Thoroughbred Owner Breeder

THE £6.95 FEBRUARY 2022 ISSUE 210

‘We’d love to run in the Triumph’

Olly Harris and the owners dreaming of big-race glory this spring

PLUS

Value sires

Options abound for breeders

Simon Sweeting

Exciting times at Overbury Stud

Making a stallion

How fortune favours the brave

www.theownerbreeder.com

Kingman Invincible Spirit - Zenda (Zamindar)

Raising the stakes Kingman is the only European stallion to cover over 300 stakes winners and over 200 Group winners between 2019-21, including 80 Group 1 winners and 51 dams of Group 1 winners.

Stallion

Stakes Winners Covered

Group Winners Covered

Kingman

324

218

Dubawi

268

198

Frankel

267

173

Galileo

197

156

Lope de Vega

257

137

Sea The Stars

230

131

Contact Shane Horan, Henry Bletsoe or Claire Curry +44 (0)1638 731115 | nominations@juddmonte.co.uk

www.juddmonte.com Source: Data supplied by Weatherbys

Welcome Editor: Edward Rosenthal Bloodstock Editor: Nancy Sexton Design/production: Thoroughbred Group Editorial: 12 Forbury Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 1SB editor@ownerbreeder.co.uk www.theownerbreeder.com Twitter: @OwnerBreeder Instagram: ownerbreeder Advertising: Giles Anderson UK: 01380 816777 IRE: 041 971 2000 USA: 1 888 218 4430 advertise@anderson-co.com Subscriptions: Keely Brewer subscriptions@ownerbreeder.co.uk 01183 385 686 The Owner Breeder can be purchased by non-members at the following rates: UK Europe RoW

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The Owner Breeder is published by a Mutual Trading Company owned jointly by the Racehorse Owners Association and Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association is a registered charity No. 1134293 Editorial views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the ROA or TBA Our monthly average readership is 20,000 Racehorse Owners Association Ltd 12 Forbury Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 1SB Tel: 01183 385680 info@roa.co.uk • www.roa.co.uk

THE

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

£6.95 FEBRUARY 2022 ISSUE 210

‘We’d love to run in the Triumph’

Olly Harris and the owners dreaming of big-race glory this spring

PLUS

Value sires

Options abound for breeders

Simon Sweeting

Exciting times at Overbury Stud

Making a stallion

How fortune favours the brave

www.theownerbreeder.com

Cover: Triumph Hurdle candidate Porticello, trained by Gary Moore for owner Olly Harris, in action at Doncaster in December Photo: Racingfotos.com

Edward Rosenthal Editor

Cheltenham influence runs deep and wide D

oes the Cheltenham Festival exert too much influence over the rest of the National Hunt season in Britain? It’s a question that is asked more and more frequently about those four days in March, which seem to define success – or failure – for so many in the jumping community.

Of course, there are plenty of highlights throughout the campaign, meetings and single racedays that provide high-quality entertainment to devotees of the sport. Just before this issue went to press we witnessed a scintillating contest at Ascot as Shishkin got the better of Energumene in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase, something those present on track – or indeed watching from home – will not forget in a hurry.

The inaugural Winter Million series at Lingfield, conjured it seems almost out of thin air, deserves high praise for its concept and ambition although some of the fields were disappointing considering the excellent prize-money on offer.

Better promotion should enable enhanced entries next year, yet doubts remain about hosting the series at a track that rarely provides anything other than very testing going at this time of the year, and often falls victim to waterlogging.

We know owning racehorses is an emotional rollercoaster and any success in a top-level race – perhaps any success full stop – should be enjoyed and celebrated to the maximum, rather than being viewed simply as an hors d’oeuvre for the main course to come. The racing media – Owner Breeder included – could be said to fall into the trap of always looking at what’s next on the menu rather than savouring the meal that’s arrived.

Yet the importance of ‘the Festival’ is reflected in many ways – betting volumes and revenues aside – including as a barometer of the health of the domestic racing scene. Ireland’s domination over UK-trained runners in 2021 produced column inches aplenty but also recognition from stakeholders that something had to change in an effort to try and restore parity.

A new series of races for younger jumps horses is hoped will have many benefits for the industry here, taking its cue from Ireland and France, where

National Hunt-breds are traditionally racing at a younger age than their British-bred counterparts.

Time will tell whether the gap can be narrowed in the next few years.

The lure of a Cheltenham Festival runner is considerable from an owner’s perspective – it’s an amazing spectacle to be part of as a fan, never mind someone in with a chance of glory on the biggest of all stages. In this issue we speak to five smaller owners looking forward to the spring fixtures at Cheltenham, Aintree and Ayr, including sole owners, husband-and-wife teams and syndicates.

We know the price of jumping stock, especially when accompanied by winning bumper, point-to-point or hurdles form, has rocketed in recent years. However, it’s heartening

“It’s heartening to know you need not spend a fortune to acquire talent” to know you need not spend a fortune to acquire a talented performer.

Triumph Hurdle candidate Knight Salute, trained by a resurgent Milton Harris, was picked up by Mark Adams on behalf of the Four Candles Partnership for 14,000 guineas. Progressive two-mile hurdler Onemorefortheroad was bred

by Tom Stayt and Donna Wallis, part of the owning syndicate Rupert Dubai Racing, out of a mare that cost £3,000.

It’s these stories that showcase the appeal of jump racing as a sport that anyone can get involved in at some level. Perhaps you’ll see one of the horses featured in this magazine in a future issue, jumping the final flight in front or being welcomed back into the winner’s enclosure on a Grade 1 raceday. Here’s hoping.

THE OWNER BREEDER

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Contents

February 2022

20

News & Views ROA Leader Gambling Act reforms causing concern

7

TBA Leader Long-term strategy essential

9

News Freddy Tylicki's High Court victory

10

Changes News in a nutshell

12

Howard Wright Respect required

18

Features The Big Picture Tornado Flyer scoops the pot

16

Small owners, big hopes Major festivals on the horizon

20

Value sires Seeking out the talent available

26

36

Making a stallion Brave individuals make their mark

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An eye for success

visit studlife online: tweenhills.com/studlife

February 2022

OUR FIRST KAMEKO FOAL The first foal born at Tweenhills this season was by the fastest QIPCO 2000 Guineas winner ever Kameko, a cracking son of Stakes sprinter Golden Spell who arrived on January 13. We are delighted with him!

The striking chap is the third foal out of Al Kazeem mare Golden Spell, who has a two-year-old colt by Havana Gold and a yearling colt by Zoustar.

STAFF PROFILE

Kameko covered a stellar book of mares in his first season and the next few months will be extremely exciting as his foals hit the ground, both at Tweenhills and around the country – we love seeing photos of your Kameko foals!

“Come on mum, get up!” – a lovely photo of our first Kameko foal by Alicia Plaistow

ZOU’S MILLION DOLLAR MAGIC Zoustar hit the headlines once again when colts by the sire sensation sold for AU$1.3m and AU$1.25m at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Hannah Walter Stud Hand

Tell us about your journey…

I grew up in Caerphilly but moved all over, mainly Wales. After I got my Sports Science degree, in 2013 I taught kids in France outdoor activities like canoeing and rock climbing for a year. I then did small animal veterinary nursing back home for a while before joining Tomlinson Equine earlier in 2021. I started at Tweenhills in November.

Why the career change?

I developed an interest in genetics as well as horse racing, so it made sense to me to gain more experience in the breeding side of things. I’m also interested in the treatment side so am looking forward to when the breeding season kicks off and I can help the vets, and learn about how the thoroughbred breeding process works.

We hear you have a need for speed…

Yeah, I’m a downhill mountain bike racer! I got into when I got back from France. We race everywhere in Britain but the Black Mountains in Wales is a particular favourite.

There’s often around 30 girls per race, in a time trial format – so if you’re slow you can be caught! I also do Urban Racing which is pretty mad…I go hiking just to relax!

The AU$1.3m son of Zoustar out of Pirapala (photo: Magic Millions)

43 Zoustars sold for an average of just over AU$427,000 (over £227,000) – an exceptional return when you consider he stands for AU$154,000 (just over £81,000) in Australia. Given his 2022 fee at Tweenhills is £25,000 (Oct 1st SLF) he is certain to be oversubscribed!

EARLY GROUP GOLD

VLAD THE FUNDRAISER

Just 11 days into 2022 Havana Gold had already sired a Group winner as Teresita won the Gr.2 Bangalore Oaks.

A dear friend of the Redvers family, Professor Monsignor Vladimir Feltzmann – known at Tweenhills as Father Vlad – recently complete an amazing feat.

Havana Gold, as well as being the leading British-based sire of 2yos in 2021, has now sired Stakes horses in Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, the USA, Australia, Japan and India.

Kameko looking a picture in the sun with Joe

Robinson

Father Vlad – pictured in his Tweenhills cap on the BBC’s Song of Praise – has been involved with Saint Mary’s University for many years. When he heard their chapel organ needed replacing he set himself a challenge to help raise funds.

“I’m 83 years on this planet and 52 years a priest, so how about walking 52 laps of the running track 83 times? And that’s what I’ve done – 4,316 laps” said Father Vlad, who received a message of support from Sir Mo Farah and has already raised £60,000 – a true inspiration!

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

11430 - Tweenhills Stud Life - Feb 2022_V5.indd 1

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Contents 26

››

Features continued Breeders' Digest Optimism for NH breeding

Sales Circuit

Online auction finds favour

Caulfield Files

Can you have too much of a good thing?

Dr Statz

Kingman set to conquer

The Finish Line

With Overbury Stud's Simon Sweeting

72 43 44 48 50 72

Forum ROA Forum

VAT Solution's exceptional results

TBA Forum

Novice chasers strike at the top level

Breeder of the Month

Robert Abrey & Ian Thurtle for Edwardstone

Great British Bonus Latest news and winners

Vet Forum

Angular limb deformities in focus

4

THE OWNER BREEDER

54 60 65 66 68

Did you know?

Our monthly average readership is

20,000

NEW FOR 2022

LOPE Y FERNANDEZ

Lope De Vega ex Black Dahlia (Dansili) | Bay, 16.0hh, 2017

5 x Gr.1 placed from 6.5 furlongs to 1 mile Timeform rated 120 at 3 & 4 years Group winning 2yo over 6 furlongs €900,000 yearling purchase at Arqana By one of the world’s leading sires LOPE DE VEGA

“Lope Y Fernandez is an outstanding physical specimen. He was a tough and talented racehorse – it is a great opportunity for British breeders to have access to the only son of Lope de Vega in Britain, and I will certainly be using him.”

RICHARD BROWN (BLANDFORD BLOODSTOCK)

“Lope Y Fernandez is a beautiful looking horse with a stunning action – one of the best looking horses to retire to stud in Newmarket in recent years.”

PETER STANLEY (NEW ENGLAND STUD)

EUROPEAN CHAMPION THREE-YEAR-OLD SPRINTER

Nominations: 01638 675929

stallions@nationalstud.co.uk www.nationalstud.co.uk

2022 Stud Fee

£8,500 1st October SLF

ROA_PrintAds_Support_2.pdf

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18/04/2020

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At the ROA we work tirelessly to support, protect and promote the interests of racehorse owners everywhere. We collaborate across the industry to make sure that owners’ voices are heard within racing – making it a more open, enjoyable and rewarding sport for everyone.

SUPPORTING YOUR OWNERSHIP JOURNEY AT EVERY STEP. DISCOVER HOW - ROA.CO.UK

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ROA Leader

Charlie Parker President

Gambling Act reforms pose threat to income

I

n this column I have regularly looked to address some of the biggest challenges facing racing. The year has only just begun and already we are faced with another major issue.

The government’s Gambling Act Review is due to report imminently and yet again racing needs to put out its stall properly to ensure that we protect our sport now and put it on a sustainable footing for the future.

For those not aware, the government have been consulting on long-awaited changes to the Gambling Act, which has been in place since 2004. And rightly so – the act needs modernising and developing to ensure it is fit for the modern age in a sector that has been transformed through the rise of mobile and online gaming.

At the core of the potential reforms is the government’s perception of vulnerable customers and the need to prevent harm from gambling. Again, rightly so, it is important that gambling is done so responsibly.

Yet all of this must not produce unintended consequences that could cost whole industries and livelihoods. British racing is in a unique sporting position, in that it and betting are interdependent, with the majority of racing’s major revenue streams linked to betting. These include the levy, income from media rights deals between racecourses as well as betting operators and sponsorship deals.

This revenue supports the venues and eventually trickles down to owners, trainers, jockeys and stable staff. As we know, prize-money, already at precariously uncompetitive levels, would not stand the impact of significant contraction in betting-based revenue streams.

Proposals within the reform, such as additional affordability measures and even betting caps, could significantly impact gambling revenues and have a huge knock-on effect on horseracing in the UK. These proposals could permanently undermine investment in our sport and condemn us to losing further ground to our international competitors. All of this at a time when many individuals, businesses and organisations across the industry have struggled financially throughout the pandemic and are hoping for a sustained period of stability to recoup significant losses.

Ultimately, betting on racing is responsibly enjoyed by millions of people in the UK every year. We should continue to support people’s freedom to wager their own money freely as and when they wish. We should continue to support both the promotion of responsible betting and those operators seeking to tackle problem gambling.

The government must think carefully, understand the

situation and balance the outcomes. Without support in other areas such as levy development, it could be doing wanton damage to this country’s second most-watched sport and a core part of our rural economy.

In the year that we celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and her love of British racing – Cazoo Derby day at Epsom on Saturday, June 4 will be an important part of the official celebratory programme of events – it would be catastrophic if Her Majesty’s government introduced measures that caused irreversible harm to her beloved sport.

I am in no doubt that harming the revenue pipeline to racing will have significant unintended consequences at a moment of extreme vulnerability in our recovery.

“We must be on the front foot with government on explaining the symbiotic relationship with betting” Racing must be on the front foot with government on explaining its symbiotic relationship with betting, the important value gambling revenues provide, and the need to have a responsible gambling sector that allows free enjoyment of our sport.

The issue of the Gambling Act Review, other areas such as levy development and more, are vital to protecting and growing the sport’s revenues. They are also vital to improving the racing product and experience for owners, which is of course a core focus for the ROA. It is not simple or easy, but if it was, it wouldn’t be horseracing!

THE OWNER BREEDER

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TBA Leader

Julian Richmond-Watson Chairman

Long-term planning is racing’s best strategy B

ritish racing has a number of issues, particularly pertinent to its central administrative governance and structure, which need to be addressed in 2022. As thoroughbred breeders, who of necessity take a longer-term view about the sport than most others, we have a strong interest in ensuring that the structure and future plans for British racing are ones that we in particular, as well as the industry in general, can support going forward.

I believe that in the 21st century it is unrealistic to think that any major sport, especially one that is supported to a large extent through a levy regulated by government, can be run by the commercial participants without independent checks and balances in place.

Parliament is already looking closely at the way other sports, notably football, are governed, and horseracing will probably be no exception. Football’s huge popularity makes it an inevitable target for MPs looking to garner local and even national support, but horseracing’s natural tie-in to betting, which itself is under scrutiny, and the sport’s reliance on a levy from bookmakers mean that its governance may also come under the microscope.

Meanwhile, the current advancement of proposals to turn the British Horseracing Authority into a board dominated by commercial partners represents a development that most breeders could not support. A commercial element or commercial advice is fine, but neither must rule the sport.

Moving regulation into a separate entity, as happened briefly when the Jockey Club ceded responsibility to the Horseracing Regulatory Authority before it merged with the British Horseracing Board to form the BHA in July 2007, has advantages. It would possibly allow the remaining BHA board to focus more on how to move British racing forward, but it still requires that balance and authority to take difficult as well as forward-thinking decisions.

Short-term actions can have long-term unintended consequences and, as we have seen in the past, these trends can then be difficult to reverse. The race programme and the fixture list must have a balance of commercial and competitive sporting elements if racing is to retain and grow its wider interest.

The obvious necessity is to increase funding, and therefore prize-money, in order to give British racing a chance to compete internationally, whether it is achieved by extra levy or a direct increase in media payments from the betting industry. Setting that aside, we need to understand and agree the dynamics and facts around our sport.

If we are to grow and enhance the lot of everyone in

racing, whilst extra money would help, we need to take stock of what is possible or could be possible in the future if we had a five- or ten-year vision.

Questions abound and must be answered. Too much or too little racing? Are we in any case making a mistake in bundling 0-60 handicaps in with Pattern races? Most sports concentrate on actively promoting the best, helping the middle and then supporting the lower reaches to thrive parochially within whichever community or reach they choose. British racing seems to treat every level as being the same, which inevitably results in comments about there being too much racing and limits coverage of the top levels that need time and narrative to promote them.

“We need to decide what our priorities are and where and how we wish to see our sport progress” Enough external reports have already been commissioned to give us the facts. So, we need a long-term plan. We need to decide what our priorities are and where and how we wish to see our sport progress in the next five years, and then we must all work towards that goal.

That is why industry leaders need to come together, balance the commercial aspirations with a plan to promote and support the sport, so that we can all look forward with a degree of certainty over where British racing is going.

Without it, we risk uncertainty, and a sport without clear objectives will drift and decline.

It is not just breeders, but racecourses, trainers and everyone involved in the industry who need to have confidence in a strong Racing Authority with a plan to take the industry forward.

THE OWNER BREEDER

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News

BHA considers verdict after victory for Freddy Tylicki in the High Court

10

THE OWNER BREEDER

Freddy Tylicki says he has been provided with closure after his High Court result

GEORGE SELWYN

T

he British Horseracing Authority is “assessing the implications for British racing” in the wake of former jockey Freddy Tylicki’s High Court victory against one-time colleague Graham Gibbons, with a judge ruling that Gibbons rode with “reckless disregard” during a Kempton race in which Tylicki fell and was left partially paralysed.

Tylicki was trampled on after his fall from Nellie Deen in a mile fillies’ maiden on October 31, 2016. As a result of his injuries, he is now a permanent wheelchair user.

His lawyers in court argued that Gibbons, who denied riding negligently, manoeuvred his horse Madame Butterfly – who won the race – into the path of Tylicki’s mount, who was running into a gap between Gibbons’ horse and the rail as they turned into the home straight.

In a judgement issued after Owner Breeder went to press in December, Judge Karen Walden-Smith found in Tylicki’s favour, ruling that Gibbons “had a reckless disregard for Mr Tylicki’s safety”.

The judge ruled it was more likely than not that Gibbons was aware of Tylicki’s presence before the fall, which came at the halfway point in the race, with the melee bringing down the mounts of Steve Drowne and Jim Crowley, while Ted Durcan was unseated.

Judge Walden-Smith continued: “If Mr Gibbons was not aware of Nellie Deen’s presence, he clearly should have been.

“He was considered to be a highly skilled and talented jockey, and a jockey, particularly riding at this very high level, both needs to be, and is, able to assess and reassess the constantly changing racing conditions, which includes the positioning of other horses that are nearby, in order to be able to adjust their own riding and tactics.”

The ruling came as a surprise to many observers, and not just those from horseracing but other contact sports, and while the judge stressed that her findings related only to this particular case and did not set a precedent, it remains to be seen what the longer-term implications for jockeys

and racing will be.

In a statement, issued by StewartMoore solicitors, Tylicki said: “The result has finally provided me with closure, and I look forward to putting this all behind me and moving on with my life.

“I hope though that this judgement acts as a reminder that competing in a dangerous sport like horseracing is no justification for competing with a reckless disregard for the safety of your fellow competitors.”

During a five-day hearing in November, the High Court in London heard evidence from both jockeys.

Gibbons rode for another couple of months or so after the Kempton race but has not competed since December 2016.

Tylicki told the court he shouted out “Gibbo” moments before he fell. He said: “It was a shout for survival, to be honest, because I knew what was going to happen next, but there was no response.”

Gibbons denied trying to block Tylicki’s progress, saying: “When Freddy shouted at me, I looked over my right shoulder immediately and I was

surprised and shocked that there was a horse there.”

Judge Walden-Smith said she had to decide whether the fall was “a very unfortunate accident with tragic consequences” or whether Gibbons was liable for his fellow jockey’s injuries.

She said: “While that might, in some circumstances, be considered a short period of time... this was a sufficient period of time for a skilled jockey to make decisions.”

BHA stewards at Kempton on the day did not issue Gibbons with any penalty for his riding, though their inquiry was hampered by the injuries not just to Tylicki but also Durcan, who suffered a fractured ankle, and Crowley, who broke his nose.

In a statement, the ruling authority said: “The BHA will consider the High Court judgement in detail and carefully assess what implications it may hold for British racing, in discussion with industry stakeholders.

“The full transcript of the hearing will also allow us to consider any of the other relevant matters which were raised over the course of the hearing.”

Stories from the racing world

BILL SELWYN

Environmental activity in British racing survey

Capacity in the Royal Enclosure will be reduced by 1,000 each day

Smaller crowds for Royal Ascot Ascot last month unveiled plans to reduce density and improve the customer experience at the Royal Meeting.

As part of a long-term ambition and following feedback from racegoers attending the smaller scale Royal Ascot in 2021, numbers will be reduced across the Royal Enclosure, Queen Anne Enclosure and Windsor Enclosure for all five days this summer.

In the Royal Enclosure, capacity each day will be reduced by 1,000, while the Royal Enclosure Gardens will be extended, creating a new area for circulation next to the track.

Capacities for the Queen Anne and Windsor Enclosures will be reduced by 4,150 and 2,000 respectively, and new facilities introduced.

The Village Enclosure, located on the Heath in the middle of the course, will be in operation for the first time

since 2019, where there is the space and scope to expand on the previous limit of 6,500 people.

Felicity Barnard, Commercial Director at Ascot, said: “We’re really pleased to be making these customer-focused changes. They will provide an improved experience for all racegoers across the three main enclosures, ensuring a more enjoyable atmosphere and better access to facilities throughout the site.

“A key message in the feedback from the 2021 Royal Meeting, when attendance was limited to 12,000 per day, was that people really appreciated the benefit of additional space.”

Barnard added: “Ticket sales have been strong since launch last summer and they will clearly be in higher demand as a result of these changes at what will be a special Royal Meeting in the Platinum Jubilee year.”

An online questionnaire has been unveiled to help map environmental activity, expertise and interest across British racing and breeding.

The questionnaire forms part of the wider assessment of progress on environmental sustainability, commissioned last year by industry leaders and initiated and funded by the Racing Foundation.

The scoping work seeks to establish the extent of sustainabilityrelated activity across racing, while identifying the key risks and challenges presented by climate change and how racing can develop evidence-based solutions.

It is open to everyone working in or involved with British racing, and can be completed on behalf of an organisation (e.g. yard, stud, racecourse or business) or by individuals interested in or knowledgeable about environment sustainability.

Responses will be used to build a picture of projects already underway in racing and breeding, whether that’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions, manage resources more effectively, or improve land usage/ biodiversity.

The questionnaire will also help determine the scope for future projects and where support might be required, together with questions around land usage, current environmental reporting requirements and the potential impact of climate change on racing and breeding.

Brant Dunshea, BHA Chief Regulatory Officer and Project Executive Sponsor, said: “Capturing the activity already underway across racing and breeding is a key element of our sustainability scoping exercise. This is essential if we are to measure our current progress and identify areas where there are opportunities for progress.

