Thoroughbred Owner Breeder by The Owner Breeder

£4.95 JANUARY 2018 ISSUE 161

THE

SIX MILLION PLUS

GUINEA GIRL

Marsha makes history at Tattersalls

Evan Williams

Top trainer’s tough approach

New sires

Essential guide to 2018 freshmen

Joao Moreira

Hong Kong star exclusive

Jan_161_CoverV4.indd 1

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15/12/2017 16:31

36868_Mastercraftsman_TBOB_DPS_Jan18.qxp_Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder 11/12/2017 17:07 Page 1

OFF LIMITS won the Matriarch StakesGr.1 at Del Mar on 26th Nov. to make it four straight wins.

WIND CHIMES won the Prix HerodL.R. at Chantilly on 21st Nov. to remain unbeaten. EMERALD MASTER won the Prix Kantar at Saint Cloud on 23rd Nov. for Mario Hofer and will now be aimed at the German DerbyGr.1

“ She put up a very impressive performance against the colts and will head straigh t for the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Trainer of Wind Chimes” Andre Fabre

21 individual 2YO winners and 10 Group/Listed winners in 2017 16 Group winners from his first 3 crops including 4 Gr.1 winners

• AUSTRALIA • CAMELOT • CARAVAGGIO • CHURCHILL • EXCELEBRATION • FASTNET ROCK • FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND • GALILEO • GLENEAGLES • • HIGHLAND REEL • HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR• IVAWOOD • KINGSTON HILL • MASTERCRAFTSMAN • NO NAY NEVER • PRIDE OF DUBAI • REQUINTO • ROCK OF GIBRALTAR • • RULER OF THE WORLD • STARSPANGLEDBANNER • THE GURKHA • WAR COMMAND • ZOFFANY •

36868_Mastercraftsman_TBOB_DPS_Jan18.qxp_Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder 11/12/2017 17:07 Page 2

5 -length Listed winner ALPHA CENTAURI

ALPHA CENTAURI STREAM SONG EXTRA ELUSIVE THE KING STILL STANDING MY LORD AND MASTER LUSH LIFE

Mrs J Harrington / The Niarchos Family John Gosden / George Strawbridge Roger Charlton / Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar Mrs J Harrington / Mill House LLC Mrs J Harrington / Mrs P K Cooper William Haggas / T Bridge Jamie Osborne / Michael Buckley

STREAM SONG

2017 yearlings in demand!

€445,000 (Godolphin) €310,000 (Orbis Bloodstock) €250,000 (S.A. Roberts) €235,000 (Bertrand Le Metayer) €230,000 (China Horse Club) €210,000 (Blandford Bloodstock) etc.

THE KING

STILL STANDING

Contact: Coolmore Stud, Fethard, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Ireland. Tel: 353-52-6131298. Fax: 353-52-6131382. Christy Grassick, David O’Loughlin, Eddie Fitzpatrick, Tim Corballis, Maurice Moloney, Gerry Aherne, Mathieu Legars or Jason Walsh. Tom Gaffney, David Magnier, Joe Hernon, John Kennedy or Cathal Murphy: 353-25-31966/31689. Kevin Buckley (UK Rep.) 44-7827-795156. E-mail: sales@coolmore.ie Web site: www.coolmore.com All stallions nominated to EBF.

PEACE ENVOY

NEW FOR 2018

Power (GB) ex Hoh My Darling (GB)

• Winner of Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Anglesey Stakes (Gr.3) • Winner of Coolmore War Command Rochestown (C & G) Stakes (LR) • Placed 3rd in the Darley Prix Morny (Gr.1) (2yo Colts & Fillies) (Turf) to Lady Aurelia • 2nd in the GAIN Railway Stakes (Gr.2) • Highest RPR 112 OR 105

“He was a very smart juvenile.”

“He reminds me very much of Rock of Gibraltar.”

Ryan Moore

Aidan O’Brien

WORSALL GRANGE FARM

Low Worsall, North Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom Tel: 01642 789800 www.worsallgrange.com NOMINATIONS LUCY HORNER - Main Office: 01642 789800 Mobile: 07581107071 Email: Lucy@worsallgrange.com

Worsall Grange|2017|Peace Envoy|OB|A4|210mm(w) x 297mm.indd 1

08/11/2017 14:51

Welcome

Six appeal shows why fillies should be cherished

Editor: Edward Rosenthal Bloodstock Editor: Emma Berry Luxury Editor: Sarah Rodrigues Fashion Editor: Christopher Modoo Design/production: Thoroughbred Group Editorial: First Floor, 75 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LS Tel: 020 7152 0209 Fax: 020 7152 0213 editor@ownerbreeder.co.uk www.ownerbreeder.co.uk Twitter: @OwnerBreeder Equine Advertising: Giles Anderson/ Oscar Yeadon UK: 01380 816777 IRE: 041 971 2000 USA: 1 888 218 4430 advertise@anderson-co.com Luxury/Fashion Advertising: Nick Edgley Tel: 07774703491 nedgley@nemediaworld.com

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Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder incorporating Pacemaker is published by a Mutual Trading Company owned jointly by the Racehorse Owners Association and Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association is a registered charity No. 1134293 Editorial views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the ROA or TBA Our monthly average readership is 20,000 Racehorse Owners Association Ltd First Floor, 75 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LS Tel: 020 7152 0200 • Fax: 020 7152 0213 info@roa.co.uk • www.roa.co.uk Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Stanstead House, The Avenue, Newmarket CB8 9AA Tel: 01638 661 321 • Fax: 01638 665621 info@thetba.co.uk • www.thetba.co.uk

£4.95 JANUARY 2018 ISSUE 161

THE

SIX MILLION PLUS

GUINEA GIRL

Marsha makes history at Tattersalls

Evan Williams

Top trainer’s tough approach

New sires

Essential guide to 2018 freshmen

Joao Moreira

Hong Kong star exclusive

Jan_161_CoverV4.indd 1

www.ownerbreeder.co.uk

Cover: Marsha is led into the ring at Tattersalls in December before her sale for 6,000,000 guineas Photo: Tattersalls

Edward Rosenthal Editor

15/12/2017 16:31

n his column last month, Tony Morris was lamenting the lack of diversity in the breeding industry, one that has “looked to Northern Dancer for everything” and now finds itself “boxed into a corner.” He continued: “If there has been a positive development in the last few years, it has been the emergence of Acclamation as a significant influence in pedigrees.” Those words have taken on extra resonance following Coolmore’s purchase of Acclamation’s daughter, Marsha, for a record 6,000,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Mares Sale in December. What an incentive to buy and race a filly! Coolmore plans to send its new purchase to Galileo. What type of horse this liaison will produce is uncertain, but the old adage of breeding the best to the best and hoping for the best is our best guide at the moment. For all Marsha’s achievements on the track – her seven sprint wins include Group 1 victories in the Prix de l’Abbaye and Nunthorpe Stakes – it may well be that the breeding shed is where her real legacy is secured. Others that found new homes at Tattersalls included the final offerings from the Ballymacoll Stud dispersal. Long-time Stud Manager Peter Reynolds led round Islington, winner of four Group 1s in the famous Lord Weinstock silks, before her sale for 270,000gns. Full details and analysis of the sale results can be found in Sales Circuit on pages 81-90. You won’t find Evan Williams at many Flat sales. The Vale of Glamorgan handler is a National Hunt man to his core, the product of a youth spent farming, hunting and point-topointing. Williams’ biggest supporters are William and Angela Rucker, teaming up with the likes of State Of Play, Cappa Bleu and current exciting novice hurdler, Chooseyourweapon. The trainer and owners share a love of staying chasers and a mindset that is always looking to the future. “They like to buy a nice type of horse and they’re National Hunt people through and through – the family is steeped in the history of it,” Williams tells Tom Peacock in a brilliantly frank

interview (The Big Interview, pages 56-60). “We enjoy doing the sales together and we’ll all have a strong opinion on what the horses have and don’t have. We’ll get it wrong a lot, and sometimes get it right. We generally sing off the same hymn-sheet but have opinions and aren’t afraid to air them. “I’m quite old-fashioned in that I like to give horses time, and they’re very similar. As they’re country people, they understand the job.” December saw the ROA Horseracing Awards take place in London and a superb evening saw the past season’s Flat and NH stars take centre stage.

“The breeding shed is where her real legacy will be secured” Enable, not surprisingly, was the star of the show. Her brilliant year, which yielded five Group 1s, helped the daughter of Nathaniel to scoop three trophies, including Horse of the Year, while Khalid Abdullah was named Owner of the Year. In racing, it is often said that the people behind the scenes rarely receive the credit they deserve, so we are only too pleased to include a ‘Team Enable’ photo within the ROA Horseracing Awards coverage (pages 41-53). Another behind-the-scenes, but nonetheless vital, role is that carried out by Dr Jerry Hill, the BHA’s Chief Medical Officer. It is his job to ensure the sport adheres to best practice where the safety and welfare of jockeys is concerned. As Tim Richards finds out (Talking To, pages 6266), plenty of progress has been made to both safeguard riders on the racecourse and ensure they have the support they need when it comes to their diet and mental health.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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Contents

January 2018

News & Views

International Scene

ROA Leader

View from Ireland

Let’s protect selling races

TBA Leader Breeders need a level playing field

11 13

Trying to crack America

Features

24 26

Desert Orchid in 1989

Champions crowned in London

Patek Philippe and property

Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury

18 22

ROA Horseracing Awards

Luxury & Lifestyle Beautiful watches and Alpine escapes

From The Archives

Howard Wright Identification must be better

The Big Picture

Tony Morris Recalling a golden era

Francois Nicolle hits big time

Around The Globe

Changes News in a nutshell

Continental Tales

News Peter Walwyn tribute

Warren O’Connor’s warning

The Big Interview 74

With trainer Evan Williams

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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128

Features

Forum

Talking To The BHA’s Dr Jerry Hill

ROA Forum 62

New sires for 2018 Another bumper recruitment in Europe

The revised Codes of Practice

Data Book

122

24 Hours With... Top jockey Joao Moreira

128

Forum The Thoroughbred Club Overbury Stud visit

110 119

European Pattern

Dr Statz Pivotal excels in all sectors

National Hunt Stallion Showcase

Vet Forum

Caulfield Files The rise of Haras de Bonneval’s Siyouni

TBA Forum 69

Sales Circuit Breeding stock sales conclude on a high

Funding boost for 2018

Group winners and analysis

124

Did you know? Our monthly average readership is

20,000 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Jan_161_Contents.indd 7

15/12/2017 18:13

THERE’S A DEAL ON THE TABLE

CH T U D ART

AL H T LE CE FOR

ULYSSES

GARSWOOD

TWILIGHT SON

INTELLO

MA YSO

PIV

OTA

CALL US Cheveley Park Stud Duchess Drive, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 9DD +44 (0)1638 730316 • enquiries@cheveleypark.co.uk www.cheveleypark.co.uk • L@CPStudOfficial

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ROA Leader

Nicholas Cooper President

Sorry story of platers being sold down the river W

hat’s happening to the good old-fashioned British ‘seller’? A race once beloved by small owners and trainers now appears to be in terminal decline. Although selling races have always been synonymous with lowclass, midweek racing, they have invariably attracted the older type of horse that is well-known to the everyday follower of racing. There was often a fondness for horses referred to as ‘platers’ and, despite their mediocrity, they invariably produced competitive fields that made for good betting races. ‘Sellers’ that were weightfor age contests were also attractive to trainers as alternative races for horses that had become too high in the handicap. The scale of the decline is very significant. On the Flat in 2008 and 2009 there were more than 250 selling races a year, against 105 in 2017. Similarly, in the same period, jump-race ‘sellers’ have decreased from more than 100 races to fewer than 50, with only two selling chases in the whole calendar being run in 2017. Yet this decline has not made the remaining races any more popular. It seems horses who were once aimed at ‘sellers’ are simply finding other opportunities. In selling races, the winner of the race is auctioned, with the minimum auction price specified in the race conditions and set by the racecourses. Every other horse in the race is also eligible to be claimed for a higher price, which is generally double the starting auction price. So why are ‘sellers’ in such decline? It surely has much to do with the size of the commission deducted by most racecourses when a horse is sold in post-race auctions. In almost all cases, this is now an astonishing 50% of the sale price of the horse above the minimum auction price. This means that where a race has a minimum auction price of £3,000 and the horse is sold for, say, £10,000, the racecourse takes 50% of the £7,000 difference. Imagine how off-putting this is for the winning owner who has probably won less than £2,000 in prize-money. Even more so, if he or she wants to buy back their horse and then discovers they will also have to pay the same amount just to keep it. With this level of commission charged by racecourses, it is no wonder that owners and trainers have been increasingly put off running their horses in ‘sellers’. One man who is sure this is the case is Bill Farnsworth, Chief Executive of Musselburgh racecourse. Several years ago, Farnsworth viewed racecourses’ auction commission on selling races as unacceptably high and introduced a policy whereby Musselburgh would apply a much lower 5% commission to the auction price – to align with the percentage charged by auction houses – and 15% on horses being bought back by connections. But when most racecourses refused to follow this

example, an exasperated Musselburgh management dropped them from their programme. In these days of huge media rights payments being made to racecourses, it is hardly credible that the big racecourses groups, among others, continue to pursue a selling-race policy that allows them to extract relatively small sums of money from owners’ pockets. Worse still, is the fact that owners often don’t become aware of these conditions until it’s too late. And once they do, it is understandably a case of once bitten, twice shy. Since selling races have traditionally attracted good field

“On the Flat in 2008 and 2009 there were more than 250 selling races a year, against 105 in 2017” sizes and media rights payments are adversely affected by small fields, you could easily argue that racecourses should reverse this counter-productive and downright mean selling race policy, if only for themselves. And if they don’t, it will be the ROA’s duty to ensure all owners know what they’re getting into when they enter a horse in a selling race. This might hasten the race’s total demise or might just persuade racecourses to bring their commission rates down to acceptable levels, thereby revitalising a type of race that has been an important part of the racing programme for many years.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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Back at CHEVELEY PARK STUD in 2018 by popular demand

INTELLO ... and here are some of the reasons why...

Bred on the same Galileo – Danehill cross as FRANKEL

Unbeaten 2yo and Classic winner at 3 years

2017 yearlings made up to 425,000gns, averaging £73,000

2017 Breeze-Ups made up to 575,000gns, €340,000, etc

5 Already a Multiple Stakes Sire with his first crop 2yos in 2017 His principal winners included: SONJEU – 3 wins, including LR Prix Saraca; LOUIS D’OR – also LR placed; INTELLO KISS – also LR placed, and the unbeaten debutant winners INTELLOGENT, REGAL REALITY and KING AND EMPIRE. Fee:

£20,000

(1st Oct. SLF)

Duchess Drive, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 9DD +44 (0)1638 730316 • enquiries@cheveleypark.co.uk • www.cheveleypark.co.uk • L@CPStudOfficial

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TBA Leader

Julian Richmond-Watson Chairman

Reintroduction of breeders’ prizes under consideration

he enormous thought and effort being applied by the British Horseracing Authority and the European Pattern Committee into first arresting and then reversing the decline in the breeding of staying horses in Europe is extremely welcome. I have referred before to the consequences of not doing so, but they are worth repeating, because losing those staying genes and descending into a serious loss of variety in the race programme are so obvious to see in Australia. The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s most famous race and the dominance of European-bred horses in the latest running in November was even more pronounced than in previous years. In total, 18 of the 23 runners were bred in Europe. Rekindling, the winner, was bred by the Pocock family at their farm in Somerset, and five of the first ten home were British-bred. Of the other five, three were Irish-bred and two French-bred. The first of just three Australian-breds in the field finished 14th. Imagine the outcry across the British breeding industry, and particularly in the media, if the first ten home in any of our major Flat races were imported from, say, the USA. Clearly Britain still has a significant pool of mares and stallions capable of breeding useful staying racehorses. Provided there is a recognised, long-term plan to sustain stayers and staying races, with suitable incentives that acknowledge the extra time, cost and effort of getting the slower-maturing horse to the racecourse, then there is every chance of preserving that diverse gene pool, which is so essential not only to British Flat racing but also the survival of top-class National Hunt racing. Demand from around the world for European bloodstock is changing the dynamics of supply and demand from the model that has sustained the racing industry in this country for many years. The growth in exports to those countries that cannot breed horses, such as Hong Kong, or do not breed them in significant numbers, such as the Middle East, or no longer breed a certain type of horse, such as stayers in Australia, is ever increasing and will continue to put a strain on the supply side of our sport. That supply of horses to the industry in Britain is vital, because it will ensure sufficient runners for every sector and every distance category to thrive. Whatever the post-Brexit era may bring, to continue relying on imports from overseas to the level we currently do would be a dangerous and unsustainable way to secure our race programme. Despite some changes and recently publicised threats to the status quo across the Irish Sea and English Channel, British breeders do not operate on a level playing field with our European counterparts, since France’s breeders’ premiums

and Ireland’s tax incentives give their breeders an advantage. Therefore, Britain must look to incentivise owners and breeders to maintain and expand the supply of home-bred horses. The recent TBA/Breeders Strategy Review Group, which forms part of the BHA’s Strategy For Growth, has looked at various options to encourage British breeders, and the crossindustry group has decided to focus its thoughts on breeders’ premiums and how they might encourage breeders and breeding post-Brexit. The French use €26 million, ten per cent of their total prizemoney pot, to support premiums, and while Britain’s central funding is much smaller than in France, we need to make a start on a similar exercise.

“The French use €26 million, ten per cent of their total prize-money, to support premiums” Ten per cent of the levy distribution of approximately £50m to prize-money in 2017 would give the industry around £5m to be used to incentivise the breeding and racing of British-bred horses. I am confident that would make a substantial difference in the practice and perception of breeding and buying Britishbred horses in this country. Various other fiscal advantages could be examined, particularly those that might assist small breeders. Anything that enables those with a few mares to offset some of their costs, especially in terms of replacing in-training fillies for their breeding operations, must be worth considering. The TBA will work with others to examine the various options around these opportunities and bring forward proposals for consideration by the industry.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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15/12/2017 16:43

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News

Stories from the racing world

Peter Walwyn, 1933-2017 P

eter Walwyn, perhaps best known as victorious trainer in the ‘race of the century’ between Grundy and Bustino, has died aged 84. Walwyn – ‘Mr Lambourn’ to many – was champion Flat trainer in 1974 and 1975, the year that his best ever horse, Grundy, defeated Bustino in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in a head to head which has rarely, if ever, been bettered. Grundy had won the Irish 2,000 Guineas, Derby and Irish Derby before his famous Ascot triumph. Also famous – or perhaps infamous – was Walwyn’s combustible relationship with the Wildensteins. Matters came to a head in the summer of 1978 when the owners were highly critical of Pat Eddery’s ride on Buckskin in the Gold Cup at Ascot, and then when Crow, who had landed the Coronation Cup, incurred a tendon problem the following month in the countdown to the King George. Walwyn was told he would be losing the Wildenstein horses. He also enjoyed success in the 1,000 Guineas with Humble Duty in 1970, while in 1974 he won the Oaks with Polygamy and the Irish Derby with English Prince. As well as being champion trainer – decided on earnings – in 1974 and 1975, Walwyn was leading trainer by races won in those two years plus 1969, 1973, 1976 and 1977. The most wins in a British season came in 1975, when he had 121. Peter Walwyn was born in Hastings on July 1, 1933, and took out his licence in 1960. He saddled his first winner, Don Verde, over hurdles at Worcester on October 22, 1960, while his first success on

the Flat came the following year, also at Worcester, when Snaefell won on May 6. In 1965, the year of his first big winner, Mabel, in the Yorkshire Oaks, he moved to Seven Barrows, now home of reigning champion jumps trainer Nicky Henderson, where he was to stay until 1992. Before and after Seven Barrows, he was based at Windsor House. Walwyn retired from training in 1999, his last winner being Khasayl at Redcar on October 2 that year. He was an honorary member of the Jockey Club and was made an MBE in 2012 for services to horseracing. Grand National-winning trainer Nick Gaselee, whose sister was Walwyn’s late wife Virginia, widely known as ‘Bonk’, said: “Peter hadn’t been good for some time, but his record speaks for itself. In his heyday at Seven Barrows he was a wonderful trainer, and he was particularly loyal to his jockeys.

“He was passionate about Lambourn and started the Lambourn Trainers Association (LTA), and he was passionate about the countryside. “He was a complete one-off, a unique character and was affectionately known as ‘Big Pete’ by some and ‘Basil Fawlty’ by others, which was obvious if you knew some of his exploits, which were legendary.” Walwyn was Chairman of the LTA for a decade, and the current Chairman, Merrick Francis, said: “Even at the very end he was ringing me up and checking I was doing things properly – it’s very sad news. “He’s been ‘Mr Lambourn’ all his life and achieved an almighty amount. He was even responsible for the signs that say ‘Lambourn – Valley of the Racehorse’ when you drive into the village.” Henderson said: “It’s a sad day for Lambourn. I’d known him a long time. He was a fantastic trainer, and he and Bonk built Seven Barrows. They made the place. “It was a golden era, enormous fun, with some hysterical days and wonderful memories. Big Pete was passionate about everything – racing, Lambourn in particular, and field sports. They don’t make them like him any more.” Trainer Charlie Hills, son of another Lambourn stalwart, Barry Hills, wrote on Twitter: “Very sad to hear of the passing of Peter Walwyn. He was an amazing man, a real trailblazer in his profession and a huge friend to the village of Lambourn. It’s hard to put into words how much he will be missed.” Walwyn, whose cousin Fulke was also a trainer, is survived by children Edward and Kate, and two grandchildren.

Turner suspended for three months Hayley Turner has been suspended from riding for three months after placing bets while licensed as a jockey. The suspension comes into effect immediately but does not prohibit her from working on racecourses with ITV. Turner began betting in November 2015 after she retired from the saddle. Subsequently she returned to raceriding for one-off invitational events, later moving to ride full-time in France after authorities there introduced a 2kg weight allowance for all female jockeys.

Turner placed 164 bets over a period of approximately 18 months, generating a total profit of £160. BHA Chief Regulatory Officer Jamie Stier said: “It is a strict requirement under the rules of racing that licensed jockeys do not place bets on any races. “It is simply not appropriate for the public’s perception of the sport’s integrity that those who are licensed to ride in races should be able to bet on the sport, even on races in which they are not participating.”

Hayley Turner: TV work can continue

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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Changes

Racing’s news in a nutshell

People and Business South Western Railway Officials at Sandown pledge to discuss events of Tingle Creek day with the train company after railway users suffer severe travel problems. Steven Clements Cheltenham Festival-winning 31-year-old jockey quits the saddle, citing the mental and physical demands of making the weight as the biggest factor.

Steve Drowne

Group 1-winning jockey who has enjoyed over 1,400 victories retires from the saddle aged 45. Henry Plumptre Former Managing Director of Darley Australia will take over as Chief Executive of Cambridge Stud in New Zealand in April. Harry Beswick Fall at Sedgefield leaves the jump jockey with a fractured leg, broken hip, compressed vertebrae and broken nose. Harry Skelton Jump jockey brings up century of winners, remarkably every single one of them for his brother, trainer Dan Skelton. Will Fetherstone Conditional jockey quits riding aged 23 following an uphill battle with the scales.

Richard Hannon Classic-winning trainer fined £8,000 by the Disciplinary Panel after De Bruyne Horse tested positive for tramadol after winning the Woodcote Stakes. Mikey Fogarty Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey retires aged 27, saying: “I wouldn’t say I’ve fallen out of love with racing, I’d say I never loved it enough to start with.”

Sidelined jockey, 23, makes decision not to return to raceriding and will focus on a future training career.

Sam Waley-Cohen Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey, 35, is among nine new members of the Jockey Club appointed at the body’s winter meeting. Wanda Goldwag Stepping down as chair of the betting industry’s self-appointed watchdog the Senet Group to take up a new role in the health sector.

Also... GVC makes £3.9 billion play for Ladbrokes-Coral; GVC’s Kenny Alexander would be Chief Executive of the enlarged group. Chris McGrath is named Racing Writer of the Year for the third time at the HWPA Awards; Dan Abraham is Photographer of the Year for the fourth time. Sarah Harrison, Gambling Commission CEO, is to leave the regulator and take up a position with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Normandie Stud’s Philippa Cooper sells her operation to John and Mandy Hooper, who will use the farm as a base from which to breed showjumpers. More than 40 horses die at San Luis Rey Downs training centre in southern California following a forest fire that spread to the barns.

Horse Obituaries Collier Bay 27 Champion Hurdle winner of 1996 for owner Wally Sturt and trainer Jim Old; he also won the Imperial Cup at Sandown by 11 lengths and the Irish Champion Hurdle.

Sir Valentino 8 Multiple winner for the Tom George stable who suffered a fatal fall in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown last month.

Willy Twiston-Davies

Gayebury 7 Won three races over hurdles for Evan Williams having landed a bumper for previous trainer Tom Symonds. Fanciful Angel 5 Runner-up in the Arlington Million and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, he suffered a fatal injury in a freak stalls accident at Palm Meadows. Tour Des Champs 10 Colic claims the life of Sam Drinkwatertrained chaser, who put his young trainer on the map when winning at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

››

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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TWEENHILLS TIMES AN EYE FOR SUCCESS

January 2018

STREAK FOALS HOT PROPERTY The first crop of foals by Hot Streak sold particularly well at the four-day Tattersalls December Foal Sale. Eleven Hot Streaks sold for 25,000gns or above, with four making 50,000gns or more - impressive returns given his original stud fee was £7,000 (his 2018 fee is £6,000 Oct 1 SLF).

Hot Streak ex Crown filly, sold for 75,000gns

staff PROFILE Alex Lowe Nominations & Client Relations Time at Tweenhills so far… This is my third breeding season here. I look after the nomination sales for the stallions, which also incorporates marketing and client relations. I also play a large part in raceday hospitality. I am based in the bloodstock office where I assist David Redvers and Hannah Wall and I also help the racing office in the summer. …and outside of Tweenhills? They say don’t bring work home with you, but that’s not easily done when your boyfriend (Tom Ward) is assistant trainer to Richard Hannon. The operation has a close affiliation with Tweenhills and Qatar Racing having trained both Havana Gold and Harbour Watch. They have some exciting 2yos to train this year for us including the half-sister to Barney Roy and a lovely daughter by Charm Spirit purchased at Goffs. What do the next few months entail? Firstly, I will be following up all stallion enquiries and contracting all nominations. I’ll then work with the stud office to arrange coverings, record foalings and then in the spring, start visiting breeders. It’s a very rewarding job.

Hot Streak’s top lot was a daughter of Royal Applause mare Crown, bought for 75,000gns by Emerald Bloodstock on behalf of The Barns family. She was bred and consigned by Scarlett and Robin Knipe’s Cobhall Court Stud. Trickledown Stud consigned two Hot Streak colts purchased

by Blandford Bloodstock and Tally-Ho for 55,000gns each, both coincidentally out of mares by Oasis Dream. They were bred by Paradise Farm Stud and Cecil and Miss Alison Wiggins respectively. Five foals by Havana Gold made 46,000gns or more, including a filly bred by Natton House Thoroughbred Ltd. sold to Joe Foley for 72,000gns. Tweenhills sold a Havana Gold filly out of Exceedingly Rare who fetched 50,000gns, purchased by Equine Advisory Agency SAS and heads over to France. Our sincere thanks go to all breeders who sold foals by Tweenhills stallions in 2017.

QUIET SALE RECALLS CLARE HILLS When Quiet Reflection sold for 2.1m guineas at the Tattersalls Breeding Stock Sale, memories flooded back of a filly formerly owned by Tweenhills.

Clare Hills was sold to Paul Gardner in 2006 who retired her to stud. Her first foal was winner My Delirium, whose first foal in turn was Quiet Reflection!

“I trained her second dam, Clare Hills, and that’s what it was that caught my eye in the first place,” said trainer Karl Burke when explaining why he had given £44,000 for Quiet Reflection at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale in 2015. Clare Hills was bought by David Redvers for €35,000 and won her first two starts in 2005 for Dennis Fehan and Tweenhills Racing. They included the Listed Hilary Needler Trophy in which she beat the subsequent Gr. 1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Donna Blini.

Quiet Reflection lights up the ring (credit: Tattersalls)

KATIE’S PROVES A REAL DIAMOND Tweenhills enjoyed another successful Tattersalls Breeding Stock Sale, highlighted by selling Katie’s Diamond for 190,000gns.

As it happens, Katie’s Diamond made her winning debut carrying the yellow and white colours of the Ontoawinner Syndicate made famous by Quiet Reflection before being purchased in training by Qatar Racing and Barbara Keller for whom she won a Listed race on her next start. Katie’s Diamond was sold carrying her first foal, by Charm Spirit, and was purchased by Joe Foley, racing manager for Steve Parkin’s Clipper Logistics.

Tweenhills at Tattersalls

The Tweenhills’ draft of mares sold for a total of 634,300gns and also included Fine Blend, who sold for 80,000gns carrying to first-crop sire Hot Streak.

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

Changes Racehorse and stallion Movements and retirements Aclaim Phoenix Thoroughbreds adds to growing bloodstock portfolio with the purchase of a 50% stake in the National Stud’s newcomer.

Toast Of New York UAE Derby winner returns to the track after abortive stallion career and makes winning return for Jamie Osborne, Frankie Dettori and Al Shaqab.

Highland Reel Europe’s all-time leading earner bows out in triumph in Hong Kong by winning the Vase for a second time – the five-year-old will stand at Coolmore. Balios King Edward VII Stakes winner will begin his stallion career at Haras du Hoguenet in Normandy at a fee of €2,500.

Beware Chalk Pit 13-year-old ex-racehorse who took his amateur rider to the heights of the showing world earns him 2017 Retraining of Racehorses Horse of the Year title.

Kingfisher Runner-up in the 2014 Irish Derby and 2015 Gold Cup at Ascot is retired and will stand as a jumps sire at Haras du Mont Goubert in Normandy.

The Grey Gatsby Popular dual Group 1 winner is bought by Haras du Petit Tellier and will start his stallion career at the Normandy stud.

Gladiatorus 2009 Dubai Duty Free winner is to relocate from Allevamento di Besnate in Italy to David Bond’s Withyslade Farm in Salisbury in Wiltshire.

Elm Park Racing Post Trophy winner sold to start his stallion career at Haras du Saz near Nantes in a deal brokered by bloodstock agent Richard Venn.

Shakeel Grand Prix de Paris winner to stand at Clongiffen in County Meath alongside Laverock, Mamool, Mustameet and Pushkin.

Chestnut Ben Evergreen chaser who won a dozen of his 74 races – 11 of them over fences – is retired aged 12. Highland Colori Popular handicapper owned by Evan Sutherland is retired aged nine. In his career he won ten of his 67 races, including the 2013 Ayr Gold Cup, and earned almost £250,000. He will spend his retirement with groom Kayleigh Stephens.

People obituaries Marquesa de Moratalla 87 Leading racehorse owner whose famous red silks were synonymous with high-class chasers such as The Fellow, Algan and Ucello.

Gillon Aitken 84 Stalwart of the Newmarket stud scene who was immortalised in the statue of the handler and rearing stallion at the entrance to the town.

