Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder

Apr_140_Cover2_OwnerBreeder 24/03/2016 15:33 Page 1

Incorporating

£4.95 | April 2016 | Issue 140

Ready to dazzle Darryll Holland on returning to his roots with the Hills family

Plus • Kerry Lee bids to cap grand season with National glory • Clocking out: consignors’ views on timing at breeze-ups • Apple Tree Stud can blossom under Robert Thornton

04

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33775_AustraliaFoals_TBOB_DPS_April16.qxp_TBOB DPS 21/03/2016 17:33 Page 1

Colt ex. Nobilis, second in Prix Minerve-Gr.3 and third Prix de Malleret-Gr.2 owned by China Horse Club

Filly ex. Kitty Matcham, winner of the Rockfel Stakes-Gr.2 and a half-sister to Horatio Nelson owned by Barronstown Stud

Colt ex. Barenia, family of Gr.1 winners Bonaventura and Batallosa owned by Al Shaqab Racing

Colt ex. Kittens, half-sister to Purr Along, Jt 2nd Top Rated 2YO Filly in Europe in 2012 owned by Clare Castle Stud

Filly ex. San Sicharia, winner of the Chartwell Stakes-Gr.3 owned by Shell B/S

• AUSTRALIA • CAMELOT • CANFORD CLIFFS • DYLAN THOMAS • EXCELEBRATION • FASTNET ROCK • FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND • GALILEO • GLENEAGLES • HENRYTHENAVIGATOR • • HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR • IVAWOOD • KINGSTON HILL • MASTERCRAFTSMAN • MOST IMPROVED • NO NAY NEVER • POUR MOI • POWER • REQUINTO • ROCK OF GIBRALTAR • • RULER OF THE WORLD • STARSPANGLEDBANNER • THEWAYYOUARE • WAR COMMAND • ZOFFANY •

33775_AustraliaFoals_TBOB_DPS_April16.qxp_TBOB DPS 21/03/2016 17:34 Page 2

WORLD CHAMPION 3YO BY GALILEO

Colt ex. Map Of Heaven, full sister to dual Group winner Enticing owned by Stanley House Stud & ORS Bloodstock

Colt ex. Nymphea, winner of the Grosser Preis von Berlin-Gr.1 owned by Mr Juergen Imm

Filly ex Guessing, a Kingmambo half-sister to Horatio Nelson and Kitty Matcham owned

by Barronstown Stud

Colt ex. Que Puntual, winner of the Nassau Stakes-Gr.2 and second in the Diana Stakes-Gr.1 owned by Earle I Mack

Colt ex. Reine Des Plages, family of Champion 3YO Rail Link owned by Thierry Lohest & BSI

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

E-mail: sales@coolmore.ie Web site: www.coolmore.com All stallions nominated to EBF.

Amlin Plus sponsored Richard Johnson 212 winners and counting

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Apr_140_Editors_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 17:23 Page 5

WELCOME FROM THE EDITOR Publisher: Michael Harris Editor: Edward Rosenthal Bloodstock Editor: Emma Berry Designed by: Thoroughbred Group Editorial: First Floor, 75 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LS Tel: 020 7152 0209 Fax: 020 7152 0213 editor@ownerbreeder.co.uk www.ownerbreeder.co.uk @OwnerBreeder 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 £66 £105 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 9,340* *Based on the period July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014.

Racehorse Owners Association Ltd First Floor, 75 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LS Tel: 020 7152 0200 Fax: 020 7152 0213 info@roa.co.uk www.roa.co.uk Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Stanstead House, The Avenue, Newmarket CB8 9AA Tel: 01638 661 321 Fax: 01638 665621 info@thetba.co.uk • www.thetba.co.uk

Incorporating

£4.95 | April 2016 | Issue 140

Ready to dazzle Darryll Holland on returning to his roots with the Hills family

Plus • Kerry Lee bids to cap grand season with National glory • Clocking out: consignors’ views on timing at breeze-ups • Apple Tree Stud can blossom under Robert Thornton

04

9 771745 435006

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Cover: Darryll Holland is looking forward to the season ahead at Charlie Hills’ stable in Lambourn Photo: George Selwyn

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EDWARD ROSENTHAL

Holland’s experience can help him achieve goals D

arryll Holland does not have to look far for inspiration as a jockey hoping to rekindle his career in Britain by returning to his roots.

Frankie Dettori’s resurgence with John Gosden, capped by the brilliant performances of Golden Horn, was the standout story of the 2015 Flat season.

Holland, 43, has come back to Blighty from recent stints in South Korea and Mauritius to join forces with Charlie Hills, whose father Barry first spotted the potential in a kid from Manchester in the late 1980s.

“Darryll had never sat on a horse before he came to the yard but he was riding within a few months,” Hills senior recalls. “It took him about two minutes to discover he was good. He should have been champion jockey.”

‘The Dazzler’s’ failure to land the riding championship may rankle with the man himself, yet he can look back with pride at his achievements. The champion apprentice in 1991 with a record number of winners, Holland finished runner-up to Kieren Fallon in 2003 and has secured six centuries, partnering Group 1 winners for the likes of Luca Cumani, Clive Brittain, Mark Johnston, William Haggas, Mick Channon, David Nicholls and Jeremy Noseda.

However his seasonal tally had dropped to 30 by 2010 and after two further disappointing campaigns, the rider adopted the ‘have saddle, will travel’ mentality and departed for foreign challenges.

Now Holland is back, with a yard very much on the up that houses around 200 well-bred horses for some of the biggest owners in the sport. He thinks his experience will give him an edge this year.

“You can’t buy it,” he tells Julian Muscat (The Big Interview, pages 42-46), “and I have a lot of it. A small mistake here and there makes the difference between winning and losing, so I have to make it count. I really want to make the most of the next few years. I feel I’ve still got a bit to offer in the saddle.”

Ruby Walsh again proved there is no substitute for

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

experience at Cheltenham as the Irishman recorded his 50th Festival success in March. The outstanding jump jockey – perhaps the best there has ever been – notched an opening-day treble for trainer Willie Mullins and owner Rich Ricci, whose colours have quickly become a fixture at jump racing’s Olympics.

While the brilliant performances of Annie Power, Vautour, Vroum Vroum Mag and Limini underlined Ricci’s phenomenal array of talent, he also lost two promising young horses in Long Dog and Pont Alexandre, both Grade 1 winners. They will be missed

by National Hunt fans and at Mullins’s stable in Closutton.

Kerry Lee only had one runner at Cheltenham but the trainer is sure to be busier at Aintree, when she will look to put the icing on her superb first season with a licence in the Grand National, with Bishops Road and Mountainous looking her prime contenders.

At the time of writing, Lee had saddled 21 winners from 95 runners, an excellent strikerate of 22%, and she tells Tim Richards (Talking To, pages 5459) about her approach to training at her Herefordshire stable and hopes for the future.

Also looking to the future is Robert ‘Choc’ Thornton, the popular former jump jockey who is now hoping to breed champion racehorses in his new guise as stud manager at Paul Dunkley’s Apple Tree Stud.

The man who partnered 1,129 winners, including 15 at the Cheltenham Festival, talks to Catherine Austen (pages 48-52) about his new challenge and why he doesn’t miss riding.

“The amazing thing I’ve found – and I didn’t realise it at all when I was riding – is that now I have a life,” Thornton says. “I can do things that I never could because I was so tied to racing. Until I broke my arm really badly in March 2013, I hadn’t been on holiday for more than three or four days since I was 16. Even getting the car serviced when you are racing every day is a huge deal – now I can just ring up and book it in!”

“His failure to land

the championship may rankle but he can look back with pride at his career

”

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Apr_140_Contents_Contents 24/03/2016 17:25 Page 4

CONTENTS APRIL 2016

42

48

NEWS & VIEWS

FEATURES

7

16

ROA Leader Government steps in for racing

9

TBA Leader

Reliving the Cheltenham Festival

26

Plus 10 rewards breeders

10

News Racing Right given green light

12 28

Tony Morris In praise of La Flèche

30

Howard Wright

NEW From The Archives

42

COVER STORY The Big Interview With jockey Darryll Holland

48

Apple Tree Stud Pastures new for ‘Choc’ Thornton

54

Breeze-Up Sales How important is a fast breeze?

68

Sales Circuit Select sales at Cheltenham

72

Caulfield Files Analysing French Classic entries

Red Rum in 1974

Changes Kieren Fallon returns to Ireland

The Big Picture

61

92

Dr Statz Deep Impact’s big impression

96

24 Hours With...

Rugby player and horse breeder Marcos Ayerza

Talking To...

Trainer Kerry Lee

Trainers must pitch in

INTERNATIONAL SCENE 33

View From Ireland Jockeys line up to replace Berry

36

Continental Tales The rise of Monsieur Boudot

39

Around The Globe Peter Moody quits racing

Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins enjoyed a spectacular Cheltenham Festival, which saw them team up for seven victories

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Apr_140_Contents_Contents 24/03/2016 17:25 Page 5 B

4:53 pm

Page 3

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

54

Yearlings unsoundness of wind Horses at grass

FORUM 74

The Thoroughbred Club Dalham Hall Stud visit a success

76

ROA Forum BHA launches owners survey

84

LEADING THE FIELD IN BLOODSTOCK INSURANCE

TBA Forum Award for Newsells Park Stud’s Sue Caldwell

87

Breeder of the Month Mary Morrison for Blaklion

88

Vet Forum Stress fractures in racehorses

DATA BOOK 93

AHEAD OF THE FIELD

NH Graded Races Latest major jumps winners

95

TO STAY

Stallion Statistics Theatre the showstopper

Our monthly circulation is certified at

9,340 Can other magazines prove theirs?

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CONTACT US TODAY

BLOODLINES Marlow House, 1A Lloyd’s Avenue London EC3N 3AA TEL: +44 (0) 207 938 3033 FAX: +44 (0) 207 938 3055 ENQUIRIES@BLOODLINES.CO.UK WWW.BLOODLINES.CO.UK Bloodlines is a trading name of Bloodlines Thoroughbred Insurance Agency Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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Apr_140_ROA_Leader_Layout 1 24/03/2016 14:30 Page 7

ROA LEADER

NICHOLAS COOPER President Racehorse Owners Association

New funding system can revitalise sport’s fortunes Government says racing must receive its share of online betting revenues

Y

es, it’s happened! This government, having long recognised the gross unfairness of racing’s funding system, is now going to do something about it.

So in April of next year – earlier than we dared hope – a new system will be introduced to replace the outmoded levy. Crucially, it will address the so-called ‘leakage’ problem, so that all bets struck on British racing by UKbased punters, including online, will generate income for racing.

When the digital revolution took hold it was inevitable the balance would increasingly tilt away from betting shops and towards betting through mobiles and laptops.

This in itself was not a bad thing for racing, but when almost all betting operators moved offshore, and therefore outside of the levy’s jurisdiction, the dire consequences for racing became apparent.

Such was the growth of online betting, predictions of the levy ‘falling off a cliff’ next year were no exaggeration, with only about half of betting activity on horseracing now being accounted for by the levy. The loss to racing is estimated to be £30 million annually and growing.

It is unclear what the exact mechanism for funding will be under the new legislation. We are also unclear how this will circumvent European state aid legislation, but this is a matter best left to the politicians and their experts.

However, we do know the new legislation will account for bets channelled through offshore operators; we also know the sole function of a much-truncated Levy Board will be to collect funds from betting operators according to a newly established formula; and we can be reasonably sure that when all this is done and dusted, the government will extract itself from the process.

A vital part of the changed system will be the establishment of a new body representing the racing industry, incorporating, among others, the Horsemen’s Group. Its role will be to distribute those funds collected by the levy.

An important next step towards extending the legislation will be the creation of a formula for establishing how much the betting industry will pay to racing annually.

This must exclude deals relating to media rights and sponsorship because they are based purely on commercial decisions.

In recent years payments to racing through the levy have been based on 10.75% of bookmakers’ gross profits.

It is, however, an imperfect system, in that racing is entirely at the mercy of bookmaker margins on horseracing bets. These margins are invariably very tight on the digital side of the business, but at least now racing should be able to apply proper audit procedures to get a more accurate picture of what actually constitutes gross profits.

Bookmakers like to peddle the line that horseracing is less and less important to them but we know the truth is different – why else are they so intent on keeping racing pictures in their shops?

The nature of horseracing lends itself to betting in a sensible and measured way. Whether a punter has a bet simply because of the name of the horse, or the jockey’s colours, or, at the other end of the scale, the study of form is treated as an intellectual exercise, the fact is there is nothing quite as good as racing as a betting medium.

Racing and betting are interdependent so that when a bet is struck, wherever that bet might be processed, there must be a fair, enforceable and sustainable system for collecting a small percentage on it for the funding and welfare of the sport. The government has accepted this principle which, soon, every betting operator must also accept. So, at last, there is optimism that the squabbling will stop and racing and betting will work together to their mutual benefit.

It is rare to extend gratitude to governments, but, given this legislation goes through next April, British racing should certainly give its heartfelt thanks to this administration and all the people who have played a part in making it happen.

“From April 2017,

the legislation will account for bets channelled through offshore operators

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”

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The TBA supports and celebrates British National Hunt breeding and racing

Elite NH Mares’ Scheme National Hunt Mare Owners’ Prize Scheme

NH Celebration Dinner NH Stallion Parade

16th May 2016 Mount Pleasant Hotel, nr Doncaster Join us for a special evening to celebrate British NH breeding success, tickets £50pp available from Liz Lucas; info@swanbridgevets.com or enquiries to info@thetba.co.uk

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Apr_140_TBA_Leader_TBA 24/03/2016 14:20 Page 9

TBA LEADER

JULIAN RICHMOND-WATSON Chairman Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association

Emphasis on the fun of ownership key for racing Encouraging more owners will in turn help to increase breeder numbers

F

irst, an apology to the ROA President if I seem to have stolen his lines and this reads like the owners’ leading article, but I believe it is essential for our sport in general and breeders in particular that we attract more owners, and then encourage owners to own more horses, if racing is to thrive.

The TBA wholeheartedly agrees with the ROA’s commitment to sell the excitement and thrill of ownership.

We believe we should do so in ways that do not always hark back to prize-money returns and the cost of keeping a horse in training, but extol the enjoyment to be had from being an integral part of the sport.

Most of us don’t expect a return on our other recreational activities and leisure pursuits, so we need to promote ownership for what is to so many people – fun.

Even so, the carrots of prizemoney and bonuses cannot be overlooked. That’s why the TBA felt it so necessary to move away from direct breeders’ prizes, which had little to do with the ownership of the horse, to Plus 10 and MOPS (the NH Mare Owners’ Prize Scheme), both of which substantially reward the owner rather than the breeder.

MOPS was deliberately framed to ensure that the rewards go to the owners’ connections, where they will be most effective in changing behaviour. We still have Breeders’ Incentive Schemes to directly encourage British mare and stallion owners and the combination should support and encourage National Hunt breeding.

Plus 10 is a much larger Anglo-Irish scheme, which everyone is coming to understand, and it has given trainers and owners a real incentive to purchase and be involved in qualifying horses and those who are qualified.

Hopefully the publicity gained in the first year of the scheme has helped to encourage ownership by demonstrating the rewards for success. Already it is pleasing to welcome the first three-year-old winners of Plus 10.

The initial thrust of Plus 10 was that breeders should contribute at various stages, but the TBA also wanted them to be rewarded for their support. Following the success of

the first year, the committee asked a wide range of breeders for their thoughts and ideas for improving the scheme, and as a result we have decided that all breeders and pinhookers who support the scheme will benefit, regardless of whether the new owner continues the registration.

Breeders who registered a foal born in 2014 or later will now earn £1,000 (or €1,250) for registering the winner of a Plus 10 race at both the foal and yearling stage. We hope this change encourages an increased number of breeders to take part in the scheme, and as Plus 10 and MOPS move forward more breeders and owners should benefit.

The recent announcement that the government intends to extend the Horserace Betting Levy to offshore bookmakers is extremely welcome, and hopefully its implementation will produce considerably more funds for the sport, including to boost prize-money.

Racing must be imaginative in using this extra money to encourage breeders and owners, so that the sport can grow. Horsemen must be integral to these discussions and they should be prepared to think outside the box as we move into a different era, where our racing is used for betting on a multitude of platforms.

As breeders, we strongly believe in meritocracy and testing the breed. The system of handicaps that now dominates our racing is not necessarily the best way to achieve this result. However, with more money available we may be able to run a more meritocratic system that rewards the better performers. This may be the one chance in a decade to reform the racing programme by putting right some of the anomalies to have built up over the years.

Owners and breeders at every level want to see horses rewarded according to their ability, and having reached the point of owning a reasonable horse, it is frustrating to any owner when that horse fails to win at handicap level. It has to be worth exploring alternatives that work so well in other countries.

Above all, though, let’s make ownership simple, fun and rewarding.

“Breeders who

registered a foal in 2014 or later will now earn £1,000 or €1,250 for a Plus 10 winner

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

”

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Apr_140_News4_Owner 24/03/2016 16:47 Page 10

NEWS Stories from the racing world

Racing on the right path The new horseracing betting right edged closer to reality last month when the government provided further confirmation in the Budget of its commitment to finding a new funding mechanism for the sport.

The Department for Culture, Media & Sport also published further details on the new system, which is due to be introduced by April 2017.

The betting right, to be administered directly by the racing industry, will for the first time apply to all bookmakers, notably those based offshore, thereby taking into account bets placed online.

The process towards implementation will continue throughout this spring, when there will be a period of consultation with the betting and racing industries, subjects to include the level of contributions from betting. The Levy Board’s expertise in that area will be called upon.

The consultation stage will be followed in the summer and autumn by a state aid notification process with the European Commission. The racing industry does not believe state aid will be

an issue, although that view is not necessarily shared by the betting sector.

At the end of the year the plan is for the statutory legal documents to be published in advance of the new funding model coming into force in a year’s time.

BHA Chief Executive Nick Rust said: “British racing welcomes the further detail and timetable from the government on the implementation of a replacement for the levy by April 2017.

“This reinforces the government’s commitment to achieving a fair, enforceable and sustainable return from all betting activity on our sport.

“In particular, we welcome the government’s clear statement that its aim is ‘to restore to racing a fair contribution from all operators, which has been lost to racing simply because of the shift towards offshore remote betting’.”

That offshore loss, or ‘leakage’, has been estimated at £30 million-plus per year.

Rust continued: “The announcements come at a time when, during the Cheltenham Festival,

10

Nick Rust: fair contribution sought

British racing is again demonstrating its quality and significance in this country’s sporting and cultural landscape.

“However, we are a year-round industry, with significant grassroots and tens of thousands of livelihoods are reliant on British racing.

“We will continue to engage constructively with the government and the betting industry on achieving the timetable set out, while continuing to innovate and grow our sport as the world’s best and most natural betting product.”

Aintree vet for MBA

Plus 10 change after feedback Breeders and pinhookers will now be able to benefit from signing up to Plus 10, following a change in the terms of the bonus scheme.

Payments of £10,000 are available for horses signed up at all three stages of the scheme – as a foal, yearling and two-yearold – and now, following feedback from industry participants, breeders or pinhookers who sign up at the foal stage can receive a pay-out of £1,000 if that horse wins, and £2,000 if the winning horse has been registered as a foal and a yearling.

The change in terms is valid for any horses enrolled in the scheme from 2014.

Julian Richman-Watson, the Chairman of the Plus 10 committee, explained: “We’ve been very encouraged by breeders’ engagement with Plus 10 in its inaugural season, but we had received constructive feedback about how the scheme could be further improved.

“We recognise that breeders have no

GEORGE SELWYN

New funding structure due to be in place by April 2017

control over who purchases their foals and yearlings in the sales ring and, therefore, whether the eventual owner will elect to qualify that same horse for Plus 10.

“Plus 10 foals and yearlings have consistently outperformed non-registered horses in the sales ring and we understand many breeders enter horses into the scheme for the marketing advantage it offers. However, for a small number of breeders, the payment structure had been a sticking point.”

He added: “The committee is pleased to be able to implement this change, which allows the scheme to go from strength to strength and continue to encourage breeding and ownership of British- and Irish-bred racehorses.”

The vet who helped Balthazar King overcome serious injuries sustained when falling in last year’s Crabbie’s Grand National will lead the new Equine Welfare module as part of the Thoroughbred Horseracing Industries MBA, launched by the BHA, Levy Board and University of Liverpool last year.

Dr Ellen Singer, Senior Lecturer in Equine Orthapaedics, treated the popular chaser after he came down at the Canal Turn, suffering four fractured ribs and a punctured lung.

The 12-year-old, one of the most popular horses in training, made a full recovery and returned to the track at the Cheltenham Festival but failed to complete in the Cross Country Chase.

Dr Singer said: “People working within the industry are the custodians of the horse, as it is the horse’s athletic ability that provides the industry with its great and broad appeal.

“Organising and designing this module has provided the special challenge of figuring out how best to educate non-veterinary surgeons about the important issue of horse welfare in the racing industry.”

The MBA, the first of its kind, is designed to cultivate leaders in the racing industry, offering top-class teaching and a worldwide recognised qualification.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Apr_140_News4_Owner 24/03/2016 16:47 Page 11

Top award for Gemma Hogg

ROLL OF HONOUR EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

Gemma Hogg was named Employee of the Year at the 12th Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards in February.

The 34-year-old, who is assistant trainer to Micky Hammond in Middleham, received her trophy from Clare Balding and Sir Anthony McCoy, taking away a cheque for £40,000, half of which will be shared among her colleagues.

Hogg joined the Hammond yard aged 17 from the Northern Racing College and has worked her way up from stable girl to her current role.

She said: “It’s a wonderful industry to get involved with. You can do so many things, it’s not just about getting up and mucking out or being a top jockey.

“There are so many great days, you can’t put your finger on it. Getting up every day, doing something you love is amazing.

“I know everybody has mentioned it, but for Godolphin to do something like this for everyone is overwhelming.”

In total over £120,000 in prize-money was shared between the 18 finalists and their yards and studs.

GEMMA HOGG DAVID NICHOLSON NEWCOMER AWARD

LAURA WINSTANLEY (Sir Michael Stoute) LEADERSHIP AWARD

GEMMA HOGG (Micky Hammond) RIDER/GROOM AWARD

ALYSON DENIEL (Richard Fahey) STUD STAFF AWARD

STUART THOM (Lofts Hall Stud) DEDICATION TO RACING AWARD

CLAIRE GOODENOUGH (William Haggas) RORY MACDONALD COMMUNITY AWARD

LISA DELANY RACINGFOTOS

(Jockeys Employment Training Scheme) ROR SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

JOANNA MASON Liverpool

Gemma Hogg receives her prize from Sir Anthony McCoy

The breeders of winning horses at this year’s Royal Ascot meeting will receive a trophy to mark their achievement.

Branded strawberry dishes, designed by official trophy and silverware supplier Garrard, will be presented after each race.

Guy Henderson, Chief Executive of Ascot racecourse, said: “Owners, trainers jockeys and stable staff are already recognised.

For breeders, which are sometimes smaller operations, that recognition is less obvious but just as important.”

In a further initiative, members of The Thoroughbred Club, designed for young breeding and racing enthusiasts, can enjoy half-price admission to the Queen Anne Enclosure on the Tuesday and Wednesday of Royal Ascot, June 14-15.

This year’s Gold Cup will be run as The Gold Cup in Honour of The Queen’s 90th Birthday to mark Her Majesty’s milestone.

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GEORGE SELWYN

Breeders will be officially recognised at Royal Ascot

The Queen’s 90th birthday will be honoured in the 2016 Gold Cup

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Apr_140_Changes2pp_Layout 1 24/03/2016 17:13 Page 12

in association with

Racing’s news in a nutshell PEOPLE AND BUSINESS Kieren Fallon Veteran six-time British champion jockey embarks on new chapter of career as he teams up with Curragh trainer Michael O’Callaghan.

Peter Moody Black Caviar’s handler receives 12 months’ disqualification for a cobalt offence, though half his ban was suspended, and states he will not train again (see story page 40).

Tom Jonason Paul Nicholls’s assistant set to leave the champion trainer to embark on new career in the City of London – Harry Derham will fill his shoes.

Judy Murray Tennis star Andy Murray’s mother joins those set to be on the Grand Women’s Summit panel on Ladies’ Day at Aintree.

Randox Health Global healthcare provider will take over as sponsor of the Grand National from 2017 having signed a five-year deal with Aintree.

Joseph O’Brien Multiple Classic-winning jockey announces he will not race-ride this year, and probably never again, as he concentrates on training.

12

Pat Eddery Eleven-time champion jockey will be remembered at Ascot on King George day, with the first race renamed the Wooldridge Group Pat Eddery Stakes.

Also... Natalia Gemelova, one of the

first women to establish herself in the maledominated weighing room, quits the saddle aged 36 after 59 winners. Russell Bowes, former Head of Operations at Sandown, is appointed new Chief Executive of Plumpton, taking over from Kate Hills. BetVictor replaces Paddy Power as sponsor of the Gold Cup at the November Open meeting at Cheltenham. SIS agrees new deal with Irish tracks said to be worth €300 million and which runs to 2023. Hexham is sold to Hexham Auction Mart by the Enderby family.

The British Horseracing Education and Standards Trust is rebranded as Racing To School. Richard Johnson chalks up his 200th seasonal winner for the first time on Cheat The Cheater at Warwick.

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Apr_140_Changes2pp_Layout 1 24/03/2016 17:14 Page 14

RACEHORSE AND STALLION MOVEMENTS AND RETIREMENTS Long Run Cheltenham Gold Cup victor and dual winner of the King George VI Chase for owner Robert Waley-Cohen and jockey son Sam is retired aged 11.

Intikhab

Marcel

Group 2-winning miler is retired from stallion duties at Derrinstown Stud aged 22, having sired 50 individual stakes winner, notably top female Snow Fairy.

Last year’s Racing Post Trophy winner is bought by Australian entrepreneur Paul Makin.

Extreme Choice

Le Curieux

PEOPLE OBITUARIES

China Horse Club buys controlling interest in exciting juvenile trained in Australia by Mick Price.

Francois Nicolle-trained four-year-old is purchased by JP McManus, though there is no immediate return on his investment in the Fred Winter Hurdle.

John Santer 71

Mshawish

Somerby

Dual Grade 1 winner will retire to stand at Taylor Made Stallions in Kentucky at the conclusion of his racing career this year.

Richenda Ford-trained 13-year-old bows out on a high as he is retired after winning a handicap chase at Lingfield in March.

David Whitaker 78

Former journalist for The Sporting Life and Racing Post and a popular presence in the press room for 40 years.

Perth Chairman who along with wife Fiona owned 1978 Grand National winner Lucius.

HORSE OBITUARIES

David Patrick Quinn 90

Pont Alexandre 8

Gordon Howey 67

Lightly-raced Grade 1-winning hurdler owned by Rich Ricci who had embarked on a staying chase career.

Long Dog 6 Novice hurdler who won seven of his eight completed starts – on the ninth he sadly went wrong in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival.

Former travelling Head Lad to Jeremy Tree who was closely associated with the likes of Sharpo, Rainbow Quest and Danehill.

Former Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey who was left severely paralysed by a car crash in the 1970s.

Serge Boullenger 78 Rode Oroso to win the 1957 Arc and was champion jockey in France for the two years prior to that.

The Govaness 7

Claret Cloak 9 Six-time winner who was placed at the Cheltenham Festival and was a real favourite at the yard of Emma Lavelle.

No More Heroes 7 Dual Grade 1-winning chaser and potential star for Gigginstown suffers fatal tendon injury in the RSA Chase at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Niceonefrankie 10 Eight-time winner for the Venetia Williams stable, notably of the 2014 December Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

14

Popular mare, owned and bred by Cedric Brookes, who was a regular runner at Cheltenham where she won two Listed contests.

Parfore 18 Outstanding producing mare, the dam of Australian Group 1 winners Terravista and Tiger Tees.

Dubai Hills 10 Stalwart of the all-weather scene over recent years and particularly effective at Southwell, where he won seven times for owner Fiona Denniff.

Neptune Equester 13 Grand campaigner, a nine-time winner on the Flat, over hurdles and fences, who collapsed after finishing second in the Ivan Straker Chase at Kelso.

Jacqueline O’Brien 89 Widow of legendary trainer Vincent O’Brien, she was an accomplished author, photographer and architectural historian as well as ably assisting her husband.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

THE AGA KHAN STUDS Success Breeds Success

Charm Spirit First foals showing all the marks of a champion sire line....

filly ex. VISOMIYA

colt ex. WATER FOUNTAIN

colt ex. TAWAASUL

Dam a half-sister to 2015 Gr.1 winner Vazirabad.

Dam a full-sister to Gr.1 placed Spring Oak and half-sister to the dam of Gr.1 winners Fragrant Mix and Alpine Rose.

Grandam 2nd in Gr.1 1000 Guineas and a full-sister to dual Gr.1 winner, Almutawakel.

filly ex. MIXIMAA

colt ex. FANTACISE

colt ex. YSPER

Miximaa is the dam of Gr.3 winner Ameenah, and half-sister to the dam of Gr.1 placed Sofast.

Dam a half-sister to Romantic Myth and Romantic Liason, both winners of the Gr.3 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Dam a full-sister to Gr.1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Vorda.

Standing at Haras de Bonneval, France in 2016 Georges Rimaud or Amanda Zetterholm +33 (0) 2 31 48 18 60 • information@agakhanstuds.com • www.agakhanstuds.com

Charm_Spirit_OwnerBreeder_Full_2016_04_01.indd 1

23/03/2016 15:02

Apr_140_Big_Picture_CheltenhamSpread1_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 14:48 Page 16

THE BIG PICTURE

RUBY SPARKLES AGAIN The 2016 Cheltenham Festival kicked off with sublime performances from Douvan (main image) in the Arkle Challenge Trophy and Annie Power (top) in the Champion Hurdle, with Vroum Vroum Mag taking the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle to give owner Rich Ricci, trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh a Grade 1 treble on the opening day.

The trio also teamed up with Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle scorer Limini and Vautour (above), who coasted home in the Ryanair Chase after being switched from the Cheltenham Gold Cup Photos George Selwyn

Apr_140_Big_Picture_CheltenhamSpread1_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 14:48 Page 17

C H E LT E N H A M F E S T I VA L

Apr_140_Big_Picture_CheltenhamSpread2_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 14:53 Page 18

THE BIG PICTURE

The Foxhunter Chase received huge press coverage thanks to the presence of former cycling champion Victoria Pendleton. The dual Olympic gold medallist acquitted herself well on Pacha Du Polder (above), finishing a close-up fifth, with victory going to the Enda Bolgertrained On The Fringe under Nina Carberry (top)

Apr_140_Big_Picture_CheltenhamSpread2_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 14:54 Page 19

C H E LT E N H A M F E S T I VA L

SPECTACULAR SACRE Few former champions regain their crown at Cheltenham but Sprinter Sacre, trained by Nicky Henderson, did exactly that in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Caroline Mould’s ten-yearold, who had suffered with a heart problem, stormed up the hill under Nico de Boinville to rapturous applause from the crowd, beating hot favourite Un De Sceaux by three and a half lengths Photos George Selwyn

Owner Graham Wylie enjoyed a superb Cheltenham with three winners, enjoying Grade 1 glory with Black Hercules and Yorkhill (pictured)

Apr_140_Big_Picture_CheltenhamSpread3_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 14:56 Page 20

THE BIG PICTURE

Apr_140_Big_Picture_CheltenhamSpread3_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 14:56 Page 21

C H E LT E N H A M F E S T I VA L

TARA’S TERRIFIC TREBLE The Festival witnessed a hat-trick of British-bred Grade 1 winners for Overbury Stud resident Kayf Tara, led by John and Heather Snook’s outstanding World Hurdle winner, Thistlecrack (main image). The eight-year-old, ridden by Tom Scudamore for trainer Colin Tizzard, was bred by Cobhall Court Stud, while Mary Morrison is the breeder of RSA Chase winner Blaklion (top), who scored under Ryan Hatch for owners Sarah Such and Carmello Paleta. Blaklion’s trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies also won the Weatherbys Champion Bumper with Options O Syndicate’s Ballyandy (above, red and white silks), partnered by son Sam, and bred by Pleasure Palace Racing Photos George Selwyn

Apr_140_Big_Picture_CheltenhamSpread4_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 14:57 Page 22

THE BIG PICTURE

COSSACK RUSHES IN Willie Mullins saddled seven winners during the Festival to take the leading trainer title but his Djakadam (pink) was unable to provide a first Cheltenham Gold Cup triumph.

