ob_feb08

February 2008 issue 42

£3.50

The official publication of the ROA and the TBA

TBA AWARDS

UNSUNG HERO Terry Albone, the inaugural Stud Staff Award winner

Murphy’s stewards salvo Breeding’s Big Night

Out of the Shadows

Pictures and profiles of the 15 TBA award winners, plus full AGM coverage

An in-depth analysis of the problems facing the British NH breeding industry

Owners and racecourses cover prize-money drop

“Racing must not be run by people who’ve lost £5 and want someone to blame” I

www.ownerbreeder.co.uk

MAKE THE RIG We stand the best sires in Europe…

LEADING EUROPEAN SIRES IN 2007 (In Order of Stakes Winners Wo rldwide*) RK STALLION (SIRE) 1 DANEHILL DANCER (Da nehill) MONTJEU (Sadler's Wells) 3 SADLER'S WELLS (North ern Dancer) 4 DANEHILL (Danzig) 5 Monsun (Konigsstuhl) 6 ROCK OF GIBRALTAR (Da nehill) Singspiel (In the Wings) 8 GALILEO (Sadler's Wells) Dansili (Danehill) In The Wings (Sadler's Wells)

* Northern Hemisphere crops only.

Statistics by Hyperion Promotions,

SW’S 19 19 18 16 15 13 13 11 11 11

to 26th Nov.

… and we have the right stallions to suit your mares & pocket too.

GR.1 WINNERS AT 6F.

Ad Valorem, Choisir, Danehill Dancer, Holy Roman Emperor, One Cool Cat.

GR.1 WINNERS AT 7F.

Danehill Dancer, Hawk Wing, Holy Roman Emperor, One Cool Cat, Oratorio, Rock Of Gibraltar.

GR.1 WINNERS AT 8F.

Ad Valorem, Aussie Rules, Excellent Art, Footstepsinthesand, Hawk Wing, High Chaparral, Rock of Gibraltar, Sadler’s Wells.

GR.1 WINNERS AT 10F.

Dylan Thomas, Hawk Wing, High Chaparral, Hurricane Run, Montjeu, Oratorio, Sadler’s Wells.

GR.1 WINNERS AT 12F.

Dylan Thomas, Galileo, High Chaparral, Hurricane Run, Montjeu, Peintre Celebre.

GR.1 OR GR.2 WINNING 2-Y-O’S.

Ad Valorem, Antonius Pius, Danehill Dancer, Excellent Art, Hawk Wing, High Chaparral, Holy Roman Emperor, Ivan Denisovich, One Cool Cat, Oratorio, Rock of Gibraltar, Sadler’s Wells, Strategic Prince.

STALLIONS FOR 2008 • AD VALOREM • ANTONIUS PIUS • AUSSIE RULES • CATCHER IN THE RYE • CHOISIR • DANEHILL DANCER • DYLAN THOMAS • EXCELLENT ART • • FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND • GALILEO • HAWK WING • HIGH CHAPARRAL • HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR • HURRICANE RUN • IVAN DENISOVICH • MONTJEU • NIGHT SHIFT • • ONE COOL CAT • ORATORIO • PEINTRE CELEBRE • ROCK OF GIBRALTAR • SADLER’S WELLS • STRATEGIC PRINCE • All Coolmore Stallions nominated to the European Breeder’s Fund.

Project4:Layout 1

15/1/08

15:22

Page 2

GHT MOVE.

Contact: Coolmore Stud, Fethard, Co. Tipperary, Ireland. Tel: 353-52-31298. Fax: 353-52-31382. Christy Grassick, David O’Loughlin, Eddie Fitzpatrick, Tim Corballis, Maurice Moloney or Mathieu Alex. Tom Gaffney, David Magnier or Joe Hernon: 353-25-31966/31689.

E-mail: sales@coolmore.ie Web site: www.coolmore.com

February 2008 7 Thursday Week 6

Tattersalls February Sale 8.00

Dam of EXCELLENT ART in foal to Araafa t oo!

22.00

20.00

Must see Araafa when in Newmarket today Call Kevin Buckley 07920 538479 10.00

10.30 sale starts NOTES

Classic & Group 1 winner

12.00

Irish 2000 Guineas St. James’s Palace Stakes

A well supported young sire Aga Khan Airlie Ballymacoll Lanwades Shadwell Charlie Mason Oak Lodge Stud Shortgrove Manor Stud Launceston Stud Newsells Park Whitsbury Manor Mike Beever

14.00

16.00

Real value

Lordship Moyglare Stud Deerpark Stud Irish National Stud Gestut Sohrenhof Ballylinch Stud Woodcote Stud Carmel Stud Gary Chong Marquesa de Moratalla Chris Mills Swordlestown etc.. .

£12k

18.00

Well received at public auction Mares in foal made 110k, 90k, 88k etc at Tatts Dec

PLANTATIONContact STUD

Kevin Buckley Kevin Buckley mob +44 (0)7920 538479 General Manager Stewart Bevan mob +44 (0)7776 195629

Exning, Newmarket Suffolk CB8 7LJ Mobile +44 (0)7920 538479 Tel +44 (0)1638 577341

Fax +44 (0)1638 578474 kevin@plantationstud.net www.plantationstud.co.uk

Exning, Newmarket Suffolk CB8 7LJ tel +44 (0)1638 577341 fax +44 (0)1638 to leading sire Pivotal ter578474 of full-sis Out email info@plantationstud.net line sire Danzig the from www.plantationstud.co.uk

Has a stallion’s pedigree

Editorial comment new style.qxp

17/1/08

16:36

Page 1

Introduction

Overproduction one of Rausing’s menaces

Richard Griffiths Editor

No one need tell Kirsten Rausing about the tricky issues ahead as she takes up the role of chairman of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association. She is fully aware of them already, as is made clear in this month’s Big Interview.

When we last interviewed her three years ago, Rausing said it would be “unrealistic in the short term to be optimistic” about the breeding industry. “I am hoping that in the longer term things will right themselves and get back on an even keel.”

But the menace of overproduction, an issue that “stares us in the face”, suggests that it will still be some time before that even keel is reached.

An extra 1,000 foals were born in Britain and Ireland last year (interestingly, Britain showed a higher percentage growth), prompting Rausing to comment: “The whole thing is in many ways quite daunting. Eventually the market will sort itself out, but this is a facile way of looking at it. There are live beings involved in this, there are people employed in the industry who may be done out of jobs, that’s for sure.

“Also, quite equally and poignantly, we need to actually remember the poor animals. What will become of them? This is a welfare issue; certainly one wouldn’t want to be alarmist, but this is something that needs emphasising.”

The problem with overproduction is that it “takes so long” to correct, as Rausing points out. “It would seem logical not to cover some mares this year – late foaling mares, elderly mares, for example. But it will take several years for the effect of that to be noticeable.”

Another factor is that nobody has the right to tell anyone else not to breed from their mare, although Rausing argues: “I think the stallion studs should take some responsibility here and in particular think twice and carefully consider all these superficially attractive deals of foal

shares, or nominations on the ‘never, never’.

“For obvious reasons, if you get a very cheap nomination, or a nomination that costs nothing, you are not going to use it for your best mare.

Logic tells us that. So therefore mares that would not necessarily be kept in production are now bred from.”

Let’s move now into the weighing room, where Timmy Murphy sits ready to talk to Alan Lee about the difficulties he faces as a jockey with a riding style more patient than most.

Murphy recently spent 27 days on the sidelines as a result of two contrasting riding bans: six days for marking a horse and 21 days for schooling in public. There’s no doubt which one rankles most.

“I’ll have to change the way I ride, or next time it will be two months off,” says Murphy. “I’ll have to hit a horse a couple of times when it’s getting tired, if that’s what they want.”

He feels that racecourse stewards are perhaps under too much pressure to respond to the grievances of punters, who can watch every race run in Britain via At The Races and Racing UK. Murphy adds: “Everyone has access to every race now but racing must not be run by people who have lost their £5 and want someone to blame. Some punter’s opinion should not mean the loss of a jockey’s livelihood. Stewards should know well enough what’s right and wrong, and not be worried about someone giving out about this and that.”

Unlike Murphy, we have no problem with people giving out about this and that, which is why the debut column of Kirsten Rausing, a Your Say by her TBA Council colleague Paul Thorman, a typically trenchant ROA Leader from Paul Dixon, and the Be Our Guest words of former Tote chairman Peter Jones are all required reading inside. I

“We like people giving out about this and that”

This month’s main cover photo was taken by Chris Bourchier February 2008 issue 42

£3.50

and the TBA The official publication of the ROA

It can be purchased by non-members at the following annual rates: UK: £42; Ireland: 70; EC: 100; ROW: £70

TBA AWARDS

UNSUNG HERO ral Terry Albone, the inaugu Stud Staff Award winner

Breeding’s Big Night

the Pictures and profiles of 15 TBA award winners, plus full AGM coverage

Out of the Shadows

the An in-depth analysis of problems facing the British NH bloodstock industry

Owners and racecourses cover

prize-money drop

Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder Ltd is a Mutual Trading Company owned jointly by the Racehorse Owners’ Association and the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.

Murphy’s stewards salvo by “Racing must not be run and people who’ve lost £5 want someone to blame” 3

www.ownerbreeder.co.uk

Editorial inquiries First Floor Suite, 65 The Broadway, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 3AS Tel: 01444 440 540 Fax: 01444 441 190 E-mail: editor@ownerbreeder.co.uk Website: www.ownerbreeder.co.uk

Advertisement sales: Giles Anderson/Emma Collins Tel: 01380 816 777 E-mail: advertise@anderson-co.com Fax: 01380 816 778 USA – Tel: 1 888 218 4430

SW1A 1LE Tel: 020 7408 0903 Fax: 020 7408 1662 E-mail: info@roa.co.uk Website: www.racehorseowners.net

Magazine subscriptions Keely Brewer Tel: 020 7493 7607 Fax: 020 7408 1662 E-mail: subcriptions@ownerbreeder.co.uk Website: www.ownerbreeder.co.uk

Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Ltd Stanstead House, The Avenue, Newmarket CB8 9AA Tel: 01638 661321 Fax: 01638 665621 E-mail: info@thetba.co.uk Website: www.thetba.co.uk The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association is a registered charity No. 215752

Racehorse Owners Association Ltd 4th Floor, 60 St James’s Street, London

Editorial views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the ROA or TBA.

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 3

Contents Feb.qxp

17/1/08

16:39

Page 2

February 2008

CONTENTS 30

42 Mercy Rimell collected one of the prizes at the TBA Awards evening

PHOTOS: GEORGE SELWYN/CHARLES SAINSBURY-PLACE

62

Talking to...Tor Sturgis, trainer with a difference

British NH breeding – how can it shape up?

NEWS AND VIEWS

FEATURES

7

News Focus Racetracks counter prize-money fall

36

Big Interview New TBA chairman Kirsten Rausing

12

News Analysis Issues debated at the TBA AGM

42

TBA AGM and Awards Breeders’ big day – and night – out

14

Changes Your snap guide to the past month

54

Timmy Murphy Have our stewards gone too far?

17

ROA Leader Turf TV deals major blow for bookies

62

British National Hunt breeding How the industry can improve

19

TBA Leader Kirsten Rausing revisits the 1970s

21

Be Our Guest Former Tote chairman Peter Jones

80

ROA News Newbury wins racecourse award

22

Big Picture The Lord Oaksey-bred Carruthers

84

Prize-money Tracks working hard to do better

24

Going Global Lowdown from Japan and the USA

86

Owner of the Month Andrew Wiles (Miko De Beauchene)

30

Talking to…

Dual-purpose trainer Tor Sturgis

89

Owners in the News Richard Dimond (Joe Lively)

90

Picture Parade Cheltenham, Ascot and Kempton

120 Your Say Trickledown Stud’s Paul Thorman

FORUM

Our average monthly circulation is certified by the AuditBureau of Circulation at 10,244* Can any other magazine prove theirs? *based on the period July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007

Contents Feb.qxp

17/1/08

16:39

Page 3

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 쮿 Yearlings unsoundness of wind 쮿 Horses at grass

54

Timmy Murphy on why he may be forced to change the way he rides

94

TBA News Employee Benefits Scheme details

97

Breeders’ Prizes Your latest jumps and Flat winners

98

Breeders of the Month Roy & Susan Edwards (Trafford Lad)

99

Breeders in the News Partnership behind Lothian Falcon

LEADING THE FIELD IN BLOODSTOCK INSURANCE

TO STAY AHEAD OF

100 Vets Forum How best to evaluate fertility

DATA BOOK

Kirsten Rausing, the new TBA chairman, is this month’s Big Interview

102 The Caulfield Files Anabaa’s return to France

THE FIELD CONTACT US TODAY

104 Stakes Results Britain, Ireland and USA 115 Leading NH Sires Old Vic on the charge 117 British/Irish-breds Your winners overseas

36

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.

www.ownerbreeder.co.uk FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 5

VERGLAS

Everybody’s Favourite, fully booked every season with us

In 2007 his first Irish bred yearlings sold for €190,000 €160,000 €150,000 €148,000 €132,000 €124,000 €115,000 €110,000 €110,000 €100,000 €100,000 etc...

Fee: €15,000 1st October

Irish National Stud John Clarke or Julie Lynch, tel +353 (0)45 521251 email jlynch@irish-national-stud.ie, www.irish-national-stud.ie AMADEUS WOLF

J

CELTIC SWING

J

ELUSIVE CITY

J

INDIAN HAVEN

J

INVINCIBLE SPIRIT

J

JEREMY

J

MEDECIS

J

RAKTI

J

VERGLAS

17/1/08

16:55

Page 1

News Focus

news focus

NewsFocus P7real.qxp

Courses up payments to counter prize-money fall Prize-money levels in British racecourses’ executive and figure of £13.1m last year. racing showed a substantial sponsorship contributions not Harris said: “It is a concern decrease in 2007, although increased by over 8%. that owners, who are already ROA chief executive Michael “We clearly hope this trend massively put upon in terms of Harris warned the figures will continue to make up for costs, have had to shell out “would have been a lot worse” the shortfall of Basic Daily another £1m, and will had racecourses not Rates (the amount of money probably have to shell out significantly increased their received by a course from the more than that in 2008. own contributions during the Levy Board each time it races).

“We are very grateful to same period.

“It is to be hoped that some those racecourses that have Prize-money made a special in 2007 effort to PRIZE-MONEY 2006/2007 dropped by counteract the 2006 (£) 2007 (£) % +/4.5% to £98.4 effect of levy Racecourse Executive & Sponsorship 27,265,169 29,643,000 +8.7 million, from decline by 62,100,910 53,422,309 -16.2 the 2006 figure Levy Board putting more Owners 12,097,593 13,125,939 +8.4 of £103m. money into 712,000 1,457,070 +104.6 The decrease BHA Incentives their executive Divided Race Fund 920,250 778,750 -15.3 is due to a and Total 103,095,922 98,427,068 -4.5 16.2% drop in sponsorship levy contribucontributions. of the new money flowing tions, which fell to £53.4m “I would commend from Turf TV, with their recent Fakenham on its decision to from £62.1m in 2006.

In addition, prize-money has success in bringing on board bolster its prize-money the majority of to be spread more thinly contribution to counteract levy bookmakers, will be used because of the increasing reductions (see ROA News, increasingly for this purpose.” number of fixtures. This year page 81). Courses that do this The other significant increase are making a very positive step will see a record 1,504 to the prize-money total in for the industry.” fixtures, a 6.3% increase on 2007 came from owners, Northern Racing, whose 2007.

According to Harris, the whose contributions rose by portfolio of nine racecourses “only silver lining” is that the 8%, from £12.1m in 2006 to a includes Newcastle and racecourses’ contribution to Chepstow, has recently prize-money, which declined announced that it will increase its own contribution to prizesharply in 2004, has started to money to £1.2m. increase in line with the levy’s The Racecourse League decrease.

Table for 2007 (see page 85) He said: “Overall, prizeshows that Ascot remains the money may be down 4.5%, but course that contributes most to the situation would have been – Michael Harris, ROA chief executive prize-money. a lot worse had the

“It could have been a lot worse”

Jones calls on racing to change Tote bid Outgoing Tote chairman Peter Jones has called on racing to prepare a fresh Tote bid, after describing its current attempts to buy it for the reduced price of £320 million as “95% likely to fail”.

Jones also believes that the Government will take a ‘time-out’ approach to the Tote for fear of looking incompetent for not accepting an original bid of £400m.

Writing in this month’s issue, Jones said: “The Government needs time to reconsider all the options. I really don't think the Tote will be put on the open market because of Government worries that that they would get offers a lot less than £400 million, making them look incompetent for not having sold it at that price previously.

“Right now, racing needs to start preparing alternative plans. It

might have to accept that it can't afford to buy the Tote outright.

That would leave a potential purchase of the pool betting side.

“The Government would welcome a creative approach from racing to end this mess.”

Jones warned that racing’s declining appeal, especially in the betting shops, posed a greater threat to racing’s future than uncertainty over the Tote.

Be Our Guest, page 21

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 7

NewsFocus P8.qxp

17/1/08

20:04

Page 1

News Focus

Breeders’ Prizes scheme aiming to help British jumps industry The 2008 Breeders’ Prizes scheme, which will be worth £1.92 million, has been redesigned in an attempt to bolster the British National Hunt breeding industry.

This year’s fund will also have access to a £300,000 under-spend from 2007.

TBA chief executive Louise Kemble said: “The changes are aimed at supporting British National Hunt mare owners, the foundation of the industry.”

While the 2008 Flat Race scheme remains unchanged, the structure for NH races sees the introduction of a two-tier payment level.

Horses qualified under the existing criteria will continue to receive 100% of the advertised Breeders’ Prize.

However, a second payment, worth 40% of the full prize, has been created.

Horses who have run initially on the Flat, or are by an overseas sire, or have been sold as a foal at public auction outside Britain, can now qualify for the 40%

“We must support NH mare owners” – Louise Kemble, TBA chief executive

payment. In addition, a voucher system has been introduced that will be awarded annually to topclass National Hunt mares, irrespective of where they are trained, to be used to purchase nominations to

any British-based stallion, with effect from 2009.

To qualify for the voucher incentive of up to £5,000, the mare must be retained by their owner and based in Britain for their first breeding season. The criteria for deciding which mares qualify has yet to be decided.

“The TBA recognises the importance of maintaining National Hunt breeders in this country, albeit on a much smaller scale to our Irish and French counterparts,” said Kemble.

“National Hunt breeders are no longer penalised if the progeny has its first run on the Flat, they are encouraged to use the most suitable stallion for their mare, irrespective of where the stallion stands and, should they wish to sell their offspring as a foal, they have freedom to offer the foal at any public auction.

“In the longer term, the new voucher scheme concept aims to encourage greater support from top-class

National hunt mares for British-based stallions and encourage leading National Hunt mare owners to retain their best mares and invest in their futures.”

In her first speech as TBA chairman, Kirsten Rausing emphasised the importance of Breeders’ Prizes, saying: “It is not entirely easy to be massively optimistic in terms of the short-term future (for the breeding industry).

“An issue that springs to mind is that of Breeders’ Prizes. Whilst we are enormously grateful for their existence, we must face the fact that they will, no doubt, be subject to external criticism. We will make every effort to retain them.”

The continuing uncertainty was referred to

by Levy Board director of racing David Bradshaw, who said: “The board continues to support Breeders’ Prizes and after due consideration has accepted the 2008 proposals put forward by the TBA.”

Freedman issues numbers warning Outgoing TBA chairman Philip Freedman spoke out in support of British breeders in his farewell speech at its AGM on January 8.

Freedman stated that a decline in numbers would impact on horses in training levels as many breeders are also owners.

“There are some things that we must never fail to take issue with,” he said. “Every year around 40% of horses raced here are owned by their breeders. If you lose those breeders, you will lose those horses in training.

“Even if racing may not need them (British breeders), it could not in perpetuity rely on Irish imports, particularly given that the cream of their crop is now retained to race at home.”

Freedman defended the TBA’s controversial decision to recommend the closure of the Equine Fertility Unit, by saying: “Given Twink Allen’s retirement, it would have required an act

8 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

of faith by breeders in its future productivity replicating the successes which it had achieved in the past.”

TBA President Michael Goodbody used his speech at the evening awards dinner to praise Arab investment in, and impact on, the British bloodstock industry.

His remarks followed those of new TBA chairman Kirsten Rausing, who at her Lanwades Stud stallion parade in December referred to a decline in the number of stallion studs in Newmarket, saying it had resulted in a “monopoly situation…which the OFT should take a great interest in.”

Both the TBA and Rausing emphasised that her Lanwades speech, widely interpreted as a criticism of Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley operation, was an expression of her own personal views and not those of the TBA.

“We cannot rely on Irish imports” – Philip Freedman, former TBA chairman

m6811-6 T-Hills advertorial_aw:layout 1

15/1/08

17:15

Page 1

Tweenhills Times February 2008

Tweenhills Farm & Stud Tweenhills Racing David Redvers Bloodstock

LADY REBECCA’S SON SCORES AT CHELTENHAM TOO Lord Generous, the four-year-old son of the ever popular Lady Rebecca, won the 1m4f Listed EBF Junior Standard Open NH Flat Race Final in fine style on New Year’s Day at Cheltenham.

Bred at Tweenhills by the Kinnersley Optimists, it was fitting that Lord Generous should win his first race at Cheltenham as his dam won more than half of her 13 races at the course, including three consecutive Grade 1 Cleeve Hurdles. Whilst Lady Rebecca was purchased for only 400gns by David Redvers as a yearling, Lord Generous realised €43,000 as a yearling at the Tattersalls Ireland November NH Sale.

He looks an exciting prospect for the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival for owners Walters Plant Hire and trainer Helen Lewis.

His half-sister by Fraam, Lady Samantha, is also reported in great shape by her trainer Kim Bailey, so watch out for her as she makes her racecourse debut soon.

In addition, Lady Rebecca's three-year-old gelding by Hernando will be sold at one of the store sales this Spring.

Peter Onslow (left) receives The Langham Cup for the TBA Small Breeder of the Year from TBA President Michael Goodbody

CONGRATULATIONS TO TBA WINNER Congratulations to Peter Onslow on recently winning The Langham Cup for the best TBA Small Breeder of the Year.

Guess Who: Jamie Railton

His Sanfield Stud in Lancashire, produced two individual Group winners. Moorhouse Lad won the Group 3 King George Stakes, while Trick Or Treat gained a deserved victory in the Group 3 Princess Royal Stakes.

Moorhouse Lad is out of Record Time, who David Redvers purchased for Peter as a yearling for 14,000gns from Doncaster St Leger Sales when helping establish the Stud 10 years ago. David also purchased the dam of Trick Or Treat, Trick of Ace, for 35,000gns from the 2000 Tattersalls December Sales.

Lady Rebecca’s son, Lord Generous, wins the Listed Bumper at Cheltenham in fine style

ZAFONIC’S BEST GRANDSONS

FIGHT THE BAN DEBUT WIN

Zafonic’s best looking son, Trade Fair, proved at the foal sales that he is producing his best looking grandsons, in his first season. The average price of his colt foals was 21% higher than for any other sire by Zafonic.

The Little Fizzer made a winning debut at Kempton in January for the Fight The Ban Racing Partnership. The Partnership also has two two-year-olds and a hurdler, all purchased by David.

Shares are only £275 with all profits going towards legal costs for those prosecuted under the Hunting Act. For more information contact Tom Gittins on 01608 659988, tgittins@foxtrot.co.uk.

At Tattersalls a colt consigned by Silfield Bloodstock realised 57,000gns (Lot 380).

Another Trade Fair colt topped the opening day of the Goffs November Sale when knocked down to Bobby O’Ryan for €50,000 (Lot 189).

O’Ryan said: “He was a cracking foal.

He’s got a great walk and he’s just a very good individual.”

ISHIGURU SH SUCCESS Ishiguru recently safely returned to Tweenhills from his stud duties in New Zealand. His first crop in the country are showing plenty of promise with two winners and a third from just three starters, including I Robot who recently smashed the 20 year track record at Awapuni and now heads for the Karaka Millions race.

Ishiguru’s progeny are also proving successful in other areas of the Southern Hemisphere, as Guru came second in the Group 1 Gran Premio Jose Pedro Ramirez in Uruguay on 6th January.

The Little Fizzer makes a winning debut for the Fight The Ban Racing Partnership

GUESS WHO? Name the sales figure taking a tumble out Hunting with the Ledbury on New Year’s Day!!

www.tweenhills.com Tweenhills Farm & Stud Hartpury Gloucestershire GL19 3BG t: + 44 (0) 1452 700177/ 700545 f: + 44 (0) 1452 700002 m: + 44 (0) 7767 436373 e: davidredvers@tweenhills.com

vale hay

Suppliers of top quality hay and haylage to the racing industry. Clients include Venetia Williams, Whitsbury Manor Stud, Tweenhills Farm & Stud and Trickledown Stud.

Contact Ben Rich on 07774 725332 to discuss your requirements.

NewsFocus P10.qxp

17/1/08

16:56

Page 1

News Focus

Big Three’s Turf TV deal ‘should have no impact on levy decision’ The decision of Coral, Ladbrokes and William Hill to sign up to Turf TV should have no bearing on the determination of the 47th levy scheme, or the future of the levy itself as British racing’s primary funding tool, according to senior racing politicians.

In this month’s ROA Leader (see page 17), President Paul Dixon writes: “Observers of racing politics will recall the bookmakers had the brass neck to say to the Government that the additional cost of Turf TV should be offset against the levy, to which racing has, rightly and logically, pointed out that levy payments have

nothing to do with commercial arrangements.

“The bookmakers have also argued that this is the beginning of the end of the levy, with racing having signalled, through the Turf TV deal, that it wants a commercial mechanism to replace a statutory one. Of course, racing has done nothing of the kind.”

RCA chairman David Thorpe was also critical of the bookmakers’ argument that the costs of subscribing to Turf TV should be offset against their levy payments.

“Our position is clear,” said Thorpe. “We will press for a substantial increase and work hard to achieve the

modernisation of the levy that is so urgently needed.

“The bookmakers’ current position of asking the Government to abolish the levy without any proper

“Bookmakers have some brass neck” – ROA President Paul Dixon

thought-through alternatives is patently irresponsible and reckless. We will also continue to work with the Government and the rest of the industry on alternatives

which are robust and legally enforceable.”

A similar view was put forward by BHA chief executive Nic Coward, who said: “We have consistently and clearly explained why commercial discussions between certain betting operators and certain racecourses for pictures into betting shops had nothing to do with the levy, and never should have done.

“The fact that the majority of firms have now signed up for Turf TV is, though, to be welcomed, as it gives racing a shop window on every high street, promoting betting on racing to punters across Britain.”

It’s official: Manduro saluted as world’s best Manduro, described by Andre Fabre as “the best I have trained,” took the accolade of the world’s best racehorse in 2007 in the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings.

The son of Monsun showed improvement of 11lb between his four and five-year-old seasons, according to the international handicappers.

His mark of 131 is the highest rating awarded since the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings replaced the International Classifications in 2004.

Co-chairman of the World Rankings Garry O’Gorman said: “It took us a while to realise how good Manduro is, but as the year progressed the Prince of Wales’s form looked better and better.”

Epsom Derby winner Authorized was the top-rated European three-year-old on a mark of 129, a rating undoubtedly boosted by his defeat of Dylan Thomas in the

Juddmonte International.

Phil Smith, the BHA’s senior handicapper, said: “It was nice to see the winner of the Derby go on and win another race for once, and in the Juddmonte International he beat a high-class field.”

Dylan Thomas came out on top in the middle-distance category. He was also rated 129 for wins over Youmzain in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Arc, plus the Irish Champion Stakes.

New Approach was crowned leading European two-year-old colt on a

“Manduro improved by 11lb”

10 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

rating of 126, a mark 3lb higher than that awarded to former stable companion Teofilo, who took the honours in 2006.

Zarkava (119) was the toprated European two-year-old filly.

Peeping Fawn and Darjina, who between

them landed seven Group 1 races in 2007, were awarded the same rating of 122, topping the European threeyear-old fillies’ standings, while Miss Andretti and Sakhee’s Secret shared a rating of 120 in the turf sprinter category.

Invasor was crowned jointtop dirt performer, alongside Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Curlin on 129.

Belmont Stakes scorer Rags To Riches was the highest-rated filly on 123.

insurance adverts bank style 07

11/9/07

15:25

Page 1

Knowing the insurance was sorted out allowed Mr & Mrs Smyth-Warner to concentrate on other things…

Weatherbys INSURANCE Putting your mind at rest • Expert advice from friendly and

• Comprehensive cover: racing and breeding animals, property and combined liability

knowledgeable staff • Competitive rates

• Industry support & multiple race sponsorship For more details please contact the team at:

insurance S A N D E R S R OA D , W E L L I N G B O R O U G H, N O R T H A M P T O N S H I R E N N 8 4 B X T: 01933 440077 • F: 01933 304770 • E: insurance@weatherbys.co.uk • W: www.weatherbys.co.uk Weatherbys Insurance is a division of Weatherbys Bank Ltd. Weatherbys Bank Ltd. is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

News analysis Feb 2008.qxp

17/1/08

18:42

Page 1

TBA AGM: in the line of fire British Horseracing Authority chief executive Nic Coward takes questions from the floor

Peter Stanley (New England Stud manager): The commercial arm of the BHA is to be run

by REL (Racing Enterprises Ltd). Is this not a doubling up of bureaucracy? Are you and Paul Roy, with your commercial backgrounds, not best placed to take control of this area?

Nic Coward: It’s not our job or decision. You,

the industry, have decided how you want things. You have decided the BHA shall do one thing, and that REL shall do another. If you – I mean stakeholders, shareholders, members – want to change, then that is your decision. We know what our job is and will carry on doing it.

Ron Huggins (racehorse owner): I am concerned we have no clear plan for the future. The industry does not know where it’s

12 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

going. We have no clear financial plan for fixtures or revenue streams.

NC: I think we are working together, better

now than ever before. We are coming to the beginnings of the end of the review process for fixtures. The NTF, ROA, TBA and Horsemen’s Group have made some fantastic contributions.

We will be debating it at length to get it right.

It is through the fixture list that we get the sporting story sorted. The Government generally asks sports governing bodies for a three-year plan in order to release public funding. It is an interesting mismatch – in racing, the whole system is geared so that you cannot have a three-year plan.

If you were to believe – and personally I didn’t believe it had any credibility – the bookmakers’ levy submission that they should be paying around £30 million to racing, how can anyone expect racing to plan on that basis?

The whole sport must work out what our plan is and what our priorities are, and not end up with a situation, as with the levy, where we rely on someone else to make the decision. We also need an accountability mechanism in place to check how well we are doing against our plan. That is the model we should be following.

The Breeders’ Prizes debate should not be between the TBA and Levy Board. It has to be a debate between the TBA, ROA, racecourses and licensed personnel, the four constituent parts of racing, around the chairman’s committee table with myself and Paul [Roy]. It must be British horseracing’s plan.

Harry Beeby (DBS chairman): Are there any plans to obtain proper funding for the industry from the betting exchanges?

NC: Yes. It is in our levy submission to the

Government. The marketplace has changed markedly in the last five years. Betting exchanges have performed brilliantly in building their business and are not making the proper and fair contribution to British racing. We asked economists what they thought the value of our product is to betting exchange operators and the figure was £20m. This will be the first time the Government will have to have considered this in detail.

News analysis Feb 2008.qxp

17/1/08

18:42

Page 2

News Analysis

Ashley Mack (breeder): The police and British racing authorities were made to look illprepared and foolish by the collapse of the race- fixing trial at the Old Bailey. Isn’t there a danger you are being complacent by praising the police so wholesomely?

NC: No. There is no complacency. You

would know that if you read our statements.

There is an interesting process that will unravel with the City of London’s own enquiry, into how the case was conducted and why certain decisions were made at certain times. Like you, I will be interested to see the outcome of that review.

Greg Wood (The Guardian journalist): Should the BHA not accept some of the responsibility for the costly fiasco that ensued at the Old Bailey, considering the racing authorities got the City of London’s police investigation on the road? We know it was offered to at least two police forces before the City of London were persuaded to take it on. Did you offer to fund the police investigation?

NC: It was not offered to any other police

forces. The City of London is the force across the country which has responsibility for serious fraud, and that is why it was taken to them as an issue for them to consider. The issue of funding was discussed. I did receive a request for funding. I said no. No offer of funding was made. We have made our position clear. An individual was warned off and there were issues arising with his ongoing conduct.

The Rules of Racing were not equipped to deal with that individual. Where that is the case, where racing believes there was an issue where it was being targeted, it is right for the sport to protect its integrity.

Peter Stanley: When the idea of racing buying the Tote was first mooted, it was to have control of our own destiny. The goalposts have continually been moved. The latest idea is that half the money from the sale of the Tote will go to racing, and racing is not in a good position now. Do we as an industry actually want to buy the Tote or, indeed, have it privatised?

NC: Most people’s best guess is that the sale to

the consortium won’t happen. There is no point in forensically analysing Brussels’ decision that the Tote had to be sold at open market value. Once that decision was made, the debate changed. The previous offer came off the table.

The Government need to make their decision as soon as possible as I cannot imagine what it does to a business to have been in this situation

for so long. Parliament wants to remove the Tote from state ownership. The Government always stated that racing would get a fair return of the sale proceeds if racing did not buy the Tote. If our central income stream is the fair return from betting, that should be our focus.

Larry Stratton (bloodstock agent, breeder): A large part of the reason why British racing is in such a parlous state has been the historical inadequacies of the administrations in lobbying the Government – ineffectual to the point of being incompetent. What assurances can you give us that the BHA will be different.

NC: British racing is not in a parlous state. It is

very healthy. There was a recent debate in parliament about racing, and the Hansard Report shows the overwhelming cross-party support for British racing. Britain is in a unique position because of our private sector approach to betting. There are big warning signs for racing globally, where they have not seen the challenge of private sector betting arriving.

US racing, despite its riches, has challenges to face. The US has not invested in the raceday experience that characterises racing in Britain.

In France, where I know the betting revenues coming into racing through the PMU are a lot higher than here, people are worried, and feel vulnerable, about the new dynamic in betting.

Rhydian Morgan-Jones (BHA Industry Committee chairman): Prize-money to owners is going down; the value of our Listed and Group races, except Group 1s, are worth less here than abroad; clearance rates for foals and yearlings are going down; how can you justify saying that British racing is in a healthy state?

NC: I just have. For 40% of owners, if we’re

to believe the ROA statistics, prize-money is not an issue which they take into consideration (it was subsequently pointed out

by ROA Council member Dena Arstell that this was a misinterpretation and that 40% did not say prize-money was not an issue; they said prize-money was not their main concern).

You are dealing in an emotional sport. If we are to get people engaged, we need to make sure they can access the sport easily. The numbers getting involved in all areas are high and very strong. If this is a real issue, the Horsemen’s Group must resolve how to tackle it.

Peter Stanley

Ron Huggins

Harry Beeby

Larry Stratton

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 13

Changes new.qxp

17/1/08

18:44

Page 1

News

CHANGES

In association with

Racing’s news in a nutshell People and business Turf TV Fergal Lynch Sarah Gaisford Alan Munro Peterborough Chase Eddie Ahern The Tote Mark Jones Santa Anita Alan Berry Anthony Ross Philip Hide Arena Leisure Tony McCoy Jorge Ricardo King’s Stand Stakes

Coral is the first of the ‘big three’ bookmakers to sign up with the betting shop picture provider; Ladbrokes and William Hill follow suit Jockey acquitted along with Kieren Fallon and Darren Williams in race-fixing trial successfully reapplies for licence; finishes second on his first ride back 39-year-old amateur rider, joint runner-up in the 2005/06 jumps lady amateurs’ championship, breaks back in fall at Exeter Derby-winning jockey set to resume riding career after BHA re-issues his licence Huntingdon’s feature race, for which only two runners went to post this year, is likely to revert to a midweek slot in 2008 Three-month ban for 30-year-old rider after bringing racing into disrepute through his riding of Marsam at Southwell, whom he hit up to 20 times Decision taken to operate online casino business from Alderney in the Channel Islands; other parts of the business may move to the tax haven in future Lingfield’s MD resigns following sacking of racecourse announcer Milton Johns and disagreement with owner Arena Leisure over development plans California track, venue for this year’s Breeders’ Cup, loses three days of racing after its Cushion Track is devastated by heavy rain Fraud charges against trainer and blacksmith Steve O’Sullivan over running of Hillside Girl at Carlisle in June 2003 dropped by the CPS 30-year-old jump jockey quits the saddle to set up a livery yard; he partnered Function Dream to six victories, including the 2001 Victor Chandler Chase Jockey returns after 11 months on the sidelines with victory on the Gary Moore-trained Verasi at Warwick Takes over the day-to-day running of Great Leighs, adding to its portfolio of seven other racecourses Champion jockey fractures vertebrae in back following fall from Arnold Layne at Warwick but hopes to return in time for the Cheltenham Festival 46-year-old Brazilian based in Buenos Aires becomes the first jockey to ride 10,000 winners Royal Ascot’s five-furlong sprint will carry Group 1 status in 2008 as part of a programme of upgrades by the European Pattern Committee

Racehorse and stallion – movements and retirements Goodricke Sandwaki Noverre Mudawin Sunriver Touch Of Land Hold That Tiger Literato Lahudood (pictured above) Magnus Royal Academy Papineau Mandesha

Group 1 winner leased by Darley to stand alongside Lend A Hand at Allevamento Fattoria Renaccino in Italy; no fee has been set Four-year-old son of Dixieland Band, winner of the Group 3 Prix du Bois as a juvenile, has been retired to Haras de la Huderie in Normandy Darley sells Group-1 winning stallion to Sultan Singh’s Sohna Stud Farm in India; he sired last season’s Group 2 Challenge Stakes winner Miss Lucifer Seven-year-old son of Intikhab, who landed the 2006 Ebor Handicap at 100-1, sold to join Milton Harris for a hurdling campaign Grade 1 Hollywood Turf Cup winner retires to Empire Stud in New York; the son of Saint Ballado will stand for $15,000 Multiple Group winner set to start stallion career at Knockhouse Stud in County Kilkenny Eight-year-old son of Storm Cat relocates to Haras de la Haie Neuve in Normandy, where he will replace High Yield (see horse obituaries below) Godolphin purchases Champion Stakes winner, rated the top three-year-old colt in France in 2007 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine set to be covered by Kingmambo Australian Group 1-winning sprinter, third in the 2007 King’s Stand Stakes, will retire to Eliza Park Stud, Victoria after the 2008 Autumn Carnival 1990 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner, now aged 21, ceases shuttling to continue his stud career in Australia Godolphin’s 2004 Ascot Gold Cup victor, a half-brother to St Leger winner Silver Patriarch, enters stud for 2008 at Haras du Chateau in France Princess Zahra Aga Khan's champion European filly of 2006 retires to be covered by Kingmambo

People obituaries

Age 80 48 85 80 95 72 84 72 78 69 67

Owner-breeder of 1978 Eclipse Stakes winner, later successful National Hunt stallion Gunner B, who owned Harness Grove Stud in Worksop Successful owner-breeder; tasted Cheltenham Festival glory with Cork All Star and bred top-class miler Proclamation and classy hurdler No Refuge Former North Yorkshire trainer; he retired in the mid-1980s to be succeeded by his nephew, Steve Kettlewell, who later moved to Middleham Chartered accountant; best horses included 1986 Kentucky Derby runner-up Bold Arrangement and Group 1 hero Village Star, the sire of Kauto Star Owner of 1978 US Triple Crown hero Affirmed US trainer with all-time record 9,445 wins is killed in a car crash in Indiana; he never landed a Graded stakes race and dealt mainly with claimers Legendary Australian jockey who landed the 2,000 Guineas and Derby in 1967 on Royal Palace, and partnered over 2,000 winners Stylish jockey who won the Gold Cup on Roddy Owen (1959) and Captain Christy (1974); also landed the 1961 Grand National on Nicolaus Silver Miami-based trainer who was born in Ireland and trained champion sprinter Cherokee Run in the early stages of his career Renowned bloodstock agent and one of the founders of the Heron Bloodstock agency Amateur jockey and wife of former Lambourn trainer Charlie James

Age 8 10 27 27 16

Jessica Harrington-trained hurdler, a three-times Grade 1 winner, breaks a leg at Cheltenham Son of Storm Cat who was a triple Grade 1 winner; his Group 1-placed daughter Magic America sold for 625,000gns at Tattersalls last December Defeated Pebbles in the 1984 Champion Stakes; sired US champion Cigar, multiple Grade 1 winner who retired with record earnings of almost $10m Sire of top two-mile chaser Edredon Bleu Son of Slip Anchor who won the Group 1 Gran Premio d’Italia and Hardwicke Stakes

Tom Barratt Cathal Ryan Richie Kettlewell Tony Richards Louis Wolfson Dale Baird George Moore Bobby Beasley Frank Gomez John Corbett Ginnie James

Horse obituaries Macs Joy High Yield Palace Music Grand Tresor Posidonas +NIGHT &RANK ,ONDON (ANOVER 3QUARE ,ONDON 7 ! !( %NGLAND

%QUESTRIAN 0ROPERTY 3ERVICE ROBERT FANSHAWE KNIGHTFRANK COM

4EL &AX

14 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

+NIGHT &RANK $UBLIN 0ERCY 0LACE $UBLIN )RELAND 4EL &AX

Darley OB page Echo 15 JAN.qxd

15/1/08

15:10

Page 1

His father’s son.

Gorgeous and highly-rated son of Dubai Millennium, with a stallion’s pedigree.

Timeform 125 in 2006 – above Librettist, Manduro and Ramonti.

Record-breaker over nine furlongs whose racing style was distinctly reminiscent of his sire’s.

G1 miler and put up Europe’s best ever Polytrack performance. =1,200,000 C yearling and spectacularly good-looking.

Great pedigree, too: he’s out of Salsabil’s full-sister (and Marju’s half-sister).

ECHO OF LIGHT NEW £5,000 OCT 1, SLF.

Call to discuss the special terms for Black Type winners or producers.

Darley Think big. +44 (0)1638 730070 www.darleystallions.com

A4.pages.bb

16/1/08

10:54

Page 1

The National Stud - Group 1 Stallions >BAHAMIAN BOUNTY >COCKNEY REBEL >PASTORAL PURSUITS >PHOENIX REACH >VAL ROYAL

COCKNEY REBEL Val Royal ex Factice (Known Fact)

> Fastest ever dual Guineas winner by the fastest ever Breeders' Cup mile winner > One of only two colts to win both the English & Irish 2000 Guineas in the last 15 years > Timeform rated 125 > ÂŁ10,000

(1st October)

contact: David Somers Tina Dawson Nigel Wright

NEW FOR 2008

mobile: +44 (0)7789 508157 mobile: +44 (0)7776 165854 mobile: +44 (0)7802 699145

Newmarket Suffolk CB8 0XE tel: 01638 663 464 www.nationalstud.co.uk email:stallions@nationalstud.co.uk

ROA Leader NEW STYLE.qxp

17/1/08

18:47

Page 1

ROA Leader Turf TV deals mark a sea-change but in no way should they impact on levy

A major reverse for bookmakers Paul Dixon President Racehorse Owners Association

THE recent success of Turf TV in signing up all the major bookmakers to provide betting shop pictures for 31 racecourses marks one of the great sea-changes in the history of racing politics.

It is a development that has, at a stroke, shifted part of the power-base in racing away from the bookmakers and into the hands of the horseracing industry. It is the first time since the legalisation of off-course bookmaking in the early sixties that bookmakers have suffered a major reverse of this sort.

There are wide implications to spring from this. The most important in the short term is that racing can go forward with renewed confidence, secure in the belief that, however much the bookmakers might like to infer otherwise, horseracing is – and always has been – very important to their businesses. The inevitable consequence of Gala Coral signing up to Turf TV was that Ladbrokes and William Hill, knowing they would be so competitively disadvantaged from being without TV coverage of many quality fixtures in their shops, had little choice but to follow suit.

In recent years, bookmakers have made much of the fact that the proportion of their turnover and then gross profits specifically relating to horserace betting was reducing and, with this loss in market share, came an attitude that ‘you need us more than we need you’. However, this failed to recognise that the proportion of betting that takes place on horseracing was only half the equation.

The other vital ingredient was that, without horseracing pictures, many regular punters were not going to go into these shops. Not only did this mean less betting on horseracing, it also meant less betting on all the other products. Betting on FOBTs, cartoon racing, general sports and the like were also suffering.

In short, the emergence of Turf TV has provided ultimate proof that the biggest draw

for punters to go into betting shops is horseracing. Once there, they might bet on a wide range of products – but racing continues to be the principal attraction.

Of course, it would be unwise to crow too much over Turf TV’s undoubted success until we are aware of the Government’s determination of the levy. Observers of racing politics will recall the bookmakers had the brass neck to say to the Government that the additional cost of Turf TV should be offset against the levy, to which racing has, rightly and logically, pointed out that levy payments have nothing whatsoever to do with commercial arrangements.

The bookmakers have also argued that this is the beginning of the end of the levy, with racing having signalled, through the Turf TV deal, that it wants a commercial mechanism to replace a statutory one. Of course, racing has done nothing of the kind and would only encourage a termination of the levy if the industry could be confident of an alternative system working.

It is true the Government would love to rid itself of the levy – or change it fundamentally – and there are various straws in the wind that suggest this could be a medium term prospect. One notion is that the Government could impose a ‘right to bet’ levy that would relate to all sporting activities on which bookmakers take bets.

In some ways this might appeal to racing. If bookmakers had to pay 10% of their gross profits on bets relating to all sport, not just racing, it would remove the current bookmaker bias for promoting sport in front of racing. Without this differential, racing would become comparatively attractive.

There again, with Turf TV now having categorically re-asserted the value of the horseracing product within betting shops, we are now in a better position to play hardball with the bookmakers.

A commercial basis for funding racing may not be the non-runner it once appeared.

“Turf TV has proved that the biggest draw for punters to go into shops is horseracing”

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 17

A4.pages.bb

16/1/08

11:24

Page 1

The National Stud - Group 1 Stallions >BAHAMIAN BOUNTY >COCKNEY REBEL >PASTORAL PURSUITS >PHOENIX REACH >VAL ROYAL

PHOENIX REACH Alhaarth x Carroll’s Canyon (Hatim)

Some reach for the stars...

Others conquer them > > > > >

Triple Group 1 winner Defeated 29 Group 1 Winners Breeders’ Prizes on offer Rated: 124 £3,500 (1st October)

Breeders’ Prizes available. Any breeder of a Stakes winning 2yo* in 2011 will receive a special breeder’s prize of £25,000 for a Group winner or £10,000 for a Listed winner. *UK/Ireland/France only contact: David Somers Tina Dawson Nigel Wright

mobile: +44 (0)7789 508157 mobile: +44 (0)7776 165854 mobile: +44 (0)7802 699145

Newmarket Suffolk CB8 0XE tel: 01638 663 464 www.nationalstud.co.uk email:stallions@nationalstud.co.uk

TBA Leader NEW STYLE.qxp

17/1/08

19:08

Page 1

TBA Leader The issues faced by our Council in the mid 1970s are worth revisiting

Looking back to move forward Kirsten Rausing Chairman Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association

THIS is the first TBA Leader to be written since I succeeded Philip Freedman as chairman of the association. I would like to thank the Council for unanimously electing me.

Further thanks are due also to Philip, as well as to outgoing Council member Michael Swinburn and to Gavin Pritchard-Gordon, Louise Kemble and the rest of the team at Stanstead House, all of whom have worked so hard for the TBA. It is more than a third of a century since the TBA last had its only previous female chairman, Ruth, Lady Halifax, in 1974/75. Having made a detailed study of the minutes of Council meetings from that period, it’s interesting to outline the similarities and differences of issues raised then with today.

A 1974 Council meeting saw lengthy discussion about a way in which stallions' nomination fees could be restricted by regulation, at a maximum of £10,000. Eventually this proposal was abandoned as it was felt the ceiling was “unrealistically high”!

That year we also had the revolutionary suggestion that any mare sold should have her full foaling record on the sales catalogue page!

In addition, the late Leslie Harrison, manager of Lord Howard de Walden’s Plantation Stud, suggested the maximum number of mares a stallion would cover in any one season be printed on nomination contracts. The Council had “great sympathy with this idea, but felt it did not have the powers to ask stallion owners to limit the number of mares covered.”

Nonetheless, Weatherbys and the TBA both expressed great concern over numbers of mares covered by certain stallions. It was noted that some were syndicated in upwards of 50 shares, though the industry norm in terms of mares covered was 40 to 44. In 1975, the TBA Council urged Weatherbys to act on the matter, as they were the only organisation who could exercise control “by cutting down the number of covering certificates” available to stallion studs. Today, EU competition law would put

paid to any such suggestion.

One interesting aspect of the TBA’s work in the mid-seventies is to note the very close cooperation with the Irish Bloodstock Breeders’ Association, the forerunner of today’s ITBA. In those days, the then-chairman of the IBBA routinely attended TBA meetings, in the role of honorary member.

Looking ahead, it is my intention to instigate further, closer, lively co-operation with our Irish (and, for that matter continental) colleagues.

We all face similar problems, particularly in overproduction, relationships with the EU, and with various sales companies and registration authorities. Joint veterinary medical issues are most important given the intense equine traffic.

Another key issue is that of Breeders’ Prizes. Whilst we are enormously grateful for their existence, we must face the fact that they will be subject to external criticism. We will make every effort to retain them.

Breeders’ Prizes have an important role to play in an industry which has changed so significantly. Thirty-three years ago, there were over 30 stallion studs in Newmarket and its environments, as well as thriving public studs catering for Flat and National Hunt breeders in Scotland, Yorkshire, Wales, the south of England and everywhere in between. Today, there is but a handful of stallion studs in the Newmarket area, and perhaps as many again in the rest of Britain.

Since Lady Halifax’s chairmanship, there are also far fewer owner-breeders in operation, and, among those who breed horses today, there is a much greater emphasis on producing to sell.

This has led to production of ever-growing numbers of foals at a time when the sales rings are already saturated. This overproduction issue alone means that we must sadly take a cautious view of our short-term future.

All members can be assured that the TBA Council and its chairman will be working, not just for the short-term, but the longer-term good of the thoroughbred industry.

