Thoroughbred Owner Breeder by The Owner Breeder

THE

£6.95 FEBRUARY 2024 ISSUE 234

Pastures new Brian Toomey loving life in the training ranks

PLUS

Depth at Darley

Sam Bullard relishing roster

Value sires

Guiding breeders on a budget

Harry Redknapp

Owner excited by current team

www.theownerbreeder.com

Competition breeds excellence Leading Sires of 3YOs in 2023 BY BLACKTYPE WINNERS

Sire

Stakes Winners

Group Winners

Fee

FRANKEL

£350,000

KINGMAN

£125,000

Into Mischief

$250,000

Galileo

Deceased

Lope de Vega

€125,000

Quality Road

$200,000

Source, TDN Sire Lists, Northern Hemisphere-Born Progeny

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

www.juddmonte.com

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 X: @TheOwnerBreeder Instagram: theownerbreeder 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:

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The Owner Breeder is owned by the Racehorse Owners Association Editorial views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the ROA or TBA Our monthly average readership is 20,000

THE

Racehorse Owners Association Ltd 12 Forbury Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 1SB Tel: 01183 385680 info@roa.co.uk • www.roa.co.uk

£6.95 FEBRUARY 2024 ISSUE 234

Pastures new Brian Toomey loving life in the training ranks

PLUS

Depth at Darley

Sam Bullard relishing roster

Value sires

Guiding breeders on a budget

Harry Redknapp

Owner excited by current team

www.theownerbreeder.com

Cover: Brian Toomey, in his debut season as a trainer, with his first winner Wake Up Harry at Bowstridge Farm in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire Photo: Bill Selwyn

Edward Rosenthal Editor

Educational initiatives show horseracing is a force for good T here’s a Harry Redknapp theme across this issue of Owner Breeder. Not only is the former top-flight footballer and manager the subject of this month’s backpage interview in which he discusses his love of racing and ownership interests, but he also crops up in our features with Grace Muir, the driving force behind equine charity HEROS, and Brian Toomey, the former jump jockey who has now embarked on a training career. Redknapp is a patron of HEROS, the retraining and re-homing centre based at North Farm Stud in the village of Fawley, near Lambourn. Under Muir’s management, HEROS has expanded from a charity that simply located new homes for former racehorses to embrace the education of young people at the operation’s base. Children and students who have experienced challenges in mainstream education have an opportunity to utilise the facilities at HEROS, effectively taking the classroom out of the school and onto the farm. Set in 200 acres within an area of outstanding natural beauty, with horses, goats and geese for company, it’s no surprise that the provision is proving immensely popular (see feature, pages 48-51). Just as the Racing to School programme introduces children to the sport by using the racecourse as a classroom, the HEROS education programme is also showcasing the world of horses and racing to a young audience. With the sport’s relevance to the wider British public seemingly diminishing (see Howard Wright’s column, page 20), these initiatives should surely not just be commended but their stories publicised and supported by the entire industry. Brian Toomey is known as the jump jockey who literally came back from the dead following a shocking fall at Perth in 2013. Incredibly, he also managed to return to the saddle two years later before calling time on his career in the saddle and following a path towards taking out his training licence.

The Irishman has now set up in Chalfont St Giles and he enjoyed his first winner in December when the Redknapp-owned Wake Up Harry came home in front at Kempton. It’s not easy starting a training business from scratch, especially without a primary backer, and Toomey was delighted to get that first strike on the board for Redknapp. “The win meant a lot to me because of the owner’s kindness and support. When I was saying two years ago that I wanted to start training, he was always at the other end of the phone,” Toomey explains (The Big Interview, pages 22-26). “A year after I first met him, he invited me down to his place in Sandbanks and we just hung out for the day along with his wife, Sandra. They treated me like a friend.” Sam Bullard has spent many years in the

“These stories should be publicised by the entire industry” stallion game so when he says that Darley’s current roster is its strongest ever, you have to sit up and take note. Alongside the imperious Dubawi, a host of younger names are coming through to excite the team, as Nancy Sexton discovered when she spoke to Bullard at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket (see feature, pages 42-46). Dubawi’s fee may be beyond most breeders’ pockets but there are plenty of affordable sires out there. James Thomas runs the rule over those available at a fee of £8,500 and under and pinpoints the stallions he believes represent value at stud (see feature, pages 29-40).

THE OWNER BREEDER

Contents

February 2024

News & Views ROA Leader

Time to move on with betting levy reform

TBA Leader

Aftercare a collective responsibility

News

Injection of prize-money at Newbury

Changes

News in a nutshell

Howard Wright

Popularity of British racing in decline

22 7 9 10 12 20

Features The Big Picture

Hewick's thrilling King George

The Big Interview

With jockey-turned-trainer Brian Toomey

Value sires

Identifying opportunity in the stallion ranks

Sam Bullard

Darley roster on a strong footing

HEROS

Grace Muir's ambitious retraining charity

THE OWNER BREEDER

16 22 29 42 48

››

EUROPE’S HIGHEST-RATED FIRST SEASON FLAT STALLIONS

2023’s joint-top rated horse in Europe matches ability with value…

Son of Frankel

Defeated in the Juddmonte International Son of Frankel Defeated in the Prince of Wales’s Son of Frankel

Son of Frankel

STALLION

HIGHEST OR

FEE

Mostahdaf

128

£15,000

Ace Impact

128

€40,000

Mishriff

127

€17,500

Vadeni

125

€18,000

Paddington

125

€55,000

Little Big Bear

124

€27,500

Onesto

123

€12,500

Bay Bridge

122

€6,000

Native Trail

122

€17,500

Modern Games

122

£30,000

Triple Time

121

£10,000

Mutasaabeq

120

£6,500

Shaquille

120

£15,000

Mac Swiney

119

€8,000

Erevann

119

€8,000

Chaldean

119

£25,000

Source: Weatherbys Bloodstock Services

He is also a half-brother to a dual Gr.1-winning miler and from the family of two Champion sprinters!

New for 2024

Frankel - Handassa (Dubawi)

The outstanding dual Group 1 winner Stands at Beech House Stud, UK To book a nomination or arrange a viewing contact Will Wright: +44 (0)7787 422901 | nominations@shadwellstud.co.uk View our stallion roster: www.shadwellstud.com

£15,000 January 1st SLF

Contents 42

›› Breeders' Digest

Europe's loss is Japan's gain

Sales Circuit Quality to the fore

Dr Statz Analysis of a polarised mare market

Sexton Files The influence of Heart's Cry

The Finish Line With Harry Redknapp

53 54 60 62 80

Forum Vet Forum Foals: the first six months of life

Equine Health Update Supporting maiden and barren mares

ROA Forum Cheltenham Festival marquee returns

TBA Forum Celebrating the Flat Statistical Awards

Breeder of the Month Sullivan Bloodstock for Crambo

THE OWNER BREEDER

64 67 72 74 78

Did you know? Our monthly average readership is

20,000

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THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT

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Born To Rock Debut winner

Dorothy Lawrence 2nd Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes Gr.3

“‘...has done exceptionally well over the winter, she has really filled her frame.” KARL

BU R K E

“...has wintered well, has grown and I fully expect her to progress this year.” Dawn Charger won Prix Eclipse Gr.3

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K AR L

BUR KE

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ROA Leader

Charlie Parker President

Stalemate on betting levy reform must be overcome W

ell, 2024 is now very much up and running and as I write we have already had a number of Premier racedays and the first of the Sunday evening fixtures. It is fair to say that the ‘soft launch’ of Premier days has elicited a mixed reaction. Anything that is described in those terms is bound to be somewhat underwhelming, but there are a series of initiatives being worked on around presentation, broadcasting and promotion that will see the concept evolve over the coming months. The first Sunday Premier fixture, held at Plumpton on January 7, was run for £90,000 more than the equivalent fixture in 2023, which was welcomed by owners and trainers alike and enjoyed by a buoyant crowd of over 2,600 people, the highest figure on record when that Sunday fixture does not fall on New Year’s Day weekend. It also featured an amazing recovery by jockey Joe Anderson on Transmission to win the inaugural running of the valuable Sussex Stayers Handicap Hurdle. The first Sunday evening slots, with enhanced prize-money of £145,000, saw 203 entries at Wolverhampton and 122 at Chelmsford, with 80 horses declared at both tracks. The owners interviewed at Wolverhampton all referenced the prize-money as the incentive to run. There were some negative comments from a couple of jockeys but interestingly some quotes from stable staff were more positive. The key is to analyse the betting data when it is available to gauge what impact the time slot will have on betting revenues, levy income and media rights uplift. The industry is committed to a trial of six of these fixtures in early 2024 so we will have a good view of this aspect of the new strategy fairly quickly. Unfortunately, the New Year has also seen the same old stalemate with the bookmakers over betting levy reform. It is not even a case of one step forward and two back anymore, more like a brick wall. The industry presented its case for a review based upon the common interest that racing and bookmaking share, which clearly showed the need to increase levy returns, partly to offset inflation and partly to absorb some of the dramatic rises in the cost of owning and running racecourses. I can’t quite believe that the industry asked for an early review in 2021 and almost three years later, despite positive comments at the time, we have now reached the year of the original planned review. Despite accepting the need for reform, the bookmakers’ offers failed to tackle the point at issue, i.e. this is a review of the levy and not what they contribute through other channels into racing. The government is obliged to review the Horserace Betting Levy in the spring, but it seems almost certain now that the minister Stuart Andrew will have to intervene in the process, something which he has not been keen to do, preferring an agreed position between racing and betting. It may be that the bookmakers were playing a waiting game in

the hope that there would be a change of government and the levy would slip further down the agenda, but we are now looking at an autumn general election. In any case, a Labour government could well be more stringent on perceived problem gambling and look at levy reform as a way of looking after the racing industry. The petitions committee has confirmed that a parliamentary debate around affordability checks will be held on February 26, following racing’s petition exceeding the threshold of 100,000 signatures. This remains a key issue for 2024 and beyond, as there have been some worrying financial updates from betting operators pointing towards the checks as a significant reason for the marked

“It seems almost certain now that the minister Stuart Andrew will have to intervene in the process” downturn. Sense must prevail to avoid a big reduction to revenues. Away from racing politics, one item at the top of the news lists in recent weeks has been the horrendous weather over Christmas and the early part of 2024. Witnessing at first hand the work that goes on in racing yards and stud farms despite those challenging conditions is truly inspiring and demonstrates the passion that the staff involved have for their horses. Rain, floods, gales, and freezing conditions have all been prevalent, but our horses still need looking after. Caring for and training the horses is a tough and physically demanding business at the best of times but doing it whilst having to deal with the worst the elements can throw at you demonstrates the dedication and professionalism of the industry’s workforce. However, a new year brings new excitement and new dreams, with the first of the 2024 foal crop on the ground and exciting twoyear-olds fueling owners’ dreams for the season ahead. Good luck to you all, whatever your involvement in the racing game.

THE OWNER BREEDER

Dream Ahead PROVEN GR.1 SIRE OF SPEED

64 Stakes winners/performers Inc. Gr.1 winning sprinters GLASS SLIPPERS, DREAM OF DREAMS, DONJUAN TRIUMPHANT, and Gr.1 miler AL WUKAIR.

Promising broodmare sire

From just eight crops already the broodmare sire of Gr.1 horses – Poptronic, Lightsaber, Texas, and many more. A great outcross.

Bearstone Stud

The source of speed

Leading Sires of Gr.1 Sprinters from 2019 to 2023 No Nay Never

Fee €150,000

G1W G1Wins 4 6

Dream Ahead £6,500

Kodiac Dark Angel

3 3

5 5

€35,000 €60,000

( Active sires, 5f-6f, 3yo+ by Marray Thoroughbred Services)

 bearstonestud.co.uk Fee: £6,500 X-TWITTER @BearstoneStud Oct 1st SLF  +44 (0)1630 647197  +44 (0)7974 948755 - Mark Pennell

TBA Leader

Philip Newton Chairman

Aftercare responsibility lies with entire sport I

n Westminster Hall on December 6, George Eustice, the Conservative MP for Camborne and Redruth and a Defra minister for nearly a decade until 2022, moved the motion “that this House has considered the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) and horse welfare,” during which he proposed the HBLB should allocate £12 million a year specifically to racehorse aftercare. The debate can be found easily by directing a search engine to find Eustice’s name and horse welfare, but I heard this suggestion straight from the horse’s mouth at a BHA parliamentary dinner in November, when I sat next to our honourable friend. Let’s be clear: much good intention and initiative goes on within the industry to plan and provide a clear pathway for the responsibility and delivery of welfare. In the majority of instances, breeders and owners do provide ‘cradle to grave’ care and provision for their horses, but there are always ones who slip through the net. It’s this section of the population that must be provided for. Reviewing the current situation starts with the Horse Welfare Board, with the first point to be made that this is an advisory committee with, currently, no funding or funds to allocate to aftercare. Then there is Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), which recently published its three-year strategy and relies heavily on a substantial charitable bequest to do much of its excellent work, which includes a vulnerable horse scheme. Last month I discussed regulation and the importance of action before imposition. George Eustice’s proposal of diverting Levy Board funds makes this case well. However, HBLB is not a money tree and besides substantially contributing to prizemoney, it supports other vital projects. Taking 12 per cent of the total budget would seriously compromise an already challenging landscape. Provision for the future regarding the horses we breed, race, breed from and find different roles for, is a collective industry responsibility, a job for anyone and everyone who has a stake of any kind in a thoroughbred, for which funding must be provided. Breeders currently pay a voluntary foal levy, while owners pay a levy of £1.25 on race entries. Both, whilst welcome, only scratch the surface if the ambition is to provide a resource that can deal with all issues relating to the aftercare needs of the British thoroughbred. Maybe a new charitable fund managed by RoR would work. Its administration would focus on ensuring the highest standards of aftercare, and there would be transparency throughout the industry to provide a safety net and, just as importantly, to inform the general public and influence attitudes towards our sport. I would also give this fund the task of promoting and

communicating the high standards that the thoroughbred industry adheres to already. It’s no good having the best product and not displaying it in the shop window with clear signage. Being on the front foot and proactive in communications is essential to create the proper public perception. However, first and foremost the racing industry needs to understand how much this approach will cost, allowing there is sufficient data available to reverse engineer, working back to a number, while remembering that only a minority of the horse population will need critical/intervention care. Administration of

“Everyone benefits from the horses and we all should share the cost in securing their futures” the fund should include financial support for bone fide retraining facilities, with which will come accountability, productivity standards and KPIs. No easy rides! Funding this vital and compulsory addition might involve four principal contributors: breeders, who start off the journey; owners, responsible for the racing part of the cycle; sales companies, collecting a modest levy each time a horse is sold and if the animal has a non-UK vendor, an introductory payment that reflects those made by breeders and owners at a first-ownership registration stage; and racecourses, the end-product consumer, paying a small levy per runner. This is not just a matter for breeders; nor is it only the responsibility of owners. It is an industry issue, because everyone benefits from the horses and we all should share the cost in securing their futures. These thoughts are provided as a discussion paper. They do not seek to impose anything, but rather to act as a stimulus to address an issue that cannot be left unaddressed any longer. Let’s get talking, and more importantly let’s get doing!

THE OWNER BREEDER

BILL SELWYN

News

Newbury’s programme will see boosted purses across both codes for its most prestigious races and also at grassroots level on the Flat

Sky’s the limit at Newbury as prize-money hits £7 million in 2024

ewbury racecourse Chief Executive Julian Thick has hailed its media rights deal with Sky Sports Racing as the reason for a 13% increase in prizemoney at the Berkshire track in 2024. The uplift will see total prize-money hit £7 million this year across both codes, shared between 31 fixtures, 11 of which are designated as premier meetings under new BHA guidelines. Newbury’s first premier fixture is on February 10, with the day’s two Grade 2 contests, the Game Spirit Chase and Denman Chase, each seeing their prize funds increased by £15,000 to £85,000. Amongst other notable increases during the National Hunt season, the Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase, staged on March 2, jumps in value by £40,000 to £100,000. Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes day, Newbury’s biggest Flat meeting, will see enhanced purses, with the Group 1 mile contest run for £400,000, a rise of £55,000 on 2023. Other Pattern races to rise in value include the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes (up £10,000 to £100,000) and Group 3 World Trophy (up £15,000 to £85,000), while at grassroots level all Class 5 handicaps in the Flat core season will be staged for a minimum of £11,000, up from £8,650 last year. Thick said: “We have been able to make two successive years of signiﬁcant advances in our prize-money mainly due to our new media arrangements with Sky

THE OWNER BREEDER

Sports Racing and our Board are pleased to be able to do so at a time when the industry really needs such an investment. “It is well known there are significant headwinds facing racecourses and further prize-money increases in years to come will be very much dependant on Newbury being able to navigate these and create increased commercial returns through other trading activities such as growing attendances, that can then be shared with our industry partners.” Charlie Liverton, Chief Executive of the Racehorse Owners Association, said: “It is welcome news to see Newbury increasing its prize-money by 13% in 2024. “Equally important is that the investment is being made across all of the 31 fixtures, not just the 11 premier fixtures, as it is critical to ensure owners of horses running at Newbury across all classes are rewarded with increased returns. The staging of Class 5 races on the Flat for a minimum of £11,000, an increase of over 25%, is particularly welcome.” Newbury’s broadcasting deal with Sky Sports Racing and The Racing Partnership, which distributes pictures to betting shops, runs until 2029. The track had previously partnered with Racecourse Media Group and Racing TV.

Prize-money boost at Jockey Club tracks

The Jockey Club has revealed that prizemoney at its 15 racecourses will increase

by £1.1 million in 2024, taking the figure past £60m for the first time. In total £60.1m will be offered across 334 fixtures, with the organisation’s executive contribution rising by £700,000 to £31.8m. The Jockey Club also stated that it will extend its existing commitment to share financial information with the Thoroughbred Group by providing details regarding business performance and revenues, including media rights money. Fellow racecourse group ARC is not planning to follow suit. Nevin Truesdale, Chief Executive of The Jockey Club, said: “Our mission is to power racing’s future and to ensure that our sport thrives for generations to come. That would not be possible without our participants and all those whose jobs not only help British racing prosper but rely on the industry. “So, while we continue to take important steps to improve our business efficiency in the face of significant and unprecedented economic challenges, there is also an ongoing focus on investing across our estate and in participants, which includes a commitment to prizemoney. “This has led us to some very difficult decisions in our financial planning for 2024 and we are pleased to be able to deliver an increase in prize-money investment in these very challenging circumstances.”

Stories from the racing world

Finalists announced for Industry Employee Awards overall Employee of the Year and their yard/stud.

Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards 2024 – the finalists and their employers: David Nicholson Newcomer Award Bethan Nelson (Warren Greatrex) Molly Roberts (Ed Walker) Hollie Wiltshire (Alan King)

Leadership Cheryl Armstrong (Charlie Fellowes) Andrew McIntyre (William Haggas) Eamonn O’Donnabhain (Tom Lacey) Rider/groom Vicki Boyle-Atkins (Richard Phillips) Lyndsey Bull (Ian Williams) Alice Kettlewell (Karl Burke) Stud staff Noel Challinor (Northmore Stud) Jack Conroy (Chasemore Farm) David Porter-Mackrell (Newsells Park Stud)

BILL SELWYN

The finalists have been revealed for the 20th anniversary of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, which will take place at Ascot racecourse on Monday, February 26. The Princess Royal, a former three-day eventing European champion, will be in attendance as the guest of honour. Eighteen award finalists will take part in a final round of judging on the day of the event, with the winners and overall Employee of the Year announced at the evening ceremony, to be hosted by ITV Racing’s Ed Chamberlin. More than 180 award nominations were received from across the racing and breeding industries, with the judging panel selecting a ten-person shortlist in each of the six categories before confirming the top three employees for each award. Each individual winner and runner-up will receive a share of the £128,500 prize-money, generously provided by Godolphin, with £30,000 in total for the

Princess Anne: guest of honour

Dedication Andrea Kelly (Tim Vaughan) Linda Murphy (Rae Guest) Brian Taylor (Luck Greayer Shipping) Community Award Joanne Flaherty (Chelmsford City racecourse) David Letts (Racing With Pride) Lauren Semple (Police Scotland/ Scottish Racing Academy)

A new five-year deal has been signed between Ascot racecourse and the UK Tote as the partners look to continue to build on their successful pool betting collaboration. Pool bets placed on racing at Ascot will continue to support liquidity in the UK pool, which has been operated by the UK Tote since October 2019. This includes bets placed on course under the Bet with Ascot brand, remotely via tote.co.uk, and through bookmakers and third-party partners. The World Pool initiative, which features select days of high-class global racing open to international punters through a co-mingled pool, has proved a great success at Ascot, with overseas turnover up 22% since 2020, and will be expanded in 2024 and beyond. The media rights generated by World Pool racedays has helped tracks increase revenue, with Ascot bolstering prizemoney as a result of the extra income.

BILL SELWYN

Ascot and UK Tote sign deal extension

Royal Ascot has proved immensely popular with World Pool punters

Alastair Warwick, Chief Executive of Ascot racecourse, said: “We are delighted to have a new agreement in place with the Tote which will allow us to build on what has been achieved domestically and internationally over the last four years. “As one of the original architects of World Pool, alongside the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Tote, we are excited to support the further development of World Pool to ensure both racing fans

and the sport benefit from it. “We were thrilled to see that Royal Ascot produced five of the top six World Pool days by total turnover in 2023 and also that QIPCO King George Day performed so well after some targeted race planning changes. “We will ensure that Ascot’s top-class racing continues to be at the forefront of British racing’s efforts to see that the sport is watched and bet on by a growing domestic and global audience.”

THE OWNER BREEDER

Changes

Racing’s news in a nutshell

People and business Richard Linley

Champion Hurdle winner aboard Gaye Brief in 1983, later becoming a BHA inspector of courses, is awarded an MBE for services to racing.

Chelmsford racecourse

Essex track completes new long-term media rights extensions with Sports Information Services and Racecourse Media Group.

BHA fees

Kielan Woods

Jockey handed 45-day ban for repeatedly breaking the rules on whip use, having been referred for the third time in 13 months.

David Eustace

Brings his training partnership with Ciaron Maher in Australia to an end to join the ranks of trainers in Hong Kong for the 2024/25 season.

Damien Oliver

Legendary Australian rider strikes on his final three rides to end a career that yielded three Melbourne Cups, two Cox Plates and 3,189 wins.

Board signs off increase of 6% for participants in order to help fund industry strategy work.

Betting and Gaming Council

Ballymore

Building group ends its six-year association with the Grade 1 contest for novices over two mile and five furlongs at the Cheltenham Festival.

Royal Bond Novice Hurdle

Chair Brigid Simmonds is stepping down, with current Chief Executive Michael Dugher taking on the role in April.

Fairyhouse contest, won by the likes of Istabraq, Hurricane Fly and Envoi Allen, loses its Grade 1 status and will be run as a Grade 2 this year.

Julian Richmond-Watson

ITV Racing

Classic-winning owner-breeder, current Chair of The Thoroughbred Group, is awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List.

Increased number of fixtures set to be televised in 2024 including races from morning meetings broadcast live during The Opening Show.

Horse obituaries

Betfred

Extends its backing of the Derby and Oaks at Epsom by a year until 2026. In total six races will be sponsored at the Betfred Derby Festival.

Falbrav 26

Brilliant performer won eight Group 1s including the Eclipse and Juddmonte International before standing at stud in Japan.

Gesskille 7

Young chaser captured the Grand Sefton Chase for The Nevers Racing Partnership and trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero.

Perfect Drift 25

Dynaformer gelding was a popular performer in the US, winning the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap and earning $4.7 million.

Tony Martin

Trainer handed six-month suspension of his licence, suspended for two years, and fined €11,000 after Firstman’s failed drugs test in 2023.

THE OWNER BREEDER

Forestry 27

Grade 1-winning son of Storm Cat was later a successful stallion in the USA and South America, siring 38 Group/ Graded winners.

Notlongtillmay 8

Talented chaser for owner Alan Rogers and trainer Laura Morgan suffers a fatal injury when falling in a Grade 2 contest at Kempton.

MUTASAABEQ Brown, 16.0hh | 2018 Invincible Spirit ex Ghanaati (Giant’s Causeway)

Bred in the Blue Mutasaabeq represents the best of breeding and both his sire and his maternal family have a rich heritage of producing successful stallions. His sire Invincible Spirit has delivered around 150 black-type winners in his long career, and some of his sons have proved to be potent at stud themselves – not least I Am Invincible, a multiple champion sire in Australia, and Kingman, who has quickly established himself as a major force in Europe. 2023 Group 1-winning sprinters Regional and Shaquille are by other sons of Invincible Spirit who have stood in Britain. Invincible Spirit’s half-brother Kodiac is also one of Europe’s leading sires, supplying among others the elite sprinters Campanelle, Fairyland, Hello Youmzain and Tiggy Wiggy. Out of the outstanding 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes heroine Ghanaati, by Giant’s Causeway – the breed-shaping sire of Shamardal and, notably, the damsire of Kentucky stallion sensation Gun Runner. Ghanaati is a half-sister to Champion Stakes runner-up Mawatheeq and Oaks third Rumoush and to the dam of 2023 Tattersalls Stakes winner and Dewhurst runner-up Alyanaabi. She is out of the dual Listed winner Sarayir, a daughter of Mr Prospector’s blue hen mare Height Of Fashion. Fillies’ Mile and Princess of Wales’s Stakes winner Height Of Fashion is best remembered for her top-class sons Nashwan, Unfuwain and Nayef, all of whom sired multiple winners at the highest level. She is also the ancestress of Baaeed, officially rated the best horse to have raced in Europe since Frankel and now an exciting young sire, and his dual Group 1-winning full-brother Hukum. Furthermore, Height Of Fashion was a three-parts sister to Burghclere, whose Group 1-winning daughter Wind In Her Hair became the dam of Japan’s exceptionally gifted champion and epoch-defining sire Deep Impact. There are few better stallion-making families in the stud book. There is also compelling evidence of quality in Mutasaabeq’s more recent pedigree, as every one of Ghanaati’s other six progeny to have raced also won, including the highly rated Afaak and Wafy.

