Thoroughbred Owner Breeder

£4.95 JUNE 2019 ISSUE 178

‘My horse of a lifetime’

Bjorn Nielsen on his star homebred Stradivarius

PLUS

British EBF Vital funding

Stuart Williams

06

Trainer’s Group-race breakthrough

John Velazquez

Top jockey loves Royal Ascot

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Welcome

Nielsen’s star stays on as industry takes quicker route

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£4.95 JUNE 2019 ISSUE 178

‘My horse of a lifetime’

Bjorn Nielsen on his star homebred Stradivarius

PLUS

British EBF Vital funding

Stuart Williams

06

Trainer’s Group-race breakthrough

John Velazquez

Top jockey loves Royal Ascot

Edward Rosenthal Editor

9 771745 435006

www.ownerbreeder.co.uk

Cover: Stradivarius and Frankie Dettori win the Group 2 Matchbook Yorkshire Cup at York on May 17 for owner-breeder Bjorn Nielsen and trainer John Gosden Photo: Bill Selwyn

fter Stradivarius had captured the Gold Cup last year, his second victory in an unbeaten campaign that saw him win a £1 million bonus from Weatherbys Hamilton as the outstanding stayer in training, I suggested his achievements could well count against him when it came to a stud career.

“A horse that has shown enough stamina to win a Gold Cup is, sadly, a turn-off to most commercial breeders,” I wrote. “Even if he has the speed, class and versatility to win at shorter distances.

“Given the chance, there’s no reason why Stradivarius could not produce top-class runners on the Flat, though he is undoubtedly an attractive proposition for the jumps sector.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, his owner-breeder, Bjorn Nielsen, would appear to agree with this sentiment. In a fascinating interview with Julian Muscat (The Big Interview, pages 36-40), Nielsen accepts that modern trends dictate that his champion will not be popular with the Flat fraternity once his racing career is over.

“It’s crazy,” he says. “What more does a horse have to do to show he could be a great stallion?

He’s got a turn of foot, all these things people look for, but he’s never really going to get a proper chance.

“It was the same with Yeats. He was a superb racehorse, very well bred, but he was just not supported by [Flat] breeders. I sometimes wonder how many great stallions there are out there that nobody will ever find out about.”

Breeding’s loss, for the time being at least, is racing’s gain as we could well have the opportunity to enjoy Stradivarius’ brilliance on the racecourse for a few years yet. Nielsen is under no pressure to retire him and judged on his winning return in the Yorkshire Cup, the son of Sea The Stars is better than ever at the age of five as he targets a second Gold Cup at Royal Ascot – and, likely, another cheque for £1m.

Stradivarius is also a poster boy for the staying scene in Britain, which has been under threat for a number of years due to the industry’s preference for speed sires, plus overseas raids

for our top staying horses for races such as the Melbourne Cup. The European Breeders Fund, working with the BHA and Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, which commissioned a report into staying horses, has developed a series of races for later-maturing two-year-olds – now enhanced in value thanks to a partnership with Matchbook – in an effort to provide additional opportunities on the racecourse and broaden their appeal to owners.

Stradivarius began his career in these EBFsupported races and on his second appearance finished fourth behind stablemate Cracksman, who went on to win four Group 1s. Kerry Murphy, EBF Chief Executive, discusses the success

“Stradivarius is a poster boy for the staying scene in Britain” of these races and the importance of the organisation’s contribution to British racing at a time when other sources of revenue appear to be heading in the wrong direction (see pages 54-57).

Trainer Stuart Williams is capable with all types of runners but is perhaps best known for his handling of sprinters.

In Keystroke, who caused a huge upset in the Abernant Stakes earlier this year to give Williams his first Group triumph in a 25-year career, he has a legitimate Royal Ascot contender in his stable.

As Tim Richards discovers (Talking To, pages 42-46), Williams relishes training in Newmarket and is keen to improve the quality of his string every year, yet he warns that the shortage of stable staff and poor prize-money must be addressed by British racing’s top brass.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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Contents

June 2019

112

48

42

News & Views

International Scene

ROA Leader

View From Ireland

Mental health important

5

Continental Tales

TBA Leader Rewarding the best vital

7

News Gigginstown saying goodbye

12

Changes News in a nutshell

14 20

Howard Wright New BHA Chair's challenge

22

Kentucky Derby shock and Winx's legacy

30

24 26 28

Features Ruby Walsh & Pat Smullen The Big Picture Guineas double for Ballydoyle

From The Archives Lahib at Royal Ascot in 1992

With owner-breeder Bjorn Nielsen

Royal Ascot fever

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Around The Globe

The Big Interview

Racing Life The racing and social event of the year

Louisa Carberry's French connection

Irish heroes retire

Tony Morris Charlottown triumphs for Lewes

Lady Kaya shines for Sheila Lavery

Talking To...

Trainer Stuart Williams

8 16 18 36 42

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Features Kevin and Anna Ross Excelling under both codes

British EBF

Making a valuable contribution

Sales Circuit

Record price at Goffs UK

Caulfield Files

Galileo's daughters to the fore

Stud Design

What to take into account

Dr Statz

Invincible Spirit continues to shine

The Finish Line

With top jockey John Velazquez

Forum 48 54 60 70 72 100 112

Forum The Thoroughbred Club Exciting events in 2019

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ROA Forum 80

New member benefit

TBA Forum Dan Skelton visit proves a hit

90

Vet Forum Footcare for broodmares

98

Data Book Group and Graded Races Winners assessed

102

Did you know?

Our monthly average readership is

20,000 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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23/05/2019 15:43

ROA Leader

Nicholas Cooper President

Workforce well-being laid bare in studies T

he extent to which the British horseracing industry’s concern for its workforce has greatly improved since the turn of the century can be seen in two recently-published surveys, both immensely revealing and important.

The first of these, sponsored by the Racing Foundation, deals with stable staff recruitment, skills and retention issues, while the second is a research document carried out by Liverpool John Moores University in association with the charity Racing Welfare, to look at the subject of mental health in racing.

The stable staff survey, an industry-wide project, was carried out to assess the impact of the Racing Foundation’s three-year £1m grant in the area of staff recruitment.

Many trainers will tell you that recruitment and retention of staff is one of their biggest headaches and this latest survey suggests very little has changed.

However, the survey – conducted in 2018 and making likewith-like comparisons with 2016 – does show there is a marked increase in the number of yards providing training for their staff, while there are definite improvements in staff perceptions around training, development and career opportunities.

Results show that 40% of staff have received training over the last two years, which is up from 29% two years previously.

Virtually all trainers now buy in to the importance of giving staff training, with the majority now aware of initiatives being offered by the industry.

While it is true that wages and working hours and conditions may always be key drivers in recruiting and retaining staff, we must recognise how this goes hand in hand with the need to establish proper career paths for stable workers. It follows that the more staff are instilled with the belief they can improve their lot by becoming better qualified at their chosen career, the more they will strive to better their positions as ambition replaces disillusionment.

It is also encouraging to see that three-quarters of racing staff say they are satisfied with their working lives. The main reason cited for this is, of course, a love and passion for riding and working with horses and it has to be said that without this crucial factor, our staffing situation would surely be much, much worse.

But if there are elements of encouragement in the stable staff survey, it is difficult to glean anything positive from the mental health study – except for the fact that the work has at least been undertaken. Yes, we were all aware that stress, anxiety and depression were prevalent in racing’s workforce – particularly jockeys – but never to the extent that has been laid bare in this excellent, if depressing, piece of research.

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The report makes clear its prime purpose is not so much to tell the industry what it can do to address these profound problems but more to stimulate recognition and debate. Equally, it says, addressing the issues should not be motivated purely for moral reasons but because widespread ill-health inevitably has a bad effect on the industry in economic and productivity terms.

Nobody doubts the BHA, along with all of racing’s constituents, is serious in tackling this problem but racing is, by its very nature, a highly competitive business operating in a highly competitive environment. Our world is one where the highs of winning and the lows of losing are amplified and

“Our world is one where the highs of winning and the lows of losing are amplified and exposed” exposed, where there is no time for proper reflection and no opportunity to allow yourself to get off the treadmill because you may lose your next ride or your next winning opportunity.

The burgeoning fixture list over recent years has exacerbated the problem, causing working hours to be extended at a time when racing struggles to attract staff. The huge pressure this puts on trainers, jockeys and stable staff often results in mental health issues.

A decline in total prize-money will now see a reduction in everyone’s pockets, so compounding the problem and underlining the importance of what these surveys are telling us.

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The TBA, with you for the journey Your support means that we can continue our work to build a stronger industry underpinned by a more resilient and diverse breed.

We work collaboratively with the BHA to identify areas of the horse population which are in need of support within the race programme.

We deliver a number of initiatives including; This Filly Can, NHMOPS, and race sponsorship to assist fillies, stayers and national hunt mares, which is testament to our commitment to the long term sustainability of the British breeding industry and development of the breed.

Why wouldn’t you support us?

thetba.co.uk

TBA Leader

Julian Richmond-Watson Chairman

Aspirational sport means rewarding the best T

here is currently a considerable and vociferous debate about the allocation of prize-money in Britain. The arguments about central support range over the whole spectrum: whether it should be steered more to the lower levels of racing, or spread more evenly across the programme, or be focused in a way that supports a meritocratic system.

The BHA-backed three-year funding agreement to spend more than £7 million of Levy Board cash on bolstering prizemoney, including providing appearance money for lower-class races, runs out at the end of 2020. The principle has already caused disruption through its match-funding system, whereby a number of racecourses declined to make the equivalent contributions to meet the level required in 2019.

This is the system working, and match funding – or some form of incentivising prize-money – with racecourses has to be a sound way to use central contributions from the levy.

However, if top-ups are made or the levels are set so low that every racecourse joins in and they are given extra money to achieve the overall objective, the exercise is pointless.

A more imaginative approach is required, but it needs to be realistic about available Levy Board funds. In my opinion, various levels should be set for different classes of racing, with the intention of achieving a proportionate buy-in from the racecourses. Larger tracks can no longer be relied upon to continue funding the better-quality races without some central support and encouragement.

A significant rise in Levy Board revenue after online bookmakers were brought into line with their onshore colleagues appeared to make the three-year funding agreement possible. However, contributions from the betting industry to the levy are expected to fall during 2019 and 2020, as shops close under the impact of government changes to fixed-odds terminal stakes and punters migrate to online betting where margins are smaller.

An inevitable consequence will be that prize-money contributions from the Levy Board will be lower, assuming other confirmed costs are met. If racing continues to believe £7m should be allocated to lower-class races and appearance money, levels further up the scale will have to suffer. Is this really what is required in a meritocratic system that should encourage progression and reward the racing of good horses?

Breeders plan and dream of producing horses to perform in the best races. We fully accept that our aspirations may not be reached and our horses will race at a lower level than we had hoped. We cannot expect to be as well rewarded for producing these horses, and their connections should only expect to be

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rewarded with prize-money commensurate with their ability.

The sport’s integrity depends on those who do their best being rewarded for success, while Britain’s international reputation relies on good horses being produced and raced in internationally competitive events here for levels of prizemoney comparable worldwide. Evidence from betting forums and bookmakers’ research shows that quality races attract the highest interest from punters. Naturally, there are some people who will bet on nearly every race, but it is a proven fact that quality, high-end competition drives a considerable following.

Of course, the lower levels are important, but they must not be allowed to detract from the principle that the sport is built on a meritocratic and aspirational system, where the ethos is

“British racing will thrive only via the success of the top races that attract international runners” about being competitive and competing to win. It cannot be stressed strongly enough that the sport’s integrity depends on participants wanting to win. Anything that detracts from that will to succeed and climb the ladder should be rebuffed.

British racing will continue to thrive only via the success of the top races that attract international runners and the draw of major festivals. The best races need to be run under conditions and with prize-money that is competitive, while those racing in the middle tiers must also be rewarded proportionately.

We should continue to support a meritocratic system and, of course, dream of success. Nothing should be done to jeopardise the international standing of British racing, which excites everyone involved and does so much to bring inward investment into the country.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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23/05/2019 15:46

Walsh & Smullen

All-time greats retire Ruby Walsh and Pat Smullen called time on their riding careers in May

L

ast month witnessed the retirement of Ireland’s number one riders from both codes. First Ruby Walsh stunned the jumps fraternity by announcing with immediate effect he had finished after winning the Punchestown Gold Cup on Kemboy, and then a week later, nine-time Irish champion Pat Smullen revealed he had quit on medical advice.

Walsh, while not being able to rival Sir AP McCoy in statistical terms, has claims to the title of greatest jump jockey of all time. As the 40-year-old said himself on the evening of his big announcement, aside from Sprinter Sacre and Altior, he has ridden just about all of the top jumps horses of recent times.

He won 2,756 races over jumps in Ireland and Britain combined, was Irish champion jockey 12 times and rode four of the greatest jumpers in the history of the sport – not just modern times – in Kauto Star, Denman, Master Minded and Big Buck’s, all trained by Paul Nicholls.

Walsh captured the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice on Kauto Star, also partnering Clive Smith’s brilliant chaser to success in the King George VI Chase on five occasions. He won the Champion Hurdle four times – twice on Hurricane Fly and on Faugheen and Annie Power, those three saddled by Willie Mullins, the trainer with whom Walsh was most associated in his later career.

››

Ruby Walsh enjoyed a superb association with Big Buck’s, winning the Stayers’ Hurdle four years’ running, while left, Pat Smullen partnered the Aga Khan’s Harzand to victory in the 2016 Derby

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Walsh & Smullen

Walsh and Kauto Star won the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice and the King George VI Chase five times

››

He was leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival 11 times, with 59 winners, and has two Grand Nationals on his CV, courtesy of Papillon, trained by his father Ted, and Hedgehunter.

Other major names he partnered to big-race wins included Azertyuiop, Vautour, Douvan and Quevega, six-time winner of Cheltenham’s Grade 1 Mares’ Hurdle.

Walsh reflected: “It’s brilliant. I’ve had an incredible career. It’s all about big races and you want to go out on a big one.

I’ve been coming here since I was a kid.

Punchestown is home, and it’s time for something new. Nothing lasts forever.”

Smullen, who like Walsh celebrated his birthday last month as well as announcing his retirement, won the Derby on Harzand, numerous other Classics, and was a multiple champion jockey in Ireland.

Now 42, Smullen has made an inspirational recovery from pancreatic cancer but having not ridden since March 2018 was told by doctors that returning to his riding weight would risk harming his immune system, and he made the decision to retire.

He said: “I had hoped to resume my riding career but I’ve taken the decision to

RUBY’S GEMS 2 Cheltenham Gold Cups 2 Grand Nationals 5 King George VI Chases 4 Champion Hurdles 12 Champion jockey titles 2,756 Career wins over jumps in Ireland and Britain

retire on medical advice.

“My treatment has been completed and I will be having regular check-ups to keep on top of the situation, as there is always the chance the cancer could return.

“My decision is a sad one, but it is the

right thing to do and it’s a case of putting my body, my health and my family first.”

Harzand’s Derby win in 2016 came for the jockey’s allies the Aga Khan and Dermot Weld, and it was one of a dozen European Classic successes. Smullen won the Irish Derby on the same colt, and on Grey Swallow in 2004, while another notable strike had come on Refuse To Bend in the previous year’s 2,000 Guineas.

Smullen was twice champion apprentice before winning Ireland’s premier title nine times, and in total he partnered 1,845 winners in Ireland, plus another 47 in Britain.

Smullen enjoys Refuse To Bend’s victory in the 2,000 Guineas in 2003

PAT’S PICKS 1 Derby 1 2,000 Guineas 2 Irish Derbys 12 European Classic victories 9 Champion jockey titles 1,892 Career wins in Ireland and Britain

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News

O’Leary flying off into the sunset

I

n April he won the Grand National for the third time in four years – the following month Michael O’Leary was back in the headlines as he delivered a seismic shock to the sport by announcing his plan to wind down his powerful racing operation.

The Ryanair supremo explained that Gigginstown House Stud would not be buying any more young stock and ceasing its involvement in a sport it has dominated for years.

Its maroon and white silks have been one of the bedrocks on which a number of livelihoods have been sustained and the impact of Gigginstown’s step back from the National Hunt scene will be significant for a number of individuals and businesses.

Estimates of Gigginstown’s annual value to the sport have been put at around €15 million, while it is understood they have acquired around 50 three-year-old stores a year from auction houses.

O’Leary, whose colours were first carried to victory in 2001, said: “We wish to sincerely thank all our trainers and their teams for the enormous success we’ve enjoyed over the past decade, but as my children are growing into teenagers I’m spending more and more of my time at their activities and I have less and less time

Michael O’Leary’s decision shocked the Irish racing community

for National Hunt racing, a situation that will continue for the foreseeable future.

“I hope that by running down our string over an extended four-or-fiveyear period it will give our trainers

Levy slump puts prize-money under pressure Income from the levy has fallen by £17 million in the latest financial year, it was revealed last month, in what amounts to a big blow to the racing industry.

The newly reformed levy, extended to overseas operators, brought in £95m in its first year, but in 2018-19 that figure has dropped to £78m, much lower than anticipated, following a far less profitable period for bookmakers in February and March.

As a result, the Levy Board will need to make £5m worth of cuts in 2019, with prize-money set to take the biggest hit.

The sport is already facing falling revenue from media rights due to anticipated betting shop closures following the government’s decision to

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cut FOBT maximum stakes to £2 from £100. The effect of that change has been estimated at between £40m and £60m a year.

A spokesman for racing’s tripartite leadership, comprising the BHA, Horsemen’s Group and Racecourse Association, said: “We were shocked to see the big drop in levy yield, which was significantly below the previous forecast at the end of March. We share the disappointment that our sport will feel having produced some highly competitive and compelling racing over the past year.”

The spokesman added: “The bulk of the levy income is distributed as prize-money. At a time when there is already significant debate in the

industry around levels of prize-money, we appreciate that any potential reduction will cause further concern.

“Racecourses, the Horsemen’s Group and the BHA have pledged to work through any implications together. Discussions have already begun about how to minimise the impact over the next year.”

In March it had been announced that prize-money for this year was to be boosted by a one-off injection of £6.5m from the Levy Board to compensate for falling media rights income.

That support was mainly to be targeted at the middle to lower tiers and came after some tracks had signalled their intention to cut prize-

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Stories from the racing world ample time to replace our horses without disruption.”

Gigginstown’s principal trainer is Gordon Elliott, who ran 107 Gigginstown-owned horses last season, while Henry de Bromhead, Noel Meade and Joseph O’Brien are its other trainers, with Pat Doyle and Mouse Morris handling the point-topointers.

Michael’s brother, Eddie, who acts as Gigginstown’s Racing Manager, said: “We’ve just had our best season ever in terms of winners and it’s been an amazing year capped by Tiger Roll winning the Grand National for the second time.

“We have lots of young stock to be allocated among our trainers over the coming weeks and each of our trainers will receive their usual allocation of young point-to-pointers.”

Last season witnessed 225 Gigginstown horses run under Rules; breeders, vendors and sales companies will also feel the pinch.

Tiger Roll’s Grand National victory in April was his second, and Gigginstown’s third, following Rule The World’s triumph in 2016. War Of Attrition (2006) and Don Cossack (2016) delivered Cheltenham Gold Cup glory among 27 Festival victories and 91 Grade 1 triumphs in all.

Gigginstown House Stud has been champion owner in Ireland for the past five seasons, and seven times all told, invariably vying with JP McManus for the crown.

Stanley Jackson Former Racecourse Association Managing Director Stanley Jackson died in early May after a short illness. He was 83.

As well as overseeing the racecourse umbrella group from 1989 until 1998, he had previously spent nine important years as the first Chief Executive of the Horseracing Advisory Council.

The HAC was formed in 1980 and was devised as a means of ensuring that the voice of those who worked in and for racing should be heard in the development of racing policy.

It was instrumental in the creation of the British Horseracing Board taking over the sport’s governance from the Jockey Club in 1993.

A man of huge integrity, Jackson was a noted raconteur with a droll wit and held in great admiration and affection by those who worked with him.

At the RCA, he mentored the likes of his successor Morag Gray and Caroline Davies, now the company’s Racecourses Services Director.

“Stanley had a major impact on British horseracing in his roles and all at the RCA were saddened by the news,” said Davies. “He was the most genuine and honest man, clear-thinking, which was needed at the time, and he was

Unfavourable results on track saw bookmakers’ profits tumble in February and March

money contributions in response to the threat of falling income.

Many in the racing industry would

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like a levy system based on turnover rather than the current gross profits method.

Stanley Jackson: ‘genuine and honest’

a rock for racing with his steady hand guiding the sport, which was essential during that period of change.

“Personally, he did a huge amount for me, always with wise counsel and with a story for everything.”

Born in Newcastle and educated at Edinburgh University, Jackson spent the first part of his working life overseas in publishing, including four years in South Africa, before joining the fledgling HAC. After retiring from the RCA in 1998, he chaired SCORES, a sports corporate research company, for five years, and served as Non-executive Chairman of Racenews until retiring last year.

The north London specialist racing news and publicity agency was a stepping stone for many now employed throughout the racing industry and founder Mark Popham paid tribute.

“Stanley was Non-executive Chairman of Racenews for 20 years after retiring from the RCA in 1998,” said Popham.

“He was very supportive of Racenews as a business and unfailingly calm and helpful when any crisis arose.

He had a terrific memory and his stories and anecdotes were always worth listening to and invariably amusing.

“He appreciated still having a role in racing and welcomed his quarterly trips to north London from Dorset.”

He moved to Wimborne in Dorset after retiring from the RCA and – a voracious reader – he enjoyed giving talks on local icon Thomas Hardy, one of his favourite authors.

He leaves a wife, Norma.

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Changes

People and business Rose Dobbin

Virus-hit campaign leads to Northumberland trainer shutting up shop until the autumn in a bid to get over the issue.

Commonwealth Cup

Geldings will not be permitted to run from 2020, the race having quickly established itself as a strong Group 1 in the calendar.

Andy Hornby

Mark Walsh

Jockey who won the Champion Hurdle on Espoir D’Allen in March suffers broken tibia in a fall at Punchestown.

David Arbuthnot

Leaving Ladbrokes Coral parent company GVC Holdings to become Chief Executive of The Restaurant Group.

Will Biddick

Broke the British record for point-topoint victories when riding his 415th winner.

Richard Flint

Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascotwinning trainer to quit the ranks this month after 38 years with a licence.

Sky Bet’s Executive Chairman is to leave the company, which he joined in 2001 and has led for more than ten years.

Betfred

Paul Harley

Bookmaker takes over the two oncourse betting shops at Ascot after signing a three-year deal.

Former jockey and trainer is appointed

by Tattersalls Ireland as its dedicated Scandinavian and German representative.

People obituaries Stanley Jackson 83

Vivien Wallis 90

Brian Walden 86

John Murtagh 74

First Racecourse Association Managing Director who was also Chief Executive of the Horserace Advisory Council.

Political interviewer and ex-Labour MP dubbed ‘the bookies’ runner’ in the Commons for championing betting industry.

Freddie Starr 76

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Plans to lease Gainsborough Stables in Newmarket, meaning it will be used as a training yard for the first time in over a decade.

Shadwell

Sets new record at a South African auction, spending R9 million (£482,000) on a Silvano yearling colt through Mike de Kock.

GVC Holdings

Owner of Ladbrokes Coral calls for an end to all broadcast advertising on sports betting in the UK, except on racing.

Racecourse Media Group

The 37 tracks afilliated to RMG will receive almost £110 million from media and data rights generated in 2018.

Made an MBE for fundraising efforts, including as co-chair of the Ascot charity day; she was also an owner.

Twice champion apprentice in Ireland, he also won the Irish Cesarewitch on Abletai, Mr Smarty and St Sebastian.

Martyn McEnery 88

Comedian who fulfilled a lifetime’s ambition when his horse Miinnehoma won the Grand National in 1994.

Bred Grand National legend Red Rum; his family has run Rossenarra Stud near Kells, Co Kilkenny for over half a century.

Philip Purcell 73

Liam Sheridan 76

Ex-Tattersalls Ireland auctioneer and manager at Limerick Junction (now Tipperary) who owned the high-class Sokeni.

Simon Crisford

Owner for 40 years whose green and yellow silks were carried by Listed winners Second Thought and Shamrock City.

Simon Bazalgette

Group Chief Executive of the Jockey Club will step down after 11 years at the helm.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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Racing’s news in a nutshell

Racehorse and stallion

Movements and retirements Barney Roy

Godolphin’s failed stallion makes return to the track, finishing second in a Listed race at Ascot for trainer Charlie Appleby.

Ballycasey

The Taj Mahal

Neorealism

New Year’s Day

Retired aged 12 after 11 wins, including a beating of subsequent Gold Cup winner Don Cossack in the Dr PJ Moriarty Chase.

Japanese-bred and trained Hong Kong Group 1 winner will stand at Oaklands Stud in Australia for southern hemisphere season.

Multiple Group 2 winner due to have gone under the hammer at the Magic Millions National Sale on May 28 on the Gold Coast.

Stud Eternamente Rio in Brazil sells the sire of Maximum Security, who was first past the post in the Kentucky Derby, to a farm in Japan.

Horse obituaries Dunaden 13

Winner of the 2011 Melbourne Cup and Sheikh Fahad’s favourite horse suffers paddock accident at Overbury Stud.

Hammersly Lake 11

Eight-time winner trained by Charlie Longsdon who twice contested the American Grand National.

Legally Bay 18

Dam of dual Group 1-winning sprinter Merchant Navy, raced and later bred from by Chris and Jane Barham.

Josses Hill 11

Seven-time winner for Alan Spence and Nicky Henderson, landing the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase in 2016.

Zenda 20

French Classic winner and dam of outstanding runner and sire Kingman.

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The Big Picture

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Ballydoyle at the double

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QIPCO Guineas weekend at Newmarket proved particularly fruitful for Coolmore and Aidan O’Brien, who for the fourth time did the Classic double, winning the colts’ race with Magna Grecia (main image), ridden by son Donnacha, and the fillies’ contest with Hermosa (below), who was the mount of Wayne Lordan. Magna Grecia was one of just three colts to race down the stands’ side in a 2,000 Guineas that appeared to favour those drawn high, while the 1,000 Guineas was won in gutsy fashion by Hermosa, who made every yard of the running on the Rowley Mile.

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Photos George Selwyn

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QIPCO Guineas Festival

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From The Archives Lahib and Carson last out best The Queen Anne Stakes invariably provides an exciting lift-off to the Royal Meeting and while it had yet to become a Group 1, the 1992 edition was such an occasion, producing a thrilling four-way finish between favourite Lahib, Second Set, who was making his seasonal debut, the previous year’s winner Sikeston, and French raider Exit To Nowhere. Lahib (centre) looked cooked a furlong out but Hamdan Al Maktoum’s runner responded to Willie Carson’s urgings to deny Second Set (left) by a head.

Sikeston was half a length back, a short-head in front of the fast-finishing, luckless Exit To Nowhere.

Photo George Selwyn

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Lahib at Royal Ascot on June 16, 1992

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Tony Morris

My favourite triumph of 1966 was not at Wembley The town of Lewes once housed some notable stables and in England’s World Cup-winning year supplied a long overdue Derby victor in the shape of Lady Zia Wernher’s Charlottown

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was aware of horseracing before my age was reckoned in double-digits, if only because the sports pages had given enormous coverage to the Derbys of 1953 and 1954, the former having at last provided Gordon Richards with the victory he had craved for decades, the latter remarkable for the fact that it was won by an 18-year-old youth called Lester Piggott.

But it was only after my purchase of the 1956 News Chronicle Racing Annual – reading matter for a train journey between Devon and Kent – that I came to recognise a sport that immediately fascinated me from umpteen angles. I was 11 years old, and my life would never be the same again.

The reason for my journey was to spend the Easter holidays with an aunt and uncle, and when I got there I asked them if they had any experience of the subject that had captured my imagination. All that sprang to their minds was that they had been present at a Derby many years ago, that they had stood at Tattenham Corner, had seen nothing and merely heard horses’ hooves – and got drenched into the bargain. (Much later I was able to identify the occasion as Sansovino’s year, 1924.)

Back home I quizzed my parents about what they knew. No luck with my father, but my mother had a tale to tell. She had been born and brought up in Lewes, and she had attended the races there on a few occasions in her twenties. She had no particular recollections of those visits, but she did have vivid recall of an earlier event when racing touched her life, and she even remembered the name of the horse and the trainer involved.

Shaun Spadah, a horse stabled in Lewes, won the 1921 Grand National, and his trainer, George Poole, generously marked the success by the gift of a shiny silver sixpence to every schoolchild in the town. Mum was one of the grateful recipients.

I already knew Lewes quite well. There had been numerous visits to my Aunt Daisy, who still lived there, and we would sometimes take flowers to Grandma’s grave in the cemetery, a few hundred yards from the house where she spent her entire life.

As family connections with horseracing go, the episode with George Poole and the sixpence might seem no big deal, but as my interest in the sport grew, I gave special focus to my mother’s birthplace as a centre for racing and training that had long been significant.

Dating back to Victorian times, a summer feature of the calendar was always the so-called ‘Sussex fortnight,’ when fixtures at Lewes and Brighton followed hard on the close of Glorious Goodwood. As things turned out, Brighton would become the first racecourse I visited, as an excited 13-year-old, and in time I would be a regular at Goodwood, but I never made it to Lewes, which staged its last meeting in 1964.

But I was always a keen follower of the stables in Lewes, particularly that of Jack ‘Towser’ Gosden, who had been Poole’s assistant before taking out a licence himself in 1928. His team enjoyed plenty of success in handicaps over a long period, including a couple of Ayr Gold Cups, but those victories were overshadowed by far more consequential triumphs in 1960.

Charlottown (right) holds off Pretendre to win the 1966 Derby

In that season Gosden’s five-year-old Aggressor claimed the scalp of the previous year’s Derby hero Parthia in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, and returned to that course a month later to overcome the great Petite Etoile in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Whatever next? I longed for an overdue Lewes victory in the Derby.

Three years later some believed that the wait was about to end. On only his second start for the Gosden yard the well-bred Duplation had broken his maiden with an emphatic score in the Lingfield Derby Trial. On the morning of the Classic the Vimy colt’s chance was trumpeted on the front page of the Sporting Life, and on the course he was the subject of frenzied betting that resulted in his price being reduced from 100-6 to 6-1, only a point longer than long-time favourite Relko.

Everyone knew that Duplation had a history of temperamental behaviour when he was in Cecil Boyd-Rochfort’s stable as a two-year-old, but his Lingfield performance was taken to indicate that he was now a reformed character. Wrong!

Starting stalls for the Derby were still four years in the future.

Duplation reverted to his bad old ways as the starter tried to get the 26 runners into line, even trying to savage another colt when the tapes eventually rose. He took no interest in the proceedings, never taking hold of his bit.

So much for the Lewes hopes in the 1963 Derby. I could only hope that a worthier candidate would come along soon.

By the end of the 1965 season I felt there were grounds for optimism about a colt who came from the same family and represented the same owner-breeder as Duplation, but had exhibited no quirks on any of his racecourse appearances.

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The man you can’t ignore It would have been hard to invent a pedigree more blueblooded than Charlottown’s. His sire was Charlottesville, hero of a Prix du Jockey-Club and a Grand Prix de Paris, and his dam was the wonderful Meld, the filly Triple Crown heroine of 1955 in Lady Zia Wernher’s colours.

Charlottown began with an eight-length score in the Solario Stakes at Sandown, followed up with a workmanlike win over the filly Gyropolis in the Blackwood Hodge Stakes at Ascot, and signed off for the season with a clear-cut victory in the Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury. The official handicapper made him the third-best colt in his age group, 5lb below sprint-bred Young Emperor, and just 1lb below Pretendre, winner of the Observer Gold Cup. Towser Gosden retired at the end of 1965, so the responsibility for guiding Charlottown through his Classic campaign fell to Gordon Smyth, who switched from Arundel to the Heath House yard in Lewes.

The new arrangement started inauspiciously. The colt was supposed to make his seasonal debut in Brighton’s Derby Trial, but a slight injury scotched that plan and he went instead to Lingfield, where an over-confident ride by Ron Hutchinson left Charlottown with too much to do against the front-running Black Prince.

That loss was all about pilot error, so it did not make Charlottown’s Derby chance seem any worse; it arguably became better when Hutchinson’s fellow Aussie – four-time champion Scobie Breasley – was booked for the mount at Epsom.

There is often drama on Derby day, but in 1966 it was largely about what occurred in the preliminaries, rather than the race itself. I watched 24 horses go to post, but there were supposed to be 25. The one missing was Charlottown, who had contrived to tread on his own foot in the parade ring and lost a plate.

“I feared the starter may lose patience and send the others on their way without Charlottown” The delay was nerve-racking for me, but obviously more so for his connections, not least the lad who led the colt up. He was Michael Jarvis, a young Lewes man born and bred, whose mother, like mine, had received a silver sixpence courtesy of George Poole 45 years earlier.

As luck would have it, Gordon Smyth’s own farrier was in the crowd, and he made haste to attend his regular charge and set about the repair job. I feared that the starter would lose patience and send the others on their way, and perhaps it was just the fact that Charlottown was one of the favourites that persuaded him he should wait.

And wait he did until Charlottown joined the rest for a start delayed by a full quarter of an hour.

The race turned out to be contrastingly drama-free. Breasley, who would never leave the inside rail unless it became absolutely necessary, contrived a charmed run on the inner without interference, took Charlottown into the lead a furlong from home and had enough left to hold off Pretendre by a neck.

Lewes had at last registered another win in the premier Classic – the first since Robert Robson sent out Waxy to collect the spoils in 1793. I don’t suppose I’ll be around for the next one, if there is to be a next one.

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The Howard Wright Column

Challenging BHA culture without rocking the boat

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nnamarie Phelps, the new BHA Chair from June 1, will have had no shortage of advice since her slightly left-field appointment from the world of rowing was announced at the beginning of April. Here’s an idea that takes its cue from the direction of travel she has followed to the top non-executive job in British racing.

It comes with a nod of gratitude, if not plagiarism, towards Sir John Timpson, who as well as being a racehorse owner is Chairman of the high-street services provider that carries his family name. More than that, Sir John is one of the most entertaining weekly contributors to The Daily Telegraph, whose Monday replies to business affairs questions make this and the sports supplement the main reasons for paying £2 for the whole paper.

Recently asked if a modern workplace can ever be free from office politics, Sir John replied: “As you enter the Timpson office building, you will see a notice that says, ‘Leave your politics in the car park.’”

Maybe Sir John, whose views on racing’s current administration would be worth exploring, could offer similar advice to Ms Phelps, imploring her to put up a notice at the entrance to the BHA head office that says, ‘Leave your politics at Holborn tube station’.

The search to set aside sectional interests seems to have bedevilled British racing for decades. Maybe it has always been so. Yet that is no reason to dismiss a change of approach, which strengthens the pertinence of some public comments that accompanied the announcement of Ms Phelps’ appointment.

One member of the nominations committee that put forward her name said: “She will bring a challenging and independent perspective to the BHA’s work.” Another added: “We were impressed by Annamarie’s commitment to collaboration with the racing industry in her new role.” And as if to emphasise the latter sentiment, interim Chairman Atholl Duncan, in a rare public statement, commented: “We believe it is essential to develop a more collaborative relationship across the sport, while maintaining the BHA’s independence from participants on integrity and regulatory matters.”

Collaboration and independence: two contrasting features that combine to produce as difficult a balancing act as might be found on a circus high wire, especially after the BHA underwent a radical restructure that included introducing more direct industry representation at the top echelon.

Fine words will last only so long; actions will speak louder as Ms Phelps marshals her forces. She has an in-tray crammed with the BHA’s unfinished business, Annamarie Phelps: aiming to build bridges in the industry 22

not least the bloodstock practices review and the appointment of a head of stewarding. The first, I understand, has got to the point of considering case studies, including an example involving one of the sport’s more recent entrants; the second, following Paul Barton’s decision to give his notice almost two years ago, has recently been re-advertised.

While both issues seem to have been rumbling along forever, they have been joined by other topics of fundamental interest.

Ms Phelps should insist that the BHA executive finishes what has been started, before embarking on other matters that may stretch valuable resources even more thinly.

“Ms Phelps has an in-tray crammed with the BHA’s unfinished business, not least the bloodstock practices review” As the new Chair she will also need to instil a more realistic expectation of what British racing can achieve under the prevailing economic conditions than was the case during the previous Chairman’s term of office. For that to happen sectional interests will have to be set aside – left at Holborn tube station, in fact – and everyone on the BHA board must concentrate on that great intangible, ‘the good of racing’.

To reach that goal, communications throughout racing need to be improved, beginning at BHA level. Publication of statistics has been greatly improved and an annual report, albeit only online, has been reinstated under the guidance of Chief Executive Nick Rust, but the day-to-day dissemination of information remains below par. Eight news releases before the Guineas meeting, five of which were handicappers’ blogs, and a gene doping project whose details squirmed out of a national conference a week before they were officially confirmed, tell a tale of missed opportunities to keep the industry up to speed. Over to you, Ms Phelps.

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Lavery’s Lady looking for a level playing field

The Sheila Lavery-trained Lady Kaya (purple) chases home Hermosa in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket

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s Meath trainer Sheila Lavery has another crack at the big time this month with 1,000 Guineas runner-up Lady Kaya, she will have America in the back of her mind.

Lavery feels her stable star was only caught out late by the incline in Newmarket’s Classic, and stops just short of saying that, without it, she could have beaten the Aidan O’Brien-trained Hermosa.

“I think the lip of the hill got her,” she said. “Had it been a level mile, I think she’d have been... well, you never know with Aidan’s. I just think that the trip caught her out slightly.”

Having proven herself amongst the finest three-year-old fillies, Royal Ascot and the Commonwealth Cup are next on the agenda, though the cool customer may travel further in future.

Lavery explained: “There are lots of options for her now and a lot of the lads have said a mile in America, a lot of those Group 1s, she’d win, but our next target is the Commonwealth Cup over a stiff six furlongs at Ascot.”

Of her temperament, she added: “We loaded her up to Newmarket and she just ate and drank the whole way across and back, and at Newmarket. She didn’t leave a nut! Lady Kaya has an amazing brain – she might just run out of petrol but she has every other attribute.

“There are lots of options for Lady Kaya but our next target is Royal Ascot” “We always lead her up with two people because she’s forward in her walk, but she doesn’t get stupid and sweat up. We just do that to cover off another angle; she settles with two.”

Jockey Robbie Colgan, better known

for his exploits over jumps, has been Lavery’s stable jockey since she started training in 2013, but has little experience of riding in Group races, and less of Classics. Did Lavery consider another rider for the 1,000 Guineas?

“No, Robbie Colgan is my stable jockey,” she said. “He’s been with me since the day I started and I just think he’s brilliant and people don’t see that.

He’s a very grounded, hard-working person.

“It’s never a worry putting him up in these big races because you know he’s not going to be intimidated. Robbie has been there in the rough and tumble. He can well handle himself and he’s cool.

You could see that in the Guineas. It’s brave just to sit there; he gave her a perfect ride.”

The performance lifted the yard and has had a positive effect on niece Joanne Lavery’s new racing club, which launched only days before the run.

“I don’t really have words for it,” Joanne said of Newmarket. “She always gives 100% and I’m so proud of her. We

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By Jessica Lamb signed up three new members this week to the club, and I assume that’s down to her and Sheila’s form.” The 26-year-old also has 100 new Twitter followers.

Lady Kaya, who Joanne owns, is not in the Royal Racing Club’s stable, but there are a host of other horses her keen eye has chosen. Ironically, though Lady Kaya has been a huge success on the track, the club was founded out of poor luck at the sales.

“We seemed to end up with a good few horses and I had Danehill Quest, who is a four-year-old this year,” she said. “I couldn’t part with him at the sales. I had him in at Goffs and I bought him back in because he’s just such a fun horse.

“It was silly of me at the time because I could have taken my little bit of profit, and he’s made a good bit of prize-money.

The racing club being named after Meath’s nickname, the Royal County, the syndicate’s new jumps horses Tommy Hillfilly, Golden Chance and Translate, are being trained by local men Thomas Coyle and Dermot McLoughlin.

There are around 20 members so far, with scope to expand, and potentially in the direction of youth, that demographic fitting the ethos of the club particularly well.

“We did try to target Dublin students,” Lavery said. “I went there and they would have quite a few people interested in racing. But I think we got them at the wrong time. Everyone was doing exams and finishing their year off.

Maybe in September we might go and set up a stand and get a few students involved.”

It just seemed like such a shame to let him go for not very much money. Then I didn’t sell the Red Jazz two-year-old and a few others, so it spiralled from there.

“If we can just get a few happy members, that’s what I want. It’s not really a huge business thing, I don’t see how much money I would make out of it after all the entry fees, and with the prize-money going to the members.

“It’s more about getting our name out there and getting more people involved. I want to see if I can get people who aren’t interested in racing now to come in and see what it’s all about.”

The Red Jazz filly has been named Jazzelle and is in training with Lavery’s aunt Sheila, along with an Ivawood juvenile, recently named Ivaquestion.

Niall McCullagh, who turned 50 last month, has scrapped plans to retire and has spoken of the impact senior riders can have on the future of the weighing room.

The Irish St Leger winner has been a fixture at leading Curragh trainer John Oxx’s yard for the best part of 20 years, also playing an integral role at jockey-turned-trainer Johnny Murtagh’s yard nearby.

He revealed that 50 had been the target, but having reached that milestone he now sees no end in sight.

“I always said I’d retire when I was 50, but that was when I was 40!” he laughed. “I’m enjoying it so much I’m going to go for another few years. I haven’t decided when I’ll call a halt to it, but when I stop enjoying it, I will.”

In a year when the Irish weighing room has lost 12-time champion jumps jockey Ruby Walsh (39), nine-time champion Flat jockey Pat Smullen (41) and Group 1-winning jockey Fran Berry (38) to retirement, McCullagh’s new perspective is welcomed.

Berry and Smullen ended their careers on medical advice, something McCullagh narrowly avoided after sustaining horrific injuries on the gallops in 2015. It put him out of the saddle for nine months, right after Johnny Murtagh had retired, which had opened doors for him. Murtagh was training and riding at the time, with McCullagh riding the second strings.

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CAROLINE NORRIS

McCullagh changes tack to stay in the saddle

Niall McCullagh: 50 not out Now McCullagh is high in the pecking order at both the Murtagh and Oxx yards, with arguably more to look forward to than ever in 2019, a lesson in perseverance he hopes to pass on to the younger generation.

“Everyone’s different but all you want to do is be the best you can be,” he said. “I help a lot of the kids coming along and try to advise them, and they see I’ve been around a long time and they listen and take on board my advice, so it’s nice to see.

“I’m always open and friendly with the kids coming through and the other jockeys. It’s a great community and

they are a great bunch of lads. It’s great craic in the weighing room every day.”

With Kevin Manning aged 52 and Mark Gallagher aged 50, McCullagh is in a select group of senior riders. So why does he continue?

“I’m better than ever,” he said. “I’m fit and strong and enjoying it. It’s always hard in Ireland, it’s very competitive, but I don’t have any weight problems, which is a great help.

“I don’t have to go through the rigours and tortures some of the other boys do – all I have to do is keep myself fit and I’m doing that. I’m riding so much work every morning and going racing every day so it’s easy to stay on top of things.”

He added: “It’s a good lifestyle and it’s enjoyable. You’re always waiting for the next good horse to come along, and you’re always hoping you’ll find that last one before the end.

“I’ve no targets or real ambitions, just to stay sound and healthy and continuing to make a living.”

There is one other reason McCullagh is flying at 50; son Scott has this year joined the riding ranks.

“We’re very proud of Scott,” he said.

“He’s apprenticed to Mick Channon and he’s doing quite well for himself.

He always wanted to be a rider and we gave him all the help we could, now it’s up to him. He’s improving all the time and myself and my wife Helen get a great kick out of it.”

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Continental Tales

Carberrys’ countryside alliance FRANCE

“Senonnes is very well placed - it’s within 100km of 50 courses” “My uncle was quite successful – his problems started only when the financial crisis hit,” Louisa says. “He keeps in touch and has been to Auteuil with us.

“I was quite small when he stopped training, looking back I would have loved to have been involved at his yard – maybe I would have gone down the training path a bit sooner if that had happened.”

Instead, inspired by her father Antony, former chairman of the Beaufort

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Louisa Carberry (second left) with Docteur de Ballon after his Grade 3 win in April Hunt, Louisa became besotted by hunting. She was then able to demonstrate her own riding prowess through the medium of eventing, competing up to four-star level against the likes of William Fox-Pitt and Pippa Funnell, until she reluctantly called it quits at the end of 2009.

“I just felt that I could easily be in exactly the same position ten years down the line without having serious financial backing,” she says. “Eventing is a difficult sell to potential sponsors when often all that you win is a hoof pick and a red rosette.

“My best young horse, Boonool, had a serious injury and I was struggling to see it as a career choice. I never wanted to sit in an office, so it was a matter of trying to find something involving horses that would enable me to earn a living and I stupidly thought that racing might be more rewarding!

“I got in touch with Brough Scott and he found me a job in Chantilly with Alain de Royer-Dupre.

“I didn’t speak French at the time, but I did get the chance to ride horses like Melbourne Cup winner Americain, Prix du Jockey-Club winner Reliable Man and the Falmouth Stakes winner Giofra, and of course I got to meet Philip, who was

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n Anglo-Irish liaison between two well-known racing families is beginning to make its presence felt at the top table of French jump racing.

This partnership is between Louisa, niece of the former Lambourn handler Kim Brassey, and Philip Carberry, a member of one of Ireland’s foremost riding dynasties. The two are married with a two-year-old daughter, Sophie, and from a base in the heart of western France virtually equidistant from the Atlantic coast and the Channel port of St Malo, Louisa Carberry Racing is producing startling results from its small string of inmates.