“It is my intention to instigate closer, lively co-operation with our Irish colleagues”

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 19

A4.pages.bb

16/1/08

10:53

Page 1

The National Stud - Group 1 Stallions >BAHAMIAN BOUNTY >COCKNEY REBEL >PASTORAL PURSUITS >PHOENIX REACH >VAL ROYAL

VAL ROYAL

Royal Academy ex Vadlava (Bikala)

fastest ever

> Fastest ever Breeders’ Cup Mile Winner > Sire of the fastest ever dual Guineas winner > Global Stakes success in 2007 > 127 Timeform Racehorses 2001

> £10,000

Valbenny - Gr 1 Performer, $1.2 million purchase at FasigTipton November 2007

contact: David Somers Tina Dawson Nigel Wright

(1st October)

Cockney Rebel - Dual Classic Winner Timeform Rated 125 (3yo) 108 (2yo)

mobile: +44 (0)7789 508157 mobile: +44 (0)7776 165854 mobile: +44 (0)7802 699145

Newmarket Suffolk CB8 0XE tel: 01638 663 464 www.nationalstud.co.uk email:stallions@nationalstud.co.uk

Be Our Guest Feb.qxp

17/1/08

19:10

Page 1

Be Our Guest British racing’s declining appeal is a bigger worry than the future of the Tote

Time for a fresh, creative Tote bid Peter Jones Tote chairman for ten years who has recently retired

IN my ten years as chairman, there is no doubt that the Tote has come a long way in virtually all aspects of activity: turnover and profitability both improved, there are two-and-a-half times as many betting shops as we had in 1997, and we have seen strong growth in telephone and internet business.

The pool betting side of the business – for which we were often criticised – has also grown very substantially, both in the UK and, more recently, overseas. While I do feel that the Scoop6 has been an undoubted success, there is frustration that, when assessing our overall development of exotic bets, we could have done better. Much of this is due to the IT problems that affected us over the years – a factor in why I would give myself a mark of seven out of ten for my performance as Tote chairman.

The Scoop6 and other exotics suffered from the fact that we haven’t got much of a pool culture in the UK. While there are those involved in racing’s bid to buy the Tote who feel there is a huge, untapped market for pool betting, I would disagree.

Not enough people really understand the betting market in this country. It is all very well to cast jealous eyes at countries such as France, Hong Kong and Australia, but they have a Tote monopoly. We haven’t. In fact, pool betting here has less than 5% of the UK horseracing market. To think there is some magic key to unlock enormous success is running in the face of reality.

Were it not for the upheaval of the last eight to nine years, the Tote would be in even better health. I am sure I am not alone in feeling frustration at the stagnation we are experiencing in attempts to transfer, or, thanks to the EC’s State Aid rules, sell, the Tote to racing.

As things stand, it seems 95% likely that racing’s revised, lower bid to buy the Tote will fail.

So where does that leave us?

There has been much speculation about the

Tote being kicked into the political ‘long grass’.

Even if it won’t be couched in those terms by the Government, I think that’s what will happen.

The Government needs times to reconsider all the options. I really don’t think the Tote will be put on the open market because of Government worries that they would get offers a lot less than £400 million, making them look incompetent for not having sold it at that price previously.

How long is the grass? We might not get a decision in this Parliament, because this is quite a tricky issue in terms of employment in the north west.

And the Government might well want to work itself out of its ‘50-50’ pledge to racing.

There is very little upside to doing things quickly, especially when no-one really expects liquidity to return to the market before the end of the year.

Right now, racing needs to start preparing alternative plans.

It needs to look very carefully at what the benefits of the Tote to racing are (and what it is potentially going to lose) and see if a new bid can’t be built around that. Racing might have to accept that it can’t afford to buy the Tote outright. That would leave a potential purchase of the pool betting side (and perhaps the oncourse shops and telephone and internet businesses, which are not of great value to other bookmakers), because, strategically for racing’s future, the pool side is the most valuable development because pools and pictures travel internationally together.

It’s fair to say that the Government would welcome a creative approach from racing to end this mess. First, some dust needs to settle over the existing situation.

In conclusion, I would tell racing not to panic just yet over the Tote, but also urge it, in broader terms, to come up with a dynamic plan to combat the diminishing appeal of horseracing, especially in the betting shops.

That is an even bigger worry than the future of the Tote.

“I would urge racing to come up with a dynamic plan for the future”

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 21

BIG PICTURE v2.qxp

17/1/08

18:52

Page 2

22 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

BIG PICTURE v2.qxp

17/1/08

18:52

Page 3

The Big Picture

The best of British A proud Lord Oaksey stands alongside his homebred Carruthers, a five-year-old son of Kayf Tara, who trounced his rivals in a Grade 2 novices’ hurdle at Warwick on January 12.

The victory provided a boost to the National Hunt breeding industry in Britain, a subject explored in depth on pages 62-69.

Photo by George Selwyn FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 23

Global news NEW STYLE.qxp

17/1/08

18:53

Page 1

JRA might offer Darley some licence leeway Darley Japan is beginning what could turn into a twoyear quest to regain a coveted racing licence from the Japan Racing Association following the retirement of its chairman Riki Takahashi.

When Takahashi left at the end of November, Darley Japan lost not only the man who had overseen Sheikh Mohammed’s business in the nation for about 15 years but also the JRA licence awarded only four months previously.

Under Japanese rules, Takahashi had held the licence

for Darley Japan and had to return it upon his retirement.

Darley and Takahashi did not reveal details of the split, that wound up costing them a licence in the world’s most lucrative racing jurisdiction, but Japanese sources indicate that a disagreement that threatened to become a legal case was settled amicably.

Darley Japan spokesperson Hanako Sonobe confirmed that following Takahashi’s departure, Kenichiro Mishima, a Japanese man who has experience in the breeding

industry and who speaks English, was approached to be a director of Darley Japan.

While it has been suggested a new licence might be gained in Mishima’s name, Sonobe said in January it was not clear how Darley would proceed.

The relicensing process could take years, she acknowledged.

Japanese racing insiders have speculated that the JRA might give Darley some leeway, considering the turn of events and how much Sheikh Mohammed has invested in farms, breeding and racing.

Silence still big noise five years after death For the 13th consecutive year and the fifth since his death in 2002, Sunday Silence stood alone atop the list of leading sires in Japan for 2007, with progeny earnings of about £18 million.

His influence was further demonstrated by the fact that the next two positions were held by his sons Agnes Tachyon and Dance In The Dark, although they were nowhere close, with earnings of about £12.4m and £11.3m.

Agnes Tachyon is showing he could be the heir apparent, since he also ranked as leading sire of juveniles for the second consecutive year.

Two other sons of Sunday Silence, Fuji Kiseki and Special Week, also captured positions on the general sires’ list, at fifth and eighth respectively.

Sunday Silence led all rivals in the leading broodmare sire category, surpassing perennial leader Northern Taste for the first time with about £25m in earnings. His top earner in this category was Dubai Duty

24 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

Free and Japan Cup winner Admire Moon, a son of End Sweep who will begin stud duty this year at Darley Japan.

But as much as the Japanese have profited from Sunday Silence, the preponderance of his blood illustrates a need for new sire power to fill the void left by his death and to nick with his producing daughters.

Perhaps the most promising lines are provided by Deputy Minister, via his son French Deputy and grandson Kurofune, who were sixth and tenth on the general sires’ list; Roberto, whose son Brian’s Time was fourth and grandson Tanino Gimlet was the highest-ranked second-

“Agnes Tachyon is showing he could be the heir apparent”

PHOTO: TREVOR JONES

GOING GLOBAL

All the latest news from Japan and the USA. Words: Michele MacDonald

Sunday Silence reigned supreme

crop sire at 19th after siring historic Japanese Derbywinning filly Vodka; and the young stallions Symboli Kris S (by Kris S), Agnes Digital (Crafty Prospector) and Falbrav (Fairy King), who finished in that order atop the freshman sire list, ahead of Sunday Silence’s sons Gold Allure and T M Sunday.

Sunday Silence blood is beginning to rise elsewhere in the world. His best sons to stand in North America will begin duty this season – Group 1 winner Hat Trick, who will stand for $15,000 at Walmac Farm in Lexington, and multiple Grade 2 winner Silent Name, who will stand for $7,500 at Adena Springs.

Global news NEW STYLE.qxp

17/1/08

18:53

Page 2

PHOTO: MICHELE MACDONALD

Global News More tests but fewer early foals discovered

Invasor, who is said to be ‘a perfect gentleman in the breeding shed’, will cover a maximum 85 mares

Only the best will do for Invasor as his new career beckons

PHOTO: HORSEPHOTOS.COM

When Invasor, the only horse to prove himself a champion on three continents, begins covering mares at Shadwell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, in February, he will be greeted by some of the best mares that owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum can provide.

Shadwell general manager Rick Nichols said the book for the six-year-old Argentine-bred horse by Candy Stripes includes such luminaries as 1,000 Guineas winner Lahan, by Unfuwain, and multiple American Grade 1 winner Spun Sugar,

by Awesome Again.

While Shadwell bred and raced Lahan, Sheikh Hamdan purchased Spun Sugar, a sister to his Grade 1 winner Daaher, for $4.5 million at Keeneland. She is in foal to A P Indy.

Other Shadwell mares in Invasor’s book include multiple British stakes winner Ashraakat, a sister to champion Elnadim; stakesplaced Bashayer, a daughter of Mr Prospector and blue hen producer Height Of Fashion, and thus half-sister to Nashwan and Nayef; and at least two grand-daughters

“We’re pleased with his book.

We’ve been real picky with mares” – Rick Nichols

of Height Of Fashion.

“We’re pleased with his book,” said Nichols. “We’ve been real picky with mares.

“With our own mares, we’ve selected turf and dirt mares. We won’t send him sprinters, but some of our better milers and distance runners, to see exactly what he is going to produce.”

Shadwell is limiting Invasor’s book to 85 mares, since Sheikh Hamdan believes huge commercial books are detrimental to a horse’s welfare and do not fairly prove a sire’s true worth. Invasor “is a perfect gentleman in the breeding shed,” said Nichols.

The farm also will send outstanding mares to Sheikh Hamdan’s Belmont Stakes winner Jazil in his first season, including Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Matiya; Thawakib, the dam of Sakhee; Wasnah, the dam of Bahri; and Bint Salsabil, a Group 3-winning daughter of Nashwan and Irish Derby heroine Salsabil.

The number of mares producing foals before the turn of the new year is apparently decreasing in North America – at least according to the American Jockey Club, which conducted its third annual round of field inspections in late December.

Sent to six American states and one Canadian province, Jockey Club representatives inspected 120 mares with early 2007 breeding or foaling dates.

Only three foals born before the official January 1 birth date were found with those mares.

Jockey Club officials this year reported that while the 2007 campaign was the most thorough yet, it resulted in the fewest number of early foals found.

In 2005, 39 mares in six states were inspected and six foals found. In December of 2006, 50 mares in nine states were examined and six early foals discovered, said Bob Curran jnr, Jockey Club vice-president of corporate communications.

Jockey Club President Alan Marzelli said the 2007 results “are consistent with the general trend we’ve seen over the last few years in the reporting of breedings”, and added that the registry organisation would conduct field inspections again in 2008.

The Jockey Club’s Board of Stewards approved rules for field inspections in 2005, due to the increasing number of foals reported as being born in the first several days of January.

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 25

Global news NEW STYLE.qxp

17/1/08

18:53

Page 3

Global News

American breeder and owner Ken Ramsey, best known for campaigning Dubai World Cup winner Roses In May and American champion turf male Kitten’s Joy, has embarked on a racing and breeding programme unique in North America.

After acquiring more than 175 mares and aiming to enlarge his band to 200, Ramsey said he aspires to breed and race horses who can win the world’s biggest prizes, from the Arc de Triomphe to the Melbourne Cup to the Epsom Derby to the American classics and back to Dubai.

“I like to be a pioneer and try to do something nobody else has done,” said Ramsey from his Ramsey Farm in Nicholasville, Kentucky. “I want to be an international player and I’m breeding and pointing toward that.”

While Ramsey buys some

“I like to try to do something different” – Ken Ramsey of his racehorses, he will be banking heavily on Kitten’s Joy, who stands at Ramsey Farm, to sire many of the runners he hopes can take him around the world.

He again plans to breed more than 100 mares to his seven-year-old homebred son of El Prado. In 2007, he sent 101 mares to Kitten’s Joy and has more than 90 readying to deliver foals.

While many of the resulting progeny will be sold, perhaps as many as a

PHOTO: HORSEPHOTOS.COM

Ramseys eye top races in pioneering global campaign

Ken Ramsey and wife Sarah with Kitten’s Joy, whom they hope will help to fulfil international ambitions

third will be retained.

“I don’t really care if outside people breed to him or not, especially because we’re going to take his foals and beat them,” said Ramsey of the stallion, who stands for an advertised fee of $30,000. “We’re raising these horses tough. We’re not hot-housing them.

Some of those half-milliondollar babies are probably standing in their stalls today with blankets on. Ours are out there running in the fields and being horses.”

In order to improve his chances of accomplishing his goals, Ramsey said he plans to encourage his trainers to race his horses “on hay, oats and water, for the most part, so we won’t have problems.

If we get a good one, we won’t have to worry about the medication issue.”

Ramsey intended to send Kitten’s Joy to France for the 2005 Arc, but the horse

26 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

developed damaged cartilage in his left knee and was retired. As a three-year-old the previous year, Kitten’s Joy won two Grade 1s and finished second to Better Talk Now in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

“I think these Kitten’s Joy foals will be able to run on synthetic surfaces and on the turf,” said Ramsey, who is relying on a geneticist to help him with matings. He has upgraded the quality of mares he owns, has acquired additional farm property and has added three more mare barns to his operation.

Ramsey and his wife Sarah have already proved their mettle in racing. In 2007, they ranked as fifth leading owners in North America by purses won, with $3,996,973, and were seventh leading breeders with $4,981,442. They also won an Eclipse Award as outstanding owners in 2004.

Ramsey plans to shuttle Kitten’s Joy to Australia for the 2008 southern hemisphere breeding season.

He also plans to send 15 mares in foal to the stallion on southern hemisphere time to be sold in June at Australia’s Magic Millions National Broodmare sale.

To further participate in a chance created by the impact of equine influenza in Australia, Ramsey plans to buy mares in Australia with a $3 million low-interest loan arranged by Magic Millions.

Those mares will be bred to Kitten’s Joy during his shuttle duty and then resold.

Ramsey said he also has his eyes on rich races “in Japan and Hong Kong that are ripe for the picking, too.”

He added: “I'm young, so I’ve got plenty of time to experiment and get the job done. All my best memories are still ahead of me.”

JFL-08-201 (Owner - page - 01.02.2008 - Rail Link):Layout 1

16/01/2008

10:10

Page 1

Rail Link 2003 b h Dansili ex Docklands (Theatrical)

Exceptionally Consistent Timeform rated 132 Won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Gr.1

Won the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris Gr.1

(Longchamp) in

(Longchamp) in

2m26.3secs

2m26.4secs

A time bettered on only 4 occasions

“Sensationally fast” Nick Mordin, Racing Post

Defeated

Defeated

Pride (TF 128) Deep Impact (TF 134) Hurricane Run (TF 130) Shirocco (TF 129)

Red Rocks (TF 124) Sudan (TF 117) Grand Couturier (TF 117)

2008 Fee: £12,500 slf

JuddmontE

Contact Simon Mockridge, Jamie Trotter or Pat Rule tel +44 (0)1638 731115 fax +44 (0)1638 731117 email nominations@juddmonte.co.uk www.juddmonte.co.uk

17/1/08

18:54

www.thetba.co.uk

INTERNET.qxp

Page 2

GET CONNECTED! The TBA has launched an internet membership for students, stud staff and overseas subscribers An online version of

Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder is now available from the first of every month to all ROA and TBA members

28 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

INTERNET.qxp

17/1/08

18:54

Page 3

www.ownerbreeder.co.uk TBA Internet Membership

Online access to Owner & Breeder

This membership is available to students, stud staff and overseas enthusiasts (excluding the Republic of Ireland and the EU), and costs only £40 a year.

TBA & ROA members who have provided the associations with email addresses will be sent a user name and password which they can use to enter the website. Alternatively, members can register online, using their association’s membership number.

Internet members will receive all their correspondence via email and through the website.

Benefits include: Access to the Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder online magazine A diary following the stud career of All A Dream (above), one of the broodmares based at Lanwades Stud Trips to studs (pictured below), racing yards and seminars, plus much more.

In 2007 TBA members enjoyed visits to such famous studs as Shadwell, Hesmonds and Childwick Bury, racing yards such as Manton Stables (Brian Meehan) and Egerton House (David Elsworth), plus nutrition seminars and the annual Stud Farming Course.

Our aim is to encourage interest and enthusiasm in the thoroughbred breeding industry by enabling a wider audience to benefit from TBA membership and the Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder magazine.

To become a TBA Internet Member, visit the TBA website – www.thetba.co.uk and go to the Internet Members section, pay online via PayPal or download a direct debit mandate, and send this to the TBA.

The magazine is in a pdf format, and can be easily downloaded. Once members have entered the site www.ownerbreeder.co.uk they should go to the ‘Download’ section and click on the magazine front page to start downloading it.

This could take a few minutes depending on the speed of the internet connection, so please be patient!

The whole magazine will then appear and can be scrolled through, or the search facility used to go to a particular section. If you have any problems registering please contact the ROA or TBA offices on 020 7408 0903 and 01638 661321 respectively.

And if you would rather view the magazine pages as a spread, and not single pages, then once it has downloaded, right click on your mouse and choose ‘continuous facing’.

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 29

TALKING TO Feb.qxp

17/1/08

18:56

Page 2

Talking to...

Tor Sturgis She’s the youngest dual purpose trainer around – but definitely not from Scandinavia!

Your name suggests you are of Scandinavian descent. Are you?

I do get a lot of grief from it. My name is Victoria but people think I am Norwegian, some even think I am a boy. But I have been called Tor all my life and am 100% English.

Tell us about your background in the threeday eventing world

PHOTOS: GEORGE SELWYN

My father rode at the top level and I represented Great Britain at junior and young riders’ level, travelling abroad quite a lot. It became very expensive for very little reward, particularly if you had only a couple of horses.

So I sold them for a lot of money and that paid for my university course at Bristol.

What came after that?

Before we left university my flatmate, Tom Gittins, who now runs racehorse syndicates, and I applied to do the BHB Graduate Scheme because we thought it would be good to be paid for six months working in the

30 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

TALKING TO Feb.qxp

17/1/08

18:56

Page 3

industry. I worked for the Levy Board and also had a stint at Fakenham. At the Levy Board I was involved with the department responsible for the distribution of the levy and also worked with professors at London University who were looking into stress fractures in racehorses.

During holidays from university I worked for different trainers because I loved being nosey and wanted to see how other people did things.

I worked several summers for Henrietta Knight and produced young horses for her.

Whenever Francois Doumen had runners in England I looked after them and led them up at Cheltenham and Aintree, including Snow Drop, winner of the 2000 Triumph Hurdle. I had been doing sales work with David Redvers when Martyn Meade asked me to go to the sales with him and we bought six nice horses.

He then asked me to go and work for him.

Although I had trained a couple of point-topointers at home, it was the first time I’d been involved with training racehorses. The licence was in Martyn’s name but he entrusted me to run the yard for him. We had a fantastic season together; then I rode out for Jim Old before going to work for Barry Hills. While I was at Barry’s I produced a few young horses which he let me run in bumpers.

How many winners have you ridden under Rules?

What was your university degree? Has it helped you in racing?

Getting the best out of each individual. By having a smaller string (15 to 20 horses) you get to know them as individuals and we believe we are able to produce them to run to their highest possible mark. Having very good people working for me is a vital factor; I have a fantastic team around me and each one of them has a say. When you have a small string, combined with good people, you can understand the horses.

It’s like training a classroom of children.

Every horse is an individual; some have ability and don’t want to use it; some don’t have ability but will try their hardest. They’re like humans and are all different and to be treated differently.

You make sure they enjoy their work. They are never under stress at home. The young horses tend towards a routine but the older horses who have been there and done it won’t stick to a routine. They do what suits them.

I read Economics and Business, which has been a great benefit to the office side of setting up the business. My parents insisted that I did a degree before choosing what I wanted to do. I have always been interested in economics and if I hadn’t been horsey I’d have gone down that route, but the love of horses came first. Taking the plunge with no financial backing and setting up a business by yourself aged 28, I found every aspect was covered as a result of my degree, from accountancy to wages and employment.

“I get a lot of grief over my name. Some people think I’m a boy”

My first ride, Cosmocrat, won at 100-1 at Chepstow. And that was it. I did ride in the Foxhunter at Cheltenham and while I was at Barry’s I was riding in ladies’ Flat races, but I became too busy with the horses at home. In any case, I wanted to learn about training.

What did you learn from Henrietta Knight, Jim Old, Francois Doumen, Martyn Meade and Barry Hills?

Overall, maintaining fitness and health in horses. When you worked for them it wasn’t your problem when a horse broke down or got a chip in its knee; you just carried on. You left a note on the desk and closed the office door at six o’clock. When you start training you are not well prepared for the situation when a horse has a cough, hasn’t eaten or has a sore leg.

Suddenly, it is your problem and now I probably put too much pressure on myself because the horses aren’t 100 per cent all the time. All I want are fit and healthy horses. I find it very difficult when something has gone wrong and start asking myself why.

What is your top priority when training racehorses?

What new ideas do you bring to training?

I love reading journals and articles on the internet, particularly about the respiratory system of racehorses, because you can learn all the time. You probably learn more from your own mistakes and other peoples’ ideas, and then you can put it into practice yourself. I love

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 31

Bearstone Roster O-B 02-08

10/1/08

16:05

Page 1

BEARSTONE STUD Vital Equine

Bay 2004, 16.1 h.h.

by Danetime - Bayalika

Fee for 2008: £6,000 Oct 1st

THE SOURCE OF SPEED Stallions for 2008

Bay 2002, 16.0 h.h.

by Danehill Dancer - Floria

Indesatchel

Fee for 2008: £3,000 Oct 1st SLF

Bred on the same DANZIG / SHARPEN UP cross as DANEHILL DANCER, INVINCIBLE SPIRIT, DYLAN THOMAS,

Classic-placed dual Group winner from the stallion-producing Danehill Dancer sire line

Rated the equal at 3 of 2000 Gns winner FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND (Fee €20,000 in 2008)

STRATEGIC PRINCE, SIMPLY PERFECT, etc

WON Champagne Stakes Gr.2 in 2yo course record time beating Gr.1W Cockney Rebel 2nd 2000 Guineas Gr.1 (right), to Cockney Rebel in the third fastest time ever, beating Gr.1W Dutch Art 3rd Grand Criterium Gr.1

WON Tetrarch S 7f, by 6 lengths, Greenham S 7f, by a length Classic-placed 2nd Poule d’Essai des Poulains Gr.1 (left), by a head to Shamardal (Fee €25,000 in 2008)

Timeform: 113 at 2; 121 at 3

Timeform: 120 NEW FOR 2008 FIRST YEARLINGS IN 2008

FIRST FOALS IN 2008 FIRST THREE-YEAR-OLDS IN 2008

Group 1

Group 1

Millionaire

Miler.

Miler from

Sire of a Group horse

the Warning

from his

sire line of Gr.1

first crop

stallions Piccolo

Beat 7 Group 1 winners including Champion Sire Invincible Spirit.

and Averti - and higher rated than both

WON Hong Kong Mile Gr.1, Mill Reef S. Gr.2, Challenge S. Gr.2, Prix de Cabourg Gr.3, Supreme S. Gr.3, Timeform: 125 A Group winner every year he raced from 2 - 5

And his first foals were HOT realising up to 45,000gns Fee for 2008: £3,500 October 1st SLF

Firebreak

Bay 1999, 15.3 h.h.

by Charnwood Forest - Breakaway

Making a great start at stud with 30 wins and places from 36 foals, including Princess Margaret Stakes runner-up Reel Gift ...and don’t forget HE improved every year he raced Fee for 2008: £3,000 October 1st SLF Chesnut 1998, 16.1 h.h.

by Mr Greeley - Rosebud

Reel Buddy

Enquiries: Terry or Margaret Holdcroft or Mark Pennell, Bearstone Stud, Market Drayton, Shropshire TF9 4HF Office: 01630 647197 Home: 01270 812345 Fax: 01630 647110 Mobile: 07974 948755 Email: enquiries@bearstonestud.co.uk Website: www.bearstonestud.co.uk or John Needham, Elmhurst Bloodstock Ltd. Tel: 01892 891145 Email: john@elmhurstbloodstock.co.uk

TALKING TO Feb.qxp

17/1/08

18:56

Page 4

PHOTO: GEORGE SELWYN

Talking to...

FINGERS ON BUZZERS...

Your fantasy?

To remain healthy and enjoy life.

One regret?

That I haven’t married a rich man. But I don’t dwell on regrets. If you do, you can’t look forward.

Who is your pin-up?

Jude Law. How do you get away from racing?

I am a workaholic. But I do have an ambition to drive a fast car on Top Gear.

What is your weakness?

Chocolate.

What keeps you awake at night?

Fear of failure.

Sturgis talking to reporter Bruce Jackson after her horse Lough Beg, an import from Ireland, had won at Kempton on January 2

quizzing people and reading others’ thoughts on various aspects. If you speak to five vets on one problem you will have five different opinions. You have to decide which is the right one. Your gut instinct is often right.

Has www.torsturgisracing.co.uk been a help in setting up your operation?

Definitely. We have had a lot of interest and horses have been sent here as a result of it. A lady arrived last year wanting to put a horse with us and said she had googled our website, loved our pages and our attitude to training.

On the website, you make ten promises to owners. What’s that all about?

It is telling them that we are not going to pull the wool over their eyes. Racehorses have many problems and if they are no good I want my owners to know. Horses are here to race and if they are unable to earn any prize-money I’d rather be truthful and tell the owner, ‘It’s no good, let’s get rid of it and replace it with a horse who can win races’. I have owned horses and the horses here are trained as if they are mine. I want the owners to share everything that I know about them.

Do you consider yourself different from most trainers?

When I showed this question to my flatmate he said, ‘Yes, you’ve got great legs and a great bust.’ More seriously, every trainer is different.

We have owners who have been in big yards but

want individual attention; I had one last year who was a one-horse owner in a huge yard, where he was a nobody. Here he has two horses and is one of the biggest owners in the yard; he loves it, can phone up any time and is very involved. As long as I can do the job to the satisfaction of my owners, I know I am doing it right.

How many winners have you trained? Which gave you the most satisfaction and why?

Fifteen, since starting in 2005. I began with three jumpers and this season I wanted to have a go at the Flat and, at 30, am the youngest dual purpose trainer. The attraction of the Flat are fewer injuries, more prize-money and you can run them more consistently. I claimed Champagne Shadow, who won five for us, and it is embarrassing to think he didn’t even cover his cost of £10,000. That dreadful statistic tells you why you have to look after your owners.

I’ll have my most satisfying moment when a horse owned by the stable sponsors, the Cambridge law consultants R Costings, wins a race. Their first horse died of cancer and their second horse is very injury-prone, so you see it will be a big moment for us. After Big Eared Fran won on his bumper debut, we couldn’t resist the offer from one of David Pipe’s owners; it paid for setting up the business and will help to buy better quality horses.

Have you modelled yourself on anyone?

No. I’m an individual.

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 33

Project4:Layout 1

15/1/08

15:27

Page 1

Published here is the consolidated Final List of the stallions named in the final lists of stallions sent to the Co-Ordinating Committee by the British, Irish, French, Italian, German and Swiss Trustees in accordance with the Co-Ordinating Agreement.

The progeny of these stallions, CONCEIVED IN 2007 IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE, (the foal crop of 2008) will be eligible to enter the EBF races to be held during the year 2010 and thereafter.

They will also be eligible for other relevant benefits under the EBF terms and conditions in force in Great Britain, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany and Switzerland.

The progeny of these stallions, CONCEIVED IN 2007, (foal crop of 2008) will have to be nominated to Breeders’ Cup Ltd as foals, if they are to be entered in the Breeders’ Cup Championship Races in the year 2010 and thereafter at the lowest entry fee, and if they are to receive other relevant benefits under the Breeders’ Cup National Stakes Programme.

A

A FRENCH MAN (FR) AAHSAYLAD (GB) ABOO HOM (GB) ACAMBARO (GER) ACCENTO (GB) ACCLAMATION (GB) ACROBAT (IRE) ACT ONE (GB) AD VALOREM (USA) ADIEU (GER) ADJIROUN (IRE) ADNAAN (IRE) ADVISE (FR) AESKULAP (GER) AGENT BLEU (FR) AGNES KAMIKAZE (JPN) AKBAR (IRE) AL NAMIX (FR) ALAMO BAY (USA) ALAMSHAR (IRE) ALBANO (IRE) ALBERTO GIACOMETTI (IRE) ALBIN D’ADEN (FR) ALDERBROOK (GB) ALFLORA (IRE) ALHAARTH (IRE) ALHIJAZ (GB) ALKAADHEM (GB) ALL PRIDE (GER) ALLEGORIC (USA) ALTIERI (GB) ALWAYS A CLASSIC (CAN) AMERICAN POST (GB) AMRAK AJEEB (IRE) ANABAA BLUE (GB) ANABAA ME (FR) ANATOLY (USA) AND BEYOND (IRE) ANDROID (USA) ANGE GABRIEL (FR) ANTARCTIQUE (IRE) ANTONIUS PIUS (USA) ANZILLERO (GER) AOLUS (GER) APOTHEOSIS (USA) APPLE TREE (FR) APPREHENSION (GB) APSIS (GB) ARAAFA (IRE) ARAKAN (USA) ARC ROYAL (GER) ARCHANGE D’OR (IRE) AREION (GER) ARKADIAN HERO (USA) ARNAQUEUR (USA) ARTAN (IRE) ARVICO (FR) ASAKIR (GB) ASHKALANI (IRE) ASIAN HEIGHTS (GB) ASSESSOR (IRE) ASTARABAD (USA) ATRAF (GB) AUCTION HOUSE (USA) AUENADLER (GER) AUSSIE RULES (USA) AUTUMN GLORY (IRE) AVONBRIDGE (GB) AWAKENED (IRE) AZAMOUR (IRE)

B

BACH (IRE) BACHELOR DUKE (USA) BACHIR (IRE) BAD AS I WANNA BE (IRE) BAHAMIAN BOUNTY (GB) BAHAMIAN KNIGHT (CAN) BAHRI (USA) BAL HARBOUR (GB) BALAKHERI (IRE) BALKENHOL (IRE) BALLA COVE (IRE) BALLEROY (USA) BALLET MASTER (USA) BALLINGARRY (IRE) BALMONT (USA)

BANCO PRIME (IRE) BAND ON THE RUN (GB) BANDARI (IRE) BANDMASTER (USA) BANYUMANIK (IRE) BAPTIZE (USA) BARATHEA (IRE) BARATHEA GUEST (GB) BAROUD D’HONNEUR (FR) BARYSHNIKOV (AUS) BASANTA (IRE) BEAR KING (GER) BEAT ALL (USA) BEAT HOLLOW (GB) BEAT OF DRUMS (GB) BEAUCHAMP KING (GB) BEDAWIN (FR) BELENUS (GER) BENEFICIAL (GB) BERING (GB) BERKOUTCHI (FR) BERNEBEAU (FR) BERTOLINI (USA) BIENAMADO (USA) BIG BAD BOB (IRE) BIG MAMBO (USA) BIG SHUFFLE (USA) BIJOU D’INDE (GB) BIN AJWAAD (IRE) BISHOP OF CASHEL (GB) BLACK SAM BELLAMY (IRE) BLACKDOUN (FR) BLEU D’ALTAIR (FR) BLU AIR FORCE (IRE) BLU CARILLON (IRE) BLUE CANARI (FR) BLUE DAKOTA (IRE) BLUEPRINT (IRE) BOB BACK (USA) BOLD EDGE (GB) BOLD FACT (USA) BOLD PILOT (TUR) BOLLIN ERIC (GB) BONBON ROSE (FR) BONNET ROUGE (FR) BOOGIE STREET (GB) BOREAL (GER) BOSPORUS (IRE) BOYSUN (IRE) BRAVEFOOT (GB) BRAVO TAZIO (IRE) BRIAN BORU (GB) BRIER CREEK (USA) BROADWAY FLYER (USA) BULINGTON (FR) BUSY FLIGHT (GB) BYRON (GB) BYZANTIUM (FR)

C

CABALLO RAPTOR (CAN) CACHET NOIR (USA) CACIQUE (IRE) CADEAUX GENEREUX (GB) CADOUBEL (FR) CALCUTTA (GB) CALIFET (FR) CALL ME BIG (GER) CALUKI (GB) CAMACHO (GB) CAMERON (IRE) CANYON CREEK (IRE) CAPE CROSS (IRE) CAPE TOWN (IRE) CAPTAIN RIO (GB) CARDOUN (FR) CARELESS SECRETARY (USA) CARLO BANK (IRE) CARLOTAMIX (FR) CARNIVAL DANCER (GB) CATCHER IN THE RYE (IRE) CAYMAN KAI (IRE) CELTIC SWING (GB) CENTRAL PARK (IRE) CHARGE D’AFFAIRES (GB) CHARMING GROOM (FR) CHEVALIER (IRE) CHICHICASTENANGO (FR)

CHINEUR (FR) CHOISIR (AUS) CHOPIN (SWI) CIRCUS DANCE (GB) CITY HONOURS (USA) CLASSIC CLICHE (IRE) CLERKENWELL (USA) CLETY (FR) CLODOVIL (IRE) CLOSE CONFLICT (USA) CLOUDINGS (IRE) CLOUSEAU (DEN) COIN SILVER (USA) COLONEL COLLINS (USA) COLOSSUS (IRE) COMMON GROUNDS (GB) COMPTON ADMIRAL (GB) COMPTON PLACE (GB) COMTE DU BOURG (FR) CONTRACT LAW (USA) COOL JAZZ (GB) CORAL REEF (ITY) CORNE D’AUROCH (FR) CORONER (IRE) CORRI PIANO (FR) COSSIO (GB) COTATION (GB) COUNTRY CLUB (GB) COUNTRY REEL (USA) COURT CAVE (IRE) COURTEOUS (GB) COURTSHIP (GB) CRAIGSTEEL (GB) CRICKET BALL (USA) CRILLON (FR) CROCO ROUGE (IRE) CUMBRALES (IRE) CURTAIN TIME (IRE) CUT QUARTZ (FR)

D

DADARISSIME (FR) DAGGERS DRAWN (USA) DAI JIN (GB) DALAKHANI (IRE) DALIAPOUR (IRE) DALTABAD (IRE) DANANEYEV (FR) DANBIRD (AUS) DANCING SPREE (USA) DANE FRIENDLY (GB) DANEHILL DANCER (IRE) DANKESTON (USA) DANO-MAST (GB) DANROAD (AUS) DANSILI (GB) DANZIG CONNECTION (USA) DARK MOONDANCER (GB) DARNAY (GB) DARO SOPRAN (GER) DARSI (FR) DARWIN (IRE) DASHING BLADE (GB) DAVIDE UMBRO (ITY) DE SICA (IRE) DEAR DOCTOR (FR) DEFINITE ARTICLE (GB) DELFOS (IRE) DELLA FRANCESCA (USA) DELLA SCALA (IRE) DELTA DANCER (GB) DEMOCRATIC DEFICIT (IRE) DENHAM RED (FR) DENON (USA) DENOUNCE (GB) DENVER COUNTY (USA) DEPLOY (GB) DEPORTIVO (GB) DERNIER EMPEREUR (USA) DESERT HEAT (GB) DESERT KING (IRE) DESERT PRINCE (IRE) DESERT STYLE (IRE) DESIDERATUM (GB) DEXTERITY (USA) DIABLENEYEV (USA) DIAMOND GREEN (FR) DIKTAT (GB)

DILSHAAN (GB) DISCOVER D’AUTEUIL (FR) DISTANT MUSIC (USA) DIVINE LIGHT (JPN) DOCKSIDER (USA) DOLPOUR (IRE) DOM ALCO (FR) DOMEDRIVER (IRE) DOUBLE ALLEGED (USA) DOUBLE ECLIPSE (IRE) DOUBLE HEART (FR) DOUBLE TRIGGER (IRE) DOUBLETOUR (USA) DOYEN (IRE) DR DEVIOUS (IRE) DR FONG (USA) DR MASSINI (IRE) DREAM CHIEF (USA) DREAM WELL (FR) DREAMS END (GB) DROP OUT (FR) DUBAI DESTINATION (USA) DUBAWI (IRE) DUSHYANTOR (USA) DYHIM DIAMOND (IRE)

E

EAGLE EYED (USA) EARL OF BARKING (IRE) EAST OF HEAVEN (IRE) ECOLOGIST (GB) EDEN ROCK (GER) EGEO (FR) EKRAAR (USA) ELEOS (GB) ELMHURST BOY (GB) ELNADIM (USA) ELUSIVE CITY (USA) EMBODY (GB) EMPEROR FOUNTAIN (GB) ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS) ENDLESS HALL (GB) ENRIQUE (GB) EPALO (GER) EPERSON (FR) EQUERRY (USA) EREWHON (USA) ERHAAB (USA) ERMINIUS (GER) ESPRIT DU NORD (USA) EVEN TOP (IRE) EVE’S ERROR (IRE) EVOKE (USA) EXCEED AND EXCEL (AUS) EXECUTE (FR) EXIT TO NOWHERE (USA)

F

FABULOUS DON (SPA) FABULOUS WHITE (FR) FAHRIS (IRE) FAIR MIX (IRE) FAIRLY RANSOM (USA) FANTASTIC FELLOW (USA) FASCINO (ITY) FASLIYEV (USA) FASTLEIGH (FR) FATH (USA) FAY BREEZE (IRE) FAYRUZ (GB) FEBRAR (ITY) FEDERAL TRIAL (USA) FERRULE (IRE) FILANDROS (GR) FIREBREAK (GB) FIRST TRUMP (GB) FISICH (GB) FLEETWOOD (IRE) FLEMENSFIRTH (USA) FLORENTINE FLUTTER (GB) FLY TO THE STARS (GB) FLYING LEGEND (USA) FOL PARADE (ARG) FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND (GB) FORESTIER (FR) FRAAM (GB) FRAGRANT MIX (IRE) FRANCE (GB)

FRANKLINS GARDENS (GB) FREEDOM CRY (GB) FRENCHMANS BAY (FR) FRUITS OF LOVE (USA) FUNNY BABY (FR)

G

GALILEO (IRE) GALLERY OF ZURICH (IRE) GALLIC HAWK (IRE) GAMUT (IRE) GARRISON SAVANNAH (NZ) GARUDA (IRE) GENEROSITY (GB) GENEROUS (IRE) GENGHIS KHAN (IRE) GENTLEMAN’S DEAL (IRE) GENTLEWAVE (IRE) GEORGE WASHINGTON (IRE) GERI (USA) GERMANY (USA) GIOVANE IMPERATORE (GB) GO BETWEEN (FR) GOLAN (IRE) GOLD AWAY (IRE) GOLD SPHINX (USA) GOLD WELL (GB) GOLDEN DEVIOUS (IRE) GOLDEN LARIAT (USA) GOLDEN MINTAGE (USA) GOLDEN PIVOTAL (GB) GOLDEN SNAKE (USA) GOLDEN STRAVINSKY (USA) GOLDEN TORNADO (IRE) GOLDMARK (USA) GOLDNEYEV (USA) GOODRICKE (GB) GOOFALIK (USA) GOTHLAND (FR) GOVERNOR BROWN (USA) GRAND EKINOKS (TUR) GRAND FINALE (IRE) GRAND SEIGNEUR (FR) GRAND TRESOR (FR) GRAPE TREE ROAD (GB) GREAT EXHIBITION (USA) GREAT PALM (USA) GREAT PRETENDER (IRE) GREEN CARD (USA) GREEN DESERT (USA) GREEN HORIZON (GB) GREEN TUNE (USA) GREINTON (GB) GREY RISK (FR) GUY BUTTERS (GR) GUYS AND DOLLS (GB)

H

HAAFHD (GB) HALLING (USA) HAMAIRI (IRE) HAMOND (GER) HARMONIC WAY (GB) HASTEN TO ADD (CAN) HAWK WING (USA) HAWKEYE (IRE) HELISSIO (FR) HERNANDO (FR) HERON ISLAND (IRE) HIGH ACCOUNT (USA) HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) HIGH ROLLER (IRE) HIGH TENSION (USA) HIGH YIELD (USA) HIGHEST HONOR (FR) HIGH-RISE (IRE) HITCHED (USA) HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR (IRE) HOME FLEET (USA) HONEY COLOUR (IRE) HOUMAYOUN (FR) HUBBLY BUBBLY (USA) HUMBEL (USA) HURRICANE CAT (USA) HURRICANE RUN (IRE)

I

ICEMAN (GB) IFFRAAJ (GB) IKTIBAS (GB) IMPERIAL BALLET (IRE) IMPERIAL DANCER (GB) IMPREVEDIBILE (IRE) IN YARAK (GB) INDESATCHEL (IRE) INDIAN CREEK (GB) INDIAN DANEHILL (IRE) INDIAN HAVEN (GB) INDIAN RIVER (FR) INDIAN ROCKET (GB) INDIGO RED (GB) INSAN (USA) INSATIABLE (IRE) INTENDANT (GER) INTIKHAB (USA) INVINCIBLE SPIRIT (IRE) IRON MASK (USA) ISHIGURU (USA) ISLAND HOUSE (IRE) IVAN DENISOVICH (IRE) IVAN LUIS (FR)

J

J M W TURNER (GB) JACKSON’S DRIFT (USA) JAMMAAL (GB) JAN AFFRICA (FR) JARN (GB) JAVA GOLD (USA) JENDALI (USA) JIMBLE (FR) JOE BEAR (IRE) JOHANN QUATZ (FR) JOHNNY RED KERR (USA) JOSR ALGARHOUD (IRE)

K

KADASTROF (FR) KADEED (IRE) KADENCE (FR) KAFHAR (GB) KAHTAN (GB) KAHYASI (IRE) KAIETEUR (USA) KAKA (GB) KALANISI (IRE) KALATOS (GER) KALDOU STAR (GB) KALDOUNEVEES (FR) KALLISTO (GER) KAPGARDE (FR) KASHWAN (SPA) KASMAYO (GB) KAYF TARA (GB) KELTOS (FR) KENDOR (FR) KENTUCKY HOME (USA) KEY OF LUCK (USA) KHALKEVI (IRE) KHELEYF (USA) KIDDER (FR) KIER PARK (IRE) KIERKEGAARD (GB) KING CHARLEMAGNE (USA) KING CHEETAH (USA) KING O’THE MANA (IRE) KING’S BEST (USA) KING’S THEATRE (IRE) KINGSALSA (USA) KIRKWALL (GB) KIZITCA (FR) KODIAC (GB) KOENIGSTIGER (GER) KONIG SHUFFLE (GER) KORNADO (GB) KOTASHAAN (FR) KOTKY BLEU (FR) KOUROUN (FR) KRIS KIN (USA) KUTUB (IRE) KYLLACHY (GB)

Project4:Layout 1

15/1/08

L

LACANTUN (GB) LAHIB (USA) LAIUS DE L’ABBAYE (FR) LANDO (GER) LARGESSE (GB) LATE PARADE (IRE) LAVERON (GB) LAVIRCO (GER) LAW SOCIETY (USA) LAYMAN (USA) LE BALAFRE (FR) LE FOU (IRE) LE MALEMORTOIS (FR) LE TRITON (USA) LE VIE DEI COLORI (GB) LEADERSHIP (GB) LECROIX (GER) LEONIDAS (GB) LEPORELLO (IRE) LESOTHO (USA) LET THE LION ROAR (GB) LIBRETTIST (USA) LIL’S BOY (USA) LIMNOS (JPN) LIMPID (GB) LINAMIX (FR) LION NOIR (GB) LIONARDO (GB) LIQUIDO (GER) LITTLE ROCK (GB) LIVER SONG (IRE) LOCHBUIE (IRE) LOMITAS (GB) LOOK HONEY (IRE) LORD AMERICO (IRE) LORD OF APPEAL (GB) LORD OF ENGLAND (GER) LORDMARE (FR) LOST WORLD (IRE) LOUDEAC (USA) LOUP SAUVAGE (USA) LOUP SOLITAIRE (USA) LOUVETEAU (USA) LOVE IS ALL (ITY) LUCKY STORY (USA) LUGNY (FR) LUPESCO (IRE) LUSO (GB)

M

MACANAL (USA) MACHIAVELLIAN TSAR (FR) MADOUN (FR) MAILLE PISTOL (FR) MAJESTIC MISSILE (IRE) MAJORIEN (GB) MAKBUL (IRE) MAKE NO MISTAKE (IRE) MALINAS (GER) MALONE (FR) MAMOOL (IRE) MAN AMONG MEN (IRE) MAN O WEST (FR) MANILA (USA) MANIPULATOR (IRE) MARCH GROOM (USA) MARCHAND DE SABLE (USA) MARESCA SORRENTO (FR) MARIGNAN (USA) MARJU (IRE) MARLIN (USA) MARTALINE (GB) MARTILLO (GER) MARTINO ALONSO (IRE) MASAD (IRE) MASTERFUL (USA) MEDAILLE MILITAIRE (GB) MEDECIS (GB) MEDICEAN (GB) MERLINO MAGO (GB) MERZOUK (USA) MESHAHEER (USA) MICHEL GEORGES (GB) MIDNIGHT LEGEND (GB) MIESQUE’S SON (USA) MILAN (GB) MILFORD TRACK (IRE) MILLENARY (GB) MILLKOM (GB) MINASHKI (IRE) MIND GAMES (GB) MINLEY (GER) MISTER SACHA (FR) MISTER STRONG (IRE) MISTERNANDO (GB) MISTERO (ITY) MODIGLIANI (USA) MOHAAJIR (USA) MONSAGEM (USA) MONSIEUR BOND (IRE) MONSUN (GER) MONTJEU (IRE) MOOD FOR LOVE (USA) MOROZOV (USA) MORPETH (GB) MOSCOW BALLET (IRE) MOSCOW SOCIETY (USA) MOTIVATOR (GB) MOUNTAIN CAT (USA)

15:27

Page 2

MOWGLI (SPA) MR COMBUSTIBLE (IRE) MR DINOS (IRE) MUHAYMIN (USA) MUHTARRAM (USA) MUHTATHIR (GB) MUJADIL (USA) MUJAHID (USA) MULTAZEM (USA) MUNAAFIS (USA) MUNIR (GB) MUNTAKHAB (USA) MUSICAL PURSUIT (GB) MUTAMARKIZ (IRE) MY RISK (FR) MYRAKALU (FR)

N

NAHEEZ (USA) NAMID (GB) NAYEF (USA) NEAR DOCK (GER) NEAR HONOR (GER) NEEDLE GUN (IRE) NEEDWOOD BLADE (GB) NERIO (FR) NETWORK (GER) NEW SOUTH WALES (GB) NEXT DESERT (IRE) NICOBAR (GB) NIGHT SHIFT (USA) NIGHT TANGO (GER) NIL (IRE) NOLT (FR) NOMADIC WAY (USA) NOMBRE PREMIER (GB) NONONITO (FR) NOROIT (GER) NORSE DANCER (IRE) NORTHERN FLAGSHIP (USA) NORTHERN PARK (USA) NORWICH (GB) NOVERRE (USA) NUMEROUS (USA)

O

OASIS DREAM (GB) OBSERVATORY (USA) OCEAN CREST (USA) OCEAN OF WISDOM (USA) ODYLE (USA) OKAWANGO (USA) OLD VIC (GB) OLMALIK (GB) ON THE RIDGE (IRE) ONE COOL CAT (USA) ORATORIO (IRE) ORPEN (USA) OSCAR (IRE) OSORIO (GER) OUMNAZ (FR) OVERBURY (IRE) OXFORD LINE (IRE)

P

PAIRUMANI STAR (IRE) PANIS (USA) PANORAMIC (GB) PAOLINI (GER) PASSING GLANCE (GB) PASSING SALE (FR) PASTERNAK (GB) PASTORAL PURSUITS (GB) PEACE OF MIND (GB) PEINTRE CELEBRE (USA) PELDER (IRE) PENNEKAMP (USA) PEPPERCORN (GER) PERCEIVE ARROGANCE (USA) PERPENDICULAR (GB) PERSIAN BRAVE (IRE) PERSIAN RULER (GB) PERUGINO (USA) PHILOMATHEIA (USA) PHOENIX REACH (IRE) PICCOLO (GB) PIERRE (GB) PILSUDSKI (IRE) PISTOLERO (IRE) PIVOTAL (GB) PLATINI (GER) PLUMBIRD (GB) POLICY MAKER (IRE) POLIGLOTE (GB) POLISH SUMMER (GB) POPLAR BLUFF (GB) PORTRAIT GALLERY (IRE) POSEIDON (GB) POSIDONAS (GB) PRESENTING (GB) PRIMO VALENTINO (IRE) PRINCE ARCH (USA) PRINCE DANIEL (USA) PRINCE DE LA NUIT (FR) PRINCE KIRK (FR) PRINCELY HEIR (IRE) PRINCETON (FR) PRIOLO (USA) PROCLAMATION (IRE) PROSPECTIVE RULER (USA) PROSPECTS OF GLORY (USA)

PROTEKTOR (GER) PUBLISHER (USA) PURSUIT OF LOVE (GB) PUSHKIN (IRE) PUTRA PEKAN (GB) PUTRA SANDHURST (IRE) PYRAMUS (USA) PYRUS (USA) PYTHIOS (IRE)

Q

QUICK MOVE (GB) QUWS (GB)

R

RAGMAR (FR) RAINBOW HIGH (GB) RAINBOW QUEST (USA) RAINBOWS FOR LIFE (CAN) RAINSHACK (GB) RAINWATCH (GB) RAISE A GRAND (IRE) RAKAPOSHI KING (GB) RAKTI (GB) RAMBLING BEAR (GB) RANSOM O’ WAR (USA) RASHAR (USA) RASHBAG (GB) RASI BRASAK (GB) RED BISHOP (USA) RED RANSOM (USA) REDBACK (GB) REDOUBTABLE (USA) REEFSCAPE (GB) REEL BUDDY (USA) REFUSE TO BEND (IRE) REGAL ARCHIVE (IRE) REINALDO (FR) RESPLENDENT CEE (IRE) RESPLENDENT GLORY (IRE) RESTE TRANQUILLE (FR) REVOQUE (IRE) RIDGEWOOD BEN (GB) RIFAPOUR (IRE) RIO NAPO (IRE) RIO PARANA (ITY) RISK SEEKER (GB) RIVER SPECIAL (USA) ROBERT EMMET (IRE) ROBIN DES CHAMPS (FR) ROBIN DES PRES (FR) ROB’S SPIRIT (USA) ROCK CITY (IRE) ROI DANZIG (USA) ROLI ABI (FR) ROMAN SADDLE (IRE) ROYAL ABJAR (USA) ROYAL ANTHEM (USA) ROYAL APPLAUSE (GB) ROYAL DRAGON (USA) ROYAL KRIS (FR) RUDIMENTARY (USA) RUNYON (IRE) RUSSIAN BLUE (IRE) RUSSIAN VALOUR (IRE)