“I encourage anyone with interest, knowledge or experience in this area to complete the survey.”

The questionnaire is online until February 14 at form.jotform. com/220072452759355.

THE OWNER BREEDER

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Changes

Racing’s news in a nutshell

People and business Jerry McGrath

Injury forces the 31-year-old to retire from the saddle. He enjoyed more than 200 winners and two triumphs at the Cheltenham Festival.

Ciaran McKee

Rider calls time on career after striking on 80-1 outsider Macs Dilemma at Wolverhampton before Christmas.

Gina Mangan

29-year-old jockey handed 24-day ban for multiple breaches of whip rules under the totting-up guidelines.

Ron Atkins

Former jump jockey, trainer and campaigner for jockeys’ safety is awarded an MBE for his services to horseracing.

British luxury jeweller is announced as the new sponsor of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Harry Charlton

Becomes a joint licence holder with father Roger at Beckhampton Stables.

Giles Thompson

CEO of Racing Victoria will step down at the end of June after five years in charge of the Australian governing body.

Robbie Dunne

Jockey lodges appeal against 18-month ban for bullying and harassing weighing-room colleague Bryony Frost.

Paul Struthers

Lord Grimthorpe

Steps down as Chief Executive of the Professional Jockeys Association after almost ten years in the role.

Juddmonte’s former Racing Manager takes over the same role for ownerbreeder Imad Al Sagar.

People obituaries Taffy Thomas 76

Former lightweight jockey rode almost 900 winners in a career that spanned three decades.

Ivor Herbert 96

Billy Turner 81

Jack Bennett 84

Jane Lane 88

Trained 1957 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Linwell before becoming a successful racing writer and author.

Managed Cheltenham and Worcester racecourses, starting the tented village at the former track.

12

THE OWNER BREEDER

Boodles

Trained Seattle Slew to win the US Triple Crown – the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes – in 1977.

Owner-breeder saw her colours carried to success in the 1984 Cathcart Chase at Cheltenham by The Mighty Mac.

NEW SIRE FOR 2022

Triple Gr.2 winning 2yo

Gr.2 & Gr.3 5f winner as a 3yo

Highest rated 2yo in Europe over 5f Royal Ascot Gr.2 winner The only horse in the last 20 years to have won both the Norfolk Stakes and Flying Childers Stakes

A’Ali was one of the fastest two-year-olds I’ve ridden. I was lucky enough to ride both Mehmas and Ardad, and A’Ali must have a top chance of replicating their success at stud.

Frankie Dettori

Best son of Champion European First Season Sire SOCIETY ROCK Timeform Rating: 118 Julian Dollar or Gary Coffey +44 (0)1763 846000 Richard Knight +44 (0)7769 349240 Also standing

newsells-park.com

@newsellspark #RoyalRocket

m20339 Newsells A'Ali TOB ad aw.indd 1

18/01/2022 17:41

Changes

Racehorse and stallion

Movements and retirements Trident

Three-year-old son of Wootton Bassett, second to Perfect Power in last year’s Group 1 Prix Morny, is sold to continue his career in Hong Kong.

Talkischeap

Useful chaser, winner of the 2019 bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, is retired aged nine by owner Charles Dingwall.

Rich History

Son of Dubawi, a half-brother to Free Eagle, will stand as a dual-purpose stallion at Kedrah House Stud in Tipperary this year.

Takingrisks

Popular northern-trained chaser, winner of the 2019 Scottish Grand National for owner Frank Bird, is retired days before his 13th birthday.

Vieux Lion Rouge

Native River

Star performer for Brocade Racing and Colin Tizzard, winner of a Cheltenham Gold Cup and Welsh Grand National, is retired aged 11.

David Pipe-trained Aintree specialist, winner of 13 races including two Becher Chases for Caroline Tisdall and John Gent, is retired aged 13.

Horse obituaries Bobs Worth 17

Winner of the 2013 Cheltenham Gold Cup for The Not Afraid Partnership, Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty.

Snowfall 4

Coolmore’s daughter of Deep Impact was a 16-length winner of the Oaks, following up in the Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks.

Da Hoss 30

Dual winner of the Breeders’ Cup Mile, describe by trainer Michael Dickinson as “our horse of a lifetime.”

Top Cees 31

Cesarewitch and dual Chester Cup winner who was the subject of a libel trial instigated by The Sporting Life in 1998.

14

THE OWNER BREEDER

Dansili 25

Juddmonte’s outstanding stallion sired 22 Group 1 winners including Harbinger, Rail Link, The Fugue and Flintshire.

Group 1 Sprinter

Showcasing - Bird Key (Cadeaux Genereux)

“

I have two Tasleets in the yard and have been hugely impressed. They appear to have great minds – they’d run through a brick wall for you – and are both sharp, early looking types. We can’t wait to get them on the track.

Dave Loughnane, trainer of high-class juveniles Go Bears Go and Hello You

”

“

I have a cracking pair of colts and I love them. I’m very tempted to send my mare to the stallion on the back of what I’ve seen. They have great attitudes and haven’t put a foot out of line since arriving in the yard. We can press the button with them at any time – they both look early types.

William Muir, Group 1 trainer

”

“

I’m very pleased with the colt I have.

He’s the one everyone likes at home, which is always a good sign, and goes nicely. He’s good tempered and very straightforward. He’s also a good size and is developing into a very good looking individual.

”

Marcus Tregoning, Classic and Group 1 trainer

“

I love her. She’s a very nice filly, strong and correct. She’s very straightforward and easy to deal with and we’re looking forward to running her.

”

Ed Bethell, trainer of talented two-year-old Fearby

First two-year-olds talk of the training ranks Fee:

£5,000 Jan 1 , SLF st

Contact Tom Pennington for the best deal +44 (0)7736 019914 | tpennington@shadwellstud.co.uk www.shadwellstud.com

The Big Picture

16

THE OWNER BREEDER

King George VI Chase

Tornado stirs up Kempton crowd If this looks like the business end of a big race to you, well, it was. Danny Mullins and Tornado Flyer are over the last in the King George VI Chase at Kempton, but the need for a quick getaway is brilliantly captured in the jockey’s expression. As it was, the leader’s much better-fancied Willie Mullins stablemate Asterion Forlonge is in the process of parting company with Bryan Cooper, affording 28-1 shot Tornado Flyer and his rider breathing space from dual winner Clan Des Obeaux and Harry Cobden, who are just coming to the fence. It was a vintage renewal played out in front of an appreciative Boxing Day crowd.

Photo Bill Selwyn

THE OWNER BREEDER

17

The Howard Wright Column

Workplace attitudes need to reflect the modern age

R

espect, decency, dignity: three simple words that should be easily understood by anyone with a reasonable command of the English language. Yet between them they appeared only once during the Disciplinary Panel’s hearing into seven charges laid against Robbie Dunne by the BHA, after allegations made by fellow jockey Bryony Frost.

In 11,300 words of explanation later published by the panel, respect appeared just twice, once for its lack, claimed by Frost, and once for its acceptance, made in Dunne’s favour by jockey Lucy Gardner. Decency and dignity did not appear at all, yet they and respect should be at the heart of acceptable behaviour in the workplace at any time, but more especially in 2022.

Times have changed since the days when the first experience that many newcomers faced on their arrival into industry was an uncomfortable initiation ceremony. Shopfloor

apprentices who were tarred, feathered and rolled in a barrel lived to tell the tale; today they would be straight down to the most convenient Health & Safety office.

The nearest the world of work seems to admit publicly to similar treatment these days concerns footballers moving to a new club and being asked to sing a song on their first day at the training ground. Belting out a karaoke version of Wonderwall seems small potatoes to what went on in the average factory workplace years ago.

Intimidation of youngsters has probably gone on in British horseracing for as long as there have been paid stable hands.

Pick up any decent jockey’s autobiography published before World War II and it will almost certainly contain stories of deprivation and browbeating. But that was then, and this is now.

What is needed to become a Jockey Club member?

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THE OWNER BREEDER

or committee members Michael Owen: new inductee Dan Richmond-Watson, Duncan Sykes, Katie Kershaw and Dickon Wood, Racing Welfare trustee Simon Hope, persevering ownerbreeder Rebecca Philipps, and Michael Owen.

Yes, Michael Owen, who might not rival Philip Blacker as a former professional jockey but who does become, I think, the first ex-professional footballer to join the Club. Of course, Owen has one over most other members in that he owns his own racing stable, or at least he will when business partner Andrew Black sells his share, after an episode that cost their trainer Tom Dascombe his salaried job after 12 years at the start-up operation in Cheshire.

Owen’s barely announced elevation to the Jockey Club came within a day of his more widely reported social media reaction to Emma Raducanu’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year triumph, when, in true John Terry 2012 Champions League full-kit fashion, he tweeted a picture of himself holding the same trophy, which he also won at the age of 19.

Raducanu saw the funny side of the thread that followed, which is more than can be said for Daily Telegraph sports columnist James Corrigan, whose comments about Owen’s reaction, and a further observation on his put-down by Steven Gerrard in a BT Sport interview, included the rhetorical question, “So why the mockery, the derision, the depiction as football’s Gary Barlow?”

Thank goodness Corrigan seems not to have noticed Owen’s election to the Jockey Club, whose top brass can now concentrate on making the most of the enthusiastic owner-breeder’s talents.

GEORGE SELWYN

With nary a toot on a tin trumpet resounding across Newmarket High Street, Jockey Club members have elected the latest newcomers to their ranks. Seven good men and women come into the ‘ordinary’ bracket, while ‘honorary’ membership has been bestowed on Charles Barnett, reward for his skill and longevity in the arena of racecourse administration.

Describing members of the august body as ordinary is as much a misnomer as the overall title of the institution itself, which is generally only reflected through the admission of jockeys who happen to be, or have been, amateur riders.

Professionals hardly ever get a look-in, with Philip Blacker, the lone current representative of the genre, probably appearing by virtue of his ability as a sculptor as much as his prowess in the saddle.

So, ordinary they are not, even if qualification has undergone a subtle change over the period since the Jockey Club relinquished governance of British racing first to the BHB and then the BHA, and more recently handed over regulation to an independent body that further morphed into the BHA. It’s ironic that more than one commentator has bemoaned the passing of either the Jockey Club’s or the HRA’s administration of regulation, suggesting it should be taken back from the BHA, but that’s a discussion for another day.

Immediate focus is on December’s intake, which continues to show that, from crusty to commercial, the transformation of recruitment to Jockey Club membership now emphasises what newcomers can offer to the organisation’s success among its various functions. Familiar family names still occur, but as Senior Steward Sandy Dudgeon pointed out in a statement that has yet to find its way on to the Club’s website, whose latest press release was published on September 6 last year: “Members are elected on account of their contribution to horseracing and a willingness to help the Jockey Club achieve its vision of acting in the best interests of the long-term good of the sport.”

Hence, the seven newcomers comprise racecourse chairs

GEORGE SELWYN

And so to the future, which in the best traditions of British racing involves a committee. If in doubt, set up a committee, or in this case “a dedicated cross-industry working party,” on which seven major stakeholders “commit to further improve standards, education and training around industry conduct.”

Given that one of the members is the Professional Jockeys Association, which fell seriously short of properly

The jump jockey fraternity has been under scrutiny in recent months

British racing could be proud of its reputation for equal opportunity between men and women, long before the BHA raced to set up various schemes with the apparent intention of informing the rest of the world of the sport’s best intentions. But that situation has, for the moment, been shattered by events in and around the Frost-Dunne case.

Allowing media coverage inevitably produced headlines outside the racing fraternity’s usual sources of information.

More than that, social media and blogs brought valuable, if at times harrowing, contributions to the debate. Even now, online observations from such as Jo Davis, Helen Sheridan and Nancy von Short are worth revisiting for their clarity over behaviour that ranks as unacceptable.

“British racing could be proud of its reputation for equal opportunity – but that situation has, for the moment, been shattered” representing the gamut of its membership before and immediately after the Frost-Dunne case, there is work to be done even before the working party gets to work.

The PJA has a new, interim Chief Executive in Dale Gibson but its Chairman, Jon Holmes, remains in place, with extended tenure of office. The organisation’s reaction to operating alongside and in concerted effort with the other bodies must go way beyond a damage limitation exercise.

MAKE BELIEVE. CLASSIC WINNER, CLASSIC SIRE

WORLD CHAMPION MISHRIFF Won Gr.1 Juddmonte International Stakes Won Gr.1 Prix du Jockey Club Won Gr.1 Sheema Classic Won $20,000,000 Saudi Cup

131

GROUP Winners to Runners

3.25

in 2021 alone, better than CAMELOT, DARK ANGEL, KODIAC & SIYOUNI

NOTICEABLE GRACE Won Gr.3 Prix Chloe Won LR Prix de Bagatelle

BALLYLINCH STUD

%

BELIEVE IN LOVE

Won Gr.3 Stanerra Stakes Won Gr.3 Prix Belle de Nuit

Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland

Te l : + 3 5 3 ( 0 ) 5 6 7 7 2 4 2 1 7 • i n f o @ b a l l y l i n c h s t u d . i e • w w w. b a l l y l i n c h s t u d . c o m

THE OWNER BREEDER

19

Small owners, big hopes

Festival

FEVER

With the major jumping festivals around the corner, we speak to five owners with high hopes of success on the big stage Interviews: Graham Dench

I

t’s that time of the year when the big spring festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree dominate the thoughts of the jumping fraternity. We speak to five owners dreaming of success at National Hunt racing’s showpiece fixtures and find out about their ownership interests and views on the sport.

Mark Adams of the Four Candles Partnership, owners of Knight Salute (GB) 4bg Sir Percy - Shadow Dancing (Unfuwain)

Trainer: Milton Harris Breeder: Minster Stud and Mrs H Dalgety Background: Useful Flat performer has been transformed by the switch to jumping, winning his first four races over hurdles, including Grade 2s at Cheltenham and Doncaster, and looking

every inch a leading contender for the Triumph Hurdle at the Festival

highs so far, but I’ve been involved for a while and I’m well aware it’s not usually like that. He’s been quite remarkable. Every time he’s gone up in grade people have had question marks against him, but he just keeps delivering.

How did you come to own the horse?

I bought Knight Salute at Tattersalls last July. Milton [Harris, trainer] had done all of the work on the catalogue, looking for a likely juvenile hurdler, and of the several he had identified I liked Knight Salute the most. I wouldn’t have been interested if he was simply the 75 horse he was rated at the time, but he had been rated in the 90s in the past and after Milton had sounded out Andrew Balding and others who knew him, we took a view. I felt he was relatively inexpensive at 14,000 guineas.

Which targets do you have in mind?

At one stage we thought he might be more a Fred Winter horse than one for the Triumph Hurdle, but as things stand there’s no reason not to go for the Triumph. In the meantime, Milton has pencilled in the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton for him.

How would you describe your relationship with your trainer?

On the whole I’d say we have a very good relationship. We are frank with one another and if something needs saying we say it, but we don’t fall out.

I first got involved with Milton when he acted on my behalf and bought a few horses from Germany. They had a fair bit of success with another trainer, and when Milton started training again himself, I wanted to give him a bit of support. He cares very much and he’s very driven. He wanted to get back to the level he was at previously and he’s already exceeding it. He’s having a fantastic season, and long may it continue.

What has been your journey so far?

In Knight Salute’s case it’s been all

BILL SELWYN

Knight Salute has been transformed by the switch to hurdles

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THE OWNER BREEDER

What would encourage you to increase your ownership involvement?

Better prize-money is the simple answer. I’ve got about ten horses and most of them are with Milton. There are three horses in the Four Candles Partnership, which is myself, my father

JOHN GROSSICK

Steve and Jessica Murrills (right) are targeting the Scottish Grand National for their chaser Empire De Maulde

Trevor and a friend called Steve Croll, who has my local pub in the New Forest, The Rising Sun. The others are in the name of myself and my wife and include Jacamar, who won on King George day.

I love it all and I’ve been lucky to enjoy a good season, but even with quite nice horses the economics still aren’t great. Racehorse ownership is a loss-making exercise at the end of the day and there’s only so much I’m prepared to lose, because it’s hard earned – I have a house building company and I’m not funding my involvement from a bottomless pit.

A lot of owners are going to France

because of the situation here, and I’ve considered it myself, but if we enjoyed the same rewards here it wouldn’t be an issue and I’d definitely have more horses in training.

Steve Murrills, owner of Empire De Maulde (FR) 8bg Spanish Moon - Ondine De Brejoux (Murmure)

Trainer: James Ewart Breeder: S C E A De Maulde Background: Improving staying chaser relishes good ground and having finished a fine third to Yala Enki and The Mighty Don in a Grade 3 contest at Cheltenham in November, looks an ideal candidate

for the Scottish National in April How did you come to own the horse?

My wife Jessica and I have been owners with James Ewart for about ten years, but we made a bit of a misstep when we moved a horse to another trainer, which didn’t work out. We stayed on friendly terms though, and I called James after seeing Empire De Maulde on television winning a handicap hurdle at Doncaster and seeing to my surprise on his website that he was for sale. He wasn’t cheap by our standards, and we were originally only going to take 50%, but we ended up with 95%, with James retaining the remainder.

THE OWNER BREEDER

››

21

Small owners, big hopes Empire De Maulde’s first season for us, as a novice chaser, was a bit of a washout, as he ran only twice and was unplaced both times. But he’s a fine, big horse who clearly had the ability, and we learned a valuable lesson from Brian Hughes who told us not to run him again on soft ground. We’ve avoided it where possible since, and he won first time out the following season at Hexham, which owing to Covid restrictions was the one time we haven’t been able to go. He’s won another three since, including the valuable Edinburgh Gin Chase at Kelso in October, and we were also very happy with his third to Yala Enki at Cheltenham, since when he has been having a break and avoiding winter ground.

Which targets do you have in mind?

When he won at Kelso, James mentioned the Scottish National, and that’s still where we are probably heading. Although Empire De Maulde had the speed to win four bumpers in France, James has been convinced all along that he would stay well, and while Cheltenham left a niggling doubt about extreme distances we think he’ll have every chance of staying four miles on a flat, galloping track like Ayr – so long as it’s decent ground. He won’t have a Grand National entry this time, but he looks as if he would jump those big fences and it might be a possibility one day. He’s still only eight.

How would you describe your relationship with your trainer?

Jessica and I get on very well with James and Bryony and we’ve had quite a close relationship over the last 12 months. James is honest and straightforward and a good communicator, so it works well. If I spot a race that might suit, he’s always happy to talk about it, and I value being able to have that sort of input. At the same time, if there’s a little hiccup, we’ll soon hear about it. It’s an excellent relationship.

six years and so cash is the main thing stopping us getting more involved.

We’ve put all of our eggs in one basket with Empire De Maulde and we’ve been very lucky as he’s picked up some nice races and is more than paying his way.

Looking at the broader picture, prizemoney is definitely an issue. I don’t like to tempt fate, but we might ask James to reinvest for us if he got lucky in a big one down the line.

Donna Wallis of Rupert Dubai Racing, owners of Onemorefortheroad (GB) 7bg Yorgunnabelucky – Vinomore (Grape Tree Road)

Trainer: Neil King Breeder: Donna Wallis Background: Tough two-mile hurdler has taken his form to new heights this season, winning three in a row, including the Listed Intermediate Hurdle at Newbury, before chasing home Tritonic in the Grade 3 Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot in December How did you come to own the horse?

My partner Tom Stayt and I went to Doncaster Sales looking for a threeyear-old gelding but the ones we liked were much too expensive. Tom saw an unraced four-year-old filly he liked, Vinomore, and we got her for £3,000.

She won a bumper and a

What would encourage you to increase your ownership involvement?

We’ve both been retired for five or

Onemorefortheroad: talented two-mile hurdler for Rupert Dubai Racing

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novice hurdle but she wasn’t sound and she couldn’t get her form back and so we bred from her. Onemorefortheroad is her first foal. He went to the sales as a foal but thankfully he didn’t make his reserve. He now races for a syndicate of 12 of our friends.

What has been your journey so far?

We have to pinch ourselves – it’s been like a dream. Unfortunately, because of Covid restrictions I missed out on being there for any of his three wins last season, but we had a big party in the summer to celebrate what he’d done, and just in case it didn’t happen again.

In fact he’s taken it to another level this season and it’s just been incredible.

He’s won another three and he finished second to Tritonic in the valuable Betfair Exchange Handicap at Ascot, which I found quite overwhelming as he was flat out all of the way and would have done well to have finished in mid-division.

Which targets do you have in mind?

I take each race as it comes and I’m not one for targets. I’m not desperate for him to run at Cheltenham yet, as he’s still quite immature in his head, and the Betfair Hurdle, which Neil [King] has mentioned, is a bit of a cavalry charge and the ground will probably be too soft.

We quite fancy the Scottish Champion Hurdle, as it’s more likely to be decent ground and we might miss some of the big guns. A couple of us already wear leggings in the syndicate’s red and yellow to the races, and some of the boys are talking about getting kilts made in the same colours, so it would be a fun trip for us all.

How would you describe your relationship with your trainer?

Neil is busy, like all trainers, but he always

BILL SELWYN

›› What has been your journey so far?

BILL SELWYN

Graham and Alison Jelley are aiming their International Hurdle winner Guard Your Dreams at the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle on April 7

accommodates us if he can when we want to come up on the gallops, and we get a great breakfast too! He’s very honest, and he has really good staff, which is so important, as well as stunning facilities, with plenty of variety.

He has about 35 horses, which is a good number for such a perfectionist, and he and Onemorefortheroad have had the opportunity to get to know each other.

What would encourage you to increase your ownership involvement?

I just have the one horse in training, but I do have his yearling full-brother who may one day replace him. I’m not looking to get involved in a different syndicate or racing club, or to buy another for the same syndicate at the sales, because I’ve been very spoiled and I think I’d have a job to match the experience I’ve had with Onemorefortheroad. Prize-money isn’t an issue, because I didn’t expect to win any with him in the first place! The main issue I have as an owner is with tickets, which can be very difficult with a syndicate. Huntingdon are absolutely brilliant, but it varies from track to track and my local course, where he also won, was awful.

Graham Jelley, owner with his wife Alison of Guard Your Dreams (GB) 6bg Fame And Glory – Native Sunrise (Definite Article)

Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies Breeder: Little Lodge Farm and Mr and Mrs Chugg Background: Progressive hurdler has risen through the ranks to make his mark in Graded company, winning twice at Cheltenham this season, including the Grade 2 International Hurdle, and running a solid third behind Stormy Ireland and McFabulous in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle on New Year’s Day How did you come to own the horse?

We bought him out of a field at Robert Chugg’s. We’d had Cogry, who Robert bred, and when we visited the farm, Guard Your Dreams particularly caught my eye among some lovely young horses. I made Robert an offer and we did the deal. He did pretraining with Willy Twiston-Davies and Ryan Hatch, and then went straight to Nigel’s.

What has been your journey so far?