Remarkably, given that he won a Champion Hurdle, an Irish Grand National and two renewals of the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, Philip is arguably only the fourth best-known jockey in his family behind his Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning father Tommy, his brother Paul, twice Ireland’s champion jockey, and his sister Nina, the most successful female National Hunt rider of all time.

His wife’s heritage is not quite so grand. Her uncle held a licence for the best part of a decade, saddling over 150 winners until the 1987 economic crash brought about his demise.

living in Chantilly.

“I loved working there because Alain de Royer-Dupre is not just a top-class trainer, but a real gentleman, too. I admire him tremendously and love the way he trains – not rushing horses and allowing them to come to themselves.”

Getting her own licence was a long way from her thoughts yet, little more than four years later, it came to pass.

“Training was just a pipe-dream to start with, I thought we might at some point be able to start a pre-training yard,” she muses.

“Then one of Philip’s biggest providers of rides, owner Jean-Paul Senechal, sold up and we got five horses cobbled together and started up.”

Instead of the bright lights of Chantilly or Maisons-Laffitte, the Carberrys decided to set themselves up at Senonnes, some 200 miles to the south-west of Paris, though Louisa insists that it was the logical choice.

“Senonnes is very well placed – it’s within 100 kilometres of 50 racecourses – and it takes only three and a half hours to get to Auteuil, straight up the motorway; there is never any traffic,” she says. “As much as I like it, Chantilly is basically a suburb of Paris; Philip and I are country people, we like it out here.

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“Choosing Senonnes enabled us to have some land, which is a huge part of our training routine as the horses are turned out on a daily basis.

“It’s also much cheaper. The centre employs two full-time gallops men and has a choice of six different gallops, yet the gallops fees are only just over €50 per month per horse.”

Indeed, Senonnes is one of French racing’s best kept secrets – 30 trainers are based there and it is not far short of Marseille and Pau as the nation’s leading provincial training centre, housing around 500 horses.

The Carberrys’ results have been pretty decent right from the word go. In their first season in business, Pearse was placed in two of France’s biggest handicap chases and in April 2015 they enjoyed their first Grade 3 triumph.

Philip stopped riding for anyone but his wife in late 2015 and hung up his boots altogether 18 months later. Of late, the stable’s British links have been strengthened by teaming up with fellow expatriate, jockey Felix de Giles, and it was he who gave the yard its biggest success when an immaculate waiting ride aboard Docteur de Ballon saw them edge home in the Prix Ingre at Auteuil on April 27. De Giles also took the ride in the Grade 1 Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris on May 19, only to be unseated from Docteur de Ballon at the 20th fence when still travelling well.

Surprisingly, the operation has not expanded despite its excellent strikerate. “We’ve got 20 horses in training with us at the moment, but we could have up to 50 – a few more would be beneficial,” Louisa says.

“I really want to show English owners how much France has to offer – the prize-money is great and there are 260 racecourses here.

“Though we’ve had only one runner in England so far, I’d like to think that we will have others in the future, it’s not far to go on the ferry – though there are so many opportunities closer to home that it doesn’t always make sense.”

Louisa still loves her eventing but her annual ‘sofa afternoon’ watching television coverage of the cross-country day of the Badminton Horse Trials – an event she missed out on competing in when her horse broke down the day before – was cruelly denied last month.

“I was taking a runner on the 900-kilometre round trip down to Bordeaux, so I had to put up with the live feed when we got there and watching the highlights later on!” she jokes.

Sibylle Vogt: making her mark

Vogt joins exclusive club GERMANY Swiss-born jockey Sibylle Vogt has just become only the third female rider to register a Group-race triumph in Germany.

Hayley Turner managed it first in 2008 and she was followed four years later by Steffi Hofer. Now Vogt has achieved the feat aboard Winterfuchs in one of Germany’s top Classic trials, the Dr Busch Memorial, run at Krefeld on April 28.

Despite edging steadily away from the inside hedge, meaning that Vogt had to take evasive action in the last few strides, Winterfuchs prevailed by two necks from Moonlight Man and the Dutch challenger, King.

More excitingly still, and presuming that she keeps the ride, the potential is there for Vogt to break further new ground in the German Derby on July 7.

She is already one of just four women to have taken part in Germany’s biggest race, but all of those previous attempts, including her own in 2017, have been on rank outsiders and resulted in finishing positions no higher than 12th.

Winterfuchs will go to the Hamburg Classic with a serious chance as the mile and a half trip should be much more to his liking than the extended mile of the Dr Busch Memorial.

A son of the late-lamented Campanologist, he hails from the incredible Ravensberg Stud ‘W’ family,

which dates right back to the 1940s and includes the recent Prix Ganay hero, Waldgeist, among its many illustrious members.

Waldrun, its foundation mare and Winterfuchs’s seventh dam, was born during the Second World War and proved very moderate on the track, winning once in 17 starts, before going on to produce eight black-type winners from her nine foals.

Vogt, who recently celebrated her 24th birthday, was born near Zurich and has no racing background in her family. She was spotted winning pony races by her local trainer, Hansjörg Speck, and at the age of 15 began her apprenticeship with leading Swiss trainer Carmen Bocskai and her husband, four-time German champion jockey, Georg Bocskai.

When the Bocskais relocated across the German border to Iffezheim, near Baden-Baden, in late 2015, Vogt initially remained in Switzerland, before reluctantly following them, in her case to join German champion trainer Markus Klug.

After two seasons with him, she recently went back to work for her mentors, the Bocskais. This has turned out to be a serendipitous move given that Winterfuchs is trained by Carmen; she was given an in-depth tutorial on how to ride Krefeld during a course walk with Georg; and four of the nine horses that finished behind Winterfuchs were Klug trainees!

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APRH

By James Crispe, IRB

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23/05/2019 13:03

Around The Globe

Security and Saez slung out NORTH AMERICA

By Steve Andersen

“It was the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat all within a 22-minute period of time” In the days that followed this year’s race, Gary West, who owns Maximum Security with his wife Mary, lodged an appeal with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, which was summarily rejected. A disqualification for an in-race infringement cannot be overturned in Kentucky and several other prominent states, including California.

West later blasted Churchill Downs management in a television interview, saying the Kentucky Derby should have

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PA

I

t’s safe to say there will not be a threeday period in American racing anytime soon similar to the events that unfolded from the early evening of May 4 to lunchtime on May 7.

On May 4, Maximum Security crossed the finish line first in the $3 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, only to become the first horse in the 145-year history of the race to be disqualified on the day for causing interference.

It was not a stewards’ enquiry that led to Maximum Security being placed 17th and 65-1 Country House being promoted from second to first, but objections from jockey Flavien Prat, who rode Country House, and Jon Court, who rode original 17th place finisher Long Range Toddy. They alleged interference when Maximum Security drifted out sharply with slightly more than a quarter of a mile remaining.

The three stewards spent an agonising 22 minutes speaking to the riders and reviewing the video before announcing the historic decision. Maximum Security became the first demoted winner of the Kentucky Derby since Dancer’s Image in 1968. Dancer’s Image failed a drugs test.

Maximum Security (pink cap) edged out and was disqualified amid dramatic scenes a maximum field of 14 runners, and not the current limit of 20, to ensure greater safety. This year’s race had 19 runners.

In the aftermath of the race, and the days that followed, the incident on the final turn was widely dissected on social media and by sports commentators.

While differences persisted, one common theme emerged from more sensible observers – American racing was highly fortunate that its highestprofile race did not have a terrifying spill in front of a national sports audience.

When Maximum Security drifted out under jockey Luis Saez, while leading near the rail, into a position about three paths off the inside, he crossed into the path of War Of Will, who was ridden by Tyler Gaffalione.

In close-up videos, War Of Will’s front left leg appeared to brush with the outside of Maximum Security’s rear hind leg at least twice. Had the contact been an inch or two closer, War Of Will would have likely clipped heels and possibly fallen, with several trailing runners close behind. War Of Will faded to finish eighth, and was promoted to seventh.

He enjoyed a clearer passage to win the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 18.

In a year in which American racing has been the subject of outrage for the deaths of 23 horses at Santa Anita because of racing and training injuries, a spill in the Kentucky Derby – or worse – would have been a massive setback for the sport’s reputation.

Three days after the race, Country House was removed from consideration

from the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, because of a cough, trainer Bill Mott announced.

Country House became the first Kentucky Derby winner since Grindstone in 1996 not to run in the Preakness.

The decision by the stewards led to several other milestones. Mott, well known for his work guiding Cigar to a 16-race winning streak in the mid-1990s, won his first Kentucky Derby, as did Flavien Prat, who was born in France and has ridden full-time in the United States since late 2014.

The disqualification cost the Wests, trainer Jason Servis and Saez their first Derby, the jockey also hit with a 15-day suspension. The Wests are well-known for campaigning West Coast, the 2017 champion three-year-old male, and Game Winner, the 2018 champion twoyear-old colt who finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby this year.

On May 6, on a morning breakfast show, Gary West invoked a famous American television sports phrase in summarising his feelings after the race – going toward the winner’s enclosure with delight before Maximum Security was disqualified.

“It was the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat all within a 22-minute period of time,” he said. “Winning it was probably the most euphoric thing Mary and I have ever had in our lives and then disappointment when they took him down for the first time in history.

We were stunned, shocked and in total disbelief.”

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23/05/2019 12:44

The Worldwide Racing Scene

Dignified goodbye to wondermare AUSTRALIA

By Danny Power

BRONWEN HEALY

I

n contrast to the euphoria that surrounded Winx’s farewell win at Randwick on April 13, there was little fanfare when trainer Chris Waller and his team said goodbye to the mare that not only changed their lives but also etched her name on the honour board of world racing.

Waller let the dust settle on Winx’s incredible career for five days before he and those handlers close to the wonder mare quietly led her through the gates at his Rosehill stables to start her new life as a broodmare.

The event was decidedly understated and without emotion. With Waller on one side and devoted strapper Umut Odemislioglu on the other, Winx walked calmly onto the float. Waller helped hitch her up, gave the mare an affectionate rub on the neck and a pat on the shoulder before stepping out of the vehicle. No tears, no fanfare… and she was gone.

Waller admits there was more of a sense of relief than emotion, which had spilled in bucket loads at Randwick when Winx easily won the A$4m Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes to close out a career unequalled anywhere in the world – 43 starts, 37 wins, three seconds and prize-money of A$26,451,174. She hadn’t been beaten for four years and won her last 33 starts, including a world record 25 Group 1s.

Is she the best we have seen in Australia? Her record says she is, but it’s hard to compare champions of any era.

There’s no doubt she has appeared at a time when Australia’s stocks of high-class middle-distance gallopers lack depth, and that will always be raised by those who query her place on the top shelf of history. However, the same can be said of the horse that most Australians consider the greatest of them all, Phar Lap, who was the hero of the depression years.

Coincidentally, Phar Lap also won 37 races (from 51 starts), when he dominated racing from 1929 to 1932, thrashing small fields in weight-for-age races, usually without turning a hair.

Winx: greatness stamped in different ways

“Most of the Group 1 races she captured carry her name as the fastest ever winner” Phar Lap did three things that Winx cannot claim. He lumped 9st 12lb (63kg) to win, in a canter, Australia’s great race, the Melbourne Cup in 1930; the Cup win was the second leg of a four-win streak during one week at Flemington’s famous Cup carnival; and he travelled overseas to beat the best horses in the USA, in the Agua Caliente Handicap in New Mexico.

The fact that Winx didn’t travel overseas will always be held against her claims to be the best in the world.

The international ratings she earned in Australia suggest she would have enhanced her reputation by running overseas rather than diminish it. Waller and her connections toyed with the idea of Royal Ascot, but it was never really a strong consideration.

It wasn’t for fear of defeat, although keeping her winning streak going became something of an obsession. It was more a lack of desire because there was so much for her to achieve at home (financially and historically), especially in the quest to be the only horse to win four Cox Plates in the near 100-year history of the race that is considered the championship contest in Australia.

There is no doubt her four consecutive Cox Plate wins, along with her weight-carrying record win in the 2016 Doncaster Handicap and her recovery from a seemingly impossible position in the 2018 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington, stamp her greatness.

Add to that her incredible longevity, which is not only a tribute to Waller’s brilliant training, planning and patience, but also to her soundness and economics of stride and a massive heart and will to win.

Finally, while she did beat the same horses consistently, it’s hard not to argue with the ratings gurus that they were genuine Group 1 horses, because, in most cases, she had to break the clock to beat them.

While ratings and opinions can deceive reality, the clock never lies. Most of the Group 1 races she captured now carry her name as the fastest ever winner.

The question now remains what’s next for Winx. She has a pedigree free of Danehill – which has saturated Australia’s modern bloodlines – meaning there’s not a stallion in Australia that doesn’t suit her.

Of Australia’s two leading stallions, I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) and Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), it’s I Am Invincible, at Yarraman Park Stud, that has a similar physique, whereas Snitzel is smallish.

Both are essentially speed stallions whose progeny are precocious. The emerging Dundeel (High Chaparral), who has produced three Group 1 winners with only a crop and a half at the races, ticks a lot of boxes.

Although most of the world’s best racehorses couldn’t be encouraged to Australia to race against Winx – seventime Group 1 winner Highland Reel had a dip and was trounced – two of them are now on Winx’s doorstep hoping for an introduction; the US Triple Crown winners Justify (Scat Daddy) and American Pharoah (Pioneerof The Nile), who are standing at Coolmore Stud, in the Hunter Valley in NSW in 2019.

Bob Baffert, who trained both horses and has studied Winx from afar, said that Justify is the perfect mate for Winx.

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23/05/2019 12:44

Racing Life

Royal Ascot

Philip Treacy OBE. Edwina Ibbotson and Rachel Trevor Morgan are also featured in the Style Guide.

In recognition of Ascot’s global appeal, the Royal Ascot Millinery Collective, an exclusive ten-piece collection, includes for the first time an international designer, Melbournebased Millinery Jill. Exclusive style collections have been created by Links

of London, Oliver Brown, T.M. Lewin, Radley London, Karen Millen and Christy’s London, and select pieces will be showcased and sold on-site during Royal Ascot, in the flagship Ascot Shop store.

Karen Millen’s current collection jumpsuit features in the 2019 Style Guide; it was, of course, only two years ago that the jumpsuit was formally

NICOLE HAINS

F

ew events inspire such excitement and respect as Royal Ascot; it’s a national institution and arguably the social highlight of the summer, combining pomp, ceremony, history, heritage, fashion and, of course, racing.

Over the course of five days, some of the best horses and jockeys on the Flat compete in 18 Group races; this is spectacle enough, but the rituals around the event, plus the inimitable style of socialites and casual racegoers alike, all combine to make for an incredible Great British experience.

For the second year in a row, the Royal Ascot Style Guide, which plays a key role in predicting the season’s trends and offers guidelines to racegoers seeking to adhere to the Royal Meeting’s dress code, has been produced with luxury cruise line Cunard. Renowned stylist Prue White has collaborated on curation of the looks, which include pieces from Victoria Beckham, Jimmy Choo, Erdem, Zimmerman and Emilia Wickstead. Millinery from the likes of

NICOLE HAINS

Steeped in tradition but moving with the times; the Royal Meeting is a unique event

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23/05/2019 18:09

NICOLE HAINS

ALAN CROWHURST/GETTY IMAGES FOR ASCOT RACECOURSE

Royal Ascot

accepted as Ascot-appropriate attire.

Despite tradition being so key to Royal Ascot, it is not incapable of moving with the times; indeed, this is reflected also in its responsiveness to consumer demand for alternative foods and drink, with brand new plant-based menus for 2019 having been created

by Phil Howard, Raymond Blanc OBE, Simon Rogan and Ollie Dabbous for their respective restaurants. In addition, Sarmado Sibley from Raw Life Love has created a range of menus, which will be served at eight of Royal Ascot’s restaurants, including The Old Paddock and the Lawn Club.

The Village Enclosure, which is

located inside the track with a unique view of the racing and royal procession, features live music, boutique dining and of-the-moment bars.

It offers a vibrant twist on the heritage and ceremony of Royal Ascot and was launched in 2017 in response to racegoer demand for the option of a more contemporary Royal Ascot experience.

In a relationship set to last until 2021, Betfred have been announced as Royal Ascot’s official bookmaker and racegoers can expect a truly international event, with nine countries, including Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and the US, represented in

the entries for this year’s Group 1 races.

Founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, who saw the land’s potential for racing, Royal Ascot opens each day with the royal procession, where thousands of spectators can see the Queen arrive with her guests. Outside of the Royal Meeting, Ascot racecourse has a further 21 days of both Flat and jumps racing, including the finale of the Flat season, QIPCO British Champions Day in October. www.ascot.co.uk

››

Sarah Rodrigues

ASCOT TO AFRICA Bringing together Sophie Harden’s passion for travel and horseracing, Ascot to Africa is the artist’s first solo exhibition and will be held in a beautiful, contemporary space in London’s Belgravia, by kind permission of Grosvenor Estates. Sophie’s dynamic work, both from behind the scenes of racing and from her recent trips to Kenya and Namibia, will be on display.

Sophie’s contemporary and fluid technique allows movement to flood the painting, from the explosive energy and grace of animals to the small details that capture a moment in time. Sometimes using a contrast of white oil on bright background colours, Sophie works to accentuate the adaptation of light, making the viewer perceive a 3D object, often just from small marks and brushstrokes.

The Injured Jockeys Fund are

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joining Sophie for an exclusive evening on June 13, where 30% from the sale of paintings purchased that night will go to the charity.

Sophie says: “I am incredibly excited to be showing my work in this solo exhibition and delighted to be supporting the Injured Jockey Fund; it

is such a worthy cause and close to the hearts of all those in and connected to racing.”

Ascot to Africa will be at 11 Eccleston Street, Belgravia SW1W 9LX from June 10-16.

Preview evening June 12, 6-9pm

THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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23/05/2019 18:09

Racing Life

BILLY TANNERY The flagrant waste associated with the leather industry inspired the founders of Billy Tannery to do things on a small and conscious scale, writes Sarah Rodrigues

A ‘

fter discovering that every goatskin left over from the British food industry was going to waste, we decided to do something. Tapping into local leather knowledge, we have turned an old farm building into the UK’s first goat leather micro tannery.’

So reads the website of premium leather goods brand Billy Tannery. Even if the products weren’t exquisite, it would be hard not to fall for the passionate worthiness of the backstory - it speaks volumes to the zeitgeist, what with its founders, childhood friends Rory and Jack, returning to the Midlands after stints in creative industries in London to produce a brand that cries out against thoughtless consumerism and disposability.

“For years my Dad was a dairy farmer, but after selling that part of the farm he got himself a small herd of goats,” explains Jack. “As a side project I started helping him find restaurants to sell the meat to, but I thought that surely there must also be some use for the skins? Yet even after thorough searching I couldn’t find anywhere in the UK where I could have a small number of skins tanned.”

Social media stepped in, and after chatting on Twitter with James Whetlor about his company Cabrito Goat Meat, Jack discovered that he was also looking for a way for the thousands of goatskins generated from his business to find a use.

Despite having no prior knowledge of the leather industry, the pair’s research

The treatment process is designed to enhance the natural qualities of the leather

Jack and Rory have created their own micro tannery in the Midlands quickly highlighted the fact that many leather goods in the luxury market involve vast supply chains, with attendant ethical and environmental issues.

Determined to do things differently, with respect for the distinctive grains and properties of goat leather, Rory and Jack reclaimed two small wooden tanning drums from a Somerset tannery, which had closed a few years previously, and converted an old farm building in the Midlands, equipping it as a micro tannery.

Under the guidance of Paul Evans, one of Britain’s leading leather experts, Rory and James worked to develop sustainable tanning processes, with the intention of building on traditional vegetable tanning in ever-more innovative ways.

With the input of another expert, Richard Daniels, an authority on tannery effluent, an onsite treatment plant resulting in 100% biodegradable waste products was designed.

Celebrating natural inconsistencies is key to Billy Tannery’s approach and the finishing processes have been simplified so as to enhance, rather than mute, each skin’s uniqueness. A delicate wax, for protection and a hint of gloss, completes the operation. .

Backpacks and briefcases form part of the range, as well as smaller items like cardholders and key wraps. Even more in keeping with the ethos of craftsmanship and hands-on industry that the brand celebrates, Billy Tannery’s apron (£230) has been designed with cooking and making, both professional and domestic, in mind.

The leather apron is both practical and handsome As newcomers to the leather industry, however, Jack and Rory are taking their time over the products: despite being avid proponents of the possibilities of goat leather, they are keener to learn what the material is capable of than they are to extend the range too quickly, responding to client interest for organic growth.

“We regularly ask for feedback from our customers and, in response to them, we are currently developing a bi-fold wallet and portfolio case,” says Rory.

“These new small leather accessories will, we feel, really help to complete the current range.” www.billytannery.co.uk

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23/05/2019 18:09

Lifestyle

The Royal Foresters, Ascot A real thoroughbred amongst pubs

I

t doesn’t matter whether you’re visiting from the USA, Normandy, Paris, Rome or Newmarket, The Royal Foresters at Ascot provides a warm welcome to those involved in the equestrian sports industry, from owners and breeders to trainers and jockeys.

Close to Ascot Racecourse, Windsor and two Polo Clubs, the recently renovated pub offers 24 boutique rooms with many modern touches. Each timber-lined room is individually furnished with hand-painted lampshades and British crafted fabrics. Boasting large windows, comfortable beds and luxury en-suite bathrooms, guests can also expect tea and coffee-making facilities, air-conditioning, a TV and parking.

Downstairs, you’ll find the traditional bar and busy restaurant where breakfast ranges from full English to eggs benedict.

Guests can watch the chefs in the open theatre-style kitchen working tirelessly all

day and into the night preparing delicious dishes to order using fresh, seasonal ingredients. Turn up for lunch, and you might select a build-your-own salad, a sharing platter or some freshly-grilled sea bass.

Following a hard day’s racing, order a refreshing - or celebratory - drink in the bar or the pretty gardens. If you’re hungry, you’ll find a wideranging menu to suit all tastes, from gluten-free to tasty vegan and vegetarian options. You might choose gambas pil pil or beetroot falafel followed by pollo picante or a handcrafted Neapolitan pizza from the wood-fired oven. Whatever you choose, the wines and range of beers will all compliment your visit to The Royal Foresters. www.theroyalforesters.co.uk

Royal Enclosure patrons, and owners with Royal Ascot runners, who are wearing valid badges for the day of their dinner reservation can celebrate with a complimentary glass of champagne served with their meal.

Terms & Conditions apply.

Visit www.theroyalforesters.co.uk/legal

››

Agents & Dealers in Fine Jewellery

HUMPHREY BUTLER LTD 40/41 PALL MALL, LONDON SW1Y 5JG TEL +44 (0)20 7839 3193 WWW.HUMPHREYBUTLER.COM

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23/05/2019 18:09

Racing Life

BYKOVS’ JEWELLERY C

omparison to jewellery legend Fabergé is not to be taken lightly, especially as a Russian, when one’s imperial heritage is so interwoven with the craftsmanship of the French jeweller.

This is exactly the accolade that Russian jewellery designers Gennady and Natalia Bykovs have earned, thanks to the level of their craftsmanship.

Although their exquisite creations could once be found only in museums, both in Russia and abroad, their work has recently become available for consumer purchase.

The horse has long been a key source of inspiration for the Bykovs, its form and movement reflected in many of their creations.

The horse, they say, is a symbol of wildlife energy, beauty, gracefulness and power, as well as enchanting and harmonious movement.

Reflecting the deep love between a

horse and its owner, the Bykovs’ ‘Favorite’ brooch is an exquisite jewellery/art hybrid, handmade in 18ct gold. Full personalisation can be achieved by taking a hair sample from the horse and then selecting stones to match the racing colour; the horses’s name and date of birth can be engraved on the back of the item as well.

The horse head can be crafted from the stone matching the horse’s suit, or from gold or platinum. As a symbol of pride, or a talisman of fortune, it represents the bond and connection between an owner and his horse.

“It’s important for us that our works won’t get outdated, that they remain timeless,” say Gennady and Natalia Bykovs. Highly personal, the Favorite is an unparalleled gift or memento. www.russian-heritage.co.uk Sarah Rodrigues

STOW LONDON A

s if being the Duchess of Sussex’s go-to travel brand were not enough, STOW has recently been named a Walpole Brand of Tomorrow, making it part of a prestigious programme which has boosted the profiles of Great British brands ranging from watchmakers Bremont to shoemakers Charlotte Olympia.

According to founder Carol Lovell, who launched STOW six years ago, the recognition has created an increased buzz around the brand both within the UK and abroad. She now plans to build on this, securing STOW’s place as the destination for luxury travel goods.

From four designs in four colours in 2013, the range has now expanded to include 22 designs across seven colours, with products for both men

34

and women. Inspired by travel and designed for travellers, it was Lovell’s own experiences of exploration and the absence of a travel-specific luxury brand that led to STOW’s creation.

Luxury is key to the range, but functionality is held in equally high regard, and no degree of the efficiency required by modern travellers is overlooked: think magnetic, removable sections in the jewellery holders, plus multiple interior pockets and phone

charger cases.

The expression ‘wanderluxe’ has been coined by Lovell to embody that sense of free-spiritedness coupled with a desire for quality. The fact that each STOW product, which can be personalised in a number of ways, ranging from monogramming and embossing to hand painting, is intended to be cherished and kept - for a lifetime and beyond - is further linked to a respect for the world we inhabit and an acknowledgement of what disposable consumerism does to it.

“A STOW spirit prefers to be doing, not having,” says Lovell. “Travelling is the ultimate ‘doing’ experience and our products are a luxurious and longlasting travel accessory for those who seek to experience the world we live in.” www.stowlondon.co.uk Sarah Rodrigues

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23/05/2019 18:09

Lifestyle

POLO IN THE PARK T

he second weekend in June will see Hurlingham Park in Fulham launch the summer season, with Chestertons Polo in the Park.

This year marks the event’s tenth anniversary, which is billed as one of Europe’s largest and most popular polo tournaments, combining (fingers crossed) sunshine, food, music and, of course, polo, played by teams representing six different cities from around the world. Thanks to the event’s social popularity, however, its rules have been simplified so that those without prior knowledge of the game will still be able to follow the action. The round-robin style tournament is played under the HPA-endorsed City Polo rules, which have been developed to maximise spectator enjoyment, and is held over the course of three days:

• Friday, June 7: International Day,

featuring Jumeirah Team London taking on Experience Kissimmee’s Team Kissimmee, as well as Fosun Team Shanghai vs Argentex Team

Dubai and Frasers England vs ICM Team Australia.

• Saturday, June 8: Ladies Day,

presented by premium skin and suncare brand, Lancaster Beauty.

• Sunday, June 9: Finals Family Day sees the finale match to crown the tournament champions, with entertainment for children provided at the Little Hooves Kids Club, plus the opportunity to take to the pitch during the Sharky & George Pitch Invasion.

Delicious dining options, ranging from top restaurants to tasty street food, will be on offer in the Grazing Paddock, while the Champagne Lanson Garden will return alongside Mahiki pineapples, the Slingsby Cocktail Bar and Fever-Tree Garden.

Known as one of London’s oldest and most respected estate agencies, Chestertons has a reputation for social activity, with a comprehensive charitable programme and generous support of

community projects and cultural institutions, including the Royal Academy of the Arts and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. polointheparklondon.com chestertons.com Sarah Rodrigues

BRITISH POLO GIN T

he links between gin and polo may not be widely known, but it so happens that the first men to mix gin with their tonic rations in India in the 1840s were also, a few years later, the first men to play polo in that country.

Having strong family connections with the game - his uncles, Andrew and William Hine, both played polo for England - as well as earlier professional ambitions and, having spent two years working in an Australian distillery, Richard Hine saw an opportunity. “It’s not common for a gin company to have both a great taste and a compelling marketing story,” he explains of his desire to draw the two threads together into one product. Selling two of his best mares, Snowball and Spice, both of whom he had retrained from racetrack to polo, provided him with the capital to start his business. Having contemplated buying his own distillery, he now works, instead, with a number of small batch distilleries to produce his 100% organic gin.

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Working with a large distillery was never an option, Richard says. To create the exceptionally smooth gin for which he’d seen that consumer demand existed, the product had to be 100% organic, which demands chemical free water and ingredients, and environmentally friendly sources providing all of the distillery’s energy.

Having achieved this high standard, British Polo Gin was officially launched in July 2016 at the British Open, the Gold Cup at Cowdray Park and, true to Richard’s vision, can be drunk on the rocks yet fully retains the classic gin flavour, which cuts through an accompanying tonic.

The brand is soon to be extended with the launch of British Eventing Gin. www.britishpologin.co.uk Sarah Rodrigues

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23/05/2019 18:09

The Big Interview

Bjorn

AGAIN One of the first horses Bjorn Nielsen had was Assessor and his current star Stradivarius is also a top stayer; the owner-breeder, however, has always dreamed of producing a Derby winner Words: Julian Muscat Photos: George Selwyn

B

jorn Nielsen is redolent of the new social order that has swept through the ranks of ownerbreeders over the last 50 years. He is a man forged entirely in the modern era who espouses old values of the Turf.

The difference between him and prominent owner-breeders of yore is that his wealth is self-made. He dived into the treacherous waters of trading exchanges and climbed out not just intact, which is a feat in itself, but with the means to keep 14 broodmares in the courts of Europe’s pre-eminent stallions.

He pursues his breeding interests ardently, mostly through his own ideas.

They, in turn, have evolved from decades of researching breeding theory and the practical lessons he has absorbed along the way.

One of the first horses he owned was Assessor, a leading stayer in the early 1990s when trained by Richard Hannon.

The son of Niniski won the Prix RoyalOak and the Yorkshire and Doncaster Cups before he landed the Prix du Cadran in 1993. At which point Nielsen sold him to Prince Sultan Al Kabeer.

That latter detail is revealing. Even then, when taking those formative steps, Nielsen deployed the fundamentals of good business practice. Assessor was a back-end four-year-old with limited stallion appeal. He had gone almost as

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far as he could, but with the promise of a big day still to come. The Saudi prince wanted action; Nielsen duly obliged and cashed his profit.

Twenty five years on and Nielsen has another acclaimed stayer on his hands.

Stradivarius needs no introduction, having landed the Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers’ Million bonus last season. His owner-breeder is even more enchanted by the horse than he was with Assessor, but he already knows how the story will end.

The purist in Nielsen laments that Stradivarius will not be given the opportunities he deserves at stud. He is a thoroughbred of great virtue: sound of physique and temperament, he has a strong will to win and his acceleration is a potent weapon. But Nielsen is not going to try and single-handedly change the tide’s course by supporting him blindly at stud.

“It’s crazy,” he says. “What more does a horse have to do to show he could be a great stallion? He’s got a turn of foot, all these things people look for, but he’s never really going to get a proper chance.

“It was the same with Yeats,” he continues. “He was a superb racehorse, very well bred, but he was just not supported by [Flat] breeders. I sometimes wonder how many great

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23/05/2019 16:32

Bjorn Nielsen Bjorn Nielsen says Stradivarius will be hard to better as his horse of a lifetime

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23/05/2019 16:32

The Big Interview ›› stallions there are out there that

nobody will ever find out about.”

The flip-side is that he can enjoy Stradivarius properly “With him, there isn’t the pressure you’d feel if you kept a Derby winner in training at four. He could have two more full seasons [of racing].”

Assessor and Stradivarius share more than superior staying talent. Both entered Nielsen’s orbit in the hope they would develop into Derby horses. There are few greater advocates of the Derby than the man born 61 years ago to a Danish father and South African mother.

Nielsen’s fascination with the sport developed when he was growing up in South Africa. Aged eight or nine, he became captivated by the exploits of Sea Cottage, an iconic horse who won 20 of his 24 starts.

In the results section of his local newspaper he noticed that each winner seemed to have three names. This

Stradivarius and Frankie Dettori lift the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, while below right, dual Group 1 winner Assessor was one of the first horses Bjorn Nielsen owned

“I wonder how many great stallions there are out there that nobody will ever find out about” intrigued him until he learnt that the sire and dam were also listed alongside the winner. His curiosity was aroused.

Nielsen’s father was unhappy with the prospect of his children growing up in apartheid South Africa so he relocated his family to Britain. Fortuitously they moved to Epsom, where the teenage Nielsen went to watch the early-morning reconnaissance gallops organised by trainers in the days ahead of the Derby.

“It was a magical time,” he says. “I’d go and watch Lester [Piggott] exercise Vincent O’Brien’s horses around the outside of Tattenham Corner and down the home straight. I remember Noel Murless sending Imperial Prince for a spin around Epsom before he finished second in the 1974 Derby. I’d be on my own there at 6.30am; there was no such thing as Breakfast With The Stars.”

As the years unfurled Nielsen’s

fascination with the Derby evolved in tandem with his working life. He’d traded gold on his own account in 1979 before he applied for a job on the London Metal Exchange.

“That’s when I got my taste for the markets,” he reflects. “I’d made a few bucks; not big money, but I was naive.

I didn’t really know what I was talking about but the chairman of an American firm in London gave me a job and 18 months later I was transferred to the States.

“That was my opportunity,” he continues. “In London you’d get a pat

on the back if you made your firm £10 million but there they would give you some of the profit as reward.

“From there I went onto the floor of the commodity exchange in New York, became a trader and picked it up very quickly. I soon realised it was a game of psychology. You’ve got to understand what everybody else is doing, whether they’re too long or too short, and when the market is going to move.”

In 1988 Nielsen joined Connecticutbased Tudor Investment Corporation, where he rose to become Managing Director at one of America’s nascent

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Bjorn Nielsen

“xx xx xx xx xxc”

“We all know the largest component of all is luck but you have a better chance of getting what you are looking for if you do your research. When you trade you have to adapt and change to the times. It’s the same in the horse business, which is constantly changing.

“I don’t rely on anybody when I trade the markets, and while I get help with issues like conformation, I know the basics about my female families and do the pedigree side myself.”

All his efforts are geared towards breeding that elusive Derby horse.

Stradivarius wasn’t too far off the mark by his ability, although he wasn’t forward enough as a three-year-old to warrant a Derby preparation.

Nielsen is hugely supportive of the enhanced programme for young stayers, which is what breeders often end up with in their endeavours to produce middle-distance horses. He believes Stradivarius stays so well because of his equable temperament and demeanour, which he ascribes in large part to Stradivarius’ sire, Sea The Stars.

“I thought Sea The Stars was an outand-out mile and a quarter horse with the brilliance to stay the Derby trip, like Nijinsky,” he says. “But it turns out he breeds horses that stay a bit further. I was also looking for a bit of size.”

Devotees of sectional timing keep telling him Stradivarius would hold his own against the best over a mile and a half, but Nielsen feels the die is cast.

“I am really lucky to have a horse that could become one of the outstanding stayers and I’m nervous to tinker with that in any way,” he says.

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hedge fund operators. What started out as a smallish firm mushroomed in size as Nielsen left the trading floor to trade in anything that could be traded.

He left Tudor 18 months ago to do his own thing.

Nielsen’s professional experience is serving him well in his efforts to get the best from his broodmare band. “The research and reading you need to do to breed horses is the same as trading,” he says. “I spent years and years studying the pedigrees of stakes winners, trying to understand combinations [of blood] that worked.

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The Big Interview ››

“Even if the bonus wasn’t there this season I’d probably go the same way towards the ‘Cup’ races and perhaps skip the Lonsdale [the last in the ‘million’ sequence] to go for the Arc. But you can’t walk away from the Lonsdale when you have won three of the four legs in the series.”

In different circumstances Nielsen might have seen Stradivarius’ career unfold from one step removed. The colt failed to make his reserve when he passed through Tattersalls’ auction ring as a yearling in October 2015, when Nielsen bought him in at 330,000 guineas. The colt was consigned from the draft of Watership Down Stud, where Nielsen keeps his broodmares and their progeny.

“I hate selling young horses because I always worry they might end up winning the Derby,” he says. “But it is necessary; I need to take money out now and again. At the end of the day nobody really knows whether a young horse is going to be any good – expect possibly Coolmore. Too many great horses have cost nothing.

“Having said that, everything I breed is for the racecourse, rather than commercially orientated. So if I wind up getting them back, like Stradivarius, I’m very happy to put them into training because I bred them for a purpose.”

To people like Nielsen, the antithesis of what breeding horses should be is to end up with precocious but commercially attractive two-year-old

Nielsen chats with Stradivarius’s trainer John Gosden at Newmarket earlier this year

types. He feels their mass production is undermining bloodlines lovingly developed in Britain and the US down the centuries.

“With these horses, you know your fate by the time you get to Royal Ascot,” he says. “If you haven’t done it by then, it’s game over. Britain is the furthest away of any country to be purely about speed but too many people have been heading in that direction for a while now.

“A couple of years ago I said to

Royal Ascot is a global phenomenon Royal Ascot’s imminence always puts a spring into Bjorn Nielsen’s step – and not just because the prospect of a second Gold Cup triumph with Stradivarius is a realistic outcome.

Nielsen has always followed racing from a global perspective.

He grew up in South Africa, spent 18 months in Australia in his teens and worked in the US for three decades. Having absorbed much from each of these racing domains, the Royal meeting affords him an opportunity to further engage with their horsemen.

“Royal Ascot has become a worldwide thing,” he says. “They have promoted it so well and you now have [coast-to-coast broadcaster] NBC showing it live in America. It has become a lifestyle thing as well; people from outside Britain love

Bjorn Nielsen

seeing all the pageantry, the people.

That’s what media outlets have done for the meeting in the last 20 years.”

He continues: “Lifestyle is a big thing these days. So many more Americans and Australians want to bring their horses over to be part of the whole thing. There’s a whole different side to the business that wasn’t there 20 years ago.

“And it really needs to be there, because that’s the part that can really work [for British racing]. When these people come over they soon realise there’s more to the game than Royal Ascot – as wonderful as Ascot is.

“That can only be good for British racing and those involved with it.

The whole experience has moved up another level or two. It’s a really big deal now.”

[American-based French trainer] Patrick Biancone that one day there will be a proper ten-furlong horse in the US, and that it would win everything. But Patrick said that was most unlikely. He said the horse would not have the speed to get to that first bend fast enough. It wouldn’t even get in to the Kentucky Derby as it wouldn’t win enough points [in the qualifying races].”

“I hate selling young horses as I worry they might win the Derby” None of that is uppermost in Nielsen’s mind at this point in time, however. Stradivarius, after making a successful return in the Yorkshire Cup, will now try to win him a second Gold Cup at Ascot en route to another tilt at the £1 million stayers’ bonus. Yet even if the dream dissipates, Nielsen has already derived so much pleasure that the future is almost academic.

“Stradivarius has got to be my horse of a lifetime,” he says. “Even if I was incredibly lucky and had a Derby winner, it’s hard to see how that horse could be as consistent as Stradivarius has been, never mind do what he has done.”

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THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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22/05/2019 09:53

Talking To...

Williams

MOTORS Stuart Williams has been training for 25 years but it was only this season that he was able to celebrate a first Group win when Keystroke caused a shock in the Abernant Stakes – next stop for his exciting sprinter is Royal Ascot Interview: Tim Richards Photos: George Selwyn

A

fter 25 years as a trainer you enjoyed your first Group winner in April when Keystroke caused a 66-1 upset in the Abernant Stakes.

What did it mean to you and the team at Diomed Stables?

We haven’t run many horses in Group races and it’s a great thrill to win one at any stage. I started with four horses and have built up to 60 now and landing a Group 3 on our home track was a fantastic feeling – definitely the highlight of my training career so far. When you have a string of our size you never go into races like that expecting to win, just hoping your horse will run above its mark. Keystroke is a high-class horse and I had hoped he’d perform well. Any win gives you a lift and a great feeling of satisfaction, but that was above the norm and we enjoyed a good celebration afterwards.

When Keystroke joined you, he had yet to race at six furlongs and was campaigned mostly on the all-weather.

Did you always have it in your mind to reinvent him as a turf sprinter?

Before Keystroke came to me, I’d saddled runners against him on the all-weather and he looked to me like a horse with plenty of speed. When the owners asked

me if I’d like to train him, I jumped at the opportunity and straight away thought we ought to try him over six furlongs.

After he’d won first time I didn’t want to go to the all-weather finals because I didn’t think Lingfield would suit him – that left us with very few options on the all-weather. I had no reason to believe he wouldn’t be as good on turf and suggested the Abernant to the owners, GG Thoroughbreds, who were right behind me. With their blessing, I have entered Keystroke in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot. He is still an entire and a very good-looking horse – in the back of the owners’ minds, eventually they’d like him to take up a stallion job somewhere.

You have a reputation for making shrewd purchases, particularly at the horses-in-training sales, which seems your preferred hunting ground for new recruits. What’s the appeal over other types of sale?

We can’t compete with the big owners at the yearling sales, but at the horsesin-training we can; the difference being the big owners are selling at the horsesin-training and not buying. If I had the owners to compete at the yearling sales, I’d be there but we just haven’t,

Stuart Williams started with four horses and now has 60 at his Diomed Stables at the Headquarters of British racing in Newmarket

moneywise. You pretty much have to have an oil well or be Coolmore to buy at present-day prices. At the horses-intraining sales we have been lucky enough to find a few rough diamonds we can polish up a bit. Realize is one we picked up for not big money; he won four for us and we had some fun with him. There’s no secret: do your homework, watch the horses and make a judgement.

Born and bred in Newmarket and, having ridden out there as a schoolboy

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Stuart Williams

in the 1970s, you must have seen a lot of changes at the HQ of British Flat racing. What has been the best?

The management of the Heath. We used to have only a six-month season and there was an off-season when all the horses would trot round the roads, hardly any went on the Heath in winter. Now we race all year round and the gallops are so well maintained for the amount of use they get. The grass gallops haven’t changed that much, but the introduction of the all-weathers, horsewalks with rails

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everywhere make a big difference.

When I started riding out on the Heath there wasn’t a rail in sight. If a horse got loose it went anywhere; the safety aspect has improved no end. Also, the fact Sheikh Mohammed’s racing interests are based here has made a big difference to the town; the studs he has transformed now boast world-class facilities. In the 1970s there were only two or three top stallions in the town, now there are many fantastic stallions here. When you’re on the Heath every day you’re inclined

to take the place for granted, and the beauty only really hits you when visiting owners come here from miles away. The whole experience is jaw-dropping for them.

In your early days there were 800 horses in the town. Now there are some 3,000. How do you and the other trainers cope, getting to and from the gallops every morning?

I cope easily because Diomed Stables backs onto Racecourse Side, whereas

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Talking To...

Stuart Williams

Keystroke (nearside) edges out Yafta and Brando (middle) to win the Group 3 Abernant Stakes

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most of the trainers go over to Warren Hill. We have very few trainers who stay on this side of town on a permanent basis. I am one of those and we don’t have congestion problems; it’s out of the back door straight on to the gallops. But the other side of town can get very crowded. The trainers with 100-plus battalions are based on Bury Side. I love the Flat gallop, the Summer gallop and Peat Moss on the Racecourse Side – fantastic facilities that would rival any gallops anywhere.

Such an increase in numbers presents other problems, including finding enough stable staff. What do you see as the crux of the staffing problem?

Basically, there is a lack of indigenous population that ride horses when they are young. It is very difficult to get people to come into this industry after school. Successive governments encourage children to stay on at school for longer and I think this is an industry where you need to get the bug early.

Very few people are able turn their hand to it once they hit 20; they need to start riding racehorses when they are younger. More is being done through Racing To School, where they take schoolchildren to the races and try to make the sport part of their education.

Short term, I don’t think there is an answer, apart from bringing in people from abroad. If we can convince the government we are an under-staffed and a skilled industry, they might let us employ skilled workers from overseas.

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How racing is classed an ‘unskilled’ industry I do not know. Riding a racehorse and bringing out the best in it requires great expertise and a lot of technique.

Having trained since 1994 in Newmarket from Graham Lodge, Trillium Place and now Diomed Stables, have you enjoyed a steady upgrade in facilities?

“It’s difficult to get people into this industry after school; you need to get the bug early” Both Graham Lodge and Trillium Place were fantastic places to train.

The difference is we have a bit more room at Diomed. We have turn-out, horsewalkers, a treadmill, a menage.

I feel privileged to have been lucky enough to have trained in all three yards. Ben Hanbury trained from here and produced Midway Lady [1,000 Guineas and Oaks] and Kala Dancer [Dewhurst]. The narrative of Newmarket means a lot, the place

where racing started in this country and Charles II rode out on the Heath.

Are owners’ syndicates the answer when it comes to competing with the big battalions who spend millions at the sales?

A lot more needs to be done to look after the members of owners’ syndicates. At the moment I think they get the short end of the stick at most racecourses.

They must be made to feel welcome and that they are getting a good deal.

Racecourses are reluctant to give masses of badges and look after big syndicates, and, in fairness, are probably not in a position to do so. I don’t think there is any formula where you’d have huge syndicates trying to take on Coolmore and Godolphin, they couldn’t do it.

There just aren’t that many owners.

Even though we are the second biggest spectator sport in the country we are still a minority sport.

You have trained winners on every Flat racecourse in Britain and enjoyed your best year in 2018 with 58 wins.

Have you any plans to expand your business?

I don’t really want to grow the numbers of horses we have here, but we’d like to up the quality. That’s what we try and do every year. I don’t want to become a manager and that’s what I’d be if we have many more horses; not hands-on as I am now. Overseeing the training is the part of the job I enjoy most. Give me a choice of where I’d like to run my horses,

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Talking To...

Stuart Williams to the same point, which is taking the horses to the races in the best possible condition. We ride six lots a morning, whereas other yards might have only four or even three. But most of our riders only ride and are not mucking out, doing the waters or the hay. The money is not bad now, but working in a yard you need to buy into the fact that it’s a way of life.

You need to love horses and love what you do. The most satisfying part of the job is being in the winner’s enclosure with a horse that you have nurtured from a young age. That’s the ultimate.

