things to avoid. All the negatives and bad publicity that go with cases of cheating act as a deterrent.

“We always encourage our members to report any suspicious approaches. Our role is to support the BHA in their educational work with young jockeys.”

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4, who will be using jockeys more and more on their programmes and in their promotional work. It is good for the sport that jockeys are becoming more human, rather than appearing as someone who sits on the back of a horse under a helmet and goggles. Both AP and Steve Drowne are very supportive but it is not their role to come up with ideas.

How did your fascination with racing start?

I really got into racing in my second year at Nottingham University and started to work part-time for a bookmaker. They had booths at the City Ground and Nottingham Forest were doing well at the time, so I enjoyed working there. When I left university I became a betting shop manager and then got a job at the BHB. How beneficial has the recent 2lb minimum weight rise on the Flat, from 7st 12lb to 8st, proved? How big a problem is the constant wasting among jockeys?

The 2lb rise is just part of a much wider shift in dealing with the issue of jockeys’ weights and the impact that light weights, in particular, have on Flat jockeys. Going hand in hand with that will be the publication of a minimum riding weight, as well as mandatory bone density scans for new young jockeys, who will also have their weight monitored before they have their first ride.

Undoubtedly wasting and having to survive on such a reduced calorific intake takes a massive toll on the body, and particularly so mentally. There is much more focus on nutrition and fitness at the racing schools now.

The recent Jockey Academy, trialled by the Injured Jockeys Fund at Oaksey House, focused on conditioning, fitness, nutrition and how long a jockey can prolong his or her career.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Apr_104_TalkingTo_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 13:20 Page 41

TALKING TO...

CLOSE UP AND...

PERSONAL I relax by… playing golf and cricket My favourite team is… my wife and two children Actor to play me on screen…

Tom Hanks, my nickname at university Four guests for dinner…

Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela and my mum, who died when I was 12 One sport I’d like to play professionally… cricket

Daryl Jacob (centre) after the jockey was criticised for his 2012 Grand National ride

What is the biggest problem facing jockeys – and indeed racing?

Prize-money, which hopefully will be increased significantly by the Sunday Bonus Races and the introduction of the British Owners and Breeders Incentive Scheme. Jockeys receive 7% of winning prize-money and 3% of place money.

“It is good that

jockeys are becoming more human, they’ve made huge strides promotionally” In Ireland, the UAE and the United Stakes, jockeys get 10%. Jockeys have asked me to try to address this situation. Finding a funding replacement for the levy has to be the number one overall priority for the sport. But this is so difficult because racing has no power to establish itself over the bookmakers, whose operators at the top have always been much sharper than those in charge of racing.

Some people believe there is too much low grade racing in Britain and that the focus should be on quality, not quantity. What is your view?

As a punter I think there’s too much racing, but, from the jockeys’ standpoint, the more racing there is the more rides there are to go round.

There has always been low quality racing and always will be because there are more horses at the bottom than at the top. With the funding mechanism as it is and picture rights being so important, if you just scrapped 200 fixtures, I don’t believe there would be adequate funds THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

from betting turnover to offset the loss of income from those lost fixtures.

This summer will see jockeys riding at two or three meetings a day as they strive for winners, travelling all round Britain. Is this safe?

The BHA has addressed the issue by restricting jockeys to no more than nine meetings a week.

They were concerned that jockeys were pushing themselves too hard, regularly riding at two meetings a day and making mad dashes between courses. The driving and travelling, combined with a restricted diet, makes for a demanding lifestyle. But the rewards and winning races is what jockeys are all about.

Some jockeys do have the benefit of a driver, while others share lifts.

Is there one thing above all else you would like to achieve for the jockeys?

There are lots of things I’d like to achieve on their behalf. We have already secured an increased media rights deal that will allow us to use that money to offer enhanced support services for our members. I am pursuing regulatory and financial matters and, in particular, the mental side of welfare.

You started off in marketing with the BHB – how good a job has Racing For Change done since its inception?

I think Racing For Change made some significant mistakes early on. The name, which has changed to Great British Racing, was wrong as it suggested so much more than the marketing and PR arm that it is. No one can ever argue that the ‘Bill and Ben’ promo was anything but a disaster. Having said that, I think they have done a fantastic job in the promotion of the sport, resulting in more exposure on television and in the papers and been extremely successful in establishing

CLOSE UP AND...

PROFESSIONAL My alternative career… house husband Toughest opponent in racing politics… several think they are, but not necessarily in a good way Worst moment at work … being totally unprepared for a live TV interview on the new inside information rules; it was a car crash and I still cringe about it I’d get more people racing by… massively reducing the entrance fee for certain fixtures I’ll retire when… I can afford to

British Champions’ Day. However, I’d like to see more focus on the racegoer and punter, providing information such as weighing of horses and sectional times.

Did the BHA need someone like Paul Bittar to come in and revitalise it?

I think it was a big mistake when Paul Roy and Nic Coward announced that the BHA was going to step back and simply take a regulatory role.

The BHA has a role to play in the running of the sport and I am delighted Paul Bittar has come in and adopted that position. He is the right person for the job, extremely smart and clever.

He knows and loves racing and is a good listener. If he disagrees with you he has no qualms in saying so. You know where you stand with him. He’s got plenty of challenges ahead but he’s made a fantastic start. I think he is going to be a very good leader of the sport.

As you are married with two young children, how do you find the time to tweet so much (approaching 8,000)?

I have made a conscious effort to tweet less! I tweeted a lot more when I was at the BHA because it was inclined to come with the job.

41

Apr_104_HighClere_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 13:15 Page 42

HIGHCLERE THOROUGHBRED RACING

High

ROLLERS In the 20 years since Highclere Thoroughbred Racing celebrated its first winner, success has followed in abundance, thanks largely to a selection process that leaves no stone unturned Words Julian Muscat

W

here Highclere Thoroughbred Racing is concerned, the sight of happy owners embracing Harry Herbert in the winner’s enclosure is merely the tip of the iceberg.

It’s the visible residue of much soulsearching, of months spent combing paddocks and sales grounds, and of bidding battles for yearlings that end in joy or

despair. Shareholders encouraged to dream big by Highclere’s past exploits are being served by a buying policy refined over 20 years.

John Warren is at the heart of it, as he has been for two decades since Herbert, his brother-in-law, established a venture that has savoured a succession of triumphs at the highest level. Just 12 months ago Highclere

had the second favourites for both the Derby (Bonfire) and the Oaks (Vow).

Such achievement vindicates Highclere’s policy when buying yearlings. It is an arduous annual process and last year most of it came to fruition at the Tattersalls Book 1 Yearling Sales in October. Only then was the Warren/Herbert axis able to rest easy.

“We came into the sale having bought one

PICTURES BY GEORGE SELWYN, EMMA BERRY AND MATTHEW WEBB

Apr_104_HighClere_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 13:15 Page 43

yearling at Doncaster and none at all at Deauville,” Herbert recalls. “That left me in a bit of a state but we have been doing it for a while now. The numbers usually work out in the end.”

Trade at Book 1 was remarkably strong for a catalogue in which individuals matched up to their regal pedigrees. The plan was to catch up with Herbert and Warren when that sale closed, and with buyers finding it hard going, the assumption was that they, too, had been left frustrated.

The assumption turned out to be false.

Despite their state of near-exhaustion they wore the look of men who’d done their Christmas shopping in double-quick time and were interested only in bargains at the start of Book 2. They would have been satisfied had they been unable to add to the 11 yearlings they bought at Book 1, but opportunity knocked.

By the day’s end they had added two sons of High Chaparral – at 100,000gns and 80,000gns – that would be paired together in the Ashes syndicate, a new venture with designs on the horses racing in Australia in 2015. “They were two beautiful horses for the money we paid,” Herbert reflects. “We felt they both slipped through the net.”

Those last two purchases marked the culmination of six intense weeks for Warren.

The denouement was particularly pleasing,

since Warren decided not to attend the American yearling sales in September. That freed up a deal of extra time for him to prepare for the action at Goffs and Tattersalls.

“It meant I could spend an extra three weeks going around stud farms in Britain and Ireland,” he explains. “In 20 days I visited 52 farms and saw every yearling they had. We saw an average of 80 yearlings each day.

“In 20 days I visited

52 farms and saw every yearling they had; an average of 80 yearlings each day” “Our biggest issue is time, but seeing the horses on the farms gave us much more time at the sales. We had a good head start and that paid off at the sales because we were able to watch the market and react accordingly, rather than spend most of our time looking at horses.”

Warren has other clients in addition to Highclere. His preparation covers all the

L-R: Lady Carolyn and John Warren; two-year-old Stampede; Harry Herbert and Denise Lewis at the yearling parade; Harbinger at exercise; celebrating Harbinger’s King George win; Bonfire wins the Dante Stakes

various bases, from owners keen to play at all levels from 50,000gns right through to the top end. In 2012 Highclere’s yearlings ranged in price from 60,000gns to the €187,500 given privately for a 75% share in an Invincible Spirit colt that was withdrawn from the auction, and in which his breeder, Lady O’Reilly’s Castlemartin Stud, has retained a quarter-share. Half of Warren’s 22 purchases from Book 1 were for Highclere.

Warren never deviates from a proven formula when buying yearlings. First up, he gets a mental snapshot of the yearling. “It’s a split-second thing, like a photograph going off in your brain,” he says. “That’s why the horse has to stand very correctly, and why I am very fussy about that.”

He then looks at four elements on the catalogue page: birthdate, sire, broodmare sire and the yearling’s female family. “I’m looking to see whether the horse matches up physically with the page,” he says.

“If I’m looking at a Royal Applause out of a Rainbow Quest mare and the horse is a strong, powerful, precocious type, I know he is coming more from Royal Applause. I won’t spend any more time looking at a horse if all these elements don’t align.”

If they do, he advances to the next stage.

“Then it comes down to the horse’s conformation, and finally its action,” he says.

“My final decision will be based on a horse’s

>>

Mickley Stud OB Apr 2013 f-p_Mickley Stud OB Mar 2013 f-p 20/03/2013 15:23 Page 1

CAMACHO

NEW TO MICKLEY STUD FOR 2013

b. 2002 Danehill – Arabesque (Zafonic)

The son of DANEHILL, who was champion three-year-old sprinter, he has already made a bright start to his stud career thanks to black-type winners such as 2013 1,000 Guineas contender WINNING EXPRESS, high-class sprinter HUMIDOR, a Listed winner who finished a close fourth in last season’s Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes. Also Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes heroine PUFF, Roses Stakes winner STAR ROVER and Harry Rosebery Stakes scorer ARCTIC FEELING.

Fee: £2,750 1st Oct

Yearlings by CAMACHO, a sibling to Gimcrack Stakes winner SHOWCASING, were also in high demand at the 2012 sales, making prices of €85,000, €70,000 etc.

CAPTAIN GERRARD b. 2005 Oasis Dream – Delphinus (Soviet Star) Fee: £3,000 1st Oct

Won 5 times as a juvenile including Gr.3 Cornwallis Stakes and two Listed races, also third in the Gr.3 Molecomb Stakes to Gr.1 winners FLEETING SPIRIT and KINGSGATE NATIVE. At 3, winner of the Gr.3 Palace House Stakes beating Gr.1 July Cup winner SAKHEE’S SECRET. From the family of SOLDIER OF FORTUNE & DOUBLE FORM.

The speedy son of the brilliant OASIS DREAM FIRST TWO-YEAR-OLDS 2013

MULTIPLEX b. 2003 Danehill – Shirley Valentine (Shirley Heights) Fee: £3,000 1st Oct

Second crop of yearlings sold for up to 145,000 guineas and foals sold up to 130,000 guineas.

Sire of 2 stakes performers, Radio Gaga, Timeform Rated 91P and Luv U Forever.

Sire of Richard Hannon's impressive stakes winner INTUITION. Sired 14 winners of 47 runners in 2012 in UK and Ireland.

For a total of 41% overall winners to runners.

By sire of sires DANEHILL Unbeaten Group winning 2-y-o, stakes winner at 3 & 4 Richard Kent at MICKLEY STUD, Tern Hill, Market Drayton, Shropshire, TF9 3QW Tel: 01630 638840 • Fax: 01630 639761 Mobile: 07973 315722 • Email: mickleystud@btconnect.com

M MICKLEY STUD

Apr_104_HighClere_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 13:34 Page 45

HIGHCLERE THOROUGHBRED RACING

“I’m a reluctant

>>

movement; how it uses itself. And if all that falls into place we move on to the veterinary checks.”

Warren has worked in harness with vet Nick Wingfield Digby for the last 25 years.

The latter knows what Warren likes – and more importantly what he is prepared to accept in terms of perceived physical flaws.

They examine the X-rays together: all 36 plates for each yearling, every one of which is also scoped for potential wind issues. Any yearling surviving this meticulous sieving process makes its way onto Warren’s shortlist, which numbered around 20 on each of the three days.

Meanwhile, Herbert is holed up in Warren’s office at Tattersalls, where sticky yellow post-it notes adorn the walls under the chosen syndicate names. All but one syndicate is named after former Highclere horses: hence Distinction, Harbinger, Lake Coniston, Petrushka and Alcove, who was Highclere’s inaugural winner in 1993. The exception is the Ashes syndicate, with its Australian overtures.

“The trainers for each syndicate are decided in advance,” Herbert says. “As we buy the yearlings they are allocated to the syndicates,” Herbert says. “If the yearling looks like an extra-sharp two-year-old type it is more likely to go to Richard Hannon than Sir Michael Stoute. We also need variety to satisfy shareholder demand.”

Herbert must also decide on the overall yearling spend with a firm eye on how many shares he believes he can sell. “In 2011 we offered 152 shares but this time we have gone for 162,” he says. “If we sell all of them we will recoup £2.9 million, as opposed to £2.7 million the year before.”

Herbert eventually settled on nine syndicates of two yearlings each, and the process of filling those syndicates is swift.

Within days of Tattersalls’ Book 2 sale ending the 18 yearlings are parading before prospective shareholders at Highclere Stud, which is owned jointly by Warren and his wife Carolyn.

Warren has one more responsibility in the share-selling process. Before a gathering of 200 people on each of three days he gives a dissertation on each Highclere yearling. His audience is captivated; you could hear a pin THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

GEORGE SELWYN

buyer by nature but I’m working with Harry, who is the eternal optimist”

Derby candidate Telescope with Kevin Bradshaw at Sir Michael Stoute’s stable

Telescope: ‘Our big hope for 2013’ In 2000 Petrushka became Highclere’s inaugural Classic winner when she made off with the Irish Oaks, to which she later added the Yorkshire Oaks and Prix de l’Opera. And hopes are rising over the Classic prospects of another Highclere graduate in Telescope, who is trained, like Petrushka, by Sir Michael Stoute.

The Galileo colt’s reputation preceded him to Ascot ahead of his debut in September, and although he narrowly failed to make a winning debut he atoned when winning a similar race at Newmarket in clear-cut fashion to earn a prominent position in the antepost Derby market.

“He is our big hope for 2013,” Herbert says. “Having not seen him for seven weeks, he looked unbelievable when I saw him towards the end of February. Physically he is an awesome-looking horse. He has really progressed and we can’t help but be excited by him.”

Telescope was bought as a yearling for 225,000gns outside the sales ring at Newmarket, when a high temperature obliged him to miss his date with the auctioneer. He has much to prove before he can take his place at Epsom, but he will travel down the Derby trials route.

Telescope thus follows in the hoofprints of Bonfire, who shot to prominence in last year’s Derby betting after winning the Dante Stakes. Bonfire remains in training for Highclere, which also has a new older-horse addition to its portfolio in Rule Book. Now a four-year-old, Rule Book was bought for 230,000gns at last year’s Tattersalls’ horses-intraining sale and was subsequently sent to Gai Waterhouse in Australia.

“Rule Book is in the process of being syndicated by a new Highclere subsidiary in Australia,” Herbert says. “The Australians are interested, and so are owners in Hong Kong.”

Rule Book precedes what Herbert hopes will be the transfer of a pair of two-year-olds

by High Chaparral within the Ashes syndicate, currently in training with Stoute and William Haggas, to race in Australia in 2015. “Racing is vibrant out there, as is prizemoney for middle-distance types,” Herbert says. “In the meantime, Rule Book will hopefully get us a piece of the action.”

The action flows thick and fast for Highclere these days – and not just on home shores.

drop on the grass. The address is so detailed that it would enlighten many an aspiring bloodstock agent, never mind the collection of largely thrill-seekers he addresses.

Interspersed with Warren’s professorial delivery is Herbert’s theatrical banter, often

in harness with trainers on Highclere’s roster.

William Haggas rises to Herbert’s prompting (“John talks about the beam of a horse; I just say arse”), as does Hannon, who reminisces of the time he lined up a punt for Herbert’s late father Lord Carnarvon.

45

>>

Apr_104_HighClere_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 13:34 Page 46

HIGHCLERE THOROUGHBRED RACING

TWO-YEAR-OLDS OF 2013

Trainers new to Highclere are introduced: there’s Freddy Head and Marco Botti. The atmosphere is akin to prize-giving at a school that well-heeled parents are proud to patronise, and where headmaster Herbert preaches with near-evangelical zeal of Highclere’s past achievements. And with good reason.

“John’s record as a yearling buyer is key,” he maintains. “We have around 18 syndicates on the go at any one time (each syndicate has a two-year life cycle) and since we started the stats show that six of them will race a blacktype horse.”

Once the parade ends the audience descends from temporary stands to mingle

Trainer Marco Botti Richard Hannon Sir Henry Cecil Richard Hannon Sir Michael Stoute Sir Michael Stoute Roger Varian William Haggas William Haggas Richard Hannon Sir Henry Cecil William Haggas Andrew Balding Sir Michael Stoute Andrew Balding Freddy Head William Haggas John Gosden

Acquaint is trained by Richard Hannon

with the yearlings and their trainers. Some of the guests were here when Herbert launched Highclere 20 years ago. Around 70% of those who will take up shares in the 2012 offering have done so before.

“This year we sold slightly more than half the shares before we bought our first yearling,” Herbert says. “For some people, the priority is to be with certain trainers – so much so that some syndicates fill before the yearling parade.”

That can lead to disappointment. Malcolm Kimmins, part-owner of Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Bobs Worth and a Highclere regular, wants to join the Lake Coniston syndicate, which has horses with Hannon

MATTHEW WEBB

>>

Ylg price €75,000 82,000gns €187,500* €85,000 150,000gns 135,000gns 100,000gns 70,000gns 110,000gns 60,000gns €115,000 85,000gns 115,000gns 100,000gns 65,000gns 75,000gns 80,000gns 100,000gns

MATTHEW WEBB

Name Colour/sex/pedigree Absolute b c Danehill Dancer-Beyond Belief Acquaint gr f Verglas-Azia Custer b c Invincible Spirit-Red Feather Exchequer ch c Exceed And Excel-Tara’s Force Freemason b c Cape Cross-Candy Mountain Gothic b c Danehill Dancer-Riberac Humour b c Invincible Spirit-Hucking Hot Lyra b f Myboycharlie-Park Melody Notebook b c Invincible Spirit-Love Everlasting Oriel b f Fastnet Rock-Labisa Satellite b c Danehill Dancer-Perihelion Scrutiny b c Aqlaam-Aunty Mary Signal b c Cape Cross-Moon Sister Stampede b c High Chaparral-Summerhill Parkes Telegraph b c Bushranger-Vampire Queen Whim br f Nayef-Whazzis Wrangler b c High Chaparral-Tipsy Me Zephyr ch c Shirocco-Pelagia *Private purchase; the Highclere syndicate owns 75%

Members of the Highclere team at last season’s annual yearling parade

46

and Haggas. It is already closed. “I always like to see the hoses parade before choosing,” Kimmins laments.

Shares have been pitched at prices ranging from £14,500 to £37,950, the latter for the top-end Harbinger syndicate of 12 shares (all the others have 20) embracing the two most expensive yearlings. When asked for a progress report in early March, Herbert proudly announces that all but one of the 162 available shares has been sold.

Could he have been a little bolder with his projections? “Possibly,” he reflects.

“We might have been able to get one more syndicate off the ground, but the risk is high.

Any unsold shares go straight onto our bottom line, and shares not sold by Christmas tend to stay with us until the Flat starts in spring.”

It’s a case of mission accomplished and, while Herbert is the seemingly effortless compere, the hectic, share-selling window between August and October leaves him mentally and physically drained.

It helps that Herbert and Warren know each other so well. Each has his own way of working and, while their respective roles are clearly demarked, Herbert is occasionally left bemused. Having coveted a yearling for two months after endless viewings, it’s not uncommon for Warren to get cold feet when the yearling reaches the pre-sales ring.

“I do wonder why he sometimes has a sudden change of heart,” Herbert says of Warren, “but in the end it is always down to John whether we buy or not. He never compromises on selection.”

Warren smiles when prompted about that.

“Harry always encourages me not to have those doubts but I’m always a doubter,” he says. “I am a reluctant buyer. By nature I’ll always finds a reason not to buy but I’m working with Harry, who is the ultimate optimist. He will always see the upside.”

Perhaps that explains why this longstanding double-act works so well as a team.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Tdickturpin HE GENUINE ARTICLE

dickturpin turpin dickturpin

dickturpin dick turpin ickturpin dickturpin dickturpin dickturpin

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ARAKAN X MERRILY

Fee: £5,000 (1st October)

Winner of 6 Group races including 2 European Gr.1 races

Defeated 25 individual Group winners & performers during his racing career

Exceptional FIRST FOALS Dick Turpin ex CRINKLE

Dick Turpin ex PROTECTRESS

Dick Turpin ex RICCOCHE

Bay Filly - 25 Jan 2013

Bay Filly - 07 Feb 2013

Bay Colt - 01 Feb 2013

Bred by Rosyground Stud CRINKLE is the dam of 5 winners to date including Wave Aside (placed in 2YO Racing Post Trophy - Listed)

Owned by Whitwell Bloodstock PROTECTRESS is a Listed winner and is out of an own sister to Gr.1 winner ARMIGER

Owned by Kirtlington Stud RICCOCHE is out of the mare AMMO (own sister to multiple Group performer SADLER’S FLAG)

Dick Turpin ex TARQUA

Dick Turpin ex IMPERIALISTIC

Dick Turpin ex GOBAMA

Bay Filly - 06 Mar 2013

Bay Colt - 02 Feb 2013

Bay Filly - 18 Feb 2013

Bred by Lord Carnarvon TARQUA is half-sister to Gr.2 Mill Reef Stakes winner COOL CREEK

Owned by The National Stud IMPERIALISTIC is the dam of German 1000 Guineas winner ELECTRELANE

Owned by Mr W Chen First foal out of this 4 time winning mare

call Brian O’Rourke on 07789 508157 or email stallions@nationalstud.co.uk National Stud Ltd., Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 0XE Managing Director: Brian O’Rourke

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THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Apr_104_Bloodstock_Intro_Owner 21/03/2013 15:23 Page 49

BREEDERS’ DIGEST

By EMMA BERRY, Bloodstock Editor

Our bloodstock coverage this month includes:

• Breeze-up preview: Carl Evans talks to the leading players – pages 50-54 • Sales Circuit: American breeze-ups and Australian yearlings – pages 56-57 • Caulfield Files: Sons of Redoute’s Choice under the spotlight – pages 58-59

Sprinter’s star appeal on both sides of the fence

O

f course it was no secret that Sprinter Sacre is very good indeed but the sight of him coasting up the Cheltenham hill unchallenged and unextended has played over and over in my mind since the Festival and, despite the years of Desert Orchid, Istabraq, Best Mate, Kauto Star and Denman, it’s hard to imagine a jumper to match him.

Is it because he’s here with us as others are dimming in the memory? Perhaps. Is it because after Frankel, those of us who love both codes are just desperate for a superstar to take his place? Maybe. Most of all, though, it’s because he is an exquisite physical specimen with the talent to match those haughty looks. How could we not love him?

For all small or hobby breeders, hope plays a massive part in everyday life. Hope and patience. In this regard, I can speak from experience for once, the first foal of my sole mare having recently made his somewhat inauspicious bumper debut at the age of five.

