Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder by The Owner Breeder

Mar_103_FrontCover_OwnerBreeder 21/02/2013 09:11 Page 1

Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder inc Pacemaker March 2013

£4.95 | March 2013 | Issue 103

Incorporating

It’s Festival time!

Gold Cup duo spearhead Nicky Henderson’s awesome team

Plus

• Why Cheltenham is sacrosanct for owner Robin Geffen • Sires in the spotlight: who will shine at Prestbury Park? • Noel Meade looks back over 40 years of training winners

9 771745 435006

www.ownerbreeder.co.uk

Stunning first foals! ´6KH·V D YHU\ JRRG ÀUVW IRDO JRRG VL]H JRRG ERQH ZHOO EDODQFHG ORDGV RI TXDOLW\ QLFH PDUNLQJV DQG D EHDXWLIXO KHDG OLNH KHU daddy” Vanessa Teehan-Rouzier

Colt ex. Glen Rosie (dam of Montjeu’s first stakes winner Kings Quay) owned by Newsells Park Stud, pictured at 2 weeks old.

Filly ex. Irish Queen owned by Horst Rapp’s Haras de Chevotel, pictured at 3 weeks old.

´+H·V D VPDVKLQJ FROW ZH DUH DEVROXWHO\ GHOLJKWHG ZLWK KLP µ Filly ex. Saturn Girl owned by Michael Tabor, pictured at 3½ weeks old.

Julian Dollar

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TBredOwnBdr_DPS_PourMoiFoals_Mar13.indd 1

18/02/2013 14:46

“It’s the Derby winners with that real ability to quicken that become great sires” Vincent O’Brien “He’s a great horse with great acceleration. The speed he has is exceptional” Andre Fabre

POUR MOI Brilliant Epsom Derby winner by Montjeu

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

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19/02/2013 11:59

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Mar_103_Editors_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 10:55 Page 3

WELCOME FROM THE EDITOR Publisher: Michael Harris Editor: Edward Rosenthal Bloodstock Editor: Emma Berry Designed by: Thoroughbred Group

EDWARD ROSENTHAL

Editorial: First Floor, 75 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LS Tel: 020 7152 0209 Fax: 020 7152 0213 editor@ownerbreeder.co.uk www.ownerbreeder.co.uk Advertising: Giles Anderson Tel: 01380 816 777 USA: 1 888 218 4430 Fax: 01380 816 778 advertise@anderson-co.com Subscriptions: Keely Brewer Tel: 020 7152 0212 Fax: 020 7152 0213 subscriptions@ownerbreeder.co.uk Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder incorporating Pacemaker can be purchased by non-members at the following rates: 1 Year 2 Year UK £55 £90 Europe £85 £135 RoW £99 £154 Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder incorporating Pacemaker is published by a Mutual Trading Company owned jointly by the Racehorse Owners Association and Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association is a registered charity No. 1134293 Editorial views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the ROA or TBA ABC Audited Our proven average monthly circulation is certified by the Audit Bureau of Circulation at 9,542* *Based on the period August 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012.

Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Stanstead House, The Avenue, Newmarket CB8 9AA Tel: 01638 661 321 Fax: 01638 665621 info@thetba.co.uk • www.thetba.co.uk

Incorporating

It’s Festival time!

Gold Cup duo spearhead Nicky Henderson’s awesome team

Plus

• Why Cheltenham is sacrosanct for owner Robin Geffen • Sires in the spotlight: who will shine at Prestbury Park? • Noel Meade looks back over 40 years of training winners

“

on’t call it a comeback – I’ve been here for years” barked LL Cool J on his 1990 single ‘Mama Said Knock You Out’. The New York rapper had enjoyed a golden run in the mid 1980s, with a string of hit records, but by the end of the decade looked set to be swallowed up by a host of upcoming, more aggressive acts. LL Cool J (or Ladies Love Cool James) probably doesn’t feature on Nicky Henderson’s iPod – I’m not sure he owns an iPod – but the trainer will know the feeling of being knocked off the top of the charts. Henderson was champion trainer over jumps for two consecutive seasons (1985-86 and 1986-87) before the juggernaut that was Martin Pipe steamed into view. The revolutionary Pipe, the interval trainer with a thirst for winners in every grade, grabbed the sport by the scruff of the neck, picked it up and refused to let it go for the best part of two decades. “Pipe left none of us with a frigging chance,” Henderson remarked to Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder back in November 2008. “You battle, of course you do, but it was like fighting against thunder. “His sheer numbers just flummoxed me and there was a short period when I wondered what on earth I would do. “I was lucky to have that window as champion but I have no pretensions about being champion trainer now – I’m getting too near the senior end. Paul [Nicholls] has it tied up at the moment and I think Kingy [Alan King] will be the next one.” The prediction about Nicholls remaining at the summit has proved correct, but not about his biggest challenger. Alan King’s upward trajectory has been checked over the last few seasons. Philip Hobbs, David Pipe, Jonjo O’Neill and Donald McCain are battling for promotion in the trainers’ table yet, remarkably, it is Henderson himself who is threatening to end the Ditcheat domination. Having broken the 100-winner mark for the first time

in 2008-09, Henderson has, numerically at least, been the most successful trainer for the past three seasons. In fact his tally has continued to rise since that maiden century. Only the Grand National performance of Neptune Collonges stopped Henderson from halting the Paul Nicholls bandwagon and gaining a third championship last term. It may take a similar effort from one of Nicholls’ inmates to stop the trophy heading back to Lambourn this year – and even that may not be enough. The strength in depth at Seven Barrows is phenomenal; the stable has at least two contenders in most of the championship races at the Cheltenham Festival, including the Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle, as well as housing, in the magnificent shape of Sprinter Sacre, the most exciting horse currently in training. Charged with making sure all the Henderson runners get to their respective start lines in peak shape is a battalion of dedicated and hard-working grooms, work riders and stable employees. The part played by these individuals cannot be underestimated – they also know the horses better than anyone, as I hope our Cheltenham Festival preview shows. Turn to page 49 for a behind-the-scenes exclusive. Another exclusive in this issue is an unmissable interview with Robin Geffen. The man behind Neptune Investment Management, sponsor of the 2m 5f Grade 1 novices’ hurdle on the second day of the Festival, talks to Alan Lee (pages 36-40) about his route into racing and hopes for the future. Geffen is a relative newcomer to outright racehorse ownership, yet he has already tasted Classic success on the Flat and Grade 1 glory over jumps, endured frustration with a string of near misses at Cheltenham and, tragically, seen one of his most promising horses killed in action. It seems plenty can happen in just a few years. But then Geffen need only have spoken to one of his trainers, Nicky Henderson, to know that.

“His stable has at

Racehorse Owners Association Ltd First Floor, 75 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LS Tel: 020 7152 0200 Fax: 020 7152 0213 info@roa.co.uk www.racehorseowners.net

£4.95 | March 2013 | Issue 103

Scene set for Henderson to deliver his knockout blow

9 771745 435006

www.ownerbreeder.co.uk

Cover: Bobs Worth and Long Run with Shane Gribbin and Helen Green at Seven Barrows Photo: George Selwyn

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

least two contenders in most of the championship races at the Festival

”

Mar_103_Contents_Contents 21/02/2013 09:09 Page 4

CONTENTS MARCH 2013

36 NEWS & VIEWS 7

ROA Leader

77 FEATURES 18

TBA Leader

News

Changes

Your monthly round-up

22 25

Richard Edmondson Edward Gillespie will be missed

INTERNATIONAL SCENE 27

View From Ireland Stuart Crawford one to watch

Continental Tales Malta’s Michael Sultana

Around The Globe Richard Dutrow Jnr banned

Leading Festival contenders

Tony Morris Riled by World Rankings

COVER STORY Henderson’s Hotshots

NH Sires Focus on Cheltenham

Breeders’ Digest The next industry leaders

Sales Circuit In Europe and South Africa

Talking To... Trainer Noel Meade

RMG revenue figures

Robin Geffen Exclusive interview

Liaison with government vital

Three Chimneys US operation profiled

The Big Picture Cheltenham Gold Cup of 1982

Race programme must improve

Caulfield Files Fame And Glory equals value

104 Flashback See You Then’s hat-trick Sprinter Sacre and Nico de Boinville feature in our Festival preview (pages 49-54)

Mar_103_Contents_Contents 21/02/2013 09:09 Page 5

BLOODLINES Simply the right policy – without the fuss We are able to provide cover for: ! All risks of mortality ! Theft ! Stallion’s congenital or permanent infertility ! Broodmare barrenness ! Prospective foal ! Foals from 24 hours

! Yearlings unsoundness of wind ! Horses at grass

FORUM 82

ROA Forum Raceday curtailment scheme launched

TBA Forum Stallion parade popular

LEADING THE FIELD IN BLOODSTOCK INSURANCE

Breeder of the Month Wendy Ward for Melodic Rendezvous

Next Generation Club New faces on committee

Vet Forum Looking at early pregnancy loss in mares

TO STAY AHEAD OF THE FIELD

DATA BOOK 100 National Hunt Races Grade 1 winners

102 Global Stakes Results Worldwide victors

Our monthly circulation is certified at

9,542

Can other magazines prove theirs?

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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ROA LEADER

RACHEL HOOD President Racehorse Owners Association

Racing calendar is key to realising sport’s potential Organisation and making the most of quality events can build awareness

hen runners for the first race at the Cheltenham Festival jump from the starting tape to the now traditional roar of the crowd, it will mark the start of one of the greatest horseracing festivals in the world. And for those of us who bear some of the responsibility for the wellbeing of this sport it will be a happy reminder that horseracing at its highest level continues to have a fantastic draw on the public consciousness. It will also remind us there is a balance to be struck between the tradition of British horseracing and the need to innovate so that our sport continues to thrive in the modern world. The first National Hunt Festival took place well over 100 years ago and, as it goes from strength to strength each year, we can see how imaginative innovation enhances tradition rather than destroys it. The truth is, of course, that racing is no different from any other sporting activity in that it lives or dies on the basis of the best it can offer. However ingenious the marketing, it is to no avail unless public imagination is captured by great performers and great events. This is not to diminish the everyday fare of horseracing – which in its way is every bit as important as top-class racing – but it is forever dependent upon the cream of the product to create an access route into the sport for the many. It is also why the organisation of a sport is so important in realising its full potential. In racing we must acknowledge that the structure of the seasons, the positioning of the racing festivals and major races within the calendar, and the creation of a programme that pits the best against the best, are our most important foundation stones. Thus we saw the birth of the British Champions’ Series and British Champions’ Day and, although it may have upset some of racing’s traditionalists, only the most

diehard would now rue the day when a link was created between our top Flat events that build naturally to Ascot’s wonderful showpiece. A similar link should now be established between jumping’s major races and its championship deciders at Cheltenham. And then there is the racing calendar, which continues to be riddled with anomalies that must create confusion among any new entrants to the sport. The beginning and end of the jumps season has lost its structure with the nonsense of ending the official jumps season on what is now a half-decent mixed card at Sandown in April, only for the new season to kick off the following day, while it is surely self-evident that making Grand National day the final afternoon of the jumps season would provide the best finale of all. All-weather racing – important though it is – has blurred the demarcation lines of jockey and trainer Flat championships. This is a confusion that could so easily be sorted out by simply separating all-weather and Flat turf races for the purposes of seasonal championships. Moreover, the start of the Flat turf season surely requires much more hoopla to tell the world that something special is happening. And why the fallow period while the new Flat season begins to slowly awaken and during which time Easter usually passes almost without recognition from a horseracing perspective? Has anyone not thought of an effective way of making Easter, with its prolonged public holiday, the vehicle for a great racing festival? But whatever the merit of ideas and however much they may clash with tradition, British racing’s most important focus has to be about quality. For this is the way to build public awareness, to encourage people to go racing, to ensure that we continue to enjoy terrestrial TV coverage and that racing remains the best possible enticement for those who like to have a bet.

“Jump racing must

make a link between its big races and the Festival, like Flat’s Champions’ Series

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

”

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Mar_103_TBA_Leader_TBA 21/02/2013 09:15 Page 9

TBA LEADER

RICHARD LANCASTER Chairman Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association

Liaison essential between government and breeders We will stress this message on your behalf at the National Equine Forum

he TBA addresses a raft of issues on behalf of members but at this time of the year nothing matters more than our work in support of a safe and disease-free breeding season. I recognise this is fundamental to all breeders. A number of isolated cases of Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) abortion have already been reported in vaccinated thoroughbred mares, whilst press reports suggest that the paralytic form has affected both the thoroughbred and non-thoroughbred sectors. Dealing with a case of positive EHV-1 abortion, and the possibility of further abortions, tests the strongest of resolves, whilst the 30 disease-free days cannot come soon enough for everyone involved. With the increased movement of horses, the threat of disease is never absent and, at a time when many stud farms are questioning the financial viability of their operations, there is little or no scope, not only to absorb the direct loss of valuable stock but also the associated costs and inconvenience this causes. We cannot stress too highly the need to understand and follow the HBLB Codes of Practice, but there are no guarantees that these measures alone will provide complete protection against disease. This will be the theme of the TBA’s presentation to the National Equine Forum in March, emphasising the importance of joint working between the industry and government in controlling equine infectious disease. Coming straight after the Secretary of State in the running order, I do hope he stays long enough to hear our concerns. Supported by Dr Richard Newton of the Animal Health Trust, we will press government to maintain the support for the protection provided by the requirement that cases of CEM and EVA are notifiable by law, an essential weapon to control the spread of disease and retain vital export markets for British bloodstock. We will encourage the non-thoroughbred industry to recognise that disease surveillance and biosecurity

is not just for the elite and we will reiterate the message that we cannot work in isolation if we are to be effective. This value of protecting our equine industry is reinforced by recent export trade figures published by HM Revenue & Customs, which confirmed that the export of live horses in 2011 accounted for £263 million. The second-largest figure was for live sheep (£7m). The government therefore cannot be blind to the importance of sharing this responsibility. The significant investment made in the thoroughbred identification and registration process not only provides valuable resource in terms of tracing in the event of a disease outbreak, but also because mandatory passports and microchips provide valuable safeguards, not least to defend the industry against the current concerns regarding horsemeat and the food chain. There is no doubt that we are far ahead of the wider equine industry, which have no comprehensive means of identifying owners, let alone medication records. This scenario could threaten our industry’s future use of essential drugs such as Phenylbutazone, which despite confirmation that the levels detected were insufficient to affect human health will, I fear, make an unwelcome return to DEFRA’s agenda. Writing ahead of the Festival I would like to acknowledge the work of the BHA, the Levy Board, Jockey Club Racecourses and OLBG who, with a small investment from the TBA National Hunt race budget, programmed a valuable mares-only Grade 2 Hurdle Race on February 9 at Warwick. This was badly needed after the loss of two mares’ Cheltenham trials. The race attracted an impressive 23 entries and eight runners. The challenge of creating a viable market for National Hunt fillies remains firmly on our agenda, and the TBA’s increased investment in mares-only races has helped to raise the profile of mares, but we still have a mountain to climb.

“Nothing matters

more than our work in support of a safe and disease-free breeding season

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

”

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Mar_103_News_Owner 21/02/2013 09:17 Page 11

NEWS Stories from the racing world

RMG tracks generate £45m in licence fees Figure set to rise sharply in 2013 as enhanced Turf TV deals will keep the cash rolling in

GEORGE SELWYN

acecourse Media Group (RMG), which negotiates media rights deals on behalf of 34 British racecourses, has revealed that more than £45 million was generated in licence fees from its tracks in 2012. With Exeter, Perth and Kelso added to the RMG portfolio and Ascot coming on board next year, it is forecast that the figure will rise to around £60m in 2013, when total media rights revenue will hit £84m, according to the Racecourse Association. The increased figure is due to a significant step up in the fees that bookmakers will pay for Turf TV, the betting shop picture and data service, which is a joint venture between 34 racecourses and financial partner, Timeweave. William Hill, Ladbrokes and Coral have all extended their Turf TV deals and RMG Chairman Simon Ellen believes this is good news for entire racing industry. Ellen told Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder: “We need a healthy bookmaking industry because they pay our bills. Racehorse owners and breeders need healthy racecourses because they are the platform on which their horses run. The three groups need to ameliorate each other’s position. “Regarding the relationship between Turf TV and the bookmakers, we’ve focused on 34 racecourses and delivering the high-quality racing we think the LBOs [licensed betting offices] need.

Ascot racecourse will jump aboard the RMG bandwagon in 2014

“It’s our responsibility to ensure they get, in that package, racing of the right quality, at the right time in their scheduling, to enable them to regard it as premium content.” RMG came into being following the creation of Racing UK and is owned by the racecourses, acting as a holding company for their collective media rights; 100% of the revenue generated is then passed back to the racecourses. The racecourses have been strongly criticised for not putting enough of their media rights revenue into prize-money, which is a discretionary spend, and the ROA has called for

greater transparency on the part of the racecourses concerning this issue. Ellen reflected on a big 12 months for RMG that saw a deal with Betfred to provide pool betting services and on-course betting shops at 32 of its tracks, while it led the negotiations that resulted in Channel 4 gaining all terrestrial racing for the next four years. “I think racing is in safe hands with Channel 4,” Ellen said. “The Grand National had an astronomically high audience on the BBC [11 million viewers last year] and I couldn’t forecast the same figure on 4, but it will build over time.”

BHA accedes to requests over counter analysis The consistent objections of owners’ and trainers’ representative bodies to the BHA’s plans to change counter analysis procedures have paid off. British racing’s governing authority wanted all counter analysis to be carried out by the Horseracing Forensic Laboratory (HFL) in Newmarket, even though the same lab conducts testing of the A sample. The Racehorse Owners Association and National Trainers Federation argued that such a cost-cutting-inspired move would undermine confidence in the independence of the testing procedure, and the BHA acquiesced. While HFL will be the default lab for B samples, connections can choose to have the B sample tested instead at Laboratorie des

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Courses Hippiques across the Channel, albeit at their own cost. Another change for horsemen to note is that owners and trainers must now notify the BHA that they wish the B sample to be analysed, rather than the former position whereby it was analysed automatically, unless an owner or trainer asked for it not to be. ROA Chief Executive Richard Wayman said: “We were very concerned with the initial proposal that, following a positive A sample, the B sample would always be tested at the same laboratory. “We and the NTF felt that it was essential that owners and trainers should have the opportunity to have the B sample tested at an approved alternative site, and we are pleased that, following constructive dialogue with the

BHA, a sensible solution was reached.” Should a horse test positive, a trainer and owner would now normally discuss whether to have the B sample analysed – the sample given on the racecourse is split into A and B units. If it is known why the A sample is positive, there would be no need for the other sample to be tested. If it is decided to have the B sample analysed, this will be done at HFL, at the BHA’s cost – though, importantly, at a subsequent disciplinary panel hearing it could be the panel rule connections must pay up to £500 towards the analysis of the B sample. The choice, essentially, is to have the B test performed by HFL, with the risk of having to pay for it subject to an enquiry, or pay for the French lab to analyse it.

Mar_103_News_Owner 21/02/2013 09:17 Page 12

NEWS

New racing club venture for Biddestone Stud Biddestone Stud in Wiltshire has launched a new racing club for 2013, which will race seven horses this season, including a Galileo threeparts-sister to St Leger runner-up Unsung Heroine. The unnamed two-year-old, who is currently in training with James Given, is joined by a wellrelated juvenile filly by Rock Of Gibraltar, two three-year-old fillies, the 82-rated Lucky Henry and hurdlers Don’t Take Me Alive and Rossmore Lad. As well as Given, the Biddestone Racing Club horses are divided between trainers Marco Botti, Brian Meehan, Clive Cox, William Knight and Charlie Longsdon. Biddestone Stud, which was founded by Mtoto’s breeder John Moore, is owned by Kuwaiti businessman Tareq Al-Mazeedi in partnership with Tim and Gill Bostwick, who bought into the 100-acre farm in Chippenham in 2012. The stud also retains bloodstock agent Richard Knight, who will run Biddestone Racing Club with Tim Bostwick. All horses racing for the club are provided on a free lease by the stud, which plans to emphasise the breeding side of the sport by building stud visits into the syndicate members’ benefits alongside trips to the racing yards and social events. “The club is unique in its close association with Biddestone Stud in that it gives members an interest in racing right through from the breeding shed to the winner’s enclosure,” said Knight. “It’s the only racing club which has

This three-parts-sister to St Leger second Unsung Heroine is one of the club horses

access to a band of really well-bred mares. We can pick which horses we’d like to race from some really high-class animals and club members will have the chance to see them at the stud as youngsters before they go into training.” He added: “We’re really trying to move the stud forward by also launching some Enterprise Investment Schemes, such as foal

pinhooking syndicates.” Membership of the club, which guarantees at least five horses in training each year, is limited to 40 shares of £4,500 each (or £7,500 for jointmembership). All prize-money won is retained by the club and members are entitled to a share in proceeds raised by the private sale of any of the club’s horses.

Black-type performance swings it for Pipe’s mare

Munir’s duo Ma Filleule and Utopie Des Bordes, plus graduation chase winner Alasi and the consistent Little Glenshee were all deemed worthy of consideration by the panel.

GEORGE SELWYN

Settling on a winner for the OLBG Mare of the Month Award is becoming harder and harder for the judging panel with each passing month, but after lengthy debate the fourth prize in the series has gone to David Johnson’s homebred Swing Bowler. Having been unbeaten in her first five runs in bumpers and over hurdles, the sixyear-old daughter of Galileo out of the great racemare Lady Cricket earned black type with her third-place finish to My Tent Or Yours in the Grade 3 Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on February 9. TBA National Hunt Committee member Nick Luck, who sits on the OLBG Mare of the Month judging panel with Stefanie Reeve of OLBG and TBA Chief Executive Louise Kemble, said: “Swing Bowler gets my vote. What she has achieved is pretty impressive by mares’ standards. Not only did she beat a good bunch at Musselburgh but her performance at Newbury was very smart in a hot running of the most competitive handicap of the season.” Terrific performances of late from Simon

Swing Bowler: racked up five wins

“The final decision each month is becoming really difficult as we’ve been treated to some really good performances by mares this season,” said OLBG’s Head of Media Relations Stefanie Reeve. “Alasi is a particular favourite of mine. I was taken with her win at Kempton and I’m really looking forward to seeing her line up for the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. This is the second year we’ve sponsored the race and we’re delighted to be involved in trying to encourage more owners, breeders and trainers to race National Hunt fillies and mares.” Previous winners of the OLBG Mare of the Month Award this season are Une Artiste (Nicky Henderson), She Ranks Me (Donald McCain) and Mischievous Milly (Oliver Sherwood), all of whom hold entries for the Grade 2 OLBG Mares’ Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival. Swing Bowler’s trainer David Pipe receives a memento from OLBG while staff at his yard share in a cash prize of £1,000.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

TWEENHILLS TIMES AN EYE FOR SUCCESS

MARCH 2013

ROBINS OFF TO A FLYER

LOW RES Olly Stevens celebrated his first winner when Hard Walnut hacked up at Lingfield in February

The team at Robins Farm got off to a flying start with Hard Walnut making all to land the 6f Maiden Fillies’ Stakes at Lingfield on the 3rd February for Qatar Racing.

NEW ZEALAND YEARLING SALES

It was the first winner for rookie trainer Olly Stevens, who thanks to the generous support of Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, has moved from the USA to this purpose built training facilities in Surrey and will train in excess of 30 horses for a range of clients.

STAFF PROFILE Jack Nice, Stud Hand

Qatar Bloodstock’s Shamardal colt realised NZ$270,000 at the Karaka Select Yearling Sale

David’s assistant Hannah Wall enjoyed much warmer climes in January when travelling to New Zealand for the NZB Karaka Select Yearling Sale. Qatar Bloodstock offered four colts at the sale, all consigned by Westbury Stud, including a Street Cry colt who sold to Mark Kavanagh for NZ$220,000$ (Lot 74), and Bahen Bloodstock purchased a Shamardal colt for NZ$270,000 (Lot 127). Makfi has shuttled to Westbury Stud in the Southern Hemisphere for their last two breeding seasons and will be represented with his first crop of foals at the Karaka Weanling Sale in May. Hannah also visited many farms in the North Island, meeting breeders and inspecting over 30 foals from Makfi’s exciting first crop down under.

What did you do before joining Tweenhills? After graduating in economics last year from Nottingham University, I was on the BHA Graduate Programme with my placement at Weatherbys. I then helped Jamie McCalmont at Tattersalls Book 2, having met his assistant Alex Elliott at the Newmarket course.

By Cape Cross, Hard Walnut was purchased as a foal by David Redvers Bloodstock and looks a promising three-year-old for the season ahead. For details of horses for sale and syndication, contact www.robinsfarmracing.com. Also being an economics student, I like analysing racing and pedigree statistics, and write a blog ‘Nicewise’ at jackniceracing.blogspot.com Why Tweenhills? Jamie recommended gaining experience with horses as I’d had none before now. So he and Ralph Beckett introduced me to David, who was good enough to take me on. What do you enjoy most? How much I’m learning, everyone is very supportive. Most rewarding moment so far? Seeing my first foal being born.

Why have you chosen racing as a career? I’ve always been a racing enthusiast, running the racing society at university.

Future ambitions? Learn to ride! I would like to progress a career in bloodstock but too early to say exactly which area.

A colt from Makfi’s first Southern Hemisphere crop out of Starboard Light pictured at Westbury Stud

This colt foal by Makfi out of Rogans Gem was bred at Trelawney Stud in New Zealand

Tweenhills Farm & Stud Hartpury, Gloucestershire, GL19 3BG W: www.tweenhills.com T: + 44 (0) 1452 700177 / 700545 M: + 44 (0) 7767 436373 E: davidredvers@tweenhills.com

Tweenhills Times_March(V4).indd 1

19/02/2013 12:52

Mar_103_Changes2pp_Layout 1 21/02/2013 09:20 Page 14

in association with

Racing’s news in a nutshell PEOPLE AND BUSINESS Ramon Dominguez Leading US rider, 36, suffers fractured skull in a fall at Aqueduct.

William Hill Bookmaker reports operating profit up 20% to £330 million in 2012; group net revenue grew by 12%, while online revenue increased by 27%.

Nadia Gollings Daughter of trainer Steve Gollings is new General Manager at Huntingdon racecourse, taking over from Sophie Able.

Andrew Heffernan Former British-based jockey handed 15-year ban for corruption by BHA; eight others were warned off in the case including footballer Michael Chopra.

Sunday races Two races every Sunday will receive an extra £5,000 in bonus prize-money in a bid to improve quality and competitiveness.

Dan Skelton Long-serving assistant to Paul Nicholls makes decision to set up his own training operation at parents’ Warwickshire farm.

Richard Fahey Master of Musley Bank and Richard Hannon are added to Cheveley Park’s roster of trainers for 2013.

Great Leighs Essex venue could hold fixtures in 2014 after its owners submit an application to the BHA; the course opened in April 2008 but closed nine months later.

More people and business... South African trainer Herman Brown will relinquish his licence; one of his best horses was Jay Peg, winner of the Cape Derby, Dubai Duty Free and Singapore Airlines Cup. Owner Barry Connell signs up 20-year-old Danny Mullins as retained jockey; his potential Cheltenham Festival rides include Golantilla, Black Benny and Glam Gerry. Ladbrokes pays €30 million for betting exchange Betdaq, which languishes behind Betfair in the exchange market. John Wilson, former trainer and racecourse steward, is appointed General Manager of Doncaster Bloodstock Sales. Andrew Crean, Finance Director of the Jockey Club, will leave the organisation to join the Football Association. Sabine Bouard joins the nominations team at Banstead Manor Stud having previously spent ten years at shipping agent Rapido Horse Services. Malton-based trainer Linda Stubbs, known for buying sharp two-year-olds, hands over the reins to her daughter and former jockey Kristin Stubbs. Former vet to the British Olympic team Jenny Hall will take charge of overseeing equine welfare at the BHA, following the departure of Tim Morris. Racecourse bookmaker Colin Webster decides to sell his 19 pitches and retire at the age of 82.

Gary Hind Jockey, 45, calls time on career that yielded a Racing Post Trophy on Medaaly in 1996 and two victories in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot.

Optima

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

DAR5097 OB page OVERBURY 1 MAR13 18/02/2013 12:53 Page 1

HIS TOP 20 FOALS AVERAGE

£36K

WE ALWAYS SAID HE’D GO FAR... Three times Britain’s Champion jumps stallion. Leading the lists again in 2013. And his biggest and best crops have yet to race.

Kayf Tara is enjoying a brilliant season... There’s outstanding novice chaser and Cheltenham entrant Cantlow... National horses The Package and Alfie Sherrin... Hennessy winner and Gold Cup fourth Carruthers, hero this term of the West Wales National... Staying novice chaser Hawkes Point... Willie Mullins’ Cheltenham prospect Mozoltov... Promising Irish chasers Miradane, Special Tiara and the classy Rathlin... G2 mares Mickie and Fentara... Progressive hurdler Fahamore... Highly-rated, unbeaten bumper winner Tamarina Bay...

KAYF TARA £3,000 OCT 1 SLF

THE OVERBURY STALLIONS

SCHIAPARELLI £2,000 OCT 1 SLF

Also home of DELEGATOR

Five-time G1 winner by Monsun, sire of star jumps stallion, Network, himself sire of Sprinter Sacre. First yearlings share his power, scope and abundant quality.

Call Simon Sweeting 07796 174926 (01386)725552 www.ovstud.co.uk

Mar_103_Changes2pp_Layout 1 21/02/2013 09:19 Page 16

CHANGES

In association with

RACEHORSE AND STALLION MOVEMENT AND RETIREMENTS Siyouma

Last year’s Sun Chariot and EP Taylor Stakes heroine for trainer Francois Doumen is bought privately by the Yoshida family.

Excellent Art

Nine-year-old son of Pivotal, sire of Group 3 winner Hazel Lavery, is sold by Coolmore to continue his stud career at Poonawalla Stud in India.

Prince Flori Most Improved Son of Lawman, winner of last year’s St James’s Palace Stakes, is purchased by Coolmore and will be trained by Aidan O’Brien in 2013.

German Group 1 winner is bought by Knockhouse Stud in Co Kilkenny, having spent the last two seasons at Dairy House Stud in Wiltshire.

Tataniano

Winner of the 2010 Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree is moved by owner Andy Stewart from Paul Nicholls to Richard Rowe.

Moyle Park, an impressive Leopardstown bumper winner for David Kelly, sells for £250,000 at Brightwells Cheltenham Sale and goes into training with Willie Mullins. Irish Derby and St Leger runner-up Midas Touch will stand first season at War Horse Place in Lexington; the six-year-old son of Galileo’s fee will be $10,000. US Grade 2 winner Redding Colliery, formerly trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, is retired to stud in Louisiana. JP McManus buys Gold Cup and Grand National entrant Wyck Hill.

Nick Williams-trained hurdler/chaser, winner of three of his 11 starts including the 2011 Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton.

Le Beau Bai 10 Mud-loving stayer for the Richard Lee stable who won the 2011 Welsh National under Charlie Poste.

Sir Michael Connell 73 High Court judge who chaired the inquiry into the void Grand National of 1993 and was a Jockey Club member from 1988.

John Marnane 85

Stud groom at Whitsbury Manor Stud in the 1990s, described by Chris Harper as “an amazing horseman and top-class stud groom”.

High-class hurdler for the Nicky Henderson stable owned by JP McManus, winner of the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton in December.

James de Vassy 8

PEOPLE OBITUARIES

Reid Coulter 54

Darlan 6

Grade 1-winning son of Conquistador Cielo who sired Breeders’ Cup Sprint winners Artax and Squirtle Squirt.