Frank Nash 79 Enjoyed back-to-back wins in what we now know as the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Drinny’s Double in the late 1960s.

Peter Walwyn 84 Former champion Flat trainer whose best horse was Grundy, and known as ‘Mr Lambourn’ after lifelong involvement in the training centre.

Sir John Cotterell 82 Racecourse steward, owner and member of the Jockey Club, who was a director of Hereford for more than 20 years.

Ned Morrissey 91 Owner-breeder who enjoyed many bigrace successes with his long-time friend Paddy Mullins. Derek Wilmot 70 Contribution to racing in Epsom was recognised with a Lifetime in Racing Award in November.

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The Big Picture

Not beyond Recall Whisper and Davy Russell have the edge after landing over the last in the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase at Newbury – formerly the Hennessy – but despite a gallant effort the duo were just unable to hold off closest pursuer Total Recall, whose jockey Paul Townend is inset holding aloft the trophy. Whisper was conceding the Willie Mullinstrained winner a stone and went down by a neck, having picked up a 4lb penalty for winning a two-horse race at Kempton the previous month Photos George Selwyn

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Ladbrokes Trophy

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naf-raceon-european trainer editorial-A4-17.qxp_0 04/12/2017 14:28 Page 1

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From The Archives

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Desert Orchid on January 14, 1989

Dessie digs deep The Victor Chandler â&#x20AC;&#x201C; now the Clarence House â&#x20AC;&#x201C; had an interesting extra dimension when it was inaugurated, for it was run as a handicap. The first running in 1989 was won by the most famous horse on its roll of honour, Desert Orchid, who despite giving Panto Prince 22lb, dug deep to beat that rival by a head in a pulsating finish. The duo are captured jumping the second fence, in front of the stands, with Simon Sherwood aboard Dessie (grey) and Brendan Powell on Panto Prince Photo George Selwyn

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Tony Morris

Celebrating an era that was truly unique H istory teaches us that the truly great racehorse is a rare creature, so rare that a decade may pass with only one achieving the superstar status conferred by a rating in the 140s. In Europe the 1940s had Tudor Minstrel, the 1950s Ribot and the 1960s Sea-Bird. Each stood out as an exceptional performer, clearly superior to all others of their era. So what are the odds against two truly great horses appearing on the turf at the same time? There is only one such example, and in 2018 we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the births of the unique pair who graced our racecourses for three seasons in the early 1970s. Those of us who witnessed their achievements, including the one occasion when they featured in direct competition, were granted a special privilege denied to those of other generations. There may never be a comparable occurrence. The pair of bay colts were born 11 days apart on opposite sides of the Atlantic, Mill Reef on February 23 in America, Brigadier Gerard on March 4 in England. The former was bred by the fabulously wealthy Paul Mellon, whose Rokeby Farms in Virginia were home to a broodmare band of outstanding quality, while the latter was the product of a small Berkshire stud owned by John Hislop, a former champion amateur rider best known as a journalist and author of books on aspects of racing and breeding. Mill Reef was regally bred, by Nasrullah’s son Never Bend out of a mare by leading broodmare sire Princequillo. Brigadier Gerard, by contrast, had an unpretentious background, being by a relatively cheap stallion in Queen’s Hussar from a workaday branch of the family tracing back to 1904 Filly Triple Crown heroine Pretty Polly. Assessed solely on pedigree, the American-bred had to be considered the more likely to excel on the racecourse. Had they gone to auction as yearlings, they would have been valued very differently, but as it happened both were retained by their breeders and sent to stables in England, Mill Reef to Ian Balding’s Kingsclere yard, Brigadier Gerard to race in Jean Hislop’s colours with Dick Hern at West Ilsley.

American-bred more precocious

Mill Reef came to hand more quickly, sent out for his debut over five furlongs at Salisbury in mid-May, and he created an immediately favourable impression, trouncing a 9-2 on favourite in Fireside Chat who had previously won in good style at Newmarket. When he returned for an eight-length victory in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot he was everyone’s idea of a future Classic contender. Eight days after Mill Reef’s Ascot success Brigadier Gerard had his first start at Newbury, and it was his turn to floor an odds-on shot. Virtually friendless at 100-7 in a five-runner field, he surprised his connections with a five-length victory, but he surprised nobody eight days later when conceding weight to all nine rivals and collecting his second win by four lengths in the Champagne Stakes at Salisbury. Mill Reef’s third race came in the Prix Robert Papin at MaisonsLaffitte and in a thrilling contest he failed by a short head to peg back a bigger rival in Newmarket-trained My Swallow, who was winning for the fourth time in as many starts. The Brigadier had his own third start in mid-August at Newbury, where he disposed of four inferiors in the Washington Singer Stakes, conceding 6lb to each of them, but no sooner had we got used to the idea that he

Brigadier Gerard and Mill Reef (right): two exceptional racehorses

might be a bit out of the ordinary than Mill Reef was back, giving an extraordinary display over heavy ground at York in the Gimcrack Stakes, splashing to a ten-length triumph. A month later, when not ridden to best advantage, it took him a while to overcome the good filly Hecla in the Imperial Stakes at Kempton, a one-length victory disappointing some of his supporters. John Hislop, always of the view that a potential top-class threeyear-old should be restricted to six furlongs in his first season, chose the most important juvenile event at the distance, the Middle Park Stakes, for Brigadier Gerard’s final start of the campaign, and it was an especially competitive renewal, with two other unbeaten colts, Mummy’s Pet and Swing Easy, preferred to him in the betting. He dented their reputations and enhanced his own, storming home with three lengths to spare. Mill Reef signed off for the season a fortnight later in the Dewhurst Stakes, outclassing Irish challengers Wenceslas and Lombardo. It had clearly been a good year for youngsters trained in England. Timeform rated My Swallow, who had completed the French juvenile Quadruple Crown, at 134, a pound in front of Mill Reef, who was himself a pound ahead of Brigadier Gerard. My Swallow had won a moderately-contested Usher Stakes at Kempton and Mill Reef a better edition of Newbury’s Greenham Stakes before the pair came out for the 2,000 Guineas in the company of Brigadier Gerard, who had not been seen since the Middle Park. The market favoured Mill Reef at 6-4, with My Swallow second choice at 2-1 and Brigadier Gerard easy to back at 11-2. The race proved a revelation, for no sooner had Mill Reef gained the upper hand over My Swallow than the Brigadier swept by them both and dashed clear to win by three lengths. On what could be gauged from their pedigrees at the time, neither Mill Reef nor Brigadier Gerard was a certainty to stay the Derby trip, and the latter was not about to be asked the question, as his connections felt he was not yet ready for the test. Mill Reef went to Epsom and clearly relished the distance, winning in fine style, while the Brigadier waited for Ascot, where he landed the St

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The man you can’t ignore James’s Palace Stakes by a mere head over Sparkler on a testing rain-affected surface. The public was longing to see Mill Reef and Brigadier Gerard in competition again, but different routes were determined for the pair. Mill Reef slammed Caro in the Eclipse and Ortis in the King George before the Brigadier enjoyed a fruitful summer over a mile, collecting the Sussex Stakes, the Goodwood Mile and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes by five lengths, ten lengths and eight lengths respectively. Mill Reef’s autumn objective was the Arc, in which he confirmed his class with an authoritative victory over fillies Pistol Packer and Cambrizzia in course-record time. Brigadier Gerard was set a tough task for his last run at three, the Champion Stakes marking his first attempt at ten furlongs in the company of older horses proven at the distance. Just to make it a more daunting challenge, an already rain-sodden Rowley Mile was subjected to further heavy downpours immediately before the race. Ascot had indicated how soft ground inhibited the favourite’s action, and it did so again, but sheer courage enabled him to preserve his unbeaten record by a bare nostril over four-year-old Rarity. At the end of their second season Mill Reef had won ten out of 12, while Brigadier Gerard was flawless after ten races. Confirming the exceptional qualities of both horses, Racehorses of 1971 celebrated them equally, assigning each a rating of 141. Racegoers were promised further treats by the news that both

“There will not be a comparable double act in my lifetime. Maybe not in yours, either” horses would run again at four – with a possible bonus in that connections of both had designs on the Eclipse Stakes. It was asking too much that our highest hopes should be realised, but we could hardly complain about being short-changed. Mill Reef was out early, proving himself at least as good as ever with an overwhelming ten-length triumph in the Prix Ganay, Brigadier Gerard coming back three weeks later for a workmanlike victory in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury before registering win number 12 in the Westbury Stakes at Sandown, where the weights favoured all four of his opponents. Bad weather hampered Mill Reef’s training in the run-up to Epsom, where he had little in hand over Homeric at the end of the Coronation Cup, and that turned out to be the last we saw of him. Ian Balding never had him quite to his satisfaction over the summer, and at the end of August came the devastating news that the colt had fractured his near-fore in a routine canter at Kingsclere. Brigadier Gerard raced on, dominating in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Ascot, mastering soft ground in the Eclipse, proving his stamina for a mile and a half in the King George. The only flaw on his record came in an uncharacteristic dull effort behind Roberto in the Benson and Hedges at York, but normal service was resumed for a second Queen Elizabeth II success and the completion of another double, over Riverman in the Champion Stakes. Mill Reef was rated 141 for a second time in Racehorses of 1972, while Brigadier Gerard’s mark rose to 144, placing him on a level with Tudor Minstrel and only one pound behind Sea-Bird, Timeform’s all-time champion up to that point. There will be no comparable ‘double act’ in my lifetime. Maybe not in yours, either.

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The Howard Wright Column

Identification system should be foolproof I

f backroom staff on Woman’s Hour can get mixed up over the identity of the programme’s guests, as happened recently, leaving presenter Jenni Murray to pose questions to a Vietnamese film-maker when she thought she was talking to a Japanese doctor, perhaps it’s not surprising that supposed experts are occasionally confused by racehorses. One social media observer pointed out: “Perhaps all Asians look the same to the Woman’s Hour team.” Maybe the same can be said about racehorses of a similar colour. The difference, of course, is that horses cannot talk and point out the mistake, but they do have individual microchips and narrative passports, so it should be possible to differentiate immediately between two of a similar type. Or perhaps not. A rash of disciplinary panel cases last November seemed to prove the point. The first cases under a new BHA fast-track penalty system involved the wrong horses taken to the races from the stables of Karl Burke and Tom George. The trainers were fined £140 and £500 respectively, although quite why they had to fork out different amounts is not obvious from the official report. Then there was the more convoluted affair involving Jennie Candlish, her errant assistant Alan O’Keeffe and the mare Candlelight Story, who was not allowed to run at Uttoxeter in July because her microchip was unreadable, and the markings in her passport did not match those of the horse presented to the identifying team. Candlelight Story’s case was not a matter of the wrong horse turning up at the races, rather that the right horse could not be properly identified. As such it demonstrated the flaws in the current system, which in turn has been given added importance by the introduction on January 1 of the BHA’s new

Race-bound foals will need to be registered within 30 days of birth

regulation requiring breeders to notify Weatherbys within 30 days of the birth of a foal bred for racing. As TBA Chairman Julian Richmond-Watson rightly pointed out in his column in last month’s magazine, the ruling is important on welfare grounds, since it bridges the information gap between birth and entrance to a registered training yard. In addition, the extra layer of traceability will provide vital evidence that in a post-Brexit era Britain is doing everything it can to match conditions under the present tripartite agreement with France and Ireland that has allowed the free movement of horses between the three countries. Losing similar ease of access to overseas markets would be the quickest route down the path to chaos, but the case

“Horses cannot talk and point out mistakes but they do have microchips and narrative passports” of Candlelight Story still raises an important question: can the current system of identification be made more foolproof? According to the report of the International Stud Book Committee, following its annual meeting in September and delivered to the IFHA conference in Paris the following month, work is going on in various parts of the world to answer the question. The report noted: “Future potential options for digitised horse identification were discussed by the committee and consideration was given to alternative methods of identification to the traditional markings chart, including biometrics and the use of high-definition photographs. Such solutions were seen as additional to the current markings at this stage. The potential use of a portable DNA analysis device, which is currently in development, was also discussed.” That, though, is as far as the ISBC is prepared to go, with one of its leading lights suggesting “it might set some hares running in odd directions” if inquisitive outsiders were to enter into further public discussion about the individual projects and their implications, not all of which can be wrapped up in commercial sensitivity. Maybe one day all – or some of all – will be revealed, which would be no bad thing, since the benefits of identification from birth to the first exit from racing are not confined to owners and breeders. A foolproof identification system is a prime prerequisite for racing fans. Knowing that the horse being presented on the racecourse is the right horse is the first essential, from which premise all the sport’s rules and regulations flow.

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IN GOOD COMPANY

The first foals by MUHAARAR averaged £209,420 in Europe this year. Only DUBAWI, FRANKEL and GALILEO averaged more 2018 fee £30,000 (1st JAN, SLF) Discover more about the Shadwell Stallions at www.shadwellstud.com Or call Richard Lancaster, James O’Donnell or Tom Pennington on 01842 755913 Email us at: nominations@shadwellstud.co.uk

View Fr m Ireland

By Jessica Lamb

CAROLINE NORRIS

From hero to zero and back again

Warren O’Connor had the world at his feet as a rider but addictions led to him having to rebuild, including his relationship with his daughters

ockey coach Warren O’Connor has put himself up as an example of what substance misuse can do to even the most successful rider, following the suspensions of three Irish jump jockeys for failing drugs tests at Galway in October. Last month, almost 11 years to the day that the Classic-winning rider became the first jockey based in Ireland to be sanctioned for failing a drugs test, Ger Fox, Roger Quinlan and Danny Benson were handed two-year bans for being found with a metabolite of cocaine in their samples. There were many self-inflicted factors that led to the premature end of O’Connor’s otherwise glittering career as a Flat rider, but cocaine addiction was arguably the most damaging and it cost him far more than the €10,000 fine the

Turf Club imposed. “You know, I was champion apprentice,” he said. “I had the world at my feet – and I blew it.” O’Connor lost everything, and it has taken him ten years to begin to rebuild the life that drug addiction, and bulimia, destroyed. Now he hopes that talking about his talent, and self-destructive other side, can help stop young riders from making the same mistakes. “The amount of pressure that young kids are under now,” he sighed. “The game has changed. It’s not like years ago. Then, when you got rides, you’d nearly keep all of them. Now you could win on a horse and you’ll be jocked off. That loyalty is not there. “The lifestyles have changed completely, too – the drink and the

drugs is huge. It’s getting worse, not better.” He became a jockey coach to not just teach riders how to ride well, how to read races and how to read horses, but also to be the person who notices when something is wrong. “I want to help these young riders and point them in the right direction,” he said. “I’m a qualified coach, I’m not a qualified dietician, counsellor or fitness instructor, but I am there to notice if their fitness is not good, if their diet is not good, if psychologically they are struggling – and get them the help they need. “Because I have been there I know all the angles to go at when someone is in trouble. It’s not a nice thing. I had to go to rock bottom to get my life back.” O’Connor started riding in 1984 and

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›› was champion apprentice by 1990. The

following year he won the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes and Matron Stakes on brilliant filly Kooyonga, also taking the 1992 Eclipse. He was the hottest property on the market, but no sooner had he hit the top, he was beginning his fall to the bottom. “I started dieting when I was nine years old,” he said. “I wanted this more than anything. And I worked hard. “I served my time with Liam Browne; It was seven days a week, there were no weekends off. But I loved it. I was always going to make it, no matter what.” He had seen alcoholism in his family and steered clear throughout his youth, dedicating himself to riding, though damaging himself through another vice; bulimia. He recalled: “How did I get into it? I smashed my ankle and I couldn’t go running or jogging for a long, long time, because it was that broken up. So this was an easy way out. Then I got addicted to food. “I was buying €50 worth of food everyday just to throw it up. But, then, it was that buzz, the buzz of throwing up, getting your heart rate up.” He added: “I lived in saunas all my life; my natural weight was 10st 2lb and I was walking around barely over 8st. I remember even [trainer] Michael

Drug bans Ger Fox Irish Grand National winner, based with Gavin Cromwell. Two-year ban, full-time suspended provided jockey submits to a random testing programme and continues to have the support of his employer. To be reviewed in June 2018. Roger Quinlan Amateur based with Andrew Slattery. Two-year ban, 21 months suspended provided rider does not breach the same rule again during the period of suspension. Danny Benson Amateur previously based with Noel Meade. Two-year ban, to be assessed in June 2018 if jockey positively engages in programme of rehabilitation.

Kauntze saying to me, ‘You’re killing yourself dieting’. The year he became champion apprentice, he added drinking to bulimia, and cocaine followed. “When I failed the drug test in Ireland, I knew I was always going to get caught, but the drug had always told me I wouldn’t,” he explained. “That’s the addiction. It had complete control over me. When I did get caught, I didn’t deal with it properly. I went deeper into the addiction.” This addiction, coupled with his deteriorating Crohn’s disease, came to a head late in 2006 when his weight dropped critically low to 6st and he was hospitalised. “I rode for two or three years when I shouldn’t have,” he said. “I was pumped up on painkillers. But I just couldn’t retire. I didn’t want to give up what I’d put my heart and soul into. It had to give me up. “My body shut down. I was lucky to be alive. Even that fright alone wasn’t enough to put me at rock bottom. The addiction had to get worse. I had to lose everything. And I did. I lost my wife, I lost my kids, and that was the most important thing to me – my family. “The material things, the land, the house, didn’t bother me, but losing my family – I took that badly.” With the help of the Irish Jockeys’ Trust, Frank Byrne and Helen O’Sullivan, O’Connor kicked cocaine, alcohol and bulimia. He has been free from bulimia for ten years and sober for six, but he will never be cured. “To this day, if I had a big feed and felt too full I’d have a panic,” he admitted. “I’d have the little monkey on my shoulder saying, ‘You could do with getting rid of that’, even though the bulimia has been gone ten years. “I go to counselling, I go to meetings, and I need them. I don’t run the show, even today. I have a good sponsor, I talk to him every day. I have bad days too, but when I have a bad day I don’t take a drink.” There is no demon or question off limits when talking to O’Connor, for anyone, especially his clients. “There is no point me coaching any young person who doesn’t know my background,” he said. “Their parents may never want them to come back to me again, but I have to be truthful. “I know I can rebuild my life again. I have my two little girls back in my life. To be their father, that’s the most important thing.” Second to that is to be a father figure

GEORGE SELWYN

View Fr m Ireland

O’Connor: happy days riding Kooyonga

to the numerous jockeys he coaches. “I want this to work more than anything because it’s helping other kids, and it’s helping me as well,” he said. “In my head, I’ll never be able to repay what I did with my own career. “That will always be in the back of my head, I could have gone a lot further. But I’m not going to beat myself up about that. I have moved on and I am happier now, starting from scratch, than when I was a millionaire.” He added: “Would you believe, when the lads ride winners now, I get more of a buzz than when I was riding winners.” Irish racing’s last quarter of 2017 could have been remembered for Gordon Elliott’s dominance, or Willie Mullins’s emphatic Ladbrokes Trophy victory, but it was instead tainted by the drug bans of the aforementioned three jockeys. The Referrals Committee, after handing down the two-year bans, asked Turf Club Chief Executive Denis Egan to make drug bans start at four years, with no suspended sentences – as was given to all three riders in December. Perhaps employing more jockey coaches like Warren O’Connor, helping every young rider starting out, is the answer to preventing a repeat – not the tougher sanctions suggested by the Turf Club.

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Continental Tales

By James Crispe, IRB

Nicolle finally takes centre stage FRANCE

he recent autumn climax to the French jumping calendar, the twoday ’48 Heures de l’Obstacle’ at Auteuil in Paris over the first weekend of November, was dominated by two trainers, the pair mopping up five of the six Graded races contested, including all three of the Grade 1s. The name of half of that duo – Guillaume Macaire – was utterly predictable, given that he is again miles clear at the head of the French jump trainers’ championship, albeit he will probably come up a little shy of his 2015 record of 282 winners in a campaign. But the identity of the other big winner – Francois Nicolle – was much less foreseeable, unless you have been closely following the showpiece race results from across the Channel over the last year or so. For Nicolle, who will celebrate his 60th birthday next October, has held a full training licence since 1994 without much fanfare. Although he spent most of the following 22 seasons winning lots of races, they were mainly low key events at provincial courses. His annual tally remained reasonably static between 1998 and 2011, never going below 27 or topping 54. But in the last six years he has suddenly become much more prolific, almost doubling the number of individual horses running under his name to the current annual figure of a whopping 215. His end of season totals rose accordingly, up to a career best of 133 last term, yet until Alex de Larredya landed the Grand Prix d’Automne in November 2016, he had never tasted victory at Grade 1 level. Once that barrier had been breached, the floodgates have opened, his three Grade 1 triumphs in a nine-day period in November 2017 taking his lifetime aggregate to six. His battalion of owners now resembles a ‘Who’s Who’ of France’s most decorated ‘propriétaires’ such as Magalen Bryant, Gerard Augustin-Normand and the man-of-the-moment in British National Hunt racing, Simon Munir. Among his best horses are Munir’s Alex de Larredya, now a two-time Grand Prix d’Automne scorer, plus the Prix

Trainer Francois Nicolle (left), here with owner Simon Munir, has suddenly hit the big time

La Haye Jousselin hero Bipolaire. But undoubtedly top of the tree is De Bon Coeur, a filly who has regularly taken on and beaten the boys and, but for crashing out at the penultimate hurdle when five lengths clear and still hard on the bridle at Auteuil in June, would have been unbeaten in nine career starts. Owned and bred by Jacques Détré, who famously also raced her sire, Vision d’Etat, to four international Group 1 victories on the Flat including the 2009 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, De Bon Coeur is about to turn five. Her latest win prompted the usually measured James Reveley to label her “the best I have ever ridden”. Nicolle is a very interesting character, widely regarded as one of the most down to earth and personable people in the whole of French racing. Always helpful and willing to chat, he is never happier than when at the wheel of a tractor, harrowing the sand gallops at his training base to ensure that the all-important surface is exactly the right depth and consistency to best accommodate the constant jumping practice undertaken by his everexpanding string. He has no answer as to why he has suddenly hit the big time after so many years of trying, and facilities at his decidedly unflashy private training centre are nothing out of the ordinary – no fancy swimming pools or uphill gallops here. Nicolle simply emphasises the

importance of keeping his charges “calm and relaxed”, and the fact that a gaggle of small dogs always seem to be snapping at the heels of the horses when they are at home, even in the middle of schooling sessions, may well contribute to his achieving that goal – if they can get used to that, they are likely to be unfazed by anything that the racecourse throws at them! And here’s one final surprising detail about the 2017 French jumps season. In terms of winners, the top three trainers will be Macaire (with around 270 successes), Nicolle (with 175) and Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé (with 100) and the three have one major thing in common – they all train within a stone’s throw of each other close to the Atlantic Coast, near Royan in the département of Charente-Maritime. This hotbed of steeplechasing talent sees Macaire and Chaillé-Chaillé share premises at Royan La Palmyre racecourse, the beautifully-named ‘Hippodrome de la Côte de Beauté’, with Nicolle’s base just three miles away, at St Augustin. So, while almost all of the nation’s Graded races are run at Auteuil in Paris, the country’s three top handlers each have to make a 650-mile round trip to get there. In the last 14 months it is Nicolle, who for many years has lived in the shadow of his two near-neighbours, who has won more Grade 1s than both of his rivals combined.

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Continental Tales

Racing has been staged at the Capannelle for 136 years and hopefully an anticipated last-minute deal can be struck to ensure its future

Rome track under threat ITALY The future of Capannelle racecourse in Rome is in some doubt as attempts to renegotiate its lease, which expired in 2016, drag on. The landowner is the local municipal council, which is threatening to bring an end to the 136 years of horseracing at the venue unless agreement is reached by May 2018. Capannelle’s future ought to have been assured by the decision in 2013 to close Rome’s famous trotting track, Tor di Valle, home of the Italian Trotting Derby, and relocate the sport to Capannelle, where a trotting track was built inside the racing oval to replace the chase course.

But the venue has continued to struggle despite this influx of fresh blood and the number of trainers and horses based there continues to decline. With many trainers relocating outside the country, in particular to France, its horse population has fallen below the 500 mark when not so long ago it ran to four figures. Crucially, attendance and betting turnover statistics for even the course’s bigger days seem to be in freefall. For instance, the Group 2 Premio Roma, the track’s premier all-aged Pattern contest, had to be postponed owing to monsoonlike rain just minutes before the stalls were scheduled to open on November 5. It was rearranged three weeks later, sadly without the participation of one of its two British contestants, Sylvester Kirk’s Salouen, who thus journeyed all the way from Lambourn for no reason. The weather was much better for the second fixture and the race was won

by the Helmet colt Anda Muchacho, previously successful at the same course in the Group 3 Premio Parioli (Italian 2,000 Guineas) back in May. But the crowd was pitiful – the entire on-track tote betting handle for a nine-race card came to less than €20,000 (£17,094). Will racing there continue? The answer in the short term is probably ‘yes’, as both the municipality and the Ministry Of Agriculture have gone on record saying that they want the course to survive, so, as is so often the case in Italy, a last-minute deal is set to be cobbled together. Italy’s ongoing woes contrast starkly with neighbour France, were there is no such lack of participation or money. A new record was set at Deauville on November 28 when a mile and a half handicap on the all-weather surface there had to be split into no fewer than seven divisions, each with 15 runners or more, the least valuable offering a first prize of almost £5,000.

Vana stranglehold broken CZECH REPUBLIC What is it about the number 21 that causes a record training reign to come to an end? Josef Váňa, the 65-year-old Czech handler best known for winning his nation’s biggest sporting event, the Velká Pardubická Steeplechase, eight times as a jockey and 11 as a trainer, has lost the Czech jumps trainers’ championship after more than two decades on the throne. Váňa was on the cusp of bettering the 21 straight titles notched by André Fabre (in France up to 2007) and Heinz Jentzsch (in Germany up to 1987) only to forfeit his crown as he targeted his horses at more lucrative races outside his native land, in particular in Italy.

A last-minute effort to keep his hands on the prize for another season proved fruitless, as he sent out no fewer than seven runners on the final day, at Kolesa on November 4. But all were beaten, whereas Helena Vocásková took the penultimate race of the campaign, beating two Váňa charges into second and third, doubling her margin in the winners-based championship to two. Vocásková is a most unlikely champion as she saddled just 38 runners during the entire year, winning with 16 of them for a remarkable 42% strike-rate. Váňa won more than eight times as much prize-money as Vocásková and can console himself that not only did he win yet another Velká Pardubická with No Time To Lose, he can also continue to

Josef Vana: legendary rider and trainer

call himself a ‘reigning champion’ as he finished top of the table in Italy, his 43 winners and £469,000 in prize-money there almost doubling the tally of the runner-up, Raffaele Romano.

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Around The Globe

The Worldwide Racing Scene

US proving a tough nut to crack NORTH AMERICA By Steve Andersen

GEORGE SELWYN

f he wanted Darryll Holland could walk to the races at Gulfstream Park in South Florida, his new headquarters since the summer. “It’s 2.7 miles from home,” he said in early December. “It’s on my doorstep.” On the other side of the United States, Tom Queally has settled into a new career at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, California, across the bay from San Francisco. Queally made the move in November. “I’ve enjoyed my time,” Queally said. Holland and Queally have had various levels of success in their first full-time encounters with American racing, particularly Holland, who rode in South Korea, Singapore and Mauritius before relocating to Florida. For him, the transfer may be permanent. Up to December 5, Holland had won seven races from 90 mounts. He won his first race in Florida with his 32nd mount and has slowly developed a clientele, although there are some days when he does not have a ride. With Gulfstream Park, Holland chose a year-round venue with some of the best racing in the United States from early December to early April, a period the track calls its championship meeting. Those months draw leading stables from Kentucky and New York for the winter. Holland, 45, says he welcomes the challenge of breaking into the tough circuit. “That’s one of the reasons I came here,” he said. “I wanted to ride on a good circuit like Gulfstream Park or Santa Anita. I wanted to be with the better jockeys and trainers and good horses. “I’ve got seven winners. I knew it would be tough. Not many people knew me from England.” Trainers such as Yvon Belsoeur, Patrick Biancone, Christophe Clement, and Kiaran McLaughlin have given Holland vital support. He hopes to be more active in coming months. “It was never going to be easy,” he said. “I’m pretty happy with what I’ve done. I’ve seen a lot of riders come and go. They struggled to get mounts, let alone winners.” Gulfstream is typical of most

Darryll Holland (left) and Tom Queally – trying to make a mark on opposite coasts of the US

American tracks with an outer dirt course of nine furlongs and a sevenfurlong infield turf course. There are no undulations, which Holland says can make riding easier than, say, an afternoon at Newmarket or Chepstow. “We have a lot of ups and downs in the UK,” he said. “It’s easier to balance horses here, particularly on the turf. “The dirt is more focused on speed. You need to get out and get position

“I knew it would be tough. Not many people knew me” and try to grind to the finish.” Holland, well-known for riding Falbrav to three of the horse’s five Group 1 wins in 2003, said the convenience of Gulfstream Park, and the track’s near-round schedule, has been a boost. “I’m not driving three or four hours home,” he said, reflecting on his days in England. “That’s a long way home if you haven’t had a winner.” Queally will forever be associated with Frankel, and was the only jockey

to ride the legendary runner through an 14-race unbeaten career. He had just 29 wins from 397 rides in the UK in 2017 before relocating to Golden Gate Fields in November. At the time, Queally was unsure whether the move would be permanent. He declined to discuss long-term plans in an early December interview. Similar to what Holland faced in the summer, Queally spent November and early December getting to know the owners and trainers involved at Golden Gate Fields, which runs from midOctober to mid-June and is the hub of northern California racing. Up to December 5, Queally, 33, had three wins from 27 mounts, promising results considering his first winner occurred with his tenth mount. In the first week of December, Queally rode for such trainers as Ben Cecil, the nephew of the late Henry Cecil, Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer and locally prominent figures such as Steve Miyadi, Steve Specht and Steve Sherman. “I’ve had a good amount of success in a relatively short period of time,” he said. “It’s a fantastic racecourse.” One more jockey trying his luck in the States is Adam Beschizza. Based at Fair Grounds in New Orleans and riding mainly for trainer Joe Sharp, Beschizza has enjoyed a tremendous start in the US, riding nine winners from 32 rides up to December 14. The Fair Grounds season runs until March.