It is therefore heartening to learn that for small French breeder Christophe Masle, Sprinter Sacre was only the second racehorse he ever bred, and that his dam, Fatima III, had been booked to another stallion who had suffered a setback when she was ready to be covered, so she ended up going to Network instead. Surely the most fortuitous accidental mating of all time.

Masle had been sold the mare by her breeder Bernard Cypres, and while Masle has struck gold early in his breeding career, Cypres has a proven track record with such AQPS greats as Nupsala and Ucello II to his credit. Like all bigger breeders, Cypres had to cull a few mares and Fatima III’s poor race record meant she was one to leave his broodmare band. Thus, she became the property of his neighbour, but all is not lost for the Cypres family as Bernard’s son Jacques now runs the Société Coopérative Agricole des Eleveurs de Chevaux de Course (SCAECC), which, with the French National Studs gradually being privatised, now runs Haras de Cercy, the home of Network. What

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

better advert for that fledgling breeding co-operative in the heart of France’s jumping country than to stand the sire of the toprated steeplechaser in training?

And so to the Flat As usual, I’m several decades behind, and have only recently started reading Ann Hagedorn Auerbach’s Wild Ride, on the collapse of the Calumet empire and the brutal death of Alydar. If there are any other latecomers to this enthralling book, then get googling and make sure you order a copy pronto. You won’t regret it.

It’s less than 25 years since Alydar died but much has changed in the breeding world, notably the size of stallions’ books. Back then, investors in Alydar were concerned that he was being ‘overbred’. He wasn’t just active during the North American season but also covered some mares to southern hemisphere time, a more unusual occurrence in those days. Their worries were not just with the welfare of the horse but also a potential lowering of the sales price of his offspring owing to a glut of youngsters available.

Nowadays, few words of dismay are uttered if a stallion covers a three-figure book but in the season prior to Alydar’s death he had covered 107 mares – a figure of outlandish proportions at the time, when 50 to 60 was the industry norm.

Who will be the champion first-season sire of 2013?

Tony Morris: MASTERCRAFTSMAN Ed Prosser: MASTERCRAFTSMAN Julian Muscat: BUSHRANGER Nancy Sexton: INTENSE FOCUS Sam Hoskins: BUSHRANGER Carl Evans: MASTERCRAFTSMAN Edward Rosenthal: SEA THE STARS Emma Berry: MYBOYCHARLIE

While it’s unlikely that there will ever be a mandatory cap on book sizes – only Shadwell has publicly taken any steps to protect their stallions and reassure their clients in this regard – breeders should be able to glean some idea from stallion owners as to the size of book they are expecting him to cover. Most are forthcoming with this information but would it put people off using a particular sire if they felt that number was too high? In most cases it I believe it would not, and that is particularly so when it comes to first-season stallions.

It may be a constant gripe of breeders but it’s easy to see why stallion farms are so quick to move on under-performing sires to lesser breeding nations (sometimes even before they’ve justified their under-performer tag) when there’s so much interest in the new recruits to the breeding sheds. We’re all guilty of this. Even if we don’t patronise the freshmen, who can deny a frisson of excitement at waiting to see which of the new boys will be quickest out of the gates with his first two-year-old runners?

Perhaps the answer this year lies in the fact that there are plenty of Bushranger juveniles to be found among the 160 two-year-olds listed in training with Richard Hannon – and that’s before the breeze-up sales have even started. Regular bloodstock contributors to this magazine have consulted crystal balls to give us their idea of this year’s champion first-season sire (by prize-money, listed left) and, as you’ll see, plenty of bases are covered.

Hall of Fame needed To revert to the earlier theme of equine superstars, is it not about time we had a Racing Hall of Fame?

Raceday attendances are not a problem – certainly not for the type of meetings advertised on the Tube – and now that it’s all change at Racing For Change, I hope Great British Racing will consider an inititative which celebrates those at the heart of the matter: the horses. It needn’t end with the stars of the track – influential stallions and broodmares are every bit as important if fans of racing want a deeper understanding of the sport they love. They’re where it all begins.

49

Apr_104_BreezeUpsV2_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 14:55 Page 50

BREEZE-UP SALES PREVIEW

A competitive

EDGE

In theory buyers leave less to chance at the breeze-up sales but there’s plenty at stake for operatives on both sides of the market, as our experts discuss Words Carl Evans and Emma Berry

The Consignors Willie Browne of Mocklershill was a pioneer of the breeze-up sales scene and has a hardearned reputation as one of the best in the business at preparing youngsters.

Mocklershill’s graduates include Speciosa, Dubawi Gold, Walk In The Park and 2012 Gimcrack Stakes winner Blaine Browne says: “Timing breezes has become a big issue and we’re very conscious of that but I still think long term it’s a poor plan.

Obviously, like everybody else, we’re trying to

EMMA BERRY

MOCKLERSHILL, Co Tipperary, Ireland

The Mocklershill maestro Willie Browne

get them to go a bit quicker. Good horses invariably breeze well but if you have a mileand-a-quarter or a mile-and-a-half horse they are not going to do the same clock as a horse that will win before June.

“My numbers are slightly lower this year – about 10 down at between 80 and 85 – but that’s probably no bad thing. Yearlings were difficult to buy and a bit like the year before we didn’t give as much for them as I don’t think the return is as good as it was. You just can’t be giving 100,000gns for a yearling any more because you won’t get it back. We all know there is still plenty of money at the top end but the middle market drops away steeply after that – that’s why all sales are struggling.

EMMA BERRY

Watching a horse’s action is every bit as important as timing a breeze

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EMMA BERRY

“The clock is very important and it’s getting tougher every year – there are plenty of people who are interested only in the top 20 or 30 times, some in the top ten to 15.

“There can be fractions of a second between the times of the top ten and it’s hard to get on that quick list. Official times would be a disaster, pressurising people and horses and possibly doing the sale no favours in the long run. Luckily there are enough people watching horses on their merits, not the clock.

“At present it is almost impossible for a juvenile to win more than a couple of races because they get penalties that stop them – how many people become fed up when they find that out? It would help us, the market and the sales companies if that was changed.”

Hillwood Stud sold Mill Reef Stakes winner Moohaajim to Marco Botti for 200,000gns

HILLWOOD STUD, Wiltshire Sold one of last year’s best breeze-up graduates, Moohaajim, winner of the Mill Reef Stakes and runner-up in the Middle Park Stakes Charlie Vigors, who runs Hillwood Stud with his wife Tracy, says: “Our breeze-up numbers are about the same [some 15 horses spread among Goffs, DBS and Tattersalls], although we don’t have any horses we felt would suit Arqana better than any of the English sales this year, and we’re not offering any US-breds, partly because we were so busy prepping yearlings last year it was difficult to get across the Atlantic. The best stallions are currently in Europe and people are comfortable with what they can buy at home.

“We always thought Moohaajim had a lot of natural talent, but you’re not sure how much THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

until they race. When we saw his sale develop into a straight battle between underbidder David Redvers and Marco Botti we were delighted as he was certain to be in very capable hands whoever bought him.”

SEVEN SPRINGS, Newmarket Consignors of five Group 1 winners from relatively small numbers Armando Duarte is a partner in the business with Emma O’Gorman, who says: “We’re based near Tattersalls and since they’ve been very good to us we sell breezers only at their [two] sales. In the past, with just two of us, it was a logistical nightmare going away to sales

“Everyone used to

breeze their horses in pairs but buyers didn’t want the one that came second” further from home.

“When we started 13 years ago everyone breezed their horses in pairs, but buyers didn’t want the one that came second – even though it might prove the better horse in time. Now most horses breeze on their own, with exceptions for horses that are green and need to work in a pair to show their best.

EMMA BERRY

“I believe that the breeze-up sales still don’t really get the recognition they deserve but I would say that, wouldn’t I! Plenty of winners come from them – I sold the Gimcrack winner at Doncaster last year – but people still like to knock them and I don’t know why.

“From a selfish point of view I’m not sure the system of selling horses alphabetically by dam helps. I have a big consignment of 20 going to Tattersalls for the Craven Sale and we’ve ended up with 14 on the first day and six on the second. Last year days one and two at Newmarket were chalk and cheese and if that follows through to this year that will put me in a bad spot. I’d like to think there’s a fairer way of doing it.”

Armando Duarte and Emma O’Gorman

TALLY-HO STUD, Co Westmeath, Ireland Key players who consigned last year’s most expensive European breezer, a 500,000gns Shamardal colt With some 50 horses to breeze at sales in Britain and Ireland, it is just as well Tally-Ho Stud’s Roger O’Callaghan says: “We’re busy but that’s the way we like it. We’re selling at both Tattersalls’ sales [13 horses], plus Doncaster [15], Goffs [five] and Goresbridge [18], but we’re not going to Arqana. It hasn’t worked for me there – it might be the language barrier, or maybe I took the wrong type of horse.

“We’re taking a big draft to Donny but we’ve always sold well there and it’s a venue where you can sell at every level. We always buy some horses in the USA and this year we’re putting four through the Craven and a couple at Goffs.

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>>

Apr_104_BreezeUpsV2_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 14:55 Page 52

BREEZE-UP SALES PREVIEW the moment but the best two-year-old in Europe last year was by Exchange Rate. I don’t have a bias – there’s such a big pool of horses in America and if you work the sales hard you can have some luck with them.

“This is the busiest time of the year for us and the hardest part of the job is getting all the horses safely to the sales in one piece.”

The Rider

Roger O’Callaghan: big draft to Donny

>> We enjoy buying at Keeneland – it’s the only

sale we attend where we’re not selling and can therefore concentrate on buying, rather than playing on both sides of the fence. We go there with an open mind and try to come back with horses that look like they will run. The sire has a role but if the horse looks a runner we’ll buy it at our level.

“Regarding bonuses and other incentives offered by sales companies, I’d say it’s all about the horse that comes out the door. That’s all that matters.

“People are putting more emphasis on times and there are fewer horses breezing in pairs, probably because when they do there’s a winner and a loser.”

GAYBROOK LODGE STUD, Co Westmeath, Ireland Jim McCartan cut his teeth at Tally-Ho Stud with the O’Callaghans’ breeze-up horses and now prepares his own team at his farm in Mullingar along with running a video production company “We’re geared mainly towards pre-training and breeze-up horses and at the moment mostly sell our own horses,” says McCartan. “We’re often asked to take on breeze-up horses for other people so I’m planning to expand our facilities with an equine swimming pool and solarium and then we can increase both the sales and pretraining side.

“I don’t like to see young horses being put under too much pressure and I definitely wouldn’t be in favour of officially timing breezes like they do in America. I like horses to show a bit of style and a good attitude and naturally the precocious types will breeze a bit faster.

“It’s hard to compete in the yearling market as there’s only a certain amount you can get for a breeze-up horse. Yes, one made 500,000gns last year but only a few make over 100,000gns.

“We buy a few in America every year. Some people are a bit down on the American sires at

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EMMA BERRY

Jockey who is used by Jamie Railton and Charlie Vigors as a breeze rider Chalmers says: “From November to May I’m involved with breeze-up horses and can ride 10 to 15 at a sale. People are now mad on the clock, so a good breeze is when you hit the two-furlong pole running, get maximum effort in the final furlong and record a fast time.

“There is a lot of preparation, ground work and building up to the day of the breeze, so they are primed for the job.

“Some horses you have to kid along, some cannot gallop in a straight line, but you want to do a neat job. If the turf is a bit quick you have to hold them together to avoid sore shins that could prevent them going through the ring. I’m not nervous about the responsibility because we have no idea how much they are going to sell for.

“After the breeze I go home and pick up the results from there. It’s a good feeling if a horse you have ridden over many months sells well, and you follow them whenever they race.”

Charlie Vigors of Hillwood Stud says: “Neil rides out for Andrew Balding each morning

Jim McCartan: expanding business

and then comes to us. A good horseman who understands the horses is important, and the fact Neil comes here every day and knows each horse’s quirks and habits is very important.

“Trying to get every shape, size and calibre of horse to perform on one day is a skill. As consignors it’s good to have confidence in the person riding for you.”

Roger O’Callaghan of Tally-Ho Stud adds: “The lads in the yard, who are all from the Ukraine, are very important because they break the horses in and ride them away, but [jockey] Michael Hussey rides them for us in the breeze.

His willingness to help is crucial, but so is his bottle. Some lads are more nervous than others before riding in the breeze because there’s a lot at stake.”

EMMA BERRY

EMMA BERRY

NEIL CHALMERS

Neil Chalmers rides out for Andrew Balding and is highly valued by consignors

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Apr_104_BreezeUpsV2_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 14:55 Page 53

BREEZE-UP SALES PREVIEW

The Rider/Consignor DANIELE MORONI Selling one horse at Tattersalls’ Craven Sale and two at Goresbridge Italian-born Moroni says: “I began with breezers in 2007 when I was in Newmarket, and Emma O’Gorman and Armando Duarte were very good guides.

“Now I’m based in Ireland, working for John Egan and renting some boxes from him. I start on my horses at 4.30am and then begin with John at 7.30am. The first horse I sold under my own name was a Barathea colt bought for 3,000gns as a yearling and sold for €65,000 at the Arqana breeze-up. He later won a couple of jumps races, but for me he was a Derby winner.

“I ride my own horses in the breeze. It’s pure adrenalin and I love it. I’m light enough and, while I might not be the best, that’s my glory.

I’d rather ride them, and accept I might make a little less money, than put a better rider up.”

O’Gorman and Duarte of Seven Springs ride their draft in the breeze.

O’Gorman says: “You get one chance so cannot afford to mess up – it can take several years before you get it to a tee. You don’t want to set off too soon or your horse might get tired, but you want to be rolling when you hit the start pole or it costs you time.

“A lot of it comes down to the homework you do in advance, to give a horse confidence to go quick.”

The Clocker HANNAH WALL Times the breezes for David Redvers, whose clients include Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani’s Pearl Bloodstock Wall says: “We timed breezes by hand for a number of years, then last year we used a Tag Heuer electronic system. It puts a beam across the track at the two-furlong pole and the finishing post.

“It’s a useful device but we also watch every breeze to assess how a horse is being ridden and the way it’s moving. We factor in the time with the visual evidence and we wouldn’t buy a horse solely because it’s done the fastest time. We found the electronic system and the handheld clock produced the same top ten times, but the electronic saves me entering up hours of data.” >>

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EMMA BERRY

call Brian O’Rourke on +44 (0)7789 508157 or email stallions@nationalstud.co.uk National Stud Ltd., Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 0XE Managing Director: Brian O’Rourke Hannah Wall: time not the sole factor

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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Apr_104_BreezeUpsV2_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 14:56 Page 54

The Buyer

“I’ve done reasonably well buying breezers and in theory it’s simpler because you see them in their faster paces. The stats for the number of winners that come out of breezes are good and my clients can save on training fees. The earlier young horses start work the better – it’s good for bone density. Look at the successful young jumpers that come out of France.

“I don’t use a clock because I don’t have time to do that and watch the breeze. I’m looking for a good mover that looks a racehorse, besides we couldn’t afford to buy the horse that records the fastest time.”

STEPHEN HILLEN, Newmarketbased bloodstock agent In the past two years has bought Bapak Chinta, who won Royal Ascot’s Norfolk Stakes, and Gimcrack Stakes winner Blaine “I take a little tour in Ireland before the sales to get a feel for the horses and look at them in my own time. It’s a chance to assess their temperament, and if they impress at home and in the breeze they have two ticks.

When it all goes to plan...

Catching up with three high-flying graduates from the breeze-up sales of recent years RIO DE LA PLATA

Pam Sly with her Classic winner

SPECIOSA Successful in the 1,000 Guineas and so far the only British Classic winner to emerge from a breeze-up sale Her trainer and joint-owner, Pam Sly, bought Speciosa for 30,000gns at the DBS Breeze-Up Sale in April 2005. Sly says: “We picked out a colt but he made 70,000gns or 80,000gns, which was beyond our budget. Also on our list was a Danehill Dancer filly who breezed alright, had an athletic walk and was nice looking, although she swished her tail a bit.

We bought her, that was Speciosa.

“She’s a good breeder, but being by Danehill Dancer means I’m a little short of sires I can use. I train her Oasis Dream threeyear-old, Speciality, who finished close up in a maiden last season, and I have her two-yearold daughter by Sea The Stars called Asteroidea, which is a class of sea star [starfish]. Her yearling is a Dubawi colt we sold last year as a foal [78,000gns] and she’s due to Teofilo on April 19. We plan to use Dutch Art this year.

“I’m sure there will be a good one to come out of her, and probably a filly, because there have been some wonderful fillies in her family, including Pride.”

54

Proved worthy of his expensive price tag with three Group 1 victories and a career spanning six seasons Bought by Con Marnane of Bansha House Stables as a Keeneland yearling in 2006 for $75,000, he was reoffered at Tattersalls’ Craven Breeze-Up Sale, where John Ferguson paid 170,000gns.

Within two months of being sent to trainer Saeed bin Suroor, he finished third in a Newmarket maiden, but he broke his duck soon after and then took Goodwood’s Group 2 Vintage Stakes. His next three assignments were all in top-grade company, in which he was second and fourth to New Approach in the National Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes, sandwiched by victory in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

In the following two seasons he failed to win, although he was second in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, but as a five-year-old he scored five times, winning two Italian Group 1 contests late in the season. Aged six he lost

Stephen Hillen, left, with Richard Fahey

nothing in narrow defeat by Excelebration in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin.

Rio De La Plata retired at the age of seven, having run 30 times, won eight races and been placed in 11 for earnings of £976,000.

Few, if any, breeze-up horses have shown similar ability over so many seasons. He now stands under the Darley banner at Haras du Logis for a fee of €7,000.

CASPAR NETSCHER An early success story for amateur jockey and consignor Katie Walsh Bred at Meon Valley Stud, he was sold by that farm as a yearling for 25,000gns at Tattersalls’ October Sale. Buyer Katie Walsh reoffered him at the Craven Sale in April 2011, when agent Tom Malone and trainer Alan McCabe brought the hammer down at 65,000gns.

Exactly one month later he opened his account in a Beverley maiden, followed up with some game efforts in Listed and Group company, before gaining victories in the Group 2 Gimcrack and Mill Reef Stakes. He ran ten times as a juvenile and bounced out fresh the following spring, winning the Greenham Stakes and Germany’s 2,000 Guineas, the Group 2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen.

He retired the winner of five races and of £294,000 in prize-money, and is standing at Morristown Lattin Stud for a fee of €7,500.

GEORGE SELWYN

GEORGE SELWYN

>>

EMMA BERRY

BREEZE-UP SALES PREVIEW

Caspar Netscher: a multiple Group winner consigned by Katie Walsh

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

RHT FULL PAGE APRIL BREEZE UP TOB 2013 new style4_Layout 1 20/03/2013 13:48 Page 1

Photo: Emma Berry

Go to racehorsetrader.com for a one-stop shop showing horses consigned by the leading vendors at the Spring Breeze-Ups Want to be part of this Breeze-Up promotion?

Contact George Primarolo on 07833 048999 today!

Leading consignors have teamed up with Race Horse Trader to give potential buyers ready access to information, pictures and videos on many two-year-olds being put through their paces at the following sales:

Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale April 16th-18th

Doncaster Breeze-Up Sale April 22nd-23rd

Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale May 2nd-3rd

Arqana Breeze-Up Sale May 11th

Visit racehorsetrader.com for details of two-year-olds being sold by the following consignors: Mocklershill Bansha House Stud

Church Farm Stables Hillwood Stud

www.racehorsetrader.com

Oaks Farm Stables Gaybrooke Lodge

Tel: 020 7152 0205

Jamie Railton Bloodstock Seven Springs Stables

E: support@racehorsetrader.com

Apr_104_Sales_Circuit_Sales 21/03/2013 13:42 Page 56

SALES CIRCUIT

By STEVE ANDERSEN and EMMA BERRY

Coolmore makes the running Demi O’Byrne selects brace of breezers to join Todd Pletcher’s New York team

Barretts March Selected Two-Year-Olds

“I was hesitant to be so bullish, but everything was very favorable,” said Barretts General Manager Kim Lloyd. “All winter long we spent a lot of time in Ocala. The horses we saw train were good horses all winter. We knew if we got them to the sale they had a chance to be successful.”

O’Byrne kept a low profile through the late afternoon sale, seated in the sales ring with Tabor or speaking on a mobile phone outside the sale pavilion. The $675,000 Malibu Moon colt O’Bryne bought was expected to be in high demand, having worked a quarter-mile in 20.8 seconds on the racetrack adjacent to the sale ground on March 1. His time was the fastest of any of the horses that breezed over that distance.

“He breezed very well, I thought,” O’Byrne said. “We thought he’d bring about that.”

The Malibu Moon colt was consigned by Florida-based James Chapman’s Breaking Point Farm. Chapman bought the colt for $185,000 at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton July Yearling Sale.

B

oosted by big spending from prominent bloodstock agent Demi O’Byrne, including the sale-topper, the first American breeze-up sale of 2013 began with higher prices at the Barretts March Sale of selected two-year-olds in-training on March 4.

The one-day sale in California showed significant growth from the previous year in gross sales, as well as average and median prices.

O’Byrne, attending the sale with owner Michael Tabor, led all buyers, acquiring three colts for $1,425,000, including a Malibu Moon colt that topped the sale for $675,000, a colt by Dunkirk that cost $575,000 and a Flower Alley colt for $175,000. The horses will be trained by New York-based Todd Pletcher for Tabor and his partners, O’Byrne said.

Overall, 61 horses sold for $8,751,000, an average of $143,459 and a median of $100,000.

The gross increased 4%, while the average soared by 31% and the median rose by 18% over the corresponding sale in 2012.

The average was the highest since the 2008 figure of $178,027, before the international recession.

One category that showed a decline this year was the number sold. In 2012, there were 77 horses sold from a catalogue of 148 horses; this year, there were 138 horses cataloged. There were 31 listed as not sold, a buy-back rate of 34%, compared to 27 not sold last year, a buyback rate of 36%.

Sale officials expected a strong sale after scouting prospects through the winter at farms in Ocala, Florida, where many consignors are based.

The colt is out of the 11-year-old mare Fashion Cat, by Forest Wildcat. Fashion Cat, a winner for the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel at Monmouth Park in 2005, is out of Hold To Fashion, the dam of Peace Rules, who won $3,084,278.

Fast workout times produced high prices.

The Dunkirk colt bought by O’Byrne, and an Exchange Rate colt bought by Jamie McCalmont for $250,000, each worked a furlong in 9.6 seconds.

The Dunkirk colt was consigned by California pinhooker Bruno DeBerdt’s Excel Bloodstock, who led all consignors, selling three horses for $1,205,000. The Dunkirk colt was bought by DeBerdt for $50,000 at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale in Kentucky.

Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stable sold ten horses for $1,835,000 as the leading sale agent, acting for a variety of clients.

This was the second consecutive year that Barretts offered the first breeze-up sale of the

Barretts March Selected Two-Year-Olds Top lots

Sex/Breeding

Vendor

Buyer

C Malibu Moon - Fashion Cat

Breaking Point Farm

Demi O’Byrne

Price ($) 675,000

C Dunkirk - Missy Turtle

Excel Bloodstock

Demi O’Byrne

575,000

C War Front - Seasoned

Wavertree Stables

Patrick Biancone, agent

570,000

F Harlan’s Holiday - Tasha’s Star

Wavertree Stables

Narvick International

325,000

F Tapit - Punch Appeal

Excel Bloodstock

West Point Thoroughbreds

320,000

F Henrythenavigator - Delighted Cat

Excel Bloodstock

Gary S Broad

310,000

F Unbridled’s Song – Jera

Eddie Woods

Stephen W. Young, agent

270,000

C Broken Vow - Exquisite Beauty

SGV Thoroughbreds

Big Red Farm

260,000

C Exchange Rate - Perfect Paula

Wavertree Stables

McCalmont Bloodstock

250,000

C Harlan’s Holiday - Rietondale

SGV Thoroughbreds

Nick de Meric, agent

250,000

Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale

EMMA BERRY

Top lots

Sex/Breeding

Vendor

Buyer

C Fastnet Rock - Bird Of Fire

Esker Lodge

Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock 450,000

Price (A$)

C Fastnet Rock - Arborea

Coolmore

Lindsay Park Bloodstock

C New Appraoch - Expensively

Supreme Thoroughbreds

Rockmount

310,000

C Not A Single Doubt - Euchre

Fairhill Farm

William Inglis as agent (NZ)

300,000

340,000

F Fastnet Rock - Sarah Vee

Musk Creek Farm

Lindsay Park Bloodstock

300,000

C Redoute’s Choice - Glimmers

Lauriston T’bred Farm

Nordic Racing & Breeding

300,000

F Snitzel - Acceleration

Lauriston T’Bred Farm

Spicer Thoroughbreds

300,000

C Bel Esprit - Murray Mary

Supreme Thoroughbreds

George Moore Bloodstock

280,000

C Teofilo - San Cristobel

Tyreel Stud

Mick Kent

250,000

C Northern Meteor - Jollity

Three Bridges T’breds

S Morinaka

240,000

Demi O’Byrne: leading buyer at Barretts

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THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

INGLIS.COM.AU

Apr_104_Sales_Circuit_Sales 21/03/2013 13:42 Page 57

Galileo’s sole yearling in Melbourne sold for A$130,000

year, a position that the sale company intends to keep. The sale was held two days after the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap at nearby Santa Anita.

Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale A ‘Blue Riband’ session to enhance the appeal of domestic staying-bred yearlings at Melbourne’s main yearling sale paid dividends with three of the ten most expensive yearlings sold were included in the initiative.

The sale’s top lot – a Fastnet Rock colt out of the NZ-bred dual Group 2 winner Bird Of Fire sold for A$450,000 – hailed from outside that session aimed at halting the flow of cash spent by Australian buyers in Europe but was bought by Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock (ATB), an outfit keen on European bloodstock. ATB bought Jakkalberry ahead of his third-place finish in the Melbourne Cup and, more recently, Dandino.

At the head of the Blue Riband showcase and the second-top lot of the sale was another Fastnet Rock colt, the fifteenth foal of the VRC Oaks and VATC One Thousand Guineas winner Arborea, by Imperial Prince. David Hayes’s Lindsay Park Bloodstock signed the ticket at $340,000 and acquired seven during the sale’s first session for a total of $985,000 to head the buyers’ list. This included spending $300,000 on a daughter of Fastnet Rock offered by Musk Creek Farm. Out of Listed winner Sarah Vee, she shared top billing among the fillies with a daughter of Snitzel bought by Spicer Thoroughbreds. Unsurprisingly, Fastnet Rock was the leading sire of the sale with an average of $278,000 for five sold.

New Approach has done little wrong in his fledgling stud career in both hemispheres and his chestnut son out of the multiple juvenile winner Expensively was knocked down at $310,000. Three of the sire’s four offerings in the Blue Riband session made six figures, including Swettenham Stud’s colt out of Grade 2 winner Buffythecenterfold’s halfsister Cape Augusta, who fetched $230,000.

High Chaparral, whose appeal in Australasia has been further boosted with the Royal Randwick Guineas win of It’s A Dundeel (see page 36), also featured prominently among the more expensive yearlings with five selling for $100,000 or more. His Coolmore stud mate, the world’s leading sire Galileo, had just one yearling catalogued and the flashy chestnut colt with Irish origins is now off to South Africa having been bought by Form Bloodstock for $130,000. His dam, the Danehill Dancer mare Dreamalittledream, won a maiden at Down Royal for David Wachman and is a half-sister to the Craven Stakes winner Killybegs.

The two-day first session of the sale closed with an aggregate almost identical to that posted in 2012 – at $32,079,912 – but with an average up by 9% to $78,627 from $72,412. The clearance rate for the 535 yearlings offered fell to 76% from 82% 12 months earlier.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Pastoral Pursuits BAHAMIAN BOUNTY X STAR

Fee: £5,500 (1st October)

Gr1 winning son of BAHAMIAN BOUNTY 15 individual 2YO winners in 2012 with a winners/ runners strike rate of 33% Sire of:

PASTORAL PLAYER: WON Jury Stakes Gr.3; 2nd in Summer Mile Stakes & OLBG Park Stakes Gr.2 in 2012

SAGRAMOR: 2nd in three Gr.3 races in succession in 2012 – Brigadier Gerard Stakes, Prix Gontaut Biron & September Stakes “I have been lucky enough to train a number of PASTORAL PURSUIT’S progeny; what I really like about them is that they are all forward going athletes and so are easy to train. Like him they also have that crucial ingredient, ‘a turn of foot’ and progress with age.”

Hughie Morrison, Gr.1 winning trainer

call Brian O’Rourke on +44 (0)7789 508157 or email stallions@nationalstud.co.uk National Stud Ltd., Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 0XE Managing Director: Brian O’Rourke

57

Apr_104_Caulfield_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 13:37 Page 58

CAULFIELD FILES ANDREW CAULFIELD REPORTS ON THE BLOODSTOCK WORLD

No doubt about the future of this sireline Redoute’s Choice underlines his potential as a sire of sires as his grand-daughter Miracles Of Life emulates his success in Melbourne’s premier juvenile Group 1 race

58

BRONWEN HEALY

T

he decision to shuttle the two-time Australian champion sire Redoute’s Choice to Europe for the first time has received timely support on two fronts.

Soon after he covered his first mares at Haras de Bonneval, the 16-year-old stallion (born August 15, 1996) became the first Australian son of Danehill to be represented by 100 stakes winners.

Then the second half of February and the first few days of March highlighted Redoute’s Choice’s tremendous potential as a sire of sires. Although Redoute’s Choice’s first foals weren’t born until the second half of 2001, six of his sons have already been represented

by Group 1 winners. They are a mixed bunch. For example, Bradbury’s Luck won nothing more important than a Listed race but he drew attention to himself as the sire of Luckygray, a dual Group 1 winner at up to nine furlongs in Western Australia. Two of the six sons were sent to New Zealand for their stallion careers after becoming Group winners in Australia. The Group 2 middle-distance winner Duelled sired the 2011 Queensland Derby winner Shootoff, whereas Fast ‘N’ Famous, a Group 3 sprint winner, sired the 2012 Queensland Oaks winner Quintessential.

Stratum, Snitzel and Not A Single Doubt, the three other sons which have hit the Group 1 target, are much higher profile.

Stratum, the 2005 Golden Slipper Stakes winner, numbers the 2010 Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily and the 2012 Australian Oaks winner Streama among his Group 1 winners. He stood the 2012 season at Widden Stud at a fee of AUS$44,000. Stratum should have a good crop of two-year-olds reaching the track towards the end of 2013, as his success with Crystal Lily boosted his fee to $60,500 in 2010.

Snitzel, a sprinter who took the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate over five and a half furlongs, stood the 2012 season alongside his sire at Arrowfield at a fee of $33,000. Having been

Miracles Of Life becomes the first Group 1 winner for her sire Not A Single Doubt

represented by several Group winners, headed

by Sizzling (Group 1 TJ Smith) and Snitzerland (a close second to Pierro in the 2012 Golden Slipper), Snitzel was in great demand in 2012, covering 249 mares – his biggest book to date by a sizeable margin. The breeders who supported him will have been pleased to see his daughter Sweet Idea win the Group 2 Silver Slipper in early March.

Arrowfield is also home to Not A Single Doubt. As a winner of nothing more prestigious than a pair of Listed races over sprint distances, Not A Single Doubt spent his first six seasons at a fee no higher than $13,750. Unsurprisingly, much of his early Australian success as a stallion was limited to Listed and Group 3 levels, but he appears to have hit the jackpot with his two-year-old daughter Miracles Of Life. Unbeaten in four starts, in the hands of 29-year-old apprentice rider Lauren Stojakovic, Miracles Of Life was impressive in winning the Group 1 Blue

Diamond Stakes in February. Her victory came 14 years after Redoute’s Choice had carried the same colours to success in the same race.

It will be fascinating to see whether any of Redoute’s Choice’s other inexpensive stallion sons can make a similar breakthrough in years to come. Arrowfield had the misfortune at the start of 2013 to lose Beneteau, who raced only as a two-year-old, when he won the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude and was third in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes. He had 79 first-crop foals born in 2012.

Let’s hope Swettenham Stud has better luck with the speedy Master Of Design, winner of the TJ Smith Classic as a six-year-old in 2012.

He covered 140 mares in his first season.

Darley is another with an inexpensive son of Redoute’s Choice, in Time Thief, who was placed at Group 1 level, while Widden has Tickets, who was second in a pair of Group 1 contests at two. He has 100 first-crop foals born last year.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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Exceed’s juveniles excelling back at home Last August, when reviewing the pedigree of Excelebration in the Thoroughbred Daily News, I wrote the following about his sire Exceed And Excel: “The difference between Exceed And Excel’s form in the two hemispheres meant that there was quite a gulch between his fees in the south and north. Whereas his initial Australian fee was AUS$55,000, the son of Danehill started his European career at €10,000. At the relevant exchange rates, this meant that Exceed And Excel was available in Ireland for less than a third of his Australian fee. As none of his five European crops of racing age [in 2012] was sired at more than £12,000, his European achievements seemed likely to pale alongside those of their more expensive Australian counterparts.

Remarkably, the opposite has been true.

“Whereas he has only six Group winners among his 535 southern hemisphere foals, he already has twice as many Group winners among his 502 northern hemisphere foals.”

I pointed out that the northern hemisphere figure could easily rise before the end of 2012, thanks to such as the smart handicapper Fulbright, and I was proved right when he took the Group 2 Challenge Stakes to boost his sire’s total of northern hemisphere Group winners to 13. It is going to be interesting to see whether Exceed And Excel’s 2011 and 2012 crops can maintain this standard, as they

too were sired at £12,000, before his fee climbed to £22,500 and then to £35,000.

Exceed And Excel’s fee also rose in Australia following the success of his first two crops, doubling from its original $55,000 to $110,000 in 2008 and 2009. Although a stallion’s fee is often a reliable litmus test for predicting the future, it hasn’t worked with his

Guelph caused quite a lot of interest because she is inbred 2 x 3 to Danehill. She finished only ninth of 14 when second favourite for the Blue Diamond Stakes when attempting to become the second Group 1 winner inbred to Danehill. Southern Lord, a Stratum gelding inbred 3 x 3, was the first.

It’s a pretty safe bet that there will be more to come. Taking a quick look through Fastnet Rock’s current crop of Australian two-yearolds, two of them are out of daughters of Redoute’s Choice. Then there are others whose second dams are by Danehill, which creates the same end result – 2 x 3 to Danehill. There are also several inbred 3 x 3 to Danzig, with dams by Green Desert, Anabaa, Polish Patriot and Bianconi.

At the Inglis Yearling Sale in early March, the highest price in the opening session – $250,000 – was paid for a Teofilo colt out of a Fastnet Rock mare, which is therefore inbred 3 x 3 to Danehill. More significantly, a Fastnet Rock yearling colt that sold for NZ$1,975,000 in January has a second dam by Danehill, so is another inbred 2 x 3.

By the way, I am not necessarily recommending such close inbreeding, simply pointing it out. While I can envisage major winners inbred so closely to Danehill, where do we go from there, especially in Australia, a nation which has so much Danehill blood?

“Exceed And Excel filly Guelph caused a lot of interest as she is inbred 2 x 3 to Danehill”

109 foals of 2009. None has so far succeeded in winning anything better than a Listed race.

Fortunately the signs are more encouraging with his second six-figure crop. The Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude has divisions for both sexes and Exceed And Excel sired the winners of both, thanks to his son Kuroshio and daughter Guelph. His four stakes winners from 27 runners have earned him third place on Australia’s list of sires of two-year-olds.

One of the strongest contenders for the title of hottest National Hunt stallion during February was Lavirco, winner of the 1996 German Derby.

Sadly this son of Konigsstuhl died in November 2009, at the age of 16, but his legacy includes Majala (Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices’ Chase on February 9), So Young (Grade 2 Red Mills Trial Hurdle a week later) and Roi Du Mee (Grade 2 Bobbyjo Chase on February 23), while multiple Grade 1-winning hurdler Mikael d’Haguenet is finally getting the hang of the bigger obstacles.

Lavirco’s talented runners outside France during the 2012-13 season also include Tarla (Grade 3 TA Morris Memorial Mares Novice Chase) and Royal Boy (third in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle). His current French representatives include So Young’s brother Quarouso, winner of the Grade 2 Prix Georges Courtois Chase at Auteuil last November.

Although Lavirco is no longer with us, there THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

EMMA BERRY

Hot spell for late stallion Lavirco

Overbury Stud’s Schiaparelli, by Monsun

is the consolation that he has 44 unraced threeyear-olds, the vast majority of them being non-thoroughbreds with names beginning with “A”, including a couple with the Collonges suffix. There are also 54 four-year-olds, mainly with names beginning with “V”.

Although Lavirco spent much of his life as a member of the French National Stud’s extensive stallion team, he was bred and raced in Germany. His dam La Virginia, a sister to the

dam of the top-class Lomitas, also produced Lavirco’s talented brother Laveron. This winner of the German St Leger was switched to hurdling and did so well that his victories included the 2002 French Champion Hurdle.

Lavirco’s sire Konigsstuhl was also responsible for Monsun, a stallion who looks destined to make a considerable impact on the Anglo-Irish jumping scene. February saw Shirocco represented by his first Graded winner over hurdles, when Annie Power took the Grade 2 Paddypower.com Novice Hurdle.

Network, another son of Monsun, has developed into an excellent sire of jumpers, with Sprinter Sacre, Saint Are, Rubi Light, Rubi Ball and Net Lovely advertising his merit, and there is a growing band of Monsun stallions available to jumping breeders in Ireland and Britain.

They include Getaway at Coolmore and Schiaparelli at Overbury Stud, but others are Listed winner Aizavoski, Group 2 winner Arcadio, Group 1-placed Salutino and Shirocco’s Listed-winning brother September Storm. There is now also a grandson of Monsun in Durban Thunder, a Group 1 winner by Samum, who is another recruit to Ireland.

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ROA FORUM The special section for ROA members

Trying to reduce the cost of ownership Richard Wayman reports mixed fortunes in the struggle to cut owners’ banking charges You won’t be surprised to hear that the improvement of prizemoney continues to sit at the top of the ROA’s list of priorities and, whilst total returns in 2013 are likely to exceed their previous best, there is still a long way to go before owners will begin to receive a fair return for their considerable outlay.

To that end, two of our immediate objectives are to have prize-money agreements with racecourses that would ensure that a fair share of racecourse revenue is allocated to prizemoney, and also to generate an increased return from betting to racing, including by capturing a share of all amounts bet on British racing by punters based in the UK. Owners’ costs are the other side of the financial equation, with training fees inevitably being the largest single item of expenditure.

Whilst owners should seek savings wherever possible, the reality is that ensuring that racehorses enjoy a level of care and quality of life that is virtually unsurpassed by any other domesticated animal comes at a price. Also, if an owner is unhappy with their monthly

invoice, there are hundreds of other trainers that would be pleased to welcome their business.

Unfortunately, there is much less competition in other areas, including in relation to owners’ financial facilities. Under the Rules of Racing, owners must open an accounting facility before being able to commence their racing activities.

Such facilities enable the payment of any prizemoney due in an efficient, secure and timely manner, and allow for the automatic payment of entry fees, riding fees and registration fees.

“The BHA has agreed that charging line fees is outdated so these will be dropped”

There are just two types of accounting facilities from which owners can choose; a Weatherbys Bank account and a BHA direct debit arrangement.

The ROA has been encouraging both organisations to review the charges associated with operating either of these facilities, which,

until now, have included line fees that involves the owner being charged for each racing transaction that appears on their monthly statement; 55p per line at Weatherbys and 60p at the BHA. To its credit, the BHA has agreed that the concept of charging such line fees is outdated and has agreed that from April 1 these will be dropped. The ROA is grateful to the BHA for this move, which means that those who use this facility will benefit from annual savings of around £160,000. This also means owners will now be able to operate their racing accounting facilities without incurring any charges.

As for the Weatherbys option, it is only fair to acknowledge that, because it is a bank account, it has some operational advantages over the BHA facility. I am sorry to say, however, that, despite our best efforts, Weatherbys say that they have no plans to reduce their charges to owners, either by removing line fees or their £5 monthly account management fee.

Over the coming months, improving prizemoney will remain at the forefront of our activities but the ROA will continue to seek reductions in the various costs incurred by owners, big and small, and we would encourage members to join us in seeking a muchimproved financial deal for owners.

Following a sell-out success last year, the ROA and Goodwood racecourse are delighted to repeat a substantially discounted hospitality offer to members for each of the five days of Glorious Goodwood (July 30-August 3).

This dining option compliments the existing arrangement where ROA members can order admission badges for the Richmond Enclosure for Glorious Goodwood through the ROA office.

The specially tailored package for ROA members comprises a Richmond Enclosure badge, a reserved grandstand seat, a threecourse lunch in the Horsewalk Restaurant located in the Charlton Stand, afternoon tea, a racecard and Racing Post, and valet parking.

The package is priced at £158 per person per day.

Bookings will be limited to a maximum of

60

GEORGE SELWYN

More Glorious offers anyone?

The glorious sight of thrilling racing at Goodwood in mid-summer

six places per booking and are available on a first come first served basis. Bookings for the package close on May 31 but we anticipate selling out early.

For further details, or to book, see racehorseowners.net or call 020 7152 0200.

Admission badges only for the Richmond Enclosure can be booked in advance for all five days of Glorious Goodwood. Daily badges are priced at £72 per person for orders placed

by June 1 and increase to £82 per day thereafter.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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www.racehorseowners.net

Awards night helps to swell charities’ coffers by £57,000

GEORGE SELWYN

Don’t forget to place your FREE advert with Race Horse Trader!

Tony Hirschfeld presented cheques to the representatives of three charities

are delighted to be able to make a sizeable contribution to these five very deserving charities. It is a testament to the generosity of our members and guests, and we are very grateful to all of our donors and sponsors who support the evening.”

Christopher Tregoning, Honorary Treasurer of the National Horseracing Museum, said: ”The National Horseracing Museum is getting very close to its fundraising target of £15 million, the figure needed to start work on our exciting new site at Newmarket’s historic Palace House.

“The new project, which will be shared with the British Sporting Art Trust and the Jockey Club’s Retraining of Racehorses Charity, will provide an exciting and worthy showcase for British racing.

“The trustees of the museum are hugely grateful to everyone who has contributed to the project and, in particular, to the members of the Racehorse Owners Association who have supported us so enthusiastically and with such generosity.”

Weatherbys May visit

TREVOR JONES

Five charities have collectively benefitted from nearly £57,000 as a result of fundraising at the ROA Horseracing Awards evening, sponsored

by Bordeaux Fine Wines Ltd. The National Horseracing Museum received £19,500 from the proceeds of a specially commissioned painting of Frankel by Peter Curling, which was a special item in the Grand Auction.

The balance of the funds raised from the Grand and Silent auctions on the evening will assist the air ambulance services covering the training centres of Newmarket, Lambourn and Malton. A total of £24,347 was split among the East Anglian Air Ambulance, Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust and Yorkshire Air Ambulance charities, with each receiving £8,119.

The Headway charity received £12,953 as a result of owners including their racing colours in the awards brochure.

Tony Hirschfeld, ROA Council member and Chairman of the Awards Committee, said: “We

Do you have a racehorse you want to sell?

Then try Race Horse Trader – the online way to buy and sell racehorses. Placing an advert couldn’t be easier.

With ten different search categories, Race Horse Trader offers a comprehensive range of bloodstock, from unraced juveniles to broodmares in foal, so not only can prospective buyers find what they’re looking for in seconds but vendors also know that their listing is easy to find.

For a limited time, placing an advert on Race Horse Trader is FREE to ROA members. However, this offer will come to an end on April 15, so there’s not long left to take advantage of this free introductory period. Any adverts placed before this date will remain on the website free of charge until they are sold.

So whether you’re a trainer, owner, bloodstock agent or breeder, Race Horse Trader offers an invaluable service for all those involved in the bloodstock industry.

To place an advert or to browse the listings, simply go to www. racehorsetrader.com

Weatherbys would like to invite ROA members, and a guest, to join them for a visit to their offices on Tuesday, May 21 for a tour of the organisation followed by lunch.

The aim of the tour is to provide members with an insight into the role that Weatherbys plays within the racing industry, highlighting different areas of service and giving an opportunity to meet some of the Weatherbys team. Further information can be viewed on the ROA website in the Events section at racehorseowners.net Spaces on the tour are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. RSVPs should be received by Friday, May 10 at the latest.

Members wishing to attend should e-mail Amy Haxby on ahaxby@weatherbys.co.uk, stating whether you will be attending on your own or with a guest.

President Rachel Hood with National Horseracing Museum’s Christopher Tregoning

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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ROA FORUM

New and improved training agreements ROA Council member and lawyer Justin Wadham (left) explains the benefits of the updated contract The ROA and NTF have recently agreed a new and improved standard training agreement.

Training agreements are mandatory under the Rules of Racing and, while the disadvantages of having one are non-existent, the advantages are considerable.

One of the commonest problems is the trainer having to look after and feed a horse belonging to an owner who hasn’t paid. One of the biggest myths is that a trainer has some right, implied by general law, to hold onto the horse he is not being paid for until he is, and thus exert some form of leverage. There is no such implied right and this is a matter of decided case law. But it is very easy to create such a right by contract and, from a trainer’s point of view, making sure that such a right exists is almost reason enough to ensure his relationship with his owners is governed by a training agreement.

Even the most diligent and conscientious of payers can go bust and for a trainer to have first claim over the assets in his yard, which would otherwise be available to all other creditors, is a huge advantage.

Under the old agreement a trainer had a specific lien (a right to keep possession of another’s assets until a debt associated with that asset is paid) and a right to sell horses in the enforcement of that lien, though only through certain recognised public auctions.

However, under the new deal, the lien is a general one – such that potentially all the horses belonging to a given owner in the trainer’s care can be detained for so long as there are any monies due. Furthermore, there is now scope for the trainer to enforce the lien by selling the horse(s) not only at public auction but privately (based on independent valuation).

Training agreements set out what the trainer can charge for and what he will charge until further notice. As a trainer has no right to charge anything to an owner except in accordance with the contract, it is desirable that everything a trainer proposes to charge is clearly set out. A trainer’s commission in relation to sales and/or

purchases is a case in point. If, for example, a trainer wants to be able to charge a commission in any circumstances he must spell out and agree precisely what those circumstances are.

He has no right, if he enlists assistance from an agent in buying a horse, to split commission with the agent unless the owner/buyer of the horse agrees. To do so on an undisclosed basis is to receive a secret profit and is fraudulent. This is easily overcome by a suitable clause, and the new ROA/NTF agreement contains just that.

In some jurisdictions, a trainer’s percentage of prize-money is not deducted at source and the trainer has to recover it from the owner.

There is no automatic contractual entitlement on the part of a trainer to this money unless the contract specifies – as it does in the ROA/NTF form – that overseas prize-money paid to an owner will be subject to deductions in the same amounts as would apply under English rules or, if higher, under those which would have applied where the money was won had the English trainer been licensed and based in the country where the money was won.

An owner who has a bona fide dispute with a trainer over the amount owed can avoid the effects of the trainer’s lien (and power of sale) by paying the amount claimed by the trainer into a joint account of the trainer and the owner maintained by the ROA and the NTF. This will remove the horse from the ambit of the trainer’s lien, and the owner can do with it as he pleases.

The money will remain in the account until there’s a resolution as to how it is to be paid out.

I’m regularly consulted in relation to disputes between owners and trainers. Nine out of ten times, necessity for my involvement arises from the absence of a training agreement. The moral is, therefore, that if you like giving money to lawyers (and are happy to court disciplinary sanction), don’t have a training agreement.

To view or download the new training agreement please see the Resources section on the ROA website at racehorseowners.net

“The moral of my

experience is if you like giving money to lawyers, don’t have a training agreement”

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In Brief Curragh offer The ROA and Curragh racecourse are collaborating to offer ROA members free admission on specified racedays this summer.

Members can take advantage of free admission to the Curragh on Sunday, June 30 (Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby festival) and Sunday, July 21 (Darley Irish Oaks weekend) on production of a valid ROA Horseracing Privilege Photocard.