£6,500 October 1st

Contact the team today Joe Bradley 07706 262046 | Joe.Bradley@nationalstud.co.uk Jamie Jackson 07794 459108 | Jamie. Jackson@nationalstud.co.uk

Changes

Racehorse and stallion

Movements and retirements

Defunded

Six-year-old gelding, a Grade 1 winner on dirt in the US, is purchased by Dr Muhaideb Abdullah Almuhaideb’s HDB Racing Stable and will be aimed at the Saudi Cup.

A Plus Tard

Cheveley Park Stud’s four-time Grade 1 winner, including in the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup when ridden by Rachael Blackmore for trainer Henry de Bromhead, is retired aged ten.

Bubble Gift

Group 2-winning son of Nathaniel will begin his stud career as a dual-purpose sire at Haras du Grand Courgeon in France. His fee is €3,500.

Charles Dickens

Son of Trippi, winner of three Grade 1s, will stand alongside his father at Drakenstein Stud in South Africa having retired as champion miler.

Frodon

Popular chaser whose three Grade 1 wins included the 2020 King George VI Chase under regular rider Bryony Frost is retired aged 11.

Authorized

Derby winner, now 20, sire of dual Grand National victor Tiger Roll, moves to Capital Stud in Ireland after four seasons at stud in Turkey.

Annapolis

Son of War Front, winner of the Grade 1 Turf Mile, is retired from racing and will stand this season at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky for $12,500.

Global Citizen

Talented hurdler/chaser for owners The Megsons and trainer Ben Pauling, winner of the 2022 Grand Annual at Cheltenham, is retired aged 12.

People obituaries

Bolshoi Ballet

Son of Galileo, winner of two Grade 1s in the US, is retired from racing to take up stallion duties at The Beeches Stud in County Waterford.

Sceau Royal

High class hurdler/chaser is retired aged 11 – he won 16 races for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, including in Grade 1 company.

Zambella

Talented mare for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, winner of eight Listed mares’ contests and £289,000 in prize-money, is retired aged nine.

Panthalassa

Saudi Cup and Dubai Turf winner for the Yoshito Yahagi stable is retired and will embark on a stallion career at Arrow Stud in Japan.

Kessaar

Mill Reef Stakes winner, based at Tally-Ho Stud for the last five seasons with two crops of racing age, will continue his stallion career in Italy.

THE OWNER BREEDER

Peter Deal 84

Owner of 1997 Champion Hurdle hero Make A Stand who served on the Racehorse Owners Association Board between 1999 and 2007.

Johnny Tolton 101

Racing groom looked after 1949 Derby winner Nimbus; he received a trophy from Epsom Chairman Brian Finch in 2022.

JT Lundy 82

Former President of Calumet Farm in Kentucky was later convicted of bank fraud and bribery, serving a four-year prison sentence.

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Horse at grass

The Big Picture

THE OWNER BREEDER

Kempton

Hewick’s unlikely victory For much of the three-mile King George VI Chase, Irish raider Hewick looked more likely to pull up than contest the finish of Kempton’s Christmas highlight. Yet the persistence of jockey Gavin Sheehan paid dividends and the Shark Hanlon-trained gelding finished with a flourish to overhaul 2022 winner Bravemansgame (orange) and favourite Allaho, taking the prize by a length and a half. Photos Bill Selwyn

THE OWNER BREEDER

The Big Picture

THE OWNER BREEDER

Kempton

C’est magnifique! Il Est Francais was hailed in some quarters as the new Kauto Star after his brilliant performance under James Reveley in the Grade 1 novices’ chase named after the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero. Il Est Francais, trained in France by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm for Richard Kelvin-Hughes and Nicolas de Lageneste of Haras de Saint-Voir, is set to bypass the Cheltenham Festival next month but could be aimed at the Gold Cup in 2025. Photos Bill Selwyn

THE OWNER BREEDER

The Howard Wright Column

BILL SELWYN

Horseracing badly off the pace in popularity stakes

Billy Loughnane: overlooked despite an outstanding season

iers Morgan is not everyone’s cuppa tea; he’s not mine most of the time, but reacting to the result of the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year in December, he made a point that should reverberate around British racing as a reminder of the hard work that will be needed to fulfil the oft-stated and recently repeated ambition to increase numbers participating at the sport’s various levels of entry. “Trying to get my head around two of England’s women footballers winning SPOTY in successive years, while male sporting superstars with great personalities like Rory McIlroy, Frankie Dettori & Ronnie O’Sullivan have never won it,” Morgan posted on X. “No offence to Ms Earps, but shouldn’t it have been given to someone who actually won something in 2023?” Ms Earps is the England women’s goalkeeper, known for mouthing an obscenity after saving a penalty in the 2023 FIFA World Cup final, in which her side lost to Spain. Long odds on to win SPOTY, she has 1.1 million followers on TikTok and 772,000 on Instagram. Dettori has 209,800 Instagram followers, 97,700 on X but does not appear on TikTok. The differences probably told. Despite an astonishing run of success in his supposed retirement season, Dettori was unable to repeat his third place in SPOTY in 1996, the year of his Magnificent Seven at Ascot. Nor was he able to get near Sir Anthony McCoy’s heavily industry-promoted run to the award in 2010, racing’s only winner in a competition that was begun by subsequent Racecourse Association Chairman Sir Paul Fox in 1954, or Hollie Doyle’s third spot in 2020. Around the same time that Dettori was finishing among the also-rans in SPOTY, he exited at the very first voting stage on I’m a Celebrity, not counting two contestants who voluntarily gave up the ghost in the Australian jungle earlier. British racing’s boast about being the second most popular sport clearly had no impact here, which in turn illustrates the difficulty facing those responsible for pushing a new strategy of expansion based on premierisation.

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One other SPOTY category further emphasised the point, with the Young Sports Personality of the Year being decided among Mia Brookes, Penny Healey and Charlie McIntyre. No mention of Billy Loughnane, who turned 17 last March, having had his first ride in October the previous year, and ended 2023 with a total of 130 winners, putting him fourth in the overall list and 89 clear of the next apprentice. Loughnane’s achievement was phenomenal, but it counted for nothing in the SPOTY award, which went to Ms Brookes, 17 last month, for her achievements in snowboarding. Yes, snowboarding.

“Loughnane’s achievement was phenomenal, but it counted for nothing in the SPOTY award” The word brings to mind one of comedian Peter Kay’s most famous sketches, in which he tells the tale of his family going abroad and his father encountering garlic bread for the first time. “Garlic bread?!” he exclaims. “Garlic?! And bread?! Am I hearing you right? No thanks, I’ve got some milk roll in the case.” Snowboarding?! Snowboarding?! Well, its premier young exponent beat rivals from archery and wheelchair basketball, and at least it can be considered a sport in view of its athletic requirements, a qualification that may come under scrutiny later this year, when Luke Littler walks away with the 2024 young SPOTY award, if not the major trophy itself. Darts star Littler is less than a year behind Loughnane in age, but he will be a distance in front if someone does not find the answer to boosting British racing’s ratings in the next few months.

The Big Interview

A remarkable

FORCE

Former jump jockey Brian Toomey beat the odds to recover from life-threatening injuries and is now putting his fortitude to good use in his new career as a trainer at his idyllic base in Buckinghamshire Words: Edward Rosenthal

ake the northbound tube from Harrow-on-the-Hill through the area once dubbed Metro-land, a journey described eloquently in Sir John Betjeman’s 1973 documentary of the same name, and you are transported from the suburbs to the countryside in a matter of minutes. The Metropolitan line terminates – or begins, depending on your point of view – in Buckinghamshire at its northern branch and it is here, in the leafy surroundings of Chalfont St Giles, that Brian Toomey has settled into a new life as he takes his first steps on the training ladder at Bowstridge Farm. For Toomey, 34, the picturesque yard, previously occupied by Martin Bosley, really represents pastures new, the latest chapter in a story that at one point seemed certain to fall into the abridged category following a horrific fall at Perth in 2013. More on that later. On this chilly January afternoon, the trainer, who moved in only in October, enthuses over the challenge ahead as he gives a tour of the facilities, which include an indoor school, six-furlong gallop and a two-and-a-half-furlong canter loop, plus a schooling strip. “Oisin [Murphy] has already been

down here and was very impressed,” says Toomey, promptly showing a video on his phone of the three-time champion jockey praising the amenities. “It’s a beautiful spot and so relaxing for the horses.” I ask how the location compares to Croom in County Limerick, Toomey’s home village where he fell in love with horses despite not having a racing background. “There’s more wildlife here,” he responds, suddenly pointing out two deer, almost completely hidden, nestled at the bottom of one of the paddocks. “They are there every morning when I’m going up the gallop. They’re becoming like pets.” Growing up on a dairy farm, a career in horseracing was not initially in the script for Toomey but the passion soon took hold – the Flavins, a famous Irish racing family, were neighbours – and after taking riding lessons his father brought him a point-to-pointer, which he rode and trained with some success. Toomey’s mother, a nurse, worked at the same hospital as trainer Brian Meehan’s late father Conor, a top orthopaedic surgeon. They arranged for the young man to move to England to work for Brendan Powell, who was then renting Meehan’s yard in Lambourn,

THE OWNER BREEDER

››

BILL SELWYN

“I was only 23 when I had the accident – I’m still young, fit and ambitious”

From County Limerick to Chalfont St Giles: Brian Toomey is enjoying life in the training ranks

Brian Toomey

THE OWNER BREEDER

The Big Interview ›› having attained his Leaving Cert aged 18.

“They thought it was a good idea to come over as Brendan was using conditional jockeys at the time,” Toomey explains. “I spent a couple of years with Brendan, rode a couple of winners, then went to Donald McCain. “I won on some decent horses in the north of England, including [future Stayers’ Hurdle winner] Cole Harden, and made a few contacts. “You go through your career wondering why you’re not getting the opportunities that others have. You feel hard done by because you rate yourself as having more ability than the next lad. “I was just a handful of winners away from losing my claim when I had my accident at the age of 23.”

Wake Up Harry, owned by Harry Redknapp, provided the young trainer with his first winner at Kempton in December

World turned upside down

The word accident doesn’t – cannot – convey the seriousness of what happened at Perth racecourse on July 4, 2013. Toomey, riding favourite Solway Dandy in a handicap hurdle for conditional riders, took a crashing fall three out. What followed will be well known to many racing fans, but the jockey had to be resuscitated after losing consciousness – he was clinically dead for around seven seconds – and estimates on his survival chances were as low as 3% after he sustained life-threatening head injuries. Incidentally, one of the few people to see Toomey in the immediate aftermath was his weighing-room colleague and best friend James Reveley, three times champion jump jockey in France. “He came down to the hurdle and saw me when I was dead, as it were.” For two weeks he was in an induced coma in the intensive care unit at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, remaining in hospital for over five months in total. Swelling on the brain meant that part of his skull had to be removed. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) prepared a statement on behalf of then Chief Executive Paul Bittar, lamenting his passing. And yet, amazingly, 738 days after the fall, the jockey labelled ‘Miracle Man’ was back on a racehorse, riding Kings Grey over hurdles at Southwell, having convinced the BHA’s doctors he was good to go. On reflection, it wasn’t the right call from either party. “I put a project together to detail other sportsmen and women that got back after suffering serious injuries,” Toomey says. “But how could I be at no greater risk than AP McCoy or any other jockey? I’d lost consciousness and had a metal plate in my head.”

THE OWNER BREEDER

The comeback was short-lived. Most owners and trainers, unsurprisingly, were unwilling to put him up on their runners. The episode also scuppered a lucrative pay-out from the scheme covering jockeys who have suffered career-ending injuries. Toomey knows better than most the risks attached to National Hunt racing. In Ireland he rode out for his distant cousin,

JT McNamara, at his pre-training yard. McNamara – “his talent in point-to-points was unbelievable” – was an outstanding amateur rider who was paralysed in a fall at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival and died three years later. JT McNamara’s cousin, Robbie McNamara, was also left paralysed after a fall at Wexford in 2015. It begs the question – why even try

BILL SELWYN

Brian Toomey

and return to the saddle after everything he knew and had been through? “I had nothing to prove,” Toomey states. “But I hadn’t reached that point where I’d ridden a big winner. That was something I wanted to achieve. “I didn’t get that big winner, but I’d come home after riding a horse like Cole Harden and I’d be beaming – that would keep the drive going for a very long time.

“After I’d ridden a winner, I was always hoping people had seen it and I’d get opportunities. I thought I was one of the best conditionals around – why wouldn’t I get a chance if a trainer’s regular rider was out with a broken collarbone? The biggest thing in racing is hope. “If I hadn’t come back, I would have got that insurance money. But it’s given me the drive that I can achieve my goals.

No one thought I would be allowed to return, let alone ride again.” So how does Toomey reflect on the fall and injury, which has changed the direction of his life so dramatically? “People go through things in their life that they have to overcome. It was just something that happened to me. I’m glad I was only 23 when I had the accident because I’m still young, fit and ambitious.

THE OWNER BREEDER

››

“I probably didn’t deal with everything that happened after in the best way, including some of the decisions I made, but it wasn’t due to the injury, more that I was young and trying to rush things.” With his career as a professional jockey over, Toomey embarked on a path towards training, spending a year as assistant to Dr Richard Newland – “the way he did things was very simple but it was good system” – and taking all the necessary courses. He says: “This has been my goal for the last six or seven years. I was always doing something in that time to get me a step closer to taking out my licence. “It hasn’t happened as quickly as I wanted but I’m doing this all off my own back without major finances. “When I heard that Martin was retiring, I got in touch and asked to look at the yard. When I drove up to the gates I thought ‘Wow – how come I’ve never heard of this place?’” Bowstridge Farm is owned by the Carey family, who are involved in the

“I’m living out my dream and just want to continue growing” construction industry – “so we could easily build another 40 boxes if needed!” – and have had a number of horses in training over the years. The relationship between trainer and landlord is working well. “When I had my first winner they came over with a bottle of champagne,” Toomey says, smiling. “They’re excited about my business growing. “The family are very thoughtful and supportive. It makes me more comfortable, knowing that they’re there for me, and they can see how much I’m putting into it. “I know other people were interested in the yard so it’s a big deal to get the opportunity here. They’ve been racing with us when we’ve had a runner and I couldn’t wish for better landlords.” That first win, five days before Christmas, was provided by Wake Up Harry, a gelding owned by Harry Redknapp, now recognised as much for his on exploits on reality television – he was crowned ‘King of the Jungle’ on I’m a Celebrity in 2018 – as his career in top-

THE OWNER BREEDER

Brian Toomey

GBR

The Big Interview

Toomey on Kings Grey at Southwell in 2015, his first ride back following his injury

flight football as a player and manager. Toomey says: “The win meant a lot to me because of the owner’s kindness and support. When I was saying two years ago that I wanted to start training, he was always at the other end of the phone. “A year after I first met him, he invited me down to his place in Sandbanks and we just hung out for the day along with his wife, Sandra. They treated me like a friend.” Wake Up Harry’s victory had added poignancy. Toomey’s father, Johnny, was able to watch his son succeed in his new venture just weeks before he died during the early hours of 2024. “My mother FaceTimed me the day after Harry won and I spoke to my father face to face,” Toomey says. “He suffered badly with Parkinson’s and MS and was in bad health, but my dad got to see my first winner [as a trainer] before he passed away at 3 o’clock on New Year’s morning.” In addition to Redknapp’s support, others to have sent horses to Toomey include Kia Joorabchian, the man behind Amo Racing, and Dundee-based owner Jimmy Fyffe. The link with Joorabchian came about by chance. Having watched an Amo horse, Remarkable Force, go through the ring at Tattersalls unsold in October, trainer Alice Haynes told Toomey to call the owner directly if he wanted to find out more about the gelding. So he did exactly that. “Kia had enjoyed a big winner the week before with King Of Steel,” Toomey says. “He knew who I was having seen me on Luck on Sunday. I enquired about Remarkable Force and he told me he liked

to back young lads – the horse arrived at my stable the next day.” Toomey is keen to keep his band of owners as informed as possible – “I prefer to communicate with them directly rather than speak to racing managers” – as he looks to build on a promising start to life in the training ranks. He says: “I’m lucky to be in such a peaceful setting – it’s the perfect spot to train from. We don’t have 50 horses trotting against us or chasing us on the gallops in the morning. The horses can go out on their own, be turned out in the pen for a bit of grass or have a buck and a squeal in the indoor school. “My licence is dual purpose, but I believe there are more opportunities on the Flat. That’s not to say I’ll never train jumpers from here. “I individualise a horse’s training programme and focus on their strengths and weaknesses; this job is about training the mind as well as the body. It’s easier to train a horse when the horse is enthusiastic and well in himself. “I’m always coming up with new ideas – I think you have to be obsessed with progress. I’m out there all day long, feeding first thing in the morning and last thing at night. People were nearly in bed by the time I had my first winner; this game is full on, but I love it.” He adds: “Right now, I’m living out my dream and just want to continue growing. That’s as simple as it sounds. I’ve made some good connections and have some good support. “Apart from the injury, people wouldn’t know me for the career I had as a jockey. As a trainer, I’m determined to make Toomey Racing a success.”

MATTERS OF FACT Twilight Son Ulysses Sire of 7 Black Type horses in 2023, including the promising 2yo filly

Sire of 3 Classic placed horses from his first 2 crops and the

BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND

UK’S LEADING 3RD CROP SIRE IN 2023 *

BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND, a Stakes winning 2yo and placed in the Gr.2 Queen Mary Stakes, Royal Ascot.

The undefeated FEIGNING MADNESS, another exciting Classic prospect for Ulysses in 2024.

2023 yearlings:

Top price:

Average:

Top price:

£160,000

£32,654

160,000gns

Both figures are far higher than ANY other proven UK-based sire standing for £6,000 or less in 2024

* By earnings, both in the UK & Ireland and in Europe

Fee: £6,000 (1st Oct. SLF)

Fee: £9,000 (1st Oct. SLF)

FACTS DON’ T LIE! Cheveley Park Stud Tel: 01638 730316 • www.cheveleypark.co.uk • enquiries@cheveleypark.co.uk • X-TWITTER@CPStudOfficial

A BRAND PASSIONATE ABOUT THE GREAT BRITISH THOROUGHBRED

GR.1/GR.2 SIRE ON THE FLAT, OVER HURDLES AND JUMPS

52% WINNERS TO RUNNERS Tough, sound and versatile progeny, from 2yo’s up. PATERNAL HALF-BROTHER TO THE LATE JEREMY A leading NH sire of Gr.1 jumpers, Our Conor, Appreciate It, Corach Rambler, etc. Trueshan

Gran Diose

Champion Stayer and triple Gr.1 winner

Dual Gr.2 Chase winner and Gr.1 second

WELL BRED, TOUGH AND CONSISTENT STAKES WINNER OUTSTANDING PEDIGREE Half-brother to 6 Stakes hoses including Gr.1 winner Matterhorn and Gr.2 winning 2yo and 3yo The Foxes, descending from Fall Aspen. Only son of Australia to stand in GB. WON/PLACED IN 8 STAKES RACES Including Gr.2 York Stakes, York, 1m2f, and Gr.3 Classic Trial, Sandown, 1m2f. FIRST BOOKS INCLUDE STAKES PRODUCERS/PERFORMERS ON THE FLAT AND OVER JUMPS Fee: £3,000 1st October FFR

Concessions available for Planteur and Bangkok

PLANTEUR BANGKOK WALZERTAKT HELLVELYN

Chapel Stud Ltd

Roisin Close

Chapel Lane, Bransford, Worcestershire WR6 5JQ 01452 717 342

07738 279 071 roisin@chapelstud.co.uk

chapelstud.co.uk

@ChapelStud

Fee: £4,000 1st October FFR

Value sires

Smart MOVES It might be one of the most difficult areas of the market to navigate but with inexpensive options ranging from proven Group 1 sires to some exciting new names, there is plenty of value to be found for breeders on a budget Words: James Thomas

Speed on speed

High among the thoroughly proven options is Dream Ahead, whose 64 stakes performers are headed by four Group 1 winners, namely Al Wukair, Donjuan Triumphant, Dream Of Dreams and Glass Slippers. Colts, fillies, juveniles or older horses, this proven source of speed can get you just about anything. He stands at Bearstone Stud for just £6,500. Bungle Inthejungle continues to prove a consistent source of speedy and precocious types. The sire of Nunthorpe Stakes heroine Winter Power made a notable addition to his roll of honour in 2023 with Givemethebeatboys. The colt not only won the Marble Hill Stakes and ran third in the Phoenix Stakes, but he fetched a cool £1,100,000 from Bronsan

LARAGH DE BURGH/TALLY-HO STUD

alue is, of course, a relative concept. But for breeders operating on a budget, it is also an essential part of their mating plans. The importance of value was brought into sharp relief last autumn and winter when the foal and yearling markets were subject to some significant turbulence. Commercial breeders who pull some smart moves now will find future sales much more smooth sailing, and the good news is there is no shortage of options available. From speed sires to Classic producers, the statistically sound to the new retirees, we’ve run the rule over all the available names at £8,500 and under to help take the legwork out of finding value for money from your nomination fees.

Persian Force: high-class two-year-old stands alongside his sire Mehmas at Tally-Ho Stud

Racing at the Goffs London Sale. Bungle Inthejungle stands at the Burns family’s Rathasker Stud at a fee of €7,500. He has 14 black-type performers on his record, as does his Rathasker studmate Gregorian, who is available at €4,500. Speed has been the hallmark of so many of Cheveley Park Stud’s most successful stallions, and now the baton has been passed to Haydock Sprint Cup and Diamond Jubilee winner Twilight Son. The son of former Cheveley Park stalwart Kyllachy has sired 18 black-type performers from four crops of racing age, a list that includes the dual Group 3-winning Aria Importante, King’s Stand Stakes second Twilight Calls and the Listed-winning, £360,000 breeze-up graduate Beautiful Diamond. Twilight Son stands at a fee of £6,000. Tally-Ho Stud’s Inns Of Court finished his first season with runners on 28 winners at a strike-rate of 31 per cent, as well as four stakes performers. His black-type quartet features Megarry, winner of the Blenheim Stakes. The son of Invincible Spirit remains at a fee of €5,000. Another young sire by Invincible Spirit at €5,000 is Yeomanstown Stud’s Invincible Army, the sire of 13 winners in 2023. His most notable runner to date is the Natalia Lupini-trained Kitty Rose, the Ingabelle Stakes scorer and Staffordstown Stud Stakes runnerup. She holds early entries in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Irish Oaks while there should be more to come from the Ralph Beckett-trained Invincible Molly, the winner of her last two starts, and Bengurion, who won on debut at the back end for Charlie Johnston. Land Force, new to Hedgeholme

THE OWNER BREEDER

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GEORGE SELWYN

Value sires

A’Ali: first foals by Newsells Park Stud’s speedster caught the eye of a number of good judges at last year’s winter sales

›› Stud, may not have posted a stakes

winner in his first crop but 21 of his sons and daughters passed the post in front giving him a strike-rate of 32 per cent. His highest-rated runner is the royal homebred Serried Ranks, who defeated subsequent Sirenia Stakes scorer Starlust to win a valuable Goodwood nursery. Land Force, a son of No Nay Never, has been clipped into £2,500 for 2024. Newmarket is home to Bobby’s Kitten, the Lanwades-based Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner by Kitten’s Joy. The £5,000 option has sired five stakes performers, led by Kirsten Rausing’s high-class homebred Sandrine, the winner of Group 2 prizes at two, three and four. Monaasib also supplied an early indication of his capabilities by running a close second in the Beresford Stakes while Kitty Kitana is a high-class performer in California. Last year’s juveniles, meanwhile, include top Saudi Arabian performer Almotahed. British breeders on the lookout for an injection of speed at a chicken feed fee also have Rajasinghe and Swiss Spirit to conjure with. The former stands at the National Stud at a fee of just £3,000, and has compiled a winners-to-runners strike-rate of 46 per cent from his first two crops. Swiss Spirit, meanwhile, stands at Batsford Stud and is priced at £2,000. On the other side of the Irish Sea, the Irish National Stud stands Equiano, who has shown he can produce top-level talent courtesy of Belvoir Bay and The Tin Man. The 19-year-old son of Acclamation stands for just €2,000.

