Owner Breeder Incorporating Pacemaker

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£4.95 | January 2010 | Issue 65

Incorporating

He’s pretty special – and so are the ROA Awards.

Reports on both inside

Hennessy Hero

Denman defies top weight in historic win Best of British breeding: TBA winners announced Sourcing jumpers: five trainers give their views Bloodstock legend: Jackie Ward Ramos interview

WWW.OWNERBREEDER.CO.UK

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WELCOME FROM THE EDITOR Richard Griffiths

It’s goodbye from me, and it’s hello from him t a time when racing has been blessed with such outstanding horses as Sea The Stars and Kauto Star, it shouldn’t be too surprising that the ROA Awards, sponsored

by Sportingbet.com, had such a genuine buzz about them this year.

It was a chance to recognise success at all levels, meaning that the winners’ podium was shared not only by Christopher Tsui, who flew in especially from Hong Kong, and Clive Smith, but also the connections of Scintillo, the All-Weather Horse of the Year, and Cappa Bleu, Hunter Chaser of the Year. An awards for all occasions.

For all the joyous heights that some outstanding horses brought us in 2009, this remains a fraught time for racing and breeding. The astonishing effect to which Sheikh Mohammed buoyed most of the major bloodstock markets throughout the year has undoubtedly been tempered by reports of a credit crisis facing Dubai.

It was noticeable how contracted the sheikh’s spending was at the Tattersalls December mares sale in the aftermath of those reports. Whereas the aggregate for the foal sale was up by 39%, the mares’ section produced a near identical aggregate to last year, which, lest we forget, was 52% down on 2007 levels.

Perhaps it will be only at the 2010 breeze-ups that we will realise how much, if at all, Sheikh Mohammed’s investment in bloodstock will be tempered by Dubai’s economic position.

For, according to Philip Freedman in this month’s Sales Circuit (see pages 62-69), mare auctions “are more likely to be influenced by the

A

Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder incorporating Pacemaker is published by a Mutual Trading Company owned jointly by the Racehorse Owners Association and Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Chief Executive Michael Harris Editor Richard Griffiths Assistant Editor Edward Rosenthal Design Fruit Design Editorial First Floor, 65 The Broadway, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 3AS

Tel: 01444 440 540 Fax: 01444 441 190 editor@ownerbreeder.co.uk www.ownerbreeder.co.uk Advertising Giles Anderson Tel: 01380 816 777 USA: 1 888 218 4430 Fax: 01380 816 778 advertise@anderson-co.com Subscriptions Keely Brewer Tel: 020 7493 7607 Fax: 020 7408 1662 subscriptions@ownerbreeder.co.uk Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder

quality of what is on offer than any other sector of the market. Generally, mare owners, both in Europe and North America, have been reluctant to make available the best of their stock at a time when demand was expected to be relatively weak.”

Therefore: “Whether it is correct to believe that it will be ‘business as usual’ (for Sheikh Mohammed) in 2010 – or simply wishful thinking – will not be answered for some months yet.”

This is the last issue of Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder under its current editorship. From next month onwards the reins will be taken up by Edward Rosenthal, who has displayed considerable flair and diligence during his two years as Assistant Editor. He has already shown himself to be ready and willing to step up to the plate, and is sure to be a great success in his new role.

On a personal level, huge thanks must go to both the Racehorse Owners Association and Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association for not only having the vision to create a monthly magazine to represent the needs and interests of their members, but also for their appreciation of the wider role it could play in covering the many personalities and issues that racing and bloodstock provide.

The investment and involvement of both associations has been considerable, and it has been an absolute pleasure to have been involved in the launch and development of Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder from the very first issue in September 2004.

Here’s hoping for a very happy year ahead for all members of the Racehorse Owners Association and Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.

incorporating Pacemaker can be purchased by non-members at the following rates: 1 year 2 years UK £55 £90 Europe €85 €135 RoW £99 £154 Racehorse Owners Association Ltd 4th Floor, 60 St James’s Street, London, SW1A 1LE Tel: 020 7408 0903 Fax: 020 7408 1662 info@roa.co.uk www.racehorseowners.net

Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Stanstead House, The Avenue, Newmarket CB8 9AA Tel: 01638 661321 Fax: 01638 665621 info@thetba.co.uk www.thetba.co.uk The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association is a registered charity No. 215752 Editorial views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the ROA or TBA

“It has been an absolute pleasure to have been involved in Owner/Breeder from the start”

£4.95 | January 2010 | Issue 65

Incorporating

He’s pretty special – and so are the ROA Awards.

Reports on both inside

Hennessy Hero

Denman defies top weight in historic win Best of British breeding: TBA winners announced Sourcing jumpers: five trainers give their views Bloodstock legend: Jackie Ward Ramos interview

WWW.OWNERBREEDER.CO.UK

Cover: Denman defies a mark of 174 to win the Hennessy Photo: George Selwyn

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No other publication is better equipped to represent the wishes and interests of ALL owners and breeders.

We’d love to hear your views: editor@ownerbreeder.co.uk

CONTENTS

51 Christopher Tsui, Jean Lesbordes and John Oxx at the ROA Awards

74 Overbury was among the horses honoured at the TBA Awards

NEWS AND VIEWS 9 News Focus The impact of recession on the bloodstock industry 12 Changes News in a nutshell 15 ROA Leader Why REL is the right new home for the Tote 17 TBA Leader Let’s celebrate what is right about our industry 18 Tony Morris Racing should embrace Sky TV 104 Your Say Breeder Bryan Mayoh on the success of French-breds 21 Mick Kinane follows Sea The Stars in waving goodybe to his fans

INTERNATIONAL SCENE 21 View From Ireland Dunguib, Mick Kinane and Billy McDonald 24 Continental Tales Raiders shun Auteuil’s ‘international jump weekend’ 27 Going Global US bloodstock industry battered and bruised

FEATURES 30 Talking To...

Hard-working jockey Noel Fehily 32 COVER STORY The Big Picture Denman’s awesome Hennessy victory 38 The Big Interview Successful Canadian owner Dick Bonnycastle 38 Dick Bonnycastle: 1,000 Guineas-winning owner airs his views 6 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

42 Jackie Ward Ramos An enduring name in the bloodstock business

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Industry agreed measurement Our proven average monthly circulation is certified by the Audit Bureau of Circulations at 10,330* *based on the period July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009

30 Talking To...one of the hardest-working jockeys, Noel Fehily

FEATURES continued 46 Progressive Trainers Five movers and shakers on what they buy and why 51 COVER STORY ROA/Sportingbet.com Awards Sea The Stars leads the gong-getters at racing’s oscars 62 Sales Circuit Philip Freedman assesses the state of the market

FORUM 70 ROA News Stud and Stable Staff Awards changes for the better 73 Racecourse League Table How Britain’s 60 tracks compare 74 TBA Forum Featuring the 2009 Awards 79 Breeders’ Prizes Your National Hunt and Flat success stories 81 Breeder of the Month The late Jean Wood, for Diamond Harry 82 Vets Forum What to do when a horse injures itself

DATA BOOK 89 Caulfield Files This year, the female has been as deadly as the male 93 Global Stakes Results Graded race winners and analysis 96 Data Book European Pattern and National Hunt Graded races 103 Overseas Winners The cream of British- and Irish-bred scorers abroad THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER 7

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DATA BOOK Overseas winners Due to space restrictions, this is an abbreviated version of Overseas Winners (£7,000 or up). If any reader would like to be emailed a full version of this data, contact editor@ownerbreeder.co.uk or phone 01444 440540. The complete list is also on the Owner & Breeder and TBA websites Breeder

Winner

Sire

Age/sex Dam

Ctry

Airlie Stud Airlie Stud Airlie Stud & Sir Thomas Pilkington Balding, P Ballymacoll Stud Farm Ltd Bamford, Lady Banahan, J & E Bluehorse Breeding Ltd Branston Stud Ltd Britton House Stud Ltd Buckley, C C and Mrs D J Carroll, Mr J M Cheveley Park Stud Ltd Citadel Stud Commins, Mrs E Cosgrove, Mrs B Crandon Park Stud Cyzer, C A Dalton, M Damiano, Pascal Darley Darley Darley Darley David Jamison Bloodstock Davis, J G and Mrs Dayton Investments Ltd Dayton Investments Ltd Dayton Investments Ltd Delauncy Syndicate Doyle Bloodstock Ltd, P J Droney, P Dullea, M East Burrow Farm Elsdon Farms Eurostrait Ltd Fittocks Stud Fitzpatrick, H Fogarty & Westbury Bloodstock, Mr J Foley, M J Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd Glenview House Stud Grundy Bloodstock S R L Hascombe & Valiant Studs Hawthorn Villa Stud Highclere Stud Holborn Trust Co Huggins, R W Irish National Stud Juddmonte Farms Inc Juddmonte Farms Ltd Juddmonte Farms Ltd Juddmonte Farms Ltd KI Farm Kennard & Whitsbury Manor Stud, Major and Mrs R B Knocklong House Stud Kurt, K Lagardere, M Lascelles, Hugo Leigh, Exors of the Late G W Lisieux Stud Longueville Bloodstock Loughtown Stud Loughtown Stud Lynch Bages Ltd Lyons, A Lyons, A Malih Lahij Al Basti Marc de Chambure March Thoroughbreds Marnane, Mrs T Martinezli, M McEnery, J McGlynn, M Mike Channon Bloodstock Ltd Morrin, G Nawara Stud Co Ltd Nawara Stud Co Ltd New England Stud, Myriad & Elite Bloodstock Oak Lodge Bloodstock O’Brien, Mrs J O’Connor, J Ormsby, L Philipps, Mrs Rebecca Quellier, C Rathyork Stud Redmyre, Silfield & Rathmore Rocklow Stud Ryan, P Savill, P D Shadwell Estate Company Limited Shadwell Estate Company Limited Shadwell Estate Company Limited Skymarc Farm St Clare Hall Stud Stock Vale Ltd Stonethorn Stud Farms Ltd Tally-Ho Stud Tally-Ho Stud Veitch & J Murphy, D Wardstown Stud Ltd Wardstown Stud Ltd Watership Down Stud Whatton Manor Stud Whitsbury Manor Stud & Mrs M E Slade Wigan, J

Admire Golgo (IRE) Amfikratis (IRE) Zafisio (IRE) Enda Bu Bu (GB) Conduit (IRE) Love Dancer (IRE) Fat Choy Ichiban (IRE) Histoire (IRE) Adversity (GB) California Bright (IRE) Cool Voice (GB) Bellinissimo (IRE) Officer (GB) Bufera (IRE) Queen Joe (IRE) Dame Anouska (IRE) Hunter Street (GB) Flower (GB) Juzilla (IRE) Spanish Moss (IRE) Criticism (GB) John Donne (GB) Otaared (GB) Spinning Yarn (GB) Deal Breaker (GB) Skins Game (GB) Ange du Salut (IRE) Poincon de France (IRE) Vologda (IRE) Regina Mundi (IRE) Terre Neuve (IRE) Dynamic Power (IRE) Mariscal (IRE) Hermione’s Magic (GB) Northern Glory (GB) Zavone (IRE) Kossack (GB) Aryvas (IRE) Norris (IRE) Star’s Smile (IRE) Prestigious Baby (IRE) Summer Games (GB) Trimaran (IRE) Misano Lasen (IRE) Sheitan (GB) Tuscan Evening (IRE) Twin Prince (IRE) Super Motiva (GB) Icemancometh (IRE) Babyla (GB) Rinterval (IRE) Fingerprint (USA) Midday (GB) Lifting Cloud (GB) Weald (GB) Lord Baroque (IRE) Shine For Me (GB) Martinakos (IRE) Kurtiniadis (IRE) Alhamark (IRE) Meeriss (IRE) Call Me George (GB) Evi Dal (IRE) Karhidona (IRE) Amadeo Rey (IRE) Para Elisa (IRE) Sandlers (IRE) Voras (IRE) Voras (IRE) Never Ask (IRE) Churriana (IRE) Tierra Luna (IRE) Loudovikos (IRE) Arakan Rose (IRE) Hasodikis (IRE) Celebration Song (IRE) Titus Awarded (IRE) Aye Aye Captain (IRE) Biased Opinion (IRE) Kulaib (IRE) Adagio (GB) Thrylakos (IRE) Moving Ice (IRE) Remedial (IRE) Ziliara (IRE) Solsiste (GB) My Boy Davis (IRE) Win A Million (IRE) Frozen Time (GB) Korinthos (IRE) Dark Rose (IRE) Collection (IRE) Alsadeek (IRE) Alsadeek (IRE) Makfi (GB) Lookafternumberone (IRE) Morar (GB) Vale Of York (IRE) Cats In Boots (IRE) Mister Fips (IRE) Soto Loti (IRE) Mary Boleyn (IRE) Afrodis Oinos (IRE) Puntero Triste (IRE) Rewilding (GB) On Our Way (GB) Night School (GB) Ibn Battuta (USA)

Fasliyev (USA) Almutawakel (GB) Efisio Bahamian Bounty (GB) Dalakhani (IRE) Fasliyev (USA) Intikhab (USA) Whipper (USA) Oasis Dream (GB) Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) Singspiel (IRE) Hawk Wing (USA) Medicean (GB) King’s Best (USA) One Cool Cat (USA) Exceed And Excel (AUS) Compton Place (GB) Zamindar (USA) Marju (IRE) Fasliyev (USA) Machiavellian (USA) Fantastic Light (USA) Storm Cat (USA) Pivotal (GB) Night Shift (USA) Diktat (GB) Dalakhani (IRE) Peintre Celebre (USA) Red Ransom (USA) Montjeu (IRE) Verglas (IRE) Namid (GB) Soviet Star (USA) Systematic (GB) Rainbow Quest (USA) Zafonic (USA) Sadler’s Wells (USA) Catcher In The Rye (IRE) Peintre Celebre (USA) Soviet Star (USA) Storming Home (GB) Storming Home (GB) Red Ransom (USA) Kheleyf (USA) Dalakhani (IRE) Oasis Dream (GB) Desert Prince (IRE) Motivator (GB) Marju (IRE) Linamix (FR) Desert Prince (IRE) Maria’s Mon (USA) Oasis Dream (GB) Dansili (GB) Bering Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) Royal Applause (GB) Night Shift (USA) Mujahid (USA) Mark of Esteem (IRE) Dubai Destination (USA) Rainbow Quest (USA) Mull Of Kintyre (USA) Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) Intikhab (USA) Halling (USA) Sadler’s Wells (USA) Marju (IRE) Marju (IRE) Spectrum (IRE) Anabaa (USA) Giant’s Causeway (USA) Choisir (AUS) Arakan (USA) Fasliyev (USA) Royal Applause (GB) Titus Livius (FR) Captain Rio (GB) Fasliyev (USA) Invincible Spirit (IRE) Grand Lodge (USA) Dubai Destination (USA) Verglas (IRE) Verglas (IRE) Acclamation (GB) Vettori (IRE) Whipper (USA) Exceed And Excel (AUS) Danehill Dancer (IRE) Catcher In The Rye (IRE) Pyrus (USA) Peintre Celebre (USA) Fasliyev (USA) Fasliyev (USA) Dubawi (IRE) Verglas (IRE) Kalanisi (IRE) Invincible Spirit (IRE) Choisir (AUS) Chevalier (IRE) Danetime (IRE) King’s Best (USA) Celtic Swing (GB) Medecis (GB) Tiger Hill (IRE) Oasis Dream (GB) Machiavellian (USA) Seeking The Gold (USA)

5h 4c 3c 6h 4c 4g 4g 2f 4c 3f 5h 3c 5h 3f 3f 3f 6h 4f 5m 8g 5m 5h 4c 2f 4g 3c 3c 5h 3f 2f 3f 4c 3c 3f 6h 6h 4c 3c 2c 3c 3f 4f 4f 2f 4g 4f 4g 2f 4g 3f 4f 5h 3f 3c 4c 4c 4c 5h 6h 6g 4c 6h 4f 4f 2c 3f 3f 4c 4c 6g 4f 2f 3c 2f 3c 6g 2c 3g 4c 3c 5h 3c 3f 2f 3f 8g 2c 3f 3c 4f 3f 4c 4g 4g 2c 3c 3f 2c 4c 4g 3f 3f 3c 4c 2c 3g 7h 4c

Jpn Gr Gny Ity Usa Gr Hk Fr Mac Gr Jpn Fr Fr Fr Gr Fr Ity Fr Gr Fr Usa Jpn Uae Ity Usa Fr Fr Fr Fr Ity Fr Ity Spa Usa Gny Mac Aus Gr Spa Ity Gr Uae Gr Ity Fr Usa Fr Ity Usa Fr Usa Uae Usa Fr Uae Jpn Fr Gr Tur Fr Uae Uae Gr Gr Fr Fr Fr Gr Gr Gr Fr Fr Gr Ity Gr Gr Ity Gr Gr Gr Usa Gr Gr Fr Gr Fr Fr Gr Jpn Gr Ity Hk Uae Uae Fr Gr Fr Usa Jpn Usa Gr Fr Gr Ity Fr Hk Jpn Uae

Cinnamon Rose (USA) Adrift (USA) Goldthroat (IRE) Trina’s Pet (GB) Well Head (IRE) L’Amour (USA) Al Amlah (USA) Desert Drama (IRE) Tuxford Hideaway Woodyousmileforme (USA) Strictly Cool (USA) Princess Electra (IRE) Appointed One (USA) Mahalia (IRE) Sunlit Ride True Joy (IRE) Sewards Folly (GB) Time For Tea (IRE) Mizillablack (IRE) Valses Pour Moi (USA) Innuendo (IRE) Upper Strata Society Lady (USA) Subtle Charm (GB) Photo Flash (IRE) Mouriyana (IRE) Ange Bleu (USA) Poughkeepsie (IRE) Vallee Enchantee (IRE) Delauncy (GB) Midnight Partner (IRE) Hunzy (IRE) Cat’s Tale (IRE) Eleonor Sympson (GB) Northern Goddess Irish Teen (USA) Kithanga (IRE) Mintaka (IRE) Probable (IRE) Smile Awhile (USA) Min Asl Wafi (IRE) Shawanni (GB) Moonlight Sail (USA) My Lilli (IRE) Biosphere (GB) The Faraway Tree (GB) Twin Island (IRE) Haute Volta (FR) Irina (IRE) Labour Of Love (USA) Interpose (GB) Helstra (USA) Midsummer (GB) Love The Rain (GB) New Abbey (GB) Lady Pastel (JPN) Polished Up (GB) Three Greens (GB) Fiddler’s Moll (IRE) Alharir (USA) Bless The Bride (IRE) Coretta (IRE) The Merry Widow (IRE) Routilante (IRE) Friendly Warning (GB) Ice Ballet (IRE) Sankara (IRE) Super Trouper (FR) Super Trouper (FR) Royal Flame (IRE) Souvenir Souvenir (GB) Luna Wells (IRE) Desert Blues (IRE) Rose Tint (IRE) Merrily (GB) Googoosh (IRE) Wings Awarded (GB) Thistle Hill (IRE) Atnab (USA) Nofa’s Magic (IRE) Lalindi (IRE) Perfect Alibi Iomha (IRE) Remedy (GB) Tashyra (IRE) Sandbank (USA) Aldovea (GB) Laraissa (GB) Bravo Dancer (GB) Afifah (GB) Darkness At Noon (USA) Lasting Chance (USA) Khulan (USA) Khulan (USA) Dhelaal (GB) Septieme Face (USA) Moidart (GB) Red Vale (IRE) Eurostorm (USA) Blue Holly (IRE) Baraloti (IRE) Bint Kaldoun (IRE) Collada (IRE) Changi (IRE) Darara Singed (GB) Good Enough (FR) Sulk (IRE)

Date

11/10/09 23/10/09 14/11/09 08/11/09 07/11/09 09/10/09 15/11/09 13/11/09 08/11/09 30/10/09 06/09/09 14/11/09 23/11/09 09/11/09 23/10/09 13/11/09 07/11/09 21/11/09 26/10/09 11/11/09 01/11/09 20/11/09 20/11/09 27/11/09 06/11/09 28/11/09 19/11/09 06/12/09 19/11/09 08/11/09 16/11/09 17/11/09 01/11/09 30/10/09 02/09/09 27/11/09 31/10/09 28/09/09 15/11/09 09/11/09 16/10/09 20/11/09 19/10/09 22/11/09 22/11/09 06/11/09 03/12/09 06/12/09 30/10/09 08/11/09 28/08/09 13/11/09 06/11/09 09/11/09 20/11/09 25/10/09 19/11/09 21/09/09 18/10/09 01/12/09 13/11/09 13/11/09 25/09/09 07/10/09 28/11/09 27/11/09 26/11/09 11/09/09 30/10/09 30/10/09 09/11/09 14/11/09 12/10/09 21/11/09 09/09/09 18/09/09 15/11/09 14/09/09 09/09/09 14/09/09 04/11/09 21/09/09 25/09/09 27/11/09 23/10/09 23/11/09 19/11/09 14/09/09 27/09/09 09/10/09 22/11/09 15/11/09 06/11/09 20/11/09 27/11/09 16/09/09 10/11/09 07/11/09 24/10/09 07/11/09 23/10/09 19/11/09 21/10/09 16/11/09 09/11/09 07/11/09 19/11/09 08/11/09

Racecourse

Distance

Kyoto Athens Frankfurt Rome Santa Anita Athens Sha Tin Maisons-Laffitte Taipa Athens Kawasaki Marseille Borely Argentan Maisons-Laffitte Athens Maisons-Laffitte Milan Toulouse Athens Angers Aqueduct Funabashi Jebel Ali Rome Santa Anita Toulouse Le Croise-Laroche Lyon La Soie Le Croise-Laroche Rome Fontainebleau Rome Zarzuela Santa Anita Baden-Baden Taipa Rosehill Athens Zarzuela Varese Athens Jebel Ali Athens Rome Lyon Villeurbanne Santa Anita Deauville Siracusa Santa Anita Bordeaux Le Bouscat Presque Isle Downs Jebel Ali Santa Anita Maisons-Laffitte Jebel Ali Fukushima Fontainebleau Athens Bursa Cagnes-Sur-Mer Jebel Ali Jebel Ali Athens Athens Toulouse Fontainebleau Bordeaux Le Bouscat Athens Athens Athens Maisons-Laffitte Saint-Cloud Athens Siracusa Athens Athens Rome Athens Athens Athens Aqueduct Athens Athens Fontainebleau Athens Argentan Le Croise-Laroche Athens Niigata Athens Rome Sha Tin Jebel Ali Jebel Ali Fontainebleau Athens Saint-Cloud Santa Anita Fukushima Philadelphia Park Athens Fontainebleau Athens Varese Maisons-Laffitte Sha Tin Funabashi Abu Dhabi

7f 7f 1m2f 7f110y 1m4f 7f 1m 6f 7f110y 6f 1m 7f165y 1m1f165y 1m 5f 1m 7f 6f 1m 1m 1m4f 7f110y 7f 6f 1m 1m 1m4f110y 1m7f110y 1m1f 1m1f 1m2f 1m 7f 1m 1m6f 5f55y 1m4f 6f 1m1f 1m2f110y 6f 1m1f 1m 7f110y 1m1f 1m 7f110y 1m 1m 1m1f110y 6f 7f 1m2f 1m5f 1m1f165y 6f 6f 6f 1m110y 1m 1m 1m1f165y 7f 7f 1m 1m2f 1m 6f 6f 7f 1m 7f 5f 7f110y 6f 6f 1m 5f 6f 5f 1m 6f 6f 7f 7f 1m2f110y 1m1f 5f 6f 7f 1m4f 1m2f 6f 5f 7f 5f 1m7f 1m 1m110y 7f 5f 1m1f 7f 7f110y 1m 7f 1m110y 7f

Prize-money (£)

£139,262 £7,087 £31,068 (Gr3) £7,014 £1,125,000(Gr1) £7,087 £58,842 £12,136 £14,300 £9,214 £19,949 £16,019 £7,282 £14,078 £8,292 £10,194 £12,378 £12,621 £11,340 £9,709 £62,500 (Gr3) £7,673 £13,636 £8,252 £31,250 £13,592 £7,767 £7,767 £8,738 £8,252 £14,078 £8,252 £11,650 £17,500 £11,650 (L) £16,966 £20,388 £8,292 £8,738 £8,252 £9,214 £7,954 £15,238 £8,252 £7,767 £83,333 (Gr2) £7,767 £23,106 (L) £12,083 £7,767 £15,417 £7,386 £750,000(Gr1) £14,078 £10,227 £55,244 £9,223 £14,175 £33,784 (L) £8,252 £11,363 £9,659 £6,379 £6,379 £9,223 £10,194 £8,738 £7,087 £7,087 £7,087 £8,738 £11,650 £9,214 £8,252 £9,922 £7,087 £12,378 £9,214 £7,796 £8,292 £16,250 £8,292 £9,214 £11,650 £9,313 £9,709 £8,738 £9,922 £84,539 £7,087 £7,014 £153,501(L) £7,386 £9,090 £11,650 £7,938 £10,194 £750,000(Gr1) £85,721 £8,333 £7,371 £26,699 (L) £9,922 £8,252 £16,505 £43,492 £32,226 £7,954

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YOUR SAY

French early quest for success working well British and Irish National Hunt breeders seem at a distinct disadvantage as French-bred jump horses clearly benefit from starting their careers earlier Bryan Mayoh Yorkshire-based breeder of Grade 2 winner Kornati Kid

“The French seem to have come across a far better means of developing jump horses”

n the 2008/09 jumps season, no fewer than 13 of the 17 horses with the highest Racing Post Ratings were French-bred and raised. Of the 71 horses rated 160+, no fewer than 31 were of French origin, with 26 from Ireland and nine from the United Kingdom. Given that French foal production is less than a third of the total for the UK and Ireland, these are remarkable results.

To investigate, I explored the backgrounds of all 75 French-bred and raised horses that achieved RPRs of 160+ in the last ten years. I compared this data with that for 75 randomly selected UK/Irishbreds that also achieved 160+ during this period.

I

Table 1: Dam & Stallion qualities for high-class (RPR > 160) jump horses Dams France UK Winners 56% 33% Black type winners 3% 1% Black type place 1% 0% Placed 25% 11% Unplaced 8% 16% Unraced 8% 36% Not known 3% 4% Stallions France UK/Ire Group 1 winners 29% 41% Jump winners 25% 5% As opposed to UK/Irish-breds, the best Frenchbreds: – are less likely to be by Group 1-winning stallions; – are much more likely to be by stallions that won under National Hunt rules; – are more likely to be out of broodmares with proven racing ability.

However, these differences between the two populations are insufficient to explain why far greater percentages of French-bred animals reach high-class status. Perhaps the explanation lies in the way the French develop jump horses? Table 2 shows the percentages of the top French-bred jump horses to have run by certain ages, as against the percentages of UK/ Irish breds.

Separate statistics are shown for animals that were the results of breeding programmes aimed at jump production.

104 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Table 2: Percentages of high-class jump horses to have run by certain ages Fr UK/I Fr UK/I (all) (NH) By end of 3yo year 77 23 76 5 By middle of 4yo year 89 39 88 24 By end of 4yo year 97 51 97 39 Table 3 shows percentages of the top Frenchbred jump horses to have run over obstacles by certain ages, against the percentages of UK/Irishbreds (including point-to-points for the latter).

Again, separate statistics are shown for jump-breds.

Table 3: Percentages of high-class jump horses to have run over obstacles by certain ages Fr UK/I Fr UK/I (all) (NH) By end of 3yo year 59 7 61 2 By middle of 4yo year 77 17 77 9 By end of 4yo year 92 25 94 12 Here, differences between the two populations are significant and might explain French success in producing top jump horses. As you can see, 76% of French jump-breds have raced by the end of their three-year-old year and 97% by the end of their four-year-old year, against 5% and 39% respectively for UK/Irish jump-breds.

Also, 61% of French jump-breds have raced over obstacles by the end of their three-year-old year, and 94% by 12 months later, against 2% and 12%.

It is highly likely the earlier testing of French jump-breds is giving them a distinct advantage.

How about these three steps to redress the balance: – jump-breds should be encouraged to race from at least the middle of their three-year-old year, with tests over obstacles from this point; – to ‘protect’ them from Flat-breds, this might be via races restricted to National Hunt-breds; – more ‘stores’ should be sold as two-year-olds.

Unless such action is taken, British and Irish breeders will continue to operate at a serious disadvantage to their French rivals, who seem, in their assumed impatience to ‘push’ young stock, to have come across a far better means of developing jump horses.

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NEWS FOCUS

Changes

In association with

Racing’s news in a nutshell People and business

Mick Kinane (pictured) BHA Maurits Bruggink Jean-Claude Rouget Drugs storm Kahlil Burke Italy Malton fire Tina Dawson Greg Wood Steve Asmussen Neptune Investment Management

50-year-old jockey retires following amazing year with Sea The Stars Board approves budget savings of £2 million for 2010, to be generated through renegotiation of key contracts and operational changes Executive director of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities to step down Champion Flat trainer in France to receive ten horses, including Prix Marcel Boussac third Joanna, from Hamdan Al Maktoum International Equestrian Federation puts on hold plans to allow use of bute and two other anti-inflammatories after industry backlash Former trainer warned off for three years for falsifying veterinary records of 11 horses Suspended from the European Breeders’ Fund after failing to give guarantees about its two-year-old racing programme Peter William Brown, 37, charged with the murders of teenage jockeys Jamie Kyne and Jan Wilson Former commercial director of the National Stud takes charge of nomination sales at Norman Court Stud in Wiltshire Guardian man named Journalist of the Year at the Horserace Writers & Photographers Association awards; Alan Crowhurst takes the photographer accolade US trainer breaks his own world record for the number of winners in a calendar year as he chalks up number 623 Unveiled as the new sponsor of the 2m5f Grade 1 novice hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, formerly known as the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle

Racehorse and stallion – movements and retirements Motivator Vita Rosa Naaqoos Mr Sidney Kandidate Monitor Closely Sagamix Red Rocks My Way De Solzen Resplendent Glory Chineur Dr Fong Harchibald Soldier Of Fortune Captain Gerrard Racinger Poseidon Adventure

Derby-winning son of Montjeu withdrawn from covering duties at the Royal Studs for 2010 due to tendon injury First son of Sunday Silence to stand in Britain moves from Lanwades Stud to Allevamento Renaccino, near Siena in Italy; his 2010 fee is €3,500 Haras du Mezeray secures son of Oasis Dream, a Group 1 winner at two, to stand at €6,000 US Grade 1 winner on turf enters stud at Haras du Quesnay in France; the son of Storm Cat’s fee is €9,000 Group 3-winning son of Kabool retired to Haras de la Rousseliere in France, where his fee has been set at €1,500 Great Voltigeur winner and St Leger third moved by owner Lawrie Inman from Peter Chapple-Hyam to Michael Bell, along with Derby hope Coordinated Cut 1998 Arc winner moves from Haras du Logis to Overbury Stud in Gloucestershire to stand alongside Kayf Tara at a fee of £2,500 Son of Galileo, a dual Grade 1 winner on turf in America, retired to Allevamento Il Grifone, near Turn in Italy Alan King-trained World Hurdle and Arkle Trophy winner is retired aged nine Group 3-winning son of Namid moves to Walton Fields Stud for 2010 where his fee has been set at £2,000 Son of Fasliyev leased by Tally-Ho Stud to Haras des Granges in France, where he will stand for €3,000 Haras du Thenney in Normandy secures 14-year-old son of Kris S; his 2010 fee is €5,000 Top-class hurdler who won five Grade 1s, including the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton twice, and finished second in the 2005 Champion Hurdle, is retired Irish Derby winner to stand first season at Haras du Logis Saint-Germain in Normandy at a fee of €10,000; Palace Episode will stand there for €4,500 Sprinting son of Oasis Dream, a Group 3 winner at two and three, to stand first season at Mickley Stud at a fee of £3,500 Son of Spectrum retires to the French National Stud’s Cercy-la-Tour base for a fee of €1,400; he is joined there by fellow Group 2 winner Crossharbour Group 1-placed son of Sadler’s Wells to start stallion career at Wolfgang Heymann’s Great Bradley Oak Stud, formerly Lone Oak Stud, at a fee of £6,000

People obituaries Age Billy McDonald Ira Hanford Dr Phil McCarthy Bill Wightman John O’Meara Bill Terry Donie O’Rourke Alice Reeves-Smith Lady Mairi Bury Ernie Peterson Lee Eaton

65 91 58 95 48 91 81 50 88 78 76

Horse obituaries

Age

Southern Halo Air Forbes Won Black Mambo Senor El Betrutti

26 30 10 20

Renowned bloodstock agent who identified dual Arc hero Alleged for Robert Sangster (obituary page 22) Won the 1936 Kentucky Derby on Bold Venture as an 18-year-old apprentice and also rode legendary Seabiscuit three times Pioneering vet and joint-breeder of Shamardal who co-owned Watercress Farm in Kentucky Trained Halloween to win the King George VI Chase in 1952 and 1954 and landed the 1975 Stewards’ Cup and 1976 Wokingham with Import Owner with Noel Meade whose best horses were Grade 1 winners Johnny Setaside and Aitmatov Former owner of Domino Stud in Lexington Breeder and co-owner of Montelado, winner of the 1992 Champion Bumper and 1993 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham International three-day event rider and racehorse owner from County Kildare Owner of dual Ascot Gold Cup winner Fighting Charlie Stable worker honoured for his career in racing at the Derby Awards in 2005 and the Stable Staff of the Year Awards in 2006 Co-breeder of 1986 July Cup winner Green Desert and founder of the international sales agency Eaton-Williams

Sired 14 champions in South America and US Grade 1 winner More Than Ready, now a successful sire himself Beaten favourite in the 1982 Kentucky Derby who sired champion US filly Yanks Music and Florida Derby winner Mercedes Won Leading second crop sire in Florida who raced for Aidan O'Brien before going to the US, where he won three minor races and was stakes-placed One of only three horses to have won what are now the Paddy Power and Boylesports.com Gold Cups in the same season

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ROA LEADER

Time to find a proper new home for the Tote A purchase by racing would not only end years of uncertainty but would represent a rare opportunity to reverse the sport’s decline in income t is no surprise the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, under whose auspices the sale of the Tote falls, has sent out a clear message that racing must not repeat the confusion and wrangling that surrounded the industry’s previous attempt to buy the Tote three years ago.

