Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder

Jan_137_CoverV2_OwnerBreeder 14/12/2015 18:32 Page 1

Incorporating

£4.95 | January 2016 | Issue 137

Alternative schooling Nico de Boinville on why he swapped history for horses

Plus • Golden Horn reigns supreme at the ROA Awards • Brian Ellison: ‘this is the best bunch I’ve ever trained’ • Shadwell plans for the future with Green Desert’s grandson

www.ownerbreeder.co.uk

32974_Australia_TBOB_Jan'16.qxp_32974_Australia_TBOB_Jan'16 07/12/2015 17:29 Page 1

1st 1st 1st

Epsom Derby-Gr.1, by 1¼ lengths from Kingston Hill Irish Derby-Gr.1, by 2½ lengths Juddmonte International S.-Gr.1, by 2 lengths from The Grey Gatsby, Telescope and Mukhadram 3rd 2,000 Guineas-Gr.1, beaten only ¾ length

el:… Australia He is, quite simply, a Thoroughbred jew ner from the has speed to burn… looked the likely win moment he left the starting gate.

ERBY

❝

JULIAN

1st 1st

❞

MD

MUSCAT, BLOOD-HORSE - AFTER THE EPSO

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Trial S.-Gr.3, by 6 lengths from Gr.1 winner Free Eagle Maiden, 7f., Curragh by ¾ length, from Group winner Carla Bianca

❝When Galileo is gone, Australia could start a new dynasty as a stallion… as the product of a Derby winner out of an Oaks winner his pedigree is almost beyond aristocracy❞

THE SUNDAY TIMES, 8TH JUNE 2014

Fee: €50,000 (Approx. £36,000) • AUSTRALIA • CAMELOT • CANFORD CLIFFS • DYLAN THOMAS • EXCELEBRATION • FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND • GALILEO • GLENEAGLES • HENRYTHENAVIGATOR • • HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR • IVAWOOD • KINGSTON HILL • MASTERCRAFTSMAN • MOST IMPROVED • NO NAY NEVER • POUR MOI • POWER • • REQUINTO • RIP VAN WINKLE • ROCK OF GIBRALTAR • RULER OF THE WORLD • SO YOU THINK • WAR COMMAND • ZOFFANY •

32974_Australia_TBOB_Jan'16.qxp_32974_Australia_TBOB_Jan'16 07/12/2015 17:38 Page 2

GALILEO - OUIJA BOARD

First in-foal mares at Newmarket sold for €700,000, €670,000, €415,000 etc.

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

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

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Jan_137_Editors_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 18:17 Page 5

WELCOME FROM THE EDITOR Publisher: Michael Harris Editor: Edward Rosenthal Bloodstock Editor: Emma Berry Designed by: Thoroughbred Group Editorial: First Floor, 75 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LS Tel: 020 7152 0209 Fax: 020 7152 0213 editor@ownerbreeder.co.uk www.ownerbreeder.co.uk @OwnerBreeder Advertising: Giles Anderson Tel: 01380 816 777 USA: 1 888 218 4430 Fax: 01380 816 778 advertise@anderson-co.com Subscriptions: Keely Brewer Tel: 020 7152 0212 Fax: 020 7152 0213 subscriptions@ownerbreeder.co.uk Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder incorporating Pacemaker can be purchased by non-members at the following rates: 1 Year 2 Year UK £55 £90 Europe £66 £105 RoW £99 £154 Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder incorporating Pacemaker is published by a Mutual Trading Company owned jointly by the Racehorse Owners Association and Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association is a registered charity No. 1134293 Editorial views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the ROA or TBA ABC Audited Our proven average monthly circulation is certified by the Audit Bureau of Circulation at 9,340* *Based on the period July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014.

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

Incorporating

£4.95 | January 2016 | Issue 137

Alternative schooling Nico de Boinville on why he swapped history for horses

Plus • Golden Horn reigns supreme at the ROA Awards • Brian Ellison: ‘this is the best bunch I’ve ever trained’ • Shadwell plans for the future with Green Desert’s grandson

www.ownerbreeder.co.uk

Cover: Nico de Boinville, rider of Coneygree and Sprinter Sacre, is ready for action at Lingfield in December Photo: George Selwyn

Follow us on... @OwnerBreeder

EDWARD ROSENTHAL

Nico calling the tune after serving his apprenticeship T

he great and the good of the racing world were out in force in London on December 3 for the ROA Horseracing Awards, sponsored by Weatherbys, a glittering occasion to celebrate the best Flat and jumps performers over the last 12 months.

No prizes for guessing which animal stole the show: Golden Horn, the Derby and Arc hero, carried off the Horse of the Year accolade and helped his owner Anthony Oppenheimer to the Owner of the Year trophy. Exclusive pictures from racing’s biggest and best night out are on pages 35-49.

Golden Horn’s story, from doubtful stayer to mile and a half specialist, kept Flat racing fans engrossed in 2015 and the next chapter, penned from Dalham Hall Stud, will be no less fascinating. Sheikh Mohammed will be hoping he has found the stallion, a son of his top miler and producer Cape Cross, to help him challenge Coolmore’s Sadler’s Wells-line domination of the middle-distance market.

Another winner at the ROA Awards – and on whose bay shoulders the hopes of a stud rest – was Muhaarar, surely the best sprinter seen for many years and now retired to Shadwell’s Nunnery Stud.

Owner Hamdan Al Maktoum endured a few quiet years with his racing and breeding operation but that all changed with the emergence of a string of top-notch runners such as Mukhadram, Taghrooda and then Muhaarar.

Julian Muscat speaks to Shadwell Stud’s Director Richard Lancaster (pages 64-69) about plans for its new recruit, who is a grandson of Green Desert, the first sire the operation stood after his brilliant 1986 campaign which included victory in the July Cup, a race also won

by Muhaarar and his sire, Oasis Dream.

Among the NH award winners, it was The Max Partnership’s Coneygree who galloped clear of some top-class rivals to be named the best chaser around.

The Bradstocks’ decision to send their novice to the Cheltenham Gold Cup was vindicated with a superb display of jumping and galloping under Nico de

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Boinville, this month’s cover star and the subject of a superb interview with Chris McGrath (pages 50-54).

At 26, de Boinville has developed into one of the country’s top National Hunt riders, making the most of the domino effect, following AP McCoy’s retirement and Barry Geraghty’s retainer with JP McManus, to move into pole position at Nick Henderson’s Seven Barrows stable.

However, the work situation didn’t always looks so promising for the former amateur jockey, who only turned professional in 2014, having given up a university education to focus on a life with horses.

“They called me a morning glory,” de Boinville explains, as despite sitting on good horses on the gallops, he was rarely given the chance to retain the partnership on the track. “I could ride them in the morning but not in the afternoon.

“When you’re working in a racing yard, and it’s cold and wet, it can feel like it’s taking forever to get somewhere. What kept me going was being able to go off point-to-pointing every weekend. That was great experience; you can do stuff away from the spotlight, any mistakes you make won’t be picked up everywhere and you can start to work things out for yourself.”

De Boinville now has the chance to build on his associations with Coneygree and also Sprinter Sacre.

The outstanding two-mile chaser looked back to his brilliant best when romping home by 14 lengths at Cheltenham in November, giving his work rider another career highlight and a thrill not dissimilar to that felt at the same track in March.

“The reception he got – it was like the Gold Cup,” de Boinville says. “At the open ditch at the top, when he’s jumped past Mr Mole, and then the change in gear down the hill – I just thought to myself, ‘My God, I’m having a lot of fun here.’

“He was brimming with confidence again. That’s why I’m in the game; when you get down to it; for the feeling out there.”

“He has developed

into one of the top riders and moved into pole position at Nicky Henderson’s

”

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Jan_137_Contents_Contents 14/12/2015 16:42 Page 6

CONTENTS JANUARY 2016

56

64

NEWS & VIEWS

FEATURES

9

18

ROA Leader Real progress made

11

TBA Leader

Don Poli at Aintree

35

New initiatives planned

12

News Betting partners sign up

14

50

Changes Tony Morris Peter Willett tribute

22

Howard Wright Lasix is lame

INTERNATIONAL SCENE 25

View From Ireland Sean Flanagan’s resurgence

28

Continental Tales Gamgoom is German star

31

Around The Globe Mark Casse’s Derby dream

Anthony Oppenheimer, pictured with daughter Emily, took the plaudits for Golden Horn’s exceptional season at the ROA Horseracing Awards (pages 35-49)

6

ROA Horseracing Awards Racing’s big night out

COVER STORY The Big Interview With jockey Nico de Boinville

News in a nutshell

20

The Big Picture

56

Talking To...

Trainer Brian Ellison

64

Shadwell Hamdan Al Maktoum’s operation

74

Sales Circuit Foals and mares in focus

85

Caulfield Files Derby influence stays strong

114 Dr Statz Kodiac’s impressive numbers

120 24 Hours With...

Mayor and trainer John Berry

Jan_137_Contents_Contents 14/12/2015 16:43 Page 7 B

4:53 pm

Page 3

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

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Yearlings unsoundness of wind Horses at grass

FORUM 88

The Thoroughbred Club Meet the Club’s broodmare band

90

ROA Forum Chester and Kempton on top

LEADING THE FIELD IN BLOODSTOCK INSURANCE

100 TBA Forum NH Stallion Parade review

106 Breeder of the Month Roland Crellin for Cue Card

TO STAY

110 Vet Forum Winter worries: mud fever and rain scald

DATA BOOK

AHEAD OF THE FIELD

116 NH Graded Races Latest winners over jumps

118 Stallion Statistics Galileo edges home

Our monthly circulation is certified at

9,340 Can other magazines prove theirs?

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CONTACT US TODAY

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

7

Quick as a Flash

Two young sires who both showed lightning speed First Foals 2016

GARSWOOD £5,000 SLF

BY DUTCH ART EX PENCHANT (KYLLACHY)

Group 1 winning sprinter by DUTCH ART A Stakes winner at 2, 3 and 4 years, including the Gr.1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and Gr.2 Lennox Stakes.

“The fastest horse I’ve ever trained.” – Richard Fahey.

His dam is half sister to Gr.3 winner and dual Gr.1 placed INFALLIBLE.

First 2yos 2016

MAYSON £5,000 SLF

BY INVINCIBLE SPIRIT EX MAYLEAF (PIVOTAL)

Highest rated sprinting son of INVINCIBLE SPIRIT at stud 5-length winner of the Gr.1 July Cup and only beaten a neck in the Gr.1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp.

Defeated 7 other Gr.1 winners, including SOLE POWER, SEPOY and SOCIETY ROCK. By the sire of KINGMAN, CHARM SPIRIT and leading sires LAWMAN and I AM INVINCIBLE. First crop yearlings sold for

£150,000, £120,000, etc, in 2015

Cheveley Park Stud Duchess Drive, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 9DD Tel: (01638) 730316 • Fax: (01638) 730868 • enquiries@cheveleypark.co.uk • www.cheveleypark.co.uk

Cheveley_QuickAsAFlash_OwnerBreeder_Jan16.indd 1

14/12/2015 15:07

Jan_137_ROA_Leader_Layout 1 14/12/2015 17:58 Page 9

ROA LEADER

RACHEL HOOD President Racehorse Owners Association

Progress so pleasing but biggest hurdle lies ahead Sport has made huge strides since 2011; levy replacement is now the priority

S

tepping down as ROA President after four and a half years, I am struck by how much progress racing has made during that time but, also, how much more there is still to accomplish.There are two achievements of which racing can be proud.

The first is the extent to which our industry has moved up the general political agenda so that this government has pledged serious support in developing a funding system based on a Racing Right to replace the levy.

The second is the way the industry itself has moved forward in working together. Under the new Members’ Agreement, the horsemen, racecourses and BHA have created a united front, allowing us to believe the vision we all have for British horseracing will be fulfilled.

The government is committed to racing’s welfare because it recognises how many jobs, directly and indirectly, depend on racing, while acknowledging the huge contribution this industry makes to UK plc.

The government also recognises that for the first time in over half a century, racing is not getting its rightful share of betting revenues.

The vital link between racing and betting is recognised the world over with each being dependent on the other. But here in the UK this essential cord has been ruptured by almost all bookmakers directing their bets overseas, thereby avoiding paying money to the Levy Board which, until recently, provided racing with its main source of funding.

This so-called “wastage”, originally just a trickle, has now become a torrent, so much so that racing now receives less than 60% of its entitlement.

It is why there is such an urgent need to set up a Racing Right system to replace the levy so that every bet struck in the UK on British horseracing is reflected in a payment to racing. Unfortunately, there are a range of legal and practical reasons why we cannot just switch a button to make this happen – and, of course, some notable members of the betting industry are exploiting these

difficulties to their own ends.

This situation has given rise to the concept of the Authorised Betting Partner, an initiative set up by the Horsemen’s Group, BHA and Racecourse Association.

By signing up to be an ABP, betting operators receive a range of advantages including the use of a kitemark and promotional benefits as part of a marketing campaign (see page 12). In addition, ABPs will have the opportunity to negotiate preferential treatment from participating racecourses including having access to sponsorship of races and getting Wi-Fi provision.

In turn, the ABPs give an undertaking to pay racing a percentage of their gross profits on those horseracing bets they put through their overseasbased operations. It will not be the full 10.75% on gross profits that is required by the levy but it will be a discounted percentage that reflects the ABP status.

It is certainly disappointing, though not entirely surprising, that none of the big publiccompany bookmakers has yet signed up. Similarly, that some of their spokespeople are doing their best to ‘rubbish’ the concept.

But let us remember that bookmakers do not sponsor because they feel some sort of duty to help racing. They sponsor because it has marketing value for them. Withdrawal of sponsorship rights will therefore hurt them, however much they claim otherwise. It is important other racecourses come to the view that they should offer their own package of benefits to ABPs in the same way that JCR, ARC and the Scottish tracks have embraced the initiative.

It is also important that the world of racing gives as much credit as possible to the first three accredited ABP members – Betfair, Bet365 and 32Red. Many racehorse owners are also punters. Some may decide to vote with their feet and bet only with those betting operators who are ABP-accredited.

A good New Year’s resolution for all ROA members, I would have thought.

“There is an urgent

need to set up a Racing Right so every bet on UK racing is reflected in a payment

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”

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Here come the girls!

Win up to £100,000 in bonuses

The NH Mare Owners’ Prize Scheme Don’t miss out, registration closes 31st January 2016 GB-bred fillies and those sired by British-based stallions only (T&C’s apply)

For more details and an application form, visit thetba.co.uk

thetba.co.uk 01638 661321

Jan_137_TBA_Leader_TBA 14/12/2015 15:27 Page 11

TBA LEADER

JULIAN RICHMOND-WATSON Chairman Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association

Look forward to a new year and new initiatives Our strategy meeting provides plans to help breeders in 2016 and beyond

N

ew Year is a time to look forward, and following the TBA’s strategy day in December, we are developing plans for new ideas and initiatives that will help and support breeders in 2016 and beyond.

In the meantime, it does no harm to remind ourselves what has been achieved over the past year.

The first year of the Plus 10 bonus scheme focused on fillies in Britain, through including Class 5 maiden races for them. More than 185 different individual owners and partnerships and over 222 studs benefited, which means we reached and rewarded a wide cross-section of the breeding and owning sectors.

It was encouraging that prices for Plus 10-nominated yearlings and foals were higher than average at the sales, and more than 4,600 of the 2015 foal crop have been entered into the scheme, which represent a 20% increase on 2014.

The National Hunt Mare Owners’ Prize Scheme, known as MOPS, which is intended to help British-bred fillies and mares, was announced at the beginning of December. It has been a long time in gestation but the wait and effort have been worthwhile. With the support of the Levy Board, BHA and Horsemen’s Group, there should be an increased number of females racing over jumps, and the already expanding programme will enable numbers to grow further. MOPS, which will award prizes of £10,000 or £5,000 depending on the category of race, was born from the findings of the Economic Impact Survey commissioned by the TBA two years ago.

Our principal study of 2015 resulted in the Stayers’ Report, which was launched in the spring and was well received, but solving the problem in an ever more commercially-driven sport that majors on two-year-olds is not going to be easy.

The BHA’s racing department and the European Breeders’ Fund have been very supportive. A number of two-year-old maiden races restricted to horses by stallions thar won over a mile and a quarter or more were

scheduled in 2015 and up to ten are planned for this year.

Attitudes will not be changed overnight, but with the help of the European Pattern Committee and the will of racecourses to support our initiatives, we can make steady progress.

At the instigation of the TBA, the BHA is carrying out a complete review of the programme for three-year-old and up fillies and mares. They are the raw material of the breeding industry and a programme that tests the breed and supports meritocracy, while providing opportunities for females to be raced as often as possible against each other, is vital to stimulate our bloodlines.

With great support from the BEBF, the TBA has also created an exciting structure for fillies’ Flat handicaps that cater for those just below black-type status.

More on this at a later date.

On the political side, the TBA has advanced under the tripartite Members’ Agreement, while also representing the horsemen on Racing Enterprises Ltd (REL) and the Betting Patterns Working Party.

We have members on the reconstituted BHA Flat and Jumps Pattern Committees and the new Racing Committee.

In Europe we worked with EFTBA and Weatherbys to stop the proposal for dual passports for thoroughbreds, which now allows free movement of our horses for breeding and racing purposes.

There is always more on the Brussels horizon and we continue to monitor EU animal health regulations.

Our new structure means the TBA team will be strengthened, which is vital if we are to keep on top of the many issues, as well as day-to-day topics, that are so important to all breeders.

In terms of finance, 2016 could be a difficult year for British racing but by the time those foals born this spring reach the racetrack, I believe prospects will be much better.

Meanwhile, I must thank Chief Executive Louise Kemble and her small team at Stansted House for the enormous support they give the TBA board and you as members.

Wishing you all every success in 2016.

“The NH Mare Owners’ Prize Scheme has been a long time in gestation but the wait and effort have been worthwhile

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

”

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Jan_137_News_Owner 14/12/2015 17:07 Page 12

NEWS Stories from the racing world

Online firms make funding pledge Betfair, Bet365 and 32Red sign up with British racing as Authorised Betting Partners

T

hree firms – Betfair, Bet365 and 32Red – have become the first gambling operators to be granted formal Authorised Betting Partner status, enabling them, among other benefits, to enter into new sponsorship deals with those tracks owned by Jockey Club Racecourses and Arena Racing Company, along with all five Scottish racecourses.

The ABP initiative, the work of the BHA in conjunction with the Horsemen’s Group and Racecourse Association, is set against a backdrop of a declining levy income, exacerbated by the majority of bookmakers’ digital operations being based overseas, outside the levy’s reach.

Only bookmakers that commit to a “fair and mutually sustainable funding relationship with the sport” – and pay a sum to racing on behalf of their digital businesses – will receive ABP status.

While Betfred has decided to walk away from its sponsorship of the Gold Cup at Cheltenham

and Sprint Cup at Haydock, Cheltenham has moved quickly to secure a new long-term sponsor of the Gold Cup, signing up telecoms business Timico in a four-year deal.

Prize-money for the race has been increased to a record £575,000, up £25,000 on 2015.

It is hoped that the big independent racecourses, including Ascot and Newbury, will back the ABP initiative.

In early December, York said it would honour existing sponsorship Cue Card wins the 2015 Betfair Chase; the firm has agreed a three-year funding deal

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contracts with bookmakers but not agree to any new deals with non-ABP firms.

British racing and Betfair agreed a threeyear funding arrangement underpinned by the ABP model. The deal will see Betfair contribute an agreed percentage of its racing revenues from its exchange and sportsbook for three years from April 2016.

The percentage is based on a new rate card developed by British racing, and companies that sign up to it will benefit from the full range of advantages associated with being an ABP, including use of a kitemark and promotional benefits as part of a marketing campaign to be rolled out across the sport.

They will also have the opportunity to negotiate preferential commercial arrangements with participating racecourses, including sponsorship opportunities, Wi-Fi provision and wider promotion.

The ABP model has the support of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and it is hoped that negotiations with other gambling operators will lead to further ABP sign-ups.

BHA Chief Executive Nick Rust said after the Betfair deal was announced: “We’re delighted to have signed up our first Authorised Betting Partner under a multiyear deal, and welcome the enlightened approach taken by Betfair.

“They clearly value our sport and recognise the interdependence between racing and betting, as well as the benefits associated with being an Authorised Betting Partner, in particular from the commercial parties in British racing that are signing up to the model.

“It is vital for the sport, and the tens of thousands of people deriving their livelihoods from it, that we move our funding from our biggest customer group on to a more sustainable footing, including taking the necessary steps prior to the introduction of the Horserace Betting Right to incentivise digital businesses to make a contribution back to British racing.”

The specifics of the agreements with Bet365 and 32Red have not been made public, but a BHA statement read: “They are designed to provide fair and reasonable contributions from remote betting activity in the interim period leading through until the introduction of the Horserace Betting Right.”

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Jan_137_News_Owner 14/12/2015 17:07 Page 13

Many Clouds wins the 2015 Grand National, which will start an hour later this year

Teatime National set to boost TV audience The start time of the Crabbie’s Grand National has been moved back an hour to 5.15pm in a bid to further boost viewing figures.

A peak audience of 8.9 million watched the 2015 National, the largest figure since the switch to Channel 4 in 2013, though still some way adrift of the 11m who saw the 2012 race on the BBC. Bookmakers welcomed the move, believing that the extra hour of bets can be only a positive move, and pointing out that for the first time it will give football punters a chance to reinvest.

There were a few voices of dissent, with some believing the extra waiting time on the day for National runners will not be in the interests of equine welfare, while there will be additional challenges for the police and print journalists.

There will now be just one race after the National, a handicap hurdle for conditional and

Grand National: start-time changes 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996

3.20 4.00 3.50 3.45 3.00

1997 1998 2005 2006 2016

5.00* 3.45 4.10 4.15 5.15

*run on Monday after bomb-scare abandonment on the Saturday amateur riders at 6.10pm.

John Baker, Regional Director of the Jockey Club North West, said: “This is a very positive move for the Crabbie’s Grand National and we’re

excited about the possibility of showcasing the greatest chase in the world to a wider national and global audience.

“The Crabbie’s Grand National is in a great place and we’re already delighted to be Channel 4’s biggest audience of the year at 8.9 million viewers, which is a fantastic figure, but any increase is also good for the sport.

“We’re always keen to explore ways to grow and enhance this superb three-day festival and we believe that in collaboration with our broadcast partner, Channel 4, and with the backing of the BHA, this is another extremely positive step forward for the ‘people's race’.”

The 60-minute change is the most significant time switch for the race to date. It has been staged at 4.15pm for the last ten runnings, though the start time has been tweaked over the years.

BHA freezes owners’ fees for 2016 The majority of owners’ fees will remain unchanged for 2016, the BHA has said.

In order to facilitate this, the BHA has made changes to four other fees. These are: reserving names; registering colours by someone who has not had a horse in training for 18 months; entry handling fees for races outside Britain; and entries made over the phone (rather than online).

The freeze means that most owners’ fees have increased only once in the last four years.

Nick Rust, Chief Executive of the BHA, said: “Most owners will not see any increase

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

in fees in 2016. Owners that have a horse in training, make entries and declarations online for British races and don’t reserve names annually without using them will be unaffected.

“The charges that will be introduced for 2016 are aimed at encouraging owners and trainers to change behaviour in order to reduce the administrative burden.

“We estimate an owner with a couple of horses in training can expect to be £50-100 per year better off than if fees were to increase in line with inflation.”

Nick Rust: owners will be better off

13

Jan_137_Changes2pp_Layout 1 14/12/2015 18:27 Page 14

in association with

Racing’s news in a nutshell PEOPLE AND BUSINESS Alastair Down Racing Post journalist named Racing Writer of the Year for the fourth time at the HWPA Awards; colleague Graham Dench is the Reporter of the Year.

David Noonan Amateur rider who has impressed many people this season is set to join the conditional jockey ranks.

Mike Marshall Joins Ismail Mohammed as assistant trainer from Roger Varian, having previously worked for Sir Henry Cecil.

Carter Carnegie Simon Dow Epsom trainer moves from Clear Height Stables, where he spent 25 years, to Thirty Acre Barn, recently vacated by Roger Teal.

Paul Moloney Jockey breaks left leg in fall at Ludlow and will miss months of the season.

John Kelly Succeeds Peter Erskine as Chairman of Ladbrokes ahead of proposed merger with Gala Coral.

Nick Littmoden 52-year-old relinquishes his training licence after 21 years; he sent out Chateau Istana to win the Windsor Castle Stakes and Flying Childers in 2004.

Leaves his role as International Executive with Great British Racing International; James Oldring will lead the team as Operations Director.

Duchess of Cornwall Becomes an honorary member of the Jockey Club; she races horses in partnership with husband Prince Charles, enjoying two homebred winners in 2015.

George Scott Former assistant to Lady Cecil sends out his first runners, based at Saffron House Stables in Newmarket.

Also... Grade 1-winning jump jockey

Dougie Costello decides to concentrate on the Flat after linking up with trainer Karl Burke. Robins Farm, the 50-acre Surrey yard where Olly Stevens trained from, is put on the market by Sheikh Fahad Al Thani.

Technology firm Timico is unveiled as the new sponsor of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, signing a four-year deal, following Betfred’s decision to cease backing the race. A BHA Disciplinary Panel finds 23-year-old jockey Darren Egan guilty of riding horses to lose; he faces a lengthy ban from the sport.

Bookmaker Betfred confirms that more than 100 jobs will be lost at its Wigan call centre after the end of a consultation period with union representatives.

We’ve advised buyers of prime property for over thirty years.

It’s all we do. We are your unfair advantage.

Unrivalled Access. Astute Advice.

Please contact either Robert Fanshawe or Henry Hannon on 01635 813 130

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>>

TWEENHILLS TIMES AN EYE FOR SUCCESS

January 2016

Seen and heard at Tattersalls December Sales

Hundreds dr awn to sires’ par ade Windy and blustery weather did not deter breeders from travelling in their hundreds to see Tweenhills’ Qatar Bloodstock stallions parade at Longholes Stud during the sale.

Harbour Watch and Havana Gold (below left) proved highly popular once again, while top sprinter Hot Streak (below), who is new for 2016, went down a bomb and drew numerous compliments.

Gold profits for Havana breeders Foals from the first crop of Tweenhills stallion Havana Gold have been making profits for their breeders at recent sales.

The average price of his foals sold at Goffs and Tattersalls was £28,278, more than three times his covering fee. The pick on price at the December Sale was a colt offered by Kenilworth Stud and bought by Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock for 90,000gns.

staff PROFILE Justyna Michna Stud hand

Gliwice?

It’s a town in Poland, about four hours from Warsaw. I left there in December 2014 and came to Britain to learn English. I was keen to work with horses, and after three months a friend put me in touch with Kat Sowa, who is also Polish and works at Tweenhills.

Home-reared beef is a December delicacy Tweenhills is not only home to some fabulous stallions and mares, but also to a superb herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle, who are such an asset to the stud.

Their beef is unrivalled, and proved a lunchtime hit for breeders and members of the bloodstock industry who visited the Tweenhills’ Tipi during the sale.

How did the interview go . . .

I met the stud groom, Ben Hyde, and he gave me a job, but my English was very bad, and at first I had to keep asking Kat to be my interpreter. I learned a little bit of the language every day, and think it’s okay now.

Best part of the job . . .

Working at the December Sales was amazing – it was so different, like a movie, but tough on my feet!

Thoughts of home?

Poland is beautiful, but I feel I belong in England and wouldn’t want to leave. For now I just want to learn.

Sinnamary heads Tweenhills’ dr aft Four-year-old Sinnamary headed a quality Tweenhills consignment at the Mares Sale.

A Galileo half-sister to Classic winner Chicquita, she was offered to dissolve a partnership between Qatar Racing and the Marquesa de Moratalla, and was knocked down for 700,000gns to Anthony Oppenheimer, the owner/ breeder of Golden Horn.

Lightning Thunder made 420,000gns to a bid from BBA Ireland’s Adrian Nicoll, while Listed winner Terror was sold to US agent Gatewood Bell for 300,000gns.

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

Jan_137_Changes2pp_Layout 1 14/12/2015 18:28 Page 16

RACEHORSE AND STALLION MOVEMENTS AND RETIREMENTS Sea Moon Burgage Stud in County Carlow secures triple Group 2 winner, a son of Beat Hollow bred by Juddmonte, following seven-year-old’s retirement.

Rock On Ruby

Dylan Mouth

Tendon injury causes retirement of 2012 Champion Hurdle winner, successful in 12 of his 27 races and earning over £600,000.

Outstanding performer in Italy, winning three Group 1s, moves from Stefano Botti to his brother Marco in Newmarket.

Network

Feuerblitz

Sire of Sprinter Sacre and Rubi Ball, who turns 19 on January 1, is sold for €290,000 at Arqana.

Apsis Group 3-winning son of Barathea is recruited from France by Coolagown Stud in Ireland, along with Group 2 victor Solskjaer, by Danehill, from South Africa.

Group 1-winning son of Big Shuffle will stand his first season in Germany at a fee of €2,500.

Tonalist Tapit’s son, winner of four Grade 1s including the 2014 Belmont Stakes, retires to Lanes End Farm in Kentucky where his fee will be $40,000.

Jack Milton Winner of a Grade 1 on turf at Keeneland in 2015 is retired to Crestwood Farm in Kentucky; the son of War Front will command a fee of $6,500.

Also...

Teaforthree, a stable star for Rebecca Curtis winning the National Hunt Chase at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival and finishing third in the 2013 Grand National, is retired aged 11. A $10,000 stud fee at Lanes End Farm is set for Pulpit’s son Mr Speaker, winner of the 2014 Grade 1 Belmont Derby from the Aidan O’Brien-trained Adelaide.

Oasis Dream’s son Frozen Power, whose first two-year-olds ran in 2015, moves from Ballyhane Stud to Centro Equino Arcadia in Italy. His new fee is €4,000. Einstein, a fivetime Grade 1 winner, relocates from Adena Springs North in Ontario to Magali Farms in California for 2016.

HORSE OBITUARIES

Toast Of New York Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up for owner Michael Buckley and trainer Jamie Osborne is retired aged four to stand at stud in Qatar.

PEOPLE OBITUARIES Alfie Westwood 80 Ambassador at Newmarket’s National Horseracing Museum, he was a lightweight jockey who later worked for Pat Haslam and Clive Brittain.

Red Cadeaux 9 Popular Flat stayer for owner Ronnie Arculli and trainer Ed Dunlop succumbs to the injury he sustained in November’s Melbourne Cup.

MAM Ramaswamy 84 High-profile racehorse owner in India who saw his colours carried to victory in the Indian Derby at Mumbai on six occasions.

Peter Willett 96 Widely respected bloodstock journalist, chief architect of the Pattern-race system and author (see Tony Morris’s tribute, pages 20-21).

Peter Dimmock 94

Jim Moloney 90

Secured coverage of the Grand National and Royal Ascot for BBC television, he worked with Sir Peter O’Sullevan in the 1950s.

Australian Hall of Fame trainer who handled the career of top sprinter Vain, winner of 12 of his 14 starts including the 1969 Golden Slipper.

16

Shared Belief 4 Candy Ride gelding was a top performer in the US, winning five Grade 1s, including the Pacific Classic and Santa Anita Handicap.

Vintage Star 9 Talented staying chaser for owner Trevor Hemmings and the Sue Smith stable, winning five times including three races at Carlisle.

Wet Sail 3 Charlie Fellowes-trained gelding won two races at Salisbury, was placed twice at Listed level and contested the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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Jan_137_BigPic-DonPoli_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 14:45 Page 18

THE BIG PICTURE

Jan_137_BigPic-DonPoli_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 14:45 Page 19

AINTREE

COOPER’S THE DON Bryan Cooper did not let the small matter of a slipped saddle get in the way of victory aboard Don Poli (3) in the Listed Lotto Chase at Aintree on December 5.

The duo enjoyed a good tussle with Grand National hero Many Clouds and Leighton Aspell but stayed on in determined style to score by four lengths Photo George Selwyn

Jan_137_Tony_Morris_Owner 14/12/2015 15:28 Page 20

THE MAN YOU CAN’T IGNORE COMMENT

Tony Morris Our columnist pays tribute to the impact of the late Peter Willett’s authoritative writing on bloodstock and his role in the creation of the Pattern and European Breeders’ Fund

20

GEORGE SELWYN

W

hen the 26-year-old Peter Willett came back from an eventful war, spent chiefly in North Africa and Italy, he needed to find a profession. By all accounts his father, who had been a career soldier and was holder of a Military Cross, was not best pleased when informed that his son had accepted a job as a racing journalist with the Manchester-based daily Sporting Chronicle.

The young man had long been a keen follower of events on the Turf, but it was one thing to pursue that interest as a hobby, quite another to try to earn a living by writing about such an esoteric and rather trivial subject.

As it turned out, Willett was to become one of the most distinguished and respected members of his chosen profession, renowned world-wide as an authority on the sport and on the business of bloodstock breeding. From the status he acquired as a writer on those matters, he progressed to fill important roles in the governance of racing, proving immensely influential in the way the sport developed, not just in Britain but globally, and long before his death in November, at the grand old age of 96, he had become recognised as an outstanding innovator, responsible for much that had changed for the better.

Of course, it was the writing that came first, and in that field he soon established himself as one of the few racing journalists whose columns were obligatory reading for professionals and for serious students of the sport and of thoroughbred breeding. He understood the game from every angle and informed his readers with the aid of a lucid prose style, providing me and many others with an education for which we were profoundly grateful. I used to cut out and keep – and still have – the weekly columns on breeding which he contributed to Horse & Hound.