S

SABIANGO (GER) SABREHILL (USA) SACRO SAINT (FR) SADDLERS’ HALL (IRE) SADLER’S WELLS (USA) SAFFRON WALDEN (FR) SAGACITY (FR) SAGAMIX (FR) SAHAL (GB) SAINT DES SAINTS (FR) SAKHEE (USA) SALFORD EXPRESS (IRE) SALSELON (GB) SAMPOWER STAR (GB) SAMRAAN (USA) SAMUM (GER) SANDMASON (GB) SASSANIAN (USA) SAYADAW (FR) SAYARSHAN (FR) SEA FREEDOM (GB) SEA HERO (USA) SECOND SET (IRE) SECRAL (USA) SECRET SINGER (FR) SECRET THING (USA) SELKIRK (USA) SENDAWAR (IRE) SEPTIEME CIEL (USA) SEVRES ROSE (IRE) SHAANMER (IRE) SHAHRASTANI (USA) SHAMARDAL (USA) SHANTOU (USA) SHARP PROD (USA) SHERIDAN (IRE) SHEYRANN (IRE) SHINDA MONDIAL (GB) SHINKO FOREST (IRE) SHIROCCO (GER) SHOLOKHOV (IRE) SILENT TIMES (IRE)

SILVER PATRIARCH (IRE) SINGLE EMPIRE (IRE) SINGSPIEL (IRE) SINNDAR (IRE) SIR HARRY LEWIS (USA) SKI CHIEF (USA) SKY JUNIOR (FR) SKY SWALLOW (FR) SLANEY SQUIRE (IRE) SLEEPING CAR (FR) SLEEPING INDIAN (GB) SLEW LEADER (GB) SLICKLY (FR) SMADOUN (FR) SNETTERTON (GB) SNOW CAP (FR) SOAVE (GER) SOLAR ONE (FR) SOLID ILLUSION (USA) SOLIDO (FR) SOLO BANCO (IRE) SOLON (GER) SONUS (IRE) SOPRAN GLAUMIX (ITY) SORCEROUS (GB) SOTABRASCIET (IRE) SOVIET STAR (USA) SPADOUN (FR) SPARTACUS (IRE) SPECIAL KALDOUN (IRE) SPEEDMASTER (GER) SPIRIT OF DESERT (IRE) SPORTS HERO (USA) SPYMASTER (USA) SRI PEKAN (USA) ST JOVITE (USA) ST PAUL HOUSE (GB) STARDAN (IRE) START FAST (FR) STATUE OF LIBERTY (USA) STERNKOENIG (IRE) STORMING HOME (GB) STOWAWAY (GB) STRATEGIC CHOICE (USA) STREETLIGHT (GB) STRIKE A BLOW (USA) STRIKE THE GOLD (USA) STRIKING AMBITION (GB) STUCK (USA) SUBLIMINAL (FR) SUBOTICA (FR) SUBTLE POWER (IRE) SULAMANI (IRE) SULEIMAN (IRE) SUMITAS (GER) SUNSHACK (GB) SUNSHINE STREET (USA) SUPER CELEBRE (FR) SUPERIOR PREMIUM (GB) SUPREME SOUND (GB) SVEDOV (FR) SWALLOW FLIGHT (IRE)

T

TADIN (GB) TAGULA (IRE) TAJRAASI (USA) TAKE RISKS (FR) TALKIN MAN (CAN) TAMARISK (IRE) TAMAYAZ (CAN) TAMURE (IRE) TANNENKONIG (IRE) TAU CETI (GB) TEA GARDEN (IRE) TEL QUEL (FR) TENBY (GB) TEOFILIO (IRE) TERIMON (GB) TERRE DE L’HOME (GER) TERTULLIAN (USA) TIGER GROOM (GB) TIGER HILL (IRE) TIKKANEN (USA) TILLERMAN (GB) TIMBOROA (GB) TITUS LIVIUS (FR) TOBOUGG (IRE) TOMBA (GB) TONITRUANT (USA) TOP LINE DANCER (IRE) TOT OU TARD (IRE) TOUCH DOWN (GER) TOUCH OF THE BLUES (FR) TOUT SEUL (IRE) TRADE FAIR (GB) TRADITIONALLY (USA) TRANS ISLAND (GB) TREMPOLINO (USA) TRIOMPHANT (GB) TRUE BRAVE (USA) TRUTH OR DARE (GB) TRYWHITE (IRE) TURBO JET (FR) TURGEON (USA) TURTLE ISLAND (IRE) TWO-TWENTY-TWO (IRE)

U

ULTIMATELY LUCKY (IRE) UMISTIM (GB) UNACCOUNTED FOR (USA) UNGARO (GER) UNTIL SUNDOWN (USA) URBAN OCEAN (FR) URBINO (GB) URGENT REQUEST (IRE)

V

VADASIN (IRE) VAL ROYAL (FR) VALANOUR (IRE) VANGELIS (USA)

VARADAR (IRE) VATORI (FR) VERGLAS (IRE) VERMEER (IRE) VERTICAL SPEED (FR) VESPONE (IRE) VETTORI (IRE) VIC TOTO (FR) VICEGENERAL (GER) VICTORIEUX (FR) VICTORY NOTE (USA) VIKING RULER (AUS) VINNIE ROE (IRE) VISIONARY (FR) VITUS (GB) VOIX DU NORD (FR)

W

WAGON MASTER (FR) WAKY NAO (GB) WALMOOH (GB) WAR BLADE (GER) WAR DECLARATION (IRE) WAREED (IRE) WAVENEY (UAE) WEETMAN’S WEIGH (IRE) WELL CHOSEN (GB) WELL MADE (GER) WELSH LIBERTY (IRE) WELSH LION (IRE) WEST BY WEST (USA) WESTERNER (GB) WHERE OR WHEN (IRE) WHIPPER (USA) WHITMORE’S CONN (USA) WHITTINGHAM (IRE) WILD GROUSE (USA) WINDSOR CASTLE (GB) WINDY PROJECT (IRE) WINGED LOVE (IRE) WITH APPROVAL (CAN) WITH THE FLOW (USA) WITHOUT CONNEXION (IRE) WITNESS BOX (USA) WIXIM (USA) WIZARD KING (GB) WOLFE TONE (IRE)

X

XAAR (GB)

Z

ZAFEEN (FR) ZAGREB (USA) ZAMINDAR (USA) ZERPOUR (IRE) ZIETEN (USA) ZIGGY GOLD (USA) ZILZAL ZAMAAN (USA) ZOELLNER (GER)

BCL / EBF COMMON FUND STALLIONS Stallion AGNES TACHYON (JPN) ALKAASED (USA) BAGO (FR) DAHJEE (USA) DANCE IN THE DARK (JPN) DAVID JUNIOR (USA) DEEP IMPACT (JPN) DUBAI DUST (USA) DURANDAL (JPN) DYNEVER (USA) FALBRAV (IRE) FANTASTIC LIGHT (USA) FIRST AMERICAN (USA) FREEQUENT (GB) FRENCH DEPUTY (USA) FUJI KISEKI (JPN) GOLD ALLURE (JPN) GRAND REWARD (USA) GRANDERA (IRE) HEART’S CRY (JPN) HURRICANE CAT (USA) INCURABLE OPTIMIST (USA) INDYGO SHINER (USA) JUNGLE POCKET (JPN) KING KAMEHAMEHA (JPN) KNOW HEIGHTS (IRE) KUROFUNE (USA)

Stood in 2007 JPN N JPN N JPN N JPN N JPN N JPN N JPN N BRZ S JPN N KSA N JPN N JPN N BRZ S KSA N JPN N JPN N JPN N ARG S JPN N JPN N CHI S ARG S ARG S JPN N JPN N BRZ S JPN N

Stallion LUHUK (USA) MANHATTAN CAFÉ (JPN) MARIENBARD (IRE) MARMOTTAN (AUS) MOON BALLAD (IRE) MORNING RAIDER (IRE) MUITO MELHOR (USA) MUTAKDDIM (USA) NEO UNIVERSE (JPN) NORTHERN AFLEET (USA) OFFICIAL FLAME (USA) OUR EMBLEM (USA) REDOUTE’S CHOICE (AUS) ROCK OF GIBRALTAR (IRE) RULE OF LAW (USA) RUSSIAN BLUE (IRE) SNITZEL (AUS) SOUTHERN HALO (USA) SPEAK IN PASSING (USA) SPECIAL WEEK (JPN) STRAVINSKY (USA) SYMBOLI KRIS S (USA) TANINO GIMLET (JPN) THE MIGHTY TIGER (USA) TORREY CANYON (USA) UNTIL SUNDOWN (USA) VISION AND VERSE (USA) WILD RUSH (USA) ZENNO ROB ROY (JPN)

Stood in 2007 ARG S JPN N JPN N AUS S JPN N CHI S BRZ S ARG S JPN N BRZ S KSA N BRZ S AUS S JPN N JPN N ARG S JPN N ARG S CHI S JPN N JPN N JPN N JPN N CHI S KSA N CHI S ARG S JPN N JPN N

The stallions listed above stood OUTSIDE THE BCL AND EBF AREAS IN 2007 and are qualified as Common Fund Stallions for that year by reason of stallion nomination payments.

The letter (N) or (S) after each stallion’s name indicates the Hemisphere in which the stallion stood and for which the appropriate contribution has been paid.

The progeny of these stallions will have to be nominated to Breeders’ Cup Ltd as foals and/or to EBF as foals, yearlings or two year olds if they are to be eligible to benefit fully from the Breeders’ Cup and/or EBF programmes.

Further details from the Chief Executive, European Breeders’ Fund.

Prepared by: EUROPEAN BREEDERS' FUND,

Stanstead House, The Avenue, NEWMARKET, Suffolk, CB8 9AA. Telephone: +44 (0) 1638 667960 Facsimile: +44 (0) 1638 667270 Email: info@ebfhorseracing.co.uk Website: www.ebfhorseracing.com

17/1/08

18:57

Page 2

PHOTOS: GEORGE SELWYN/SARAH CARMICHAEL

AC BIG INT Rausing 42.qxd

36 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

“It has always been my ambition to work with a Derby winner”

AC BIG INT Rausing 42.qxd

17/1/08

18:57

Page 3

THE BIG INTERVIEW

R ausing Kirsten

The new TBA chairman is keen to be positive about the UK breeding industry, but warns of the need for short-term caution, especially because of overproduction

By Richard Griffiths Before we discuss your role as the new chairman of the TBA, this is also a big year for Lanwades, your stud, in that it is standing its first Epsom Derby winner, Sir Percy. What does that mean to you?

I’m obviously delighted on behalf of the whole stud. It’s a tremendous boost to morale to have such a great racehorse at the stud. He was champion two-year-old, when he was unbeaten, and again champion three-year-old of his year in England. His career wasn’t a sort of hasty, one-race affair. He was a very good horse.

It’s always been my ambition to work with a Derby winner and this horse, to me, is particularly attractive because he was also a very good two-year-old – and an early two-year-old.

He won in May as a two-year-old, which has not been done by that many Derby winners.

Other than Mill Reef and Generous I can’t offhand remember any others.

Unlike Motivator, another recent Derby winner at stud in Britain, Sir Percy has not been syndicated. Were you tempted to go down that route?

Yes. We were very tempted, but various slight snags prevented us. I haven’t syndicated a horse here since Selkirk. Piccolo (standing his first season at Lanwades) is syndicated but that was done before he came here.

Generally, I would welcome more syndication because, other than Motivator and this year Notnowcato, there has been so little of it in recent years. The reasons are manifold,

but the predominant one is that most stallions that go to stud these days are wholly owned by one or other of the major players, who don’t syndicate. Also, other leading studs here, like Juddmonte, Shadwell and Cheveley Park, don’t syndicate either.

It’s quite difficult to find breeders who are willing to tie up significant capital in a horse, with no possibility of redeeming it for many years. Understandably, mare owners are cautious these days because they also no doubt reason that since the expansion of stallions’ books, the great majority of stallions are never really ‘fully booked’. Therefore, why tie up your money when you know that if your mare is good enough she is always going to get in?

I think Shadwell’s announcement of a limit of 85 mares is extremely welcome and I hope the industry should see that in a very positive light.

Is it a sign of a sea-change concerning overall stallion book numbers?

Perhaps it is the beginning, but of course Selkirk was the last horse to be syndicated by Lanwades Stud

“The majority of stallions are never really ‘fully booked’” FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 37

AC BIG INT Rausing 42.qxd

17/1/08

18:57

Page 4

Talking to...

John Quinn

“Sir Percy is particularly attractive as he was such a good juvenile” everybody works for what suits them best, so there will probably be a ‘nimby’ (not in my back yard) scenario – ‘Don’t let’s cover more mares, don’t let’s have enormous stallion books, but my mare needs to get in, so accept my mares but nobody else’s!’

I can see why the very major stallion studs obviously need to strike while the iron is hot. If you have a horse who has the mares queuing up, why not take the mare owners’ money while the going is good? In four years time that stallion might be exposed as no good.

I must say it is enormously welcome news that people are starting to think about book sizes. Mare owners themselves should surely raise this question when choosing a stallion.

Last season proved to be a commercially notable one for Lanwades, in that you sold the top yearling at Goffs (for the second year running). This was a filly by Sadler’s Wells out of Albanova – how difficult a decision is it to put fillies like that on the open market?

It is very tempting to keep such fillies, but obviously I run a commercial operation. We have got plenty of bills to pay. I am very fortunate now in that I have the dam, the

38 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

dam’s full-sister (Alborada), her grandam, and all in all 14 females from that family. She’s the first foal of a young mare, so hopefully we will have others.

And I also have another two Sadler’s Wells fillies from the same family. I have a Sadler’s Wells-Alouette, called Alma Mater, who is now a stakes winner, having won the Prix Belle de Nuit (at Fontainebleu in November last year).

She is a very nice filly who stays in training and is a half-sister to Alborada, Albanova and Alakananda, dam of Dragon Dancer. I also have a Sadler’s Wells-Alborada filly called Alta Moda and she is visiting Mr Greeley this year.

Is it the biggest thrill you can have as a breeder, to develop such a family from your own foundation mare, Alruccaba?

It takes an enormously long time, but I was very lucky in that I was so young when I started. We had a few false starts with what we call the ‘AL’ family, which I first started with 40 years ago.

I have another family of which I am also very proud because I don’t think anyone else has it all and that’s my ‘S’ family. That had a particularly good 2007, with six individual winners, including three stakes winners:

AC BIG INT Rausing 42.qxd

17/1/08

18:57

Page 5

THE BIG INTERVIEW Rausing at the TBA AGM, her first as chairman

not many mares who can do that.

It sounds as if patience, as much as anything else, is the most important part of breeding horses.

I personally think that is a prerequisite.

Patience and stamina.

Souvenance (winner of a Listed race in Cologne in September), her sister Soft Morning (winner of a Listed race at Deauville in December) and her close relative Starlit Sands (winner of the Group 3 Prix d’Aranberg at Chantilly in September).

I have been very fortunate in that I have been at it so long that I now have fillies and mares who I could not purchase. I just couldn’t afford it. If you put them in the ring they would make substantial prices. I never spent big money at all but instead I had time on my side.

But it took me a very, very long time because for many, many years I had to sell nearly all my fillies. The ‘S’ family took me a very long time to develop and I nearly lost them. But Soft Morning’s dam Summer Night has turned out to be a valuable mare: her first five foals all won, three of them black type races. There are

Piccolo is standing his first season at Lanwades

It was interesting that your speech at the TBA AGM chose to reflect on how much – or how little – has changed in the 35 years since there was last a woman chairman. I was planning to look back only to three years ago, when you were last interviewed for Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder. The first question you were asked was whether you looked on the British breeding industry with optimism. Your answer was much shorter than the question. You just said, ‘No’.

How do you feel now?

Did I say ‘no’ three years ago? Well, I had good vision, didn’t I? Most people were very optimistic three years ago.

Now that I am chairman of the TBA, I wouldn’t want the membership to think I was completely disparaging, but, as I said at the AGM, I think it is hard to be enormously optimistic. It would be misguided to be optimistic, certainly for the near-term future.

One thing that stares us all in the face is the overproduction issue. We are now told by Weatherbys that the number of registered foals has gone up in Britain and Ireland from 2006 to 2007 by over 1,000 individuals. There were too many yearlings from the 2006 crop being sold last year and now we have another 1,000 to deal with this autumn.

The whole thing is, in many ways, quite daunting. Eventually the market will sort itself out, but this is a facile way of looking at it.

There are live beings involved in this, there are people employed in the industry who may well be done out of jobs, that’s for sure.

Also, quite equally and poignantly, we need to actually remember the poor animals. What will become of them? The kindest thing is that they are professionally and humanely put down but, sadly, in previous episodes of the market falling, one has seen some very unpleasant sights.

The daughter of Sadler’s Wells-Albanova, who was sold for €2.4 million guineas at Goffs last year

Welfare doesn’t always figure high when overproduction is discussed…

No, but it is a welfare issue; certainly one wouldn’t want to be alarmist, but this is something that needs emphasising.

But it’s very hard to solve overproduction in a neat, swift manner…

Albanova is an integral part of the ‘AL’ family

It takes so long, that’s the thing. It would seem logical not to cover some mares this year – late foaling mares, elderly mares, for example. But it will take several years for the effect of that to be noticeable.

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 39

Project5:Layout 1

16/1/08

09:34

Page 1

“The Future El Prado�

NORTH LIGHT “is by the best sire, from a great female line, and he won one of the world’s best races. We have bred him to quality mares and fully expect his progeny to excel on dirt.� –Frank Stronach Champion and Classic winner of nearly $2-million, NORTH LIGHT is the only Gr. I winner and only champion by DANEHILL standing in North America.

Commanding winner of the English Derby, NORTH LIGHT excelled from seven furlongs to 1 1/2 miles. He won the Derby more than a full second faster than 2007 winner and champion three-year-old AUTHORIZED.

Trevor Jones

.

Danehill - Sought Out,

b y Ra inb o w Q ue st $25,000 due when foal stands and nurses

A DENA SPRINGS Classic Bloodlines t Classic Performance Mike M ike R RFDJP t NrFDJP!BEFOBTUBMMJPOT DPN t t DFMM t Jack FDJP t NrFDJP P!BEFOBTUBMMJPOT DPN t t DFMM t Jack k BrPUIFST t XXX BEFOBTUBMMJPOT DPN BrPUIFST t XX XX B BEFOBTUBMMJPOT DPN KY: K Y: AWESOME AW WESOME A("*/ t C0/("3&& t &- 13"%0 t ()045Z"11&3 t (*ACOMO t .A$)0 6/0 t /0R5) -*()5 t 4*-&/5 /".& t 506$) (0-% A("*/ t ( C0/("3&& t &- 13"%0 t ( ()045Z" "11&3 t (**ACOMO t .A$ $)0 6/0 tt /0R5 5) -*()5 t 4*-&/5 /".& t 506$) ( (0-% '-:: A-1)"#&5 SO61 t ARIS5OCRA5 t GREA5/&SS t */%: A-1)"#&5 SO61 t ARIS5OCRA5 t GRE EA5/& 5 &SS t */%: K ING t .*-WA6KE EE B RE8 t O-. .0%AVO3 t 3&% B 6--&5 t S-*GO B AY t 8*KO KING t .*-WA6KEE BRE8 t O-.0%AVO3 t 3&% B6--&5 t S-*GO BAY t 8*-KO

AC BIG INT Rausing 42.qxd

17/1/08

18:57

Page 6

THE BIG INTERVIEW And a further issue is that nobody can tell another person not to breed from their mare…

use, then it is entirely up to yourself, from a financial point of view.’

No, they can’t. But I think the stallion studs should take some responsibility here and in particular think twice and carefully consider all these superficially attractive deals of foal shares, or nominations on the ‘never, never’. For obvious reasons, if you get a very cheap nomination, or a nomination that costs nothing, you are not going to use it for your best mare. Logic tells us that. So therefore mares who would not necessarily be kept in production are now bred from.

The adjustment to overproduction is inevitably going to be painful, isn’t it?

Yes, I think so. For all concerned. Looking at it from a practical point, we have reached saturation point in terms of sales days. How can we fit in any more sales days? And now we have 1,000 more yearlings – and people are buying horses in America and importing them.

I was selling mares – pregnant mares – at 9.40pm at the December sales last year. Before that, I had never known of a pregnant mare going through the ring after 5.30pm. There aren’t enough days in the week.

Bearing in mind how much emphasis there was on integrity issues at the 2007 AGM, I was wondering how you felt about this particular aspect of the bloodstock world. Is there a need for greater self-regulation, is there any concrete proof of a problem, or is there just idle chit-chat?

Alouette with her Selkirk colt foal

So, in a way, stallion operations have a responsibility on this?

Yes, I think the responsibility obviously is shared by the stallion studs and the mare owners. But in these days of intense competition, we know that certain stallion studs will use almost any methods to attract mares.

TBA chairman Kirsten Rausing will be writing a regular diary about life at Lanwades Stud as part of the new TBA Internet Membership package for students, stud staff and overseas enthusiasts. The first article outlines the development of the Alruccaba family. For further details visit www.thetba.co.uk

It is certainly an issue that has always been there and, such is human nature, it will probably never go away.

It strikes me this is a matter primarily for the sales companies. They, and only they, can actually police what goes on, if anything goes on. I can’t see who else can. If there is a dispute about an animal sold at auction, unless the buyer takes it to the sales company, what other recourse is there?

It is in the industry’s interest that we act in as transparent and regulatory manner as possible.

But let’s be balanced here. I think it is important to finish this article by saying we must not be too despondent. I don’t want to be the incoming chairman and just preach doom and gloom. We have got to see some of the positives as well, and one positive thing, of course, is that we are able to breed some pretty good animals in this country.

And Britain still has the best racing there is, even with minute prize-money and so on. And we have some very good stallions thanks to the major players and here I would count Cheveley Park, Juddmonte and Shadwell as much as anyone else.

We have an enormous amount of expertise, horsemanship, experience, knowledge and enthusiasm in this country for the breeding of the thoroughbred.

It is important that we do everything we can to retain this.

“Some studs will use almost any methods to attract mares”

Production costs seem to be very much on the increase. Could that factor ironically persuade people not to breed from certain mares?

That could come into it, but if you do not have to pay anything for your stallion fees – which apparently happens – then that offsets any rise in production costs.

I try not to tell breeders that their mares aren’t good enough, but I will occasionally say, ‘Are you absolutely sure you want to breed this mare, are you sure you want to spend x amount on breeding her?’

I don’t want to antagonise mare owners, but now I say to them, ‘If you are breeding to sell, then don’t breed this year. But if you are breeding entirely for your own enjoyment and

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 41

TBA Awards_feb.qxp

17/1/08

19:11

Page 2

The

TBA

AGM & AWARDS

2007

All levels of the industry were recognised at British bloodstock’s ‘Big Night Out’ 42 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

TBA Awards_feb.qxp

17/1/08

19:11

Page 3

The TBA AWARDS 2007

sponsored by Darley

Terry Albone, the first recipient of the TBA Annual Stud Staff Award, which recognises unsung heroes, at Wretham Stud in Norfolk

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 43

TBA Awards_feb.qxp

17/1/08

19:12

Page 4

The Queen’s Silver Cup David and Patricia Thompson

I

t was a wonderful feather in the cap of David and Patricia Thompson that they should have won this award for the leading British-based breeder, based on prize-money in Britain and Ireland, for a second year running. The award reflects enormous credit on managing director Chris Richardson (pictured with the Thompsons, above).

As with all of the awards, Mrs Thompson received the Queen’s Silver Cup from TBA President Michael Goodbody.

The BBA Silver Cigar Box

Pivotal

A

n extraordinary degree of competition takes place on opposite sides of leafy Duchess Drive, just outside Newmarket, between Dalham Hall and Cheveley Park.

The two previous winners of the BBA Silver Cigar Box for earnings in Great Britain and Ireland by a domestic stallion had been Darley sires, but the Cheveley Park resident Pivotal has regained the crown he earned in 2004.

What makes it all the more rewarding is that the son of Polar Falcon was bred and conceived at Cheveley Park – as are so many of the stud’s top winners. At least Sheikh Mohammed earned some consolation as he acquired a substantial stake in Pivotal in 2006.

The Barleythorpe Cup

Pivotal

I

n 2004 Pivotal won both the BBA Silver Cigar Box and the Barleythorpe Cup, and in the face of exceptionally strong opposition he has completed the double once again.

The Barleythorpe award goes to the sire with the most individual winners for the season in Britain and Ireland. Both Dansili and Royal Applause attained a benchmark score in the 50s, but that was insufficient to get the better of Pivotal.

In 2004 the Cheveley Park stallion came out top with 52 winners of 85 races, but last year he bettered that score with 66 winners of 99 races (to the close of the turf season). Outstanding among them was the Group 1 scorer Excellent Art.

The Tattersalls’ Silver Salver

N

Oasis Dream

ot too much is predictable in the world of breeding, but Oasis Dream was on many people’s shortlist as the likely leading first-season sire of 2007 in Britain and Ireland, and so it proved.

In fact, such was Oasis Dream’s supremacy that his final tally of 19 winners of 26 races and £347,455 (end of Flat turf season), also made him the overall leading sire of two-year-olds. His principal contributors were Ascot Group winners Visit and Captain Gerrard.

Expect Oasis Dream to follow in the footsteps of two more homebred Juddmonte celebrities in Warning and Zafonic, both of whom also won this newcomers’ award, received by Juddmonte’s Philip Mitchell (left).

44 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

TBA Awards_feb.qxp

17/1/08

19:12

Page 5

2007 The TBA AWARDS sponsored by Darley The H J Joel Silver Salver Danseuse Du Soir

I

t took Danseuse Du Soir, winner of the French 1,000 Guineas and Prix de la Foret in 1991, a long time to make her name in the paddocks, but now she has earned Broodmare of the Year status.

In 2007 she was responsible for Scintillo, winner of the Group 1 Gran Criterium, and Jumbajukiba, winner of the Group 3 Solonaway Stakes at the Curragh.

They were bred by Albert Perry, whose Woodcote Stud in Epsom is managed by Barry Reilly (left). Trading as Ridgecourt Stud, Perry also bred Danseuse Du Soir’s dam Dance By Night, whose 17th and final offspring was last season’s winning juvenile Last Of The Line.

The TBA Silver Rose Bowl

Renee Robeson

R

enee Robeson (right), manager and partowner of Southcourt Stud with her brother Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, has been closely involved with both a Flat award and National Hunt award this time around.

Robeson, also a licensed trainer, originally stood Sir Harry Lewis, winner of the Whitbread Silver Salver, at Southcourt, but even more significantly the Bedfordshire stud has received the discretionary TBA Flat Breeder of the Year award for 2007.

This was by virtue of Notnowcato (named after a phrase coined by Peter Sellers’s character Inspector Clouseau), who proved a giantkiller last year by beating Authorized in the Eclipse, and Dylan Thomas in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. Notnowcato has taken up his stallion career at Stanley House Stud.

The TBA Silver Salver

Bridget Swire

B

ridget Swire, whose involvement in racing and breeding owes a great deal to Toby Balding, chairman of the TBA’s National Hunt Committee, is a tremendous supporter of racing under both codes.

The best mare to carry her lilac colours has been Palace Street, the dam of July Cup winner Sakhee’s Secret, whose trainer Hughie Morrison (right) received the award on behalf of Swire.

Like all her mares, Palace Street is a permanent boarder with Malcolm and Jackie Humby at Redenham Park Stud, near Andover.

The Horse & Hound Cup

Alflora

C

lose up in the running for the Silver Salver, Alflora won the Horse & Hound Cup for the most individual chase winners by an active British-based stallion for a fourth consecutive time. His tally stood at 15 individual chase winners of 23 races, worth over £186,000.

In 2004/05 Alflora shared the honours with his stud companion Rakaposhi King, the outright winner in 2002/03, and in the three previous years it was won by Gunner B, another from the Hockenhulls’ Shade Oak Stud in Shropshire. David Hockenhull (left) picked up the prize.

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 45

Azamour Owner Feb.08:Azamour Owner feb.08

16/1/08

14:41

Page 1

THE AGA KHAN STUDS Success Breeds Success

Outstanding First Crop Foals They sold in 2007 for €130,000, €120,000, €115,000, €105,000, €100,000, etc.

AZAMOUR 2001 by Night Shift ex Asmara (Lear Fan)

A Gr.2 winner as a 2-y-o and the winner of 4 Gr.1 races over 8, 10 and 12 furlongs

“ Azamour is a horse who inspires the imagination...

Looking at his pedigree and race record, particularly in combination with his owner-breeder’s outstanding record, one can easily imagine the heights that the best of his offspring may one day achieve.” – The Irish Field

To view this exciting young stallion please phone:

GILLTOWN STUD Pat Downes (Manager) or Julie White Tel: +353 45 48 12 16 pat.downes@agakhanstuds.com

TBA Awards_feb.qxp

17/1/08

19:12

Page 6

2007 The TBA AWARDS sponsored by Darley The TBA Annual Stud Staff Award Terry Albone

T

his new award, sponsored by New England Stud, pays tribute to the army of unsung heroes who work on studs throughout Britain.

The inaugural winner, Terry Albone, is just such a person.

Stud groom with one other full-time helper at Mr and Mrs Denis Haynes’s Wretham Stud, near Thetford, in Norfolk, he has spent all his working life with horses, mostly in Newmarket.

Originally apprenticed to Humphrey Cottrill, he has been employed by trainers large and small, but it was after his riding career was terminated in a racecourse fall that the ex-jockey decided the breeding side was a safer alternative.

At Wretham, where he does the foaling, Albone is responsible for eight broodmares including those owned by Mrs Haynes’s sister Bridget Clark, who trades as Girsonfield Ltd.

The Langham Cup Peter Onslow

S

PHOTOS: CHRIS BOURCHIER/CHARLES SAINSBURY-PLACE/TREVOR JONES/GEORGE SELWYN

ometimes you need the judgement of Solomon to determine who is the most deserving candidate for the Langham Cup. On this occasion there was a handful of ‘small breeders’ responsible for Group 2 winners in Britain but, as the only breeder with two individual Group winners, the panel of judges came down in favour of Peter Onslow.

His Sanfield Stud in Leyland, Lancashire, was responsible for Moorhouse Lad (left), winner of the Audi King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, and Trick Or Treat, successful in the Princess Royal Stakes at Ascot, as well as a Listed race at Haydock.

The Whitbread Silver Salver

Sir Harry Lewis

T

here were three generations involved with this award.

A quarter of a century ago Cecil Bromley of Wood Farm Stud won the initial Whitbread Silver Salver for the leading British-based National Hunt stallion in terms of progeny earnings thanks to Space King.

Now his son Bill Bromley has (left) followed suit with Sir Harry Lewis, a stallion managed

by Bill’s son, Anthony, well known as David Minton’s partner in Highflyer Bloodstock. Sir Harry Lewis sired 15 winners of 22 races who earned £376,579, including Mighty Man, winner of the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle and Grade 2 Liverpool Hurdle, and Burntoakboy.

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 47

charlock adv3

18/12/07

10:25

Page 1

two thoroughbreds bred for speed Image courtesy of Princess Yachts International PLC

Built by Princess Yachts Danski wining VCasino.com Maiden Stakes at Windsor

Bred by Charlock Stud

at charlock stud we don’t build boats, we breed winners!

Design Thoroughbredinternational.com

Partner us in breeding your own winners

To find out how, please contact us or visit our website:

www.charlockstud.com ABTHORPE, TOWCESTER NN12 8TW Tel: 01327 855660/855513 Fax: 01327 855661 E-Mail: info@charlockstud.com

TBA Awards_feb.qxp

17/1/08

19:12

Page 7

2007 The TBA AWARDS sponsored by Darley The Dudgeon Cup

Deb’s Ball

T

he Dudgeon Cup for National Hunt Broodmare of the Year went to Deb’s Ball, the gamest mare that Dudley Moffatt ever trained and winner of 15 races, including 11 over hurdles.

Deb’s Ball, sadly now deceased, ran only once over fences as the former Cartmel trainer was keen to breed from her and she rewarded him by producing two winners in 2006/07, Hot Weld and Only Millie.

Hot Weld won the Scottish Grand National and the Betfred Gold Cup, and the son of Weld is the only horse to bring off this double in the same season.

The official breeder of both winners is Cartmel Bloodstock, representing Dudley Moffatt, Margaret Faragher and Eileen Milligan, who received the cup.

The Queen Mother’s Silver Salver

Mercy Rimell

C

ertain names are indelibly written into the annals of National Hunt racing and one of them is Rimell. It started with Tom Rimell and has been extended by his son Fred, who succeeded him training at Kinnersley, together with the latter’s widow Mercy.

A noted point-to-point rider in her day, Mercy Rimell took over the running of the stable on the death of her husband, one of the greatest National Hunt trainers of all time, and not long afterwards she saddled Gaye Brief to win the 1983 Champion Hurdle.

It was from Gaye Brief’s half-sister Gaye Memory that she bred last year’s Racing Post Chase and Sky Bet Chase (formerly the Great Yorkshire Chase) winner, Simon, who is trained at Kinnersley by John Spearing.

Mercy Rimell is the mother of Scarlett Knipe of Cobhall Court Stud, and the grandmother of Witney trainer Mark Rimell.

The Dominion Bronze

Reg Rutherford

“N

o foot no horse” may be an old adage, but it’s true none the less, and this time the much coveted Dominion Bronze went to one of the most skilful practitioners of his trade, farrier Reg Rutherford.

He has worked in Newmarket for exactly 50 years and his ongoing association with Kirsten Rausing’s Lanwades Stud started when the stud was owned and managed by Nat Frieze.

With such a long-standing involvement in Newmarket, he can recall the likes of Philip Mitchell and David Minton just starting out on their bloodstock careers.

One of Rutherford’s first clients was Douglas Gray, then running David Wills’s Hadrian Stud. Gray certainly had an eye for talent as he was one of the first to appreciate the veterinary skills of Peter Rossdale.

Rutherford’s work has not been confined to Newmarket and his travels have taken him to studs nationwide, to Thornton in North Yorkshire, Templeton in Berkshire, Hesmonds in East Sussex, Woodcote in Surrey, Worksop Manor in Nottinghamshire, Sezincote in Gloucestershire, and Highclere and Polhampton Lodge in Hampshire.

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 49

TBA Awards_feb.qxp

17/1/08

19:12

Page 8

The Andrew Devonshire Bronze Juddmonte Farms

W

ith any organisation as extensive as Juddmonte Farms, highs and lows are inevitable. Prince Khalid Abdullah’s (pictured above) memories of 2007 would have to include the death of Rainbow Quest, the most successful British-based stallion of his generation, and the achievements of Oasis Dream, the leading British-based first-season sire. The Saudi Arabian prince was also honoured with Juddmonte Farms winning the TBA’s most prestigious award, the Andrew Devonshire Bronze.

Fortunately, Rainbow Quest might well have a ready-made replacement in Dansili, while Oasis Dream looks set to carve out a comparable stallion career to Warning and Zafonic, two more homebreds who headed the freshman sires’ table in their time.

50 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

TBA Awards_feb.qxp

17/1/08

19:12

Page 9

The TBA AWARDS 2007 sponsored by Darley

Mention of Warning brings you back to the very birth of Juddmonte Farms, as his sire Known Fact was among the first batch of yearlings Khalid Abdullah acquired, when purchased 20 years ago by the former Newmarket trainer Humphrey Cottrill at the Keeneland July sales.

It was totally by chance that Cottrill and James Delahooke met en route to Deauville on a Channel ferry. An independent bloodstock agent and owner of Adstock Manor Stud, Delahooke fulfilled the dual role of the prince’s racing and stud manager from August 1979 until August 1985. It was during that period that he masterminded the building and development of what became known as Juddmonte Farms in Wargrave-on-Thames.

Subsequently, Juddmonte became the title of the overall operation, although originally the produce were attributed to Areen Ltd in the General Stud Book. Part of the Wargrave-onThames property had been Cayton Park Stud, which was owned by Gerald Leigh, one of Delahooke’s clients. Five of the nine mares listed in Juddmonte’s initial private stud book in 1980 were procured from Cayton Park.

During his spell at the helm, Delahooke recruited many of the broodmares from whom the enormous success of Juddmonte Farms derives. As far as colts are concerned, two of his most noted yearling acquisitions were the Arc winners Rainbow Quest and Dancing Brave (the maternal grandsire of Oasis Dream).

In October 1982 Juddmonte secured very significant overseas footholds in Ireland and America. Ferrins Stud in County Meath was augmented by the purchase in 1990 of New Abbey Stud in County Kildare, while the then owner of Ferrins, Dr Herbert Schnapka, also sold the Belair Farm in Kentucky to Juddmonte.

It soon became evident to Delahooke’s successor, Tony Chapman, owner of Aston House Stud, that the facilities at Wargrave were totally inadequate for stallions and that it was also imperative to stand them in Newmarket.

In April 1987 Banstead Manor Stud in Cheveley was purchased from Hugo Morriss, to become the administrative headquarters of the ever-expanding Juddmonte Farms.

In the early 1980s, Abdullah appointed his first full-time racing manager in Grant Pritchard-Gordon. When he left 15 years later, he was succeeded by Lord (Teddy) Grimthorpe.

Also hovering in the foreground is former TBA chairman Rhydian Morgan-Jones.

The situation now is that all the British-based stallions are located at Banstead (for a while some stallions were also based at Dullingham) and managed by Simon Mockridge, who first worked for Juddmonte in 1981. The property in Wargrave-on-Thames is utilised exclusively by the owner’s own mares. There is also another private stud in Gloucestershire on the historic Estcourt Estate near Tetbury.

More recently, the facilities in Newmarket have been augmented with the purchase of Side Hill Stud, the old stamping-ground of Philip Mitchell (pictured above), the long-serving general manager of Juddmonte Farms not only in Britain, but also Ireland and America.

Prince Khalid’s green, white sleeves, pink sash and cap have become an integral part of the racing scene. Nothing summarises the extent of his commitment better than his private stud book, which lists the 69 individual winners of 122 Group or Grade 1 races that Juddmonte has bred so far. They include the winners of all five British and French Classics.

Of course, not everything goes according to plan, and the sale of one of those winners, Danehill, on the completion of his racing career, illustrates the point only too well.

Explaining the sale, Mitchell said: “It’s quite straightforward really. We received an offer we couldn’t refuse. However, even if it has taken us another decade, we now have a serious contender in Dansili to follow in his father’s footsteps.”

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 51

17/1/08

18:49

Page 1

PHOTOS: CHARLES SAINSBURY-PLAICE

TBA SOCIAL FEB.qxp

Above: John Warren Above: Richard Lancaster, Joe Grimwade and Lady Angela Oswald Below: Tony Hirschfeld and Denise Avery

Above: Desna Tatler and Anna Pinnington ilip Kirsten Rausing and Ph

Freedman

Below: Gavin Pritchard-Gordon and Charles van Straubenzee

Above: Cornelius Lysaght

Left: Dawn Laidlaw, Joan Langmead and Louise Kemble

Right: Norma and Ron Huggins

52 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

TBA SOCIAL FEB.qxp

17/1/08

18:49

Page 2

AWARDS 2007 The TBA sponsored by Darley

Above: Nicola Wright, Angie Sidebotham and Sophie Eayrs

Above: Ann Hockenhull, Joan Langmead, Sarah Cockram and David Hockenhull Below: Harry Beeby

Anne Corbett and Derek

Christopher

Above: Major Bill Paton-Smith and Carolyn Paton-Smith

Right: Julia Taylor and Eileen Milligan

Above: Hughie Morrison and The Hon. Peter Stanley Right: Elaine and Willie Carson, Jeremy and Felicity Veasey

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 53

Murphy - feb.qxp

17/1/08

19:18

Page 2

54 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

Murphy - feb.qxp

17/1/08

19:18

Page 3

Timmy Murphy In their quest to pinpoint non-triers, have Britain’s racecourse stewards

GONE TOO FAR? Timmy Murphy certainly thinks so, and he puts up a highly eloquent argument as to why Words: Alan Lee Photos: George Selwyn

L

ife is grand for Timmy Murphy these days. He would like everyone to know that, for he has never been adept at expressing it himself. A slow smile crosses those melancholy features as he concedes the point.

“My close friends would say I don’t show happiness very easily,” he says. “It’s just the way I am...I’d be a hard person to get ecstatic about anything.”

Murphy, indeed, sometimes seems the living embodiment of that anthemic 1980s hit by The Smiths, ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now’.

And, as everyone in racing knows, he has had good cause for misery in a troubled, selfdestructive past.

Good cause, too, he would say, far more recently, as he sat out the seminal weeks of the jumps season with two contrasting bans. The Betfair Chase, Hennessy, Tingle Creek and then Cheltenham’s rich December meeting were all run without this artistic yet controversial jockey.

There were consolations. He went ski-ing.

Then he sunned himself in Antigua with his fiancee, Verity Green. But still he burned with the injustice of it all.

When the Fontwell stewards took exception

to his tender ride in a November bumper race, reactions within racing varied. The easy, kneejerk response was that it was Murphy being perverse, overdoing his armchair style again.

But there was an alternative view, disturbed by the inferences of a remark from the British Horseracing Authority that he had “shown scant regard for punters”.

Implicit in this was the dictate that jockeys should prioritise those who may have backed their horse – even if, as in Murphy’s case, it was a 50-1 shot – above the needs of their trainer, owner and horse itself. Even in this age of wallto-wall TV coverage and integrity scrutiny, that seems a dubious order of principles.

Back from his enforced sojourn, fresh from a big-race winner on Vodka Bleu at Cheltenham, Murphy sat in the corner of his favourite Cotswold pub. In times gone by, he would have been at the bar, bantering and boozing. Now his drink of choice was still water – one glass that lasted through dinner.

Any bitterness over the ban had passed. He spoke seriously, thoughtfully and constructively.

“I’ve just served a suspension of a month – three weeks for not trying hard enough and a

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 55

Double Trigger ad Feb 2008:Double Trigger ad Feb 2008

15/1/08

16:56

Page 1

: The best is yet to come!

ON THE FLAT : LINDEN LIME 4 TIMES WINNER IN 2006/2007 • LINDEN LIME won at Kempton in May, Haydock in August, Chester in September and Kempton in January.

• BUGSY’S BOY won by 5 lengths at Wolverhampton December 2007.

• Sire of the promising NH bumper horses MAJOR COMET first time out winner), SUN PAGEANT (2 wins), PAIRTREE, AYA (2 wins), TRIGGERMAN, GOLD REEF, CHARMAINE WOOD etc.

• Other MULTIPLE WINNERS include : EARLSFIELD RAIDER (7 wins on the flat and over jumps), PENTELI (4 wins on the flat and over jumps), ANGIE’S DOUBLE (3 wins), PRESUMPTIOUS (3 wins) etc.

OVER THE JUMPS : RUSSIAN TRIGGER LEADS A BOXING DAY TREBLE! • On Boxing Day RUSSIAN TRIGGER trained by Victor Dartnall and RPR 133+ won the Pertemps H/Cap Hurdle at Wincanton, and CHARMAINE WOOD and GOLD REEF both trained by Alan King won both Divisions of the Open NH bumper at Huntingdon to give DOUBLE TRIGGER an across the country TREBLE! • Other important recent winners include : TRIGGER THE LIGHT (3 wins), TRIGGERNOMETRY, BRICKIES MATE (2 wins), DOUBLE MAGNUM, AYA (2 wins) etc.

8

Murphy - feb.qxp

17/1/08

19:18

Page 5

Timmy Murphy “Some punter’s opinion should not mean the loss of a jockey’s livelihood. Stewards should know well enough what’s right and what’s wrong”

week for trying too hard. That’s pretty ironic.

“I can see the point of view that the punter needs to know you’re trying, but there are lots of things a rider needs to take into account – like the trainer’s instructions and the owners who are looking to enjoy their day and don’t want to see their horse embarrassed.

“What the stewards seem to want is for us to drive a horse out vigorously at a certain point of a race, then when it tails off they are happy we’ve done our best. But, to me, that horse has not then run to the best of its ability.

“I equate it to a human athlete who might be taking part in a race he’s not quite good enough to win. If he forces himself to lie up with the pace early on, there’s no way he’ll do his best. But if he takes his time, leaves something for the finish, he’ll run respectably and probably improve.

“By riding a horse that way, it seems I’m risking a month off. Stopping a horse is totally different but this is not being crooked, it’s not deceiving the punter. It’s race-riding and it’s about educating the horses, so that they will progress through their careers.”

Murphy is not alone is being especially troubled by the ‘angry punter syndrome’, unwittingly exacerbated by racing’s two dedicated TV channels. “On my second day back, the stewards brought me in at Bangor,” recalls Murphy. “My horse had jumped the last in second but he’d made a bad mistake, lost his back end, and the winner had gone.

“They’d had punters ringing in wanting to know why I hadn’t been hard on the horse, when all I’d done was give it a chance to

“Everyone has access to every race now, but racing must not be run by people who have lost their £5 and want someone to blame”

Armchair riding: Therealbandit and Murphy take flight in the 2004 King George

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 57

Yorton Fm O-B 02-08

14/1/08

12:45

Page 1

MIND GAMES

Fee for 2008: £1,500 Oct 1

Bay 1992, by Puissance - Aryaf

CHAMPION 3-Y-O SPRINTER ROYAL ASCOT WINNER AND SIRE CHAMPION BRITISH SIRE Sire of the Winners of 289 Races and total earnings of over £2.3 million inc: ALWAYS HOPEFUL (2 wins at 2, Richmond S

Gr.2, 3rd Middle Park S Gr.1, etc), ROMANTIC MYTH (3 wins at 2, Queen Mary S Gr.3), (ON THE BRINK (2 wins at 2, Hilary Needler Trophy LR), Cumbrian Venture (2 wins at 2, 2nd Roses S LR, etc), Elsie Plunkett (3 wins at 2, 3rd National S LR, etc), Gifted Gamble (2yo winner, 3rd Merrion S LR), Pachara (2yo winner, 3rd Cornwallis S Gr.3).

2007 yearlings selling at Tattersalls for 120,000gns, 60,000gns, 52,000gns, etc.

FANTASTIC RETURN ON HIS FEE !

PRIMO VALENTINO

Fee for 2008: £1,500 Oct 1

Bay 1997, by Primo Dominie - Dorothea Brooke

LEADING BRITISH SIRES OF 2YO’S IN 2007 (% Winners to Runners in Europe)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Sire PRIMO VALENTINO DANSILI HUNTING LION ACT ONE ROYAL APPLAUSE HERNANDO CADEAUX GENEREUX GREEN DESERT PIVOTAL ZAMINDAR OBSERVATORY OASIS DREAM

%W/R 55.00 47.37 45.45 42.86 42.37 41.38 41.03 40.54 37.84 37.50 37.04 36.06

Hyperion Promotions Ltd. Results received to end 2007 Minimum of 10 runners

GROUP 1 WINNING 2-Y-O Top rated British Sprinter (118 at 2) Numerous 2yo winners in 2007 including multiple winner COBO BAY “Cobo Bay had a great year for us winning 3 nurseries including at Newmarket and the Ayr Western meeting. He was consistent and reliable and we’re looking forward to even more success with him as a 3yo.”

Kevin Ryan.

REVOQUE

Fee for 2008: £2,000 Oct 1

Bay 1994, by Fairy King - La Bella Fontana HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL DUAL PURPOSE STALLION SIRING SOUND, TOUGH, CLASSY STOCK STAKES PERFORMER ALREADY IN 2008 !

De Blanc 2nd Anne Boleyn Mares Only Hurdle L at Sandown Sire of the winners of over £5.2M on the Flat incl. GOLDEN NEPI, (Gr.2), RIBELLA (Gr.2), REBEL REBEL (Gr.3, 2nd 2000 Gns Gr.1, Woodbine Mile Gr.1), REALLY GOOD (L), QUEEN ASTRID (L), GAELIC LORD (L), MEANYA (L), De Blanc (2nd Gr.3), Bod Revolution (3rd Criterium Labronico L), Bonecrusher (3rd Doonside Cup L), JUNIPER GIRL (5 wins, 2-4, 2007, inc. £123,320 Northumberland Plate), etc.

Over jumps already sire of: QUEEN ASTRID (Grabel Mares’ Hurdle, L), Freeloader (2nd Galway Hurdle, L), Pacolet (2nd Woodlands Park Brown Lad 100 H. Hurdle, Gr.3), Time On Our Side (2nd Grabel Mares’ Hurdle, L), De Blanc (2nd Anne Boleyn Mares Only Hurdle, in 2008, L, 3rd EBF Tattersalls (Ire) Mares’ Novice Chase L), King Revo (3rd Ladbroke H. Hurdle, L), Waterlily (3rd Proudstown H Hurdle, L, Shannon Spray EBF Novice Hurdle, L).

52% WINNERS TO RUNNERS

Enquiries: David or Teresa Futter t: 01939 220411 m: 07860 670184 e: enquiries@yortonfarm.co.uk w: www.yortonfarm.co.uk Yorton Farm, Yorton, Shropshire SY4 3SP

Murphy - feb.qxp

17/1/08

19:18

Page 7

Timmy Murphy recover. Sometimes I think inquiries are held for the sake of appearances – I’ve had stipendiaries apologise to me before I’ve even gone in.

“Everyone has access to every race now, but racing must not be run by people who have lost their £5 and want someone to blame. Some punter’s opinion should not mean the loss of a jockey’s livelihood. Stewards should know well enough what’s right and wrong, and not be worried about someone giving out.”

Murphy is adamant that he “did nothing wrong” at Fontwell and admits that the ban had an irritating legacy when he returned. “It was the longest time I’d ever been off and, mentally, I lost sharpness. It was a couple of weeks before I got the rustiness out. Until then, even on a winner I wasn’t making a difference.”

While in Antigua, he read the biography of Vincent O’Brien. “I’m not a book person, not by a million miles, but that was brilliant,” he says. “He had a hard time with the stewards, too, so it was pretty appropriate...”

The whole experience, though, has caused him to reluctantly review his technique.

He says: “The fact is, I’ll have to change the way I ride, or next time it will be two months off. I’ll have to hit a horse a couple of times when it’s getting tired, if that’s what they want.

It’s a shame but I am bound by their rules.”

Murphy is fortunate to have David Johnson as his boss, a man who positively encourages him to maintain his preferred style.