Not only is the ROA Council fully supportive of this, but it also wants a clear understanding that if racing is successful in acquiring the Tote this time round, its ultimate owner should be Racing Enterprises Limited (REL).

As REL is the only body in racing with a commercial remit that is truly representative of the whole horseracing industry, this is an entirely logical conclusion.

Where else would the Tote sit if acquired by racing? Certainly not within the British Horseracing Authority, which has been set up as a governance and regulatory body, and therefore has a highly questionable part to play within the commercial side of racing. Certainly not within the Racecourse Association which, as the representative body for racecourses, is acting for only half of the racing industry. And certainly not within any one of the major racecourse groups, which could not prevent vested interests coming into play, however evenhanded they tried to be.

Now here we have to draw an important distinction between how racing goes about purchasing the Tote and under whose control it eventually falls. There are a number of important aspects to this process. Dealing successfully with a government department takes time, know-how and usually works best when, to an extent, relationships are conducted on a personal level.

It is also self-evident that raising substantial sums of money on the financial markets requires experience, as does structuring a deal that minimises both risk and interest payments.

Racing is not short of clever and experienced people who between them could make the Tote deal happen. The BHA Chairman, Paul Roy, is an obvious choice to lead this initiative. Paul should be given the support of racing to take on this task on the understanding that the Tote’s eventual owner will be REL, a body made up of horsemen and racecourses in equal shareholding. Any other

I

way is likely to lead to discontent, infighting and a complete turn-off for whichever government ends up dealing with it.

The question as to what structure sits below REL as an operating board can be left for another day.

Of more immediate importance is defining exactly what racing would be buying. The current thinking is that racing should really be interested only in acquiring the exclusive seven-year pool betting licence, along with the associated infrastructure and technology. But there are, of course, several possible routes by which this could be achieved and we should rule nothing out at this stage, not even the initial purchase of betting shops if the government insists on selling the whole business as a package.

I continue to hear arguments from the racecourses that their close relationship with the Tote amounts to their having an ‘investment’ in the organisation and that this somehow justifies their having a greater part of the action when Tote privatisation eventually occurs. The truth is, of course, that racecourses receive rent from the Tote that collectively amounts to £6 million a year and their universal presence at every course and fixture means this is often a loss leader for the Tote, from which the racecourses alone receive benefit.

Leaving that aside, it is the horses that drive betting. The investment of those connected with the horses must receive equal recognition.

It is now the co-mingling of international betting pools which holds the key to driving higher Tote revenues. The future lies in international business, rather than domestic racecourse business, and this is already seeing the Tote’s pool side registering very healthy gains.

This is certainly not intended as a rant against either the racecourses or the Racecourse Association who, in Ian Barlow, have a very clever and muchrespected new Chairman.

It is, though, a warning to the whole industry that the scourge of factional interests must not be allowed to linger on from what we hoped was a bygone era. It is recognition that British racing is now facing a significant income decline, that the Tote represents one of the few real opportunities for us to reverse this decline, and that in REL we have the perfect home for it.

Paul Dixon President Racehorse Owners Association

“If racing succeeds with a bid, the Tote’s owner has to become Racing Enterprises Limited”

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TBA LEADER

A successful year for British bloodstock With the formal restructuring of the TBA completed, our new-look awards in June will offer the chance to celebrate what is right about our industry he formal restructuring of the TBA has been competed to coincide with the New Year and, as previously announced to members, the Annual Awards and AGM will now take place on June 28 and 29, 2010. In the TBA Forum this month we reveal the Flat and NH winners of the statistical awards: the announcement and presentation of the remaining award winners will be made at the awards dinner.

I look forward to celebrating the achievements of the British breeding industry, which has once again enjoyed a successful year, despite strong competition and ongoing economic pressures.

It is vital that we and our European counterparts recognise the importance of maintaining a strong domestic breeding industry, particularly at a time when foal production is in decline, both in Europe and North America.

Racing For Change’s ambition to attract a wider audience to British racing must be applauded, but racing’s ills cannot be fixed by adopting the principles applied to Formula One or county cricket. If it was as simple as that, surely the industry would not be investing huge sums in consultants with impressive track records, to tell our administrators what they should already know?

I have raised breeders’ concerns through the Racing For Change consultation process and, whilst I have yet to be assured that these have been taken on board, I urge breeders and owners to closely monitor the Racing For Change proposals.

Little firm information has been revealed on the progress of the ‘premierisation’ consultation and there has been no denial that new ideas, including bringing forward the Flat season’s finale to the second Saturday in September, and a team championship series to provide racegoers with the spectacle of trainer-jockey-horse teams competing in big Saturday handicaps, have been seriously considered.

Specifically, however, I fear the underlying threat to the European Pattern as a result of radical plans for a new race structure in Britain. Racing’s advisers must recognise the importance of the existing race programme, which keeps Europe at the forefront of international racing. Its loss, with the consequential threat to the future value and attraction of British

T

bloodstock to world markets, must be prevented.

Put simply, how can we attract international buyers to European markets without the ability to demonstrate racing achievements against an internationally recognised Pattern? Where is the incentive for foreign-trained horses to run in Britain? Surely we can’t expect this to be generated even by significant increases in prize-money?

A clear communication strategy is essential for the success and endorsement of the Racing For Change proposals. Individuals from the racing and breeding industry have been canvassed for their views and I sincerely hope that by the time these concerns are in print, we have received assurances that our fears have been taken on board.

On a separate note, as we start the New Year, I would like to express my thanks to all Britain’s Flat and National Hunt racetracks who have embraced the TBA’s request to permit breeders watch a horse they have bred run at specific meetings in 2010.

All, that is, except Thirsk racecourse, which was not prepared to join the scheme. On that basis, if there is a Racing Post Yearling Bonus Scheme race at this course, sadly, the executive will not be extending hospitality to the race’s co-sponsors to attend. Small wonder Racing For Change faces a challenge, if racing’s sponsors are asked to pay to enjoy the racecourse customer experience.

The recent announcement by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) that they are reversing a 20-year zero tolerance policy to permit controlled use of bute and two other anti-inflammatory drugs in competitions is a disappointing, dangerous and retrograde step. I am encouraged by subsequent reports that the FEI has put these plans on hold, allowing more time for consultation.

Fortunately, we can take great comfort that the BHA has publicly announced that this decision will have no bearing on racing. Any move to permit the use of medication in British racing, thereby enabling unsound horses to enter the gene pool, would be bad policy, from both a welfare and commercial perspective. We trust the sports’ veterinary advisers to ensure that this correct approach is maintained.

TBA veterinary representatives will certainly be active participants in the forthcoming BHA Review of Doping and Medication procedures.

Kirsten Rausing Chairman Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association

“Maintaining a strong breeding industry is essential, at a time when foal production is in decline”

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THE MAN YOU CAN’T IGNORE Comment

Tony Morris Sky has done wonders for minority sports – we need it

t must be 25 years or more ago when I devoted one of my columns in The Sporting Life to a recently-conducted survey on televised sports and their popularity with the public. The outcome of that poll did not surprise me, but it evidently did surprise a lot of people – so much so, that I got letters from readers who disbelieved it.

I was also not surprised about the correspondence. Readers of The Sporting Life were bound to be committed fans of horseracing, so it was to be expected that a poll which placed their favourite sport in 22nd place in the popularity stakes would be regarded as rigged, ridiculous, or anything other than a true indication of public opinion.

I

“Sea The Stars’s career was over before my son, an avid sports fan who enjoys a bet, had heard of him” Racing probably received more television coverage than any sport apart from football and cricket, and that, it seemed to some people, surely meant that it ranked third-best in popularity.

My response to them was on the lines of: “You had better believe it.” I could see why it was possible, probable even, that the nation’s couch potatoes would express a preference for such pastimes as darts and snooker – parlour games, rather than sports to my mind – and why such as table tennis and skiing would rate as more attractive viewing than our highly esoteric pursuit.

I tried to make the point that we who ranked the sport of kings as the king of sports were different.

Horseracing had become a minority interest and its devotees should recognise that fact. And I called for the establishment of a dedicated racing TV 18 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

channel, where we enthusiasts might be indulged in our own little world.

Well, we know now that what that poll indicated in the early 1980s was not far wide of the mark.

The BBC has scaled its coverage of racing down to a few landmark events; ITV ditched the sport entirely and Channel 4 cannot stage it without being heavily subsidised. And the era of the dedicated channel arrived, with both Racing UK and At The Races catering to our needs.

Can anybody now doubt that horseracing is a minority interest sport? What some realised more than a quarter of a century ago has been amply confirmed and the dropping of the Derby as one of TV’s sporting ‘crown jewels’ – the events for which there has to be terrestrial coverage – provides just one more example of where the sport stands.

You couldn’t fail to notice the Derby

When I was a lad the Derby undoubtedly was one of the most glittering sporting highlights of the year. It was not just the Life and the Chronicle that gave it a focus. All the papers gave it a tremendous build-up in the preceding weeks and on the big day it would be featured on the front pages. There was no way it could go by unnoticed.

I am sure I was not a typical teenager, as I don’t suppose many others in the 50s committed the names of all the winners from 1780 to memory, but the inspiration was there for any kid who might be susceptible, because the media gave it the full treatment. The Derby was racing’s Cup Final and coverage was on the same level as that given to Wembley’s great feature event.

Then, I could never conceive of a time when it might be suggested that the Derby had no special resonance for the general public and that those who ran racing would actually concede the point.

But we live in a different world now and who of the younger generation can imagine an era when the Boat Race commanded as much attention as the Cup Final? Believe me, 50 years ago it did.

The Boat Race, by the way, is a historic event on the Thames, staged annually and contested by crews from Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

There is no reason why any young person would know that unless he or she was a rowing enthusiast or had attended one or other of those seats of learning. Who knows – or cares – who won it this year? Half a century ago the Derby and the Boat Race were of equal interest to the general public.

The sad fact is that they are again now.

It was understandable that the BHA was unconcerned about the prospect of the Derby losing its status as one of the crown jewels, though it seemed a bit naïve for it to propose that the whole idea of retaining a select group of events for guaranteed terrestrial TV coverage should be abandoned. That was not going to happen.

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But the BHA may just have been on the right lines in suggesting that racing might benefit if the Derby could be sold to the highest bidder, rather than the subject of a cosy arrangement with the BBC, who naturally pay as little as possible for the privilege – always assuming they regard it as a privilege – of covering it.

BBC, ITV and Channel 4 disinterest

Yet, for all that, is there reason to be confident that TV companies will be eager to indulge in a bidding war over the rights to an event that now carries no special resonance for the general public? The BBC let the Derby go before and surely will do so again if the price becomes too high, and Channel 4 cannot cope with its current output without substantial outside assistance.

The hope must be that Sky would want it, because that is the one outfit which could outbid the rest, and let nobody doubt that it would do the Derby justice. Sky has revolutionised the coverage of sport on TV, particularly in football and cricket, which admittedly were not exactly on their last legs when it took them on, but it has also worked wonders in raising the profile of a host of minority interest sports.

Who would have guessed, a few years ago, that there would now be a following for American Football in this country? It is a pastime quite alien to our culture and beyond the ken of most, yet it has become something that generates substantial interest, enough for the Racing Post to devote pages of editorial to the subject on a regular basis.

That is all down to Sky and its coverage.

Let’s face facts. Anybody with a serious interest in any sport takes the Sky sports package, knowing that not to do so means to miss out, because the time when the terrestrial channels could be depended upon to deliver all the big events is history. The nation looks to Sky for the best of sport. Racing’s appeal to the general public undoubtedly suffers to some degree because it rarely features in its schedule.

We, the committed, may not have too much to complain about over the coverage of big races on the terrestrial channels in 2009. Between them, among much else, they gave us all of Sea The Stars’s great performances, and we had to be thankful for that.

But it is a fact that the career of Sea The Stars was over before my son, an avid sports fan and occasional racegoer who enjoys a bet, had ever heard of him. Having dropped the name into a conversation, I then had to explain who the horse was.

I should not have been surprised. The younger generation, when it thinks sport, thinks Sky. That may not be altogether to our liking, but that’s the way it is. Racing needs to get Sky on its side.

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VIEW FROM IRELAND From Leo Powell, Managing Editor of The Irish Field

Dunguib the next star for Irish racing fans to follow He may not have been bred for greatness, but Dunguib can brighten up many a dark winter day Dunguib is the name of a small townland near Killenaule in Tipperary. It is also the name of the most exciting young National Hunt horse in Ireland.

Just as the racing scene says goodbye to Sea The Stars, we seem to have another horse whose career will be followed by many in Ireland. Hopefully he will brighten up many of those dark winter days.

He certainly did so at Fairyhouse in early December, when he imperiously disposed of five rivals in the Grade 1 Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle over two miles, including Some Present (second to him in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham) and Sweeps Hill (who was awarded the Grade 1 bumper at Punchestown when Dunguib was subsequently disqualified). The ease of his win was what impressed most.

Unlike Sea The Stars, Dunguib was not always destined for greatness.

“He was an unpretentious foal, nothing startling to look at. I remember another foal born at the same time who was a much better animal, but Dunguib obviously improved in the meantime”.

Those are the words of Liam Meade, breeder of the son of Presenting. A retired college lecturer from Limerick, Meade obviously does not possess rose-tinted glasses!

Perhaps his own record of briefly owning the dam, together with the fact he no longer has any of the family, contributes to this. In fact, the

Dunguib has carried on this season where he left off the last

dam is now owned by Michael Joyce, a neighbour of his.

Purchased for €10,000 by Meade carrying Dunguib at the 2002 Goffs December Sale, Edermine Berry was making her second visit to the sales in a year. The previous January she was purchased for €6,500 by Wexford breeder Peadar Devereux, who put her

in foal to the Rathbarry sire.

Meade got his purchase price back when the Presenting colt sold for €13,000 and the mare was then passed on. Her second produce found favour with noone at the sales as a foal and was never named; she had a few missed years before producing a filly by Milan that

raced in Italy as a two-year-old in 2009 and she has a 2008 gelding by Vinnie Roe. The latter left no profit for his breeder when selling for €1,500 as a foal but the sale came five days before Dunguib won his first race – and he hasn’t stopped winning since.

Reoffered at Tattersalls Ireland’s November Sale 364 days later, he cost Philip Dempsey €40,000 second time around.

Many would have given up on a mare such as Edermine Berry and many good judges and advisors would have said that that would be the correct course of action. Instead, Edermine Berry was back at Rathbarry in 2009 to be covered by Dunguib’s sire.

Perhaps there will be another payday or two in this story yet.

O’Brien passes on the reigns Three Irish Grand Nationals, a Triumph Hurdle, a Mackeson Gold Cup and a Hennessy. These are just some of the big races won by horses trained by the recently retired Michael O’Brien. A man of forthright views and a straight-talker, O’Brien has a great pedigree and overcame serious adversity to establish himself among the top rank of trainers.

Associated in his youth with the Tom Taaffe stable, where his father was head lad, O’Brien then moved to America with his brother Michael O’Brien: legend Leo (who trained

Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Fourstars Allstar).

There he became a leading jump jockey, before suffering a serious injury, one that led to his confinement to a wheelchair.

He held a trainer’s licence in Ireland for 31 years. Bright Highway won the Mackeson and the Hennessy Gold Cups, while King Spruce was his first Irish Grand National winner in 1982. Ten years later Vanton added a second, while Glebe Lad in 1999 provided the third winner of the Fairyhouse marathon.

The brilliant Shawiya was a popular winner of the Triumph Hurdle, one of two Festival winners to emerge from Beechcourt Stables.

The reins have now been passed to Michael and Ann O’Brien’s son-in-law Denis Cullen, who wasted no time in getting off the mark when Better Times won his second bumper at Cork in November. He rode the horse too.

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INTERNATIONAL SCENE

Ice-cool Kinane retires A list of the big race successes enjoyed throughout the world by Michael Kinane goes a long way to telling us what a great jockey he was. Over a long and productive career in the saddle, which yielded more than a century of Group 1 victories, he had nothing left to prove.

He was simply one of the best.

What was most telling in looking back at his career was the fire that obviously burned within him, not something that was always outwardly visible. Kinane was a man of few emotions in the saddle. Instead, he was a consummate professional whose sole aim was to do his best and win as often as he could.

Not for him the exuberant antics of many of his fellow professionals in victory; rather he would choose to show that rare public smile and attribute the success to the horse.

He was a part of many historic racing moments, always in demand and fiercely loyal to his retaining stable. Three of the greatest trainers in the world – all based in Ireland – were unstinting in their praise of Kinane.

Dermot Weld said: “His all-round talent as a jockey was exceptional. His ability as a brilliant reader of a race was a huge part of his success.”

Aidan O’Brien added that “he was the ultimate professional and gentleman. Everyone could see how special a jockey he was.”

Finally, John Oxx summed up the man who shared the greatest triumphs with Sea The Stars.

Kinane: always preferred to direct praise to the horse

“Michael Kinane was just the complete professional in every way,” said Oxx. “Not only was he a top jockey with great skill and determination, but he always conducted himself perfectly. He had a great work ethic and he never let anybody down.”

It was hugely appropriate that Kinane ended his career after a fairytale year that saw him partner Sea The Stars to an amazing six Group 1 successes.

Being associated with one of the greatest racehorses ever was surely written in the stars for one of the greatest talents to sit on a saddle.

Billy McDonald

“He was a legend.” So said Elaine ‘Legs’ Lawlor of her friend Billy McDonald, the renowned bloodstock agent and sometime enfant terrible of the bloodstock world.

A colourful, larger than life character, the Northern Ireland native died in November.

A talented rider as a child, he first made his mark as a car salesman, earning a place in the Guinness Book of Records for selling the most RollsRoyces in a day. His eye for a quality product transferred to equines as he sourced both Alleged and Fairy Bridge, the dam of Sadler’s Wells.

Stories told of McDonald are legion and have not lost their humour or impact over time. In the case of Fairy Bridge, it was a $100 bill and a quiet word with the yearling manager at Claiborne that pointed the way in the

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direction of a Bold Reason filly, whose subsequent racing and breeding exploits meant it was the best money ever spent.

A mischievous character who had a host of celebrity friends, McDonald once impressed his female companion at dinner by telling Frank Sinatra to sling his hook, having earlier asked the crooner to stop by the dinner table and say hello.

John Gosden said: “Billy was a great character. He lived life to the full and had a great eye for a horse. There will never be another Billy.”

NEWS IN BRIEF Twelve divided by six Sheikh Mohammed is to have a dozen two-year-olds in training in Ireland for the 2010 season, it was announced. They will be divided between John Oxx, Jim Bolger, Dermot Weld, Michael Halford, Ger Lyons and David Marnane.

Clarke successor soon Applications closed on December 12 for the position of Chief Executive of the Irish National Stud. The new appointee will succeed John Clarke, who had been at the helm for more than a quarter of a century. The stud also revealed that the 2009 Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes winner Art Connoisseur will stand at Tully next season at a fee of €7,000.

Dandy the Ballyhane man Another sprinter off to stud is Dandy Man, who will stand at Ballyhane Stud next year for €4,000. He is from the only crop of Mozart.

Holland at the double Author Anne Holland has been busy lately with the release of two new books. In The Blood charts the histories of many of the families that have established dynasties in racing, while her second volume is a personal and pictorial tribute to Sea The Stars.

Exhibition draws them in The 2010 ITBA Expo is a major winner, with organiser Amber Byrne (daughter of Edward O’Grady) revealing that all exhibition space has been sold.

Supported by Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder as international media sponsors, the event will take place at Goffs on January 29 and 30.

Book those cheap airline tickets now and be there.

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CONTINENTAL TALES

By James Crispe, International Racing Bureau

FRANCE

International weekend fails to engage foreign interest British and Irish raiders stay away from Auteuil, despite excellent prize-money on offer

Paul Nicholls (above) and Willie Mullins kept their runners on home soil

The annual ‘International Jump Weekend’, held on the first weekend in November at Auteuil racecourse in Paris, is failing to justify its billing, despite offering prize-money of €2.45 million.

The two-day fixture is a fine showcase for French jump racing and few could quibble with the quality of competition.

Questarabad again suggested

that he is a worthy rival to Big Buck’s as Europe’s top staying hurdler with a smooth Grand Prix d’Automne success; the Irish-bred Remember Rose repeated his 2008 triumph in the Prix La Haye Jousselin; Pau maestro Guillaume Macaire saddled a remarkable one-two-three in the big chase for three-year-olds; and Robert Waley-Cohen’s Long Run signed off in style for Macaire in the Prix Maurice

Gillois before joining Nicky Henderson.

On the back of free admission, an extensive advertising campaign and a plethora of non-racing activities for adults and children alike, the second day of the meeting attracted a crowd of over 17,000. However, for the second year running, the event failed to attract a single runner from Britain or Ireland.

And, with a solitary insignificant contestant from Germany (even a card of claimers and handicaps usually attracts a handful of German runners to Paris), it is hard to see how France-Galop can continue to promote the meeting as ‘International’.

There are many reasons why, despite the riches on offer, the racing fails to draw from the huge talent pool from across

the Channel and beyond.

For starters, the race conditions are at times virtually incompatible to your average British or Irish jumper (an £87,000-to-the-winner threeyear-old only chase is one example) and there is the added complication of the unusual variety of obstacles.

Britain’s champion trainer, Paul Nicholls, explained: “My owners are not really interested in going to France, especially at that time of year.

“They believe that our jump racing is the best in the world and like to race here.”

Irish champion Willie Mullins is a supporter of the Auteuil programme. But he likes to come for the summer races in May and June, and points out that he does not traditionally have his horses ready for early November.

McIntyre thrilled with French connection Sahpresa, trained in Chantilly by Rod Collet, has returned his 88-year-old English owner-breeder Douglas McIntyre to Flat racing’s top table after almost a quarter of a century.

McIntyre still cannot quite believe that his filly, a fine third to Company in the Grade 1 Mile Championship at Kyoto on November 22, won the Sun Chariot Stakes in October, beating 1,000 Guineas heroine Ghanaati in the process.

“For a small breeder and owner to get a really good horse is quite remarkable these days, when the big players can have 400-5000 horses in training,” McIntyre mused. “To have a Group 1 winner is everyone’s dream.”

A self-made man who set up and then sold a company that manufactured fixings for the building industry, McIntyre first got involved in racing in 1977 when he purchased Sir Humphrey de Trafford’s stud at Barkway in Hertfordshire and renamed it Newsells Park Stud.

“It was just 200 acres then,” he said. “I sold it to the Lebanese (Issam Fares) ten years later. It then changed hands to the Germans (Walther Jacobs) and is now a magnificent 1,300 acre stud.”

The high point of his Newsells Park tenure came in 1985, when he owned the 1,000 Guineas fifth Stella Grande, and bred the Heinz 57 Phoenix Stakes winner Roaring Riva.

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McIntyre has since relocated his string, which now numbers about half a dozen, to France, the better ones going to Collet, and splits his time between homes in Monaco and Bermuda. He races all the progeny of his four mares, three of which are at Henri Devin’s Haras du Mesnil, near Le Mans, with the other, Mia Sposa, kept in Pennsylvania in America.

Unfortunately, Sahpresa’s dam, Sorpresa, was sold for $2,500 at Keeneland in January 2008, before her daughter began to hit the headlines.

Sahpresa remains in training as a fiveyear-old and, given that she has only ten races under her belt, it is reasonable to expect further improvement next season.

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ITALY

Rispoli’s riding record just reward for graft When Sugarland won the Premio Piazza Cairoli at Pisa on November 21 it meant that his jockey, Umberto Rispoli, had overhauled the national record of 229 winners in a year set by Gianfranco Dettori, father of Frankie, in 1982.

However, for the moment at least, it is difficult to see Rispoli becoming a big international star like Frankie or even his current weighing room colleague, Mirco Demuro.

Rispoli, who celebrated his 21st birthday at the end of August, has reached the landmark via a combination of hard work (he has ridden in over 1,250 races, more than 400 more than any of his rivals) and his ability to ride at as low as 8st.

He did enjoy a brief spell in England, notching a solitary success from 11 rides on the all-weather for Marco Botti the winter before last, but is still seriously short of big-race experience.

Indeed, despite near-misses when second in the Italian Derby for each of the past two years, to date he has just one Pattern race victory to his name.

GERMANY

Neuss tries but fails to deliver after facelift Neuss racecourse has been the subject of a €7.5 million facelift, but when the track opened its doors for the first time in 20 months on November 15, its new look met with less than universal approval.

The refurbishment has been paid for by the city council, whose intention is to develop the site as a multi-functional sports and events arena. But, while it may prove handy for other uses, some of the key needs of the racing community appear to have been overlooked.

Most importantly, the old sand track has not been replaced.

Neuss is one of only two all-weather venues (the other is Dortmund) in Germany and does a good job of keeping the show on the road during the depths of winter.

Yet the surface, which has always ridden very deep, has not been touched during the layoff. And the new grandstand has attracted criticism for its lack of seating.

From a racing point of view, the ‘Grand Re-Opening’ proved anything but. A nine-race five-hour marathon card did not feature a single first prize of more than €3,000 and there are no plans to increase these remuneration levels before its ten-meeting season draws to a close on March 7 next year.

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INTERNATIONAL SCENE

GOING GLOBAL The worldwide view from Michele MacDonald

US bloodstock industry left bloodied by terrible 2009 PHOTO: Z/KEENELAND

Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton combined sales reveal horse market declined by 50% in two years If just about any business lost virtually half of its value in the span of two years, it would be badly battered and struggling to survive.

This is exactly why there should be cause for concern over what has happened to the bloodstock market in America, which this year plunged almost $500 million below all-time peaks attained in 2007.

After both Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton concluded their November mixed sales with sighs of relief that double-digit declines were not worse, figures for the entire year are enough to take the breath away.

Both companies are working to attract new lending institutions to help beleaguered breeders who are being crunched by debt and auction yields that in many cases fell far short of stud fees.

All looked rosy at Keeneland in 2009 – but figures told a different story

Yet officials from both organisations predicted that many may not be able to endure the financial pressures.

Keeneland, which has reigned as the world’s market leader, disclosed that its four sales of 2009 yielded transactions on 7,342 horses for an overall total of $396,216,000 – the lowest annual gross since 1996. That represented a decline of 34% from last year’s $600,296,400

and 51.4% from the $815,410,000 spent at the same four sales in 2007.

Average price of all the 2009 sales was $53,966, down 39.6% from the 2007 average price of $89,369.

Due primarily to some unusual events, Fasig-Tipton was not as hard hit. The 2008 November sale featured a world record $14m price for broodmare Better Than Honour, while unprecedented

spending by Sheikh Mohammed and his associates this summer supported the Saratoga select yearling sale.

Still, with $163,309,150 in 2009 turnover for 11 sales completed prior to two minor December events in Maryland and Texas, Fasig-Tipton was down by 25.7% from 2008, and off 30.8% from 2007’s $236,093,800 for the same sales.

Together, without the aforementioned December sales, Keeneland and FasigTipton presided over thoroughbred transactions totalling $1,051,494,800 in 2007; that total fell all the way to $559,525,150 this year.

“You can’t lose that much revenue without it radiating out across the industry,” said Fasig-Tipton Executive Vice President Dan Pride. “It’s going to have an impact.”

US stallions still rule in the sales ring Offspring of the now-retired Storm Cat were once more the most sought after in the world in 2009. With 25 yearlings reported sold through the end of November, Storm Cat’s average stood at $559,094, a mind-boggling figure considering the credit crunch.

Despite some claims that Europe is superseding America as a bloodstock superpower, seven of the top ten sires of sale yearlings by average price in 2009 (with a minimum of three sold) stood in Kentucky. Only Monsun (second with an average of $392,062 for eight sold), Galileo (sixth, $318,251 for 63 sold) and Pivotal (ninth, $272,489 for 30 sold) are based in Europe.

Representing Kentucky, in addition to Storm Cat, were Kingmambo (third, $365,158, 10 sold), Bernardini (fourth, $363,868, 40 sold), A P Indy (fifth, $342,142, 14 sold), Unbridled’s Song (seventh, $311,406, 32 sold), Dynaformer (eighth, $291,400, 25 sold) and Distorted Humor (tenth, $268,058, 31 sold).

In examining the top 20 sale sires of the northern hemisphere, nine were based in Europe, compared to 11 in Kentucky.

Sadler’s Wells, also now pensioned, followed Distorted Humor, with Montjeu, Medaglia d’Oro, Smart Strike, Street Cry, Danehill Dancer, Oasis Dream, Giant’s Causeway, Dansili and

Dalakhani rounding out the list in descending order.

Five of the leading sale sires on the list stand for Coolmore but only one, Giant’s Causeway, is located in America.

Monsun: top European sire by yearling average

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INTERNATIONAL SCENE

Japan to globalise its racing

Vodka is now the second highest money earner in racing history after her Japan Cup victory

Time to toast special Vodka Even though experiencing some pulmonary haemorrhaging, the gallant Japanese mare Vodka surged into storybook folklore on November 29, becoming the first female runner based in her homeland to win the Japan Cup, emerging as global racing’s second alltime leading money earner.