THE OWNER BREEDER

Classic capabilities

Manton Park’s Aclaim falls into this category by virtue of his first crop containing the 1,000 Guineas heroine Cachet. She also reached the podium in the Fillies’ Mile and Poule d’Essai des Pouliches. While Cachet, who sold to Katsumi Yoshida for 2,200,000gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, remains Aclaim’s headline performer, she is not the only

“A fee of £8,000 underestimates the talent of Aclaim” significant talent he has sired. His stud record also includes the Listed-winning sprinter Royal Aclaim and the classy twoyear-old Purosangue, while his strike-rate of 42 per cent winners to runners also catches the eye. As a Prix de la Foret winner by sire of sires Acclamation, and from the family of Montjeu, Aclaim’s credentials suggest he should be capable of siring a variety of classy performers, and so it has proved. A fee of £8,000 underestimates his talent. Having covered significant books during a long, dual-hemisphere stud career,

no stallion on this list of value options can boast more black-type runners than the venerable Holy Roman Emperor. Coolmore’s Castlehyde Stud resident is responsible for 185 stakes performers, a list that includes 14 Group/Grade 1 winners like Designs On Rome, Homecoming Queen and Romanised. This alone makes him look fairly priced at €8,000. The 20-year-old son of Danehill may be into the autumn of his covering career but showed he is no back number in 2023 with Numerian winning an Australian Group 2, while Geography and Roman Mist won Group 3 contests in Germany. His yearlings fetched up to €120,000 during the latest round of sales. Another Castlehyde resident with a long and distinguished career is Footstepsinthesand, whose seven Group/ Grade 1 winners head a roll of honour that features 148 stakes performers. The sire of Chachamaidee, Marianafoot and Marie’s Diamond also stands at €8,000. Dawn Approach is among the few who can boast of being a Classic winner on the track who developed into a Classic sire. Following a champion juvenile campaign, Dawn Approach was a dominant winner of the 2,000 Guineas, while he later added the St James’s Palace Stakes to his resume. His son Poetic Flare followed in his footsteps by landing the 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes in 2021 before retiring to the Shadai Stallion Station in Japan. Poetic Flare is no one-off, either, as Dawn Approach’s shuttle visits to Australia

››

BOBBY’S KITTEN Sire of multiple Group winner SANDRINE

Fee: £5,000 (1st October SLF)

Sire of: SANDRINE – Winner of 4 Group races, including Gr.2 Park Stakes (in 2023), Gr.2 Lennox Stakes, Gr.2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and Gr.3 Albany Stakes (also Gr.1-placed x2). Now a Group winner at 2, 3 & 4, MONAASIB – Gr.2 placed, KITTY KITANA – Gr.3 placed x 2, FIGHTING KING (Listed-placed), etc.

Two year olds in 2023 include top-rated ALMOTAHED (GB) (three wins in Saudi Arabia) and DARK BLUE SKY (IRE) (three wins in Hungary).

Two year old ALMOTAHED (GB), bred by the Countess of Rothes, winner of three races in Saudi Arabia in 2023.

Two year old filly DARK BLUE SKY (IRE), bred by Moygaddy Stud, winner of three races in Hungary in 2023.

Outstanding lifetime winners to runners ratio i n fo @ l a n w ades.com • w w w.lanwade s.c om • Te l: + 44 ( 0) 1638 750222

LANWADES

The independent option TM

Value sires Stakes winner Paulele, while the Group 2-winning two-year-old Madhmoon was also second in Anthony Van Dyck’s Derby and Musis Amica was runner-up in the Prix de Diane and the Prix Vermeille. Dawn Approach stands at Jim Bolger’s Redmondstown Stud in County Wexford at a fee of €5,000. The Giant’s Causeway/Shamardal line is represented by Bearstone Stud’s Belardo, the son of Lope De Vega who stands at £5,500. Belardo’s first juveniles featured the Rockfel Stakes winner Isabella Giles and since then he has enjoyed his most notable success in the US where Gold Phoenix took out the Grade 1 Frank E Kilroe Mile and Bellabel struck in the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes. Plenty of hype surrounded Belardo at the end of 2020 when his first juveniles created a positive impression, and in 2021 he duly covered his biggest and best book of mares. Whilst it can’t be ignored that he failed to live up to some lofty expectations subsequently, those breeding to him in 2024 can look forward to selling in the years after his boosted fifth crop have been plying their trade on the track. Another stallion with bigger crops in the pipeline is the National Stud’s Time Test, who stands 2024 at £8,500. On the back of his debut crop causing a stir, the son of Dubawi covered 160 mares in 2021 and 181 in 2022. The best of his 13 black-type

“Another stallion with bigger crops in the pipeline is Time Test” winners are the Beresford Stakes scorer Crypto Force and Thoroughbred Stakes victor Rocchigiani. The esteemed Sixties Icon has done sterling service from Norman Court Stud, from where he sired the smart middledistance performers Harrison, Nagano Gold and Nakeeta, while his southern hemisphere stints have yielded top-level performers Crazy Icon and Sixties Song. He will stand his 16th consecutive season at £3,000. Tweenhills offer the tough Lightning Spear at a fee of £5,000, while the wellbred and high-performing Massaat stands at Mickley Stud at a mere £3,000.

THE OWNER BREEDER

COOLAGOWN STUD

›› saw him leave Group 1 Winterbottom

Kenway: Coolagown Stud’s new recruit is the first son of Galiway to stand at stud in Ireland

Willow Wood Farm in Cheshire is home to dual-purpose option Capri, the son of Galileo who won the Irish Derby and St Leger. He is standing his first season in Britain, after four years at Coolmore’s Grange Stud, priced at £2,500.

Statistical standouts

When it comes to the first-season sires of 2023, headlines were dominated by Blue Point and Too Darn Hot. And with good reason given the scale of their accomplishments. They look set to be heavily oversubscribed at fees of €60,000 and £65,000 in 2024. However, when one or two horses pull focus there is always a chance that another stallion might just be flying under the radar. Step forward Soldier’s Call. The son of Showcasing made a very solid start to his second career with 26 European winners among his debut two-year-olds, a tally bettered only by Blue Point and Inns Of Court, both of whom had more runners. Those 26 winners came at a healthy strikerate of 33 per cent to boot. And there was quality as well as quantity, with four stakes performers capped by Dawn Charger, winner of the Group 3 Prix Eclipse. Soldier’s Call was arguably unlucky not to end his first season with runners with three black-type winners to his name, with Dorothy Lawrence caught on the bob when a short-head second in the Dick Poole Stakes, while King Collector was beaten just a head in a Listed event at San Siro. Had those two runners had the rub of the green, there is every chance their sire would be standing for more than the

£8,500 fee he has been priced at for his first season at Steve Parkin’s Dullingham Park near Newmarket. There is also plenty of ammunition in the pipeline too having covered threefigure books of mares in his second, third and fourth seasons. The biggest of those came in 2023, meaning anyone breeding to Soldier’s Call this time around will be able to take their yearling to market in the year his biggest crop of two-year-olds hits the track. Derrinstown Stud’s Awtaad has made a habit of throwing stock in his own image, namely good lookers who come into their own granted a bit of time. The Irish 2,000 Guineas hero has sired 16 stakes performers and has shown he can get you a runner right out of the top drawer with Prix d’Ispahan scorer Anmaat. Moreover, his offspring are starting to assemble an eye-catching record on the global stage, with Anisette winning the Del Mar Oaks and American Oaks, while the Aga Khan-bred Diamil has won a brace of Group 3 prizes in Australia. This is an important point as it should help shore up the value of his offspring in the lucrative form horse market. While his foals and yearlings may not be as commercial as some on this list, it is worth remembering that his daughter Primo Bacio sold to Hillwood Stud for 1,100,000gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, 12 months after the well-bred Mohjatty brought 600,000gns from Plantation Stud. A bit of patience may well be required for those thinking of breeding to Awtaad, but a fee of only €5,000 more than

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Belardo

GR.1 SIRE BY LOPE DE VEGA

EUROPEAN CHAMPION 2YO Won Gr.1 Dewhurst & Gr.1 Lockinge 26 Stakes winners/performers (12 in 2023) inc... GOLD PHOENIX

Won Gr.1 Frank E Kilroe Mile Stakes (2023) Won Gr.2 Del Mar Handicap (2023 & 2022) Won Gr.2 Eddie Read Stakes (2023) 4th Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Turf (2023 to Auguste Rodin)

Bearstone Stud

The source of speed

58% 3yo winners/runners

Only Frankel (£350,000) & Siyouni (€200,000) ranked higher

2023 yearlings sold for €100,000, €80,000, €60,000, 45,000gns, 45,000gns, 40,000gns, €40,000, etc.

 bearstonestud.co.uk Fee: £5,500 X-TWITTER @BearstoneStud Oct 1st SLF  +44 (0)1630 647197  +44 (0)7974 948755 - Mark Pennell

Value sires plenty of scope for profit further down the line. Rathasker Stud’s Coulsty has done it the hard way up to this point. His debut crop numbered just 45 foals but he managed to come up with a smart twoyear-old in Princess Margaret Stakes scorer Santosha and the Italian Listed winners Suicide Squad and Sopran Aragorn. And they weren’t even the best of the bunch. That honour belongs to Shantisara, a 10,000gns breeze-up purchase who went on to win the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup before being sold to Shadai Farm for $1.3 million. Given his second, third and fourth crops contained less than 30 foals combined, it would be unreasonable to have expected too much in the interim. However, his biggest crop yet turns two in 2024 when the foals conceived in the afterglow of his eye-catching first runners will have their chance on the racecourse. And while this year’s juveniles are from a boosted crop of 76 foals, his 2022-conceived crop numbers 119 foals. If he can belatedly build on the promise of that debut crop by converting the opportunity these greater numbers represent, we could be about to see Coulsty in a whole new light. If that happens, a fee of €5,500 will look fair indeed. Breeders operating on a budget have few more proven options than Kildangan Stud stalwart Raven’s Pass. Not only has he sired 65 black-type performers but he is operating at a lifetime stakes winnersto-runners ratio of eight per cent, which is an eye-catching number at any fee, nevermind just €7,500. The son of Elusive Quality’s best runners have tended to operate at or under a mile, with the likes of Flying Five Stakes heroine Romantic Proposal, Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere scorer Royal Marine and Japanese champion Tower Of London heading his roll of honour. Mayson rates another thoroughly proven source of speed. The July Cupwinning son of Invincible Spirit spent 11 years at Cheveley Park Stud and has his talents underlined by a strike-rate of 43 per cent. His 29 stakes performers are headed by the top-class Oxted, who emulated his sire in the July Cup before landing the following year’s King’s Stand Stakes. Mayson has made the switch to Springfield House Stud where he stands at €4,250. The same roster also features another former Cheveley Park Stud resident in Unfortunately, the Group 1winning son of Society Rock who stands at €3,000.

THE OWNER BREEDER

TATTERSALLS

›› accounts for that fact and should leave

Richard Fahey: trains six by Sands Of Mali

“Without Parole was responsible for not one but two six-figure yearlings” Stallions with first runners

There are few riskier strategies in commercial breeding than sending your mare to a stallion who is about to have his first runners. Rightly or wrongly the market makes up its mind fairly quickly, and if your chosen stallion gets off to a slow start, the foal’s value will likely have plummeted before it has even been born. There are some key clues to consider to get the probabilities in your favour, such as two-year-old numbers and sales results. Among this year’s first-season sires standing at £8,500 and under, one name has the most compelling trail of evidence. Sergei Prokofiev not only hails from a farm in fine form in Whitsbury Manor Stud but he is due to be represented by a sizeable juvenile crop containing 122 sons and daughters. Moreover, his first-crop yearlings averaged £37,615 and sold for a median of £26,250. He also sired the most expensive lot by the first-season sires among this list with the half-brother to Motorious bringing 220,000gns from SackvilleDonald at Book 1. As if all that weren’t enough to suggest Sergei Prokofiev’s two-year-olds will make their presence felt, he was a high-class juvenile himself, winning the Cornwallis Stakes, and is a son of international sire sensation Scat Daddy. He stands 2024 at £6,000. He is not the only descendant of the Scat Daddy line in this price bracket

as Coolmore’s Coventry Stakes scorer Arizona, a son of No Nay Never, is standing at €5,000. Newsells Park Stud’s Without Parole, an £8,000 option, was responsible for not one but two six-figure yearlings, with Mandore International, agent for Madaket Group, going to €160,000 for one of his fillies at Arqana, while Alex Elliott spent 120,000gns on a colt at Book 1. The son of Frankel won his only start at two and rapidly progressed into a Group 1-winning miler, taking out the St James’s Palace Stakes on just his fourth outing. Yeomanstown Stud’s Shaman also has a three-figure crop of juveniles to run for him and is from a hot sireline being a son of Shamardal. This five-time winner was twice a Group 1 runner-up over a mile at three, including when second in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, and achieved his biggest success at four when landing the Prix d’Harcourt. From the famous Fall Aspen family, his first stock are seemingly showing good early signs, with Archie Watson reporting that he “couldn’t be any happier” with his pair of colts. He is available at €5,000. Sands Of Mali, standing at Ballyhane Stud at the same fee, has already been the subject of positive whispers among several breakers and pre-trainers. This Gimcrack winner turned Group 1-winning three-yearold sprinter has plenty of ammunition with 99 juveniles in his first crop, while noted judges Nick Bradley, Richard Fahey, Stephen Hillen and Eddie Linehan were among those who purchased his yearlings. Micheal Orlandi’s Starfield Stud has two sons of Farhh on the roster and both welcome their first runners in 2024. Albeit Far Above peaked at four, he probably rates the likelier option to get early runners being a particularly muscular individual who graduated from the breeze-ups and proved at his best over five furlongs when beating Judicial in the Palace House Stakes. He has 80 juveniles in his first crop and stands for €5,000. King Of Change ended his racing career with a superior rating of 120 having landed the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over a mile. He has around 50 juveniles and is also available at €5,000. Far Above and King Of Change not only stand at the same stud and share the same sire, they generated very similar sales results in 2023. Their yearlings both averaged close to £18,800 and both had a top price of 70,000gns. In the case of King Of Change that was a filly bought by Henry Candy, while James Tate went to that price for one of Far Above’s sons. Tara Stud’s River Boyne and Norman Court Stud’s Rumble Inthejungle couldn’t

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M AYSON GROUP 1 WINNING SIRE BY INVINCIBLE SPIRIT

GROUP 1 SIRE OF TOP CLASS SPRINTERS OXTED AND ROHAAN

Yearlings made up to €120,000 in 2023 54% Strike Rate of Winners to Runners

NEW TO IRELAND

2024 Fee €4,250and October 1st Horses SLF 85% Strike Rate of Winners Placed to Runners

Value sires ›› quite match their peers in terms of

covering numbers or sales results. But the former is a Grade 1-winning son of Dandy Man and the latter is a fast son of Bungle Inthejungle, who stand as testament to what can be achieved despite humble origins. The pair are standing at €3,500 and £3,500 respectively.

Sergei Prokofiev: son of Scat Daddy is the latest Whitsbury Manor stallion with runners

Bangkok, a dual-purpose option who was a classy runner with a deep pedigree. The Group 2-winning son of Australia stands at £3,000 and is based alongside Trueshan’s sire Planteur (£4,000) and the proven speed influence Hellvellyn (£2,000).

from just below 100 to just above 100 in year two. His fee has remained at £5,000 throughout his time on stallion duty and his foals fetched up to 42,000gns. The noted judges from Tally-Ho Stud bought two of them, including his priciest representative. Ubettabelieveit isn’t the only son of Kodiac in this category as the Irish National Stud are represented by the Coventry Stakes winner Nando Parrado, who stands for €6,000. The numbers belonging to Newsells Park Stud’s A’Ali may have followed a more familiar path – 114 in year one and 93 in year two – but his first representatives at the sales still came in for a warm reception. Three of his foals sold for over 50,000gns, with buyers including Stroud Coleman, Yeomanstown Stud and Eddie O’Leary’s Lynn Lodge Stud, the last-named giving 68,000gns for the sire’s top-priced lot. A’Ali stands 2024 at £5,000. Rounding out those with their first yearlings in 2024 is Chapel Stud’s

Stallions with first foals

BILL SELWYN

Stallions’ covering numbers tend to follow a familiar trajectory. They peak in year one before gradually declining as breeders spread their risk while they await a horse’s first runners. A few names among those with their first yearlings in 2024 bucked this trend with bigger numbers in year two than in year one. In the case of the National Stud’s Lope Y Fernandez (£8,500), we can assume that his increased numbers came on the quality of his first foals. He covered 134 mares in year one and 152 in year two. When the foals from that initial book reached the sales, they created a solid impression as 42 sold for an average of £20,765. The most expensive of the bunch was the colt signed for by Amanda Skiffington on behalf of Giacamo Algranti at 100,000gns. Capital Stud’s Alkumait (€5,000) made good commercial sense when he first retired as a Mill Reef Stakes-winning son of Showcasing. He duly attracted a threefigure debut book. His profile received a big boost in the months after covering that first book as his half-brother Chaldean won the Dewhurst Stakes and 2,000 Guineas, which helped Alkumait’s numbers rise to 121 for 2023. Also falling into this category is Mickley Stud’s Flying Childers Stakes scorer Ubettabelieveit, whose numbers rose

BILL SELWYN

Stallions with first yearlings

Anmaat (left): last year’s Prix d’Ispahan winner is a fine flag-bearer for his sire Awtaad

THE OWNER BREEDER

Only five stallions standing at the value price range are welcoming their first foals this year, and one of those proved eyecatchingly popular with breeders in 2024. Ballyhane Stud’s Space Traveller is not only Bated Breath’s highest-rated son after winning the Jersey Stakes and finishing runner-up in two Grade 1 contests, but he is a particularly good-looking individual to boot. This combination saw breeders support him with 186 mares in his first season, and he can be bred to this year at the same €6,500 fee. Surely that many breeders can’t be wrong. Starfield Stud’s Dubawi Legend also proved popular in his own right covering 122 mares. He is another fine looker and also has high-class form in the book, winning a German Group 3 at three and finishing second to Native Trail in the Dewhurst at two. As his name suggests, he is a son of Dubawi, whose line could hardly be more in vogue thanks to the exploits of New Bay, Too Darn Hot and Zarak. He stands for a fair-looking €6,000. Two sons of Mehmas figure in this list, led by the powerfully-built Persian Force. He raced only at two but compiled some high-class form over eight starts, winning the July Stakes and reaching the frame in four top-flight contests, namely the National Stakes, Prix Morny, Middle Park and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. He served a 132-strong book at Tally-Ho Stud and stands for €8,000. Overbury Stud’s Caturra, winner of the Flying Childers Stakes, covered 109 mares in his first season. He has had his fee clipped into £5,000.

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Value sires ››

The Zenith Stallion Station in County Westmeath offers something completely different, with Tosen Stardom, a son of Deep Impact who won two Group 1s in Australia, standing at €5,000.

New to stud

Mutasaabeq was something of a slowburner on the track but could prove much more of an instant hit now that he is standing at the National Stud at an introductory fee of £6,500. Shadwell’s homebred won at two, three and four but reached his peak at five, recording two Group 2 victories in warm company.

Insider insight

TATTERSALLS

“Of the horses who already have runners, I’m a Coulsty fan. I bought a couple of his yearlings last year, one for Tom Ward and one for Kevin Philippart De Foy, and they’re two nice fillies. I think Coulsty has done well so far from relatively small crops of low-grade mares, so I think he’s a horse who could advance above his current fee. “I bought Sands Of Mali for the Cool Silk Partnership and he has his first runners this year, so I’m interested to see how they go. He was a super talented two-year-old and sprinter, winning the Champions Sprint at three. Anthony [Stroud] bought A’Ali as a breeze-up horse and I was genuinely impressed by his foals and think he’s a horse to look out for at the yearling sales this autumn and with runners in 2025. “As for the horses retiring to stud this year, I also bought Midnight Sands for the Cool Silk team and he retires to Norton Grove Stud. But a horse that might not be on many peoples’ radar is Bay Bridge. He raced in Britain for Sir Michael Stoute but has been retired to France and I think he’s

Matt Coleman: Coulsty fan

THE OWNER BREEDER

He thrashed Native Trail by three lengths in the bet365 Mile and brought the curtain down on his 17-race career with a gutsy success over Regal Reality and Chindit in the Joel Stakes. The strikinglooking individual is not only by noted sire of sires Invincible Spirit but is out of 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes heroine Ghanaati, a member of the Height Of Fashion dynasty. He offers breeders plenty of bang for their buck. The same can also be said of Mac Swiney, who was among the best of his generation at two and three, winning the Futurity Trophy and Irish 2,000 Guineas.

The well-bred son of New Approach is from the same Jim Bolger family as Dewhurst winner Parish Hall and has been introduced at the Irish National Stud at €8,000. Sire sensation Showcasing has a growing number of sons on stallion duty and Ballyhane Stud is responsible for one of those in Asymmetric. He is best remembered for landing the Richmond Stakes, a race in which he beat two subsequent Group 1 winners in Ebro River and Perfect Power, the latter of whom he finished third to in the Prix Morny. A switch to the US didn’t quite go as intended but

very good value at €6,000. He was a Group 1-winning son of New Bay and a very talented horse who performed at the highest level internationally.” Matt Coleman, agent with Stroud Coleman Bloodstock

your mare and you can get paid in the ring if you get a nice one. “I’ve also got a soft spot for Belardo. I bought a filly by him last year called Lexington Belle who was an inexpensive purchase but she got black type. Kuroshio’s stats are good and although he’s had smaller crops, he’s shown he’s capable from limited opportunities. I know he’s getting older, but at the money Footstepsinthesand is another who’s proven value.

“It’s a very difficult part of the market to navigate because unless you get an outstanding physical or a sibling to a horse who gives you a big update, you’re probably going to be going to sales with lower average and median prices. That’s probably the part of the market that’s most challenging at the moment, so no matter how clever we all are there’s always going to be an element of luck required. “There are stallions at this level that I like, though. Looking for proven value, Awtaad stands out. He’s been lucky for me because I purchased Anisette, who was the highest-rated threeyear-old turf filly in North America last year. He’s a sire that, for whatever reason, his fillies really seem to work. He’s a particularly goodlooking horse and at his fee, I think he’s one that breeders have to take pretty seriously if they’re on a budget. “In Britain, Aclaim gets a lot of winners and has had a Classic winner in Cachet, which augurs well, and James Tate has Royal Aclaim, who’s a very good sprinter. At that money, he’s a horse who can help

“Mayson comes up with a good sprinter every year and is fair value” “At the unproven level I think the standout, and by a long way, has to be Without Parole. He’s a Group 1 winner by Frankel, he won the St James’s Palace Stakes in a faster time than Frankel, and he’s particularly well-bred. He was bred by the Gunthers, who also bred Justify, and they’re one of the best breeders in the world. We’ve already seen how well Cracksman, another son of Frankel, has done with Ace Impact. I liked Without Parole’s yearlings and I don’t think anyone would say ‘Where has this come from?’ if a Group 1-winning son of Frankel did well with his first crop.” Mark McStay, Avenue Bloodstock “In terms of proven stallions, I’m a big fan of Awtaad. I think he’s a much

better stallion than many people think. He produces good-looking horses and I’m sending a mare to him. I also think Dream Ahead can breed you a good racehorse. I wouldn’t be averse to using him; he’s well-bred and has proven he can produce runners. Again, Mayson comes up with a good sprinter every year and is fair value. It’s unlikely you’ll produce a big sales horse but for an ownerbreeder at an affordable nomination fee, he makes sense. “I’m a big believer in Sergei Prokofiev. He’s produced some lovely stock, he’s well-bred and he’s good looking. Ed Harper does an amazing job at developing young stallions so I think he’s exciting. Possibly more of a niche one but I think King Of Change is lovely and I’ve had a couple of very nice foals by him. I think Micheal Orlandi has managed him well and it just wouldn’t surprise me if he worked. He’s a bit more expensive but I also like Mohaather. He was a very good racehorse and we’ve sold four or five yearlings of his that I liked. They went to good trainers and I’m already hearing good things. “Among those with first yearlings it’s all about Lope Y Fernandez for me. I loved his foals. He’s an exciting son of Lope De Vega and he’s covered plenty of decent mares. The stock he’s produced are of a high quality. We haven’t seen any of Dubawi Legend’s foals yet and I’m a bit biased because we had the mare and bred a couple of his siblings, but he’s a well-bred son of Dubawi and he’s good-looking so you can’t go far wrong with him. I also like what Simon Sweeting does at Overbury and what they’ve done with Ardad is very impressive, so Caturra is interesting among those

was sold at Book 1 by Ballyphilip Stud. He developed into a talented sprinter for Aidan O’Brien, winning a brace of Group 3s over six furlongs and twice reaching the podium behind Blackbeard in the Middle Park Stakes and Prix Morny. If he breeds foals as good-looking as himself, his fee of €6,000 will look like a gift. Another new option from the successful Acclamation line is Bouttemont, who is standing beside the renowned sire of sires at Rathbarry Stud at a fee of €5,000. He won the Group 3 Prix de Meautry over six furlongs and the Listed Prix Hampton over the minimum trip, so sprinting was

very much his forte. He is the first son of Acclamation, to whom he bears a striking physical similarity, to retire to Ireland since Mehmas in 2017. Havana Gold’s reputation as a sire of sires has been greatly enhanced by the rising star Havana Grey, and breeders now have access to another son in El Caballo, who is starting out at Culworth Grounds Farm at £6,000. Trained by Karl Burke, El Caballo went on a six-race winning spree that began at two and ended at three with victory in the Sandy Lane Stakes over six furlongs. He is a sibling to two stakes runners and out of a Showcasing half-sister

NEWSELLS PARK STUD

he showed he retained plenty of ability when landing the Prix du Cercle over five furlongs when he returned to Europe at four. This good-looking sort from an outand-out speed family should prove popular at €7,000. The Antarctic emerged as one of the talking horses of this year’s Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Irish Stallion Trail, with the brother to top-class sprinter Battaash winning plenty of new fans with his exceptional good looks at Coolmore’s Castlehyde Stud. That should come as no great surprise as the son of Dark Angel cost MV Magnier 750,000gns when he

Without Parole: first yearlings “walked well and had a bit of quality about them”

with their first foals. “I think Bouttemont is another interesting one. Rathbarry have done such an amazing job with Acclamation. The same goes for Dragon Symbol. He looks like a carbon copy of Havana Grey, albeit with different breeding. He’s coming from the same farm, will be covering the same mares, so he’s an exciting prospect. At this level you’re backing the stallion studs as much as you are the horses. Everybody knows that mares make stallions, and good stallion masters with good-quality land sending plenty of mares to their own horses is always an important part of the mix.” Tom Blain, Barton Stud