Victory went to the Gordon Elliott-trained Don Cossack, wearing the familiar Gigginstown silks of Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary (pictured right of horse, right), as the nine-year-old proved too strong under Bryan Cooper and galloped on powerfully to score by four and a half lengths Photos George Selwyn and Bill Selwyn

Apr_140_Big_Picture_CheltenhamSpread4_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 14:57 Page 23

C H E LT E N H A M F E S T I VA L

EBF Spread_Layout 1 23/03/2016 15:04 Page 24

Published here is the Final List of European stallions registered in full with the EBF for the 2015 covering season. The progeny of these stallions, CONCEIVED IN 2015 IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE, (the foal crop of 2016) will be eligible to enter the EBF races to be held during the

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A ABBASHIVA (GER) ACCLAMATION (GB) ACHTUNG (GB) ADELPHOS (FR) ADLERFLUG (GER) AEROPLANE (GB) AGE OF JAPE (POL) AGENT SECRET (IRE) AGNES KAMIKAZE (JPN) AIKEN (GB) AIR CHIEF MARSHAL (IRE) AIZAVOSKI (IRE) AL NAMIX (FR) ALASKA RIVER (GER) ALBAASIL (IRE) ALEX THE WINNER (USA) ALEXANDROS (GB) ALHEBAYEB (IRE) ALIANTHUS (GER) ALKAADHEM (GB) ALQAAHIR (USA) AMADEUS WOLF (GB) AMERICAIN (USA) AMERICAN DEVIL (FR) AMERICAN POST (GB) AMICO FRITZ (GER) ANABAA BLUE (GB) AND BEYOND (IRE) ANDROID (USA) ANODIN (IRE) APPLE TREE (FR) APPROVE (IRE) APSIS (GB) ARABIAN GLEAM (GB) ARAKAN (USA) ARCADIO (GER) ARCANO (IRE) ARCHANGE D’OR (IRE) ARCHIPENKO (USA) ARCTIC COSMOS (USA) AREION (GER) ARISTOTLE (IRE) ARMY KING (FR) ARVICO (FR) ASK (GB) ASSERTIVE (GB) AUSSIE RULES (USA) AUSTRALIA (GB) AUTHORIZED (IRE) AVONBRIDGE (GB) B BACH (IRE) BAHRI (USA) BALKO (FR) BALLINGARRY (IRE) BALTIC KING (GB) BANNABY (FR) BARASTRAIGHT (GB) BARELY A MOMENT (AUS) BASHKIROV (GB) BATED BREATH (GB) BATTLE OF MARENGO (IRE) BEAT ALL (USA) BEAT HOLLOW (GB) BIG BAD BOB (IRE)

BLACK SAM BELLAMY (IRE) BLEK (FR) BLU AIR FORCE (IRE) BLU CONSTELLATION (ITY) BLUE BRESIL (FR) BLUE CANARI (FR) BLUE CORAL (IRE) BLUEPRINT (IRE) BOBY DI JOB (BRZ) BOLLIN ERIC (GB) BONBON ROSE (FR) BOREAL (GER) BORIS DE DEAUVILLE (IRE) BORN TO SEA (IRE) BRAVE MANSONNIEN (FR) BRETIGNY (FR) BRIAN BORU (GB) BRUSCO (GB) BULLY PULPIT (USA) BUNGLE INTHEJUNGLE (GB) BURWAAZ (GB) C CACIQUE (IRE) CALIFET (FR) CALL ME BIG (GER) CAMACHO (GB) CAMELOT (GB) CAMERON HIGHLAND (IRE) CAMPANOLOGIST (USA) CANFORD CLIFFS (IRE) CANYON CREEK (IRE) CAPE CROSS (IRE) CAPTAIN CHOP (FR) CAPTAIN GERRARD (IRE) CAPTAIN MARVELOUS (IRE) CARADAK (IRE) CARLOTAMIX (FR) CASAMENTO (IRE) CAT JUNIOR (USA) CENTENNIAL (IRE) CHAMPS ELYSEES (GB) CHARM SPIRIT (IRE) CHICHI CREASY (FR) CIMA DE TRIOMPHE (IRE) CITYSCAPE (GB) CLASSIC LAW (GB) CLODOVIL (IRE) CLOUDINGS (IRE) CLOUSEAU (DEN) COACH HOUSE (IRE) COASTAL PATH (GB) COCKNEY REBEL (IRE) COKORIKO (FR) COLORADO KID (USA) COMPTON PLACE (GB) CONFUCHIAS (IRE) CONILLON (GER) CONTAT (GER) COURT CAVE (IRE) CREACHADOIR (IRE) CRILLON (FR) CURTAIN TIME (IRE) D DABBERS RIDGE (IRE) DABIRSIM (FR) DAHJEE (USA)

DALAKHANI (IRE) DANDY MAN (IRE) DANSANT (GB) DANSILI (GB) DAPPER (GB) DARK ANGEL (IRE) DARSALAM (IRE) DARSI (FR) DAVIDOFF (GER) DAWN APPROACH (IRE) DAY FLIGHT (GB) DELEGATOR (GB) DENON (USA) DEPORTIVO (GB) DESERT PRINCE (IRE) DESIDERATUM (GB) DIAMOND BOY (FR) DIAMOND GREEN (FR) DICK TURPIN (IRE) DICKENS (GER) DINK (FR) DIOGENES (IRE) DISTANT MUSIC (USA) DOCTOR DINO (FR) DONCASTER ROVER (USA) DOUBLE ECLIPSE (IRE) DOYEN (IRE) DR MASSINI (IRE) DRAGON DANCER (GB) DRAGON PULSE (IRE) DREAM AHEAD (USA) DREAM EATER (IRE) DREAM WELL (FR) DUBAWI (IRE) DUEL (IRE) DUNADEN (FR) DUNELIGHT (IRE) DUNKERQUE (FR) DURANTE ALIGHIERI (GB) DURBAN THUNDER (GER) DUTCH ART (GB) DYLAN THOMAS (IRE) E EASTERN ANTHEM (IRE) EGERTON (GER) EL SALVADOR (IRE) ELASOS (FR) ELECTRIC BEAT (GB) ELUSIVE CITY (USA) ELUSIVE PIMPERNEL (USA) ELZAAM (AUS) ENRIQUE (GB) EPAULETTE (AUS) EQUIANO (FR) EREWHON (USA) ES QUE LOVE (IRE) EVASIVE (GB) EXCEED AND EXCEL (AUS) EXCELEBRATION (IRE) EXECUTE (FR) F FAIR MIX (IRE) FAIRLY RANSOM (USA) FALCO (USA) FAME AND GLORY (GB) FAMOUS NAME (GB)

FARHH (GB) FAST AND FURIOUS (FR) FAST COMPANY (IRE) FEEL LIKE DANCING (GB) FIGHT CLUB (GER) FINE GRAIN (JPN) FINJAAN (GB) FINSCEAL FIOR (IRE) FIREBREAK (GB) FLAMINGO FANTASY (GER) FLEMENSFIRTH (USA) FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND (GB) FOUR STAR GENERAL (IRE) FOXWEDGE (AUS) FRACAS (IRE) FRAMMASSONE (IRE) FRANKEL (GB) FRANKLINS GARDENS (GB) FRENCH FIFTEEN (FR) FROZEN FIRE (GER) FROZEN POWER (IRE) FRUITS OF LOVE (USA) FUISSE (FR) FULL OF GOLD (FR) G GALE FORCE TEN (GB) GALILEO (IRE) GAMUT (IRE) GARSWOOD (GB) GEMIX (FR) GENTLEWAVE (IRE) GEORDIELAND (FR) GEORGE VANCOUVER (USA) GETAWAY (GER) GLOBUS (GER) GLOR NA MARA (IRE) GOLDEN LARIAT (USA) GOLDEN TORNADO (IRE) GOLDMARK (USA) GOODRICKE (GB) GREAT PRETENDER (IRE) GREGORIAN (IRE) GREY SWALLOW (IRE) GRIS DE GRIS (IRE) GRIS TENDRE (FR) H HAAFHD (GB) HAATEF (USA) HAIL (IRE) HAMOND (GER) HANNOUMA (IRE) HARBOUR WATCH (IRE) HAVANA GOLD (IRE) HEERAAT (IRE) HELLO SUNDAY (FR) HELLVELYN (GB) HELMET (AUS) HENRYTHENAVIGATOR (USA) HERETIC (CZE) HIGH ROCK (IRE) HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR (IRE) HONOLULU (IRE) HURRICANE CAT (USA) HURRICANE RUN (IRE) I IFFRAAJ (GB)

IMPERIAL MONARCH (IRE) INDIAN DANEHILL (IRE) INDIAN HAVEN (GB) INTELLO (GER) INTENSE FOCUS (USA) INTIKHAB (USA) INUVIK (AUS) INVINCIBLE SPIRIT (IRE) IRISH WELLS (FR) IT’S GINO (GER) IVORY LAND (FR) J JAMMAAL (GB) JARN (GB) JET AWAY (GB) JEU IRLANDAIS (FR) JOSHUA TREE (IRE) JUKEBOX JURY (IRE) K KALANISI (IRE) KALATOS (GER) KALLISTO (GER) KAMSIN (GER) KANDAHAR RUN (GB) KANDIDATE (GB) KAP ROCK (FR) KAPGARDE (FR) KARGALI (IRE) KAYF TARA (GB) KENDARGENT (FR) KENTUCKY DYNAMITE (USA) KHALKEVI (IRE) KHELEYF (USA) KIER PARK (IRE) KINGMAN (GB) KINGSALSA (USA) KINGSBARNS (IRE) KINGSFORT (USA) KISSING YOU (ARG) KODIAC (GB) KONIG TURF (GER) KUROSHIO (AUS) KUTUB (IRE) KYLLACHY (GB) L LAST TRAIN (GB) LAVEROCK (IRE) LAWMAN (FR) LE CADRE NOIR (IRE) LE FOU (IRE) LE HAVRE (IRE) LE LOUP BLEU (FR) LE VIE INFINITE (IRE) LEADING LIGHT (IRE) LEGOLAS (JPN) LEROIDESANIMAUX (BRZ) LETHAL FORCE (IRE) LIBERTARIAN (GB) LIBRANNO (GB) LILBOURNE LAD (IRE) LINDA’S LAD (GB) LINNGARI (IRE) LITERATO (FR) LOPE DE VEGA (IRE) LORD DU SUD (FR) LORD OF ENGLAND (GER)

LORD SHANAKILL (USA) LOS CRISTIANOS (FR) LOVELACE (GB) LUCARNO (USA) LUCAYAN (FR) M MAGADAN (IRE) MAHLER (GB) MAIGURI (IRE) MAINSAIL (GB) MAJOR CADEAUX (GB) MAKFI (GB) MALINAS (GER) MALOSSOL (USA) MAMOOL (IRE) MANDURO (GER) MARESCA SORRENTO (FR) MARIYDI (IRE) MARSHALL (FR) MARTALINE (GB) MARTILLO (GER) MASKED MARVEL (GB) MASTERCRAFTSMAN (IRE) MASTEROFTHEHORSE (IRE) MASTERSTROKE (USA) MAWATHEEQ (USA) MAXIOS (GB) MAYSON (GB) MAZAMEER (IRE) MEDICEAN (GB) MESHAHEER (USA) MESNIL DES AIGLES (FR) MHARADONO (GER) MIDNIGHT LEGEND (GB) MIDSHIPS (USA) MIGHTY (GB) MIKHAIL GLINKA (IRE) MILAN (GB) MILANAIS (FR) MILK IT MICK (GB) MILLENARY (GB) MINASHKI (IRE) MISTER FOTIS (USA) MOHANDAS (FR) MONITOR CLOSELY (IRE) MONSIEUR BOND (IRE) MONTGOLFIER (GER) MONTMARTRE (FR) MOOHAAJIM (IRE) MOONJAZ (GB) MORES WELLS (GB) MOROZOV (USA) MORPHEUS (GB) MOSS VALE (IRE) MOST IMPROVED (IRE) MOTIVATOR (GB) MOUNT NELSON (GB) MOUNTAIN HIGH (IRE) MOURAYAN (IRE) MR MEDICI (IRE) MUHAYMIN (USA) MUHTATHIR (GB) MUJAHID (USA) MUKHADRAM (GB) MULLIONMILEANHOUR (IRE) MULTIPLEX (GB)

R YZHJN W`\ O LI ' MV PU ; [* T -,_K ]S EBF Spread_Layout 1 23/03/2016 15:04 Page 25

The European Breeders’ Fund, 3\ZOPUN[VU /V\ZL /PNO :[YLL[ 5L^THYRL[ :\MMVSR *) (, <2 T: +44 1638 667960 F: +44 1638 667270 E:

www.ebfstallions.com

MUSTAMEET (USA) MY RISK (FR) MYBOYCHARLIE (IRE) N NAAQOOS (GB) NATHANIEL (IRE) NATIVE RULER (GB) NAYEF (USA) NEATICO (GER) NETWORK (GER) NEVER ON SUNDAY (FR) NEW APPROACH (IRE) NEXT DESERT (IRE) NICARON (GER) NICE APPLAUSE (IRE) NICK MANO FREDDA (IRE) NO NAY NEVER (USA) NO RISK AT ALL (FR) NORSE DANCER (IRE) NOTNOWCATO (GB) O OASIS DREAM (GB) OCOVANGO (GB) OLYMPIC GLORY (IRE) ON EST BIEN (IRE) ORIENTOR (GB) ORPEN (USA) OVERDOSE (GB) P PACO BOY (IRE) PALACE EPISODE (USA) PALAMOSS (IRE) PALAVICINI (USA) PANIS (USA) PAOLINI (GER) PAPAL BULL (GB) PAPALET (FR) PASSING GLANCE (GB) PASTORAL PURSUITS (GB) PASTORIUS (GER) PEDRO THE GREAT (USA) PEER GYNT (JPN) PENNY’S PICNIC (IRE) PETIT SPECIAL (FR) PHENOMENA (GB) PHOENIX REACH (IRE) PICCOLO (GB) PIRATEER (IRE) PIVOTAL (GB) PLANTEUR (IRE) POET’S VOICE (GB) POLICY MAKER (IRE) POLIGLOTE (GB) POMELLATO (GER) POP ROCK (JPN) POSEIDON ADVENTURE (IRE) POUNCED (USA) POUR MOI (IRE) POUVOIR ABSOLU (GB) POWER (GB) PRESENTING (GB) PRINCE D’ALIENOR (IRE) PRINCE FLORI (GER) PROCLAMATION (IRE) PUIT D’OR (IRE) PUNISHER (FR)

PUSHKIN (IRE) PYRUS (USA) Q QUEST FOR PEACE (IRE) QUINZIEME MONARQUE (USA) R RACINGER (FR) RAIL LINK (GB) RAJJ (IRE) RAJSAMAN (FR) RAVEN’S PASS (USA) RAY OF LIGHT (IRE) RED JAZZ (USA) REDBACK (GB) REEL BUDDY (USA) RELIABLE MAN (GB) REPLY (IRE) REQUINTO (IRE) RESPLENDENT GLORY (IRE) RIO DE LA PLATA (USA) RIP VAN WINKLE (IRE) ROB ROY (USA) ROBIN DES CHAMPS (FR) ROBIN DES PRES (FR) ROBIN DU NORD (FR) ROCAMADOUR (GB) ROCK OF GIBRALTAR (IRE) ROCKY OF GRACIE (FR) RODERIC O’CONNOR (IRE) ROL’OVER BEETHOVEN (FR) ROSENSTURM (IRE) ROYAL APPLAUSE (GB) RUGBY (USA) RULE OF LAW (USA) RULER OF THE WORLD (IRE) RUSSIAN TANGO (GER) S SABIANGO (GER) SADDEX (GB) SADDLER MAKER (IRE) SADDLER’S ROCK (IRE) SAGEBURG (IRE) SAINT DES SAINTS (FR) SAKHEE (USA) SAKHEE’S SECRET (GB) SALUTINO (GER) SAMUM (GER) SANDWAKI (USA) SANS FRONTIERES (IRE) SANTIAGO (GER) SAONOIS (FR) SATRI (IRE) SAYIF (IRE) SCALO (GB) SCATER (POL) SCHIAPARELLI (GER) SCORPION (IRE) SEA THE MOON (GER) SEA THE STARS (IRE) SEA’S LEGACY (IRE) SECRET SINGER (FR) SEHREZAD (IRE) SEPOY (AUS) SEPTEMBER STORM (GER) SEVRES ROSE (IRE) SHAKESPEAREAN (IRE)

SHAMALGAN (FR) SHAMARDAL (USA) SHANTARAM (GB) SHANTOU (USA) SHARPOUR (IRE) SHIROCCO (GER) SHOLOKHOV (IRE) SHOWCASING (GB) SHREK (GER) SILVER FROST (IRE) SIMPLEX (FR) SINNDAR (IRE) SIR PERCY (GB) SIR PRANCEALOT (IRE) SIXTIES ICON (GB) SIYOUNI (FR) SLADE POWER (IRE) SLICKLY (FR) SLICKLY ROYAL (FR) SMADOUN (FR) SO LONG SLEW (USA) SO YOU THINK (NZ) SOAVE (GER) SOCIETY ROCK (IRE) SOLDIER HOLLOW (GB) SOLDIER OF FORTUNE (IRE) SOLON (GER) SOMMERABEND (GB) SORDINO (GER) SOUL CITY (IRE) SPANISH MOON (USA) SPECIAL KALDOUN (IRE) SPIDER FLIGHT (FR) SPIRIT ONE (FR) SRI PUTRA (GB) STEELE TANGO (USA) STIMULATION (IRE) STORM MIST (IRE) STORMY JAIL (IRE) STORMY RIVER (FR) STYLE VENDOME (FR) SULAMANI (IRE) SUN CENTRAL (IRE) SUNDAY BREAK (JPN) SUTEKI SHINSUKEKUN (USA) SWISS SPIRIT (GB) T TAGULA (IRE) TAI CHI (GER) TAJRAASI (USA) TALE OF TWO CITIES (IRE) TAMAYUZ (GB) TAU CETI (GB) TEMPELTANZER (GER) TEOFILO (IRE) TERTULLIAN (USA) THE CARBON UNIT (USA) THE FRENCH (FR) THEWAYYOUARE (USA) TIANTAI (USA) TIGER CAFE (JPN) TIGRON (USA) TIMOS (GER) TIN HORSE (IRE) TOBOUGG (IRE) TOMORROWS CAT (USA)

TONI BLUE (FR) TOP TRIP (GB) TORONADO (IRE) TOUCH OF LAND (FR) TOUGH AS NAILS (IRE) TRAJANO (USA) TRANQUIL TIGER (GB) TRANS ISLAND (GB) TULLAMORE (USA) TURGEON (USA) U UNIVERSAL (IRE) URBAN POET (USA) V VALE OF YORK (IRE) VALIRANN (FR) VASYWAIT (FR) VATORI (FR) VERTIGINEUX (FR) VERY NICE NAME (FR) VESPONE (IRE) VIDAYAR (FR) VINNIE ROE (IRE) VIRTUAL (GB) VISION D’ETAT (FR) VITA ROSA (JPN) VITA VENTURI (IRE) VOCALISED (USA) VOL DE NUIT (GB) W WALDPARK (GER) WALK IN THE PARK (IRE) WAR BLADE (GER) WAR COMMAND (USA) WATAR (IRE) WAY OF LIGHT (USA) WELL CHOSEN (GB) WESTERNER (GB) WESTLAKE (GB) WHERE OR WHEN (IRE) WHIPPER (USA) WIENER WALZER (GER) WIESENPFAD (FR) WILLYWELL (FR) WINDSOR KNOT (IRE) WINGED LOVE (IRE) WOOTTON BASSETT (GB) WORTHADD (IRE) X XTENSION (IRE) Y YEATS (IRE) YORGUNNABELUCKY (USA) YOUMZAIN (IRE) Z ZAMBEZI SUN (GB) ZANZIBARI (USA) ZEBEDEE (GB) ZIZANY (IRE) ZOFFANY (IRE)

EBF INTERNATIONAL STALLIONS The stallions listed below stood OUTSIDE THE EBF AREA IN 2015 and have been registered as 0U[LYUH[PVUHS :[HSSPVUZ for that year by reason VM Z[HSSPVU UVTPUH[PVU

these stallions, CONCEIVED IN 2015, (the foal crop of 2016), will be eligible to enter and run in EBF races to be held during 2018, and thereafter, with no further European Breeders’ Fund.

STALLION CANDY RIDE (ARG) DAAHER (CAN) DAIWA MAJOR (JPN) DEEP IMPACT (JPN) ENGLISH CHANNEL (USA) FIRST DEFENCE (USA) GOLD ALLURE (JPN) HARBINGER (GB) HEART’S CRY (JPN) JUST A WAY (JPN) KING KAMEHAMEHA (JPN) KITTEN’S JOY (USA) LEMON DROP KID (USA) LORD KANALOA (JPN) MANHATTAN CAFÉ (JPN) MIZZEN MAST (USA) MUSKETIER (GER) NEO UNIVERSE (JPN) NOBLE MISSION (GB) NOVELLIST (IRE) ORFEVRE (JPN) POINT OF ENTRY (USA) QUALITY ROAD (USA) REAL SOLUTION (USA) RED ROCKS (IRE) RULERSHIP (JPN) UNION RAGS (USA) VICTOIRE PISA (JPN) WORKFORCE (GB) ZENNO ROB ROY (JPN)

STANDS USA USA JPN JPN USA USA JPN JPN JPN JPN JPN USA USA JPN JPN USA USA JPN USA JPN JPN USA USA USA USA JPN USA JPN JPN JPN

Apr_140_FromTheArchives_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 16:21 Page 26

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Apr_140_FromTheArchives_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 16:21 Page 27

RED RUM, MARCH 28, 1974

The story behind the photo by George Selwyn Red Rum had already won the National the year before and it seemed a great opportunity to visit the horse at Ginger McCain’s Southport stable, situated behind his second-hand car showroom, two days before the big race.

At Aintree I used to stay in the same B&B in central Liverpool as colleagues Ed Byrne and Alec Russell. I was only 22 at the time and it was very good of them to let me tag along.

Red Rum used to walk through the streets of Southport on the way to the beach for exercise, sometimes using this level crossing. The lads are not wearing hard hats – that only became compulsory in 1976 and I think that, along with the street lamps, dates the picture to a different era.

Billy Ellison is riding Red Rum but in later years the horse was looked after and ridden by Billy Beardwood, who is seen riding the horse in the noseband.

I will never forget my visits to Southport to photograph Red Rum. The horse changed the history of the Grand National; he was definitely a one-off.

I only recently discovered this negative again, but I’m very pleased that I did.

Apr_140_Tony_Morris_Owner 24/03/2016 14:08 Page 28

THE MAN YOU CAN’T IGNORE COMMENT

Tony Morris La Flèche was the best of her sex in the 19th century and the centenary of her death is cause to recall a career that yielded three Classics, the Gold Cup and Champion Stakes

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ROUCH WILMOT LIBRARY

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his month marks the centenary of the death of a mare who owned a claim to recognition as the best runner of her sex in the 19th century. Winner of the Fillies’ Triple Crown and unlucky runner-up in the Derby, accomplished at all distances from five furlongs to two and a half miles, La Flèche was 27 years old when she died at Sledmere Stud in Yorkshire on April 22, 1916.

By the breed-shaping multiple champion sire St Simon, she was out of the Toxophilite mare Quiver, whose racing career had been spent exclusively at Newmarket, with a record of two wins, two seconds and three third places from seven outings, all at sprint distances. Acquired at the age of eight in 1880 for the Royal Studs, presumably without the cognisance of Her Majesty, she produced a useful winner in the gelded Archer (by See Saw) and the rather more accomplished filly Satchel (by Galopin), a winner twice at Goodwood and once at Liverpool.

None of the next three foals was up to winning, the third of them, Maid Marian (by Hampton), failing seven times as a two-yearold, including four in selling company, before being retired to stud. Remarkably, that dire performer would become dam of high-class runner and notable sire Polymelus (by Cyllene), whose son Phalaris was to become the most influential sire of the 20th century.

Having delivered Maid Marian in 1886, Quiver was mated with St Simon, and the outcome was Memoir, who should have won the 1,000 Guineas and did win the Oaks and St Leger. Her Oaks win was timely – shortly before her sister was due to appear in the 1890 draft of yearlings submitted to auction from the Hampton Court Stud.

By general consent, Memoir’s sister stood out as the cream of the crop, but few could have imagined she would break the record price for a yearling, which had stood at 4,100gns since 1876. In fact she shattered it, being sold for 5,500gns to Lord Marcus Beresford, on behalf of Baron Maurice de Hirsch. By all accounts, the Prince of Wales egged Beresford along during the bidding,

La Fléche was an accomplished performer from five furlongs to two and a half miles

apparently keen the filly bred by his mother should join John Porter’s string at Kingsclere, where his own horses were trained.

The Baron was never to regret the price he paid. La Flèche retrieved more than half that outlay in her juvenile campaign, winning all four of her races, including the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood and the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. It was a moot point whether she or stablemate Orme, the best son of Ormonde, was top UK two-year-old. Orme won five times, including the Middle Park Plate and Dewhurst Plate, failing only when runner-up to four-year-old Signorina in the valuable Lancashire Plate at Manchester.

Best yet to come At the end of her first campaign La Flèche was recognisably a precocious, accomplished sprinter. She revealed many more qualities in her second season, which she began by winning the 1,000 Guineas. Her reputation was such she started at 11-10 against a dozen male rivals – none at single-figure odds – in the Derby. Her chance was compromised by

an irresponsible ride from George Barrett, who had her ten lengths off the pace at Tattenham Corner, but she flew home to earn second, beaten three-quarters of a length.

The highly-strung La Flèche sweated and appeared fretful two days later, when asked to confirm her superiority over her own sex in the Oaks, but she was able to land odds of 811 by a short head. Rested until Goodwood, she won the Nassau Stakes, giving lumps of weight to four other three-year-old fillies.

A busy autumn followed. In the St Leger she was ridden by Jack Watts, as Barrett rode Orme, but the colt ran disappointingly while the filly collected her third Classic in fine style, with her Derby conqueror Sir Hugo in second. Further wins came in the Lancashire Plate, Grand Duke Michael Stakes, Newmarket Oaks and Cambridgeshire, that last triumph being particularly meritorious, as she carried 8st 10lb – an extraordinarily big weight for a three-year-old – and won by a length and a half, giving 34lb to runner-up Pensioner, a colt of the same age.

After two seasons in which La Flèche had THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Apr_140_Tony_Morris_Owner 24/03/2016 14:09 Page 29

won 12 times from 13 starts and earned £29,368, Porter might have expected to have earned the gratitude of his wealthy patron. In fact, for reasons he never discussed, Baron de Hirsch removed the filly and all his other horses and sent them to Richard Marsh. The Prince of Wales’s string departed at the same time, bound for the same destination.

La Flèche did not improve for the change of yard. At four she was not seen out until the Eclipse, in which she was a modest third behind Orme, and he beat her again in the Gordon Stakes. The filly’s bid for a second Lancashire Plate proved unsuccessful, her third place representing one of two surprises in the race, Raeburn making the most of a 10lb concession from Isinglass and ending that Triple Crown winner’s unbeaten record.

Remarkably, La Flèche won only twice from seven starts in 1893, those victories coming in the Lowther Stakes at Newmarket and the Liverpool Autumn Cup. In the latter contest she gave between 15lb and 48lb to 11 rivals. She finished unplaced for the first time in her life in the Cambridgeshire, in which she had 9st 7lb – the winner had 3st less – and was again off the board when attempting another severe task under 9st 11lb in a Manchester November Handicap contested on heavy ground.

La Flèche began her stud career at five, but she had not finished with racing. Indeed, she enhanced her record with triumphs in the Gold Cup and Champion Stakes – an unprecedented double in the same season – and did so while carrying a filly by Morion. In between those victories she finished second to Ravensbury in the Hardwicke Stakes (run the day after the Gold Cup) and fourth, beaten half a length, a neck and a head, while as usual giving lumps of weight away. She retired the winner of 16 of 24 races, having earned upwards of £35,000 – a significant return on what she cost.

Baron de Hirsch died in 1896, and La Flèche was the inevitable headline-maker when his bloodstock was dispersed at auction. Sir Tatton Sykes made the successful bid of 12,600gns that meant she spent the rest of her life at Sledmere, but her stud career proved less productive than one might have hoped. She was barren nine times, delivered one set of dead twins, and had a filly who died as a yearling.

But she did produce two foals who achieved distinction, one of each sex. Her 1901 son John o’ Gaunt (by Isinglass) finished second in the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby, subsequently becoming the sire of Swynford, a champion both on the racecourse and at stud. Her 1900 daughter Baroness La Flèche became the dam of 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes winner Cinna (by Polymelus), whose descendants proved hugely influential at stud in New Zealand.

It was unfortunate for La Flèche’s reputation that within a few years of her retirement along came two other exceptional racemares in Sceptre and Pretty Polly, whose performances tended to overshadow hers. Sceptre accomplished what La Flèche unluckily just failed to do, winning four Classics outright, and some thought she ought to have won all five. Pretty Polly, another distaff Triple Crown heroine, was beaten only twice in 24 races, routinely routing her rivals.

Even so, La Flèche accomplished some feats neither of the other pair managed, and was arguably the most versatile of the trio in terms of distances conquered. The Gold Cup found even Pretty Polly out.

“Baron Maurice de Hirsch was never to regret the record price he paid for La Flèche”

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Apr_140_HowardWright_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 14:06 Page 30

HOWARD WRIGHT COMMENT

Trainers are key to central race planning – all we can hope is that they cooperate in enough numbers for the BHA’s holistic approach to succeed

Tiny steps towards big goal

A

t last, holistic race planning is just around the corner, ready to be unleashed by the BHA at the lower end of the programme scale. Will it provide the big breakthrough in competitiveness that its supporters believe? Or will it be consigned to a file already bursting at the seams with well-worn oxymorons, such as military intelligence, deafening silence, devout atheist and unbiased opinion?

It’s not as if determining race conditions based on the raw material available is a new concept. US race tracks have been using the system for years. As Frank Gabriel, current boss of the Dubai Racing Club but once racing secretary at Arlington Park, pointed out on hearing of the BHA’s wheeze: “I was always told that you didn’t go home until you had at least six runners a race.”

Of course, the US is different; its officials do not work from a central point and can make up programmes as they go along, taking little or no regard of conditions on the other side of the country, or even in the next state.

For all that, the very differences make a more centralised system appealing in Britain, with its 60 individual but interlinked racecourses crammed into a relatively small space. Indeed, the idea of introducing a semblance of central-office responsibility for race programming has been around for at least 20 years to my knowledge.

To a large extent it was swept away as unworkable by a vocal and influential body of trainers, alarmed at the prospect of having to provide more information about horses in their care.

The same introverted thinking that kept the overnight declaration of jockeys and 48hour declarations for Flat racing at arm’s length for long enough has worked for much longer. Now, though, thanks to a project driven by the BHA’s Racing Development Executive Toni Newman, a breakthrough has been made and the governing body will make changes to the conditions of races below Class 4 on the Flat and in Classes 4-6 over jumps, a responsibility currently held by the tracks.

Talk about tiny steps! At least they are being taken after a process that involved the main stakeholder groups, which offers hope that they will succeed where other, perhaps less inclusive, discussions foundered.

30

Trainers providing accurate data on their charges is crucial to future race planning

Smooth implementation will provide an early test for Richard Wayman in his new role as the BHA’s Chief Operating Officer. After four years concentrating his efforts – and most deftly at that – in support of one interest group, he now has to herd the cats from several more directions.

“It’s time for trainers to get involved or get out of the debate.

In simpler terms, put up or shut up”

He is aware of the rewards, saying when the race-planning developments were announced: “The benefits will include a reduction in race clashes and gaps, better use of the available horse population, improvement in field sizes and the delivery of more competitive and compelling racing.”

All very laudable, sensible and acceptable.

But it will work to everyone’s advantage only

if there is a high level of engagement by trainers, who will be required to provide accurate and timely information so that the central authority can produce, in Wayman’s words, “a more co-ordinated race programme supported by better data, increased analysis and additional feedback”.