SIS owner-sponsorship The first six months of the SIS ownersponsorship scheme to the end of February has seen branding worn on 3,000 occasions

by ROA-owned horses registered on one of the schemes.

Runners have been performing creditably on the racecourse and during February, of the 400 occasions the SIS logo was worn, 46% of runners earned their owners prize-money, with 44 runners winning and 140 finishing placed.

For details of SIS owner-sponsorship, see racehorseowners.net or contact Keely Brewer in the ROA office on 020 7152 0200, or email kbrewer@roa.co.uk

Cheltenham Festival print To celebrate the Cheltenham Festival, ROA members who were lucky enough to own a winner of any of the 27 races will be sent a free print of their horse, courtesy of Racing Post Photos.

In the case of horses that are in joint ownership or under a racing partnership, the free print will be sent automatically to the first registered owner or nominated partner.

All members are reminded that they can log onto the members’ area on the ROA website at any time in order to access an exclusive 33% discount code for all prints and gifts purchased through Racing Post Photos.

Punchestown offer The Punchestown festival is a highlight of the Irish sporting and social calendar and Punchestown racecourse is generously extending free admission to ROA members on the first day of this year’s festival on April 23, Boylesports Champion Chase day. The headline race is a possible target for star chaser Sprinter Sacre.

Members will be able to gain admission on production of a valid ROA Horseracing Privilege Photocard at the allocated visitors turnstile. The festival runs from Tuesday, April 23 to Saturday, April 27 and further details can be found at punchestown.com

Competition winner The winner of last month’s competition to win two Club admission tickets to the Cheltenham Festival for Gold Cup day and badges for the ROA marquee was member John Coombs, from Exeter.

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www.racehorseowners.net

Membership fee refund with new insurance offer Weatherbys Hamilton LLP, the new force in private client insurance, and the Racehorse Owners Association are delighted to announce a valuable insurance benefit for all members of the ROA. From April 1, any member of the ROA who places his or her household insurance with Hiscox through Weatherbys Hamilton could qualify to have the cost of their next annual membership fee (2013: £220) reimbursed. It will also apply to policyholders joining the ROA for the first time as a result of this initiative.

In becoming a policyholder with Hiscox, a ROA member will have the protection of the renowned private client insurer, with a long history and expertise in providing specialist insurance cover for houses and their contents, valuables and collections.

Hiscox provides a high quality policy that supports rather than imposes on its clients, and receives exceptional satisfaction ratings from them.

As the name indicates, Weatherbys Hamilton is a broker with expertise steeped in bloodstock and the private client sector. Its high quality staff

BOBIS deadline April 3 Owners are reminded that they must complete an owner nomination stage by April 3 to qualify their horses for BOBIS prizes eligibility. The fee is £275. If this is not paid by the owner before April 3 (for twoyear-olds this year) the breeder has until April 19 to fully qualify the horse by paying this stage. For further details see www.bobis.co.uk

Grand National meeting All owners with runners at Aintree’s John Smith’s Grand National meeting are reminded that the sponsor has exclusive use of the owners’ branding site. Owners with horses running in the John Smith’s Grand National will be paid £900 to carry the John Smith’s branding. For all other races at the meeting owners will be paid £200. In the case of the charity race on Saturday, the John Smith’s Legends Race, in support of the Bob Champion Cancer Trust, the £200 per runner fee has been waived for the branding rights, as this would otherwise come out of the fundraising efforts.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

in offices in Wellingborough, Newmarket and Swindon will provide an exceptional level of service to any ROA member.

Key points

• The ROA membership refund applies

only if the member’s household policy is placed with Hiscox and Weatherbys Hamilton.

• The qualifying policy premium (exclusive of tax) with Hiscox is £2,000 and for premiums at or above this level the refund will be for 100% of the membership fee.

Premiums between £1,000 and £1,999 will qualify for a 50% refund.

• For insurance policies in the joint names of one or more ROA members, only one membership fee will be refunded.

• The refund will apply for the first time to

the annual ROA membership fee falling due within the period of the insurance policy. It will then apply to each subsequent membership renewal for the lifetime of this arrangement.

• Hiscox does not guarantee to accept any

insurance proposal and will apply its normal underwriting criteria in setting its terms.

• Existing Hiscox policy holders will qualify for the membership refund at their next renewal provided that their policy is placed through Weatherbys Hamilton.

• Hiscox policyholders do not already need to be members of the ROA and can use the benefit of the refund to join it for the first time.

• Weatherbys Hamilton will include

confirmation of the refund entitlement when it issues the Hiscox policy documents and will send a cheque to the ROA member when it receives confirmation from the ROA that membership has been renewed or taken out.

Superb Cecil book available at discount to ROA members Racing Post Books are offering ROA members a generous discount of £6 off their latest title, Henry Cecil: Trainer of Genius, the definitive biography of Britain’s greatest racehorse trainer, making the price just £14 (RRP £20).

The book, written by Brough Scott, is based on extensive research and interviews with those closest to Cecil and promises to be one of the most sought after racing biographies of the year.

ROA members are also reminded that they can purchase their copy of Horses In Training 2013, containing comprehensive lists of stable strengths, at a discounted price of £13.99 (RRP £18.99).

To purchase these books at the discounted rates, please log in to the members’ area on the ROA website and follow the relevant links.

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ROA FORUM ROA MEMBERS IN FOCUS:

Diary dates

ROBIN EYNON

APRIL 3 BOBIS nomination deadline

J

64

Deadline for owners to nominate horses for BOBIS prizes. See bobis.co.uk

APRIL 23 Punchestown festival offer Free admission to ROA members on opening day of the festival on production of a valid ROA Horseracing Privilege Photocard.

APRIL 29 Kelso regional meeting Details on adjacent page.

JUNE 7 GEORGE SELWYN

enny Pitman achieved several ‘firsts’ in her career, being something of a pioneer for female trainers in the modern era, and it was she with whom the Eynons, Jill and Robin, had their first horse.

“My wife and I had always been interested in racing and when we came to a situation where we could afford to buy a horse it was Jenny who trained our first, Yeoman Sailor. He was bought off Tom Costello and racked up five wins,” says Robin Eynon. “He had leg trouble and was off for two to three years. When he came back Grace Muir, now Chief Executive of Heros, took him hunter chasing and point-to-pointing with a degree of success.

“After that we had Hot Shots, who is our biggest success story to date. He won eight races and was placed in races like the Peterborough and Haldon Gold Cup, and that took us to a different league.”

Hot Shots was in his prime around a decade ago and the Eynons are back in good company thanks to their three latest recruits, Five Rivers, Chase The Wind and Paint The Clouds (whom they own with Peter Deal), all in training with Warren Greatrex.

In between times, they had horses with Mark Pitman and Carl Llewellyn, so Weathercock House became familiar territory. But when Greatrex moved to Uplands, the Eynons moved with him, confident in his ability to get the best out of their horses.

Paint The Clouds, in many ways, epitomises the dreams and tears of being an owner, as the joy of six wins, including five on the spin, was tempered by the “dreaded”, as Eynon puts it, tendon injury, from which Paint The Clouds has recently recovered.

“We’ve been very fortunate over the years really, and you do need a degree of success, because otherwise it would be morale-sapping,” says Eynon.

“It’s a bit unusual for us to have three, usually we’ve only two on the go. I admire syndicates and wouldn’t rule out joining one, but have to admit that once you’ve owned your own horse it’s difficult to go back.

“Paint The Clouds runs one year in Peter’s silks and the next in ours, and Peter’s in lots of partnerships and enjoys them, it has to be said.”

Chase The Wind was due to run in the DBS Mares’ Final at Newbury as the magazine went to press, having finished a highly encouraging second on debut, while Five Rivers was a recent winner of a Sunday Bonus race, whereby an ROA member receives a prize-money boost of £3,150.

Robin Eynon, photographed at the Cheltenham Festival this year

“I’ve a lot of time for the ROA, who do their best for members and owners generally, though perhaps our voice could be heard a little more at times,” says Eynon.

“No owner is in racing to make money but it’s nice to get a little bit back, and so the Sunday Bonus series of races is a step in the right direction.”

“We’ve been fortunate and you need a degree of success, because otherwise it would be morale-sapping”

Another would, in Eynon’s opinion, be for prize-money to be shared around rather more liberally than he feels it is, with only a sprinkling of trainers – and notably messrs Henderson and Nicholls – generally capable of plundering the biggest pots.

“I like to support up-and-coming trainers,” he adds, “and believe prize-money should be spread around more. A big proportion goes to a small number of races, races which often attract just four or five runners.”

The Eynons, however, are certainly happy with their lot. Ownership may be “a few seconds of glory and hours of frustration” – but those seconds are what keeps them, and indeed the whole racing world, ticking along.

Newmarket regional meeting ROA regional meeting at the opening fixture at the July course.

JUNE 18-22 Royal Ascot The ROA has a chalet in a fabulous location for members and guests for the five days of the Royal meeting.

JUNE 25 ROA AGM Members are encouraged to attend the AGM, which will be held at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel, London. The AGM is followed by a champagne reception and lunch for members and their guests.

JUNE 30 Pretty Polly Stakes day Free admission to ROA members at the Curragh for the third day of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby festival.

JULY 21 Darley Irish Oaks day Free admission at the Curragh for ROA members.

JULY 30-AUGUST 3 Glorious Goodwood Richmond Enclosure badge ordering service and hospitality offer for members at Glorious Goodwood.

SEPTEMBER 20 Newbury regional meeting ROA regional meeting before racing at Newbury racecourse.

OCTOBER 19 QIPCO British Champions’ Day Exclusive ROA facility and fine dining package at Ascot.

DECEMBER 5 ROA Horseracing Awards This year’s ROA Horseracing Awards will take place at a new venue, the Intercontinental Hotel.

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www.racehorseowners.net

TRACK TALK

All the latest news from the UK’s racecourses

Chester setting standards

GEORGE SELWYN

Kelso hosts next regional meeting

The Roodee course provides a warm welcome to owners with runners

Chester racecourse has a fine tradition of investing in prize-money and providing owners with an exceptional raceday experience, and it has recently unveiled its plans for the coming year.

No race will be run for less than £10,000 throughout the entire 2013 season, with its total prize-money increasing by more than £260,000 to £1.936 million. Within that increase, its contribution from its own funds will rise by £140,000 to just over £1.2m.

A Gold Standard Award winner, Chester will continue to offer a complimentary meal to

owners with every runner and will also provide free transfers from local airports and train stations.

Chester also deserves credit for ensuring that stable staff are well looked after, with overnight accommodation provided in the Holiday Inn Express, its on-site hotel, as well as a complimentary evening meal, food and drink for all staff on duty.

Richard Wayman, Chief Executive of the ROA, said: “Chester continues to lead the way in its attitude towards owners and it not surprising that we receive a lot of positive

The ROA is hosting its second regional meeting of this year at Kelso racecourse on Monday, April 29.

Regional meetings give local members an opportunity to meet ROA Council members and staff, and have an open discussion about industry developments which impact on owners.

The gatherings allow members to pose questions about any aspect of ownership or the association’s work, either in the open forum or on a one-to-one basis.

Members who live in the vicinity of Kelso can expect to receive an invitation, and regional meetings are open to any members who are racing on the day. Guests will be welcomed with drinks and light refreshments an hour before racing. We would just ask you book a place in advance by contacting Keely Brewer on 020 7152 0200 or email kbrewer@roa.co.uk Two more regional meetings are planned later this year, at Newmarket’s July course on June 7 and at Newbury on September 20.

feedback from members who have runners at the track.

“Richard Thomas and his team clearly recognise the need to invest in attracting owners to run their horses at Chester and, in so many ways, they continue to set the standard that other courses should aspire to.”

Perth prize-money boost Perth has announced a 30% increase in prize-money for 2013, to nearly £810,000 on offer across its 16 racedays. This will include a contribution of more than £500,000 from Perth’s own revenues, which compares with its contribution of £345,000 in 2012, when the track suffered as a result of losing three fixtures to the weather in July.

The Racehorse Owners Association’s prize-money table that follows on page 66 shows that, when ranked by their own average contribution to prizemoney per fixture, Perth sits in the top ten of jump courses, which is particularly admirable for a course of its size.

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Racing at Perth last summer was hit by bad weather; better luck in 2013!

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ROA FORUM www.racehorseowners.net

Flat Racecourse League Table Ptn Racecourse

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

Ascot York Epsom Downs Goodwood Newmarket Chester Doncaster Sandown Park Newbury Haydock Park Musselburgh Newcastle Ripon Salisbury Thirsk Warwick Ffos Las Hamilton Park Ayr Pontefract Bath Kempton Park Windsor Carlisle Leicester Redcar Catterick Bridge Nottingham Beverley Folkestone Lingfield Park Yarmouth Wolverhampton Brighton Southwell Chepstow Total

Figures for period Mar 1, 2012 to Feb 28, 2013

Ownership

Avg racecourse spend per fixture (£)

Avg HBLB spend per fixture (£)

Avg owner spend per fixture (£)

Avg prizemoney per fixture (£)

Total no. of fixtures 2012

Total prize-money 2012 (£)

Avg racecourse spend per fixture 2011 (£)

I I JCR I JCR I ARC JCR I JCR I ARC I I I JCR ARC I I I ARC JCR ARC JCR I I I JCR I ARC ARC ARC ARC ARC ARC ARC

376,146 157,927 115,897 87,914 84,383 70,940 57,572 48,039 45,320 35,090 26,483 26,320 25,580 25,109 22,834 22,120 22,021 20,764 20,344 18,755 18,037 16,705 16,451 15,448 14,628 13,484 13,267 13,222 13,214 13,001 12,341 11,967 11,020 10,900 10,793 9,452 34,998

100,171 83,776 59,928 63,683 68,662 33,606 49,350 46,832 52,991 42,362 18,392 14,299 22,130 21,197 16,481 15,150 9,212 17,692 29,458 24,944 9,535 14,410 20,844 16,071 17,419 14,120 11,625 18,829 17,248 9,946 19,288 15,236 12,817 12,454 12,431 10,985 26,104

155,719 75,943 70,941 24,857 77,927 5,838 38,304 21,144 27,530 14,028 4,876 6,974 4,382 5,416 5,745 5,030 2,766 3,248 7,543 3,669 3,188 3,260 5,107 4,294 4,184 16,409 2,362 4,648 3,028 2,603 2,700 3,005 2,133 2,300 1,686 2,508 14,797

632,036 317,646 247,349 177,537 232,498 111,600 147,206 116,760 129,871 92,691 52,211 49,120 53,128 54,941 47,789 44,943 33,999 41,904 58,052 48,787 31,780 36,302 43,712 38,000 37,602 44,953 29,354 38,387 35,746 25,758 36,049 31,216 27,885 26,349 25,463 24,082 77,416

17 17 12 18 38 15 24 17 17 23 15 15 14 14 14 7 7 15 16 15 20 88 21 8 14 15 17 16 17 12 95 25 120 18 34 11 860

10,744,606 5,399,985 2,968,193 3,195,667 8,834,928 1,674,002 3,532,934 1,926,548 2,207,804 2,105,403 783,166 736,804 743,788 769,168 669,050 314,600 220,995 628,563 928,828 731,810 635,600 3,194,537 917,946 304,000 526,426 674,294 499,011 614,184 607,674 309,100 3,424,633 780,397 3,346,229 474,282 865,751 264,900 66,555,804

333,521 157,030 102,510 76,321 87,878 67,027 60,910 48,175 45,295 37,850 33,220 20,745 29,190 23,736 21,976 14,877 26,604 20,448 27,070 19,609 15,507 15,688 12,815 16,381 15,889 12,053 13,370 14,735 16,417 8,576 12,090 12,471 10,373 10,586 9,690 10,423 33,935

Up/ down

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲

Jumps Racecourse League Table Ptn Racecourse

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43

66

Aintree Cheltenham Ascot Haydock Park Sandown Park Kempton Park Newbury Ayr Chepstow Perth Cartmel Wetherby Newton Abbot Musselburgh Warwick Wincanton Kelso Stratford-on-Avon Fakenham Ffos Las Market Rasen Ludlow Newcastle Wolverhampton Southwell Carlisle Fontwell Park Taunton Exeter Doncaster Hereford Uttoxeter Plumpton Hexham Bangor-on-Dee Leicester Lingfield Park Worcester Huntingdon Towcester Folkestone Sedgefield Catterick Bridge Total

Ownership

Avg racecourse spend per fixture (£)

Avg HBLB spend per fixture (£)

Avg owner spend per fixture (£)

Avg prizemoney per fixture (£)

Total no. of fixtures

Total prize-money (£)

Avg racecourse spend per fixture 2011 (£)

JCR JCR I JCR JCR JCR I I ARC I I I I I JCR JCR I I I ARC JCR I ARC ARC ARC JCR ARC I JCR ARC ARC ARC I I I I ARC ARC JCR I ARC ARC I

231,612 227,211 112,402 86,498 63,460 46,886 46,352 29,736 28,957 28,788 25,659 24,590 24,493 24,399 24,130 22,377 21,970 21,077 20,143 19,710 18,240 18,230 17,958 17,500 15,348 14,758 14,580 14,527 13,974 13,558 12,979 12,946 12,565 11,954 11,316 9,830 9,543 9,210 9,054 9,008 8,789 8,786 5,038 30,790

99,348 86,097 64,797 60,518 60,951 48,417 58,811 34,692 21,956 16,443 11,433 25,272 16,993 29,776 31,879 24,963 20,717 14,636 20,350 18,642 18,152 21,906 22,578 24,500 11,342 22,351 13,335 21,232 23,322 34,556 8,346 13,632 16,281 13,838 17,402 22,471 21,157 12,817 20,072 11,855 10,418 15,190 28,653 25,758

55,702 51,625 16,260 15,308 12,445 9,916 15,718 8,379 6,487 1,646 4,595 4,462 0 4,632 6,000 4,191 2,957 3,778 0 4,118 3,861 4,433 3,440 0 3,042 3,553 2,691 3,882 3,872 5,583 2,689 3,797 2,781 1,980 2,433 3,228 1,966 3,042 3,555 2,650 1,818 2,252 2,676 6,553

386,662 364,932 193,460 162,324 137,276 105,552 120,881 73,286 57,645 46,877 41,687 54,609 41,485 59,933 62,009 52,195 46,144 39,685 40,493 42,470 40,774 44,569 44,476 42,000 30,486 41,117 30,606 39,640 41,744 53,697 24,722 31,275 31,864 28,022 31,337 36,243 32,665 26,219 33,131 23,645 21,025 26,228 36,367 63,398

8 15 7 7 10 12 11 10 11 12 7 14 15 8 8 17 12 18 10 17 19 15 9 1 11 11 20 12 13 9 13 22 14 12 14 7 9 15 12 16 4 16 9 511

3,093,294 5,473,983 1,354,217 1,182,645 1,304,122 1,266,623 1,329,693 732,865 634,100 562,523 291,809 764,528 622,279 479,462 496,070 887,319 553,723 714,330 404,934 700,755 774,700 668,541 400,284 42,000 335,350 452,284 612,124 475,681 542,669 483,276 321,390 688,056 446,090 336,259 438,715 253,700 293,983 393,287 397,571 378,314 84,100 419,642 327,300 32,414,589

195,014 206,875 119,573 75,520 48,761 43,465 40,088 26,264 25,160 20,480 18,995 19,411 19,198 17,126 10,679 23,878 20,068 15,501 17,599 20,200 19,125 12,909 22,570 0 10,453 14,338 11,200 19,834 12,744 28,187 16,420 14,174 10,375 6,795 14,567 7,736 8,679 11,341 12,787 6,318 10,047 11,863 6,510 27,823

Up/ down

▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▲

EXPLANATION The tables set out the average prize-money at each fixture staged by a racecourse over the last 12 months. They show how this is made up of the three sources of prizemoney: 1. Racecourses’ contribution 2. Levy Board (HBLB) 3. Owners The tables also confirm the number of fixtures staged and the total amount of prize-money paid out by each racecourse throughout this period.

The racecourses are ordered by the average amount of their own contribution to prizemoney at each fixture. This contribution originates from various sources including media rights, admission revenues and racecourse sponsors.

If a racecourse has increased its average contribution at each fixture compared with the previous 12 months, it receives a green ‘up’ arrow. If its average contribution has fallen, however, it receives a red ‘down’ arrow.

As these tables are based on the prize-money paid out by each racecourse, the abandonment of a major fixture could distort a racecourse’s performance.

OWNERSHIP KEY JCR Jockey Club Racecourses

ARC Arena Racing Company

I Independently owned racecourse Gold Standard Award

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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Personal and Professional

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Apr_104_TBA_Forum_Owner 21/03/2013 11:31 Page 68

TBA FORUM The special section for TBA members

Cheryl Cory of Goldford Stud scooped the prestigious Stud Staff Award

HUGH ROUTLEDGE

A collection of outstanding candidates from both racing and breeding industries gathered at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower hotel in London for the 2013 Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards.

The stud staff finalists were Cheryl Cory (Goldford Stud), Kevin Fossage (Aislabie Stud) and Gill Murphy (Stowell Hill Stud), with Cory being named the overall winner in her category.

Cory joined Goldford Stud in 1988 when the farm was in its infancy, prior to it becoming one of the largest producers of young National Hunt horses in Britain. She has never missed a day of work through illness and is at every foaling. She received an award of £5,000 and a trophy recognising her achievement in winning the category. The runners-up in the category received £2,000 each.

Laura Hamilton-Smith of Andrew Black’s Chasemore Farm was the deserving winner of the David Nicholson Newcomer Award.

Hamilton-Smith was the only stud employee in the final three candidates. In just a short space of time she has made herself an integral part of the team at Chasemore Farm, and within her first year has been promoted to Second Girl, having shown great leadership skills to Stud Manager Paul Coombe.

Congratulations to all those who were nominated and for those who attended as the awards come at a tricky time of year with foalings and coverings taking place.

CHRIS SMITH

Two stud staff winners at Godolphin Awards

Laura Hamilton-Smith of Chasemore Farm was named Newcomer of the Year

Constructive meeting with the ITBA Richard Lancaster and Louise Kemble attended a meeting in Ireland with their opposite numbers at the ITBA, Joe Osborne and Shane O’Dwyer.

The aim of the meeting was to discuss a number of mutual issues, including the current review of the Tripartite Agreement relating to the movement of thoroughbreds and high-value horses between the UK, Ireland and France. Also on the agenda were European veterinary issues affecting breeders, including concerns relating to future availability of some equine medicines.

The TBA delegates provided an update on BOBIS. Both associations joined in calling for more support for National Hunt mares in the

68

market place and on the racecourse with increased mares-only races in both countries and the ITBA NH Fillies Incentive Scheme looking to boost attraction in Ireland.

With the climate for European issues affecting the movement of horses unlikely to diminish in the near future, it was agreed that the ITBA and TBA would meet again in late April in preparation for the European Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Annual General Meeting on May 12.

TBA Chairman Richard Lancaster said: “For some time I have felt we should renew the process of regular meetings between the two associations. Recent issues between our respective associations and the wider

problems we are seeing regarding the movement of horses has encouraged us to meet sooner rather than later.

“We found the meeting extremely positive and I am delighted that through the efforts of our Chief Executives we can continue to progress these discussions to benefit all our members.”

These sentiments were echoed by ITBA Chairman Joe Osborne, who said: “We had a productive discussion with Richard and Louise, and it confirmed that most of the issues we are dealing with are common to members of both associations. We look forward to making progress on those we can best tackle together.”

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Apr_104_TBA_Forum_Owner 21/03/2013 11:31 Page 69

JOHN HOY

TONY KNAPTON

www.thetba.co.uk

Phase Shift delivers at Doncaster The final sponsored race from the courses who were rewarded with the TBA mares’ race award for the 2010/11 season was held on March 1 at Doncaster. Run on unusually fast ground for this winter, the contest went the way of the Brian Ellisontrained Phase Shift, who is owned by Dan Gilbert. Bred in Britain by Natton House Thoroughbreds, the five-year-old daughter of Iceman was winning her first race over

hurdles, having also won on the Flat last year at Catterick. The TBA was represented by member and regional representative Fiona Denniff, who presented the award to Gilbert (above left).