“Foals of sires based in Britain filled six of the top ten places in the sale”

“I liked the Lope Y Fernandez foals. They sold very well off a relatively cheap nomination fee. I thought him and A’Ali were the two to take out of last year’s foal sales from this price range. “The A’Alis looked bonny, two-yearold types and they had a nice enough

step on them for the progeny of a horse who was a sprinter. They had plenty of strength and he seems to be stamping his stock too, so he’s doing all the things breeders seem to like. I’m not a big foal buyer but I can understand why the market received them so well. “Of the stallions about to have runners I’d go with Without Parole. He slightly surprised me at last year’s yearling sales as I hadn’t necessarily expected to like them but did. Of the more reasonably-priced stallions I thought his yearlings walked well and had a bit of quality about them. I wouldn’t expect them to be early two-year-olds, but I thought he had a chance and I left the yearling sales with a positive view on him. “I’d also give Phoenix Of Spain a good shout at €10,000. He had enough nice two-year-olds to think that he has a chance this coming year with his first three-year-olds. He’s going well.” Oliver St Lawrence, bloodstock agent

THE OWNER BREEDER

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Value sires

DULLINGHAM PARK STUD

SUPREMACY

Soldier’s Call sired four black-type two-year-olds in his first crop

›› to Mill Reef Stakes winner Temple Meads. GR.1 MIDDLE PARK WINNER CHAMPION 2YO BY MEHMAS EXCEPTIONAL FIRST FOALS 2023 MADE €180,000, €90,000, €60,000 x3, ETC. ‘He is a belter. A lovely horse who couldn’t be faulted - he’d 14 vets. Eddie O’Leary said he was the nicest colt he’d seen all week.’ Peter Kelly on the colt ex Wild Mix, consigned by The Castlebridge Consignment and sold for €180,000

FIRST YEARLINGS 2024 Standing alongside DARK ANGEL • INVINCIBLE ARMY • SHAMAN

Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland • T: +353 (0)45 897314 E: office@yeomanstown.ie • www.yeomanstown.ie

THE OWNER BREEDER

Whitsbury Manor Stud has a new recruit of its own to stand alongside Havana Grey in Dragon Symbol. The strapping grey son of Cable Bay is a Group 1 winner in all but name as he finished first past the post in the Commonwealth Cup, only to be demoted for causing interference. He showed that performance was no flash in the pan by also finishing second in the July Cup and King George Stakes and third in the Nunthorpe. The Whitsbury Manor homebred has been priced at £8,000. Castle Star is another who should appeal to commercial breeders on a budget as he has looks, sireline and Group 1 form at two. The son of Starspangledbanner was an easy winner of the Marble Hill Stakes and rounded out his juvenile campaign by running second to Perfect Power in the Middle Park. He stands at Capital Stud at €5,000. Dubai Mile went one better when he contested a two-year-old Group 1 race as he ended his juvenile campaign with victory over Arrest in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud. That performance makes him the highest-rated son of the star-crossed Roaring Lion with a peak official mark of 114. He has been introduced by Manton Park at £7,500. Galiway has proved an absolute revelation since retiring to Haras de Colleville by siring top-level winners under both codes. On the Flat he has supplied Sealiway, who won the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and the Champion Stakes, and Criterium International scorer Sunway. Over hurdles he has been represented by the likes of Willie Mullins-trained stars Vauban and Gala Marceau. Now his first son to stand outside of France has arrived at Coolagown Stud, with Kenway introduced at €3,000. His three wins at two included the Prix la Rochette while he also landed Listed contests at three and four over as far as nine furlongs. Not only is he by Galiway, he is bred on the same cross as Sealiway, Sunway and Gala Marceau. Those looking for a complete outcross have two other options with Marie’s Diamond, who is standing at Diamond Stud Bellewstown, and Norton Grove Stud’s Midnight Sands. Marie’s Diamond won seven races for Mark Johnston and ran 65 times between the ages of two and seven. In his prime. he finished third behind Circus Maximus in the Queen Anne Stakes and also won the Anglesey Stakes at two. The son of Footstepsinthesand stands at €6,000. Group 3 scorer Midnight Sands did most of his racing on the international stage, including at Meydan where his six wins were capped by the Burj Nahaar over a mile on dirt. The son of Speightstown is standing at £2,500. Midnight Sands joins a varied and proven roster at Norton Grove which also includes Pearl Secret (£2,000), who provides rare access to the Ahonoora sire line, the high-class miler Century Dream (£3,000), who is a Cape Cross half-brother to King Of Change, and proven stakes sire Mattmu (£2,000).

PROVEN GROUP 1 SIRES

BUNGLE INTHEJUNGLE

COULSTY €5,500 1st October

€7,500 1st October

YEARLINGS POPULAR IN 2023

€82,000 colt ex. Onomatomania Ralph Beckett

65,000gns colt

GIVEMETHEBEATBOYS SELLS FOR £1,100,000 AT GOFFS LONDON SALE

ex. Iamnoangel Quirke / Appleby

60,000gns filly ex. Grandmas Dream George Margarson

Sold for

GIVEMETHEBEATBOYS

(top) Gr.3 Marble Hill Stakes, 3rd Gr.1 Phoenix Stakes (both 2023) (bottom) Shane Foley and owners Con, Olivia & Amy Marnane after winning the Gr.3 Marble Hill Stakes

$1,300,000 to Shadai Farm at Fasig-Tipton

SHANTISARA

Gr.1 QEII Challenge Cup, Gr.2 Hillsborough Stakes (2023) & 2nd Gr.1 Jenny Wiley Stakes

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 k e r s tu d . c o m

THE OWNER BREEDER

Sam Bullard

Firing on all

CYLINDERS

With Dubawi’s star showing no sign of fading and the early deeds of Blue Point and Too Darn Hot placing them in rarefied company, the roster at Darley’s Dalham Hall Stud has arguably never been on a stronger footing Words: Nancy Sexton

here have been regular occasions throughout Darley’s history when its roster has shone brightly. When Sheikh Mohammed purchased Dalham Hall Stud as a going concern in late 1981 from Major Jim Philipps, the Newmarket property came with Great Nephew, then on the cusp of landing that year’s sires’ championship off the back of Shergar. An early signal of intent from its new custodian arrived not long after in 1984 with the retirement of Irish Derby winner Shareef Dancer, then valued at $40 million, and while he ultimately fell short of expectations at stud, others such as Machiavellian, Singspiel, New Approach and In The Wings, the first stallion to stand under the Darley umbrella at Kildangan Stud in Ireland, did not, in some cases shaping the breed in some form or another. Of course, it’s a case of what might have been had Dubai Millennium not succumbed to grass sickness after a single covering season in 2001. As it is, a line once hanging by a thread is now flourishing thanks to Dubawi, whose emergence as one of the world’s most important stallions has run in tandem with the consistent excellence of the late Kildangan Studbased sire Shamardal. Yet for all its past successes, the Darley stallion operation enters the 2024 season on arguably a stronger footing than ever before. Dubawi turns 22 as the world’s joint most expensive stallion at £350,000 in recognition of a stud career that consists of 57 Group or Grade 1 winners as well as an increasingly important collection of sire sons. That list includes Darley’s Night Of Thunder, who leads the Kildangan roster on €100,000, and Too Darn Hot, whose impressive debut crop is now being

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complemented by a similarly eye-catching start in Australia. However, while Too Darn Hot’s early success, highlighted by the Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Fallen Angel, places him in rarefied company, by the figures he is in the shadow of Kildangan’s Blue Point, who ended 2023 as the champion first-crop sire by winners and earnings in both Britain and Ireland and Europe. Not since Sadler’s Wells 35 years ago has a sire thrown two Group 1 winners in his first crop and Blue Point’s achievement

“Watching Blue Point and Too Darn Hot has been a pleasure” in doing so, via Big Evs and Rosallion, provides further impetus to Shamardal’s legacy, something for which Lope De Vega originally set the tone. That in itself is good news for the number of supporters behind his other Group 1-winning sons Pinatubo and Earthlight, both of whom have a weight of expectation on them ahead of their first runners this season. Not to be outdone, Dubawi’s hand could also strengthen yet further through Ghaiyyath. “This is the strongest roster we’ve had by a country mile,” says Sam Bullard, Darley’s Director of Stallions. “We’ve had

horses vying for number one before but not two first-crop sires who are so well clear of the others. Watching Blue Point and Too Darn Hot has been an absolute pleasure, a joy. “There’s always been excitement on the roster but this is the strongest place it’s ever been in. Part of it is that we have a racing operation that is working very well. We’ve never had more exciting horses retire to stud and we’ve also got the strongest group of mares that we’ve had for a long time.” The catalyst, of course, has been Dubawi. A constant flow of his progeny into Godolphin has allowed the operation, in particular Charlie Appleby, to cultivate an understanding of the line that has undoubtedly been influential in them campaigning 22 of his top-level winners – and counting. More recently, Dubawi has become a go-to stallion for the Coolmore partners, a move that yielded the high-class fillies Emily Dickinson and Never Ending Story ahead of last year’s National Stakes winner Henry Longfellow. The latter, a son of champion Minding, is regarded in some quarters as a colt capable of threatening City Of Troy’s supremacy. Yet similar could also be said of Godolphin’s expensive Dubawi colt Ancient Wisdom, who signed off his juvenile campaign with a victory in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster. Enough has been seen of the pair to suspect that one or the other might ultimately be up to winning the Derby, thereby rectifying one of the few omissions on Dubawi’s stud record. Dubawi might have been one of fewer than 50 foals left behind by Dubai Millennium, and a Classic-winning son

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DARLEY

“Dubawi has taught me like no other horse how much of it is what you can’t see between the ears,” says Sam Bullard (inset)

THE OWNER BREEDER

Sam Bullard ›› at that, but it has become part of racing

and breeding folklore how launching the horse’s stud career wasn’t plain sailing, even with the firepower of Godolphin and Darley behind him. “There’s no doubt that the market was in two minds as to whether he was going to be a success,” says Bullard. “We sent him to Ireland in his third year in order to access a new market to attract support. To be honest, that was only a partial success and when he came back to Newmarket, he stood for £15,000. But by the end of that year [2009], his first crop was starting to run and he did the rest.” A turning point arrived that season at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting when Sand Vixen and Poet’s Voice won the Flying Childers and Champagne Stakes within a day of each other. But better was to come. “When Makfi won the Guineas the following spring, that was really when everyone got excited,” says Bullard. “By the end of it, that crop had produced more Group winners than any sired before by a first-crop stallion. Makfi was the standout but there was also Poet’s Voice, who won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, and the Dubai World Cup winners Prince Bishop and Monterosso. “It was absolutely clear by that stage that they were easy horses who loved their work – they ate, they slept and they worked. And when they went to a race, they got their heads down. He has taught me personally like no other horse how much of it is what you can’t see between the ears – that’s what stands him apart.” That kind of mindset has naturally stood Dubawi in good stead since, helping him to reignite a line that became perilously close to disappearing altogether. “There were 47 foals in that one crop by

DARLEY

Palace Pier: champion miler is an exciting young name

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Dubai Millennium,” says Bullard, alluding to the early death of Godolphin’s Dubai World Cup and Prince Of Wales’s Stakes winner, one of the best left behind by Seeking The Gold. “Dubawi and Echo of Light were the two stallions. Echo Of Light died in a paddock accident before he had a chance to get really going. So Dubawi was the sole survivor. That line was hanging by the thinnest of threads and he’s taken best advantage of it. Then the joy is seeing his sons do it and obviously Night Of Thunder leads the way – he was never the most gorgeous individual but he has the most fantastic attitude to life and judging by his yearling average of recent years [yearlings averaged close to 200,000gns in 2022 and 2023 and sold for up to 660,000gns last year], you can see that he obviously breeds quite a good looking individual.” Bullard adds: “A common lie I hear about Dubawi is that ‘I’ve got a typical Dubawi’ because there’s no such thing. Take Poet’s Voice as an example; he was a taller type, not butty or thick set. A horse like Ghaiyyath is very much like that as well. They can be bay, they can be chestnut. Modern Games, for example, is a gorgeous, bright chestnut. He didn’t miss any fights, obviously won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and then travelled all over as a three-yearold – it’s back to that Dubawi attitude. “One of the fun aspects to Dubawi is they’re so versatile. You have a St Leger winner in Eldar Eldarov, a very good stayer last year, alongside the good two-yearolds. Modern Games was obviously a champion miler for Charlie [Appleby], who also had Ghaiyyath and Space Blues. When they come into the yard, he and the jockeys must work out what they are going to be and that must be fun.” The 22-year-old is reported to be in “great fettle” as he approaches his 19th covering season. Of his 137-strong book in 2023, just over 60 belonged to either Godolphin or its associates, including Sheikh Mohammed Obaid al Maktoum. And of course at his fee of £350,000, he is very much the domain of elite breeders. “His broodmare prowess is coming through,” says Bullard, alluding to the likes of Adayar, Homeless Songs, Mostahdaf and Without A Fight that sit at the head of Dubawi’s record as a damsire. “I think most of the big operations would love to have a nice filly by him so they’re wanting to send quality mares for perhaps that reason.” Night Of Thunder sits among a wave of highly accomplished Dubawi sire sons that also includes Ballylinch Stud’s New Bay and the Aga Khan’s Zarak, one of the most upwardly mobile stallions currently standing in France. Now throwing his

name into the hat is Too Darn Hot, stood by Darley in conjunction with his breeder Watership Down Stud. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and it’s easy to say now that Too Darn Hot’s profile was conducive to success. For starters, he was an excellent racehorse who was a three-time Group 1 winner and champion two-year-old. Then there is his pedigree; out of champion Dar Re Mi, he is a member of Watership Down Stud’s lynchpin family of Darara, herself a half-sister to leading sire Darshaan. The presence of Singspiel as his damsire adds another line of Sunbittern, also the fourth dam of Dubawi. “He’s got the pedigree, an extraordinary race record and he’s a gorgeous looking horse,” says Bullard. “There’s a lot of Singspiel coming through in him, which I think has given him a lot of quality. Singspiel and [his sire] In The Wings were among the first really good horses we were able to work with at Darley and that’s a thrill because it goes back to very early days of Maktoum involvement, right back to High Hawk [the Group 1-winning dam of In The Wings] and her dam Sunbittern. “Too Darn Hot has had huge support from the outset – quality mares from

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GEORGE SELWYN

Too Darn Hot: off to an excellent start with his first runners

quality breeders. That never diminished. We’ve never had a horse fill up four years in a row like he has. Nowadays it nearly is always a struggle because year two is now what used to be year three. But with this horse, there’s been support throughout and from large owner breeders to traders.” A number of talented two-year-olds have showcased the sire line to good effect over the years but it is also known how well its various representatives tend to progress given time. As Blue Point blasted out of the blocks last spring, gathering the respect of the breeze-up community and trainers en route to securing first-crop sire championship honours, Too Darn Hot was ticking along. His first winner arrived in late May, with the filly in question turning out to be Fallen Angel, subsequently winner of the Sweet Solera and Moyglare Stud Stakes. By the time that latter Group 1 event rolled around, other daughters Darnation and Caroline Reaper had struck at Group 3 level (Darnation would later win the May Hill Stakes) while in the following weeks, son Alyanaabi landed the Somerville Tattersall Stakes prior to finishing second in the Dewhurst.

When all was done and dusted, Too Darn Hot ended the year with six stakes horses. Only Ten Sovereigns and Blue Point boasted more within their generation, with the latter’s roll call of nine headed by the Breeders’ Cup Sprint Juvenile Turf hero Big Evs and Rosallion, successful in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. Rosallion is

“We are determined not to cover too many mares the aim is 150” a particularly important representative going forward as a seven-furlong Group 1 winner who is likely to be a 2,000 Guineas candidate, therefore providing early proof of Blue Point’s capabilities to throw runners beyond sprint distances. As for Too Darn Hot, he has also hit the ground running in Australia where at the

time of writing his first crop includes the Group 3-placed Arabian Summer and Too Darn Lizzie, an emphatic winner of the Magic Millions The Debut. Her win capped a week on the Gold Coast during which a yearling colt also realised A$1.9 million at Magic Millions to trainer Ciaron Maher and David Redvers. The promise of these young stallions does, however, present something of a problem, albeit a good one. Breeders are understandably queuing up to use both horses but against the backdrop of an operation that does its best to limit books. “We are determined not to cover too many, both for the benefit of the horse and those breeders who have got mares in foal,” says Bullard. “The aim is 150 but not more than 160. But I’m also a huge believer in taking stock of what the breeders have to say.” Amid the anticipation for what Blue Point and Too Darn Hot might go on to achieve, there is the satisfaction in that Dalham Hall also houses the young sire responsible for the world’s top-rated three-year-old of 2023. Cracksman, the first son of Frankel to stud, remains at a fee of £17,500 despite having thrown the

THE OWNER BREEDER

››

Sam Bullard ›› unbeaten Arc and Prix du Jockey Club

BILL SELWYN

hero Ace Impact among his seven firstcrop stakes winners. “What is interesting with Cracksman is that he’s out of a Pivotal mare so there’s real speed in there,” says Bullard of Anthony Oppenheimer’s homebred who ran away with two editions of the QIPCO Champion Stakes. “We did a marketing campaign in 2022 with him where we highlighted that he was a C:C [the Plusvital Speed Gene Test designation for a horse who’s optimum racing distance is between five furlongs to a mile] as there were people already consigning him to the jumping ranks. “He was an extremely good racehorse, he won the Champion Stakes by a wide margin two years in a row and Frankie [Dettori] never got off him – if he hadn’t thought he was very good, he wouldn’t have nailed his colours to the mast every time he ran. But if it’s a mile and a quarter or more, then they want to consign them to the National Hunt box. It’s a real mistake. I think the incentives that the BHA and the TBA are putting on for the middle-distance horses now is all good but it still takes a long time to come through. You’re trying to change a mindset.” He adds: “Cracksman has got a lot coming through, there are plenty of promising two-year-olds from last year to run for him. For whatever reason, he has suited French breeders very well. They certainly supported him and it’s been good to see them well rewarded.” Cracksman was one of 11 stallions on the 2024 British and Irish roster whose fee held steady from 2023. Only Blue Point and Too Darn Hot were raised, to €60,000 and £65,000 respectively. “You’ve got to take breeders with you,” says Bullard. “Every time we’ve put them up too far or too soon, there’s been a bounce on the back of that. And once people start losing money, they will not come back. So you’ve got to take them

DARLEY

Rosallion: Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner is a key member of Blue Point’s first crop

Cracksman: sire of Ace Impact

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with you. Dubawi was a Classic case – once he got going, it was a long time before he got to £100,000.” It doesn’t take too much imagination to envisage the next chapters being written courtesy of Pinatubo, Earthlight or Ghaiyyath. Each caught the imagination with their first crops at last year’s yearling sales, as befits a trio of well-bred multiple Group 1 winners. One step beyond that generation with their first yearlings is champion miler Palace Pier, whose first foals sold for up to 200,000gns, and Space Blues, yet another highly talented son of Dubawi who – like Too Darn Hot – is inbred to the Sunbittern family. In France at Haras du Logis, breeders have the option of the Poule d’Essai des Poulains winner Victor Ludorum, one of the final sons of Shamardal to filter through the pipeline whose background contains two lines of blue hen Helen Street. Meanwhile, the first foals by Perfect Power, the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes winner who trained on to win the Commonwealth Cup at three, and Platinum Jubilee Stakes winner Naval Crown, another by Dubawi, are starting to hit the ground. “Palace Pier is a champion miler by Kingman, so he has to be exciting,” says Bullard. “English breeders are under pressure as we know, but there are also some incredible opportunities out there for them in this country. And it’s not just us – you have Juddmonte, Whitsbury Manor, Tweenhills. There are some fantastic horses around. Perfect Power is an example. Like Blue Point, he was a very good sprinter. He was tough as old boots, he was extremely quick, he kept on running, he retired sound and physically he’s done very well since he’s retired to stud. He is a real opportunity to get the speed that English breeders seem to want.” Don’t think for a minute though that the operation isn’t sensitive towards the challenges facing some British breeders, much of which came into sharper focus at

last year’s breeding stock sales. “The market is what it is and it’s undoubtedly a tricky time,” says Bullard. “We absolutely understand how hard it is for breeders. “We should pay tribute to the Great British Bonus scheme. It’s very important for that sector of the market and the TBA deserve a huge amount of credit for getting it through. It was a long time in the planning but it’s working. You can see that from the Karl Burkes, Kevin Ryans, Mark Johnstons, Richard Hannons of this world – they absolutely get it. Yes, the market is difficult but you can also help yourself by taking advantage of it.” Invariably keen to look towards the future and the next new name, breeders have been swift to show their support towards Modern Games, whose book was quick to fill, as well as the Group 1-winning miler Triple Time and brilliant two-yearold Native Trail. Others, such as veteran Teofilo and the capable likes of Harry Angel and Territories, remain popular. Add in the potential of some of the younger horses and it is the kind of balanced yet successful roster that was likely envisaged to be one day in place when Dalham Hall was launched as the first Darley stallion property all those years ago. “Godolphin is a very strong team from top to bottom,” says Bullard. “Liam O’Rourke [Director of Studs, Stallions & Breeding] and Jimmy Hyland [Stud Director at Kildangan Stud] do the matings for the European company and in 2022, when we had 31 Group 1 winners in the blue, 30 of them were homebreds – that’s very satisfying. “Everyone works hard to do a fantastic job. The vets are extremely good, the transport team, everyone on the studs, the riders – we’re extremely lucky to be dealing with such good people. There’s no lack of desire or commitment from top to bottom. Now everybody is enjoying some success. And no one else deserves it more than the principal.”

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THE OWNER BREEDER

HEROS

The horse is the

HERO

Grace Muir’s simple plan to re-home former racehorses through her charity HEROS has expanded to include an education centre, forest school and veterinary hub, using a funding model that has the potential to be rolled out across the UK Words: Edward Rosenthal • Photos: Bill Selwyn

rowing up on the renowned Fawley Stud in west Berkshire, Grace Muir saw at first-hand what a can-do attitude can achieve with horses, something that has helped sustain her own career, latterly at HEROS, the charity and racehorse retraining centre she established in 2006. She remembers her father Ian, a noted horseman within the Lambourn racing community – he bred the 1969 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner What A Myth at the stud – being asked to stand a stallion called Supreme Sovereign, a somewhat unfriendly beast with a propensity for violence. “He came from Ireland and was a savage – although he meant the world to us,” Muir recalls, talking to Owner Breeder after the HEROS supporters’ lunch. “No-one could go near him. But dad being dad, he just found a way to set him up for covering mares. “Dad would trim his hooves with a sanding machine strapped to a pole; his behaviour was so bad the farrier wouldn’t touch him, understandably. “Nothing ever stopped my dad; his theory was if as a human you weren’t clever enough to figure out how to overcome problems, you shouldn’t be working with horses. “My dad’s father was killed in a car crash when my dad was 16 and he had to take over the farm. He was an

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amazing man, always incredibly busy – he built Fawley up into one of the busiest studs in the south of England, foaling over 100 mares every year, and standing five stallions. “To be brought up with someone like him is what dreams are made of.” Having mucked in on the stud as a youngster alongside her four siblings – she is seven years younger than brother William, the Lambourn trainer who enjoyed Coronation Cup and King George successes with Pyledriver – and enjoyed her visits to Tattersalls with youngstock, Muir appeared destined for a life in the racing industry, and so it proved with roles for local trainers Kim Brassey and Jenny Pitman. It was during her time with Brassey, where she was a work rider and later secretary, that Muir first saw “how many horses needed help after racing”. By the time Muir returned to work for her father, breaking yearlings at North Farm Stud – next door to Fawley Stud, which by that point had been sold – after spells in the accounts department of a pensions firm and in bloodstock insurance, that need seemed all the greater. “Trainers would always ask me to find new homes for this horse and that horse, and I would,” Muir explains. “Otherwise, there was a risk they would be put down. “After meeting with Emma Balding

at Kingsclere, I decided I wanted to set up a charity to re-home racehorses, although I was told it wasn’t feasible as you needed a lot of money. “However, I decided to carry on with the idea and I knew if I ever started a charity, I would call it HEROS. I didn’t actually realise for ten years that I’d spelt the bloody word wrong! George Greener, our first Chairman, pointed it out but I told him it was meant to be an anagram of horse, which wasn’t true at all.” With backing and funds from Annie Dodd and Andrew Parker Bowles at Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), HEROS

Grace Muir with Tullius, the former top miler who is enjoying his retirement at North Farm Stud

was born with a plan to rehabilitate and re-home horses from North Farm Stud. Another important supporter in those early days was RoR Chairman Peter Deal, owner of 1997 Champion Hurdle victor Make A Stand, who died last month. “Peter was an absolute diamond,” Muir says. “He really understood what I was trying to do. I was told I wouldn’t ever deal with a better man, and it was true. He was a proper horseman and a top man.”