Much of the organisational detail seems to have been geared around getting the trainers on side. Quarterly meetings are being held in conjunction with the NTF to gather feedback; online facilities are being souped up. In return, trainers will be required to provide more detailed information about the horses in their charge.

Without accurate data on numbers and types of active horses and assessment of distance requirements, no amount of central planning will be successful. It means trainers having to commit time, effort and some original thought to their provision, and doing so in greater numbers than those few, often with vested interests, who have previously been involved.

In short, everything depends on the participants, especially trainers. It’s time for them to get involved or get out of the debate.

In simpler terms, put up or shut up. The choice is theirs.

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Apr_140_View_From_Ireland_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 15:09 Page 33

VIEW FROM IRELAND

By JESSICA LAMB

A case of opportunity knocks Messrs Foley and McCullagh set to benefit from Fran Berry’s switch to Britain

CAROLINE NORRIS

F

ran Berry’s unexpected exit from Ireland looks set to open fresh doors for two stalwarts of the weighing room.

As the Turf season trundles into action, both Shane Foley and Niall McCullagh, returning from a life-threatening injury, are poised to step into the shoes of Ralph Beckett’s new stable jockey.

Each has been riding for similar trainers to Berry for years, enjoying success, but missing out on the biggest victories. Now that could change as the likes of Jessica Harrington, Charles O’Brien and Tony Martin look to fill the void left by their number one jockey.

“I’ve always ridden for Jessie since I was an apprentice and we’ve had a lot of luck together,” said Foley. “I’m not sure yet what way she’s going to go with jockeys, but I’m sure this will open up doors for me along the line.”

Like Foley, McCullagh has a long association with Harrington, but he also rides for O’Brien and Martin.

He said: “It’s sad Fran’s going away, but there are his 500-600 rides a year that are now available and there might be a few extra opportunities for a jockey like me. It’s obviously a little bit of a help.”

Berry’s move could be more than that to

McCullagh’s career, though after a gruelling eight months out through injury, he is keen to remain focussed on the small things after his gallops accident.

McCullagh said: “At 46, you don’t bounce as well as a 16-year-old. I broke my leg once and was out for four months, but this was far more painful and a lot more serious.

“It’s sad Fran’s

going away, but there are 500-600 rides a year that are now available” “My collarbone was broken, my lung collapsed and all my ribs were broken. It’s been tough and I must say I’ve had a lot of help along the way from Dr Adrian McGoldrick, the physio Mary O’Connor and Frank Dunne. They have been great, and I feel really good again.

He added, jokingly: ”It’s been my longest time

out of the saddle – and I feel like an apprentice starting out again.”

Foley, meanwhile, hasn’t stopped. From a season of hunting with old friend Gary Carroll, the 28-year-old went to Japan. He rode ten winners, including one at Group 3 level, bringing back more than the local lingo.

He said: “It’s hard to say I learned anything in particular, but you would have to take something away from experiencing the style of racing.

“Their first three furlongs are nearly as important as their last three furlongs, which is not the case here.

“Breaking smart and getting a good position is very important, and a lot of races can be lost in the first two or three furlongs.

“Some horses find it very hard to face the kickback on the dirt, so no matter what speed you go it’s very hard to make up ground.”

Foley dropped straight back into work with Halford’s 100-strong Kildare string and, looking at the Classic generation, has been most impressed by the progress of Godolphin’s Weld Park Stakes runner-up Anamba.

“I honestly think Anamba could be very good,” he said. ”I’d love to ride her to win a Guineas, but even if I don’t get to ride her and

>>

Shane Foley with the promising Anamba, and trainer Michael Halford

>>

Apr_140_View_From_Ireland_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 15:07 Page 34

>>

she did fulfil that promise, I’d be happy. There’s a lot to look forward to for the team, even if it is early days.”

Halford seconded Foley thoughts, confirming that a 1,000 Guineas is on the daughter of Shamardal’s radar.

“She’s wintered really well,” said the trainer.

“She’s a promising filly – we’re really pleased with her and certainly considering the Guineas for her.”

Foley also highlighted two more three-yearolds he feels could shine for Halford this term.

He said: “There’s Golden Pearl, an Oasis Dream filly who won for me at Fairyhouse towards the backend. She’s done well over the winter, as has another horse I liked, Mighty Legend. He’s a Shamardal colt who ran well on his only run at Leopardstown in October. I’m looking forward to getting him out and kicking on with him.”

With so much talent at his main yard, it will be tricky to find space and time in his schedule to strengthen his relationship with Harrington, yet Foley is with the right man to make that happen.

He explained: “The boss and I have a very good relationship. I’ve been here since I left the apprentice school at 17. That’s 11 years.

“It’s honest and nothing else. That’s what makes it work in this sense. If I tell him straight out that Jessie or Ken Condon has a nice one I’d like to ride, he’ll try to work around it.”

Foley’s stock is rising continually as Halford’s does too and last year he achieved a career-best seasonally tally of 71 wins. Despite this success, Foley lacks a coveted Group 1 win. It’s a target he quietly believes can be reached this campaign.

“I would love to better last year’s tally first of all, and if I could get a Group 1 winner along the way that would make it extra special,” he said. “It’s something that’s missing – I’ve hit the crossbar a few times, Toscannini in the National Stakes and Masiyn in the Irish St Leger – and I think we will get it this year, hopefully.

“We haven’t had that type of animal that can make that happen before, but looking in the yard at the moment I think there could be a few that are at that level now. That’s down to stronger owners.”

They may be what is taking him to the next level, but it was stronger friendships that have got him this far. He launched his career with Gary Carroll at Halford’s in 2007 and the pair fought out apprentice titles together, from the same yard, and often the same house.

“I am very close to Gary,” said Foley. “I hunted with him for a lot of the winter before I left, and obviously I’m close with Connor King and Ronan Whelan too. We’re a close-knit group between us.

“One thing I actually noticed about Japan was that a lot of the jockeys keep to themselves. It made me admire the way we can be so close here at home – I like that.”

34

CAROLINE NORRIS

VIEW FROM IRELAND

Barry Browne on Golden Boot, on whom he won recently at Gowran Park

Browne back on right road Amateur jockey Barry Browne has urged young riders to learn from his mistakes after relaunching his career with Dublin trainer Oliver McKiernan.

The 25-year-old began race-riding in point-to-points eight years ago and quickly jumped into being a conditional with promising levels of success. But he wasn’t ready for the switch overseas and had little to return to.whe he made his way back to Ireland.

After several years of hard graft and ditching his conditional licence for the amateur ranks, he is on an upward curve again, and offered sage advice to newcomers.

“Don’t go to work in a small yard just because you think you’ll get rides,” he said.

“When I came back to Ireland from Evan Williams’s I worked for Gordon Elliott and it was the best thing I could have done. I was doing it for a wage mainly. I did get opportunities, but what I learnt just riding those horses and working with the amount of good riders and horse people he had was worth more than the rides.”

It reignited Browne’s desire and McKiernan took note, taking him on this

season to share rides with Ian McCarthy, and to ride his point-to-pointers.

This has led to Browne finally riding out his point-to-point claim and riding two winners over fences, with more talent to look forward to.

He said: “There are plenty of young horses there, and I think next year you’ll really see that as they come through into point-to-points and bumpers. Oliver has given me a chance and things have worked well so far.”

McKiernan is the only trainer to have given the County Kildare native an opportunity so far, but other point-to-point handlers have taken note.

“The rides I’m getting are decent rides now,” explained Browne. “Before, there were days when I’d go to point-to-points and have five rides and four falls. I was riding bad horses day in, day out.”

He added: “I could have given up at times, but I left school to become a jockey and I didn’t just want to walk away from it. You get used to hard work and long hours when it’s working, and it is for now.

I’m happy.”

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Apr_140_Continental_Tales_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 15:10 Page 36

CONTINENTAL TALES F R A N CE

By JAMES CRISPE, INTERNATIONAL RACING BUREAU

Red-hot Boudot has Ascot in sights Last year’s joint-champion jockey could be out on his own this time

36

Boudot on topclass filly Esoterique and, below, with his Cravache d’Or

GEORGE SELWYN

P

ierre-Charles Boudot is undoubtedly Europe’s hottest Flat jockey of the moment, and that’s not referring to the good looks and broad smile of a young man whose smart appearance should come as no surprise given that both his mother and sister are successful hairdressers.

No, Boudot ended 2015 in scintillating fashion to share the French jockeys’ championship with Christophe Soumillon following a scarcely believable final day of the season at Pau that saw him fall behind, then draw back level, in the last two races of a 12month campaign.

And he hasn’t let up in the first few months of 2016, quickly establishing a long lead at the head of the table and snaffling the richest prize of the winter Flat season, the Grand Prix du Departement 06 at Cagnes-Sur-Mer, whilst maintaining a cracking one-in-four strike-rate.

He is the latest model off the Andre Fabre production line of riding talent which – in a period of just three years – has seen the 27-time champion trainer pluck Boudot, Mickael Barzalona and Maxime Guyon straight out of the jockeys school in Gouvieux and turn them all into world-class pilots.

While Group 1 victories have been in relatively short supply (his Sun Chariot Stakes triumph aboard Esoterique at Newmarket in October was just the third top-level win of his career), Boudot has beaten his two ‘Fabre Academy’ pals to the punch by becoming the first to take possession of a Cravache d’Or – the golden whip trophy awarded to France’s champion jockey.

That he achieved this just days after his 23rd birthday does Boudot much credit, especially since he has had to overcome two massive hurdles in order to reach the top rung of the riding ladder.

First, while a 16-year-old Boudot was studying at the jockey school north of Paris, his father and mentor, trainer Marc Boudot, died suddenly of a brain tumour at Paray-Le-Monial in central France, some 250 miles away.

Boudot has also done well to overcome the disadvantage of having grown to five feet and eight inches tall, meaning that he faces a daily battle with the scales. His lowest riding weight is 8st 9lb, a crucial few pounds above both Guyon and Barzalona, meaning that his agent, Herve Naggar, is unable to tout him for lightlyweighted rides.

Speaking at Chantilly racecourse shortly after Elliptique, potentially one of his top rides for the

coming season, had given Boudot yet another treble to take his annual tally to 45, he took time to reflect on his recent exploits.

“I’ve been on a roll for the past few weeks and I would just like to keep going at a similar rhythm while hoping that I can find a classy three-year-old to win some Classics!” he says.

“The end of last season was very strained, especially the final day at Pau when the atmosphere in the weighing-room was very tense. At one point I was 24 winners behind Christophe and it looked impossible for me to catch him, then he went abroad and by the time he came back I was five ahead, but that isn’t very

much when you are in competition with Christophe Soumillon.

“People came from far and wide to be at Pau, the racing public was incredibly supportive. I have to admit that I had butterflies in my stomach when Christophe went one in front with just one race left.

“I’ve heard a lot of things, a lot of conjecture, about Christophe and I at some stage having an agreement to share the title. All I can say is that I had more than 1,000 mounts last year, from the very first day of the season to the very last – that means the only agreement I had was to win as many races as possible and to respect the trainers, owners and punters.”

Further drama was added to their year-end head-to-head by Boudot being stood down owing to dizziness and needing to pass the doctor to resume the fight. He admits that his height makes life difficult but certainly doesn’t complain, simply commenting, matter-of-factly: “I need to work hard on keeping my weight at its current level by following a balanced diet and strict keep-fit regime.”

Quizzed about the possibility of doing the reverse of yet another flourishing Fabre protégé, Vincent Cheminaud, he responds categorically, saying: “I have no intention of switching from Flat racing to jumping.”

This contrasts starkly with two years ago when he admitted that a move to the sport’s other discipline “might become inevitable”.

His roots are firmly in jumping, as his father’s business concentrated on producing winners in that sphere – either by training them (Graal de Chalamont in the 2000 French Grand National) or breeding them (Taquin du Seuil in the 2014 JLT Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham).

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ND LA

Boomerang will be back The organisers should have been grateful for the British and Irish representatives on the final day of the famous White Turf Festival on the frozen lake racecourse at St Moritz on February 21 – in two of the day’s five Flat races these long-distance travellers accounted for half the field or more.

Tracey Collins managed a victory for Ireland with Eagle Valley and Jamie Osborne oh-so-nearly began the day with a British triumph thanks to his classy and consistent seven-year-old Boomerang Bob. “We only found out that the race had been dropped in distance from six and a half furlongs to four for safety reasons when we were in

Asked about the trauma of his father’s death, Boudot concedes: “It was a great shock and it took me a while to accept it and get over it.

“Death brings a life to an end but not a relationship. I’m always thinking about my father, especially after a big race. He was the one who first got me on a horse and gave me the love of competition. I don’t feel that his death changed the course of my career as I always wanted to be a Flat jockey so never intended to return to Paray-Le-Monial and ride for him. ”It was down to him that I initially got the job with Andre Fabre as he had spent some time at Fabre’s yard and asked him to take me on as an apprentice.

“As for Monsieur Fabre, I owe him a lot. He completed me as a jockey and taught me how to ride a race – I am proud to be part of his team and proud to have his trust.”

It was Fabre who entrusted Boudot with his first British ride when, barely out of his apprenticeship, he legged him up aboard Brigantin in the 2011 Gold Cup at Ascot.

Fabre’s confidence proved well placed as Brigantin finished third, well in front of the two British jockeys that Boudot admires most – now-trainer Richard Hughes (“for his balance – he is the same size as me”) and Frankie Dettori (“for his strength in the finish”).

The experience made a deep impression on the young Frenchman who has since furthered his riding education in Japan, Hong Kong and America, yet admits that his wish list for 2016 and beyond has a Group 1 victory at Royal Ascot right at its very top.

CZECH

GEORGE SELWYN

TZ SWI ER

Apr_140_Continental_Tales_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 15:10 Page 37

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PUBLIC

the paddock,” Osborne mused.

“Then I stood right by the winning post during the race and was absolutely certain that we’d won.

“We were shown a rather primitive photograph, which showed that we’d been beaten by half a nostril, but I’m convinced that the camera can’t have been where the line was.

“However, I don’t want to sound like a sore loser – Ian Barratt and all Boomerang Bob’s other owners thoroughly enjoyed the trip and we’re already planning to go back next year and avenge the defeat!”

Such is life! Jamie Osborne is already planning White Turf revenge in 2017

Classics on the move

The Czech Derby will have a midweek evening date for the first time this year when it takes place at Velka Chuchle in Prague on Thursday, June 23.

The move from its normal Sunday position is to avoid a clash with the European Football Championships – both the Czech Republic and neighbouring Slovakia have qualified for the finals and one or both could be involved in a last-16 match on the regular date.

The management at Velka Chuchle regards this fixture as a one-off but it will be

intriguing to see what kind of crowd is attracted, as there is a big potential audience for evening racing as the Prague commuters leave their desks at the end of a long, hot summer’s day.

Other fixture news finds the Czech Oaks relocating from Most to Karlovy Vary on Sunday, July 24. Most may be an idiosyncratic venue, with a short straight and a downhill finish, but it is sad to see a course that opened less than 20 years ago in decline – there will be just three meetings there in 2016.

Close shave for Skelton’s raiders The fine line between triumph and disaster when travelling horses across the Channel can rarely have been juxtaposed so starkly as at Enghien on March 7.

Dan Skelton sent two hurdlers on the long trek to Paris from his Warwickshire base and for some time it seemed their journey might be a futile and highly expensive one, as an on-course demonstration by striking Pari-Mutuel workers looked like stopping racing from taking place.

However, when the action finally got

under way two hours late, Skelton’s first ever French raiders took full advantage – Mont Lachaux plundering £18,353 by taking the Prix d’Essai des Poulains and Shelford pocketing a further £21,176 for a 20-length success in the Prix du Mont Cenis.

With so many of the top French jumpers now being sold early in their careers to continue racing in Britain and Ireland, lucrative Parisian prizes have never looked more winnable – but there are risks attached.

37

Apr_140_AroundtheGlobe_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 15:12 Page 39

AROUND THE GLOBE THE WORLDWIDE RACING SCENE

NORT H A M E R I CA

by Steve Andersen

Annus mirabilis for McLaughlin?

F

“I’ve not trained a

three-year-old at this time of year like Mohaymen. He’s a special horse” the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Stakes, one of the nation’s top wintertime sprints for females.

“It’s been quite a year so far,” McLaughlin said in early March. “This is a strong team.

We’ve got some nice horses.”

The 2016 season may be a career year. The Kentucky-born McLaughlin, 55, had stable earnings of $9.63 million last year, a personal best. The figure beat the $8.49m McLaughlin’s stable earned in 2006, the year he guided Invasor to an Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year.

There are championship prospects in the stable this year, notably Mohaymen, widely regarded as the finest of his age group in THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

GEORGE SELWYN

orgive American trainer Kiaran McLaughlin if he daydreams about the spring, summer or autumn. The success of his racing stable in the first two months of 2016 would give anyone grand hopes for the rest of the year.

McLaughlin’s stable, based in Florida for the winter, won six stakes on two continents in January and February, led by Triple Crown contender Mohaymen and Frosted, a fouryear-old multiple graded stakes winner.

Mohaymen, owned by Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Stable, won two Grade 2 races at Gulfstream Park in Florida in his first two starts of the year – the Holy Bull Stakes in January and the Fountain of Youth Stakes in February.

In his first start of 2016, Frosted won Group 2 of the Maktoum Challenge at Meydan in Dubai in early February in a prep for the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 26.

At Laurel racecourse in Maryland in February, McLaughlin’s Dancing House and Clothes Fall Off finished first and second in McLaughlin with owner Sheikh Hamdan and his Dubai World Cup winner Invasor

Florida this winter.

“I’ve not trained a three-year-old at this time of year like this horse,” McLaughlin said.

“He’s a special horse.”

By Tapit, Mohaymen cost $2.2m at the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, equaling the most expensive lot at that prominent auction. The Fountain of Youth Stakes extended Mohaymen’s unbeaten record to five races, including four stakes.

“He does it effortlessly,” McLaughlin said.

“He’s got a great mind. Going forward there will be larger fields and tougher horses.”

McLaughlin has a strong connection to the Maktoum family through Shadwell and Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing.

Godolphin owns Frosted, who won the Wood Memorial Stakes and was second in the Belmont Stakes last year.

A former assistant to Hall of Fame trainer D Wayne Lukas, McLaughlin began working for the Maktoums in the early 1990s, and spent the next decade dividing his year between Dubai and the United States. He was leading trainer at Nad Al Sheba in Dubai three times.

In 2003, McLaughlin opened a public stable, but continued to train for the

Maktoums. Sheikh Hamdan’s Jazil gave McLaughlin his first Classic win in the 2006 Belmont Stakes.

McLaughlin has an annual itinerary typical of a leading trainer on the Eastern seaboard, racing in New York from spring through autumn, and winters in Florida, primarily at Gulfstream Park. There are trips to Kentucky for leading stakes races at Churchill Downs and Keeneland.

McLaughlin had a 70-horse stable as of early March, a figure that will be closer to 100 by the spring when the two-year-olds arrive at the racetrack. McLaughlin’s brother, Neal, will oversee a division in Saratoga, while McLaughlin will be based at Belmont Park for that track’s spring-summer meeting.

He was at Belmont for a few days in February to check on the horses kept there through the winter. There was a trip to Dubai at the beginning of the month and plenty of time spent in Florida. Married with two children, McLaughlin admits he has little trouble filling the hours, with racing always on his mind.

“I’m pretty busy,” he said. “Horseracing is my life.”

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AROUND THE GLOBE

AUST R A L I A

by Danny Power

Suspended Moody walks out on racing

Moody and Lidari, who tested positive for cobalt in October 2014

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disqualifications of trainers Danny O’Brien (four years), Mark Kavanagh (three years) and prominent veterinary surgeon Tom Brennan (five years). Late last year, Victorian father-son trainer partnership Lee (three years) and Shannon Hope (five years) were disqualified for administering cobalt with the purpose of affecting the performance of three horses.

Initially, Moody accepted the decision and planned to install a caretaker trainer to prepare

“Financially it’s been draining; I’d be lying if I suggested it wasn’t mentally very draining”

his team of 250 horses (100 in full work) out of his Caulfield stables.

However, he wasn’t happy with constraints put on that process by Racing Victoria’s integrity department, headed by Chief Steward Terry Bailey, which required him to “close” his business and pay out his staff, who would be reemployed by the new trainer.

It was reported that his friend, Group 1-winning

BRONWEN HEALY

In 2008, not long after Black Caviar had won her first start as a two-year-old at Flemington – and well before the great mare became world famous – her trainer Peter Moody doubted he was long in the racing game.

He prophetically told journalist Ben Collins in The Thoroughbred magazine that he “doubted he would be training in ten years”.

“I certainly don’t have the ambition to be training at 60. When my children [he’s the father of three girls] have completed their education, I’ll have fulfilled my obligation.

“I love what I do, but I’d like to say in my mid-40s: ‘Let’s have a break and maybe try something different’.

“I’m sure I will always have some sort of involvement in racing, but I have reservations about it being as a large commercial trainer.”

Less than ten years later and champion trainer Peter Moody, 46, has retired from training. However, that retirement isn’t quite on the terms that he hoped, somewhat forced by officialdom and a food supplement that exists in all living things: cobalt.

On March 11, Moody was suspended for six months (with a further six months suspended) by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board after the long-running case that involved one of his horses, Lidari, returning a positive swab (above the allowed 200mgm threshold of cobalt) when second in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes.

The RAD board, to Moody’s relief, found him not guilty of deliberately administering cobalt to Lidari to affect the horse’s performance in the race, but guilty of the lesser charge of bringing a horse to the races with a prohibitive substance in its system.

Moody said the finding proved his case that he wasn’t out to cheat, and that the RAD Board accepted his claim that Lidari was administered the extra amount of cobalt due to an error in the administration of feed and supplements in his stable.

The MoodyLidari case came on the back of the recent cobaltrelated

trainer David Brideoake, was offered the position.

Moody made the shock announcement two days later that he was closing his stable and walking away from racing.

At a press conference on March 22, he said: “If anyone’s looking for an unemployed 46-yearold who doesn’t know how to do anything else, maybe give me a yell.”

Moody said he was “over it”, meaning that the whole, drawn-out cobalt saga had drawn out his zest for racing.

The big man, who trained Black Caviar to win 25 from 25, said the hardest part of the decision was leaving his loyal owners, some who had been with him since he started training in 1998 at Eagle Farm in Queensland.

Moody is the quintessential Australian “bushy”. He was born and raised in the outback dustbowl town of Charleville where he developed his passion for horses.

“It was nothing to drive 500 kilometres to a race meeting,” he said of those early years as a teenager helping out local trainers.

Moody’s big break came at the age of 15 when he got a job working for legendary trainer Tommy Smith at Randwick in Sydney. He also did time with Colin Hayes at Lindsay Park in South Australia before taking the role as assistant trainer with Bill Mitchell in Sydney.

In 1993, Mitchell opened a satellite stable in Brisbane with Moody at the helm. The pair trained in partnership for five years, and Moody trained his first winner – Ebony Way – under his own licence in December 1998.

His breakthrough success came with the colt Amalfi winning the Victoria Derby in 2001 and the following year the young trainer moved with his wife Sarah and three daughters to Melbourne. By the end of the 2000s, Moody was Melbourne’s champion trainer and in total he has trained the winners of more than 2,500 races, of which 53 had won Group 1 races.

Moody said he will stay in racing with his wife as owners with other trainers. He said he can’t see himself training again in the foreseeable future and that, once the decision was made, any bitterness he felt left him.

“It was a huge weight off our shoulders. I’m gutted for my staff,” he said. “This has been basically an 18-month saga. Financially it’s very draining and I’d be lying if I suggested it wasn’t mentally very draining. Am I feeling guilty? No. Am I feeling sad and disappointed? Yes.”

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Apr_140_Holland_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 17:03 Page 42

THE BIG INTERVIEW DARRYLL HOLLAND

Darryll Holland cuts a very contented figure, happy to have returned to his roots at Faringdon Place stables

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Apr_140_Holland_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 17:03 Page 43

A jockey forever

DAZZLING Darryll Holland would top many a list as the best jockey never to have been champion, but a new job back at his old stomping ground with the Hills family in Lambourn may yet see him right that wrong – and a British Classic wouldn’t go amiss either for this well-travelled rider Words Julian Muscat • Photos George Selwyn

T

he silhouette is instantly familiar as he opens the gate at his Exning property, on the fringe of Newmarket. The pencil-thin legs decked in perfectly-fitting denim; the quick, shuffling gait as he marches along with purpose; and the beaming smile. The only thing different about Darryll ‘Dazzler’ Holland is that his jet-black hair is flecked with grey.

Holland has always radiated a sense of contentment, and he does so now. The child-prodigy rider once tipped for absolute stardom is back in Britain, plainly excited by his appointment as stable jockey to Charlie Hills. Following recent stints in South Korea and Mauritius, it is a homecoming in more ways than one.

“The other day I had a chat with Frankie [Dettori], who is one year older than me,” Holland reflects. “He has gone back to his roots with John Gosden and I’m in the same scenario. It’s a great feeling for both of us.”

Holland’s association with the Hills family dates back to 1988, when the Manchester-born wannabe went to work for Charlie’s father, Barry, in Lambourn. “I was 15 at the time and Charlie was eight or nine,” he says. “We were brought along together, running around the yard with Mrs [Penny] Hills telling us off all the time.”

That was almost 30 years ago, since when Holland, 43, has become one of the world’s most travelled jockeys.

In 1994 he became the youngest foreign import into the competitive jockeys’ colony in Hong Kong. He subsequently rode in Japan and Singapore during the off-season

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

before returning home to consolidate his place among the top five riders in Britain.

He earned a lot of money but his resume is bereft of a British Classic winner.

From a conventional perspective, this is a glaring anomaly for one of his talent. But Holland has never been beholden to convention, both in and out of the saddle.

Geography was his strongest subject at school, where he was seen as brighter than average. It infused him with a spirit of adventure.

“It does niggle me

that I’ve never been champion. But that is not my priority right now” To this day Barry Hills maintains Holland had as much natural prowess as any young aspirant to pass through his hands. “Darryll had never sat on a horse before he came to the yard but he was riding within a few months,” Hills told me back in 2007. “It took him about two minutes to discover he was good. He should have been champion jockey.”

It’s a lament Holland shares, although it wasn’t for the wont of trying. He came closest in 2003 when he rode 157 winners,

although at that time Kieren Fallon was in a league of his own. Two years later Fallon moved to Ireland to ride for Ballydoyle but a spate of falls, coupled with Holland’s late return from foreign assignments, saw the opportunity go begging.

“It does niggle me that I’ve never been champion,” Holland reflects. “It niggled Richard Hughes a lot until he was champion late in his career, so nothing’s impossible. But that is not my priority right now. I’ve got to concentrate on Charlie’s horses. He has nearly 200, which is a lot for me to get to know.”

In his pomp Holland was renowned for expressing forthright views. He was probably too honest for his own good. He’d hold his hand up when things went wrong where others would have spuriously deflected blame.

In 2003 he forged a fabulous relationship with Falbrav, a globetrotting bull of a horse who won five Group 1 races that season. But when Holland just failed to deliver Falbrav in the Irish Champion Stakes after a troubled passage, he did not go to ground.

Three weeks later he discussed every nuance of that race with a posse of journalists ahead of Falbrav’s bid for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – which he promptly went out and won. Nor does he shy away from some of the less flattering assessments on his career.

To the charge that he has underachieved, he replies: “I don’t think so. I have won plenty of Group 1 races in Britain, far more than most. I don’t think I’ve had a fall from

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Apr_140_Holland_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 17:03 Page 44

DARRYLL HOLLAND >> grace or anything like that.”

Yes, there were times in a gilded youth when he did things he would regret. A sizeable entourage attached itself to him after he rode out his claim within 12 calendar months in 1991, when he broke the post-war record for apprentice-ridden winners.

“Dealing with the hangers-on was the most difficult part,” he reflects now.

And he still winces about the time he went to Sweden to ride, joined local jockeys for an evening knees-up and failed the breathalyser at the racecourse the following morning.

“I had no idea I’d be breath-tested,” he says with a rueful smile. “Funnily enough, most

of the jocks I’d been out with got tested too, but I was the only one to fail…”

As conversation unfolds it becomes apparent Holland uses a different gauge to measure his professional achievements.

“I missed out on things like taking a year out after leaving school,” he says. “I never had a proper girlfriend either, because I was too caught up in becoming a jockey.

“So when I realised I could travel with my saddle, it really appealed. Some of the jobs I’ve had have been lucrative but it was more than that. I like meeting different people and doing different things. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to take my trade to

As a youngster Holland broke the post-war record for apprentice-ridden winners while based with Barry Hills; 25 years on he is pictured with his new guv’nor Charlie Hills, Barry’s son

different countries, which isn’t true of most jobs.”

Hence the lure to Holland of riding in South Korea, where he emigrated in 2014.

“Some people thought it was a step down for me but I never saw it that way,” he says.

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DARRYLL HOLLAND

“It was another opportunity. I was the first European jockey to be licenced there and I had no ties at home. I’d just gone through a divorce and I’d been driving up and down the country without any decent rides. I also hoped it might rekindle something in me. I wasn’t enjoying it any more in the UK.” Holland has always loved far-eastern food but the Korean racing experience was formative, not least in the way he had to fight to win local confidences. “I rode two winners on my first day but for six weeks after that I THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

could hardly buy a ride to save my life,” he reflects.

“It was hard at first. I’d try and communicate with the boys in the weighing room. They’d all wave to me when I went in, but only one of them could speak broken English. They’d never ridden with a European rider and my style was very different.

“I think it was as much of a shock to them as it was to me. But I was determined I wouldn’t leave until I’d made it work. It

would have been easy to throw in the towel.

I stuck it out, and I’m glad I did. I always believed I’d come through.”

By the time Holland left, having renewed his contract twice, he’d long since earned the respect of South Korea’s racing community.

He bowed out on a winner, too: his 65th from some 350 rides. From there, he made his way to Mauritius for four months before returning home in December.

The call from Charlie Hills came out of the blue.

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DARRYLL HOLLAND >>

“He rang me four days before Christmas,” Holland recalls. “I thought he was going to ask about the kids [Holland has 18-monthold twins]. When he asked me to ride for him I went a bit silent. I’m not normally stuck for words but as soon as I could speak I said yes.”

For Holland, it was exciting and reassuring to walk into Hills’s Faringdon Place stables.

The herd of well-bred juveniles put a skip in his step, while a slew of familiar faces dating back to Barry’s days made him feel at home.

The new alliance was anointed on February 19 at Lingfield, when Holland rode Carry Me Home into third place. It was a low-key occasion at a venue a world away from the big summer racing festivals the pair have trained their sights on. Before that, however, Holland must regain his bearings.

“When I walked into the weighing room I soon realised I didn’t know anybody – and I don’t think many of them knew who I

was, either,” he says.

“A couple of the lads said hello but I didn’t recognise them. I had the Racing Post open and was peering over the top of it to see

“When I walked into the weighing room I didn’t know anybody – most didn’t know who I was, either”

which silks they were wearing, trying to find out who they were!”

Holland feels he has four or five good years left in him. He wants to spend them with Hills before he will likely try his hand at

training. He has no regrets, says he wouldn’t want to change much even if he could, but would like to address the absence of a British Classic from his CV. His biggest asset now is his experience.

“You can’t buy it,” he says, “and I have a lot of it. A small mistake here and there makes the difference between winning and losing, so I have to make it count. I really want to make the most of the next few years. I feel I’ve still got a bit to offer in the saddle.”

It will be good to see this endearing character back on the stage he all but made his own two decades ago. Even his sponsor – former jockey-turned-author Barry Morgan, who has just penned his debut novel, Gift Horse – could not have scripted a better closing chapter for him.

Just when the story seemed told, Holland has a new focus, a new vigour, a new job, and an old ally to help him ride off into the sunset.

Racing’s odd couple: Darryll Holland and Matt Chapman It was testament to Darryll Holland’s individualistic approach when he appointed Matt Chapman as his agent in 2002. At the time Chapman, a former Racing Post journalist, was forging a reputation as one of Britain’s premier racing presenters on television. The four-year association between two strong-willed people generated endless highs and lows.

“We’re still mates,” Holland says. “We’ll still meet for a pint but basically, Matt is as mad as a hatter. He was new to being a jockey’s agent but was very committed and turned his hand to it pretty quickly.”