Willett’s initial venture in book form came in 1966 with An Introduction to the Thoroughbred, which for my money still ranks as the most important treatise on the subject, the work that anyone seeking to understand the mysteries of breeding should turn to first. I bought it as soon as it appeared, and felt that I had never spent 50 shillings (£2.50) so wisely. I read it and re-read

Peter Willett: an authority on racing and breeding and outstanding innovator

it countless times, and, almost half a century on, it bears reading again. Nothing achieved in the researches conducted over the years since its publication – not even the historic breakthrough to sequence the horse genome – has invalidated anything in that perfect piece of work.

Further valuable additions to any student’s library came with The Classic Racehorse in 1981 and Makers of the Modern Thoroughbred in 1984.

The earlier volume was truly global in scope, elaborating on the development of the breed in all the major countries that had adopted thoroughbred racing and had established breeding industries to serve the sport. In the later work, Willett wrote extensively on the policies and achievements of a number of prominent breeders, including the 17th Earl of Derby, Marcel Boussac, HH Aga Khan III, Federico Tesio and Bull Hancock. His knowledge was vast and he imparted it in a pleasing style that could only evoke admiration for his wisdom and insight.

There was, however, one curious anomaly about that book, as he devoted the first – and longest – chapter to Bernard, 16th Duke of Norfolk, a man whose impact on the breed was slight, to put it at best. I taxed the author on that matter and received a typically good-humoured response in which he admitted that Norfolk was out of place in the company of others he had featured, and that if he had an excuse for including him, it was to acknowledge his role as an administrator in racing, rather than his achievements as a breeder. In truth, Willett flattered Norfolk even in that respect and was all too modest about his own part in effecting beneficial changes in the sport.

An earlier book bearing Willett’s name as coauthor was the Biographical Encyclopaedia of British Flat Racing, a 1978 publication long overdue for an updated edition. He collaborated on that venture, which sought to provide brief biographies of the most celebrated horses and horsemen of the previous two centuries, with Roger Mortimer and Richard Onslow, two THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Jan_137_Tony_Morris_Owner 14/12/2015 15:28 Page 21

others with an abiding interest in the Turf past and present. Which author penned which word-portrait was not indicated, so whom to blame for the not-infrequent errors was impossible, though from personal experience I know Willett to have been the most assiduous researcher of the trio.

Willett was commissioned to write The Story of Tattersalls in 1987, producing an extremely readable account of the company’s business and the characters involved over more than two centuries, and in 2000 he was responsible for Dick Hern – The Authorised Biography. The life story of one of the outstanding British trainers in recent times was bound to hold plenty of fascination for legions of racing fans, and I don’t suppose it disappointed many. It was beautifully written, punctuated with the humour characteristic of the author, and it brought to life the many great horses and personalities who had featured in the subject’s eventful career.

But I dreaded its publication when I first heard that it was in the offing, and my worst fears were realised when I came to read it. I have often wondered whether the author would have been happier to pen an unauthorised biography of his subject, but, of course, that would never have been on. Hern would not have provided the material for a book whose content he might not approve.

My early education in bloodstock breeding was derived largely from the articles written by Willett in the Sporting Chronicle and Horse & Hound, and by John Hislop in The Sporting Life and The British Racehorse. Both men were to become valued friends whose company I enjoyed, and I was always conscious of my indebtedness to them.

But I had long been aware that there had been a major falling out between Hern and the Hislops – John and Jean – subsequent to their great triumphs together with Brigadier Gerard.

As Hern’s official biographer, Willett was bound to recount his subject’s animosity towards his former patrons, who were no longer around to defend themselves.

And that was just what happened; only one side of the story appeared, when I knew that there were faults on both sides.

Willett no doubt felt that he had an axe to grind himself, as the Hislops were vocal opponents of the European Breeders’ Fund, a scheme that he was active in promoting, but he scarcely needed to belabour that point over several pages in a biography of the man who had trained their best horse 30 years earlier. It simply was not relevant to his subject, and I derived no pleasure from reading a verbal assault by one of my friends on two of my other friends.

For all that, I never ceased to admire Willett as a gifted writer who had been my mentor, and for his huge, immensely important contribution as the well-documented driving force behind the instigation of the Pattern and of the EBF, where his marvellous diplomatic skills proved crucial. He was also tremendously good fun to be around, always ready to find humour in any situation.

Blessed with long life and the retention of his mental faculties to the last, Willett surprised one and all by producing a final book, covering his memories of war service in the Queen’s Bays, at the age of 96. I was delighted to learn that when he was asked, just weeks before his death, how he had managed to remember the names of all his wartime colleagues, he replied: “I made most of them up. They’ll all be dead anyway.” I can see the twinkle in his eye as he said that.

“Peter Willett was

tremendously good fun, always ready to find humour in any situation”

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

21

Jan_137_HowardWright_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 17:06 Page 22

HOWARD WRIGHT COMMENT

Morals do not earn money so it is understandable most US horsemen feel they have to use Lasix to compete – only an outright ban will change that

We shouldn’t be lame on Lasix

22

GEORGE SELWYN

J

ust when it seemed the black cloud hanging over world athletics could not get any darker, it did. Seven Kenyan runners were suspended by their national association for doping offences, and for three of them the drug of choice turned out to be one very familiar in the horseracing world.

Koki Manunga and Joyce Zakary had already been suspended after returning positives at the World Championships in Beijing in August, when Kenya topped the medals table for the first time. In late-November, they and the twotime world cross-country champion Emily Chebet were banned for four years. The source of their ignominy was revealed to be furosemide – better known through its trade name, Lasix.

For the first time that I could remember, the anti-bleeding agent still used abundantly on racedays in the US had been uncovered in another sport and firmly labeled ‘performanceenhancing’.

From this side of the Atlantic, the championing of Lasix by US horsemen – a majority but not all, it should be conceded – has always had an air of denial about it. Even a significant number of Europeans have adopted the ‘when in Rome’ attitude on campaigning horses under more liberal regulations than they face daily on home soil.

When Breeders’ Cup officials took what would have been a massive breakthrough decision to phase out the use of Lasix in their races, international opinion seemed to have scored a major success. Sadly, the backlash among US horsemen was so strong that the BC organisers caved in.

US belief in Lasix is perhaps not surprising, and evidence of the drug’s magical powers was demonstrated within a few days of the Kenyan revelation. The four-year-old Effinex won the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs, taking his earnings while treated with Lasix beyond $2 million, compared with the almost paltry $90,000 that he collected without it.

Russell Cohen, who bred Effinex and manages Tri-Bone Stables, in whose colours he runs, deliberately campaigned the colt without Lasix in his early races as a matter of principle, before needs got the better of morals. “The reason I put him on Lasix is that I had to in order to compete,” Cohen explained to the American media. “Lasix is a stone-cold performance-enhancer.”

Effinex: more than $2 million earned with Lasix, against $90,000 without it

While Kenya Athletics can vouch for the latter statement, Effinex’s record of three Graded stakes wins and a second to American Pharaoh in the Breeders’ Cup Classic from 15 runs on Lasix is hard to refute, but equally hard to condone, at least among those who do not support its raceday use. Even Cohen seemed to be almost apologetic when he

“It’s time for

concerned IFHA members – and they include the BHA – to get serious” added: “For all the wrong reasons or not, you have to use it.”

Only a total ban would set Cohen, and several like him, free from their dilemma. The chances of that happening are slim, but they are not non-existent and could take a step forward within the next month.

The Asian Racing Conference, held every 18

months, has become an increasingly important forum for discussion over recent editions, despite its territorial parameters, and the forthcoming three-day event in Mumbai offers an opportunity to gauge both opinion and the appetite for change.

A 90-minute conference session on the final day, January 28, takes the title ‘Drug-free racing, are we succeeding?’ The short answer is: ‘No, but we can get closer if we try hard enough’. The key to moving forward will be contained in the opening section on ‘the International Federation’s anti-doping remit’.

Little mention was made about the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities’ stance against doping at its Paris conference in October, other than an update on its accreditation of certified laboratories, but the organisation, and especially its Chairman Louis Romanet, has drug-free racing firmly near the top of the agenda.

Unlike other world sporting bodies, the IFHA does not have regulatory powers to run racing, but it does have one big stick in the facility to remove international Pattern status.

Such radical action against drug-associated races has been mentioned in the past. It’s time for concerned members – and they include the BHA – to get serious.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

CC2950 TOB Full Page JAN 2016 (NAYEF)_Layout 1 09/12/2015 12:29 Page 1

NAYEF

Gulch - Height Of Fashion

HEIGHT: 16.2hh - 1.68m STANDING AT: NUNNERY STUD, THETFORD STUD FEE 2014: £5,000 (1st JAN SLF)- Euro fee on application.

Sire of 4 Stakes winners 2015.

Sire of 7 stakes winners 2014.

31% Stakes winners/runners (Europe 2015).

49% winners/runners strike rate in 2015.

33% strike rate with 2YOS of 2015.

Sire of Group winners & performers from his 1st crop to his current crop:

FORGOTTEN RULES wins the British Champions MUSTAJEEB winner of the Greenlands Stakes Long Distance Cup (Gr.2) at Ascot. October 2014. (Gr.2) at The Curragh. May 2015.

TASADAY Gr.2 winner; and 3rd Yorkshire Oaks (Gr.1) at York. August 2014.

LADY MARIAN - Prix de l’Opera (Gr.1).

TAMAYUZ - Dual Gr.1 winner.

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SNOW SKY dual Gr.2 winner in 2015.

SIRE OF MUSTAJEEB, STANDING AT OVERBURY STUD FOR 2016

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Jan_137_View_From_Ireland_v2_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 18:01 Page 25

VIEW FROM IRELAND

By JESSICA LAMB

Flanagan back in the saddle Jockey who came close to quitting regains confidence following spell in America

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

CAROLINE NORRIS

M

aking the decision to relocate to America was the making of jockey Sean Flanagan, and 2016 is going to reveal why. The 27-year-old begins the year on course to record a lifetime best tally of winners, just three campaigns on from his career low – a point at which he even considered quitting.

He does so thanks to a breakthrough partnership he has already built, and another he has begun work on that could lead to great things. “I had a great start to my career – but I’ve never been as excited as now,” he said. The turning point came in 2013 when Flanagan started working for trainer Jack Fisher in Baltimore.

The rider explained: “I had nothing to keep me in Ireland when Ross Geraghty sent me a Facebook message with a job opportunity.

“I’d ridden three winners the previous season and the only decision I had to make was whether to give up altogether or give it a go in America, so I got my three-month visa and went.”

The day after he arrived, Fisher’s stable jockey, Willie Dowling, broke his shoulder and retired, giving Flanagan the number one spot and his pick of quality rides; the type of horses he hadn’t ridden for two years. The role appeared too good to leave – but he had taken it thinking he wasn’t the rider he used to be and that he couldn’t survive in Ireland.

A few wins later and he couldn’t stop thinking about the partnership he had started with trainer Harry Kelly in the summer before he left.

“I didn’t know him,” said Kelly. “But I always liked the way he rode. He reminds me of Shay Barry and I couldn’t figure out why he wasn’t getting the rides. I’d always wanted to use him and when I’d a horse in a race confined to riders who had ridden less than ten winners that season it was a perfect opportunity. When he won, it was a done deal.”

He added: “It came down to confidence. He was riding horses that couldn’t win and being hard on himself. I think he knows now deep down that he is good enough.”

Proving the likeness of these minds, Flanagan had identical thoughts before and after that crucial stint in the US. “What I brought back from America was confidence,” Flanagan said. “I hadn’t been riding with confidence here. I’d been hard enough on myself and couldn’t get my head around why I wasn’t doing well.

“I had a great go of it early on in my career. It fell to me on a plate and I took it all for granted.

Sean Flanagan with Monksland, trainer Noel Meade and groom Riona Taggart

I’m not saying I didn’t have to work, but it was always handy and I didn’t appreciate any of it.

“It seldom happens people get a second chance, so now that I have I appreciate every day.

There’s no such thing as not bothering to ride out in the morning any more, for example, and I try to ride seven days a week.”

Once he made the call to leave America, he started to plan for what he had always dreamed of: the elusive big job.

“I didn’t have experience of being in a big

“It seldom happens

people get a second chance, so now that I have I appreciate every day” yard,” he said. “I’d never worked in one and I’d never ridden for one and you don’t get rides on Grade 1 horses without that, so I just rang Noel Meade and asked him if I could ride out.

“I just wanted to get the experience of being around top horses, getting a feel for horses of that class.”

Just like in Baltimore, shortly after Flanagan

started working in the Meade yard, stable jockey Paul Carberry got injured. It provided opportunities for Flanagan he has delivered on time and again, significantly building a promising relationship with Monksland.

“Monksland is an amazing horse,” he said.

“He’s very straightforward. He jumps off, travels away in your hands, and he jumps a fence really well. I was beaten half a length by Arctic Fire and he came out and won the Hatton’s Grace, then Monksland finished second to No More Heroes in the Drinmore – I do like the way he’s gone there, winged the last and quickened away.”

In injury and in health, Carberry is proving a huge influence in Flanagan’s resurrection.

“I’m at Noel’s two days a week and it’s been very difficult without Paul,” he said. “When Paul is there you can follow the way he does things and you know the rhythm of each morning better by being in his shadow.

“Riding work, he’s the marker. Schooling, he’s the marker. When I’m schooling without him I still worry if I’m going too slow or too fast. He’s such an integral part of this operation that it feels off balance without him.”

Before his own retirement through injury, Davy Condon had been the obvious choice to replace Carberry, should the 43-year-old ever hang up his boots, but now the door is ajar and Flanagan has the upper hand over leading rival Ger Fox on form. Having seen the bottom of the barrel, he’s now looking up.

25

>>

Jan_137_View_From_Ireland_v2_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 18:02 Page 26

VIEW FROM IRELAND

Gordon Elliott’s transformation from Grand National-winning summer trainer to championship title contender is set to become complete by the end of this season, as he prepares his highest quality Festival team yet, led by Don Cossack.

It is apt that Don Cossack is his star as the multiple Grade 1 winner’s owners have been key to Elliott’s progression. Looking back now, he’s clear that without them he would not have moved into the big league.

“Winning the Grand National didn’t make me,” Elliott said. “Silver Birch came from Paul Nicholls’s and the work was already done. That’s not what made this happen.

“When you look at other trainers who were in a similar position when they won the National, they haven’t gone on and done anything.

“People think it’s a big deal for a trainer, and it is at the time – but it doesn’t fill your yard with horses.”

It was another year before Gigginstown House Stud first put a horse in training with Elliott and what they found was that he is as results-driven as they are.

It made them think that maybe this partnership needed to be stronger, but their offer wasn’t obviously tantalising; it took a brain like Elliott’s to see its unending potential.

He explained: “Michael and Eddie O’Leary came around when nobody else knew me.

They wanted someone to take over their pointto-pointers. They wanted someone whose heart was really in it. That was me; I’d grown up in point-to-points.

“The catch was that I wouldn’t get to keep any of the horses when they went to the track.

That does get to you a bit when you see the likes of Petit Mouchoir winning for Willie Mullins, knowing how good a horse he is, but I try to forget their names and remember that I get paid very well for it.

“Without that money I wouldn’t be able to build all that I have in this yard and I wouldn’t be able to keep the staff, as I wouldn’t have the numbers.”

Elliott’s Cullentra House Stables has grown from a modest farm into a state-of-the-art, 136-box racing operation, with two gallops, three schooling areas, two outdoor arenas, four walkers, multiple wash bays and extensive paddocks.

But Elliott, 37, is not finished. This year he intends to install a fifth walker and an open air

26

GEORGE SELWYN

Gigginstown fuel Elliott title prospects

Gordon Elliott (inset) is backed by Gigginstown, owner of top chaser Don Cossack

equine pool, having last month finished a series of new woodchip paddocks and a modern vets’ box that allows him to view scopes on a big screen and email them to owners.

It seems like money is flowing freely, but every improvement has a purpose and, Elliott believes, will save money in the long run.

He explained: “The woodchip paddocks can each hold three horses. They live in those paddocks and they only last one season, then we have to relay them, but when you look at the fact we spend €1,500 plus VAT on each load of bedding for the horses in the stables,

and that we use two of those per week, it makes sense.

“With the vets’ box, it saves time. It means that the vet doesn’t need to bring or set up a scope and it can go straight on to a computer.

We can keep a database right here.

“We can also email them to owners and explain exactly what they have paid for, which just adds to their involvement in and understanding of their horse.”

Despite this rise, Elliott maintains a full summer team, remembering his roots and never missing a meeting at the course that has given him the most winners to date: Perth.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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Jan_137_Continental_Talesv2_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 16:44 Page 28

CONTINENTAL TALES

By JAMES CRISPE, INTERNATIONAL RACING BUREAU

A

Goomy lights up gloomy season Bargain buy sets modern-day wins record as bluebloods misfire

fter four straight years in which its horses have tasted victory in massive global events – two King Georges in England, an Arc in France and a Melbourne Cup in Australia – German racing has experienced a fallow 2015 season when many of its potential superstars were afflicted by injury.

Health problems were particularly prevalent at the top of its three-year-old colt division. A month before the German Derby and Andreas Wohler’s yard housed two prospective champions in Karpino and Quasillo, both unbeaten and both bred and initially owned by Gestut Fahrhof (Karpino was sold to Pearl Bloodstock before he ran away with the German 2,000 Guineas).

They had the right bloodlines to win a Derby: Karpino is by Cape Cross out of a fullsister to the 2001 St Leger winner Milan, while Quasillo is a Sea The Stars half-brother to the Group 1 winner Querari. But neither made it to the start line for the Hamburg Classic, nor played any part in the second half of the season.

Their absence was expected to open the way to victory for the Australian-owned Monsun

Owner Guido Schmitt with his ultra-shrewd sales acquisition Gamgoom

colt Shimrano. But he hated the fast ground that was a feature of a long, hot summer, finished 11th and has not been seen since.

The Derby did still produce an impressive winner, Nutan. However, he managed a solitary subsequent start, when a

Third time unlucky for Stromsky?

A doping controversy has hit the 142nd running of the four and a quarter mile Velka Pardubicka Steeplechase and its chief victim appears to be 41-year-old jockey Marek Stromsky.

All Czech jump jockeys dream of winning the world-famous Velka Pardubicka, their home nation’s biggest equine event, in particular journeymen jockeys like Stromsky, who is approaching the end of his career.

Stromsky did ‘win’ it once before, on a horse

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Marek Stromsky’s delight after ‘winning’ the Velka Pardubicka was understandable

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called Amant Gris in 2008, only to have the joy of his two-and-a-half length victory quickly turn to despair when the stewards disqualified him for having gone the wrong side of a marker.

More pain followed two years later when, again riding Amant Gris, Stromsky passed the winning post locked together with Josef Vana aboard Tiumen, only for the photographic evidence to prove that his rival had prevailed by the minimum possible margin of a nose.

After these two unfortunate near misses, one can only imagine Stromsky’s ecstasy when he guided Nikas to a decisive near four-length triumph in October’s renewal of a race that is now even longer than the Aintree Grand National and has a similar position in the Czech national consciousness as the Liverpool race has in ours.

The victory was just Stromsky’s third of the season and afterwards his retirement (which would have come in midsummer but for his wife reminding him that back in the spring a fortune teller had predicted his success in the Velká) was announced.

Now, poor soul, he is facing the prospect of

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enormous amount of media attention, beginning with the two owners racing each other over the last 100 metres of the course and ending with Schmitt pouching a €1,000 side bet which he promptly donated to the German Jockey School.

Goomy’s other victories were much more conventional and included Belgium’s top sprint race, the Groot Criterium Van Oostende, and a £26,500 five-furlong Listed race in Milan.

Wohler is set to lift his third German trainers’ championship after a tight battle with Peter Schiergen and has won many of the year’s top two-year-old races so looks well placed for next term. But, as far as 2015 is concerned, for him Gamgoom was the one that got away.

in prize-money.

Incredibly, Gamgoom (or ‘Goomy’ as he has become known) is now well on the way to surpassing those statistics. For, beginning on January 11 and ending on November 22 and again trained by Hofer, he raced on a remarkable 15 occasions during 2015, setting a new modern-day record for a German horse of 11 victories in a season.

In a throwback to the 17th century, one of his successes was a match race engineered by Schmitt and another colourful owner, Christian Sundermann, financed by leading internet bookies pferdewetten.de, and staged at Hoppegarten in Berlin by that course’s farsighted owner Gerhard Schöningh.

The whole pantomime received an

having his name expunged from the annals of the great race for a second time, not to mention losing out on his share of the £56,000 first prize.

The Czech Jockey Club issued an official statement just over a month after the race informing the public that, after eight samples were taken during the two-day Velká meeting and sent to an authorised laboratory in Germany, three of those samples were found to be positive for a banned substance, which is believed to be caffeine.

Two of the horses involved, including Nikas, are trained by Stanislav Popelka and he has requested that their B samples are sent to the BHA-approved laboratories near Newmarket in order for the initial results to be confirmed.

The outcome of these secondary tests are yet to be announced and rumours of contaminated batches of feed or similarly innocent explanations are swirling around, but the first ever post-raceday disqualification of the Velka winner is much the most likely outcome.

Failed dope tests are far from common in Czech racing – the current cases are only the second positives since 2011. The discovery of a banned substance to alter the result of the country’s biggest race could do great damage to the sport’s reputation and leave Stromsky a broken man.

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Mon dieu! Magic Macaire getting ever more prolific

The thirst for winners of Guillaume Macaire, the man best known on these shores for his handling of the six-time Graded racewinning chaser and hurdler Jair du Cochet, remains unquenched as he approaches his 60th birthday.

The man who trains on the Atlantic coast at Royan, some 80 miles north of Bordeaux, is certain to secure his 11th French jump trainers’ title in the last 13 years.

Of more significance, he has already surpassed his own national record for winners in a season, the 262 he achieved two years ago, and has a chance of breaching the 300-barrier for the first time.

Opportunities over jumps become scarce in the deep midwinter months, and Macaire rarely pays any attention to the Cagnes-SurMer fixture that stretches through December.

Yet he could still sneak past 300, especially if you add in the handful of Flat winners (five up until December 1) that he has saddled over the past 12 months.

The breaking of his own record had been a matter of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ for some time, but when he went past the old figure, on Armistice Day (November 11), it happened in dramatic circumstances.

He began that afternoon on the 260 mark, but early scores with Cristal de Roses at Saint-Brieuc and Ribambelle (beating an odds-on stablemate) at Strasbourg equalled the old mark. Everything was set for number 263 to be brought up in the grand manner,

by Macaire’s current stable star Storm Of Saintly, running for the first time since he

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disappointing third in the Grosser Preis von Berlin. Injury then hastened his retirement to Gestut Lindenhof.

So, with the top horses dropping like flies, the success story of the season has come from a highly unlikely source – Gamgoom, a €5,000 acquisition from the 2014 BBAG horses in training sale who began the year as a winless four-year-old gelding, not seen on a racecourse for some 16 months.

A son of Exceed And Excel, Gamgoom started his career in Lambourn with Harry Dunlop, showing promise when placed in two of his four juvenile starts. He was then transferred to Germany to join the Wohler stable, though the Gutersloh handler failed to get him on a racecourse and quickly shipped him off to the sales ring.

It was here that he came to the attention of the shrewd Dusseldorf-based businessman Guido Schmitt, who, thanks to a BBAG incentive scheme, in effect parted with only €2,000 to get hold of him.

Schmitt does have some ‘previous’ when it comes to discovering talent at bargain basement prices. In combination with trainer Mario Hofer he bought Combat Zone, a twiceplaced three-year-old maiden, for only £7,350 from Godolphin in 2009 and he went on to win no fewer than 16 times, including in Group 2 company, and pocket some £250,000

Guillaume Macaire: beat own record

landed the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris in May. Competing over hurdles for only the second time since 2012, Storm Of Saintly had the Prix Pascal Herve at Strasbourg in his grasp only to crash out at the final flight, handing victory to the German-trained 50-1 chance Kreuz As. Needless to say, the Macaire juggernaut was not halted for long. A few minutes later, at Saint-Brieuc, James Reveley guided Lady Poliglote to the landmark success.

Yorkshire-based Reveley has been a key member of Macaire’s team over recent years and is set to end the season with a career best tally of over 50 French winners, which should secure him fourth place in the jockeys’ championship.

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HURRICANE RUN * 2002 MONTJEU - HOLD ON (SURUMU)

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AROUND THE GLOBE THE WORLDWIDE RACING SCENE

NORT H A M E R I CA

by Steve Andersen

Cup ticked off...now for the Derby

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“The number one

goal of all goals since I was ten years old has been to win the Kentucky Derby” three-year-old debut in February or March.

Conquest Big E and Siding Spring were eighth and tenth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland.

Casse has depth in the older female division.

Aside from Tepin, the stable is preparing Lexie Lou for a comeback in early 2016. Lexie Lou won the 2014 Queen’s Plate Stakes against

males at Woodbine but had a limited 2015 campaign because of injury.

Lexie Lou is co-owned by Gary Barber, the Chief Executive of MGM Studios, which produced the James Bond films. Barber has become one of Casse’s leading clients.

Casse grew up in racing, the son of Floridabased Norman Casse Snr, who helped found the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co in the 1970s. It was about that time that Mark Casse knew he wanted a career in racing. He recalls being part of a television programme in the early 1970s, which featured children who wanted to follow the careers of their parents.

“They had me sitting on a fence saying I’d win the Kentucky Derby,” he recalled, with a laugh.

“Winning the Breeders’ Cup was on my bucket list but the number one goal of all goals since I was ten years old has been to win the Kentucky Derby.”

That may happen one of these years.

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ark Casse was a beaming trainer after Catch A Glimpse won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf at Keeneland on October 30, proud to have won a race in the series, 14 years after his first starter.

A day later, the Casse-trained Tepin scored a convincing win in the Breeders’ Cup Mile against a world-class field. This time, there were tears.

In a television interview after the race, Casse paid credit to his son and assistant trainer, Norman. At least, that was his intent. He struggled to find words, blinking fast and swallowing hard.

“It was emotional for me,” Casse recalled a few weeks later. “It’s wonderful winning, but it’s even better when your family is part of the success. We move horses around and different assistants have them at different times. Norman has had Tepin for most of her career.”

For Casse, the wins were the latest proof that his North American stable had reached the top of the sport.

Casse, 54, is based in Ocala, Florida, but runs horses all over the East Coast and at Woodbine, Canada’s leading racetrack, near Toronto. In 2015, Casse was the leading trainer at Woodbine for the tenth time in his career and for the ninth consecutive season.

In the last decade, Casse’s stable has risen steadily in prominence in the United States and Canada. In the late 2000s, he was annually in the top 20 in North America in stable earnings.

In the last several years, he has finished in the top ten. Through December 1, Casse was in the midst of his best year, with $13.5 million in stable earnings, trailing only Todd Pletcher, Chad Brown and Bob Baffert. “It was a great year and a trying year,” he said.

While the successes were celebrated, the stable was left devastated in June, when threeyear-old colt Danzig Moon suffered a fatal injury in the Plate Trial Stakes at Woodbine. Danzig Moon was fifth in the Kentucky Derby last May. “We’re still not over that,” he said.

Casse has excellent chances to be back in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness or Belmont Stakes in 2016. He has leading prospects in Airoforce, Conquest Big E and Siding Sprint.

Airoforce won the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs on November 28. Owned by Oklahoma oilman John Oxley, Airoforce, by Colonel John, will be part of Casse’s stable at the Palm Meadows training centre in Florida this winter and will have his

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Mark Casse (inset) sheds a tear after Tepin beats the boys in the Breeders’ Cup Mile

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AROUND THE GLOBE

by Danny Power

COLIN BULL

AUST R A L I A

All Too Hard (3) defeats Pierro in the Caulfield Guineas – now at stud, the duo will have their first yearlings sell in 2016

Huge expectation as sales season looms After 12 months in which Australian racing was dominated by two ends of the spectrum – the extreme high of Michelle Payne’s winning ride on Prince Of Penzance in the Melbourne Cup and the low that is the seemingly never-ending cobalt saga – the new year begins with hope and expectation.

Of course, there isn’t a time when hope is greater than what comes from the lift of a finger or nod of the head to bid for a colt or filly at the yearling sales – the Australian sales season starts with the high-profile ‘holiday’ sale, the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in early January, and runs through to June.

A feature of the 2016 selling season will be the first yearlings by two outstanding first-season stallions that did battle on the racetrack, Pierro (by Lonhro) and All Too Hard (by Casino Prince).

Pierro retired to Coolmore Stud as the outstanding juvenile of his year, when he was unbeaten in five starts for trainer Gai Waterhouse, including the 2012 two-year-old Triple Crown – the Golden Slipper Stakes, ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes and ATC Champagne Stakes – within the space of 21 days.

The powerhouse galloper lost his mantle of best of his age as a three-year-old, when All Too Hard ran him down in the Caulfield Guineas before a game third behind Ocean Park in the Cox Plate, in which All To Hard finished second.

Pierro regrouped to win the Canterbury Stakes and the George Ryder Stakes before lumping 57kg against the older horses for a courageous second to Sacred Falls on a boggy track in the Doncaster Handicap.

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Coolmore Stud secured him soon after and the handsome colt stood his first season at its Jerrys Plains Farm for $77,000. He covered 199 mares in the 2013 spring, including some champion race and broodmares such as Private Steer, Skates (dam of 2015 Golden Slipper winner Vancouver) and Dane Ripper, who not surprisingly are Danehill-line mares and a perfect fit for Pierro’s Danehill-free pedigree.

The expectations on All Too Hard were there from the time his feet touched the ground. His dam, Helsinge, is also the dam of the unbeaten

“A feature of the

2016 selling season will be the first yearlings by Pierro and All Too Hard” world champion sprinting mare Black Caviar, and he didn’t let the family down.

His Caulfield Guineas win was exceptional and he was narrowly denied in the Cox Plate. All Too Hard returned in the 2013 autumn to win three Group 1s from three starts – the CF Orr Stakes, Futurity Stakes and the All Aged Stakes.

The imposing All Too Hard retired to Vinery Stud and served 176 mares at $66,000 in his first season. Among the mares he covered were the Group 1 winners Bollinger, Makybe Diva,

Vormista, Allez Wonder, Headway and Serious Speed.

It has been a long time since Australia had two super colts go to stud in the same year. The expectation from sellers and buyers is immense.

Mongolian Khan recovers Dual Derby and Caulfield Cup winner Mongolian Khan has recovered from a colitis attack that not only cost him a start in the Melbourne Cup, but also nearly cost him his life.

Mongolian Khan spent a month at Melbourne’s renowned Werribee Veterinary Hospital after suffering residual infections that gave his carers grave concerns, but he is through the worst of it and was flown back to New Zealand early in December.

The son of Holy Roman Emperor will have a “few weeks” in the paddock before trainer Murray Baker readies him for the latter part of the Sydney autumn carnival, particularly the A$4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick, which is the signature race of the two-meeting The Championships series in April.

Baker, who trains in partnership with Andrew Forsman at Cambridge, won the 2014 Queen Elizabeth with Dundeel (by High Chaparral). His ambition is to get Mongolian Khan to Royal Ascot in June, where the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes would be a likely target.

He said: “Mongolian Khan is a horse who likes to build into his races English-style, so I’d love to take him to Europe. He could stay on for races such as the King George and the Arc, because the 2,400m [12 furlongs] would be perfect for him.”