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Around The Globe Starting pistol for sales season AUSTRALIA

The Australian and New Zealand 2018 yearling sale season kicks off with the usual holiday atmosphere that has become part of the festive Magic Millions sale on the Gold Coast, Queensland, in January. The sales season runs for six months and finishes in June where it started, at the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions National Sale series for weanlings, yearlings and broodmares. In between, the famous family-owned Inglis company, shortly after celebrating 150 years of selling livestock in Sydney, will hold its first sales at its new multi-million dollar Riverside complex at Warwick Farm racecourse, starting with the Classic Yearling Sale in February, which will lead into its iconic internationally renowned Easter Yearling Sale in early April. It takes trainers and agents a while to get into the groove of looking at yearlings again after a hectic spring racing season, and the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast is a great place to break the ice, although most of the ice is found in a glass. The Magic Millions sale (January 10-16) is our first look at youngsters from a group of first-season stallions that some say is the best we had seen stand in Australia. The ‘Super Class’ of 2015, as it was dubbed when they were lauded during their first spring covering season (and the expectations remain high), covered just shy of 2,000 mares between them, ranging from the 22 mares covered by the Spendthrift Farm pair Hampton Court (by Redoute’s Choice) and Jimmy Creed (by Distorted Humor) to the first-season sire record 257 served by Newgate Farm’s Deep Field (by Northern Meteor). The young sires include eight Australian Group 1 winners, headed by the 2014-15 Australian champion racehorse Dissident, a five-time Group 1 winner for trainer Peter Moody. Dissident covered 197 mares at a fee of $AUD38,500 at Newgate Farm in the Hunter Valley of NSW. One of the highlights of this batch of new boys is the exceptional crop of colts, born in 2011, who shared the Group 1 spoils for three-year-olds in

BRONWEN HEALY

By Danny Power

Cox Plate winner Adelaide is an imported stallion receiving solid support at Coolmore Stud

the 2014-15 season – Brazen Beau (139 mares and standing at Darley Victoria), Wandjina (153, Newgate Farm), Shooting To Win (156, Darley), Hallowed Crown (100, Darley) and Hampton Court (22, Spendthrift Farm). Those stallions that didn’t win at the highest level but received enormous support from broodmare owners include Deep Field, Encosta De Lago’s fast son Rubick (214 mares), and Better Than Ready, a fast son of More Than Ready, who covered 138 mares at Lyndhurst Stud in Queensland. However, it’s not all about the Aussies. The imported stallions with their first-crop foals on offer include Aidan O’Brien’s Cox Plate winner Adelaide, who served 99 mares at Coolmore Stud; Toronado (175 mares, Swettenham Stud); Olympic Glory (122, Arrowfield Stud), Verrazano (71, Coolmore Stud) and The Brothers War (50, Kooringal Stud). New Zealand has three exciting young sires representing them in Australia this year. The brilliant shuttler Charm Spirit (Windsor Park Stud), Australian Group 1 winner Sacred Falls (Waikato Stud) and Australian-bred El Roca (Westbury Stud). Famous New Zealand farm sold New Zealand’s iconic Cambridge Stud has been sold and will remain in Kiwi ownership. Sir Patrick Hogan and his wife, Lady

Justine, sold the farm to Auckland couple Brendan and Jo Lindsay. Hogan, 78, who doesn’t have an heir interesting in taking over the farm, has spent a lot of time looking for a suitable buyer. He was adamant that the valuable land, on the outskirts of the north island town of Cambridge, on the Waikato River, wouldn’t be sold to developers who were circling the farm like wolves after stricken deer. He knew developer money would be much more than anyone interested in keeping the farm as a commercial stud would be willing to pay, but he didn’t want his legacy of four decades turned into housing lots. Hogan said he has lauded “inspections” from some potential international buyers including John Magnier’s Coolmore Stud, Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley and more recently Chinese businessman Lang Lin, also known as Mr Wolf, but no serious offer was put on the table. The Lindsays, who have raced horses since 1990, have been increasing their involvement in racing since 2009. Brendan Lindsay sold his plastics container business, Sistema, in 2016 for $NZD660 million. He and his wife take over the famous farm in April this year after Hogan sells his final Cambridge crop of yearlings at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka yearling sales, which begin on January 28.

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Racingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s big night out celebrated the outstanding equine performers and their owners from the past 12 months

Awards photography by

Chris Renton xxxxxx

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ROA Horseracing Awards

DEFI DU SEUIL

BUVEUR Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;AIR

Outstanding Novice Hurdler

Outstanding Hurdler Received by JP McManus

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ALTIOR

Outstanding Novice Chaser Received by Nico de Boinville, Christopher Pugh, Patricia Pugh and Nicky Henderson

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ROA Horseracing Awards

MANY CLOUDS Outstanding Chaser Received by David Minton and Trevor Hemmings

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MENORAH

APPLEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S JADE

Special Achievement

Outstanding NH Mare

Received by Diana Whateley

Received by Edward Prosser on behalf of Gigginstown House Stud

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ROA Horseracing Awards

SOVEREIGN DEBT Outstanding All-Weather Horse Received by Tommy Dorman, Ruth Carr and John Hames

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US NAVY FLAG Outstanding Juvenile Received by Kevin Buckley on behalf of John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith

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ROA Horseracing Awards

RIBCHESTER Outstanding Miler Received by Carolyn Anderson on behalf of Godolphin

HARRY ANGEL Outstanding Sprinter Received by Ali Horan on behalf of Godolphin

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BIG ORANGE Outstanding Stayer Received by Oli Bell, James Yallop, Craig Mulholland, Francoise Babington, Edward Babington, Tim Gredley, Richard Totman, Rachel Wyse, Alex Bell, Jenna Hartley and Alastair Willson

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ROA Horseracing Awards

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ENABLE

HORSE OF THE YEAR Outstanding Middle Distance Horse Outstanding Filly & Mare

Khalid Abdullah

Owner of the Year Received by Neil Campbell, Meghan Taylor, Jacqui Erskine Crum, Douglas Erskine Crum, Stacie Campbell, Mike Saunders, Victoria Murrell, Edward Murrell, Rebecca Harvey, Rory Mahon, Benoit Herinckx, Rab Havlin, Jamie Trotter, Rachel Hood, John Gosden and Tess Mahon

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Champagne Reception Before the awards ceremony began, members, their guests and industry figures enjoyed the champagne reception, generously sponsored by The Jockey Club Mags Fraser, Suzanne Davies, Stephanie Hughes and Jeannie Chantler

Jack Pryor, Nadia Powell and Sue Lucas

Lucinda Russell, Peter Scudamore, Oliver and Tarnya Sherwood

Richard Wayman, David Thorpe and Bill Barber

Jacqui and Jonjo Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill

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Photography by Dan Abraham

Clive Cox and Iain Jardine

Kevin and Donna Buckley with Mick Fitzgerald

John and Ali Barneby with Susie and Christopher Price

Nicholas Cooper and Paul Duffy

AP McCoy and JP McManus

Steve Gibson, Sarah Gutteridge and Harry Williams

Nick Luck

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Aclaim

Gregorian

Marcel

Fee: £12,500*

Fee: £4,500*

Fee: £5,000*

Handsome Gr.1 winner by the sire of DARK ANGEL from the family of MONTJEU

First crop of yearlings sold for €60,000, 45,000gns, €46,000, 36,000gns, £37,000, 34,000gns, €40,000, 32,000gns etc.

Gr.1 winning 2yo

2013 ACCLAMATION - ARIS

Winner of the Gr.1 Prix de la Forêt, Gr.2 Park Stakes, Gr.2 Challenge Stakes, Dubai Duty Free Cup, L., and his only start at two Timeform 123. Rated the best three-year-old by Acclamation – and even higher rated at four The best speed horse in an exceptional family Out of a Stakes-placed juvenile who beat Gr.1 winner Gordon Lord Byron to break her maiden

2009 CLODOVIL - THREE DAYS IN MAY

Averaged over 9 times his stud fee at Tattersalls Book 2, and 6 times his fee at Goffs Sportsman’s Sale Yearlings going to some of the industry’s most well respected trainers: Keith Dalgleish, Kevin Ryan, Karl Burke, Brian Ellison, Tim Easterby, Michael Dods etc

2013 LAWMAN - MAURESMO

Timeform rated 118, after just his 3rd start at 2yo, in the top 3 European 2yo colts of his generation First book of mares included over 30% Stakes performers or producers and from beautiful black type families, including those of Gr.1 winners Dick Whittington, Moriarty and Virginia Waters

Winner of the Gr.2 Hungerford Stakes, and Gr.1 placed 4 times

By a son of Invincible Spirit, and from the family of Gr.1 winners Annoconnor and At Talaq

F IRS T C RO P 2 YO S 2 0 1 8

F IRS T C RO P FOA L S 2 0 1 8

N E W FO R 2 0 1 8

TIM LANE 07738 496141

Tel: 01638 675929 or email

AMY TAYLOR 07872 058295

stallions@nationalstud.co.uk

JAMES BERNEY 07717 558766

www.nationalstud.co.uk

National Stud OB Jan 2018 dps.indd 2

11/12/2017 11:23

STALLIONS 2018 Spill The Beans

Time Test

Tivaci

Fee: £6,000*

Fee: £8,500*

Fee: £8,000*

Undefeated 2yo and multiple Group winning 3yo, including Gr.2 QTC Cup (6.5f)

Dual Gr.2 winning miler

Touted as the world’s fastest son of Champion sire High Chaparral - his only son at stud in the UK

First son of record breaking Australasian dual Champion sire Snitzel in Europe

Royal Ascot track record breaking winner of the Gr.3 Tercentenary Stakes

Winner of 5 of his 11 starts, and placed a further 4 times. Defeated Gr.1 winners Pride Of Dubai, Stratum Star and Holler

By record breaking sire Dubawi, out of Gr.1 winner Passage Of Time, from the family of Champions Twice Over, All At Sea etc.

2012 SNITZEL - MISS DODWELL

Most popular 1st season sire in Australia in 2016, covering over 200 mares

2012 DUBAWI - PASSAGE OF TIME

4 times Gr.1 placed

Outstanding first crop foals in Australia 2017

“Time Test blew away the opposition at Royal Ascot as a three-year-old when he looked like a Group 1 horse. Speed and acceleration were his main

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assets...” Roger Charlton

2012 HIGH CHAPARRAL - BRECCIA

Brilliant Gr.1 winning Sprinter/ Miler, with victories in the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (7f), Gr.3 CS Hayes Stakes (7f) and Gr.3 Sunshine Coast Guineas (1m) Defeated 6 Gr.1 winners in the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes at Randwick. Completed the final 3 furlongs of the Listed Kensington Stakes in a slick 32.1 seconds First southern hemisphere season 2017

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* 1st October slf

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The Big Interview

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Evan Williams

Bread of

Evan

Vale of Glamorgan-based Evan Williams started training without any grand plan but a strong work ethic, forged on the family farm and local point-to-point tracks, has seen his stable prosper, with a reputation for bringing along talented horses the old-fashioned way Words: Tom Peacock Photos: Bill Selwyn

Evan Williams: his yard is not as remote as many believe!

van Williams is amused by some of the largely English misconceptions about where he lives. “Some people do think Wales is a little 20 by 20 block of coal tip in the middle of the Rhondda Valley,” he chuckles. Rather than being in some longforgotten outpost, Williams is perhaps the only trainer able to see an international airport from his yard. From this quiet corner of the Vale of Glamorgan there are views not only to the edge of Barry and Cardiff but over the Bristol Channel. Some 11 miles or so across the water, Philip Hobbs is one of his nearest racing neighbours. “People think we’re a long way west but it’s just as quick to get to Cheltenham as it is Ffos Las,” he points out. “Once you’ve been to Ffos Las, you think Wales is a long way away.” Williams has always remained within close reach of Aberogwrn Farm, returning to stay there with his grandparents after

his parents separated. He found himself left in charge of the dairy business when he was just a teenager but there was always a connection with racing, and one race in particular. His father Rhys rode Norther, the last Welsh-trained winner of the Welsh National, in point-to-points and on the gallops at nearby Cowbridge, while the iconoclastic Posy Morel trained 1959 and 1961 hero Limonali from the area. “We’ve won most of the other good races at Chepstow and finished second and third in it but I can’t go into a pub around here without someone asking me when I’m going to win the Welsh National,” says Williams. He began to compete in point-to-points himself and while there was never the time, nor the money, for a proper apprenticeship, he learned from riding for the likes of legendary Gloucestershire handler Dick Baimbridge.

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The Big Interview ››

“All my life revolved around was hunting, farming and there was always a horse around the place trained for the local point-to-point – that’s what you did,” he says. “As I started riding a few, point-topointing was changing and you were getting more and more rides – more like it

“There was never any great plan; I started purely because I thought we could earn some money” is today. I was going well and a man called Bob Mason bought a farm a couple of miles away and had this dream of having pointers trained there. “He was looking for someone to go there and I said, ‘I’ll do that’. It was purely because I was thinking, ‘Christ, somebody is going to pay me to train pointers, I’m riding them for nothing, this is just daft’. I didn’t think anything about it, I just did it. As we started to have a few winners, other

people wanted me to train more horses, and that’s how it all happened. “It’s hard to explain how it was. If I went to Hereford for a hunter chase ride, you were going to the end of the world. It sounds stupid now but there was nobody really doing much in Wales. “There was never any great plan, I started purely because I thought we could earn some money, earn a living.”

New direction

Hastened by the falling price of milk and later by the financial cost of foot and mouth with cattle, Williams changed direction. He took out a licence under rules in 2003 and within a few months had clinched a Grade 1 with Sunray in Chepstow’s Finale Hurdle. Two years later he was hitting half-centuries for a season.

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Evan Williams

›› Williams oversees work on the gallops, main image, daughter Isabel takes care of yard favourite Court Minstrel, above, while conditional jockey Connor Ring exercises exciting prospect Chooseyourweapon

“The reality is we were handling too many point-to-pointers and I realised it was commercially stupid,” he recalls. “The horses were always the passion, when I think back, and I’m more an old fashioned horseman than a farmer. I’m not qualified for anything but I always found dealing with animals very easy. If you want me to milk cows or get cows in calf, lamb a thousand ewes, break in a hunter, it’s just something I’ve been brought up to do. “We haven’t made a big deal of things and I enjoy my little place. Don’t get me wrong, there are days you absolutely detest, but if something goes wrong, I just get up earlier the next morning and get stuck into it again.” This matter-of-fact chain of events led to Williams being able to acquire the land next door and construct the barns

and facilities befitting a modern operation with a string of 82. It is a close-knit family concern, the trainer’s wife Cath dealing with paperwork and son William the books once he has finished his financial day job. One daughter, Isabel, is full-time in the yard and among those thundering up a fiercely steep and winding wood chip gallop that Williams installed on the edge of a neighbouring field. What is interesting is how little the 46-year-old has departed from his roots as a stockman and, unusually for an operation safely ensconced in the country’s top dozen, it is self-contained. Williams estimates he bought 90% of his horses himself and does not delegate much, overseeing the present racehorses in the morning and educating the future generations in the afternoon. His only

hobby of sorts is maintaining a small herd of pedigree Hereford cattle. “We’re lucky to have owners who can afford to take a gamble on a nice point-topointer but what we basically do is buy a bunch of stores every year and farm them on,” he says. “There’s a big fall-out rate with them and it can be quite upsetting, really. You can buy nice horses, break them in, get them going, and they’ve got the pedigree, everything about them is right, and they go wrong and don’t come through, but that’s what happens when you handle a lot of young horses like we do. “It’s hard when you still own them, but you hope to find a nice horse for a nice owner. A lot of the time they’re not as nice as we’d like them to be, and yet people still come back for more because they know at the end of the day we’re there busting a gut trying to do our best for them.” An enforced recent change was the announcement in April that Paul Moloney, a constant for more than a decade, was retiring. In the same way as he develops his horses, Williams had prepared Adam Wedge to succeed the gifted Irishman. “Paul’s strength when he came here was he had a lot of experience with lot of very good people. We moulded ourselves in that old-fashioned, Irish way of bringing a horse along quietly,” says Williams.

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“He was a great man to have in the yard and we do miss him, he was a brilliant jockey but he wasn’t really a jockey, he was a horseman. Wedgey has been groomed to take over, he came as a 7lb claimer and slotted into the job. It seems to suit us to promote from within if people show a good attitude.” Williams, a national point champion who rode the magnificent hunter chaser Double Silk on a few occasions, is also supervising the conditional rising star Mitchell Bastyan. “I brought Mitch in at the beginning of the season,” he says. “I didn’t know much about the kid but thought for one with so little experience that there was a bit of potential there; he just needed to get in somewhere and be told in no uncertain terms what was required to become a professional jockey. “He needed to get fit and harden up, because I think he thought it was a game and he had to realise it was a business. He’s gone the right way, as some boys can’t cope with the day-to-day grind. “I’ve always got a lot of enjoyment out of giving lads their first winner. It’s tough telling others that they’d have to look elsewhere because they wouldn’t get opportunities. We never dress it up, our lads are told where they are with things and they either go forward and blossom or they wilt, but it’s better to be brutally honest rather than spin them a yarn just to keep them working in the yard.” Fuelled by tea and an inveterate whistler, Williams is frequently cheerful company but at his core is a work ethic hewn from harder times. He also readily

Ruckers cut from the same country cloth William and Angela Rucker number among Evan Williams’ most longstanding and important owners and have provided him with the horse of his career so far in State Of Play. The couple divide their time between Worcestershire and London, where William Rucker has interests in finance and property. “Mrs Rucker’s mother Mrs [Pat] Tollit was one of the best point-topoint riders of her and probably any time, and I rode in point-to-points and trained for her,” Williams explains. “That’s how it developed, and Mr and Mrs Rucker graduated from the points with me. They like to buy a nice type of horse and they’re National Hunt people through and through – the family is

Evan Williams

Taking a break: Williams and wife Catherine in relaxed mood after morning work

acknowledges that being something of a lone wolf has its drawbacks. “I’d describe myself different to other people, I suppose. I mean I’m just a lovely happy-go-lucky fella that doesn’t worry about anything, but you know as well as I know that’s bullshit,” he says. “I think the world revolves around Aberogwrn Farm and me training a few horses. I’m very insular because it’s how it has been, and I don’t want the kids to have to do what I had to do. “I’m sure I can cause Catherine to worry about things. I’m perhaps too hard on William; Isabel works her socks off first thing in the morning to last thing at night, I’m probably too hard on her, and any spare time Ellie has from university in Cardiff I expect her to ride out here. I’m

steeped in the history of it. “We enjoy doing the sales together and we’ll all have a strong opinion on what the horses have and don’t have. We’ll get it wrong a lot, and sometimes get it right. We generally sing off the same hymn-sheet but have opinions and aren’t afraid to air them. “I’m quite old-fashioned in that I like to give horses time and they’re very similar. As they’re country people, they understand the old job a bit.” State Of Play not only won connections the 2006 Hennessy and a Charlie Hall Chase but placed in three straight Grand Nationals from a total of four starts during that time, before their Cappa Bleu reached the Aintree frame in consecutive years afterwards. State Of Play is retired with the Ruckers, Williams continuing: “I spent a lot of time with the horse, you should

probably too hard on Catherine and the people in the yard – I expect them to work and there are plenty that don’t take it. “I’m very guilty of just doing my own thing, but at the same time somebody has to make a decision, and I think I’m never scared to do that. People might say I’m portrayed as being tough and prickly – I can understand that – but I’d be disappointed if people thought there was a side to me. I think I come through the front door, I’d prefer to give somebody a bloody nose than snake someone, but there’s no doubt I’m one-dimensional. “I’d probably have a Timeform squiggle somewhere but I’ve had a lot of people who’ve been with me a long time and probably know how to play me. I think that’s the key to it.”

never have favourites but he’ll always be my favourite. I’ll never get as close to a horse again in the future as he was a special horse at the right time of our lives, which seems like a long time ago now.” Among the next generation in the blue and pink colours are Apollo Creed, Chooseyourweapon and The Last Day, but Williams is reluctant to pick one destined for the top. “We’ve got some nice ones but my horses will never show it all as a young horse because they won’t be asked to,” he says. “I don’t like to judge them on what I see at home, I always like to see a run or two first. “Hurdles and bumpers are only a means of us trying to get to a staying chase and I have an awful habit of making horses very, very slow and staying a long way!”

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Talking To...

Carry on Doctor Three years into his role as Chief Medical Officer with the British Horseracing Authority, Dr Jerry Hill is determined to continue the good work of predecessor Dr Michael Turner and make the sport as safe as possible for jockeys, ensuring not just physical wellbeing but also good mental health among all participants Interview: Tim Richards

s a practising GP, what first attracted you to racing? Did you have any involvement with horses? When I was working as a GP I undertook Pre-Hospital Care with the ambulance service attending road accidents, plane and train crashes so I was used to handling trauma outside the hospital setting. One day I got a phone call from the Senior Doctor at Lingfield racecourse inviting me to join the medical staff there and I quickly caught the racing bug. I don’t come from a horsey background and suddenly a different world was opened up to me, working with jockeys, vets and horses. It was exciting and, from a medical point of view, interesting because when you are called to a road traffic accident it has already happened, whereas in horseracing it usually takes place in front of you. When you start working in that environment it grows on you. Before that the closest I got to horses was pony

trekking in the Brecon Beacons when I was about ten. Coming from outside the racing world, what were your first impressions when you saw the rough and tumble and injuries suffered by jockeys and horses? Jockeys are an extraordinary group of athletes and the more I work with them the more I believe that. My initial impressions were their steely toughness and remarkable bravery, which can sometimes count against them medically. Nonetheless, they will ride and compete with injuries that most other sportsmen and women would not. Another early impression was that most jockeys I met were not in a good mood. But that has to be put in context because generally if a doctor encounters a jockey

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Dr Jerry Hill

Dr Jerry Hill has worked with footballers, dancers, Olympians and jockeys in his career to date

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Talking To... ›› on a racecourse it’s because they have

just fallen off their horse and wouldn’t be in the best humour. Initially I thought these guys were just grumpy all the time! At that time my nearest comparison was with motor sport while working at Brands Hatch. When I moved on to football I used to think: ‘If you were a jockey you wouldn’t be making a fuss about the fact you’d just sprained your ankle.’ Nowadays doing the annual medical with senior jockeys I have time to chat and of course they are for the most part completely normal, charming, knowledgeable sportsmen and quite different to my earlier impressions on the racetrack. You worked for ten years as racecourse doctor on southern tracks, officiated at the 2012 London Olympics equestrian events and you were also doctor at Crawley Football Club. Now as Chief Medical Officer to the BHA and doctor at the Football Association, do you see the jockeys’ approach to pain and injury as different from other sportsmen and women?

“Jockeys are like dancers – they often perform when they are in pain because if they don’t, they lose work” Very much so. They are different, partly because their support networks are different. In football you have a lot of support around you as an athlete with at least one or two physios, a doctor, nutritionist, psychologist in a squad and there is an emphasis on reporting injuries early. Jockeys don’t have the same level of professional support, though it’s much better than it was. Also if a footballer doesn’t play he still gets paid. I have also worked with dancers and they, like jockeys, will often perform when they’re in pain because if they don’t, they can lose future work and income. If jockeys can’t ride they lose the opportunity to earn and may even lose some good mounts,

and this adds to their extraordinary drive to continue to compete. The way they perceive pain somehow seems to be different from other athletes – it’s almost as if they don’t feel pain in the same way.

Dangerous game: Dr Jerry Hill says jockeys aren’t cavalier and understand the risk of injury

Does a jockey’s disregard for danger make your job more difficult? Jockeys don’t disregard danger; they know it’s there and they recognise that injury, and sadly even death, is a potential outcome of competing in their sport. If they were thinking about potential hazards all the time it would make it impossible for them to compete. They wouldn’t get on the horse. They are not cavalier at all; they are taking a calculated risk. Historically jockeys might have tried to hide injuries from the doctors, but now they are beginning to recognise that we are all working together for their wellbeing and health, and that of the industry. Doctors, physios, nursing staff as well as the Professional Jockeys Association and the Injured Jockeys Fund are there to support and help and we can’t do that unless our participants are honest with us. Collectively we are working towards fit, healthy jockeys who are going to have, not only a long career because their injuries have been managed optimally, but also hopefully avoid problems with their health once they retire. Is racing ahead of other sports in the medical field? When I started in my BHA role three years ago, I found racing had been left in a very good state from the medical point of view by my predecessor, Mike Turner. In terms of the immediate medical care on the racecourse it is still at the top of the league compared with other sports. It is often said if you’re going to have an accident or a heart attack have it on a racecourse, because there is such good medical care there. We have high calibre doctors who are under strict regulation. For example, Cheltenham Festival week has five doctors, Intensive Therapy Unit Consultants, Orthopaedic and General Surgeons, A&E consultants, GPs, and a number of ambulances. The medical resources are comprehensive and sometimes casualties are better off staying at the racecourse to be treated initially rather than being immediately transferred to hospital. Such immediate medical care keeps us ahead of the field. Concussion management is also top flight compared with some other sports. The two, soon to be three, rehab centres, run by the IJF, provide high quality recovery facilities as well as strength and conditioning training. Most injuries in racing

are traumatic injuries from impact, whereas in, say football, we see more overload injuries such as torn hamstrings and groin strains. What is the most important aspect of your job as Chief Medical Officer? And the most significant factor in a jockey’s health and safety? Ensuring jockeys have immediate medical care, and make weight in a safe, responsible way as elite athletes. Jockeys have a packed racing calendar, competing at racecourses scattered around the country and as individual rather than team athletes don’t have that immediate team support. My role is working with other industry partners, the IJF, PJA, RCA and, importantly the trainers, to address jockeys’ health and wellbeing. As a sport it is key to treat jockeys as professional athletes and provide them with the right nutrition, strength and conditioning training as well as psychological support.

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Dr Jerry Hill Research at John Moore’s Liverpool University is looking into eating habits and weight-making practices of professional jockeys. In what way do jockeys take part in the research? George Wilson, an ex-jockey and researcher at John Moore’s University, is studying jockeys’ health and we collaborate with him. The BHA has sponsored a PhD student at the Liverpool University, Dan Martin, who is studying jockeys’ nutrition. Dan is looking at how to translate scientific knowledge into action, getting the message across to caterers, racecourses and of course the jockeys. Frankie Dettori has been to John Moore’s and appeared on a lot of their publicity. Jockeys have also visited to have body scans for body fat and bone density measurements to help tailor specific individual diet and exercise programmes. Should the minimum weight be raised? This question comes up on a regular basis and I think the answer is “Maybe”. Studies over recent years have recognised that in a weight-making sport, jockeys have not reduced their weight in a safe or effective way. That means some are losing muscle and not fat, which makes them slower and weaker. The first step is for us to support jockeys to behave like professional athletes and then if there are still challenges over riding weights, we might look at raising them. If we were to raise the weights now you’d have jockeys who are a bit heavier but may still be following poor practices. Any change would need to be done in consultation with national and international partners and should consider the impact on top weights as well.

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We can’t stop them falling, but we can ensure that when they do hit the ground they are less likely to be injured and their recovery is much quicker because they are fitter. Jockeys lead unusually fast lives on very little food, from riding out at 6am to getting home sometimes towards midnight after evening racing. How much pressure are they under mentally and has depression become a problem as it has in wider society? We know through studies that have been done that there is a significant mental health burden on athletes. Sweating and calorie restriction for jockeys to make weight can have a negative effect on their mood; proper nutrition support and the right training regime will help significantly. It’s not just about making weight the wrong way, but also there are issues about the long days jockeys work, job security and trainer relationships. Recovery from

sport requires decent amounts of sleep; only five or six hours a night will not engender good health, particularly when they are riding out at six in the morning and returning home late evening after racing. The fixture list is also a challenge forcing jockeys to continually drive long distances. Depression is an issue but it is not easy to quantify. The support networks are now in place and it is a case of encouraging jockeys to take advantage of that help. The PJA have free 24-hour telephone access to professional psychologists, with face to face help if needed. The IJF and Racing Welfare offer support. The BHA is signed up to the Mental Health Charter. Historically, anti-depressants were banned substances but now it depends what medication jockeys are taking and, if declared and tested, may be safe to ride. The bottom line is encouraging jockeys to admit when there is a problem.

Last summer you launched the poster campaign stating: ‘Flipping lowers your testosterone, increases your risk of fractures and decreases your sexual functions’. Have those jockeys, who make themselves sick after eating, taken this on board? The purpose of the posters was to bring flipping out into the open and to display various advice lines to encourage jockeys to seek a better way of making weight. The drive for the poster came from some senior jockeys who said they were fed up with finding the jockeys’ lavatory bowls full of vomit. The posters were designed to grab your attention – I hope they have done that. Do you lay down strict rules on nutrition and what is the best way for jockeys to tackle their diet? There are no rules as such. There is a new set of nutrition guidelines, which are in

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Talking To...

Dr Jerry Hill CLOSE UP AND… PERSONAL I relax by… having a glass of Merlot I support… Crawley, where I worked, and Crystal Palace Four dinner party guests… Graham Norton, Darcey Bussell, Gene Kelly and Emma Thompson Guiltiest pleasure… chocolates off the Christmas tree Favourite meal… Greek salad with swordfish steak and a beer at a Greek taverna in the sunshine

Jockeys are advised on nutrition and what to eat in order to be able to perform at their best

›› keeping with current best practice, and

will be circulated to the racecourses. We are debating the implementation process and whether or not to introduce BHA regulation on the matter. It is an option, but I am not a great fan of such an approach, though I do recognise sometimes you need a bit of stick as well as a bit of carrot. We are certainly going to be working hard in getting the nutrition guidelines out there. If jockeys are going to perform they need frequent high protein, small meals of better quality food and should be well hydrated. We have even discussed whether we should provide guidelines on best choices in petrol station food in recognition of the reality that some jockeys drop into petrol stations on the way home. Throughout sport there is a wide discussion on concussion and the many health hazards it creates. Is concussion more common in racing than other sports? We see about 40 concussions across licensed courses and point-to-points in a year, which is less than in rugby or American football. But if you look at concussion per unit time of sport then racing has got the highest rate because our competition lasts a few minutes compared with rugby’s 80 minutes of play. Mike Turner’s protocols were years ahead of everyone else in terms of assessing concussion, monitoring it and getting jockeys back to sport at the appropriate time. Racing has been ahead of other sports in concussion management for a long time. What recent improvements have been made in discovering and treating

concussion in jockeys? There have been modifications in assessing concussion but the big sea change we are promoting is the idea of a collective responsibility for concussion throughout racing. That would mean it is not just for the doctors to identify, but also for the jockeys themselves, their valets, the yard staff and trainers to play their part in spotting the effects of falls. Cooperation from all the industry’s participants could make for a big transformation in combating concussion. A&E departments local to racecourses have not always picked up jockeys’ injuries after falling from a horse travelling at 40 mph. How has this problem been tackled and has it been successfully resolved? We tried sending clips of the falls but the NHS won’t allow ‘foreign’ CDs into their computer system, so one option is to view falls footage on the jockey’s phone. At the Grand National meeting I go to Aintree Hospital and make a presentation to the A&E doctors showing video clips of what happens on the racecourse. We are keen to have some doctors working on the racecourse from the local A&E departments so they can have direct contact with the hospital. We had jockeys not being scanned and were subsequently found to have small spinal fractures, but hospitals are increasingly picking up on this. And some jockeys even phone me from hospital seeking advice. The IJF plays an important part sending an almoner to the hospital to look after the jockey’s welfare and make sure the hospital understands about horseracing.

