ÂŁ5.95 JANUARY 2020 ISSUE 185
Defi delights Philip Hobbs says star chaser could be the best he has trained
PLUS
Class of 2020
Freshman sires in focus
ROA Awards
Equine heroes celebrated
Kirsten Rausing
Roster refreshed at Lanwades
Jan_185_Cover.indd 1
www.theownerbreeder.com
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10/12/2019 14:55
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£5.95 JANUARY 2020 ISSUE 185
Defi delights Philip Hobbs says star chaser could be the best he has trained
PLUS
Class of 2020
Freshman sires in focus
ROA Awards
Equine heroes celebrated
Kirsten Rausing
Roster refreshed at Lanwades
www.theownerbreeder.com
Jan_185_Cover.indd 1
Cover: Defi Du Seuil, owned by JP McManus and trained by Philip Hobbs, triumphs in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown in December under Barry Geraghty Photo: George Selwyn
Jan_185_Editors.indd 1
Edward Rosenthal Editor
16/12/2019 12:23
s we all know, Thursday, December 12 witnessed a dramatic two-horse race of epic proportions as the public went to the polls to select their preferred candidate. When the votes were counted, it was unanimous; Andrew Gemmell was the ROA’s Owner of the Year, seeing off Khalid Abdullah in a driving finish. There was another head-to-head tussle that day, apparently, but by all accounts it was nowhere near as exciting. The Racehorse Owners Association’s Horseracing Awards, staged for the 38th time this year, celebrated the equine stars and their connections from the previous 12 months. From sole owners to syndicate members, all are welcomed – and recognised – at British horseracing’s most inclusive ceremony (see pages 41-51 for photos from the evening). Despite falling short in her bid for a historic third victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October, Enable took the Horse of the Year accolade for the third year running and will no doubt be a strong contender to record a fourth win in 2020. The decision to keep this wonderful mare in training aged six is a boon to the sport and owner Khalid Abdullah and Juddmonte must be commended for this most sporting of gestures. The aforementioned Mr Gemmell is currently enjoying a wonderful run, thanks mainly to his brilliant hurdler, Paisley Park, who is running up an Enable-esque sequence of wins over timber for the Emma Lavelle stable. Yet this is not the only talented runner in the owner’s string; for good measure he also has a share in De Rasher Counter, victorious in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury in November for the appropriately named Makin’ Bacon Partnership. JP McManus is a huge supporter of the ROA Horseracing Awards and gained his reward this year when Defi Du Seuil was voted Outstanding Novice Chaser after his superb 2018-19 campaign. Our cover star has returned in brilliant shape, scoring a thrilling victory in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, and looks set for a big season. Defi Du Seuil is trained by Philip Hobbs, not a man prone to jumping around in the stands at the races, even when he is watching one of the
most talented chasers in the country. Hobbs has held a licence since 1985 and many of his owners, including JP, have been with him for many years. According to the man himself, it’s all down to good communication. “To quote Sir Mark Prescott: ‘You are very unlikely to lose a horse by training it badly, but you are very likely to lose a horse by not informing the owners’”, Hobbs tells Tim Richards (Talking To, pages 58-62). “Communication is very important. Some owners will ring the trainer quite regularly, some will never ring the trainer because they don’t want to bother them and are waiting to be informed. I am in touch with them more than they are in touch with me. “On a Friday evening I make a list of all the
“From sole owners to syndicates, all are welcomed at this ceremony” owners I haven’t spoken to during the week and I call them while Sarah is driving me to the races on the Saturday. I can ring 50 people in two or three hours from the car. Then I do the rest on Sunday morning. When there’s bad news to impart, the sooner I get it off my chest the better. A problem shared is a problem halved.” While the jumps season continues on its familiar path towards the Cheltenham Festival, the Flat stars of the future are being bred at studs up and down the country. In this issue we take a look at the batch of freshman sires for 2020 (pages 64-70) and catch up with Kirsten Rausing at Lanwades Stud, which has welcomed its own new stallion in the shape of French Derby victor Study Of Man (The Big Interview, pages 52-56).
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Contents
January 2020
64
120
58
News & Views
International Scene
ROA Leader
View From Ireland
Syndicates offer huge potential
5
7
8
Changes News in a nutshell
10
Howard Wright Arabian nights
John Shirreffs and Lloyd Williams in focus
18
29
The Big Picture 14
From The Archives Jolly's Clump in 1976
16
ROA Horseracing Awards
Travel and lifestyle
Racing's biggest night out
32
41
The Big Interview With Kirsten Rausing
2
25
Features Rasher streaks home at Newbury
Racing Life Gulfstream Park's appeal
German racing's difficult year
Around The Globe
News New deal for apprentices
21
Continental Tales
TBA Leader Challenges aplenty in 2020
Supreme Horse Racing Club fiasco
52
THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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89
41
52
Features Talking To... Trainer Philip Hobbs
First-season sires Assessing the new intake of stallions
Breeders’ Digest Coplow's Stowell Hill stamp
Sales Circuit Round-up from Europe
Caulfield Files Japan's industry at a crossroads
Dr Statz Sires ranked by elite covers
The Finish Line With jockey Jonathan Burke
Forum ROA Forum 58
TBA Forum 64 73 74 89 114 120
Forum The Thoroughbred Club Career Maker Programme details
Jan_185_Contents.indd 3
New identity and logo revealed
93
Flat Stallion Parade update
Vet Forum
94 104 110
Joint ill in young foals
Data Book European Pattern Results and analysis
116
Did you know? Our monthly average readership is
20,000 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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FEEL THE TRUE THRILL OF OWNERSHIP INSPIRING OWNERSHIP We’re working to inspire more people to join our community and become racehorse owners. And we’re raising the voice of owners, championing their interests and making ownership more rewarding at every step. Join us today and transform your ownership story. ROA.CO.UK/2020
ROA Leader
Nicholas Cooper President
Syndicate growth is eminently achievable T
he role of syndicates, syndication and fractional ownership is increasingly important for racing when looking to attract a bigger and more active fan-base to the sport. It is easy to see why the ROA and indeed the whole of racing should share this view. Syndicates provide an affordable gateway into ownership and put like-minded people together where they can share enjoyment at racecourses and racing stables. Syndication of horses provides the sport with a natural marketing stimulus. Today’s world of websites and social media make the conveyance of information, pictures and videos a perfect platform for the racing syndicate, raising the profile of racing in a way that was undreamt of even 20 years ago. While shared ownership is not just about newcomers – a significant proportion of sole owners continue to have horses in syndicates – those who start by owning a small percentage of a horse are often sufficiently inspired to get into full ownership. It is a point that underlines the importance of giving first-time owners a favourable impression. The fact that 40% of horses now in training have some form of shared ownership shows how important it is to the economics of the sport and how much pressure there is on many trainers to make the whole ownership experience work. If syndication in racing is to realise its full potential, we in the sport, and particularly those of us charged with looking after the interests of owners, must do everything possible to allow the expectations of syndicate members to be met. This includes giving access to the paddock and owner/trainer facilities. Of course, this is not always practical because many racecourses have inadequate bars and restaurants for large numbers and there are often safety issues in trying to squeeze a lot of people into the paddock, especially when there are large fields. But most racecourses now acknowledge that syndicates are a pivotal part of racing and to spurn them might result in syndicate members voting with their feet and going elsewhere. And no racecourse wants to end up with small fields, with all the resultant disadvantages. One of the most important areas in the growth of syndication is to ensure the regulation surrounding this form of ownership is sufficiently robust to provide protection and confidence for the participants. Few of us need reminding of the recent high-profile case in Ireland involving allegations of overselling of shares, with a fallout that left syndicate members in a very unhappy place. Although, since 2017, all syndicates registered with the BHA must confirm their compliance with a BHA Code of Conduct,
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we have now surely reached the point where there should be a mandatory licensing of syndicate managers. A system underpinned by licence would bring enhanced regulation, ensuring syndicates had credibility while giving confidence to all those who participate. Conversely, it might also run the risk of discouraging some of the existing syndicates and reducing the involvement of those very people we are trying to encourage. Licensing of syndicate managers is a natural consequence of the growth of syndication and, through the Industry Ownership Strategy, much progress has been made in working on an appropriate model. In the shorter term, a well-publicised
“It is not always possible to ‘magic up’ winners, but it is possible to make people feel appreciated” accreditation system, whereby syndicates receive a form of kite mark to acknowledge their excellence within the field, should be introduced without delay. It is not always possible to ‘magic up’ winners for people who join syndicates, but it is possible to make them feel appreciated and give them every chance of enjoying the ride. It is also possible to ensure that their ownership experience is enhanced by good communication and a crystal-clear picture of the finances of their syndicate. These are the fundamentals. If we get them right, then we can look forward to making this one of racing’s biggest growth areas.
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TBA Leader
Julian Richmond-Watson Chairman
Racing faces multitude of challenges in 2020 A
nother new year and British racing under both codes appears, outwardly at least, to be thriving and entertaining its millions of followers. However, underneath the rather fragile surface there are a number of substantial challenges lurking. Regardless of the outcome of Brexit and whatever the politicians may determine – and everyone involved will lobby hard to make sure racing’s voice is heard and is effective, whoever is in power – there are a number of issues to be worked on, which will have to be addressed by the sport as a whole. The BHA is the governing authority. It has had a difficult year, with the shareholders wrestling over how to restructure its constitution following an independent review of governance. A consensus has been difficult to find, but we must now accept where we are and give the new chair Annamarie Phelps and her team appropriate time to enact reforms and rebuild trust within the industry. The sport needs and demands a strong and effective regulator, one that everyone can respect. Welfare is to the forefront on all agendas. Through the new Horse Welfare Board, it will be good for racing to have an agreed strategy, providing clear actions and leading to progress, in particular over horse welfare, on racecourses during the coming year. The Levy Board will shortly have a new chairman and one new government-appointed member, and now that racing’s central funding body is here for the foreseeable future, hard work will be required to maximise income through betting. Then must follow a thorough review of the board’s expenditure priorities. As part of maximising the levy, the industry’s message to government about the betting industry’s requirement to contribute from bets placed on overseas racing must be reinforced and re-stated, in order to help support prize-money going forward. As if 2019 was not difficult enough, 2020 will be an even more challenging year for prize-money, as racecourses reflect on the downturn in income from picture rights, linked to the lowering of stakes on fixed-odds betting terminals. However, there are ambitious plans for racecourses to be paid on a turnover basis from online betting, in exchange for the maximum streaming of racing. If the negotiations are successful, this should help to fill the gap. The industry needs more transparency over media rights and betting income received by the racecourses, so that all the participants feel they are receiving their fair share. It does the sport no good if horsemen, who supply the ‘raw ingredient,’ feel
Jan_185_TBA_Leader.indd 7
they are being short-changed. This will be the first full year with a new tote operator, the UK Tote Group, which has made many pledges to the sport. It must now be seen genuinely to support racing beyond its contractual commitments to the racecourses and the levy. The Racehorse Owners Association is enhancing its drive for more individual and multiple ownerships. I would urge the ROA and the racecourses not to forget individual owners and ownerbreeders, who must not be crowded out in the rush to support syndicates and clubs. Last but not least to TBA members. As shown by the independent Economic Impact Study, breeders, the bedrock of the sport, are struggling and in decline in Britain.
“The scheme to target British breeders has been held up; we are working hard to resolve the matter” The whole industry has recognised the urgency of the situation and helped to develop a scheme to target British breeders, which is supported by the Levy Board. Clearance is still awaited from the officials at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and is being held up due to Brexit and election issues. We are working hard to resolve the matter, as support for British breeders is desperately needed, and now. As I say, there are significant challenges to be addressed, and since the solutions to many of them rest in our own hands, we should make every effort to move forward. My best wishes to you all for 2020; let us hope that many of these issues are resolved as quickly as possible.
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News
New apprentice deal discord
GEORGE SELWYN
From March apprentice jockeys will receive a higher percentage of prize-money
A
pprentice jockeys will have a new deal in place from March relating to riding fee, prize-money and expenses following unanimous approval from the BHA board, despite opposition from the National Trainers Federation. The revised system follows a 2018 BHA audit, which suggested a number of apprentices were not having their travel expenses paid by trainers. From the beginning of the 2020 Flat turf season, apprentices will receive a greater proportion of prize-money plus their riding fee, while they will be responsible for paying their own expenses. At present, prize-money won and the riding fee are split more evenly, in return
for trainers paying a proportion of an apprentice’s expenses. Andrew Balding, Richard Fahey, Richard Hannon, Mick Easterby and Tim Easterby were among those to explain why they felt apprentices themselves would not benefit from the changes. They all indicated that a reduction in opportunities in future could well be a consequence of trainers’ shares of riding fees and prize-money being significantly diminished. Balding, whose reputation for bringing along future stars of the saddle is second to none, with William Buick and Oisin Murphy among the Kingsclere alumni, set out his reasons for opposing the new arrangement in an open letter
to BHA Chief Executive Nick Rust. He revealed that he would not be able to take on four aspiring jockeys who had been due to start their careers at Kingsclere in the summer. He said: “Whilst the financial implications of your new agreement make it far less appealing for us to take on inexperienced apprentices, my decision is as much a protest against the BHA’s failure to listen to the views of the trainers. “Through Rupert [Arnold] and the NTF we have tried to warn you but your pursuit of what might appear popular in the press has once again led you to ignore the voices of the people who genuinely understand the subject.”
Current and new breakdown of prize-money and riding fees for apprentices RIDING FEE SPLIT
Current
Current
New
New
PRIZE-MONEY SPLIT
Current
Current
New
New
Claim
Jockey %
Trainer %
Jockey %
Trainer %
Claim
Jockey %
Trainer %
Jockey %
Trainer %
3lb
80
20
80
20
3lb
50
50
90
10
5lb
55
45
80
20
5lb
50
50
80
20
7lb
50
50
80
20
7lb
50
50
80
20
8
THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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Stories from the racing world
Doyle’s record-breaking year
GEORGE SELWYN
Balding then listed 35 jockeys he had given a first ride to, including Oisin Murphy, William Buick and latest star Jason Watson. Fahey said: “I’m extremely disappointed by the changes and won’t be having any more apprentices after my current ones – I’ll stay loyal to them, but I’ll be finished after that. The perception that trainers make fortunes out of apprentices is wrong. “We’re entitled to make money out of having apprentices as we have horses in training that we own ourselves. The riding fee will be split 80-20 now and when an apprentice rides for us you have to pay VAT, so we’re being given the money to give to the VAT man and nothing else. “I’ve had great fun with apprentices over the years but enough is enough and I feel let down by the system.” Referring to the NTF’s lack of support for the new arrangement, Tim Naylor, Director of Integrity and Regulation at the BHA, said: “Negotiating a new agreement which adequately balances the feelings of both parties was always going to be a challenge. I would like to thank the PJA, NTF and those on the cross-industry working group for their efforts over what has been an extensive period of frank discussion between the two bodies and their members. “We are aware that the changes announced will not meet with unanimous support, but thanks to the efforts of those involved we have been able to arrive at the most suitable compromise available.”
Hollie Doyle: all-time leading lady
Hollie Doyle rode her way into the record books when partnering her 107th winner of the year aboard Class Clown at Southwell on December 5. The victory set a new benchmark for female jockeys in Britain, with Doyle topping Josephine Gordon’s previous best of 106. Hayley Turner is the only other female rider to have reached 100 winners in a calendar year in Britain. The biggest testament to Doyle is that, in betting shops and racecourses up and down the land, she is increasingly regarded purely as a jockey, as opposed to a female
Authorized off to Turkey Derby hero Authorized, sire of dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll, heads the latest swathe of stallions sold to continue their stud careers with the Turkish Jockey Club. The 15-year-old son of Montjeu has spent the entirety of his career to date standing for Darley, latterly within their French division at Haras du Logis in Normandy. A successful stallion under both codes, he is the sire of five Group 1 winners on the Flat, notably popular Australian galloper Hartnell, while becoming an emerging force within the jumps world, primarily due to the achievements of Tiger Roll and Stayers’ Hurdle winner Nichols Canyon. Joining Authorized on the trip to Turkey is Prix Morny winner
Jan_185_News.indd 9
Myboycharlie. Formerly based at Haras du Mezeray, the son of Danetime leaves behind a real star in Peter Brant’s multiple Grade 1 winner Sistercharlie. Their purchases continue a major recruitment drive by the Turkish industry that has also featured the acquisitions of Kentucky Derby hero Super Saver, Bodemeister, sire of the 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming, and Grade 1-winning juvenile Daredevil. The trio had previously stood at WinStar Farm in Kentucky. It was announced earlier in the year that the North American Grade 1 performers Bluegrass Cat, Trappe Shot and Tizway, all of whom are former Kentucky stallions, will also relocate to Turkey for the 2020 season.
jockey, and she has shown that gender is no barrier to riding plenty of winners, given the chance. That chance has been provided primarily by the prolific stable of Archie Watson, and Doyle has grabbed her opportunities with both hands. She told Sky Sports Racing after her history-making victory at Southwell: “It feels a bit emotional. I’m very lucky and really grateful to all who have supported me. “I set out to ride as many winners as I could this year, so to achieve a new British record for female jockeys is very satisfying and a wonderful way to end 2019. I never thought I would be in this position to break the record.” Speaking to Great British Racing, Doyle added: “The fact that it was only two years ago that Josie set the last record is really positive and goes to show women are being given more rides every year. “I’ve been incredibly lucky this year to avoid injury and to work for amazing trainers and owners, so I’d like that to continue and to have even more winners in 2020.” She is quoted at 50-1 to win the jockeys’ title this year, the same price as Ryan Moore, and half the odds of Frankie Dettori and Paul Hanagan.
Authorized: new pastures
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Changes
Racing’s news in a nutshell
People and business
Sulekha Varma
Named new Clerk of the Course at Aintree, succeeding Andrew Tulloch.
Adam Wedge
Esprit Du Large’s Henry VIII Novices’ Chase win provides jockey and owners William and Angela Rucker with a first Grade 1 strike.
Roger Teal
Trainer of exciting colt Kenzai Warrior moves from Great Shefford to Windsor House in Lambourn, Nicky Henderson’s former yard.
Brough Scott
Wayne Hutchinson
Jump jockey, 38, calls time on a career that yielded over 800 winners and Grade 1 victories on L’Unique and Balder Succes.
Royal Ascot
Prize-money for the 2020 five-day meeting rises to £8,095,000, an increase of £765,000.
Alan Bailey
Veteran trainer will call time on a near 40-year career at the end of January; his string will go to grandson Joseph Parr.
Journalist and broadcaster receives the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Annual Award at the lunch in honour of the ‘Voice of Racing’.
Nurlan Bizakov
Businessman and owner-breeder buys Haras de Montfort et Preaux in Normandy, home to popular stallion Le Havre.
Donnacha O’Brien
Champion Flat jockey in Ireland in 2018 and 2019 retires from the saddle aged 21 to become a trainer.
Khadijah Mellah
Winner of Goodwood’s Magnolia Cup charity race in August is named Young Sportswoman of the Year.
HWPA Awards
Tim Kent
Appointed Managing Director of Goffs UK, succeeding Tony Williams. He has worked for the sales house since 2006.
10
Lee Mottershead is Writer of the Year for the second time with Marcus Townend taking the reporter accolade; Edward Whitaker and Lydia Hislop landed the photographer and broadcaster awards.
William Buick
Jockey receives 16-day ban from Japanese stewards following a riding incident at Hanshin on December 15.
Corey Nakatani
US rider, 49, retires after a career that yielded over 3,900 winners, including 120 Grade 1s and ten Breeders’ Cup races.
THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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An eye for success
visit studlife online: tweenhills.com/studlife
January 2020
VERSE FOAL RETURNS HOME The first foal out of dual Gr.1 and Classic winner Simple Verse, born at Tweenhills in January, returned to Gloucestershire after going through the ring at the Tattersalls Foal Sale. The hammer came down at 600,000gns and Sheikh Fahad bought out his partners. The colt (pictured left) is by Frankel and will hopefully carry the Qatar Racing colours in the future.
STAFF PROFILE
MARES IN FOAL TO LION SELL
Amy Pritchard
The first mares believed in foal to the late Roaring Lion went through the ring at the Mare Sale in Newmarket, including Follow A Star at 550,000gns and Stream Song at 440,000gns.
Stud Hand
Tell us about yourself… I’m a Herefordshire girl and have been around thoroughbreds all my life – my grandad owned jumpers and my dad enjoys his racing too. I started at Cobhall Court Stud when I was 18 and worked there for four years. I also worked for Tom Symonds from 2016-2018 and still ride out for him whenever I can. How are you finding Tweenhills? I started in November and am really enjoying it; it’s a good team to be part of. I’m still getting to know the mares so haven’t quite worked out any favourites yet. I’m looking forward to when they foal as I’ve been away from that environment for a while. I’m very fascinated by the stallions too; I love Hot Streak as he’s such a nice, fun character. What are your ambitions? I would love to train my own pointer – maybe get my dad involved. Cheltenham is my favourite course but I like to go pointing too. I really, really want to ride in a charity race aswell – maybe I need to sweet-talk Tom! I would also love to go to New Zealand, especially if I found a place where I’d like to work. I just love being outdoors.
Big Brothers Pride
BIG MONEY FOR PRIDE Tweenhills consigned the third highest-priced lot at the December Mare Sales at Tattersalls in Big Brothers Pride who made 975,000gns. She was a Gr.3 sprint winner in France in April for Kin Hung Kei & Qatar Racing Limited. She’s also an Invincible Spirit half-sister to Gr.1 Prix Maurice de Gheest winner Polydream.
Our own David Redvers bought two mares in foal to Lion, namely Gr.1 winner Quiza Quiza Quiza and Granny Franny, dam of three Stakes winners (including a Gr.1 scorer) by Roaring Lion’s sire Kitten’s Joy. Mares believed in foal to Havana Gold also sold well, including Aflame for 675,000gns, Truly Honoured for 170,000gns and Strut for 95,000gns.
Big Brothers Pride had been bought by Tweenhills’ David Redvers and Meridian International’s Ghislain Bozo for €400,000 at the Arqana August Yearling Sale. Turnover for Tweenhillsconsigned lots at the 2019 Foal and Mare Sales totalled 4.2m guineas.
Also at the Mare Sale, this year’s two-year-old Stakes winners Good Vibes and Orlaith were bought by Tweenhills in partnership with Widden Stud Stud. Both fillies will race on in 2020 before retiring to the breeding paddocks, potentially ideal mates for Zoustar.
spitality lodge at Our ‘Lions’ Den’ ho ber Mares S ale ecem the Tatter salls D
Tweenhills, Hartpury, Gloucestershire, GL19 3BG W: www.tweenhills.com T: + 44 (0) 1452 700177 M: + 44 (0) 7767 436373 E: davidredvers@tweenhills.com
Changes
Horse obituaries
People obituaries James Cronin 38
Popular groom in Newmarket who looked after 2005 Derby winner Motivator at Michael Bell’s stable.
Norman Colfer 91
Former manager of Fairyhouse racecourse who was an auctioneer by profession.
Joan Moore 91
Matriarch of the famous Irish racing family that included late husband Dan and son Arthur, both successful trainers.
Bill Kettlewell 87
Owned Mrs McArdy, winner of the 1977 1,000 Guineas, and was Ferdy Murphy’s landlord at Wynbury Stables.
Make A Stand 28
Brilliant winner of the 1997 Champion Hurdle for owner Peter Deal, trainer Martin Pipe and jockey AP McCoy.
Martaline 20
Sired top-class jumpers Dynaste, Kotkikova and Terrefort from his base at Haras de Montaigu in France.
Observatory 22
Winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, the Juddmonte homebred went on to sire Twice Over and African Rose.
Wurftaube 26
Stallion Movements Tirwanako
Daughter of Acatenango was champion older mare in Germany in 1997 and is the great-grandam of Arc hero Waldgeist.
Shot To Fame 20
Les Hurley 70
Racecourse photographer based in the Midlands who retired at the end of 2016.
Raymond ‘Darkie’ Deacon 90 Head lad to Fulke Walwyn; the best horse he looked after was The Dikler, winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1973.
Ivor Perry 85
West Country racecourse bookmaker who also owned a string of horses including useful handicapper Ivor’s Flutter.
Son of Quest For Fame, winner of a Group 3 at Ascot in 2004 under Frankie Dettori, owned by Timothy Pearson.
Jumps stallion moves to Knockhouse Stud in Co Kilkenny from France; the son of Sin Kiang is the sire of useful chaser Aloomomo.
Earnshaw
Son of Medaglia d’Oro, successful at Group 3 level for Godolphin, will stand at Haras des Granges in France. His fee is €3,000.
Saddex
Group 1-winning son of Sadler’s Wells, sire of Grade 1 performer Blue Sari, shifts to Blackrath Stud from Haras de Mirande.
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Houblon Des Obeaux 12 Ten-time winner for the Venetia Williams stable between 2011 and 2019; the popular chaser earned £433,000.
John Benstead 91
Epsom-based trainer who sent out dual Cambridgeshire winner Baronet and three-time Royal Ascot victor Blue Refrain.
THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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OLYMPIC GLORY 10 000 € LF Sire of a Royal Ascot Coronation St. Gr.1 winner & a Prix de Diane Gr.1 Classic placed from his 1st crop
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AL SHAQAB RACING
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The Big Picture
Counter feat at Newbury The Emma Lavelle stable had already enjoyed a big-race winner at Newbury’s showpiece meeting courtesy of Paisley Park, but things got even better in the Ladbrokes Trophy when De Rasher Counter, partnered by 5lb conditional Ben Jones, saw off 23 rivals to land the £250,000 handicap chase. De Rasher Counter, racing for the Makin’ Bacon Partnership – which includes Paisley Park’s owner Andrew Gemmell – beat The Conditional and Brendan Powell by a length and a half. Photos George Selwyn
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Ladbrokes Trophy
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From The Archives
Jolly’s good show The race now run as the Classic Chase at Warwick has its roots in an earlier contest, albeit run over 4m1f not 3m5f, known as the Brooke Bond Oxo National. The 1976 renewal went the way of 3-1 favourite Jolly’s Clump, partnered by Ian Watkinson for Newmarket trainer Tom Jones (below, centre). Watkinson, known as one of the bravest in the weighing room, is pictured jumping the final fence on Jolly’s Clump (right) alongside Gylippus and Bryan Smart. The duo went on to finish 13th behind Rag Trade and Red Rum in that year’s Grand National. Photos George Selwyn
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Jolly’s Clump at Warwick on January 24, 1976
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The Howard Wright Column
Saudi Cup involvement sure to be scrutinised M odern technology is the derivative of several words that have entered the dictionary in recent years. However, old-style bribery seems to be behind one of the latest, against which racing should be prepared to defend itself over the next couple of months. ‘Sportswashing’ is the new phenomenon, describing how states use high-profile sporting events as a means of restoring their reputation, notably in the field of human rights. Its modern-day arrival has been credited to Azerbaijan’s hosting of the European Games in 2015, but antecedents can be found decades before that, notably Mussolini’s use of the 1934 FIFA World Cup to promote fascism and Hitler’s similar annexation of the Berlin Olympic Games two years later. The World Cup and Olympic Games, both huge commercial enterprises in the modern era, have increasingly become magnets for debate about human rights issues, the former with Russia’s involvement in 2018 and the forthcoming tournament in Qatar, the latter through China in 2008. Qatar’s winning World Cup bid for 2022 continues to provoke fervent discussion, about the deal itself, when the event will take place and how it will be stage-managed to take account of religious and cultural differences among visitors. The focus of attention on the Gulf region has since widened, switching 400 miles to the west, where Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 represents a calculated attempt to shift from dependency on oil and in part relies on staging major sports events. Its earliest incarnations range from attempts by the ailing World Wrestling Entertainment organisation to reinvent itself, through Anthony Joshua, Britain’s best heavyweight boxer for a generation, taking on Andy Ruiz in a world title rematch, to an eight-man tennis tournament worth £2.3 million and this month’s bizarre Spanish Super Cup football knock-out. All this in a country ruled by an absolute monarchy that Amnesty International accuses of “egregious human rights violations”. It is, however, a country on which horseracing, and British racing in particular, relies heavily for support. So heavily that a report commissioned last summer by the BHA, GBRI and Ascot racecourse, entitled British Horseracing’s International Influence, which urged the government to promote the sport abroad more enthusiastically, noted: “The USA, China, Japan, Ireland and most – if not all – the Gulf States, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, are home to great numbers of racing fans, and indeed many of the most famous and wealthy racing investors in the world come from these countries.” The emphasis is about to increase. At no cost to owners, entries close on January 7 for the world’s richest race, the US$20m Saudi Cup, to be run in Riyadh on February 29 as part of an eight-race card, where the total prize fund of $29.2m will begin to rival Dubai World Cup night as the most valuable one-day race meeting. Described by the organisers as “an iconic moment in the global racing calendar,” the fixture has been heavily promoted by the Newmarket-based International Racing Bureau and is bound to attract enormous interest from British connections, who should be prepared to defend their involvement. And
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they can defend it. From a purely racing perspective, the fixture will expand valuable international opportunities on turf, with a grass track having been laid for the first time. New rules regarding raceday medication have brought Saudi Arabia into line with other major jurisdictions, while quarantine issues are also expected to be more manageable than previously. From a more general perspective, women’s rights continue to be extended. For instance, visitors will not have to wear the full-length abaya over-garment, while female jockeys will be eligible to take part. And new visa rules, allowing
“Individuals will make up their own minds about whether staying away serves any real purpose” non-religious tourists to attend sporting events, have been introduced, eliminating this once-intended visitor’s frustration with and eventual abandonment of a protracted negotiation for the previous 12-month permit needed to accommodate nothing more than a day trip. Only governments, and to some extent governing bodies, can influence the political and cultural environments of other countries that have evolved over centuries. Individuals will make up their own minds about whether staying away serves any real purpose.
HRH Prince Bandar: Chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia
THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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CATCH A THIRD WIND
As one flying dismount followed another in 2019, the thought was reinforced: how will British racing’s push for popularity among the widest audience cope when age finally catches up with Frankie Dettori? Make no mistake, Dettori’s pre-eminence among the sport’s personalities is unchallenged. Type Frankie Oisin Murphy: next Frankie? into the Google search engine and the rest of his name automatically comes top of the list. His renaissance in 2019 was as remarkable as it was complete. Striding well away from the awful memory of just one Group 1 success in 2013, he racked up 19 wins in the highest grade between Anapurna on Oaks day and Alson at the end of October, surpassing his previous best of 16, set in the halcyon days of his Godolphin retainer. Not so long ago, Dettori hinted he would carry on riding at least until he reached the age of 50. With that milestone now less than a year away, he has since adjusted his musings to the possibility of riding against his son, Rocco, who will not be eligible for an apprentice licence until 2021. Two years will pass quickly but will there be enough time for someone to pick up the mantle of British racing’s most recognisable personality? Forget the narrow world of broadcasting, where no-one will replace the public persona of John McCririck, however hard some may try, so it has to be a male Flat jockey. In terms of the general, uncommitted public, jump racing blows hot for a few months of the year and then goes cold, which eliminates such as Bryony Frost, for all that she has been a breath of fresh air within the sport. A similar lack of opportunity for consistent, prolonged public profile applies to female Flat jockeys, however much their cause might have been advanced in recent, diversity-driven years. Hayley Turner’s stop-start career and Josephine Gordon’s reversal of fortunes illustrate the struggle that women still face in staying at the top. Hollie Doyle, in tenth place overall but the sole female rider in the top 40, had a stellar year in which she rode over 100 winners; however, she fished mainly in shallow waters, with only six of the 80-plus horses on whom she enjoyed at least one success earning more than £20,000 in prize-money. Thankfully hope is on the horizon. Britain had a new champion in Oisin Murphy, who qualified through the socalled official title decided on British Champions Day but more significantly as the runaway calendar-year leader. Moreover, Murphy has begun to establish an international reputation, and even more importantly he is developing a personable rapport with the public. Always willing to spare time with racegoers, which goes down well on social media, he shares coherent thoughts in media interviews, both in general discussion and on a one-toone basis. Dettori is a one-off but he is not irreplaceable. Murphy may be the man to prove the point.
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Punching above his weight
MAYSON
20% of his 2019 runners were rated 85 or higher. Sire of 19 Black Type horses to date. 2019 yearlings realised up to 100,000gns.
OXTED (rated 109)
“He’s still a baby and only a frame at the moment... I think he could be seriously nice next year.” Roger Teal, trainer.
AINSDALE (rated 98)
Rapidly improving 2yo who has won his last three races comfortably.
Pound for pound, one of the best value stallions standing in the UK 2020 fee: £5,000 (1st Oct. SLF)
Cheveley Park Stud Tel: +44 (0)1638 730316 • enquiries@cheveleypark.co.uk • www.cheveleypark.co.uk • L@CPStudOfficial
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View Fr m Ireland
By Jessica Lamb
GEORGE SELWYN
Long-term result of Supreme meltdown should be positive
Kemboy: poster boy for the Supreme Racing Club but temporarily barred from running after his syndicate’s implosion
H
orse Racing Ireland’s recent ownership directive has gained extra significance after the public demise of Supreme Horse Racing Club, which has rocked public confidence in clubs and syndicates in Ireland. In July, before any action had been taken by HRI towards Supreme, the governing body launched its new ownership directive, which provided clubs and syndicates with greater clarity of what is expected from agents and members, and gave HRI more powers. Ownership is still governed by rules under the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, but with the introduction of
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Directive 15, HRI now has flexibility to act on its own in cases. Under the new directive (and IHRB rule 123) HRI was able to first suspend all horses owned by Supreme and then void their registrations, after trustee Steve Massey failed to provide details of his estimated 500 members. At the core of Directive 15 is the syndicate and clubs Code of Conduct, which must be signed by each member, providing details of exactly how the ownership set-up will be run. Aidan McGarry, HRI’s Owner Relations Manager, explained: “The aim of the new directive is to give greater
clarity to all owners, but in particular to clubs and syndicates and how they are run. “We provide a template agreement, which includes a Code of Conduct, and an agent has to confirm in writing that they have stated to members all details of how the club is going to be run.” He added: “There is lots of very straightforward information in it that might seem very basic, but we are very conscious that people are using clubs and syndicates as a gateway to getting involved in racehorse ownership.” The agreement outlines everything from how fees will be paid, to how
THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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prize-money will be distributed, to how members will be communicated with and how a member can leave. It also states the responsibilities of agents and members and suggests how decisions could be made. Stephen Thorne, who manages Shamrock Thoroughbreds, a syndicate based with trainer Ado McGuinness, believes that this agreement template is a timely reminder of how important it is to be “black and white”. He said: “A template agreement was sent out to all syndicates, requesting all members to sign it. There’s nothing new here, but it’s a reminder of how important it is to offer full details. “I have a four-page contract for my shareholders that gives every detail, from the smallest things like who gets the trophy after a horse wins, to more specific things like costs and what the options are at the end of each 12-month contract. “Everything is there in black and white. I actually don’t know how people do it any other way.” Being in the sphere, Thorne said he had heard rumours that all was not well within Supreme before complaints from members to HRI became public knowledge, but that it was a shock to learn the extent of the issues. Trainer Denis Hogan, whose stable of 60 is almost 50% filled with horses owned by syndicates and clubs, was also surprised. “I would have thought it was very professionally run,” he said. “It’s unfortunate for the game that it reads so badly against clubs and syndicates, because Supreme were so big, but maybe that’s the problem; Supreme just got too big to handle.” Champion trainer Willie Mullins, who trained for Supreme, shares that view with Hogan, as does Thorne, but there are no plans for club membership numbers to be limited. Presently a syndicate can be made up of five to 20 people, but a club has only a minimum limit of five. However, McGarry did not rule out changes in the future, including introducing licences for agents. “We absolutely have an open mind,” he said. “The benefit of having the ownership directive is that it allows us to be more flexible. In terms of registered agents, it’s an interesting concept. I know it occurs in Australia and that it seems to work well there.” Such is the popularity of clubs and syndicates in Australia that roughly one in every 820 people living in the nation is involved in one; in the UK, with more
than twice the population, the figure is nearly one in every 4,300 and in Ireland it is close to one in every 4,500. Overall ownership figures are better for the UK and Ireland, but they still do not match Australia, where syndicates are more strictly regulated.