On his appointment Chapman moved to Newmarket, where he and Holland had some epic jousts on the Play Station game, G1 Jockey. “If Matt ever won, which was extremely rare, I’d never live it down,” Holland reflects.

Needless to say, Chapman remembers it differently. “Darryll usually won but he’d get totally neurotic when he didn’t,” he says.

Holland in full flight on Falbrav – he credits Matt Chapman with getting him the ride

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“Whenever I won, he’d make me play again straight away so he could take his revenge.

“It was the same when we played tennis in Barbados,” Chapman continues. “I’d get ahead early and win a couple of sets, but he was fitter than me. He wouldn’t stop until he got ahead in sets, so he would often win 6-5 after four hours. He also kept trying to kill me whenever we went riding on jet-skis.”

Holland credits Chapman for getting him the prized mount aboard Falbrav and the new combination clicked at the first attempt in the 2003 Eclipse Stakes. “Matt is very pushy; he’s got that sort of character,” the jockey says. “He must have kept on at Luca [Cumani, Falbrav’s trainer] until he gave in. It also helped that Matt likes money.”

That was a flavour agreeable to both parties, according to Chapman. “Darryll used to call me ‘Jerry’, after [the character played

by Tom Cruise in] the film Jerry Maguire.

Every morning he’d shout at me, ‘Jerry, show me the money!’”

As for Falbrav, Chapman says: “In those days, if Kieren Fallon wasn’t available Darryll was the next go-to jockey. His standing was that high. As a team we had some huge highs and lows, but ‘Dazzler’ was always straightforward.

“Most people thought he was one of the best – if not the best – front-running jockey around. Yet when I look back, two of his finest winning rides were on Continent in the [2002] July Cup and Just James in a Newmarket handicap [also 2002] that won him a Lester for Best Flat Ride of the Year.

Both of those were habitual hold-up horses.”

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APPLE TREE STUD

Laying down

ROOTS

A partnership formed on National Hunt racecourses led to major Flat ambitions at Apple Tree Stud for Paul Dunkley and Robert Thornton Words Catherine Austen • Photos George Selwyn

“

I

t’s pretty much a building site,” warned Robert ‘Choc’ Thornton before Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder’s visit to Apple Tree Stud.

That proves to be true. Heavy machinery grinds up and down the drive of the 120-acre property near Stow-on-the-Wold, just on the border between Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. There are piles of Cotswold stone, and men in hard hats striding about.

But it is easy to tell that, when completed, this will be a very smart set-up indeed. The stable-yard, with 17 huge, palatial boxes, the covered walker with central lunge pen and the manege would fit in well at any of Britain and Ireland’s top studs. Owner Paul Dunkley

and former top National Hunt jockey Thornton, who oversees the nascent breeding operation, are aiming at the stars.

“Paul got into racing by default,” explains Thornton. “When his business partner Danny Reilly retired, they wanted to keep up a connection, to keep them in contact with each other. Danny and his wife liked their horses, and Danny suggested he and Paul should own a couple of racehorses together.”

The pair started with Highland Chief, who ran for Henrietta Knight for a couple of seasons before being moved to Alan King’s in 2007. Thornton, King’s stable jockey at the time, won twice on the horse.

“Then they bought Medermit [on whom

Thornton was beaten only a neck in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and won the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown and the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter] and they have had horses with Alan ever since.”

When Thornton’s marriage broke down in 2011, Dunkley – who had bought the site of what is now Apple Tree Stud a couple of years earlier – offered him a barn conversion there to live in.

“Paul got the planning permission he wanted, and this place began to take shape,” says Thornton.

Dunkley, a very successful businessman, became interested in owning a stud. >>

Apr_140_AppleTreeStud_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 14:16 Page 49

Jump jockey-turned-stud manager Robert â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Chocâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Thornton with his old friend Medermit at Apple Tree Stud

Apr_140_AppleTreeStud_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 14:16 Page 50

APPLE TREE STUD >>

“He liked the idea of having horses around the place, and he likes the idea of breeding a potential superstar!” says Thornton.

Despite both owner and manager having solid roots in the National Hunt world, the decision was taken to dabble in the other code.

“We have two jumping mares, and that will stay the same, but we are expanding the Flat side,” says Thornton. “There are three Flat mares here at the moment, but we are planning to extend that to around ten.”

They have hit the ground running with some eye-catching purchases. The three Flat mares all have pedigrees straight out of the major league.

Midnight Thoughts and Darinza were both bought privately after being led out of the Keeneland ring unsold in November 2014 at $975,000 and $475,000 respectively. Midnight Thoughts, by Henrythenavigator out of Ribblesdale Stakes winner Irresistible Jewel and a half-sister to Irish St Leger winner Royal Diamond, was carrying to Tapit. The nine-yearold Dalakhani mare Darinza – a half-sister to treble Group 1 heroine Darjina and from the family of Darsi – was in foal to Sea The Stars.

And last autumn Apple Tree Stud paid 360,000gns for Astonishing, a six-year-old Listed winner by Galileo out of the Kris S mare Amazing Krisken. She is due to give birth to a Dansili foal at any moment.

“Paul wants to play at a high level,” states Thornton. “In terms of the stud, we looked around places like Darley and Juddmonte [for ideas]; he wants something he can be proud of and will invest accordingly.

Do they plan for it to be a commercial operation?

“To a degree; we’d like it to wash its face,” hedges Thornton.

The three mares’ coverings bear evidence of Dunkley’s ambitions. Darinza, who slipped to Frankel last year, is in foal to him again, while Midnight Thoughts will next visit Oasis Dream and Astonishing is booked in to Golden Horn.

“He’s doing it properly!” says Thornton with a grin.

The two jumping mares are Our Pollyanna,

by Flemensfirth out of the Kahyasi mare Polly Anthus, and The Pirate’s Queen, by King’s Theatre out of Shivemetimber, herself a Listed winner by Arctic Lord.

King’s Theatre mare The Pirate’s Queen and her two-day-old foal by Kalanisi

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The Apple Tree Stud team of Gerard Tumelty, Sarah Welford, Jonathan Sutton, Kirsty Durham and Choc Thornton

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APPLE TREE STUD

“We have two

jumping mares, and that will stay the same, but we are expanding the Flat side”

Geoffrey Russell and Edward Prosser of Keeneland inspect Apple Tree’s Tapit yearling colt

“Our Pollyanna has had a Califet foal, while The Pirate’s Queen has a Kalanisi foal – who was the sire of my Champion Hurdle winner Katchit,” Thornton says. “We’re taking a bit of a risk with The Pirate’s Queen this time and sending her to Sea The Moon.”

Sadly, the stud lost Darinza’s Sea The Stars yearling recently, but the grey Tapit colt will be consigned at either Keeneland or Tattersalls.

“For a first foal, he’s big and strong and he’s laid down enough bone; I think he’s a cracker,” says Thornton.

At present, Apple Tree Stud will have nine Flat horses in training this

year, alongside the jumpers, Ned Stark and Ardamir. Two of them, Tyrell and Canford Chimes, are with Alan King, as are Ned Stark, who won a Grade 2 novices’ chase in 2015 but has been slightly disappointing this time, and Ardamir, who won at Doncaster recently.

Two more – Dream Danna and Davaland – are with Jamie Osborne. James Fanshawe has Sam Missile – by Smart Strike out of Kitty Matcham, bought at the Tattersalls Breeze-up Sale last April for 72,000gns and winner of his only start to date, at Kempton in January.

“He has some smart entries and I’d love to see him develop into a good horse,” says Thornton.

William Haggas has a two-year-old filly by Pivotal out of Best Terms, bought for 330,000gns at Tattersalls’ Book 1 sale last autumn, while an Invincible Spirit filly out of Leavingonajetplane is in training with Luca Cumani. Clive Cox is in charge of a Helmet filly out of Red Fuschia.

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APPLE TREE STUD >>

Thornton has known King since he arrived at David Nicholson’s yard as a callow 16-yearold. Osborne was first a weighing room colleague and then the only trainer, Thornton says, for whom he had a 100% record (two out of two) as a jockey. He rode winners, including Reveillez, for Fanshawe, while Cox also has strong jumping connections.

But Haggas and Cumani are part of a world with which Thornton had had little contact. He freely admits that he had little interest in the summer game while he was riding, and the chances of a second career with a strong involvement in Flat racing and bloodstock would have been long odds.

“The Flat is more fascinating than I ever gave it credit for when I was riding,” he says with honesty. “I am learning an awful lot – but that is true with horses at every turn. I know from when I was riding that the day you thought you were fantastic and couldn’t improve was the day you ought to give up.

“It was a bit intimidating at first, but I do find the amount of National Hunt lads who are heavily involved in the Flat amazing; Mark Dwyer, Jamie Osborne, David O’Meara, Roger Varian, Norman Williamson, Frannie Woods… the crossover is significant.”

He has had a lot of help from bloodstock agent Federico Barberini, who signed for Astonishing last November.

“He advises us on the bloodstock and pedigree side,” says Thornton. “He’s fantastic and I’ve loved working with him – I can’t speak highly enough of him and trust him implicitly.”

There are four members of staff alongside Thornton at Apple Tree Stud – Kirsty Durham, who has lots of experience on the stud side, helped by Johnny Sutton, and Gerard Tumelty and his girlfriend Sarah Welford. Tumelty, who still holds a jockey’s licence, worked with Thornton at Alan King’s, and he and Sarah do all the breaking and pre-training. At present, they use a variety of local gallops for the latter, but an oval all-weather gallop will soon be added to the stud. Two of Thornton’s old favourites, Medermit and Blazing Bailey, act as lead horses in their retirement.

“Sarah wants to ride Medermit in a charity race at Garthorpe – he should be a certainty!” chuckles Thornton.

“We have a great team here and Paul, who is 100% an enthusiast and with whom I have always got on really well, has given us all a wonderful opportunity. We are very fortunate to have the backing to play at a decent level.”

The plan is to race the homebred fillies, and breed from them if they are suitable.

“If we had a nice colt, we might keep him too – although we might also buy one,” says Thornton. “One day we’d love to stand a stallion here, if we had a racehorse that was good enough. We’d have the facilities, it’s just whether we’d have the means to support him. But that’s a long-term plan.”

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Thornton is relishing an unexpected career turn towards Flat breeding

‘NO, I DON’T MISS RIDING’ In a riding career that spanned nearly 20 years, Robert Thornton partnered 1,129 winners. Fifteen of those were at the Cheltenham Festival and included the Champion Hurdle on Katchit, the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Voy Por Ustedes and the World Hurdle with My Way De Solzen.

A series of bad injuries, culminating in fracturing vertebrae in his neck in April 2014, forced him out of the saddle, and he eventually announced his retirement in September 2015.

“This is a great new start,” he says. “And no, I don’t miss riding. People are always surprised when I say that, and I don’t think they believe me. But I don’t miss it at all. I certainly don’t miss driving to Southwell or Plumpton.

“The amazing thing, I’ve found – and I didn’t realise it at all when I was riding – is that now I have a life. I can do things that I never could because I was so tied to racing.

Until I broke my arm really badly in March 2013, I hadn’t been on holiday for more than three or four days since I was 16. Even getting the car serviced when you are racing every day is a huge deal – now I can just ring up and book it in!

“I am very lucky to have ridden the winners I did, but now it has stopped. I don’t ever get on a horse. I am advised not to – although I am advised not to ski, and I still do – and, at the moment, I have no desire to do so.

“I don’t see a lot of former colleagues any more. You just don’t really belong in that circle. I’ve been into the weighing room two or three times, but you just don’t feel right in there any more. It was a sanctuary when I was riding, but the weighing room evolves so much in a short space of time; there’d be half a dozen to a dozen lads in there I wouldn’t recognise. And they probably look at me and think, ‘Who’s that?!’”

“But I have great memories. The best day I had in the sport is hard to pinpoint, but I will never forget winning on both my first two rides at the 2008 Cheltenham Festival – Captain Cee Bee in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Katchit in the Champion Hurdle.

“The best week has to be the 2007 Festival, when I was leading jockey at the meeting with four winners. It was surreal; I went into the meeting saying, ‘That’ll win, that’ll win…’ and they did. My Way De Solzen took the Arkle, Voy Por Ustedes won the Queen Mother Champion Chase and Katchit won the Triumph.

“My last ride of the week was on Andreas for Paul Nicholls in the Grand Annual. I went out on him not really caring – I’d had a great week, and I didn’t think he had a chance. I was totally relaxed about it. But I dropped him in, and he just arrived between the last two fences and went on to win by three lengths. It was an extraordinary end to the week.”

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Apr_140_TalkingTo_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 16:23 Page 54

TALKING TO...

KERRY LEE

The National

EXPRESS Kerry Lee was born to train and dreams of winning the Grand National – if her brilliant run continues who’s to say the year won’t be capped in the world’s most famous race?

By Tim Richards

Y

BILL SELWYN

our first season is going from strength to strength, particularly on Saturdays. Can you say what has made it click and what your targets are for the remainder of the campaign?

I am very lucky to have taken over a strong stable. My father had 29 years with a licence and there were three spells when he trained a particularly talented group of horses and this is arguably the best of them. When you consider one of the great gripes of the industry is trying to find good staff, I have an excellent team here. It all amounts to equine strength, personnel and we are also very fortunate to have a group of owners who are adventurous, loyal, a lot of fun and in many ways very tolerant. We have made mistakes along the way and yet the owners have greeted any errors with good humour, enabling us to get on and do the job.

My remit as a trainer is to present owners with the best possible opportunity to win with their horse on any given day. Initially my real targets were to win with every horse in the yard – not achieved yet – and to hit a 20% or better strikerate, which we are on course to do. And finally, to try to have a winner at one of the spring festivals, Cheltenham, Aintree or Punchestown.

You always say your winners “have been enjoying themselves”. How do you keep your horses happy? Do they benefit from the great variety of orchards and woods in the beautiful countryside on the ShropshireHerefordshire border?

I know it sounds corny, but happy horses win races. Variety is very important in their training schedules and we could go somewhere different around here 20 days on the trot if we wanted.

They go stale if they do the same thing every day; horses are very curious animals and we are in the middle of thousands of acres of hill and

54

down dale countryside where there is no noise or pollution. If a horse gallops one day it could walk through an orchard or wander round any one of hundreds of different forestry paths the next. You have never seen a happier horse in water than Bishops Road, who is the beachloving dude personified and in his element when we take him to the ‘Byton Splash’, a fastflowing part of the River Lugg in our village.

Basically, we try to mix it up for them all as much as possible.

Your father Richard, steeped in National Hunt racing, trained successfully for nigh on three decades.

What did you learn from him and how does he help you now?

Even now he is focused on the job; I can’t get rid of him! I go out to feed at six in the morning and there he is, already pushing the trolley on the rounds, retaining his great attention to detail. At about nine at night the horses are checked and when Dad has been round the yard he’ll talk you through all 30 horses with an unnerving degree of accuracy, telling us: ‘He was standing, she was lying down, he was asleep, she hasn’t eaten.’ He is my sounding board to the world because every decision I don’t have to make on my own; I have him alongside me planning the logistics, choosing the races, dealing with the owners, the staff and being a big help on the veterinary side. I am able to share his knowledge and expertise every day. I know I am biased, but I have to ask: is there a better assistant in the country? I doubt it.

My Mum is also indispensable, running the office. She does a lot of liaising with the vets and helping them with the horses. In another walk of life I think she would have made an excellent vet. Possibly most important of all, she is a great calming influence on us all. Brother Tom maps out schedules for the horses and we put our

>>

Apr_140_TalkingTo_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 16:23 Page 55

Kerry Lee, who is enjoying a superb first season with a licence, pictured with her trophy after the victory of Mountainous in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Welsh Grand National at Chepstow

Apr_140_TalkingTo_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 16:24 Page 56

GEORGE SELWYN

KERRY LEE

Kerry Lee’s brother Tom helps to map out schedules for the horses and rides out when he’s not working for Channel 4 Racing

>> heads together, in particular trying to tailor

the season individually for every horse; it’s not just about the Saturday horses. We are equally happy finding a winning opportunity for the 0-100s. When Tom isn’t committed elsewhere he also rides out.

You came through the Pony Club route – do you still enjoy riding horses?

I ride out every day, usually three or four lots, and I’d be lost without it because I get the physical feel transmitted down the reins to the wellbeing of the horse. I think it’s a vital part of the job and don’t intend giving up any time soon. In my Pony Club days my chief rival in my age group was none other than Richard Johnson. He lives only five miles down the road and is a great asset, coming in regularly to school and suggesting where we might run horses.

You studied computer sciences at university. Did your qualifications ever look like steering you away from racing?

I must have done something to upset somebody because I washed up on the shores of Channel 4 Racing in the graphics department, where they tolerated me for about 15 years. But the end-game has always been to take over the mantle when Dad was ready to share it with me. Even when I was with Channel 4, I managed time off to lead up, help with the horses and even wangle a trip to somewhere like Punchestown. The computer science manual was shunted to one side for the Racing Post and my time at

56

university was never going to help me as a trainer. I knew where my heart was taking me even from an early stage.

Dad was never going to go on forever. It means we can share the business instead of him being flat out all the time. There is pressure to get it right on behalf of the owners; it’s not a cheap hobby. The pressure I feel is to the horses and to the owners on their behalf, trying to find the right races and agonising over those decisions. Overall, this job provides much more of a buzz than pressure because I am around those beautiful creatures all the time.

How many horses do you train and are there plans to expand?

We have 31 boxes and we’re full. The winter horses will be going on their holidays in a few weeks’ time and there will be a few summer horses to come in. The natural evolution of things means that some of the older horses like Victory Gunner, who won when he was 15, will be coming to the end. At the moment we’ve got Incentivise, 13 years young, and we’re looking forward to running him again. As far as a bigger string is concerned, we’ll take stock at the end of the season. I am very mindful of the fact that too much expansion could put at risk individual care and attention. I think 40 would be just about the right number.

How have Grand National plans been going for Bishops Road and Mountainous?

It’s been all systems go, keeping them both sweet and fresh, enjoying the Herefordshire countryside and schooling over our big Aintree-

type fences. Bishops Road was very good when he won the Grand National Trial at Haydock.

He’s gone up 10lb for that to a mark of 154 and runs off 144 so we’ll be looking for something exciting at Aintree, as long as he gets in. Mountainous just had an off-day at Haydock and we have been wanting to see how he bounced back after disappointing behind Bishops Road. Perhaps we were a little bit hasty running him so soon after his monster victory in the Welsh National. But he has a massive heart and huge appetite for racing and Aintree could suit him beautifully because he has those two vital assets, jumping and stamina.

You and Alan Halsall bought Bishops Road from Ireland. What’s the key to sourcing high-class jumpers?

I don’t think there is any one defining characteristic, though I do rely very heavily on my father, who has proved adept at unearthing a few diamonds down the years. Alan and I were lucky spotting what we thought was potentially a very good horse in Bishops Road and were delighted with his performances when we set him two very different challenges at Sandown and then Haydock. Alan has been a huge supporter and has also had the useful Knock A Hand with us.

The progressive novice chaser Kylemore Lough and Top Gamble, winner of the Game Spirit Chase, are exciting prospects. What are their immediate programmes?

You couldn’t fail to be impressed with the way Top Gamble saw off Dodging Bullets at

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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Apr_140_TalkingTo_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 16:24 Page 59

KERRY LEE >> Newbury

At 38, you are young and yet steeped in the traditions of National Hunt racing. Is the sport in a good place and what improvements would you like to see?

Racing is in a wonderful place at many levels.

But there are two ills that need resolving. We need to address the shortage of stable staff, who by and large can be difficult to come by.

We have a quality team at Bell House but it is hard to find extra bodies and if we put up additional boxes finding more manpower would not be easy. I would also love to see my owners competing for better prize-money, particularly in the lower rating bands on Mondays to Fridays when they are racing for peanuts. Whether running in a Grade 1 at Aintree or in 0-100 on a smaller track, the horses’ training fees don’t alter.

Racing needs young, enthusiastic followers; how do we attract them?

We can market the sport better. Many young people probably regard horses with the same awe and wonder that they see in the animals they watch on a safari TV programme. Racing is about accessibility and opportunity. Things have improved but more could be done in schools and colleges to market working within racing, which must be one of the most enjoyable careers with people working outside in the fresh air with these majestic animals. If more people could sample the experience I’m sure they’d stay in the sport for life. Getting the message out there is tough, but more could be done to roll it out.

Does the general lack of finance in racing frighten you?

I do wonder where racing goes to attract sponsorship away from the betting companies. I’m very grateful to Betfred, who sponsored Warwick’s Classic Chase and Haydock’s Grand National Trial, both of which we were lucky to win. But what if they weren’t there, who comes in to fill that gap?

That has to be a concern, though it is encouraging that Aintree has just secured a five-year sponsorship deal from 2017 with Randox Health, a global healthcare company.

I appreciate we are very much in the midst of a changing picture with the prospect of the government’s new funding plan to replace the levy system. So we are all eagerly watching this space.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

GEORGE SELWYN

and hopefully it’s onwards and upwards with him. Kylemore Lough, by Revoque out of a Supreme Leader mare, was bred by his joint owner Mick McMahon and proved handy over hurdles, but we hoped he’d be better over fences and so it’s proved.

We’ll be putting a lot of thought into his programme.

Bishops Road – the “beach-loving dude” – wins impressively at Haydock

CLOSE UP AND...

PERSONAL I relax by… a good night out in Cheltenham My weakness is… trifle Actress to play me on screen…

Catherine Zeta Jones Favourite TV programme…

Channel 4 Racing Perfect evening would be … a typical Lee family celebration after a Saturday winner in the Riverside Inn at nearby Aymestrey

CLOSE UP AND...

PROFESSIONAL Advice to anyone setting up as a trainer… find good staff, facilities and do your homework I handle defeat by… trying to be kind to the stable cats My racing hero is… Richard Lee Racing has taught me… to handle disappointments and be realistic with ambitions I dream of winning… the Grand National So far Lizzie Kelly and Lucy Alexander are the only two British women making a breakthrough in the saddle over jumps. Why is this?

They are the first two ladies to step forward and prove they are as strong, as fit and as talented as the boys. Give Lizzie and Lucy the opportunity in any race and they are a match for anyone – as Lizzie Kelly has proved by winning a Grade 1 and one of the toughest handicaps. Why is that? I don’t know. But long may they flourish. Women can’t be introduced to the sport just because they’re women; they

have got to be good enough and prove themselves if they want to be treated equally.

The race programme is being extended to support NH fillies and mares. Do you train many mares and are you a supporter of this big push by the TBA? I train three mares and particularly enjoy having them in the yard, though as a family we are not involved in the breeding side. We have an owner who is keen to find a good filly to race and then breed from, so hopefully long term he would then enjoy the experience of breeding to race. Other owners also like to have a view to the future with a mare that has a career after racing. Any concept that enlarges owners’ opportunities is very welcome.

Another series, of which I am a huge fan, is the veterans’ series for the older horses, who have given so much enjoyment and continue to do so.

Are there any particular NH sires that you like?

Any stallion with a Flat influence appeals like Presenting, Heron Island, Revoque. I’d love to train a good one by Flemensfirth, who can produce a really enduring three-miler suited by soft ground.

Can you explain what drives you on?

Quite simply, I have been brought up to thrive on racing; I love the competition, I love the mental stimulus trying to work out the right race to encourage a horse to progress. I adore being with horses; I’m sure friends and family would tell you I prefer horses to people.

Where would you like to see yourself in five years’ time?

I don’t want to sound presumptuous, but hopefully I might have trained a Cheltenham winner or two by then and have 40 horses under my care. I hope I’ll be improving the quality and standard of the string and doing well for my owners.

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Apr_140_BreezeUp_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 17:34 Page 61

BREEZE-UP SEASON

Stopping the

CLOCK

The consignors admit that timing breezes is a step in the wrong direction, and top-class winners have come from the slower horses on sales day, so what does it take to find the perfect breeze-up horse?

Words Chris McGrath • Photos Emma Berry

“

T

ime is what we want most,” said William Penn. “But what, alas, we use worst.” Whatever the old Quaker might otherwise think of priorities as notoriously temporal as those of the sales ring, his maxim would seem especially pertinent to one in particular.

For bloodstock professionals find themselves increasingly divided over the best way to measure potential at the breeze-up sales – and there is no more contentious symbol of the debate than the stopwatch.

In fact the timing of breezes, barely known in Europe a few years ago, is now so prevalent that the stopwatch is itself becoming obsolete, with some of the market’s more purposeful prospectors

using electronic sensors instead. And while everyone still reliably protests the clock to be just one factor among many, you would not always know it from their bidding. As a result, the breeze-up horse has become the bloodstock market’s ultimate moving target.

None would deny that the European breeze-ups have profitably evolved from the days when they merely cleared out such flotsam and jetsam as remained adrift after the yearling sales. In principle, six months after the yearling sales, many imponderables have been settled. The horses have not just been broken, but have shown the precocity and soundness to soak up a training regime. It is an undeniably attractive formula for a trainer to offer

patrons: the pre-fabricated, oven-ready, point-and-press racehorse. But the closer the European market comes to the American model, the more people remember The Green Monkey. Whatever particular issues may have thwarted the fulfilment of the $16 million horse, ten years ago, everyone recognises the possibility that any youngster blitzing a furlong in ten seconds, in Florida in February, might never again prove capable of going so fast.

Con Marnane, who has produced a procession of stakes horses from his Bansha House Stables in Co Tipperary, cannot disguise his irritation with the clockers. “It’s a fad,” he says. “But the shrewd guys are seeing through it. They >>

Apr_140_BreezeUp_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 17:34 Page 62

BREEZE-UP SEASON

Trip To Paris was a 20,000-guinea breezer from Mocklershill and has now won more than £750,000 and the Ascot Gold Cup

>> know that if you push these young horses too

hard, their heads will be fried, their legs will be fried, and you can forget any idea of them becoming racehorses. Best of luck to these lads with their stopwatches, but they’re not buying the racehorses. I know we’re being penalised for not doing fast breezes. But our turn will come.

People will go full circle.”

Nonetheless even Willie Browne has felt the need to tailor his tried-and-trusted methods to new expectations. His Mocklershill operation, near Cashel, pioneered the whole concept of the European breeze-ups as a way to reduce both risk and cost, compared with the crapshoot of the yearling sales. As such, it is dispiriting to hear so respected a veteran question whether he can still afford to do what he considers best by his horses.

“Listen, I’m old-fashioned and I’ve never been in favour of it,” he says of the stopwatch. “But when it’s there, you’ve got to go along with it to a degree. I do think it’s probably a backward step, for what we do. In the old days people just wanted to see a good-moving horse with a good attitude, and that’s how you got your horse sold.

That’s not the case anymore and I have to say it’s not as much fun as it was. My horses would never have done the fastest times, but I was only ever trying to think of the horse and I knew there were always people who would like him as he was.

“In a certain percentage of horses it will be getting into their heads, because they are

62

Con Marnane, with his wife Theresa, believes timing breezes to be a fad

mentally fragile. Of course, there’s always going to be certain percentage that way, anyway. But it does affect the type of yearling you look at, for sure: now you’re looking for something a bit sharper. Before I was looking for a horse that might go a mile, a mile and a quarter, and a good few I found that way were very successful.

But these days, whatever they tell you, there isn’t a single agent out there who won’t think the time important.”

The agents would doubtless retort that Browne is proving as adaptable as he has always been shrewd, having become the first to break seven figures at a European breeze-up auction with a 1.15 million-guinea War Front colt at the 2014 Tattersalls Craven Sale. But he certainly reads them right, in predicting that none will admit slavish adherence to the clock.

Having found a £50,000 Group 1 winner in The Wow Signal, at the Ascot sale two years ago, Richard Knight says that he takes handtimes only to fill out the rest of the picture. “I certainly don’t rely on it, other than as another piece in the jigsaw,” he explains. “Along with the visual impression of the breeze, talking to the vendors, and, no less than any other foal or yearling catalogue, the pedigree and conformation. I do a lot of work beforehand on pedigrees so that I have an idea in my mind what sort of trip they’re going to need and what they should be doing at this stage. They’re only galloping two furlongs, and any trainer will tell you: ‘Look, all mine can gallop two furlongs.’

Apr_140_BreezeUp_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 17:34 Page 63

BREEZE-UP SEASON But I suppose I’d rather put the times of all the Kodiacs together than watch one up against a Cape Cross or a New Approach.”

David Redvers, who buys for Qatar Racing, feels that it would be as wrong to ignore a fast time as to overlook its limitations. “It’s becoming increasingly important because the obvious horse will tend to do a good time,” he says. “At the same time, year in and year out there will be top-class horses coming out of the sale that have failed to come up with a good time on the day, because they’ve got sore shins or whatever.

That’s why the breeze-up boys are the bravest in the bloodstock business: everything points to that one moment and if the horse fluffs its lines, they’re stuffed. Sometimes that horse might turn out to be the best in the sale, and it’s up to the cannier operators to seek them out.

“It certainly helps if you can be confident that what looks like a good breeze is supported by a good time. But if you were to rely on times alone you’d need many millions before you came up with a Group 1 winner. You also have to factor in the vendor, the physical type, the way it’s bred. Some will be driven by Formula One drivers, others by Fred the farmer. That can have a massive impact on how quickly they go round the track. It’s interesting to see the number of very experienced, light, specialist riders around who are very good at galvanising a horse into a quick rhythm.”

Speed wins over conformation Federico Barberini can testify that a smart horse can slip through the clockers’ net, having signed for Trip To Paris from Mocklershill for just 20,000 guineas at Tattersalls’ Guineas Sale in 2013. “But while I’m not a great believer in timing, as a unique indicator, it’s definitely becoming more and more important,” he says.

“Remember consignors are highly professional, somehow always ahead of the buyer, and horses are nowadays being prepared to breeze as fast as possible. And because it’s important to the vendors too, you can’t do without it. If a horse that isn’t correct does a fast time he will make more money than a correct horse that doesn’t.”

The fact that a son of a Derby winner managed to impress the clockers enabled Jim McCartan of Gaybrook Lodge Stud, near Mullingar, to break the European breeze-up record with an 800,000-guinea High Chaparral colt at the Craven Sale two years ago. (Albeit Browne’s War Front millionaire overtook him the very next day.) And McCartan, while professing restraint in his own methods, is more relaxed than some consignors about current trends.

“People have been timing breeze-ups for the last ten years, maybe 15,” he shrugs. “I’d never want to see official times, it’s not like in America where they’re going over flat tracks and consistent surfaces, but if those fellows want to do it I’d say that’s fair enough. At the end of the day they’re trying to buy a racehorse. All the THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Mark Dwyer, Willie and Tanya Browne watching their horses breeze

other factors are still there, same as at a yearling sale, and the times will never be more than something else to put into the equation. These guys are probably buying for some businessman in an office who’s going to ask the question and they need to have an answer. But it doesn’t worry us. We just prepare horses as we find them.

“We take a lot of time over breaking them, and let them come in their own time. All we’re looking for is a stylish breeze, nice and balanced with their head down. If the time isn’t that fast,

“Best of luck to those lads with the stopwatches but they’re not buying the racehorses”

well and good: we know there are loads of guys out there who are just looking for a good model of a racehorse, a sound horse that will take its racing. We do nearly all our preparation on a two-furlong circle of sand and fibre. Maybe some consignors put more emphasis on speed, but the trainers know when they’ve been wound up and they won’t want those.”

The man who trained The Wow Signal agrees. “A lot of the real ‘road runners’ that break the clock at the sales don’t turn out to be race runners, so to speak,” John Quinn says. “I think everyone has bought strictly on the clock, at some stage, but probably our best breeze-up horses were bought just because we liked their make and shape. It is true that the lads’ hands

have been forced a bit. If their horses don’t make the top 30 times, they’re not going to have the big fellas after them. So it’s a real chicken-andegg thing. But the last thing a trainer wants is a horse that’s had the life drilled out of it. I think everyone’s under pressure, the whole process has been speeded up. But buying any horse, you have to close your eyes and try to think: ‘Now where’s this one going to take you?’”

Karl Burke, who saddled one of history’s more remarkable breeze-up graduates to finish second in the 2013 Derby at 40,000 guineas, takes a similarly circumspect view. “Libertarian breezed like a snake,” he says. “He wriggled his way up there in his own time, and I think it was the slowest time of the sale. But though he wasn’t really a breeze-up type, he was a beautiful individual.