We’ve been owners for more than 20 years and inevitably there have

been some lows, including losing four horses in just 18 months at one time, and Cogry, who did so well for us, ending Ryan Hatch’s riding career when he fell at Cheltenham. But with Guard Your Dreams it’s been nearly all highs. He was second to a good horse [Bear Ghylls] in his bumper first time out and then won three of his first four races over hurdles before running eye-catching races from unfavourable standing starts in the Betfair Hurdle and Coral Cup. This season he missed the Tote Silver Trophy at Chepstow with a minor hiccup but then won a handicap at Cheltenham in course record time, and returned there to win the International Hurdle, when we feared the trip might be a bit sharp. He was a bit flat when he went back there for the Relkeel Hurdle, but it probably just came too soon.

Which targets do you have in mind?

He’s not entered for either the Champion Hurdle or Stayers’ Hurdle as we think he might be better suited by the two-and-a-half-mile Grade 1 at Aintree, where he was third to My Drogo in April. He’s won on heavy going, but that course record at Cheltenham shows he’s just as good on good ground.

THE OWNER BREEDER

23

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Small owners, big hopes How would you describe your relationship with your trainer?

We’ve been with Nigel since 2004 I think and we probably go there two or three times in the autumn, and then perhaps again if we are on our way from our home in Leicestershire to see a runner at Cheltenham. We get on well, and that’s perhaps because we are similar types. Neither of us says a lot, and we tend to be happy just to go with the flow. Nigel doesn’t wrap them in cotton wool and you have to learn to lose as well as to win, but that’s okay.

What would encourage you to increase your ownership involvement?

We are breeders too on a minute scale, with just one mare, and I don’t think we’d be looking to increase our involvement. We’ve got four with Nigel, plus a four-year-old store with Willy who we bought at Goffs. We also have one now with Fergal O’Brien out of our mare, with whom he won a bumper when we gave him a bit of support starting out. We don’t breed to sell, and she’s got a two-year-old by Kayf Tara and a yearling by Jack Hobbs coming through. It does help though to have one like Guard Your Dreams to help pay for those who are less successful.

Olly Harris, owner of Porticello (FR) 4bg Sholokhov – Chinawood (Chichicastenango)

Trainer: Gary Moore Breeder: Earl Haras De La Croix Sonnet, Mlle S Hosselet & H Hosselet Background: Exciting juvenile hurdler landed his sole start in France for trainer David Cottin. The Sholokhov gelding has won two of his three starts to date in Britain, including the Grade 1 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow in December, and looks a star in the making How did you come to own the horse?

I’ve owned horses for about six years but it was mainly at the lower end of the scale to begin with. I’m only 39 and an investment manager, and as my wealth has increased, I’ve been able to improve the quality. Pound for pound Gary Moore is the best trainer in the country, and he’s only 30 minutes from me, so I went to see him with a budget. He phoned me the next day and said he’d bought two for me! They were Haddex Des Obeaux, who won second time out at Fontwell, and Porticello, who has won at Wetherby and Chepstow and should have won at Doncaster.

What has been your journey so far?

24

THE OWNER BREEDER

Olly Harris’s Porticello (yellow) is a leading candidate for the Triumph Hurdle

BILL SELWYN

››

The injuries are heartbreaking and I’ve paid decent money for store horses which turned out to be useless, including one I named after my son, who is as slow as a hearse. But with Porticello it’s been nearly all highs, although we were disappointed when he didn’t win at Doncaster after the forecast rain failed to materialise. It was obviously frustrating when the Welsh Covid restrictions meant we couldn’t be at Chepstow for the Grade 1 win in the Finale Juvenile Hurdle, but I was elated by his win all the same. Being there is important to me, and I’ve been at Lingfield for all three of Movethechains’ wins, including when he gave Gary his 1,000th jumps win.

Which targets do you have in mind?

Porticello will either run at Sandown on February 5 or at Haydock a couple of weeks later in the Victor Ludorum.

My preference is Sandown, as it’s my favourite track and it’s local, but he’ll go where his best chance is. We then have to mind him, as his future is over fences.

We’d love to run him in the Triumph, but he’d definitely want soft in the going description. He’s huge and a big baby, and he’s an absolute freak to be doing what he’s doing over hurdles. I think we can rule out the Grade 1 at Aintree, but I’ve hopefully got another one from France for that called In The Air. How would you describe your relationship with your trainer?

I’ve got a superb relationship with Gary.

I speak to him four or five times a week, and I go down to the yard at least a couple of times a month. Gary is a great communicator and a top trainer. The staff are great, the facilities are unreal, and of

course he’s got his boys riding out there.

It’s a great environment for the horses and Gary is super shrewd and has placed them really well. The number one thing in relations between owner and trainer is honesty, and Gary is really honest. I also have six with Neil Mulholland and seven with Joseph Parr on the Flat, for interest through the summer, but they are my only trainers for now.

“Gary [Moore] is a great communicator and a top trainer” What would encourage you to increase your ownership involvement?

Having increased it a lot in the last 12 months I’m pretty involved already now, with probably 20 horses in training and a substantial improvement in quality.

I’m in it with my eyes open and I treat it as a hobby rather than a business. I accept that the only way I’ll ever make money out of it is if I got lucky with one of the Flat horses, but a better return in terms of prize-money would help keep the costs down.

The main thing that might threaten the scale of my involvement is any reintroduction of Covid restrictions on racecourses, because what’s the point of having them if I can’t go and watch them run?

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18/01/2022 10:00

Value stallions

Budget

OPTIONS Not every successful sire requires deep pockets to use. Whether it’s a proven Group 1 sire or commercial young stallion, the choices are there when hunting for value in Britain and Ireland

B

reeding on a budget? That’s not to say that proven Group 1 sires are out of reach. Those available at a fee of £8,000/€8,500 or under for the 2022 season include an array of accomplished sires priced at an affordable level, especially for those willing to consider older sires.

Falling into that category are three stalwarts who return impressive winners to foals of racing age ratios.

At the top of the list is Coolmore’s veteran Rock Of Gibraltar (Castlehyde Stud; €5,000), a brilliant miler of his era who heads into his 20th season as the sire of 16 Group/Grade 1 winners and 85 black-type winners. Responsible for a successful sire son in Society Rock, himself represented in these ranks by A’Ali and Unfortunately, he returns a winners to foals of racing age strikerate of 48%.

That figure sits marginally ahead of 46% posted by Kildangan Stud’s Raven’s Pass (€7,500). Quality is a consistent theme with this veteran, since he also throws a figure of 8.4% stakes winners to runners and is the sire of 37 stakes winners overall, among them last season’s Group 1-winning sprinter Romantic Proposal.

Another to break the 40% winners to runners barrier is Derby winner Sir Percy (Lanwades Stud; £7,000) on 42%. The sire of 50 stakes performers, this welcome representative of the Mill Reef sire line has an extremely bright three-year-old prospect in last year’s Montrose Stakes winner Kawida and remains appreciated in the sale

26

THE OWNER BREEDER

ring, with yearlings selling for up to 120,000gns in 2021.

Overall, the list of Group 1 sires within this price bracket makes for impressive reading.

Rathasker Stud’s roster contains several such horses led by Bungle Inthejungle (€8,000), who hit Group 1 heights last year as the sire of the Nunthorpe Stakes heroine Winter Power. The son of Exceed And Excel has been operating with crops of varying sizes in recent years, ranging from 15 to 94, but that hasn’t stopped him from siring other fast Group winners such as Living In The Past and Rumble Inthejungle, His yearlings also sold for up to €125,000 in 2021.

Rathasker is also home to Coulsty, who remains at €4,000 despite throwing Grade 1 winner Shantisara and the Group 3-winning two-year-old Santosha in his first crop. With two crops on the ground, the son of Kodiac boasts a figure of 19% black-type horses to runners.

Rathasker veteran Clodovil, whose Group 1 record includes 2020 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Tiger Tanaka, today operates in a private capacity.

However, the stud also offers his tough son Gregorian (€4,500), the sire of 12 black-type horses in total who enjoyed a particularly good season in California in 2021 thanks to the stakes-winning pair Gregorian Chant and Gypsy Spirit.

His yearlings realised up to 115,000gns last year.

Group 1 credentials are also offered

by Tamayuz (€7,000), who continues to

MARC RUHL

Words: Nancy Sexton

underpin the Derrinstown Stud roster.

Previously responsible for the likes of Lockinge Stakes winner Mustashry and top sprinter G Force, Tamayuz was ably represented at Group 1 level last year by the Nassau Stakes runner-up Zeyaadah.

Fellow Derrinstown stallion Awtaad has had his fee halved to €5,000. That would suggest an underwhelming start to his stud career, but in fact his first two crops contain six stakes winners headed by the Group 3 winner Create Belief; only Mehmas has sired more among his contemporaries.

Others to fall into the £5,000/€5,000 price bracket are Derby winner Harzand (Gilltown Stud) and Free Eagle (Irish National Stud), sire of Derby runner-up Khalifa Sat, as well as speed influences Due Diligence (Whitsbury Manor Stud) and Kuroshio (Starfield Stud). Due Diligence’s good start is reflected by a sizeable crop of youngsters that will run for him in 2023, something to bear in mind for those using him this year, while Kuroshio, the sire of Australian Group 1 winner Savatoxl, is represented this season by his second wave of Europeanbred runners following a three-season break from shuttling. His yearlings realised up to €120,000 in 2021.

Raven’s Pass: Darley veteran continues to return impressive numbers

Also priced at €5,000 is Elzaam, a noted source of fast, tough stock whose stud record is highlighted by the Group 1 winner Champers Elysees. He remains a popular name on the roster at Ballyhane Stud, which is also home to another quick horse in Prince Of Lir (€4,000), the sire of Norfolk Stakes winner The Lir Jet out of his first crop.

Dream Ahead, meanwhile, swaps France for Bearstone Stud in Shropshire, where he has been priced at £7,500.

Bearstone, of course, bred and campaigned his excellent daughter Glass Slippers, one of four Group 1 winners for the stallion. In addition, Dream Ahead’s background as a descendant of Warning and maternal grandson of Cadeaux Genereux makes him an easy fit for much of the British and Irish mare population.

In terms of the Newmarket-based stallions, it was a notably good year for Cheveley Park Stud’s Mayson (£6,000).

A popular name with trainers, he was showcased to good effect on the Group 1 stage again by Oxted, winner of the King’s Stand Stakes, as well as the younger Rohaan, who captured the Sandy Lane Stakes and Wokingham Handicap.

The stud’s other fast option, Twilight Son (£7,000), also enjoyed a noteworthy season in 2021 as the sire of five stakes winners, among them the tough juvenile Twilight Jet, who capped an 11-race campaign by taking the Cornwallis Stakes. Yearlings by Twilight Son made up to 135,000gns last autumn.

Cable Bay (Highclere Stud; £8,000) has made an impact with every one of his crops to date, notably as the sire of Temple and Molecomb Stakes heroine Liberty Beach out of his first and the demoted Commonwealth Cup winner Dragon Symbol out of his second.

He was the champion British-based first-crop sire of 2019 and, as such, has several good-sized crops in the pipeline.

Nor would it be surprising to see Bobby’s Kitten (Lanwades Stud; £7,000) break through as a Group 1 sire in 2022 given he has the excellent Sandrine, last season’s Albany and Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes heroine, to represent him.

Of the less expensive horses, Sixties Icon (Norman Court Stud) remains very affordable at £3,000 despite the presence of three Group 1 winners on his record. Similar comments apply to proven Group 1 sire Cityscape (Overbury

Stud; £4,000), who will have his biggest crop of two-year-olds to run for him in 2022, and Equiano (Irish National Stud; €2,000), an established speed influence who is best known as the sire of Group/ Grade 1 winners The Tin Man and Belvoir Bay. The Irish National Stud also stands Dragon Pulse at the same price point.

Speed was also the forte of Temple Stakes winner Pearl Secret (£2,000), who is about to commence his second season at Norton Grove Stud, as well as the well-bred Group 3 winner Swiss Spirit (Batsford Stud; £2,000). Both produce plenty of winners and can be relied upon to impart speed.

Tara Stud offer two stakes-producing sons of Dark Angel in Alhebayeb (€3,000) and Estidhkaar (€3,000), the sire of German Group 3 winner Belcarra in his first crop, while proven stakes sire Magician (€4,000), the Irish 2,000 Guineas winner, returns from Italy to stand at Meelin Stud.

Also on the move is Fountain Of Youth (£2,000), a Group 3-winning son of Attraction who is new to Millbry Hill Stud, Coventry Stakes winner Buratino (£3,000), the sire of dual Listed winner Snapraeterea who has switched to Hedgeholme Stud, and Irish 2,000

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WDC & Mattmu TOB February 2022:Layout 2

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FIRST 2YOS 2022

ON OF THE ONLY S T STUD ZOFFANY A re’s nter with a si Top-class spri pedigree.

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Timeform rated 121: “well-made horse: smart performer”

WIN A BONUS OF UP TO £20,000 G Choose a British Stallion Fee: £3,500 Oct 1st SLF

TLY SIGNIFICAN IS H MARES UPGRADING H ITISH & IRIS LEADING BR RES IN 2021 SI FIRST CROP GB & IRE by % W/R in %W/R 40 Sire 39 1 MATTMU 38 2 ACLAIM 37 3 ULYSSES RY 35 4 COTAI GLO 35 5 ARDAD 33 GALILEO GOLD E 28 7 PROFITABL L 28 8 CHURCHIL EL 24 HIGHLAND RE IGHT D KN 24 10 DECORATE 2/21 /1 31 TIME TEST to d Lt ns io perion Promot 5+ runners. Hy

Fee: £2,500 Oct 1st SLF

Timeform Rated 113 at 2 years

Bearstone Stud TBA FLAT BREEDER OF THE YEAR IN 2020 Tel: 07974 948755 or 01630 647197

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www.bearstonestud.co.uk

Value stallions who has moved to stand alongside Hellvelyn (£2,500) at Chapel Stud.

Hellvelyn has been a grand servant for Chapel, with his record including the fast fillies Mrs Danvers and La Rioja.

Chapel’s roster also includes an excellent dual-purpose option in Trueshan’s sire Planteur (£4,000), the sire of six Flat stakes winners overall.

Those standing for a private fee include champion Al Kazeem (Oakgrove Stud), whose fertility-blighted stud career is highlighted by the Group 1 winner Aspetar, and Bullet Train (Woodfield Farm Stud), Frankel’s halfbrother for whom an international stud career has been showcased by the Australian Group 1 performer Chapada.

The French ranks have also been bolstered by the addition of multiple Group/Grade 1 winner and $9.5 million earner Flintshire (€6,500), who switches from Kentucky to Haras de Montaigu. Already sire of the high-class French colt Cheshire Academy out of his first crop, news of his arrival coincided with the win of two-year-old Verbal in a Grade 3 at Del Mar.

STALLIONS WITH FIRST 3YOS

Where better place to start than last year’s champion European first-crop sire?

A total of 35 winners and a prizemoney haul just shy of £800,000 placed Cotai Glory (€8,500) at the top of the European list, thereby providing Tally-Ho Stud with its eighth champion firstcrop sire. His cause was aided by eight black-type winners – no other European first-crop sire could boast more – that included Prix Robert Papin hero Atomic Force. In turn, his stock proved popular at the sales, with yearlings selling for up to €170,000.

One of Cotai Glory’s significant rivals is fellow Tally-Ho Stud stallion Galileo Gold. An excellent miler who captured the 2,000 Guineas and St

Coulsty: had a breakthrough year in 2021

ED WHITAKER

›› Guineas winner Indian Haven (£1,500),

Alkumait: an enticing bonus of €100,000 is attached to the Mill Reef Stakes winner

Affordable Group 1 runners among fresh faces As highlighted in the January edition of Owner Breeder, there are a number of affordable options retiring to stud for the 2022 season.

They include the Group 1 performers Lope Y Fernandez (National Stud; £8,500) and Roseman (LM Stallions; £5,000), both Group 3 winners who were placed at Group 1 level. Lope Y Fernandez, a well-related son of Lope De Vega who cost €900,000 as a yearling, boasts the backing of some powerful connections, notably the National Stud, Whitsbury Manor Stud and Nick Bradley, while Roseman offers access to the Kingman sire line.

Group 2 winners Nando Parrado (Irish National Stud; €6,000), winner of the Coventry Stakes, and Alkumait (Castlefield Stud; €5,000), a quick son of Showcasing who was successful in the Mill Reef Stakes, are other high-class retirees; Castlefield Stud are offering an enticing €100,000 bonus to the connections of Alkumait’s first black-type winner.

The 2022 intake also includes a pair of Flying Childers Stakes winners in Ubettabelieveit (Mickley Stud; £5,000), a son of noted sire of sires Kodiac, and A’Ali (Newsells Park Stud; £7,500), a tough son of Society Rock who also captured the Norfolk Stakes, Prix Robert Papin and Sapphire Stakes.

For class aligned with durability, also look no further than the talented miler Century Dream (Norton Grove Stud; £3,000). A Group 2-winning and Group 1-placed son of Cape Cross, this admirable performer held his form over five seasons.

Another tough and talented performer, the Teofilo horse Mildenberger (£1,500), is also new to Groomsbridge Stud, having won seven of 24 starts, including twice in Listed company.

James’s Palace Stakes, he was the first freshman sire of 2021 to break through with a Group 1 winner when Ebro River captured the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in August. Already the sire of seven black-type horses among 25 winners, he looks value at €7,000.

Meanwhile, Aclaim (The National Stud; £6,000) returned the highly creditable tally of 28 winners within his first crop. There was plenty of quality as well within a group that was highlighted by the tough Group 1-placed filly Cachet.

El Kabeir (Yeomanstown Stud; €6,500) fired in three black-type

winners led by the Italian champion twoyear-old Don Chicco and Listed scorer Masekela, who shares his trainer Andrew Balding with another talented one by the sire in Harrow.

Also on the black-type scoresheet with his first runners was Bearstone Stud’s tough sprinter Mattmu (£2,500), for whom a group of just nine representatives was highlighted by the Listed-placed Favourite Child.

There was also distinct promise shown in the first runners by Decorated Knight (Irish National Stud: €7,500), a multiple Group 1-winning Galileo relation

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Al Kazeem TOB-February 2022:Oakgrove Stud

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Al Kazeem

Group 1 Sire!

2022 FEE PRIVATE Call David Hilton 07595 951248

AL KAZEEM wins the Gr.1 Tattersalls Gold Cup for a second time beating Fascinating Rock and Postponed

bay 2008, 16.1hh by Dubawi - Kazeem (Darshaan) N Four-time Gr.1 winner by DUBAWI Won Gr.1 Tattersalls Gold Cup (twice), Gr.1 Coral-Eclipse, Gr.1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes N Joint Champion Older Horse in Europe in 2013 (9.5f-10.5f ) N Timeform rated 128 in three consecutive seasons N Sire of Group 1 winner ASPETAR, Stakes-winning 3yo miler USAK and Stakes-winning 2yos HARPER and SAINT LAWRENCE N 13% Stakes winners to runners for his colts N 2021 coverings included Group 1-placed mares Daahyeh and Ferevia

Group 1 winner ASPETAR STANDING AT OAKGROVE STUD Oakgrove Estate, St Arvans, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, NP16 6EH For Nominations Contact: David Hilton: 07595 951248 G Email: david@oakgrovestud.com

Value stallions

TATTERSALLS

WHAT THEY SAY

Le Brivido (€5,000) is interesting as one of the first sons of Siyouni to stud.

He’s unproven at the moment, with his first crop now yearlings. I think he was a very unlucky horse given that he was dogged by injury and we never got to see his true potential. It is my understanding that both his trainers [Andre Fabre and Aidan O’Brien] considered the horse to be extremely talented.

El Kabeir, a Grade 2-winning, Grade 1-placed son of Scat Daddy, looks good value at €6,000. He is a totally American dirt horse but I thought his first crop of two-year-olds performed very well.

Bated Breath (£15,000) must be one of the most consistent sires year in year out. His other great attribute is that he produces horses that race on way past four and five years.

I also think that Australia represents tremendous value at €35,000. His ability to breed horses at a Group level is good and he gets consistent, genuine types who are easy to manage.

John Tyrrell, agent (pictured above) I think Zarak (€25,000) is going to be a horse that we will hear a lot more of and his price could end up looking value. I also rate Gleneagles (€15,000) highly, his stats are very good and he’s proven that he can throw a good horse.

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to Giant’s Causeway who heads into 2022 with dual winner Wind Your Neck In, Newbury novice scorer Zain Nights and the unbeaten Silver Bullet Lady among those to his credit.

Another whose progeny threaten to progress significantly at three is fourtime Group 1 winner Postponed (Dalham Hall Stud), whose fee has been trimmed to £6,000.

I also like Kodi Bear (€15,000). He represents value for money with the start he has made, especially as his stock appear to be tough, genuine horses.

New Bay (€37,500) has made a wonderful start, he stands at an excellent farm in Ballylinch and I think he’s very good. At the same farm, Waldgeist (€15,000) is another horse I like. I thought there were some very good first-crop foals by him at the sales.

Among the other unproven horses, I also have huge regard for Pinatubo (£35,000).

Anthony Stroud, agent Stallions are written off far too quickly in some circumstances and Gleneagles (€15,000) is a prime example. The champion two-yearold and European champion threeyear-old won four Group 1 races in his career and has one of the best pedigrees in the stallion book.

Last season was his breakout year with his first Group 1 winner as well as ten other stakes winners. Night Of Thunder is part of his sire crop and Gleneagles is leading him in both stakes winners and overall winners while commanding a fraction of the price. While being an out and out miler himself, nearly 50% of his winners have been over 9f and upwards, but he has also produced a Group 2-winning two-year-old over 6f, showing real versatility in the type of horse he can produce. With a starting price of €60,000 now down to €15,000, he represents outstanding value in an inflated stallion fees market.

Alex Stewart, breeder Inns Of Court (€5,000) is great value for a horse who was only beaten a short head in the Prix Jacques Le Marois over a mile and, when he was finally dropped to five furlongs, was a very impressive Group 2 winner in 57.64 seconds. Given the support he

STALLIONS WITH FIRST 2YOS

Having been scrutinised in the commercial arena, it is crunch time for this group as their first two-year-olds take to the track.

In terms of yearling average, the leader among this price bracket was Group 2-winning juvenile Kessaar (TallyHo Stud; €5,000). As a son of emerging sire of sires Kodiac, another Tally-Ho

received in his first season he will be favourite to be leading first-season sire next year alongside Soldier’s Call (€7,500), who was also strongly supported and had some real racy foals.

Looking at those with their first runners in 2022, I bought yearlings by Kessaar (€5,000) and Harry Angel (£12,500) and both are very forward at this stage so that’s encouraging.

Of the proven sires, all three at Rathasker Stud offer value but to be able to get Group 1-producer Bungle Inthejungle, with a 41% winnersto-runners ratio, for €8,000 looks a gift. His fee rose from €5,000 to €12,000 in 2019 so those more expensively-conceived crops will be out this year and therefore another rise is conceivable. Having been lucky enough to have purchased the Oghill House-bred Quick Suzy for American clients prior to her Queen Mary success, I’m obviously a big fan of Profitable (€12,500)!

Joseph Burke, agent I have a lot of time for Coulsty (€4,000). Rathasker Stud could have easily raised his fee after his Grade 1 breakthrough with Shantisara last year, especially as he also covered a career high of 104 mares. But he remains at €4,000 – excellent value.