Catalyst for change
HRI’s new directive is a step towards achieving that, though David Hyland, Vice-Chairman of the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners, believes the Supreme incident could ignite further change. “My view is that the vast majority are run extremely well, and it’s a rapidly growing area,” he said: “Lessons will be learnt and I think the positive that will come out of this is a proper pathway, which outlines exactly what you need to do if you are forming a syndicate.” He added: “We already have a sub-committee to help syndicates, and we have had meetings this year with racecourses and HRI to discuss the possibility of using the AIR card [which
“The vast majority are extremely well run, and it’s a growing area” grants stakeholders access to racecourses] as a loyalty card.” The swipe card, issued to registered trainers, their staff, owners, press and other officials, has been used for decades, computerising racecourse and stable entry to provide accurate security information. Many racing nations still use metal badges for racecourse entry, and sign-in books for stable staff. Hyland thinks it’s time to take the next step with utilising Ireland’s modern system to allow club and syndicate members to produce it to gain discounts at the racecourse. Publishing the ownership directive was a year-long project for HRI, following consultations with all stakeholders. During those 12 months they have also rolled out many other improvements to the ownership experiences of clubs and syndicates. Included amongst those was a trial of handicap hurdles open only to horses
owned by syndicates or clubs. It began as three races at Cork, Bellewstown and Gowran Park last summer and is likely to continue this year. Hogan supported those races and would welcome more. He also hopes the new ownership directive will continue to improve transparency and accountability, and not just for clubs and syndicates. “Jockeys get paid through HRI; it’s all computerised,” he said. “We were asked at the trainers’ AGM whether we’d like to also be paid by owners through HRI, but the majority voted no. “I don’t agree with that. I’ve recently had an issue with an owner that had a number of horses with me, the bills were mounting up, they were not paying and I had to say stop. “The horses all left and that owner was just able to start afresh with a new trainer – my bills are still unpaid and will probably never be paid.” Written into the new directive is the power for HRI to void an owner’s registration if they appear on the forfeit list. Collection of monies remains a civil matter, though, which is why the Supreme issue has now been referred to higher authorities, the new ownership structures of the likes of Gold Cup hope Kemboy and class hurdler Aramon agreeing not to withdraw any prizemoney until that process has played out. In the meantime, their plight has affected people’s view of clubs and syndicates, but the counteracting moves from HRI, the AIRO and the members of the Supreme Horse Racing Club seem to have tipped the balance towards positive. Thorne is presently building a syndicate for his most expensive purchase yet, high-class sprinter Laugh A Minute, who cost 100,000gns at Tattersalls in October. “I always have ten shareholders per horse and we’ve filled about half of those with our existing ownership base, and another 20% through marketing on social media,” he said. “There is definitely going to be an impact on takeup. Supreme was one of the largest syndicates in Ireland and what has happened there has to have an impact, but that horse is almost full now.” Having helped his trainer McGuinness achieve a record year of winners and prize-money in 2019, Thorne hopes the syndicate-owned Laugh A Minute can take them to the next level in 2020. After all, syndicates and clubs provided McGuinness with 17 of his record 34 winners (up to December 2) in 2019.
22 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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Bearstone TOB January 2020:Layout 2
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Continental Tales
By James Crispe, IRB
PA IMAGES
Signs of hope amid tough times
Wonderful Moon: 12-length winner in November and one of the top juveniles of 2019
GERMANY
G
ermany 0 Europe 5. Even worse than the infamous ‘Deutschland 1 England 5’ scoreline that blighted Munich’s Olympic Stadium scoreboard one September evening in 2001. This year, for the first time ever, German horses have suffered a whitewash in their own all-aged Group 1 races. Waldgeist may have provided a victory for his German owners in the continent’s biggest race, the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris, yet on the home front the trophies for all five of the nation’s most prestigious events have been exported – three to Britain (courtesy of Danceteria, Ghaiyyath and Aspetar) plus one each to France (French King) and Hungary (Nancho). Combine these results with the statistics for Germany’s nine all-aged Group 2 events, which have seen seven successful overseas forays (three from Britain, three from France and one from Ireland) and the picture looks pretty bleak. Add the fact that British visitors also plundered the local versions of the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas and the scale of a disastrous domestic campaign reveals itself. Germany hosted 20 races of Group 1 or Group 2 status during 2019 and only
six were won by local trainers – and three of these came against fields devoid of foreign competition. Is this an aberration or a key indicator that a global racing superpower is in serious decline? It’s impossible to give a definitive answer to that one, though there must be a worry that some of the country’s Pattern races will be downgraded, especially since two Group 1s, including the Derby, were placed on the ‘at risk’ register by the European Pattern Committee last February. Yet in the short term, German prospects for 2020 are enhanced by the strength of their top juvenile colts from the past season. Hailing from a country not known for valuing precocity among its thoroughbreds, Alson and Rubaiyat, two sons of the four-time champion stallion Areion, can both boast better credentials than almost any German-trained two-year-old of recent years. Alson landed a Baden-Baden Group 3 in August prior to a pair of lucrative Parisian Group 1 forays – first to beat all bar Victor Ludorum in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, then to land a farcical two-runner Criterium International. Rubaiyat remains unbeaten in four starts, Listed and Group 3 triumphs at home having been followed by a five-length
score in Italy’s biggest juvenile contest, the Group 2 Gran Criterium. There is the real prospect that both will eventually be eclipsed by Wonderful Moon, a son of Sea The Moon. He suffered a reverse when clashing with Rubaiyat in an October Group 3 but got back to winning ways when taking the final Group 3 of the season in midNovember by 12 lengths. Unfortunately, some of the optimism for next term is tempered by the news that, following the shock decision by the perennial leading owner, Gestut Schlenderhan, to close down its private training centre in Bergheim, Alson will leave the stable of the now homeless Jean-Pierre Carvalho and, like so many top German horses of late, join the French yard of Andre Fabre. This blow is counter-balanced by the rapid emergence of Henk Grewe [his surname is pronounced ‘Grey-ver’] about to be crowned German champion trainer for the first time, less than a month after his 37th birthday. Following a less than spectacular career in the saddle which gleaned around 300 victories, almost exclusively at a low level, Grewe has made a superb transition to the training ranks, fully justifying this column’s identification of him as a ‘man to watch’ in May 2018. What could hardly have been foreseen was the speed of his ascent to the summit and, as the trainer of both Rubaiyat and Wonderful Moon, not to mention a plethora of other winning juveniles, he has every reason to be looking forward to next season. There will also be a new name on the German jockeys’ championship trophy as, with just five fixtures remaining at the time of writing, Kazakh-born Bauyrzhan Murzabayev, talent spotted in these pages in November 2016 thanks to his riding exploits in the Czech Republic, holds a seven-winner lead at the head of the table over another youngster, Maxim Pecheur. Murzabayev has already become the first German-based jockey since 2007 to ride a century of winners in a season. It is a sobering thought, revealing how much the German fixture list has shrunk, that the 27-year-old has achieved that total with a commendable 21 per cent strike-rate, just two percentage points less than Peter Schiergen could boast when lifting the title with an incredible 271 winners in 1995.
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Continental Tales Hughes makes final leap after Channel hops There aren’t many active British trainers to have tasted victory at the Breeders’ Cup, the self-styled ‘World Championships’ of horseracing – eight, to be precise. That number was reduced from nine a couple of months ago when Jo Hughes, responsible for the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Marathon triumph of London Bridge, decided to call time on her eight-year stint with a British licence to try her luck in France. The move has been on the cards for some time, as Hughes, in association with her long-term partner Paul Blockley, has been plying her trade largely on the other side of the Channel for the best part of a year – the last of her 140-odd British victories came when Caledonia Laird prevailed at Wolverhampton back in early February. Asked to explain the move, Hughes says: “The top and bottom of it is that the opportunities that exist for a trainer in France simply don’t exist in
GEORGE SELWYN
FRANCE
Jo Hughes: felt there was more she could offer owners training in France England. Here in France, average horses can pay for themselves, which is a huge asset for owners. “I had got to the point in England where I was struggling to encourage new owners as I felt that I had nothing to offer. You need to be able to sell your product and I didn’t want to be making empty promises. “I am still mainly going to be targeting British owners but now I can genuinely say that if you have a horse with me, you’ll be unlucky if it doesn’t pay its way. You’ll get some good days out and have some fun and it won’t cost a fortune.” She continues: “I was initially over here on a six-month temporary licence. To start with, I leased a yard
in Lamorlaye, next to Chantilly, but the overheads were too high. So, I’ve moved again to Senonnes [200 miles south-west of Paris], which feels more like proper rural France, the facilities here are still really good, but the gallops fees are less. Everything is more affordable. “Getting my French licence turned out to be quite easy – because I was already an established trainer in Britain, I just had to do one day on the rules and regulations and one more in the labs seeing the testing procedures and then had to show that all my relevant paperwork, such as insurance documents, was in place.” All these upheavals seem to have affected the performance of her horses – she saddled just one winner from 109 French runners in the first 11 months of 2019 – but Hughes is “very optimistic” for what the coming year holds. She adds: “I’ve got 18 horses in training, though only five are in full work at the moment, and I’ve brought Ian Brennan [a former successful apprentice jockey with trainer John Quinn] over with me – he’s proving to be a great asset. “Even at the small meetings they offer prize-money down to fifth and owners get their transport costs paid for by France Galop.”
If ever a day illustrated the incredible level of prize-money on offer across the English Channel, that day was Friday, November 22. Although on the face of it this was just a run-of-the-mill winter Friday, it happened to be the day when, 3,000 miles from Paris, the newest addition to the international calendar of big-money international Flat races, the £500,000 Bahrain International Trophy, was taking place in the Arabian Gulf. Its inaugural renewal attracted nine European-trained horses and produced a thrilling finish, as the French raider Royal Julius got up on the line under Stephane Pasquier to deny the John Gosden-trained Turgenev. The result was the biggest win in the burgeoning training career of
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33-year-old Marseille-based Jerome Reynier, who had enjoyed another landmark moment seven weeks earlier when Skaletti took the Group 2 Qatar Prix Dollar on the first day of Arc weekend. It would be natural to presume that the £250,000 first prize would have made Reynier November 22’s most successful French trainer, in monetary terms at least. But no. Remarkably enough, back home Francois Nicolle was rubber-stamping his second straight victory in the jump trainers’ championship with an astonishing six winners at Compiegne. And, given that Nicolle’s first ever six-timer included 1-2s in both of the featured Grade 3 races, the Atlantic coast trainer’s war chest for the day amounted to no less than £261,874. By comparison, if Paul Nicholls or
PA IMAGES
Nicolle cleans up at Compiegne
Francois Nicolle: first career six-timer was also a hugely lucrative one Nicky Henderson had emptied their yards to win every single cent of prize-money on offer at that day’s three British jump meetings, at Ascot, Catterick and Ffos Las, their reward for this impossible feat would have been little more than £239,000!
THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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Al Kazeem TOB-December 2019:Oakgrove Stud
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Al Kazeem
bay 2008, 16.1hh by Dubawi - Kazeem (Darshaan) N Four-time Gr.1 winner by DUBAWI Won Gr.1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, 2015 Won Gr.1 Coral-Eclipse, 2013 2020 FEE PRIVATE Won Gr.1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes, 2013 Call David Hilton 07595 951248 Won Gr.1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, 2013 N Joint Champion Older Horse in Europe in 2013 (9.5f-10.5f ) N Timeform rated 128 in three consecutive seasons N Sire of ASPETAR, Gr.1 Preis von Europa and Gr.2 Grand Prix de Chantilly (new race record), black type sprinter GOLDEN SPELL (RPR 103) and promising two-year-old filly FINERY N 56% winners to runners from his first two crops N 9% black type horses to foals from his first crop
Group 1 Sire!
STANDING AT OAKGROVE STUD Oakgrove Estate, St Arvans, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, NP16 6EH For Nominations Contact: David Hilton: 07595 951248 G Email: david@oakgrovestud.com
Around The Globe
The Worldwide Racing Scene
There’s a new Shirreffs in town NORTH AMERICA By Steve Andersen
“His wins up to December 4 equal his 2011 tally as the best this decade” springtime Classics. He won the 2005 Kentucky Derby with Giacomo in a 50-1 upset. For 2020, Express Train, Honor A.P. and Thunder Code are among the stable’s leading male prospects, while Classy Ruler, second on her debut on November 30 is a promising filly. The leading three-year-old filly for the stable in 2020 may be Zellda, who is by Medaglia d’Oro out of Zenyatta. She arrived at the stable in late September from pre-training in Florida with high hopes that she can develop into the first of her famous dam’s foals to
John Shirreffs: Zenyatta’s trainer has enjoyed a resurgence this year
become a stakes winner. As the daughter of Zenyatta, Zellda has a small following on social media. She began timed workouts in late November. “Those are all quality horses,” Shirreffs said. “We’re excited about all of them.” There is a particularly big buzz about Honor A.P., who won a maiden special weight race over a mile easily on his second career start at Santa Anita on October 13 and had a series of fast workouts in late November and early December. Honor A.P. is scheduled to make his three-year-old debut in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes on January 4, a race that is part of a series leading to the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 4. The Santa Anita Derby is California’s leading prep race for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2. While Shirreffs has contributed his share to recent American racing history, the sport’s past remains a source of fascination for the man who has trained since 1978. Away from the stable, one of Shirreffs’ favourite hobbies is reading and collecting antiquated and modern racing books, particularly topics covering the history and practices of American and British trainers in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Shirreffs rated Mr Darley’s Arabian, by
Chris McGrath, and Sir Barton and the Making of the Triple Crown by Jennifer Kelly as two recently-published favourites. One of the most highly-respected trainers in southern California, Shirreffs has had a solid 2019 season, with 25 wins and stable earnings of $1.69 million up to December 4. The figure could grow significantly by the end of December. The promising Hard Not To Love, who has one eye, is a candidate for the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita, a $300,000 race for three-year-old fillies over seven furlongs on Boxing Day. The stable’s leading money earner in 2019 was Paradise Woods, who won two Grade 2 races for fillies and mares at Santa Anita – the Santa Margarita Stakes in April and Zenyatta Stakes in October – before finishing 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on November 2. Paradise Woods has since been retired to the paddocks. Shirreffs’ wins for 2019 up to December 4 equal his 2011 total as the best this decade. The stable earned a career-best $5.7m in 2009, the year Zenyatta won the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Life Is Sweet captured the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, now known as the Distaff. By comparison, in 2018 the stable had 11 wins and earnings of $598,385. His stable rebounded in 2019 in what may be a prelude to even greater success in 2020.
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onday, December 2 was a busy day for California-based trainer John Shirreffs. In the morning, Shirreffs watched several of his horses undergo timed workouts at Del Mar, which had concluded its four-week autumn meeting the previous day. By lunchtime, those runners and the rest of the 29-horse stable were being loaded onto vans for a two-hour drive north to Santa Anita, where the stable will be based for the next six months during the track’s marathon winter-spring meeting. By the time the season ends on June 21, Shirreffs could be making national racing news in the United States. Best known as the trainer of the spectacularly popular mare Zenyatta, the 2010 Horse of the Year, Shirreffs has a group of threeyear-old prospects for 2020 that could develop into contenders for the Triple Crown races in May and June. “We do have a lot to look forward to,” he said. Shirreffs, 74, is well-versed in the process of preparing horses for the
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Around The Globe
Williams turns focus to Ireland and O’Brien AUSTRALIA By Danny Power
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he years may have slowed 80-year-old Lloyd Williams’ physical ability to be hands-on but his passion to win the Melbourne Cup remains fierce. Williams makes no secret of the fact the Cup is his annual Holy Grail and winning six of them seems to only stoke the desire to win more. In November, the leviathan owner decided to scale back his Australian racing operation with the announcement that he is selling his state-of-the-art training farm, Macedon Lodge, which is set on the lower reaches of Mount Macedon, north of Melbourne. The Williams operation, which includes his son Nick as his right-hand man, will sell their Australian racing stock in preference to increasing his involvement in Europe with young trainer Joseph O’Brien, who prepared Rekindling to win the Cup for the Williams team and friends in 2017. Liam Howley, who holds the licence to train exclusively for Williams, will need to start up on his own. The last horse and man will leave the property in March. Nick Williams said the family will continue to race a small number of horses with unnamed “selected” Australian trainers, but the focus will be on their large team of horses in Ireland. The European numbers have increased to 45 Williams-owned horses, including the three O’Brien-trained gallopers that represented the famous blue and white colours in the recent Melbourne Cup. They were Master Of Reality (second past the post but relegated to fourth), Twilight Payment (11th) and Latrobe (18th). The Williamses have drifted away from buying tried horses to an even bigger investment in European-bred yearlings. That decision was probably spurred by the success of Rekindling, who is Lloyd Williams’ first Melbourne Cup winner he has bought as a yearling. His first Cup winner, the Australianbred Just A Dash (1981), was bought as a ‘going’ three-year-old; What A
Nick and Lloyd Williams pictured sharing the time of day with Hughie Morrison
Nuisance (1985) was imported from a trainer in New Zealand; Efficient (2007) was purchased at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run 2YO Sale; Green Moon (2012) and Almandin (2016) were acquired in Europe. Lloyd Williams said age has caught up with him and restricted his ability to be on hand at Macedon Lodge from 4.30am to 4.30pm. “Over the past 18 months I have found it impossible to supervise Macedon Lodge,” Williams said. “Over the previous decade I lived there and supervised everything. It’s more difficult in your 80th [year] – age slows you down. However, racing continues for us – we have many horses in Ireland.” Of the past 34 starters for Williams in Australia, only three have won. The writing has been on the wall and the rumour mill was blaring that Macedon Lodge was on its last legs four months ago. Despite that, Lloyd Williams said that his quest for a seventh Melbourne Cup remains steadfast. He knows he’s going to lose a fortune selling Macedon Lodge, which he bought in 2002 – the year after champion mare Ethereal won the Cup after being trained on the property by Sheila Laxon – and spent close to $30 million redeveloping. He said: “It’s very difficult to price a property like this. You spend a lot, and therefore you have no idea what it will bring. It’s what the market will pay.” There is a thought that Racing Victoria might be the only entity with the wherewithal to buy Macedon Lodge, with the purpose of using it as an
education and training centre. Losing money in racing is not foreign to Williams, who once famously said: “If I was in charge of the education of business administrators, I would make it compulsory for a person to spend six months in racing learning how to lose.” Williams has poured hundreds of millions into his racing ventures knowing the odds were stacked against him, but it didn’t diminish his passion. He could have been a ‘colt’ investor and cashed in on the lucrative stallion market, but precocious colts weren’t his thing; although he bought as a yearling and sold for $20 million the unbeaten Zabeel colt Reset, who became a highclass sire for Darley. While others were focused on the Golden Slipper, a six-furlong scamper for two-year-olds, Williams looked in the other direction. Ironically, he won it in 1996 with the filly Merlene at the whim of his co-owner and long-time friend and partner Kerry Packer. The filly wore Packer’s green and white colours. Most of Williams’ colts quickly became geldings and were set on a path to the Melbourne Cup. At one stage he reckoned he had “40 or 50” Zabeels in his stable; only one amounted to anything, but that was the exquisite grey Efficient, who won the 2006 Victoria Derby and 2007 Cup and is probably the best horse to race in Williams’ colours. For years Williams has preferred to dodge the Australian winter by going to France, with frequent trips to Ireland, where he has spent many an hour with good mate John Oxx, and more recently with the O’Briens, Aidan and son Joseph.
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EQTIDAAR NEW Invincible Spirit - Madany £6,500 (Jan 1st, SLF)
MUHAARAR Oasis Dream - Tahrir £20,000 (Jan 1st, SLF)
MUKHADRAM Shamardal - Magic Tree £6,000 (Jan 1st, SLF)
TASLEET
Showcasing - Bird Key £6,000 (Jan 1st, SLF)
FIRST FOALS 2020
Discover more about the Shadwell Stallions at www.shadwellstud.com Or call Richard Lancaster, James O’Donnell, Tom Pennington or Ellen Bishop on 01842 755913 Email us at: nominations@shadwellstud.co.uk
Racing Life
edited by Sarah Rodrigues
SUNSHINE COAST Opened in 1939, Florida’s Gulfstream Park is one of the most important horse racing venues in the USA – but with Miami a mere half hour drive south, and Fort Lauderdale and The Palm Beaches a straight shoot north, there’s more than enough to keep you entertained when you’re ready to take a break from the track.
concepts of modernity. HistoryMiami is a smaller, but no less interesting, offering, with a focus on key events in the city’s past and the development of its multi-racial community. Ready for adventure? Kayaking or paddle boarding through North Miami Beach’s mangrove estuaries gives an immersive taste of the area’s splendid outdoors, an enjoyably rugged contrast to the gloss of the city. Fishing is also an option, as is mountain biking on an extensive series of trails – and of course, you’re not far from the Everglades, Florida’s largest national park, where alligators can be seen in 1.5
million acres of International Biosphere reserve. Those whose sporting tendencies are less developed can still get close to nature at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, remarkable for housing both a planetarium and aquarium; head to the rooftop of the aquarium for a peek into the 500,000-gallon open tank, which houses stingrays, mahi-mahi and hammerhead sharks. The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is another popular stop: located in Coral Gables, it covers 83 verdant acres, lushly planted with rare and tropical plants, plus an
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ith its temperate climate, Miami is deservedly a popular year-round destination – and its exciting mix of cultures means that you’re never far from a good meal. Outdoor enthusiasts and culture lovers alike are catered to, with a range of adventurous pursuits sitting side by side with a wealth of museums and galleries. Of course, Miami is synonymous with wealth and excess, and you can gawp freely at the lavish mansions that match the lifestyle from the comfort of a boat cruise, which glides past Millionaire’s Row and Star Island, as well as Fisher Island, the private island on which many of Miami’s richest names reside. Architecture of a different sort – the Art Deco style that defines South Beach can be enjoyed on a neighbourhood walking tour, run daily by the Miami Design Preservation League. With your art and design hat firmly in place, take some time to explore the city’s excellent art spaces, such as the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), which houses an impressive collection of contemporary American art in a building which is itself worth a second look, inspired, as it is, by the Biscayne Bay Stiltsville houses of the 1930s. The Wolfsonian, Florida’s International University, also merits a visit, with its vast collection of objects and artworks in various media, all of which explore
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enormous collection of palms and cycads. Sparklingly fresh seafood and a whole host of Latin-American and Caribbean-inspired flavours make for a vibrant food scene here: be sure to sample the ceviche, chow down on a Cuban sandwich, gorge on fried snapper and salivate over churrasco. Set taste buds tingling with the sweet, creamy, crunchy zestiness of a Key Lime Pie and take the opportunity to try some local beers at one of the city’s slew of craft beer breweries. North of the track, Fort Lauderdale is known for its beaches – 23 miles of them in fact. Spend some time peoplewatching at Hollywood Beach (the clue as to its denizens is in the name) or the quieter Delray Beach, which harks back to a gentler time, with independent stores and galleries housed in old-style buildings. The city also lays claim to being ‘The Venice of America’ thanks to its extensive system of intra-coastal waterways: the Venice part of it may be a stretch, but there is plenty of boating entertainment to be enjoyed, plus superyachts to be marvelled at. Prefer time on terra firma? Get your walking legs ready for the 22 blocks spanned by
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the Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment District, which lays claim to a large number of the city’s best attractions, including the Florida Grand Opera, Bonnet House Museum and Gardens and the Nova Southeastern University Art Museum. It’s also home to a large number of restaurants and bars, both upscale and casual: take the Riverwalk Water Trolley to hop on and off along eight different stops set on both the river’s north and south banks. Broward Center for the Performing Arts is also located within this area and is the place to go if you plan to up the cultural ante of your stay with a theatrical performance: shows range from large-scale productions to familyfriendly offerings. Palm Beach is set slightly further north; part of a broader area, The Palm Beaches, it’s a veritable playground of rich and famous, with the palatial real estate to illustrate it. Unsurprisingly, it’s an alluring place - budget allowing - to shop, but don’t be dazzled by the unbridled commercialism: money has also been poured into the Norton Museum of Art, which reopened early last year after a £77 million expansion, including a sculpture garden by Lord Norman Foster. Elsewhere, the opulence
of the Flagler Museum, with its marble columns, stairways and floors, offers the visitor an exciting programme of events, as well as permanent exhibits showcasing America’s Gilded Age. For beauty of a more natural kind, head to John D. MacArthur State Park, which is located at the northern edge of Singer Island. Its secluded beachfront position makes it a lovely spot to swim, kayak or simply wander and nature-spot in peace. And of course, exploration requires fuel: while Palm Beach and indeed, the entire Palm Beaches area, is jampacked with places to eat, visitors should make at least one beeline for Grandview Public Market, where a mid-century warehouse has been reimagined with vibrant murals and an array of vendors serving up street food at its finest. For a brunch that knocks all others out of the park, head to The Breakers Hotel on a Sunday: not only are the surroundings themselves ornate and impressive (think frescoes and chandeliers), but the food on offer – caviar platters, a raw bar, crepes-whileyou-wait, carvery, pastries and a sundae bar – is the stuff to make eyes widen to the size of plates – which you’ll no doubt return several times to fill.
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Racing Life
January 25, 2020 Blending entertainment, innovation, and Thoroughbred horse racing like no other event of its kind, the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series has captured the attention of the world. Miami’s thoroughbred horse race returns to Gulfstream Park on Saturday, January 25, 2020 to deliver heart-pounding thrills, A-list headline performances, gourmet food from five-star Miami restaurants, and VIP hospitality. Join the racing elite and an audience brimming with celebrities, tastemakers, and influencers from around the globe for the ultimate luxury race day and entertainment experience
Four experiences to choose from: 1
EN PALMS: The ultimate entertainment package. T Let us host you all day with gourmet food and drink while you watch the races with floor-to-ceiling panoramic views of the entire racecourse. Dress code: Racing Chic Attire. Enjoy track view and apron access, walk-around tellers, a premium buffet, welcome cocktail and cash bar.
2 FLAMINGO ROOM: The ultimate VIP and luxury experience delivering
the finest in hospitality and entertainment with panoramic race day views. Guests will be treated to a full-day gourmet food and beverage celebration catered by Miami’s hottest restaurants Komodo, Papi Steak, Swan, and Bar Bevy.
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ADVERTORIAL WHERE TO STAY
3 LUXURY SUITE: Customize your
private luxury suite for the exclusive Pegasus Experience with fine dining and bar packages. Suites can accommodate between 12 – 35 guests. For more information and to create your package please contact Gloria Cinquegrani at +1 (443) 250-9379 4 LIV STRETCH VILLAGE:
In partnership with worldrenowned nightclub LIV, offers race day entertainment and post-race A-list headline performances into the night, along with influential restaurants, VIP hospitality, and eclectic programming - all in one footprint. Join Miami tastemakers, social influencers, celebrities, and the world’s horse racing elite.
AC HOTEL MIAMI AVENTURA
HARD ROCK GUITAR HOTEL
20805 Biscayne Blvd. Aventura, FL 33180 Phone: +1 (305) 952-5544 Distance to the track 1.1 miles
1 Seminole Way Hollywood, FL 33314 Phone +1 (866) 502-7529 Distance to the track 9.8 miles
ALOFT HOTEL MIAMI AVENTURA
HYDE RESORT & RESIDENCES HOLLYWOOD
2910 NE 207th Street Aventura, FL 33180 Phone: +1 (786) 590-5150 Distance to the track 1.0 miles
BEACHWALK RESORT HALLANDALE BEACH 2602 E. Hallandale Beach Blvd. Hallandale Beach, FL 33009 Phone: +1 (954) 266-0147 Distance to the track 1.6 miles
DIPLOMAT RESORT & SPA 3555 South Ocean Drive Hollywood, FL 33019 Phone: +1 (954) 602-6000 Distance to the track 2.2 Miles
DOUBLE TREE RESORT BY HILTON 4000 South Ocean Drive Hollywood, FL 33019 Phone: +1 (954) 454-4334 Distance to the track 2.3 miles
HAMPTON INN HALLANDALE BEACH~AVENTURA
4111 S. Ocean Drive Hollywood, FL 33019 Phone: +1 (754) 212-3083 Distance to the track 1.9 miles
JW TURNBERRY MIAMI RESORT & SPA 19999 West Country Club Drive Aventura, FL 33180 Phone: +1 (786) 279-6521 Distance to the track 2.1 miles
MARRIOTT HOLLYWOOD BEACH 2501 North Ocean Drive Hollywood, FL 33019 Phone: +1 (954) 924-2202 Distance to the track 4.8 miles
TRUMP INTERNATIONAL BEACH RESORT 18001 Collins Avenue Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160 Phone: (305) 692-5600 Distance to the track 4.4 miles
1000 South Federal Highway Hallandale Beach, FL 33009 Phone: +1 (954) 874-1111 Distance to the track 0.4 miles
For further information and to order your tickets please visit :
www.pegasusworldcup.com or call us on +1 (954) 457-6201
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PROPERTY PINNACLES
ondering which ski resort boasts the highest property prices in the world? Courchevel 1850 has risen from third place to take the top position, with property seekers expected to shell out €23,030 per sqm if they want to buy into this illustrious French hotspot. It has switched places with Val d’Isere, which dropped from first to third place – but here, too, prices are only slightly more affordable, at €20,260 per sqm. According to experts at Savills, investment in infrastructure is key, whether this is snow making technology (a prime concern in the face of climate change) or the construction
of new lifts to reduce waiting times and improve access to linked ski areas. Awareness of these factors is helping the French market, in particular, to be so robust. “Many French resorts have seen extraordinary price growth in the last five years, boosted by two strong ski seasons and continued investment in infrastructure,” says Jeremy Rollason, head of Savills Ski. Other factors for success include leisure facilities and dual seasonality, both of which are key to boosting tourism. Tourism is, naturally enough, a concern for most buyers – according to Savills research, over 50% of owners
intend to rent out their properties to help cover mortgages and taxes. With the average ski season lasting for around 20 weeks, and owners renting their properties out for around 19 weeks each year, while retaining them for their own use for an additional six weeks, it’s also easy to see why the resort’s facilities and infrastructure must feature smooth year-round running. The median annual gross yield for ski properties stands at 5.5% before costs, according to Savills research. On average, ski properties in North America had a higher yield than those in the Alps, with a median gross yield of 6.2% and 4.2% respectively.
Chalet Kilimanjaro Surrounded by the beauty of La Legettaz, in Val D’Isere, Chalet Kilimanjaro is spread over four levels and can comfortably accommodate up to 10 people. Designed in sympathy with the landscape it inhabits, it features a warm and earthy blend of natural stone and old wood, harmonised with modern materials and finishes. Located right on the slopes, its position is ideal for those seeking to get the most out of their skiing vacation. Since the convivial après hours are vital to any ski experience, the common spaces within the chalet have been designed with relaxation and entertainment in mind: the kitchen is of a semi-professional standard and the living/dining area features cathedral ceilings, a fireplace and balcony, plus huge bay windows to maximise enjoyment of the surrounding views. Outside, a generously proportioned terrace comes with a Jacuzzi, providing the opportunity to ease tired muscles after a hard day’s skiing – all the while still feasting on those views. In terms of its broader environment, the chalet has access to unparalleled infrastructure and facilities: Val d’Isere is synonymous with excellent (and excellently maintained) pistes, plus one of the most modern lift networks in Europe. Having won Best European Ski Resort at the 2010 British Travel
Awards, constant improvements and upgrades are being made – and for the nights when the appeal of the chalet’s magnificent kitchen palls, the resort is home to an excellent array of restaurants serving up a variety of
quality meals, including regional Savoyard dishes. Chalet Kilimanjaro guide price, €9,350,000 savills.com
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CRYSTAL CLEAR T
he Lalique Boutique in Mayfair’s Conduit Street is a shrine to Lalique – the jewel in the crown of the French crystal industry and a welcoming, light-filled space where clients and customers can seek a tranquil reprieve from the pace of central London and visit for tea, surrounded by the beauty of crystal. With another boutique in the Burlington Arcade, it’s not incon– ceivable that Rene Lalique visited both sites when he was a student in London in 1880. Studying at Sydenham College of Art in Crystal Palace, he was influenced by the blossoming arts and crafts movement to express his own individual style, which later led to him becoming the founder father of Art Deco. Years later, in 1838, Lalique chose London for its first European Boutique – and in 2018, Lalique celebrated its 80th anniversary in London – the same year as the 130th birthday of Rene Lalique.
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Rene Lalique was inspired by Flora, Fauna and Femme and as such these iconic motifs are celebrated in crystal throughout the Conduit Street boutique, where the world of Lalique – jewellery, fragrances, decorative items, interior design items and hospitality – form a celebration of French Savoir Faire and Savoir Vivre under one roof. Collaborations with other luxury brands, artists, architects and creatives mean that visitors can view collections created with Mario Botta, Damien Hirst, Zaha Hadid and Elton John to name a few; while a collaboration with Beluga Vodka and Lalique has resulted in a Beluga branded cocktail bar at the back of the boutique. Readers are invited to attend the Lalique Boutique on 12 February 6.30-9pm for a drinks reception and canapes. Numbers are strictly limited; please email ruth@roa.co.uk if you wish to attend.
SECRET SERVICE
ounded in Florence in 1860, Panerai supplied the Italian Navy and its specialist diving corps with precision instruments for decades. Indeed, the designs developed by the brand were for many years covered by the Military Secrets Act, only launched on the global market in 1997, upon Richemont Group acquisition. First developed in 1936 at the request of the Command of the Submarine Group of the Italian Royal Navy for the commandos of the Assault Vehicle Flotilla, the Panerai Radiomir was one of the first specialised diver’s watches in history. Building upon this unique history, Panerai has created the Radiomir California, reimagining the first Panerai model to have been used in the Second World War. Retaining its original visual design with a minutes track and combination of Roman numerals, Arabic figures and hour markers, its highly distinctive gold dial is tinged with tones of shaded brown. Acknowledgement of military history is made by way of the absence of reference to the maker on the dial, a fundamental condition for an instrument shrouded in military secrecy. Water resistant to 10 bar (a depth of about 100 metres) the Radiomir California is presented on an oiled dark brown strap, made of vintage style ‘Tuscan leather’ (Italian calfskin tanned in Italy), enhanced with beige stitching, a trapezoid buckle and a clasp forged of the same steel as the watch case. panerai.com
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Racing Life
HUMPHREY BUTLER “I just got off a horse, so I’m feeling very healthy.”
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umphrey Butler sounds just as hale and hearty as his statement, with a beautifully modulated voice that makes it entirely easy to see why his services as an auctioneer are so sought after – yet despite his long career with Christie’s, and his subsequent independent success, there was, in fact, a time when he harboured hopes of a career in riding. “All I wanted to do was ride,” he says. “I’d started in Pony Club and done my two for Richard Head in Lambourn – but my mother, although a keen hunting lady, always strongly advised me to keep riding as a hobby and get a ‘proper job’.” Although he started at Christie’s in 1976, riding remained a passion for Butler and, within a few years, he’d made enough to buy his first point-to-pointer. “I was a terrible point-to-point rider though,” he confesses cheerfully. “I had a dozen rides, with one winner – and in the other races, I don’t remember beating a horse: I either pulled up, fell off or finished last.” Even so, the lure of the equestrian world was still strong and in 1985, Butler took a year out from his career at Christie’s to work as a stud hand at Highclere Stud and Lane’s End Farm. “It was a very different day-to-day existence,” he recalls. “I learned a lot and absolutely loved it – but it also demonstrated with finality for me that, despite being huge fun, it was probably not a career. All of my contemporaries were well ahead of me in the game – well established with solid jobs working for bloodstock agents and the big Arab owners...so I returned to the art world.” Was there a pang of remorse that accompanied him? “Not at all,” he says. “The art world has been incredibly good to me and I have absolutely no regrets about returning to it. That said, a number of wonderfully tolerant trainers have allowed me to ride out for them and Fulke Johnson Houghton, Henrietta Knight, Paul Webber and Ralph Beckett are worthy of special mention.”