Williams says owners must feel valued when they attend the races with a runner

always be Newmarket. Travelling ›› itis would one of the worst parts of a trainer’s life and we can avoid that on our two unique tracks. The July Course, with its summer atmosphere, is totally different to the Rowley Mile and having them on our doorstep is a big advantage.

The statistics reveal you have had more runners on the all-weather than turf in the past five seasons. Is this an intentional part of the Stuart Williams business model?

The increase in prize-money that came with the advent of the all-weather finals meant that the races on the all-weather are now on a par with similar turf races – it makes sense to target them.

Particularly when only about 50% of the trainers chase the all-weather money and, with only half the trainers competing, it makes it easier to win equivalent prizes on the all-weather. The top ten trainers on the all-weather include some of the biggest in the country, Mark Johnston, John Gosden and William Haggas, to mention just three.

You were president of the National Trainers Federation in 2011. Are you still on the NTF Council and is lack of prize-money still the biggest bone of contention?

I am not on the National Trainers Federation Council any more. I took a back seat after we had a row about prize-money and tariffs. It was at the point where we put in prize-money agreements which had never been done before, so we had made some progress.

But that progress dissipated a bit. I did the best I could. Lack of prize-money is a huge problem across the board; even in the Group races we are slipping

behind other jurisdictions. I would think Newmarket is one of the most expensive places in the world to have a horse in training so we need the prize-money, and if it isn’t there you can’t win it.

We need to be racing for a minimum of ten grand a race. Courses like York and Chester have this minimum £10,000 prize-money structure in place already.

Extra prize-money would be available with a Tote-based system. We are not going to get rid of the bookmakers, and I wouldn’t want to. But if we had a system similar to Australia’s – bookmakers oncourse and Tote off-course – it would go a long way to solving some of the ills we are suffering.

What can the industry do to improve both the retention and recruitment of owners?

We have got to look after owners better as a whole. We rarely have owners coming to the yard, so the only time we meet them is at the races. Statistically, most of the time they are not going to win, so we need to make sure they are getting value for money at the races. The most likely person to be my next owner is the guy who comes racing with his or her pal who owns one of the horses and enjoyed the day. Hopefully his or her next question is, ‘How do I get into the game?’

While the situation has improved, some courses are sadly lacking in providing ‘an owner experience’ that encourages them to come back.

What is the most challenging part of your job – and the most satisfying?

Finding the right staff and keeping them.

We are trying to compete with the big stables and cannot pay the same wages.

So we try to do things differently to get

In your early days you worked for Newmarket trainers Bill O’Gorman, Ron Sheather and Alex Scott, as well as Bart Cummings in Australia. Is there one modern-day rival you particularly admire?

Anyone who can survive in this business has my admiration because it is so tough and demanding trying to maintain standards at the top, and keep your head above water at the bottom end.

The logistics of organising the big yards is absolutely amazing – the Faheys, Hannons, Gosdens and Johnstons. It is mind-boggling how they have so many runners at different meetings in a day.

And they still keep winning!

CLOSE UP AND… PERSONAL

Can’t get through the day without… my computer Best advice I’ve had… be patient Four dinner party guests… Bruce Springsteen, Heidi Klum, Claudia Schiffer and Lee Mack, who used to work for Ginger McCain My biggest fear is… failure Actor to play me on screen…

Steve McQueen

CLOSE UP AND… PROFESSIONAL

Three words describe my job… labour of love I’d love to win… the Derby Alternative career… professional golfer Best bet I’ve ever had… Alex Scott’s Magic Gleam at 7-2 in a 1989 Kempton maiden. Magic Gleam had sailed past Irish Guineas runner-up Great Commotion in a gallop the previous week!

I handle defeat by… being unsportsmanlike and throwing my toys out of the pram

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Fractional ad pages June 2019.indd 47

THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER 47

22/05/2019 09:55

Kevin & Anna Ross

Feet in both

CAMPS

From If The Cap Fits to Good Vibes, it’s already been a memorable spring under both codes for Kevin and Anna Ross Words and photos: Carl Evans

I

n the crystal ball world of bloodstock buying, it takes a versatile eye to spot the next Queen Mary Stakes winner, followed by the unbroken store who could one day land a Champion Hurdle or Cheltenham Gold Cup. Kevin and Anna Ross are giving themselves this Flat and jump challenge as they breeze their way from sales of two-year-olds at Doncaster and Fairyhouse to the major-league store-horse auctions of prospective jumpers that take place in June at Kill and Fairyhouse. That diversity in the types of horses they buy has been achieved through successful purchases of jumpers and Flat racers.

Based in Country Antrim, Northern Ireland, just a short drive from Belfast International Airport – and dreading the prospect of a ‘hard’ Irish border should Brexit lead to one – the couple have shared out the elements of running Kevin Ross Bloodstock, which he created in 2006.

“When it comes to looking at horses at a sale we have so much trust in each other,” says Kevin. “If Anna wasn’t at a sale I don’t know who I would get to help because she’s brilliant. If we both like a horse we try to find a client who would be interested, and it’s pretty rare for one of us to like a horse and the other to be cold on it.”

Working largely from home suits a couple with three young children and quite a few young horses to raise. Anna’s accounting degree has led to her handling that side of the business, while Kevin trawls through catalogues and creates lists of horses to view. At the sales they share the process of inspecting horses, but since she is the daughter of Kildare trainer Arthur Moore, and Kevin the grandson of a legendary amateur rider and brought up on a stud farm, they know a good sloping shoulder or an off-set knee when they see one.

If a sales recruitment agency was to comb Ireland looking for hard-selling staff they would get little response at the Rosses’ home. “We’re not pushy,” says Kevin, a man who prefers to work the sales

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like a sniper, rather than a front-line attack troop.

“We hope the horses do the talking for us. The clients who have been with us for a long time know we are not going to be forcing a horse on them every week. If we see a horse we think they might like we ring them, but we accept the position if they say, ‘No thank you’. It’s a compliment to us that the clients we started with are still with us.”

Not that the Rosses confine themselves to sales catalogues and pedigree study when not travelling to stud farms and sales. Their Mount Top Stud at Newtownabbey, which is still home to his parents, John and Eyssen, no longer stands stallions, but is a hive of nursery activity, with young horses from foals to stores – plus the occasional point-topointer – engaged in levels of education and development.

Kevin says: “We always have a few young horses around the place. We’ll buy a foal out of a field, rear it here on the farm, then break it in. If it looks the part we’ll sell it on, but if we have any doubt we might run it to assess its merit before offering it to a client.”

Mount Top is also a holiday home to racehorses owned by some of the Rosses’ clients. In a corner of one paddock lies the body of Imperial Commander, the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, who two years ago breathed his last while living out his days at Mount Top. Now younger Imperials have taken his place for the summer before returning to their trainers’ yards.

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Kevin and Anna Ross, pictured with daughter Holly and sons Mark and Harvey, have forged a fine reputation as buyers of both Flat and jumps stock

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Kevin & Anna Ross

If The Cap Fits (blue/yellow silks), a £30,000 purchase for Paul and Clare Rooney, en route to victory in the Ryanair Stayers’ Hurdle at Aintree

›› Twist of fate with a happy outcome

Mount Top Stud was created by Kevin’s maternal grandfather, Welshman Willie Rooney, who left the Principality, crossed the Irish Sea and eventually set up home in Northern Ireland. A formidable amateur rider, he set a record for the most wins in Irish point-to-points until it was lowered by Enda Bolger, while his daughters, Kevin’s aunts Ann and Rosemary, were pioneers for women riders. In 1984 Ann became the first woman to win the Irish Grand National when scoring on Bentom Boy, trained by her father, while her sister finished third.

Kevin caught the bug, and although his father was a dental technician it was the love of horses handed down by his mother which rubbed off on him and his brother, Gerry, who now manages Kenilworth House Stud in County Tipperary. Apart from a stint with Curragh trainer Kevin Prendergast, Kevin stayed closer to home, and rode in pointto-points while based with point-to-point trainer Ian Duncan and then leading producer George Stewart.

Kevin says: “George was a former international showjumper who trained pointers – not only was he a good producer of young stock, but he had a great eye for buying a store. He was a good horseman and a good judge, and I learned a lot from him, and also from my mother, who didn’t ride in races as much as her sisters but was a great teacher and remains a wonderful help to Anna and myself today.”

Rugby had been Kevin’s first love, but riding winners was appealing too, and in 1999 a point-to-point victory on Bindaree provided a memory that was to be enhanced when that horse won the 2002 Grand National for trainer Nigel TwistonDavies. By then Kevin’s riding career had been ended when he suffered a broken neck in a point-to-point.

While recuperating and pondering career prospects he was asked by Peter Hannon, whose father, James, had been Bindaree’s former owner, to help with some bloodstock work, which, six years later, led to the creation of Kevin Ross Bloodstock.

“We’re not pushy. We hope the horses do the talking for us” Long-term clients include a syndicate, headed by Ian Robinson, which raced Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander, the gelding who gave the agency a banner horse in its early years.

Grade 1-winning chaser The Storyteller and Cheltenham Festival winner Flaxen Flare are but two horses bought for Joe and Pat Sloan, while this year’s Triumph

Hurdle runner-up Coeur Sublime is one of many winners bought for Chris Jones, whose father, also Chris, owned Klairon Davis, the Queen Mother Champion Chase winner trained by Anna’s father, Arthur Moore.

More recently, and with notable impact, has been the Rosses’ work for Paul and Clare Rooney, whose spread of racing interests across both codes has upped Kevin and Anna’s involvement in buying Flat horses.

In less than three years to the middle of May they had bought the Rooneys the winners of 118 races, including 40 on the Flat including the exciting twoyear-old Good Vibes, yet the principle of finding value for money has remained unchanged. If The Cap Fits, who carried the Rooneys’ colours to victory in the Ryanair Stayers’ Hurdle at Aintree, cost £30,000, while the same owners’ Get In The Queue, an exciting bumper winner who provided Noel Fehily with a winner on his final ride, cost £40,000 – both horses were sourced at Goffs UK’s Spring Sale as stores. The Storyteller was €67,000 at the Land Rover Sale.

In common with most agencies the couple focus on certain areas of the market. They would happily buy Flat foals or mares, but don’t have clients in that sphere, and while they are fully up to speed with the high-flying market for top-grade point-to-pointers, and visit meetings most weekends during the season, their customers are more likely to be investing at a level below the peak.

That may cost the Rosses in terms of

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KEVINROSS BLOODSTOCK On The Flat 2018/19 TITI MAKFI – Listed Winner, Group 2 placed I’LL HAVE ANOTHER – Listed Winner, Group 3 placed GETCHAGETCHAGETCHA – Group 2 placed CRACK ON CRACK ON (Sunny Speed) – Silver Bowl H’Cap, 3rd Hong Kong Derby ‘I am always delighted when one of Kevin’s purchases heads our way. We’ve had pleasing results together and he always buys a quality horse with scope and promise to look forward to’ Clive Cox STOP PRESS . . . GOOD VIBES, Marygate York Listed Winner, Royal Ascot bound

National Hunt 2018/19 CHELTENHAM AINTREE FESTIVAL WINNER Ryanair Stayers Hurdle Grade1 FESTIVAL WINNER CROCO BAY

‘Having worked closely with Kevin and Anna for many years they are an intregal part of sourcing winners providing an excellent professional and trustworthy service for myself and my owners.

We have enjoyed great success from foals, stores and form horses and I highly recommend Kevin Ross Bloodstock.’ Ben Case

IF THE CAP FITS

‘I have been lucky to train some lovely horses that were bought by Kevin and Anna Ross as three year old stores, namely If The Cap Fits and unbeaten Get In The Queue. It takes real talent to spot the potential in unbroken stores for which Kevin and Anna’s record speaks for itself’ Harry Fry

Other Grade1 Performers – 2018/19 THE STORYTELLER • GODS OWN • COEUR SUBLIME ONE FOR ROSIE • ORDINARY WORLD Beechbrook, 20B Ballycraigy Rd. South, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, BT36 4SZ Email: kevin@mounttopstud.com • anna@mounttopstud.com Tel: Kevin Ross : 07710 586975 • Anna Ross : 07515 994629

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Kevin & Anna Ross Anna and Kevin Ross with young stock on their County Antrim farm

›› publicity, but not in success, and when

they dug deep at the Goffs Punchestown Sale last year, spending €260,000 on the horse who finished second on the topten board, they were well rewarded: the horse in question is the aforementioned high-class juvenile hurdler Coeur Sublime.

“It’s true, we have clients who could afford to pay top prices for stores or pointers, but they seem to enjoy finding value,” says Kevin.

“At Newmarket recently a £35,000 filly we bought for Paul and Clare [Good Vibes] finished second behind a Godolphin filly who cost 750,000gns.

Running so well against a horse who had cost much more gave Paul a buzz.”

Flat purchases tend to be sourced as yearlings or breezers. The David Evanstrained Good Vibes, the recent winner of the Marygate Stakes at York, was sourced for £35,000 at the Goffs UK Premier Sale. Crack On Crack On was bought at Goresbridge for €70,000, won three races and was then sold to Hong Kong.

That horse and Getchagetchagetcha took the Rosses to Royal Ascot last year, and now hopes run high for a bold showing by Good Vibes at the same venue this month.

Anna says: “To get value we don’t tend to look at the clock, but at the more backward, less obvious type. If they have a bit of pedigree, come out of the breeze well and are a nice type, that is more important than the time of their breeze.”

Kevin adds: “The Royal Ascot horses are the ones who do a quick time and are usually expensive – at the moment that’s not where we’re at, but we’d love to buy a Royal Ascot winner.”

From the sales ring to a wedding ring

Being a daughter of Arthur Moore, and grand-daughter of L’Escargot’s trainer Dan Moore, might have led Anna to a training career, but she says: “Training was never really on my agenda. When I finished an accounting degree at college I went travelling, in part to figure out whether I was going to stay in the horse world. When I came back a job came up at BBA Ireland; I went for the interview and stayed ten years.”

During that time she bid on a horse who was to change the course of her life, as Kevin recalls, saying: “I was underbidder on a horse that Anna bought for Oliver Sherwood. As we passed each other in the barns later that day she said, ‘I beat ya’, which kind of stuck in my mind.” Anna interjects, saying: “He decided to get even, by marrying me!”

What’s in store for the stores?

As the twin peaks of the store sales’ season hove into view, with Goffs staging its Land Rover Sale (June 11 and 12) and Tattersalls Ireland putting on the Derby Sale (June 26 and 27), it is a busy time for the Rosses.

The store market has been surfing on the popularity of jump racing’s Saturday meetings and spring festivals, plus the demand from pinhookers who buy to race horses in point-to-points before selling again. That can make it hard for buyers, but few would begrudge working in a buoyant market when the alternative is to find easier pickings in a slump.

As Kevin says: “I read a tweet by [trainer] Nick Alexander recently which reflected that jump racing is in rude health, and it is at the moment. When you see Cheveley Park and owners like that coming into jump racing it’s marvellous.”

So what are they looking for in a store? Sharing their thoughts, they say: “We’re looking for correct horses that walk well and are trainable.

“We’re also looking for an acceptable pedigree, but we wouldn’t put too much emphasis on the stallion. We’re relying more on the dam’s side, while the damsire and sire of the granddam can be important. Most of our store purchasers are end-users who are buying a store to race, not pinhook. If a client is buying one store a year they will probably want an established sire, but if they are buying half a dozen you would probably look for a couple by established sires, and then others by lesser-known stallions.”

Tattersalls Ireland’s May Store Sale (where the Rosses bought two stores) and Goffs UK’s Spring Sale have passed, but the Land Rover auction and Derby Sale offer treasure troves. Kevin says: “It used to be the case that the Derby Sale had the bigger, chasing types, but in the past three or four years the two events have become quite similar.”

They also buy at the lower-tier August Sales, where they might find a store for themselves. If that horse makes up into something special they could offer it to a client, but, as Kevin puts it: “We’ll go the long haul and race it ourselves if we are in any doubt about its ability.”

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BILL SELWYN

British EBF

The fantastic

FUND The British branch of the European Breeders

Fund has given £34.5 million to racing since 1983 and at a time of declining income, prize-money cuts and uncertainty in the wider economy, its contribution is more valuable than ever Words: Edward Rosenthal

T

he recent news that the levy yield for 2018-19 will be considerably less than anticipated is the latest setback for racing’s finances and the battle to improve funding throughout the sport.

From a total of £95 million in 2017-18, the latest figure of £78m represents a decline of £17m and the Levy Board has issued a statement saying that it will need to make a £5m cut to expenditure

this year, with prize-money set to bear the brunt.

Racing’s income was already under pressure following the government’s decision to change the maximum stake for fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) to £2 from £100, putting pressure on betting shops that pay to broadcast live pictures. A number of racecourses have cut their executive contribution to prize-money as a result, reacting to

››

PA

Stradivarius, here winning the Yorkshire Cup in May, graduated from EBF-backed juvenile maiden races, while left, Good Vibes takes the Listed Langleys Solicitors British EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes at York’s Dante meeting last month

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British EBF

Stepping stones

The EBF cannot put money into Group races on the Flat, though that does not mean its support does not help plenty of horses that go on to become high-class performers.

Studies instigated by the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association identified a lack of opportunities for

£1,600,000

£1,600,000

20 17

20 18

HISTORICAL INVESTMENT

£1,600,000 20 16

£1,680,000

£1,309,000 20 15

20 19

£1,067,500

British EBF investment 2013-2019

20 14

an expected decline in media rights revenue.

This precautionary approach has also seen huge values being knocked off some of our best-known races.

Newmarket’s grand plan to stage a £1m Cesarewitch in 2020 has been shelved; the 2019 renewal, instead of being worth £750,000, will be run at £350,000 (the 2018 race was worth £500,000).

In such times, it’s reassuring to know there is one source of funding that won’t be blown off course by winds from the gambling sector. The British EBF will put £1.7m into prize-money this year, the vast majority of which is generated by the UK’s stallion studs, with additional income from an international pool.

The EBF was established in 1983 after the Levy Board announced the previous year that it was cutting back its contribution to maiden races.

Stallion owners in Britain, worried about the impact on the yearling sales, soon brought into the concept – other European countries came on board and the EBF was up and running.

“The beauty of the EBF is the consistency,” says Kerry Murphy, EBF Chief Executive. “The stallion owners sign up in July and pay us in December.

Once the stallion income arrives we know what we can pay out.

“We have a mechanism for charging stallion owners based on a stallion’s fee and the number of mares covered.

We have a minimum fee, which is very reasonable, while if a sire covers over 120 mares it’s three times the average value of nominations sold.

“Arguably, the mechanism is now

£995,500

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20 13

Kerry Murphy: ‘EBF supports every track’

called upon if needed.”

The EBF’s individual contributions to prize-money ranges from a few hundred pounds up to thousands for a race like York’s Convivial Maiden Stakes, the most valuable such contest staged in Britain. The majority of EBF money goes towards the Flat though £125,000 is spent on jump racing, including on EBF Finals Day at Sandown in March.

As racecourses prepare for a fall in income and cut their own contributions accordingly, the EBF knows it must ensure its money is allocated fairly.

Murphy explains: “The British EBF works closely with the BHA and racecourses and we deal with the racecourses directly as to where the money goes; 70% of two-year-old maiden and novice races have to be confined to EBF-eligible horses.

“However, a racecourse has to be running races at minimum values or they won’t receive EBF money [the EBF money is on top of the minimum race value]. If a racecourse is not adhering to the criteria, then we will not hesitate to take them off the list.

“We try to support every track in the country and do not discriminate geographically, as our money must be made available to all EBF-eligible runners.”

out-dated; it was probably brought in 20 years ago when 120 mares was considered a high number. However, we don’t have a plan to bring in a new mechanism for 200+ mares. We have to be fair in what we charge.”

With huge fees commanded by the likes of Dubawi and Frankel and younger sires like Kingman impressing with their early crops, the picture looks rosy for the EBF’s future funding, though Murphy is far from complacent.

“A declining broodmare population would have an impact [on our income] but our biggest concern is the lack of diversity among stallion owners – we have a small number of people standing stallions in this country; there are more in France and Ireland. We want more owner-breeders, more people who are prepared to stand stallions down the line and more independent stallion farms.

“I keep a close eye on what is happening at the sales, as I think that’s the best barometer of where things are.

More people breeding racehorses would drive nominations. We want to see high clearance rates and, most importantly, strength in the middle market.

“It’s better at the moment with the likes of Whitsbury [see sidebar], Newsells and Tweenhills doing well.

What you don’t want to see is two stallions at the top end covering lots of mares at a huge fee and then the rest, because then you create a polarisation.

“Stallion fees are buoyant at the moment; if the market crashes in five years then EBF prize-money will be proportionate to that income, but it will always be there. We don’t hold huge reserves, only keeping back £50,000 in case of a disease outbreak that could be

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fillies and the need to protect Britain’s staying horse population. EBF money was put towards both areas, with assistance from the BHA to create suitable race opportunities.

A new partnership with Matchbook will see the betting exchange match the EBF’s prize-money contribution in 16 juvenile staying contests and offer a £100,000 bonus for any successful graduate that goes on to win a Group 1 race over ten furlongs or more during their three-year-old season.

Murphy says: “It was clear that there was a lack of decent prizemoney available for fillies so a series of handicaps was introduced to encourage ownership and retention of fillies. Also, we wanted these fillies to be retained for the British breeding industry. We put £300,000 towards these races from our fund and this has been an excellent series.

“The other big achiever for us has been the sire/dam restricted two-yearold races [open to juveniles whose sire or dam won over 10f or further], which followed the TBA review into stayers.

Amazingly, although these races have only been running for a few years, two of the graduates are Cracksman and Stradivarius. So this is looking like a very successful collaboration.”

It’s difficult to discuss anything to do with Europe at the moment and not mention Brexit. For the racing community, plenty of questions remain unanswered but Murphy hopes the EBF’s ethos continues after the saga has eventually played out.

“I’d like to see the European countries being interchangeable in terms of mares visiting stallions, horses running and yearlings being sold without restrictions,” Murphy says. “Once a horse is eligible to run in an EBF race they are eligible to run throughout Europe and we want that to continue.

“The fact is you have to be in – 99% of thoroughbred stallions are EBFregistered and if you are standing a sire seriously in one of the member countries and you have visiting mares, or your own mares and you intend to race the progeny, you have to join the EBF.”

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The stallion master’s view Ed Harper, Whitsbury Manor Stud

We are very big supporters of the EBF and love what it does. It is a well-run organisation – we speak to the EBF team frequently and they listen to your views.

Nobody needs to be told about the importance of prizemoney at the moment, so the contribution of the EBF via stallion owners is vital.

Whitsbury welcomed a record number of mares this year and we stand a very successful and popular stallion in Showcasing – he covers over 120 mares so we sign a cheque for the thick end of £100,000. It’s a sizeable sum but it’s going into prize-money and we hope it will help to boost demand at the sales.

We bred Good Vibes, a daughter of our stallion Due Diligence, who won the Listed British EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes at York. That was the perfect scenario and I’m thrilled for the Rooneys who own her.

The current strength of British stallions is a real success story. We were in the doldrums during the 1980s and 90s but now the sector is the strongest I have known it. We have direct access to internationally renowned sires and long may it continue.

There is a correlation between the strength of the stallions and the health of the industry; we want to stay near the top of the pile. After all, people don’t have to stand stallions in this country.

Obviously, we are a commercial operation and we would like the money that we contribute to be put towards races that support the type of sires we stand.

Plenty of owners don’t want to wait a long time to see their horse in action, as the market indicates. The EBF is doing an excellent job but we need to keep it on the right path and always look at where the money is being spent.

Encouraging owners or breeders to stand a stallion may not be an easy task, but Murphy believes the way to do so is to continue to focus on prize-money as a means of rewarding participants.

Murphy says: “We want new owners coming into the game, having horses in training and getting a return on their investment if their horses are good enough. If you have spent a lot of money on a thoroughbred as an owner

or breeder, there should be a reasonable return or potential for return.”

She adds: “How many people who stand a stallion or buy a stud don’t reinvest in mares or keep racing horses?

How many stallion studs or breeding farms sponsor races?

“These people don’t stand a stallion and then take all the money; they spend it back in the industry. Which is good news for racing.”

THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER 57

23/05/2019 18:46

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15/05/2019 14:05

Breeders’ Digest

Nancy Sexton Bloodstock Editor

Our bloodstock coverage this month includes Sales Circuit: €1.1 million colt highlights breeze-up season at Arqana – pages 60-69 Caulfield Files: Galileo supremacy flowing ever stronger through daughters – pages 70-71 Dr Statz: Influence of Invincible Spirit continues to strengthen – page 100

Goffs UK breeze-up alliance with Scandinavia looks a winning move

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SARAH FARNSWORTH

T

he breeze-up market has been tricky enough this year so it was encouraging to see those who brought the goods to last month’s Goffs UK Sale in Doncaster well rewarded with investment from a range of buyers.

There does remain a polarisation of the market, something that seems to go hand in hand with many of today’s sales in Britain and Ireland. However, in Goffs UK’s case, a notable gap was plugged by the presence of a healthy contingent of Scandinavian buyers.

Several years ago, Goffs UK launched an initiative whereby every breezer catalogued gained automatic entry into the following year’s Swedish Classic series. With the help of Goffs Scandinavian representative Filip Zwicky, the alliance gained traction as time went on, aided in part by graduates such as Victor Kalejs, the champion Swedish two-year-old of 2016 who was sold by Brown Island Stables to Roy Kvisla, and this year’s UAE 2,000 Guineas third Red Cactus.

Buoyed by such results, more Scandinavian buyers than ever before made the trip to last month’s sale – and they couldn’t have been more welcome as the purchasers of ten horses worth almost £500,000. Along the way, they secured several high-profile lots, among them a colt by The Factor who made £130,000 to champion Danish trainer Bent Olsen and an Elusive Quality colt who was knocked down to Zwicky for £110,000.

This year’s Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale ended with a record average of £45,750 but needless to say, given that Scandinavian interests operated at every level of the market, the renewal would have looked quite different without their enthusiasm. For that, the alliance deserves to be applauded and let’s hope that another Victor Kalejs is lurking within their purchases this year.

Goffs UK Scandinavian representative Filip Zwicky (left) and Bent Olsen in action

TIMING OF THE ESSENCE

While we might not have reached the stage of official timings at the breeze-ups just yet, what this sales season has again highlighted is a seemingly increasing reliance on the clock. As ever, the breezes ahead of each auction have been well attended, and then no sooner has the last horse passed up the track, then there is a scurry to collate and digest all the data.

It has been particularly notable this season how some sales companies have made use of that knowledge to advertise a quick animal from the rostrum while it’s in the ring, even though the times aren’t widely available beyond insiders. That is understandable in today’s world when a swift breeze is such a key selling point; look no further than the Tattersalls Ireland Ascot Breeze-Up Sale, which was topped by a £110,000 son of Swiss Spirit who had reputedly turned in the fastest time the previous day.

The breeze-ups are there to offer an insight into a horse’s ability and in that respect a good showing against the clock is obviously important. However, I can’t help feeling that too much reliance remains a dangerous road to go down, especially when the times are split by such narrow margins that could be

influenced by several factors, among them a difference in weights. It also continues to place some consignors in a bit of a quandary; give the market what it wants and push for a good time while running the risk of doing too much, or let the horse work comfortably and risk taking a hit in the ring.

We all know examples of breezers both quick and slow who have gone on to do good things. Perhaps the most unlikely slow breezer of them all was Margot Did, the Nunthorpe Stakes winner bought by Richard Frisby for just 10,000gns at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale. And only last month, another inexpensive breezer, Lorelei Rock, made a winning debut at Leopardstown to make a mockery of her £10,000 purchase price at Ascot in April, one realised off the back of a green breeze.

No doubt more will follow.

URBAN SEA’S DERBY

Another year, another Derby awash with Urban Sea. The Tsui family’s legendary mare has featured in the backgrounds of six of the past 11 Derby winners, whether as the dam of Sea The Stars, the 2009 hero who went on to sire Harzand, or Galileo, sire of Australia, Ruler Of The World and New Approach, in turn the sire of last year’s winner Masar. And yet again she sits at the forefront of this year’s showpiece, and not just via the likes of Japan, Anthony Van Dyck, Line Of Duty, Bangkok and Broome, who between them represent a wealth of talent by Galileo and Australia, but also as the third dam of Sir Dragonet, the highly impressive winner of the Chester Vase.

At the time of writing, the son of Camelot still needed supplementing into the race by Ballydoyle. But should connections choose to go that route, he surely goes there with a strong chance of becoming the second triumphant descendant of Urban Sea in as many years after Masar.

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Sales Circuit • By Carl Evans

Landmark high for Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale A £450,000 filly by Siyouni out of the Listed-winning mare Fig Roll created a record price for a Flat horse sold at Doncaster at this one-day breeze-up auction.

Offered by Mick Murphy and his fiancée, Sarah O’Connell, of County Waterford’s Longways Stables, she was knocked down to Anthony Stroud, acting for Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, a member of the Bahraini royal family.

Stroud said the filly would be going into training with Newmarket-based Simon Crisford, while Longways went on to become the sale’s leading consignor, trading six horses for £628,000.

Such a bumper result was beyond the dreams of the filly’s vendors, and a fine result for Goffs UK. Managing Director Tony Williams described it as “a highlight for some time, not only being a new record for this sale, but

SARAH FARNSWORTH

Goffs UK Doncaster Breeze-Up

This daughter of Siyouni joined Simon Crisford after setting a record price of £450,000

Goffs UK Doncaster Breeze-Up Sale Top lots Sex/Breeding

Vendor

Price (£)

Buyer

b f Siyouni - Fig Roll

Longways Stables

450,000

Stroud Coleman Bloodstock

b c Kingman - Amarillo Starlight

Grove Stud

230,000

Blandford Bloodstock

b c Malibu Moon – Contentious

Powerstown Stud

220,000

Karl Burke

b c Cable Bay – Alzahra

Mocklershill

200,000

Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock

b c Exceed And Excel – Nidhaal

Powerstown Stud

155,000

Blandford Bloodstock

b f Kodiac – Moon Club

Oaks Farm Stables

140,000

Cool Silk PS/Stroud Coleman Bloodstock

b c Society Rock - Motion Lass

Star Bloodstock

135,000

Stroud Coleman Bloodstock

b c Acclamation – Tonle Sap

Hardwood Stud

130,000

Blandford Bloodstock

gr c The Factor – Wildcat Lily

Mocklershill

130,000

Bent Olsen

ch c Elusive Quality – Chulula

Powerstown Stud

110,000

Filip Zwicky

Five-year tale Year

Sold

Agg (£)

Avg (£)

Mdn (£)

Top Price (£)

2019

111

5,078,250

45,750

26,000

450,000

2018

138

5,528,000

40,058

25,500

220,000

2017

120

5,408,000

45,067

30,000

360,000

2016

110

3,605,750

32,780

22,000

170,000

2015

132

5,032,500

38,125

30,000

185,000

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Overview and analysis of the latest events in the ring the joint second-highest-priced horse ever sold at Doncaster and the highestpriced Flat horse sold in the company’s 57-year history.”

Doncaster’s highest price remains 530,000gns, the sum given for jumper Garde Champetre in 2004.

Despite the record filly there was an 8% drop in turnover, although the fall was not unexpected given that Goffs UK had cut the catalogue by 47 lots, and 52 fewer horses walked the ring, returning the sale to the size of the 2017 edition. That helped pull the clearance rate up from 76% to 84%, and, after private sales, there were gains of 14% in the average price, which reached a new peak for the event, and 6% in the median.

The high street in Doncaster may not be the trendiest place for wellheeled shoppers, but the town’s bloodstock sales get results, and its annual breeze-up outsmarts bigger

TALKING POINT • Size matters. In 2018 Goffs UK offered an additional 48 lots at its annual breeze-up auction and the average price fell 11%. One year later, with a trimmed-up catalogue containing 52 fewer horses, the average rose 14% to a mark of £45,750, a record for the sale.

• Cable Bay’s image was given a polish when one of his sons was knocked down for £200,000 to Ross Doyle. The result was a feather in the cap of Highclere Stud’s first-season sire, who has made a fast start in his second career with a couple of early-season winners. A £95,000 son of Muhaarar, a £72,000 colt by Night Of Thunder and a £70,000 Hot Streak colt were other fine results for new stallions. rivals when it comes to winner ratio. No fewer than 58 two-year-olds won after passing through this sale in 2018, a fine advertisement for its ability to supply ready-to-run, and win, juveniles.

The Siyouni sale-topper, a January foal who clocked a fast breeze, seems very likely to add to its list of twoyear-old winning graduates, but a son of Kingman who became the leading

colt at £230,000 may take more time.

His buyer, Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock, said the colt’s breeze style and pedigree suggested he would not be seen until the autumn.

The colt had been bought by Johnny McKeever Bloodstock as a yearling at Goffs UK’s Premier Sale for £62,000, and was consigned at this auction by Brendan Holland’s Grove Stud.

Point-to-point trainers on both sides of the Irish Sea battled with quick ground through much of the winter and early spring as they attempted to run horses in order to prove their ability to jump and stay.

What a contrast to 2018, when heavy ground and a plethora of abandoned meetings had played havoc with running plans. That had played a part in hitting this sale 12 months ago, while the position of Easter had been even more detrimental, shunting it into a gap just one week after a similar auction at Aintree, and one week ahead of Punchestown’s offering.

The latest edition still took place a week ahead of Punchestown, but three weeks after Aintree, and so despite lively ground – which had been a factor in the loss of an important fixture in County Antrim the weekend before the sale – the catalogue was bigger and there were marked increases across the board.

Turnover gained a giant 125%, and there were rises of 28% in the average price and 22% in the median. The market was eager to take the additional 19 lots on offer, and the clearance rate rose 14 points to 83%.

Four-year-old gelding Coconut Splash, a winner at Castletown-Geoghan earlier in the month, headed trade when selling to trainer Evan Williams for £180,000, creating a memorable pinhook for Cormac Doyle and his younger brother

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TATTERSALLS IRELAND

Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham April Sale

Coconut Splash turned a memorable profit for Monbeg Stables, selling for £180,000

Gearoid. Two of eight siblings connected to the well-known Monbeg Stables, and proof that older brothers Donnchadh and Sean are not the only talented members of the family, Cormac and Gearoid had spotted the son of Stowaway at Goffs UK’s Spring Sale as a store, and bought him for £14,000.

Mags O’Toole, a key player in the Gigginstown House Stud-buying team, invested sums of £155,000 and £125,000 for the winning Irish pointers Idas Boy and Grangeclare Native – the pair were bought in partnerships with Noel Meade and Gordon Elliott respectively – while Paul Nicholls, who the following day at

Sandown was handed the champion trainers’ award, left with two six-figure lots he bought in tandem with agent Tom Malone.

Of the pair, Broken Halo, who made £110,000, was offered by Colin Bowe, no stranger to a six-figure sum, but Switch Hitter’s sale to Nicholls for £120,000 was another notable moment for Warwickshire-based point-to-point trainer Fran Nimmo and her partner, jockey Charlie Poste. The couple broke through the six-figure ceiling for the first time when selling Garry Clermont to Jonjo O’Neill for £150,000 at Cheltenham in February, and Switch Hitter’s sale,

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Sales Circuit ›› following a win on debut at a fixture

TALKING POINT

in Gloucestershire 12 days earlier, was another vote of confidence in their burgeoning business.

Nimmo and Poste, whose point-topoint yard also contains a group of older horses who compete under enthusiastic owner/riders who are eager to gain from the couple’s race-riding experience, had bought the son of Scorpion 11 months earlier for €26,000 at Tattersalls Ireland’s inaugural May Store Sale.

• Bloodstock agent Tom Malone is compiling a growing record of buying other people successful horses. Now he owns one himself, the now sevenyear-old The Last But One, who he also trains, and who in mid-May led Britain’s champion young-horse point-to-point award after winning five races, plus a walkover. Malone is used to spending upwards of £150,000 on a nice horse, but he was delighted to win 0.1 per cent of that total (yes, £150) at an evening point-to-point held at Cothelstone, Somerset, in May, when The Last But One’s victory in a novice riders’ race carried him to the head of the championship.

Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham April Sale Top lots Horse/Breeding

Vendor

Price (£)

Buyer

Coconut Splash (Stowaway - Presenting Chaos)

Monbeg Stables (Cormac Doyle)

180,000

Evan Williams

Idas Boy (Dubai Destination - Witness Express)

Bride Park Stables (Eamonn Gallagher)

155,000

Margaret O’Toole/Noel Meade

Grangeclare Native (Shantou - Navaro)

Ballyboy Stables (Denis Murphy)

125,000

Margaret O’Toole/Gordon Elliott Racing

Switch Hitter (Scorpion - Country Time)

Station Yard (Francesca Nimmo)

120,000

Tom Malone/Paul Nicholls

Broken Halo (Kayf Tara - Miss Invincible)

Milestone Stables (Colin Bowe)

110,000

Tom Malone/Paul Nicholls

Bobhopeornohope (Westerner - Bandelaro)

Monbeg Stables (Cormac Doyle)

105,000

Aiden Murphy/Kim Bailey

Frisson Collonges (Coastal Path - Roxane Collonges)

Monbeg Stables (Donnchadh Doyle)

100,000

Ryan Mahon

Chuvelo (Milan - Bargante)

Skehanagh Stables (Sam Curling)

100,000

D McCain Racing

Baptism Of Fire (Jeremy - Julia Glynn)

Ballyboy Stables (Denis Murphy)

100,000

Margaret O’Toole

Ballinsker (Court Cave - Brownie Points)

Moate Stables (Michael Goff)

90,000

Evan Williams

Mackenberg (Jukebox Jury - Mountain Melody)

Monbeg Stables (Donnchadh Doyle)

90,000

D McCain Racing

Five-year tale Year

Sold

Agg (£)

Avg (£)

Mdn (£)

Top Price (£)

2019

44

2,851,000

64,795

57,500

180,000

2018

25

1,265,500

50,620

47,000

130,000

2017

35

3,000,500

85,729

50,000

275,000

2016

81

2,726,800

33,664

28,000

110,000

2015

50

3,136,000

62,720

47,500

220,000

Goffs Punchestown Sale

Nothing at Punchestown’s Festival meeting could top Ruby Walsh’s shock announcement of his retirement, but 24 hours later this after-racing sale did not go under the radar.

An average price in excess of €144,000 ensured the 17 horses who walked the ring could not be ignored, and the sale of a four-year-old son of Getaway – very much the in-vogue jump stallion at present – for an auction record price of €360,000, gave the event a gold-plated highlight in the shape of The Big Breakaway.

Consigned by Monbeg Stables’ Donnchadh Doyle, who trained him to win at Quakerstown on his debut, he was knocked down to agent Ross

Doyle, representing trainer Colin Tizzard. It was a grand return on Doyle’s €55,000 investment for the horse at last year’s Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale, but since then The Big Breakaway’s half-brother, Kildisart, had won three times for Ben Pauling, including a Grade 3 chase at Aintree’s Grand National meeting.

Updates are a handy tool for a vendor and a sales company, and Goffs could boast some high-ranking graduates from the 2018 rendition.

Top lot Lecale’s Article has yet to race for Nicky Henderson, but €260,000 buy Coeur Sublime – who had won a Flat race ahead of his Punchestown appearance – subsequently finished runner-up in the Triumph Hurdle, while

Honeysuckle, who made €110,000, has become another high-flying mare for Irish stables, winning four more races including a Grade 1 event at Fairyhouse.

Such results draw leading racehorse owners, an example being Barry Connell, who at this sale bought the four-year-olds Noreen Bawn (€220,000) and Unbreakable Bond (€210,000) through agent Gerry Hogan, while Tom Malone secured Barbados Buck’s (€210,000) for Andy Stewart, who raced the gelding’s uncle, Big Buck’s.

Turnover rose 7%, the average went up by 15% and the median gained 5%, further illustration of the current buoyancy in trade for young jumpers of promise.

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GOFFS

Debut point winner The Big Breakaway realised a sale record high of €360,000

Goffs Punchestown Sale Top lots Horse/Breeding

Vendor

Price (€)

Buyer

The Big Breakaway (Getaway - Princess Mairead)

Monbeg Stables (Donnchadh Doyle)

360,000

Doyle/Tizzard

Noreen Bawn (Jeremy - Rose N Alice)

Inish Stables (Brian Jordan)

220,000

Gerry Hogan Bloodstock

Unbreakable Bond (Shirocco – Caheronaun)

Monbeg Stables (Donnchadh Doyle)

210,000

Gerry Hogan Bloodstock

Barbados Buck’s (Getaway - Buck’s Blue)

Beechmount Stables (Richard Black)

210,000

Tom Malone/ Paul Nicholls

Gabbys Cross (Frammassone - Mille Et Une Nuits)

Ballinagore Stables (Bernadette Murphy)

170,000

RS Brookhouse

Southern Girl (Getaway - She’s Got To Go)

Coogane Stables (Donal Hassett)

155,000

Rathmore Stud

January Jets (Presenting - Poetics Girl)

Suirview Stables (Pat Doyle)

115,000

Brendan Bashford Bloodstock

Pure Bliss (Mount Nelson - Burton Ash)

Ballyboy Stables (Denis Murphy)

Kid Commando (Robin Des Champs - Banjaxed Girl)

Grange Stables (Peter Flood)

80,000

Anthony Honeyball

Ofalltheginjoints (Stowaway - Dinos Luso)

Gaynestown Stables (Jonathan Fogarty)

75,000

Doyle/Tizzard

100,000

Harry Fry Racing

Five-year tale Year

Sold

Agg (€)

Avg (€)

Mdn (€)

Top Price (€)

2019

13

1,877,000

144,385

115,000

360,000

2018

14

1,752,000

125,143

110,000

320,000

2017

15

1,691,000

112,733

100,000

270,000

2016

14

1,049,000

74,929

63,500

200,000

2015

15

1,483,000

96,867

80,000

280,000

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Sales Circuit Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up and Horses In Training Sale

Tattersalls trimmed the number of breeze-up horses on offer at this oneday sale, and plumped up the horsesin-training section.

This suited the many overseas buyers who headed to Park Paddocks from around the world, and whose primary interest lay in horses with form, a section of the sale that did particularly well. Turnover for horses in training rose 79% – a statistic which did not rely solely on the additional 21 horses who were offered – while the average gained 30% to reach 11,587gns and the median more than doubled to 9,500gns. Of the 93 intraining horses offered, 84 found a buyer, generating a clearance rate of just over 90%.

The breeze-up section produced mixed results, with the average price dropping 12% (it had fallen 14% in 2018) to 28,839gns, the median holding steady at 24,000gns, but the clearance rate gaining 11 points to reach 84%, the same mark it had achieved in 2017, a

TATTERSALLS

››

This daughter of Kodiac will race for John Dance after selling for 150,000gns

Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up and Horses In Training Sale Top lots Name/Sex/Breeding

Vendor

Price (gns)

b f Kodiac - Peace Palace

Oaks Farm Stables

b f Sepoy - Rhythm Excel

Egmont Stud

95,000

Blandford Bloodstock

ch f Mukhadram – Mokaraba

Longways Stables

75,000

Alex Elliott/Elwick Stud

ch c Lope De Vega – Myrica

Meadowview Stables

75,000

Highflyer Bloodstock/A King

b c Cable Bay - Let Me Shine

Meadowview Stables

72,000

Richard Frisby Bloodstock

b c Starspangledbanner - Emerald Cutter

Morna McDowall

70,000

Happy Valley Racing

b c Candy Ride - Promise Me A Cat

Tally-Ho Stud

70,000

BMS Group Slawomir Pegza

b f Holy Roman Emperor - Postage Stampe

Woodtown House Stud

67,000

Witold Miedzianowski/Pegaz Stud

Executive Force (Sepoy – Mazuna)

Hamilton Stables (Michael Wigham)

65,000

Durcan Bloodstock/A Alabdullatif

b c Fulbright – Milana

Clenagh Castle Stud

65,000

Guillermo Arizkorreta

150,000

Buyer Creighton Schwartz/Dance Thoroughbreds

Five-year tale Year

Sold

Agg (gns)

Avg (gns)

Mdn (gns)

Top Price (gns)

2019

205

4,462,800

21,770

14,000

150,000

2018

203

5,238,500

25,805

15,000

200,000

2017

204

6,147,300

30,134

18,500

240,000

2016

164

4,207,900

25,658,

15,000

300,000

2015

172

4,602,100

26,756

18,000

230,000

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boom year for breeze-ups.

The overall clearance rate rose to 86%, picking up nine points, but otherwise the figures showed declines of 15% in turnover and average, and 7% in the median figure.

Familiar names headed the top-ten board, with Mark Dwyer’s Oaks Farm Stables selling the best in show, a 150,000gns Kodiac filly who became the sale’s only six-figure horse – she was knocked down to Daniel Creighton on behalf of John ‘Laurens’ Dance.

Creighton’s purchase had been bought by the Wainwright family’s Highbank Stud for €60,000 as a foal.

Further down the breeze-up table international buyers made an appearance, with a 67,000gns filly by Holy Roman Emperor and a 70,000gns son of Candy Ride finding favour with buyers from Poland, while a colt by first-

TALKING POINT • Eight breezers sold for a six-figure sum at the 2018 edition of this sale, one that showed marked downturns in the figures. This year the six-figure lots column was occupied by just one horse.

• It is unlikely that celebrated jumps trainer Alan King ever expected to be the leading buyer at a sale of breeze-up two-year-olds, but he took that honour when buying six horses for 289,000gns at an average of 48,1676gns. King is no stranger to success on the Flat, but at this sale he was sticking to his modus operandi of buying horses who can run on the level with the option of going jumping later in their career. Agent Anthony Bromley, who signed for King’s sextet, said the Guineas Breeze-Up often contains later-maturing threeyear-old types suited to dual-purpose possibilities.

crop sire Fulbright made 65,000gns to an offer from Spain’s Jose Maria Sanchez, acting for trainer Guillermo Arizkorreta, who bought three breezers.

Heading the in-training section was five-year-old Executive Force, a

frequent winner for Michael Wigham’s stable.