Elite Racing Club’s homebred son of Dansili is to be trained for the Mebourne Cup by Marco Botti after being sold to Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock.

Racehorse owner and breeder and the father of trainer David Marnane and renowned consignor Con Marnane.

HORSE OBITUARIES

Marquetry 26

Dandino

Like-A-Butterfly 19 Brilliant mare trained by Christy Roche and owned by JP McManus, winner of five Grade 1s at bumper, hurdle and chase level.

Just David 30 Alec Stewart-trained winner of the 1987 Chester Cup, bred and owned by Tony and Rosalie Leftwich.

Grimes 20 Won two Grade 1 hurdle events at Punchestown and the Galway Plate over fences in the colours of JP McManus.

Mac Gille Eoin 9 Six-furlong specialist, winner of nine of his 73 starts and over £100,000 in prizemoney for his owner/breeder MCSD Racing Partnership.

Dana BrudenellBruce 83 Owned 1979 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Alverton and was one of the first women to be elected a member of the Jockey Club.

Malcolm Palmer 65 Well-known bookmaker’s representative who worked in Coral’s PR department for 35 years.

Sir John Gilmour 68 Racecourse steward at Musselburgh and Perth having previously ridden and trained point-to-pointers.

Jocelyn Reavey 85 One of Britain’s earliest female jockeys who took up training after the death of husband Eddie in 1980.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

The Complete Package Stallions at Outstanding Value BAHAMIAN BOUNTY £10,000 1st October (Cadeaux Genereux - Clarentia) COCKNEY REBEL £2,500 NFFR (Val Royal - Factice). A DUAL PURPOSE stallion 67% winners/ runners strike rate with runners under National Hunt rules. DICK TURPIN £5,000 1st October (Arakan - Merrily) PASTORAL PURSUITS £5,500 1st October (Bahamian Bounty - Star) e: stallions@nationalstud.co.uk

Full Boarding Services Foaling, Permanent Boarding & Seasonal Boarding

Sales Consignments at all major UK sales Sales Preparation, Spellers & Temporary Boarding e: studsecretary@nationalstud.co.uk

call Brian O’Rourke on 07789 508157 or email stallions@nationalstud.co.uk National Stud Ltd., Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 0XE Managing Director: Brian O’Rourke

Mar_103_Big_Picture_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 09:22 Page 18

THE BIG PICTURE

Mar_103_Big_Picture_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 09:22 Page 19

C H E LT E N H A M G O L D C U P

CAN YOU NAME IT? There’s all to play for as the 1982 Gold Cup field approaches the halfway point of the race. Winner Silver Buck and Robert Earnshaw are towards the outside in black and white silks chasing leader Tied Cottage (Gerry Newman), with Bregawn (Graham Bradley, centre), Grittar (Dick Saunders, hoops) and Night Nurse (Jonjo O’Neill, right) for company Photo George Selwyn

Levy Board OB Mar 2013_Levy Board OB Mar 2013 06/02/2013 08:39 Page 1

50 YEARS OF VETERINARY SCIENCE RESEARCH Equine Veterinary Journal is launched with an HBLB study of the heart. Since then over 500 HBLB studies have appeared in EVJ, about 10% of its en!re content.

Contagious Equine Metri!s threatens the Thoroughbred breeding industry, leading to the first edi!on of the HBLB Code of Prac!ce. Today its 35th edi!on is the interna!onal standard for disease control.

Scin!graphy (bone scanning) is introduced to the UK with HBLB funding to detect fractures long before they show on X-ray. The horse can be rested before a more serious fracture develops.

The horse genome is catalogued and HBLB-funded researchers show specific gene!c links to diseases such as bone fracture and ‘tying-up’. Further HBLB funding enables genome sequencing, laying the founda!ons for rapid diagnos!c tests and new approaches to Rhodococcus vaccines.

African Horse Sickness is a virus spread by bi!ng midges. It could spread to the UK like Blue Tongue virus did in 2007. HBLB funded projects are preparing plans in readiness against this threat.

HBLB funds new work towards vaccines against strangles, herpes virus and Rhodococcus, treatments of equine tendon injuries including stem cells, and for the first !me, examining the effect of jockey movement on the horse in mo!on.

1960s

1970s

1980s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

Modern wormers are introduced but today widespread drug resistance is reported. HBLB research is developing strategies to combat this threat.

HBLB research funds studies to reduce fracture risk and develop prac!cal preventa!ve strategies. It also funds the first large scale assessment of treatments for tendon injury, leading to ground-breaking stem cell research.

Mandatory equine influenza vaccina!on is introduced. Ever since, an HBLB surveillance programme monitors the virus and alerts manufacturers when vaccines need to be updated with new strains. HBLB-funded scien!sts played a key role in advising during the Australian epidemic in 2007 that infected nearly 10,000 premises and caused losses of AU$327 million.

HBLB research shows a posi!ve link between heart size and athle!c ability, par!cularly over a longer distance, and also proves that most heart murmurs in horses have no significant effect on heart func!on.

2000s 2010s

2013

2012 is the second worst year for West Nile Virus in the USA, with 4,725 cases of which 187 were horses. HBLB is developing a novel diagnos!c test in case it enters the UK by migratory birds commu!ng from Africa.

Levy Board OB Mar 2013_Levy Board OB Mar 2013 06/02/2013 08:39 Page 2

More informa!on on HBLB research on the health and well-being of the racehorse is at racehorsehealth.hblb.org.uk

Mar_103_Tony_Morris_Owner 21/02/2013 09:27 Page 22

THE MAN YOU CAN’T IGNORE COMMENT

Tony Morris Rankings recalibration sparked fierce debate, much of it over whether it would have been better to rate Frankel higher, rather than downgrade the likes of Alleged and Shergar

GEORGE SELWYN

he publication of the World Thoroughbred Rankings (WTR) always sparks controversy. It was the same for the century or so when all we had to concern ourselves with was our domestic Free Handicap. Ratings are expressions of opinion – the opinion, certainly, of practised professionals who spend all their working hours forming it, but it can never attain the status of holy writ. The verdicts handed down as ‘official’ may always be disputed. We don’t have to believe them, frequently we don’t. Officials themselves are relaxed about the fact they can’t expect their judgements to be universally accepted. But when the rankings for 2012 were revealed in mid-January, they came accompanied by something extra. In what was called a recalibration, revisions to some previous assessments were made. They – and, it must be said, plenty of others with opinions on the subject – felt a number of horses in the recent past had been overrated, and that adjustments needed to be made to facilitate more accurate comparisons of merit between the generations. This, it seemed, was calculated to invite even more controversy than usual. Handicappers wanted to concur with the view, widely expressed by other authorities, that Frankel was the best in recent times. But the mark they assigned him was ‘only’ 140, 1lb less than was given to Dancing Brave in 1986, and identical with that awarded in 1978 to Alleged and in 1981 to Shergar. Dual 1991 Derby hero Generous and brilliant 1997 Arc victor Peintre Celebre had been assessed at 137 and Sea The Stars, who carried all before him in 2009, was given a mark of 136. Some of those no longer seemed appropriate, the committee felt. Frankel was reckoned to have set the new standard, and a number of those former champions now seemed too close to him – one of them even ahead of him. Amendments were needed. What they decided was to leave Peintre Celebre and Sea The Stars where they had been placed initially, but to drop Generous by 1lb to 136, Dancing Brave by 3lb to 138, Shergar by 4lb to 136, and, perhaps most remarkably, bring dual Arc winner Alleged down by 6lb to 134. Some saw these moves as

Alleged (top) and Shergar were two undeserving victims in the WTR reassessment

tampering with history, little more than a contrivance to ensure Frankel rose to the top. It wasn’t quite that, but was an attempt to correct perceptions that previous classifications had delivered, maybe even a laudable one. However, we are no more bound to believe the alterations than the originals. Was all the tinkering strictly necessary, when, according to other authorities, the rankings under-estimated Frankel’s merit?

The Racing Post, which began publication in Dancing Brave’s three-year-old season, made Frankel its all-time champion on 143. Timeform, a leading authority in the field of ratings for more than 60 years, went 147, placing him 2lb higher than Sea-Bird. Even more emphatic in defining Frankel’s brilliance, John Whitley’s Racing Research, whose ratings have been generated solely by THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Mar_103_Tony_Morris_Owner 21/02/2013 09:28 Page 23

SOLID AS A ROCK ! computer for 30 years, assessed the Galileo colt’s performances in the Queen Anne Stakes and Juddmonte International with a mark of 147, and his sign-off display in the Champion Stakes at an astonishing 149. I remember the wonder I experienced on examining Racehorses of 1958, the first Timeform annual I purchased, and I have been a Timeform devotee since. I haven’t always agreed with its assessments but have come to regard them as usually reliable. Moreover, I witnessed Sea-Bird’s Arc, and have no doubt Frankel was superior, so if Sea-Bird was worth 145, I can’t quarrel with a 147 assignment for last season’s superstar.

The classifications date only from 1977, and in 1965 the UK did not even have a Free Handicap for three-year-olds. How officialdom would have rated Sea-Bird’s form is beyond guessing. That year’s French Free Handicap, for three-year-olds and up, had Sea-Bird on 71kg, no less than 4kg higher than Free Ride, the top older horse. While I wouldn’t dispute some horses were flattered by past ratings, there could have been less tinkering if present assessors accepted Frankel was better than they have credited him with. The Post’s 143 doesn’t flatter him; something closer to the Timeform mark would have seemed appropriate to me. As for the horses downgraded, I’d have left Shergar on 140 (also the Timeform assessment), and although Alleged might have been a shade too high (Timeform had him on 138), dragging him down to 134 is an insult. Not many horses win two Arcs – and he won both his with complete authority. Dancing Brave was inferior to Frankel but 138 is not high enough for him. I don’t want to give the impression I’m against the principle of revising ratings, because I’ve done some of it myself. In A Century of Champions, the book John Randall and I compiled in 1999, we rated all the best horses since 1900. As the book was published by Timeform, whose own ratings had been appearing since 1947, it was a tad embarrassing to tell our paymasters that we sought the liberty of giving our own assessments, some of which differed from theirs. Fortunately, they let us do as we proposed. The Timeform scale had been tried and trusted for half a century by then, so we didn’t feel the need to change much. We left Sea-Bird on top with 145, raised Ribot 1lb to 143 and brought Brigadier Gerard down 1lb to join him on the same mark. We took 2lb off Tudor Minstrel, reducing him to 142, but raised Nijinsky 2lb to 140. Most of the alterations we made were in that kind of range. However, we did find some assessments mystifying, if not completely eccentric. The 142 awarded to Windy City in 1951 seemed grotesque and although he was decidedly an exceptional two-year-old, our mark of 132 did him ample justice. (For the record, our top juvenile of the century was The Tetrarch, 134 in 1913, and only Tetratema and Tudor Minstrel ranked higher than Windy City.) Another we found hard to fathom was Honeylight’s 130 in 1956. Wins in the Free Handicap and 1,000 Guineas, along with three crushing defeats, supposedly made her 2lb better than the previous season’s filly Triple Crown heroine Meld; by our lights she was 7lb or more inferior. Most of the ratings that seemed inflated dated from the 1950s, but there was one from 1973 about which we had our doubts. Aureoletta, who reached the end of the season still a maiden after ten outings, was assessed at 118. We had to wonder whether that owed something to the fact she was owned by Phil Bull, Timeform’s boss.

“Alleged might

have been a shade too high, but dragging him down to 134 is an insult”

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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Looking back into history

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Whitsbury Roster OB Mar 2013_Whitsbury Roster OB Dec 2012 19/02/2013 11:56 Page 1

Mar_103_R_Edmondson_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 09:38 Page 25

RICHARD EDMONDSON COMMENT

The first Festival for 32 years minus Edward Gillespie is now upon us; time, then, to acknowledge the former supremo’s popularity and passion

Hats off to Mr Cheltenham

“We’d forgotten he

was used to taking on the masses and had dealt with far more serious drinkers” In 1996, Gillespie was swept along in the Pamplona stampede that accompanied Imperial Call’s Gold Cup victory. By the time he reached winning trainer Fergie Sutherland, who had sadly had his left leg amputated in the Korean War, Gillespie too had suffered a loss. His watch had gone. Twelve months later, as the horde welcomed back Istabraq, the MD put in a devastating rugby tackle on a figure he spotted vaulting the fence. Only when the protagonists gathered themselves did Gillespie discover that THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

GEORGE SELWYN

f all the passionate noises in sport, perhaps the greatest is the roar before the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. “That is as much about kinship as about the horses,” one racing executive once described it to me. “It’s a recognition that the various clans have survived another year and have returned to the great games.” That administrator will not be administering at this year’s Festival, however. For the first time in 32 years, the games will have to go ahead without Edward Gillespie as the course’s Managing Director. Thus comes to an end one of the greatest confrontations in racing. Dear Edward soon came to understand the human peril at the Festival. At the 1988 gathering he took issue with a hot-dog merchant, who grabbed our man’s left index finger and snapped it. It was with a nation rather than a single man, though, that the true battle lay. For 12 months of the year Gillespie charmed and cajoled all of Ireland into attending at Prestbury Park; then, for four days, he had to stop all of Ireland entering Cheltenham’s inner sanctum, the holy of holies, the winner’s enclosure.

Edward ‘Everyman’ Gillespie was many things, including winner’s enclosure guard

the interloper was, in fact, Aidan O’Brien, Istabraq’s trainer. And so it went on, this Horatius on the bridge against the Etruscans (a theme I, personally, do not think is explored sufficiently in betting shops up and down the country). But now Edward and his trusty shield are gone and his 6ft frame has been replaced by poor little Ian Renton, who is probably practising Men Of Harlech as we speak. It will be a miracle if his suits finish the week without footprints on them. The everyman Gillespie will not be forgotten quickly. His ability to run with the foxes and hunt with the hounds was so acute that he even managed to find a favourable constituency in the press room. I can thank him for recommending a round of golf during Festival week at Cleeve Hill Golf Club, spread over the escarpment that overlooks the course. The view from the highest point of the Cotswolds is amazing and when the helicopters come swarming in just over your head it’s as if a piece of the Mekong Delta has come to Gloucestershire. Further afield, another memory is when Edward once escorted a ragged platoon of journalists to the Pardubicka, 60 miles east of Prague in the Czech Republic. It was a surreal experience, viewing burial

sites around the Pardubice racecourse as the works of Shakin’ Stevens and the Rubettes belted out over the Tannoy. Adjacent to the dreaded Taxis fence, which is named after a Czech prince who risked his noble head on horseback, was a tended memorial to Kamil Kuchovsky. The local rider had been taken from us the previous year, but it was no bone-shattering end in the bottom of the dyke. The old boy died at home on his bed. Further out in the country was a clutch of headstones, an apparent consequence of some bloody pile-up. The three men down below, however, were victims of the speedway track that once offered a different sort of horsepower to Pardubice’s spectators. To recover from this ordeal, a group of us selfconfessed swashbucklers of the Fourth Estate went out to a bar. It was heaving with locals. We were surprised to be joined at the pool table by EG, whom we imagined would stumble out after the first few glasses of frothing pivo. Many, many hours later with the remaining Czechs in the building fast asleep, there was only one person who wanted to carry on, the same one who looked the freshest in the hotel foyer next morning. We’d forgotten that Edward Gillespie was used to taking on the masses and had dealt with far more serious drinkers than us.

Sir Percy fp Owner March 2013_SIR PERCY 20/02/2013 14:52 Page 1

Standing for Value

SIR PERCY

The unbeaten Champion 2yo who went on to Derby glory

Leading European Sires of 3yos in 2012 (% winners to runners, 40+)

1 SIR PERCY 2 Galileo 3 Hurricane Run Jeremy Montjeu 6 Authorized Oasis Dream Stormy River 9 Clodovil Dalakhani Dark Angel Gentlewave 13 Dutch Art 14 AUSSIE RULES Source: Hyperion Promotions

67% 59% 57% 57% 57% 56% 56% 56% 55% 55% 55% 55% 54% 53%

Leading Active European Sires

(% Stakes Horses to Foals, 2009 & 2010 crops) Sire

%SH/Foals

2013 fee

1 Galileo 11.94% 2 Dubawi 10.29% 3 Lawman 10.13% 4 Acclamation 9.77% 5 SIR PERCY 9.38% 6 Dutch Art 8.94% 7 Oasis Dream 8.17% 8 Zamindar 8.13% 9 Invincible Spirit 8.00% 10 Soldier Hollow 7.89% 11 American Post 7.59% 12 Dansili 7.56% 13 Danehill Dancer 7.48%

Private £75,000 €20,000 €35,000 £7,000 £18,000 £80,000 £10,000 €65,000 €10,000 €5,000 £80,000 €40,000

Fee: £7,000 (1st October SLF)

Source: Hyperion Promotions

Also standing: ARCHIPENKO – Gr.1 Winning Leading International Miler (First runners in 2013) AUSSIE RULES – the Leading British 3rd Crop Sire by winners, wins and Stakes winners in 2012.

LANWADES

The independent option ™

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

Mar_103_View_From_Ireland_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 09:32 Page 27

VIEW FROM IRELAND By JESSICA LAMB OF THE RACING POST

Crawfords chasing Festival fame Family-run training operation enjoying plenty of success buying, selling and racing

CAROLINE NORRIS

orthern Ireland trainer Stuart Crawford continues to avoid the Willie Mullins and Noel Meade bumper teams by travelling his horses to Britain’s northern courses, but could this month take a trip south for his first Cheltenham Festival runner. The 37-year-old has been nursing nineyear-old mare Aibrean throughout her stop-start career and although she fell on her comeback at Ayr in February – her first appearance in 15 months – Crawford is planning to run in the National Hunt Chase. He said: “Another Rum, who won the National Hunt Chase for Ian Duncan, is a fullbrother to Aibrean’s dam so it looks like a race she’d be ideal for, especially if the ground starts drying. “She’s got plenty of ability but, as you can see from her form, she’s had a series of wee, niggling problems and we manage to run her only two or three times before we have to stop and give her some time off. “It is a little bit frustrating but she’s worth it and is the type or mare who does have a really good pot in her if we can keep her right for long enough. Hopefully we’ll be able to do that this year at Cheltenham.” It’s not just her heritage that points towards Cheltenham but also her form. In November 2011 she ran eighth in a valuable handicap hurdle at Haydock won by Dynaste, now favourite for the RSA Chase, with subsequent Lexus Chase and Gold Cup hero Synchronised third, Pertemps Final star Cape Tribulation fifth and Kim Muir victor Sunnyhillboy seventh. Crawford’s operation is family run with brothers Ben, Ross and Stephen. The ride on Aibrean in the Festival amateur event will go to Ben or Stephen, though choosing which is a task Crawford hasn’t dared to contemplate. He joked: “Maybe we’ll flip a coin – it wouldn’t be a good idea to let them fight for it anyway! We’ll worry about it when we know she’s going to get there.” The Crawford name has built up a good reputation in Britain, where the likes of Broadbackbob, now trained by Stuart Crawford (left) and brother Ben will be bidding for Cheltenham glory

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Nicky Henderson, have flown the flag for their production line. “I always try to look for correct conformation but I place particular importance on a horse’s athleticism,” he said. “I like a horse that’s light on its feet. Very few horses that are athletic aren’t any good. “You get the big strong types that can be

“Horses are often not as tuned up for their first bumper run in England as they are in Ireland”

staying chasers and get through the tough conditions, but I prefer something more compact and agile. Where we find them varies. Generally we get them as stores and go through the point-to-points or bumper route. “We bought three at the Derby Sale in 2011 and all three have won their bumpers in Ireland – Gilt Shadow and Mister Nibbles at Down Royal, and Killyglass [now

trained by Emma Lavelle after selling for £68,000 in November] at Wexford.” Crawford says a number of their successful sales in Britain are down to their wins in bumpers, rather than point-to-points, which can be harder for trainers not ingrained in the scene or availing of local advisors to read. He added: “Many of the horses that have won in England would be well up for winning in Ireland too, but the races suit them better at the time. There is the element that horses are often not as tuned up for their first bumper in England as they are in Ireland, but there is also a lack of opportunities for a horse running in its second bumper. Here you are limited to stepping up to a winners’ race; in England you can run in a similar race carrying a penalty, which is an easier opportunity and that’s what we are looking for. “The cost of the ferry itself is expensive but I can see Larne harbour from my kitchen window. Three miles gets me on the boat, then it’s only two to three hours the other side to most of the tracks we go to. If you take more than one and come back with wins and placings it really is worthwhile.” It isn’t all about sales though, with many owners also keen to race and some of the operation’s most promising winners look set to be returning next year too, including two of his Derby Sale purchases – Gilt Shadow and Mister Nibbles – and Ayr winner Fine Rightly, a half-brother to Aibrean. >>

Mar_103_View_From_Ireland_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 09:32 Page 28

VIEW FROM IRELAND

Rookie trainer Harry Kelly is confident exinmate Moyle Park has what it takes to win next month’s Goffs Land Rover Bumper at the Punchestown festival – and a whole lot more. After the five-year-old won a bumper at the Leopardstown Christmas festival he was only half joking when he said “We didn’t come here for the good of our health,” and having sold the son of Flemensfirth to Susannah and Rich Ricci at Cheltenham’s Brightwells Sale for £250,000, his high regard for Moyle Park has not dwindled. He said: “To be honest, it wasn’t a surprise at all that he won at Leopardstown. We knew we had a nice horse going there and the race had been the plan for him since Patrick McCormack and I bought him at the Goffs Land Rover Sale last June. I said at Leopardstown that if he didn’t sell we’d be only too happy to bring him home and train him for Cheltenham – or Punchestown – as I think he’s well up to that class. He’s top class. “He goes on any ground, has come on mentally for that run at Leopardstown and I think he could go all the way.” Kelly has been training only since last May but the Tipperary-based operator has already established himself as a force to be reckoned with when it comes to producing young stars. Up to the end of January he boasted a 19% strike-rate in all jumps races and a huge 32% in bumpers, with the mare Railway Zira, Que

CAROLINE NORRIS

Kelly excels at producing young stars

Moyle Park, a Harry Kelly production, is a leading fancy for Punchestown

Pasa and Hilltop Tommy all emerging as potential replacements for Moyle Park, now with champion trainer Willie Mullins. Kelly added: “We’re mainly about young horses here, bringing them on and moving them on, but Railway Zira is one we’ll probably keep for novice hurdles next year. Her owners are big racing fans and keen to hang on to her as she’s shown us plenty

Cheltenham dreams for Winters and Doyle Inimitable Cork trainer Mick Winters could be represented by Galway Hurdle hero Rebel Fitz in the Champion Hurdle. Winters brought the buzzy son of Agent Bleu to Cheltenham in January with Allow Dallow, who was entered in the post-racing sale on Cheltenham Festival Trials Day, to gain experience of travelling. Winters said: “He did more than 100% of what we wanted. He ate, he drank and he was relaxed. He did take a gasp and have a look at the stand, but cooled down after and we were delighted. We know that he can travel now so we can think seriously about the Champion Hurdle and if not the Aintree Hurdle.” Rebel Fitz would be Winters’s second runner, having saddled Phelans Fancy to finish down the field in the 2005 Christie’s Foxhunter Chase. Wexford-based Liz Doyle, who trained and rode Clonard Prince to be tenth in the 2002 National Hunt Chase, looks set to saddle her second Festival runner in the Champion Bumper. Le Vent D’Antan romped to a six-length win over a strong field in Leopardstown’s fouryear-old bumper at January’s BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle meeting, sparking speculation that Willie Mullins had moved to purchase the son of Martaline. London-based owners the Goliath Syndicate refused several offers and Doyle was grateful. She said: “It looks like they want to race and that he isn’t for sale right now, which is great. He’ll probably go for a racecourse gallop at Leopardstown in March, then on to the Champion Bumper. I think a four-year-old needs to be bouncing and fresh to run well there.”

winning two bumpers. I know some trainers prefer not to have them, but we’ve no problem training fillies.” Kelly’s small team is headed by partner Gemma O’Mahoney and includes leading amateur rider Pa King, who has steered his seven bumper winners to victory. The yard is adjacent to the mighty Coolmore Stud in Fethard, Co Tipperary and houses 25 horses.

In Brief Horse Racing Ireland’s figures outlining the industry’s performance in 2012 revealed further dips in key areas, including crowds, owners and on-course betting turnover. There are now fewer than 4,000 owners, down more than 1,500 from the peak six years ago. Upgrades have been made to the Curragh’s wine bar ahead of this month’s re-opening. The track begins the Irish Flat season on March 25. Tipperary is also undergoing improvements, with the main entrance and pre-parade ring set for complete renovations before its April kick-off. Gigginstown House Stud added another string to their John Smith’s Grand National bow when buying Paddy Power Chase runner-up Romanesco. The Gordon Elliotttrained horse joins Magnanimity, Quito De La Roque and Roi Du Mee on Gigginstown’s potential National team, with his trainer also responsible for the last-named, plus Chicago Grey, Backstage, Jessies Dream and Tarquinius. THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

INS OB Mar 2013_Layout 1 13/02/2013 09:27 Page 1

Big Bad Bob ABC Index for stallions with 100 or more runners: 1. Galileo 2.32

2. Big Bad Bob 2.31 3. Dubawi 2.15 4. Pivotal 2.14

Contact: John Osborne, Sinéad Hyland, Gary Swift or Helen Boyce. Tel: +353 (0)45 521251 www.irishnationalstud.ie

Mar_103_Continental_Talesv2_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 09:35 Page 31

CONTINENTAL TALES MA L

By JAMES CRISPE, INTERNATIONAL RACING BUREAU

Sultana raising the stakes with move Nation’s first jockey to turn professional will bid to boost career in France

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APRH

he Mediterranean archipelago of Malta is one of the farthest-flung outposts of European racing. A densely-populated home to some 370,000, it is situated 50 miles south of Sicily and is only around four times that distance from the coasts of both Libya and Tunisia. A former British colony, its racecourse, Marsa, on the outskirts of the capital Valletta, was inaugurated in 1869. A lot has changed since then, not least the lowering of the Union flag for the final time in 1964. Trotting has overtaken Flat racing as the nation’s most popular equine sport. With this in mind, Marsa was reconstructed in 1981 as a five-furlong round dirt trotting track with a 2,000 capacity grandstand. No provision appears to have been made for Flat horses but the sport has not died out, well, not quite. There are fewer than 30 active Flat horses on the islands and they share the dirt trotting track with their sulkypulling friends, without the addition of so much as a running rail. So disqualifications for failing to keep straight are quite common in the 25 or so annual Flat races. These are scheduled twice per month in the midst of trotting cards, never more than one in a single day. Prize-money is minuscule, as little as €800 to the winner of the Mediterranean Derby, which in 2012 was staged a week after the Epsom version, and considerably less for the other most prestigious event, the Coronation Cup, which was run on December 23. “In Malta we race for the prestige, not the money,” asserts three-time Maltese champion jockey Michael Sultana. “We are a nation of horse lovers and we take meticulous care of our horses, often swimming alongside them as we soothe their legs in the sea. The Flat horses here are more like family pets and when they win it is something to be congratulated upon, the celebrations last for a week!” Many of these ‘family pets’ began their racing lives some 1,300 miles away in Britain. The recent Coronation Cup winner was Cheeky Jack, an AP Indy gelding who failed to sparkle in three 2007 starts for Brian Meehan. A year before the Coronation Cup went the way of Fyelehk, a son of Kheleyf who won four times over six furlongs for Rod Millman in 2009. There’s also Uncle Bertie, who was disqualified having been beaten a head in the

Michael Sultana has become something of a trailblazer for Maltese racing

2011 renewal of the Mediterranean Derby. He won a Wolverhampton maiden for Nicky Vaughan little more than two years earlier. Sultana, who suffered that Derby

“Flat horses here are

more like family pets and when they win, it is something to be congratulated upon” heartache aboard Uncle Bertie and rode Fyelehk throughout his career on the islands, is becoming something of a trailblazer for Maltese racing.

The 25-year-old is the first Maltese jockey to turn professional and has made national headlines with his exploits on foreign shores. In 2011 he rode two winners in Kuwait, seven winners in Belgium and one in Germany. Three months ago he broke further new ground in France when guiding Kimberley Downs (who started his career in Britain with Mark Johnston, winning no less a race than the Gordon Carter Stakes at Ascot) to victory in an £8,000-to-the-winner handicap at Pau. Sultana had got to know Kimberley Downs in the previous couple of years, partnering him to five of his six wins during a successful spell in Malta. Buoyed by these international successes, Sultana is about to depart his native land in a bid to make a go of things as a jockey in France. He will be based in Mont de Marsan. >>

Mar_103_Continental_Talesv2_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 09:35 Page 32

Blast from the past as Graham returns A mere 25 years after he hit the headlines with three Group 1 victories within weeks of gaining his licence, Neil Graham is to start training again. Not in England, but in France. And not in Chantilly, as one might expect, but down in the south-west at Pau. The beginning of Graham’s training career is one of our sport’s most unusual opening chapters. Headhunted while acting as John Gosden’s assistant in California, in September 1988 he was parachuted in to take over Major Dick Hern’s string at West Ilsley for a few months while the four-time champion trainer recovered from heart surgery. Just days after having his name painted over the door, he was a Classic- and threetime Group 1-winning handler, thanks to Minster Son (St Leger), Prince Of Dance (Dewhurst Stakes) and Al Hareb (Futurity). With Hern restored to health, Graham set up on his own in Newmarket at Coronation Stables. But his career never took off, with the exception of the exploits of the 1996 Nell Gwyn winner Thrilling Day. After averaging only six triumphs per year over almost 15 seasons, he handed in his licence in 2004.

BELG I

“Looking back, in many respects those wins at West Ilsley did not really help me, as people then presumed that I would have millions of horses and not want one from them,” Graham mused. “In some ways it made the start of my career much more difficult and quite a slog.” Following a two-and-a-half-year period as an assistant for Godolphin, Graham has been

Jockey Club imposes stiffest-ever punishment

The antics of Andrew Heffernan and a handful of other corrupt jockeys who have been brought to book in Britain over recent months look mild compared to the outrageous behaviour of Sascha Stappaerts in a minor race at Mons on January 21. Video of the Prix Kramande, a mile event for amateur riders, has become something of an internet hit, with punters from around the world queuing up to call for Stappaerts (or Stoppaerts, as she may come to be known) to face the severest punishment. Her mount, Eastern Warrior, won a Ripon maiden for John Hills almost four years ago. Now also owned and trained by Stappaerts, he was repeatedly yanked back, in a style more reminiscent of rodeo than racing, to ensure he did not get past the front-running Glad Eagle. The film of Stappaerts clearly hell bent on restraint while her five opponents are flailing their whips and riding for all they are worth certainly has comedy value. But the result – Eastern Warrior was beaten a neck and a head by Rio Bravo and Glad Eagle – was greeted with a total lack of hilarity by the Belgian Jockey Club, aware that their racing was in danger of becoming a laughing stock around the globe.

Neil Graham: fell in love with Pau

acting as a bloodstock consultant for the past six years. Now aged 52, he feels the time is right to grasp the nettle once more. “Everyone advised me that France, with its superior prize-money, was the obvious place to restart,” he said. “And, given the success of provincial trainers like Jean-Claude Rouget, Alex Pantall and Francois Rohaut, plus the high-profile triumphs of horses like Dabirsim and Saonois from lesser-known provincial centres, I decided against looking in Chantilly. “I went on a fact-finding trip to La Teste, Mont de Marsan and Pau, and, although I liked them all, I fell in love with the town of Pau and the training facilities on offer there. “Thanks to the intervention of Criquette Head, I had to do only a one-day France Galop course learning the rules and regulations. My French is quite reasonable, I can get by. Although I would not consider myself fluent, I’m well above average.” He added: “I have been granted the use of a 16-box barn at Pau racecourse. I have already got together some horses in France and England, and I hope to get them down there in the very near future and start with about a dozen.”