Humphrey Butler, in red, racing at Newbury
Humphrey Butler
The art world has indeed been one in which he has flourished and, in 2000, Humphrey set up on his own, with a focus on the jewellery side of the business. Having bought out his backers in 2008, the firm of Humphrey Butler Limited has been located in Pall Mall for the last 11 years and is made up of a team of four. The racing world continues to inform Butler’s personal and professional life – not only does he ride at least once a week and own a share in three horses, but he’s also a sponsor of Henry Daly’s National Hunt yard and of jockey Lucy Alexander. Trophy work, both old and new, is a large part of the Humphrey Butler business, with trophies for British Champions Day provided each October and, more recently, for Aintree’s Becher and Sefton Chases in December. “Point-to-point racing has a history of absolutely beautiful trophies and I love to locate them and give them new life,” he says. Indeed, the treasure hunt aspect of the job is something that’s quite thrilling, even when there’s not a racing link: Butler is frequently charged with sourcing highly unusual jewels for clients with very specific requirements and in doing so, travels all over the globe. That said, racing is still a major part of the business. “It’s all about celebration,” he says. “Anniversaries, significant birthdays, of course – but in racing, there are frequent occasions for which we’re approached, whether the sale of an exceptional yearling or the winning of a race.” Not that the winning of races is something that Butler has celebrated much in the latter years of his career – a topic on which he speaks with trademark good humour. “In 2009, there was the George Frewer memorial race at Newbury organised by Charlie Egerton: I do so much charity auctioneering that, when he approached me, I thought that he was going to ask me to do the charity auction afterwards – but no, he wanted me to ride in it!” “So, after a break of 22 years, I pulled my racing boots back on at the age of 52. Charlie Duckworth, the brute, went and won it, with me giving him over 30 years and 7lb – yet, despite me promising my wife that it was a one-off, we raised so much money that I was back in the race the following year.” It’s hardly surprising to learn that Butler assumed he was being approached for his skill as an auctioneer – having been highly trained during his time at Christie’s, he’s achieved sales on behalf of a number of high profile UK and overseas causes, such as The Prince’s Trust, The Red Cross, The Royal Marsden, The Arsenal Foundation, Breast Cancer Haven, RADA, The Countryside Alliance and Juvenile Diabetes, as well as lesser-
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Humphry Butler supplied the trophies for Aintree’s Becher and Sefton Chases last month.
known, but equally worthy, appeals for organisations aimed at the promotion of sport and time outdoors. Humphrey is also active in the raising of money for children’s charities, leading the auctions for America’s two highest grossing charity wine auctions, one of which is the Florida’s Naples Winter Wine Festival, at which he has raised over $190 million for local children’s charities since 2002. humphreybutler.com
Humphrey is a sought-after auctioneer
GAME ON
F
ollowing the successful launch of Rosewood London’s Room Hunt Challenge last year, new dates have been announced for January and February Designed in collaboration with renowned board game creators, Clarendon Games, the Rosewood Room Hunt sees ten pairs of guests compete against each other to solve a series of riddles and puzzles across the hotel. The ultimate prize? The chance to upgrade their stay to a signature suite, filled with bespoke experiences, including spa treatments, private dining and specially-created cocktails from the Scarfes bar team, plus personalised touches such as monogrammed robes and pillowcases. With clues written on a series of postcards, some of the challenges incorporate an experience. The final postcard contains the code to unlock a box, in which access to the suite, plus a number of take-home gifts, are found. The package was designed in collaboration with Will Sorrell, founder of Clarendon Games, based on his expert knowledge of the board game industry. Established in 2012 and first stocked in Fortnum & Mason, the games are now distributed worldwide and can be found in major UK retailers such as John Lewis, Waterstones and Foyles. A recently launched games in the 8-game collection is Impostor! in which bluff, debate and logic are used to win points and determine which players are genuine guests at a fictitious castle, and which have infiltrated with thieving intent. Entertaining for all the family, it draws on the light-hearted, performance-based concepts of Victorian parlour games.
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The Rosewood Room Hunt package is priced at £775 inclusive of breakfast for two people. rosewoodhotels.com – clarendongames.com
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FLAG OF HONOUR
GALILEO - HAWAL A (WARNING) FEE: £4,500
GR.1 CLASSIC WINNING SON OF GALILEO
FOUR-TIME GROUP WINNER INCLUDING GR.1 I R I S H S T. L E G E R AT T H R E E AND GR.3 EYREFIELD S TA K E S AT T W O
N O M I N AT I O N E N Q U I R I E S T I M L A N E 07738 496141
J O E C A L L A N 07872 058295
D A V I D M I N T O N 07860 458250
‘Dare to dream’
HORSERACING AWARDS 2019
AWARDS PHOTOS BY DAN ABRAHAM
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ROA Horseracing Awards 2019 OUTSTANDING NOVICE CHASER
DEFI DU SEUIL Received by JP McManus Presented by Aaron Taylor Sponsored by Racing Breaks
OUTSTANDING CHASER
ALTIOR Received by
Patricia and Chris Pugh Presented by Aaron Taylor Sponsored by Racing Breaks
42 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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OUTSTANDING HURDLER
PAISLEY PARK Received by Andrew Gemmell
and Emma Lavelle
Presented by Aaron Taylor Sponsored by Racing Breaks
OWNER OF THE YEAR
ANDREW GEMMELL Sponsored by ROA
OUTSTANDING NOVICE HURDLER
PENTLAND HILLS
Received by Nicky Henderson on behalf of the Owners Group Presented by Aaron Taylor Sponsored by Racing Breaks
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ROA Horseracing Awards 2019
OUTSTANDING NH MARE
LADY BUTTONS
Received by Phil Kirby, Jayne Sivills, Keith Sivills and Pippa Kirby Presented by Aaron Taylor • Sponsored by Racing Breaks
OUTSTANDING JUVENILE
PINATUBO
Received by Philip Brookes, Alex Merriam, Conor Ryan and Gerry Moylan on behalf of Godolphin Presented by Darren Ellis • Sponsored by Zeus Capital 44 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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OUTSTANDING SPRINTER
BATTAASH
Received by Charlie Hills, Joe Herbert, Dennis O’Brien, Richard Hills, Jim Crowley and Bob Grace on behalf of Hamdan Al Maktoum • Presented by Darren Ellis • Sponsored by Zeus Capital
NH SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
FLAT SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
FRODON
DAKOTA GOLD
Received by Harry Derham on behalf of Paul Vogt Presented by John Fleming Sponsored by Fleming Accountancy Services
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Received by Doug Graham Presented by John Fleming Sponsored by Fleming Accountancy Services THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER 45
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ROA Horseracing Awards 2019
HORSE OF THE YEAR OUTSTANDING MIDDLE DISTANCE HORSE OUTSTANDING FILLY AND MARE
ENABLE
Received by Lord Grimthorpe on behalf of Khalid Abdullah, with John Gosden
46 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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OUTSTANDING ALL-WEATHER HORSE
KACHY
Received by Dave Lowe with Janet Lowe, Fiona Denniff, Richard Kempster and Jeanette Owen Presented by Sam Cone • Sponsored by ARC
ROA SMALL RACECOURSE OF THE YEAR
ROA LARGE RACECOURSE OF THE YEAR
MUSSELBURGH
CHESTER & YORK
Received by Sarah Montgomery, John Ryan, Gerry McGladery, Jane Walker, Harriet Graham and Bill Farnsworth • Presented by Sam Hoskins
Received by Harriet Lamb and
Anthea Morshead
Presented by Ken McGarrity
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ROA Horseracing Awards 2019
ROA MOST IMPROVED SMALL RACECOURSE
THIRSK Received by Jonjo Sanderson Presented by Celia Djivanovic
ROA MOST IMPROVED LARGE RACECOURSE
NEWMARKET ROWLEY MILE Received by Amy Starkey, Katy Edwards, Sophie Able,
OUTSTANDING STAYER
STRADIVARIUS
Lynda Burton and Anna Metekohy Presented by Steven Astaire
OUTSTANDING MILER
TOO DARN HOT
Owned by Bjorn Nielsen
Owned by Lord and Lady Lloyd-Webber
Sponsored by Zeus Capital
Sponsored by Zeus Capital
CHAMPION TRAINER
JOHN GOSDEN Presented by
Nicholas Cooper
48 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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JOHN
GOSDEN
Star Catcher
Logician
Too Darn Hot
Stradivarius
Enable
CHAMPION TRAINER STRIKE RATE 27%
PRIZE MONEY £7,939,667*
WINNERS 186
*as of 11/12/19
POWERED BY BAILEYS HORSE FEEDS RACE - RECOVER - REFUEL - REPEAT MADE IN THE
UK
BAILEYS HORSE FEEDS - Racing Specialist - Simon Venner 07977 441 571 Tel: 01371 850 247 www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk
Champagne Reception sponsored by the Tote
Olivia Hills and Charlie Liverton
Gay Kelleway, Tom Bownes and Lin Thomson
Rod Street, Claire Cuff and Eamonn Wilmott
Sophie Able, Michael O’Hagen and Holly Roeder
John Francome and Tansy Challis
Nico and Serena de Boinville with Marcus Armytage
50 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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ROA Horseracing Awards 2019
Mick Fitzgerald and Sadie Evans
Richie McLernon, JP McManus, Sir Anthony McCoy and Aidan Coleman
Sophie and Nicky Henderson with Richard and Annamarie Phelps
Ellen French and Louise Hollands
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Rosie Margarson, Rosie Tapner and Katie Margarson
Sue Lucas, Jack Pryor and Nadia Powell
Gary Capewell and Sulekha Varma
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The Big Interview Kirsten Rausing is embarking on her fifth decade at Lanwades Stud, having stood her first stallion, Niniski, in 1981 (right)
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Kirsten Rausing
Study in
EXCELLENCE Kirsten Rausing’s Lanwades Stud has been producing top-class performers for four decades and with new recruit Study Of Man added to its stallion roster, the future looks bright for the Newmarket operation Words: James Thomas • Photos: George Selwyn
P
lenty has changed in the 40 years since Kirsten Rausing purchased Lanwades from Colonel Nat Frieze, much of it, she notes, for the better. But some early foundations have endured, and are now shaping the future of the famed Newmarket farm. Among the stud’s first loyal patrons was Stavros Niarchos, who purchased a share in Rausing’s first stallion, the Nijinsky horse Niniski. Not only did that initial share bear rich fruit for the Greek shipping tycoon, but from it grew a relationship that has seen Lanwades and the Niarchoses enjoy many a shared success. Perhaps the most notable example of
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their collaborative efforts is Hernando, Niarchos’s homebred winner of the Prix Lupin and Prix du Jockey Club. Not only was Hernando by Niniski, but he later became an important stallion at Lanwades himself, having sired, among others, the likes of Sulamani, Holding Court, Look Here and Gitano Hernando. In 2018 the Niarchos family enjoyed further homebred success in the Prix du Jockey Club with Study Of Man, and the long-running connection between the two parties has seen Lanwades entrusted with launching the regally bred colt’s stallion career. “Our cooperation started 40 years ago when I first arrived in Newmarket
and the late Mr Stavros Niarchos took a share in my first stallion, Niniski,” Rausing recalls. “From that share he bred the French Derby winner Hernando and another Group 1 winner in Louis Cyphre along with quite a few other Group winners. That was four decades ago and we’ve had a wonderful cooperation since then, particularly with Hernando, who was a great success. Hopefully that will continue with Study Of Man - it’s very exciting and I’m thrilled to have a horse like him.” Bred under the Niarchos family’s Flaxman Stables Ireland banner, Study Of Man is by the late, great Deep Impact, sire of 42 elite-level winners. Having entered stud at the Shadai Stallion Station in Japan in 2007, the breed-shaping son of Sunday Silence will soon gain his eighth consecutive champion sire crown in his native land. Study Of Man is the eighth foal out of Second Happiness, a daughter of Storm Cat and the increasingly influential Miesque - an exceptional performer at a mile who became a remarkable producer at paddocks. Miesque’s six winning offspring include the threetime Group 1 winner and top-class sire Kingmambo and champion threeyear-old filly East Of The Moon, who later became the granddam of another Niarchos champion in Alpha Centauri. It should be noted that the Deep Impact over Storm Cat cross has already made an impact from within the stallion ranks, with the Shadai Stallion Station’s Kizuna set to be crowned champion first-season sire in Japan.
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The Big Interview ››
Credentials are one thing, but every new sire needs support, and Rausing confirms that Study Of Man will receive the backing of some “very significant breeders”. Moreover, she will also be throwing the weight of her own broodmare band behind the horse, as will the Niarchos family. “It’s all very exciting as he will suit a lot of mares and will have tremendous support, not least from his own breeders,” she says. “They will send some of their fantastic mares and I will send him a lot of my own too, including my two Group 1-winning mares Madame Chiang, who provides a bit of inbreeding to Miesque through Kingmambo, and Lady Jane Digby. A lot of my other good mares will be visiting him too.” Study Of Man did plenty on the racecourse that will have endeared him to breeders too. He ran just once at two, when a cosy winner of a mile maiden at Saint-Cloud, but it was at three that he really earned his stripes. He gained his second victory in the Group 2 Prix Greffulhe, a race he won by no less than three and a half lengths, before he claimed the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club in determined fashion. In landing the French Classic, he added his name to a roll of honour that includes the likes of Montjeu, Shamardal, Le Havre and Lope De Vega. “This horse is not an out-anout stayer by any means,” says Rausing. “His best effort was over ten and one half furlongs and his granddam, the fantastic Miesque, was a specialist miler. I feel that with his enormous quality and class, he will be very useful at all Classic distances - except possibly the St Leger.” Despite the long-running relationship with the Niarchos family,
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Rausing admits that it was far from a foregone conclusion that Study Of Man would head to Lanwades, as his profile made him a stallion prospect of serious international appeal. “There was plenty of competition, not only from within Europe but Kentucky too, three very major farms there wanted him,” she says. “There was also plenty of Japanese interest in the horse, especially after Deep Impact sadly passed away. That level of competition makes me particularly grateful to the Niarchos family for letting me have him.” It is easy to believe that there was a rush to secure the services of Study Of Man, with such well-credentialed colts all too infrequently in independent
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Kirsten Rausing
Study Of Man, racing in the Niarchos silks, sees off a host of challengers to win the 2018 Prix du Jockey Club, and left, in his new guise as a sire at Lanwades Stud
ownership. Indeed, Rausing attributes the decline of the owner-breeder with making the acquisition of viable stallion prospects an increasing challenge. “When I first came to Newmarket 40 years ago, racehorse ownership was much more varied and in those days you had a lot of owner-breeders,” she says. “There were horses to be found racing for those owner-breeders who would make stallion prospects. Nowadays, the difference is that a lot of stallion prospects are owned - from the minute they set foot on a racecourse – by the people who will stand them at stud; be it Coolmore, Shadwell, Juddmonte or Darley. “When an independently-owned horse does come along, which are very few and far between, all the
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independently-owned stallion studs are going for the same horse, with the result, of course, being that the price increases exponentially.” While finding suitable stallion prospects may never have been more difficult, Rausing remains steadfast in her principle of offering breeders highquality outcross options; a brief that Study Of Man fits perfectly. “I’m a smallish stud these days, in comparison with the very big boys,” she says. “But we provide an independent option and the possibility for mare owners to find outcrosses. This is what I try to compete with; I try to offer the mare owners something slightly different. There are many admirable horses around but they’re all very similarly bred.” Although the current Lanwades
roster is dominated by stallions whose careers are in their infancy, the success Rausing’s approach can yield has been reaffirmed in no uncertain terms by the stud’s brightest rising star Sea The Moon. From just two crops of twoyear-olds, the son of Sea The Stars has been represented by 18 black type performers, most notably Alpine Star, winner of the Group 2 Debutante Stakes for none other than the Niarchos family. Interestingly for a horse who is best remembered for his victory in the German Derby - a race he won by no less than 11 lengths - Sea The Moon is proving a fine source of juvenile talent. “I always had great faith in Sea The Moon but I have to say, he’s rather surprised me with the speedy two-yearolds he’s able to produce,” says Rausing. “His two-year-old stats are quite
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The Big Interview
Kirsten Rausing
doubt seen as a stayer. He’s obviously quite capable of injecting speed into staying mares. “Particularly the German mares he covers, they would, in the main, be mares that have gone a mile and a half themselves, yet are able to produce two-year-old winners, which is very exciting.” By virtue of siring Group-race winners in Ireland, France and Germany, Sea The Moon is now a sire of international appeal. He also has the likes of Geoffrey Freer Stakes third Durston and Pondus, runner-up in the Rose of Lancaster Stakes, waiting in the wings, making it seem only a matter of time before he gains well-deserved Pattern successes in Britain. He has also made an impact in Australia, where, from limited numbers, he has supplied a string of classy winners. However, when speaking about the horse’s antipodean exploits, it is with a wry smile that Rausing concludes: “He won’t be shuttling, that’s for sure.” The old maxim that success breeds success is never more true than in the world of breeding itself, and such eye-catching early results have seen breeders latch on to Sea The Moon in a big way.
“Sea The Moon has been sent a better quality of mare as time has gone on” “He’s been sent a better quality of mare as time has gone on and he was fully booked this year,” Rausing reports. “He covered 164 mares, with 160 in foal. We could have taken many, many more but, sadly, we had to say no to a large number. He’s already pretty well full for next year.” The Lanwades track record that Sea The Moon has contributed so ably to should also give confidence to those behind the debut crop from Bobby’s Kitten, with the first two-year-olds by the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint-winning son of US sire sensation Kitten’s Joy due to hit the racecourse in 2020. His first crop may not have
FRANK NOLTING
›› extraordinary for a horse who is no
Lanwades resident Sea The Moon was a brilliant winner of the German Derby
necessarily been de rigueur at yearling sales, but it should be remembered that such a fickle marketplace has been wrong before. And, nonetheless, Rausing has been receiving positive early reports from some of the finest trainers around. “I’ve had a lot of positive feedback from various trainers and I feel he may well be a horse in the mould of his own sire, Kitten’s Joy,” she says. “They’re not necessarily sales horses but I think they’re runners. He’s got 76 two-yearolds, so that gives him a chance. We have fillies by him in training with Sir Mark Prescott, Mark Johnston, Richard Fahey and Marcus Tregoning.” This trio of up-and-coming stallions stand alongside Sir Percy, the Derbywinning son of Mark Of Esteem who has built up quite the fan base during the 12 years he has spent at stud. Despite never having stood for more than the £8,000 he was introduced at, his yearlings have fetched up to 260,000gns and the crop conceived at £7,000 in 2017 sold at an average of 62,335gns during this year’s Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. “He’s a very popular horse,” Rausing says of Lanwades’ elder statesman. “We have a very loyal clientele who support him and his yearlings still sell well. As one of the last remaining members of the Mill Reef line he provides a good outcross, and the trainers like him too.
“He’s been very good to me as he’s given me two Group-winning daughters; the Group 2 winner Alyssa and the Group 3 winner Alla Speranza, who’s the dam of a Group 2 winner in Shine So Bright. He’s really coming through now as a broodmare sire too. He’s rising 17 but has excellent fertility.” Much like Sea The Moon – and potentially Study Of Man – Sir Percy is a Classic winner who, under the guidance of Lanwades, has proved more than adept at producing classy two-year-olds. Just this year he has been represented by Prix Marcel Boussac third Flighty Lady, who was subsequently purchased privately by Peter Brant, and impressive debut scorer Little Becky, who races for Anthony Oppenheimer. Rausing says: “He’s sired 78 individual two-year-old winners and some people tend to forget that he himself was a champion twoyear-old and was on the go from May until October, remaining unbeaten.” So, as Rausing heads into her fifth decade at the helm of Lanwades, it seems her stud and its clients have much to look forward to. The bloodstock industry may have altered irrevocably since she moved to Newmarket in 1980, but if Study Of Man and his studmates can follow the path taken by the Lanwades residents before them, there is a weight of history that suggests a bright future lies ahead.
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0 2 0
EW
2 r o
f
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STUDY OF MAN Bay 2015 by Deep Impact – Second Happiness (by Storm Cat)
Classic winning son and grandson of legends Won 3 races, £1,033,142, 1600m - 2100m
HALO SUNDAY SILENCE
At 2 Won Prix As d’Atout, Saint-Cloud
WISHING WELL
DEEP IMPACT
ALZAO WIND IN HER HAIR
At 3 Won Gr.1 French Derby, Chantilly Won Gr.2 Prix Greffulhe, Saint-Cloud 3rd Gr.2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano, Deauville At 4 2nd Gr.1 Prix Ganay, Longchamp 2nd Gr.1 Prix d’Ispahan, Longchamp
BURGHCLERE STORM BIRD STORM CAT TERLINGUA
SECOND HAPPINESS
NUREYEV MIESQUE PASADOBLE
Outstanding International Outcross Pedigree • Only son of DEEP IMPACT at stud in England DEEP IMPACT’s sons KIZUNA, REAL IMPACT & WORLD ACE are 1-2-3 on Japan’s Leading First Crop Sires list in 2019
Fee: £15,000 (1st October SLF) Also standing:
BOBBY’S KITTEN Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner; FIRST RUNNERS 2020 SEA THE MOON A Leading European 2nd season sire in 2019 & sire of 2 Champion 2yos from 2 crops SIR PERCY Unbeaten Champion 2yo and Derby Winner; A potent mix of Speed and Stamina
info@lanwades.com
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The independent option TM 16/12/2019 11:17
Talking To...
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Philip Hobbs
Hobbs’s
Philip Hobbs is one of the most consistent trainers around and is enjoying another successful season
CHOICE Philip Hobbs has been a standing dish at the top of the trainers’ table for a quarter of a century and his refusal to compromise on quality shows he is determined to remain there Interview: Tim Richards • Photos: George Selwyn
T
he Hobbs stable has finished in the top ten in the trainers’ table in 25 of the past 26 seasons. How much pride do you take in this achievement and what does it take to be so consistent over such a long period? It’s all down to having good staff to make everything work and good owners to keep replacing the horses. Without them nothing would happen. Some members of staff have been with us for 25 years or more and I still enjoy the daily banter. It is important to try to keep at a certain level with the horses because once you dip out of the top few, it is very difficult to climb back again. You do need healthy horses, which we have most of the time, though they weren’t two seasons ago when we finished well below our average. It’s the first time that’s happened but we have put various extra things in place, like ventilation and certain feed. That’s important because it doesn’t matter how good the horses are, if they’re not healthy they won’t win. You are responsible for over 100 horses and 40 members of staff at Sandhill Stables in Minehead, Somerset. What do you consider the most important part of training? First, you need horses capable of winning. Second, they have to be fit. Third, they have to be placed in the right races. Also, as I have just said, you need the right staff to get them there. In this
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day and age lack of decent staff has become a problem. In the West Country we have an advantage because a higher proportion of people in our area ride horses. There are a lot of hunting yards and we have local people that come to work for us. Another vital part of a successful set-up is having training facilities that keep the horses sound.
“I get in touch with owners more than they get in touch with me” You told this magazine in 2010 that you never compromise on good communication with your owners. Is that the reason so many of your owners have been with you for such a long time? To quote Sir Mark Prescott, ‘You are very unlikely to lose a horse by training it badly, but you are very likely to lose a horse by not informing the owners’. Communication is very important. Some owners will ring the trainer quite regularly, some will never ring the trainer because they don’t want
››
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Talking To... ›› to bother them and are waiting to be
informed. I get in touch with them more than they get in touch with me. On a Friday evening I make a list of all the owners I haven’t spoken to during the week and I call them while [wife] Sarah is driving me to the races on the Saturday. I can ring 50 people in two or three hours from the car. Then I do the rest on Sunday morning. When there’s bad news to impart, the sooner I get it off my chest the better. A problem shared is a problem halved.
Defi Du Seuil, in the JP McManus silks, en route to beating Un De Sceaux in the Tingle Creek, to record his sixth Grade 1 victory – and as a seven-year-old in 2020, there should be more to come
The treatment of owners at the races has improved over the years – but is there still a long way to go in your view? It has improved massively. But I have always felt the owners’ and trainers’ area, which is the most important place on the racecourse for owners, should have three things. A bar where you don’t have to queue for more than five minutes, which is sadly lacking on a lot of racecourses. Very often the trainer goes in with the owner after a race, tries to get a drink, only to find himself waiting for 20 minutes, then having to dash off to saddle one in the next race and missing the chance of a chat with the owner. Also, every owners’ facility should have somewhere to sit, particularly for older owners who might need a base for the day. At the very least, the lower grade courses should provide sandwiches and soup. Ascot and Cheltenham lay this on and owners do appreciate it. Has training and stable management, with the ever-increasing load of paperwork, changed a great deal in your 35 years with a licence? It has become easier. When Sarah and I started in 1985 we did everything longhand and at the end of every three months, we were up until 2am trying to get our VAT sorted and sent off before the deadline. Now our brilliant secretary Jo Cody-Boutcher does it all. Doing entries on the internet is also easier. I used to plough through formbooks and then ring up with entries and declarations; now with a few clicks on the Racing Post website it is much more straightforward. Overall, the paperwork has become less, though health and safety has become more important. I still need about 30 hours a week in the office in addition to training the horses and going to the races. Does your wife Sarah, an accomplished event and point-to-point rider,
represent the stable at the races? Do any of your daughters have a part in the business? Sarah goes racing a lot more than I do because I need to see the horses at home and also spend time in the office. Sarah stopped riding out a couple of years ago, and occasionally travels in the lorry; she does enjoy being in charge at the races. I don’t go much more than twice a week. Of our three daughters, Caroline, Katherine and Diana, Diana is based with us and goes racing and does secretarial work. She had been riding out until she broke her leg six months ago but is hoping to be back in action soon.
Which horse has given you the most pleasure to train, and why? There are two. Rooster Booster, our Champion Hurdle winner in 2003, was the best horse we had trained at that stage. He was unbeaten in the 200203 season. When you have the best hurdler in training, wherever you enter, you are going to be favourite and frighten off the opposition. They are all wanting to know if you’re running or not. It’s a wonderful situation because you are kingpin. Rooster Booster was phenomenal; he had only two speeds, walk or flat out. I have to mention Balthazar King as well. Not just because he won eight
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Philip Hobbs A lot of our stores come from Bryan Murphy, who also runs the Dunraven Arms in Adare, Co Limerick. Bryan rode a lot of winners as an amateur and he buys foals and sells them on. We also used to buy in France, as well as horses with Flat race form here, but both those markets have become so expensive. We also have owners who buy through their agents and send the horses to us. Aidan Murphy is an agent who has helped us over the years as well, but otherwise we buy mainly ourselves. One of our best purchases was Greenback, who I bought for less than nine grand at Newmarket in the 90s for Jack Joseph. He won eight races over jumps in his first year with us and was still winning as a 12-year-old.
times at Cheltenham, including his cross-country races, but we took him three times to France for cross-country races and he won two of them. That was a wonderful experience and the French made us very welcome. He was just a massively genuine and sound horse and is now enjoying hunting in the care of Ralph Beckett’s wife, Izzy. How is Defi Du Seuil after his sixth Grade 1 win in Sandown’s Tingle Creek Chase and what is the plan now? We were obviously delighted with him. He jumped great and is always inclined to pull up a bit on the run-in, and Sandown’s a particularly long one. I
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suppose the most obvious race for him would be the Clarence House Chase at Ascot in mid-January, and hopefully Cheltenham after that. The ground and opposition will help us decide which race at the Festival. Captain Chris and Flagship Uberalles were top chasers of ours, but Defi Du Seuil is only six and has already won more Grade 1s. You would have to say potentially he could be the best of them. Sourcing National Hunt horses is more competitive than ever. How has your buying strategy changed over the years and who helps you recruit new talent?
You rode 160 winners during ten years as a jockey. Now, as a trainer, you have been closer to four-time champion Richard Johnson than anyone else in racing. What makes him tick? His work ethic is just amazing. If he has one ride, be it at Musselburgh or Plumpton, he will always go and ride it. And, as often as not, will drive himself because he says paying a driver costs more than the riding fee! His toughness is just extraordinary. He fell on Wishfull Thinking in the Champion Chase of 2012. The horse and jockey went under the rails, taking a photographer with them. Richard hit a padded rail, but did not miss one ride and when I saw his injured leg a month later, I couldn’t believe how enormous and black and blue it was after such a long time. He is also ultra-reliable and when he gets off a horse that’s run disappointingly, he will always take time explaining to the owners and won’t just rush off into the jockeys’ room. He is a thoroughly reliable, honest, good bloke. It doesn’t matter whether he’s talking to one of our most important owners or a lad in the yard, he always comes across the same. There’s no side to him. You have ventured on to the Flat with success, twice in the Cesarewitch and also in the Northumberland Plate. Do you get as big a kick out of winning a good Flat prize as you do a top chase or hurdle? Yes, definitely. It’s nice to switch to the other side and pick up a decent race occasionally. Realistically, though, it won’t happen as much nowadays. I used to buy a lot of horses at Newmarket Sales rated 65–75 for about £25,000. Now they cost £75,000. Sometimes those horses did well over
THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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Talking To... ››
Philip Hobbs
hurdles and got better with age. You could run them back on the Flat with the same handicap mark and that could be very, very useful with a horse that had improved. Last season we ran the French-bred jumper Gumball four times on the Flat and he won at Kempton, Lingfield and Salisbury. He is not over big but has loads of speed, so rather than novice chasing we decided to try him on the Flat. When you have the right one it’s fun. If there was one thing you could change in racing, what would it be and why? Get rid of Sunday racing. It’s never been what it was supposed to be. Perhaps the one exception is Cheltenham’s Sunday fixture in November. It is a really competitive day with good prizemoney, but the rest of the Sundays are very ordinary. They disrupt your stable routine with staff going racing when they might have other things to do, though I must say our staff do like to travel with their horses to the races.
“Trying to service Sunday racing is very diffcult; I’d get rid of it” It is also more expensive for owners because we have to pay staff overtime to go racing. Trying to service Sunday racing is very difficult. You always appear calm and not one for shouting and jumping about. Are you never stirred into showing your emotions – even at Cheltenham? I’m sure there is something bubbling away inside me. But I tell myself not to get too excited about the good days and not too down about the bad days because there will be both. To be realistic, what happens through the season as a whole is important, not what happens on a daily basis. I must admit, though, that when we’ve had a winner, big or small, I wake up the following morning and the first thing I think about is that winner we had yesterday. It always matters, whatever the race. Sometimes the smaller
Hobbs with main ally Richard Johnson
winners at the smaller tracks for the right owners can be better than the bigger winners. Is the NH season too focussed on Cheltenham? If so, what would you do to redress the balance? Yes, I think it is. Having said that, the Cheltenham Festival should always be the season’s main meeting. It is absolutely fantastic and has worked so well for so long. The enthusiasm for it seems to be never ending. I do think the press build it up a lot when there are other very good meetings which are nearly as important. The press start talking Cheltenham as soon as jumping gets going in October. But if you ask somebody two weeks after Cheltenham what won a certain race, it’s amazing how quickly it’s forgotten! I don’t think a five-day Festival would be a problem because we would need to find only two extra races, as one could be taken from each of the previous four seven-race cards. A couple of extra races would not bring down the general standard. As far as I’m concerned, if there were five days we’d all have more chance of a Festival winner. What is in your Festival armoury for 2020? Obviously, we hope Defi Du Seuil will be going there. Thyme Hill, third in the Champion Bumper last season, is another possible. He has won twice this time at Chepstow and Cheltenham. He is heading for the Challow Hurdle at Newbury after Christmas and at the Festival I’d imagine it could be the Ballymore or the Albert Bartlett. Sporting John has won well twice at Exeter. Whether he needs another ordinary novice hurdle before we step him up in class, we’ll see. You and Sarah are known for taking
CLOSE UP AND… PERSONAL
Actor to play me on screen… Tom Hanks Four dinner party guests… Sir Mark Prescott, Alastair Down, Jim Old and Nigel Twiston-Davies My guiltiest pleasure… a day’s shooting Favourite place I’ve visited… a riding safari in Kenya On the radio I listen to… Radio 2 or Radio 4 in the car
CLOSE UP AND… PROFESSIONAL
Racing hero… Vincent O’Brien Best bet I’ve had… I hardly ever bet but the first time Balthazar King ran in France he had 20lb in hand; I couldn’t resist €400 on him at 16-1 Racing has taught me… a lot, thanks to all the different people I have met, particularly owners Champion NH jockey of the future… Jonjo O’Neill jnr Alternative career… I once thought of running a string of newsagents
an annual skiing holiday with fellow trainers, Venetia Williams, Nigel Twiston-Davies and friends. Is skiing a big hobby? We do make an annual visit to the Alps and that’s become great fun, though skiing is not a big hobby because we don’t do it enough. We usually have a week and then a few days somewhere else. Venetia is coming with us in February and the trip is organised by Merrick Francis, who runs Lambourn Transport. I do shoot a bit in winter. We also have a motor boat at Exmouth on the south coast and go down there a fair bit in the summer.
62 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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Lope De Vega – Lucky Clio (Key Of Luck) Fee: €15,000
GROUP
WINNING 2YO • Winner of the Gr.3 Acomb Stakes • 2nd Gr.1 Vertem Futurity Trophy to Magna Grecia • 2nd Gr.2 Champagne Stakes to Too Darn Hot
CLASSIC
WINNING 3YO Winner of the Gr.1 Irish 2,000 Guineas by 3 lengths beating Too Darn Hot and Magna Grecia
Contact: Cathal Beale, Sinéad Hyland, Gary Swift +353 (0)86 6031979, Patrick Diamond +353 (0)85 1299236 or Helen Boyce. Tel: +353 (0)45 521251 www.irishnationalstud.ie
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New Stallions
Batch full of
QUALITY
It might not be the biggest intake numerically but the class of 2020 is just brimming with promise while also containing a top-notch range of fresh sires across the distance spectrum who will give mare owners plenty to think about Words: Nancy Sexton
W
ith 19 new recruits priced at £4,000/€4,000 or above available to breeders for next season in Britain and Ireland, the 2020 intake might not be the deepest group numerically but it certainly ranks favourably in terms of quality. Blue Point, Advertise and Ten Sovereigns represent just some of the sprinters on offer. Among the milers, breeders have the option of two Classic winners in Magna Grecia and Phoenix Of Spain as well as Sussex Stakes winner Too Darn Hot, also an exceptional two-yearold. Derby winner Masar is also available, at the reasonable price of £15,000, and Lanwades Stud welcomes a French Derby hero in Study Of Man. Waldgeist, meanwhile, heads to Ballylinch Stud,
where he becomes the first Arc winner to go to stud in Ireland in ten years. Below is an outline of all those mentioned above alongside others who promise to make the 2020 generation of sires an intriguing crop.
and Phoenix Stakes to his CV prior to a creditable runner-up effort to Too Darn Hot in the Dewhurst Stakes. Advertise wasn’t all about juvenile speed, however, as he developed into one of the best sprinters of 2020, when he captured the Commonwealth Cup as well as the Prix Maurice de Gheest.
ADVERTISE
Showcasing - Furbelow (Pivotal) Stands: The National Stud Fee: £25,000
BLUE POINT
Shamardal - Scarlett Rose (Royal Applause) Stands: Kildangan Stud Fee: €45,000
The second son of Showcasing to stud in Britain, Advertise represents the potent commercial combination of juvenile talent and speed. He came to hand early for Martyn Meade, winning his first start at two over six furlongs at Newbury before beating all bar Calyx in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. From there, he continued to progress, adding the July
Cartier Champion Sprinter Blue Point provided one of the defining moments of the 2019 season when sweeping the King’s Stand and Diamond Jubilee Stakes within days of each other at Royal Ascot. Those victories marked the culmination of a lengthy career for Godolphin’s popular sprinter that had begun with a two-yearold season highlighted by a win in the Gimcrack Stakes and placings in the Middle Park and Dewhurst Stakes. His 11 victories also included the 2018 renewal of the King’s Stand Stakes and 2019 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan. It also won’t have passed breeders by that Blue Point bears a striking resemblance to his sire Shamardal, himself already responsible for a hugely successful sire son in Lope De Vega.
GEORGE SELWYN
CALYX
Calyx romps to victory in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot
Kingman - Helleborine (Observatory) Stands: Coolmore Fee: €22,500
In possession of an exceptional turn of foot, Juddmonte homebred Calyx made quite the impression during his career for John Gosden. Impressive when Kingman’s
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GEORGE SELWYN
Brilliant sprinter Blue Point, pictured at the Darley Stallion Parade
first winner on debut at Newmarket, he showed a devastating change of gear to capture the Coventry Stakes on his next start, shooting clear of Advertise to win unchallenged despite racing alone on the stands’ side. A similarly impressive win in the Pavilion Stakes followed on his seasonal debut at three. A member of Juddmonte’s Populi family also responsible for champion twoyear-old Distant Music, Calyx is the first son of the wildly successful Kingman to retire to stud.
CAPRI
Galileo - Dialafara (Anabaa) Stands: Grange Stud Fee: poa
A Group 2-winning two-year-old, Capri had Cracksman, Wings Of Eagles and Waldgeist behind him when taking the 2017 Irish Derby. That was followed by a further Classic success in the St Leger, in which he defeated another strong field that included Crystal Ocean, Stradivarius and Rekindling.
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By Galileo, six-time winner Capri is out of a winning mare from the noted Aga Khan and Jean-Luc Lagardere family of Diamonaka.
CRYSTAL OCEAN
Sea The Stars - Crystal Star (Mark Of Esteem) Stands: The Beeches Fee: poa
Crystal Ocean is a new recruit to Coolmore’s jumps division but hopefully some Flat breeders will also consider this popular performer, who never ran out of the first three in 17 starts. A high-class three-year-old who won the Gordon Stakes and ran second in the St Leger, Crystal Ocean later rewarded the management of his connections to gain a deserved Group 1 success when defeating Magical in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. Along the way, there were several agonisingly close Group 1 losses – that battle with Enable in the King George will live long in the memory, while he fell only a head short of top-class colt Japan in the
Juddmonte International. Tough and genuine, Crystal Ocean is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Hillstar and out of a stakes-winning two-year-old.