Four years in, their relationship is as strong as ever. “From day one, all he asked of me was to be honest and to do my best. I owe him everything and I would love him to have still better horses.

“There are no hidden agendas with Mr Johnson – if someone recommends a horse, he takes their word. But I hate to see him buying horses that turn out no good, because he deserves better. He has spread himself around more yards now and it can be difficult for a trainer to have a jockey come back and say a horse is no good, because they’d like to keep it for three or four years. But my job is to be

“Sometimes I think inquiries are just held for the sake of appearances – I’ve had stipendiaries apologise to me before I’ve even gone in” honest with David and if I think he’s wasting his money, I’ll tell him.”

Murphy’s early days in the job were complicated by a strained dialogue with Martin Pipe. It never has become entirely cordial, as he freely admits, saying: “My style of riding wouldn’t be what the Pipes are used to. But I wasn’t prepared to change, because that’s what I was comfortable with and had got me Murphy in winning action results.” aboard Vodka Bleu (left) However, his admiration for the Pipes, father and son, is boundless. “Martin was a one-off as a trainer, there’ll never be another one like him,” says Murphy. “But, you know, David is catching up and has had some serious big winners. His

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 59

Supporting fertility & maximising colostrum quality.

Optimal levels of vitamin E plus unique QLC antioxidant package.

Specific energy for foetal growth & milk production.

Glycaemic response tested.

Sound nutrition for Thoroughbred mares & stallions.

Stud Diet & Stud Cubes.

To arrange a visit from one of our Thoroughbred Specialists, please contact: Brent Adamson (UK – North) 07733 268 218 Will Humphreys (UK – South) 07753 818 711 John Curtin (Europe) 00 33 607162204 Nutritional Helpline 0845 345 2627 (calls charged at local rate)

7373 DOH Stud Cubes & Diet 3.ind1 1

www.dodsonandhorrell.com

12/12/07 3:33:04 PM

Timmy Murphy “My job with David Johnson is to be honest. If I think he’s wasting his money, I’ll tell him”

biggest downfall is that he is Martin’s son...if he wasn’t, he’d be hailed as a genius himself.”

Johnson’s faith in his jockey has had a beneficial effect on his previously tempestuous personality. “I’ve mellowed an awful lot,” Murphy says. “I know that if it’s not happening for me in a race, there’s absolutely no point in beating the living daylights out of a horse, because it will make no difference. I’ve learned that only through experience and suspensions.”

“I still tend to put a lot of the blame on myself when things go wrong. I get angry when horses don’t live up to expectations and that’s

another reason why I don’t get over-excited when they win – I know what is probably around the corner.”

Despite riding 143, 87 and 98 winners in the past three seasons, Murphy discounts any prospect of dethroning Tony McCoy as champion jockey. His more realistic targets concern the Cheltenham Festival, where he has drawn a blank in each of the past two years.

“I haven’t won any of the big ones at Cheltenham and I’d dearly love to do that,” he admits.

Stewards permitting, of course.

GETTING READY FOR THE FUTURE Timmy Murphy has already begun to plan for life beyond race-riding. At 33, he is far from old for a jump jockey but, with the firm mindset that characterises his life these days, he insists he will not outstay his welcome. “I certainly won’t be riding when I’m 40, that’s for sure,” he says.

His initial priority is to buy a property that will allow him to initiate a secondary racing interest, breaking in young horses. But the distant prospect of graduating to full-time training intrigues him.

“I love the idea of it,” he says. “Obviously, there are difficulties, I’m very aware of that. In the age we live in, you need a big yard to make it pay – and you also need a certain type of temperament to train, which is something I’d have to work on.

“But the people I would hope to deal with would be people I like, and that’s very important. I’d hate to be in a position where I was being told where to run horses, or what to do with them.”

In the shorter term, Murphy is clear in his aims, saying: “I’d love to have some property, a farm where I could break horses and do the pre-training.

That’s my next priority. I’d like to start that while I’m still riding, so I have something to fall back on.”

He has been searching for such a property for a year now and adds: “I sold my house in Oxfordshire and we’re in the Cotswolds now. We thought we had a place bought a while ago but it fell through, so we’ve been renting for longer than I’d planned.”

His contentment with a life that once looked to have swerved terminally off the rails is apparent.

“Everything is under control,” he asserts. “I’ll have a night out a week but I stick to water. Smoking is my only social vice now.”

In July, he will marry Verity, the daughter of prolific owner Raymond Anderson Green. In her effervescent company, even Murphy struggles to look his old curmudgeonly self.

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 61

Out of the

shadows How can British National Hunt breeding improve its standing against France and Ireland? We look at the problems it faces and, just as importantly, some of the solutions proposed Words: Edward Rosenthal Photos: George Selwyn

62 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

NH Breeding

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 63

HOME OF ENGLAND’S LEADING NATIONAL HUNT SIRE ALFLORA Champion Older Miler 1993 (Queen Anne, Royal Ascot) ‘big, rangy horse: impresses good deal in appearance’ —Timeform, rating 120 (Racehorses of 1993 and 1994)

Leading British-based jump sire for the past four years Sire of 90 individual winners of 241 races, £2,250,000 including CENTRAL HOUSE (Gr 1 PaddyPower Dial-A-Bet Chase, Gr 1 Denny Gold Medal Chase, Gr 2 Tied Cottage Chase, Gr 2 Fortria Chase, Gr 2 Newlands Chase, Gr 2 Norman Grove Chase), FARMER JACK(Gr 2 Aon Chase, Gr 2 Wigan Chase, Gr 3 Racing Post Chase), SENORITA RUMBALITA (Gr 2 Dovecote Nov Hdle, Mares Open Bumper, Aintree) etc.

HAND INN HAND (Gr 1 Ascot Chase, Gr 2 Pendil Nov Chase), AMARETTO ROSE (Gr 2 Anglo Irish Bank Nov Hdle, 3rd in Gr 1 Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Nov Hdle), HOBBS HILL (Gr 2 AIS Fire Tech Nov Chase, Gr 2 BGC Noel Nov Chase).

Also leading p-pt sire 2006 with 30 wins.

Fee: £3,500 (1stOct)

T W O G R O U P 1 W I N N E R S AT S H A D E OA K W I T H I M P E C C A B L E C R E D E N T I A L S

GRAPE TREE ROAD

FAIR MIX Versatile multiple pattern winner, 8 wins (8f-12.5f) including Gr 1 Prix Ganay (beating Falbrav), also Gr 3 Dubai City of Gold, Gr 3 Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte (twice).

Timeform 123 (Racehorses of 2003).

Winner of Gr 1 Grand Prix de Paris. Timeform 122 (Racehorses of 1996). Sire of GORELLA Gr 1 Beverly D Stakes, Gr 2 Prix de Sandringham, 2nd Gr 1 Prix du Moulin, 3rd Breeders’ Cup Mile A Group 1-winning sire of a Group 1 winner with black type winners over jumps

The only son of French Champion Sire Linamix at stud in England

Sire of 83 winners in 215 races and over £3,000,000 prize money. Grape Tree Road is also the sire of top American racemare GORELLA (Grade 1 Beverly D Stakes, Grade 3 Just A Game Breeders’ Cup in 2006)

Fee: £2,250

(1stOct)

Fee: £2,500 (1stOct)

TERIMON Winner of Gr 1 Juddmonte International, York, won/placed 12 times in pattern races, including 2nd in Derby Timeform 124 (Racehorses of 1991) (1stOct) Consistently A Leading NH Sire, progeny include SCOTS GREY (Class 1 John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase, Aintree) and Gr 2 winner ROMAN ARK Fee: £1,250 (1stOct)

Contact: Peter Hockenhull, Tel: 01939 270235 Fax: 01939 270516 E-mail: peter@shadeoakstud.co.uk www.shadeoakstud.co.uk or for Fair Mix and Grape Tree Road, also Fiona Marner, Kingwood Bloodstock Tel: 01488 72811

NH Breeding

A

SENSE of warmth pervaded the winners’ enclosure after Kauto Star’s runaway success in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. It was a bright and buoyant signal, after all, of the exciting nature of British jumps racing right now.

But on the National Hunt breeding front, the King George line-up encapsulated an underlying problem. Of the seven runners that went to post, four – including Kauto Star – were French-bred, and the other three were bred in Ireland.

The King George was not a statistical blip. Of the 26 Grade 1 chases and hurdles run in Britain in 2007, only two were won by Britishbreds. And of the 277 horses to take part in Kauto Star had no Britishbred rivals when winning the King George

“Britishbred horses won only two of the nation’s 26 Grade 1 jumps races last year”

those races, only 48 (17%) were bred in the UK. Clearly, as those figures indicate, Britain isn’t producing enough quality National Hunt horses. But what can be done?

Two men who have a deep understanding of British National Hunt breeding are Richard Kent and John Haydon, both re-elected to the TBA’s National Hunt Committee recently.

Kent is the man behind Mickley Stud in Shropshire, home to one of Britain’s leading jumps sires in Overbury. Haydon stands Double Trigger at his East Burrow Farm in Devon.

Both identify the major disadvantage British National Hunt breeders face in simple numbers terms. Last year, Britain produced 730 National Hunt foals, compared to Ireland’s 4,163.

France-Galop estimates that around 1,500 jumps foals, inlcuding Selle Francais, AQPS and Anglo-Arabs, were born in France in 2007.

It is inevitable that the fewer horses you breed, the less your chance of producing a quality one. “Numbers certainly do make a difference in this industry, and at the moment we are breeding too many bad horses from bad mares,” says Haydon.

“There is a different mindset between Britain and Ireland. In Britain, owning a winner is more important than breeding one. The Irish are more inclined towards the breeding side. It is disappointing to see that when a good jumps mare comes on the market, she inevitably ends up in Ireland.”

That trend of high-class mares beginning their breeding careers in Ireland may have started to turn.

In 2007, British owner Graham Wylie paid a record 270,000gns for unbeaten Grade 1 winner Feathard Lady, while Karello Bay was bought by Patrick Burling for €270,000.

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 65

“In Ireland, the point-topoint scene is a great shop window for young horses, but that is not the case here” – John Haydon

66 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

And yet, Feathard Lady and Karello Bay were both sold in foal to Presenting – sire of chasing’s latest superstar Denman – who stands at Rathbarry Stud in County Cork, indicating the fight that British stallion owners face to attract the top mares.

“British-based stallions are good enough, there is no doubt about that, but they need to be sent the quality mares,” argues Haydon.

“Obviously, the more times a sire is patronised, the more chance he has of making his mark.”

The dominance of Irish National Hunt breeding is starkly illustrated by covering statistics. The Irish-based trio of Oscar, Milan and Heron Island, the top three in Ireland in terms of numbers, averaged 337 coverings each in 2007. In comparison, the three most prolific British jumps stallions, Overbury, Needwood Blade and Kayf Tara, averaged just 137 each.

The situation with jumps stallions in Britain was highlighted by the recent closure of Sandley Stud in Dorset, part of Alfred Buller’s Scarvagh House Stud operation, whose main base is in County Down, Northern Ireland.

Despite housing five stallions, including Derby winner Generous, Sandley did not receive the numbers of mares it hoped for last season, and as a result, became economically unviable. According to Russell Ferris, stud manager at Scarvagh,

NH Breeding the plan had been for Sandley’s five stallions to black type races for mares, but we don’t want pull in 500 to 600 mares a year, “but it just to dilute the system and make black type too didn’t happen”. easy to obtain,” he warns. “I would favour The preference for Irish-based stallions was black type conditions races over handicaps, as highlighted by Mary Rimell, owner of they are a truer indicator of horses with ability.”

Throckmorton Stud, in a letter to the Racing All these measures have been taken at a time Post, in which she stated that when Richard Kent argues that the “British breeders are slavish National Hunt breeding industry followers of fashion and the Irish are “has lost some direction”. excellent sales people.” Rimell He says: “Staying chasers are pointed to a lack of support for scarcer now because people are not Presenting whilst he was in the UK, breeding them. People are not compared to the patronage he now breeding to the traits that you receives in Ireland. would traditionally see in National Kent also points out the Irish bias.

Hunt breeding: soundness, “A stallion would stand for more in genuineness and stamina.

Ireland than he would in England,” “The modern National Hunt he says. “Yes, we hear about the buyer wants a more mature type, not success stories with the likes of a staying chaser who needs time to Presenting and Flemensfirth, but develop. People are looking for more there is a lot of rubbish too.” speed in a horse’s pedigree as they To promote British National don’t want to wait for success.

Hunt stallions, the TBA organises “There are not so many three-mile an annual parade at Cheltenham on chasers around these days. Look at Paddy Power Gold Cup Day. the Edward Hanmer Chase at The parade, which this season Haydock; only three horses turned featured Kayf Tara, Double Trigger, out (none British-bred) for a decent Norse Dancer and Sir Harry Lewis, prize. And yet two-mile novice gives breeders the ideal chance to hurdles and bumpers are constantly see top jumps sires at one venue, being divided.” but other initiatives are underway.

Kent, who believes that British Changes to the Breeders’ Prizes breeding should receive more scheme for 2008 mean that a horse funding from the Government, also can still qualify even if it has called on English sales companies to originally run on the Flat, or is by help promote British bloodstock, an overseas sire, or sold as a foal at a “to make people aware of Britishpublic auction outside Britain. stallions of the quality of – Richard Kent based Most significantly, a voucher Overbury, Kayf Tara and Alflora.” system has been introduced whereby This is obviously a key role for the an incentive of up to £5,000 will be recently created British Bloodstock offered to the connections of highMarketing group (on which sales class mares towards the purchase of companies are represented). Its task is to raise nominations to any British-based stallion. the profile of British bloodstock on the In order to qualify for the incentive, the mare international stage. has to be based in Britain for her first breeding Yet Haydon feels that improving the season, although she does not have to have marketing of British bloodstock is only part of been trained in Britain. the equation. “Many owners in the UK are not TBA chief executive Louise Kemble says: keen to breed from their good mares and want “The TBA recognises the importance of to sell them,” he says. maintaining National Hunt breeders in Britain, “With regard to promoting British stallions, albeit on a much smaller scale to our Irish and the only way to do this is through their success, French counterparts. The changes to the and they just aren’t being sent the mares to National Hunt scheme are aimed primarily at achieve it. It is almost a catch-22 situation. supporting British National Hunt mare owners, “Double Trigger has seen his numbers drop who are the foundation of the industry.” in recent years. He was covering up to 80 mares An incentive to race National Hunt mares has a few years ago, but in 2007 he covered less also been introduced via an increase – to 11 – in than a quarter of that number. Flemensfirth the number of black type pattern races for (who stands at The Beeches, Coolmore’s jumps mares in 2007/08. A new extended two-and-a- stallion operation) covered around 300 mares in half mile Grade 2 hurdle at the Cheltenham 2007. His chances of success are increased by Festival is the highlight of the programme. having so many more runners on the track.”

According to John Haydon, the creation of The increasing popularity of French-bred more non-handicap black type races for mares is horses, who traditionally start their racing essential if the British breeding industry is to education at a much younger age than their improve. “I commend the introduction of more British and Irish counterparts, has led Kent to

“Staying chasers are scarcer now because people are not breeding them”

Double Trigger

Norse Dancer

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 67

NH Breeding

Kayf Tara makes his point to NH breeders

“We need to look at the prize-money situation” – John Haydon believe that a change in attitude amongst British breeders is also needed.

“I think we need to bring our jumps horses on earlier, as they do in France,” he says. “That doesn’t necessarily mean racing them, but starting them off earlier. Horses are athletes and need conditioning.

“This would mean breeders keeping hold of horses for longer and being more active with them; basically, bringing them on a stage or two further before selling them.”

Haydon feels that prize-money in the UK is another significant factor behind why the British breeding industry is struggling. “We need to look at the prize-money situation,” he explains.

“Stores horses are bought, broken in, trained, fed and cared for – and then, if they’re lucky, they might win a bumper worth three grand.

Owners are the backbone of the industry, but they get so little back from racing.

“Breeders need owners to buy their horses.

To buy, owners need to be getting the maximum return from their investment.”

Kent also highlighted the difference in racing cultures between Britain and Ireland, where the point-to-point scene is an essential part of the National Hunt make-up, providing the chance for young horses to showcase their ability.

Kent says: “We had a horse in our care, Paul Kristian, who we tried to sell at Doncaster on two occasions. The market rejected him twice.

We took him to Ireland, where he won his first point-to-point impressively in December, and he is now worth probably £150,000.”

Haydon agrees, saying: “In Ireland, the point-to-point scene is a great shop window for young horses, but that is not the case here.”

Which is just one reason why the new measures introduced to try to help British jumps breeding will be monitored with such interest.

At Wincanton on November 22 last year, the first three places in the novices’ hurdle went to first-crop sons of Kayf Tara, writes Emma Berry.

Cryptic and Kornati Kid, both from Philip Hobbs’s stable, were split by the Paul Nicholls-trained bumper winner Earth Planet. Just two weeks earlier another Hobbs trainee, Planet Of Sound, led home dual winner The Package, from David Pipe’s yard. Again both horses were by Kayf Tara, a name appearing with increasing prominence among the jumping results.

Hobbs says: “As far as English-based stallions are concerned, Kayf Tara’s quite exciting and is getting some very nice horses. We buy a lot of youngsters from Bryan Murphy in Limerick and the general vibe from Ireland is that the Irish really like him.”

The dual Ascot Gold Cup-winning son of Sadler’s Wells and Irish Oaks heroine Colorspin has had a smattering of runners on the Flat, the finest of these being three-year-old Listed winner Ruby Wine.

Much has been made of the success of sons of Sadler’s Wells at stud in the jumping sphere: at the time of writing, Old Vic, Oscar, Saddlers’ Hall and Accordion are second, third, sixth and seventh in the leading National Hunt sires’ table, while the old boy himself trails his sons at number 15.

Like their father, these four stallions all stand in Ireland.

While Kayf Tara has some way to go to emulate the consistent success of his paternal half-brothers, the early signs are encouraging. His eldest runners have just turned six and this jumps season he has been responsible for a rash of winners. At Warwick on January 12, Kayf Tara enjoyed his second Grade 2 triumph as a sire when Carruthers, a five-yearold bred by Lord Oaksey and trained by his son-in-law Mark Bradstock, came home a most impressive winner of the Leamington Novices’ Hurdle.

Kayf Tara’s success is not restricted to Britain, where he stands at Simon Sweeting’s Overbury Stud in Gloucestershire, with two highly promising individuals in the form of Venalmar (a Grade 2 winner at Naas) and Taravada racing in Ireland for Mouse Morris and Jessica Harrington.

Prominent National Hunt breeder Robert Chugg bred another of Kayf Tara’s sons, Fassaroe, who won the bumper at Exeter on New Year’s Day. He says: “We used him in his first few years and had four colts, including a half-brother to Karello Bay. “As a commercial breeder I have been waiting to see what happens on the racecourse – that’s the acid test – and I’m very pleased with what they’ve done so far. I shall be sending mares to him again this year.”

Sir Harry Lewis carried off the 2007 TBA award for leading British-based National Hunt sire and has more established rivals in Alflora and Overbury, but it’s not difficult to imagine Kayf Tara challenging all three for that distinction in the not too distant future.

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 69

New stallions for a new year An analysis of the sires, with fees – in several cases reduced for 2008 – whose first runners will be facing the starter soon Hope springs eternal and in the wake of the remarkable success Acclamation achieved with his initial crop last year, there must be plenty of stallion managers, as well as owners of two-yearolds, keeping their fingers crossed for those sires with their first runners this season.

Acclamation started his career at €10,000 and since none of the intake of 2005 in Europe covered at more than £20,000 – meaning none made the top 25 in fees – there are bound to be significant returns in places.

An analysis of the stallions follows. One point of interest is that the fees of more than half have been reduced since they were retired, and six have changed location, adding credence to the belief that life is tough for any sire between the

Refuse To Bend, the 2,000 Guineas winner who is expected to challenge strongly for the first-season sires’ title

70 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

initial burst of enthusiasm among breeders and the time his first runners face the starter.

American Post br 2001 Bering-Wells Fargo (Sadler’s Wells).

Etreham €7,000.

Winner of six races in a row from September 2003 to May 2004, American Post’s principal triumphs came in the Racing Post Trophy and Poule d’Essai des Poulains. His tendency was to get on with things, meaning he did not stay so far as his fairly stout breeding suggested he should, but he can be expected to impart middle-distance stamina to a good proportion of his progeny. American Post’s 18 yearlings averaged 26,585gns at auction.

Advertisement feature

Bachelor Duke b 2001 Miswaki-Gossamer (Seattle Slew).

Ballylinch €8,000.

Bachelor Duke did not do much racing but he showed when winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas and finishing a close fourth in the Dewhurst Stakes that he had what it takes. By a highly successful son of Mr Prospector from a distaff family that produced Nureyev and Sadler’s Wells, he has the pedigree to succeed and it augured well that 35 of his 47 yearlings sold in 2007 averaged 47,863gns. He had covered those mares at €12,000, but the yearling average still equates to nearly six times his fee, a splendid return.

Ballingarry b 1999 Sadler’s Wells-Flamenco Wave (Desert Wine). Mezeray €5,000

With first-class breeding – he is a half-brother to high-class miler Starborough out of a winner of the Moyglare Stud Stakes – Ballingarry would have been worth keeping an eye on as a sire, even without his excellent record on the racecourse. But to put the icing on the cake, he was first-rate over middle distances, landing the Criterium de Saint-Cloud and Canadian International, and finishing runner-up in the Derby Italiano.

Della Francesca b 1999 Danzig-La Affirmed (Affirmed). Victot €3,000

Exceed And Excel has a commercial pedigree and can be expected to sire some precocious types

By Danzig from the family of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Outstandingly, Della Francesca has a commercial pedigree and he backed it up with smart form from six furlongs to a mile and a quarter, winning the Gallinule Stakes and Belmont Breeders’ Cup Handicap.

His 14 yearlings sold at auction, from mares covered at €4,000, averaged more than 14,000gns.

Deportivo b 2000 Night Shift-Valencia (Kenmare). Walton Fields £3,000

Deportivo wasn’t bred to be a specialist sprinter – most of his sire’s progeny stay a mile, and the dam is closely related to top-class middledistance filly Wandesta. He was very smart too, hitting the target in six of his ten starts over five and six furlongs. The pick of them was the Group 2 Flying Five at The Curragh, in which he gained an emphatic victory. Having started out at the National Stud, he is now at Walton Fields in Leicestershire and can be expected to sire runners who stay further than he did.

Elusive City b 2000 Elusive Quality-Star Of Paris (Dayjur).

Irish National €8,000

A very smart juvenile, Elusive City won the Prix Morny and finished third in the Middle Park Stakes; he was also first past the post in the Richmond Stakes but was disqualified when his test revealed a banned substance. His sire,

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 71

BALLYLINCH SIRES FOR 2008

A heady blend of youthful promise and proven maturity KE LOR DU BACHE

KING ’S TH EATR E

LAWMAN

SOVIET STAR WHIPPER

Bachelor Duke

Soviet Star

MISWAKI – GOSSAMER (SEATTLE SLEW)

NUREYEV – VERUSHKA (VENTURE)

Classic winning miler from the superb stallion-producing family of NUREYEV and SADLER’S WELLS.

Proven sire of 7 individual Gr.1 winners, including World Champion Older Miler STARCRAFT and PRESSING in 2007.

First crop yearlings made up to €280,000, €270,000, €185,000, €160,000, etc, in 2007 and averaged over €68,000.

Other 2007 successes included Gr.2 winner BORIS DE DEAUVILLE, Gr.3 winner ROSINKA and Classic prospect EVA’S REQUEST.

Fee: €8,000 (1st October)

Fee: €10,000 (1st October)

King’s Theatre

Whipper

SADLER’S WELLS – REGAL BEAUTY (PRINCELY NATIVE)

MIESQUE’S SON – MYTH TO REALITY (SADLER’S WELLS)

A proven Gr.1 sire under both rules and the only stallion to sire both a Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot winner in 2007.

Gr.1 winner at 2; Champion French Miler at 3 and Champion European Sprinter at 4.

A regular sales topper, including both days of the Tattersalls Derby Sale with stores selling for €305,000 and €250,000.

Blood brother to Champion DIVINE PROPORTIONS, from the family of SHIRLEY HEIGHTS.

Fee: €9,000 (1st October)

Lawman

First crop foals made up to €170,000, €120,000, etc, in 2007, averaging over €48,000.

Fee: €12,000 (1st October)

INVINCIBLE SPIRIT – LARAMIE (GULCH) Classic and dual Gr.1 winner who defeated Gr.1 winners LITERATO, SHAMDINAN, ZAMBEZI SUN and ASTRONOMER ROYAL. Half brother to Gr.1 Classic winner LATICE and the best son of sire sensation INVINCIBLE SPIRIT.

RETIRES TO BALLYLINCH IN 2008 Fee: €25,000 (1st October)

BALLYLINCH STUD Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland Telephone: 056-7724217 Fax: 056-7724624 E-mail: joc@ballylinchstud.ie Website: www.ballylinchstud.com

PHOTO: TREVOR JONES

Advertisement feature

Needwood Blade has moved from Helshaw Grange to Mickley Stud

Elusive Quality, has done exceptionally well in the States and there is plenty of pace in his pedigree all round. Given the size of his crop, with 89 foals, he should make a mark this season. His 59 sale yearlings averaged 28,228gns.

Exceed And Excel b 2000 Danehill-Patrona (Lomond). Dalham Hall £10,000

Exceed And Excel did not reproduce his best form, or anywhere near, on his only start in Europe in the July Cup, but he was very smart in Australia, picking up Group 1s over six and seven furlongs. He has a commercial pedigree and, as a Group 2 winner at two, can be expected to sire some precocious types. Sixtyeight of his crop of 91 conceived at Kildangan for €10,000 were sold for an average of 53,305gns, a cracking return equating to nearly eight times his fee. Exceed And Excel covered in Australia in 2004.

Haafhd ch 2001 Alhaarth-Al Bahathri (Blushing Groom).

Nunnery £12,000

Haafhd was a tip-top mile to mile and a quarter colt and was successful in the 2,000 Guineas

“Imperial Dancer seems to be imparting his good looks to his progeny”

and Champion Stakes. He was restricted to 80 mares in his first season and 25 of the 57 resulting progeny averaged 65,765gns at the sales. That was pretty good for those breeders who patronised him and an incentive for this season too, since he is now standing at £12,000, a remarkable reduction. Haafhd should sire precocious offspring – Alhaarth was champion juvenile and Al Bahathri was a fine two-year-old, as well as a Classic winner.

Imperial Dancer b 1998 Primo Dominie-Gorgeous Dancer (Nordico). Norman Court £3,000

A handsome and tremendously tough individual who hit the bullseye in 11 of his 65 starts, Imperial Dancer stayed further than his pedigree suggested he would. In fact, only 9% of Primo Dominie’s progeny won over middle distances, but this fellow was fully effective at a mile and a half – and very smart to boot. He landed three Group 3 races and the Group 1 Premio Roma. Formerly at Lavington Stud, Imperial Dancer seems to be imparting his good looks to his progeny, since they averaged 20,587gns last year, seven times his fee at conception.

Indian Haven ch 2000 Indian Ridge-Madame Dubois (Legend Of France). Irish National €6,000

Indian Haven is by an excellent sire, with the emphasis on pace from a Cliveden Stud family that has been producing Pattern performers for years, such as Count Dubois and High Pitched.

He didn’t let the side down, putting up an impressive display to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Indian Haven’s fee has stayed the

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 73

Zafeen From the thriving Gone West sire line of Mr Greeley, Elusive Quality and Zamindar, and a better racehorse than them all.

Magnificent-looking European Champion miler who excelled at both two and three. Won the G2 Mill Reef Stakes and the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes, just like Excellent Art (but, unlike him, Zafeen doesn’t stand at =C25,000).

Great news if you’re breeding for the foal market of 2009 or the yearling sales of 2010: his first crop includes foals out of 44 two-year-old winners or dams of two-year-old winners – sure to get him away to a smart start at stud. First foals made up to £78,000 in December.

Overbury Stud

Call Simon Sweeting on 07796 174926 or (01386) 725552 Email: simon@ovstud.co.uk. www.ovstud.co.uk

Zafeen

(Zafonic–Shy Lady,

by Kaldoun)

£3,000 Oct 1st, Special live foal

Also at Overbury Kayf Tara £2,500 Oct 1st, Special live foal. Proclamation £4,000 Oct 1st, Special live foal.

Advertisement feature same since he retired and the 25 yearlings he had sold last year averaged 21,568gns.

year after. His first crop consists of 51 youngsters, so he should make a mark.

Kheleyf

Martaline

b/br 2001 Green Desert-Society Lady (Mr Prospector). Kildangan €5,000

gr 1999 Linamix-Coraline (Sadler’s Wells).

Reboursiere et Montagu €3,500

Speed is very much the dominant element in Kheleyf’s pedigree. Green Desert has been one of the most successful influences for pace standing in Britain over the last 15 years, while the dam, from a superb family, also produced Kheleyf’s sister Bint Allayl, a top-class but illfated juvenile. Kheleyf showed plenty of dash himself, winning the Jersey Stakes decisively and finishing third in the Betfair Cup. With 93 foals from 126 mares, he will have a chance in the first-season sires’ title race, especially as they were popular at auction, with 55 averaging 30,759gns. Those mares were covered at €7,000 so the average yearling price was around six times his fee; no-one can complain at that.

A brother to fine French stayer Reefscape out of a half-sister to high-class middle-distance filly Wemyss Bight, Martaline was bred to be successful and he fulfilled that expectation by winning five of his 22 starts from a mile to a mile and three-quarters. The best of them was the Group 2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil. He is unlikely to sire precocious sorts.

Masterful b 1998 Danzig-Moonlight Serenade (Dictus).

Damastown €4,000

Masterful is another in this list by one of the most influential sires of the modern era, Danzig, who figured as sire or grandsire of half of the top dozen sires in Europe in 2007. Out of a mare who won over a mile and a half, Masterful was at his best from a mile to a mile and a quarter, gaining his principal success in the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano.

Lucky Story b 2001 Kris S-Spring Flight (Miswaki). Tweenhills £4,000

Monsieur Bond ch 2000 Danehill Dancer-Musical Essence (Song). Whitsbury Manor £3,500 Haafhd is standing at £12,000 for 2008 – a remarkable reduction

Monsieur Bond was consistent at two and three but he was in the form of his life as a four-yearold, showing very smart form in the highest company. Victories came in the Gladness Stakes PHOTO: GEORGE SELWYN

Lucky Story has a lot going for him. He is a good-looking individual and a brother to Dr Fong, who was not only a top-notch miler but a successful sire, with a couple of Group/Grade 1 scorers to his name. Moreover, Lucky Story showed excellent form at around a mile himself, winning the Vintage Stakes and Champagne Stakes as a juvenile, and finishing a fine second to Rakti in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes the

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 75

Fantastic View Ch 2001, 16.0hh, by Distant View – Promptly (Lead On Time)

A LEADING TWO-YEAR-OLD

NEW

for 2008

Won 3 races at 2 over 7 & 8 furlongs, £103,526 Won Gr.3 Autumn Stakes, Ascot - by 4 lengths "Easily, cruising upsides.... quickly taking charge" – Racing Post Won LR Stardom Stakes, Goodwood "travelled very strongly off the pace before looming up... to assert inside the last" – Raceform.

Won EBF Maiden, Ascot on 2yo debut Racehorses of 2003: 113 "smart performer.... game"

By European Champion Miler – DISTANT VIEW, won Gr.1 Sussex Stakes, etc. Rated 126.

Also sire of Gr.1 winners Observatory, Distant Music (both siring winners), Distant Way, Sightseek, etc.

Top dam – PROMPTLY, 4 wins, £48,020, LR Silver Spoon Stakes, etc.

Grandam – GHARIBA, won Gr.3 Nell Gwyn S; 4th 1,000 Guineas. Rated 112 Bred a dozen winners between them. From stallion producing family.

Bargain fee of £1,500 (1st October) Standing at Throckmorton Court Stud Contact: Peter or Simon Balding Throckmorton Court Stud, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 2JX Tel: 01385 462559 Fax: 01386 462566 Mob: 079 57 868159 Email: simon@throckmortonstud.com Web: www.throckmortonstud.com

PHOTO: GEORGE SEWYN

Advertisement feature

and the Duke Of York Stakes. He also finished reasonably close up in the July Cup, Sprint Cup at Haydock and Prix de la Foret. Equally effective at six and seven furlongs, Monsieur Bond sired 66 foals from 89 mares in his first crop, and 33 of them sold for a very satisfactory average of 20,742gns.

Sulamani proved even better on the racecourse than his half-brother Dream Well

Needwood Blade ch 1998 Pivotal-Finlaggan (Be My Chief). Mickley £4,000

Needwood Blade has moved to Mickley Stud from Helshaw Grange and his fee is one of the few to have risen – he started out at £3,500. By the highest-priced stallion standing in Britain, Pivotal, he showed very smart form in a tough career spanning five seasons and involving 35 starts. He landed nine of them, from five to

“Rather surprisingly, One Cool Cat’s fee has been lowered noticeably”

nine furlongs, showing great versatility, and they included the Palace House Stakes, Abernant Stakes and Bay Meadows Breeders’ Cup Handicap. His first crop has 52 foals from 65 mares. They averaged 18,603gns at the sales.

One Cool Cat b 2001 Storm Cat-Tacha (Mr Prospector).

Coolmore €12,500

Perhaps predictably given his location, One Cool Cat had to work harder than any of the others in this list – his book of 156 puts him well clear of second-placed Refuse To Bend. As a son of Storm Cat out of a Mr Prospector mare from a good family (he cost $3.1 million as a yearling), he has a fine commercial pedigree and he showed very smart form as well.

Successful at two in the Phoenix Stakes and National Stakes, he developed into a sprinter as a three-year-old and won the Phoenix Sprint, before finishing third in the Nunthorpe Stakes.

Sixty-four of One Cool Cat’s 114 progeny averaged 36,049gns at the sales and, rather surprisingly, his fee has been lowered noticeably from the €17,500 at which he started.

Passing Glance br 1999 Polar Falcon-Spurned (Robellino).

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 77

NEW NEW FOR FOR 2008 2008

Vital Vital Equine Equine

Bay 2004 16.1 hh by Danetime - Bayalika (Selkirk)

Group winner and Classic-placed From the same Danzig/Sharpen Up cross as DANEHILL DANCER, DYLAN THOMAS and INVINCIBLE SPIRIT

SPEED THAT VITAL INGREDIENT Left: VITAL EQUINE sets a new 2yo course record time when beating Cockney Rebel in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes.

Below: VITAL EQUINE “ran a blinder” in the 2000 Guineas Group 1, in the third fastest time ever.

THE ONLY GROUP WINNER BY DANETIME AT STUD IN EUROPE Sire of MYBOYCHARLIE (Gr.1 at 2 in 2007).

Fee for 2008: £6,000 Oct 1st Enquiries: Terry or Margaret Holdcroft or Mark Pennell, Bearstone Stud, Market Drayton, Shropshire TF9 4HF Office: 01630 647197 Home: 01270 812345 Fax: 01630 647110 Mobile: 07974 948755 Email: enquiries@bearstonestud.co.uk www.bearstonestud.co.uk or John Needham, Elmhurst Bloodstock Ltd. Tel: 01892 891145 Email: john@elmhurstbloodstock.co.uk

PHOTO: TREVOR JONES

Advertisement feature Falbrav, now based in Japan, will have his first runners in Europe this year

National Stakes at two, the 2,000 Guineas at three and the Queen Anne Stakes and Eclipse Stakes at four. It is not surprising that he was well patronised in his first season at Kildangan, where he got 88 foals from 131 mares. Refuse To Bend should be among the challengers for the first-season sires’ championship, particularly as his youngsters were really popular at the sales – 51 averaged an impressive 71,605gns, with a top price of 250,000gns. Adding further lustre to a sire who promises to be highly commercial, five mares in foal to Refuse To Bend averaged 55,288gns at auction last year.

Sulamani b 1999 Hernando-Soul Dream (Alleged). Logis €8,000

A half-brother to French and Irish Derby winner Dream Well, Sulamani proved even better on the racecourse than his sibling, with nine successes from 17 starts and earnings in excess of £3 million. He contested 12 Group 1s and won six of them: the French Derby, Dubai Sheema Classic, Arlington Million, Turf Classic, Juddmonte International and Canadian International. Retired to Dalham Hall at £7,000, he is now based at Haras du Logis. His first crop consists of 49 progeny who are likely to need time – Sulamani did not race at two.

Tillerman b 1996 In The Wings-Autumn Tint (Roberto).

Hedgeholme £2,000

“Tillerman might have been expected to be suited by middle distances, but in the event he was a miler” Pitchall Stud £1,000

After beginning his career at the National Stud, Passing Glance is now at Pitchall Stud as a dualpurpose sire. By the same sire as Pivotal, he was a smart and consistent front-runner at around a mile, landing seven of his 30 starts, including the Oettingen-Rennen and Diomed Stakes. He also finished a close second in the Celebration Mile.

Refuse To Bend b 2000 Sadler’s Wells-Market Slide (Gulch).

Kildangan €20,000

Refuse To Bend was a relatively rare bird on the racecourse – a leading performer by Sadler’s Wells who did not stay a mile and a half. He landed seven of his 15 outings, headed by the

By In The Wings out of a Roberto mare, Tillerman might have been expected to be suited by middle distances, but in the event he was a miler. A tough one, too. He ran 29 times in six seasons, winning seven races highlighted by the Group 2 Celebration Mile. He was also twice runner-up in the Queen Anne Stakes but was disqualified on the second occasion for failing a drugs test. Having commenced operations at Tally-Ho Stud in Ireland, he is now at Hedgeholme and his first crop has 40 members.

Two sires who will have first-crop runners in Europe but are not standing here now...

Falbrav (b 1998 Fairy King-Gift Of the Night by Slewpy) is based in Japan but was at Cheveley Park Stud in 2005. Versatile and brilliant winner of eight Group 1 races, including the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Juddmonte International and Japan Cup, he has 87 juveniles on the ground.

Reset (b 2001 Zabeel-Assertive Lass by Zedative) was unbeaten in five starts in Australia, including two Group 1 events, in one of which he defeated Starcraft. His first season was in Australia. He then stood for one year at Dalham Hall, siring 49 foals, before returning to the land of his birth.

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 79

FORUM

The special section for ROA and TBA members

COUNCIL AGENDA The December Council meeting, by chief executive Michael Harris The Council discussed the new Third Party Liability Insurance Scheme and were pleased to hear that a special information pack had been sent to all members. It was agreed the new benefit should be widely publicised to racehorse owners and a number of ideas were discussed on how this could be best achieved. The Council stressed how important it was that all owners were made aware of the potential dangers of not having proper third party insurance cover.

The Council heard that bookmakers and racing were standing by their respective positions on the 47th Levy Scheme. It was agreed that racing’s submission had been well thought out and its basic message was underpinned by independent economists. In contrast, the Council believed the bookmakers’ submission was unconvincing, predictable and emotionally-based. It was believed the outcome of the Government determination was likely by the end of January and that the probable route for the Government to take was a rollover of the current scheme with an undertaking to modernise the levy process as soon as possible. The Council were united in their belief that levy payments should embrace foreign racing, as they used to, and possibly other betting shop products too, and that the levy should be subjected to an independent audit. It was noted that, based on the 2002 determination, plus indexation and the costs of putting on additional fixtures, a levy of £135 million to £153m could be entirely justified. The Council also discussed the selection process for a new Levy Board chief executive.

80 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

There was a general discussion about the collapse of the race-fixing trial and the Council agreed the ROA should write to the BHA, setting out their general concerns with the outcome of this trial and how the ‘fall-out’ had been handled.

There was general alarm that the media had indicated the Government had now made up its mind to sell the Tote to the highest bidder. As a result, enquiries had been made and it was clear this was based on press speculation rather than hard facts. The Council heard it was now much more likely there would be a period of reflection and the Government would ‘park’ the Tote until such time as the financial markets improved.

The Council underlined its commitment to racing owning the Tote, as had been promised in two Government manifestos. The Council were also reluctant to embrace any scheme whereby the Tote was sold on the open market but where half the proceeds would come to racing. It seemed that such a plan would inevitably be frustrated by State Aid legislation and therefore it was difficult to see how this could have long term benefits for racing. There was general agreement that the real scope for the Tote remained in expanding pool betting, particularly internationally.

The Council was informed there had been a new proposal put forward to facilitate the relationship between Racing Enterprises Limited (REL) and the BHA. This was a complex matter, partly because of implications relating to tax and database ownership rights, but the ROA’s solicitor Nick Bitel had come up with a plan, to which representatives of the

Horsemen’s Group and racecourses were being receptive.

There was general discussion about the adoption of a reserves policy for big races and general agreement by the Council that this should be implemented.

Bookmakers, amongst others in the industry, were strongly opposed to the idea on the basis they believed it would frustrate punters if reserves were implemented on the day of the race. However, the Council pointed to the fact that the system worked well in Ireland and could see only an upside for owners.

On the subject of minimum riding weights on the Flat, the Council were pleased to hear that the BHA were reluctant to tamper with these at this stage. However, the BHA would become more instrumental in matters relating to apprentices and welfare issues for jockeys.

Professor David Silk re-affirmed his view that the nutritional welfare of young jockeys and apprentices should be a focus for the BHA. The Council discussed veterinary costs and decided the ROA should do more in conveying information about these costs to its members. To this end, it would seek the assistance of its veterinary adviser David Ellis.

The Council heard that the Trustees of PRIS (Professional Riders’ Insurance Scheme) had decided that if a jockey is suspended for more than three calendar months, they will not be entitled to receive any temporary benefits during the suspension period. The Council concurred with this view.

ROA forum

Newbury racecourse comes out on top again with ROA members Newbury was announced as the ROA’s most owner friendly Racecourse of the Year for the fourth successive time at the 2007 ROA/Racing Post Horseracing Awards.

Newbury is also one of 11 courses to have received the ROA’s Gold Standard Award.

Mark Kershaw, Newbury’s managing director, said: “We are thrilled to have received this prestigious award for the fourth consecutive year, which is a great reflection on all my staff here at Newbury.

“We shall continue to strive towards providing even better racing and facilities with a friendly atmosphere in 2008, and look forward to welcoming all owners and to try to make it five times in a row, but the competition is getting tougher!”

Newbury continues to

Council member Sally Rowley-Williams with Mark Kershaw and team

offer a badge allocation to owners without runners during 2008. ROA members are entitled to two badges on production of their Horseracing Privilege Card at all but two meetings in 2008, those being Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes Day (May 17) and Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup Day

(November 29).

Catering at the racecourse has been taken in-house this year under the banner of Newbury Hospitality.

Many of the team with whom owners are familiar remain, and Nicola Butler, formerly of Sodexho Prestige, has become sales and marketing director.

New approach for tendon injuries For the horse, trainer and owner, one of the most disastrous consequences of training and racing is a tendon injury.

In London, a team of vets and scientists at the Royal Veterinary College and the Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science, University College London, have developed a new approach to treating these injuries, using stem cell implantation to regenerate tendon tissue and restore function. The approach is based upon the concept of regenerating a “new” tendon, rather than allowing healing by scarring.

Research is at a critical stage and the clinical team now need to demonstrate a regeneration of normal tendon tissue and reduced scar tissue in a controlled

Pioneering: the new treatment

environment. The most appropriate way of doing this is to receive donor horses who have suffered a career-ending tendon injury.

The team have approached the ROA to work in collaboration and establish a focus group of interested

owners to develop both the research programme and evaluation in the management of this debilitating condition.

The focus group will be co-ordinated through the ROA and expressions of interest should be made through Sadie Ryan in the ROA office on 020 7408 0903, or sryan@roa.co.uk.

An in-depth article on the subject written by Professor Roger Smith, Professor of Equine Orthopaedics at the Royal Veterinary College, and Professor Allen Goodship, Professor of Orthopaedic Sciences at the University College London, can be viewed on the ROA website, www.racehorseowners.net Copies are also available on request from the ROA office.

Fakenham’s prize-money promise Owners are well aware that prize-money is feeling the pinch in 2008, but may be encouraged by the news that Fakenham racecourse is taking steps to match its prize-money offering of 2007.

Despite a substantial drop in the Basic Daily Rate (the prize-money grant received from the Levy Board) from £309,985 to £258,570 – a 21% decrease – the racecourse is to make up the difference of £51,415 to match last year’s prizemoney total.

David Hunter, chief executive and clerk of the course, said: “I hope that Fakenham’s reputation for good ground, the attractive levels of prize-money, the zero entry fees we offer for all our races and the warm and friendly atmosphere means owners will continue to run their horses with us.”

Goffs/DBS blood testing Due to recent improvements in the accuracy and speed of testing methods, the Goffs/DBS sales group has extended the blood test for banned drugs from January 1 to include anabolic steroids.

While there has never been a suggestion of any anabolic steroid misuse at Goffs or DBS, this decision has been taken as part of the group’s ongoing efforts to increase transparency within the bloodstock industry.

Henry Beeby, chief executive officer, said: “We have introduced this test as a further example of our confidence in the horses we sell and to increase transparency at our sales.”

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 81

HERNANDO Classic Winner and Triple Champion Classic Sire and Champion UK-based Sire Sire of 12 ind. 2-y-o winners in 2007, incl. dual Stakes placed LATIN LAD Also sire of 34 individual 3-y-o winners in 2007 Fee: £12,000 (1st October Special Live Foal)

NORTHERN DANCER Sire Line

PICCOLO New at Lanwades for 2008

The most successful stallion son of WARNING Gr.1 winning sprinter and a dual Gr.1 sire 2007 winners incl. the unbeaten leading 2yo WINKER WATSON 2007 yearlings made 58,000gns, 52,000gns, etc Fee: £5,000 (1st October Special Live Foal)

IN REALITY Sire Line

SELKIRK Dual European Champion Miler Champion Sire – Sire of 10 individual Gr.1 winners The Leading Active Sire in Europe (2006/7) – % Stakes Winners to Runners Fee: £35,000 (1st October)

NATIVE DANCER Sire Line

SIR PERCY Unbeaten Champion 2yo and Derby winning Champion 3yo A rare opportunity to breed to the NEVER BEND Sire Line in England Ten Classic winners in his first 4 generations First Season 2008

Fee: £8,000 (1st October Special Live Foal)

NEVER BEND Sire Line

WITH APPROVAL Sire of 44 individual Group/Stakes winners, including 2007 Gr.3 winners MISSION APPROVED and TASTEYVILLE Sire of the winners of over 1500 races and $40m worldwide First European yearlings 2008

Fee: £5,000 (1st October Special Live Foal)

GREY SOVEREIGN Sire Line

The independent option www.lanwades.com • info@lanwades.com • Tel: +44 (0)1638 750222 • Fax: +44 (0)1638 751186

LANWADES

ROA forum Insurance scheme is must-have

Meet The Council: Stephen Smith Harris Bay’s owner dreams of Cheltenham glory Involvement in racing, apart from the ROA Council As an owner, I have had interests in horses under both codes over the years, but now focus on jumping.

As a sponsor, I was involved with the Martell Grand National. I am also chairman of the Sandown Park Race Committee.

What got you into racing politics?

Since I stopped working, I have been fortunate to be able to spend more time pursuing my passion for the sport. Standing for the ROA Council seemed an ideal opportunity to extend that involvement and support the sport in general, and owners in particular.

Why does it matter?

Horseracing is an important leisure industry, not only providing employment for many thousands, but also enormous pleasure for many millions, who attend or watch the sport. Owners are the bedrock and the primary funding of this industry, and need committed and strong representation.

What do you bring to the ROA Council?

I hope to bring both industry knowledge and enthusiasm, and business skills and expertise to the Council. This hopefully helps contribute to both the debate and the development of practical solutions to the problems and challenges we face.

Top of your wish list for racing?

I believe that there are two key challenges for the industry in 2008. First, we need a positive outcome for racing to the Government’s determination on the 2008/2009 levy. The BHA has made a strong case on behalf of the industry.

Second, we need a radical outcome to the BHA’s fixture review. This needs to address the issue of too much racing, slim down the fixture list by at least 20%, and provide increased prizemoney across the remaining core fixtures.

Is there an aspect of ownership that particularly grates?

If you own a horse, you don’t necessarily expect to win and recover your training costs. However, if

you are lucky enough to own a horse that is good enough to win races, then you do expect to start to recoup your training costs and not just cover the day’s racing expenses. Today, you need to win a number of races to start to recoup your costs and the prize-money level is just unacceptable.

I like racing because...

Racing is in my genes! My grandfather, Hector Smith, bred, owned and trained horses at Snowshill, near Broadway in Gloucestershire, winning over 130 races in his colours. My mother’s family came from Cheltenham, where I was also at school, and enjoyed many days racing from a very young age! Creative Time was my first winner in the family colours at Stratford in 2004...after years of trying.

A winner at Cheltenham in these colours is now the ultimate dream.

DIARY DATES Tuesday-Friday, March 11-14 Exclusive marquee for ROA members and guests at the Cheltenham Festival.

Tuesday, April 1 New ROA/RCA car park label takes effect and will be sent to members who complete and return the application

form sent to them.

Wednesday, June 25 ROA AGM at the Hyatt Regency London Churchill, Portman Square. The AGM is followed by a lunch for members and their guests.

Tuesday-Saturday, July 29-August 2 Glorious Goodwood: The

ROA provides a special advance booking service which enables members to purchase badges for the Richmond Enclosure.

Saturday, November 15 ROA marquee for members and guests at Cheltenham’s Paddy Power Gold Cup day.

The new third party liability insurance scheme for ROA members has generated considerable interest. An information pack was sent to members in December, and the full policy wording appears at www.racehorseowners.net.

In the case of a racing partnership, only those members that are also members of the ROA will be covered. Individual nominated partners will have protection only if they are ROA members. Cover does not extend to nonnominated partners, but non-nominated partners can join the ROA to enjoy protection.

The ROA introduced this scheme, which has a limit of liability of £10 million, as owners are vulnerable to claims under the Animals Act. It applies to horses in training and horses being prepared to go in training, and also provides peace of mind to owners when their horse is away from the training yard or temporarily out of training.

Trainers are required to have public liability insurance and, following consultation with stakeholders, the BHA will, from February 1, require trainers to have a mandatory limit of liability of £2m. It is not mandatory for this insurance cover to extend to owners.

Philip Hubbard, manager of the BHA licensing department, said: “Trainers are being advised that best practice is that at least £5 million cover is held.

“The regulator is aware that the majority of licensed trainers set and continue to maintain very high standards in areas of health and safety.”