The first racecourse to stage a race in recognition of winning the award for the 2011/12 season was Lingfield Park, with a National Hunt bumper run on February 27 on the all-weather. A field of 11 mares went

to post, with the British-bred Celestial Island prevailing in a slowly-run race.

The grey mare, by Silver Patriarch, started at odds of 100-1 and is trained by John Gallagher for Roy Brown, whose father was her breeder.

Earlier in the day, Brooke Sanders, a local breeder, represented the TBA and presented the award certificate to Clerk of the Course Neil Mackenzie Ross (above right).

Breeders’ Prizes National Hunt HBLB Breeders’ Prizes worth £1,000 or more

Based on date money was paid

Breeder

Prize (£)

Horse

Sire

Dam

R. T. Crellin

10,000

Cue Card

King’s Theatre

Wicked Crack

16/02/2013

Date

Course

Ascot

Alflora

Poussetiere Deux

09/02/2013

Newbury Haydock Park

Cobhall Court Stud

8,000

Wishfull Thinking

N H Bloodstock Ltd

6,000

Well Refreshed

Nikos

Cool Spring

16/02/2013

Helshaw Grange Stud Ltd

5,000

Mwaleshi

Oscar

Roxy River

02/03/2013

Kelso

Mrs Claire Massey

2,500

Alasi

Alflora

Anamasi

08/02/2013

Kempton Park

The Round Oak Partnership

2,500

Harry Topper

Sir Harry Lewis

Indeed To Goodness 10/02/2013

Exeter

Mrs N. A. Ward

2,500

Melodic Rendezvous

Where Or When

Vic Melody

10/02/2013

Exeter

P. E. W. Nicholson

2,500

Monkerty Tunkerty

Silver Patriarch

Orphan Annie

20/02/2013

Doncaster

Kingsclere Stud

2,500

Tweedledrum

Beat Hollow

Tweed Mill

02/03/2013

Doncaster

Mrs C. J. Black

1,750

Seymour Eric

Bollin Eric

Seymour Chance

16/02/2013

Haydock Park

Jeremy Hinds

1,500

Chris Pea Green

Proclamation

Another Secret

07/02/2013

Huntingdon

R. D. Chugg & C. M. A. Aston

1,500

Theatrical Star

King’s Theatre

Lucy Glitters

10/02/2013

Exeter

Redmyre Bloodstock & Newhall Farm Estate

1,500

Only Orsenfoolsies

Trade Fair

Desert Gold

16/02/2013

Haydock Park

R. D & Mrs J. S. Chugg

1,500

Fourjacks

Karinga Bay

Jack’s The Girl

17/02/2013

Market Rasen

Mr A. Parker

1,500

Howard’s Legacy

Generous

Ismene

26/02/2013

Leicester

A. E. Smith & Co

1,250

Arthur’s Pass

Midnight Legend

Bella Coola

28/02/2013

Ludlow

J. F. F. White

1,000

Westward Point

Karinga Bay

Hottentot

09/02/2013

Warwick

Richard Bridges

1,000

Highland Retreat

Exit To Nowhere

St Kilda

19/02/2013

Taunton

The Brook Stud Co Ltd

1,000

In The Crowd

Haafhd

Eliza Gilbert

27/02/2013

Wincanton

*See the table of breeders' prizes effective as from January 1 on the TBA website, www.thetba.co.uk These prizes are subject to confirmation of qualification with Weatherbys THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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TBA FORUM

ALAN WRIGHT

JOHN GROSSICK

Violin Davis tunes up with February double

Violin Davis, nearside, at Bangor-on-Dee

Three TBA-sponsored mares’ novices’ chases were run in February across the country. On February 8, Violin Davis added to her Newbury novice success in January by making all for a hard-fought victory at Bangor-on-Dee. The Harry Fry-trained mare then followed that success with yet another,

Micro Mission scores at Carlisle

this time at Plumpton on February 25.

Given a patient ride by Noel Fehily, the seven-year-old recorded a 19-length victory over Annimation.

In between Violin Davis’s two wins, Micro Mission won an eventful small-field novice chase at Carlisle. With two of the four

runners departing before halfway, the race was left wide open. The seven-year-old daughter of Flemensfirth, trained by Chris Grant and ridden by Samantha Drake, jumped bravely when left out in front and pulled away up the home straight from her sole remaining rival Bollin Fiona.

Learning from other members’ problems…

By Rachel Flynn A significant number of the calls from members to the TBA’s legal advisor Rachel Flynn of Taylor Vinters relate to disputes arising from misunderstandings about what has been agreed – and sometimes even between whom. When there is less money than ever to go around, deals that look too good to be true usually are. Unravelling such arrangements with the help of a lawyer or in the small claims court is seldom a rewarding experience. are Common problem areas undocumented foal shares, ‘deals’ on nomination fees and keep, and ‘misunderstandings’ about the ownership of stock. With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, many of these were always accidents waiting to happen. Given the time it takes from planning the covering to selling or training the offspring, it is hardly surprising that memories fade and each party becomes certain that their own account of events is the only – and definitively ‘true’ one.

Where the terms are unclear, a court will have to look back at the situation and decide

70

for itself what the parties’ intentions actually were at the time that the contract was made.

Another topical issue is that of a horse’s continuing eligibility for bonus schemes or other premiums where it has been bought privately. This is an area that is always worth digging into at the time a transaction takes place. If you are selling, check with the scheme organiser before you state that an animal is eligible. If you are buying and eligibility is important to you, time is never wasted in making your own enquiries.

Happily, you don’t need a solicitor at the ready all the time. All you normally require is a bit of common sense and foresight at the time you enter into the arrangement.

Reluctance by the other side to commit anything to writing or to talk about the vulgar subject of money is never, ever, a good sign. If you are concerned, ask. Or deal with someone else.

If entering into shared horse ownership, think about (at the beginning) ‘how will this be if the horse is either much better, or much worse, than we realistically expect?’ If the

former, you may find yourself arguing about who owns what percentage share, what the horse’s racing career should be and when it should be sold. If the latter, the conversations are more likely to be, ‘who is paying for this and how quickly can we get rid of it?’ There is no ‘norm’ or ‘standard’ agreement for such arrangements, whatever you think, and people’s expectations vary wildly.

A practical approach is to start by jotting down each side’s obligations and how and when each is expected to do their bit. As a minimum, think about when and how the arrangement is going to come to an end, how costs are going to be shared, insurance and how decisions are to be made, and what happens if you can’t agree. Then decide whether that’s enough, or whether you need to take more formal legal advice. In most cases you will have dealt with the main problem areas in that first document.

TBA members are entitled to initial legal advice from Rachel Flynn at Taylor Vinters.

Contact her on 01223 225168 or Rachel.Flynn@taylorvinters.com THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Apr_104_TBA_Forum_Owner 21/03/2013 11:31 Page 71

www.thetba.co.uk

CAROLINE TURNBULL

MEP drops in on Newmarket

Geoffrey Van Orden MBE MEP during his visit to Newmarket, where he visited the TBA and the National Stud. He is pictured right, along with Brian O’Rourke, Louise Kemble, stallion Dick Turpin and his handler Sam Imrie

From showjumpers to breeding stock The March TBA Stud Staff Award goes to Fay Cort of Andrew Cohen’s Wood Hall Stud.

Cort (pictured) arrived at Wood Hall in 2010 having travelled the world with showjumpers and initially worked with the racehorses on site.

However, she soon became involved with the stud work and developed a deep interest in the breeding side of the operation.

Andrew Cohen says of Cort: “She is conscientious, hard-working and a great influence on other staff, who all think highly of her. Her calm and unflappable nature, kindness, skill, willingness and commitment to the horses and the stud are exemplary, and on this basis she has been promoted to become Stud Manager.”

Diary dates THURSDAY, APRIL 18

MONDAY, JULY 1

SUNDAY, MAY 26

TBA Listed Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

Wales & West Midlands Regional Day

Hambleton Show, Yorkshire.

Cheltenham Breeders’ Club Day at Cheltenham racecourse.

A visit to David Hodge’s Llety Farm near Carmarthen, with optional evening racing at Ffos Las.

THURSDAY, MAY 30

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24 TBA Mares’ NH Flat Race

WEDNESDAY, JULY 10

At Taunton.

TBA AGM

THURSDAY, MAY 23

At the Jockey Club Rooms, Newmarket, at 5pm followed by the TBA Awards Dinner. Invitation to apply for tickets shall be sent out in April.

East Regional Day A visit to Roger Varian’s Kremlin House and Darley’s pre-training yard, followed by Rossdale’s Veterinary Hospital, Exning, Newmarket.

TUESDAY, JULY 23 National Hunt Show At Bangor, full details will be made available nearer the time.

TUESDAY, JUNE 4 Scottish Regional Day A visit to Linda Perratt’s Northallerton Farm, East Kilbride.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5 South East Regional Day Visit to Marcus Tregoning at Whitsbury Manor, followed by a tour of Whitsbury Manor Stud.

West Regional Day A trip to Willie Carson’s Minster Stud near Cirencester, followed by lunch and a visit to Stratford Place Stud near Cheltenham.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

For more information on this series or to become involved, please contact Carrie Cherry at the TBA on 01638 661321.

BREEDERS’ BADGE SCHEME 2013/2014 Members will have received renewal forms for the Breeders’ Badge Scheme (BBS). The scheme, which needs to be renewed annually (by April 30), is a great way for TBA members to have access to see a horse that they have bred run.

Full details are available on the TBA website.

ROR/TBA RETRAINED RACEHORSE CHALLENGE THURSDAY, APRIL 4

TBA NEW MEMBERS

Hertfordshire County Show, Redbourn.

Mrs C J Black, Worcestershire; Mrs S J Baldwin, Gloucestershire; Ms S Ballinger, Hertfordshire; Mr & Mrs D Crawford, Suffolk; Mr T Matson, Shropshire; Pinehurst Stud, Surrey; Mrs J Wallsgrove, Suffolk; Mr J F F White, Wiltshire

SUNDAY, MAY 26

18-35 MEMBERS

(PUK) West Midlands Show, Worcestershire.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18 College EC Spring Show, Bedfordshire.

SATURDAY, MAY 18 Shropshire County Show.

MONDAY, JUNE 10

Bath & West Show, Somerset.

MAY 25-26

Heathfield & District Show, East Sussex.

Tom Miller, Wiltshire

71

Apr_104_BreederOfTheMonth_Layout 1 21/03/2013 11:34 Page 72

BREEDER OF THE MONTH www.thetba.co.uk Manufacturers of

Sponsored by

Words Alan Yuill Walker

NH Breeder of the Month – February 2013

GEORGE SELWYN

Roland Crellin

Cue Card is spring-heeled on his way to victory at Ascot

All too often sales catalogues give a tantalisingly inadequate description of the consignor. Take a typical example from a Tattersalls Ireland Sale of jumpers: ‘From Goldford Stud, the Property of Brook Farm.’

While everyone will identify Goldford Stud as the successful enterprise run by Richard and Sally Aston, Brook Farm is a different proposition. Here Roland Crellin keeps his ten mares on 300 acres at Penhow, east of Newport in Gwent.

“We came up through the point-to-point world’, said Crellin. “We used to farm in a big way, with as many as 10,000 sheep at various places around Chepstow. And then we began buying a few mares and we went from there. Cue Card would certainly be the best we have bred so far.”

Cue Card’s impressive victory in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase in February has earned the Welsh farmer the Breeder of the Month award, winning him a bottle of premium Irish whiskey and a supply of TRM’s

world famous Calphormin. On the same afternoon as Cue Card’s victory, another Goldford graduate, Well Refreshed, triumphed in the Grade 3 Grand National Trial at Haydock Park.

Consigned as a yearling from Goldford Stud, the son of King’s Theatre and Wicked Crack, Cue Card realised the top price of €75,000 at the 2007 Tattersalls Ireland February Sale. “We advised Roland on bloodstock for many years,” said Richard Aston. “We met him originally through David Hockenhull of Shade Oak Stud at a breeding stock sale at Fairyhouse.”

Ascot provided the eighth victory of Cue Card’s career; he made it nine with a brilliant performance in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Previously he had won the Grade 1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the 2010 Cheltenham Festival, beating Al Ferof by eight lengths, as well as two Grade 2 events, a novices’ hurdle at Cheltenham and the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter last November.

Wicked Crack, the dam of Cue Card, was proficient over hurdles and fences, scoring six times, and Crellin bought her in 2002 carrying her first foal at Tattersalls Ireland November Sale for €120,000. Her half-brother What’s The Crack won black-type chases at Worcester and Lingfield Park and was third in the Sun Alliance Chase.

In May, Wicked Crack is due to foal to Beneficial, having failed to have any progeny over the previous four seasons. Her latest produce is The Wicked Kipper but her owner/breeder refuses to divulge the significance of the name! Now a five-year-old, she has been placed in a bumper at Kempton Park and there are high hopes for her when she gets her favoured better ground.

The Wicked Kipper is trained by Martin Keighley outside Moretonin-Marsh in the Cotswolds, which Crellin reckons is just 50 minutes from his home. “I also have two more fillies with him,” he said. “One More Cookie and Pollystone.”

The farmer is constantly on the lookout for fresh blood and he is a regular visitor to Tattersalls Ireland’s November Sale. Only last year he paid the top price of €110,000 for the six-time winner Golden Sunbird (by Bob Back), carrying to Oscar. Two of her victories were in Listed events, a bumper at Sandown and a hurdle race at Limerick.

One aspect of the business about which Crellin has strong feelings is the need for mares’ races. ”We must have more opportunities to run mares,” he stressed. “Races confined to mares are a really good idea and there should be one on every single card.”

What do the top vendors in the UK, Ireland and the USA all have in common?

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73

Apr_104_NGC_Layout 1 21/03/2013 11:34 Page 74

THE NEXT GENERATION

By SAM HOSKINS, Chairman

www.the-ngc.co.uk

Exclusive visit to Frankel just part of fun-packed programme for this year

Frankel will be paid a visit by members on October 5, prior to racing at Newmarket

T

he superlatives have run dry when it comes to describing the phenomenal Frankel. The TBA NGC Committee is delighted to announce that members of our Next Generation Club will be able to enjoy the privilege of an exclusive visit to Banstead Manor Stud on Saturday, October 5 to view perhaps the best ever thoroughbred of all time, hot on the heels of his first season at stud. Full details will follow in next month’s magazine.

NGC members have already enjoyed an active start to the year courtesy of the Lycetts Cheltenham Festival Preview held at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, on February 26. We joined forces with the ‘Ag College Students’ for a superb evening hosted by Channel 4 Racing presenter and NGC committee member Gina Bryce.

The panel consisted of Robert ‘Choc’ Thornton, young trainers Harry Fry and Tom Symonds, apprentice jockey Willie TwistonDavies, bloodstock agent Anthony Bromley and myself. Anna Goodley of Lycetts did a superb job in organising the evening and it is hoped the event becomes a regular annual fixture in the build-up to National Hunt

74

racing’s Olympics.

By the time this column hits the streets, NGC members will also have been treated to a morning with Harry Dunlop at the historic Windsor House Stables in Lambourn. After a morning on the gallops with Harry, they were provided with badges and the use of a marquee at Newbury races that same afternoon, courtesy of the TBA. Harry is a

“Spread the word: we are responsible for encouraging the next generation of the sport’s participants”

rising star of the training ranks and handles leading 1,000 Guineas contender Roz who, like many of his 2012 juveniles, enjoyed a fruitful campaign, which included success at Listed level before stepping up to finish an

admirable second to Certify in the Group 1 Shadwell Fillies’ Mile. Harry was also responsible for the training of subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon before he was sold to Australia.

The next opportunity for NGC members to get involved is on Saturday, May 25 when rookie trainer Olly Stevens and his wife Hetta will host a morning at Robins Farm Stables in Chiddingfold in Surrey.

Robins Farm is now the property of Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani, who himself carries the flame for the next generation of racehorse owners and breeders globally, and is a great enthusiast.

Olly and Hetta have an exciting string assembled for their first season in the training ranks with a concentration of early two-yearolds with which to go to war. NGC members will get to learn all the tricks of the trade from them before moving onto Goodwood races that same afternoon, where we will have a ticket offer in place.

The other big event on the horizon for NGC members is a double act. First up is a morning on the gallops with young Newmarket trainer Hugo Palmer, who has hit the ground running in his first two seasons as a licensed trainer, most notably with a memorable Listed success

by Making Eyes at the Vichy Festival in France last summer. After this, Darley will very kindly host everyone at the picturesque Dalham Hall Stud, where we will be shown a number of their exciting stallions followed by a few homebred foals which no doubt will have pedigrees to die for.

Spread the word – we are all responsible for encouraging the next generation of participants in our wonderful sport and word of mouth is the best way of doing just that.

Free for all!

Membership to the Next Generation Club is FREE. We want to reach out to every reader of this magazine to tell every young racing enthusiast they know to join at www.the-ngc.co.uk or by e-mailing Carrie Cherry at the TBA on carrie@thetba.co.uk, so that they can take advantage of the fantastic events we host – all of which are FREE!

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Apr_104_Vet_Forum_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 11:11 Page 76

VET FORUM: THE EXPERT VIEW

By ROB PILSWORTH, MA VetMB BSc(Hons) CertVR MRCVS

Grass sickness: Are we any nearer to developing a vaccine?

The Animal Health Trust hopes its new clinical trial may help to provide the answer

I

n the year 2000 the racing world witnessed one of the most devastating racehorse performances ever when Dubai Millennium annihilated the rest of his field to win the Dubai World Cup by six lengths. Fevered anticipation followed his return to the UK and he duly obliged by repeating his Dubai World Cup form, winning the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot by eight lengths. Sadly this was to be his last race. Following a routine piece of work the horse picked up a condylar fracture to the left hind leg in August, and the decision was taken to retire him to stud.

Devastatingly for connections, his stud career too was cut savagely short when, in the April of his first season, he developed colic unresponsive to surgery. This was diagnosed, following a biopsy of the intestines, to be the result of the fatal disease grass sickness. He sired just one foal crop, and only a partial one at that. When one considers that out of that crop developed horses of the calibre of Dubawi and Echo Of Light, it’s fair to assume this horse could have become a sire of sires given time. Grass sickness had taken another potential star from the bloodstock world, just as it had done so often before.

The disease As its name suggests, grass sickness is a disease that predominantly affects horses with access to grass, and results from the rapid degeneration and death of certain nerves, especially those which orchestrate the movements of the gut. In its worst form, acute grass sickness, this nerve damage leads to the inability of the horse’s intestine to function, causing colic and complete irreversible paralysis of the gut.

The disease has been recognised clinically for more than 100 years and yet we still have no defined cause or effective treatment. Researchers at the Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh and the School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool are however on the cusp of launching a trial of a vaccine which is intended to protect horses against the disease. So what do we know about grass sickness and why do we think it might be possible to vaccinate against it?

76

Less than a year after he retired from racing Dubai Millennium died from grass sickness

Epidemiology The most salient fact we have is that more than 99% of cases of occur in grazing horses. We also know that there is a strong seasonal distribution.

Although cases occur in every month of the year, there is a massive peak (almost 30% of total cases) in May. We know also that there is a big increase in the risk of developing the disease associated with horses grazing previously affected premises, or even certain paddocks on those premises. We know that clusters of cases commonly occur, both geographically (i.e. several cases in one area) and temporally (i.e. several cases on different premises, but in the same week).

This hints that there must be some sort of climatic event which puts horses at risk, just as with the ‘spring flush’ and its relationship to laminitis, but what is it, and how does it give the horse the disease?

Tocher’s original trial The hypothesis that Clostridium botulinum might be involved in the development of grass sickness was first aired in late 1919, when a distinguished Scottish chemist, James Tocher,

carried out post-mortem examinations on grass sickness cases. The north-east of Scotland was at the time being ravaged by an epidemic of grass sickness among its working horse population, then so vital to agriculture.

Tocher suggested that the signs were those of an acute toxaemia, with the toxin possibly coming from a ‘large anaerobic bacillus’ which they isolated from the small intestine of cases, but not from normal horses.

This bacteria showed many of the characteristics and toxin-producing properties of Clostridium botulinum. Also, many symptoms and pathological changes in the body from both grass sickness and Botulism shared close similarities. This led Tocher and his group to carry out a vaccination trial in 1922 and 1923 involving 2,000-plus horses.

On each premises, half of the horses received a vaccine against a botulinum toxin and the other half remained unvaccinated. In the first year there was a massive difference in mortality between the vaccinated group and the non-vaccinated group, with vaccination reducing cases by two-thirds. Encouraged by these results, Tocher went on to develop a THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Apr_104_Vet_Forum_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 11:11 Page 77

statement was made: “He was not infallible, however. Apparently his paper on grass sickness in horses (1923) contains quite a spurious suggestion as to the cause.”

Or does it?

The evidence for Botulism as a cause Putting aside the early vaccine trial results, there are several other associations between grass sickness and Botulism which begin to make a case for a causal association of some sort.

One of the ‘lucky’ ones. This horse has survived grass sickness, but, as is so often the case, faces a long uphill struggle over many months or years to return to something like full health. Most horses are not so lucky and die or are subjected to euthanasia in the acute stages

more potent vaccine based on toxins from specimens of the Clostridium botulinum isolated from actual cases of grass sickness.

In this second trial, results were even more stunning. Horses which had received only one dose of the vaccine were approximately eight times less likely to develop grass sickness than those that had received nothing. Horses that had received two doses of the vaccine, one as a priming agent and one to boost circulating level of antibody, were totally protected; none at all succumbed to the disease. So why did vaccination not become widespread?

One factor was a personal antagonism between Tocher and a professional rival, Professor Gaiger of the University of Liverpool. Gaiger had his own theory over the causation of grass sickness and he publicly ‘rubbished’ the Tocher theory to such an extent that Tocher and his group lost interest in further work. Tocher was a brilliant man, a polymath with very diverse interests all across science and agriculture, and employed as a public analyst for Aberdeen County Council.

He was prepared to avoid further controversy by walking away from the field of grass sickness research in the face of such hostility.

It was not until the 1990s that the hypothesis that grass sickness could indeed be a toxicoinfectious form of Botulism was revisited by Professor Ian Poxton, Jean Robb, Keith Miller and colleagues. As recently as 1985 though, in a review otherwise praising Tocher’s life and work as a chemist, the THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

• The clinical symptoms of both are very similar, especially in the case of Botulism in children, and include muscle tremors, inability to eat, drooping of the eyelids, salivation and a ‘tucked up’ abdomen.

• The presence of the ‘large anaerobic bacillus’ found by Tocher in the small intestine (ileum) has been reproduced by other studies. This bacterium has been shown to have all the characteristics of Clostridium botulinum and it is not found in the small intestine of normal horses.

• There is a significant association between the presence of Clostridium botulinum and its toxins in the faeces of histologically confirmed grass sickness cases compared with healthy controls.

• Equine grass sickness cases have significantly lower levels of protective antibody against the antigens of Clostridium botulinum and its toxins than horses grazing on the same premises which are not affected by the disease.

• There is an increased level of antibody against the surface antigens of Clostridium botulinum in surviving chronic cases of grass sickness compared to those who succumb to the disease and die, suggesting not only that antibody status may determine whether or not the horse first gets grass sickness but whether or not it will survive.

Taken together these findings suggest that there may well be a protective role to antibotulinum toxin antibodies and, if this is the case, this disease lends itself ideally to a strategy of vaccination.

However, the disease is more complex than that. We know that if we inject horses with botulinum toxin, we simply get botulism, a dreadful and often fatal disease – but not the same disease as grass sickness. We also know that if we inject horses with blood from clinical cases of grass sickness we get the lesions of degeneration in the nerves we see in clinical cases, but we don’t actually see the paralysis of the intestine.

A case of ‘chronic’ grass sickness in recovery. As well as the array of tasty feeds trying to tempt him to eat, the horse is receiving parenteral nutrition from an indwelling tube to his stomach, and a ‘saddle-bag’ of high energy gruel. The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Medicine has pioneered innovative solutions to nursing care of these chronic cases of grass sickness, significantly enhancing survival and recovery chances, with vital financial support from the Equine Grass Sickness Fund

It seems to be that, to get the actual disease of grass sickness, we need to have what has been described by Kate Thomson of the Grass Sickness Fund (see box, overleaf) as ‘a perfect storm of risk factors’, including the soil type, weather condition, quality of the grass, the nutritional and immune status of the individual horse and presence of the Clostridium organism in the gut.

