Thoroughbred Owner Breeder by The Owner Breeder

£5.95 MARCH 2020 ISSUE 187

Dream machine

PLUS

Can Santini strike a blow for his British breeder at Cheltenham?

Old Mill Stud

Ibrahim Araci’s ambitious plans

Harry Skelton

‘I’d love to be champion jockey’

National Hunt sires Young guns ready to fire

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21/02/2020 16:01

Expert Eye 2015 b h Acclamation - Exemplify (Dansili) 2020 Fee: £17,500 SLF

AN EYE FOR

SUCCESS FR A N K E L

KI N G MA N

E X P E RT E Y E

To Stud 2013

To Stud 2015

To Stud 2019

2YO 7f Group winner

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3YO Gr.1 winning miler

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Gr.1 Sire

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Leading First Season Sire

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All eyes on the future...

Contact Shane Horan, Claire Curry or Henry Bletsoe

+44 (0)1638 731115 nominations@juddmonte.co.uk www.juddmonte.com

Welcome

Kelvin Hughes puts his faith in Santini at the Festival

Editor: Edward Rosenthal Bloodstock Editor: Nancy Sexton Luxury Editor: Sarah Rodrigues Design/production: Thoroughbred Group Editorial: First Floor, 75 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LS Tel: 020 7152 0209 editor@ownerbreeder.co.uk www.theownerbreeder.com Twitter: @OwnerBreeder Instagram: ownerbreeder Equine Advertising: Giles Anderson/ Anna Alcock UK: 01380 816777 IRE: 041 971 2000 USA: 1 888 218 4430 advertise@anderson-co.com Luxury/Fashion Advertising: Nick Edgley Tel: 07774703491 nedgley@nemediaworld.com Subscriptions: Keely Brewer Tel: 020 7152 0212 subscriptions@ownerbreeder.co.uk

Thoroughbred Owner Breeder can be purchased by non-members at the following rates: 1 Year 2 Year UK £60 £100 Europe £90 £150 RoW £120 £195 Thoroughbred Owner Breeder is published by a Mutual Trading Company owned jointly by the Racehorse Owners Association and Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association is a registered charity No. 1134293 Editorial views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the ROA or TBA Our monthly average readership is 20,000 Racehorse Owners Association Ltd First Floor, 75 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LS Tel: 020 7152 0200 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

£5.95 MARCH 2020 ISSUE 187

Dream machine

PLUS

Can Santini strike a blow for his British breeder at Cheltenham?

Old Mill Stud

Ibrahim Araci’s ambitious plans

Harry Skelton

‘I’d love to be champion jockey’

National Hunt sires Young guns ready to fire

www.theownerbreeder.com

Mar_187_Cover.indd 1

Cover: Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Santini, bred and owned by Richard Kelvin Hughes, makes a successful seasonal return under Nico de Boinville at Sandown Photo: George Selwyn

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Edward Rosenthal Editor

21/02/2020 16:01

n ambition conceived decades ago will come to fruition at Cheltenham on March 13 when Santini, bred and owned by Richard Kelvin Hughes, contests the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the blue riband of jump racing. It was watching that outstanding mare Dawn Run, winner of the Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup, captivate racegoers in the 1980s that convinced Kelvin Hughes he should buy fillies and try to breed his own champions. British National Hunt breeding has long been operating in the shadows of neighbours Ireland and France, which might explain the entries for this year’s Gold Cup. At the time of writing there are 19 horses engaged, nine French-breds, eight Irish-breds and just two – Santini and Presenting Percy – bred in Great Britain. When Coneygree, bred by the late Lord Oaksey, captured the Gold Cup in 2015, he ended a drought that had lasted 20 years since Master Oats and Norman Williamson triumphed in 1995. Sizing John, bred by Bryan and Sandra Mayoh, added to the British-bred tally in 2017. Last year’s Cheltenham Festival was a barren four days for British-bred runners as Ireland and France dominated proceedings. Kelvin Hughes, and the industry he represents, will be keen to avoid a similar outcome this March. In his efforts to elevate his own breeding operation, Kelvin Hughes has in fact decided to take a leaf out of the French book and ‘make’ his own jumps stallion, seeing how his crossChannel counterparts have enjoyed success with the progeny of stallions who themselves raced and won over obstacles. It’s certainly a challenge – but one the ownerbreeder is thrilled to embrace. “I’d love to have my own stallion!” Kelvin Hughes explains (The Big interview, pages 40-44). “You need to find the right one temperament-wise, then they have to be good enough [on the racecourse]. It’s a high-risk game but it’s an interesting one to play. “We have been looking at all the colt foals when they are born to try and choose one and