“Albeit we’ve done very well out of them, the breeze-ups are a trappy sale to work. You have to be very careful where these horses are coming from, because the vendors know they have no way of getting out of them afterwards.

Nowadays there are some very professional vendors who know their business inside out and produce horses to a very high standard. But it is still a get-out sale and, without naming names, you do come across horses that have been squeezed on through the winter when they’ve had the kind of niggles that would cause you, as a trainer, to tell an owner that you have to back off for a couple of months in the horse’s long-term interest.”

That is ever at the front of Marnane’s mind.

The two horses that put him on the map were consecutive lots at the Craven Breeze-Up of 2005, both unsold. By the end of the season Amadeus Wolf and Palace Episode had each won a Group 1 prize in Britain. Marnane explained then that Palace Episode did not breeze well because he would never push a May foal, and he is sticking to his guns now. “Some

63

>>

Apr_140_BreezeUp_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 17:34 Page 64

BREEZE-UP SEASON >> of my Group 1 horses did not breeze at all fast,”

he says. “Robin Of Navan, for instance, last year: a Group 1 winner for €47,000. But very shrewd people bought the horse. None of mine are pushed to do fast times, nor will they ever be.

I’m not going to change, because I want easy, relaxed, happy horses whose new trainers know they will keep going. Look at Rio De La Plata – he went on for five or six years. Maybe some people think they can take the money and run.

That’s never been our way.

“I’ve taken some small money for big horses.

But whatever times people say mine do, I’ll hold my head up high – confident that I’ll be able to talk to their trainers, three or four months down the line, and they’ll be happy with what they’ve got. They know they’re not going to be getting head-cases. We’re in the business of producing racehorses. Last year First Selection won the same month as the sale, and had won four times

by August.”

Mutual trust important The bottom line, of course, is that all consignors need their horses to keep progressing to keep the business returning. If a horse is terminally detonated by a fast breeze, everyone will end up a loser. That is why so many professionals emphasise a mutual trust. “I spent four days in March going round all the major consignors in Ireland, seeing all the stock,” Knight says. “I can’t stress enough how important that relationship is, in getting a sense of where they are with their horses before you get to the sale, where 100 people will all be picking their brains. That way you might well take a chance on a horse because you’re told: ‘Look, I know he didn’t breeze well but take it from me: he is a nice horse’.”

Whatever the differences between vendors,

the market needs to have faith in each to do what he does best. “These days, every breezeup sale is a kind of selected sale,” Barberini reasons. “From the minute a consignor even looks at a yearling, the breeze-ups will already be in his mind. And that’s why so many good horses are coming out of the breeze-ups: they’re being selected by shrewd judges to do a specific job. As a result, a horse that looks slow is not going to find a buyer.”

By the same token, Richard Knight sees the market only strengthening for its new pressures.

“It’s so competitive, and the preparation so professional, that I think it still has a lot of scope,” he explains. “It’s a fantastic carrot to dangle before an owner, a horse that’s close to running already. Yes, consignors are worried about having to go faster and faster. A lot of

“All consignors

need their horses to keep progressing to keep the business returning” them are timing gallops at home, of course they are. The fact is that if they don’t clock well on the day, a lot of people – probably wrongly – will be leaving them behind. But though it sounds silly, they all want to produce the same thing: a horse that can run fast.”

Nobody, certainly, seems inclined to go the whole hog with an American regime of official

Richard Knight: ‘Breeze-up horses are a fantastic carrot to dangle before an owner’

64

Jim McCartan: ‘Breeze-ups still the obvious place to buy a racehorse’

times and death-or-glory blazes over an eighth of a mile. “You can see what they’re about because a fast horse, most of the time, will be the best horse,” Browne muses. “But a lot of them, on those surfaces, will be broken up trying to get the speed. That’s why you’ll have a clearance rate of thirty-something per cent.

Recently I saw a Tapit making $1.8 million wearing a big pair of blinkers. If we took a horse to Newmarket in those, we’d be run out of the place. In America I’ve seen them with spurs and nobody gives a hoot.”

“Over here it’s only ever a glimpse under the bonnet,” Redvers says. “But it’s obviously very attractive to know that you’ve got rid of one part of the risk, compared to a yearling sale.

Sometimes a yearling won’t even be sound enough to get to this stage.”

“It’s still the obvious place to buy a racehorse,” McCartan insists. “Number one: you can see them walk. Number two: you can see them trot. Number three: you can see them canter. Number four? You can see them gallop!

And you also get a great read of a horse’s temperament.”

Nor would Browne, the grand old man of the business, overstate any sense of disenchantment with modern trends. “I was always prepared to give a bit more for a yearling than any other breeze-up man,” he says. “But you’re in a bit of bother now if they don’t stop the clock at a certain number – irrespective of whether they’re

by Kyllachy or Sea The Stars. There aren’t too many allowances made. I do think things will come round again, but financially I can’t afford to wait for that. It mightn’t even be in my time.

“But don’t get me wrong, I still think it’s a great source of winners. People do want to knock it. If I sell a horse for a couple of hundred grand, and he doesn’t deliver – well, the breezeups are a disaster. But you pick up the paper from August onwards, and go through the maidens at all these fancy places, and every second yearling has cost hundreds of thousands.

Most of those can’t be found [afterwards], of course. But there’s never a mention...”

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Apr_140_Bloodstock_Intro_Owner 24/03/2016 15:34 Page 67

BREEDERS’ DIGEST

By EMMA BERRY, Bloodstock Editor

Our bloodstock coverage this month includes:

• Sales Circuit: Thistlecrack’s sister a unique highlight of the Festival Sale – pages 68-70 • Caulfield Files: Which sires are best represented in French Classic entries? – pages 72-73 • Dr Statz: Opportunity knocks for Deep Impact but still hard to beat his own sire – page 92

Power to the mares as Annie prevails B

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

next year for a crack at Grade 1 glory, making way for the next novices to start their ascent.

Beating the boys

It’s a rare mare who can thwart male counterparts as convincingly as Annie Power but we have a far greater chance of finding her successor if more of her sex are given the opportunity to race in the first place. Her erstwhile stable-mate Quevega didn’t retire to stud until she was 11, and it was encouraging to hear Mullins have no truck with the suggestion of retiring Annie Power just yet.

He said: “She’s a racehorse to me. A lot of other guys would say she should now be a broodmare but that’s not on my agenda and I don’t think it will be on Rich’s. We’re going to treat her as a racehorse.”

Of course, for well-bred fillies, even putting them into training presents a risk to a future broodmare career. “I’m not sure whether we’ll be brave enough to race her,” said Thistlecrack’s owner Heather Snook, moments after signing for his three-year-old sister at the Festival Sale after her pride and joy had won enough money in the Ryanair World Hurdle to cover the filly’s sales price.

It’s an understandable concern, especially in the light of an unpalatable number of fatalities at Cheltenham this year.

Among the many highlights, however, were the three British-bred Grade 1 winners for the country’s leading National Hunt sire, Kayf Tara. He’s long been considered an asset among the jumps stallion ranks, and with the offspring of better books of mares now working their way through, Kayf Tara’s banner year was brought to a crescendo by Thistlecrack, Blaklion and Ballyandy.

More encouraging still is the greater range of stallions now available to National Hunt breeders in this country. Annie Power and Sprinter Sacre have continued to promote the worth of the Monsun line, and his sons in Britain include Gentlewave and Schiaparelli.

Yorton Farm’s new recruit Blue Bresil, who, like the popular Smad Place, is a son of Smadoun, was represented by the Martin Pipe winner Ibis Du Rheu, and while Yanworth may have just missed out to Yorkhill, he has been a wonderful flagbearer this season for another Yorton resident, Norse Dancer. Not to be forgotten, Midnight Legend, now 25, is a British stalwart and provided two Grade 1 runners-up, along with Dusky Legend, who was second to Limini.

With Telescope joining Black Sam Bellamy at Shade Oak Stud, there’s plenty of choice on home turf, which is why we need the tried and tested mares more than ever.

GEORGE SELWYN

y the time you read this, thoughts will already be firmly on Aintree or the start of the Flat turf season, depending on your preference. It would be remiss, however, not to reflect on certain issues arising from results at the Cheltenham Festival.

Rich Ricci and Willie Mullins not only won both mares’ races at the Festival but also played their part in one of the most memorable Champion Hurdles of recent years when Annie Power laid her Cheltenham demons to rest with an emphatic victory over her 11 rivals.

Criticism of the new Trull House Stud Dawn Run Novices’ Hurdle by various commentators has shown a depressing lack of grasp of its necessity in the Cheltenham programme. No doubt, racing and betting go hand in hand, and if punters find this an unappealing betting medium in its first few years, then so be it. But the bigger picture – of encouraging more owners to buy fillies and mares to race – is one which can’t be ignored if the National Hunt breeding industry is to thrive.

Another criticism is that the Grade 2 event for novices weakens the Grade 1 OLBG David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle. With 19 runners in the latter this year, only another seven would have been allowed to line up under Cheltenham’s maximum field size policy, meaning that nine owners, or sets of owners, would have been denied a chance to see their horse run at the Festival. Yes, they could have attempted to run in novice races open to both sexes, but the whole point of increasing the number of mares’ jumps races is to give owners an extra incentive to race one in the first place, inspired by a dedicated programme, the like of which already works perfectly well for Flat fillies. And, if it needs underlining, a mares’ novice hurdle followed by a mares’ hurdle allows for progression.

God willing, once Limini has burnt up the Royal Ascot turf, she’ll be back at Cheltenham

The celebrated mare Annie Power is a racehorse first, according to trainer Willie Mullins

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Apr_140_Sales_Circuit_Sales 24/03/2016 16:19 Page 68

SALES CIRCUIT

By CARL EVANS

Thistlecrack’s sister is top filly at select Festival sale Figures on the rise as Tattersalls Ireland stages Cheltenham fixture for first time

Timewaitsfornoone tops the Festival Sale at £225,000 and will race for Barry Connell

had been lifted two days earlier when Minella Rocco, who topped the inaugural Festival Sale in 2014 during its tenure under Brightwells, won the National Hunt Chase

GEORGE SELWYN

An unbroken three-year-old filly stole the show as Tattersalls Ireland staged its first Cheltenham Festival Sale.

It was a gamble by breeder/vendors Robin and Scarlett Knipe to place their unproven youngster among a group of in-training horses – the majority winners or placed in Irish point-to-points – but they reasoned a win for her full-brother, Thistlecrack, in the same day’s Ryanair World Hurdle, would make her a stand-out, and so it proved. Who knows how she might have been valued had the race taken place 24 hours later, on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival, and whether John and Heather Snook, who own Thistlecrack, would have been prepared to splash £165,000 had they not won £170,000 a few hours earlier? Either way it was a blow for disappointed-looking underbidder Simon Sweeting of Overbury Stud, although he could glow inwardly in the knowledge that Thistlecrack had become another highprofile winner for his stallion Kayf Tara.

Tattersalls Ireland’s hopes for the occasion

GEORGE SELWYN

Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham Festival Sale

The three-year-old sister to Thistlecrack sells for £165,000 to the star hurdler’s owners

68

“Minella Rocco, who

topped the inaugural sale in 2014, won the National Hunt Chase for JP McManus” for JP McManus. A further advert for its potential as a source of high-class horses came the day after it was held, when the 2015 sale topper, Champers On Ice, ran a fine race to take third in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

Owner Barry Connell, who bought Timewaitsfornoone with a bid of £225,000 through Gerry Hogan, will be hoping his purchase can match or improve upon this run of success for horses who top this sale.

The son of Oscar was offered by Colin Bowe, who is mopping up four-year-old maiden THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Apr_140_Sales_Circuit_Sales 24/03/2016 16:12 Page 69

“A ‘rival’ to this event is to be staged during Aintree’s Grand National meeting

by Goffs”

point-to-points in Ireland this season.

Willie Mullins, who the following day became the Festival’s leading trainer for the fifth time, is doing as much as any trainer to promote fillies and mares by simply having success with them – Annie Power’s victory over the geldings in the Stan James Champion Hurdle being a great endorsement – and while his biggest purchase at this auction was the winning gelding Monbeg Chit Chat for £200,000, he also invested £110,000 on Three Swallowsnick, a mare whose record stands at two from two in Irish points.

Pleasingly for Tattersalls Ireland the figures were up, save for a drop in the clearance rate to 70%, which was still a healthy-enough figure. The slight drop in number of horses sold did not prevent turnover from rising 6%, there was a 37% improvement in the average figure – close to the figure achieved in 2014 – while the median shot up 52%.

A ‘rival’ to this event is about to be staged during Aintree’s Grand National meeting by Goffs, although it too is expected to be a small catalogue, largely made up of horses with very recent form, many of whom will have run since this one was staged – it will be interesting to see how it fares.

Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham January Sale This sale took place a month later than planned, on February 18, due to a very wet January that led to abandoned or heavy-ground meetings, particularly Irish point-to-points.

Ironically, the top two horses would not have gone through the ring on the original date, being four-year-old Irish point-to-point winners – races for horses who become that age after January 1 do not start across the Irish Sea until the first weekend in February.

Yet while Cesar Collonges (£200,000) and Burren Life (£135,000) proved to be valuable assets for the event, Richard Pugh, Tattersalls Ireland’s director of horses-in-training sales, maintained that in a normal winter the January THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham Festival Sale Top lots Name/Breeding

Vendor

Timewaitsfornoone (Oscar — Trendy Attire)

Milestone Stables

Price (£) 225,000

Buyer

Monbeg Chit Chat (Kayf Tara — Gaye Sophie)

Monbeg Stables

200,000

Kirk/Mullins

F Kayf Tara — Ardstown (Ardross)

Cobhall Court Stud

165,000

John Snook

Daklondike (Gold Well — Strong Irish)

Milestone Stables

140,000

David Pipe

Orchard Thieves (Ask — Ballycleary)

Monbeg Stables

115,000

David Pipe

Three Swallowsnick (Westerner — Sitges)

Drumderry Stables

110,000

Kirk/Mullins

Midnight Maestro (Midnight Legend — Calamintha)

Barbury Castle Stables

100,000

Matt Mitchell

G H Bloodstock

Molly The Dolly (Flemensfirth — Pistol Flash)

Baltimore House Stables

82,000

Mr Love (Winged Love — Bonny Rathlin)

Josh Ryan

72,000

D McCain Malone/L Wadham

Cirano De Sivola (Vendangeur — Wild Rose Bloom)

Cottage Field Stables

60,000

Seamus Durack

Comparative figures Year

Sold

Agg (£)

Avg (£)

Mdn (£)

Top Price (£)

2016

14

1,447,000

103,357

91,000

225,000

2015

18

1,362,000

75,667

60,000

205,000

2014

16

1,688,000

105,500

70,000

260,000

Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham January Sale Top lots Name/Breeding

Vendor

Price (£)

Buyer

Cesar Collonges (Fragrant Mix — Prouesse Collonges)

Bernice Stables

200,000

Evan Williams

Burren Life (Pelder — Burren Valley)

Kilmacdough Stables

135,000

Gordon Elliott

Billy Bronco (Central Park — Nan)

Bryngors Stables

110,000

Evan Williams

Reality Bites (Mahler — Seeds Of Doubt)

Leighmoney Stables

100,000

Highflyer BS/A King

Steal My Thunder (Craigsteel — Party Woman)

Ballinakill Stables

72,000

Hurricane Dylan (Brian Boru — Definetly Sarah)

Fairtown Stud

66,000

J Stimpson

Mulcahys Hill (Brian Boru — Belsalsa)

Hassett Racing

61,000

Highflyer BS/W Greatrex

Ms Parfois (Mahler — Dolly Lewis)

Hassett Racing

50,000

Anthony Honeyball

Beneagles (Milan — Liss Rua)

Ballyboy Stables

50,000

Highflyer BS/A King

Dingo Dollar (Golden Lariat — Social Society)

Hassett Racing

50,000

Highflyer BS/A King

M Fitzgerald Racing Club

Five-year tale Year

Sold

Agg (£)

Avg (£)

Mdn (£)

2016

23

1,230,000

53,478

40,000

200,000

2015

28

1,629,000

58,179

39,000

200,000

2014

28

1,459,500

52,125

31,500

190,000

2013

31

1,542,000

49,742

28,000

250,000

2012

19

490,500

25,816

23,000

60,000

date works well and would be maintained.

Incidentally, both horses will now race under Rules, having been bought for clients of licensed trainers Evan Williams and Gordon Elliott.

Williams filled several orders, and his purchase of Billy Bronco for £110,000 resulted in a very handsome return for owner/trainers Paul and Debbie Hamer, who are based in Carmarthenshire. Their horse won a Towcester

Top Price (£)

bumper, and when the form was franked by the runner-up his valuation was on the rise.

Tattersalls Ireland, staging the event for the first time, was happy enough with results, despite a drop of 24% in turnover and an 8% dip in the average price. A clutch of horses failed to break the £70,000 barrier and were led away by their consignors, adding to a decline in clearance, but 72% was no disaster, and the median figure inched up 2.5%. >>

69

Apr_140_Sales_Circuit_Sales 24/03/2016 16:12 Page 70

SALES CIRCUIT >> Fasig-Tipton

Florida Select 2YO Sale

CLASSIFIED

Nyquist, unbeaten in six races, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and on course for the Kentucky Derby, was sold at this auction last year for $800,000.

Whether his success lay behind a set of much-improved figures is impossible to tell, but there were increases in all categories, including a 7% rise in turnover despite a reduced catalogue. A total of 96 horses were offered – down from 132 last year – although a 69% clearance rate backed up the view of Boyd Browning, the sales company’s president, that buyers were “very demanding, but willing to pay for horses they found desirable”.

The average marched upwards by 45%, while the median flew, climbing 92%.

Nyquist comes from the first crop of Uncle Mo – like his son, a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner – who got onto the top-ten board thanks to a colt purchased in partnership by Coolmore Stud’s MV Magnier and Barbara Bankes’ Stonestreet Farm for $1 million.

Topping trade however was a colt with a

70

Fasig-Tipton Florida Select 2YO Sale Top lots Sex/Breeding

Vendor

Price ($)

Buyer

C Tapit — Bethan (Giant’s Causeway)

Old South Farm

1,800,000

Woodford Racing/LaPenta/Lane’s End

C Uncle Mo — Five Star Dream (Two Punch)

Cary Frommer

1,000,000

Stonestreet/Magnier

C Curlin — On A Roll (Ap Indy)

Wavertree Stables

1,000,000

Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum

C Pioneerof The Nile — Faith In Me (Mr Greeley)

Hartley/De Renzo T’breds 1,000,000

M V Magnier

C Union Rags — Touched (Touch Gold)

Wavertree Stables

975,000

Baoma Corp

F Tapizar — Yawkey Way (Grand Slam)

Crupi’s New Castle Farm

800,000

O’Neill & Johnson

C Bodemeister — Blossomed (Deputy Minister)

McKathan Bros

650,000

Mark Casse

C Candy Ride — Talkin And Singing (Songandaprayer) William Harrigan

620,000

Godolphin

C Mineshaft — Gasp (Hennessy)

Randy Miles

600,000

Moustapha Fostock

C Hard Spun — Liam’s Dream (Saint Liam)

Niall Brennan

500,000

E Five Racing

C Scat Daddy — W W American (Quiet American) Niall Brennan

500,000

E Five Racing

Comparative figures Year

Sold

Agg ($)

Avg ($)

Mdn ($)

Top Price ($)

2016

66

21,590,000

327,121

250,000

1,800,000

2015

89

20,095,500

225,792

130,000

1,400,000

2014

47

13,370,000

284,468

180,000

1,200,000

stallion’s pedigree, being a son of double US champion sire Tapit out of Bethan, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner and leading sire Hard Spun.

With such a pedigree, he was unlikely to be

picked up cheaply and, after a good breeze, he duly headed the table, bought by a partnership between Lane's End, Woodford Racing and Robert LaPenta for $1.8 million.

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71

Apr_140_Caulfield_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 17:18 Page 72

CAULFIELD FILES ANDREW CAULFIELD REPORTS ON THE BLOODSTOCK WORLD

Galileo and Dubawi head French Classic entries The champion sire has 53 colts and fillies engaged from his 2013 crop of 172

72

GEORGE SELWYN

F

ebruary is a month when many of racing’s aficionados plan their Cheltenham bets, but for a pedigree buff such as myself I spent a couple of happy days perusing the French Classic entries in search of pointers to how the 2016 season may develop.

Inevitably, these Classics will form part of the battle line between the European forces with the heaviest artillery – the Coolmore partnerships and the Maktoum family, led by Godolphin. It therefore comes as little surprise that the stallions with the most prolific representation among the Classic entries include Galileo and Dubawi. Incidentally, I need to explain that the figures relate to the four official French Classics – the two Poule d’Essai races, the Jockey-Club and the Diane – but I have also included the Grand Prix de Paris, on the basis that it levels the playing field a little for the stallions whose progeny prefer a stronger test of stamina.

I’m sure no-one will be too surprised that Galileo leads the way, but the scale of his dominance is remarkable, even for a stallion with seven sires’ championships in the last eight years. He has, of course, been responsible for winners of the four of the five Group 1 races under review, the exception being the Poule d’Essai des Poulains. There are 172 foals in Galileo’s 2013 crop and no fewer than 53 have been entered in one or other of these five races.

Twenty-three of the colts and nine of the fillies are trained by Aidan O’Brien, but that still leaves 21 with other trainers. O’Brien’s most exposed Galileo colts include Johannes Vermeer, Port Douglas, Deauville and Beacon Rock, with Minding, Alice Springs, Ballydoyle and Coolmore adding up to a formidable team for the fillies’ Classics.

For good measure, Galileo’s champion sons Teofilo and New Approach have 11 and eight representatives respectively. Teofilo is well placed to build on his fine results in 2015 which saw him finish ninth among the Anglo-Irish two-year-old sires.

Last year saw Dubawi make a tremendous impact in France on the colts’ Group 1s, supplying the winners of the Jockey-Club and Grand Prix in the forms of New Bay and Erupt.

These two completed a remarkable treble, of sorts, for Dubawi, as it was Dubawi’s son Makfi who sired the Poulains winner Make Believe.

This time Dubawi has ten sons and 12 daughters among the entries. Among the colts are the Aga Khan’s highly promising Zarak, out of the great Zarkava, and Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Mootaharer, a half-brother to

Can Group 1-winning two-year-old Ballydoyle become a Classic winner this season?

Muhaarar who looked potentially smart when he won at Newmarket. The Dubawi fillies include Dar Re Mi’s daughter So Mi Dar, winner of her only juvenile start, plus the unbeaten Nezwaah and Dermot Weld’s Group 3 winner Tanaza.

Dubawi’s son Makfi has seven entrants, featuring the impressive German Listed winner Noor Al Hawa and Ralph Beckett’s winning

“The strongest

numerical challenge to Galileo comes from his half-brother Sea The Stars” debutante Little Avon. Another of Dubawi’s sons, Poet’s Voice, has four entries from his first crop, including the lightly-raced winners G K Chesterton and Chastushka.

Fraternal challenge Needless to say, many of Europe’s other highpriced stallions also figure among the stallions with the most candidates for the French

Classics. Remarkably, the strongest numerical challenge to Galileo comes from his half-brother Sea The Stars. These Group 1 candidates were conceived in 2012, when Sea The Stars stood his third season at a fee of €85,000. Unlike in his second season, which resulted in only 67 foals, Sea The Stars was back in favour in 2012, following some spectacular prices for his firstcrop foals, and the end result was 122 foals.

A grand total of 27 – many of them unknown quantities - have received entries in the five French Group 1s under review. Sea The Stars’ first two crops have demonstrated that his progeny generally improve considerably from two to three, so keep an eye on such as Tirmizi, a colt who won his only juvenile start for Dermot Weld, and Cloth Of Stars, who showed very useful form for Godolphin. There are also a few other dark horses, such as Zelzal, Melfit and Toumar, who made winning debuts on the all-weather over the winter.

Sea The Stars represents the Green Desert branch of the Danzig male line, together with Green Desert’s sons Invincible Spirit and Oasis Dream. Invincible Spirit has already sired a Prix du Jockey-Club winner in Lawman and he has 13 nominees, even though his top 2015 juveniles Shalaa and Ajaya aren’t among them.

Oasis Dream has ten, including the Dermot Weld pair True Solitaire and Emergent.

Dansili, who stood the 2012 season at THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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£75,000, has six colts and 13 fillies among the entries. This mirrors Dansili’s record as a Group 1 sire, with fillies accounting for 12 of his 19 winners at the top level. Remember, though, that three of his sons have won the Grand Prix de Paris for Juddmonte, so it could be worth keeping an eye on the so-far-unraced Extinguish. Dansili’s brothers Cacique and Champs Elysees have seven entries between them but it is Dansili’s son Zoffany who has an eye-catching ten entries from his highly successful first crop.

It was another Danehill stallion, Duke Of Marmalade, who was responsible for last year’s Prix de Diane winner Star Of Seville, plus other Group 1 Classic scorers in Britain and Germany.

Now based in South Africa, he has six entries this time, including the progressive Dwight D. Exceed And Excel, another of Danehill’s sons, has eight entries, the most exposed being the Group winners Buratino and Aboulie. Then there’s Fastnet Rock, with such as Turret Rocks and Shogun among his ten entries.

When it comes to stallions with form in the French Classics, it is hard to better the fatherand-son team of Shamardal and Lope de Vega.

Both completed the Poule d’Essai des PoulainsPrix du Jockey-Club double and both are well placed to extend their influence. Shamardal has 18 representatives, including the impressive Champagne Stakes winner Emotionless, the tremendously speedy Lumiere and the Group 3 winner Sasparella. Lope de Vega has a team of 13. Nine of them are colts, including the exciting Blue de Vega, who is potentially his sire’s best effort so far.

Montjeu – a stallion who ranks as one of my favourites – died during the March of the 2012 season, so his 2013 crop numbers only around 25. Five of them have been entered and I would be delighted if they included a successor to the Grand Prix de Paris winners Scorpion, Montmartre and Gallante.

Of course Montjeu also sired four winners of the Derby. The first three – Motivator, Authorized and Pour Moi – are all represented among the entries. Authorized has the potentially smart Prize Money, while Motivator – already sire of the brilliant Diane winner Treve – has five. The Motivator quintet includes four fillies. Two of the fillies are in the care of Treve’s former handler, Criquette Head-Maarek, and Midweek looked potentially very useful when she scored at Saint-Cloud.

I am encouraged that Pour Moi has as many as nine entries from his first crop. He enjoyed a spate of winners late in the 2015 season and there is every reason to expect his progeny to make substantial progress from two to three.

Among those winners were Marco Botti’s impressive Nottingham winner Mr Khalid, Ralph Beckett’s Kempton winner Diamonds THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Stallions with the most entries in France's first four Classics and the Grand Prix de Paris Sire

Entries

GALILEO

53

SEA THE STARS

27

DUBAWI

22

DANSILI

19

SHAMARDAL

18

KENDARGENT

14

INVINCIBLE SPIRIT

13

LOPE DE VEGA

13

MEDAGLIA D'ORO

12

LE HAVRE

11

TEOFILO

11

FASTNET ROCK

10

OASIS DREAM

10

WAR FRONT

10

ZOFFANY

10

POUR MOI

9

SIYOUNI

9

STREET CRY

9

DALAKHANI

8

EXCEED AND EXCEL

8

NEW APPROACH

8

MAKFI

7

MANDURO

7

MONSUN

7

SMART STRIKE

7

“There is every reason to expect Pour Moi’s progeny to make substantial progress from two to three”

Pour Moi and Jean-Claude Rouget’s unbeaten filly Elusive Million.

Another stallion who is no longer with us is the German superstar Monsun, sire of the 2009 Prix de Diane winner Stacelita. As he died in 2012, his 2013 foals are the last of the line.

Seven have been entered, including five fillies.

One of them, the Aga Khan’s Dariyba, has yet to race but she is a daughter of the Prix de Diane winner Daryaba.

Perhaps we should also watch Monsun’s son Manduro, who enjoyed something of a

renaissance in 2015. Four of his seven nominees are owned by Godolphin, including the unbeaten Group 1 winner Ultra. Two others, Takadiyr and Mondieu, won their only juvenile starts.

The home guard Manduro is now based in France. It comes as no surprise that the most-represented Frenchbased stallions are Kendargent (14), Le Havre (11) and Siyouni (9). All three rank among the highest-priced proven stallions in France this year, their respective fees being €15,000, €35,000 and €30,000. Kendargent’s 14 come from a crop of 95, Le Havre’s 11 from a third crop of 114 and Siyouni’s nine from a second crop of 73. Of course the Prix du Jockey-Club winner Le Havre has already enjoyed Classic success with Avenir Certain and so has Siyouni, via his excellent daughter Ervedya.

Siyouni has been joined in recent years at Haras de Bonneval by Makfi and now Dalakhani. A Prix du Jockey-Club winner who has already sired a Jockey-Club winner, Dalakhani has eight entries this time.

To return to the Coolmore-Godolphin battle for supremacy, both groups have American branches, but they appear to be adopting different policies. There are no entries by Scat Daddy or Uncle Mo and only three by Giant’s Causeway. Instead Coolmore is relying heavily on the Claiborne-based War Front, whose tenstrong team is headed by Air Force Blue and Hit It A Bomb.

On the other hand, quite a few of Godolphin’s numerous entries are by stallions based at Darley America. Godolphin own all 12 of Medaglia d’Oro’s entries and eight of Street Cry’s nine. There are also Godolphin horses by Hard Spun (2), Street Sense and Elusive Quality.

I applaud Godolphin’s determination to prove that the dirt specialist Medaglia d’Oro has the potential to sire European Classic winners.

We have already seen him sire Group 1 winners on turf in France and Australia, as well as the US, and he is, after all, a grandson of Sadler’s Wells. Of the 12 Medaglia d’Oros, no fewer than five are out of AP Indy mares, while another two have dams by AP Indy’s son Malibu Moon, so they certainly don’t have conventional turf pedigrees. Perhaps he will stand a better chance with his colts out of daughters of Dansili, Machiavellian and Rock Of Gibraltar.

I will also be keeping a close watch over the four Classic entries by American superstar Tapit, which are owned by the Wertheimer brothers, Hamdan Al Maktoum, Godolphin and Khalid Abdullah. The Abdullah filly Maquette – out of a European Group 1 winner – won her only juvenile start in a manner which suggests she could eventually persuade other owners that Tapit’s progeny are worth trying in Europe.

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Fantastic turn out for Dalham Hall Stud visit T

he Thoroughbred Club welcomed members to the first STAR event of 2016 on March 12 in Newmarket.

Members convened at Tattersalls before heading off to see the Darley stallions at Dalham Hall Stud, followed by a behind-the-scenes tour of Godolphin’s pre-training facilities on Hamilton Road.

The fully-subscribed event was a huge success and our thanks go to all of those who made it such a great day including Darley, Godolphin and Tattersalls.

The next TTC event is ‘Behind the scenes at York racecourse’ on July 8 – to book your place visit the events page of the TTC website for more information.

Members had the opportunity to view champion stallion Dubawi at close quarters

TTC members keeping up to date with their copies of Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder magazine!

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Members got a preview of the TTC’s racing colours which will be carried by the club’s horse in training in 2016

A Godolphin horse after exercise in the sea water horse-walker

The horses are exercised at the Hamilton Road facility until they are ready to join a trainer

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@T T C_ GB

JOHN HOY

www.thetho ro ug hb re d clu b . co . u k •

The impressive main office at Dalham Hall Stud

Godolphin’s Pre-Training Manager Kate Grimwade welcomed members to the facilities on Hamilton Road

Shuttle stallion Sepoy returned from covering duties in Australia

The day was a great success and we look forward to welcoming members to our next STAR event!

MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS

Associate Member - Free

Open to all 16- to 30-year-olds £50 per year (£35 per year for 16- to 22-year-olds)

• Limited TTC events access

Full Member • Access to all TTC events • Follow our TTC broodmares and horse in training • Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder magazine subscription • Annual Thoroughbred Stallion Guide • Blogs, webinars, vlogs with exclusive access on our website • Career course and educational opportunities

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• Six-month membership • Limited TTC website access

HOW TO JOIN • Visit thethoroughbredclub.co.uk to sign up • If you would like to discuss membership options please contact Tallulah Lewis at info@thethoroughbredclub.co.uk

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ROA FORUM The special section for ROA members

The industry wants to increase the number of horses in training and is canvassing owners on their experiences in the sport

Owners survey launched Work is well underway with undertaking the biggest ever survey of new, existing and lapsed racehorse owners. From sole owners to syndicate members, and everyone in between, the project, which is being led by the ROA, is set to canvas the views of more people than ever in order to help shape the future of the ownership experience.