Keeping on the Kodiac theme, the yearlings by Kessaar (€5,000) consistently took the eye last year. It is early days but the chat from the many breeze-up vendors who bought into him is positive and as a son of Kodiac with the backing of Tally-Ho Stud, he needs to be taken seriously.

Proven Group 1 sire Elzaam remains excellent value at €5,000 while in Britain, Bearstone Stud has been bolstered by the addition of Dream Ahead – a fee of £7,500 grants breeders access to the sire of four Group 1 winners who is also an outcross for many mares.

Nancy Sexton, Bloodstock Editor

success story, it was no surprise to see him prove popular in the sale ring, with his stock selling for up to €100,000 and averaging 30,296gns in Britain and Ireland.

Group 1 miler Lightning Spear (Tweenhills Farm and Stud; £5,000), whose profile is an enticing blend of class and durability, wasn’t far behind on 29,091gns. Although fertility issues mean

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that the son of Pivotal has only 20 twoyear-olds to run for him, he still boasts representation in various powerful yards, notably Andrew Balding, Hugo Palmer and Marco Botti.

Similarly, the Group 1-winning sprinter Havana Grey (Whitsbury Manor Stud; £6,000) is represented in the yards of Clive Cox, Richard Hannon and his own trainer Karl Burke, who is listed as having seven under his care. His first yearlings sold for up to 110,000gns, averaged 28,571gns in Britain and Ireland and plenty look as though they should come to hand early.

Another fast horse, Group 2 winner Tasleet (Nunnery Stud; £5,000), possesses two-year-olds with Karl Burke, Johnny Murtagh and Archie Watson.

The son of Showcasing was a high-class sprinter who landed stakes successes at two, three and four, and had yearlings sell for up to 80,000gns.

Top-class two-year-old form is also offered by Unfortunately (Oak Lodge Stud; €3,500), a fast son of Society Rock who won the Prix Morny in a quick time and boasts representation with Kevin Ryan, Richard Fahey and Richard Hannon, and Coventry Stakes winner Rajasinghe (The National Stud; £3,000), who shares his sire Choisir with Starspangledbanner.

Washington DC (Bearstone Stud; £3,500) was another high-class juvenile whose success in the Windsor Castle Stakes at two was backed up by a placed effort in the Prix de l’Abbaye at three and a Group 3 success at four. The latter is the sole son of Zoffany at stud in Britain and Ireland.

It is also the turn of three members of the illustrious Rafha family to come under scrutiny in Gustav Klimt (Castlehyde Stud; €4,000), James Garfield (Rathbarry Stud; €4,000) and

GEORGE SELWYN

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Without Parole: top miling son of Frankel possesses the backing of powerful connections

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GEORGE SELWYN

Value stallions

Havana Grey: first yearlings by the Group 1-winning sprinter were popular at the sales

Master Carpenter (LM Stallions; £1,000).

Gustav Klimt and James Garfield were both Group 2-winning juveniles who trained on into Group 1 performers at three while Group 3 winner Master Carpenter was precocious enough to be Mastercraftsman’s first ever winner at two.

The career of Massaat (Mickley Stud; £4,000), meanwhile, is underpinned by a class that saw him win the Hungerford Stakes at four and finish second in both the Dewhurst Stakes and 2,000 Guineas.

As for the ever popular Scat Daddy line, that is represented by Grade 3 winner Smooth Daddy (Starfield Stud: €5,000), whose first yearlings sold for up to £120,000.

STALLIONS WITH FIRST YEARLINGS

It is a testament to the stock that some of these horses produced in their first crop that their second books of mares remained on a par from 2020 into 2021.

That much was evident in the case of the Flying Childers and Windsor Castle Stakes winner Soldier’s Call (Ballyhane Stud; €7,500), who covered 159 mares in 2021 and was represented at the sales by foals that sold for up to 100,000gns.

Also popular was Inns Of Court (Tally-Ho Stud; €5,000), who covered 184 mares (down from 205 in 2020).

By popular sire of sires Invincible Spirit, he showed talent and versatility in abundance for Andre Fabre as a Group 2 winner over 5f and Group 1-placed over a mile.

Invincible Spirit is also represented within this group by Commonwealth Cup hero Eqtidaar (Nunnery Stud; £5,000), a half-brother to Massaat, and Group 2-winning sprinter Invincible Army (Yeomanstown Stud; €7,500), who was also a Group 3 winner at two,

three and four years. His first foals were the subject of positive remarks at the sales, which played out in an average of 33,375gns.

Invincible Army was another whose second book of mares hit three figures, as did that belonging to Richmond Stakes winner Land Force (Highclere Stud; £5,000). The first son of No Nay Never to stud in Britain, he has been well supported by a range of influential breeders and his foals sold for up to 65,000gns at Tattersalls in December.

Molecomb Stakes winner Barraquero holds court at Claremount Stud for a private fee, while pedigree is of major appeal to both Portamento (Hedgeholme Stud; £1,500), a Group 3-placed Shamardal son of the top American racemare Octave, and Sogann (Norton Grove Stud; £2,000), a Frankel half-brother to Dabirsim.

Group 3 winner Wusool (Lilling Hall Stud; £2,000) also boasts fine bloodlines as a Speightstown son of Poule d’Essai des Pouliches heroine Torrestrella.

Among the dual-purpose ranks, it was also heartening to see Prince Of Wales’s Stakes winner Crystal Ocean (The Beeches; €8,000) well received at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, where his first foals averaged 32,333gns – several are slated to come back to the Flat yearling sales this autumn. The popular son of Sea The Stars, who was also runner-up in two King Georges, has every right to make an impact on the Flat as does Irish St Leger winner Flag Of Honour (£2,500), the National Stud’s well-related son of Galileo.

STALLIONS WITH FIRST FOALS

The busiest new sire in Britain of 2021 was the Cornwallis Stakes winner

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Value stallions Stud; £6,000), the next sire son of Scat Daddy in line. A $1.1 million yearling who displayed the precocity associated with that successful line, he covered 154 mares in 2021.

That figure was narrowly ahead of that received by the Group 1-winning sprinter Sands Of Mali (Ballyhane Stud: €5,000), who covered 152 mares, and not far in front of another quick horse in Palace House Stakes winner Far Above (Starfield Stud; €5,000) on 142.

Others to break into three figures included Shaman (Yeomanstown Stud; €5,000), a Group 1-performing son of Shamardal, the tough and likeable grey Way To Paris (Coolagown Stud; €3,500), the 2020 Grand Prix de SaintCloud winner who is the only son of Champs Elysees at stud, and Coventry Stakes winner Arizona (Castlehyde Stud; €6,000), a son of the everpopular No Nay Never.

Several within this price bracket certainly pack a punch as far as race record is concerned.

In Without Parole, breeders have access to a son of Frankel who won

RATHASKER STUD

›› Sergei Prokofiev (Whitsbury Manor

Bungle Inthejungle: the sire of top sprinter Winter Power, he is available at €8,000

the St James’s Palace Stakes, boasts a fine female pedigree and possesses the backing of Newsells Park Stud and John and Tanya Gunther – all at £8,000.

Meanwhile, River Boyne (Tara Stud), the only son of Dandy Man at stud, is priced at €5,000 having won or been placed in 16 stakes races highlighted by a victory in the Grade 1 Frank E Kilroe Mile.

Century Dream

King Of Change (Derrinstown Stud; €6,000) is another example. Winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and runner-up in the 2,000 Guineas, he is a Farhh half-brother to another classy miler in Century Dream.

Fellow 2,000 Guineas runner-up Tip Two Win, by Dark Angel, is available at £2,500 under the LM Stallions banner, which also offers the Scat Daddy horse Legends Of War (£4,000), an expensive breezer who went on to win at Grade 3 level in the US, the durable Mr Scaramanga (£1,000), the only son of Sir Percy at stud in Europe, and Windsor Castle Stakes winner Southern Hills (£2,000).

The latter shares his sire Gleneagles with Royal Lytham (Irish Emerald Stud; €2,500), winner of the 2019 July Stakes for Aidan O’Brien.

Molecomb Stakes winner Rumble Inthejungle (Norman Court Stud; £3,500) is another accomplished twoyear-old who doesn’t break the bank.

It will also be interesting to see how Almanaara (Mickley Stud; £3,000) fares given the four-time winner is a Shamardal half-brother to Dark Angel.

Pearl Secret

by Compton Place ex Our Little Secret

By top class sire Cape Cross out of Echo of Light mare Salacia.

Winner of 10 races including Gp.2 Ladbrokes Celebration Mile Stakes & Gp.3 Investec Diomed Stakes (Twice)

Placed in a further 5 Group races including Gp1. Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Trainer Simon Crisford said: “Century Dream was an incredibly tough and consistent performer throughout his career, winning five stakes races over a mile.

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Sharp Sprinter Beating Hot Streak, Gutaifan, Swiss Spirit & Bungle Inthejungle

Produce Sold for up to £50,000 10 winners from 31 runners in 2021 Fee: £2,000

Coulsty by

KODIAC

55% winners to runners winners 13% Stakes to runners

Type 19% Black horses to runners to foal 100+ mares in 2022

* all statistics for first crop

2022 Fee

Mehmas 2 Gr.1 winners €50,000 New Bay 1 Gr.1 winner €37,500 COULSTY 1 Gr.1 winner €4,000 2021 – 2nd crop sires standing in Ireland by Gr.1 winners

SHANTISARA wins the Gr.1 QEII Challenge Cup Stakes at Keeneland, 2021

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Haras de M O N TA I G U

T 0 0 3 5 3 ( 0 ) 4 5 8 7 6 9 4 0 E i n f o @ r at h as k e r s tu d . i e W w w w. r ath as ker s tud.com

FLINTSHIRE

A turf legend returns to Europe

© Agence G / Scoopdyga

Haras +33 (0)2 33 35 97 02 • Sybille Gibson +33 (0)6 48 31 6 7 53 • harasrm@orange.fr • www.harasdemontaigu.com •

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The stallion game

Home

SUPPORT It takes huge confidence for an individual to stand behind a homebred colt at stud, but as the likes of Jim Bolger and Guy Pariente have shown, the rewards can be immense Words: Martin Stevens

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mare by Teofilo.

Bolger has also reaped the rewards of standing Vocalised, who sired the breeder’s National Stakes winner Verbal Dexterity.

Guy Pariente’s feat of building his Prix Jean Prat fourth Kendargent into an elite sire with precious little assistance from other breeders is also pretty astonishing.

The French businessman bred high-class horses such as Goken, Kendam, Kenhope, Morando and Restiadargent from the son of Kendor when he was standing at his Haras de Colleville in relative obscurity, before other operations noted those results and jumped on the bandwagon.

Dawn Approach: forms part of a fruitful association for Jim Bolger (left) with his sire New Approach

GEORGE SELWYN

O

f all the achievements in thoroughbred breeding down the years, there has always been something especially impressive about the individual who has stood behind a stallion they raced themselves, and subsequently enjoyed great success racing his homebred progeny.

That strong home support is usually borne out of pride in one’s own colt, and a desire to see his offspring run in the same colours, but it is often done for commercial reasons too. It saves money on nominations to other people’s stallions but also, more importantly, demonstrates to mare owners that you are prepared to put your money where your mouth is.

On other occasions, it has to be said, an owner-breeder will end up singlehandedly underwriting their colt’s career at stud simply because other breeders don’t share the same enthusiasm for him in his early years. It’s always particularly satisfying when a stallion makes it in those circumstances, against the dictates of fashion.

Jim Bolger provides the best recent example of a horseman prospering with progeny of stallions he raced himself, having bred so many top-class horses from his Galileo colts Teofilo and New Approach, and latterly by New Approach’s son Dawn Approach.

Bolger bred, owned and trained both the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas winners last year, with awe-inspiring selfsufficiency. Poetic Flare, who struck at Newmarket, is a son of Dawn Approach, while Mac Swiney, who scored at the Curragh, is by New Approach out of a

BILL SELWYN

Mishriff: the crowning achievement to date of Prince Faisal’s use of his Classic-winning miler Make Believe

Pariente was following in the footsteps of his compatriot Jean-Luc Lagardere, who bred the majority of the Group winners by his own homebred Poule d’Essai des Poulains winner Linamix – the damsire of Kendargent – by sending him mares with often unconventional pedigrees. They included no less than an Arc hero in Sagamix and a Classic winner in Vahorimix.

Peter Brant is also giving the growing number of colts he is retiring to stud on either side of the Atlantic every chance by supporting them with his own mares.

Graded stakes winners Demarchelier, Fog Of War and Raging Bull, who carried Brant’s green silks with distinction in the US, have been lavished with good mares at their bases in Kentucky and New York,

while Sottsass, who won the Arc for Brant, received many of his owner’s best mares during his first season at Coolmore last year, including the dams of top-class fillies Fleeting and Uni. Ted Voute has past and present experience of working with renowned owner-breeders who have tasted tremendous success breeding from stallions they raced themselves.

“When I started in this business I worked for James Delahooke at Adstock Manor Stud, where the Barnett family’s horse High Line stood, and they had just about every stakes winner he ever had,” he says. “We used to say a good stallion is one who gets stakes winners for all breeders, but a great stallion is one that gets them for the person who owns him!”

High Line showed what strong home support can do for a stallion. Initially afforded scant regard by other breeders as an unfashionably bred stayer, he made people sit up and take notice when siring four consecutive winners on the first day of the York Ebor meeting in 1980, led by the Barnetts’ homebred colt Master Willie in the Benson & Hedges Gold Cup. “That was some day,” remembers Voute. “I remember driving to York with James and he casually said, ‘Do you know, we could have four winners on the card today’. We never thought it would actually happen though.”

Voute enjoyed another spectacular day at York last August, thanks to his client Prince Faisal’s outstanding colt Mishriff winning the race that the Benson

THE OWNER BREEDER

37

››

The stallion game ›› & Hedges later became – the Juddmonte

International.

Mishriff, who has also triumphed in the Prix du Jockey Club, Saudi Cup and Dubai Sheema Classic and earned £11 million in prize-money, is one of three stakes winners the Saudi prince has bred from Ballylinch Stud resident Make Believe, who carried his silks to victory in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and Prix de la Foret.

“I remarked to the Prince just recently that most of Make Believe’s stakes winners are his,” says Voute. “He’s bred Mishriff, the Prix Chloe winner Noticeable Grace and the Prix Isonomy winner Tammani, as well as Third Kingdom, a good horse who was sold for 135,000gns at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, and won a local Group 2 in Saudi Arabia on his first start for his new owners.

“It’s quite interesting, as he didn’t go out and buy a lot of mares for him like a lot of people would have – he just selected six from the 12 or 13 mares he keeps each year. It was questioned in the early years why we were only sending six, but that’s 50 per cent of our broodmare band. If it had gone wrong we’d have been stuffed.

“But the Prince was very clever, he chose the right mares for Make Believe and has continued to do so. Another six are going to the stallion this year, all from his best families.”

Prince Faisal’s faith in his own former top-class colts even extends to Olden Times, the Prix Jean Prat winner of 2001. He is sending two mares this year to the son of Darshaan, who stands at Throckmorton Stud and is practically a private stallion nowadays.

“He’s the sire of Eydon, a three-yearold who ran a close third on debut at Newcastle in December for us, and Roger Varian thinks might be quite good,” says Voute. “The Prince is always trying to

get a filly by Olden Times, so he could eventually breed her to practically any stallion out there.”

Prince Faisal’s familiarity with his own stock, built up over decades of nurturing their pedigrees and watching them race, has no doubt been advantageous in identifying the best matings for Make Believe.

“Whenever the Prince is in Britain he spends a lot of time on the farm, studying the horses when they’re turned out, so he knows their physiques and temperaments

“The Prince was very clever, he chose the right mares for Make Believe” by heart,” says Voute. “So it’s not luck that he’s bred these good horses from his own stallion, it’s his wealth of experience.

“The matings are completely his doing.

He starts his plans in August, and keeps putting names into the mix and taking them out, until he gives me the final list and asks if he’s done anything drastically wrong in terms of inbreeding, which of course he never does.”

Voute has recently taken up the role of interim CEO of Blue Diamond Stud, which has also thrown its weight behind its own multiple Group 1-winning colt at stud.

Imad Al Sagar’s operation has bred several promising juveniles from the first crop of its triple Group 1 winner Decorated Knight, a son of Galileo closely related to Giant’s Causeway, and raced the unbeaten filly Silver Bullet Lady, who was purchased

TATTERSALLS

Tanya and John Gunther: have thrown their weight behind homebred Group 1 winner Without Parole

38

THE OWNER BREEDER

as a yearling to support the sire.

“I can’t claim any credit for the success of Decorated Knight, but he’s bubbling under with some promising youngsters and could easily spring up with something very good this year,” says Voute. “I talk to Imad every day and he’s very energetic and ambitious, and he takes a lot of pride in doing his own matings. He’s going to support Decorated Knight with more mares again this year – he’s very passionate about the horse.”

Newsells Park Stud General Manager Julian Dollar has overseen the careers of several stallions and in every case he says that home support, in terms of sending them mares and buying their foals and yearlings, has been a commercial imperative.

“I’m a great admirer of what Tally-Ho Stud have done – their business model for standing stallions is unsurpassed really,” he reflects. “They know what sort of stallion they want, they have the broodmare band and clients to support them, and they’re not afraid to get stuck in and support their stock at the sales.

They do such an exceptional job that nearly every year one of their horses is the champion first-season sire.

“Then there are other people who take the attitude that despite the fact they own a chunk of a new horse, they don’t believe in supporting unproven sires, and we fall somewhere in the middle, although it depends on where the stallions need some support.

“Mount Nelson was our first stallion and we recognised we had to give him every chance from the outset, so we went to market with John Warren and bought 30 mares at various sales, and must have sent him a total of 50 mares in total. We definitely bred his best horses, including Librisa Breeze and Penhill, who cemented him as the ultimate dual-purpose stallion.”

Equiano, a more obvious commercial proposition, required less numerical home assistance in his early years at stud but was still granted some blue-chip mares

by Newsells Park to maintain quality levels in his crop, while Nathaniel covered full books in his first four years at an unchanged fee of £20,000 thanks to the unwavering support of his owner-breeder the Rothschild family, Newsells Park and other syndicate members.

“It was a long time until we got another stallion, but when Without Parole came last year we were very keen to support him with some of our most exceptional mares,” says Dollar. “We took the lead from John and Tanya, who bred and raced him and have really thrown the kitchen sink at him at stud.”

››

B ATSFORD S TUD HAAFHD

HARBOUR LAW

Alhaarth x Al Bahathri (Blushing Groom)

Lawman x Abunai (Pivotal)

Fee: £2,000

Fee: £2,000

1st Oct. Terms (LF)

1st Oct. Terms (LF)

A Consistent Sire of Stakes winners under both codes

41% Lifetime winners to runners

Classic Champion 3yo Stayer

By LAWMAN a Multiple Classic Sire

on the flat

FIRST 2YOS IN 2022

PASSING GLANCE

SWISS SPIRIT

Polar Falcon x Spurned (Robellino)

Invincible Spirit x Swiss Lake (Indian Ridge)

Fee: £3,000

Fee: £2,500

1st Oct. Terms (LFFR)

1st Oct. Terms (SLF)

TWO Gr.1 performers in 2021 60%+ Won/placed runners under both codes

THE VALUE HORSE TO UPGRADE YOUR MARE

Leading First Season Sire in GB and Ireland by winners to runners Over 44% winners to runners incl. Bahrain local Gr.3 winner SAHEEL A lifetime yearling average of over £17,000

Batsford Stud, Batsford, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire GL56 9QF T: 01608 651890 • M: 07899 957355 • E: alanvarey@batsfordstud.co.uk

www.batsfordstud.co.uk

Bay 2015 1.63m

CAMELOT - Quixotic ( PIVOTAL )

Bonus payable to the breeder of the first Group winner in Britain , Ireland or France (2y old or y old fro his Second Crop of Foals.

Camelot's only Group winning Sprinter Won Group 2 Criterium De Maisons-Laffitte over 1200m beating Group winner NEBO 3rd in the German 2000 Guineas at Cologne beating Group winners Weltstar , Kronprinz, Julio ets.

First Foals 2022 2022 Fee € 3000 (Live Foal)

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Sogann

by Frankel ex Rumored

Purchased for €550,000 at Arqana August Yearling Sale 2017

Ownership options available to suit your budget This Exceed And Excel filly is extremely athletic and has taken everything in her stride and finds her work very easy.

First Foal Sold for €34,000 in 2021 1/2 brother to Multiple G1.

Winning Stallion Dabirsim From the Exciting Family of Bright Generation Fee: £2,000

Eligible for the €1 million 2yr old Goffs Million over 7f at the Curragh on 24/09/22.

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Qualified for the IRE Incentive Scheme – €10,000 Sales voucher will be awarded if she wins a selected race in 2022.

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40

THE OWNER BREEDER

HARAS D’ANNEBAULT

The stallion game

Fighting Irish: high-class son of Camelot is benefiting from the strong support of his owners

››

Among the mares sent by the Gunthers to their son of Frankel were Dawn To Dance, the dam of dual Group 3 winner Policy Of Truth; Impressionist, a Listed winner and Prix de Malleret runnerup; and Atomic Blonde and Beyond The Sea, smart daughters of Scat Daddy and Sea The Stars.

Newsells Park reciprocated by supporting Without Parole with Date With Destiny, the Listed-placed mare who was George Washington’s only foal; Lady Eclair, a Listed winner and dam of a Listed winner; and the stakes winners My Special J’s and Skrei.

Dollar continues: “Our latest recruit A’Ali has a good partnership behind him who are willing to support this fast, precocious young stallion with like-minded mares that will hopefully get him off to a strong start with good sales results and, most importantly, early winners.

“A sample of the mares they’ll be sending are Al Raya and her dam Fig Roll, and the stakes winners Riskit Fora Biskit and Shumoos.

“Newsells Park Stud isn’t necessarily known for fast and precocious mares, but all the ones we do own will go to A’Ali to give him every opportunity – the likes of Maureen, My Special J’s, Royal Empress and Skrei.

“He’s a horse I like, as he looks

exactly how you would expect a fast and precocious horse to look: neat, but well made with a great step for a sprinter and a very laid-back, easy nature. He should hold obvious appeal to commercial breeders.”

One of the most recent examples of racing owners standing foursquare behind their high-class colt in his second career is Anoj Don and Daniel MacAuliffe with Fighting Irish, their Group 2-winning son of Camelot.

The seven-year-old was installed at Haras d’Annebault just outside Deauville last year, so his connections have been welcoming his first foals.

“Fighting Irish won three races over six furlongs at two, including the Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte, and is the only Group-winning sprinter by the sire – but he showed his versatility when also running third in the German 2,000 Guineas over a mile at three,” says Don. “He ran a cracking race to be beaten just two lengths in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, with the likes of Invincible Army, Unfortunately and Sioux Nation behind.

“Sadly, he later picked up an injury and didn’t perform so well afterwards, so we decided to retire him to stud. It was a little late in the season by the time we arranged for him to stand at Haras d’Annebault, and we missed getting him

in the stallion books, but we announced a bonus of €50,000 for the breeder of his first Group winner as a two-year-old or three-year-old in France, Britain or Ireland and he attracted some interest.

“We’ll once again be offering the €50,000 bonus to the breeder of his first Group winner from his second crop, and we will be supporting his stock at the sales in the years to come.”