now we have selected our first one – a Kayf Tara colt out of My Petra. “He’s three years old and in training with Dan Skelton, where the facilities are superb. We expect him to race in France in a juvenile hurdle at the end of March. “I think we’ll try it with another one next year, too. It’s just the level you want to get to.” Harry Skelton is another man looking forward to the Festival, believing this year’s book of rides, which include Triumph Hurdle fancy Allmankind, are his best yet. The jockey has reached a century of winners in each of the past four seasons and looks well on the way to hitting the 100 again this campaign.

“He has embraced the challenge of ‘making’ his own jumps stallion” One notable aspect of Skelton’s career is his lack of outside rides; the vast majority of his recent wins have come for his brother, trainer Dan, with father Nick, the former outstanding showjumper, backing his boys at Lodge Hill stables in Warwickshire. Yet he understands the importance of being available to a huge operation that has placed its complete faith in him, both on the gallops and on the racecourse. “I’d love more outside rides. I’d love more winners,” he tells Tim Richards (Talking To, pages 46-50). “But the fact is that I have 150 horses to ride here at home and it is a family business. This is where I am committed; I know I am putting all my eggs in one basket, but I believe it is worth it. “I want to win for Dan and my family; it is sweeter when we win but harder when we lose.”

THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

21/02/2020 17:55

Contents

March 2020

News & Views

International Scene

ROA Leader

View From Ireland

The Tote has finally landed

TBA Leader Wide-ranging responsibilities

Action from Newbury and Sandown

From The Archives Night Nurse and the late Paddy Broderick

The Big Interview With Richard Kelvin Hughes

Racing Life

Talking To... Top jockey Harry Skelton

Travel and art Never a dull moment in Dubai

27 30 33

Features The Big Picture

Howard Wright Racing gets it right

Around The Globe Brendan Walsh makes a splash

Changes News in a nutshell

Continental Tales Fanny Olsson's American adventure

News Horse Welfare Board strategy plans

Stallion roster needs some TLC

Old Mill Stud New dawn with Ibrahim Araci

16 22 40 46 52

THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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112

Features

Forum

NH Sires

ROA Forum

Fresh blood joins established stars

Breedersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Digest Moves to help perception of fillies

Sales Circuit First UK, Ireland and French sales of 2020

Dr Statz Sire-broodmare sire combinations

106 112

Forum The Thoroughbred Club Visits and offers including Royal Ascot

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NH and Flat stallions showcased

Vet Forum

86 96 104

Data Book Graded Races Results and pedigree insights

The Finish Line With Henrietta Knight

TBA Forum

Blood sample analysis

Caulfield Files Handling of tricky tendencies evolves

Traceability of racehorses in spotlight

108

Did you know? Our monthly average readership is

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FEEL THE TRUE THRILL OF OWNERSHIP INSPIRING OWNERSHIP We’re working to inspire more people to join our community and become racehorse owners. And we’re raising the voice of owners, championing their interests and making ownership more rewarding at every step. Join us today and transform your ownership story. ROA.CO.UK/2020

ROA Leader

Nicholas Cooper President

The Tote’s time has arrived at long last N

ot only is the Cheltenham Festival the biggest celebration of jump racing in the world, it is also widely regarded as the UK’s ultimate betting event. In terms of betting turnover, only the Grand National and the Derby prevent Cheltenham Festival races from occupying every place in the top ten highest betting races of the year. Of course, on every level Cheltenham is a hugely important time for racing and for owners. We know that a Festival winner represents the ultimate goal for many owners but also that Cheltenham, probably more than any other racing occasion, illustrates the symbiotic relationship between racing and betting. This interdependence makes it a very exciting time for all of us who have a vested interest in the future of pool betting in this country. Under its relatively new management and structure, the Tote will be facing its most earnest test to date when the great Cheltenham roar heralds the start of the meeting on March 10. The UK Tote Group is a company funded by over 160 different shareholders, united in their love of horseracing and committed to providing a uniquely enjoyable, engaging and valuable betting experience. It is heartening that the company is now unequivocal in its ambitions. No more is it trying to be a bookmaker with a pool betting arm; no longer will it take bets at SP and no longer will it offer betting on a range of other sports as well as racing. At last, the Tote will be what it was always supposed to be – a pool betting operation for horseracing, pure and simple. This means the perception that UK and Irish punters are largely wedded only to fixed odds betting is going to be tested to the full. It means that when punters are offered something that is of clearly better value to them, we will know, over time, whether that is going to change their betting habits. For one of several bold initiatives now being rolled out by the Tote is a guarantee on all online win bets that punters will be paid out on either the win dividend or the SP, whichever is higher. The Tote describes this as a “game changer” and you can see why. Backing outsiders on the Tote has always tended to pay much better, but this clever if brave initiative will provide punters with the best of all worlds and will surely attract plenty of new business. Despite the many thousands of punters at Cheltenham racecourse in March, most betting will be off-course, in shops and online. The Tote will continue to offer pool bets