The winner’s share of £1,947,855 from the Japan Cup, which ranks as the world’s third most lucrative race behind only the Dubai World Cup and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, elevated Vodka’s career earnings to £8,085,497.

Japan’s Horse of the Year in 2008, champion juvenile filly of 2006 and a special award winner in 2007 as the first filly

in 63 years to defeat males in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), Vodka stands behind only world leader and fellow Japanese-bred T M Opera O, who amassed earnings of nearly £10 million in his career.

In comparison, European champion Sea The Stars completed his nine-race career with a bankroll of £4,417,163.

Zenyatta, yet another female who slew males in a year of distaff stars such as Goldikova

and Rachel Alexandra, finished her 14-race career undefeated with earnings of £3,598,927.

Owner Yuzo Tanimizu indicated Vodka is due to be retired after running in the Dubai World Cup on March 27.

Bred by Country Bokujo, the daughter of Tanino Gimlet from the Roberto sire line has won ten of her 25 career starts and been placed eight additional times while amassing her record bankroll.

The world’s all-time leading runners by prize-money Horse

Starts

Wins

Earnings (£)

T M Opera O

26

14

9,962,695

Vodka

25

10

8,085,497

Deep Impact

14

12

7,887,144

Makybe Diva

36

15

6,621,479

Curlin

16

11

6,458,275

Hendra virus vaccine developed A concern over whether the potentially deadly Hendra virus, which has been passed from bats to horses and then on to humans in Australia, could be used as a bioterrorism weapon led scientists in America to help their Australian counterparts in developing the basis for a vaccine.

The Hendra virus, although a rare problem among people, has a 57% fatality rate, with the latest victim, vet Alister Rodgers, dying in September after contracting the disease while

Just days before the Japan Cup, the Japan Racing Association made the longawaited announcement that it would issue an owner’s licence to Sheikh Mohammed, as well as licences to his wife, Princess Haya, and his son, Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed.

The decision came almost exactly two years after Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Japan lost its JRA licence following the resignation of Japanese director Riki Takahashi.

Dr Koji Sato, the JRA’s Presidential Counsellor for Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Asian Racing Federation, said: “Since 2007 we have made progressive steps to internationalise Japanese racing. We began new ownership registration system for non-Japanese residents in 2009, and in 2010 Japanese black-type races will be open to international competition.

“Our aspiration is that thoroughbred racing in Japan will grow, together with the support of the racing fans, as a sports entertainment at international level. This is a monumental step for the Japanese racing circle.”

treating an infected horse.

Rodgers was the seventh person to be stricken with the disease and the fourth to die. To date, all the known cases have been reported in Queensland, Australia, with the first human death occurring in 1994.

After 15 years of research, an antibody has now been identified that could block the virus in humans. A commercial partner must now be found to produce the vaccine, which could take another year.

Princess Haya: Japanese licence

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TALKING TO...

Noel Fehily

he will chat about it before reaching a conclusion.

Charlie wants things done properly; there are no half measures, but he is always very fair.

He put you on high class chaser Celibate as a 7lb claimer. How much confidence did that give you?

I was still an amateur at the time and Celibate was something of a launching pad for me. I remember having some rare tussles with ‘Fitzy’ (Mick Fitzgerald) and Get Real round Ascot. I think he beat me and then I beat him; that gave me a big boost. Celibate was a fantastic jumper, not very big but with the heart of a lion. Charlie used to let me school him at home and would say: “This isn’t for his benefit, it’s for yours!”

PHOTOS: GEORGE SELWYN

Things seem to be going better than ever and you are riding top class horses for more trainers than ever before. What’s been the key to this success?

Success breeds success in this game and Charlie’s stable has been in great form for the last 12 months. Win on a few that maybe you shouldn’t and people start to take notice.

“Fitness helps take the falls” NOEL FEHILY says he is “not as naturally talented as some jockeys”, so must work hard to keep in top shape Words Tim Richards

ou have been riding for Charlie Mann for over ten years. Together you enjoyed the stable’s best season in 2008/09. What’s it like being his number one jockey?

I am very lucky to have a job like this. Charlie has worked his way up the ladder. When I started he had 25 horses; now he has 60 and a much better class of animal. He is loyal to his jockeys, a very good race reader and understands what happens out there. If something has gone wrong in a race

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How tough is it trying to compete with the AP McCoys and Ruby Walshs of the jumping world?

Ever since McCoy has come on the scene he has raised the bar for all of us. He is always the same, totally focused in big and small races, and we all have to up our game. It’s the same for the young jockeys coming through, otherwise they get left behind. McCoy’s high standard of competitiveness is good for jump jockeys.

Is he one of the reasons why you discipline yourself with such a rigorous lifestyle?

I may not be as naturally talented as some jockeys, so I have to work at it. I have to keep very fit, particularly through the winter. The fitter you are, the better you take the falls.

You were one of the first jockeys to employ a fitness trainer. Why? I have always found it hard to push myself that extra bit when I am training myself. I need someone to push me. And Francesca ‘Frankie’ Naylor, who runs the gym at Oaksey House in Lambourn, is very good and I am lucky to have her to make me work.

Interval training (which involves bursts of high intensity exercise) is another activity you do. Are you a fitness fanatic?

I do it because I have to, not because I want to!

Interval training gets you a lot fitter, increasing the heart rate and burning off the fat.

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Do you subscribe to the view that sports psychologists help as well?

I have spoken to a few people in Oaksey House about sports psychologists and I certainly think they would be a help. We are racing seven days a week, every week and we all have bad runs, and that can get to you. Some people can be affected more than others and it would be beneficial to have someone to chat to when things are getting on top of you.

Are you very strict with your diet and weight?

I have to be careful what I eat, particularly in winter. My weight is around 10st 4lb. After a day’s racing followed by a visit to the gym I would probably have some pasta, but not too much.

How frustrating is it to miss big rides through injury, such as Moral Support in the 2000 Welsh National and Air Force One in the King George?

It’s a lot more painful than the injury! I remember breaking my collarbone at Ludlow and it wasn’t the collarbone I was worried about, it was thinking six days ahead to Moral Support and the Welsh National. He was favourite and, I thought, a good thing, but he was beaten by Jocks Cross. Missing the ride hit me very hard at that stage as a conditional jockey.

Air Force One gave you a Grade 1 win at Punchestown last year – he must be a special horse to ride…

An absolute gentleman. He will do everything you want in a race once you get him into a rhythm. He doesn’t pull, jumps for fun and doesn’t mess about in any way.

What did it mean to you to land your first Cheltenham Festival winner aboard 50-1 shot Silver Jaro in the 2008 County Hurdle?

The season before I had had four seconds and three thirds at the Festival, and I was starting to think this was never going to happen. Then last season I didn’t have as good a book of Festival rides and got down to the last race and I was on a 50-1 chance, thinking this is another year without a winner. Then Silver Jaro popped up; it meant the world to me.

How are you looking forward to riding Crack Away Jack this year?

He’s very exciting. I loved him last year and he ran an absolute blinder to finish fourth in the Champion Hurdle, though I had been worried beforehand because I had always thought he jumped a bit like a chaser. In fact, he is made for chasing and was impressive when he won at Sandown first time over fences.

FINGERS ON THE BUZZERS Air Force One: “an absolute gentleman,” says Fehily

A professional jump jockey must be mad to ride in a race like the Velka Pardubicka.

Discuss.

I enjoy it. It is not as bad as people make out. The biggest problem is the English horses not being used to the different hedges, stone walls and ditches. If you get a horse that can handle it all you can have a great ride. I was on Mr Big last year and he gave me a great spin, and it was his first time round there. I am sure now that he’s had the experience he’ll be an even better ride this year.

I feel safer going into the Pardubicka than I would in the Grand National. At Aintree there are 40 of us and there’s no room for error, whereas in the Pardubicka, apart from the ‘taxis’, where there is a fair old drop, you can get away with the odd mistake over the hedges.

How could conditions be improved for jockeys on the racecourse?

They are gradually improving, but some weighingroom facilities do still need attention where the food, shower and toilet areas are poor. Kevin Darley, who heads up the Professional Jockeys’ Association, is doing a hell of a job and has been giving some of the courses a kick up the backside.

Jump racing is as popular as ever but still struggles against other sports for its share of media exposure. Any ideas how it could attract wider recognition?

More racing back on BBC would be a big help.

Also more racing celebrities of the Richard Dunwoody mould appearing on popular programmes like Strictly Come Dancing would increase racing awareness. I know Richard’s not a very good dancer but his presence in front of such a big audience will have raised racing’s profile.

Maybe we should send AP into the jungle in ‘I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here’!

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Having a dessert when Natasha and I go out to dinner How do you relax?

Taking the dogs for a long walk Four ideal dinner party guests?

Roy Keane, Sir Alex Ferguson, John Francome and Cheryl Cole Tell us something about yourself only you know?

I dread seeing a single magpie on the way to the races What habit would you like to break?

Always being late What team do you support?

Manchester United

FAVOURITES Drink Pint of lager Hobby Occasional golf Music Any pop in the charts Film The Hangover Meal My mother’s bacon and cabbage

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THE BIG PICTURE

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HE DID WHAT?

Yes, it really happened. Denman won the 2009 Hennessy Gold Cup carrying top weight of 11st 12lb and running off a mark of 174. He did so in a manner that dropped jaws, jumping with superb aggression to defeat his stablemate What A Friend in a thriller

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The connections of Denman inevitably revelled in the post-race euphoria, but for the nine-year-old’s former partner Sam Thomas (right) there was only dejection after missing out on What A Friend

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THE BIG PICTURE

“Awesome”

hat was the reaction of jockey Ruby Walsh to Denman’s incredible Hennessy win and who could possibly disagree?

It was not just the way he won his second Hennessy, off a 13lb higher mark than in 2007, that made this performance so exciting.

It was the way that Denman so bravely drew the sting out of his rivals on the second Newbury circuit with a succession of jumps that were pure defiance of the weight he was asked to carry.

T

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THE BIG PICTURE

Lying in wait Denman was terrific, but Kauto Star looks as good as ever

Kauto Star jumps the last on his way to securing victory in the Betfair Chase at Haydock

The pair could hardly be separated in a race that went down to the wire

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But to do so he had to dig deep to hold off the determined Imperial Commander by a nose

It took an anxious wait before Kauto Star could strut back to the stables as a winner

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THE BIG INTERVIEW Dick Bonnycastle

Atlantic Waves Racing stalwart Dick Bonnycastle believes the sport in the UK would do well to learn from the mistakes of its North American counterparts Words Julian Muscat Photos George Selwyn

ou’re best known in Britain as the owner of Enstone Spark, who won the 1,000 Guineas in 1978. How did a Canadian like you get involved in racing here?

Robert Sangster was my first partner. We bought a yearling at Saratoga through Robin Hastings, who was chairman of the British Bloodstock Agency (BBA) in the early 1970s. Robin told me there was a new guy just coming into racing named Robert Sangster. He told me he was into the pools business and I thought, ‘I don’t think so, there aren’t too many swimming pools in Britain’. That was really early in my involvement and the horse was trained by Barry Hills. It wasn’t much good, though.

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“Enstone Spark is my best horse but we should have won the Derby with Hawaiian Sound”

Why did you choose Barry Hills?

Originally, I sent a yearling to Peter Walwyn because Robin told me he was the top trainer in Britain at the time. I met Peter soon after and, while he had untold numbers of well-bred horses, I told Robin that I wasn’t going to be very important to him with my one cheap yearling. So I asked him to introduce me to someone who was just getting started. I have been with Barry ever since.

Wasn’t Enstone Spark trained by Richard Hannon as a two-year-old?

Yes, she was. Every year I looked for a horse to race at Santa Anita during the winter season and Robin

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told me Enstone Spark was for sale as her owner had unfortunately gone blind. We bought her at the end of her two-year-old season but before we could ship her to California there was an outbreak of Contagious Equine Metritis, which stopped all horse traffic. So I sent her to Barry instead, which was a real lucky break. Enstone Spark is probably the best horse I’ve had, although I still feel we should have won the Derby in 1978 with Hawaiian Sound.

What happened there?

As a 10% shareholder I was all for bringing (American jockey) Bill Shoemaker over to ride him.

Bill was in the lead and when he saw Remainder Man coming over his right shoulder he angled the horse out towards him. Greville Starkey was right behind Bill on Shirley Heights and they came up Bill’s inside to win by a head.

You had another Derby runner in 2001 with Mr Combustible. Wasn’t he named after his trainer?

Someone had written something in the Racing Post about “the usually combustible Barry Hills”.

We thought it was a great name for a horse.

And is Barry the most combustible man you have ever met?

Probably.

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THE BIG INTERVIEW

Dick Bonnycastle’s 1,000 Guineas winner Enstone Spark

Are there any good ones that got away?

There always are. One of them was Assert. An agent rang me from the yearling sales in France in 1980, asking if I was interested in a nice Be My Guest colt. I only bought fillies on my own, but said if Tony Shead would take half, I’d buy it. Tony wasn’t interested as he was scaling back. Assert only cost just over £20,000 and won four Group 1s.

You don’t have as many horses in Britain now.

Why is that?

I have about ten in all, most of them with partners.

I prefer it that way because those partners will come along when the horse runs to make it a fun day. So many friends I’ve had in Britain just don’t have horses any more. You can find yourself alone when you go racing.

It’s the same in California, where I have two horses in training, and in Canada, where I have about 30. I go to Woodbine and sometimes I’m the only person in the Club area. There was a time when Santa Anita was like it was for the Breeders’ Cup this year. There would be 50,000 on weekends. Three years ago I went to my box on a Friday and I was the only person in that whole section of the stand. I haven’t been back since.

Why have those owners stopped having horses in Britain?

I remember going to Wolverhampton in the late

1970s. I met a couple there who’d had a winner and I said then that you wouldn’t see those kinds of people having winners again because they were being eliminated from the base of the (racing) pyramid.

The Arabs were just getting into it but the sport didn’t react. Britain should have gone to the American system of claiming races (instead of handicaps). And I mean real claiming races, where horses are claimed before the race. When nothing changed, the little guys were always going to be forced out.

Was it that obvious back then?

Sure it was. All of this came back to me in November. I was watching a race from Wolverhampton and, by God, there was a horse that we’d sold on for £800,000 running there. It won by eight lengths or something. People don’t grow up around horses anymore. When they become owners they really should be looked after better.

A while ago, when I was on the board of the Ontario Jockey Club, I did some research and found that 35% of betting turnover came from people involved with horses: owners, trainers and their friends. I don’t imagine it’s that different in Britain.

To cut these people out at the bottom end is >> crazy. You’ve got to get the claiming system

“One of the ones that got away was Assert, who cost £20,000 and won four Group 1s”

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THE BIG INTERVIEW

Enstone Spark was trained by Barry Hills, after whom Bonnycastle named one of his horses Mr Combustible

>>

in so the top horses can’t farm the races and the smaller guys have a chance to maybe make some money that way.

Can the American claiming system work in Britain?

I’ve always thought so. Why wouldn’t it?

“You have got to get claiming races in the UK so the smaller guys have a chance to make money”

The argument is that owners here are too fond of their horses to risk losing them...

But they have selling races, where the owner gets hardly anything for his horse by the time the racecourse takes its cut. And he could run for a (claiming) price tag in excess of what the horse is worth. He wouldn’t lose the horse, but he’d struggle to win races.

There’s been a couple of real success stories in Canada with regional racing. We started it in Lethbridge, a small town south of Calgary with a population of 85,000, with nine (annual) days’ racing and a donation of $200,000 towards prizemoney.

Now Lethbridge has 50 days racing and prizemoney of $1.2 million. The average day’s purse is $52,000, up from $8,000. And betting handle (turnover) has grown to $3 million from just over $200,000 annually.

In Lethbridge they started off buying horses that nobody wanted for $1,000, but now they’re going to the bigger sales for better horses. It’s like going

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racing at Chester: a fun place, everybody’s there and it’s a social gathering.

Could that concept work in Britain?

I suppose it could. John Gosden (Owner & Breeder, October issue) talked about setting up a third tier of racing, which makes a lot of sense, but you can’t allow the top horses to run at these places. That would defeat the purpose.

In any event, marketing is vital for racing everywhere. I have been saying this in Canada for many years, but all it seems to have done is get me into trouble.

In what way?

Well, I suggested that Woodbine should build more horse stalls at the racetrack. They would get more owners and betting handle would increase.

No-one took much notice.

There were some other interesting findings.

Horses are now less sound. They run less and less, and in shorter and shorter races. I estimate that the cost per live minute of racing has risen six-fold in the last 50 years, but again, no-one was interested.

So I published my findings in a newspaper and that got their attention. It went down badly with ‘Bud’ Baker, who was in charge at the time. He told me they were not going to re-elect me (to the Ontario Jockey Club). Effectively, I was stood down.

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In Britain we now have Racing For Change, which is exploring the best way forward. What did you learn from your research in Canada that might apply here?

A good starting point is to talk to all the existing owners, those just coming in, and those that have left the business. You’d get a very good profile of your market. One of the things they forgot about in North American racing is the female audience.

There’s an interesting statistic in North America.

More women are now learning to ride horses than play golf, but there is still no attention paid to the female market. That’s a big mistake and it needs to change here, too.

That would require quite a dramatic change...

That’s what they said in Toronto. When we assessed the market we found that 75% of racegoers were male, so the people there decided to concentrate on increasing male attendance. I questioned that. I asked how many of them had been into the basement at Greenwood racetrack.

None of them had. It is the dirtiest, dingiest place; it’s no wonder there are no women there. In my view, if you make it a nice atmosphere, properly marketed to females, you’ll get them. Racing has millions of customers. You’ve got to look out to the average person, not those with lots of money.

Wasn’t your book publishing business built on a mass readership of romantic fiction?

Yes it was and our readers were strictly female. All the males in publishing paid little attention to us; otherwise they could have quashed the company, Harlequin Enterprises, before it got big enough to fend for itself. We got involved with Mills & Boon and worked with them until we bought the company in 1971.

In fact, Alan Boon (son of Charles, co-founder of Mills & Boon) was a partner in some of the first horses I had in Britain. The family had a house in Norfolk and when I visited I saw a picture of Sir Oliver, the 1804 Doncaster Cup winner who was trained by one of Alan’s forefathers. When I found out that Alan paid his way through university by betting on horses, I thought he would make a good partner.

Were you always interested in horses?

I grew up on a ranch, chasing cows on horseback.

My grandfather used to take us to the races when I was very young. Then my cousin married a gal from Calgary who had some showjumpers and a couple of thoroughbreds. We quickly saw that these thoroughbreds could run faster than the other horses at the town meets we used to go to.

You’d find the smallest kid and throw him up bareback, and win the race.

That’s how it started for me. These days I keep

my broodmares in Ontario. They used to be at Windfields Farm until that closed down.

So you knew EP Taylor, of Northern Dancer fame?

I roomed with his son, Charlie Taylor, at school, and watched their horses grow up at Windfields. At that time I did my own research on how they bred their horses. Then I found that Eddie (EP) had bought his first horses through the BBA. That’s why I got in touch with Robin Hastings when I wanted to get into the horse business.

What did you learn about Northern Dancer during your research?

I maintain that he wouldn’t have been such a success if he had stood in the States. When he started in Canada he was bred to what they call ‘rougher’ Canadian mares that had a lot of Teddy (in the pedigree). Northern Dancer had nine stakes winners from his first crop and Nijinsky was in the second crop. Then he went to the US and didn’t have anything in his next crop, when he was bred to more refined mares. Nijinsky was out of Flaming Page, a Bull Page mare. She would never have been bred to Northern Dancer had he been in Kentucky.

A case of too much refined blood not always being a good thing...?

Well, there’s so much of his blood, both in North America and in Europe, that the breeding industry has got to introduce artificial insemination (AI).

One year I brought this up when I was over for Royal Ascot. Everyone argued about it so much that they missed half the races that day.

In North America they breed only fast horses, while in Europe they have stamina. We’re losing good opportunities to cross that blood. A horse often wins the Kentucky Derby by eight lengths because the others just stop, whereas in Europe there’s more expensive distance blood, which leaves the small guy with no chance to win the big races. I’d like to breed to Pivotal and his sons. I have a mare whose third dam is Pivotal’s dam. I’d like to put that together through AI. So you advocate AI to mix bloodlines more easily?

When I first started racing in Britain I bought a mare from the family of Mill Reef. Three years ago at Goffs I saw a yearling from that same family, by Mr Greeley. It was a good type of hybrid vigour cross, but nobody seemed interested in it.

Anyway, I asked (BBA Ireland’s) Adrian Nicholl to look at her and he said she was a nice filly that might make €60,000-70,000, so I told him to buy her. She turned out to be Finsceal Beo and I was the underbidder at €340,000. That’s the sort of thing you could do much more of if you had AI.

“I maintain that Northern Dancer would not have been such a success if he had stood in America”

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“Think Champagne And You’ll Be Champagne!”

Sparkling influence: Jackie Ward Ramos’s father Jack Hylton with the actress Dorothy Tutin

JACKIE WARD RAMOS has used the advice of her band leader father Jack Hylton to become one of the most enduring names in the bloodstock business Words Laura Thompson Photos Empics/Emma Berry here was a time, in the middle of the 20th century, when the worlds of showbusiness and racing intermingled quite naturally.

Glamour called to glamour: Gregory Peck and Cary Grant owned horses, Bing Crosby won the Irish Derby, singer Billy Fury had the fourth at Epsom and everyone, from Laurence Olivier to Diana Dors, went racing. Glory days indeed.

Nowadays one must be grateful if the cast of Hollyoaks turns up at Chester.

Racing has changed and – perhaps more to the point – so has celebrity. Yet it is to that happy vanished land that Jackie Ward Ramos, owner of Ashleigh Stud in Kentucky, and a breeder and

T

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consignor since 1958, assuredly belongs. Just a few moments in her company makes it clear that she has lived her 77 years in the middle of a magic circle. She herself makes nothing of any of this.

Warm and self-effacing, she is the opposite of a name-dropper; yet names positively tumble from her lips. This, for example, is a typical answer, to a question about when she first sat on a thoroughbred.

“Ah, yes... It was at Steve Donoghue’s place.”

Really?

“Yes. He had a place in Blewbury and we all went over there, and he let me ride. Gave me a saddle and everything. I loved to watch him on a horse. He had lovely hands, even though he was getting on a bit then (the legendary six-time Derby-winning jockey died in 1945, aged 60). It was a different era, really. People had more time for you.”

This early glimpse of the inner world of racing came about through Jackie’s father, the band leader and impresario Jack Hylton, who at that time had a house near Oxford. Born in Bolton in 1892, Hylton was full of the ambition and grit that his daughter has inherited. “Think champagne and you’ll be champagne”, he once said. “Think in terms of beer and a couple of quid a week and you’ll end up with nothing.”

Having started his career singing in his father’s pub, by 1926 Hylton was playing with his own orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. He toured constantly: Jackie was born at the Grand Hotel in Harrogate and, as a child, met musicians like Duke Ellington. She also found herself in Berlin in 1937, where her father had a residency. “Yes...Goebbels and Goering used to go and watch him.”

During the war, Hylton’s career thrived. He produced musicals (later he would give a part to Audrey Hepburn, selecting her from 4,000 hopefuls) and shows by the Crazy Gang. It was around this time that he launched into racehorse ownership; the natural thing, then, for a king of showbusiness to do. “Father had Flat horses mostly,” says Ward Ramos. “The odd hurdler. He was successful over the years. He had horses with Sam Armstrong, Vic Smyth...he tried everything!”

Ward Ramos had no interest in working in the theatre, but formed a powerful bond with her father through racing.

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She says: “He had a song, ‘I Took my Girl to the Races’. And the tabs [curtains] would open and there would be two horses on a treadmill – hacks, you know – with two ex-jockeys on their backs in silks. He did that at the Palladium.”

Hylton later said that “right from the start her interest was professional...by the age of about 11 she had made a complete life for herself in the racing world.” It was hardly a typical upbringing for someone seeking a career with horses; yet its very unorthodoxy was probably a blessing. It allowed Ward Ramos to do things her own way.

From the very beginning she had a consuming love of the world – which was, as she says, “fun with a capital F in those days” – and a remarkable instinct, a feel that has led her to become such a widely respected horsewoman.

In 1945 she was given her first racehorse, which won at Windsor “on the day the doodlebugs flew over – we all had to duck under the table.”

When her father’s band went on tour, she went too, and headed for the races with comedian Ted Ray, or the Crazy Gang’s Flanagan and Allen (who also owned horses). After the war she began to ride out for Ryan Price, who then trained at the back of Goodwood, not far from the family home at Angmering. “Ryan Price was my mentor, really,” says Ward Ramos.

Around this time Hylton began to buy horses from France and went into partnership with Leon Volterra, whose Phil Drake would later win the 1955 Derby.

Ward Ramos says: “In fact, Leon Volterra gave me my first broodmare. She was called Rosie The Fifth and I sold her offspring at Tattersalls. That was in 1958.”

That was the year she set up her own establishment, the first Ashleigh Stud, which comprised 25 acres near Eastbourne. “I felt relatively confident,” she recalls. “I learned a lot from Monty Smyth [who trained for Hylton before, in 1949, becoming private trainer to William Hill, then owner of Whitsbury Manor].”

At that time, of course, there were no other options for a woman who wanted to work in racing. Ward Ramos concurs, saying: “Oh yes – there was nothing else you could do then! We couldn’t train or anything, couldn’t ride...I mean, the Town Plate was the only race you could go in.”

And did you?

“Yes...well, I won it in 1956. Then I was second.

They did start the ladies’ races [women were finally allowed to race-ride in 1974] and I had two winners over here – I won at Redcar, that was for Charles St George, then I won a race at Newcastle.

I was a bit too old, then, to start – but I was determined I was going to do it.”

By the 1960s she was buying for Charles St George – most famously the owner of Ardross –

but, in the early days of Ashleigh Stud, it was one horse in particular who helped launch her career.

“Zanzara,” says Ward Ramos. “She was the one that really got me going. We paid 500gns for her.

Bought her at Tattersalls, as a yearling, she ran in father’s name, then I took her on for breeding and she was just a wonderful broodmare. Had 14 foals in a row.

“I liked her conformation. She wasn’t very big, barely 15 hands, but she was built like a rectangle and she gave the foals her all. I always say that she came from a working-class family! And in 1961 she produced Showdown. We couldn’t sell him at Newmarket, he had what they called hooky hocks, but Fred Winter snr rang me up a week afterwards.

“He said, ‘Have you still got that chestnut horse?’ He bought him and he was 1lb off the best two year old in 1963, winning the Coventry and the Middle Park.”

Showdown became champion sire in Australia, while Zanzara, whose progeny also included 1963 Nunthorpe winner Matatina, was the grandam of Odeon, one of the three foundation mares of Meon Valley Stud.

In 1962 she married the Irish champion jockey Liam Ward, with whom she had two children (her daughter, Nicola, became a trainer in America).

She subsequently moved Ashleigh Stud to Ireland, where she was brought into the orbit of Vincent O’Brien, Robert Sangster and Lester Piggott, nemesis of Ward in the 1968 Irish Derby.

Ward, who was second on Sir Ivor that day, rode Nijinsky to victory in the race two years later.

“I don’t think he was a hard horse to ride,” says

Duke Ellington: friend

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Jackie Ward Ramos, with her October sales yearling by Anabaa

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“People just do paper to paper breeding.

A natural horseman would forgive certain faults”

Bing Crosby: not smart enough for Sandown

>>

Ward Ramos. “He’d sweat up before a race, but he was very professional once in the stalls.”

It was around this time she formed her “great association” with Charles St George (whose widow, Christine, remains a close friend). “I met him at the races,” she says. “And I got his mares for him, especially when I went to America.”

It was in 1977, after the break-up of her marriage, that she and St George bought the 160 acres of Creek View farm in Kentucky (which now belongs to Coolmore).

Robert Sangster also bought into the establishment. “He wanted somewhere to keep his mares,” recalls Ward Ramos. “I did sell some yearlings for Sangster. This was in the days before the prices exploded. We sold them for, you know, 5,000gns, and thought that was pretty good! But then he linked up with Coolmore. And you can’t run upsides Coolmore.”

She left Creek View and, in 1980, moved to her current premises in Bourbon County: the third Ashleigh Stud, which she runs with her second husband Frank Ramos. She has had some remarkable successes. Familiar names that she has bred, bought and sold include Drum Taps, Michelozzo, Lear Spear and, perhaps best of all, Ahonoora, the broodmare sire of New Approach.

The filly Possibly Perfect, owned by long-time patrons and friends Bob and Geri Witt, was Champion Older Turf Female of 1995.

Ward Ramos says: “She was very aggressive! But there’s something about a mare like that...”

In 2006 the broodmare Smooth As Silk, also bred at Ashleigh, sold at Keeneland for $1.35

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million. “I didn’t expect that,” says Ward Ramos.

For all that she is still very much in the game – we met at Tattersalls Book 1, where she was selling one of the last Anabaa yearlings – she remains firmly old-style in her outlook, saying: “I sometimes feel, nowadays, that people are just doing paper-to-paper breeding. And they won’t buy a horse unless it’s got an A++ pedigree. Then the x-raying, the scoping...a natural horseman would forgive certain faults, you know.

“My way is, you have to be around your horse, know the traits of the family and so on. I like to be hands-on. I still feed them the same as I always have, cook flaxseed for them every day.

“I suppose we know more now, from the point of view of ultrasounding and so on. But you still have to go back to nature. You know, in the old days there were hardly any vets – the stud grooms all knew their job. You’d give them a fiver and say.

‘I’ll give you £25 if the mare’s in foal!’

“Nowadays, particularly in America, the labour part of it is quite difficult. It’s hard to find people with a passion for it. So many changes...sometimes I think, ‘It’s all running by me’.”

A different world, indeed, from the one in which she went racing with Bing Crosby (dressed so scruffily that the doorman tried to turn him away at Sandown) and had a song performed in her honour at the London Palladium.

“That was the way life ought to be,” she says.

Yet she has no thought of retirement. Instead she talks of returning to end her career in England: a fitting finale of which Jack Hylton would have surely approved.

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Sa Suffit scores at Haydock in November for James Ewart

Making

the leap

Five progressive trainers aiming to reach the next level reveal where they buy their jump horses, what they prefer to buy, and what they try to avoid Words Carl Evans Photos George Selwyn and Racing Advertiser Ltd

TRAINER

BASED

LICENSED SINCE

HORSES IN TRAINING

James Ewart

Langholm, Dumfriesshire

October 2004

32

“Almost all my horses are French-bred,” says James Ewart, whose contacts in that country were forged during his time as assistant trainer to Guillaume Macaire.

Since returning to Britain and setting up in business at his family’s Scottish farm, he has continued to source stock from across the Channel for himself and fellow trainers. Ewart says: “I’m always looking for nice horses – it’s a never-ending mission, and I’ve been lucky enough to be involved

“Almost all my horses are French-bred but to get the best from France you have to buy privately” with some very good ones.

“My Way De Solzen has been the best so far, while French champion jockey Jacques Ricou and I looked at and rode Punchestowns after he won at Compiegne, but the asking price was €100,000 and we didn’t have that sort of money.

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JUMPS WINNERS PAST THREE SEASONS 7, 6, 12 (6 to 14/12)

worst. To get the best you have to buy privately from trainers and breeders.

“It is essential to keep up your contacts, so every summer my wife Briony and I take a busman’s holiday in France. Market values are down, but if you gave me £80,000 to £150,000, I could fly to France next week and buy you a horse to run at Cheltenham in March – although it would help if you gave me six months to find the right one.”