Don and MacAuliffe have shown other breeders the way by sending Fighting Irish some well-credentialled mares last year, including African Plains, a daughter of Oasis Dream and Haydock Sprint Cup heroine African Rose and thus closely related to champion two-year-old Native Trail; Chillala, a placed full-sister to the useful Broken Stones; and Nirodha, a fourtime winner and a half-sister to the classy Coolagh Forest.

“It makes good sense to breed across the Channel, as the French government supports breeders and owners with lucrative premiums and prize-money is generally better than in Britain or Ireland,” adds Don. Who knows, in five years’ time we might be hailing Don and MacAuliffe as geniuses for propelling their own colt to stallion stardom. Either way, they deserve respect for invoking the spirit of Bolger and Lagardere and giving it a bloody good go.

THE OWNER BREEDER

41

Dream Ahead TOB February 2022:Layout 2

14/1/22

15:17

Page 1

WIN A BONUS OF UP TO £20,000 G Choose a British Stallion

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“The relaunch of Dream Ahead in the British market in 2022 following five years in Ireland and four seasons in Normandy is interesting, especially as his new custodians Bearstone Stud are pitching him at just £7,500. That’s a very fair price for a proven sire whose CV includes Group 1 winners Al Wukair, Donjuan Triumphant, Dream Of Dreams and Glass Slippers, and whose stock still commands plenty of respect in the marketplace.”

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Breeders’ Digest

Nancy Sexton Bloodstock Editor

New recruits offer hope for the British jumps scene

T

be on a stronger footing. But the passion and enthusiasm remains there to make it work, and with other unproven horses such as the Overbury Stud pair of Jack Hobbs and Frontiersman to go with the likes of Arrigo, Dartmouth, Dink, Diplomat, Flag Of Honour and Pether’s Moon coming through, matters could look quite different several years from now.

It will just take time.

DANSILI’S LEGACY IN SAFE KEEPING BILL SELWYN

he domination of Ireland as a source of quality jumpers is nothing new. Having said that, rarely have the scales been tipped so far away from Britain.

That much was evident during the Christmas period in the results of the Grade 1 races staged in Britain and Ireland; not one winner was sired by a stallion currently based in Britain while only Master McShee, successful in the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick, carried a GB suffix.

In addition, only one active Britishbased sire currently sits within the season’s top 35 jumps sires and the horse in question, Nathaniel, is first and foremost a Flat stallion, as befits a horse who sired Enable.

The current situation is partly reflective of the gaps left by Overbury Stud’s Kayf Tara, who was pensioned in the summer of 2020 following an excellent stud career, and Midnight Legend, Pitchall Stud’s stalwart who died in 2016. At the time of writing, Midnight Legend occupies ninth on the leading jumps sires’ list while Kayf Tara resides within the top 12.

It does, however, also illustrate the precarious situation to which British jumps breeding remains hostage. Is there light at the end of the tunnel?

The British jumps scene does at least benefit from the passion of several individuals, which has played out in an interesting intake of fresh dual-purpose options for 2022.

Chief among them is Logician, one of the most exciting dual-purpose horses to retire to Britain in years. His acquisition by Shade Oak Stud has to be regarded as something of a coup for British breeders in light of his career, which was capped by a victory in the St Leger, and breeding, as a son of Frankel from Juddmonte Farm’s fine Monroe family.

Shade Oak Stud, of course, crafted the stud career of Alflora, a former leading light of British jumps breeding.

Today, youth is very much order of the day to the stud’s roster, with Telescope, whose first crop are fiveyear-olds, and Dartmouth, whose first crop are three, primed to hopefully boost the domestic scene.

Walzertakt: Group 2 winner is a new dualpurpose option for British breeders

Over at Roisin Close’s Chapel Stud, few can match the enthusiasm of Simon Davies. The owner-breeder initially invested by recruiting Trueshan’s sire Planteur for 2021, and was rewarded when the stallion attracted over 70 mares last season.

Davies has since bolstered his roster with Bangkok, a hardy Group 2-winning son of Australia, and Walzertakt, a Group 2-winning stayer who arrives from France. The son of Montjeu is already off the mark at stud despite the fact that his first crop only recently turned four.

The tough Mildenberger, whose seven wins were highlighted by two at Listed level, has also retired to Groomsbridge Stud while Norton Grove Stud welcomes another tough customer in Marmelo, a two-time winner of the Prix Kergorlay for Hughie Morrison who began his stud career in France. He shares his sire Duke Of Marmalade with German Derby hero Nutan, who has switched from Germany to Vauterhill Stud.

Also sure to be popular on these shores is the champion stayer Leading Light, who joins Dunraven Stud in Wales. His early runners are headlined by the Listed-placed Leading Theatre.

The son of Montjeu also has several large crops in the pipeline.

Yes, the British jumps scene could

As 2021 closed, the industry bid farewell to another stalwart of the breed in Dansili, who died at Banstead Manor Stud at the age of 25.

Rather like Pivotal, who died in November, Dansili was aided by the support of a major owner-breeder, in his case Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms, yet also made his name from moderate fees.

Bred by Juddmonte out of its wonderful mare Hasili, Dansili entered stud for 2001 at an affordable £8,000 having been crowned the European champion older miler of 2000. He was swift to reward his owner’s support as the sire of his Group 3-winning two-year-old Early March out of his first crop and his 2006 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hero Rail Link and demoted Poule d’Essai des Pouliches winner Price Tag out of his second.

Group 1 winners such as Flintshire, Proviso and Passage Of Time followed for Juddmonte, yet he was also an excellent friend to various outside breeders, as the likes of multiple Group 1 winner The Fugue, 1,000 Guineas heroine Miss France, top two-year-old Zoffany and the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winners Queen’s Trust and Dank attest.

Only in October he was represented by his 22nd winner at the top level when Blowout won the First Lady Stakes at Keeneland.

A respected sire of sires through Bated Breath, Zoffany and Harbinger among others, Dansili also leaves a major legacy as a broodmare sire, notably via the likes of Expert Eye, Chicquita, Nezwaah and Time Test. His story is far from over.

THE OWNER BREEDER

43

Sales Circuit • By Carl Evans

Online route provides ideal opportunity to trade Ten horses went under the cyberspace hammer at this pre-Christmas online sale, six found a buyer and 940,000gns was added to Tattersalls’ annual turnover.

The bulk of that sum was derived from three Irish point-to-pointers, all four-yearolds, who generated 860,000gns and gave the sale’s figures a rather skewed profile, with an average price of 156,667gns and a median of 146,000gns.

Trade was headed by Jet Powered, a son of rising jump stallion Jet Away who stands at Arctic Tack Stud in County Waterford and is a three-parts brother to Dansili, the pair having been bred by Juddmonte Farms.

Jet Powered had made a winning debut in a maiden point-to-point at Borris House in County Carlow four days before this sale, but with no suitable live auctions for at least five weeks, trainer Cormac Farrell and owner Douglas Taylor went down the online route to good effect.

Highflyer Bloodstock’s Anthony Bromley posted the winning bid of 350,000gns, a major upgrade on the gelding’s €45,000 valuation when sold at the previous year’s Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale.

TATTERSALLS

Tattersalls December Online NH & PtP Sale

Jet Powered: sold for 350,000gns having made a winning debut at Borris House

Bromley, acting for a client he could not name, said Nicky Henderson would be the horse’s new trainer.

Peter Molony is a familiar figure within the industry as head of Rathmore Stud and Qatar Racing’s representative in Ireland, but he is steadily becoming a noted buyer of jumpers – in particular lightly-raced young pointers – on behalf of some blue-chip clients. Fillies and mares seem to be top of their list of requests, and given that Honeysuckle is but one of Molony’s purchases out of the Irish point-to-point field, there is hope if not an expectation that he can do it again.

At this sale, he paid 260,000gns on

behalf of an unnamed client for the filly Halka Du Tabert, an £18,000 buy at Goffs UK’s Summer Sale of stores in 2020 and another horse who had won at Borris House just days before this sale. The brother and sister combination of James and Ellen Doyle, who are based in County Wexford, bought and trained Halka Du Tabert for her winning point-to-point debut, and she is now under the care of Gordon Elliott.

Willie Mullins was another leading trainer in purchasing mood, his 250,000gns offer securing Madmansgame out of Donnchadh Doyle’s Monbeg Stables draft. An €80,000 Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale purchase by Doyle, Madmansgame had won a point in County Cork just ahead of a live sale at Cheltenham held the week before this online version. Not all horses can bounce out of their first race and be on a ferry to Britain two days later, and Doyle’s decision to keep his horse at home resulted in a good profit.

Madmansgame is no relation of Paul Nicholls’ novice chaser Bravemansgame but he is a half-brother to the smart hurdler Gentlemansgame, who is trained

by Mouse Morris for Robcour.

TALKING POINTS • While giants of the trainers’ trade such as Henderson, Elliott and Mullins were investing at the top end, Milton Harris, who is based at Sutton Veny on the edge of Salisbury Plain, was happy to dip in at a lower level when paying 42,000gns for four-year-old filly Mullenbeg.

That seemed a very reasonable price given that she had finished second of 14 in an Irish point-to-point, and the winner, Deeply Superficial, had been sold for a saletopping £385,000 at Cheltenham the previous week.

Even better was to come, for at Ludlow in mid-January Mullenbeg romped home in a mares’ bumper.

Meanwhile the cheapest horse sold at this online sale proved to be Jeremy Central, a seven-year-old with no fewer than seven placings from ten starts in Irish points.

He was knocked down for 12,000gns to bloodstock agent Tom Malone, who took him home to Somerset and trained him to win a British point in Devon on his first start. Malone was set to trade him on and his profile suggests he should give new owners some fun in handicaps.

Both Mullenbeg and Jeremy Central are proof that you don’t need a six-figure sum to buy a competitive racehorse.

Tattersalls December Online NH & PtP Sale Top lots Name/age/sex/breeding

Vendor

Jet Powered 4 g Jet Away - Cloghoge Lady

Leamore Horses

350,000

Highflyer Bloodstock

Halka Du Tabert 4 f Balko – Naska

Baltimore Stables (James Doyle)

260,000

Rathmore Stud

Madmansgame 4 g Blue Bresil - Grainne Ni Maille

Monbeg Stables (Donnchadh Doyle)

250,000

Willie Mullins

Mullenbeg 4 f Walk In The Park – Oscars Joy

Harristown Stables

42,000

Milton Harris

Gold Emery 5 g Doctor Dino – Queissa

Milestone Stables (Colin Bowe)

26,000

Donald McCain (private sale)

44

THE OWNER BREEDER

Price (gns)

Buyer

Figures Year

Sold

Agg (gns)

Average (gns)

Median (gns)

Top price (gns)

2021

6

940,000

156,667

146,000

350,000

Australia could hardly stay out of the headlines as January unfolded.

Climbing Covid figures, vaccine debate, controversy surrounding the world’s number one tennis player and another drubbing for England by the Australian cricket team were all issues for the media to feast upon.

Meanwhile on the Gold Coast, this sale was laying claim to be the foremost yearling auction on the planet. That might seem far-fetched, but after another set of record figures you could not blame Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch from unleashing a few superlatives. He said: “Whatever way you look at it, it’s a record sale; it’s a benchmark sale for Australasia, if not the world, when it comes to a yearling sale these days and we’re thrilled to be able to start 2022 in the manner we have.”

He went on to say “people are enjoying our industry”, which is the type of feel-good comment that in Britain becomes bogged down by debate about prize-money, fixture congestion or small fields, let alone bullying or drink and drug addiction. No one can deny the buzz that continues to be enjoyed at meetings such as the Cheltenham Festival, Glorious Goodwood and York’s Ebor meeting, but Australia is surfing a wave of buoyancy which can be admired and envied.

Covid had not prevented the 2021 sale from delivering record figures, and it could not deny the latest edition, at which 19 horses sold for a seven-figure sum and

MAGIC MILLIONS

Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale (Book 1)

A A$1.9 million son of I Am Invincible was one of 19 million-dollar lots sold at Magic Millions

trade soared past Aus$200 million for the first time, settling at A$229,497,500. The average price was A$293,475 while the median achieved a figure of A$230,000, which were both records.

Trade was strong at the first session, which failed to yield a seven-figure lot, although four fillies went close to that mark. One of them, a A$900,000 daughter of Justify, could earn buyers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott a Ferrari, which is the prize put up by Coolmore for the first winner of a selected race by their shuttling stallion to have been bought at public auction.

Coolmore consigned this filly, and the team behind that stud were instrumental in the purchase on day three of the sale’s top lot, a A$1.9 million son of leading Australian sire I Am Invincible. Tom Magnier signed for the colt, his purchase having been foaled by the French-bred mare Suspicieuse, a €6,000 Arqana October Yearling who won in France and was Listed-placed, and therefore

subsequently sold for €55,000 as a three-year-old. Buyer Sheamus Mills put together a partnership to race her in Australia, and while that venture proved unsuccessful, a mating with Not A Single Doubt resulted in Group 2 winner Dubious who now stands at Aquis Farm.

Magnier said Chris Waller will train the yearling, who was one of 47 offered by Newgate Farm, which found buyers for 45 horses and left with leading consignor honours after turning over A$18,810,000.

It has been a meteoric rise for New South Wales-based Newgate, which was founded as recently as 2010 by Henry Field on a 250-acre leased property. It now stands 11 stallions and comprises 1,700 acres having become another example of the boom in Aussie bloodstock.

Ciaron Maher was the leading buyer by aggregate, securing 35 lots for A$13,335,000, but Magnier was leading buyer by average price. He bought four lots at an average of A$1,275,000.

European buyers included Tom Pritchard-Gordon of Badgers Bloodstock, who teamed up with Luke Simpson’s Glentree Thoroughbreds to buy a Snitzel filly for A$1.35 million, and Hannah Wall, who represented David Redvers in partnerships on a number of lots, including colts by Zoustar costing A$1.3 million and A$1.25 million.

It is a big year in European terms for Zoustar, who shuttles to Redvers’ Tweenhills Stud in Gloucestershire, and whose first crop bred at that farm are now two-year-olds.

Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale (Book 1) Top lots Sex/breeding

Vendor

Price (Aus$)

Buyer

C I Am Invincible - Suspicieuse

Newgate Farm

1,900,000

Tom Magnier

C Not a Single Doubt - Miss Admiration

Segenhoe Stud

1,700,000

Ciaron Maher Bloodstock/TFI

F I Am Invincible - Najoom

Emirates Park

1,550,000

Sheamus Mills Bloodstock

C Pierro - Ravi

Kia Ora Stud

1,500,000

Ciaron Maher Bloodstock

F Snitzel - Sweet Sherry

Silverdale Farm

1,350,000

Badgers Bloodstock/Glentree Thoroughbreds

Figures Year

Sold

Agg (Aus$)

Average (Aus$)

Median (Aus$)

Top price (Aus$)

2022

777

228,807,500

294,476

230,000

1,900,000

2021

781

197,605,000

253,015

180,000

1,900,000

2020

709

177,407,000

250,221

180,000

1,900,000

THE OWNER BREEDER

45

››

Sales Circuit The depth of trade that underpinned last year’s North American winter breeding stock sales carried over into the year’s curtain-raiser, the Keeneland January Sale in Lexington, Kentucky, writes Nancy Sexton.

Inclement weather that saw Lexington receive almost ten inches of snow on the Thursday ahead of the sale prompted Keeneland to delay the auction by a day. That proved to be a wise move, allowing buyers to arrive in good time and for horses to ship into the sale grounds safely.

The potential of instant success on the track drove the top end of the market, with the well-related two-yearold Princess Lele leading the way at $750,000 and closely followed by debut maiden winner Belgrade at $700,000.

It is worth remembering that last year’s renewal featured two prominent dispersals hailing from Sam-Son Farm and the estate of the late Paul J. Pompa Jr., which between them turned over more than $13.5 million. Even so, despite lacking such firepower this time around, this year’s auction compared favourably with 2021, returning sales of $46,341,100 for 1,013 horses sold at an average of $45,746. The median rose by 33.33 per cent to $20,000 to equal the records set in 2014 and 2019 while particularly encouraging was the clearance rate of 80 per cent.

The sale-topping filly Princess Lele will race solely for Goncalo Torrealba’s Three Chimneys Farm following her sale for $750,000. Torrealba was buying out

Princess Lele will race for Three Chimneys Farm after selling for $750,000

his partner Hill ’n’ Dale Farm in the filly, a Quality Road daughter of Grade 1 winner Carina Maria.

The same partnership was also dissolved in the case of Justly, a first-crop daughter of Justify out of champion Take Charge Brandi.

Torrealba saw off Hill ’n’ Dale’s John Sikura at $410,000 for the filly, whose half-brother Courvoisier had won the Listed Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct just days before her turn in the ring.

Belgrade, meanwhile, will continue his career with Graham Motion

KEENELAND

›› Keeneland January Sale

following his sale for $700,000 to owners Carl and Yurie Pascarella. The son of Hard Spun, originally a $45,000 yearling, had turned heads several weeks earlier when the six-length winner of his maiden at Fair Grounds for Brendan Walsh.

Among the broodmares on offer, Grade 1 producer Co Cola co-led the way on her $600,000 sale to Peter Blum. The daughter of Candy Ride hit Grade 1 heights last summer as the dam of the Acorn Stakes heroine Search Results. Back in foal to that filly’s sire Flatter, the mare had failed to sell for $925,000 at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale but with expectations subsequently tempered, had better luck on this occasion.

Also hitting the $600,000 mark was Caravaggio’s half-sister Susie’s Baby.

Cypress Creek LLC landed the Giant’s Causeway mare, whose first foal Family Way won last year’s Listed Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon Stakes. She was sold in foal to leading young sire Constitution.

While Ballyduane Stud, BBA Ireland, Avenue Bloodstock and Hugo Merry were among those to make purchases, European participation was muted.

One curious aspect to the sale was the raft of withdrawals made by Shadwell Farm. The operation, which is in the process of a global restructuring, made 47 entries through Bluewater Sales, plenty of them unnamed two-year-olds. However, it went on to withdraw no fewer than 41 horses and it will be interesting to see what their future holds regarding ownership.

Keeneland January Sale Top lots Name/age/sex/breeding

Vendor

Price ($)

Buyer

Princess Lele 2 f Quality Road - Carina Mia

Hill ’n’ Dale Sales Agency

750,000

Three Chimneys Farm

Belgrade 3 c Hard Spun - Miss Prytania

Four Star Sales, agent

700,000

Carl and Yurie Pascarella

Susie’s Baby 9 m Giant’s Causeway - Mekko Hokte

Gainesway, agent

600,000

Cypress Creek LLC

Co Cola 11 m Candy Ride - Yong Musician

James B. Keogh (Grovendale), agent

600,000

Peter Blum

Bella Vita 5 m Bayern - Queenie Cat

Eaton Sales, agent

500,000

Narvick International

Figures Year

Sold

Agg ($)

Average ($)

Median ($)

Top price ($)

2022

1,013

46,341,100

45,746

20,000

750,000

2021

963

45,522,100

47,271

15,000

925,000

1,050

40,453,300

38,527

13,000

640,000

2020

46

THE OWNER BREEDER

ai164253134925_Coolagown_Owner Breeder Feb 2022 copy.pdf

1

18/01/2022

18:42

GROUP 1 WINNER BY CHAMPS ELYSEES 120+ MARES IN FOAL IN 1ST SEASON, 25% OF WHICH ARE GRADED WINNERS/ PRODUCERS/ SIBLINGS C

STANDING ALONGSIDE

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

MALINAS

SHANTARAM

ZAMBEZI SUN

Proven BT sire Promising start with 1st crops, incl of 5-time Listed winner Zambella, debut bumper dual Listed winner & P2P winners Spirit Sun, etc Eight black-type HIT with Gordon performers in First Irish crop Elliott, Monbeg, 2020/21 season De Bromhead, etc of 4YO’s in 2022

Proven sire of Grade 1 winner Master McShee

CONTACT DAVID STACK +353 (0)86 2314 066

E: INFO@COOLAGOWN.IE W: WWW.COOLAGOWN.IE

Caulfield Files

Emerging inbreeding pattern silencing the doubters A

48

THE OWNER BREEDER

Kizuna: the most successful sire son of Deep Impact

JRA

fter the Christmas and New Year festivities, just about everyone understands that it is indeed possible to have too much of a good thing. But does this apply to the world of bloodstock breeding? Evidence from three different continents suggest that the answer is an emphatic “no”.

In Australia, where Danehill landed nine sires’ championships in the space of 11 seasons, he was succeeded by his sons Redoute’s Choice, Flying Spur, Fastnet Rock and Exceed And Excel. They collectively landed seven of the next 11 championships, the only interlopers being Encosta De Lago, Lonhro and Street Cry. Then it was the turn of the next generation, with Redoute’s Choice’s son Snitzel topping the table for four consecutive years.

Thanks to the great Frankel, there have now also been three generations of champion sires from a branch of the Northern Dancer male line in Britain and Ireland. In fact, the Sadler’s Wells branch has exerted an even stronger stranglehold on the title than the Danehill line has done in Australia. It almost goes without saying that Sadler’s Wells topped the table 14 times in 15 years, to overtake the 13 titles won by Highflyer, the previous record holder back in the 18th century. Although Danehill then took over for three years, he lost top billing in 2008 to Sadler’s Wells’s son Galileo, who proved unconquerable in 12 of the next 13 years, before having to give best to his son Frankel last year.

The Japanese industry has also demonstrated that you can’t have too much of a good thing, if that good thing is Sunday Silence. The 1989 Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner was unwanted in his native country, largely because of the plebeian nature of his dam, the thoroughly tried and tested Grade 2 winner Wishing Well. However, the Japanese have long been prepared to forgive racemares who outran their pedigrees and Sunday Silence became champion sire in 1995, with the help of just two crops, and he held onto prime position for 13 consecutive years, ending in 2007. In the ensuing 14 years, sons of Sunday Silence have taken the championship 12 times, the only interruption coming when King

Kamehameha landed the title in 2010 and 2011.

Needless to say, the dominant force has been Deep Impact, the Japanese Triple Crown winner of 2005 who landed his tenth successive title in 2021. He owed his latest title to an impressive team which featured no fewer than eight Grade 1 winners, namely Akaitorino Musume (Shuka Sho), Contrail (Japan Cup), Danon Kingly (Yasuda Kinen), Gran Alegria (Victoria Mile and Mile Championship), Killer Ability (Hopeful Stakes), Lei Papale (Osaka Hai), Shahryar (Japanese Derby)

“This is a line which merits the greatest respect from European breeders” and World Premiere (Tenno Sho Spring).

There were also several Group 1 successes for Deep Impact outside Japan.

That fine mare Loves Only You took a pair of Group 1s in Hong Kong, in addition to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and Glory Vase also hit the Group 1 target in the Hong Kong Vase.

Then there was the Australian colt Profondo, who justified his high yearling price with a victory in the Group 1 Spring

Champion Stakes, and the ill-fated Snowfall, who ran away with the Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks, to follow Saxon Warrior, Study Of Man, Fancy Blue and Beauty Parlour as a European Classic winner for the Shadai superstar.