CLOSE UP AND… PROFESSIONAL My racing hero is… Lester Piggott Biggest bet I’ve had… I don’t bet! Alternative career… I was never going to be anything else but a doctor Best advice I’ve received… my Dad told me “Get out and talk to people” Racing has taught me… change is difficult and requires patience with negotiating skills. Sometimes, however, you just have to do what you believe is right, change the rules and prepare to be unpopular for a while

How many times a year do you go racing? Do you have a favourite track? I race on average about once a fortnight. Five years ago I’d have said Lingfield, my local course, would be my favourite. But, frankly, now I am racing more I find them all fantastic places with their own character and so many in beautiful locations. I enjoy visiting Kempton, one of our city courses. But to be honest, my favourite is the one I’m on at the time. Do you have a favourite horse and, if so, what makes it special for you? Red Rum was the horse that permeated my non-racing brain when I was younger. Back then, like most non-racing members of the public, I used to cringe a bit at the huge number of fallers in the Grand National, but it was Red Rum that introduced me to the sport originally. I used to watch the Derby and the man we all associate with that great race became another favourite of mine – Lester Piggott.

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CC3310 TOB December 2017 (Roster+fees)_Layout 1 21/11/2017 15:19 Page 1

Muhaarar Oasis Dream - Tahrir

£30,000 (1st JAN, SLF)

Mukhadram Shamardal - Magic Tree

£7,000 (1st JAN, SLF)

Nayef Gulch - Height Of Fashion

£5,000 (1st JAN, SLF)

Discover more about the Shadwell Stallions at www.shadwellstud.com Or call Richard Lancaster, James O’Donnell or Tom Pennington on 01842 755913 Email us at: nominations@shadwellstud.co.uk

Bearstone roster TOB Jan 18:Layout 2

6/12/17

14:34

Page 1

BEARSTONE STUD Choose a C:C Certified Stallion What is a C:C? Fast, Speedy, Sprint Type Best distance 5f - 1mile ~ www.equinome.com

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

Group winning sprinter by OASIS DREAM Out of Champion 2yo and Classic winner ATTRACTION Rated higher at 3 years than SHOWCASING (sire of dual Gr.1 winner Quiet Reflection) His parents won eight Group 1 races, his Group-winning two-year-old half-brother ELARQAM, a 1,600,000gns yearling, is among the favourites for next year’s 2000 Guineas, and his yearling half-brother sold for 1,350,000gns at Tattersalls Book 1. “Fountain of Youth was all speed which is not surprising considering how fast his parents were.” Aidan O’Brien 94% fertility in his second season with over 80 mares tested in foal

His first foals sold for up to £47,000

Fee: £4,500 Oct 1st SLF

MATTMU

FIRST YEARLINGS 2018

Jt-Champion 3yo sprinter in Ireland in 2015 By Indesatchel, the Leading British First Crop Sire in 2010, and son of Danehill Dancer, the sire of Group 1 stallions Choisir (sire of Starspangledbanner), Mastercraftsman, Fast Company etc. Group 2 winner at 2 years, Group 1 placed at 3 years Defeated six Group 1 winners Timeform rated 113 at 2: “smart performer…..travels strongly; reliable” “Mattmu was a truly sound and tough sprinter with lots of talent.” Tim Easterby

FIRST SEASON SIRE

Retired sound after 20 races with earnings

of almost £400,000 Fee: £3,000 Oct 1st SLF

Tel: 07974 948755 or 01630 647197

Download our 2018 brochure at www.bearstonestud.co.uk

New sires for 2018

Derby winner Wings Of Eagles returns to France to stand at his birthplace, Haras de Montaigu

The A to Z of new sires From Almanzor to Zarak and everyone in between, Europe’s stallion ranks have once again been bolstered by a sizeable intake of recruits for 2018 Words: John Berry

hirty years ago, demand for the Derby winner was so great that he would be likely not to remain in the British Isles but to head off for richer pastures in Kentucky. Twenty years ago demand for him would be so great that he would probably leave for Japan. Now, it seems, he is likely to leave not because a surfeit of demand, but because of a lack of it. However, the British Isles’ loss is France’s gain as the 2017 Derby winner, the handsome and brave Wings Of Eagles, takes up stud duties at Haras de Montaigu, where he was born, at a fee of €12,000. He is far from the most expensive first-season sire in Europe but, as the Derby winner, he can be viewed as the most distinguished. Two other British Classic winners take up stud duties during the forthcoming season. The past two 2,000 Guineas heroes, Churchill and Galileo Gold, both enter stud in Ireland. Churchill (like Wings Of Eagles) is standing in his homeland (at Coolmore, naturally, at a fee of €35,000) while the British-bred Galileo Gold is at Tally-Ho Stud, where he stands

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New sires for 2018 ›› for €15,000. Churchill followed up his

Classic win at Newmarket by completing the double at the Curragh, and another Irish Classic winner starting out in the British Isles is the 2015 Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs. The son of Halling heads to Overbury Stud at a fee of £4,000, seemingly to cover primarily National Hunt mares. That fact is an even greater sign of the times than the plans for Wings Of Eagles. For reasons which are not clear, Irish Derby winners have found it particularly hard to take breeders’ fancies in recent years. Recent renewals of France’s equivalent of the Derby, the Grand Prix de Paris, have collectively done virtually nothing to unearth popular stallions. However, the race which formerly held that status (the Prix du Jockey-Club, which was run over 2400m until its distance was reduced by 300m in 2005) has been a fruitful source of sires since that change, having yielded the likes of Shamardal, Lope De Vega, Le Havre and Lawman. Almanzor landed the race in 2016 before following up against his elders in the Irish Champion Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes; while Brametot also showed plenty of class when taking the race this year. Each is likely to be popular starting out at stud in 2018, with Almanzor standing at Haras d’Etreham for €35,000 and Brametot commanding a fee of €10,000 at Haras de Bouquetot. Also joining the Bouquetot roster are Zelzal, Al Wukair and Ectot. The former, winner of the 2016 Prix Jean Prat, will stand for €8,000; while the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois winner Al Wukair enters stud at €15,000, and Ectot, who has scored at the top level in both Paris

Almanzor will stand alongside his sire Wootton Bassett at Haras d’Etreham in France

“Bred on a Classic formula, Ulysses possesses a pedigree on par with his form”

Galileo’s son Churchill at Newmarket after winning the first of his two Classics

and New York, has been allocated a fee of €5,000. Also available to French breeders will be the 2011 Prix du Jockey-Club hero Reliable Man, whose final triumph came in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2000m in Sydney in April 2013. In between shuttling stints to New Zealand, the son of Dalakhani has spent four seasons at Gestut Rottgen in Germany (most recently alongside the 2014 Melbourne Cup hero Protectionist) but is now set to stand at Haras du Thenney at a fee of €7,000. Another horse to have won at the top level in both Europe and Australia is Ivanhowe (who raced in the antipodes as Our Ivanhowe). Conqueror of Sea The Moon in the Grosser Preis von Baden in 2014 and subsequently a Group 1 winner in both Brisbane and Sydney, Ivanhowe will join Reliable Man on the Thenney roster at €4,500. While the 12-furlong Classics might appear to be losing their lustre in the eyes of the bloodstock community, the big middle-distance weight-for-age races seem still to command plenty of respect. Postponed, the handsome son of Dubawi whose biggest wins came in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2015 and the Coronation Cup and Juddmonte International in 2016, retires to Dalham Hall at a fee of £20,000. Ulysses, winner this year of the Eclipse Stakes and Juddmonte International after having finished second in the ‘King George’, will hold court on the other side of Duchess Drive at Cheveley Park at a fee of £30,000. He possesses a pedigree on a par with his form, having been bred on

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Time Test set pulses racing and a new track record when winning the Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot and is one of four new stallions at the National Stud this season; Galileo Gold, right, will stand in Ireland at Tally-Ho Stud

the classic formula of being by a Derby winner (Galileo) out of an Oaks winner (Light Shift). His thrilling Eclipse Stakes triumph will live long in the memory, with both winner and runner-up Barney Roy gaining many admirers both for their class and their tenacity. The latter, previously winner of the St James’s Palace Stakes and runner-up in the 2,000 Guineas, joins Dalham Hall at a fee of £10,000. Also enhancing the Darley roster this year is the four-time Group 1-winning miler Ribchester,, who joins Kildangan Stud at a fee of €30,000.

Valuing soundness

The 2016 ‘King George’ hero Highland Reel goes to Coolmore at €17,500,

The Queen’s Recorder joins Le Havre at Haras de Montfort & Préaux

retiring on a high after his heroic second Hong Kong Cup victory on December 10. If soundness were valued as highly by breeders as perhaps it ought to be, the seven-time Group/Grade 1 winner would surely be topping the bill; but even so it is pleasing to see him seemingly still highly valued in an era in which breeders collectively have often shunned horses who have proved themselves tough enough to cope with plenty of racing. Another top-class weightfor-age performer among the new intake of stallions is Decorated Knight. Having scored in Group 3 company at three, Decorated Knight (who is very closely related to 2015 2,000 Guineas winner Gleneagles) made remarkable strides as a four-year-old in 2017, his three top-level victories culminating in a gritty triumph in the Irish Champion Stakes. He heads to the Irish National Stud at a fee of €15,000 along with France’s champion juvenile of 2016, National Defense, who will stand alongside his sire Invincible Spirit for €12,000. The National Stud in England also has a very appealing intake in 2018. In fact, two thirds of its roster will be horses new to Europe. Recent Prix de la Foret hero Aclaim starts out at £12,500, while the

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New sires for 2018

Zarak, by Dubawi out of the Arc winner Zarkava, retires to his breeder’s Haras de Bonneval in Normandy, while the tough and talented miler Ribchester joins fellow newcomers Profitable, Postponed and Barney Roy, as well as his own sire Iffraaj, on Darley’s extensive roster

›› talented Dubawi horse Time Test has a

first-season fee of £8,500. Joining this pair will be two new reverse-shuttlers. Tivaci, a top-class miler by High Chaparral, is coming from Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand; while Spill The Beans, a very fast son of Australia’s champion sire Snitzel, makes the journey from Aquis Farm in Queensland. Their fees will be £8,000 and £6,000 respectively. There are several other appealing options for British breeders who like to use young sons of world-class sires. Galileo’s super-tough son Mondialiste, a dual Grade 1 winner of the Arlington Million and the Woodbine Mile, retires to his owners Geoff and Sandra Turnbull’s Elwick Stud near Hartlepool at a fee of £6,000; while Deep Impact’s Grade 2-winning son Danon Ballade (who comes from the immediate family of Singspiel and Rahy, as well as recent Japan Cup winner Cheval Grand) has moved to Batsford Stud, where he will stand for £4,000. Interesting new sprinting options

for British breeders include the Group 2-winning Kodiac horse Ardad at Overbury Stud and 2016 Phoenix Sprint winner Mattmu at Bearstone Stud (where he was conceived). Their fees are £6,500 and £3,000 respectively.

Doubling up on Daddy

The sprinting intake in Ireland is headed by the charismatic speedster Caravaggio, a winner at Royal Ascot at both two and three. He will stand for €35,000 at Coolmore; while another son of Scat Daddy, El Kabeir, a Grade 2 winner at Churchill Downs as a two-year-old in 2014, will be available at Yeomanstown Stud at a fee of €8,000. Caravaggio is not the only Royal Ascot five-furlong winner retiring to stud in Ireland this season. Profitable, winner of the King’s Stand Stakes in 2016, will stand at Kildangan at a fee of €12,000. Runner-up to the son of Invincible Spirit in that King’s Stand was dual Group 3 winner Cotai Glory, who will stand at Tally-Ho Stud for €6,000.

Classic breeding results in the classy Ulysses, who will stand at Cheveley Park Stud this year

Challenging Ulysses for the title of Europe’s best-bred first-season sire will be Zarak, the son of Dubawi whose dam Zarkava retired to the paddocks in 2009 with the rare distinction of being an unbeaten winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Zarak ranks as easily the best of her offspring to date, as he showed with a string of good performances over the past two years, headed by his Group 1 victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud last July. He is sure to be popular at Haras de Bonneval at €12,000. Reverse-shuttlers are now a wellestablished feature of Europe’s stallion ranks. Tara Stud in Ireland and Gestut Karlshof in Germany are both introducing Australian recruits. Tara will stand the 2016 Caulfield Guineas winner Divine Prophet (a son of Choisir) at a fee of €7,500; while Karlshof, which launched the stud career of leading freshman sire Dabirsim, will play host to the Redoute’s Choice horse Counterattack, a Group 3 winner over 1400m in Brisbane in May 2016. His fee will be €6,500. Among the other new stallions in Europe this season will be the handsome chestnut Recorder, who carried the Queen’s colours to victory in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York as a two-yearold in August 2015. The son of Galileo, a full-brother to Her Majesty’s 2017 Goodwood Listed winner Call To Mind, will stand at Haras de Montfort & Préaux for €6,000. Other new sires in France include the fast Acclamation horse Attendu, who retires to Haras du Quesnay at a fee of €5,000, the same fee set for Group 2 Superlative Stakes winner Birchwood, who will become the first son of Dark Angel to stand in France at Normandy’s Haras de la Huderie.

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Luxury & Lifestyle

Patek Philippe: design classics By Sarah Rodrigues

he story of Patek Philippe watches has its beginnings in Geneva in 1839, when Polish immigrants Antoni Patek and Franciszek Czapek collaborated to form Patek, Czapek & Cie. It was on an 1844 visit to Paris, to examine the new crown winding and setting system that had been developed by French watchmaker Adrien Philippe, that the two names, now synonymous with superb craftsmanship and extraordinary complexity, first encountered one another. Within a few years, their partnership was official. Within just a few months of this, the first keyless pocket watch, an invention of the brand, was on display at the Great Exhibition (officially titled The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations) in the Crystal Palace, erected in Hyde Park in 1851. Alongside inventions such as Samuel Colt’s firearms and a folding piano, the watches of Patek Philippe were seen by more than six million people visiting the exhibition between May and October. Among these was Queen Victoria, to whom the watchmakers presented an exquisite lapis-blue pendant watch – a gift she was so overcome by that she immediately purchased another, in a different shade of blue. She also bought a timepiece for her husband Prince

Patek Philippe presented Queen Victoria with an exquisite lapis-blue pendant watch

Albert, the mastermind behind the exhibition. Unsurprisingly, such royal patronage has cast its own spell on the myth and fortunes of the company, but although Queen Victoria may be the most well-known and illustrious patron of the brand, the recent death of King Michael I, former ruler of Romania, has reminded the world of another proud Patek Philippe owner. Aged 96, the king

Queen Victoria was so taken with her pendant watch she bought another for Prince Albert

– who, unusually, reigned over Romania not only once, but twice – earned a lifetime of horological envy and admiration for his ownership of a Patek Philippe 1518. He – or his timepiece – also became the subject of years of avid speculation. The 1518 was produced in a relatively small quantity over the course of 13 years from 1941. It was the first serially produced perpetual calendar watch – a signature complication that has become synonymous with the brand since it invented and unveiled the wristworn perpetual calendar timepiece (known as Ref 97975) in 1925. The majority of the 1518s produced were crafted in yellow or pink gold; a handful were made of stainless steel and, according to an authorised biography on the watchmaker, in a platinum and multi-metal version, too. Because an early photo of the King, wearing his watch, was, of course, in black and white, this provided the perfect foundation for the belief that his timepiece was one of the scarcelyto-be-believed-in two-tone versions. These excited whispers gained, as such things often do, traction and the appearance of veracity, not least because of the input of respected members of the collector community, and the fact that Michael I didn’t deign to ever confirm or deny the rumours.

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Patek Philippe

From l-r: the 97975, which was unveiled in 1925; the Perpetual Calendar and Chronograph watch in yellow gold; a limited edition 1518

Tantalisingly – and perhaps dismayingly, for some – a colour photo of the King emerged in the years preceding his death, showing that the timepiece in question was, in fact, crafted from yellow or rose gold, which not only means that it is not the fabled two-tone version that he has left behind, but that this watch, if in fact it ever did exist, remains to be found and identified. In 2012, Eric Clapton’s platinum 2499 sold for $3.65 million. Within the last 18 months, a rare stainless steel 1518 – one of only four known to be in existence – sold and became the world’s most expensive wristwatch, with bidding starting at 3 million Swiss Francs, and ending just over ten minutes later at 9.6 million Swiss Francs. The value

attached to the elusive ‘two-tone’ watch would, evidently, be far greater. The ‘serial production’ tag that made the 1518 even more unique for its time needs to be considered in a broader perspective, too: only around 280 of them ever came into existence over a 13-year period. This scarcity is, of course, just one of the factors making Patek Philippe timepieces so sought after: since 1845, when Patek and Philippe first joined forces in Geneva, they have produced fewer than one million watches. The other, critical, factor is the craftsmanship. The aesthetic quality of a Patek Philippe is undeniable: they are wonderfully sophisticated and, for a timepiece with such a price tag,

beautifully understated – so much so that Queen Elizabeth II, a veritable doyenne of good taste, follows in the footsteps of her great great grandmother and owns one. However, the ‘guts’ of the watch are also a factor: the attention to detail in the finer working parts of a Patek Philippe watch are as astonishingly intricate as they are costly to execute. It’s no wonder that the name has become so closely associated with its practice of ‘complications’, a detailed aspect of watchmaking involving anything beyond simple time and date keeping. That understated, laid-back elegance conceals a wealth of inner workings: in the case of Patek Philippe, still waters really do run deep.

World Time Chronograph a connoisseur’s timepiece In 2016, Patek Philippe introduced the World Time Chronograph Ref 5930, combining two time-honoured intricacies that connoisseurs had only seen in a single piece from the 1940s: an automatic chronograph featuring column-wheel control, and a vertical clutch with the World Time module. Launched in elegant white gold, with a silvery-shimmered dial, it is worn on a hand-stitched, matt, navy blue alligator strap, which blends with and complements the dial. The 5930 model features a vertical clutch with the World Time module

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Luxury & Lifestyle

Alpine living appreciation By Sarah Rodrigues

Val d’Isere’s newly built chalet offers over 609 sqm of living space set over two floors

“

he mountains are calling, and I must go.” Thus said 19th century naturalist and preservationist John Muir – and it’s a direction towards which many of our thoughts and longings might be tending during this wintry (read: dreary) part of the year. That’s not to say that the mountains, despite their magnificence, are not without their attendant discomforts, which is why luxury chalets are the order of the day. Being surrounded by breathtaking mountain scenery is vital, of course – but when the thrill

of actually being on the slopes palls, modern day mountain lovers will require all of the trappings necessary to make their mountain property less mere ‘getaway’ – and more ‘sanctuary’. The largest newly built chalet in Val d’Isère, which is on the market with SkiingProperty.com, offers over 609 sqm of living space set over two floors, and is flooded by natural light, courtesy of two large terraces, huge windows and an indoor atrium garden that rises to the top of the property. Gatherings of extended family

and friends are amply provided for, with no fewer than seven en-suite bedrooms. And in terms of relaxation and entertaining space for all of them? Not only is there an indoor swimming pool with waterfall, but also a sauna, jacuzzi, hammam and treatment rooms – perfect for ironing out those postpiste kinks. And if none of this seems to quite justify the €9,000,000 price tag, then step upstairs to the first floor, and be greeted by a living space that has been designed with utter uniqueness in mind; certainly there is nothing of its kind in the Alps. With direct access also possible via private elevator from the underground carpark, it’s a vast, seamless area, connected by a glass bridge to a kitchen, 18-seater dining area and a thoughtfully created ‘Espace Bar’ area, which has pure relaxation at the heart of its concept. And, because true indulgence demands that all senses be stimulated, this level also comprises a 4.5 metre high room, which has been built into the rock face and can be used for indoor climbing or, alternatively, a shooting range. Even if Muir, rugged outdoorsman as he was, had not quite been on board with such decadence, there’s no doubt that he’d have approved of the strong eco ethos that’s been applied in the design of Chalet Lavancher, a newly built six-bedroom chalet located in the eponymous hamlet between Chamonix and Argentière. It’s a serene but

True indulgence in the Val d’Isere chalet includes seven en-suite bedrooms and a stunning indoor swimming pool, complete with waterfall

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Property

The six-bedroom Chalet Lavancher is located in a hamlet between Chamonix and Argentiére

increasingly sought after location, from which the experienced skier can gain off-piste access to the slopes of Grands Montets, which is otherwise a short drive away by car. Here, technologies, based on a geothermal heating system and the latest thermal insulations – never before employed in this area –

have been applied to up the property’s energy efficiency ante. The architectural aesthetic of the chalet, which is on the market with FrenchEntrée Property Services for €6,300,000, is also strong, with a bespoke cross-shaped design creating a space that provides each main room

within the 420sqm space with multiple aspects. As well as the open plan living area and six bedrooms, there’s also an indoor swimming pool, with doors that open fully to let the summer months in, plus garage parking, a cinema room, gymnasium, spa with sauna, steam room and rainforest shower, as well as a fitted children’s bunk room. Additional technical and storage space exists on the lower ground floor level. And if you’re looking to gain income, as well as enjoyment, from your property? “The Alps is a prime investment market and buyers can expect to command high rental yields, access to the top resorts providing,” says Fleur Buckley, Property Services Manager of FrenchEntrée. “The other priority from an investment perspective will be the ability to cater to either families or ski parties; the Alps also have the advantage of holding interest year-round, although of course peak rental period will be the ski season. “The availability of cheap mortgages and ongoing investment in resorts have also contributed to steady capital growth and healthy rental increases, especially in areas like Chamonix, where property prices have risen by, on average, around 5% in the last 12 months.”

SKIINGPROPERTY.COM T: + 44 (0)208 339 6036 E: info@skiingproperty.com W: www.skiingproperty.com

Chalet Lavancher offers open plan living with an indoor swimming pool and cinema room

FRENCHENTRÉE FrenchEntrée Property Services T +44 (0)1225 463752 W: www.frenchentree.com/propertyfor-sale/

LUXURY PROPERTY OF THE MONTH Borleagh Manor Estate, Inch, Gorey, Co. Wexford Set on 160 acres within 85 kms reach of Dublin City Centre, Borleagh Manor was completed in around 1840, incorporating the remains of an earlier structure. Since then, its five bay, two-storey structure remains virtually unchanged. Within the property itself, there are four bedrooms, an office, a kitchen/family room, wine cellar and a games and billiard room – but it’s within the glorious grounds that the magic really happens, with two guest or staff cottages, immaculately

groomed gardens and expansive grounds which house, as well as extensive equestrian facilities, a trout lake. The property is being marketed by Colliers International and is priced at €3,400, 000 Agent details: Marcus Magnier T: 01-6333700 E: marcus.magnier@colliers.com W: www.colliers.ie

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BOBBY’S KITTEN (Kitten’s Joy – Celestial Woods, by Forestry)

Breeders’ Cup Sprint Star First foals 2018 • ONLY 3YO EVER to win Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint • Specialist miler who could also sprint • Won 6 races at 2, 3 & 5 years and $1.4m in the USA and Ireland– all on Turf • A Graded Stakes winner at 2 and 3 years 2018 fee: £12,500

• First stallion son of KITTEN’S JOY (Champion Turf racehorse & multiple US Champion sire) in Europe

SEA THE MOON (Sea The Stars – Sanwa, by Monsun)

A Rising Star First runners 2018 • Sensational 11 length German Derby winner; CHAMPION 3yo and HORSE OF THE YEAR • Unbeaten 2yo & winner of 2 further Group races at 3 • His first yearlings sold in 2017 have made 525,000gns, €460,000, etc • His GB/Irish Sales* average is £115,361 (€128,050), putting him top of the table of GB/Ire Stallions with first crop yearlings in 2017 standing at £25,000 or under.

2018 fee: £15,000

SIR PERCY (Mark of Esteem – Percy’s Lass, by Blakeney)

Stellar Durability and Value A Consistent Stakes Sire • Undefeated CHAMPION 2yo; CHAMPION 3yo and Derby winner • Sire of 39 individual Stakes horses including Group 1 winners WAKE FOREST and SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD; also sire of Group 2 Park Hill Stakes winner ALYSSA in 2017 • Sire of 68 individual 2yo winners including promising 2017 winners BOMBYX and THRAVE 2018 fee: £7,000

• 2017 yearlings sold at the major GB/Ireland Sales* averaged £72,330 (€80,786) – over 10 times his 2015 nomination fee

info@lanwades.com • www.lanwades.com • Tel: +44 (0)1638 750222 • Fax: +44 (0)1638 751186

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The independent option TM *To the end of Tatts Oct Book 2 – All 2018 fees on 1st October Special Live Foal terms. 15/12/2017 14:39

Breeders’ Digest

Emma Berry Bloodstock Editor

Our bloodstock coverage this month includes: Sales Circuit: European breeding stock sales break new records – pages 81-90 Caulfield Files: The rise of the Aga Khan Studs’ Siyouni – pages 93-94 Dr Statz: Pivotal: the upgrader of mares and broodmare sire par excellence – page 122

A breeding home run for the Lamanver team

t’s been an awfully long sales season which has doubtless been good for some and not so for others. Hopefully breeders can now enjoy some peace and quiet over Christmas before foaling begins so, for those of you with an inclination towards National Hunt racing in particular, here’s a little feelgood story for the festive season. Back in 2002, Dr Donna Christensen and her husband Dr Phil Burnett acquired a filly foal by Relief Pitcher, a son of Welsh Tern who was trained by the late Peter Walwyn before being sent to race on in America. After his repatriation, he returned to Britain to stand at Graham Heal’s Vauterhill Stud in Devon. The couple needed a foal to run with a homebred from Christensen’s hunter mare at their Lamanver Farm in Cornwall and chose the Relief Pitcher filly after watching her gambol about the Vauterhill paddocks. “One stood out,” says Christensen. “She floated across the ground, in balance, always in the lead, perfection in her movement. She was cheap, under £1,500, as she was a filly foal and no-one wanted them to race. But with the movement I had seen nothing else mattered, so she came down to our farm, weaned and very wild at five months of age.” With no previous experience in thoroughbreds, Christensen and Burnett looked upon the filly as a “family project”, eventually backing her at the neighbouring farm and overseeing her early pre-training before deciding to send her as a four-yearold to Richard Barber, who at the time was operating a satellite yard for Paul Nicholls. Having taken on a filly with a grandam named Bases Loaded and a sire by the name of Relief Pitcher, the American-born Christensen followed the baseball theme and named her pride and joy Lamanver Homerun – and in racing and breeding terms, she has proved quite the home run for the farming and hunting family. Transferred to the care of Nicholls, she went on to win a bumper, two hurdle races

Phil Burnett, left, and Donna Christensen with homebred Lamanver Odyssey and a mares’ novices’ chase, finishing her career in the TBA/EBF Mares’ Novices’ Chase Final at Newbury in 2009. Properly tried on the racecourse and earning a rating that would qualify her for the TBA Elite Mares’ Scheme, Lamanver Homerun encouraged her owners to enter the world of thoroughbred breeding. “She clattered into a fence at Newbury and needed to mend. Richard Barber thought it was the time to breed her. Ruby Walsh, who had ridden her five times, said we should breed her and the TBA Elite Mares’ Scheme gave us the funding, encouragement and advice to do so,” says Donna. “We have had and have taken good advice from trusted and knowledgeable people in the industry.” Sent for her first three seasons to Lucarno, Lamnaver Homerun produced three fillies in a row – a record that might try the patience of many National Hunt breeders, but again Christensen decided to back her own judgement and put all three fillies in training. All three are now winners in her colours. The eldest, Lady Of Lamanver, ran placed behind subsequent decent winners Barters Hill and Lifeboat Mona in her first two bumper starts for Harry Fry and has been a model of consistency until winning for the first time at Fontwell on November 10. Her year-younger sister Lamanver Alchemy is a bumper winner, but perhaps

the best example of Christensen’s patience being rewarded is with Lamanver Odyssey, who has won three races over the last two seasons and, in addition to her prizemoney of £22,946, has earned her ownerbreeder an extra £25,000 by landing three NH MOPS awards. With Lucarno having moved to France, Lamanver Homerun has subsequently visited Apple Tree, Black Sam Bellamy and Geordieland, with her next three offspring all being colts. Christensen says: “We have put considerable energy and finance into producing the young stock here on the farm, particularly now that we are retired and doing all the horse work ourselves. We have had to hold our nerve for some years as proving the breeding is a longterm endeavour. The thought of six useless racing homebreds haunted us. Thankfully it does not look as though this is going to be the case. “We would hope that all three of Lamanver Homerun’s female progeny would attain elite mare status by continuing their racing and proving themselves worthy of breeding in the future, in either our colours or someone else’s. Two are well on their way.” The Lamanver Homerun success story should certainly come as welcome news to the TBA National Hunt Committee, as well as to jumps breeders around the country. At a time when prize-money in the lower tiers is still nowhere near enough to cover most horses’ training costs, the financial incentives of the Elite Mares’ Scheme and MOPS are certainly helping. Christensen adds: “We are retired from our NHS day jobs and as pensioners we now have four horses in training, which is not inconsequential financially. MOPS has helped us greatly as our only eligible mare has already earned £25,000 in prizes.” There’ll be no MOPS prizes for Lamanver Homerun’s young geldings but their relationship to decent winners not only adds further hope for their careers on the racecourse, but indeed adds to their value if the breeders decide to try to sell any of the brothers. In the meantime, look out for the mare’s four-year-old, Lamanver Pippin, who should hit the track this spring. I wish you all a successful breeding season ahead, and a peaceful 2018.

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Gr/Stks winners from his first 3 crops inc: THE TIN MAN dual Gr.1 winning sprinter 2yos inc Gr.2 winner MEDICINE JACK

The best value...

...sire of sprinters Leading British sires of sprinters (5f-7f) in 2017

…son of Acclamation and the highest rated

Sire

Winners

BTW

Total £

Stud Fee

64 57 50 48

4 2 4 5

1,718,759 1,314,151 1,294,131 1,373,279

£8,000 £15,000 £40,000 £250,000

Dutch Art Pivotal Dubawi etc.