It is now thought that the bacterium may be very widespread in the hind-gut of normal horses, but that some as yet unknown trigger factors make the Clostridium organism move into the small intestine and produce toxin which the horse then absorbs with such disastrous consequences (a toxico-infection).

As we can’t reliably reproduce the disease experimentally, the next best thing is to see if vaccinating horses against the botulinum toxin we suspect is involved protects them against the disease, as it seemed to do in the Tocher trials. To do this research, workers first had to set up a small pilot study to see if the vaccine would cause any problems and then, if none appeared, roll out the vaccination programme to a much bigger population of horses at real risk of developing grass sickness.

The vaccine trial The new vaccine trial is being co-ordinated from the Animal Health Trust by Dr Jo Ireland

77

>>

Apr_104_Vet_Forum_Owner Breeder 21/03/2013 11:11 Page 78

VET FORUM: THE EXPERT VIEW >> and Dr Richard Newton in collaboration with

workers at the Edinburgh and Liverpool veterinary schools, all supported by the Equine Grass Sickness Fund.

I caught up with Dr Ireland recently at her laboratory in Newmarket and she commented: “Currently we have completed the first half of the pilot study so all the horses and ponies have been enrolled in that, and they have received their primary vaccination course. They are scheduled to have a booster vaccination late this spring, then we will be following them up after that until the end of the summer. Recruitment actually exceeded our expectations, in terms of owners’ enthusiasm and the number of veterinary practices keen to take part.

“We’ve had no problems with the administration of the vaccines. In terms of reactions we’ve had one horse that had a slight swelling, but with no heat nor pain, for two days post-vaccination and another where the owner felt they were uncomfortable with touching the injection site for a few days afterwards, but it never progressed to anything. This low rate of local reaction to the vaccine would be considered pretty good, about the same as one would expect from flu and tetanus shot.

“In the main trial, we are focusing on premises with very high previous incidence rates of grass sickness. The disease has always been very prevalent in Scotland, so obviously we would expect that Scotland will have the highest proportion of eligible premises, but from the surveillance data we have as a result of our previous work there are highrisk premises scattered throughout the whole of Britain and that will be reflected in the trial design.”

Can a vaccine protect against a neurotoxin?

Tetanus, a truly dreadful disease of both horses and people, is caused by another member of the Clostridia genus, Clostridium tetani. Tetanus can occur when this bacteria is inoculated deep into the tissues, where there is little oxygen.

As the bacterium is an anaerobe (an organism which can’t thrive in the presence of oxygen), this set of circumstances ideally sets up the bacteria to multiply and produce toxin. It is the toxin, not the bacterium, which produces the signs of tetanus by being carried around in the bloodstream and acting on the nerves to the muscles, blocking any possible relaxation of muscle and causing them to contract involuntarily and to remain contracted in spasm.

This produces the clinical symptoms of tetanus, the hideous rictus ‘grimace’ on the face of affected horses, with the lips and ears pulled back, the erect tail and violent uncoordinated movements following any noise or stimulation.

Explaining the extent of the trial, Dr Ireland added: “We aim to enrol 1,000 horses, following them over a two-year period. Half of the horses on each premises will be vaccinated against Clostridium botulinum C, and the other half will receive a placebo.

“The study will be triple ‘blinded’, so that neither the researchers here, nor the vets in the field, nor the horse’s owner, will know which horse had a dose of the vaccine and which got an inert placebo until after the first results are

The Moredun Foundation Equine Grass Sickness Fund The Moredun Foundation Equine Grass Sickness Fund (www.grasssickness.org.uk), founded in 1988, is a registered charity which supports and coordinates much of the vital research work in this field. Its role has been central to getting support for and helping with funding of the intended vaccine trial.

Most donations come from owners who have lost a horse to grass sickness. It has only one paid employee, Kate Thomson.

She says: “The Fund is 100% funded by public donations, the vast proportion from those who have witnessed a case of grass sickness – once experienced, never forgotten. The manner in which horses are lost is simply horrific. Often, within hours, a horse in peak condition has gone

78

and there are no answers with which to console ourselves. The disease does not discriminate and all types of horses are at risk, from top racehorses to beloved first ponies.

“As much of our income as possible goes directly towards research and the fact that we punch so far above our weight is due to the commitment and ingenuity of our supporters.

“We are very much a grass-roots organisation and the groundswell of support for the vaccine trial is quite overwhelming. If successful, the trial will mark an historic breakthrough in grass sickness prevention and promises to be one of the major advances in equine welfare in recent years.”

Many affected horses become recumbent and, once down, death invariably follows. Vaccination against this disease, which we take for granted as a routine part of the flu jab, is totally protective, and two doses given a month apart give almost life-long protection.

In humans this vaccination occurs as part of the normal sequence of baby vaccinations and we think no more about it. In the horse the results of routine vaccination have been so spectacular that many of today’s vets have never seen a case of tetanus in their careers.

The solitary case I have encountered in 30 years in equine practice was in a nonvaccinated horse. Vaccination works. It prevents the powerful neurotoxins exerting their disastrous consequences in tetanus, and so could potentially do so in grass sickness, if indeed it turns out that a similar type of neurotoxins produce the disease. in. There is potentially scope for having huge early evidence to suggest that we’ve got a good serological response to vaccination and if our interim results show we are having a real effect of vaccination in terms of protection of horses against grass sickness, then there is scope to look at approaching the Veterinary Medicines Directorate to consider allowing use of the vaccine early under a Special Treatment Authorisation, before it is officially launched commercially.

“We have already secured a couple of small grants that will help us with the early recruitment phase for the vaccine trial. The Equine Grass Sickness Fund is going to contribute each year to the trial while it is running, but they are also really ‘core’ to meeting our fundraising efforts, so we’re directing anyone who is interested in helping with fundraising to make donations to the Equine Grass Sickness Fund (see box, left) .We still need to raise a large amount of cash to fund the major trial, once the pilot study is complete.”

There is almost palpable excitement amongst the members of the grass sickness research community that I spoke to that at last, if sufficient funds can be raised, they can test a means of preventing this terrible disease.

Once funding is secured and the trial gets the green light, it will still be 2016 before we will have sufficient data in to answer definitively the question, ‘Can we vaccinate against grass sickness? Let’s hope and pray that the eventual answer, when it comes, is ‘yes’.

The author is donating his fee from the writing of this feature to the Equine Grass Sickness Fund.

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Smith & Williamson OB Apr 2013_Layout 1 20/03/2013 15:08 Page 1

Finance matters: new legislation H HM MR Revenue evenue and and Customs Customs (HMRC) (HMRC) is is set set to to br bring ing in sseveral everal new new pieces pieces of of legislation legislation from from have 6 6th th A April pril 2 2013.

013. Ignoring Ignoring the the changes changes could could have

!

o consider consider how how you you may may be be affected. affected. important impor tant tto L Loss oss relief relief B efore 5 Apr il 2013 there would have been no res tr ic tion to the loss reliefs that you could claim agains t other income, assuming that your s tud business is r un as a commercial business and you pu t more than 10 hour s per week into it . Stud owner s of ten face a pat ter n of alter nate profi t able and loss-mak ing year s , and the exis ting loss relief treatment allows them to pay t a x in the profi t able year s and claim ‘sideways’ relief agains t other income i n t h e o t h e r ye a r s .

However, ffrrom 6 Apr il 2013 the loss relief you can claim will fa f a ll u n d e r n e w r e s t r i c t i o n s . T h e m a x i m u m cl a i m w i l l b e t h e h i g h e r of ÂŁ 50,0 0 0 or 25 % of your net t a xable income (income minus pension and gif t aid contr ibu tions) . B roadly the balance of any loss exceeding the cap can either be car r ied back agains t the previous t a x year or car r ied ffo or ward agains t ffu u ture profi t s ar ising f r o m t h e s a m e t r ad e .

The relevant loss claims which will be limited by the new legislation are : s tr ade loss relief agains t gener al income

To use an example, someone with an income of £ 70,0 0 0 af ter per sonal t a x allowances , business losses of £60,0 0 0 and loan interes t relief of £10,0 0 0 would havve no t a x to pay in 2012–13, bu t in the same circums t ances in 2013 –14 the t a x due would be 20 % of £ 20,0 0 0, i.e. £4,0 0 0.

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p*os, ,si& %b"l35 e p&it+ fa/ "ll" s,

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The cap to be applied is the one fo Therefore, if you car r y back a loss fr from 2013 –14 to 2012–13, even though the claim pre - empt s the new provisions , the cap will s till be applied in 2012–13.

Losses can also ar ise on enter pr ise inves tment schemes ( EIS) a n d s e e d E I S s h a r e s ( S E I S ) w h i c h c a n b e cl a i m e d a g a i n s t gener al income.

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I t h a s b e e n a g r e e d t h a t l os s e s o n E I S a n d S E I S s h a r e s w ill n o t b e s u b j e c t to t h e c a p.

s pos t-business cessation relief

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s proper t y loss relief agains t gener al income (proper t y losses ar ising fr from capit al allowances and cer t ain agr icultur al expenses)

s adjus t cash flow projec tions to account fo for t a x relief being delayed

In addition, the cap will be applied to cer t ain qualif ying loan interes t payment s , including loans to buy interes t s in a company or par tner ship, and loans t aken ou t by execu tor s to pay inher itance ta x .

s adjus t par tner s’ profi t shares or br ing in new par tner s to spread losses bet ween more individuals s consider res tr uc tur ing your business into an entit y not subjec t to the cap, as long as res tr uc tur ing does not cause o t h e r a d v e r s e t a x o r n o n -t a x i s s u e s t o a r i s e

Smith & Williamson OB Apr 2013_Layout 1 20/03/2013 15:08 Page 2

Land L and ownership—annual ownership — annual residential residential property proper t y tax tax Owner ship of high value residential proper t y by a non-natur al per son ( NNP) will now gener ate t a x char ges . NNPs include companies (both onshore and of fshore) , par tner ships with a cor por ate member and collec tive inves tment schemes , bu t n ot t r u s t s .

If a proper t y is acquired by an NNP and the cos t exceeds ÂŁ 2 Taa x (SDLT ) char ge million there will be a 15 % St amp Du t y L and T o n i t s p u r ch a s e .

With ef fec t fr from 1 Apr il 2013 an annual residential proper t y t a x (AR PT ) will be levied ffo or any NNP which owns residential proper t y wor th more than ÂŁ 2 million. The annual char ges will be as ffo ollows : s ÂŁ15,0 0 0 ffo o r p r o p e r t i e s b e t we e n ÂŁ 2 m i l l i o n a n d ÂŁ 5 m i l l i o n o r p r o p e r t i e s b e t we e n ÂŁ 5 m i l l i o n a n d s ÂŁ35,0 0 0 ffo ÂŁ10 million or proper ties bet ween ÂŁ10 million and s ÂŁ 70,0 0 0 ffo ÂŁ 20 million or proper ties wor th more than ÂŁ 20 million s ÂŁ14 0,0 0 0 ffo From 6 Apr il 2013 if a NNP realises a capit al gain on the disposal of U K residential proper t y where the value exceeds ÂŁ 2 million, the gain will be subjec t to 28 % capit al gains t a x . The company will be char ged capit al gains t a x aatt 28 % as opposed to a ma ximum r ate of 23 % ffo or cor por ation t a x ffrrom 1 Apr il 2013.

T h e ch a r g e to c a p i t a l g a i ns t a x o n r e s i d e n t ia l p r o p e r t y w ill o n l y apply to residential proper t y within the char ge to APRT.

W h e r e a N N P is s u b j e c t to t h e ch a r g e , t h e t a x w ill o n l y a p p l y to any gain in excess of the proper t y’s mar ket value on 6 Apr il 2013. Therefore the char ge on a proper t y sold fo for £3 million with a cos t of £1 million and a mar ket value of £ 2. 5 million on 6 Apr il 2013 would be £3 million – £ 2. 5 million = £ 50 0,0 0 0 x 28 % i.e. £14 0,0 0 0. or proper ties slightly over the There will also be a t aper ing relief ffo £ 2 m i l l i o n m a r k t o p r e v e n t m a r ke t d i s t o r t i o n .

In cer t ain circums t ances it may be beneficial to elec t not to have the mar ket value used aatt 6 Apr il.

Exemptions E xemptions There are some exemptions fr f r o m t h e n e w l e g is la t i o n , t h e s e i n cl u d e p r o p e r t y w h i c h i s : or development s acquired ffo o r a t r a d e , s u ch a s a h ot e l s used ffo s let to an unrelated third par t y on nor mal commercial ter ms at leas t 28 days a year and r un as a s open to the public at business s conditionally exempt ffrrom inher it ance t a x far mhouse occupied by a wor k ing ffaar mer s a fa

Action Action point point s if you have residential proper t y owned by a company, seek advice as soon as possible

Smith & Williamson is a top ten fir m of UK accountants* with a specialis t bloods tock and equine team who advises on the ta x and financial issues fa facing owner s, breeder s, tr ainer s and other s in the indus tr y. Dr awing on the wide resources of the fir m, the team provides comprehensive financial advisor y ser vices ffo or both individuals and businesses. The fir m also includes an INVES TMENT MANAGEMENT HOUSE WITH OVER a BN OF FUNDS UNDER MANAGEMENT AND ADVICE AS AT .H\ EORRGVWRFN DQG HTXLQH VSHFLDOLVWV DW 6PLWK :LOOLDPVRQ .H\ EORRGVWRFN DQG HTXLQH VSHFLDOLVWV DW 6PLWK :LOOLDPVRQ

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%MAIL lR S TNAME LA S TNAME

P enelope Lang Penelope L ang Tax T ax p partner ar tner 0 01722 1722 4434845 34 8 45

Brigitte B rigitte Potts Pott s VAT V AT aassociate s so c i at e d director irector 0 01722 1722 4 434822 34 822

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*According *According tto o tthe he llatest at e s t ssurvey ur vey in in Accountancy magazine Acc ount anc y m ag a zine Details off w writing rit ing D e t ail s ccorrect orre c t aatt ttime ime o

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Pr incipal of fices : London, B elfa s t , B ir mingham, B r is tol, Dublin, Gla sgow, G uildford, M anches ter, S alisbur y, Sou thampton and Worces ter.

The value of investments and the income derived ffrrom them may ffaall as well as r ise. Investor s may not get back their original investment. Past per for mance is not a guide to the ffu uture. T Taax and financial planning fo for the equine sec tor s is highly complex and this ar ticle can only provide an over view. The ar ticle does not cover all eventualities, so it is impor tant to seek advice ffrrom a specialist if in doubt.

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Apr_104_databook_Leader 21/03/2013 11:14 Page 82

DATA BOOK STAKES RESULTS

National Hunt Grade Ones 136 SPRING JUVENILE HURDLE G1 LEOPARDSTOWN. February 9. 16f. Soft.

137 HENNESSY GOLD CUP CHASE G1 LEOPARDSTOWN. Feb 9. 24f. Soft to heavy.

138 DR PJ MORIARTY NOVICE CH G1 LEOPARDSTOWN. Feb 9. 21f. Soft to heavy.

139 DELOITTE NOVICE HURDLE G1 LEOPARDSTOWN. February 9. 18f. Soft.

1. OUR CONOR (IRE) 4 b g Jeremy - Flamands (Sadler's Wells) O-Man About Town Syndicate B-Gerrardstown House Stud TR-DT Hughes 2. Diakali (FR) 4 gr g Sinndar - Diasilixa (Linamix) 3. Ruacana (GB) 4 b g Cape Cross - Farrfesheena (Rahy)

1. SIR DES CHAMPS (FR) 7 b/br g Robin des Champs - Liste En Tete (Video Rock) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Mr D Clayeux TR-WP Mullins 2. Flemenstar (IRE) 8 b g Flemensfirth - Different Dee (Beau Sher) 3. Joncol (IRE) 10 b g Bob's Return - Finemar Lady (Montelimar)

1. BOSTON BOB (IRE) 8 b g Bob Back - Bavaway (Le Bavard) O-Andrea Wylie & Graham Wylie B-Burgage Stud TR-W P Mullins 2. Texas Jack (IRE) 7 b g Curtain Time - Sailors Run (Roselier) 3. Lord Windermere (IRE) 7 b g Oscar - Satellite Dancer (Satco)

1. CHAMPAGNE FEVER (IRE) 6 gr g Stowaway - Forever Bubbles (Roselier) O-Mrs S Ricci B-JP Cahill TR-WP Mullins 2. Bright New Dawn (IRE) 6 br g Presenting - Shuil Dorcha (Bob Back) 3. Wingtips (FR) 5 gr g High Chaparral - Without Shoes (Highest Honor)

Age 3-4

Age 3-6

Age 5-7

Age 4-6

Starts 9

Wins 5

Places 3

Earned £73,904

OUR CONOR b g 2009 Danzig Razyana Sharpen Up Mira Adonde Lettre d'Amour Blushing Groom Arazi Danseur Fabuleux Alzao Wind In Her Hair Burghclere Nearctic Northern Dancer Natalma Bold Reason Fairy Bridge Special Never Bend Mill Reef Milan Mill Le Levanstell Sweet Mimosa Feemoss

Starts 15

JEREMY b/br 03 Glint In Her Eye

Sadler's Wells FLAMANDS b 93 Fleur Royale

Danehill Dancer’s name isn’t normally associated with success in the jumping sector, even though he was responsible for the Graded-winning hurdlers Unaccompanied, Forgotten Voice and Lightning Strike. That doesn’t mean, though, that his highclass son Jeremy won’t make an excellent recruit to the National Hunt sector now that he has left the Irish National Stud for Garryrichard Stud.

He has the physique, at 16.1 hands, and he acted well on soft ground. As a Group winner over seven furlongs and a mile, he also had the speed some jumping breeders are looking for, while at the same time coming from a female line not short of stamina.

More importantly, Jeremy has already come up with Our Conor, a Gr1 winner over hurdles from his first crop. Other talented jumpers from this crop include Stocktons Wing, winner of the Gr2 Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle, and the Gr2-placed Fisher.

Our Conor gained his Flat successes over seven furlongs and a mile, but that hasn’t stopped him proving highly effective over two miles in his new career. His victory in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle was his third from three starts, and he was to add the Triumph Hurdle to his laurels. The way Our Conor has been finishing his races suggests there must be stamina in the bottom half of his pedigree. His dam Flamands won at up to one and three-quarter miles and is by Sadler’s Wells, who also sired the dam of Unaccompanied, the best jumping winner by Danehill Dancer.

Flamands had two stakes-winning siblings in Casey Tibbs and String Quartet, the latter being the dam of Oaks runner-up Meeznah, who stayed well enough to win the Park Hill Stakes. Our Conor’s second dam Fleur Royale was also second in an Oaks – the 1986 Irish version – and his third dam Sweet Mimosa did even better.

This sister to the Gold Cup and Arc winner Levmoss won the Prix de Diane.

82

Places 3

Earned £289,532

SIR DES CHAMPS b/br g 2006

Danehill Danehill Dancer

Wins 9

Mill Reef Garde Royale

Royal Way

ROBIN DES CHAMPS b 97 Iron Duke Relayeuse Reliorneuse Video Rock LISTE EN TETE b/br 99 Badrapette

No Lute Pauvresse Bad Conduct Trapette

Starts 8

Wins 6

Places 2

Earned 140,788

BOSTON BOB b g 2005 Never Bend Milan Mill Sicambre Right Away Sicambre Insulaire El Relicario Ordonneuse Luthier Prudent Miss Home Guard Misoptimist Stalwart White Lie Perouges Graminee

The latter part of 2013 will see the first Irish-bred runners by Robin Des Champs. This should be a cause for celebration, judging by the achievements of the stallion’s French performers. His seven-year-old son Sir Des Champs improved his record over jumps to nine wins from 11 starts when he stayed on too strongly for Flemenstar in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown. The Glenview Stud stallion has also been very ably represented in Ireland by that outstanding mare Quevega, the Gr1 winner Sous Les Cieux and the Gr1placed Ut De Sivola.

Robin Des Champs is still only 16.

He retired to stud in 2001, having raced only as a three-year-old, when he won the first four of his five starts over hurdles. He covered 144 mares in his first year in Ireland, in 2009.

Sir Des Champs is the first foal of Liste En Tete, a middle-distance winner on the Flat who was placed over fences. Sir Des Champs’s second dam Badrapette visited Robin Des Champs to produce the promising Irish hurdler Un Atout. Badrapette’s halfsister Draborgie broke a leg when favourite for the 1996 Arkle Trophy Chase.

Sir Des Champs has already won a Gr1 beyond three miles on very testing ground and stamina appears to be his strong suit. For this he can thank his broodmare sire Video Rock, who also sired the dams of the Gr1winning stayer Saint Are and the Gr2 Grand Steeple-Chase d’Enghien winner Tir Au But. A middle-distance horse, Video Rock was France’s leading sire of chasers in 2007 and made his mark with his British jumpers, which included the stayers Nenuphar Collonges (Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle), Edmond (Welsh National) and Hussard Collonges (Royal & SunAlliance Chase).

He also sired Champion Hurdle runner-up Osana, top French chaser El Paso III and French Champion Hurdle winner Lycaon De Vauzelle.

Hail To Reason Roberto

Bramalea

BOB BACK br 81 Carry Back Toter Back Romantic Miss Le Bavard BAVAWAY b 87 Chillaway

Devon Lueur Doree Arctic Slave Freezeaway

Starts 8

Wins 5

Places 3

Earned £143,619

CHAMPAGNE FEVER gr g 2007 Turn-To Nothirdchance Nashua Rarelea Saggy Joppy Beauchef Roman Zephyr Worden Sees Le Haar Lueur d'Espoir Arctic Star Roman Galley Vulgan Skateaway

On only his second start over fences, Boston Bob recorded the second Gr1 victory of his career when he stayed on to catch Texas Jack on the line in the Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase. The eight-year-old’s record after that stood at six wins from eight starts under rules. His potential had been apparent when he appeared at Doncaster Bloodstock’s Newbury sale in March 2011. Then, his record consisted of a win in a point-to-point at Tallow and a close third in a Punchestown bumper, and it took a bid of €150,000 from Graham Wylie to secure him.

Together with Bobs Worth, Back In Focus and Roberto Goldback, Boston Bob is ensuring that no-one forgets their sire Bob Back in a hurry. A Gr1winning son of Roberto on the track, he was also a renowned jumps sire, siring the likes of Cousin Vinny, Back In Front, Thisthatandtother, Bacchanal, Putty Road, Treble Bob, Farmer Brown and Calling Brave. Bob Back died at the age of 30 in 2011.

Although Bob Back never won beyond a mile and a quarter, the distance of his victories in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Premio Presidente della Repubblica, plenty of his best winners stay well. Boston Bob has tackled three miles twice under rules, finishing second in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle and falling at the last in last month’s RSA Chase when in the lead.

He has a traditional National Hunt pedigree, his first three dams being daughters of Le Bavard, Arctic Slave and Vulgan (sire of three winners of the Grand National). Le Bavard won the Prix du Cadran over two and a half miles before siring the likes of Kildimo, Perris Valley, Bankers Benefit and Barney Burnett.

Boston Bob’s dam, Bavaway, was an unraced half-sister to the smart hurdler/chaser Danny Harrold and the next dam, Chillaway, was a half-sister to the very useful chaser Golden Freeze. Bavaway also produced the useful staying hurdler Belle Away.

Mill Reef Hardiemma Birkhahn Sayonara Suleika STOWAWAY b 94 Northfields No Pass No Sale No Disgrace On Credit Vaguely Noble Noble Tiara Tayyara Medium Misti IV Mist Roselier Fastnet Rock Peace Rose La Paix FOREVER BUBBLES gr 92 Pampered King Deep Run Trial By Fire Cool Blue Royal Buck Blue Buck Blue Jirao Shirley Heights

Slip Anchor

Although Champagne Fever won a three-mile point-to-point on his first appearance, in April 2011, his connections have been in no hurry to try him over fences. Their patience has been amply rewarded, as he won the Weatherbys Champion Bumper and Punchestown’s Champion INH Flat Race before he progressed to hurdling. The son of Stowaway won the Deloitte Novice Hurdle to improve his record over hurdles to two wins from four starts, and he was to add the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle to his CV. Champagne Fever’s free-running style has made him hard to catch, but it may compromise the stamina in his pedigree. Stowaway, a son of the stoutly-bred Slip Anchor, was very smart at around a mile and a half, as he showed with his victories in the Gordon Stakes and Great Voltigeur Stakes at three, and in a valuable race in Dubai at four. Stowaway struggled for support early in his career, covering books of around 30 thoroughbred mares in each of his first six seasons.