Another important factor was that the Mons fixture in question was one of a cluster that have been simulcast to France following an agreement signed only 18 months ago with the PMU (French Tote). This accord has enabled a long-overdue cash injection into prize-money at Mons. The French seem to be doing well out of the deal – even the Kramande, which shaped like a poor betting medium with a small field and unknown, inexperienced riders, attracted over £50,000 into the PMU pool for win bets alone. Called in by the stewards post race, Stappaerts tried to excuse herself with the ridiculous suggestion she had a problem with a stirrup. Even Inspector Clouseau could have thrown out this evidence after just a fleeting glance at the race video. Which left only two possible explanations: either Stappaerts was utterly incompetent or she was crooked. The first scenario simply does not hold water, since she has been race-riding since 2008, has had five winners and once held down a job with internationally-renowned German handler Andreas Wohler. Possibly fearing that the PMU contract was in jeopardy, the Belgian Jockey Club’s Disciplinary Committee came to the same conclusion and handed Stappaerts its stiffest-ever penalty.

She has been warned off from owning, training or riding racehorses until January 1, 2019 and fined €10,000. The same length of ban has been handed to poor innocent old Eastern Warrior, who has therefore surely had his career brought to a premature end, as he will be 13 by the time he is allowed to race again.

FRANK NOLTING

GEORGE SELWYN

FRA

CONTINENTAL TALES

Stappaerts: outrageous behaviour

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Haras de la Hetraie OB March 2013_Haras de la Hetraie OB March 2013 19/02/2013 08:36 Page 1

Mar_103_AroundtheGlobe_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 09:07 Page 34

AROUND THE GLOBE THE WORLDWIDE RACING SCENE

NORT H A MER ICA by Steve Andersen

he career of Classic-winning trainer Richard Dutrow Jr essentially ended on a cold Wednesday at Aqueduct racecourse in New York in January. After more than two years of fighting charges for rules violations that included possession of syringes containing the painkiller and muscle relaxant xylazine in his backstretch office in November 2010, and a positive in a post-race test for a different painkiller, butorphanol, in one of his runners at Aqueduct later that month, Dutrow began a ten-year suspension on January 17. Dutrow’s licence was revoked by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board in October 2011, leading to a year of appeals in court. In early January of this year, a New York state court of appeal ruled that it would not hear Dutrow’s case, resulting in the lifting of a court stay that had allowed the trainer to continue operating while the appeal process was in play. Later, a higher court in New York state declined to hear any further matters on the case. After the appeal court’s decision, Dutrow said that he planned “to keep fighting” to restore his licence, but with a reciprocal agreement in other American racing states to honour suspensions, the well-known trainer faces an unlikely resumption of his career in the near future. The case was closely followed in racing circles in the United States, both because of the severity of the penalty and Dutrow’s prominence in the sport. Over the years, Dutrow had more than 60 rule violations, ranging from minor fines to suspensions. The son of trainer Richard Dutrow Sr, Dutrow is best known for winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic with Saint Liam in 2005, that season’s Horse of the Year, and for winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes with Big Brown in 2008. During Big Brown’s sweep of the first two races of the Triple Crown, Dutrow was prominent in the nation’s sport media, but not all of the attention was positive. Controversy erupted in May 2008 when Dutrow said that Big Brown had been administered anabolic steroids on a monthly basis, which were legal. The issue left the general sports public confused about why horses could be treated with such medication yet human athletes in some sports had been

GEORGE SELWYN

Dutrow resumption unlikely T

Happier times for Richard Dutrow Jnr, who has been banned for ten years

suspended for steroids. Big Brown failed in his attempt to sweep the Triple Crown. Battling a quarter crack, he was pulled up in the Belmont Stakes. In the days after Dutrow began his suspension, his New York-based stable was dispersed to others trainers in Florida and New York, notably his former girlfriend and assistant trainer Michelle Nevin, and Floridabased Wesley Ward, the winner of two races at Royal Ascot in 2009.

On the weekend after Dutrow began his suspension, the American racing scene had brighter news when the star turf miler Wise Dan was named the 2012 Horse of the Year. An emphatic winner of the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita in November, Wise Dan outpolled Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another and Fort Larned, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Even the British star Frankel received a vote, though he never set foot in the United States. THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Mar_103_AroundtheGlobe_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 09:07 Page 35

AU S TRA L IA by Stephen Howell

Is there no end to the Black Caviar show? With a brilliant comeback win in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington on February 16, and with trainer Peter Moody saying she is fitter and happier than ever, the question merits an answer. Especially when just five days after the Lightning – her 23rd successive win – Black Caviar was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame, a rare honour for a horse still racing. This year the Lightning was renamed after the unbeaten sprint sensation and she rewarded the Victoria Racing Club for their generosity with the best of her three wins in the sprint, easing to a two and a halflength success from stablemate Moment Of Change. By winning in 55.42secs, Black Caviar broke the track record set by Special in 1988, watched by a crowd of 27,000 – 7,000 more than witnessed her victory a year ago. Her fame grows along with the call for more, perhaps even a return to Ascot this June. That’s a long shot, one that was not considered until Black Caviar came back in such great shape for an exhibition gallop two weeks before the Lightning, but it is one Ascot recruiter Nick Smith will pursue. Perhaps Smith’s best bet is to concentrate

ROGER PARKER

Black back with a record bang

Black Caviar returned to win the race renamed in her honour at Flemington

not on the Diamond Jubilee, which she won last year, but the King’s Stand. Moody said he made a mistake in going for the Jubilee over six furlongs, so he might persuade the owners to take the five-furlong King’s Stand route this year. He added that if a mating with Frankel could be arranged, the trip could be a win-win proposition. That would be a union to southern hemisphere time, of course. While all the above is conjecture, the next home outing has been decided. Options were Australia’s best handicap sprint, the Newmarket at Flemington – Black Caviar won it two years ago with 58kg and would get the proverbial ‘grandstand’ this time of at least 61kg – and the William Reid Stakes around the tight

Moonee Valley circuit. Moody nominated the Valley race on March 22, which should guarantee a full house of 30,000. Black Caviar is six from six at the track, including the 2011 William Reid. Group 1 races in Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane are also possible. Will that be the farewell tour or will it be England? Either way, Smith seems certain to get at least a Caviar consolation this June in the shape of her half-brother All Too Hard. The son of Casino Prince won his second Group 1, the Orr Stakes, at Caulfield the week before the Lightning. He is reported to be a certain traveller for the Queen Anne Stakes, with new owner Vinery Stallions seeking to make a shuttle stallion out of its $20 million-plus purchase.

S OUTH A F RICA by Nicola Hayward

National mourning for breeders Klawervlei Stud has suffered a blow with the loss of National Emblem, a stalwart of the South African stallion ranks, in late January. The 21-year-old son of National Assembly initially retired to Summerhill Stud in 1996 and from his first crop came the wonderful dual Grade 1-winning sprinter Nhlavini. Other notable progeny include top-flight winners National Spirit, Buy And Sell, Rebel King, Caradore, Shea Shea and Emblem Of Liberty, while Sharp Design won the Grade 3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap at Turffontein on February 12. THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

In 2005, National Emblem was transferred to Klawervlei Stud in the Western Cape and continued his career from there until his death. Out of the Welsh Harmony mare Title Page, a half-sister to the great Durban July winner Mazarin, National Emblem was bred by the late Wilfred Koster at Cheveley Stud in Ceres and gave Markus Jooste his first taste of success. His 15 victories included the Bloodline Classic at three, the Premier’s Handicap at four and, then as a five-year old, the Champion Stakes.

National Emblem, a stalwart of the South African stallion ranks

Mar_103_RobinGeffen_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 09:44 Page 36

ROBIN GEFFEN

Funding a PASSION Robin Geffen’s business success has allowed him to invest heavily in racing under both codes; with a Classic triumph already in the bag, can he now taste glory at the Cheltenham Festival? Words Alan Lee • Photos George Selwyn

any will regard Robin Geffen as a lucky owner. After all, he was leading in a Classic winner within a few months of buying into Arctic Cosmos in 2010 and his subsequent ventures into jumping have also brought high-profile success. Dig beneath the surface, though, and a different story emerges, a measured progression through the ranks and emotions. In the same casual manner, of course, it is easy to imagine that Geffen has always been a financial tycoon with his own empire, Neptune Investment Management. The truth is that he started as a graduate trainee and spent 23 years working for five different companies – “learning the good things and those to avoid” – before branching out on his own. His racing education was equally broad. “I was in a couple of pretty awful syndicates about 15 or 20 years ago,” he recalls. “The year Kim Bailey won the Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle (1994), the horse we had with him was the only one in his yard that never got to the racecourse – I met him at the sales recently and reminded him of it. “Then we had another one that never ran for us and got sold on to Martin Pipe, who won God knows how many races with it the following year. In another syndicate, I shared a horse that specialised in finishing second-last. “Syndicates are wonderful but they didn’t work for me and I found it pretty impersonal. So I logged the experience in

the back of my mind and decided I wanted to do it differently, once I was in a position to get properly involved.” Pressures of work, notably the creation of Neptune in 2002, ensured that this graduation was deferred but Geffen never lost touch with the sport that had enchanted him since childhood, despite the indifference of his family. “We were Londoners and nobody had any great interest in horses,” he admits.” I never rode, and I don’t think ponies were a financial option.

“I don’t lead a wild life and I work bloody hard – a day’s racing is like a week’s holiday”

“Most of my family regarded racing as rather frivolous but I found the spectacle so exciting. At school, aged no more than eight, I used to run the book on the Grand National. I saw racing as a different world, as my world, and that still applies today. “I have a high-pressure job and, for the first five years after setting up Neptune, I had very little time. For me, though, a day’s racing is like a week’s holiday. I’m a pretty

modest operator, I don’t lead a wild life and I work bloody hard. But going racing is a collective thing – we all get our pleasures from it in our different ways.” It is a rare, blue-sky day in London and Geffen is sitting in the boardroom of Neptune’s Hammersmith offices with a spectacular panorama of the capital framed in his eighth-floor window. If he looks careworn, between the open-necked shirt and mop of grey hair, it is not due to the financial climate, nor any anxiety over his Cheltenham Festival runners, simply the constraints of a painful abscess in his jaw. That it does not prevent him talking is greatly to our benefit. Geffen is a fluent talker, spilling out anecdotes and opinions with practised eloquence, often relating his business practices to his developing racing portfolio, which now extends beyond a dozen horses across both codes. He is not a one-sport man. “I did a lot of rowing at Oxford and my son, Will, now has a place in the Great Britain junior squad,” he says. “I also played real tennis and racquets, and Neptune is the main British sponsor for both sports.” Racing, though, grabbed him early and, to the good fortune of the sport, has never let him go. From his early and entrepreneurial bookmaking exploits, through education at Rugby and Keble College, and then through his consciously broad sweep of the financial sector workplace, he kept close touch with horses, form and future ambitions. Neptune has mushroomed remarkably >>

Mar_103_RobinGeffen_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 09:45 Page 37

Mar_103_RobinGeffen_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 09:45 Page 38

ROBIN GEFFEN >> through a decade of financial challenge and

austerity. “We started in May 2002 in a single room the other side of Hammersmith Broadway,” Geffen says. “I never wanted to be based in the City; there was no need. I preferred to set up in an area where people live. “We started with four people and £12.5 million under management. Now, we have 112 employees and £6.25 billion to manage. We have done this at a volatile time for the economy but the figures don’t scare me. We are doing the same things we always have. It’s a natural development and you just stick to

“The maths seemed

to make more sense over jumps – I always thought the Flat was unobtainable” your principles. I’m a great believer in teamwork and partnerships. All our employees participate in the equity of the company – it’s been that way from the start. I’m also very much an open-plan person. I don’t believe in separate offices and floors for executives. You could wander round here and you would not be able to identify the hierarchy. “In racing, I try to mirror the principles of my business. I like good, bright people who are really passionate about what they do and value personal involvement.” It is easy to see why he has struck up such a good rapport with John Gosden and his wife, ROA President Rachel Hood. “They have become great friends but I fell into having Flat horses with them inadvertently,” he relays. “I started out with more interest in the jumps, and the maths seemed to make more sense – I always thought the Flat was unobtainable. “We bought King Of Wands in 2010 with a hurdling career in mind but the arrangement was that he would stop with John through the Flat season. When he won the Esher Cup on Eclipse day in spectacular fashion, William Buick told me I’d be mad to go jumping because he was a Cup horse. “Sadly, he was seriously injured in the Lonsdale Cup a month later, but I had enjoyed that time with John and took the opportunity to buy a half-share of Arctic Cosmos with Rachel. After he won the St Leger, I got a couple of yearlings and suddenly I was more on the Flat.” It was not a permanent divorce from his roots. Soon, he was constructing an elite team of jumpers and spreading them between David Pipe, Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson. Last

November, Nicholls trained him an indelible double of graded chase victories at Down Royal with Kauto Stone, half-brother to Kauto Star, and the ill-fated Cristal Bonus. He says: “I’ve only ever had three runners in Ireland and they have all won. The first time, we got stuck in fog and couldn’t get there. This time, I’d been due to go to Newmarket instead and couldn’t change my plans. So it is now seen that I must stay away whenever we run in Ireland – though I hear Punchestown is a good party, so I do have plans to go there.” The Down Royal triumph had a sad postscript, Cristal Bonus breaking down with fatal injuries in his next race at Cheltenham. Geffen says: “It was awful to lose him, he was probably my best chaser and such a great character. He’d been positively wicked at Down Royal. I knew he’d win that day, as Paul told me he was trying to eat his fingers while he was saddling – that was always a good sign! In the finish, he was running alongside Bog Warrior and looking at him as if to say, ‘Have you got anything left?’”

His death was the latest in a saga of setbacks for Geffen at Cheltenham. He explains: “I’ve been pretty unlucky there and never had a winner on the course. Even when Pearl Swan passed the post first there, last January, he was demoted by the stewards. I had three horses in the first four of the betting at the Festival last year and not one of them finished. It’s very character-building. You go there with your best horses and sometimes it’s a nightmare.” Never, though, a nightmare grim enough to deter him from engrained habits. “I love all the festivals but Cheltenham is the best,” he states with certainty. “That week is sacrosanct – the first four days of holiday that go in my diary every year. It’s been that way for a long time now, since way before I had horses good enough to run there, and it is still one of the great experiences. “I like taking people who have never been before to the first day and getting them to stand outside for the roar as the opening race goes off. It’s spring, everyone is glad to be THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Mar_103_RobinGeffen_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 09:45 Page 39

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ROBIN GEFFEN

Geffen has enjoyed Classic success with Arctic Cosmos (above), while Kauto Stone has won at the top level but will bypass Cheltenham this year

alive and you need to be made of stone not to feel something in that moment. When Cheltenham is over, I honestly think I would go into decline if I didn’t have Flat interests. “I see owning as betting but I do have the occasional punt. I thought Arctic Cosmos was grotesquely over-priced at 16-1 for the Leger, so I had to do something about that. I probably bet when I feel the bookies are insulting my horses, but it’s not an important part of it for me. “I like the build-up, the involvement from the pre-parade ring onwards, the dialogue with jockey and trainer. I do get nervous but I always watch; >> THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Mar_103_RobinGeffen_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 09:45 Page 40

ROBIN GEFFEN

On presentation duty: Will (left) and Harry join their dad at Cheltenham in January

Caption

Family of races could expand with National Robin Geffen has no wish to involve himself in racing politics but he does envisage a time when he could take a role in the sport. Already, his instinct to “put something back” has developed a strong sponsorship portfolio and he is open to further expansion. Even the Grand National is not ruled out. “We are always looking at races that might suit us,” he says when asked about the imminent void at Aintree. “Who knows what we might do next? The National is a high-profile race and it is available but I do think continuity is important. We don’t want to be leaping from one race to another in search of greater prestige.” Recently, he added to the established series of middle-distance novice hurdles leading to the Cheltenham Festival by backing a Flat programme for young stayers. “It’s the road to the St Leger, which is obviously close to my heart,” he explains. “Like our jumps races, it is a coherent sequence of events. “Racing is littered with people who seem to take out but put nothing back. I worry about the sponsorship environment and we don’t want a situation where we are entirely

dependent on bookmakers. Some have the best interests of racing at heart but others clearly don’t. “I wanted a clear sponsorship programme and I think we have it, so it really upset me when a journalist in the Racing Post decided it would be funny to be rude about the title of our races. We don’t choose them, the racecourses do, and that made me really angry. “The racing industry needs help from everyone who participates and journalists should really think twice before they start to lacerate sponsors. “It was particularly inept as it came after the weekend when we lost Cristal Bonus, which they didn’t have the grace to mention. A lesser man might have said that’s the end of sponsorship but we have gone in again because I believe in putting back. “There is still a lot of work for me to do at Neptune and that will be the case for five or ten years. After that, I’d like to put some time, rather than just money, into racing. Racing politics is not my thing but I have commercial experience and I’m sure there is something useful I could do.”

>> there isn’t a point where it all becomes

too much.” Geffen’s Cheltenham team this year will be his biggest so far, with Pearl Swan, Pay The King, Cash And Go and Wonderful Charm among his hopefuls. Kauto Stone will not be heading to Prestbury Park, however, with Punchestown in April his likely destination. “He’s an enigma,” the owner admits. “He is a good horse but it’s a bit like being Usain Bolt’s younger brother – nobody will ever give you the credit you deserve. Perhaps we should have changed his name?” The great romance on the horizon, though, is Geffen’s audacious intention to run a hurdling debutant at the Festival. “We bought Flying Cross [entered in the Champion Hurdle, Supreme and Neptune] out of Aidan O’Brien’s yard and he had a spell with John before getting badly injured,” he explains. “He spent a long time in a field and David Pipe’s swimming pool has been very beneficial in getting him back. “He was Group 1-placed in Ireland and he still has his appetite. If Cheltenham was run on the Flat, he would probably be odds-on, but he has hurdles to jump and has been off the track for two years. The trainer is not to blame for the idea and my racing manager thinks I’m barking mad but you’ve got to have a dream in this sport.”

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Mickley Stud OB Mar 2013 f-p_Mickley Stud OB Mar 2013 f-p 19/02/2013 12:00 Page 1

CAMACHO

NEW TO MICKLEY STUD FOR 2013

b. 2002 Danehill – Arabesque (Zafonic)

The son of DANEHILL, who was champion three-year-old sprinter, he has already made a bright start to his stud career thanks to black-type winners such as 2013 1,000 Guineas contender WINNING EXPRESS, high-class sprinter HUMIDOR, a Listed winner who finished a close fourth in last season’s Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes. Also Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes heroine PUFF, Roses Stakes winner STAR ROVER and Harry Rosebery Stakes scorer ARCTIC FEELING.

Fee: £2,750 1st Oct

Yearlings by CAMACHO, a sibling to Gimcrack Stakes winner SHOWCASING, were also in high demand at the 2012 sales, making prices of €85,000, €70,000 etc.

CAPTAIN GERRARD b. 2005 Oasis Dream – Delphinus (Soviet Star) Fee: £3,000 1st Oct

Won 5 times as a juvenile including Gr.3 Cornwallis Stakes and two Listed races, also third in the Gr.3 Molecomb Stakes to Gr.1 winners FLEETING SPIRIT and KINGSGATE NATIVE. At 3, winner of the Gr.3 Palace House Stakes beating Gr.1 July Cup winner SAKHEE’S SECRET. From the family of SOLDIER OF FORTUNE & DOUBLE FORM.

The speedy son of the brilliant OASIS DREAM FIRST TWO-YEAR-OLDS 2013

MULTIPLEX b. 2003 Danehill – Shirley Valentine (Shirley Heights) Fee: £3,000 1st Oct

Second crop of yearlings sold for up to 145,000 guineas and foals sold up to 130,000 guineas. Sire of 2 stakes performers, Radio Gaga, Timeform Rated 91P and Luv U Forever. Sire of Richard Hannon's impressive stakes winner INTUITION. Sired winners of 13 races from 21 runners.

By sire of sires DANEHILL Unbeaten Group winning 2-y-o, stakes winner at 3 & 4 Richard Kent at MICKLEY STUD, Tern Hill, Market Drayton, Shropshire, TF9 3QW Tel: 01630 638840 • Fax: 01630 639761 Mobile: 07973 315722 • Email: mickleystud@btconnect.com

M MICKLEY STUD

Bearstone roster TOB March -13:Layout 2

8/2/13

11:00

Page 1

BEARSTONE STUD

Sharp and Early For A Quick Return For more than two decades Bearstone stallions have been siring early maturing, fast horses which train on and love to race

FIREBREAK

FEE: £3,500 Oct 1st SLF

Group 1 Millionaire Miler - Group 1 Sire Sire of:Hearts of Fire - winner of the Brocklesby Stakes in March before going to Group 1 success at 2 (Gran Criterium) and 3 (3rd St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot). Caledonia Lady - a fast finishing third in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot was followed by wins in a Listed race at 2 and a Group 3 in 2012. Electric Feel - winner on her debut at Newmarket in May prior to a Listed race win at Newbury and a Group 3 place at Newmarket. Yearlings in 2012 sold for 60,000gns, £36,000, €21,000 etc and averaged 17,340 gns, almost 5x his 2010 covering fee.

His largest and best crop are 2yos in 2013

INDESATCHEL

FEE: £2,500 Oct 1st SLF

Classic-placed dual Group winner Winner of the TBA Tattersalls Silver Salver for the leading first crop sire His precocious 2yo winners include Galtymore Lad (3 wins and £164,300, 2nd Winkfield Stakes LR, 3rd Doncaster Stakes LR) and Bold Bidder (2 wins and £61,453 inc. 2nd Weatherbys Super Sprint). Also Silver Birch (4 wins and £43,880 inc. placed third in two Group 1’s including Colts Championship Stakes Gr.1-IND). In 2012 the 2nd leading British third crop sire by percentage of 3yo winners to runners. His foals have sold for up to 30,000gns and in 2012 his yearlings sold for up to 37,000gns with all eight yearlings offered being sold.

MAJOR CADEAUX

FEE: £3,500 Oct 1st SLF

Top class sprinter/miler and multiple Group winner WON WON WON WON 2nd 3rd 3rd

Gr.2 Sandown Mile Gr.3 Greenham Stakes (beating Dutch Art) Gr.3 J W Lees Stakes Maiden at Newbury in May on his 2yo debut Gr.2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot (beating Holy Roman Emperor), Gr.2 Park Stakes, Gr.3 Criterion Stakes, Gr.3 Gladness Stakes Gr.1 Sussex Stakes Gr.1 Prix Jacques Le Marois

ALL 18 yearlings last autumn were sold with prices including 34,000gns, £34,000, 23,000gns, 22,000gns, 20,000gns etc. Buyers included Rabbah Bloodstock (x2), Anthony Stroud Bloodstock, Tim Easterby (x3), McKeever Bloodstock, Richard Fahey, Hugh Morrison etc.

First 2yos in 2013

NB: The produce of Bearstone stallions will be eligible for the British Owners and Breeders Incentive Scheme and breeders' bonuses for over 400 races. Enquiries: Bearstone Stud, Market Drayton, Shropshire TF9 4HF, UK Office: 01630 647197 Mobile: 07974 948755 Email: enquiries@bearstonestud.co.uk www.bearstonestud.co.uk (See our 2013 brochure online)

Mar_103_TalkingTov3_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 09:48 Page 43

TALKING TO... NOEL MEADE

Home is where THE HORSE IS Noel Meade has been training racehorses for over 40 years yet despite recent setbacks he retains plenty of ambition and enthusiasm for the sport he loves By Tim Richards

CAROLINE NORRIS

acehorses have been your life for over 40 years. Do you still get the same buzz out of the game as when you started training back in 1971? I think so, even if it is a bit different nowadays. I started out from scratch so the beginning was a bit of an adventure. But the buzz is still there and I always love going into the yard and working with young horses. And at the end of the day nothing beats having a winner. Even a winner at somewhere like Ballinrobe – after a bad run it acts as a pick-me-up. The whole game is like a drug, really. I enjoy going to the sales, buying young stock, always looking for that exceptional horse. At the races, when I go through the gates it’s like going home and always a good craic.

Was your family involved in racing? No. My father, a farmer, wasn’t particularly interested. He might have gone to the Irish National at Fairyhouse and perhaps the occasional point-to-point but nothing more than that. Unfortunately, my father became sick so I started to run the farm when I was 16 and mad on racing. I linked up with a pal who lived nearby and we bought a horse called Tu Va for 100 guineas from Buster Harty. Tu Va turned out to be great for me because I trained and rode him at a time when there was free transport to the races. He won three or four times and was placed every time he ran, albeit in small races, but he was making money for

Noel Meade admits that Cheltenham has not been a lucky place for him but he would dearly love to win the Gold Cup

us, like a little cash machine! We named our stables after him in recognition of the start he gave us. As a Director of Fairyhouse how much involvement do you have in running the racecourse? At one stage I was very critical of Fairyhouse >>

Mar_103_TalkingTov3_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 09:49 Page 44

TALKING TO... >> and it was suggested that I got involved with the racecourse myself. I thought the place was going downhill, looking very shabby and just wasn’t the Fairyhouse I remembered growing up with as a kid. Now I get on very well with the Chairman Pat Byrne and the Manager Peter Roe, and spend quite a bit of time with them discussing the racing side of things. The first thing I was keen to do was to improve the parade ring, which looked like a cattle yard. We have developed the parade ring and the lead-in, which is now on rubber matting. We are also in the process of putting in a new covered presentation stand and the place has a much better feel to it.

What, in your opinion, are the best and worst developments or changes in National Hunt racing during your time with a licence? The best without any doubt is the development of the Pattern for novices. It has proved an enormous help, providing a fantastic programme for young hurdlers and chasers. There are more conditions races and more opportunities for good horses rather than having to go into handicaps. The introduction of these races has provided a big step forward for the prospective stars. One of the worst developments has been the downturn in racecourse attendances. I find it almost depressing to see no more than five or six hundred people at some meetings. This was started by the drink-driving laws, which meant people couldn’t come to the

GEORGE SELWYN

You enjoyed Royal Ascot success early on (1978 Cork and Orrery with Sweet Mint) but later switched to concentrate on the jumps. Why? That was a marvellous, marvellous day with my first Royal Ascot runner. But I let the occasion run away with me because stupidly I thought it was easy to win at Royal Ascot. I brought a lot of horses over afterwards and they all got beat. I soon realised it was the hardest place in the world to win. I was always leaning towards jumping, but when I started I would have trained anything, Flat or jumps.

Originally I was concentrating on buying yearlings, always a bigger colt with a staying pedigree for about 20 grand. I would buy 15 to 20 of these and sell them on and it was in this way that I got going. But then there were more and more Arab horses, Aga Khan horses and Ballydoyle was building up into quite a formidable operation, and I found I couldn’t buy the horses I wanted with the money I had. So I made a conscious decision to move away from the Flat.

Paul Carberry aims Harchibald (left) at Hardy Eustace in the 2005 Champion Hurdle – they were beaten a neck

races and have a few drinks. That has been a big factor. The other is the fact that all races are televised so people can watch from home, on At The Races or Racing UK, rather than incur the expense of going racing. You have trained more than 2,000 winners, won seven trainers’ championships and landed countless big races. What do you believe has been your greatest achievement? On Easter Monday in 1990 I ran five horses and they all won, four at Fairyhouse and one at Cork. We were pretty confident they would all win and it’s very rare you enjoy such a perfect day. Unfortunately, we clashed with Desert Orchid winning the Irish National that day and our achievement was lost in all the adulation for ‘Dessie’. Getting the show up and running was a pretty big achievement. When I started there was one building that housed a working horse on the farm and I built the first 30 stables with my own bare hands, laying the blocks, building the walls, making the doors and hanging the doors. Now we have 140 boxes – but I didn’t build 140.

“Willie Mullins is

buying everything everywhere; I don’t think anyone will topple him” Is the fact that the Cheltenham Festival dominates the jumps season a good or bad thing? Racing has become geared too much towards Cheltenham. I think a lot of meetings, together with their big races, have lost their own individual status by becoming ‘another trial’ for Cheltenham. The Hennessy Gold Cup, the King George, the Lexus, to name but three, are magnificent races in their own right but are inclined to have the gloss taken from them by the perpetual post-race discussion about whether or not the contestants are worthy Cheltenham candidates. The press and television coverage of big races all too often looks ahead to Cheltenham, asking if horses are worthy of their place there, while ignoring what has been achieved in front of their very eyes. When Cheltenham introduced the fourth day I thought it was a good idea but now I am not so sure. Some of the new races are not championships and the quality has been diluted. If you win at the Festival you are THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Mar_103_TalkingTov3_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 09:49 Page 45

TALKING TO...

Your record at the Festival is not the greatest. Can you put your finger on why this has been the case? Cheltenham has not been a lucky place for me. Batista, my second runner at the Festival, was beaten a short head in the 1978 Triumph Hurdle and I have had several touched off in photos. I had a horse killed in the SunAlliance Chase. Having said all that, I have had winners there and Harbour Pilot twice finished third to Best Mate in the Gold Cup. On reflection, if I had run Harbour Pilot in the three-mile handicap chase that first year he would probably have won it. But Cheltenham is about championships and Harbour Pilot was there to shoot for the stars. It was a feeling of relief after Sausalito Bay gave me my first success [in the 2000 Supreme Novices’]. At that time I was getting a lot of stick in the press with the papers continually reminding me that I hadn’t had a Festival winner. I kissed the ground because I had always had it in my head that if I made it into the winner’s enclosure I’d get on my knees and kiss the hallowed turf. Paul Carberry has been your number one jockey since the 1990s and you’ve enjoyed plenty of success together, yet he’s often got himself into trouble with the authorities. Why have you continued to stand by him? The reason I stand by him is because he is such a brilliant jockey, an outstanding rider, an exceptional talent in the saddle. He was his own worst enemy for quite a while; there’s no question he has done a lot of things he shouldn’t have done and he would have been an even better jockey had he not done them. Paul’s alcohol consumption has been well documented. He is just a very, very good rider; his ability to get a horse to settle, to jump, the way he reads a race and his judgement of pace make him a one-off. He can get a horse into a race with a minimum of effort and win a race with as little force as possible. He actually loves those horses he is riding. Paul has been extremely loyal to me as well; he has never had a retainer and there have been times when he could have walked away and ridden other horses in big races, but he didn’t. You don’t come across people like him very often. He lives for hunting and he missed it so much when he was riding in England that he came back to Ireland. I knew he would go hunting so I let him get on with it. THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

GEORGE SELWYN

entitled to think you have a champion, but that cannot be the case in some of those races, which I believe have taken the shine off the meeting a bit. For me, Cheltenham has to be about championships.