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through shops, while its new website is now set up to carry much-increased traffic. Reflecting the simplicity of its new operation, the website is now much the better for dealing purely with pool bets – just seven in all, including the timehonoured Placepot, for which it is estimated pools will top £1 million on each of Cheltenham’s four days. However, the Tote must not be seen purely as a vehicle for lottery-style bets with big pay-outs for small stakes. As we have seen overseas, bets such as the exacta and trifecta can entice the shrewdest of bettors and there is no reason why, with the right sort of marketing, these bets will not become part of the UK’s regular betting profile.

“It is heartening that the company is now unequivocal in its ambitions” Some of us have cherished a long-held belief that the Tote’s time would come when the great majority of those who bet on horses were part of the button-pushing generation and when information technology allowed everyone in the free world to share in common activities. The fact that we have now reached that stage was amply illustrated at Royal Ascot last summer, when we saw the potential possessed by the worldwide co-mingling of pools. We must hope the Cheltenham Festival will show the day of the Tote has well and truly arrived.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

21/02/2020 14:52

TBA Leader

Julian Richmond-Watson Chairman

Our vital role in the UK racing landscape T

he recently released strategic report from the new Horse Welfare Board should be welcomed by all of those in racing who care about the wellbeing of our horses and the sport. The plan, which is wide ranging, sets the tone by highlighting the two cross-cutting enablers as robust evidence and data, and high impact communications and engagement. Implementing both recommendations is vital if the welfare of horses, and therefore the sport, is to move forward. Breeders have already embraced the 30-day foal notification system to begin the process of a collective lifetime responsibility through traceability, which gives us a good start. This initiative sits well alongside the ‘breeder education’ section of the strategic planning report, and the TBA already provides guidance, policies and codes of practice to support breeders in achieving the best welfare outcome for their horses and to promote sustainable and responsible breeding practices. We are currently developing an online learning platform that will launch later this year to improve the reach and accessibility of our learning and guidance materials and support breeders and their employees in continuing their professional development. Consideration of breeding methods is a wide-ranging subject, which we will discuss with the Horse Welfare Board and the BHA, before taking further steps with other international jurisdictions. A life well lived is something we plan for every one of our horses, and if engaging with the HWB and others can help achieve this; everyone involved with breeding thoroughbreds should embrace the ethos wholeheartedly. Meanwhile, the administration of British racing can be compared with every other sport, being carried out by executives who work hard at keeping the show on the road, and volunteers and non-executives at every level, who tirelessly give their time and energy to a sport, or an area of a sport, which they love. As a charity, the Thoroughbred Breeders Association is no different. It mirrors the general set-up with a board and committee members who devote their time for free, while the fully competent executive based at Stanstead House make sure they operate efficiently and in accordance with our aims and objectives in supporting British breeders. In this day of instant communication, the workload of all of us seems to increase by the year, and in order to continue representing the interests of its members to best effect the TBA needs to keep in touch with numerous activities, initiatives and government proposals that could affect breeders’ lives. While breeding thoroughbreds is a fascinating process, it inevitably operates through a much longer timescale than many of the other spheres involved in racing. However, it is vital that

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we at the TBA keep on top of everything that is going on now, so that when the initial mating plan turns into a racehorse on the track, the breeder can be sure there is a clearly defined set of rules and regulations in place when that horse is ready to race, and a suitable race programme exists for which breeders were able to plan when making those mating arrangements. As I have said, as far as the TBA is concerned, managing and contributing to this process covers a myriad activities and engagements across a wide spectrum. We need to be involved in all aspects of administration on behalf of the thoroughbred breeding industry, in order to ensure that any changes do not have a detrimental effect on breeders but, where possible, enhance the breeders’ and the breed’s chances of success.