However, his progeny’s early results changed all that and he covered 261 mares in 2011, followed by a similarly huge book in 2012. His best winners include Hidden Cyclone, a dual Gr2 winner over hurdles who has since won a Gr3 over fences, and Western Leader, another Gr2 winner over hurdles who has graduated successfully to fences.

Champagne Fever’s broodmare sire, Roselier, also sired the dam of Stowaway’s successful chaser Away We Go. Champagne Fever was bought for €17,500 at the 2010 Derby Sale but his younger brother proved much more popular when offered as a foal in 2012, selling for €70,000.

Forever Bubbles is also the dam of the useful staying chaser Presenting Forever, by Presenting. Champagne Fever’s fifth dam Blue Petrel numbers the Whitbread Gold Cup winner Andy Pandy and Scottish Grand National winner Belmont King among her descendants.

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Apr_104_databook_Leader 21/03/2013 11:14 Page 83

Caulfield on Champagne Fever: “His sire Stowaway, a son of stoutly-bred Slip Anchor, was very smart, as he showed with his victories in the Gordon and Great Voltigeur Stakes”

140 ASCOT CHASE G1 ASCOT. February 16. 21f 110yds. Soft.

1. CUE CARD (GB) 7 b g King's Theatre - Wicked Crack (King's Ride) O-Mrs Jean R Bishop B-RT Crellin TR-Colin Tizzard 2. Captain Chris (IRE) 9 b g King's Theatre - Function Dream (Strong Gale) 3. Ghizao (GER) 9 b g Tiger Hill - Glorosia (Bering) Age 4-7

Starts 15

Wins 8

Places 5

Earned £276,374

CUE CARD b g 2006 Northern Dancer Sadler's Wells

Fairy Bridge

KING'S THEATRE b 91 Princely Native Regal Beauty Dennis Belle King's Ride WICKED CRACK b 93 Mighty Crack

Rarity Ride Deep Run Treize

Nearctic Natalma Bold Reason Special Raise A Native Charlo Crafty Admiral Evasion Hethersett Who Can Tell Sovereign Path Turf Pampered King Trial By Fire Thirteen of Diamonds Clear Bay

After Cue Card had created a 40-1 shock in the 2010 Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, I wrote in these pages that “the style of his victory raised hopes that he will prove of similar standard to several previous winners of the Champion Bumper, such as Dunguib, Pizarro, Monsignor, Alexander Banquet and Florida Pearl.”

Although it has taken Cue Card, who is now seven, nearly three years to record another Gr1 victory, that prediction still holds true.

Having become a Gr2 winner – in the Sharp Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham – during a career over hurdles that comprised five races, Cue Card is now flourishing over fences, even though his jumping remains untidy on occasions, although connections insist that his ability in this department is rather unfairly portrayed by the media.

Regardless, this free-running son of

King’s Theatre has underlined his versatility by winning the Gr2 Haldon Gold Cup Chase at Exeter over a distance short of two and a quarter miles just three months before he took the Gr1 Ascot Chase over two and three-quarter miles.

King’s Theatre earned a welldeserved first sires’ championship during the 2011-12 season, with help from such as Riverside Theatre, Voler La Vedette, Menorah, Captain Chris, Fingal Bay and Brindisi Breeze.

Unfortunately, he died in 2011, at the age of 20.

Cue Card’s dam Wicked Crack landed six of her 28 contests under rules, her victories coming in handicap hurdles at up to three miles (four such successes) and novice chases (the other two), and she was sold for €120,000 in 2002.

Wicked Crack, who is now 20, has done well commercially as a broodmare. Cue Card himself sold for

€52,000 at Tattersalls Ireland in June 2009 as three-year-old and her Westerner colt made €85,000 at the 2010 Derby Sale.

Wicked Crack was a tough daughter of King’s Ride, and it was another daughter of King’s Ride who produced the 2011 Gr1 winner Bog Warrior.

Cue Card’s second dam, Mighty Crack, produced a talented chaser in What’s The Crack, who finished third in the Sun Alliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Mighty Crack was a sister – by Deep Run – to Good Crack, a prolific winner over fences who won the H S Commercial Spares Handicap Chase over three miles.

Cue Card was to go on from this Ascot Chase win to plunder the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, making all the running to record one of the most impressive victories of the week.

National Hunt Graded races Date 26/01 26/01 27/01 02/02 03/02 03/02 03/02 03/02 07/02 09/02 09/02 09/02 09/02 09/02 16/02 16/02 16/02 16/02 16/02 16/02 19/02 19/02 19/02 19/02 23/02 23/02 23/02 23/02 23/02 23/02 24/02 24/02 24/02 24/02 28/02 02/03 02/03 03/03

Grade GA GB G2 G2 G2 G2 GB GC G3 G2 G2 G3 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G3 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G3 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G3 GB

Race (course) Dist Leopardstown H Chase (Leopardstown) 21f Boylesports.com H Hurdle (Leopardstown) 16f Synergy Security Solutions Novice Hurdle (Leopardstown) 20f Towton Novices' Chase (Wetherby) 25f Tied Cottage Chase (Punchestown) 16f Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle (Punchestown) 16f Dan Moore Memorial H Chase (Punchestown) 16f National Trial H Chase (Punchestown) 28f Powerstown Novice Hurdle (Clonmel) 22f Warwick Mares' Hurdle (Warwick) 19f Denman Chase (Newbury) 24f Betfair H Hurdle (Newbury) 16.5f Game Spirit Chase (Newbury) 17f Kingmaker Novices' Chase (Warwick) 16f Reynoldstown Novices' Chase (Ascot) 24f Red Mills Trial Hurdle (Gowran Park) 16f Prestige Novices' Hurdle (Haydock Park) 24f Grand National Trial H Chase (Haydock Park) 28f Rendlesham Hurdle (Haydock Park) 24f Kingwell Hurdle (Wincanton) 16f Red Mills Chase (Gowran Park) 20f Flyingbolt Novice Chase (Navan) 17f Ten Up Novice Chase (Navan) 24f Boyne Hurdle (Navan) 21f Bobbyjo Chase (Fairyhouse) 25f Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle (Fairyhouse) 16f Racing Plus H Chase (Kempton Park) 24f Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (Kempton Park) 16f Pendil Novices' Chase (Kempton Park) 20.5f Dovecote Novices' Hurdle (Kempton Park) 16f National Spirit Hurdle (Fontwell Park) 20f Johnstown Novice Hurdle (Naas) 16f Newlands Chase (Naas) 16f Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase (Naas) 20f Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle (Thurles) 20f Premier Kelso Novices' Hurdle (Kelso) 18f Greatwood Gold Cup H Chase (Newbury) 20f Carrickmines H Chase (Leopardstown) 21f

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Horse Farrells Fancy (IRE) Abbey Lane (IRE) Pont Alexandre (Ger) Goulanes (IRE) Sizing Europe (IRE) Mozoltov (GB) Lastoftheleaders (IRE) Spot The Boss (IRE) Inish Island (IRE) Ma Filleule (FR) Silviniaco Conti (FR) My Tent Or Yours (IRE) Wishfull Thinking (GB) Majala (FR) Rocky Creek (IRE) So Young (FR) Two Rockers (IRE) Well Refreshed (GB) Across The Bay (IRE) Zarkandar (IRE) Chicago Grey (IRE) Buckers Bridge (IRE) Terminal (FR) On His Own (IRE) Roi Du Mee (FR) Stocktons Wing (IRE) Opening Batsman (IRE) Irish Saint (FR) Grandioso (IRE) Forgotten Voice (IRE) Prospect Wells (FR) Annie Power (IRE) Days Hotel (IRE) Sweeney Tunes (GB) Bright New Dawn (IRE) Mwaleshi (GB) Pacha Du Polder (FR) He'llberemembered (IRE)

Age 9 8 5 7 11 7 10 9 7 5 7 6 10 7 7 7 6 9 9 6 10 7 6 9 8 4 7 4 6 8 8 5 8 7 6 8 6 10

Sex g g g g g g g g g m g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g m g g g g g g

Sire Flemensfirth Flemensfirth Dai Jin Mr Combustible Pistolet Bleu Kayf Tara Supreme Leader Presenting Trans Island Turgeon Dom Alco Desert Prince Alflora Lavirco Dr Massini Lavirco Milan Nikos Bob's Return Azamour Luso Pelder Passing Sale Presenting Lavirco Jeremy Morozov Saint des Saints Westerner Danehill Dancer Sadler's Wells Shirocco Oscar Karinga Bay Presenting Oscar Muhtathir Blue Ocean

Dam Beir Bua Ardross Hazel Sylph Panzella Rebolgiane Jennie Dun Fairmead Princess Heather Breeze Liathmore Abbey Ish Kadaina Gazelle Lulu Spartan Girl Poussetiere Deux Majae Kissantell Honey Foxhall Blue Cool Spring The Southern Zarkasha Carrigeen Acer La Fiere Dame Durendal Shuil Na Mhuire British Nellerie Jumilla Jolly Signal Minirose Champagne Warrior Asnieres Brooklyn's Dance Anno Luce Call Catherine Nan Shuil Dorcha Roxy River Ambri Piotta Remember Rob

Broodmare Sire Classic Secret Executive Perk Kahyasi Red Sunset Mandalus Rudimentary Lord Americo Jolly Jake Danehill Kadalko Altayan Ela-Mana-Mou Garde Royale Dom Pasquini Broken Hearted Highlanders Pistolet Bleu Zaffaran Glacial Storm Kahyasi Lord Americo Lafontaine Clafouti Roselier Le Pontet El Gran Senor Torus Mansonnien Waajib Spend A Buck Shirley Heights Old Vic Strong Gale Buckley Bob Back Ardross Caerwent Deep Society

PROPERTY SERVICES

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JOHN JOHNSTONE MRICS

FRANCE

Chartered Surveyor

Equestrian Property Consultant Telephone: 01638 500155 Mobile: 07802 501548 Email: john@johnjohnstone.co.uk Web: www.johnjohnstone.co.uk The Old Rectory, Lidgate, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 9PP

Index 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178

English trainer in France Small flat racing yard Looking for owners to try French racing Attention to detail assured Jonathan Ward www.jjwardracing.com Tel: +33 (0)243092139 83

Apr_104_global stakes res_Leader 21/03/2013 11:17 Page 84

DATA BOOK LISTINGS OF EVERY WORLDWIDE GROUP OR GRADED STAKES WINNER

Global Stakes Results Date Grade Argentina 02/03 G2 02/03 G2 24/02 G2 16/02 G2 09/02 G2 03/03 G3 28/02 G3 23/02 G3 15/02 G3 05/01 G3

Race

Dist

Horse

Clasico Arturo R y Arturo Bullrich Clasico Otono C. Miguel Angel y Tomas Juarez Celman Clasico Guillermo Kemmis Clasico Carlos Casares Clasico Derli A Gomez Clasico Agustin B Gambier Clasico General Viamonte Clasico Horacio Bustillo Clasico Estados Unidos de America

10.0f 10.0f 8.0f 5.0f 5.0f 6.0f 6.0f 5.0f 8.0f 5.0f

Australia 02/03 23/02 23/02 23/02 16/02 09/02 02/03 02/03 23/02 23/02 23/02 23/02 16/02 16/02 16/02 09/02 09/02 02/03 02/03 02/03 27/02 23/02 23/02 16/02 16/02 10/02 09/02 09/02 09/02 09/02 09/02

Australian Guineas Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes Cathay Pacific Futurity Stakes Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Sportingbet C F Orr Stakes Patinack Silver Slipper Stakes Hobartville Stakes D'Urban Angus Armanasco Stakes BMW Caulfield Autumn Classic Schweppes Apollo Stakes Carlton Draught P Young St George Stakes Royal Sovereign Stakes Light Fingers Stakes New South Wales TB Breeders' Classic Expressway Stakes Hyland Colours Autumn Stakes Francies Tressady Stakes Millie Fox Stakes Boag's Lord Reims Stakes AAMI Launceston Cup TBV Mannerism Stakes Macarthur Tav. Southern Cross Stakes C S Hayes Debonair Stakes The Mittys Vanity AAMI Hobart Cup Patinack Blue Diamond Prelude (c&g) Patinack Blue Diamond Prelude (fillies) Schweppes Rubiton Stakes Geoffrey Belmaine Stakes Herald Sun T S Carlyon Cup

8.0f 6.0f 7.0f 5.5f 5.0f 7.0f 5.5f 7.0f 7.0f 9.0f 7.0f 9.0f 6.0f 6.0f 6.0f 6.0f 7.0f 7.0f 6.5f 13.0f 12.0f 7.0f 6.0f 7.0f 7.0f 12.0f 5.5f 5.5f 5.5f 6.0f 8.0f

G1 G1 G1 G1 G1 G1 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3

The progeny of a single mare, Helsinge (who is by the former Sir Henry Ceciltrained Desert Sun), won three of this month’s six Group 1 contests. Black Caviar prompted relief and emotion in equal measure from her connections when, running for the first time since her near-disaster at Royal Ascot eight months earlier, she won the race renamed in her honour, the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, for the third straight year. She broke the course record in Brazil 17/02 17/02 02/03 03/03 03/03

G1 G1 G2 G3 G3

Sex

Candy Marie (ARG) Flowing Rye (ARG) Personal Dot (ARG) Todo Tango Key (ARG) Dolce Diva (ARG) Wanna Dance (ARG) Rio de Oro (ARG) Peluca Fizz (ARG) Johnny Guitar (ARG) Watch Her (ARG)

4 6 5 3 3 3 3 5 4 6

Ferlax (NZ) Miracles of Life (AUS) All Too Hard (AUS) Mrs Onassis (AUS) Black Caviar (AUS) All Too Hard (AUS) Sweet Idea (AUS) Pierro (AUS) Meliora (AUS) Super Cool (AUS) Alma's Fury (AUS) Foreteller (GB) Rebel Dane (AUS) Bennetta (AUS) Steps In Time (AUS) Happy Galaxy (AUS) Mulaazem (AUS) Tavarnelle (AUS) Red Tracer (AUS) My Ex Mate (AUS) Geegees Blackflash (AUS) Star of Giselle (AUS) Skytrain (AUS) Sheer Talent (AUS) Alzora (AUS) Hurdy Gurdy Man (AUS) Kuroshio (AUS) Guelph (AUS) Adebisi (AUS) There's Only One (AUS) Budriguez (AUS)

4 3 4 6 7 4 3 4 4 4 6 6 4 4 6 4 4 5 6 6 7 6 8 4 4 6 3 3 6 6 7

leading home a 1-2-3 for trainer Peter Moody.

Her half-brother All Too Hard landed the second and third top-level victories of his career in the C F Orr Stakes and the Futurity Stakes. He is likely to fly the family flag at Royal Ascot this year, although a return visit for Black Caviar has not been entirely ruled out.

An elevated temperature forced All Too Hard out of the Australian Guineas, leaving the unheralded 16-1 chance

G. P. Estado de Rio de Janeiro-Stud TNT GP Henrique Possollo Stud TNT (1,000 Gns) Grande Premio Piratininga Grande Premio Presidente do Jockey Club G. P. Presidente Arthur da Costa e Silva

Jorge Ricardo, the world’s winningmost jockey, made one of his regular trips home from Buenos Aires to partner the favourites in both the Rio Guineas.

However, neither Sutil nor the odds-on

Age

8.0f 8.0f 11.0f 8.0f 10.0f

Aerosol (BRZ) Antonella Baby (BRZ) Victory Is Ours (BRZ) Mr Angra (BRZ) Poker Face (BRZ)

Holding Glory made much of an impression, finishing sixth and fifth.

Second favourite Antonella Baby landed the 1,000. She had defeated Sutil in a Group 2 over ten furlongs in

Sire

Dam

Broodmare Sire

F H M C F F C M C M

Pure Prize (USA) Catcher In The Rye (IRE) Not For Sale (ARG) Key Deputy (USA) Luhuk (USA) The Leopard (USA) Catcher In The Rye (IRE) Slew Gin Fizz (USA) Lode (USA) Mutakddim (USA)

Candy Of Mine (ARG) Stormy Flo (ARG) Personal Right (ARG) La Mistonga (ARG) Sweet Shine (ARG) Wannabe (ARG) Pea Souper (ARG) Lucky Peineta (ARG) Jolie Caresse (USA) Wally (ARG)

Candy Stripes (USA) Bernstein (USA) Lode (USA) Tempranero (CHI) Indygo Shiner (USA) Mutakddim (USA) Indygo Shiner (USA) Lucky Roberto (USA) Septieme Ciel (USA) Southern Halo (USA)

C F C M M C F C F G G G C F M C C M M G G M G C F H C F H M G

Pentire (GB) Not A Single Doubt (AUS) Casino Prince (AUS) General Nediym (AUS) Bel Esprit (AUS) Casino Prince (AUS) Snitzel (AUS) Lonhro (AUS) Ad Valorem (USA) Fastnet Rock (AUS) Refuse To Bend (IRE) Dansili (GB) California Dane (AUS) General Nediym (AUS) Danehill Dancer (IRE) Nadeem (AUS) Dubai Destination (USA) Zabeel (NZ) Dane Shadow (AUS) Not A Single Doubt (AUS) Clangalang (AUS) Reset (AUS) Lonhro (AUS) Redoute's Choice (AUS) Redoute's Choice (AUS) Street Cry (IRE) Exceed And Excel (AUS) Exceed And Excel (AUS) Shovhog (AUS) Testa Rossa (AUS) Al Maher (AUS)

Legs Akimbo (AUS) Dazzling Gazelle (AUS) Helsinge (AUS) Miss Jakeo (AUS) Helsinge (AUS) Helsinge (AUS) Flidais (AUS) Right Note (IRE) Sunset Boulevard (AUS) Queen Mother (USA) Dance Attendance (NZ) Prophecy (IRE) Texarcana (AUS) Diva's Magic (AUS) Rare Insight (NZ) Seven Stars (AUS) Watchful (AUS) Wanaka (NZ) Kisma (AUS) Indris (AUS) La Quita (AUS) Princesa (AUS) Que Sera Sera (AUS) St Katherine (AUS) Bryce Canyon (USA) Abalone (AUS) Arctic Drift (USA) Camarilla (AUS) Hell For Leather (AUS) Aunty Hilda (NZ) Deni (AUS)

Marscay (AUS) More Than Ready (USA) Desert Sun (GB) Unbridled's Song (USA) Desert Sun (GB) Desert Sun (GB) Timber Country (USA) Daylami (IRE) Fasliyev (USA) Kingmambo (USA) What A Guest Warning More Than Ready (USA) Redoute's Choice (AUS) O'Reilly (NZ) King's Best (USA) Danehill (USA) Green Perfume (USA) Snippets (AUS) Kenny's Best Pal (AUS) Grand Lodge (USA) Danehill (USA) Luskin Star (AUS) Barathea (IRE) Gulch (USA) Bluebird (USA) Gone West (USA) Elusive Quality (USA) Sanction (AUS) Nassipour (USA) St Covet (AUS)

Ferlax to make a winning Pattern race debut and retain his unbeaten record.

But the best three-year-old race of March 2 was the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes in Sydney, where the juvenile Triple Crown hero Pierro touched off the previously unbeaten Royal Sovereign Stakes winner Rebel Dane.

Yet another unbeaten star, Barakey, travelled 1,700 miles from Perth to Melbourne to take part in the Oakleigh Plate only to be withdrawn following an 4 4 4 5 5

C F C H H

Public Purse (USA) Agnes Gold (JPN) Northern Afleet (USA) Romarin (BRZ) Wild Event (USA)

incident in the starting stalls. This left Mrs Onassis to break a long Group 1 drought for trainer Gerald Ryan.

The first big two-year-old event of the season, the Blue Diamond Stakes, resulted in a fairytale success for 29year-old apprentice jockey Lauren Stojakovic, who has recovered from a four-way fracture of her pelvis, and not only rides but also mucks out and feeds the triumphant Daniel Clarken-trained Miracles Of Life.

Nina Sabella (BRZ) On Your Own (BRZ) Nouvelle Cuisine (BRZ) Angra (BRZ) Power Sound (BRZ)

September but she had not raced since a poor effort in the GP Diana (Sao Paulo Oaks) on November 10, while her rival had won the principal Guineas trial on January 12.

Jules (USA) Candy Stripes (USA) Broad Brush (USA) Magical Mile (USA) Shudanz (CAN)

Holding Glory’s trainer Julio Cesar Sampaio won the 2,000 anyway with Aerosol, who came from last – and being pushed along vigorously entering the straight – to defeat 13 rivals.

Chile 01/02 27/02

G2 G3

Premio Verano - Arturo Cousino Luisino Premio Thompson Matthews

10.0f 8.0f

Cornelio Sila (CHI) Rubiales (CHI)

5 4

H C

Monthir (USA) Tumblebrutus (USA)

Elia Capitolina (CHI) Brigitta (CHI)

Edgy Diplomat (USA) Barkerville (USA)

Japan 17/02 03/03 24/02 10/02 13/01 02/03 02/03 24/02 23/02 17/02 16/02 10/02

G1 G2 G2 G2 G2 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3

February Stakes Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Nakayama Kinen Kyoto Kinen Nikkei Shinshun Hai The Tulip Sho Yukan Fuji Sho Ocean Stakes Hankyu Hai Arlington Cup Kokura Daishoten Diamond Stakes Kyodo NewsService Hai Tokinominoru Kinen

8.0f 10.0f 9.0f 11.0f 12.0f 8.0f 6.0f 7.0f 8.0f 9.0f 17.0f 9.0f

Grape Brandy (JPN) Camino Tassajara (JPN) Nakayama Knight (JPN) Tosen Ra (JPN) Capote Star (JPN) Kurofune Surprise (JPN) Sakura Gospel (JPN) Lord Kanaloa (JPN) Copano Richard (JPN) Hit The Target (JPN) Admire Rakti (JPN) Meikei Pega Star (JPN)

5 3 5 5 4 3 5 5 3 5 5 3

H C H H C F H H C H H C

Manhattan Cafe (JPN) Deep Impact (JPN) Stay Gold (JPN) Deep Impact (JPN) Heart's Cry (JPN) Kurofune (USA) Sakura President (JPN) King Kamehameha (JPN) Daiwa Major (JPN) King Kamehameha (JPN) Heart's Cry (JPN) Fuji Kiseki (JPN)

Wine And Rose (JPN) Crow Canyon (JPN) Fiji Girl (JPN) Princess Olivia (USA) Sabbiare (USA) Iron Bridge (JPN) Sakura Blues (JPN) Lady Blossom (JPN) Higashi Lynx (JPN) Latir (JPN) Admire Teresa (JPN) Storm Whistle (JPN)

Judge Angelucci (USA) French Deputy (USA) Cacoethes (USA) Lycius (USA) Capote (USA) Tony Bin Cure The Blues (USA) Storm Cat (USA) Tony Bin Tamamo Cross (JPN) Helissio (FR) Brian's Time (USA)

84

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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DATA BOOK

09/02

G3

Daily Hai Queen Cup

Grape Brandy proved that he has recovered his best form when collaring the veteran Espoir City in the last 100 yards of the February Stakes. Grape New Zealand G1 02/03 G1 23/02 G1 09/02 G1 09/02 G2 23/02 G2 17/02 G2 17/02 G2 09/02 G3 02/03 G3 02/03 G3 16/02 G3 16/02

Brandy was a top class three-year-old, when he won the Japan Dirt Derby, before fracturing a foreleg and spending six months on the sidelines.