Clearly this is a sire line which merits the greatest respect from European breeders and it is going to be fascinating to follow the stallion careers of Saxon Warrior and Study Of Man, with their first runners appearing in 2022 and 2023 respectively. Each of them represents one of Deep Impact’s most potent partnerships.

Saxon Warrior and Snowfall are among the five Group winners from 34 starters out of Galileo mares, whereas Study Of Man ranks as one of nine Group 1 winners among the 69 starters out of daughters of Storm Cat. The Deep Impact-Storm Cat alliance has flourished the world over, with A Shin Hikari winning the Prix d’Ispahan, Kizuna winning the Prix Niel, Loves Only You winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and Real Steel winning the Dubai Turf.

Mention of Kizuna brings us to Deep Impact’s record so far as a sire of sires.

Kizuna, who also won the Japanese Derby and finished fourth in the Arc, ranks as the most successful. Despite starting his career at the comparatively modest fee of ¥2.5 million (£16,000), he took the title of champion first-crop sire in 2019, since when he has finished 12th among Japan’s leading sires in 2020 and fourth in 2021.

His daughter Akai Ito finally provided him with his first Group 1 success when

she defeated Stellaria, another of Kizuna’s daughters, to land the Queen Elizabeth Cup in November. Kizuna’s first two crops, numbering 322 foals, have produced a total of ten Graded winners. His third crop, which – at 113 foals - is smaller than its predecessors, has already produced a couple of youngsters tried at Group 1 level, so there is reason for optimism.

His fourth crop is smaller still at 107 foals, but Kizuna’s success with his first crop resulted in 166 foals in 2021. They were sired at an increased fee of ¥6 million (£38,400), and his fee has continued to rise, firstly to ¥10 million (£64,000) and then to ¥12 million (£77,000). One of his 2021 foals topped the JRHA Select Foal Sale at ¥410 million (£2.6 million).

Part of this rise has been brought about by the recent loss of several of Shadai’s proven stallions. Deep Impact died at the age of 17 in 2019, after having to be taken out of service, and his final crop is small. However, it does contain Coolmore-bred colts out of Galileo’s top daughters Hydrangea, Minding and Rhododendron, plus a sister to Saxon Warrior. His half-dozen last-crop foals in Japan included a colt out of Go Maggie Go, which sold for ¥300 million (£1.9 million) and another out of Sweep Tosho, which made ¥200 million (£1.3 million).

Heart’s Cry, sire of such as Just A Way, Lys Gracieux and American Grade 1 winner Yoshida, seemed likely to be one of the chief beneficiaries from Deep Impact’s death. However, he had only 35 foals registered in Japan in 2021 and he had to be pensioned at the end of the 2021 breeding season aged 20. We were subsequently reminded of Heart’s Cry’s talents by the success of Do Deuce, winner of the Asahi Hai Futurity, one of three Japanese Group 1 two-year-old races contested in December.

Another of the three, the Hopeful Stakes, saw Killer Ability and Justin Palace land first and second places for Deep Impact. As Deep Impact and Heart’s Cry are no longer available, this helped turn the spotlight onto Epiphaneia, the stallion responsible for Circle Of Life, winner of the other Group 1 contest, the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.

Epiphaneia comes from the same male line as Sunday Silence, his sire Symboli Kris S being a great-grandson of Hail To Reason, the grandsire of Sunday Silence.

What’s more, he is out of a granddaughter of Sunday Silence, sired by Special Week, one of Sunday Silence’s Japanese Derby winners. That means that Epiphaneia is inbred 4x5 to Hail To Reason. Significantly, Epiphaneia’s

FUKUDA

Bloodstock world views

Sunday Silence: dominant influence

daughter Circle Of Life is out of a grand-daughter of Sunday Silence and is therefore inbred 4x3 to the great stallion.

Indeed she has three lines to Sunday Silence’s sire, the notoriously badtempered Halo, and her dam Sea Breeze Life is inbred 3x4 to Caerleon, who also had Hail To Reason in his pedigree.

I mentioned earlier that Kizuna, a contemporary of Epiphaneia, has sired just one Group 1 winner from his first three crops. Epiphaneia, though, has already notched up three Group 1 winners – quite an achievement considering that Japan, unlike Australia, doesn’t stage a huge number of Group 1 races. Epiphaneia and Kizuna met several times during their four years on the track. Epiphaneia came out on top on their first meeting, having Kizuna in third place when he won the Group 3 Radio Nikkei Hai Nisai Stakes.

Unbeaten in three juvenile starts, he ranked third on the Japanese Classification.

However, it was Kizuna who came out on top when it mattered in the Japanese Derby (Tokyo Yushun), beating Epiphaneia by half a length. Kizuna also finished first, to Epiphaneia’s third, when they met at Grade 2 level at four, but it was Epiphaneia who ranked higher at that age, rated 129 to Kizuna’s 121. His high rating reflected his four-length victory in the Japan Cup. With stamina being so unwelcome in today’s Anglo-Irish industry, it is worth pointing out that Epiphaneia never raced over less than 1,800 metres and won the Japanese St leger (Kikuka

Sho) over 3,000 metres on heavy ground.

However, Epiphaneia has sired Graded stakes winners over all distances from 1,600 to 2,500 metres, with two of the Group 1 wins over 1,600 metres.

Epiphaneia is now ahead of Kizuna in another important area. His fee has increased from ¥5 million (£32,000) in 2020 to ¥10 million (£64,000) in 2021 and now to ¥18 million (£115,000) in 2022, which makes him Shadai’s highest-priced stallion. So far he has had very few representatives outside Japan, but that is surely going to change before long.

One of Epiphaneia’s three Group 1 winners, Daring Tact, completed a difficult treble in 2020, landing the Japanese 1,000 Guineas and Oaks in addition to the Shuka Sho. The other, Efforia, won the 2021 edition of the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) and later defeated the older horses in the Group 1 Tenno Sho Autumn and Group 1 Arima Kinen.

Remarkably, all three of his Group 1 winners are inbred 4x3 to Sunday Silence.

Indeed Epiphaneia has become the poster boy for inbreeding to Sunday Silence, as no other stallion has a Group 1 winner inbred to Sunday Silence (Mikki Isle, Screen Hero, Kizuna, Orfevre, Karakontie and Smart Falcon have Group 2 winners).

Of his three Group 1 winners, Efforia has a dam by Heart’s Cry, whereas Daring Tact has a second dam by Sunday Silence.

Aristoteles, a Group 2 winner who was second in the 2020 Japanese St Leger, is yet another with this 4x3 inbreeding, his dam being a daughter of Deep Impact.

Deep Impact also features as the broodmare sire of Epiphaneia’s Group 1-placed son Orthoclase, his Group 1-placed daughter Divine Love and his Group 2-placed daughter Musica. This 4x3 inbreeding to Sunday Silence runs through nearly all of Epiphaneia’s other Graded-placed horses, including Season’s Gift, Clavel, World Revival, Sky Groove, City Rainbow, Varuna, Bella Nova, Ten Happy Rose and Sonnet Phrase.

Arguably, it would be much more noteworthy if he were to sire an important winner not inbred to Sunday Silence. Of course, his record may just be an indication of how difficult it is to avoid Sunday Silence inbreeding in today’s Japanese industry. There are already nearly 4,000 named horses inbred to Sunday Silence within five generations.

The majority of Shadai’s stallions have Sunday Silence somewhere in their pedigree, including Contrail, whose total of five Group 1 wins makes him the most successful of Deep Impact sons. Contrail starts his stallion career in 2022 at a fee of ¥12 million (£77,000).

THE OWNER BREEDER

49

Dr Statz

John Boyce cracks the code

Kingman likely to shine brighter still in 2022

N

GEORGE SELWYN

ature loves to work in cycles. We see it everywhere we look in the natural world. And it seems this natural rhythm of things spills over into the world of economics, too. In our own relatively small and discreet world of thoroughbred breeding, economic cycles are also inescapable. Stallion careers ebb and flow in response to perceived financial risk and reward by commercial breeders, who nowadays make up a significant proportion of thoroughbred producers. In the modern era, no stallion is immune so let us highlight a handful of British and Irish sires that are due for a resurgence with their 2022 two-year-olds.

Kingman announced himself as a potential top-class stallion in 2018, when his two-year-old son Calyx defeated the subsequent Phoenix Stakes winner and Dewhurst Stakes runner-up Advertise in Royal Ascot’s Coventry Stakes. Later in the season, another son – Persian King – was an impressive winner of the Autumn Stakes, while a few more looked destined for greater things as they matured. And so began the scramble for 2019 nominations to what seemed to be Juddmonte Farm’s latest commercial success story.

Kingman attracted a massive book of 223 mares in 2019 at a fee of £75,000, up from the £55,000 asking price of his first three years at stud. With the benefit of

Kingman: could be in line for a successful season with his two-year-olds

50

THE OWNER BREEDER

hindsight, Juddmonte could have asked for double the money as his book contained no fewer than 145 elite mares – mares that belong in the top 15% of the broodmare population of Britain and Ireland. To put this number into some sort of context, by my reckoning there have only ever been six previous books in Europe with a higher number of elite mares, two each for Galileo and Frankel and one each for Dubawi and Wootton Bassett, who led all stallions in 2021 after his move to Coolmore.

So we ought to expect some fireworks from Kingman’s current juveniles this year, certainly an improvement on his lone stakes winner – the Group 1-placed Noble Truth – from his 2019 crop of juveniles. The Kingmans will train on to be better three-year-olds though and it looks odds-on that the son of Invincible Spirit will maintain or indeed improve upon some of his already-impressive strike-rates. He currently sires 11.9% stakes winners to runners and that increases to 16.8% when the dams are elite mares, which of course he now has a plentiful supply of. Moreover, his 2019 book of 145 elite mares was followed a year later with 139 and then 132 last spring, so Kingman’s future looks assured.

From the same class of retirees as Kingman came No Nay Never. He too got out of the block early, siring six juvenile stakes winners in 2018, headed by the impressive Middle Park Stakes winner Ten Sovereigns. With his speed heritage – his mature winners average 7.4 furlongs – it’s a tougher task to find the same number of elite mares that might suit him compared to Kingman, whose winners aged three and up average 8.5 furlongs.

Nevertheless, No Nay Never’s tally of elite mares covered in 2019 soared to 72, easily his best number since retiring to stud and up from 24 the previous year.

With an excellent first crop of runners and a new fee of €100,000 (up from €25,000), the 2020 No Nay Nevers presented a new and revitalised proposition to buyers at last year’s yearling sales. And they believed what they saw if his yearling average of €216,000 – up from £121,000 the year before – is anything to go by. Perhaps there is a little more expectation on No

Nay Never to produce some nice two-year-olds this year, but given the fact that his current strike-rate for runners from elite mares is 15.4% stakes winners, you can see him doing just that. He does appreciably better with his colts, which already have a 10.3% stakes winners to runners strike-rate (excellent for a speed sire) and a 17.9% score when they are out of elite mares.

Camelot is another stallion that received a huge vote of confidence from yearling buyers last autumn. His 37 yearlings sold averaged €200,000, which was a marked improvement on the €94,000 the previous year. His 2020 crop are certainly a cut above, bred as they are on the back of a fee increase from €30,000 to €40,000, prompted to a large extent by the exploits of his first crop of three-year-olds and second crop juveniles in 2018.

Group 1 winners Latrobe, Athena and Wonderment, plus the high-class Hunting Horn, all played their part in creating strong demand for 2019 nominations that produced a better book than the year before. Time will tell if these future Camelots can excite breeders sufficiently to earn their sire the quality of mare he attracted earlier in his career. A racehorse that Timeform might describe as very high class (rated 125-129) or indeed top class (rated 130+) wouldn’t go amiss.

Other sires that have taken a significant step forward with the quality of their 2020 crop include Sea The Moon, whose tally of elite mares covered in 2019 was at an all-time high to that point in his career, although it seems 2021 yearling buyers didn’t get that particular memo judging by his yearling average last autumn, which didn’t advance on the previous year’s. The quality of his books has since progressed even further on the back of Group 1 winner Alpine Star.

Australia too got due recognition for his achievement in siring three Group 1 colts, plus Group winner Beyond Reason, among his first set of two-year-olds. His best-bred runners are just about to launch their careers but it may take several more years before we can assess the full merits of this crop, given Australia’s propensity to produce such excellent older horses.

UBETTABLEIEVEIT KODIAC - LADYLISHANDRA (MUJADIL)

MASSAAT TEOFILO - MADANY (ACCLAMATION) FIRST CROP S YEARLING 2022

NEW FOR 2022

Brilliantly fast Gr.2 winning 2YO son of Leading Sire KODIAC from the speed family of AJDAL and Leading Gr.1 Sires FORMIDABLE and NOVERRE GROUP WINNER of 3 races at 2 years and £116,500 Won Gr.2 Flying Childers Stakes in faster time than previous winners Green Desert, Marwell, etc.

By Teofilo, sire of 6 Gr.1 winners in 2020 Brother to Gr.1 Commonwealth Cup winner EQTIDAAR and exciting Gr.3 Winning 2YO MUJBAR, from the immediate family of PRECIEUSE, etc.

Gr.1 placed at 2, 3 & 4 • Gr.2 winner over 7f • TFR 122

Standing at MICKLEY STUD • www.mickleystud.co.uk Enquiries: Richard Kent T: 079 73 315722 • E: mickleystud@btconnect.com or Clare Lloyd Tel: 07875 673260 email: karinga@btinternet.com

Marmelo

Marcus Marcus Tregoning has shares available in the following 2-year-olds… £3,900

per 1/12th share Inclusive of all ownership costs and training fees up to October 2022.

2020 chesnut colt by Tasleet (GB) ex Lady Marl (GB)

By Duke of Marmalade out of In The Wings mare Capriolla

Won 7 races including Gp.2 Darley Prix Kergorlays twice, Gp.2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil & Gp.3 Dubai Duty Free John Porter Finest Surprise Stakes.

Beating 17 Individual Gr.1 Winners

Hughie Morrison said, "Marmelo had a superb temperament and was always easy to get fit being so clear winded. When the Australian vets scoped him post-Melbourne Cup they couldn't believe the size of his windpipe!

A Pedigree to Produce Chasers

£2,800

per 1/12th share Inclusive of all ownership costs and training fees up to October 2022.

2020 bay colt by Cityscape (GB) ex Milldale (GB) Please call Marcus on 07767 888100 or Arabella 07776 202483 or email info@marcustregoning.co.uk

Tregoning

THE OWNER BREEDER

51

Advertorial

A Life Well Lived

Putting welfare at the heart of racing Welfare continues to be one of the most important areas of focus for the racing industry. In February 2020 the Horse Welfare Board published its five-year strategic plan for the welfare of horses bred for racing. The strategy focuses on the ambition that every horse bred to race should lead – and be seen to lead – “a life well-lived”. 26 projects are now underway encompassing traceability for horses bred for the sport, a strong focus on safety and wellbeing, a more confident and proactive approach to communications and the industry’s biggest ever data project.

Independently operated and chaired, the Welfare Board’s comprehensive cross-industry strategy received the backing of the whole of racing and was welcomed by respected animal and equine welfare organisations, as well as the Government.

Despite the challenges of COVID, a lot of groundwork has been carried out since the strategy was launched, although the priority for the industry during 2020 became the establishment of the Racehorse Relief Fund, to maintain the upkeep of any horses whose owners experienced financial difficulties during the pandemic.

Powering Forward In the summer of 2021, as the UK emerged from the latest wave of the pandemic, a dedicated team was put in place to drive the welfare strategy forward. This team, led by Programme Director Helena Flynn, is now actively working across the industry to implement recommendations and projects with several working groups well underway.

Helena Flynn, HWB Programme Director

One of the biggest welfare activations of last year was the creation and implementation of National Racehorse Week. Over the course of a week the industry united with 132 trainers across the country opening their doors to the public, highlighting the care and dedication given to horses in training. This brilliant platform, led and managed by Great British Racing, will now be an annual event and become a cornerstone of welfare storytelling.

Meanwhile, euthanasia guidelines have been introduced and improvements made in the capture of welfare data and the traceability of horses, such as the development of a vaccination app and the introduction of e-passports.

NRW open day at Richard Phillip’s Adlestrop yard

2022 will see several key projects progressed, completed and delivered. Core areas for this year are focused on safety, aftercare, data and traceability.

Aftercare Funding Review Commissioned in June 2020 and published March 2021, the review analysed racing’s funding model and gave seven key recommendations for the sector.

From this, a working group with representation from all areas of horse racing and welfare has since developed and proposed a new model to oversee all aspects of aftercare. In the process of being finalised, this critically important restructure will be introduced within the coming months in partnership with RoR. Fran Compostella DVM, MRCVS, MSc One Health Aftercare Project Lead and equine welfare director of national and international NGOs

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Over the last six months, the work of the obstacle improvement group has been accelerated by Equine Safety Advisor Mike Etherington-Smith. Grounded in the cutting-edge research done by Exeter University on Equine Vision (led by the BHA and supported by The Racing Foundation) all British racecourse obstacles are set to turn from orange to white by the end of the year. Point to Point courses will follow. An additional cross-industry group is looking at hurdle design to investigate potential improvements, with recommendations expected later this year. And work is ongoing to identify and implement any advances required around stalls and starting, and ground and going.

Equine Safety Advisor and designer of multiple Olympic eventing courses

Welfare Data Unit

Traceability

Data is critical. But the power of data, in a complex sport such as racing, can only be realised with integration and effective interrogation. So, this project’s core objective is to pull all relevant industry sources into one place and make it useable and actionable. Project lead, Stephen Wensley, has work well underway collaborating with partners such as Weatherbys and the BHA to develop both the Thoroughbred Welfare Database and the intelligence that can be extracted from it. Quality and robustness of data will allow the industry to track, report and make important decisions on welfare related to all stages of a thoroughbred’s life from breeding through to retirement.

A fundamental requirement for racing, this project is building on the foundations laid by the Thoroughbred Welfare Industry Forum. Significant steps forward have already been made with the introduction of multiple initiatives including the 30-day foal notification, vaccination app and ePassport.

These critical data points are essential to both track and identify gaps in the traceability of thoroughbred horses bred in Britain.

Continuous improvement Welfare lies at the heart of racing and is a continuous focus.

There is much to be done over the next few years, but good progress has already been made and the Horse Welfare Board will continue to drive forward on the commitments made in the Life Well Lived strategy. With the continued participation and passion of the industry, the opportunity to drive welfare and the sport of racing forward is significant.

If you would like to talk to a member of the Horse Welfare team about any of the ongoing projects, please contact info@racehorsewelfare.co.uk

Details regarding the Horse Welfare Board and the Life Well Lived strategy can be viewed and downloaded via www.britishhorseracing.com With thanks for the continued work and support of HBLB, The Racing Foundation, ROA, TBA, BHA, GBR, NTF, RCA, PJA, WHW, RoR, BEVA, Weatherbys, Goffs UK, Tattersalls and the Universities of Bristol and Exeter

A Life Well Lived: Key Outcomes

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Best possible quality of life

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ROA Forum

The special section for ROA members

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Kelso prize-money hits £1.5 million

54

THE OWNER BREEDER

Bonus winner: The Shunter (right) won at Kelso before his Cheltenham Festival strike

BILL SELWYN

This year will see Kelso racecourse’s annual prize-money exceed £1.5 million for the first time. The Borders course has committed to prize funds that will significantly exceed minimum values at all 15 scheduled fixtures, with an average £100,000 per raceday.

The prize fund for the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle, staged on Saturday, March 5 will increase by 33% to £100,000. The additional bonus of £100,000, won last season by The Shunter, will be offered to the winner once again if they can follow up by winning any race at the Cheltenham Festival.

The most valuable hurdle race in Scotland, the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle, is the feature event on a seven-race programme that will carry more than £260,000 in prize-money.

The Grade 2 bet365 Premier Novices’ Hurdle, won last season by My Drogo, and the Listed bet365 Premier Steeplechase, won by Cloth Cap in preparation for the Grand National, will both have total prize funds of £50,000.

Three new series of races will

New contact details:

www.roa.co.uk • 01183 385680 • info@roa.co.uk @racehorseowners

RacehorseOwnersUK

Racehorseownersassociation

Member offers and events ROA marquee at the Cheltenham Festival

The Tote Owner Sponsorship Scheme is exclusive to ROA members

is a frontrunner in the race to Making Tax Digital. As an ROA VAT Solution client you are guaranteed: • Transparency – clients can view their VAT transactions and returns at any time; • Accurate, prompt VAT submission; • Bespoke organisations for each VAT entity in Xero & HubDoc – only visible to the VAT team and the client.

Not sure where to start or require further information? Visit our webpage www.roa.co.uk/MTD, contact our dedicated team on vat@roa.co.uk or call 0118 3385685 to speak to Davina or Glen.

culminate in finals at Kelso on Saturday, March 26 when total prize-money for the day will exceed £200,000. The Cab On Target Handicap Hurdle Final and the Jodami National Hunt Flat Race Final are both part of the Racing Post Go North series, carrying £30,000 of prize-money. Meanwhile, the Herring Queen Mares Only Novices’ Hurdle Final will carry a prize fund of £50,000 and will be open to mares qualified in races staged throughout Britain.

Subject to Levy Board funding remaining consistent throughout the year, all Class 3 chases and handicap hurdles at Kelso will be advertised at £15,000 or more, while all Class 4 chases will be worth £10,000 and Class 4 hurdle races £9,000. Class 5 chases and hurdles will be worth £7,500 and £7,000 respectively.

While hunter chases will be subject to a separate rate-card, the course’s Corinthian Cup will increase in value to £12,000.

Both Saturday fixtures in March will be broadcast live by ITV Racing on March 5 and 26.

It’s been a long two years and we can’t wait to welcome members back over the four days of the Cheltenham Festival next month.

Bookings have been flying in and we know members are as keen as ever to return.

The ROA marquee will be situated in the tented village area, as usual, just a short walk from the paddock. The facility provides unreserved seating, TV viewing, a cash bar and Tote betting.

Complimentary racecards and tea and coffee will be available, and hot and cold food will be on sale.

To keep members safe and comfortable, numbers will be limited.

Members can book places for themselves and up to three guests, whilst only daily badges will be available. The marquee is always very popular and after a two-year break, places will sell out quickly. Marquee badges will not be available for purchase on the day.

The prices are £55 per day for ROA members and £65 per day for guests. Places can be booked online via roa.co.uk/events or by calling 01183 385680.

Festival hub

We will host our popular online Festival hub at roa.co.uk, so whether you are racing, or watching from home, you can join in our usual free daily tipping competition and access entries, racecards, owner stories and content.

In the run up to the Festival, we’ll mark your card on the best preview evenings so you have all the tools you need to enhance your enjoyment. Let us know if you are hosting a preview evening and we’ll be happy to include it on our online listing.

Royal Ascot

Members can enjoy a whopping 50% off Queen Anne Enclosure tickets on the opening two days of Royal Ascot on Tuesday, June 14 and Wednesday, June 15.

There is also the opportunity to book 50% discount to the Queen Anne Enclosure on all days (excluding QIPCO British Champions Day and Thursday, Friday and Saturday of Royal Ascot).

Go to the members’ area at roa.co.uk to collect your discount code.