Ted Durcan, the former jockey, bought the gelding with a bid of 65,000gns on behalf of Saudi Arabian interests.

Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale

Chat that several of the major breeze-up consignors were holding some of their better horses back for the Arqana May Sale came to fruition in the form of a flurry of blockbuster prices that in turn contributed to a set of strong results almost on a par with last year’s record edition, writes Nancy Sexton.

When all was done and dusted, the aggregate finished marginally ahead of

• This year’s sale opened off the back of a good spring on the track headlined by the achievements of leading American three-year-old War Of Will, a €250,000 purchase by Justin Casse in 2018. So it was interesting to see a number of American buyers make the trip to Deauville this year, among them agent Shawn Dugan and trainer Patrick Biancone, both of whom made significant purchases.

Dugan went to €320,000 for an Exceed And Excel filly out of Mikandy to join her husband Neil Drysdale in California, while Biancone came away with a first-crop son of Airdrie Stud’s Summer Front, bought for €240,000 from Powerstown Stud.

Casse also made his return trip worthwhile, going to €190,000 for an American Pharoah halfbrother to Grade 1 winner Mani Bhavan.

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ZUZANNA LUPA/ARQANA

TALKING POINT

MV Magnier, acting through Laurent Benoit, landed the sale-topping American Pharoah colt

last year at €14,797,000 for an average of €129,798, just 0.7% adrift of 2018.

Particularly striking was the fact seven horses made in excess of €500,000, compared to four the previous year.

First-crop representatives of US Triple Crown hero American Pharoah have been rare enough commodities at European auctions so far but he certainly made his presence felt in Deauville by siring the first – and likely only – seven-figure breezer of the season.

Grove Stud’s Brendan Holland travelled to Keeneland last September with an idea to come away with a yearling from the stallion’s coveted first crop and the ploy worked to perfection as the youngster in question, sourced

for $275,000 in Kentucky, went on to make €1.1 million to Laurent Benoit of the Broadhurst Agency.

Benoit was acting on behalf of MV Magnier, who is naturally well versed towards the potential of American Pharoah given the stallion’s position as a leading light of Coolmore’s Ashford Stud roster. In turn, Ballydoyle houses a number of his first crop, among them his first winner Monarch Of Egypt.

Although bred in Kentucky, the colt hails from a family well known to European eyes as a member of the Kerali clan responsible for blue hen Hasili. His unraced dam Tare Green is the dam of a winner and out of a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner and former Lanwades

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Sales Circuit ›› Stud stallion Leroidesanimaux.

On what was an excellent day for Grove Stud, the Fermoy-based operation also sold a Lope De Vega half-brother to Sussex Stakes winner Here Comes When. David Simcock, acting with Jamie Spencer on behalf of a new owner, signed at €700,000 for the colt in a transaction that vindicated his vendor’s decision to buy him back for 180,000gns at last year’s Tattersalls December Yearling Sale.

Overall, however, it was particularly

from Mocklershill who joined Godolphin after selling for €800,000.

She contributed to an excellent sale for Willie Browne’s Mocklershill, who ended the sale as leading vendor with 17 sold for a total of €3,476,000. The group also included a swift No Nay Never filly, who will race for George Bolton and Peter Liedel after selling for €575,000 to Kerri Radcliffe, as well as a Sea The Stars granddaughter of champion Sayyedati who made €520,000 to John and Jake Warren.

vibrant at the top end of the market for fillies, seven of whom wound up within the top ten.

Demand for the progeny of Kingman, who would go on to sire his first Classic winner in Persian King the following day at Longchamp, has been a key theme throughout this breeze-up season, and once again he was to the fore, this time as the sire of four individuals that averaged €455,500.

They included the sale-topping filly, a half-sister to Group 1 winner Rizeena

Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale Top lots Sex/Breeding

Vendor

Price (€)

Buyer

b c American Pharoah - Tare Green

Grove Stud

1,100,000

Broadhurst Agency for MV Magnier

gr f Kingman - Serena’s Storm

Mocklershill

800,000

Godolphin SNC

ch c Lope De Vega - Quad’s Melody

Grove Stud

700,000

David Simcock

b f Kingman - Extricate

Longways Stables

650,000

Charles Gordon-Watson Bloodstock

b f No Nay Never - Miss Azeza

Mocklershill

575,000

Kerri Radcliffe Bloodstock

ch f Sea The Stars - Sayyedati Storm

Mocklershill

520,000

John & Jake Warren

b f No Nay Never - Super Marmelade

Gaybrook Lodge Stud

500,000

Westerberg Ltd

b f Exceed And Excel - Mikandy

Yeomanstown Stud

320,000

Shawn Dugan

b c Kingman - Lucrece

Bansha House Stables

b f Muhaarar - Mathuna

Church Farm & Horse Park Stud

315,000 300,000

Joseph Burke Bloodstock Aisling Kinane

Five-year tale Year

Sold

Agg (€)

Avg (€)

Mdn (€)

Top Price (€)

2019

114

14,797,000

129,798

75,000

1,100,000

2018

113

14,766,000

130,673

80,000

825,000

2017

94

12,948,000

137,745

82,500

1,400,000

2016

95

10,466,500

110,174

67,000

800,000

2015

88

8,097,000

92,011

60,000

600,000

Tattersalls Ireland May Store Sale

Michael O’Leary’s bombshell that he will be winding up his Gigginstown House Stud operation became known as horses were going under the hammer at the year’s first store sale.

The announcement was disappointing, but did not drag trade down – perhaps because it came too late for pinhookers to rethink buying plans – and there were gains in most

of the key indicators. Gigginstown purchased the top lot at the inaugural event held in 2018, a €65,000 Fame And Glory gelding later named Battle Of Actium, who won a maiden pointto-point for Colin Bowe’s stable three days before this sale took place, but no one expected O’Leary to invest heavily at this second-tier store auction. His absence will be felt more keenly at the premier store auctions and horses-intraining sales – Bowe sold him Samcro

for £335,000 at Aintree in 2015 – while his annual cull of horses at Doncaster’s September Sale has been a fertile source of material for many small jump trainers and point-to-point handlers.

Fortunately jump racing is in good health, as is the market for stores and young pointers, and while O’Leary’s decision is going to hurt some more than others, there is no need for panic.

Bowe certainly seemed to take that view, for while he bought just one horse

››

66 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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ADVERTORIAL

BARODA STUD CONSIGNING D avid Cox of Baroda Stud is growing his consigning business and has been a leading consignor at the major sales in Ireland and the UK. Since 2010 he has sold over 14 million gns in stock, including Cloth of Stars, Marcel, Nyaleti, Dark Vision, Glass Office, and more. “We consign to all of the major sales throughout the year, including yearling, foal and breeding stock.”

Baroda is a smart boutique consignment with professionally skilled team of staff who will work to maximise your horses’ value. “Selling your own horse at public auction can be a challenging and sometimes daunting prospect. We have well-established locations at all the key European sales grounds that attract buyers to our A keen horseman all his life, David Cox is consignment.” Our continuous proud to manage the historic Baroda & communication through sale reports, Rosetown Stud farms breeding racehorses AD-TB-Owner-Breeder-180x128-FINAL-V1.pdf 1 1/05/19 14:59 photos, videos, and conversation will and consigning horses for the major sales.

put you at ease and take the hassle out of selling. We will work with you whilst carrying out the workload and detailed planning required to achieve the best sale results.”

SALES PREPARATION This is an important aspect to consider when selling stock. “It is our preference that we prepare your yearlings for the sales here in Baroda Stud in Co.Kildare, which is set on over 450 acres with highly experienced staff, advanced nutrition plans, great facilities, and an open door for owners to call and visit at anytime. This year we are also offering a UK Sales Preparation programme on a top farm in Warwickshire which will be a great addition to our UK clients.

Website: www.barodastud.com Instagram @barodastud Twitter @barodastudire Ph:- +353 868234098

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Sales Circuit ›› at this sale 12 months ago for €20,000,

on this occasion he invested in six for €125,000. Conversely, the Doyle brothers of Monbeg Stables reined in their spending when paying €168,000 for nine lots – in 2018 they bought 14 for €346,000.

Introduced by Tattersalls Ireland last year as a replacement for Part II of the Derby Sale, which is held in late June, this sale gives store vendors the chance to generate cash turnover earlier in the year, but means buyers have to invest in and then cater for new stock sooner than in the past.

of Getaway who had been bought for €5,000 as a foal but made €58,000 as a store. Costelloe said the gelding would be point-to-pointing in the UK next season, presumably with a view to being resold, and a similar pinhooking plan is in place for a Rail Link gelding bought by Irish point-to-point rider Harley Dunne for €55,000.

However, Matt Coleman’s €50,000 investment in a handsome, dark brown son of Sholokhov, was made on behalf of racehorse owner Clive BoultbeeBrooks, who will put his purchase into training.

With that in mind, the sale had to do well with its first-year graduates, and did so, throwing up a healthy number of winners during the current Irish pointto-point season.

Turnover gained 14%, the average rose 16% and the median by 15%. The clearance rate took a minor dent, falling back two points to 74%, but four horses fetched €50,000-plus, compared to one last year, while 25 lots made €30,000-plus, ten more than in 2018.

Gearoid Costelloe was the day’s leading buyer, securing six horses for €199,000, including the top lot, a son

Tattersalls Ireland May Store Sale Top lots Sex/Breeding

Vendor

Price (€)

Buyer

b g Getaway - Dreaming On

Bay View Cottage

58,000

G C Bloodstock

b g Rail Link – Stella D’Engilbert

Lakefield Farm

55,000

Harley Dunne/James Doyle

bl g Sholokhov - Lowroad Cross

Rathbarry Stud

50,000

Stroud Coleman Bloodstock

b g Shantou - Shocona

Ballyreddin Stud

50,000

Direct Bloodstock

b g Califet - Histoire de Moeurs

Liss House

46,000

G C Bloodstock

b f Fame And Glory - Jeunopse

Busherstown

45,000

L Wadham/W H Bloodstock

b g Jet Away - Cool Trix

Ridgewood Stud

45,000

H Kirk/WP Mullins

br g Famous Name - Peig Alainn

Liss House

41,000

Pat Macken

gr g Montmartre – Island Du Frene

The Glebe House Stud

40,000

Noel Meade

b g Westerner - Sandrinechoix

Noughaville Stud

40,000

Monbeg Stud

Two-year tale Year

Sold

Agg (€)

Avg (€)

Mdn (€)

Top Price (€)

2019

145

2,563,200

17,677

15,000

58,000

2018

148

2,246,600

15,180

13,000

65,000

Please contact Andrew Mead (+44 7940 597573 mead@castlebridge.eu) or Bill Dwan (+353 87 648 5587 dwan@castlebridge.eu) to discuss all your 2019 sale requirements

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Caulfield Files

Galileo supremacy flowing ever stronger through daughters Coolmore supersire on schedule to surpass Sadler’s Wells’ record as a broodmare sire

GEORGE SELWYN

B

ack in the March edition of 2017, I commented that the parallels between the stallion careers of Galileo and his sire Sadler’s Wells were growing, and the situation remains the same 27 months later. Sadler’s Wells notched up 14 sires’ championships in the space of 15 years, whereas Galileo has so far topped the table in ten of the last 11 years. The 2017 season also saw Galileo extend his lead over Sadler’s Wells as a champion sire of two-yearolds, with five titles to his sire’s three, and the victory of Churchill in the 2,000 Guineas meant that Galileo had matched his sire’s total of three winners of the first colts’ Classic.

However, the main point of the 2017 article was to compare the records of father and son as sires of broodmares. I mentioned that Sadler’s Wells had been 24 by the time he recorded the first of his seven consecutive titles as champion broodmare sire, though he had taken second place at the age of 20 in 2001.

There is little doubt that Galileo is on schedule to beat Sadler’s Wells’ achievements in this area. As a 19-yearold in 2017, he finished a fine third behind Pivotal and Sadler’s Wells and he then matched Sadler’s Wells’s second place at the age of 20, when he was again outpointed by the evergreen Pivotal. So can he move up another place to take the 2019 title? The signs are encouraging, as Galileo held a narrow lead over Pivotal following Newmarket’s Guineas meeting.

This lead reflected the fact that – for the third time in four years – a daughter of Galileo was responsible for the winner of the 2,000 Guineas, with Magna Grecia following in the footsteps of Galileo Gold and Saxon Warrior. Each of the three was sired by a different stallion, but Galileo Gold is by a grandson of Green Desert, in Paco Boy, whereas Magna Grecia is by a son, Invincible Spirit.

Of course the broodmare sire championships referred only to Britain and Ireland, but Galileo’s daughters have also been in fine form in other

Magna Grecia: the third 2,000 Guineas winner in four years out of a mare by Galileo

parts of the world. In France they have been responsible for Ghaiyyath, the Dubawi colt who landed the Prix d’Harcourt, and Watch Me, an Olympic Glory filly who took the Prix Imprudence. The unbeaten UAE Jewel, winner of the Newmarket Stakes, looks likely to add to the impressive results that Dubawi has enjoyed with Galileo’s daughters. It is also noticeable that the Coolmore partners are now following this route, with 2019 foals out of the Group 1 winner Alice Springs and Listed winner Kissed.

Magna Grecia is disputing the title of star of the show with The Autumn Sun, a colt out of Galileo’s Irish-bred daughter Azmiyna. The Autumn Sun improved his record to eight wins from nine starts when he landed the Rosehill Guineas in March, with as many as five of his wins coming at Group 1 level,

from seven to ten furlongs.

Unfortunately, he has been deemed too valuable to continue racing at four and he will embark on his stallion career at a fee of A$77,000. He faces the stiff task of stepping into the shoes of his recently-deceased sire Redoute’s Choice at Arrowfield. Bearing in mind that two of Arrowfield’s other stallions

by Redoute’s Choice are standing at higher prices than The Autumn Sun – Snitzel at A$220,000 and Not A Single Doubt at A$110,000 – there will be plenty of breeders prepared to bet that The Autumn Sun will add to Redoute’s Choice’s reputation as a highly effective sire of sires.

Interestingly, The Autumn Sun isn’t the highest-priced of Australia’s freshman sires for 2019, that distinction going to Snitzel’s fast son Trapeze Artist at A$99,000.

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Bloodstock world views

That very rare creature, the blue-hen broodmare, can come from unexpected sources, as we were reminded when Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Obligate decisively maintained her unbeaten record in the Prix des Lilas on May 6. This Listed victory at Chantilly made the daughter of Frankel the 12th black-type winner descending from that exceptional producer Hasili, her dam, the unraced Responsible, being Hasili’s final foal, produced when Hasili was 20.

It is easy to forget that Hasili wasn’t exactly fashionably bred, with both her sire Kahyasi and her broodmare sire High Line usually passing on an unfashionable amount of stamina.

Another excellent broodmare with some unfashionable names in her pedigree was the British-bred Cotehele House. Born in May 1980, she was sired by My Swanee, a horse who would almost certainly not be given a chance as a Flat stallion in today’s industry, even though he won 17 times during five seasons as a racehorse.

For the first four of those seasons My Swanee was rated no higher than 106 by Timeform, but a remarkable final year of action saw his rating soar to 122, thanks to six victories from 15 starts which stamped him as an outstanding handicapper. Versatile as to ground and distance, it extended to showing good form over hurdles.

Predictably, My Swanee was to sire nothing nearly as good as himself and ended up in Italy.

Another less-than-compelling aspect of Cotehele House’s pedigree was the presence of Pieces Of Eight as her broodmare sire. Although he ranked among the comparatively few horses to win the Eclipse Stakes and Champion Stakes, and had a Cheveley Park Stakes winner as his second dam, Pieces Of Eight proved to be a poor stallion, both in the USA and Britain, and he too was moved on to Italy.

So why would an Australasian

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BRONWEN HEALY & DARREN TINDALE PHOTOGRAPHY

Cotehele House legacy burning bright as breeders look to double up

Verry Elleegant: dual Group 1 winner is inbred to Cotehele House

“My Swanee, her sire, would not be given a chance as a Flat stallion today” breeder want to import Cotehele House? The answer is that she was a daughter of Eight Carat and granddaughter of Klairessa, from a highly distinguished female line which traced back through Sun Princess, Mumtaz Begum and Mumtaz Mahal to the celebrated Lady Josephine.

Klairessa found fame as the dam of the top-class sprinting filly Habibti and Eight Carat qualified for the title of blue hen in New Zealand, where she produced the Australian Group 1 winners Octagonal, Mouawad, Kaapstad, Our Marquise and Our Diamond Lover.

While Cotehele House couldn’t match Eight Carat’s remarkable record, she did pretty well, producing the five-time Group 1 winner Danewin and his Group 3-winning brother Commands, who sired a dozen

Group 1 winners, including the reverse shuttle stallion Epaulette.

Cotehele House’s daughters have also helped extend her influence, with her Sackford filly Theme Song playing the lead role. Theme Song is the second dam of the lightly-raced Zabeel horse Zed, as well as being the third dam of the Group 2 winner Deep Field and his Group 1-winning threequarter brother Shooting To Win. Zed, Deep Field and Shooting To Win are all stallions and the first two feature in the latest phenomenon – Group winners inbred to Cotehele House. Group 1 winner Verry Elleegant, successful in this year’s Vinery Stud Stakes and Australian Oaks, is by Zed and her dam Opulence is a great-granddaughter of Cotehele House, so she is inbred 4 x 4 to the daughter of My Swanee.

Then there’s two-year-old Cosmic Force, this year’s winner of the Pago Pago Stakes who is one of the best performers from the first crop of Deep Field. With a dam by Commands, Cosmic Force has Cotehele House in his fifth and third generations. There are also Group winners inbred 2 x 3 and 3 x 3 to Cotehele House.

This promises to be another example of great oaks growing from little acorns.

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Stud Design

Efficiency by design In the second of our two-part series, Joe Grimwade, former manager of The Royal Studs, discusses the importance of stud design and efficiency and outlines the key considerations

T

wo of the issues facing the racing industry today are financial pressures and a shortage of quality labour; somewhat tangentially, I was reminded that it isn’t unique either to our industry or the current era by a succinct comment in a recent documentary about the Jaguar XKSS. The narrator, Mark Evans, observed that chrome was added to bumpers on cars in the 1930s because nickel tarnished and “fewer people had staff to keep things shiny”.

Incidentally, Evans (who is an equine veterinary surgeon alongside his lifetime passion for motor vehicles) also narrated the Inside Nature’s Giants series and, whilst originally aired in 2011, the episode on the racehorse remains recommended viewing for any student of the thoroughbred who has access to

YouTube and isn’t squeamish.

Addressing the problem that “fewer people have staff to keep things shiny” will need (and is receiving) an industrywide approach but it is unlikely to be solved quickly or completely. There are various quotations around the theme of “the situation is serious but not hopeless”, which may be appropriate and it should be noted that there is potential benefit from an economic environment which encourages the quest for quality and efficiency; we can take encouragement from the operators who are managing well in the current climate.

Good design and efficiency can make a considerable contribution to successful operations and I hope to throw light on some of the potential considerations in this article.

Facility requirements will depend on the size and nature of the operation Facility

Examples of variants

Stabling

Foaling, mare and foal, dry mare, weanling, yearling, stallion, isolation

Horse handling

Veterinary examination room, treatment area, wash off area, loading ramps

Exercise areas

Paddocks, lunge rings, horse-walkers, all-weather arenas

Office/staff facilities

Office(s), toilets, rest and sitting-up rooms, accommodation

Storage

Feed, hay and straw, machinery and equipment, workshop, tack (including rug drying), veterinary supplies, fuels, hazardous substances

Infrastructure

Access roads/tracks, services, security and biosecurity measures, drains, septic tanks, muck heap

Macro considerations

General stud design provides fascinating challenges. Few of us will have the opportunity to develop a stud from a ‘green field’ site but The National Stud was about as close as you can get and Peter Burrell’s design from the 1960s has stood the test of time.

In meeting clearly defined objectives, he created a blueprint that many have followed. The broad strategy was to divide the stabling into manageable units of around 20 boxes with each yard:• Designed for a specific purpose • Separated to allow greater biosecurity • Surrounded by appropriate paddocks to reduce turn-out time • Provided with a veterinary examination box, staff facilities and storage areas for efficiency A more likely scenario is that we will be adapting or adding to established buildings and paddocks, which introduces the dimension of making best use of existing facilities; combined with a clear vision of objectives, these are the prerequisites of planning any development. Much is hidden behind this simple statement.

The primary objective is obviously the welfare of the horse, with stable design playing a crucial role. It has been said that there are three key requirements – ventilation, ventilation

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Adapting or adding to established buildings and paddocks will likely be a common experience for stud owners across Britain and Ireland

and ventilation – which is a good point well made, but we need to widen the field a little; other targets should be appropriate for its role, safe, dry and draft free as well as recognising the gregarious nature of the horse and its vulnerability to claustrophobia.

Other key objectives to identify are the capacity and range of services that the stud seeks to provide – perhaps with a little future-proofing.

The options are numerous – standing stallions, boarding mares and foals, sales consigning and providing rest and recuperation as examples – and each will have specific facility requirements.

Good macro design for efficiency has the placement of buildings and paddocks at its heart and should aim to ensure that the actions which are going to be repeated most frequently require the least time; placing stabling close to winter grazing paddocks to minimise turn-out time is a good example.

Other macro design considerations which are less aligned with efficiency but remain important include: - the ratio of stables to grazing that will depend on the quality of the land as well as the varying demands of the activities (e.g. mares and foals requiring more acreage than spellers).

- bio-security to enable the separation of activities which may have different requirements, as well as groups or individuals which could pose a

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particular disease threat. Positioning of an isolation yard or a stallion unit could be key considerations.

- potential conflicts include yearling colts being adjacent to fillies, or stallions being adjacent to public footpaths.

- general security should guard against malicious threats (e.g. with anything of value secured) or unintentional threats (e.g. from the activities of neighbours).

“General stud design provides fascinating challenges” - access, focussing on movements from outside and within the stud, including emergency services, deliveries and waste removal.

- aesthetics is very personal but can have an impact on how a stud operates or is perceived to operate.

Micro considerations

Micro efficiency applies detail to the plans. On most studs, a large part of the yard staff’s day will be spent on

horse movements between stables and paddocks, mucking out, tidying and general maintenance; investing time and money to ensure that their roles can be completed as easily as possible is likely to provide dividends. Obvious examples are using low-maintenance construction materials and purchasing appropriate fixtures, fittings, machinery and equipment.

Regrettably, restrictions on time and money can lead us to make decisions which will actually cost more in the long term. From decisions as simple as selecting door fittings or automatic watering systems to the complex considerations of large machinery purchases, a few minutes or hours spent on researching the options can save money as well as days or weeks of wasted time in the long term.

You don’t necessarily have to spend more to obtain the products with lower ongoing maintenance costs; for example, if it is acceptable aesthetically, PVC windows and frames require far less maintenance than their wooden equivalents. The same principle can be extended to the paddocks with fencing as a prime example. Most of us love to see post and rail, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to find the quality materials that will survive the test of time and maintenance costs are likely to be high; alternatives can offer lower erection and maintenance costs, greater security and be more suitable for other livestock.

The best recommendations often come from the experience of fellow breeders and opportunities to visit their operations or pick their brains shouldn’t be missed; the TBA Regional Days and events offer a useful option.

TBA members also have access to a Nationwide Buying Group which can provide useful guidance as well as discounts (often greater than an individual can obtain) on numerous items including building supplies and vehicles.

Selection should not be solely based on the financial markers (capital outlay, depreciation, operation and maintenance costs); some options may be unsuitable for the specific environment or the requirements of the owner. Whilst difficult to quantify, they are all a part of the process of assessing value.

Operational considerations

Whatever the facility we end up with, much can be achieved by seeking efficiency in the way that it is operated.

Employment practices would be at the

››

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Stud Design ››

top of my list; in brief, enabling and encouraging staff to maximise their contribution both individually and as a team. Not easy to achieve and a big subject in its own right.

Of more relevance to this article – maintenance (buildings, infrastructure, machinery, equipment and fittings) can be overlooked when budgets are tight but forms an important part of efficiency.

The aim is to prevent functional or catastrophic failure of any element which could result in disruption to the activities. As mentioned previously, seeking value through research can be applied to any element from selecting paint to resurfacing tracks. Whatever your maintenance programme, robust insurance can provide a good safety net if disaster strikes.

Procedures are a good topic to end on – and there is always benefit in questioning why we do things in a particular way. An example, and something which surprised me when I first tried it, was how pregnant mares seemed to benefit from living out for as long as possible before foaling. They were rugged and well fed – and I was

Whatever your facilities and budget, much can be achieved by seeking efficiency lucky to have land which could tolerate it – but, when they came in, their skin, coat and body tone was better than the mares which had been stabled.

If you have marginal land, it could be worth considering drainage, hardstandings (in gateways and feeding areas) and additional shelter (planted

or constructed) for your winter paddocks to allow your horses to live out for as long as possible.

Joe Grimwade trades as Stud Management Advisory Limited – for more details see stumanadv.com

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ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

Bloodstock breeding – accounts stock valuation With the introduction of new UK Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (UK GAAP) over the past couple of years, stud owners should take note of how their accounting records disclose the value of their stock at the business year end.

Changes to accounting standards Financial Reporting Standard (FRS)102 was introduced for medium-sized companies with effect for accounting periods commencing on or after 1 January 2015 and for small companies and LLPs (in the form of FRS102.1A) with effect from 1 January 2016.

Under previous accounting standards a bloodstock breeding business could account for its stock in one of two ways. The first was the most common way showing it as closing stock and valuing the stock at the lower of its cost or net realisable value (net realisable value being the expected selling price less anticipated costs of sale). The second option, which was much less common, was to account for bloodstock under the Herd Basis and stock was shown as a fixed asset within the accounts. The Herd Basis is an irrevocable election and can be used for any kind of livestock of the same species used “wholly or mainly for the products obtainable from the living animal which the animals produce for the farmer to sell”. In the case of bloodstock breeders the keep of mares and sale of progeny could satisfy this condition.

Under FRS102, and as detailed in HMRC’s Business Income Manual at

Smith & Williamson OB June 2019 dps.indd 2

BIM55710, both stallions and mares (as well as foals) should be dealt with as stock in trade and valued individually at the end of each year.

We are aware of cases where the mares are accounted for as fixed assets but this does not align to HMRC’s Business Income Manual.

FRS102, section 34, introduced the concept of biological assets (any living animal or plant) and stated that any business that is engaged in agricultural activity (the management of the biological transformation of biological assets for sale into agricultural produce ‘harvested product’ or into additional biological assets) shall determine an accounting policy for each class of biological asset.

Stud owners carrying out breeding activities therefore have the option under FRS102 to value their closing stock under either the cost model (lower of cost and net realisable value) or the fair value model (fair value less costs to sell where fair value is the amount for which an asset could be exchanged between knowledgeable, willing parties in an arm’s length transaction).

However, in any case under FRS102 any biological assets will need to be shown as stock rather than a fixed asset, even where a Herd Basis election is in force.

Determining the cost of mares, stallions and foals Mares will usually either have been purchased or transferred from training. If purchased the acquisition price will form the ‘cost’ for the purposes of valuing the stock at each year end. If the mare is transferred from training then the market value of the mare on the date it is introduced to the stud will form the ‘cost’ for the purposes of the stock valuation. Where a mare has been bred and reared by the breeder from foal then the ‘cost’ will be the costs of rearing and keeping the horse incurred to date.

When a nomination fee is paid for a mare to be covered it is often agreed that this will form the ‘cost’ of the foal for the purposes of valuing the stock. Sometimes the nomination fee is left as part of the ‘cost’ of the broodmare until such time as the foal is born, however it can be shown as a separate asset on the bloodstock valuation if preferred.

When the foal is born the cost is increased by its cost of keep from the date of weaning until sale or transfer into training (if applicable).

There is a current rule of thumb agreed between The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) that

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ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

estimates the cost of keep for a foal at ÂŁ75 per week. This amount is added to the nomination fee to form the ‘cost’ of the foal for valuation purposes. It is worth noting that an alternative basis can be used for keep costs provided they can be supported by evidence i.e. specific keep invoices. This keep rule of thumb also applies to Yearlings if they have not yet been sold or put into training.

As mentioned above, horses treated as stock are usually included at lower of cost and net realisable value (if the cost model is chosen for biological assets) and so the value of each horse has to be considered at each year end.

However, as far as stallions are concerned HMRC generally accepts a rule of thumb method of valuation where they allow the cost of a

stallion (cost being the same as for mares mentioned previously i.e. acquisition price, market value when transferred from training or rearing costs if reared from a foal) to be written off in equal instalments until the stallion reaches the age of 10.

The aim of the write down is to give an acceptable approximation to the net realisable value of the stallion, although the method should not be used where the actual value of the horse is known at the year end or it would give an obviously unreasonable result e.g. where the value of the stallion has decreased/increased dramatically in comparison to the rule of thumb method.

It should be noted that there is no automatic right down of mares in the same way as there is for stallions.

It is therefore important for stud owners to take an interest in the value of their horses at each year end to ensure that where they will be relying on their financial accounts for external investment or bank funding that the stock is valued appropriately and disclosed accordingly on the business balance sheet. Should HMRC choose to open an enquiry, one of the primary areas of interest is valuation, so evidence of realistic valuations is important both in avoiding an enquiry and in settling an enquiry.

Penelope Lang Partner, Smith & Williamson LLP t: 01722 431 064 e: penelope.lang@smithandwilliamson.com

smithandwilliamson.com Offices: London, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cheltenham, Dublin (City and Sandyford), Glasgow, Guildford, Jersey, Salisbury and Southampton.

By necessity, this briefing can only provide a short overview and it is essential to seek professional advice before applying the contents of this article.

No responsibility can be taken for any loss arising from action taken or refrained from on the basis of this publication. Details correct at time of writing. The tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future.

Smith & Williamson LLP Regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for a range of investment business activities. A member of Nexia International. The word partner is used to refer to a member of Smith & Williamson LLP. 75319hp.

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Members enjoy trip to Dan Skelton and Warwick racecourse

TTC members were able to watch Dan Skelton’s powerful string on the gallops as the first part of a great day out in Warwickshire

M

embers were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of Dan Skelton’s Lodge Hill Stables and racing at Warwick on April 10 as part of the TBA Regional Day. The morning started at Lodge Hill Stables in Warwickshire, where

members gathered in the main yard before heading to the top of the all-weather gallops to watch some of the horses work. After his recent Cheltenham successes, Dan was on hand to answer questions from the group before they made their way

back to the yard for refreshments.

The group then headed to Warwick racecourse, where they were treated to a delicious lunch in a private box, and given an entertaining guide through the day’s racecard by jockey David Crosse before enjoying an afternoon’s racing.

Win tickets to the QIPCO Champions Series races in 2019 The Thoroughbred Club is pleased to announce that the QIPCO British Champions Series has kindly offered members the chance to win two grandstand and paddock tickets to each of the QIPCO Champions Series races this year (subject to individual racecourses availability).

Details on how to win the tickets will be posted on TTC social media pages prior to the races. To enter any of the draws please email info@ thethoroughbredclub.co.uk with your name and contact details.

Free tickets to QIPCO British Champions Series races could be yours

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www.thethoroughbredclub.co.uk •

@TTC_GB

Book tickets for a behind-the-scenes visit to George Scott

xxxxxx

Cheveley Park Stud will play host to members this month

Learn more about youngstock and development at one-day seminars Members of The Thoroughbred Club have the chance to update their knowledge on key topics in thoroughbred stud management at two courses held by the TBA and the National Stud.

The one-day courses will take place at York racecourse on Thursday, July 4 and Harper Adams University on Tuesday, July 30 and will be centred on youngstock development and management of the foal during its first year. Topics covered at the courses include: feeding and nutrition, paddock management, farrier and foot care, growth and development, and problems associated with growth.

Places on both courses are free to TTC members. To book a place, please contact students@nationalstud.co.uk or call 01638 675930.

There are a limited number of places still available for the TBA East Regional Day on June 26, where members of The Thoroughbred Club can attend for an exclusive rate of £18 (inclusive of lunch).

The day will start at Saffron House Stables, the home of Group 2-winning trainer George Scott, for a behind-the-scenes look at the yard, horses and facilities.

The group will then head to The Granary Barns in Woodditton for lunch and the chance to meet with like-minded members. In the afternoon the group will visit one of the most successful stud farms in Europe, Cheveley Park Stud, for a tour and view of their nine stallions, which include multiple champion UK-based sire Pivotal.

To book your place, please visit the TTC website or contact Melissa Parris on info@thethoroughbredclub.co.uk/ 01638 661321.

Upcoming member event at Juddmonte’s Estcourt Stud Juddmonte’s Estcourt Stud is home to blue-blooded mares and foals

Members have the chance to take an exclusive look at Juddmonte Farm’s Estcourt Stud in Gloucestershire as part of the TBA Regional Visit on Wednesday, July 3.

The morning will start with a tour of Estcourt Stud, which comprises 1,600 acres of rolling parkland and is home to a large number of Juddmonte’s blueblooded mares and foals. They reside at the stud for summer and winter grazing, before returning to Banstead Manor in the spring to foal. The visit will be followed by lunch at the nearby pub, the Hare and Hounds.

Members are able to attend the day for an exclusive rate of £17.50, which includes lunch. To book your place, please visit TTC’s website or contact Melissa Parris on info@thethoroughbredclub.co.uk/01638 661321.

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ROA Forum

The special section for ROA members

ROA members who are amateur breeders will benefit from an extension by Weatherbys Hamilton to the third party liability scheme

Insurance cover for owner-breeders

W

e are delighted to announce a new benefit of membership for racehorse owners who are also amateur breeders.

The ROA’s third party liability insurance scheme for members has been extended and now includes cover for thoroughbred broodmares and youngstock, at no additional cost to members. Cover will apply to foals, weanlings, yearlings or stores being kept solely for the purposes of rearing within the insured definition under your members’ third party liability scheme.

Weatherbys Hamilton has specifically tailored the cover for the ROA, designed for the racehorse owner who is also an amateur breeder. It will not apply where the ownership of breeding

stock is professional or a business and will apply only where there is no more specific insurance in existence (as the current scheme terms).

Charlie Liverton, ROA Chief Executive, said: “Our recent survey of members showed the number who are involved in breeding and we are delighted that Weatherbys Hamilton has been able to offer this valuable extension to our policy without any additional cost to members.”

See www.roa.co.uk/third for further details.

Outcome of survey responses This extension to the ROA’s third party liability insurance scheme is a positive action following the findings of a survey

of members in January, which gave an insight into the number of members who were involved in breeding thoroughbreds.

The survey had an excellent takeup, with over 950 responses received.

Of those, 289 members were breeders and cumulatively responsible for between 700-1,070 broodmares and 860 foals a year. One in six survey respondents was interested in thoroughbred breeding.

We are pleased to be able to offer this extension to the insurance benefit for members as a positive outcome from the survey findings. Thanks to members who participated and to Weatherbys Hamilton for its efforts in providing this extended cover for members.

ROA AGM AND BOARD ELECTIONS The ROA AGM on July 2 will mark a number of changes to the ROA board and officers.

Nicholas Cooper completes a threeyear term as ROA President and five months as Acting President prior to that.

The President and Vice-President positions will be confirmed at the AGM, as will the results of the board elections.

Members are heartily encouraged

to attend the AGM, which will feature keynote industry speeches from the President and our industry speaker Annamarie Phelps, new Chair of the British Horseracing Authority.

The session features an open forum where members are encouraged to pose questions on ownership and racing matters to the ROA board and speakers.

The venue is the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in Knightsbridge,

London (between Sloane Square and Knightsbridge tube stations). The morning session starts at 10.30am and will be rounded off by a champagne reception at midday, providing a chance for members to network before lunch.

Members can book places for the popular three-course lunch with wine.

Tickets are priced at £115 per person and tables of ten are available. Guests will be entertained after lunch by our

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Racing Staff Week Racing Staff Week will take place from June 29 to July 6, with events taking place all over the country to celebrate the dedication, passion and skill of racing staff.

The week will build on the success of the first two years, to deliver another week of activities celebrating and recognising the role of racing staff.

Entries are open for the fourth running of the Clock Tower Cup, a charity race exclusively for stable staff that will take place at Doncaster on July 5. Trainers are able to nominate members of their staff to ride in the race, which will be run over a straight seven furlongs.

On the same day, the second Racing Staff Week Cup will be run over one and a half miles at Newton Abbot, giving staff working in jump yards an opportunity to compete.

The ROA is delighted to offer eight members the opportunity to join Racing Welfare’s charity lunch and raceday at Doncaster on July 5 as our guests on the day in the Conduit Suite.

Guests will be welcomed from 11am with a champagne reception and canapes. Lunch will be followed by a live auction. Guests will be able to enjoy the day’s racing from the facility, which provides a cash bar with table service.

If you would like to join our table on the day, please contact the ROA office by emailing info@roa.co.uk or call 020 7152 0200. There is no charge for the places, which will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Mikey Wooley and Zoe Cawthorn enjoy Racing Staff Week in 2018

Chance for owners and staff to enjoy barbecue The ROA will be backing Racing Staff Week by supporting 25 trainers to host a barbecue for their staff and owners.

This is the third year of this initiative, which recognises the efforts of staff throughout the year and gives racing staff and racehorse owners the chance

to mix informally.

Trainers can apply for funding of £150 to stage a barbecue by completing a form at www.roa.co.uk.

The closing date for applications is Friday, June 7.

The ROA will provide a promotional pack including a BBQ apron to successful applicants.

Annual Report As last year, the ROA’s annual report will be published online. The report will provide an update on the association’s strategy, mission and progress and will be published at roa.co.uk. A link will be emailed to members through our ebulletin service.

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DAN ABRAHAM

speaker, former football manager and racehorse owner Harry Redknapp.

Bookings for lunch can be made at www.roa.co.uk/events or by calling the ROA office.

The ROA AGM takes place on July 2

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ROA Forum

Upcoming events…

Those looking for options to visit Royal Ascot may be interested in the following member offers.

ROA members can take advantage of a generous 30% discount on Queen Anne admission on the first two days of the Royal meeting, Tuesday, June 18 and Wednesday, June 19. The discounted price will be £51.10 per person (against the full price of £73).

Details of how to book can be found in the members’ area at www. roa.co.uk in the offers and discount codes pages. Late availability on hospitality may be found at www.roa. co.uk/events.

Qatar Goodwood Festival

The ROA is providing its usual service to members wishing to book tickets for the Richmond Enclosure at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

Members can book a maximum of four badges per day to the Richmond Enclosure, which is otherwise reserved for Goodwood annual members and owners and trainers with a runner.

The five-day meeting is a highlight of the midsummer action, where over 100,000 guests enjoy the quintessentially English sporting and social occasion. The more relaxed Panama hats and strawberries and cream replace the morning dress and designer hats of Royal Ascot.

Tickets for the Richmond Enclosure are £89 per person. Junior badges are available for those aged 18-24 years for £40.50. Please call the ROA office if you require any junior badges.

Under-18s are free of charge, but we do need to know the age of the child to order the correct wristband.

There are also a limited number of hospitality packages that include a three-course lunch and afternoon tea in the Horsewalk Restaurant.

On the opening day of the festival on Tuesday, July 30 the ROA will host a pre-racing drinks reception for which places can be booked in advance.

The ROA car park label will not work over the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Members can purchase labels for Car Park 8 for £12 each. Bookings can be made at www.roa.co.uk/events or by calling the ROA office.

AHT

Royal Ascot

You can visit Newmarket’s AHT on July 12

Retraining centre visit

racehorses. It moved to Halton in 2005 and the site encompasses 200 acres with its facilities including a dedicated veterinary treatment facility, a horse walker, and indoor and outdoor arenas.

After the visit members and their guests will be able to enjoy complimentary admission to Cartmel races in the afternoon, which is less than an hour’s drive from the centre.

The entire day costs just £10 per person and ROA members can book at roa.co.uk/events or by calling the office on 020 7152 0200.

On the morning of Monday, July 22 we have a visit to the British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre (BTRC) in Halton, Lancaster.

Members can enjoy a tour of the facilities and a chance to learn about how the centre operates and retrains the horses that come into its care.

The BTRC was established in 1991

by Carrie Humble and was the first charity in the UK dedicated to the rehabilitation and retraining of ex-

Members can book tickets for the Richmond Enclosure at the Qatar Goodwood Festival through the ROA

GEORGE SELWYN

York facility for members

Members can enjoy access to a private box as part of a bespoke hospitality package at York on the opening day of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival on Wednesday, August 21.

Members and their guests will be able to enjoy this top day’s racing from the comfort of the ROA’s facility in the Melrose Stand.

The package includes a County Stand badge, lunch and afternoon tea, parking label and racecard. This specially tailored offer is available to members for £250 per person. Guest places are £300 per person, including VAT. Drinks aren’t included in the package. There will be a private cash bar on the day.

Places in the facility tend to

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fill quickly so early booking is recommended.

Animal Health Trust

Members have a chance to look behind the scenes of the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket on the morning of Friday, July 12.

The AHT is a leading veterinary and scientific research charity dedicated to the health and welfare of dogs, cats and horses. It undertakes vital work in diagnostics and disease surveillance in equines, and worldclass referral and diagnostic services for horses.

Our member visit will include a light lunch. The date coincides with the second day of the threeday Moet & Chandon July Festival at Newmarket. Members can take advantage of complimentary admission for two for the afternoon’s racing, the highlight of which is the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes, won in recent years by such fantastic fillies as Goldikova and Alpha Centauri.

Places are limited and available on a first come, first served basis. The cost is £20 per member and bookings can be made by calling the office on 020 7152 0200.

Complimentary raceday admission can be booked via the members’ area through the ROA/JCR Admission Scheme.

Weatherbys

Weatherbys is extending a warm welcome to ROA members, and a guest, to visit its offices in Wellingborough on Tuesday, September 10 for an overview of its business followed by lunch.

The aim of the visit is to provide members with an insight into the many and varied roles that Weatherbys performs within the thoroughbred industry.

It presents a unique opportunity to see behind the scenes of a business that has been at the very heart of racing and breeding since 1770.

Guests will be welcomed from 10am and the visit will be followed by lunch.

There is a small fee of £10 per person for the trip. To book, visit www.roa.co.uk/events or call the ROA on 020 7152 0200.

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The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) continues to consult with the National Trainers Federation (NTF) and other industry stakeholders on permanent changes to racing’s rules to strengthen protection against equine influenza.

A temporary measure introduced earlier this year reduced the vaccination renewal period for all horses in training from 12 to six months.

After discussions with the BHA’s Veterinary Committee, which includes experts from all parts of the racing industry, the BHA announced that eight months would become the new standard.

The Veterinary Committee’s view is that six months is the optimum period, but the BHA has taken into account views from trainers to avoid horses potentially needing to be vaccinated during their respective racing seasons.

The eight-month standard will mean in practice that horses are still required to be vaccinated twice in a year.

The BHA believes that the range of biosecurity controls that exist in British racing ensure the eight-month standard provides an appropriate balance between risk and pragmatism.

The new temporary requirement in essence means that horses must have had a vaccination against equine influenza within nine months of the day of a race. This requirement applies only to horses on racecourse property. If your horse does not run, and does not enter racecourse property for any other reason (e.g. a stalls test), the annual vaccination rule still applies.

At the same time, the previous requirement for a health declaration

AHT

Flu vaccination rules

Equine flu swabs were taken en masse during the recent shutdown

form to be submitted on arrival at the racecourse for each runner ceased from May 1, 2019 for British-trained runners from licensed yards. All horses from unlicensed yards and international runners will still need to provide the health declaration, and for international runners a negative result for equine influenza from a nasopharyngeal swab (PCR) to the BHA, no more than 72 hours prior to the horse’s arrival in Britain, is still required.

From January 1, 2020 all horses racing in Ireland will be required to be vaccinated with an equine influenza vaccine containing a Clade 1 representative every six months.

For the remainder of this year, horses must have been vaccinated on or after January 18, 2019 with a vaccine containing a Clade 1 equine influenza representative.

PARADE RING SAFETY A revised industry Code of Practice for the pre-parade ring, parade ring and winners’ enclosure was launched at the start of the Flat season to promote safety for participants accessing these areas.

The code was agreed between the Racecourse Association, ROA and NTF. Each association has provided advice for its members and the ROA has guidance for owners which can

be found at www.roa.co.uk/paddock.

The ROA guidance is supplemented by online horse aware training. The online training is designed to give practical guidance for new owners and those managing syndicates and clubs, to share with syndicate members.

Do please feed-back on your experiences as we would like to evolve and shape the training to be as relevant as possible for owners.

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ROA Forum

MAGICAL MOMENTS with ROA member Dave Lowe

Track Talk Racecourse feedback

Online racecourse feedback forms completed by ROA members are instrumental in the negotiations the ROA Raceday Committee have with racecourses. To play a part in this process we ask members to complete a quick

GEORGE SELWYN

T

ime flies, and so does a certain horse owned by Dave Lowe. It seems incredible Royal Ascot is nearly upon us, while of those Flat horses that have so far caught the eye in 2019, sprinters have been to the fore.

Calyx stands out, as does Blue Point, but while they belong to Juddmonte and Godolphin, there is also Kachy, pride and joy of Lowe and who is building up a fan club that eclipses any other sprinter.

Kachy has seemingly got even quicker after wind surgery, winning his three subsequent starts, all at six furlongs, highlighted by the sprint championship on all-weather finals day.

It is a slight curiosity that despite invariably pinging the stalls and possessing dazzling speed, Kachy appears better suited by six furlongs than five. That is partly explained by his penchant for running around a bend – there being more such contests over six furlongs than five – but also by his ability to quicken again after travelling easily.

It is a potent combination, though with the all-weather season behind us, the question now is whether Kachy can translate his improved form to turf and capture a Group 1. As a six-year-old entire, and with an owner who also has breeding interests, a top-level victory would be most welcome.