Ewart says his ideal horse is “16.2 hands, shortcoupled, a nice mover with medium to good bone, and who can perform in bumpers, hurdles and then chases”. He adds: “I would avoid horses by a couple of well-known sires whose progeny are very temperamental [diplomacy meant he would not name them], but on a limited budget I’m not against buying something who has shown good form but needs patching up – sometimes that is better than buying an unproven horse.

“I have to make my money go further, so I cannot afford bloodstock agents’ fees, but in any case I would rather buy horses myself. Anthony Bromley is the outstanding agent of the moment, but it’s about finding a system that works for you.”

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PROGRESSIVE TRAINERS

“I would be very wary of buying a sixyear-old that’s won an Irish maiden pointto-point”

TRAINER

BASED

LICENSED SINCE

HORSES IN TRAINING

Rebecca Curtis

Newport, Pembrokeshire

March 2008

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JUMPS WINNERS PAST THREE SEASONS –, 1, 8 (10)

Given that Rebecca Curtis’s family farm is on the Pembrokeshire coast facing Ireland and five miles from the Fishguard ferry, it is no surprise she sources much of her raw material across the Irish Sea. Her partner, Gearoid Costello, a member of the well-known Irish family that has produced many top jumping horses, has been another factor. He sent Curtis some youngsters to train with a view to selling and their relationship grew from there – now his contacts in Ireland are helping her find untried horses.

She says: “We can easily do a day trip to Ireland and if we buy a horse it can be in a stable soon after getting off the ferry.”

With an unequivocal view of her aims, Curtis, who is in her third season, says: “I wouldn’t want horses bought from sellers or claimers. We want to buy and develop young untried horses, or those who have had, say, one run in a point-to-point or bumper.

“Instead of encouraging owners to bring horses here, we would rather buy young horses and sell them to owners. It has worked well so far.

“If you are asked to train older horses it’s often because the owner is not happy with their current trainer and it gets complicated. I would consider taking a young horse in the right circumstances

(Grade 2 winner Marodima, pictured inset, arrived from Paul Nicholls’s stable last season), but we’re limited for space.”

Curtis has also bought at British sales, namely lightly-raced Flat horses from Doncaster and Tattersalls, and untried jumpers from Brightwells’ Cheltenham venue.

Her CV includes a year of training pointers, four years in the USA with trainer Dan Hendricks and a couple of seasons with Peter Bowen. Not many trainers can offer a private beach, but it forms part of her father’s dairy farm on which the horses are steadily rising in number.

“My ideal horse would be good-looking, well balanced with plenty of bone and 16.2 hands,” she says, “although we’ve done well with smaller types.

I wouldn’t buy a horse with a bad shoulder – they must have a good, sloping shoulder and walk well.

“If I was offered a young horse with a problem I would take it, but I wouldn’t hang on to it for months and months hoping it would come right.”

Curtis likes Irish pointers, particularly four-yearolds, and will buy from that market once she has checked out the form, but says: “I’d be wary of buying a six-year-old that’s won an Irish maiden, and I’m not keen on British point-to-point form.

“I’ve seen horses that couldn’t win sellers proving successful in points over here.”

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HORSES IN TRAINING

Neil King

Newmarket

July 2003

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When a trainer has luck buying from a particular source they tend to go back. In Neil King’s case that road leads to Ascot.

King, who rode in point-to-points and trained in that sphere until gaining a licence, says of the Brightwells-run auction: “I’ve had a lot of luck at Ascot. In July I bought Zepnove for 1,500gns and True Britannia for 6,000gns, and both have won and been placed since.

“From my pointing days I found I could afford to buy at Ascot, although I did buy some ex-Flat

horses from Doncaster and Tattersalls during the autumn.”

King adds: “I also buy privately through [bloodstock agent] Richard Venn, generally from local sources. It’s time-consuming seeing horses abroad, there are additional administrative processes, and the one time I bought a German horse it did not work out and that put me off.

Owners want action tomorrow, so I tend to buy horses that are ready to go.

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past two or three years, and I’ve claimed a couple from sellers – one was good, one was bad. I have also made two shopping trips to France, but last spring the French were asking ridiculous money for horses and I felt there was better value in Britain and Ireland.”

“The French wanted ridiculous money for horses; there was better value in Britain and Ireland” King would like to patronise British pointers, but says: “They often represent value, but I’ve not had a lot of success with them. In Ireland pointing is a business, while in Britain it is fun, with the result that owners don’t sell their good young horses.”

“We tend to buy privately; I like an athletic type of horse, not over-big, with a bit of cockiness”

Despite the number of three-year-olds in training on the Flat, King’s late summer and autumn search for a classy juvenile hurdler proved luckless.

He says: “A syndicate of mine sold a horse well and wanted to replace her with a juvenile hurdler, so I placed adverts in the Racing Post and The Irish Field but had no luck whatsoever. In the end we decided to go to the Doncaster sales and bought a five-year-old gelding.”

Is there a type of horse King would avoid?

“Wind suckers are a big no no for me,” he says.

“I believe it’s a habit that encourages other horses to wind suck and that they are prone to colic. Besides, it’s no fun for the staff working around the yard to hear a wind sucker constantly grunting over the stable door.”

TRAINER

BASED

LICENSED SINCE

HORSES IN TRAINING

Martin Keighley

Condicote, Gloucestershire

September 2006

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The Cotswolds village of Condicote was once home to the late David Nicholson, who would take delight in the progress made by one of his former members of staff, Martin Keighley.

A former conditional jockey with Nicholson, Keighley subsequently spent two years on the groundstaff at Cheltenham racecourse before training point-to-pointers. He is now in his fourth year with a licence and his number of winners this season has already passed his career aggregate, which says much for both his training and buying policies. He says: “I source most of my horses in Ireland through bloodstock agent Gerry Hogan.

“We tend to buy privately after we’ve seen horses ridden and schooled. If they have run in Irish point-to-points and the form has worked out, so much the better, but we also consider the breeding and general stamp of the horse.

“I like an athletic type with a bit of cockiness, and while I love big, old-fashioned chasers with presence, they tend to be expensive. I buy only when I have an order, and that might be for a staying chaser or a two-mile hurdler.

“Quite often owners will come on a buying trip, but otherwise they trust me and Gerry to do the business – we’ve never had a case of getting a horse home and the prospective owner rejecting it.

“If we’re going to a sale Gerry compiles an advance list of about 20 horses which we then whittle down to about five we hope to bid on.

We’ll buy in Britain as well as Ireland, but we had a disappointing trip to France this year. The horses were moderate and we got the impression the French had kept the best ones.

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JUMPS WINNERS PAST THREE SEASONS 1, 5, 7 (20)

“I have only ever claimed one out of a seller and it didn’t win afterwards. Now I would buy from a seller only if I was looking for a fun horse to go summer jumping.”

Despite an interest in British pointing – his wife, Belinda, won points and hunter chases as a rider – Keighley does not comb that sport for material, saying: “Gerry’s contacts are in Ireland, although if a top British rider like Richard Burton recommended a pointer over here I would consider it.

“I’m not keen on over-big horses – the bigger they are the bigger the problems – and I’m not against buying ex-Flat horses as long as they have not been hammered and will stay the trip over jumps.”

Exciting prospect Wolf Moon scores at Cheltenham

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PROGRESSIVE TRAINERS

“If people want an untried horse they would rather go to a breeze-up sale than buy a store”

TRAINER

BASED

LICENSED SINCE

HORSES IN TRAINING

Lucinda Russell

Milnathort, Perth & Kinross

August 1995

55-60

“Because we are based in Scotland, where the number of meetings is limited, we need horses from a wide spectrum suitable for all types of races,” says former event rider Lucinda Russell.

“Sales are great value at the moment – it’s a buyer’s market. Scu [her partner, Peter Scudamore] and I love attending the sales. If I come back in another life I would be a bloodstock agent. I get a great buzz from sourcing horses, getting them home, riding them out and thinking, ‘Yes, that’s a good buy’.”

Russell has noticed a significant drop in demand for untried store horses, saying: “In past years we have bought from Brian Murphy at the Dunraven Arms in Ireland – we would go with owners and have a great day out – but two seasons ago we had requests for 12 store horses, this season only one.

“People want horses that are ready to go and we recently bought seven from the Horses In Training sales. If people want an untried horse they would rather go to a breeze-up sale than buy a store.

JUMPS WINNERS PAST THREE SEASONS 24, 31, 31 (17)

“We went to the Arqana breeze-up sale this year and bought a couple there and because we took some owners it was a good social trip. Giving owners fun is part of the business. Some sales companies are better at it than others.”

Russell’s string includes a few horses owned by their breeders, but buying from selling and claiming races is not high on her list. “I made a boo-boo and claimed Caesar’s Palace after he won a race at Stratford,” she says. “Martin Pipe [who trained the horse] wasn’t very pleased with me!

“If an owner wants a horse from a claimer I’ll buy it, but only to order. Perhaps it’s because I’m Scottish, but I don’t like exposing myself to risk.”

As a former judge of hunters, Russell has an eye for conformation, and says: “I wouldn’t buy a horse that’s back at the knee and I prefer not to buy a horse that’s had a leg injury, but I don’t mind if they have had a wind operation.

“In winter jump racing, horses have to show resolution, so I like a horse that looks tough.”

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Racing’s glitterati attended a gala evening that celebrated the owners and equine stars who lit up a fantastic year

ROA AWARDS 2009 RACING’S BIG NIGHT OUT Sponsored by Awards photos by Arnhel de Serra THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER 51

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ROA AWARDS 2009

Owner of the Year CHRISTOPHER TSUI SPONSORED BY: Weatherbys

Horse of the Year SEA THE STARS RECEIVED BY: Christopher Tsui, with John and Caitriona Oxx SPONSORED BY: Sportingbet.com

Outstanding Three-Year-Old Colt SEA THE STARS RECEIVED BY: Christopher Tsui SPONSORED BY: PA Business Systems

Outstanding Older Horse CONDUIT RECEIVED BY: Peter Reynolds, on behalf of Ballymacoll Stud SPONSORED BY: Tattersalls

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Outstanding Stayer YEATS JP Magnier and Lucy Nagle, on behalf of Susan Magnier and Diane Nagle SPONSORED BY: Markel RECEIVED BY:

Outstanding Two-Year-Old Filly SPECIAL DUTY Lord Grimthorpe, on behalf of Khalid Abdullah SPONSORED BY: Cheval Court Stud RECEIVED BY:

Outstanding Three-Year-Old Filly MIDDAY Lord Grimthorpe, on behalf of Khalid Abdullah SPONSORED BY: Weatherbys RECEIVED BY:

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ROA AWARDS 2009

Outstanding Two-Year-Old Colt ST NICHOLAS ABBEY Paul Smith, Derrick Smith and JP Magnier SPONSORED BY: Goffs/DBS RECEIVED BY:

Outstanding Sprinter BORDERLESCOTT RECEIVED BY:

William Donaldson Irish Thoroughbred Marketing

SPONSORED BY:

Outstanding Handicapper DARLEY SUN David Simcock, on behalf of Abdullah Saeed Belhab SPONSORED BY: Arbuthnot Latham RECEIVED BY:

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ROA AWARDS 2009

Outstanding All-Weather Horse of the Year SCINTILLO White Beech Farm Partnership, with jockey Richard Hughes (centre right) SPONSORED BY: Arena Leisure RECEIVED BY:

Outstanding Chaser KAUTO STAR Clive Smith (right) SPONSORED BY: Lycetts RECEIVED BY:

Outstanding Hurdler PUNJABI Raymond and Julia Tooth SPONSORED BY: Premier Corporate Mail RECEIVED BY:

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER 57

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ROA AWARDS 2009

Outstanding Novice Chaser FORPADYDEPLASTERER Goat Racing Syndicate, with trainer Tom Cooper (right) SPONSORED BY: Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder RECEIVED BY:

Outstanding Novice Hurdler MIKAEL D’HAGUENET Rich and Susannah Ricci SPONSORED BY: Racing UK RECEIVED BY:

Outstanding Hunter Chaser CAPPA BLEU William and Angela Rucker, with Sheila Crow (centre) SPONSORED BY: Irish Racing Yearbook RECEIVED BY:

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER 59

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ROA AWARDS 2009 RACING’S BIG NIGHT OUT Sponsored by

John Maxse

Ann and Tony Gale

Nick and Anne Attenborough, and Alice Plunkett

Simon Dow and Holly Mitchell

Matthew Doyle, Mark Glassett and Helen Barker

Jess and Joy Reid

60 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Michael Owen

Can you guess the horse?

Natasha Cosedge, John and Helen Worboys

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ROA AWARDS 2009

Emma Nicholson, Richard Phillips, Maree Harrington and Caroline Teltsch Tony Hirschfeld, Richard and Jo Howard

Martin Broughton and John Francome

Liz and Peter Jones, and Christina and Michael Harris

Penny Boys, Rae Guest and Rachel Flynn

Jim Furlong and Karen Lilley

Padraic Conlon, Antonia Deuters, and Dr Paull and Lorraine Khan John and Caitriona Oxx, and Henrietta Knight and Terry Biddlecombe

PHOTOS: DAN ABRAHAM

Sandra and the Rt Hon Michael Howard MP

Liz Hope-Snazell, Dave Smith and Lona Hope-Snazell

Lady and Sir Eric Parker

Charles and Christine de Bavier, and Christopher Tsui

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SALES CIRCUIT Six pages of analysis and reports on the end of term auctions

Foal sales best indicator of market – and they were up Aggregate for foals at Tattersalls December Sales shows a near 40% increase on 2008, and with mare and filly owners reluctant to let quality go cheaply, the foal sector is a more accurate guide Words Philip Freedman n the face of it the results from the foal element of Tattersalls December Sales provided a marked contrast with the second week, when mares and fillies were put on the market.

The aggregate for foals, at just over 20,000,000gns, showed a near 40% increase on last year’s figure, despite an appreciably smaller catalogue and a much reduced level of foals failing to sell, while the average of 32,700gns was only below the record levels of 2006 and 2007.

The results for the mare sale were rather less positive, with the figures at the end of the third day showing only a marginal increase in the aggregate and an equally small decline in the average in comparison to 2008, again with a greatly reduced number of horses failing to sell. On a like for like comparison, excluding private sales, the aggregate was the lowest since 2004.

The returns from breeding stock sales are more likely to be influenced by the quality of what is on offer than any other sector of the market.

Generally, mare owners, both in Europe and North America, have been reluctant to make available the best of their stock at a time when demand was expected to be relatively weak.

The quality of the catalogue for foal and, to an even greater extent, yearling sales, are less likely to be influenced by the state of the market. As such they are a better indicator of the health of the industry. The opinion of both purchasers and vendors at the mare sale suggested demand was stronger than anticipated for any lots perceived as having commercial attractions.

There was certainly no suggestion that the disturbing news of the need for Dubai World to restructure its debt, which broke in the middle of the foal sale, was having any influence over breeders’ investment decisions when purchasing either foals or mares. That said, whether it is correct to believe that it will be ‘business as usual’ in 2010 – or simply wishful thinking – will not be answered for some months yet.

If there was one sector of the market which benefited from not only the better than expected

O

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results at this autumn’s yearling sales, but also from the depression which affected the market at last year’s December foal sales, when confidence in both the breeding industry in particular and the economy in general was close to its nadir, it was the foal buyers. They enjoyed a more profitable year in 2009 than they have for a number of recent years. In light of the profits many of them made in October, it was no surprise to see them reinvesting those profits and in so doing boost the demand for foals well ahead of 12 months ago.

“Foal buyers enjoyed a more profitable time in 2009 than they have for years. It was no surprise to see them reinvesting the profits and boosting demand” Yet if the pinhookers have enjoyed a profitable year, the returns for breeders, still suffering from nomination fees set and paid for in the pre-crash financial environment, have been rather less rosy.

It will not be until they come to sell foals in 2010 that the foals they offer will be at a cost reflecting the new economic circumstances, although whether even these fees are at a level which gives the mare owner a realistic chance of making an adequate return remains to be seen.

Indeed, the results suggest that, after taking into account the nomination fee and adding a figure of £12,000 for productions costs, only a third of the foals at the sale made a profit. While such a return is not uncommon at the foal sales, it is a further indicator that breeders are suffering from the consequences of higher stallion fees than the market warrants.

At a time when the state of the wider economy may discourage them from subsidising their breeding interests from other sources of income, this will further encourage a contraction in the number of foals being produced.

Whether one is looking at the market for mares, foals or yearlings, an even greater degree of selectivity on the part of purchasers has become

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SALES CIRCUIT

apparent this year. This is likely to cause even greater consideration by breeders as to what stallions they are prepared to patronise.

Whilst economics might suggest that those stallions whose fees have been increased in the present environment might struggle to attract mares, the reality is that it is these stallions, whose popularity has been buoyed by success in the sale ring or on the racecourse, who have generally been among the first to fill, as breeders are following fashion more slavishly than ever before.

Following the herd may, in a particularly uncertain climate, appear to be the safest option, but the risks are greater than at first appear.

The level of expectation is greatest for those stallions covering at the highest fees and attracting the biggest books of mares. It is what Bill Oppenheim refers to as the ‘Big Book Era’.

Yet this has gone hand in hand with a drop in the stakes winners to foals ratios and other previously accepted measures of quality, as increased numbers of mares covered has led to proportionately more offspring which fail to meet breeders’ aspirations for them.

These expectations will be increasingly hard to meet, particularly when a number of crops

produced from lower quality mares are still in the pipeline.

Some 15 months into the economic downturn, it could be argued that to date racing and breeding, viewed as luxury items dependent on discretionary expenditure, have held up better than expected. The decline in production which has already taken place, and looks likely to intensify even further in 2010, will be to the long-term benefit of the industry.

To date, thanks to the support of Sheikh Mohammed, the industry has been able to avoid a retreat turning into a rout. Continued support from that quarter is essential if 2010 is to justify the optimism which many pinhookers and commercial breeders have shown this December.

In last month’s issue a reference was made to “only 45% of yearlings being sold at Tattersalls October Book 1”. This should have made clear that “only 45% of yearlings at Tattersalls October Book 1 were sold at a profit”.

Meanwhile, the stallion profitability table on page 64 incorrectly listed Compton Place’s highest-priced yearling, which should have been £125,000. We apologise for both references.

“An even greater degree of selectivity on the part of purchasers has become apparent”

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Tattersalls

DECEMBER YEARLINGS & FOALS

Yearlings

Foals

Aggregate 3,486,700gns (+75%)

Aggregate 20,218,700gns (+39%)

Average 22,789gns (+18%)

Average 32,716gns (+26.4%)

Sold 153 (78% clearance)

Sold 618 (78% clearance)

Median 11,000gns (+29%)

Median 16,000gns (+52.4%)

Top Yearlings Sex

Pedigree

Vendor

Price (gns)

f

Galileo-Lady Karr (Mark Of Esteem)

Paulyn Ltd/Castlebridge Cons

275,000

Buyer

Bloomsbury Stud

f

High Chaparral-Diamonaka (Akarad)

Rathasker Stud

210,000

Dwayne Woods Amanda Perrett

c

Pivotal-Grandalea (Grand Lodge)

Pier House Stud

190,000

c

Sadler´s Wells-L´ancresse (Darshaan)

John Troy

160,000

Blandford Bloodstock

c

Red Ransom-Rock Salt (Selkirk)

Castlebridge Consignment

100,000

Rabbah Bloodstock

Buyer

Top Foals Sex

Pedigree

Vendor

Price (gns)

c

Galileo-Ask For The Moon (Dr Fong)

Jockey Hall Stud

400,000

Demi O’Byrne

f

Medicean-Alakananda (Hernando)

St Simon Stud

320,000

Course Inv. Corp

f

High Chaparral-Diary (Green Desert)

Shanaville Stables

300,000

c

Invincible Spirit-Sabria (Miswaki)

Rockwell BS/Genesis Green Std 260,000

John Ferguson BS

c

Invincible Spirit-Liscune (King´s Best)

Bryanstown House Stud

250,000

Shadwell Estate Co

c

Oasis Dream-Karliyna (Rainbow Quest)

St Simon Stud

240,000

Kennycourt Stud

c

Galileo-Sitara (Salse)

Stringston Farm

230,000

Demi O’Byrne

c

Danehill Dancer-Spinola (Spinning World)

Chevington & Loughtown Stds

220,000

Yeguada de Milagro

f

Oasis Dream-Partly Sunny (Alhaarth)

West Blagdon Stud

200,000

c

Shamardal-Magic Tree (Timber Country)

Alvediston Stud/Trickledown Std 190,000

f

Oasis Dream-Dream Valley (Sadler´s Wells) The Cottage Stud

While end-users such as the Maktoums, Maria Niarchos and Anthony Oppenheimer dominated the top of the foal market, the real feature was the strength of the pinhookers. The 2009 yearling market may have been fragile but the foal traders, including some big-spending new faces, waded in at a much greater level than in 2008 and sent the Tattersalls turnover shooting up, despite a reduced catalogue.

Reaction Charlie Mason, Silfield Bloodstock: “You needed the three ticks – pedigree, conformation and a great walk – and then you were away, but otherwise they were hard to sell. But it was a great trade and it was very hard to buy. We were encouraged by it enough to purchase five mares in foal the following week and will sell their foals next year.”

Highlights Although the Maktoums were noticeably

Course Inv. Corp Shadwell Estate Co Shadwell Estate Co

absent from the December breeding stock sale, they showed no such reticence when it came to the foal market. John Ferguson was leading foal buyer, collecting 11 lots for 1.38 million gns, while Hamdan Al Maktoum bought a further six foals for 928,000gns.

Paul and Sara Thorman’s Hampshire-based Trickledown Stud sold 53 foals over the four days, grossing 1,468,400gns.

The yearling trade bounced back from a disappointing 2008 sale. The Duke of Bedford, a Tattersalls director, paid 275,000gns for the sale-topping Galileo filly, sold by Paul Makin.

Eddie Stobart CEO Andrew Tinkler continued his autumn spending when buying a 210,000gns High Chaparral filly to go to Tom Dascombe.

The sale-topping 400,000gns Galileo colt was the cheapest top lot at this event since 2000. But, with nothing making more in America, he was still the dearest northern hemisphere foal of 2009.

Eugene McDermott of Kennycourt Stud was the most fearless top end pinhooker.

He was underbidder on the 400,000gns sale-topper and paid 240,000gns for an Oasis Dream colt to re-offer next year. All of the other top lots to change hands were bought as racing prospects.

PHOTO: EMMA BERRY

Lessons learned

190,000

Hugo Lascelles BS

Paul Makin sold the 275,000gns sale-topper

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Tattersalls

DECEMBER MARES

Aggregate 33,197,700gns (no change) Average 52,863gns (-3.3%) Sold 628 (79.3% clearance) Median 14,500gns (+16%) Lessons learned

Reaction

The smallest December breeding stock catalogue since 1993 also lacked some of the star dispersals seen at recent renewals, making the strong trade even more remarkable. Buyers from some 30 countries had come to Newmarket and they were prepared to pay a premium for the best they could find at the sale.

Charlie Gordon-Watson: “We were fortunate to buy most of those we wanted to get; they probably made a bit more than we expected but were still okay. Going into the sale I wasn’t very hopeful but I think the individuals were better than the catalogue suggested. The sale was beyond all expectations.”

Top Lots Consignor

Price (gns)

Buyer

Song (3f Sadler´s Wells)

Bugley Stud

1,700,000

Badgers BS

Lahaleeb (3f Redback)

West Ilsley Stables

1,000,000

John Egan

High Heeled (3f High Chaparral)

Faringdon Place Stables

600,000

LTS

Massarra (10m Danehill)

Voute Sales

600,000

MV Magnier

Prima Luce (4f Galileo)

Glebe House Stables

560,000

Charles Gordon-Watson

Sugar Free (3f Oasis Dream)

European Sales Management

540,000

Dwayne Woods

Eva´s Request (4f Soviet Star)

Rathbarry Stud (Agent)

525,000

Hugo Lascelles

Yummy Mummy (4f Montjeu)

Plantation Stud

460,000

John Warren

Festoso (4f Diesis)

Windsor House Stables

460,000

Blandford Bloodstock

Dashing (3f Sadler´s Wells)

Castlebridge Consignment

420,000

Tony Nerses

Ask For The Moon (8m Dr Fong)

Ballyhimikin Stud

410,000

Seskin Stud

Highlights The Maktoums were absent during a week when Dubai’s economic woes dominated the headlines, but it is believed a different high-rolling Middle-Eastern buyer could be Lahaleeb’s new owner after she was bought by jockey John Egan for one million gns.

Dick O’Gorman paid 92,000gns at the 1997 December Sale for a mare named Jude, who failed to make the frame in four starts for Fahd Salman and Paul Cole.

Owner by Premier Bloodstock, a partnership headed by Coolmore marketing man Richard Henry, she is now one of the best broodmares in Europe, as the dam of Quarter Moon, Yesterday and All My Loving. Her three-year-old daughter Song, sold through Salman’s former racing manager Anthony Penfold’s Bugley Stud, topped the sale when making 1.7 million gns. Paul Makin is her new owner.

Makin was not the only Australian shopping in Newmarket. A Victoria-based client of Adrian Nicoll paid 400,000gns for Irish 1,000 Guineas third Oh Goodness Me. Paul Fudge, who reportedly made

AUS$660 million in one day in April when selling a coal gas seam exploration permit, was seated with Michael Goodbody when he paid 380,000gns for Fermion.

Goodbody had been underbidder on the 700,000gns Book 1 sale-topper for the same client. Peter Carrick of Lakeview Resources paid 340,000gns for The Miniver Rose as a 2010 Melbourne Cup possible.

Prince AA Faisal, who breeds under the Nawara Stud banner, was at the sale to watch two of his offerings make the top ten lots. Invincible Spirit’s half-sister Massarra was bought for 600,000gns by John Magnier’s son MV, while it would be no surprise to see Festoso, the 2007 Cheveley Park Stakes third, head to the same destination after being knocked down to Tom Goff for 460,000gns.

Lush Lashes initially went down as sold when knocked down to Luke Lillingston for 1.8 million gns, before being listed as a vendor buyback, so no longer counting towards the sale turnover. But Jim Bolger, who plans some interesting inbreeding by

sending Lush Lashes to her uncle Sea The Stars, was, in fact, buying out his partner John Corcoran, a founder of Paddy Power.

Dual Grade 1 winner Arravale was another seven-figure vendor buyback. Andrew Tinkler bid one million gns for her through Dwayne Woods but it was not enough and she was bought in for 1.05 million gns.

Tinkler was eventually able to get Sugar Free for 540,000gns as a long-term broodmare prospect to complete his sevenfigure spending this autumn.

PHOTO: WWW.TATTERSALLS.COM

Horse (age/sex/sire)

Song was the top lot at 1.7million gns

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Goffs

NOVEMBER

Aggregate €16,009,700 (-10%) Average €20,578 (-6%) Sold 778 (68% clearance) Median €11,500 (-4%) Top Lots Price (€)

Horse (age/sex/sire)

Consignor

Bon Nuit (7m Night Shift)

Howard Spooner/Ballincurrig House Stud 230,000

Buyer

Clive Gardner

c f Dylan Thomas-In My Dreams (Sadler´s Wells) Carriganog Stud

200,000

Hideyuki Mori

c f Azamour-Amoureux (Deputy Minister)

Rheindross Stud

165,000

Kennycourt Stud

c f Cape Cross-Miss Sally (Danetime)

Cloneymore Farm

160,000

Meadowlands Stud

c f Pivotal-Ooh Aah Camara (Danehill Dancer) Tinnakill House

160,000

Paddy Twomey

Comeraincomeshine (8m Night Shift)

Roundhill Stud

160,000

Newsells Park Stud

f f Teofilo-Najmati (Green Desert)

Riversfield Stud

150,000

Jim Bolger

c f Dylan Thomas-Virginia Rose (Galileo)

Abbeville & Meadow Court Studs

140,000

Jim Bolger

c f Lawman-Indian Express (Indian Ridge)

Ballylinch Stud (Agent)

130,000

Kennycourt Stud

f f Galileo-Trading Places (Dansili)

Osberstown Stud

120,000

BBA Ireland

c f Hurricane Run-Danella (Platini)

Castletown Stud

120,000

BBA Ireland

c f Dalakhani-Grizel (Lion Cavern)

Oghill House Stud

120,000

John Ferguson

Lessons learned Although it could not quite match events in Newmarket a week later, the foal trade held up well. Meanwhile bulk-buying overseas purchasers – most notably Hugo Merry, shopping for India, and Turkish agent Omer Halim Aydin – helped provide a great backbone to the mares’ trade.

stud fees got paid as a result.”

Highlights Aidan O’Brien jointly bred the €200,000 top-priced foal, a first-crop son of Dylan Thomas bought by Hideyuki Mori. Offered from Carriganog Stud, he was bred in partnership by O’Brien, his wife AnneMarie and her father Joe Crowley.

Reaction Hugo Merry: “All 75 mares we got at Goffs were for India. Adding on the ones we bought prior to and after that sale, the number went up to 110. We couldn’t buy anywhere else for India because of CEM regulations this year, so they were a big help to Goffs. It was an average market and we bought a lot of mares that were overcovered – I should think people were very glad to see the Indians there to buy them because

Brian Walsh, who owned the 2007 Grand National hero Silver Birch, got €165,000 for an Azamour colt out of an O’Brien-bred half-sister to Rock Of Gibraltar, consigned from Walsh’s fledgling Rheindross Stud.

Hugo Merry bought an amazing 75, or 25% of the 299 lots sold in the breeding stock section, mainly for India. His purchases totalled €1,672,000, which was 30.8% of the mares’ turnover.

68 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Aidan O’Brien jointly bred the top-priced foal

At the 2008 Goffs breeding stock sale, the company’s major shareholder the Aga Khan consigned five of the top ten lots and sold 31 mares and fillies for €1.72 million, 22% of the whole sale’s turnover. But his impact was more subdued this year, selling 23 lots for €474,500, only 8.7% of the breeding stock turnover.

Darley were easily the most significant breeding stock consignors, selling 49 lots for €1.268m, which amounted to 23.3% of the turnover.

Howard Spooner offered his breeding stock in a supplementary catalogue that included the sale-topper Bon Nuit. In foal to Pivotal, she was knocked down to Goffs auctioneer Clive Gardner, acting for an undisclosed client, for €230,000.

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Keeneland

NOVEMBER

Aggregate $159,727,800 (-13.9%) Average $57,477 (-6.5%) Sold 2,779 (78.4% clearance) Median $20,000 (no change)

Top Lots Horse (age/sex/sire)

Consignor

Price ($)

Buyer

Honest Pursuit (4f Storm Cat)

Eaton Sales

3,100,000

Wertheimer Et Frere

Cotton Blossom (5m Broken Vow)

Eaton Sales

2,300,000

Brushwood Stable

Azeri (11m Jade Hunter)

Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency

2,250,000

Katsumi Yoshida

Summer Raven (7m Summer Squall)

Eaton Sales

1,700,000

Reynolds Bell

Dark Sky (4f Storm Cat)

Eaton Sales

1,300,000

Edward Evans

Wild Poppy (3f El Prado)

Eaton Sales

950,000

Edward Evans

Loves Only Me (3m Storm Cat)

Lane’s End

900,000

Katsumi Yoshida

Sweet And Careless (10m Hennessy)

Brookdale Sales

900,000

Denali Stud

Cloudburst (4m Storm Cat)

Eaton Sales

900,000

Denali Stud

Candlelight (5m Kingmambo)

Eaton Sales

875,000

Vin Cox Bloodstock

Lasting Appeal (6m A P Indy)

Eaton Sales

875,000

WinStar

Lessons learned Like its subsequent counterparts over in Europe, Keeneland’s breeding stock and weanling catalogue was missing obvious stars but, unlike Tattersalls, its figures failed to hold up even with the Overbrook dispersal. The November Sale turnover (and Keeneland’s annual gross) was the lowest since 1996.