Ascot fine dining discount

Members can also enjoy 10% off fine dining and private hospitality packages (excluding QIPCO British Champions Day, Fireworks Saturday and Christmas Saturday). For more information on packages, and to find out how to book using our exclusive member discounts, go to the members’ area at roa.co.uk.

Free day pass for Racing TV

Have a runner but not able to go racing? The ROA provides a special service which allows members to access Racing TV’s coverage, including Racing Extra, bringing owners to the heart of the day’s action.

For further details and to apply for a unique code to access a day pass, complete the online form at roa.co.uk.

Racing Post Members Club

The Racing Post Members Club is the racing professional’s subscription, offering access to the next day’s digital edition of Racing Post at 9pm each evening, containing news, features, tipping and videos on demand.

Members can enjoy a 25% discount on an annual subscription to the Ultimate package and discounts on monthly options. Check the members’ area at roa.co.uk.

The ROA marquee: always popular

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ROA Forum

MAGICAL MOMENTS Bridget Tully is enjoying the ride with Dashel Drasher

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JOHN GROSSICK

D

ashel Drasher has been one of the brightest smiles on the face of jump racing for the past few seasons. He’s got a distinctive name, a distinguished record, especially at Ascot, and gave jockey Matt Griffiths and sire Passing Glance their first Grade 1 success.

He has carried the silks of ROA members Bridget Tully and Richard Lock with admirable zest, accumulating a CV containing ten victories and counting, including four from just five starts at Ascot, notably last season’s Ascot Chase, which was also trainer Jeremy Scott’s biggest win and just his second at the top level.

He has not been the only string on Tully’s racehorse ownership bow, but has certainly hit the bullseye plenty of times to provide some magical moments for all those connected with him.

Explaining the background to her interest in the sport and racehorse ownership, Tully says: “I had a very enriched childhood, growing up on a farm, I rode from an early age and was a member of the local pony club. From the time that my father owned a racehorse, I was hooked on the sport, taking a keen interest in the horses being trained at local stables.

“Whilst I am technically recorded as the joint owner of the horses, it is a partnership between my husband Patrick, who supports me throughout the trials and tribulations of racehorse ownership on a daily basis, and Richard and Veronica Lock, who are the best joint-owners that anyone could wish for.”

Until recently Tully’s career was in social care management and quality compliance, but she has now taken a part-time job in her local veterinary practice. Her husband is a builder, as is Richard Lock.

She continues: “A friend who was the valet for the Wessex area point-to-points was very interested in getting a pointer and invited me to go with him to Martin Sweetland’s stables to look around; after a few G&Ts we bought a pointer.

Unfortunately, he severed a tendon on one of his early runs and was put to sleep on the course.

“We quickly picked ourselves up and before long had made another purchase.

Bridget Tully (black coat) with co-owner Richard Lock, his daughter Katie (right), jockey Matt Griffiths and groom Helen McKenzie with Dashel Drasher at Haydock

However, she was too much of a lady to race and was sold as a hack.

“This left me with a thirst for pointing and my friend not wanting to continue with the sport. Martin offered to find me an interest in a horse, which led me to Jeremy Scott’s and a mare called So Long, which he and [his wife] Camilla owned and wanted to sell two legs of.

“I am able to sleep at night knowing all of the horses are well cared for” I purchased one and Richard Lock the other; up until this point we did not know each other. This was the beginning of our very lucky and exciting horse partnership!

“I say ‘lucky’ because, first, as owners we appreciate that we have been very lucky in that all of the horses we have owned have won races, and, second, the partnership works extremely well.”

Tully’s racehorse tally is now eight, with two pointers of modest ability, So

Long, who won five points, Gunna Be A Devil, who was purchased in Ireland, Popping Along, Lady Longshot, Dashel Drasher and Drash On Ruby.

She says: “I have owned two point-topointers with Martin Sweetland, then was lucky enough to win five point-to-points with So Long. Richard Lock then bought Gunna Be A Devil and offered me a share, which my husband Patrick kindly purchased for me. We had some magical times with him, winning four chases in total.

“So Long’s first foal was Popping Along, who won three races and then sold as a broodmare; the second foal was Lady Longshot, who also had three wins and is now enjoying life at Holworthy Farm as a broodmare – these were both owned jointly with Jeremy and Camilla.

“So Long’s third foal was Dashel Drasher and her fourth Drash On Ruby, both owned outright by myself and Richard. We also own Lady Longshot’s first foal, who is now a two-year-old, as yet unnamed.”

In terms of the choice of Somersetbased Scott as trainer, Tully says: “That has undoubtedly been down to the welfare of the horses and having every confidence that the horses’ care is paramount.

“I am able to sleep at night knowing that all of the horses are well cared for; they live in the most picturesque stables

News in brief and have variety in their daily routines, from a splash in Wimbleball Lake, a hack on Haddon Hill, to a day’s hunting with a choice of packs. What matters to me is that the stable complex is homely, friendly and has competent staff.”

As for those magical moments, while Dashel Drasher has been a grand provider, they have come in all shapes and sizes.

Tully says: “Whilst it’s nice to win the big races, smaller races and occasions can give you as much pleasure. There have been many magical moments along the way – and enough funny stories to write a book!

“The winning of the Ascot Chase, our first Grade 1, has to be the highlight, although we were unable to be at Ascot due to Covid-19. We watched on TV and were able to shout, or was it scream, him home to our hearts’ content!

We received numerous messages to congratulate us and floated on a cloud for days.

“The other magical race was the day before my 60th birthday; his win at Ascot in a novices’ hurdle was just the potion to forget my forthcoming ‘big day’ as all our friends concentrated on the win rather than the day!

“When Gunna Be A Devil returned to the course after 791 days off and won his race on New Year’s Eve in 2013 was also memorable. Likewise when he won at Perth in April 2015. I was unable to go as we were at an AGM but watched it in Newmarket and then celebrated with our friends at the AGM. Richard was lucky enough to be there and I know it will be in his memory forever.

“Gunna Be A Devil’s pointing debut at Black Forest Lodge also stands out. He was well out in the lead, pulled himself up at where they started, and the jockey eventually rallied him to restart and went on to win the race!

“I should also mention when Lady Longshot eventually won a race at Fontwell after 13 starts – Richard and I just looked at each other in disbelief!”

Seeing Dashel Drasher win over hurdles at Newbury under Rex Dingle at the end of last year would not have been a surprise – he started at 4-1 despite the switch from fences – though Tully

BILL SELWYN

Flexible learning

Dashel Drasher: Ascot specialist

admits their hand was rather forced, while Griffiths’ absence from the saddle following a fatal car crash last October is keenly felt.

Asked for any frustrations when it comes to ownership, she replies: “As Drashel Drasher has improved the handicapper has obviously been hot on our heels, to the point that the rating he has limits the races he can fairly compete in, leading to him returning to hurdles.

“Seeing Matt Griffiths on the sidelines has also been hard as he has grown and developed with our horses, hitting all on his wishlist – a winner at Cheltenham, a winner at Aintree and a Grade 1 winner.”

She adds: “Whilst TV commentators have a tough job and have to report live, it frustrates us that the trainers and sometimes the jockeys get all the recognition, while owners do not get a mention. In Ireland they have all the details of the owners, and comment that the ‘horse won for Mr Jones or Smith’. Here it seems that they just say ‘connections’, apparently forgetting those who pay the bills.”

The bills are not inconsiderable, as any owner knows, but Tully is also quick to emphasise what owning racehorses brings, saying: “The pleasure racing gives us is untold, the people we meet, the adrenaline that the race gives, the art of horses actually racing, together with the pure skill of them jumping.”

What better note to end on, though with her current racehorses and those to come, the end of this owner’s story is hopefully a considerable number of chapters away.

Racing2Learn offers learning and development opportunities for anyone involved in the racing and thoroughbred industries.

A wide range of free courses are offered that can be accessed online in your own time. Topics which may be of interest to owners include a guide to handicapping, the bloodstock industry Code of Practice, racing’s funding, governance, regulation and administration and thoroughbred breeding.

The platform, supported by the British Horseracing Authority and 1st 4sport Learning, provides practical resources through interactive learning courses that support continuous professional development through high quality and flexible learning.

See racing2learn.com.

Horse awareness training

A limited number of places remain available for a horse awareness course being run at the National Horseracing College in Doncaster on February 11.

The day-long course, which includes a horse-handling session, will look at horse behaviour, the theory of approaching horses, dangers of the parade ring etc.

The cost is £85 + VAT per person which includes lunch and refreshments. For further details see thenhc.co.uk, email Georgina Ridal G.Ridal@theNHC.co.uk or call 01302 861008.

Racehorse aftercare

The National Horseracing College offers new opportunities in a wonderfully familiar environment to racehorses coming out of training.

Subject to a six-week trial period and veterinary inspection, horses aged four and over that are sound and able to cope with medium work can enjoy a five-star home, reassuringly familiar routines and outstanding care while helping us to train the next generation of racing grooms and jockeys. Stable vices are accepted.

To discuss your horse’s suitability and terms of donation, transfer, purchase or even loan, please contact Claire Edmunds on 07852 982247 or by email C.Edmunds@theNHC.co.uk.

THE OWNER BREEDER

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ROA Forum

OWNERSHIP MATTERS with Steven Astaire

S

teven Astaire is a retired stockbroker who has been a racehorse owner for 47 years.

He rode as an amateur for 12 years and has been on the ROA board for almost 30 years. He helped to create the owners’ badge scheme, which has been a great benefit to members.

What do you enjoy most about racing and owning racehorses?

I’ve been hooked on racing since I was about ten, when we went to Deauville every year for our summer holidays. I first owned in partnership with my late father after my mother passed away and I took over her racing colours. Owning horses provides one with the highest highs and the lowest lows, it is the whole range of emotions but is also very addictive. For me it is total involvement, discussing with my trainer, being in the paddock and owners’ facilities, hopefully in the unsaddling enclosure and in my case years ago, even riding them.

Which key matters impact most on your ownership experience?

When I first joined the ROA Council as it was almost 30 years ago, owners were lucky to get a cup of tea in a substandard facility. Today, after many years of campaigning, owners often receive five-star service with excellent food offerings and top-class facilities.

This change has had the biggest impact in being an owner in Britain.

What does the racing industry do well for owners and which areas can be improved?

As I’ve said above, things have

Steven Astaire has been involved with the ROA for three decades

improved beyond recognition in the past few years. So many courses have appointed younger graduate chief executives who have been educated at how to ‘give the people what they want’. Owners are now given six or more badges for their friends and family, but syndicates are a separate issue as there is a need to stop the facilities becoming overcrowded. The ROA has been sending out its daily Inside Track email since July 2020 with lots of information for owners, which is also a great move forward.

How do you view the issue of welfare in relation to your horses in training and in terms of aftercare?

Horse welfare is so important. I’ve always picked trainers whom I knew

Great British Bonus The Great British Bonus (GBB) is a prize scheme for the breeders and owners of British-bred Flat and jump horses that race successfully in Britain. Owners, breeders and the winning connections of each horse can win up to £20,000 per eligible race. There are hundreds of races eligible for bonuses this year on the Flat and over jumps.

The scheme is open to GB-bred fillies and mares on both the Flat and over jumps. The qualification criteria is

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would give the horses in their stable the utmost care and attention.

Racecourse veterinary facilities are also much improved and although there will always be casualties, I’m sure they will receive the best care.

Which courses look after owners particularly well?

I’ve not been to all 59 racecourses so will probably miss some that are excellent. From personal experience, Ayr provide a superb lunch in the Western House, I also enjoy Market Rasen, Ascot, Cheltenham, Bangor, Chester, Nottingham, Stratford and Bath, to name a few. On the flip side I can’t think of any that I would class as awful, so on the whole the standard has improved markedly.

as follows: 100% GBB for foals born in GB and sired by stallions standing in GB – up to £20,000 bonus.

50% GBB for foals born in GB sired by stallions standing abroad – up to £10,000 bonus.

Please note the stage 1 registration deadline for 2022 foals for the Great British Bonus is February 28. That date is also the stage 3 registration deadline for 2020 foals.

For info and registration see greatbritishbonus.co.uk.

WELL BRED, TOUGH & CONSISTENT STAKES WINNER

GR.1 SIRE OF CHAMPION STAYER TRUESHAN

HIGH-CLASS STAYER

BY MONTJEU

WON/PLACED IN 8 STAKES RACES

STAKES PRODUCER ON THE FLAT AND OVER HURDLES New dual Gr.1 winner Trueshan and new Gr.2 winner Road To Arc in 2021.

WON/PLACED IN 5 STAKES RACES

OUTSTANDING PEDIGREE Half-brother to 4 Stakes horses descending from the legendary Fall Aspen.

“Bangkok has the ability, looks and temperament to be a top-class performer at stud. He has courage and a constitution second to none.”

Andrew Balding, trainer

NEW SIRE IN 2022 Fee: £3,000 1st October FFR

57% WINNERS TO RUNNERS HIGHEST EARNING SON OF DANEHILL DANCER Gr.1 winner and won/placed in 12 Stakes races.

PATERNAL HALF-BROTHER TO THE LATE JEREMY, A LEADING NH SIRE Fee: £4,000 1st October FFR

BY A LEADING NH INFLUENCE IN MONTJEU Plus a half-brother to 4 Group horses including German Derby winner Wiener Walzer, sire of Grade 1 winner Adagio.

“Walzertakt is a very interesting addition to the GB NH stallion ranks bred on the same cross as Camelot.”

Richard Venn, bloodstock agent

NEW SIRE TO GB IN 2022 Fee: £2,500 1st October FFR

Concessions available

PLANTEUR BANGKOK WALZERTAKT HELLVELYN INDIAN HAVEN

Chapel Stud Ltd Chapel Lane, Bransford, Worcestershire WR6 5JQ 01452 717 342 chapelstud.co.uk

Roisin Close 07738 279 071 roisin@ chapelstud.co.uk

Tina Dawson 07776 165854 tina.dawson@ tdbloodstock.com

TBA Forum

BILL SELWYN

The special section for TBA members

Edwardstone and Tom Cannon (right) captured the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown in December

Novice chasers come to the fore in Grade 1 contests W ith each week of December that passed there was constant success for Britishbreds. Having been unlucky to have been brought down on his seasonal reappearance, Edwardstone has not looked back. Robert Abrey and Ian Thurtle’s homebred son of Kayf Tara followed up a Warwick novice win with a demolition job in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown Park on the opening weekend of the month, winning by a yawning 16 lengths. Sent to Kempton Park over Christmas by Alan King, the now eight-year-old jumped fluently to win the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase.

The day before Edwardstone’s win at Sandown Park, Lossiemouth, a homebred of Lady Cobham’s, sauntered to a 14-length win in the Grade 2 Winter Novices’ Hurdle.

Watching Snow Leopardess soar over the National fences at Aintree was a sight to behold. Already the dam of a three-year-old by Sir Percy, the daughter of Martaline grabbed Graded honours in the Becher Chase. Jumping for fun from the front after the sixth, she fended off fellow British-bred Hill Sixteen by a nose.

She was bred by Marietta Fox-Pitt at her Knowlton Court Stud in Kent and runs in the colours of son Andrew.

The same day and the Crimbourne Bloodstock Ltd-bred Sea Sessions, a

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daughter of Territories, won the Listed fillies’ juvenile hurdle.

On Peterborough Chase day at Huntingdon, there was a surprise winner of the Listed Henrietta Knight Mares’ Standard Open Flat Race in the shape of Malina Jamila. Given an astute frontrunning ride by Jack Quinlan, the now sixyear-old was bred by SW Maundrell Ltd. Last season, that contest was won

by Rainyday Woman. A daughter of Kayf Tara and bred by Pam Sly, she is now in the hands of trainer Paul Nicholls and completed a hat-trick of December victories with a win in the Listed Byerley Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Taunton just before New Year.

The Minster Stud and Mrs Hugh Dalgety-bred Knight Salute, by Sir Percy, continues to climb the juvenile hurdling ladder and followed up his Cheltenham Grade 2 win with victory in the Grade 2 Summit Juvenile Hurdle at Doncaster.

At Cheltenham the same day and the feature event of the December meeting, the Grade 2 International Hurdle, was won

by Guard Your Dreams. Bred by Robert and Jackie Chugg’s Little Lodge Farm in conjunction with Mr and Mrs Chugg, the bay proved tenacious in victory.

One of the feature two-mile handicaps of the season, the Grade 3 Betfair Exchange Trophy was won in good style by the Kirsten Rausing-bred Tritonic, a

son of Lanwades Stud-based Sea The Moon. The same afternoon and Sarah Clifford’s homebred Annsam, a son of Black Sam Bellamy out of the high-class mare Bathwick Annie, took the Listed Silver Cup Handicap Chase.

Paddy Corkery, who sells tractors for a living, may have just four horses in training but the trainer was left celebrating after the Lindsay Suenson-Taylor-bred Master McShee broke his chasing duck at the second attempt in the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick, seeing out the extended 2m3f trip strongly.

It was a Christmas period to remember also for trainer Sam Thomas who landed his biggest success in the Grade 3 Welsh Grand National with Iwilldoit. A widemargin winner of the trial earlier in the month, the son of Flying Legend was bred by the late Reginald Brown.

On the level, the Essafinaat Ltd-bred Dubai Warrior, by Dansili, recaptured his Listed Quebec Stakes crown, while the Shadwell Estate Company Ltd-bred Moqtarreb, by Kingman, won the Listed Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup in Abu Dhabi. There was also stakes success for Bated Breath’s daughter Bipartisanship in the Tropical Park Oaks at Gulfstream Park. She was bred by Ebonos Limited.

Results up to and including December 31. Produced in association with GBRI.

TBA Stud Farming Course returns The TBA held its popular annual Stud Farming Course at the British Racing School in December following a year’s break due to Covid restrictions.

During the three-day course, the wide range of topics covered included understanding pedigrees, sales preparation, critical care of the newborn foal, reproductive management of the mare, stallion management, genetics and parasite control.

Speakers from Rossdales & Partners and the Newmarket Equine Hospital joined stud industry experts and included Dr Simon Curtis speaking on the treatment of limb

deformities in foals from a farrier perspective, and Professor Ken Smith from the Royal Veterinary College speaking on causes of abortion, both of whom have enlightened delegates with their knowledge and expertise for over 30 years.

All guest presenters gave their time generously to allow delegates the opportunity to interact, ask questions and share experiences of the various subject areas.

As part of the course itinerary, attendees had the opportunity to tour the world-renowned specialist veterinary centre at the Newmarket Equine Hospital that provides first

opinion and referral services for horses throughout the UK and internationally.

Despite the inclement weather they also enjoyed a visit to Lanwades Stud by kind permission of Kirsten Rausing, where they viewed the resident stallions and were given an insight into managing visiting mares and working within the covering shed during the northern hemisphere season by Stud Manager Alastair Watson.

The TBA Stud Farming Course will take place again in December 2022 and further information will be available later in the year.

Lectures and tours are integral aspects of the TBA's Stud Farming Course

Abortion subsidy

30-day foal notification

The TBA recognises the vital importance of screening for the presence of EHV-1, enabling a rapid response to positive cases, preventing further spread of the disease and providing necessary information and up to date advice.

While EHV-1 is not notifiable by law we encourage breeders to notify Stanstead House of all cases of equine abortion or neonatal foal death. This allows monitoring of any disease outbreaks for which immediate action is paramount.

A £200 subsidy towards the cost of a post-mortem is available to members who meet the criteria (full terms can be found on our website www.thetba.co.uk/ veterinary/post-mortem-subsidy).

With foaling season arriving swiftly, breeders are reminded that when a foal is bred for racing in Great Britain, the breeder/owner must notify the General Stud Book (Weatherbys) of its birth and whereabouts within 30 days of its birth (day one being the date of birth).

Notification is free and should be done through the online portal: www. weatherbysgsb.co.uk.

If you are unsure as to whether a foal has been notified, visit selim. britishhorseracing.com/potro to check a horse’s status.

Please be aware that 30-day foal notification is different from foal registration. This must still be completed with the General Stud Book in accordance with the legislative

requirements and any other Rules of Racing.

If notification has not been received within the 30-day window, before the horse may be eligible to race, the BHA may require a Certificate of Analysis reporting no evidence of the presence or use of a substance prohibited at all times in a sample collected by the BHA. You will be liable for the cost of the sample collection and analysis, which currently is £425 + VAT (cost of sampling is subject to fluctuation and may vary year on year).

In exceptional circumstances, for example where an individual or company continually fails to comply with the requirement, a foal may not be approved as eligible to run in Great Britain.

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TBA Forum Flat Statistical Awards 2021: winners announced The Queen’s Silver Cup

GODOLPHIN

Leading British-based Flat breeder (Flat earnings)

BBA Silver Cigar Box

FRANKEL

Leading British-based stallion (Flat earnings) In the year of his sire Galileo’s death, Frankel assumed the mantle as not only Britain’s leading sire but also Europe’s.

Juddmonte’s heavyweight brought an end to Dubawi’s vice-like grip on the BBA Silver Cigar Box, which had been won by the Darley stallion for the previous eight years.

With 87 winners in Britain and Ireland amassing £5,209,199, Frankel gained eight new top-level winners in the year, four of whom were successful in Britain and Ireland. Godolphin’s homebred Adayar provided the stallion with his first Derby scorer and was the first threeyear-old colt to take the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in ten years.

The Philippa Cooper-bred Hurricane

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Frankel: Juddmonte sire enjoyed a superb year on the track

Lane, third in the Epsom Derby, won the Irish equivalent three weeks later before adding the Grand Prix de Paris and St Leger to his record.

The fillies were not to be outdone.

Snow Lantern gained Group 1 glory in the Falmouth Stakes for breeders the Keswick family, while Cheveley Park Stud were celebrating in October after homebred Inspiral won the Fillies’ Mile.

Away from Britain and Ireland, Alpinista followed up Listed and Group 2 wins at Goodwood and Haydock Park respectively with a trio of top-level German victories, the first at the expense of subsequent Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Torquator Tasso.

Converge and Hungry Heart took Group 1 honours in Australia, while completing the octet of new top-level winners was the Canadian juvenile scorer Wild Beauty.

Barleythorpe Stud Silver Cup

DUBAWI

Leading British-based stallion (individual Flat winners)

JUDDMONTE

For the ninth successive year Godolphin retained the British breeders’ title in 2021.

Whilst numbers on their side may have helped to keep the Silver Cup in their hands, the season was one of quality for Godolphin. The operation’s homebred success of the season was Adayar. By Frankel and out of the Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up Anna Salai, the bay landed a memorable running of the Derby in the hands of Adam Kirby by four-and-a-quarter lengths. Sent into battle against older horses, he defeated Mishriff and Love in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Yibir, like Adayar one of 2021’s Classic generation, took top honours in the Great Voltigeur Stakes, whilst older horses like Space Blues, winner of the City of York Stakes, Benbatl, winner of the Joel Stakes, and the rapidly progressive Group 3 scorer Real World flew the flag for the older generation.

Away from Britain and Ireland, for which prize-money accrued counts, Godolphin had top-level success with Cascadian in Australia, Albahr, Walton Street and Wild Beauty in Canada and Althiqa, Modern Games and Yibir in the US.

He might have lost his BBA Silver Cigar Box crown but Dubawi, who has just turned 20, retained the Barleythorpe Silver Stud Cup for the fifth successive season.