“Most of my magical moments so far have, not surprisingly, come with Kachy,” says Lowe. “From his Group 3 Molecomb win at two, his second in the Commonwealth Cup, and topping everything off this year winning the allweather sprint championship.”

While Kachy – who was due to run in the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock

Kachy rails like a greyhound and has provided Dave Lowe (inset) with plenty of thrills

as we went to press – has provided the most memorable moments to date for Lowe after a decade as an owner, his liking for racing goes back much further.

“I’ve always been interested in the sport from a very young age – one of my earliest memories is of Gay Trip winning the Grand National in 1970,” he says. “I picked the winner and I’ve been hooked ever since.

“It was only in 2009 that I was in a position financially to look into horse ownership. I’d never got round to it before but the push I needed came from my daughter Amber, who was 11 at the time and was asking for riding lessons and maybe having a horse to ride.

“I dreaded the thought of all the mucking out and time it would involve

so persuaded her that the best thing to do would be to buy a share in a racehorse we could go and visit whenever we wanted. I went online to search for local syndicates and came across Deva Racing, who had horses with Tom Dascombe. That triggered the start of it all.”

It certainly did, for Lowe continues: “I’ve been involved in 33 horses now, with 41 winners, since 2010. I have by accident gone into breeding as well in the last three years. After a mare we had was injured I retired her, and then it snowballs. We had her covered and her first foal was lucky enough to win last year as a two-year-old.

“We now have two mares. It is very rewarding and has put a whole new

and easy questionnaire at roa.co.uk/ feedback following their trip to the races with a runner. Each month we reward one person picked at random with a £50 Marks and Spencer giftcard. This month’s lucky winner is Neil Hartley, who has two horses in training with Donald McCain.

Newmarket has contributed additional investment into equine welfare. New Duralock crowd barriers and running rails have been fitted around the Rowley Mile parade and pre-parade rings. The veterinary surgeons’ room has also been refurbished to further improve the care vets are able to provide. At the July Course the open saddling boxes have been fully renovated.

Newmarket investment

The ROA is pleased to report that

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Punchestown facility thrills owners ROA members enjoyed access to the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners’ Mmarquee on the opening three days of the Punchestown Festival. We are very grateful to our friends at AIRO for welcoming members warmly and enhancing their visit

PAT HEALY

dimension into the game.”

Lowe’s own game is bakery shops. He owns a chain with stores throughout the north-west, and Kachy is with one of the area’s premier trainers in Tom Dascombe, whose Manor House Stables is owned by ex-footballer Michael Owen and cofounder of Betfair, Andrew Black.

Lowe explains: “Tom Dascombe has a superb training facility and I’ve loved every minute of having my horses trained there. Tom buys yearlings every year and puts them on his website and potential owners can buy them.

“This is how I’ve always bought my horses. To some extent it is a gamble as you have no idea if the horse will even get to the track.”

Lowe isn’t, however, a one-trainer owner and continues: “I became friends with Dave Loughnane while he was working as pupil assistant to Tom and regularly caught up at the races with him when he set up training in his own right. It was only when I transferred a couple of my horses who were not performing and needed a change of scenery to him from Tom’s that our link grew.

“Dave has a different remit on buying horses and buys a lot from horses-in-training sales and breezeups, so over the last three years he has been in touch to see if I was interested in any he had bought at very reasonable prices.

“The good thing is that it is less of a gamble with these horses as you know at least they have ability. I normally commit to 50%, which gives me colour rights - and that’s important to me; the best thing about owning horses is winning and seeing your colours in front on the line – and sometimes naming rights.

“I now share my current 12 horses in training between Tom and Dave.”

Twelve? There’s surely room for one more then to make it a baker’s dozen!

Members enjoying the hospitality in the AIRO facility

Galway offer

Members can also enjoy access to the AIRO members’ facility for the first three days of the Galway Festival in August. This offers applies on Monday, July 31 to Wednesday, August 2 inclusive.

Members may bring up to three guests. Badges for the marquee do not gain access to the racecourse. These must be purchased directly through Galway racecourse and are currently priced at €20. (Please note this offer only includes the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the meeting.)

The marquee will be situated beside the new Tote and Champagne Bar building. Complimentary snacks and refreshments will be available in the facility. Members will be able to access the AIRO Marquee at Galway on production of either their PASScard or Horseracing Privilege Card at the Marquee entrance.

Chester’s new viewing deck opened at the May meeting

Chester

Chester’s May festival saw the unveiling of its new weighing room and changing rooms, while owners and trainers have access to a new viewing deck above the weighing room.

Chester will maintain 2018 prize-money levels of £2.2 million this year. Last year’s appearance money scheme of £500 per horse will also continue.

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ROA Forum

MY DAY AT THE RACES with Eamonn O’Connor at Sandown Park on April 26

E

amonn O’Connor owned a couple of horses on his own before forming Quantum Leap Racing as a syndicate business with bloodstock consultant Jeremy Brummitt. They have enjoyed plenty of early success with horses including Archie McKellar, Beeswax and Nivaldo.

Their focus is on buying stoutlybred stock, the type to progress from two to three and stay middledistances. They aim to offer syndicate members an experience that transcends the raceday, encompassing the mare, the foal, the yearling, the stallion, the sales ring, the stud farm, the training yards, heritage and international aspect of racing.

Their trainers include Ralph Beckett, Ed Walker, David Simcock, Neil Mulholland and Ilka GanseraLéveque, as well as Gavin Hernon in Chantilly. They were at Sandown

to watch three-year-old James Park Woods contest a ten-furlong handicap.

Did you receive any welcome information as an owner in advance of the raceday?

Yes, we received a fairly comprehensive email. Our request for badges was swiftly and efficiently dealt with by Petra Gough, owners’ and trainers’ liaison manager.

How was the experience of arrival at the racecourse and collecting your owners’ badges?

I arrived by train this time but from previous experiences the car park attendants have always been efficient and courteous. This was confirmed by those in our syndicate who did arrive by car.

The welcome at the owners’ and

James Park Woods and Harry Bentley, who were out of luck at Sandown

Eamonn O’Connor: Sandown is local track

trainers’ desk was more perfunctory and efficient rather than warm and enthusiastic. It was assumed (correctly in my case) that the owner would know their way around and where to go. Members who were visiting for the first time could perhaps have done with a bit more information.

What were your thoughts on the location, comfort and provision in the O&T facility?

The facility at Sandown is nicely located beside the weighing room and winners’ enclosure. It is a bit small for the numbers it often accommodates – not a problem on this day but it is on big racedays. The outside area is pleasant and helps alleviate overcrowding when the sun is out.

The food offering is always good.

It’s nice not to have to fuss around with meal vouchers and tickets for a free cake or sandwich, which is often the case on other courses. This always seems a touch incongruous in light of the expense incurred in getting your horse to the track in the first place.

Our syndicates like to race their horses in France and there is some surprise among members that in the UK owners’ and trainers’ facilities are not always positioned in the grandstand to provide a panoramic view of the racing.

A big plus for Sandwn’s owners’ and trainers’ facility is that the staff invariably pass the ‘smile test’ and service both at the canteen and bar is

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Industry Ownership Strategy

friendly and enthusiastic.

How was the pre-parade ring/ paddock experience?

Sandown offers one of the best preparade rings in the country in our experience. It’s a shame that it seems under-utilised by trainers. It’s a good opportunity for the public to view the horses unsaddled.

How did you find the facilities for owners’ viewing?

It wasn’t a particularly busy day so we had no particular need to use the area set aside in the stands for owners and trainers. Sandown offers tremendous viewing anyway.

Were you able to review a replay of your race easily on course?

We were too engrossed in the postmortem with our trainer and jockey to be concerned with watching a replay. However, there are plenty of screens around the course to do so if you are interested.

How were you treated as a winning owner on the day?

We didn’t get the opportunity to test this on the day! I do think racecourses should recognise the connections of placed horses more (not that we’d have qualified on that score on the day either!).

What was your overall lasting feeling of the day, based on your racecourse experience?

Overall, Sandown is a great course to go racing, whether as an owner or not. I’ve been going there for over 40 years so might be a bit biased, as it’s practically my local track.

The welcome, though perfectly acceptable, could be improved but on the whole the racecourse staff were friendly and enthusiastic and the facilities good.

HOW IT RATED Entry Viewing Atmosphere Owners’ facilities Food Overall score

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★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ 22

The Ownership Quality Mark assessment area of the Ownership Strategy Project is progressing well.

As outlined previously, this scheme is running in parallel with the wellestablished ROA Gold Standard Awards. We have previously outlined the scheme’s introduction, and can provide some more detail around it.

AA Hotel & Hospitality Services are carrying out assessments at racecourses on our behalf, with an experienced team of assessors around the country. AA Hotel & Hospitality Services is the most established UK assessment body, celebrating 111 years in 2019.

They work with a wide range of organisations, and not only deliver assessment services but also develop and advise on a wide variety of schemes. They also run the VisitEngland schemes across the country.

The AA will have assessed 42 racecourses as at June 1, and all 60 (Newmarket will receive two assessments, one for the Rowley Mile and one for the July Course) will be completed by the end of August.

The assessments have been developed with the input of the team from the AA, ensuring that the assessment is objective and deals with the provision of the ‘essentials’ of a raceday from an owner’s perspective.

The assessments are structured as follows: • All racecourses will be assessed on ten separate areas e.g. car park, arrival, staffing, owners’ and trainers’ facilities, food and drink provision, etc.

• The assessor compiles a detailed report, identifying the areas that the racecourse does well, as well as areas requiring improvement.

• The assessor completes a debrief with the racecourse manager and there is follow-up with the racecourse to support and identify potential improvements to the raceday experience.

The scheme has been developed with the support and input of racecourses, with the aim of developing a programme of ongoing improvement in the provision of the raceday experience for owners. It is anticipated that these assessments will become a key influencing factor for owners in deciding where to run their horses, and ultimately there will be a correlation.

The Gold Standard has evolved in parallel with the project, and will focus on and reward the areas where a racecourse might be considered to go ‘above and beyond’ these standards.

We will continue to provide information about the scheme as it develops.

Horseracing MBA Open Evening Here you can:

The University of Liverpool Management School invites members to find out how they can make the move into a senior, strategic role in racing, or help to improve the performance of their organisation.

Their top ranked Masters in Business Administration programmes are focused on developing the whole person — as a learner and a leader, to equip students with the latest in management theory and the skills needed to lead effectively in the horseracing industry. Full and partial scholarships are available for 2019 entry.

An open evening is being held on Thursday, June 13, 5-6.30pm at the University of Liverpool in London, 33 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AG.

• Speak to current part-time and fulltime MBA students and alumni • Discover more about the range of generous scholarships available •H ear about the specific horseracing content that makes the programme unique • Meet teaching staff to discuss programme content and entry requirements • Learn more about workbased projects and opportunities to network with business leaders Further details can be found at https://liverpool-in-london-mba-june. eventbrite.co.uk. Alternatively email ULMS.Events@liverpool.ac.uk or Neil.Coster@liverpool.ac.uk

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ROA Forum Haydock Industry Ownership Day The ROA will be out meeting members at monthly Industry Ownership Days being held throughout this year.

The days will both recognise owners and promote the thrill and accessibility of ownership to potential racehorse owners.

Each card will be supported by the ROA and will feature an Owners Jackpot race, offering a bonus of £2,000 to the winning horse if qualified.

Owners of qualified runners in the Jackpot race will each receive £250 in travel expenses. Winning trainers and breeders can also benefit with a bonus payment if they are ROA members.

Each Industry Ownership Day will feature a regional meeting for members who live nearby. Invitations will be sent to members who live in the vicinity, and there will be free admission for owners unable to join the regional meeting.

Our next event will be at Musselburgh on July 3. In August we will visit Ripon for the evening meeting on August 6 and on September 9 we will be at Perth.

Diary dates and reminders JUNE 6 Industry Ownership Day and regional meeting at Haydock Park JUNE 18-22 Royal Ascot offers JULY 2 ROA AGM and lunch JULY 3 Industry Ownership Day and regional meeting at Musselburgh JULY 12 Member visit to Animal Health Trust, Newmarket JULY 22 Visit to British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre, Halton, Lancaster and racing at Cartmel JULY 29–31 Access to AIRO facility on first three days of Galway Festival JULY 30–AUGUST 3 Service to book Richmond Enclosure badges and hospitality package for Glorious Goodwood AUGUST 6 (EVE) Industry Ownership Day and regional meeting at Ripon AUGUST 21 Hospitality package and private box for members at York on opening day of Ebor meeting

ROA board member Celia Djivanovic makes the presentation to Nigel Wakefield of Mick Appleby Racing, representing John Phelan, after Casement’s win at Pontefract on April 9

To book, see roa.co.uk/events

TRANSPARENT ENTRIES AND DECLARATIONS TRIAL The BHA and NTF are continuing to offer transparent entries and declarations via the Racing Admin website on the Flat until further notice, following an extension to the original four-month trial between December and March.

In addition, industry representatives have also agreed to extend the trial into jump racing, where it will be trialled on races from June 1 to the end of August.

Some updates have been made to processes based on feedback, and

elimination sequence, ballot numbers and weights have been added to the transparent declarations screen.

Trainers can carry out transactions directly from the screens – e.g. declare, cancel declaration, cancel entry, and book or remove riders, among other things.

Entries, declarations and field sizes

have shown an increase compared to the same period in 2017/18 and the time taken to confirm declarations has reduced with the cessation of reoffering races after 10am.

At any stage, trainers can enter and leave races up to the 12 o’clock deadline. Races attracting nine or fewer entries will no longer reopen.

Season

Races

Entries

Declarations

AFS

NR Total

NR per race

17/18

1,100

14.95

9.26

8.68

643

0.58

18/19

971

15.65

9.96

9.37

577

0.59

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Figures for period May 1, 2018 to April 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 Sandown Park Newbury Chester Doncaster Haydock Park Chelmsford City Ayr Salisbury Musselburgh Pontefract Wetherby Hamilton Park Ripon Kempton Park Carlisle Lingfield Park Newcastle Nottingham Leicester Thirsk Windsor Redcar Catterick Bridge Beverley Bath Yarmouth Ffos Las Brighton Wolverhampton Chepstow Southwell Total

Ownership

Avg racecourse spend per fixture (£)

Avg HBLB spend per fixture (£)

Avg owner spend per fixture (£)

Avg prizemoney per fixture (£)

Total no. of fixtures 2018-19

Total prize-money 2018-19 (£)

Avg racecourse spend per fixture 2017-18 (£)

I I I JCR JCR JCR I I ARC JCR I I I I I I I I JCR JCR ARC ARC JCR I I ARC I I I ARC ARC ARC ARC ARC ARC ARC

471,381 247,392 214,183 202,673 134,393 91,319 85,708 83,457 81,324 73,788 52,396 50,056 47,373 47,338 46,280 44,298 42,565 41,432 38,783 38,084 36,946 36,643 36,418 35,091 34,908 34,885 34,825 34,347 33,896 32,942 29,380 28,140 24,541 23,833 23,675 22,324 63,199

125,496 94,341 84,039 74,954 71,837 51,405 57,399 46,831 45,669 42,338 21,801 32,180 29,581 22,529 30,706 14,505 22,480 21,341 23,064 19,508 24,297 21,895 22,625 21,525 22,256 20,807 24,409 20,297 23,325 20,460 18,880 13,511 16,333 19,811 12,480 18,829 32,020

282,771 114,751 77,551 94,689 76,938 40,831 37,349 14,067 38,342 19,543 6,592 12,203 6,487 6,301 3,772 6,980 4,454 4,920 6,117 6,291 4,638 5,664 7,139 5,509 6,747 5,806 15,062 2,938 4,216 4,902 4,873 4,411 3,238 3,867 3,521 2,802 21,117

883,814 460,373 380,772 372,315 285,605 185,688 185,456 145,655 166,856 140,451 82,281 94,439 84,424 76,168 82,884 65,783 69,498 67,692 68,380 63,883 65,881 64,522 66,598 62,949 64,567 61,499 74,630 57,581 61,436 58,481 54,174 46,063 44,112 47,528 39,676 43,955 117,302

18 18 19 10 39 15 18 15 24 24 65 19 14 16 16 4 18 17 68 12 74 54 24 20 16 26 18 16 19 17 24 8 23 86 15 31 920

15,908,659 8,286,706 7,234,660 3,723,153 11,138,581 2,785,324 3,338,206 2,184,832 4,004,540 3,300,606 5,348,251 1,794,339 1,181,931 1,218,685 1,326,139 263,132 1,250,968 1,150,770 4,649,835 766,600 4,875,162 3,484,204 1,598,354 1,258,984 1,033,067 1,598,967 1,343,336 921,300 1,167,291 994,178 1,300,178 368,500 1,014,586 4,087,449 595,146 1,362,598 107,859,215

439,135 229,497 191,742 157,580 118,849 70,019 82,415 85,085 76,684 66,412 44,079 34,085 39,747 49,870 39,070 33,830 39,024 40,019 33,543 30,373 35,507 37,459 30,256 33,035 31,194 27,571 26,490 24,803 30,913 25,283 25,671 28,053 19,166 23,447 22,492 21,322 57,695

Up/ down

s s s s s s s t s s s s s t s s s s s s s t s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s

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 Kempton Park Newbury Ayr Kelso Doncaster Wincanton Newton Abbot Fakenham Chepstow Perth Exeter Cartmel Taunton Ludlow Carlisle Newcastle Wetherby Market Rasen Stratford-On-Avon Warwick Uttoxeter Huntingdon Hereford Hexham Towcester Ffos Las Musselburgh Catterick Bridge Leicester Plumpton Bangor-On-Dee Lingfield Park Fontwell Park Worcester Sedgefield Southwell Total

Jun_178_ROAForum.indd 89

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 JCR I I I ARC JCR I I ARC I JCR I I I JCR ARC I JCR I JCR ARC JCR ARC I I ARC I I I I I ARC ARC ARC ARC ARC

290,471 270,121 172,193 112,571 103,869 66,790 60,084 47,031 46,486 41,470 38,439 37,413 36,817 36,209 35,870 34,540 34,420 33,559 32,979 32,898 32,880 31,977 31,915 31,830 29,260 28,834 28,262 27,427 26,543 26,474 25,816 25,448 25,392 24,001 23,610 22,556 22,477 22,167 21,940 19,568 19,049 46,429

145,564 122,499 92,522 95,888 88,891 65,282 71,308 38,628 31,722 44,224 35,114 27,766 21,294 35,133 33,906 31,980 29,111 21,856 30,021 36,371 31,407 31,930 29,375 21,844 31,734 28,948 26,143 25,737 20,310 16,094 24,817 24,643 23,818 29,306 24,679 19,758 21,819 19,901 23,900 21,085 20,425 36,403

79,558 70,770 19,766 19,776 19,285 10,731 16,696 12,001 6,098 6,522 6,466 0 0 9,687 4,700 7,509 5,802 5,920 4,954 7,318 5,757 6,295 5,844 4,610 7,138 7,412 5,739 5,975 3,309 3,818 6,030 3,404 2,819 4,206 4,718 4,086 4,839 3,564 4,478 3,362 3,982 9,142

515,593 464,015 288,856 234,347 223,929 143,220 149,566 101,506 86,449 94,852 80,519 65,179 58,111 81,030 75,059 74,029 69,333 61,336 68,248 84,482 70,461 70,559 67,350 58,284 68,257 65,195 61,460 59,140 50,162 46,386 56,663 53,951 52,030 57,513 53,006 46,550 49,135 45,632 50,318 44,015 43,457 92,849

8 16 8 9 9 12 11 13 14 11 16 18 12 15 15 15 9 13 17 12 12 14 22 18 18 25 19 9 16 3 12 11 8 9 16 15 6 24 20 19 19 568

4,124,745 7,424,241 2,310,850 2,109,122 1,903,393 1,718,639 1,645,224 1,319,577 1,210,286 1,043,375 1,288,303 1,173,221 697,333 1,215,449 1,125,885 1,110,434 624,000 797,364 1,160,217 1,013,781 845,528 987,833 1,481,695 1,049,119 1,228,620 1,629,871 1,167,743 532,256 802,595 139,159 679,960 593,460 416,237 517,617 848,102 698,255 294,810 1,095,160 1,006,361 836,289 825,683 52,691,793

285,706 267,183 156,372 112,263 98,492 55,134 31,256 44,311 35,035 37,957 34,138 27,636 31,563 31,415 85,960 31,351 30,773 28,711 55,134 31,792 28,233 30,264 28,060 30,849 31,800 24,109 25,586 30,230 22,832 21,658 24,883 21,324 24,089 25,586 20,485 19,715 35,035 20,312 22,394 18,182 17,492 44,635

s s s s s s s s s s s s s s t s s s t s s s s s t s s t s s s s s t s s t s t s s s

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

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TBA Forum

The special section for TBA members

Regional Day visit to Dan Skelton’s stable and Warwick racecourse

The Skelton string at exercise in Warwickshire, and right, the trainer discussing his horses with TBA members

O

n Wednesday, April 10 TBA members gathered for the first of this year’s Regional Days at Dan Skelton’s Lodge Hill Stables. The main yard is nestled in the beautiful Warwickshire hills and members were shown how well sheltered the yard is as they made their way up to the top of the impressive all-weather gallops to see some of the horses at work.

Members watched the horses make their way up the steep incline, among which was successful hurdler Mister Universum and Longhouse Sale, winner of all five starts for the Skelton stable.

Dan talked to the group and he answered members’ questions about his training methods and challenges for ensuring the facilities were tip top, including planting special grass seed that grows well at low temperatures.

He spoke about how you can tell a horse’s suitability early on and that a good horse had to be brave to try again when things don’t go right first time, bold enough to keep trying and forgiving of human error.

Dan explained that most horses need to be willing to stick with other horses to be good at racing but there are exceptions to this rule and he alluded to his time as assistant to champion trainer

Delicious: lunch at Warwick racecourse

Paul Nicholls, when Neptune Collonges was ridden by a 16-year-old work-rider and was content to sit at the back of the string every day in training. However, he was a different horse on the racecourse, as his victory in the 2012 Grand National demonstrated.

Dan also said that it is essential to get young horses used to different environments and to see different things. A horse will understandably have the potential to be spooked on its first experience of a racecourse if it has not seen anything other than its home training grounds.

After a welcome cup of warming tea back at the yard, the group headed to Warwick racecourse, where they were well looked after by the hospitality team during a delicious lunch and had a very entertaining guide through the day’s card by jockey Dave Crosse before enjoying an afternoon’s racing.

The TBA would like to thank Dan’s team and the team at Warwick racecourse for giving members a great day.

The TBA Fair Maid of Perth Mares’ Chase, a Listed race run over three miles at Perth racecourse on April 26, was won by nine-year-old My Old Gold.

The daughter of Gold Well is trained by Nicky Richards for owners Tor Side Racing and has finished out of the top two only twice in ten races. Ridden by Sean Quinlan, she raced prominently before hitting the front two out and staying on well to win by four lengths, with the Charlie Longsdon-trained Treackle Tart behind in second.

After the race, her trainer commented: “I would think that My Old Gold will stay all day. She has been threatening to do something like that all season and she could be one for the big staying chases next season.”

The connections of My Old Gold struck gold at Perth

90

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My Old Gold wins the TBA Fair Maid of Perth Mares’ Chase

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ADAM SMYTH

Racecourse badge offers for breeders in June

Christine Standley, a longstanding member of the TBA team at Stanstead House, is set to retire this month. Christine joined the TBA in 2003 and has been at Stanstead House for nearly 16 years in the role of Accounts Executive.

She deals with all aspects of the TBA’s accounts, from processing sales and purchase invoices up to preparation of year-end accounts for auditors.

Christine has been a familiar face at many TBA events throughout her time at the Association, including the Flat and NH Stallion Parades, and the three-day Stud Farming Course, and her presence will be greatly missed.

Claire Sheppard, TBA Chief Executive, said: “Christine has been an integral part of the TBA team, offering her support to other team members and helping at many of the TBA events. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience which will be very much missed.

We all wish her the very best in her retirement.”

ADAM SMYTH

Christine Standley retires

The TBA is delighted to confirm the following badge offers from Epsom and Ascot racecourses in continuation of their support of members: INVESTEC DERBY FESTIVAL MAY 31–JUNE 1 TBA members who have bred a runner at the Investec Derby Festival are invited to apply for breeders’ badges at the two-day meeting.

Breeders with a runner in the Investec Coronation Cup, Investec Oaks or Investec Derby must apply to the racecourse direct to Petra Gough on Petra.Gough@thejockeyclub.co.uk.

Breeders of runners entered in other races at the Investec Derby Festival can apply for two Queen’s Stand badges and should apply to Annette Bell at the TBA (annette.bell@thetba.co.uk) by midday on the day prior to the race.

For all badge requests you will be required to provide your name, the name of the horse and race entered. Badges

will be issued subject to the horse being declared to run.

ROYAL ASCOT JUNE 18–22 Ascot racecourse has kindly invited TBA members to apply for breeders’ badges for the Royal Meeting once again this year.

Members can apply for up to two badges per horse entered. Applications will be required by midday on the day prior to the race and must be submitted by email to annette.bell@thetba.co.uk with the breeder’s name, details of the horse, race entered and name of the person collecting the badges if not the breeder.

Badges will be issued subject to the horse(s) being declared to run.

These offers are for TBA members only. If you would like more information on becoming a member to take advantage of these and other great benefits please contact Annette Bell on the email above or call 01638 661321.

Learn more about youngstock and development at one-day seminars

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farrier and foot care, growth and development, and problems associated with growth.

The courses will be held at York racecourse on Thursday, July 4 and Harper Adams University on Tuesday, July 30. Places for both courses are free to TBA members.

For more information and to book a place, please contact Leaya Slater on students@nationlastud.co.uk or call 01638 675930.

ADAM SMYTH

The TBA has once again teamed up with the National Stud and the Racing Foundation to offer two regional courses, giving members the chance to update their knowledge on key topics in thoroughbred stud management.

The 2019 courses will be centred on youngstock development and management of the foal during its first year, and topics include feeding and nutrition, paddock management,

THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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TBA Forum

Cheltenham’s Mares’ Raceday a hit with two TBA-sponsored races

The Paul Nicholls-trained Kupatana took the Mares’ Novices’ Chase Series Final

RACEDAY PHOTOS

was bought for just €1,700 at the Goresbridge NH Sale in July 2016 before being resold at the Goffs UK Aintree Sale last year, when she was bought for £120,000 by Highflyer Bloodstock.

After the race, Paul Nicholls commented: “Harry gave Kupatana a fantastic ride as she’s not the easiest, as her form figures tell. She’s a very nice mare, as she’s just shown, but that’s probably it for the season as she’s going to the sales next month as part of her

Northern Beau captured the mares’ handicap chase for the Michael Scudamore stable

RACEDAY PHOTOS

T

hursday, April 18 saw the running of the second mares’ only race day at Cheltenham racecourse.

The day comprised seven races, five of which were eligible for a NH Mare Owners’ Prize Scheme (NHMOPS) bonus, including two TBA-sponsored races, the Listed EBF/TBA Mares’ Novices’ Chase Series Final and the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Mares’ Handicap Chase.

The first TBA-sponsored race of the day, the EBF/TBA Mares’ Novices’ Chase Series Final, was won by Kupatana in an impressive front-running performance.

The six-year old made all under top weight and saw off a late challenge from Little Miss Poet to win by a length and a half under Harry Cobden for trainer Paul Nicholls. The win was an especially memorable one for her trainer, as it was his 3,000th British and Irish jumps winner.

The daughter of Westerner

owners’ dispersal.”

The second TBA-sponsored race of the afternoon, the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Mares’ Handicap Chase, was won by the Michael Scudamore-trained Northern Beau.

Ridden by Richie McLernon, she flew home to score by half a length. Her jockey commented: “Northern Beau actually ran over three miles last time and though this was a big step down in distance, I thought it might suit her.

“She’s very honest and jumped well, and obviously I knew she’d stay, it was just a case of whether she’d get to them in time.”

The daughter of Canford Cliffs was bred in Ireland before being bought by Michael Scudamore at last year’s Goffs UK Spring Sale for £68,000. She has since been placed in all of her ten runs for her new owners, Lynn and Angus Maclennan.

Diary Dates & Reminders Tuesday, June 4 West Regional Day Whitsbury Manor Stud, Hampshire

Wednesday, July 3 South West Regional Day Estcourt Stud, Tetbury

Wednesday, July 17 TBA AGM and Annual Seminar Tattersalls, Newmarket

Wednesday, June 5 South East Regional Day Coombelands Racing Stables and Arundel Equine Hospital

Thursday, July 4 ‘Youngstock and Development’ TBA/National Stud Regional Course York racecourse

Tuesday, July 30 ‘Youngstock and Development’ TBA/ National Stud Regional Course Harper Adams University

Tuesday, July 16 TBA Flat Breeders’ Awards Dinner Chippenham Park, Newmarket

Monday, August 5 TBA North Regional Forum Ripon racecourse

Wednesday, June 26 East Regional Day George Scott Racing and Cheveley Park Stud

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TBA mares’ showcase proves popular A showcase to highlight the many benefits of owning jump-race mares was held at Cheltenham racecourse on Thursday, April 18. Over 120 guests joined the TBA team for a morning of presentations, panel sessions and interviews with key industry people.

The day commenced with an overview of the activities to support mares from NH Committee Chairman Robert Waley-Cohen and Chairman of the TBA, Julian Richmond-Watson.

Event host Tim Kent then introduced a feature video on the popular mare Lady Buttons, which included an interview with her owner-breeders Keith and Jayne Sivills and trainer Phil Kirby.

characteristics for selection of broodmares and stallions, and leasing opportunities.

Guests heard about the TBA’s initiatives

This was followed by a more indepth look at the TBA’s initiatives for jump mares – including details on NHMOPS, Elite Mares and the 3-21 point-to-point bonus – which was presented by Chief Executive Claire Sheppard. The penultimate session was delivered by Weatherbys’ Simon Cooper, who spoke on the future challenges and opportunities of the General Stud Book.

Stuart Middleton (centre) was on the panel

A two-course lunch in the Istabraq Suite was served to guests, who also had the opportunity to test their knowledge in the TBA’s mares’ quiz.

The prize went the way of the PPA’s Adam Hurley, who was the first correct entry to be drawn. An afternoon of quality mares’ races at Cheltenham followed, with guests and other TBA members enjoying use of the private suite for the remainder of the day.

Tim Kent (left) was the event host

Stuart Middleton from the BHA then discussed the development of the mares’ race programme in recent years, with the number of mares in training rising from 1,878 to 2,072 in 2018, which brought about a 2% increase in terms of percentage of the jumps population.

A panel of stallion managers then discussed the transition from racing to breeding, with a particular focus on broodmare and stallion selection, syndicates and leasing.

The Elite Mares’ Scheme was explained

The morning closed with a lively Q&A session which included a panel of industry representatives. Guests took the opportunity to ask further questions about the race programme,

Wednesday, September 11 North Regional Day Mark Johnston Racing, Leyburn

Thursday, October 31 TBA South West Regional Forum Newton Abbot racecourse

Wednesday, September 25 Scotland Regional Day and Forum Kinneston Stables and Perth racecourse

Further information on all TBA events can be found on the TBA website

Thursday, September 26 TBA East Regional Forum Newmarket racecourse Thursday, October 3 TBA West Regional Forum Salisbury racecourse

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New members Mr H D Fildes, Gloucestershire, Mr David Pipe, Somerset, Mr Neil Armstrong, County Durham, Mr Robert E Forrester, Ms Sarah Bailey, Leicestershire

NHMOPS WINNERS 09/04/19 Southwell

THE TOALSBET MARES’ STANDARD NATIONAL HUNT FLAT RACE (CLASS 5) Winner: It’s Probably Me Owner: James and Jean Potter Ltd Bonus value: £5,000

18/04/19 Cheltenham

THE CATESBY ESTATES PLC MARES’ HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1) (Listed Race) Winner: Sunshade Owner: The Queen Bonus value: £10,000

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TBA Forum

Mount Nelly wins the first of this year’s TBA’s 3-2-1 Bonus

New third-party public liability cover for TBA members

DAVID PIPE

Trainer David Pipe with Mount Nelly

The first of this year’s TBA 3-2-1 P2P bonuses was awarded to Mount Nelly following her run in the Introducing Racing TV P2P Bumper Maiden NH Flat Race at Exeter racecourse on April 16.

The initiative was introduced as part of the TBA’s work to improve race opportunities for mares and awards up to £3,000 to the highest placed mare in any of three end-of-season bumpers.

It operates on a sliding scale, with the highest placed mare in each of the bonus races receiving a £1,000 bonus, a further £1,000 if she is British bred and another £1,000 if she is owned by a TBA member.

Mount Nelly, a daughter of Mount Nelson, was bought by Tom Malone for owner/trainer David Pipe at the recent

Tattersalls Ireland Ascot March Sale following her third in the competitive JRL Group Flat Race at Barbury Castle in February, when trained by Ryan Potter.

The race at Exeter was her first for her new connections and, ridden by Fergus Gillard, she finished fourth, making her the highest placed mare in the race, GB-bred and owned by a TBA member and was therefore awarded the full bonus of £3,000.

The next race to carry the bonus will be the Goffs UK Spring Sale P2P Bumper at Aintree on Friday, May 17, followed by the ITM Champion P2P Bumper at Stratford on Friday, May 31.

For further information on the bonus, please visit the TBA website.

This year’s Annual General Meeting of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association will be held at Tattersalls in Newmarket on Wednesday, July 17 – the day after the TBA Flat Breeders’ Awards Dinner.

TBA members are invited to attend the meeting, which will commence at 10.15am and the results of two Board member positions will be announced. The meeting will be directly followed by the TBA’s Annual Seminar. The seminar will discuss a range of topics with speakers including BHA Chief Executive Nick Rust and Simon

ADAM SMYTH

AGM and Annual Seminar update

Lycetts Insurance Brokers specialist equine division is delighted to be working in partnership with the TBA by providing third-party public liability cover to all its full members.

The cover provided by this policy works to protect members where there is not a more appropriate or specific liability policy that should have been effected to ensure that all eventualities are covered, including whilst the member’s horse is away from its usual home.

Key benefits of insurance include 24-hour cover worldwide, with a limit of indemnity of £10,000,000 for claims in respect of accidental damage or injury to third party property or persons.

Lycetts has nearly 60 years’ experience of looking after the private and commercial insurance needs of their rural clients; with 13 offices across the country and equestrian divisions operating out of Newmarket, Marlborough and Berwick St Leonard, they are able to assist on all aspects of commercial equestrian insurance including stud, bloodstock and personal insurance.

To discuss your detailed requirements further please contact: • Oli Curl (Newmarket) – 01638 676700 • Piers Plunket (Marlborough) – 01672 512512 • Will McCarter (Berwick St Leonard) – 01747 400246 To find out more about the third-party public liability cover that comes with full membership of the TBA please contact the TBA directly on 01638 661321 or email info@thetba.co.uk

This year’s AGM is on July 17

Cooper from Weatherbys GSB. The event is free for members to attend. To book your place, please visit the TBA website or contact the office on info@thetba.co.uk/01638 661321.

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TBA NATIONAL HUNT STATISTICAL AWARDS FOR 2018-19 Whitbread Silver Salver (Sponsored by the British EBF)

and Horse & Hound Cup

KAYF TARA

Kayf Tara maintained his vice-like grip on both awards, although the late Midnight Legend was the overall leading British-based jumps sire, some £25,000 ahead of his old rival.

The Overbury Stud-based Kayf Tara has now won the Whitbread Silver Salver for eight consecutive years and the Horse & Hound Cup for five.

Among his top earners last season was OLBG Mares’ Hurdle third Good Thyne Tara and the former Stayers’ Hurdle winner Thistlecrack, who was placed in the King George VI Chase and Betfair Chase.

Some promising novices should ensure their sire remains in the spotlight for the next few years.

Secret Investor won the Grade 2 Future Champion Novices’ Chase at Ayr and Thyme Hill finished third in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

Kayf Tara, who is 25, has been at stud since 2001 and last year covered a limited book of 83 mares at a careerhigh fee of £10,000.

Kayf Tara: still covering at 25

Horse & Hound Cup For the leading active British-based National Hunt stallion by number of individual chase winners (GB & IRE).

Whitbread Silver Salver (Sponsored by the British EBF) For the leading active British-based National Hunt stallion by earnings (GB & IRE).

TBA Flat Breeders’ Awards Dinner This year’s TBA Flat Breeders’ Awards Dinner will take place in the stunning grounds of Chippenham Park near Newmarket on Tuesday, July 16 and

not at Newmarket racecourse as previously stated.

The evening will showcase and celebrate British-bred success

from the 2018 Flat Season, and will commence with a drinks reception, followed by a two-course dinner and the presentation of the awards which include: • • • • • • • • • •

The Queen’s Silver Cup BBA Silver Cigar Box Barleythorpe Stud Silver Cup Tattersalls Silver Salver H.J. Joel Silver Salver TBA Silver Rose Bowl Langham Cup The Dominion Bronze The Andrew Devonshire Award The TBA Stud Staff Award

For further information and to book a ticket, which costs £85 per person, please visit thetba.co.uk, email info@thetba.co.uk or call 01638 661321.

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TBA Forum

ASCOT RACECOURSE

INVESTING IN BREEDING & RACING – ASCOT’S APPROACH

Unique group: breeders of the 2018 Royal Ascot winners

Ascot racecourse Chief Executive Guy Henderson has a simple philosophy in his approach to thoroughbred breeders: “No breeders means no horses, no trainers, no jockeys, no stable staff, no racecourses, no racing.”

To emphasise his point, the stage manager of this month’s royal meeting has put his sentiment into practice by introducing benefits that range from the specific to the general.

Henderson explains: “When I started in 2015, I had a look at all our channels of investment and focused on our offerings for horsemen generally. We’ve invested hugely for them and breeders are part of that group, the foundation stone of the thoroughbred racing industry.

“We felt that as a venue that provides racing and entertainment for our customers it was vital for us to welcome breeders, particularly those of runners here, and also to acknowledge their achievements when breeding the winners at Royal Ascot.”

To that end, Ascot invites the breeders of all winners at the royal meeting to return for a special get-together on the eve of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in July.

“We decided we wanted to salute and convey our own congratulations to the winning breeders by hosting them for a day and providing them with a memento,” Henderson says. “They’re together as a group, which we feel makes it special and particular.

“Not only do they have a nice time

together, but we take a team photograph on the podium and present them with silver dishes made by the House of Garrard, who make the winning owners’ trophies. Then we invite them to lunch alongside the breeding organisations such as the TBA and EBF, as well as Breeders’ Cup, France-Galop and Horse Racing Ireland.”

Ascot’s attention to breeders does not end there, though, as Henderson explains: “Throughout the year we provide regular complimentary admission badges for breeders affiliated to the TBA, and we do the same at Royal Ascot, although we can’t grant parade-ring access then because it just gets too crowded.

“Racing is full of different tribes, and we treat breeders as the equal of any one. It’s a completely symbiotic relationship, which is why we think it’s important that there isn’t sibling rivalry but that we recognise the achievements of everyone concerned. All of us make our contribution towards the sport, so there should be mutual, respectful recognition of the roles we all play.”

Ascot’s drive to attract international visitors, equine and human, has been intensified over the past decade, and recognising the role of breeders is part of the initiative.

Henderson says: “We see international engagement with Royal Ascot and British racing in general as business critical. It’s an area of growth, and we make a huge effort to warmly welcome international

horsemen and make their visit as exciting and pleasurable as possible.

“One of the consequences is the impact on sales of horses bred in Britain, since 80% of yearlings sold at Tattersalls are internationally owned, and the day before Royal Ascot we now have the Goffs sale, which attracts significant international investment.

“The positive differentiator for British racing on the international stage is the quality of horses in the IFHA’s ratings list.

Maintaining that high level depends on maintaining overseas interest in investing in our bloodstock and keeping them in training here.”

Providing benefits in kind for breeders has not always been viewed with universal magnanimity, as Henderson explains: “It would be fair to say that from time to time I meet people in the owners’ fraternity who ask why we are making a fuss about breeders, because, they say, breeders have got their gravy by selling their horse.

“It will be obvious that we don’t buy into that argument. Someone has to breed the horses, and I know from our own involvement and training horses at home that it’s a damned fine achievement to breed a thoroughbred that is healthy and does well, let alone one that wins at Royal Ascot.

“We want to salute that achievement, and we’ve been very warmly thanked, but it’s unconditional love, as we’re doing it to recognise breeders, and it will carry on.”

96 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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Breeder of the Month Words Hyperion Promotions Ltd

Sponsored by

Manufacturers of

NATIONAL HUNT BREEDER OF THE MONTH – APRIL

Doug and Lucy Procter, who began their breeding operation under the Wriggle Valley Thoroughbreds banner, have been producing top-class National Hunt horses at Glanvilles Wootton in Dorset since 2008.

In 2012, following a chance meeting with Dr Geoffrey Guy, Chairman and founder of cannabinoid medicine company, GW Pharmaceuticals, they formed The Glanvilles Stud, where jointowner Dr Guy bred Honeysuckle.

The five-year-old daughter of Sulamani became a rare British-bred winner of an Irish Grade 1 race when capturing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final at the Fairyhouse Easter meeting. In doing so she provided jockey Rachael Blackmore with a first Irish Grade 1 success.

“She’s some five-year-old and has achieved so much already,” said winning trainer Henry de Bromhead of a mare who is now unbeaten in four starts over hurdles.

“She’s won over two and two and a half miles and looks like she could go further again. She jumped really well, bar one, and is a really exciting mare.”

After her five-and-a-half-length defeat of subsequent Punchestown Listed scorer Elfile, connections must have been rueing what might have been if a training setback had not prevented Honeysuckle from running in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. The winner of that race, Eglantine Du Seuil, finished a further three lengths back in third place

CAROLINE NORRIS

DR GEOFFREY GUY

Honeysuckle: impressive at Fairyhouse

at Fairyhouse.

Honeysuckle is the fourth foal of the German-bred Lando mare First Royal.

The half-sister to point-to-point winners Dunraven Royal and Colorado Doc followed a similar pathway to her older siblings when landing a maiden pointto-point by 15 lengths at Dromahane in April last year for County Down trainer Gerry Cosgrave, uncle of Flat jockey Pat Cosgrave.

She was ridden that day by Cosgrave’s neighbour and local blacksmith Mark O’Hare, who had paid €9,500 for the then three-year-old filly at the second part of the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale in 2017. That was the second sales ring appearance for the future Grade 1 winner after she failed to elicit a single bid as a yearling at the Goffs UK January Mixed Sale at Doncaster in 2015.

A few days after the Dromahane race Honeysuckle was back in the sales ring, this time at the Goffs Punchestown Sale.

There was no problem attracting bids on this occasion and the impressive point-

to-point winner was eventually knocked down to Peter Molony of Rathmore Stud, acting on behalf of owner Kenneth Alexander, for €110,000.

Doug Procter is phlegmatic about the price at which the stud parted company with the future Grade 1 winner.

He reflected: “It is much harder to get a filly into a select sale because, of course, the sales companies know that the geldings sell better. Being by Sulamani, it probably was a fair market value.

“She’s now the most expensive Sulamani ever sold and we’ve all seen what she can do.”

Looking to the future, he added: “I liked Honeysuckle so much from the getgo that I sent the mare back to Sulamani and we now have a year-younger full brother called Last Royal. He has been backed and broken, but he’s in a field at the minute as he’s a big, backward horse.”

First Royal has also produced a Shirocco filly called Roc Royal, who was placed several times over hurdles in France in 2017. She was sold to race in Jersey but following the exploits of Honeysuckle was repatriated to join the expanding operation at The Glanvilles Stud.

The addition of nearby Pitts Farm Stud in 2015 has increased the total acreage to 120 and the stud’s own broodmare band currently numbers nine, with permanent and seasonal boarders bringing numbers up to 20 at any given time.

Honeysuckle is the second Grade 1 winner for the Blackmore Vale-based operation following Sam Spinner’s victory in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in 2017.

The seven-year-old returned to form this spring when finishing second to Paisley Park in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

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Vet Forum: The Expert View

Life in the paddocks: footcare for broodmares The saying ‘no foot no horse’ is well known in the world of horseracing yet excellent footcare is just as essential for mares as they embark on their new careers at stud

J

ust because a mare has been retired to stud, it doesn’t mean her feet can do without care. The front feet are more prone to damage (such as cracks) and to laminitis than the hind feet.

While thoroughbreds appear to be less susceptible to acute laminitis than other breeds and ponies, we do see numerous cases of chronic, progressive laminitis in middle-aged and older broodmares. In some cases the condition becomes lifelimiting but in many others management requires constant and sometimes expensive re-evaluation and foot care to enable the mare to rear her foals. The overall conformation of the thoroughbred foot – which tends to be flatter and thinner soled – predisposes to problems that can become more common with age.

Normal conformation

The pedal bone is the supporting base of the limb. It is encased within the hoof capsule and sole and supported by the v-shaped frog (Fig 1). In the normal foot, the pedal bone is firmly attached to the overlying rigid hoof tissues through interdigitating laminae, which provide a large surface area for adhesion between these tissues. The outer hoof capsule grows down from the coronary band but adhesion is maintained throughout this ‘migration’ of new horn down to ground level. The horn of the sole grown from the soft tissues under the pedal bone and the wall and sole meet at the white line which runs just inside the circumference of the sole, except across the base of the frog and heel regions. The frog is very elastic and, along with the digital cushion deep to it, provides support and shock absorption to the foot and the whole limb during loading.

Fig 1 Section through normal hoof

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In a healthy foot, the front of the pedal bone is parallel to the front (dorsal) surface of the hoof wall, which should form an angle of 45 to 50 degrees (approximately) with the ground. The solar (ground) surface sits at an angle so that the tip is slightly lower than the back of the bone (Fig 2). The normal sole should be concave with the heels running virtually parallel to the dorsal hoof wall.

There should be reasonable depth of sole that increases towards the back of the foot. The frog should be broad based, clean and well defined and sit proud of the sole and heel bulbs.