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Strength in depth BATED BREATH

KINGMAN

2007 b h Dansili - Tantina (Distant View)

2011 b h Invincible Spirit - Zenda (Zamindar)

First yearlings averaged over £47,000 (for 55 sold), selling up to 230,000gns 2016 FEE: £10,000 slf

80% blacktype earners/producers in his first book, including 25 Gr.1 winners/producers 2016 FEE: £55,000 slf

CACIQUE

OASIS DREAM

2001 b h Danehill - Hasili (Kahyasi)

2000 b h Green Desert - Hope (Dancing Brave)

21% blacktype performers to foals (first two crops) 2016 FEE: £12,500 slf (limited book)

Sire of four-time Gr.1 winner Muhaarar and dual Gr.1 winner Goldream in 2015 2016 FEE: £75,000 slf

CHAMPS ELYSEES 2003 b h Danehill - Hasili (Kahyasi)

Progeny earnings of £1.9 million in 2015 (Hyperion Statistics 08/12/2015)

2016 FEE: £8,000 slf

DANSILI 1996 b h Danehill - Hasili (Kahyasi)

Sire of 19 Gr.1 winners and over 100 stakes winners 2016 FEE: £85,000 slf

FRANKEL 2008 b h Galileo - Kind (Danehill)

First yearlings averaged £464,000 (for 19 sold), selling up to €1.7 million

2016 FEE: £125,000 slf

DANSILI

Contact: Simon Mockridge | James O’Donnell | Sabine Bouard +44 (0)1638 731115 | nominations@juddmonte.co.uk | www.juddmonte.com BATED BREATH CACIQUE CHAMPS ELYSEES DANSILI FRANKEL KINGMAN OASIS DREAM

KINGMAN

Jan_137_ROA Awards_intro_Owner 14/12/2015 17:56 Page 35

The 2015 ROA Horseracing Awards, sponsored by Weatherbys, honoured the outstanding equine performers and their owners of the past year

Awards photographs by

Chris Renton

Jan_137_ROA_Awards_v3_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 17:45 Page 36

BROWN PANTHER OUTSTANDING STAYER Received by Andrew Black, Michael Owen, Colin Gorman, Chris Ely, Andy Jackson, Richard Kingscote and Tom Dascombe Sponsored by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing

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MUHAARAR OUTSTANDING SPRINTER Received by Richard Lancaster on behalf of Hamdan Al Maktoum Sponsored by Crimbourne Stud

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SIMPLE VERSE OUTSTANDING FILLY AND MARE Received by Sam Kite, Bryony Smith, Michael Wilson, Kevin Darley, Izzy Beckett, Ralph Beckett, Karen Smith, Adam Kite, John Maxse and Debbie Darley on behalf of Qatar Racing Sponsored by Darley

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AIR FORCE BLUE OUTSTANDING JUVENILE Received by Kevin Buckley on behalf of Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith Sponsored by Tattersalls

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Jan_137_ROA_Awards_v3_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 17:48 Page 40

WISHFULL THINKING SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Received by Diana Whateley Sponsored by Racing FX

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SOLOW OUTSTANDING MILER Owned by Wertheimer & Frere Sponsored by Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder

TRYSTER OUTSTANDING ALL-WEATHER HORSE Owned by Godolphin Sponsored by Arena Racing Company

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DOUVAN OUTSTANDING NOVICE HURDLER Received by Rich and Susannah Ricci Sponsored by The Pantechnicons

FAUGHEEN OUTSTANDING HURDLER Sponsored by Racing UK

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Jan_137_ROA_Awards_v3_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 17:50 Page 44

CONEYGREE OUTSTANDING NOVICE CHASER Received by Alan and Sarah Waller, members of The Max Partnership Sponsored by Rewards4Racing

OUTSTANDING CHASER Sponsored by Channel 4 Racing

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ANTHONY OPPENHEIMER OWNER OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Racing Post

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GOLDEN HORN HORSE OF THE YEAR & OUTSTANDING MIDDLE DISTANCE HORSE Received by Anthony and Emily Oppenheimer Sponsored by Weatherbys & Betfred

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Jan_137_ROA Awards_social_Owner 14/12/2015 18:03 Page 48

CHAMPAGNE & CELEBRATIONS The Jockey Club generously sponsored the champagne reception, enjoyed by ROA members, their guests and leading industry figures

Karl and Elaine Burke

John Gosden, Rachel Hood, John Ferguson and Lord Grimthorpe

Will Duff Gordon and Eamonn Wilmott

Shane Buy, Gay Kelleway, Sammy Mortlock, Fiona Buy and Ralph Mortlock

Warren and Tessa Greatrex

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Simon and Gemma Waterhouse

Ed Arkell and Susannah Gill

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Photographs by Dan Abraham

Ed and Charlotte Pownall

Mick Fitzgerald, Tony McCoy, Carl Llewellyn and Richard Hughes

Charlie Liverton with Glenys and Alan Guthrie

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Preet Kundi, Neil Ghandi and Octavia Threlfall

JP McManus and Sue Ann Foley

Nicholas and Philippa Cooper

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Jan_137_NicoDeBoinville_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 17:22 Page 50

THE BIG INTERVIEW NICO DE BOINVILLE

Slow burn

SPARKS Nico de Boinville struggled for rides in his early days with Nicky Henderson; now he has a Cheltenham Gold Cup in the bag and built partnerships with two of the best chasers in Britain Words Chris McGrath • Photos George Selwyn

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ife rolls out before him, many fences still to jump, but he remembers that single, fleeting moment at Cheltenham in March as the drawing of a cork from a bottle laid down through years of doubt and hope, frustration and endeavour.

“I’ve got this horse nagging me all the while, at my girths, trying to take me on,” Nico de Boinville remembers. “Paddy Mullins, I think it was. But when we turn down the hill for the first time, Coneygree comes hard on the bridle. So I think, ‘Wow. Okay. Something could happen here’.”

And, of course, it did. With the shared audacity of newcomers to centre stage, Coneygree and his jockey sustained a rhythm of jumping and galloping too relentless for the most accomplished steeplechasers in the business. Not that de Boinville can yet be sure, sitting in a Cotswold coffee shop eight months later, quite where the path he struck that day may be leading.

The first novice to win the Gold Cup in 40 years looked eligible for prolonged stardom when producing another dynamic exhibition on his reappearance, only to prove as vulnerable as the next horse to niggles and setbacks. Yet Coneygree’s late defection from the Hennessy Gold Cup served only to heighten a sense that his jockey, in just his second year as a professional, has himself only just begun: having lost the services of one Gold Cup winner, he was promptly booked to ride another in Bobs Worth. While his new mount never got involved, de Boinville could only take heart from this latest vote of confidence from his boss, Nicky Henderson, only a couple of weeks after being entrusted

with Sprinter Sacre himself in his comeback race at Cheltenham.

To an extent, some of these opportunities register the domino effect of Tony McCoy’s retirement, his retainer for JP McManus having since been taken over by Barry Geraghty, previously stable jockey at Seven Barrows. But they also reflect the increasing maturity, as a race rider, of a born horseman – and the singular character soldering these twin functions together.

“When I was young I

was very shy. Horses were my release – the feeling was unique to my little world” At 26, hair lank and receding, de Boinville neither looks nor thinks like a greenhorn: his manner intent but contained, his conversation fluent but considered. There is an appealing lack of glibness about him, a flinty distaste for flattery and flannel. In his younger days, however, these bas-relief merits had yet to be carved through a deep grain of reticence. Even now, de Boinville remains something of a loner, his friendships valued more for depth than number. As such, he has long counted himself among those whose natural empathy with horses both reinforces and relieves a solitary streak.

“It’s the same thing you hear touted all the time,” he says. “People who are happiest on a horse. That’s when they feel their easiest, at their most confident. Put them in a group of people, and maybe that slightly disintegrates.

That time with the horse, for them, is their relaxation time; that’s when they are at ease.

“When I was young I was very shy, very introverted, and horses were my release. I was put on a horse before I could walk – literally – and that was the easiest thing for me. The thing I felt was mine, was unique to my little world.”

As such, it might seem tempting to review the turning point in his life as a retreat to his comfort zone. Having excelled at Bradfield, de Boinville embarked on a course in history and politics at Newcastle – and lasted just six weeks. While he concedes himself to have come home “a bit of a mess,” his disaffection was far more focused than tends to be >>

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NICO DE BOINVILLE >> the case in university drop-outs. He knew his

true vocation, and its pursuit demanded far more perseverance than he managed within academic life.

“I just had this burning desire to fulfil a dream,” he shrugs. “I’d had that very typical middle-class upbringing, where the consensus is that you do your A-Levels, you go to university, you get a job. So I was really breaking a mould. There was a lot riding on it.

But I’ve always been fairly independent. I respect my parents absolutely, but sometimes I know I just have to do things. I just needed to sort myself out, work out where I was going. I suppose that was in my character, to make my decision and stick by it. But you could look at it either way. Perhaps I was just being a brat.”

Not that anyone at home could be too surprised by the turn of events. De Boinville’s mother had herself made the national dressage squad, while her sister rode at Badminton and married the trainer, Pat Chamings. The latter’s stable is on the doorstep of

the family home in Hampshire and de Boinville, nine when he won a novice class at the Horse of the Year Show, was galloping thoroughbreds by the time he was 14. “That’s just the boy in me,” he grins. “There’s only so long you can go round a dressage ring or a show ring before you start needing a bit more of a thrill.”

“They called me a

morning glory. I could ride in the morning but not in the afternoon” He had, moreover, sampled the elixir of race-riding during a gap year as pupil assistant to Richard Gibson in Chantilly. (Returning, in the process, to the land of his fathers: the de Boinvilles fled across the Channel during the French Revolution.) Mind you, his career could hardly have got off to a less auspicious start: his first mount, in an amateurs’ Flat race at Fontainebleau, threw back its head leaving the gate and de Boinville returned with blood pouring from his nose and his silks scarlet.

However, the horse had finished second and awakened a craving that was never going to be satisfied sitting behind a desk.

After a few months restoring his bearings around the horses at home, de Boinville was itching to put his ambitions to the test. He presented himself at Seven Barrows as a grafter with an amateur licence, and had only been there three or four months when paired with another new arrival. “He just turned up, as they do,” de Boinville says. “And you just don’t know. That’s the thing about Nicky’s – you’re inundated with nice horses the whole time.

“I was there with the mucksack on my back, working away and keeping my head down.

And he was just one of those horses you got on and thought, ‘Yeah, this is all right, nice horse.’

He was a bit backward looking, back then. I remember the first time I rode him, he wouldn’t pick his feet up. Rather annoyed me…”

The blossoming of Sprinter Sacre proved both an inspiration and a frustration to his rider. De Boinville was heartened that Henderson was happy to keep him on the emerging champion, both on the gallops and

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NICO DE BOINVILLE in schooling. On the other hand, his boss indulged him with just 25 rides – four of them winners – in the three seasons culminating in Sprinter Sacre’s runaway success under Geraghty in the 2012 Champion Chase.

“They called me a morning glory,” de Boinville says wryly. “I could ride in the morning but not in the afternoon. When you’re working in a racing yard, and it’s cold and wet, it can feel like it’s taking forever to get somewhere. What kept me going was being able to go off pointto-pointing every weekend. That was great experience: you can do stuff away from the spotlight, any mistakes you make won’t be picked up everywhere, and you can start to work things out for yourself.”

Then, three years ago this month, de Boinville won a handicap hurdle at the Tingle Creek meeting on Petit Robin. Among those to notice were Mark and Sarah Bradstock, who wanted a claimer for Carruthers on Boxing Day. “I was very lucky to ride those two

Nico de Boinville in action during the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Coneygree, and, above, enjoying his win

horses when I did,” de Boinville says. “They both knew a lot more about the game than I did.

They pretty much put you in the right place at the right time, and you could develop a blueprint that really helped when it came to riding the novices and so on. In the same way, schooling those good horses at home definitely helped to instil confidence. Bang, bang, bang: it all just works like clockwork, they’re doing everything right. The best riders are confident in their own ability – and that’s what an F1 car like Sprinter Sacre can do for you, a horse so very sensitive, with that absolute presence.”

After 13 winners that season, de Boinville doubled his tally in 2013-14 – and even rode a winner at the Festival: Whisper, in the Coral Cup. The slow burn was beginning to spark.

Nobody, of course, could have predicted the detonation that followed last winter. Yet it is surely no coincidence that this understated, serious man should have developed such an affinity with animals as charismatic as Sprinter Sacre and Coneygree. For all the differences between the pair, both seem able to express themselves through their trust in a rider who has no competing, extrovert agenda he wants to impose on a situation.

“With Coneygree, everything happens probably a lot quicker than you know it,” de

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Jan_137_NicoDeBoinville_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 17:23 Page 54

NICO DE BOINVILLE >> Boinville

explains. “He’s not an extravagant horse. You know you’re jumping fast, but you don’t actually feel as though you’re going that quick. With Sprinter, you just keep winding him up, and things keep happening. Coneygree just jumps so economically and is so quick away from his fences. The Bradstocks do put in an awful lot of work on that kind of thing.”

That is something worth stressing to any of those slicker, brasher trainers who may find themselves bemused by the Bradstocks’ homespun success. Few among them, certainly, would even have considered running such an inexperienced chaser in the Gold Cup; and none, you suspect, have shown such fidelity to the suspended de Boinville after Richard Johnson rode Coneygree in his trial. But the fact is that de Boinville was able to address the critical moment in the Gold Cup with supreme confidence, specifically because of the Bradstocks’ professionalism.

It came at exactly the same point, a circuit on, where Coneygree had first flushed his rider with optimism by grabbing hold of the bridle. “I turned at the top of the hill and he did it again,” de Boinville remembers. “He’s back on it. So I just thought, ‘Well, let’s wing this third last and see where we are then.’ The thing was that the Bradstocks had built a downhill fence at home to prepare him for that very moment. And, as a result, I knew I could send him down to it and that he’d ping it. How many trainers would have done something like that? It worked for the horse, and for me as well: I knew he’d make lengths going into it.”

Just over an hour later, de Boinville was riding in the Martin Pipe Hurdle, confined to conditional riders. The young man who had once seemed in too much of a hurry had somehow overtaken himself. Now, of course, he faces new challenges of consolidation and composure. Things will go wrong, as he has already seen this winter: Coneygree’s problems at home, and his own bruising fall at the same Tingle Creek meeting where he once made his key breakthrough. On the other hand, de

De Boinville with top two-mile chaser Sprinter Sacre at Nicky Henderson’s stable

Boinville was riding there as a top-ten rider who had already scaled the next rung on the ladder with the rejuvenation of Sprinter Sacre.

It was only the second time de Boinville had ridden him in public and the experience was so gratifying, so sufficient unto itself, that it seems churlish to wonder what else may yet remain

“The Bradstocks had

built a downhill fence at home to prepare Coneygree for that very moment” within the horse’s compass. “The reception he got, it was like the Gold Cup,” de Boinville says.

“At the open ditch at the top, when he’s jumped past Mr Mole, and then the change in gear down the hill – I just thought to myself, ‘My God, I’m having a lot of fun here.’ He was

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54

brimming with confidence again. That’s why I’m in the game, when you get down to it: for that feeling out there.”

Yet these transports, and his craving for more, do not seem to encroach on the hinterland that sustains de Boinville.

“I’ve got a few friends outside the game who are very good at making me realise there’s a world out there,” he says. “I had dinner the other day with a great mate from school, who’s now working for UNICEF on the Syrian border.

Now that really does open your eyes. He’s seen an awful lot of bad stuff.

“It is amazing what racing can do to you. It can make you very self-absorbed, and selfcentred I suppose. Yes, I know it can be a brutal profession. You can soon go out of fashion. But putting yourself under pressure will only make you tense, stress you out.

“Keeping things simple works best for me. I can’t deal with things so well if it’s all too intense. I know I won’t ride at my best if I put myself under that pressure. That said, I am very hungry. Those moments you get in the big races, those feelings, are very hard to replicate – but they are seriously addictive.”

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Jan_137_TalkingTo_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 17:59 Page 56

TALKING TO...

BRIAN ELLISON

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THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Jan_137_TalkingTo_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 17:59 Page 57

Life of

BRIAN Dual-purpose trainer Brian Ellison has gone from 20-odd horses to 130 and is approaching the 1,000th-winner mark – not bad going from one of eight children of a shipyard worker

By Tim Richards • Photos George Selwyn

Y

ou have been training for over 25 years but would it be fair to say you have never had a better bunch of horses than now, under both codes?

As a group of horses, it’s the best. The jumpers we’re running at the moment are really good and we have some lovely Flat horses too. I’ve won the Ebor and had runners in the Melbourne Cup so I’ve had some decent individuals in the past, but never such an exciting bunch overall. I think I’m more ambitious than ever; I just love having winners. I’ll be very disappointed if I don’t train my 1,000th winner in 2016. We are approaching 950, so with a bit of luck we should make it.

You are one of the top dual-purpose trainers, following that highly respected pair, Peter Easterby and David Elsworth. Which do you enjoy more and what are the different challenges under each code?

As you’d imagine with the dual-purpose horses we’ve got here, I enjoy both. When we get to January/February time, the yearlings are coming on and we are doing plenty of stalls work. Also we usually have some nice staying types for the Flat so everyone here is looking forward to each new season. Equally, come the autumn, you want to kick on schooling the novice hurdlers and chasers. The change from one discipline to the other is exciting.

I have to admit I have always been a big fan of David Elsworth, who is a fantastic trainer when you consider the top-class horses he has handled on the Flat and over jumps. Peter Easterby is another dual-purpose trainer you wouldn’t mind copying, though everybody has their own methods and we’re all different in practice.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Is one side of your business more profitable than the other or do the finances work the same for each?

They are the same. It all runs into the same pot for the business. We are lucky being able to go full throttle into winter because the jumpers produce the income, which pays the staff, who are then fully occupied through the winter. We are never closed – and I don’t want to be either.

“I just love having

winners. I’ll be very disappointed if I don’t train my 1,000th winner in 2016” If someone came to you with £20,000 to spend on a horse, would you advise them to go down the Flat or jumps route?

I always ask prospective owners if they want to go Flat or jumping. Some people want a Flat horse that can go jumping and others prefer to have a two-year-old. Of course, I will help them with any advice but the final word is theirs. My philosophy for attracting owners is this: get out there, mix with everybody and don’t fall out with anybody! The biggest selling point is having winners – that gets you noticed more than anything. I generally buy my own at the sales, though I do talk to a number of agents. Claude Charlet has bought some for us in France.

You have got to keep reinvesting in the

business and two years ago we bought another 30-box yard at Highfield Stables over the road, where we break the yearlings. We have plans for another 24 boxes in the main yard, which will give us 124 stables here plus 30 over the road. There were just 23 boxes when we came here. We have 130 horses in at the moment and we’re comfortable with that.

How big a part does your wife Claire play in the Spring Cottage operation?

Claire plays a massive part in the operation.

Not only does she do the early morning feed with me, starting at 5.30 in winter and 5.15 in summer, but she is also in charge of all the office admin. She oversees the whole family right down to the grandkids. She makes sure I am on top of the job and always reminds me when I should be ringing owners. Claire leaves me to do the entries, while my daughter Jessica is my assistant and in charge of all the staff, which includes Andy, the travelling head lad, and three yard girls. They all answer to Jessica. Claire’s uncle Mike, with Mandy, are in the office and a big help to Claire.

You have come a very long way from a childhood with four brothers and three sisters, a father who was a shipyard worker and mother a hospital cleaner. How tough was it setting out as a trainer?

I started at Harry Blackshaw’s in Middleham when I was 15. I wanted to be a jockey and rode my first winner at 17. When you’re older and look back it appears as if it was a struggle but at the time I didn’t know anything else, we hadn’t any money in the family, so I just worked away and enjoyed what I was doing.

I simply wanted to get on in life. I had a livery yard for two years and was also assistant to Don Eddy and Nigel Tinkler. When I got my

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Jan_137_TalkingTo_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 17:59 Page 58

BRIAN ELLISON there’s a big difference between riding on the gallops and in races. Also that you have to exercise a lot of patience with horses, be it riding or training them.

Unlike the successful top jockeys, I would always be in the yard working with the horses and familiarising myself with their problems.

In contrast, top jockeys dash into the yard, ride work on a couple and then shoot off to the races. For me, you should be able to walk into a horse’s box and spot a problem without even looking for it – and you can only do that by knowing each horse individually. Training is a whole new ball game when you are dealing with owners, entries and everything else. But the experience of working in small yards, close up and personal with the horses, does teach you about their different, individual quirks.

Top Notch Tonto (left) has become one of the most popular horses on the Flat

>> licence I started with three horses.

It’s been a rollercoaster and I used to go to the bank, tell them I’d got a new owner – which I hadn’t! – so they’d lend me some money, which I had to pay back within a month. One of my best horses early on was Fatehalkhair, who cost £2,000 and won 20 races, and then I bought Latalomne for £8,000.

He fell when leading at the second last in two consecutive Champion Chases at Cheltenham.

How much hard work and effort have you put in to train the type of ‘Saturday’ horses you now have in your stable and did you always believe you could do the job at a higher level, given the right tools?

It was a big help when Phil Martin, who has a number of horses with me, came on board and the support of owners like him and Dan Gilbert, who bought our 2011 Ebor winner Moyenne Corniche, have made a big difference as far as the important Saturday races are concerned.

Phil Martin has put a lot of faith in you and has any number of exciting young NH horses in the stable. Can you give us a couple to follow this season?

Phil is a real jumping man and loves the game, while his wife Julie enjoys the Flat and they like having little competitions between the pair of them and their horses. You couldn’t get a better person than Phil, who handles the negative experiences of ownership so well. A classic

58

example was his Seamour, who started favourite and finished last in the November Handicap at Doncaster. We fancied Seamour that day but he just stopped dead and it turned out he’d swallowed a load of mud, which got stuck in his throat. Phil was very good about such a disappointment and you can ring him up any time with bad news – he is very understanding and never complains. Definitly Red and The Grey Taylor, who is a very promising novice chaser, are two of his horses we have high hopes for this season.

“Definitly Red and

The Grey Taylor are two horses we have high hopes for this season” You spent some 20 years as a jump jockey. What was the highlight and also the biggest lesson you learned about working with horses during your time in the saddle?

Tex was the best horse I rode and he gave me my biggest moment when we beat the brilliant Tingle Creek at Worcester in 1976. I quickly learnt how fit you have to be for race-riding;

The Ellison stable has a reputation for rejuvenating and improving horses from other yards, the likes of Top Notch Tonto and Balty Boys. What’s been the key to your success?

The key with Balty Boys was moving him from an ordinary enclosed box to one of our open-air stables. All he ever did was stand, rocking backwards and forwards, and never relax – but give him the freedom of an open-air stable and he is totally switched off. Definitly Red, The Grey Taylor and Smart Talk have all benefited from being in their own open-air stables. We took on Pea Shooter, who is a box walker, stabled him there and he won on his second run for us. If I find a horse is not eating up in its box I’ll move it until I find a place where it’s happy.

We discovered the open-air stables, heart monitors and the water walkers when we were in Australia. Heart monitors give us an insight into a horse’s recovery rate, which tells us if there is a problem. The water walker is a massive expense, but a great asset for joints, limbs and horses with sore shins. You have to watch and learn what other people do, whether you agree with their methods or not, and we thought those extra facilities might be a help.

Why is Top Notch Tonto so special and what has he done for the profile of the yard?

Top Notch is special as he was our first Group winner. He is popular with the public due to his unique markings and the fact that he was such a cheap purchase, yet able to compete in top races. He knows he is special and loves the attention he gets in the yard, at the races and on open days. He is still the horse he was [rated 112] and just wants stepping up in trip. His York form last summer has worked out really well.

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Jan_137_TalkingTo_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 17:59 Page 61

BRIAN ELLISON >> racing. In your opinion, what areas need improving as a matter of urgency?

As far as the jumping programme is concerned it’s ridiculous that there are hardly any two-mile novice chases up here. I know some might argue that there aren’t enough novice chasers to warrant more races but it is difficult to find the right opportunities for your young chasers. The prize-money for jumping and on the Flat needs to be looked at very seriously. Take a bumper horse for example, costing anything from £40,000 to £100,000, and you find yourself racing for £3,000. It’s crazy. There are occasions when there’s no racing and then there are two meetings on the same day and close together, say Newcastle and Kelso. That doesn’t make sense.

You are a Geordie and have enjoyed plenty of winners at Newcastle over the years. Will you be sending runners to the new all-weather track?

I’ll definitely be having runners on the allweather. I think we just have to accept that the turf course has been dug up; the job’s done and dusted. So let’s kick on and use it because it’s going to be the best track of its kind in the country. It won’t be like your sharp Wolverhampton or the ups-and-downs of Lingfield. Newcastle will be a big, open, fair allweather track and should be brilliant. I think trainers will support the new course – look how Godolphin have got stuck into the all-weather racing – and so it should be competitive, which would be good news for the north. I just hope they’re not going to expect us to race round there for £1,800.

The Melbourne Cup is a race you would love to win. What’s the special appeal of this world-famous contest?

The world is a much smaller place nowadays, enabling us to take horses out there without too much difficulty. As Michelle Payne showed with her victory on Prince Of Penzance, the

CLOSE UP AND...

PERSONAL I switch off by… watching a film My weakness is… buying horses Favourite film and actor…

Cinderella Man and Russell Crowe Ideal holiday destination…

Australia – but without the horses Sum yourself up in five words… hard-working, easy-going, relaxed

CLOSE UP AND...

PROFESSIONAL I dream of winning… the Melbourne Cup Biggest disappointment of my career… Latalomne falling in the lead at the second last in consecutive Champion Chases Horse I’d love to have trained…

Frankel Best bet I’ve had… I’m only an occasional 20 quid punter Alternative career… boxer or footballer Melbourne Cup is a race that can be won by the ordinary person. I don’t think for one minute we’ll ever win a Derby or a Guineas because we don’t have that type of horse, but we’ve all got a chance of winning the Melbourne Cup, given the right animal. Bay Story loved it out there, whereas Saptapadi didn’t enjoy himself.

What racing moment do you treasure most and why?

The day Bay Story was beaten a head in the Perth Cup in Western Australia was a great occasion. Originally we took him over for the

Brian Ellison is a Geordie and ready to support Newcastle’s all-weather track

Melbourne Cup, but he didn’t get in and finished second in another race on Melbourne Cup day. He got an invitation to Perth on the strength of that to become the first Britishtrained horse to run there. After the race we got a bigger reception than the winner, as well as A$80,000 for finishing second. I think we brought home a total of about A$134,000 for those two seconds in Australia.

Danny Cook is back riding for the stable after his drugs ban. You gave him a second chance when many wouldn’t have done. Why? Danny is a really talented rider, probably as good as any jockey in the north, no question about that. He’s been a silly boy, served his sentence of six months and hopefully he’s learnt his lesson. He’s about 30, should be old and wise enough to keep his head down, put the whole episode behind him and get on with things. I told him what I thought of him at the time and that what he had done harmed himself more than anyone else. He has had to work hard to come back; he’s done it and good luck to him.

Another of your riders, Dale Swift, has recently been banned for drugs until March. Will you also give him another chance?

I have heard that Dale may not want to come back, but if he did, then yes. I believe everyone deserves a second chance.

Definitly Red is one of a few Cheltenham Festival prospects for owner Phil Martin

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If you have a Cheltenham Festival winner in your stable, which is it, and why?

Ex-French hurdler Forest Bihan is another owned by Phil Martin and I think he could be exceptional. In his first race for us at Ayr he came to win but blew up and finished third.

He’ll probably be kept hurdling this season and is likely to go for one of the handicaps at Cheltenham. Definitly Red and The Grey Taylor are other Festival prospects.

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Jan_137_Shadwell_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 16:36 Page 64

SHADWELL

Completing

THE CIRCLE Two generations later, Muhaarar’s arrival at Nunnery Stud takes Shadwell’s stallion operation back to where it started – with a champion sprinter Words Julian Muscat • Photos George Selwyn

W

hen Muhaarar took up residence at Nunnery Stud in October he was the second new stallion to join the roster in 12 months. In one fundamental respect, however, he was the first horse of his type to stand at Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s breeding establishment for three decades.

Nunnery Stud has long been associated with stallions who established their racing merit over ten and 12 furlongs. The likes of Sakhee perpetuated a trend established by those renowned siblings Nashwan, Unfuwain and Nayef in offering breeders attractive opportunities in the then middledistance category.

Yet Muhaarar takes the Norfolk nursery back full circle. The first resident stallion to stand under the sheikh’s Shadwell banner was Green Desert, who retired after he was acclaimed as Europe’s champion sprinter in 1986. And while the middle-distance tribe more than held its own, Green Desert went on to wield a far greater influence.

He was represented by 12 individual Group 1 winners in a career of remarkable consistency. More than that, however, his legacy is dominated by three significant stallion sons in Golden Horn’s sire Cape Cross, the Irish National Stud’s stalwart Invincible Spirit, and Oasis Dream, himself the champion sprinter in 2003.

Now comes Muhaarar, who opens his innings at a fee of £30,000 January 1 Special Live Foal terms. Last season’s champion sprinter is a son of Oasis Dream, although staff at Nunnery are fully entitled to describe him as a grandson of Green Desert. The old boy was put down, aged 32, only in September, so Muhaarar’s arrival could not have been better timed.

After a campaign which culminated in his dazzling victory in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes, which represented his fourth Group 1 triumph, Muhaarar is in need of a summer on his back as he walks alongside Nunnery’s long-time head stallion man Ron Lott. Yet there is no mistaking the elasticity of his movement.

“He looks more like a classic miler than a sprinter,” says Shadwell Stud Director Richard Lancaster. “I think he had all the credentials to have been as good over a mile

“It’s as if destiny has

finally played its hand and given us a top-class grandson of Green Desert” had he been tried at that distance later in the season.”

His sole attempt was inconclusive. He drew a compromisingly high stall in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, from where he ran exuberantly and wide before finishing strongly. He came home eighth of 18 runners on his sole defeat in six seasonal starts, yet the “miler” debate is of little relevance.

That’s because Shadwell has been searching for a top-class stallion prospect with natural speed for many years now.

“It’s funny how these things go,” Lancaster muses. “There was a sense of frustration that while Green Desert was coming up with all these fast horses, he

never left one behind for us. It’s as if destiny has finally played its hand and given us a top-class grandson instead. It really is wonderful for everyone at the farm.”

From Shadwell’s perspective, Muhaarar provides the ideal opportunity for a speed injection to female families that might require it – especially since a significant element within the outfit’s broodmare band has been nurtured to produce classic middledistance types.

“Speed is something that needs to be reintroduced into pedigrees,” Lancaster says.

“Having said that, we don’t want to go from one extreme to the other. It was straightforward enough when we had Green Desert but when he retired from covering in 2011 we had to find that speed elsewhere.”

The “extremes” caveat reflects Shadwell’s general philosophy when it comes to selecting mates for a broodmare band upwards of 200, which is based in Britain and the US. In recent years Oasis Dream has been a favoured source of speed and the Juddmonte stallion has rewarded Sheikh Hamdan’s faith – although the likes of Arcano, Aqlaam and Naaqoos, each of them Group 1 winners in the blue and white livery, were bought, rather than bred.

“I suppose it was inevitable we would focus on Oasis Dream,” Lancaster says.

“Before Muhaarar came along, he was just about the last champion sprinter with an obvious stallion pedigree. And of course, through him we were able to go back to the Green Desert line.”

On a broader note, Muhaarar’s arrival at Nunnery has emphasised to Lancaster how the demand for sprint sires has evolved since Green Desert’s halcyon days. Demand alone has been striking: by mid-November

>>

Jan_137_Shadwell_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 16:36 Page 65

Muhaarar settles in at Nunnery Stud with Ron Lott

Jan_137_Shadwell_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 16:37 Page 66

SHADWELL

Gone but not forgotten: Green Desert’s bridle remains in the Nunnery tackroom

>> Lancaster

had received more than 370 applications for breeding rights – and that was before the horse was shown to the multitude of breeders attending the Tattersalls December Sales.

“We are delighted with the response and can quite happily say he is well oversubscribed,” Lancaster says. “He has all the right credentials to be a commercial success. His dam, by Linamix, also had speed and Muhaarar himself showed natural speed on the racecourse, never more so than on his last start over six furlongs at Ascot, which he won in a handful of strides.

“He is everything commercial breeders want, and the origins of the applications are encouraging,” Lancaster continues. “We have had quite a few from France, which I imagine is down to him having won the Prix Maurice de Gheest in August. That seems to have helped a lot, so all in all we couldn’t be happier.”

Muhaarar’s arrival prompted Shadwell staff, headed by pedigree analyst Carol Palfreyman, to consider the type of mare that might prove best suited to the new recruit. The logical place to start was with Oasis Dream, so Lancaster additionally sought the views of Juddmonte’s own pedigree consultant Andrew Caulfield.

“Andrew’s view was that Oasis Dream works Muhaarar: ‘everything commercial breeders want’

very well with miler-type of mares; Pivotal mares, for instance,” Lancaster says. “And while Oasis Dream has had plenty of opportunity with Sadler’s Wells mares, it hasn’t really worked out.”

Part of that may be down to Sadler’s Wells’s influence as a topclass source of stamina, which brings Lancaster back to the subject of extremes. “I think you have to be very careful about that,” he says.

“Generally, if you send a middledistance mare to a sprinter, you’re not going to get a classic miler. It rarely tends to work out that way. So when we came to looking at which of our mares to send to Muhaarar, we looked for the sprinter-miler types that hopefully will get him off to a

good start. That first season is a vital time, although at the end of the day it is not just about the stallion. The type of mare he covers has a big input.”

Shadwell will send “12 or 13” mares to Muhaarar, which demonstrates sufficient commitment to his cause without adversely impacting on his availability to outside breeders.

And since the horse is heavily oversubscribed, Shadwell has applied many of the same parameters in selecting his outside mates as it did in choosing which of its own mares to send him.

Shadwell’s policy of limiting the book sizes bred to its stallions remains in place – although the numbers have been rising slowly. “Muhaarar will end up covering between 110 and 115 mares,” Lancaster says. “That’s a reasonable number for a first-season sire. We don’t want to over-face him, and it still gives him the chance to be competitive in his first season with runners.”

One spin-off to Muhaarar’s popularity leaves Lancaster braced for the collective disappointment of breeders whose mares fail to get into the stallion’s court. For all Muhaarar’s potential, a deal of his popularity stems from the £30,000 fee Shadwell settled on.

Lancaster knew he could have set it

>>

TORONADO

1st foals in 2016

High Chaparral & Wana Doo (Grand Slam) Undefeated Gr.2 winner at 2 European Champion at 3 £15,000 1st Oct SLF

THE WOW SIGNAL

NEW in 2016

Starspangledbanner & Muravka (High Chaparral) Group One & Royal Ascot winning juvenile.

The first son of Starspangledbanner at stud. €8,000 Live Foal

1ST FOALS IN 2016 . €15,000 LF

OLYMPIC GLORY Choisir x Acidanthera (Alzao)

STYLE VENDOME

1st yearlings in 2016

Anabaa & Place Vendome (Dr Fong) Fastest Gr.1 French 2000 Guineas winner of the past 15 years. Track record holder. €7,000 Live Foal

One of the leading milers of his generation, by sire of sires Choisir.

Also undefeated over 7f.

A sound and consistent performer from 2 to 4 at the highest level in GB and in France.