“Hopefully some Flat breeders will also consider Crystal Ocean” EQTIDAAR
Invincible Spirit - Madany (Acclamation) Stands: Nunnery Stud Fee: £6,500
Eqtidaar had a host of Group 1 winners, among them Sands Of Mali, Sioux Nation and Unfortunately, behind him
››
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New Stallions ›› when successful in a deep edition of the
Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. That was the crowning moment of a career for Sir Michael Stoute that also included a juvenile debut victory at Nottingham and runner-up effort to Invincible Army in the Pavilion Stakes. Eqtidaar offers British breeders access to the Invincible Spirit sire line at an affordable fee. In addition, he is a half-brother to 2,000 Guineas runner-up Massaat and out of a dual-winning twoyear-old.
FLAG OF HONOUR
Galileo - Hawala (Warning) Stands: The National Stud Fee: £4,500
Trevor Hemmings’ purchase of Flag Of Honour has provided the National Stud with an interesting dual-purpose option for 2020. Flag of Honour enjoyed his finest moment when defeating Latrobe to win the Irish St Leger, but lest we forget that he was also a high-class two-year-old whose two wins included the Eyrefield Stakes at Leopardstown. As you would expect from a son of Galileo, five-time winner Flag Of Honour is well connected, being a half-brother to
“Irish St Leger winner Flag Of Honour was also a highclass juvenile” the Group 1-placed pair Air Chief Marshal and Foxtrot Romeo.
INNS OF COURT
Invincible Spirit - Learned Friend (Seeking The Gold) Stands: Tally-Ho Stud Fee: €7,500
In a career that spanned four seasons, Inns Of Court retires as the winner of seven races from two to five years. The son of Invincible Spirit was an extremely fast horse, as he demonstrated when running out the easy winner of last year’s Prix du Gros-Chene over five furlongs. Yet he was also versatile for Andre Fabre, winning the Prix de Ris-Orangis
over six furlongs and the Prix de la Porte Maillot and Prix du Palais-Royale over seven, the same distance over which he ran a close second in the Prix de la Foret. He was also only a short-head adrift of winning the Prix Jacques le Marois.
INVINCIBLE ARMY
Invincible Spirit - Rajeem (Diktat) Stands: Yeomanstown Stud Fee: €10,000
By Invincible Spirit and out of Group 1 winner Rajeem, and therefore bred on the same cross as Cable Bay, Invincible Army lived up to those illustrious connections by developing into a high-class and hardy sprinter for James Tate. In 19 starts, he won or was placed on 14 occasions, notably when taking the Sirenia Stakes at two, Pavilion Stakes at three and Duke of York and Chipchase Stakes at four. A lengthy resume also includes placings in the Gimcrack, Mill Reef, Molecomb, Sandy Lane and Flying Five Stakes.
LAND FORCE
No Nay Never - Theann (Rock Of Gibraltar) Stands: Highclere Stud Fee: £6,500
Precocious, fast and tough – Land Force was an early flagbearer for No Nay
››
EUROZONE The German stallion ranks have been bolstered by the retirement of multiple Group 1 winner Best Solution to Gestut Auenquelle. A fee of €6,500 provides access to a horse who not only struck twice at Group 1 level in Germany but also in the Caulfield Cup in Australia. This hardy character was also a Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed at two. France, meanwhile, welcomes two high-class sprinters in City Light and Donjuan Triumphant. City Light (Haras d’Etreham; €7,000), the first son of Siyouni to stud in France, came close to landing the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot when foiled by only the head of Merchant Navy. A seven-time winner, his most notable successes came in the Prix de Saint-Georges and Prix du Pin. Donjuan Triumphant (€4,000) retires to Haras de la Barbottiere on a high having captured the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes. In all, the son of Dream Ahead won seven races, including at Group 2 level as a juvenile. Joining Donjuan Triumphant at Haras de la Barbottiere is another tough
Best Solution: Godolphin’s multiple Group 1 winner will bolster the German ranks
performer in the Criterium de SaintCloud hero Robin Of Navan (€3,000). Haras de la Haie Neuve’s new recruit is the regally-bred The Taj Mahal (€4,000), a Group 2-winning brother to Gleneagles from the immediate family of Giant’s Causeway.
Among the accomplished jumpers, Grade 1 winner Nirvana Du Berlais (€6,500) is new to Haras de la Hetraie, while Goliath Du Berlais (€7,500), winner of the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure, has retired to stand alongside his sire Saint Des Saints at Haras de la Tuilerie.
66 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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FIRST FOALS
TIME TEST D U B AW I - PA S S A G E O F T I M E ( DA N S I L I ) £ 8 , 5 0 0
“TIME TEST SEEMED TO BE THE HORSE ON EVERYBODY’S LIPS THIS WEEK” “I bought a nice TIME TEST colt on the first day of the Tattersalls December Foal Sales for 48,000gns. He was a very strong, good looking colt. I have been very impressed by the TIME TEST foals I have seen this week.” M AT T H O L D S W O R T H , H O W S O N & H O L D S W O R T H B LO O D S TO C K P U R C H A S E R O F C O LT E X R O C K M E C O C K N E Y F O R 4 8 , 0 0 0 G N S
“The filly we bought by TIME TEST was our pick out of the first few days of the sale. She was a quality individual who walked well and had a great page. TIME TEST seemed to be the horse on everybody’s lips this week, there were 20 first-season sires represented in the catalogue and TIME TEST was the one they were all talking about.” L A R RY S T RAT TO N , B LO O D S TO C K AG E N T P U R C H A S E R O F F I L LY E X W I L D M I M O S A F O R 3 2 , 0 0 0 G N S
LEADING FIRST CROP SIRES NAME
2018 STUD FEE
SOLD
AV E RAG E ( £ )
MEDIAN (£)
Profitable (IRE)
€ 12,000
46
32,638
26,964
2 Time Test (GB)
£8,500
18
25,550
23,226
3
National Defense (GB)
€ 12,000
9
19,099
21,860
4
El Kabeir
€ 8,000
31
17,773
11,770
5
Cotai Glory (GB)
€ 6,000
27
16,592
10,277
1
* Stallions standing at a fee of €12,000/£12,000 or less with more than 5 foals sold Statistics supplied by TDN 10/12/19 ($1=£0.76)
N O M I N AT I O N E N Q U I R I E S T I M L A N E 07738 496141
J O E C A L L A N 07872 058295
CABLE BAY INVINCIBLE SPIRIT
Champion 1st Crop Sires in GB and IRE 2019 1
SIRE
GRANDSIRE
Cable Bay
Invincible Spirit
WNRS WINS
19
BTH
GRW
GPH
TOTAL £
6
1
4
582,494
29
2
Night of Thunder
Dubawi
22
30
6
1
1
482,636
3
Gleneagles
Galileo
16
21
5
2
3
440,881
4
Due Diligence
War Front
16
27
3
2
2
333,152
5
Gutaifan
Dark Angel
23
30
1
0
1
327,082
6
Anjaal
Bahamian Bounty
9
15
0
0
0
255,460
To date 7th November 2019
IMPRESSIVE SALES PRICES:
£320,000, £200,000, £175,000, £160,000, £150,000, £140,000, €130,000, £110,000, £105,000, £90,000 Also sire of high class 2yo’s LIBERTY BEACH, winner of the Molecomb Gr.3, KING’S LYNN, Winner of Weatherbys £150,000 2yo Stakes, Multiple group placed ROPEY GUEST, ISABEAU, second to Cheveley Park winner Millisle in the Listed Curragh Stakes etc
LAND FORCE NO NAY NEVER
LAND FORCE (IRE) (2016) A Bay Colt
No Nay Never (USA)
Theann (GB) (2004)
Scat Daddy (USA) Cat's Eye Witness (USA) Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) Cassandra Go (IRE)
“A brilliantly fast 2yo which he proved when
Johannesburg (USA) Love Style (USA) Elusive Quality (USA) Comical Cat (USA) Danehill (USA) Off f shore Boom ff Indian Ridge Rahaam (USA)
winning the Richmond. He was very unlucky not to
LAND FORCE (IRE): won 3 races at 2 years, 2018 and £192,225 viz Richmond Stakes, Goodwood, Gr.2, Coolmore Pride of Dubai Tipperary Stakes, Tipperary, L. and Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, Curragh, placed 4 times including third in Norfo r lk Stakes, Ascot, Gr.2, Cold Move EBF Marble Hill Stakes, Curragh, L. rfo and fourth in Darley Prix Morny, Deauville, Gr.1. 1st Dam THEANN (GB), won 2 races at 2 and 3 years and £74,644 including Cuisine de France Summer Stakes, York, Gr.3, second in Flame of Tara Stakes, Curragh, L., third in Greenlands Stakes, Curragh, Gr.3 and Dimitrova 1000 Guineas Trial, Leopardstown, Gr.3; dam of ffour winners from 5 runners and 8 foa f ls off racing age includingPHOTO CALL (IRE) (2011 f. by Galileo (IRE)), won 6 races at 3 to 5 years at home and in U.S.A. and £544,932 including Rodeo Drive Stakes, Santa Anita, Gr.1, First Lady Stakes, Keeneland, Gr.1, Violet Stakes, Monmouth Park, Gr.3 and Orchid Stakes, Gulfstream Park, Gr.3, placed 7 times including second in Beaugay Stakes, Belmont Park, Gr.3, Robert G Dick k Memorial Stakes, Delaware Park, Gr.3, third in La Prevoyante Handicap, Gulfstream Park, Gr.3 and Perfect Sting Stakes, Belmont Park. LAND FORCE (IRE) (2016 c. by No Nay Never (USA)), see above. 2nd Dam CASSANDRA DRA GO (IRE), won 6 races at 3 to 5 years and £243,262 including King's Stand Stakes, Royal Ascot, DRA Gr.2, Tripleprint Temple Stakes, Sandown Park, Gr.2, King George Stakes, Goodwood, Gr.3 and EBF Lansdown Stakes, Bath, L., placed 7 times including second in Darley July Cup, Newmarket, Gr.1, Ballyogan Stakes, Leopardstown, Gr.3, Palace House Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.3, Stanley Racing Summer Stakes, York, L. and third in EBF Insulpak Swinley Stakes, Ascot, L.; Own sisterr to Grey Eminence (FR); dam of eight winners nner from 10 runners and 12 foals off racing age includingnners HALFWA WAY WA AY TO HEAV A EN (IRE) (f. by Pivotal (GB)), won 4 races at 2 and 3 years and £470,905 including AV Boylesport r s Irish 1000 Guineas, Curragh, Gr.1, Blue Square Nassau Stakes, Goodwood, Gr.1 and rt Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.1, placed 4 times including second in Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial Stakes, Leopardstown, Gr.3, third in Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes, Leopardstown, Gr.1, Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Longchamp, Gr.1; dam of winners. MAGICAL (IRE), Jt Champion 3yr old in Europe in 2018 (11-13f.), 8 races at 2 to 4 years, 2019 and £2,466,935 including Tattersalls Gold Cup, Curragh, Gr.1, Irish Champion Stakes, Leopardstown, Gr.1 and Brit. Champions Fillies/Mare Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1, placed 10 times including second in Coral Eclipse, Sandown Park, Gr.1, Moyglare Stud Stakes, Curragh, Gr.1, Prince of Wales's Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1, Darley Yorkshire Oaks, York, Gr.1 and Breeders' Cup Turf r , Churchill Downs, Gr.1. rf RHODODENDRON (IRE), Champion older er mare in Ireland in 2018, Jt top rated 2yrr old filly in Ireland in 2016, 5 races at 2 to 4 y years, 2018 at home and in France and £1,363,928 including ing Dubai Fillies' Mile, Newmarket, Gr.1, Locki kinge Stakes, Newbury, r Gr.1 and Prix de l'Opera, Chantilly, Gr.1, second in ry, Investec Oaks Stakes, Epsom Downs, Gr.1, 1000 Guineas Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.1, Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf r , Del Mar, Gr.1 and third in Moyglare Stud Stakes, Curragh, Gr.1. FLYING THE rf FLAG (IRE), 3 races at 2, 3 and 5 years at home and in U.A.E. and £125,188 including eFlow ow 'You First' International Stakes, Curragh, Gr.3, placed 6 times including second in Galileo EBF Futurity Stakes, Curragh, Gr.2. TICKLED PINK (IRE) (f. by Invincible Spirit (IRE)), won 3 races at 3 and 4 years and £77,734 including Connaught Flooring Abernant Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.3 and The Coral Charge Sprint Stakes, Sandown Park, Gr.3, p placed 3 times; dam of winners. THEANN (GB)) (f. by Rock of Gibraltarr (IRE)), see above. Fantasy (IRE) (f. by Invincible Spirit (IRE)), won 1 race at 2 years, 2018 and £24,413 and placed 4 times including g third in John Siskk & Son Round Tower er Stakes, Curragh, g Gr.3 and Curragh gh Stakes, Curragh, L. NEVERLETM ETM ETM ME E GO (IRE) E , won 2 races at 3 and £16,954 and placed E) d 3 times; dam of wiinners. BEST REGARDS (IRE), Champion 3yrr old Sprinter er in Germany in 2013, 3 races at 2 and 3 years in France and in Germany and £43,335 including Hoppegartener Fliegerpreis, Berlin-Hoppegart ar en, L., art placed twice including third in P.Af A rika Linen J Essberger Flieger Preis, Hamburg, Gr.3. Af Tilthe End of Time (IRE), unraced; dam of Snazzy (IRE), 1 race at 2 years, 2018 and £26,636, third in Langleys Solicitors EBF Marygate Stakes, York, L. 3rd Dam RAHAA RAH AHAAM (USA) S , won 1 race at 3 years and placed twice, from only 4 start r s; rt dam of nine winners ner from 9 runners and 10 foals of racing age includingners VERGLAS (IRE), won 3 races at 2 and 3 years at home and in U.S.A. including Coventry Stakes, Royal Ascot, Gr.3, second in Lexus Irish 2000 Guineas, Curragh, Gr.1, San Marino Handicap, Santa Anita, L.R. and third in Heinz 57 Phoenix Stakes, Gr.1; sire. PERSIAN SECRET (FR), won 3 races at 2 and 3 years at home and in France including Prix La Sorellina, La Teste Buch, L., placed second in Ewar Stud Empress Stakes, Newmarket, L. and third in Bonusprint Champion 2yo Trophy, Ripon, L.; dam of winners. O HONOURS (I E) C dS
Contact: Jake Warren
+44 (0)1635 253 212
win the Norfolk, we were drawn on the wrong side.” - RYAN MOORE
Gr.2 Richmond Stakes
EXCELLENT LOOKS & Conformation (like his Sire) €350,000 Goffs yearling BRILLIANTLY FAST winner of the prestigious 6f, Gr.2 Richmond Stakes VERY FAST winner of the 5f, Tipperary Stakes, Listed PEDIGREE full of champions inc Cassandra Go, Magical, Rhododendron and Verglas
+44 (0)7730 272 895
jake@highclerestud.co.uk
www.highclerestud.co.uk
New Stallions ›› Never, packing in eight starts during his
juvenile season for Aidan O’Brien. He was out early, winning his second start over six furlongs before running third in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. From there, he went on to win the Tipperary Stakes before turning in an excellent performance to take the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood. The first son of No Nay Never to stud, Land Force is a member of Trevor Stewart’s Cassandra Go family also responsible for Magical. Further back, it is the family of successful sire Verglas.
LE BRIVIDO
British breeders will have access to one of the most upwardly mobile sire lines in 2020 with the addition of Le Brivido, a Group 1-placed son of the hot French stallion Siyouni. Le Brivido is one of his highest rated sons, having struck in a 20-runner Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and fallen only a short-head of Classic success in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains for Andre Fabre. This breeze-up graduate also had subsequent multiple Grade 1 winner Uni behind him when winning his sole start at two.
MAGNA GRECIA
Invincible Spirit - Cabaret (Galileo) Stands: Coolmore Fee: €22,500
In Magna Grecia, breeders have access to a top notch miler from the increasingly powerful Invincible Spirit sire line. Out of a Group 3-winning two-yearold, Magna Grecia capped his own productive juvenile season with a victory over Phoenix Of Spain in the Vertem Futurity having previously run a close second to Persian King in the Autumn Stakes. As a result, Magna Grecia headed into winter quarters as a major Classic hope and didn’t disappoint, returning on his seasonal debut to run out the widemargin winner of the 2,000 Guineas at the expense of King Of Change. Injury unfortunately compromised the rest of his career but, as that Classic victory proved, on his day this 340,000gns foal purchase was a rare miling talent.
MASAR
New Approach - Khawlah (Cape Cross) Stands: Dalham Hall Stud Fee: £15,000
They don’t come much better bred for the business than Masar, only the second Epsom Derby winner to retire to stud in Britain in the past decade.
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GEORGE SELWYN
Siyouni - La Bugatty (Dr Fong) Stands: Overbury Stud Fee: £7,000
Masar: the Derby hero was bred to be good, being a relation to Sea The Stars and Galileo
Masar is out of a Group 2-winning descendant of the legendary Urban Sea – to whom he is also inbred – and therefore a relation to none other than Galileo and Sea The Stars. Masar enjoyed his finest moment when denying Dee Ex Bee and Roaring Lion in the Derby but he was also an excellent two-year-old, one who was precocious enough to break his maiden in May of his juvenile year (when beating Invincible Army at Goodwood) en route to victory in the Solario Stakes. He was also the nine-length winner of the Craven Stakes, again at the expense of Roaring Lion.
PHOENIX OF SPAIN
Lope De Vega - Lucky Clio (Key Of Luck) Stands: Irish National Stud Fee: €15,000
Phoenix Of Spain turned in one of the performances of the season when making all to defeat Too Darn Hot and Magna Grecia to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas. It was a display of relentless galloping that followed off the back of a good twoyear-old season that featured a win in the Acomb Stakes and runner-up effort in the Vertem Futurity. A member of the Shamardal sire line, Phoenix Of Spain is a half-brother to three stakes horses including multiple sprint winner Lucky Beggar.
SOLDIER’S CALL
Showcasing - Dijarvo (Iceman) Stands: Ballyhane Fee: €10,000
This brilliantly quick son of Showcasing promises to be a commercial option
having been a fast and precocious individual. He was out early for Archie Watson, winning his second start over five furlongs at Haydock en route to victory over 27 rivals in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. From there he went on to win the Prix d’Arenberg and Flying Childers Stakes before running only a neck short of Mabs Cross in the Prix de l’Abbaye - a terrific performance for a juvenile against his elders. Soldiers Call also turned in a number of strong performances as a three-year-old, notably when second to Battaash in the Nunthorpe Stakes and third in the King’s Stand Stakes.
STUDY OF MAN
Deep Impact - Second Happiness (Storm Cat) Stands: Lanwades Stud Fee: £15,000
Lanwades Stud continues its successful association with the Niarchos family with the addition of their Prix du Jockey Club hero Study Of Man. Successful on his only start at two, Study Of Man also captured the Prix Greffulhe at three and ran second in the Prix Ganay and Prix d’Ispahan at four. The only British-based son of Japanese supersire Deep Impact, Study Of Man is bred on the same Storm Cat cross as Kizuna, the leading first-crop sire in Japan of 2019. More importantly, however, he is also a grandson of the Niarchos’ outstanding racemare Miesque and therefore related to leading sire Kingmambo in addition to the promising Kentucky stallion Karakontie.
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New Stallions ›› TEN SOVEREIGNS
No Nay Never - Seeking Solace (Exceed And Excel) Stands: Coolmore Fee: €25,000
PA IMAGES
Ten Sovereigns burst onto the scene with a seven-length success on debut at the Curragh, a win that marked the start of an unbeaten juvenile campaign that also took in victories in the Middle Park – run in the third ever fastest time for the race – and Round Tower Stakes. Speed was Ten Sovereigns’ primary asset at three, as was finely illustrated when he made most to land the July Cup from Group 1 winners Advertise and Fairyland. He is the most accomplished son of the rapidly ascendant No Nay Never to date and therefore a member of the increasingly influential Scat Daddy sire line.
TOO DARN HOT
Dubawi - Dar Re Mi (Singspiel) Stands: Dalham Hall Stud Fee: £50,000
Few horses of the recent era have been as exciting as Too Darn Hot. He was brilliant at two, when sweeping the Solario, Champagne and Dewhurst Stakes, the latter at the expense of Advertise and Anthony Van Dyck. Although he lost his unbeaten record at three, he still ran some excellent races in defeat before bouncing back with victories in the Prix Jean Prat and Sussex Stakes. Making him particularly exciting is the fact he is a son of Dubawi and multiple Group 1 winner Dar Re Mi. This has been an excellent family for his breeder Watership Down Stud, while it goes back to Delsy, the dam of none other than Darshaan.
WALDGEIST
Galileo - Waldlerche (Monsun) Stands: Ballylinch Stud Fee: €17,500
In Waldgeist, Ballylinch Stud welcomes the first Arc winner to stud in Ireland in ten years. Waldgeist’s defeat of Enable in that iconic European showpiece, in which Sottsass and Japan filled the minor places, will live long in the memory. However, he was also a top-class two-year-old who defeated four subsequent Group 1 winners in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud, and Classic-placed at three, when denied by only a short head in the Prix du Jockey Club. This tough and genuine performer, a member of Gestut Ravensberg’s ‘Waldrun’ family, also captured the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Prix Ganay.
Catholic Boy: versatile son of More Than Ready was a Grade 1 winner on turf and dirt
SPENDTHRIFT TO THE FORE IN THE US A mere glance at the American intake of new stallions priced at $12,500 or above is enough to glean the increasing power of the Spendthrift Farm roster. Spendthrift welcomes five new stallions to the farm this season, including a pair of Breeders’ Cup winners in Vino Rosso and Mitole. Vino Rosso ($30,000) bowed out on a high, having captured the Breeders’ Cup Classic on his final start. That victory crowned an excellent four-year-old season for the son of Curlin that also featured first place finishes in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita and Jockey Club Gold Cup, in which he was disqualified and placed second. Meanwhile in Mitole ($25,000), Spendthrift welcomes the only male horse in America to win four Grade 1 races on dirt in 2019 – namely the Churchill Downs Stakes, Metropolitan Handicap, Forego Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Equally effective from six furlongs to a mile, he retires as the winner of ten races. Spendthrift’s powerful intake also includes Omaha Beach ($40,000), who is due to retire following another start or two early next year. A War Front member of the influential Take Charge Lady clan, he was made favourite for the Kentucky Derby following his win in the Arkansas Derby only to succumb to an entrapped epiglottis in the days leading up to the race. He returned in October to win the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes and later ran second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Outside of Spendthrift, any breeder looking for a versatility at an elite level has the option of Catholic Boy, Yoshida and World Of Trouble, all of whom mixed it effectively on dirt and turf. Claiborne Farm’s dual Grade 1 winner Catholic Boy ($25,000) was a Graded stakes winner at two on both surfaces and returned at three to take the Belmont Derby on grass en route to victory in the Travers Stakes on dirt. Hill ’n’ Dale Farm’s World Of Trouble ($15,000) was similarly versatile at the highest level, with his record highlighted by wins in the Jaipur Invitational Stakes (turf) and Carter Handicap (dirt). A fast horse, he retires to stand alongside his ascendant sire Kantharos. As for Yoshida (WinStar Farm; $20,000), he captured the Old Forester Turf Classic before switching to dirt to take the Woodward Stakes. He becomes the first Kentucky-based son of leading Japanese stallion Heart’s Cry. WinStar’s roster has also benefited from the addition of Florida Derby winner Audible ($25,000), one of the best sons sired by the hot Into Mischief. Also likely to be popular is Catalina Cruiser ($20,000), a multiple Grade 2 winner from six furlongs to an extended mile. He has retired to stand alongside his sire Union Rags at Lane’s End Farm.
70 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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S TA L L I O N S 2 0 2 0 2019 FIRST FOALS MADE UP TO €120,000, €95,000, 65,000GNS ETC.
ACLAIM
AC C L A M AT I O N - A R I S ( DA N R OA D ) £ 9 , 5 0 0
N E W F O R 2 0 2 0 | O U T S TA N D I N G T H R E E - T I M E G R . 1 W I N N E R
ADVERTISE
S H O W CAS I N G - F U R B E LO W ( P I V OTA L ) £ 2 5 , 0 0 0
NEW FOR 2020 | GR.1 CLASSIC WINNER | DUAL PURPOSE PROSPECT
FLAG OF HONOUR GALILEO - HAWAL A (WARNING) £4,500
R E C O R D B R E A K I N G G R . 2 C O V E N T R Y S TA K E S W I N N E R
RAJASINGHE
C H O I S I R - B U N D I T T E N ( S OV I E T S TA R ) £ 5 , 0 0 0
2 0 1 9 F I R S T F O A L S AV E R A G E D O V E R T H R E E T I M E S H I S S T U D F E E
TIME TEST
D U B AW I - PA S S A G E O F T I M E ( DA N S I L I ) £ 8 , 5 0 0
N O M I N AT I O N E N Q U I R I E S T I M L A N E 07738 496141
J O E C A L L A N 07872 058295
N AT I O N A L S T U D . C O . U K
NEW
TO
STUD
IN
2020
WALDGEIST THE BEST GALILEO SINCE FRANKEL MAGICAL JAPAN SOTTSASS ENABLE
EXCEPTIONAL
ARC WINNER Fee: €17,500
WINNER OF 4 GROUP 1 1s Group 1 winning 2yo • Timeform Rated 132
BALLYLINCH STUD
T H O M A S T O W N , C O. K I L K E N N Y
Te l : + 3 5 3 ( 0 ) 5 6 7 7 2 4 2 1 7 • j o c @ b a l l y l i n c h s t u d . i e • e o i n @ b a l l y l i n c h s t u d . i e
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Breeders’ Digest
Nancy Sexton Bloodstock Editor
Our bloodstock coverage this month includes Sales Circuit: International money key to breeding stock trade – pages 74-86 Caulfield Files: Japanese industry at tipping point – pages 89-90 Dr Statz: Trends making it harder to recoup costs with youngstock – page 114
Coplow 2.1m gns sale will also bring longer-term benefits for Stowell Hill
I
Jan_185_BreedersDigest.indd 73
some of their own luck, especially with the right combination of understanding, cultivation and staff.
POLARISED MARKET MAKES IT TOUGH GOING TATTERSALLS
f any reminder was ever needed of the powerful pull of British and Irish bloodstock, then look no further than the latest edition of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, which once again attracted participation from all corners of the world. In turn, such investment contributed to a strong market – for anything perceived as quality – that featured an unprecedented 81 lots to make 200,000gns or more. The fact that only one mare broke into seven-figure territory is reflective of a catalogue that by Tattersalls’ own admission “lacked a little of the usual depth”. But in that mare in question there was also another welcome reminder of the legacy left by one of Britain’s most successful breeders, Bob McCreery. In landing a winning bid of 2,100,000gns for Coplow, MV Magnier came into possession of the dam of 1,000 Guineas and Sun Chariot Stakes heroine Billesdon Brook. Nor does Coplow’s proficiency at stud end there since the daughter of Manduro has also produced Listed winner Billesdon Bess, one of the best sired by the disappointing Dick Turpin. Both were bred at Bob and Jeanette McCreery’s Stowell Hill Stud in Somerset and raced by the Pall Mall Partners, a brainchild of McCreery’s. McCreery, a former Chairman of the TBA who was also instrumental in setting up the European Breeders’ Fund, passed away in December 2016 and so didn’t live to see the pair develop through the grades under the care of Richard Hannon. However, the stamp of Stowell Hill certainly remains there for all to see. The story begins with the purchase of Coplow’s dam Anna Oleanda for 45,000gns at the 2005 Tattersalls December Sale. The mare was a daughter of Old Vic, one of many good runners bred at Stowell Hill down the years, and out of German champion Anna Paola, also the ancestress of
Coplow: a popular Tattersalls sale-topper
Helmet and National Defense et al. Anna Oleanda’s second foal for Stowell Hill was Middle Club, winner of the 2009 Prix d’Aumale at Chantilly for McCreery. The unbeaten Horris Hill Stakes winner Piping Rock, who looked exciting before succumbing to colic as a twoyear-old, and Anna Nerium, who won this season’s Princess Elizabeth Stakes in Jeanette McCreery’s colours on Oaks day at Epsom, have since contributed to an excellent run for the family. As fate would have it, the only one of nine runners out of Anna Oleanda who failed to win was Coplow, although she obviously had ability given that she was placed in maidens at Newmarket and Newbury for Richard Hannon snr. Yet today she must rank as the most important member of the family, not just in terms of achievement but in what could lie ahead in her career at Coolmore; for instance, a visit to Galileo was mentioned as a likely plan in 2020. And, of course, that and all it brings will continue to filter back to Stowell Hill. “We have so many members of the family that something had to be sold to keep it all running,” Jeannette McCreery explained after the hammer had dropped. “It is a great credit to Bob, but credit also goes to the Hannons, who have made this family.” A good dose of luck is needed to survive in this game. However, Bob McCreery was one to often think outside the box and as such remains a good example of how breeders can also make
Speaking of surviving in this industry, the 2019 foal market won’t be remembered fondly by some breeders, particularly those at the lower end of the scale. Fears of a polarised market were borne out at the Goffs November and Tattersalls December foal sales as pinhookers became ultra selective; as ever, those that appealed in terms of sire power, pedigree and physique made plenty while demand contracted for those that missed. Particularly grim were the last days of trading at both sales, which featured median prices of €6,481 and 12,500gns. As for the clearance rates, the figures for those respective sessions checked in at 67% at Goffs and 58% at Tattersalls. As we all know, a lack of prize-money remains the villain as the source of myriad problems. For starters, when it comes to the yearling sales, trainers as a whole seem more unwilling to purchase horses on spec than they did several years ago. The breeze-up community continue to spend aggressively but they are often after a certain type of horse, one that adds fuel to the market’s fixation on precocity and speed. Pinhookers are already under pressure to get these horses into the better sales as yearlings so, with every factor combined, there really is no room for error in today’s world when it comes to trading youngstock. All of which continues to make it tougher for smaller breeders. Efforts are being made to introduce initiatives to alleviate the problem, such as the scheme aimed at British breeders that was in the works last year, and let’s hope something is in place ahead of the 2020 yearling sales season.
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Sales Circuit • By Carl Evans
International money key to breeding stock trade This was not a vintage catalogue on paper and, while an international buying bench was present, eager for the best available European bloodlines, they were not willing to be goaded into unrealistic spending. Tattersalls’ Chairman Edmond Mahony admitted his company had “been fortunate to have had some outstanding December catalogues in recent years,” adding: “The 2019 renewal lacked a little of the usual depth”. That said, it still turned over nearly 58 million guineas in four days. Mahony pointed to a record 27 fillies or mares who made 500,000gns-plus, clear evidence of solid trade, but at the second and most important session in 2018 seven mares made seven-figure sums, and only one entered such territory at the latest rendition. That mare, ten-year-old Coplow, the
TATTERSALLS
Tattersalls December Sale Mares
Coplow: dam of Billesdon Brook was sold by Stowell Hill Stud for 2,100,000gns
Tattersalls December Mares Sale Top lots Name/sex/breeding
Vendor
Coplow m Manduro – Anna Oleanda
Stowell Hill Stud
Price (gns)
Buyer
2,100,000
M V Magnier
Big Brothers Pride f Invincible Spirit – Polygreen
Tweenhills Farm & Stud
975,000
BBA Ireland
Guerriere m Invincible Spirit – Mathematicienne
European Sales Management
825,000
Rob Speers/Old Mill Stud
Shambolic f Shamardal – Comic
Highclere Stud
800,000
Hadden Bloodstock
Onthemoonagain m Cape Cross – Ma Preference
European Sales Management
800,000
Kern/Lillingston Association
Easter m Galileo – Missvinski
Norelands Stud
800,000
Eaton Bloodstock
Dandhu f Dandy Man – Poldhu
European Sales Management
750,000
Juddmonte Farms
Etoile f Siyouni – Milena’s Dream
European Sales Management
750,000
Hugo Lascelles
Thistle Bird m Selkirk – Dolma
The Castlebridge Consignment
750,000
London Thoroughbred Services, agent
Time Saver f Frankel - Clepsydra
Juddmonte Farms
750,000
Aquis Farm
Five-year tale Year
Sold
Agg (gns)
Average (gns)
Median (gns)
Top price (gns)
2019
668
57,790,900
86,513
27,000
2,100,000
2018
728
60,712,100
83,396
20,500
2,400,000
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
74 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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Overview and analysis of the latest events in the ring TALKING POINTS
TATTERSALLS
• Phoenix Thoroughbreds founder Amer Abdulaziz, a significant buyer of horses at sales around the globe during the past three years, was in the news in the lead-up to the December Sale. At a criminal trial in the USA he was accused by a witness of money laundering, and while he had not been asked to appear before the court he made no show at Tattersalls – plans for Phoenix horses were said to be unclear, while Dermot Farrington, who had been part of the organisation’s buying team, resigned and was acting for other clients at the sale. However, Phoenix Ladies Syndicate chief Pamela Cordina flew in from Dubai, and in partnership with another of the organisation’s advisors, America’s Tom Ludt, made a strong play to buy Group 1 sprinter Sands Of Mali, in whom Phoenix was a partner. However, Peter Swann of Cool Silk Partners, who also owned shares in the horse, was in opposition and his 600,000gns offer proved decisive. Swann said Sands Of Mali would be heading to stud. MV Magnier: pointed to Galileo as a likely mate for new purchase Coplow
auction in company with his bloodstock advisor Rob Speers. Some will head to Araci’s stud farm in Turkey, although 825,000gns Guerriere, a five-year-old daughter of Invincible Spirit with a Lope De Vega cover, is to remain in England The partial dispersal of mares from the late Lady Rothschild’s Waddesdon Stud gave the Monday session a focal point – 750,000gns Thistle Bird, in foal to Kingman, headed the draft when selling to Rothschild’s former advisor James Wigan – while Juddmonte fillies out of training gave the Wednesday session some important impetus. Thursday’s trade was a long way below the first three sessions, as conveyed by an average of 3,747gns, but with just 107 horses on offer it was concluded in quick time. Tattersalls’ turnover for the year in Newmarket came to 305,521,400gns, down seven per cent on last year, but Europe’s biggest bloodstock auction house remains the king of the ring.
Ibrahim Araci: Turkish owner was busy adding stock for his Old Mill Stud
Popular hurdler Verdana Blue will race for Michael Tabor after selling for 370,000gns
Jan_185_SaleCircuit.indd 75
››
TATTERSALLS
TATTERSALLS
dam of Classic winner Billesdon Brook and Listed winner Billesdon Bess, had achieved racecourse fame while pairing up with good, but not great stallions. What might she achieve with Galileo? We will know in 2023 or 2024, for Coolmore Stud’s multiple champion sire is likely to be her next mate following her sale for 2,100,000gns to MV Magnier. Not that Coplow fans will have to wait until then to see what she can achieve with a big-name stallion for she produced a Dubawi foal this year and she was sold carrying to Kingman. Her vendor, Jeanette McCreery of Stowell Hill Stud, paid tribute to Richard Hannon and his family for making Coplow the desirable jewel she has become through training her illustrious offspring, although it was the late Bob McCreery, Jeanette’s husband, who bred the mare, one of several equine stars he created. Japanese buyers rarely ‘round up’
a valuation when buying in Europe – although they are thinking in yen, not sterling or euros – and while many underbidders at 975,000gns would lob in one more offer to round up to 1,000,000gns in the hoping of deterring a rival, Japan’s Northern Farm declined to do so when trying to gain three-yearold filly Big Brothers Pride. As a result Eamonn Reilly of BBA Ireland secured the well-bred Group 3 winner for an American syndicate. Japanese buyers were more persistent on other lots, and gained ten horses. Another notable buyer throughout the sale was Turkey’s Ibrahim Araci, who has reached the stock-building stage at Old Mill Stud in Chippenham, Cambridgeshire. Former owner David Shekells died early last year and the property was subsequently placed on the market by his widow, Carol. Araci bought the 95-acre farm and spent 2,295,000gns on seven mares at this
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Sales Circuit
TATTERSALLS
Strong trade for good foals could not prevent a fall in the figures at this fourday auction where turnover came in at just under 30m gns. That was a 16% fall in the aggregate figure achieved at the 2018 edition, where a 1,700,000gns Galileo sister to top-class racehorse Decorated Knight towered over the occasion. She had been sold to dissolve a partnership, and one year later the lack of a good dispersal or significant partnership breaker meant a top price of 600,000gns was an indication that the bonfire blazed but fireworks were few. Five foals had surpassed that figure 12 months earlier. The 2019 highlight was achieved
American John Sykes (left), assisted by Lincoln Collins, spent 1,390,000gns
TATTERSALLS
Tattersalls December Sale Foals
Sheikh Fahad bought out his partners in this Frankel colt out of Simple Verse
during the third and traditionally strongest session when a son of Frankel and the St Leger-winning mare Simple Verse entered the ring. She was the result of a partnership reaching a conclusion, in this case involving two Al-Thani brothers of Qatar Racing and their ally Mohammed Al Kubaisi. Sheikh Fahad is the colt’s new outright owner after he was knocked down to his bloodstock guru David Redvers for 600,000gns. Transatlantic buyers were influential throughout the event, none more so than John Sykes, a customer service entrepreneur whose Woodford Thoroughbreds is based in Florida.