Healthy feet require care to keep them balanced and tidy but if the horse doesn’t have ‘good’ feet, serious problems can arise, particularly as the animal ages. In broodmares where their body weight increases significantly in the last third of pregnancy, any problems can become very much worse or cause more significant lameness as each pregnancy continues and over time as the mare has more foals.

Flat feet

Unfortunately, many thoroughbreds have flat feet. This means that the sole is flat (not concave) and the dorsal hoof wall runs at a much shallower angle to the ground. The heels are often low or collapsed (under-run) and the frog flattened (Fig 3). The sole is often thin.

On radiographs (X-rays), the pedal bone is also often similarly sitting flatter, with a reduced distance between the back of the pedal bone and the sole. The toes have a tendency to become longer and this can create its own problems by changing the point of break over and increasing stress on the tissues at the toe. Affected horses are more prone to developing corns due to collapse of horn at the heels (under-run heels).

It can be difficult to keep such horses sound when they are in training but once fillies with flat feet are retired to stud the situation can become very much worse.

Initially, it will be important to keep the toes short and try to support the heels.

In some cases this involves using filler or wedges to raise the heels into a more normal position and height. However, if these are applied to a collapsed and under-run heel, they could exacerbate the problem. It can be impossible to leave

these horses without front shoes as the hoof wall has a tendency to break and the thin soles are more likely to bruise.

Laminitis

Horses carry the majority of their body weight on their forelimbs and this means that any condition affecting the forelimbs can have a significant effect on the horse’s mobility and welfare. ‘Laminitis’ in its broadest sense means inflammation of the sensitive laminae forming those interdigitating leaves holding the pedal bone within the hoof capsule.

There are many different ways that laminitis can both occur and present but it usually affects the front feet rather than or more than the back feet. Anyone with a pony will be aware of the risk of acute laminitis if the pony has access to too much grass!

Others will be aware of the risk of acute laminitis in mares that develop endometritis (uterine infection) after foaling or after some other toxaemic episode. In both of these instances, the word ‘acute’ is used in its more correct way to mean sudden in onset rather than ‘severe’, although acute laminitis can also be severe and potentially life threatening.

Chronic laminitis may follow on from acute laminitis and many ponies that recover from an acute episode then go on to have persistent or recurrent chronic episodes. The degree of lameness during these episodes can vary greatly, from barely there to severe.

In an episode of laminitis, damage occurs to the ‘glue’ holding the hoof and pedal bone together. In acute laminitis if the damage is great enough, the pedal one will actually separate from the hoof, rotate, drop and penetrate the sole, requiring emergency euthanasia of the affected horse.

In less severe acute cases, rotation might occur without penetration of the sole. This results in a gap at the toe between the bone and the hoof wall.

Treatment involves providing support through the use of packing or pads, anti-inflammatory analgesics such as phenylbutazone, paracetamol or flunixin etc, anti-inflammatory therapy such as standing in ice and the use of medication to try to increase blood supply to the feet (often acetylpromazine (ACP)).

In broodmares, chronic laminitis is

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By Deidre Carson MRCVS

By Deidre Carson MRCVS

Fig 2 Radiograph of normal hoof usually a much more insidious condition.

Over time, there is gradual separation of the laminae with rotation of the pedal bone within the hoof (Fig 4). The tip of the pedal bone becomes misshapen forming a ‘ski-jump’, or eroded due to the proximity to the ground and repeated concussion (Fig 5). These mares show variable levels of lameness but it is usually progressive. They are more prone to foot abscesses and hoof cracks. Occasionally a mare with this chronic laminitis will rotate to the extent that the pedal bone becomes very misshapen (Fig 6) or might actually penetrate the sole, requiring euthanasia. Repeated and high-quality farriery, often guided by radiographic imaging, is required to keep these mares sound enough to be able to breed, especially as they age. Each case must be treated individually but many mares are managed with glue-on and/or bar shoes and often require continued or repeated medication.

Hoof cracks

Broodmares are usually left without shoes as they are not being exercised and it reduces the risk of injury to

Fig 3 Hoof showing long toe and collapsed heel themselves and other animals. Most mares cope perfectly well without shoes but, as they age, this situation might change. The feet of older horses can become weaker and, depending on the conditions in which they are kept, hoof cracks might appear. It is important to ensure that all mares, but particularly older broodmares, are given a balanced diet and that attention is paid to their feet. As hoof horn is dead keratin, like your fingernails and hair, the condition of the horn can be improved only by encouraging the growth of better quality new horn from the coronary band.

Consequently, it can take many months before any significant change may be noticed.

In older animals it might not be possible to improve the quality of the horn and so it might be necessary to start shoeing a mare which has not been shod for many years, or it might be necessary to use fillers or other more advanced farriery care to try to stop any crack(s) from progressing and causing lameness. A crack at ground level can predispose to the development of a foot abscess and a crack at coronary band level can cause lameness due to the amount of movement between hard and soft tissues that occurs at that point. Some of the cracks seem to be associated with underlying pathology or inherent weakness in the hoof structure and so become a permanent feature of the foot.

with the normal horn tissue, producing a cylindrical shape. Occasionally an almost spherical tumour might form under the sole. These tumours often initially present as a foot abscess that recurs and diagnosis is made after radiographing the foot. Treatment involves surgical removal of the tumour by removing the wall (or sole) overlying the tumour. A hospital plate is usually then fitted to maintain pressure on the healing tissues while they grow and keratinise. The prognosis after removal is very good.

Other conditions that might occur include fractures of the pedal bone, but these are quite unusual in broodmares.

Foot abscesses are relatively common in any population of horses and are a common cause of lameness. These might burst out at the coronary band. Older mares might also develop degeneration of the soft tissue structures in the foot, primarily the deep digital flexor tendon, resulting in severe and incurable lameness.

Fig 5 Radiograph of early chronic rotation with ‘ski-tip’

Tumours

Fig 4 Radiograph of hoof with flat, thin sole and some rotation. Red lines show divergence between hoof wall and pedal bone

Tumours in the foot are rare but we do see keratomas in broodmares from time to time. A keratoma is a benign tumour of the inner hoof wall cells. As the keratoma grows, pressure on the surrounding tissues can cause lameness and damage to the underlying bone. The most common keratoma originates under the coronary band and grows down

Fig 6 Long term rotation of pedal bone with larger and damaged ‘ski-tip’

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Dr Statz

John Boyce cracks the code

Spirit becoming ever more successful

M

TREVOR JONES

agna Grecia’s success in the 2,000 Guineas was a milestone for his sire Invincible Spirit. He made up for the defeat of his sire’s Kingman when a hot favourite for the 2014 renewal of the Newmarket Classic. And after receiving a 125p rating from Timeform, he now moves among the very best of his sire’s progeny, albeit still with some way to go to match the 134 mark set by Kingman. Today, Invincible Spirit’s stud record is such that he’s considered alongside Cape Cross and Oasis Dream as one of the three stallions that bestow upon Green Desert a reputation as a top-class sire of sires.

The most recent of this trio to break into the big time was the Irish National Stud’s Invincible Spirit, whose big moment on the track came in the Sprint Cup at Haydock, a race his father had won 16 years earlier. He was rated only 121 by Timeform, which goes some way to explaining why he embarked on his stud career at a fee of only €10,000. The acquisition of Invincible Spirit has underpinned the financial success of the Irish National Stud, an organisation that was just coming to the end of a golden era with another very good sire in Indian Ridge. More importantly, Invincible Spirit was a ready replacement for the stud’s other Green Desert stallion Desert Prince, who had by then failed badly to match breeders’ expectations.

It was Prix du Jockey Club winner Lawman, from Invincible Spirit’s first crop, that set his sire’s career alight and his fee was quickly on the increase, all the way to €75,000 by 2008. It dropped to €45,000 in 2010 but then rose almost every year to

Invincible Spirit: Irish National Stud’s star

INVINCIBLE SPIRIT’S G1 WINNERS IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE Tfr

Name

Born

Sex

Dam

Broodmare Sire

134

Kingman

2011

C

Zenda

Zamindar

129

Moonlight Cloud

2008

F

Ventura

Spectrum

127

Charm Spirit

2011

C

L’Enjoleuse

Montjeu

125

Magna Grecia

2016

C

Cabaret

Galileo

125

Profitable

2012

C

Dani Ridge

Indian Ridge

124

Fleeting Spirit

2005

F

Millennium Tale

Distant Relative

124

Mayson

2008

C

Mayleaf

Pivotal

124

Signs Of Blessing

2011

G

Sun Bittern

Seeking The Gold

123

Shalaa

2013

C

Ghurra

War Chant

123

Territories

2012

C

Taranto

Machiavellian

121

Hooray

2008

F

Hypnotize

Machiavellian

121

Lawman

2004

C

Laramie

Gulch

118

National Defense

2014

C

Angel Falls

Kingmambo

117

Eqtidaar

2015

C

Madany

Acclamation

117

Vale Of York

2007

C

Red Vale

Halling

114

Royal Meeting

2016

C

Rock Opera

Lecture

109

Rosdhu Queen

2010

F

Green Minstrel

Green Tune

the €120,000 he’s been covering at for the past four seasons. As time would tell, Lawman has proved an exception to the rule as far as the typical Invincible Spirits go. Most are sprinting two-year-olds who then develop into top-class sprinter/milers at three and beyond, the exceptional Shalaa being a very good example of what he can do with his youngsters. His top three runners by Timeform rating typify how they progress, with milers Kingman (134) and Charm Spirit (127) separated by six to seven-furlong star Moonlight Cloud (129) and the 125-rated five-furlong specialist Profitable.

His best runners may be milers, but speed is his strong suit. That’s confirmed by an average winning distance of 7.3 furlongs for his progeny aged three and older, compared to their siblings’ 8.6 furlongs. His runners’ siblings have become stouter and stouter over the years as the son of Green Desert has been attracting some of the best mares in Europe, which tend to have more inherent stamina in their pedigrees.

Invincible Spirit’s sire Green Desert arguably did not possess the sire power we have come to associate with the very best stallions. His impressive 93 stakes winners made up 9% of his runners but the corresponding figure for his runners’ siblings was 12%. So far, Invincible Spirit looks like he’s more than holding his own in this regard. He has sired 112 stakes winners, which amounts to 8.7% of his runners. This is right in line with what other sires have managed with his mares, which is no small achievement when you

consider that a good many of the siblings of Invincible Spirit’s runners compete over longer distances and therefore have more scope for black-type success. As things stand Invincible Spirit has just about matched his sire’s achievements, but from far larger books.

Significantly, he has bypassed Cape Cross as the best son of Green Desert in Europe in one important respect: his best ten runners have an average Timeform rating of 126.1, marginally ahead of Cape Cross’s 126.0. Oasis Dream, who retired to stud a year after Invincible Spirit, has a best ten average of 125.1. He’s on 17 Group 1 winners, the same mark as Oasis Dream but has already surpassed the Juddmonte sire’s tally of Group winners and it’s surely only a matter of time before he overhauls his 117 stakes winners.

Invincible Spirit is a top-class stallion.

The next stage in his story is also well and truly on its way. Like each sire in his immediate male line – Northern Dancer, Danzig and Green Desert – Invincible Spirit looks set to establish his very own global reputation as source for top-class stallions. Moreover, despite his limited success in Australasia as a sire, he’s gained a foothold there through his brilliant son I Am Invincible, who recently broke the seasonal record number of stakes scorers in Australia with a 27th winner.

He’s also got the exciting young sires Kingman and Charm Spirit here and a host of others with young stock in the pipeline, including Profitable, Shalaa and Territories, plus the Irish National Stud’s very own National Defense.

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Data Book • Analysis by Andrew Caulfield European Pattern 5 PRIX GANAY G1 PARISLONGCHAMP. Apr 28. 4yo+. 2100m.

1. WALDGEIST (GB) 5 9-2 £154,432 ch h by Galileo - Waldlerche (Monsun) O-Gestut Ammerland/ Newsells Park B-The Waldlerche Partnership TR-A. Fabre 2. Study of Man (IRE) 4 9-2 £61,784 b c by Deep Impact - Second Happiness (Storm Cat) O-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd B-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd TR-P. Bary 3. Ghaiyyath (IRE) 4 9-2 £30,892 b c by Dubawi - Nightime (Galileo) O-Godolphin B-Springbank Way Stud TR-Charlie Appleby Margins 4.5, Short Head. Time 2:09.70. Going Good to Soft.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 2-5 17 7 7 £1,353,840 Sire: GALILEO. Sire of 305 Stakes winners. In 2019 HERMOSA Pivotal G1, WALDGEIST Monsun G1, MAGICAL Pivotal G2, PLATINUM WARRIOR Clodovil G2, GREY LION Danehill G3, MIDTERM Oasis Dream G3, CAPE OF GOOD HOPE Danehill LR. 1st Dam: WALDLERCHE by Monsun. 2 wins at 2 and 3 in France, Prix Penelope G3. Dam of 3 winners:

2014:

2015: 2016: 2017: 2018:

WALDGEIST (c Galileo) 7 wins at 2, 4 and 5 in France, Criterium de Saint-Cloud G1, Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud G1, Prix Ganay G1, Grand Prix de Chantilly G2, Qatar Prix Foy G2, Prix d’Hedouville G3, 2nd Qipco Prix du Jockey Club G1, Prix Greffulhe G2, Gigaset Cumberland Lodge S G3, 3rd Prix de Conde G3.

WALDLIED (f New Approach) 2 wins at 3 in France, Prix de Malleret G2.

WALDSTERN (g Sea The Stars) Winner at 2.

Waldkonig (c Kingman) unraced to date. (f Galileo)

2nd Dam: Waldmark by Mark of Esteem. 1 win at 2, 2nd Stan James Falmouth S G2. Dam of MASKED MARVEL (c Montjeu: Ladbrokes St Leger S G1, 3rd Diamond Jubilee Investec Coronation Cup G1), WALDLERCHE (f Monsun, see above), WALDNAH (f New Approach: Dallmayr Coupe Lukull LR) Broodmare Sire: MONSUN. Sire of the dams of 79 Stakes winners. In 2019 - SHRAAOH Sea The Stars G1, WALDGEIST Galileo G1, NAGANO GOLD Sixties Icon LR, VELOX Just A Way LR.

WALDGEIST ch h 2014 Northern Dancer

Nearctic Natalma

Fairy Bridge

Bold Reason Special

Miswaki

Mr Prospector Hopespringseternal

Allegretta

Lombard Anatevka

Konigsstuhl

Dschingis Khan Konigskronung

Mosella

Surumu Monasia

Mark of Esteem

Darshaan Homage

Wurftaube

Acatenango Wurfbahn

Sadler’s Wells GALILEO b 98 Urban Sea

Monsun WALDLERCHE ch 09 Waldmark

Bearing in mind that Waldgeist failed by only a short head to land the 2017 Prix du Jockey-Club over an extended mile and a quarter, it seems a little surprising that ten of his next 11 starts were over a mile and a half – especially when it is so important in today’s industry to demonstrate that a potential stallion possesses a measure of speed. Waldgeist did exactly that in the Prix Ganay, when he found too much finishing speed for the Classic-winning Study Of Man and the highly-regarded Ghaiyyath.

It is understandable that Waldgeist’s connections expected a mile and a half to be his forte. After all, the colt’s first Gr1 success, at two, had been gained over a mile and a quarter in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud, and his second came in the Grand Prix de

Saint-Cloud over a mile and a half. On both occasions the son of Galileo led well inside the final furlong.

Waldgeist is the first foal of Waldlerche, a Monsun mare who won the Gr3 Prix Penelope over the same distance as the Prix Ganay.

Waldlerche’s second foal, by Galileo’s son New Approach, was Waldlied, who looked highly promising when she won the Gr2 Prix de Malleret on her fourth start but wasn’t seen out again.

Galileo’s half-brother Sea The Stars sired Waldlerche’s third foal, Waldstern, who shaped like a potentially smart stayer as a two-yearold. The mare also has a 2017 colt by Kingman and a 2018 sister to Waldgeist.

Waldlerche herself is a half-sister to Masked Marvel, the Montjeu colt who won the 2011 St Leger. Their dam, the Mark Of Esteem mare Waldmark, also had a Classicwinning half-brother in Waldpark, winner of the 2011 Deutsches Derby. Waldmark was a speedier sort, as she showed when an unlucky loser of the then-Gr2 Falmouth Stakes over a mile.

6 QIPCO 2000 GUINEAS STAKES G1 NEWMARKET. May 4. 3yoc&f. 8f.

1. MAGNA GRECIA (IRE) 9-0 £297,019 b c by Invincible Spirit - Cabaret (Galileo) O-Smith/Mrs Magnier/Tabor/Flaxman Stables B-Woodnook Farm Pty Ltd TR-Aidan O’Brien 2. King of Change (GB) 9-0 £112,606 b c by Farhh - Salacia (Echo of Light) O-Mr Ali Abdulla Saeed B-Godolphin Management Company Limited (Rabbah) TR-Richard Hannon 3. Skardu (GB) 9-0 £56,356 ch c by Shamardal - Diala (Iffraaj) O-Mr Abdulla Al Khalifa B-Sheikh Abdulla bin Isa Al-Khalifa TR-William Haggas Margins 2.5, 1.75. Time 1:36.80. Going Good.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 2-3 4 3 1 £450,459 Sire: INVINCIBLE SPIRIT. Sire of 119 Stakes winners.

In 2019 - MAGNA GRECIA Galileo G1, DIGITAL AGE Lemon Drop Kid G2, BIG BROTHERS PRIDE Green Tune G3, INNS OF COURT Seeking The Gold LR, INVINCIBLE ARMY Diktat LR. 1st Dam: CABARET by Galileo. 2 wins at 2, Silver Flash S G3. Dam of 3 winners:

2012: 2013: 2014: 2015: 2016:

2017: 2018:

Prance (f Danehill Dancer). Broodmare.

COROBEREE (g Dansili) Winner at 3.

INVINCIBLE RYKER (c Invincible Spirit) 6 wins.

Lady In Lights (f Dansili) ran twice.

MAGNA GRECIA (c Invincible Spirit) 3 wins at 2 and 3, Vertem Futurity Trophy S G1, Qipco 2000 Guineas S G1, 2nd Godolphin Autumn S G3. (f Kodiac) (c Siyouni)

2nd Dam: Witch of Fife by Lear Fan. 2 wins at 2, 3rd Enza New Zealand Sweet Solera S LR. Dam of DRUMFIRE (g Danehill Dancer: Iveco Daily Solario S G3), CABARET (f Galileo, see above), HO CHOI (g Pivotal: Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup LR, 2nd Scottish Equitable Gimcrack S G2) Broodmare Sire: GALILEO. Sire of the dams of 141 Stakes winners. In 2019 - MAGNA GRECIA Invincible Spirit G1, THE AUTUMN SUN Redoute’s Choice G1, GHAIYYATH Dubawi G2, PANTSONFIRE Sir Percy G3, WATCH ME Olympic Glory G3.

The Invincible Spirit/Galileo cross has produced: MAGNA GRECIA G1, ANCIENT SPIRIT G2, ALEA IACTA G3, BABY PINK LR, EMMAUS LR, Cersei LR, Guerriere LR.

MAGNA GRECIA b c 2016 Danzig

Northern Dancer Pas de Nom

Foreign Courier

Sir Ivor Courtly Dee

Kris

Sharpen Up Doubly Sure

Eljazzi

Artaius Border Bounty

Sadler’s Wells

Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge

Urban Sea

Miswaki Allegretta

Lear Fan

Roberto Wac

Fife

Lomond Fiddle-Faddle

Green Desert INVINCIBLE SPIRIT b 97 Rafha

Galileo CABARET b 07 Witch of Fife

During the long history of Doncaster’s Gr1 Futurity, which began as the Timeform Gold Cup in 1961, we have become used to seeing its winners go on to success in the longer Classics, thanks to such as Noblesse, Ribocco, Reference Point, Celtic Swing, High Chaparral, Brian Boru, Motivator, Authorized, Camelot and Kingston Hill.

However, not every two-year-old who shines over a mile is destined to develop into a stayer – at least not in the early stages of its second season.

High Top, Camelot and Saxon Warrior all won the 2,000 Guineas, while Green Dancer and American Post won the French equivalent.

Now Magna Grecia has become the fourth to win the 2,000 Guineas, and this was less of a surprise, from a pedigree viewpoint, than the victories of some of his predecessors. Whereas Camelot and Saxon Warrior are respectively sons of Montjeu and Deep Impact, Magna Grecia is by Invincible Spirit, a Haydock Sprint Cup winner who is also responsible for such speedy two-year-old Gr1 winners as Hooray, Rosdhu Queen and Shalaa.

There is a theoretical chance that Magna Grecia will eventually stay a mile and a quarter, as there is plenty of stamina to be found in the bottom line of his pedigree. However, Magna Grecia’s first two dams, Cabaret and Witch Of Fife, failed to reproduce their useful two-year-old form when tried over middle distances.

Magna Grecia’s trainer Aidan O’Brien trained Cabaret to win the Gr3 Silver Flash Stakes over seven furlongs at two.

Magna Grecia is the best of Invincible Spirit’s five black-type winners out of daughters of the great Galileo. One of the others, Baby Pink, won a mile-and-a-half Listed race but she probably isn’t typical, as the five also include the very useful Emmaus, who did his winning over seven furlongs, and Ancient Spirit, a dual Gr2 winner over a mile in Germany.

Cabaret was one of three talented juveniles produced by Witch Of Fife, the others being the Gr3 Solario Stakes winner Drumfire (by Danehill Dancer) and the Gr2 Gimcrack Stakes second Ho Choi (by Pivotal).

It is easy to understand why the connections of Cabaret and Witch Of Fife expected them to stay quite well. Witch Of Fife’s dam Fife was a

half-sister to El Conquistador, runner-up in the Gr3 Goodwood Cup over 21 furlongs. When El Conquistador’s sister Piffle was mated to the seven-furlong specialist Efisio the outcome was Pearly Shells, winner of the Gr1 Prix Vermeille over a mile and a half.

Magna Grecia’s fourth dam Fiddle Faddle was a half-sister to the Irish St Leger winner Mountain Lodge.

The next dam Fiddlededee was third in the Park Hill Stakes and was a half-sister to the Park Hill winner Collyria, in addition to Visor, dam of the Goodwood Cup winner Raise You Ten. 7 QIPCO 1000 GUINEAS STAKES G1 NEWMARKET. May 5. 3yof. 8f.

1. HERMOSA (IRE) 9-0 £283,550 b f by Galileo - Beauty Is Truth (Pivotal) O-Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier B-Beauty Is Truth Syndicate TR-Aidan O’Brien 2. Lady Kaya (IRE) 9-0 £107,500 b f by Dandy Man - Kayak (Singspiel) O-Ms Joanne Lavery B-Mr J. O’Connor TR-Ms Sheila Lavery 3. Qabala (USA) 9-0 £53,800 b f by Scat Daddy - Entwine (Empire Maker) O-H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani B-Eutrophia Farm TR-Roger Varian Margins 1, Neck. Time 1:36.80. Going Good.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 2-3 8 3 4 £515,919 Sire: GALILEO. Sire of 305 Stakes winners. In 2019 HERMOSA Pivotal G1, WALDGEIST Monsun G1, MAGICAL Pivotal G2, PLATINUM WARRIOR Clodovil G2, GREY LION Danehill G3, MIDTERM Oasis Dream G3, CAPE OF GOOD HOPE Danehill LR. 1st Dam: BEAUTY IS TRUTH by Pivotal. 3 wins at 2 and 3 in France, Prix du Gros-Chene- Mitsubishi Motors G2.

Dam of 5 winners:

2009:

2010:

2011: 2012: 2013: 2014:

2015: 2016:

2017: 2018:

FIRE LILY (f Dansili). 4 wins at 2 and 3, Jebel Ali Anglesey S G3, Ballyogan S G3, P. P. O’Leary Mem. Phoenix Sprint S G3, 2nd Moyglare Stud S G1, Total Prix Marcel Boussac G1. Broodmare.

THE UNITED STATES (c Galileo) 7 wins at home, Australia, Ranvet Rawson S G1, 2nd Longines Queen Elizabeth S G1, 3rd Ranvet Rawson S G1.

BUONARROTI (g Galileo) 3 wins at 2, 5 and 6.

Torrey Pines (c Galileo) Ring The Bell (f Galileo) ran once.

Broodmare.

HYDRANGEA (f Galileo). 4 wins at 2 and 3, Qipco Brit.Champions Fillies/Mare S G1, Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron S G1, 2nd Dubai Fillies’ Mile S G1, Moyglare Stud S G1, Prix de l’Opera Longines G1, 3rd Coronation S G1, Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas G1.

Adelphi (c Galileo) unraced.

HERMOSA (f Galileo) 3 wins at 2 and 3, Qipco 1000 Guineas S G1, Weld Park S G3, 2nd bet365 Fillies’ Mile S G1, Criterium International G1, 3rd Moyglare Stud S G1.

Salsa (f Galileo) unraced to date. (f Galileo)

2nd Dam: ZELDING by Warning. 3 wins at 2 and 3 in France Prix du Bois G3, 3rd Prix du Gros-Chene G2, Prix Robert Papin (Omnium de 2 Ans) G2. Dam of BEAUTY IS TRUTH (f Pivotal, see above), GLORIOUS SIGHT (f Singspiel: Prix du Top 14 Orange Prix Finlande LR, 2nd Poule d’Essai des Pouliches G1, 3rd Prix de Diane Longines G1). Third dam of Kilfrush Memories.

Broodmare Sire: PIVOTAL. Sire of the dams of 89 Stakes winners. In 2019 - HERMOSA Galileo G1, MAGICAL Galileo G2, MABS CROSS Dutch Art G3, PRECIEUSE Tamayuz G3.

The Galileo/Pivotal cross has produced: HERMOSA G1, HYDRANGEA G1, MAGICAL G1, RHODODENDRON G1, THE UNITED STATES G1, FLYING THE FLAG G2, GOSPEL CHOIR G2, FLATTERING G3, ORDEROFTHEGARTER G3, PEACH TREE G3, SILVER GALAXY G3, Tamarind Cove G3.

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CAULFIELD ON HERMOSA: “Beauty Is Truth, the dam of the 1,000 Guineas winner, is by no means the only daughter of Pivotal enjoying repeated success with Galileo�

HERMOSA b f 2016 Northern Dancer

Nearctic Natalma

Fairy Bridge

Bold Reason Special

Miswaki

Mr Prospector Hopespringseternal

Allegretta

Lombard Anatevka

Polar Falcon

Nureyev Marie d’Argonne

Fearless Revival

Cozzene Stufida

Warning

Known Fact Slightly Dangerous

Zelda

Caerleon Mill Princess

Sadler’s Wells GALILEO b 98 Urban Sea

Pivotal BEAUTY IS TRUTH b 04 Zelding

When a mare produces nine consecutive foals to the same champion stallion, you can be pretty sure that there is plenty to recommend the mating. This was underlined when Beauty Is Truth’s 2016 Galileo filly,

seven starts as a juvenile. In addition to winning at Gr3 level, she was second in the Gr1 Fillies’ Mile and against the colts in the Gr1 Criterium International.

Beauty Is Truth had made a bright start to her broodmare career, producing the triple Gr3 sprint winner Fire Lily to Dansili. Fire Lily, in turn, has produced five consecutive foals to Galileo, including the promising three-year-old Jack Yeats, a winner over a mile and a quarter.

Beauty Is Truth is by no means the only daughter of Pivotal enjoying repeated success with Galileo. There are now 35 foals by Galileo out of Pivotal mares, of which 25 have started, 22 have won and a magnificent 11 have enjoyed black-type success.

Beauty Is Truth is now the most

Hermosa, won the 1,000 Guineas to become the partnership’s third Gr1 winner, following The United States, winner of the Gr1 Ranvet Stakes in Australia, and Hydrangea, winner of the British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes and the Matron Stakes.

Both The United States and Hydrangea were effective from a mile to a mile and a half, which bodes well for Hermosa’s chances in the Oaks and Irish Oaks.

Galileo can take the credit for this stamina, as Beauty Is Truth shone over five furlongs, winning the Gr3 Prix d’Arenberg at two and Gr2 Prix du Gros-Chene at three.

Beauty Is Truth, in turn, can take much of the credit for Hermosa’s precocity, which allowed her to make

successful of them but Halfway To Heaven isn’t far behind, having produced three Group winners by him, including the British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes winner Magical and the top-class Rhododendron, who was successful at Gr1 level at two, three and four.

Zelding, the speedy second dam of Hermosa, won the Gr3 Prix du Bois and was second in the Prix Robert Papin, a race once won by her half-brother Zipping.

However, her Singspiel filly Glorious Sight was placed in the French 1,000 Guineas and Oaks. Third dam Zelda was a half-sister to Last Tycoon, a champion sprinter whose stamina stretched to winning the Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Group 2 and 3 Winners Date 23/02 17/03 24/03 30/03 06/04 06/04 07/04 07/04 07/04 10/04 10/04 13/04 13/04 13/04 13/04 13/04 13/04 14/04 14/04 14/04 14/04 16/04 17/04 17/04 18/04 22/04 22/04 26/04 26/04 26/04 28/04 28/04 28/04 28/04 28/04 28/04

Grade G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G2 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G2 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3 G3

Race (course) Betway Winter Derby Stakes (Lingfield Park) Prix Exbury (Saint-Cloud) Lodge Park EBF Park Express Stakes (Naas) Prix Edmond Blanc (Saint-Cloud) Ballylinch 1000 Guineas Trial Stakes (Leopardstown) P W McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes (Leopardstown) Prix d’Harcourt (Parislongchamp) Prix La Force (Parislongchamp) Prix Vanteaux (Parislongchamp) Prix Djebel (Maisons-Laffitte) Prix Imprudence (Maisons-Laffitte) Prix Sigy (Chantilly) Alleged Stakes (Naas) Gladness Stakes (Naas) Dubai Duty Free Fred Darling Stakes (Newbury) Dubai Duty Free John Porter Stakes (Newbury) Watership Down Greenham Stakes (Newbury) Kalkmann Fruhjahrs Meile (Dusseldorf) Prix Noailles (Parislongchamp) Prix de Fontainebleau (Parislongchamp) Prix de la Grotte (Parislongchamp) Lanwades Nell Gwyn Stakes (Newmarket) Connaught Abernant Stakes (Newmarket) bet365 Craven Stakes (Newmarket) bet365 Earl of Sefton Stakes (Newmarket) K.Baronin von Ullmann Schwarzgold Rennen (Cologne) Premio Ambrosiano (Milan) bet365 Mile (Sandown Park) bet365 Classic Trial (Sandown Park) bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes (Sandown Park) P. der SWK Stadtwerke Dr Busch Memorial (Krefeld) Sequence Vintage Crop Stakes (Navan) Prix Allez France Longines (Parislongchamp) Prix de Barbeville (Parislongchamp) P. Regina Elena 1000 Guineas Shadwell (Rome) Premio Parioli 2000 Guineas Shadwell (Rome)

Dist 10f 10f 8f 8f 7f 10f 10f 9f 9f 7f 7f 5.5f 10f 7f 7f 12f 7f 8f 10.5f 8f 8f 7f 6f 8f 9f 8f 10f 8f 10f 10f 8.5f 14f 10f 15.5f 8f 8f

Horse Wissahickon (USA) Soleil Marin (IRE) Normandel (FR) The Revenant (GB) Lady Kaya (IRE) Broome (IRE) Ghaiyyath (IRE) Shaman (IRE) Platane (GB) Munitions (USA) Watch Me (FR) Big Brothers Pride (FR) Magical (IRE) Imaging (GB) Dandhu (GB) Marmelo (GB) Mohaather (GB) Stormy Antarctic (GB) Slalom (FR) Persian King (IRE) Castle Lady (IRE) Qabala (USA) Keystroke (GB) Skardu (GB) Zabeel Prince (IRE) Axana (GER) Dirk (IRE) Beat The Bank (GB) Bangkok (IRE) Crystal Ocean (GB) Winterfuchs (GER) Master of Reality (IRE) Morgan Le Faye (GB) Holdthasigreen (FR) Fullness of Life (IRE) Out of Time (ITY)

Age 4 5 5 4 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 3 6 3 6 3 3 3 3 7 3 6 3 5 5 3 5 3 4 5 7 3 3

Sex C H M C F C C C F C F F F C F H C G C C F F H C G F H G C H C G M G F C

Sire Tapit Kendargent Le Havre Dubawi Dandy Man Australia Dubawi Shamardal Le Havre War Front Olympic Glory Invincible Spirit Galileo Oasis Dream Dandy Man Duke of Marmalade Showcasing Stormy Atlantic Intello Kingman Shamardal Scat Daddy Pivotal Shamardal Lope de Vega Soldier Hollow Mujahid Paco Boy Australia Sea The Stars Campanologist Frankel Shamardal Hold That Tiger Holy Roman Emperor Sakhee’s Secret

EQUESTRIAN PROPERTY To advertise here from just ÂŁ95 (ex VAT) please call Anderson & Co on +44 (0)1380 816777

Jun_178_DataBook.indd 103

Broodmare Sire Nureyev Montjeu King’s Best Excellent Art Singspiel Acclamation Galileo Green Desert Nayef Tapit Galileo Green Tune Pivotal Dubai Destination Cape Cross In The Wings Inchinor Doyen Selkirk Dylan Thomas Elusive Quality Empire Maker Selkirk Iffraaj Unbridled’s Song Sleeping Indian Docksider Diktat Darshaan Mark of Esteem Lomitas Darshaan Lomitas Muhtathir Stravinsky Rainbow Quest

Index 1 2 3 4 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

EQUINE SERVICES FOSSEBROOK STABLES

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Chartered Surveyor

RICS Valuations, Leases, Sales 124 High Street, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 8JP

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Tel: 01638 667 118 Mob: 07802 501 548 Email: john@keylocks.com Web: www.keylocks.com

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Over 10 years of experience in the racing industry Brook Lane, Moreton Morrell, Warwick CV35 9AT 078660 16129 • 01926 650053 Kathleenhaughey@btinternet.com THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER 103

23/05/2019 12:40

Data Book Grade 1 Winners 240 BETWAY AINTREE HURDLE G1 AINTREE. Apr 4. 4yo+. 20f.

1. SUPASUNDAE (GB) 9 11-7 £141,325 b g by Galileo - Distinctive Look (Danehill) O-Ann & Alan Potts Limited B-Newsells Park Stud Limited TR-Mrs J. Harrington 2. Buveur d’Air (FR) 8 11-7 £53,775 b g by Crillon - History (Alesso) O-Mr John P. McManus B-Gerard Ferte TR-Nicky Henderson 3. Ch’tibello (FR) 8 11-7 £27,375 b g by Sageburg - Neicha (Neverneyev) O-The Can’t Say No Partnership B-Mrs E. Cucheval TR-Dan Skelton Margins 1.25, 0.5. Time 5:10.00. Going Soft.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 4-9 26 8 13 £756,639 Sire: GALILEO. Sire of 305 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - SUPASUNDAE Danehill G1, GOLD SEAL Danehill G2, LORD NAPIER King Charlemagne G3, BIG BLUE Anabaa LR, BLACKHILLSOFDAKOTA Darshaan LR, WELLS Rodrigo de Triano LR. 1st Dam: DISTINCTIVE LOOK by Danehill. Winner at 3.

Dam of 5 winners:

2008: 2010:

2011: 2012: 2013: 2015: 2017: 2018:

ROYAL PECULIAR (g Galileo) 3 wins at 3 to 5.

SUPASUNDAE (g Galileo) Sold 195,000gns yearling at TAOC1. 8 wins, Ascot Championship Open NH Flat Race LR, BHP Insurances Champion Hurdle G1, Betway Aintree Hurdle G1, Betdaq Punchestown Champion Hurdle G1, Coral Cup H. Hurdle G3, 2nd BHP Ins.Champion Hurdle G1, Ryanair Liverpool Stayers’ Hurdle G1, Betway Aintree Hurdle G1, Sun Bets Stayers’ World Hurdle G1, Ryanair December Hurdle G1, baroneracing.com Hatton’s Grace Hurdle G1, Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle G1, Limestone Lad Hurdle G3, 3rd Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle G1.

Elshaadin (f Dalakhani) ran twice.

Broodmare.

POSING (f Medicean) Winner at 4.

DISTINGO (g Smart Strike) 4 wins.

TWENTY TWENTY (g Henrythenavigator) 2 wins over hurdles at 3 and 4.

Night And Day (f Sea The Moon) unraced to date. (c Equiano)

2nd Dam: MAGNIFICIENT STYLE by Silver Hawk. 2 wins at 3 Tattersalls Musidora S G3. Dam of PERCUSSIONIST (g Sadler’s Wells: Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup G2, Grand National Hurdle LR), NATHANIEL (c Galileo: Coral Eclipse S G1, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S G1, 2nd Red Mills Irish Champion S G1, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S G1, 3rd Qipco Champion S G1), PLAYFUL ACT (f Sadler’s Wells: Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile S G1, 2nd Darley Irish Oaks G1), GREAT HEAVENS (f Galileo: Darley Irish Oaks G1), ECHOES IN ETERNITY (f Spinning World: National Stud Club Park Hill S G2, Peugeot Sun Chariot S G2), CHANGING SKIES (f Sadler’s Wells: La Prevoyante H G3, The Very One S G3, 2nd Flower Bowl Invitational S G1), STYLELISTICK (f Storm Cat: Appalachian S LR, Green River S LR, 3rd Regret S G3), PETARA BAY (g Peintre Celebre: Connaught Access Flooring Feilden S LR, 3rd Princess of Wales’s wbx.com S G2). Grandam of GIANTS PLAY, WHISPERING GALLERY, ANJAZ, RED EN CIEL, TEARLESS, Sound Reflection, Eavesdropper. Third dam of ISPOLINI, Playful Sound.

Broodmare Sire: DANEHILL. Sire of the dams of 387 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - SUPASUNDAE Galileo G1, GOLD SEAL Galileo G2.

The Galileo/Danehill cross has produced: SUPASUNDAE G1, Beyond Conceit G1, GOLD SEAL G2, Benkei G2, BALLYGLASHEEN G3, Pageboy G3, VIA GALILEI LR.

SUPASUNDAE b g 2010 Sadler’s Wells GALILEO b 98

Northern Dancer Nearctic Natalma Fairy Bridge

Bold Reason Special

Miswaki

Mr Prospector Hopespringseternal

Allegretta

Lombard Anatevka

Danzig

Northern Dancer Pas de Nom

Razyana

His Majesty Spring Adieu

Silver Hawk

Roberto Gris Vitesse

Mia Karina

Icecapade Basin

Urban Sea

Danehill DISTINCTIVE LOOK b 03 Magnificient Style

Supasundae’s 21 starts over hurdles have yielded only six victories but among them are a defeat of Wicklow Brave in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle over two miles and now a victory over the dual Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D’Air in the Aintree Hurdle over two and a half.

His record sounds more impressive when his eight seconds are taken into account, as no fewer than seven of them were gained at Gr1 level.

One of them was a narrow defeat by Apple’s Jade in the Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle over three miles, which underlined Supasundae’s class and versatility.

Supasundae has a pedigree worthy of a Gr1 winner on the Flat. In addition to being a son of the great Galileo, he is out of a Danehill mare, so represents the famous nick which has produced a dozen Gr1 winners on the level, including those serial Gr1 winners Frankel and Highland Reel, the champion two-year-old Teofilo, the Prix du Jockey-Club winner Intello and Frankel’s brother Noble Mission.

Supasundae’s dam, the minor nine-furlong winner Distinctive Look, had cost no less than 825,000gns at the Swettenham Stud dispersal in 2007. Her price reflected the fact that she was a daughter of that exceptional broodmare Magnificient Style, whose visits to Galileo were to result in those top performers Nathaniel and Great Heavens.

Unfortunately, even the most celebrated nicks produce more failures than successes. When Newsells Park consigned Supasundae to the yearling sales, the bidding stalled at 170,000gns.

When he next appeared in a sales ring it was as an unraced three-year-old gelding at Doncaster’s Horses in Training sale in 2013.

The catalogue ungrammatically explained that “this gelding is a fine individual whose looks and appearance clearly indicate that he has needed time – has now been broken and is cantering.” Even so, the gelding was sold privately for as little as £5,000.

1st Dam: VITORA by Victory Note. Winner at 3 in France.

Dam of 1 winner:

2011: 2012:

Broodmare Sire: VICTORY NOTE. Sire of the dams of 2 Stakes winners.

1. KEMBOY (FR) 7 11-7 £112,260 b g by Voix du Nord - Vitora (Victory Note) O-Supreme Racing/Brett Graham/Ken Sharp B-J. Morruzzi & P. Morruzzi TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Clan des Obeaux (FR) 7 11-7 £42,220 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. Balko des Flos (FR) 8 11-7 £21,100 ch g by Balko - Royale Marie (Garde Royale) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-C. Bardin & F. Bardin TR-Henry de Bromhead Margins 9, Head. Time 6:35.20. Going Good to Soft.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 3-7 16 8 4 £498,321 Sire: VOIX DU NORD. Sire of 21 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - DEFI DU SEUIL Lavirco G1, DUCA DE THAIX Subotica G1, ESPOIR D’ALLEN Maille Pistol G1, KEMBOY Victory Note G1, VOIX DU REVE Apple Tree G1.

Northern Dancer My Charmer

Vearia

Mill Reef Val Divine

Top Ville

High Top Sega Ville

Girl of France

Legend of France Water Girl

Fairy King

Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge

Three Piece

Jaazeiro Trinity Term

Tip Moss

Luthier Top Twig

Chevestraye

Lou Piguet Changaria

Dame Edith

Victory Note VITORA b 04 Mosstraye

See race 90 in the February issue 242 DEVENISH MANIFESTO NOVICES’ CHASE G1 AINTREE. Apr 4. 5yo+. 20f.

1. KALASHNIKOV (IRE) 6 11-4 £56,394 br g by Kalanisi - Fairy Lane (Old Vic) O-Mr Paul Murphy B-Sunnyhill Stud Ltd TR-Amy Murphy £21,374 2. La Bague Au Roi (FR) 8 10-11 b m by Doctor Dino - Alliance Royale (Turgeon) O-Mrs Julien Turner & Mr Andrew Merriam B-Comtesse Bertrand De Tarragon TR-Warren Greatrex £10,814 3. Mengli Khan (IRE) 6 11-4 b g by Lope de Vega - Danielli (Danehill) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Ballylinch Stud TR-Gordon Elliott Margins 1.25, 1.75. Time 5:05.90. Going Good to Soft.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 4-6 12 7 4 £226,578 Sire: KALANISI. Sire of 16 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - KALASHNIKOV Old Vic G1, BRAIN POWER Old Vic G2, SASSY DIVA Alflora G2.

1st Dam: Fairy Lane by Old Vic. unraced. Dam of 4 winners:

2008: 2009:

2011: 2012:

AINTREE. Apr 4. 5yo+. 25f.

Lomond Valanour VOIX DU NORD b 01

2013:

2014: 2015: 2016: 2017:

KALASHNIKOV br g 2013 Mill Reef

Never Bend Milan Mill

Dumka

Kashmir II Faizebad

Green Dancer

Nijinsky Green Valley

Kareena

Riverman Kermiya

Sadler’s Wells

Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge

Cockade

Derring-Do Camenae

Good Thyne

Herbager Foreseer

Fairy Tree

Varano Precision Time

Doyoun KALANISI b/br 96 Kalamba

Old Vic FAIRY LANE b 04 Fairy Blaze

KEMBOY b g 2012

2010:

241 BETWAY BOWL CHASE G1

Astraye (f Astarabad) KEMBOY (g Voix du Nord) 8 wins, 2nd Lacy Solicitors Golden Cygnet Nov.Hurdle G2, Punchestown EMS Copiers Novice H. Chase G1, Betway Bowl Chase G1, Savills Leopardstown Christmas Chase G1, Coral Punchestown Gold Cup Chase G1, Clonmel Oil Chase G2, Hugh McMahon Mem. Novice Chase G3.

Classic Event (g Presenting) KALANE (f Kalanisi) 5 wins, EBF & TBA Nat. Hunt Mares’ Nov. Hurdle LR, 3rd Irish Stall.Farms EBF Mares Chpn. Hurdle G1, Sheffield Greyh’d Doncaster Mares’ Chase LR. Broodmare.

PIXIE LANE (f Gamut) Winner over hurdles.

Broodmare.

Fairy On The Moor (f Presenting) unraced.

Broodmare.

HOLDBACKTHERIVER (g Presenting) 2 wins.

KALASHNIKOV (g Kalanisi) 7 wins, Betfair H. Hurdle G3, 2nd Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle G1, 32Red Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle G1, Devenish Manifesto Novices’ Chase G1, 2nd Agetur Kingmaker Novices’ Chase G2, 32red.com Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase G2.

Grianan Ailigh (f Shantou) unraced. (f Stowaway) (f Sageburg) (f Sageburg)

Broodmare Sire: OLD VIC. Sire of the dams of 41 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - KALASHNIKOV Kalanisi G1, BRAIN POWER Kalanisi G2, QUEENOHEARTS Flemensfirth G2, MISTY WHISKY Stowaway LR. The Kalanisi/Old Vic cross has produced: BRAIN POWER G1, KALANE G1, KALASHNIKOV G1.

Stepping Kalashnikov up to two and a half miles worked the oracle, with the son of Kalanisi producing a career best to take the Manifesto Novices’ Chase.

This was his third win from six starts over fences, but his first in four attempts at Graded level. Kalashnikov had also been a smart novice hurdler, notably failing by only a neck to land the Gr1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Kalanisi won the Queen Anne Stakes, Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2000 but the son of Doyoun proved much less effective when retired to Gilltown Stud, siring nothing better than a few Listed winners.