1st Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Grand Criterium) Gr.1 at 2 1st Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Gr.1 at 3 1st Lockinge Stakes Gr.1& 1st Prix de la Forêt Gr.1 (breaking the race record) at 4

PLANTEUR

1st yearlings in 2016

Danehill Dancer & Plante Rare (Giant’s Causeway) Group One winning multi-millionaire €6,000 Live Foal

THE WOW SIGNAL . OLYMPIC GLORY . PLANTEUR . STYLE VENDOME: Standing at Haras de Bouquetot, FR BENOIT JEFFROY . AUDREY LEYVAL : +33 (0)2 31 32 28 91 . AL SHAQAB RACING : contact@alshaqab-racing.com TORONADO: Standing at the National Stud, GB: JAKE WARREN : +44(0)7730 272 895 . jake@highclerestud.co.uk

ARCHIPENKO

£10,000

(Kingmambo – Bound, by Nijinsky)

•G ROUP ONE winner with an unbeatable pedigree on 6 races at 2, 3, 4 and 5 years and over $3 million in prize money •W ROUP ONE sire with his first crop •G and a Leading Sire of 2yo’s in Europe 2014 – 2015 (by % winners to runners) earlings have made up to 115,000 gns, 110,000 gns, 100,000 gns in 2015 •Y

AUSSIE RULES

£7,000

(Danehill – Last Second, by Alzao)

• Classic winning miler; dual GROUP ONE winner; by a legendary sire • GROUP ONE sire (FIESOLANA, Matron Stakes) • Sire of 100 individual 2yo winners • Yearlings have made up to 210,000 gns

LEROIDESANIMAUX

£14,000

(Candy Stripes – Dissemble, by Ahonoora)

• Eclipse Turf CHAMPION and a Leading Sire in USA • Winner of 9 races, including 3 x GROUP ONE’s on Turf & Dirt, at 6 ½ to 8 ½ f First European crop yearlings 2016

• Sire of Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup winner ANIMAL KINGDOM • Sire of 3 STAKES winning 2yos and 4 other STAKES winners in 2015

SEA THE MOON

£15,000

(Sea The Stars – Sanwa, by Monsun)

• S ensational German Derby winner; CHAMPION 3yo and HORSE OF THE YEAR, 2014

First Foals 2016

•W inner at 2 • First sire son of SEA THE STARS – Classic German female family • BOOK FULL 2015 – supported by Europe’s leading breeders

SIR PERCY

£7,000

(Mark of Esteem – Percy’s Lass, by Blakeney)

•U ndefeated CHAMPION 2yo; CHAMPION 3yo and Derby winner • Sire of 31 individual Stakes horses including 5 GROUP winners • Sire of 56 lifetime 2yo winners; 18 to date in 2015 • Yearlings have made up to 260,000 gns; up to 170,000 gns, E150,000 in 2015 • A consistent and proven sire of STAKES winners

info@lanwades.com • www.lanwades.com • Tel: +44 (0)1638 750222 • Fax: +44 (0)1638 751186 All fees 1st October Special Live Foal terms

LANWADES LanwadesRoster_OwnerBreeder_Jan16.indd 1

The independent option TM

14/12/2015 13:49

Jan_137_Shadwell_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 16:37 Page 69

SHADWELL >> higher without suffocating demand, but his

recent experience with Mukhadram, who joined the Nunnery roster for 2015, prompted him to take a similar tack.

After an oversubscribed first season, Mukhadram’s second book was all but closed in November due to popular demand.

“He covered 120 mares in his first season, which he coped with very well,” Lancaster reflects. “There were 30 breeders who didn’t get in, so we gave them first refusal this time round and most have taken it up.”

Mukhadram started at another eye-catching fee, in his case £7,000, which Lancaster doesn’t envisage altering for the first three years. “The key was that we pitched him right,” he says.

“You have to take the longer view with this [middle-distance] type of horse. He needs impetus over the first three seasons, after which he will have runners and will have to stand up for himself.”

Mukhadram has certainly let down into a fine specimen. Lott says he has never known a young stallion mature so quickly and the horse, standing on limbs of substance, carries his powerful quarters with a lightness at the walk.

“I think the way he looks has been a big factor in his popularity,” Lancaster says.

Mukhadram is more in the mould of stallions past at Nunnery. The son of Shamardal posted his signature performance in winning the Eclipse Stakes over a mile and a quarter. And the attractive terms under which he has been managed reflect Shadwell’s past experience of standing middle-distance horses.

“We know that standing a middle-distance horse is quite a difficult thing to do,” Lancaster says. “It has become hard to promote Arc winners when that race is among the jewels of European racing, but from Shadwell’s point of view Mukhadram started something when he arrived last year.

“The stallions were like a football team with ageing stars, so we needed new blood. To run a stallion operation with four or five stallions, you really need a new horse every year. It keeps everybody here at the top of their game, and it exposes the other stallions to a lot of breeders who would not ordinarily have come to the farm.”

When Lancaster came out of the Army in 1984 he went to work for leading US breeder and consignor Lee Eaton. Among the horses Eaton consigned that year was a small son of Danzig who fetched $650,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sales. Subsequently named Green Desert, Lancaster was on hand when the colt took his first tentative steps towards his racing career.

Lancaster was also on hand when Green Desert made his name as a leading sire for Shadwell. And he will be on hand once again as Muhaarar endeavours to extend his grandsire’s reputation as a primary influence on the contemporary thoroughbred.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Angus Gold: impressed by a number of sprint sires with Group winners

An organic shift in gears at the sales Ever since Sheikh Hamdan took to British racing in the late 1970s he has always been active at the yearling sales. Shadwell’s appetite for sales-ring action remains unsated to this day.

However, with Shadwell’s broodmare band now mature, there has been a change of emphasis in the type of yearling it is attracted to. Demand for well-bred fillies is now matched by the desire to fill in gaps arising from a breeding policy geared to producing essentially Classic horses between eight and 12 furlongs.

In Shadwell’s case, that means buying in precocious two-year-old types required to win at venues like Royal Ascot – although Shadwell’s Racing Manager Angus Gold says the situation has evolved organically, rather than through any policy statement.

“We have never sat down and said we have to buy a more commercial, sprinting type of horse,” Gold says. “We mostly breed middle-distance type horses which take a while to come on stream and the boss likes competing in all races, including two-year-old races, even though we have never tried to breed that type of horse.”

Interestingly, Sheikh Hamdan’s five most successful horses by win prize-money in Britain last season were sprinters. Four of them – Adaay (by Kodiac), Muthmir (Invincible Spirit), Tasleet (Showcasing) and Waady (Approve) – were bought as yearlings or breeze-up horses. The exception was Muhaarar.

“Muhaarar’s emergence is very exciting for us because he is the type of horse we have lacked,” Gold says. “He was a homebred who turned out to be classy and fast, but, by and large, our operation is a bit different. Also, up to 100 of our yearlings spend the winter in Dubai. By the time they come back to Britain as two-year-olds, acclimatise themselves and get rid of the little bugs they pick up in May, it’s too late for Royal Ascot.”

A feature of the last decade has been that two-year-olds by ‘sprint’ sires have become more competitive in the end-of-season Group tests – Tasleet among them. The appeal of juveniles by the likes of Showcasing, Kodiac and Dark Angel is thus more enticing.

“These sires are proving they can get Group-class horses,” Gold says. “We don’t specifically set out to buy horses by them, they have just created a good impression by the way their progeny are performing.”

That is why, alongside a pair by Sea The Stars bought for 400,000 and 270,000 guineas at the recent Tattersalls December Foal Sales, Gold signed tickets for colts by Dark Angel at 250,000 guineas and Kodiac at 200,000 guineas.

69

Overbury OB Jan 2016 dps_Overbury OB Jan 2016 dps 10/12/2015 14:15 Page 1

FAST COMPANY

T H E R E ’S A B S O L U T E LY N O B E T T E R W AY

of breeding a winning youngster with ROYA L A S C O T

aspirations

Europe’s leading sires of two-year-olds, 2014-15 WINNERS

1 2 3 4 6

Showcasing Fast Company Galileo Invincible Spirit Dark Angel Shamardal Exceed And Excel Kodiac

51 45 49 51 54 44 54 77

PERCENTAGE OF A ROYAL ASCOT WINNERS/RUNNERS 2YO WINNER?

48% 43% 42% 41% 41% 40% 40% 40%

No Yes No No No No Yes No

FEE

£25,000 £4,000 Private 125,000 60,000 Private 40,000 45,000

TO 5/11/15. OVER 100 RUNNERS

DID YOU KNOW?

Fast Company is the highest-rated two-year-old from the Danzig line at stud

NEW TO BRITAIN FAST COMPANY, SIRE IN HIS FIRST CROP OF G2 NORFOLK STAKES WINNER BAITHA ALGA AND G1 IRISH 1,000 GUINEAS FILLY DEVONSHIRE

AT OVERBURY STUD, EVEN THE SMALLPRINT IS EXCITING...

We’ve C L U B B E D T O G E T H E R all the best deals and terms: pay-when-you-sell, free returns, and a breeding-rights reward scheme ~ they’re all available!

CITYSCAPE

DELEGATOR

DUNADEN

Selkirk ~ Tantina {Distant View}

Dansili ~ Indian Love Bird {Efisio}

Nicobar ~ La Marlia {Kaldounevees}

£4,500 < BREEDING CONFIDENCE > < FREE-FOR-FOUR >

£4,000 Oct 1, SLF

£3,000 Oct 1, SLF

Overbury OB Jan 2016 dps_Overbury OB Jan 2016 dps 10/12/2015 14:15 Page 2

INTRODUCING MUSTAJEEB OFFICIALLY RATED THE BEST 6F-7F HORSE OF THE PAST TWO SEASONS AFTER ONLY MUHAARAR AND SLADE POWER

GREATER THAN...

LESS THAN...

> <

Mustajeeb

G Force Gutaifan Hot Streak £5,000 Ivawood Due Diligence Cable Bay

8,000 12,500 £7,000 9,000 £6,500 £6,500

Higher-rated. Keener-priced.

And the only one from Galileo’s family.

You M U S T remember this!

Please call SIMON SWEETING on 07796 174926 or (01386) 725552 simon@ovstud.co.uk or JO BROWN on (01386) 725552 jo@ovstud.co.uk or SAM HOSKINS on 07791 746119 sam@ovstud.co.uk

FAST COMPANY

NEW MUSTAJEEB

Danehill Dancer ~ Sheezalady {Zafonic}

Nayef ~ Rifqah {Elusive Quality}

£4,000 Oct 1, SLF

£5,000 Oct 1, SLF £10,000 < H A P P Y B R E E D E R > breeding rights

PLUS KAYF TARA SCHIAPARELLI

* www.ovstud.co.uk

Al Kazeem TOB-Jan 2016:Oakgrove Stud

8/12/15

12:24

Page 1

2015 Gr.1 Tattersalls Gold Cup THE GREY GATSBY

POSTPONED

FASCINATING ROCK

Al Kazeem bay 2008, 16.1hh by Dubawi - Kazeem (Darshaan) Ë Joint Champion Older Horse in Europe in 2013 (9.5f-10.5f)

Ë Winner of 10 races at 2 to 7 years including 4 Gr.1 races

Ë By DUBAWI – sire of 23 Gr.1 winners including Classic sire MAKFI

Ë From the stallion producing family of IN REALITY, KNOWN FACT and RELAUNCH Ë Timeform rated 128 in three consecutive seasons

Ë “He was a gentleman from the outset, full of class and tough as they come” Roger Charlton

Won 8 Group races and £1,573,596 inc: Won Gr.1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, 10.5f, 2015 Gr.1 Coral-Eclipse, 10f, 2013 Gr.1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes, 10f, 2013 Gr.1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, 10.5f, 2013 Gr.2 Qatar Bloodstock Jockey Club Stakes, 12f, 2012 Gr.2 Prix d'Harcourt, 10f, 2015 2nd Gr.1 Qipco Champion Stakes, 10f, 2014 Gr.1 Prix Ganay, 10.5f, 2015 Gr.1 Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes, 10f, 2013 3rd Gr.1 Juddmonte International Stakes, 10.4f, 2013

Fee: £12,000 Oct 1st SLF (Limited Book)

First foals sold for up to 70,000gns

STANDING AT OAKGROVE STUD Oakgrove Estate, St Arvans, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, NP16 6EH Tel: 01291 622876 G Fax: 01291 622070 G Email: oakgrovestud@btinternet.com For Nominations Contact: Tim Lane: 07904 231899 G Vannessa Swift: 01291 622876

Jan_137_Bloodstock_Intro_Owner 14/12/2015 16:53 Page 73

BREEDERS’ DIGEST

By EMMA BERRY, Bloodstock Editor

Our bloodstock coverage this month includes:

• Sales Circuit: Foals and mares in the ring at Goffs, Tattersalls and Arqana – pages 74-82 • Caulfield Files: Golden Horn joins the Derby-winning sire ranks in Europe – pages 85-86 • Dr Statz: Kodiac tops the list of the most profitable sires at the yearling sales – page 114

Dawn of a new era for jumps mares S

company, where they have a weight advantage in concession to their sex, the races confined solely to mares provide an important springboard to this next step. As it stands, plenty of fillies and mares aren’t even being given the chance to be tested on the racecourse by not being put into training in the first place. The odds of finding the next Dawn Run, if there ever could be another, are stacked against us.

With Grade 1 and Grade 2 races for mares at the Cheltenham Festival from this year, there’s plenty of reason to aim high when going in search of a young jumping filly at the sales, knowing that the path towards glory at the top level is more clearly marked than ever – and now offers the chance to pick up the odd pot of gold along the way.

little chance of making a decent return on their production costs.

Of the 765 colt foals in the book at Fairyhouse, 525 (69%) sold for an average of €16,107, median of €13,000 and top price of €110,000. For the 311 fillies catalogued, only 171 sold (55%), bringing an average of €6,235 and median of €3,500. The most expensive female weanling at the sale – a daughter of the redoubtable Flemensfirth out of a full-sister to the Grade 1 OLBG Mares’ Hurdle winner Glens Melody – had everything going for her on the page and fetched €40,000.

While there are so many good fillies on the Flat, the scarcity of jumping distaffers makes them all the more endearing. Dawn Run remains the only horse ever to have won both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Champion Hurdle – a feat made all the more extraordinary given her gender. Who wouldn’t have been proud to own her or, say, Like-A-Butterfly, Lady Cricket, Voler La Vedette, Quevega, Annie Power, or the latest star in the ascendant, Vroum Vroum Mag? Oddly, there’s been plenty of muttered opposition to the increase of mares-only races. While it’s understandable for people to feel that mares should be tested in open

A Great British success story

GEORGE SELWYN

ome welcome news to usher in the New Year is that Levy Board approval has finally been given to the TBA’s National Hunt Mare Owners’ Prize Scheme (MOPS). The scheme aims to encourage more jumps owners to buy and race fillies and mares by awarding lucrative bonuses to the winners of bumpers, Class 1-2 open races and Class 1-4 novice chases and hurdles. Full details of the scheme, which is confined to mares-only races, can be found on page 103.

Though the disparity in the sales prices for National Hunt colts or geldings compared to fillies has shrunk a little in recent years thanks to initiatives by both the TBA and ITBA, largely in improving the race programme for mares, recent results show that there’s still a long way to go. At the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale, 765 colt foals were catalogued and only 311 fillies. It’s inconceivable that the imbalance in numbers between the sexes reflects the division of foals on the ground. Simply – and sadly – many breeders don’t bother to consign, or even register, filly foals knowing that they have

Dawn Run, a shining example of what jumps mares can achieve if given the chance

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

There’s plenty on the agenda for the enthusiastic members of the TBA National Hunt Committee, not least how to halt the decline in the number of jumps breeders in Britain. Heartening news for them and for anyone who follows the stallion standings closely, however, is the continuing success of this country’s flagship National Hunt sire, Kayf Tara.

At the time of writing, the Overbury Stud stalwart was second only to Presenting for all active jumps sires in Britain and Ireland. He is also well on his way to passing the £1 millionmark in progeny earnings for the third year in a row, with his seasonal stars including the Grade 1 winners Identity Thief and Thistlecrack.

In the winter game, it often takes so long for a stallion to earn his stripes that he is either in his dotage or has left us before his worth is truly appreciated. Kayf Tara’s no spring chicken but he has only just turned 22 and his strike-rate for the 2015 breeding season – during which he covered exactly 200 mares – showed that his fertility remains high. His success has been hard-earned and gives hope to other stallion farms that, with the right horse and the right management, a National Hunt sire can thrive in Britain.

73

Jan_137_Sales_Circuit_Sales 14/12/2015 16:27 Page 74

SALES CIRCUIT

By CARL EVANS

Enlarged foal crops lead to more selective sales market Some notable highlights but larger catalogues struggle under weight of numbers

Goffs November Foal Sale

74

PETER MOONEY

A

Frankel filly out of Classic winner Finsceal Beo headed the 2014 sale, and this time it was a son of Dubawi out of another Classic winner, Nightime, who topped proceedings.

Put the name of Darley stallion Dubawi onto a catalogue page and there is every chance Darley buyer John Ferguson will be inquisitive, and once again he was the last man standing when the latest Goffs’ recordbreaking foal left the ring, valued at €1,100,000. That was a new high mark for a colt foal at public auction in Ireland.

He will be kept to race for Sheikh Mohammed, but a Galileo colt who finished second on the list with a valuation of €475,000 seems likely to be reoffered next year having been knocked down to ‘Hunday’.

Behind the name lay pinhooker Eugene Daly, active on a number of six-figure lots at both this sale and Tattersalls the following week, and a trader whose buying policy is best described as bold.

Star names and quality pedigrees are not hard to shift, but an additional 185 lots did nothing for the figures, as the spectre of over-production reared its head again.

The clearance rate fell back from 85% to 77%, and the extra horses did nothing for turnover, which declined by 6%. With more choice, buyers could be choosier, and so the average went down, too, dropping by 14%, while there was an 18% drop in the median.

Ferguson was the leading buyer, his purchase of nine foals to race for Godolphin putting €2,660,000 onto turnover, while the Castlebridge Consignment took leading vendor honours when offering and selling 24 lots for an aggregate of €2,104,200.

In-vogue sires with double-figure representation included Dark Angel and Kodiac, whose progeny sold for sums well above their covering fee (see Dr Statz, page 114), while Dawn Approach proved best among first-crop stallions, with ten sold for an average of €108,400.

The sole Dubawi colt on offer at the foal sales dominated the Goffs trade at €1.1million

Goffs November Foal Sale Top lots Sex/Breeding

Vendor

Price (€)

C Dubawi — Nightime (Galileo)

Castlebridge Consignment

1,100,000

C Galileo — Sogno Verde (Green Desert)

Swordlestown Little

475,000

Buyer John Ferguson Hunday

F New Approach — Scribonia (Danehill)

Redmondstown Stud

450,000

D Farrington

C Dark Angel — Miss Beatrix (Danehill Dancer)

Balintougher Stud

370,000

Rob Speers

C Dawn Approach — Simonetta (Lil’s Boy)

Esker Lodge Stud

300,000

John Ferguson

C Dark Angel — Vanishing Grey (Verglas)

Springfort Park Stud

300,000

John Ferguson

C Invincible Spirit — Sanna Bay (Refuse To Bend)

Oghill House Stud

280,000

John Ferguson

C Kodiac — Four Eleven (Arch)

Knockainey Stud

260,000

Blandford B/s

C Oasis Dream — Harmonic Note (Nayef)

Castlebridge Consignment

210,000

Ballyshiel Farm

C Invincible Spirit — Boastful (Clodovil)

Irish National Stud

190,000

John Ferguson

Five-year tale Year

Sold

Agg (€)

Mdn (€)

Avg (€)

Top Price (€)

2015

805

25,801,000

32,051

18,000

1,100,000

2014

742

27,504,700

37,068

22,000

1,800,000

2013

689

18,096,200

26,264

17,000

420,000

2012

570

14,747,500

25,872

15,000,

310,000

2011

496

14,423,200

29,079

16,000

850,000

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Jan_137_Sales_Circuit_Sales 14/12/2015 16:27 Page 75

Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale

LAURA GREEN/TATTERSALLS

Top lots Name/Breeding

Vendor

Ebeyina (Oasis Dream — Ebalista)

Aga Khan Studs

Price (€) 460,000

Buyer Ballylinch Stud

Silwana (Peintre Celebre — Simawa)

Aga Khan Studs

320,000

Kawakami Racing

Badr Al Badoor (Acclamation — Dani Ridge)

Rabbah B/s

270,000

BBA Ireland

F Galileo — Nebraas (Green Desert)

Irish National Stud

270,000

Barronstown Stud

Mohini (Galileo — Denebola)

Kiltinan Castle Stud

270,000

De Burgh Equine

Bridal Dance (Danehill Dancer — Feather Bride)

Ridge Manor Stud

260,000

Gatewood Bell

Majestic Dubawi (Dubawi — Tidal Chorus)

Rabbah B/s

260,000

Ballylinch Stud

Quake (Dubawi — Politesse)

Seskin Stud

200,000

P&R Doyle B/s

Tobann (Teofilo — Precipitous)

Redmondstown Stud

180,000

Brian Grassick B/s

Pearl Sea (Elusive City — Catch The Sea)

Tinnakill House

155,000

Nickels And Dimes (Teofilo — Neat Shilling)

Castlebridge Consignment 155,000

Des Vere Hunt BBA Ireland

Five-year tale

Ibrahim Araci was active in the foal market at Goffs and Tattersalls

Year

Sold

Agg (€)

Mdn (€)

Avg (€)

Top Price (€)

2015

315

9,840,400

31,239

15,000

460,000

2014

297

7,757,400

26,119

13,500

480,000

2013

324

13,011,600

40,159

14,500

6,000,000

2012

293,

8,155,500

27,834

10,750

450,000

2011

262

6,940,650

26,092

10,000

2,300,000

John Malone is clearly no asset stripper, for, having added Ireland’s Ballylinch Stud to his bloodstock portfolio last year, he is bringing in new bloodlines.

Ballylinch Manager, John O’Connor, had only to raise his catalogue to make that clear when the gesture brought the hammer down for Ebeyina, the sale topper at this event. It was not his only purchase, and further investments in breeding stock at Tattersalls, and, more noticeably, at Arqana, that underlined the intention of Malone and his wife Leslie to continue trading as normal – and seemingly with more impetus.

With a reported 2.1 million acres of land in the USA, and the purchase of Ballylinch and the O’Reillys’ Castlemartin estate, Malone, 71, is not sitting on the fortune he made from cable television and satellite networks.

His input to this sale was important, but not as great as that of the Aga Khan, whose support of it by selling members of his incredible broodmare band resulted in the sale topper once again.

A Listed-placed daughter of a top stallion, Ebeyina came from a family of leading performers to carry the Aga Khan’s colours – and also those of the Queen, who raced Ascot Gold Cup heroine Estimate, a daughter of Ebaziya, third dam of Ebeyina.

She may have lacked the kudos of some who have entered Goffs’ ring – notably THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

PETER MOONEY

Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale

Ebeyina, one of a number of high-profile purchases by John Malone, joins Ballylinch

Classic winner Chicquita, who made €6,000,000 at the 2013 edition of the sale – but she and her catalogue comrades carried trade ahead of last year, with rises of 26% in turnover, 20% in the average price and 11%

in the median. The clearance rate fell slightly to 77%. BBA Ireland headed purchasers again, buying 15 for €1,108,000, while the Aga Khan’s 19-strong draft accrued €1,276,500, making his operation the top vendor.

75

>>

Jan_137_Sales_Circuit_Sales 14/12/2015 16:27 Page 76

SALES CIRCUIT

Tattersalls December Yearling Sale

Tattersalls December Yearling Sale

The quality at this single-session yearling sale is dependent on the number of horses who missed the autumn sales through minor mishaps or immaturity.

The catalogue size is also affected by those factors, and, after a glut of entries in 2014, it returned to something like normal for the latest rendition.

Of the 178 lots offered, 142 or 80% found buyers, although turnover fell 11% and there was a negligible 1% reduction in average, although the median gained 11%.

Last year’s top lot, now owned by Mohammed Obaid and named Prince Zabeel, has yet to see a racecourse, while the leading horse this time did not have the most auspicious introduction to the ring.

A son of Darley’s New Approach, he was bought in at the October Sale when bidding stopped at 360,000gns, but with a new reserve he changed hands for 200,000gns and will race for Shadwell from Mark Johnston’s stable.

Further down the table was a colt whose buyer had a big pay day ahead – Chantal Regalado Gonzalez paid 80,000gns for the son of Lope De Vega, but the following week, during the December Mares Sale, gained 1,600,000gns for her Oaks winner Qualify.

Tattersalls December Foal Sale

Top lots Sex/Breeding

Vendor

C New Approach — Night Frolic (Night Shift)

Highclere Stud

Price (gns) Buyer 200,000 Shadwell

F Sea The Stars — Edaraat (Rahy)

Barouche Stud

170,000 Shadwell

C Archipenko — Almiranta (Galileo)

Staffordstown

115,000 BBA Ireland

C Shamardal — Astrologie (Polish Precedent)

Haras du Mezeray

115,000 C Gordon-Watson B/s

F Sea The Stars — Behkiyra (Entrepren)

Castlefarm Stud

105,000 Bradley/Kelly

C Shamardal — Gorband (Woodman)

Riversfield Stud

100,000 Shadwell

F Exceed And Excel — Naruko (Street Cry)

Rathbarry Stud

100,000 Demi O’Byrne

C Nathaniel — Fearless Flyer (Brave Act)

Baroda & Colbinstown Studs

Five-year tale Year

Sold

Agg (gns)

Mdn (gns)

Avg (gns)

Top Price (gns)

2015

142

4,091,400

28,813

20,000

200,000

2014

203

4,573,700

28,408

18,000

325,000

2013

145

3,570,100

24,621

15,000

200,000

2012

167

3,595,300

21,529

13,000

140,000

2011

150

3,766,300

25,109

20,500

150,000

Tattersalls December Foal Sale Top lots Sex/Breeding

Vendor

F Dubawi — High Heeled (High Chaparral)

West Blagdon Stud

Price (gns) Buyer 800,000 John Ferguson

F Dubawi — Hit The Sky (Cozzene)

Knocktoran Stud

720,000 Mayfair Speculators/P&R Doyle

F Dubawi — La Collina (Strategic Prince)

Kenilworth House Stud

625,000 John Ferguson

C Shamardal — Daneleta (Danehill)

Airlie Stud

550,000 P&R Doyle

C Sea The Stars — Fresnay (Rainbow Quest)

Fittocks Stud

400,000 Shadwell

F Sea The Stars — Palitana (Giant´s Causeway)

Hascombe & Valiant Stud 380,000 Hugo Lascelles

F Shamardal — Fafinta (Indian Ridge)

Irish National Stud

F Sea The Stars — Directa Princess (Dubai Destination) Castletown Stud

Europe’s biggest sale of foals for Flat racing raised a number of issues, not least the ratio of buyers to horses.

A drop in the clearance rate from 81% to 74% (286 unsold lots) was one statistic to ponder, but as one industry watcher put it, “Ask the transporters what the real buy-back rate was – they know the true figure.”

Be that as it may, demand for quality foals was unquestionable, for while a 5% increase in turnover was achieved by virtue of an additional 123 lots, the extra horses did not pull down the average, which nudged ahead by 1% – conversely the median took a dip of 20%.

Bloodstock agent Richard Knight, who bought foals to pinhook and for racing, said: “Buyers have been more selective and vendors have felt that. When pinhooking you have to be 100% right or you’ll struggle when you go back to the market – I try to buy a racehorse, and something I could not afford next year.”

Stud owner Charlie Vigors, who runs pinhooking partnerships, echoed those sentiments, saying: “It was tough to buy the ones we wanted, but we were choosy. We had to be.”

Chris Budgett of Kirtlington Stud said: “It’s frightening how narrow the market is becoming – and we’re producing too many horses.”

90,000 Bradley/Kelly

360,000 John Ferguson 270,000 Shadwell

Five-year tale Year

Sold

Agg (gns)

Mdn (gns)

Avg (gns)

Top Price (gns)

2015

803

33,565,600

41,800

20,000

800,000

2014

779

32,110,900

41,221

25,000

450,000

2013

740

31,420,400

42,460

23,000

450,000

2012

708

24,132,700

34,086

20,000

500,000

2011

665

23,860,100

35,880

21,000

450,000

EMMA BERRY

>>

Foals from the Castlebridge Consignment, which was leading vendor at Tattersalls

>> 76

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Jan_137_Sales_Circuit_Sales 14/12/2015 16:27 Page 78

SALES CIRCUIT Even in a massed market, quality shines through – it wouldn’t matter if Usain Bolt took on ten rivals over 100 metres, or 10,000, the result would be the same – and it was noticeable that very good foals were fearlessly pursued by some top-end pinhooking teams well into sixfigure sums. The top-ten board is dominated by end-users, those who keep their foals to race or for breeding, but the pluckiest pinhookers were key bidders or underbidders on some of the foals which feature there.

John Ferguson, buying for Sheikh Mohammed and his Darley associates, was the leading buyer, taking 24 lots for 4,549,000gns – among them was a sale-topping Dubawi foal out of High Heeled, who has been a noted money-maker for James and Anita Wigan’s West Blagdon Stud in Dorset.

In 2013 her Dubawi filly made 450,000gns to top the sale, then last year her daughter of Lawman made 425,000gns and finished runner-up. This time her Dubawi foal – another filly – made 800,000gns, the third highest price for a foal of her sex sold at Tattersalls.

Dubawi had just three representatives, but they completed a one, two, three for their sire, while offspring of Sea The Stars included 25 who found new homes, helping him to the leading spot on aggregate. Lethal Force’s initial batch of sales representatives were noticeably popular and helped him to the position of leading first-crop sire by aggregate. The Anglo/Irish Castlebridge Consignment took the leading vendor title.

Tattersalls December Mares’ Sale Top lots Sex/Breeding

Vendor

Hanky Panky (Galileo — Mariah’s Storm)

Highclere Stud

Price (gns) 2,700,000

Buyer

Tiggy Wiggy (Kodiac — Kheleyf’s Silver)

East Everleigh Stables

2,100,000

MV Magnier

Qualify (Fastnet Rock — Perihelion)

Castlebridge Consignment

1,600,000

John Ferguson

Seta (Pivotal — Bombazine)

Exors of Sarah Leigh

1,100,000

Hugo Lascelles

Sinnamary (Galileo — Prudenzia)

Tweenhills

700,000

Hugo Lascelles

Xcellence (Champs Elysees — Xanadu Bliss)

European Sales Management

675,000

Katsumi Yoshida

Lady Hawkfield (Hawk Wing — Hoity Toity)

Kiltinan Castle Stud

625,000

C Gordon-Watson

Yellow Rosebud (Jeremy — Nebraas)

Castlebridge Consignment

600,000

John Ferguson

John Ferguson

Dame Marie (Smart Strike — Crystal Crossing)

Baroda & Colbinstown Studs

500,000

Mount Brilliant Stables

Hoyam (Royal Applause — Christmas Tart)

Castlebridge Consignment

470,000

Hugo Lascelles

Five-year tale Year

Sold

Agg (gns)

Mdn (gns)

Avg (gns)

Top Price (gns)

2015

680

46,513,500

68,402

28,000

2,700,000

2014

685

48,290,695

70,497

26,000

4,500,000

2013

721

62,998,500

87,377

28,000

4,700,000

2012

762

43,932,200

57,654

19,000

1,700,000

2011

629

44,121,500

70,145

21,000

2,400,000

Tattersalls December Mares’ Sale This crucial factor in the sales calendar passed by relatively unscathed, with few dramas, and a rare Oaks winner as a talking point.

Not even Tattersalls could remember the last time it had offered a winner of Epsom’s fillies’ Classic in the year of her victory, but they won’t forget Qualify in a hurry, and her 1,600,000gns sale to Darley’s John Ferguson was a welcome transaction given that several horses reached a seven-figure sum, but were returned to their owners.

Top lot Hanky Panky ticked too many boxes to be led out unsold, and she also went down to Darley, valued at 2,700,000gns. Being a fiveyear-old Galileo mare with a Dubawi cover and the addition of being a half-sister to Giant’s Causeway meant she was tipped to be the sale topper, and she duly obliged.

Last year’s outstanding juvenile Tiggy Wiggy, like Qualify, a filly out of training, joined Coolmore, and while recent dual Group 1 winner Odeliz was another ‘not sold’ when bidding stopped at 950,000gns, she changed hands the following day for 1,000,000gns, having been bought by America’s Man o’ War Farm, although the transaction was not included in the sale’s figures.

78

EMMA BERRY

>>

Seta, sold from the Sarah Leigh Dispersal, with Chantal Wootten and Sharon Dukes

This was Tattersalls’ final sale of the year, and revealed the company had turned over 262,139,150gns, a sum marginally smaller than last year. The aggregate for the mares’ sale alone was down 4% – although the 2014 event had seen Just The Judge make 4,500,000gns, a sum that would have taken this event beyond last year’s total – while the average slipped 3%. The median achieved a rise of 8%, while a slightly

bigger catalogue (a common theme of late) was staged, and the clearance rate fell 4% to 75%.

Worse was the clearance performance on the final day, which traditionally offers lesser mares and pedigrees, and which resulted in a clearance-rate fall from 84% to 65% – an additional 22 mares would not have helped that decline.

An increase in buy-backs has been common THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

>>

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79

Jan_137_Sales_Circuit_Sales 14/12/2015 16:27 Page 80

SALES CIRCUIT

Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale Top lots Name/Breeding

Vendor

Price (€)

Embellishment (Galileo — Sophisticat)

Etreham

900,000

Bridlewood Farm

L’Amour De Ma Vie (Dansili — Cuaba)

Coulonces Consignment

600,000

Ballylinch Stud

Moi Meme (Teofilo — Di Moi Ou)

Pascal Bary

440,000

Old Mill Stud

Matauri Pearl (Hurricane Run — Moonrise)

Coulonces Consignment

400,000

Meridian International

Fairly (Sinndar — Fairly Grey)

Saint Pair

400,000

Ecurie des Monceaux

Secretina (Galileo — Featherquest)

Wertheimer & Frere

350,000

Melanie Sauer

Abilene (Samum — Altamira)

Etreham

ZUSANNA LUPA/ARQANA

Letthemusictakeus (Holy Roman Emperor — Side Of Paradise) Scheldt

Buyer

310,000

John McCormack

300,000

Suprina

Network (Monsun — Note)

IFCE

290,000

Ecurie Du Chene

Pickaway (Pivotal — Danzigaway)

Wertheimer & Frere

285,000

John McCormack

Five-year tale

Stuart Williams signed for Listed winner Moi Meme at €440,000 in Deauville

Year

Sold

Agg (€)

Mdn (€)

Avg (€)

2015

686

25,947,900

37,825

19,000

Top Price (€) 900,000

2014

675

26,301,250

39,139

17,000

1,100,000

2013

686

26,430,000

38,528

13,000

800,000

2012

598

19,561,500

32,712

12,000

1,175,000

2011

543

16,105,500

29,660

11,000

520,000

>> at recent sales, and suggests a cooling off in the

Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale A sale-topping daughter of Galileo plus the sire of brilliant two-mile chaser Sprinter Sacre, convey the variety of horses offered at Arqana’s four-day, year finale.