Making his first foal purchases at Tattersalls, Sykes and advisor Lincoln Collins secured five lots for a total of 1,390,000gns, making Woodford the second-largest buyer by aggregate behind Peter and Ross Doyle Bloodstock. A growth in US turf racing lay behind Sykes’ excursion, but it was not clear what prompted Harry Sweeney of Japan’s Paca Paca Farm to invest in 15 foals for 1,107,000gns. Sweeney, a genial expatriate who is also President of Darley-Godolphin’s Japan HQ, has ducked questions when buying in Europe during the past two years, which is a pity when it deprives the bloodstock
››
Tattersalls December Foal Sale Top lots Sex/breeding
Vendor
C Frankel - Simple Verse
Tweenhills Farm & Stud
Price (gns)
Buyer
600,000
David Redvers Bloodstock
F Invincible Spirit – Liscune
Bryanstown House Stud
440,000
Woodford Thoroughbreds
F Sea The Stars – Amazone
Castletown Stud
400,000
Woodford Thoroughbreds
C Invincible Spirit – Rajeem
Tinnakill House
375,000
W H Bloodstock
F Frankel – Sivoliere
European Sales Management
360,000
Charlie Gordon-Watson
F Frankel - Bella Nouf
Tweenhills Farm & Stud
350,000
G C Bloodstock
F Sea The Stars - Golden Reign
Norelands Stud
350,000
D R Bloodstock
C Kingman – Monami
Gestut Etzean
340,000
Baroda Stud
C Sea The Stars – Neamour
Brook Stud
340,000
Shadwell Estate Company
C Oasis Dream – Besotted
Knocktoran Stud
320,000
Godolphin
Five-year tale Year
Sold
Agg (gns)
Average (gns)
Median (gns)
Top price (gns)
2019
663
29,338,300
44,251
22,000
600,000
2018
681
34,924,757
51,285
25,000
1,700,000
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
76 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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Sales Circuit ››
ring of positive publicity. Harry McCalmont’s Norelands Stud headed Tweenhills Farm & Stud as leading consignor, while Sea The Stars was the leading sire with 12 foals sold for 2,608,000gns at an average of
pay an average of 101,421gns for his first representatives through the Tattersalls ring, a lovely return for breeders who used him at €35,000 in 2018. Studmate Churchill was also popular, his first foals averaging 99,556gns.
217,333gns. While Sea The Stars is an elite and proven sire, Coolmore’s Caravaggio has yet to be represented on the racecourse. However, pinhookers evidently liked what they saw given they were willing to
latter category has been joined by Eugene Daly of Cheshire’s Longview Stud. He pressed hard to buy the Galileo/Simple Verse top lot – another brave pinhooker, Philipp Stauffenberg, was underbidder for that gem – but at session three alone Daly’s catalogue wave brought down the hammer for daughters of Sea The Stars costing 350,000gns and 310,000gns, and a filly by Dubawi who made 300,000gns. They were not his only purchases at the top end, and he was also underbidder on a number of six-figure horses. Neither Daly nor Longview Stud appeared on the leading buyers’ sheet, for each horse was bought in a different name. Their purchaser, or purchasers, appear confident the yearling market will remain in rude health next year, and given demand for the best of the best, why shouldn’t they be optimistic?
TALKING POINTS • Bigger studs turned over greater sums at the mares’ sale, but few could take greater pride in their achievements than Colin and Melba Bryce’s Hertfordshire-based Laundry Cottage Stud, which bred the top lot at two of the four sessions. Their Bated Breath colt made 185,000gns to head day two, while a son of Farhh made 110,000gns to give them leading honours at the final session, terrific results from a band of 18 mares and a 90-acre farm. Colin Bryce said that while he and his wife could breed a horse, they could not sell one – at least not to its maximum potential – so they had asked Jamie Railton to consign their stock. No one can say the decision did not pay off. • There are bold pinhookers and very bold pinhookers. The
A memorable couple of months for Adrian and Philippa O’Brien of Newmarket’s Hazelwood Bloodstock was capped when they consigned a 200,000gns Dubawi colt who topped this one-day auction. At Book 1 of the October Sale the O’Briens had also sold the top lot – another son of Dubawi who made 3,600,000gns – confirming their ability to prep a yearling and court the sort of clients who can afford to breed such potential headline acts. Adrian O’Brien’s time spent working in Australia has been a factor in that regard, and the colt he offered at this auction had a background down under, having been bred in partnership by the Hong Kong-
TATTERSALLS
Tattersalls December Yearling Sale
This well-related Dubawi colt will race for Sun Bloodstock after selling for 200,000gns
owned Sun Kingdom, a division of Sun Stud which has bases in Victoria and Queensland. Sun Stud secured the son of Dubawi who headlined this sale, with representative David O’Callaghan saying he had bought out the other partners
and that the colt would be joining David Simcock for training. Like many a yearling who arrives at this event, the top lot had suffered a minor setback which prevented him being prepped for autumn sales, but a Lope De Vega filly from Newsells Park Stud had simply grown since her appearance in late August at Goffs UK’s Premier Yearling Sale. Not sold at £46,000 on that occasion, she made 92,000gns here to a bid from breezeup specialist Willie Browne. However, a host of other bigger-priced horses were bought back after failing to find buyers. That did not hurt the clearance rate, which gained five points to reach 78% as 131 of 167 offered lots found a new home. The average price took an 11% hit, but the median gained 16%.
››
Tattersalls December Yearling Sale Top lots Sex/breeding
Vendor
Price (gns)
Buyer
C Dubawi - Voleuse De Coeurs
Hazelwood Bloodstock
200,000
Sun Bloodstock
C Golden Horn – Leaderene
Staffordstown
100,000
Stroud Coleman Bloodstock
F Sea The Stars - Ninas Terz
The Castlebridge Consignment
100,000
F Sea The Stars – Angelita
Dayton/Ballylinch Stud
95,000
Tally-Ho Stud
F Invincible Spirit - Prima Luce
The Castlebridge Consignment
95,000
BBA Ireland
Alex Elliott, agent
Three-year tale Year
Sold
Agg (gns)
Average (gns)
Median (gns)
Top price (gns)
2019
131
4,149,500
31,676
25,000
200,000
2018
118
4,200,500
35,597
21,500
260,000
2017
124
4,271,500
34,448
25,000
400,000
78 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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IRELAND, WHERE LEGENDS ARE BORN
+ 353 45 443000 INFO@ITM.IE WWW.ITM.IE
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04/12/2019 14:19
TASLEET Showcasing - Bird Key
FIRST FOALS 2020
MARES IN FOAL HAVE SOLD FOR SIX FIGURES £6,000 (1st JAN, SLF)
Discover more about the Shadwell Stallions at www.shadwellstud.com Or call Richard Lancaster, James O’Donnell, Tom Pennington or Ellen Bishop on 01842 755913 Email us at: nominations@shadwellstud.co.uk
Sales Circuit ››
Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale
ARQANA/ZUZANNA LUPA
A successful year at Arqana could be witnessed in the annual turnover figure of €146,704,500, up almost €1.2m on the 2018 aggregate. The 2019 figure was reached at this four-day sale where turnover of €34,426,500 was up three per cent, and there were gains of one per cent and six per cent in the average and median figures respectively. That aggregate increase was pulled down slightly by falls in all the key figures at the fourth day’s session of jump-bred mares and foals, which in 2018 was boosted by a clearance of horses owned by Souede and Munir. Arqana President Eric Hoyeau could say with accuracy that the “appetite for French breeding stock has never been higher”, a demand that is being carried by some leading stallions and great results
Frankel Light: joined Watership Down Stud on a sale-topping bid of €1.3 million
on the racecourse. Not even a national strike which hit transport links could deter overseas buyers from attending – and leaving with the cream of the crop. Top lot Frankel Light and the Siyouni
foal she carried heads to Britain and a place at Watership Down Stud after she was sold to agent Charlie GordonWatson for €1,300,000, while ten-yearold Unaided, offered with a No Nay Never cover, has joined America’s White Birch Farm, which is owned by Peter Brant. Frankel Light’s dam, 13-year-old Mambo Light, complete with a Sea The Stars cover, made €725,000 when selling outside the ring to BBA Ireland, while Brant also secured the filly Eliade for €520,000, the same sum paid by Mags O’Toole for Just Gorgeous and her Almanzor cover. It was a similar tale during the second session of mares, at which top lot Citation One was sold for €200,000 to US buyer Christian Black, while the sale’s top-priced foal, a filly by Wootton Bassett, is now in Germany after being bought for €190,000 by pinhooker Philipp Stauffenberg.
Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale Top lots Name/Sex/breeding
Vendor
Price (€)
Buyer
Frankel Light m Frankel - Mambo Light
Haras du Mezeray
1,300,000
Charlie Gordon-Watson
Unaided m Dansili – Wosaita
Haras d’Etreham
1,250,000
Oceanic Bloodstock
Mambo Light m Kingmambo – Piquetnol
Haras d’Ombreville
725,000
BBA Ireland
Eliade f Teofilo – Elodie
Haras d’Etreham
520,000
Oceanic Bloodstock
Just Gorgeous m Galileo - Halfway To Heaven
Haras d’Etreham
520,000
Margaret O’Toole
Three-year tale Year
Sold
Agg (€)
Average (€)
Median (€)
Top price (€)
2019
701
34,426,500
49,111
19,000
1,300,000
2018
683
33,276,500
48,721
18,000
1,100,000
2017
688
31,249,000
45,420
19,000
1,300,000
Goffs November Foal and Breeding Stock Sales
The stars aligned at this five-day sale leading to a raft of wonderful figures and a foal who became Europe’s most valuable this year when selling for €1.2m. “What a week,” was the summary of Goffs’ Chief Executive Henry Beeby, whose only lament was that some buyers left Kildare Paddocks with unfulfilled orders after missing out on choice lots. He added: “Our task next year will be to attract a larger catalogue of quality to meet demand.” He also acknowledged the selectivity among foal-buying pinhookers who recognise that a weanling who fails to gain high marks for size, pedigree and conformation may well make a racehorse,
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››
Godolphin went to €1.2 million for this Dubawi colt out of Nightime, bred by Dermot Weld
THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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Sales Circuit Goffs November Foal Sale Top lots Sex/breeding
Vendor
C Dubawi – Nightime
The Castlebridge Consignment
Price (€)
F Dark Angel - Faraday Light
Ballylinch Stud
575,000
Shadwell Estate Company
C No Nay Never – Gems
Whitehall Stud
360,000
Glenvale Stud
F Lope De Vega – Inchmahome
Tullpark/Stanley Lodge
360,000
Shadwell Estate Company
1,200,000
Buyer Godolphin
Three-year tale - Part 1 Sold
Agg (€)
Average (€)
Median (€)
Top price (€)
2019
524
25,751,800
49,087
29,500
1,200,000
2018
480
20,311,000
42,315
28,000
350,000
2017
536
25,540,750
47,651
27,000
1,100,000
but they are unlikely to make a profit at yearling-sales time. Beeby returned to his bete noir, Brexit uncertainty, when saying it and poor British prize-money was making life tough for commercial foal breeders and traders. Despite that cautionary note the overall figures for foals and mares meant Goffs could celebrate as if Christmas had come early. There were rises across the board, turnover of nearly €34.5m and an 11 points gain in the clearance rate to one of 80%. The sale could also boast the aforementioned €1.2m which was paid by Godolphin for the only foal on offer by Dubawi. Not only did he have sire-rarity value at this event, but he was also a son of Classic-winning mare Nightime and a brother to Group 1 winner Ghaiyyath, who had made €1.1m at this sale four years ago. Little wonder vendor Dermot Weld opted to try his luck with Goffs again, and he was well rewarded after a ring tussle between Godolphin’s Anthony Stroud and David Redvers, representing Qatar Racing. Offered during the third and most
GOFFS
Year
Snowflakes, a sister to Winter, headed trade at the Goffs November Mares Sale at €525,000
high-profile session of Part 1 of the foal auction, the weanling helped the average on that day come in at just under €100,000, while a clearance rate of 91% underlined Beeby’s comments relating to quality being in big demand, lesser horses being easily rebuffed. Foal turnover across three days gained 26% and there were rises of 16% in the average (just under €50,000) and seven per cent in the median, while the clearance rate gained nine per cent to reach 81%.
Four foals made more than the best of 2018’s selection, while the €525,000 given for broodmare Snowflakes was some way clear of the best-mare price 12 months earlier. A four-year-old by Galileo and carrying to US Navy Flag, Snowflakes had the added factor of being a full-sister to dual 1,000 Guineas heroine Winter. Eamonn Reilly of BBA Ireland signed the buyers’ sheet for this particular piece of equine royalty on behalf of “an American client”. Goffs cut the catalogues for the mares sale and yet made gains across the range. Sixty-eight fewer mares helped the clearance rate gain 17 points to achieve 82%, and there was a 28% hike in turnover and 24% rise in the average price to one of €33,152. The median price was up 40%. Cutting the numbers at Part II of the foal sale – by 95 lots no less – also helped the percentages, which saw a 25% rise in the average to €41,975, and a nine points increase in the clearance rate to one of 78%. A €35,000 Dandy Man colt, who was sold to pinhooker Willie Browne, headed trade at Part II.
››
Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale Top lots Name/sex/breeding
Vendor
Price (€)
Buyer
Snowflakes m Galileo - Laddies Poker Two
The Castlebridge Consignment
525,000
BBA Ireland
Qatar Princess m Marju - Bridal Dance
Linacre House Stud
330,000
Eaton Bloodstock/Diane Nagle
Etoile Filante m So You Think - Alpha Lupi
Kiltinan Castle Stud
300,000
John McCormack
Danseuse D’etoile m Pivotal - Walk In Beauty
Mount Coote Stud
230,000
Broadhurst Agency
Three-year tale Year
Sold
Agg (€)
Average (€)
Median (€)
Top price (€)
2019
242
8,022,900
33,152
14,000
525,000
2018
235
6,289,000
26,762
10,000
350,000
2017
345
14,924,450
43,259
15,000
1,900,000
82 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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Sales Circuit There was more terrific trade for French-bred jumpers at this three-day sale, which involved horses-in-training followed by a day each of jump stores and Flat-bred yearlings. A top price of €420,000 and increases in all the key indicators was music to the ears of Arqana chief Eric Hoyeau, who noted that sellers of in-training horses during the first session were back to buy stores 24 hours later. He also commented on the narrowing in values between jump-bred colts and fillies, and said racing programmes geared to help filly and mare breeders and owners on both sides of the Channel and Irish Sea were having impact in the ring. Master Dino, who came to the ring with a form-line showing six successive wins, topped the sale. A five-year-old son of Doctor Dino, he had not been seen since scoring for trainer Guillaume Macaire at Plumpton in January, a win which came two months after he had landed the Prix Renaud du Vivier at Auteuil. Highflyer Bloodstock’s David Powell and David Minton were among bidders for the gelding – possibly on behalf of his joint-owners Simon Munir and Issac Souede – but Herve Bunel had the final say at €420,000 on behalf of Xavier Papot, a leading breeder and owners of jumpers in France. His equivalent in Britain and Ireland, JP McManus, gained three-year-old Gentleman De Mee for €280,000 – the son of Saint Des Saints had been second twice for Macaire – while amateur rider David Maxwell added to his growing string with the purchase of
ARQANA/ZUZANNA LUPA
Arqana Autumn Sale
Herve Brunel had the final say at €420,000 for Grade 1 winner Master Dino
three-year-old Stratagem, who had won his sole start. A Kapgarde yearling headed the jumping stores session when selling for €150,000 to Haras De Saubouas’s Paul Basquin, the vendor, 24 hours earlier, of Gentleman De Mee. Basquin said his
purchase had a stallion’s pedigree and would therefore be left an entire. A slightly bigger catalogue with 13 more horses was no bar to increased turnover, which gained six points to reach 82%. Turnover rose 42%, the average by 30% and the median by 22%.
TALKING POINTS • A partnership dissolver involving top French trainer Guillaume Macaire and racehorse owners Simon Munir and Issac Souede led to the sale of top lot Master Dino and four other horses. Munir and Souede put out a statement ahead of the sale saying the trainer had only “small shares” in the five horses, but they had agreed to “his [Macaire’s] desire that the partnerships be dissolved at public auction.” The statement added, somewhat curiously: “We trust our trainers and expect them to reflect our high standards of integrity, to share our goals and values, and to communicate with us honestly in a timely fashion, and to treat our team, our horses and jockeys with the respect they deserve.” Make of that what you will . . .
Arqana Autumn Sale Top lots Name/sex/breeding
Vendor
Price (€)
Buyer
Master Dino g Doctor Dino - Mind Master
La Motteraye Consignment
420,000
Agence BHB
Gentleman De Mee g Saint Des Saints - Koeur De Mee
Guillaume Macaire
280,000
Horse Racing Advisory
Stratagem g Sunday Break - Our Zig
Daniela Mele
260,000
Guy Petit
Gaillard Du Mesnil g Saint Des Saints - Athena Du Mesnil
Gallorini
250,000
P B Bloodstock/Willie Mullins
Mount Popa g Maxios – Mimalia
Pascal Bary
200,000
Stephen Hillen Bloodstock
200,000
Alex Elliott, agent
Gloire D’athon g Doctor Dino - Aster D’athon
Alain Couetil
Three-year tale Year
Sold
Agg (€)
Average (€)
Median (€)
Top price (€)
2019
465
11,038,000
23,622
11,000
420,000
2018
424
7,750,100
18,213
9,000
265,000
2017
463
8,405,500
18,154
8,000
310,000
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››
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Sales Circuit ››
Tattersalls Ireland Flat Foal and Breeding Stock Sale
A popular draft from Derrinstown Stud helped boost the latest edition of the Tattersalls Ireland Flat Foal and Breeding Stock Sale as the source of three of the top four lots, headed by the sale-topper Wahgah, writes Nancy Sexton. BBA Ireland, signing on behalf of Gerry Aherne, landed a winning bid of €50,000 for the Listed-placed Distorted
Humor mare, sold with a covering to Shadwell’s Mukhadram. The draft also included Buroog, an Invincible Spirit daughter of Albany Stakes heroine Habaayib purchased by Rathasker Stud in foal to Iffraaj for €30,000. Outside the Derrinstown horses, Listed winner Cosmodrome was also popular, selling for €30,000 to Kill Bloodstock. Among the foals, it was a son of the
ever popular Kodiac who led the way by selling for €24,000 to Razza del Velino in a private transaction outside the ring. Overall, it was tough going for plenty of vendors as an average of €6,442 attests, even if that did represent a four per cent increase from 2018. However, Tattersalls Ireland did express themselves as satisfied with a rise in clearance rate to 55%, up from last year’s lowly figure of 50%.
Tattersalls Ireland Flat Foal and Breeding Stock Sale Top lots Name/sex/breeding
Vendor
Wahgah m Distorted Humor - Basaata
Derrinstown Stud
Price (€) 50,000
Buyer BBA Ireland
Cosmodrome m Bahri - Splashdown
Ballywalter Farm
30,000
Kill Bloodstock
Buroog m Invincible Spirit - Habaayib
Derrinstown Stud
30,000
Rathasker Stud
Ejadah m Clodovil - Bintalreef
Derrinstown Stud
25,000
Tetromeen Ltd
c Kodiac - Veronica Best
Kilmaglish House Stud
24,000
Razza del Velino
Three-year tale Year
Sold
Agg (€)
Average (€)
Median (€)
Top price (€)
2019
85
547,600
6,442
3,000
50,000
2018
97
599,100
6,176
3,000
60,000
2017
129
766,000
5,938
3,500
58,000
Poet’s Word 2013, Bay, 16.1 1/2 h.h., Poet’s Voice (Dubawi) ex Whirly Bird (Nashwan)
MULTIPLE GR.1 WINNER OVER 10-12f CHAMPION OLDER HORSE IN EUROPE IN 2018
NEWR FO 0
202
DEFEATED 23 GR.1 WINNERS incl Cracksman, Crystal Ocean, Churchill etc. FROM THE DUBAWI SIRE LINE Gr.1 NH Winners: Dodging Bullets, Hisaabaat, etc.
Califet
Sire of CILAOS EMERY, winner of Gr.2 Hilly Way Chase, Dec. ‘19
Court Cave
Cheltenham Festival winners in 2017, 2018 and 2019
Kalanisi
Recent Stakes horses incl: KALASHNIKOV, BRAIN POWER, DARVER STAR & IMPERIAL AURA Contact: William Flood +353 (0)87 2380583 Serving the Irish and UK Breeder since 1935 or John Flood +353 (0)87 9066772 www.boardsmillstud.com
86 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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FIRST YEARLINGS 2020
MONDIALISTE GALILEO - OCCUPANDISTE DUAL GROUP 1 WINNING SON OF GALILEO
A LANDMARK FAMILY Sire: GALILEO – Champion: won Gr.1 Derby S, Gr.1 Irish Derby, Gr.1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S, etc: Multiple Champion Sire and Sire of Sires, incl: FRANKEL (Triple Champion, sire), TEOFILO (Champion 2yo, sire), NEW APPROACH (Champion, sire), RULER OF THE WORLD (Gr.1, sire), NATHANIEL (Gr.1, sire), SIXTIES ICON (Gr.1, sire), INTELLO (Gr.1, sire) CHURCHILL, ULYSSES, (Gr.1, sire) etc. Dam: OCCUPANDISTE – won 6 races, incl Gr.1 Prix de la Forêt, Gr.1 Prix Maurice de Gheest; dam of 7 winners, incl MONDIALISTE, IMPRESSIONANTE (Gr.2 Prix de Sandringham, 2nd Gr.1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, Gr.1 Prix d’Astarté; herself dam of INTELLO, by GALILEO [Gr.1 Prix du Jockey Club, Gr.3 x 2, 3rd Gr.1 x 3, promising young sire]), ONLY ANSWER (Gr.3 Prix de Saint-Georges, Gr.3 Prix du Petit Couvert, LR Prix du Cercle), PLANETAIRE (by Galileo; LR Prix Pelleas, 3rd Gr.3 La Coupe) Her grandam ELLE SEULE won Gr.2 Prix d’Astarté; dam of 10 winners, incl ELNADIM (Champion Sprinter, sire), MEHTAAF (Champion, Gr.1 1,000 Guineas, dam of a Champion). Her dam FALL ASPEN (Gr.1 Matron S); dam of: FORT WOOD (Gr.1, Champion Sire), HAMAS (Gr.1, sire), NORTHERN ASPEN (Gr.1), TIMBER COUNTRY (Champion at 2, sire), BIANCONI (Gr.2, sire), COLORADO DANCER (Gr.2, dam of DUBAI MILLENIUM [Champion, sire of DUBAWI]. DUBAWI
First foals sold with an average of
€37,500
STANDING AT ELWICK STUD Elwick Stud, Sheraton Farm, Co. Durham TS27 4RB
t: +44 (0) 1429 856 530 e: info@elwickstud.co.uk w: www.elwickstud.co.uk
FEE £6,000
Caulfield Files
Bloodstock world views
Japanese industry at tipping point Loss of Deep Impact and King Kamehameha, plus imports, could alter the status quo
GEORGE SELWYN
A
favourite song of mine (nicely warbled by Randy Crawford) starts with the rather unnerving line that “everything must change, nothing stays the same” – something which the racing industry is constantly being reminded of, worldwide. For example, the 2019 edition of the Japan Cup was the first in the race’s 39-year history to be contested solely by Japanese-bred horses, without a single foreign-trained raider. Compare this to when I attended the 1988 edition, which featured eight accomplished foreign raiders headed by Arc winner Tony Bin, the Australian Horse of the Year Bonecrusher and the American Grade 1 winner My Big Boy. Unfortunately, the race appears to have become a victim of the success enjoyed by the Breeders’ Cup Turf and the Hong Kong Cup and Vase, which enjoy a longer gap of around five weeks between the Breeders’ Cup. According to the Horse Racing In Japan website, the Japan Cup’s inauguration in 1981 “resulted in the breeding industry setting a goal for producing faster and stronger horses that could hold their own worldwide. This approach was to aim at a steady improvement of the Japanese-bred horses through the introduction of superior stallions and broodmares from overseas.” This strategy has worked so well that Japanese horses have won the last 14 editions of the Japan Cup, the latest success coming via the five-year-old Suave Richard, runner-up in the 2017 Japanese Derby (Tokyo Yushun). The last foreign interloper was back in 2005, when Luca Cumani’s Alkaased followed in the footsteps of such as Falbrav, Pilsudski, Singspiel, Lando, Le Glorieux, Jupiter Island and Stanerra. But even the Japanese industry may be approaching a tipping point, as we were reminded when the all-conquering Shadai Farm announced its fees for 2020. The list contained no fewer than 29 stallions but Shadai will have to cope without its major stars Deep Impact and King Kamehameha, both of whom died during 2019. Also absent from the list is the veteran Kurofune, who ranked among the top ten stallions for an impressive sequence of 12 years. Japan’s breeding industry has
Heart’s Cry: racecourse performances entitled him to sire international stars – and he has done so
developed along similar lines to those in Europe, the US and Australasia in that its attempts to improve the breed involved the importation of plenty of breeding stock. Then, with that mission accomplished, the local breeders have largely preferred to use stallions which established their reputations under local conditions. For Americans the turning point arguably came after the importation of Nasrullah, for Europe it was Northern Dancer’s son Sadler’s Wells and for Australia it was Danehill. It could be argued that the stallion which first started to modernise the Japanese thoroughbred was Northern Taste, another son of the incomparable Northern Dancer. This white-faced chestnut, a winner of the Prix de la Foret, raced in the colours of Zenya Yoshida in the early 1970s before becoming champion sire in Japan ten times in the space of 11 years. Northern Taste then kept up the good work in the role of broodmare sire, racking up 15 consecutive championships between 1992 and 2006. By 2018 there were 230 thoroughbred stallions registered at stud in Japan, of which 60 were foreign-bred and 170 Japanese-bred. Needless to say, the bulk of those Japanese-bred stallions carry the blood of Shadai’s greatest stallion,
the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Sunday Silence, who died in August 2002. Sunday Silence could be described as Japan’s answer to Sadler’s Wells, as he too achieved the unimaginable by building a sequence of 13 consecutive sires’ championships, between 1995 and 2007. The parallels between Sunday Silence and Sadler’s Wells continued, as each of them became similarly dominant as a sire of broodmares, with Sunday Silence likely to achieve his 13th consecutive broodmare title in 2019. Each of them also had a truly worthy heir among their successful stallion sons. Whereas Galileo is well on his way towards matching Sadler’s Wells’s total of 14 titles, with 2019 providing his 11th championship, Deep Impact is heading for his eighth straight title in 2019. Sadly neither Sunday Silence nor Deep Impact was to live as long as Sadler’s Wells or Galileo, as Sunday Silence was 16 when he died and Deep Impact was 17. Perhaps, though, their comparatively early deaths were no bad thing when it comes to the long-term health of the Japanese industry. The Horse Racing In Japan website states that 20 sons of Deep Impact collectively covered 1,275 mares in 2018, while 17 sons
››
THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER 89
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16/12/2019 13:15
Caulfield Files When all stallions with Sunday Silence in their second generation are added in, the figures rise to 82 stallions, which covered a total of 3,931 mares – 35 per cent of all mares covered in 2018. Deep Impact’s influence is sure to continue to grow rapidly over the next few years. The Japanese Stud Book currently credits him with 30 stallion sons, including a dozen Grade 1 winners in A Shin Hikari, Danon Shark, Dee Majesty, Deep Brillante, Kizuna, Mikki Isle, Real Impact, Real Steel, Satono Aladdin, Satono Diamond, Spielberg and Tosen Ra. With more potential stallion sons already in the pipeline, Deep Impact’s influence is set to be profound, as is hinted at by Japan’s table of first-crop sires. Top of the table at the end of November was Kizuna, with further sons – Real Impact, World Ace, Vincennes and Spielberg – also in the top 12. Incidentally, the top 12 also include another three grandsons of Sunday Silence in Stay Gold’s sons Gold Ship and Fenomeno and Daiwa Major’s son Curren Black Hill.
“Deep Impact’s influence will continue to grow rapidly over the next few years” Of course, Sunday Silence’s demise in 2002 after a lengthy struggle with laminitis means that his youngest sons will be 17 years old in 2020. Even so, three of his sons were responsible for nine of the 15 runners in the Japan Cup, with four by Deep Impact, three by Heart’s Cry and two by Stay Gold. Heart’s Cry himself contested three editions of the Japan Cup, notably failing by only a nose to catch Alkaased in 2005, and he has now sired two winners of the Japan Cup, thanks to Cheval Grand in 2017 and Suave Richard two years later. Deep Impact, of course, won the 2006 Japan Cup and has since been represented by the dual winner Gentildonna and another winning filly in Shonan Pandora. Deep Impact’s brother Black Tide also got into the act with Kitasan Black, the 2016 winner. Heart’s Cry is likely to benefit from Deep Impact’s absence as he now ranks as the second-highest-priced stallion at Shadai, even though his 2020 fee of ¥10
JRA
›› of Sunday Silence covered 761 mares.
Suave Richard, a son of Heart’s Cry, secured this year’s Japan Cup under Oisin Murphy
million (£70,000) is only a quarter of the fee commanded by Deep Impact in his last two years. Despite that disparity, Heart’s Cry merits plenty of respect both as a racehorse and a stallion. He won the 2006 Dubai Sheema Classic, having become one of the few horses ever to beat Deep Impact when he held off the Japanese Triple Crown winner by half a length in the Group 1 Arima Kinen. Heart’s Cry was also a fine third, beaten only half a length and the same, behind Hurricane Run and Electrocutionist in the 2006 King George. He was clearly well qualified to sire international performers and has done so, thanks to such as Lys Gracieux (winner of Australia’s Cox Plate in 2019), Just A Way (Group 1 Dubai Duty Free), Admire Rakti (Group 1 Caulfield Cup) and Yoshida (a Grade 1 winner on both dirt and turf in the US, where he has now been retired to WinStar Farm at a fee of $20,000). Heart’s Cry also has winners of the Japanese Derby and Oaks to his credit. If there is to be a rival to the dominance of the Sunday Silence line, it looks likely to come from King Kamehameha, the 2004 Japanese Derby winner who was conceived in Kentucky but foaled in Japan. It is his son Lord Kanaloa who now ranks as Shadai’s highest-priced stallion, with his fee rising from 2019’s ¥15m to 2020’s ¥20m. Lord Kanaloa, whose talents have been ably demonstrated by the top filly Almond Eye, covered a whopping 294 mares in 2018, the same year that Duramente – a King Kamehameha colt who won the Japanese 2,000 Guineas and Derby – covered 290 mares. Duramente, whose first crop races in 2020, has had his fee raised to ¥7m, which is one million more than Rulership, another King Kamehameha stallion who is demonstrating the merits of Japan’s racehorses and stallions. Rulership’s son
Mer de Glace travelled to Australia to win the Caulfield Cup in October. Rulership covered 243 mares in 2018, so this male line certainly isn’t going to lack for numbers in the battle with Deep Impact and his sons. Lord Kanaloa and Rulership enjoy the invaluable asset of having no Sunday Silence blood but Duramente has a dam by the 13-time champion sire and so does King Kamehameha’s wellconnected son To The World, a 2,000 Guineas runner-up who had at least 19 first-crop two-year-old winners in 2019. Following the deaths of Deep Impact and King Kamehameha, I half expected Shadai to step in to buy a leading proven stallion from Europe or America as a ready-made replacement. However, they have instead bought the top American turf horse Bricks And Mortar, who was gaining his fifth Grade 1 success of 2019 when he landed the Breeders’ Cup Turf. The son of Giant’s Causeway starts his stallion career at a fee of ¥6m, which puts him on the same mark as Harbinger, the runaway King George winner who is emerging as a talented stallion. The Shadai team have no aversion to American dirt horses (and why would they after Sunday Silence’s achievements?). The 2016 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Drefong is approaching his third season and he was joined in 2019 by Mind Your Biscuits, a dual winner of the Dubai Golden Shaheen. Another addition to the team is New Year’s Day, who had initially been sold to Brazil a few months before his son Maximum Security passed the post first in the Kentucky Derby. Other imports standing at Japanese studs include Talismanic, winner of the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Turf, and Declaration Of War, whose recent results suggest that America’s loss has been Japan’s gain. It is going to be fascinating to see whether any of these imports can alter the status quo.
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KUROSHIO
HIGH-CLASS JUVENILE AND SPRINTER BY
EXCEED AND EXCEL 20% Black-Type horses to named foals More than any other second-crop sire in Europe from limited first crops.
Over 100 mares in 2019
32% own/half sisters to Stakes winners inc: Gr.1/Gr.2 winners Alpha, Amadeus Wolf, Cavalryman, Chestnut Honey, English Channel, King’s Drama, Margot Did, Sand Zabeel, Storming Home, etc. Plus Stakes producing dams and several Stakes winners/performers.
Supported by renowned breeders Exceed And Excel ex Arctic Drift (Gone West) Kuroshio
FEE
Smooth Daddy
€6,000 My Dream Boat
Micheál Orlandi, Compas Stallions info@compasstallions.com + 353 (0)83 809 2299 compasstallions.com + 44 (0)7535 263388 Standing at Starfield Stud, Ballinagall, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland N91 K8Y9
S TA L L I O N S
A classical landscape fit for thoroughbreds.
Coach House
Hellvelyn
Pearl Secret
2yo Stakes winning sire & 26 winners in 2019
Proven source of 2yo speed
Gr.2 winning sprinter by speed sire Compton Place
SIRE OF 2YO STAKES WINNER & GR.1 PLACED SUMMER SANDS Plus Stakes performer The Cruising Lord. 26 individual winners in 2019 from limited opportunities.
SIRE OF TOP 2YO FILLY MRS DANVERS As well as 2yo Group and Stakes winners/performers Ardenode, Bonnie Grey, Hellofahaste, La Rioja, Mister Trader.
CONSISTENT 5F STAKES WINNER Won 3 Group/Stakes races and Gr.1 placed 3 times, all over 5f.
ROYAL ASCOT 2YO SPRINTER And 5f Stakes winner. BY CHAMPION SPRINTER & SIRE OASIS DREAM Sire of sires including Showcasing. Out of a Gr.1 sprinter. Fee: £4,000 1st October LFFR
Summer Sands – Wins the Redcar Two Year Old Trophy L, a week after finishing third in the Middle Park Stakes Gr.1.
Chapel Stud Ltd Chapel Lane, Bransford, Worcestershire WR6 5JQ 01452 717 342 www.chapelstud.co.uk
Plus many tough, high-class multiple winning sprinters including 2019 Stakes performer Hells Babe, Quench Dolly, Little Boy Blue, Wrenthorpe, etc.
FIRST YEARLINGS REALISED £55,000, 50,000gns, 35,000gns, £32,000, £30,000, etc. Averaging over 4x his stud fee.
2020 TWO-YEAR-OLDS SET TO BE HIS BEST EVER
In training with Michael Bell, Richard Fahey, Richard Hannon, Karl Burke, Henry Candy, Charlie Hills, Tom Dascombe, Michael Dods, David Barron, etc.
Fee: £3,000 1st October LFFR
Fee: £4,000 1st October
Mrs Danvers - Unbeaten 5-time winner including Cornwallis Stakes Gr.3, St Hugh’s Stakes L and Weatherbys Super Sprint.
“She is a very strong, athletic, good-moving filly.” Henry Candy, re £55,000 Pearl Secret filly ex Speed Princess
Roisin Close 07738 279 071 roisin@chapelstud.co.uk
Coach House In partnership with Whitsbury Manor Stud and Trickledown Stud
Pearl Secret Daniel Creighton 07597 945 219
www.thethoroughbredclub.co.uk •
@TTC_GB
Is Career Maker Programme right for you?