Reaction Anthony Stroud: “It won’t go down as a memorable sale and it was a big help to have the Overbrook dispersal. I didn’t get that many, but in hindsight, with what happened in England and France, it probably represented good value. There were a lot of overseas buyers and clearance rates were very high. A lot of the good mares are not coming up for sale as they are

in private hands and people realise it’s much better to hold on to quality at the moment.

Everyone is focussing on a smaller group of five or six top stallions, and to get into them you need to have a decent mare.

That’s definitely changed from a few years ago.”

Fresh from Goldikova’s second Breeders’ Cup success, her owner-breeders Alain and Gerard Wertheimer paid $3.1m for the saletopping Honest Pursuit.

BBA Ireland was the most active European buyer over the two weeks, picking up 11 lots for $2,855,000.

Highlights Storm Cat has provided many of the highpoints at Keeneland in recent years and the dispersal from his home at William Young’s Overbrook Farm provided most of the 2009 November Sale highlights.

Overbrook’s dispersal saw 148 horses sell for $31.76 million, almost a fifth of the whole sale’s turnover. Overbrook – selling through Eaton Sales – were responsible for seven of the top ten lots.

Anthony Stroud: “good value to be had”

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ROA FORUM The special section for ROA members

York voted Racecourse of the Year ROA members put Knavesmire top of the charts to break Newbury’s stranglehold on the prize Members of the Racehorse Owners Association have voted York their Racecourse of the Year, as revealed at the ROA/Sportingbet.com Horseracing Awards evening on December 3 at the London Hilton, Park Lane.

The award has previously been won by Newbury racecourse five times in succession.

William Derby, Chief Executive of York, who received the award on behalf of the executive, said: “On behalf of the York Race Committee and the team at York, we are thrilled and honoured to be voted

William Derby (right) takes the award from Sportingbet’s Andrew McIver

Racecourse of the Year 2009 by members of the ROA. “Racehorse owners are the single biggest investors in

British racing and we are hugely appreciative of their enthusiasm and commitment to the sport and racing at

York. We will continue to invest in prize-money, facilities and the raceday experience to attract the very best horses to run at York.

“During this winter, with the support of the Levy Board, we are investing further in our facilities for owners with a runner at York by increasing the size of our Owners’ Lounge and making it lighter and brighter.”

He added: “We very much value and appreciate the work of the ROA Executive and Council in working with us to help deliver the best of experiences for owners and their horses visiting York.”

New Centre for Racehorse Studies

Cheltenham Festival prices held Don’t delay – book now for your place in the ROA marquee We are delighted to report we will be holding prices for the ROA marquee at the Cheltenham Festival at the same level for the third year running.

Our marquee will be in the usual position at the four days of the Festival, which runs from March 16-19.

Members are invited to book badges for themselves and up to three guests for this perennially popular facility.

The marquee offers an informal base to relax away from the crowds and offers unreserved seating, large TV screens, a cash bar and Totesport betting. A selection of hot and cold food is available to purchase on the day from Catering @ Cheltenham.

This year, marquee badges can be booked at a daily, two-day or four-day rate. The price options are:

ROA marquee prices

All four days

Any two days

Daily

ROA member Guests of ROA member (up to 3)

£80 £125

£50 £75

£27 £38

Please note that badges must be booked in advance. Visit racehorseowners.net or contact the ROA office on 020 7408 0903. Badges for admission into the racecourse can be booked via Cheltenham racecourse by calling 0844 579 3003 or online at cheltenham.co.uk.

70 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

A new Centre for Racehorse Studies has been established by the British Horseracing Authority in collaboration with the British Racing School at Newmarket.

Efforts this year have focussed on setting up, including a purpose-built barn now complete with ten thoroughbred inhabitants, whilst 2010 will see the start of the programme of studies.

Around 95% of the centre’s resource will focus on generating scientific information relating to detection times for routine medication, enabling vets to help trainers treat horses responsibly.

The BHA is to modernise its equine drug testing procedures from January 1 following a review by its Board, and the centre will also fulfil a regulatory function, ensuring that drugs that should not be in a racehorse’s system, e.g. EPO, can be detected.

Lynn Hillyer, Veterinary Adviser at the BHA, said: “We believe racing should be free from the effects of drugs because, by and large, breeding selection is based on performance.”

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ROA FORUM

Totesport-sponsored winners in October

Paul Baker of Usk Valley Stud, winner of the 2009 Stud Staff category

Mr Lu

Ayr

1/10

Dreamwalk

Newmarket

2/10

P D Savill

Handsome Falcon

Wolverhampton

3/10

B Shaw

Lord Aeryn

Epsom

3/10

Mrs H Steel

Hello Nod

Kelso

4/10

Brian Nordan

Methaaly

Warwick

5/10

A Jones

Night Trade

Catterick Bridge

6/10

R J Budge

We Have A Dream

Folkestone

6/10

The Dreaming Squires

Kilt Rock

Kempton Park

8/10

Mrs L M Askew

Watch Out

Worcester

8/10

The Beefeaters

Dunbrody House

Carlisle

9/10

Dundon Else Partnership

Tongalooma

Wolverhampton

9/10

Mrs Jennie Moffatt

Cavingdon

Chepstow

10/10

Roger Allsop

Dantari

Chepstow

10/10

Ian Brice

Ascot

10/10

Ms Aida Fustoq

Wolverhampton

10/10

L. Marinopoulos

Toby Jug

Huntingdon

13/10

Mrs S J Humphrey

Viva Volta

Newmarket

13/10

Mrs L. Irving

Kildare Sun

Wolverhampton

15/10

Mrs Barbara Woodworth

Barizan

Cheltenham

16/10

Peter Conway

More Likely

Kelso

17/10

Mrs A F Tullie

Dingat

Worcester

21/10

Mr & Mrs G Handley & Mr & Mrs T Vesey

Saborido

Bath

21/10

Tracey Cotton James Slade

The History Man

Bath

21/10

D E Simpson & R Farrington Kirkham

Description

Carlisle

22/10

J Stephenson

Essexbridge

Brighton

22/10

Morecombe Elsom Nutley Burnham

Baily Storm

Fakenham

23/10

Chasing Gold Limited

Slip

Stratford

24/10

M Khan X2

*Royal Rock

Vote for your top stud and stable staff The Stud and Stable Staff Awards, which were initiated in 2005 to recognise the achievements of racing’s key staff, will benefit from increased prize-money of £120,000 in 2010.

The awards, sponsored by Godolphin, are run by the British Horseracing Authority in conjunction with the Racing Post, and will take place on March 1, with the nomination period running from January 4 to February 5.

This year, nominations are encouraged from owners, trainers or work colleagues. Short-listed key staff will be invited to meet the judging panel of six influential racing figures on February 28 and to attend the awards the following day, where final category winners will be announced. There are six categories: David Nicholson Newcomer (fewer than five years in industry) Senior Staff/High Achiever (for those who have strived to progress their career within the industry) Rider/Groom Stud Staff Dedication to Racing (more than ten years in the industry) NASS Special Merit (nominated by NASS members, for a NASS member) Each category winner will receive £5,000 and the runner-up £2,000, apart from the new NASS category, where £5,000 is pledged to the winner in special recognition of their efforts.

Category winners, excluding the winner of the Newcomer Award, then go forward for the overall Stud and Stable Staff Employee of the Year Award, boasting a grand prize of £25,000 to be split between winner and yard, together with The Godolphin Trophy, a memento of their success.

Crucially, an identical amount to category winners and runners-up will also be given to the winners’ yards to be shared among the rest of the staff. The NASS Special Merit Award will not include a yard contribution as it is very much focused on the individual winner’s achievements.

Nomination forms and entry details are available from www.britishhorseracing.com/stablestaff or via email, text or phone. Trainers and studs with questions can call Amy Sherman on 020 7152 0115 or email asherman@britishhorseracing.com.

The Greens Committee

Start Right

Rainbow Peak

Newbury

24/10

P D Savill

Persian Run

Wincanton

25/10

Gale Force One

Toby Jug

Wincanton

25/10

Mrs S J Humphrey

Deacon Blues

Leicester

26/10

Jan & Peter Hopper & Michelle Morris

Rowe Park

Southwell

27/10

Mrs Sue Ashdown

Spirit of Conniston

Catterick Bridge

27/10

P O’Gara & N Kelly

Presque Perdre

Haydock Park

28/10

J W Andrews

Wester Ross

Uttoxeter

30/10

Peter Hillman

Nicky Nutjob

Wetherby

30/10

Macniler Racing Partnership

*Deep Purple

Wetherby

31/10

Paul Green

Total runs – 536 Total wins – 38 (*Horses in bold = Group / Graded Winner)

Pictured above inset: Totesport-sponsored Deep Purple, after winning the Grade 2 Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on October 31.

To join the Totesport owner-sponsorship scheme, please email kbrewer@roa.co.uk or call the office on 0207 408 0903.

NEWS IN BRIEF

DIARY DATES

Racecourse Badge Scheme Members who own 50% of a horse in training can now apply; call 020 7408 0903 or visit the ROA website.

January 1 New ROA/RCA car park label takes effect. New Racecourse Badge Scheme for Owners starts.

Appearance Money Scheme From January 1, payments will be £155 for qualified runners on a Sunday, except for Class 7 Flat races excluded from the scheme.

March 16-19 The ROA marquee at the Cheltenham Festival.

June 24 ROA AGM and lunch.

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Racecourse League Table Ptn Racecourse

Racecourse ownership

Exec + Sponsors (£)

% of Total

1 Aintree JCR 2 Cheltenham JCR 3 Ascot I 4 York I 5 Epsom Downs JCR 6 Haydock Park JCR 7 Chester I 8 Goodwood I 9 Doncaster Arena 10 Newmarket * JCR 11 Sandown JCR 12 Hamilton I 13 Ffos Las North 14 Ripon I 15 Musselburgh I 16 Wetherby I 17 Newcastle North 18 Ayr I 19 Salisbury I 20 Sedgefield North 21 Stratford I 22 Beverley I 23 Newbury I 24 Fakenham I 25 Pontefract I 26 Windsor Arena 27 Thirsk I 28 Bath North 29 Leicester I 30 Carlisle JCR 31 Yarmouth North 32 Cartmel I 33 Bangor I 34 Lingfield Arena 35 Wincanton JCR 36 Ludlow I 37 Nottingham JCR 38 Perth I 39 Chesptow North 40 Kempton JCR 41 Market Rasen JCR 42 Redcar I 43 Uttoxeter North 44 Huntingdon JCR 45 Kelso I 46 Fontwell North 47 Hereford North 48 Brighton North 49 Catterick I 50 Taunton I 51 Exeter JCR 52 Folkestone Arena 53 Newton Abbot I 54 Warwick JCR 55 Towcester I 56 Southwell Arena 57 Plumpton I 58 Worcester Arena 59 WolverhamptonArena 60 Hexham I Total

1,652,752 2,801,837 4,507,907 2,041,777 1,191,553 1,266,051 480,147 1,174,931 1,379,098 2,994,179 1,053,813 224,282 117,100 211,040 325,235 229,432 378,917 478,554 216,935 97,068 202,515 175,638 773,483 90,634 202,764 236,486 144,504 143,186 236,769 147,195 136,432 31,670 102,885 605,764 144,607 90,273 106,637 79,462 155,946 587,546 116,693 88,061 104,796 70,034 56,228 81,471 45,638 46,472 51,692 31,911 33,625 29,300 21,911 24,771 17,741 41,535 5,984 5,409 21,581 -60,746 28,096,784

50.1 49.7 43.8 42.6 40.4 33.5 32.1 31.3 29.3 28.1 27.8 27.0 24.9 23.7 23.6 22.9 22.7 22.3 21.7 21.4 21.3 20.7 20.5 20.4 20.1 19.8 19.7 19.4 19.4 16.8 16.2 14.4 14.2 14.1 14.1 13.4 12.9 12.8 12.7 11.8 11.8 10.3 10.3 9.8 9.4 8.4 7.9 7.2 6.3 5.4 4.3 3.6 3.2 3.0 2.8 1.7 1.2 0.8 0.6 -15.6 25.2

Levy Board (£)

In order of racecourses’ percentage contributions to overall prize-money % of Total

Owners (£)

1,185,950 36.0 459,890 1,885,840 33.5 861,987 3,335,140 32.4 2,342,378 1,596,550 33.3 1,116,316 998,360 33.8 737,857 1,917,690 50.7 500,944 887,710 59.3 80,560 1,997,170 53.2 512,426 2,117,720 45.0 1,091,658 3,731,210 35.0 3,742,521 2,212,110 58.3 487,362 513,800 61.9 55,777 309,600 65.7 41,232 583,990 65.5 66,175 911,720 66.2 97,245 665,820 66.6 77,989 1,062,450 63.8 197,695 1,314,480 61.3 295,642 623,180 62.5 84,684 288,480 63.6 55,652 664,870 69.9 66,201 574,590 67.6 62,172 2,283,650 60.6 533,214 352,825 79.6 0 692,640 68.7 63,887 785,250 65.8 120,568 476,840 64.9 79,251 515,667 69.8 67,034 828,987 67.9 95,271 643,400 73.6 83,070 571,720 67.8 100,714 162,360 74.0 25,370 576,510 79.4 40,430 3,150,230 73.5 352,051 750,940 73.3 102,704 536,920 79.5 46,795 539,510 65.1 114,287 488,770 78.9 45,857 877,070 71.6 142,807 3,765,090 75.5 459,858 774,595 78.6 88,883 534,200 62.6 221,739 763,780 75.0 138,847 558,510 78.1 74,755 499,200 83.6 32,478 789,750 81.3 94,471 464,630 79.9 67,602 529,070 81.7 66,035 677,923 82.1 64,821 509,090 85.4 38,987 625,310 80.3 82,201 698,790 85.3 83,070 627,240 93.0 5,264 664,330 81.6 94,857 561,815 88.1 56,210 2,094,070 88.0 195,410 462,040 91.7 31,730 588,062 83.3 84,096 2,979,930 87.9 303,423 398,480 102.5 44,266 63,520,623 57.0 17,396,177

% of Total

Total 2008/9 (£)

Total 2007/8 (£)

% total Up/ 2007/8 down

13.9 3,298,592 3,273,598 15.3 5,633,664 6,042,174 22.8 10,292,925 9,951,985 23.3 4,791,143 1,995,325 25.0 2,952,770 2,965,662 13.3 3,778,935 3,147,345 5.4 1,497,417 1,510,940 13.7 3,752,527 3,832,910 23.2 4,710,476 4,528,115 35.1 10,650,410 11,182,239 12.8 3,794,785 3,786,718 6.7 830,359 823,744 8.8 470,932 N/A 7.4 892,205 792,366 7.1 1,377,700 1,189,425 7.8 1,000,241 872,988 11.9 1,665,612 1,405,632 13.8 2,143,976 2,043,004 8.5 997,499 957,818 12.3 453,600 544,746 7.0 951,086 865,124 7.3 849,650 849,115 14.2 3,768,347 4,688,977 0 443,459 338,500 6.3 1,008,791 866,664 10.1 1,193,304 1,127,677 10.8 734,195 632,050 9.1 738,886 678,639 7.8 1,220,026 1,345,902 9.5 873,665 661,400 12.0 842,966 753,942 11.6 219,400 203,383 5.6 726,325 696,700 8.2 4,287,995 3,612,217 10.0 1,024,251 1,100,614 6.9 675,488 699,784 13.8 828,934 691,927 7.4 619,089 677,900 11.7 1,225,323 1,091,360 9.2 4,984,044 4,628,093 9.0 985,671 924,800 26.0 854,000 876,300 13.6 1,018,423 1,055,200 10.5 715,299 741,646 5.4 597,406 696,414 9.7 971,692 776,963 11.6 581,170 370,753 10.2 647,877 569,025 7.9 825,436 722,542 6.5 596,438 541,615 10.6 778,636 958,033 10.1 819,160 763,142 0.8 674,715 604,666 11.7 814,208 1,123,634 8.8 637,766 564,500 8.2 2,378,715 1,954,500 6.3 503,754 550,403 11.9 705,566 626,214 9.0 3,391,434 2,884,947 11.4 388,800 333,100 15.6 111,510,035 106,404,204

50.4 M 52.4 M 46.5 M 37.9 L 39.1 L 29.1 L 37.9 M 38.4 M 34.0 M 30.7 M 34.2 M 38.7 M N/A N/A 30.0 M 25.4 M 17.3 L 33.3 M 27.8 M 26.1 M 4.9 L 25.4 M 20.6 L 30.6 M 21.9 M 23.9 M 27.3 M 32.4 M 30.4 M 17.7 L 27.7 M 26.5 M 16.4 M 16.3 M 19.7 M 18.2 M 13.4 14.7 M 15.1 M 19.8 M 17.5 M 15.9 M 16.5 M 10.9 M 10.1 M 16.6 M 14.2 M 1.6 L 15.6 M 9.7 M 13.0 M 12.7 M 14.1 M 6.7 M 18.4 M 7.6 M 3.1 M 7.2 M 2.0 M -1.3 L 26.4 M 28.9 M

Figures relate to prize-money for the 12-month period December 1, 2008 to November 30, 2009

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. 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 (*July Course)

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TBA FORUM The special section for TBA members

TBA Awards 2009 Statistical Winners

200 9

Words Alan Yuill Walker

Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms was the leading British breeder

PHOTOS: ©T.JONES/MALCOLM COUZENS

Oasis Dream’s domestic earnings were £2.86 million in 2009

Pivotal won the Barleythorpe Cup for the fifth time in six years

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QUEEN’S SILVER CUP Juddmonte Farms

although that achievement is not relevant to this award.

This award relates to the leading British-based breeder in terms of prize-money won in Britain and Ireland. Juddmonte Farms recorded 61 winners of 95 races, amassing £2,342,000, whereas Darley’s corresponding figures were 115 winners of 174 races, earning £2,305,000.

These figures (courtesy of Weatherbys) are confined to animals which carry either a GB or an IRE suffix, but this is only part of the story. An international operation the size of Juddmonte, with a strong racing and breeding foothold in the US, has a constant stream of horses moving across the Atlantic.

This scenario is exemplified

by Champs Elysees, the latest stallion recruit to join the elite band of stallions at Banstead Manor Stud. The produce of two homebred parents, he is

by Danehill out of the celebrated Hasili, and was trained originally in France before being sent to race in America. But his achievements in the States during 2009 have no bearing on this award.

Prince Khalid Abdullah’s principal flagbearers were the Group 1 scorers Midday, winner of the Nassau Stakes and runner-up in the Oaks to British-bred Sariska, Champion Stakes victor Twice Over, and Special Duty, who destroyed her field in the Cheveley Park Stakes. Midday,

by Banstead sire Oasis Dream, proceeded to give Henry Cecil a first Breeders’ Cup victory in the Filly & Mare Turf,

BBA SILVER CIGAR BOX Oasis Dream

The most prolific British-based stallion in terms of awards during the 1990s was Green Desert and now his son, Oasis Dream, is making a great name for himself, winning this award for leading British-based sire by earnings.

Successful in the July Cup, the Banstead Manor Stud resident gets stock that stay far better than he did and amongst his 2009 representatives was Prince Khalid Abdullah’s homebred filly Midday, who concluded a marvellous season by winning at the Breeders’ Cup. Oasis Dream’s domestic earnings were the fourth highest overall at £2.86 million, with an excellent percentage of two-year-old winners.

BARLEYTHORPE CUP Pivotal

With 78 individual winners, Pivotal wins this award for the fifth time in the last six years, ahead of his son and stud companion Kyllachy, and Oasis Dream, each of whom recorded 69 individual winners.

Homebred by the Thompsons at their Cheveley Park Stud, Pivotal has proved a sire sensation and his qualifying Group 1 scorers during 2009 comprised dual Oaks heroine Sariska, Cheveley Park-bred Virtual, who won the Lockinge Stakes and joins his sire at Cheveley Park for

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the 2010 covering season, and Haydock Sprint Cup scorer Regal Parade.

TATTERSALLS’ SILVER SALVER Dubawi

Not only did Sheikh Mohammed win this award for leading British-based first season sire with Dubawi, who stands at his Dalham Hall Stud, but the stallion finished runner-up in the overall list of new sires to Shamardal, who stands at Kildangan Stud, the Sheikh’s corresponding establishment in Ireland.

Belonging to the one and only crop of foals conceived at Dalham by his ill-fated sire Dubai Millennium, Dubawi is another homebred. He recorded a magnificent Group 2 juvenile double at the Doncaster St Leger meeting with homebred Poet’s Voice (Champagne Stakes) and Sand Vixen (Flying Childers Stakes).

Sheikh Mohammed’s Dubawi was the leading British-based first season sire

WHITBREAD SILVER SALVER Kayf Tara

Kayf Tara’s progeny earned in excess of £680,000 during the 2008/09 season, enabling him to take the award for leading active British-based jump sire relating to earnings. He also features among the top dozen jump stallions in the UK. A dual Ascot Gold Cup winner, the son of Sadler’s Wells, bred by Meon Valley Stud, boards at Overbury in Gloucestershire on behalf of Darley. His best winners included the Grade 2 scorers Carruthers and Kornati Kid. HORSE & HOUND CUP Overbury

Bred at the famous Eyrefield Stud on the Curragh (his eighth dam is the stud’s celebrated foundation mare

Kayf Tara topped the jump stallions table with his offspring winning over £680,000 in 2008/09

Pretty Polly), Overbury, winner of the Whitbread Silver Salver last year, takes this award for the leading active British-based jump sire for individual chase winners.

Although he has sired good Flat winners, his real forte is in the jumping firmament and in 2008/09 he sired 16 individual chase winners of 27 races, earning £237,626. *Flat awards cover the period from January 1 to November 7, 2009. The jump awards relate to the 2008/09 season.

Horse & Hound Cup winner Overbury with Richard Kent of Mickley Stud

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Best of British NH sires The TBA’s annual parade of elite British-based jump stallions at Cheltenham

Act One

Beat All

Double Trigger

Grape Tree Road

Victory Note

Tobougg

Midnight Legend

Helissio

‘The event provided breeders with the ideal opportunity to view stallions at one venue’ Lucarno

Kayf Tara

ow in its eighth year at Cheltenham, the TBA National Hunt Stallion Parade attracted breeders and enthusiasts alike around the parade ring, to see some of the country’s leading British based EBF-qualified stallions.

The event provided the ideal opportunity for mare owners to view and compare prospective stallions at one venue, and afterwards take the opportunity to talk directly to the stallions’ connections in the TBA marquee, which was well supported during the day.

The large crowd watching enjoyed the complimentary booklet, kindly compiled by Weatherbys GSB, giving further details of the

N

76 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Indian Danehill

stallions, as well as the excellent commentaries throughout the parade by Henry Beeby and Stephen Hadley.

A silent auction of nominations, generously donated by the stallions’ connections to the TBA to further its National Hunt initiatives, was well supported, with half the nominations being sold on the day.

To purchase any of the remaining nominations, please contact Pauline Stoddart at Stanstead House.

The TBA is grateful for the continued support of the British European Breeders’ Fund, British Bloodstock Marketing and Doncaster Bloodstock Sales, who again kindly donated the stallion handlers’ jackets.

STUD & STABLE STAFF AWARDS 2010 Nominations now open The 2010 Stud and Stable Staff Awards, sponsored by Godolphin, provide a great opportunity for key staff to receive industry recognition and earn a share of the prize-money pot, which this year has increased to £120,000.

The awards will take place on March 1 and the nomination period for the six categories runs from January 4 to February 5.

Further information can be found on page 71.

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Next Generation Committee Words Jane Headley Just over a year ago, TBA Chairman Kirsten Rausing gathered together a selection of the brightest young talent in the bloodstock industry. Their mission was to address the issue of the ageing profile of the TBA membership. The task seemed daunting in light of the looming recession and uncertain times ahead.

In hindsight, the timing could not have been better. The entire British racing and breeding industry had been forced to take stock, and a long hard look at itself. Initial findings of the committee revealed there was indeed a dearth of TBA supporters in the sub-35 age group.

Canvassing of committee members’ peers revealed a general apathy and ignorance of the role carried out by the TBA. Regional days were well supported, but the young were conspicuous by their absence.

Not so at the recent Cheltenham Countryside day, however. On a damp and drizzly Friday in November, the Cotswolds venue was crammed with the young and trendy country set, turned out immaculately and enjoying some top class jumps action.

The Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester had sent not one but two bus loads of budding racing enthusiasts. There is an appetite for racing, of that there can be no doubt. One might argue that a number are there to be seen, but whilst this may be true at Royal Ascot in June, it’s hard to accept that such huge numbers would tackle the elements for anything other than a genuine interest in the sport and the lifestyle which comes with it.

How, then, do we harness this energy and turn these people into the breeders of the future?

Setting up in the first place requires capital and it is a fact of life that for the majority of sub-35s the strains on the finances leaves little spare cash to invest in broodmares. In any case, pre-credit crunch, was it not true that the biggest problem facing the bloodstock industry was that of overproduction?

Should we really be encouraging more people to breed racehorses?

The task of the Next Generation Committee must be to ensure that the next generation of breeders are well educated, well informed and well supported, to ensure the UK’s survival at the forefront of a global industry. It is the responsibility of each and every person with a vested interest in the bloodstock business to reach out to the young people in their world and encourage them in the right direction.

Over the course of the last year, the NGC has begun to put in place some infrastructure to facilitate the revolution. Central to this will be the Next Generation Club. The club will aim to educate newcomers about the industry, provide a social meeting place and facilitate the development of relationships between likeminded individuals.

So far, through the TBA, the NGC have had two days at the races this year, and next year the club members will be able to attend various events around the country. Starting at grass roots level, the TBA has made links with Pony Clubs and in the summer of 2010 aims to have days across the country where the children can learn about the industry.

Caroline Turnbull, the TBA Employment & Education Manager, makes regular trips to equine colleges to talk about the work of the TBA and the potential careers within the racing and breeding industries. The NGC have made links with universities, some of which have their own racing clubs. It is hoped that these sources will yield the foundations of the Next Generation Club.

Racing, and in particular the bloodstock sector, has a unique selling point in the face of competition from other sports in that it offers the opportunity of real hands-on involvement to anyone, of any age, regardless of athletic ability. Anyone can live the dream.

Those of you who have done just that owe it to your industry to spread the word and bring through the next generation.

Anyone who would like to be involved with the Next Generation Club should email their details to Samantha Knight at the TBA office: samantha@thetba.co.uk.

DIARY DATES Monday, February 1 – Friday, February 5 The Racing Industry Course Guest speakers will include Nic Coward, Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority, former France-Galop Director General Louis Romanet and top journalist and broadcaster Brough Scott. For further information contact Ginny Lancaster on 01638 665103, or visit www.brstric.com Thursday, February 4 TBA Stallion Parade, Tattersalls, Newmarket The TBA is delighted to be able to announce that it will be managing the Annual Stallion Parade in conjunction with Tattersalls. The parade will precede the start of the February Sale. For further information, please contact Pauline Stoddart at the TBA on 01638 661321, or email pauline@thetba.co.uk Monday, March 1 Godolphin Annual Awards Monday, June 28 TBA Awards and Dinner Tuesday, June 29 TBA AGM, followed by the TBA Annual Seminar Further details will be sent to all TBA members in due course.

TBA NEW MEMBERS T Greig Esq, Worcestershire.

Ms J Moffatt, Cumbria. E Briggs Esq, Lancashire. Miss P Zygmant, Leicestershire. R Alford Esq, Devon. G Barrett Esq, Dyfed. R Holt Esq, Suffolk.

Mr & Mrs P Luff, Berkshire. I Hancock Esq, Surrey. T Bendelow Esq, Surrey. Mrs P Pattinson, Northumberland. S Matheson Esq, West Sussex. R Fear Esq, Wiltshire. S Thomson Esq, Berwickshire. B Dolan Esq, Co Meath, Eire.

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Breeders’ Prizes Based on dates money was paid

National Hunt HBLB Breeders’ Prizes worth £520 or more Breeder Mr C G M Lloyd-Baker D T and A T Goldsworthy Bricklow Ltd P D and Mrs Player G Brown Mrs R H Brown Mrs Kathy Stuart The Woodhaven Stud Mr J D Spensley & Mrs M A Spensley R W Russell Ian Low Mr R M Fear P Murphy A Briscoe & Mrs G Meacham Downfield Cottage Stud N and Mrs S Cook M Ramshaw R D Chugg & C M A Aston Mr & Mrs R D Chugg

Prize (£) 10,000 5,200 *4,000 *4,000 2,600 2,600 2,600 2,600 2,600 *2,120 1,500 1,300 1,300 *1,040 *1,040 750 750 *600 *520

Horse Planet Of Sound Wychwoods Legend Deep Purple Khyber Kim Silver By Nature Busker Royal Bertie May Psychomodo My Arch Santia Like Minded Midnight Queen Carole’s Legacy Awesome George Ryde Back Birch Hill Bedouin Benny Be Good Alegralil Finney

Sire Kayf Tara Midnight Legend Halling Mujahid Silver Patriarch Shahrastani Terimon Mark Of Esteem Silver Patriarch Kahyasi Kayf Tara Midnight Legend Sir Harry Lewis Exit To Nowhere Bob Back Nomadic Way Benny The Dip King’s Theatre Supreme Leader

Dam Date Herald The Dawn 03/11/09 Miss Millbrook 01/11/09 Seal Indigo 31/10/09 Jungle Rose 15/11/09 Gale 01/11/09 Close Harmony 17/11/09 Kalogy 20/11/09 En Vacances 20/11/09 My Desire 22/11/09 Santana Lady 31/10/09 Sun Dante 02/11/09 Panda Shandy 06/11/09 Carole’s Crusader 19/11/09 Awesome Aunt 20/11/09 Knight Ryde 21/11/09 Biddles 29/10/09 Hembane 10/11/09 Lucy Glitters 05/11/09 Haudello 30/10/09

Course Exeter Huntingdon Wetherby Cheltenham Carlisle Fakenham Exeter Ascot Musselburgh Wetherby Kempton Fontwell Wincanton Ascot Huntingdon Newcastle Sedgefield Towcester Uttoxeter

*second tier (40% of breeder’s prize)

Flat HBLB Breeders’ Prizes worth £500 or more Breeder Highclere Stud

Prize (£) 4,200 Mrs M L Parry & Mr P M Steele-Mortimer 3,400 Normandie Stud Ltd Exors Of The Late Mr A Smith Cheveley Park Stud Limited

2,800 2,700 2,600

S A Douch D and J Raeburn Bloomsbury Stud Whatton Manor Stud Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd Whitsbury Manor Stud Miss B Swire W N Greig

2,100 1,500 1,500 1,400 1,400 1,400 1,200 1,200

Pendley Farm Minster Enterprises Ltd A C Birkle Ptarmigan Bloodstock Limited Raffin Bloodstock G E Amey Darley J Baker E Aldridge Whitsbury Manor Stud

1,000 1,000 800 800 800 800 800 700 700 500

Horse Charm School Tinshu

Based on dates money was paid

Sire Dam Dubai Destination Eve Fantastic Light Ring Of Esteem

Date 07/11/09 04/11/09 13/11/09 Queen Of Pentacles Selkirk Maid To Perfection 07/11/09 Merchant Of Dubai Dubai Destination Chameleon 20/11/09 Spinning Pivotal Starring 09/11/09 Commissionaire Medicean Appointed One 27/10/09 Perfect Vision Starcraft Auspicious 28/10/09 Lucky Punt Auction House Sweet Coincidence 27/10/09 Chookie Hamilton Compton Place Lady of Windsor 13/11/09 Wicked Daze Generous Thrilling Day 14/11/09 Take It To The Max Bahamian Bounty Up And About 31/10/09 Sirocco Breeze Green Desert Baldemosa 29/10/09 Gilt Edge Girl Monsieur Bond Tahara 16/11/09 Queen’s Grace Bahamian Bounty Palace Affair 30/10/09 Earlsmedic Dr Fong Area Girl 19/11/09 21/11/09 Jordaura Primo Valentino Christina’s Dream 07/11/09 Doric Lady Kyllachy Tanasie 14/11/09 Jupiter Fidius Haafhd Kyda 28/10/09 Quick Wit Oasis Dream Roo 30/10/09 Adventure Story Bold Edge Birthday Venture 07/11/09 Kumbeshwar Doyen Camp Fire 03/11/09 Padmini Tiger Hill Petrushka 29/10/09 Rowe Park Dancing Spree Magic Legs 27/10/09 Green Manalishi Green Desert Silca-Cisa 01/11/09 Ektimaal Bahamian Bounty Secret Circle 05/11/09

Course Doncaster Kempton Lingfield Doncaster Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Yarmouth Kempton Southwell Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Newmarket Lingfield Park Wolverhampton Newmarket Kempton Kempton Doncaster Lingfield Musselburgh Newmarket Doncaster Catterick Lingfield Southwell Lingfield Lingfield

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BREEDER OF THE MONTH November/December Sponsored by Blue Chip Feed Ltd

Breeder of the Month

Jean Wood

Words Alan Yuill Walker As the winner of the £100,000 Timeform Betfair ‘Fixed Brush’ Handicap Hurdle at Haydock on his seasonal debut, Diamond Harry has won the late Jean Wood November’s Breeder of the Month award.