Aclaim Dark Angel

Stud Fee

127 123 113 +

£8,000 £12,500 €85,000

Northern hemisphere winners by active British sires to 12/12/17, provided by Hyperion Promotions

Julian Dollar or Gary Coffey +44 (0)1763 846000

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13/12/2017 13:51

Sales Circuit • By Carl Evans

TATTERSALLS/LAURA GREEN

TALKING POINTS

Islington’s appearance in the ring, led up by Peter Reynolds, provided a poignant moment

Tattersalls’ December Sale Mares

Day two of this event was an astonishing session, revolving around a mesmerising two hours when a bevy of successful mares or fillies in and out of training created a very special atmosphere in the ring. The final leg of the Ballymacoll Stud dispersal after more than half a century of trading under Sobell/Weinstock interests added to the sense that it could be a long time before another day in the ring generates such theatre. Spontaneous applause broke out when the hammer fell at 6,000,000gns for the racemare Marsha, the Sir Mark Prescotttrained dual Group 1 winner whose sale price was a European record for a horse sold at auction. That her value should be driven up by a tussle between two racing and breeding super-powers – namely MV Magnier of Coolmore and underbidder John Gosden, batting for Godolphin – added to the drama, and was another badge of honour for her owners and breeders at Elite Racing. What a result for an organisation that was set up to provide racehorse ownership for large numbers of people. Applause was also heard when 18-yearold Islington, a triple Group 1 victrix, walked in to the ring, for she was led by Peter Reynolds, the man responsible for

her existence during his long tenure as Ballymacoll Stud manager. He was shaking visibly after handing the mare back to her groom, shortly before she was sold to Tom Goff of Blandford Bloodstock for 275,000gns. There were also tears, but outside the ring, from Con, Theresa and Amy Marnane, the family team who bought Different League as a foal for 8,000gns, failed to sell her as a yearling when bidding stopped at £14,000 – Con said the filly had grown rather tall at that stage and was by Dabirsim, who was relatively unknown – and had little option but to put her in training. In June she won the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, and at this sale, still a two-year-old, she was knocked down to MV Magnier and American Peter Brant of White Birch Farm for 1,500,000gns. She joins Aidan O’Brien, said Magnier, who was also involved in the purchase of top-flight sprinter Quiet Reflection for 2,100,000gns. For once the actors in this play seemed bigger than the business, as figures and statistics became briefly irrelevant, but selling 10 horses for a million or more in one short spell does create an ethereal atmosphere. With one other horse, the Moyglare Stakes winner Intricately, selling for 1,700,000gns to Jake Warren on the first day of the sale, Tattersalls had a millionaires’ row, one that led to turnover

• The Ballymacoll Stud dispersal of stock at Tattersalls during the year turned over 11,527,500gns, which is approximately €13,750,000. Add in the €8,150,000 gained for the stud premises at auction in June, and the whole package realised about €21,900,000, less expenses and commissions. Given that concerted attempts were made to sell the farm and its stock as a whole privately it would be fascinating to know if the sums achieved at auctions were somewhere near the owners’ original valuation. Ballymacoll became famous through the public exploits of its 30 home-bred Group 1 winners – sharing its dismantling with the public was perhaps a fitting end. • The December Breeding Stock Sale concluded Tattersalls’ auctions for the year, one that saw the company’s annual turnover from bloodstock sales achieve 331,489,750gns, an increase of nearly 66,000,000gns, or 25%. Bearing in mind Tattersalls had achieved record annual turnover in 2016 when increasing the margin by just over 2,000,000gns, the latest rise is barely believable. That 2016 improvement came despite 461 fewer horses coming to the ring. In 2017 the number offered went back up by 441 – incidentally, despite the extra lots the clearance rate stayed static at 82%. Bigger catalogues would in part explain how turnover was improved again, yet the average price for every horse that came under the hammer was 62,758gns (up 16.5%, and another new high mark for Tattersalls). If the big turnover increase was purely down to the additional 441 horses the rise would have been in the order of 27,000,000gns, not 66,000,000gns. Given record trade at one sale or another for every other specialist bloodstock auction house in Europe during the last 12 months, 2017 will be remembered as a mega year for the industry.

over four days of 68,315,500gns, up 53% despite 34 fewer horses being offered, and one that will be very hard to beat next year. With such a gala of talent and prices, the average soared 53%, but the median fell by 7%.

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Sales Circuit Tattersalls’ December Sale Mares Top lots Name/Breeding

Vendor

Price (gns)

Marsha (Acclamation-Marlinka)

Heath House Stables (Sir Mark Prescott)

6,000,000

Buyers MV Magnier

Zhukova (Fastnet Rock-Nightime)

The Castlebridge Consignment

3,700,000

Godolphin

Quiet Reflection (Showcasing-My Delirium)

Jamie Railton

2,100,000

Blandford B/s/MV Magnier

Wekeela (Hurricane Run-Moonrise)

European Sales Management

1,800,000

David Redvers Bloodstock

Intricately (Fastnet Rock-Inner Realm)

The Castlebridge Consignment

1,700,000

John & Jake Warren

Different League (Dabirsim-Danseuse Corse)

Amy Marnane Bloodstock

1,500,000

White Birch Farm/MV Maginer

Justlookdontouch(Galileo-Hellenic)

The Castlebridge Consignment

1,200,000

White Birch Farm

Figures Year

Sold

Agg (gns)

Avg (gns)

Mdn (gns)

Top Price (gns)

2017

675

68,315,300

101,208

25,000

6,000,000

2016

681

44,709,200

65,652

27,000

2,000,000

2015

680

46,513,500

68,402

28,000

4,500,000

Tattersalls’ December Sale Foals

Tattersalls crept closer to achieving record turnover at every one of its 2017 sales, a feat it achieved at the following week’s Mares’ Sale. This four-day event, one that gives breeders their place in centre stage, generated an additional 7% rise in turnover, an 8% gain in average and a 19% improvement in the median figure. When compared to 2016 an identical number of foals were sold, 957, and 214 failed to find a buyer, creating a clearance rate of 78%. There were some wonderful stories of breeders hitting a gold mine from a cheaply-bought mare, and while Willie Carson was a champion jockey who won all the Classics, one could detect his sense of achievement when selling his Minster Stud homebred Dubawi filly, a half-sister to Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs, for a sale-topping 750,000gns. Appropriately it was Jack Hobbs’ trainer, John Gosden, who won the battle to buy her on behalf of Godolphin. Major owners like Godolphin tend to

dominate trade during the third session, traditionally the strongest with the choicest pedigrees, where fillies with breeding prospects often out-manoeuvre colts. The next-best sale revolved around a daughter of Dark Angel – a stallion whose standing rose again in 2017 – and who was bred at the Veitch family’s Ringfort Stud. She made 600,000gns to a bid from Messrs Gilchrist and Vaughan of Capital Bloodstock who were acting for an anonymous British buyer. The mystery person is nothing if not committed to their foal purchases – they were active at Goffs the week before – with the result that Capital Bloodstock became leading buyer with 10 for 2,205,000gns at an average of 220,500gns. Other significant racing owners who played included Cheveley Park Stud, which bought eight foals – a mix of colts and fillies – for 1,470,000gns at an average price of 183,750gns. Pinhookers had to work hard to fill their requirements, but the usual

suspects invested heavily, notably the O’Callaghan families of Yeomanstown Stud (18 for 1,417,000gns) and Tally-Ho Stud (17 for 1,001,500gns). Norelands Stud, which was granted the honour of handling the Ballymacoll Stud dispersal of foals, headed vendors by aggregate, trading 19 weanlings for 2,046,000gns, including a daughter of Ballymacoll’s marvellous racemare Islington (275,000gns to Cheveley Park Stud). Having headed the December Yearling Sale sires’ list Kodiac made it a quick double, his 16 foals sold realising 1,549,000gns, while new boys who did well included Muhaarar (eight for 1,545,000gns) and Golden Horn (six for 1,220,000gns), who were second and fourth on the list. Naturally enough there were disappointments for some breeders whose foals did not pass muster, and warnings that stallion fees have to reflect the challenges of breeding despite the bullish nature of the market, but the positives outweighed the negatives.

Tattersalls’ December Sale Foals Top lots Sex/Breeding

Vendor

F Dubawi-Swain’s Gold

Minster Stud

Price (gns) 750,000

Godolphin

Buyers

F Dark Angel-Indigo Lady

Ringfort Stud

600,000

Capital Bloodstock

F Invincible Spirit-Liscune

BryanstownHouse Stud

600,000

C Gordon-Watson Bloodstock

C Frankel-Contredanse

Fittocks Stud

375,000

Le Mare

C Dark Angel-Bikini Babe

Knocktoran Stud

325,000

Capital Bloodstock

C Golden Horn-Elegant Shadow

Deerpark Stud

325,000

Godolphin

Figures Year

Sold

Agg (gns)

Avg (gns)

Mdn (gns)

2017

742

32,668,200

44,027

25,000

750,000

2016

743

30,568,350

41,142

21,000

600,000

2015

803

33,565,600

41,800

20,000

800,000

Top Price (gns)

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‘‘‘‘ ‘‘ OVER14403 quotes 13NOV17.qxp 12/12/2017 11:50 Page 1

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HE REMINDS ME A LOT OF PRESENTING. HE’S EXACTLY THAT TYPE JOHN GOSDEN on JACK HOBBS

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Al Kazeem TOB-Jan 2018:Oakgrove Stud

6/12/17

14:31

Page 1

THE GREY GATSBY

POSTPONED

FASCINATING ROCK

Al Kazeem bay 2008, 16.1hh by Dubawi - Kazeem (Darshaan) Ë European Champion at 10 furlongs Ë Winner of 10 races at 2 to 7 years including 4 Gr.1 races Ë By DUBAWI – sire of 33 Gr.1 winners including Classic sire MAKFI Ë From the stallion producing family of IN REALITY, KNOWN FACT and RELAUNCH Ë Timeform rated 128 in three consecutive seasons Ë “He was a gentleman from the outset, full of class and tough as they come” Roger Charlton

Two winners from from just a few runners so far including stakes filly Golden Spell, a winner at 5 and 6 furlongs and placed second Legacy Stakes LR (6f) and third Blenheim Stakes LR (6f), and Clairette (class 2 winner).

In 2016 his first crop of yearlings averaged £135,000 His second crop will be yearlings in 2018 STANDING AT OAKGROVE STUD

Fee: £12,000 Oct 1st SLF (Limited Book)

Oakgrove Estate, St Arvans, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, NP16 6EH Tel: 01291 622876 G Fax: 01291 622070 G Email: oakgrovestud@btinternet.com G www.oakgrovestud.com For Nominations Contact: David Hilton: 07595 951248 G Vannessa Swift: 01291 622876

Sales Circuit Tattersalls’ December Yearlings Sale

Barney Roy made good media material all summer, and his retirement to stud continued the headlines, all helpful material for his yearling half-sister who proved the hottest property at this, the final European yearling sale of 2017. A daughter of Kodiac and the Galileo mare Alina, her sale for 400,000gns to David Redvers of Qatar Racing & Bloodstock was the auction’s best since 2006 when a yearling made 700,000gns.

organisation that Hazelwood Bloodstock offered the yearling. The filly’s sale was by far the best of the day at an auction which can be lifted by some special yearlings who were not ready, or suffered a mishap, when the established sales took place during the autumn. On this occasion ten made a six-figure sum, three more than last year, although seven fewer horses, and a decline in the clearance rate (from 85% to 77%), pulled down the aggregate by 2%. The average went up by 12% and the median by 16%.

The buyer on that occasion was Demi O’Byrne, a man strong on foresight, and the filly who set that landmark figure became Moonstone, winner three years later of the Irish Oaks. Redvers will be hoping for the same, and whatever his purchase’s racing future she proved a high for Hazelwood Bloodstock, based near Newmarket at Exning and established last year by Adrian and Philippa O’Brien. Adrian’s time in Australia’s Hunter Valley enabled him to forge links with Sun Stud, and it was for a division of that

Tattersalls’ December Yearlings Sale Top lots Name/Breeding

Vendor

F Kodiac-Alina

Hazelwood Bloodstock

Price (gns) 400,000

Buyers David Redvers Bloodstock

F Sea The Stars-Green

Minstrel Grove Stud

160,000

C Australia-Sweepstake

Croom House Stud

150,000

McStay/Ferguson Bloodstock MV Magnier

C Dawn Approach-Night Visit

Norris Bloodstock

150,000

DMM.com

C Dark Angel-Khalice

Mountarmstrong Stud

130,000

NP Littmoden

C Australia-Azeema

Oakgrove Stud

130,000

DMM.com

Figures Year

Sold

Agg (gns)

Avg (gns)

Mdn (gns)

Top Price (gns)

2017

124

4,271,500

34,448

25,000

400,000

2016

142

4,377,500

30,827

21,500

250,000

2015

142

4,091,400

28,813

20,000

200,000

Goffs November Foal & Breeding Stock Sales

Goffs revamped this sale, placing the premier foals into Part 1 over three days, then staging two days of fillies and mares, followed by Part II of foals over a further two days. Giving lesser foals a separate section seemed to work, as did starting the sale with a stronger group of foals that gave the event a better kick off – on the opening day last year only 49% of lots found a buyer, compared to 78% for the latest rendition. Feedback was largely positive and so were the figures – they had the impossible act of trying to match last year’s when a large Wildenstein dispersal gave them a very rosy hue. Three of the top four foals were from the dispersal, as were seven of the top ten breeders or fillies. Even without such a treasure trove to rummage through, buyers came in from around the world for some of the best Irish bloodstock, parts of it influenced by masterful Galileo, whose impact at the top end was marked. Goffs had the kudos of being the only sales house to offer foals by the great stallion this year, and the trio reaped sums of €1,100,000, €625,000 and €400,000.

Mares carrying his foals accounted for four of the top five lots in that section, headed by Inca Princess, who was bought by Lauren Benoit’s Broadhust Agency for €1,900,000. One day earlier Inca Princess’s Galileo foal made €1,100,000 to a bid from agent Hugo Lascelles on behalf of American clients who will keep her to race. That foal confirmed everything Benoit already knew about the dam – she had already produced two very good horses by Coolmore’s great champion sire, namely Johannes Vermeer, a Group 1 winner and recently second in the Melbourne Cup, and Group 2 winner Elizabeth Browning, who headed Tattersalls’ Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale at 700,000gns. Inca Princess is only nine, and her purchase price could prove good value – especially if she can keep visiting Galileo. Lascelles made just one foal purchase, but a new team of Neil Gilchrist and Peter Vaughan and named Capital Bloodstock proved the leading buyers of weanlings when sourcing four for €1,150,000 at an average of €287,500. The same team were in similar form at Tattersalls the following week, and while Gilchrist declines press interviews, and Vaughan’s comments

are kept to a minimum, he said they were buying for someone who would keep the stock to race. Word on the grapevine was that their client has links to a stud near Newmarket. Among pinhookers, Gay and Roger O’Callaghan of Tally-Ho Stud were very active, gaining 19 foals at an average of €54,868, and giving them part of a strong hand to prep for 2018 yearling sales. Broadhust Agency’s single purchase gave it top-buyer honours in the breeding section, but other foreign visitors included representatives of Katsumi Yoshida’s Shadai Farm in Japan, which accounted for two purchases totalling €1,060,000 and headed by €950,000 Melito, an 11-year-old mare carrying to Galileo. The Castlebridge Consignment headed consignors at both the foals and breeding stock sales – the team of Dwan/Mead/Goodbody sold 24 foals for €3,178,000 at an average of €132,417, and 49 fillies or mares for €5,751,000 at an average of €117,367. In the breeding stock section, Godolphin’s draft involved 41 sold at an average of €33,000, while Goffs’ shareholder the Aga Khan made his usual important contribution, selling 25 at an average of €48,940.

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Sales Circuit ››

The overall figures for foals showed big increases, including a rise in clearance to 77% from 67%. Turnover was up 35% despite 89 fewer lots being

offered, the average rose 29% and the median by 33% The breeding stock section was down on last year’s Wildenstein-influenced

event, but up on 2015. Turnover fell 28%, the average by 17%, the median was static, while the clearance rate fell back from 85% to 76%.

Goffs November Foal & Breeding Stock Sales Foal Sale – top lots Name/Breeding

Vendor

Price (€)

Buyers

F Galileo-Inca Princess

The Castlebridge Consignment

1,100,000

Hugo Lascelles

C Galileo-Melito

The Castlebridge Consignment

625,000

Ken Bolger

C Sea The Stars-Holy Salt

Stanley Lodge

460,000

Capital Bloodstock

F Galileo-Fix

The Castlebridge Consignment

400,000

Ken Bolger

C Muhaarar-Miss Beatrix

Ballintougher Stud

340,000

Shadwell Estate

C Dark Angel-Thawrah

Rossenarra Stud

340,000

High Valley Equine

C Sea The Stars-Chicago Dancer

Tinnakill House

330,000

Dromoland Farm

F Golden Horn-Hikari

Yellowford Farm

290,000

Cheval Investments

Foal Sale – figures Year

Sold

Agg (€)

Avg (€)

Mdn (€)

Top Price (€)

2017

952

2016

697

731 27,145,000

37,134

20,000

1,100,000

20,083,350

28,814

15,000

2015

775,000

810

25,852,500

31,917

17,750

1,100,000

2014

742

27,504,700

37,068

22,000

1,800,000

2013

689

18,096,200

26,264

17,000

420,000

Breeding Stock – top lots Name/Breeding

Vendor

Inca Princess (Holy Roman Emperor-Miletrian)

The Castlebridge Consignment

1,900,000

Price (€)

Buyers

Muravka High (Chaparral-Tabdea)

The Castlebridge Consignment

950,000

Melito (Redoute’s Choice-Cloister)

The Castlebridge Consignment

950,000

Katsumi Yoshida

Fix (Iffraaj-Destined)

The Castlebridge Consignment

750,000

Blandford Bloodstock

Convocate (Exchange Rate-Private Line)

Garranlea Stud

400,000

Marlhill House Stud

Ebalista (Selkirk-Ebadiyla)

Aga Khan Studs

300,000

Forenaghts Stud

Broadhurst Agency Barronstown Stud

Breeding Stock – figures Year

Sold

Agg (€)

Avg (€)

Mdn (€)

2017

345

14,924,450

43,259

15,000

1,900,000

2016

397

20,777,700

51,815

15,000

1,600,000

2015

315

9,840,400

31,239

15,000

460,000

Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale

Overseas visitors to this four-day sale defied wintry weather conditions to reach and exit the venue, but while there they availed themselves of French fillies, mares, foals and jumping stock. Arqana’s Eric Hoyeau was quick to point out that the 11 highest-priced horses at day one’s premier session of breeding stock were knocked down to 11 individual buyers, which he described as “quite an extraordinary feat at this level of the market”. They represented interests from France, Britain, Japan, Qatar, Ireland, America and Australia. French racing and breeding giants Wertheimer & Frere bought the top lot, Haggle – a daughter of Pivotal from the

family of Alexandrova, Chicquita and Rekindling – whose sale for €1,300,000 was a triumph for Stephen and Becky Hillen. They bought her for 125,000gns at the December Sale 12 months earlier as a three-year-old, and converted her into a Group 3 winner with help from trainer Henri-Francois Devin. The Hillens are based in Britain, and there were associations with the UK involving many of the leading lots. Willie and Elaine Carson of Minster Stud sold a top-lot Dubawi foal for 750,000gns at Tattersalls, but reinvested €600,000 in the seven-yearold, stakes-placed Galileo broodmare Phiz, who they bought through James Delahooke. David Redvers also made a €600,000 investment when buying

Top Price (€)

nine-year-old Molly Malone for Qatar Bloodstock. A Group 1 winner by Lomitas, and with a Golden Horn foal in utero, Molly Malone was related to Wekeela, who Redvers bought for 1,800,000gns at Tattersalls a few days earlier. Bold pinhookers Peter and Michelle Morgan of Bath’s Carmel Stud accounted for the leading foal, a €165,000 filly by Starspangledbanner and offered from the breeding operation of the recently deceased Marquesa de Moratalla. The Morgans will resell her as a yearling, while Juliet Minton of Mill House Stud in Shropshire bought the leading jumps broodmare, Shanon Du Berlais, for €140,000. Minton was acting for Devon breeder John Lightfoot, who

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Sales Circuit ›› was planning to leave his purchase in

Turnover, having dipped 11% last year, did a proper volte face and gained 41%, the average was up 22%, the median by 19%. Arqana’s turnover for the year also went up, gaining 5% to reach €133,858,000 at an average of €50,646. From 3,387 horses offered, 2,643 found buyers, an improved clearance rate of 78%.

clearance rate was not hurt by the abundance and remained at 81%. The extra lots helped turnover rise by 48%, while the average (+13%) reached €123,868 and the median (+7%) €75,000. The key indicators over four days all fell last year. This time they all went up. A total of 871 horses were offered, a rise of 39, yet the clearance rate gained four points to reach 79%.

France to give birth to her Saint Des Saints foal. France has some popular jumps stallions on its roster at present, and that element helped turnover for that section go up by 16% and the average by 18% (€18,811). An additional 50 lots attended the blue-chip opening session, yet the

Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale Top lots Name/Breeding

Vendor

Haggle (Pivotal-Barter)

Henri-Francois Devin

1,300,000

Price (€)

Buyers

Phiz (Galileo-Peace Time)

Haras Des Monceaux

600,000

James Delahooke

Molly Malone (Lomitas-Moonlight Melody)

Haras Des Monceaux

600,000

David Redvers

Troarn (Wootton Bassett-Darkova)

Jean-Claude Rouget

600,000

Equine Advisory

Maimara (Makfi-Hideaway Heroine)

Haras Du Quesnay

520,000

Ballylinch Stud

Demurely(Galileo-Solo De Lune)

Haras Des Monceaux

480,000

Blandford Bloodstock

Zakia (New Approach-Zarkasha)

Aga Khan Studs

450,000

K Yoshida/Narvick International

Monroe Bay (Makfi-Lune Rose)

Pascal Bary

420,000

Meridian International

Guerriere (Invincible Spirit-Mathematicienne)

Wertheimer & Frere

420,000

Oceanic Bloodstock

Wertheimer Et Frere

Figures Year

Sold

Agg (€)

Avg (€)

Mdn (€)

2017

690

31,365,000

45,457

19,000

1,300,000

2016

634

23,396,000

36,902

16,000

1,000,000

2015

702

26,498,500

37,747

18,500

900,000

Tattersalls’ Ireland November National Hunt Sale

Terrific trade at the midsummer store sales, and at auctions of young jumpers in training, meant this event was likely to produce excellent returns – and it did. It was no harm to its prospects that a past foal graduate was last season’s Timico Gold Cup winner Sizing John (€16,000), and trade for that age group was very strong at the top, and pleasingly so through the middle of the market. However, the star of the show proved once again to be a mare in foal. Mares carrying to Burgage Stud sire Shantou have headed recent editions of this axial sale of jumpers, but it was one of the stallion’s daughters who topped proceedings on this occasion. Airlie Beach had something else in common with the sale’s three previous headline acts, in that she came from Willie Mullins’ Closutton Stables, and, as a Grade 1 winner over hurdles, represented most people’s idea of the horse that would create the biggest price. She has been one of a number of horses who have produced a top-class victory to highlight their sire’s ability, and it was perhaps no coincidence that one of his sons headed the foal sale with an

€80,000 valuation. Six days of trade – comprising one of yearlings, four of foals and one of fillies and mares – seems fairly tame in comparison to the 13-day edition held as recently as 2007, yet ten years later, trade, and the key-indicator figures, improved upon that mammoth event. Airlie Beach’s sale for €140,000 contributed – she was knocked down to John Flood, acting for a client of his County Meath-based Boardsmill Stud. It is now home to Mount Nelson, with whom the top lot was successfully mated in May. From day one the sale showed improvements across the board, with the exception of the clearance rate for yearlings, which dipped to 59% of the 187 offered. In this section there were 11% rises in turnover and average (€12,656) and an 8% improvement in median – the top lot, a Martaline gelding from Ballyreddin Stud, made €75,000 to a nod from Henrietta Knight. The clearance rate for foals rose from 71% to 76% as 704 of the 929 to walk the ring found a buyer. Turnover of €11,688,200 was up 17% and exceeded the sum achieved at the 13-day 2007 sale, while the median and average

Top Price (€)

marks both grew 14%. There were increases in several price ranges, with no fewer than 18 foals making €60,000 or more, compared to seven in 2016, while 59 realised €40,000 or more, a big improvement on the 22 who did likewise last year. Richard Rohan, acting for a client of Ballincurrig House Stud, signed for the €80,000 top foal, who was a full-brother to the Mullins-trained Briar Hill, a Grade 1 bumper and hurdles winner. Ballincurrig House Stud was also to the fore among vendors, maintaining its position as number one by selling 37 horses for €818,000. Of British consignors, Juliet Minton’s Mill House Stud traded eight for €248,000, while Northern Ireland’s Ian Ferguson was the leading buyer, gaining 23 for €536,500 at an average of €23,326. The full catalogue, with 59 fewer horses, resulted in a 15% rise in turnover, a 12% improvement in the average and one of 8% in the median. The clearance rate rose from 68% to 73%, completing a set of figures that illuminate traders belief that the current passion for jump racing and its defining spring festivals is going to last at least another four or five years, and hopefully a lot longer.

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Sales Circuit Tattersalls Ireland Flat Breeding Stock Sale Top lots Name/Breeding

Vendor

Price (€)

Airlie Beach (Shantou-Screaming Witness)

Closutton Stables

140,000

Buyers Boardsmill Stud

C Shantou-Backaway

Burgage Stud

80,000

Richard Rohan

C Milan-Fair Ina

Galbertstown Stud

78,000

Grange Stud

C Kayf Tara-Isabello Little

Lodge Farm

77,000

Aiden Murphy

G Martaline-Fantastic Cuix

Ballyreddin Stud

75,000

Henrietta Knight

C Flemensfirth-Lucky Fancy

The Beeches Stud

75,000

Kevin Ross Bloodstock/Ben Case

C Fame And Glory-Shuil Dorcha

Ashwood Stud

75,000

Ian Ferguson

Figures Year

Sold

Agg (€)

Avg (€

Mdn (€)

Top Price (€)

2017

1,413

13,868,300

15,996

11,500

140,000

2016

842

12,035,450

14,294

10,500

160,000

2015

921

12,745,750

13,839

10,500

145,000

Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham November Sale

This was a spectacular sale, staged in an auditorium filled to the brim for much of its duration with racegoers who attended Cheltenham’s Countryside Race Day. First-time visitors were probably amazed by prices (the average was over £90,000), and while they may only have stayed for the first 20 lots to allow the car parks to thin they will have seen two horses make a six-figure sum. Had they stayed for the next 20 they would have witnessed another 11 break through the £100,000 barrier, including £380,000 Know The Score, a typical top lot at this venue being a once-raced four-year-old pointer who had been well regarded as a store – he sold for €55,000 at the Derby Sale to Monbeg Stables’ Sean Doyle, who trained him to win at Ballinaboola five days before the sale.

Of the 45 horses offered, 41 found a buyer (compared to 31 sold out of 46 on offer at the sale 12 months earlier), and the improved clearance rate helped turnover hit £3,712,000, an increase of 82 per cent and a record for the November Sale. It was only marginally behind the best ever turnover mark at Cheltenham. The average price rose 37% and the median by 20%. David Pipe bought Know The Score for his clients The Angove Family, and he also paid £175,000 for Queens Cave, owned by Enda McDonagh and Aiden Fitzgerald, and trained by the last-named to win a four-year-old point at Dromohane on the Sunday before the sale. The two vendors had bought the filly for just €8,000 as a store. Roger Brookhouse gained the second highest-priced horse, Good Man Jim, a winner at Dowth Hall, for £360,000.

TALKING POINTS • Jump racing suffered the loss of a leading racehorse owner in the week before this sale with the death of Alan Potts, who passed away a few months after his wife Ann. It later transpired the horses the couple kept in training will race on in the family colours, which is good for racing and the trainers and staff involved. However, Potts’ buying has come to an end, and given the money he invested his absence could have proved more than a ripple at this event. There is only a limited number of owners who can pay large sums for young jumpers, and the game is not an international affair, bringing in buyers from around the world.

Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham November Sale Top lots Name/Breeding

Vendor

Price (£)

Buyers

Know The Score Flemensfirth-Prairie Bell

Monbeg Stables (Sean Doyle)

380,000

David Pipe

Good Man Jim Martaline-Precious Lucy

Moate Stables (Michael Goff)

360,000

Roger Brookhouse

Gallahers Cross Getaway-Raheen Lady

Roefield Stables (Peter Fahey)

260,000

Highflyer Bloodstock

Lust For Glory Getaway-Maisie Presenting

Ballyboy Stables (Denis Murphy)

240,000

Highflyer Bloodstock

Unexcepted Anzillero-Eaton Lass

Ecurie Emmanuel Clayeux

200,000

Queens Cave Court Cave-Shuilan

Cobajay Stables (Aidan Fitzgerald)

175,000

David Pipe

Brace Yourself Mahler-Angelica Garnett

Bernice Stables (Warren Ewing)

165,000

Margaret O’Toole/Noel Meade

Charlie Swan

Figures Year

Sold

Agg (£)

Avg (£)

Mdn (£)

2017

3,712,000

90,537

60,000

380,000

2016

2,042,000

65,871

50,000

300,000

2015

1,865,000

60,161

48,000

190,000

2014

1,459,500

44,227

40,000

130,000

2013

£2,320,500

44,625

30,000

200,000

Top Price (£)

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Caulfield Files

Bloodstock world views

Siyouni a growing force within the French ranks Juvenile Sacred Life cruelly denied the chance of becoming Siyouni’s second Group 1 winner from 2015 crop but both colt and sire appear set to enjoy a successful 2018

AGA KHAN STUDS

hanks to rebellious members of France’s racing community, Europe’s two-year-old Group 1 programme unfortunately ended with a whimper rather than a bang. They forced the abandonment of the SaintCloud card on October 29, which had promised plenty of potentially significant action, starting with the Criterium de Saint-Cloud and then the Criterium International. Admittedly the Criterium de SaintCloud no longer seems to be the first-rate showcase for potential Classic winners which it was in the 1980s, when this mile-and-a-quarter test fell to the Prix de Diane winner Escaline and the Prix du Jockey-Club winners Darshaan and Mouktar in the space of three years. Even so, the 2016 winner Waldgeist was good enough to finish a short-head second in the Jockey-Club, while the 2015 winner Robin Of Navan failed by a neck to land the 2017 Prix d’Ispahan. According to the Racing Post’s betting forecast, the 2017 renewal of the Criterium de Saint-Cloud was likely to be won by Frankel’s classically-bred son Nelson, whose neck defeat by Roaring Lion in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes had been advertised by Roaring Lion’s narrow defeat in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy. Ryan Moore was scheduled to partner another classically-bred colt, Delano Roosevelt, even though this son of Galileo and the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Again had been beaten nearly four lengths by Nelson in a Group 3 at Leopardstown. With a Danehill Dancer mare as his dam, Delano Roosevelt represents the nick responsible for the

Siyouni: France’s busiest sire in 2016, including plenty of patronage from Britain and Ireland

multiple Group 1 winners Minding, The Gurkha and Alice Springs. An extra dimension was added to the race by the presence of the unbeaten filly Luminate. This daughter of Lawman had shown that she was perfectly at home on very soft ground when she easily defeated five colts in the Group 3 Prix de Conde. This filly, who represents Lawman’s successful partnership with Rainbow Quest mares, is out of a halfsister to the top-class Kalanisi, so can be expected to do very well at three. It was a pity that we were denied

“Remember, though, that all four of Siyouni’s crops of racing age in 2017 were sired at only €7,000”

the chance of seeing which of these three might have come out on top, but the major disappointment was the cancellation of the Criterium International. Despite the presence of three contenders from Britain and another from Ireland, the betting forecast was headed by the French-trained Sacred Life, a Siyouni colt who boasted the proud record of three wins from as many starts. It was all too easy to have missed Sacred Life’s latest win in the Group 3 Prix Thomas Bryon, run midweek at Saint-Cloud at a time when Book 1 of the Tattersalls yearling sales were in full swing. However, he had been impressive once he hit top gear, surging away to score by six lengths from the Englishtrained Alba Power. Sacred Life had been similarly impressive in a Deauville conditions race on his second start, winning by five lengths.