C
areers in Racing, the BHA’s careers marketing arm for the racing industry, launched the Volunteer Career Maker Programme in March 2019, designed to help inspire the next generation of young people to work in British racing. The aim of the programme is to equip the industry with a broader reach into schools on a national level and provide students with a greater understanding of the career and job opportunities available. The programme uses a network of volunteers, known as Career Makers, to share their experiences with students at careers fairs across the country, so they can hear the many advantages of a career in racing first hand. Why should I get involved? Members of The Thoroughbred Club would be ideal for the VCM programme because of their enthusiastic and passionate attitude towards the racing industry. Members would be given full training via e-training videos and could add real value to their CV. Speaking in public about the racing industry and their experiences could also help build confidence and communication skills. The recruitment process is simple: complete a short application form that requires some basic details and current involvement with racing. You would then have a one-to-one phone call with a member of the Careers in Racing team, discussing the closest schools to you and what the process involves. You might even want to attend the school you went to! After this you will be added to the private VCM workplace group, an online portal run by Facebook, which includes
have been lucky enough to gain a wealth of experience from working and studying with a wide range of people. “Being able to go and speak to my local community about the varied career paths available in the industry is very fulfilling, and letting young people know first hand what the industry has to offer is very rewarding.”
Students can be shown what’s on offer
a series of training videos from various stakeholders, including the British Racing School, National Horseracing College and the National Stud. This outlines what training the industry has to offer, which will enable you to answer any questions young people may have. Upcoming events and activities are also posted in this group and it gives a platform for others to communicate and share experiences. Once an event is agreed, you will be sent a pack that includes your own branded jacket/gilet, table cloth, banner and some of the leaflets/handouts used to give the public information on the varied careers. Alice Packwood is a Volunteer Career Maker, who studies at Oxford Brookes University. Alice has been involved in the industry in some capacity since the age of 14 and has held various roles as well as attending the British Racing School. Alice said: “I feel my enthusiasm towards racing thrives from my love of horses. I started out not having a lot of confidence, but I
Exclusive Ascot badge offer
Altior: Clarence House winner in 2019
Ascot has kindly offered Thoroughbred Club members half-price admission to the Matchbook Clarence House
Raceday on Saturday, January 18. The afternoon’s racing will feature the Grade 1 Clarence House Steeple Chase, won by outstanding chaser Altior in 2019. Half-price tickets can be purchased on the day from Ticket Office East upon presentation of a valid TTC membership card. For further information on upcoming badge offers to members please visit the TTC website or email info@ thethoroughbredclub.co.uk
Employer involvement with the programme The programme is also designed to help employers engage with their local schools so they are able to speak directly to potential staff about what working in the industry is like, day to day. Racehorse trainers Daniel and Claire Kubler are big advocates of the programme. They have not only spoken about it on TV but attended events. Daniel said: “As employers within the racing industry, Claire and I feel that we all have a responsibility to encourage the next generation of participants and staff, and have therefore supported the Volunteer Career Maker programme with our time and encouraged members of our team to do the same. “It was fun to spend a day at Windsor Horse Show on the Careers In Racing stand, sharing our experiences and showing youngsters and their parents the opportunities within racing.” If you are interested in becoming a Volunteer Career Maker, visit the Careers in Racing job board, where the application form will be in the highlighted jobs section and complete the Wufoo form.
Diary Dates and Reminders Saturday, January 18 Matchbook Clarence House Chase Raceday Ascot racecourse Tuesday, January 21 National Hunt Stallion Showcase Goffs UK Sales Complex, Doncaster Thursday, January 30 TBA Flat Stallion Parade Tattersalls, Newmarket Further information on all events can be found on the TTC website
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ROA Forum
The special section for ROA members
A fresh look for the ROA
T
he ROA identity has been updated following work undertaken by the Industry Ownership Strategy. This reflects the industry’s desire to see ownership flourish and with that, the ROA’s need to stand out and make an impact whenever we communicate – at racecourses, in the press and throughout the wider world. ROA communications will aspire to convey the excitement and enjoyment of being an owner, to attract a new audience and help us better represent the interests of existing owners as we collaborate with stakeholders
throughout the industry. On behalf of all owners, we strive to ensure that our sport has a bright and exciting future. We hope you like the new ROA look and feel. Please do let us know your thoughts. ROA Chief Executive Charlie Liverton commented: “The ROA has
had an established brand for the past two decades and during that time the ownership experience has evolved. The feedback we have had through the Industry Ownership Strategy project showed that our brand should do the same. “Racehorse owners are at the heart of our sport, contributing a financial and emotional investment that makes racing possible. Our new brand and messaging raises the voice of owners. We want to make ownership more rewarding and special – ensuring the sport we love has a vibrant future.”
Changes to permanent retirement of horses As part of an industry-wide collaborative project to improve the traceability of racehorses throughout their careers, there is a proposal to change the Rules of Racing that deal with the permanent retirement of a horse. Owners should be aware that the proposal would mean that processes around the permanent retirement of horses would change and during this year the rules will be extended to enable trainers to notify the BHA, on behalf of the owner, that a horse they train is permanently retired, as well as owners being able to provide this notification. The wording for the proposal is subject to ongoing consideration but the intention is to allow a trainer to notify the BHA on behalf of an owner of the permanent retirement of a horse when acting as an agent. The proposal would only allow a trainer to retire a horse that they train. The horse’s owner will be able to cancel the process within 14 days if the retirement has happened in error. Once permanently retired, a horse will be ineligible to race under the Rules of Racing and will not be
ROA members visiting retired racehorses at the HEROS charity in Fawley, Oxfordshire
reinstated without the approval of the BHA. The process to reinstate a horse includes anti-doping sampling and a stand-down period. A horse’s retirement will be notified via the Racing Admin website, which allows for a Non-Racing Agreement to be applied to the horse as part of the online process. The system also asks for the new keeper’s name and email address, so that the new keeper can be made aware of their legal requirement to complete a transfer of ownership and enhance traceability post-racing.
When the online process is completed, an email will be sent to the horse’s owner. The email address used will be that which is registered on the Racing Admin website, so it is important that owners ensure their details are up to date. To advise of a new email, contact websupport@ racingadmin.co.uk. In a partnership, all registered owners will be contacted. The new processes are due to go live in February. Support around the processes will be available in the ‘how to’ video guides on the Racing Admin website.
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On film: De Rasher Counter triumphs at Newbury, where RMG manages media rights
Racecourse filming under the microscope Owners may have read about Racecourse Media Group (RMG) issuing guidance for syndicates in relation to filming on Racing TV racecourses. We thought it might be helpful to publish a Q&A from RMG on filming guidelines. Owners in any doubt about filming permissions should contact RMG or the racecourse itself.
Members can access the full races and non-members can access the closing stages. Selected races are also available on RTV’s social media platforms.
As an owner or a syndicate member, am I allowed to film at the racecourse and post to my personal account? Yes, providing it is on a phone and on your own personal account. It is important to note that racecourses will have their own policies for filming in horse areas such as the parade ring, winner’s enclosure and unsaddling enclosure, where safety is paramount.
Can I obtain the actual video file? You will need to contact RMG.
Can I post to my syndicate’s account? If a syndicate wants to film on-course or access race footage, they should contact the racecourse or Racecourse Media Group (RMG). If my syndicate or I want to film in the paddock and other key areas of the racecourse, how do I go about it? This will depend on what you want to film, how it will be used and/or commercialised, what fixture it is and what else is happening at the course. The best advice is to contact the relevant racecourse or RMG. How can I view a video of my horse’s race on a Racing TV racecourse? RacingTV.com publishes every race from the courses broadcast on RTV.
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Can I publish these races? You can re-post or hyperlink RTV videos to either your personal or syndicate’s digital platforms.
Can I obtain any relevant jockey/ trainer interviews broadcast on RTV? You can re-post or hyperlink RTV videos to your personal or syndicate’s digital platforms. To obtain specific interviews, please contact RMG. Can I interview jockeys and trainers at the course on raceday? No. These interviews are the preserve of the paying rights holders, especially in the key areas of the parade ring, winner’s and unsaddling enclosures. Can I film my horse in the paddock, going down or during the race to publish on my personal account? If it is for your own use on your own phone, this is fine. Requests from any syndicates or third parties to film in key areas of the racecourse would be dependent on the raceday and other broadcasters. Please contact the racecourse or RMG for more info. What are RMG’s contact details? It is best to email broadcasting. requests@racecoursemediagroup.com
Arena Racing Company have also clarified their position. PR & Communications Manager Sam Cone commented: “Obviously access to the parade ring/winner’s enclosure with camera equipment/tripods etc will remain at the discretion of the Clerk of the Course. I can only see this being an issue on very busy days, for example, but phones and small cameras I can’t see being a problem.” Points to note regarding filming at ARC tracks: • Essentially, there is no problem with filming taking place on our racecourses. • Straight up filming or live streaming of a race, however, is prohibited. We can assist anyone looking for race footage to contact Sky directly. • Certain areas of the racecourse remain out of bounds, specifically the BHA integrity areas. These include, but are not limited to, the weighing room, stables, judges/ stewards’ box etc. • We are happy to be as accommodating as possible to syndicates or trainers who would like to get some footage for their own marketing. We would, however, ask that anyone planning some filming of this nature get in touch in advance so that racecourse teams may be briefed accordingly. • We have no problem with owners of any sort filming their jockeys/ trainers on their phones in the winner’s enclosure after a race, for example.
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ROA Forum
Wetherby hosts local owners
Over 80 members and guests gathered at Wetherby on Wednesday, November 27 for the ROA’s 12th Industry Ownership Day of 2019. The focus of the day was a regional meeting for local owners, hosted by Mick Fitzgerald. Chief Executive Charlie Liverton provided an update on topical issues including fixtures and funding, equine welfare and progress of the Ownership Strategy project. Members were invited to raise questions and points for discussion. Topics posed included lack of opportunities for lower rated horses and frustration at being balloted out, general improvements in raceday facilities, what was being done to safeguard the interests of syndicate members, racecourse media rights and communication around racing opportunities. Paul Johnson, Head of Racing at the BHA, was present on the day, and responded to a number of race planning questions, explaining the rationale for providing opportunities for better horses, and why horses rated below a certain level sometimes had to wait longer to get a run. Guests enjoyed a hot buffet lunch and the afternoon’s racing from the paddock marquee. Representatives from the BHA team of handicappers and Retraining of Racehorses were present and answered members’ questions throughout the day. In spite of the inclement weather, a warm glow was provided by Thomas Macdonagh, who scooped a £2,000 bonus for his owners Sperling, Coomes, Davies, Hague and Collins when winning the ROA Owners Jackpot Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle. Eight out of the 11 runners in the feature race qualified for a payment of £250 from the ROA towards travel costs. The winning horse’s trainer, Jamie Snowden, is an ROA member, and so the winning yard also received a bonus of £500. The previous Industry Ownership Day had been held at Hereford on a breezy afternoon on Tuesday, November 12. The six-race card was sponsored by the ROA and it was a pleasure to see so many owners there on the day enjoying watching their horses run, and the lucky few owners who had a winner on the afternoon celebrating enthusiastically!
Owners attending the Industry Ownership Day at Wetherby in the paddock marquee
across ownership types, fixtures and funding, and the bloodstock sales review. During lunch, Brant Dunshea, BHA Chief Regulatory Officer, and raceday steward David Jones gave a short presentation on the stewarding function and regulatory aspects of the BHA. Members who attended the meeting also had the opportunity to pick the best turned out in each race, with the help of our resident expert Mick Fitzgerald. They also presented the winning owners with their mementos straight after the race. This month, the Industry Ownership Day will be held at Exeter on January 21. Next month we’ll be welcoming members at Bangor on February 18, before heading to Musselburgh on March 31. Each day will feature a regional meeting for local owners and an Owners Jackpot race with incentive opportunities for owners and trainers of qualified runners.
The ROA Owners Jackpot race was won in great fashion by the Tom Symonds-trained Loud As Lions, who broke his maiden tag in spectacular style, making virtually all on his chasing debut for his enthusiastic owners Celia and Michael Baker, Karen Ibberson and Henry Pearman. As all four are ROA members, they scooped an extra £2,000 in addition to prize-money. All qualifying runners in the Jackpot race also picked up £250 in travel expenses. Members from the local area were also invited to the ROA regional meeting, which proved a major success with over 100 members and their guests attending, taking over the Rusty Bridge Restaurant to listen to an update from ROA Chief Executive Charlie Liverton on the work of the ROA and Industry news. There was also a lively Q&A discussion, which included the topics of prize-money at grassroots level, badge allocations and access to facilities
Upcoming Owners Jackpot races Exeter
January 21
30416
2m1f Handicap Hurdle (Class 5) 0-100 4yo+
Bangor
February 18
30992
2m11⁄2f Handicap Chase (Class 4) 0-120 5yo+
41305
7f Handicap (Class 5) 56-75 3yo
Musselburgh March 31
To secure a place at an upcoming regional meeting see www.roa.co.uk/events
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Members enjoying the pavilion at Aintree
Grand National Festival hospitality We are delighted to confirm details of a special hospitality package for members at Aintree on the opening two days of the Randox Health Grand National Festival, Thursday, April 2 and Friday, April 3. Our exclusive members’ facility will be on the ground floor of the Hospitality Pavilion, overlooking the Grand National start area. The bespoke, and heavily discounted, package includes racecourse admission, a four-course lunch, followed by afternoon tea served later in the day. The facility includes a cash bar. Grand National Thursday, on April 2, explodes into action with four Grade 1 races, featuring the Betway Bowl and Betway Aintree Hurdle, won last year by Kemboy and Supasundae. Fabulous Friday on April 3 is Ladies Day featuring four Grade 1 races, including the JLT Chase. Our special package is priced at £240 per person on Thursday and £320 per person on Friday. We expect this offer to sell out rapidly, so please book as soon as possible to secure your places.
A course walk will be arranged on both days for a limited number. Guests will be given the option to sign up for the walk in the order of bookings made. Bookings can be made at roa.co.uk/events or by calling the ROA on 020 7152 0200.
Free admission
Aintree is generously repeating its offer to allow ROA members free admission to the Festival Zone on the first and second days of the three-day Randox Health Grand National Festival, on April 2 and 3. Members can enjoy admission on production of their PASScard or Horseracing Privilege card at the Owners & Trainers Entrance. Tickets for accompanying guests on the day can be purchased at face value that day, subject to availability. Please note this offer is only redeemable with access through the Owners & Trainers Entrance reception. Members can also reserve a car-parking label for the owners’ and trainers’ car park. Email info@roa.co.uk by March 20 to request a label.
Tour of the tracks, take three! ROA member Maurice Stringer rounded off a tour of all 60 British racecourses during 2019 with a trip to Lingfield Park on December 3. When asked for a race report, he declared: “I did it on the bridle!” This was the third tour of British racecourses undertaken by the Swindon-based owner. The idea was hatched in 2010 and he completed his first visit to all the tracks by 2015. After early retirement allowed more time for racing, Maurice realised he’d visited over half the racecourses without trying too hard. This prompted him to take on the challenge to visit every course again during 2019, going the extra mile by covering racing under each code at
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those courses which held Flat and/or allweather and jump fixtures. A highlight of his 2019 tour was a visit to Cartmel in July with the ROA, which followed a member visit to the British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre in Halton, Lancaster. After leaving his iPad behind at the hotel, Maurice returned the following day to collect it. A horse that he had a share in with the Racegoers Club Owners Group, Golden Force, was due to run at Leicester that evening, so he took in the meeting on his journey home. He was glad he did so when Golden Force duly obliged at 9-1. Maurice has thoroughly enjoyed travelling the length and breadth of the country. He rued the closure of Towcester
Maurice Stringer: tour de force
racecourse, which had been a favourite venue. A particularly happy memory was being present when AP McCoy rode his 4,000th winner on Mountain Tunes in November 2013. He was one of the benefactors when, to mark the achievement, owner JP McManus took the generous step of buying a round of drinks for all racegoers on the day.
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ROA Forum
MY DAY AT THE RACES With Mark Dunphy at Wincanton on November 9
M
ark Dunphy believes he is living the dream owning racehorses, having loved horseracing since he was a teenager. He bought his first racehorse, and winner, Steps And Stairs in 2014 and now has 13 racehorses in training with Claire Dyson and one with Max Young. Although Mark loves all of his horses, regardless of their performance on the track, his best horse so far has been Sparkling River. Mark’s partner, Joanne Harris, convinced him to buy a grey mare and he’s glad he listened to her as she went on to win four races and is now in foal to Jack Hobbs – helping to fulfil another dream. He went racing at Wincanton with five-year-old gelding, Envol De La Cour.
How was the experience of arrival at the racecourse, and collecting your owners’ badges? Arrival at the racecourse was no problem, the weather was atrocious but that didn’t stop us! We got our badges smoothly without any issues. Did you use the Owners’ & Trainers’ facility on the day? We did use O&T facilities on the day – there were nine people in our group
MATTHEW WEBB
Did you receive any welcome information as an owner in advance of the raceday? Yes, we received welcome information via email.
Mark Dunphy with Joanne Harris (left), trainer Claire Dyson and jockey Charlie Hammond
and they all had a fabulous day. What were your thoughts on the location, comfort and provision in the facility? Although it was very busy early on, it did ease and we got a table to eat our lunch, which we enjoyed very much. Compliments to Wincanton staff on the day for the food and the drinks! The bar was especially well run by Mark on a very busy day – top man! How was the pre-parade ring/paddock experience? We all enjoyed the pre-parade ring/ paddock enclosure area as we got as close up to our horse as possible.
Envol De La Cour in action at Wincanton
however as our horse was pulled up I wouldn’t have wanted to anyway if offered! How were you treated as a winning owner on the day? Unfortunately, he was pulled up during his race so no celebrating on the day, we’ll be back though. What was your overall lasting feeling of the day, based on your racecourse experience? My overall lasting feeling of my day’s racing at Wincanton was very enjoyable and we will definitely be returning in the near future.
How did you find the facilities for owners’ viewing? We watched our race in front of the big racecourse screen in front of the stands as we preferred to get as close to watching as possible, the viewing was fine from there.
HOW IT RATED
Were you able to review a replay of your race easily on course? We didn’t see a replay of our race,
Food
Entry Viewing Atmosphere Owners’ facilities Overall score
★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ 22
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Diary dates and reminders JANUARY 1 New Owners car-parking label effective
JANUARY 21 Industry Ownership Day and regional meeting at Exeter
FEBRUARY 18 Industry Ownership Day and regional meeting at Bangor
MARCH 10-13 ROA marquee facility at the Cheltenham Festival
MARCH 31 Industry Ownership Day and regional meeting at Musselburgh
APRIL 2-3 Aintree hospitality offer and free admission for members on opening two days of Randox Health Grand National Festival The marquee at the Cheltenham Festival is always a popular base for owners
Book now for the Festival Join us for our most popular member event in the ROA marquee over the four days of the Cheltenham Festival, March 10-13. The marquee, located close to the shopping village and a short walk from the parade ring, offers a comfortable and relaxed location away from the crowds at jump racing’s most prestigious fixture of the year. The Festival attracts the very best horses, their owners and riders and offers over £4.5 million in prize-money. Last year’s four-day spectacular attracted a record total attendance of 266,779. Each year provides a host of inspiring memories. Last year these included Byrony Frost’s notable victory on Frodon in the Ryanair
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Chase, an emotional win for Paisley Park in the Stayers’ Hurdle and Al Boum Photo providing trainer Willie Mullins with his first Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup success. Tickets for the ROA marquee are on sale and will sell out swiftly, so don’t delay in booking places. Visit roa.co.uk/events or call the ROA office on 020 7152 0200. Members can book up to three guest badges per day. Badges can be purchased at a daily rate, or a reduced rate for the four days.
Daily (£) Four days (£)
Member 45 130 Non member
55
170
APRIL 28 Members can go racing for free on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival
APRIL 28, 29, 30 & MAY 1 Members can enjoy access to the AIRO marquee for the first four days of the Punchestown Festival
JUNE 30 ROA AGM and members’ lunch at York
DECEMBER 10 ROA Horseracing Awards For more details or to book places see roa.co.uk/events or call the office on 020 7152 0200
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ROA Forum
MAGICAL MOMENTS ROA member Rob Rexton is in flying form
I
t could well be a year to remember for owner Rob Rexton, whose racing wish for 2020 is pretty much cast in stone. For if everything continues to go smoothly with Flying Angel, the intention is for the gallant grey to line up at Aintree for the £1 million Randox Health Grand National in April. Rexton was born in Ballarat, Australia and while he has no family background in the sport – he was always told, however, he inherited his grandmother’s interest – he liked to watch racing and have a bet, and attended feature contests such as the Melbourne Cup, Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup, went harness racing of a Friday night, and enjoyed family outings to his local twoday Cup meeting. After going travelling for a few years he wound up in Britain and in 1985 set up a construction company, Agetur UK. The business has gone from strength to strength for a boss looking forward to celebrating the firm’s 35th anniversary in 2020 – as well as hoping for a National dream to come true. The link with the Nigel TwistonDavies stable traces to a game of golf with the trainer’s long-time mucker Carl Llewellyn in Oxfordshire. An invite to the yard followed, as did Rexton’s first horse, The Gangerman, who the owner recalls fondly. “He was my first runner and first winner, at Chepstow in December 2005,” he says proudly. “He didn’t win that often but was placed a lot and was a fun horse to own. “I’ve had horses with Nigel ever since, and have three currently: Flying Angel, Kingsplace and Robinshill. “Flying Angel is the best I have owned so far. Among six victories to date, he’s won the Manifesto Novices’ Chase and the Imperial Cup, and he was second in the Martin Pipe six days after – and was a bit unlucky actually as they missed out the last hurdle.” Flying Angel most recently started favourite for the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree over the famous fences, but the two-mile-five-furlong trip slightly found him out. He kept on gamely, however, to finish fourth and all roads lead back to the Merseyside track.
Nigel Twiston-Davies, Rob Rexton and Tom Bellamy in good form at the races
“It showed he needs further really,” reflects Rexton, who for the first time missed out on seeing Flying Angel run in the flesh; with his wife due to fly to Australia, he understandably felt it would have been a bit mean to attend Aintree. “The plan at the moment is to run at Cheltenham in the New Year, and then if all goes well to head to the Grand National, which would be amazing. He’s lost a bit of speed but grinds it out, and he’ll be the right age for it at nine. “I get a lot of pleasure out of owning horses and being part of Nigel’s team. You build up great relationships with other owners, and follow each other’s horses, sharing in the excitement. I’ve sponsored Nigel’s yard for a couple of years now, and I also sponsor jockey Tom Bellamy, as I did Ryan Hatch prior to him retiring.” Rexton, also through his company Agetur UK, agreed a three-year deal to back the Kingmaker Chase at Warwick and just a few days after speaking to Owner Breeder was due to head to that track with 70 colleagues for the firm’s Christmas party, an afternoon when they also sponsored a race. His enthusiasm has rubbed off on many of his staff, including his assistant Maggie – “my racing manager!” – though his Irish associates in the construction game hardly
needed much stoking. Living just 25 minutes from Warwick, Rexton and his company have a strong association with the track, and while he won’t be having a runner in the 2020 Kingmaker he hopes to have one on the card. He very much enjoys visiting the Twiston-Davies yard too, and was due there for Christmas drinks the day before his works outing to Warwick. “I’ve no intention of changing trainers, I love it at Nigel’s, and I even buy his duffle coats!” says Rexton. “We get on well, his team are great, and of course I have known his sons Sam and Willie since they were young boys. It’s lovely to see them do well, Sam with his riding and Willie, along with Ryan Hatch, breaking in horses. “When you do have a winner, it’s a lovely feeling for everyone connected with the yard, not just me.” Rexton underlined the importance to him of reputation in business, taking pride in Agetur UK’s standing with clients, while he also makes sure his horses are found a good home after racing. And his magical moments so far? “The Gangerman’s first win at Chepstow, and Flying Angel’s win in the Grade 1 Manifesto,” he replies. Rexton’s enthusiasm for racing – he is more interested in jumping from an owner perspective but likes the Flat, enjoys attending Royal Ascot and has a share in the Richard Hughes-trained Old News – is such that his only gripe is not against anything to do with the industry, merely Mother Nature. “The only thing I find frustrating is having to wait until the autumn to have runners!” he admits. His wife jetting off aside, Rexton does like to be at the course to watch his horses run, and he therefore has instructed Twiston-Davies to hang fire over Christmas given he too was due to fly to Australia. Whether having a runner in the Grand National quite enters into the spirit of being a New Year’s resolution is a moot point, but either way there is hopefully much for this owner to look forward to, on and off the track.
100 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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Stable staff pay increase Britain’s legion of stable staff are now seeing an increase of 2% on all basic rates of payment and racing expenses have also been increased across the board. This follows an agreement of the National Joint Council between representatives of the National Association of Racing Staff (NARS) and the National Trainers Federation (NTF).
The pay increase came into force on December 2
The new agreement came into force on December 2 and includes: • Racing expenses will increase from £8.21 to £8.80, up 7% • Overnight expenses will increase from £15 to £19, up 26% • Foreign travel allowances will go from £30 per day to £47.50 per day, up 58% • Basic wages on all rates increased by 2%
News in brief ROA staff changes
Steve Hatcher has joined the ROA as Finance Director. He joins from the Countryside Alliance, where he worked for many years as Deputy Chief Executive. He brings a breadth of experience having helped lead a large membership organisation. Steve has had a lifelong interest in horseracing and the wider equine community. He succeeds Jamie Wilson, who left the ROA after a period of 15 months as Deputy Chief Executive at the end of October. Jamie played a pivotal role with ROA finances and, in particular, the Industry Ownership Strategy project and the ongoing commercial development of the ROA. We wish him every success with his new role in wealth management.
Free racing admission schemes
Do you know where you can race for free? Check the ROA website at roa. co.uk/freead to find details of all the admission schemes you can make use of during 2020. Members can enjoy free admission at most fixtures at Jockey Club Racecourses, ARC racecourses, Newbury racecourse and the five Scottish racecourses. We want members to enjoy lots of free racing over the next year!
Transfer of engagements
The process of transferring engagements has been streamlined to allow a more customer driven ownership experience. When the ownership of a horse with outstanding engagements changes, the trainer and new
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owner will receive a message to their Racing Admin Inbox. As from December 2019, this details the horse’s forthcoming engagements and includes a link to complete the Transfer of Engagement (TofE) form in order to update any entries to reflect the new ownership. The TofE form needs to be completed and requires the signature of the new and old owner before it can be emailed to the registrations team (registration@ weatherbys.co.uk) for processing. These improvements complement the current warning message which alerts trainers when ownership of a horse with an entry is changed. In line with a move towards the self-service of ownership, the registrations team are no longer making calls to remind trainers or owners of upcoming entries where a transfer of engagement might be required. While these calls were uncommon (fewer than ten are made each month), if you have any concerns about the changes please call the BHA on 020 7152 0155.
EI vaccinations
The BHA has advised owners and trainers that there will be no change to current EI vaccination requirements during 2020. A consultation process on longerterm changes will take place during the year with a view to permanent and internationally harmonised changes from 2021. Full details of the BHA notice dated November 14 and summary of requirements can be found at roa.co.uk in the news section.
New
Tote logo patches
All trainers of horses covered by the new Tote owner-sponsorship scheme have been sent new Tote logo patches. Any owners or trainers with horses who wish to order Tote logo patches can do so by contacting Franklins Group on 02840 622230 between 8am-5pm Monday-Thursday and 8am-midday on Fridays. The cost is £11.99 plus postage and packing per set.
Feedback winner
Members are encouraged to provide feedback when they go racing with a runner via the raceday section of the ROA website. Each month we randomly select a member who has left feedback to receive a £50 Marks & Spencer gift card. Our latest winner is Stephen Bocking, who has horses in training with Alex Hales and Paul Webber.
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ROA Forum Figures for period December 1, 2018 to November 30, 2019
Flat Racecourse League Table Ptn Racecourse
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
Ascot York Goodwood Epsom Downs Newmarket Newbury Chester Sandown Park Doncaster Haydock Park Ayr Pontefract Chelmsford City Kempton Park Salisbury Musselburgh Ripon Hamilton Park Thirsk Wetherby Beverley Carlisle Newcastle Lingfield Park Redcar Nottingham Windsor Catterick Bridge Leicester Bath Yarmouth Wolverhampton Ffos Las Southwell Chepstow Brighton Total
Ownership
Avg racecourse spend per fixture (£)
I I I JCR JCR I I JCR ARC JCR I I I JCR I I I I I I I JCR ARC ARC I JCR ARC I I ARC ARC ARC ARC ARC ARC ARC
486,133 281,530 224,507 179,919 135,666 86,180 84,906 84,834 78,662 78,135 53,029 45,629 45,508 43,293 41,863 41,502 41,410 41,292 39,767 39,741 39,000 38,361 35,942 35,651 34,634 34,494 32,486 30,969 30,739 29,204 25,928 23,992 23,392 20,947 20,510 20,007 63,335
Avg HBLB spend per fixture (£)
Avg owner spend per fixture (£)
Avg prizemoney per fixture (£)
Total no. of fixtures 2018-19
Total prize-money 2018-19 (£)
Avg racecourse spend per fixture 2017-18 (£)
121,800 263,948 93,347 116,783 86,943 81,712 70,754 108,762 70,735 74,132 53,937 37,036 45,863 14,776 52,732 40,631 41,804 31,679 43,273 19,189 35,591 13,961 29,736 3,509 21,336 5,805 19,938 6,262 27,287 6,215 21,594 5,801 21,822 5,119 22,473 4,601 20,146 7,169 13,743 5,520 20,652 4,386 20,068 6,454 21,401 7,336 24,544 4,626 22,460 16,900 22,442 7,102 20,549 5,788 19,750 3,149 20,725 5,314 18,610 4,492 18,698 4,773 17,343 3,669 12,993 3,614 16,755 2,626 14,214 3,381 15,927 2,856 30,976 20,968
876,784 495,549 398,515 359,435 282,969 182,447 146,745 180,331 152,202 145,232 102,580 81,141 74,064 69,912 76,182 69,485 68,351 68,366 67,253 59,003 64,038 64,883 65,017 64,877 74,394 64,532 58,823 53,868 57,715 52,363 50,160 45,023 39,998 40,328 38,106 38,790 116,213
18 18 18 11 39 17 15 15 22 21 14 15 65 64 15 17 17 16 16 3 19 13 51 72 15 23 26 14 16 22 23 82 6 43 15 21 897
15,782,112 8,919,874 7,173,268 3,953,785 11,035,792 3,101,591 2,201,175 2,704,958 3,348,445 2,977,251 1,436,120 1,217,108 4,814,167 4,474,364 1,142,724 1,181,250 1,161,972 1,093,860 1,076,049 177,010 1,216,716 843,480 3,315,842 4,671,153 1,115,915 1,484,233 1,529,393 754,146 923,443 1,151,984 1,153,684 3,691,896 239,990 1,734,118 571,587 814,585 104,185,038
471,381 247,392 214,435 203,471 134,724 87,169 83,457 91,898 82,427 74,173 52,677 47,646 51,592 40,730 47,797 47,807 42,657 43,731 37,037 46,662 36,671 39,809 40,906 39,288 39,412 38,004 36,059 36,955 37,039 29,094 31,074 27,149 28,703 23,234 23,675 24,862 64,752
Jumps Racecourse League Table Ptn Racecourse
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41
Aintree Cheltenham Ascot Sandown Park Haydock Park Newbury Kempton Park Ayr Doncaster Kelso Newcastle Wincanton Perth Fakenham Exeter Cartmel Carlisle Chepstow Taunton Newton Abbot Wetherby Ludlow Market Rasen Huntingdon Warwick Hexham Hereford Musselburgh Uttoxeter Catterick Bridge Plumpton Stratford-On-Avon Leicester Bangor-On-Dee Ffos Las Fontwell Park Sedgefield Lingfield Park Southwell Worcester Towcester Total
Up/ down
s s s t s t s t t s s t t s t t t t s t s t t t t t t t t s t t t t t t t
Ownership
Avg racecourse spend per fixture (£)
Avg HBLB spend per fixture (£)
Avg owner spend per fixture (£)
Avg prizemoney per fixture (£)
Total no. of fixtures 2018-19
Total prize-money 2018-19 (£)
Avg racecourse spend per fixture 2017-18 (£)
Up/ down
JCR JCR I JCR JCR I JCR I ARC I ARC JCR I I JCR I JCR ARC I I I I JCR JCR JCR I ARC I ARC I I I I I ARC ARC ARC ARC ARC ARC I
292,019 283,879 171,584 113,246 105,996 72,737 67,440 46,563 44,083 40,585 39,537 37,875 37,130 36,653 35,469 35,049 35,043 34,996 34,335 33,957 32,654 32,411 32,334 30,230 29,996 27,226 25,660 25,548 25,178 25,010 24,613 24,285 24,001 22,380 21,933 21,003 19,488 18,291 17,185 16,810 0 46,420
145,538 129,305 92,847 95,669 87,050 81,645 65,113 39,713 46,343 35,862 36,596 34,260 32,903 22,261 30,478 30,387 34,877 33,821 21,386 33,357 31,676 29,738 29,075 25,585 30,521 21,847 23,287 23,879 28,729 23,808 24,952 24,097 29,306 20,536 24,287 20,190 20,885 20,874 19,558 23,597 0 37,133
78,304 73,687 19,333 19,320 18,299 21,274 10,416 12,115 6,861 5,889 6,480 6,787 4,170 0 7,351 5,468 6,717 8,970 5,907 0 6,215 4,804 5,768 5,710 6,647 2,478 5,439 3,524 6,465 2,874 4,664 4,178 4,206 4,134 4,509 3,227 3,315 3,770 3,460 3,675 0 9,021
515,861 487,538 288,139 234,347 223,227 177,010 143,386 102,558 100,187 85,102 83,382 79,422 74,520 58,915 73,298 70,904 84,531 77,787 61,628 67,313 70,902 67,247 67,392 62,926 67,289 51,551 54,387 53,405 60,372 51,692 54,229 52,561 57,513 47,211 50,729 44,419 43,687 42,935 40,203 44,082 0 93,491
8 15 8 9 9 12 12 12 10 15 13 16 15 12 15 9 12 15 14 15 14 17 22 19 18 16 8 11 23 8 16 17 9 14 16 24 19 6 20 15 0 558
4,126,890 7,313,067 2,305,109 2,109,122 1,897,428 2,124,122 1,720,629 1,230,700 1,001,875 1,276,532 1,083,966 1,270,747 1,117,800 706,977 1,099,468 638,133 1,014,377 1,166,799 862,796 1,009,701 992,623 1,143,202 1,482,627 1,195,589 1,211,199 824,821 435,095 587,460 1,388,557 413,537 867,660 893,534 517,617 660,951 811,659 1,066,067 830,057 257,610 804,069 661,234 0 52,121,406
285,819 270,458 158,248 111,950 101,694 32,557 55,823 45,395 36,536 47,742 32,270 36,557 86,918 34,403 35,086 34,420 37,941 33,540 30,458 28,630 33,156 55,823 28,063 28,253 32,712 27,344 29,867 24,185 28,459 24,583 22,758 34,815 28,253 23,103 27,953 22,893 20,450 47,742 19,482 23,720 25,097 47,362
s s s s s s s s s t s s t s s s t s s s t t s s t t t s t s s t t t t t t t t t t t
EXPLANATION The tables set out the average prize-money at each fixture staged by a racecourse over the last 12 months. They show how this is made up of the three sources of prize-money: 1. Racecourses’ contribution 2. Levy Board (HBLB) 3. Owners The tables also confirm the number of fixtures staged and the total amount of prize-money paid out by each racecourse throughout this period. The racecourses are ordered by the average amount of their own contribution to prizemoney at each fixture. This contribution originates from various sources including media rights, admission revenues and racecourse sponsors. If a racecourse has increased its average contribution at each fixture compared with the previous 12 months, it receives a green ‘up’ arrow. If its average contribution has fallen, however, it receives a red ‘down’ arrow. As these tables are based on the prizemoney paid out by each racecourse, the abandonment of a major fixture could distort a racecourse’s performance.
OWNERSHIP KEY JCR Jockey Club Racecourses ARC Arena Racing Company I
Independently owned racecourse
Gold Standard Award
102 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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TBA Forum
The special section for TBA members
TBA Flat Stallion Parade
T
he Tattersalls February Sale in Newmarket will once again feature the TBA’s Flat Stallion Parade on January 30. The event will include a number of stallions who will be standing their first or second season at stud in Great Britain, and provides a great opportunity for breeders to view them and finalise mating plans with stud representatives. The parade will take place before the start of the sale and stallions will then be available to view in the Left and Right Yards throughout the morning. Breeders and members are invited to join the TBA for light refreshments in the hospitality boxes. Further information on the event, including a full list of stallions, can be found on the TBA website.