It comprised just 24 extra lots this year, and the final figures were comparable to 2014, with an identical 77% rate of clearance and a 1% fall in turnover. The average dipped 3% while the median mark rose 12%.

On top and out of sight in terms of price was unraced Embellishment, a daughter of Coolmore’s great multiple champion sire and with a Kingman cover, although it was her bloodline, rather than the foetus, that appealed to John Malone, who wanted her for his Floridabased Bridlewood Farm. She was foaled by Sophisticat, a daughter of Storm Cat, while

80

ZUSANNA LUPA/ARQANA

appetite for bloodstock, or a supply that is too plentiful for the market place.

Tattersalls’ Chairman Edmond Mahony referred to the numbers of horses his company is being asked to sell in his closing statement.

He said: “While international demand for quality thoroughbreds remains strong, it would be wrong to gloss over some warning signs at the less commercial end of the market.

“The number of horses we have offered this year has increased by more than 500 and such a significant rise has resulted in a more selective market, particularly at the lowest levels.

Matching supply with demand is always a delicate balance and we will be aiming to manage the numbers carefully in 2016.”

Doing that and keeping vendors happy promises to be an interesting test.

John O’Connor inspects six-year-old L’Amour De Ma Vie, later purchased for €600,000

second dam Serena’s Song was bred at Bridlewood, adding to the appeal for her American buyer.

Malone, who also owns Ballylinch Stud in Ireland, sent manager John O’Connor in to bat on his behalf, and he brought the hammer down at €900,000 for Embellishment, and €600,000 for L’Amour De Ma Vie, who finished second on the list, and was bought for Ballylinch.

The sale’s final day is largely devoted to jumping stock, including stallions, and this year’s selection included Network, whose superb jumping progeny include Sprinter Sacre, Rubi Ball, Rubi Light and Adriana Des Mottes.

He and other jumps sires from the former French National Studs had been standing under three-year lease agreements between their

masters and the French government, but once that lapsed they were on the market. Network, rising 19, was knocked down for €290,000 to a bid from David Powell, who said the sire would stay in France at an undisclosed location.

Arqana Director Olivier Delloye said a reduction in the number of horses offered at the opening session – which contained the best of the breeding stock – had worked well for buyers and vendors, and said the influx of international visitors had been drawn by “pedigrees they will find nowhere else”.

Those visitors included agents from BBA Ireland, whose purchase of 16 lots for €903,000 meant that they ended the sale as leading buyers, while Haras d’Etreham, which consigned Embellishment, headed vendors, with 19 sold for €2,344,000.

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Jan_137_OnTheSalesBeat_Sales 14/12/2015 17:09 Page 82

ON THE SALES BEAT

Q&A

Chad Schumer Gambling granny led to a life in bloodstock for the agent who bought the sire and dam of Kip Deville Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into racing and bloodstock…

My grandmother basically raised me and she was an avid gambler, so most of my days as a young child were spent at Churchill Downs. As would be the case for most kids, I was pretty bored by the whole thing but found myself eventually enamoured with the horses which led to an interest in their pedigrees. I remember buying my first Thoroughbred Record at the local bookstore, Hawley-Cooke, a bit of an institution (sadly replaced by the Barnes and Nobles of the world). From there I was hooked and the result is Schumer Bloodstock, now operating for over 20 years.

Your best buy?

I am incredibly proud of buying Klondike Kaytie, the dam of Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Kip Deville, for only $6,000 in Ocala. She was purchased for a fledgling stallion prospect Kipling which I bought for a new operation in mid-America called Center Hills Farm. So, really we purchased both the sire and dam of that improbable Mile winner.

One that got away?

The one that always sticks in my mind was Leonnatus Anteus, later a Champion twoyear-old in Canada and winner of over $600,000. Quite a return on our $60,000 bid!

I was buying him for a good friend in California and was outbid by Donato Lanni – I’m sure that’s a frequent occurrence for most.

Name a recent purchase you’re most looking forward to seeing at the races…

We are most looking forward to seeing the return of the ever game Nancy Ride. She’s almost as tenacious as her namesake Nancy Sexton! Only a $7,000 yearling purchase, we gave this immature filly all the time she needed and were rewarded with a win and four placings from all her starts this year as a threeyear-old. Can’t wait until 2016 when trainer Brendan Walsh enters her in a graded stakes, which he thinks she is ready for.

82

Chad Schumer: an all-American boy at heart but a big fan of the European sales

Most underrated stallion?

The most under-rated stallion in the US is City Zip. It’s incredible for him to be as effective on the main stage as he is. In Europe, I’d say Camacho at €7,500. From the stock I’ve seen, he consistently throws not only the coveted sales type but the real runner.

And a young stallion to watch?

In the US, I’d have to say quite obviously Uncle Mo – wow, what a start! In Europe, I’m a bit partial to Canford Cliffs. While he finished second in the standings, he did lead by winners and it’s so nice to see a real outcross as an option.

can’t imagine anyone achieving the level of success with such a vagabond cast as he did.

Probably took patience and horsemanship to a level rarely seen.

Best auctioneer?

I must begrudgingly belie my American roots and give the nod to the effervescent Todd Watt. He is an exceptional auctioneer and an absolute laugh to be around.

Best sales food?

Tattersalls by a long mile!

Your racing/bloodstock hero?

How do you like to unwind after a long hard day pounding the sales grounds?

I’m going to go with trainer Charlie Whittingham, whom I did not know. But I

After a long day pounding the sales I like to pound very nice red wine.

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83

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for a yearling by Campanologist at Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 by no other than the trainer of Arc winn er Golden Horn:

John Gosden!

Jan_137_Caulfield_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 16:23 Page 85

CAULFIELD FILES ANDREW CAULFIELD REPORTS ON THE BLOODSTOCK WORLD

Derby remains race that matters despite distance Blue Riband still exerts considerable influence on the breed in UK and Ireland

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

GEORGE SELWYN

I

t was a pleasure to be able to go along to Dalham Hall Stud to inspect Golden Horn during the December Sales. For a start, this son of Cape Cross is an admirable specimen. Not only was he tough, talented and totally honest but he is also a quality individual, with a very attractive head, correct knees and a strong rear end. He’s also a good walker, as are many of the best stallions.

But, more than that, Golden Horn won the Derby, a race that continues to exert a considerable influence on the British and Irish thoroughbred industries, even though it is contested over a mile and a half – a distance which (wrongly) is out of favour with the large majority of breeders.

To illustrate this point, the new British and Irish stallions for 2016 number nearly 20 but only two of them won over a mile and a half or more, namely Golden Horn and Derby runner-up Kingston Hill (who has been priced at €6,000 in a bid to overcome Flat breeders’ apparent aversion to St Leger winners).

Federico Tesio famously said that “the thoroughbred exists because its selection has depended, not on experts, technicians, or zoologists, but on a piece of wood: the winning post of the Epsom Derby.” This still holds good today, thanks largely to Coolmore and Darley. Although there are more than 40 Flat stallions in Ireland standing at €10,000 or more, only six of them won over a distance as long as a mile and a half and all six won the Derby – Galileo, Sea The Stars, Australia, Camelot, Pour Moi and Ruler Of The World.

Similarly, there are nearly 40 stallions in Britain priced at £7,000 or more. Only seven of them won over a mile and a half but they include three winners of the Derby – Golden Horn, New Approach and Sir Percy – as well as Sea The Stars’s Deutsches Derby winner Sea The Moon. For the record, France also has two Epsom Derby winners, Motivator and Authorized, which means that ten of the last 11 Derby winners are still available to European breeders. The one who got away was Workforce, sire of 13 first-crop two-yearold winners in Japan by late November. We

Golden Horn has joined the 2008 Derby winner New Approach at Dalham Hall Stud

also recently lost the 2002 Derby winner High Chaparral, whose legacy includes the stallions Free Eagle, Toronado and So You Think.

An exceptional legacy Of course the most exceptional legacy belongs to Galileo. With Gleneagles joining the Coolmore team at a fee of €60,000, Galileo now has five sons standing at the equivalent of €50,000 or more, namely Frankel (£125,000), New Approach (£60,000), Gleneagles (€60,000), Australia (€50,000)

and Teofilo (€50,000). The only ones old enough to have had runners are Teofilo, who added the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Pleascach to his earlier winners of the Irish Derby and Irish St Leger, and New Approach, whose first crop contained winners of the 2,000 Guineas and Oaks, plus the runners-up in the Derby and St Leger. The fact that New Approach’s fee has dropped from £80,000 to £60,000 reflects the fact that he is in a bit of a lull at the moment, but he should bounce back very soon.

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CAULFIELD FILES And don’t forget Galileo’s tough son Nathaniel (£20,000), who rather surprisingly had the distinction of being the only King George winner covering Flat mares in Britain or Ireland in 2015. With his first yearlings selling for such good prices as 675,000gns, 600,000gns, 525,000gns and 500,000gns, let’s hope that Nathaniel has the potential to follow the example of Montjeu, the last outstanding stallion to win the King George.

(I should add though, that three other King George winners – Duke Of Marmalade, Dylan Thomas and Azamour – were collectively responsible in 2015 for the winners of the St Leger, British Champions Fillies and Mares, Deutsches Derby, Prix de Diane, Coronation Cup, Premio Roma, Preis von Europa, Dubai Sheema Classic, Irish Oaks and Prix de l’Opera. Clearly breeders ignore top-class mile-and-a-half horses at their peril, especially when many of the most valuable races are contested over middle distances.)

Galileo’s dam Urban Sea also gets into the act as the dam of Sea The Stars. With his second crop being considerably smaller than his first, Sea The Stars was always going to

and a half and siring plenty of two-year-old winners are not mutually exclusive. From a crop of 98, Sir Percy sired 17 juvenile winners throughout Europe.

Spare a thought too for Nayef, whose efforts over a mile and a half included a win in the Dubai Sheema Classic and a second in the King George. He had just over 100 runners in Britain and Ireland, compared to Kodiac’s 320 and Exceed And Excel’s 297. Even so, four of Nayef’s 2015 representatives achieved Racing Post ratings of 112 or more, including the Group winners Snow Sky, Forgotten Rules and Mustajeeb.

Believe it or not, Nayef received only 16 mares in 2014, 50 in 2015 and his fee for 2016 again stands as low as £5,000. This begs the question how many of the speed stallions that cover many more mares than Nayef will ever be represented by three Group winners in a single year.

Breeders who flock to the speed sires would argue they have a better chance of a substantial return in the sales ring, but why should this be, when there is so much money to be won beyond a mile?

find it hard to match the success he enjoyed with Taghrooda, Sea The Moon and Vazira.

However, I believe 18 of his 66 second-crop foals have so far earned black type, with nine of them – a very encouraging 13.6% – becoming stakes winners. The hard-working Storm The Stars follows Taghrooda as Sea The Stars’ second notable winner out of Sadler’s Wells mares. There was plenty of demand for Sea The Stars’ best young stock in 2015 and his 2016 crop should be exciting.

Most of the mile-and-a-half-winning stallions mentioned so far are at the upper end of the price scale, but spare a thought for some of the others further down the pecking order.

Pour Moi and Ruler Of The World are available for only €10,000 in 2016, and you can access the likes of Champs Elysees for £8,000 and Sir Percy for £7,000. With Trip To Paris and Jack Naylor to his credit, Champs Elysees finished among the top 30 stallions in 2015, despite having a lot fewer runners in Britain and Ireland than many of the top stallions.

Sir Percy also reached the top 40, and reminded everyone that winning over a mile

Good support for a host of Angels The horse, of course, is a herd animal with a herd mentality. And so it seems are many racehorse breeders.

The latest edition of Weatherbys’ Return of Mares lists the number of mares covered by each stallion in 2014 and 2015, and reveals that a large number of mares were sent to young, inexpensive speed sires, perhaps in the hope that they might develop into another Dark Angel or Kodiac.

Perhaps I should simply congratulate each of the stallion owners, especially in Ireland, who have done such a fine job over the years in building a large and faithful clientele. They deserve an Aussie-style “good on yer, mate.”

In reality, though, I sometimes wonder how much thought is put into choosing which stallion to use. Of course it could be argued that the range of bloodlines currently available is so narrow that it doesn’t allow much scope for originality – hence the herd mentality.

I mentioned Dark Angel as one of the possible motivating factors behind the rush to use fast-maturing Group winners. Although this €60,000 stallion was available for as little as €7,000 as recently as 2011, it mustn’t be forgotten that he was a Group 1 winner in the Middle Park Stakes, as well as taking the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes.

Breeders seem convinced that history could repeat itself, as his Group 2 July Stakes winner Alhebayeb received 176 mares in his first

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Dark Angel’s son Heeraat has been well supported at Mickley Stud

season, while the Group 3 winner Heeraat started out with a book of 97. Now Dark Angel has been joined at Yeomanstown Stud by his speedy son Gutaifan, a dual Group 2 winner who, like his sire, was retired at the end of his first season. No doubt Gutaifan will

also attract a three-figure book. All these sons will do well, though, to match Lethal Force, Dark Angel’s first Group 1 winner. This Cheveley Park resident had first-crop foals sold for 110,000gns, 100,000gns, €135,000, 92,000gns and €120,000.

Another stallion who promises to found a dynasty is Green Desert’s son Invincible Spirit.

Seven of his sons – Born To Sea, Charm Spirit, Kingman, Lawman, Mayson, Swiss Spirit and Zebedee – each covered more than 100 mares in 2015, for a collective total of nearly 1,000 mares, with the precocious Zebedee – another who was retired at two – receiving 182 mares.

Another of Green Desert’s fastest sons, Oasis Dream, also had some busy sons in 2015, including Group 3 winner Gale Force Ten (160 mares in his first year), the nonstakes-winning miler Morpheus (another popular debutant with 142 mares) and the very promising Showcasing (131 mares).

Demand is also sure to be high for this team’s latest recruit, champion sprinter Muhaarar.

Exceed And Excel, a stallion noted for siring precocious stock, is another whose sons are sought after. Bungle Inthejungle, a dual Group 3 winner at two, covered 119 mares in his first season, while Excelebration and Helmet respectively covered 125 and 128 in 2015. No doubt a busy 2016 awaits two more of Exceed And Excel’s sons, Outstrip and Fulbright, as part of the Darley Club.

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Fabulous broodmares to follow with The Thoroughbred Club he Thoroughbred Club wants to reignite the passion in young people for bloodstock and throw open the doors to the industry by introducing three top-flight broodmares to follow.

TTC has been supported by some of the biggest names in British breeding and this will allow full members unrivalled access to a group of impressive mares during their lives at stud, through exclusive visits and regular updates, as they go through the breeding process.

The Club will be exploring the breeding operations closely to explain how the bloodstock world operates, focusing not only on the daily routines of the mares and the stud hands who look after them, but also their preparation for foaling and subsequent covering, while simultaneously delving deeper into how mating decisions are made each year.

T

UPTON VIVA STUD SHATABDI Foaled: April 2002 Sire: Mtoto Dam: Violet Express (Cadoudal) Number of wins: 4 Prize-money: £135,364 Black type? Yes – won Grade 2 at Kempton Winners produced: All The Answers (Kayf Tara) In foal to: Shirocco Robert Waley-Cohen, founder of Upton Viva Stud in Warwickshire, has bred and been associated with many top-class National Hunt horses, including Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Long Run, and his orange and brown silks are a familiar feature in many of the biggest races in the calendar. Waley-Cohen has allowed the club to follow his top-class National Hunt broodmare Shatabdi.

Waley-Cohen bought Shatabdi’s mother, Violet Express, in 1998 and she comes from a very successful and prolific family and was a winner herself, which is something Waley-Cohen is adamant all his

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Shatabdi earned black type on the racetrack and has produced her first winner

purchases must be if possible. After purchasing Violet Express, she was sent to champion trainer Nicky Henderson and during her racing career she won five times under both codes and was eventually retired in 2000, whereupon she returned to Upton Viva. Shatabdi was her first foal.

Initially trained in France, Shatabdi was moved to the Henderson stable as a fiveyear-old. During her career she won four times, including on the Flat, over hurdles and a chase, the highlight coming in a Grade 2 hurdle where she beat the geldings at Kempton, importantly landing black type. Her three-parts brother was the classy Grade 2 winner Rajdhani Express.

Shatabdi has already foaled a winner in All The Answers, a five-year-old Kayf Tara gelding who is trained by Aidan O’Brien and owned by JP McManus. Her threeyear-old Midnight Legend gelding was bought by owner Dai Walters for €44,000 at Tattersalls Ireland in November 2013.

Waley-Cohen said of the club: “I hope the members will find it fascinating – she’s a really interesting filly because of her breeding and she has already produced a winner.”

WHITSBURY MANOR STUD SACRE COEUR Foaled: March 2002 Sire: Compton Place Dam: Take Heart (Electric) Number of wins: 1 Prize-money: £13,667 Black type? No Winners produced: 3 – including top-class sprinter Stepper Point In foal to: Showcasing Whitsbury Manor Stud sold Sacre Coeur as a yearling in 2005 to John Dunlop for 57,000gns and bought her back for 16,000gns in 2007. Sacre Coeur has already proved herself to be a high-class broodmare, having foaled the eighttime winner – including of a Group 2 – Stepper Point. The son of Kyllachy is trained by William Muir and has amassed a total of £417,481 in prizemoney.

Sacre Coeur is from a family of winners. Her three-parts brother Indian THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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

@ T T C_ GB

involved in and the more we get young people interested and educate them so they understand the way it works can only help. We take for granted seeing mares and foals at a stud, but it is something that many people don’t get the chance to see, so it’s great we can give them this opportunity.”

• Members can look forward to

hearing more about our TTC broodmares and what they have been up to through regular blog and vlog updates and through following @TTC_GB. For further information on TTC benefits package, or to join, visit thethoroughbredclub.co.uk or email info@thethoroughbredclub.co.uk

Sacre Coeur: from a family of winners and dam of high-class sprinter Stepper Point

Trail (Indian Ridge) was a multiple sprint winner and won the Investec Dash at Epsom in 2009. She is in foal to Whitsbury Manor Stud’s very own stallion sensation Showcasing and is due in February.

FITTOCKS STUD BLUE WALTZ Foaled: April 2011 Sire: Pivotal Dam: Blue Symphony (Darshaan) Number of wins: 3 Prize-money: £35,322 Black type? No Winners produced: First year as a broodmare Planning to visit: Oasis Dream

Fittocks Stud is steeped in history and is run by Sara Cumani, wife of the successful trainer Luca. Blue Waltz is the newest broodmare TTC members can follow as this will be her first breeding season, having had her final run in November 2015. She retires with three wins on the Flat under her belt.

This daughter of Pivotal was bred by Fittocks and is out of Blue Symphony, whose dam was the Group 1-winning sprinter Blue Duster.

Fittocks subsequently sold Blue Symphony for 1 million gns in 2012. She is from a highly successful family and her half-sisters include Group 3 winners Fantasia and Pink Symphony. The plan is to send Blue Waltz to Juddmonte’s Oasis Dream in the spring.

Sara Cumani said of the club’s new initiative: “It is a great industry we are all

MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS Associate Member • 16- to 30-year-olds • Six-month membership • Limited TTC events access • Limited TTC website access Free

Full Member • 16- to 30-year-olds • Access to all TTC events • Follow our TTC broodmares & horse in training • Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder magazine subscription • Annual Thoroughbred Stallion Guide • Blogs, webinars, vlogs with exclusive access on our website • Career course and educational opportunities £50 per year (£35 per year for 16 to 22-year-olds)

HOW TO JOIN • Visit thethoroughbredclub.co.uk to sign up • If you would like to discuss membership options please contact Tallulah Lewis at info@thethoroughbredclub.co.uk Blue Waltz and Sara Cumani, who is pleased to be able to assist the club’s members

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ROA FORUM The special section for ROA members

Partners concept is racing’s best bet Richard Wayman welcomes the recent agreements with three remote betting operators Some good news to report as 2015 draws to a close. Three remote bookmakers – Betfair, Bet365 and 32Red – have demonstrated their commitment to the future of our sport by becoming Authorised Betting Partners (ABPs).

This means they have agreed to contribute a fair and reasonable share of amounts bet to racing’s central funding.

Almost all digital betting operators are located offshore and so are not currently required to contribute to the statutory levy that applies to bets placed in betting shops. At least 40% of bets on racing are now placed with digital operators, a percentage that is growing, and the inevitable consequence has been a dramatic decline in annual levy income from around £100 million not that long ago to a figure fast approaching £50m. The Levy Board has been running deficits in recent years, a situation that is clearly not sustainable, and has already warned of a substantial reduction in expenditure in 2017.

Against this alarming backdrop, the government has said it will introduce a Horserace Betting Right that would mean all betting operators, no matter where they are based, would contribute to the sport’s funding mechanism. That change will require primary

legislation and so, in the meantime, the industry’s Members Committee, comprising representatives of the Horsemen’s Group, BHA and Racecourse Association, has established the concept of ABPs. Over the years there has been much sensible talk of racing and betting working in partnership to grow wagering on our sport. The concept of ABPs provides the basis for such an

“With ABPs an

opportunity exists for collaboration to replace confrontation” arrangement as it means that as well as benefiting from a marketing campaign to be rolled out across the industry, racing will work closely with the firms involved on a number of initiatives, including in relation to the current fixture criteria.

In support of this initiative, a number of enlightened racecourse groups and racecourses – including the Jockey Club, ARC and Scottish tracks – have been developing their own packages of benefits for ABPs, including access to sponsorship opportunities. The tracks

Market Rasen hosts the next regional meeting on February 9

involved deserve credit for taking this principled stand, because I doubt any remote operators would be prepared to make voluntary payments to the levy unless they receive benefits not enjoyed by non-contributing firms.

Racing’s central funding supports important expenditure, including education and training programmes, veterinary science and research, and integrity measures as well as prize-money.

The latter not only helps owners recover some of their significant outlay but also supports the thousands of people employed within the industry. With these jobs in mind, I believe any operator that accepts a bet on British racing has a moral responsibility to return an equitable share of that bet to the levy.

The ROA is committed to ensuring that our members are informed about which remote betting operators have become ABPs, so please be aware of the list shown on page XX. It is up to each individual member what they do with this information. However, I know many owners will join me in thanking those operators who, although not currently required to, have taken the bold step of committing themselves to agreements that will support the development and sustainability of our sport.

My hope as we enter 2016 is that the list of ABPs grows and that this marks the beginning of a new era of genuine partnership between our two interdependent industries. An opportunity exists for collaboration to replace confrontation.

Meet the team in 2016 The first ROA regional meeting of 2016 is being convened at Market Rasen on February 9.

Regional meetings give members the opportunity to be updated on current issues before racing, and to talk to members of the Council and executive, and fellow members.

Guests are invited to join us for lunch and to enjoy the afternoon’s racing in our private facility on the day.

We would encourage members who live near Market Rasen and would like to join us on the day to telephone the ROA office to book a place, or email info@roa.co.uk.

Dates of other regional meetings in 2016: May 13 Aintree July 13 Lingfield Park August 9 Chepstow October 6 Ayr November 4 Warwick

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www.roa.co.uk

Chester and Kempton top of the tracks

The ROA’s Paul Duffy (centre) with Chester duo Jeannie Chantler and Tony May

The Kempton Park team receive their award from the ROA’s Sheila Bailey (centre)

Chester and Kempton Park have been named as the best tracks in Britain for racehorse owners. Presentations to both were made on December 3 at the 34th ROA Horseracing Awards, sponsored by Weatherbys, at the InterContinental Hotel, Park Lane, London.

The two venues were among 12 of the country’s 60 racecourses awarded Gold Standard status during the autumn. Details of the 12 Gold Standard tracks can be found in the ROA Forum in last month’s magazine.

Alan Pickering, Chairman of the ROA Raceday Committee, said: “Chester has a reputation for making all racegoers feel special, partly because of its exceptional owners’ restaurant in the centre of the racecourse. It is heartening to report that the racecourse executive ensures that owners feel extra special. We regularly receive positive comments from those of our members who have been lucky enough to have a horse run at Chester.

“Kempton Park’s imposing buildings host a few high days each year. However, most of the racing is of an aspirational nature for those owners whose horses have not yet fulfilled their ambitions. At Kempton, you feel that every member of staff appreciates the contribution which owners make to British racing.

“This warm welcome is very well received by our members, as is the much-improved owners’ facility overlooking the paddock. Win or lose, you go home from Kempton on a high.”

As part of the ROA Gold Standard Award process, Association representatives visited every racecourse in Britain at least once between January and October to assess all aspects of the owners’ raceday experience. In addition, feedback was provided by hundreds of ROA members following their own racecourse visits.

Exclusive Apple discount for ROA members The ROA has teamed-up with Apple to bring a host of exclusive discounts to ROA members.

Discounts of up to 10% are available on a wide range of Apple products including iPads, iPhones, Apple Watch, Mac Books and Beats

by Dr Dre headphones.

Apple have only a select few partners and

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

these discounts cannot be found on the high street.

To qualify for the full discounts, members must log into the Members’ Area of the website, and then visit the ROA Shop.

Discounts will be applied only when purchasing the item with a Visa Debit Card.

Paying with a Mastercard, Visa Credit or

AMEX card may result in your order being cancelled or extra charges applying.

Some of the products can be personalised and engraved for free – please call the office if you would like this option. Any orders will come with the full standard warranty and Apple Care.

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Largest ever survey of racehorse owners As part of racing’s ‘Strategy for Growth’ and the resulting plans to help secure a long-term sustainable future for the sport, over the next couple of months the industry will be undertaking the largest ever survey of racehorse owners, including those that have recently left the sport.

Despite being the largest financial contributors to the sport, meaningful engagement with owners has been limited and, as a result, there is little understanding of the dynamics of ownership beyond anecdotal reports.

The survey will help reveal actionable insight into how we can grow ownership in Britain, all through better comprehending the journey owners take in the sport through empirical data and by tapping into the thoughts and experiences of owners.

With ownership numbers static there is clearly a need for action and in January an online survey will be issued to all existing owners with an email address. This is set to be the most comprehensive survey of owners ever undertaken and we are hoping to get the

The survey will allow a better understanding of the journey owners take in racing

views of all owners, from the very largest to those operating at the grassroots.

For this to be a success, however, we will of course need your help, and when you receive the survey we encourage you to take a few minutes to fill it in.

If for any reason you do not think that you

have an email address registered with the sport, please email the ROA at info@roa.co.uk, or call the office on 020 7152 0200 to add one.

Owners will be able to read the results of the survey in a future edition of Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder.

First four races revealed in 2016 ROA Owners Jackpot

Musselburgh will host an ROA Owners Jackpot race over fences on January 20

Following last month’s announcement about the renewal of the Owners Jackpot for 2016, and its change to a weekly scheme that will see a £2,000 bonus attached to at least 52 races throughout the year, we can now reveal the first four races in the Jackpot calendar: Wetherby, January 8, 2m3f+

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Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle (0-100) Taunton, January 13, 2m+ Handicap Hurdle (0-100) Musselburgh, January 20, 2m7f+ Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Steeplechase (0-100) Kempton Park, January 27, 1m Handicap (46-55)

The new structure allows a more careful selection of Jackpot races, meaning bonus funds will be directed towards grassroots contests where prize-money levels are at their weakest and, more so than ever, spread across the entire country.

As well as being displayed in the Racing Post and Thoroughbred Owner & breeder, details of upcoming Jackpot races will appear in BHA publications such as the Racing Calendar and on the Racing Admin website.

For the most up-to-date Jackpot information owners should follow @racehorseowners on Twitter, and for further details on joining the Association owners can visit the ROA’s website, roa.co.uk, or call the office on 020 7152 0200.

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Bearstone roster TOB January -16:Layout 2

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BEARSTONE STUD Choose a C:C Certified Stallion What is a C:C? Fast, Speedy, Sprint Type Best distance 5f - 1mile ~ www.equinome.com

FIREBREAK

FEE: £4,500 Oct 1st LFFR

Group 1 Millionaire Miler - Group 1 Sire G

In 2015 the sire of You’re Fired (3 wins and Listed placed), Fire Ship (Gr.3 and twice Listed placed), Ashpan Sam (winner of the big sprint handicap at Epsom on Derby Day) etc.

G G

Proven and versatile sire of Gr.1 juveniles, Group winning 3yo sprinters and Group winning older milers Since his first runners in 2009, he has produced a higher ratio of Group winners to runners than Dutch Art, Iffraaj, Equiano, Royal Applause and Kyllachy.

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

FEE: £5,000 Oct 1st LFFR

NEW FOR 2016 Group Winning Sprinter G G

Cost 420,000gns as a yearling

G G

Group winning sprinter by Champion sprinter and leading sire influence OASIS DREAM Out of Champion 2yo and Classic winner ATTRACTION Rated 111 by Timeform at 3 years, higher than Oasis Dream’s most successful sire son Showcasing “Fountain of Youth was all speed which is not surprising considering how fast his parents were. His form over 5 furlongs was excellent.” Aidan O’Brien

MAJOR CADEAUX

FEE: £3,500 Oct 1st LFFR

Top class sprinter/miler and multiple Group winner G G

G

By the oustanding stallion and sire of sires Cadeaux Genereux His first two crops, in 2011 and 2012, have produced 58% winners to runners - superior to Medicean, Mount Nelson, Paco Boy, New Approach and Equiano. His third crop includes promising Group placed juvenile Mr Wizard.

Sire of multiple winners Latenightrequest (6 wins SP), Cadmium (5 wins), Divine Law (4 wins), Winning Moment (4 wins), Bishop’s Leap (3 wins in 2015), Margrets Gift (3 wins), Mythmaker (3 wins), Regiment (3 wins), Savannah Beau (3 wins), Scarlet Emperor (3 wins).

BEARSTONE STUD Market Drayton, Shropshire TF9 4HF, England Tel: 01630 647197 Fax: 01630 647110 Mob: 07974 948755 Email: enquiries@bearstonestud.co.uk www.bearstonestud.co.uk Contact Tina Dawson: Tel: 01832 205116 Mob: 07776 165854 Email: tina.dawson@tdbloodstock.com

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MAGICAL MOMENTS with ROA member Ashley Head

I

f Ar Mad was a southpaw it’s very possible Ashley Head would have found it hard to resist replying ‘win the Arkle’ when asked for his wish for 2016.

Instead, the Epsom-based Grade 1-winning owner unselfishly wished for more recognition and classier horses for his trainer, Gary Moore.

Head has stood right beside Moore to watch all three of his amazing consecutive hat-tricks at Sandown this jumps season, topped by a top-flight double when Ar Mad stormed home under Joshua Moore in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase, to be followed by a return to form for stable star Sire De Grugy in the Tingle Creek.

The two could clash back at Sandown in the spring in the Celebration Chase, with Ar Mad needing to go right-handed due to a propensity to lead with this right leg and “lean that way”. But Head also quite likes the idea of taking his up-and-comer, who turns six on January 1, to Punchestown to serve it up to the cream of the Irish chasers.

Ar Mad is horse number “13 or 14” for Head, eight of which he has currently.

He says: “If you asked my wife she’d say I am definitely at my peak in terms of horses – but way past my peak in everything else!”

Ashley Head with the lightly-raced Britanio Bello, who he thinks could be “superb”

“Sandown was just

tops, a magical day.

Gary [Moore] was visibly shaking and he was so excited” Head used to own greyhounds “when I couldn’t afford horses”, but about 15 years ago, when in South Africa, his friend Gary Player of golfing fame encouraged him to get into ownership of two horses with him.

“When I went back to England soon after the first thing I did was buy a horse,” says Head. “It was nice to be able to afford it and treat myself.”

Head has been involved in horses with a few trainers, but his admiration for Moore is such that it is now difficult to envisage him ever taking his business elsewhere.

“All my life I’ve respected total professionals – I’ve been lucky to work with

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Gary Player and Pele, who are just that – and you won’t find a more dedicated family than the Moores,” he says.

“If you get to know Gary, I just can’t see how you’d go anywhere else. You become part of his family as an owner, and vice-versa.

“I love going to the yard, the whole family are superb – Gary, Jayne, Jamie, Josh and Hayley, and while for me Flat racing is financially impossible, Ryan has ridden a couple of winners for me, and if I do have a runner on a cold night at Windsor or Kempton, Gary just leaves me to Ryan, as he says he’ll know what to do.”

At Sandown Ar Mad provided Head with by far his biggest winner, but while a 14-1 chance it was not a surprise.

“I was certain he was going to win as he had won well there the time before, and we felt that he could match the sort of time Sire De Grugy was going to clock,” he says. “As it happened he was so quick and it was just tops, a magical day. Gary was visibly shaking and he was so excited.

“I would say the best thing about owning a horse is when a plan comes off, when you

target a particular race and win it. I’d been at the yard on the Thursday before the race, and the three or four days up to and including the race were brilliant. We were very confident.”

As promising as Ar Mad is – he was raised 25lb to 155 after his ten-length romp – Head says he has one better, by the name of Britanio Bello, the apple of Hayley Moore’s eye.

“I really think he could be superb,” says Head, who relies on his trainer’s judgement when it comes to purchasing his horses, which for now are arriving from across the Channel.