The results of the survey are intended to provide a better understanding and hard data around the ownership experience. This will help the industry gain a better understanding of what attracts people into ownership, what’s good about it as a product, and turns owners off the experience.

This will enable strategies to be developed to attract and retain owners, and put the industry in a much better position to resource investment most effectively.

The survey is being undertaken by sports market research company Two Circles, who have already done work with racecourses and Great British Racing on attracting racegoers.

A series of in-depth phone call discussions have helped to shape

the structure of the survey, which will be circulated online to registered owners, syndicate members and lapsed owners.

The ROA helped secure funding for this important project through support from the British Horseracing Grant Scheme, administered by the British Horseracing Authority on behalf of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Charlie Liverton, ROA Chief Executive, said: “The owner survey is a key component in the ownership pillar of the industry-wide strategy for growth.

“The industry is looking to increase the number of horses in training by 1,000 by 2020 and drilling down to the views of current and past sole, joint and syndicate members is a very important part of this process. The findings of the survey will provide vital data of what motivates owners as key stakeholders.”

It is expected that the survey will be completed in April.

Exclusive offer at Royal Ascot ROA members can take advantage of an exclusive hospitality package in the Carriages restaurant at Royal Ascot, June 14-18, which is situated on the top-floor of the luxurious twotier Royal Ascot marquee.

The package includes a champagne reception, four-course lunch and afternoon tea and a complimentary bar throughout the day, and can be purchased with or without Queen Anne admission. The package without admission ranges from £475-£490 per person per day, and with admission is £500-£550 per person according to the day.

Members will be seated together on shared tables of ten. Full details of this package can be found at www.roa.co.uk or through the office.

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Enjoy superb hospitality at the social and racing highlight of the 2016 Flat season

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www.roa.co.uk

Cheltenham marquee proves a big hit with members The ROA’s marquee at the Cheltenham Festival proved immensely popular with members and their guests over the four days.

The facility provided a comfortable base from which to enjoy the action and offered numerous TV screens and Tote betting, with a private cash bar and hot and cold food available to purchase.

Tea and coffee was made available for free.

Sadie Evans, the ROA’s Membership Manager, said: “Once again the ROA marquee has been a big hit with our members at the showpiece jumps meeting of the year, selling out on each day.

“The atmosphere inside the marquee was superb and of course they enjoyed some wonderful performances over the course of the week.”

The marquee was busy throughout the week and provided a comfortable base for ROA members and their guests

Your chance to scoop the Jackpot There is £2,000 on offer to ROA members on top of win prize-money in the weekly ROA Owners Jackpot series, supported by the Racing Post. Horses need to be owned by ROA members to qualify for a bonus.

A horse owned jointly will qualify provided 51% of the owners are ROA members. In the case of a racing partnership, both nominated partners need to be members of the ROA. ROA Owners Jackpot races in April and May April 8 April 13 April 19 April 26 May 6 May 13 May 17 May 25

Wolverhampton Beverley Sedgefield Bath Ripon Aintree Nottingham Hamilton Park

Class 6 (46-55) Handicap 6f Class 5 (61-75) Handicap 1m4f Class 4 (0-120) Handicap hurdle 2m4f Class 6 (51-65) Handicap 1m Class 5 (56-75) Handicap 2m Class 4 (0-120) Handicap hurdle (mares) 2m4f Class 5 (61-75) Handicap 6f Class 5 (56-70) Handicap 1m3f

Entries close April 2 Entries close April 5 Entries close April 13 Entries close April 20 Entries close April 30 Entries close May 7 Entries close May 11 Entries close May 19

More details and upcoming races can be found on the ROA website at www.roa.co.uk

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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ROA FORUM

TRACK TALK

The latest news from the UK’s racecourses

£3 million on offer at Aintree in April This year’s three-day Crabbie’s Grand National Festival (April 7-9) will be the richest ever, with nearly £3 million in prizemoney up for grabs. Eight races have received a boost, with the Liverpool Hurdle the main beneficiary.

This year also marks the third year of Crabbie’s sponsorship, and its sponsorship payments to owners. Those lucky enough to have a runner in the Grand National itself will receive a payment of £1,000 for carrying the Crabbie’s branding, whilst owners with runners in other races will receive a £200 payment for carrying that race’s designated branding.

Aintree has made major improvements to facilities for the disabled in time for this year’s Crabbie’s Grand National Festival.

This follows an approach from major jumps owner Andy Stewart, and a meeting between Aintree’s Managing Director John Baker and Stewart’s son Paul.

Andy Stewart said: “Since he was disabled due to a winter sporting accident, Paul has experienced first-hand the very limited facilities not only at racecourses, but also other sporting facilities.

“Paul loves to come to Aintree and I contacted John Baker to arrange a meeting and I am delighted John jumped at the chance.

John Baker said: “The meeting with Paul was a real eye opener and left me in no doubt that we had work to do. I hope what we are putting in place this April will go some way towards making the day more enjoyable for our disabled customers.”

Paul Stewart expressed his satisfaction and said: “It is excellent what Aintree have done and I would like to thank John and

Newcastle’s new surface Owners going racing at Newcastle this year are going to find a very different experience.

The Tapeta surface should be fully installed by mid-March, with trials due to start in early April.

The ROA is also pleased to announce that the complimentary food offering has been substantially improved, and owners with a runner now receive a three-course meal in the Owners’ and Trainers’ bar area. This commenced on Eider Chase day in late February and is already being well received.

The bar itself is also set to move location

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2015 hero Many Clouds is set for another crack at the Crabbie’s Grand National

Race

2016 Prize Fund (£) 2015 Prize Fund (£)

Gr1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase

100,000

90,000

Gr3 Red Rum Handicap Chase

100,000

90,000

40,000

30,000

75,000

60,000

100,000

90,000

Gr2 Goffs Nickel Coin Mares’ Bumper Gr1 Top Novices’ Hurdle Gr1 Betfred Mildmay Novices’ Chase Gr2 Weatherbys Champion Bumper Gr1 Liverpool Hurdle Pinsent Masons Handicap Hurdle his team for taking the action he has. I would be delighted to talk to any other racecourse or any other sporting venue in fact. I am delighted to help in any way I can.”

Some of the additional facilities which Aintree has put in place include, all

later this year, and will offer more space and a better view of the action.

Guineas prize-money A big boost to the Guineas prize-money coffers looks set to kick-start Newmarket’s 350 years of racing anniversary. The season’s first two Classics will now offer matching prize funds of £500,000, which is an 11% increase for the 2,000 Guineas, and a hefty 22% increase for the 1,000 Guineas. The increases form part of QIPCO’s sponsorship package of both the British Champions Series and Newmarket Guineas festival.

40,000

30,000

150,000

120,000

50,000

40,000

Grandstand disabled toilets on site will be fitted with radar keys; an increase in the size of the Golf Buggy service so that Aintree can assist other less able bodied customers; an increase in seating around all sectors of the course and disabled access points have been added to all facilities.

Lingfield food The ROA are pleased to announce that, following feedback from owners, Lingfield have extended their complimentary food offering. Owners with a runner can now take their pick from any of the dishes available in the Brasserie, which includes sandwiches and a variety of hot meals.

Owners wishing to partake of a more substantial meal can book into the Trackside Restaurant in advance of the raceday (subject to availability) for a £40 three-course meal.

This represents a saving of at least 25% on the normal price.

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Glorious package for Goodwood festival The ROA and Goodwood racecourse have put together an outstanding fine-dining package in the Horsewalk Restaurant for members over the five days of the Qatar Festival at Glorious Goodwood, July 26-30.

This exclusive rate Horsewalk package of £190 per person includes:

• Admission badge to the Richmond Enclosure

• Three-course seated lunch • Afternoon tea • Richmond Grandstand reserved seat

• Car-parking label • Race card Catering at the Goodwood Estate is now provided by Rhubarb, who have secured a five-year deal thought to be worth around £60 million.

Rhubarb also provide catering at Sky Garden, Royal Albert Hall and Royal Ascot.

They have taken over from the Compass Group, which had held the contract for more than 25 years.

Bookings are now open online at roa.co.uk or by calling the ROA on 020 7152 0200.

Hereford’s fixtures Following popular news regarding the reopening of Hereford racecourse, the BHA has revealed that the National Hunt course will host four fixtures in 2016. These are to take place on October 6 and 31, November 23 and December 19 and replace fixtures schedule to occur at Worcester, Southwell, Fontwell and Lingfield respectively. Full race details will be in Programme Book 4, which will be published in mid-August.

Enjoy the Qatar Goodwood Festival with our fine-dining restaurant package

Richmond Enclosure badges The ROA will also provide its usual special service to members to sell badges for the Richmond Enclosure for the five days of Glorious Goodwood. The Richmond Enclosure is otherwise reserved for owners and trainers with a runner and annual members.

Diary dates and reminders APRIL 7 Grand Opening Day at Aintree ROA members can enjoy free admission on the opening day of the Crabbie’s Grand National festival. See website for details.

Thank you to all the ROA members who have been leaving feedback on their raceday experience via the ROA website.

We like to reward those who take the time to complete the short questionnaire, and therefore enter everyone into a monthly prize draw. This month’s winner of a £50 John Lewis voucher is Mrs Collette Townroe, whose ownership interests include a share in last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle fifth Wilde Blue Yonder, trained by Alan King.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

LOOKING AHEAD June 14-18 Hospitality package, Royal Ascot

June 26 Pretty Polly Stakes Day at the Curragh, admission and access to the Curragh rooms

June 28 ROA AGM, London

July 25, 26, 27, 29, 30

APRIL 13 Dalham Hall Stud tour

Feedback monthly winner

Badges can be ordered at an early booking rate of £79 per person until the end of April.

From May 1 badges will be £89. Members can book a maximum of four badges per day.

Car parking labels can be ordered for £10.

Junior badges for 18-24 years are £44.50, 17 years and under are free.

The trip to see Golden Horn at Dalham Hall Stud has now sold out.

APRIL 26-APRIL 30 Punchestown Festival ROA members can enjoy privileged access to the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners Members Marquee.

MAY 24

Galway festival – access to AIRO members marquee

July 26-30 Badge service and hospitality package, Glorious Goodwood

August Racing at Deauville

October 15 British Champions Day, Ascot

December 1

Visit to Weatherbys

ROA Horseracing Awards

A behind-the-scenes visit followed by lunch.

Members wishing to attend should email Sarah Cotton at scotton@weatherbys.co.uk or call on 01933 440077.

Booking for all ROA events can be made online at roa.co.uk or by calling the ROA on 020 7152 0200

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ROA FORUM

Understanding handicapping Last year’s Jump Review recommended that an explanation of handicapping processes should be made available to deal with general handicapping concerns or pre-conceptions.

Viewers of ATR may be familiar with a feature called ‘Ask The Handicapper’, where BHA Head of Handicapping Phil Smith fields questions from viewers.

The BHA has now launched a new initiative called ‘Handicapping Explained’ whereby Phil Smith and his team will field questions by email from owners as participants. Questions are invited that are of a general nature, e.g. if I finish too close to a good horse in a novices’ chase then my mark is blown, or northern jumpers are too harshly treated etc.

Phil Smith has posted the following blog, which explains further and we hope to be able to publish some responses to these questions.

Solving the eternal puzzle One of the great things about horseracing is the joy of trying to solve the eternal puzzle of exactly how good a horse is. Ultimately that is one of the reasons why we love the sport, it is the basic ethos behind racing, where it all began – trying to work out whose horses are the best.

It is exactly for this reason that horseracing is such a fine medium for debate, and much of this debate revolves around the job of myself

and my team of handicappers. It is our role, in the most basic possible terms, to assess the quality of every horse and allocate a numerical performance rating to every run by every horse in British Racing.

These handicap ratings are important. At the very top end of the sport they are used to determine who we feel, officially, are the best horses at any one time. However, more fundamentally than that, they directly affect the livelihoods of horsemen as they will determine the weights that horses are due to carry in handicap races.

It is entirely understandable, then, that preconceptions will exist about handicapping.

Something that is so integral to the sport and which has such a tangible effect on its participants is always going to lead to debate, and its complexity is always going to lead to questions. It is for this reason that myself and my handicapping team want to throw our doors open to answering your queries about our work.

We want you to challenge us by sending your questions. We’re not looking for queries about individual horses, we simply won’t have time to answer them all, but instead we would like you to raise any preconceptions or concerns you have about our handicapping practices in general. It could be that by examining the relevant data we are able to reassure our

Phil Smith explains how it’s done

industry in the practices we all follow. At the same time the questions raised could flag up trends that we were not aware of and this could have an impact on the way in which we handicap horses.

After we have gathered a number of questions and had a look at the data around them we will publish a selection of the best ones, and do so on an ongoing basis. We’re going to open this up not just to the readers of these blogs and social media but also contact the sport’s participants directly and invite them to raise their views. So, if you have any questions or concerns about handicapping please do send them in to our dedicated email address handicapping@britishhorseracing.com.

News in Brief...

Rule change Following feedback from members, the ROA has secured a change in the Rules of Racing to remove the requirement of an owner to pay the jockey a riding fee following a failure to weigh in.

The change in the Rules, which comes into place April 2, hopes to achieve a more fair and equitable arrangement between jockeys and owners. Currently, if a jockey fails to weigh in when required they are suspended and the horse disqualified, with any prize-money that would have been obtained lost. While this will remain the same, as suggested, an owner will no longer be required to pay the jockey their riding fee; the fee will be debited as normal as per the automated system but will then be refunded by Weatherbys automatically after the Stewards find a jockey in breach.

For further information members can visit the BHA rules website or call the ROA office.

Thanksgiving service for Alan Lee A service of thanksgiving is being held to celebrate the life of Alan Lee, The Times cricket and racing correspondent and Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder writer who passed away on December 19.

All are welcome at the service (there will be no tickets issued), which will take place at Christ Church, Malvern Road, Cheltenham, GL50 2NU at 12 noon on Monday, April 18.

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Parking is recommended in the nearby Waitrose car park, Honeybourne Way, Cheltenham GL50 3Q, which is a short walk away from Christ Church. Cheltenham Spa mainline train station is a ten-minute walk away.

There will a reception after the service in the Panoramic Restaurant at Cheltenham racecourse.

For further information please contact Nigel Payne at nigel@earthsummit.demon.co.uk

Equine art offer Equine artist Elizabeth Armstrong is offering ROA members a 20% discount on commissions.

The artist, based in Hertfordshire, works up and down the country within the racing community.

Her ‘Proud Moments’ study of AP McCoy features the champion’s seven favourite rides on an Injured Jockeys Fund greetings card (pictured).

See elizabetharmstrong.co.uk for more details.

Runners in France Horses trained outside of France intending to run in a French race for the first time need to be declared on the France Galop IT server at least 15 days before the intended race. Where the race in question is more than 15 days after the initial entry stage, the aforementioned declaration must be completed by no later than the day before entries close.

Owners and trainers should be aware that if an entry is not made for the horse as a result of connections failing to do this, there will be no appeal.

Free race evening at Windsor The Flat racing season at Royal Windsor starts on Monday, April 11. The Berkshire racecourse is hosting a free evening of racing on Monday, April 18. Admission tickets just need to be pre-booked at www.windsor-racecourse.co.uk

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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M AGICAL M OM E NT S with ROA member John Davies Lil Rockerfeller certainly has a cool name, and it cost a cool £20,000 to supplement him for the Champion Hurdle.

It was a decision not made lightly, as Aintree was in the mix for the National Spirit Hurdle winner – but the smaller owner does not often get a chance to mix it with the likes of Ricci, McManus and Wylie on the biggest stage there is.

As it turned out, Lil Rockerfeller found things happening a bit quickly for him on the drying ground, finishing seventh behind outstanding mare Annie Power.

But it was still an incredibly memorable day for the plucky owners of the Neil Kingtrained five-year-old, including John Davies, who has been a racehorse owner for nearly 40 years.

His partners in Lil Rockerfeller are wellknown West Country bookmaker Andy Smith, Paul Govier and Geoffrey Brown, and they have had a fantastic time with the horse since buying him off Middleham Park to go hurdling early in January last year.

Indeed, the Champion Hurdle was Lil Rockerfeller’s 14th start for his current owners – and it was the first time he has failed to win any prize-money, having previously finished no worse than fourth for them, that stint including four victories highlighted by the Grade 2 success at Fontwell.

Asked how he got into ownership, Davies replies: “I first had a racehorse in 1977-78 after a stable visit to Ken Cundell’s yard in Compton. He sold me a horse called Hopeful Story who won first time out at Ascot, so I really got the bug.

“I did quite a lot of business in the racing and bloodstock industry through my profession – investment and financial advice – and over the years I have brought horses chosen by the trainers that I have done business with.

“I like to ideally have a share of a horse as I enjoy the social aspect with co-owners.

Over the years I have had parts of 50 to 60 horses.

“As for trainers, if I have done some business with someone I like to support them. We like to support small trainers as it’s very difficult business for them to make it pay, and for Neil and Clare King to have a stable star like Lil Rockerfeller gives them as much joy as us.”

There has certainly been plenty of joy,

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Lil Rockerfeller has proved a credit to his happy owners and trainer Neil King

“For Neil and Clare King to have a star like Lil Rockerfeller gives them as much joy as us”

never more so than with the Fontwell victory.

“That was a magical moment,” says Davies. “As was the party at the Malt Shovel pub in Upper Lambourn following the win; it was great the stable staff were able to join us for the evening.

“Also, over the years I’ve had great fun

with Charlie Mann, he has the knack of giving you a great day out even if you haven’t won. Saying that, he has trained over 30 winners for me.”

He adds: “The best thing about being a racehorse owner is the fun of it, enjoying a day out at the races with friends, and I enjoy the ROA’s facilities at places like Cheltenham, Goodwood and Ascot; that gives the small owners the opportunity to mix with the big boys.

“The worst thing about being an owner is the paperwork that has to be dealt with, especially with joint-ownership and syndicates, in particular reclaiming VAT, that’s my bug bear.”

It’s almost inevitable that with the racing bug comes a bug bear or two, but hopefully they will continue to be far outweighed by the pleasure Lil Rockerfeller is bringing his gang of four owners.

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ROA FORUM

w w w. r o a . c o . u k

Flat Racecourse League Table Ptn Racecourse

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

Ascot York Goodwood Epsom Downs Newmarket Chester Newbury Doncaster Sandown Park Haydock Park Chelmsford City Musselburgh Ayr Ripon Pontefract Lingfield Park Salisbury Wetherby Hamilton Park Thirsk Newcastle Carlisle Beverley Leicester Kempton Park Nottingham Ffos Las Windsor Bath Yarmouth Redcar Catterick Bridge Chepstow Wolverhampton Brighton Southwell Total

Figures for period March 1, 2015 to February 29, 2016

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 2013-14 (£)

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

388,619 188,919 168,936 136,791 105,410 86,530 68,579 66,008 57,439 49,896 40,551 39,867 36,465 34,084 33,032 32,624 32,289 32,205 27,399 27,121 26,159 25,473 24,486 24,323 24,169 23,318 22,888 21,099 20,435 19,876 19,019 18,539 17,669 16,577 14,759 12,250 48,230

139,472 101,606 93,300 79,482 82,238 44,190 66,664 55,763 51,919 45,355 15,982 24,136 34,194 25,913 32,988 24,926 28,809 9,725 19,217 19,250 21,961 16,869 21,890 23,200 20,655 21,304 13,170 20,085 14,305 31,117 19,872 18,609 14,793 19,938 16,181 22,708 33,482

238,948 109,663 60,270 92,702 99,302 10,164 34,603 31,454 23,148 18,729 4,399 5,796 10,857 4,816 3,724 4,297 5,354 4,508 3,776 5,533 6,892 4,389 3,076 5,054 4,238 5,764 3,391 4,872 3,089 6,084 11,276 2,707 3,162 3,150 2,556 2,411 19,791

767,040 401,012 322,506 308,975 287,001 141,217 170,290 153,485 132,880 115,047 60,972 69,799 81,634 64,813 69,744 61,890 66,577 47,250 50,392 51,904 55,449 46,731 49,702 52,827 49,130 50,626 39,449 46,333 38,019 57,077 50,167 40,105 36,249 39,705 33,496 37,368 101,657

18 17 19 11 39 15 18 24 16 23 64 17 17 16 16 86 16 4 18 16 16 13 20 21 59 23 7 28 21 3 18 17 16 95 21 40 888

13,806,712 6,817,200 6,127,610 3,398,725 11,193,049 2,118,260 3,065,213 3,683,650 2,126,088 2,695,379 3,902,205 1,186,591 1,387,783 1,037,000 1,115,902 5,322,559 1,065,238 189,000 907,050 830,468 887,184 607,500 994,030 1,109,365 2,898,664 1,164,399 276,140 1,297,325 798,400 171,230 903,000 681,788 579,982 3,771,984 703,416 1,494,735 90,314,824

360,861 169,619 88,884 118,711 91,930 81,446 55,785 64,832 54,675 47,465 31,954 39,444 30,759 31,611 30,775 27,921 27,442 0 22,641 27,174 23,350 21,234 21,852 20,104 21,429 19,898 24,490 19,707 17,760 16,478 16,378 16,912 13,169 16,659 12,786 10,693 41,158

Up/ down

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

Jumps Racecourse League Table Ptn Racecourse

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

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Aintree Cheltenham Ascot Sandown Park Haydock Park Newbury Kempton Park Ayr Newcastle Kelso Doncaster Ludlow Chepstow Wincanton Cartmel Wetherby Perth Stratford-on-Avon Newton Abbot Musselburgh Fakenham Market Rasen Taunton Warwick Exeter Huntingdon Carlisle Leicester Uttoxeter Ffos Las Bangor-on-Dee Hexham Fontwell Park Catterick Bridge Southwell Lingfield Park Worcester Plumpton Sedgefield Towcester 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 2013-14 (£)

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

242,694 226,234 141,268 95,904 87,945 58,990 48,903 36,492 30,662 28,703 28,457 28,445 27,652 26,942 25,256 24,381 24,218 23,882 23,222 23,094 22,921 22,896 22,518 20,575 20,284 19,862 19,861 18,624 18,069 17,636 16,904 16,249 15,759 15,704 15,595 15,435 14,741 13,413 13,411 12,844 35,705

129,888 112,432 83,699 84,990 76,352 75,635 54,570 40,962 38,581 30,315 42,394 26,493 34,287 32,364 21,388 26,208 26,114 18,206 27,195 33,896 21,795 24,003 20,816 30,337 29,047 22,177 27,154 25,658 22,622 21,630 25,078 18,618 22,766 26,355 18,759 27,686 21,230 23,762 20,509 19,570 33,864

66,846 56,670 18,857 17,161 15,617 22,178 9,448 11,610 7,610 3,082 8,403 4,319 7,328 5,062 4,528 4,461 2,439 3,700 0 5,136 0 4,369 4,443 5,304 4,859 4,350 4,214 4,528 4,945 3,544 4,728 2,897 3,117 2,946 3,410 3,480 3,615 3,264 2,911 3,328 7,695

439,615 395,336 247,574 201,389 181,546 159,025 113,992 89,974 76,853 62,691 79,755 59,257 69,267 64,533 51,171 55,150 52,772 45,787 50,418 62,776 44,716 51,486 47,777 57,775 54,697 46,668 52,114 48,809 45,907 42,810 46,709 37,929 41,642 45,260 38,020 46,600 39,701 40,440 37,293 35,908 77,685

8 16 8 9 9 9 14 11 8 11 10 14 15 14 8 15 14 18 17 10 13 22 14 17 16 18 13 9 24 10 11 14 21 9 20 5 20 16 19 12 541

3,516,918 6,325,381 1,980,592 1,812,501 1,556,113 1,431,225 1,595,892 989,713 614,826 689,606 797,546 829,600 1,039,000 903,455 409,368 827,255 738,803 824,172 857,102 627,762 581,307 1,132,685 668,880 982,167 875,151 840,018 677,486 439,281 1,101,761 428,100 513,804 531,000 874,476 407,339 760,400 233,000 794,014 647,033 708,574 430,900 41,994,204

248,442 220,359 134,429 98,381 99,756 45,128 53,326 30,081 21,824 26,725 28,422 25,666 25,254 26,024 24,425 23,853 25,650 22,552 21,497 26,507 22,194 22,125 13,956 23,046 19,250 19,081 20,598 12,779 18,425 18,638 19,850 16,447 15,380 15,696 10,838 13,076 14,083 13,989 13,700 11,032 33,931

Up/ down

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

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.

OWNERSHIP KEY JCR Jockey Club Racecourses

ARC Arena Racing Company

I Independently owned racecourse Gold Standard Award

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TBA FORUM The special section for TBA members

Foaling expert Caldwell wins March award As we are in the middle of the foaling season, it is very fitting that the March winner of the TBA Stud Staff Award should be someone who has a long history of foaling mares. Sue Caldwell has been Broodmare Manager at Newsells Park Stud since January 2003, prior to which she spent over 20 years at the National Stud, arriving as a student in 1980 and later becoming foaling manager. She has foaled nearly 3,000 mares and brought into the world a hatful of Classic winners including Derby winners Reference Point and Teenoso and St Leger winners Bollin Eric and Masked Marvel.

Julian Dollar, Manager at Newsells Park, describes Sue as the consummate professional, being highly organised, reliable, hard-working and dedicated. She is respected by all who work with her, including the stud vets, and her calm and confident approach built on years of experience and knowledge instils confidence and reassurance even through the difficult foalings.

Sue has also given a huge amount of time to educating others in the art of foaling and managing a foaling unit. Many hundreds of students from the National Stud, dozens of employees at Newsells Park Stud and scores of vet students from Cambridge and Nottingham Universities have benefitted from her experience and knowledge. If someone demonstrates enthusiasm and commitment, Sue is quick to help them learn.

Through advice and just the right balance

Supported by her colleagues, Sue Caldwell receives her award from Caroline Turnbull

of letting them take responsibility in the foaling box, dozens of people in the industry will have learnt to foal mares properly thanks to watching and being guided by Sue Caldwell – and she has also written a book about it!

In Julian’s words, “a nicer person you could

not hope to meet”, and he adds that not only Newsells Park Stud but the wider thoroughbred breeding industry owes her thanks for the thousands of mares she has foaled and the many hundreds of people who have benefitted from working with her.

Regional Days 2016 Please note that incorrect dates for two Regional Days were published in a recent TBA Newsletter – please see below for the correct dates: • WEST – the visit to Daylesford Stud is on TUESDAY, JUNE 7.

DAVID PRATT

• SOUTH EAST - the visit to William Knight Racing at Lower Coombe Stables and Westerlands is on WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8.

TBA Chairman Julian Richmond-Watson, right, presents the award for the EBF/TBA Novices’ Chase at Warwick to winning owner Roger Brookhouse

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Please accept our apologies for the error. We hope to see many of you at the above and other regional day events during 2016.

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www.thetba.co.uk

TBA diary dates SATURDAY, APRIL 2 TBA Mares NH Novices Hurdle Finale (Listed) At Newbury.

SUNDAY, APRIL 3 TBA Mares’ Only Club Race At Berwickshire Point-to-Point.

SATURDAY, APRIL 9 TBA Mares’ Only Club Race At North Warwickshire Point-to-Point.

THURSDAY, APRIL 14 EBF/TBA Mares Only Novices Chase Finale At Cheltenham.

MONDAY, MAY 16 NH Celebration Dinner At Doncaster.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23 TBA Newmarket Seminar The National Hunt Foal Show: this event is always a fantastic day out for spectators and exhibitors so mark your diaries now

TBA National Hunt Foal Show returns in July for its fourth year This year’s National Hunt ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ Foal Show at Bangor-on-Dee racecourse will take place on Sunday, July 24. All members are welcome to attend the show which provides a unique opportunity for mare owners to showcase their young stock.

Once again there will be separate classes for colt and filly foals, with the winner and runnerup from each of four classes going forward to the final for the judging of the overall Champion and Reserve Champion.

As ever, a mix of judges from England, Ireland and France will choose the winners who, in their opinion, have the potential to make a good racehorse.

A schedule and entry form will be posted to all members in the next mail out. All enquiries should go to pauline.stoddart@thetba.co.uk.

The TBA would also like to take this opportunity to thank the event’s supporters BEBF, Goffs UK Ltd., and Saracen Horse Feeds.

At Tattersalls.

TUESDAY, JULY 5 The TBA AGM The Jockey Club Rooms, Newmarket.

TUESDAY, JULY 5 TBA Annual Awards Evening At Newmarket.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13 TBA Northern Seminar Venue TBC.

SUNDAY, JULY 24 NH ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ Foal Show At Bangor-On-Dee.

NEW TBA MEMBERS E Cantillon, Suffolk Jeremy MacTaggart, Scotland

Pension information for employers Auto-enrolment is the introduction of compulsory pension membership for employees and will affect all members who employ at least one member of staff. We are aware that many employers will have already set in motion arrangements to comply with the law.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

For those not yet at this stage, you will soon receive a letter from the Pensions Regulator laying out the requirements for compliance. It will take some time to put arrangements in place so you need to take immediate action. There are large fines for employers who do not comply.

The TBA has enclosed an information leaflet on this issue in its recent mailing to members. If you have not received it and would like a copy, please contact Stanstead House. For further information, visit the Pensions Regulator website at http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk.

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TBA FORUM

Celebrating National Hunt breeding in style in May

Nick Luck, compere and National Hunt Committee member, at last year’s awards

The TBA is delighted to confirm that this year’s National Hunt Celebration Dinner will be held at the Mount Pleasant Hotel near Doncaster on Monday, May 16.

The event, in its second year, recognises the outstanding contribution of NH breeders throughout the last 12 months.

TBA members are invited to attend this popular evening which includes the awards presentation and dinner.

Tickets cost £50 per head and are strictly limited. To book your place, please contact NH Committee member Liz Lucas on info@swanbridgevets.com.

NH MOPS winners The first crop of eligible NH MOPS horses are four-year-olds and running well in NH Flat races against older horses. January and February saw three individual NH MOPS winners take prizes of up to £5,000.

In January, Woolstone One (Authorized ex Saralea) took the first NH MOPS prize for Paul Jacobs. This was followed by a win for Potters Lady Jane (Sir Percy ex Arabescato) at Fakenham on February 19 for owner/breeder Jane May. Later in February, Little Miss Poet (Yeats ex R De Rien Sivola) earned a £5,000 prize for her success in a NH Flat race at Warwick. Owned and bred

by Mike Tuckey, the four-year-old scored by a length and a quarter in the ten-runner field.

For further information on NH MOPS please visit the NH racing section within our website: www.thetba.co.uk.

Registration for fillies born in 2013 closed at the end of March and, as the season progresses, we look forward to seeing the first £10,000 prize winner among those fillies and mares racing over obstacles.

Kazuri Kate wins TBA Mares’ race at Barbury Castle Kazuri Kate won the TBA’s Mares-only Club race at the Vine & Craven meeting on February 14.

Ridden by her trainer, Claire Hart, the eight-year-old mare won by an impressive ten lengths at the Barbury Castle course.

Executive Benefit and Rediya filled the second and third positions in the fiverunner race.

Two further TBA Mares-only Club races took place in February, which included the Waveney Harriers meet on February 21 and the New Forest a week later. The former was won by the Andrew Pennock-trained Galros Lady, and the latter by consistent mares’ race campaigner Posh Totty.

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Kazuri Kate with Claire Hart and joint-owners Robert Bartlett, left, and Simon Hart

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Apr_140_BreederOfTheMonth_Owner 24/03/2016 15:27 Page 87

BREEDER OF THE MONTH

www.thetba.co.uk

Words Alan Yuill Walker Sponsored by

Manufacturers of

NH BREEDER OF THE MONTH – February 2016 Hughie Morrison won a Breeder of the Month award in March 2002 when Frenchman’s Creek won the National Hunt Chase. Now his wife Mary has gained her own award for Blaklion’s victory in the Grade 2 Towton Novices’ Chase at Wetherby in February, which was swiftly followed by an even bigger success in the Grade 1 RSA Chase at Cheltenham.