Wood was a sister of another staunch supporter of jump racing in John Sumner of Marston St Lawrence, near Banbury, where his daughter Lady Richard Wellesley now runs a highly successful yearling stud – it was Joanna’s late mother, Heather, who started breeding for the Flat.

The Sumners owned two talented half-brothers in Well To Do and Royal Marshal II, but Heather Sumner died the year before Well To Do’s 1972 Grand National triumph.

John Sumner and Wood were brought up on showing, hunting and racing. Wood excelled in the show-ring, invariably riding side-saddle.

In the 1960s she was associated with Princes Grace and Urney Road, both champions at Dublin.

Diamond Harry could head for the World Hurdle after his win at Haydock

Like her brother, she had horses with Tim Forster and his successor, Henry Daly.

Her ‘green, yellow sleeves, pale blue cap’, were carried by two Cheltenham Festival winners in Maamur (1996 National Hunt Chase) and Palarshan (2003 Grand Annual Chase).

Robert Chugg of Little Lodge Farm, who previously owned Diamond Harry’s dam Swift Conveyance, said: “I knew Mrs Wood over a long period of time; she was always a tremendous enthusiast.

“She maintained her interest right up to the time of her death in January 2006, when she was in her eighties and she

used to come over here regularly once a week with a bottle of dry sherry and proceed to help me drink it!

“She fell in love with Swift Conveyance and bought her from me. By Strong Gale from

the family of Drumlargan, she had scored twice over hurdles.

“At that stage her progeny had not had time to prove themselves on the racecourse, but the family promptly went to sleep until Diamond Harry came along.”

Chugg will receive six sacks of Blue Chip Original feed balancer for broodmares and young stock, and some Blue Chip clothing.

Diamond Harry was due to go chasing this season, but his victory at Haydock under top weight has led to a re-think.

The World Hurdle is now on the agenda.

Left to right: Amy Murphy, Ian Bare, Paul and Jane Murphy

Carole’s Legacy won the first qualifier of the season in the EBF/TBA Mares’ Novices’ Steeple Chase Series at Wincanton on November 19. Winning connections were presented with their award by TBA representative Ian Bare.

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VETS FORUM: THE EXPERT VIEW Self-inflicted injuries

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Flesh wounds are a regular occurrence with horses; rapid examination by a vet is crucial to determine the extent of the injury and prescribe appropriate treatment Words James Tate BVMS MRCVS orses injure themselves with alarming regularity.

Whether it is due to the horse’s flight response, intelligence levels, athletic work, or just the natural exuberance of a fit athlete, it is astounding how often the horse manages to break its skin barrier and shed blood.

Sometimes the injury in question is no more than a superficial skin graze that simply requires cleaning; however, other wounds can be much more serious and even threaten a horse’s life.

H

It is crucial to examine a wound very closely before deciding on what action should be taken.

Horse owners are often overly concerned with obvious signs such as the size of the wound and how much blood there is, rather than deciding whether important structures are involved. For example, a small wound might seem insignificant when it is actually very serious because it penetrates a joint.

Conversely, a large wound on the horse’s body might not be as serious as it appears

because no vital structures are involved, and healing will be straightforward because the area has a good blood supply.

Time is of the essence

The most vital part of wound care is rapid inspection and accurate assessment of the damage. Veterinary textbooks talk of a six- to eight-hour ‘golden period’ within which a wound can be cleaned and stitched or stapled, and it is during this period that appropriate early treatment can prevent a wound from getting out of control.

The filly in the photograph above banged her head on the wall and appeared to have suffered only a relatively minor wound. However, the wound did not heal and a subsequent x-ray revealed a deep wound cavity (see how deep the metal probe penetrates) and two large chip fractures from the base of her skull. The filly had surgery to remove the chip fractures and she made a full recovery

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This initial examination is also crucial in assessing other potentially more serious injuries such as a fracture, controlling bleeding and taking appropriate steps depending on the individual wound.

No two wounds are the same – different wounds require different approaches, from the superficial graze in need of cleaning, to the skin flap in need of stitching, to the joint penetration that must be flushed clean under general anaesthesia as soon as possible.

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A fresh wound on a horse’s pastern. This was assessed, cleaned and stitched within half an hour, and hence it healed very quickly

A dirty, contaminated wound found on the chest of a horse who had been turned out in a field. Despite being in a good place away from any vital structures and having good blood supply, this wound took nearly one month to fully heal

Wound healing

There are four stages to wound healing: inflammation, debridement, repair and maturation. Following the initial injury there is a natural inflammatory reaction and formation of a clot or scab.

The wound then produces a discharge that attracts white blood cells to clean and debride it, so that it can repair itself.

The speed of repair varies by the individual wound. When the wound has become fully covered, maturation takes place. During this final stage the wound fines down to its end size and appearance, but this may take several months.

There are four types of repair: fibroplasia, granulation, epithelialisation and, finally,

wound contraction. These types of repair occur during the healing of a wound, but each is more prevalent at different stages.

Fibroplasia is the formation of fibrous tissue to strengthen the wound and is vital in the initial stages of wound repair.

The formation of granulation tissue covers a wound deficit and hence is also crucial in the early stages of wound repair.

A healthy bed of granulation tissue provides the perfect platform for epithelialisation, which is the growth of a new layer of skin (epithelium) to cover a skin deficit, but this type of repair is very slow.

Finally, wound contraction occurs by independent epithelialisation from the edges of the skin deficit.

Wounds do want to heal but there are many factors that stop them from doing so: infection, foreign matter, dead tissue, movement, continued trauma, poor blood supply, tissue deficits, the health status of the horse, local factors such as tension, tumour transformation, and what is called ‘proud flesh’.

All of these factors must be considered when deciding on the best way to treat an individual wound. Therapy should be reconsidered regularly, as what is the correct therapy for a wound in the initial stages may not be the correct thing to do in the latter stages of wound healing.

For example, it is usually advisable to limit the movement of a horse who has just suffered a wound, particularly if the wound has been repaired using stitches or staples. However, if the area becomes too inflamed and swollen, then exercise may be commenced in order to reduce the swelling.

Proud flesh

The formation of granulation tissue is a normal, healthy type of repair for a wound.

Granulation tissue or ‘proud flesh’ on an upper cannon bone wound.

As the granulation tissue has become proud of the skin around it, it is inhibiting wound healing because it is providing a physical obstruction to wound contraction

However, the overproduction of granulation tissue is termed proud flesh and is particularly important in the horse – in fact, it hardly occurs in any other species. When granulation tissue becomes proud of the skin around it, this inhibits wound healing by providing a physical obstruction to wound contraction.

When or if the wound finally heals, an ugly ‘proud’ lump will be left as a result. The lack of blood supply in the horse’s lower limb is a major cause of proud flesh and hence it is most commonly seen in wounds lower than the hock or knee. The overproduction of granulation tissue is also stimulated by excessive movement, infection, certain ointments and the absence of a bandage.

Healing by first or second intention

Wounds can heal by first or second intention. Healing by first intention is when a wound is stitched or stapled, which is possible only when the injury is fresh and the skin edges have good blood supply. Healing by second intention occurs when there is a large skin deficit and the wound cannot be stitched or stapled. This is much slower than healing by first intention.

With regard to primary wound closure, the easiest method is the insertion of stainless steel staples, but unfortunately staples can be used on wounds only where there is little tension.

For more major wounds stitches should be used. Prior to the repair, the area must be desensitised using local anaesthetic and the veterinary surgeon must decide whether to use absorbable sutures or sutures that need to be removed, and they must also choose from a variety of >> stitching patterns.

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An example of a lower eyelid wound that was repaired using stitches and which healed quickly by first intention

>>

Healing by second intention relies on the four types of repair described. Fibroplasia strengthens the wound and granulation tissue covers the skin deficit so that the wound can contract through independent epithelialisation.

Some consider overgranulation, or proud flesh, as the enemy of this type of healing because it provides a physical obstruction to wound contraction and epithelialisation. As a result, careful thought must be given as to what substances are applied to the wound, whether it is bandaged and, if so, how often the bandage is changed.

Dressing wounds

All wounds should be cleaned carefully but if the wound is to be stitched or stapled, this is particularly important as debris and dirt could be trapped inside. Whether the area around the wound should be clipped or shaved is open to debate, as although a clipped area of skin may be preferable to a very hairy area, contaminating the wound with cut, dirty hair is highly undesirable.

After the wound has been repaired or the decision has been made that the wound cannot be stitched or stapled, then the next step is to dress the wound. Most wounds

occur on the horse’s lower limb and so dressing them and applying a bandage is straightforward. The aim of the dressing is to provide the best conditions for healing.

The first layer of the dressing is crucial as it provides the healing environment. Most dressings use a non-adherent contact layer (for example Melonin® or Allevyn®) along with an ointment. This is then followed by various layers of padding or support, depending on the amount of immobilisation required and, finally, a layer to withstand the external environment – rain, mud and a horse’s teeth!

disinfectants will cause harm.

Wound ‘hydrogels’ are the safest ointments to apply to wounds, especially in the early stages, but there are several other ointments on the market that are helpful, such as silver sulfadiazine cream (Flamazine®), which prevents infection and also seems to encourage healing.

Occasionally, a wound that is healing by second intention may threaten to produce too much granulation tissue and turn ‘proud’, and it is these wounds that can benefit from an ointment that contains a small amount of corticosteroid.

“Small wounds can be much more significant than they initially appear”

The wound above is healing by second intention and illustrates some of the types of wound repair. There is healthy granulation tissue in the centre of the wound and wound contraction is occurring slowly but steadily by independent epithelialisation

Bandages are initially changed daily but as time goes by they are left on for longer and may be changed twice per week, before being dispensed with. These bandage changes allow for monitoring of healing as well as looking for pain, swelling, discharge and the changing nature of the healing tissue. They also help the veterinary surgeon determine the necessity for antibiotics or antiinflammatory drugs.

It is best to clean a wound with saline; it is acceptable to clean a wound with water, but cleaning it with strong

Summary

Wounds must be examined quickly and carefully. Small wounds can be much more significant than they initially appear and large wounds are sometimes not as serious as they seem. In an ideal world all wounds would be attended by a vet immediately, so that they are treated appropriately and stitched or stapled if possible.

However, in reality, wounds are often found several hours after they occur and the tissue deficit is too large for repair.

Careful consideration must be given to the treatment so that they heal as quickly as possible.

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CAULFIELD FILES Andrew Caulfield reports on the bloodstock world

Females as deadly as males If anyone had any doubts that 2009 has been the year of the female, they should take a look at the World Thoroughbred Rankings to November 8.

While Sea The Stars is in splendid isolation, fillies or mares rank second, jointfourth and joint-sixth, thanks to Goldikova, Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra. Vodka was 37th but will have earned promotion by becoming the first female since 1989 to win the Japan Cup, on November 29. It wasn’t the first time she had proved too hot to handle pitched in against the males.

Her CV also features wins in the 2007 Japanese Derby, the 2008 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and the 2008 and 2009 editions of the Yasuda Kinen.

She has won seven Group 1s in Japan, including at least one in each of the four seasons she has been in training, and she was 2008 Horse of the Year.

In a Japanese industry where five of 2009’s top seven stallions are sons of Sunday Silence, it is surprising Vodka’s

PHOTO: GEORGE SELWYN

Vodka, Goldikova, Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra just a few from the fairer sex to shine in ’09

Goldikova’s second victory in the Breeders’ Cup Mile ensured her place at the top table

Vodka comes from the branch descending from Hail To Reason’s Epsom Derby winner Roberto. She is by Tanino Gimlet, the youngest of three Japanese Derby winners sired

by Roberto’s Florida Derby winner Brian’s Time.

Incidentally, Roberto is also the grandsire of Symboli Kris S, who ranks fourth behind three sons of Sunday Silence on Japan’s leading sires’ list.

“While Sea The Stars is in splendid isolation, fillies or mares rank second, joint-fourth and joint-sixth” pedigree doesn’t contain this ubiquitous stallion. Neither does that of Oken Bruce Lee, the 2008 Japanese St Leger winner who very nearly caught Vodka on the line in Tokyo.

Even so, Vodka is another illustration of the way that the Hail To Reason male line still dominates Japanese racing.

Whereas Sunday Silence was a Kentucky Derby winner by Hail To Reason’s son Halo,

There are a couple of British links in Vodka’s pedigree, the first being her broodmare sire Rousillon, a former resident of the National Stud. The son of Riverman carried the Abdullah colours to victories in the 1985 Queen Anne Stakes, Sussex Stakes and Prix du Moulin, and was syndicated at £120,000 a share. Hopes he would prove a major asset to the National Stud proved wide

of the mark and Rousillon had been dispatched to Japan by the time he enjoyed his finest moments, with that remarkable Irish stayer Vintage Crop and the high-class American turf horse Fastness.

Riverman was more effective as a sire of broodmares than as a sire of sires and Rousillon has done respectably as a broodmare sire, his Britishsired daughters being responsible for Myboycharlie, Winker Watson and Norse Dancer. Two of these commence stallion duties in Britain in 2010, Prix Morny winner Myboycharlie at the National Stud and Winker Watson Norman Court Stud.

The second British link in Vodka’s pedigree comes via her second dam Energy Tosho, a grand-daughter of Tesco Boy, who carried the colours of Jack Cohen, the founder of the supermarket group. Indeed, he carried them with distinction in 1966, when he won the Queen Anne Stakes and finished a close third in the Champion Stakes.

Tesco Boy was syndicated to stand at Simmonstown Stud in Ireland but was sold to Japan after only one season.

His vendors had reason to regret his sale, as his small Irish crop contained several smart performers, such as Super Honey, Rotisserie, Jungle Boy and What’s A Name.

Tesco Boy did even better in his new base, to the extent he became the dominant force in Japanese breeding. He was champion sire six times during the 1970s and 1980s, before Northern Taste spearheaded the Northern Dancer invasion.

Two of Tesco Boy’s stallion sons, Tosho Boy and Sakura Yutaka O, made their mark, and Tosho Boy sired Vodka’s second dam.

Myboycharlie: stallion duties time

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Top jump sires in less demand

Arc winner Sagamix is now a jumps stallion at Overbury Stud

Linamix sons set to shine It is nearly eight years since Linamix’s son Valiramix suffered a fatal accident when seemingly on the brink of crushing the opposition in the Champion Hurdle.

Although none of Linamix’s other sons have since matched Valiramix’s excellence over jumps, there have been some smart performers among them and now there are a growing number of Linamix stallions whose careers are geared to the jumping industries in Britain and France.

The latest recruit is the 1998 Arc winner Sagamix, who has been transferred from Haras du Logis to join the very successful Kayf Tara at Overbury Stud. Sagamix has been a disappointment as a Flat sire but it could be a different story over jumps.

His French runners include Listed winners Wild Queen (over fences) and Nickelle (over hurdles), and he also has some promising youngsters in Britain and Ireland, including Flat Out, who recently won two bumpers for Willie Mullins, and Royal Mix, who made a winning debut over hurdles for Paul Nicholls at the end of November.

Linamix is already represented in England by another Group 1-winning son in Fair Mix. This Shade Oak resident had three three-year-olds sell for £23,000 or more at Doncaster in May, so it shouldn’t be long before the winners start to flow over hurdles.

Linamix’s Prix du Cadran winner Reefscape had problems which resulted in his being returned to training, but Reefscape’s older brother Martaline is being billed as an “ideal dual purpose stallion in Normandy,” where he has covered over 600 mares in his first five seasons. Martaline’s first foals were born in 2006 and he has already notched up his first Grade 3 victory over jumps, thanks to his daughter Nikoline, a winner over hurdles at Auteuil.

Martaline’s second-crop two-year-olds include a couple of stakes performers, so it would be no surprise to see him develop into a favourite with importers looking for quickmaturing French jumping stock. Fragrant Mix, part of the French National Stud team, has also had winning jumpers in the UK. Cherry Mix, another Group 1-winning son of Linamix, departed to Russia, while Vahorimix proved sub-fertile. Dual Prix Royal-Oak winner Amilynx returned from Saudi Arabia to stand a few seasons as a jump sire in Ireland, leaving the burden of carrying on the Linamix line on the Flat to Slickly.

Although Slickly is still awaiting his first Group 1 winner, with four crops of racing age, he enjoyed a rewarding 2009. In fact, Slickly wasn’t far behind Linamix on France’s leading sires’ table to early December, with the pair ranking fourth and fifth.

The worldwide economic downturn caused an instant reaction in the bloodstock world, judging by the figures published in the Return of Mares for 2009.

The National Hunt sector, which had been prone to over-production, saw a pronounced fall in demand for even the most popular stallions.

The figures – with the number of mares covered in 2008 being followed by the 2009 total – include Milan (330 in 2008, 233 in 2009), Flemensfirth (292, 225), Kayf Tara (276, 247), Westerner (276, 183), Presenting (261, 221), Oscar (251, 144) and Scorpion (213, 187). One which bucked the trend was Cooldine’s sire Beneficial (220 in 2008, 257 in 2009).

However, demand for many of the higher-priced Flat stallions held up well, with such as Pivotal, Danehill Dancer, Montjeu, Invincible Spirit, Dalakhani, Teofilo, Shamardal, Medicean and Nayef all being credited with higher totals in 2009 than in 2008.

The way that trade held up so well at the December Sales suggests that the Flat sector is again going to prove remarkably robust in 2010.

Beneficial: bucked the trend

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DATA BOOK Listings of every single worldwide stakes winner

Global Stakes Results Argentina Date Grade 19/11 G1 19/11 G1 15/11 G1 14/11 G1 14/11 G1 14/11 G1 14/11 G1 28/11 G2 21/11 G2 20/11 G2 G2 19/11

Race Gran Premio Dardo Rocha-Internacional G. P. Joaquin V Gonzalez-Internacional Gran Premio Copa de Oro Gran Premio Nacional - (Derby) Gran Premio Seleccion (Oaks) Gran Premio Maipu Gran Premio Palermo Clasico Carlos Tomkinson Clasico Provincia de Buenos Aires Clasico Ramon Biaus Clasico Ciudad de la Plata

Bien Toi won the most important race of the year at La Plata, The capital of the Province of Buenos Aires. The grey quickly overcame a wide draw to race close up in a large field. He took over more than one furlong from home and ran on to beat Flag Copado three-quarters of a length. It was only his second win but he had been placed in Group races at Palermo on his previous two appearances. He has the rare distinction of having Brigadier Gerard Australia 21/11 28/11 14/11 14/11 14/11 21/11 14/11 14/11 14/11

G1 G2 G2 G2 G2 G3 G3 G3 G3

Railway Stakes Winterbottom Stakes Western Australian Guineas Sandown Guineas Sandown Classic Eclipse Stakes Colonel Reeves Stakes Race Tech Stakes R J Peters Stakes

Sniper’s Bullet had not won a race of any kind for two and a half years before taking out West Australia’s richest race, the Railway Stakes over Brazil 15/11 15/11 14/11

G1 G2 G3

Grande Premio Bento Goncalves Grande Premio Proclamacao da Republica Grande Premio Frederico Lundgren

Starman was expected to win the biggest contest at Cristal in Porto Alegre – capital of the State of Rio Grande do Sul – for the third

Dist 12.0f 8.0f 12.0f 12.5f 10.0f 5.0f 8.0f 8.0f 12.0f 11.0f 6.0f

Horse Bien Toi (ARG) Conocedor (ARG) Life of Victory (ARG) Storm Chispazo (ARG) Kalath Wells (ARG) Lloron Cat (ARG) El Garufa (ARG) Ultima Gota Cat (ARG) Fuego E Hierro (ARG) Aicega (ARG) Anjiz Lake (ARG)

on both sides of his pedigree (5x4), in both cases via that great horse’s son General, winner of the Prix Thomas Bryon in 1976.

Conocedor had only six to beat and completed a five-timer with ease.

A son of the 1993 Belmont Stakes winner, he gave his jockey Andrea Marinhas his first success at the top level.

Last year’s GP Carlos Pellegrini winner Life Of Victory prepped for a repeat with a stylish success over the 8.0f 6.0f 8.0f 8.0f 12.0f 10.5f 5.5f 7.5f 7.5f

Sniper's Bullet (AUS) Ortensia (AUS) Clueless Angel (AUS) Kidnapped (AUS) Zipping (AUS) Bashful Girl (AUS) Revolition (AUS) Nine Tales (AUS) Elliotto (AUS)

a mile, the only Group 1 in this focus of time. However, Sniper’s Bullet had gone close in top company on numerous occasions, never closer in 12.0f 5.0f 8.0f

Goecochea (BRZ) Indomito (BRZ) Colorado Sam (BRZ)

consecutive year. The Rio de Janeirotrained son of Trempolino looked sure to succeed until Goecochea pounced close home and beat him a

Age C H H C F C H F C F C

Sex 4 5 7 3 3 4 7 3 3 4 4

Sire Lasting Approval (USA) Colonial Affair (USA) Incurable Optimist (USA) Bernstein (USA) Poliglote (GB) Easing Along (USA) Luhuk (USA) Easing Along (USA) Pure Prize (USA) Slew Gin Fizz (USA) Anjiz (USA)

Dam Bien Belle (ARG) Istiara (ARG) La Gran Portada (ARG) Chimera (ARG) Kalath (ARG) Lagrimas De Oro (ARG) La Camorrera (ARG) Gota A Gota (ARG) Fusillette (ARG) Odalita (ARG) Suspicious Morning (USA)

same course and distance. A strong run carried him to the front in the final 50yds of a race which he also won in 2007. Alfredo Gaitan Dassie, who had saddled Interaction to win the GP Jockey Club – the second leg of the Triple Crown – the previous month, added the Derby with Storm Chispazo. The colt led two furlongs out and went clear to score by three lengths from the American-owned Dedini (Orpen). Storm Chispazo was sold a few days later, reportedly to a G F F G G M G H G

6 4 3 3 8 5 4 5 5

Bite The Bullet (USA) Testa Rossa (AUS) Oratorio (AUS) Viscount (AUS) Danehill (USA) Perugino (USA) Key Business (AUS) Tale of The Cat (USA) Easy Rocking (AUS)

C C H

3 3 6

Ibero (ARG) Red Runner (USA) Notation (USA)

Russian, although his next appearance is likely to be in Dubai.

El Garufa is tough but was lucky to be awarded the prize on the disqualification of Equal Libero. The real sufferer was the 30-1 Bless My Destiny (Sekari), who was flattened against the rail before rallying to finish third. Equal Libero was placed behind him. El Garufa was on the outside and clear of the trouble. He landed his third Group 1, to the relief of those who backed him at 4-5.

Yallah Terrace (AUS) Aerate's Pick (AUS) Petite Angel (AUS) Youthful Presence (AUS) Social Scene (IRE) Strike High (AUS) Prospect Sky (AUS) Silk (AUS) Tanamur (AUS)

fact than when touched off in the 2008 renewal of this event. This success took his career bankroll over the Aus$2 million mark and, trained in

Yallah Prince (AUS) Picnicker (AUS) Marooned Dehere (USA) Grand Lodge (USA) Pre Emptive Strike (CAN) Silver Prospector (USA) Barathea (IRE) Danehill (USA)

the New South Wales outback by former jockey Tracey Bartley, he was the first interstate raider to land the Railway in ten years.

Imagin (ARG) Recall Box (BRZ) Val-Paineira (BRZ)

head. It was the locally-trained winner’s fourth outing. Third on his debut in August, he went on to score over five and a half furlongs and ten

Broodmare Sire General (FR) Interprete (ARG) Hidden Prize (USA) Fitzcarraldo (ARG) Kaljerry (ARG) Contested Bid (USA) Rainbow Corner (GB) Tempranero (CHI) Candy Stripes (USA) Interprete (ARG) Meadowlake (USA)

Interprete (ARG) Emmson Roba Fina

and a half furlongs in the space of a fortnight the following month.

Goecochea was the only three-yearold in a field of 11.

Canada 14/11 21/11

G2 G3

Autumn Stakes Kennedy Road Stakes

8.5f 6.0f

Palladio (USA) Smokey Fire (CAN)

H G

7 4

Lycius (USA) Smoke Glacken (USA)

Gioia (USA) Destroy (CAN)

Mari's Book (USA) Housebuster (USA)

Chile 21/11 20/11

G2 G3

Premio Haras de Chile Premio La Copa

10.0f 12.0f

Trocatas (CHI) Adios Al Hombre (CHI)

F H

3 5

Tumblebrutus (USA) Mon Pote Le Gitan (USA)

Memita (CHI) No Me Pillan (CHI)

Memo (CHI) Nureyev Dancer (USA)

Japan 29/11 22/11 15/11

G1 G1 G1

Japan Cup Mile Championship Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup

12.0f 8.0f 11.0f

Vodka (JPN) Company (JPN) Queen Spumante (JPN)

M H M

5 8 5

Tanino Gimlet (JPN) Miracle Admire (JPN) Jungle Pocket (JPN)

Tanino Sister (JPN) Brilliant Very (JPN) Sembon Zakura (JPN)

Rousillon (USA) Northern Taste (CAN) Sakura Yutaka O (JPN)

Vodka formed an immediate bond with new jockey Christophe Lemaire to win the Japan Cup at her third attempt. But boy, was it close! Fourth and third in the two previous renewals, she hit the front with a furlong and a half to run and, having gone a couple of lengths clear, held off the late surge of Oken Bruce Lee, although the result was confirmed New Zealand 27/11 G1 14/11 G1 21/11 G2 21/11 G2 14/11 G2 11/11 G2 G3 28/11

Levin Classic New Zealand 1000 Guineas Counties Cup Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' S New Zealand Cup Coupland's Bakeries Mile Eagle Technology Stakes

only after the judge had prevaricated for some five minutes. Conduit missed the break before keeping on gamely to be beaten less than three lengths in fourth – a game effort given the lack of a strong pace and the fact that his second Breeders’ Cup Turf triumph had come just three weeks earlier.

Company, who had beaten Vodka 8.0f 8.0f 10.5f 7.0f 16.0f 8.0f 8.0f

Eileen Dubh (NZ) Katie Lee (AUS) Boundless (NZ) Culminate (NZ) My Scotsgrey (NZ) Wall Street (NZ) Run Like Al (NZ)

into third in the Tenno Sho (Autumn), goes off to stud in a blaze of glory having doubled his career Grade 1 tally with a length and a quarter success in the Mile Championship.

Rodolphe Collet’s Sahpresa was an excellent third and will be hard to beat in Europe’s top mares’ races next season.

The Queen Elizabeth II F F M M G G G

3 3 5 6 4 5 5

Storm Creek (USA) Pins (AUS) Van Nistelrooy (USA) Elnadim (USA) Golan (IRE) Montjeu (IRE) Al Akbar (AUS)

Commemorative Cup was quite bizarre as two outsiders slipped the field at an early stage and never came back. Top three-year-old filly Buena Vista tried her best but failed by a neck to catch the runaways, leaving 76-1 Queen Spumante to beat 911 T M Precure. French raider Shalanaya finished in a creditable fourth place.

Vingtaine (NZ) Miss Jessie Jay (NZ) Nothing Less (NZ) Solstice (NZ) My Chameleon (NZ) Villa Wanda (GB) Night Mare (NZ)

Centaine (AUS) Spectacularphantom (USA) Star Way Marceau (AUS) Grosvenor (NZ) Grand Lodge (USA) Mercury (AUS)

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER 93

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DATA BOOK

Global Stakes Results >>

Date 14/11 11/11

Grade Race G3 Tauranga Stakes G3 Lindauer Stewards Stakes

Katie Lee looks an international star of the future, having completed the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas double in brilliant fashion. Just like against the colts seven days earlier, she defied Peru 15/11 21/11

G1 G3

Clasico Derby Nacional Clasico Mariano Ignacio Prado

Koko Mambo won his fourth race in his last five appearances. Carlos Sweden 21/11

G2

United States 29/11 G1 28/11 G1 28/11 G1 28/11 G1 27/11 G1 28/11 G2 28/11 G2 28/11 G2 28/11 G2 27/11 G2 27/11 G2 26/11 G2 14/11 G2 29/11 G3 28/11 G3 27/11 G3 G3 26/11

Dist 8.0f 6.0f

Horse Sir Slick (NZ) Coup Align (NZ)

traffic problems and came from a seemingly hopeless position in the fillies’ Classic, storming home to collar Keep The Peace by a short neck.

The form was swiftly franked when

12.0f 10.0f

Koko Mambo (PER) Al Kadir (USA)

Javier Herrera sent him to the front before the end of the back straight

Age G G

Sex 8 4

Sire Volksraad (GB) Align (AUS)

Dam Miss Opera (NZ) Diamond Snip (AUS)

Eileen Dubh, last but one having got upset in the stalls in the Guineas, recovered just in time from the resultant cuts and bruises to land the Levin Classic a fortnight later. Eileen

C H

3 5

Apprentice (USA) Aljabr (USA)

Dubh is trained by 24-year-old Irish ex-amateur jockey Francis Finnegan, and owned by two other immigrants from the Emerald Isle, vets Ronan Costello and Roison McQuillan.

Not For Sale (PER) Goodas I Look (USA)

and drove him out to score by five and three quarter lengths. Oaks

Broodmare Sire Paris Opera (AUS) Snippets (AUS)

Mashhor Dancer (USA) Strodes Creek (USA)

winner Lady Arianna was a disappointing favourite, finished sixth.