“There is more value in France than at sales in England,” says Head, who, like with his horses, is as active in business as he ever has been.

“I’ve tried to retire – I bought and sold companies – but my kids call me a serial entrepreneur, and at the moment I’m Chairman of six companies.

“If I have got a runner in the afternoon I’ll wake especially early to get a proper day’s work done before I go racing.”

Work hard, play hard. Not a bad philosophy to take into the New Year.

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Plenty of free racedays for members to attend ROA members can enjoy access to one of three schemes that provide free racecourse admission in 2016: Racecourse Badge Scheme for Owners Members with 50% of a horse in training (including the two nominated partners of syndicate owned horses) will automatically have their Horseracing Privilege Photocard updated for use in the Racecourse Badge Scheme for Owners (RBSO). This enables free admission to cover 1,300 fixtures during the year.

A number of racecourses offer admission for a guest as well. These are Epsom Downs, Hamilton Park, Newbury, Sandown Park and Windsor. Members whose cards have been activated for the scheme can expect to be sent a letter confirming when their card has been activated, and are sent a booklet of participating fixtures.

JCR Admission Scheme Members with up to 50% ownership of a horse in training can enjoy free admission under the Jockey Club Racecourse Admission Scheme (JCR Admission Scheme). This provides free admission to participating Jockey Club Racecourse fixtures for up to two. Badges just need to be booked in advance of the raceday via a special ticketing link in the member login area of the ROA website at roa.co.uk.

Sandown Park: top-quality jump racing included in the badge schemes for 2016

Scottish Racing Admission Scheme ROA members who hold a Horseracing Privilege Photocard and own at least a 5% share in a horse trained in Scotland can apply for the Scottish Racing Admission Scheme. This scheme allows free admission to almost every fixture held at Ayr, Hamilton Park, Kelso, Musselburgh and Perth racecourses. To apply, complete the online form at roa.co.uk (Benefits, Free Admission) or call the ROA on 020 7152 0203.

News in Brief...

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JANUARY 1 ROA/RCA car-parking label The new ROA/RCA car-parking label is effective. Labels were sent out to all members with holders during December.

FEBRUARY 9

No fee increase

Ascot saddling up

We are delighted to report that there will be no increase in the ROA subscription fee in 2016. The membership fee will remain at £230 per year for a single member. This will be the third year that the membership fee has been unchanged.

This is due to the loyal support of members and a continued growth in membership. Joint membership is available on request for £395 for two members living at the same address.

Work has started at Ascot racecourse on the construction of a new unsaddling enclosure. The current area is being expanded and improved and it is expected work will be completed by the start of the Flat season. Procedures for unsaddling in the interim will be communicated prior to and on each raceday. Temporary horse walks will be in place.

New mare owners’ scheme

We encourage feedback from members who have been racing with a runner. An online feedback form can be completed in a matter of minutes online at roa.co.uk.

As a thank you, each month we pick a prize draw winner from the submissions received. The member selected receives £50 of John Lewis vouchers. The November racecourse feedback winner was Rosemary Straker, who owns promising bumper horse Storm Forecast.

The NH Mare Owners’ Prize Scheme will start on January 1. Nominations for eligible fillies born in 2012 will be accepted until January 31 and is just £50 for ROA members. Don’t miss out on the chance to qualify for some great bonuses when your filly wins – up to £10,000 per race. Turn to page 103 for more details or visit thetba.co.uk for further details and a nomination form.

Diary dates and reminders

Feedback winner

ROA regional meeting at Market Rasen The regional meeting will take place before racing. Invitations will be emailed to owners who live locally. Any members interested in attending can contact the ROA on 020 7152 0200 or email info@roa.co.uk

MARCH 15-18 Cheltenham Festival Badges for the ROA marquee at the Cheltenham Festival will go on sale soon. The marquee is located close to the paddock and provides a popular base during the jumps season’s flagship Festival meeting.

APRIL 7 Crabbie’s Aintree offer Members can enjoy free admission on the opening day of the Crabbie’s Grand National Festival. Details of how to take advantage of this offer will appear in the February issue.

Booking for all ROA events can be made online at roa.co.uk or by calling the ROA on 020 7152 0200.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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Jan_137_ROA_Forum_Owner 14/12/2015 18:09 Page 98

ROA FORUM

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Flat Racecourse League Table Ptn Racecourse

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

Ascot York Goodwood Epsom Downs Newmarket Chester Newbury Doncaster Sandown Park Haydock Park Musselburgh Chelmsford City Ayr Ripon Pontefract Salisbury Wetherby Lingfield Park Hamilton Park Thirsk Newcastle Carlisle Kempton Park Beverley Leicester Nottingham Ffos Las Windsor Bath Yarmouth Redcar Catterick Bridge Chepstow Wolverhampton Brighton Southwell Total

Figures for period December 1, 2014 to November 30, 2015

Ownership

Avg racecourse spend per fixture (£)

Avg HBLB spend per fixture (£)

Avg owner spend per fixture (£)

Avg prizemoney per fixture (£)

Total no. of fixtures

Total prize-money (£)

Avg racecourse spend per fixture 2013-14 (£)

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

388,619 188,919 168,936 136,791 105,410 86,530 68,579 66,008 57,439 49,896 39,867 36,867 36,465 34,084 33,032 32,289 32,205 30,933 27,399 27,121 26,159 25,473 25,099 24,486 24,323 23,318 22,888 21,099 20,435 19,876 19,019 18,539 17,669 15,941 14,759 10,954 47,764

139,472 101,606 93,300 79,482 82,238 44,190 66,664 55,763 51,919 45,355 24,136 16,977 34,194 25,913 32,988 28,809 9,725 26,091 19,217 19,250 21,961 16,869 20,260 21,890 23,200 21,304 13,170 20,085 14,305 31,117 19,872 18,609 14,793 19,800 16,181 22,657 33,757

238,948 109,663 60,270 92,702 99,302 10,164 34,603 31,454 23,148 18,729 5,796 4,269 10,857 4,816 3,724 5,354 4,508 4,313 3,776 5,533 6,892 4,389 4,201 3,076 5,054 5,764 3,391 4,872 3,089 6,084 11,276 2,707 3,162 2,957 2,556 2,221 19,875

767,040 401,012 322,506 308,975 287,001 141,217 170,290 153,485 132,880 115,047 69,799 58,160 81,634 64,813 69,744 66,577 47,250 61,337 50,392 51,904 55,449 46,731 49,624 49,702 52,827 50,626 39,449 46,333 38,019 57,077 50,167 40,105 36,249 38,703 33,496 35,832 101,542

18 17 19 11 39 15 18 24 16 23 17 53 17 16 16 16 4 85 18 16 16 13 63 20 21 23 7 28 21 3 18 17 16 98 21 38 881

13,806,712 6,817,200 6,127,610 3,398,725 11,193,049 2,118,260 3,065,213 3,683,650 2,126,088 2,695,379 1,186,591 3,082,505 1,387,783 1,037,000 1,115,902 1,065,238 189,000 5,213,677 907,050 830,468 887,184 607,500 3,126,322 994,030 1,109,365 1,164,399 276,140 1,297,325 798,400 171,230 903,000 681,788 579,982 3,792,882 703,416 1,361,610 89,501,671

360,861 169,619 88,884 118,711 91,930 81,446 55,785 64,832 54,675 47,465 39,444 0 30,759 31,611 30,775 27,442 0 28,062 22,641 27,174 23,350 21,234 20,492 21,852 20,104 19,898 24,490 19,707 17,760 16,478 16,378 16,912 13,169 16,435 12,786 11,395 40,885

Up/ down

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

Jumps Racecourse League Table Ptn Racecourse

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

98

Aintree Cheltenham Ascot Sandown Park Haydock Park Kempton Park Newbury Ayr Kelso Doncaster Wincanton Ludlow Chepstow Cartmel Wetherby Newcastle Musselburgh Perth Stratford-on-Avon Newton Abbot Market Rasen Fakenham Warwick Carlisle Exeter Ffos Las Bangor-on-Dee Huntingdon Uttoxeter Hexham Taunton Catterick Bridge Fontwell Park Lingfield Park Sedgefield Worcester Southwell Leicester Plumpton Towcester Total

Ownership

Avg racecourse spend per fixture (£)

Avg HBLB spend per fixture (£)

Avg owner spend per fixture (£)

Avg prizemoney per fixture (£)

Total no. of fixtures

Total prize-money (£)

Avg racecourse spend per fixture 2013-14 (£)

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

244,253 225,495 140,779 94,959 93,522 50,785 50,192 34,003 27,717 27,639 26,917 26,352 25,348 25,256 25,007 24,600 24,482 24,218 23,882 23,222 23,120 22,631 21,471 20,111 20,063 19,465 19,069 18,779 17,997 16,167 16,065 15,602 15,413 15,013 14,779 14,741 14,160 13,906 13,799 11,925 34,801

129,399 111,870 82,582 79,992 84,279 58,139 67,827 38,558 34,148 41,257 31,725 28,922 30,421 21,388 27,135 32,738 30,827 26,114 18,206 27,195 24,034 20,182 31,199 26,728 27,970 22,269 21,402 21,773 22,795 18,215 22,886 26,527 21,681 27,586 18,704 21,230 19,290 26,827 24,841 16,817 33,364

67,000 55,920 16,077 17,636 16,466 9,962 18,077 10,449 3,150 6,561 5,006 4,451 6,626 4,528 4,848 6,587 4,215 2,439 3,700 0 4,416 0 5,103 4,438 4,855 3,920 4,529 4,025 4,979 2,805 3,956 2,758 3,148 3,607 2,837 3,615 3,296 3,677 3,301 3,085 7,423

440,840 393,285 243,188 195,921 196,116 118,887 137,763 84,160 65,598 76,657 63,811 59,725 62,395 51,171 57,259 63,925 60,174 52,772 45,787 50,418 51,799 42,813 59,540 51,693 53,364 45,654 45,000 44,576 45,889 37,340 42,906 45,087 40,242 46,205 36,661 39,701 37,001 44,410 41,940 32,009 75,963

8 16 8 9 8 13 12 12 12 10 16 16 16 8 16 10 10 14 18 17 21 13 15 12 17 13 15 16 24 15 16 9 21 6 19 20 20 9 17 11 558

3,526,717 6,292,554 1,945,502 1,763,286 1,484,879 1,545,528 1,653,160 1,009,917 787,176 766,566 1,020,968 955,600 998,315 409,368 916,138 639,252 601,737 738,803 824,172 857,102 1,087,771 556,566 893,096 620,311 907,192 593,500 675,004 713,223 1,101,333 560,100 686,503 405,779 845,080 277,232 696,566 794,014 740,014 399,694 712,987 352,100 42,354,804

240,668 216,713 113,375 106,306 85,776 61,601 38,484 30,796 23,635 24,174 25,646 25,017 29,496 24,425 22,993 21,581 22,798 25,650 22,552 21,497 21,244 21,898 20,015 18,546 19,982 17,792 16,002 21,729 17,085 15,757 13,477 15,554 15,362 17,773 12,703 14,083 12,899 12,180 14,426 11,283 33,145

Up/ down

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

EXPLANATION The tables set out the average prize-money at each fixture staged by a racecourse over the last 12 months. They show how this is made up of the three sources of prizemoney: 1. Racecourses’ contribution 2. Levy Board (HBLB) 3. Owners The tables also confirm the number of fixtures staged and the total amount of prize-money paid out by each racecourse throughout this period.

The racecourses are ordered by the average amount of their own contribution to prizemoney at each fixture. This contribution originates from various sources including media rights, admission revenues and racecourse sponsors.

If a racecourse has increased its average contribution at each fixture compared with the previous 12 months, it receives a green ‘up’ arrow. If its average contribution has fallen, however, it receives a red ‘down’ arrow.

As these tables are based on the prize-money paid out by each racecourse, the abandonment of a major fixture could distort a racecourse’s performance.

OWNERSHIP KEY JCR Jockey Club Racecourses

ARC Arena Racing Company

I Independently owned racecourse Gold Standard Award

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Jan_137_TBA_Forum_Owner 14/12/2015 15:17 Page 100

TBA FORUM The special section for TBA members

The TBA NH Stallion Parade at Cheltenham Despite a very wet start to the day, the skies cleared in time for the TBA’s National Hunt Stallion Parade at Cheltenham on Countryside Day for the first day of the Open meeting, November 13. The crowds enjoyed the opportunity before racing got underway to inspect nine fine stallions as they were shown off simultaneously in the parade ring, including Coronation Cup winner Pether’s Moon, who is starting his new career at Yorton Farm Stud.

Commentary was provided by Tim Kent of Doncaster Bloodstock Sales, with each stallion parading individually in the winner’s enclosure, allowing mare owners the chance to see each horse before heading to

the TBA marquee to discuss plans for their mares with the stallions’ connections. Breeders then had the opportunity to participate in the silent auction of stallion nominations, kindly donated by the respective owners, with the hope of firming up mating plans there and then. All proceeds from the auction will go towards TBA NH initiatives.

The TBA would like to especially thank the stallion parade sponsors, the British European Breeders’ Fund, Doncaster Bloodstock Sales and Weatherbys General Stud Book Ltd, as well as Tim Kent and the stallion studs who so generously gave their time to making the event such a success.

winner of ten races between 10.5 and 16 furlongs, valued £5,271,884. His career exploits included Group 1 wins in the Caulfield Cup, Hong Kong Vase and Melbourne Cup. Dunaden stands at Overbury Stud and his first foals are due in 2016.

St Leger less than a month after his decisive victory in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York. He returned to the racecourse the following season to win the Group 2 Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket, winning by a length and a quarter from Papal Bull.

GENTLEWAVE

MOUNTAIN HIGH

Monsun ex Saumareine (Saumarez) Gentlewave is a son of Monsun, the former champion stallion in Germany. A Classic winner himself, Gentlewave won the Group 1 Derby Italiano by a convincing four lengths. He then went on to contest the Irish Derby, beaten only

by Dylan Thomas. A consistent performer on the track, Gentlewave ran a total of six races, winning four and twice finishing in the runnerup position. He is the sire of black-type winners Pagera, Billabong, Vangaug, My Old Husband, Wevanella, Victorinna and Gentle Storm.

Danehill ex Hellenic (Darhsaan) New to Dunraven Stud in 2016, Mountain High previously stood in Ireland. He is a proven NH sire with black type progeny including Lite Duties, Collen Beag and Mountain Of Mourne.

Mountain High was the winner of four races on the Flat from ten to 12 furlongs, winning the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud as a fiveyear-old on his penultimate start.

BLUE BRESIL Smadoun ex Miss Recif (Exit To Nowhere) New to Yorton Farm Stud’s roster for 2016, Blue Bresil arrives from France as a proven sire of black type-winning NH stock. In his first crop of four-year-olds to make their racecourse debuts, Babylone Des Motte, trained by Willie Mullins, won the Listed EBF Stallions/TBA Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race at Sandown. Blue Bresil is one of very few stallions to have had a consistent career both over jumps and on the Flat. He retired the winner of three races and commenced stud duties in 2010.

PETHER’S MOON LUCARNO DUNADEN Nicobar ex La Marlia (Kaldounevees) New to the TBA NH Stallion Parade line-up was the hugely successful international campaigner Dunaden. He retired from the track in 2014 the

100

Dynaformer ex Vignette (Diesis) Bred by George Strawbridge and now jointly owned with Shade Oak Stud, Lucarno was the champion three-year-old stayer in Europe in 2007. A Classic winner on the Flat, he took the

Dylan Thomas ex Softly Tread (Tirol) New to stud in 2016 is Group 1 Coronation Cup winner Pether’s Moon. A consistent horse who ran for four consecutive seasons, Pether’s Moon retired as the winner of seven races from eight to 12 furlongs, and more than £500,000 in prize-money. The son of Dylan Thomas will stand at David Futter’s Yorton Farm Stud.

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www.thetba.co.uk

UNIVERSAL SCHIAPARELLI

RECHARGE Cape Cross ex Rebelline (Robellino) Recharge will stand at Shade Oak Stud for the 2016 season, after returning from stud duties in France. He retired to stud in 2011 the winner of three races from eight to nine and a half furlongs, including the Group 3 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes and the Listed Glencairn Stakes.

Monsun ex Sacarina (Old Vic) Schiaparelli stands at Overbury Stud in Gloucestershire. A talented and durable racehorse, Schiaparelli won more than £800,000 in prize-money. He raced for four consecutive seasons, winning five Group 1 races among 12 career victories, including the Deutsches Derby, Deutschlandpreis, Preis von Europa and Gran Premio Del Jockey Club (twice). His first crop are four-year-olds in 2016.

Dubawi ex Winesong (Giant’s Causeway) Universal was a dual Group 2 winner, landing the Jockey Club Stakes and Princess of Wales’s Stakes, beating Group 1 winners Cavalryman and Wigmore Hall. The son of Dubawi also landed the Group 3 John Porter Stakes and concluded his career with a fifth-place finish in the Group 1 King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. His trainer Mark Johnston said: “Universal was a tough and genuine racehorse, who was steadily improving through the ranks. I was confident that a Group 1 victory would have come his way.”

Tea In Transvaal wins TBA Listed contest on Hennessy Gold Cup day

Annette Bell joins the TBA team

TBA National Hunt Committee member Bryan Mayoh presents the award to Tea In Transvaal’s owners Mr & Mrs Mark Haines and their son William

Tea in Transvaal (Teofilo ex Mpumalanga) took the honours in the Listed TBA Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury on November 28.

Paul Moloney guided the four-year-old to a comfortable six-length victory on the soft

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

ground, with Colla Pier and Ruby Rambler filling the second and third positions.

The race, which was the first on the Hennessy card, attracted seven runners and underlines the TBA’s commitment to supporting opportunities for racemares.

Annette Bell joined the team at Stanstead House in December as the new Membership and Marketing Executive.

Annette brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously worked for Godolphin in the head office.

Upon her appointment, Annette said: “I look forward to working with the TBA team at Stanstead House. I will be working closely with our members and regional representatives on various projects in the coming months. The recently launched NH Club is an exciting initiative for our members and I am pleased to be a part of delivering this new scheme.”

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TBA diary dates TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29 The Betdaq.com TBA Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Mares-only Racecourse Award) At Doncaster.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 17 EBF/TBA Mares-only Novices’ Chase At Kelso.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20 EBF/TBA Mares-only Novices’ Chase At Newbury.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30 EBF/TBA Mares-only Novices’ Chase At Uttoxeter.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 TBA Flat Stallion Parade At Tattersalls, Newmarket.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22 Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards At the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel, London.

NEW MEMBERS Elizabeth Korman, Suffolk Sophie Buckley, Northamptonshire Geoff Fairfoull, Oxfordshire Peter A. C. Elphinstone, Essex Victoria Murrell, Suffolk Racehorse Photos, Surrey Mark Vickers, Surrey Jonathan Babb, Shropshire Kirsty Durham, Gloucestershire John Webb, Monaco Malcolm McDonald Hooker, Dorset Rebecca Smith, Norfolk

The annual TBA Flat Stallion Parade takes place at Tattersalls on February 4

Flat sires take to the spotlight The TBA’s annual Flat Stallion Parade will take place on Thursday, February 4 at Tattersalls, Park Paddocks, prior to the start of the February Sale at 10am. The event is a fantastic opportunity for breeders to view a number of outstanding stallions from across the UK simultaneously at one venue.

As in previous years, each stallion will be shown individually in the sales ring. Following the parade, breeders are invited to inspect the stallions, when they can also speak with the stallions’ connections about their mating plans for the season. All attendees are also warmly welcome to join the TBA team and members in the designated hospitality space for refreshments.

For further details, please contact the TBA office on 01638 661321 or visit the website for updates: www.thetba.co.uk.

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Codes of Practice 2016 The 2016 edition of the Codes of Practice has now been mailed to all TBA members.

The content is also available online at http://codes.hblb.org.uk/ – if you have not yet received your copy, please do not hesitate to contact the TBA office.

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THE NH MARE OWNERS’ PRIZE SCHEME A major initiative to help British NH breeders The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association is delighted to announce that it has received confirmation from the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) that the National Hunt Mare Owners’ Prize Scheme (NH MOPS) will be introduced from January 2016. This follows prolonged discussion of the scheme during which the TBA received support from the Horsemen’s Group and BHA, which was significant in helping the HBLB reach this important decision.

Background For several years, the TBA has been seeking to raise awareness of the parlous position of British National Hunt breeding. The Economic Impact Survey carried out by PwC demonstrated the financial difficulties facing NH breeders. Foremost amongst these is the low demand for fillies as racing prospects, which results in losses to breeders on the vast majority of fillies that are sold.

Since 2008 there has been an alarming decline in the number of NH foals produced in both Great Britain and Ireland. This poses an increasing threat to the competitiveness of NH racing. The obvious way of addressing this is to race more of the horses that have already been produced and at the same time encourage breeders to produce more NH horses in the future. This can best be achieved by incentivising the racing of more NH mares.

NH MOPS does this, but since it relies on public funds generated by betting on British racing, it is specifically targeted to help the British NH breeding industry.

Objectives of the scheme • Improve demand at sales for British-bred or -sired fillies aimed at NH racing, thereby generating a greatly improved economic climate for their breeders so as to ensure the survival of British NH breeding.

• Maintain the NH racing programme in the face of significant declines in crop sizes by encouraging much greater use of mares, which presently represent an under-used resource.

• Supplement the efforts made by the BHA to create a coherent racing programme for NH mares by awarding significantly greater prizes for successful females winning appropriate races.

• Overcome the traditional antipathy of many trainers to racing mares and encourage them to race them more often.

• Ensure that more mares are tested as NH racehorses, thus underpinning selection for breeding on the basis of racing ability.

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Details of the scheme NH MOPS will be confined to filly foals that were either bred in Great Britain or produced by British-domiciled stallions and that have been nominated as potential NH racehorses by their breeders (or owners in the case of foals that have already been sold). The filly foals born in 2012 are the first that will be eligible for NH MOPS prizes. The requirements for nomination are detailed below. All income from nominations will be used to publicise and administer the scheme.

NH MOPS prizes are allocated as for normal prize-money between owner, trainer, jockey and stable staff. Since the majority of funding for the scheme is derived from the general prize money allocation of the HBLB, no prizes go to breeders.

However, breeders are expected to benefit from the higher prices realised by fillies eligible to NH MOPS and from MOPS prizes if they race their own stock. The awards are: • £10,000 for wins in Class 1-2 open races, Class 1-4 novice chases & hurdles; • £5,000 for wins in NH Flat races.

In order to support the mares-only racing programme and to aid promotion of the scheme and monitoring of its effects on field sizes, the scheme is confined to mares-only races.

Prizes will be reduced by 50% for fields of less than eight runners, and for an individual horse will be confined to a maximum of £50,000 for results in Class 2-6 races, plus a further £50,000 for results in Class 1 races. The scheme will begin on January 1.

The introduction of NH MOPS involves a significant commitment from the HBLB to British NH breeding. The TBA and its NH Committee have been arguing for the initiative for several years and very much hope that British NH breeders will support the scheme and nominate their fillies.

Benefits It is anticipated that providing big incentives for British-bred mares aimed at NH racing will have an immediate impact on both the viability of British NH breeding and the competitiveness of the NH racing programme: • It will encourage more owners and trainers to buy and race mares, helping to offset the recent declines in NH foal crops by utilising a neglected part of the thoroughbred population.

• By offering owners the prospect of quick rewards from wins in eligible races it will increase demand for British-produced mares.

This will improve financial returns for British breeders of NH horses and for stallion owners, underpinning future production of foals for NH racing.

• By encouraging the racing of increased numbers of mares it will allow more to be tested as breeding prospects, thus allowing greater selection of breeding stock on the basis of racing ability and thereby improving the NH breed in the future.

• Many of the owners of successful mares are likely to retain them and become breeders themselves, thus ensuring a flow of new entrants into the industry.

The TBA believes that the introduction of NH MOPS is a major step in safeguarding the future of the British NH breeding industry and the quality and competitiveness of the NH racing programme. The Association would like to express its appreciation to the BHA and the Horsemen’s Group for supporting the initiative, and is particularly grateful for the decision of the HBLB to support the scheme despite the present uncertainty in regard to the 2016/2017 levy.

Action required by breeders and owners In normal circumstances filly foals will be nominated to NH MOPS by their breeders.

However, some of the foals born from 2012 to 2015 will have been sold to new owners and in this case the owner should nominate the horse.

Conditions and fees for NH MOPS nominations • Fillies of 2012: Not to have run in any Flat race prior to nomination. Nominations close December 31 at a standard fee of £50.

• Fillies of 2013: Not to have run prior to nomination. Nominations close March 31 at a standard fee of £50.

• In addition to the standard fee an administration charge of £100 will apply to each horse nominated by a person that is not a member of either the TBA or the ROA. Nomination forms will be mailed to all registered breeders of GB-bred filly foals born in 2012/2013 and registered as being intended for National Hunt or dual purpose racing. It would be very helpful if breeders that have sold a NHbred or dual-purpose filly foal could advise the current owner about the scheme and of the need to take action to nominate the filly.

The TBA will be initially responsible for administering the scheme. Additional nomination forms can be obtained from the TBA office at Stanstead House, 8 The Avenue, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 9AA. All completed nomination forms, along with the appropriate payment made payable to ‘The TBA’, should be returned to the above address.

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Breeders’ Prizes National Hunt HBLB Breeders’ Prizes worth £1,000 or more Breeder

Horse

Sire

Dam

Date

Course

Exors of the late Mrs J E Scrase

1,750

Brother Tedd

Kayf Tara

Neltina

02/11/2015

Kempton Park

Wood Farm Stud

1,000

Yanworth

Norse Dancer

Yota

03/11/2015

Exeter

Margaret Cuff

1,500

Willow’s Saviour

Septieme Ciel

Willow Gale

04/11/2015

Warwick

Jethro Bloodstock

4,000

Drop Out Joe

Generous

La Feuillarde

07/11/2015

Wincanton

Exors of the late Lord Oaksey

4,000

Coneygree

Karinga Bay

Plaid Maid

08/11/2015

Sandown Park

St Clare Hall Stud

1,750

Foxcub

Bahri

Foxglove

11/11/2015

Bangor-On-Dee

Shade Oak Stud

1,250

Wizards Bridge

Alflora

Island Hopper

11/11/2015

Exeter

D J and Mrs Deer

1,000

Modus

Motivator

Alessandra

12/11/2015

Taunton

M J McMahon

1,250

Kylemore Lough

Revoque

One Of The Last

14/11/2015

Uttoxeter

M M Hooker

1,250

Buckhorn Timothy

Tamure

Waimea Bay

15/11/2015

Fontwell Park

R B McKay

1,500

Cresswell Breeze

Midnight Legend

Cresswell Willow

19/11/2015

Wincanton

Elms Stud Co Ltd

1,500

Thomas Brown

Sir Harry Lewis

Tentsmuir

20/11/2015

Ascot

Cue Card

King’s Theatre

Wicked Crack

21/11/2015

Haydock Park

R T Crellin

Prize (£)

Based on date money was paid

10,000

D J and Mrs Deer

1,000

Modus

Motivator

Alessandra

26/11/2015

Newbury

Michael Griese and Mrs Mary Griese

2,500

Little Jon

Pasternak

Jowoody

27/11/2015

Newbury

W B Mactaggart

6,000

Three Musketeers

Flemensfirth

Friendly Craic

27/11/2015

Newbury

R F and S D Knipe

6,000

Thistlecrack

Kayf Tara

Ardstown

28/11/2015

Newbury

See Breeders' Prizes table effective from January 1 on TBA website, www.thetba.co.uk. Prizes subject to confirmation of qualification with Weatherbys

Celebrating the jumping mares Above left: TBA regional representative John Needham (right) presents Ed Arkell with Fontwell’s ‘Mares-only Racecourse Award’ in recognition of its support of mares races Above right: TBA Board member Anthea Gibson Fleming (third right) presents the trophy to the winning connections of Lily Waugh after the mytotepool.com Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Mares’ Handicap Hurdle at Taunton Left: Racecourse Chairman Mike Foden receives Taunton’s ‘Mares-only Racecourse Award’ from TBA board member Anthea Gibson Fleming

104

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Jan_137_BreederOfTheMonth_Owner 14/12/2015 15:15 Page 106

BREEDER OF THE MONTH

www.thetba.co.uk

Words Alan Yuill Walker Sponsored by

Manufacturers of

NH BREEDER OF THE MONTH – October/November Two of Cue Card’s three Grade 1 triumphs during the calendar year 2013, the Ascot Chase in February and the Betfair Chase in November, earned Roland Crellin a Breeder of the Month award.

After finishing runner-up in that year’s King George VI Chase, little went to plan for the Colin Tizzard-trained son of King’s Theatre.

However, an operation to help his breathing seems to have worked the oracle, testament indeed to the expertise of the veterinary profession.

Cue Card gained a first victory for nearly two years in the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on the last day of October – and three weeks later the nine-year-old defeated his old rival Silviniaco Conti to equal that opponent’s record for two Betfair Chase victories.

The Charlie Hall Chase commemorates one of the stalwarts of the National Hunt scene during the 1950/60s. Based at Tadcaster in his native Yorkshire, Charlie Hall’s name was indelibly linked with Clifford Nicholson of Limestone Stud for whom he trained 1956 Champion Hurdle hero Doorknocker.

Most of Charlie Hall’s horses were chasers, amongst them Culworth and Stormhead, both dual winners of the Topham Trophy. He also won the Aintree feature with Clear Cut, whom his successor and stepson Maurice Camacho trained to win the Mackeson Gold Cup. Charlie was an elder brother of Middleham trainer Sam Hall and both died within weeks of one another in 1977.

Although the Betfred Chase has only been in existence since 2005 it is steeped in history. Still registered as the Lancashire Chase, it proved one of the most important staying chases in the calendar when run at Manchester from its inauguration in 1884 until the course closed in 1963. Two dual post-war winners were Coloured Schoolboy and Hart Royal.

The temporary hiccup to Cue Card’s racing career is nothing compared to his dam’s in-and-out breeding record. In five consecutive years (2009-2013) Wicked Crack failed to have any progeny. Then in 2014 she produced a colt from the final crop of the Coolmore resident Gold Well. Last season aged 22, she foaled a Milan filly in late June before visiting Leading Light.

Over the years Roland Crellin has paid some substantial prices for bloodstock and it cost him €120,000 to secure Wicked Crack through Tattersalls Ireland in 2002 carrying her first foal. Successful six times,

106

GEORGE SELWYN

Roland Crellin

Cue Card: top-class performer for the Colin Tizzard stable

over hurdles and fences, she had finished second in the Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow and her half-brother, Whats The Creek, was third in the Sun Alliance Chase.

Crellin’s mentor was Richard Aston, from whose Goldford Stud Cue Card realised €75,000 as a yearling at the Tattersalls Ireland February Sale in 2007. Between them Cue Card and his elder half-brother Hidden Crack were responsible for Wicked Crack being voted the TBA’s National Hunt Broodmare of the Year for 2012/13. Her retained daughter The Wicked Kipper is an own-sister to Cue Card.

Roland Crellin, who is engaged in various business enterprises, owns the 300-acre Brook Farm at Penhow, east of Newport in Gwent, and the Welshman used to run as many as 10,000 sheep in the Chepstow area. While their numbers have declined, his broodmare band has expanded with a number of high profile acquisitions.

Indeed, on the Saturday preceding Cue Card’s Haydock Park victory, the Grade 1-winning hurdler Adriana Des Mottes, a five-yearold by Network, who was trained by Willie Mullins for Susannah Ricci, was procured for €145,000, carrying to Shantou, the top price at the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale.

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107

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Jan_137_Vet_Forum_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 15:33 Page 110

VET FORUM: THE EXPERT VIEW

By ROB PILSWORTH MRCVS

Not so glorious mud The cold, wet winter brings with it plenty of frustrations for horse owners, such as two common seasonal skin conditions, mud fever and rain scald

T

he winter weather brings with it a cluster of season-specific skin disorders that can be a real nuisance to our horses. In this article we explain why we think two of these diseases develop, and what steps can be taken to minimise their impact.

Pastern and heel dermatitis (‘mud fever’) This is one of the most common clinical syndromes that we see, both on the stud farm and in horses in training. It can be a complex condition involving several different causes, but whatever the position when the horse is affected enough to gain attention, this condition probably always starts in a similar way. It is associated with repetitive wetting of the distal limb, in conjunction with contamination and abrasion by mud, or more commonly nowadays the sand-based synthetic track surfaces on which most horses train. This explains the significant increase in the condition during the winter. Having said that, many racehorses can be affected through the summer months, simply by walking through grass which has a high early morning dew cover, then training on sandbased surfaces.

Horses with white limbs for some reason seem more predisposed to developing problems than horses with pigmented skin. There is a tendency for recurrence in affected horses because some of these horses have abnormally shaped heels where there are deep skin folds which develop when the leg is flexed (Fig 1).

These make skin on skin abrasion more likely, which encourages bacterial infection.

Fig 1 This horse has a particularly deep heel-fold, produced because of a ‘shunted-up’ inner heel. Debris and exudate have accumulated in this heel cleft, predisposing it to the development of infection. This can be seen only when the heel-fold is fully opened out, and is easily missed when the leg is picked up in the normal manner

between the skin and the other structures of the leg, and in the lymphatic vessels. It can lead to profound lameness if left untreated.

Once the tissues have become infected, they become swollen, then this tends to occlude the

skin folds even more tightly as the leg is flexed (Fig 4). This makes cleaning and treatment of the leg much more difficult, so a vicious circle ensues as a result of limb swelling.

In other cases the infection does not progress

How does it start?