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 83

More 2007 bouquets than brickbats The green arrows on our table indicate improvement in year-on-year racecourse prize-money performance, in terms of executive and sponsorship contributions expressed as a percentage of total prize-money.

Comparing 2007 with 2006, it is apparent that most racecourses worked hard to counteract the effect of reductions in levy spend on prize-money.

As levy contributions to the total prize-money pool decrease, racecourses’ percentage contribution will naturally increase.

However, many courses have put more of their own money in the pot to keep their overall prize-money close to, or on a par, with 2006. Only 15 of the 59 have shown a percentage decline and, in most cases, it

is only marginal. This also shows the effectiveness of the Levy Board Merit Table system.

The Merit Table dictates higher and lower Basic Daily Rates on the basis of the more courses contribute to prize-money, the more levy

“Kelso was the best improver last year” money they receive.

Ascot continues to be the star performer in prizemoney terms. In 2007, overall prize-money was £3.4 million higher than its nearest rival, Cheltenham, while its executive contributions were £1.5m higher. In terms of

year-on-year improvement, however, Cheltenham can only be applauded for increasing its contribution to prize-money by £600,000, from £2.5m to £3.1m.

The accolade for the best improver for 2007 goes to Kelso, whose percentage showed a turnaround of 27 points. Even allowing for their figure of 2006 being depressed by cancelled fixtures, this is a remarkable performance by the course, which moved from 59th to 26th.

A similar comment applies to Arena’s Folkestone, which improved from 47th to 21st.

In fact, most Arena courses performed well during 2007 and it should be noted that the best among their portfolio, Doncaster, Windsor and Lingfield, all showed notable

improvement on 2006.

Courses belonging to Jockey Club Racecourses, Arena and Northern have all increased their contributions to prize-money. In 2007, JCR tracks increased their contributions by £1m, Arena by £920,000 and Northern by £164,000.

Fakenham warranted a special mention on page 81, because they have given an undertaking to maintain their prize-money levels despite a decline in levy contributions, while we should also give them a pat on the back for making no charge on owners for entries during the coming year.

Well done also to Thirsk and Newton Abbot, both of whom pursued the same policy with owners’ entries in 2007.

See news story, page 7

CLAYDON HALL STUD Share the thrill of racing

ARE LOOKING TO LEASE/PURCHASE UNRACED TWO AND THREE YEAR OLDS TRAINER S.W. HALL EXCELLENT PRIVATE FACILITIES REDUCED TRAINING FEES FOR OWNER/BREEDERS CONTACT JOHN HOWARD

07973 509223

CLAYDON HALL, CLAYDON, IPSWICH, SUFFOLK IP6 0EL WWW.CLAYDONHALLSTUD.CO.UK • E-MAIL: CLAYDONHALL@YAHOO.CO.UK

84 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

ROA forum RACECOURSE LEAGUE TABLE Ptn Racecourse

Racecourse ownership

% of Total

Levy Board (£)

1 Aintree JCR 1,701,236 2 Cheltenham JCR 3,121,627 3 Ascot I 4,677,204 4 Epsom Downs JCR 1,373,222 5 York I 1,933,400 6 Sandown Park JCR 1,461,890 7 Goodwood I 1,379,600 8 Newmarket JCR 2,956,023 9 Chester I 517,106 10 Doncaster Arena 1,261,822 11 Haydock Park JCR 1,054,319 12 Newcastle North 440,092 13 Newbury I 1,015,908 14 Thirsk I 200,160 15 Ripon I 200,155 16 Pontefract I 249,504 17 Windsor Arena 265,416 18 Kempton Park JCR 907,242 19 Ayr I 446,675 20 Salisbury I 191,363 21 Folkestone Arena 189,682 22 Beverley I 199,359 23 Musselburgh I 240,829 24 Wincanton JCR 213,101 25 Hamilton Park I 156,345 26 Kelso I 135,419 27 Stratford-on-Avon I 138,243 28 Lingfield Park Arena 722,375 29 Carlisle JCR 110,679 30 Bangor-on-Dee I 101,824 31 Bath North 93,485 32 Wetherby I 140,585 33 Market Rasen JCR 136,982 34 Ludlow I 94,655 35 Leicester I 175,377 36 Fakenham I 52,635 37 Hexham I 69,643 38 Chepstow North 124,231 39 Exeter JCR 93,608 40 Perth I 80,151 41 Nottingham JCR 77,170 42 Yarmouth North 77,486 43 Warwick JCR 112,544 44 Fontwell Park North 74,368 45 Cartmel I 19,563 46 Taunton I 50,747 47 Catterick Bridge I 83,101 48 Huntingdon JCR 53,220 49 Uttoxeter North 79,652 50 Wolverhampton Arena 176,571 51 Redcar I 52,008 52 Newton Abbot I 30,399 53 Southwell Arena 66,916 54 Brighton North 17,293 55 Hereford North 13,803 56 Plumpton I 16,450 57 Towcester I 15,056 58 Sedgefield North 9,501 59 Worcester Arena -6,019 Total 29,643,000

60.4 55.6 51.5 45.4 45.1 41.0 40.0 38.0 37.8 35.3 32.9 29.2 29.0 27.8 27.2 24.8 24.5 24.4 23.8 23.2 21.8 21.4 20.8 19.8 19.6 17.9 17.8 17.3 16.4 15.2 14.5 14.5 14.4 14.3 14.2 14.0 13.4 12.3 12.3 12.3 11.7 11.3 11.1 10.2 9.8 9.8 9.3 8.5 7.0 5.8 5.7 5.1 3.6 3.3 2.9 2.7 2.4 1.8 -1.8 30.1

769,350 1,600,033 2,460,855 823,730 1,094,760 1,671,300 1,539,600 2,802,450 732,270 1,360,760 1,699,440 943,060 1,900,490 492,590 479,830 660,810 693,610 2,387,630 1,149,680 501,810 596,043 635,492 807,890 762,790 553,835 551,213 549,265 2,998,736 503,333 513,080 494,990 704,850 714,260 528,210 906,880 312,985 402,967 795,210 584,220 519,150 439,503 546,750 776,723 603,560 158,000 403,110 732,530 487,650 945,440 2,626,375 564,180 530,490 1,645,490 475,730 409,900 548,695 540,045 476,260 312,420 53,422,309

% of Total

Owners (£)

% of Total

27.3 313,030 11.1 28.5 847,056 15.1 27.1 1,858,208 20.5 27.2 797,631 26.4 25.5 1,240,253 28.9 46.8 376,257 10.6 44.6 478,024 13.9 36.0 1,850,428 23.8 53.6 75,071 5.5 38.0 868,828 24.3 53.0 406,809 12.7 62.5 112,691 7.5 54.3 455,191 13.0 68.4 0 0 65.2 26,386 3.6 65.6 68,545 6.8 64.0 98,274 9.1 64.2 246,181 6.6 61.1 255,800 13.6 60.8 72,140 8.8 68.6 66,167 7.6 68.3 67,528 7.3 69.8 87,233 7.5 71.0 75,929 7.1 69.4 64,381 8.1 72.8 46,465 6.1 70.8 59,492 7.7 71.7 264,104 6.3 74.8 46,861 7.0 76.6 39,196 5.9 76.7 40,730 6.3 72.8 91,011 9.4 75.0 88,472 9.3 79.8 28,780 4.4 73.5 102,432 8.3 83.2 2,080 0.6 77.4 34,690 6.7 78.9 78,744 7.8 76.7 52,940 7.0 79.7 36,199 5.6 66.5 73,312 11.1 79.5 50,742 7.4 76.8 89,592 8.9 82.9 43,705 6.0 79.2 15,487 7.8 78.0 31,001 6.0 81.7 57,549 6.4 77.8 55,707 8.9 82.9 94,258 8.3 86.0 185,104 6.1 62.2 273,462 30.2 89.3 5,776 1.0 88.6 100,194 5.4 90.6 31,909 6.1 86.4 37,947 8.0 89.7 33,945 5.6 87.3 56,735 9.2 88.5 34,889 6.5 91.3 34,388 10.1 54.3 13,125,939 13.3

Total 2007 (£)

Total 2006 (£)

2,815,616 2,703,911 5,612,716 4,876,122 9,085,517 9,336,405 3,026,583 3,212,471 4,290,913 4,375,650 3,567,947 3,634,948 3,452,474 3,530,787 7,785,901 7,310,460 1,366,447 1,370,620 3,577,410 2,998,652 3,205,268 3,544,385 1,507,843 1,462,687 3,500,909 3,660,632 720,250 721,500 736,371 843,785 1,007,359 1,074,096 1,083,000 1,269,388 3,717,853 3,690,309 1,880,655 2,227,266 824,813 933,803 869,243 803,500 929,879 981,789 1,157,952 1,263,510 1,074,820 1,118,557 797,561 843,279 757,097 591,920 775,500 965,500 4,184,815 4,074,787 673,223 788,975 670,100 603,971 645,705 807,900 967,946 1,094,616 951,714 1,045,500 662,145 781,510 1,234,189 1,566,125 376,200 408,440 520,300 456,000 1,008,385 1,304,518 761,768 934,549 651,500 689,700 660,985 949,866 687,378 876,010 1,011,860 1,126,091 727,633 1,033,354 199,550 206,700 516,858 639,863 896,680 1,057,183 627,077 756,695 1,140,850 1,149,550 3,054,300 3,471,327 906,350 1,012,500 594,165 706,617 1,857,550 2,072,000 524,932 678,462 474,150 700,200 611,590 604,733 618,836 662,822 538,150 736,930 342,289 752,500 98,427,068 103,095,922

% total Up/ 2006 down

59.0 50.4 50.3 40.7 43.0 37.1 41.5 38.1 35.1 29.5 34.1 24.5 26.8 28.6 22.9 17.4 14.7 24.2 22.1 21.1 6.3 17.6 16.2 19.9 14.3 -9.1 19.2 11.1 9.3 13.7 9.3 12.4 14.4 12.2 11.1 7.7 -0.6 5.5 10.1 12.1 7.5 5.9 6.5 8.8 15.0 10.4 7.7 11.5 3.7 4.1 8.9 9.2 2.0 0 3.4 2.8 1.3 7.0 -0.1 26.4

Exec + Sponsors (£)

In order of racecourses’ percentage contributions to overall prize-money Figures relate to prize-money for the 12-month period January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007

EXPLANATION OF TABLE This table sets out the three main contributors to prize-money with percentages of the total: 1 Racecourses’ executive and sponsorship; 2 Levy Board; 3 Owners. A small additional contribution is also made by the Divided Race Fund and the BHA Development Fund. The order is taken from the percentage in the second column of figures. This shows how much each racecourse has contributed to prize-money, expressed as a percentage of their overall prize-money. These figures relate to 2006. The arrows at the end of each line are based on a comparison between the percentages for the two rolling year periods. If a racecourse has improved its position by this criteria it receives a green ‘up’ arrow. If the year-on-year percentage has decreased it receives a red ‘down’ arrow.

Note: All of the figures are produced on an ‘as originally programmed’ basis, i.e. where any transferred fixtures were originally programmed rather than where the fixtures have actually taken place. However, any transferred BHA ‘National’ fixtures and ‘Regional’ fixtures are attributed to the courses where the fixtures have actually taken place.

RACECOURSE OWNERSHIP KEY JCR Jockey Club Racecourses

North Northern Racing Ltd Arena Arena Leisure Ltd I Independently owned racecourse Gold Standard Award

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 85

Words: Edward Rosenthal

OWNER OF THE MONTH

PHOTOS: RACING ADVERTISER

ANDREW WILES On December 27, Andrew Wiles saw his maroon and emerald green silks carried to victory in the Coral Welsh National by Miko De Beauchene, who edged out 2006 winner Halcon Genelardais in a pulsating finish.

The following day, he married his long-term girlfriend, Rita. It was, to say the least, an eventful 48 hours.

“The wedding was the easy part, because everything was planned and ordered,” said Wiles.

“There are so many unknowns in racing and it was just brilliant the way everything worked out. I couldn’t have wished for anything better.”

Glory for ‘Miko’, as he is affectionately known by his owner, was incredibly emotional for all concerned, with trainer Robert Alner not in attendance but lying in intensive care in a Bristol hospital, having suffered a serious neck injury in a car crash in November.

Sally Alner, the trainer’s wife, was overcome by tears as she spoke to the press after the race, while the reaction of the normally placid Andrew Thornton – a

Miko De Beauchene (nearside) gets the better of 2006 winner Halcon Genelardais after a terrific tussle

combination of shouting and fist-clenching – told you all you needed to know about what first place meant to the jockey.

Wiles said: “Of course, I was as delighted for the Alners as I was for myself. I had never seen Andrew so animated, even after he

landed the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Cool Dawn.

“We received a Christmas card from Andrew, saying, ‘I hope I can give you the

Thousands of people dedicate their lives day-in, day-out to bring us the Sport of Kings.

These include stud and stable staff, heath men, stall handlers and farriers, as well as trainers, jockeys and racecourse staff. However glamorous and exciting it all seems, for many it can be lonely, dangerous and poorly paid.

Racing Welfare is here to offer a support system for racing’s people.

• Financial assistance and advice • Holidays for disabled and retired members • Housing for elderly or disadvantaged people • Samaritans Helpline • Support for young people coming into racing • A network of welfare officers across the country How YOU can help us • Become a "friend" for just £25 per year • Leave us a legacy in your will • Make a regular donation

Giving Quality to Life www.racingwelfare.co.uk Robin McAlpine House, 20b Park Lane, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 8QD Tel: 01638 560763 Fax: 01638 565240 info@racingwelfare.co.uk

86 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

ROA forum

“The sense of satisfaction and achievement that I get from Miko is fantastic” Above: Delighted duo Sally Alner and Andrew Thornton with their star Below: Andrew Wiles and wife Rita collect the winner’s trophy

perfect wedding present’.

He certainly did that!”

Wiles, 54, is a litigation solicitor from Kent, whose interest in racing was ignited

by Ayala’s win in the 1963 Grand National.

“That is my first memory of racing, watching it on the television as a child,” he explained. “My father backed the second (Carrickbeg) in that race.

He was also friends with Don Butchers, who trained the 1961 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Saffron Tartan.

“My first experience of owning horses was in a syndicate with some friends.

It progressed and I now own four horses outright.

My first winner was

“I have never seen Andrew Thornton so animated” Jongleur Collonges in a handicap chase at Towcester in October, 2004.

“It was always an ambition to own a National Hunt horse. To win my first race was marvellous, but to land the Welsh National is beyond all expectations.”

While the plan to steer Miko De Beauchene towards the Welsh National may have been long-held – “it was in our minds after he

won a beginners’ chase at Chepstow in October, 2006” – Wiles’s decision to purchase his superstar was certainly not.

He recalled: “I was in the office one day and Robert rang to say that he was at a horse sale at Saint-Cloud, in France. He had seen a horse he liked the look of and asked if I wanted to buy it.

“I think the horse in question was about lot 100 and they were up to lot 95, so I didn’t have long to make a decision! The line was dreadful, really crackly, but I said yes, and I’m glad I did! He cost about £20,000 and turned out to be Miko De Beauchene.

“I have also got Miko’s

three-year-old half-brother, Rigadin De Beauchene. He is one to look forward to and looks a sharper type than his older sibling.”

Wiles is happy to employ a patient approach with his horses and is not in any hurry to see a speedy return on his investments.

He added: “I’m a National Hunt man through and through, I’m not one for the Flat, and enjoy the anticipation that comes with buying young horses, waiting for them to grow and develop. I do not own racehorses to make a quick return.

“Paying a lot of money for a horse off the Flat does not really interest me. The satisfaction and sense of achievement I get with Miko De Beauchene, having owned him since he was two, is fantastic.

“I do not think Miko is a Grand National horse. The Scottish version at Ayr would suit him better, providing the ground is suitable. Before that, there is the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock on February 16.

“Robert and his team do a great job. Every time I go to the yard, the horses seem relaxed, happy and content.

And at the end of the day, that is what counts.”

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 87

MULTIPLEX

BY SIRE OF SIRES

DANEHILL UNBEATEN GROUP WINNING 2Y0

STAKES WINNER AT 3 & 4 Dam Shirley Valentine half sister to WARNING, COMMANDER IN CHIEF and DUSHYANTOR, from the immediate family of RAINBOW QUEST and SCENIC.

NEW FOR 2008

Fee: £4,000 SLF

Contact: 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 or Val Hughes 07921 299079 • Rachel Boffey 07850 484577

!" # $% & % % '

%( % # ) ) *+ , % % %* + % *-

"# $ % &

&$ % $ "

'

( )

! "

#! $

"

$ $

$

% "$

$ "

" ' # ()) *+, -.++ ./-01. !

88 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

ROA forum

OWNERS IN THE NEWS

PHOTOS: GEORGE SELWYN/STEVEN CARGILL

Lively is diamond in the rough for owner With jumps horses now changing hands for hundreds of thousands of pounds at public auction, it is refreshing to know that you can still find a bargain…if you know where to look.

Joe Lively, who went from failed point-to-pointer to Grade 1 winner in the space of 18 months, was picked up for just £4,600 at the Ascot sales in July, 2006.

Richard Dimond, former permit holder, licensed trainer, point-to-point rider and amateur jockey, is now the owner of one of the country’s most exciting chasers, winner of Kempton’s Feltham Novices’ Chase and at the time of writing vying for favouritism for Cheltenham’s Royal & SunAlliance Chase in March.

“It was the dam’s pedigree that really attracted me to Joe Lively; plenty of stamina,” said Dimond, whose star novice is by Flemensfirth out of a Strong Gale mare.

“He managed only one point-to-point win, but is bred to stay well. He is not very big, only just 16 hands, but he is a great mover and well put together. Had he been an inch or two taller, I think he would have made more money.”

Dimond, 57, now manages a bed & breakfast and holiday cottage business in Sherborne, Dorset, with his wife Ruth, who also runs a riding school, while his daughter Jessica is involved in the show-jumping scene.

Useful chaser Noble Comic was another prolific winner for the owner, although Joe Lively is far and away the most talented horse he has ever been

Joe Lively (yellow) jumping his way to Grade 1 glory at Kempton

associated with in his time in racing.

The nine-year-old, whose sensational progress has seen him rack up seven wins since August, including two at Cheltenham, is stabled with Colin Tizzard, based just a couple of miles down the road from Dimond, at Milborne Port.

“Colin used to ride for me,” Dimond explained.

“In fact, he partnered my first ever winner as an owner, Boothorpe Boy, at Devon & Exeter on New Year’s Day, 1981.

“I am Joe Tizzard’s godfather and ride out at the Tizzard’s every morning. I’ll get on Joe Lively if I can, otherwise I’ll ride something else. I absolutely love it.”

He added: “Colin has placed Joe Lively very well so far. The progress he has made has been unbelievable

Richard Dimond (left) with his charge, who cost only £4,600

and he is a real battler, with a tremendous will to win.

“I think he will stay further in time, but at the moment we are just thinking about Cheltenham.

He will probably have one prep run in February.

Owning has always been about enjoyment for me and Joe Lively is certainly providing plenty of that!”

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 89

Photos by Ian Headington and Steven Cargill

CHELTENHAM Picture Parade December 14-15 1. Novices’ hurdle winner Harper Valley with jockey Tony McCoy, owner Ian Arnold (right) and trainer Gordon Elliott (second left)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

2. Owners Alan and Karen Peachey (right) with conditional jockeys’ chase winner Which Pocket 3. Boylesports.com Gold Cup hero Tamarinbleu with members of The Arthur White Partnership 4. Owner Thomas Barr (left) with Osana, all-the-way winner of the Boylesports.com International Hurdle 5. The Top Brass Partnership after Nenuphar Collonges’s victory in the Grade 2 hurdle 6. Handicap hurdle winner Leading Contender with owner Joanna Pappiatt 7. Linda Lovell receives the prize following O’Toole’s chase success 8. Cross-country scorer Wonderkid and his delighted connections 9. Christopher Hanbury (hat) with prize after Jack The Giant’s handicap hurdle win 10. Ricky and Debbie Mills (right) accept the prize after Pouvoir’s Relkeel Hurdle win

90 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

ROA forum ASCOT Picture Parade December 21-22 1. David Pipe, Will Frewen and Tom Scudamore with Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle victor Lough Derg

1

2

3

4

2. Owners Geoff & The Jem Racing Team with their maiden hurdle winner Dr Hart 3. Da Southside Syndicate, owners of novices’ hurdle scorer Lyceum, accept their trophy 4. King Louis with owner Adrian Pratt and family after taking the novices’ handicap chase

KEMPTON PARK Picture Parade December 26-27 5. Clive Smith’s dual King George VI Chase winner Kauto Star receives the plaudits; the groom is Sonja Warburton

5

6

6. Boomshakalaka scores again for owners The Cigar Bar Partnership 7. Mrs and Mrs Stewart Pike with home-bred hurdle winner Sovietica 8. Novices’ hurdle scorer Red Flare, with Jack Doyle sporting the Henry Ponsonby colours

7

9

8

10

9. Tim Collins and Nick Gill, owners of handicap chase winner Yardbird 10. Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase hero Mahogany Blaze, with owners Lorna and Malcolm Berryman and family

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 91

Developing a sound bone structure Ruth Bishop Registered Nutritionist R&D Director for the WINERGY® brand.

NUTRITION FORUM: PART TWO

S

o often breeding thoroughbreds is all about what might have been - what might have been if we could actually have seen them on the racecourse? Unsoundness often appears once the horse is put into work, and also during the growth phase.

Certain lamenesses can be traced back to lesions that developed during early growth.

This article, the second in our three part series focuses on how nutrition at this time, can perhaps reduce the risk of the development of such lesions.

Bone develops by the ossification of cartilage, a process in which cartilage is mineralised and transformed into bone, in the growth plates of long bones.

Failure of successful conversion of cartilage to bone leads to certain developmental bone diseases such as osteochondrosis, osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and subchondral bone cysts.

It is commonly accepted that DODs are multifactorial in origin: growth rate, genetic predisposition, trauma and imbalanced nutrition are all implicated, but a growing body of evidence links negative nutritional management to an increased risk of DODs in young horses (Ralston 1996, Treiber et al 2004).

The growth of horses is truly

remarkable. In developmental terms, a foal is already quite structurally advanced by the time it arrives in to the outside world.

The skeleton begins to develop early in pregnancy, and is 95% functionally mature by the end of the foals first year, by which time the foal has grown to about 90% of its adult height.

Dietary nutrients provide building blocks to fuel this rapid growth, but matching feeding to requirements can be is very complex given the metabolic changes occurring in the mare and her offspring, and the different changes in horse management that occur during the growth cycle – for instance, the mare may go away to stud and her feed changes, or the foal may be treated differently at weaning or breaking.

Optimum sources of energy in the diet New research shows energy source is as important as the amount, because source directly affects a hormonal cascade that in turn influences the maturation of bone. A growing body of evidence suggests the insulin-induced effects of carbohydrate rich diets, such as traditional stud feeds, on cartilage maturation may play a significant role in the development of certain DODs (Treiber et al 2005, Jeffcott and Henson 1998).

Developmental bone diseases • Epiphysitis: Appears as swelling and enlargement of the joints, particularly the stifle and fetlock, sometimes with inflammation. A marked change in the quality or carbohydrate composition of grass or forage quality can be enough for it to develop. Reducing the energy fed, commonly suggested to slow the rate of growth, usually by withdrawing from grazing onto hay, is often an effective countermeasure.

• Osteochondrosis is potentially more serious, resulting from damage during the process of endochondral ossification of cartilage, resulting in an area of retained cartilage within the bone. In foals the first sign observed may include animals spending more time lying down, or an inability to keep up with play in the paddock. Usually there is non-painful swelling of the joints.

• Osteochondritis Dissecans occurs when cartilage doesn’t mature and the mineralization of bone is not synchronized. Accelerated growth programs feeding large single meals, large supplies of starch and calcium, and also inadequate trace element supplementation are all implicated.

In some of our research (diagram 1) we compared traditional stud (SS) feeds with pasture and a new look very low starch, high fibre and oil feed (FF), and demonstrated the hormonal disruption caused by traditional meal feeding of commercially available stud feeds. Our work showed these feeds generated peaks of blood glucose and insulin, known as glycaemic and insulinaemic peaks, that

ADVERTISEMENT The future of feeding:

have been associated with disrupted cartilage maturation (Harris and Kronfeld 2003).

However the “FF” diet, when fed in meals also, produced a similar profile to that of pasture, reduced the effects of the so called “feeding-fasting cycle” (Staniar et al 2002), so creating the conditions within the bone associated with a reduced risk of DOD, without affecting growth rate. This diet is now available commercially (see panel) Optimum mineral nutrition for growth Bone is mineral rich, containing 99% of the total calcium, 85% of the total phosphorus within the body, and up to 70% of the magnesium (Harris, 2004). 80-90% of all bone calcium and magnesium in the developing foetus is laid down between months 8-11 of gestation.

In addition, trace elements such as copper, zinc and manganese perform essential supporting roles in cartilage and bone. Half of the copper, manganese and zinc is accumulated in the developing foetus during the 10th month of gestation, and supplementation of copper in the mare’s diet at this time is associated with decreased radiographic indices of lesions, and increased foetal copper stores (Pearce et al 1998a, 1998b).

In 1994 WINERGY® took the first steps in what is set to become the single most important revolution in feeding horses that many of us will see in our lifetimes. Instead of producing feeds with the needs of horse owners in mind we put the horse at the heart of our research process. This is a radically different approach, the only rigorously scientific one which has forced us to choose nutritional legitimacy instead of producing feed for the convenience of the horse owner.

For the past twelve years we have been working closely with vets, breeders, scientists and nutritionists in leading institutes around the world with the sole aim of developing a feed tailored to the needs of the growing horse.

More recently we have been trialling a revolutionary product with leading studs and breeders in the UK with phenomenal results.

“Foals prepped on WINERGY Equilibrium ® Growth mature correctly with strong bone and are well muscled.

We genuinely believe WINERGY Equilibrium ® Growth has played a part in maximising the sales potential of our foals this year” Sally Aston, Goldford Stud WINERGY Equilibrium® Growth is the first truly multibenefit stud feed proven in trials to provide an exclusive range of benefits that are simply unachievable with traditional compound stud feeds.

For more information on this revolutionary product and how WINERGY® can help you achieve the most from your foals contact 01908 576 277 or visit www.winergy.com © ®

Mars Horsecare UK Ltd 2008 WINERGY, WALTHAM and Equilibrium are registered trademarks

Employee Benefits Scheme aims to help staff and employers alike The TBA Employee Benefits Scheme aims to be cost-effective, simple to operate and beneficial to staff, and furthermore will help employers to comply with future legislation.

Appointed consultants PFP Financial Planning have put together an initial benefits package consisting of a Lump Sum Death Benefit and Group Personal Pension Plan. It is also the intention to offer a Long Term Incapacity Pay Scheme, once the take-up for the Lump Sum Death Benefit Scheme is known.

As part of the package, PFP will offer clear and easy to understand support, providing a member helpline, website access and guidance for employers.

From 2012, the Government is planning to introduce the National Pension Saving Scheme, which will be compulsory for most employees and

employers, unless the employer already offers a comparable scheme.

With the help of PFP, the TBA aims to provide a scheme that will offer flexibility and a more tailored approach to suit our industry, as opposed to a standardised scheme.

The framework outlined above should offer economies of scale not available to individual studs and will go some way to assisting studs in improving their employment package and thus retaining staff.

Most importantly, by putting this in place now, the opportunity exists for employers to budget for the costs that will come into effect in 2012.

Further information on the TBA Employee Benefits Scheme 2008 is available from Caroline Turnbull at the TBA on 01638 661321, or caroline@thetba.co.uk.

“The TBA aims to provide a scheme that will offer flexibility and a more tailored approach”

As part of the TBA’s drive to expand its support for employers, and in response to recommendations made in the 2004 Report of the Stable and Stud Staff Commission, this year will see the launch of a package of benefits for employers to offer their staff.

Dates, reminders and new members TBA regional representatives and co-ordinator Hazel West have put together another exciting provisional programme of regional days for 2008. Further details will appear in the March issue, but they include: The West, Friday, March 28 Alan King's Barbury Castle stables and racing at Newbury East Anglia, Tuesday, April 1 Henry Cecil's Warren Place stables and Plantation Stud West Midlands, Tuesday, June 10 Tweenhills Stud and a presentation by Dodson & Horrell

Heaven for Helen in TBA chase

South East, Thursday, July 3 William Knight's Lower Coombe stables, Lavington Stud & the Veterinary College TBA new members Contact Stanstead House on 01638 661321 for any queries.

Home: Mr B D Low, Suffolk.

Mr P J Ravenhill BVSc Cert EM (Stud Med) MRCVS, Gloucestershire. Mrs M Forsyth, Cheshire. Mr R M Tennant, North Yorkshire. Mrs S Roberts, Middlesex. Mrs S Collier, Cambridgeshire. Mr J Trotter, Suffolk. Mr J O'Donnell, Berkshire.

Abroad: Razza del Sole Soc. Agricola SRL, Italy. Scuderia Blueberry, Italy. Gerry Talbot, County Galway.

94 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

The David Pipe-trained Helen Wood (Tom Scudamore) flies the last to win the EBF/TBA Mares Only Novices' Chase at Exeter

Insurance addition to subscription Following consultation with TBA members, the Council agreed that the subscription for domestic membership should be increased from £100 to £110. This figure, however, will now include Third Party Insurance, to

cover members’ breeding stock when being kept away from their home premises.

Further details will be included in the Stanstead House send-out at the end of February and in next month’s magazine.

TBA forum NEW MEMBER OF THE MONTH

INTERCHANGE FX – A SAFE BET!

JOHN HENDERSON SISSONS (from York)

What has prompted you to join the TBA? I am buying a broodmare.

Which of the many benefits the TBA offers its members do you think you will make the most use of?

Stud and veterinary advice.

Which part of Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder magazine do you read first?

All of it, from cover to cover.

Profession/Business Cattle dealer.

Are you a regular racegoer?

Yes, both Flat and National Hunt.

Do you own broodmares?

Yes, one National Hunt mare, who is kept at home.

Do you have horses in training?

Yes, I have three in training with Allan Dickman, including Ishetoo (Ishiguru – Ticcatoo) and two Bertolini yearlings.

As an enthusiast/breeder, how did you become interested/involved in thoroughbreds?

I have always enjoyed racing and having a bet, and longed to own a racehorse.

Your favourite stallion/sire line?

Danzig.

TBA Stud Staff Award Roisin Close – Tweenhills Farm and Stud

The first bi-monthly Stud Staff Award winner of 2008 is Roisin Close, from Tweenhills Farm and Stud in Gloucestershire.

Arriving at Tweenhills eight years ago to look after the stallions and assist with

sales preparation, Close progressed to the position of stud groom a year later.

The intervening years have seen the stud develop from a small operation into one of the busiest in the UK, and stud owner David Redvers cites Close’s dedication and passion for the welfare of the horses in her care as major contributions to this success.

In addition, a cool head in a crisis and exceptional foalcare skills make Close a most deserving recipient of the January Award.

Whether you are buying property or bloodstock overseas, importing or exporting, emigrating or transferring your pension abroad, Interchange, Foreign Currency Exchange specialists, will give you the most competitive rates and highest personalised assistance.

• • • • •

UNBEATABLE Exchange Rates You’ll pay LESS for a your overseas property You’ll pay LESS for your horse bought abroad You’ll pay LESS for any foreign currency need UNRIVALLED service, with knowledgeable, professional FX brokers “I am delighted to be working with Interchange, especially as they have such close ties to racing and other equestrian sports and offer such an invaluable and effective service to help us all save money on foreign transactions. “ Richard Dunwoody MBE Three times Champion Jockey

Call Antony Lemon, our Bloodstock Account Manager, on FREEPHONE 0800 197 2153 and see how we can save you money.

The Interchange Organization Ltd 31 Davies Street, Mayfair, London. W1K 4LP T: 020 7499 2133 F: 020 7495 8456

www.interchangefx.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 95

Fresh for 2008 MILK IT MICK CHAMPION EUROPEAN TWO-YEAR-OLD 2003 DUAL GROUP 1 WINNER RETIRES TO LONE OAK STUD FOR 2008

Fee: £3,500 1st Oct SLF

Lone Oak Stud, East Green, Great Bradley, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 9LU

David Scott or Sarah Stoneham MRCVS Tel: 01440 783963 Fax: 08704 102674 www.loneoakstud.com

Lone Oak S TU D

TBA forum Breeders’ Prizes NH HBLB Breeders’ Prizes worth £750 or more

Based on dates money was paid

Breeder

Prize (£)

Horse

Sire

Dam

Date

Course

R Nicholls & T Smith

10,000

Ollie Magern

Alderbrook

Outfield

03/11/07

Wetherby

R J Spencer

5,500

Harris Bay

Karinga Bay

Harristown Lady

03/11/07

Ascot

Deborah J Baker

4,800

Roman Ark

Terimon

Larksmore

24/11/07

Haydock

Mrs G A Giddings

2,600

Eluvaparty

El Conquistador

Ruby Celebration

13/11/07

Exeter

C W and Mrs Moore

2,600

Naunton Brook

Alderbrook

Give Me An Answer 04/11/07

Carlisle

F G Matthews

2,600

Special Conquest

El Conquistador

Kellys Special

06/11/07

Exeter

P R and Mrs J F Emery

2,600

Shanxi Girl

Overbury

Celtic Native

06/11/07

Exeter

K Benson & Mrs E Benson

2,600

Our Jasper

Tina’s Pet

Dawn’s Della

11/11/07

Market Rasen

Mrs S Birchall & R & Mrs Kent

2,600

Cassia Heights

Montelimar

Cloncoose

15/11/07

Ludlow

Shade Oak Stud & D & Mrs Jenks

2,600

Hobs Hill

Alflora

Rim Of Pearl

20/11/07

Folkestone

The Woodhaven Stud

2,600

Psychomodo

Mark Of Esteem

En Vacances

23/11/07

Ascot

N B Mason

1,500

Jack The Blaster

Alflora

Marsden Rock

16/11/07

Newcastle

G R M Hudson

1,500

Sovereign King

Sovereign Water

Bedwyn Bridge

20/11/07

Folkestone

Mrs J A Broad

1,500

Snargate

Double Eclipse

Loch Irish

05/11/07

Warwick

D & Mrs Holmes

1,000

Call Me A Legend

Midnight Legend

Second Call

08/11/07

Towcester

P K Gardner T/A Springcombe Park Stud

1,000

Argento Luna

Mtoto

Dissolve

05/11/07

Warwick

Darley

750

Outlandish

Dr Fong

Velvet Lady

14/11/07

Lingfield

Rodney Tennant

750

Keene Spirit

Keen

High Penhowe

13/11/07

Sedgefield

J M Dare

750

Floradorado

Alflora

Cream By Post

15/11/07

Taunton

Executors of the late G G A Gregson

750

Charlie Crab

Tamure

Minigale

01/11/07

Newcastle

R and J Micklethwait

750

Over Sixty

Overbury

Free Travel

22/11/07

Hereford

Mrs S Camacho

750

Camino Real

Benny The Dip

Kingdom Ruby

11/11/07

Hereford

Flat HBLB Breeders’ Prizes worth £1,000 or more J M Greetham

4,600

Based on dates money was paid

Short Skirt

Diktat

Much Too Risky

19/10/07

Newmarket

Very Wise

Pursuit Of Love

With Care

03/11/07

Newmarket

Gower Song

Singspiel

Gleaming Water

10/11/07

Doncaster

R E Crutchley

2,800

Peter Ebdon Racing

2,800

Sesmen

Inchinor

Poetry In Motion

01/11/07

Lingfield

Kingwood Bloodstock

2,700

Gee Dee Nen

Mister Baileys

Special Beat

09/11/07

Musselburgh

Bloomsbury Stud & R & A Craddock

2,700

Inchnadamph

Inchinor

Pelf

10/11/07

Doncaster

The Kingwood Partnership

2,100

Love Brothers

Lomitas

Morning Queen

08/10/07

Pontefract

Sir Thomas Pilkington

2,100

Double Banded

Mark of Esteem

Bronzewing

02/11/07

Newmarket

Jenny Hall Bloodstock Ltd

1,800

Medicine Path

Danehill Dancer

Indian Mystery

07/11/07

Nottingham

Stratford Place Stud

1,400

Maltese Falcon

Mark Of Esteem

Crime Ofthecentury 24/11/07

Lingfield

Templeton Stud

1,400

Baylini

Bertolini

Bay of Plenty

15/11/07

Lingfield

Whitsbury Manor Stud & Clarendon Farms

1,400

Kinsya

Mister Baileys

Kimono

29/10/07

Leicester

Henry and Rosemary Moszkowicz

1,000

Bel Cantor

Largesse

Palmstead Belle

30/10/07 Catterick Bridge

Chippenham Lodge Stud Ltd

1,000

World Spirit

Agnes World

Belle Esprit

14/10/07

Lingfield

R S A Urquhart

1,000

Suits Me

Bertolini

Fancier Bit

03/11/07

Ayr

G Reed

1,000

Cha Cha Cha

Efisio

Shall We Dance

08/11/07

Musselburgh

Sally Roberts

1,000

Master Pegasus

Lujian

Seeking Utopia

04/11/07 Wolverhampton

Times of Wigan Ltd

1,000

Welsh Emperor

Emperor Jones

Simply Times

29/10/07

Leicester

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 97

Words: Alan Yuill Walker and Edward Rosenthal

BREEDERS OF THE MONTH ROY AND SUSAN EDWARDS NH Breeder of the Month: December Roy Edwards knows a thing or two about big horses – big in stature, that is. At one time he stood that noted grey Scallywag, who, in his racing days, had difficulty fitting into the starting stalls.

He and his wife Susan are also the breeders of the budding Irish-trained star Trafford Lad, another who stands a good 17 hands.

Nowadays, Blakeley Stud in Stanton, Shropshire is run as a private establishment by the Edwards’ son Simon and his wife Beverley.

In the old days the family stood a succession of jumping sires, two of the most notable being Seymour Hicks, sire of the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner See More Business, and Weld, sire of Hot Weld, who last year became the only horse to win the Scottish Grand National and Betfred Gold Cup (formerly Whitbread Gold Cup) in the same season, and the Irish Grade 1 scorer Pearly Jack.

One of the first stallions to stand at Blakeley was Saucy Kit (1967 Champion Hurdle), one of over 500 winners partnered by Roy Edwards during a riding

PHOTO: CAROLINE NORRIS

Sponsored by

Trafford Lad, a Grade 1 winner who stands at least 17 hands

career dating back more than 50 years. One of the last stallions was Trafford Lad’s sire Tragic Role, who died in 2004.

As the winner of the Grade 1 Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle at Navan, the Tragic Role gelding has won Roy and Susan Edwards the NH Breeder of the Month award for December.

Trafford Lad completed a hat-trick at Navan, having

scored twice in October, in a bumper at Cork and over hurdles at Punchestown.

His only other appearance in public had been in a point-to-point at the Liscarroll fixture in March, which he would have won convincingly but for capitulating at the final fence through overjumping.

The Kilkenny-trained gelding is likely to go to Cheltenham for the Ballymore Properties

CALPHORMIN

• Calcium & Phosphorous: The principal minerals required for developing horses.

• Source of Silicon: Contains Sodium Zeolite a bioavailable silicon that enhances bone calcification and collagen formation.

• Zinc, Copper & Manganese: Deficiencies of which are often associated with DOD. • Contains Lysine: Essential for growing horses.

Distributed by: Farm and Stable Supplies, Freephone: 0800 804 8441

98 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

Novices’ Hurdle, formerly the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle.

Simon Edwards said: “Trafford Lad was a big foal and a big store – we sold him privately as a four-yearold at Fairyhouse. He was always a tall individual, but he came to himself remarkably quickly and they thought he was something special before he ran in his point-to-point.”

Trafford Lad’s dam

®

Coronation Stakes Winner INDIAN INK Raised on CALPHORMIN

TBA forum BREEDERS IN THE NEWS

– Simon Edwards last May. Another of her progeny bred at Blakeley was Kong King, who like his dam, won between the flags.

“My father kept him for my nephew Charlie Huxley to ride,” Edwards explained.

At Blakeley, which has about 200 acres of fertile ‘black sand’ Edwards certainly has his hands full.

With a staff of just two, he has 20 mares, including Be My Shuil and Shuile Allstars, two unraced half-sisters to Trafford Lad, and masses of young horses, not to mention 12,000 free range laying hens.

But he adds: “I would not be averse to having another stallion if I could find something suitable.”

“Falcon was an incredibly determined foal” – Diana du Feu times. The Wilson and du Feu partnership bred from only one other horse, Cheryl’s Pet, who had already produced the talented but ill-fated chaser Farmer Jack.

Du Feu, based at Sedgecroft Stud, in Hawkchurch, Devon, has bred horses since 1970.

Originally a National Hunt breeder, she now breeds exclusively for the Flat. Her successes in that sphere

have included Captain Saif, one-time 2,000 Guineas contender after an unbeaten juvenile campaign when trained by Richard Hannon.

Her role in partnership with the Wilsons was to look after the foals until it was time for them to be prepared for the sales, at which point they went back to Pitts Farm Stud.

“Lothian Falcon was easy to handle as a foal, but very determined,” said du Feu. “No attitude, just determined – if he wanted to do something he would just do it. He once managed to cut himself on a muck-heap!

“Watching the Rowland Meyrick was very exciting.

Lothian Falcon took up the running a lot sooner than he normally does and won easily. His finishing speed is extraordinary – I just don’t know where he gets it from.

“I think ‘Falcon’ has been extremely lucky with his owner as he hasn’t been over-raced.

“The potential has been allowed to develop and be realised. I would commend Peter Maddison for his training – and for the fact that he hasn’t sold him.”

PHOTO: ALAN WRIGHT

“They always thought he was a bit special”

Lothian Falcon, who provided Yorkshire permit holder Peter Maddison with easily his biggest success in the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby on Boxing Day, was bred by Charles and Fiona Wilson, in partnership with Diana du Feu (pictured).

He was foaled at the Wilsons’ Pitts Farm Stud, in Dorset, where the likes of Derby winner Teenoso had stood. However, Lothian Falcon’s sire, Relief Pitcher, another one-time resident at Pitts Farm, would not be the most familiar name to jumps racing fans.

“Relief Pitcher was a classy sort on the Flat who was trained by Peter Walwyn,” said Charles Wilson. “He later had a spell in the US and by the time he came back to start as a stallion in the UK, it was half-way through the breeding season. He was not promoted much and I think people had forgotten him.

“However, apart from Alflora, I would say that he is the best-looking jumps stallion I have ever seen. We stood him for two terms and he was a strong, fine looking horse, with plenty of size and a good pedigree.”

Lothian Falcon’s dam, Lothian Rose, was purchased privately by Fiona Wilson from Mike Felton. She was bred by her original owner, Commander Wilf Crawford, whose horses raced with the ‘Lothian’ prefix.

Lothian Rose, who died in 2001, showed ability over hurdles without getting her head in front. Her only other offspring to make the racecourse was Lothian Emerald, who ran only three

PHOTO: GEORGE SELWYN

Another Shuil, a half-sister to the Stayers’ Hurdle (now World Hurdle) heroine Shuil Ar Aghaidh, was owned by the Edwards for only a short period. She was originally purchased as an eight-year-old in-foal mare at Tattersalls’ Ireland November sale of 1996.

Only the previous month they had disposed of more than 80 lots in a private sale at Blakeley conducted by Hereford auctioneers, Russell, Baldwin and Bright.

In 2002, the year that Trafford Lad was foaled, Another Shuil was sold privately to Ireland carrying to another Blakeley resident, Parthian Springs, who suffered a fatal heart attack

Falcon Meyrick win rewards breeders in partnership

Lothian Falcon en route to victory in the Rowland Meyrick Chase

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 99

Edited by Jan Wade

How best to evaluate your stallion’s semen This text is adapted from an article written by Tom Stout and Ben Colenbrander of Utrecht University in The Netherlands When selecting stallions for ‘breeding soundness’, accurate fertility data may often be absent or unreliable. As an alternative, a combination of a thorough physical examination and semen evaluation has become accepted as a way of determining whether a stallion has an acceptable chance of adequate fertility.

This approach even has some advantages over fertility data, since the latter can be biased by extrinsic factors, such as mare quality and management.

Moreover, an accurate indication of fertility can be obtained only when large numbers of mares have been mated.

Pre-breeding semen evaluation is also useful as a baseline, which can be referred to in the event of fertility problems. Breeding soundness evaluation is usually performed before the start of a stallion’s breeding career and covers libido, mating ability, testicle size, sperm production capacity and semen quality.

It is generally accepted that fertility will be compromised if levels of motile or morphological normal sperm are below 40%.

Sperm production capacity has little influence on the ability of individual sperm to establish pregnancy, but it gives valuable information about the number of mares a stallion should cover during a given period.

Although poor semen

Computer-assisted semen motility analysis In theory, computerised analysis of sperm motility should be more reliable, repeatable and less biased than assessment by eye. But in practice it correlates no better with fertility than ‘byeye assessment’. However, recent studies suggest more in-depth analysis of the way in which the sperm move, which is possible using CASA, may provide extra information about fertilizing potential of sperm.

Thoroughbred mares are always covered naturally, although semen is collected via an artificial vagina for evaluation purposes

quality is a good indicator of sub-fertility, ‘good’ semen quality in terms of sperm number, motility and normal appearance is not a guarantee of good fertility.

For this purpose, more accurate means of assessing stallion fertility need to be developed.

The greatest difficulty when attempting to predict stallion fertility is that most tests assess only a limited

100 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

proportion of the attributes that a sperm must possess to fertilise an egg. Therefore, they will identify stallions with an obvious problem for that one parameter, but may fail to identify a catastrophic abnormality elsewhere. For this reason, combinations of tests are likely to be more reliable, both for identifying sub-fertile animals and for predicting fertility.

Approaches include:

Sperm mitochondrial function Mitochondria are the principal energy source of cells, and analysing mitochondrial function offers a means of assessing the potential of sperm to remain motile in the longer term. In man, there is some evidence that low sperm mitochondrial function correlates with reduced sperm motility and poor fertility. Studies to determine whether this is also true in stallions have been initiated.

Computer-assisted sperm head morphometry Computers can also be used to analyse the shape of a sperm’s head; some subfertile stallions appear to have a significantly lower percentage of sperm with normally shaped heads. This suggests that sperm head morphometry could be a useful adjunct to routine

Vets forum

“Because the most popular stallions are used on increasing numbers of mares, the number of normal sperm may drop”

Fluorescent staining to evaluate capacitation. Pink sperm are capacitated

semen analysis for fertility prediction.

Hypoosmotic swelling test This is a means of investigating membrane integrity in sperm that indicates not only whether the membrane is intact, but also whether it is osmotically active. The test is easy to perform and, in men, has been reported to correlate highly with fertility; this relationship has not yet been proven in horses.

Nevertheless, it is likely that the test would identify a small population of subfertile stallions who would not have been identified by conventional semen analysis.

Capacitation and the acrosome reaction To develop the ability to fertilize an oocyte, ejaculated sperm must first be activated during ‘capacitation’ which, in turn, enables the sperm to bind to an oocyte and undergo the ‘acrosome reaction’. Both processes are essential for fertilization and,

Sperm with a green cap are acrosome reacted

therefore, analyzing whether sperm are able to undergo these two processes when stimulated will identify how many sperm are capable of fertilization.

Sperm progesterone receptor exposure It is thought that progesterone present in follicular fluid is involved in inducing the acrosome reaction in stallion sperm, and that it exerts its effects via specific sperm progesterone receptors. In some stallions, sub-fertility has been correlated to an inability of their sperm to undergo the acrosome reaction in response to exposure to progesterone (or other inducers of the acrosome reaction).

The sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) A sperm’s DNA is very tightly packed (‘condensed’) and it has been suggested that this packing helps protect the DNA from environmental stress, damage and mutation. In

man and cattle, it has been shown that sperm DNA in some men is relatively unstable and more prone to damage. Moreover, increased sperm DNA instability is related to subfertility or recurrent pregnancy loss. Sperm DNA instability may similarly explain why some stallions with apparently normal sperm quality have low pregnancy rates and high early pregnancy loss rates.

Initial studies indicate that stallions with relatively high levels of sperm DNA instability are poorly fertile.

Conclusions During the last two decades, improvements in veterinary management have resulted in a significant increase in average fertility rates in intensively managed horses.

Nevertheless, it is clear that breeding stallions vary greatly in their per-cycle fertility rates and that some achieve acceptable pregnancy rates per season despite marginal pregnancy rates per mated oestrous cycle.

In recent years, these differences have been magnified because the most popular stallions are used on increasing numbers of mares; the result is that the number of normal sperm introduced into the uterus at each mating or insemination may drop below that required for good chance of fertilization.

To avoid this, there is a clear need for tests that can predict fertility with reasonable certainty before a stallion embarks on his breeding career or season; at the very least they will provide useful information about the number of mares he can mate with. In the past, the ‘holy grail’ was thought to be a single test that correlated strongly with in-field fertility. However, as our knowledge of the myriad attributes a sperm needs if it is to successfully fertilise an oocyte has increased, it has become evident that a single test is unrealistic.

Instead, most researchers are trying to identify a combination of tests that covers the most important aspects of sperm function.

Because it is desirable to limit the complexity and costs of semen evaluation, flow cytometry has emerged as a favoured tool. Stains are now available for assessing sperm viability, capacitation and acrosome status, DNA instability and mitochondrial function. Further research in this important area should focus on identifying the combination of tests that best correlates with fertility.

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 101

The Caulfield Files

America’s loss is gain for France Anabaa’s return to his native land comes immediately after the conclusion of one of the most rewarding years for his progeny The announcement that Anabaa would be standing the 2007 northern hemisphere season at Castleton Lyons in Kentucky seemed to make excellent sense at the time.

According to Martine Head, whose family had been standing Anabaa at their Haras du Quesnay since 1997, the son of Danzig “had outgrown the French market”. And moving a champion sprinter by Danzig to America seemed a shrewd move at a time when America’s gradual switch to synthetic surfaces promised to favour fast horses with turf backgrounds.

So much for theory! According to American Jockey Club statistics, Anabaa covered only 54 mares at a fee of $40,000 in 2007, even though some of Castleton Lyons’ other residents attracted much bigger books, with Malibu Moon leading the way with 152 mares. No wonder it was announced in August that Anabaa’s American adventure was over and that he would return to France after his usual stint at Widden Stud in Australia.

This is very much a case of America’s loss being France’s gain. Anabaa’s return to France comes immediately after the conclusion of one of the most rewarding seasons for his progeny.