Old firm: Paul Carberry is an essential part of the Tu Va stables operation

Meade: Monksland can give me another Festival winner This year’s Festival raiding party may be lacking in numbers but Noel Meade is confident that Monksland can step up to the plate in the World Hurdle. Monksland already has experience of Cheltenham, having finished third to Simonsig in last year’s Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle, and his trainer believes the six-year-old will take some stopping in the three-mile contest. “My best chance [of a winner] has to be Monksland in the World Hurdle now that Big Buck’s won’t be running,” Meade says. “His form is looking good enough; he won

well at Christmas and we have been very easy on him, giving him a chance to improve, and we think he has. “He got into a lot of trouble before finishing third to Simonsig at Cheltenham last year and with better luck would probably have been second. He stays well and he’s the one I’d be most hopeful for. “Il Fenomeno goes for the County Hurdle, Road To Riches for the Albert Bartlett Hurdle, Busty Brown is quite a decent horse and is likely to go for one of the novice hurdles, and Bat Masterson will run in the Pertemps Final.”

On occasions things went wrong and he couldn’t ride because of accidents. One year he missed Cheltenham because he jumped a gate on to a road and turned upside down. I said to him, ‘Why did you have to do that?’ and he said, ‘Well, the gate was there.’ He couldn’t help himself.

Champion Hurdle’, but then it was as if someone had pulled the lever, the trapdoor opened and I fell through it absolutely gutted. Dessie was all but patting me on the back and saying ‘well done’, and then it was me patting him on the back for real. Paul and I didn’t discuss the race at the time, but at a later date he told me that he winged the second last, was tanking round the bend and found he got there sooner than he wanted. And if he could ride the race again he’d have waited a little longer.

What was your reaction after Harchibald’s controversial defeat by Hardy Eustace in the 2005 Champion Hurdle? I didn’t blame Paul [Carberry]. I knew he was doing his best for me, for ‘Archie’ and for himself. I was watching the race with Dessie [Hughes] when three or four lives passed through me in a matter of seconds on that run-in. Going to the last ‘Archie’ was filling up and I thought ‘We’re going to win a Champion Hurdle’; halfway up the run-in I still thought ‘We’re going to win the

How good is Nina Carberry compared to most male jump jockeys and do you think she should turn professional? Nina is a top amateur and can compete with any amateur. But I don’t think she should turn professional because I don’t think being a professional jump jockey is a great job for >>

Mar_103_TalkingTov3_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 10:06 Page 46

TALKING TO... >> a girl. In any case, I’m not sure that she has

ever wanted to turn pro. Besides, she has a lovely niche for herself at the moment riding in the amateur races in Ireland and has less chance of getting hurt.

You’ve had to deal with the loss of some brilliant horses over the years, including Cardinal Hill and, more recently, Go Native. Does it get any easier to deal with as you get older? To be honest, I think it gets worse. I was heartbroken when we lost Go Native. When you’re younger you automatically think there will be another good one round the corner. As you get older you realise these horses don’t grow on trees; the very good ones are almost impossible to replace. I always thought Cardinal Hill, who won five from seven, was probably the best horse I ever had; the work he did was fantastic. He was at home at Martinstown, got colic and never recovered. Willie Mullins appears to dominate Irish jump racing these days. Do you think you can wrestle back the championship from his grasp? I am as competitive as ever but, unfortunately, if you can’t win in the sales

CLOSE UP AND... PERSONAL I switch off by… watching County Meath gaelic football and playing a bit of golf Person I would most like to meet… God My weakness is… food Actor to play me on screen… Liam Neeson Favourite holiday destination… Kerry and French Riviera

CLOSE UP AND... PROFESSIONAL Most talented horse in my stable… Monksland Race I dream about winning… Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle Advice to a new trainer… get the horses first and then good people around you Most challenging part of the job… keeping myself on an even keel I take defeat by… getting used to it

ring it’s very hard to win on the track. Willie is buying everything everywhere and, of course, he’s doing a phenomenal job. He has all the horses so he wins all the races; if you win all the races, the more horses you get and the more horses you get, the more races you win. He has all the big owners and he is continually topping the sales, buying pointto-point winners and filling his boxes with new ones. No, I don’t think anyone is going to topple Willie for quite some time. Finally, you have warned against increasing the number of mares’ races, saying that “fillies aren’t desirable, they’re too weak and they don’t have enough scope.” So how would you incentivise owners and breeders to put fillies into training? This statement has haunted me for a while. I was at a bloodstock seminar when I said this and it has been rammed down my throat ever since. Maybe I came over a bit too strong at the time, though in fairness I was one of the instigators that pushed very hard to get the two Grade 1 mares’ races that we now have in Ireland. We also have quite a few other races for mares as well, so it is worthwhile having a few mares in the yard for these races.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

RHT FULL PAGE TEMPLATE 2013 v4_Layout 1 20/02/2013 00:34 Page 1

THE ONLINE WAY TO BUY AND SELL HORSES

www.racehorsetrader.com

Tel: 020 7152 0205

E: support@racehorsetrader.com

ROA MEMBERS CAN PLACE AS MANY AS THEY WISHBest UP TO MarkADS JohnJohn APRIL 15th. THESE ADS WILL ston Amanda REMAIN ON THE SITE FREE OF Tim EastPerrett CHARGE UNTIL THE ADVERTISED erby Bryan HORSE IS SOLD OR REMOVED

Richard Smart Hannon Keith DalWHO’S INVOLVED? David Pipe Board directors Stan on Race Horse Moore Trader Ltd Timsome Pittwell include Brian Meeknown names in racing and han bloodstock, Eve Johnamong them Philip Freedman, Terry son gleish Neill, Michael Harris and Joe Doueihi. Houghton Jeremy George Primarolo (pictured above) has recently joined the company as General Manager. George was previously head of PR with the Tote and oversaw the growth of Scoop6. If you require help, you can speak to the ROA’s Chloe Homer or Sue Drawwater on 020 7152 0205 or email support@racehorsetrader.com

HAVE YOUR OWN TAILORED WEBPAGE ON RHT A recent development on RHT is a “tailored webpage” for sellers. This allows a trainer, a stud farm or consignor to set up their individual webpage on our site. The webpage could include, for example, a short narrative about them, their business and training facilities, a full list of horses they have for sale, links to other websites and to their twitter account and Facebook page. It could be branded with their logo and it would provide the means for trainers who do not currently have a website to create an online presence. And for those who do have a website, a link to their own tailored webpage on RHT would give them an easy way to publicise the horses in the yard that are for sale. A link to the tailored web page could also be included in any mailings or publicity material that the trainer is sending out.

March 2013

GET YOUR BREEZE-UP FREEBIES

Exning Halt – Highfield Racing’s juvenile hurdler who is expected to make his debut over timber soon

Anybody selling at the breeze-up sales should remember to place an ad on the RHT website. It’s a great way to promote your two-year-olds before they go through their paces – and, of course, free of charge for ROA members.

INTRODUCING A SHARES AND SYNDICATES SECTION Race Horse Trader has recently introduced a new section to the platform featuring horses for sale either through syndication or as part of a shared ownership option. There is a mixture of unraced horses and familiar faces currently being offered. These include: l Zero Money – ten shares available in this very

l 2011 colt by Captain Rio – a very interesting

l Exning Halt – Highfield Racing have done very

l Nelson’s Victory – unraced three-year-old who

exciting horse who will be running at Royal Ascot this year. Currently rated 98, the Wokingham is the target for Decadent Racing’s latest purchase.

well with their juvenile hurdlers this year and this four-year-old is another from the same yard that is highly rated. He is expected to make his debut over timber very soon.

BEST OF THE TWEETS @GBakerRacing Ancient Greece becoming a legend!

Wins for the second weekend in a row in St Moritz – not bad for a 77 rated handicapper #lovehim George Baker waxes lyrical about his snow-loving stable star – wonder what he thinks now he’s won three? @Rod_GBR If Ascot’s resourceful Nick Smith can

tempt @blackcaviar2006 back to Royal Ascot in June, HM should knight him! #blackcaviar REL and British Champions Series supremo Rod Street expects Ascot Head of Comms Nick Smith to be on the honours list if Black Caviar reappears at the Royal meeting.

juvenile trained by Tim Easterby. The yard have done extremely well with the sire’s progeny such as Captain Dunne and Body And Soul. The dam, Kelso Magic, has black type as a two-year-old.

still holds an entry in the Investec Derby. Currently in training with Jane Chapple-Hyam, he is from the Green Desert/Danzig bloodline. Videos are available on the Race Horse Trader website.

SIX REASONS TO SELL ON RHT

u No need to wait till the next

sale before putting your horse into the market place.

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ownerbreeder ad pages 03.2013_OwnerBreeder Ad pages 03.2013 20/02/2013 08:42 Page 48

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Mar_103_Hendersonfrontpage_June_46_ROA Leader.qxd 21/02/2013 09:50 Page 49

HENDERSON’S HOTSHOTS

The home of champions We’ve all seen Nicky Henderson’s horses on the track – but what are his hotshots like to deal with at the yard? >>

BOBS WORTH

CAPTAIN CONAN

SIMONSIG

LONG RUN

SPRINTER SACRE

OSCAR WHISKY

Mar_103_Henderson_horses_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 11:05 Page 50

HENDERSON’S HOTSHOTS >> HELEN GREEN looks after Gold Cup

TO&B VERDICT

winner LONG RUN

“

If there’s an each-way bet to nothing at this year’s Festival, Long Run at 7-1 for the Gold Cup could well be it. His record is outstanding, with third the lowest position he has finished in 24 races, of which he has won 14. The win tally includes the 2011 Gold Cup and two King Georges, with this season’s success at Kempton the result of characteristic doggedness. The Waley-Cohens’ consistent star is well suited by the stamina-sapping contours of Prestbury Park and, though he won his Gold Cup on good ground, that is the only one of his victories that has come on such a surface. If the wet winter rolls into a soggy spring it will suit Long Run, as staying is his forte and he handles soft ground well. Long Run will go to the Festival a fresher horse this year than last, having had a break since the King George – as he did two years ago, albeit the King George was run in mid-January in 2011. Most pundits seem to agree with bookmakers that Bobs Worth is the Henderson number one Gold Cup hope this year, and that is reflected in the shorter odds offered about him.

I’ve looked after Long Run for the last two seasons since just after he won his first King George. I think he rather bullies me! He’s very spoilt and he definitely knows he’s special. Long Run doesn’t go with the string at home. He warms up alone outside the indoor ride as he can get a bit wound up and he doesn’t really like loud noises. He used to be quite a handful at the races and had to wear earplugs and have two handlers, but he’s really growing up and is now pretty chilled out. He still gets saddled in the racecourse stables but that’s just always been his routine. I never used to get nervous but it’s quite daunting going to the big races – at Cheltenham it wasn’t too bad the first time in the Gold Cup. Even though I had jokingly told everyone I thought he was going to win, I still didn’t quite expect it. It’s hard to take it all in really, there’s so much going on at the Festival. I know I’ll get nervous on the day this year but beforehand it’s all up to Nico [de Boinville] as he has to ride him every day.

”

Helen Green with Long Run, whom she says is now more chilled out than before

SHANE GRIBBIN rides Gold Cup favourite BOBS WORTH

“

He’s pretty straightforward and does everything you ask of him. He has a wee buck and a jig-jog every now and then but otherwise he’s really nice and easy-going. I also ride the novice hurdler Close Touch, who is owned by the Queen, and Lee Westwood’s bumper winner Oscar Hoof. They are really nice horses to look forward to but Bobs Worth is pretty special and makes getting up in the morning that bit easier. He has a serious chance of winning the Gold Cup – he’s unbeaten at Cheltenham and hopefully he stays that way come March. I’m very confident about his chances and think he’s the horse they all have to beat. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet but hopefully come the Festival people will see how good he really is. There’s plenty of rivalry here in the yard but it’s fun – there are Long Run supporters

and Bobs Worth supporters, and it’s the same in the two-mile division with Captain Conan and Simonsig. I’ll be happy just as long as the Gold Cup comes back here!

”

VERDICT An unsatisfactory tracheal wash prevented the long-term Gold Cup favourite Bobs Worth from having his prep in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham in January, but Nicky Henderson has said himself that it could have been a blessing in

Shane Gribbin reports that the Gold Cup favourite is generally really nice and easygoing

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Mar_103_Henderson_horses_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 11:05 Page 51

HENDERSON’S HOTSHOTS

HOLLY CONTE looks after Arkle Trophy favourite SIMONSIG and World Hurdle contender OSCAR WHISKY

VERDICT SIMONSIG

Like Bobs Worth, a sub-standard tracheal wash test put paid to plans for Simonsig to have a prep run for the Festival, in his case in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury. He will thus head for the Arkle Trophy with just two chasing runs under his belt. Despite that, Simonsig is odds-on across the board for the opening-day chasing showpiece. Like Sprinter Sacre before him, Simonsig won the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton’s Christmas meeting, but as he started at 1-6 against five rivals, and scored by 35 lengths, it is not easy to assess whether he deserves to be odds-on. That said, even while winning a Grade 1 over hurdles – the Neptune at last year’s Festival – Henderson was adamant that Simonsig was a chaser, and he can beat only what’s put in front of him. Both his wins this term have come on heavy ground, but he had previously never run on worse than good to soft under rules, so it doesn’t appear that ground will be an issue.

Simonsig is described by the person who knows him best as a “very nervous” type

“

disguise, as while some of his rivals have endured slogs in testing ground in limbering up for the Festival, Bobs Worth will be fresh as paint come March 15. Bobs Worth has been favourite for jump racing’s blue riband since taking the Hennessy on his return in December, which has been his only race since he landed the RSA Chase at last year’s Festival. One thing to note from the form book is that Bobs Worth has never raced on ground worse than good to soft, so punters who have backed him, or are planning to, ante-post are taking a bit of a gamble in terms of conditions. That said, Bobs Worth could be equally effective on softer ground. He is a best-priced 100-30 at the time of going to press to make it five wins from five starts at Cheltenham this month. THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

They are an absolutely brilliant pair to look after, I’m so lucky. Simonsig is a very nervous character. He’s fine with me now but he’s very wary with people he doesn’t know and can hide at the back of his box. It took a little while for him to trust me in his stable. When you ride Simonsig he’s quite different – as soon as he is into a canter he fires up like a rocket. I ride him only occasionally; Jerry McGrath rides him most days. He’s also different once he gets to the races. He’s very professional and cool as a cucumber. Oscar Whisky is a different type altogether. He’s very straightforward and lives with Finian’s Rainbow – they’re best friends and they love each other. It is nerve-wracking watching them at the races. Obviously you’re just hoping they can do their best and come home safely. For a novice, Simonsig was absolutely brilliant at Kempton. I watched him with clenched fists, it was so exciting, but you do always spend the race praying to God that everything goes right. This is my twelfth year at Seven Barrows and I also had Zaynar when he was here, and Geos.

”

VERDICT OSCAR WHISKY

Had Big Buck’s not been sidelined it is likely Oscar Whisky would have been prepared for a tilt at the Champion Hurdle – or even Aintree instead. As it is, however, he is just about favourite for the World Hurdle off the back of a Cleeve Hurdle run that suggested three miles is, after all, comfortably within his range. However, of all Henderson’s Festival market leaders, Oscar Whisky might be most vulnerable. The Cleeve winner is due to take him on again – Reve De Sivola beat him a neck in the Trials Day prep – along with such as Monksland, whom trainer Noel Meade is very sweet on (see Talking To, pages 43-46), and plenty of others for whom the loss of Big Buck’s has turned heads. Nonetheless, Oscar Whisky has proven extremely consistent over a range of trips for owner Dai Walters, and has been ridden exclusively by Barry Geraghty in his 18-race career. Thirteen of those have been wins and, rather curiously, his last three runs have all been on heavy ground. >>

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Mar_103_Henderson_horses_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 11:05 Page 53

HENDERSON’S HOTSHOTS >>

SARAH SHREEVE rides Champion Hurdle contender GRANDOUET

“ On the top-rated jumper Sprinter Sacre – and so the envy of stable lads nationwide

NICO DE BOINVILLE rides Champion Chase favourite SPRINTER SACRE and Gold Cup winner LONG RUN

“

Long Run is now an out-and-out stayer and that’s how he works – even if he’s done by another horse for a bit of toe he just keeps on going. He prefers to do things his own way and that’s why he warms up separately to the others away from the indoor ride. It just helps him to concentrate on what he’s doing, but he’s not difficult. Sprinter Sacre, on the other hand, is just a raw speed machine – he’s all exuberance. He’s a really well-made and powerful individual who loves to go out there and do everything so well. Riding him is quite breathtaking, especially schooling him – he can make up so many lengths. I’ve never ridden anything like him over a fence. The boss says it makes him

VERDICT Such is the awesome stature of jump racing’s highest-rated horse, Sprinter Sacre, that the result of the Queen Mother Champion Chase is already being regarded as a foregone conclusion in some quarters. Henderson and owner Caroline Mould will be taking nothing for granted, but Sprinter Sacre could go off as one of the shortest-priced favourites in Festival history, with the race likely to cut up even further. Sprinter Sacre has never remotely looked like losing in seven races over THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Grandouet is sensible but also quite keen and very forwardgoing. He’s a real gentleman, even if he always wants to go a little bit faster than he should do. I’m terrible when he’s racing. I hide and don’t watch the races. I can just about listen to the race and might watch once he’s over the last, but I’m really pathetic. You do get very attached to the horses you look after and ride every day. They become like family. I’ve been here 12 years now and I’ve been really spoilt. I’ve done three Cheltenham Festival winners – I look after Punjabi and used to look after Trabolgan and Caracciola, who was around for such a long time.

VERDICT

nervous watching him school as he’s so bold. I have to say I’m very envious of Barry Geraghty. When he’s working it’s very much controlled aggression. We try to keep a lid on him and he does enough anyway to keep himself fit. We don’t want him to be running his races at home. Long Run perhaps takes more work as he needs a bit more stoking up but he’s a different type physically, just very solid with really good bone. They are both fantastic horses to ride but, to a degree, when I get on either of them I do have to think of them as just another horse, although obviously you are aware of everything around you and try to keep out of trouble.

”

fences (he has been defeated only twice in 13 starts) and has won his last four, all Grade 1 races, by an aggregate 49 lengths. Such is Sprinter Sacre’s stranglehold on the Champion Chase that bookmakers have resorted to opening special bet markets, for example Sprinter Sacre’s winning distance and SP, and you can also bet on the Champion Chase without him. It would be a hell of a shock were he to be turned over and, without wishing to tempt fate, it should also to be noted that he has never fallen.

”

Grandouet was the focus of the latest example of twitter-twoddle when, off the back of one illinformed comment, it became ‘fact’ that he would miss the Champion Hurdle due to an unspecified injury. However, all that happened was he had suffered a minor near-fore injury that would prevent him from contesting the Kingwell Hurdle. His form is rock-solid, having beaten Overturn by slightly more in the Bula than Rock On Ruby beat him in last year’s Champion Hurdle. Then in December he ran Zarkandar to two lengths in the same race on his only subsequent start. He’s never run against Hurricane Fly but Grandouet has an excellent chance of being in the frame for owner Simon Munir.

Sarah Shreeve (right) with Punjabi

>> 53

Mar_103_Henderson_horses_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 11:05 Page 54

HENDERSON’S HOTSHOTS >>

MICHAEL KISSANE looks after Jewson Chase contender CAPTAIN CONAN

“

I’ve been here for seven years and this is the second season I’ve looked after Captain Conan. He can be a bit cheeky and a bit fresh. He’s always on the go but if he wasn’t like that you’d know something was wrong with him. I also look after Finian’s Rainbow but he’s quite a different character and lives outside in the school with Oscar Whisky. When it’s dry they spend a lot of time in the field. Last year’s Festival was really special – Finian’s was one of the four winners in one day. I’d never led up a Cheltenham Festival winner and that’s something you really want on your CV. It was after five or six years of trying and there’s no better feeling, especially on a day like that. It was amazing. I’m really confident about Captain Conan over two and a half miles – it wouldn’t be

VERDICT It is the mark of a good horse that they are able to grab victory from the jaws of defeat. So it was with Captain Conan in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase, where for the vast majority of the Grade 1 race it never looked likely he would be able to stretch his unbeaten run over fences to three. That race was the first time that Captain Conan had tackled two and a half miles and it was inconclusive, for while he did need every yard to win, he did not exactly look to be relishing the distance during the race. Chances are, however, that with Simonsig red-hot favourite for the Arkle Trophy, Captain Conan’s Festival goal will be the Jewson Novices’ Chase over the longer trip.

“

Michael Kissane: Jewson confidence

fair on him to run against Simonsig but he has a great chance in the Jewson. He hasn’t really had the ground that he likes yet this year but has still won.

”

He is favourite for that race at a best-priced 5-1, but in the same way the Ryanair has taken top-notchers who would in years gone by have contested the Champion Chase or Gold Cup, so the Jewson will comprise heavy-hitters for whom the Arkle or RSA Chase is overlooked. Captain Conan can probably be regarded as a definite runner in the Jewson, so that can be borne in mind when weighing up his odds in advance of the Festival. Also worthy of consideration, though, is the fact he has only ever won on soft or heavy ground. The softish ground at the Festival is often on day one – Arkle day – and it can dry out by the Thursday (Jewson day).

FARHAN AHMED looks after Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite MY TENT OR YOURS

VERDICT So effortlessly did My Tent Or Yours justify favouritism in one of the season’s most competitive handicap hurdles that it was the Champion Hurdle rather than the Supreme Novices’ that was uppermost in the mind following his Newbury romp. Connections, however, refused to fan that flame, insisting that, despite the imperious five-length success, they hadn’t given the idea of supplementing him for the Champion Hurdle any real thought. At the time of writing, it seemed as if it would be the Supreme Novices’, for

ROBIN LAND looks after Champion Hurdle contender BINOCULAR

which he was general 2-1 market leader, rather than the Champion. Interestingly, Darlan, who was also owned by JP McManus, would probably have won the Betfair Hurdle 12 months ago had he not fallen, after which he ran second in the Supreme. He, of course, sadly never got the chance to contest the Champion. Sometimes it’s best to grasp the nettle – though it is easier to say with hindsight.

I’ve done him since he arrived from France and he’s in his fifth season with us. He likes to nibble you a bit but other than that he’s a really nice horse. I also look after Riverside Theatre, State Benefit and Prince Of Pirates, and I treat them all the same. Binocular is almost a little bit forgotten about – he’s nine now and getting on a bit I suppose – but he’s a Champion Hurdle winner and still has a lot of ability there. I’m pretty hopeful. I’ve been there with him every time he’s run. He can get a bit warm in the paddock but otherwise he’s pretty straightforward. I’ve been really lucky as I also used to look after Punchestowns, but I think I’d have to say Binocular is extra special.

”

An extra special horse to look after

VERDICT When Binocular won his Champion Hurdle in 2010 his quick, accurate jumping brought to mind previous winners like Make A Stand and Istabraq. He has always been at his best when getting from one side of a flight to the other smoothly, and he will need to be at his most fluent to have a chance of overturning a five-length deficit with favourite Hurricane Fly from their running at Leopardstown. Before Darlan’s tragic demise at Doncaster, it had been assumed that Binocular would be the mount of someone other than AP McCoy for the first time in ages. McCoy first rode Binocular in the 2008 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and has done so since without interruption. With My Tent Or Yours confirmed for the Supreme Novices’, McCoy will retain the ride and you can be sure his trainer will have the nine-year-old primed for action. If the old Binocular turns up at Cheltenham on March 12, odds of 14-1 will look very good. THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

ownerbreeder ad pages 03.2013_OwnerBreeder Ad pages 03.2013 20/02/2013 08:53 Page 55

FIRST SEASON IN HAMPSHIRE 2013 AFTER TWO SEASONS IN FRANCE

MILK IT MICK

GR.1 WINNER AT TWO AND FIVE YEARS

Bay 2001, 16.1hh (1.65m), Millkom – Lunar Music (Komaite) Won 6 races, £392,426, at two and five years, and was placed 12 times WON

Won

Won 2nd 2nd 3rd Stud Record: 50% winners/placed to runners from his first two crops, incl: CHEWOREE, THREES GRAND, MAN OF MY WORD, etc. Yearlings have made €20,000, etc.

Gr.1 Dewhurst Stakes, 7f, Newmarket, beating Classic winners HAAFHD and BACHELOR DUKE, THREE VALLEYS (Gr.2), IMPERIAL STRIDE (Gr.2), BALMONT (Gr.2), SNOW RIDGE (Gr.2), ANTONIUS PIUS (Gr.2). Gr.1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile, 8f, Santa Anita, beating Champion ARAGORN, CACIQUE (Gr.1), CHINESE DRAGON (Gr.2), CHARMO (Gr.2), WILLOW O WISP (Gr.2), TOASTED (Gr.2), etc. Gr.3 Somerville Tattersall Stakes, 7f, Newmarket, beating BACHELOR DUKE, BRUNEL (Gr.2), MOKABRA (Gr.2), etc. Gr.2 The San Marcos, 10f, Santa Anita, beating WHILLY (Gr.2), ATLANDO (Gr.2), ALWAYS FIRST (Gr.2), etc. Gr.3 Solario Stakes, 7f, Sandown Park, beating five Stakes performers Gr.1 Turf Classic, 9f, Churchill Downs, beating GORELLA (Gr.1), GOOD REWARD (Gr.1), PERFECT DRIFT (Gr.1), EINSTEIN (Gr.2), SILVER TREE (Gr.2), etc.

MILK IT MICK raced for 4 seasons and defeated 42 individual Group winners, incl: 8 Group 1 winners

Bill Smith on +44 (0) 2392 632 343 or +44 (0) 2392 632 574 Kelanne Stud, Hoe St, Hambledon, Hampshire, PO7 4RD Email: ws@kelannestud.com

TIMEFORM’S CHAMPION ENGLISH OR IRISH TRAINED TWO-YEAR-OLD

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Mar_103_NHSires_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 10:14 Page 56

NATIONAL HUNT SIRES: CHELTENHAM SPECIAL

Different rules

APPLY

While certain sires will always be influential in the jumping division, the origins of top-class horses are far more varied than on the Flat, as our Cheltenham guide shows By Emma Berry

GEORGE SELWYN

study of the leading fancies in all the major races for the Cheltenham Festival will leave you with a list of sires that is nothing if not diverse. Of course all the obvious names are there, including the current top five in the National Hunt sires’ table – Beneficial, Flemensfirth, King’s Theatre, Oscar and Milan. But among them there’s certain to be the odd name that will have even the most studious observer of breeding scratching their heads and reaching for the stallion book to find out who they are and where they stand. Balko, anyone? Before the team at Haras National du Lion d’Angers

starts bombarding this office with angry emails, we are happy to point out, after a little research, that Balko, a multiple Graded-winning steeplechaser and son of the much-missed Pistolet Bleu, stands there in north-west France and has the five-year-old Fago, an entrant in both the Arkle and Jewson Novices’ Chase, among his first-crop runners. Of the new names added to the more established list of sires to have produced Cheltenham Festival winners last year was Haafhd, whose son Countrywide Flame claimed the JCB Triumph Hurdle and set up a ‘Flat sires’ quinella when leading home Hisaabaat (Dubawi) and Grumeti (Sakhee), who subsequently turned the tables on the winner when overhauling him at Aintree the following month. These two results justified Shadwell’s decision to relocate Haafhd to Beechwood Grange Stud for the 2012 season and doubtless influenced the move of Sakhee this year to Yorton Farm.

The Arc winner’s arrival there enhances an interesting line-up for David and Teresa Futter’s operation, with their two young – by National Hunt standards – residents Malinas and Sulamani both playing an increasing role in jumps results as the years roll on via the likes of Medinas and Easter Day for the former and Sulamani’s Rule The World and Cash And Go. As is so often discussed, the lengthy span required to breed top-class jumpers and for their sires to make their names as a reliable source of such offspring regularly means that a stallion is dead by the time his worth is truly appreciated. In the championship races, major contenders Long Run, Silviniaco Conti, Bobs Worth, Sizing Europe, Sanctuaire, Cue Card, Hurricane Fly, Overturn and Finian’s Rainbow are all by sires sadly no longer with us. However, there is still a great swathe of names with which to conjure and whose connections will be >>

Mar_103_NHSires_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 10:14 Page 57

Yorton TOB 03-13:Layout 1

19/2/13

09:20

Page 1

YORTON FARM STALLIONS LIBRETTIST - Fee: £2,000 October 1st 2002 by Danzig - Mysterial (Alleged)

NEW TO THE UK FOR 2013 Already making his mark with his first few runners over jumps:Grand Gold - 2 wins from 3 starts in juvenile hurdles Songsmith - broke the course record at Newbury

75% winners to runners over jumps in France

MALINAS - Fee: £2,500 October 1st 2001 by Lomitas - Majoritat (Konigsstuhl)

TOP PROSPECTS IN TOP STABLES Cheltenham hopefuls this season include:Medinas (Alan King) - WON Welsh Champion Hurdle Union Dues (Willie Mullins) - WON Future Champions INH Flat Race Gr.2 Easter Day (Paul Nicholls) - 2 wins, 2nd Challow Novices' Hurdle Gr.1 Touch the Eden (Willie Mullins) - 7 1/2 lengths winner on his hurdling debut

56% winners to runners over jumps in GB & Ireland

SAKHEE - Fee: £2,500 October 1st 1997 by Bahri - Thawakib (Sadler's Wells)

AN OUTSTANDING NEW NATIONAL HUNT STALLION Sire of a Grade 1 winner:Grumeti - WON Matalan Anniversary 4yo Juvenile Hurdle Gr.1 WON Dovecote Novices' Hurdle Gr.2 WON JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial Gr.2 3rd JCB Triumph Hurdle Gr.1

41 winners of 59 races and £300,000 over jumps in GB & Ireland

SULAMANI - Fee: £2,500 October 1st 1999 by Hernando - Soul Dream (Alleged)

A GRADE 1 NATIONAL HUNT SIRE Exciting prospects this season include:Rule the World - WON Slaney Novice Hurdle Gr.2 (by 16 lengths) Cash and Go - (Gr.1 winner 2011/12) 2nd Racing Post Hurdle Gr.3 Spirit of Shankly - 3rd williamhill.com Novices' Hurdle LR on his hurdling debut Caledonia - 3rd Betfair NH Flat Race LR 24 winners of 33 races and almost £200,000 over jumps in GB & Ireland

THE ROAD TO THE FESTIVAL STARTS HERE Enquiries: David or Teresa Futter Tel: 01939 220411 Mobile: 07860 670184 email: enquiries@yortonfarm.co.uk www.yortonfarm.co.uk Yorton Farm, Yorton, Shropshire SY4 3EP

Mar_103_NHSires_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 10:14 Page 59

GEORGE SELWYN

N AT I O N A L H U N T S I R E S : C H E LT E N H A M S P E C I A L

The Giant Bolster, a son of Black Sam Bellamy

triumphant offspring cross the line. The following guide is by no means exhaustive but aims to feature the leading lights by active sires.