Education vital

Muir embraced the need for an

education programme at HEROS from the start, yet she had something of a light-bulb moment when realising the potential in helping local children who were struggling in mainstream secondary schools, especially given her location on the Oxfordshire/Berkshire border. The HEROS Racing Academy, for children aged 11 to 16, kick-started a focus on education that will soon provide 80 places per week for children who experience difficulties – often non-attenders or who present with behavioural challenges – in their regular schooling but who benefit from

learning on a stud that occupies 200 acres in an area of outstanding natural beauty. While the Enrichment Programme supports under 16s, HEROS works with training provider KEITS to run traineeships, apprenticeships and diplomas for those aged up to 25, including in horse care, while also running functional skills courses in maths and English. Muir says: “There’s a massive need for the type of educational support we can provide at HEROS, with associated funding. The schools and social care are very pleased with the results – we are

THE OWNER BREEDER

››

HEROS

The students can gain hands-on experience with horses, while a forest school (right) is a recent addition and already proving popular

›› getting around five applications every

day at present. “There’s a real power about this place. Some of your readers might think that’s a load of rubbish, but when the children come here, they can feel it – it does the same for humans as it does for horses. “You see a horse come here and breathe a sigh of relief – it’s like ‘Phew, thanks goodness I’m okay’. “Mitsuru Hashida, who trained Nassau winner Deirdre, visited us with his daughter. We walked around the fields and she said this place is so powerful, she can feel it. “The horses, and the children, suddenly change when they get here. There isn’t a child that wouldn’t benefit from coming to this place.” Muir goes on to tell the story of a blind student who arrived at HEROS low on confidence having struggled in all her previous educational placements. Not only did she pass her functional skills in maths, but she was also taught to ride a horse and departed the charity a different character from the one that arrived. The recent addition of a forest school, which makes the most of a stunning location to observe wildlife alongside activities such as cooking and whittling, is another string to the HEROS bow and provides a further

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outlet for children that have failed to thrive in the traditional classroom environment. While the children enjoy the benefits of such a diverse learning experience – as well as ex-racehorses there are

“The beauty of this place is that it recognises people as their authentic selves” chickens, ducks and even a herd of goats at North Farm Stud – there are clear advantages to the racing industry, with a host of young people being

introduced to horses for the first time. Muir says: “I would say half of my North Farm Stud team have what you would call additional needs. One lad has been here 16 years and while he struggles to read and write, he can drive machinery that no-one else can. Not everyone fits in the same box. “The beauty of this place is that it recognises people as their authentic selves and takes their qualities into account.” While the educational element provides an income for HEROS, the practical side must deal with an increasing number of horses that are now making their way to the charity. HEROS assumes ownership of all horses upon arrival, in part to protect the previous owners from any future issues that may arise. Owners are asked to contribute a sum towards the cost of retraining, with additional funds

secured from RoR. Aftercare is a huge issue (see TBA Chairman Philip Newton’s Leader column, page 9) and Muir believes the entire industry must take responsibility for ex-racehorses to protect the sport and safeguard its future. She says: “The aftercare pot needs to be bigger – racing needs to understand that this could potentially be the jewel in the crown. HEROS is the official aftercare partner of RoR, and we are working on a retraining assessment programme to help guide a horse’s first steps after racing. “Should every horse that comes out of training go through something like HEROS? Owners and trainers have their safe outlets, but the onus should not be on the trainer to re-home horses while owners carry the majority of responsibility – I don’t think that’s right. “Breeders, stallions studs, sales houses – everyone should put a little bit into the pot. It would be a big win for racing if we get it right, but too many people want to sit on the fence. “RoR, supported by the Racehorse Owners Association, is working on an accreditation scheme that would work nationwide to assist owners looking to find new homes for former racehorses.” More than 700 ex-racehorses have been successfully re-homed by HEROS but one who arrived at the stud and never left is Tullius, a onetime high-class miler for syndicate Kennet Valley whose career earnings exceeded £500,000. Now aged 16, he is one of the most popular attractions at the operation and features regularly in the newsletter sent to donors and supporters, which include the likes of patron Harry Redknapp and John Francome. “What a star he is,” says Muir. “He actually came to us as a yearling to be broken. He is by Le Vie Dei Colori and typical of the sire in that he was nervous and flighty. “I watched him through his career and while they said he used to put his head in the air, he always tried so hard. “Tullius would always return here for rest or if he had an injury during his racing days and it was lovely when they asked if he could come back here for his retirement. The late Nick Robinson was a brilliant operator, and the horse is a great tribute to Kennet Valley.”

Future plans

Never one to rest on her laurels, Muir, supported by husband Michael and stepdaughter Dulcie along with a loyal

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Evan Working in small groups in a relaxed setting is a feature of the learning at HEROS

HEROS inspiring young minds

for students with EHCPs, which can The former racehorses at HEROS not support students up to the age of only complete their rehabilitation 25, all run in partnership with training and retraining at North Farm Stud partner KEITS. but also inspire the minds of young Skills in maths and English up to pupils who have additional learning GCSE level are also provided and are needs. essential for students under 18 who HEROS offers opportunities to have not gained at least a Grade 4 in students aged 11 to 16 through its their GCSEs. Enrichment Programme, supported Muir says: “The students can come by Godolphin, with bespoke courses up to three days per week between aimed at encouraging social and 10am and 3pm. emotional growth, developing “Our educational side will never friendships and socialising in a safe stop developing. We started with environment. the enrichment side and now we’ve For those aged 16 and over, expanded with the forest school. traineeships at Level 1 and “Ultimately, we’re trying to get apprenticeships at Level 2 and 3 are the 11 to 16-year-old students to available for students who do not go on to our diploma courses or have an educational health care plan apprenticeships to get more young (EHCP), while Diplomas at Level 1, Words: 01_Word_Character Photos: 01_Word_Character people into racing.” 2 and 3 in horse care are available

00_intro copy to go here and here etc

band of 33 staff members, is ambitious for HEROS’ future. She is looking forward to welcoming veterinary students participating in the new Extramural Studies programme, which involves a week’s residential stay, following a successful pilot, having secured a partnership and funding from the Gerald Leigh Charitable Trust. Converting two of the stable blocks into an education hub, which would provide additional classroom space, is on the agenda, while building log cabins for accommodation and a new office for staff is in the works. Looking at the bigger picture, rolling out HEROS’ pupil enrichment programme nationwide is the aim, though Muir acknowledges the amount of work required to make that happen. She says: “North Farm Stud operates in its own right and supports HEROS,

although HEROS is almost at the point of being self sufficient. “There are so many more things we want to do here, including expanding our education provision. “I’d like to set up an association for retraining facilities and progress the accreditation scheme, which would help achieve best practice in the industry. “With the right infrastructure, our model could be rolled out across the UK although the correct safeguarding procedures would need to be in place. We have a template for success; you cannot make money out of retraining alone.” Muir adds: “The sky’s the limit and I’m so excited about the future. I’ll see this through to the end when it’s able to thrive without me. I want it to be here forever because I think it’s got such a big place in this world now.”

THE OWNER BREEDER

GR.1 WINNING MILER BY NEW BAY

€15,000

BAYSIDE BOY. GROUP 1 WINNER AT 3

Won the Gr.1 QUEEN ELIZABETH II STAKES defeating Breeders’ Cup winners MODERN GAMES and INSPIRAL

PRECOCIOUS GROUP 1 2YO

and won the Gr.2 CHAMPAGNE STAKES – just like TOO DARN HOT & CHALDEAN

123 Covered the highest proportion of BLACKTYPE MARES of any First Season Sire in Ireland last year!

BALLYLINCH STUD T h o m a s t o w n , C o . K i l k e n n y , I r e l a n d

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 . i e

Breeders’ Digest

Nancy Sexton Bloodstock Editor

Understandable they are but exports are still Japan’s gain

BILL SELWYN

t is hard not to feel some dismay over the decisions to send or sell Westover, Adayar and Hukum to stand in Japan. On the one hand, it is understandable. The commercial desire for speed, which borders on infatuation for some breeders, makes standing such horses in these parts a precarious exercise. Westover, Adayar and Hukum arę true mile-and-a-half horses who needed time to fill in their frames. Hukum and Westover, in particular, improved as time went on, ultimately repaying the patience of their connections to fight out a memorable renewal of the King George. All in all, perfect for drawing in the racing fan but not conducive to gaining traction in a market where fast Group 3-winning twoyear-olds cover full books. The arrival of Westover and Adayar to Japan, where they are standing at the Yushun Stallion Station and Darley Japan respectively, also plays on the current popularity of their sire Frankel. Of course, Japan was the scene of Frankel’s first Group 1 winner, Soul Stirring, and has hosted other toplevel scorers since in Mozu Ascot, who stands at Arrow Stud, and Grenadier Guards, who is new to the Shadai Stallion Station. Align that popularity with a respect from Japanese breeders towards middle-distance horses who raced for multiple seasons and it is easy to see how Adayar and Westover were on their way to Japan. In the case of Westover, his owner Juddmonte Farms already had one son of Frankel retiring to stud in Chaldean. A different type to Westover who came to hand early and signed off a productive two-year-old season by winning the Dewhurst Stakes before returning at three to land the 2,000 Guineas, Chaldean fills much of the criteria that breeders look for. He was extremely well received when on show at Banstead Manor Stud during the Tattersalls December Sale, with a number of highprofile breeders subsequently keen to extol his virtues. Similarly, Shadwell already stand Hukum’s champion brother Baaeed at its new stallion base of Beech House Stud. With Mostahdaf also new to Shadwell this season, there was

Westover and Hukum now stand in Japan

probably little to be gained by standing Hukum in Newmarket, especially when again he is exactly the type of horse likely to be well received in Japan. It seems as though there was interest from outside studs to keep Westover in Europe but the firepower of the Yushun Stallion Station ultimately won the deal. It has to be remembered that this is absolutely nothing new. One only has to recite Derby winners from the 1990s to realise how many top middledistance colts were ‘lost’ by Europe; while Juddmonte’s homebred 1993 Derby hero Commander In Chief wound up being a successful stallion in Japan, incidentally at Yushun, others such as Dr Devious, Erhaab, Lammtarra, HighRise and Oath were most certainly not. Nor were the Arc winners Helissio or Marienbard. Time will tell whether Adayar, Hukum or Westover will become the next Commander In Chief or Harbinger, the 2010 King George winner who has become a valued member of the Shadai Stallion Station roster. What is easy to envisage, however, is the likelihood of them each receiving a level of support likely to be in short supply in Europe. Of course, an understanding of how we reached this point doesn’t diminish the depressing notion that Britain and Ireland are losing plenty of its best middle-distance talent, an element to the breed that is surely vital to retaining some kind of balance. As we know, Britain is regarded as a nursery of high-class middle-distance stock,

especially by Australian interests, so any erosion of the source is bound to have ramifications down the line. On a broader level, there’s also no doubt that the racing public enjoy high-class staying action; the idea of a sprint juvenile retiring to stud ahead of its three-year-old season can be hard for seasoned racegoers to get their heads around, let alone the casual observer. Fashion, however, dictates the market, and certainly to a far sharper degree than during the 1990s when that wave of Epsom Derby winners headed east. It’s not easy for smaller breeders, especially with last year’s breeding stock sales fresh in the mind, and thus for many the safest route is following ‘fashion’, which in turn forms the basis of those large books that some of these faster and lesser horses often cover in their first season. There are obviously exceptions to the rule when it comes to selling at auction – Australian interests have been a steady presence at recent European yearling sales and will often give good money for a staying type of yearling, albeit usually a well-conformed and well-bred colt, while there are various syndicates out there targeting similar animals with an eye on their residual value. In a recent letter to the Thoroughbred Daily News, agent Patrick Cooper called for a shortening of the Irish Derby to a mile and a quarter to aid its status, much in the same way that the French authorities cut the Prix du Jockey Club. The latter’s standing appears to have strengthened in the years following that decision, and that could very well happen in the case of the Irish Derby. What we don’t need, however, is such a drastic move initiating a domino effect that prompts other races to follow suit. Sadly, as long as prize-money remains low and margins for those producing stock tight, the horse without the deemed level of precocity or speed will struggle. But that could be Japan’s gain, especially when it comes to three such accomplished horses as Adayar, Hukum and Westover. After all, Deep Impact and Kitasan Black both won over two miles, and they haven’t done too badly.

THE OWNER BREEDER

Sales Circuit • By Carl Evans

Quality still key as belts tighten in the lower tiers

The high-class chaser Zarkareva, sold in foal to No Risk At All, realised €240,000

by Pa Doyle’s Galbertstown Stables and sold to Ciaran Conroy’s Glenvale Stud. Bred by Sean Ronan’s Orchardstown Stud out of the mare Hidden Harmony – who Ronan had bought for €65,000 in 2021 – the foal is likely to be resold as a store. Justin and Jackie Owens of Mount Armstrong Stud in County Kildare parted with €200,000 to secure Scarlet And Dove, a nine-year-old daughter of Jeremy carrying a Crystal Ocean foal. Scarlet And Dove won multiple Graded races up to Grade 2 level over jumps for her consignors at Gigginstown House Stud.

GOFFS

Offered a fatter catalogue for this sale of NH stock, the market latched onto the choicest pickings, but was more choosy when it came to the bread and butter. Expanded to four days in 2022, it maintained that number of sessions for the latest staging, but an additional 94 lots did the clearance rate no favours. In fact, the 474 sold lots was six fewer than 12 months earlier. The clearance rate lost nine points at 60 per cent, turnover was down six per sent at €8,224,450 while the average price dipped five per cent at €17,352. Reversing those declines, the median figure gained five per cent at €11,500. Quality racemares have tended to post the highest prices at this event and did so again, top-lot honours on this occasion going to Zarkareva, a seven-year-old who was consistently in the frame over jumps for Brian Acheson’s Robcour and trainer Henry de Bromhead, and who polished her CV with a Grade 3 novice chase win at Punchestown in 2020. Consigned by John Dwan and Katie Rudd’s Ballyreddin & Busherstown, and offered in foal to top French sire No Risk At All, Zarkareva joined the growing and high-quality band of mares at Kieran and Cathal Mariga’s Coolmara Stables in County Cork. No Risk At All also featured as sire of the sale’s top foal, a €120,000 colt offered

GOFFS

Goffs December National Hunt Sale

No Risk At All was responsible for the top foal, a colt sold for €120,000 to Glenvale Stud

THE OWNER BREEDER

Other breeding stock buyers to make an impact included Peter Molony of Rathmore Stud. He purchased seven-yearold mares Say Goodbye and Magic Daze for €90,000 and €80,000 respectively, the pair having been offered by Sladagh Farm on behalf of Robcour. Goffs opened proceedings with a yearling – one of just eight in the catalogue – who was closely related to some high-achieving females. A granddaughter of six-time Cheltenham Festival winner Quevega, she was out of a half-sister to four-time Grade 1 winner Facile Vega. Liz Lucas of Yorkshire’s Swanbridge Bloodstock liked the pedigree and the filly, and gained her with a bid of €48,000. Lucas’s purchase was sired by Castle Hyde Stud’s Order Of St George, whose foals were to prove popular, with 25 finding a buyer at an average of €17,900, comfortably ahead of his €6,500 covering fee. However, there were no prizes for guessing in advance that his Coolmore colleague Walk In The Park – who stands at Grange Stud – would once again top the sires’ table, which he duly did through 17 sales that added €911,000 to turnover at an average of €53,588. Glenview Stud’s Blue Bresil came second, his stock’s 29 sales turning over €848,500 at an average of nearly €30,000. Walk In The Park’s progeny included a €110,000 half-brother to Cheltenham

Festival winner Stage Star. Consigned by Baroda Stud, the youngster was sold to pinhookers Dick and JJ Frisby, while Gerry Aherne, an omnipresent buyer of Walk In The Park foals, joined forces with Charles Shanahan to buy a €90,000 colt from Ballincurrig House Stud. At the sale’s conclusion, Goffs Group CEO Henry Beeby took pride in the sale of two six-figure foals, the highest-valued jump-bred stock of their age sold at public auction in 2023, and also in selling the ten highest-priced jumping mares in Britain and Ireland during the year. However, he said trade and the clearance rate in the middle-to-lower end of the market required “serious reflection”, adding: “When four in every ten fail to find a buyer, it must surely be a warning sign for breeders when making plans for next year and beyond.”

Statistics Sold: 474 (60% clearance) Aggregate: 8,224,450 (-6%) Average: 17,352 (-5%) Median: 11,500 (+5%)

TALKING POINT

• There is no shortage of high-class jump sires in Europe, but for those of a whimsical nature it was still heartening to hear just before Christmas that Derby winner Authorized was returning to the fold. Let’s not forget this is the horse who provided Frankie Dettori with a breakthrough Epsom Derby triumph and went on to sire Tiger Roll, the first dual Grand National winner for nearly 50 years. Stories like that carry racing to the front pages and onto major news channels. Now 20, but with a sound record for producing class performers on the Flat and over jumps, Authorized stood in Britain and France under the Darley banner, but for the past four years has been covering mares in Turkey. That has not stopped him firing in winners in Britain and Ireland, and in mid-January he still found a place among the top 30 jump sires in the two countries. His 36 runners was the fewest bar

one other sire, but his 36 per cent winners-to-runners was joint-best with Golden Horn. Authorized, a son of Montjeu, has now gained a place at Ger O’Neill’s Capital Stud in County Kilkenny at a private fee. O’Neill told the press: “He’ll cover as many mares as he wants, we won’t cover huge numbers with him as he’s very much a boutique stallion.” For anyone who cannot book their mare in to the grand old man, the first foals of his son Santiago – who stands at Castle Hyde Stud – proved popular at the Goffs December Sale where they averaged €16,222, almost four times their sire’s 2022 covering fee of €4,500. At the same auction – which was completed a week before news of the Derby winner’s homecoming – Authorized’s daughter Zarkareva was knocked down for the top-lot price of €240,000, a fitting way to herald her sire’s return.

Goffs December National Hunt Sale Top lots Name/age/sex/breeding

Consigner

Price (€)

Buyer

Zarkareva 7 m Authorized – Zarkiyna

Ballyreddin & Busherstown

240,000

Coolmara Stables Ltd

Scarlet And Dove 9 m Jeremy - Dark Mimosa

Gigginstown House Stud

200,000

Mount Armstrong Kildare

C No Risk At All - Hidden Harmony

Galbertstown Stables

120,000

Glenvale Stud

C Walk In The Park - Sparky May

Baroda Stud

110,000

Richard Frisby

C Walk In The Park - Appy Days

Quill Farm/Ballincurrig House Stud

90,000

Gerry Aherne/Charles Shanahan

Say Goodbye 7 m Getaway - Princess Mairead

Robcour/Sladagh Farm

90,000

Rathmore Stud

The smallest catalogue for this sale since Tattersalls took over its organisation in 2016 went on to produce record figures for the average and median prices. It also lifted annual turnover at the Newmarket-based auction house’s Cheltenham venue – which now comes under the banner of Tattersalls Jockey Club Sales – to just under £21 million, a record amount gleaned at seven auctions. Throw in 15 six-figure lots from among 33 who walked the ring, two horses who broke £300,000 and a joint-record price for a filly from Britain’s point-to-point circuit, and you could say Tattersalls enjoyed a rousing end to the year. Matt Prior, Tattersalls Cheltenham Head of Sales, thanked vendors, buyers

TATTERSALLS CHELTENHAM

Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale

›› Impressive Lingstown winner Tumuch led proceedings at £335,000 THE OWNER BREEDER

Gordon Elliott: will train the sale-topper

›› and The Jockey Club – which owns

Britain’s top Jumps track – and added: “We look forward to continuing to develop our exclusive and longstanding association with the Jockey Club and providing further investment in our sales hosted at Cheltenham racecourse, the home of jumps racing.” Gordon Elliott could probably find his way to Prestbury Park in his sleep given the number of runners, winners and sales purchases he has piloted at the venue. He bought the £280,000 top

TALKING POINT

lot at the 2022 edition of this sale – he has since trained the horse in question, What’s Up Darling, to win a Grade 3 novice hurdle in Gigginstown House Stud’s colours – and he was back to lift the top-priced horse one year later. This proved to be Tumuch, a four-year-old who County Wexfordbased Matty Flynn O’Connor had bought for €65,000 as a store and then saddled him to win a point at Lingstown on debut. Shrewd Elliott and his wingman Aidan ‘Mouse’ O’Ryan, had the horse on their radar having seen him as a raw prospect at the start of the year, but after the win they were in situ and with a bid of £335,000 secured him for an unnamed client. Flynn O’Connor also gained £150,000 for Going Live, a €70,000 store who was another Lingstown winner and who will join Tumuch at Elliott’s Cullentra House stables. Such lovely young horses give Elliott fresh ammo to fire at future festivals, but when it comes to top-dog in Ireland honours, the medal still sits around the neck of Willie Mullins. His sales advisor, Harold Kirk, put up a bid of £300,000 to secure four-year-old Port Joulain, a

horses to show potential in a race; they or their representatives are touring farms looking at potential stars while they are still uneducated shells. After Elliott landed the £335,000 top lot, four-year-old Tumuch, at Tattersalls Cheltenham’s December Sale, his advisor Mouse O’Ryan said they had viewed the horse almost a year earlier at Matty Flynn O’Connor’s Wexford yard. Early signs were promising, and after the horse had been schooled, trained and shown his mettle by winning a point-to-point, they were ready to pounce. Early insight can be a big advantage.

• Discussions about the dominance of Irish stables at Britain’s major jump racing festivals, and attempted analysis of the success of Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott, can range across a heap of reasons. Ireland’s point-to-point circuit, and the growth in sales devoted to young pointers at Cheltenham and other locations, has often been cited as part of the tale. Perhaps greater consideration needs to focus on fields, farms and barns in Normandy, Sennones, Tipperary, Wexford or Fermanagh, where the raw material is bred, raised and given early lessons. Mullins and Elliott do not wait for

TATTERSALLS CHELTENHA

TATTERSALLS CHELTENHAM

Sales Circuit

Port Joulain will join Willie Mullins

€78,000 store who won a point at Borris House for trainer Denis Murphy. Kirk said sire Cokoriko was part of the appeal, while Port Joulain’s close relatives included Apple’s Jade, whose superb career began with Mullins. Bloodstock agent Tom Malone, another Cheltenham ever-present, secured two enviable young horses for clients of Paul Nicholls. Malone gave £255,000 for Belliano, who Terence O’Brien had bought for €25,000 as a store before training him to win on debut at Boulta, and £175,000 for Just A Rose. That valuation matched the British record sum for a filly point-topointer paid for Saunton Surf at Doncaster last year. Just A Rose, a four-year-old daughter of Saint Des Saints, was bred by Sarah and Nigel Faulks of Yeo Barton Stud in North Devon and owned by them in partnership with Warwickshire trainer Tom Ellis and his wife Gina Andrews. Ellis had trained the filly to beat geldings in Britain’s sole point-to-point restricted to four-yearolds, and run at Chaddesley Corbett in Worcestershire just ahead of the sale.