Four new top-level winners were supplied by the brilliant son of Dubai Millennium, although only one of them will be able to pass on their genes further down the line.

North America was a goldmine to Godolphin last year and Dubawi’s juveniles shone at the top level. At Del Mar, the colt Modern Games, a Group 3 winner at Newmarket, won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in fine style, having been allowed to run only at the last minute, while Albahr, a Listed winner at Salisbury, easily won the Group 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine.

Yibir blossomed after getting the snip, winning the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy and the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes before a pair of assaults on North American soil. Given an ice cool Jamie Spencer ride in the Jockey Club Invitational Stakes, he scythed through for the win. That turn of foot was evident again in the Breeders’ Cup Turf where he

Codes of Practice released online circled the field and ran down the opposition in impressive style.

On home turf, Creative Force made Ascot his own. Winner of the Group 3 Jersey Stakes, he ended his campaign with victory in the Group 1 British Champions Sprint Stakes.

Winner of the Prix Maurice de Gheest as a four-year-old, Space Blues had a truly international campaign.

Having started 2021 with victory in a highly valuable contest at Riyadh in February, he ended his season with impressive victories in the Prix de la Foret and Breeders’ Cup Mile.

The Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) has published the 44th edition of the Codes of Practice on equine disease, in preparation for the 2022 equine breeding season. These are available online only at codes. hblb.org.uk.

For each disease there are

sections which describe transmission and clinical signs, as well as advice on prevention, diagnosis and control of infection. The Codes explain the notification requirements that apply for the four diseases that are notifiable by law: CEM, EVA, EIA and dourine.

Tattersalls’ Silver Salver

ARDAD

Leading British-based first season sire (Flat earnings) Awarded for prize-money accrued through the year in Britain and Ireland, Overbury Stud resident Ardad was the runaway winner, amassing 20 individual winners and £489,941 in prize-money.

A high-class and speedy juvenile, there were high hopes that the son of Kodiac would pass that on to his progeny and he did just that. Fast out the gates, his first winner came on April 5 courtesy of Blue Collar Lad winning at Bath and success continued to flow through the season.

One of Ardad’s biggest days came when taking the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes and his Royal Ascot win was emulated by son Perfect Power in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes. He went on to establish himself as one of Europe’s best juvenile sprinters, winning the Group 1 Prix Morny and the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes.

It was not all about one horse. Eve Lodge defeated the boys in the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes, while Vintage Clarets, a dual winner, was third in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes. There is also the 97-rated Admiral D to go to war with this season.

Unsurprisingly there was strong demand for his stock come the yearling and foal sales, while his fee has been increased to £12,500 for the forthcoming breeding season. * The Statistical Awards cover the calendar year 2021 and relate to racing in GB and Ireland only – statistics provided by Weatherbys.

GBB deadline looms for 2020-born Flat fillies The deadline for 2020 Flat fillies to register for Stage 3 is fast approaching with registrations closing at midnight on February 28, 2022. This final stage ensures that racing owners receive 65 per cent of any future GBB bonuses the filly wins.

Registrations can be made on the Great British Bonus website or via phone with the Weatherbys Stud Book. Late registrations are not permitted so early completion is advised. Those with dual registered fillies are reminded that they must also pay their Stage 3 Jumps nominations before the filly races on the Flat or by August 31, 2023, whichever comes soonest.

So far the scheme, which rewards connections with bonuses of up to £20,000 per race, has paid out over £4.3m to breeders, owners, trainers, jockeys and stable staff, and pinhookers where applicable,

covering 311 races, with around £3m being paid out directly to Flat winners. There have been numerous multiple Flat winners of the scheme, including Blackberry, a three-time GBB winner, who amassed £60,000 worth of bonuses for her connections.

Subsequent black-type performers who started their career winning a GBB eligible race include the Group 1 Prix de Royallieu scorer Loving Dream, Group 2 Hungerford Stakes winner Sandrine, Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge and Group 3 Albany Stakes heroine Sandrine, and the Listed Rockingham Stakes winner Canonized, who last year won four GBB bonuses for connections.

The programme book has opened up for 2019-born onward GBBregistered fillies in 2022, with the inclusion of Class 2-5 novice, maidens and condition races, which are open to three-year-olds and up, having been brought into the scheme.

Covering protocols notice The TBA will be informing its members of the advised 2022 covering protocols by the end of January.

By providing a Covid-safe working environment, members can assure

business continuity during the covering season in the light of the ongoing spread of the virus and any emergence of new strains that are ongoing threats.

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TBA Forum

Stud staff photography competition winners The TBA has announced the winners and runners-up for the 2021 stud staff photography competition, held in support of Racing Welfare’s ‘Racing Staff Week’.

A record number of entries were received across the three categories and the task of shortlisting and selecting winners and runners-up of each category was a very difficult process due to the high calibre of entries. The running theme in all of the images submitted was a clear representation of the dedication shown by all stud staff and their valuable contribution to the industry.

The first category titled ‘Best Individual Photograph’ had to express what the photographer most loved about their job, followed by the second category ‘Best Teamwork,’ which needed to demonstrate to the judging panel a team spirit within a stud environment, and lastly (the most popular of the categories), ‘Best #myoffice’, which needed entrants to show why they felt their ‘outdoor office’ was better than the rest! The competition offered valuable prizes, with the winners receiving £350, and runners-up receiving a £150 cash prize.

The TBA would like to thank everyone who entered into the competition.

The at G

Category 1 – Best Individual Photo Winner – Petra Mikeskova Runner-up – Chantal Wooten

Category 3 – My Best Office Winner – Annalee Hampshire Runner-Up – Mark Pennell

Category 2 – Best Teamwork Photo Winner – Joanna Grabowska Runner-up – Ruth Johnson

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THE OWNER BREEDER

Breeder of the Month Words Howard Wright

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BREEDER OF THE MONTH (December 2021)

ROBERT ABREY & IAN THURTLE

BILL SELWYN

Patience is among the greatest virtues in bloodstock rearing, especially for those involved in the jumping code, and its reward for breeding and racing partners Robert Abrey and Ian Thurtle is joint nomination as TBA Breeder of the Month for December, following the exploits of Edwardstone in bookending the month with Graded novice chase wins at Sandown and Kempton in their two-tone blue colours.

Almost three years to the day since he made his debut in a Newbury bumper in November 2018, Edwardstone put behind him the unwelcome memory of having failed to get round in his first two chases by winning a Warwick novice event.

The-then seven-year-old had showed high-class form over hurdles last year, best expressed by third placings in well contested handicaps at Newbury and Aintree, on each occasion conceding a stone and more to those who finished in front of him, but chasing is proving to be his strong suit.

His December victories, by 16 lengths in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown and by ten lengths in the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase on Kempton’s Boxing Day card, have put him at the top of the tree, delighting the Abrey and Thurtle families to the point that Jeanette Thurtle, speaking on their behalf, still seems taken aback by their good fortune.

Jeanette, whose daughter Alice is in charge of nominations and marketing at Tweenhills Stud after two years as the TBA’s communications executive, says: “We just get so much pleasure out of

Edwardstone: bookended the month by winning a pair of Graded novice chases

the breeding and racing, but when we started, we never thought we’d end up with a horse as good as Edwardstone.”

The start of the journey came relatively recently, although the partners – Abrey is a farmer; Thurtle is in haulage, property and green waste processing – have been friends “for years and years,” according to Jeanette, who adds: “They got to know each other through hunting and point-to-pointing, and we live in the same village, East Beckham in Norfolk.”

She recalls the early days, saying: “They bought their first mare, Forget The Ref, from Ireland in March 2008. Robert trained her for point-to-points, and Ian would go up every day to ride her.”

With one point-to-point success to her name in Ireland, Forget The Ref went on to win seven similar events for the Norfolk partnership, and ended her racing career with a record of being placed second or third in 14 other races from a total of 27 outings.

Jeanette goes on: “They saw the mare Nothingtoloose, the dam of Edwardstone, win a race at Cottenham, after which they went to the Doncaster

spring sales in May 2009 and bought her for £22,000. When both horses were retired from point-to-pointing, it was thought that since they were really nice mares, they should breed from them.

“It was never the intention to have more than two mares but last year we lost Forget The Ref, dam of our Grade 2-placed mare Midnightreferendum.

So now we have just the one mare, Nothingtoloose who we keep with us, along with the offspring before they go into training.

“Nothingtoloose is a lovely pattern of a mare. We haven’t bred from her every year, and her first foal, a filly by Forget The Ref’s sire Dr Massini, never ran and we sold her as a broodmare, so at the moment Edwardstone is her only foal to have raced.

“She has an unraced five-year-old fullsister to Edwardstone called Nothing To Chance, who is owned by Ian and Robert and like him is in training with Alan King, and there’s a two-year-old gelding by Blue Bresil, who’s with us and will go into training in time. She doesn’t have a yearling and, unfortunately, we didn’t get her in foal last year. But we’ll send her to be mated this year, although we’re a little undecided where she will go.”

Reflecting on the partners’ bloodstock philosophy, Jeanette says: “All our horses are brought along quietly. We usually send them into training as four- or fiveyear-olds to run in bumpers first. We don’t believe in rushing them at all.

“Edwardstone was four when he went into training. He’s done wonderfully well for us, especially since he’s been running against very good horses, and yet he seems to be getting better with age. We get so much pleasure and enjoyment out of him.”

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THE OWNER BREEDER

65

Lift

off!

It’s not rocket science – register your 2020 GBB Flat fillies before stage 3 closes on 28th February 2022.

Missing out on GBB bonuses of up to £20,000 is not an option.

The Great British Bonus got 2022 off to a start that’s out of this world.

QUICK CHANGE broke her maiden at Wolverhampton on Friday (7th) to win the 150th £20,000 bonus paid out since the GBB scheme launched a little over 18 months ago. The following day, Lucy Wadham-trained MARTELLO SKY won her 6th GBB bonus, beating three-time GBB winner ANYTHINGFORLOVE. The impressive mare – the legacy of breeder the late Mr T Wood – has won eight of her 12 starts.

This means that of the £4.2 million awarded so far, £3 million has been won by British-sired fillies and mares in fillies and mares-only races – surely a coup for the fillies programme in Britain.

Charlie Newton, operations executive

GBB Jumps winners:

104

GBB Jumps bonus payments:

GBB Flat winners:

207

£1.2m

GBB Flat bonus payments:

Total bonus payments:

£4.3m

£3m

65% of all GBB bonuses paid out to owners For more information on eligibility, visit greatbritishbonus.co.uk TBA GBB TOB Mailers A4_February.indd 1

Information correct at time of going to press

18/01/2022 16:28

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The product has been extensively trialled by the UK’s leading fertility consultant – Tullis Matson from Stallion AI Services. A number of stallions have been studied pre and post Five Star Fertility supplementation, with significant improvements in both in vitro semen characteristics and in vivo conception rates.

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Thoroughbred stallions have an intensive workload during the season.

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67

Vet Forum: The Expert View

ANGULAR LIMB DEFORMITIES: evaluation and treatment in foals and yearlings

R

ecognising, diagnosing and understanding angular limb deformities or deviations in young thoroughbreds has always been an important part of both stud management and veterinary care.

Helping these future athletes to achieve a protective conformation is vital with respect to their welfare, athletic career and sales potential.

Terminology

Angular limb deformities (ALDs) refers to deviation of the limb in its frontal plane, or side to side when evaluating the individual from the front or back. A Varus deformity is a medial deviation of the limb below the location of the problem (e.g. Toeing in) whereas a Valgus deformity is a lateral deviation of the limb below the location of the deformity (e.g.

Toeing out, Figure 1). This is as opposed to a flexural limb deformity, which is in the sagittal plane, or front to back when evaluating the individual from the side.

How do ALDs occur?

ALDs can be both congenital and acquired. Congenital causes include incomplete ossification or immature cuboidal bones within the carpal (knee) or hock joints as well as periarticular laxity. These issues tend to result in valgus knees and hocks. We also know that ALDs can be inherited and that as a breed, thoroughbreds tend to be varus (toe in). Over the last few decades fast horses have tended to be varus; this is not to say that toeing in makes them faster but rather that some faster horses have coincidently had such a conformation. With a preference to breed from horses with successful racing careers, this has led to a selective pressure for horses that have a varus conformation.

All long bone growth occurs at the growth plate or physis, located at either end of the bone. With respect to horse conformation we are particularly concerned about the growth plates just above the knee joints and fetlocks. If growth occurs unevenly across these growth plates as the foal develops, the angle of the joints below them will be affected and so termed acquired ALDs. Causes of acquired ALDs come about through overloading of the physis (growth plate) leading to a physitis

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Close monitoring of foals and yearlings is essential to detect any issues as early as possible

(inflammation of the growth plate).

The growth plates are subjected to increased stress by an over-conditioned or over-exercised foal as well as overly hard ground. Additionally, a foal with offset knees will struggle to maintain good conformation due to having poor alignment to start off with.

Horses bear more weight through the inside of the leg than the outside. It follows that it is the inside of the growth plate that is inhibited with respect to the outside and so causes the foal to toe in.

However, taking all of this into account, due to their genetic predisposition to

Valgus knees Figure 1 Examples of Valgus and Varus ALDs

have varus fetlocks, even the most well managed foal can still and regularly does show a fetlock varus.

Foals with varus fetlocks are far more likely to develop into yearlings with varus knees if left untreated (Figure 2). A toed in front fetlock will put more stress on the inside of the distal radial physis (growth plate above the knee) and so slow the inside growth rate as the foal develops leading to a varus knee as a yearling.

Importance

Carpal and fetlock injuries in racing thoroughbreds are common and account

Varus fetlocks

By Matthew Coleridge MRCVS effect. The growth plate at the bottom of the radius, above the knee, closes at about 18 months of age and as with fetlocks, intervention needs to take place far in advance of this to allow time for correction to take place.

Treatment

Figure 2 Examples of yearlings with varus knees and fetlocks. Image A shows a bilateral example. Image B is a unilateral left forelimb example

for a large majority of the reasons that horses spend time out of training.

Intervening during their development to help them achieve a protective conformation gives them the best chance of maximising their potential and both enjoying and prolonging their racing career.

Diagnosis

Evaluating young stock is certainly best achieved using a team approach involving owners/managers, farriers and veterinarians. Regular evaluation from a very young age is key, as is examination of the foal while static and while walking.

Knowledge of the family is also helpful and should be considered. Regular evaluation also leads to easier evaluation as the foal learns what is being asked

of it. Knowing what is conformationally normal as a foal develops is also very important as certain traits will improve naturally during development and others will not. Being able to differentiate between those which are normal and those which need intervention is imperative. Foals born with or that develop severe deviations should also be evaluated radiographically.

Growth plates stop growing or ‘close’ at different times during development.

The growth plate at the bottom of the cannon bone, above the fetlock, closes at about four months of age although it may still be visible radiographically for some time after that. In a foal with a deviation, intervention should be enacted far in advance of this four months of age cut-off, as it will need time to take

Conservative treatment options can include exercise restriction, corrective farriery and nutritional management. I use hoof correction and toe extensions to manage foals and yearlings with minor deviations or those that are too young for surgery. These conservative techniques are effective and can often correct minor issues without needing to resort to surgical treatment options.

In general, I will manage a foal for a fetlock deviation conservatively until it is eight weeks of age. Judicious use of conservative management methods should be used as over-trimming or excessive extensions can make the foal sore and lead to other problems. I recommend conservative management where possible of yearlings until at least 11 months of age.

Surgical treatment options for ALDs can be split into those thought to accelerate growth and those that slow growth. The periosteum is a fibrous tissue surrounding the bone itself that provides a blood supply to the outer surface of the bone among other functions. It has been thought that this tissue can restrict the bone’s growth and so cause conformational issues. The periosteal strip or elevation technique involves opening the periosteum just above the growth plate on the side of the leg that is not growing enough. For example, for a foal with a valgus (toeing out) fetlock, the periosteal strip is performed

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69

››

Vet Forum: The Expert View

Figure 3 Examples of surgical procedures to slow one side of the growth plate. From left to right: Staple, Screw and Wire, and Transphyseal screw

›› on the outside of the leg. This is a quick

procedure that can be done with the foal under short acting anaesthesia and achieve a cosmetic result. This procedure, once very popular, has fallen out of favour and there is a lack of scientific evidence to support its effectiveness.

In reality it has been replaced by more effective and consistent methods of achieving correction. Retardation techniques or procedures to slow one side of the growth plate involve placing an implant or construct in the bone that bridges the physis. These include surgical staples, the Screw and Wire technique and the Transphyseal Screw technique (Figure 3).

In my opinion, the surgical treatment of choice for correcting ALDs is the transphyseal screw (Figure 4). In general, it achieves the most effective and cosmetic outcome of the surgical options. The procedure involves placing

a screw across the growth plate on the side of the leg that is growing too fast.

For example, for a foal that is toeing in, the screw is placed on the outside of the leg; this allows the inside of the growth plate to grow faster and so correct the deviation. The screws are placed under a short general anaesthetic and often can be removed with the horse standing using a mild sedative once the desired correction is achieved.

When evaluating fetlock ALDs I usually resort to surgical intervention with transphyseal screws if the desired correct conformation has not been achieved by eight weeks of age. This gives the transphyseal screw eight to ten weeks to work and limits the risk of over-correction. For knees, I recommend surgical intervention, again with transphyseal screws at 11-12 months of age. Knees generally correct faster and so the implants are usually removed after

Figure 4 Radiographs of a foal’s fetlock after surgery to place a transphyseal screw on the outside of a front fetlock to correct a varus (teoing in) deviation and a yearling’s knee after surgery to place a transphyseal screw on the outside of a knee to correct a carpal varus

six to eight weeks.

The complication rate with the transphyseal screw procedure is low and consists mainly of cosmetic blemishes and mild swelling, which resolves with time. More serious complications, although very rare, do occur and these would include infection and screw breakage. Although serious, these issues are usually resolvable without any longterm detriment to the horse.

Summary

Regular evaluation of young foals is key to detecting individuals showing signs of or likely to show ALDs. If detected early there are good treatment options to achieve correction and the majority of these foals can be significantly, if not completely, improved. It is imperative to achieve good fetlock conformation as this will hugely limit any knee ALDs as yearlings.

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The Finish Line with Simon Sweeting Overbury Stud heads into the 2022 season off the back of one of its best years under the stewardship of Simon Sweeting. A good season with its graduates on the track was buoyed by the achievements of resident stallion Ardad, for whom a flying start at stud consisted of 23 first-crop winners led by Group 1 scorer Perfect Power. Anticipation also runs high for the prospects of Jack Hobbs, whose first crop have just turned three, as well as Frontiersman, whose first yearlings have been well received by breeders. Time will tell whether either can fill the void of the pensioned stud stalwart Kayf Tara, but there is plenty for those at Overbury Stud to look forward to nonetheless.

Interview: Nancy Sexton

I

came to Overbury Stud in September 2000. Kayf Tara retired to stand with us that autumn, but then it was foot and mouth the following year, which was a bit painful. Kayf Tara still covered 160-odd mares and Bertolini arrived the following year, and it went from there. Bertolini became the champion first-crop sire of his year – I still have the European champion first-crop sires list from 2005 in my office, with him at the top and Galileo in 11th.

they eat and sleep but they’re on it when you need them to be on it. That’s very similar to himself – he’s a chilled character, very straightforward to deal with.

It was lovely that he got off to such a fast start last year as it meant he ended up getting a book of 160 mares. He had runners in every juvenile race at Royal Ascot that he qualified for, which was some achievement. He’ll cover around 175 this year and we’ve got some super mares lined up. A lot of people, including smaller breeders, have done well with him, which is tremendous to see.

It’s a 220-acre stud that sits on the Overbury estate. Tim Holland-Martin bred some very good horses here before me, the likes of Grundy, College Chapel and Mummy’s Pet. I’ve got a very good team in place. My assistant manager Jo Brown has been here since day one and is the lynchpin of the place. Dan Matty is responsible for the stallions and we also have two very good senior staff in Matt Jones and Kirsti Windsor.

Jack Hobbs retired at the same time as Ardad and is one of those horses who makes life easy. Obviously he was a tremendous racehorse but breeders who come to view the stallions usually pick him out on looks as well. He has a huge presence to him and he’s a lovely mover with a lot of quality. He’s covered good books of mares, so has every chance, and now it’s in the lap of the gods. It would be great if he could sire a couple of good horses on the Flat. He had two twoyear-old runners last year and both were placed – one of them, The Gadget Man, was third at Newmarket for Ralph Beckett and looks promising.

OVERBURY STUD

Ardad was extraordinary last season for us. I remember ringing round the trainers this time last year and Mick Easterby saying to me, ‘I don’t know how good they are but they’re all sober’. What he meant was that they’re sensible horses, and that was something all the trainers said, that

Ardad: Britain’s champion first-crop sire will cover around 175 mares this year

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We’re very pleased with Frontiersman’s first foals. They’re all peas in a pod, they look just like him. We covered 65 with him in his first year and then the foals came out last year, and we got just over 100 mares to him – I sent the dam of Thyme Hill. It’s going to be harder for him to make it than Jack Hobbs but he has enough on the ground to have a chance.

Frontiersman was an extremely good racehorse, especially considering what a tough time he had as a young horse. He had two colic operations as a youngster and then an eye infection which took

a long time to clear up. Yet he was still rated 116 – he must have been tough to overcome all that. And you wouldn’t find a better bred horse, being by Dubawi out of Ouija Board. He has Dubawi about him but I also see a bit of his damsire Cape Cross.

It’s an interesting year for Cityscape as he has his largest crops running for him.

The trainers like them as they’re sound, genuine horses. Schiaparelli has a very strong fan club. He produces good, tough runners. Ronald Pump has been second in four Grade 1s – he deserves to get his head in front in one.

It’s always been very difficult to get stallions and then once you have one, you have to get lucky with them.

The market is more focused now on precocious speed and less appreciative of middle-distance horses. But there’s no point fighting against that if that’s what it wants.

We bred a couple of smart two-year-old winners last year, including Churchill’s first stakes winner, Ladies Church, and Love Interest, a Time Test filly who won well on debut for Roger Charlton.

Another filly, Spanish Baroque, out of Pacifica Highway, won twice for Peter Brant and Jean-Claude Rouget.

We’re in a good place at the moment with Ardad flying the flag and others coming through. And I can look out and see Kayf Tara, and be reminded of what he achieved. It was extraordinary how dominant he was. He’s 28 now and in great shape. He has his routine, he goes out in the paddock and has a buck and a kick. The quality of our broodmare band is also improving, which shone through on the track. We also had a good foal sale and sold well at the yearling sales. I take great satisfaction from all of that.

Frankel’s Cracksman: the Champion racehorse by the Champion sire.

With first-crop juveniles in training with Champion trainers...

Charlie Appleby (two), Andrew Balding (four), Ralph Beckett, Simon & Ed Crisford (three), André Fabre, John & Thady Gosden (three), Francis-Henri Graffard, William Haggas, Richard Hannon (three), Mark & Charlie Johnston (three), Jean-Claude Rouget (three), David Simcock, Saeed bin Suroor, Archie Watson.

Breeding the future £17,500 Oct 1, SLF Dalham Hall Stud, UK