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Caulfield Files ››

Unfortunately, the demonstration on Criterium International day meant that Sacred Life’s Group 1 ambitions have had to be put on hold until 2018. This must have been highly frustrating not only for his owner, Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard, and trainer, Stephane Wattel, but also for Siyouni’s connections. Had Sacred Life managed to win, he would have been the second Group 1 winner to emerge from Siyouni’s 2015 crop, following the imposing Fillies’ Mile winner Laurens, who also triumphed in the Group 2 May Hill. This crop also includes Altea, runnerup in the Group 3 Prix des Reservoirs. At the start of December, Siyouni ranked fourth among the sires of twoyear-olds in Europe, behind Galileo, Kodiac and Society Rock but ahead of Dark Angel, War Front and Exceed And Excel. You could say that this is no more than might be expected of a stallion who will be standing the 2018 season at a fee of €75,000 – the highest for any Frenchbased stallion. Remember, though, that all four of Siyouni’s crops of racing age in 2017 were sired at only €7,000. His rise to the top is especially pleasing for me, as I nominated Siyouni as a value-for-money stallion in an article I wrote in 2013, shortly before the start of his third season. “Siyouni strikes me as an interesting prospect at his 2013 fee of €7,000,” I wrote. “We have already seen several other sons of Pivotal sire Group winners, with Kyllachy carving out a place as a very reliable commercial sire, while Captain Rio did well at bargain-basement level. The first crop by Falco, another of Pivotal’s French-based sons, contains the Group-winning Snowday. Siyouni had four future Group 1 winners behind him on the day he landed the 2009 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, to improve his juvenile record to four wins from six starts. Although he failed to add to those victories at three, Timeform still rated him 122. A half-brother to the 2012 Group 1 winner Siyouma, Siyouni is out of a halfsister to the highly talented Slickly, so he is well qualified to make his mark.” He has certainly done that. From 312 foals of racing age, he has been represented by 11 Group winners, seven Listed winners and seven Group-placed performers. In addition to Sacred Life and Laurens, his 2017 Group winners include Le Brivido, who won the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot after losing the Poule d’Essai des Poulains to Brametot in the very last stride. Siyouni had fared better with his first-crop daughter Ervedya, winner of the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches in 2015

prior to adding the Coronation Stakes. Other smart daughters of Siyouni include Spectre, a good fourth in Ribchester’s Queen Anne Stakes, and Siyoushake, who ran very well to be placed in a pair of Deauville Group 1s in 2017. One of these had seen another smart daughter, Group 2 winner Volta, finish second in 2016. Siyouni’s total of nine horses with Racing Post ratings of 110 or higher also include a pair of dual Group 3 winners, in the filly Bourree and the speedy gelding Finsbury Square. It is enlightening to look at the racing records of the dams of these good

“Siyouni may not inject stamina like Pivotal but he has inherited his sire’s ability to upgrade his mares” winners. Although Ervedya’s dam Elva was Group-placed, she is the exception to the rule. Le Brivido’s dam La Bugatty was fourth in a 13-furlong maiden race at Lisieux on her only start; Siyoushake’s dam Shakeyourbody gained her only success in an 11-furlong maiden at Avignon; Finsbury Square’s dam won only once from 18 starts; and Laurens’ dam Recambe was just a minor winner at up to a mile and three-quarters. Then there’s Spectre’s dam Inez, Volta’s dam Persian Belle and Bourree’s dam Bearlita, none of whom made it to the races. It is a similar story with Sacred Life. He too is out of an unraced mare and his dam, the tongue-twisting Knyaszhna, is another with plenty of stamina in her background. Knyaszhna is by the stamina-packed Montjeu, whose progeny had an average winning distance just short of a mile and a half, and her dam Katyusha was an unraced sister to Rule Of Law, winner of the 2004 St Leger after finishing second in the Derby. Katyusha is the dam of Migwar, a smart mile-and-ahalf performer by Sea The Stars. However, this family isn’t devoid of speed. Sacred Life’s third dam Crystal

Crossing, won over six furlongs at two before being switched to the States, where she raced creditably over a mile or so. She was followed two years later by her sister Circle Of Gold, winner of the seven-furlong Group 3 Prestige Stakes before scoring over nine in the USA. These sisters were by the sprinter-miler Royal Academy, who gained his finest win in Europe in the July Cup, and their broodmare sire was Never So Bold, another July Cup winner. Never So Bold was no doubt chosen as a mate for Sacred Life’s fifth dam, the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Favoletta, because he was a son of Bold Lad. Favoletta had visited Bold Lad earlier in her career to produce the spectacularly speedy Amaranda, winner of the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes. It is going to be interesting to see whether Sacred Life has enough stamina to develop into a Prix du Jockey-Club contender. There has to be a doubt at present. Although several of Siyouni’s Group and Listed winners have stamina in their dam’s side, only one of Siyouni’s 18 black-type winners, the Group 3 Prix de Psyche winner Bourree, has won beyond a mile at stakes level. It therefore looks as though Siyouni, with his dam by Danehill, hasn’t inherited his sire Pivotal’s ability to occasionally inject stamina into some of his leading winners, such as Sariska, Eagle Top, Chorist and Farhh. What he has inherited, though, is Pivotal’s invaluable ability to upgrade his mares. Because of the cancellation of the Criterium International, we are still in the dark about Sacred Life’s merit, but he has already done enough to highlight Siyouni’s potential. The Haras de Bonneval resident must surely be heading for several highly successful years, as his 2018 two-year-olds were sired at an increased fee of €20,000. These sold for up to €420,000, with Godolphin buying two of his three highest-priced youngsters. There was also plenty of interest from overseas buyers, including the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Shadai Farm. Siyouni’s fee then climbed to €30,000 in 2016 and €45,000 in 2017, before leaping to 2018’s €75,000. It isn’t just his fee which has been going up. Although none of his first four crops numbered more than 88 foals, Siyouni covered 190 mares in 2015 and was France’s busiest stallion in 2016, with 224 mares. Plenty of those mares were sent from Britain and Ireland, so we can look forward to seeing many more runners by Siyouni on this side of the Channel.

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SOMETHING SPECIAL

in 2018

The 2018 January Sale at Doncaster will offer a unique opportunity to buy high-class racing and breeding prospects from Richard Kelvin-Hughesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Trull House Stud Dispersal. The dispersal will offer 25 well-bred fillies and mares by the likes of Kayf Tara, Robin des Champs, Midnight Legend and Presenting with mares in foal to sires including Kayf Tara, Flemensfirth and Walk In The Park. The draft will be offered by Mill House and Little Lodge Studs and all lots will be sold without reserve, giving buyers a once in a generation opportunity to buy into proven bloodlines that have enjoyed consistent success at the highest level.

For more information and to view the draft please visit www.goffsuk.com/news/TrullHouseStud

Doncaster January Sale 23 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 24 January 2018

Catalogue available from 11 January 2018

www.thethoroughbredclub.co.uk •

@TTC_GB

Overbury and Cheltenham trip

he Thoroughbred Club’s latest event at Overbury Stud and Cheltenham offered members exclusive access to the latest stallions on the Overbury roster. The Gloucestershire-based stud has recently added Kodiac’s Royal Ascot-winning two-year-old Ardad to its team. Overbury Stud’s most exciting addition to its National Hunt roster is Jack Hobbs. The John Gosden-trained son of Halling started 2017 in fine form when taking the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan, doubling his career tally of Group 1s in the process. The Irish Derby winner has settled in well to Overbury and is set to provide breeders with the chance to access a Classic-winning pedigree at a value price. Overbury’s roster also features Schiaparelli and Dunaden, who were both on show at The Thoroughbred Club’s visit. Schiaparelli was a tough and durable horse in his racing career, showcased by his five Group 1 victories including the German Derby. He currently has 83 four- and five-yearolds in training and has enjoyed recent success on the track with the likes of Is She Diesel and Schiaparannie. Dunaden was another high-class international performer on the track, claiming the

Melbourne Cup hero Dunaden at Overbury

Multiple champion sire Kayf Tara on show to TTC members at our latest enjoyable outing

Melbourne Cup and Hong Kong Vase in 2011. Multiple UK champion sire Kayf Tara is Overbury’s star, and is still covering at the age of 23. The son of Sadler’s Wells has sired some impressive horses throughout his stallion career, with Planet Of Sound claiming the 2010 Punchestown Gold Cup. But it is in more recent seasons that the progeny of Kayf Tara have taken off, with Blaklion, Special Tiara and Thistlecrack providing him with Cheltenham Festival winners. Success could easily continue for Kayf Tara this season, with the Festival-winning trio set for a big spring at the major meetings. Following the morning at Overbury, The Thoroughbred Club made the short trip to Cheltenham for the BetVictor Gold Cup card. Despite the damp conditions, members were treated to a sensational performance from Apple’s Shakira in the opening juvenile contest, and a thriller of a finish in the feature contest, with Splash Of Ginge narrowly holding on from Starchitect. The Thoroughbred Club wish to thank both Overbury Stud and Cheltenham racecourse for their generous hospitality. Sacre Coeur update Sacre Coeur, our Whitsbury Manor Stud-based mare, has recently enjoyed more success as a broodmare. Following the successful sale of her

Showcasing yearling filly at Tattersalls October Yearling Sales for 210,000gns, Whitsbury entered her latest progeny for the Tattersalls December Foal Sale. A strong colt by champion sprinter Muhaarar set foot in the ring on the Friday of the foal sale and eventually sold for 290,000gns to Capital Bloodstock. Ed Harper, Director of Whitsbury Manor Stud, has maintained it is the stud’s dream to produce a Coventry Stakes winner that goes on to land the July Cup the following season. This foal should have no shortage of speed with Sacre Coeur a six-furlong winner herself. It has been an exciting year to follow Sacre Coeur with her progeny making 500,000gns at the Tattersalls sales, and we look forward to following her latest progeny in the future. King off for break Following a successful 2017 campaign, The Thoroughbred Club is pleased to report that Mercian King is off for a well-deserved break. Despite falling on his latest start at Fakenham, Amy Murphy’s gelding has enjoyed a fruitful year with two victories to his name. Apart from a Stratford blip and his recent fall, he has never been out of the top three in our colours and remains a model of consistency. We look forward to welcoming Mercian King back onto the track in the spring.

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The special section for ROA members

GEORGE SELWYN

ROA Forum

Owners will be rewarded by earning prize-money down to eighth place under a new Appearance Money Scheme

Funding boost for 2018 A

t the British Racing Industry Roadshows in February it was revealed that owners of horses of modest ability receive back, on average, only 8p in every £1 spent on their costs compared to an overall average across the sport of 26p. The clear message was that this had to change to halt a decline in the number of racehorse owners. In July, following the levy reform and expected higher returns to the sport from betting, an estimated boost of £9.7 million in levy funding was announced, targeted at mid- and lower-tier racing through increases to prize-money funding supported by a new Appearance Money Scheme (AMS) and Race Incentive Fund (RIF). This figure represents £8m of new levy funding plus the reallocation of £1.7m of existing levy funding for prize-money that will largely now be met by racecourses’ contributions. A package of proposals was announced at that time, aimed to deliver three key objectives for the sport – supporting ownership, delivering more competitive and compelling racing, and increasing customer engagement, to, in turn, help grow the sport’s future revenues. The new Appearance Money Scheme,

worth in the region of £6.5m, is a mechanism to help address these. The new scheme ensures that no horse finishing in the first eight in the majority of Flat races at classes 4-6 will win less than £300. Over jumps, the scheme applies to most races run at classes 3-5, with connections of the first eight home guaranteed a minimum payment of £350. Eligible races run on Friday and Saturday evenings, and all eligible races on Sundays, will see the minimum payment increase by £100, to £400 on the Flat and £450 over jumps. This new scheme will supersede the existing Sunday appearance money scheme. Full eligibility details can be found in the table below. As a consequence, most races in Britain (with a small number of exceptions depending on race type) will now be run with a total race value of at least £6,000 from 2018. ROA Chief Executive Charlie Liverton said: “We know from the findings of the National Racehorse Owners Survey that costs and prize-money are primary lapse reasons for owners. The new Appearance Money Scheme should go some way to reward owners and horsemen at the grass roots level. Equally importantly, increases in race values will help

re-invigorate the financial health of the industry for all participants.” Where a horse has earned more in prize-money than the amount due in appearance money for its place, then appearance money will not be paid. Where a horse has earned prizemoney but the amount is less than that due in appearance money, then the appearance money payment will be the amount shown above, less any prizemoney payment due. Eligible races will be marked with a logo in the Racing Calendar. Appearance money payments will be distributed as follows: • 80% to owner of the horse • 8% to trainer of the horse • 6% to the rider in the race • 6% to the stable from which the horse was trained In order for races to qualify for the scheme, racecourses must ensure that the total prize fund of the race is run for £900 or more above minimum value, to unlock £400 from the Race Incentive Fund. Prize-money at this level will trigger the Appearance Money Scheme and in qualifying races payments of at least £300 will be made for horses finishing

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between fifth and eighth place. Racecourses will also be required to pay prize-money down to fourth place, and to maintain their average class of race during the relevant programme book. As such, the purpose of the scheme is two-fold: To improve returns to connections by incentivising racecourses to invest their own funds in prize-money at the grassroots of the sport. To improve field sizes through an increased frequency of runs per horse and/or distributing existing runners differently. Details of which race types are eligible are shown in the table below: Flat All Class 4-6 races included, but not: • WFA Novice races (Weight-For-Age) • WFA Maiden races Jump All Class 3-5 races included, but not: • All Hunter Chases • All NHF races • WFA Novice/Maiden Hurdles For the avoidance of doubt, all Novices’ Chases, Beginners’ Chases & all Juvenile Hurdles (WFA or handicap) are included in the scheme. Full details of the Appearance Money Scheme can be found online in the Rules of Racing, at Schedule 11 in Race Administration Manual (F). Details of Minimum Values can be found in the same section of the rules, at Schedule 2, Classification of Races. Any questions on the scheme can be directed to the BHA Racing Department on racing@britishhorseracing.com. Jump Racing Jump racing is benefitting from a number of initiatives supported by the Development Fund this season. These include a £100,000 novices’ handicap chase staged at the end of the core jumping period, which runners will need to qualify for by running in weightfor-age novice chases throughout the season. Similar initiatives are planned for novice hurdles, whilst there are also plans to increase the funding to enhance the programme for mares’ jump races by £200,000 and the programme of juvenile hurdles by £150,000. Further details of Development Fund initiatives can be found at britishhorseracing.com

Registration fees increase BHA registration fees will be increased by 2.75% from January 1, 2018. The BHA Business Plan and Budget Guide for 2017-19 forecast that fees in 2018 would increase by the higher of 2.75%, or the rate of inflation (CPI) plus 0.75%. Although CPI in October showed inflation has risen to 3%, the BHA Board decided to limit the increases to 2.75% due to an improved financial performance in 2017. This means that BHA will apply this lesser increase in

2018 while still meeting their aim to break-even over the three years. It is proposed that in 2019, fees will increase by the higher of 2.75%, or CPI plus 0.75%. As part of a rationalisation of registration fees announced by the BHA last year, owners will see their re-registrations aligned to one payment date this year. For most owners, this will coincide with their original colours or ownership registration date.

The following shows the actual increases for the most frequent registrations: Owner registration fees (excluding VAT and qualifying member discount of 20%) 2017 (£)

2018 (£)

Ready to race package, sole owners (ownership registration, colours and authority to act)

222.56 (available from August 30)

228.60 2.75% increase

Complete racing package, sole owners (includes ownership registration, colours, authority to act and VAT registration)

300.86 (available from August 30)

309.10 2.75% increase

80.17

82.33

303

311.33

Registering as an owner Syndicate / racing club Partnership

195

200

Colours

53.47

68.17

Authority to act

51.83

53.25

Regional meetings schedule Due to the success of recent years we are increasing our programme of regional meetings from six to eight this year. The meetings play an important part in providing close communication with members around the country and help ensure the ROA represents members’ interests effectively. Each event is held at a racecourse before racing and members who live locally are invited to attend and bring a guest if they wish. The ROA Chief Executive and team give a presentation on topical ownership and membership issues. Members are invited to give feedback and pose questions during the session. Guests then enjoy lunch and racing in the facility while networking with fellow owners.

Our first meeting will be held at Ayr on January 16. The full programme for 2018 is as follows: January 16 February 12 April 26 June 4

Ayr Wolverhampton Beverley Newton Abbot

July 5 September 19 October 30 November 20

Perth Sandown Chepstow Southwell

Any members who would like to book any of these dates in advance can do so by contacting the ROA office at info@roa.co.uk.

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ROA Forum

Cheltenham hospitality

The ROA marquee offers a haven to members during the four hectic days of the Cheltenham Festival in March

As we go to press the last few places are on sale for the ROA Suite at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and for Festival Trials Day, Saturday, January 27. The suite, in a fabulous location above the Owners & Trainers Pavilion and overlooking the paddock, giant screen and unsaddling area, has proved extremely popular this season. The double box provides guests with a cash bar, hot and cold food to purchase, Tote facilities and TVs to watch the racing action.

News in Brief Raceday feedback The 2017 Gold Standard Awards were announced last issue and gifted to 12 racecourses. This means the hunt for the 2018 recipients is now on, and member feedback will be vital to those decisions. From feedback received, a winner of a £50 John Lewis giftcard is selected randomly each month. The last two lucky winners were Brian Beard and William Orr. Hopefully those giftcards proved helpful in the run up to Christmas. To report on your raceday experience, whether positive or otherwise, see the short online questionnaire at roa.co.uk/feedback Northern Light Series Following feedback from owners and trainers, the BHA made changes last

Places in the Suite are priced at £35 for members and £40 for guests. Please note this does not include racecourse admission. Bookings can be made at roa.co.uk/events Cheltenham Marquee One of the most popular tickets during the ROA year is for the ROA Marquee at Cheltenham Festival (March 13-16). Located in the tented village and a short walk from the paddock, the facility provides unreserved seating, TV

year to the format of the Northern Lights Series, which is for 0-125 rated jumps horses at northern racecourses. There will now be 20 qualifiers for each of the five series: 3m handicap chase, 21⁄2m handicap chase, 2m handicap hurdle, 3m handicap hurdle and 21⁄2m mares’ handicap hurdle. Horses also now need to run in just one qualifier (previously two) with qualification for the 2018 series commencing as soon as the previous series had finished (at Carlisle on December 3). The prize-money for each final has also been increased from £25,000 to £35,000. New disclosure policy The BHA has introduced a new disclosure policy for disciplinary investigations. From January 1 2018, an individual charged with a breach of the

viewing, a cash bar, and Tote betting. Complimentary tea and coffee is available, and hot and cold food will be on sale. Members can book places for themselves and up to three guests, and places in the marquee can be booked for individual days, or as a weekly package.

Members Guests

Daily £38 £48

Weekly £120 £155

Rules of Racing will be provided with a list of potentially relevant but unused material gathered during the course of the investigation on a schedule. Material that is privileged, sensitive or legally restricted in some way will not be listed but will be reviewed. This reflects general natural justice, criminal and civil law principles. Requests for information will be subject to a disclosure test namely whether the material potentially assists the individual’s case or undermines the BHA’s. Any request for disclosure will need to be made in a timely manner prior to the hearing of any inquiry. Member visit to HEROS An ROA member visit to HEROs, the racehorse retraining centre in Wantage, Oxon, postponed last autumn has been

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offers In response to feedback from members, we have limited numbers in the marquee so places are likely to sell out early. Please book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment! Cheltenham Champion Day offer Champion Day at Cheltenham kicks off a magnificent four days racing at The Festival in March. The opening card features The Unibet Champion Hurdle, won last year by Buveur D’Air, the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle and Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. To mark this high point of the jump season, we will be offering a hospitality package for members to enjoy this top day’s jump racing in comfort. The exclusive package for members and their guests is available on Tuesday, March 13. It includes access to a private booth for 40 guests, a four-course sit down lunch with tea, coffee and afternoon tea. The price per person will be £360 inc VAT. Please note this does not include racecourse admission (Club badges are priced at £80 until January 27) or drinks on the day. For details or to book see roa.co.uk/ events or call 020 7152 0200.

rescheduled to take place on Tuesday, April 10. Further details can be found at roa.co.uk/events Members Club reviews and discount The ability to review race replays is key for owners, so it was good to hear at the end of last year that the Racing Post has reintroduced race replays into their online Members Club Ultimate package. The package offers unlimited video race replays from all 86 racecourses in Britain and Ireland, with cards, profiles and stats. ROA members can enjoy 25% off the Ultimate annual package price, as well as a discount on the iPad subscription to Racing Post. These offers apply for new and returning customers. To enjoy either saving see the discount codes in the Members Area at roa.co.uk

Discounted admission to National Heritage Centre We are delighted to announce the ROA has linked up with the National Heritage Centre of Horseracing and Sporting Art at Palace House in Newmarket to offer ROA members discounted annual admission during 2018. The Centre, situated on the fiveacre Palace House site in the heart of Newmarket, Suffolk, is a world class attraction. It comprises three complementary areas; the National Horseracing Museum in the Trainer’s House and King’s Yard Galleries, the Fred Packard Galleries of British Sporting Art in Palace House, and a chance to meet retired racehorses in the stunning Rothschild Yard, the flagship yard for Retraining of Racehorses charity. Visits typically take from 3 hours to a full day, with displays that will capture anyone’s imagination. Included in the price are multimedia guides, family trails and interactive exhibits suitable for all ages. It is an accessible site with step-free access to all areas. There’s something for everyone, with The Tack Room restaurant, onsite bakery and gift shop and adjacent car parking. Further details can be found at www. palacehousenewmarket.co.uk Each day at 11.30am and 2.30pm there is a 30-minute ‘behind the scenes’ demonstration that showcases how racehorses are retrained, taking place in the Peter O’Sullevan Arena for the Welfare of the Horse, a superb 70 x

Fantastic painting await visitors

35m outdoor arena, or in the Rothschild Yard. Two gallery spaces host special exhibitions, with access included in the daily admission ticket. Visitors can enjoy the Sir Alfred Munnings: Painting Winners exhibition until May 2017. The exhibition looks into Munnings’ work and how it has been influenced by Newmarket and racing scenes. Munnings ranks among the very best equestrian artists, with an ability to almost sculpt the figure of a horse in paint. To take advantage of a 10% discount on annual admission passes (£20 for adults, £18 for concession & £45 for family ticket) check the discount code in the Members Area of the ROA website at roa.co.uk

Diary dates and reminders JANUARY 1 ROA Suite at Cheltenham

APRIL 10 Member visit to HEROS

JANUARY 16 ROA regional meeting at Ayr

APRIL 12-13 Free admission to the Festival Zone at Aintree on the opening Thursday and Friday (Ladies Day) of the Randox Health Grand National festival

JANUARY 27 ROA Suite at Cheltenham FEBRUARY 12 ROA regional meeting at Wolverhampton

APRIL 26 ROA regional meeting at Beverley

MARCH 13-16 ROA marquee at The Festival

See roa.co.uk/events for further details on all the above and to book

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ROA Forum

MAGICAL MOMENTS with ROA member Nicky Martin

eer Goggles is one of those inexpensive, talented horses that would not have looked out of place in the ROA’s Special Achievement Award category at last month’s glitzy bash in London. The little terrier had a stellar 2017, finishing no worse than third in the seven races he completed, winning four of them, and topping the year by defeating Unowhatimeanharry, Thistlecrack and three other bigger names from bigger yards in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury at 40-1. He is owned by ROA members Nicky Martin and her partner John Simpson, and Martin is perhaps a little unusual in having quite so many of the horses she owns with other trainers. A permit-holder based in Exmoor, Martin says of her background: “My granddad and mother were pointto-point riders – I’m a farmer’s daughter. “My son is a professional polo player, and when he went off abroad I got a bit bored and bought a couple of point-to-pointers. That was about ten years ago. “I had a couple with Jeremy Scott, then started myself, first in point-topoints and then under rules. “After a while I decided I didn’t want to train every horse I owned. I like having someone else to blame!” Training is not for the fainthearted at the best of times, and that’s especially the case for Martin at this time of year. “We live on Exmoor, 1,300 feet up on the top of a hill,” she says. “We’ve been here for 15 years. It’s healthy for the horses, though the weather is a challenge!” She continues: “We own about 30 and I train about 20 myself. The other ten are out and about with various trainers. “We like to go to Ireland to buy unbroken three-year-olds. Some go on to run under rules, others in point-to-points – there are about five

or six of them for this year. The rest run under rules. “We never spend that much – we’ve never paid as much as €100,000 – and have just been lucky. I do think luck plays an important part in racing, you either are or aren’t lucky. “We run our horses under the name of the Bradley Partnership. That’s myself and my partner John, Nicky Martin owns talented hurdler Beer Goggles with John Simpson

it’s just the two of us. We prefer to spread the horses we don’t have here out among various trainers. Some horses suit certain training regimes, and if there’s a bug in a yard then they don’t all get it. “We speak regularly with the trainers of the horses we have elsewhere, at least once a week, and of course I will often see them racing anyway. I try not to get too involved.” While Beer Goggles’ high-profile shock success at Newbury was a big win for his owners, it was too for trainer Richard Woollacott. Explaining the link, Martin says: “Myself and Richard worked together as grooms years ago, and point-topointed together. “I love horses by Oscar – and have had plenty – and one Sunday, Richard and [bloodstock agent] Tom Malone took us out to lunch and got me drunk enough that I said I’d buy Beer Goggles!” Such lazy, hazy Sunday lunches can often be regretted, but this was not one of them, and Beer Goggles has provided plenty of thrills, and only the odd spill, in ten runs for Martin and Simpson since his purchase. Martin says: “I led him in after he won at Newbury, so I was rather out of the way of the television glare! We were hoping he would be placed but I thought Unowhatimeanharry would win, and of course Thistlecrack was

in there, but he has just improved and improved. “We were obviously hoping that we didn’t end up making fools of ourselves by running him in such a race. We did think he’d be placed but we didn’t expect to win. “The Cleeve is the idea now, to see how he copes with Cheltenham. He’s run on flat courses until now, and if the Cleeve doesn’t work out then we think we’d go to Aintree. “Everything is going well really this season. Sykes and Sonoftheking won the week before Beer Goggles, Ozzie The Oscar, who we have with Philip Hobbs, won at Warwick before running at Cheltenham, Treacle Tart, who we have with Charlie Longsdon, has won, as did Pistol Shoot in the summer.” Richard Johnson’s ride on Beer Goggles at Newbury received much praise, and Martin says: “Dickie rides a lot for me and I think he’s pure class, in a different league. He gave Beer Goggles a peach of a ride. He’s got a brain.” She adds: “Matt Griffiths rides out for us, and rides for us on the track, and he’s a good lad, too.” Asked for her highlights as an owner-trainer so far, Martin replies: “Beer Goggles winning the Long Distance Hurdle has to be one of the magical moments. Another was when Ozzie The Oscar was third in the 2016 County Hurdle at 66-1. That was very exciting, as was my first point-to-point winner, Yufo. You see other people doing it and think, ‘Let’s do it’. “I think, like with Beer Goggles, when something’s unexpected that makes it all the more magical. If you go racing with a favourite the only way is downhill but if you’re 16-1, 20-1, or a Beer Goggles price, you’re not expecting it, and it just makes it even better.” Jumping is very much the name of the game for Martin, who admits: “I’m only a permit-holder anyway but not really interested in the Flat.

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B ATSFORD S TUD DANON BALLADE

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www.batsfordstud.co.uk Batsford Stud OB Jan 2018 f-p.indd 1

15/12/2017 10:56

ROA Forum Beer Goggles takes some big scalps in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury in December under Richard Johnson

››

“I worked at the Capannelle in Rome when I was much younger, but I just find jumping more exciting. “I know it’s horses for courses but in my experience the people in jump racing seem more interested in the horses and the sport.” She continues: “I think the thing I like best about the game is the challenge; it’s not like other sports as horses can’t talk; you have to work it out yourself. “Buying unbroken three-year-olds and making them racehorses is what

I like doing. It is easy to buy winners but how we do it is a challenge and I enjoy it. “Very little about racing annoys me. It’s just a hobby after all; we don’t make money!” Helping fund their equine exploits is her partner’s mobile home parks business, Charles Simpson, while there are also ventures on their doorstep. “John is a big shooting man and we have a pheasant shoot here, run on a semi-commercial basis, and we’ve a working farm,” says Martin.

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With the interview conducted a few weeks before Christmas, it was apt to ask Martin a couple of festiveflavoured questions, and she replies: “I don’t know if you’d call it a new year’s resolution but a winner at the Festival would be the number one wish for 2018. “It’s something I’ve never achieved but would really like to. And in terms of Christmas presents, it’s got be diamonds or nice horses!” Neither come cheap but both can be a girl’s best friend.

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ROA Forum TRACK TALK

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season’s Triumph Hurdle winner for £162,750, a record price at the time for a National Hunt horse in training. She went on to win the Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury, sporting Elite’s distinctive white jacket with three large black spots and a black cap. The horse most closely associated with the Elite Racing Club is Soviet Song, a five-time Group 1 winner trained by James Fanshawe. She was the result of a management decision in 1993 to add a bloodstock operation, a move distinguishing it from most racing syndicates. Soviet Song and Marsha trace back to Kalinka, who was purchased by Paul Cole for 23,000 guineas in 1996, and later became the Club’s foundation mare at Kirtlington Stud. Elgin himself was foaled and raised at the Oxfordshire stud, and his recent success is a reward for patience and perseverance. Elite paid 60,000gns for his dam at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales in 2007, but on her way out of the ring the daughter of High Chaparral slipped and fell, fracturing her pelvis. After a lengthy period of rehabilitation, and now named China Tea, she went into training with Roger Charlton at Beckhampton, and the early signs were quite promising. However, once stepped up to faster work she began to suffer from lameness. When this failed to respond to a further period of treatment and rest, it was decided to retire her to join the Club’s broodmare band. Fortunately, her old injury has proved no impediment at stud, where she has

Marsha: one of the many success stories of Elite Racing, which began life in 1992

already produced five foals of racing age. The first of these, a filly named Clemency (by Halling), went into training with Nicky Henderson and won a maiden hurdle at Ffos Las and a mares’ novices’ hurdle at Huntingdon. Elgin (by Duke of Marmalade) is her second foal and has now added black type under a different code to a family responsible for two of the best older horses to race on the Flat in Europe in 2017. China Tea, now in foal to Archipenko, is a granddaughter of Lingerie, herself the granddam of Ulysses, winner of the CoralEclipse and Juddmonte International, as well as Cloth Of Stars, winner of the Prix Ganay and second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, one place ahead of his close relation. In its 25th anniversary year, the Elite Racing Club has about 10,000 members who share an interest in around 20 horses in training and six broodmares, plus their yearlings and foals. The bloodstock is divided between Oak Lodge Stud in Ireland and three British studs, Kirtlington, Furnace Mill in Worcestershire and Star Cottage in Yorkshire.