ADAM SMYTH
The parade will take place prior to the start of the February Sale
Regional Forum dates in 2020
The forums have proved popular with members
Following the hugely successful introduction last year of our Regional Forums, the TBA, in association with Weatherbys, will once again run six forums across the country. These give our members the chance to learn about all the latest developments for the coming year and to meet the TBA Board and representatives from Weatherbys.
Offered on a free of charge basis, the forums are often oversubscribed and with this in mind we are unable to offer guest places. Should you have a joint membership please call Alix Jones in the TBA office to discuss availability. The forums will be followed by a light lunch and the opportunity of staying on for an afternoon’s racing.
The current dates are as follows: February 14 – Sandown Park (South East) March 3 - Exeter (South West) May 1 - Musselburgh (Scotland) July 7 - Pontefract (North) September 22 - Warwick (Wales & West Midlands) October 1 - Salisbury (West/South West)
104 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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Mare guidelines Members are reminded that there is guidance for breeders who are walking-in mares for covering on the TBA’s newly updated website. Featuring a 14-point plan, the guidance can be viewed by visiting https://www.thetba.co.uk/ about-us/tba-policies/
ADAM SMYTH
Notification is free and must be completed online
30-day foal notification update When a foal is bred for racing in Great Britain, the breeder/owner must notify the General Stud Book (Weatherbys) of its birth and whereabouts within 30 days of its birth (day one being the date of birth). Notification is free and should be done through the online portal at https://www.weatherbysgsb.co.uk/ Please be aware that 30-day foal notification is different from foal registration – this must still be completed with the General Stud Book in accordance with the legislative requirements and any other Rules of Racing. CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE If notification has not been received within the 30-day window, before the horse may be eligible to race, the BHA may require a Certificate of Analysis reporting no evidence of the presence or use of a substance/method prohibited at all times in a sample collected by the BHA. You will be liable for the cost of sample collection and analysis, which is £625 plus VAT. The fee increases on a sliding upward scale depending on how late the notification is. In exceptional circumstances, for example where an individual or company continually fail to comply with the requirement, a foal may not be approved as eligible to run in Great Britain. For more information please contact anti-doping@ britishhorseracing.com Whilst the TBA understands this requirement has added to the actions
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required of breeders leading to the issue of a passport, 30-day foal notification is in the best interests of the thoroughbred industry as a whole, as well as to breeders themselves. It provides the key to timely traceability of horses at all stages of their lives, to strengthen and further demonstrate our industry’s absolute commitment to the highest possible welfare standards. In addition, it is of vital importance that we demonstrate that our systems enabling traceability of all thoroughbreds are at the very least equivalent to the best amongst EU member countries. This will aid negotiations aiming to maintain the essential free movement of thoroughbreds in Europe when the UK leaves the EU, and between ourselves, Ireland and France in particular. Effective systems to provide traceability are rightly seen as instrumental in dealing with disease risks and in maintaining high standards of health and welfare. The notification is of considerable help to the BHA in ensuring that all thoroughbreds wishing to enter races in Britain are free of prohibited substances. The BHA has a separate link on its website, a search tool (BHA POTRO) intended as an aid to check eligibility to race under the Rules of Racing with reference to 30-day foal notification requirements only. To check whether you have notified your foal’s birth go to https://selim. britishhorseracing.com/potro/
NH Mare Owners’ Prize Scheme registration deadline Owners of National Hunt mares are reminded that registrations for the NH Mare Owners’ Prize Scheme (NHMOPS) are open for filly foals born in 2019. The scheme pays bonuses of up to £10,000 to the connections of registered mares that win eligible races. Registrations for the scheme are confined to filly foals that were bred either in Great Britain or produced by a Britishdomiciled stallion and that have been nominated as a potential NH racehorse by their breeders. Members of the TBA can register for free and nonmembers can register for the scheme for a fee of £150 per filly. The printable registration forms can be completed on the NHMOPS page on the TBA website. Registrations for fillies born in 2019 will close on January 31, 2020. NH Yearbook The 2019/20 National Hunt Yearbook has been released, featuring a review of the past 12 months of National Hunt activity within the TBA, including the Mares Showcase at Cheltenham last April and also the NH Breeders’ Celebration Dinner, which was held last May. Also featuring full information about MOPS and also the Elite Mares’ Scheme, National Hunt breeders will have received a copy in the post. For those that have not and would be interested in receiving a copy, please contact Stanstead House.
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TBA Forum
British-bred success around the world November got off to a cracking start for British-breds with a double at the Breeders’ Cup meeting, this year staged at Santa Anita in California. Hitting the headlines and gaining a maiden toplevel success was the six-year-old mare Belvoir Bay, who showed her rivals a clean pair of heels to take the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint without seeing another rival. Bred by the late Lennie Peacock at her Manor House Stud, the daughter of Newsells Parkbased Equiano was one of the horses to survive the horrendous fires at San Luis Rey Downs in 2017. Completing the double was the five-year-old Uni, who followed up her last-time-out Grade 1 First Lady Stakes success at Keeneland the previous month with a win in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile. Lanwades Stud-based German Derby victor Sea The Moon enjoyed a fruitful end to the Flat season. Having garnered a champion two-year-old son with his first crop in 2018 courtesy of Noble Moon, Wonderful Moon became his second son to claim that accolade with a sublime 12-length demolition in the Group 3 Herzog von RatiborRennen at Krefeld on November 10. Four days earlier and the stallion’s three-year-old son Enjoy The Moon took the Listed Grand Prix du Nord at Chantilly. Europe’s final Group contest of the year, the Group 3 Prix Fille de l’Air, went to the improving three-year-old Ambition. A daughter of Dubawi and the Group 1 Oaks winner Talent, who was bred by Ashbrittle Stud and Mark Dixon, she won the Toulouse contest over an extended ten furlongs by over a length for a first stakes victory. A third continent was conquered in November when the Lindsey Smithtrained Pacodali, a son of Paco Boy, captured the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in Victoria, Australia, defeating fellow British-bred Setting Sail (by Dansili). Over the course of the month Dansili gained a trio of Listed scorers. Juddmonte homebred Crossed Baton got the ball rolling in the Churchill Stakes at Lingfield Park on November 16. Four days later another Juddmonte homebred, Set Piece, took the Hyde Stakes at Kempton Park. Completing the trio was Glance in the Prix Petite Etoile on the all-weather at Deauville
Uni and Joel Rosario win the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita
on November 26. The three-year-old, owned and bred by Julian RichmondWatson, is out of a winning half-sister to his 2008 Group 1 Oaks heroine Look Here, who sadly passed away in October. At Newmarket on November 2, the three-year-olds Lord North and Roseman both gained their first stakes successes. The former, a son of Dubawi and winner of the Cambridgeshire Handicap in September, took the Listed Weatherbys TBA James Seymour Stakes, while Roseman, a son of Kingman, captured the Listed Ben Marshall Stakes by over four lengths. Hunscote Stud homebred Milltown Star, from the final British crop by Roderic O’Connor, was rewarded for his consistency through the year when winning the Listed Prix Herod at Chantilly in the middle of the month, while another to score in Listed company on the continent was Showcasing’s son Say Good Buy in the Grosser Herbstpreis der Freiberger Brauerei at Dresden. Although the Flat scene domestically was winding down, the jumps action was starting to fire. At Wetherby at the start of the month, Keith and Jayne Sivills’ brilliant homebred mare Lady Buttons landed back-to-back wins in the Listed bet365 Mares’ Hurdle. This was a 13th win for the remarkable mare,
who was crowned leading chaser mare and leading hurdler mare at the TBA’s NH Breeders’ Celebration Dinner in May for her achievements during the 2018/19 season. Another mare to have built up an enviable record is Atlanta Ablaze. The daughter of Kayf Tara, who was bred by Joss Hanbury, won her third Listed chase at Market Rasen in the Bud Booth Mares' Chase over three miles with a gutsy staying performance. Second in the Grade 1 RSA Chase on his final start last season, Richard and Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes’ homebred Santini, who collected the leading novice chaser award at the NH Breeders’ Celebration Dinner, made a winning return at Sandown Park in the Listed Virgin Bet Future Stars Intermediate Chase on November 10. The following weekend at Cheltenham, on the first day of its November fixture, a trio of British-breds landed Graded successes. The Grade 2 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle went the way of the Philip Hobbs-trained Thyme Hill, who had taken the Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle at Chepstow the previous month on his hurdling debut. Bred by Overbury Stallions Ltd, he is a son of Overbury stalwart Kayf Tara and was awarded the Distillery Stud Trophy as the leading NH Flat horse for last season.
106 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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Deadline looms for Elite Mares’ Scheme Applications close at the end of the month for the 2020 TBA/HBLB Elite National Hunt Mares’ Scheme. The scheme was introduced to incentivise breeders to use the selection of quality National Hunt stallions on offer in Britain. British-based mares that have attained a certain level of success on the racecourse, or have themselves produced a NH runner of a defined performance level, are eligible to receive a grant of up to £4,000 to one of a select group of British-based
stallions. The scheme is available only to mares owned by a member of the TBA and application forms must be received by January 31. Due to the success of last year’s scheme, there have been changes to mare eligibility, which were announced in the middle of last year, and TBA members are reminded to acquaint themselves with the new categories. For further information on the scheme, including an application form and qualification criteria, please visit the TBA website.
MEGAN ROSE
The Grade 2 JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle was won by Sea The Moon’s son Allmankind, who made all and was ultimately impressive. Owned by Bill and Tim Gredley, the threeyear-old gelding was bred by their Stetchworth & Middle Park Studs Ltd. Completing the treble was West Approach. Bred by Scarlett Knipe of Cobhall Court Stud and her late husband Robin, the nine-year-old was given an ice-cool ride by Robbie Power to take the Grade 3 BetVictor Smartcards Handicap Chase over nearly three and a half miles. Bred by Gleadhill House Stud Ltd, Trevor Hemmings enjoyed Grade 3 glory with his homebred Stoney Mountain in the Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park on Betfair Chase day. The six-year-old, who has a progressive profile, saw out the extended three-mile trip strongly. Already successful with Thyme Hill earlier in the month, Overbury Stallions Ltd celebrated another big success on the final day of the month when Cornerstone Lad took the first Grade 1 over hurdles of the British season, the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. Bred in partnership with Cranford Bloodstock, the five-year-old son of the late Delegator made all and fended off dual Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D’Air in a close finish. At Newbury in the Grade 3 Ladbrokes Trophy, the Karina Casinibred De Rasher Counter landed a debut strike in Graded company. The seven-year-old was completing a fine weekend for trainer Emma Lavelle and provided his conditional jockey, Ben Jones, with a first major win.
Diary Dates & Reminders
NHMOPS WINNERS Monday 25 November KEMPTON PARK LISTED Racing TV Mares’ Hurdle Winner: PAPAGANA Owner: D J Burke Bonus: £5,000
Jan_185_TBAForum.indd 107
Tuesday, January 21 NH Stallion Showcase Goffs UK Sales Complex, Doncaster Thursday, January 30 TBA Flat Stallion Parade Tattersalls, Newmarket Further information on all TBA events can be found on the TBA website
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Lord George Innes-Ker – Scotland Mark Edmondson – Suffolk Jayne Moore – West Sussex Piers Fitzwilliams – Hampshire Stefan Hibbett – Greater London Ashton Selway – Devon Jonathan Sutton - Scotland Scott Lowther - Scotland Lorna Wilson – Devon TTC Katie Mansell – Pembrokeshire
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TBA Forum
BREEDER IN FOCUS – Will Kinsey If Will Kinsey needed any convincing that he made the right decision when giving up training jumpers to concentrate on breeding and pinhooking them, two weeks towards the end of November did the trick. First, he bought the smart racemare Limini at Tattersalls Ireland for what he considered a discount of at least 25 per cent. Then, on successive days his protégés Ribble Valley and French Dynamite scored convincingly over hurdles at Wetherby and Thurles respectively. Running the Peel Hall bloodstock operation from his family’s 500-acre farm near the village of Ashton Hayes in Cheshire, Kinsey enthuses about his still relatively new full-time role. “I probably get more enjoyment out of buying and selling horses who go on to win for other people than I did when I trained them myself, or from buying a share in a horse who’s run in a point-topoint and winning with it,” he says. Kinsey, whose 19 winners under Rules as an amateur rider came in a nine-year stretch from 2004, made what he describes as a natural progression from training point-topointers to taking out a full licence in 2012, having spent a season as assistant to Donald McCain. The decision to quit training was made in 2017. “I always said that if it wasn’t financially viable, we wouldn’t be afraid to pull the plug,” he explains. “It was really something like a five-year plan on the back of some of the store horses that hadn’t been sold. We gave it a go, but the one crop of horses really came all the way through. It was on the back of the recession and we couldn’t afford to restock from our own resources and ended up owning a lot of shares. “I’ve always loved the breeding side, so it was fairly easy to stop the training and concentrate on that side of the business and run it as part of the farm. And I’ve no real regrets. “The more information you’ve got, whether as a rider, trainer, buyer or seller, the better. There’s not one area I’ve done where I thought it was a waste of time. The things you pick up from everybody in every avenue of the industry is invaluable, and the more you put into something the more you get out of it.” At the age of 38, Kinsey represents the younger element of the breeding
Will Kinsey (right) is now concentrating on breeding horses after his training career
industry, and, as the newest recruit to the TBA’s National Hunt Committee, he appreciates the dilemmas of promoting and supporting British breeding. Asked about the next generation of breeders, he says: “I come from a farming background and am fortunate to have land that suits us, so I appreciate that it’s difficult for someone to become a breeder and make money if it means paying someone else to do it, especially in National Hunt, which is a long-term business. “But I have had young people contact me who are interested in the breeding side. I haven’t proactively gone looking for outside investors or to appeal to people around my age, but on the back of buying Limini I have had a couple of younger people wanting to get involved in some way.” As for competing with Irish jumps breeders, Kinsey admits there is no quick fix. “Although we’re working within the same industry, the culture is very different in Ireland,” he reflects. “It’s more a way of life there, and the Irish point-to-point scene is so strong and so different from Britain. I don’t know how you change that situation.” Kinsey, who buys and sells in Ireland
and France, adds: “I’d like to think that things will change, and I’d love to be patriotic and go to Doncaster and sell more. Dave Futter has got his sale of two-year-olds going, which is a fantastic idea, yet we send horses to France as two-year-olds who might have been French-bred, and they end up being bought by English owners to run in England. “It’s crazy that we’re still selling stores as three-year-olds. If we were keeping them to run, they’d all be broken in at two or just turned three and be campaigned to run earlier. They’d be healthy individuals, naturally and physically. “Commercially we need the trainers to be looking at buying more store horses, although they dictate the market. If they want to buy the winner of an Irish point-to-point for £400,000, because it gives them a greater chance at Cheltenham, so be it. But I really do believe that we would do better with more stores. “It virtually comes down to the returns. If the likes of Dave Futter and Richard Aston are successful, it will strengthen the English market, and people will come and buy from us.”
108 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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A background in chemical engineering might not feature on the CV of too many stud owners, but it has not stopped Belgian-born Karina Casini from breeding the winner of what is arguably Britain’s premier National Hunt handicap behind the Grand National with the first colt bred at her Greenlands Farm Stud. The intriguingly named De Rasher Counter’s victory in the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase at Newbury also earned her the first Breeder of the Month prize of the new season, in what was a very good November for British-bred horses, who captured six of the Graded races on offer. It was also a very popular result around the Wiltshire market town of Marlborough, because the seven-yearold gelding is trained by Emma Lavelle at Bonita Stables in Ogbourne Maizey, just a few miles from his birthplace in Lockeridge. A previous occupant of the historic training yard nestling in the Marlborough Downs was champion jump trainer Bob Turnell, who sent out Rondetto and April Seventh to win the Newbury showpiece in its former guise as the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup. “It was an amazing day for us all at Greenlands Farm but most of all for Dedrunknmunky, who produced such a game horse,” said Casini. The now 20-year-old mare won a point-to-point in Ireland, namely a mares’ maiden at Athlacca, and a novice chase at Fontwell before Casini bought her as a hunter from Lambourn
GEORGE SELWYN
KARINA CASINI
De Rasher Counter: bred by Karina Casini
trainer Tor Sturgis. That new career was to prove shortlived, though. “She just didn’t want to be ridden!” Casini laughed. “However, she became a brilliant broodmare. She really looks after her foals and teaches them.” In a further boost to a breeding operation that started in 2011, Dedrunknmunky is again in foal to fourtime Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats, the sire of De Rasher Counter. “We’re a small stud and I enjoy seeing them evolve from a foal to year three, when we sell them as stores,” added Casini. The future Grade 3 winner was sold for £10,500 at the 2015 Doncaster Spring Store Sale to Tom Keating, for whom he won a geldings’ maiden at Borris House and a Clonmel bumper. A few weeks following his bumper win, he was sold to agent Gerry Hogan for £50,000 in a private transaction at the 2017 Goffs UK Aintree Sale. The origin of the unusual name Keating bestowed on the son of Yeats
CALPHORMIN
is somewhat obscure, but there is a link with the name of his damsire, Rashar. Whatever the reason, it inspired his new owners to name their racing syndicate the Makin’ Bacon Partnership and has been a blessing for headline writers. After his success with Dedrunknmunky’s third foal, it was no surprise to see Keating purchase her three-year-old Fame And Glory filly for €10,000 at this year’s Goffs Land Rover Sale. He might need to dig a little deeper, however, to secure her Scorpion yearling colt in 2021 after the exploits of his older half-brother. Casini moved to Britain in 1989 having qualified as a chemical engineer, after an ambition to train as a vet was frustrated by an allergy to cats and dogs. She then spent several years working in finance before undertaking a three-year equine osteopathy course in France. She said: “That gave me a really good understanding of the horse. Breeding is a very difficult business. Mother Nature dictates – so you are not in control. “It is a business where you need to have a lot of luck. There is no guarantee. You need to be passionate about it.” There are about 20 horses currently on the 150-acre Greenlands Farm, including five broodmares and several recuperating racehorses owned by a syndicate run by Casini. In time, they will return to Bonita Stables and the downland gallops, where a new generation of horses are reviving old National Hunt glories.
TM
www.farmstable.com
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Vet Forum: The Expert View
Joint ill in young foals in focus
T
he term ‘joint ill’ refers to bacterial infection affecting one or more joints – sometimes involving the adjacent bone – and is a relatively common and potentially fatal condition in young foals. For the best outcome, prompt diagnosis and aggressive treatment are essential, and so this is one problem that all owners and breeders must be on the lookout for during the first weeks of a foal’s life. Bacteria can enter the body in a number of ways: via the umbilicus (navel) at or soon after birth; via the respiratory or gastro-intestinal tract from the environment, dam or other animal; or via a wound. For example, some young foals may develop an abscess in the remnants of the umbilical cord (urachal abscess) as a result of direct contamination, which may then act as a source of bacteria for the development of joint ill. Additionally, infection of a wound sustained in those early days of life could also potentially act as a source of infection for the development of joint ill, so it is important that neither should be ignored. The bacteria involved vary from ‘normal’ skin or environmental contaminants to specific pathogens such as Salmonella spp. No matter how they enter the body – and the route might not be obvious – the bacteria are taken up by the circulation and spread around the body in the blood (bacteraemia).
Foals are most susceptible to joint ill during the first 21 days of life
This alone might make the foal very ill (septicaemia) and is, in itself, a lifethreatening condition. However, in many cases, this bacteraemic phase does not cause illness and goes unnoticed, but the bacteria can localise in or adjacent to one or more of the foal’s joint(s), to later manifest as joint ill. The ‘seeding’ of this infection usually occurs in the growth plate (physis), the adjacent bone (diaphysis or epiphysis, Fig 1), in the bone near the joint surface or in the membrane lining the joint (synovium). It is believed that these sites are predisposed to involvement because of their rich but complicated blood supply and the slowing of blood flow through these regions.
What are the signs to look out for?
Figure 1 Normal cannon and fetlock of foal
Once they settle in the joint tissues, the bacteria multiply and cause cell death and inflammation, triggering the release of more inflammatory products such as prostaglandins and cytokines. While these inflammatory products are needed to help fight the infection, some of them, along with toxins released by the bacteria and chemicals released by killed cells, are also responsible for extending and worsening the damage
to the joint and adjacent structures. This damage and inflammation normally results in a degree of lameness, with swelling (Fig 2), heat and pain in the affected region(s). The lameness is usually sudden in onset, leading many to believe that the cause is traumatic rather than infectious. Joint ill is usually seen within the first 21 days of life, although it can be seen in slightly older foals. If you have a foal which becomes lame, you should call your vet immediately to either rule out or confirm joint infection, as severe damage to the cartilage can occur in as little as 48 hours. Certain joints appear to be more commonly affected than others, with fetlocks, stifles and hocks being among the most frequently involved.
Predisposing factors
There are a few predisposing factors, but the most important one is partial or complete failure of passive transfer. All foals are born without an effective immune system or circulating antibodies to fight infection. As such, they rely on being able to ingest the first milk – colostrum – within a few hours of birth from their dam. Colostrum contains concentrated antibodies from the mare’s circulation
110 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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By Deidre Carson MRCVS
Figure 3 Inflammatory markers increase in joint ill Figure 2 Fetlock x-ray showing joint swelling (red arrow)
that are absorbed from the foal’s intestine without being digested, as long as they are ingested within 12 to 18 hours of birth. These ingested antibodies provide the foal with some protection against infection until their own immune system matures, however some foals do not attain adequate circulating levels of antibody. This might be for a number of reasons, including: • They could not/did not ingest enough colostrum early enough (the gut ‘closes’ to antibodies at around 12 hours of age and any colostrum ingested after this time will be digested like any other protein) • The mare did not produce adequate colostrum, either in volume or quality • The antibodies the foal did ingest were ‘mopped up’ by a pre-existing infection • The foal could not absorb the antibodies
itself is infected, there will be effusion (increased fluid) in the joint evident as bulging of the joint capsule. There might be swelling of the adjacent tissues. The foal will usually have an elevated temperature and might also appear depressed and inappetent, although these symptoms are
Figure 4 Infection in bone of hock. The red arrow shows the area of bone damage
Other factors
Other predisposing factors include a dirty, contaminated or unhygienic environment; poor hygiene around the time of foaling such as using dirty hands, bandages or other equipment; illness, such as placentitis in the mare; physical weakness or disability in the foal; other illness such as infectious diarrhoea.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on clinical signs, laboratory tests and imaging. Clinical signs include acute onset of lameness which might be mild or severe (or in between). There might be obvious heat and swelling of the affected area(s) and/or pain on manipulation and flexion of the affected joint. If the joint
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Figure 5 CT image of growth plate abscess (arrows) distal femur (stifle joint)
inconsistent. These signs are not always obvious early in the condition and careful and/or repeated examination might be important. Laboratory tests can be very useful when trying to differentiate infectious causes of lameness from others. Infection will usually result in elevated white cell numbers and inflammatory markers such as SAA and fibrinogen (Fig 3). Again, serial tests might be necessary. Once a joint is suspected of involvement, taking a sample of joint fluid using aseptic (sterile) technique will give specific information about any inflammation or infection in that joint. Infection causes elevation in white cell count and protein levels in the joint fluid. This might not be of great use if the infection is adjacent to but not within the joint. Imaging techniques which are of benefit include radiography (X-ray, Fig 4), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT, Fig 5) and ultrasound scanning. In most cases, radiography will show lesions in the affected bone, but in early stages of infection these lesions might be very subtle and difficult to interpret, particularly if the growth plate (physis) is involved. CT is particularly useful in foals, although a general anaesthetic is usually required. Unfortunately, as ultrasound cannot penetrate bone, it can be used only to visualise the outer layers of those structures which can be accessed via the skin. However, it is particularly useful to assess joint effusion and bone and cartilage surfaces (where accessible) and provide guidance for joint fluid sampling. In virtually all cases, a combination of at least two of these is required for diagnosis and monitoring progress of the condition and for providing evidence for prognosis.
THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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››
Classification of joint infections
immediately after diagnosis has been made. For this reason specific broad spectrum or a combination of antibiotics are usually given along with antiinflammatory analgesics and anti-ulcer medication. If a joint is involved it must be flushed through with a large volume of sterile fluid (joint lavage) after careful aseptic skin preparation. This might need to be repeated on several occasions. In more complicated cases or joints or such as the hock and stifle, joint lavage is often performed using arthroscopic surgery so that damaged cartilage and bone can be removed before the joint is flushed through with a large volume of fluid. Antibiotics are instilled into the joint after flushing. Intravenous regional perfusion with antibiotics (Fig 6) is also used to treat infections of the physis or epiphysis, particularly where there is no communication with the joint. This involves temporarily applying a tourniquet above the region to be treated and inserting a catheter into a vein. Antibiotics are injected via the catheter and remain in the targeted tissues because the tourniquet stops them from entering the systemic circulation. Surgical debridement (removal of damaged tissue), wherever it might be, might be undertaken as this damaged tissue might act as a site for further multiplication of bacteria. Box rest is essential to help prevent further damage caused by load bearing on damaged bone. Additional supportive treatment might include intravenous fluids or plasma and anti-oxidants. Success of treatment is usually monitored using serial joint fluid samples, assessment of lameness and radiographic reassessment. Treatment can be
It is quite usual to attempt to classify the ‘type’ of joint infection based on the tissues/structures affected. P-type: affects the growth plate (physis) or adjacent bone I-Type: affects the physis or the joint, having spread from a peri-articular or subcutaneous abscess. This type is usually seen in the hip or stifle. S-type: This is infection of the membrane lining the joint E-type: Epiphyseal (bone ends) infection – often in slightly older foals and might be associated with systemic illness T-type: This is when the cuboidal bones (the bones of the knee or hock) are involved. These might collapse if weakened by infection
Treatment
Treatment must be aggressive and must directly target those tissues involved. Systemic antibiotics will be administered and must be able to penetrate bone and/ or joint fluid as well as being effective against the bacteria causing the infection. The ‘gold standard’ is to attempt to culture bacteria from the joint. In practice, we would take a joint fluid sample as part of the diagnostic process and send that to the laboratory for evaluation (i.e. white cell count and protein levels), as well as for bacterial culture and testing for susceptibility to specific antibiotics. Unfortunately, culture results can take several days and treatment usually must be started
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Figure 6 Intravenous regional perfusion
prolonged and become very expensive and decisions may need to be made on a number of occasions as to whether to continue treatment and which treatment option to use. Repeated surgery and/ or joint flushing might be required and unfortunately some cases cannot be ‘cured’, either because the damage is too severe or the infection cannot be controlled. In these cases euthanasia is the only option. If left untreated joint infection results in untreatable and irreversible damage to the affected joint(s) and permanent, incurable lameness. The infection might also spread to adjacent tissues or burst through the skin. If treatment is not possible for financial or other reasons, the foal should be euthanised on humane grounds. Foals that are successfully treated usually manage to regain full soundness and are able to be treated normally after a variable period of recuperation, during which they will have to have restricted exercise.
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IT’S TIME TO GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK Nutrition has always played a vital role in the management of our breeding and youngstock. It’s about laying the best foundations for future success on the track and at stud. Breeding champions is what we all dream about. The Connolly’s RED MILLS stud range has everything we need to support the health and wellbeing of our mares and youngstock and we know we have the support of their expert team if and when we need it.”
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www.redmills.com 10/12/2019 09:39
Dr Statz
John Boyce cracks the code
he two big drivers of production of tomorrow’s racehorses are the yearling sales market and the stallion and mare market. However, both are forced ultimately to bend to the will of the racehorse owner in all their shapes and sizes. But they do so only in the most general of terms. Stallion managers can see for themselves what has been successful on the racecourse and will offer their version of what they think owners want. Quite often, the word will come back through the yearling sales that supply and demand are out of kilter. The Return of Mares is the first real opportunity to assess what breeders are putting forward as their answer to what racing needs in terms of raw material. The latest version seems to be saying that racing needs more and more expensively produced yearlings to populate training establishments in the coming years. As many as eight Flat stallions covered 200 or more mares in 2019, which easily eclipsed the previous record of six, set three years earlier. But it’s not just that individual books are being packed to the rafters; it’s also significant that there are more and more expensive stallions with very large books nowadays. In the five
years since 2014, as many as 1,180 extra mares visited British and Irish sires standing for fees of £20,000-plus/ €20,000-plus. Just think how much extra pressure this has put on breeders to recoup their investments at the sales in the past few years. Furthermore, there are still three crops in the pipeline with even higher expectations. It’s no wonder that the number of yearlings at the major sales to turn a profit has fallen in recent years. At the five European majors - Tattersalls Books 1 and 2, Goffs Orby, Arqana August and Doncaster Premier - only 64% of yearlings cleared their advertised stud fee, plus £20,000. That’s down from 71% two years ago and looks vulnerable to further falls as a record number of 20k-plus stallions are being lined up for covering in 2020. Yes, the yearling market is growing but not enough to cope with this level of expectation. There’s no arguing with the fact that it’s quality mares that count if you are trying to be successful in this business. To that end, it’s probably better to look at stallion returns by the number of good mares they have covered. For the purposes of this article, I’m using a measure I devised for rating mares by the quality of their
GB-IRE STALLIONS RANKED BY ELITE MARES COVERED IN 2019 Name
Year
Stands
Fee
Elite Mares
5
Juddmonte
£75,000
DUBAWI
14
Darley
£250,000
SEA THE STARS
10
Gilltown
€135,000
LOPE DE VEGA
9
Ballylinch
€80,000
GALILEO
18
Coolmore
Private
FRANKEL
7
Juddmonte
£175,000
DARK ANGEL
12
Yeomanstown
€85,000
INVINCIBLE SPIRIT
17
Irish National
€120,000
136 118 118 113 110 104 71 63 60 57 56 55 53 50 50 38 38 38 38 34 32
KINGMAN
NO NAY NEVER
5
Coolmore
€100,000
ROARING LION
1
Tweenhills
£40,000
13
Tally-Ho
€65,000
9
Whitsbury
£55,000
10
Coolmore
€30,000
AUSTRALIA
5
Coolmore
€35,000
CHURCHILL
2
Coolmore
€35,000
MUHAARAR
4
Shadwell
£30,000
16
Juddmonte
£30,000
1
Coolmore
€30,000
ZOFFANY
8
Coolmore
€25,000
CAMELOT
6
Coolmore
€40,000
14
Darley
Private
KODIAC SHOWCASING MASTERCRAFTSMAN
OASIS DREAM SAXON WARRIOR
SHAMARDAL
GEORGE SELWYN
Trends are making it harder to recoup costs with youngstock T Kingman’s Classic-winning son Persian King
pedigree (for young mares) and the quality of their produce records (for older mares). Suffice to say elite mares make up the top 15% of the population and they are the ones most likely to make an impact at stud. Kingman attracted the most elite mares (136) in 2019 but they made up only 58% of his total 233 book. The Juddmonte star was one of only half a dozen stallions to attract 100 or more elite mares in 2019. Most of the others attracted a much higher proportion of elite mares, Dubawi’s 118 making up 74% of his total, while Galileo’s 110 accounted for 72% of his book. Sea The Stars (118), Lope de Vega (113) and Frankel (104) were the other centurions in the group. Remarkably, there were 23 new stallions in 2019, which built upon four previous years with high numbers of new stallions. It’s a sobering thought that 6,767 mares – about 49% of the overall viable Flat population – were covered this spring by unproven stallions. The latest intake was headed numerically by Coolmore’s Scat Daddy stallion Sioux Nation with 241 mares at an advertised fee of €12,500. But he was only seventh on the list when ranked by elite mares covered. The late Roaring Lion did best of the new boys by elite mares covered with 57, ahead of Saxon Warrior (38), Expert Eye (31) and Cracksman (29). Inevitably it was tougher for second-, third- and fourth-season sires, but the obvious potential of some was still rewarded. Breeders stuck with secondseason sire Churchill (50 elite mares) and also continued to support Caravaggio, Ulysses, Ribchester and Profitable among the retirees of 2018. New Bay and Awtaad did best of the third-season sires, while Muhaarar (38), Golden Horn (30) and Gleneagles (29) were popular among the stallions with their first runners in 2019.
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Data Book • Analysis by Andrew Caulfield Grade 1 Winners 16 LADBROKES CHAMPION CHASE G1 DOWN ROYAL. Nov 2. 5yo+. 24f.
1. ROAD TO RESPECT (IRE) 8 11-10 £79,730 ch g by Gamut - Lora Lady (Lord Americo) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Miss I. Rothwell TR-Noel Meade 2. Clan des Obeaux (FR) 7 11-10 £25,676 b g by Kapgarde - Nausicaa des Obeaux (April Night) O-Mr&Mrs P.K.Barber,G.Mason,Sir A Ferguson B-Mme M. Devilder TR-Paul Nicholls 3. Alpha des Obeaux (FR) 9 11-10 £12,162 b g by Saddler Maker - Omega des Obeaux (Saint Preuil) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Marie Devilder & Stephanie Fasquelle TR-Gordon Elliott Margins 4, 10. Time 6:32.10. Going Soft. Age Starts Wins Places Earned 4-8 26 9 14 £569,925 Sire: GAMUT. Sire of 3 Stakes winners. 1st Dam: Lora Lady by Lord Americo. unraced. Dam of 1 winner:
2005: 2006: 2007: 2008: 2009: 2010: 2011:
2015: 2016: 2017: 2019:
Popalong (f Luso) unraced. Broodmare. Automaticman (g Craigsteel) ran once in a N.H. Flat Race and ran 3 times over hurdles. Lady Lorabelle (f Old Vic). Broodmare. Old Meadow (g Old Vic) (f Old Vic) Jokarosie (f Gamut) unraced. Broodmare. ROAD TO RESPECT (g Gamut) 8 wins, 3rd Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle G2, Ryanair Powers Gold Cup Novice Chase G1, Leopardstown Christmas Lexus Chase G1, jnwine.com Champion Chase G1 (twice), Brown Advisory & Merriebelle H. Chase G3, Irish Daily Star Carvills Hill Chase G3, 2nd Unibet Irish Gold Cup G1, jnwine.com Champion Chase G1, Ten Up Novice Chase G2, 3rd Racing Post Christmas Novice Chase G1, Ryanair Festival Trophy Chase G1, Savills Leopardstown Christmas Chase G1, Coral Punchestown Gold Cup Chase G1. Road To Reward (g Gamut) unraced. (f Leading Light) (c Fairly Ransom) (f Milan)
Broodmare Sire: LORD AMERICO. Sire of the dams of 9 Stakes winners.
ROAD TO RESPECT ch g 2011 Rainbow Quest
Blushing Groom I Will Follow
River Dancer
Irish River Dancing Shadow
Ela-Mana-Mou
Pitcairn Rose Bertin
Edinburgh
Charlottown Queen’s Castle
Lord Gayle
Sir Gaylord Sticky Case
Hynictus
Val de Loir Hypavia
Over The River
Luthier Medenine
Chorabelle
Choral Society Miss Arctic
Spectrum GAMUT b 99 Greektown
Lord Americo LORA LADY b 01 Bellora
Irish Gold Cup in 2019, having finished fourth in the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup, so it is hardly surprising that his earnings total nearly £570,000. Road To Respect is well suited by three miles, which again isn’t surprising. His second dam Bellora was a sister to a smart chaser in Sullane River, whose finest moment came when she won the Gr2 Leopardstown Chase. Their sire Over The River was one of the few stallions to have sired two winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup – Cool Ground and Cool Dawn – and his other smart winners included such good stayers as Strong Flow (Hennessy Gold Cup), Into The Red (Eider Chase), Zeta’s Lad (Racing Post Chase) and Harwell Lad (Whitbread Gold Cup). Road To Respect is the only winner so far out of Lora Lady, an unraced daughter of Lord Americo. Gamut, the sire of Road To Respect and Road To Riches, won the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and was a close relative to Golan, winner of the 2,000 Guineas and the King George. 38 UNIBET MORGIANA HURDLE G1 PUNCHESTOWN. Nov 16. 4yo+. 16f 110yds.