Statistics Sold: 33 (80% clearance) Aggregate: 3,448,000 (0%) Average: 104,485 (+16%) Median: 85,000 (+26%)

Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale Top lots Name/age/sex/breeding

Consigner

Price (£)

Buyer

Tumuch 4 g Buck’s Boum - Pistol Girl

Ballycrystal Stables (Matthew Flynn O’Connor)

335,000

Aidan O’Ryan/Gordon Elliott

Port Joulain 4 g Cokoriko - Apple’s Noa

Ballyboy Stables (Denis Murphy)

300,000

Harold Kirk/W Mullins

Belliano 4 g Black Sam Bellamy – Miliana

Woodstock Stables (Terence O’Brien)

255,000

Tom Malone/Paul Nicholls

Just A Rose 4 g Saint Des Saints - Daring Rose

Yeo Barton Bloodstock/Tom Ellis

175,000

Tom Malone/Paul Nicholls

Going Live 4 g Doyen - Annie May

Ballycrystal Stables (Matthew Flynn O’Connor)

150,000

Aidan O’Ryan/Gordon Elliott

THE OWNER BREEDER

MAGIC MILLIONS

Sunny Australia is not immune from the financial swings and roundabouts experienced around the world. A possible recession has been headed off, but inflation remains higher than ideal, the cost of living has gone up, interest rates have risen and the knock-on effect for loans and mortgages has become a theme – it sounds little different from life in Europe. This economic background tempered expectations before this sale on the coast of Queensland. The super-rich, unaffected by the price of a loaf of bread, were there in force and ready to chase down the most-prized yearlings, but the average Aussie who has been boosting syndicate sizes in recent years was sure to be more circumspect given the reality of life outside the sales complex. That did not stop vendors requesting places for their stock and the catalogue of 1,468 horses was nearly 200 up on the previous year and requiring an eighth day in which to complete Books 1 and 2. There was also an additional hour of waiting for proceedings to open before the final session due to delays in completing action at the afternoon’s prize money-rich adjacent race meeting, where Too Darn Lizzie, a first-crop daughter of Too Darn Hot, landed a two-year-old fillies’ race. Her sire had already made his presence felt during four days of selling. Standing at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket, but also a

Too Darn Hot supplied this A$1.9m colt

shuttler to Darley’s Kelvinside in Australia, Too Darn Hot was responsible for ten sold yearlings who averaged $454,000. He was also sire of the sale’s second most valuable horse, completing a one-two at the top for European sires. The sale-topper became a red rosette in the browband of Coolmore Stud’s Wootton Bassett, who shuttled to Australia for the 2021 season and opened at a reasonable fee of $65,000 – his European figure in that year was €150,000. In case that did not bring queen bees to the honey, Coolmore also invested in a number of quality mares for Wootton Bassett, and one, Avantage, became dam of this sale’s top lot. A $2.1m filly consigned by Coolmore, she was sold to New Zealand’s David Ellis, aka Te Akau Racing, which has a base at Matamata, has had one at Singapore’s Kranji racecourse – which is closing for racing later this year – and, since last summer, now has one in Melbourne. Ellis bought Avantage for NZ$210,000 as a yearling and under the Te Akau banner she won 16 of 27 races, including at Group 1 level. Her owner then sold his prize filly to Coolmore for NZ$4.1m via an online auction, but at this sale bought part of her legacy in spectacular style. The aforementioned Too Darn Hot colt, who followed the Wootton Bassett filly over the line, was bred by John Camilleri and sold for $1.9m to Ciaron Maher and Gloucestershire’s David Redvers, racing manager to Sheikh Fahad’s Qatar Racing. Their purchase was foaled by the dual Group 3 winner A Time For Julia. Segenhoe Stud consigned this colt on Camilleri’s behalf, and it was not long before breeder and consignor teamed up again to sell Tom Magnier a $1,750,000 Snitzel colt who the buyer said would join Sydney trainer Chris Waller. Magnier also placed a winning bid of $1.6m to secure a Wootton Bassett colt out of Listed victress Fiera Vista from the Camilleri/Segenhoe axis. A raft of names went down as buyers of an I Am Invincible filly who reaped $1.7m for her joint-breeders at Widden Stud. The

MAGIC MILLIONS

Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale (Book 1)

David Ellis snapped up the sale-topper

filly, who will race for the Sikura family of Kentucky’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in partnership with trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, was foaled by Madam Rouge, who Widden sold at this sale in 2017 for $310,000, then bought her back for $2.4 million after Group 2 and Group 3 wins for Waller. Widden did not have to pay Yarraman Park Stud the I Am Invincible covering fee, for Madam Rouge was carrying the filly when she was sold back to Widden. Other European buyers included John Warren, who secured a Written Tycoon full-sister to ace sprinter Coolangatta for $800,000 on behalf of Highclere Australia. There was also plenty of European interest to be found among the sires. Four of Frankel’s yearlings changed hands for an average of $825,000, while 13 Blue Points averaged $215,000 and three Lope De Vega’s sold for an average of $290,000. America’s vaunted young sire Justify was represented by seven yearlings who averaged just over $500,000. When Book 1 was completed on the fifth day of selling, a record 23 yearlings had sold for seven figures but while the other significant indicators showed slight

Book 1 statistics Sold: 813 (87% clearance) Aggregate: 225,152,000 (-2%) Average: 276,941 (-5%) Median: 200,000 (-5%)

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

Consigner

Price (A$)

Buyer

F Wootton Bassett – Avantage C Too Darn Hot – A Time For Julia

Coolmore Stud

2,100,000

David Ellis

Segenhoe Stud

1,900,000

Ciaron Maher/David Redvers Bloodstock

C Snitzel – Warranty

Segenhoe Stud

1,750,000

Tom Magnier

F I Am Invincible – Madam Rouge

Widden Stud

1,700,000

Sikura/Hill ‘n’ Dale/Waterhouse & Bott

C Extreme Choice – Wanted Lady

Milburn Creek

1,600,000

James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership

C Wootton Bassett – Fiera Vista

Segenhoe Stud

1,600,000

Tom Magnier

THE OWNER BREEDER

››

Sales Circuit ›› falls, Magic Millions executives could take

pride in another satisfying set of results. Turnover of just over $225m was down two per cent, while the average and median each dipped five per cent. Of 932 offered lots, 800 changed hands for a clearance rate of 87 per cent, three points

Keeneland January Sale

Quality was the watchword at the Keeneland January Sale in Kentucky, writes Nancy Sexton. That much had been evident at the company’s marathon November auction, where demand for the best offerings was seriously competitive while those below the top – in particular foals that didn’t fill the desired ‘market criteria’ and mares with a bit of age or exposure – generally failed to find favour. Even so, it was striking in January just how much of a premium some buyers were willing to pay for the better offerings, many of them accomplished fillies just off the track. A case in point was the top lot Prank. A half-sister to Belmont Stakes winner Mo Donegal, the Into Mischief filly had dazzled when winning her only start, a Saratoga maiden, by close to ten lengths as a two-year-old for Todd Pletcher. Although unable to make the track again, there was no doubting her talent and it took a bid of $1.6 million from Tom Wachman, son of David and grandson of John Magnier, to secure the four-year-old. Prank was the first seven-figure lot to sell at this sale since 2019 and she was joined shortly afterwards by two-time Canadian champion Curlin’s Voyage, who headed to Japan on a bid of $1 million from K I Farm’s Tomoyuki Nakamura. The sole mare catalogued in foal to Flightline, the daughter of Curlin won five races including the Mazarine Stakes and

down on 2023. Magic Millions’ Managing Director Barry Bowditch described the clearance rate as “acceptable” and pointed out that the average of just over $280,000 had only been exceeded twice before. Waterhouse, Bott and agent Bruce

Slade of Kestrel Thoroughbreds headed buyers, lifting 23 yearlings at an aggregate of $8.27m, Segenhoe Stud’s yearlings sold for a total of $16.6m to gain top vendor honours, while I Am Invincible was leading sire, his 30 sold yearlings adding almost $20m to turnover.

Woodbine Oaks. As at the November Sale, where Mage’s dam Puca changed hands in a private transaction for $2.9 million, there was also a case of million dollar post-sale activity, in this instance for the Grade 1 producer Star Act. The 13-year-old mare had previously been in the news as dam of the Breeders’ Juvenile Fillies and Frizette Stakes winner Just F Y I for breeder George Krikorian, and was sent to the ring carrying a foal from the first crop of multiple Grade 1 winner Life Is Good. Despite that package, Star Act was initially bought back for $950,000, only for consignor John Sikura of Hill ’n’ Dale at Xalapa and Matt Dorman of Determined Stud to later secure a private deal to purchase the mare for $1.2 million. Claiborne Farm’s new sire Annapolis, a Grade 1-winning son of War Front priced

at $12,500, is also set to receive some strong support if some of the week’s transactions are any indication. Shopping on behalf of the horses’s owner Ramona Bass, agent Steve Young came away with four mares worth $2.185 million to send to the stallion headed by Bridlewood Cat, a stakes-placed half-sister to Grade 1 scorer Sweet Loretta in foal to Tapit who cost $750,000. Young also paid $650,000 for Kaling, a young Grade 1-placed daughter of Practical Joke. Emerging flamboyant buyer John Stewart was another busy stocking up. Signing on this occasion as Resolute Bloodstock LLC, he came away with nine horses worth $1.16 million including the sale’s most expensive weanling filly, a daughter of Candy Ride for whom he outbid the St George Sales team at $430,000.

Statistics KEENELAND

Sold: 831 (77% clearance) Aggregate: $38,339,300 (-15.5%) Average: $46,126 (-2%) Median: $15,000 (-21%) Prank was knocked down to Tom Wachman for a sale-topping $1.6 million

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

Vendor

Prank 4 f Into Mischief - Callingmissbrown

Gainesway, agent

Star Act 13 m Street Cry - Starrer Curlin’s Voyage 7 m Curlin - Atlantic Voyage Bridlewood Cat 8 m Street Sense - Ithinkiwasapudycat

Denali Stud, agent

750,000

Steve W. Young, agent

Sebago Lake 5 m Tapit - Susie’s Baby

Eaton Sales, agent

700,000

Whisper Hill, LLC

THE OWNER BREEDER

Price ($)

Buyer

1,600,000

Tom Wachman

Hill ’n’ Dale, agent

1,200,000

Hill ’n’ Dale at Xalapa & Determined Stud (P/S)

Hill ’n’ Dale, agent

1,000,000

K I Farm

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Dr Statz

he 2023 breeding stock sales at Goffs, Tattersalls and Arqana provided many spectacular moments, most coming during the Niarchos reduction at Goffs. And it was this draft more than any other factor that embellished the sales return for in-foal mares last year. Goffs saw its average price for pregnant mares jump from £51,000 in 2022 to £128,000 for 2023. Tattersalls and Arqana, meanwhile, produced averages broadly in line with 2022 figures. Tattersalls went from £102,000 in 2022 to £101,000 last year, while Arqana posted a modest increase from £49,000 to £52,000. The Niarchos draft contributed five of the ten in-foal millionairesses sold at public auction in 2023, with sisters Alpine Star (in-foal to Frankel) and Alpha Centauri (Sea The Stars) equalling the previous best price of €6 million set by Chicquita ten years earlier, despite the best efforts of auctioneer Henry Beeby to set a new landmark broodmare price for Goffs. But as is ever the case at bloodstock auctions, a few shining examples of outstanding quality can and frequently do hide us from the real world, as the disparity between the average (€124,623) and median (€18,000) at Goffs outlines all too clearly. Taken as a group, the three main outlets for in-foal broodmares had their

share of tricky moments. It’s easy to understand why so many mares are over-covered these days as stallion studs try to make good on their investment by going after as much revenue as possible. But there are inevitable financial consequences for the mare owner that play out thereafter. The first opportunity to witness what happens when you over-cover your mare usually takes place at the mare sales. This year, as many as 37% of all in-foal mares sold at the main three auctions failed to make enough to cover the advertised fee of their covering sire. The corresponding figure for 2022 was 33% and 34% the year before that. It’s a recurring theme that just goes to show hope springs eternal in the minds of many sellers. Despite a rise in loss-making transactions, the big three auctions as a group posted an average price of £92,081, well clear of last year’s £69,835 and 2021’s £56,295, all of which is great news for those operating at the elite end of the market. The 2023 average price was produced off an average covering fee of £27,967 or about 30% of the average selling price, and perhaps that is the relationship between mare value and covering fee that represents the sweet spot – there was a potential profit for all those who achieved that broodmare value-stallion fee relationship. But there

LEADING COVERING SIRES 2023 BY MARE AVERAGE (Goffs November, Tattersalls December and Arqana December)

Stallion Fee £50,000-plus FRANKEL DUBAWI SEA THE STARS NO NAY NEVER KINGMAN ST MARK'S BASILICA WOOTTON BASSETT LOPE DE VEGA SIYOUNI NEW BAY NIGHT OF THUNDER ZARAK CAMELOT *BAAEED MEHMAS PALACE PIER DARK ANGEL

Fee £

Sold

High £

Low £

Avg £

Avg-Fee

Avg X Fee

275,000 350,000 156,130 151,793 125,000 56,380 130,108 108,423 130,108 65,054 86,739 52,044 52,043 80,000 52,043 50,000 52,043

7 1 7 8 8 9 13 5 7 11 11 4 8 11 11 9 6

5,218,800 1,717,000 5,218,800 1,739,600 656,250 3,218,260 1,030,200 630,000 729,725 772,650 577,500 309,060 630,000 391,410 735,000 283,500 104,376

567,000 1,717,000 34,792 139,168 44,100 36,967 86,980 128,775 74,690 47,250 60,886 103,020 35,199 54,600 23,100 26,614 17,396

2,340,591 1,717,000 908,071 484,871 466,466 454,380 372,633 308,371 293,596 277,324 253,172 187,797 161,206 157,775 131,207 96,686 63,751

2,065,591 1,367,000 751,941 333,078 341,466 398,000 242,525 199,948 163,487 212,270 166,433 135,753 109,163 77,775 79,163 46,686 11,708

8.5 4.9 5.8 3.2 3.7 8.1 2.9 2.8 2.3 4.3 2.9 3.6 3.1 2.0 2.5 1.9 1.2

THE OWNER BREEDER

BILL SELWYN

Shining lights fail to mask polarity of mare market

Baaeed: mares in-foal were in demand

were fewer that did so in 2023, with 22% making at least three times the fee against 27% in 2022 and 24% in 2021. The average price for an in-foal mare at Goffs, Tattersalls and Arqana may have been up 32% compared with 2022, but market segmentation perfectly illustrates the polarity that exists. The top quartile averaged £316,000, up from £226,000 last year, but the second quartile average came in at just £38,000, up from £37,000 last year and £34,000 the year before that. Of course, all of these broodmare market trends need to be understood against a backdrop of how a major reduction can distort the financial landscape in any given year. In that sense, mare sales will never be as useful an industry barometer as the yearlings are. Among the first-season stallions of 2023, Baaeed was the only representative in the £50,000-plus group and although his mares produced a healthy average, it was by no mean plain sailing for the top-class son of Sea The Stars. Three of his 11 mares did not make back the £80,000 investment in a nomination to Baaeed and only two brought an ideal three-times fee or better. Coolmore’s No Nay Never stallion Blackbeard had 23 mares offered at the three big sales and they produced an average price of £71,791, which generated a better price-fee ratio (3.3) than Baaeed’s 2.0, albeit from a lower fee of €25,000. Ten of his mares sold very well making the desired three-times fee, but

John Boyce cracks the code seven also sold for less than his advertised fee. Rathbarry Stud’s State Of Rest was the most popular first-season covering sire standing at between £20,000 and £50,000. He produced an average of £43,642 for nine sold. Among the £10,000 to £20,000 cohort, Ballylinch Stud’s Bayside Boy (£37,318) and Darley’s Naval Crown (£36,004), both of whom had five mares sell, did best of all. Derrinstown Stud’s Minzaal (£31,135 for five sold) wasn’t far behind. Also in this category were Arc winner Torquator Tasso, whose three mares generated an average of £25,469 off an opening fee of €20,000, and Darley’s young Ardad stallion Perfect Power, whose five mares averaged £21,819. In the sub-£10,000 category, Thunder Moon and Caturra were the most popular. Just to underline the point than not even a first-season stallion can make up for over-covering a mare, we can point to the fact that of the 94 mares sold at Tattersalls, Goffs and Arqana in 2023 in-foal to new stallions, only 59 covered their conception fee. Among the £50,000-plus stallions who are not in their first year, it was Frankel, with seven mares sold, who justifiably proved top of the table. He had five millionairesses in Alpine Star, Teona, That Which Is Not, Geocentric and Primo Bacio plus two more that made more than 500,000 guineas at Tattersalls. Sea The Stars posted the next best average, but his figure was inflated by Alpha Centauri’s €6 million price tag. Of the other six, only Ambivalent justified her high-end mating with the Gilltown Stud stallion, making €925,000 at Goffs. All the others failed to cover Sea The Stars’ €180,000 fee, including The Fugue’s half-sister Selyl, who was sold for just €48,000, and Ninas Terz, a €40,000 purchase for whom none of the first five foals have yet secured black type. Needless to say, both could turn out to be very shrewd investments. Only four sires represented by five or more in-foal mares delivered 100% records when it came to surpassing conception fees and they were the aforementioned Frankel, Whitsbury Manor Stud’s Havana Grey, plus the Ballylinch Stud pair of Bayside Boy and Lope De Vega. If we limited the study to ten or more mares, the winners would have been Too Darn Hot (95%), Wootton Bassett (92%) and Blue Point (89%), with a special mention to Sioux Nation, who had 21 of his 25 surpass his fee. The leaders by a fee multiple of 8.5 were the Galileo pair

LEADING COVERING SIRES 2023 BY MARE AVERAGE (cont.) (Goffs November, Tattersalls December and Arqana December)

Stallion Fee £20,000-£49,999 STARSPANGLEDBANNER PINATUBO TOO DARN HOT SAXON WARRIOR BLUE POINT CHURCHILL SEA THE MOON *BLACKBEARD SHOWCASING ZOUSTAR GALIWAY ACCLAMATION GHAIYYATH PERSIAN KING *STATE OF REST AUSTRALIA SOTTSASS ALMANZOR OASIS DREAM ADVERTISE

Fee £

Sold

High £

Low £

Avg £

Avg-Fee

Avg X Fee

43,369 35,000 40,000 30,359 30,359 26,022

12 8 19 11 11 9 19 23 10 8 5 2 14 8 9 6 5 9 4 1

708,750 199,500 325,500 260,940 157,500 262,500 356,618 393,750 157,500 126,000 103,020 84,000 189,000 94,500 113,074 131,250 94,435 36,916 18,900 5,250

13,047 30,443 36,750 6,089 22,615 14,787

146,897 100,814 100,488 90,251 84,814 80,964

3.4 2.9 2.5 3.0 2.8 3.1

2,100 13,736 17,170 7,350

79,704 71,791 63,508 60,506

25,755 17,396 11,550 9,444 9,450 2,609

59,752 50,698 49,459 47,548 43,642 40,896

13,917 3,005 6,300 5,250

35,958 14,547 14,268 5,250

103,528 65,814 60,488 59,893 54,455 54,943 54,704 50,106 18,508 30,506 33,730 26,845 27,774 25,863 21,957 19,211 14,273 (7,138) (5,733) (14,750)

183,750 69,584 84,000 81,558 210,000 115,500 99,750 52,500 84,000 78,982 115,500 69,584 105,000 72,973 54,600 69,584 69,584 42,925

42,000 69,584 25,755 13,736 7,393 11,550 6,300 13,047 6,958 15,453 870 4,349 3,150 1,740 9,450 7,828 6,958 14,595

88,350 69,584 57,189 47,647 45,433 43,800 39,446 37,318 36,004 32,868 32,711 31,135 30,778 28,010 27,890 27,598 25,645 25,469

69,850 56,573 44,178 32,901 30,254 28,800 21,946 24,307 22,993 13,352 19,700 18,125 18,278 12,831 12,890 13,720 12,634 8,121

4.8 5.3 4.4 3.2 3.0 2.9 2.3 2.9 2.8 1.7 2.5 2.4 2.5 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.5

214,625 75,600 343,400 50,448 44,642 24,038 94,500 54,600 44,100 54,086 13,650 47,250 19,136 30,048 18,029

214,625 44,100 4,722 50,448 27,472 24,038 2,100 1,575 1,740 1,050 13,650 1,575 6,958 1,717 6,010

214,625 59,850 58,998 50,448 36,057 24,038 21,992 21,525 18,094 14,360 13,650 13,650 13,047 12,067 12,019

212,023 52,850 52,059 41,775 33,455 21,436 13,492 14,525 9,420 8,360 5,650 7,650 4,373 6,862 7,682

82.5 8.6 8.5 5.8 13.9 9.2 2.6 3.1 2.1 2.4 1.7 2.3 1.5 2.3 2.8

25,000 21,685 45,000 30,000

26,022 23,853 21,685 21,685 21,685 21,685 21,685 21,685 20,000 20,000

Fee £10,000-£19,999 HAVANA GREY DANDY MAN EARTHLIGHT KENDARGENT SIOUX NATION NATHANIEL CRACKSMAN *BAYSIDE BOY *NAVAL CROWN HELLO YOUMZAIN STARMAN *MINZAAL ARDAD GLENEAGLES BATED BREATH SPACE BLUES LUCKY VEGA *TORQUATOR TASSO

17,500 13,011 13,011 19,517 13,011 13,011 12,500 15,179 15,000 13,878 13,011 17,348

7 1 3 2 25 7 18 5 5 7 4 5 15 8 5 14 8 3

Fee up to £9,999 DONJUAN TRIUMPHANT TWILIGHT SON INTELLO CIRCUS MAXIMUS LACCARIO WALDPFAD LOPE Y FERNANDEZ WITHOUT PAROLE CALYX SERGEI PROKOFIEV GOLDEN HORN TASLEET HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR *THUNDER MOON ECTOT

2,602 7,000 6,939 8,674 2,602 2,602 8,500 7,000 8,674 6,000 8,000 6,000 8,674 5,204 4,337

1 2 9 1 2 1 9 7 9 8 1 4 2 9 2

18,500 13,011 13,011 14,746 15,179 15,000

3.2 3.3 1.4 2.0

2.3 2.1 2.3 2.2 2.0 1.9 1.7 0.7 0.7 0.3

*First-season sire

Frankel and Intello, who benefitted enormously from the €400,000 Arqana sale of Plumage, a Dubawi mare from the Wertheimer brothers’ famous Featherhill

family and thus closely related to Dubawi’s Group 1 winner Left Hand. St Mark’s Basilica was another (8.1 times fee) that did well by this metric.

THE OWNER BREEDER

Sexton Files

Heart’s Cry making his point loud and clear

THE OWNER BREEDER

GEORGE SELWYN

apanese breeding is most readily associated in this part of the world with Deep Impact but that would be doing a disservice to Heart’s Cry, another son of Sunday Silence who stood with great success at the Shadai Stallion Station. Granted, Heart’s Cry didn’t come close to threatening Deep Impact’s dominance, achieved much in the same way as Sunday Silence before him. Yet few stallions, certainly those who don’t shuttle, can boast to have achieved the same level of international prominence as Heart’s Cry. Prior to his retirement from stud duty in 2021, he had sired Group/Grade 1 winners in Australia (Lys Gracieux, winner of the Cox Plate, and Admire Rakti, winner of the Caulfield Cup), Dubai (Just A Way, winner of the Dubai Duty Free) and the US (Yoshida, winner of the Woodward Stakes and Churchill Downs Turf Classic) to go with domestic performers of the class of Japanese Derby winner One And Only and Japan Cup hero Suave Richard. And in 2023, Europe received a posthumous taste of this very classy sire in the Aidan O’Brien-trained Continuous, bred by Coolmore in the season that Deep Impact was so severely restricted. While champion Rhododendron left Japan as one of the few in foal to Deep Impact, with the resulting foal being Auguste Rodin, Coolmore switched Fluff, a Galileo sister to Saxon Warrior’s champion dam Maybe, to Heart’s Cry and were rewarded with Continuous, whose progression last season took in wins in the Great Voltigeur Stakes and St Leger. Yet despite this accomplished record, which currently consists of 64 stakes winners, an identifiable heir has been slow to emerge at stud. Just A Way was given every chance at the Shadai Stallion Station and while he did throw champion twoyear-old Danon The Kid in his third crop, he has so far been underwhelming and has been switched off the Shadai roster. One And Only has been sparsely used at Arrow Stud as has the Group 2 winner Win Variation. However, in Suave Richard there is now a son who is changing perceptions. A typically tough Japanese product, the chestnut found his feet as an older campaigner, winning the Group 1 Osaka Hai as a four-year-old and Group 1 Japan Cup under Oisin Murphy on the

Katsumi Yoshida (left) with Heart’s Cry, subsequently an important Shadai stallion

penultimate start of his 19-race career at five. Suave Richard’s first crop, which comprises 82 foals, raced last year and with excellent results. A high volume of runners yielded 21 winners for approximately 416 million yen, a total which saw him dominate the leading Japanese first-crop sires’ list over Bricks And Mortar and the Darley-based pair Thunder Snow and Hawkbill. Not only that, he also finished third on the top two-yearold sires’ list, ahead of the more established – and expensive – duo Lord Kanaloa and Daiwa Major. As those figures suggest, Shadai appear to have a serious young sire on its hands, a notion which was further underlined when Suave Richard supplied the Group 1 Hopeful Stakes winner Regaleira over the Christmas period. One of only two fillies in the 16-runner event, the Tetsuya Kimuratrained youngster showed an excellent turn of foot to run down Sottsass’ brother Shin Emperor to win by just under a length, with the pair pulling well clear of the third. Her win also provided a landmark result for the 2010 King George winner Harbinger, for whom she is a first Group 1 winner as a broodmare sire. Just over a month before the Hopeful Stakes, it was announced that Suave Richard would stand the 2024 season at a fee of 15 million yen (£80,000), an increase of over seven times his 2023 fee. It was released just as the dust settled on the win of another daughter, Corazon Beat, in the Group 2 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes. Several weeks later, that filly also ran third in the

Group 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies Stakes to add further fuel to the belief that Suave Richard is one of Japan’s most promising young sires. Heart’s Cry’s successful Christmas period didn’t end with Suave Richard, however. His son Do Deuce holds the distinction of having beaten Equinox in the 2023 Japanese Derby and while it hasn’t all been plain sailing for the colt since then, he finally returned to winning ways on Christmas Eve in the Group 1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama. In a typically deep edition of the race, seven other Group 1 winners lined up and all were dispatched with ease by the winner’s powerful finishing kick. Another high-flying product bred by Northern Farm, Do Deuce’s background provides further reminders – if any were needed – of how effectively Japanese buyers shop the international breeding stock sales. Such interests, for example, were again very active at last year’s Tattersalls December Mares Sale, where they accounted for approximately 8.4 million guineas worth of stock. Do Deuce’s dam, Dust And Diamonds, was plucked out of Kentucky by Katsumi Yoshida, who paid $1 million for the mare at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale. As that valuation suggests, she had plenty to recommend her, notably a win in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Stakes and placing in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Although her sire Vindication never lived up to expectations at stud, he has developed into a fair broodmare sire, perhaps in response to the early opportunities afforded to him. Do Deuce is

Bloodstock world views one of six Group or Grade 1 winners out of one of his daughters; the list also includes another star of 2023 in Elite Power, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, as well as Grade 1 winner Yaupon, whose first foals have been so well received at the recent winter Kentucky breeding stock sales. This purple patch for Heart’s Cry coincided with the news that Darley Japan would be standing his son Yoshida in 2024. Bred in Japan, Yoshida was acquired to race in the US by a partnership headed by WinStar Farm, the China Horse Club and SF Bloodstock through John McCormack at the 2015 JRHA Select Sale in Japan and turned out to be remarkably versatile as

the winner of Grade 1 races on both turf (Churchill Downs Turf Classic) and dirt (Woodward Stakes) for Bill Mott. There are understandably few options when it comes to accessing Sunday Silence blood in the US and as such, there were hopes that Yoshida would pick up the baton when he retired to stand at WinStar in 2019. He was initially well supported and a first crop of 107 foals has so far yielded 15 winners including the stakes-placed pair Yatta and Okiro. However, confidence has evidently been ebbing away. His 2022 book consisted of 50 mares, low by WinStar standards, and that dropped again to 34 in 2023. In turn, Yoshida’s first crop

only did enough for him to reach 14th place on the North American first-crop sires’ list. Even so, there is a suspicion that the plug has been pulled on him too quickly, especially as Yoshida only ran once at two himself and progressed markedly at three. Either way, it’s another reflection of the current fragility of the American market, especially for those operating within the middle to lower end. The Japanese market, with its knowledge and regard for the sire line, is better placed to appreciate Yoshida and one suspects that his switch to Darley Japan may ultimately prove to be a good move for all involved.