TV3 New Zealand Derby Haunui Farm Otaki-Maori WFA Classic Darci Brahma International Stakes Waikato Draught Sprint J S Contractors Matamata Breeders Stakes The Falls Restaurant Avondale Guineas Cardinal Logistics Avondale Gold Cup Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Classic (f) Bruce Perry Bloodstock Lowland Stakes Darley King's Plate Phoenix Park Taranaki Classic Hooker Pacific Taranaki Cup

Habibi overturned the form of her only defeat (when a strong-finishing third in the Avondale Guineas) to make it six wins from seven starts in the NZ Derby.

She led home a 1-2 for fillies as Fix, who had won three Group 2s since finishing third in the 1,000 Guineas in November, kept on gamely to keep the Peru 17/02

8.0fUkiyono Kaze (JPN)

12.0f 8.0f 10.0f 7.0f 6.0f 10.5f 12.0f 10.0f 10.5f 6.0f 6.0f 9.0f

Habibi (NZ) Nashville (NZ) Sangster (NZ) Final Touch (NZ) Recite (NZ) Valbuena (NZ) Sangster (NZ) Fix (NZ) High Fashion (NZ) Petty Cury (AUS) Girl of My Dreams (NZ) Capone (NZ)

margin to half a length.

Sangster, the 2011 Victoria Derby winner in Australia, scored for the first time in ten subsequent starts when lifting the International Stakes and promptly followed up in the Group 2 Avondale Gold Cup just nine days later.

Final Touch’s dream season

3

F

On Fire (JPN)

Admire Dash (JPN)

He is in the right hands for future success as his trainer, Takayuki Yasuda, guided Transcend to consecutive Japan Cup Dirt triumphs in 2010 and 2011.

4 5 5 6 3 4 5 4 4 5 3 7

F G G M F G G F F M F G

Ekraar (USA) Darci Brahma (NZ) Savabeel (AUS) Kashani (USA) Darci Brahma (NZ) Darci Brahma (NZ) Savabeel (AUS) Iffraaj (GB) O'Reilly (NZ) Not A Single Doubt (AUS) Gold Centre (AUS) Al Akbar (AUS)

Espoir City was a 25-1 chance but punters should have known better – he has now finished in the first quintet in this race five times and won it in 2010.

Danny Holiday (NZ) Royal Kiss (IRE) Quinta Special (IRE) My Lydia (AUS) Chant (NZ) Vega Sicilia (NZ) Quinta Special (IRE) Destined (GB) Pin High (NZ) Bahira (NZ) O'Noyoudont (NZ) Good Hearted (NZ)

continued when, just as she had in the Telegraph Handicap three weeks earlier, she got the better of Xanadu in the Waikato Draught Sprint. But the hard-working mare’s bid for a fourth Group 1 triumph of the campaign in the Otaki Classic resulted in a rare belowpar effort as the outsider, Nashville,

Fusaichi Concorde (JPN)

Danasinga (AUS) Royal Academy (USA) Spectrum (IRE) Umatilla (NZ) Traditionally (USA) Rodrigo de Triano (USA) Spectrum (IRE) Danehill (USA) Pins (AUS) Volksraad (GB) O'Reilly (NZ) Kinjite (NZ)

came from last in a five-runner field to get the better of some big names.

Ocean Park, the 2012 Cox Plate winner who had not run since November, remains on target to visit Dubai, then Britain, despite finishing only fourth, one place ahead of Final Touch.

Clasico Baldomero Aspillaga

10.0f

Arin (PER)

5

H

Domingo (USA)

Lucuma (PER)

Ups (PER)

Betting World Gauteng Guineas Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas Hawaii Stakes Acacia Handicap Lektron Chairman's Cup Two Oceans Racing Prix du Cap Tommy Hotspur Handicap Three Troikas Stakes Tony Ruffel Stakes

8.0f 8.0f 7.0f 8.0f 16.0f 7.0f 5.0f 7.0f 7.0f

Tellina (SAF) Cherry On The Top (SAF) Whiteline Fever (SAF) Amur Affair (SAF) A Boy Named Sue (SAF) Halfway To Heaven (SAF) Sharp Design (SAF) King's Temptress (SAF) Fantastic Mr Fox (SAF)

4 4 5 5 5 6 5 4 4

C F H M G M G F G

Silvano (GER) Tiger Ridge (USA) Right Approach (GB) Tiger Ridge (USA) Caesour (USA) Jet Master (SAF) National Emblem (SAF) King of Kings (IRE) Right Approach (GB)

Tachina (IRE) Carolina Cherry (SAF) Hockey Corner (SAF) Weston Fair (SAF) Where Angels Walk (SAF) Pas De Basque (SAF) Sharp Ledge (SAF) Model Mam'selle (SAF) Fort Fox (SAF)

Spectrum (IRE) Fort Wood (USA) Sportsworld (USA) Western Winter (USA) Saumarez Rambo Dancer (CAN) Fine Edge Model Man (SAF) Fort Wood (USA)

United Arab Emirates 02/03 G2 Stud Estrela Energia Zabeel Mile 21/02 G2 S. & M.Al Naboodah Al Fahidi Fort Stakes 21/02 G2 Naboodah Construction Balanchine Stakes 07/02 G2 Tabloid Al Maktoum Challenge 2 02/03 G3 Estrela Energia Nad Al Sheba Trophy 28/02 G3 Dana Wealth Management UAE Oaks 14/02 G3 Al Tayer Motors UAE 2000 Guineas 14/02 G3 Jaguar XJ Al Shindagha Sprint 14/02 G3 Range Rover Firebreak Stakes

8.0f 8.0f 9.0f 9.5f 14.0f 9.5f 8.0f 6.0f 8.0f

Trade Storm (GB) Mushreq (AUS) Sajjhaa (GB) Hunter's Light (IRE) Ahzeemah (IRE) Shuruq (USA) Soft Falling Rain (SAF) Mental (AUS) Moonwalk In Paris (FR)

5 5 6 5 4 3 4 5 5

H G M H G F C G G

Trade Fair (GB) Flying Spur (AUS) King's Best (USA) Dubawi (IRE) Dubawi (IRE) Elusive Quality (USA) National Assembly (CAN) Lonhro (AUS) Oratorio (IRE)

Frisson (GB) Alharir (AUS) Anaamil (IRE) Portmanteau (GB) Swiss Roll (IRE) Miss Lucifer (FR) Gardener's Delight (USA) Intrigues (AUS) Shining Glory (GB)

Slip Anchor Jeune (GB) Darshaan Barathea (IRE) Entrepreneur (GB) Noverre (USA) Giant's Causeway (USA) Night Shift (USA) Singspiel (IRE)

United States 02/03 G1 02/03 G1 02/03 G1 09/02 G1 09/02 G1 02/03 G2 23/02 G2 23/02 G2 23/02 G2 23/02 G2 18/02 G2 17/02 G2 16/02 G2 16/02 G2 16/02 G2 09/02 G2 02/03 G3 02/03 G3 02/03 G3 02/03 G3 23/02 G3 23/02 G3 23/02 G3 23/02 G3 18/02 G3 18/02 G3 17/02 G3 16/02 G3 16/02 G3 16/02 G3 10/02 G3 09/02 G3 09/02 G3

8.0f 8.0f 10.0f 9.0f 9.0f 8.5f 8.5f 8.5f 8.5f 7.0f 8.0f 7.0f 11.0f 7.0f 8.5f 10.0f 7.0f 9.0f 8.5f 6.0f 8.5f 8.5f 9.0f 8.0f 8.5f 7.0f 8.5f 9.0f 8.5f 11.0f 6.5f 7.0f 9.0f

Beholder (USA) Suggestive Boy (ARG) Game On Dude (USA) Graydar (USA) Point of Entry (USA) Summer Applause (USA) Ive Struck A Nerve (USA) Orb (USA) Live Lively (USA) Sahara Sky (USA) Mizdirection (USA) Shakin It Up (USA) Amira's Prince (IRE) Funnys Approval (USA) Great Hot (BRZ) Slim Shadey (GB) Clearly Now (USA) Kitten's Point (USA) Vyjack (USA) Comma To The Top (USA) Unlimited Budget (USA) Mark Valeski (USA) Optimizer (USA) Data Link (USA) Super Ninety Nine (USA) Javerre (USA) Royal Delta (USA) Dice Flavor (USA) Swift Warrior (USA) Starformer (USA) Golden Mystery (USA) Fort Loudon (USA) Channel Lady (USA)

3 5 6 4 5 4 3 3 3 5 5 3 4 4 5 5 3 3 3 5 3 4 4 5 3 4 5 3 5 5 7 4 4

F H G C H F C C F H M C C F M G C F G G F C C H C G M C H M M C F

Henny Hughes (USA) Easing Along (USA) Awesome Again (CAN) Unbridled's Song (USA) Dynaformer (USA) Harlan's Holiday (USA) Yankee Gentleman (USA) Malibu Moon (USA) Medaglia d'Oro (USA) Pleasant Tap (USA) Mizzen Mast (USA) Midnight Lute (USA) Teofilo (IRE) Outrageouslyfunny (USA) Orientate (USA) Val Royal (FR) Horse Greeley (USA) Kitten's Joy (USA) Into Mischief (USA) Bwana Charlie (USA) Street Sense (USA) Proud Citizen (USA) English Channel (USA) War Front (USA) Pulpit (USA) Outflanker (USA) Empire Maker (USA) Scat Daddy (USA) First Samurai (USA) Dynaformer (USA) Awesome Again (CAN) Awesome of Course (USA) English Channel (USA)

Leslie's Lady (USA) Suffrage (USA) Worldly Pleasure (USA) Sweetest Smile (USA) Matlacha Pass (USA) Summer Exhibition (USA) Ranaway (USA) Lady Liberty (USA) Glacken's Gal (USA) Seeking The Sky (USA) Deceptive (USA) Silver Bullet Moon (USA) Twice The Ease (GB) Cherokee Approval (USA) That's Hot (USA) Vino Veritas (USA) Bend (USA) Rendezvous Point (USA) Life Happened (USA) Maggies Storm (USA) Unlimited Pleasure (USA) Pocho's Dream Girl (USA) Indy Pick (USA) Database (USA) Exogenetic (USA) Our Fantene (USA) Delta Princess (USA) Afleet Summer (USA) Afleet Summer (USA) Etoile Montante (USA) Mysterious Angel (USA) Lottsa Talc (USA) Queen Supreme (USA)

Tricky Creek (USA) Horse Chestnut (SAF) Devil His Due (USA) Dehere (USA) Seeking The Gold (USA) Royal Academy (USA) Cryptoclearance (USA) Unbridled (USA) Smoke Glacken (USA) Storm Cat (USA) Clever Trick (USA) Vindication (USA) Green Desert (USA) Cherokee Run (USA) Seeking The Gold (USA) Chief's Crown (USA) Arch (USA) Kingmambo (USA) Stravinsky (USA) Stormy Atlantic (USA) Valid Appeal (USA) Fortunate Prospect (USA) A P Indy (USA) Known Fact (USA) Unbridled's Song (USA) Touch Gold (USA) A P Indy (USA) Afleet (CAN) Afleet (CAN) Miswaki (USA) Saint Ballado (CAN) Talc (USA) King of Kings (IRE)

G3

South Africa 02/03 G2 02/03 G2 02/03 G2 02/03 G3 23/02 G3 23/02 G3 12/02 G3 09/02 G3 09/02 G3

Las Virgenes Stakes Frank E Kilroe Mile Stakes Santa Anita Handicap Donn Handicap Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap Top Flight Handicap Risen Star Stakes Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth Stakes Davona Dale Stakes San Carlos Stakes Buena Vista Stakes San Vicente Stakes Mac Diarmida Stakes Barbara Fritchie Handicap Santa Maria Stakes San Marcos Stakes Swale Stakes Herecomesthebride Stakes Gotham Stakes Tom Fool Handicap Rachel Alexandra Stakes Mineshaft Handicap Fair Grounds Handicap Canadian Turf Stakes Southwest Stakes General George Handicap Sabin Stakes El Camino Real Derby Tampa Bay Stakes Very One Stakes Hurricane Bertie Stakes Gulfstream Park Sprint Ch'ship Stakes Suwannee River Stakes

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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DATA BOOK LISTINGS OF EVERY WORLDWIDE GROUP OR GRADED STAKES WINNER & EXCLUSIVE STALLION STATS

Global Stakes Results >>

A number of leading players from November’s Breeders’ Cup [BC] meeting have been strutting their stuff to good effect of late. Game On Dude remains unbeaten in three starts since his shock BC Classic flop after lifting the Santa Anita Handicap over the same course and distance by almost eight lengths. The BC is now his only defeat in eight starts at Santa Anita.

Point Of Entry, who was running for the first time since his BC Turf runner-up effort, got the better of the BC Mile second Animal Kingdom in a highly tactical Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap. John Velazquez, Animal Kingdom’s regular pilot, was aboard the winner, and his substitute Joel Rosario was widely acknowledged to have hit the front too soon on the odds-on

favourite, who now heads to Dubai.

Beholder, the BC Juvenile Fillies heroine, was found to have been suffering from a throat ulcer when beaten on her January comeback but returned to the winners’ circle with an easy Las Virgenes Stakes victory.

The former Argentine champion Suggestive Boy, who had finished well adrift of Animal Kingdom in the BC

Mile, landed a thrilling renewal of the Frank E Kiroe Mile, holding off Silentio by a nose.

However, BC form did not work out in the Donn Handicap as Graydar benefited from his light weight and a perfectly-judged front-running ride from Edgar Prado to score by three lengths.

Flat Out, the BC Classic third, could manage only fourth.

Leading global sires by stakes winners Horse

Born

Sire

Stands/Stood

Exceed And Excel Jet Master Dubawi Harlan's Holiday King Kamehameha Put It Back Redoute's Choice Deep Impact Giant's Causeway Kitten's Joy Lonhro Malibu Moon Not A Single Doubt O'Reilly Street Cry Tapit Testa Rossa Unbridled's Song

2000 1994 2002 1999 2001 1998 1996 2002 1997 2001 1998 1997 2001 1993 1998 2001 1996 1993

Danehill Rakeen Dubai Millennium Harlan Kingmambo Honour And Glory Danehill Sunday Silence Storm Cat El Prado Octagonal A P Indy Redoute's Choice Last Tycoon Machiavellian Pulpit Perugino Unbridled

AUS IRE UK SAF UK IRE AUS USA JPN USA BRZ AUS JPN USA AUS USA AUS USA AUS NZ USA AUS USA AUS USA

BTH BTW GH GW 10 11 8 8 10 6 12 11 12 8 10 5 5 9 6 8 10 5

7 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

3 5 3 3 4 1 7 8 6 5 5 3 3 6 3 5 4 1

2 2 2 1 2 1 2 4 2 2 3 3 3 3 2 3 1 1

Darley sires have leaped to the fore, with Exceed And Excel coming from nowhere to first and Dubawi following suit into third.

Solar Deity became our table leader’s 64th stakes winner when winning a Listed event at Wolverhampton, following Group 3 triumphs for the three-year-olds Guelph and Kuroshio at Caulfield, while Dubawi came up trumps with a couple of Pattern scorers at Meydan.

There are several other new arrivals in the top ten as well: King Kamehameha, Redoute’s Choice,

Deep Impact, who sired two Group 2 winners, and Kitten’s Joy. All these are familiar except perhaps Kitten’s Joy, who stands at Ramsey Farm for $50,000.

By El Prado, Sadler’s Wells’s most successful son in the USA, Kitten’s Joy was a top-class performer on turf, winning nine, including two Grade 1s, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational and Secretariat Stakes, and running second in the other three of his starts on that surface. Most of his best progeny have not resembled him in requiring turf to show their best form.

Leading National Hunt sires 2012/13 by earnings Name

Beneficial Flemensfirth Oscar King's Theatre Milan Presenting Old Vic Bob Back Dom Alco Kayf Tara Montjeu Witness Box Accordion Alflora Winged Love Karinga Bay Alderbrook Lavirco Definite Article Bob's Return Dr Massini Heron Island Midnight Legend Dynaformer Cadoudal Westerner Stowaway Network Azamour Agent Bleu Saddlers' Hall Robin des Champs Anshan Sadler's Wells Generous Galileo Brian Boru Turgeon Tiger Hill Luso Shantou Vinnie Roe Kahyasi Martaline Hernando Pistolet Bleu Cloudings Dushyantor Laveron Snurge Supreme Leader

YOF

1990 1992 1994 1991 1998 1992 1986 1981 1987 1994 1996 1987 1986 1989 1992 1987 1989 1993 1992 1990 1993 1993 1991 1985 1979 1999 1994 1997 2001 1987 1988 1997 1987 1981 1988 1998 2000 1986 1995 1992 1993 1998 1985 1999 1990 1988 1994 1993 1995 1987 1982

Sire

Top Ville Alleged Sadler's Wells Sadler's Wells Sadler's Wells Mtoto Sadler's Wells Roberto Dom Pasquini Sadler's Wells Sadler's Wells Lyphard Sadler's Wells Niniski In The Wings Ardross Ardross Konigsstuhl Indian Ridge Bob Back Sadler's Wells Shirley Heights Night Shift Roberto Green Dancer Danehill Slip Anchor Monsun Night Shift Vacarme Sadler's Wells Garde Royale Persian Bold Northern Dancer Caerleon Sadler's Wells Sadler's Wells Caro Danehill Salse Alleged Definite Article Ile de Bourbon Linamix Niniski Top Ville Sadler's Wells Sadler's Wells Konigsstuhl Ela-Mana-Mou Bustino

Rnrs

276 242 293 194 237 289 198 73 25 124 61 54 65 127 61 100 84 18 111 39 91 80 75 15 11 84 30 15 17 3 62 18 86 55 76 57 64 31 42 80 44 55 24 21 29 16 56 44 20 29 25

Wnrs

84 63 73 59 73 71 52 24 12 36 15 15 23 28 13 25 22 8 27 10 26 17 29 10 5 23 11 7 6 3 11 9 19 16 20 14 14 14 11 16 15 13 7 7 10 3 14 13 8 8 6

%WR

30.4 26.0 24.9 30.4 30.8 24.6 26.3 32.9 48.0 29.0 24.6 27.8 35.4 22.1 21.3 25.0 26.2 44.4 24.3 25.6 28.6 21.3 38.7 66.7 45.5 27.4 36.7 46.7 35.3 100.0 17.7 50.0 22.1 29.1 26.3 24.6 21.9 45.2 26.2 20.0 34.1 23.6 29.2 33.3 34.5 18.8 25.0 29.6 40.0 27.6 24.0

Races

113 88 112 88 106 89 68 33 22 47 24 18 32 35 22 38 33 20 36 13 34 24 39 17 5 28 17 14 8 5 13 14 20 19 28 17 18 22 13 20 19 17 12 13 14 6 20 17 15 14 9

AWD

19.5 20.1 19.1 19.7 20.2 19.9 20.2 20.8 22.3 20.0 20.5 23.2 19.3 20.2 20.7 20.2 19.6 19.7 19.6 22.2 19.4 18.3 19.4 18.1 24.2 18.8 17.8 18.8 16.9 18.2 21.3 20.1 20.4 19.0 19.3 17.7 19.1 20.5 17.8 19.9 18.7 18.5 20.5 18.3 19.4 18.9 21.1 21.4 21.6 22.3 20.7

Earnings (£)

1,123,049 1,111,426 1,027,949 1,002,398 890,189 775,033 641,297 526,890 508,524 411,113 383,101 350,683 350,091 321,921 273,130 264,571 262,204 261,209 256,638 252,676 250,920 244,491 231,376 231,146 215,206 207,647 204,323 199,728 199,313 197,354 196,314 196,177 189,344 182,770 175,395 170,604 166,361 162,335 162,262 160,925 159,672 158,242 155,551 150,881 149,079 148,676 148,168 146,697 144,580 137,199 133,439

Top horse

Monksland Tidal Bay Oscar Whisky Cue Card Jezki First Lieutenant Questions Answered Bobs Worth Silviniaco Conti The Package Hurricane Fly Colbert Station Gus Macrae Wishfull Thinking Bless The Wings Sweeney Tunes For Non Stop Roi du Mee Pride Of The Artic Bob Lingo Rocky Creek Trustan Times Midnight Chase Cause Of Causes Long Run Grandioso Champagne Fever Sprinter Sacre Zarkandar Rebel Fitz Jadanli Sir des Champs Gansey Prospect Wells Pires Swing Bowler Noras Fancy Tarquinius Ghizao Chicago Grey Super Duty Our Vinnie Vino Griego Dynaste Cape Tribulation Sizing Europe Cloudy Too Great Oak Katenko The Disengager Lastoftheleaders

Earned (£)

61,417 127,779 86,245 125,359 104,604 62,942 37,871 85,425 195,118 42,326 144,172 106,037 46,275 73,196 38,407 40,136 48,774 89,985 41,417 114,667 35,900 66,516 17,035 159,131 156,300 35,442 64,658 107,729 140,951 184,583 46,098 91,213 16,831 44,872 37,292 35,812 36,419 40,198 36,294 24,735 24,825 41,842 44,854 49,140 81,593 120,805 25,636 37,304 70,324 40,854 56,187

Curtain call for Kayf, again defying odds The month leading up to the Cheltenham Festival does not boast much in the way of quality races and the nip-and-tuck battle for top spot saw Beneficial overtake Flemensfirth, with Oscar and King’s Theatre also above the million-pound mark.

Perhaps, though, this is the moment to applaud Kayf Tara, once again the leading British-based sire.

The dual Gold Cup winner stands at Overbury Stud for £3,000. Despite suffering from the usual shortage of runners that puts stallions standing in England out of contention for the title – his tally of 124 this season is more than 100 adrift of five of the first six in the table – he consistently gets blacktype horses, albeit with Planet Of Sound his only Grade 1 scorer.

Kayf Tara is noted mainly for chasers and his biggest earner this time around is The Package, successful in the Badger Ales Trophy. However, 2011 Hennessy winner Carruthers has notched a couple of races at Ffos Las and is now close to £300,000 in earnings, while novice chaser Cantlow missed Cheltenham but looks promising.

Statistics to March 3

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Apr_104_Flashback_Owner 21/03/2013 11:19 Page 88

FLASHBACK

April 3, 1993 Morley Street saunters to his fourth straight win in the Martell Aintree Hurdle under a motionless Graham Bradley

GEORGE SELWYN

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2

3

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1 Ruling – Peter Niven 2 Morley Street – Graham Bradley 3 Flown – Richard Dunwoody 4 Granville Again – Peter Scudamore

88

M

orley Street was one of the most popular and versatile performers in the modern era.

He excelled over hurdles and was at his best on Merseyside, where he landed the Aintree Hurdle four times.

His quirkiness was partly responsible for his popularity, as he bled throughout his career and tended to be held up in his races before coming through with a potent turn of foot late on.

Morley Street contested the Champion Hurdle five times, landing a vintage renewal in 1991, but it was his exploits on the flatter track at Aintree, which played to his strengths, for which he is best remembered.

He went undefeated in the Aintree Hurdle from 1990 to 1993, ridden to victory by Jimmy Frost on the first two

occasions, and then by Richard Dunwoody and Graham Bradley.

The last of his four victories – and last of 20 in his career – was trademark Morley Street and typical Bradley, the jockey shaking his mount up to lead close home after coming there on the bit at the last, to beat his old rival and full-brother Granville Again.

Toby Balding trained him throughout his 45-race career and said: “His record speaks for itself: two Breeders’ Cup Chases, a Champion Hurdle, four Aintree Hurdles and five wins at Aintree in total. He was a great looker and an amazing horse to be associated with.

He was a star.”

Happily, Morley Street enjoyed a long retirement with Jeffrey Peate, and passed away at the age of 25 in 2009.

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Darley OB April 2013_Layout 1 20/03/2013 15:10 Page 1

He’s going down a storm!

Brilliant and fabulous-looking son of Monsun, now an outstanding sire of high-class Classic stock.

St Leger runner-up in his first crop.

Oaks runner-up in his second.

Both stay in training, as does G2 winner Wild Coco, sold for 985,000gns in December.

Four G1 horses so far, and a higher ratio of 2012 three-year-olds rated 100 or above than Oasis Dream, Pivotal, Acclamation and Invincible Spirit.

SHIROCCO Monsun – So Sedulous (The Minstrel) £7,000 Oct 1, Special live foal. Stands at Dalham Hall Stud, Britain. +44 (0)1638 730070 +353 (0)45 527600 www.darleystallions.com

Darley