Gold Cup Before his tragic demise in the Grand National, Synchronised gave fans of Sadler’s Wells cause for cheer when adding a Cheltenham Gold Cup victory to that great stallion’s CV. Just as he is on the Flat, the late Coolmore resident is omnipresent in jumping pedigrees and was the grandsire of the runner-up, The Giant Bolster, whose father Black Sam Bellamy, a full-brother to Galileo, stands at Shade Oak Stud. Flemensfirth has already sired a Gold Cup winner in Cheltenham specialist Imperial Commander – a rejuvenated force on his recent resumption from injury. He shares a common thread to his breeding with the 2008 Arkle winner Tidal Bay as both are out of daughters of Ascot Gold Cup winner Le Moss. With Flemenstar’s lung infection putting paid to a Cheltenham trip, the Commander remains his sire’s biggest hope for further Festival glory. Presenting has Denman and War Of Attrition to his credit as past Gold Cup winners and his exquisite-looking son First Lieutenant – another with excellent Festival credentials – holds entries in both the Gold Cup and Ryanair Chase, with the latter having an understandable pull for his owner Michael O’Leary. Glenview Stud’s Robin Des Champs has the ultimate Cheltenham horse in Quevega but his classy son Sir Des Champs is also a dual Festival winner and is second only to Bobs Worth in the betting for the big race. French-based Laveron, a Group 3 winner on the Flat in Germany and dual Grade 1 hurdles winner at Auteuil, doesn’t have a huge number of representatives in Britain and Ireland but his top-rated son Katenko advertised his liking for Prestbury Park with victory in the Murphy THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP Last ten winners by sire Sadler’s Wells (Synchronised) Cadoudal (Long Run) Flemensfirth (Imperial Commander) Village Star (Kauto Star, twice) Presenting (Denman, War Of Attrition) Old Vic (Kicking King)

CHAMPION HURDLE Last ten winners by sire

Un Desperado (Best Mate, thrice)

Oscar (Rock On Ruby) Montjeu (Hurricane Fly)

Group Chase in January. He is out of a mare by Villez, who is also the broodmare sire of the aforementioned Fago and sire of dual Festival winner Voy Por Ustedes.

Champion Hurdle At the time of writing, the last three winners of the Champion Hurdle were all on course to attempt to retain or regain their crown. Whether they all line up on the day or not remains to be seen but, as our feature with the team at Nicky

Enrique (Binocular) Komaite (Punjabi) Kalanisi (Katchit) Selkirk (Sublimity) Good Thyne (Brave Inca) Archway (Hardy Eustace, twice) Riverwise (Rooster Booster)

TREVOR JONES

>> itching to trumpet their success as soon as the

Henderson’s stable shows (pages 49-54), there’s still plenty of faith in the 2010 winner Binocular. His victory started a run for the Sadler’s Wells line. He is by Enrique, a French-based, oneeyed son of Sadler’s Wells’s Group 1-winning miler Barathea (who is himself the sire of 2012 runner-up Overturn), while the following year’s winner, Hurricane Fly, sparked a Cheltenham Festival double for the late Montjeu, whose son Noble Prince followed up with victory in the Jewson Novices’ Chase. Last year Rock On Ruby, another grandson of Sadler’s Wells, brought up the hat-trick for the line. Like Rock On Ruby, Oscar Whisky and Peddlers Cross are also sons of Oscar but seem more likely to head for the World Hurdle. Sadler’s Wells was himself the sire of the greatest hurdler of the modern era, Istabraq. A fellow Cheltenham novice hurdle winner, Cinders And Ashes, bids to follow in the threetime Champion Hurdler’s footsteps and he, too, hails from the same line, as a son of Ballylinch Stud’s Beat Hollow. Zarkandar, a half-brother to the top-class Flat filly Zarkava, is one of a handful of exciting jumps prospects for his sire Azamour, along with Third Intention, who was runner-up to Captain Conan in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase. >>

Haafhd, whose son Countrywide Flame took last season’s JCB Triumph Hurdle

Mar_103_NHSires_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 10:15 Page 60

N AT I O N A L H U N T S I R E S : C H E LT E N H A M S P E C I A L Grandouet, third to Zarkandar in the 2011 Triumph Hurdle, is a fellow French-bred and representative of that country’s stalwart of the stallion ranks, Linamix, whose son Al Namix is responsible not just for Grandouet but also Grade 2 Adonis Juvenile Hurdle winner Baby Mix and Grade 3 winner Solix.

Queen Mother Champion Chase If any race at this year’s Festival is all about one horse, it’s this one. Sprinter Sacre, superior in deed and physique to any other jumper in training, is all the marketing his veteran sire Network needs. Though happily for Haras de Cercy, where he stands in the centre of France, he doesn’t need any marketing at all. The stud is the first of the French National Studs network to go it alone in the gradual shift from government to private ownership and has been taken over by a co-operative of breeders. With every member of the 80-strong syndicate entitled to a nomination to Network, they hung the ‘full’ sign on his stable door months ago. The same will almost certainly be true of his stud companion Voix Du Nord, sire of Challow Hurdle winner Taquin De Seuil, who is only 12 and looks an interesting stallion prospect. Network is a son of Monsun, the late German champion whose sons are looked on increasingly favourably by National Hunt breeders. The most recent winning offspring of the great mare Lady Cricket is Red Sherlock, a son of Monsun’s globetrotter Shirocco. While Shirocco is still very much regarded as a Flat sire by Darley, David Johnson is not the only breeder to have used him for decent jumping mares and we can expect to see more of his offspring compete effectively over the sticks as they mature. Waiting in the wings are Grange Stud’s Getaway and Overbury Stud’s Schiaparelli, two more sons of Monsun whose eldest offspring are just yearlings. Watch this space. Of course Sprinter Sacre will not be treated to a walkover in the Champion Chase and of his eight rivals remaining after the February 12 scratching deadline, only two are by stallions available to European breeders, with Somersby’s sire Second Empire having long since left Coolmore for South Africa. Wishfull Thinking remains a great flagbearer for Shade Oak Stud’s trusty Alflora, who is also a terrific sire of jumping mares – Alasi, Amaretto Rose and Kells Belle are among his daughters – and his connections will be hoping for a less dramatic outcome than last year’s entanglement with a photographer when he fell mid-race. As we went to press, Beneficial was out in front on the jump sires’ table, as he was for much of last year. He is the sire of the 2009 RSA Chase winner Cooldine and another son, the three-time Irish Grade 1 winner Realt Dubh, will be aiming to improve on his fifth-place finish in last year’s Champion Chase.

GEORGE SELWYN

Cinders And Ashes was a Festival first for Beat Hollow, now based at Ballylinch Stud

QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE Last ten winners by sire Tiraaz (Finian’s Rainbow) Pistolet Bleu (Sizing Europe) Oscar (Big Zeb) Nikos (Master Minded, twice) Villez (Voy Por Ustedes) Norwich (Newmill) Moscow Society (Moscow Flyer, twice) Baby Turk (Azertyuiop)

Up and coming The novice divisions often feature the offspring of emerging National Hunt sires, with Jezki being a warm order for his high-flying young father Milan and last year’s Champion Bumper winner Champagne Fever highlighting the merits of Slip Anchor’s son Stowaway, who has been covering whopping books of late. Fans of My Tent Or Yours would need to send their mare to Italy to use his sire, Desert Prince, who is not the most obvious jumps stallion but has a Festival winner to his name already in Dabiroun. Another Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner, Where Or When, is represented via the highly exciting Melodic Rendezvous, whose more obvious National Hunt credentials are to be found via his broodmare sire, Old Vic. Mozoltov, who was third to Champagne Fever in Punchestown’s Champion Bumper and has been faultless over hurdles to date, is one of a growing number of Irish-based runners for Britain’s leading jumps stallion Kayf Tara, who is also the sire of JP McManus’s progressive novice chaser Cantlow. Yet another son of Sadler’s Wells, Sholokhov, has recently returned to Ireland from his stud stint in Germany, where he sired the much talked-about Don Cossack. Arkle contenders Simonsig and Arvika Ligeonniere are both by 15-year-old Britishbased sires – the former a son of Shade Oak’s

Fair Mix, a rare Linamix horse on this side of the Channel, and the latter by Arvico, who stands at Vauterhill Stud in Devon alongside Kauto Stone’s unheralded sire With The Flow. Captain Conan represents the KingmamboSadler’s Wells cross, which is regularly seen to good effect on the Flat, but in this instance his sire, the Haras du Victot resident Kingsalsa, has combined well with a Sadler’s Wells mare to produce a young chaser of the highest calibre. Martaline, another son of Linamix whose half-brother Coastal Path stands alongside Network, is a star in the ascendant. His Cheltenham contenders include the high-class Dynaste, while Le Vent d’Antan is Liz Doyle’s exciting Champion Bumper hope. Patrick Kinsella’s Beechbrook Stud resident Zagreb, an Irish Derby-winning son of Theatrical, has a Festival hopeful in River Maigue, who heads for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Beechbrook Stud was also once home to Hernando’s son Mr Combustible, who is now covering sport horse mares in Co Clare. He has several exciting thoroughbred representatives, however, notably Goulanes, whose undefeated record under rules includes last month’s Grade 2 Towton Novices’ Chase. Only recently transferred to the National Hunt division is Jeremy, by Danehill Dancer, who is now at Garryrichard Stud. Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle victor Our Conor, a half-brother to the multiple hurdles and chase winner Gidam Gidam, is one of the favourites for the Triumph Hurdle and provides the perfect advertisement for Jeremy in his new role.

The money’s down… There comes a time when we all must get off the fence. For this correspondent, the young sire most likely to add his name to the Cheltenham roll of honour in 2013 is Sulamani, whose six-year-old son Rule The World – described endearingly by his trainer as “a big, raw bugger” – looks very exciting indeed.

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Standing at BEECH TREE STUD APPLE TREE

GEORDIELAND

TAMURE

Chesnut 1989, 16.2hh BIKALA X POMME ROSE

Grey 2001, 16.3hh JOHANN QUATZ X AERDEE

Bay, 1992, 16.0hh SADLER’S WELLS X THREE TAILS

Ultra tough and consistent four-time Gr.1 winner Sire of tough and classy horses like himself incl: LOUGH DERG, POMME TIEPY, ONIRALOIN, OEIL DE SIVOLA, MODIAL JACK, QOZAK, PROPHETE DE GUME, ELYUL FIRTINASI, COSMOLEYDO, LINE APPLE, PROUESSE COLLOGNES, AUCTION GIRL, BRAMLYNN BROOK. Third season at Beech Tree Stud 2010

Multiple Group and Stakes winner Won 7 races from 3 to 8 years, 9 to 16 furlongs, £541,601, and was placed 20 times. Consistently rated over 120 in Racehorses. First foals 2013

Classic placed son of Sadler’s Wells in Somerset by the leading sire. And sire of sires under both Rules from a leading Classic family. Stakes performing sire from limited opportunities including: JONTY’S LASS, LET’S ROLL, DANZATRICE, EASBY PARK, SUMMER LIGHTNING, TELL THE TREES, SOMMELIE, CHARLIE CRAB, ATLANTIC JANE, BETONART, CUTE N YOU, KNOW IT, FRESCHEZZA, STUDENT LOAN. Yearlings have made up to £24,000gns

Stud Fee: £1,500 (Oct 1st terms)

Upton Noble, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6AX Contact: Allan Munnis • Tel: 01749 850786 • Mobile: 07711 072362 • Email: judyandallan@gmail.com

NOTNOWCATO TRIPLE GROUP ONE WINNER - Timeform 128

WON Coral Eclipse Stakes Gr.1 WON Tattersalls Gold Cup Gr.1 WON Juddmonte International Stakes Gr.1

46% winners to runners from his first crop including Stakes winner CHIL THE KITE, Royal Ascot winner FAST OR FREE and multiple winners Miss Cato (Group placed) and Custom Cut. Tattersalls Book 2 yearlings in 2012 realised: 55,000gns (Blandford Bloodstock) 34,000gns (Rabbah Bloodstock) 32,000gns (Andrew Balding) 30,000gns (SackvilleDonald) etc. Fee for 2013: £5,000 Oct 1st Enq: LONDON THOROUGHBRED SERVICES LTD., T: 01725 517711 E: lts@lts-uk.com www.lts-uk.com or: Stanley House Stud, Newmarket CB8 7DJ T: 01638 663081 Peter Stanley mob: 07778 464146

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LTS

Mar_103_ThreeChimneys_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 10:16 Page 62

THREE CHIMNEYS FARM

The power of

THREE In 40 years, Three Chimneys Farm has grown from a boutique operation to become a major player in the Bluegrass, with its roster including the sire of the unbeaten Reckless Abandon

GEORGE SELWYN

ll it took was ten stalls in a tobacco barn in Kentucky for one of the world’s most respected farms to take root. When Robert Clay founded Three Chimneys Farm in Midway in 1972, the idea was to attract some boarders. Within eight years the farm had grown sufficiently to house a stallion of the calibre of champion Slew O’Gold. Today, with Clay’s son Case as President, it acts as the figurehead for a brand that offers a 12-strong stallion roster, a sales and boarding service and high-flying racing partnership. The arrival of Brilliant Speed, Caleb’s Posse and former Calumet Farm resident Ice Box to the stallion barn this season means that Three Chimneys is in the strong position of adding three new names to its roster. Crucially, each

Exchange Rate’s son Reckless Abandon

was a Grade 1 winner. In that respect it is business as usual. However, recent months have also marked a shift into new territory. Last November it was announced that the Borges Torrealba family, which operate Stud TNT in Brazil, had invested as a partner in Three Chimneys. The family has also subsequently purchased Padua Stables in Kentucky. An indication of the firepower behind the partnership was immediately apparent at the winter breeding stock sales, including at Arqana in December where the farm paid €1.175 million for Wild Wind. “We started as a boarding operation,” says Case Clay, “with one barn and one manager. Now we’re 1,800 acres, have just over 100 staff and board 225 mares.” Three Chimneys may be a Kentucky farm first and foremost but its early growth wouldn’t have been so swift had it not been for Peter Burrell, former TBA Chairman and director of the National Stud from 1937 to 1971. Burrell became the farm’s first client when shifting nine mares from Gainesway in 1972 and 17 years later was the fitting owner of Racing Post Trophy winner Be My Chief, the first Group 1 winner by one of the farm’s foundation stallions, Chief’s Crown. “Peter was a great family friend for many years, a mentor figure,” says Clay. “He boarded mares at Gainesway and when Dad started in ’72, he rang Joe Taylor, who was manager of Gainesway at the time, to ask if he had any clients he could refer. I think Peter was looking for fresh ground and he became our first client.” It was during the early 1980s, with several years of operation behind him, that Clay

HORSEPHOTOS.COM

Words Nancy Sexton

A statue at Three Chimneys Farm that

identified an area of the industry that had room for exploitation: the boutique stallion farm. At that time Kentucky was ruled by several major stallion operations who boasted rosters north of 20. However, in Clay’s eyes, select numbers allowed a farm to devote more energy to the stallions and their shareholders. “We got our first stallion, Slew O’Gold, in 1984,” he says. “Some of the stallion operations back then were large – Spendthrift and Gainesway each had about 30 to 40 stallions. Dad viewed it as an opportunity to launch a boutique operation, to be a little different. “So he built a six-stall stallion barn and approached Slew O’Gold’s owners Mickey and Karen Taylor. He stressed that he was building a boutique operation and would be able to pay more attention to the stallions and his owners or shareholders. And we got him. “And it was through Slew O’Gold that we later stood Seattle Slew, who became an anchor stallion. He really put us on the map.” Seattle Slew, winner of the 1977 American THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Mar_103_ThreeChimneys_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 10:16 Page 63

commemorates the Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, credited by the Clay family as the stallion who “put us on the map”

Triple Crown and the sire of a host of champions, including AP Indy, was transferred by the Taylors to Three Chimneys in September 1985. By the end of the decade he headed a roster that included champions Chief’s Crown and Shahrastani, the 1986 Derby winner who was secured in a deal that reportedly valued him at £16 million. Rahy, the sire of Fantastic Light among others, retired to the farm in 1990 and two years later were joined by the successful pair Capote and Wild Again, who were inherited upon the dissolution of Calumet Farm. Leading sire Dynaformer later made the switch from Richland Hills to Three Chimneys. The retirement and subsequent death of Dynaformer last spring came as a major blow. However, within weeks of his loss it experienced the other side of the coin when their young stallion Flower Alley sired the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner I’ll Have Another. Last year saw another inmate, Exchange Rate, gain international prominence as the sire THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

of the unbeaten Middle Park Stakes winner Reckless Abandon, while Big Brown and Lewis Michael each sired stakes winners out of their first crops. “You hear the term that only one in ten

“People do seem to

get off stallions more quickly these days; it used to be years three to four were tough” stallions makes it and it is difficult to find that right horse,” says Clay. “Obviously, if you’re picking the [Kentucky] Derby winner, your chances increase, but it is still very difficult.

“Back in the day, a horse would cover 40 mares and you would get support from the shareholders. Now you have to ensure that he is a commercial prospect as well to get that outside support. The most we own of any of our stallions is half, as in the case of Exchange Rate and Rahy. Selling shares means you receive support, especially in that important first year. “People do seem to get off stallions more quickly nowadays. It used to be that years three to four were tough – now it can be years two, three and four.” Exchange Rate is a good example of the farm taking a gamble on a stallion following early success at stud. The Grade 2-winning son of Danzig, who was bred by Philip Freedman, started his stud career at Padua Stables in Florida but an early stream of above-average performers saw him switch to Three Chimneys in 2008, six years into his stud career. “Exchange Rate started off with a bang in Florida and as with Yes It’s True three years before, we did the deal to bring him up to >>

Mar_103_ThreeChimneys_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 10:23 Page 64

HORSEPHOTOS.COM

T H R E E C H I M N E Y S FA R M were subsequently sold for $1.4 million and 625,000gns respectively. “We saw how well Gary Tanaka was doing bringing over fillies who may have been just below the top bar in Europe but who could compete at the top in the US,” says Clay. “Lincoln Collins and Al Donald do a great job in picking our fillies and we’ve had a lot of fun.” Several were later sold profitably through Three Chimneys at Tattersalls’ December Sale. “I’m really pleased with how selling in Europe has gone and we’ll probably stick to bringing a select group of horses to that sale,” he says. “Everyone has been very welcoming and it’s been really exciting.”

Big Brown in ridden exercise – rare these days but still practiced at Three Chimneys

was always a thought that he might do well in Europe.” So it proved last season with the emergence of Clive Cox’s brilliant juvenile Reckless Abandon, bred by Car Colston Hall Stud. “I come over to Newmarket twice a year and I’ll go through our roster with people,” says Clay. “And there would be this blank look when I came to Exchange Rate. However, thanks to Car Colston Hall, everyone knew who he was last July! “We’ve had interest in him this year from European breeders but there has been a gradual decline in the number of European mares over here. Two observations as to why consistently come through by talking to people: the idea that American racing has a drug problem and the fact that there are now some great stallions standing in Europe.” Nevertheless, Reckless Abandon’s exploits

dovetail neatly with Three Chimneys’ desire to gain wider recognition internationally. The farm already has offices in Japan and France and two European representatives, Ed Sackville and Jean-Marie Callier. For the past three years they have sold at the Tattersalls December Sale and sponsored at the Newmarket July meeting. “We would love to stand a European horse at some point,” says Clay, “and we showed interest in bringing Born To Sea to the US. “Our appetite is definitely there to target a top European runner, but it has to be the right horse. You have Frankel, Galileo and Sea The Stars but you have to consider that the average American breeder might not be as educated on some of the other top European horses.” For now, Three Chimneys does a good job of targeting European fillies to race in the US. Three Chimneys Racing has existed for only five years but its roll of honour includes the Grade 1 winners Ave and Miss Keller, who

CANDACE CHAVEZ

Dynaformer leaves his mark Dynaformer was one of those increasingly rare stallions who appealed to breeders worldwide. The son of Roberto died aged 26 last May, leaving behind 26 Group 1/Grade 1 winners, and, with two untried crops still in the pipeline, there is the promise of yet more to come. There was a Kentucky Derby victor in Barbaro, a Melbourne Cup hero in Americain and European Classic winners such as Blue Bunting and Lucarno. As such, the sire became the linchpin stallion of Three Chimneys, commanding $150,000 at the height of his powers, far removed from the $5,000 fee set in his first season at Nathan Fox’s Richland Hills in Kentucky in 1990. “Nathan Fox is a good friend and after Dynaformer’s first runners started doing well we came to an agreement with him to stand him,” says Case Clay. “His progeny had great soundness, toughness and grit of heart. They were also incredibly versatile. “The international attention really started to grow in 2003. Then he sired [2006 Kentucky Derby winner] Barbaro over here, and that’s when it really took off.” Today, Dynaformer’s stall, which bears the scars of his cantankerous nature, is filled by his Grade 1-winning son Brilliant Speed, the 2011 Blue Grass Stakes winner. The five-year-old is standing his first season at $10,000. “It was important for us to stand a son of Dynaformer – up until now not that many have retired,” says Clay, alluding to the fact that until this season only one son, Temple City, stood in Kentucky. “Brilliant Speed has his sire’s old stall. Dynaformer banged out all the bars but we’re going to keep it like that in his honour.”

Brazilian connection Three Chimneys has enjoyed a close relationship with the Borges Torrealba family and has boarded mares of the calibre of Cara Rafaela (the dam of Bernardini) on behalf of Goncalo Torrealba (pictured). But now their relationship is one which will direct the future of Three Chimneys. At Keeneland last November it was confirmed that Borges Torrealba Holdings had become a partner in Three Chimneys in a move designed to provide both parties with increased ammunition on the international stage. The announcement followed a week during which Torrealba signed for $5.287 million worth of horses, including the sale-topper Pure Clan at $4.5million. The partnership later struck in Europe when paying €1.175m for the Arqana December sale-topper, Classic-placed Wild Wind. “The focus is on quality and the strategy is to try to get two to three topend mares per year, whether it be at auction or privately,” explains Case Clay. “The ideal number would be about 20 mares and we’ll probably keep some of the fillies to race and sell the colts. The top end of the market is now very international and our partnership allows us to become more international.” The Borges Torrealba family owns and operates Grupo Libra, a group of diversified companies in Brazil, as well as the prominent Brazilian bloodstock operation Stud TNT. The stud is home to 14 stallions during the southern hemisphere season, including the farm’s champion Leroidesanimaux and 1998 St Leger winner Nedawi.

KEENELAND

>> Kentucky,” says Clay. “He’s a Danzig so there

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ARCHIPENKO AUSSIE RULES

First runners 2013 GROUP 1 WINNING INTERNATIONAL MILER

CLASSIC WINNING MILER BY DANEHILL

ONE OF THE BEST BRED STALLIONS IN THE WORLD

THE LEADING BRITISH-BASED THIRD CROP SIRE IN 2012

Won 6 races (5 Group races), on 3 continents and £1.2m. Rated 2lbs higher than his great sire Kingmambo.

from the family of Albanova, Alborada, Quarter Moon, Thomas Chippendale, Yesterday, Michelangelo.

by individual winners, wins & Stakes winners. His first three crops include 9 Black type winners including Gr.3 winner HARD BALL GET and 2yo Stakes winner GRAND TREASURE in 2012. 54 individual 2yo winners.

His Stakes winning dam is also grandam of US Champion Blame and is from the immediate family of outstanding sires Nureyev and Sadler’s Wells. First yearlings sold at the major 2012 sales averaged over four times his 2010 fee. Fee: £6,000 (1st October SLF)

Fee: £5,000 (1st October SLF)

Also standing: SIR PERCY – the leading sire of 3yos in Europe in 2012 (by % winners to runners, 40+ runners)

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Mar_103_Bloodstock_Intro_Owner 21/02/2013 10:19 Page 67

BREEDERS’ DIGEST By EMMA BERRY, Bloodstock Editor

Our bloodstock coverage this month includes:

• Sales Circuit: Round-ups from Brightwells, Tattersalls, Goffs, Tattersalls Ireland, Arqana and the Cape Yearling Sales – pages 69-75

• Caulfield Files: Seeking the value sires can be a worthwhile venture – pages 77-78

Not talking ’bout my generation, sadly

he only annoying thing about the TBA’s Next Generation Club is that, even when it was launched four years ago, I was already too old to join. So I’ve made the odd excuse of ‘reporting on an event’ to gatecrash gatherings but that only made me more envious that I couldn’t be one of the gang. This month a new Chairman has been announced for the 11-strong committee. Jane Hedley did an excellent job in getting the ball rolling and she was succeeded by the indefatigable Zenia Wright, who has recently relinquished the chair to Sam Hoskins. Hoskins may be only 27, but he already has fingers in plenty of racing’s pies. Often seen assisting Geoffrey Howson at the sales, he founded the Hot To Trot Racing Club with Luke Lillingston with the aim being “to introduce as many new people to the exhilarating sport of horseracing”. This followed several years working for the Niarchos family, while the most recent addition to his CV is to have become the youngest ever member of the TBA Board. Yes, he does sound like rather a tiresome over-achiever, doesn’t he? But in fact, Hoskins is one of the nicest, and certainly one of the most enthusiastic, people in racing. The industry is lucky to have him and it’s easy to envisage him and fellow committee members playing leading roles in the racing and breeding industry in years to come. The NGC has nearly 1,000 members, which in turn has helped to boost the 18-35 age group of TBA members. Hoskins and his team will surely encourage plenty more along the way.

Stud, which stands the dual Australian champion sire. Another example of the liaison between the two cross-hemisphere operations comes in the form of Australian Derby prospect Vadashan, who is by Redoute’s Choice and was bred in partnership by the Aga Khan and Arrowfield. The colt’s owners Saeed Naser Al Romaithi, Renata Coleman and Arrowfield have agreed that, in the build-up to his Group 1 target, he can race in the colours of a new syndicate called Young Professionals in Racing (YPR) – a venture whose aims closely resemble those of the NGC. Generously, the racing costs are borne by the existing owners, giving the young members a fantastic opportunity to become involved at the highest level. Speaking to the Sydney Telegraph, YPR Chairman Kathryn Thomson said: “YPR’s involvement with Vadashan provides a social and educational alternative to the sometimes daunting responsibilities associated with racehorse ownership, yet enables members to experience all the excitement of racing a horse they feel connected to.” Vadashan is a son of the Listed-winning

Sagacity mare Vadsalina, a half-sister to the Prix Saint-Alary winner Vadawina, whose son Vadamar was purchased last year by Qatar Racing with a potential Melbourne Cup campaign in mind. John Messara has already been instrumental in encouraging participation of the next generation of racing fans with his backing of the Redoute’s Choice Club, an invitation-only venture aimed at bringing together young professionals and introducing them to the delights of racing. Last month, The Redoute’s Choice Club officially joined forces with YPR. In Australia, where racing syndicates are widespread, the leasing of Vadashan was a logical step. In this country, syndicates and partnerships are also on the increase, with breeders such as Biddestone Stud becoming involved in leasing schemes (see news, pages 1112). Betfair Club ROA, which leased horses for its young members, made inroads in this area but was wound up a few years ago when its sponsorship came to an end. Perhaps one of the tasks for the new committee of the NGC is to sweet-talk some of the sport’s major players into an arrangement on a horse akin to Vadashan.

There were around 100 different stallions on show during this year’s La Route des Etalons in Normandy, but without doubt the star attraction was Redoute’s Choice at the Aga Khan’s Haras de Bonneval, which had more than 350 visitors. The signing of such a huge star from the southern hemisphere was a major coup for the French breeding industry and came on the back of a good working relationship between the Aga Khan’s team and John Messara’s Arrowfield

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

EMMA BERRY

Worthwhile liaison

Sam Hoskins, right, with a potential NGC member and one just above the age limit

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Mar_103_Sales_Circuit_Sales 21/02/2013 10:26 Page 69

SALES CIRCUIT By CARL EVANS and NICOLA HAYWARD

Off peak but never off duty

EMMA BERRY

A host of largely improved mixed auctions keeps the sales programme turning during the quieter winter months ahead of the start of the breeze-up season

Sale-topper Diara Angel, a half-sister to Wrote, was sold in foal to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner’s sire High Chaparral

Tattersalls February Sale

n upturn in clearance leading to Top lots higher turnover – and a mare that Name/Breeding brought a price tag of 100,000gns – were key elements of the one-day Tattersalls’ Diara Angel (Hawk Wing-Desert Classic) February Sale. Caphene (Sakhee-Claxon) Fillies and mares dominated the upper Considerate (Dansili-Concentric) tiers of this annual mixed, mid-winter cull, Bit By Bit (Rail Link-Lixian) and while genuinely class acts are either Tut (Intikhab-Radiant Energy) racing (over jumps or in Dubai) or being A P Easy (A P Indy-Sheepscot) prepared for the forthcoming European turf season, Tattersalls was pleased with the Dont Dili Dali (Dansili-Miss Meltemi) outcome and number of buyers who had Cut Across (Cape Cross-Incise) flown in from overseas. Predominantly from Stand My Ground (Cape Cross-Perfect Hedge) minor racing nations, they sought horses at Red Valerian (Royal Applause-Hidden Heart) a lower level, leaving the locals to fight for the choice lots. Comparative figures John Deer’s Chepstow-based Oakgrove Year Sold Agg (gns) Stud took the sale topper, Diara Angel, a 2013 190 1,747,600 half-sister to Breeders’ Cup winner Wrote. 2012 179 1,641,100 Their dam, Desert Classic, made 875,000gns at Tattersalls’ December Sale, an event at >> THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Vendor

Price (gns)

Buyer

Voute Sales

100,000

Oakgrove Stud

Lavington Stud

70,000

SackvilleDonald

Juddmonte

62,000

Broadhurst Agency

Juddmonte

50,000

BBA Ireland

Elms Stud

49,000

Catridge Farm

Laundry Cottage Stud

45,000

Al Shahania

Highclere Stud

42,000

Anthony Stroud B/s

Brook Farm

40,000

Oliver St Lawrence B/s

Pia Brandt

39,000

Middleham Park Racing

Faringdon Place

33,000

Hautieres B/s

Avg (gns)

Mdn (gns)

Top Price (gns)

9,198

5,000

100,000

9,168

3,500

110,000

Mar_103_Sales_Circuit_Sales 21/02/2013 10:26 Page 70

SALES CIRCUIT

Brightwells January Sale, Cheltenham Top lots Name/Breeding

Vendor

Price (£)

Buyer

Moyle Park (Flemensfirth-Lovely Present)

Railway Stables

250,000

H Kirk/W Mullins

Wuff (Beneficial-Dummy Run)

Corloughan Stables

120,000

Roger Brookhouse

Allow Dallow (Gold Well-Russland)

Michael Winters

100,000

Jonjo O’Neill

Hilltop Tommy (Dr Massini-Pharenna)

Railway Stables

100,000

Conor O’Dwyer

Totally Dominant (War Chant-Miss Kilroy)

Newrath Stables

100,000

H Kirk/W Mullins

Prideofthecastle (Waky Nao-Park’s Pet)

Castlepook Stud

80,000

Bryan Drew

Our Pollyanna (Flemensfirth-Polly Anthus)

Cobajay Stables

80,000

Highflyer Bloodstock

Cloudingstar (Cloudings-Different Dee)

Michael Winters

75,000

Jonjo O’Neill

Gabriel Brandy (Urban Ocean-Right Style)

Mocklershill Stables

65,000

Tom Malone

Anteros (Milan-Sovereign Star)

Wilsford Stables

58,000

Keith Bell

EMMA BERRY

Comparative figures

Tom Malone bought Grade 3-winning chaser Great Oak from John Nicholson

>> which Diara Angel was led out unsold at 150,000gns. Returned to the ring just over two months later by Leicestershire-based owner Sean Conway, she made 100,000gns.