Morrison’s Summerdown stable at East Ilsley enjoyed a memorable Festival the day of Frenchman’s Creek’s victory as Marble Arch also finished runner-up in the Champion Hurdle for local owner/breeder Mary Wilson, who was later to become Mrs Morrison.

It so happened that when Kayf Tara’s son Blaklion was foaled, Mary decided to close the stud. “It was totally unviable,” she recalls. “We sold or gave away most of the young stock, keeping Blaklion’s dam Franciscaine and Marble Arch’s half-sister Flirtatious.

“Blaklion looked very backward as a foal so I sold him privately as part of a job lot to a friend of my stud manager. Later I was thrilled to note that he was in training with Nigel Twiston-Davies.”

Mary did rather better financially with another Kayf Tara colt that year.

Glendue, a half-brother to Marble Arch, realised £40,000 as a four-yearold at the Cheltenham National Hunt Sale in April to join Nicky Henderson. Not a bad price for the last foal of a 21-year-old mare resulting from a £3,000 nomination!

Mary has always been keen on breeding dual-purpose animals and with this in mind she mated Mayfair Minx in her first two seasons with Rock Hopper to produce Tom Paddington and Marble Arch. “I remembered Rock Hopper at Royal Ascot and decided to use him as a stallion,” she enthuses.

Another versatile and durable performer, Tom Paddington made a remarkable recovery after breaking down. He was a particular favourite, as his owner/breeder explains: “I named him after a horse my father had in Burma during the war. We have a small bronze commemorating him with the date 1939. Sadly, when the Japanese arrived in Burma my father had to leave Tom Paddington behind.”

Initially, Mary had horses locally with Jim Wilson at Charlton Kings and then with Simon Christian at Kinnersley, including multiple jumps winner Mayfair Minx and her half-brother Vulgan Warrior, successful in the 1975 Reynoldstown Chase. Both were bred by the Thorne family.

She bought Blaklion’s dam Franciscaine, who had scored at MaisonsLaffitte as a three-year-old, privately at the DBS November Sale in 2003

GEORGE SELWYN

Mary Morrison

Blaklion with his happy owners after winning the RSA Chase

for 19,000gns, carrying to Accordion. The outlay was quickly justified when the resultant colt foal realised 15,000gns at the same sale the following year. Unfortunately he met with an accident and never ran.

A tour de force for Mary at Summerdown was to pinpoint Pastoral Pursuits at the yearling sales. One of Franciscaine’s two offspring by the July Cup hero, Pete The Pastor met with an injury, but the other Max The Minister has been placed in bumpers. Franciscaine herself died in 2013.

Mary owns Mayfair Minx’s solitary daughter, Flirtatious, outright and shares another broodmare, Yonder (a winning grand-daughter of Juliette Marny), in partnership with her husband. Flirtatious’s first three offspring all went into training at Summerdown, the bumper winner Trigger Point (by Double Trigger), the gelded The Poodle Faker (by Pastoral Pursuits) and the filly Canoodle (by Stimulation).

“We keep our mares with Hughie’s brother Alastair at the family’s Fonthill Stud as there is nowhere for them here,” Mary adds. “It’s wonderful when you breed something good like Blaklion and I couldn’t be more delighted for Nigel and his owners. But, of course, it’s the icing on the cake when they are trained at home by Hughie!”

Correction Following last month’s article, we would like to make it clear that Anthony Bromley’s wife Anna is the sister of Toby Watson. We apologise for the error.

CALPHORMIN

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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VET FORUM: THE EXPERT VIEW

By KATE HESSE BPhysio, MSc (Vet Physio), MCSP, ACPAT(A)

Stress fractures in the racehorse Comparing injury, rehabilitation and management with British military personnel

T

is the season to be extra vigilant for the signs of stress fracture in our racehorses. In spring, when training ramps up and the Flat season begins, the incidence of stress fractures increases, largely due to lack of skeletal adaptation.

Given that stress fractures were first described in the scientific literature in 1855

by Breithaupt, a Prussian military physician, who identified the “march fracture” in the metatarsal bones of feet in soldiers, it is perhaps appropriate to take a timely look at the military for what we can learn about these bony injuries and their management.

Stress fractures represent end-stage cumulative damage and comprise the vast majority of fractures sustained by racehorses, human athletes and military recruits. They typically involve predilection sites, incomplete cracks, pre-existing pathology, and highly consistent shape and form.

BACKGROUND TO STRESS FRACTURE Categorisation of fractures Fractures can be broadly categorised according to their origin and development into monotonic, insufficiency, or fatigue fracture, with the latter two collectively referred to as stress fractures. Insufficiency fracture, which involves abnormal bone such as that found in cancer or osteoporosis, is rare in horses. Fatigue fracture occurs as a result of an abnormal amount of stress applied to normal bone and is therefore the more correct term to use when talking about racehorses, although stress fracture is the more widely used term in the industry.

Bone strain continuum Stress fracture lies at the far end of a continuum of bone response to stress. It starts with bone strain which is subclinical yet detectable on bone scan, and passes through stress reaction which is focally tender and more obvious on bone scan, then progresses to stress fracture once a line is distinguishable on diagnostic imaging. Of course fractures can result from a one-off accident involving momentary overload from extraordinarily high forces such as a kick, collision or fall, but such “monotonic” fractures are less common.

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CROWN COPYRIGHT

’

Racehorses and soldiers are similarly at risk from stress fractures induced by training

Bone physiology and pathology Bone’s structural and material properties change in response to exercise through modelling and remodelling processes as the physical forces encountered alter its architecture to accommodate the loads experienced. Modelling means adding new bone, whereas remodelling refers to resorption and replacement of existing bone.

The triggers that influence bone (re)modelling come from ground reaction forces and muscular forces involved in creating and attenuating load. While muscle contraction contributes to bone stress by altering the mechanical environment, it is still considered more protective than causative due to its energy absorption and the facilitation of controlled loading.

When functional requirements direct bone to model and remodel to alter its shape and internal architecture, resorption and replacement of damaged bone are involved, during which continued repetitive loading can subject bone to stress reactions as the repair process struggles to keep pace with micro-damage. There is a vulnerable window in the remodelling process which can lead to weakening of bone, hence the paradox that biological repair of bone is actually contributory to stress fracture development.

However, there are some protective effects of remodelling on fatigue life of bone, which

is a term used to describe the number of load cycles to failure. Research using human bone has suggested that isolated microcracks are not necessarily precursors to fatigue failure, but may be agents of stress redistribution and fatigue life improvement. The fatigue life of the equine cannon bone may be extended by remodelling through the creation of barriers to microdamage propagation. Osteons, which are the basic unit of structure of compact bone, are created in the remodelling process that promote toughness and inhibit crack propagation because recently formed osteons appear to be relatively deformable, creating a compliance effect.

SIGNS OF STRESS FRACTURE Stress fractures can be challenging to diagnose in the racehorse, especially those affecting the proximal limb where it is difficult to localise the site of pain through palpation and regional anaesthesia. Some horses with hindlimb fractures exhibit periods of recurrent lowgrade lameness before diagnosis and in cases involving the wing of the ilium (pelvis), overt lameness can resolve after just a few days of rest. Signs and symptoms associated with stress fracture in humans are insidious onset localised bony pain that worsens with activity, resting pain (an inconsistent finding), localised swelling, pain on direct palpation, and distal impact pain.

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horses in six months (26 weeks), or 6%. While the various stress fracture statistics of military recruits and racehorses cannot be directly compared because of the non-uniform exposure times and the difference between incidence and prevalence, they do appear to be roughly in the same ball park.

RISK FACTORS IN RACEHORSES Fig 1b Fractured tibia boiled out

Fig 1a Radiograph of a fractured tibia in a racehorse

Fig 1c Close up of boiled out fractured tibia

An x-ray of a catastrophic tibial fracture in a racehorse (a), which would necessitate euthanasia. This type of fracture is often the end stage of a long process of intense bone remodelling as a result of changes in loading, which leave tell-tale signs of changes such as disorganised new bone growth on the surface of the bone (Figures 1b and c). The ideal is to detect these changes early, certainly in time to prevent the development of a complete displaced fracture

COMPARATIVE PREDILECTION SITES In the racehorse stress fractures occur in consistent locations that for anatomical and biomechanical reasons seem susceptible to accumulated wear and tear. They include the third metacarpal and metatarsal (cannon) bones, the ilium, tibia (see Figures 1a-c), proximal phalanx (pastern) and the back.

According to Defence Primary Health Care (DPHC) British soldiers have four common stress fracture sites: shaft of tibia, metatarsals (foot bones), neck of femur (thigh bone), and shaft of femur. The variations in predilection sites between species and within military personnel clearly reflect the contrasting locomotory forces between bipeds and quadrupeds and the demands of different occupations.

INCIDENCE DPHC regard the overall reported incidence of bony injuries across the Tri-Services as low. At the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick the Combat Infantryman’s Course (CIC), widely considered the most physically demanding of all British Army initial military training courses, recruits undergo a structured and graduated physical fitness programme and typically THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

expend in excess of 5000 kcal of energy per day.

Data from the CIC involving 170 stress fractures in 2012/13 showed that a recruit had a 4.5% chance of sustaining a stress fracture during the 26-week long course, with the tibia being the most common site. However, the chance of stress fracture was influenced by the division joined. For example, the Pegasus Company (P Coy) course for the Parachute Regiment is more physically demanding and recruits had a 13.6% stress fracture incidence rate in the same period.

Another recent study of Royal Marine (RM) recruits that formed part of the Surgeon General’s Bone Health Project reported the prevalence of stress fracture as typically between 4-7%. The 32-week RM training is renowned as being one of the longest and most arduous initial military training programmes in the world, hence in contrast to other military programmes, the most common site of stress fracture is the metatarsal, not the tibia.

In comparison, studies have shown that racehorses in training have just over a 1% chance of sustaining a stress fracture in a 30-day period; so in a yard of 100 horses, that’s just over 1 per month. Extrapolating this statistic into something comparable with the 4.5% incidence rate found on the 26-week CIC, that’s around six stress fractures in a yard of 100

Exercise Fatigue damage in bone occurs over a period of days or weeks and is often precipitated by a recent change in activity, in particular an increase in training. Recent epidemiological studies in racehorses have identified a number of exercise-related risk factors for stress fractures that include failure to integrate gallop speeds into training regimens, cumulative distance trained, racing and training surfaces, and return to training after significant periods of rest.

Not all training regimens stimulate the development of an adequately robust skeleton that can endure the forces thrust upon it during competitive performance where it is truly pushed to its limits; and this may explain the higher fracture rates seen in racing compared to training. Training at slower speeds for prolonged intervals is likely to induce a modelling response that does not prepare bone to withstand loads experienced under racing conditions. An appropriate modelling response with minimal risk of stress fracture can be stimulated by reducing the proportion of low-speed work and boosting the frequency of short interval highspeed work as indicated by a number of studies in racehorses.

One large-scale epidemiological study published in the last decade and involving around 1,200 Flat racehorses in the UK, revealed that accumulation of canter exercise in previously untrained bone increased risk of fracture, whereas accumulation of high-speed gallop exercise had a protective effect. However, the researchers advised caution when increasing distances at gallop and canter in too-short time periods (greater than 6km at gallop and 44km at canter in a 30-day period), because the same study highlighted an association between this and increased fracture risk.

Lay-offs Prolonged lay-offs and periods of rest from racing of more than a month have been associated with an increased risk of fracture in a number of studies. Some degree of disuse osteoporosis may develop in these horses whereby insufficient bone mass for their athletic occupation means an increased susceptibility to microdamage accumulation, stress fracture and the possibility of a complete fracture.

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>>

Apr_140_Vet_Forum_Owner Breeder 24/03/2016 15:54 Page 90

VET FORUM >> Track surfaces

Track surfaces for training and racing have been reported to affect distal limb fracture incidence.

The use of sand gallops in training was shown to increase the risk of fatal distal limb fracture on UK racecourses. In a number of North American epidemiological studies, dirt racing has been implicated in higher injury rates (including fractures) than turf racing.

Age and sex COURTESY OF DEFENCE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

Epidemiological studies of racehorses in the UK indicate that training and racing as two-yearolds may confer a long-term reduction in the risk of fracture compared to horses that start at age three or four. Overall, fillies appear at higher risk of fracture than male racehorses, in particular those affecting the pelvis.

RISK FACTORS IN MILITARY PERSONNEL Risk factors for stress fracture are divided into extrinsic and intrinsic factors by DPHC. Some examples of extrinsic factors include harder training surfaces and the training regimen. The latter encompasses mileage; number of training cycles; inadequate rest periods and training with fatigued muscles; running pace; and hill running (particularly downhill). Intrinsic factors include sex (females are significantly more susceptible to bony injury), age (risk increases after 20 years of age), and smoking. Anatomy is an important intrinsic factor; for example, external rotation of the lower limb (toes turned outward), femoral anteversion (toes turned inward), leg length discrepancy, genu varum (bow legged) and genu valgrum (knock knee), narrow tibia, and reduced muscle bulk (small calf girth).

MANAGEMENT OF STRESS FRACTURES IN MILITARY PERSONNEL DPHC guidelines for initial management recommend MRI when a stress fracture is highly suspected as the Army has found a high rate of false negative x-ray results even up to three months from the time of initial presentation.

Other important factors are the removal from training and protection from activities that could progress the injury, addressing other predisposing risk factors (e.g. diet, smoking, overweight), pain management by the avoidance of the aggravating activity (may include wearing of military footwear), and simple analgesia. Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs are contra-indicated as they have an inhibitory effect on fracture healing and have been shown to increase time taken to return to training.

For the purposes of rehabilitation, stress fractures are stratified according to high or low risk of non-union. Fractures with high risk of non-union occur in zones of tension or have a poor blood supply and are managed in

90

Fig 2 Management algorithm for stress fractures

alignment with the directions of the orthopaedic team.

EARLY MOBILISATION AND GRADUATED EXERCISE PROGRAMMES For fractures with low risk of non-union, the general principle employed is to slowly increase impact loading once ambulation and day-to-day activity are pain-free. The rate of resumption of activity is very much dependent on the individual and is modified to suit the symptoms. Reassessment of the injury is ideally made at three-weekly intervals with a return to the start of the interval period if pain is still present at the time of reassessment. So the progression of the rehabilitation programme is only graduated in the absence of pain.

Rehabilitation programmes are jointly coordinated by the physiotherapist and the medical officer and closely follow the Best Practice Guidance document provided by the Directorate of Defence Rehabilitation based at Headley Court.

The approach of early mobilisation via controlled exercise used by the Army as an integral part of stress fracture management (see Figure 2) is modelled on the rehabilitation of human athletes and has also been adopted by equine vets over the past decade or so. Termed “relative rest” it typically involves removal of the aggravating activity and activity modification such as a reduction in training volume followed by a graduated return to normal training.

SUMMARY In conclusion, stress fractures are mainly the result of high mileage and repetitive load experienced in training, therefore racehorses and military personnel are two populations

particularly at risk. The high forces thrust upon the equine skeleton under racing conditions must be taken into account in designing training regimens since the loads experienced increase linearly with speed. Long, slow miles in training need to be complemented with short interval high-speed work that will induce a modelling response in bone appropriate to withstand the forces generated at racing speeds. For horses with a stress fracture rest is not always best. Early, controlled mobilisation as advised by your vet may be the best medicine. This of course depends on accurate diagnosis, safety of the fracture and stage of healing. Some stress fractures, particularly in the distal limb, require surgical fixation and thereafter careful, graduated loading according to the surgeon’s protocols.

KATE HESSE is a chartered physiotherapist, veterinary physiotherapist, and officer in the Army Reserve. She is based in Newmarket and splits her working week between treating racehorses and rehabilitating soldiers. For more information see ontrackphysio.com

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DR STAT JOHN BOYCE CRACKS THE CODE

Intriguing Deep Impact set to leave sire’s numbers in shade He can’t match Sunday Silence’s record for elite runners but he’s still a great stallion

T

apit, Galileo, Dubawi, Deep Impact and Redoute’s Choice. These five stallions are pretty much the undisputed leaders in the respective continents. It is always intriguing to compare stallions to their own sires and for me, only three of the above can claim to have achieved more as stallions than their respective sires. Tapit and Dubawi are obvious choices and I think Galileo can also claim to have achieved more than his illustrious sire Sadler’s Wells, certainly in terms of diversity of his stock if not by the quality of his runners. Redoute’s Choice, for all his attributes – and there are many – has not got near the record of the great Danehill. And he’s no less a sire for that.

Deep Impact in an intriguing stallion and one worth looking at in terms of the high standards set in Japan by his own sire, Sunday Silence. A near-black son of Halo, Sunday Silence first went before the public at the Keeneland July Sale in 1987, where he failed to sell at only $17,000. He again failed to find a new home as a two-year-old in training in California the following year.

Whatever it was that potential buyers took a dislike to didn’t stop him reaching racing’s pinnacle. But for a defeat at the hands of Easy Goer in the Belmont Stakes, we’d have witnessed the first Triple Crown winner to go on to land the Breeders’ Cup Classic, a feat that would take another quarter of a century to achieve.

Sunday Silence’s conformation also precluded a career at Stone Farm, where his sire had stood.

America’s loss was Japan’s gain. Before his death in 2002, Sunday Silence sired 169 Stakes winners, which amounts to 11% of his foals.

Considering that the ratio of black-type racing in Japan is very low compared to other countries, 11% stakes winners to foals is a world-class achievement. And when we look at what Sunday Silence’s best son, Deep Impact, has managed we can truly appreciate his sire’s numbers. So far, Deep Impact has sired 76 stakes winners, which puts him on 8% stakes winners to foals.

Granted, he will have several as yetundiscovered stakes winners among his two and three-

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G1 winners by Deep Impact Horse

Born

Dam

Broodmare Sire

A Shin Hikari Ayusan Beauty Parlour Danon Platina Danon Shark Deep Brillante Gentildonna Harp Star Joie de Vivre Kizuna Lachesis Marcellina Marialite Mikki Isle Mikki Queen Real Impact Shonan Adela Shonan Pandora Spielberg Tosen Ra Verxina

2011 2010 2009 2012 2008 2009 2009 2011 2009 2010 2010 2008 2011 2011 2012 2008 2012 2011 2009 2008 2009

Catalina Buy The Cat Bastet Badeelah Carla Power Love And Bubbles Donna Blini Historic Star Biwa Heidi Catequil Magic Storm Marbye Chrysoprase Star Isle Musical Way Tokio Reality Always Willing Cutie Gold Princess Olivia Princess Olivia Halwa Sweet

Storm Cat Storm Cat Giant’s Causeway Unbridled’s Song Caerleon Loup Sauvage Bertolini Falbrav Caerleon Storm Cat Storm Cat Marju El Condor Pasa Rock Of Gibraltar Gold Away Meadowlake Elusive Quality French Deputy Lycius Lycius Machiavellian

year-olds, which will boost his ratio still further.

By way of a modern-day comparison, King Kamehameha, one of Deep Impact’s contemporaries, sires 6% stakes winners to foals.

Perhaps the most astonishing fact when comparing Sunday Silence with his son is the opportunity figure. Sunday Silence achieved his 11% stakes winners to foals from mares that managed only 4% when they visited other stallions. The Japan Triple Crown and Japan Cup hero Deep Impact has had access to far superior mares than his sire. With all other sires, the dams of Deep Impact’s runners have produced 7% stakes winners to foals, just one percentage point lower than what Deep Impact achieves.

These figures are echoed by average Deep Impact has made just that – and think what he could achieve in Europe

earnings index. Sunday Silence scores 2.55 compared to his mares’ 1.72 from other sires.

Deep Impact is posting a massive 3.23, still ahead of his 3.01 comparable index. It is no mean feat to outscore such a high comparable index. After all it is very difficult to improve the output from what are already elite mares. To put it in perspective, Sadler’s Wells had an AEI of 2.97 from mares that recorded 3.13 with other sires and his 13% stakes winners were produced from mares that bred 12% with other sires.

We have to conclude Deep Impact may not be quite at the same level as his great sire when it comes to producing elite racehorses. He is clearly a top-class stallion, though, and one wonders what he’d achieve if he were based in Europe, where access to black-type races is easier.

Covering large books of mares, he’s destined to leave his sire’s numbers in the shade. He has already almost doubled the number of G1 winners sired by Sunday Silence. We also have to factor the potential negative effect of the huge success of Sunday Silence in Japan, where many elite mares now carry his blood and are therefore unavailable to Deep Impact as potential mates.

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Apr_140_DataBook_Layout 1 24/03/2016 17:04 Page 93

DATA BOOK ANALYSIS BY ANDREW CAULFIELD

National Hunt Grade 1s 152 DELOITTE NOVICE HURDLE G1 LEOPARDSTOWN. Feb 6. 5yo+. 18f.

1. BLEU ET ROUGE (FR) 5 11-9 £39,044 gr g by Charming Groom - Lady du Renom (Art Francais) O-Mr John P. McManus B-Haras de La Rousseliere TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Tombstone (IRE) 6 11-10 £12,574 ch g by Robin des Champs - Connaught Hall (Un Desperado) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-K. O’Brien TRGordon Elliott 3. Bellshill (IRE) 6 11-10 £5,956 b g by King’s Theatre - Fairy Native (Be My Native) O-Andrea & Graham Wylie B-F. Motherway TR-W. P. Mullins Margins 3, 15. Time 4:38.70. Going Soft to Heavy.

Age 3-5

Starts 5

Wins 2

Places 3

Earned £52,274

Sire: CHARMING GROOM. Sire of 1 Stakes winner.

1st Dam: Lady du Renom by Art Francais. unraced.

Dam of 3 winners: 2004: Queresca (g Maresca Sorrento) 2005: RAISE (f April Night) 2 wins at 4 in France.

Broodmare.

2006: Spot Line (c Adnaan) unraced.

2008: Unelady (f Mister Sacha) unraced.

2009: VALET DE TREFLE (g Charming Groom) Winner over jumps in France.

2011: BLEU ET ROUGE (g Charming Groom) 2 wins over hurdles at 4 and 5, Deloitte Novice Hurdle G1.

2013: Deux Cent Pourcent (f Maresca Sorrento) unraced to date.

Broodmare Sire: ART FRANCAIS. Sire of the dams of 7 Stakes winners.

BLEU ET ROUGE gr g 2011 Fortino II Chambord Le Haar Katana Embellie Blushing Groom Groom Dancer Featherhill Bellypha Charmante Dame Very Charming Lyphard Lyphard’s Wish Sally’s Wish Baldric II Abala Agujita Mincio Citheron Ciboulette Pamponi Jerphanie Oseille Caro

Kaldoun CHARMING GROOM gr 99 Danagroom

Art Francais LADY DU RENOM b 99 Queranie

At 11-1, Bleu Et Rouge was the outsider of Willie Mullins’ three challengers for the Deloitte Novice Hurdle. On his previous appearance at Gr1 level he had finished a respectable fourth at odds of 18-1, but two places behind one of his Deloitte rivals, Tombstone. However, his odds-on stablemate Bellshill wasn’t foot-perfect and faded to third, while Bleu Et Rouge ran on strongly to reverse form with Tombstone.

The grey French-bred is a nonthoroughbred (Anglo-Arab). His sire, the Wertheimer-bred Charming Groom, was exported to Tunisia in 2012. This son of Kaldoun had become a Group winner on the 19th of his 21 starts, when he landed the Gr3 Prix de la Porte Maillot over seven furlongs in 2004. Charming Groom left 182 foals in France, with Bleu Et Rouge being his first stakes winner. Charming Groom shares the same sire – Kaldoun – as such as Smadoun (sire of Smad Place, Nacarat etc), Simon du Desert (sire of Good Bye Simon) and April Night (broodmare sire of Ar Mad, Un de

Sceaux, Trifolium and Bristol de Mai).

Bleu Et Rouge’s broodmare sire Art Francais was a smart miler, third in the 1986 Poule d’Essai des Poulains.

The gelding’s dam, Lady du Renom, never raced but Bleu Et Rouge is her third winner. The next two dams, Queranie and Jerphanie, won middle-distance Flat races for AQPS horses.

153 FLOGAS NOVICE CHASE G1 LEOPARDSTOWN. Feb 6. 5yo+. 21f.

1. OUTLANDER (IRE) 8 11-10 £36,875 b g by Stowaway - Western Whisper (Supreme Leader) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-R. O’Neill TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Monksland (IRE) 9 11-10 £11,875 b g by Beneficial - Cush Jewel (Executive Perk) O-Mrs Patricia Hunt B-C. Troy TR-Noel Meade 3. Pont Alexandre (GER) 8 11-10 £5,625 b g by Dai Jin - Panzella (Kahyasi) O-Mrs S. Ricci B-Mr P. Hilger TR-W. P. Mullins Margins 2.75, 2. Time 5:50.30. Going Soft to Heavy.

Age 4-8

Starts 16

Wins 8

Places 4

Earned £127,764

Sire: STOWAWAY. Sire of 8 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - OUTLANDER Supreme Leader G1, HIDDEN CYCLONE Shahanndeh G2, KILCOOLEY Denel G2.

1st Dam: Western Whisper by Supreme Leader. ran twice in N.H. Flat Races. Dam of 5 winners: 2001: Western Starlight (f Shahanndeh) unraced.

Broodmare.

2002: (f Stowaway) 2003: Bold Fencer (g Stowaway) 2004: WESTERN LEADER (g Stowaway) 5 wins, Michael Purcell Memorial Nov. Hurdle G2, 2nd John Smith’s Sefton Novices’ Hurdle G1.

2005: MART LANE (g Stowaway) 6 wins, 888sport Totepool H. Chase LR. 2006: LOUGH ROE LADY (f Stowaway) 2 wins.

Broodmare.

2008: OUTLANDER (g Stowaway) 8 wins, Lacy Solicitors Golden Cygnet Nov.Hurdle G2, 2nd Coolmore NH Sires Festival Novice Hurdle G2, Cliona’s Dorans Pride Novice Hurdle G3, 3rd Tattersalls Ireland Champion Nov. Hurdle G1, Flogas Novice Chase G1, Shannon Airport Greenmount Nov. Chase G2.

2009: Western Twilight (f Stowaway) unraced.

Broodmare.

2010: ICE COLD SOUL (g Stowaway) 3 wins.

2011: Now McGinty (g Stowaway) unraced.

2012: Mayo Star (g Stowaway) unraced.

2013: (f Stowaway) 2014: (f Stowaway) 2015: (f Stowaway) Broodmare Sire: SUPREME LEADER. Sire of the dams of 58 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 OUTLANDER Stowaway G1, PRINCE OF SCARS Flemensfirth G1, AUNT NORA Kayf Tara G2, JESSBER’S DREAM Milan G2, FETHARD PLAYER King’s Theatre G3.

The Stowaway/Supreme Leader cross has produced: OUTLANDER G1, WESTERN LEADER G1, MART LANE LR.

OUTLANDER b g 2008 Mill Reef Hardiemma Birkhahn Sayonara Suleika STOWAWAY b 94 No Pass No Sale Northfields No Disgrace On Credit Vaguely Noble Noble Tiara Tayyara Busted Bustino Ship Yard Supreme Leader Habitat Princess Zena Guiding Light WESTERN WHISPER b 94 Sovereign Path He Loves Me Short Commons Tsing Tao Tyrant Kirin Mag Shirley Heights

Slip Anchor

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The Return of Mares records that Stowaway covered books of around 30 thoroughbred mares in each of his first six seasons, having started his stallion career as a seven-year-old in 2001. However, it became a very different story during the years prior to Stowaway’s death at the age of 21 in February 2015 – he covered 261 mares in 2011, 242 in 2012, 231 in 2013 and 200 in 2014.

This late blossoming was largely a response to the striking success enjoyed by Stowaway’s sons Hidden Cyclone (a multiple Gr2 winner over hurdles and fences), Western Leader (a Gr2 winner over hurdles who later won over fences) and Champagne Fever. The last-named, a dual Gr1 winner at the Cheltenham Festival, has won a pair of Gr2 races over fences.

Happily, Stowaway’s legacy appears likely to become even more significant. His seven-year-old son Kilcooley has the makings of a firstrate staying hurdler and Outlander – a Gr2 winner over hurdles – has graduated successfully to fences. He was winning his third race from three starts over fences when he landed the Flogas Novice Chase.

Stowaway, a son of the stoutlybred Slip Anchor, was very smart, as he showed in winning the Gordon Stakes and Great Voltigeur at three and a valuable race in Dubai at four.

Several of his best winners are out of mares by the champion sire Supreme Leader, with the brothers Outlander, Western Leader and Mart Lane among them.

Their dam Western Whisper contested a couple of bumpers as a five-year-old but has proved much more effective as a broodmare – virtually married to Stowaway, sire also of her 2013 and 2014 fillies.

Outlander’s third dam, Kirin, was a half-sister to Lir (Aurelius Hurdle at Ascot), the winning hurdler Mazuma (dam of the very smart hurdler Asian Maze and the talented chaser Quantitativeeasing) and the speedy two-year-old Quick J. 154 GAIN SPRING JUVENILE HURDLE G1 LEOPARDSTOWN. Feb 6. 4yo. 16f.

1. FOOTPAD (FR) 11-0 £36,875 b g by Creachadoir - Willamina (Sadler’s Wells) O-Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede B-L. Collet & C. Collet TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Allblak des Places (FR) 11-0 £11,875 b/br g by Full of Gold - Amiraute (Septieme Ciel) O-Mr George Creighton B-Mrs M. Lejeune TR-W. P. Mullins 3. Let’s Dance (FR) 10-7 £5,625 b f by Poliglote - Baraka du Berlais (Bonnet Rouge) O-Mrs S. Ricci B-Mr J. Hayoz TR-W. P. Mullins Margins 2.75, Nose. Time 4:02.00.

Going Soft to Heavy.

Age 3-4

Starts 6

Wins 3

Places 2

Earned £65,226

Sire: CREACHADOIR. Sire of 1 Stakes winner.

1st Dam: WILLAMINA by Sadler’s Wells. Winner at 4 in France. Own sister to SADLER’S FLAG. Dam of 5 winners: 2004: ANIMATEUR (g Highest Honor) 8 wins in France.

2005: Organisateur (g Highest Honor) 6 wins, 2nd Grand National Hurdle LR, Virginia Gold Cup Timber Chase LR.

2006: 2008: 2009: 2010: 2012:

Motoriste (g Daylami) ran on the flat in France.

Dilliwalla (c Green Tune) ran on the flat in France.

WANABA (c Anabaa) 6 wins, Prix General de Rougemont H. Hurdle LR, 3rd Prix Amadou Hurdle G2.

Wild Mania (f King’s Best) 2 wins over jumps in France, 3rd Prix Hopper Chase LR. FOOTPAD (g Creachadoir) 3 wins over hurdles at 3 and 4, GAIN Spring Juvenile Hurdle G1, 3rd Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle G2.

2nd Dam: ANIMATRICE by Alleged. 4 wins at 2 to 4 in France Prix de Malleret G2, 3rd Gold Seal Oaks S G1, 4th Prix Vermeille G1, Gran Premio di Milano G1. Dam of SADLER’S FLAG (f Sadler’s Wells: Prix de Royaumont G3, 2nd Prix de Malleret G2, Prix de Pomone G2), Anysheba (f Alysheba: 3rd Prix Petite Etoile LR). Grandam of JEBEL MUSA, BAILADOR, BONDI ICEBERG. Third dam of LADYS FIRST, GOLDEN WOOD, Chantalle Rua. Broodmare Sire: SADLER’S WELLS. Sire of the dams of 377 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - FOOTPAD Creachadoir G1, CAILIN ANNAMH Definite Article G2, TOP GAMBLE Presenting G2, TUK TUK Sinndar G2, EBANOUR Indian Ridge LR, STAND TO GAIN Hawk Wing LR.

FOOTPAD b g 2012 Mr Prospector Miesque Lombard Allegretta Anatevka Northern Dancer Sadler’s Wells Fairy Bridge Ajdal Anima Cocotte Northern Dancer Nearctic Natalma Bold Reason Fairy Bridge Special Hoist The Flag Alleged Princess Pout Val de L’Orne Alexandrie Apachee Kingmambo

King’s Best CREACHADOIR b 04 Sadima

Sadler’s Wells WILLAMINA b 99 Animatrice

Willie Mullins has a seemingly endless supply of talented young French imports and they provided him with a one-two-three in the Gr1 Gain Spring Juvenile Hurdle. Victory went to Footpad, who was winning for the third time in four starts in Ireland.