However, several of his Flat-bred sons, such as Barizan, Alaivan and Simarian, did well over jumps, none more so than Katchit. Winner of the 2007 Triumph Hurdle, Katchit went on to take the Champion Hurdle in 2008, by which time Kalanisi had been moved to Boardsmill Stud. The veteran’s purpose-bred jumpers are now making an impact, led by such as Kalashnikov, Brain Power (a Gr2 winner over hurdles after finishing second in the Gr1 Arkle Novices’ Chase) and Barters Hill (winner of the Gr1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle). He has also had a number of talented bumper horses, notably the short-lived dual Gr1 winner Fayonagh.

Both Kalashnikov and Brain Power are out of daughters of the former Boardsmill resident Old Vic. Bearing in mind that Old Vic sired two winners of the Grand National, it isn’t so surprising that Kalashnikov improved for the step up to two and a half miles.

His brother Kalane was a Listed winner over fences over the same distance.

Their dam Fairy Lane never raced but had the distinction of being a sister to the top-class chaser Kicking King, whose Gr1 successes included the Cheltenham Gold Cup and two editions of the King George VI Chase.

243 DOOM BAR ANNIVERSARY JUVENILE HURDLE G1 AINTREE. Apr 4. 4yo. 17f.

1. PENTLAND HILLS (IRE) 11-0 £56,155 b g by Motivator - Elle Galante (Galileo) O-Owners Group 031 B-Al Asayl Bloodstock Ltd TR-Nicky Henderson 2. Fakir d’Oudairies (FR) 11-0 £21,135 b g by Kapgarde - Niagaria du Bois (Grand Tresor) O-Mr John P. McManus B-Count M. de Gigou TR-Joseph Patrick O’Brien

104 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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CAULFIELD ON LOSTINTRANSLATION: “His dam Falika is by the very well-bred Hero’s Honor, who numbered the 11-furlong Bowling Green Handicap among two Grade 1 wins, so he clearly stayed quite well” 3. Christopher Wood (IRE) 11-0 £10,575 b g by Fast Company - Surf The Web (Ela-Mana-Mou) O-Ms Sharon Kinsella B-Airlie Stud TR-Paul Nicholls Margins Neck, 6. Time 4:13.60. Going Good to Soft.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 2-4 14 5 4 £141,905 Sire: MOTIVATOR. Sire of 32 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - PENTLAND HILLS Galileo G1, PHOTO CHOC Loup Solitaire LR, STORMY IRELAND Ultimately Lucky LR. 1st Dam: Elle Galante by Galileo. 3 wins at 3 in Germany, 3rd Prix Belle de Nuit LR. Own sister to ELLE GALA. Dam of 6 winners:

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

2017: 2018:

SHUTTERFLY (c Dalakhani) Winner at 3 in France.

Pangaea Prince (c Invincible Spirit) ran on the flat in France.

CAMLANN (g Cape Cross) 7 wins.

BALIOS (c Shamardal) 2 wins at 2 and 3, King Edward VII S G2.

Cersei (f Invincible Spirit) 4 wins, 2nd Prix Saonois LR. Broodmare.

BELGRAVIAN (g Pivotal) 2 wins at 3.

PENTLAND HILLS (g Motivator) Sold 40,000gns yearling at TAOC2. 5 wins, JCB Triumph Hurdle G1, Doom Bar Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle G1.

Ispahan (c Lope de Vega) unraced to date. (f Dubawi)

2nd Dam: ELLE DANZIG by Roi Danzig. Champion 3yr old filly in Germany in 1998, Champion older mare in Germany in 1999 & 2000. 12 wins at 3 to 5 in Germany, Italy Premio Roma G1 (twice), G.Dallmayr-Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen G1, 2nd Premio Presidente della Repubblica G1. Dam of ELLE SHADOW (f Shamardal: Rashit Shaykhutdinov-Cup G3, BelmondoPreis G3, Grosser Preis der Dortmunder Wirtschaft G3, 2nd Henkel Preis der Diana - Stuten Derby G1, 3rd Grosser Dallmayr Bayerisches Zuchtrennen G1), EL COMODIN (c Monsun: Prix Pelleas LR), ELLE GALA (f Galileo: MKT Night Magic Nereide-Rennen LR), Asyad (f New Approach: 3rd DFS Park Hill S G2), Lyric Street (g Hurricane Run: 3rd John Smith’s Silver Cup H LR), Elle Galante (f Galileo, see above), Elle Same (f Samum: 2nd Grosser Campanologist Neue Bult Cup LR) Broodmare Sire: GALILEO. Sire of the dams of 141 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - PENTLAND HILLS Motivator G1, SIR EREC Camelot G1, BEDROCK Fastnet Rock G2.

PENTLAND HILLS b g 2015 Sadler’s Wells

Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge

Floripedes

Top Ville Toute Cy

Gone West

Mr Prospector Secrettame

Chellingoua

Sharpen Up Uncommitted

Sadler’s Wells

Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge

Urban Sea

Miswaki Allegretta

Montjeu MOTIVATOR b 02 Out West

Galileo ELLE GALANTE b 03

Roi Danzig

Elle Danzig Elegie

Danzig Gdynia Teotepec Elektra

See race 218 in the May issue 244 BETWAY MILDMAY NOVICES’ CHASE G1 AINTREE. Apr 5. 5yo+. 25f.

1. LOSTINTRANSLATION (IRE) 7 11-4 £56,394 b g by Flemensfirth - Falika (Hero’s Honor) O-Taylor & O’Dwyer B-Mr A. R. M. M. Kavanagh TR-Colin Tizzard 2. Topofthegame (IRE) 7 11-4 £21,374 ch g by Flemensfirth - Derry Vale (Mister Lord) O-Mr Chris Giles & Mr&Mrs P K Barber B-P. Kavanagh TR-Paul Nicholls 3. Top Ville Ben (IRE) 7 11-4 £10,814 b g by Beneficial - Great Decision (Simply Great) O-Harbour Rose Partnership B-E. Prendergast & Mrs Helen Gillman TR-Philip Kirby Margins 6, 0.5. Time 6:31.50. Going Soft.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 4-7 13 3 7 £158,382 Sire: FLEMENSFIRTH. Sire of 83 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - COLREEVY Saddlers’ Hall G1,

Jun_178_DataBook.indd 105

INVITATION ONLY Alamo Bay G1, LOSTINTRANSLATION Hero’s Honor G1, O O SEVEN Eagle Eyed G1, TOPOFTHEGAME Mister Lord G1, CASTLEGRACE PADDY Mtoto G2, COOLANLY Accordion G2, IMPACT FACTOR Houmayoun G2, JETT Phardante G2, MAGIC OF LIGHT Saumarez G2, QUEENOHEARTS Old Vic G2.

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) 3 wins, 2nd Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle G1, Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase G1, BetBright Dipper Novices’ Chase G2, 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.

AINTREE. Apr 5. 4yo+. 16f.

1. FELIX DESJY (FR) 6 11-4 £56,130 ch g by Maresca Sorrento - Lamadoun (Smadoun) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-C. Bodin & M. Boullier TR-Gordon Elliott 2. Aramon (GER) 6 11-4 £21,110 b g by Monsun - Aramina (In The Wings) O-Supreme Horse Racing Club/Michael Songer B-Gestut Rottgen TR-W. P. Mullins 3. Rouge Vif (FR) 5 11-4 £10,550 b g by Sageburg - Rouge Amour (Cadoudal) O-Kate & Andrew Brooks B-S.A.R.L. Ecurie D & A. Montbroussous TR-Harry Whittington Margins 1.5, 7. Time 4:02.50. Going Soft.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 4-6 13 6 2 £130,437 Sire: MARESCA SORRENTO. Sire of 7 Stakes winners.

1st Dam: LAMADOUN by Smadoun. Winner over jumps in France. Dam of 2 winners:

2010:

2013:

CARLADOUN (f Roli Abi) 5 wins at 4 and 5 in France.

Marticathy Desjy (f Irish Wells) ran on the flat in France and over jumps in France.

FELIX DESJY (g Maresca Sorrento) 5 wins, Betway Top Novices’ Hurdle G1, Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle G2.

Hoist The Flag

Tom Rolfe Wavy Navy

Princess Pout

Prince John Determined Lady

Diesis

Sharpen Up Doubly Sure

Royal Bund

Royal Coinage Nato

Broodmare Sire: SMADOUN. Sire of the dams of 9 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - FELIX DESJY Maresca Sorrento G1, BAIE DES ILES Barastraight G2, LASKADINE Martaline LR.

Northern Dancer

Nearctic Natalma

Glowing Tribute

Graustark Admiring

FELIX DESJY ch g 2013

Alleged

Etheldreda

Hero’s Honor FALIKA b 96

245 BETWAY TOP NOVICES’ HURDLE G1

2011:

LOSTINTRANSLATION b g 2012

FLEMENSFIRTH b 92

smart Flat performers Dansant and Le Brivido, as well as the talented jumpers Fidux and Le Bacardy.

Lashkari

Mill Reef Larannda

La Rafale

Pharly Les Heures Claires

Karifale

MARESCA SORRENTO b 95

Nijinsky Green Valley

Come To Sea

Sea Hawk II Camarilla

Carmarthen

Devon Kuwait

Vaga

Tombeur Peditao

Kaldoun

Caro Katana

Mossma

Tip Moss Ticma

Akarad

Labus Licata

Lady Jeff

Jefferson La Caldera

French Free Star

Flemensfirth’s quest to become champion sire received another boost when his son Lostintranslation won the Gr1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase, adding to other Graded victories by the likes of Topofthegame, Three Musketeers, Jetz, Robinsfirth, Queenohearts, Ballyward, Magic Of Light, Ballymoy, Castlegrace Paddy and Coolanly.

Lostintranslation had earlier beaten Defi Du Seuil to win the Gr2 Dipper Novices’ Chase at around two and a half miles but he appeared to relish the extra distance in the Mildmay, which stamps the seven-year-old as a potential Gold Cup contender.

Lostintranslation’s dam Falika is by the very well-bred Hero’s Honor, who numbered the 11-furlong Bowling Green Handicap among his two Gr1 successes, so he clearly stayed quite well. Hero’s Honor didn’t live up to expectations as a stallion in the States but made amends when he was moved to France, where his stock includes the very smart stayer Generic.

Falika was another of his French-bred winners, scoring over a mile and a mile and a half 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

Smadoun LAMADOUN b 03 Lamakara

246 DOOM BAR SEFTON NOVICES’ HURDLE G1 AINTREE. Apr 5. 4yo+. 24f 110yds.

1. CHAMP (IRE) 7 11-4 £56,130 b g by King’s Theatre - China Sky (Definite Article) O-Mr John P. McManus B-P. & J. Myerscough TR-Nicky Henderson 2. Emitom (IRE) 5 11-4 £21,110 b g by Gold Well - Avenging Angel (Heron Island) O-The Spero Partnership Ltd B-Arctic Tack Stud TR-Warren Greatrex 3. Lisnagar Oscar (IRE) 6 11-4 £10,550 b g by Oscar - Asta Belle (Astarabad) O-Racing for Fun B-D. Fitzgerald TR-Rebecca Curtis Margins 3, 7. Time 6:17.90. Going Soft.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 5-7 9 6 3 £147,823 Sire: KING’S THEATRE. Sire of 111 Stakes winners.

NH in 2018/19 - BELLSHILL Be My Native G1, CHAMP Definite Article G1, PENNY JANE Topanoora G2, PEREGRINE RUN Definite Article G2, COGRY Supreme Leader G3, WALT Pampabird G3, WILLIAM HENRY Bob Back G3, BORN SURVIVOR Bob Back LR, CAIUS MARCIUS Trempolino LR, HAPPY DIVA Supreme Leader LR, KINGS APOLLO Magic Ring LR. 1st Dam: China Sky by Definite Article. ran once in a N.H. Flat Race and ran twice over hurdles. Dam of 1 winner:

2012:

Green Dancer Cadoudal

Nacarat and Smashing.

Felix Desjy’s family had previously been geared more to the Flat. His second dam Lamakara was a half-sister to La Monalisa (Gr3 Prix Penelope), and his third dam Lady Jeff was a half-sister to Bon Sang (Gr1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud).

2013: 2014: 2015: 2016: 2017: 2018:

CHAMP (g King’s Theatre) 6 wins, Betway Challow Novices’ Hurdle G1, Doom Bar Sefton Novices’ Hurdle G1, 2nd Ballymore Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle G1.

Track Mac (g Presenting) unraced.

Drury (f Beat Hollow) ran once in a N.H. Flat Race. (f Shirocco) (g Fame And Glory) (c Presenting) (c Walk In The Park)

Broodmare Sire: DEFINITE ARTICLE. Sire of the dams of 8 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - CHAMP King’s Theatre G1, PEREGRINE RUN King’s Theatre G2.

The €29,000 paid for Felix Desjy at the 2016 Land Rover Sale has proved to be money well spent. This French-bred gelding has now won a point-to-point, a couple of bumpers and three of his seven starts over hurdles, for total prize-money of over £113,000. A free-running sort, Felix Desjy made all to win the Top Novices’ Hurdle in a career-best effort.

Felix Desjy’s sire, Maresca Sorrento, was an unfamiliar name on this side of the Channel until his son Pineau De Re ran out a 25-1 winner of the 2014 Grand National. Maresca Sorrento was a big son of Cadoudal, the outstanding French jumping stallion, and his broodmare sire Carmarthen was another major force in French jumps breeding. Maresca Sorrento looked likely to fulfil the potential of his pedigree when he was a decisive winner of two races over hurdles at Auteuil as a three-year-old but he never ran again.

Felix Desjy’s dam Lamadoun won a steeplechase over just under two and a half miles. Her sire Smadoun is best known in Britain and Ireland as the sire of those smart chasers Smad Place,

The King’s Theatre/Definite Article cross has produced: CHAMP G1, PEREGRINE RUN G2, Takeyourcapoff G3, Tango Knight G3.

CHAMP b g 2012 Northern Dancer

Nearctic Natalma

Fairy Bridge

Bold Reason Special

Princely Native

Raise A Native Charlo

Dennis Belle

Crafty Admiral Evasion

Indian Ridge

Ahonoora Hillbrow

Summer Fashion

Moorestyle My Candy

Miller’s Mate

Mill Reef Primatie

Kanara

Hauban Alika

Sadler’s Wells KING’S THEATRE b 91 Regal Beauty

Definite Article CHINA SKY b 05 Katday

See race 94 in the February issue 247 JLT MELLING CHASE G1 AINTREE. Apr 5. 5yo+. 20f.

1. MIN (FR) 8 11-7 £140,985 b g by Walk In The Park - Phemyka (Saint Estephe) O-Mrs S. Ricci B-Madame M. Mimouni TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Politologue (FR) 8 11-7 £53,435 gr g by Poliglote - Scarlet Row (Turgeon) O-Mr J. Hales B-Mme H. Devin TR-Paul Nicholls 3. Waiting Patiently (IRE) 8 11-7 £27,035 b g by Flemensfirth - Rossavon (Beneficial) O-Mr Richard Collins B-V. Finn TR-Ruth Jefferson Margins 20, 9. Time 5:02.70. Going Soft.

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Data Book Grade 1 Winners Age Starts Wins Places Earned 3-8 18 9 8 £649,865 Sire: WALK IN THE PARK. Sire of 7 Stakes winners.

NH in 2018/19 - MIN Saint Estephe G1, WALK IN THE MILL Lost World G3, ANDI’AMU Septieme Ciel LR. 1st Dam: PHEMYKA by Saint Estephe. Winner at 3 in France. Dam of 4 winners:

2003: 2004: 2005: 2009: 2011:

Sipiderman (c Spadoun) unraced.

SATWA PRINCESS (f Daliapour) 4 wins at 3, 5 and 7 in France.

BELAMAGE (c Daliapour) 6 wins at 3, 4 and 6 in France.

GAONE (g Sagacity) 3 wins.

MIN (g Walk In The Park) 9 wins, Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle G2, 2nd Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle G1, Racing Post Christmas Novice Chase G1, John Durkan Mem. Punchestown Chase G1, Ladbrokes Dublin Chase G1, JLT Melling Chase G1, Coral Dublin Chase G2, 2nd Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase G1, JLT Melling Chase G1, Paddy Power Dial-a-Bet Chase G1.

Broodmare Sire: SAINT ESTEPHE. Sire of the dams of 9 Stakes winners.

MIN b g 2011 Sadler’s Wells

Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge

Floripedes

Top Ville Toute Cy

Robellino

Roberto Isobelline

Wanton

Kris Brazen Faced

Top Ville

High Top Sega Ville

Une Tornade

Traffic Rough Sea

Akarad

Labus Licata

Montjeu WALK IN THE PARK b 02 Classic Park

Saint Estephe PHEMYKA b 96 Stormyka Stormy Scene

Storm Bird Drama

See race 80 in the February issue 248 BETWAY MERSEY NOVICES’ HURDLE G1 AINTREE. Apr 6. 4yo+. 20f.

1. RESERVE TANK (IRE) 5 11-4 £56,130 b g by Jeremy - Lady Bellamy (Black Sam Bellamy) O-The Reserve Tankers B-Mr L. Dunne TR-Colin Tizzard £21,110 2. Brewin’upastorm (IRE) 6 11-4 b g by Milan - Daraheen Diamond (Husyan) O-Mrs Barbara Hester B-Longrove Stud TR-Olly Murphy £7,910 3. Angels Breath (IRE) 5 11-4 gr g by Shantou - Mystic Masie (Turgeon) O-Walters Plant Hire & Ronnie Bartlett B-Mrs C. Byrne TR-Nicky Henderson £7,910 3. One For Rosie (GB) 6 11-4 gr g by Getaway - Whisky Rose (Old Vic) O-Paul & Clare Rooney B-Distillery Stud TR-Nigel Twiston-Davies Margins 3.25, 2.25, Dead heat. Time 4:50.30.

Going Good.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 4-5 6 4 1 £119,447 Sire: JEREMY. Sire of 22 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - RESERVE TANK Black Sam Bellamy G1, BIRCHDALE Presenting G2, MISTER FISHER Marignan G2, SANTA ROSSA Almutawakel G2, THE GLANCING QUEEN Kayf Tara G2, GYPSY ISLAND Presenting G3, ENJOY IT Phantom Breeze LR. 1st Dam: Lady Bellamy by Black Sam Bellamy. winner of a point-to-point. Dam of 1 winner:

2014:

2015: 2016:

RESERVE TANK (g Jeremy) 4 wins over hurdles at 5, Alanna Champion Novice Hurdle G1, Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle G1.

Marsa Road (f Jeremy) unraced. (f Windsor Knot)

2nd Dam: MISS NOWHERE by Exit To Nowhere. 1 win at 2 in France. Dam of MISS EVERYWHERE (f Mull of Kintyre: Byerly Turk S LR) Broodmare Sire: BLACK SAM BELLAMY. Sire of the dams of 5 Stakes winners.

RESERVE TANK b g 2014 Danehill

Danzig Razyana

Mira Adonde

Sharpen Up Lettre d’Amour

Arazi

Blushing Groom Danseur Fabuleux

Wind In Her Hair

Alzao Burghclere

Sadler’s Wells

Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge

Urban Sea

Miswaki Allegretta

Exit To Nowhere

Irish River Coup de Folie

Miss Carina

Caro Miss Pia

Danehill Dancer JEREMY b/br 03 Glint In Her Eye

Black Sam Bellamy LADY BELLAMY b 05 Miss Nowhere

I have commented before that Ireland’s National Hunt sector appears to have suffered a serious loss when Danehill Dancer’s son Jeremy died in 2014 at the age of 11. He had completed only two seasons at Garryrichard Stud, after being transferred from the Irish National Stud following a disappointing start to his stallion career. Fortunately, Jeremy had been so busy at his new base that he left at least 165 thoroughbred foals in 2014 and at least 145 in 2015.

Several of Jeremy’s Flat-bred progeny have done well over jumps, such as Our Conor (Gr1 Triumph Hurdle), Stocktons Wing (Gr2 Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle), Who Dares Wins (Gr2 Summit Juvenile Hurdle), Jer’s Girl (a dual Gr1 winner over hurdles) and Whiskey Sour (Gr1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle).

Jeremy’s first crop of purpose-bred jumpers has already produced an impressive number of Graded winners.

Birchdale won the Gr2 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and Mister Fisher the Gr2 Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle, while Santa Rossa and The Glancing Queen have both won Gr2 National Hunt Flat races. Arguably best of all, though, is Reserve Tank, who was recording his third successive victory when he took the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at 20-1.

Although Jeremy was a Group winner over seven furlongs and a mile, Reserve Tank has already won over two miles and five furlongs.

Needless to say, there is stamina in the bottom half of his pedigree. His dam Lady Bellamy is a winning pointto-pointer by Galileo’s brother Black Sam Bellamy. A winner of the Gr1 Tattersalls Gold Cup. Black Sam Bellamy sired The Giant Bolster, who finished second, fourth and third in consecutive editions of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and Sam Spinner, a high-class staying hurdler.

Reserve Tank’s female line has been successful on the Flat, his second dam, the two-year-old winner Miss Nowhere, being a half-sister to the high-class miler Mendez.

249 DOOM BAR MAGHULL NOVICES’ CHASE G1 AINTREE. Apr 6. 5yo+. 16f.

1. ORNUA (IRE) 8 11-4 £56,130 ch g by Mahler - Merry Heart (Broken Hearted) O-John J Phelan/Syed Momin B-Mr B. Merry TR-Henry de Bromhead

2. Us And Them (IRE) 6 11-4 £21,110 b g by Stowaway - Manorville (Flemensfirth) O-Burnham P & D Ltd B-Ms A. M. Ryan TR-Joseph Patrick O’Brien 3. Destrier (FR) 6 11-4 £10,550 b g by Voix du Nord - Razia (Robin des Champs) O-Three Celts B-E.A.R.L. Trinquet, M. Trinquet & O. Trinquet TR-Dan Skelton Margins 1.75, 1.25. Time 3:50.90. Going Good.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 5-8 19 7 6 £136,553 Sire: MAHLER. Sire of 7 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - ORNUA Broken Hearted G1, ANNIE MC Classic Cliche G2, CHRIS’S DREAM Silver Patriarch G2, GLEN FORSA Bob Back G2, OK CORRAL Flemensfirth LR. 1st Dam: Merry Heart by Broken Hearted. unraced. Dam of 1 winner:

2004: 2005: 2006: 2008: 2011:

2012: 2013: 2015: 2016:

Merry In Moscow (g Moscow Society) (f Moscow Society) Norcotts Lane (g Moscow Society) unraced.

Racing Clouds (g Cloudings) ran once over hurdles.

ORNUA (g Mahler) 6 wins, Doom Bar Maghull Novices’ Chase G1, Ballymore EBF Kilbegnet Novice Chase G3, 2nd randoxhealth.com Henry VIII Nov. Chase G1, Open Gate Brewery Ballybrit Novice Chase G3, Buck House Novice Chase G3.

Bignorm (g Mahler) Merry At Heart (f Mahler) ran 3 times over hurdles. (f Mahler) (g Doyen)

Broodmare Sire: BROKEN HEARTED. Sire of the dams of 14 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - ORNUA Mahler G1, JURY DUTY Well Chosen LR.

ORNUA ch g 2011 Sadler’s Wells

Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge

Urban Sea

Miswaki Allegretta

Rainbow Quest

Blushing Groom I Will Follow

Dancing Rocks

Green Dancer Croda Rossa

Dara Monarch

Realm Sardara

Smash

Busted Ash Lawn

Green Shoon

Sheshoon Chrysoprase

Helenium

Khalkis Film Gala

Galileo MAHLER b 04 Rainbow Goddess

Broken Hearted MERRY HEART b 99 Hibiscus

Coolmore’s National Hunt stallion team has in the past depended a lot on sons of Montjeu, but another of Sadler’s Wells’s best stallion sons, Galileo, is also strongly represented, via Idaho, Imperial Monarch, Mahler, Order Of St George, Sans Frontieres and Soldier Of Fortune.

The fact that Mahler is priced at €5,500 in 2019, having started out at €2,500, is a reflection of the encouraging start made by his early crops.

His Graded winners include Sutton Place, Glen Forsa, Chris’s Dream and Annie Mc, and he has also been well represented by the Gr1-placed OK Corral, but he hadn’t had a Gr1 winner until Ornua landed the Maghull Novices’ Chase.

Mahler possessed plenty of stamina, as he showed in winning the Gr3 Queen’s Vase over two miles before finishing second in the St Leger and third in the Melbourne Cup. However, Ornua has raced mainly at up to two and a quarter miles, even though he won over three miles as a point-to-pointer, and his Gr1 success in the Maghull Novices’ Chase came over two miles.

His dam Merry Heart is an unraced daughter of Broken

Hearted. This winner of the Lockinge Stakes is best known as the sire of Pizarro, who collected Gr1 victories in a bumper and over fences, and Numbersixvalverde, winner of the Grand National and Irish Grand National. Ornua’s third dam Helenium was very useful over hurdles.

250 RYANAIR LIVERPOOL STAYERS’ HURDLE G1 AINTREE. Apr 6. 4yo+. 24f 110yds.

1. IF THE CAP FITS (IRE) 7 11-7 £101,034 b g by Milan - Derravaragh Sayra (Sayarshan) O-Paul & Clare Rooney B-L. Gilsenan TR-Harry Fry 2. Roksana (IRE) 7 11-0 £37,998 b m by Dubai Destination - Talktothetail (Flemensfirth) O-Mrs Sarah Faulks B-John O’Leary TR-Dan Skelton 3. Apple’s Jade (FR) 7 11-0 £18,990 b m by Saddler Maker - Apple’s For Ever (Nikos) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Mr R. Coveliers TR-Gordon Elliott Margins Head, Neck. Time 5:58.20. Going Good.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 4-7 11 7 4 £228,666 Sire: MILAN. Sire of 38 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - IF THE CAP FITS Sayarshan G1, LAKEMILAN Pistolet Bleu G2, MCFABULOUS Beneficial G2, MONALEE Glacial Storm G2, SANTINI Sleeping Car G2.

1st Dam: Derravaragh Sayra by Sayarshan. unraced. Dam of 1 winner:

2009: 2010: 2012:

2014:

(f Golan) (f Kutub) IF THE CAP FITS (g Milan) 7 wins, Ryanair Liverpool Stayers’ Hurdle G1, Coral Ascot Hurdle G2, 2nd Netbet National Spirit Hurdle G2, Unibet Elite Hurdle G2, 3rd Unibet Christmas Hurdle G1. (f Getaway)

Broodmare Sire: SAYARSHAN. Sire of the dams of 1 Stakes winner.

IF THE CAP FITS b g 2012 Northern Dancer

Nearctic Natalma

Fairy Bridge

Bold Reason Special

Darshaan

Shirley Heights Delsy

Kalata

Assert Kalkeen

Darshaan

Shirley Heights Delsy

Sayyara

Kris Safita

Be My Native

Our Native Witchy Woman

Fairly Deep

Deep Run Mrs Playfair

Sadler’s Wells MILAN b 98 Kithanga

Sayarshan DERRAVARAGH SAYRA br 04 Derravaragh Native

Back in April 2010, Duke Of Lucca made the first of four visits to Aintree’s Grand National meeting, finishing a good second to the high-class Peddlers Cross in the Gr2 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle. His breeder Liam Gilsenan took the hint and sent Duke Of Lucca’s half-sister Derravaragh Sayra to Duke Of Lucca’s sire Milan in 2011. This proved a shrewd move, as Duke Of Lucca returned to Aintree to win the Listed Betfred Handicap Chase in 2014 and 2015. Derravaragh Sayra’s visit to Milan produced If The Cap Fits, who appropriately visited the Aintree meeting to win the Gr1 Ryanair Stayers Hurdle in a hard battle with Roksana and Apple’s Jade.

If The Cap Fits was tackling seven

106 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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CAULFIELD ON HONEYSUCKLE: “Her sire Sulamani was well qualified to succeed as a producer of jumpers, as his sire Hernando was responsible for such notable jumpers as State Of Play and Sacundai” furlongs more than he had ever tackled before and three miles clearly suited him very well. If The Cap Fits has obviously inherited some of the stamina which helped Milan win the St Leger before siring stayers of the calibre of Double Shuffle, Jezki, Apache Stronghold, Martello Tower, Monalee, Santini and Beat That. If The Cap Fits’ dam, Derravaragh Sayra, is an unraced daughter of Sayarshan, a winner of the Gr2 Prix Hocquart. If The Cap Fits’ second dam, Derravaragh Native, was a half-sister to the very useful chaser White Star Line and the useful hurdler Kildare.

251 ISF EBF MARES NOVICE HURDLE G1 FAIRYHOUSE. Apr 21. 4yo+f. 20f.

1. HONEYSUCKLE (GB) 5 11-7 £53,153 b m by Sulamani - First Royal (Lando) O-Mr K. Alexander B-Dr G. W. Guy TR-Henry de Bromhead 2. Elfile (FR) 5 11-7 £17,117 b m by Saint des Saints - Rapide (Assessor) O-Mr K. Alexander B-Mr Michel Parreau-Delhote TR-W. P. Mullins 3. Eglantine du Seuil (FR) 5 11-7 £8,108 b m by Saddler Maker - Rixia du Seuil (Ultimately Lucky) O-Sullivan Bloodstock Limited B-Mrs C. Boudot TR-W. P. Mullins Margins 5.5, 3. Time 4:52.90. Going Good to Yielding.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 4-5 5 5 0 £96,228 Sire: SULAMANI. Sire of 23 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - HONEYSUCKLE Lando G1, SUNSHADE Groom Dancer LR. 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:

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 28 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - HONEYSUCKLE Sulamani G1, VOSNE ROMANEE Arakan LR.

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

Having been bought for only €9,500 as a three-year-old in 2017, Honeysuckle was back in the sales ring ten months later, shortly after her 15-length victory in a point-to-point.

This time it cost €110,000 to secure her.

Even at this much higher price, the daughter of Sulamani has proved to be very well bought, as she has won her first four starts over hurdles, progressing from a maiden to a Listed race, then to a Gr3 and finally

Jun_178_DataBook.indd 107

a Gr1. Honeysuckle easily coped with the step up to Gr1 company, taking the Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final by more than five lengths.

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, including a winner of the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini). He was switched to the National Hunt sector in 2011, to stand at Yorton Farm in Shropshire.

Sulamani was well qualified to succeed as a producer of jumpers, as his sire Hernando was responsible for such notable jumpers as State Of Play and Sacundai. Sulamani’s broodmare sire Alleged also exerted a powerful influence on jump racing.

Several of Sulamani’s best jumpers, such as his Grand National winner Rule The World, Mister Fizz and Cash And Go, were sired before his switch to Yorton, but Honeysuckle’s dam First Royal was Listed-placed over hurdles in Germany.

That said, First Royal also succeeded on the Flat in Germany and her second and third dams, First Smile and First Love, were Listed winners on the Flat. Honeysuckle’s broodmare sire, the top-class international performer Lando, sired the Gr1-winning chasers Fox Norton and Air Force One. 252 RYANAIR POWERS GOLD CUP NOVICE CHASE G1 FAIRYHOUSE. Apr 21. 5yo+. 20f.

1. VOIX DU REVE (FR) 7 11-10 £53,153 br g by Voix du Nord - Pommbelle (Apple Tree) O-Andrea & Graham Wylie B-D. Lommele, G. Wagner & S.C.E.A. Lommele TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Real Steel (FR) 6 11-10 £17,117 b g by Loup Breton - Kalimina (Monsun) O-Sullivan Bloodstock Limited B-Haras de Plasence & Mme V. Saint-Palais TR-W. P. Mullins 3. Winter Escape (IRE) 8 11-10 £8,108 b g by Robin des Pres - Saddleeruppat (Saddlers’ Hall) O-Mr John P. McManus B-Mr & Mrs O. Brennan TR-Aidan Anthony Howard Margins 5.5, 25. Time 5:03.60. Going Good to Yielding.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 2-7 29 7 8 £165,593 Sire: VOIX DU NORD. Sire of 21 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - DEFI DU SEUIL Lavirco G1, DUCA DE THAIX Subotica G1, ESPOIR D’ALLEN Maille Pistol G1, KEMBOY Victory Note G1, VOIX DU REVE Apple Tree G1.

1st Dam: POMMBELLE by Apple Tree. Winner at 3 in France. Dam of 2 winners:

2009: 2010: 2012:

2016:

Mikistar (g Kaldou Star) ran on the flat in France and over jumps in France.

POMMBOY (g Adieu) 2 wins over jumps in France.

VOIX DU REVE (g Voix du Nord) 7 wins, 2nd Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle G3, 3rd Ladbrokes Ireland H. Hurdle G2, Ryanair Powers Gold Cup Novice Chase G1, Betway Craddockstown Novice Chase G2, 3rd Racing Post Christmas Novice Chase G1.

Pomm Run (f Kandahar Run) in training.

Broodmare Sire: APPLE TREE. Sire of the dams of 2 Stakes winners.

VOIX DU REVE br g 2012 Lomond

Northern Dancer My Charmer

Vearia

Mill Reef Val Divine

Top Ville

High Top Sega Ville

Girl of France

Legend of France Water Girl

Bikala

Kalamoun Irish Bird

Pomme Rose

Carvin II Sentinelle

Pietru

Arctic Tern Agila

Broukalu

Makalu Broutille

Valanour VOIX DU NORD b 01 Dame Edith

Apple Tree POMMBELLE b 03 Belle Frimousse

Although Voix Du Nord had no more than 33 representatives in Britain and Ireland during the 2018-19 season, five of them were good enough to win a Graded race. These five – Voix Du Reve, Kemboy, Defi Du Seuil, Espoir D’Allen and Duca De Thaix – collectively notched up 13 Graded wins to help Voix Du Nord achieve a top-12 position on the leading sires’ table. It is going to be interesting to see how much longer Voix Du Nord can continue to make an impact, as his last foals were born in 2014. There were only 11 of them, the best being Espoir D’Allen.

Voix Du Reve’s jumping has occasionally let him down over fences, but he has now won three of his four completed starts, notably winning the Gr2 Craddockstown Novice Chase and now the Gr1 Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase. Already a veteran of 28 races, Voix Du Reve is clearly tough and sound. His dam Pommbelle was a minor 11-furlong winner on the Flat. His broodmare sire Apple Tree was arguably best known as the sire of Lough Derg, who stayed three miles well enough to win the Gr1 Long Walk Hurdle. Apple Tree achieved the rare distinction of winning Gr1 races in four different countries – Germany, the USA, England and France – and this top-class mile-and-a-half performer also finished third in the Arc. 253 BET365 CELEBRATION CHASE G1

2011: 2013: 2015: 2017:

Broodmare Sire: KEY OF LUCK. Sire of the dams of 16 Stakes winners.

ALTIOR b g 2010

1. ALTIOR (IRE) 9 11-7 £85,425 b g by High Chaparral - Monte Solaro (Key of Luck) O-Mrs Patricia Pugh B-P. Behan TR-Nicky Henderson 2. Sceau Royal (FR) 7 11-7 £32,055 b g by Doctor Dino - Sandside (Marchand de Sable) O-Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede B-Mr G. Vimont TR-Alan King 3. God’s Own (IRE) 11 11-7 £16,050 b g by Oscar - Dantes Term (Phardante) O-Crossed Fingers Partnership B-Mrs C. O’Driscoll TR-Tom George Margins 2.5, 3. Time 3:50.10. Going Good.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 4-9 22 20 1 £1,234,753 Sire: HIGH CHAPARRAL. Sire of 140 Stakes winners.

NH in 2018/19 - ALTIOR Key of Luck G1, CASIRAGHI Flying Spur LR. 1st Dam: MONTE SOLARO by Key of Luck. 2 wins, Brandon Hotel H. Hurdle G3. Dam of 4 winners:

2007: 2008: 2009: 2010:

KEY TO THE WEST (g Westerner) 5 wins.

Cestus (g High Chaparral) PRINCESS LEYA (f Old Vic) 3 wins, R E./B G.Golf Classic New Stand H.Hurdle G2. Broodmare.

ALTIOR (g High Chaparral) 20 wins, 3rd Betfair Bumper Standard Open NH Race

Northern Dancer

Nearctic Natalma

Fairy Bridge

Bold Reason Special

Darshaan

Shirley Heights Delsy

Kozana

Kris Koblenza

Chief’s Crown

Danzig Six Crowns

Balbonella

Gay Mecene Bamieres

Broken Hearted

Dara Monarch Smash

Remoosh

Glint of Gold Rivers Maid

Sadler’s Wells HIGH CHAPARRAL b 99 Kasora

Key of Luck MONTE SOLARO br 00 Footsteps

See race 78 in the February issue 254 BOYLESPORTS DROGHEDA CHAMPION CHASE G1 PUNCHESTOWN. Apr 30. 5yo+. 16f.

1. UN DE SCEAUX (FR) 11 11-12 £159,459 b g by Denham Red - Hotesse de Sceaux (April Night) O-E. O’Connell B-Haras de La Rousseliere & Mme Monique Choveau TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Min (FR) 8 11-12 £51,351 b g by Walk In The Park - Phemyka (Saint Estephe) O-Mrs S. Ricci B-Madame M. Mimouni TR-W. P. Mullins 3. Castlegrace Paddy (IRE) 8 11-12 £24,324 b g by Flemensfirth - Thunder Road (Mtoto) O-Clipper Logistics Group Ltd B-Mr P. J. W. Byrne TR-P. A. Fahy Margins 4, 38. Time 4:09.90. Going Yielding.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 4-11 32 23 5 £1,519,268 Sire: DENHAM RED. Sire of 8 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - UN DE SCEAUX April Night G1, VIRGILIO Cyborg LR. 1st Dam: Hotesse de Sceaux by April Night. ran on the flat in France at 5 and over jumps in France. Dam of 2 winners:

2002: SANDOWN PARK. Apr 27. 5yo+. 15f 110yds.

LR, Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle G1, Sky Bet Supreme Trial Sharp Nov.Hurdle G2, Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase G1, Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase G1 (twice), Betfair Tingle Creek Chase G1, Racing Post Henry VIII Novice Chase G1, Matchbook Clarence House Chase G1, Bet365 Celebration Chase G1 (3 times), Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase G2 (twice), 32red.com Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase G2, Unibet Desert Orchid Chase G2.

SILVERHOW (g Yeats) 4 wins.

Melior (f Milan) (g Milan) (f Walk In The Park)

2003: 2006: 2008:

OLYMPE DE SCEAUX (f Diableneyev) Winner at 4 in France.

Perle de Sceaux (f Diableneyev) unraced.

Star de Sceaux (f Maresca Sorrento) ran on the flat in France and over jumps in France.

UN DE SCEAUX (g Denham Red) 23 wins, Red Mills Trial Hurdle G2, Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase G1, Frank Ward Arkle Challenge Cup Nov.Chase G1, Boylesports Drogheda Champion Chase G1 (twice), Betfair Tingle Creek Chase G1, Ryanair Festival Trophy Chase G1, Sodexo Clarence House Chase G1 (3 times), Ryanair Colliers Novice Chase G1, Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase G2, Devenish Normans Grove Chase G2, 2nd Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase G1, Boylesports Drogheda Champion Chase G1, Betfair Tingle Creek Chase G1, Ryanair Festival Trophy Chase G1, Bet365 Celebration Chase G1, Prix La Barka Hurdle G2, Prix Leon Rambaud Hurdle G2, Prix Hypothese Hurdle G3.

Broodmare Sire: APRIL NIGHT. Sire of the dams of 9 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - BRISTOL DE MAI Saddler Maker G1, CLAN DES OBEAUX Kapgarde G1, UN DE SCEAUX Denham Red G1, CELTIOR Racinger LR. The Denham Red/April Night cross has produced: UN DE SCEAUX G1, Vire A Gauche LR.

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Data Book Grade 1 Winners UN DE SCEAUX b g 2008 Pampapaul

Yellow God Pampalina

Wood Grouse

Celtic Ash French Bird

Giboulee

Northern Dancer Victory Chant

Native Berry

Ribero Noble Native

Kaldoun

Caro Katana

My Destiny

Chaparral Carmelite

Diarifos

Dionysos II Diana

Papakiteme

Klairon Gorda

Pampabird DENHAM RED b 92 Nativelee

April Night HOTESSE DE SCEAUX ch 95 Olympe Occitane

There was surely no more popular winner at the 2019 Punchestown Festival than Un De Sceaux. The 11-year-old son of Denham Red was winless since his 2018 victory in the Boylesports Champion Chase and wasn’t expected to trouble his younger stablemate Min, fresh from his wide-margin Gr1 success at Aintree. However, the veteran showed he retained all the verve and boldness which had brought him nine previous Gr1 successes and he duly landed his second Boylesports Champion Chase success and his fourth win in five visits to the festival, dating back to 2013.

Un De Sceaux’s sire Denham Red failed to win in 15 attempts on the Flat but developed into a leading hurdler at three, when he won three times in addition to finishing second to Villez in the Grande Course de Haies des 3 Ans. Denham Red finished second in four of his five starts the following year, his final effort being a close defeat by Villez in the Prix Alain de Breil.

Denham Red died aged 22 in October 2014. Although he hadn’t been extensively used during his lengthy career, he was represented in France by Oculi, a dual Gr1 winner over fences.

In Britain his better winners include Ouzbeck and Virgilio, a pair of very useful staying chasers.

Denham Red’s broodmare daughters are responsible for the French Champion Hurdle winner Ptit Zig and the Leopardstown Champion Hurdle winner Petit Mouchoir.

Un De Sceaux ranks alongside Clan Des Obeaux, Trifolium, Bristol De Mai and Ar Mad as one of five British or Irish Gr1 winners over fences produced by daughters of April Night, a versatile performer who scored at up to 15 furlongs in winning 18 times. Un De Sceaux is the only winner among the four foals out of Hotesse De Sceaux, who never finished closer than sixth in eight starts.

255 DOOLEY THE ELLIER CHAMPION NOVICE CHASE G1 PUNCHESTOWN. Apr 30. 5yo+. 24f 110yds.

1. DELTA WORK (FR) 6 11-10 £53,153 br g by Network - Robbe (Video Rock) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-C. Magnien & J. Magnien TR-Gordon Elliott 2. Discorama (FR) 6 11-10 £17,117 b g by Saddler Maker - Quentala (Lone Bid) O-Thomas Friel/Andrew Gemmell B-Mr R. Buchot TR-Paul Nolan

3. A Plus Tard (FR) 5 11-5 £8,108 b g by Kapgarde - Turboka (Kahyasi) O-Cheveley Park Stud B-Mme H. Devin TR-Henry de Bromhead Margins 12, 2.25. Time 6:41.90. Going Yielding to Soft.

2011: 2012: 2014:

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 3-6 16 7 9 £292,396 Sire: NETWORK. Sire of 27 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - DELTA WORK Video Rock G1, LE RICHEBOURG Phantom Breeze G1, CRYSTAL BEACH Royal Charter G2, CELEBRE D’ALLEN Grand Seigneur LR, DIEU VIVANT Video Rock LR, THRILLING Poliglote LR.

KLASSICAL RISK (f My Risk) 2 wins over jumps in France.

Klassical Music (g Irish Wells) ran on the flat in France and over jumps in France.

KLASSICAL DREAM (g Dream Well) 5 wins, Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle G1, C. Pharma Brave Inca Novice Hurdle G1, Herald Champion Novice Hurdle G1.

Broodmare Sire: SEPTIEME CIEL. Sire of the dams of 25 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - KLASSICAL DREAM Dream Well G1, ANDI’AMU Walk In The Park LR.

KLASSICAL DREAM b g 2014

1st Dam: Robbe by Video Rock. Dam of 3 winners:

2012: 2013:

2014: 2015: 2016:

CAP YORK (g Ballingarry) 3 wins.

DELTA WORK (g Network) 7 wins, Pertemps Network Final H. Hurdle G3, 2nd Irish Mirror War of Attrition Nov.Hurdle G1, Guinness Dorans Pride Novice Hurdle G2, 3rd Monksfield Novice Hurdle G3, Fishery Lane Hurdle G3, baroneracing.com Drinmore Novice Chase G1, Dooley The Ellier Champion Novice Chase G1, Neville Hotels Fort Leney Novice Chase G1, 3rd RSA Ins. Novices’ Chase G1.

ELWOOD (g Martaline) Winner over jumps at 4 in France.

Foster’s (f Cokoriko) Gympie (f Lord du Sud) unraced to date.

Broodmare Sire: VIDEO ROCK. Sire of the dams of 29 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - DELTA WORK Network G1, BLACK CORTON Laverock G2, DALLAS DES PICTONS Spanish Moon G2, EQUEMAUVILLE Saint des Saints G3, ARRY Boris de Deauville LR, BOX OFFICE Great Pretender LR, DIEU VIVANT Network LR. The Network/Video Rock cross has produced: DELTA WORK G1, SAINT ARE G1, VENT SOMBRE G2, DIEU VIVANT LR, Colere Noire LR, Rob Conti LR.

DELTA WORK br g 2013 Konigsstuhl

Dschingis Khan Konigskronung

Mosella

Surumu Monasia

Reliance II

Tantieme Relance III

Nicotiana

Naras Nina

No Lute

Luthier Prudent Miss

Pauvresse

Home Guard Misoptimist

Luchiroverte

Slip Anchor Green Lucia

Kelinda

Pot d’Or Tafaraoui

Monsun NETWORK br 97 Note

Video Rock ROBBE b 05 Hotesse du Bouille

See race 42 in the January issue 256 HERALD CHAMPION NOVICE HURDLE G1 PUNCHESTOWN. Apr 30. 5yo+. 16f.

1. KLASSICAL DREAM (FR) 5 11-12 £53,153 b g by Dream Well - Klassical Way (Septieme Ciel) O-Mrs J Coleman B-Mr. Hubert Honore & Mrs Laure Guillaume TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Felix Desjy (FR) 6 11-12 £17,117 ch g by Maresca Sorrento - Lamadoun (Smadoun) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-C. Bodin & M. Boullier TR-Gordon Elliott 3. Mister Blue Sky (IRE) 5 11-12 £8,108 gr g by Royal Applause - Mujdeya (Linamix) O-Shanakiel Racing Syndicate B-Shadwell Estate Company Limited TR-W. P. Mullins Margins 5.5, 11. Time 4:00.90. Going Yielding.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 3-5 11 5 4 £239,425 Sire: DREAM WELL. Sire of 12 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - CHAMP DE BATAILLE Turgeon G1, KLASSICAL DREAM Septieme Ciel G1, FRENCH MADE Lavirco G2.