Often the first sign of problems is reddening, mild crusting and scab formation in the crease lines of the folded heel (Fig 2). In order to see this clearly, once the limb is picked up pressure has to be applied to the toe in order to open out the heel so that these skin folds can be properly seen. This inflammation is produced by bacterial infection in the skin, often starting in the hair follicles. If left untreated these cracks become ulcers in the skin (Fig 3) which are very easily infected more deeply, and the condition can progress to a painful swollen leg.

This condition, which we often describe as ‘mud fever’, is really termed cellulitis, and occurs when infection tracks up the available space

110

Fig 2 The early stage of ‘cracked heels’. The distribution of crusting and serum exudation mirror the two folds of the heel which develop when the leg is normally flexed during exercise (arrows)

Fig 3 Here the lesions have become much more extensive and now cover the whole of the pastern. The leg has started to swell as a result of the infection, and this horse is rapidly heading towards painful ‘mud fever’

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Jan_137_Vet_Forum_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 15:33 Page 111

cannot chew and tighten the polythene wrap.

Once the scabs and crusts have softened they can be gently washed away with a suitable surgical scrub solution, provided by your veterinary surgeon and diluted appropriately.

If significant crusting remains after one ‘soak’, the debriding procedure can be repeated.

Once down to healthy skin, topical treatment with an antibiotic ointment recommended by your vet can commence. It’s useful to keep the limb covered if possible for several days with twice daily bandage changes and a clean nonstick dressing, in order to keep dirt and contamination out of the infected areas.

Creams and ointments containing corticosteroids should be avoided as they delay skin healing.

Fig 4 Once the leg is markedly swollen, the folds of skin over the heels and beneath the ergot become even more tightly compressed, and this leads to a vicious circle of further infection, inflammation and swelling

to the deeper tissues but just spreads to form a coalescing mass of firmly adherent scabs and crusts, which result in topical soreness of the heel and can eventually result in lameness (Fig 3). In other horses the condition progresses to a long-term condition where the hair becomes matted in discharge, grease and crusting, and the limb becomes thickened. This is sometimes termed ‘greasy heel’, but all of these conditions share a common origin and are just stages along the continuum of the disease process.

Management Unfortunately there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to this condition, as there is so much variation in the shape of the horse’s individual leg, the conditions of wetting and contamination, and the stage of progression of the disease. Some long-standing cases in which there has been significant chronic skin thickening and scarring present an almost incurable problem. Certain basic principles, however, can be followed – particularly in the early cases – which will be rewarding.

All dead skin, scabs and crusting exudates need to be debrided from the leg before any topical ointments or treatments are applied.

This debridement needs to be done gently and can be done using creams especially made for the purpose, such as Dermisol (Pfizer).

This cream needs to be applied thickly. Once the cream is covering all the necrotic lesions, a piece of ‘cling-film’ can be very loosely wrapped over the top of it to maintain the debriding effect. It’s important if cling film is used that a conventional stable bandage and pad are applied over the top of it, so that the horse THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Prevention Avoiding chronic wetting of the distal pastern and fetlock is the most obvious advice – and also the advice which is most often impossible to follow. Once the skin is normal, prevention can be aided by the application of a light barrier cream prior to exercise or daily turn-out.

Petroleum jelly or Hydrous Wool Fat B.P. (lanolin) are both useful to this end but need to be applied very sparingly. Some equine practices make up special heel ointments to fill this niche, which are often very effective (e.g. NEH Grey Heel Ointment). Thick layers of barrier cream will pick up sand and soil particles, and result in physical abrasion of the skin interfaces, leading to further problems. If you can see the barrier cream in position then you have probably put too much on!

In conjunction with barrier creams, gentle washing of the distal limb when coming in from exercise or daily turn-out can be carried out, once the limb is already wet. This is best done using warm water and normal soap rather than strong detergents and shampoos.

Most important of all, once the limb is clean it should be dried meticulously and the deep skin folds at the back of the heels patted dry with paper towel. with the heel extended to open them up fully. Putting the horse into the stable with soaking wet legs following washing will only encourage the development of further moisture-associated dermatitis as these are unlikely to dry out once embedded in deep bedding. Cases involving cellulitis, resulting in limb oedema, swelling and lameness, which we tend to regard as the typical ‘mud fever’, will require antibiotics and probably antiinflammatory analgesic drugs from your vet.

Dermatophilosis (‘rain scald’) Dermatophilosis, or ‘rain scald’, as its name suggests, is the result of marked wetting of the skin. It most commonly occurs along the dorsal surface of the horse, because this is obviously

Fig 5 The characteristic ‘run-off’ pattern of rain-fall on a horse’s back.

These inverted V-shapes, which always occur in the same sites, often give a clue as to the cause of the skin problem as the lesions will follow the same distribution

where the major impact of rainfall occurs in horses turned out without rugs. However, it can occur in any site on the body subjected to chronic wetting, such as the distal limb and the forehead. Dermatophilosis can be implicated in the cracked heel mud fever complex we’ve just described. The lesion distribution in rain scald often mimics closely the run-off pattern of a soaked horse. Water runs off a horse in a very characteristic way (Fig 5) and these inverted V-shapes of affected skin are often where the lesions of dermatophilus infection are visualised, as well as along the top of the back.

Fig 6 A severe case of dematophilosis (‘rain-scald’) affecting the whole of the quarters of a horse that has been turned away without rugs. Despite the obvious marked skin changes, this horse was left with no scarring once the condition resolved

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>>

Jan_137_Vet_Forum_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 15:34 Page 112

VET FORUM

Fig 7 A close up of the typical appearance of dermatophilosis.

When the hair is lifted, areas of greeny-yellow discharge and pink inflamed skin are visualised (courtesy of Derek Knottenbelt)

>> Clinical signs

Early on in the disease there may simply be mild tenderness to the skin and crust formation. The bacteria responsible, Dermatophilus congolensis, lives in the horse’s coat as an opportunistic pathogen and is not found as a free-living agent in the environment.

The infection often starts in the hair follicles and this infection rapidly spreads and coalesces to produce an exudative sheet of serum and crust which gives the skin a typically ‘cardboardlike’ feel (Fig 6). Often if these crusts are gently lifted a greeny-yellow purulent accumulation can be seen underneath and the skin surface so exposed itself is usually bright red (Fig 7).

Diagnosis The diagnosis can be made by the typical lesion distribution and the history of recent chronic wetting. However, it can be confirmed quite easily by the vet taking a small amount of the exudative material and examining it under a microscope suitably stained. The bacteria has a very characteristic appearance often described

112

Fig 8 A photomicrograph of skin debris, at the centre of which is a branching filament of dermatophilosis congolensis. This has a very characteristic appearance and is the gold standard diagnostic confirmation for the disease (courtesy of Rossdales)

as a branching railway line (Fig 8).

Because the infection splits off the surface layers of the skin, when hairs are pulled out they tend to pull out in clumps, to give the typical Dermatophilus ‘paintbrush’ (Fig 9).

Treatment and management Mainstay of treatment is getting the horse in, out of the rain, to interrupt the cycle of chronic wetting. These horses are best stabled without rugs or blankets so that the skin can completely dry out. Wild horses such as Dartmoor ponies living out year round rarely develop ‘rain scald’, presumably because of the protective grease which eventually develops in the hair coat. This lanolin-like material provides very good waterproofing and if the coat of one of these ponies is parted, even after a heavy rainfall, the skin surface itself is often completely dry.

When we interfere with the natural coat by clipping and shampooing the coat, we remove this waterproofing layer and this probably predisposes horses to the development of rain

Fig 9 The typical dermatophilus ‘paintbrushes’. Because the infection tracks along the under-surface of the skin, unlike the situation with ringworm which invades only the dead surface layers, when the hairs are pulled out whole tufts of skin come away in one unit, giving this characteristic ‘paintbrush’ appearance

scald. Once these badly affected horses are brought under cover, the scabs and crusts will eventually slough as the new coat grows, but this can be aided by washing the skin once or twice with a chlorhexidine scrub solution which will help to kill all the bacteria. Severely affected horses may require a full course of antibiotics from the vet. Procaine penicillin is a relatively inexpensive drug which is effective against the Dermatophilus organism but would need to be given daily for at least five days. Lesions often occur on the belly and the front of the cannonbones in National Hunt horses where chronic wetting and mud spattering can produce dermatophilus infection, even in the absence of living out in the rain. Horses prone to this can have a topical barrier cream applied prior to exercise to reduce skin soaking and contamination.

With the end of winter these diseases become less of a problem, and the summer specialists of fly-bite hypersensitivity, sweat rash and other assorted delights take over. These we will cover in a later article.

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Jan_137_DrStatz_Owner Breeder 14/12/2015 16:55 Page 114

DR STAT JOHN BOYCE CRACKS THE CODE

Plenty are prepared to snap up Kodiac yearlings for good money Tally-Ho stallion, who stood for €7,500 in 2013, proving attractive and had a profitable 2015

T

attersalls’ December Yearling Sale marked the end of another year of selling yearlings in Britain and Ireland and after unprecedented growth in the past four years the market’s rate of growth did stall somewhat in 2015. Now commercial breeders must decide where the value lies as they conjure with recently announced stud fees for 2016.

Has the yearling market peaked? Should we plan on better returns in three years’ time?

Looking at the select sales of Arqana, Goffs Orby, Doncaster Premier and Tattersalls October 1 and 2, it does indeed look like it has reached a peak. If you sold in the aforementioned sales

Sires ranked by % profitable yearlings sold Sire

Sold

% in Profit

Kodiac

89

93.3

Cacique

12

91.7

Frankel

17

88.2

Dark Angel

127

87.4

Dubawi

15

86.7

Shamardal

32

84.4

Invincible Spirit

55

83.6

Zoffany

62

80.6 10+ sold

this year, you can have no cause for complaint as the top 30% of the combined market moved forward yet again in 2015 and it is 88% ahead of where it was a mere five years ago. Further down, there were some signs of contraction, but only just. Perhaps the most significant evidence of a downturn in the market can be demonstrated by Tattersalls October Book 2 returns: this year expenditure per yearling offered was down 5,000 guineas on last year.

So, what sires were the most successful in 2015? Our terms of reference include three measures: an index that compares median price to the stallion fee at the time of conception; the percentage of yearlings that were profitable after we deduct an upkeep charge of £15,000; and finally a net margin of profit after we also deduct

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Sires ranked by ratio of median to 2013 fee Sire

Median £

Med x Fee

Dubawi

609,000

8.12

Kodiac

47,250

7.54

Showcasing

33,600

7.47

Le Havre

29,549

7.08

Zoffany

44,100

7.04

Siyouni

40,629

6.95

Dark Angel

63,000

6.29

Soldier Hollow

30,657

6.12 10+ sold

the same upkeep charge. All three measures give sires of ten or more yearlings sold from all levels an opportunity to excel.

The award for the highest number of profitable yearlings goes to Kodiac. The TallyHo stallion, who stood for €7,500 in 2013, had a great year, siring more juvenile winners than any other European sire. His achievements set yearling buyers alight, so much so that 83 of his 89 yearlings (93%) sold showed a profit.

To underline further how sellers of Kodiacs made their money, the three-parts brother to Invincible Spirit also occupies second place on our table arranged by the times a sire’s median price eclipsed his fee. His score of 7.54 would even be impressive if it were an expression of the stallion’s average times fee. In terms of the average actual profit made by the Kodiacs, that number is £41,537, which places him in 20th place among all sires, which is not a bad effort for a €7,500 stallion.

Another sire whose stock excelled on the racecourse in 2015 was Dark Angel, who did remarkably well at the sales from a fee of €12,500. In all, 111 of his yearlings sold (92%) were profitable, with no fewer Group 2 heroine Besharah advertised the talents of her sire Kodiac in 2015

than 43 making £100,000 or more. His top price was his Tattersalls Book 1 filly out of Folga, which sold for 825,000 guineas. Other relatively inexpensive sires to hit home runs were Zoffany, Siyouni and Showcasing. Among the £30,000plus sires on the table, Frankel, Dubawi, Shamardal and Invincible Sprit all recorded profitability ratios of 80% or higher.

When comparing a sire’s median as a ratio of his yearlings’ conception fee, the leader is Dubawi with a score of 8.12. Yearlings by Dubawi on the open market are a rarity these days and his 15 sold, including the two highest prices in Europe, produced a massive median

Sires ranked by average yearling profit Sire Dubawi

Average £

Profit £

694,294

604,294

Frankel

474,631

334,631

Oasis Dream

274,908

179,908

Galileo

437,677

172,111

Shamardal

225,565

168,804

Invincible Spirit

225,068

155,779

Raven’s Pass

175,256

135,199

Redoute’s Choice

205,699

132,233 10+ sold

price of £609,000, twice that of his nearest pursuer. With the exception of Dubawi, this is a ranking dominated by the cheaper stallions; the aforementioned Kodiac, French sire Le Havre, plus Zoffany and Siyouni hold high rank.

In terms of actual profit per yearling sold, Dubawi again did best, posting a figure of £604,294, clear of Frankel’s £334,631. Oasis Dream, Galileo, Shamardal, Invincible Spirit, Raven’s Pass and Redoute’s Choice were the only other stallions to record six-figure profits.

That’s the good news about the successful commercial sires. But it is sobering to know that of the 127 sires with ten or more yearlings sold in Europe in 2015, as many as 50 (39%) failed to post a positive average profit figure, and 41 (32%) didn’t manage the industry benchmark of three times conception fee. And all this in a time when prices are still pretty much at their highest. Major fee readjustments could be the order of the day in the coming years.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Beechwood Grange OB Jan 2016 f-p_Beechwood Grange OB Jan 2016 f-p 14/12/2015 09:54 Page 1

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

FEE:

£1,250

Group Winner from a Star-Studded Stallion Family Desideratum won 4 races, £152,677, at 3 years, and was placed 3 times, all his starts.

Won Gr.3 Prix du Lys, 12f. Longchamp, “totally outclassed his three rivals” Raceform Won LR Prix de l'Avre, 12f, Longchamp, by 21⁄2 lengths, beating Kendor Dine (Gr.3), etc.

2nd Gr.1 Grand Prix de Paris, 12f, Longchamp, beating Plea Bargain (Gr.2), Bellamy Cay (Gr.2), Laverock (Gr.1), Musketier (Gr.3), etc.

4th Gr.2 Prix Noailles, 11f, Longchamp.

Racehorses of 2005: 118 (same rating as Gr.1 winner Laverock)

Sire of Bumper winners and point to point including Desilvano - 3 wins rated 133 & Rhymers Stone - 3 wins

Haafhd

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

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

FEE:

£3,000

Won 5 races at 2 and 3 years, 6-10f, £492,288, and was placed 3 times, all but one of his starts.

Won Gr.1 2,000 Guineas Stakes, 8f, Newmarket by 1¾ lengths, beating Gr.1 winners Azamour, Grey Swallow, Whipper, Bachelor Duke, etc.

Won Gr.1 Champion Stakes, 10f, Newmarket by 2½ lengths, beating Gr.1 winners Chorist, Azamour, Refuse To Bend, Doyen, etc.

Won Gr.3 Craven Stakes, 8f, Newmarket, by 5 lengths, beating Three Valleys.

Won LR

Washington Singer Stakes, 7f, Newbury, at 2 years

3rd Gr.1 Dewhurst Stakes, 7f, Newmarket 3rd Gr.2 Champagne Stakes, 7f, Doncaster.

A Multiple Stakes sire in 2014 of 31 individual winners of 57 races

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

FEE:

Timeform rating: 122

£3,000

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

Consistently siring 2yo Stakes horses

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

Jan_137_DataBook_Layout 1 14/12/2015 16:51 Page 116

DATA BOOK ANALYSIS BY ANDREW CAULFIELD

National Hunt Grade 1s 20 JNWINE.COM CHAMPION CHASE G1 DOWN ROYAL. Oct 31. 5yo+. 24f.

1. DON COSSACK (GER) 8 11-10 £65,116 br g by Sholokhov - Depeche Toi (Konigsstuhl) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Gestut Etzean TR-Gordon Elliott 2. Rocky Creek (IRE) 9 11-10 £20,620 b g by Dr Massini - Kissantell (Broken Hearted) O-The Johnson & Stewart Families B-C. Griffin TR-Paul Nicholls 3. Roi du Mee (FR) 10 11-10 £9,767 b g by Lavirco - British Nellerie (Le Pontet) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Mr Jacques Hersent & Mrs Jacqueline Hersent TR-Gordon Elliott Margins 8, Head. Time 6:28.00. Going Yielding to Soft.

Age 4-8

Starts 23

Wins 14

Places 6

Earned £546,465

Sire: SHOLOKHOV. Sire of 21 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - DON COSSACK Konigsstuhl G1, DESCARTES Dashing Blade LR. 1st Dam: DEPECHE TOI by Konigsstuhl. 2 wins at 3 in West Germany. Dam of 6 winners: 1996: Demetrius (c Polish Precedent) 1997: DUBAI DANCER (g Lando) 3 wins.

1998: DUBAI DIVA (f Unfuwain) 3 wins at 3 in Germany. Broodmare. Dam of Dubai Star (c Lord of England: 3 wins over jumps in France, 2nd Prix Aguado Hurdle LR) 1999: Dendera (f Lando) ran on the flat in Germany and over jumps in Germany.

2000: DABOYA (f Hernando) Winner at 4 in France.

Broodmare.

2001: DUBAI KING (g Dashing Blade) 2 wins.

2002: Dubai Perle (f Sagamix) ran on the flat in France.

2003: Don Corleone (c Tiger Hill) 2004: DIAMOND KING (c Dashing Blade) Winner at 4 in Czech Republic.

2007: DON COSSACK (g Sholokhov) 13 wins, Irish Form Future Chpns Pro-Am Flat Race G2, 2nd Racing UK Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle G2, 3rd paddypower.com Johnstown Novice Hurdle G2, Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase G1, John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase G1, Betfred Melling Chase G1, Bibby Punchestown Gold Cup Chase G1, jnwine.com Champion Chase G1, Ladbrokes Ireland Kinloch Brae Chase G2, Powers Irish Whiskey Skymas Chase G2, Star Best For Racing Carvills Hill Chase G3 (twice), 2nd Betfred Mildmay Novices’ Chase G1, Dr P J Moriarty Novice Chase G1, Dobbins Catering Florida Pearl Nov.Chase G2, 3rd Ryanair Festival Trophy Chase G1.

2nd Dam: Diaspora by Sparkler. 2 wins at 2 and 3 in West Germany, 2nd Schwarzgold-Rennen (1000 Guineas) G3. Dam of DAPPRIMA (f Shareef Dancer: Everest TV Fruhjahrs Stuten Preis LR, 2nd ARAG Preis (1000 Guineas) G2), Donja (f Julio Mariner: 3rd Preis der Landeshauptstadt Munchen LR). Grandam of DENARO, DAVIDOFF, DUELLANT, DEAUVILLE, DOMINANTE, Dubai. Third dam of GABRIAL’S KING, Dajolie.

Broodmare Sire: KONIGSSTUHL. Sire of the dams of 58 Stakes winners.

DON COSSACK br g 2007 Northern Dancer Sadler’s Wells Fairy Bridge SHOLOKHOV b 99 Lord Gayle La Meilleure Gradille Dschingis Khan Konigsstuhl Konigskronung DEPECHE TOI b/br 91 Sparkler Diaspora Diu

Nearctic Natalma Bold Reason Special Sir Gaylord Sticky Case Home Guard Gradiva Tamerlane Donna Diana Tiepoletto Kronung Hard Tack Diamond Spur Utrillo Didergo

Don Cossack’s first season over fences seemed to establish him as smart, but with limitations, as he won

116

just two of his seven starts between October 2013 and April 2014.

Admittedly one of those wins came at Gr1 level, but Don Cossack came back transformed in October 2014.

Since then he has raced nine times and has won eight of them, including four more Gr1 chases, his only setback coming when third after a troubled passage in the Ryanair Chase.

Like so many good jumpers, Don Cossack is a grandson of Sadler’s Wells. His sire Sholokhov won the Gr1 Gran Criterium at two and later finished second to High Chaparral in the Irish Derby and to Hawk Wing in the Eclipse.

Sholokhov made his stud debut at €5,000 at Gestut Etzean in 2004 and sired six stakes winners in a 52strong first crop. His subsequent crops produced Night Magic (German Oaks and Preis von Baden) and Monami (Gr2 Diana Trial). Ten of his 12 stakes winners on the Flat were fillies, but it has been Sholokhov’s sons, such as Don Cossack, who have shone over jumps. The French-trained Esmondo won six of his nine starts over hurdles as a three-year-old, including a Gr1 event, and also won a Gr1 at four. More recently Descartes has won a Listed hurdle race at Auteuil and Dell’Arca has shown distinct promise as a novice chaser in Britain, while Loxlade and Abakahn are among his other black-type winners in France.

More good winners are sure to emerge from Sholokhov’s French crops and the same applies to his young Irish progeny, sired at Glenview Stud since 2013.

Don Cossack was bred by Gestut Etzean from Depeche Toi, a winning Konigsstuhl filly from the female line responsible for Animal Kingdom, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup. 41 STANJAMES.COM MORGIANA HURDLE G1 PUNCHESTOWN. Nov 15. 4yo+. 16f.

1. NICHOLS CANYON (GB) 5 11-10 £39,535 b g by Authorized - Zam Zoom (Dalakhani) O-Andrea & Graham Wylie B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Faugheen (IRE) 7 11-10 £12,519 b g by Germany - Miss Pickering (Accordion) O-Mrs S. Ricci B-Dr J. Waldron TR-W. P. Mullins 3. Wicklow Brave (GB) 6 11-10 £5,930 b g by Beat Hollow - Moraine (Rainbow Quest) O-Wicklow Bloodstock (Ireland) Ltd B-Juddmonte Farms (East) Limited TR-W. P. Mullins Margins 0.5, 1.25. Time 3:58.10. Going Soft.

Age 2-5

Starts 18

Wins 9

Places 6

Earned £292,219

Sire: AUTHORIZED. Sire of 30 Stakes winners.

NH in 2015/16 - NICHOLS CANYON Dalakhani G1, STERNRUBIN Samum LR. 1st Dam: Zam Zoom by Dalakhani. unraced. Dam of 3 winners: 2010: NICHOLS CANYON (g Authorized) Sold 48,000gns yearling at TAOC3. 9 wins, Ascot Underwriting Noel Murless S LR, Prix Denisy LR, 2nd Worthington’s St Simon S G3, Tattersalls Ireland Champion Nov. Hurdle G1, stanjames.com Morgiana Hurdle G1, World Famous Just Eat Mersey Nov.Hurdle G1, Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle G1, Deloitte Novice Hurdle G1, 3rd Neptune Investment Bingham Nov Hurdle G1.

2011: 2012: 2014:

Bright Approach (f New Approach) Winner at 3, 3rd Weatherbys Private Banking Cheshire Oaks LR. ZAMANI (f Teofilo) Winner at 3. (c Pivotal)

2nd Dam: Mantesera by In The Wings. unraced. Own sister to CLOUD CASTLE. Dam of NIDEEB (c Exceed And Excel: Sportingbet Supports Heros Winter Derby G3), Suegioo (g Manduro: 3rd Socialites Cigarettes Doncaster Cup G2) Broodmare Sire: DALAKHANI. Sire of the dams of 11 Stakes winners.

NICHOLS CANYON b g 2010 Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge Top Ville Floripedes Toute Cy Rainbow Quest Saumarez Fiesta Fun Vallee Dansante Lyphard Green Valley Shirley Heights Darshaan Delsy Miswaki Daltawa Damana Sadler’s Wells In The Wings High Hawk High Line Lucayan Princess Gay France

Second dam Mantesera demonstrated the family’s stamina by producing the Gr3 Winter Derby winner Nideeb to the very speedy Exceed And Excel. Mantesera had three big-earning half-brothers, all of whom shone over a mile and a half.

The most successful were Warrsan, a dual winner of both the Coronation Cup and Preis von Baden, and Luso, a Gr1 winner in Italy, Germany and Hong Kong. Mantesera’s sister Cloud Castle was good enough to finish fourth in both the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks.

Sadler’s Wells

Montjeu AUTHORIZED b 04 Funsie

Dalakhani ZAM ZOOM gr 05 Mantesera

Nichols Canyon started favourite five times in his first seven starts over hurdles and justified the support three times, including in the Gr1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle and Punchestown’s Gr1 Champion Novice Hurdle.

However, few considered he had a chance of beating his previously undefeated stablemate Faugheen when the pair met in the Morgiana Hurdle. After ten consecutive victories under rules, Faugheen was sent off at 1-6, with Nichols Canyon at 7-1. An additional consideration was that Faugheen’s latest successes, in the Champion Hurdles at Cheltenham and Punchestown, had come at around two miles – the distance of the Morgiana Hurdle – whereas Nichols Canyon’s latest Gr1 victories had been gained over two and a half miles. He had made all, though, in the Champion Novice Hurdle and full use was again made of his stamina in the Morgiana. He maintained his gallop so well that he still had half a length to spare over Faugheen at the line.

Now a five-time Gr1 winner over hurdles, Nichols Canyon is trained by Willie Mullins, who did exceptionally well with Hurricane Fly – a son of Montjeu, who was also responsible for Nichols Canyon’s sire Authorized. Like Hurricane Fly, Nichols Canyon was a Listed winner on the Flat. However, whereas Hurricane Fly’s success was over a mile, Nichols Canyon’s came over a mile and three-quarters at Ascot and over a furlong further at Saint-Cloud. Timeform rated him 114.

The Derby-winning Authorized is also the sire of those smart hurdlers Zamdy Man, Tiger Roll (Triumph Hurdle), Commissioned and Beltor (Gr2 Adonis Juvenile Hurdle).

Nichols Canyon’s unraced dam Zam Zoom is by Dalakhani and his unraced second dam Mantesera is by In The Wings, so there is plenty of stamina here. The gelding is inbred 3 x 4 to Sadler’s Wells, while his dam is inbred 3 x 4 to Shirley Heights.

42 BETFAIR LANCASHIRE CHASE G1 HAYDOCK PARK. Nov 21. 5yo+. 24f.

1. CUE CARD (GB) 9 11-7 £112,540 b g by King’s Theatre - Wicked Crack (King’s Ride) O-Mrs Jean R. Bishop B-Mr R. T. Crellin TR-Colin Tizzard 2. Silviniaco Conti (FR) 9 11-7 £42,400 ch g by Dom Alco - Gazelle Lulu (Altayan) O-Potensis Bloodstock Ltd & Chris Giles B-P. Joubert TR-Paul Nicholls 3. Dynaste (FR) 9 11-7 £21,220 gr g by Martaline - Bellissima de Mai (Pistolet Bleu) O-Mr A. J. White B-Mr P. Chartier TR-David Pipe Margins 7, 12. Time 6:14.70. Going Soft.

Age 4-9

Starts 27

Wins 12

Places 12

Earned £874,782

Sire: KING’S THEATRE. Sire of 82 Stakes winners.

NH in 2015/16 - CUE CARD King’s Ride G1, JUNCTION FOURTEEN Roselier G2, FETHARD PLAYER Supreme Leader G3, BLUE BUTTONS Mujadil LR, MORELLO ROYALE Alderbrook LR, SHUIL ROYALE Phardante LR, THE NEW ONE Turgeon LR. 1st Dam: Wicked Crack by King’s Ride. 6 wins, 3rd McCabe Builders Ltd. Boyne Hurdle G2 (twice), 2nd Digifone Kinloch Brae Chase G2, Tote John Hughes Rehearsal H. Chase G2. Dam of 2 winners: 2003: (c Definite Article) 2004: HIDDEN CRACK (g Lahib) 5 wins.

2006: CUE CARD (g King’s Theatre) Sold 48,261gns yearling at TIFEB. 12 wins, Weatherbys Champion Bumper NH Flat Race G1, Cheltenham Collection Sharp Nov. Hurdle G2, 2nd stanjames.com International Hurdle G2, John Smith’s Mersey Novices Hurdle G2, Betfair Ascot Chase G1, Ryanair Festival Trophy Chase G1, Betfair Lancashire Chase G1 (twice), Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase G2, Sportingbet Haldon Gold Cup H. Chase G2, 2nd Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase G1, William Hill King George VI Chase G1, John Smith’s Melling Chase G1 (twice), Fullers London Pride Berkshire Nov Chase G2, 3rd BetVictor Haldon Gold Cup H. Chase G2.

2007: For A Laugh (g Westerner) unraced.

2008: The Wicked Kipper (f King’s Theatre).

Broodmare.

2013: (c Beneficial) 2014: (c Gold Well) 2015: (f Milan) Broodmare Sire: KING’S RIDE. Sire of the dams of 16 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - CUE CARD King’s Theatre G1, TULSA JACK Urban Ocean G2.

CUE CARD b g 2006 Northern Dancer Sadler’s Wells Fairy Bridge KING’S THEATRE b 91 Princely Native Regal Beauty Dennis Belle Rarity King’s Ride Ride WICKED CRACK b 93 Deep Run Mighty Crack Treize

Nearctic Natalma Bold Reason Special Raise A Native Charlo Crafty Admiral Evasion Hethersett Who Can Tell Sovereign Path Turf Pampered King Trial By Fire Thirteen of Diamonds Clear Bay

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Jan_137_DataBook_Layout 1 14/12/2015 16:52 Page 117

Caulfield on Don Cossack: “He was bred by Gestut Etzean from Depeche Toi, a winning Konigsstuhl filly from the female line responsible for Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom”

For the fifth time in his long and distinguished career, Cue Card won at Gr1 level when he easily defeated Silviniaco Conti in the Betfair Chase – a race he also landed in 2013. His latest win at the top level was very different from his first, in the Champion Bumper over two miles more than five years earlier.

Cue Card has the highest Racing Post rating of any of King’s Theatre’s jumping progeny and is also his leading earner, with a tally of £874,780. King’s Theatre died in 2011 but has gone on to earn three posthumous sires’ championships. In addition to Cue Card, his leading representatives in recent seasons include The New One, Menorah, Carlingford Lough, Captain Chris, Bally Green, Balthazar King, Riverside Theatre, Voler La Vedette, Fingal Bay, Southfield Theatre and Brindisi Breeze. As he had at least 75 foals born in 2012 and more than 80 in 2011, King’s Theatre is going to remain a force for several more years.

Cue Card’s dam Wicked Crack was sold for €120,000 in 2002 and she has done well commercially as a broodmare. Cue Card sold for €52,000 as a three-year-old and her Westerner colt made €85,000 at the 2010 Derby Sale. She visited Leading Light in 2015 after producing a filly

by Milan. Milan, like King’s Theatre, is a son of Sadler’s Wells and so is Gold Well, sire of Wicked Crack’s 2014 son.

Wicked Crack, a tough daughter of King’s Ride, won four times at up to three miles over hurdles before developing into a talented chaser. Cue Card’s second dam, Mighty Crack, produced a talented chaser in What’s The Crack, third in the SunAlliance Chase. Mighty Crack in turn was a sister – by Deep Run – to Good Crack, a prolific winner over fences who won the HS Commercial Spares Handicap Chase over three miles.

43 STANJAMES.COM FIGHTING FIFTH HURDLE G1 NEWCASTLE. Nov 28. 4yo+. 16f.

1. IDENTITY THIEF (IRE) 5 11-7 £63,585 b g by Kayf Tara - Miss Arteea (Flemensfirth) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-C. Ennis TR-Henry de Bromhead 2. Top Notch (FR) 4 11-7 £23,956 b g by Poliglote - Topira (Pistolet Bleu) O-Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede B-Haras Des Sablonnets & B. Gabeur TR-Nicky Henderson 3. Wicklow Brave (GB) 6 11-7 £11,989 b g by Beat Hollow - Moraine (Rainbow Quest) O-Wicklow Bloodstock (Ireland) Ltd B-Juddmonte Farms (East) Limited TR-W. P. Mullins Margins Neck, 10. Time 3:57.80. Going Soft.

Age 4-5

Starts 7

Wins 4

Places 2

Earned £105,596

Sire: KAYF TARA. Sire of 36 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - IDENTITY THIEF Flemensfirth G1, THISTLECRACK Ardross G2, WAR SOUND Gunner B G3, BALLYANDY Karinga Bay LR, COPPER KAY Presenting LR, RONS DREAM Emperor Jones LR. 1st Dam: Miss Arteea by Flemensfirth. unraced. Dam of 2 winners: 2008: Presenteea (f Presenting) unraced.

Broodmare.

2009: Oscarteea (g Oscar) 2 wins, 2nd Bettfair Newton Novices’ Hurdle LR. 2010: IDENTITY THIEF (g Kayf Tara) 4 wins,

2011: 2012: 2013: 2014: 2015:

stanjames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle G1, WKD Hurdle G2, 2nd Rathbarry Hardy Eustace Novice Hurdle G2.

Drama King (g King’s Theatre) unraced. (f King’s Theatre) (f Milan) (f Oscar) (c Milan)

Broodmare Sire: FLEMENSFIRTH. Sire of the dams of 2 Stakes winners.

IDENTITY THIEF b g 2010 Northern Dancer Sadler’s Wells Fairy Bridge KAYF TARA b 94 High Top Colorspin Reprocolor Alleged Flemensfirth Etheldreda MISS ARTEEA b 02 Electric Merric Merry Proverb

Nearctic Natalma Bold Reason Special Derring-Do Camenae Jimmy Reppin Blue Queen Hoist The Flag Princess Pout Diesis Royal Bund Blakeney Christiana Proverb Merry Memories

Overbury Stud’s Kayf Tara has already been champion British-based jumps stallion no fewer than six times, so it is exciting that his best-bred crops are still comparatively young.

In less than half an hour on November 28 he recorded a splendid double via Identity Thief in the Gr1 Fighting Fifth and Thistlecrack, who ran away with the Gr2 Long Distance Hurdle.

Bearing in mind that Kayf Tara was a dual winner of Royal Ascot’s Gold Cup over two and a half miles, it is tempting to think of him as an outand-out stayer.