“We need active support from members both on the TBA board and in committees” This reflection on the TBA’s responsibilities brings me to an important point by illustrating why we need active support from members both on the TBA board and in committees. It is crucial for the future of breeding in Britain that the TBA has access to a cross-section of experience and expertise, from veterinary, finance, corporate governance and education to the fundamentals of hands-on breeding itself. If you have any of these skills, or just possess an abundance of common sense, please consider joining the TBA board or being a regional representative. Two board members will be elected this year. I urge anyone who has the time and interest to put their names forward. It is an opportunity to gain a real insight into the racing and breeding industries and to give something back to the sport that so many of us enjoy. The closing date for nominees is May 15.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

21/02/2020 14:52

News

GEORGE SELWYN

The Horse Welfare Board believes that every horse bred to race should lead “a life well lived”

Horse Welfare Board publishes strategy

new strategy for horse welfare has placed at its heart the ambition that every horse bred to race should lead – and be seen to lead – “a life well-lived”. The Horse Welfare Board’s five-year plan, unveiled at BHA headquarters on February 20, also includes a minimum recommendation that penalties for breaches of the whip rules be increased, while also stating the BHA should lead a consultation to gather views and potentially consider banning the whip entirely, or else changing the rules to place further restrictions on its use for encouragement. In total, 20 recommendations and 26 specific projects were put before the Members Committee, with the Horse Welfare Board’s strategy focusing on four key outcomes: 1 Best possible quality of life, relating to the encouragement and furthering of best practice in all aspects of health, care, husbandry and disease control; 2 Collective lifetime responsibility, incorporating, for example, traceability across the lifetimes of horses bred for

racing, and initiatives fostering greater understanding, encouragement and effective enforcement of responsibility; 3 Best possible safety, the understanding and analysis of multiple risk factors and the continuing reduction of reasonably avoidable injuries and fatalities; 4 Growth and maintenance of public trust.

“Penalties for breaches of the whip rules will be increased under the plan” The recommendations were split into categories labelled Standards and Benchmarking; Safety Improvements; Reviews of Current Policies and Practices (the section containing references to

the whip); Data and Risk Analysis; and Training and Education. The Horse Welfare Board includes equal representation from racing’s tripartite structure of horsemen, racecourses and the BHA, and has two independent members in Chairman Barry Johnson – also the former Chairman of World Horse Welfare – and Tracey Crouch MP, the former Sports Minister. Johnson praised the industry for its support in developing the strategy, and called for this demonstration of unity and collective responsibility to be continued through the delivery of its recommendations: “The horse is at the core of the Horse Welfare Board’s philosophy, and our vision is one the industry should be inspired to attain,” he said. “It ensures that, during the whole lifetime of the horse, all facets of its welfare are scrutinised, understood and, where possible, improved. “Standards of care are already extraordinarily high, and the vast majority of racehorses undoubtedly lead a life well lived, but we want to be able to identify and further promote those factors that lead to the best possible quality of life for all thoroughbreds. “We firmly believe that horses that are trained to take part in sport develop a real purpose that brings significant benefits to their wellbeing, not to

THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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Stories from the racing world mention those who care for them or ride them. Our goal is to measure these benefits where we can and communicate this better to a public that is often unfamiliar with horses. “We know we have to show why horses have such a special place in our national life and explain the sport’s high standards of welfare more confidently and proactively to the wider world.” In terms of the whip, the Horse Welfare Board considered information and data from a number of areas, including statistical data on misuse, rules and penalties in other racing nations, current scientific research, social, political and ethical considerations, and analysis of recent consumer and industry surveys. Johnson added: “This is a matter of public trust. We’d like people, especially those unfamiliar with horses, to understand and accept what’s necessary for our jockeys to race safely in a fair sporting competition. “It’s not about taking away the whip. Anyone who’s ridden a half-ton horse knows you need to be able to exercise control for the safety of horse and rider. This is about what should be allowable under our rules and how we penalise misuse to keep breaches to a minimum.” Racing industry leaders pledged their support of the strategy, with ROA President Nicholas Cooper saying: “The founding principle of the Horse Welfare Board was to better engage the wider bloodstock and racing industry in a structured manner, in order to allow our great sport to advance welfare standards for all thoroughbreds, as well as minimise – wherever possible – the risks associated with racing horses. “The strategy proposed is of huge importance and significance for the racing industry and the welfare board should be congratulated for delivering such a rounded and thorough document. We hope that the entire sport will get behind it and support the strategy, and play their part in its implementation.” BHA Chief Executive Nick Rust added: “I know our sport has been frustrated at times because it feels not enough has been done to speak up for racing. I firmly believe that the strategy gives us a platform to talk about all the good things we do with pride and confidence. That is why it is a pivotal moment, an opportunity to show that we can be trusted to do the right thing for our horses.” The BHA said that it aims to meet the request that changes be made to penalties for whip rule breaches by the end of October.