Dual hemisphere high for Chaparral When it comes to sons of Sadler’s Wells, High Chaparral never assumed the same standing as either Galileo or Montjeu. Yet that’s not to say his influence is fading in any way. Although far more potent in Australasia, where he was represented by 16 Group 1 winners, he remains a force across both hemispheres through his sons, as we were reminded of again during the Christmas period. In New Zealand, son Contributer was responsible for Campionessa, winner of the Group 1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic at Pukekohe Park on Boxing Day. Meanwhile, the jumps action on that same day in Britain and Ireland propelled the French-based Karaktar further into the spotlight. Already regarded as a young jumps sire of importance, Karaktar is now more than likely a buzzword with trainers and agents following the impressive Graded race double of Il Est Francais, who put in a breathtaking display to win the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton for Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, and Kala Conti, winner of the Grade 2 novice hurdle at Leopardstown for Gordon Elliott. It was a day that illustrated the class and versatility of the line in addition to how it is placed in today’s world; while several high-profile sons of High Chaparral have disappointed at stud in Europe, leaving a smattering of jumpsbased representatives to carry the flag, it is thriving in Australasia, where sons So You Think, Dundeel, Toronado, Redwood and Tivaci are each proven Group 1 sires alongside Contributer. There were high expectations for So You Think, the winner of no fewer than ten Group 1 races across both hemispheres, and champion Dundeel from the start of their stud careers at

their respective bases of Coolmore and Arrowfield Stud. So You Think was underwhelming in the northern hemisphere but he’s been a different proposition in Australia, where his record currently comprises 55 stakes winners, ten at Group 1 level, that in turn underpins a stud fee of A$99,000. Dundeel, for his part, got off to a swift start as the sire of Group 1 winners Atyaab and Truly Great in his first crop and Castelvecchio, Yourdeel and Super Seth in his second. Currently, he is represented by top three-year-old Militarize. Contributer has been more of a slow burner. Bred in Ireland by Lady O’Reilly’s Petra Bloodstock Agency, he won a pair of Listed races for Ed Dunlop before changing hands to Godolphin, for whom he became an accomplished performer in Australia. John O’Shea took over the handling of the horse and within the year had sent him out to win the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes over a mile and the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes over 1m2f. Contributer was later retired to stand at Mapperley Stud in New Zealand, where High Chaparral himself had fared so well. Darley retained an interest and half of the horse was syndicated among prominent New Zealand breeders. Contributer stood his first season for NZ$15,000 (£7,500) and it is out of that 69-strong first crop that Group 1 winners Campionessa and Lion’s Roar, who completed a major Christmas Group race double for the stallion by winning the Group 3 Summer Cup at Randwick, have emerged. Unfortunately, injury subsequently restricted his numbers to the point that he doesn’t have more than 110 foals across his three next crops. His troubles are now reportedly behind him,

so perhaps the path is clear now for him to produce greater numbers and consolidate his place as one of New Zealand’s most upwardly mobile stallions at a fee of NZ$18,000 (£9,000). Over in France, Karaktar has rapidly become a star of the French jumps stallion scene at Haras de Cercy, his home since his sale to Winning Bloodstock Agency for €110,000 at the 2016 Arqana Summer Sale. Karaktar had won a pair of Group 3 races for the Aga Khan and hailed from a typically deep line belonging to his breeder. Installed at just €2,000, he wound up with just over 50 foals in his first crop, a group that has ultimately wasted little time in advertising his merit. Il Est Francais, whose previous wins included the prestigious Prix Renaud du Vivier 4yo Hurdle at Auteuil, is very much the star of the show but there is also Incollable, winner of the Grade 3 Prix Heros VII Chase, and Moka De Vassy, a Grade 2-placed hurdler for Jane Williams. That momentum carried on over into his second crop, which is headlined by Grade 3 Prix General Saint-Didier winner Janeiro Verde, and into his third; despite just only turning four, that group already contains Kala Conti, currently a 12-1 shot for the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and the filly Karakta, who emulated Janeiro Verde by taking the Prix General Saint-Didier at Compiegne in November. Karaktar’s fee is on the ascent – he will stand for €12,000 this year – while if the chat is anything to go by, various British and Irish stallion operations are looking to pounce. However, for now he remains very much the pride and joy of Haras de Cercy, who are marketing him quite simply as ‘The Revelation’.

THE OWNER BREEDER

Vet Forum: The Expert View

Foals: the first six months of life

he first six months of a horse’s life are critical for their development. Young horses are at increased risk of disease, and as such a primary aim during these first months is reducing disease risk and ensuring the foal remains healthy for optimum development. Management, environment, nutrition, and genetics all play an important role in setting the foal up for later success.

Foals are not born with any immunity, and their immune system does not mature properly until they are several months old. Instead, newborn foals rely on obtaining antibodies (IgG) in colostrum to protect them from disease. This intake of colostrum must occur by approximately 18 hours of age, before the gut ‘closes’ and the large antibody molecules are no longer absorbed. When foals do not receive sufficient colostrum, or colostrum is of poor quality, this is known as ‘failure of transfer of passive immunity’ (FTPI), and the foal will be at high risk of subsequent infections including diarrhoea, pneumonia, joint or navel ill, or sepsis. If FTPI is identified early (before 18 hours of age), then additional high-quality colostrum may be given orally, however past this age an intravenous plasma transfusion will be required to ensure the foal receives sufficient antibodies for protection. A newborn foal will typically have its first veterinary examination between 12 and 24 hours of age, unless there are concerns that warrant earlier intervention. At this time, the vet will perform a physical examination to check for any signs of disease and for conditions including umbilical hernias, rib fractures, limb confirmation issues or other congenital problems. Many conditions such as umbilical hernias or angular limb deformities do not require immediate intervention, but a plan should be made for regular re-evaluation. The vet will also perform a blood test to measure antibodies (IgG) in order to ensure the foal received adequate colostrum and has complete transfer of passive immunity. The vet will likely also administer tetanus anti-toxin at this time.

BILL SELWYN

First 24 hours

Foals are not born with any immunity, which means they are at increased risk of disease

of foal may develop diarrhoea, young foals tend to be most severely affected due to their weak immune system and propensity to easily become dehydrated. Foal heat diarrhoea occurs in otherwise healthy foals between five and 15 days of age, and occurs due to establishment of normal gut bacterial flora at this age, rather than any association with the mare’s hormone levels. This type of diarrhoea is self-limiting and does not require treatment. Rotavirus infection is the most common cause of infectious diarrhoea in foals. Outbreaks can occur due to the highly

The neonatal period

The first four weeks of a foal’s life are classed as the neonatal period and represent a period of high disease risk. Diarrhoea is one of the most frequent problems affecting foals and while all ages

THE OWNER BREEDER

Figure 1 Young foals with diarrhoea often require intravenous fluid therapy to ensure they stay hydrated

contagious nature of the virus. Other infectious causes include Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, and Clostridium, while non-infectious causes include gut prematurity and lactose intolerance. Treatment of diarrhoea will depend on the severity of diarrhoea and age of the foal, but typical treatments include intravenous fluid therapy, antimicrobials and gastroprotectant medications, and anti-diarrhoeal medications (Figure 1). Vaccination of pregnant mares has been shown to reduce the severity of Rotavirus infection in their foals. In 2021, a new strain of Rotavirus was identified in Kentucky, USA, resulting in a large outbreak of disease and the death of many foals. While this strain has not yet been identified in the UK, this outbreak emphasised the importance of strict hygiene and biosecurity practices in the management of foaling mares and their newborn foals. Other problems in young foals include respiratory infections and infections of the joints or bones (joint ill) or umbilicus (navel ill). In some cases, there may only be a single site of infection, however these infections may occur in foals with sepsis. Sepsis is an infection of the bloodstream and/or other organs, resulting in inflammation throughout the body and potential multiple organ dysfunction. In foals, bacteria can enter the body through the umbilicus, intestinal tract, or lungs. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition and

Hayley Chidlow MRCVS is the main cause of death in neonatal foals. Successful treatment requires rapid intervention with antimicrobial medications and intensive supportive medical care (Figure 2). Management practices can be employed in order to reduce the incidence of disease in this neonatal period. The foal’s environment should be clean, with particular focus on strict hygiene and regular disinfection between animals in the foaling unit. Pregnant mares should be moved to the place where they will foal one month before foaling so that they can develop antibodies to the bacteria and other organisms within their environment, as these are the antibodies which then pass to the foal in colostrum. Pregnant mares should also be kept up to date with vaccines with booster vaccinations administered approximately one month before foaling.

One month onwards Rhodococcus equi

In foals one month of age and older, Rhodococcus equi (R.equi) is a major cause of disease. Rhodococcus is a bacteria that lives in the soil and is either ingested or inhaled. Foals with R.equi infection typically present with ill thrift, weight loss or poor weight gain, coughing, and nasal discharge. The majority of foals develop lung abscesses, but approximately 50% of cases will also have intestinal disease, which carries a poorer prognosis than lung infection alone. These cases can be diagnosed on the basis of lung ultrasound scans, bloodwork changes, and tracheal wash samples, and treatment is with a specific antimicrobial combination. Prevention of R.equi infection includes avoiding overcrowding and ensuring good ventilation, as infection risk is increased in dusty conditions. Routine screening of foals is also important; regular weighing will allow early identification of any foals that may be falling behind their cohort due to underlying disease, and on stud farms where the disease is common, screening using ultrasound scanning and bloodwork may also be employed.

Parasites

Foals have lower immunity against parasites and as such are more likely to have high worm burdens. Ascarids (round worms) are the most important parasite of youngstock. Foals with Ascarid infestation generally present with ill thrift, pot belly, rough coat and sometimes coughing and nasal discharge. Colic may also be seen due to intestinal impaction with worms. Strongyloides westeri (threadworms) are

four to six months of age, then correction may be required. In some cases, the vet may treat the hernia by application of an elastrator ring. However, some larger hernias require surgical intervention.

Nutrition

Figure 2 A foal with sepsis who is comatose and receiving intensive care

a parasite of young foals, crossing from the mare to the foal in milk. This type of parasite rarely causes a problem and foals typically develop immunity over the first few months of life. Given the rise in resistance against anthelmintic drugs, worming programmes should be tailored to the individual stud based on a number of factors, including the number and age of animals and pasture management. Foals should typically receive their first worming treatment at around two months of age. Good management is a vital part of worm control, including reducing overstocking, removing manure from paddocks, and rotating paddocks so that youngstock do not graze the same paddocks in successive years.

Lawsonia intracellularis

Lawsonia infection is a disease typically seen in older foals, after weaning, but is occasionally seen before six months of age. The disease causes intestinal wall thickening and protein loss, resulting in the typical signs of limb swelling, bottle jaw, weight loss, ill thrift and diarrhoea. Medical treatment is with tetracycline antibiotics, and some severely affected foals may require plasma transfusion to raise their blood protein levels. A vaccination, licensed for pigs, is also available which has been shown to considerably reduce the incidence and severity of disease.

Other conditions

As well as specific disease conditions, it is important to monitor the foal for other disease or developmental issues as it grows. Limb conformation issues that were identified at birth may now require initial intervention with farriery or corrective shoeing, or if more severe then a plan for surgical treatment should be made in alignment with the foal’s natural growth periods. Likewise, umbilical hernias will often close as the foal grows, but if the hernia is still present as the foal reaches

For the first weeks of life, the foal should receive all the nutrients it needs from the mare’s milk. The mare requires free choice access to water and plentiful, high-quality forage and concentrate feed during this time to sustain her milk production as the foal grows. By two weeks of age, most foals are showing interest in other sources of food, and may begin eating small amounts of the mare’s feed and forage. In addition, foals will also ingest the mare’s faeces; this helps to develop the microbial flora within the foal’s intestine that facilitates digestion of solid feeds. The mare’s milk production peaks when the foal is around two months of age, and gradually declines until weaning. As milk supply declines, the foal will ingest increasing amounts of solid feed with an associated increase in hindgut fermentation. By six months of age the majority of the foal’s dietary requirements will be met by solid feed, therefore weaning should result in minimal transition in the foal’s diet.

Vaccines

If born to a mare who was appropriately vaccinated during pregnancy, then most foals will not need to begin their vaccination program against influenza and tetanus until they are six months of age. If the mare was not vaccinated then tetanus vaccination should begin at four months of age, with a second vaccination four to six weeks later.

General disease prevention

Although this age group are at increased risk of disease, there are several management strategies to reduce disease risk in foals. This includes ensuring that age groups are separated, with foals kept in groups of similar age rather than mixing young and older foals. Pregnant mares should also be kept away from youngstock. Foals should be regularly weighed throughout their first six months of life; reduced weight gain is often an early sign of disease and may help early detection of problems before significant disease has developed. New arrivals to a premises should always be isolated, particularly if they are from abroad or the sales. Finally, any animals with known signs of disease should be isolated away from others, and appropriate hygiene and biosecurity measures employed.

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VIRTUAL (GB) A big upstanding stallion is a splendid individual with a superb temperament with great confirmation and movement. 16.3hh with 9” bone

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R A C I N G F I V E S TA R T R E AT M E N T FOR THE GOOD OF THE RACEHORSE

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+ Equine Health Update Supporting early conception in maiden and barren mares Words: Laura Steley

GEORGE SELWYN

ith the official northern hemisphere covering season starting on February 15, it is all systems go for breeders who will be busy trying to ensure they provide their maiden, barren and rested mares with the absolute best chance of early conception. If early conception can be achieved, it has huge benefits, the first and most obvious one being that you will end up with the much sought after commercially desirable, January/February-born foal. Secondly, once a mare has been scanned in-foal, veterinary, travel and boarding costs (if applicable) will greatly decrease. Thirdly, as an industry we put an enormous strain on our stallions, one cover as opposed to two or three doesn’t sound like a massive variance, but with our stallions often covering large books it can make a phenomenal difference to them over the duration of the covering season. It should be the aim for all breeders, studs and professionals working in the industry to present their mares and stallions for cover in the very best condition to support conception. The combination of precise daily management, strategic veterinary screening and targeted nutrition is the way to do this and therefore each should be considered in detail. ‘Fail to prepare, prepare to fail’ is a fitting mantra in this field. Maiden mares will often need more thought and preparation for cover than an older, more established broodmare. Firstly, the filly will go through a significant lifestyle change after leaving training. The process of letting them down will differ between studs, but generally they will be put out to pasture with a friend or in a herd of other maidens fairly swiftly upon arrival. Full attention must be paid to their body condition. Using the Henneke 9-point system, fit racehorses will usually be around 3-4, ideally broodmares should maintain a score of 5-7. Mares with body condition scores of 4 and below at covering have been shown to be more likely to suffer from delayed transition from dioestrus to oestrus, irregular ovulation, reduced conception rates and an increased chance of early embryonic loss or absorption. Pneumovagina, which is the intermittent or continuous presence of air in the vagina,

Good quality ad-lib forage should provide enough calories to sustain body temperature

is often thought of as an older, multiparous broodmare issue. However, it can be caused by particularly poor body condition and the associated lack of perineal fat. This in turn affects the angle of the vaginal opening, causing it to slope forwards, thus creating a poor seal, allowing air and debris to enter freely. Poor genitalia conformation can also increase the likelihood of faecal contamination. Pneumovagina and faecal contamination can have serious implications for breeding success; infection and inflammation of the vagina and uterus may occur resulting in endometritis. Louise Jones, Nutritionist at Connolly’s RED MILLS, comments: “The amount of feed required by a maiden mare will be dependent upon her condition and how long you have prior to covering. Body condition can affect fertility and it should be monitored closely, whether too lean or obese, as it can potentially have a negative impact.” Some maidens will gain weight naturally through the increased forage intake and now non-existent exercise regime. If a lack of condition is observed following climatic changes and dip in grass nutrient content, a targeted breeding stock balancer or stud mix can be supplied. This will usually coincide with the mare being put under lights in November/December time and it mimics what would naturally occur later in the spring when lush grass would result in increased body fat stores. As David Frape stated in Equine Nutrition & Feeding: “Individuals that are increasing in body weight are more likely to conceive”. This is also a useful protocol as you can ensure

the individual is receiving the offered feed, which is much trickier when feeding outside in a herd environment. Any change in environment or lifestyle can have a negative impact on weight gain. If the mare is, for example, moving to a boarding stud until safely in foal, it is in her best interests to make sure she has gained the appropriate weight prior to departure. By selecting a high-quality feed from a reputable company, you can ensure the correct balance of nutrients in a highly digestible form. If feeding outside, care should be taken to assess the dynamics of the herd to ensure all mares are receiving the hard feed they require; separation at feeding time may be necessary. The time of year in which the filly leaves training will also affect management practices. Ideally a couple of months or more is needed to allow them to fully let down, however, if she has continued to race over the winter this may not be possible. In this case it might be beneficial to choose a higher calorie, low starch feed until she is settled and wean off gradually. It is also important to monitor their hoof condition following the removal of shoes. Often, they will be uncomfortable initially until their hooves adjust and harden to the lack of shoes and different lifestyle. Biotin is a great supplement to help improve hoof growth and quality. Although it takes some time to have an influence (when new horn comes through), it can be fed indefinitely – this may well be included in the chosen concentrate or balancer. Another point to consider is ensuring maidens are kept warm enough. Again, this is dependent on when they arrive at stud –

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››

+ Equine Health Update ›› if they have had a while to settle into living

out then their coats should have adjusted, and they will thermoregulate accordingly. Usually, good quality ad-lib forage will provide enough calories to sustain their body temperature; we need to avoid the filly using excess calories to keep warm rather than gaining body condition. The age of the maiden mare should be taken into consideration; if she is particularly young, a bone supplement may be beneficial to support skeletal development and health. A high-quality protein source, such as soya, will be advantageous. Soya is also important for hoof condition; this became more apparent when the price of soya increased in 2020 and therefore the levels within commercial feeds were decreased. Many studs noticed a marked decline in hoof quality, with associated quarter cracks. As with maiden mares, the main objective for barren and rested mares is to ensure early cycling thus increasing the chance of early conception. Again, their body condition will need to be monitored in the lead up to the covering season, particularly if they are older. If they are looking a little too well following a year off from gestation and lactation, an effort should be made to support weight loss before cover. An obese mare is more likely to suffer fertility issues.

Forage

The availability of good quality ad-lib forage is the most important nutritional component for any mare. A good quality forage will have adequate levels of protein, fibre and minerals – calcium, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, copper and zinc. Chemical analysis is an integral part of assessing hay quality, alongside the checks we can carry out ourselves, such as the smell and assessing dust levels. It is important that the quality of protein within the diet is evaluated as well as the crude protein. The amino acids lysine and methionine are of the upmost importance, as a deficiency can cause abortion. Fibre is essential to support gut motility and a minimum of 1.5% of bodyweight per day in dry matter should be consumed. Insufficient fibre intake can lead to a lack of stomach acid buffering and instability of the hindgut microbiome, causing an increased risk of digestive disturbances. A cost-effective way to ensure fibre intake in stabled mares is to feed a fastsoaking sugar beet. Maintaining a healthy gut microflora population is essential in ensuring optimal health, fibre digestion and subsequent energy conversion. Calcium and phosphorus, sometimes called the dynamic duo, are strongly

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linked within various vital bodily functions. The overall diet should always have more calcium than phosphorus – while advice varies, it is beneficial to ensure a ratio of 1.5-3:1 (calcium: phosphorus). Copper and Zinc are often low in UK soils. Copper is required for healthy coats and hooves, alongside maintaining red blood cell function. It is also well known as a contributing factor to foals developing developmental orthopaedic diseases (DODs) if the mare is deficient, so definitely something which needs to be considered long term. Zinc is thought to be involved with oocyte development and follicle growth. Most reputable feed companies will add all the necessary components to their balancers and hard feeds as standard, taking into consideration average forage and pasture quality. Omega 3 fatty acids have also been proven to be beneficial to mare fertility. They are known to aid ovulation, assist maintenance of early pregnancy, and quicken uterine involution post foaling. This essential fatty acid is highly available during the spring and summer months via pasture, but supplementation in the form of linseed or flax oil during autumn and winter may be required. With the substantial veterinary advances within the thoroughbred breeding industry, teasing has become a much less relied on practice. However, it is still a useful tool to assist vets and stud managers/grooms. The mere presence of a teaser on site can assist in bringing mares into oestrus as this goes some way to replicating what would happen in the wild where they would be living in a herd with a dominant male. Maiden mares should be teased with great consideration and tact, taking care not to rush them. It is important to be aware that they may not

show behaviour which corresponds to their veterinary examination. It is possible to programme maiden and barren mares via the use of progesterone and oestrogen, commonly known as P&E therapy. This can only be implemented once the mare has started her transition to oestrus. It involves administering progesterone and oestrogen to the mare for ten days, with a dose of prostaglandin on day ten. David Scofield, Breeders Services, says: “This protocol provides very consistent timing of ovulation. Most mares will ovulate ten to 12 days following the last dose of P&E. This easy management tool allows stud farm and broodmare managers to manage the book of a busy stallion early in the breeding season.” Finally, a well thought out and structured worm egg count and worming schedule is crucial to the health and wellbeing of all thoroughbreds, particularly broodmares who predominantly live out in herds most of the year. To summarise, the most beneficial thing we can do is provide our mares with pasture of the highest nutritional content as possible all year round, alongside adlib high quality forage as required. The implementation of hard feed or balancer as necessary via close monitoring of body condition and general health will provide our mares with the best chance of conception and a smooth pregnancy. The implementation of artificial light from November/December time is imperative. The task of breeding thoroughbreds is an art; there’s no fool-proof way of ensuring successful conception and gestation. A little bit of luck alongside nature falling into place is always essential. This makes it even more important for us to educate ourselves to the best of our ability, thus improving welfare and breeding success alike.

The implementation of artificial light from November/December time is imperative

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2 Pink Lily (3YO) returning to training 23/1/2023 after 8 weeks of rest and being fed OATALLIN as part of a balanced diet. 19/01/2024 11:04:06

The special section for ROA members

BILL SELWYN

ROA Forum

Members can enjoy the thrills and excitement of the Festival from the comfort of the ROA’s dedicated facility

Cheltenham marquee returns

e are delighted to confirm that we will once again be hosting the hugely popular ROA marquee for our members at the Cheltenham Festival, which takes place from Tuesday, March 12 to Friday, March 15. Our marquee will be in a new location this season, which has given us the opportunity to provide a larger facility, allowing space for more members and their guests. For the 2024 Festival we will be based in the Courtyard, still just a short walk from the paddock, but closer to the racecourse viewing areas for those of you who enjoy watching the racing trackside. As in previous years, there will be hot

and cold food on sale, a private cash bar, Tote facilities and numerous TV screens so you won’t miss any of the action. Seats and tables are available, but please be aware that these cannot be reserved. We will also be holding a free-to-enter champion tipster competition each day for everyone in the marquee. As always, numbers will be limited for the comfort and safety of everyone in attendance. Members can book places for themselves and up to three guests on each of the four days, but please note that only daily badges are available. Access to the marquee requires Club admission, which is not included in the

price of the marquee badge but can be purchased directly from Cheltenham racecourse. We always sell out well in advance so if you want to join us, please book early. Marquee badges will not be available for purchase on the day. The 2024 prices per day are: • ROA members: £65 and £75 guests (up to three guests per member) • Racegoers Club members: £75 and £85 guests (up to three guests per member) The ROA marquee is always extremely popular so we would urge you to book as soon as you are able to at roa.co.uk/events.

News in brief

roa.co.uk/tpli or contact us for further information at info@roa.co.uk.

representatives of the ROA and the Professional Jockeys Association over several months, the BHA Board has now ratified a below-inflation 3.1% increase in riding fees, to take effect from races staged on February 1. This means that the Flat riding fee will now be £162.79 (an increase of £4.89 on 2023) and over jumps it becomes £221.28 (an increase of £6.65 on 2023). The fee payable to a jockey in the case of a non-runner following declarations remains at 50% of the riding fee for each code. Riding fees were last increased in February 2023 The BHA will publish an official notice of these changes in the Racing Calendar and on the Racing Admin site ahead of February 1. Following an ROA-negotiated reduction in the Professional Riders Insurance Scheme (PRIS) surcharge on riding fees from 13% to 11% (effective from December 1, 2023), we will be seeking a further reduction to that surcharge in consultation with the trustees of the scheme.

Third Party Liability Insurance Scheme One of the main ROA member benefits, the ROA Third Party Liability Insurance Scheme, has been rolled over and will continue to provide cover for members during 2024. The scheme, arranged through Weatherbys Hamilton, provides a limit of liability of £10 million. Introduced in 2008 and tailored to provide cover for owners who might otherwise find themselves exposed in the event of a claim, the ROA scheme covers owners when their horses are in training and temporarily out of training. It also provides cover for members who are amateur breeders with foals, breeding and young stock. Please note that for horses in shared ownership, the cover provided is for ROA members only, and doesn’t cascade down to non-ROA members. Members can access policy documents for the scheme at www.