After all, he also won the Goodwood and Yorkshire Cups and two Irish St Legers. Consequently it is no surprise that his progeny often excel over three miles or more, taking such prizes as the Hennessy Gold Cup, Punchestown Gold Cup and Leopardstown’s Christmas Hurdle.

However, there have been some notable exceptions to the stamina-packed rule. Special Tiara, arguably his best representative, has gained both his Gr1 wins over fences over two miles; the smart hurdler Sign Of A Victory races mainly at around two miles; and the Fighting Fifth winner Identity Thief is clearly highly effective over the minimum distance, though he has won over two and a half miles.

Identity Thief is a three-partsbrother to the useful Oscar gelding Oscarteea, who has also raced mainly at around two miles.

Their dam Miss Arteea never raced but shares the same sire, Flemensfirth, as such excellent stayers as the Gold Cup hero Imperial Commander and the bet365 Gold Cup winner Tidal Bay. Miss Arteea is also a half-sister to a useful Oscar gelding, but this one – Arteea – contested the Grand National.

It mustn’t be forgotten, though, that Flemensfirth was best at around a mile and a quarter, and Identity Thief’s second dam, the unraced Merrick, was by Electric, a mile-and-a-half performer.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

44 BAR ONE RACING DRINMORE NOVICE CHASE G1 FAIRYHOUSE. Nov 29. 4yo+. 20f.

1. NO MORE HEROES (IRE) 6 11-10 £39,535 br g by Presenting - What A Breeze (Naheez) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-P. Downes TR-Gordon Elliott 2. Monksland (IRE) 8 11-10 £12,519 b g by Beneficial - Cush Jewel (Executive Perk) O-Mrs Patricia Hunt B-C. Troy TR-Noel Meade 3. Free Expression (IRE) 6 11-10 £5,930 b g by Germany - Create A Storm (Bob Back) O- John P McManus B-A. Larkin TR-Gordon Elliott Margins 2.5, 8.5. Time 5:22.50. Going Soft to Heavy.

Age 4-6

Starts 13

Wins 7

Places 2

Earned £99,829

Sire: PRESENTING. Sire of 57 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - NO MORE HEROES Naheez G1, ROGUE ANGEL Luso G1, RIVERSIDE CITY Beneficial G2, LORD SCOUNDREL Dahar G3, TRIANA DU BERLAIS Mansonnien G3, DAISY’S GIFT Dr Massini LR, STANDING OVATION Good Thyne LR. 1st Dam: What A Breeze by Naheez. unraced. Dam of 3 winners: 2005: ESCUDERO (g Snurge) 2 wins over hurdles.

2006: BALDING BANKER (g Accordion) 4 wins.

2008: (c Heron Island) 2009: NO MORE HEROES (g Presenting) Sold 40,454gns yearling at TINO1. 6 wins, Navan Novice Hurdle G2, 3rd Albert Bartlett Spa Novices’ Hurdle G1, Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase G1.

2010: Grand Introduction (g Robin des Pres) 2011: Are You Bidding (g Presenting) unraced.

2012: (f Kalanisi) 2014: (f Presenting) 2015: (f Shirocco) Broodmare Sire: NAHEEZ. Sire of the dams of 1 Stakes winner.

NO MORE HEROES br g 2009 Busted Mtoto Amazer PRESENTING br 92 Persian Bold D’Azy Belle Viking Critique Naheez Academic World WHAT A BREEZE ch 00 King’s Ride What A Queen What A Honey

Crepello Sans Le Sou Mincio Alzara Bold Lad Relkarunner Riverman Vallarta Roberto Cambrienne Arts And Letters Perhaps So Rarity Ride Vulgan What A Daisy

After achieving four sires’ championships in the space of five years, Presenting has continued to make his presence felt and he finished second to King’s Theatre in 2014-15.

He is again going well during the 2015-16 season, notably with No More Heroes, who improved his record over fences to a perfect twofor-two when he landed the Drinmore Novice Chase with something in hand.

This former point-to-pointer had also won both his starts in bumpers before developing into a Gr2 winner over hurdles.

No More Heroes is out of What A Breeze, an unraced mare whose sire Naheez was third in the Prix du Jockey-Club and second in the Irish Derby.

What A Breeze has a distinguished third dam in the exceptional National Hunt broodmare What A Daisy. Best known as the dam of L’Escargot (Grand National and two editions of

the Cheltenham Gold Cup), What A Daisy also produced The Pilgarlic (third in the Grand National), What A Buck (SGB Handicap Chase) and two other smart winners in Flitgrove and Havago.

Unfortunately, she had only two daughters and one of them had only one named foal. However, her Vulgan filly What A Honey produced What A Queen, a King’s Ride mare who inherited some of What A Daisy’s prowess as a broodmare.

Although What A Queen didn’t originally visit fashionable stallions, she produced two very smart sons in Celestial Gold and Fiveforthree. The former (by Persian Mews) numbered the Hennessy Gold Cup among his important victories over fences, while the latter (by Arzanni) became a Gr1 winner over hurdles at the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals.

Celestial Gold’s sister What A Mewsment produced Klepht, winner of a Grade A handicap chase.

No More Heroes’ steeplechasing wins have come over two and a half miles but he was a good third at Gr1 level over three miles over hurdles.

45 BAR ONE RACING HATTON’S GRACE HURDLE G1 FAIRYHOUSE. Nov 29. 4yo+. 20f.

1. ARCTIC FIRE (GER) 6 11-10 £39,535 b g by Soldier Hollow - Adelma (Sternkoenig) O-Wicklow Bloodstock Limited B-Mr U. Gruning TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Alpha des Obeaux (FR) 5 11-10 £12,519 b g by Saddler Maker - Omega des Obeaux (Saint Preuil) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Marie Devilder & Stephanie Fasquelle TR-M. F. Morris 3. Gwencily Berbas (FR) 4 11-6 £5,930 b g by Nickname - Lesorial (Lesotho) O-Mr Barry Connell B-Miss L. Bernabe TR-Alan Fleming Margins 4, 0.75. Time 5:11.40. Going Soft.

Age 3-6

Starts 17

Wins 5

Places 10

Earned £264,119

Sire: SOLDIER HOLLOW. Sire of 16 Stakes winners.

1st Dam: ADELMA by Sternkoenig. Winner at 3 in Germany. Dam of 4 winners: 2005: ANGE D’AZUR (g Slickly) 6 wins at 4, 7 and 8 in France.

2006: ALVERADO (c Khalkevi) 3 wins at 3 and 5 in France.

2008: Arturius (c Next Desert) 2009: ARCTIC FIRE (g Soldier Hollow) Sold 2,528gns yearling at BBAGS. 5 wins, Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle G1, Lismullen Hurdle G2, 2nd Stan James Champion Chall.Trophy Hurdle G1, BHP Insurances Champion Hurdle G1, Queally Punchestown Champion Hurdle G1, WKD Hurdle G2, Vincent O’Brien County H. Hurdle G3, 3rd stanjames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle G1, Ryanair December Hurdle G1, Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle G1.

2011: AURELIO REAL (c Soldier Hollow) Winner at 2 in Germany.

2012: Arctic Lady (f Soldier Hollow) 2014: Allegro Lady (f Santiago) 2015: Arctic Rose (f Pastorius) 2nd Dam: Alke by Konigsstuhl. unraced. Own sister to ALKALDE. Dam of Appassionato (c Big Shuffle: 2nd Kronimus Rennen LR). Grandam of Allen Voran.

Broodmare Sire: STERNKOENIG. Sire of the dams of 11 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - ARCTIC FIRE Soldier Hollow G1, IRVING Singspiel G2.

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DATA BOOK

National Hunt Grade 1s ARCTIC FIRE b g 2009 Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge In The Wings Shirley Heights High Hawk Sunbittern SOLDIER HOLLOW b 00 Common Grounds Kris Sweetly Island Race Caerleon Lake Isle Inisfree Kalamoun Kalaglow Rossitor Sternkoenig Wauthi Sternwappen Sternwacht ADELMA b 99 Dschingis Khan Konigsstuhl Konigskronung Alke Kaiseradler Astra Anekdote Sadler’s Wells

Although In The Wings measured less than 15.2 hands, this diminutive son of Sadler’s Wells made a considerable impact on the National Hunt sector with his Flat-bred progeny. Inglis Drever, Landing Light, Westender and Sadlers Wings ranked among the best of them.

Several of In The Wings’s stallion sons have also been represented by very useful jumpers. Winged Love gave us that fine two-mile chaser Twist Magic, plus Hunt Ball and Bostons Angel; Singspiel sired Irving and Junior; and now In The Wings’s high-class German son Soldier Hollow is showing signs that his progeny are suited to jumping.

Silsol has developed into a useful hurdler/chaser and Arctic Fire has shown his appreciation of a step up to two and a half miles with victories at Gr2 and Gr1 levels. He comfortably landed the odds in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle.

Soldier Hollow did his winning at up to a mile and a quarter but his best sons have stayed a mile and a half, with Pastorius taking the Deutsches Derby and Ivanhowe the Grosser Preis von Baden and Grosser Preis von Bayern.

Arctic Fire’s dam, the German winner Adelma, was by Sternkoenig, a very smart Group winner at up to a mile and three-quarters. The next dam, Alke, was a sister to Alkalde, a prolific Group winner at up to 11 furlongs in Germany, but mainly at around a mile.

2 winners: 2009: ARTLANA (f Dutch Art) Winner at 2.

2010: LONG DOG (g Notnowcato) Sold 2,500gns yearling at TAOC3. 6 wins, Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle G1, Shannon Airport Greenmount Pk Nov.Hurdle G3.

2nd Dam: Karamah by Unfuwain. Dam of Kareeming (g Nadeem: 2nd TAB Cranbourne Cup LR) Broodmare Sire: SAKHEE. Sire of the dams of 1 Stakes winner.

LONG DOG b g 2010 Lorenzaccio Helen Nichols Lomond On Show Cadeaux Genereux Young Generation Smarten Up Blushing Groom Blush Rambler Nikitina Riverman Bahri Wasnah Sadler’s Wells Thawakib Tobira Celeste Northern Dancer Unfuwain Height of Fashion Mr Prospector Azdihaar Desirable Ahonoora

Inchinor

Inchmurrin

46 BAR ONE RACING ROYAL BOND NOVICE HURDLE G1

NOTNOWCATO ch 02 Rambling Rose

FAIRYHOUSE. Nov 29. 4yo+. 16f.

1. LONG DOG (GB) 5 11-10 £39,535 b g by Notnowcato - Latanazul (Sakhee) O-Mrs S. Ricci B-G. B. Turnbull Ltd TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Bachasson (FR) 4 11-7 £12,519 gr g by Voix du Nord - Belledonne (Shafoun) O-E. O’Connell B-P. de Quatrebarbes & T. de Quatrebarbes TR-W. P. Mullins 3. Gunnery Sergeant (IRE) 4 11-7 £5,930 b/br g by Presenting - Dame Foraine (Raintrap) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Mountainview Stud Ltd Tipperary TR-Noel Meade Margins Neck, 14. Time 4:03.60. Going Soft.

Age 3-5

Starts 7

Wins 6

Places 1

Earned £88,663

Sire: NOTNOWCATO. Sire of 7 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - LONG DOG Sakhee G1, OLD GUARD Marchand de Sable G3.

1st Dam: LATANAZUL by Sakhee. Winner at 3. Dam of

Sakhee LATANAZUL b 04 Karamah

Life isn’t always easy for a middledistance stallion, especially if, like Notnowcato, his pedigree is deemed less than glamorous and he didn’t become a Group winner until he was four. His first five years at Stanley House Stud yielded an average of only 43 foals per crop and he left Newmarket after attracting only 31 mares in 2013. He has also found it quite hard going since his transfer to Knockhouse, a stud with a proud history in the National Hunt world: his

2014 book stood at 36 mares, but 2015 was better, with 68.

There is every chance that Notnowcato will be much more popular in 2016, as his Flat representatives include those smart performers Custom Cut and Chil The Kite and now he has a pair of Graded winners over hurdles in the Gr3 winner Old Guard and the Gr1 scorer Long Dog. The latter was recording his fifth consecutive success from six starts over hurdles when he narrowly defeated his stablemate Bachasson in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle.

Although Notnowcato took time to reach his peak, he thoroughly justified the patience shown him, winning the Juddmonte International at four and the Tattersalls Gold Cup at five. He stayed well for a horse whose grandsires were the top sprinters Ahonoora and Cadeaux Genereux, his stamina stemming from his female line. His dam Rambling Rose won the Galtres Stakes.

Long Dog’s dam Latanazul won a mile-and-a-half maiden at Newmarket and this daughter of Arc winner Sakhee stayed well. Long Dog is a gelding, but he comes from the same female line as the successful stallions Cape Cross and Iffraaj. His fourth dam, the Cheveley Park Stakes winners Desirable, produced the 1,000 Guineas winner Shadayid and was a half-sister to Irish Oaks winner Alydaress and to the dam of the outstanding Russian Rhythm.

Leading Flat sires 2015 by earnings Name

Galileo Dubawi Cape Cross Invincible Spirit Shamardal Oasis Dream Dark Angel Danehill Dancer Teofilo Duke Of Marmalade Victory Gallop Dansili Fastnet Rock Kodiac Halling Mastercraftsman Pivotal Exceed And Excel High Chaparral Azamour Acclamation Unaccounted For Kaneko Singspiel Lion Heart Sea The Stars Bosporus Rock Of Gibraltar Elusive City Iffraaj Dylan Thomas Siyouni Divine Light New Approach Footstepsinthesand Lope de Vega Dutch Art Yonaguska Kyllachy Royal Abjar

YOF

1998 2002 1994 1997 2002 2000 2005 1993 2004 2004 1995 1996 2001 2001 1991 2006 1993 2000 1999 2001 1999 1991 2001 1992 2001 2006 1995 1999 2000 2001 2003 2007 1995 2005 2002 2007 2004 1998 1998 1991

Sire

Rnrs

Wnrs

%WR

Sadler's Wells Dubai Millennium Green Desert Green Desert Giant's Causeway Green Desert Acclamation Danehill Galileo Danehill Cryptoclearance Danehill Danehill Danehill Diesis Danehill Dancer Polar Falcon Danehill Sadler's Wells Night Shift Royal Applause Private Account Pivotal In the Wings Tale Of The Cat Cape Cross Night Shift Danehill Elusive Quality Zafonic Danehill Pivotal Sunday Silence Galileo Giant's Causeway Shamardal Medicean Cherokee Run Pivotal Gone West

285 217 212 253 256 239 228 146 192 187 135 183 135 259 150 194 182 244 201 158 293 103 99 51 141 117 130 231 200 225 201 88 76 164 204 107 177 108 192 89

124 115 100 113 134 103 103 68 89 72 80 80 52 102 62 78 88 117 81 68 132 61 61 26 69 51 66 96 91 101 73 41 33 63 93 58 82 54 78 53

43.51 53.00 47.17 44.66 52.34 43.10 45.18 46.58 46.35 38.50 59.26 43.72 38.52 39.38 41.33 40.21 48.35 47.95 40.30 43.04 45.05 59.22 61.62 50.98 48.94 43.59 50.77 41.56 45.50 44.89 36.32 46.59 43.42 38.41 45.59 54.21 46.33 50.00 40.63 59.55

Races

AWD

Earnings (£)

SH

179 178 148 179 217 162 164 113 143 121 175 126 78 174 95 115 145 192 124 123 188 128 134 44 132 77 131 148 163 148 124 68 62 100 160 85 130 108 127 108

10.5 9.5 9.6 7.2 8.0 8.3 7.4 8.8 9.7 10.1 7.7 10.0 9.0 6.8 10.6 10.3 8.4 6.5 10.2 10.3 6.8 8.3 7.7 9.2 7.6 10.5 7.6 9.0 7.9 8.2 9.4 7.8 8.5 9.2 8.3 8.2 7.6 7.5 6.7 7.7

7,078,436 6,487,208 6,035,775 3,949,129 3,703,392 3,503,222 3,264,114 3,206,972 2,981,065 2,886,301 2,669,209 2,632,120 2,445,834 2,397,974 2,248,423 2,225,169 2,193,241 2,165,272 2,073,729 2,044,051 2,023,869 1,969,714 1,897,164 1,876,228 1,827,323 1,824,781 1,759,531 1,756,466 1,742,340 1,719,876 1,672,415 1,651,340 1,623,159 1,563,056 1,550,286 1,541,903 1,519,086 1,502,499 1,467,855 1,453,684

61 35 22 26 42 17 26 20 24 12 9 21 18 17 9 18 23 19 16 17 17 3 6 5 4 26 5 15 6 16 9 10 5 14 12 19 11 0 10 2

%

21.4 16.13 10.38 10.28 16.41 7.11 11.4 13.7 12.5 6.42 6.67 11.48 13.33 6.56 6.00 9.28 12.64 7.79 7.96 10.76 5.80 2.91 6.06 9.80 2.84 22.22 3.85 6.49 3.00 7.11 4.48 11.36 6.58 8.54 5.88 17.76 6.21 0 5.21 2.25

SW

%

35 18 10 15 23 9 14 8 14 6 5 11 9 10 3 12 13 8 8 4 5 2 3 2 0 11 0 5 4 5 5 5 3 8 4 8 8 0 6 0

12.28 8.29 4.72 5.93 8.98 3.77 6.14 5.48 7.29 3.21 3.70 6.01 6.67 3.86 2.00 6.19 7.14 3.28 3.98 2.53 1.71 1.94 3.03 3.92 0 9.40 0 2.16 2 2.22 2.49 5.68 3.95 4.88 1.96 7.48 4.52 0 3.13 0

Galileo wins but had a run for his money Totals will change little in December so Galileo can be called a comfortable winner in earnings and percentage of stakes winners. With three sires above the £6 million mark the championship was tighter than usual.

Golden Horn provided almost two- thirds of Cape Cross’s figure and New Bay more than 20% of Dubawi’s. By comparison, Gleneagles’ contribution to Galileo’s total was less than 10%. Among the top flight, the stallion with the lowest proportion from his leading earner was Shamardal, since Tryster has under 7% of the tally. As last year, Victory Gallop’s high standing reflects the cash on offer in Turkey.

Seventeen of the top 20 are descendants of Northern Dancer’s but only three trace to Sadler’s Wells, namely Galileo, his son Teofilo and High Chaparral. Danehill has seven of the 20 and Green Desert three, giving Danzig a score of ten.

*denotes first-season sire; statistics to December 3

118

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Caulfield on Long Dog: “His fourth dam, Cheveley Park winner Desirable, produced the 1,000 Guineas winner Shadayid and was a half-sister to Irish Oaks winner Alydaress”

National Hunt Graded Races Date 09/05 10/05 11/07 14/07 29/07 30/07 01/08 21/08 22/08 08/09 16/09 17/09 20/09 28/09 03/10 03/10 04/10 04/10 04/10 10/10 11/10 11/10 11/10 15/10 15/10 18/10 25/10 30/10 30/10 31/10 31/10 31/10 31/10 31/10 01/11 01/11 01/11 01/11 01/11 03/11 07/11 07/11 07/11 08/11 08/11 08/11 12/11 12/11 13/11 14/11 14/11 14/11 15/11 15/11 15/11 15/11 15/11 15/11 21/11 21/11 21/11 22/11 22/11 22/11 26/11 27/11 28/11 28/11 28/11 28/11 29/11 29/11

Grade G3 GrB G3 GrC GrA GrA GrB GrC GrC G3 GrA GrB GrC G3 G2 GrC G2 G3 G3 G3 G2 G3 GrA G3 G3 GrB G2 G2 G3 G2 G2 G2 G3 GrC G3 G3 G3 GrB GrC G2 G2 G2 G3 G2 G2 G3 G2 G3 G2 G2 G3 G3 G2 G2 G2 G2 G3 GrC G2 G2 G3 G2 GrB GrC G2 G2 G2 G3 GrB GrB G3 GrC

Race (course) Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle (Haydock Park) Ladbrokes Ireland Handicap Hurdle (Killarney) Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle (Tipperary) Bourn Vincent Memorial Handicap Chase (Killarney) thetote.com Galway Plate H’cp Chase (Galway) Guinness Galway Handicap Hurdle (Galway) Ladbrokes Mervue Handicap Hurdle (Galway) Racing Post Brandon Handicap Hurdle (Killarney) MSL Cork Mercedes Lough Leane Hcp Chase (Killarney) Ballybrit Novice Chase (Galway) Guinness Kerry National Handicap Chase (Listowel) Ladbrokes Island Handicap Hurdle (Listowel) Listowel Race Supp.Club Lartigue Hurdle (Listowel) Ire.Stall. Farms EBF Kilbegnet Nov Chase (Roscommon) PWC Gowran Champion Chase (Gowran Park) Kilkenny Racing Festival Handicap Hurdle (Gowran Park) Istabraq Tipperary Hurdle (Tipperary) Dolores Purcell Mem. Joe Mac Nov. Hurdle (Tipperary) Like a Butterfly Novice Chase (Tipperary) Totepool Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle (Chepstow) Totepool Persian War Novices’ Hurdle (Chepstow) Shannon Airport Greenmount Pk Nov.Hurdle (Limerick) Ladbrokes Munster National Hcp. Chase (Limerick) Buck House Novice Chase (Punchestown) Irish Daily Star Carvills Hill Chase (Punchestown) Cork Racecourse Kinsale Handicap Chase (Cork) Monet’s Garden Old Roan Handicap Chase (Aintree) WKD Hurdle (Down Royal) Lough Construction EBF Mares Nov Hurdle (Down Royal) Powers Irish Whiskey Skymas Chase (Down Royal) Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (Wetherby) Bet365 West Yorkshire Hurdle (Wetherby) Sodexo United House Gold Cup H.Chase (Ascot) Billecart Salmon Mac’s Joy Hcp Hurdle (Down Royal) Paddy Power EBF Novice Chase (Cork) Paddy Power EBF Novice Hurdle (Cork) Brady Family Ham Poplar Square Chase (Naas) Paddy Power Cork Grand National Hp Chase (Cork) Tegral Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle (Naas) Sportingbet Haldon Gold Cup Hcp Chase (Exeter) Wincanton Rising Stars Novices’ Chase (Wincanton) stanjames.com Elite Handicap Hurdle (Wincanton) Paddy Power Fishery Lane Hurdle (Naas) Lismullen Hurdle (Navan) thetote.com Fortria Chase (Navan) At the Races For Auction Novice Hurdle (Navan) Clonmel Oil Chase (Clonmel) EBF T. A. Morris Memorial Mares Chase (Clonmel) Neptune Investment Hyde Novices’ Hurdle (Cheltenham) JCB Triumph Trial Prestbury Juv. Hurdle (Cheltenham) Murphy Group Handicap Chase (Cheltenham) Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Cheltenham) Race Post Arkle Trial November Nov.Chase (Cheltenham) Sky Bet Supreme Trial Sharp Nov.Hurdle (Cheltenham) Florida Pearl Novice Chase (Punchestown) Ryans Cleaning Craddockstown Nov. Chase (Punchestown) stanjames.com Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Cheltenham) Ticket Sales Online Blackwater Hp Hurdle (Cork) Coral Ascot Hurdle (Ascot) Stella Artois 1965 Chase (Ascot) Betfair Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle (Haydock Park) Monksfield Novice Hurdle (Navan) Ladbrokes Troytown Handicap Chase (Navan) Proudstown Handicap Hurdle (Navan) Bet365 Worcester Novices’ Chase (Newbury) Fullers London Pride Berkshire Nov Chase (Newbury) Bet365 Long Distance Hurdle (Newbury) Hennessy Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Newbury) EasyFix Ballyhack Handicap Chase (Fairyhouse) FKM Group New Stand Handicap Hurdle (Fairyhouse) Bar One Racing Juvenile Hurdle (Fairyhouse) Bar One Racing Porterstown Hcp Chase (Fairyhouse)

Dist 15.5f 17f 16f 17f 22.5f 16f 21.5f 17f 20.5f 18f 24f 16f 16f 16f 20f 24f 16f 16f 20f 19.5f 20f 21f 24f 18f 23f 17f 19.5f 16f 16f 20f 24f 24f 23.5f 16f 20f 24f 16f 28f 20f 17.5f 20f 15f 16f 20f 16f 16f 20f 20f 21f 16f 26f 20f 16f 16f 22f 16f 16f 20f 19f 21f 22.5f 20f 24f 23f 23f 19.5f 24f 25.5f 17f 16f 16f 29f

Horse War Sound (GB) Waxies Dargle (GB) Diakali (FR) Enjoy Responsibly (IRE) Shanahan’s Turn (IRE) Quick Jack (IRE) Valyssa Monterg (FR) Rupert Lamb (GB) A Decent Excuse (IRE) Rock The World (IRE) Rogue Angel (IRE) Misty Lady (IRE) Golden Spear (GB) The Game Changer (IRE) Cailin Annamh (IRE) Misty Lady (IRE) Plinth (IRE) Bachasson (FR) The Game Changer (IRE) Court Minstrel (IRE) Roadie Joe (IRE) Long Dog (GB) Sadler’s Risk (IRE) The Game Changer (IRE) Don Cossack (GER) Gentleman Duke (IRE) Sound Investment (IRE) Identity Thief (IRE) Listen Dear (IRE) Ptit Zig (FR) Cue Card (GB) Kilcooley (IRE) Pendra (IRE) Fethard Player (IRE) Lord Scoundrel (IRE) Moylisha Tim (IRE) Devils Bride (IRE) Tulsa Jack (IRE) Mrs Mac Veale (IRE) Vibrato Valtat (FR) Junction Fourteen (IRE) Irving (GB) Gwencily Berbas (FR) Arctic Fire (GER) Hidden Cyclone (IRE) Three Stars (IRE) Road To Riches (IRE) Vroum Vroum Mag (FR) Shantou Village (IRE) Wolf of Windlesham (IRE) Sausalito Sunrise (IRE) Annacotty (IRE) Garde La Victoire (FR) Altior (IRE) Shantou Flyer (IRE) Sizing John (GB) Old Guard (GB) Damut (IRE) Rock On Ruby (IRE) Vautour (FR) Baradari (IRE) Falcon Crest (IRE) Riverside City (IRE) Prince of Scars (IRE) Native River (IRE) Three Musketeers (IRE) Thistlecrack (GB) Smad Place (FR) Nearly Nama’d (IRE) Blue Hell (FR) Rashaan (IRE) Bless The Wings (IRE)

Age 6 6 6 6 7 6 6 9 8 7 7 6 4 6 7 6 5 4 6 8 6 5 7 6 8 7 7 5 5 6 9 6 7 8 6 5 8 6 10 6 6 7 4 6 10 5 8 6 5 3 7 7 6 5 5 5 4 7 10 6 5 5 6 5 5 5 7 8 7 5 3 10

Sex G G G G G G M G G G G M G G M M G G G G G G G G G G G G M G G G G G G G G G M G G G G G G G G M G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

Sire Kayf Tara Sakhee Sinndar Flemensfirth Indian Danehill Footstepsinthesand Network Central Park Fruits of Love Orpen Presenting Oscar Kyllachy Arcadio Definite Article Oscar Montjeu Voix du Nord Arcadio Court Cave Golan Notnowcato Sadler’s Wells Arcadio Sholokhov Bachelor Duke Dr Massini Kayf Tara Robin des Champs Great Pretender King’s Theatre Stowaway Old Vic King’s Theatre Presenting Alkaadhem Helissio Urban Ocean Karinga Bay Voix du Nord King’s Theatre Singspiel Nickname Soldier Hollow Stowaway Westerner Gamut Voix du Nord Shantou Mastercraftsman Gold Well Beneficial Kapgarde High Chaparral Shantou Midnight Legend Notnowcato Gamut Oscar Robin des Champs Manduro Milan Presenting Flemensfirth Indian River Flemensfirth Kayf Tara Smadoun Millenary Russian Blue Manduro Winged Love

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Retired groom seeks light work in racing yard

Dam Come The Dawn Cup of Love Diasilixa Spice Patrol Chanson Indienne Miss Polaris Mellyssa Charlotte Lamb Brave Thistle Sue N Win Carrigeen Kohleria Lady Sam Penmayne Gilt Ridden Prairie Bell Lady Sam Crazy Volume Belledonne Gilt Ridden Theatral Granny Clampett Latanazul Riskaverse Gilt Ridden Depeche Toi Housekeeping Drumcay Polly Miss Arteea Crescendor Red Rym Wicked Crack Bealaha Essie Mariah Rollins Sly Empress Noble Choice Moylisha Red Rigorous Jessica’s Pet Carrigmorna Flyer La Tosca Valtat Chevet Girl Indigo Girl Lesorial Adelma Hurricane Debbie Hapeney Bellora Naiade Mag Village Queen Al Amlah Villaflor Mini Moo Min Next Victory Monte Solaro Carrigmorna Flyer La Perrotine Dolma Society Hunter Stony View Gazelle de Mai Behra One By One Blazing Sky Spirit Leader Native Mo Friendly Craic Ardstown Bienna Star Coca’s Well Art Fair Rayyana Silva Venture

Broodmare Sire Gunner B Behrens Linamix Mandalus Indian River Polar Falcon Panoramic Pharly Bravefoot Beneficial Luso Topanoora Inchinor Heron Island Sadler’s Wells Topanoora Machiavellian Shafoun Heron Island Orchestra Be My Native Sakhee Dynaformer Heron Island Konigsstuhl Dansili Le Bavard Flemensfirth Lavirco Denham Red King’s Ride Denel Over The River Supreme Leader Dahar Oscar Generous King’s Ride Bob Back Dom Alco Roselier Sternkoenig Lesotho Sternkoenig Shahanndeh Saddlers’ Hall Over The River Kadalko King’s Theatre Riverman Religiously Ardross Akarad Key of Luck Bob Back Northern Crystal Marchand de Sable Moscow Society Tirol Dom Pasquini Grand Lodge Topanoora Beneficial Supreme Leader Be My Native Mister Lord Ardross Village Star Religiously Fairy King Rainbow Quest Mandalus

Index 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79

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24 HOURS WITH… JOHN BERRY

120

EMMA BERRY

M

y radio alarm clock conked out five years ago but I have never overslept in the five years since. So I suppose I am my own alarm clock and always wake up between 5.00 and 5.30. I put on my dressing gown and, armed with a cup of tea, switch on the computer to do the riding out lists, any admin or even writing an article before going into the yard. It’s not that we require less sleep as we get older, we just need to get up more frequently in the night.

We tack up, pull out and are cantering on the Heath by 7.15. We keep the same time throughout the year; in winter we’re among the earliest on the Heath and in summer there are several stables ahead of us.

I ride out every morning in my shorts and Wellington boots during the Flat season, though this year I didn’t start wearing them until Grand National day because it was too cold around Lincoln time.

Everyone expects me to be in shorts and wellies these days and when I do change out of them when the temperature drops, I am accused of going soft.

A particularly rewarding moment, as a Town Councillor, was winning the 2011 Newmarket Town Plate, the oldest race in the world, on Kadouchski, a horse I owned, trained and rode out every day. The whole occasion meant so much because I was involved in researching the town’s history at the time. Roy Rocket winning at Brighton last season was another milestone, because it was the first time I had trained a winner I had bred.

Breakfast is another cup of tea about mid-morning, sometimes accompanied by a bite of chocolate.

I always drive the horsebox to the races and if I’ve got

It is not just riding out in shorts and Wellington boots that distinguishes JOHN BERRY, for he is also Mayor of Newmarket, a role he takes as seriously as his training and breeding operation some writing to do I’ll take my computer and work away in the cab at the course before racing. I am currently commissioned to produce four weekly columns, totalling over 5,000 words, for Australia’s Winning Post, Dubai’s Al Adiyat and America’s Thoroughbred Daily News, as well as thoroughbredinternet.com.

Luckily, I enrolled on a typing course a few years ago so I can type with eight fingers and my right thumb without looking at the keyboard, which saves a lot of time. I also appear on At The Races about twice a month, write book reviews for the Racing Post and even an occasional piece for this magazine.

Lunch is usually a sandwich and a cup of tea. Though I might have a boiled egg or even egg and bacon if I’m hungry. I’ll cook them myself because through the day my wife, Emma, who is Bloodstock Editor of Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder, and I are in a completely different routine.

I love all the writing but fitting it in with my commitments as the Mayor of Newmarket can be difficult.

As far as I know, I am the first racehorse trainer to become a Mayor. We have a two- or three-hour Council meeting every Monday night and I go to the Town Hall two afternoons a week to make sure I’m fully abreast with

what’s going on. I try to accept as many invitations as possible – opening a new extension to the local optician’s premises, or the new garden at the old peoples’ home, are typical examples of my Mayoral tasks.

There is a new BHA project, Racing Together, which is helping to bridge the gap between racing and the national community and I was pleased to be involved, because that’s what a racing person on the council is doing locally – bringing the two communities together.

If racing people can get involved in the running of their town and not just in the interests of racing there, it shows goodwill. It is so much in racing’s interests to be seen as a positive part of the local community.

I have got to the stage when I don’t really like leaving home, so I don’t go away on holiday much. My greatest treat, and pretty much a daily treat, is taking a good book, or the Racing Post, with a glass of red wine and reading in a hot bath in the evening.

Other than that, I may watch Downton Abbey or Lewis on television.

At about 8.30pm we have our evening meal, which Emma cooks, and it’s the one meal we have together. I am very much a plain meat and potato person, which is a shame because Emma is a good cook and loves putting garlic, pasta and rice in dishes.

Unfortunately, she doesn’t do it as much as she’d like to because of me.

Bed-time is between nine and ten and I’ve been reading Bill Bryson’s The Road to Little Dribbling, but only about four pages a night because I fall asleep so quickly. I dream about different places and see more of the world in my sleep than when I’m awake.

Interview by Tim Richards

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