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PASTORAL PURSUITS Bay 2001 16.0 hh (1.63m), BAHAMIAN BOUNTY ex STAR (MOST WELCOME)

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Vet Forum: The Expert View Professor Sidney Ricketts, LVO, BSc, BVSc, DSc, DESM, DipECEIM, FRCPath, FRCVS and TBA Joint Veterinary Advisor,

Anticipated changes in the future management of CEM outbreaks in Great Britain Fig 1

Sidney Ricketts 2017

Fig 2

Sidney Ricketts 2017

orse breeders in Britain need to be aware of changes in the way that outbreaks of Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM), a notifiable disease under the Infectious Diseases of Horses Order (1987), are expected to be dealt with in the country in future. The equine venereal disease CEM was first diagnosed at the National Stud in Newmarket during the 1977 covering season. An obvious greyish vulval discharge (Fig. 1) was recognised from many infected mares from two days after covering. Stallions showed no clinical signs of illness but it soon became obvious that both they and the mares were potentially symptomless carriers of infection. At the end of the season, when the cause was identified and diagnostic tests were established, it was confirmed that infection had spread to approximately 20 stallions and more than 100 mares in the Newmarket area. Over the next few years, the disease was diagnosed in many other countries around the world, using the essential diagnostic swabbing and laboratory culture techniques developed in Newmarket. The disease was called CEM because, at first, no causal organism could be identified by the laboratory tests routinely applied in equine veterinary practice at that time. Nevertheless, microscopic examinations of mares’ vulval discharge and cervical smears revealed a typical inflammatory response in which bacterial organisms could be demonstrated (Fig. 2). It was not until Dr Eddie Taylor’s Public Health Laboratory Service Laboratory at Addenbrooke’s Hospital Cambridge examined samples with the specialist human gonococcal testing techniques that a previously unknown fragile and slow-growing bacterium was identified and was eventually named Taylorella equigenitalis. Growth of the organism required at least three days microaerophilic (10% carbon dioxide) incubation on specialist

Vulval discharge associated with CEM infection. Photograph taken at the National Stud in Newmarket in 1977 by Donald Simpson, MRCVS and given to Sidney Ricketts for use for educational purposes

Taylorella equigenitalis bacteria phagocytosed (engulphed) in the cytoplasm of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (pus cells) in a smear sample taken from an infected mare’s uterus in 1977

haemolysed blood agar plates (Fig. 3). Veterinary surgeons established that fastidious, anatomically-targeted swabbing techniques (Fig. 4) and careful handling of swab samples with particular transport medium, avoiding extreme temperatures, followed by timely specialist laboratory testing were essential to avoid false-negative test results. In 2009, real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR – DNA testing) was developed for T. equigenitalis and subsequently also for Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa equine venereal infections, making laboratory screening for these organisms faster and more accurate. In response to this new challenge to our equine stud farm population and associated international trade, the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB), then responsible for the National Stud, set up an eminent scientific committee to produce recommendations for

controlling the disease. With input from experienced Newmarket stud farm veterinary surgeons, the HBLB Code of Practice was developed and, following annual reviews over the last 40 years, with similar advice progressively added for other infectious diseases of importance to stud farms, the Codes of Practice are now considered to be one of the most successful examples of non-statutory veterinary preventive medicine available. France, Germany, Ireland and Italy joined the HBLB sub-committee responsible for reviewing the Codes and agreed to recommend them to their equine industries. Compliance within the thoroughbred breeding industries is very high and continues to grow within the United Kingdom’s non-thoroughbred breeding industries. The Codes of Practice represent ‘best practice’ for equine studfarm management and are now available online at: http://codes.hblb.org.uk (Fig.

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Vet Forum Fig 3

Sidney Ricketts 2017

and in printed form for members of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association. Following discussions with the TBA, the UK Government added CEM to the Infectious Diseases of Horses Order 1987, making it a notifiable disease, underpinning and encouraging compliance with the Codes of Practice within the UK equine industries and significantly supporting the UK equine export industries. In the UK, it is a statutory responsibility for any laboratory suspecting that they have identified T. equigenitalis to report this to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Rural Services Helpline in England, Scotland, Wales and in Northern Ireland to the Government Authorities. This regulatory pathway gives our international trading partners confidence when accepting our equine exports. With excellent compliance with the Codes of Practice, CEM was eradicated from the UK equine breeding population but in many other countries, the infection became endemic (regularly found) in their non-thoroughbred horse populations following non-compliance in those sectors. This means that there is a continuing risk of importation of carrier mares or stallions and/or contaminated semen (for AI in non-thoroughbreds) from our trading partners. Australasia uses UK as a pre-import quarantine station and so CEM carrier mares and stallions are occasionally identified, in non-thoroughbred horses, in UK quarantine stations, under isolation conditions, and are either returned home or treated and cleared, as advised by the Codes of Practice and agreed with the owners, as appropriate. The last CEM outbreak in the UK occurred in 2012, following the use for artificial insemination (AI) of an imported non-thoroughbred carrier stallion, after non-compliance with the Codes of Practice. Clearance required a great deal of work by Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), with tracing and investigation of contacts. It was some time before the outbreak could be declared over and during this time, the stud farm involved was under statutory control and could not mate or artificially inseminate mares, or move their horses. It demonstrated how important and cost-effective, preventive medicine can be and why all UK horse breeders should comply with the Codes of Practice.

Taylorella equigenitalis bacteria growing on haemolysed CEM agar after at least three days microaerophilic incubation at 37oC

Fig 4

Sidney Ricketts 2017

›› 5), as the smartphone app ‘EquiBioSafe’

A small, paediatric-tipped swab sample being taken from the extruded clitoral fossa of a mare, by a veterinary surgeon

In 2014, the Government published its ‘Red Tape Challenge’ in which Defra proposed to remove CEM and Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) from the list of notifiable diseases because “they are low impact diseases which are not notifiable in the EU”. The TBA challenged this proposal on the grounds that these two diseases are not endemic in UK, as they are in much of the non-thoroughbred horse populations of mainland Europe. They argued that for the UK, when these diseases occur they are of high impact and notifiable status is essential to make sure that any outbreak is dealt with speedily and efficiently to complete clearance. Also, Defra’s ability to verify the UK’s CEM and EVA disease-free status to other governments, necessitating notifiable status, is of great importance to the UK’s equine export businesses. In 2014, the TBA commissioned an economic impact study, which demonstrated the substantial economic value of the UK’s thoroughbred horse breeding industry to the UK, the jobs that it supports in the rural economy

and the tax that it generates for HM Treasury. As government cost saving was undoubtedly the driver for this challenge, the TBA suggested that cost sharing for future CEM outbreaks might be considered. Following preliminary discussions and a formal meeting with the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens, and his team in Whitehall, representatives of the TBA, the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) and the UK Equine Disease Coalition presented a suggested plan and reached agreement on the principles of how this might work. The CVO asked both teams to meet again and to proceed on this basis to fruition. In return for industry cost saving, isolation of the CEM organism (T. equigenitalis) will remain notifiable by law under the Infectious Diseases of Horses Order 1987 but the statutory powers in the order, including movement restrictions will only be used where the management of the horse(s) and premises where the infected horse(s) reside are not compliant with the Codes of Practice. In Northern Ireland, there will be no change in the current arrangements. Following further detailed meetings in Whitehall, it is anticipated that the new arrangements will take effect in Britain, i.e. England, Scotland and Wales, during 2018, at a date yet to be confirmed. The principles currently agreed are that: 1. Following suspicion that the CEM organism (CEMO; T. equigenitalis) has been detected by culture or qPCR by a BEVA quality assured (QA) private laboratory, the attending veterinary surgeon who submitted the swab sample will be warned by the private laboratory that they suspect CEM and therefore must, by law, submit a sample of their isolate/qPCR extract/ swab sample to the APHA laboratory (Penrith) for official confirmation or negation. They will also advise that while results are awaited he/she should tell the owner/agent of their options (see below) if CEM is officially confirmed and to follow the Codes of Practice in terms of isolation and further investigations until further notice. 2. APHA (Penrith) will inform the submitting private laboratory of the result of their laboratory examination, who will inform the submitting veterinary surgeon, who will inform the owner/agent.

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3. Following confirmation by APHA that the CEM organism has been detected, the disease outbreak will be confirmed by the CVO in the country in Britain where the disease has been identified.

a. By APHA, who will assume responsibility for dealing with the outbreak and any contacts using the powers in the Infectious Diseases of Horses Order 1987. This may include the use of BEVAapproved veterinary surgeons (see below) and the imposition of animal movement restrictions on the premises where the outbreak has occurred. The costs of private veterinary surgeons and private laboratories will be met by the owner. b. By a BEVA-approved veterinary surgeon (see below), who may be the attending veterinary surgeon (see below), who will be monitored by the Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Group of the Animal Health Trust (AHT) in Newmarket. In this situation, the powers in the Infectious Disease of Horses Order 1987 will not be used and no movement restrictions will be served, providing the stud farm is judged to be fully compliant with the HBLB Codes of Practice. If they are not, APHA will assume responsibility (see below). The costs of private veterinary surgeons and private laboratories will be met by the owner. 5. If the owner/agent elects to use the AHT/BEVA-approved veterinary surgeon option, the owner/agent must inform the AHT as soon as possible and the AHT will then appoint an approved veterinary surgeon from the currently being established BEVA list (who may be the attending veterinary surgeon – see below) to visit the infected premises in order to investigate whether it is compliant with the Codes of Practice and to report back to AHT, presenting suitable evidence for their opinion. BEVA approval of veterinary surgeons will be based on their APHA Official Veterinarian (OV) status relating to export certification,

Sidney Ricketts 2017

4. APHA will contact the owner/agent and explain their options for the outbreak to be dealt with:

The online gateway to the Levy Board’s codes of practice – http://codes.hblb.org.uk

(the Official Controls Qualification (Veterinary) OCQ(V) list), current stud experience and working knowledge of the HBLB Codes of Practice in relation to the provisions of this protocol. Any veterinary surgeon seeking to be approved and listed will be asked to apply to BEVA and complete an application form to confirm that they have the necessary expertise. BEVA will make no charge for this service. If the attending veterinary surgeon for the infected premises is a BEVAapproved veterinary surgeon with current stud experience and working knowledge of the HBLB Codes of Practice they may act in that capacity for their client, but there is also the option for them to decline to act in the event that they consider that there could be a conflict of interest. In this event AHT will appoint another approved veterinary surgeon to deal with the outbreak.

AHT and AHT will liaise with APHA on progress and collation of evidence throughout. The appropriate CVO will, when satisfied with suitable evidence for confirmation of freedom from disease from AHT, declare the outbreak over.

6. If the premises are not compliant with the Codes of Practice, AHT will inform APHA, who will assume responsibility for dealing with the outbreak using the powers in the Infectious Diseases of Horses Order 1987 and this is likely to include the imposition of animal movement restrictions on the premises where the outbreak has occurred.

In summary, the new arrangements mean that if a British stud farm which is unfortunate enough to suffer a CEM outbreak is considered fully compliant with the HBLB Codes of Practice, the outbreak may, if the owner/agent elects for this option, be dealt with to confirmed clearance by a private veterinary surgeon (who may, if on the BEVA-approved list and content to be so, be the attending veterinary surgeon), who will be monitored by the AHT, without direct APHA involvement and without the imposition of statutory movement restrictions. The owner(s) of the infected horse(s) will be responsible for the veterinary costs associated with the work of the private veterinary surgeons and laboratories. It is anticipated that a similar procedure will be put in place for any future outbreaks of Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) in Britain. In return, CEM and EVA will remain notifiable diseases in UK, safeguarding the health and welfare of our horses and our equine industries.

7. If the premises are compliant with the Codes of Practice, the AHT will ask the BEVA-approved veterinary surgeon to manage the investigation and resolution of the outbreak as recommended by the Codes of Practice. The approved veterinary surgeon will liaise closely with the

Acknowledgements The author is grateful to Dr Richard Newton (AHT Head of Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance) and Keith Meldrum (UK CVO 1988-97), both currently members of the UK Equine Disease Coalition, for help and advice with this manuscript.

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Dr Statz

John Boyce cracks the code

Pivotal outstanding by every measure

t has been a fantastic career. It’s not often that we witness an out-and-out sprinter thrive in a bloodstock world replete with top milers and middledistance horses. Yet Pivotal has carved out his own legacy and if the performance so far of his daughters at stud is anything to go by, then we can expect much more from the Cheveley Park stalwart. A top-class sprinter by the Nureyev stallion Polar Falcon, Pivotal, who was at his best when winning the Group 1 Nunthorpe at York and King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, back in the days when it had been demoted to a Group 2 race. Nowadays these races are the two prime targets for five-furlong specialists, yet Pivotal’s victories in both earned him a Timeform rating of only 124, more than 10lb behind the best specialist sprinters of 2017. No surprise, then, that he started out at a fee of £6,000, his success pushing that fee to the lofty heights of £85,000 by 2007. The best by a sire that produced an excellent ratio of 9.5% black-type winners to runners but struggled to get championship horses, Pivotal had to prove his mettle the hard way. Poorer, speedy mares dominated his early books, but such were his results that he caught the imagination of breeders with better and stouter mares. Those early crops contained top-class speedsters like fellow Nunthorpe winner and stud companion Kyllachy (TF129), but crucially his early runners also contained the likes of Golden Apples, Chorist, Megahertz and Silvester Lady, all Group 1 winners at ten furlongs and above. Pivotal took advantage of his wellearned, better-bred mares, going on to sire his best-ever progeny, the Champion Stakes winner Farhh (TF131), in the second half of his career. He also sired other middle-distance Group 1 winners in African Story, Izzi Top, Halfway To Heaven, Queen’s Jewel and Buzzword. The access to better, and perhaps stouter, mares did indeed provide Pivotal with a greater breadth of opportunities, but it is debatable whether they made him a more effective sire. His first four crops of runners, whose average winning distance was 7.4 furlongs, included an outstanding 18.9%

Hydrangea: has Pivotal as broodmare sire black-type winners to runners. Not even the great Galileo could manage that. What makes Pivotal’s level of success all the more remarkable is the fact that his mares managed only 3.7% when covered by other sires. From his fifth crop onwards that siblings’ benchmark has stood at 9.7%, which clearly demonstrates the hike in mare quality that Pivotal received after his early success. But here’s the rub. Pivotal’s ratio of black-type winners since then has been 9.7%, almost ten points lower than he achieved with his first four crops. Overall, his ratio is a world-class 11.4% from mares that typically produce

8.9% with other sires – a glittering career indeed. It’s rare to find such a highly-prized broodmare sire like Pivotal that is still producing young stock. Pivotal’s second career is in rude health. There are huge dividends to be had if your mare compliments the great sire of the day. And there is no doubt that daughters of Pivotal have struck up a fruitful relationship with the mighty Galileo and his sons. There are currently 24 runners by Galileo out of Pivotal mares and they feature no fewer than eight black-type winners (33%) and seven Group winners (29%). Two mares, Halfway To Heaven and Beauty Is Truth, are responsible for five of these black-type winners. Halfway To Heaven is the dam of 2017 stars Rhododendron and Magical, while Beauty Is Truth had Hydrangea representing her this year. Another Pivotal mare, the Listed winner Rhadegunda, produced the 136-rated runaway Champion Stakes hero Cracksman, by Galileo’s son Frankel. Results like these will no doubt offer huge encouragement to breeders to try this cross in future. Of course, Galileo isn’t the only option for a Pivotal mare. The Banstead pair of Oasis Dream and Dansili have also enjoyed outstanding success with Pivotal mares. Moreover, as they represent two significant sire lines of Green Desert and Danehill, it makes it very easy to find a mate for a daughter of Pivotal. Oasis Dream and Dansili each have five black-type winners from 19 runners, an excellent strike-rate of 26%. In all, Pivotal’s daughters have produced 72 black-type winners so far, with many more to come.

PIVOTAL’S GROUP WINNERS AS A BROODMARE SIRE Form

Name

Born

Sex

Sire

Dam

G1w

CRACKSMAN

2014

FRANKEL

RHADEGUNDA LRw

G1w

HARBOUR LAW

2013

LAWMAN

ABUNAI W

G1w

HYDRANGEA

2014

GALILEO

BEAUTY IS TRUTH G2w

G1w

MAIN SEQUENCE

2009

ALDEBARAN

Ikat WG3p

G1w

MAYSON

2008

INVINCIBLE SPIRIT

Mayleaf UR

G1w

POLARISATION

2012

ECHO OF LIGHT

CONCORDIA W

G1w

PRECIEUSE

2014

TAMAYUZ

Zut Alors WG3p

G1w

RHODODENDRON

2014

GALILEO

HALFWAY TO HEAVEN G1w

G1w

THE UNITED STATES

2010

GALILEO

BEAUTY IS TRUTH G2w

G1w

WINSILI

2010

DANSILI

WINTER SUNRISE W

G2wG1p

CLADOCERA

2011

OASIS DREAM

CAESARINE LRw

G2wG1p

MAGICAL

2015

GALILEO

HALFWAY TO HEAVEN G1w

G2wG1p

MUTAKAYYEF

2011

SEA THE STARS

INFALLIBLE G3wG1p

G2wG1p

NOW OR NEVER

2013

BUSHRANGER

Queenofthefairies UR

G2w

AYAHUASCA

2010

JOHAR

EULOGIZE W

G2w

FIGHTING IRISH

2015

CAMELOT

Quixotic UR

G2w

GOOD OLD BOY LUKEY

2011

SELKIRK

Pivotting UR

G2w

GOSPEL CHOIR

2009

GALILEO

CHORIST G1w

G2w

LUCKY KRISTALE

2011

LUCKY STORY

Pikaboo UP

G2w

MIKKI ROCKET

2013

KING KAMEHAMEHA

MONEYCANTBUYMELOVE LRwG1p

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Data Book • Analysis by Andrew Caulfield Grade 1 Winners 28 JNWINE.COM CHAMPION CHASE G1 DOWN ROYAL. Nov 4. 5yo+. 24f.

1. OUTLANDER (IRE) 9 11-10 £70,598 b g by Stowaway - Western Whisper (Supreme Leader) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-R. O’Neill TR-Gordon Elliott 2. Road To Respect (IRE) 6 11-10 £22,735 ch g by Gamut - Lora Lady (Lord Americo) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Miss I. Rothwell TR-Noel Meade 3. Zabana (IRE) 8 11-10 £10,769 ch g by Halling - Gandia (Danehill) O-C.Jones B-Old Carhue & Graeng Bloodstock TR-Andrew Lynch Margins 0.5, 14. Time 6:16.10. Going Soft. Age 4-9

Starts 28

Wins 10

Places 9

Earned £332,330

Sire: STOWAWAY. Sire of 13 Stakes winners. NH in 2017/18 - OUTLANDER Supreme Leader G1, ON THE BLIND SIDE Supreme Leader G2, POSH TRISH Moscow Society LR. 1st Dam: Western Whisper by Supreme Leader. ran twice in N.H. Flat Races. Dam of 6 winners:

2001:

2002: 2003: 2004:

2005: 2006: 2008:

2009: 2010: 2011: 2012: 2013: 2014: 2015:

Western Starlight (f Shahanndeh) unraced. Broodmare. (f Stowaway) Bold Fencer (g Stowaway) WESTERN LEADER (g Stowaway) 5 wins, Michael Purcell Memorial Nov. Hurdle G2, 2nd John Smith’s Sefton Novices’ Hurdle G1. MART LANE (g Stowaway) 6 wins, 888sport Totepool H. Chase LR. LOUGH ROE LADY (f Stowaway) 2 wins. Broodmare. OUTLANDER (g Stowaway) 10 wins, Lacy Solicitors Golden Cygnet Nov.Hurdle G2, 2nd Coolmore NH Sires Festival Novice Hurdle G2, Cliona’s Dorans Pride Novice Hurdle G3, 3rd Tattersalls Ireland Champion Nov. Hurdle G1, Lexus Chase G1, Flogas Scalp Novice Chase G1, jnwine.com Champion Chase G1, Shannon Airport Greenmount Nov. Chase G2, 2nd Ryanair Powers Gold Cup Novice Chase G1, John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase G1, Growise Ellier Champion Novice Chase G1, Titanic Belfast Skymas Chase G2. Western Twilight (f Stowaway) unraced. Broodmare. ICE COLD SOUL (g Stowaway) 4 wins, coral.ie H. Hurdle G2. Now McGinty (g Stowaway) MAYO STAR (g Stowaway) Winner of a N.H. Flat Race at 4. Medicine Woman (f Stowaway) unraced. Broodmare. (f Stowaway) (f Stowaway)

Broodmare Sire: SUPREME LEADER. Sire of the dams of 72 Stakes winners. NH in 2017/18 OUTLANDER Stowaway G1, ON THE BLIND SIDE Stowaway G2, OSCAR KNIGHT Oscar G2, SPLASH OF GINGE Oscar G3, A GENIE IN ABOTTLE Beneficial LR, ROBIN DES FORET Robin des Pres LR. The Stowaway/Supreme Leader cross has produced: OUTLANDER G1, WESTERN LEADER G1, Paloma Blue G1, ICE COLD SOUL G2, ON THE BLIND SIDE G2, MART LANE LR.

OUTLANDER b g 2008 Shirley Heights

Mill Reef Hardiemma

Sayonara

Birkhahn Suleika

Slip Anchor STOWAWAY b 94 On Credit

No Pass No Sale Northfields No Disgrace Noble Tiara

Vaguely Noble Tayyara

Bustino

Busted Ship Yard

Princess Zena

Habitat Guiding Light

He Loves Me

Sovereign Path Short Commons

Kirin

Tyrant Mag

Supreme Leader WESTERN WHISPER b 94 Tsing Tao

Outlander didn’t do himself justice at the very highest level in 2017, trailing in tenth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and then being pulled up in the Punchestown Gold Cup. However,

he can be highly effective on his day and he was scoring for the third time at Gr1 level over fences in Ireland when he took Down Royal’s Champion Chase. Although he has yet to prove he stays the Cheltenham Gold Cup distance, Outlander has gained two of his three Gr1 wins over three miles. That distance also suited another of Stowaway’s best sons, the Gr2 hurdles winner Kilcooley, but other very smart sons, such as Hidden Cyclone (a multiple Gr2 winner over hurdles and fences) and Champagne Fever (a dual Gr1 winner at the Cheltenham Festival) have preferred shorter distances. This is in line with Stowaway’s own racing record. A son of the Derbywinning Slip Anchor, Stowaway won the Gordon Stakes and Great Voltigeur over a mile and a half at three, plus a valuable race over the same distance in Dubai at four. He didn’t start his stallion career until he was seven, and initially struggled for support, covering books of around 30 thoroughbred mares in each of his first six seasons. However, he was much busier in the years prior to his death at the age of 21 in 2015, often covering a minimum of 200 mares. Outlander is one of three smart winners sired by Stowaway from the lightly-raced Supreme Leader mare Western Whisper, the others being the Gr2 hurdles winner Western Leader and the Listed chase winner Mart Lane. A fourth brother, Ice Cold Soul, is also above average. Outlander’s third dam, Kirin, was a half-sister to Lir (Aurelius Hurdle at Ascot) and the winning hurdler Mazuma (dam of the very smart hurdler Asian Maze and the talented chaser Quantitativeeasing). 70 UNIBET MORGIANA HURDLE G1 PUNCHESTOWN. Nov 19. 4yo+. 16f.

1. FAUGHEEN (IRE) 9 11-10 £42,863 b g by Germany - Miss Pickering (Accordion) O-Mrs S. Ricci B-Dr J. Waldron TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Jezki (IRE) 9 11-10 £13,803 b g by Milan - La Noire (Phardante) O-Mr John P. McManus B-G. M. McGrath TR-Mrs J. Harrington 3. Swamp Fox (IRE) 5 11-10 £6,538 br g by Windsor Knot - Brogella (King’s Theatre) O-T Egan/Mrs Dillon/S O’Brien/D Glennane B-J. McEnery & M. L. Hanrahan TR-Joseph G. Murphy Margins 16, 37. Time 4:00.00. Going Soft to Heavy. Age 4-9

Starts 15

Wins 14

Places 1

Earned £738,520

Sire: GERMANY. Sire of 9 Stakes winners. NH in 2017/18 - FAUGHEEN Accordion G1, SAMCRO Saddlers’ Hall G3. 1st Dam: Miss Pickering by Accordion. unraced. Dam of 1 winner:

2006: 2007: 2008:

Molly’s Mate (f Goldmark) unraced. Broodmare. Shedaka (f Lahib) unraced. FAUGHEEN (g Germany) 13 wins, Stan James Champion Chall.Trophy Hurdle G1, BHP Insurances Champion Hurdle G1, Neptune Investment Bingham Nov Hurdle G1, williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle G1 (twice), Unibet Morgiana Hurdle G1, Herald Champion Novice Hurdle G1, Queally Punchestown Champion Hurdle G1, Coral

2009: 2010: 2013: 2015: 2016:

Ascot Hurdle G2, Liberty Ins. Dorans Pride Novice Hurdle G3, 2nd stanjames.com Morgiana Hurdle G1. (c Germany) Telmadela (g Definite Article) Osmotic (g Fracas) unraced. (f Shirocco) (f Califet)

Broodmare Sire: ACCORDION. Sire of the dams of 8 Stakes winners.

FAUGHEEN b g 2008 Sharpen Up

Atan Rocchetta

Trephine

Viceregal Quiriquina

Big Spruce

Herbager Silver Sari

Inca Queen

Hail To Reason Silver Spoon

Sadler’s Wells

Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge

Trempolino GERMANY b 91 Inca Princess

Accordion MISS PICKERING b 01

Sound of Success Successor Belle Musique Creative Plan

Sham Another Treat

Bali

Ballymoss Near The Line

Make Me An Island

After a 22-month absence, it was business as usual for the 2015 Champion Hurdle winner Faugheen when he returned to action in the Gr1 Morgiana Hurdle. In front throughout, Faugheen strolled home 16 lengths clear of Jezki to record victory number 13 in a 14-race career (not counting his win on his only start in a point-to-point). His single defeat had come at the hands of stablemate Nichols Canyon in the 2015 Morgiana. Faugheen’s sire Germany was a dual Gr1 winner at up to a mile and a half in Germany. Germany, who died at the age of 22 in 2013, didn’t enjoy a straightforward stallion career but eventually made quite an impact on the jumping sector. Although Faugheen is in a class of his own, there weren’t many grounds for complaint against Captain Cee Bee, winner of the 2008 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and 2010 Ryanair Novice Chase (before ultimately reverting to hurdling) or Conna Castle (2008 Powers Gold Cup Chase). Another son, Free Expression, was third twice at Gr1 level, while Tiger Cry won the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival. Faugheen is the only winner under rules out of Miss Pickering, an unraced daughter of the unraced Accordion. Accordion’s brother Sonus won the Goodwood Cup and was placed in the Ascot Gold Cup, which helps explain how Faugheen has won over three miles both in the point-to-point field and under rules. More recently, though, he has been kept to around two miles. Faugheen’s second dam Make Me An Island won at up to two and a half miles over hurdles and fences. Her sire Creative Plan was an unexceptional American dirt performer. Faugheen’s broodmare sire Accordion is enjoying success in this role, with other daughters producing Captain Cutter (Gr1 Challow Hurdle), Monbeg Dude (Welsh National) and Augusta Kate (Gr1 EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final).

71 BETFAIR LANCASHIRE CHASE G1 HAYDOCK PARK. Nov 25. 5yo+. 25f 110yds.

1. BRISTOL DE MAI (FR) 6 11-7 £113,072 gr g by Saddler Maker - La Bole Night (April Night) O-Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede B-Mr J. Touzaint TR-Nigel Twiston-Davies 2. Cue Card (GB) 11 11-7 £42,932 b g by King’s Theatre - Wicked Crack (King’s Ride) O-Mrs Jean R. Bishop B-Mr R. T. Crellin TR-Colin Tizzard 3. Outlander (IRE) 9 11-7 £21,752 b g by Stowaway - Western Whisper (Supreme Leader) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-R. O’Neill TR-Gordon Elliott Margins 57, 9. Time 7:01.00. Going Heavy. Age 3-6

Starts 23

Wins 9

Places 11

Earned £400,475

Sire: SADDLER MAKER. Sire of 9 Stakes winners. NH in 2017/18 - APPLE’S JADE Nikos G1, BRISTOL DE MAI April Night G1, ALPHA DES OBEAUX Saint Preuil G2, APPLE’S SHAKIRA Nikos G2, DINARIA DES OBEAUX Le Nain Jaune LR. 1st Dam: La Bole Night by April Night. ran over jumps in France. Dam of 3 winners:

2005: 2006: 2008: 2011:

2013:

RIVA (f Winning Smile) Winner at 3 in France. Sicolas de Mai (g East of Heaven) ULA DE MAI (f Passing Sale) Winner at 4 in France. BRISTOL DE MAI (g Saddler Maker) 9 wins, Coral Future Champion Finale Juv. Hurdle G1, 2nd totescoop6 Premier Kelso Nov. Hurdle G2, 3rd Betfred Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle G1, Betfred Contenders Hurdle LR, Betfred Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase G1, Betfair Lancashire Chase G1, Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase G2, Peter Marsh H. Chase G2, Racing UK Altcar Novices’ Chase G2, 2nd Racing Post Henry VIII Novice Chase G1, JLT Golden Miller Novices’ Chase G1, Jordan Electrics Future Chpn Nov. Chase G2, At the Races Rehearsal H. Chase LR, Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase LR, 3rd Betfair Denman Chase G2. Divine de Stpierre (f Ungaro) ran on the flat in France and over jumps in France.

Broodmare Sire: APRIL NIGHT. Sire of the dams of 7 Stakes winners.

BRISTOL DE MAI gr g 2011 Northern Dancer

Nearctic Natalma

Fairy Bridge

Bold Reason Special

Alleged

Hoist The Flag Princess Pout

Alexandrie

Val de L’Orne Apachee

Kaldoun

Caro Katana

My Destiny

Chaparral Carmelite

Hellios

Nureyev Suprina

Rousseliere

Le Pontet Ifrane

Sadler’s Wells SADDLER MAKER b 98 Animatrice

April Night LA BOLE NIGHT gr 99 Grageline

A Gr1 winner as a juvenile hurdler and again as a novice chaser, Bristol de Mai seems to have been around for quite some time. However, he was still only six when he hit a rich vein of form in the final months of 2017, taking the Gr2 Charlie Hall Chase prior to turning the Gr1 Betfair Chase into a procession. The exciting possibility exists that the French-bred son of Saddler Maker is only now reaching full maturity. Saddler Maker died on May 25, 2016 just as his talent was becoming fully appreciated. In the early months of the 2017-18 season, he has enjoyed success not only with Bristol de Mai but also with the excellent Apple’s Jade (Gr2 Lismullen Hurdle), Alpha des Obeaux (Gr2 Clonmel Oil Chase) and the promising young chaser Dinaria des Obeaux. His

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CAULFIELD ON OUTLANDER: “Although he is yet to prove he stays the Cheltenham Gold Cup distance, Outlander has gained two of his three Grade 1 wins over three miles” previous smart performers feature such as Label des Obeaux and Messire des Obeaux. He achieved all this despite having received only modest support in his early years, but he earned stronger backing and his 2017 crop numbers at least 50 foals even though he died before the end of the 2016 breeding season. His progeny are predominantly AQPS, as is Bristol de Mai. Saddler Maker didn’t take up stallion duties until he was seven, having failed to win during a racing career hampered by injury. His main attraction was that he was closely related to Poliglote, who topped the jumping stallions’ table in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016. Bristol de Mai’s dam, the selle francais La Bole Night, failed to finish any of her three starts but Bristol de Mai is her third winner from her first four foals. The gelding’s broodmare sire April Night is thriving in this role, with his daughters also being responsible for Un de Sceaux, Trifolium, Clan des Obeaux and Ar Mad. 47 UNIBET FIGHTING FIFTH HURDLE G1 NEWCASTLE. Dec 2. 4yo+. 16f.