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Levy Board extracts an extra £5 million from bookmakers

Bookmakers submitted revised returns, leading to the levy yield increase

There was some good news for British racing in February when the Levy Board announced that the levy yield for 2018/19 would be £83 million, up £5m on the previous figure announced in May. It is understood the extra money was paid after the Levy Board enquired into how bookmakers treated ‘cash-back’ offers around certain bets, particularly popular at the big festival meetings. After the Levy Board received legal advice on the matter, bookmakers “were invited to submit revised returns”, which has produced the additional revenue. The boost is particularly welcome as the levy yield has dropped from £95 million in 2017/18. Levy Board Chairman Paul Lee said: “The issues involved here are

complex, turning as they do on the construction of legislation and its operation, specifically in relation to certain types of bets. All bookmakers have now paid levy on these bets in accordance with the legislation. “To achieve agreement on this matter is important, not only in effecting a significant increase on the provisional £78m announced for 2018/19 but also for assessing levy liability in the current year and future years. “This very satisfactory outcome would not have been achieved but for the hard work of the executive, who have diligently pursued these matters whilst maintaining good relationships with the bookmakers. We are also grateful to our legal advisors, Herbert Smith Freehills, and to counsel.”

THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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News

Tributes to ‘amazing man’ Robert Alner Robert Alner’s inspirational battling qualities were among the endearing characteristics espoused by family, friends and colleagues following his death last month aged 76. After riding successfully as an amateur, Alner took out a training licence in 1993 and went on to enjoy a number of bigrace winners, none bigger than Cool Dawn’s triumph in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1998. The trainer’s career and life took a devastating turn in 2007, however, when

he was paralysed after a car accident. The following year, with wife Sally, he became the first person in Britain to be granted a joint training licence, and they continued the operation for another couple of years. Alner is survived by Sally, and daughters Jennifer and Louise, who is married to trainer Robert Walford. Walford said: “One of our owners, John Millar, is a doctor and he said it was 250-1 for Robert to last five years after his accident and evens for him to last two years, so for Robert to live for 12 years just shows what an amazing man he was. “He’s been a boss, father-in-law and inspiration to me. He was a brilliant, topclass trainer who did so well with horses that were not expensive. He was tough and had plenty of courage.” Andrew Thornton was in the saddle for Cool Dawn’s Gold Cup victory, and

Robert Alner leads in Cool Dawn and Andrew Thornton after victory in the 1998 Cheltenham Gold Cup and left, with Kingscliff after his win in the 2005 Betfair Chase

the former jockey also partnered some of Alner’s other top horses, including Miko De Beauchene, their success in the 2007 Welsh Grand National coming shortly after the trainer’s life-changing accident. Thornton said: “It’s really sad news as we were very close and he meant an awful lot to me. He was in intensive care for 101 days after his accident and people don’t do that, but Robert kept battling. “Miko De Beauchene was the most emotional winner of my career as it came six weeks after Robert had his accident. I went down to see him in hospital afterwards and it was hard to communicate with him, but to relive the success for a couple of hours meant so much.

“He was paralysed from the neck down but wouldn’t miss a race and he followed my career throughout. He’s going to be sorely missed.” Alner, who was also a dairy farmer whose roots were deep in the Dorset countryside, enjoyed major victories with Kingscliff (Betfair Chase), The Listener (Irish Hennessy) and Kates Charm (Cleeve Hurdle) in addition to those of Cool Dawn and Miko De Beauchene, while Sir Rembrandt finished runner-up, beaten just half a length, to Best Mate in the 2004 Cheltenham Gold Cup. He also saddled the first two home in the 1997 Whitbread Gold Cup, when his third-string, Harwell Lad, beat Flyer’s Nap by four lengths.