Only Danehill, sire of the Arcwinning Dylan Thomas, accumulated more prize-money than Anabaa in France and it was Anabaa who took the title of champion sire of two-year-olds, with 11 winners from 24 runners (plus several others elsewhere in Europe). These 2007 two-yearolds come from a crop of around 60 foals (ignore the figure given in the 2008 Weatherbys Stallion Book which has, unfortunately, combined northern and southern hemisphere foals).

Anabaa’s 2007 juveniles were

102 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

PHOTOS: TREVOR JONES

DATA BOOK

The latest developments in the bloodstock world...by Andrew Caulfield

Anabaa was champion sire of two-year-olds in France for 2007

an impressive collection, led by three Group horses. The tough British filly Celtic Slipper followed up some fine home efforts with an easy victory in the Group 3 Premio Dormello, while Conference Call made a bold bid to lead throughout in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac, only to be

mown down by Zarkava. The dual winner Hannouma also finished second at Group 1 level, when beaten by Full Of Gold in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud.

There is every chance that several of Anabaa’s other juvenile winners will also progress to Group level. Ossun has already

won at Listed level, while Verba, an eight-length debut winner, was third in the Group 3 Prix Miesque. The Wertheimers’ royally-bred filly Goldikova, who was unbeaten in two starts in the autumn, and the Aga Khan’s Irish filly Simawa, a winning half-sister to Sinndar, are others to keep an eye on.

An interesting aspect of Anabaa’s return to France is that his fee has been set at €27,000 – a figure pretty much on a par with the US$40,000 charged for him in Kentucky.

However, his fee had been €45,000 in the four seasons from 2002 to 2005 and

“Anabaa has become a fixture among France’s top ten stallions” €35,000 in 2006. Anabaa had started out at a much cheaper Ff100,000, before his fee had been raised substantially in response to his taking the title of France’s champion sire of two-year-olds in 2000 with his first crop.

That first crop contained winners of the Prix Marcel Boussac, French Derby and Hong Kong Cup, and it is fair to say that subsequent crops haven’t risen to such impressive heights, even though Anabaa has become a fixture among France’s top ten stallions.

The announcement that Anabaa had arrived back in France from Australia in early January stated that Anabaa’s travelling days are over. Now 16, he will remain in France for good and won’t return to

Widden Stud after shuttling for ten years.

Anabaa’s Australian visits have been fruitful, yielding five Grade 1 winners, the latest being the tongue-twisting Imananabaa, who captured the Railway Stakes over six furlongs on New Year’s Day. The Aussie quintet also includes two other Grade 1-winning sprinters in Yell and Virage De Fortune, but Anabaa’s versatility was underlined in 2006 by his other Grade 1 scorers. Teranaba took the AJC Spring Champion Stakes over ten furlongs, while Headturner triumphed in the AJC Australian Derby over 12 furlongs.

This mirrors Anabaa’s European record. His wide range of winners includes a Prix du Jockey-Club winner in Anabaa Blue and a Prix Vermeille runner-up in Ana Marie. No wonder Martine Head has been quoted in the past as saying: “He has this extraordinary ability that if you send a fast mare to him, you’ll get a fast horse, and if you send a Classic-distance mare to him, you’ll get a Classic-distance runner.”

This, in turn, mirrors the record of Anabaa’s magnificent sire, Danzig. While no race has better illustrated the speed of Danzig’s progeny than the sixfurlong July Cup (of which Anabaa was one of his six winners), Danzig also sired several Group/Grade 1 winners over a mile and a half.

It will be interesting to see how the remainder of Anabaa’s stallion career pans out.

He doesn’t have particularly large numbers to his credit in his northern hemisphere crops from 2005 to 2008, which will put him at a numerical disadvantage with many of today’s stallions, but it will be surprising if he doesn’t continue to be one of the stalwarts of the French industry.

Why winning jumpers in France do merit support Nearly three years ago, we reflected on possible reasons why so many French-bred jumpers have been so successful in Britain and Ireland.

“The question must be asked as to why there are comparatively few entire horses competing over jumps in Britain and Ireland, when there is clearly no great shortage of that type of horse in France,” we wrote.

“Perhaps the explanation lies in the difference between the obstacles on the two sides of the Channel. Could it be that British and Irish fences represent a greater threat to an entire horse’s prospects of fatherhood?

“Another possible explanation for this shortage of entires – and a more likely one to my mind – is that many breeders and trainers automatically resort to gelding, even when a colt’s temperament doesn’t demand it.

“Perhaps breeders need reminding of the names of Celtic Cone, Vulgan, Harwell, Deep Run and Arctic Slave, all

Michael Dickinson

of whom won over jumps before becoming major contributors to National Hunt breeding.”

Having championed the cause of stallions who won over jumps, we received a letter from Michael Dickinson, insisting that winning jumpers generally aren’t fast enough to merit support.

But France’s list of leading sires of chasers and crosscountry horses in 2007 tends to support the view they are.

Third place on the list, behind Video Rock and Mansonnien, was Villez, a winner of ten of his 12 starts over jumps (but of only one of his four races on the Flat).

This Wildenstein colourbearer gained his biggest pay cheque in the Grande Course de Haies des 3 ans.

Fifth place went to another jumper, Discover d’Auteuil, who is responsible for one of France’s best chasers, Or Noir de Somoza. Eighth-placed Nononito may have won the Group 1 Prix du Cadran on the Flat but he later won five of his ten starts over jumps.

His best recent winner is Princesse D’Anjou, winner of the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris in 2006.

Others in the top 20 sires of hurdlers are Dom Alco, a fivetime winner over jumps, and Saint des Saints and Indian River, two sons of Cadoudal who raced only over obstacles.

Madison Du Berlais has already advertised Indian River’s abilities in Britain and no doubt there’ll be plenty more good winners here by winners over jumps in France.

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 103

DATA BOOK NH Graded Races

2. Mount Oscar (IRE) 8 b g Oscar - Sweet Mount (Mandalus)

Twist Magic has a middle-distance Flat pedigree which suggests he should stay at least two and a half miles. His sire Winged Love won the Irish Derby and has sired some smart stayers, including Macleya, second in the 2007 Prix Royal-Oak. Twist Magic’s dam Twist Scarlett won four times at up to one and a half miles in a career which also included a few starts over fences.

Twist Scarlett’s sire Lagunas won the German Derby and so did Athenagoras, sire of Twist Magic’s second dam, Twistqueen.

Twistqueen was a talented half-sister to Twist King, a multiple middledistance Group winner.

Perhaps Twist Magic’s exploits will earn Winged Love stronger support than he has sometimes received in Northern Ireland. He is very well qualified to make a leading National Hunt stallion. At 16.2 hands he has the size to sire chasers and his bloodlines have been associated with considerable success in the jumping world.

Together with Souffleur, Inglis Drever, Landing Light, Westender, Sadlers Wings and Mr Ed, Winged Love is a son of In The Wings.

Also, his broodmare sire is Top Ville, sire of such popular National Hunt stallions as Toulon, Norwich, Un Desperado, Pistolet Bleu, Beneficial and Shardari.

3. Nakai (FR) 6 b g Esprit du Nord - Hermes de Beaulieu (Panoramic)

57 PADDY POWER H HURDLE LR

LIGHTNING STRIKE (GER) ch g 2003

SANDOWN PARK. Dec 8. 16f 110yds. Heavy.

54 WORCESTER NOVICES’ CHASE G2 NEWBURY. December 2. 24f. Soft.

1. JOE LIVELY (IRE) 8 b g Flemensfirth - Forest Gale (Strong Gale) O-RE Dimond B-John O’Callaghan TR-CL Tizzard 2. Here’s Johnny (IRE) 8 ch g Presenting - Treble Base (Orchestra) Only two finished

JOE LIVELY (IRE) b g 1999 Tom Rolfe Wavy Navy Prince John Princess Pout Determined Lady Sharpen Up Diesis Doubly Sure Royal Coinage Royal Bund Nato Sir Gaylord Lord Gayle Sticky Case Tamerlane Sterntau Sterna Auriban Bargello Isabelle Brand Heron Bridge Barberstown Lass Barberstown Princess Hoist The Flag

Alleged FLEMENSFIRTH b 92 Etheldreda

Strong Gale FOREST GALE b 85 Baobab

55 WINTER NOVICES’ HURDLE G2 SANDOWN PARK. Dec 7. 20f 110yds. Heavy.

1. LIGHTNING STRIKE (GER) 4 ch g Danehill Dancer - La Capilla (Machiavellian) O-John Nicholls (Trading) Ltd B-Dr C Berglar TR-Miss Venetia Williams

Danzig Danehill Razyana DANEHILL DANCER b 93 Sharpen Up Mira Adonde Lettre d’Amour Mr Prospector Machiavellian Coup de Folie LA CAPILLA b 92 Surumu La Concordia La Dorada

Northern Dancer Pas de Nom His Majesty Spring Adieu Atan Rocchetta Caro Lianga Raise A Native Gold Digger Halo Raise The Standard Literat Surama Kronzeuge Love In

EMOTIONAL MOMENT (IRE) b g 1997 Tom Rolfe Wavy Navy Alleged Prince John Princess Pout Determined Lady RELIGIOUSLY bbr 84 Crafty Admiral Admiral’s Voyage Olympia Lou Pas de Nom Petition Petitioner Steady Aim Lyphard Pharly Comely Phardante Taj Dewan Pallante Cavadonga ROSCEEN BUI b 89 Native Dancer Gala Performance Red Letter Day Tullow Performance Border Chief Maid of Tullow Gay Combat Hoist The Flag

59 HENRY VIII NOVICES’ CHASE G2 SANDOWN PARK. December 8. 16f. Soft.

1. MARODIMA (FR) 4 b g Robin des Pres - Balbeyssac (Beyssac) O-DA Johnson B-Earl La Vastine et al TR-PF Nicholls 2. Mahogany Blaze (FR) 5 b g Kahyasi - Mahogany River (Irish River) 3. Pancake (FR) 4 ch g Cyborg - Six Fois Sept (Epervier Bleu) MARODIMA (FR) b g 2003 Green Dancer Cadoudal Come To Sea ROBIN DES PRES b 94 Iron Duke Relayeuse Reliorneuse Paris Jour Beyssac Dori BALBEYSSAC b 96 Balsamo Balmarole

1. RING THE BOSS (IRE) 6 b g Kahyasi - Fortune’s Girl (Ardross) O-Alan Peterson B-Goldford Stud TR-PJ Hobbs 2. Breedsbreeze (IRE) 5 b g Fresh Breeze - Godfreys Cross (Fine Blade)

Trypnina

Top Ville J’Ai Deux Amours Pollenka Ile de Bourbon Lagunas Liranga TWIST SCARLETT b 92 Athenagoras Twistqueen Twistlady

Armos Pampa Bella Kendie Our Native

Northern Dancer Flaming Page Misti IV Roseliere Peace Rose Red God Blushing Groom Runaway Bride Sheshoon Kalkeen Gioia Tom Rolfe Run The Gantlet First Feather Levmoss Le Melody Arctic Melody High Hat High Line Time Call Track Spare Triumphant Pugnacity

Kadissya

FORTUNE’S GIRL b 88 Heaven High

Witchy Woman ANNIE CARES ch 92 Golden Love

3. One Cool Cookie (IRE) 6 ch g Old Vic - Lady Bellingham (Montelimar)

Medium Misti IV Mist ROSELIER gr 73 Fastnet Rock Peace Rose La Paix Lord Gayle Strong Gale Sterntau PARK BREEZE bbr 88 Saint Denys Park Delight Lover’s Delight

Meridien Melodie Tornado La Touche Ocean Swell Stone of Fortune Seven Seas Anne de Bretagne Sir Gaylord Sticky Case Tamerlane Sterna Dionisio Fand Sea Lover Lady Of The Wave

TWIST MAGIC (FR) b g 2002

High Hawk

Sega Ville PISTOLET BLEU b 88

THE LISTENER (IRE) gr g 1999

Ardross

WINGED LOVE b 92

3. Made In Taipan (IRE) 5 br g Taipan - No Easy Way (Mandalus)

High Top

1. THE LISTENER (IRE) 8 gr g Roselier - Park Breeze (Strong Gale) O-Old Moss Farm B-Daniel C Keating, Patrick Keating TR-RH Alner

RING THE BOSS (IRE) b g 2001

KAHYASI b 85

In The Wings

2. Quintana (IRE) 4 b g Fruits of Love - Smyths Lady (Ajraas)

Be My Native

SANDOWN PARK. December 8. 16f. Soft.

Sadler’s Wells

1. YOUR SUM MAN (IRE) 5 b g Pistolet Bleu - Annie Cares (Be My Native) O-Mrs David Nagle B-William Treacy TR-Anthony Mullins

Top Ville

2. Mansony (FR) 8 br g Mansonnien - Hairly (Air de Cour)

Ile de Bourbon

3. Monet’s Garden (IRE) 9 gr g Roselier - Royal Remainder (Remainder Man)

PUNCHESTOWN. December 9. 16f. Heavy.

PUNCHESTOWN. December 9. 20f. Heavy.

Nijinsky

2. Voy Por Ustedes (FR) 6 b g Villez - Nuit D’ecajeul (Matahawk)

61 INH STALLION OWNERS EBF NOVICE HURDLE LR

YOUR SUM MAN (IRE) b g 2002

60 JOHN DURKAN MEMORIAL PUNCHESTOWN CHASE G1

=3. European Dream (IRE) 4 br g Kalanisi - Tereed Elhawa (Cadeaux Genereux) =3. Wingman (IRE) 5 b g In The Wings - Precedence (Polish Precedent)

56 TINGLE CREEK CHASE G1

1. TWIST MAGIC (FR) 5 b g Winged Love - Twist Scarlett (Lagunas) O-B Fulton, T Hayward, M Lynch B-Dr Georg Hastrich & Co TR-PF Nicholls

Nijinsky Green Valley Sea Hawk II Camarilla Sicambre Insulaire El Relicario Ordonneuse Herbager La Petite Hutte Nordiste Paraphernalia Kashmir II Reine Helaine Tryptic Antonina

represented a rare outing for The Listener over a distance short of three miles, but the heavy going helped him exploit the considerable stamina that was one of the hallmarks of Roselier’s stock. His sons Bindaree and Royal Athlete won the Grand National, and he also sired winners of the Scottish, Welsh and Irish Nationals, thanks to such as Baronet, Moorcroft Boy, Carvill’s Hill, Kendal Cavalier and Ebony Jane.

The Listener is out of Park Breeze, a daughter of Strong Gale, who is also the broodmare sire of Roselier’s smart son Travino. The Listener is Park Breeze’s second good winner by Roselier, following Fork Lightning. Park Breeze is herself a sister to Risk Of Thunder, the veteran cross-country chaser.

The Listener’s second dam Park Delight was a half-sister to Rain Lover, winner of the Northumbria Chase over three miles.

Nobody Cares Liam’s Dolly

Derring-Do Camenae Charlottesville La Sega Mossborough Ardelle Klairon Amagalla Exclusive Native Our Jackie Strate Stuff Witchy Norma Above Suspicion Syncopation Konigssee Our Baby

62 BOYLESPORTS.COM CASHBACK H CHASE LR CHELTENHAM. Dec 14. 25f 110yds. Good.

1. OVER THE CREEK (GB) 8 br g Over The River - Solo Girl (Le Bavard) O-DA Johnson B-HG Llewellyn TR-DE Pipe 2. Simon (GB) 8 b g Overbury - Gaye Memory (Buckskin) 3. Monkerhostin (FR) 10 b g Shining Steel - Ladoun (Kaldoun) OVER THE CREEK (GB) br g 1999

Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge Shirley Heights Sunbittern High Top Sega Ville Reliance II Polana Nijinsky Roseliere Literat Love In Nasram II Avenida Our Michael Two Timing Lady

58 PROUDSTOWN H HURDLE GrC NAVAN. December 8. 23f. Heavy.

1. EMOTIONAL MOMENT (IRE) 10 b g Religiously - Rosceen Bui (Phardante) O-Watercork Syndicate B-Tom Taaffe TR-TJ Taaffe 2. Slim Pickings (IRE) 8 b g Scribano - Adapan (Pitpan) 3. Chelsea Harbour (IRE) 7 b g Old Vic - Jennyellen (Phardante)

104 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

Although it is now 35 years since the birth of Roselier – and ten years since his death – the French Champion Hurdle winner is still making a serious impact on National Hunt racing. His sons The Listener and Monet’s Garden both ranked among the highest-rated chasers of 2007, with The Listener making all to land his second Gr1 victory in the Punchestown Chase.

At two and a half miles, that race

Clarion III Kalmia Cranach Flute Enchantee Montagnana My Babu Prudent II Providence Dan Cupid Ma Congaie Annapurna II Worden Devon Sees Le Haar Lueur Doree Lueur d’Espoir Rockefella Linacre True Picture Vimy Leuze Over The Border Klairon

Luthier OVER THE RIVER ch 74 Medenine

Le Bavard SOLO GIRL b 88 Go-It-Alone

Caulfield on Denman: “He already has the distinction of being the highest-rated winner by the champion sire Presenting” (pg 108) 63 RELKEEL HURDLE G2

66 BOYLESPORTS.COM GOLD CUP H CHASE G3

69 HILLY WAY CHASE G2

72 BARRY & SANDRA KELLY MEMORIAL NOVICE HURDLE G1

CHELTENHAM. Dec 15. 21f 110yds. Good.

CHELTENHAM. December 15. 21f. Good.

CORK. December 16. 16f. Soft.

NAVAN. December 16. 20f. Good to yielding.

1. POUVOIR (FR) 4 gr g Verglas - Policia (Policeman) O-Mr & Mrs R Scott B-Count Edouard Decazes TR-A King

1. TAMARINBLEU (FR) 7 b g Epervier Bleu - Tamainia (Lashkari) O-The Arthur White Partnership B-EARL Lucy TR-DE Pipe

1. OUR BEN (GB) 8 ch g Presenting - Forest Pride (Be My Native) O-Trevor Hemmings B-Granham Farm TR-WP Mullins

1. TRAFFORD LAD (GB) 5 b g Tragic Role - Another Shuil (Duky) O-Butler Family Syndicate B-R & Mrs S Edwards TR-E Sheehy

2. Good Bye Simon (FR) 4 gr g Simon du Desert - Marie de Pharis (Pas de Seul)

2. Le Volfoni (FR) 6 b g Sicyos - Brume (Courtroom)

2. Hi Cloy (IRE) 10 b g Be My Native - Thomastown Girl (Tekoah)

2. Gem Daly (FR) 6 br g Nikos - Tinopasa (No Pass No Sale)

3. Pigeon Island (GB) 4 gr g Daylami - Morina (Lyphard)

3. Patman du Charmil (FR) 5 b g Robin des Pres - Pacifie du Charmil (Dom Pasquini)

3. Foreman (GER) 9 ch g Monsun - Fleurie (Dashing Blade)

3. Decoy Daddy (IRE) 5 ch g Lord of Appeal - Young Bebe (M Double M)

TAMARINBLEU (FR) b g 2000

OUR BEN (GB) ch g 1999

POUVOIR (FR) gr g 2003 Kenmare Highest Honor High River VERGLAS gr 94 Secreto Rahaam Fager’s Glory Riverman Policeman Indianapolis POLICIA b 89 Versailles II Aeolia Aquia

Kalamoun Belle of Ireland Riverman Hairbrush Northern Dancer Betty’s Secret Mr Prospector Street’s Glory Never Bend River Lady Barbare Iberide Right Royal V Decor Baldric II Dixence

Luthier Saint Cyrien Sevres EPERVIER BLEU b 87 Abdos Equadif Gracilla Mill Reef Lashkari Larannda TAMAINIA b 89 Relkino Tamarinda Belle Doche

Klairon Flute Enchantee Riverman Saratoga Arbar Pretty Lady Prince Bio Altagracia Never Bend Milan Mill Right Royal V Morning Calm Relko Pugnacity Riverman Bellerive

Busted Mtoto Amazer PRESENTING br 92 Persian Bold D’Azy Belle Viking Our Native Be My Native Witchy Woman FOREST PRIDE b 89 Scorpio Woodforest Larch

TRAFFORD LAD (GB) b g 2002 Crepello Sans Le Sou Mincio Alzara Bold Lad Relkarunner Riverman Vallarta Exclusive Native Our Jackie Strate Stuff Witchy Norma Sir Gaylord Zambara Busted Fircone

64 DECEMBER NOVICES’ CHASE G2

67 SUMMIT JUNIOR JUVENILE HURDLE G2

70 LOMBARDSTOWN NOVICE CHASE LR

LINGFIELD PARK. December 15. 24f. Heavy.

LINGFIELD PARK. Dec 15. 16f 110yds. Heavy.

CORK. December 16. 17f. Soft.

1. VERASI (GB) 6 b g Kahyasi - Fair Verona (Alleged) O-F Ledger, J Bateman B-DJ And Mrs Deer TR-GL Moore

1. LEMON SILK (IRE) 3 ch g Barathea - Bois de Citron (Woodman) O-AS Helaissi B-Duncan Grimley TR-KJ Burke

1. POMME TIEPY (FR) 4 b f Apple Tree - Unetiepy (Marasali) O-Mrs S Ricci B-M Michel, M Georges Contign TR-WP Mullins

2. Labelthou (FR) 8 b m Saint Preuil - Suzy de Thou (Toujours Pret)

2. Art Professor (IRE) 3 b g In The Wings - Itab (Dayjur)

2. Outlaw Princess (IRE) 7 b m Beneficial - All French (Lepanto)

3. Old Benny (GB) 6 b g Saddlers’ Hall - Jack’s The Girl (Supreme Leader)

3. Five Dream (FR) 3 b g Take Risks - Jenny Pous (Kaid Pous)

3. All Heart (GB) 6 ch m Alhaarth - Meznh (Mujtahid)

VERASI (GB) b g 2001

LEMON SILK (IRE) ch g 2004

POMME TIEPY (FR) b f 2003

Northern Dancer Flaming Page Misti IV Roseliere Peace Rose Red God Blushing Groom Runaway Bride Sheshoon Kalkeen Gioia Tom Rolfe Hoist The Flag Wavy Navy Prince John Princess Pout Determined Lady Bold Ruler What A Pleasure Grey Flight Gallant Romeo My Juliet My Bupers Nijinsky

Ile de Bourbon KAHYASI b 85 Kadissya

Alleged FAIR VERONA b 96 Just Juliet

Northern Dancer Sadler’s Wells Fairy Bridge BARATHEA b 90 Habitat Brocade Canton Silk Mr Prospector Woodman Playmate BOIS DE CITRON b 98 Salse Lemon Souffle Melodrama

Nearctic Natalma Bold Reason Special Sir Gaylord Little Hut Runnymede Clouded Lamp Raise A Native Gold Digger Buckpasser Intriguing Topsider Carnival Princess Busted Matinee

Kalamoun Bikala Irish Bird APPLE TREE ch 89 Carvin II Pomme Rose Sentinelle Tennyson Marasali Monique UNETIEPY b 86 Thia La Oltiepy

Unknown

Zeddaan Khairunissa Sea Bird II Irish Lass II Marino Coraline Antler Savanne Val de Loir Tidra Tanerko Matina Windy Unregistered Unknown Unknown

65 BRISTOL NOVICES’ HURDLE G2

68 INTERNATIONAL HURDLE G2

71 TARA HURDLE G2

CHELTENHAM. December 15. 24f. Good.

CHELTENHAM. December 15. 17f. Good.

NAVAN. December 16. 20f. Good to yielding.

1. NENUPHAR COLLONGES (FR) 6 b g Video Rock - Diane Collonges (El Badr) O-Top Brass Partnership B-Gaec Delorme Freres TR-A King

1. OSANA (FR) 5 b g Video Rock - Voilette (Brezzo) O-Thomas Barr B-Yves D’Armaille TR-DE Pipe

1. JAZZ MESSENGER (FR) 7 b g Acatenango - In The Saltmine (Damister) O-RST Syndicate B-NP Bloodstock Ltd TR-Noel Meade

2. Gone To Lunch (IRE) 7 ch g Mohaajir - Jayells Dream (Space King)

2. Katchit (IRE) 4 b g Kalanisi - Miracle (Ezzoud)

2. Sweet Kiln (IRE) 8 b m Beneficial - Miss Pollerton (Pollerton)

3. Souffleur (GB) 4 b g In The Wings - Salinova (Linamix)

3. Penzance (GB) 6 ch g Pennekamp - Kalinka (Soviet Star)

3. Adamant Approach (IRE) 13 b g Mandalus - Crash Approach (Crash Course)

NENUPHAR COLLONGES (FR) b g 2001

OSANA (FR) b g 2002

Klairon Flute Enchantee No Lute Prudent II Prudent Miss Miss Glasso VIDEO ROCK br 84 Forli Home Guard Stay At Home Pauvresse Blakeney Misoptimist Heat Beat Busted Weavers’ Hall Marians El Badr Astec Indian Maid Currarevagh DIANE COLLONGES b 91 Carmarthen Cap Martin Grande Hetaire Mariane Collonge Vieux Chateau Gitane Collonges Penelope Luthier

Luthier No Lute Prudent Miss VIDEO ROCK br 84 Home Guard Pauvresse Misoptimist Gift Card Brezzo Brezette VOILETTE b 87 Laniste Jolivette Diane

Nearctic Natalma Forli Special Thong Ribot Graustark Flower Bowl Tom Fool Dinner Partner Bluehaze Djeddah Midsummer Night II Night Sound Parthia Frondia French Fern Pampered King Deep Run Trial By Fire Black Tarquin Shuil Dubh Shuil Shee Northern Dancer

Nureyev TRAGIC ROLE bbr 86 Don’t Sulk

Duky ANOTHER SHUIL ch 88 Shuil Eile

Buyers weren’t interested when Blakeley Stud offered a gelded son of Tragic Role at the 2006 Derby sale, the four-year-old being led out unsold at €10,500. The picture is very different now. Named Trafford Lad, the gelding is unbeaten in three starts and he became a Gr1 winner in the Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle.

The lack of interest in Trafford Lad in the sales ring was possibly attributable to his sire. However, he isn’t the first Gr1 winner by Tragic Role, whose son Shadow Leader impressively won the Citroen Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the 1997 Cheltenham Festival. Tragic Role, a very well-connected son of Nureyev, looked as though he might justify his 525,000gns yearling price when he won over 12 furlongs at Longchamp on his debut, but that proved to be his only race.

Trafford Lad comes from an excellent family. His dam Another Shuil won a point-to-point and is a half-sister to Shuil Eile, dam of Rawhide and the smart hurdler Shuil Ar Aghaidh (Stayers’ Hurdle).

Shuil Eile was a sister to Why Forget, runner-up in the 1984 Scottish National, and their dam Shuil Dubh was a half-sister to Shuil Le Dia, dam of the Welsh National winner Jocks Cross, and Shuil Agragh, dam of the Scottish National winner Baronet.

JAZZ MESSENGER (FR) b g 2000 Klairon Flute Enchantee Prudent II Miss Glasso Forli Stay At Home Blakeney Heat Beat Dan Cupid Gracious Gift Mossborough Chanceliere Tarquin Louisianne II Vieux Chateau Kali

Literat Surumu Surama ACATENANGO ch 82 Aggressor Aggravate Raven Locks Mr Prospector Damister Batucada IN THE SALTMINE b 92 Pentathlon Isabellina Isabellita

Birkhahn Lis Reliance II Suncourt Combat Phaetonia Mr Jinks Gentlemen’s Relish Raise A Native Gold Digger Roman Line Whistle A Tune Ennis Palmural Neckar Indra

73 FUTURE CHAMPION NH FLAT RACE G2 NAVAN. December 16. 16f. Good to yielding.

1. CORSKEAGH ROYALE (IRE) 4 ch g Beneficial - Rubys Shadow (Supreme Leader) O-Queen Maeve Racing Club B-Sean Reilly TR-Noel Meade 2. Lord Over (GB) 6 b g Kahyasi - Santana Lady (Blakeney) 3. Lucky Wish (GB) 4 b g Alhaarth - All The Luck (Mr Prospector)

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 105

DATA BOOK NH Graded Races

CORSKEAGH ROYALE (IRE) ch g 2003 High Top Top Ville Sega Ville BENEFICIAL b 90 Green Dancer Youthful First Bloom Bustino Supreme Leader Princess Zena RUBYS SHADOW b 95 Mandalus Gothic Shadow Gothic Arch

Derring-Do Camenae Charlottesville La Sega Nijinsky Green Valley Primera Flower Dance Busted Ship Yard Habitat Guiding Light Mandamus Laminate Gail Star Arch Girl

74 CORK STAYERS NOVICE HURDLE G3

DEEP PURPLE (GB) b g 2001 Atan Rocchetta Reliance II Doubly Sure Soft Angels Nijinsky Green Dancer Green Valley Pontifex Never A Lady Camogie Nearctic Northern Dancer Natalma Sir Ivor Cloonlara Fish-Bar Mr Prospector Hello Gorgeous Bonny Jet Parthia Parthica Violetta III

Diesis HALLING ch 91 Dance Machine

Glenstal SEAL INDIGO b 88 Simply Gorgeous

77 BARCLAYS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDARD OPEN NH FLAT RACE G2

CORK. December 16. 24f. Soft.

ASCOT. December 22. 16f. Good to firm.

1. PARSONS PISTOL (IRE) 5 b g Pistolet Bleu - Parsons Honour (The Parson) O-RJ Bagnall B-Martin Nestor TR-Noel Meade

1. UFFA FOX (IRE) 4 b g Bravefoot - Ocean Mist (Crash Course) O-Lady V Aitken, Mrs F Walwyn, D Heath B-Mrs Margaret O’Donnell TR-B de Haan

2. Uncle Junior (IRE) 6 b g Saddlers’ Hall - Caslain Nua (Seymour Hicks)

2. Hold Em (IRE) 5 b g Moscow Society - One To Two (Astronef)

3. Spaceman (GB) 4 b c In The Wings - Souk (Ahonoora)

3. Shoreacres (IRE) 4 b g Turtle Island - Call Me Dara (Arapahos)

PARSONS PISTOL (IRE) b g 2002

UFFA FOX (IRE) b g 2003

Derring-Do High Top Camenae Top Ville Charlottesville Sega Ville La Sega PISTOLET BLEU b 88 Mossborough Armos Ardelle Pampa Bella Klairon Kendie Amagalla Hyperion Aureole Angelola The Parson Chanteur II Bracey Bridge Rutherford Bridge PARSONS HONOUR b 89 Pampered King Deep Run Trial By Fire Deep Fern Coronation Year Sweet Coronation Sweet Sunday

Dancing Brave BRAVEFOOT b 88 Swiftfoot

Crash Course OCEAN MIST b 89 Sailor’s Will

Northern Dancer Lyphard Goofed Drone Navajo Princess Olmec Tom Rolfe Run The Gantlet First Feather Relko Whitefoot Mitraille Crepello Busted Sans Le Sou Persian Gulf Lucky Stream Kypris Saint Crespin III Laurence O Feevagh Will Somers Some Will Say Say The Word

75 NOEL NOVICES’ CHASE G2

78 LADBROKE H HURDLE LR

ASCOT. December 21. 19f. Good to firm.

ASCOT. December 22. 16f. Good to firm.

1. HOBBS HILL (GB) 8 b g Alflora - Rim of Pearl (Rymer) O-Mrs P Orton B-Shade Oak Stud, D & Mrs Jenks TR-CR Egerton

1. JACK THE GIANT (IRE) 5 b g Giant’s Causeway - State Crystal (High Estate) O-Hanbury Syndicate B-Mrs F Schwarzenbach TR-NJ Henderson

2. Battlecry (GB) 6 bbr g Accordion - Miss Orchestra (Orchestra)

2. Alsadaa (USA) 4 b g Kingmambo - Aljawza (Riverman)

3. Keepthedreamalive (GB) 9 gr g Roselier - Nicklup (Netherkelly)

3. King’s Revenge (GB) 4 br g Wizard King - Retaliator (Rudimentary)

HOBBS HILL (GB) b g 1999 Nijinsky Niniski Virginia Hills ALFLORA b 89 Bold Lad Adrana Le Melody Reliance II Rymer Piave RIM OF PEARL b 83 My Smokey Pearl Smoke Arctic Pearl

LOUGH DERG (FR) b g 2000

Sharpen Up

Kalamoun Bikala Irish Bird APPLE TREE ch 89 Carvin II Pomme Rose Sentinelle Top Ville Pistolet Bleu Pampa Bella ASTURIAS b 96 Ace of Aces Asania Aurinette

Zeddaan Khairunissa Sea Bird II Irish Lass II Marino Coraline Antler Savanne High Top Sega Ville Armos Kendie Vaguely Noble Sofarsogood Sheshoon Aurea II

Lough Derg’s chasing career ended disappointingly, with a pulled-up effort on his penultimate start being followed by a fall on his final attempt, but his failure to adapt fully to the bigger obstacles has proved a blessing. The French-bred gelding has flourished since his return to hurdling, notably winning by nine lengths from Hardy Eustace in the Long Walk Hurdle – a race in which he had finished second to Mighty Man in 2006.

Lough Derg is by Apple Tree, a horse described by Timeform as “a strapping individual who carries plenty of condition.” Trained by Andre Fabre, Apple Tree achieved the rare distinction of winning Gr1 races in four different countries – Germany, the USA, England and France – and the top-class mile-anda-half performer also finished third in the Arc. Unfortunately, the fact that he was by Bikala, a disappointing stallion, no doubt counted against Apple Tree as a Flat sire. He is also the sire of Mondial Jack, a one-time useful chaser.

Lough Derg’s dam Asturias showed little in four starts on the Flat but she is by Pistolet Bleu, who sired plenty of talented jumpers, with Geos, Katarino, Vodka Bleu and Sizing Europe being four of the best. Asturias is a half-sister to Astronomer, a Listed winner over hurdles at Enghien, and to As You Are, dam of La Landiere.

81 HORSE AND JOCKEY HOTEL HURDLE LR THURLES. December 23. 16f. Good.

1. SUNSHINE GUEST (IRE) 7 br m Be My Guest - Arrow Field (Sunshine Forever) O-Wee Six Syndicate B-Harry Sweeney TR-MJ Grassick 2. Holly Tree (IRE) 7 br g Accordion - Lime Tree (Bulldozer) 3. Paramount (FR) 5 b g Octagonal - Passionnee (Woodman) SUNSHINE GUEST (IRE) br m 2000 Nearco Lady Angela Native Dancer Almahmoud Owen Tudor Tudor Minstrel Sansonnet Stymie Rare Treat Rare Perfume Hail To Reason Roberto Bramalea Graustark Outward Sunshine Golden Trail Riverman Irish River Irish Star General Assembly Innsbruck Roycon Nearctic

Northern Dancer

Natalma

BE MY GUEST ch 74 What A Treat

Sunshine Forever ARROW FIELD bbr 95 Queen’s River

82 KING GEORGE VI CHASE G1 KEMPTON PARK. Dec 26. 24f. Good to soft.

1. KAUTO STAR (FR) 7 b g Village Star - Kauto Relka (Port Etienne) O-Clive D Smith B-Mme Henri Aubert TR-PF Nicholls 2. Our Vic (IRE) 9 b g Old Vic - Shabra Princess (Buckskin) 3. Exotic Dancer (FR) 7 b g Turgeon - Northine (Northern Treat) See race 36 in the January issue for analysis KAUTO STAR (FR) b g 2000 Mill Reef Moulin High Fidelyty VILLAGE STAR ch 83 Reliance II Glitter Glistening Mill Reef Port Etienne Sierra Morena KAUTO RELKA b 93 Kautokeino Kautorette Verdurette

Never Bend Milan Mill Hautain Paladrina Tantieme Relance III Aureole Causerie Never Bend Milan Mill Canisbay Saigon Relko Cranberry Lionel Tyrolina

JACK THE GIANT (IRE) b g 2002 Northern Dancer Flaming Page Tom Rolfe Ridin’ Easy Bold Ruler Barn Pride Levmoss Arctic Melody Tantieme Relance III Alcide Peseta II Signal Light Strathmore Iceberg II Honeyweed

76 KENNEL GATE NOVICES’ HURDLE G2

Northern Dancer South Ocean Secretariat Terlingua Crimson Saint GIANT’S CAUSEWAY ch 97 Blushing Groom Rahy Glorious Song Mariah’s Storm Roberto Immense Imsodear Mill Reef Shirley Heights Hardiemma High Estate Princely Native Regal Beauty Dennis Belle STATE CRYSTAL b 91 Accipiter Beldale Flutter Flitter Flutter Crystal Spray Great Nephew Crystal Fountain Crystal Palace Storm Bird

80 SILVER CUP H CHASE LR

83 CHRISTMAS HURDLE G1

ASCOT. December 22. 24f. Good to firm.

KEMPTON PARK. Dec 26. 16f. Good to soft.

1. VODKA BLEU (FR) 8 b g Pistolet Bleu - Viva Vodka (Crystal Glitters) O-DA Johnson B-Y Houyvet TR-DE Pipe

1. STRAW BEAR (USA) 6 ch g Diesis - Highland Ceilidh (Scottish Reel) O-John P McManus B-Cyril Humphris TR-NJ Gifford

2. Madison du Berlais (FR) 6 b g Indian River - Anais du Berlais (Dom Pasquini)

2. Harchibald (FR) 8 b g Perugino - Dame d’Harvard (Quest For Fame)

3. Alderburn (GB) 8 b g Alderbrook - Threewaygirl (Orange Bay)

3. Penzance (GB) 6 ch g Pennekamp - Kalinka (Soviet Star)

VODKA BLEU (FR) b g 1999

STRAW BEAR (USA) ch g 2001

Storm Cat

79 LONG WALK HURDLE G1 Top Ville

ASCOT. December 21. 16f. Good to firm.

ASCOT. December 22. 25f. Good to firm.

1. DEEP PURPLE (GB) 6 b g Halling - Seal Indigo (Glenstal) O-Paul Green B-Bricklow Ltd TR-Evan Williams

1. LOUGH DERG (FR) 7 b g Apple Tree - Asturias (Pistolet Bleu) O-W Frewen B-Patrick Gouesnard TR-DE Pipe

2. Willie Pep (IRE) 6 b g Saddlers’ Hall - Favorable Exchange (Exceller)

2. Hardy Eustace (IRE) 10 b g Archway - Sterna Star (Corvaro)

3. Golden Alchemist (GB) 4 ch g Woodborough - Pure Gold (Dilum)

3. Black Jack Ketchum (IRE) 8 b g Oscar - Cailin Supreme (Supreme Leader)

PISTOLET BLEU b 88 Pampa Bella

Crystal Glitters

106 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

Derring-Do Camenae Charlottesville Sega Ville La Sega Mossborough Armos Ardelle Klairon Kendie Amagalla Red God Blushing Groom Runaway Bride Donut King Tales To Tell Fleeting Doll Precipitation Sheshoon Noorani Tantieme Typha Ruta

Atan

High Top

VIVA VODKA b 89 Oak Hill

Sharpen Up Rocchetta DIESIS ch 80 Reliance II Doubly Sure Soft Angels Northfields Scottish Reel Dance All Night HIGHLAND CEILIDH b 88 Wolver Hollow Savage Love Camogie

Native Dancer Mixed Marriage Rockefella Chambiges Tantieme Relance III Crepello Sweet Angel Northern Dancer Little Hut Double-U-Jay Pretty Show Sovereign Path Cygnet Celtic Ash Mesopotamia

Caulfield on Al Eile: “His second dam, Senane, is a half-sister to the Oaks-winning Shahtoush, by Alzao, and the Oaks second Game Plan” (pg 109) Breeder Cyril Humphris hit the jackpot when he sent Camogie’s grand-daughter Dance Machine to Diesis. The mating resulted in Halling, a champion who eventually retired as a winner of 12 of his 18 starts. Halling’s dozen victories included two Eclipse Stakes and two Juddmonte Internationals.

In the circumstances, Humphris could be forgiven for trying to replicate the Halling magic by sending Highland Ceilidh, another grand-daughter of Camogie, to Diesis. The pairing produced four foals, three of them winners, but none of them came close to matching Halling’s achievements on the Flat. The best of them was Straw Bear, who achieved a Timeform rating of 100, and the gelding has gone on to become a leading hurdler. At Kempton he gained his second Gr1 success over Harchibald in the Christmas Hurdle. Straw Bear had earlier finished a fine second in the 2006 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Although Highland Ceilidh was no more than useful, the Groupplaced middle-distance performer ranks among the best winners sired

by Scottish Reel during a generally disappointing stud career. It is perhaps significant that Highland Ceilidh’s grandsire is Northfields, a stallion who made a surprisingly large contribution to the jumping sector, largely through his son Oats.

84 GREENMOUNT PARK NOVICE CHASE G2 LIMERICK. Dec 26. 19f 120yds. Soft to heavy.

1. MERRY COWBOY (IRE) 6 bbr g Rock Hopper - Wishing Velvet (Mandalus) O-Sailors Bar Syndicate B-John Cahill TR-E Sheehy 2. Finger Onthe Pulse (IRE) 6 b g Accordion - Quinnsboro Ice (Glacial Storm) 3. Albanov (IRE) 7 b g Sadler’s Wells - Love For Ever (Darshaan) MERRY COWBOY (IRE) bbr g 2001 Northern Dancer Shareef Dancer Sweet Alliance ROCK HOPPER b 87 Home Guard Cormorant Wood Quarry Wood Mandamus Mandalus Laminate WISHING VELVET b 89 Three Wishes Velvet’s Wish Mullawn Velvet

Nearctic Natalma Sir Ivor Mrs Peterkin Forli Stay At Home Super Sam Phrygia Petition Great Fun Abernant Lamri Straight Deal Fairy Queen Black Tarquin Serpent’s Love

85 ROWLAND MEYRICK H CHASE G3 WETHERBY. December 26. 25f. Good to soft.

1. LOTHIAN FALCON (GB) 8 b g Relief Pitcher - Lothian Rose (Roscoe Blake) O-Peter Maddison B-CJ & Mrs Wilson et al TR-Peter Maddison 2. Leading Man (IRE) 7 b g Old Vic - Cudder Or Shudder (The Parson) 3. Flying Enterprise (IRE) 7 b g Darshaan - Flying Kiss (Sadler’s Wells)

LOTHIAN FALCON (GB) b g 1999 Tudor Melody Picture Light Primera Trinity Term Hilary Term Nearctic Northern Dancer Natalma Bold Ruler Pennant Star Bases Full Hethersett Blakeney Windmill Girl Rasper II Rhodie Ria Mooney Solar Slipper New Brig Foxella Etoile de Lyons Lothian Princess Singing Sword Welsh Pageant Welsh Term RELIEF PITCHER b 86 Bases Loaded

Roscoe Blake LOTHIAN ROSE b 86 Lothian Lady

86 DURKAN NEW HOMES JUVENILE HURDLE G1

87 DURKAN NEW HOMES NOVICE CHASE G1

89 WELSH NATIONAL H CHASE G3

LEOPARDSTOWN. December 26. 17f. Good.

CHEPSTOW. December 27. 29f 110yds. Soft.

1. SKY’S THE LIMIT (FR) 6 gr h Medaaly - Highness Lady (Cagliostro) O-Raymond J Rooney B-Mme Danielle Merian TR-EJ O’Grady

1. MIKO DE BEAUCHENE (FR) 7 b g Nashamaa - Chipie d’Angron (Grand Tresor) O-Andrew Wiles B-Raymond Bellanger TR-RH Alner

2. Lenrey (GB) 7 b g Zaffaran - Sally Smith (Alias Smith)

2. Halcon Genelardais (FR) 7 ch g Halcon - Francetphile (Farabi)

3. Scotsirish (IRE) 6 b g Zaffaran - Serjitak (Saher)

3. Over The Creek (GB) 8 br g Over The River - Solo Girl (Le Bavard)

See race 53 in the January issue for analysis

MIKO DE BEAUCHENE (FR) b g 2000

SKY’S THE LIMIT (FR) gr h 2001

LEOPARDSTOWN. December 26. 16f. Good.

Kenmare Highest Honor High River

1. WON IN THE DARK (IRE) 3 b g Montjeu - Meseta (Lion Cavern) O-Gerard V Crehan B-Austin Curran TR-Sabrina J Harty 2. Indian Spring (IRE) 3 br c Indian Danehill - Lille Hammer (Sadler’s Wells)

MEDAALY gr 94 Sadler’s Wells Dance of Leaves Fall Aspen Dschingis Khan Cagliostro Cavanell HIGHNESS LADY ch 87

3. The Ethiopian (IRE) 3 b c Sadler’s Wells - Kasora (Darshaan)

Be Friendly Hallig Hastily

WON IN THE DARK (IRE) b g 2004 Northern Dancer Sadler’s Wells Fairy Bridge MONTJEU b 96 Top Ville Floripedes Toute Cy Mr Prospector Lion Cavern Secrettame MESETA b 98 The Minstrel Melodist Native Nurse

Nearctic Natalma Bold Reason Special High Top Sega Ville Tennyson Adele Toumignon Raise A Native Gold Digger Secretariat Tamerett Northern Dancer Fleur Graustark Indian Nurse

Mating Montjeu to a daughter of Gone West resulted in the Derbywinning Motivator and his smart brother Macarthur, while a mating between Montjeu and a granddaughter of Gone West produced the very smart middle-distance horse Papal Bull. Consequently, a mating between Montjeu and Meseta, a mare by Gone West’s brother Lion Cavern, had every right to produce an above-average performer, and it did. However, this time the offspring, a gelding called Won In The Dark, has shone as a hurdler rather than a Flat performer. Having failed to win on the Flat, Won In The Dark was scoring for the third time in four completed starts over jumps when he took the Durkan New Homes Juvenile Hurdle.

Won In The Dark’s dam Meseta ran once in France, but she is a daughter of Melodist, winner of the Oaks d’Italia before dead-heating with Diminuendo in the Irish Oaks.

Unfortunately, Melodist proved much less effective as a broodmare, her only foal to earn black type being the hurdler Song Of The Sword, by Kris. Just why Melodist proved so disappointing is hard to fathom, as she was a very well-bred mare, by The Minstrel out of the excellent broodmare Native Nurse.

The daughter of Graustark also produced the top American filly Love Sign.

Lorenzaccio Kalamoun Belle of Ireland Riverman Hairbrush Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge Pretense Change Water Tamerlane Donna Diana Cavan Oh Merry H Skymaster Lady Sliptic Hornbeam Maitrise

Ahonoora Helen Nichols NASHAMAA bbr 83 Balidar Balidaress Innocence Grandchant Grand Tresor Clef du Tresor CHIPIE D’ANGRON b 90 Le Pontet Quovaria d’Angron Alliance

Klairon Phoenissa Martial Quaker Girl Will Somers Violet Bank Sea Hawk II Novitiate Grandier II Singing Queen Timmy My Boy Clef Royale Succes Arielle Kansas Ma Pomme

90 FINALE JUVENILE HURDLE G1 88 FELTHAM NOVICES’ CHASE G1 CHEPSTOW. December 27. 16f 110yds. Soft.

KEMPTON PARK. Dec 26. 24f. Good to soft.

1. JOE LIVELY (IRE) 8 b g Flemensfirth - Forest Gale (Strong Gale) O-RE Dimond B-John O’Callaghan TR-CL Tizzard 2. Here’s Johnny (IRE) 8 ch g Presenting - Treble Base (Orchestra) 3. Silverburn (IRE) 6 b g Presenting - Polly Puttens (Pollerton)

1. FRANCHOEK (IRE) 3 ch g Trempolino - Snow House (Vacarme) O-John P McManus B-6c Stallions Ltd TR-A King 2. Tatenen (FR) 3 b g Lost World - Tamaziya (Law Society) 3. Serabad (FR) 3 gr g Priolo - Serasia (Linamix) FRANCHOEK (IRE) ch g 2004

JOE LIVELY (IRE) b g 1999 Tom Rolfe Wavy Navy Prince John Princess Pout Determined Lady Sharpen Up Diesis Doubly Sure Royal Coinage Royal Bund Nato Sir Gaylord Lord Gayle Sticky Case Tamerlane Sterntau Sterna Auriban Bargello Isabelle Brand Heron Bridge Barberstown Lass Barberstown Princess Hoist The Flag Alleged FLEMENSFIRTH b 92 Etheldreda

Strong Gale FOREST GALE b 85 Baobab

Joe Lively follows Muirhead as the second Gr1 winner of the season for Flemensfirth. Best at ten furlongs, Flemensfirth showed more speed than some of Alleged’s sons and dropped back to a mile in the St James’s Palace Stakes after finishing fifth in the French Derby.

Joe Lively, though, stays extremely well, perhaps with help from the horses in the bottom half of his pedigree. His dam Forest Gale is a daughter of Strong Gale, the seven-time champion sire, and his second dam, the point-to-point winner Baobab, is by Bargello, a stallion with a fine record as a sire of National Hunt broodmares.

Leading winners with Bargello mares as their dam included Wayward Lad, Jodami, Atone, Nuaffe, Deep Bramble, Macallister and Spankers Hill. Spankers Hill descends from Joe Lively’s fourth dam, Barberstown Princess.

Atan Sharpen Up Rocchetta TREMPOLINO ch 84 Viceregal Trephine Quiriquina Lyphard Vacarme Virunga SNOW HOUSE ch 89 Wollow Snowy Snow Castle

Native Dancer Mixed Marriage Rockefella Chambiges Northern Dancer Victoria Regina Molvedo La Chaussee Northern Dancer Goofed Sodium Vale Wolver Hollow Wichuraiana Snow Cat Luna Park

For a horse who won the 1987 Arc and finished a close second in the French Derby and the Breeders’ Cup Turf, Trempolino has had a patchy record since he took up stallion duties alongside his sire Sharpen Up at a fee of $50,000 at Gainesway Farm.

Trempolino got off to a very good start, with eight members of his first two crops becoming Group or Graded winners. Unfortunately, this wasn’t enough to ensure lasting popularity and, with his fee down to $15,000 in 1999, the time had come for Trempolino to be returned to France, to Haras du Mezeray. Trempolino’s first French crop produced his fifth Northern Hemisphere Gr1 winner, in the shape of Valixir (Prix d’Ispahan and Queen Anne Stakes), and he had another Group winner in 2007, in Vadapolina. He has also been enjoying plenty of success with his French jumpers, such as Lina Drop,

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 107

DATA BOOK NH Graded Races

and several of his jumpers have also done well in Britain, the latest example being Franchoek. The gelding gained his third win over hurdles in the Finale Juvenile Hurdle, showing that he isn’t short of speed, even though he was ideally suited by two miles on the Flat.

Franchoek is a brother to Snow Polina, winner of the Gr1 Beverly D Stakes in the USA. Their dam Snow House won two Listed races.