1. BUVEUR D’AIR (FR) 6 11-7 £61,897 b g by Crillon - History (Alesso) O-Mr John P. McManus B-Gerard Ferte TR-Nicky Henderson 2. Irving (GB) 9 11-7 £23,320 b g by Singspiel - Indigo Girl (Sternkoenig) O-Axom XLIX B-Gestut Schlenderhan TR-Paul Nicholls 3. Flying Tiger (IRE) 4 11-7 £11,671 bl g by Soldier of Fortune - Ma Preference (American Post) O-The Macaroni Beach Society B-P. Chedville TR-Nick Williams Margins 3.5, 1. Time 4:10.10. Going Soft. Age 3-6

Starts 14

Wins 11

Places 3

Earned £514,038

Sire: CRILLON. Sire of 4 Stakes winners. NH in 2017/18 - ALEX DE LARREDYA Panoramic G1, BUVEUR D’AIR Alesso G1. 1st Dam: History by Alesso. Dam of 4 winners:

2003:

2004: 2005: 2007: 2011:

PUNCHESTOWNS (g Morespeed) 9 wins, BGC Long Walk Hurdle G1, 2nd Ladbrokes World Hurdle G1, Totepool Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase G1. Quiet Story (f Franc Bleu Argent) ran on the flat in France. Broodmare. RACKHAM LEROUGE (g Fado) 7 wins. TISTORY (g Epalo) 5 wins. BUVEUR D’AIR (g Crillon) 11 wins, 2nd Betfair Bumper Standard Open NH Race LR, Stan James Champion Chall.Trophy Hurdle G1, Unibet Fighting Fifth Hurdle G1, Betway Aintree Hurdle G1, Imagine Cruising Top Novices’ Hurdle G1, Betfred Contenders Hurdle LR, 3rd Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle G1.

Broodmare Sire: ALESSO. Sire of the dams of 2 Stakes winners.

BUVEUR D’AIR b g 2011 Rainbow Quest

Blushing Groom I Will Follow

Fiesta Fun

Welsh Pageant Antigua

Riverman

Never Bend River Lady

Garden Green

Pinturischio Focal

Alleged

Hoist The Flag Princess Pout

Leandra

Luthier Ady Endre

Altayan

Posse Aleema

Lili Dancer

Evainqueur Keen Dancer

Saumarez CRILLON b 96 Shangrila

Alesso HISTORY b 95 Clair Deux Lune

Buveur d’Air’s starting price of 1-6 for the Fighting Fifth Hurdle may have reflected a lack of depth among the opposition, but it also paid tribute to the exciting French-bred. He didn’t disappoint, winning unchallenged from Irving, a two-time previous winner of the Newcastle centrepiece. Buveur d’Air has now won three Gr1s, including the Champion Hurdle by more than four lengths, since his connections decided not to pursue his career as a chaser. He had done little wrong over fences, winning both his starts, but he made quite hard work of winning at long odds-on at Warwick. Buveur d’Air arrived at Nicky Henderson’s yard as a winner of two bumpers for non-thoroughbreds in France, over distances of 12 and 13 furlongs. Henderson has a fine record with the progeny of the gelding’s dam, a lightly-raced selle francais named History. Easily best of her three other winners for the Seven Barrows trainer was Punchestowns. This son of Morespeed became a Gr1 winner over hurdles (in the Long Walk Hurdle) and fences, winning at up to three miles. Unfortunately, there won’t be any more winners for History, as she died foaling in 2017 at the age of 22. Buveur d’Air is comfortably the best winner by Crillon, a very useful son of Arc winner Saumarez. Crillon did most of his winning at around 15 furlongs. However, Crillon is also responsible for Alex de Larreyda, winner of the Gr1 Grand Prix d’Automne Hurdle at Auteuil in 2016 and 2017 and twice runner-up in the French Champion Hurdle equivalent over nearly three and a quarter miles. There is also plenty of stamina in Buveur d’Air’s pedigree and he showed he stays two and a half miles when he won the Gr1 Aintree Hurdle easing up. His broodmare sire Alesso was second in the French St Leger before passing on his stamina to his son Baracouda, one of the finest staying hurdlers of recent decades. Buveur d’Air’s second dam Clair Deux Lune was another lightly-raced maiden, but his third dam Lili Dancer was a prolific cross-country winner, often at around three miles. Lili Dancer produced Fujiyama, a dual winner of the Grand Steeple de Craon, the cross-country championship over three and three-quarter miles. Fourth dam Keen Dancer was another who shone in the cross-country sector. 48 BAR ONE RACING DRINMORE NOVICE CHASE G1 FAIRYHOUSE. Dec 3. 4yo+. 20f.

1. DEATH DUTY (IRE) 6 11-10 £42,863 b g by Shantou - Midnight Gift (Presenting) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-G. Thompson TR-Gordon Elliott 2. Rathvinden (IRE) 9 11-10 £13,803 b g by Heron Island - Peggy Cullen (Presenting) O-Mr R. A. Bartlett B-K. Traynor TR-W. P. Mullins 3. Snow Falcon (IRE) 7 11-10 £6,538 b g by Presenting - Flocon de Neige (Kahyasi) O-Mrs Patricia Hunt B-S. Gorman TR-Noel Meade Margins 3.25, 2.75. Time 5:20.40. Going Soft.

Age 4-6

Starts 14

Wins 10

Places 3

Earned £186,942

Sire: SHANTOU. Sire of 21 Stakes winners. NH in 2017/18 - DEATH DUTY Presenting G1, BEWARE THE BEAR Be My Native LR. 1st Dam: Midnight Gift by Presenting. 3 wins, 3rd Festival of Food Bumper N.H. Flat Race LR, 3rd INH Stallion Owners EBF Nov. H. Hurdle G2. Dam of 2 winners:

2008: 2009: 2010: 2011:

2014: 2015:

(g Milan) HOW ABOUT IT (g Kayf Tara) 2 wins over fences at 6 and 8. Lady Dromlac (f Beneficial). Broodmare. DEATH DUTY (g Shantou) 9 wins, Future Champions Flat Race LR, Lawlor’s Hotel Slaney Novice Hurdle G1, Navan Novice Hurdle G2, Monksfield Novice Hurdle G3, 3rd Tattersalls Ireland Champion Nov. Hurdle G1, Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase G1, Buck House Novice Chase G3. (g Beneficial) (f Stowaway)

Broodmare Sire: PRESENTING. Sire of the dams of 17 Stakes winners. NH in 2017/18 - DEATH DUTY Shantou G1, PRESENTING PERCY Sir Percy G2, JUST JANICE King’s Theatre G3, RATHVINDEN Heron Island G3, MIGHT BITE Scorpion LR. The Shantou/Presenting cross has produced: DEATH DUTY G1, POLLY PEACHUM G1.

DEATH DUTY b g 2011 Hoist The Flag

Tom Rolfe Wavy Navy

Princess Pout

Prince John Determined Lady

Shareef Dancer

Northern Dancer Sweet Alliance

Oh So Sharp

Kris Oh So Fair

Mtoto

Busted Amazer

D’Azy

Persian Bold Belle Viking

Long Pond

Rarity Raindrops

Midnight Oil

Menelek Ballinacree

Alleged SHANTOU b 93 Shaima

Presenting MIDNIGHT GIFT ch 00 Midnight Pond

Gigginstown House Stud and Gordon Elliott had an afternoon to remember at Fairyhouse on December 3, combining to win all three of the day’s Gr1s. The hat-trick was completed in fine style by Death Duty, who took his record to three wins from three starts over fences when he led throughout in the Drinmore Novice Chase. The son of Shantou has also shone in other sectors of the sport, winning his only start in a point-to-point, two of his four starts in bumpers and four of his five completed races over hurdles. He has won from two miles to one furlong short of three miles, so is versatile. Shantou won the St Leger as long ago as 1996, but he has lived long enough to be able to capitalise on his late-blooming career as a National Hunt stallion. The 2017 Return of Mares credits him with having covered 97 thoroughbred mares in 2016 and 99 at the age of 24 in 2017. Apart from Death Duty, he has been ably represented by the likes of Ballynagour, Shantou Flyer, Wounded Warrior, De Valira, Morning Assembly, Polly Peachum and Briar Hill. Death Duty’s family has a strong jumping heritage. He cost 145,000 euros as an unbroken three-year-old at Tattersalls Ireland’s Derby Sale and his half-brother by Beneficial made 140,000 euros at the same

sale in 2017. Their dam Midnight Gift, a daughter of four-time champion sire Presenting, was a fairly useful performer in bumpers and over hurdles, winning at up to three miles. Death Duty’s second dam, the unraced Midnight Pond, was a sister to Midnights Daughter, dam of that smart chaser One Knight (RSA Chase and Rehearsal Chase, the latter over three and a quarter miles). Midnight Pond’s sire Long Pond stayed very well, as he showed when a close fourth in the 1985 Gold Cup. Death Duty’s third dam, Midnight Oil, was a three-parts-sister to Champion Chase winner Lough Inagh. Midnight Oil also produced Shannon Spray, who numbered Listed wins among her successes on the Flat and over hurdles, and Renagown, a Listed winner over fences. Several of Midnight Oil’s daughters enjoyed successful broodmare careers, including Shannon Spray (dam of the smart chaser Eirespray), Collopy’s Cross (dam of Gr3 chase winner Sunset Lodge) and Spanish Flame (dam of very useful three-mile chaser Direct Access). 49 BAR ONE RACING HATTON’S GRACE HURDLE G1 FAIRYHOUSE. Dec 3. 4yo+. 20f.

1. APPLE’S JADE (FR) 5 11-3 £50,427 b m by Saddler Maker - Apple’s For Ever (Nikos) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Mr R. Coveliers TR-Gordon Elliott 2. Nichols Canyon (GB) 7 11-10 £16,239 b g by Authorized - Zam Zoom (Dalakhani) O-Andrea & Graham Wylie B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited TR-W. P. Mullins 3. Supasundae (GB) 7 11-10 £7,692 b g by Galileo - Distinctive Look (Danehill) O-Ann & Alan Potts Limited B-Newsells Park Stud Limited TR-Mrs J. Harrington Margins 9, 1.75. Time 5:07.20. Going Soft. Age 3-5

Starts 13

Wins 9

Places 4

Earned £420,276

Sire: SADDLER MAKER. Sire of 9 Stakes winners. NH in 2017/18 - APPLE’S JADE Nikos G1, BRISTOL DE MAI April Night G1, ALPHA DES OBEAUX Saint Preuil G2, APPLE’S SHAKIRA Nikos G2, DINARIA DES OBEAUX Le Nain Jaune LR. 1st Dam: APPLE’S FOR EVER by Nikos. 5 wins over jumps in France. Dam of 4 winners:

2009: 2010: 2011: 2012:

2014: 2015: 2016:

APPLE’S MAELYS (f Saddler Maker) 7 wins over jumps at 4, 5 and 7 in France. MADAME APPLE’S (f Saddler Maker) Winner over jumps in France. Le Sete For Ever (f Saddler Maker) ran over jumps in France. APPLE’S JADE (f Saddler Maker) 9 wins, AES Champion 4yo Hurdle G1, Betfred Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle G1, Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle G1 (twice), Irish Stall.Farms EBF Mares Chpn. Hurdle G1, OLBG David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle G1, Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle G2, Lismullen Hurdle G2, 2nd JCB Triumph Hurdle G1, stanjames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle G1, WKD Hurdle G2, Quevega Mares Hurdle LR. APPLE’S SHAKIRA (f Saddler Maker) 2 wins, JCB Triumph Trial Prestbury Juv. Hurdle G2. Grisy Apple’s (c Montmartre) unraced to date. Apple’s du Pont (c Saddler Maker)

Broodmare Sire: NIKOS. Sire of the dams of 25 Stakes winners. NH in 2017/18 - APPLE’S JADE Saddler Maker G1, APPLE’S SHAKIRA Saddler Maker G2, DISKO Martaline G2, ROI MAGE Poliglote G2, DALIA GRANDCHAMP Kapgarde G3. The Saddler Maker/Nikos cross has produced: APPLE’S JADE G1, APPLE’S SHAKIRA G2.

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Data Book Grade 1 Winners APPLE’S JADE b m 2012 Northern Dancer

Nearctic Natalma

Fairy Bridge

Bold Reason Special

Alleged

Hoist The Flag Princess Pout

Alexandrie

Val de L’Orne Apachee

Nonoalco

Nearctic Seximee

No No Nanette

Sovereign Path Nuclea

Le Pontet

Succes Arielle

Silver Girl

Son of Silver Our Best

Sadler’s Wells SADDLER MAKER b 98 Animatrice

Nikos APPLE’S FOR EVER b 00 Apple’s Girl

Apple’s Jade’s 2016-17 campaign witnessed this highly likeable mare suffer three unexpected defeats in her first four starts, the one bright light being her narrow victory over Vroum Vroum Mag in the Gr1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle. Happily for all concerned, those setbacks now appear to be a thing of the past, as the top-class daughter of Saddler Maker was recording her fourth consecutive victory, including three at Gr1 level, when she repeated her Hatton’s Grace success. This time she made all to score by nine lengths, boosting her excellent career figures to nine wins and four seconds from 13 starts. Apple’s Jade’s broodmare sire Nikos was directly responsible for another spectacular jumper in Master Minded. Although Nikos was most effective at up to a mile, he sired a Prix du Cadran winner in Nononito and jumpers of the calibre of Cenkos, Nakir, Encore Un Peu (runner-up in the 1996 National), Eric’s Charm (second in the Betfred Gold Cup) and Fataliste. Apple’s Jade’s dam, Apple’s For Ever, won at up to two and a half miles, over hurdles and fences.

Apple’s For Ever was a regular visitor to Saddler Maker, sire of six of her eight foals, the partnership’s latest foal being a 2016 colt named Apple’s du Pont. Four of the first five siblings have won, with the 2014 foal, Apple’s Shakira, winning the Gr2 Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle most impressively on her British debut. Apple’s For Ever also has a 2015 son by Montmartre and a 2017 Martaline colt. Apple’s Girl, the second dam of Apple’s Jade, was a seven-time winner over jumps. Her sire, Le Pontet, was successfuil in the French Champion Hurdle and numbered the 1994 King George VI winner Algan among his best winners, along with Le Pontif, the top French jumper of 1984. For more defeats on Saddler Maker, see the notes on Betfair Lancashire Chase winner Bristol de Mai earlier in this issue. 50 BAR ONE RACING ROYAL BOND NOVICE HURDLE G1 FAIRYHOUSE. Dec 3. 4yo+. 16f.

1. MENGLI KHAN (IRE) 4 11-7 £42,863 b g by Lope de Vega - Danielli (Danehill) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Ballylinch Stud TR-Gordon Elliott 2. Early Doors (FR) 4 11-7 £13,803 b g by Soldier of Fortune - Ymlaen (Desert Prince) O-John P McManus B-Mr D. Clee TR-Joseph Patrick O’Brien 3. Hardline (IRE) 5 11-10 £6,538 b g by Arcadio - Hidden Reserve (Heron Island) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Ms N. Humphreys TR-Gordon Elliott Margins 5.5, 15. Time 4:00.50. Going Soft. Age 2-4

Starts 12

Wins 5

Places 5

Earned £87,841

Sire: LOPE DE VEGA. Sire of 31 Stakes winners. 1st Dam: Danielli by Danehill. Dam of 5 winners:

2007:

2008:

AKULA (g Soviet Star) 5 wins over hurdles to 2017. Janicellaine (f Beat Hollow) 2 wins, 2nd

RACING EQUIPMENT

2009: 2011:

2012:

2013:

2014: 2015: 2017:

Flaming Page S LR, 3rd My Charmer H G3. Broodmare. Baile Atha Cliath (g Barathea) CHRISELLIAM (f Iffraaj) Champion 2yr old filly in Europe in 2013. 3 wins at 2 at home, USA, Shadwell Fillies’ Mile S G1, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf G1. VERY SPECIAL (f Lope de Vega) 5 wins at 2 to 5, 2017 at home, UAE, EGA Cape Verdi S G2 (twice), Skywards Balanchine S G2, 2nd Tattersalls Falmouth S G1. MENGLI KHAN (g Lope de Vega) Sold 150,000gns yearling at TAOC1. 5 wins, Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle G1, For Auction Novice Hurdle G3. (c Henrythenavigator) Gallitea (f Galileo) unraced to date. (f Lope de Vega)

2nd Dam: INGABELLE by Taufan. 3 wins at 2 to 4 Keeneland Phoenix Sprint S G3. Dam of EVA’S REQUEST (f Soviet Star: Premio Lydia Tesio Shadwell Tris Int G1), PRIORY BELLE (f Priolo: Moyglare Stud S G1), WILD BLUEBELL (f Bluebird: Coolmore Stud Concorde S G3). Grandam of KILTUBBER, Il Pirata, Cool Judgement. Third dam of OPINION, FOX HUNT, ANAM ALLTA, Johann Bach. Broodmare Sire: DANEHILL. Sire of the dams of 359 Stakes winners. NH in 2017/18 - MENGLI KHAN Lope de Vega G1, SAYAR Azamour G3.

MENGLI KHAN b g 2013 Shamardal LOPE DE VEGA ch 07

Giant’s Causeway Storm Cat Mariah’s Storm Helsinki

Machiavellian Helen Street

Vettori

Machiavellian Air Distingue

Lady Golconda

Kendor Lady Sharp

Danzig

Northern Dancer Pas de Nom

Razyana

His Majesty Spring Adieu

Taufan

Stop The Music Stolen Date

Bodelle

Falcon Shade

Lady Vettori

Danehill DANIELLI b 02 Ingabelle

Having impressively won a maiden race on his second start, Mengli Khan was immediately despatched into Gr1 level in the 2015 Racing Post Trophy. The raise in class proved beyond him and he trailed home last behind Marcel. However, he proved he was useful in winning an 11-furlong

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handicap on the all-weather on his first start after being gelded, and he cost 155,000gns when bought on behalf of Gordon Elliott Racing at the Autumn Sales. Lightly raced in his first season over hurdles, a mature Mengli Khan is now reaping the benefit and was winning for the third time in three starts in the 2017-18 season when he landed the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle. He is comfortably the best of the limited number of hurdlers sired by Lope de Vega, who is best known as the sire of such high-class Flat performers as Belardo and The Right Man. Lope de Vega’s pedigree makes him an attractive option for Danehill mares and this nick has already produced Belardo and Mengli Khan’s smart sister Very Special, who won a pair of Gr2s in the UAE. Mengli Khan was bred by Ballylinch Stud, which has enjoyed plenty of success with his family. The association started with Taufan’s speedy daughter Ingabelle, who produced three Group-winning daughters in the shape of Wild Bluebell (Gr3 Concorde Stakes), Priory Belle (Gr1 Moyglare Stud Stakes) and Eva’s Request (Gr1 Premio Lydia Tesio). Another of Ingabelle’s daughters, Danielli, is the dam of Mengli Khan and Very Special, and she has an even better winner to her credit in Chriselliam. This ill-fated daughter of Iffraaj won the Gr1 Fillies’ Mile and Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf. Mengli Khan isn’t the first good hurdler from this family, as his third dam Bodelle showed useful form over jumps, as well as winning from ten to 13 furlongs on the Flat.

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CAULFIELD ON MENGLI KHAN: “He is comfortably the best of the limited number of hurdlers sired by Lope de Vega, who is best known as sire of such high-class Flat performers as Belardo and The Right Man”

Grade 2 & 3 Winners Date 03/11 03/11 04/11 04/11 04/11 04/11 04/11 05/11 05/11 07/11 11/11 11/11 11/11 11/11 11/11 12/11 12/11 12/11 16/11 17/11 18/11 18/11 18/11 19/11 19/11 19/11 19/11 19/11 25/11 25/11 25/11 26/11 26/11 26/11 01/12 01/12 02/12 02/12 02/12 03/12 03/12 03/12 26/11 26/11 01/12 01/12 02/12 02/12 02/12 03/12 03/12 03/12

Grade G2 G3 G2 G2 G2 G3 GrB G3 GrB G2 G2 G2 G3 G3 GrB G2 G2 G3 G2 G2 G2 G3 G3 G2 G2 G2 G2 G3 G2 G2 G3 G3 GrB GrB G2 G2 G2 G3 GrB G3 GrA GrB GrB GrB G2 G2 G2 G3 GrB G3 GrA GrB

Race (course) WKD Hurdle (Down Royal) Lough Construction EBF Mares Nov Hurdle (Down Royal) mycarneedsa.com Skymas Chase (Down Royal) Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (Wetherby) Bet365 West Yorkshire Hurdle (Wetherby) Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Ascot) Billecart Salmon Mac’s Joy Hcp Hurdle (Down Royal) Paddy Power Irish EBF Novice Chase (Cork) Paddy Power Cork Grand National Hp Chase (Cork) 188Bet Haldon Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Exeter) J. Romans Homes Rising Stars Nov. Chase (Wincanton) Unibet Elite Handicap Hurdle (Wincanton) Fishery Lane Hurdle (Naas) Poplar Square Chase (Naas) Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle (Naas) Lismullen Hurdle (Navan) thetote.com Fortria Chase (Navan) For Auction Novice Hurdle (Navan) Clonmel Oil Chase (Clonmel) Ballymore Hyde Novices’ Hurdle (Cheltenham) JCB Triumph Trial Prestbury Juv. Hurdle (Cheltenham) BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Cheltenham) betvictor.com Handicap Chase (Cheltenham) Race Post Arkle Trial November Nov.Chase (Cheltenham) Sky Bet Supreme Trial Sharp Nov.Hurdle (Cheltenham) L&V Brennan Mem Florida Pearl Nov Chase (Punchestown) Ryans Cleaning Craddockstown Nov. Chase (Punchestown) Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Cheltenham) Christy 1965 Chase (Ascot) Coral Ascot Hurdle (Ascot) Betfair Stayers Fixed Brush Hcp Hurdle (Haydock Park) Monksfield Novice Hurdle (Navan) Ladbrokes Troytown Handicap Chase (Navan) Proudstown Handicap Hurdle (Navan) Ladbrokes Berkshire Novices’ Chase (Newbury) Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle (Newbury) Ladbrokes J. Francome Novices’ Chase (Newbury) Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase (Newbury) EasyFix Ballyhack Handicap Chase (Fairyhouse) Bar One Racing Juvenile Hurdle (Fairyhouse) Bar One Racing New Stand Handicap Hurdle (Fairyhouse) Bar One Racing Porterstown Hcp Chase (Fairyhouse) Ladbrokes Troytown Handicap Chase (Navan) Proudstown Handicap Hurdle (Navan) Ladbrokes Berkshire Novices’ Chase (Newbury) Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle (Newbury) Ladbrokes J. Francome Novices’ Chase (Newbury) Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase (Newbury) EasyFix Ballyhack Handicap Chase (Fairyhouse) Bar One Racing Juvenile Hurdle (Fairyhouse) Bar One Racing New Stand Handicap Hurdle (Fairyhouse) Bar One Racing Porterstown Hcp Chase (Fairyhouse)

Dist 16f 16f 19.5f 24f 24f 24f 16f 20f 28f 17.5f 20f 15f 16f 16f 20f 20f 16f 16f 20.5f 21f 16f 20f 27f 16f 16f 22.5f 16f 16f 21f 19f 23f 20f 24f 22.5f 20f 24f 23f 25.5f 16.5f 16f 16f 29f 24f 22.5f 20f 24f 23f 25.5f 16.5f 16f 16f 29f

Horse Melon (GB) Just Janice (IRE) Disko (FR) Bristol de Mai (FR) Colin’s Sister (GB) Go Conquer (IRE) Top Othe Ra (IRE) Bamako Moriviere (FR) Logical Song (IRE) Politologue (FR) Modus (GB) London Prize (GB) Early Doors (FR) Ball d’Arc (FR) Oscar Knight (IRE) Apple’s Jade (FR) Clarcam (FR) Mengli Khan (IRE) Alpha des Obeaux (FR) On The Blind Side (IRE) Apple’s Shakira (FR) Splash of Ginge (GB) Perfect Candidate (IRE) North Hill Harvey (GB) Slate House (IRE) Jury Duty (IRE) Woodland Opera (IRE) Elgin (GB) Top Notch (FR) Lil Rockerfeller (USA) Sam Spinner (GB) Samcro (IRE) Mala Beach (IRE) Red Devil Lads (IRE) Willoughby Court (IRE) Beer Goggles (IRE) Elegant Escape (IRE) Total Recall (IRE) Nearly Nama’d (IRE) Espoir d’Allen (FR) Davids Charm (IRE) Presenting Percy (GB) Mala Beach (IRE) Red Devil Lads (IRE) Willoughby Court (IRE) Beer Goggles (IRE) Elegant Escape (IRE) Total Recall (IRE) Nearly Nama’d (IRE) Espoir d’Allen (FR) Davids Charm (IRE) Presenting Percy (GB)

Age 5 5 6 6 6 8 9 6 8 6 7 6 4 6 8 5 7 4 7 5 3 9 10 6 5 6 7 5 6 6 5 5 9 8 6 6 5 8 9 3 6 6 9 8 6 6 5 8 9 3 6 6

Sex G M G G M G G G G G G G G G G M G G G G F G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

Sire Medicean King’s Theatre Martaline Saddler Maker Central Park Arcadio Whitmore’s Conn Califet King’s Theatre Poliglote Motivator Teofilo Soldier of Fortune Network Oscar Saddler Maker Califet Lope de Vega Saddler Maker Stowaway Saddler Maker Oscar Winged Love Kayf Tara Presenting Well Chosen Robin des Champs Duke of Marmalade Poliglote Hard Spun Black Sam Bellamy Germany Beneficial Beneficial Court Cave Oscar Dubai Destination Westerner Millenary Voix du Nord Milan Sir Percy Beneficial Beneficial Court Cave Oscar Dubai Destination Westerner Millenary Voix du Nord Milan Sir Percy

Dam Night Teeny Liss Na Tintri Nikos Royale La Bole Night Dd’s Glenalla Ballinamona Wish The Top Road Halladine Jaldemosa Scarlet Row Alessandra Zibet Ymlaen Pretty Moon Cool Supreme Apple’s For Ever Rose Beryl Danielli Omega des Obeaux Such A Set Up Apple’s For Ever Land of Honour Dansana Ellina Bay Pearl Swan Heart Opera Hat China Tea Topira Layounne Dawn Spinner Dun Dun Peppardstown Welsh Sitara Willoughby Sue Tynelucy Graineuaile Augest Weekend Coca’s Well Quadanse Have More Hunca Munca Peppardstown Welsh Sitara Willoughby Sue Tynelucy Graineuaile Augest Weekend Coca’s Well Quadanse Have More Hunca Munca

Broodmare Sire Platini Presenting Nikos April Night Be My Native Kotashaan Toulon Passing Sale Cadoudal Turgeon Generous Kris Desert Prince Moon Madness Supreme Leader Nikos Lost World Danehill Saint Preuil Supreme Leader Nikos Supreme Leader Insan Robellino Broadway Flyer Broken Hearted Strong Gale High Chaparral Pistolet Bleu Mt Livermore Arctic Lord Saddlers’ Hall Old Vic Welsh Term Dabali Good Thyne Orchestra Dr Massini Religiously Maille Pistol Haafhd Presenting Old Vic Welsh Term Dabali Good Thyne Orchestra Dr Massini Religiously Maille Pistol Haafhd Presenting

Index 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 65 66 67 68 69 72 73 74 75 76 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64

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24 hours with... JOAO MOREIRA The Hong Kongbased Brazilian is one of the world’s top riders, one whose background ensures nothing is taken for granted and no hour of the day is wasted Interview: Howard Wright

t depends whether it’s a raceday or a work morning, but my day usually starts around 4.30am. We live in the Sha Tin jockeys’ accommodation, so I cycle down to the track. My car is very rarely used. We ride work every morning except Sunday, because that’s raceday and 90% of the trainers don’t like to use jockeys to gallop on Sundays, and on average I’d ride around eight horses. After Wednesday night’s races, I pretty much have no sleep. When I get home, it takes so long for my adrenaline to come down. Also, I like to watch all the replays of the races I’ve been in. That’s while the rest of the family are asleep, on their third dream. It’s tough the next day, but at least once we’ve finished track work and interacted with the trainers, I have time to rest and recover. Back home, I’ll be extremely tired. It’s probably more stressful mentally than physically in Hong Kong because you aren’t allowed an agent, so you do all your work yourself. There are plenty of jockeys who do the PR very well. You might be the best on the track, skill-wise, but if you’re not as good as or better than the others outside, your numbers aren’t going to be as good as they could be. I had to learn that very quickly. In Brazil, you didn’t have to be thinking about tomorrow straight away. Singapore’s system was very similar to here, although less intense. Certainly, I wouldn’t have made it if I’d come to Hong Kong straight from Brazil. Language would have been a big

obstacle and I needed that couple of years somewhere else to put myself in condition to jump into Hong Kong and do well. Hong Kong is one of the toughest places to ride at in the world. Not because of the competition on the track, but because of the whole system. Jockeys coming here learn the most. After doing all my work, I have at least an hour’s sleep during the day. It becomes part of the routine, and if I don’t have a nap during the afternoon, I can’t go through the day without being stressed or in a bad mood. I sleep only a maximum of six hours a day anyway, but I need that hour during the day. I’m very cautious about what I eat, because I have to waste roughly a kilo and a half for every race meeting. Not as much as some jockeys but I have to work on it. If I don’t, it decreases the number of opportunities I have. I like to eat everything but in small portions. My wife’s a good cook. That’s the problem, she cooks too well, but she knows my lifestyle. I also do plenty of activities, football and cycling. I’m not the kind of person who sits and does nothing. I follow the Premier League in England, although my team is still my local side in Brazil, Curitiba. I try to imagine how those guys handle the amount of pressure they receive. I’m sure they have people around them to make sure they stay smooth. I don’t have a professional coach, but I believe in God to keep my strength, my beliefs, my positive energy. Whenever I approach anything, no way

am I going to think, ‘I can’t do it.’ I’ll find ways to make things happen. Of course, there are times I’ve failed, but because I have self-confidence, a lot of things I go for, I get there. Sometimes I set targets, but not ones that are unreachable. When I see something achievable, I will research how to get there and figure out what’s likely to stop me getting there. That increases your chances. As for my ambition, it’s really to make sure I go through for what is left of my career as a jockey without having big problems, such as injuries, depression or poor health. I’m happy and healthy, and could never ask for more from my life. If we got back to halfway where I came from, I’d be satisfied. Not financial-wise but about me as a human being, how much I’ve learned and how life has meaning for me. Life is very good. Given where I came from, as one of eight children from a poor neighbourhood, I don’t think I have the right to ask for much more. I have achieved so much in my life, not just in my career as a jockey, it’s unfair. But I can’t sit here and live off what I’ve done in the past. I need to keep on doing well for my family – two children who have brought a lot of meaning into my life, and my wife Taciana, who’s not only my wife but my best friend, the best mum I could get for my kids and my strength, who has done her very best to adapt to life in Hong Kong. I’ve got the partner everyone else should dream about. Without her I wouldn’t be the same person.

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