BHA highlights growth in betting turnover In last month’s magazine, statistics were quoted stating that off-course betting turnover had decreased from £4.8 billion in 2014/15 to £4.2bn in 2018/19. These figures did not include online betting turnover, which was not made clear in the article. The British Horseracing Authority has confirmed that remote betting

turnover between the period April 2015 to March 2016 and April 2018 to March 2019 rose from £5.3bn to £9.6bn, an increase of 81%. Overall, off-course and remote betting turnover is up £3.7bn over the same period. Figures for the last year (April 18 March 19) show that overall turnover

comprising retail, on-course, online and pool betting on horseracing increased from £1.36bn to £1.42bn – up 4.3%. Owner Breeder is happy to clarify that the BHA’s previous target, stated in 2015, of “betting participation levels up 5% by 2018” has been easily achieved.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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An eye for success

March 2020

LION LEAVES LEGACY

visit studlife online: tweenhills.com/studlife

PONY RACER WEARS QATAR COLOURS

The first foals by our much-missed world champion Roaring Lion have made a huge impression at Tweenhills. Pictured is Bella Nouf, her newborn filly and Hubie Redvers. Common Knowledge – dam of exciting homebred three-yearold Know It All – produced the first Lion cub born at Tweenhills, also a filly, and another to produce a girl was Listed winner Diamonds Pour Moi.

Galileo mare Really Lovely has already bred two Stakes winners and, after being purchased privately, produced a Lion colt. We cannot wait to welcome more Lion cubs out of the likes of Gr.1 performers Simple Verse, Molly Malone and Wekeela.

SPEAR YOUNGSTERS ON POINT

As a huge fan of Roaring Lion and Oisin Murphy, 14-year-old Joe Leavy contacted us to see whether he could wear the Qatar Racing silks in the Charles Owen Racecourse Series of pony races. His wish came true in February when he rode ‘Madame Mimi’ to a gallant second at Cottenham. We are sure the pair will be going one better very soon – go Joe!

We have also been delighted with the first foals by Lightning Spear. We have two so far at Tweenhills – smashing colts out of Black Sails (pictured with Scott Marshall) and Gr.3 winner Dark Reckoning.

STAFF PROFILE Samantha Griesel

Foaling Manager Tell us about your upbringing… I grew up on Klawervlei Stud in South Africa; mum is now Stud Manager and gran is Foaling Manager. We also had a competitive eventing yard when I was younger. I always wanted to be outside, learning about the horses with mum and gran. I’ve worked at Coolmore Studs in Ireland and Australia.

How are you finding Tweenhills? It’s great. The foaling unit is very impressive with monitoring cameras and a lovely large barn. I live with Charles – who works with the stallions – above the foaling unit which is handy and makes foaling the mares a lot easier. The team are very friendly and have made working here lovely. And what about away from horses? I love baking and cooking in general; chocolate cake is my speciality. In the off-season I love travelling and am looking forward exploring more of England and Europe. Charles and I went to Greece recently – for my birthday – which was amazing. We had great fun quad-biking around some of the islands.

Talking of Oisin Murphy, the champion jockey stopped by Tweenhills in February to check out the Roaring Lion foals – here he is with a two-hour-old colt out of Stakes-placed Stroll Patrol.

Laura Redvers and Louise Daly are doing the Gaucho Derby in Patagonia in March for charity . Follow their progress: ledbury_ladies_gauchoderby2020

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

Changes

Racing’s news in a nutshell

People and business Colin Kidd

Irish trainer who enjoyed some good days with versatile performer Rashaan relinquishes licence citing financial pressures.

Robert Hall

Broadcaster, 65, steps down after covering racing for RTE since 1982, graduating from radio to TV.

Jockey set for spell on the sidelines after taking a fall at Newcastle, sustaining fracture to T6 vertebra.

Bob Baffert

US training legend confirms he no longer has any horses owned by Phoenix Thoroughbreds, as has Martyn Meade.

Alan Bailey

Trainer, 80, retires and hands over his 15 horses to his grandson Joseph Parr, who will train from Frankland Lodge Stables.

Harry Teal

St Leger

Conditional jockey, 23, calls time on riding career due to ongoing battle with the scales.

William Hill’s decision not to renew contract leaves ARC needing a new sponsor for the world’s oldest Classic.

Levy yield

Kempton Park

Revised total for 2018-19 increases by £5 million to £83m after bookmakers supply additional information on bets taken.

JCR submits new smaller-scale housing development proposal that would enable racing to continue at the Sunbury track.

Matchbook

Sir Francis Brooke

Succeeds Johnny Weatherby as Her Majesty’s representative at Ascot.