WHATUTHINK (IRE) ch g 2002

91 WAYWARD LAD NOVICES’ CHASE G2

94 TIM DUGGAN MEMORIAL H CHASE GrC

KEMPTON PARK. Dec 27. 16f. Good to soft.

Busted Mtoto Amazer PRESENTING br 92 Persian Bold D’Azy Belle Viking Tudor Music Orchestra Golden Moss GLEN’S ENCORE ch 95 Furry Glen Glen’s Pride Santa Brigida

Crepello Sans Le Sou Mincio Alzara Bold Lad Relkarunner Riverman Vallarta Tudor Melody Fran Sheshoon Muscosa Wolver Hollow Cleftess Rarity Santa Nan

LIMERICK. December 27. 19f 120yds. Heavy.

1. MAHOGANY BLAZE (FR) 5 b g Kahyasi - Mahogany River (Irish River) O-Mrs Lorna Berryman B-Le Thenney SA TR-NA Twiston-Davies

1. TIME TO SELL (IRE) 8 bbr g Executive Perk - Town of Trees (Lancastrian) O-Joseph Buckley B-Patrick J Carmody TR-Eugene M O’Sullivan

2. Pur de Sivola (FR) 4 b g Robin des Champs - Gamine d’Ici (Cadoudal)

2. That’s An Idea (IRE) 9 b g Arctic Lord - Annsgrove Polly (Pollerton)

3. My Petra (GB) 4 b f Midnight Legend - Lac Marmot (Marju)

3. Marhaba Million (IRE) 5 gr g Linamix - Modelliste (Machiavellian)

MAHOGANY BLAZE (FR) b g 2002

TIME TO SELL (IRE) bbr g 1999

Northern Dancer Flaming Page Misti IV Roseliere Peace Rose Red God Blushing Groom Runaway Bride Sheshoon Kalkeen Gioia Never Bend Riverman River Lady Klairon Irish Star Botany Bay Nearctic Northern Dancer Natalma Val de Loir Morana Moira II Nijinsky

Ile de Bourbon KAHYASI b 85 Kadissya

Irish River MAHOGANY RIVER b 88 Moravie

Sir Gaylord Lord Gayle Sticky Case EXECUTIVE PERK b 85 Kythnos Areola Alive Alivo Reform Lancastrian Rosalie II TOWN OF TREES b 91 Kambalda Kam Hill Lady Parkhill

Turn-To Somethingroyal Court Martial Run Honey Nearula Capital Issue Never Say Die Fluorescent Pall Mall Country House Molvedo Lovely Rose III Right Royal V Opencast Even Money Stella d’Oro

around two miles but has won at up to 19 furlongs and could possibly stay further. His dam Hairly won twice at around two miles over jumps at Enghien and was placed in Listed company over hurdles (having also won over 9.7 furlongs as a two-year-old). Hairly is a daughter of Air de Cour. The halfbrother to the French St Leger winner Agent Double won the Prix du Cadran, having finished second in the previous year’s French Derby.

Mansony’s sire Mansonnien – currently also being very ably represented by the three-mile chaser Taranis – finally became a Group winner in the Prix Exbury as a sixyear-old. He had earlier finished fourth in the French Derby and third in the Prix Ganay.

Mansonnien’s Flat performers include Life Is Life, who showed great stamina to win the Queen Alexandra Stakes. He has been more successful as a sire of jumpers.

96 PADDY POWER H CHASE GrB LEOPARDSTOWN. Dec 27. 24f. Good to yielding.

1. NEWBAY PROP (IRE) 8 b g Good Thyne - Geray Lady (Roselier) O-WA Moffett B-Gerard Murphy TR-AJ Martin 2. Sound Witness (IRE) 9 b g Witness Box - Brogue Melody (King’s Ride) 3. No Full (FR) 6 b g Useful - Rosy Junior (Labus) NEWBAY PROP (IRE) b g 1999

92 DESERT ORCHID CHASE G2

95 PADDY POWER DIAL-A-BET CHASE G1

KEMPTON PARK. Dec 27. 16f. Good to soft.

LEOPARDSTOWN. Dec 27. 17f. Good to yielding.

1. VOY POR USTEDES (FR) 6 b g Villez - Nuit D’ecajeul (Matahawk) O-Sir Robert Ogden B-Ecurie Macaire Guillaume, F Picoulet TR-A King

1. MANSONY (FR) 8 br g Mansonnien - Hairly (Air de Cour) O-Michael Mulholland B-Hubert Bruckmann TR-ALT Moore

2. Hoo La Baloo (FR) 6 b g Unfuwain - Via Saleria (Arazi)

2. Nickname (FR) 8 b g Lost World - Newness (Simply Great)

3. Mister Quasimodo (GB) 7 b g Busy Flight - Dubacilla (Dubassoff)

3. Schindlers Hunt (IRE) 7 ch g Oscar Schindler - Snipe Hunt (Stalker)

VOY POR USTEDES (FR) b g 2001

MANSONY (FR) br g 1999

Vandale Herbager Flagette GOOD THYNE b 77 Round Table Foreseer Regal Gleam Misti IV Roselier

Lyphard Lyphard’s Wish Sally’s Wish VILLEZ ch 92 New Chapter Valhalla Varig Sea Hawk II Matahawk Carromata NUIT D’ECAJEUL b 87 Orvilliers La Divette Wild Girl

Northern Dancer Goofed Sensitivo Garden Clubber Crepello Matatina Pan II Vale Herbager Sea Nymph St Paddy Carrozza Tanerko Vieille Demeure Wild Risk Jeannine

Luthier Tip Moss Top Twig MANSONNIEN ch 84 Margouillat Association La Soupe Vigors Air de Cour Amya HAIRLY bbr 91 Mad Captain Ulckey Laquina

Klairon Flute Enchantee High Perch Kimpton Wood Diatome Tita A Tempo Tenace Grey Dawn II Relifordie Sanctus II Ad Gloriam Captain’s Gig Valse Folle Tiaia Mirabelle

Peace Rose GERAY LADY b 90 Raga Navarro Toevarro Tip Your Toes

Plassy Vanille Escamillo Fidgette Princequillo Knight’s Daughter Hail To Reason Miz Carol Medium Mist Fastnet Rock La Paix Reform Nooky Prince Tenderfoot Gala Belle

97 DORANS PRIDE NOVICE HURDLE G3 LIMERICK. December 28. 22f. Heavy.

1. GLENROCK LEADER (IRE) 5 b g Supreme Leader - Never At Home (Bowling Pin) O-T Curran B-Noel Fenton TR-Mrs John Harrington 2. Sigma Digital (GB) 5 gr g Kayf Tara - Silver Fan (Lear Fan) 3. Scavenger (GB) 5 b g Presenting - Forest Pride (Be My Native) GLENROCK LEADER (IRE) b g 2002

93 FUTURE CHAMPIONS NOVICE HURDLE G2 LEOPARDSTOWN. Dec 27. 16f. Good to yielding.

1. WHATUTHINK (IRE) 5 ch g Presenting - Glen’s Encore (Orchestra) O-Cavan Developments Bloodstock B-Peter Greaney TR-Oliver McKiernan 2. Forpadydeplasterer (IRE) 5 b g Moscow Society - Run Artiste (Deep Run) 3. Cork All Star (IRE) 5 b g Fasliyev - Lucky State (State Dinner)

Although Mansony was a Listed winner over hurdles, he won only three of his 17 hurdle races, but his strike-rate has improved considerably since graduating to fences. He was gaining his seventh win from 14 starts over the larger obstacles when he held off Nickname to take the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase.

The French-bred Mansony has gained both his Gr1 successes at

108 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

Crepello Sans Le Sou Doutelle Ship Yard Paving Stone SUPREME LEADER b 82 Sir Gaylord Habitat Little Hut Princess Zena Crepello Guiding Light Arbitrate Tom Rolfe Run The Gantlet First Feather Bowling Pin Iron Peg Belaying Pin Lay In NEVER AT HOME b 93 Sovereign Path Amazon Tiptoes Dontlike King’s Leap Mariner’s Leap Admiral’s Candy Busted

Bustino

98 LEXUS CHASE G1 LEOPARDSTOWN. Dec 28. 24f. Good to yielding.

1. DENMAN (IRE) 7 ch g Presenting - Polly Puttens (Pollerton) O-Paul K Barber, Mrs M Findlay B-Colman O’Flynn TR-PF Nicholls 2. Mossbank (IRE) 7 b g Kadeed - Miromaid (Simply Great) 3. The Listener (IRE) 8 gr g Roselier - Park Breeze (Strong Gale) DENMAN (IRE) ch g 2000 Busted Mtoto Amazer PRESENTING br 92 Persian Bold D’Azy Belle Viking Rarity Pollerton Nilie POLLY PUTTENS b 82 David Jack My Puttens Railstown

Crepello Sans Le Sou Mincio Alzara Bold Lad Relkarunner Riverman Vallarta Hethersett Who Can Tell Relko Arctic Melody Pampered King Judy Owens Escart III U2

Quite often superstar steeplechasers show much more ability than could reasonably have been predicted from their pedigree. However, that doesn’t apply to Denman, the latest of this rare species, who has some excellent jumping bloodlines.

Denman and his Gr1-winning brother Silverburn are just two of the nine winning jumpers produced

by Polly Puttens, several of whom were above average. For example, her Phardante gelding Far Horizon was runner-up in a Gr1 bumper at Punchestown and she also produced the useful chaser Potter’s Bay and the versatile Potter’s Gate to Strong Gale.

Although Polly Puttens made little impact on the racecourse, she was a half-sister to the smart hurdler/chaser Natalies Fancy.

Her sire Pollerton, a very smart Flat performer, won the Challow Hurdle, a race also won by Denman. The next dam, My Puttens, won seven times over hurdles and was a daughter of David Jack. Together with Deep Run and Wrekin Rambler, David Jack helped make his sire Pampered King the most influential stallion of his era in the jumping sector.

David Jack, who died comparatively young, is probably best remembered as the sire of the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Davy Lad, plus the likes of Dramatist, Jack Of Trumps, Salkeld and Zongalero.

Denman already has the distinction of being the highestrated winner by the champion sire Presenting, even though his predecessors include the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition, plus Well Presented, Our Ben, Turpin Green, Joaaci, Another Promise, Here’s Johnny, Ever Present and Whatuthink.

Presenting has covered around 250 mares in 2006 and 2007.

Caulfield on Notre Pere’s dam, Gloria IV: “She had an extraordinary record, being unbeaten in 12 middle-distance races during 1997 and 1998” 99 CHRISTMAS HURDLE G2 LEOPARDSTOWN. Dec 28. 24f. Good to yielding.

1. SWEET KILN (IRE) 8 b m Beneficial - Miss Pollerton (Pollerton) O-James Bowe B-James Bowe TR-Michael J Bowe 2. Sonnyanjoe (IRE) 9 b g Roselier - Carrabawn (Buckskin) 3. Adamant Approach (IRE) 13 b g Mandalus - Crash Approach (Crash Course)

Other good British winners by Video Rock include Edmond (Welsh National), Nine de Sivola (second in the Scottish National) and Hussard Collonges (Royal & SunAlliance Chase).

His numerous good French performers featured the top chaser El Paso III, plus Lycaon de Vauzelle (French Champion Hurdle) and Homme du Jour (Grande Course de Haies des 4 ans).

SWEET KILN (IRE) b m 1999 High Top Top Ville Sega Ville BENEFICIAL b 90 Green Dancer Youthful First Bloom Rarity Pollerton Nilie MISS POLLERTON b 88 Sir Herbert Miss Kiln Kinneagh

Derring-Do Camenae Charlottesville La Sega Nijinsky Green Valley Primera Flower Dance Hethersett Who Can Tell Relko Arctic Melody Pampered King Phare Rosa Limekiln Lovely Alien

100 KNIGHT FRANK GANLY WALTERS NOVICE CHASE G1

101 BEWLEYS HOTEL DUBLIN AIRPORT EBF HURDLE LR LEOPARDSTOWN. Dec 29. 20f. Good to yielding.

1. GRANGECLARE LARK (IRE) 6 b m Old Vic - Grangeclare Rose (Gianchi) O-T Hendy B-T Hendy TR-DT Hughes 2. Brave Betsy (IRE) 5 b m Pistolet Bleu - Marias The One (Ala Hounak) 3. Candy Girl (IRE) 8 b m Un Desperado - Dynamic Venture (King’s Ride) GRANGECLARE LARK (IRE) b m 2001 Northern Dancer Sadler’s Wells

LEOPARDSTOWN. Dec 28. 24f. Good to yielding.

Fairy Bridge OLD VIC b 86

1. NOTRE PERE (FR) 6 b g Kadalko - Gloria IV (Video Rock) O-Mrs PJ Conway B-Yves D’Armaille TR-JTR Dreaper

Derring-Do Cockade Camenae Niniski Gianchi

2. Abbeybraney (IRE) 6 b g Moonax - Balliniska Beauty (Roselier) 3. Callherwhatulike (IRE) 6 b m Old Vic - Fleece Alley (Brush Aside)

Honey Bridge GRANGECLARE ROSE b 90 Menelek Grangeclare Lady Loquacious

Nearctic Natalma Bold Reason Special Darius Sipsey Bridge Vimy Madrilene Nijinsky Virginia Hills Crepello Mockbridge Tulyar Queen of Sheba Reverse Charge Vivacious

Cadoudal Come To Sea KADALKO b 88 Fant Koln Kornahre No Lute Video Rock Pauvresse GLORIA IV ch 94 Brezzo Voilette Jolivette

the USA. The Gr3 hurdles winner Norther Bay is another good recent winner out of a Linamix mare.

Souffleur’s fourth dam is Chris Evert, one of only eight fillies to win America’s Triple Tiara. The daughter of Swoon’s Son didn’t enjoy much luck as a broodmare, producing only five living foals – all fillies – including two by Secretariat and two by Nijinsky. All five daughters have descendants who were successful at Graded level.

104 JUNIOR STANDARD OPEN NH FLAT RACE LR CHELTENHAM. January 1. 12f. Good to soft.

1. LORD GENEROUS (GB) 4 ch g Generous - Lady Rebecca (Rolfe) O-Walters Plant Hire Ltd B-Kinnersley Optimists TR-Miss H Lewis 2. Yonder (GB) 4 br f And Beyond - Dominance (Dominion) 3. Cricket Boy (GB) 4 b g Alflora - Lady Cricket (Cricket Ball) LORD GENEROUS (GB) ch g 2004

103 CHALLOW NOVICES’ HURDLE G1

Nijinsky Caerleon

NEWBURY. December 29. 21f. Soft.

Foreseer GENEROUS ch 88

1. SOUFFLEUR (GB) 4 b g In The Wings - Salinova (Linamix) O-Mrs Karen Bowen B-Baron Von Oppenheim TR-P Bowen

Master Derby Doff The Derby Margarethen Tom Rolfe Rolfe

2. Elusive Dream (GB) 6 b g Rainbow Quest - Dance A Dream (Sadler’s Wells) 3. Gauvain (GER) 5 b g Sternkoenig - Gamina (Dominion)

Lighted Lamp LADY REBECCA b 92 Tycoon II Needwood Fortune Tina Fort

Northern Dancer Flaming Page Round Table Regal Gleam Dust Commander Madam Jerry Tulyar Russ-Marie Ribot Pocahontas II Sir Gaylord Chandelier Tamerlane Djebel Idra Fortina Ceylon Queen

SOUFFLEUR (GB) b g 2003

NOTRE PERE (FR) b g 2001 Green Dancer

other Gr1 winners.

The gelding’s dam, Kilcsem Eile, was described in Turform as “of little account”, having failed to finish closer than eighth in any of her seven starts.

Her sire Commanche Run, winner of the St Leger and Benson & Hedges Gold Cup, is best known as the sire of the Irish Grand National winners Commanche Court and Timbera, plus the likes of Risk Assessor, She’s Our Mare and The Bajan Bandit.

Al Eile’s second dam, Senane, is a half-sister to the Oaks-winning Shahtoush, by Alzao, and the Oaks second Game Plan. Their dam Formulate won the Waterford Candelabra Stakes, May Hill Stakes and Hoover Fillies’ Mile in quick succession as a two-year-old.

Further back, this female line was responsible for the triple Classic winner Meld and the Derbywinning Charlottown.

Nijinsky Green Valley Sea Hawk II Camarilla Almeido Fugung Agio Krickel Luthier Prudent Miss Home Guard Misoptimist Gift Card Brezette Laniste Diane

Notre Pere’s sire Kadalko added considerably to the reputation of his own sire, the many-times champion sire Cadoudal, by winning 11 of his 15 races over jumps, including numerous stakes races. One of Kadalko’s wins came in the Prix Leon Orly-Roederer over three miles. Kadalko, who also won over ten and a half furlongs on the Flat, passed on his jumping ability to plenty of his offspring, such as the smart staying chaser Ladalko.

Notre Pere’s dam, Gloria IV, had an extraordinary record, being unbeaten in 12 middle-distance races against other AQPS horses in 1997 and 1998. Gloria is a daughter of Video Rock, the leading sire of chasers in France in 2007. Video Rock’s good British jumpers include the 2007 Gr2 hurdle winners Nenuphar Collonges and Osana, the latter being a half-brother to Gloria IV.

102 DECEMBER FESTIVAL HURDLE G1 LEOPARDSTOWN. Dec 29. 16f. Good to yielding.

IN THE WINGS b 86

1. AL EILE (IRE) 7 b g Alzao - Kilcsem Eile (Commanche Run) O-MA Ryan B-Michael Ryan TR-John Queally

High Hawk

Linamix

2. Hardy Eustace (IRE) 10 b g Archway - Sterna Star (Corvaro) 3. Jazz Messenger (FR) 7 b g Acatenango - In The Saltmine (Damister) AL EILE (IRE) b g 2000 Nearctic Natalma Court Martial Goofed Barra II Sir Gaylord Sir Ivor Attica Roman Pocahontas II How Tom Rolfe Run The Gantlet First Feather Ratification Volley Mitrailleuse Phaeton Vitiges Vale Reform Formulate Tabulator Northern Dancer Lyphard ALZAO b 80 Lady Rebecca

Commanche Run KILCSEM EILE b 89 Senane

Also a winner of the Leopardstown November Handicap on the Flat, Al Eile is comfortably the best winner over hurdles by Alzao, who was probably too neat to be a prolific sire of good jumpers.

Alzao is far better known for his Flat performers, which include Albanova, Alborada, Capricciosa, Matiya, Pass The Peace, Second Set, Shahtoush, Waky Nao, Wind In Her Hair, Winona and several

Nearctic Natalma Bold Reason Fairy Bridge Special Mill Reef Shirley Heights Hardiemma Sea Hawk II Sunbittern Pantoufle Bellypha Mendez Miss Carina Breton Lunadix Lutine Raise A Native Mr Prospector Gold Digger Nijinsky Tournament Star Chris Evert Northern Dancer

Sadler’s Wells

SALINOVA gr 95 Six Love

The fact that Souffleur sold for only 5,000gns after winning two of his five starts as a three-year-old suggests that all wasn’t well with the son of In The Wings. However, a lengthy spell turned out in a field has worked wonders and Souffleur, after taking a couple of races to reach peak fitness, up to Newbury had won four of his last five races over hurdles, including the Gr1 Challow Hurdle.

He has already won over an extended three miles, so possesses the stamina we have come to expect in the progeny of In The Wings, such as Inglis Drever, Landing Light, Westender and Mr Ed. Souffleur’s half-brother Shabernak also stays well, as he won a Listed race over two miles on the Flat.

Their dam, the unraced Linamix mare Salinova, is a sister to three winners, including Six Zero, who was second at Group level in France before becoming a stakes winner in

105 NEW YEAR H CHASE LR CHELTENHAM. January 1. 21f. Good to soft.

1. VODKA BLEU (FR) 9 b g Pistolet Bleu - Viva Vodka (Crystal Glitters) O-DA Johnson B-Y Houyvet TR-DE Pipe 2. Patman du Charmil (FR) 6 b g Robin des Pres - Pacifie du Charmil (Dom Pasquini) 3. Model Son (IRE) 10 b g Leading Counsel - Miss Mutley (Pitpan) VODKA BLEU (FR) b g 1999 Derring-Do Camenae Charlottesville Sega Ville La Sega Mossborough Armos Ardelle Klairon Kendie Amagalla Red God Blushing Groom Runaway Bride Donut King Tales To Tell Fleeting Doll Precipitation Sheshoon Noorani Tantieme Typha Ruta High Top Top Ville PISTOLET BLEU b 88 Pampa Bella

Crystal Glitters VIVA VODKA b 89 Oak Hill

106 DIPPER NOVICES’ CHASE G2 CHELTENHAM. January 1. 21f. Good to soft.

1. LEAD ON (IRE) 7 b g Supreme Leader - Dressed In Style (Meneval) O-BK Peppiatt B-J Mernagh TR-PJ Hobbs 2. Predateur (FR) 5 b g Nikos - Fia Rosa (Royal Charter) 3. Papini (IRE) 7 ch g Lomitas - Pariana (Bering)

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 109

DATA BOOK North American Grade Ones

LEAD ON (IRE) b g 2001 Busted Bustino Ship Yard SUPREME LEADER b 82 Habitat Princess Zena Guiding Light Le Fabuleux Meneval Nalee DRESSED IN STYLE ch 92 Raise You Ten Inundated Indicate

Crepello Sans Le Sou Doutelle Paving Stone Sir Gaylord Little Hut Crepello Arbitrate Wild Risk Anguar Nashua Levee Tehran Visor Mustang Hedge Law

North American Grade Ones 482 HOLLYWOOD TURF CUP S G1 HOLLYWOOD PARK. Dec 8. 12f. Good (turf).

1. SUNRIVER (USA) 4 bbr c Saint Ballado - Goulash (Mari’s Book) O-Aaron U Jones, Marie D Jones B-Aaron U Jones, Marie D Jones TR-Todd A Pletcher 2. Champs Elysees (GB) 4 b c Danehill - Hasili (Kahyasi) 3. Spring House (USA) 5 bbr g Chester House - Spring Star (Itajara) SUNRIVER (USA) bbr c 2003 Turn-To Nothirdchance Cosmic Bomb Cosmah Almahmoud Vandale Herbager Flagette Cohoes Miss Swapsco Soaring Nearctic Northern Dancer Natalma Maribeau Mari Her Hem And Haw Red God Blushing Groom Runaway Bride Smarten Wising Up Hardly Hail To Reason Halo SAINT BALLADO b 89 Ballade

Mari’s Book GOULASH b 93 Wise Bride

Turf Cup. Goulash was bought for $100,000 shortly before her first visit to Saint Ballado. She had won six races but her pedigree wasn’t quite so impressive. Goulash’s sire Mari’s Book earned little in a 17race career but was allowed his chance as a stallion on the strength of his being a son of Northern Dancer. Daughters of Mari’s Book have produced two other major winners in Behrens and Congaree.

483 HOLLYWOOD STARLET S G1 HOLLYWOOD PARK. Dec 15. 8f 110yds. Fast.

1. COUNTRY STAR (USA) 2 bbr f Empire Maker - Rings A Chime (Metfield) O-Stonerside Stable B-Stonerside Stable TR-Robert J Frankel 2. Grace And Power (USA) 2 bbr f More Than Ready - Lady in Power (Defensive Play) 3. The Golden Noodle (USA) 2 ch f D’Wildcat - Golden Genie (Beau Genius) See race 400 in the November issue for analysis COUNTRY STAR (USA) bbr f 2005 Unbridled EMPIRE MAKER b 2000 Toussaud

Metfield RINGS A CHIME b 97 Outofthebluebell

Mr Prospector Fappiano Killaloe Le Fabuleux Gana Facil Charedi Northern Dancer El Gran Senor Sex Appeal In Reality Image of Reality Edee’s Image Bold Reasoning Seattle Slew My Charmer Hail To Reason Inca Queen Silver Spoon Raise A Native Red Ryder Gold Digger Star Envoy Natchez Bluebell Minnie Whacks

SANTA ANITA. December 26. 7f. Fast.

1. JOHNNY EVES (USA) 3 b g Skimming - Capote’s Halo (Capote) O-Mooncoin LLC B-Mooncoin LLC TR-Jay M Robbins 2. Carrilero (ARG) 3 bbr c Royal Academy - Keno (Mountain Cat) 3. Horse Greeley (USA) 3 ch c Mr Greeley - Chile Chatte (Storm Cat)

Northern Dancer Nureyev SKIMMING b 96 Skimble Nimble Folly Seattle Slew Capote Too Bald

3. Massive Drama (USA) 2 bbr c Kafwain - Peyvon (Slewacide) INTO MISCHIEF (USA) b c 2005 Storm Bird Terlingua Halo Country Romance Sweet Romance HARLAN’S HOLIDAY b 99 Exclusive Native Affirmed Won’t Tell You Christmas In Aiken Honest Pleasure Dowager Princessnesian Icecapade Clever Trick Kankakee Miss Tricky Creek His Majesty Battle Creek Girl Far Beyond LESLIE’S LADY b 96 Hail To Reason Stop The Music Bebopper Crystal Lady One For All One Last Bird Last Bird Storm Cat

Harlan

Harlan’s Holiday, the disappointing favourite for the 2002 Kentucky Derby, moved up to second place behind Posse on America’s freshman sires’ table when his lightly-raced son Into Mischief landed the valuable Cashcall Futurity. Into Mischief is his sire’s first Gr1 winner, but the Airdrie stallion is also responsible for several other stakes performers, including Bear Holiday and Tasha’s

110 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

SANTA ANITA. December 29. 7f. Fast.

1. DEAREST TRICKSKI (USA) 3 b f Proudest Romeo - Trickski (Peteski) O-Tom Mankiewicz B-DR KK Jayaraman, Dr V Devi Jayaraman TR-John W Sadler 2. Unspoken Word (USA) 3 bbr f Catienus - Silent Emotion (Ghazi) 3. Glorified (USA) 3 bbr f Honour And Glory - Foxcaller (Beau Genius) Ribot Flower Bowl Summer Tan Wake Robin War Ribbon PROUDEST ROMEO ch 90 Olden Times Full Pocket Dearest Mommy Dearest Indu Gallant Romeo Capulet Indaba Exclusive Native Affirmed Won’t Tell You Peteski Nureyev Vive Viva Regina TRICKSKI b 98 Clever Trick Phone Trick Over The Phone Explosive Trick Explodent Miss Rock Island Look Out Liz Graustark

Lyphard

2. Colonel John (USA) 2 b c Tiznow - Sweet Damsel (Turkoman)

486 LA BREA S G1

Proud Truth

Special

1. INTO MISCHIEF (USA) 2 b c Harlan’s Holiday - Leslie’s Lady (Tricky Creek) O-B Wayne Hughes B-James T Hines Jr TR-Richard E Mandella

all the more surprising was the fact that he is inbred 2 x 3 to Northern Dancer, a stallion whose name became synonymous with excellence on turf, rather than dirt.

Johnny Eves’s dam Capote’s Halo failed to win, but she was a half-sister to three stakes winners.

Johnny Eves is the third Gr1 winner out of a Capote mare, the others being the stallions Dixie Union and Latent Heat.

DEAREST TRICKSKI (USA) b f 2004 485 MALIBU S G1

JOHNNY EVES (USA) b g 2004 484 CASHCALL FUTURITY G1 HOLLYWOOD PARK. Dec 22. 8f 110yds. Fast.

If Aaron and Marie Jones had known their 1999 Saint Ballado filly out of Goulash would achieve nothing better than a third in a Listed race during a busy career, would they have committed Goulash to the same stallion in each of the next two years? Probably not, but their faith in this mating has been thoroughly justified. The second foal, Saint Stephen, became a Gr3 winner at the age of six and the third mating resulted in the spectacular filly Ashado. Although the Joneses received no more than $170,000 for Ashado, she became a champion at three and four, before being sold to Sheikh Mohammed for $9,000,000. Saint Stephen and Ashado must have been imposing individuals because Goulash made a fourth visit to Saint Ballado in 2002, in what proved to be his final season. This time the Joneses retained the foal, named Sunriver, and they must be pleased they did.

Sunriver spent his first two years racing on dirt, winning the Gr2 Peter Pan Stakes and finishing third in the Florida Derby and Belmont Stakes. He has done even better on turf in 2007, failing by only a head to land the Gr1 Man O’War Stakes in September, before leading throughout to win the Hollywood

Miracle. Interestingly, these three stakes winners have all enjoyed stakes success on synthetic surfaces, so Harlan’s Holiday surely has a bright future in an industry gradually moving away from traditional dirt.

Harlan’s Holiday may have disappointed in the Kentucky Derby but he lined up at Churchill Downs with a record of six wins and four seconds from ten starts, his most recent victories having come in two of the most important trials, the Florida Derby and Blue Grass Stakes. He later won the Gr1 Donn Handicap and finished a creditable second in the Dubai World Cup, to boost his career earnings to more than $3.6 million – not bad going for an Ohio-bred whose dam sold for $15,000 in 1997. Into Mischief’s dam Leslie’s Lady, a six-furlong stakes winner at two in Indiana, was conceived at $2,500.

CAPOTE’S HALO b 93 Halo Nueces Strip Satan’s Pride

Nearctic Natalma Forli Thong Northern Dancer Goofed Cyane Instant Sin Bold Reasoning My Charmer Bald Eagle Hidden Talent Hail To Reason Cosmah Crimson Satan Autumn Pride

The Malibu Stakes, over Santa Anita’s Cushion Track, was dominated by relative outsiders, with victory going to Johnny Eves, an improving California-bred gelding from Skimming’s first crop.

If Skimming’s name sounds familiar, he raced twice in Britain at the start of 2000. The son of Nureyev had disappointed in four starts on turf in France but proved much better suited by Wolverhampton’s all-weather surface, winning a maiden before finishing a respectable fourth in a minor race. Skimming’s rider reported that the colt had bled after his Wolverhampton defeat and the colt was transferred to the USA, where his transformation continued. Racing exclusively on dirt, he made 14 starts for seven wins, four seconds and a third, with two of his five Graded successes coming in the Gr1 Pacific Classic.

What made Skimming’s record

The introduction of all-weather surfaces in California has produced some unlikely results, perhaps none more so than the victory of Dearest Trickski for trainer John W Sadler in the Gr1 La Brea Stakes over seven furlongs on Santa Anita’s Cushion Track. The daughter of Proudest Romeo had started her 2007 campaign in claiming company and was claimed for only $12,500 in March. She was claimed again, this time for as little as $10,000, at Lone Star Park in Texas and changed hands once more, this time for $32,000, after being moved to Del Mar in California. However, she has thrived in California, building a sequence of victories despite taking on increasingly tougher company, and she easily handled the transition to Graded company in the La Brea.

Her trainer said: “She’s been great on the synthetics.”

Dearest Trickski was bred in Florida, where her sire Proudest Romeo stood at $2,500 at the time of her conception. He is now in Arizona. Proudest Romeo managed only four wins during six years in training and never won a stakes race, although he was runner-up in the Gr2 Jim Beam Stakes as a three-year-old. Dearest Trickski’s broodmare sire Peteski won the Canadian Triple Crown and her family has produced several minor stakes winners.

Final Flat Index for 2007 INDEX

European Pattern, North American Grade Ones, Dubai Grade Ones (wins in numerical bold type) A P Arrow 3 A P Xcellent 239 A To The Croft 383 400 Abbashiva 421 Absolutelyfabulous 137 Achill Island 366 Adagio 30 Adlerflug 182 319 Admiral’s Cruise 68 Admiralofthefleet 78 Admire Moon 17 Advanced 465 African Rose 353 437 After Market 186 248 Ah Day 58 Airmail Special 153 Al Moughazel 19 Al Qasi 216 264 426 Al Shemali 96 Al Tharib 328 Alamanni 474 Alaska River 432 Albabilia 258 Alexander Castle 339 Alexander of Hales 110 183 Alexander Tango 83 265 389 Alexandros 225 279 Alfie Flits 176 All Is Vanity 129 All My Loving 120 160 208 335 Allanit 49 Allegretto 116 233 285 337 442 Amadeus Wolf 92 Amante Latino 45 An Tadh 24 Anabaa’s Creation 102 359 Anamato 241 Anna Pavlova 97 281 406 Annie Skates 403 Antek 182 Anton Chekhov 73 182 Any Given Saturday 54 301 Apollo Star 134 253 361 Appalachian Trail 179 Appel Au Maitre 138 Aqaleem 80 122 227 Arabian Gleam 154 341 Arabian Gulf 75 Arch Rebel 277 325 434 Arch Swing 20 53 197 326 Archipenko 82 Ardbrae Lady 6 Argentina 251 Art Advisor 159 Artiste Royal 449 Ask 77 367 Aspectus 35 85 167 210 253 Asperity 39 140 Assertive 370 Asset 166 228 Astronomer Royal 86 151 Athanor 446 Athenian Way 146 Atlantic Air 143 212 266 Attila’s Storm 313 Authorized 96 122 192 283 Avanti Polonia 133 173 Aviso 65 167 Awelmarduk 104 Awesome Gem 308 392 464 Axxos 49 138 205 401 Backseat Rhythm 450 457 Baddam 50 Baffled 164 Bahama Mama 41 296 Bahia Breeze 40 127 273 Bai and Bai 453 Bal de La Rose 413 Balance 13 243 Balius 212

Balkan Knight 116 281 425 Balthazaar’s Gift 216 329 Banknote 85 145 Barbecue Eddie 455 Baroness Thatcher 2 299 312 Battle Paint 25 Battle Won 245 Bayeux 11 Beacon Lodge 440 Beatrix Kiddo 275 Beauty Is Truth 88 131 Beckermet 428 Believe Me 102 226 Belmundo 430 Benbaun 107 318 343 377 Benny The Bull 313 478 Berbice 357 Beret Rouge 355 Bergo 79 Bertranicus 171 330 Better Talk Now 185 244 Big Booster 239 392 Billyford 445 Bilo 245 Bit of Whimsy 389 456 Black Mamba 391 Black Mambazo 144 Bleu Intense 172 Blue Bajan 76 Blue Chagall 355 Blue Ksar 128 288 424 Blue Rocket 29 Blythe Knight 128 404 Boboman 12 Boca Grande 238 299 Bold Hawk 481 Bond City 67 193 Bordonaro 252 Boris de Deauville 7 405 468 Boscobel 161 Brazilian Star 220 Brilliant 62 Briseida 435 Brisk Breeze 335 Broken Applause 356 Bulwark 98 116 Bussoni 8 36 79 204 262 Bygone Days 321 Cake 416 Campfire Glow 261 Captain Gerrard 229 416 Carriage Trail 61 Carrilero 485 Cash Included 14 Celestial Halo 75 Celtic Slipper 289 334 409 Centennial 415 Cesare 206 288 Champery 65 Championship Point 69 Champs Elysees 72 204 295 422 482 Chelokee 15 Cherry Hinton 94 Cheyenne Star 109 Chichi Creasy 25 Chill 48 Chinandega 26 43 Chinese Whisper 27 74 Chopastair 446 Christmas Kid 56 188 Chun Tosaigh 211 Cicerole 446 Cima On Fly 144 Citronnade 126 391 City Leader 297 366 439 Coastal Path 323 407 Cockney Rebel 52 108 Colonel John 484 Concentric 438 Conference Call 378 Confuchias 21 179 Conillon 138 214 Contentious 472 Coquerelle 102 456 Cosmonaut 451 461

Costume 235 Cotton Blossom 188 Cougar Bay 209 290 346 Country Star 400 483 Creachadoir 21 71 86 108 408 Creative Mind 81 Crime Scene 441 Criticism 413 Cry And Catch Me 393 Curlin 63 123 187 301 396 464 Curtain Call 291 368 Cute Ass 336 416 Daaher 479 Daiwa Major 17 Dalvina 160 338 Danak 84 Dancing Edie 300 Dancing Lady 268 323 Dandy Man 150 286 318 Danehill Music 6 209 Danzon 62 Darjina 26 87 162 223 331 Dark Angel 357 372 Dark Missile 370 Darsha 268 406 Davidoff 28 114 316 401 Dawn After Dawn 56 Daytona 481 Dearest Trickski 486 Deauville Vision 70 Decado 84 209 265 Declaration of War 202 379 Delicate Dynamite 125 Derison 352 Desert Dew 78 Desert Lord 286 377 Diabolical 58 Diamantgottin 435 Diamond Stripes 189 249 314 Dickens 430 Dimenticata 112 Discreet Cat 397 Distant Way 89 Divine Night 83 Dixie Chatter 399 Diyakalanie 141 226 275 Docksil 44 Doctor Dino 42 303 387 431 Doe Ray Me 473 Domestic Fund 368 Dominante 133 222 Domingues 414 Dominican 59 Don’t Forget Faith 258 Donatello 95 115 Donegal 230 Donoma 420 Dont Dili Dali 64 Downtown 257 Dragon Dancer 351 Dream Impact 470 Dream Rush 188 246 299 Dreaming of Anna 456 Drill Down 386 Dubai Time 355 Dubai’s Touch 411 Duff 341 Duke of Marmalade 151 324 364 Dunelight 228 321 Dutch Art 33 52 203 255 Dylan Thomas 42 111 156 218 283 324 381 Dynaforce 273 E Z Warrior 310 Eagle Mountain 122 183 221 265 431 Eastern Appeal 70 142 278 412 Echelon 64 127 288 326 375 Echo of Light 266 322 433 Egerton 8 101 319 430 Einstein 10 El Tango 371 Elasos 4 413 Electric Beat 296 Elletelle 157 198 263 Ellmau 202 Elusive Flash 34

Elva 43 English Channel 185 244 304 395 463 Enticing 234 358 Equiano 466 Ermine 1 13 57 Eva’s Request 289 369 Evening Time 207 264 Excelerate 412 Excellent Art 151 231 364 461 Exhibit One 35 100 147 Exhibition 236 Eyshal 71 110 Fabulous Strike 397 Fair Breeze 135 173 410 444 476 Fairbanks 240 Fajr 178 Famous Name 445 Farrel 419 Fashion Statement 148 Faslen 181 Fast Company 280 427 Fat Boy 236 Fathayer 443 Feared In Flight 439 Ferneley 37 Festoso 198 373 Final Verse 31 Finalmente 233 Finsceal Beo 53 87 112 Firenze 118 First Defence 310 First Stream 114 214 262 Flashy Bull 189 Fleeting Spirit 229 287 336 373 Folk 247 Fontcia 362 Fonthill Road 179 Foreign Music 410 Formal Decree 222 259 Forthe Millionkiss 145 Four Sins 20 94 338 Fracas 69 219 277 Freemusic 45 Friendly Island 16 Friston Forest 27 Full of Gold 475 G City Gal 242 Gagnoa 437 Galaktea 333 Galeota 428 Garda 153 Garnica 115 195 293 Gaspar Van Wittel 297 Gentleman’s Deal 5 Geordieland 98 158 337 George Washington 192 331 Georgie Boy 386 Get Funky 124 Getaway 276 349 Gimmy 363 Ginger Punch 190 250 388 398 462 Gipson Dessert 437 Gladiatorus 419 Global Dream 28 Glorified 486 Gloved Hand 201 Going Ballistic 305 Going Public 368 Golden Titus 45 194 433 Goose Bay 317 Grace Anatomy 400 Grace And Power 483 Graeme Six 246 Grand Couturier 304 387 Grand Passion 5 Grand Vista 140 Grasshopper 311 Great Barrier Reef 284 320 Grecian Dancer 264 Greek Renaissance 428 Greg’s Gold 252 455 Group Captain 72 Haatef 278 370 Habalwatan 78 Halicarnassus 33 259 322 354

Hannouma 436 475 Hard Rock City 207 Hard Spun 63 123 301 310 464 Harland 217 Hasanka 257 Hatta Fort 202 Hattan 147 He’s A Decoy 108 Hearthstead Maison 80 325 Heaven Sent 109 206 408 Hello Morning 447 Hello Sunday 308 Helsinki 311 Henrythenavigator 149 263 291 Hesanoldsalt 3 Hi Calypso 232 335 High Heels 60 High Rock 436 Highland Daughter 356 Hoh Mike 193 Holocene 74 260 Honey Ryder 10 244 458 Honolulu 340 367 Honoured Guest 86 Horse Greeley 485 Host Nation 46 Hystericalady 61 243 453 462 Ibn Khaldun 418 439 Icelandic 134 474 Idealist 471 Idiot Proof 455 460 Iguazu Falls 374 440 Il Cadetto 469 Illustrious Blue 5 Indian Blessing 450 457 Indian Choice 359 Indian Ink 34 162 Indian Vale 309 398 Indiana Gal 369 Interpatation 395 Into Mischief 484 Invasor 3 19 Ioannina 274 360 Irene Watts 135 Irish Jig 184 Irish Smoke 383 Irish Wells 7 42 295 Irridescence 197 302 Isipingo 449 Ivy Creek 76 441 Izarra 385 393 Jack Aubrey 100 Jambalaya 10 303 Jeremy 40 152 231 Jesse’s Justice 307 Johnny Eves 485 Judd Street 358 Jumbajukiba 346 Jupiter Pluvius 445 Just Little 43 129 Kaleo 28 Kaloura 168 Kandidate 38 322 Kavafi 294 Kay Es Jay 258 Kelly’s Landing 16 Kentucky Dynamite 212 Key To Pleasure 174 256 Kid Mambo 80 King Jock 85 330 412 King Of The Roxy 55 Kingsgate Native 229 286 377 Kip Deville 11 461 Kiton 292 Kitty Matcham 429 Kocab 266 362 434 Kodiak Kowboy 459 Konig Turf 167 210 253 315 361 Kotsi 334 Kourka 88 352 Kupets 125 Kyniska 369 La Boum 438 La Dancia 410 Lady Aquitaine 327

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 111

A top class sprinter with the ability to upgrade his mares:

85% runners to foals Over 50% winners to runners Nearly 100 individual 2-y-o winners to date 2007 yearlings fetched The unbeaten Winker Watson wins the Gr.2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Gr.1 winning sprinter and dual Gr.1 sire

PICCOLO Sire of the unbeaten Gr.2 winning 2-y-o WINKER WATSON in 2007

58,000gns (McKeever St Lawrence) 52,000gns (Tom Tate) 40,000gns (Blandford Bloodstock) 30,000gns (Andrew Balding), etc.

The best son of Champion European Miler WARNING out of a 103-rated daughter of WHISTLING WIND A complete outcross for Northern Dancer blood Fee: £5,000 (1st October SLF) Now standing at: LANWADES STUD, Newmarket Tel: 01638 750222 or Martin Percival: Tel: 01284 735322 or 078 10 812 553 or Tim Read: Tel: 078 01 088 450

www.lanwades.com • info@lanwades.com Lanwades Stud, Moulton, Newmarket CB8 8QS • Tel: +44 (0)1638 750222 Fax: +44 (0)1638 751186

LANWADES

BEECHWOOD GRANGE STALLIONS FOR 2008

Desideratum

Danbird

Bay 2000, 16.0 h.h. by DANEHILL – FITTING (Marscay)

Bay 2002, 16.11⁄2 h.h. by DARSHAAN – DESIRED (Rainbow Quest)

Winner of 6 races between 5 ⁄2f and 8f and Aus$369,496 incl: 1

Winner of 4 races and £152,677 incl: Won Gr.3 Prix du Lys, 12f, Longchamp

Won Gr.2 Pago Pago S.

Won Prix de Gravelle, 12f, Longchamp by 4l

Won LR Counties Bowl H. Won LR Newmarket H.

Won Prix des Marronniers, 12f, Longchamp

Won LR The Mad Butcher H. Brother to CATBIRD, Champion Australasian 2-y-o (Won Gr.1 Golden Slipper S. etc), a hugely successful Group sire from his first 3 crops, incl. CATS FUN Gr.1; DIEGO GARCIA Gr.2; COLLATE Gr.3 twice; CATECLIPSE Gr.3 etc.

FEE 2008:

£3,000 October 1st (Non vat)

Dam FITTING won 4 times incl.

LR AJC Gimcrack S., dam of 5 winners from 7 raced foals.

By MARSCAY – Dual Champion sire in Australia twice, Champion 2-y-o sire and multiple Champion broodmare sire.

Won Prix de L’Avre, 12f, Longchamp 2nd Gr.1 Grand Prix de Paris, 12f, Longchamp to Classic winner SCORPION Dam DESIRED, is half-sister to FEE 2008:

£2,000 October 1st (Non vat) Gr.1 winning juvenile MEDAALY and highclass CHARNWOOD FOREST – a top class stallion producing family 19 Group winners under the first 3 dams.

FIRST FOALS 2008.

By Champion Sire and Sires of Sires Danehill.

FIRST ENGLISH YEARLINGS 2008.