1. SALDIER (FR) 5 11-10 £54,054 b g by Soldier Hollow - Salve Evita (Monsun) O-Mrs S. Ricci B-Soc Agricola Ss Le Ginestre TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Petit Mouchoir (FR) 8 11-10 £18,018 gr g by Al Namix - Arnette (Denham Red) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Mr P. Gueret TR-Henry de Bromhead 3. Klassical Dream (FR) 5 11-10 £9,009 b g by Dream Well - Klassical Way (Septieme Ciel) O-Mrs J Coleman B-Mr. Hubert Honore & Mrs Laure Guillaume TR-W. P. Mullins Margins 1.5, 1. Time 4:04.30. Going Soft. Age Starts Wins Places Earned 2-5 16 6 2 £201,605 Sire: SOLDIER HOLLOW. Sire of 40 Stakes winners. 1st Dam: Salve Evita by Monsun. ran on the flat in Germany at 3. Dam of 2 winners:
2009: 2011: 2012: 2014: 2016:
For the third time in six years, Down Royal’s Champion Chase fell to a descendant of Over The River’s daughter Bellora. In 2014 it was her Gamut gelding Road To Riches who triumphed by 11 lengths before going on to win the Gr1 Lexus Chase and to finish a good third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The hat-trick of Champion Chase successes has since been completed in 2018 and 2019 by Bellora’s grandson Road To Respect, who was also sired by Gamut. The consistent Road To Respect, who also went close to landing the 2017 race, had earlier won the Gr1 Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase and the Gr1 Leopardstown Christmas Chase in 2017, in addition to winning at the Cheltenham Festival. He also failed by only a short head to land the Gr1
Salve Caesar (c Martillo) unraced. San Salvo (c Rock of Gibraltar) unraced. Sahib (c Cape Cross) unraced. SALDIER (g Soldier Hollow) 6 wins, AES Champion 4yo Hurdle G1, Unibet Morgiana Hurdle G1, 3rd BoyleSports Juvenile Hurdle G2. AIRVI (c Air Chief Marshal) Winner at 3 in Italy.
2nd Dam: Wendylina by In The Wings. unraced. Dam of SRI PUTRA (c Oasis Dream: Sky Bet York S G2, Prix Guillaume d’Ornano G2, 2nd Coral Eclipse S G1, 3rd Coral Eclipse S G1, Prince of Wales’s S G1), DUTY (g Rainbow Quest: Aramark Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle G2) Broodmare Sire: MONSUN. Sire of the dams of 88 Stakes winners. NH in 2019/20 - SALDIER Soldier Hollow G1, REAL STEEL Loup Breton G2.
SALDIER b g 2014 Sadler’s Wells
Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge
High Hawk
Shirley Heights Sunbittern
In The Wings SOLDIER HOLLOW b 00 Island Race
Common Grounds Kris Sweetly Lake Isle
Caerleon Inisfree
Konigsstuhl
Dschingis Khan Konigskronung
Mosella
Surumu Monasia
In The Wings
Sadler’s Wells High Hawk
Dinalina
Top Ville Shahinaaz
Monsun SALVE EVITA b 04 Wendylina
Saldier’s starting price of 10-1 in the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle of 2018 reflected the fact that he had won only three of his 12 previous starts – a Saint-Cloud nursery at two, a minor race at Compiegne at three and a maiden hurdle at Gowran Park at four. Consequently, there were some doubts about his victory at Punchestown, where his opposition included three shorter-priced stablemates. Although Saldier has managed only two subsequent starts, they have removed any questions about whether he is a true Gr1 performer. He appeared to have the measure of that prolific winner Espoir D’Allen when he suffered a last-flight fall in a Gr3 hurdle in November 2018 and Saldier then shook off a year’s absence to land the Gr1 Morgiana Hurdle, with his odds-on stablemate Klassical Dream back in third place. Saldier’s sire Soldier Hollow has done so well as a stallion in Germany that his fee stood at €30,000 in 2019. Soldier Hollow’s sire In The Wings was responsible for such good jumping winners as Inglis Drever, Landing Light, Westender and Sadlers Wings, and Soldier Hollow is following In The Wings’s example. In addition to Saldier, he has sired Arctic Fire, winner of the Gr1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle and the Gr3 County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and Silsol, who defeated Native River to take the Gr2 West Yorkshire Hurdle in 2016. Saldier comes from the same family as the high-class miler Al Wukair. Al Wukair’s second dam, the Prix de Diane winner Caerlina, is a half-sister to Saldier’s second dam Wendylina. Although Wendylina is best known as the dam of that very smart middle-distance colt Sri Putra, she also produced Duty, a Rainbow Quest gelding who was a Listed winner over hurdles in Ireland. Saldier is comfortably the best winner out of the once-raced Salve Evita, a daughter of the influential Monsun. 39 BETFAIR LANCASHIRE CHASE G1 HAYDOCK PARK. Nov 23. 5yo+. 25f 110yds.
1. LOSTINTRANSLATION (IRE) 7 11-7 £112,540 b g by Flemensfirth - Falika (Hero’s Honor) O-Taylor & O’Dwyer B-Mr A. R. M. M. Kavanagh TR-Colin Tizzard 2. Bristol de Mai (FR) 8 11-7 £42,400 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 3. Frodon (FR) 7 11-7 £21,220 b g by Nickname - Miss Country (Country Reel) O-Mr P. J. Vogt B-Mr P. Gasdoue TR-Paul Nicholls Margins 1.5, 25. Time 6:43.50. Going Good to Soft. Age Starts Wins Places Earned 4-7 15 5 7 £288,007 Sire: FLEMENSFIRTH. Sire of 84 Stakes winners. NH in 2019/20 - LOSTINTRANSLATION Hero’s Honor G1, KILLER MILLER Sadler’s Wells G2, JETT Phardante G3. 1st Dam: Falika by Hero’s Honor. 2 wins at 2 and 3 in France, 2nd Prix Wild Monarch Hurdle (fillies) LR. Dam of 1 winner:
2004: 2005: 2006: 2007: 2008: 2010: 2012:
2013: 2014:
Kayaka (f Kahyasi) Master Todd (g Dream Well) I No Understand (g Overbury) ran twice over hurdles. Esta Roche (f Pilsudski) ran once over hurdles and over fences. Broodmare. Alchemiss (f Westerner) ran twice in N.H. Flat Races and ran once over hurdles. Huntsmans Lady (f Shantou) ran a few times over hurdles. LOSTINTRANSLATION (g Flemensfirth) 5 wins, 2nd Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle G1, Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase G1, Betfair Lancashire Chase G1, BetBright Dipper Novices’ Chase G2, Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase LR, 2nd 888Sport Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase G1, JLT Golden Miller Novices’ Chase G1, 3rd Ladbrokes Berkshire Novices’ Chase G2. (f Mahler) Translate This (f Salutino) unraced.
Broodmare Sire: HERO’S HONOR. Sire of the dams of 23 Stakes winners.
LOSTINTRANSLATION b g 2012 Hoist The Flag
Tom Rolfe Wavy Navy
Princess Pout
Prince John Determined Lady
Diesis
Sharpen Up Doubly Sure
Royal Bund
Royal Coinage Nato
Northern Dancer
Nearctic Natalma
Glowing Tribute
Graustark Admiring
Lashkari
Mill Reef Larannda
La Rafale
Pharly Les Heures Claires
Alleged FLEMENSFIRTH b 92 Etheldreda
Hero’s Honor FALIKA b 96 Karifale
Lostintranslation’s pedigree theoretically owes little to the National Hunt world, with his sire Flemensfirth being a Gr1-winning son of the dual Arc winner Alleged and his first two dams also being daughters of Gr1-winning Flat horses. His broodmare sire, Hero’s Honor, won both the Bowling Green Handicap and United Nations Handicap in the US, whereas Lashkari, sire of Lostintranslation’s second dam, won the Breeders’ Cup Turf. However, the evergreen Flemensfirth has been credited by the Racing Post as the champion National Hunt stallion of the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, with Lostintranslation playing his part in the latter success, with his victories in the Gr2 Dipper Novices’ Chase and the Gr1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase. Significantly more effective over fences than he was over hurdles, Lostintranslation has now strengthened his claims as a Cheltenham Gold Cup contender with his defeat of Bristol de Mai in the Betfair Chase. Lostintranslation’s dam Falika won over a mile at two and a mile and a half at three before being switched to hurdles. Although second on her first two starts, she ultimately failed to win. There was also plenty of stamina in the pedigree of Lostintranslation’s unraced second dam Karifale (by Lashkari out of La Rafale, a daughter of Pharly). La Rafale is also ancestress of those smart Flat performers Dansant and Le Brivido, as well as the talented jumpers Fidux and Le Bacardy.
116 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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CAULFIELD ON CORNERSTONE LAD: “When trainer Micky Hammond bought him for £9,000 at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale, he probably wasn’t expecting this son of Delegator to show so much stamina” 40 BETFAIR FIGHTING FIFTH HURDLE G1 NEWCASTLE. Nov 30. 4yo+. 16f.
1. CORNERSTONE LAD (GB) 5 11-7 £61,897 b g by Delegator - Chapel Corner (Alhaarth) O-Mrs B. M. Lofthouse B-Cranford Bloodstock & Overbury Stallions TR-Micky Hammond 2. Buveur d’Air (FR) 8 11-7 £23,320 b g by Crillon - History (Alesso) O-Mr John P. McManus B-Gerard Ferte TR-Nicky Henderson 3. Silver Streak (IRE) 6 11-7 £11,671 gr g by Dark Angel - Happy Talk (Hamas) O-Mr L. Fell B-Yeomanstown Stud TR-Evan Williams Margins Short Head, 3.25. Time 4:05.70. Going Heavy. Age Starts Wins Places Earned 2-5 25 8 11 £116,358 Sire: DELEGATOR. Sire of 3 Stakes winners. Broodmare Sire: ALHAARTH. Sire of the dams of 19 Stakes winners. NH in 2019/20 - CORNERSTONE LAD Delegator G1, TURNPIKE TRIP Champs Elysees G3.
CORNERSTONE LAD b g 2014 Danehill
Danzig Razyana
Hasili
Kahyasi Kerali
Efisio
Formidable Eldoret
Dansili DELEGATOR b 06 Indian Love Bird
Indian Love Song Be My Guest Indian Bird Unfuwain
Northern Dancer Height of Fashion
Irish Valley
Irish River Green Valley
Soviet Star
Nureyev Veruschka
Cutlers Corner
Sharpen Up Solar
Alhaarth CHAPEL CORNER b 03 Sheppard’s Cross
The two-time Champion Hurdle winner Buveur d’Air understandably started at 2-13 to record his third successive victory in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, in which his four opponents had official ratings at least 13lb short of his own 167. However, he failed by a short head to wear down the front-running Cornerstone Lad and was later found to have suffered a leg injury. While Cornerstone Lad could be considered somewhat fortunate to have beaten Buveur d’Air, he still needed to produce a career-best performance to account for thirdplaced Silver Streak and fourthplaced Lady Buttons. The tough and consistent Cornerstone Lad is a bit unusual in that two miles suits him well, both as a Flat performer and a hurdler. When trainer Micky Hammond bought him for £9,000 at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale, he probably wasn’t expecting this son of Delegator to show so much stamina. After all, Delegator was a sprintermiler. Second to Sea The Stars in the 2,000 Guineas and to Mastercraftsman in the St James’s Palace Stakes after winning the Gr3 Craven Stakes, Delegator later failed a dope test after his win in the Gr2 Celebration Mile. His best subsequent performance came as a five-year-old, when he landed the Gr2 Duke of York Stakes over six furlongs. Delegator made a bright start in 2016 but his death later that year meant that he was unable to capitalise on it. His best Flat winners
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are Accidental Agent, winner of the Gr1 Queen Anne Stakes, and the triple Gr3 winner Delectation. Cornerstone Lad is his only winner of note over hurdles. Chapel Corner, the dam of Cornerstone Lad, is an unraced daughter of Alhaarth. She comes from the same speedy female line as the champion sprinter Cadeaux Genereux and is a half-sister to Sheppard’s Watch, who enjoyed Gr3 and Listed success at around a mile. 41 BARONERACING.COM DRINMORE NOVICE CHASE G1
recent French Graded winners Feu Follet and Montgeroult. Fakir d’Oudairies’ broodmare sire Grand Tresor raced 64 times for 11 wins. Although he won on the Flat at three, most of his wins came over hurdles, one coming in the Grande Course de Haies de Printemps. Fakir d’Oudairies is the second winner produced by Niagaria du Bois, who failed to win during a nine-race career spent largely in cross-country races. 42 BARONERACING.COM HATTON’S GRACE HURDLE G1 FAIRYHOUSE. Dec 1. 4yo+. 20f.
1. FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES (FR) 4 11-2 £47,838 b g by Kapgarde - Niagaria du Bois (Grand Tresor) O-Mr John P. McManus B-Count M. de Gigou TR-Joseph Patrick O’Brien 2. Ronald Pump (GB) 6 11-10 £15,405 ch g by Schiaparelli - Fruit Yoghurt (Hernando) O-Laois Limerick Syndicate B-Whitley Stud & Tony Meehan TR-Matthew J. Smith 3. Burrows Saint (FR) 6 11-10 £7,297 b g by Saint des Saints - La Bombonera (Mansonnien) O-Mrs S. Ricci B-Mme J. Morgan TR-W. P. Mullins Margins 22, 4.75. Time 5:14.30. Going Soft.
1. HONEYSUCKLE (GB) 5 11-3 £66,441 b m by Sulamani - First Royal (Lando) O-Mr K. Alexander B-Dr G. W. Guy TR-Henry de Bromhead 2. Bacardys (FR) 8 11-10 £21,396 b/br g by Coastal Path - Oasice (Robin des Champs) O-Shanakiel Racing Syndicate B-E. Vagne & J. Da Silva TR-W. P. Mullins 3. Apple’s Jade (FR) 7 11-3 £10,135 b m by Saddler Maker - Apple’s For Ever (Nikos) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Mr R. Coveliers TR-Gordon Elliott Margins 9, 4. Time 5:08.60. Going Yielding to Soft.
Age Starts Wins Places Earned 3-4 12 4 6 £144,645
Age Starts Wins Places Earned 4-5 7 7 0 £171,987
Sire: KAPGARDE. Sire of 33 Stakes winners. NH in 2019/20 - FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES Grand Tresor G1, FEU FOLLET Sageburg G1, WANT OF A NAIL Mansonnien G2, ECRIS L’HISTOIRE Poliglote G3, GAELICK KAP Pistolet Bleu LR.
Sire: SULAMANI. Sire of 23 Stakes winners.
FAIRYHOUSE. Dec 1. 4yo+. 20f.
Broodmare Sire: GRAND TRESOR. Sire of the dams of 8 Stakes winners.
1st Dam: First Royal by Lando. Winner at 3 in Germany, 2nd Badener Roulette Preis Hurdle LR. Dam of 1 winner:
2010: 2011: 2013: 2014:
FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES b g 2015 Mill Reef
Never Bend Milan Mill
Royal Way
Sicambre Right Away
Cadoudal
Green Dancer Come To Sea
Lady Corteira
Carvin II Nadrusa
Grandchant
Grandier II Singing Queen
Clef du Tresor
Timmy My Boy Clef Royale
Djarvis
Djakao Buena Vista
Jamaica
Tryptic Courlande II
Garde Royale KAPGARDE b 99 Kaprika
Grand Tresor NIAGARIA DU BOIS b 01 Eve du Bois
While not everyone will agree that Fakir d’Oudairies would have won the Drinmore Novice Chase had his market rival Samcro not fallen at the second last, surely no-one would dispute that the then-four-year-old winner turned in a spectacular display of jumping. The son of Kapgarde is now unbeaten in two starts over fences, having finished second at Gr1 level on his last two starts over hurdles. He had also won his first two races over hurdles, including a Gr2, after his transfer from France. Fakir d’Oudairies’ prowess over fences comes as no surprise in view of his pedigree. His sire Kapgarde raced exclusively over jumps, notably winning a Gr3 over hurdles at four. He then progressed to fences, winning his first start before finishing a neck second in the Gr1 Prix Ferdinand Dufaure. Kapgarde is also responsible for the King George VI Chase winner Clan des Obeaux and the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris winner Milord Thomas, as well as the
2015:
Dunraven Royal (g Black Sam Bellamy) unraced. Colorado Doc (g Dr Massini) unraced. Roc Royal (f Shirocco) HONEYSUCKLE (f Sulamani) 4 wins over hurdles at 4 and 5, ISF EBF Mares Novice Hurdle G1, BetVictor Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle G3, I.S.F. EBF Boreen Belle Mares Nov.Hurdle LR. Last Royal (g Sulamani) unraced.
Broodmare Sire: LANDO. Sire of the dams of 29 Stakes winners.
HONEYSUCKLE b m 2014 Niniski
Nijinsky Virginia Hills
Whakilyric
Miswaki Lyrism
Alleged
Hoist The Flag Princess Pout
Normia
Northfields Mia Pola
Acatenango
Surumu Aggravate
Laurea
Sharpman Licata
Nebos
Caro Nostrana
First Smile
Surumu First Love
Hernando SULAMANI b 99 Soul Dream
Lando FIRST ROYAL b 03 First Neba
It is a measure of the potential that Honeysuckle had shown in winning her first five races over hurdles that she started odds on to land the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, even though the opposition included Apple’s Jade, winner of this Gr1 race in each of the previous three seasons. The betting proved correct and Honeysuckle easily outpaced Apple’s Jade on her way to a nine-length victory over the dual Gr1 winner Bacardys. Bought for only €9,500 as a three-year-old, Honeysuckle was back in the sale ring ten months later, shortly after her 15-length victory in a point-to-point. This time it cost €110,000 to secure her and the daughter of Sulamani has proved to be worth every cent, notably taking the Gr1 Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final.
Honeysuckle’s sire Sulamani won the Prix du Jockey-Club and three other Gr1 races over a mile and a half. Although Sulamani’s first crop produced Mastery, winner of the St Leger and Hong Kong Vase, he struggled as a Flat sire in the northern hemisphere (though he sired several Gr1 winners in South America). He was switched to the National Hunt sector in 2011, to stand at Yorton Farm, but died in 2017. Sulamani’s sire Hernando was responsible for such notable jumpers as State Of Play and Sacundai, while Sulamani’s broodmare sire Alleged exerted a powerful influence on jump racing. Several of Sulamani’s best jumpers, such as his 2016 Grand National winner Rule The World, Mister Fizz and Cash And Go, were sired before his switch to Yorton. Honeysuckle’s dam First Royal was Listed-placed over hurdles in Germany, as well as winning on the Flat. Honeysuckle’s third and fourth dams, First Smile and First Love, were Listed winners on the Flat. Honeysuckle’s broodmare sire, the top-class international performer Lando, sired that high-class chaser Fox Norton and the Gr1-winning chaser Air Force One. 43 BARONRACING.COM ROYAL BOND NOVICE HURDLE G1 FAIRYHOUSE. Dec 1. 4yo+. 16f.
1. ENVOI ALLEN (FR) 5 11-10 £47,838 b g by Muhtathir - Reaction (Saint des Saints) O-Cheveley Park Stud B-Mr B. Vagne TR-Gordon Elliott 2. Abacadabras (FR) 5 11-10 £15,405 b g by Davidoff - Cadoubelle des As (Cadoudal) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Mme Evelyne Van Haaren TR-Gordon Elliott 3. Darver Star (IRE) 7 11-10 £7,297 b g by Kalanisi - Maggies Oscar (Oscar) O-SSP Number Twentytwo Syndicate B-P. Cluskey & S. Fanning TR-Gavin Cromwell Margins 1.5, 2.5. Time 4:01.40. Going Yielding to Soft. Age Starts Wins Places Earned 4-5 7 7 0 £164,954 Sire: MUHTATHIR. Sire of 35 Stakes winners. NH in 2019/20 - ENVOI ALLEN Saint des Saints G1, ROXINELA Antarctique G2, JAMES DU BERLAIS King’s Theatre LR. 1st Dam: REACTION by Saint des Saints. 2 wins over jumps in France. Dam of 1 winner:
2014:
2015: 2016:
ENVOI ALLEN (g Muhtathir) 4 wins in N.H. Flat Races at 4 and 5, Weatherbys Champion Bumper NH Flat Race G1, Matheson INH Flat Race (c&g) G2, Future Champions Flat Race LR. Fighter Allen (g Vision d’Etat) unraced. Glasgow Allen (f American Post) unraced to date.
Broodmare Sire: SAINT DES SAINTS. Sire of the dams of 8 Stakes winners. NH in 2019/20 - ENVOI ALLEN Muhtathir G1, FIGUERO Yeats G1, DOUVAN Walk In The Park G2.
ENVOI ALLEN b g 2014 Diesis
Sharpen Up Doubly Sure
Modena
Roberto Mofida
Al Nasr
Lyphard Caretta
Affirmative Fable
Affirmed Fairway Fable
Cadoudal
Green Dancer Come To Sea
Chamisene
Pharly Tuneria
Royal Charter
Mill Reef Royal Way
Violeta
Rhapsodien Dalila
Elmaamul MUHTATHIR ch 95 Majmu
Saint des Saints REACTION b 05 Hesmeralda
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Data Book Grade 1 Winners The £400,000 paid by Cheveley Park Stud for the former point-topoint winner Envoi Allen now looks a very good investment given the son of Muhtathir has been described as possibly the most exciting horse in Ireland. That accolade was paid after the gelding had stretched his unbeaten run under rules to six with a victory in the Gr1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle. His winning sequence also features victories in four bumpers, including a Gr2 event at Leopardstown and the Gr1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper. His sire, the Gr1 Prix Jacques le Marois winner Muhtathir, originally made his name as a sire of Flat
performers, with two of his sons and three of his daughters becoming Gr1 winners. More recently, Muhtathir has been making his mark on the jumping sector, both directly and indirectly. His high-class international performer Doctor Dino has been very ably represented by the likes of La Bague Au Roi, Sharjah, Sceau Royal and Master Dino, while Muhtathir has enjoyed Graded success with such as Quel Destin (Finale Juvenile Hurdle), Roxinela (Gr2 Prix Georges Courtois Chase) and Envoi Allen. Envoi Allen comes from the same female line as Espoir D’Allen, the ill-fated winner of the 2019
Champion Hurdle. Envoi Allen’s third dam Violeta is also the third dam of Espoir D’Allen. Envoi Allen’s second dam Hesmeralda was a nine-time winner at up to three miles and a furlong over jumps, competing mainly in cross-country events. This granddaughter of Mill Reef was mated to some of France’s best jumping stallions, with Hesmeralda producing the Gr2 steeplechase winner Une Epoque to Dom Alco and Envoi Allen’s dam Reaction to Saint Des Saints. Reaction won a pair of crosscountry events over a furlong short of three miles as a five-year-old. Fighter
Allen, her 2015 gelding by Vision D’Etat, won a mile and a half AQPS race on his only start in France before moving to Envoi Allen’s trainer Gordon Elliott. Envoi Allen shares the same broodmare sire, Saint Des Saints, as the outstanding Irish chaser Douvan and the Gr1 winners Figuero (Prix Maurice Gillois Chase in 2019), Adrien du Pont and De Bon Coeur. Saint Des Saints has been responsible for such notable jumpers in Britain and Ireland as Fusil Raffles, Djakadam, Days Of Heaven, Irish Saint, Quito De La Roque, Quel Esprit, Saint Calvados, Aux Ptits Soins and Lyreen Legend.
Group 2 and 3 Results Date 05/10 05/10 06/10 06/10 06/10 11/10 12/10 13/10 16/10 16/10 20/10 27/10 01/11 01/11 02/11 02/11 02/11 02/11 02/11 03/11 03/11 05/11 09/11 09/11 09/11 09/11 09/11 10/11 10/11 10/11 14/11 16/11 16/11 16/11 16/11 16/11 17/11 17/11 17/11 17/11 17/11 23/11 23/11 23/11 24/11 24/11 29/11 29/11 30/11 30/11 30/11 01/12 01/12 01/12
Grade G2 GrB G3 G3 G3 G2 G3 GrA G3 G3 GrB G2 G2 G3 G2 G2 G2 G3 GrB G3 GrB G2 G2 G2 G3 G3 GrB G2 G2 G3 G2 G2 G2 G2 G3 G3 G2 G2 G2 G2 G3 G2 G2 G3 G3 GrB G2 G2 G2 G3 GrB G3 GrA GrB
Race (course) PWC Champion Chase (Gowran Park) Kilkenny Festival Handicap Hurdle (Gowran Park) Horse & Jockey Tipperary Hurdle (Tipperary) Joe Mac Novice Hurdle (Tipperary) Like a Butterfly Novice Chase (Tipperary) Unibet Persian War Novices’ Hurdle (Chepstow) Cotswold Stone Silver Trophy Hcp. Hurdle (Chepstow) Ladbrokes Munster National Hcp. Chase (Limerick) Irish Daily Star Carvills Hill Chase (Punchestown) Ladbrokes Buck House Novice Chase (Punchestown) Co-op Kinsale Handicap Chase (Cork) Monet’s Garden Old Roan Handicap Chase (Aintree) WKD Hurdle (Down Royal) Lough EBF Mares Novice Hurdle (Down Royal) Daily Mirror Skymas Chase (Down Royal) Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (Wetherby) Bet365 West Yorkshire Hurdle (Wetherby) Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Ascot) North Down Mac’s Joy Handicap Hurdle (Down Royal) Paddy Power Irish EBF Novice Chase (Cork) Paddy Power Cork Grand National Hp Chase (Cork) Coral Haldon Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Exeter) J Romans Rising Stars Novices’ Chase (Wincanton) Unibet Elite 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) Elliott Craddockstown Novice Chase (Punchestown) BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Cheltenham) Betvictor Handicap Chase (Cheltenham) Arkle Trial November Novice Chase (Cheltenham) Shloer Cheltenham Chase (Cheltenham) Sky Supreme Trial Sharp Novice Hurdle (Cheltenham) Brennan Florida Pearl Novice Chase (Punchestown) Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Cheltenham) Christy 1965 Chase (Ascot) Coral Ascot Hurdle (Ascot) Betfair Stayers Handicap Hurdle (Haydock Park) Monksfield Novice Hurdle (Navan) Ladbrokes Troytown Handicap Chase (Navan) Ladbrokes Berkshire Novices’ Chase (Newbury) Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle (Newbury) J. Francome Worcester Novices’ Chase (Newbury) Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase (Newbury) EasyFix Ballyhack Handicap Chase (Fairyhouse) Winter Festival Juvenile Hurdle (Fairyhouse) New Stand Handicap Hurde (Fairyhouse) Porterstown Handicap Chase (Fairyhouse)
Dist 20f 24f 16f 16f 20f 19f 19f 24f 25f 18.5f 16.5f 20f 16f 16f 19.5f 24f 24f 24f 16f 20f 28f 17.5f 20f 15f 16f 16f 20f 20f 16f 16f 20f 21f 16f 16f 20f 27f 16f 16f 16f 22.5f 16f 21f 19f 24f 20f 24f 20f 24f 23f 26f 16.5f 16f 16f 29f
Horse Snow Falcon (IRE) Eight And Bob (GB) Davids Charm (IRE) Turnpike Trip (GB) Robin de Carlow (GB) Thyme Hill (GB) Flash The Steel (IRE) Cabaret Queen (GB) Jett (IRE) Jan Maat (GER) Lakemilan (IRE) Forest Bihan (FR) Coeur Sublime (IRE) Daylight Katie (FR) Real Steel (FR) Ballyoptic (IRE) The Worlds End (IRE) Vinndication (IRE) Janidil (FR) Brahma Bull (IRE) The Gatechecker (IRE) Janika (FR) Reserve Tank (IRE) Fusil Raffles (FR) Surin (FR) Cilaos Emery (FR) Kilfenora (IRE) Bacardys (FR) Ballyoisin (IRE) Abacadabras (FR) Douvan (FR) Thyme Hill (GB) Allmankind (GB) Notebook (GER) Happy Diva (IRE) West Approach (GB) Put The Kettle On (IRE) Defi du Seuil (FR) Hang In There (IRE) Battleoverdoyen (IRE) Harambe (GB) Cyrname (FR) If The Cap Fits (IRE) Stoney Mountain (IRE) Fury Road (IRE) Chris’s Dream (IRE) Champ (IRE) Paisley Park (IRE) Danny Whizzbang (IRE) De Rasher Counter (GB) Avenir d’Une Vie (FR) Cerberus (GB) Janidil (FR) Killer Miller (IRE)
Age 9 6 8 5 6 5 7 7 8 6 7 8 4 6 6 9 8 6 5 8 9 6 5 4 4 7 7 8 8 5 9 5 3 6 8 9 5 6 5 6 6 7 7 6 5 7 7 7 6 7 9 3 5 10
Sex G G G G M G G M G G M G G M G G G G G G G G G G F G G G G G G G G G M G M G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G
Sire Presenting Big Bad Bob Milan Champs Elysees Robin des Champs Kayf Tara Craigsteel King’s Theatre Flemensfirth Electric Beat Milan Forestier Elusive Pimpernel Bonbon Rose Loup Breton Old Vic Stowaway Vinnie Roe Indian Daffodil Presenting Classic Cliche Saddler Maker Jeremy Saint des Saints Authorized Califet Yeats Coastal Path Presenting Davidoff Walk In The Park Kayf Tara Sea The Moon Samum King’s Theatre Westerner Stowaway Voix du Nord Yeats Doyen Malinas Nickname Milan Mountain High Stowaway Mahler King’s Theatre Oscar Getaway Yeats Lavirco Iffraaj Indian Daffodil Flemensfirth
Dam Flocon de Neige Mare Nostrum Have More Neqaawi La Reine de Riogh Rosita Bay Anna’s Melody La Dame Brune La Noire Jeanine Hartwell Lake Katell Bihan Love Knot Sirani Kalimina Lambourne Lace Bright Sprite Pawnee Trail Janidouce Oligarch Society Criaire Princess Majaka Lady Bellamy Tali des Obeaux Sinopsy Queissa Blazing Liss Oasice Regal Force Cadoubelle des As Star Face Rosita Bay Wemyss Bay Nova Megans Joy Ardstown Name For Fame Quarvine du Seuil Jaldemosa Battle Over Crystal Princess Narquille Derravaragh Sayra Cherry Pie Molly Duffy Janebailey China Sky Presenting Shares Lakil Princess Dedrunknmunky Par Bonheur Miss You Too Janidouce Miss Brandywell
Broodmare Sire Kahyasi Caerleon Haafhd Alhaarth Presenting Hernando Luso Mansonnien Phardante Neshad Pistolet Bleu Funny Baby Lomitas Kapgarde Monsun Un Desperado Beneficial Taipan Kaldounevees Moscow Society Tidaro Kapgarde Black Sam Bellamy Panoramic Sinndar Saint Preuil Supreme Leader Robin des Champs King’s Ride Cadoudal Saint des Saints Hernando Sadler’s Wells Winged Love Supreme Leader Ardross Quest For Fame Lavirco Cadoudal Sillery Definite Article Passing Sale Sayarshan Dolpour Oscar Silver Patriarch Definite Article Presenting Bering Rashar Robin des Champs Montjeu Kaldounevees Sadler’s Wells
Index 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76
118 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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The Finish Line with Jonathan Burke Jonathan Burke was still in his teens when appointed retained rider to Alan and Ann Potts, enjoying top-level success aboard Sizing John and Sizing Granite in the owners’ silks. While that job didn’t last, Burke has since rebuilt his career in Britain, a lifeline thrown by Charlie Longsdon leading indirectly to the job as stable jockey to Tom George. At 23, he has time on his side to establish himself as one of the very best in his profession. Interview: Graham Dench
I
My dad Liam is a trainer and we’d have had 100 horses about the place, as we trained a lot of pointers for the likes of Paul Nicholls and Paul Barber. I’d always wanted to be a jockey but I used to be quite heavy. When I told Paul Barber I was going to be a jockey at 12 or 13, he told me it could never happen as I was obese! He wasn’t being rude – and I didn’t take it that way – but from that day on I started doing something about it, and gradually the weight came off. I was lucky to be surrounded by good people. Our next-door neighbour was Davy Condon and ten minutes down the road was Paul Townend. I had a great grounding and I grew up very quickly.
was 18 and claiming 5lb when I was offered the job riding for Mr and Mrs Potts. It was bizarre stuff and I thought Mr de Bromhead was kidding! Henry asked me one day where I was riding out, so I told him I was going to Willie Mullins and Noel Meade. Then I started going to Henry and after about five weeks without a ride he put me on one called Enjoy Responsibly, owned by Gigginstown, and we finished second. The following morning Henry rang me and told me that Alan Potts wanted to give me the job. The day it was announced I rode my first winner in the colours on Loosen My Load, which settled everything. Within a month I’d won a Grade 2 on Sizing Europe, still claiming 5lb, then I won a Grade 1 on Sizing John that Christmas and another on Sizing Granite at Aintree in the spring. I was very young, but it was a great job to get; it shot my career forward five or six years. If I was to go back and do it again I’d do it differently, but obviously I know a lot more now.
I got my licence at 16 and on my first day riding, I won a mares’ bumper at Cork on a 33-1 chance called Trendy Gift in my dad’s colours. It all went from there and I started ringing around for rides. After about 12 or 13 winners I got the ride on Very Much So for Willie [Mullins] in the Land Rover Bumper at Punchestown and he won, too. I turned conditional the following month, with two winners left on my 7lb claim.
GEORGE SELWYN
When I broke my back in January 2016 it was only a minor thing and I was back for Cheltenham. Then later in the year I had a schooling fall off a horse my dad had for Mr Potts and I was out for five months. That was the start of the problems, really. It just wasn’t working for either Mr Potts or myself, so we went our separate ways amicably and I started freelancing. Then I broke my leg and was off for another two months. Three weeks after I came back I injured my shoulder, and that meant five months off.
Jonathan Burke gives Not So Sleepy a terrific ride to win at Ascot in November
In Ireland if you aren’t riding for the top stables you aren’t really riding. When I was offered the job with Charlie Longsdon I felt I had nothing to lose. Racing every day was a shock to the system and races here are run very differently, as they go a lot quicker and fields are much smaller generally.
Bentelimar’s win at Aintree was probably the highlight, and I still picked up a ride for Willie in the National, so he was very loyal, too. I started getting a few spares for Tom George while I was with Charlie, and a few of them won, including Sir Valentino in a £100,000 chase at Ascot. When Adrian Heskin started to ride for the McNeill family it was a natural progression to ride more for Tom. It’s a great link up for me as Tom has some very good horses and some very good owners, too. With Noel Fehily retiring I’ve stumbled across two really good ones in Black Op and Summerville Boy for Mr [Roger] Brookhouse. Now when I get the opportunities in the big races I’m prepared, because I’ve been there before. I still ride for Charlie and I’ll be forever grateful to him for giving me the opportunity when I needed it. I also ride out for Harry Fry and Oliver Sherwood, and I’ve got a great connection with Henrietta Knight, who was an idol growing up. I met her for the first time when Glen Forsa won at Chepstow last season and I go there once a week. I might be schooling horses trained by Nicky Henderson, Alan King, Warren Greatrex or Olly Murphy, so I won’t be riding 90% of them, but it’s great experience. I’ve always enjoyed a bit of commentating. It was just messing about to start with at pony races, but then I got a chance to do some point-to-points. When I was injured I did odd races on the track from Tramore, Punchestown and Cork. They had me on ITV’s Opening Show doing it, too, and I enjoyed that. Commentating is my retirement plan! By the way, it’s Jonathan not Jonny. A lot of people know me as Jonny but I do prefer Jonathan and my dad’s pretty keen on it, so he’ll always stress it when any journalist does a story on me. I’d never correct anyone, though. I’ll go with the flow.
120 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER
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Follow the Class of 2019... Over 160 foals born in 2019
COLT EX SUPERSTAR LEO
COLT EX RIPPLES MAID
FILLY EX YSPER
Out of the Champion 2yo Filly in Europe, half-sister to Gr.3 winner Enticing, the dam of Gr.1 winner One Master, and Stakes winner Sentaril.
Half-brother to Gr.2 winner and Gr.1 placed Mikki Charm, out of a multiple Stakes winner.
Out of a full-sister to Gr.1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Vorda.
COLT EX NEVER IN
FILLY EX KELADORA
COLT EX BIJOU A MOI
Out of a half-sister to Stakes placed Colour Of Love.
Out of a multiple Stakes placed half-sister to Gr.1 placed On Verra.
Half-brother to Gr.3 winner Robin Hoods Bay.
COLT EX SHOWSTOPPA
FILLY EX DELIZIA
FILLY EX LITTLEMISSSUNSHINE
Half-brother to Stakes winner Avengers Queen.
Dam a winner of the Listed Marygate Stakes.
Half-sister to Stakes placed Soapy Aitken.
6 STAKES WINNERS from his first crop including Gr.1 winner Havana Grey and dual Gr.3 winner Treasuring.
But the best is yet to come… Contact Hannah Wall or Alice Thurtle E: hannahwall@tweenhills.com E: alice@tweenhills.com T: +44 (0) 1452 700177
DAR17590 Owner Breeder full page Masar 01JAN20.qxp 10/12/2019 16:11 Page 1
The horse who beat the Duke Of York winner over six furlongs in May at two. And who beat the Horse of the Year and Champion miler all three times they met. (And then there’s that brilliant Derby win...)
NEW MASAR £15,000 Oct 1, SLF
New Approach – Khawlah (Cape Cross)
Wishing all the clearly amazing breeders who supported our stallions in 2019 every success in the season ahead.