Year

Sold

Agg (£)

Avg (£)

Mdn (£)

Top Price (£)

2013

1,542,000

49,742

28,000

250,000

2012

490,500

25,816

23,000

60,000

DBS January Sale Top lots Name/Breeding

Vendor

Great Oak (Dushyantor-Reginella)

Seven Sisters Stables

Price (£) 35,000

Buyer Malone/Vaughan

Modernism (Monsun-La Nuit Rose)

Darley

28,000

Stephen Hillen

Courageuse (Linamix-Lavandou)

Selwood Bloodstock

28,000

Kieran Cotter

Expanding Universe (Galileo-Uliana)

Rosewell House

22,000

Tony Carroll

Weaam (Shamardal-Merayaat)

Shadwell Stud

21,000

Seamus Durack

Brightwells Breeze-Up and HIT Sale, January

Comedy Award (Distorted Humor-Composure)

Darley

18,500

Alan McCabe

Litigant (Sinndar-Jomana)

Darley

18,500

Seamus Durack

Brightwells’ triumphant series of sales at

Hurricane In Dubai (Hurricane Run-In Dubai)

Horse Park Stud

15,000

R O Sheen Bloodstock

Greek Fire (Sinndar-Grecian Slipper)

Darley

13,500

Alan McCabe

Lazarus Bell (Bahamian Bounty-Snake’s Head)

Manton House

12,000

Alan Brown

“Brightwells’

triumphant series of sales at Cheltenham continued into the new year” Turnover had taken a sharp dip 12 months earlier – a blip, the company claimed, caused by several high-profile withdrawals – but it more than trebled from that low, while the average and top prices were also records for an event the company first staged in 2008. Its 2010 graduates included Monbeg Dude, a £12,000 purchase who landed this season’s Welsh National.

Comparative figures Year

Sold

Agg (£)

Avg (£)

Mdn (£)

Top Price (£)

2013

516,350

5,435

3,200

35,000

2012

392,800

5,168

3,350

30,000

JOHN GROSSICK

Cheltenham continued into the new year, when the company’s January auction of breezers and horses in training returned impressive figures.

Roger Brookhouse has spent more than £1 million at Brightwells since last November

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Mar_103_Sales_Circuit_Sales 21/02/2013 10:27 Page 71

SALES CIRCUIT That sort of success can only encourage buyers, although the top lot would have been beyond most pockets. Moyle Park, a Leopardstown bumper winner, was knocked down for £250,000 to Harold Kirk on behalf of trainer Willie Mullins. Sired by Beeches Stud’s Flemensfirth, Moyle Park was the first produce of the Presenting mare Lovely Present, a dual bumper winner and placed at Grade 2 level over fences. A €10,000 graduate of Goffs’ Land Rover Sale in June last year, Moyle Park raced in the colours of Pat McCormack from the stables of trainer Harry Kelly, who was also responsible for the handling of Hilltop Tommy, the winner of a Cork bumper who made £100,000 on the night when bought by trainer Conor O’Dwyer. Also active was racehorse owner Roger Brookhouse, a Warwickshire-based engineer with a passion for the Cheltenham Festival. He campaigns 2011 Champion Bumper winner Cheltenian and has a growing squad of horses set to run at this year’s meeting. On this occasion Brookhouse’s spending was fairly muted, involving Wuff, the winner of his sole Irish point-to-point, for £120,000, and £42,000 for Seven Nation Army, who was placed in a Naas bumper. These purchases carried Brookhouse’s spending on young jumping stock past £1,000,000 at Brightwells’ November, >> December and January Cheltenham sales alone.

Bahamian Bounty CADEAUX GENEREUX X CLARENTIA

Fee: £10,000 (1st October)

2012 YEARLING AVERAGE OF

£42,129 (Tattersalls and Doncaster Sales only)

35% winners/ runners strike rate with his European 2yo’s of 2012 Sire of:

SENDMYLOVETOROSE: WON Cherry Hinton Stakes Gr.2; WON Grangecon Stud Stakes Gr.3 CAY VERDE: WON Prix De Arenberg Gr.3; WON Marble Hill Stakes (L); & sold for 320,000euro as a 2YO BAILEYS JUBILEE: WON Prix Des Reves D’Or (L);

CAROLINE NORRIS

2nd Lowther Stakes Gr.2; 3rd Cheveley Park Stakes Gr.1

call Brian O’Rourke on +44 (0)7789 508157 or email stallions@nationalstud.co.uk Moyle Park’s Boxing Day bumper win saw him sold for £250,000

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

National Stud Ltd., Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 0XE Managing Director: Brian O’Rourke

Mar_103_Sales_Circuit_Sales 21/02/2013 10:27 Page 72

SALES CIRCUIT

DBS January Sale >> Doncaster’s January Sale of horses in training and mares has never been a flagship event for the organisers, but the latest running may herald a watershed. A tepid affair, albeit one that showed improvements on the 2012 sale, its conclusion was the signal for a rallying cry from Managing Director Henry Beeby, who conceded the catalogue was “lacking depth” and claimed his company’s “challenge is to attract the quantity and quality that the market requires”. He referred to “competition for the form horses everyone wants”, and added: “We intend to redouble our efforts to bring back some of the quality horses in training which we have sold with such success for so long.” He concluded by saying: “I would very much say ‘watch this space’ as we are working on a number of initiatives that will be announced in the coming months. This is going to be our year.” How Beeby must rue the ending five years ago of an agreement that saw Doncaster sell horses at Cheltenham, a location that appeals to powerful southern-based jumps trainers and their clients. They, in turn, attract vendors of high-class prospects. Doncaster’s January Sale could not hope to draw such players in depth, although the top lot, Great Oak, was knocked down to agent Tom Malone and trainer Tim Vaughan, regular buyers at all major auctions. A seven-year-old daughter of Dushyantor, Great Oak won a Grade 3 novices’ chase at Cork in December for trainer John Nicholson and, while initially led out unsold at £37,000, Malone did a deal outside the ring that saw £35,000 go through Doncaster’s till. A 76% clearance rate was a good return for this type of auction, the average rose 5%, while a 31% increase in turnover halted that figure’s decline over the past four years.

Tattersalls Ireland February Sale Tattersalls’ Ireland’s February Sale has a fine jumping pedigree, so which of this year’s

“Which Tattersalls

Ireland graduate will become the next Flemenstar or Cue Card?” 72

Tattersalls Ireland February Sale Top lots Sex/Breeding

Vendor

Price (€)

Buyer

C Robin Des Champs-John’s Eliza

Ashwood Stud

60,000

Highflyer Bloodstock

C Yeats-Oligarch Society

Mill House Stud

40,000

Aiden Murphy

C Gaelic Prince (Martaline-Gaelic)

Jane Ennel Bloodstock

31,000

Barry Murphy/Liz Doyle

C Stowaway-Ally Rose

Brenda McMillen

24,000

Aiden Murphy

C Milan-Last Of Many

Kiln House

20,000

Richard Rohan

C Court Cave-Hollygrove Cezanne

Hollygrove Stud

20,000

Len Walker

C Milan-Queen’s Banquet

Little Lodge Farm

20,000

GH Bloodstock

C Black Sam Bellamy-Empress Of Light

Mill House Stud

16,000

Mr Jackson

C Flemensfirth-Kestral Heights

Beeches Stud

15,000

Landscape Stud

C Presenting-Miss Brandywell

Middleton Park Stud

10,000

Joe O’Sullivan

Comparative figures Year

Sold

Agg (€)

Avg (€)

Mdn (€)

Top Price (€)

2013

113

720,850

6,379

4,500

60,000

2012

119

883,950

7,428

3,800

100,000

Arqana February Sale Top lots Name/Breeding

Vendor

Price (€)

Gulsary (Galileo-Multimara)

Christophe Aubert

200,000

Buyer Jean-Marie Callier

Sister Agnes (Dr Fong-Nibbs Point)

Trois Rivières

62,000

MAB Agency

A Moi (Elusive Quality-Amorama)

Saint Pair

39,000

Wilhelm Feldmann

Samba Chryss (Galileo-Brazilian Bride)

Saint Pair

37,000

MAB Agency

Excel Yourself (Exceed And Excel-Purple Tiger)

Vermeulen

29,000

BBA Ireland

Hail Holy Queen (Highest Honor-Gabare)

Hammond

29,000

Meridian International

Zenaat (Galileo-Janet)

Al Shahania Stud

28,000

Agence FIPS

Pont De Alma (Soldier Of Fortune-Panzella)

Logis Saint Germain

28,000

PB B/s

Hidden Flame (Barathea-Hit The Sky)

Collet

25,000

France Turf International

Ideechic (Chichicastenango-Princess Petardia)

Montgermont

24,000

Nicolas Clement

Comparative figures Year

Sold

Agg (€)

Avg €)

Mdn (€)

Top Price (€)

2013

187

1,487,000

7,952

4,500

200,000

2012

193

1,214,000

6,290

4,500

85,000

graduates will become the next Flemenstar or Cue Card? It might be a €60,000 yearling son of Robin Des Champs – a stallion who stands under the Rathbarry banner at Glenview Stud – and who topped the bill at this year’s event, although his valuation was well down on the €100,000 Yeats colt who set a record in the same ring at the 2012 auction. Juliet Minton, whose husband David is a partner in Highflyer Bloodstock, bought the top lot on behalf of racehorse and racecourse owner Dai Walters. Buyers of jumping-bred yearlings have to be patient, and they are also choosy, as a clearance rate of 53% at this year’s sale suggests, although that was on a par for the

event. Without a six-figure horse to help boost the turnover there was an 18% fall in that category plus a 14% decline in the average price, although the median improved by 18%. The fall in production means this sale is not trading the numbers of horses it did in the middle of the last decade, but Managing Director Roger Casey pointed out that the day’s figures included the second-highest turnover and highest clearance rate from the past five years.

Arqana February Sale France’s most significant mid-winter mixed auction, orchestrated by Arqana at THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Mar_103_Sales_Circuit_Sales 21/02/2013 10:27 Page 73

SALES CIRCUIT

EMMA BERRY

NOW A DUAL PURPOSE stallion 67% winners/ runners strike rate with runners under National Hunt rules.

Juliet Minton secured the Fairyhouse top lot for Dai Walters

Deauville, was dominated by fillies and mares and produced a notable sale-topper in the shape of Gulsary, who made €200,000. Being a daughter of Galileo was a great start in life for the fouryear-old filly, and having a half-sister, Imperial Beauty, that won the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye was another endorsement. Trained by Christophe Aubert, Gulsary added to her appeal by winning twice and finishing just outside the frame in last season’s Group 3 Prix de Royaumont, completing a package that caught the eye of agent JeanMarie Callier. He brought the hammer down on behalf of Craig Bernick of Florida’s Glen Hill Farm. This sale towered over the second-best, a €62,000 transaction that saw nine-year-old Sister Agnes, by Dr Fong, knocked down to MarcAntoine Berghracht. Sister Agnes, carrying to Dutch Art, was a half-sister to Derby and 2,000 Guineas third Border Arrow. A dispersal of Wildenstein horses boosted the 2012 running of this sale, and without such a draft there was a fall in turnover and average, but a clearance of almost 72% (76% with private sales) was enough to satisfy Arqana chief Eric Hoyeau. Business at the lower end was aided by overseas visitors, especially from Libya and Tunisia, while local agent Paul Nataf was notably busy in the basement, netting 44 lots for €172,500.

Cockney Rebel VAL ROYAL X FACTICE

Fee: £2,500 NFFR (1st October)

A great value dual Classic winning miler producing useful juveniles that race and WIN! 36% winners/ runners strike rate with his 2YOS of 2012 & career winners/ runners strike rate of 41% with 2YOS Career yearling average of 20,377gns

Goffs February Sale On the evidence of its stellar 2012 February mixed auction few could quibble with Goffs’ assertion that it staged ‘Europe’s Premier Mid-Winter Sale’, although the latest renewal could not reach the heights scaled 12 months earlier. That was always the likely scenario given that Teo’s Sister had made €500,000 at last year’s event, helping turnover double and >> THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

call Brian O’Rourke on +44 (0)7789 508157 or email stallions@nationalstud.co.uk National Stud Ltd., Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 0XE Managing Director: Brian O’Rourke

Mar_103_Sales_Circuit_Sales 21/02/2013 10:27 Page 74

SALES CIRCUIT

high – €100,000 for the unraced mare Candle Lit, who was offered by Moyglare Stud and bought by agent Cathy Grassick – was a return to more familiar territory, with the result that aggregate and average figures fell, too. A clearance of 67% (290 sold from 432 offered) was marginally better, however, and the ever-dependable median figure has been stable during the past three years. Candle Lit was followed home by a group of Flat-bred yearling fillies and colts, headed by a €60,000 daughter of Acclamation bought by David Ryan, and a filly by Raven’s Pass who is now with Darley after changing hands for €55,000. She will stay with her current owners for the time being, but some from the sale will reappear as pinhooks at autumn yearling sales. Those sold at Goffs or DBS will come under the Customer Loyalty Scheme, which means no commission is paid by vendors – a handy carrot.

Cape Premier Yearling Sale Features of the 2013 Cape Premier Yearling Sale were the reduced catalogue (234 lots compared with 349 in 2012) and how few yearlings by non-South African sires were on offer – only five. Pre-sale jitters that the J&B Metropolitan Stakes date change would have a negative impact proved unfounded almost at once when the first lot, a colt by Western Winter out of the Pas de Quoi mare Nacarat (dam of Group 1 winner Nania), was knocked down to Marcus Jooste for R1.5 million (approximately £110,000). Eight lots later, a colt by Dynasty out of Our Table Mountain, a daughter of Fusaichi Pegasus, was bought from Highlands Farm Stud by Lady Laidlaw for R3m. Lady Laidlaw then paid R2.7m for a Trippi filly out of Pagan Princess, the half-sister to Victory Moon. Consigned by Klawervlei Stud, she was the sale’s leading filly. In total, 19 lots sold for R1m or more and it was a son of Silvano who topped the sale at R3.25m. Called Racing Free, the son of the National Assembly mare Racing Heart was consigned by Maine Chance Farms and will be trained by Mike Azzie on behalf of young businessman Adriaan van Vuuren, who is a prominent new face in the owners’ ranks. Another newcomer, Greg Bortz, signed for nine lots, including a beautiful daughter of Captain Al out of Cupid, the unraced sister to Ebony Flyer and half-sister of Captain’s Lover. She fetched R1.7m. John Freeman, purchasing on behalf of various clients, was thrilled to get a grey son of Dynasty out of Dancer’s Daughter. He was

PETER MOONEY

>> boosting the average by 50%. This year’s

An Acclamation filly out of Church Melody was Goffs’ most expensive weanling

Goffs February Sale Top lots Sex/Breeding

Vendor

Price (€)

Buyer

Candle Lit (Duke of Marmalade-Diamond Trim)

Moyglare Stud Farm

100,000

Brian Grassick B/s

F Acclamation-Church Melody

J K Thoroughbreds

60,000

Aran B/s

F Raven’s Pass-Dark Indian

Meath Stud Farm

55,000

John Ferguson B/s

C Verglas-Ice Rock

Castlebridge Consignment

46,000

Pier House Stud

C Dark Angel-Spring View

Bishopstown Stud

46,000

Roundhill Stud

C Mastercraftsman-Pitrizzia

Blackcut Stud

40,000

C D H B/s

Mimiteh (Maria’s Mon-Green Minstrel)

Coolagown Stud

40,000

Rosehill Stud

Morning Bride (Danehill Dancer-Wedding Morn)

Castlebridge Consignment

40,000

Brian Grassick B/s

F Equiano-Luxuria

Trickledown Stud

38,000

A O’Ryan

C Approve-Rihana

John Kent

38,000

Yeomanstown Stud

Comparative figures Year

Sold

Agg (€)

Avg (€)

Mdn (€)

Top Price (€)

2013

290

2,873,200

9,907

5,500

100,000

2012

288

3,746,000

13,006

5,100

500,000

Cape Premier Yearling Sale Top lots

£1=R13.77

Sex/Name/Breeding

Vendor

Price (R)

C Racing Free (Silvano-Racing Heart)

Maine Chance Farms

3,250,000

Buyer Adriaan van Vuuren

C Our Icon (Dynasty-Our Table Mountain)

Highlands Farm Stud

3,000,000

Form Bloodstock

F Real Princess (Trippi-Pagan Princess)

Klawervlei Stud

2,700,000

Form Bloodstock

C Imibala (Dynasty-Dancer’s Daughter)

Highlands Farm Stud

2,000,000

John Freeman

F Eros’s Girl (Captain Al-Cupid)

Moutonshoek

1,700,000

Greg Bortz

C Brutal Force (Western Winter-Nacarat)

Lammerskraal Stud

1,500,000

Mayfair Speculators

C Kilrain (Dynasty-Attache)

Daytona Stud

1,400,000

E Khan

C Legato (Jet Master-Lyrical Linda)

Maine Chance Farms

1,400,000

Hill Racing (PTY) Ltd

Comparative figures Year

Catalogued

Sold

Agg (R)

Avg (R)

Top Price (R)

2013

234

204

98,335,000

484,409

3,250,000

2012

349

265

107,835,000

402,369

2,800,000

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Mar_103_Sales_Circuit_Sales 21/02/2013 10:27 Page 75

SALES CIRCUIT

GEORGE SELWYN

FIRST FOALS in 2013!

Ed Dunlop bought five yearlings on his first visit to the sale

Dick Turpin ARAKAN X MERRILY

Fee: £5,000 (1st October) knocked down for R2m and will be trained by Justin Snaith, who conditioned Dancer’s Daughter when she dead-heated with Pocket Power in the 2008 Durban July. There was some international interest: Angus Gold purchased six lots on behalf of Shadwell and for the first time ever Ed Dunlop signed for five yearlings. They have been purchased on behalf of a syndicate and will go into training in South Africa; any that show promise will be transferred to Dunlop in Newmarket. Andreas Jacobs, in partnership with Coolmore, bought four fillies, with two signed for by Tom Goff of Blanford Bloodstock and two by Tina Rau. Markus Jooste’s Mayfair Speculators accounted for 21 yearlings and topped the buyers’ log, while Klawervlei headed the vendors’ roll, selling 32 lots. Trippi was the most sought after of the sires – 24 of his yearlings fetched R15.13m – ahead of Dynasty, Captain Al and Silvano. Western Winter came out on top on average, his 11 lots selling at an average R691,818, but Dynasty gave the best yield – a 16-fold return on his service fee of just R40,000 in 2010. At the close of play, the sale average of R484,409 was up by 20% on 2012. Thirteen horses were withdrawn and 17 left the ring unsold – many with a bid higher than the eventual sale average. How the market can sustain the current buoyancy remains to be seen, but there is little doubt that the Cape Premier Yearling Sale is fast becoming the market leader in South Africa and that the 2013 edition was a resounding success.

“There is little doubt

that the Cape Premier Yearling Sale is fast becoming the market leader”

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Winner of 6 Group races including 2 European Gr.1 races Defeated 25 individual Group winners & performers during his racing career By ARAKAN, Group winning sire of Gr.2 winning 2YO and 2012 Craven Stakes winner TRUMPET MAJOR “A good sized filly with a lovely shoulder and great bone. We would definitely be in the market to use DICK TURPIN again.” Rosyground Stud “He trounced French Gr 1 juvenile winner Siyouni and the … Hong Kong star Xtension in the Jean Prat at Chantilly, winning that three-year-old feature by 4 lengths in record time, … his big win in Italy came at Milan’s San Siro’s track when he beat Cityscape, the brilliant winner … of the 1800m Gr 1 Duty Free at Dubai’s World Cup meeting” The Australian 25/06/12

call Brian O’Rourke on +44 (0)7789 508157 or email stallions@nationalstud.co.uk National Stud Ltd., Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 0XE Managing Director: Brian O’Rourke

Beechwood Grange OB Jan 2013 f-p_Beechwood Grange OB Jan 2013 f-p 19/02/2013 12:03 Page 1

Desideratum Bay, 2002, (16.11⁄2 hh) by DARSHAAN - DESIRED (RAINBOW QUEST)

FEE:

£1,250

Group Winner from a Star-Studded Stallion Family Desideratum won 4 races, £152,677, at 3 years, and was placed 3 times, all his starts. Won Gr.3 Prix du Lys, 12f. Longchamp, “totally outclassed his three rivals” Raceform Won LR Prix de l'Avre, 12f, Longchamp, by 21⁄2 lengths, beating Kendor Dine (Gr.3), etc. 2nd Gr.1 Grand Prix de Paris, 12f, Longchamp, beating Plea Bargain (Gr.2), Bellamy Cay (Gr.2), Laverock (Gr.1), Musketier (Gr.3), etc. 4th Gr.2 Prix Noailles, 11f, Longchamp. Racehorses of 2005: 118 (same rating as Gr.1 winner Laverock)

First 3 runners in 2012 1st 3rd and 4th in National Hunt Bumpers.

Haafhd

43% winners to runners

Ch. 2001 15.3 h.h. (1.59m) by ALHAARTH – AL BAHATHRI (BLUSHING GROOM)

FEE:

£3,000

European Champion 3yo Rated 115+ at 2 • Rated 129 at 3

Won 5 races at 2 and 3 years, 6-10f, £492,288, and was placed 3 times, all but one of his starts. Won Gr.1 2,000 Guineas Stakes, 8f, Newmarket by 1¾ lengths, beating Gr.1 winners Azamour, Grey Swallow, Whipper, Bachelor Duke, etc. Won Gr.1 Champion Stakes, 10f, Newmarket by 2½ lengths, beating Gr.1 winners Chorist, Azamour, Refuse To Bend, Doyen, etc. Won Gr.3 Craven Stakes, 8f, Newmarket, by 5 lengths, beating Three Valleys. Won LR Washington Singer Stakes, 7f, Newbury, at 2 years 3rd Gr.1 Dewhurst Stakes, 7f, Newmarket 3rd Gr.2 Champagne Stakes, 7f, Doncaster. Racehorses of 2004: “Hills had gone on record before Newmarket as saying Haafhd was as good as any miler he had trained”

Sleeping Indian Bay, 2001, (16hh) by INDIAN RIDGE – LAS FLORES (SADLER’S WELLS)

FEE:

Timeform rating: 122

£3,000

Won 6 races, £252,417, 7-8f, from 3 to 5 years, and placed three times, from 12 starts Won Gr.2 Challenge Stakes, 7f, Newmarket, beating Gr.1 winner Somnus and 11 other Group winners Won Gr.3 Hungerford Stakes, 7f, Newbury, beating Gr.1 winner Attraction and 2 other Group winners Won LR Dubai Duty Free Cup, 7f, Newbury, beating Gr.1 winner Spinning Queen and 8 other Group winners Won LR Ben Marshall Stakes, 7f, beating Gr.1 winner Tout Seul and 3 other Group winners Won LR John O’Gaunt Stakes, 7f, Haydock Park, beating 3 Group winners 2nd Gr.2 Park Stakes, 7f, Doncaster, beating Gr.1 winner Court Masterpiece and 5 other Group winners 2nd Gr.2 Challenge Stakes, 7f, Newmarket, beating Gr.1 winners Somnus and Peeress, and 4 other Group winners

In the top 10 sires of 2 year olds in Europe in 2012

Apply: STEVE KNOWLES, BEECHWOOD GRANGE STUD, Malton Road, York YO32 9TH. Tel: 01904 424573 • Fax: 01904 427079 • Mobile: 07786 260 904 E-mail: steve@beechwoodgrangestud.com • Website: www.beechwoodgrangestud.com

Mar_103_Caulfield_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 10:30 Page 77

CAULFIELD FILES ANDREW CAULFIELD REPORTS ON THE BLOODSTOCK WORLD

For value look beyond the fashionable crowd Middle-distance sires may be less desirable at the yearling sales but there’s decent prize-money, not to mention resale value, for successful performers in this division

Middle-distance stallions While the horse who stays a mile and a half or more may be considered unfashionable, there THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

GEORGE SELWYN

hen times are hard, seeking value for money becomes all the more important. In this quest it mustn’t be forgotten that fashion is a commodity which comes at a premium and often proves to have been over-priced. So, instead of joining the stampede to use the latest new stallion, why not consider some other, less obvious options? Although numerous breeders believe that a first-season sire offers a degree of safety, in that his reputation can’t suffer any knocks prior to the sales, they are often much less keen to use an unproven horse in his second, third or fourth year. In the USA stallion fees often fall substantially during these early years, offering breeders a chance to access horses who would otherwise be beyond their budget. Although this trend isn’t so noticeable in British and Irish stallion fees, stallion masters still often find it difficult to maintain their stallion’s mare numbers and deals can often be done. So, if you have faith in a particular horse, why not use him in one of these more difficult years? If you believe he can make an immediate impact with his first two-year-olds, try supporting him in his second year. Or wait until his third year if his progeny are likely to take a bit more time to prove their worth. Of course much depends on whether you are breeding to race, or breeding for the sales ring. If the objective is the racecourse, fashion becomes largely irrelevant and a wider choice of stallions becomes available. For many small breeders, though, it is hard to get away from the inexpensive speed sires who hold greater appeal to a larger number of buyers at the sales. The following look at some of the stallions standing the 2013 season at fees no higher than £10,000 or €12,500 makes no claims to being comprehensive, but hopefully offers some food for thought.

Fame And Glory: an unbeaten Group 1 winner at two and Classic hero at three

is no getting away from the fact that there is still a lot of money to be won with middle-distance horses. There is also no escaping the fact that Galileo and Montjeu, the two most influential stallions of recent years, were at their most effective at a mile and a half. Too many people assume that sprinters are precocious and that middle-distance horses are invariably backward, when there are plenty of horses who don’t fit these stereotypes. Galileo, remember, has sired three champion two-year-olds, while Montjeu has sired four winners of the Racing Post Trophy. Conversely, the last ten winners of the King’ Stand Stakes contain two seven-year-olds, three six-year-olds and only one three-year-old. The last couple of years have also underlined that comparatively inexpensive middledistance stallions can make an impact with their juveniles. First there was Sir Percy, a horse who had himself proved that a Classic career can still go hand in hand with first-rate juvenile ability. Then came the classically-bred Sixties

Icon. Even the stigma of having triumphed in the St Leger wasn’t enough to stop him siring eight winners from 17 domestic first-crop juvenile runners. Sadly, many of our finest middle-distance stayers are now consigned immediately to the National Hunt sector, but there is no reason why bold Flat breeders should automatically ignore these stallions, especially if they have mares who could inject some speed. Flat winners by such stallions could become quite valuable as potential jumpers. FAME AND GLORY: for as little as €5,000, breeders can access this admirable performer. Don’t let the disappointing end to his career cloud the fact that Fame And Glory was an unbeaten Group 1 winner at two who went on to Classic success at three. He later increased his tally of Group 1 wins to five, showing his form over a wide range of distances and ground. With Montjeu as his sire and a Shirley Heights mare as his dam, he also represents some of the finest Classic bloodlines. >>

Mar_103_Caulfield_Owner Breeder 21/02/2013 10:30 Page 78

SHIROCCO: this son of Monsun is being courted by jumping breeders, but he sired a St Leger runner-up in his first crop and an Oaks and Irish Oaks runner-up in his second. YEATS: the 2013 season will begin to show whether this magnificent horse is going to justify Coolmore’s decision to allow him his chance as a Flat stallion. There really isn’t any reason why he shouldn’t succeed, as he represents the same Sadler’s Wells-Top Ville cross as the much-missed Montjeu. Yeats won his only start at two before going on to a pair of Group successes over a mile and a quarter at three and a victory in the Coronation Cup at four, so this four-time Gold Cup winner’s story wasn’t just about stamina. His fee is only €6,000 in his fourth season. AZAMOUR: despite being an unbeaten Group winner at two and a Group 1 winner over eight, ten and 12 furlongs, Azamour soon began to find it hard to maintain the scale of support he deserved. Fortunately this comparative lack of ammunition hasn’t stopped him establishing his merit. His 52-strong second crop matched its predecessor’s total of four Group winners. Then his third crop, numbering only 33, produced the 2012 Prix de Diane winner Valyra. His early success led to larger books and he has nearly 100 two-yearolds with which to do battle in 2013, and he also has a good-sized crop of yearlings. He may still not be the height of fashion – as you might tell from his fee of €10,000 – but he has more to offer than some pricier stallions. CHAMPS ELYSEES: two of Danehill’s best middle-distance sons, Dylan Thomas and Duke Of Marmalade, failed to hit the heights in 2012, which perhaps explains why Champs Elysees went from being hot at the 2011 foal sales to comparatively cold at the 2012 yearling sales. However, this multiple Grade 1 winner may be better judged by comparing him to his brothers Dansili, one of Europe’s most reliable sources of Group winners, and Cacique, who has sired three Group winners and a pair of Listed winners from only 35 foals. Champs Elysees’s 2013 fee of £5,000 is half his original fee.

Speedier types DARK ANGEL: at €12,500 this son of Acclamation only just qualifies for this review, but I have been impressed with his early efforts. His career charts some of the pitfalls which often await today’s young stallions. His second book was quite a lot smaller than his first and Dark Angel stood his third season at €7,000 (down from an initial €10,000) but the reduced fee didn’t halt the fall in numbers. However, his first crop contains Lethal Force, Gabrial, Lily’s Angel, Sovereign Debt and Tough As Nails, and his second has produced Alhebayeb and Boomshackerlacker. Consequently the breeders of the 38 foals in his third crop had a highly saleable product at the 2012 yearling sales, where his average exceeded 33,000gns.

AGA KHAN STUDS

CAULFIELD FILES

Pivotal’s son Siyouni, a half-brother to Siyouma, is an interesting prospect in France

FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND: Shamardal and Footstepsinthesand helped establish Giant’s Causeway’s talent as a sire, and now they are both contributing to his growing success as a sire of sires. Whereas Shamardal costs €50,000, Footstepsinthesand is standing his third consecutive season at €10,000. The 2005 2,000 Guineas winner has a fine record with Danehill mares, notably siring the tough

“There is no reason

why bold Flat breeders should ignore sires consigned to the jumps division” Chachamaidee, and his pedigree becomes more impressive every year. His half-brother Pedro The Great won the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes in 2012, a few months after Power – a colt out of a half-sister to Footstepsinthesand – had won the Irish 2,000 Guineas. His 2013 two-yearolds should be well worth keeping an eye on. SIYOUNI: although the cost of sending a mare to France would have to be added to the price, Siyouni strikes as an interesting prospect at his 2013 fee of €7,000. We have already seen several other sons of Pivotal sire Group winners, with Kyllachy carving out a place as a very reliable commercial sire, while Captain Rio did well at bargain-basement level. The first crop by Falco contains the Group-winning Snowday. Siyouni had four future Group 1 winners behind him when winning the 2009

Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, to improve his juvenile record to four wins from six starts. Although he didn’t win at three, Timeform still rated him 122. A half-brother to the 2012 dual Group 1 winner Siyouma, Siyouni is out of a half-sister to the highly talented Slickly, so he is well qualified to make his mark. KODIAC: according to his advertisements, Kodiac has covered 186, 164 and 144 mares in the past three seasons. This three-parts-brother to Invincible Spirit has earned this support the hard way, as his five two-year-old Listed winners were sired at fees of €5,000. Expect Kodiac to add plenty more juvenile winners over the next few years. INTIKHAB: if only you could be sure that you would get a filly, this elderly stallion would be one to bear in mind at his fee of €5,500. This top-class miler is responsible for three Group 1-winning daughters, headed by those admirable fillies Snow Fairy and Red Evie, and he is also the broodmare sire of the South African star Igugu and the Group 1-winning Gordon Lord Byron. As two of his daughters’ Group winners are by Galileo, Intikhab broodmares may have more success in store. FIREBREAK: as a son of Charnwood Forest, Firebreak has always slotted into the none-too-fashionable bracket. He cost only 27,000gns as a yearling but did so well at two that it cost Godolphin 525,000gns to acquire him. He maintained his form very well and eventually retired with the proud record of having won seven Group races, including at least one in each of his four seasons in training. Timeform rated him 125 at his best. At the time of writing, Firebreak had had only 62 runners but he has enjoyed Group success with the smart Hearts Of Fire and the fast Caledonia Lady. At £3,500, Firebreak clearly has plenty to offer the bargain hunter. THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

ownerbreeder ad pages 03.2013_OwnerBreeder Ad pages 03.2013 20/02/2013 10:06 Page 79

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Pastoral Pursuits BAHAMIAN BOUNTY X STAR

Fee: £5,500 (1st October)

Gr1 winning son of BAHAMIAN BOUNTY 15 individual 2YO winners in 2012 with a winners/ runners strike rate of 33% Sire of:

PASTORAL PLAYER: WON Jury Stakes Gr.3; 2nd in

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THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Summer Mile Stakes & OLBG Park Stakes Gr.2 in 2012

SAGRAMOR: 2nd in three Gr.3 races in succession in 2012 – Brigadier Gerard Stakes, Prix Gontaut Biron & September Stakes “I have been lucky enough to train a number of PASTORAL PURSUIT’S progeny; what I really like about them is that they are all forward going athletes and so are easy to train. Like him they also have that crucial ingredient, ‘a turn of foot’ and progress with age.” Hughie Morrison, Gr.1 winning trainer

call Brian O’Rourke on +44 (0)7789 508157 or email stallions@nationalstud.co.uk National Stud Ltd., Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 0XE Managing Director: Brian O’Rourke

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Published here is the Final List of European stallions registered in full with the EBF for the 2012 covering season. The progeny of these stallions, CONCEIVED IN 2012 IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE, (the foal crop of 2013), will be eligible to enter the EBF races to be held during the year 2015 and thereafter. They will also be eligible for other relevant benefits under the EBF terms and conditions in force in Great Britain, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany and Switzerland.