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BHA participant fees The BHA Board has agreed that participant fees will rise by 6% in 2024. This means that an existing sole owner will see fees rise by approximately £27.60 for the year (£25.14 for ROA members), while for an existing four-person partnership the per-person increase will be around £6.90. This rise is necessary to sustain the normal business functions of the BHA – particularly ongoing investment in key areas like equine health and welfare – and to support the extra work required to deliver the industry strategy. ROA members will continue to receive a 20% discount on these fees, which are outlined on our website at www.roa.co.uk/discount. Riding fees increase Following a significant amount of discussion and negotiation between

Our contact details:

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

RacehorseOwnersUK

Racehorseownersassociation

Vital funds raised In July last year the ROA and charity partner Racing Welfare joined forces to launch a brand-new initiative called Bid to Give. The regular online auction provided ROA members with exclusive access to a variety of unique lots, consisting of money-can’t-buy luxury experiences and opportunities throughout the year. Thanks to the generous support of the ROA and its members – not to mention each organisation or individual who donated auction lots – a fantastic £14,460 was raised in vital funds, helping Racing Welfare continue to be there for all of racing’s people in times of need. That figure can make a real difference and is enough to pay for Racing Welfare to provide three instances of critical incident support, a service provided to employers and workplaces in the immediate aftermath of an unexpected traumatic event, such as an accident

OUR PARTNERS SECTION

or a death. It gives instant access to telephone counselling, support from the welfare team and chaplain, plus the option for a workplace visit from a team of counsellors. William Watt was the winning bidder on the most recent auction lot – a Disney on Ice experience, along with a private tour of Buckingham Palace carriages. He said: “I bought it as a Christmas present for a family friend with two younger children and it was perfect. It offered a unique combination of activities that you wouldn’t normally be able to buy and was a perfect adventure in London for them. “It was all organised really well and Racing Welfare were very helpful – they are a charity that I’m always very happy to support.” Bid to Give is set to return in March, giving ROA members the opportunity to bid on more exclusive auction lots and luxury packages.

If you would like to support the cause by donating an auction lot, please contact jschofield@racingwelfare.co.uk.

in touch with Racing Welfare.” The local welfare officer at that time, Sarah, supported Esther for an extended period as she received physiotherapy for her torn ligament and sought to obtain a diagnosis for her ongoing neurological symptoms. Eventually, with Racing Welfare’s support, Esther was given a diagnosis and work towards a better quality of life could begin. Esther recalls: “It took nearly two years to get my diagnosis, and Sarah was with me at every step. Things were getting out of hand neurologically. My balance and hands weren’t working properly – my brain wasn’t talking to my body.” To help her cope with her symptoms, which included crippling back pain, muscle weakness, and seizures, Racing Welfare funded physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and acupuncture treatments. The charity helped her overcome barriers that her condition caused, such as helping her access

medical appointments when her symptoms made it impossible to drive, and purchasing a washing machine for her when she was unable to make it out of the house to a launderette. She says: “I couldn’t walk very far, I didn’t have a washing machine, and the launderette was quite a way into town. Small things like that really do make a big difference.” Esther closes by reflecting on all the support she’s had from Racing Welfare over the years: “It had never occurred to me to get in touch with Racing Welfare, I don’t like admitting it was a tough time.” To anyone else in that mindset, she says: “Go to Racing Welfare. They’ve heard it all, it doesn’t matter what you sit and say to the welfare team. You could just be going in for a cup of tea and a chat – popping into one of their offices or calling Racing’s Support Line doesn’t necessarily mean you are going through a big problem. They were great and have really helped me.”

The lunch will take place in the Hospitality Pavilion with places available for £200 per person or £2,000 for a table of ten, which includes your admission to the course, champagne

reception and canapes, two-course lunch with wine, racecard, light afternoon tea and car passes. To book your places please visit roa.co.uk/rwaintree.

Disney on Ice experience: Bid to Give prize

Esther’s story Esther loved her job as a head person at one of Middleham’s racing yards. That was until a head injury caused her health to deteriorate quite rapidly, and she found herself needing support from racing’s human welfare charity, Racing Welfare. Esther was usure what was causing her chronic neurological symptoms, symptoms that had come and gone over the course of a couple of years. She said: “I was quite poorly, but not yet diagnosed. I wanted to keep working but was finding it hard to hide my difficulties from others. “I eventually told my boss who put me on lighter duties so I could continue working. Unfortunately, during this time I had an accident [whilst working with a young horse]. I tore my ACL [anterior cruciate ligament] and had a knock to the head which triggered a flare up of my previous neurological symptoms – it was clear there was something going on, and that’s when [my employer] put me

Aintree lunch

The ROA and Racing Welfare are again staging the Aintree lunch, taking place on the opening day of the Randox Grand National Festival on Thursday, April 11.

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TBA Forum

The special section for TBA members

Shadwell, Juddmonte and Darley shine in Flat Statistical Awards QUEEN’S SILVER CUP Shadwell Estate Company Limited Leading British-based Flat breeder (Flat earnings)

BILL SELWYN

It has been a long time between drinks, but Shadwell gained a third Queen’s Silver Cup, having taken the prize in 1999 and 2005. In 2023 the famous blue and white silks were carried to Group 1 glory by three individual homebreds. Frankel entire Mostahdaf got the ball rolling in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. He would add the Juddmonte International to his CV before retiring to Beech House Stud at the end of the year. In a high-calibre contest and one in which he defeated seven Group 1 winners, Hukum gained a second Group 1 in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Unfortunately for European breeders he joined the Darley Japan roster at the end of the season. Completing the trio was Al Husn. A daughter of Dubawi, she continued her progression from the previous year, winning in Listed and Group 3 company before taking the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood. Outside of the top grade there was a second victory in the Joel Stakes for National Stud newcomer Mutasaabeq, a York Stakes win for Alflaila, and the Princess of Wales’s Stakes was captured by Israr. It was not all about the older horses either. Alyanaabi, a first crop son of Too Darn Hot, won the Tattersalls Stakes before finishing runner-up to City Of Troy in the Dewhurst.

Sheikha Hissa with Israr, one of Shadwell's stars in 2023

JUDDMONTE

BBA SILVER CIGAR BOX Frankel Leading British-based stallion (Flat earnings)

Frankel: top British-based sire on earnings

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Having taken his first champion sire title in 2021, Frankel recaptured the BBA Silver Cigar Box from Dubawi in 2023. Amongst 39 stakes winners worldwide, his progenies’ Group 1 wins were achieved over distances ranging from 7f to 2m4f. The Whitsbury Manor Stud-bred Chaldean added the 2,000 Guineas to his impressive juvenile CV before heading off to join his father at the end of the season at Banstead Manor. A month later and Lady Bamford’s homebred Soul Sister won the Oaks. British-bred older fillies shone brightly for the stallion son of Galileo, including Cheveley Park Stud’s Inspiral, winner of the Sun Chariot Stakes on home turf before heading Stateside, where she added a win in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Meanwhile, Imad Al Sagar’s homebred Nashwa made seven appearances which included a wide-margin win in the Falmouth Stakes and a couple of placings behind the boys in the Juddmonte International and Irish Champion Stakes. The Hascombe & Valiant Studs-bred

Courage Mon Ami defied his lack of experience to win the Gold Cup, whilst Triple Time in the Queen Anne Stakes got Royal Ascot off to a winning start for his sire. There was a top-level juvenile winner in the shape of the Newsells Park Stud and Merry Fox Stud-bred Ylang Ylang, victorious in the Fillies’ Mile. BARLEYTHORPE STUD SILVER CUP Kingman Leading British-based stallion (individual Flat winners) Kingman grabbed the prize with Frankel and Dubawi – awarded the trophy for the previous six years – behind. The four-time Group 1-winning son of Invincible Spirit, who was awarded the Tattersalls Silver Salver in 2018, was represented by over 100 individual winners in Britain and Ireland, including standard-bearer Kinross, who added a pair of Group 2 wins to his record. He was bred by Lawn Stud, as was Remarquee, winner of the Fred Darling Stakes and runner-up in both the Coronation Stakes – Sounds Of Heaven, a Listed-winning daughter of Kingman, was third – and Falmouth Stakes. George Strawbridge’s homebred Epictetus captured the Group 3

TATTERSALLS SILVER SALVER Too Darn Hot Leading British-based first-season sire (Flat earnings) An unbeaten juvenile who went on to add a pair of top-level wins to his record at three, Too Darn Hot was crowned the leading British-based firstseason sire by earnings in 2023, which accounted for over £800,000. A son of Dubawi and the excellent Dar Re Mi (by Singspiel), Too Darn Hot had a stellar first season, siring four European Group winners headed by Steve Parkin’s homebred Fallen Angel, winner of the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes. In total he ended the year with four Group winners and seven stakes performers. Shadwell homebred Alyanaabi took the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes before running second in the Dewhurst, whilst Maurice Reegan’s homebred Darnation won the Prestige Stakes prior to the May Hill. Completing the quartet was the Lordship Stud-bred Carolina Reaper, winner of the Zukunfts-Rennen at Baden-Baden. Even his first Australian crop have been quick off the mark, with Arabian Summer winning and being Group 3-placed in the Ottawa Stakes. * The Statistical Awards cover the calendar year 2023 and relate to racing in GB and Ireland only – statistics provided by Weatherbys.

Blyth homebred leaves rivals for dust in Fighting Fifth Three Grade 1 contests were run in Britain in December for non-novices over hurdles and all three were captured by British-breds. Rearranged to Sandown due to an abandonment at Newcastle the previous week, the ever admirable Not So Sleepy, a homebred for Lord and Lady Blyth, re-captured the Fighting Fifth, a contest he dead-heated with Epatante for in 2021. The win took his earnings to over £500,000. Later in the month and Constitution Hill made his seasonal return in the Christmas Hurdle. The son of Blue Bresil was never troubled, jumping with sharp accuracy and travelling powerfully throughout. He was bred by Sally Noott. The middle top-level winner of the trio was young gun Crambo. Bred by Jared Sullivan, who owns the gelding with Chris Giles, the Fergal O’Brien trainee was taking on seasoned campaigners in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot before Christmas. He found plenty after the last to deny triple winner Paisley Park, with Dashel Drasher, who had attempted to make all, back in third. The latter pair had fought out a memorable finish to the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury three weeks previously, with Camilla Scott’s homebred Dashel Drasher having enough in reserve to deny the late finish of Paisley Park. At Ascot on Long Walk day, the Betfair Exchange Trophy Hurdle went the way of the Pump & Plant Services Ltd homebred Luccia. Mares were in strong form over the course of the month, with six successes. At the beginning of the month and on Ladbrokes Trophy day, the blacktype mares’ novices’ hurdle was won by the Jukes family homebred Manimole. The daughter of Sulamani was winning for the fourth time this season. Staged at Wincanton this time around, the Lady Godiva Mares’ Novices’ Chase witnessed the Neil Greig-bred Arclight follow up her previous last time out Listed win in good style. The Frank Mahon-bred Pink Legend (Midnight Legend) is well named and she captured her fifth Listed race at Newbury just before Christmas.

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Thoroughbred Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, the Johnny Murtaghtrained Mashhoor was a winner in that grade on the Curragh, whilst Juddmonte homebred Coppice took the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot before later winning in Listed company. The progressive three-yearold Alsakib scored in a pair of notable heritage handicaps and should be a stakes performer in 2024. Kingman’s reach went the world over. In France he gained two new Group 1 winners courtesy of Feed The Flame (Grand Prix de Paris) and Sauterne (Prix du Moulin). His Australian-suffixed daughter Zardozi, bred by Godolphin, but from a Fittocks Stud and previously Gerald Leighfounded lineage, won the Group 1 Kennedy Oaks at Flemington, and there was the J J Atkins Stakes winner King Colorado. In Japan, his German-bred son Schnell Meister added a Group 2 to his record, which includes a top-level win in the 2021 NHK Mile Cup.

Not So Sleepy: Fighting Fifth hero

The concluding Listed bumper on day one of Ascot’s meeting before Christmas looked a strong event prerace, with a number of highly touted individuals. Come the end, the Ralph Bailey-bred filly Let It Rain, a daughter of Kayf Tara, ran out the impressive winner against the boys. A day later and at Haydock Park, Pawapuri, a daughter of Golden Horn bred by Hascombe & Valiant Studs but running in the Jared Sullivan colours, gained her maiden Listed win in the Abram Mares’ Hurdle. Stateside and Del Mar staged a high-class weekend of action at the beginning of the month, which included the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby, which was won by the Fittocks Stud & Arrow Farm and Stud-bred Program Trading. Staying on the west coast, Signorina Merisi, bred by Barry Walters, won the Miss America Stakes at Golden Gate Fields. Meanwhile, in Florida, Romagna Mia, bred by Cavendish Bloodstock, won the Via Borghese Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Closer to home, the Territories gelding Greys Monument, bred by Andrew Tinkler, won the Listed Hyde Stakes at Kempton Park. In the Middle East, the Group 2 Al Rashidiya was won by Godolphin’s homebred son of Frankel, Measured Time. In Abu Dhabi, the Listed Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nayhan National Day Cup went to the Highclere Studbred Laneqash. In Australia, Munmahek won the Group 3 Gold Rush at Ascot in Perth. He was bred by Shadwell. Results up to and including December 31. Produced in association with GBRI.

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TBA Forum

Regional days review for 2023 The TBA offers a wide range of benefits to members ranging from free professional advice, a generous discount for the GBB scheme and a host of events, of which one of the most popular are the regional days. These will feature again this year with open days planned at venues from Scotland to the south of England. Last year’s sell-out days included a trip to champion trainer Paul Nicholls’ yard in Ditcheat, where the group met many of the stable stars followed by lunch in a marquee hosted by Doug and Lucy Procter at the Glanvilles Stud. Another highlight of the year was a behind-the-scenes tour at the Household Cavalry in Hyde Park where members were provided with a fascinating insight into the lives of the horses and soldiers living in the centre of one of the busiest cities in the world. Ben Pauling kindly opened his doors to the association in April and members were treated to an extensive tour of his state-of-the-art facilities, which was followed by lunch and racing at Cheltenham’s mares’ day. Not only do these days offer members exclusive access to some of the country’s most famous studs and stables, but they also give the chance to meet other people in the industry whether chatting over lunch or asking a top trainer the question you have always wanted to. The TBA is lucky to be able to offer these special events to our members and full details of 2024 dates and venues will be included in our e-bulletins and in Owner Breeder magazine over the coming months.

Visits to Hyde Park Barracks (top) and Lawn Stud featured in last year's busy schedule

Reminder: 30-day foal notification As the 2024 foaling season is now upon us, breeders are reminded that they must notify the General Stud Book (GSB at Weatherbys) of the birth of all British-bred thoroughbreds within 30 days of the foaling (day one being the date of birth), to ensure they are eligible to race. Notification is free of charge and should be completed via the GSB online portal: www. weatherbysgsb.co.uk. The 30-day foal notification is an important component of the industry’s

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equine welfare strategy, providing transparency on the whereabouts of youngstock prior to entering licensed training premises and demonstrating the sector’s commitment to fullest possible traceability of thoroughbreds at all life stages. Please be aware that 30-day foal notification is a different administrative process to foal registration, however, both may be submitted using the GSB online portal and can be carried out consecutively

(but the 30-day foal notification must be done before the foal registration can be initiated). If the 30-day foal notification has not been completed within the permissible timeframe or there are challenges to completing the process, breeders are advised to contact the traceability helpdesk at the British Horseracing Authority at their earliest convenience, either via e-mail traceability@britishhorseracing.com or phone 020 7152 0180.

Delegates heard expert pedigree advice from Sara Cumani and Camilla Trotter (left) and saw the stallions at the National Stud

Stud Farming Course a hit with students The TBA’s Annual Stud Farming Course took place from December 12-14 at the British Racing School (BRS), with 34 delegates attending from studs around the UK and Ireland. This long-standing course has been running in varying formats since the first iteration was held at the Animal Health Trust in 1948, and as was the case then, delegates attending in December benefitted from listening to expert veterinary and stud management speakers who gave excellent presentations and were generous in giving their time to answer questions and follow on with further discussion. Visits to the Newmarket Equine Hospital (NEH), the National Stud and

Great British Bonus deadline Readers with two-year-old Flat GBB fillies are reminded that the deadline to register for Stage 3 is February 28 – that’s for 2022-born fillies. As always, registrations can be made quickly online at the website www.greatbritishbonus.co.uk.

a tour of the British Racing School formed part of the programme, and a dinner at El Guaca Mexican restaurant on the first evening enabled everyone to get to know each other in an informal setting. Feedback on the course was very positive and it was described as well-organised, fun, enjoyable and very informative with excellent

knowledgeable speakers. The BRS provided first-class facilities and the TBA is very grateful to the team there and to all the speakers, as well as to Ollie Pynn (Rossdales) and Zara Wise (NEH) for their contribution to developing the course programme. This year’s course will be held at the BRS from December 10-12 and further details will be available later in the year.

Dates for your diary Thursday, February 1 Stallion Parade, Tattersalls, Newmarket Ahead of the Tattersalls February Sale, the TBA’s Stallion Parade will take place in the sales ring and can be viewed in left yard after parading, providing the ideal opportunity for breeders to finalise mating plans. Monday, May 20 NH Awards, Hilton Garden Inn, Doncaster Join us as the TBA celebrates the tenth anniversary of its NH Awards, held on the evening of the first day of trade at the Goffs Spring

Store Sale. The event will celebrate successes from the 23-24 NH season, as well as from the previous decade Wednesday, July 10 Flat Awards, Chippenham Park, near Newmarket Celebrate the successes of all Flat breeders from the 2023 season in the glorious surroundings of Chippenham Park on the evening before Newmarket’s July Festival kicks off. For more information on these events either contact the office or check out the regular e-bulletins.

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Breeder of the Month Words Howard Wright

BREEDER OF THE MONTH (December 2023)

Mother Nature can be credited with fashioning the early days of Crambo, whose success in Ascot’s pre-Christmas thriller for the Howden Long Walk Hurdle earned Sullivan Bloodstock the award as TBA Breeder of the Month for December. The record books show that the company which Jared Sullivan runs with his wife Beatrice was officially responsible for breeding Crambo, for whom joint ownership with Chris Giles represents a return to a partnership that had already hit the heights with such as dual King George winner Silviniaco Conti and smart sprinting filly Tiggy Wiggy. However, Crambo’s dam Cardline, the first foal from a family of winning French jumpers, who was bought through Highflyer Bloodstock for €45,000 at Arqana in December 2016, has to take all the plaudits for actually foaling the gelding who has become a strong fancy for staying hurdle success at the Cheltenham Festival. Noel Fehily, long-time racing manager for Sullivan and responsible for boarding his patron’s three mares at his farm in Lambourn, takes up the story. “I saw Cardline was in the sale and thought we should buy her,” he says. “She was from a jumping family, and she was in foal for the first time to Saddler Maker, who had died that year but was already responsible for such as Bristol De Mai, Apple’s Jade and Alpha Des Obeaux, who had all started their jumping careers well. “She came back to me, and one morning at the beginning of February 2017, I went out to see her in the

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Sullivan Bloodstock

Owners Chris Giles (second from left) and Jared Sullivan (right) celebrate Crambo’s win

paddock, and her foal was on the ground. That was Crambo. “Cardline wasn’t due for a couple of weeks, so she did everything herself, very naturally. I’ve had mares who foaled a couple of days early but never before, or since, one who produced a fortnight before we expected. “As for Crambo, he was always a beautiful foal, if not overly big. When he got to being a three-year-old, he wasn’t really big enough to send to the store sales, so we decided to keep him. He has grown since then, but his biggest attribute is that his heart is as big as his body.” Crambo won his first three races, underwent wind surgery after being pulled up behind Hermes Allen in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury on New Year’s Eve 2022, and returned with two more wins at the beginning of last year. “At the end of the season, trainer Fergal O’Brien said Crambo could make

the leap to the top of the staying-hurdler class,” Fehily recalls. “And that is what has happened. Things don’t always work out in racing, but it has with Crambo.” Sadly, but not necessarily unexpectedly, there is another side to the coin for Sullivan Bloodstock and the story of Cardline in particular. Fehily explains: “She had two more foals but in 2021 we lost her to colic, and unfortunately her foal died too.” Still, Cardline’s second foal The Village Way, a gelding by Spanish Moon who has been retained by Sullivan, has registered three seconds from four outings for Dan Skelton, while connections are looking forward to “a nice, unraced four-year-old filly by Soldier Of Fortune” leaving Fehily to join O’Brien within the next few weeks. “Breeding is a tough game,” Fehily says, “and you need a lot to go your way. At least we have Crambo, and Cardline’s last foal will keep her line going.”

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO FORM A NEW PARTNERSHIP AT BRITTON HOUSE STUD The stud is set in 147 acres of which 140 acres is prime pasture. 54 boxes consisting of a Stallion block / isolation yard, foaling unit with intensive care box, Main Barn and East Barn, indoor outdoor lunge rings, walker and all chattels. Horses born or raised here include – Makybe Diva, Moonstone, Lancresse, Penelopa, just a few of the many farm successes. Currently vacant is a 3-bedroom bungalow and fully furnished mobile home. Contact Stephen Corps: litexstud@btconnect.com • 07506 739404 for more info 78

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Money for nothing: £500k in unclaimed bonuses More than £500,000 in bonuses not paid out in 2023 because of incomplete registrations.

Don’t miss out! Register your Flat fillies before Stage 3 closes on Wednesday 28th February. greatbritishbonus.co.uk TBA GBB TOB Mailers A4_February 2024.indd 1

Information correct at time of going to press

12/01/2024 11:22

The Finish Line with Harry Redknapp Harry Redknapp’s passions for racing and football have run side by side for as long as he can remember, and they combined successfully when he first ventured into racehorse ownership 35 years ago with pals from Bournemouth FC, who he was managing at the time. Redknapp, who steered Portsmouth to their FA Cup Final win in 2008, has become more heavily involved in racing since retiring from football management in 2017. The colourful winner of I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here in 2018 turns 77 a fortnight before the Cheltenham Festival, where his talented chaser Shakem Up’Arry is due to take his chance in the Plate.

Interview: Graham Dench

Racing is nowhere near as popular among the modern-day footballers as it once was. In the old days most players had similar working-class backgrounds, and we’d go to the dogs on a Friday night, whether we were playing at home or away, and then there would be bets on the horses or football coupons on the morning of a match. These days our top footballers come from all over the world and the big clubs usually only have one or two British players. When I was managing Bournemouth, the club was skint but there were some great lads there and a few of us decided to get a racehorse. We called her Slick Cherry, as Bournemouth were the Cherries and the dam was Slick Chick, and we had her with David Elsworth, who at that time was just up the road at Whitsbury and had all those great jumpers like Desert Orchid, Barnbrook Again and Cavvies Clown, as well as top Flat horses. Slick Chick ran at a much lower level, but Elsie is a fantastic character as well as a great trainer, so they were great days. I remember one day he called me and told me Slick Chick had worked all over one of his good horses and was ready to win wherever he went. So, with my wife Sandra, her sister Pat and Frank Lampard senior, we schlepped all the way down to Chepstow for the last race on a Saturday, and he bolted up at around 9-1. I’d told all

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of my pals, so that was a very good day! I’m told I’ve had more than 20 trainers over the years, but that’s probably because I’m a bit of an easy touch, and not because I fall out with them. Sometimes people I don’t even know ring me up with a horse, and I’ll listen to their story and maybe get involved. That’s how it happened with Brian Toomey, although in his case I knew the story of how he was keen to embark on a new career after pretty much coming back from the dead following that horrible fall at Perth. Brian wasn’t in a very good place when he rang me and so I said that if I could help him then of course I would. When a yard came up, I went along to look at it with him, along with James Reveley,

who flew over from France. It’s a lovely yard, and I was keen to find a horse for him. It meant more to Brian than it did to me when Wake Up Harry won at Kempton just before Christmas, and I was thrilled for him. I’ve never had a problem with any of my trainers. I just want it to be fun and for them not to be too busy to talk to me. I don’t have a racing manager, so I deal with them directly, and I’ve enjoyed them all. I’ve currently probably got about ten horses in my own name, plus shares in a few others. I’m very lucky as I’ve got three good horses with Ben Pauling in Shakem Up’Arry, The Jukebox Man, who I think is a proper horse, and Bowtogreatness, who we also think the world of. I’ve also got another nice one called Recoup with Fergal O’Brien. On the Flat I’ve had some good horses too, including Moviesta, who won the King George at Goodwood and another Group race in Ireland, but I probably enjoy jumping more nowadays. I worry about injury more than on the Flat, and the prizemoney for winning sometimes won’t even cover a month’s bills, but I’m just as happy getting wrapped up for a winter afternoon out with the old farmer boys at Wincanton as I am going to Royal Ascot, where 90 per cent of the people attending aren’t interested in the racing.

Shakem Up’Arry wins a Grade 3 at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day under Ben Jones

Racing people are my kind of people and I’ve got to know quite a few who are prominent in the sport. I’m lucky enough therefore to get invited up to the Royal Box at Cheltenham and that sort of thing now and again, but to be honest I probably enjoy the other meetings there more than the Festival itself. I expect I’ll go at least one day, but it’s so big now and I find myself getting pulled about a bit as I give everyone my time. I don’t like to be rude to people, but I sometimes get asked for a photo even when I’m watching a race. It can get a bit too much and so it’s very tempting nowadays to watch racing at home on TV with the Racing Post and a cup of tea, betting on the phone.

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’ve followed horseracing and greyhound racing all my life and I’ve always enjoyed a punt. It was inevitable really because I was picking out horses in the paper before I could read and write with my nan Maggie Brown, who used to collect all the bets from our road in London’s East End and then slip them to the bookies’ runner, ‘Cyril the Paper Boy’. It was illegal of course in those days, and I’d quite often see her being taken away by the police in a Black Maria for a slap on the wrist, but that’s how it was. That’s how it started for me, and then when I went to West Ham the team was full of punters, and so it went on.

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Frankel power on the track. Reem Three power at stud: his dam is one of only five mares this century with seven or more 110-rated progeny... and every one of the others has bred a famous G1 sire (or two). The story on our website has all the details… £10,000 Oct 1, SLF Dalham Hall Stud, UK