1st Dam: KLASSICAL WAY by Septieme Ciel. 4 wins over jumps in France, Prix Roger de Minvielle Chase LR, 3rd Prix Congress Chase G2. Dam of 4 winners:

2008: 2010:

KLASSICAL SUMMER (g Polish Summer) 4 wins.

KLASSICAL DANCE (f Nickname) Winner over jumps in France.

Northern Dancer

Nearctic Natalma

Fairy Bridge

Bold Reason Special

Alleged

Hoist The Flag Princess Pout

Normia

Northfields Mia Pola

Seattle Slew

Bold Reasoning My Charmer

Maximova

Green Dancer Baracala

Quest For Fame

Rainbow Quest Aryenne

Nobile Decretum

Noble Decree Mid Evening

Sadler’s Wells DREAM WELL b 95 Soul Dream

Septieme Ciel KLASSICAL WAY b 03 Negligente

see race 133 in the March issue 257 CORAL PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP CHASE G1 PUNCHESTOWN. May 1. 5yo+. 24f 110yds.

1. KEMBOY (FR) 7 11-10 £159,459 b g by Voix du Nord - Vitora (Victory Note) O-Supreme Racing/Brett Graham/Ken Sharp B-J. Morruzzi & P. Morruzzi TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Al Boum Photo (FR) 7 11-10 £51,351 b g by Buck’s Boum - Al Gane (Dom Alco) O-Mrs J. Donnelly B-E. Clayeux & J. Rauch TR-W. P. Mullins 3. The Storyteller (IRE) 8 11-10 £24,324 ch g by Shantou - Bally Bolshoi (Bob Back) O-Mrs Pat Sloan B-R. Cotton & Stephen Lannigan O’Keeffe TR-Gordon Elliott Margins 2, 22. Time 6:25.40. Going Yielding to Soft.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 3-7 16 8 4 £498,321 Sire: VOIX DU NORD. Sire of 21 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - DEFI DU SEUIL Lavirco G1, DUCA DE THAIX Subotica G1, ESPOIR D’ALLEN Maille Pistol G1, KEMBOY Victory Note G1, VOIX DU REVE Apple Tree G1.

1st Dam: VITORA by Victory Note. Winner at 3 in France.

Dam of 1 winner:

2011: 2012:

Astraye (f Astarabad) KEMBOY (g Voix du Nord) 8 wins, 2nd Lacy Solicitors Golden Cygnet Nov.Hurdle G2, Punchestown EMS Copiers Novice H. Chase G1, Betway Bowl Chase G1, Savills Leopardstown Christmas Chase G1, Coral Punchestown Gold Cup Chase G1, Clonmel Oil Chase G2, Hugh McMahon Mem. Novice Chase G3.

Broodmare Sire: VICTORY NOTE. Sire of the dams of 2 Stakes winners.

KEMBOY b g 2012 Northern Dancer My Charmer

Vearia

Mill Reef Val Divine

Top Ville

High Top Sega Ville

Girl of France

Legend of France Water Girl

Fairy King

Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge

Three Piece

Jaazeiro Trinity Term

Tip Moss

Luthier Top Twig

Chevestraye

Lou Piguet Changaria

Dame Edith

Victory Note VITORA b 04

PUNCHESTOWN. May 1. 4yo+. 24f.

1. MINELLA INDO (IRE) 6 11-10 £53,153 b g by Beat Hollow - Carrigeen Lily (Supreme Leader) O-Mr Barry Maloney B-Mrs R. H. Lalor TR-Henry de Bromhead 2. Allaho (FR) 5 11-10 £17,117 b g by No Risk At All - Idaho Falls (Turgeon) O-Cheveley Park Stud B-Mr E. Leffray TR-W. P. Mullins 3. Carefully Selected (IRE) 7 11-10 £8,108 b g by Well Chosen - Knockamullen Girl (Alderbrook) O-Miss M. A. Masterson B-J. Lalor TR-W. P. Mullins Margins 2, 1.5. Time 6:02.00. Going Yielding.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 5-6 6 3 3 £132,632 Sire: BEAT HOLLOW. Sire of 27 Stakes winners.

1st Dam: Carrigeen Lily by Supreme Leader. 4 wins over fences, 3rd Pierse Leopardstown H. Chase G2. Dam of 5 winners:

2003:

2004: 2005: 2006: 2007: 2008: 2009: 2010: 2012: 2013:

Carrigeen Lunaria (f Saddlers’ Hall) ran a few times over hurdles and ran twice over fences. Broodmare.

Carrigeen Queen (f Darnay) ran twice over hurdles. Broodmare.

CARRIGEEN LECHUGA (f Beneficial) 2 wins over fences. Broodmare.

CARRIGEEN LONICERA (f Old Vic) Winner of a N.H. Flat Race. Broodmare.

Carrigeen Diamond (f Old Vic) unraced.

Broodmare.

Carrigeen Lobelia (f Presenting) CARRIGEEN LANTANA (f Beneficial) Winner over hurdles.

Carrigeen Lilium (f Stowaway) unraced.

Broodmare.

BENATAR (g Beneficial) 4 wins, Mitie Noel Novices’ Chase G2, 3rd JLT Golden Miller Novices’ Chase G1.

MINELLA INDO (g Beat Hollow) 2 wins over hurdles at 6, Albert Bartlett Spa Novices’ Hurdle G1, Irish Mirror War of Attrition Nov.Hurdle G1, 2nd Surehaul Powerstown Novice Hurdle G3.

Broodmare Sire: SUPREME LEADER. Sire of the dams of 81 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - MINELLA INDO Beat Hollow G1, SOUTHFIELD STONE Fair Mix G2, COGRY King’s Theatre G3, IMPULSIVE STAR Busy Flight G3, LAKE VIEW LAD Oscar G3.

MINELLA INDO b g 2013 Northern Dancer

Nearctic Natalma

Fairy Bridge

Bold Reason Special

Dancing Brave

Lyphard Navajo Princess

Bahamian

Mill Reef Sorbus

Bustino

Busted Ship Yard

Princess Zena

Habitat Guiding Light

Walshford

I Say Romany Rose

Rock Forest

King of The Jungle Tullymurry

Sadler’s Wells BEAT HOLLOW b 97 Wemyss Bight

Supreme Leader CARRIGEEN LILY b 91 Carrigeensharragh

See race 217 in the May issue 259 RACING POST CHAMPION INH FLAT RACE G1 PUNCHESTOWN. May 1. 4-7yof&g. 16f.

Lomond Valanour VOIX DU NORD b 01

258 IRISH MIRROR WAR OF ATTRITION NOV.HURDLE G1

Mosstraye

See race 90 in the February issue

1. COLREEVY (IRE) 6 11-7 £53,153 b m by Flemensfirth - Poetics Girl (Saddlers’ Hall) O-Mrs N. Flynn B-N. Flynn TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Abacadabras (FR) 5 12-0 £17,117 b g by Davidoff - Cadoubelle des As (Cadoudal) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Mme Evelyne Van Haaren TR-Gordon Elliott 3. Beacon Edge (IRE) 5 12-0 £8,108 b g by Doyen - Laurel Gift (Presenting) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Mr H. Browne TR-Noel Meade Margins 1, 0.75. Time 4:01.80. Going Yielding.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 4-6 7 3 2 £94,387 Sire: FLEMENSFIRTH. Sire of 83 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - COLREEVY Saddlers’ Hall G1, INVITATION ONLY Alamo Bay G1, LOSTINTRANS-

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CAULFIELD ON CHACUN POUR SOI: “From the same family as Peintre Celebre, Chacun Pour Soi’s sire Policy Maker has also sired the smart French mare Roll On Has, a multiple black-type winner in France” LATION Hero’s Honor G1, O O SEVEN Eagle Eyed G1, TOPOFTHEGAME Mister Lord G1, CASTLEGRACE PADDY Mtoto G2, COOLANLY Accordion G2, IMPACT FACTOR Houmayoun G2, JETT Phardante G2, MAGIC OF LIGHT Saumarez G2, QUEENOHEARTS Old Vic G2.

1st Dam: Poetics Girl by Saddlers’ Hall. ran once in a N.H. Flat Race. Dam of 4 winners:

2010: 2011: 2012: 2013:

2014: 2016: 2017: 2018:

HURRICANE DARWIN (g Westerner) 4 wins.

SPIDER WEB (g Presenting) 5 wins, Ladbrokes Munster National H. Chase G1.

Runfordave (g Stowaway) 3 wins, 3rd Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle G2, Easter Festival Novice Hurdle G2.

COLREEVY (f Flemensfirth) 3 wins in N.H. Flat Races at 4 to 6, Racing Post Champion INH Flat Race G1, Weatherbys.Liss a Paoraigh EBF Mare Race G3, 3rd Coolmore NH Sires EBF Mare INH Flat Race G2, EBF Total Enjoyment Mares Flat Race LR. January Jets (g Presenting) unraced. (c Leading Light) (f Leading Light) (f Walk In The Park)

Broodmare Sire: SADDLERS’ HALL. Sire of the dams of 21 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - COLREEVY Flemensfirth G1, COMMANDER OF FLEET Fame And Glory G1, SPIDER WEB Presenting G1, SNUGSBOROUGH HALL Beneficial G2, BALLYWARD Flemensfirth G3, JETZ Flemensfirth G3, WINTER ESCAPE Robin des Pres G3.

The Flemensfirth/Saddlers’ Hall cross has produced: COLREEVY G1, JETZ G1, LIKE YOUR STYLE G1, TWO TAFFS G2, Backinthere G2, BALLYWARD G3, Flemcara G3, In Great Form G3, Why Not Thistle G3, Cordovan Brown LR, Full Irish LR, Miss Sapphire LR.

FLEMENSFIRTH b 92

Hoist The Flag

Tom Rolfe Wavy Navy

Princess Pout

Prince John Determined Lady

Diesis

Sharpen Up Doubly Sure

Royal Bund

Royal Coinage Nato

Sadler’s Wells

Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge

Sunny Valley

Val de Loir Sunland

Valiyar

Red God Val Divine

Ravaro

Raga Navarro Bay Tree

Etheldreda

Saddlers’ Hall POETICS GIRL b 03 Aries Girl

Daughters of Flemensfirth have played their part in his success story. The versatile Jennies Jewel was Gr1-placed over hurdles after becoming a Gr3 winner over fences, while Knockfierna’s black-type successes included Fairyhouse’s Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final and Magic Of Light’s included the Gr2 OLBG.com Mares Hurdle.

Others to enjoy Graded success include Queenohearts, Zuzka, Emily Gray, Kate Appleby Shoes and Tally Em Up. Relegate became one of Flemensfirth’s best bumper winners when she won the Gr1 Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in 2018, and now Colreevy has also developed into a leading performer in bumpers, taking Punchestown’s Champion INH Flat Race for her third win in six outings.

Colreevy’s dam, the once-raced Poetics Girl, is by Saddlers’ Hall, a stallion whose daughters have enjoyed plenty of success with Flemensfirth, notably producing Ballyward and Jetz, a pair of Gr3 winners over fences. Poetics Girl has produced three previous winners, including Runfordave, who was placed in two Gr2 novice hurdles.

Jun_178_DataBook.indd 109

260 CHAMPION TIPPERKEVIN STAYERS HURDLE G1 PUNCHESTOWN. May 2. 4yo+. 24f.

1. UNOWHATIMEANHARRY (GB) 11 11-10 £159,459 b g by Sir Harry Lewis - Red Nose Lady (Teenoso) O-Mr John P. McManus B-R. J. Smith TR-Harry Fry 2. Bacardys (FR) 8 11-10 £51,351 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. Bapaume (FR) 6 11-10 £24,324 b g by Turtle Bowl - Brouhaha (American Post) O-Mrs S. Ricci B-Maurice Rohaut-Leger TR-W. P. Mullins Margins 3, Head. Time 6:01.80. Going Good to Yielding.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 5-11 33 13 13 £639,460

Prior to being transferred to Fry, the son of Sir Harry Lewis had suffered 12 consecutive defeats following a winning debut in a bumper in February 2013. However, he proceeded to win nine of his first ten starts for Fry, with the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and the Long Walk Hurdle among his three Gr1 wins. Wearing a tongue-tie contributed to the change in Unowhatimeanharry’s fortunes.

After starting to find wins harder to come by, he had wind surgery in the summer of 2018 and has won twice since.

The Irish Derby winner Sir Harry Lewis was returned to his native USA to take up stallion duties but struggled in that role. However, he justified his return to Europe by siring three other high-class sons in Mighty Man (Gr1 Long Walk Hurdle), Diamond Harry (Gr1 Challow Hurdle and Hennessy Gold Cup) and Harry Topper (three Gr2 successes including the Charlie Hall Chase and Denman Chase).

Unowhatimeanharry’s dam Red Nose Lady, a four-time winner over hurdles, was a daughter of Teenoso, a Derby and King George winner who proved very disappointing as a stallion.

Sire: SIR HARRY LEWIS. Sire of 16 Stakes winners.

COLREEVY b m 2013 Alleged

Although Poetics Girl didn’t win, her first two dams were both well above average. Colreevy’s second dam Aries Girl was second in the Champion Hurdle at Fairyhouse after three successive wins, whereas the next dam, the smart stayer Ravaro, won the Irish Cesarewitch and was second in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Both mares produced good winners, Aries Girl’s contribution being the smart hurdler Snap Tie.

261 RYANAIR COLLIERS NOVICE CHASE G1

1st Dam: RED NOSE LADY by Teenoso. 4 wins over hurdles. Dam of 1 winner:

2008:

2009: 2011: 2013: 2015:

UNOWHATIMEANHARRY (g Sir Harry Lewis) 13 wins, JLT Long Walk Hurdle G1, Albert Bartlett Spa Novices’ Hurdle G1, Ladbrokes Ch. Tipperkevin Stayers Hurdle G1 (twice), galliardshomes.com Cleeve Hurdle G2, Bet365 Long Distance Hurdle G2 (twice), Albert Bartlett Bristol Novices’ Hurdle G2, 2nd Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle G2, 3rd Sun Bets Stayers’ World Hurdle G1, JLT Reve de Sivola Long Walk Hurdle G1. (c Sir Harry Lewis) Happy Chance (f Indian Danehill) ran twice in N.H. Flat Races. (f Tikkanen) Cousin Harry (g Resplendent Cee) unraced.

Broodmare Sire: TEENOSO. Sire of the dams of 12 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 UNOWHATIMEANHARRY Sir Harry Lewis G1, MISTER MALARKY Malinas G2.

The Sir Harry Lewis/Teenoso cross has produced: UNOWHATIMEANHARRY G1, Comhla Ri Coig G1, Reindeer Dippin LR.

UNOWHATIMEANHARRY b g 2008 Hoist The Flag

Tom Rolfe Wavy Navy

Princess Pout

Prince John Determined Lady

Mr Prospector

Raise A Native Gold Digger

Sleek Dancer

Northern Dancer Victorine

Youth

Ack Ack Gazala II

Furioso

Ballymoss Violetta III

Rymer

Reliance II Piave

Cytisus

Above Suspicion River Gold

Alleged SIR HARRY LEWIS b 84 Sue Babe

Teenoso RED NOSE LADY b 97 Red Rambler

Two days after the 11-year-old Un de Sceaux successfully returned to the scene of a previous triumph at Punchestown, the 11-year-old Unowhatimeanharry also revived his career by repeating his 2017 success in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle.

Unowhatimeanharry’s efforts have been priceless for trainer Harry Fry.

PUNCHESTOWN. May 2. 5yo+. 16f.

1. CHACUN POUR SOI (FR) 7 11-10 £61,126 b g by Policy Maker - Kruscyna (Ultimately Lucky) O-Mrs S. Ricci B-Mr D. Berland TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Defi du Seuil (FR) 6 11-10 £19,685 b g by Voix du Nord - Quarvine du Seuil (Lavirco) O-Mr John P. McManus B-Mme C. Boudot TR-Philip Hobbs 3. Duc des Genievres (FR) 6 11-10 £9,324 gr g by Buck’s Boum - Lobelie (Round Sovereign) O-Sullivan Bloodstock Limited B-Mrs C. Serre TR-W. P. Mullins Margins 4.25, 16. Time 4:07.00. Going Yielding.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 3-7 6 3 2 £94,733 Sire: POLICY MAKER. Sire of 4 Stakes winners.

1st Dam: KRUSCYNA by Ultimately Lucky. 5 wins over jumps in France, Prix Bournosienne Hurdle G3. Dam of 2 winners:

2011: 2012: 2013:

Eau Perlee (f Saint des Saints) unraced.

CHACUN POUR SOI (g Policy Maker) 3 wins, Ryanair Colliers Novice Chase G1.

DIVA RECONCE (f Kap Rock) Winner of a N.H. Flat Race.

Broodmare Sire: ULTIMATELY LUCKY. Sire of the dams of 6 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - CHACUN POUR SOI Policy Maker G1, EGLANTINE DU SEUIL Saddler Maker G2, ROYALE JOANA HAS Martaline G3, JUBILATOIRE Konig Turf LR, STORMY IRELAND Motivator LR.

CHACUN POUR SOI b g 2012 Northern Dancer

Nearctic Natalma

Fairy Bridge

Bold Reason Special

Lear Fan

Roberto Wac

Petroleuse

Habitat Plencia

Kris

Sharpen Up Doubly Sure

Oczy Czarnie

Lomond Gracious Lassie

Persian Combat

Green Dancer Garden of Eden

Kiakhta

Montevideo Arbelskaia

Sadler’s Wells POLICY MAKER b 00 Palmeraie

Ultimately Lucky KRUSCYNA b 04 Hanska

runners featured four geldings – Defi Du Seuil, Duc des Genievres, Voix Du Reve and Ornua – which had won Gr1 contests on their latest outing. However, the betting suggested that they didn’t have a stranglehold on the race, with Chacun Pour Soi starting a close third favourite behind Defi Du Seuil and Duc Des Genievres at 3-1.

Chacun Pour Soi’s odds were a reflection of his hugely impressive all-the-way victory when he made his debut for Willie Mullins at Naas in March. He promptly confirmed the promise of that display, scoring by more than four lengths. The seven-year-old’s first Irish victory came virtually three years after he last raced in France, where he won one of his four starts.

Policy Maker, the sire of Chacun Pour Soi, was switched from France to Ireland in December 2015 but hasn’t been strongly supported at his new base, covering 36 thoroughbred mares in 2016, 46 in 2017 and 26 in 2018. Policy Maker is very well qualified as a National Hunt stallion, as he was a very smart middledistance performer by Sadler’s Wells. A four-time Gr2 winner, he twice landed the Grand Prix de Chantilly, in addition to winning the Grand Prix de Deauville and the Prix Foy. From the same family as Peintre Celebre, Policy Maker sired the smart French mare Roll On Has, a multiple black-type winner in France, where her wins included the Gr1 Prix Alain du Breil over hurdles. His best British winner was the smart staying chaser Art Mauresque, Chacun Pour Soi’s dam Kruscyna, a daughter of the Gr2 La Coupe winner Ultimately Lucky, was a very useful hurdler, winning five of her first nine starts including the Gr3 Prix Bournosienne over two and a quarter miles at Auteuil.

262 ALANNA CHAMPION NOVICE HURDLE G1 PUNCHESTOWN. May 3. 4yo+. 20f.

1. RESERVE TANK (IRE) 5 11-10 £53,153 b g by Jeremy - Lady Bellamy (Black Sam Bellamy) O-The Reserve Tankers B-Mr L. Dunne TR-Colin Tizzard 2. Sams Profile (GB) 5 11-10 b g by Black Sam Bellamy - Lucylou (Bob Back) O-Michael O’Flynn/John F O’Flynn B-R. & J. Micklethwait TR-M. F. Morris 3. Eglantine du Seuil (FR) 5 11-3 £8,108 b m by Saddler Maker - Rixia du Seuil (Ultimately Lucky) O-Sullivan Bloodstock Limited B-Mrs C. Boudot TR-W. P. Mullins Margins 0.5, 1.75. Time 4:50.70. Going Good to Yielding.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 4-5 6 4 1 £119,447

The Ryanair Novice Chase looked set to decide the title of best two-mile novice chaser, as its seven

Sire: JEREMY. Sire of 22 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - RESERVE TANK Black Sam Bellamy G1, BIRCHDALE Presenting G2, MISTER FISHER Marignan G2, SANTA ROSSA Almutawakel G2, THE GLANCING QUEEN Kayf Tara G2, GYPSY ISLAND Presenting G3, ENJOY IT Phantom Breeze LR. 1st Dam: Lady Bellamy by Black Sam Bellamy. winner of a point-to-point. Dam of 1 winner:

2014:

RESERVE TANK (g Jeremy) 4 wins over hurdles at 5, Alanna Champion Novice Hurdle G1, Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle G1.

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Data Book Grade 1 Winners 2015: 2016:

Marsa Road (f Jeremy) unraced. (f Windsor Knot)

2nd Dam: MISS NOWHERE by Exit To Nowhere. 1 win at 2 in France. Dam of MISS EVERYWHERE (f Mull of Kintyre: Byerly Turk S LR) Broodmare Sire: BLACK SAM BELLAMY. Sire of the dams of 5 Stakes winners.

RESERVE TANK b g 2014 Danehill

Danzig Razyana

Mira Adonde

Sharpen Up Lettre d’Amour

Arazi

Blushing Groom Danseur Fabuleux

Wind In Her Hair

Alzao Burghclere

Sadler’s Wells

Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge

Urban Sea

Miswaki Allegretta

Exit To Nowhere

Irish River Coup de Folie

Miss Carina

Caro Miss Pia

Danehill Dancer JEREMY b/br 03 Glint In Her Eye

Black Sam Bellamy LADY BELLAMY b 05 Miss Nowhere

see race 248 earlier in this issue 263 BETDAQ PUNCHESTOWN CHAMPION HURDLE G1 PUNCHESTOWN. May 3. 4yo+. 16f.

1. BUVEUR D’AIR (FR) 8 11-12 £159,459 b g by Crillon - History (Alesso) O-Mr John P. McManus B-Gerard Ferte TR-Nicky Henderson 2. Supasundae (GB) 9 11-12 £51,351 b g by Galileo - Distinctive Look (Danehill) O-Ann & Alan Potts Limited B-Newsells Park Stud Limited TR-Mrs J. Harrington £24,324 3. Wicklow Brave (GB) 10 11-12 b g by Beat Hollow - Moraine (Rainbow Quest) O-Wicklow Bloodstock (Ireland) Ltd B-Millsec Limited TR-W. P. Mullins Margins 2.5, 1.25. Time 3:54.30. Going Good to Yielding.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 3-8 23 17 5 £1,186,777 Sire: CRILLON. Sire of 5 Stakes winners.

1st Dam: History by Alesso. Dam of 4 winners:

2003:

2004: 2005: 2007: 2011:

PUNCHESTOWNS (g Morespeed) 9 wins, BGC Long Walk Hurdle G1, 2nd Ladbrokes World Hurdle G1, Totepool Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase G1.

Quiet Story (f Franc Bleu Argent) ran on the flat in France. Broodmare.

RACKHAM LEROUGE (g Fado) 7 wins.

TISTORY (g Epalo) 5 wins.

BUVEUR D’AIR (g Crillon) 17 wins, 2nd Betfair Bumper Standard Open NH Race LR, Stan James Champion Chall.Trophy Hurdle G1 (twice), Unibet Fighting Fifth Hurdle G1 (twice), Unibet Christmas Hurdle G1, Betway Aintree Hurdle G1, Imagine Cruising Top Novices’ Hurdle G1, Betdaq Punchestown Champion Hurdle G1, Betfred Contenders Hurdle LR (3 times), 2nd Unibet Christmas Hurdle G1, Betway Aintree Hurdle G1, 3rd Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle G1.

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

BUVEUR D’AIR b g 2011 Rainbow Quest

Blushing Groom I Will Follow

Fiesta Fun

Welsh Pageant Antigua

Riverman

Never Bend River Lady

Saumarez CRILLON b 96 Shangrila Garden Green Alleged Alesso HISTORY b 95

Pinturischio Focal Hoist The Flag Princess Pout

Leandra

Luthier Ady Endre

Altayan

Posse Aleema

Lili Dancer

Evainqueur Keen Dancer

Clair Deux Lune

See race 40 in the January issue

264 AES CHAMPION 4YO HURDLE G1 PUNCHESTOWN. May 4. 4yo. 16f.

1. FUSIL RAFFLES (FR) 11-0 £53,153 b g by Saint des Saints - Tali des Obeaux (Panoramic) O-Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede B-S. Munir & I. Souede TR-Nicky Henderson 2. Fakir d’Oudairies (FR) 11-0 £17,117 b g by Kapgarde - Niagaria du Bois (Grand Tresor) O-Mr John P. McManus B-Count M. de Gigou TR-Joseph Patrick O’Brien 3. French Made (FR) 10-7 £8,108 b f by Dream Well - Sempiternelle (Lavirco) O-Exors of the Late Mrs M. McManus B-A. Leraitre & L. Delahaye TR-W. P. Mullins Margins 2.75, 5. Time 3:51.90. Going Good to Yielding.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 3-4 4 3 1 £80,433 Sire: SAINT DES SAINTS. Sire of 60 Stakes winners.

NH in 2018/19 - BURROWS SAINT Mansonnien G1, FUSIL RAFFLES Panoramic G1, WHETSTONE Mansonnien G1, GOLIATH DU BERLAIS King’s Theatre G2, AUX PTITS SOINS Turgeon G3, EQUEMAUVILLE Video Rock G3, SAINT CALVADOS Pistolet Bleu G3, SAINT XAVIER Poliglote G3, STORM OF SAINTLY Garde Royale G3, AMOUR DU MATHAN Turgeon LR, DAYS OF HEAVEN Anabaa Blue LR, ELFILE Assessor LR, FIDELE AU POSTE Peintre Celebre LR, NORTHERLY WIND Poliglote LR. 1st Dam: Tali des Obeaux by Panoramic. 7 wins, 2nd P.Guillaume de Pracomtal H. Hurdle LR, Prix Sytaj Mares Chase LR. Dam of 2 winners:

2014: 2015:

EDDY’S RAYA (f Saint des Saints) 2 wins over jumps at 4 in France.

FUSIL RAFFLES (g Saint des Saints) 3 wins, AES Champion 4yo Hurdle G1, 888Sport Adonis Juvenile Hurdle G2.

Broodmare Sire: PANORAMIC. Sire of the dams of 14 Stakes winners.

The Saint des Saints/Panoramic cross has produced: FUSIL RAFFLES G1, SAINT MACAIRE G2, BALBIR DU MATHAN LR.

FUSIL RAFFLES b g 2015 Green Dancer

Nijinsky Green Valley

Come To Sea

Sea Hawk II Camarilla

Pharly

Lyphard Comely

Tuneria

Tanerko Torrefranca

Rainbow Quest

Blushing Groom I Will Follow

Immense

Roberto Imsodear

Le Pontet

Succes Arielle

Danaee II

Night And Day Fabiola

Cadoudal SAINT DES SAINTS b 98 Chamisene

Panoramic TALI DES OBEAUX b 07 Alpaga

It must have been a worrying sight for Ireland’s National Hunt breeders that four of the five runners for Punchestown’s Champion Four Year Old Hurdle were bred in France.

They filled the first three places, with victory going to Fusil Raffles, a son of the excellent jumping stallion Saint des Saints. The fact that Saint des Saints’ fee has stood at €15,000 in recent seasons tells its own story, as he started out at €4,500 in 2003.

The relentless rise in his fee was fuelled by his progeny’s consistent success, which has seen him become a fixture among France’s top jumping stallions. He topped the table in 2014 and finished runner-up in 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2018. His offspring have also shone in Britain and Ireland, with Djakadam, Days Of Heaven, Irish Saint, Saint Calvados, Aux Ptits Soins, Quito de la Roque, Quel Esprit and Lyreen Legend

among his best representatives.

In common with many other successful French stallions, Saint des Saints shone over jumps, compiling a record of seven wins, four seconds and a third from 13 completed starts. His victories included four Graded successes at up to nearly two and a half miles over hurdles.

Fusil Raffles has won both his starts since he joined Nicky Henderson from France, where he had won the first of his two starts.

His dam Tali des Obeaux showed she stayed nearly two and three-quarter miles during a rewarding career which yielded seven wins, mainly over fences. Tali des Obeaux has had three daughters by Kapgarde since she produced Fusil Raffles. Her half-sister Omega des Obeaux produced the evergreen stayer Alpha des Obeaux, who has shone over hurdles and fences. Fusil Raffles has raced mainly at around two miles at this early stage of his career, but he should have no problem staying a fair bit further.

265 ISF. EBF ANNIE POWER MARES CHPN. HURDLE G1 PUNCHESTOWN. May 4. 4yo+f. 20f.

1. BENIE DES DIEUX (FR) 8 11-7 £53,153 b m by Great Pretender - Cana (Robin des Champs) O-Mrs S. Ricci B-Mr G. Doyen TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Stormy Ireland (FR) 5 11-7 £17,117 b m by Motivator - Like A Storm (Ultimately Lucky) O-Sullivan Bloodstock Limited B-S.C.E.A. Haras D’Orfausse TR-W. P. Mullins 3. Good Thyne Tara (GB) 9 11-7 £8,108 b/br m by Kayf Tara - Good Thyne Mary (Good Thyne) O-Mr Nigel King B-Wainbody Estates & N. G. King TR-W. P. Mullins Margins 9.5, 15. Time 4:49.20. Going Good to Yielding.

Age Starts Wins Places Earned 3-8 16 9 4 £294,061 Sire: GREAT PRETENDER. Sire of 17 Stakes winners.

NH in 2018/19 - BENIE DES DIEUX Robin des Champs G1, A MI MANERA Turgeon G2, BEAUTE PROMISE Anabaa Me LR, BOX OFFICE Video Rock LR, PRAVALAGUNA Denham Red LR. 1st Dam: Cana by Robin des Champs. Dam of 1 winner:

2011:

BENIE DES DIEUX (f Great Pretender) 9 wins, ISF. EBF Annie Power Mares Chpn.

Hurdle G1 (twice), OLBG David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle G1, BBA Ireland Ltd Opera Hat Mares Chase LR, Houghton Mares’ Chase LR, 3rd Prix Andre Michel Hurdle G3.

Broodmare Sire: ROBIN DES CHAMPS. Sire of the dams of 8 Stakes winners. NH in 2018/19 - BENIE DES DIEUX Great Pretender G1, LE COSTAUD Forestier G1, C’EST LE BOUQUET Coastal Path LR. The Great Pretender/Robin des Champs cross has produced: BENIE DES DIEUX G1, Great Alana LR.

BENIE DES DIEUX b m 2011 Sadler’s Wells

Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge

Regal Beauty

Princely Native Dennis Belle

Darshaan

Shirley Heights Delsy

Aborigine

Riverman Prima

Garde Royale

Mill Reef Royal Way

Relayeuse

Iron Duke Reliorneuse

Cadoudal

Green Dancer Come To Sea

Easy Horse

Carmarthen La Horse

King’s Theatre GREAT PRETENDER b 99 Settler

Robin des Champs CANA b 03 Cardoudalle

After Benie des Dieux had won her first three starts for Willie Mullins, all over fences, Mullins adopted a similar policy to the one which had paid great dividends with another of his French-bred mares, Vroum Vroum Mag. Like Vroum Vroum Mag, Benie des Dieux was aimed at the 2018 OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and she stayed on to win the two-and-a-halfmile contest by half a length from Midnight Tour and Apple’s Jade.

Mullins said afterwards: “We’ll go way back up in trip and back over fences now, I think that’s her job really.

“She can go to the top over fences when she gets another halfmile or three-quarters of a mile.”

However, there must have been a significant change of heart. Benie des Dieux has been kept to two and a half miles over hurdles and was unlucky not to maintain her unbeaten record for Mullins. She has won the Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown in 2018 and 2019, with these successes sandwiching a dramatic last-flight fall in the 2019 OLBG Mares’ Hurdle, when seemingly on her way to victory.

Benie des Dieux follows Great Field, winner of the 2017 Ryanair Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival, as the second Gr1 winner that Mullins has trained by Great Pretender.

A son of champion jumping sire King’s Theatre, Great Pretender was a smart Flat performer in his prime and won both his starts over hurdles at Auteuil, including a Listed race.

Great Pretender has also been very ably represented by Ptit Zig, winner of the Gr1 Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil in 2016 after some good wins over fences. Great Pretender’s other Anglo-Irish winners include the Gr1 novice hurdles winner Dortmund Park, the smart chaser Mr Mole, and the Gr2 winner Claimantakinforgan.

Benie des Dieux comes from a flourishing French jumping family.

Her dam, the lightly-raced Cana, was bred for jumping, with her sire and broodmare sire being Robin des Champs and Cadoudal. Robin des Champs, a winner of four of his five starts over jumps, sired that wonderful performer Quevega, a six-time winner of Cheltenham’s Mares’ Hurdle.

Benie des Dieux’s second dam Cardoudalle won over hurdles and fences at Auteuil, and also produced the successful broodmares Cardounika and Cardamine.

Both have produced a pair of black-type winning jumpers, with Cardounika’s contribution being Ceasar’s Palace and Cokoriko, the latter now a popular stallion in France.

110 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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Grade 2 & 3 Winners Date 01/04 04/04 04/04 05/04 05/04 05/04 06/04 06/04 06/04 07/04 07/04 13/04 13/04 13/04 17/04 18/04 21/04 21/04 21/04 22/04 22/04 22/04 22/04 23/04 23/04 23/04 27/04 27/04 27/04 30/04 01/05 02/05 02/05 03/05 03/05 04/05 04/05

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

Race (course) Guinness Handicap Chase (Punchestown) Goffs Nickel Coin Mares’ NH Flat Race (Aintree) Close Bros Red Rum Handicap Chase (Aintree) Weatherbys Standard Open NH. Flat Race (Aintree) Merseyrail Handicap Hurdle (Aintree) Randox Topham Handicap Chase (Aintree) Betway Handicap Chase (Aintree) Gaskells Handicap Hurdle (Aintree) Randox Health Grand National Hcp. Chase (Aintree) Easter Festival Novice Hurdle (Fairyhouse) Fairyhouse Hardy Eustace Novice Hurdle (Fairyhouse) CPMS Scottish Champion Handicap Hurdle (Ayr) Jordan Future Champion Novices’ Chase (Ayr) Coral Scottish Grand National Hcp Chase (Ayr) Silver Trophy Handicap Chase (Cheltenham) Junior Fillies’ Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Cheltenham) Betway Imperial Call Chase (Cork) Fitzgeralds Easter Handicap Hurdle (Cork) Boylesports Greenogue Nov Hcp Chase (Fairyhouse) Devenish Chase (Fairyhouse) Keelings Ballybin Hurdle (Fairyhouse) P. Maynard Juvenile Hurdle (Fairyhouse) Boylesports Irish Grand National H Chase (Fairyhouse) J. & C. Fowler Memorial EBF Mares Chase (Fairyhouse) Rybo Glasscarn Handicap Hurdle (Fairyhouse) INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hp Hurdle (Fairyhouse) Bet365 Oaksey Chase (Sandown Park) Bet365 Select Hurdle (Sandown Park) Bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Sandown Park) Killashee Handicap Hurdle (Punchestown) Weatherbys.Liss a Paoraigh EBF Mare Race (Punchestown) Conway Ballymore Eustace Hp Hurdle (Punchestown) pigsback.com Black Hills Handicap Chase (Punchestown) EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Chase (Punchestown) EBF Glencarraig Lady Mares Hcp Chase (Punchestown) Ballymore Setanta Sports Handicap Hurdle (Punchestown) Palmerstown Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase (Punchestown)

Dist 20f 17f 16f 17f 20f 21f 25f 24.5f 34f 20f 16f 16f 20.5f 32f 20.5f 17f 24f 19f 16.5f 20f 20f 16f 29f 20f 16f 24f 22.5f 21.5f 29f 16f 16f 24f 16f 21f 21f 20f 24.5f

Horse O O Seven (IRE) The Glancing Queen (IRE) Moon Over Germany (IRE) McFabulous (IRE) Three Musketeers (IRE) Cadmium (FR) Kildisart (IRE) Aux Ptits Soins (FR) Tiger Roll (IRE) Dommage Pour Toi (FR) Mister Blue Sky (IRE) Verdana Blue (IRE) Secret Investor (GB) Takingrisks (IRE) Mister Whitaker (IRE) Havingagoodtime (GB) Timeforwest (IRE) Crossed My Mind (IRE) Impact Factor (IRE) Jett (IRE) Rashaan (IRE) French Made (FR) Burrows Saint (FR) Camelia de Cotte (FR) Ivanovich Gorbatov (IRE) Ronald Pump (GB) Black Corton (FR) Younevercall (IRE) Talkischeap (IRE) Pearl of The West (IRE) Gypsy Island (IRE) My Sister Sarah (IRE) Snugsborough Hall (IRE) Real Steel (FR) Moyhenna (IRE) Mr Adjudicator (GB) Heron Heights (IRE)

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

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

Sire Flemensfirth Jeremy Germany Milan Flemensfirth Early March Dubai Destination Saint des Saints Authorized Magadan Royal Applause Getaway Kayf Tara Golden Tornado Court Cave Mount Nelson Westerner Beneficial Flemensfirth Flemensfirth Manduro Dream Well Saint des Saints Laveron Montjeu Schiaparelli Laverock Yeats Getaway Teofilo Jeremy Martaline Beneficial Loup Breton Westerner Camacho Heron Island

Dam Kestral Heights Glancing Elea Moon Rossavon Friendly Craic Mirquille Princess Mairead Reflexion Faite Swiss Roll Phenyl des Mottes Mujdeya Blue Gallery Silver Charmer Downtown Rosie Benbradagh Vard Don’t Stop Me Now Shang A Lang Coolvane Hello Kitty La Noire Rayyana Sempiternelle La Bombonera Traviata Valtat Northern Gulch Fruit Yoghurt Pour Le Meilleur Afarka Carrigmoorna Oak Creese Thieving Gypsy Reste Ren Or Saddlers Arc Kalimina Moskova Attlongglast Inter Alia

Broodmare Sire Eagle Eyed Kayf Tara Moonax Beneficial Mister Lord Passing Sale Blueprint Turgeon Entrepreneur Bonnet Rouge Linamix Bluebird Charmer Good Thyne Le Bavard Zamindar Commander Collins Dr Massini Houmayoun Phardante Rainbow Quest Lavirco Mansonnien Jimble Gulch Hernando Video Rock Kahyasi Milan Halling Presenting Goldneyev Saddlers’ Hall Monsun Montjeu Groom Dancer Dr Massini

Index 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302

RACEHORSE OWNERS ASSOCIATION ROA ELECTIONS VOTE YVETTE DIXON TBA LANGHAM CUP WINNER – most meritorious small breeder of the year 2003 • ROA – CHAMPION TWO-YEAR-OLD OWNER Trophy 2003 (Milk it Mick) RACING WELFARE – Innovator of THE RACING WELFARE RACING STAFF WEEK – Doncaster Clock Tower Cup racecourse races for staff employed within the industry, and a proud co-chair fundraiser for Racing’s workforce charity.

HOW I HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE YOU VOTE > I was elected by the ROA membership in 2016 to serve you as a ROA council member. I have served for three years and would ask for your continued support

8

by VOTING to allow me to continue.

O WNERSHIP > A strong, resolute voice during ROA council meeting discussions on ownership matters, which comes from personal experience gained through racehorse ownership under both NH and Flat codes alongside management in Racing Clubs, Syndicates, Partnerships and Sole Ownership, from Grassroots to Group 1.

THOROUGHBRED HORSE WELFARE > A practical, pragmatic approach from a hands-on horsewoman, voted for by fellow council members onto the board of trustees at RoR investing funds raised wisely for now and in the future, alongside utilising funds raised by owners and others for the care, welfare and retraining of our former racehorses.

INDUSTRY MATTERS > A thorough understanding of the funding mechanism used for prize money, from racecourses executive and sponsorship contributions, levy income, media rights and racehorse owners entry fees. An ability to constructively challenge where needed, using interpersonal skills and relationships built throughout the years as an owner-breeder and industry individual.

NEED FOR CHANGE > Enhanced prize-money will come via stronger, transparent prize-money agreements fair for all owners, utilising new ideas to grow our fantastic sport and promote it to a new, fresh audience, whilst respecting traditions. Changing the frustration of being balloted out of a race, by transforming the race programme and fixture list to a flexible and interactive approach coming with acceptable prize-money returns, which in turn reflects and suits demand based upon the current horse population GRASSROOTS > Owner-breeder, typically the majority of horses I own and breed, race at grassroots level, we are the bedrock of our industry. During 2018 I campaigned vigorously for and was contributory towards ensuring grassroots racing received its deserved share of the Levy windfall, and owners received increased funds through prize money alongside the Appearance Money Scheme circa £8.5 million.

VOTING – USE YOUR VOTE – VOTE YVETTE – YOUR VOTE MATTERS TO ME PLEASE use your vote to ensure I can continue to serve and represent YOU Contact the ROA office if your voting slip has not arrived in the post, or please email me mrsyvettedixon@gmail.com THANK YOU

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The Finish Line with John Velazquez New York-based Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, or ‘Johnny V’, can include some of the most famous races in the world among more than 6,000 victories.

He has been champion jockey twice by earnings, as well as a dual Eclipse Award winner. British racegoers will remember him best for his sensational wins on Wesley Ward’s first runners at Royal Ascot in 2009.

Interview: Graham Dench

I

Mike Smith, Jerry Bailey, Pat Day and many more. It was incredible, as a lot of the old-timers were still riding and it was great experience being around them. I did well and rode plenty of winners, but I was riding for five years before I got my first Grade 1 winner in 1995.

was born in Puerto Rico and when I first got on a horse aged seven or eight it was nothing to do with racing. A friend of mine had a horse and he said, ‘Come on, have a go,’ so I got on it and it started rearing up. I was frightened I was going to have an accident, but I stayed on and that was it.

I then got to ride the horse on my own and I was hooked.

People ask me what my most important winner has been, and I’ve been very fortunate to have ridden a lot of good horses in different places. The most memorable I guess would be the Kentucky Derbys (Animal Kingdom and Always Dreaming), the Belmonts (Rags To Riches and Union Rags), the Dubai World Cup (Roses In May) and the Breeders’ Cups. But to me every winner counts.

There was a racetrack nearby, but I didn’t know anybody there and I wasn’t interested until I was 14, when I met a jockey who was doing really well. It was only then that I knew you could have a career as a jockey and make some money. I followed him around a bit, but I had to wait two years before I could go to the jockeys’ school.

I first rode in England at Royal Ascot in 2000, for Godolphin after Frankie Dettori was injured in the plane crash. I didn’t ride a winner, but I had two seconds and a third, and I saw what a special place it is. I always felt that I would come back if I got the opportunity, but I had to wait nine years.

When I came back it was like a different racecourse, with its massive new stand, and I was even more impressed.

I did well in school and rode a winner on my third ride, but then I had a fall and fractured my wrist. When I came back another apprentice was doing better. In the meantime, my agent had given a tape of my rides to Angel Cordero, who was a friend of his, and Angel saw I had a little bit of talent, so took me to New York, where I lived with him.

I learned fast with Angel, as all the top riders were in New York – Jose Santos,

GEORGE SELWYN

John Velazquez is 47 but loves riding and has no plans to quit

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It’s different riding in England, but wherever you ride you have to do your homework and prepare yourself as best you can because that’s your job. I won two races the next time I came, on Strike The Tiger and Jealous Again for Wesley Ward, but I still felt I could have done better. I’ve been back a few times since, and I won the King’s Stand two years ago on Lady Aurelia, who was just incredible. Wesley has proved himself again and again here. He brings the right horses and he’s a great man to ride for. I love Royal Ascot week, but it’s not practical to stay longer. My agent wouldn’t allow it!

At home I’m co-chair of the Jockeys’ Guild with Mike Smith, and it’s important work. Safety comes first, and we try to ensure that whatever measures are implemented in New York for example are carried out throughout the United States. After ten or 12 years we are getting there. There’s a lot of controversy at the moment over Lasix and the whip, and in California they have gone so far as to take the whip away, or allow it only for correction.

It’s crucial that we have a tool to encourage horses and for safety reasons as well, but it’s not a whip now, by the way. We call it a crop, a soft cylindrical cushion with no edges, and we have to educate the public so that they can see how we take care of our horses. We don’t abuse them. Accidents can happen, but we love them, and we don’t get that across well enough.

Would I ever train? Definitely not! My father-in-law, Leo O’Brien, won the Irish 2,000 Guineas in 1991 with Fourstars Allstar and still trains, but it was never on the radar for me. When I was at jockey school the trainer I worked for liked me to go round with him at five in the morning and check all the horses – who ate up and who didn’t, their medication, and so on, so that if jockey school didn’t work out I could be a trainer. I learned a lot from him, but I didn’t enjoy it. I enjoy riding much better.

I’m 47 now, but I’m fit and healthy and still relatively young compared to Mike Smith and Frankie. They are the sort of guys who motivate me through the opportunities they are still getting, and as long as I’m getting those opportunities I intend to carry on. I love what I do.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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DAR17335 Owner Breeder full page-Recent-Success-03JUNE19.qxp 15/05/2019 10:41 Page 1

Awesome twosome

Dubawi and Shamardal: Europe’s leading sires of Group winners in 2019 with the likes of Classic winner Castle Lady and star older horses Blue Point and Old Persian between them.

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Dubawi Shamardal Galileo Le Havre Sea The Stars

TO 13-5-19

Start with a Darley stallion and the rest will follow... +44 (0)1638 730070 +353 (0)45 527600 darleystallions.com

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