This gelding has an interesting and impressive pedigree. His dam Willamina, who changed hands for €145,000 back in 2007, is a very well-connected product of the Wertheimer brothers’ studs. This daughter of Sadler’s Wells is a winning sister to the Gr3 Prix de Royaumont winner Sadler’s Flag, their dam being the Gr2 winner Animatrice.

Willamina is also closely related to France’s champion jumping sire Poliglote, who was sired by Sadler’s Wells from Willamina’s second dam, the Gr3 Prix Cleopatre winner Alexandrie.

Sadler’s Wells also appears in the pedigree of Footpad’s young sire Creachadoir, as the stallion’s broodmare sire. This means that Footpad is inbred 3 x 2 to this ultradominant stallion in both the Flat and jumping sectors. Creachadoir, a son of the quirky King’s Best, was second in the French and Irish equivalents of the 2,000 Guineas before becoming a Gr1 winner at the age of four in the Lockinge Stakes.

He retired as part of Darley’s French team, at Haras du Logis, but failed to make much impact with his early crops and is now based at Haras de Lonray, at a fee of €2,000.

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Apr_140_DataBook_Layout 1 24/03/2016 17:04 Page 94

DATA BOOK

National Hunt Grade 1s 155 IRISH GOLD CUP G1 LEOPARDSTOWN. Feb 6. 5yo+. 24f.

1. CARLINGFORD LOUGH (IRE) 10 11-10 £62,316 b g by King’s Theatre - Baden (Furry Glen) O-Mr John P. McManus B-Kenilworth House Stud TR-J. E. Kiely 2. Road To Riches (IRE) 9 11-10 £20,956 b g by Gamut - Bellora (Over The River) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Sunnyhill Stud TR-Noel Meade 3. Fine Rightly (IRE) 8 11-10 £9,926 b g by Alflora - Bealtaine (Zaffaran) O-Miss Patricia Duffin B-Miss P. Duffin TR-Stuart Crawford Margins 12, 8. Time 6:38.00. Going Heavy.

Age 5-10

Starts 26

Wins 9

Places 7

Earned £411,201

Sire: KING’S THEATRE. Sire of 83 Stakes winners.

NH in 2015/16 - BELLSHILL Be My Native G1, CARLINGFORD LOUGH Furry Glen G1, CUE CARD King’s Ride G1, JUNCTION FOURTEEN Roselier G2, MINELLA FORU Topanoora G2, THE NEW ONE Turgeon G2, FETHARD PLAYER Supreme Leader G3, THEATRE GUIDE Denel G3, BLUE BUTTONS Mujadil LR, MORELLO ROYALE Alderbrook LR, SHUIL ROYALE Phardante LR. 1st Dam: BADEN by Furry Glen. 6 wins, New Stand Ltd. Extended H. Hurdle LR, also won a Private Sweepstake in 1994. Dam of 4 winners: 1996: THISTHATANDTOTHER (g Bob Back) 10 wins, Tote Tolworth Hurdle G1, Extraman Henry VIII Novices’ Chase G2, Daily Telegraph Festival Trophy Chase G2, Independent Newspaper November Nov.Chase G2, 2nd Commercial First Ascot Chase G1, Martell Cognac Maghull Novices’ Chase G1.

1997: POLAR SCOUT (g Arctic Lord) 4 wins.

1998: Baden’s Queen (f Bob Back) unraced.

Broodmare.

1999: Bolly (f Jolly Jake) unraced. Broodmare.

2001: THE TOTHER ONE (g Accordion) 6 wins, Tote Scoop6 Heroes Sandown H. Hurdle G3, 3rd Albert Bartlett Spa Novices’ Hurdle G1, Citroen C5 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle G1, 2nd Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase G2.

2002: Ancora (f Accordion) unraced. Broodmare.

2003: Aventia (f Bob Back) ran a few times over hurdles. Broodmare.

2004: Vindonissa (f Definite Article) unraced.

Broodmare.

2005: St Blazey (g Bob Back) ran once in a N.H. Flat Race.

2006: CARLINGFORD LOUGH (g King’s Theatre) 9 wins, www.thetote.com Galway Plate H’cp Chase G1, Hennessy Gold Cup Chase G1 (twice), Growise Ellier Champion Novice Chase G1, Topaz Fort Leney Novice Chase G1, 2nd Guinness Kerry National H. Chase G1, Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase G1.

2007: Turica (f Flemensfirth). Broodmare.

2008: Stein Castle (f Shantou) unraced.

Broodmare.

2009: (g Flemensfirth) Broodmare Sire: FURRY GLEN. Sire of the dams of 29 Stakes winners.

CARLINGFORD LOUGH b g 2006 Northern Dancer Sadler’s Wells Fairy Bridge KING’S THEATRE b 91 Princely Native Regal Beauty Dennis Belle Wolver Hollow Furry Glen Cleftess BADEN b 88 Linacre St Moritz Machete

Nearctic Natalma Bold Reason Special Raise A Native Charlo Crafty Admiral Evasion Sovereign Path Cygnet Hill Gail Cleft Rockefella True Picture Macherio Eastern Slipper

Seeking his first success for a year and starting at 20-1, Carlingford Lough achieved the fourth Gr1

94

triumph of his career – and his third at Leopardstown – when he landed the Irish Gold Cup (a race formerly known as the Irish Hennessy), benefiting from Valseur Lido’s lastfence fall.

The ten-year-old is again proving a very useful contributor to King’s Theatre’s seasonal earnings. With Cue Card, The New One, Royal Regatta, Bellshill and Theatre Guide also continuing to shine, the three-time champion sire held a substantial lead on the sires’ table prior to the Cheltenham Festival.

Carlingford Lough’s dam Baden was a useful hurdler in Ireland, but still had time to do sterling work as a broodmare, producing 13 foals, the last of them born when she was 21.

Her first foal, the Bob Back gelding Thisthatandtother, was a Gr1-winning hurdler who developed into a very smart chaser at around two and a half miles. Her next good winner was The Tother One – a three-parts-brother to Carlingford Lough, sired by Sadler’s Wells’s son Accordion. This gelding also showed smart form, staying beyond three miles. With Carlingford Lough also to her credit, Baden ranks as one of the best National Hunt broodmares of recent decades.

Carlingford Lough’s broodmare sire, the 1974 Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Furry Glen, occupies the same position in the pedigrees of such good winners as Comply Or Die, Kingscliff, Like-A-Butterfly and Sir OJ. 156 BETFRED SCILLY ISLES NOVICES’ CHASE G1 SANDOWN PARK. Feb 6. 5yo+. 20f.

1. BRISTOL DE MAI (FR) 5 11-0 £25,628 gr g by Saddler Maker - La Bole Night (April Night) O-Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede B-Mr J. Touzaint TR-Nigel Twiston-Davies 2. As de Mee (FR) 6 11-3 £9,617 b/br g by Kapgarde - Koeur de Mee (Video Rock) O-The Stewart Family & Judi Dench B-A. M. Pommerai & Marcelle Pommerai TR-Paul Nicholls 3. Tea For Two (GB) 7 11-3 £4,815 b g by Kayf Tara - One For Me (Tragic Role) O-Mrs Jane Williams & Mr Len Jakeman B-Mrs P. G. Lewin TR-Nick Williams Margins 6, 1. Time 5:14.60. Going Good to Soft.

Age 3-5

Starts 13

Wins 6

Places 6

Earned £131,405

Sire: SADDLER MAKER. Sire of 5 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - BRISTOL DE MAI April Night G1, ALPHA DES OBEAUX Saint Preuil G2, APPLE’S JADE Nkosi G2, LABEL DES OBEAUX Loup Solitaire G2, VERDURE DES OBEAUX Dom Pasquini LR. 1st Dam: La Bole Night by April Night. ran over jumps in France. Dam of 3 winners: 2005: RIVA (f Winning Smile) Winner at 3 in France.

2006: Sicolas de Mai (g East of Heaven) 2008: ULA DE MAI (f Passing Sale) Winner at 4 in France.

2011: BRISTOL DE MAI (g Saddler Maker) 6 wins, Coral Future Champion Finale Juv. Hurdle G1, 2nd totescoop6 Premier Kelso Nov. Hurdle G2, 3rd Betfred Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle G1, Betfred Contenders Hurdle LR, Betfred Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase G1, Racing UK Altcar Novices’ Chase G2, 2nd Racing Post Henry VIII Novice Chase G1.

2013: Divine de Stpierre (f Ungaro) unraced to date.

Broodmare Sire: APRIL NIGHT. Sire of the dams of 6 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - AR MAD Tiger Groom G1, BRISTOL DE MAI Saddler Maker G1, UN DE SCEAUX Denham Red G1.

BRISTOL DE MAI gr g 2011 Northern Dancer Sadler’s Wells Fairy Bridge SADDLER MAKER b 98 Alleged Animatrice Alexandrie Kaldoun April Night My Destiny LA BOLE NIGHT gr 99 Hellios Grageline Rousseliere

Nearctic Natalma Bold Reason Special Hoist The Flag Princess Pout Val de L’Orne Apachee Caro Katana Chaparral Carmelite Nureyev Suprina Le Pontet Ifrane

Sadler’s Wells’s son Poliglote has the remarkable record of having been champion sire in France both on the Flat and over jumps. However, it has been as a jumping sire that he has truly excelled, topping the table in 2012, 2013 and 2015.

Poliglote’s Classic-placed half-sister Animatrice visited Sadler’s Wells to produce Sadler’s Flag, winner of the Gr3 Prix de Royaumont, and Saddler Maker.

The latter wasn’t one of Sadler’s Wells’s better sons. Winless in nine starts as a five-and six-year-old, he earned his biggest cheque when third in a Longchamp handicap over nearly two miles.

Even so, Saddler Maker’s pedigree was so good it earned him his chance as a stallion. He is now based at Haras de Cercy, with his 2016 fee set at €2,000. Predictably he was quite a hard sell in his early years, siring only 15 foals in his first three crops, but he quickly began to earn stronger support and has thoroughly justified it via the efforts of his sons Alpha des Obeaux (Gr2 Galmoy Hurdle in 2016), Apple’s Jade (Gr2 Juvenile Hurdle at the end of 2015), Label des Obeaux (Gr2 Winter Novices’ Hurdle in 2015) and Bristol de Mai. Bristol de Mai made a great debut in Britain, winning the Gr1 Finale Hurdle, and is now doing even better over fences.

He was winning for the fourth time in six starts when he landed the Gr1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase.

Bristol de Mai is suited by two and a half miles. His dam, the selle francais La Bole Night, failed to finish any of her three starts. She is doing much better as a broodmare, Bristol de Mai being her third winner from four runners. The gelding’s broodmare sire April Night is thriving in this role, with his daughters also being responsible for Un de Sceaux, Trifolium and Ar Mad. 157 BETFAIR ASCOT CHASE G1 ASCOT. Feb 20. 5yo+. 21f.

1. SILVINIACO CONTI (FR) 10 11-7 £85,425 ch g by Dom Alco - Gazelle Lulu (Altayan) O-Potensis Bloodstock Ltd & Chris Giles B-P. Joubert TR-Paul Nicholls 2. Dynaste (FR) 10 11-7 £32,055 gr g by Martaline - Bellissima de Mai (Pistolet Bleu) O-Mr A. J. White B-Mr P. Chartier TR-David Pipe 3. Royal Regatta (IRE) 8 11-7 £16,050 b g by King’s Theatre - Friendly Craic (Mister Lord) O-Mrs Lesley Field & Mrs Eileen Murphy B-W. B. Mactaggart TR-Philip Hobbs Margins 20, 2.25. Time 5:29.10. Going Soft.

Age 4-10

Starts 30

Wins 16

Places Earned 10 £1,088,779

Sire: DOM ALCO. Sire of 23 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - SILVINIACO CONTI Altayan G1, AL FEROF Altayan G2, VEZELAY Sleeping Car G3.

1st Dam: GAZELLE LULU by Altayan. 5 wins in France. Dam of 7 winners: 2002: ORFEO CONTI (g Bulington) 3 wins.

2005: RIO CONTI (g Video Rock) Winner at 5 in France.

2006: SILVINIACO CONTI (g Dom Alco) 16 wins, totesport.com Persian War Nov. Hurdle G2, Coral Ascot Hurdle G2, 3rd stanjames.com International Hurdle G2, William Hill King George VI Chase G1 (twice), Betfair Ascot Chase G1, Betfred Bowl Chase G1 (twice), Betfair Lancashire Chase G1 (twice), Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase G2, John Smith’s Mildmay Novices’ Chase G2, Totetentofollow Rising Stars Nov Chase G2, Betfair Denman Chase G2, 2nd williamhill.com Feltham Novices’ Chase G1, Betfair Lancashire Chase G1, 3rd Betfred Bowl Chase G1, Betfair Lancashire Chase G1.

2007: TOSCANA CONTI (f Dom Alco) 6 wins, Prix Triquerville Chase LR. 2008: UCELLO CONTI (g Martaline) 8 wins, 2nd Paddy Power H. Chase G2, 3rd Goffs Thyestes H. Chase G1, Prix Roger de Minvielle Chase LR, 2nd Prix Duc d’Anjou Chase G3, Prix Fleuret Chase G3, Prix Edmond Barrachin Chase G3.

2010: Adagio Conti (g Dom Alco) 2011: BAIA CONTI (f Network) Winner at 4 in France.

2012: CLASS CONTI (g Poliglote) 2 wins over jumps at 3 in France.

Broodmare Sire: ALTAYAN. Sire of the dams of 5 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - SILVINIACO CONTI Dom Alco G1, AL FEROF Dom Alco G2.

The Dom Alco/Altayan cross has produced: AL FEROF G1, SILVINIACO CONTI G1, TOSCANA CONTI LR.

SILVINIACO CONTI ch g 2006 Rheffic Dom Pasquini Boursonne DOM ALCO gr 87 Nonoalco Alconaca Vela Posse Altayan Aleema GAZELLE LULU ch 94 Quart de Vin Tatiana Lulu Kaline Lulu

Traffic Rhenane La Varende Arctic Star Nearctic Seximee Sheshoon Cenerentola Forli In Hot Pursuit Red God Alannya Devon Quartelette Vieux Chateau Violine D P

The Dom Alco story must be drawing to an end, as he died in November 2010 at the age of 23, leaving a final crop of 30 foals in 2011 and a penultimate crop of 37. However, he still managed to finish among France’s top ten jumping sires in 2015, despite having markedly fewer runners than most of the other nine.

He is still doing well in Britain, too, thanks largely to his durable sons Al Ferof (Gr2 Peterborough Chase) and Silviniaco Conti and the talented novice chaser Vicente. Silviniaco Conti, now ten, notched up his seventh Gr1 victory over fences when he impressively landed the Ascot Chase by 20 lengths.

The main flaw on Silviniaco Conti’s CV is his record in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, his best effort in three attempts being his close fourth in 2014, when he led over the last. It is hard to accept that Silviniaco Conti lacks the stamina for the Gold Cup, as

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Apr_140_DataBook_Layout 1 24/03/2016 17:04 Page 95

Caulfield on Bristol De Mai: “His sire, Saddler Maker, was not one of Sadlers Wells’s better sons and never won, but his pedigree was so good it earned him his chance as a stallion”

he has several fine victories over trips that are only slightly shorter than the Cheltenham Gold Cup distance. Dom Alco has been a powerful influence for stamina, siring Grand National hero Neptune Collonges, Grands Crus, Unioniste and Sire Collonges, as well as the speedier Al Ferof.

Silviniaco Conti’s dam Gazelle Lulu

Network mare Baia Conti and 2012 Poliglote gelding Class Conti, winner of his first two starts over hurdles at Auteuil. She also has a 2013 filly by Martaline, which is a sister to Ucello Conti, and a 2014 filly by Muhtathir.

Silviniaco Conti shares the same broodmare sire, Altayan, as Al Ferof.

Altayan had the pedigree of a miler

won five times at up to a mile and a half and was once beaten a head over 15 furlongs. Gazelle Lulu is also dam of Toscana Conti, a younger sister of Silviniaco Conti who won a Listed chase over nearly two and threequarter miles at Auteuil, and useful chaser Ucello Conti. The mare also has two young winners in the 2011

but proved suited by a mile and a half, winning the Prix Maurice de Nieuil and Prix du Conseil de Paris.

Silviniaco Conti’s second dam, Tatiana Lulu, was by stamina-packed Quart de Vin, who sired major winners over fences, including the outstanding Ucello, who was twice a winner of the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris.

National Hunt Graded Races Date 31/12 30/01 30/01 30/01 30/01 30/01 30/01 30/01 30/01 30/01 31/01 31/01 04/02 06/02 06/02 13/02 13/02 13/02 13/02 13/02 13/02 14/02 14/02 14/02 19/02 20/02 20/02 20/02 20/02 20/02 20/02 20/02 21/02 21/02 21/02 25/02 27/02 27/02 27/02 27/02 28/02 28/02

Grade G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G3 G3 G2 GrC G3 G2 G3 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G3 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G3 G3 G2 G2 GrB G2 G2 G2 G2 G3 G2 GrB

Race (course) Dorans Pride Novice Hurdle (Punchestown) Betbright Trial Cotswold Chase (Cheltenham) JCB Triumph Trial Finesse Juv. Hurdle (Cheltenham) Neptune Investment Classic Nov. Hurdle (Cheltenham) galliardshomes.com Cleeve Hurdle (Cheltenham) Albert Bartlett River Don Novice Hurdle (Doncaster) grandnational.co.uk Lightning Nov.Chase (Doncaster) olbg.com Doncaster Mares’ Hurdle (Doncaster) freebets.com Murphy Group Handicap Chase (Cheltenham) Coolmore Sires Solerina Mares Nov.Hurdle (Fairyhouse) Boylesports Tied Cottage Chase (Punchestown) racinguk.com Gd. National Trial H Chase (Punchestown) Surehaul Mercedes Powerstown Nov. Hurdle (Clonmel) Totepool Towton Novices’ Chase (Wetherby) Betfred Mobile Heroes Handicap Hurdle (Sandown Park) Red Mills Chase (Gowran Park) Red Mills Trial Hurdle (Gowran Park) Betfair Denman Chase (Newbury) Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase (Newbury) 7bets4free.com Kingmaker Novices’ Chase (Warwick) Betfair Handicap Hurdle (Newbury) Flyingbolt Novice Chase (Navan) Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle (Navan) Ten Up Novice Chase (Navan) Weatherbys GSB Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Sandown) Sodexo Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase (Ascot) At The Races Bobbyjo Chase (Fairyhouse) Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’ Hurdle (Haydock Park) Betfred Rendlesham Hurdle (Haydock Park) Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle (Wincanton) Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle (Fairyhouse) Betfred Grand National Trial Hcp Chase (Haydock Park) Paddy Power Better Value Novice Hurdle (Naas) Paddy Power Nationwide Chase (Naas) Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase (Naas) Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle (Thurles) Betbright Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (Kempton Park) Betbright Pendil Novices’ Chase (Kempton Park) Sky Bet Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (Kempton Park) Betbright Handicap Chase (Kempton Park) Totepool National Spirit Hurdle (Fontwell Park) TRI Equestrian Mercury Handicap Chase (Leopardstown)

Dist 24f 25f 16.5f 20f 23.5f 24f 16f 16.5f 20.5f 18f 16f 28f 22f 24f 23f 20f 16f 23.5f 16.5f 16f 16.5f 17f 21f 24f 20f 24f 25f 23f 23f 15.5f 16f 28.5f 16f 16f 20f 20f 16f 20.5f 16f 24f 19f 21f

Horse Up For Review (IRE) Smad Place (FR) Protek des Flos (FR) Yanworth (GB) Thistlecrack (GB) Barters Hill (IRE) Vaniteux (FR) Smart Talk (IRE) Annacotty (IRE) Limini (IRE) Felix Yonger (IRE) Bonny Kate (IRE) Arkwrisht (FR) Blaklion (GB) Saddlers Encore (IRE) Smashing (FR) Sempre Medici (FR) Houblon des Obeaux (FR) Top Gamble (IRE) Violet Dancer (GB) Agrapart (FR) Sambremont (FR) Snow Falcon (IRE) Measureofmydreams (IRE) Jessber’s Dream (IRE) Vyta du Roc (FR) Boston Bob (IRE) Jonniesofa (IRE) Reve de Sivola (FR) Rayvin Black (GB) Newberry New (IRE) Bishops Road (IRE) Ball d’Arc (FR) Days Hotel (IRE) Marlbrook (IRE) Acapella Bourgeois (FR) Zubayr (IRE) Killala Quay (GB) Winter Escape (IRE) Theatre Guide (IRE) Lil Rockerfeller (USA) Colms Dream (IRE)

Age 6 9 4 6 8 6 7 6 8 5 10 6 6 7 7 7 6 9 8 6 5 6 6 8 6 7 11 6 11 7 4 8 5 11 8 6 4 9 5 9 5 7

Sex G G G G G G G M G M G M G G G G G G G G G G G G M G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

Sire Presenting Smadoun Protektor Norse Dancer Kayf Tara Kalanisi Voix du Nord Hubbly Bubbly Beneficial Peintre Celebre Oscar Beneficial Lavirco Kayf Tara Presenting Smadoun Medicean Panoramic Presenting Bertolini Martaline Saint des Saints Presenting Shantou Milan Lion Noir Bob Back Well Made Assessor Halling Kodiac Heron Island Network Oscar Beneficial Network Authorized Karinga Bay Robin des Pres King’s Theatre Hard Spun Beneficial

Dam Coolsilver Bienna Star Flore de Chantenay Yota Ardstown Circle The Wagons Expoville Belon Breeze Mini Moo Min Her Grace Marble Sound Peppardstown Latitude Franciscaine Saddlers Leader Faragreen Sambala Harkosa Zeferina Another Secret Afragha Rainbow Crest Flocon de Neige Le Bavellen Maddy’s Supreme Dolce Vyta Bavaway Lucky Sarah Eva de Chalamont Optimistic Sunblush Nice Resemblance Pretty Moon Call Catherine Drinadaly Jasmine Zaziyra Madam Bijou Saddleeruppat Erintante Layounne African Waters

Broodmare Sire Good Thyne Village Star Smadoun Galetto Ardross Commanche Run Video Rock Strong Gale Ardross Spectrum Be My Native Old Vic Kadalko Legend of France Saddlers’ Hall Green Tune Danehill Dancer Nikos Sadler’s Wells Efisio Darshaan Baryshnikov Kahyasi Le Bavard Supreme Leader Grand Tresor Le Bavard Aahsaylad Iron Duke Reprimand Timber Country Shernazar Moon Madness Strong Gale Oscar Valanjou Dalakhani Atraf Saddlers’ Hall Denel Mt Livermore Be My Native

Index 151 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198

Leading National Hunt sires 2015/16 by earnings Name

King's Theatre Presenting Kayf Tara Beneficial Flemensfirth Milan Westerner Oscar Midnight Legend Old Vic Shantou Martaline Network Dom Alco Robin des Champs Gold Well Authorized Definite Article Alflora Voix du Nord Cloudings Winged Love Brian Boru Notnowcato Dr Massini Kalanisi Vinnie Roe Court Cave Poliglote Smadoun Stowaway Golan Heron Island Halling Saint des Saints Cape Cross High Chaparral Turtle Island Generous Tikkanen Medicean Indian Danehill Craigsteel Fruits Of Love

YOF

1991 1992 1994 1990 1992 1998 1999 1994 1991 1986 1993 1999 1997 1987 1997 2001 2004 1992 1989 2001 1994 1992 2000 2002 1993 1996 1998 2001 1992 1990 1994 1998 1993 1991 1998 1994 1999 1991 1988 1991 1997 1996 1995 1995

Sire

Rnrs

Wnrs

%WR

Sadler's Wells Mtoto Sadler's Wells Top Ville Alleged Sadler's Wells Danehill Sadler's Wells Night Shift Sadler's Wells Alleged Linamix Monsun Dom Pasquini Garde Royale Sadler's Wells Montjeu Indian Ridge Niniski Valanour Sadler's Wells In the Wings Sadler's Wells Inchinor Sadler's Wells Doyoun Definite Article Sadler's Wells Sadler's Wells Kaldoun Slip Anchor Spectrum Shirley Heights Diesis Cadoudal Green Desert Sadler's Wells Fairy King Caerleon Cozzene Machiavellian Danehill Suave Dancer Hansel

265 337 276 296 272 279 181 260 142 87 98 39 41 38 79 76 54 108 81 22 59 59 90 14 82 116 78 57 25 14 81 66 71 47 29 36 65 54 60 47 38 51 80 53

95 99 83 87 92 77 59 64 48 29 31 18 21 14 26 23 20 25 27 9 21 20 28 8 17 27 27 20 8 4 16 21 18 14 13 11 18 18 18 10 11 13 23 12

35.85 29.38 30.07 29.39 33.82 27.60 32.60 24.62 33.80 33.33 31.63 46.15 51.22 36.84 32.91 30.26 37.04 23.15 33.33 40.91 35.59 33.90 31.11 57.14 20.73 23.28 34.62 35.09 32.00 28.57 19.75 31.82 25.35 29.79 44.83 30.56 27.69 33.33 30.00 21.28 28.95 25.49 28.75 22.64

Races

AWD

Earnings (£)

Top horse

138 136 125 117 122 109 84 87 61 44 53 30 34 18 33 37 29 35 36 19 28 29 40 16 23 32 32 24 13 8 21 34 24 21 18 21 25 25 24 14 15 14 38 20

20.2 20.0 19.4 19.5 20.4 21.0 20.3 20.2 19.0 21.4 20.5 18.0 19.2 21.6 18.5 20.7 16.5 19.6 21.4 17.5 21.3 21.6 20.6 17.5 21.9 19.8 20.0 20.2 19.0 20.8 18.3 18.9 21.8 17.3 18.2 17.5 17.4 20.3 20.2 21.2 18.1 19.7 20.3 19.2

2,026,092 1,685,238 1,391,318 1,308,440 1,245,354 1,030,445 911,641 871,509 557,424 514,156 507,971 426,146 424,218 406,467 401,544 396,501 391,440 337,822 331,694 329,242 318,086 317,476 316,535 304,101 297,744 278,638 273,833 264,737 255,564 248,941 237,982 237,541 230,663 221,812 219,067 211,092 207,857 202,778 201,143 199,185 198,430 194,041 192,462 188,838

Cue Card Rogue Angel Thistlecrack Annacotty Highland Lodge Mountainous Wakanda Rock On Ruby Pearls Legend Village Vic Shantou Flyer Agrapart Sprinter Sacre Silviniaco Conti Vautour Kylecrue Sternrubin Definitly Red Dare To Endeavour Vibrato Valtat Cloudy Too Firebird Flyer Shotgun Paddy Old Guard Sound Investment Barters Hill Claret Cloak Court Minstrel Don Poli Smad Place Outlander Roadie Joe Bishops Road Rayvin Black Sametegal Devilment Altior Lettermacaward Drop Out Joe Buywise Sempre Medici Shanahan's Turn Steel Wave Simply Ned

Earned (£)

283,390 97,906 116,748 126,630 80,490 72,269 106,781 59,803 45,104 109,072 51,770 100,335 88,273 131,450 82,605 61,661 114,302 35,997 31,023 66,867 39,272 27,514 29,888 142,571 53,562 43,764 29,062 60,220 85,871 194,506 64,068 25,297 53,632 78,087 41,513 36,058 40,478 17,817 52,717 54,448 62,053 94,612 15,907 37,957

Theatre performs well thanks to Lough Without the Cheltenham and Aintree festival results, the table is certain to alter. In the interim, King’s Theatre has increased his total by £373,305 and his lead by £146,295. The bulk of that sum came from victories by Carlingford Lough in the Irish Gold Cup and Theatre Guide in the Betbright Chase. Second-placed Presenting and third-placed Kayf Tara respectively added £197,050 and £225,208 to their tallies.

Thistlecrack’s success in the Cleeve Hurdle and Blaklion’s in the Towton Novices’ Chase were the best for Kayf Tara but Arthur’s Oak and Solstice Star also won quite valuable races.

Midnight Legend rose one place, helped by Midnight Prayer’s win in the bizarre first leg of the veteran chase series at Exeter.

Statistics to March 9

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24 HOURS WITH… MARCOS AYERZA

96

PA

H

alf past seven is generally my get-up time. How I wake depends on whether our baby daughters Mercedes, 2, and Josephine, 1, are in our bedroom before my phone alarm goes off. I quickly check my phone for any calls or change of plans from my club, Leicester Tigers, before helping my wife Mercedes to change the girls’ nappies and get them ready for breakfast.

I live in Kibworth, about ten minutes from Oval Park, the Tigers’ training ground, so I can be there for 8.30. But, first thing, it is the family and the smell of fresh coffee that brings a sparkle to my day.

Now we have our daughters I try to have coffee and toast with them before I leave.

I am the fifth of ten siblings from near Buenos Aires and, being from such a large family, we enjoy a strong family bond. My father Dr Ivan Ayerza is President of the Argentinian Stud Book, and runs our 250-acre Haras Aguarenas, where we have some 15-20 broodmares plus foals and yearlings. We also have a share in the Storm Cat stallion True Cause, who won his first race at Nottingham before going on to two Grade 2 successes in America.

In Argentina we learn to walk and ride at the same time, on quiet, laid-back ponies of course! When I was about six an older cousin suggested I tried drinking the milk from my grey pony. I did a few times just for fun, but wouldn’t recommend it! I prefer breakfast at Oval Park, which is usually scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, baked beans, broccoli and cauliflower. That’s before we start doing weights and then scrummaging practice.

I have played loose head prop for ten years at Leicester, where I completed my Business Studies degree at De Montfort University. I’ve also

MARCOS AYERZA sees his future as back in Argentina and being central to his family’s thriving Haras Aguarenas operation. The Leicester Tigers prop won’t sleepwalk into it – or will he? been capped 66 times for Argentina, where I spend about four months of the year, which afford more chances to help with breeding decisions and the running of the stud. I named my first horse Welford Road after Leicester’s home ground and he won two races for me in Argentina.

Charles Allan, a great racing friend, got me involved with his Adlestrop Club at Richard Phillips’s Gloucestershire stables. I have been to the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas and to Ascot, but my greatest day here was the thrill of seeing Frankel in the flesh when he won the Lockinge at Newbury.

I always thought it would be hard to find an activity after my rugby career that would be as challenging and thrilling as the game itself. But I

experience the same excitement during the two minutes of a race as I do in the 80 minutes of a rugby match.

Eventually I plan to go back, look after the horses and develop a business exporting fruit, vegetables and fish from South America to Europe.

Injuries for horses can be as frustrating as they are for us in rugby. The adrenalin on the big occasion can play against the horse as it becomes overstressed, like players before a match. We all need our nerves calming. There are such small margins, inches that can be the difference between winning and losing on the rugby field or in a horserace.

Of course, jockeys and rugby players suffer similar injuries. I have broken both wrists, some fingers and had

eight screws inserted after breaking my collarbone.

During my testimonial year, 2014-15, we held an event at Ascot and the Injured Jockeys Fund benefited as one of our charities.

We have lunch at the club during training days and it is always a big intake of protein like steak, beef, chicken, lamb, pork and fish. We rotate our source of protein, together with salads and carbohydrates. The eating regime at Tigers is very precise to ensure we all have the right diet. At home Mercedes won’t let me near the kitchen. She’s great, as a ‘fatty’ like me needs a good cook!

When we are playing away I have to room on my own because I sleepwalk, a trait I have inherited from my Dad. In my early years playing for Argentina I used to share and my roommates would tell me what I’d been doing in the night. Once, in my sleep, I tried to force up a low ceiling in our bedroom at home and injured my shoulder. You can imagine the reception I got from the players the following morning.

After our evening meal – my favourite is Argentinian Milanesas, a pan-fried breadcrumbed steak – I often talk to Dad about stud matters in Argentina. And perhaps skype prospective buyers to discuss foals and yearlings, or even chat to our trainers over there.

I used to be an altar boy for Pope Francis I when he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires. I am quite a religious Roman Catholic; I like to think God is guiding me through life.

I go to bed between 11.30 and 12 and always say my prayers at night. If I’ve watched racing online from Argentina late at night I might dream about the horses. Or go sleepwalking!

Interview by Tim Richards

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