ACAMBARO (GER) ACCESS TO JAVA (GER) ACCLAMATION (GB) ADLERFLUG (GER) AIR CHIEF MARSHAL (IRE) AIRMAIL SPECIAL (IRE) AL NAMIX (FR) ALBERTO GIACOMETTI (IRE) ALEX THE WINNER (USA) ALEXANDROS (GB) ALFLORA (IRE) ALFRED NOBEL (IRE) ALHAARTH (IRE) ALHIJAZ (GB) ALKAADHEM (GB) ALKAASED (USA) ALL MY DREAMS (IRE) AMADEUS WOLF (GB) AMERICAN POST (GB) ANABAA BLUE (GB) AND BEYOND (IRE) ANDROID (USA) ANGE GABRIEL (FR) ANZILLERO (GER) APPLE TREE (FR) APPROVE (IRE) APSIS (GB) AQLAAM (GB) ARABIAN GLEAM (GB) ARAKAN (USA) ARCADIO (GER) ARCANO (IRE) ARCHANGE D'OR (IRE) ARCHIPENKO (USA) AREION (GER) ARKADIAN HERO (USA) ARMY KING (FR) ART CONNOISSEUR (IRE) ARVICO (FR) ASHKALANI (IRE) ASK (GB) ASSERTIVE (GB) ASSESSOR (IRE) ASTARABAD (USA) ASTRONOMER ROYAL (USA) ATLANTIC SPORT (USA) ATLANTIC WAVES (IRE) ATRAF (GB) AUGUSTA NATIONAL (IRE) AUSSIE RULES (USA) AUTHORIZED (IRE) AVONBRIDGE (GB) AXXOS (GER) AZAMOUR (IRE)

BAHAMIAN BOUNTY (GB) BAHRI (USA) BALAKHERI (IRE) BALKO (FR) BALLINGARRY (IRE) BALTIC KING (GB) BANNABY (FR) BARASTRAIGHT (GB) BAROUD D'HONNEUR (FR) BEAR KING (GER) BEAT HOLLOW (GB) BELENUS (GER) BENEFICIAL (GB) BERNEBEAU (FR) BERTOLINI (USA) BIG BAD BOB (IRE) BLACK SAM BELLAMY (IRE) BLU AIR FORCE (IRE) BLUE BRESIL (FR) BLUE CANARI (FR) BLUE CORAL (IRE) BOLLIN ERIC (GB) BONBON ROSE (FR) BORN KING (JPN) BRAVE MANSONNIEN (FR) BRETIGNY (FR) BRIAN BORU (GB) BUCK'S BOUM (FR) BULLY PULPIT (USA) BUSHRANGER (IRE) BYRON (GB)

C CACIQUE (IRE) CALIFET (FR) CALL ME BIG (GER) CALLEJERO (ARG) CALMING INFLUENCE (IRE) CAMACHO (GB) CAMILL (IRE) CANFORD CLIFFS (IRE) CAPE CROSS (IRE) CAPTAIN GERRARD (IRE) CAPTAIN RIO (GB) CARADAK (IRE) CARDOUN (FR) CARLO BANK (IRE) CARLOTAMIX (FR) CENTENNIAL (IRE) CENTRAL PARK (IRE) CHAMPS ELYSEES (GB) CHICHI CREASY (FR) CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT (USA)

CHOPIN (SWI) CIMA DE TRIOMPHE (IRE) CITY HONOURS (USA) CLASSIC LAW (GB) CLASSIC ROSAIRES (FR) CLODOVIL (IRE) CLOUDINGS (IRE) COASTAL PATH (GB) COCKNEY REBEL (IRE) COLORADO KID (USA) COMPTON PLACE (GB) CONFUCHIAS (IRE) CONTAT (GER) CORRI PIANO (FR) COUNTRY REEL (USA) COURT CAVE (IRE) CRAIGSTEEL (GB) CREACHADOIR (IRE) CRILLON (FR) CROCO ROUGE (IRE) CROSSHARBOUR (GB) CROSSPEACE (IRE) CURTAIN TIME (IRE)

D DAHJEE (USA) DALAKHANI (IRE) DALGHAR (FR) DALTABAD (IRE) DANDY MAN (IRE) DANEHILL DANCER (IRE) DANSANT (GB) DANSILI (GB) DAPPER (GB) DARAMSAR (FR) DARK ANGEL (IRE) DARSALAM (IRE) DARSI (FR) DASHING BLADE (GB) DAVIDOFF (GER) DAY FLIGHT (GB) DAYLAMI (IRE) DEFINITE ARTICLE (GB) DELLA FRANCESCA (USA) DENHAM RED (FR) DENON (USA) DENOUNCE (GB) DEPORTIVO (GB) DESERT MILLENNIUM (IRE) DESERT STYLE (IRE) DIABLENEYEV (USA) DIAMOND BOY (FR) DIAMOND GREEN (FR) DICK TURPIN (IRE) DIKTAT (GB)

DISTANT MUSIC (USA) DISTANT PEAK (IRE) DOBBY ROAD (FR) DOCTOR DINO (FR) DOMEDRIVER (IRE) DOUBLE ECLIPSE (IRE) DOYEN (IRE) DR FONG (USA) DR MASSINI (IRE) DRAGON DANCER (GB) DREAM AHEAD (USA) DREAM EATER (IRE) DREAM WELL (FR) DUBAI DESTINATION (USA) DUBAWI (IRE) DUKE OF MARMALADE (IRE) DUNKERQUE (FR) DUTCH ART (GB) DYLAN THOMAS (IRE)

E EARLY MARCH (GB) EASTERN ANTHEM (IRE) EGERTON (GER) ELASOS (FR) ELECTRIC BEAT (GB) ELEOS (GB) ELNADIM (USA) ELUSIVE CITY (USA) ELUSIVE PIMPERNEL (USA) ENJOY PLAN (USA) ENRIQUE (GB) EPALO (GER) EQUIANO (FR) EREWHON (USA) EVASIVE (GB) EXCEED AND EXCEL (AUS) EXCELLENT ART (GB) EXECUTE (FR) EXIT TO NOWHERE (USA)

F FAIR MIX (IRE) FALCO (USA) FAST COMPANY (IRE) FASTNET ROCK (AUS) FERRULE (IRE) FINE GRAIN (JPN) FIREBREAK (GB) FLEETWOOD (IRE) FLEMENSFIRTH (USA) FLYING LEGEND (USA) FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND (GB) FORESTIER (FR) FOUR STAR GENERAL (IRE) FRACAS (IRE)

FRAGRANT MIX (IRE) FRANKLINS GARDENS (GB) FROZEN FIRE (GER) FROZEN POWER (IRE) FRUITS OF LOVE (USA) FUISSE (FR) FULL OF GOLD (FR)

G GALILEO (IRE) GAMUT (IRE) GENEROUS (IRE) GENTLEWAVE (IRE) GEORDIELAND (FR) GETAWAY (GER) GOLAN (IRE) GOLD AWAY (IRE) GOLD WELL (GB) GOLDEN LARIAT (USA) GOLDEN TORNADO (IRE) GOLDMARK (USA) GOODRICKE (GB) GRAND COUTURIER (GB) GRAPE TREE ROAD (GB) GREAT JOURNEY (JPN) GREAT PALM (USA) GREAT PRETENDER (IRE) GREENGROOM (FR) GREY RISK (FR) GRIS DE GRIS (IRE)

H HAAFHD (GB) HAATEF (USA) HALLING (USA) HAMOND (GER) HANNOUMA (IRE) HELIOSTATIC (IRE) HELLVELYN (GB) HERETIC (CZE) HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) HIGH ROCK (IRE) HIGH-RISE (IRE) HOLD THAT TIGER (USA) HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR (IRE) HONOLULU (IRE) HONOURED GUEST (IRE) HURRICANE CAT (USA) HURRICANE RUN (IRE)

I I WAS FRAMED (USA) IALYSOS (GR) IFFRAAJ (GB) IKTIBAS (GB) INDESATCHEL (IRE)

INDIAN DAFFODIL (IRE) INDIAN DANEHILL (IRE) INDIAN HAVEN (GB) INTENDANT (GER) INTENSE FOCUS (USA) INTIKHAB (USA) INTREPID JACK (GB) INVINCIBLE SPIRIT (IRE) IRISH WELLS (FR) IRON MASK (USA) IS TIROL (IRE) IT'S GINO (GER)

J JACKSON'S DRIFT (USA) JAGMIN (POL) JARN (GB) JEREMY (USA) JOSR ALGARHOUD (IRE)

K KADASTROF (FR) KALANISI (IRE) KALATOS (GER) KALLISTO (GER) KAMSIN (GER) KANDAHAR RUN (GB) KANDIDATE (GB) KAP ROCK (FR) KAPGARDE (FR) KAVAFI (IRE) KAYF TARA (GB) KENDARGENT (FR) KENTUCKY DYNAMITE (USA) KEY OF LUCK (USA) KHALKEVI (IRE) KHELEYF (USA) KIER PARK (IRE) KING CHEETAH (USA) KING'S BEST (USA) KINGSALSA (USA) KODIAC (GB) KOENIGSTIGER (GER) KONIG SHUFFLE (GER) KONIG TURF (GER) KOUROUN (FR) KUTUB (IRE) KYLLACHY (GB)

L LANDO (GER) LAURO (GER) LAVEROCK (IRE) LAVERON (GB) LAWMAN (FR) LE BALAFRE (FR)

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LE CADRE NOIR (IRE) LE FOU (IRE) LE HAVRE (IRE) LE TRITON (USA) LECROIX (GER) LEGOLAS (JPN) LEND A HAND (GB) LET THE LION ROAR (GB) LILBOURNE LAD (IRE) LIMNOS (JPN) LINDA'S LAD (GB) LINNGARI (IRE) LIQUIDO (GER) LITERATO (FR) LIZIO (GB) LOPE DE VEGA (IRE) LORD DU SUD (FR) LORD OF ENGLAND (GER) LORD SHANAKILL (USA) LOUP BRETON (IRE) LOVELACE (GB) LUCARNO (USA) LUCKY REDBACK (IRE)

M MAHLER (GB) MAJESTIC MISSILE (IRE) MAJOR CADEAUX (GB) MAKFI (GB) MALINAS (GER) MAMOOL (IRE) MANDURO (GER) MARCH GROOM (USA) MARESCA SORRENTO (FR) MARTALINE (GB) MASTERCRAFTSMAN (IRE) MASTEROFTHEHORSE (IRE) MATRIX (GER) MAWATHEEQ (USA) MEDECIS (GB) MEDICEAN (GB) MESHAHEER (USA) MIDNIGHT LEGEND (GB) MIESQUE'S SON (USA) MIGHTY (GB) MILAN (GB) MILANAIS (FR) MILK IT MICK (GB) MILLENARY (GB) MILLKOM (GB) MINGUN (USA) MIR SADA (FR) MISTER FOTIS (USA) MISU BOND (IRE) MOHAAJIR (USA) MOHANDAS (FR) MONITOR CLOSELY (IRE) MONSIEUR BOND (IRE) MONSUN (GER) MONTJEU (IRE) MONTMARTRE (FR) MOONJAZ (GB) MOROZOV (USA) MOSS VALE (IRE) MOTIVATOR (GB) MOUNT BAY (FR) MOUNT NELSON (GB) MOUNTAIN HIGH (IRE) MR DINOS (IRE) MR SIDNEY (USA) MUHAYMIN (USA) MUHTATHIR (GB)

MUJAHID (USA) MULLIONMILEANHOUR (IRE) MULTIPLEX (GB) MUSTAMEET (USA) MY RISK (FR) MYBOYCHARLIE (IRE)

N NAAQOOS (GB) NAMID (GB) NATIVE RULER (GB) NAYEF (USA) NEAR DANCER (IRE) NETWORK (GER) NEVER ON SUNDAY (FR) NEW APPROACH (IRE) NEXT DESERT (IRE) NICARON (GER) NICOBAR (GB) NO DANZIG (USA) NOBLE SANG (GER) NOMBRE PREMIER (GB) NORMEN (GER) NORSE DANCER (IRE) NOTNOWCATO (GB) NOWOGRODEK (POL)

O OASIS DREAM (GB) OBSERVATORY (USA) OCTOBER (USA) OLDEN TIMES (GB) ON EST BIEN (IRE) ORPEN (USA) OSCAR (IRE) OVERBURY (IRE)

PUIT D'OR (IRE) PUSHKIN (IRE)

R RACINGER (FR) RAIL LINK (GB) RAINBOW HIGH (GB) RAJJ (IRE) RASHBAG (GB) RAVEN'S PASS (USA) RAY OF LIGHT (IRE) RECHARGE (IRE) RED ROCKS (IRE) REDBACK (GB) REEL BUDDY (USA) REFUTATION (FR) RESPLENDENT CEE (IRE) RESPLENDENT GLORY (IRE) REVOQUE (IRE) RIP VAN WINKLE (IRE) ROB ROY (USA) ROBIN DES CHAMPS (FR) ROBIN DES PRES (FR) ROCK OF GIBRALTAR (IRE) RODERIC O'CONNOR (IRE) ROLI ABI (FR) ROL'OVER BEETHOVEN (FR) ROSENSTURM (IRE) ROYAL APPLAUSE (GB) ROYAL ASSAULT (USA) ROYAL DRAGON (USA) RUGBY (USA) RULE OF LAW (USA) RYAN (IRE) RYONO (USA)

PACO BOY (IRE) PALACE EPISODE (USA) PALAMOSS (IRE) PALAVICINI (USA) PANIS (USA) PAOLINI (GER) PAPAL BULL (GB) PASSING GLANCE (GB) PASSING SALE (FR) PASTERNAK (GB) PASTORAL PURSUITS (GB) PEER GYNT (JPN) PEINTRE CELEBRE (USA) PELDER (IRE) PHOENIX REACH (IRE) PICCOLO (GB) PIERRE (GB) PIRATEER (IRE) PISTOLERO (IRE) PIVOTAL (GB) POET'S VOICE (GB) POLICY MAKER (IRE) POLIGLOTE (GB) POP ROCK (JPN) PORTRAIT GALLERY (IRE) POSEIDON ADVENTURE (IRE) POUNCED (USA) POUR MOI (IRE) PRESENTING (GB) PRIMARY (USA) PRIME DEFENDER (GB) PRINCE FLORI (GER) PROCLAMATION (IRE) PROTEKTOR (GER) PUBLISHER (USA)

SABIANGO (GER) SADDEX (GB) SADDLER MAKER (IRE) SAGACITY (FR) SAGEBURG (IRE) SAINT DES SAINTS (FR) SAKHEE (USA) SAKHEE'S SECRET (GB) SALUTINO (GER) SAMRAAN (USA) SAMUM (GER) SANDMASON (GB) SANDWAKI (USA) SANTIAGO (GER) SATRI (IRE) SCATER (POL) SCHIAPARELLI (GER) SCORPION (IRE) SEA THE STARS (IRE) SECRET SINGER (FR) SEHREZAD (IRE) SENDAWAR (IRE) SEPTEMBER STORM (GER) SEVRES ROSE (IRE) SHAANMER (IRE) SHAKESPEAREAN (IRE) SHAMARDAL (USA) SHANTOU (USA) SHAWEEL (GB) SHIROCCO (GER) SHOLOKHOV (IRE) SHOWCASING (GB) SHREK (GER) SILVER FROST (IRE) SILVER WHISTLE (USA)

SIMPLEX (FR) SINNDAR (IRE) SIR PERCY (GB) SIXTIES ICON (GB) SIYOUNI (FR) SKI CHIEF (USA) SKINS GAME (GB) SLEEPING CAR (FR) SLEEPING INDIAN (GB) SLICKLY (FR) SLICKLY ROYAL (FR) SMADOUN (FR) SNOWMAN (GER) SOAVE (GER) SOCR HOUSE (CZE) SOLDIER HOLLOW (GB) SOLDIER OF FORTUNE (IRE) SOLON (GER) SORDINO (GER) SOUL CITY (IRE) SOVIET STAR (USA) SPADOUN (FR) SPANISH MOON (USA) SPECIAL KALDOUN (IRE) SPEEDMASTER (GER) SPIRIT ONE (FR) ST JOVITE (USA) STAR BLAST (USA) STARSPANGLEDBANNER (AUS) STIMULATION (IRE) STORM MIST (IRE) STORMY RIVER (FR) STOWAWAY (GB) STRATEGIC PRINCE (GB) SUBTLE POWER (IRE) SUESTADO (GER) SULAMANI (IRE) SUMITAS (GER) SUNDAY BREAK (JPN) SUPER CELEBRE (FR) SUTEKI SHINSUKEKUN (USA)

T TAGULA (IRE) TAJRAASI (USA) TALE OF TWO CITIES (IRE) TAMAYUZ (GB) TAMURE (IRE) TEMPELTANZER (GER) TEOFILO (IRE) TERTULLIAN (USA) THE CARBON UNIT (USA) THEWAYYOUARE (USA) THOUSAND WORDS (GB) THREE VALLEYS (USA) TIANTAI (USA) TIGER CAFE (JPN) TIGER GROOM (GB) TIGER HILL (IRE) TIKKANEN (USA) TIMOS (GER) TOBOUGG (IRE) TOMORROWS CAT (USA) TOUCH DOWN (GER) TOUCH OF LAND (FR) TOUCH OF THE BLUES (FR) TOYLSOME (GB) TRAJANO (USA) TRANS ISLAND (GB) TURGEON (USA) TURTLE BOWL (IRE)

VISION D'ETAT (FR) VISIONARY (FR) VITA ROSA (JPN) VOCALISED (USA) VOIX DU NORD (FR) VOL DE NUIT (GB)

W WAKY NAO (GB) WALK IN THE PARK (IRE) WALLACE (GB) WAR BLADE (GER) WAREED (IRE) WATAR (FR) WAY OF LIGHT (USA) WELL CHOSEN (GB) WELSH LION (IRE) WESTERNER (GB) WHERE OR WHEN (IRE) WHIPPER (USA) WHITMORE'S CONN (USA) WIENER WALZER (GER) WIESENPFAD (FR) WINDSOR CASTLE (GB) WINDSOR KNOT (IRE) WINGED LOVE (IRE) WINKER WATSON (GB) WITH THE FLOW (USA) WITNESS BOX (USA) WOLFE TONE (IRE) WOOTTON BASSETT (GB)

UNGARO (GER) URBAN POET (USA)

YEATS (IRE) YOUMZAIN (IRE)

VALE OF YORK (IRE) VATORI (FR) VENDANGEUR (IRE) VERTICAL SPEED (FR) VERTIGINEUX (FR) VESPONE (IRE) VINNIE ROE (IRE) VIRTUAL (GB)

ZAFEEN (FR) ZAGREB (USA) ZAMBEZI SUN (GB) ZAMINDAR (USA) ZANZIBARI (USA) ZAREWITSCH (IRE) ZEBEDEE (GB) ZOFFANY (IRE)

EBF INTERNATIONAL STALLIONS STALLION

STANDS

STALLION

STANDS

BAGO (FR)

JPN

KITTEN'S JOY (USA)

USA

CITY ZIP (USA)

USA

LEMON DROP KID (USA)

USA

DAAHER (CAN)

USA

MIZZEN MAST (USA)

USA

ENGLISH CHANNEL (USA)

USA

NORTH LIGHT (IRE)

CAN

FIRST DEFENCE (USA)

USA

SLIGO BAY (IRE)

CAN

INVASOR (ARG)

USA

SMART STRIKE (CAN)

USA

JAZIL (USA)

USA

WILKO (USA)

CAN

The stallions listed above stood OUTSIDE THE EBF AREA IN 2012 and have been registered as International Stallions for that year by reason of stallion nomination payments. The progeny of these stallions, CONCEIVED IN 2012, (the foal crop of 2013), will be eligible to enter and run in EBF races to be held during 2015, and thereafter, with no further payments. Further details from the Chief Executive, European Breeders’ Fund.

Prepared by: EUROPEAN BREEDERS' FUND,

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

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ROA FORUM The special section for ROA members

When their racing careers are finished Richard Wayman on owners’ responsibility to ensure their horses are treated with dignity I doubt that anybody will have missed at least some of the disturbing stories about horses entering the human food chain that have featured so prominently on the television and in the newspapers during the past few weeks. One of the Racehorse Owners Association’s key aims is “to support a humane and compassionate approach to the treatment of thoroughbred racehorses”, and every owner that I know puts the welfare of their horse above all other considerations. Many ROA members have been in touch to ask what steps they should take to ensure the safety of their horses and, whilst many of you will already be very aware of all that follows below, I am sure that nobody will object to us reiterating some practical suggestions, particularly for those who may have become owners more recently. To begin with, it is worth noting that the registration of all thoroughbred foals involves acquiring a passport from Weatherbys, having a microchip inserted and taking a sample of DNA. This means that a racehorse can always be identified, by Weatherbys, from its microchip and DNA.

ends. This process would normally begin with a lengthy consultation with their trainer, who, knowing the horse’s physical and mental condition, would be well placed to advise on the best option in the circumstances. These options could include retirement to the breeding paddocks (if a filly/mare) or to another safe and suitable home, or perhaps retraining for an alternative career. Indeed, thanks to the efforts of Retraining of Racehorses and the various rehabilitation centres, an increasing number of horses are able to enjoy a new lease of life where their original owners can continue to monitor their progress. This is an area that we will return to in the coming months. For those horses who are not suitable for retraining or cannot be guaranteed a safe retirement, the ROA would stress that an owner has a responsibility to ensure that their horse has a dignified and proper end to its life. This could involve having the horse humanely put to sleep and cremated, and whilst I am sure that I am not alone in finding that difficult, I know that I would much rather that outcome than seeing any ex-racehorse ending its days as part of another distressing story on our television screens. If you would like to speak to the ROA about any of the issues mentioned please call the office on 020 7152 0200.

With this in mind, the ROA’s first recommendation is that members should ensure that, in consultation with their trainer, Section IX of their horse’s passport is signed. This is crucial because it confirms that the horse is not for human consumption and therefore cannot enter the food chain. By signing this section, it also means that, throughout its life, the horse can be treated with the full armoury of drugs

“An increasing

number of horses are enjoying a new lease of life after racing” available to vets including the painkiller Phenylbutazone. More commonly known as Bute, this is banned from human consumption and therefore cannot be administered to any horse that could possibly enter the food chain at any stage in the future. Stories in recent weeks have highlighted the existence of rogue traders operating outside of the law and so a second crucial area for owners to think about is the plan for their horse’s future after its racing career

Compensation for abandonments The ROA is delighted to announce a new benefit that will provide payments to members who are adversely affected when a race meeting is abandoned once it is under way. As from March 1, the ROA Raceday Curtailment Scheme will provide a payment of £100 to any of its 7,200 members if they own at least 51% of a horse that had been due to run at a meeting that is abandoned once any races had taken place.

The scheme has been set up in collaboration with Weatherbys Hamilton, insurance brokers for the ROA’s Third Party Liability Insurance scheme. On average around 200 horses and their owners each year are affected when a race meeting is curtailed after racing has started. This scheme has been introduced with the aim of reducing the financial blow to an owner who is left disappointed that their horse is unable to race but still has incurred transport costs, both for the

horse and, often, themselves. Richard Wayman, Chief Executive of the ROA, said: “Having recently appointed Weatherbys Hamilton as brokers for our ROA member’s Third Party Liability Insurance policy it is great news that our relationship can be extended so quickly and so proactively with this joint initiative. “We are constantly striving to enhance the benefits offered to owners who join the ROA and this scheme will provide a little bit of assistance to the not insignificant

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Captain David and Harriet Bowes-Lyon (left) present the John Smith's H’cap Chase trophy to Prince Of Dreams’ owners Alex and Jennifer Viall and their daughter Lily

Sunday Bonus Races boost owners’ return by £3,150 The prospect of additional financial rewards are always welcome news for owners and the Sunday Bonus Races, a joint initiative involving the Horsemen’s Group, BHA and Racecourse Association, whereby two Sunday races each weekend receive a bonus of up to £5,000 per race for the benefit of winning connections, has been warmly welcomed. The bonus races were introduced with the objective of improving competitiveness and field sizes in selected Sunday races across a range of race types. ROA members can benefit significantly from winning these selected Sunday £5K bonus races, as winning horses number of owners who suffer this particular misfortune.” Roger Weatherby, Chairman of Weatherbys Hamilton, said: “Weatherbys Hamilton recognises that the health of the racing industry is in no small part due to the investment made by owners and we are delighted to support them whenever we can. Now not only will owners benefit from our extensive race sponsorship portfolio, but also through this exciting initiative.” Details of this new scheme and other benefits of ROA membership can be found at racehorseowners.net

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

owned by ROA members receive an enhanced owner’s bonus of £3,150. The first two Sunday £5K bonus races got off to a flying start on February 3, with both winners qualified for the enhanced bonus. A 650-mile round trip from trainer Ed de Giles’s Ledbury base to Musselburgh paid off for Prince Of Dreams, who was rewarded in the John Smith’s Handicap Chase. Owners Alex and Jennifer Viall had flown up to Edinburgh to watch the race and were delighted to win £3,150 in addition to the prize-money. Alex Viall enthused: “The win was slightly unexpected, so we were delighted

with the result. Winning the bonus gave us a fabulous fillip. I will definitely ask my trainers to look carefully at bonus races in future. “As much as most owners love the sport and realise it’s not a commercial venture, it’s an expensive hobby – to say the least – so any form of increased reward is so welcome and so necessary. We have the best global racing product but that’s not really reflected in prize-money. I’ve had people try to tempt me to own horses in Dubai and France, and this certainly helps the decision to resist.” The second bonus race was won by Hard Walnut, for owners Qatar Racing Limited. Trainer Olly Stevens reported: “Our owners were thrilled to win the Sunday £5k bonus race at Lingfield. The bonus made it feel like winning three normal maidens! I was shocked to see the following week’s bonus race at Southwell struggle for entries and, had it been six furlongs, we would have been very tempted to go there with Hard Walnut for another bite of the apple.” In order for horses to be eligible to receive the full owner’s bonus they need to be owned at least 51% by ROA members. For winning horses that do not meet this criteria, the owner’s bonus share is reduced to £1,000. Richard Wayman, ROA Chief Executive, said: “The Sunday bonus races are a welcome first step in addressing the current shortage of investment in the Sunday racing programme. With owners and trainers bearing additional costs on Sundays, the payments will provide a much-needed financial incentive that should help to create more competitive and interesting races every week. “It is an important feature of the scheme that the payment structure will provide another reason for owners to get involved with the ROA, with a view to ensuring that we are as representative of all owners as possible.” Details of upcoming bonus races can be found at racehorseowners.net

ROA Raceday Curtailment Scheme – how it works • Available exclusively to ROA members as a benefit of membership • Weatherbys Hamilton will pay £100 to the owner of a horse when it is unable to run as a result of the meeting being abandoned after at least the first race had been run • The payment will be made to an ROA member who owns at least 51% of an eligible horse. Alternatively, if in total at least 51% of a horse is owned by ROA members, the payment will be made to the ROA member with the largest recorded share of ownership or to the first nominated partner • The payment will apply only to declared runners and is not applicable to any published non-runners at the time of abandonment • The scheme is confined to race meetings in Great Britain

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ROA FORUM

Wanted: members interested in industry’s policy-making This year there are at least two places available in the ROA Council elections, with one incumbent Council member planning to stand for re-election. The ROA Council elections allow members to put themselves forward to stand for election to Council, for an opportunity to become involved in shaping racing’s future policy-making. ROA Chief Executive Richard Wayman said: “With matters such as prize-money agreements with racecourses and the future of the industry’s relationship with bookmakers being live current issues, this is a crucial time for shaping the future of the sport. “The ROA Council will have a big role to play in these and other key areas, and we would strongly encourage any members with a serious interest in the future of our sport to consider putting themselves forward for election.” Dena Arstall is re-standing for election after a period of two terms spanning eight years on the Council. A second place has become available as a consequence of Peter Cundell stepping down from the Council, after 20 years of service. As a former trainer and President of the National Trainers Federation, Cundell has brought specialist knowledge on race planning matters. He represented the ROA on the Race Planning Committee and Fixtures Allocation Group for much of his tenure. If you are interested in standing for a position on the ROA Council, or would like

RSACA kitemark

Peter Cundell: 20 years of loyal service

more information about what’s involved and the level of commitment required, please write to Richard Wayman at the ROA or email rwayman@roa.co.uk. The deadline for applications is April 2. The election will be decided by a vote among members and the result will be announced at the ROA AGM on the morning of Tuesday, June 25. Members are encouraged to attend the ROA AGM. The morning session always includes an interesting debate, with an owners’ forum and key industry speeches, and the formal business is followed by a champagne reception and lunch for members and their guests. Places for the lunch can be booked online at racehorseowners.net or by calling the ROA on 020 7152 0200.

BOBIS initiative ready for take-off Owner Registration and Nomination forms for the British Owners and Breeders Incentive Scheme (BOBIS) will be available from March 4. Owners of BOBIS-eligible horses that have been registered by the Breeder by February 28 will be contacted by Weatherbys and invited to complete the nomination. The deadline for nominations is April 3. BOBIS will award a bonus of £6,000 to connections of qualified two-year-olds winning any Class 2-4 maiden, nursery

In Brief

or conditions race, plus Class 5 fillies’ maidens, in 2013. ROA members will receive a prize of £3,600 if their qualified and nominated horse wins a BOBIS race. Non-ROA members will receive a prize of £3,380, but will be contacted after winning a BOBIS race and given the option to join the ROA to receive the enhanced prize. For further information see weatherbys.co.uk/racing-division/bobis

Members of the Racing Syndicates & Clubs Association (RSACA) can now be identified by the use of a kitemark when promoting their business. The purpose of the RSACA is to promote good business practices for syndicates and clubs within the industry. All the association’s members submit their terms and conditions to the RSACA, and are judged to be fair by other racing professionals who run syndicates and clubs. This is good news for consumers looking to join a syndicate, who will be able to look for the RSACA’s ‘tick’ to identify syndicates and racing clubs who are RSACA members. For further details, check rsaca.com

RaceTech DVD offer

RaceTech is offering ROA members a special spring offer on DVDs and photo finish print orders. Members can obtain a 25% discount by quoting the discount code ROA25. Orders can be placed online at racetech.co.uk or by calling 020 8944 6876. The closing date of the offer is May 31, 2013.