Sir Peter O’Sullevan Trust

Charity takes its donations to £11 million after handing out more than £700,000 in 2019.

Paul Hanagan

Charlie Appleby

Godolphin trainer receives the top three lots from last year’s Book 1 Sale at Tattersalls, which together cost 9 million gns.

Betting exchange has its licence temporarily suspended by the Gambling Commission.

Stayers’ Hurdle

Paddy Power agrees three-year deal to sponsor three-mile Grade 1 contest at the Cheltenham Festival.

Horse obituaries Kachy 7

Talented sprinter for owner Dave Lowe and trainer Tom Dascombe, known for his prowess on the allweather. In all he won nine races and earned £470,000.

Eur Gone West 7

Gelding was a dual hurdles winner for the David Pipe stable in the colours of Jane Gerard-Pears

Alsa Mix 8

Grade 2-winning hurdler for owner June Watts and trainer Alan King suffers a fatal fall over fences at Ascot.

Briar’s Delight 32

Scottish-trained chaser who won ten races for the Dick Allan stable.

Warthog 8

Caspian Caviar Gold Cup victor for trainer David Pipe and owners Caroline Tisdall and Bryan Drew.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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CIA BLE BAY NVINCIBLE SPIRIT Champion 1st Crop Sires in GB and IRE 2019 1

SIRE

GRANDSIRE

Cable Bay

Invincible Spirit

WNRS WINS

BTH

GRW

GPH

TOTAL £

582,494

Night of Thunder

Dubawi

482,636

Gleneagles

Galileo

440,881

Due Diligence

War Front

333,152

Gutaifan

Dark Angel

327,082

Anjaal

Bahamian Bounty

255,460

To date 7th November 2019

IMPRESSIVE SALES PRICES:

£320,000, £200,000, £175,000, £160,000, £150,000, £140,000, €130,000, £110,000, £105,000, £90,000 Also sire of high class 2yo’s LIBERTY BEACH, winner of the Molecomb Gr.3, KING’S LYNN, Winner of Weatherbys £150,000 2yo Stakes, Multiple group placed ROPEY GUEST, ISABEAU, second to Cheveley Park winner Millisle in the Listed Curragh Stakes etc

L ANND FORCE O NAY N E V E R LAND FORCE (IRE) (2016) A Bay Colt

No Nay Never (USA)

Theann (GB) (2004)

Scat Daddy (USA) Cat's Eye Witness (USA) Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) Cassandra Go (IRE)

“A brilliantly fast 2yo which he proved when

Johannesburg (USA) Love Style (USA) Elusive Quality (USA) Comical Cat (USA) Danehill (USA) Off f shore Boom ff Indian Ridge Rahaam (USA)