Apply: STEVE KNOWLES, BEECHWOOD GRANGE STUD, Malton Road, York YO32 9TH. Tel: 01904 424573 Fax: 01904 427079 Website: www.beechwoodgrangestud.com E-mail: steve@beechwoodgrangestud.com

112 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

Final Flat Index for 2007 Lady Deauville 271 467 Lady Grace 201 Lady Joanne 238 307 454 Lady of Venice 302 480 Laeya Star 472 Lahudood 394 458 Land ‘n Stars 270 Lang Field 477 Laureldean Gale 271 Lauro 8 Lava Man 12 186 239 Laverock 199 422 Lawman 74 130 194 Lawyer Ron 125 249 314 396 Le Cadre Noir 293 423 470 Le Miracle 46 158 349 382 Le Paradis 153 Lear’s Princess 247 390 Legerete 168 380 Leopoldine 81 Liang Kay 421 Light Shift 120 208 237 Linngari 17 433 Lion Sands 328 Liscanna 137 Listen 261 298 365 Literato 27 130 272 359 431 Lizard Island 184 230 Lokaloka 90 Lord Admiral 84 142 219 346 Lord du Sud 103 276 Lord Hill 316 Loup Breton 172 272 405 Love Academy 435 Lovelace 321 Lucarno 161 282 340 Lucifer Sam 280 Luck Money 149 Lucky Strike 95 256 Macarthur 37 82 282 Macellya 415 Macleya 51 117 204 254 442 Mad About You 298 378 Magico Marco 443 Magna Graduate 189 Magnolia Jackson 308 Magnus 150 Magritte 144 215 Mahler 163 340 Maimonides 384 Majestic Roi 34 129 375 Majestic Warrior 384 Major Cadeaux 33 178 Majounes Song 274 Makderah 251 Malibu Moonshine 240 Mandesha 117 170 237 351 Manduro 31 106 156 260 351 Many Colours 402 Maraahel 32 76 121 165 218 Marchand d’Or 171 255 329 376 Marcus Andronicus 24 Maria Gabriella 180 Mariol 465 Maryfield 312 Mashaahed 38 119 424 Massive Drama 484 Matrix 174 May Day Queen 136 McCartney 339 Medici Code 481 Memorette 300 Meridia 66 Mharadono 411 471 Mi Emma 41 162 315 Mia Diletta 409 Midnight Lute 313 460 479 Mighty 32 68 119 165 Miles Gloriosus 134 469 Mimetico 420 Miraculous Miss 312 478 Miss Andretti 150 Miss Annaleo 90 Miss Lucifer 426 Miss Shop 250 309 388

Missit 429 Missvinski 26 223 Mister Conway 72 Modeeroch 70 109 142 191 Modern Look 467 Moi Non Plus 113 148 Molengao 12 Molly Max 65 Monachesi 468 Montalegre 363 Montare 103 254 434 Moorhouse Lad 234 Mores Wells 37 277 342 Moss Vale 107 118 131 318 343 Mountain High 132 170 Mousse Au Chocolat 353 Mr Napper Tandy 71 Mrs Lindsay 23 141 348 Mullins Bay 350 Multiplex 139 213 Munsef 32 Musical Way 117 362 405 444 Mustameet 24 My Sea of Love 474 My Typhoon 251 Myboycharlie 211 279 345 Mystic Lips 41 133 Nahoodh 287 Nannina 127 155 375 Nashoba’s Key 243 391 Natagora 181 215 279 373 Naughty New Yorker 479 Neele 173 Nell Gwyn 83 New Approach 220 291 345 427 Nick’s Nikita 94 146 176 257 Nickelle 51 Nijoom Dubai 164 Nobiz Like Shobiz 54 Noble Ginger 438 Noble Prince 407 Norman Invader 220 320 466 Notional 15 Notnowcato 111 156 192 283 Obrigado 186 Octave 56 60 238 247 307 462 Old Man Buck 452 Olympian Odyssey 267 One Great Cat 236 339 Oracle West 18 Ordnance Row 267 Oriental Tiger 169 Out of Control 248 Panty Raid 241 454 Papal Bull 199 270 354 Passage of Time 93 348 458 Passager 9 47 99 139 Peace Offering 67 88 131 Peace Royale 317 Pearl Sky 4 7 254 Peeping Fawn 112 120 177 208 237 285 Peppertree Lane 176 Per Incanto 105 Perfect Polly 320 Permesso 443 Persian Storm 114 316 347 Philario 327 Poet Laureate 295 Political Force 240 396 Pomellato 317 466 Ponte Tresa 46 103 276 442 Portal 97 196 Poseidon Adventure 169 360 Precious Boy 421 Precious Kitten 300 480 Premium Tap 19 Pressing 35 89 363 468 Price Tag 126 Pride of Nation 267 Prime Defender 343 Prince Flori 36 101 170 Princesse Dansante 406 Promenade Girl 190 Promising Lead 380 Proudinsky 477

Proud Spell 457 Proviso 271 365 Purim 451 Putney Bridge 475 Pussycat Doll 61 Pyro 448 459 Queen’s Best 290 338 417 Quest For Honor 91 Quijano 319 Racinger 9 47 404 Rags To Riches 2 14 60 187 390 Rahiyah 87 Rahys’ Appeal 1 Raincoat 96 227 Ramonti 99 152 231 331 364 Raven’s Pass 297 427 Raymi Coya 403 Ready’s Image 384 Red Alert Day 327 Red Clubs 92 203 329 Red Diva 274 Red Evie 99 269 326 Red Giant 305 Red Rock Canyon 219 324 Red Rocks 38 463 Redolent 418 447 Redstone Dancer 191 207 235 Reel Gift 224 Regime 39 217 325 441 Ricine 105 294 432 Ridaar 115 171 Rio de La Plata 230 345 379 River Proud 200 374 River Savage 13 River’s Prayer 242 Rob Roy 248 Rob’s Love 104 Rosinka 394 Round Pond 57 Rowe Park 358 Royal And Regal 73 323 407 425 Royal Confidence 429 Royal Highness 302 Royal Oath 206 Runaway 4 Runforthemoneybaby 393 Runway Rosie 2 Russian Desert 217 Rutherienne 306 Sabana Perdida 155 330 Saddex 36 132 262 Sagara 91 205 344 381 Sakhee’s Secret 203 Sakhee’s Song 44 105 423 Salaam Dubai 16 Salut L’Africain 414 Salute The Sarge 386 399 Sam P 55 Samira Gold 417 Sander Camillo 29 Sanjida 436 Santiago 361 411 469 Santiago Atitlan 296 Saoirse Abu 136 263 298 365 Satri 213 Satwa Queen 51 155 273 380 Scarlet Runner 29 Scat Daddy 15 Scatina 66 148 371 476 Schiaparelli 101 169 214 360 422 Scintillo 366 419 Scorpion 77 121 165 342 Scoubidou 66 Secret Tune 163 Sense of Joy 289 Septimus 69 121 281 337 Sergeant Cecil 98 Set Play 385 Shaggy Mane 242 Shahin 199 270 Shakis 185 451 Shamdinan 130 305 463 Sharp Susan 389 She’s Our Mark 191 278 Shediak 332 379

Shinko’s Best 95 174 Shore Do 399 Short Affair 409 Shot Bless 113 Shrek 49 104 347 Shujoon 73 Sierra Vista 118 Sightseeing 54 Silent Name 11 Silkwood 160 Silver Knockers 246 Silver Swallow 14 Silver Touch 178 255 Silver Wagon 58 Simple Exchange 292 Simply Perfect 53 197 223 Sir Gerry 284 Sismix 23 Sixties Icon 68 Sky Conqueror 62 Slew’s Tiznow 452 Smokejumper 432 Soapy Danger 354 Soldier Hollow 89 145 222 315 Soldier of Fortune 22 75 183 344 Soldier’s Tale 92 166 Solzah 44 Sonny Red 30 216 Soudaine 476 South Dakota 184 Spacious 334 Spanish Harlem 110 Speciosa 31 177 Spirit of Sharjah 159 336 Spirit One 22 272 Spirito Del Vento 139 294 404 Spring Awakening 385 Spring House 482 Spycrawler 22 Stage Gift 143 221 Starcastic 252 Starlit Sands 157 333 Step Softly 403 Stephenson 79 Steppe Dancer 77 328 Stern Opinion 225 332 Stimulation 440 Stoneside 140 194 Stormy River 106 213 Stotsfold 350 Stream of Gold 395 Street Sense 59 63 123 311 Strike The Deal 215 236 357 372 Striving Storm 39 Stronghold 269 Subscribe 18 Sudan 147 Sues Surprise 93 Sugar Shake 1 Summit Surge 21 Sun King 314 Sunday Holiday 450 Sunriver 387 482 Sunshine Kid 91 Super Freaky 306 Surf Cat 245 Sweepstake 224 Sweet Lilly 93 Swiss Franc 149 200 284 Synopsis 268 473 Tajdeef 372 Take A Bow 40 119 221 Take d’ Tour 57 190 Takeover Target 166 Talent Search 397 460 478 Tariq 154 228 Tashelka 275 473 Tax Free 67 234 352 Teammate 250 388 454 Tell 408 Terra Incognita 48 That’s Hot 137 The Golden Noodle 483 The Last Drop 50 The Loan Express 157

The Spring Flower 175 The Tin Man 124 303 449 Theann 20 107 201 Thewayyouare 415 447 Thousand Words 30 Tiago 55 187 392 Tian Shan 172 Timarwa 402 Titus Shadow 470 Tiza 195 293 465 Top Toss 353 Topatoo 64 97 Topka 23 168 Toque de Queda 180 Touch My Soul 175 Tough Tiz’s Sis 390 453 Toylsome 256 376 426 Trick Or Treat 232 285 417 Trip To The Moon 210 Trippi’s Storm 304 Truly Mine 6 Tungsten Strike 50 Turbo Linn 196 Turfrose 90 113 444 Turtle Bowl 9 47 106 152 260 Tuscan Evening 211 261 Uimhir A Haon 402 Unbridled Belle 309 398 Under The Rainbow 196 Unilateral 356 Unspoken Word 486 Us Ranger 154 Utrecht 180 Vacare 126 Vadapolina 48 226 Val Jaro 195 Valbenny 241 306 Varevees 349 382 Veenwouden 425 Velvet Revolver 423 Veracity 163 233 Verba 467 Vincennes 472 Visionario 25 Visit 224 287 Vison Celebre 132 Vital Equine 52 Vol de Nuit 100 Wait a While 394 480 Wake Up Maggie 81 235 341 Waky Love 175 471 Waldvogel 371 Waleria 401 Wanderin Boy 249 Wannabe Posh 146 232 War Officer 414 War Pass 448 459 Welsh Emperor 128 269 376 West Wind 141 177 348 Whazzis 420 Wi Dud 193 Wicked Style 452 Wickwing 135 Wiesenpfad 292 347 Wilki 181 225 333 Willow O Wisp 124 Willywell 143 Windsor Knot 424 Winged Cupid 290 Winker Watson 159 200 Without A Prayer 280 Yahrab 418 Yankadi 374 Yeats 158 342 382 Yellowstone 82 161 227 282 Yonagucci 383 You’resothrilling 136 164 198 Youmzain 18 111 218 381 Young Pretender 332 Z Humor 448 Zaham 259 350 367 Zambezi Sun 205 344 Zanjero 59 Zann 477 Zarkava 378

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 113

HEDGEHOLME STUD STALLIONS for 2008

King O’ The Mana (IRE) “A

tough and classy performer” Richard Hannon, trainer

The best Choice for your Broodmare

DISTANT MUSIC Distant View- Musicanti – Nijinsky Timeform’s Champion 2 year old of 1999 Group One winner and a Winner at Three and Four Siring Stakes winners in 2007

**TILLERMAN ** In The Wings – Autumn Tint – Roberto Top Class Miler, Multiple Group Winner over 7 to 9 furlongs Timeform rated 123 , First crop of runners in 2008 Outstanding pedigree from the family of Dynaformer Standing in England for 2008

Bay, 1997, 16.0hh, by TURTLE ISLAND – Olivia Jane, by Ela-Mana-Mou

** NEW FOR 2008** MISU BOND **NEW FOR 2008**

Turf Record WON Tattenham Corner Class. Stakes, Bath, 10f WON Tattersalls Maiden Auction Stakes, Warwick, 61⁄2f WON Hennessy Cognac Blaydon Race Nursery, Newcastle, 8f, carr. 9.2, by 21⁄2 lengths from FRENCH FELLOW, BOLD EWAR etc.

Raceform: “Looked pretty useful here and travelling well, won authoritatively.

There looks to be plenty more to come.”

2nd LR Troy Stakes, Doncaster, 12f (1⁄2l to LEAR SPEAR), beating MAYLANE 2nd Levy Board Nursery, Newbury, 7.5f (to SPIN A YARN, rec. 12lbs), beating Group winners GATEMAN, COMMANDER COLLINS, BEAT ALL etc.

3rd Gr.3 Derby Trial Stakes, Lingfield, 11.5f 4th Gr.2 Prix Hubert de Chaudenay, Longchamp, 15f (btn. 2 lengths) Racehorses of 1999: Rated 100+ at 2.

Racehorses of 2000: 112 at 3 “smart performer: consistent”.

By a Group producing NH and Flat sire from the top NH family of COCKADE, OLD VIC, HIGH TOP, and CAMDEN TOWN, he is producing tough, athletic good moving foals – come and see for yourself!

Danehill Dancer – Hawala – Warning Stakes Winning Two Year Old over 6 and 7 furlongs Won the European Free Handicap beating Jeremy at level weights 3rd in the Ballycorus Stakes Gr 3. despite injury 5th to GEORGE WASHINGTON in the 2,000 Guineas beating AMADEUS WOLF, RED CLUBS etc, and now standing at a sensible fee!!

Considered a serious Group Horse prior to Injury by his Trainer Brian Smart

**JOSR ALGARHOUD** Darshaan – Pont-Aven – Try My Best Multiple Group winner over 6 to 7 furlongs Stakes sire of tough sound horses and now producing winners under all codes.

From a very fast family

Fee for 2008: £1,250 (1st Oct), EBF nominated.

With brilliant concessions to winners/dams of winners Standing at: NEW MILL FARM STUD Monknash, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan CF71 7QQ. Enquiries: Debra and Neil Hooper.

Tel/Fax: 01656 890731 email: info@newmillfarmstud.co.uk

New Mill Farm Stud

For further details Andrew Spalding Hedgeholme, Winston, Darlington, Co. Durham DL2 3RS 01325 730209 – 07990 518751

Moyns Park Stud Birdbrook Boarding for mares Situated close to Newmarket, Moyns Park Stud is ideal for raising thoroughbreds, with a team of highly experienced personnel on site and access to the best equine facilities in the world. We have a few vacancies for boarding mares and yearlings for the 2008 season.

• 130 acres of newly fenced, beautifully sheltered paddocks; • 24 hr CCTV; • horse walker; • state of the art veterinary treatment unit;

• lunge ring; • foaling unit; • beautifully restored teak lined loose boxes • all weather ménage.

Our long standing association with the team of world renowned vets at Greenwood Ellis and Partners, ensures the best available medical care at all times, whilst our close association with the leading stallion studs in Newmarket means we can ensure your mare is covered at the optimum time.

Yearling Preparation With a reputation second to none for presenting yearlings, Walter Cowe is pleased to offer limited places for preparation of yearlings for sales.

We are confident that his expertise and history of producing Classic and Group winners can only reduce your risk in such a competitive industry.

To arrange a visit or discuss your requirements contact; Walter Cowe: 01440 730396 • Mobile: 07850 370200 • walter@moynsparkstud.com • www.moynsparkstud.com

LOUELLA STUD-BREED TO WIN “To stand at Louella he must be good looking” Alan Yuill Walker

CALCUTTA

Indian Ridge x Echoing

RAINBOW HIGH

Rainbow Quest x Imaginary

DENOUNCE

Selkirk x Didicoy

NOMADIC WAY

Assert x Kittyhawk

First class facilities, excellent fertility, long and short term boarders, foaling mares.

Bardon Grange, Hugglescote, Leics, LE67 2BT Tel: 01530 813357 E-mail: info@louella stud.co.uk Web: www.louellastud.co.uk 114 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

Leading Sires Leading NH sires 2007/2008 by earnings Name

Presenting Old Vic Flemensfirth Supreme Leader Accordion Oscar Saddlers’ Hall Pistolet Bleu Video Rock Bob Back Beneficial Roselier Zaffaran Sadler’s Wells Village Star Lord Americo Alderbrook Montjeu Anshan Taipan Kahyasi Daylami Mansonnien Norwich In The Wings Unfuwain Villez Shernazar Glacial Storm Giant’s Causeway King’s Theatre Lomitas Insan Cyborg Good Thyne Perugino Epervier Bleu Overbury Acatenango Moscow Society Turgeon Alflora Trempolino Luso Medaaly Kalanisi Kadeed Sir Harry Lewis Dr Massini Mister Lord Winged Love Arctic Lord Hernando Kayf Tara

YOF

1992 1986 1992 1982 1986 1994 1988 1988 1984 1981 1990 1973 1985 1981 1983 1984 1989 1996 1987 1992 1985 1994 1984 1987 1986 1985 1992 1981 1985 1997 1991 1988 1985 1982 1977 1991 1987 1991 1982 1985 1986 1989 1984 1992 1994 1996 1991 1984 1993 1979 1992 1980 1990 1994

Sire

Mtoto Sadler’s Wells Alleged Bustino Sadler’s Wells Sadler’s Wells Sadler’s Wells Top Ville No Lute Roberto Top Ville Misti IV Assert Northern Dancer Moulin Lord Gayle Ardross Sadler’s Wells Persian Bold Last Tycoon Ile de Bourbon Doyoun Tip Moss Top Ville Sadler’s Wells Northern Dancer Lyphard’s Wish Busted Arctic Tern Storm Cat Sadler’s Wells Niniski Our Native Arctic Tern Herbager Danzig Saint Cyrien Caerleon Surumu Nijinsky Caro Niniski Sharpen Up Salse Highest Honor Doyoun Sadler’s Wells Alleged Sadler’s Wells Sir Ivor In The Wings Lord Gayle Niniski Sadler’s Wells

Rnrs

216 134 121 208 132 188 179 85 29 99 121 45 88 76 1 111 61 41 136 87 34 33 15 50 43 19 21 74 60 19 60 19 20 24 47 28 11 92 22 55 19 65 23 108 4 14 7 33 68 48 13 65 33 67

Wnrs

%WR

Wins

AWD

Plcs

Earnings (£)

43 19.9 30 22.4 22 18.2 37 17.8 29 22.0 30 16.0 32 17.9 18 21.2 11 37.9 20 20.2 24 19.8 12 26.7 17 19.3 16 21.1 1 100.0 16 14.4 12 19.7 13 31.7 17 12.5 20 23.0 7 20.6 11 33.3 3 20.0 16 32.0 10 23.3 6 31.6 6 28.6 15 20.3 10 16.7 6 31.6 16 26.7 6 31.6 4 20.0 6 25.0 8 17.0 6 21.4 3 27.3 15 16.3 8 36.4 9 16.4 3 15.8 9 13.9 4 17.4 11 10.2 2 50.0 4 28.6 2 28.6 8 24.2 11 16.2 8 16.7 1 7.7 8 12.3 8 24.2 14 20.9

56 32 37 48 39 36 45 24 13 28 32 18 24 23 2 20 13 17 20 27 10 17 3 19 15 8 10 18 12 8 18 8 6 8 9 7 3 16 11 14 4 14 10 13 4 6 3 11 14 9 2 9 14 19

20.5 21.7 20.0 19.8 18.9 19.8 19.0 19.1 21.0 19.0 17.6 22.5 21.5 19.6 24.0 19.7 21.6 17.2 20.3 19.1 17.5 17.7 21.5 20.2 18.3 17.8 18.6 19.9 20.5 17.2 17.9 18.4 19.8 18.3 20.8 17.4 20.7 18.4 19.0 19.0 22.5 19.6 16.7 19.6 18.6 16.9 21.3 21.6 19.7 22.3 16.0 19.6 20.1 18.8

160 82 87 109 93 124 108 43 24 69 79 35 56 64 1 71 42 24 69 54 25 22 9 48 21 17 15 50 33 18 35 14 16 16 20 22 9 43 14 32 12 34 22 54 1 12 5 24 45 34 6 39 24 36

710,388 537,896 461,761 433,128 418,866 410,506 389,617 323,436 320,694 314,551 307,844 301,760 272,792 264,901 251,658 237,578 236,071 227,181 221,326 209,996 209,414 198,470 192,833 191,898 190,762 173,521 166,348 164,861 155,689 146,084 141,990 139,852 138,872 138,677 138,527 135,372 134,237 131,084 128,063 126,548 126,517 126,050 119,041 118,343 116,764 114,950 114,028 112,771 110,777 108,225 107,441 107,029 105,481 105,235

Top horse

Denman Mr Pointment Joe Lively Lead On French Accordion Black Jack Ketchum Abragante Vodka Bleu Osana Farmer Brown Sweet Kiln Sonnyanjoe Eden Linty Essex Kauto Star Knowhere Ollie Magern Won In The Dark Il Duce Tai Lass Ring The Boss Pigeon Island Taranis Gazza’s Girl Souffleur Hoo La Baloo Voy Por Ustedes Bewleys Berry Cool Running Jack The Giant Royal Shakespeare Aitmatov Sir Frederick L’Antartique Newbay Prop Harchibald Tamarinbleu Simon Jazz Messenger Cossack Dancer Exotic Dancer Hobbs Hill Franchoek Drunken Disorderly Sky’s The Limit Katchit Mossbank Prestbury Knight Mr Robert Mustangsallyrally Twist Magic Lord Ryeford State Of Play Taravada

Earned (£)

169,314 58,409 111,125 43,468 59,787 33,428 42,765 73,650 135,430 105,372 64,568 84,058 37,170 30,791 251,659 48,187 54,239 62,358 25,668 39,675 36,258 81,930 63,752 30,500 55,781 108,871 87,165 21,390 34,336 97,036 17,560 79,988 90,541 74,930 73,378 68,640 85,530 22,998 76,392 22,470 73,177 45,533 54,002 30,791 111,741 70,833 102,419 26,588 18,673 15,903 101,188 19,851 20,844 19,952

Old Vic short on runners but not on prize-money With Denman continuing to surpass himself, Presenting continues on his merry way at the head of affairs, but Old Vic’s progress into second place deserves a mention.

The best three-year-old colt of 1989 according to Timeform, ahead of Nashwan, Old Vic was endowed with more stamina than speed.

Consequently, it has come as no surprise that his progeny are proving more successful over jumps than they were on the Flat at the start of his career – his only good performer on the level was smart stayer Orchestra Stall.

He is based at Sunnyhill Stud, the location of another sire in the top 20 in the table alongside, Lord Americo, plus young stallion Gamut, and his record is splendid.

The pick of Old Vic’s progeny over jumps are Kicking King, Our Vic, Racing Demon and In Compliance, all of whom have excelled over fences.

The same goes for Old Vic’s biggest earner this season, Becher Chase winner Mr Pointment, but he also has good hurdle winner Grangeclare Lark on the scoresheet. The odd aspect of his tally is the relative shortage of runners – with 134 he is 82 behind Presenting, and numbers definitely count.

All statistics up to December 31, 2007

Ireland contact:

PURE NUTRITION tel: 059 9775800

web: www.redmills.com

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 115

Boarding Services Located 6 miles from Newmarket 265 Acres of quality fenced paddocks.

Advanced foaling unit with CCTV, 24hr supervision Walking into Stallions, using our own transport Sales preparation, breaking yearlings and pre training work Rest and rehabilitation for race horses Our own resident vet and highly experienced staff Very reasonable keep charges and special rates for permanent borders Home to Gr.2 Winner Silent Times

By Danehill Dancer

ÂŁ2500 (1st October) Under new management For details contact: 01638 570470, mobile 07515634703 Email: office@chevingtonstud.com

BAHAMIAN BOUNTY Shareholder Nomination For Sale For the 2008 Breeding Season Contact: Jim Furlong Mobile: 07774 702343 Email: jim.furlong@btconnect.com

116 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

British and Irish-bred winners overseas Breeder

Winner

Sire

Age/sex Dam

A Tamagni-Bodmer & Cocheese Ag, Miss

Auto Rouge (IRE)

Testa Rossa (AUS)

3f

Moonlight Dreams (IRE) Fr

Ctry

04/12/07

Date

Marseille Pont De Vivaux 1m2f137y

£4,054

Ahmed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Sheikh

Mojjedd (IRE)

Lion Cavern (USA)

7h

Chief Ornament (USA)

Ity

05/12/07

Grosseto

1m3f

£2,010

Airlie Stud

Lady Dora (IRE)

Key Of Luck (USA)

3f

Lunar Rainbow (IRE)

Spa 16/12/07

Seville

7f110y

£3,378

Airlie Stud

Semplicita (IRE)

In The Wings

5m

Mirmande (GB)

Ity

Albenga

1m3f

£1,148

13/12/07

Racecourse

Distance

Prize-money (£)

Airlie Stud

Signor Bainzu (IRE)

Docksider (USA)

2c

My Gloria (IRE)

Ity

13/12/07

Grosseto

1m

£3,445

Alder, Roland H.

Batten Boom (IRE)

Mark Of Esteem (IRE)

4c

Irish Fountain (USA)

Ity

20/12/07

Pisa

1m3f

£2,871

Aston House Stud

Signalman (GB)

Silver Patriarch (IRE)

3g

Kairine (IRE)

Ity

13/12/07

Grosseto

1m4f

£2,297

Balding, Peter

Enda Bu Bu (GB)

Bahamian Bounty (GB)

4c

Trina’s Pet (GB)

Ity

21/12/07

Naples

7f

£1,435

Barnes, Richard F

Heatseeker (IRE)

Giant’s Causeway (USA)

4c

Rusty Back (USA)

USA 08/12/07

Hollywood Park

1m1f

Bearstone Stud

Sea Hunter (GB)

Lend A Hand (GB)

5h

Ocean Grove (IRE)

UAE 27/12/07

Nad Al Sheba

6f

£9,179

Biddestone Stud

Alfor (GB)

Alhaarth (IRE)

4c

Fly For Fame (GB)

Ity

Varese

5f

£1,148

Botterill, D R

Algharb (GB)

Mujahid (USA)

5g

Actress

UAE 21/12/07

Jebel Ali

7f

£6,258

Botterill, D R

Miss Sicilia (GB)

Fasliyev (USA)

3f

Miri (IRE)

Ity

15/12/07

Siracusa

1m1f110y

Brady, Philip

Monashee Star (IRE)

Monashee Mountain (USA) 5 g

Dai E Dai (USA)

Hk

12/12/07

Happy Valley

1m55y

13/12/07

Grosseto

1m

Gny 09/12/07

Dortmund

1m4f110y

Brady, Philip

Vegas Star (IRE)

Spinning World (USA)

3f

Burmese Princess (USA) Ity

Brand, Dieter

King Fernando (GB)

Silver Patriarch (IRE)

4g

Kastelruth (GB)

17/12/07

£36,633 (Gr3)

£2,297 £22,096 £889 £1,351

Brinkley Stud S R L

Dear Polish (IRE)

Polish Precedent (USA)

6h

Liaison (USA)

Ity

08/12/07

Siracusa

1m110y

£5,743

Brook Stud Bloodstock Ltd

Dehradoun (GB)

Primo Valentino (IRE)

4g

Pondicherry (USA)

Fr

22/12/07

Deauville

7f110y

£4,730

Brown, Slatch Farm Stud & J Berry, David J

Carnegie Hall (IRE)

Danehill (USA)

5h

Bolshaya (GB)

Hk

23/12/07

Sha Tin

6f

Butler, T C

Margot Mine (IRE)

Choisir (AUS)

2f

Delisha (GB)

Ity

21/12/07

Naples

1m110y

£3,445

Byrne, Mrs Patricia

Regal Pink (IRE)

Be My Guest (USA)

5m

Formaestre (IRE)

Ity

01/12/07

Pisa

1m2f

£1,148

Caley, Exors of the Late W L

Dark Point (GB)

Pivotal (GB)

4c

Ziara (FR)

UAE 27/12/07

Nad Al Sheba

1m

£5,006

Calley House Syndicate

Mac Night (IRE)

Night Shift (USA)

7h

Rosy Lydgate (GB)

Ity

20/12/07

Albenga

6f

£1,148

Carroll, Ken

Mariners Doll (IRE)

King Charlemagne (USA) 2 f

Nautical Light (GB)

Fr

28/12/07

Deauville

7f110y

Castlemartin Stud & Skymarc Farm

Emirates Gold (IRE)

Royal Applause (GB)

Yara (IRE)

UAE 09/12/07

Abu Dhabi

1m

4c

Cauldern, M

Sintonia di Su (IRE)

King’s Best (USA)

2c

That’s The Way (GB)

Ity

Charlton & Floors Farming, Roger

Airbuss (IRE)

Mozart (IRE)

4c

Kardelle (GB)

UAE 27/12/07

16/12/07

Cheveley Park Stud Ltd

Medico (GB)

Highest Honor (FR)

4c

Doctor Bid (USA)

Hk

Cheveley Park Stud Ltd

Sunsu Desura (GB)

Rainbow Quest (USA)

9h

Noble Destiny (GB)

Ity

Citadel Stud

Quai Aux Fleurs (IRE)

Zafonic (USA)

4c

Perugina (FR)

Fr

04/12/07

£17,415

£4,730 £12,517 (L)

Pisa

7f110y

£2,871

Nad Al Sheba

1m2f

£3,671

15/12/07

Sha Tin

1m

14/12/07

Naples

1m2f

£1,435

Deauville

7f110y

£5,068

£29,212

Cliveden Stud Ltd

Galfar (GB)

Singspiel (IRE)

6h

Top Shop (GB)

UAE 07/12/07

Jebel Ali

7f

Corstone Partnership

Elfhelm (IRE)

Perugino (USA)

7h

Symphony (IRE)

HK

Happy Valley

1m55y

Darley

Ans Bach (GB)

Green Desert (USA)

4g

Bezzaaf (GB)

UAE 23/12/07

Abu Dhabi

7f

Darley

Sohgol (IRE)

Singspiel (IRE)

5m

Arruhan (IRE)

USA 05/12/07

Hollywood Park

1m4f

Darley

Storyville (GB)

Lujain (USA)

5g

Slow Jazz (USA)

UAE 07/12/07

Jebel Ali

1m1f165y

Darpat SL, Chevington Stud & Laffon

Trevelez (IRE)

Alhaarth (IRE)

2c

Agapimou (IRE)

Fr

Deauville

6f110y

£8,784

Davis, John and Susan

Top Royelle (GB)

Royal Applause (GB)

3f

Colchica (GB)

USA 30/11/07

Turf Paradise

6f

£3,673

Dayton Investments Ltd

Gogol (IRE)

Desert Prince (IRE)

6h

Gamine (IRE)

Fr

02/12/07

Prunelli-Di-Fiumorbo

1m1f

Deepwood Farm Stud

Traphalgar (IRE)

Cape Cross (IRE)

2c

Conquestadora (GB)

Fr

04/12/07

Deauville

7f110y

Deer, D J and Mrs

Accussi Grande (GB)

Averti (IRE)

3c

Rash Gift (GB)

Ity

20/12/07

Albenga

1m

Deer, D J and Mrs

Power Alert (GB)

Averti (IRE)

3g

Crystal Power (USA)

Bel

01/12/07

Mons

7f110y

£676

Dioscuri Srl

La Segreta (IRE)

Desert Prince (IRE)

2f

Inner Door (IRE)

Ity

20/12/07

Pisa

7f110y

£2,297

Donnelly, Mrs Jacqueline

Irish Kelt (IRE)

Indian Danehill (IRE)

4c

My Simpaty (IRE)

Fr

06/12/07

Deauville

6f110y

£5,743

Dooley, Noel

Admunsen Dance (IRE)

Orpen (USA)

3c

Shygate

Ity

01/12/07

Pisa

1m2f110y

£1,435

Doyle, Raymond P

Perla Med (IRE)

Viking Ruler (AUS)

2f

Treble Term (GB)

Ity

02/12/07

Siracusa

1m1f

Dunne, Frank

Ibiscus (IRE)

Zafonic (USA)

4c

Yazmin (IRE)

Ity

28/12/07

Varese

5f

£1,148

Ecurie Les Monceaux

Ballerina Blue (IRE)

High Chaparral (IRE)

2f

Delicieuse Lady (GB)

Fr

22/12/07

Deauville

7f110y

£8,784

Fares Stables Ltd

Cote d’Ivoire (GB)

Emperor Jones (USA)

8g

Miss Ivory Coast (USA)

Fr

09/12/07

Toulouse-Province

1m

£6,757

Farrington & Canning Downs, D

Our Chairman (IRE)

Okawango (USA)

2c

Lucky For Me (USA)

Spa 16/12/07

Seville

5f

£4,054 £1,148

19/12/07

06/12/07

Ferns, Jack

Nero Peppe (IRE)

Key Of Luck (USA)

4c

Softly Softly (IRE)

Ity

16/12/07

Siracusa

1m1f

Flannery Developments, Gerry

Live To Run (IRE)

Intikhab (USA)

3c

Daily Double (FR)

Ity

05/12/07

Naples

5f

Flynn & Mrs Eimear Mulhern, John

Crimson Blossom (IRE)

Danehill Dancer (IRE)

4f

Dabtara (IRE)

Saf

01/12/07

Kenilworth

1m1f

£6,425 £29,212 £12,517 (L) £21,658 £4,589

£4,730 £11,149 £1,435

£889

£1,435 £4,982 (L)

Foley, Kevin

Nerotta Va (IRE)

Namid (GB)

2f

Alongside (GB)

Ity

15/12/07

Siracusa

6f

Freedom Farm Stud

Lear Sabia (GB)

Domedriver (IRE)

2f

Lasting Delight (GB)

Ity

15/12/07

Siracusa

7f

£1,722

Gaetano, Drago

Mr Dragstar (IRE)

Okawango (USA)

2c

Stella Irlandese (IRE)

Ity

09/12/07

Siracusa

1m110y

£8,614

Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd

Jap Kkhattaf (GB)

Singspiel (IRE)

4c

Hawa (USA)

UAE 20/12/07

Nad Al Sheba

1m

£4,172

Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd

Opportunist (IRE)

Machiavellian (USA)

8h

Fatefully (USA)

UAE 13/12/07

Nad Al Sheba

1m

£9,179

Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd

Skywards (GB)

Machiavellian (USA)

5h

Nawaiet (USA)

UAE 06/12/07

Nad Al Sheba

1m

£5,841

Gigginstown House Stud

Classiccountryrock (IRE)

Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE)

3g

Regent Gold (USA)

Sin

02/12/07

Kranji

6f

£6,247

Grundy Bloodstock Ltd

Midory (GB)

Dr Fong (USA)

2f

Bios (GB)

Ity

24/12/07

Naples

1m1f

£4,307

Hanly, Mrs A

Mac Sissi (IRE)

Barathea (IRE)

4f

Twin Logic (USA)

Ity

30/12/07

Livorno

7f110y

Hanly, Mrs Stephanie

Hammers Boy (IRE)

Mujadil (USA)

3c

Majesty’s Nurse

Hk

28/11/07

Happy Valley

6f

£2,871

£1,291 £29,212

Hesmonds Stud Ltd

Art Brut (GB)

Most Welcome

7h

Arpero

Ity

04/12/07

Rome

1m3f

£1,291

Holburn Trust Co

Rocca Grimalda (IRE)

Tobougg (IRE)

2f

Joint Destiny (IRE)

Ity

26/11/07

Livorno

1m1f165y

£2,010

Hollinshead, R

Star Of Rosanna (GB)

Bertolini (USA)

2f

Etma Rose (IRE)

UAE 27/12/07

Nad Al Sheba

7f

£9,179

Houghton & J S Moore, E J and Mrs

Lebowski (GB)

Beveled (USA)

9g

Sandkatoon (IRE)

Ity

Pisa

6f110y

£1,148

Hughes, Mrs A

Kingsgate Bay (IRE)

Desert Sun (GB)

5g

Selkirk Flyer (GB)

USA 30/11/07

Houston

5f

£5,051

01/12/07

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 117

CLASSIFIED

COLOURS JEWELLERY YOUR colours in all styles of jewellery . . .

GIFTS

PROPERTY SERVICES

www.framedracingcolours.com

JOHN JOHNSTONE MRICS

Chosen colours cut from satin and embroidered onto canvas.

. . . the perfect gift

£95.00 including UK p&p

Pendants & Chains • Earrings • Brooches • Cufflinks • Tie Slides in 18ct gold plate, sterling silver & 9ct gold. Paperweights, miniature pictures, porcelain mugs etc.

To order now call:

The Ripley Collection Peartrees Cottage, Town Street, Shaw Mills, Harrogate HG3 3HU Email: info@theripleycollection.com or order on secure site: www.theripleycollection.com Tel/Fax: 01423 771534 for leaflet.

01488 648434 or 648316 More information available on our website.

Chartered Surveyor

Residential - Agricultural Sales - Purchases - Appraisals Telephone: 01638 500155 Mobile: 07802 501548 Fax: 01638 500156 Email: jj@keylocks.com The Old Rectory, Lidgate, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 9PP

SILKS

EQUINE SERVICES BRICK KILN STUD

Treehouse Sporting Colours

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON • WARWICKSHIRE • CV37 7PA Under the management of

Racing Colours, Body Protectors & Racing Equipment etc.

ELLIE WRIGHT BSc. MSc.

YORTON FARM has a few vacancies available for boarding mares foals and young stock.

Set in 4000 acres of the Sansaw Estate.

Contact Teresa Futter 01939 220 411 enquiries@yortonfarm.co.uk www.yortonfarm.co.uk

Will have a few vacancies for temporary, permanent and walking-in mares (2 hours from Newmarket) for the coming season.

THE STUD COMPRISES: 60 acres permanent pasture with modern American barns, CCTV in the foaling unit, horse walker, indoor turnout barns, 24hr care and supervision.

SPECIALISING IN: Mares, foals, yearlings, sales prep, breaking-in and lay-ups.

ALL AT REASONABLE RATES Contact Ellie to discuss your requirements: 01789 748130 or 07774 805780 Email: elliejwright@tiscali.co.uk

5% discount off silks for TBA & ROA members

www.treehouseonline.co.uk Tel: 01299 851 625 • Fax: 01299 851 581 The Treehouse, Rushock, Droitwich, Worcs WR9 0NR

BIRTH ALARM

BOARDING OPPORTUNITY Small family stud invites applications for a select band of mares and followers for boarding, foaling, walking in, sales prep., etc.

Est. 1970 MANOR FARM STUD RUTLAND, LE15 8QR

New Foaling Alarm Birth Control

C6 Birth Control by

Electronics Systems www.sisteck.com

• Producers of black type performers for the last 7 years, inc. Champion AIRWAVE. • Producers of winners in over 10 countries.

• 2007 sales averaged over £70,000.

• Twice winners of TBA awards.

Phone: 01572 759294 • Mobile: 07918 125353 Email: toby.manorfarmstud@btinternet.com Transmitter

Receiver

Mobile Phone

e-mail : c6@sisteck.com Info Tel. 0039 335 8055440 Dr. Andrea Banchio

Boarding available in a purpose built yard set in 73 acres of secluded and tranquil countryside close to Newmarket.

PREGNANCY TEST

Seasonal and permanent first class boarding for mares, foals and yearlings.

Mares also taken for foaling. We are happy to cater for mares visiting stallions in the Newmarket area.

WeeFoal™

CCTV and 24 hour supervision.

Well maintained post & rail fencing for all year turnout.

Urine Pregnancy Test

We offer sales preparation and racehorse rehabilitation services.

At Rosewood Stud each horse is treated as an individual and our team dedicate time to their needs.

Quick and easy to use.

Reasonable rates.

For all enquires contact Patrick O’Neill (Stud Manager) Tel: 01638 723937 or 07732 658331 E-mail: info@rosewoodstud.co.uk • Website: www.rosewoodstud.co.uk

Home Test Kit Results in 5 – 20 minutes NO FALSE POSITIVES Accurate and Affordable.

www.foalproof.co.uk 118 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

e-mail: foalproofuk@fsmail.net

The data published in this section is restricted to breeders based in Great Britain or Ireland, as determined by the address used when the foal was first registered. Some foreign-based breeders may be included if the mare was boarded in Great Britain or Ireland and is registered as being ‘care of’ a domestic breeder. Performance data covers results processed by Weatherbys during December Hyde Park Stud

Mister Modigliani (IRE)

Modigliani (USA)

2c

Frink (USA)

Ity

Siracusa

5f110y

£1,148

Irish National Stud

Prairie Dunes (IRE)

Indian Ridge

8g

Ceide Dancer (IRE)

Mac 02/12/07

01/12/07

Taipa

6f110y

£6,305

James & Arnfinn Lund, J

Flavin (GB)

Lujain (USA)

3c

River Coln (USA)

Ity

20/12/07

Albenga

1m

£1,149

Kennedy, Colin

Pacific King Prawn (IRE)

Soviet Star (USA)

3c

Fizz Up (GB)

Sin

14/12/07

Kranji

1m

King Bloodstock & Janus Bloodstock

Danesis (IRE)

Danehill (USA)

3c

Sister Dot (USA)

HK

01/12/07

Sha Tin

1m55y

Lewis, John Dwan and Tony

Vegas Park (IRE)

Orpen (USA)

4c

Peace In The Park (IRE) Ity

02/12/07

Siracusa

7f

Loder, Sir E J

Liwa (IRE)

Mozart (IRE)

4c

Pilgrim’s Way (USA)

UAE 06/12/07

Nad Al Sheba

1m2f

Loughtown Stud

Place In Line (GB)

Docksider (USA)

5h

Balwa (USA)

Ity

08/12/07

Siracusa

1m3f110y

£16,081 (L)

Lynch Bages Ltd

Mr Bird (IRE)

Polish Precedent (USA)

2c

Kicking Bird (FR)

Ity

08/12/07

Siracusa

1m2f

£16,081(L)

Lyons, P G

Kingsgate Prince (IRE)

Desert Sun (GB)

4g

Princess Mood (GER)

HK

09/12/07

Sha Tin

1m

Maktoum, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al

Junction Line (GB)

Indian Ridge

9h

Nassma (IRE)

UAE 13/12/07

Nad Al Sheba

6f

£5,841

Malone, John

Lady Annette (IRE)

Monashee Mountain (USA) 5 m

Tamarsiya (USA)

Ity

Siracusa

6f

£1,148

Matthews Breeding & Racing Ltd

Aureus (GB)

Johannesburg (USA)

3c

Rozel (IRE)

Jpn 30/11/07

Nagoya

7f

McNamara, P

Kintyre Comet (IRE)

Mull Of Kintyre (USA)

4c

Comet Dust (GB)

Ity

04/12/07

Rome

1m

£2,871

Meon Valley Stud

Vallora (GB)

Sinndar (IRE)

5h

Quick Return (GB)

Ity

28/12/07

Varese

1m2f110y

£2,871

Millsec Limited

Rosso Bolero (GB)

Medicean (GB)

4c

Bolero (GB)

Ity

09/12/07

Corridonia

5f

Molloy, K

Miss Emerald (IRE)

Mull of Kintyre (USA)

4f

Emerald Cut (GB)

Ity

10/12/07

Varese

1m2f110y

Moran, Mrs E

Caribbean’s Pirate (IRE)

Fasliyev (USA)

2c

Fantasy Royale (USA)

Fr

12/12/07

Deauville

7f110y

£4,730

Morrin, Gerald

Namid Grey (IRE)

Namid (GB)

5h

Thistle Hill (IRE)

Ity

26/12/07

Siracusa

5f110y

£2,871

22/12/07

£6,247 £29,212 £889 £4,172

£59,921

£729

£889 £1,148

Murphy, Miss J

Romanov Dynasty (IRE)

Green Desert (USA)

3c

Russian Rebel (GB)

Spa 16/12/07

Seville

1m2f110y

£3,378

Natton House Thoroughbreds

Saum (GB)

Diktat (GB)

2c

Goldenrain (USA)

Ity

Naples

5f

£3,445

Neary, John

Il Colore Del Vino (IRE)

Second Empire (IRE)

4c

Beech Lane (IRE)

Ity

11/12/07

Rome

1m3f

£1,435

Niarchos Family

Tau (GB)

Lemon Drop Kid (USA)

2c

Tobiano (USA)

Fr

04/12/07

Deauville

1m1f110y

£7,432

O’Brien & B McGarvey, C

Ten Tenors (IRE)

Rossini (USA)

4f

Prima (GB)

USA 15/12/07

Turf Paradise

5f

£2,265

O’Connor, John

Dock Chicks (IRE)

Docksider (USA)

4c

Regal Revolution (GB)

Ity

Old Mill Stud & S C Williams

James The Third (GB)

Diktat (GB)

4c

Attention Seeker (USA)

USA 12/12/07

14/12/07

26/12/07

Livorno

7f110y

£2,871

Hollywood Park

1m

£8,265 £2,871

Ormsby, Tom

Nuova Esperienza (IRE)

Manndar (IRE)

2f

Infra Blue (IRE)

Ity

01/12/07

Siracusa

5f110y

Parker, Mr A

Moiti (GB)

Lomitas (GB)

2c

B Beautiful (IRE)

Ity

05/12/07

Chilivani

1m1f

Pease, Mrs R

Rockiness (GB)

Puissance

4c

Balsamita (FR)

Ity

21/12/07

Varese

7f

Petra Bloodstock Agency Ltd

Mayweather (GB)

Nayef (USA)

2c

Misplace (IRE)

Fr

05/12/07

Marseille Borely

1m2f

£8,784

Petra Bloodstock Agency Ltd

Pivon (IRE)

Pivotal (GB)

3c

Serisia (FR)

Fr

04/12/07

Deauville

7f110y

£5,068

Rathmuck Stud

Romanus (IRE)

Atraf (GB)

2c

Alpathar (IRE)

Ity

12/12/07

Naples

1m2f

£4,307

Rathmuck Stud

Romanus (IRE)

Atraf (GB)

2c

Alpathar (IRE)

Ity

21/12/07

Naples

1m2f

£4,881

£889 £1,148

Rausing, Miss K

Soft Morning (GB)

Pivotal (GB)

3f

Summer Night (GB)

Fr

06/12/07

Deauville

1m1f110y

Remora Bloodstock Ltd

Fast As You Can (IRE)

Cape Cross (IRE)

3f

Crocus (IRE)

Ity

15/12/07

Livorno

1m3f55y

£17,568 (L)

Rotondo, Frank

Hard Job (IRE)

Night Shift (USA)

5h

Via Oriani (IRE)

Ity

21/12/07

Varese

7f110y

£2,871

Roundhill Stud & Gleadhill House Stud Ltd

Zartwyda (IRE)

Mozart (IRE)

4f

Alwiyda (USA)

Ity

27/12/07

Albenga

1m3f

£1,148

San Gabriel Inv & M Canan

Grey Sheep (IRE)

Myrakalu (FR)

5h

Real Wow (USA)

Ity

08/12/07

Pisa

1m1f

£1,435

Savill, P D

Class Attraction (IRE)

Act One (GB)

3f

She’s All Class (USA)

Fr

13/12/07

Deauville

1m1f110y

£5,743

Seymour & The Hon Mrs Pease, H

Up And Coming (IRE)

Compton Place (GB)

3g

Uplifting (GB)

Fr

12/12/07

Deauville

6f110y

£5,743

£1,148

Shadwell Estate Company Limited

Etihaad (GB)

Dubai Millennium (GB)

5h

Elfaslah (IRE)

UAE 27/12/07

Nad Al Sheba

1m

£9,179

Sinanan, Mrs Margaret

Full Attraction (IRE)

Raise A Grand (IRE)

3c

Ballykett Pride (IRE)

Ity

Varese

1m1f165y

£1,148

HK

Skara Glen Stables

Almighty (USA)

Sadler’s Wells (USA)

5h

Saganeca (USA)

Skymarc Farm

La Grande Jatte (IRE)

Key Of Luck (USA)

2f

Begin The Beguine (IRE) Ity

Skymarc Farm Inc

Golden World (GB)

Spinning World (USA)

3f

Gold Drop (USA)

Smith, Mrs Helen

Cummins (IRE)

Danetime (IRE)

6m

Smullen, Thomas

Nero Siculo (IRE)

Beckett (IRE)

3c

03/12/07 12/12/07

Happy Valley

1m1f

23/12/07

Pisa

1m1f110y

£17,415 £1,435

Spa 02/12/07

Seville

1m1f

£3,716

Saniwood (IRE)

Ity

14/12/07

Naples

1m

£1,722

Shimla (IRE)

Ity

09/12/07

Siracusa

6f

£1,435 £1,435

Smullen, Thomas

Nero Siculo (IRE)

Beckett (IRE)

3c

Shimla (IRE)

Ity

26/12/07

Siracusa

5f110y

Stilvi Compania Financiera & C Laffon Parias

Rymi (IRE)

Spectrum (IRE)

2f

Testaruda (IRE)

Fr

12/12/07

Deauville

7f110y

£4,730

Summerhill Stud

Galileo’s Night (GB)

Galileo (IRE)

3c

Niyabah (IRE)

Saf

26/12/07

Kenilworth

1m2f

£2,627

Sweeney, Miss Sally

Volo Alto (IRE)

Second Empire (IRE)

3c

Green Patriot (IRE)

Ity

01/12/07

Siracusa

1m

£1,435

Sweeney, Miss Sally

Volo Alto (IRE)

Second Empire (IRE)

3c

Green Patriot (IRE)

Ity

22/12/07

Siracusa

1m3f110y

£2,297

Theobalds Stud

Zandicular (GB)

Forzando

8h

Perdicula (IRE)

Ity

28/12/07

Varese

1m1f165y

£1,148

Thompson, Miss Sarah

Golden Liberty (IRE)

Statue Of Liberty (USA)

2f

Blue Crystal (IRE)

Ity

02/12/07

Naples

5f

£4,307

Tinnakill Partnership I

Eliolotto (IRE)

Efisio

4c

Lafleur (IRE)

Ity

13/12/07

Albenga

1m

£1,148

Troy, J M

Citta Proibita (GB)

King’s Best (USA)

2f

Bint Alajwaad (IRE)

Ity

29/12/07

Pisa

6f

£3,445

Tumsich, G

Arenzano (IRE)

Tagula (IRE)

3c

Artesina (IRE)

Ity

06/12/07

Albenga

1m3f

£1,435

Turner, R J

Anna Vegas (GB)

Compton Place (GB)

3f

Dance Land (IRE)

Ity

13/12/07

Grosseto

5f

£889

Tynan, Matthew

Baby Naida (IRE)

Mull Of Kintyre (USA)

2f

Smooth Technology (IRE) Ity

22/12/07

Siracusa

6f

£1,722

Wacker III, C H

Spanish Harlem (IRE)

Danehill (USA)

3c

Sleepytime (IRE)

USA 15/12/07

Aqueduct

1m

£17,143

Waldron & Mick McGinn, James

Giada Med (IRE)

Okawango (USA)

2f

Singled Out (IRE)

Ity

01/12/07

Siracusa

1m

£1,722

Ward, Mrs V

Darim (GB)

Second Empire (IRE)

4c

Rosa Royale (GB)

Ity

10/12/07

Varese

7f110y

£1,149

Waterford Hall Stud

Red Bikini (IRE)

Captain Rio (GB)

2f

Meritorious (USA)

Ity

26/12/07

Siracusa

6f

£1,148

Weld, Mrs C L

Pure Bluff (IRE)

Indian Ridge

3c

Agnetha (GER)

UAE 07/12/07

Jebel Ali

7f

Whelan, Richard

Mica’s Island (IRE)

Trans Island (GB)

3c

Mica Male (ITY)

HK

Happy Valley

1m55y

Whitsbury Manor Stud

Secret Place (GB)

Compton Place (GB)

6g

Secret Circle (GB)

UAE 21/12/07

Jebel Ali

5f

£5,841

Williams, John D

Baturlo (IRE)

Raise A Grand (IRE)

3c

Castlelue (IRE)

Ity

Rome

7f

£1,435

12/12/07 18/12/07

£4,130 £29,212

FEBRUARY 2008 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER 119

Your Say To have ‘Your Say’, e-mail editor@ownerbreeder.co.uk or telephone 01444 440540

Stop penalising the mare owners Paul Thorman TBA Council member and manager of Trickledown Stud

AS a TBA Council member and manager of Trickledown Stud, one of the issues I am often asked about by breeders is grooms’ fees, which are charged by the public stallion studs when receiving mares for covering.

Many breeders feel that these fees, which typically vary from £50 to £100 per mare, are totally unwarranted, on top of all the other costs they are faced with.

Historically, mares were sent away to be covered for a period of up to three or four months, until it could be determined that the covering had been successful and the mare was in foal.

Grooms’ fees were intended as a discretionary payment – a ‘thank you’, from the breeder to the stallion stud groom – for looking after their mare during that extended period.

With the advent of ‘walking in’, a mare is given a specific time slot to be covered by a stallion, which could be any time from 9am to midnight, depending on the stud. The whole process, from arriving at the stud with your mare to leaving after the covering, can take just 15 minutes.

Yet many stallion studs still automatically charge grooms’ fees. How can they justify this charge?

I am not saying that the grooms don’t deserve every penny they get. Most stud staff are on a relatively low wage and rely on such ‘bonuses’ to supplement their income.

As a groom for more than 15 years, I understand this only too well; the bonuses are certainly well-deserved. However, breeders and mare owners overwhelmingly feel that this bonus should not be coming out of their pockets, but from the stallion stud owners themselves or the stallion syndicates.

The charging of grooms’ fees has effectively stopped mare owners from tipping public stud staff, as they feel they are already doing so.

Similarly, in a restaurant, who would want to leave a tip if the service charge was already included on the bill?

In addition, if the mare fails to get in foal, grooms’ fees are still charged to the mare owner, despite the mating not having been a success. Who would want to leave a tip for a meal that did not arrive?

The charges also differ between the various stallion studs. In my view, the issue certainly needs clarification and to be made far more transparent.

Many in the industry feel that grooms’ fees should be stopped altogether and mare owners should not have to supplement part of the public studs’ wage bill.

The problem is that mare owners do not take into consideration grooms’ fees when negotiating a nomination to a stallion. As such, the stallion studs are profiting from a charge that, to all intents and purposes, sneaks under the radar.

For those stallion studs standing multiple stallions, the grooms’ fees charge can result in an income worth tens of thousands of pounds a year – and it is all paid for by the mare owners.

At the very least, the charge should be a voluntary one. In recent years, the charge has gone up and up, with no real explanation as to why.

Many small breeders do not feel that they can stand up to the big stallion studs and therefore have to grin and bear grooms’ fees, along with all the other additional costs they face in today’s market.

There is also the issue of how the money is redistributed back to the staff. How can we be sure that those at the bottom of the chain are getting the money for which breeders have been charged?

Grooms’ fees may not be the most pressing issue facing the breeding industry today, yet the charges are a definite irritant to mare owners and small breeders, and must be addressed.

I would very much welcome public stud reaction and further discussion on this subject.

“It is an unfair charge. Who would want to leave a tip for a meal that did not arrive?”

120 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER FEBRUARY 2008

From the team that made Bertolini the leading first-crop sire...

To breed an exceptional horse, breed to an exceptional horse.

Rated superior to both Shamardal and Dubawi,

Proclamation

Now, more than ever, the market demands something remarkable. If you ever saw Proclamation’s Sussex Stakes, or his Jersey win, you’ll know that his talents were truly remarkable.

Proclamation (King’s Best–Shamarra, by Zayyani) £4,000 Oct 1st, Special live foal

Overbury Stud

Call Simon Sweeting on 07796 174926 or (01386) 725552 Email: simon@ovstud.co.uk. www.ovstud.co.uk

Also at Overbury Kayf Tara £2,500 Oct 1st, Special live foal. Zafeen £3,000 Oct 1st, Special live foal.

Who’s the king of the Kings?

The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes: Britain’s greatest race? Well, undoubtedly one of them.

There is no better (or better bred, or better looking) recent winner than Doyen. There are, however, a few more expensive ones...

2004 2005 2006 2007

Doyen Azamour Hurricane Run Dylan Thomas

Fee

Timeform

£7,000 =25,000 C =30,000 C =50,000 C

132 130 130 132 (Black Book)

Doyen £7,000 Oct 1, SLF Covered the best book of mares of any stallion standing at £15k or less in 2006, and, in 2007, more dams of Group winners than Motivator, Selkirk, Azamour and Nayef.

Stands at Dalham Hall Stud, Newmarket.

Darley Think big. +44 (0)1638 730070 +353 (0)45 527600 www.darleystallions.com