Rewards 4 Racing

Readers will remember that in the last issue the ROA and Rewards4Racing announced a new partnership whereby ROA members can cash in on 500 FREE Rewards4Racing points. As a continuation of this generous offer, Rewards4Racing have extended the benefit by providing one point per pound when members either renew their ROA membership or purchase tickets for events online. Points can be exchanged for rewards that include tickets, racecards, food and drink vouchers, racing experiences and other products available from Jockey Club Racecourses. Start claiming your points today, register online at Rewards4Racing.com/roa or for further information please log on to racehorseowners.net

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ROA MEMBERS IN FOCUS:

MARTIN GREGORY

Diary dates MARCH 12-15

Cheltenham Festival A private marquee for ROA members and their guests. Members: £28 per day/£80 for four days. Guests: £40 per day/£125 for four days. Marquee badges will not be available on the day and must be booked in advance. Bookings close March 4.

APRIL 29

Kelso Regional Meeting Details in next month’s magazine.

JUNE 18-22 Royal Ascot

The ROA has a chalet for the five days of the Royal meeting. See page 86.

JUNE 25

ROA AGM The AGM will be held at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel, London. The AGM is followed by a champagne reception and lunch for members and their guests.

It’s hats off to Superior Quality from Martin Gregory, manager of the partnership

JUNE 30

Free admission to ROA members at the Curragh for the third day of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival.

horse purchased in “sheer stupidity” is poised to give his owners the best day out in jumps racing. And even if Superior Quality, the horse in question, does not make it to the Cheltenham Festival, he is already a hero as far as the Stewkley Shindiggers Partnership is concerned. The head of the group of lads, mainly from the Buckinghamshire village after which the partnership takes its name, is Martin Gregory, manager of a Sainsbury’s in north London. “We’d only seen photos of the horse and just went on a recommendation,” Gregory says. “It was a bit of a gamble, sheer stupidity really; even Charlie hadn’t seen him.” The Charlie concerned is trainer Longsdon, who has prepared Superior Quality to win his last two races, while he also trains the consistent – yet so far winless – Pampelonne for the partnership. “I’d had shares in horses with Sheena West previously – and had started with Micky Hammond – but had endured ten seconds before Superior Quality; I was worrying I’d never have a winner,” says Gregory. “There have been plenty of downs, but a few ups recently and it would be lovely to go to the Festival. He’d be a live outsider for the Festival and whatever happened it would be a good day out – the lads wouldn’t be fit to do much the day after! “There is a lot to look forward to anyway, as THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

there are few miles on the clock. He ran in points in Ireland and should make a nice novice chaser. He is probably better on a flat track, so there’s the three-mile handicap hurdle at Aintree to think about too.” Gregory’s initial interest in horses grew from visits to his cousins when he was young, with his uncle being stud groom to Julian Richmond-Watson.

“Once it’s in your

blood, it’s a bug. For us, ownership is about a group of friends having fun” “There were gorgeous horses to see at weekends, and Whaddon Chase point-to-point was close by too,” he says. Gregory has had a few runners on the Flat but much prefers jumps, and it is the craic, rather than any, albeit forlorn, hope of making the game pay that is the motivation for his involvement – and his partners. “We are not in it for the money, it’s a hobby,”

Pretty Polly Stakes day

JULY 21

Darley Irish Oaks day Free admission at the Curragh for ROA members.

he says. “Once it’s in your blood, it’s a bug. For us, ownership is about a group of friends having fun.” To that end, Musselburgh and Warwick, scene of Superior Quality’s two victories to date, come in for much praise, having facilitated great days out, while Fakenham and Taunton were also given the thumbs-up by Gregory. The only real bugbear he has is when it comes to obtaining owners badges. “If Superior Quality runs at the Festival we will get six, so four of us will end up disappointed,” he says. “From the point of view of running the group, that’s difficult to manage.” Should Superior Quality fulfil the ultimate dream and win at the Festival, you would suspect ‘difficult to manage’ might be a phrase that crops up again, in relation to track officials’ attempts to prevent all ten of the lads from leading their horse in. Good luck with that one, Cheltenham! And good luck to the Shindiggers too.

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ROA FORUM

Superb bespoke facility for Get online to members at Royal Ascot win Gold Cup The ROA is teaming up with Ascot racecourse to provide members with a private chalet and fine dining package for the five days of Royal Ascot (June 18-22). The quality of the racing at the Royal meeting is outstanding, with £4.5 million in prize-money on offer and a total of 18 Group races over the five days. The ROA chalet offers members and their guests the opportunity to enjoy the finest racing and the pageantry and splendour of this meeting in a great location with a private balcony. The facility is located in the Grandstand admission enclosure, on the first floor of the Carriages Chalets, in the triple-decker marquee on the curve of the track after the winning post. The hospitality package includes: • One car park label per couple • Pimm’s and champagne reception • Four course sit-down lunch (guests seated on shared tables of ten) • Cellar Master’s selected wines • Full afternoon tea • Complimentary bar throughout the day, including champagne (until 30 minutes after the last race)

day tickets

• Racecards and racing papers • Television viewing • Betting facilities This special ROA package is available at a heavily discounted rate each day. Places are available on a first come, first served basis. Date

Cost (per person)

Tuesday, June 18

£300

Wednesday, June 19

£300

Thursday, June 20

£340

Friday, June 21

£320

Saturday, June 22

£275

For more details and bookings see racehorseowners.net or call the ROA office on 020 7152 0200. Please note that this special package price does not include the cost of admission, however guests can apply for admission badges for the Royal Enclosure or Grandstand directly with Ascot racecourse (go online at www.ascot.co.uk or call 0844 346 3000). An early booking discount applies for Royal Ascot Grandstand admission badges booked by April 26.

Don’t miss your chance to be at the heart of the action at the Cheltenham Festival this year. Enter this exclusive ROA member competition today and you and one lucky guest could experience the thrill of jump racing at its best, courtesy of the ROA. The prize includes two Club admission badges to the Cheltenham Festival on Gold Cup day, Friday, March 15, as well as admission to the private ROA Members’ Marquee, located in the tented village, next to the parade ring. For further details and to enter, just visit the Members’ Area on racehorseowners.net and answer the following question: Which horse finished second to Synchronised in the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup? Entries for the competition close on Monday, March 4. The winner will be selected at random from all of the correct entries and notified. Good luck!

Syndication just got easier with Race Horse Trader Innovative website Race Horse Trader has introduced a new section to the platform which is geared towards horses which are up for sale as part of a syndicate or share-based sale. The ‘Syndicates and Shares’ category displays all the horses on the website that are for sale, either through syndication or as part of a shared ownership option. Are you looking for a racehorse? As well as the ‘syndicates and shares’ option, Race Horse Trader offers the ability to define your search specifically so you can find what you’re looking for quickly and with the minimum of fuss.

Do you have a racehorse you want to sell? Placing an advert on Race Horse Trader couldn’t be easier. With ten different search categories, Race Horse Trader offers a comprehensive range of bloodstock, from unraced juveniles

to broodmares in foal, so prospective buyers have the very best chance of finding your listing. For a limited time only, placing an advert on Race Horse Trader is FREE to ROA members. This offer will come to an end on April 15, but any adverts placed before this date will remain on the website free of charge until they are sold. Other trainers who have already taken advantage of this free offer include Tom Dascombe, Kim Bailey, Richard Hannon and Charles Hills. So whether you’re a trainer, owner, bloodstock agent or breeder, Race Horse Trader offers an invaluable service for all those involved in the bloodstock industry. To place an advert or to browse the listings, simply go to www.racehorsetrader.com Kim Bailey logs on to place his free advert with Race Horse Trader

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TRACK TALK

All the latest news from the UK’s racecourses

Musselburgh on top again

The Gold Standard venue was named best dual purpose track for the second year

The Racecourse Association’s Groundstaff Awards winners for 2012 have been named as Musselburgh (Dual Purpose), Taunton (Jumps) and York (Flat). The Awards, in conjunction with Pitchcare, ALS and Watt Fences, are in their 17th year. Musselburgh racecourse received the Dual Purpose Award for the second year in a row, whilst York claimed the title they last held in 2009 and Taunton received the Jump Award for the first time. The judging panel commended the expertise, knowledge and dedication of all racecourse groundstaff teams in the light of challenging weather conditions during 2012. The Neil Wyatt Lifetime Achievement Award, introduced as a new award to recognise those who have made an

exceptional contribution to the racing industry, honoured Reg Lomas, previously Head Groundsman at Stratford and Cheltenham racecourses and now continuing to assist at racecourses and on trainers’ gallops in his eighties. The winners and runners up: FLAT

DUAL PURPOSE

Winner

York

Runner-up

Goodwood

Winner

Musselburgh

Runner-up

Newbury

Winner

Taunton

Runner-up

Kelso and Stratford

JUMP

New role for Sophie Able After seven and a half years at Huntingdon racecourse, latterly as Managing Director, Sophie Able (left) has been appointed Regional Head of Sales for the East for Jockey Club Racecourses. Able now has four racecourses under her wing, including Newmarket, and is excited about the change in role. She said: “I will now be purely focused on sales and will cover the racing side including hospitality, annual boxes, sponsorship and advertising. I will also cover group sales from an admissions perspective and on the non-racing side conferencing and events. “It’s fantastic to be involved in Newmarket with the quality of racing there and I’ll also cover Nottingham, Market Rasen and Huntingdon. Across the four courses we have the products and facilities to offer something to everyone.” Nadia Gollings becomes Huntingdon’s new General Manager.

Improvements at Taunton Taunton has announced improvements to its offering to owners with runners at the Somerset venue. As well as introducing a designated viewing area exclusively for owners, the racecourse will also provide up to six food vouchers per horse to owners with runners. Taunton has also invested in a reservoir that will help to ensure suitable ground conditions during dry periods. The course is sure to remain popular with owners and trainers.

Prize-money increase at Pontefract Pontefract is about to announce a major boost to its prize-money in 2013. Full details will be made available at its press launch on February 27, but the course has committed to increasing its own contribution to prize-money to £460,000, which represents a significant increase on its actual contribution in 2012, which totalled £280,000. No race will be run at the West Yorkshire venue for less than £5,000 and there will be at least one race worth £15,000 at each of its fixtures. The course will stage five Listed races, four at £40,000 and one at £50,000. Norman Gundill and all of his team at Pontefract continue to display an admirable attitude in their general approach towards owners and their horses.

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ROA FORUM www.racehorseowners. net

Flat Racecourse League Table Ptn Racecourse

1 Ascot 2 York 3 Epsom Downs 4 Goodwood 5 Newmarket 6 Chester 7 Doncaster 8 Sandown Park 9 Newbury 10 Haydock Park 11 Musselburgh 12 Newcastle 13 Ripon 14 Salisbury 15 Thirsk 16 Warwick 17 Ffos Las 18 Hamilton Park 19 Ayr 20 Pontefract 21 Bath 22 Kempton Park 23 Windsor 24 Carlisle 25 Leicester 26 Redcar 27 Catterick Bridge 28 Nottingham 29 Beverley 30 Folkestone 31 Lingfield Park 32 Yarmouth 33 Wolverhampton 34 Southwell 35 Brighton 36 Chepstow Total

Figures for period Feb 1, 2012 to Jan 31, 2013

Ownership

Avg racecourse spend per fixture (£)

Avg HBLB spend per fixture (£)

Avg owner spend per fixture (£)

Avg prizemoney per fixture (£)

Total no. of fixtures 2012

Total prize-money 2012 (£)

Avg racecourse spend per fixture 2011 (£)

Up/ down

I I JCR I JCR I ARC JCR I JCR I ARC I I I JCR ARC I I I ARC JCR ARC JCR I I I JCR I ARC ARC ARC ARC ARC ARC ARC

376,146 157,927 115,897 87,914 84,383 70,940 57,572 48,039 45,320 35,090 26,483 26,320 25,580 25,109 22,834 22,120 22,021 20,764 20,344 18,755 18,037 16,479 16,451 15,448 14,628 13,484 13,267 13,222 13,214 13,001 12,582 11,967 10,999 10,991 10,900 9,452 34,949

100,171 83,776 59,928 63,683 68,662 33,606 49,350 46,832 52,991 42,362 18,392 14,299 22,130 21,197 16,481 15,150 9,212 17,692 29,458 24,944 9,535 14,347 20,844 16,071 17,419 14,120 11,625 18,829 17,248 9,946 18,607 15,236 12,528 11,449 12,454 10,985 25,905

155,719 75,943 70,941 24,857 77,927 5,838 38,304 21,144 27,530 14,028 4,876 6,974 4,382 5,416 5,745 5,030 2,766 3,248 7,543 3,669 3,188 3,216 5,107 4,294 4,184 16,409 2,362 4,648 3,028 2,603 2,651 3,005 2,074 1,614 2,300 2,508 14,746

632,036 317,646 247,349 177,537 232,498 111,600 147,206 116,760 129,871 92,691 52,211 49,120 53,128 54,941 47,789 44,943 33,999 41,904 58,052 48,787 31,780 35,924 43,712 38,000 37,602 44,953 29,354 38,387 35,746 25,758 35,531 31,216 27,416 24,680 26,349 24,082 77,099

17 17 12 18 38 15 24 17 17 23 15 15 14 14 14 7 7 15 16 15 20 88 21 8 14 15 17 16 17 12 94 25 123 34 18 11 862

10,744,606 5,399,985 2,968,193 3,195,667 8,834,928 1,674,002 3,532,934 1,926,548 2,207,804 2,105,403 783,166 736,804 743,788 769,168 669,050 314,600 220,995 628,563 928,828 731,810 635,600 3,161,317 917,946 304,000 526,426 674,294 499,011 614,184 607,674 309,100 3,339,883 780,397 3,372,224 839,112 474,282 264,900 66,437,190

333,521 157,030 102,510 76,321 87,878 67,027 60,910 48,175 45,295 37,850 33,220 20,745 29,190 23,736 21,976 14,877 26,604 20,448 27,070 19,609 15,507 15,805 12,815 16,381 15,889 12,053 13,370 14,735 16,417 8,576 11,006 12,471 10,290 7,933 10,586 10,423 33,733

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲

Jumps Racecourse League Table Ptn Racecourse

1 Aintree 2 Cheltenham 3 Ascot 4 Haydock Park 5 Sandown Park 6 Kempton Park 7 Newbury 8 Ayr 9 Perth 10 Chepstow 11 Cartmel 12 Newton Abbot 13 Wincanton 14 Wetherby 15 Kelso 16 Musselburgh 17 Newcastle 18 Fakenham 19 Stratford-on-Avon 20 Market Rasen 21 Taunton 22 Ludlow 23 Ffos Las 24 Wolverhampton 25 Doncaster 26 Carlisle 27 Southwell 28 Exeter 29 Fontwell Park 30 Lingfield Park 31 Warwick 32 Plumpton 33 Hereford 34 Uttoxeter 35 Bangor-on-Dee 36 Hexham 37 Sedgefield 38 Leicester 39 Folkestone 40 Worcester 41 Towcester 42 Huntingdon 43 Catterick Bridge 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

Total prize-money (£)

Avg racecourse spend per fixture 2011 (£)

Up/ down

JCR JCR I JCR JCR JCR I I I ARC I I JCR I I I ARC I I JCR I I ARC ARC ARC JCR ARC JCR ARC ARC JCR I ARC ARC I I ARC I ARC ARC I JCR I

231,612 227,211 113,541 87,867 61,362 52,098 45,324 29,965 28,788 27,591 25,659 24,493 23,701 23,453 22,750 21,764 21,423 21,172 21,077 19,684 19,134 18,921 18,035 17,500 17,128 14,509 14,461 14,241 14,020 13,397 13,268 13,083 12,979 12,813 12,786 11,954 9,896 9,625 9,462 9,210 8,933 8,237 5,224 31,453

99,348 86,097 61,256 56,925 54,775 39,613 58,697 33,346 16,443 22,916 11,433 16,993 25,466 24,339 19,807 25,984 22,219 19,396 14,636 16,324 15,850 18,818 16,226 24,500 32,171 19,749 11,605 20,639 12,397 16,846 27,531 15,713 8,346 13,665 16,276 13,838 13,899 21,138 11,768 12,817 11,506 17,744 26,242 24,304

55,702 51,625 16,765 16,169 12,934 9,374 13,368 8,356 1,646 6,439 4,595 0 4,534 4,218 3,002 3,982 3,632 0 3,778 3,859 3,916 4,202 3,574 0 5,786 3,390 2,786 3,551 2,611 2,064 5,133 2,775 2,689 3,773 2,392 1,980 2,234 3,137 2,170 3,042 2,653 3,181 2,492 6,511

386,662 364,932 191,562 160,961 130,012 101,418 117,390 72,148 46,877 57,510 41,687 41,485 54,720 52,318 46,058 52,855 47,723 40,568 39,685 40,417 38,899 42,249 38,158 42,000 55,086 38,148 29,790 38,847 29,027 32,307 45,932 31,806 24,722 31,193 31,655 28,022 26,029 34,525 23,400 26,219 23,441 29,652 33,957 62,629

8 15 7 7 9 12 11 10 12 11 7 15 16 13 12 8 10 10 18 18 10 13 16 1 7 10 13 12 20 8 7 14 13 21 13 12 15 8 5 15 16 11 7 495

3,093,294 5,473,983 1,340,932 1,172,714 1,105,100 1,217,019 1,291,291 721,476 562,523 632,609 291,809 622,279 875,515 680,128 552,700 422,836 477,234 405,684 714,330 727,500 388,990 549,243 591,455 42,000 385,600 381,484 387,271 466,169 580,550 258,459 321,527 445,290 321,390 655,056 411,515 336,259 390,442 276,200 117,000 393,287 375,064 326,171 237,700 31,019,077

195,014 206,875 118,026 75,585 49,729 40,482 29,959 28,816 20,480 23,330 18,995 19,198 22,512 20,134 20,334 18,254 19,340 17,632 15,501 17,692 18,909 12,093 22,724 0 28,047 13,152 9,543 12,852 10,710 8,532 13,428 9,753 16,092 14,174 15,599 6,795 11,385 7,596 8,461 11,341 5,904 12,377 6,952 27,062

▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲

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 prizemoney: 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 prize-money paid out by each racecourse, the abandonment of a major fixture could distort a racecourse’s performance.

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Personal and Professional

Mar_103_TBA_Forum_Owner 21/02/2013 10:51 Page 90

TBA FORUM The special section for TBA members

Cheveley Park Stud’s new recruit Mayson parades in the sales ring

EMMA BERRY

The annual TBA Flat Stallion Parade was again held at Tattersalls on February 7 in front of a ring packed with breeders who had arrived at the sales early to catch the show. Thirteen stallions were on view, including 11 Group 1 winners, three of whom were also Classic winners. A select set of first-season sires paraded alongside established stallions, mixed in with sires whose progeny, as yet, are untested. Taking part in the parade were Archipenko, Aussie Rules, Cockney Rebel, Dick Turpin, Equiano, Foxwedge, Hellvelyn, Mawatheeq, Mayson, Mount Nelson, Notnowcato, Pastoral Pursuits and Sixties Icon. We would like to thank all the connections of the stallions, without whose support this parade would not be possible. Individual commentaries were delivered by Sam Sheppard and Matt Coleman and each stud provided a video presentation on their respective stallions, while a TBA-produced brochure offering further information was handed out to all those watching. After the parade, the stallions were available to be viewed individually, giving the opportunity for breeders to inspect more closely their chosen stallions. The TBA once again provided a hospitality box, which was inundated with visitors during the morning, providing an area for members to catch up and warm up! The TBA would like to thank Tattersalls for their continued generosity in supporting this popular event.

TREVOR JONES

Bumper turnout for stallion parade at Tattersalls

Australian import Foxwedge made the journey to Newmarket from Whitsbury Manor

Notes for employers Rates for Statutory Maternity, Paternity and Adoption pay, and Statutory Sick Pay From April 1, 2013 rates will increase accordingly: • Statutory Maternity, Paternity, Adoption Pay and Maternity Allowance will increase from £135.45 to £136.78 per week. • Statutory Sick Pay will increase from £85.85 to £86.70 per week. Further information on Employment Law matters, including new regulations for 2013 and information on parental leave, flexible

working, tribunal fees and unfair dismissal compensation can be found in the first TBA Employment Law Quarterly Update for 2013. Visit the Employers’ pages at www.thetba.co.uk.

Updated Fact Sheets The following Employment Law Fact Sheets have been updated as of January 1, 2013: Grievances, Parental Rights, Working Time Regulations, Dismissal, Rights to Work in the UK, Redundancy and Recruitment. Visit the Employment Law Downloads page on the TBA website at www.thetba.co.uk for more information.

Free industry Job Board courtesy of the BHA The BHA has updated its industry Job Board, which is free for industry employers and candidates to use. New functionality allows employers to upload a profile page and company logo alongside their job opportunities, and more thorough search facilities enable candidates to find jobs based on key words or location, with the option to receive alerts by email when an appropriate job is posted. Those wishing to use this excellent facility can find the Job Board via the website www.careersinracing.com. THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Mar_103_TBA_Forum_Owner 21/02/2013 10:51 Page 91

GAVIN JAMES

JOHN GROSSICK

www.thetba.co.uk

EBF/TBA Mares’ Novices’ Chase Series gains momentum Ludlow, Kelso and Newbury all held EBF/TBA mares’ novices’ chase races in January. At Ludlow, the race was won by Valmari, trained by Tom Symonds and ridden by Ben Poste, while in the Scottish borders at Kelso,

the wide-margin winner was Fentara, trained by Tim Walford in the hands of Daryl Jacob. Tim Finch (second left in left-hand photo), Scotland’s TBA Regional Chairman presented the winning connections with their prize. At Newbury, in a competitive field, Violin

Davis secured her first chase victory, ridden by Noel Fehily and trained by Harry Fry. TBA Chief Executive Louise Kemble presented the winning connections with their memento, along with National Hunt Committee Chairman Robert Waley-Cohen.

Elite National Hunt Mares Incentive Scheme Now in its second year, the Elite National Hunt Mares Incentive Scheme, funded by the HBLB, continues to provide financial incentives for the owners of the best National Hunt racemares and broodmares, to encourage retention for breeding and the use of high-class British-based sires. In November, the TBA publicised the names of the 203 mares eligible for the scheme and contacted their owners, inviting them to submit an application form for either a free or subsidised nomination to stallions in the scheme. As expected, a good proportion of race mares stayed in training. However, from this initial group, the owners of 42% of the mares have taken up the offer and the allocations for free and subsidised nominations have been made. The mare owners have until March 31 to confirm to Stanstead House that they will be taking up the offers. Concerning one of the mares who qualified both years, whose owner, Steve Winfield, is taking advantage of the scheme, said: “We were delighted that our mare Helen Wood qualified for the scheme and the fact that we received our preferred nomination to Malinas was the icing on the cake. He is an exceptional physical specimen and has huge potential to become a top-flight jumping sire. “This scheme has been a real shot in the arm to a small breeding operation such as ourselves. It not only encourages breeders to take the plunge and upgrade their broodmare teams with good quality racing mares, but gives a great financial boost at a time when cost pressures are booming and the National Hunt bloodstock market isn’t! I congratulate the TBA on this scheme and hope there can be further initiatives in the future.” THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

RoR/TBA RETRAINED RACEHORSE CHALLENGE Supported by Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) and the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA), this is a showing class with jumps for retrained racehorses. There will be approximately 30 qualifiers around the country in 2013, culminating in a final at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May 2014. The TBA are delighted to be supporting the RoR through the sponsorship of this event in 2013. A full list of qualifiers can be found by visiting the RoR website www.ror.org.uk or by calling 01488 648998. Details can also be found on www.thetba.co.uk “I am very pleased that the TBA is joining forces with the RoR, these classes are very popular and the show is very happy to hold them. It is lovely to see exracehorses enjoying a new career. - Lesley McGrath (Secretary, Heathfield Show and TBA Member)

Photos courtesy of the TBA, racingfotos.com & E S Photography. TBA Registered Charity No 1134293, Company Numberr 07073259, VAT Number 334026687

Mar_103_TBA_Forum_Owner 21/02/2013 10:51 Page 92

TBA FORUM

More racecourses rewarded for backing mares’ races The final two racecourses from the 2010/11winning season were presented with their respective certificates. Uttoxeter staged the two-mile TBA Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle on November 29 on very testing ground. The race was won by Scholastica, a British-bred daughter of Old Vic. The six-year-old is trained by Tom Symonds for longstanding TBA member and leading bloodstock agent David Redvers, and she was bred by TBA National Hunt Committee member Dr Bryan Mayoh. Earlier in the day Helen Plumbly had presented the racecourse with its certificate as recognition for the course’s efforts in offering and promoting races specifically for mares. Doncaster staged its final meeting of the

LINGFIELD PARK – February 27 – Mares’ NH Flat Race (A/W) TAUNTON – April 24 – Mares’ NH Flat Race

calendar year on December 29, when Fiona Denniff, one of the East’s regional representatives, presented Managing Director Mark Spincer with the course’s certificate. A mares’ handicap hurdle will be run at the course on March 1 with TBA sponsorship. This race will be the concluding fixture run by the racecourses who were rewarded for staging the highest percentage of mares’ races for the 2010/11 season. The racecourses which met the criteria for 2011/12 were announced in the January issue of this magazine. As well as a certificate, the TBA also offers £750 in sponsorship towards an additional mares-only race. Confirmed dates for additional mares’ races are as follows:

LUDLOW – October 24 – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle WARWICK – November 20 – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle FAKENHAM – December 17 – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

In Brief NATIONAL HUNT STALLION NOMINATIONS The TBA still has a number of nominations for sale, which were generously donated by the owners of the stallions parading at the TBA NH Stallion Parade at Cheltenham last November. For further details contact Pauline at Stanstead House on 01638 661321.

BREEDERS’ BADGE SCHEME 2013/2014

ALAN WRIGHT

TONY KNAPTON

It is time once again for members to renew their membership of the Breeders’ Badge Scheme (BBS). Membership entitles complimentary access to 57 participating racecourses for TBA members on BBS days when a horse they have bred is declared to run. Full details of the scheme were included in the February send out. The list can also be found on the TBA website.

Helen Plumbly presents trainer Tom Symonds with Scholastica’s prize

Mark Spincer receives Doncaster’s certificate from Fiona Denniff

TBA FLAT COMMITTEE LAUNCH The TBA Flat Committee held its inaugural meeting at the end of January. Additional to the list of members in last month’s magazine, Philip Freedman has joined the committee.

Breeders’ Prizes

National Hunt HBLB Breeders’ Prizes worth £1,500 or more

Based on date money was paid

Breeder

Prize (£)

Horse

Sire

Dam

Taker Bloodstock

8,000

Cape Tribulation

Hernando

Gay Fantastic

Date

Course

26/01/2013

Cheltenham

Darley

6,000

Ruacana

Cape Cross

Farrfesheena

05/01/2013

Chepstow

R. J. Wilding

2,500

Big Fella Thanks

Primitive Rising

Nunsdream

05/01/2013

Wincanton

Exors of the late Lord Oaksey

2,500

Carruthers

Kayf Tara

Plaid Maid

02/02/2013

Ffos Las

Raimon Bloodstock

1,750

Brick Red

Dubawi

Duchcov

03/02/2013

Musselburgh

Exors of the late Mrs A. M. Jenkins

1,500

Cantlow

Kayf Tara

Winnowing

07/01/2013

Taunton

Pendley Farm

1,500

Overturn

Barathea

Kristal Bridge

03/02/2013

Musselburgh

*See the table of breeders' prizes effective as from January 1 on the TBA website, www.thetba.co.uk

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Mar_103_TBA_Forum_Owner 21/02/2013 10:52 Page 93

www.thetb a.co.uk

PLAN YOUR YEAR: TBA REGIONAL DAYS FOR 2013

Diary dates MARCH 1

TBA Mares’ Handicap Hurdle At Doncaster racecourse.

MARCH 4

Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards At the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel, Knightsbridge, London.

MARCH 23

EBF/TBA Listed Mares’ Novices’ Steeplechase Finale At Newbury. TBA members can gain free admission to this raceday by showing their TBA membership cards.

APRIL 18

TBA Listed Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle At Cheltenham.

APRIL 24

TBA Mares’ NH Flat Race At Taunton.

ROR/TBA RETRAINED RACEHORSE CHALLENGE: APRIL 4

RoR/TBA Retrained Racehorse Challenge (PUK) West Midlands Show, Worcestershire.

Members benefit from fascinating visits to racing yards and studs around Britain

The Regional Day Programme for 2013 is detailed below. Several of the dates are yet to be finalised but we have given all the information available to us at the time of going to press. More information will be circulated to members in due course and the TBA website will be updated with relevant information. Regional meetings are open to all members, irrespective of their locality. However, priority will be given to those members residing within the region, should the day be over-subscribed. Application forms for the regional day in your area will automatically be sent to you. Members are invited to apply for application forms for those days outside of their region.

SOUTH EAST

Visit to The University of Liverpool’s Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital, at Leahurst Campus on the Wirral.

THE EAST May 23

A visit to Roger Varian’s stable, Darley’s pretraining yard and Rossdale’s equine hospital.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

RoR/TBA Retrained Racehorse Challenge College EC Spring Show,

Visit to Marcus Tregoning at Whitsbury Manor followed by a tour of Whitsbury Manor Stud, with a chance to see Foxwedge and Showcasing.

Bedfordshire For more information on this series and how you can be involved please get in touch with Carrie Cherry on 01638 661321.

THE WEST

TBA NEW MEMBERS

June 5

June 10

A visit to Willie Carson’s Minster Stud, Barnsley, Cirencester, followed by lunch and a trip to Chris Wright’s Stratford Place Stud, Coln Rogers, Cheltenham.

WALES & WEST MIDLANDS July 1

A visit to David Hodge’s Llety Farms, home to stallions Debussy, Sayif and Stimulation. Optional evening racing at Ffos Las.

THE NORTH

September (date TBC)

APRIL 18

SOUTH WEST

June/July (date TBC) Visit to the historic training facilities at Manton, Marlborough, home to Brian Meehan.

SCOTLAND June 4

A visit to Linda Perratt’s Northallerton Farm, East Kilbride.

Miss S Anstey, Newport; Seamus Burns, Cheshire; Mrs J Dennis, Cornwall; A Honeyball, Dorset; D A Johnson, Essex; C Layton, Essex; Chippenham Lodge Stud, Cambridgeshire; The Plaid Maid Partnership, Wiltshire; N Pocock, Somerset; C Rowland, London; D Furman & J Sugarman, Goole and Mr & Mrs G Tulley, York. European: J Connolly, Ireland; M O’Hagan, Ireland

18-35 MEMBERS Juan Alvarez, London; Nicola Boak, Cambridgeshire; Stephen Boardman, Cambridgeshire; Marvin Firth, Hertfordshire; Nathan Riches, Cambridgeshire; Archie Watson, Suffolk

Mar_103_BreederOfTheMonth_Layout 1 21/02/2013 11:02 Page 94

BREEDER OF THE MONTH www.thetba. co. uk Manufacturers of