Ocean Basket Green Point Stakes

8.0f

Fabiani (SAF)

G

4

Model Man (SAF)

Lady Maroof (NZ)

Maroof (USA)

Hollywood Derby Gazelle Stakes Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile Handicap Matriarch Stakes Citation Handicap Remsen Stakes Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Golden Rod Stakes Demoiselle Stakes Clark Handicap Top Flight Handicap Falls City Handicap Mrs Revere Stakes Miesque Stakes Generous Stakes River City Handicap Fall Highweight Handicap

10.0f 9.0f 8.0f 8.0f 8.5f 9.0f 8.5f 8.5f 9.0f 9.0f 8.0f 9.0f 8.5f 8.0f 8.0f 9.0f 6.0f

The Usual Q T (USA) Flashing (USA) Kodiak Kowboy (USA) Ventura (USA) Fluke (BRZ) Buddy's Saint (USA) Super Saver (USA) Sassy Image (USA) Tizahit (USA) Blame (USA) Sara Louise (USA) Serenading (USA) Mary's Follies (USA) The Mailet (USA) Who's Up (USA) Rahystrada (USA) Cherokee Country (USA)

G F C M C C C F F C F M F F C H H

3 3 4 5 4 2 2 2 2 3 3 5 3 2 2 5 5

Unusual Heat (USA) A P Indy (USA) Posse (USA) Chester House (USA) Wild Event (USA) Saint Liam (USA) Maria's Mon (USA) Broken Vow (USA) Tiznow (USA) Arch (USA) Malibu Moon (USA) A P Indy (USA) More Than Ready (USA) Rock Hard Ten (USA) Graeme Hall (USA) Rahy (USA) Yonaguska (USA)

Lunge (USA) Morning Pride (IRE) Kokadrie (USA) Estala (GB) Uff-Uff (BRZ) Tuzia (USA) Supercharger (USA) Ideal Image (USA) Never a No Hitter (USA) Liable (USA) Kings Lynn (USA) Daijin (USA) Catch the Queen (USA) Emerging Glory (USA) Divine Rockette (USA) Ministrada (USA) Jetazelle (USA)

Western Fame (USA) Machiavellian (USA) Coronado's Quest (USA) Be My Guest (USA) De Quest (GB) Blushing John (USA) A P Indy (USA) Hennessy (USA) Kris S (USA) Seeking The Gold (USA) Mt Livermore (USA) Deputy Minister (CAN) Miswaki (USA) Smarten (USA) Is It True (USA) Deputy Minister (CAN) Tri Jet (USA)

Crack Juddmonte Farms filly Ventura bowed out of racing on a triumphant note with a smooth success in the Matriarch Stakes. But, with her stablemate, Fluke, landing the Citation Handicap, the Hollywood Turf Festival was an emotional occasion, coming less than a fortnight after the death of their trainer Bobby Frankel. Officially, the Grade 1 double

is accredited to Frankel’s assistant of 35 years, Humberto Ascanio. He was quick to dedicate both to his former boss and pointed out that Ventura would have been retired following her second in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, but for Frankel picking out the Matriarch, which he won eight times, as her perfect send-off. Fluke, a Grade 3 winner in his native Brazil,

caught Ever A Friend late on to score by a length and a quarter.

The other festival highlight saw The Usual Q T, who took six attempts to get off the mark, make it five-in-a-row since that overdue maiden win when adding the Hollywood Derby to his earlier Oak Tree Derby success.

On the East Coast, Kodiak

Kowboy will take up stallion duties at his owners’ Vinery Stud with a good chance of the Eclipse Award as top sprinter after following his Vosburgh Stakes win with a Cigar Mile victory.

Retirement plans for Godolphin’s Flashing may be rethought after she led from pillar-to-post to beat her fellow three-year-old fillies by over four lengths in the Gazelle Stakes.

Leading global sires by stakes winners Coolmore dominate as Danehill Dancer looks odds-on to maintain his advantage at the top With the European season just about over and none of his main rivals likely to obtain a high score in Australia, New Zealand or North America in December, Danehill Dancer is odds on to maintain the advantage he has held for so long.

The Coolmore stallion has added three black type winners to his tally over the last month, while fellow residents Galileo and Giant’s Causeway have notched an extra four apiece. Even better, Montjeu continued his marvellous surge with six more scorers, most of them predictably in Europe, including impressive Criterium International victor Jan Vermeer. Montjeu has sired more Group/Graded winners than any sire,15, and his achievement is placed in striking perspective when one realises that four months ago he had had only nine black type winners of any kind.

Among the other European-based sires, after several superb months Oasis Dream failed to have any further major winners. Invincible Spirit had five though, an excellent performance for a European sire associated principally with speedy horses. Vale Of York (Breeders' Cup Juvenile) is his main earnings contributor.

The number of stakes races in the States from September onwards could be expected to benefit Kentucky stallions and A P Indy had another four black type winners, while Elusive Quality managed three.

It is also good to see Street Cry make the table – any sire who can get winners of the Breeders’ Cup Classic (Zenyatta) and the Melbourne Cup (Shocking) in the same season merits every bit of applause there is.

Comments: Jeremy Early BTH = black type horses; BTW = black type winners; GH = Group horses; GW = Group winners

Horse

Born

Sire

Stands/Stood

Danehill Dancer (IRE) Galileo (IRE) Montjeu (IRE) Giant’s Causeway (USA) Oasis Dream (GB) Orpen (USA) A P Indy (USA) Elusive Quality (USA) Encosta de Lago (AUS) Redoute's Choice (AUS) Lemon Drop Kid (USA) More Than Ready (USA) Distorted Humor (USA) Wild Event (USA) Invincible Spirit (IRE) Mutakddim (USA) Choisir (AUS) Stormy Atlantic (USA) Dynaformer (USA) Cape Cross (IRE) Smart Strike (CAN) Not For Love (USA) Tale Of The Cat (USA) Street Cry (IRE) Sadler’s Wells (USA) Verglas (IRE) Pivotal (GB) O'Reilly (NZ)

1993 1998 1996 1997 2000 1996 1989 1993 1993 1996 1996 1997 1993 1993 1997 1991 1999 1994 1985 1994 1992 1990 1994 1998 1981 1994 1993 1993

Danehill (USA) Sadler’s Wells (USA) Sadler’s Wells (USA) Storm Cat (USA) Green Desert (USA) Lure (USA) Seattle Slew (USA) Gone West (USA) Fairy King (USA) Danehill (USA) Kingmambo (USA) Southern Halo (USA) Forty Niner (USA) Wild Again (USA) Green Desert (USA) Seeking The Gold (USA) Danehill Dancer (IRE) Storm Cat (USA) Roberto (USA) Green Desert (USA) Mr Prospector (USA) Mr Prospector (USA) Storm Cat (USA) Machiavellian (USA) Northern Dancer Highest Honor (FR) Polar Falcon (USA) Last Tycoon

IRE AUS IRE IRE NZ USA BRZ UK IRE AUS ARG USA USA BRZ AUS IRE AUS USA USA AUS USA USA BRZ IRE USA ARG AUS IRE USA USA IRE USA USA USA AUS USA AUS IRE IRE UK NZ

BTH BTW GH GW 59 58 50 45 31 35 28 25 38 29 30 35 31 23 28 27 24 26 30 28 24 27 27 25 27 19 30 20

29 26 24 22 19 19 17 16 16 16 16 16 15 15 15 14 14 14 14 14 14 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

37 33 33 25 19 24 17 9 24 17 19 20 10 15 11 11 15 7 22 15 15 3 11 13 19 7 15 10

13 12 15 13 11 12 10 4 10 7 6 9 4 9 4 4 6 3 9 7 9 2 6 8 9 3 9 5

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER 95

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DATA BOOK Stakes results

European Pattern 382 PREMIO ROMA G1 ROME. November 8. 3yo+. 2000m.

1. VOILA ICI (IRE) 4 9-2 £111,407 gr c by Daylami - Far Hope (Barathea) O-Scuderia Incolinx B-Soc Finanza Locale Consulting TR-V Caruso 2. Turati (GB) 3 9-0 £49,019 b c by Lomitas - Torrigiana (Celtic Swing) O-Allevamento La Nuova Sbarra B-Scuderia Nordovest Srl TR-G Pucciatti 3. Sant’antonio (ITY) 4 9-2 £26,737 b c by Shantou - Nonna Rina (Bluebird) O-Scuderia Siba B-Gianluca Boesso TR-S Botti Margins 0.5, 2. Time 2:10.40. Going Heavy.

Age 2-4

Starts 15

Wins 9

Places 4

Earned £399,073

Sire: DAYLAMI. Sire of 17 Stakes winners (2 G1 winners). In 2009 - VOILA ICI Barathea G1, ELECTROLYSER Sadler’s Wells LR, EBADIYAN Rainbow Quest LR, ROYAL MOUGINS Hernando LR, ZAYNAR Kahyasi LR. 1st Dam: FAR HOPE by Barathea. 5 wins 2-3, Premio Vittorio Crespi LR. Dam of 1 winner: 2004: Rosh Ha Shana (f Sinndar) Unplaced in Italy.

2005: VOILA ICI (c Daylami) 9 wins 2-4, Premio Roma G1, Prix Maurice de Nieuil G2, Premio Carlo d’Alessio G3, Premio Federico Tesio G3 (twice), 2nd Gran Premio di Milano G1, 3rd G P del Jockey Club G1, G Premio di Milano G1.

2006: Harmonieux (c One Cool Cat) unraced to date.

2007: Egocentrique (c Rock of Gibraltar)

champion Serenade Rose. Another of Circus Ring’s daughters, the Green Desert filly Finger Of Light, now ranks as the second dam of Voila Ici, the colt being the second foal of Far Hope.

The daughter of Barathea did all her winning at up to seven furlongs and was precocious enough to win her first three starts at two, including a Listed race.

Voila Ici seems to take much more after his sire Daylami, as he has steadily developed into a high-class performer at up to a mile and threequarters. He was winning for the fifth time from seven four-year-old starts – and for the ninth time from 15 career starts – when he ploughed through heavy ground to take the Premio Roma over 2,000 metres by half a length. He also acts well on faster ground, though, and the going was good according to Timeform when he narrowly won the Gr2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil at Longchamp on his sole venture outside Italy.

383 PRIX FILLE DE L’AIR G3 TOULOUSE. November 11. 3yo+. 2100m.

2nd Dam: FINGER OF LIGHT by Green Desert. 1 win at 2. Dam of FAR HOPE (f Barathea, see above) Broodmare Sire: BARATHEA. Sire of the dams of 26 Stakes winners. In 2009 - KING’S APOSTLE King’s Best G1, VOILA ICI Daylami G1, EXPANSION Maria’s Mon G2, KALLA Monsun G3.

The Daylami/Barathea cross has produced: VOILA ICI G1, MAHAATHEER LR, Rose Diamond G. VOILA ICI gr c 2005 Mill Reef Doyoun Dumka DAYLAMI gr 94 Miswaki Daltawa Damana Sadler’s Wells Barathea Brocade FAR HOPE b 99 Green Desert Finger of Light Circus Ring

Never Bend Milan Mill Kashmir II Faizebad Mr Prospector Hopespringseternal Crystal Palace Denia Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge Habitat Canton Silk Danzig Foreign Courier High Top Bell Song

The 1981 title of champion two-yearold filly in Britain was shared by two seemingly outstanding prospects in Height Of Fashion and Circus Ring.

Circus Ring, the speedier of the two, had been highly impressive in winning both the Princess Margaret Stakes and Lowther Stakes, only to miss the Cheveley Park Stakes because of a bout of lameness. Those who made her clear favourite through the winter for the 1,000 Guineas didn’t even get a run for their money, as she was withdrawn after disappointing in her work. She was retired after finishing last in the Coronation Stakes.

While Circus Ring’s broodmare career was nowhere near as illustrious as Height Of Fashion’s, she produced two very useful daughters in Lady Shipley and Ellie Ardensky, and two of her other daughters, Circus Act and Rose Of Tralee, produced very smart winners. The latter, an Australianfoaled daughter of Sadler’s Wells, is now the dam of the Australian

1. SYNERGY (FR) 4 8-11 £38,835 b f by Victory Note - Kuddam (Doyoun) O-De La Fuente Stud B-J Stulen TR-Y Durepaire 2. Cavaliere (FR) 3 8-8 £15,534 b f by Traditionally - Lavandou (Sadler’s Wells) O-J-L Perrin B-Barry Reilly TR-M Cesandri 3. Alpine Snow (IRE) 3 8-8 £11,650 gr f by Verglas - Altruiste (Diesis) O-Lady O’Reilly, Ecurie De Meautry B-Castlemartin Stud, Skymarc Farm, E De Rothschild TR-S Wattel Margins 1.5, nose. Time 2:22.52. Going Very soft.

Age 2-4

Starts 15

Wins 7

Places 4

384 HESSEN POKAL G3 FRANKFURT. November 14. 3yo+. 2000m.

1. ZAFISIO (IRE) 3 9-0 £31,068 b c by Efisio - Goldthroat (Zafonic) O-H Downs, D Looney B-Airlie Stud, Sir Thomas Pilkington TR-R Curtis 2. Liang Kay (GER) 4 9-3 £9,709 b c by Dai Jin - Linton Bay (Funambule) O-Stall Emina B-Frau Ina E Zimmermann TR-U Ostmann 3. Schiller Danon (GER) 3 8-11 £4,854 ch c by Samum - Soljanka (Halling) O-Stall D’Angelo B-B Fassbender TR-W Hickst Margins 2, 4. Time 2:19.65. Going Heavy.

Age 2-3

Starts 11

Wins 5

Places 4

Sire: EFISIO. Sire of 43 Stakes winners (8 G1 winners). In 2009 - ZAFISIO Zafonic G3, CALRISSIAN Royal Academy LR, FOURPENNY LANE Lion Cavern LR, PERFECT POLLY Prince Sabo LR. 1st Dam: GOLDTHROAT by Zafonic. Winner at 2.

Dam of 3 winners: 2004: NEW BEGINNING (g Keltos) 3 wins.

2005: HARALD BLUETOOTH (c Danetime) 4 wins at 3 and 4.

2006: ZAFISIO (c Efisio) Sold 27,000gns foal at TADEF. 5 wins at 2 and 3 at home, France, Germany, Criterium International G1, Prix Perth G3, Hessen Pokal G3, Bluebay Stardom S LR, 2nd Mehl-Mulhens Rennen G2, 3rd Solonaway S G3.

2007: Via Aurelia (f Antonius Pius) 2008: (f Verglas) 2009: (f Red Clubs) 2nd Dam: WINGER by In The Wings. 1 win at 3.

Grandam of Warriors Key. Broodmare Sire: ZAFONIC. Sire of the dams of 33 Stakes winners. In 2009 - AWZAAN Alhaarth G1, SHOWCASING Oasis Dream G2, ZAFISIO Efisio G3, ZAREMA Dance In The Dark G3.

ZAFISIO b c 2006 Forli

Earned £146,008

Formidable Native Partner EFISIO b 82 High Top

Sire: VICTORY NOTE. Sire of 10 Stakes winners. In 2009 - SYNERGY Doyoun G3.

1st Dam: KUDDAM by Doyoun. 5 wins. Dam of 2 winners: 2000: VEENDAM (f Victory Note) 3 wins.

2001: Stars Apple’s (g Septieme Ciel) 2004: D’Amsterdam (c Sendawar) unraced.

2005: SYNERGY (f Victory Note) Sold 11,165gns yearling at AFOCT, 101,710gns 4yo at ARARC. 7 wins 2-4, Prix Fille de l’Air G3, Prix de la Pepiniere LR, 2nd Prix Solitude LR. 2006: Statendam (f Sendawar) unraced to date.

2008: Hispanus (c Victory Note) 2009: Summertime Blues (f Victory Note) 2nd Dam: FOREST LAIR by Habitat. 1 win at 2. Dam of MUAKAAD (c Muhtarram: Meld S G3, 2nd Goffs International S G2), SUHAAD (f Unfuwain: Aphrodite S LR), Munif (g Caerleon: 2nd Ulster Harp Derby LR, Ballycullen S LR), Rajjaaf (c Unfuwain: 3rd Ulster Harp Derby LR) Broodmare Sire: DOYOUN. Sire of the dams of 25 Stakes winners. In 2009 - SYNERGY Victory Note G3, BURDLAZ Indian Ridge LR. SYNERGY b f 2005 Northern Dancer Fairy King Fairy Bridge VICTORY NOTE b 95 Jaazeiro Three Piece Trinity Term Mill Reef Doyoun Dumka KUDDAM b 90 Habitat Forest Lair Wood Grouse

96 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Nearctic Natalma Bold Reason Special Sham Rule Formi Primera Hilary Term Never Bend Milan Mill Kashmir II Faizebad Sir Gaylord Little Hut Celtic Ash French Bird

Earned £252,018

Eldoret Bamburi Gone West Zafonic Zaizafon GOLDTHROAT b 99 In The Wings Winger Rappa Tap Tap

Aristophanes Trevisa Raise A Native Dinner Partner Derring-Do Camenae Ragusa Kilifi Mr Prospector Secrettame The Minstrel Mofida Sadler’s Wells High Hawk Tap On Wood Reprocolor

385 CRITERIUM DE SAINT-CLOUD G1 SAINT-CLOUD. November 14. 2yoc&f. 2000m.

1. PASSION FOR GOLD (USA) 9-0 £138,689 b c by Medaglia d’Oro - C’Est L’Amour (Thunder Gulch) O-Godolphin B-Mr And Mrs M Roy Jackson TR-Saeed bin Suroor 2. Mikhail Glinka (IRE) 9-0 £55,485 b c by Galileo - Lady Karr (Mark of Esteem) O-Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith B-Paulyn Limited TR-AP O’Brien 3. Zazou (GER) 9-0 £27,743 c by Shamardal - Zaza Top (Lomitas) O-WH Sport Int B-Gestut Fahrhof TR-M Hofer Margins 6, 0.75. Time 2:19.10. Going Heavy.

Age 2

Starts 3

Wins 2

Places 1

Earned £154,081

Sire: MEDAGLIA D’ORO. Sire of 9 Stakes winners (3 G1 winners). In 2009 - GABBY’S GOLDEN GAL Ashkalani G1, PASSION FOR GOLD Thunder Gulch G1, RACHEL ALEXANDRA Roar G1.

1st Dam: C’EST L’AMOUR by Thunder Gulch. 4 wins 2-3, Nassau County H G2, 2nd Acorn S G1. Dam of 2 winners: 2002: Amoureux (f Deputy Minister). Broodmare.

2003: LIGHTNING PILOT (c Dixieland Band) Winner at 3 in Barbados.

2004: Talleyrand (g Deputy Minister) Unplaced.

2006: Lamar Valley (c El Prado) 2007: PASSION FOR GOLD (c Medaglia d’Oro) Sold 260,000gns 2yo. 2 wins, Criterium de SaintCloud G1, 3rd Beresford S G2.

2008: (c Arch) 2nd Dam: L’AMOUR TOUJOURS by Blushing Groom. 4 wins 3-5, Prix Charles Laffitte LR. Dam of C’EST L’AMOUR, PASSION FLOWER (f Deputy Minister: Vielle Vigne H LR). Grandam of MADEO. Broodmare Sire: THUNDER GULCH. Sire of the dams of 17 Stakes winners. In 2009 - PASSION FOR GOLD Medaglia d’Oro G1.

PASSION FOR GOLD b c 2007 Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge Sir Ivor Lady Capulet Cap And Bells Damascus Bailjumper Court Circuit Silent Screen Dubbed In Society Singer Mr Prospector Gulch Jameela Storm Bird Line of Thunder Shoot A Line Red God Blushing Groom Runaway Bride Vaguely Noble Paint The Town Belle de Nuit Sadler’s Wells El Prado MEDAGLIA D’ORO b 99 Cappucino Bay

Thunder Gulch C’EST L’AMOUR ch 97 L’Amour Toujours

In the months preceding the purchase

by Darley America of Rachel Alexandra’s exciting young sire Medaglia d’Oro, Sheikh Mohammed and his representatives bought a few of Medaglia d’Oro’s sons at the twoyear-old sales. John Ferguson paid $1.6 million for a colt out of Bayou Plans at Fasig-Tipton in Florida in February and then Dick O’Gorman paid 260,000gns for a colt out of C’Est L’Amour at the Craven Breeze Up in April.

These colts have subsequently highlighted the fact that, despite having raced exclusively on dirt during his 17-race career, Medaglia d’Oro is capable of siring very smart turf performers (perhaps because he is a grandson of the great Sadler’s Wells).

Al Zir, the Fasig-Tipton graduate, was very impressive in winning his first two starts and then finished a creditable third to St Nicholas Abbey in the Racing Post Trophy. Passion For Gold, the 260,000gns colt from Tattersalls, was also put in his place when he tackled St Nicholas Abbey in the Beresford Stakes but he looked a very different proposition when he came home six lengths clear on much softer ground in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud.

Passion For Gold is clearly very well suited by a stiff test of stamina, even though his dam C’Est L’Amour possessed plenty of speed. A dual two-year-old winner, she progressed to win the Gr2 Nassau County Stakes over seven furlongs, prior to finishing second in the Gr1 Acorn Stakes over a mile.

However, Passion For Gold’s broodmare sire Thunder Gulch triumphed in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, and his second dam, the Blushing Groom filly L’amour Toujours, was a Listed winner over a mile and a quarter in France. The next dam, Vaguely Noble’s daughter Paint The Town, earned a Timeform rating of 121 at three, when she was a Gr3 winner over 12.5 furlongs.

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National Hunt Grade Ones SOLWHIT b g 2004 1 CHAMPION CHASE G1 DOWN ROYAL. November 7. 24f. Soft.

1. THE LISTENER (IRE) 10 gr g Roselier - Park Breeze (Strong Gale) O-Old Moss Farm B-D&P Keating TR-Nick Mitchell 2. My Will (FR) 9 b g Saint Preuil - Gleep Will (Cadoudal) 3. War of Attrition (IRE) 10 br g Presenting - Una Juna (Good Thyne) THE LISTENER gr g 99 Medium Misti IV

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

GO NATIVE br g 2003

KAUTO STAR b g 2000

Red God Runaway Bride Local Suitor Vaguely Noble Home Love Homespun SOLON b 92 Tamerlane Alpenkonig Alpenlerche Scilla Alizier Saxifraga Suleika Nearctic Northern Dancer Natalma Lucky North Olden Times Lucky Ole Me Me Next TOOWHIT TOWHEE b 88 The Axe II Hatchet Man Bebopper Chop Towhee Crozier Swiftybyrd Miss Glamour Gal Blushing Groom

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

The Listener led all the way to record his seventh victory and his fourth at Gr1 level in only his 20th race over fences. Although The Listener’s sire Roselier was born as long ago as 1973 and died in 1998, the French Champion Hurdle winner is still making a serious impact on National Hunt racing after siring the likes of Grand National winners Bindaree and Royal Athlete.

The Listener’s dam Park Breeze, a daughter of Strong Gale, was one of the most successful National Hunt broodmares of recent times. Among her other distinguished sons are Offshore Account (Gr1 Hanover Quay Novices’ Chase), Distant Thunder (Gr2 Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase) and Fork Lightning.

Park Breeze was herself a sister to Risk Of Thunder, a chaser who built up a remarkable record in the La Touche Cup over Punchestown’s crosscountry course. Risk Of Thunder was also second in the 1999 Velka Pardubicka and fourth in the Irish Grand National.

Only four runners lined up for the Punchestown Hurdle and one of them, Solwhit, was seeking his third consecutive Gr1 success, following victories in the Aintree Hurdle and Punchestown Champion Hurdle. Even so, Solwhit didn’t start favourite because the opposition included Hurricane Fly, who was seeking his fourth consecutive Gr1 victory. Neither gelding had raced for more than six months and perhaps Solwhit was the fitter of the two, as he quickened in fine style to win, with Hurricane Fly only third. Solwhit, who was bred in France, was winning for the seventh time in ten starts over hurdles and his talent also extends to the Flat.

Although he had finished in the rear at Dieppe on his only start on the Flat in France, Solwhit won two of his four runs on the Flat in Ireland, including a victory in the valuable Leopardstown November Handicap, and he was also a close third in the Irish Cesarewitch.

Solwhit is by Solon, a German-bred grandson of Blushing Groom. After winning three of his four starts as a juvenile, Solon achieved a sequence of five successes at three which started in the Swiss Derby and finished in the Gr1 Europa-Preis over a mile and a half. Solon’s best previous winners include Magadino, a multiple Listed winner. Solwhit’s dam, Toowhit Towhee, was sold for 3,800gns after failing to show much ability in three starts for John Gosden but she later did well over jumps in Germany.

Although durable enough to narrowly record his 12th Gr1 success in the Lancashire Chase when not far short of his tenth birthday, Kauto Star comes from a family which illustrates how quickly some of the best French jumpers mature. All three winners produced by Kauto Star’s dam Kauto Relka were successful at three, the latest being her With The Flow gelding Kauto Stone. The 2006 foal has won three of his five completed starts, including the Gr2 Prix Georges de Talhouet Roy over two and a quarter miles, and was also a good second in the Grande Course de Haies des 3 Ans. Kauto Relka also has 2007 filly by the French Gr1 chase winner Bonbon Rose, a 2008 gelding by the top miler Priolo and a 2009 filly by Byzantium.

Byzantium won twice on the Flat and six times over jumps but his main attraction to the owners of Kauto Relka must have been the fact that he is by Village Star, the sire of Kauto Star. Village Star was a high-class French middle-distance horse with plenty of stamina in his pedigree.

His dam Glitter was a three-partssister to the Goodwood Cup winner Proverb, who went on to sire three Whitbread Gold Cup winners.

Proverb’s sire Reliance was an outstanding stayer who numbered the Prix Royal-Oak among his victories, as did his three-parts-brother Relko, who appears in the bottom half of Kauto Star’s pedigree.

2 PUNCHESTOWN HURDLE G1

3 LANCASHIRE CHASE G1

4 FIGHTING FIFTH HURDLE G1

PUNCHESTOWN. November 15. 16f. Heavy.

HAYDOCK PARK. November 21. 24f. Soft.

NEWCASTLE. November 28. 16f. Good to Soft.

1. SOLWHIT (FR) 5 b g Solon - Toowhit Towhee (Lucky North) O-Top Of The Hill Syndicate B-Haras de Preaux TR-Charles Byrnes 2. Muirhead (IRE) 6 b g Flemensfirth - Silaoce (Nikos) 3. Hurricane Fly (IRE) 5 b g Montjeu - Scandisk (Kenmare)

1. KAUTO STAR (FR) 9 b g Village Star - Kauto Relka (Port Etienne) O-Mr Clive D Smith B-Mme H Aubert TR-PF Nicholls 2. Imperial Commander (IRE) 8 b g Flemensfirth - Ballinlovane (Le Moss) 3. Madison du Berlais (FR) 8 b g Indian River - Anais du Berlais (Dom Pasquini)

1. GO NATIVE (IRE) 6 br g Double Eclipse - Native Idea (Be My Native) O-Docado Syndicate B-PJ Murphy TR-N Meade 2. Sublimity (FR) 9 b g Selkirk - Fig Tree Drive (Miswaki) 3. Solwhit (FR) 5 b g Solon - Toowhit Towhee (Lucky North)

Age 3-5

Age 3-9

Age 4-6

Mist ROSELIER gr 73 Fastnet Rock Peace Rose La Paix Lord Gayle Strong Gale Sterntau PARK BREEZE b/br 88 Saint Denys Park Delight Lover’s Delight

Starts 13

Wins 8

Places 2

Earned £376,703

Starts 32

Wins 19

Places Earned 9 £1,898,635

Starts 13

Wins 7

Places 5

Earned £253,245

Pitcairn Ela-Mana-Mou Rose Bertin DOUBLE ECLIPSE b 92 Gay Lussac Solac Soragna Our Native Be My Native Witchy Woman NATIVE IDEA b 98 Harp Islet The Very Idea Idealist

Petingo Border Bounty High Hat Wide Awake Faberge II Green As Grass Orvieto Savigny Exclusive Native Our Jackie Strate Stuff Witchy Norma Sharpen Up Formentera Busted Small World

Although good enough to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the 2009 Cheltenham Festival, Go Native had been beaten in two of his next three starts. Consequently he was largely ignored at odds of 25-1 when he took on Binocular and Solwhit in what appeared to be a two-horse race for the Fighting Fifth Hurdle. However, he defied his odds, finding the best finishing speed in a slowly-run race.

All 13 of Go Native’s races have been at around two miles, though he is

by Double Eclipse. This accomplished stayer raced exclusively over a mile and a quarter at two, when he won the Zetland Stakes (a race also won by his top-class brother Double Trigger). He later won the Prix de Barbeville, Prix Vicomtesse Vigier and the Lonsdale Stakes, and ran Double Trigger to a neck in the 1995 Goodwood Cup. Double Eclipse first retired to stud in Britain, covering 23 thoroughbred mares in his first season and 20 in his second. Unusually, he was then returned to training at eight and was a close second on his only appearance, before being forced into retirement again by injury. He attracted only three mares at his Devon base in 2001, prompting a move to Ballyash Stud in County Down. Go Native comes from his first Irish crop.

Go Native’s first two dams never raced, but his dam Native Idea is by Be My Native, an American-bred who won the Coronation Cup. Be My Native went on to become champion sire of jumpers on four occasions at the start of the century. His second dam, The Very Idea, was a half-sister to General Idea, winner of such good Irish chases as the Arkle Perpetual Challenge Cup, Galway Plate and Power Gold Cup. His next two dams are the smart two-year-olds Small World and Royal Words, the latter a half-sister to the high-class Bog Road.

For all other Graded National Hunt race winners, see our new listing on page 101

Index (Final Index for 2009) Includes winners and placed horses in European Pattern.

Winners in bold type A Mind of Her Own 102 Aaroness 64 Above Average 26 170 353 Absolute Music 346 377 Addicted 67 Adelar 89 225 Adlerflug 29

Adolfina 303 Again 90 266 Age of Aquarius 56 181 Age of Reason 119 224 Aiboa 179 Air Chief Marshal 196 263 Air Crew 138 Aizavoski 292 324 Akmal 353 Al Zir 362 Alaivan 91 Alandi 146 282 335

Albisola 34 Alexander Youth 293 Alexandros 76 Alfred Nobel 149 196 All The Aces 268 Allegoria 343 Allied Powers 190 269 Allybar 68 142 232 300 Almail 120 Alnadana 4 110 184 Alpine Rose 93 153 249 Alpine Snow 383

Alshahbaa 182 Alwaary 168 Ambassador 9 89 Ameer 336 Americain 80 American Nizzy 243 Amour Propre 41 Ana Americana 79 Ancien Regime 147 Andrea 211 Angel’s Pursuit 298 Anglezarke 122

Annabelle’s Charm 341 Antara 325 Appel Au Maitre 185 Aqlaam 121 174 233 271 Arabian Gleam 95 286 352 Arasin 301 Arcano 169 247 Archers Road 200 Arctic 263 Aria di Festa 38 98 Armure 227 Art Connoisseur 137

Article Rare 79 248 As de Trebol 96 Ascot Glory 376 Ashalanda 152 302 348 Ashram 126 Ask 74 106 191 368 Askar Tau 237 278 Aspectus 78 213 Asset 255 Astrophysical Jet 297 Atasari 349 Audacity of Hope 363

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Index (Final Index for 2009) >>

Augustusthestrong 319 Ave 305 Awzaan 298 318 Ayun Tara 360 Baahama 294 Baddam 35 Baileys Cacao 63 Baliyana 64 Balthazaar’s Gift 148 199 226 Bankable 251 Bannaby 80 Barouda 360 Barshiba 43 161 Beach Bunny 65 85 144 Beacon Lodge 95 115 Beauty O’ Gwaun 69 215 Becqu Adoree 111 Beethoven 178 283 351 Beheshtam 292 Behkabad 301 Benbaun 66 99 150 241 Beyond Desire 240 Big Bound 26 Bikini Babe 313 Black Bear Island 14 72 134 Blue Cayenne 378 Black Mambazo 62 99 Blessed Luck 355 Blue Bajan 74 Blue Maiden 218 Bluster 289 Board Meeting 37 212 291 334 Bolivia 100 Bon Grain 131 Border Patrol 287 373 Borderlescott 41 84 241 Born To Be King 6 Bould Mover 277 Brave Prospector 337 Bronze Cannon 2 39 139 Buccellati 27 53 Buzzword 207 245 274 332 Cabaret 182 Cabimas 380 Calvados Blues 54 Campanologist 139 217 251 296 312 Candy Gift 250 Canford Cliffs 124 247 Cannonball 137 Cape Blanco 188 244 Captaine Courage 370 Carnaby Street 363 Caro Jina 156 Casilda 43 Cassique Lady 205 Casual Conquest 39 87 189 229 Cat Junior 255 286 Catch Wind 140 Cavaliere 383 Cavalryman 68 181 292 330 Ceedwell 125 Celebra 32 Celimene 15 371 Celtic Wolf 187 Centennial 21 Cesare 121 Chabal 283 Chachamaidee 133 Chantilly Creme 164 Charity Belle 248 Chief Lone Eagle 45 Chinchon 1 97 304 Chinese White 69 257 281 Choose Me 305 Cima de Triomphe 92 Circumvent 336 356 Cirrus des Aigles 300 354 Cityscape 20 Claremont 49 120 Clowance 282 Coastal Path 48 Conduit 92 157 191 Confront 105 174 220 316 Contat 75 195 Contest 260 Corcovada 313 Corporal Maddox 164 202 Cottonmouth 343 Count John 45 Court Canibal 1 Crosna 355 Crossharbour 225 290 Crystal Capella 73 348 Cuis Ghaire 42 Curtain Call 47 229 Cutlass Bay 68 Daly Daly 187 Damaniyat Girl 16 Danehill Destiny 19 Dansant 139 Danse Grecque 93 322 Dar Re Mi 73 144 239 Daring Tiger 25 Darley Sun 278 Daryakana 323 Deauville Vision 85

Debussy 50 197 Delegator 18 40 123 253 308 Delvita 179 Denomination 32 165 Deposer 105 126 Devoted To You 216 Dick Turpin 207 Distinctive 297 Diyakalanie 1 Doctor Fremantle 51 168 296 Dohasa 10 114 328 Dolled Up 164 193 295 376 Donativum 352 Doncaster Rover 183 Dovil Boy 54 Dream Eater 28 Dream Lodge 242 Drill Sergeant 39 237 Drumbeat 52 Dubawi Heights 240 Dubawi Phantom 245 Duellant 31 Duff 114 286 328 Duncan 217 Dunkerque 96 143 378 Dwilano 33 Earl of Fire 145 314 Eastern Anthem 231 273 311 Ecatarina 67 Eclair de Lune 248 Eightfold Path 274 346 Ekta 379 Electric Feel 320 Eliot 311 Elle Shadow 366 Elusive Galaxy 216 Elusive Pimpernel 235 362 Elusive Wave 11 58 210 Emerald Commander 235 374 Emergency 223 275 Emily Blake 46 85 Emirates Dream 301 Enroller 21 Enticement 70 Entre Deux Eaux 11 113 Ercolini 377 Eternal Power 264 Etoile Nocturne 75 163 Eva’s Request 110 127 365 Excellent Girl 37 Expresso Star 51 Fabiana 113 341 Fallen In Love 161 Fame And Glory 24 60 108 151 270 Famous 258 Famous Name 47 87 175 230 271327 Fantasia 16 58 Faramir 30 Farrel 101 Father Time 56 134 234 Fencing Master 351 Fergus McIver 24 60 Festival Princess 69 257 Fiery Lad 319 Finjaan 199 Firebet 198 Firey Red 3 64 First City 16 Flame of Gibraltar 130 Flamingo Fantasy 82 154 185 Fleeting Spirit 122 172 265 331 Flying Cloud 37 130 Forgotten Voice 316 Free Judgement 369 Freemantle 72 Freemusic 77 Frozen Fire 53 Fuisse 109 Full Mandate 192 Gan Amhras 40 Geordieland 94 129 278 Georgebernardshaw 114 176 Getaway 154 185 231 273 Ghanaati 42 135 201 326 Gimmy 61 Girouette 46 228 293 Gitano Hernando 52 Glad Panther 44 Glad Sky 163 Glad Tiger 358 Gladiatorus 340 Glass Harmonium 347 Globus 57 345 Glowing 155 Golden Century 142 Golden Sword 50 151 Goldikova 166 210 233 321 Grace O’Malley 116 Grand Ducal 91 Grandcamp 8 Gris de Gris 4 36 81 327 370 Guantana 246 Guest Ville 8 142 Habaayib 133 167 Halicarnassus 206 224 Handsome Maestro 112

Hansom 103 Harbinger 198 361 Hasty 320 Heart Shaped 5 Hearts of Fire 264 342 Heaven Sent 43 127 166 266 Hibaayeb 279 306 High Heeled 107 161 361 High Standing 183 265 Hoh Hoh Hoh 41 Holberg 136 Homebound 98 Huntdown 148 Ialysos 162 Icelandic 86 228 Icesolator 20 Il Divo 141 254 Illustrious Blue 206 Imbongi 148 174 In Some Respect 149 Incanto Dream 288 Indian Days 268 Inestimable 187 Intense Focus 6 Investissement 272 Inxile 66 150 203 Iolith 345 Irian 25 57 159 Irish Cat 346 Iver Bridge Lad 267 339 J J The Jet Plane 172 299 Jakarta Jazz 116 Jakkalberry 55 Jan Vermeer 374 Jealous Again 125 Joanna 243 333 Joshua Tree 307 Judge ‘n Jury 256 Jukebox Jury 217 261 311 Jumbajukiba 86 Kachgai 259 Kalidaha 155 Kalla 222 Kamsin 33 Kargali 10 Kasbah Bliss 261 288 335 Keep Cool 380 Kelty In Love 295 Keredari 369 Key To Pleasure 75 Kidnapping 375 King Ledley 149 178 244 King of Sydney 25 213 Kingdom of Fife 251 312 King’s Apostle 71 219 Kings Gambit 190 Kingsfort 283 Kingsgate Native 203 Kirklees 190 268 Kite Hunter 358 Kite Wood 170 224 285 Kitty Kiernan 102 182 Knot In Wood 147 Konig Concorde 186 314 Konig Turf 78 La Bamba 246 La Boum 30 93 249 Laa Rayb 220 Lady Alida 140 343 Lady Darshaan 167 306 Lady Jane Digby 246 Lady Marian 249 Lady of The Desert 192 240 317 Lady Springbank 313 Lahaleeb 19 90 Latin Love 257 Layali Al Andalus 309 Le Big 262 367 379 Le Havre 59 109 Les Fazzani 365 Lesson In Humility 104 137 171 219 Liang Kay 78 145 325 364 384 Libano 22 Lillie Langtry 102 133 216 258 L’Indiscreta 23 357 Lips Arrow 23 163 Lixirova 214 377 Long Lashes 218 Look Busy 84 171 Look Here 106 144 296 Lookin at Lucky 390 Lord High Admiral 369 Lord Admiral 189 Lord Shanakill 123 159 Los Cristianos 324 Louise Aron 38 Loup Breton 29 Love Lockdown 267 Lukrecia 67 Luminous Eyes 155 Lush Lashes 87 Mac Love 105 220 280 Mad About You 3 10 46 176 Magadan 48 97 Main Aim 95 172

Makt 354 Malibu Bay 26 Mambo Light 156 Manighar 272 324 368 Maoineach 5 104 Marfach 188 Marie de Medici 360 Mariol 96 219 260 Marshade 138 Masta Plasta 162 Mastercraftsman 83 123 236 270 319 Masterofthehorse 50 108 Mastery 55 136 181 234 285 Mata Keranjang 202 315 342 Mawatheeq 312 350 Midday 107 177 209 334 Middle Club 294 Midnight Martini 297 Mikhail Glinka 385 Miles Gloriosus 101 Mischief Making 35 Misheer 125 167 317 Miss Europa 100 160 Mister Manannan 200 277 Mister Tee 244 Moiqen 47 Mojave Moon 250 Moneycantbuymelove 209 Monitor Closely 234 285 Monsieur Chevalier 200 238 267 Montaff 56 Mood Music 66 Morana 338 Morgan Drive 62 357 372 Mourayan 24 60 151 221 Mourilyan 204 Mr Brock 184 Mudaaraah 252 Mullein 310 Murcielago 322 Muriel 195 Music Show 349 My Sweet Baby 38 Nantha 355 Neatico 380 Nehaam 353 Neon Light 366 Never On Sunday 81 128 Nianga 366 Night Magic 44 100 160 211 365 Night of Magic 88 329 Noble Alpha 264 358 Norderney 160 303 344 Novita 67 Occhio della Mente 375 Oh Goodness Me 3 90 Oh Mambo Girl 140 Oiseau de Feu 12 112 159 On Est Bien 14 On Verra 294 333 One Clever Cat 165 Only Green 11 Ordnance Row 253 255 Oriental Lion 118 Orizaba 112 Orpen Grey 169 Orpen Shadow 138 Osservatorio 22 Ostland 9 Ouqba 126 352 Our Jonathan 339 376 Paco Boy 28 121 201 Palavicini 242 347 Panyu 118 Papetti 31 Passion For Gold 309 385 Patkai 35 94 129 Pearlescence 222 Peinture Rare 222 323 Peligroso 103 Penny’s Gift 113 Perfect Polly 228 Perfect Stride 242 280 Perfect Symmetry 188 Perfect Truth 215 Pipedreamer 27 327 Pleasant Day 363 Please Sing 63 208 Plum Pudding 226 Plumania 15 117 212 291 Poet 230 269 287 Poet’s Voice 235 284 Pointilliste 30 80 288 Pollenator 279 Pont des Arts 363 Poseidon Adventure 154 Pounced 332 Pouvoir Absolu 261 Precious Boy 36 115 194 225 Premio Loco 2 314 Pressing 101 194 381 Prime Defender 183 Prince Flori 141 Prince Siegfried 197 Princess Taylor 73

Profound Beauty 146 221 Prompter 338 Proportional 13 212 Proviso 210 275 Pure Poetry 18 Pusey Street Lady 147 Putney Bridge 184 304 Quarrel 298 Querari 186 213 303 Quetsche 111 Quijano 119 Quiza Quiza Quiza 88 Racinger 4 259 373 Radiohead 132 241 318 Rainbow Dancing 371 Rainbow View 135 209 266 Rakaan 124 Ravenel 341 Rayeni 83 Ready’s Echo 391 Recharge 6 Red Jazz 169 Red Rock Canyon 175 229 Regal Parade 199 226 265 Reggane 98 135 Reignier 132 Remarque 62 Reverence 256 Rio de La Plata 316 Rip Van Winkle 157 201 308 Rock of Rochelle 367 Rockhorse 340 379 Roi de Vitesse 173 Roman Empress 239 281 Rosanara 333 374 Rose Hip 305 Roses For The Lady 177 Royal And Regal 237 Royal Rock 337 Ruby Dancer 23 Runaway 81 Ruten 82 Sahpresa 115 259 326 Salut L’Africain 378 San Sicharia 63 104 Sand Vixen 192 277 Sans Chichi 304 Sans Frontieres 18 72 Sant’antonio 359 382 Saphir 44 103 Saphira’s Fire 348 Sariska 70 107 177 239 350 Sassoaloro 329 Sayif 310 Scenic Blast 122 Schiaparelli 168 204 250 282 359 368 Schiller Danon 384 Schutzenjunker 345 Scintillo 2 53 97 Sea The Stars 40 108 157 236 270 330 Sebastian Flyte 263 315 Sehrezad 145 186 381 Select 208 Selmis 31 77 Sent From Heaven 218 252 Serious Attitude 171 Set Sail 236 Seta 279 Sevenna 205 Shahwardi 354 Shakespearean 173 245 Shalanaya 334 Shamakiya 111 152 Shamalgan 356 Shawnee Saga 33 82 Shemima 34 180 227 Shemiyla 371 She’s Our Mark 189 281 Showcasing 238 318 Shreyas 221 269 Silver Arrow 381 Silver Frost 12 59 Silver Grecian 173 284 Silver Grey 336 Simenon 338 Sir Parky 315 Siyouni 193 274 332 Smart Coco 5 Smooth Operator 143 262 Snaefell 150 293 Snow Fairy 252 Soberania 211 Soneva 13 223 Sorciere 214 295 Sordino 158 Sottone 22 Soul City 83 South Easter 52 Spacious 110 127 166 326 Spanish Moon 153 290 Special Duty 193 247 317 Sri Putra 232 St Nicholas Abbey 309 362 Stacelita 79 117 291

Star Ruby 70 Starfala 161 276 Stargaze 207 Starlish 131 370 Staying On 51 175 Steele Tango 17 347 Stern Opinion 289 Steuben 364 Stotsfold 92 131 280 Strike The Deal 299 Sugar Free 256 Summer Fete 208 Summit Surge 65 Super Sleuth 19 42 Sweet Hearth 321 Sworn Pro 344 Synergy 383 Taajub 238 339 Tabassum 320 349 Tactic 170 Tamagin 310 Tamarind 215 Tamazirte 13 58 117 322 Tanoura 116 276 323 Tarkheena Prince 329 Tartan Bearer 27 128 191 Tassara 32 Tastahil 21 94 361 Tauman 375 Tawaabb 132 Tax Free 71 99 Tayseer 260 Tazeez 17 Telluride 49 Tempelstern 325 Termagant 258 Terre du Vent 152 Thinking Robins 372 The Betchworth Kid 204 The Bogberry 7 The Bull Hayes 91 The Miniver Rose 276 Themelie Island 302 344 Three Bodies 232 Three Rocks 65 176 230 328 Titus Shadow 357 372 Tiza 179 Topclas 14 Total Gallery 203 299 331 Toughness Danon 158 Tres Rapide 34 89 227 Trincot 7 77 194 Triple Aspect 162 337 Turati 55 382 Twice Over 17 76 350 Urban Poet 198 Utmost Respect 71 86 Uvinza 130 Vale of York 307 342 Varenar 143 275 321 Ventura 385 Veracity 74 Vertigineux 36 Vesuve 54 Victoria Montoya 205 Villa Molitor 15 Virginia Hall 243 Virtual 28 76 233 271 Viscount Nelson 284 Vision d’Etat 7 29 128 290 Vocalised 20 45 Voila Ici 61 119 180 302 359 382 Vol de Nuit 61 Wadaat 88 Wajir 8 49 272 Walero 367 Walk On Bye 178 196 Walzertraum 254 War Artist 262 289 331 Warringah 206 Waseet 307 Westphalia 12 59 109 Whispered Dreams 156 Wi Dud 84 Wiener Walzer 118 158 231 Wiesenpfad 254 Wilside 165 223 Win For Sure 340 Winkle 48 180 World Heritage 120 197 300 Xtension 124 202 351 Yankee Doodle 136 146 Yeats 129 335 You’ll Be Mine 306 Youmzain 106 153 273 330 Your Old Pal 134 Zacinto 253 308 Zafisio 57 287 373 384 Zanzibari 214 Zaungast 9 141 Zaya 195 Zazou 385 Zeitoper 356

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New this month: National Hunt Graded races Date 02/10 03/10 04/10 04/10 04/10 11/10 11/10 15/10 15/10 18/10 24/10 24/10 25/10 31/10 31/10 31/10 31/10 03/11 06/11 06/11 07/11 07/11 07/11 08/11 08/11 08/11 13/11 14/11 14/11 14/11 15/11 15/11 15/11 15/11 15/11 15/11 15/11 15/11 18/11 18/11 21/11 21/11 22/11 22/11 27/11 28/11 28/11 28/11 28/11 28/11

Grade Race (course) GrC G2 G2 G3 G3 G3 GrA G3 G3 GrB G2 G2 G3 G3 GrC G2 G2 G2 G3 G3 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G3 G2 G3 G2 G3 G3 G3 GrC GrC G3 G2 G2 G2 G3 G2 G2 G2 G2 GrB G2 G2 G3 G3 GrC GrC

Kilkenny Racing Festival H Hurdle (Gowran Park) Gowran Park Champion Chase (Gowran Park) Friends Of Tipperary Hurdle (Tipperary) Like-A-Butterfly Novice Chase (Tipperary) Joe Mac Hurdle (Tipperary) Pricewaterhousecoopers Chase (Limerick) Munster National H Chase (Limerick) Buck House Novice Chase (Punchestown) Carvill's Hill Chase (Punchestown) Kinsale H Chase (Cork) Old Roan H Chase (Aintree) Persian War Novices' Hurdle (Chepstow) Ballybrit Novice Chase (Galway) Popular Square Chase (Naas) Brown Lad H Hurdle (Naas) Charlie Hall Chase (Wetherby) West Yorkshire Hurdle (Wetherby) William Hill Haldon Gold Cup H Chase (Exeter) Hamptons Furnishings Novice Hurdle (Down Royal) WKD Core Hurdle (Down Royal) Elite Hurdle (Wincanton) Ladbrokes.com Chase (Down Royal) Rising Stars Novices' Chase (Wincanton) Lismullen Hurdle (Navan) Fortria Chase (Navan) For Auction Hurdle (Navan) Sharp Novices' Hurdle (Cheltenham) Servo Trophy H Chase (Cheltenham) Prestbury Juvenile Novices' Hurdle (Cheltenham) Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase (Cheltenham) Florida Pearl Novice Chase (Punchestown) Greatwood H Hurdle (Cheltenham) Paddypower.com H Hurdle (Cork) Cork Grand National H Chase (Cork) Dial-A-Bet Novice Hurdle (Cork) Craddockstown Novice Chase (Punchestown) November Novices' Chase (Cheltenham) Cleanevent Novices' Hurdle (Cheltenham) TA Morris Memorial Mares Novice Chase (Clonmel) Clonmel Oil Chase (Clonmel) Amlin 1965 Chase (Ascot) Ascot Hurdle (Ascot) Monksfield Novice Hurdle (Navan) Troytown H Chase (Navan) Berkshire Novices' Chase (Newbury) Long Distance Hurdle (Newbury) Winter Festival Juvenile Hurdle (Fairyhouse) Hennessy Gold Cup H Chase (Newbury) Porterstown Chase (Fairyhouse) Bar One Racing H Hurdle (Fairyhouse)

Dist

Horse

Age

Sex

24f 20f 16f 20f 16f 17f 24f 18f 25f 16f 20f 20f 17f 16f 20f 25f 25f 17.5f 16f 16f 16f 20f 21f 20f 16f 16f 16.5f 27.5f 16.5f 20.5f 22f 16.5f 20f 28f 24f 16f 16f 21f 20f 20f 19f 19.5f 20f 24f 20f 24.5f 16f 26.5f 29f 28f

Baily Rock (IRE) The Fonze (IRE) Go Native (IRE) Archie Boy (IRE) Fosters Cross (IRE) Let Yourself Go (IRE) Treacle (IRE) Sizing Europe (IRE) Casey Jones (IRE) Keys Pride (IRE) Monet's Garden (IRE) Reve De Sivola (IRE) Fosters Cross (IRE) Tranquil Sea (IRE) Montana Slim (IRE) Deep Purple (GB) Fair Along (GER) Planet Of Sound (GB) Premier Victory (IRE) Voler La Vedette (IRE) Celestial Halo (IRE) Herecomesthetruth (IRE) Red Admiral (USA) Aitmatov (GER) Big Zeb (IRE) Judge Roy Bean (IRE) Loosen My Load (IRE) Galant Nuit (FR) Pistolet Noir (FR) Tranquil Sea (IRE) Aranleigh (IRE) Khyber Kim (GB) Lucky At Last (IRE) Our Monty (IRE) Premier Victory (IRE) Sizing Europe (IRE) Tataniano (FR) Tell Massini (IRE) Moskova (IRE) Watson Lake (IRE) Albertas Run (IRE) Zaynar (FR) The Hurl (IRE) Beroni (IRE) Punchestowns (FR) Big Buck's (FR) Cross Appeal (IRE) Denman (IRE) Parsons Pistol (IRE) Thousand Stars (FR)

6 8 6 7 7 7 8 7 8 9 11 4 7 7 7 8 7 7 5 5 5 7 7 8 8 6 5 5 3 7 7 7 7 6 5 7 5 5 6 11 8 4 6 7 6 6 3 9 7 5

G G G G G G G G G M G G G G G G G G M M G G G G G G G G G G G G G G M G G G M G G G G G G G G G G G

Sire

Dam

Broodmare Sire

Supreme Leader Desert Sun Double Eclipse (IRE) Basanta (IRE) Dr Massini (IRE) Zaffaran (USA) Zaffaran (USA) Pistolet Bleu (IRE) Oscar (IRE) Bob Back (USA) Roselier (FR) Assessor (IRE) Dr Massini (IRE) Sea Raven (IRE) Accordion Halling (USA) Alkalde (GER) Kayf Tara (GB) Winged Love (IRE) King's Theatre (IRE) Galileo (IRE) Presenting (GB) Red Ransom (USA) Lomitas (GB) Oscar (IRE) Sadler's Wells (USA) Dushyantor (USA) Comte du Bourg (FR) Maille Pistol (FR) Sea Raven (IRE) Insan Mujahid (USA) City Honours (USA) Montjeu (IRE) Winged Love (IRE) Pistolet Bleu (IRE) Sassanian (USA) Dr Massini (IRE) Montjeu (IRE) Be My Native (USA) Accordion Daylami (IRE) Supreme Leader Accordion Morespeed Cadoudal (FR) Cape Cross (IRE) Presenting (GB) Pistolet Bleu (IRE) Grey Risk (FR)

Knapping Princess (IRE) Ultimate Beat (USA) Native Idea (IRE) Darial Mill (IRE) Francie's Treble Auburn Princess (IRE) Current Liability Jennie Dun (IRE) Arborfield Brook Thats Irish Royal Remainder (IRE) Eva De Chalamont (FR) Francie's Treble Silver Valley (IRE) Top Girl (IRE) Seal Indigo (IRE) Fairy Tango (FR) Herald The Dawn Kiora Lady (IRE) Steel Grey Lady (IRE) Pay The Bank Beagan Rose (IRE) Ausherra (USA) Atoka (GER) Our Siveen Be My Hope (IRE) The Kids Dante (IRE) Little Blue (FR) Black Et Or (FR) Silver Valley (IRE) Lexy Lady Jungle Rose Leixlip Belle (IRE) She's Our Mare (IRE) Kiora Lady (IRE) Jennie Dun (IRE) Rosa Carola (FR) Kissantell (IRE) Russian Rebel (GB) Magneeto (IRE) Holly Grove Lass Zainta (IRE) No Dunce (IRE) Niamh's Dream (IRE) History (FR) Buck's (FR) Hadeb (GB) Polly Puttens Parsons Honour (IRE) Livaniana (FR)

Prince Of Birds Go And Go Be My Native Salluceva Quayside Arapahos Caribo Mandalus Over The River Furry Glen Remainder Man Iron Duke Quayside Henbit (USA) High Top Glenstal Acatenango Dubassoff (USA) King's Ride Roselier (FR) High Top Roselier (FR) Diesis Kaiseradler Deep Run Be My Native (USA) Phardante (FR) Reve Bleu (FR) Noir Et Or Henbit (USA) Strong Gale Shirley Heights Camden Town Commanche Run King's Ride Mandalus Rose Laurel Broken Hearted Machiavellian (USA) Brush Aside (USA) Le Moss Kahyasi Nordance (USA) Kambalda Alesso (USA) Le Glorieux Unfuwain (USA) Pollerton The Parson Saint Estephe (FR)

Index 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54

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NEWS FOCUS The big stories in the racing world

No cheer with 2009 results A drop of £195 million in two years shows how bloodstock sales have suffered in the recession urnover at Britain and Ireland’s four main sales companies has dropped by a massive £195 million in two years, emphasising just how much the bloodstock industry has been affected by the global credit crunch.

The total spent at Tattersalls, Doncaster, Goffs and Tattersalls Ireland in 2009 equated to £265,378,176 (using an exchange rate of €1 = £0.90), which marks a 42% decline on the 2007 aggregate of £460,262,410.

Tattersalls was the only one of the four companies to show a small advance in 2009, although its £177.8 million

T

Tattersalls performed better than other British and Irish auction houses

turnover was still 31% smaller than in 2007. Tattersalls’ Irish division, heavily dependent on the jumping market, has taken the biggest percentage hit, with spending dropping by

68.2% to £16.5m over that two-year period.

The combined DBS/Goffs group turnover has fallen by over half from £151.5m to £71m since 2007.

British and Irish sales turnover Doncaster

2009 (all £)

2008

2007

% change

26,602,400

36,360,725

40,984,649

-35.1

Goffs

44,440,996

63,738,785

110,523,670

-59.8

Tattersalls Ire

16,456,590

26,797,093

51,797,146

-68.2

Tattersalls UK

177,878,190

175,954,222

256,956,945

-30.8

TOTAL

265,378,176

302,850,825

460,262,410

-42.3

Overseas sales turnover 2009 (all £)

2008

2007

% change

Arqana

68,205,600

68,020,830

79,702,110

-14.4

Keeneland

237,729,600

360,177,840

489,240,600

-51.4

(€1 = £0.90, $1 = £0.60)

Meanwhile, Tattersalls’ market share in Britain and Ireland has increased from 60.6% to 67%.

It is a challenging time for all of the sales companies, who have been hit as much as any bloodstock sector by the economy. Both Tattersalls Ireland and Goffs’ annual turnovers were at their lowest since 1996, while Doncaster’s aggregate had regressed to 2003 levels.

The drops in spending will affect hugely the companies’ commission and entry fee income.

In France, Arqana managed to show a fractional increase in turnover for the past two years of around £68m, while the biggest hit by any northern hemisphere sales company came at Keeneland.

The American goliath, whose annual take traditionally surpasses the whole of the British and Irish market, lost over £250m in two years, with spending falling by 51% to £237.7m. Like the two Irish companies, Keeneland’s annual turnover was its lowest since 1996.

Arqana figures leave French feeling flush

The buyers were again out in force at Deauville

The Arqana December breeding stock and foal sale at Deauville continued a good year for the French sales company, with a turnover of €13,389,500, up 15.7% on the previous year. The €14,000 median was up by 40%, while the €26,151 average increased by 4.4%.

Aquarelle Bleue, a daughter of threetime Group 1 winner Aquarelliste, is set to visit Sea The Stars at his new home at Gilltown Stud in Ireland next year after selling for €520,000.

Nicolas de Watrigant, who trades as Mandore International, bought the mare, covered by Sea The Stars’s sire Cape Cross, on behalf of the six-time Group 1 winner’s owner/breeders, Ling Tsui and family.

As in Newmarket a few days earlier, Australian and Japanese buyers made their presence felt, with the Yoshida brothers’ Shadai Corporation paying €200,000 for Mrs Snow, a late entry owned and bred by Darley’s advertising guru Jocelyn Targett. >> Arqana’s Australian representative

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NEWS FOCUS

>> Damon Gabbedy, who trades as Belmont Bloodstock, bought Dowinga for €200,000 on behalf of Nathan Tinkler’s Patinack Farm.

The dearest foal was an Oasis Dream colt out of a daughter of Hatoof, bred by Meridian International. He was knocked down to Newmarket agent Mags O’Toole for €160,000.

Top Lots Horse (age/sex/sire)

Consignor

Price (€)

Buyer

Aquarelle Bleue (5m Sadler´s Wells)

Haras du Mezeray

520,000

Mandore International

Porlezza (10m Sicyos)

Haras d’Ellon

320,000

MAB Agency

Towards (3f Fusaichi Pegasus)

Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard

300,000

Blue Sky Bloodstock

Rex Regina (3f King´s Best)

Haras des Capucines

225,000

Anthony Stroud

Saturnine (4f Galileo)

N Clement

215,000

Meridian International

Never Busy (3f Gone West)

Wertheimer & Frere

205,000

Margaret O’Toole

Mrs Snow (6m Singspiel)

Haras du Logis

200,000

Shadai Corporation

Dowinga (3f Hawk Wing)

Haras de Grandcamp

200,000

Belmont Bloodstock

Langs Lash (3f Noverre)

Haras du Mezeray

200,000

Kern/Lillingston Assoc.

Summer Stage (6m In The Wings)

Haras du Mezeray

190,000

Agence FIPS

Madame Trop Vite (3f Invincible Spirit)

Bansha House Stables

190,000

Belmont Bloodstock

Irish budget cuts anger Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Chairman Joe Foley has joined in a chorus of disapproval following the news that Irish racing will have its funding reduced in 2010, announced by Finance Minister Brian Lenihan in his budget on December 9.

Horse Racing Ireland faces a cut in funding of just over €7 million – or 13% – which is certain to have a detrimental effect on prize-money, racecourses, integrity costs, Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, and many other areas. Employment levels are also likely to be threatened.

Foley said: “The announcement of a further cut of approximately 13% could prove to be the last straw for the Irish bloodstock and racing industry.

“Over one quarter of racing’s budget has been slashed in the last two years and this latest cut could prove to be catastrophic for our industry.”

While Ireland, along with the rest of the world, is suffering from the economic recession, it was hoped that the well-produced, pre-budget Dukes Report would convince government of the need to maintain the levels of funding and to implement a long-term funding strategy. An emphasis was placed on the returns to

the exchequer and the levels of employment in the industry.

Proposals are to be submitted early next year to the Irish government which would involve a radical overhaul of the gambling legislation in Ireland, tackling among other things the thorny issue of internet gambling and its lack of contribution to the exchequer. Hope exists that this could provide a financial basis to allow for a proper long-term funding structure.

This latest cut is the third since October 2008. While it might have been naive to think that racing would suffer no cuts in what was an austere budget, the scale of the cuts has left the industry wounded and perplexed.

Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of HRI, summed up the situation when he warned that the industry is in a serious position, with loss of sponsors and a fall in entries adding to the woes of the ruling body.

Joe Foley: cuts “catastrophic”

10 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

VAT changes due A number of changes to the European VAT regime come into effect on January 1, some of which will affect the UK bloodstock industry.

The changes are in part an attempt to simplify the impact on cross-border supplies and also to provide greater protection against the various forms of crossborder VAT fraud.

The new position will be that the supply is taxed where the customer belongs, as opposed to where the supplier belongs.

Certain transactions that have in the past been subject to UK VAT will become outside the scope; similarly some supplies that were taxed in another member state will now be taxed in the UK. From January 1, 2010: • The sale of a share in a racehorse by a UK business to a business in another country will not attract UK VAT. • The provision of nominations by a UK business to a non-UK business will not attract UK VAT. • The provision of services by a UK vet to a nonUK business will not attract UK VAT.

In each of these situations, the customer should account for VAT through their own VAT return in their own country, and the UK supplier should include the sale in a quarterly EC Sales List.

VAT-registered businesses making supplies of services where the VAT liability is passed to a customer in another member state must submit a monthly sales listing of these sales.

The sales list will be similar to the one that is currently completed for cross-border supplies of goods – which in future must also be completed on a monthly basis.

From January 1, claims for refund of VAT incurred elsewhere in the EU will be submitted electronically to the UK authorities.

This will remove the need to file claims in the country in which the VAT was incurred. The deadline for making claims is to be extended from June 30 to September 30.

TBA members can receive initial free advice from James Cowper. Call 01635 35255, quoting your TBA number and membership details.