winning the Richmond. He was very unlucky not to

LAND FORCE (IRE): won 3 races at 2 years, 2018 and £192,225 viz Richmond Stakes, Goodwood, Gr.2, Coolmore Pride of Dubai Tipperary Stakes, Tipperary, L. and Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, Curragh, placed 4 times including third in Norfo r lk Stakes, Ascot, Gr.2, Cold Move EBF Marble Hill Stakes, Curragh, L. rfo and fourth in Darley Prix Morny, Deauville, Gr.1. 1st Dam THEANN (GB), won 2 races at 2 and 3 years and £74,644 including Cuisine de France Summer Stakes, York, Gr.3, second in Flame of Tara Stakes, Curragh, L., third in Greenlands Stakes, Curragh, Gr.3 and Dimitrova 1000 Guineas Trial, Leopardstown, Gr.3; dam of ffour winners from 5 runners and 8 foa f ls off racing age includingPHOTO CALL (IRE) (2011 f. by Galileo (IRE)), won 6 races at 3 to 5 years at home and in U.S.A. and £544,932 including Rodeo Drive Stakes, Santa Anita, Gr.1, First Lady Stakes, Keeneland, Gr.1, Violet Stakes, Monmouth Park, Gr.3 and Orchid Stakes, Gulfstream Park, Gr.3, placed 7 times including second in Beaugay Stakes, Belmont Park, Gr.3, Robert G Dick k Memorial Stakes, Delaware Park, Gr.3, third in La Prevoyante Handicap, Gulfstream Park, Gr.3 and Perfect Sting Stakes, Belmont Park. LAND FORCE (IRE) (2016 c. by No Nay Never (USA)), see above. 2nd Dam CASSANDRA DRA GO (IRE), won 6 races at 3 to 5 years and £243,262 including King's Stand Stakes, Royal Ascot, DRA Gr.2, Tripleprint Temple Stakes, Sandown Park, Gr.2, King George Stakes, Goodwood, Gr.3 and EBF Lansdown Stakes, Bath, L., placed 7 times including second in Darley July Cup, Newmarket, Gr.1, Ballyogan Stakes, Leopardstown, Gr.3, Palace House Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.3, Stanley Racing Summer Stakes, York, L. and third in EBF Insulpak Swinley Stakes, Ascot, L.; Own sisterr to Grey Eminence (FR); dam of eight winners nner from 10 runners and 12 foals off racing age includingnners HALFWA WAY WA AY TO HEAV A EN (IRE) (f. by Pivotal (GB)), won 4 races at 2 and 3 years and £470,905 including AV Boylesport r s Irish 1000 Guineas, Curragh, Gr.1, Blue Square Nassau Stakes, Goodwood, Gr.1 and rt Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.1, placed 4 times including second in Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial Stakes, Leopardstown, Gr.3, third in Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes, Leopardstown, Gr.1, Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Longchamp, Gr.1; dam of winners. MAGICAL (IRE), Jt Champion 3yr old in Europe in 2018 (11-13f.), 8 races at 2 to 4 years, 2019 and £2,466,935 including Tattersalls Gold Cup, Curragh, Gr.1, Irish Champion Stakes, Leopardstown, Gr.1 and Brit. Champions Fillies/Mare Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1, placed 10 times including second in Coral Eclipse, Sandown Park, Gr.1, Moyglare Stud Stakes, Curragh, Gr.1, Prince of Wales's Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1, Darley Yorkshire Oaks, York, Gr.1 and Breeders' Cup Turf r , Churchill Downs, Gr.1. rf RHODODENDRON (IRE), Champion older er mare in Ireland in 2018, Jt top rated 2yrr old filly in Ireland in 2016, 5 races at 2 to 4 y years, 2018 at home and in France and £1,363,928 including ing Dubai Fillies' Mile, Newmarket, Gr.1, Locki kinge Stakes, Newbury, r Gr.1 and Prix de l'Opera, Chantilly, Gr.1, second in ry, Investec Oaks Stakes, Epsom Downs, Gr.1, 1000 Guineas Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.1, Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf r , Del Mar, Gr.1 and third in Moyglare Stud Stakes, Curragh, Gr.1. FLYING THE rf FLAG (IRE), 3 races at 2, 3 and 5 years at home and in U.A.E. and £125,188 including eFlow ow 'You First' International Stakes, Curragh, Gr.3, placed 6 times including second in Galileo EBF Futurity Stakes, Curragh, Gr.2. TICKLED PINK (IRE) (f. by Invincible Spirit (IRE)), won 3 races at 3 and 4 years and £77,734 including Connaught Flooring Abernant Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.3 and The Coral Charge Sprint Stakes, Sandown Park, Gr.3, p placed 3 times; dam of winners. THEANN (GB)) (f. by Rock of Gibraltarr (IRE)), see above. Fantasy (IRE) (f. by Invincible Spirit (IRE)), won 1 race at 2 years, 2018 and £24,413 and placed 4 times including g third in John Siskk & Son Round Tower er Stakes, Curragh, g Gr.3 and Curragh gh Stakes, Curragh, L. NEVERLETM ETM ETM ME E GO (IRE) E , won 2 races at 3 and £16,954 and placed E) d 3 times; dam of wiinners. BEST REGARDS (IRE), Champion 3yrr old Sprinter er in Germany in 2013, 3 races at 2 and 3 years in France and in Germany and £43,335 including Hoppegartener Fliegerpreis, Berlin-Hoppegart ar en, L., art placed twice including third in P.Af A rika Linen J Essberger Flieger Preis, Hamburg, Gr.3. Af Tilthe End of Time (IRE), unraced; dam of Snazzy (IRE), 1 race at 2 years, 2018 and £26,636, third in Langleys Solicitors EBF Marygate Stakes, York, L. 3rd Dam RAHAA RAH AHAAM (USA) S , won 1 race at 3 years and placed twice, from only 4 start r s; rt dam of nine winners ner from 9 runners and 10 foals of racing age includingners VERGLAS (IRE), won 3 races at 2 and 3 years at home and in U.S.A. including Coventry Stakes, Royal Ascot, Gr.3, second in Lexus Irish 2000 Guineas, Curragh, Gr.1, San Marino Handicap, Santa Anita, L.R. and third in Heinz 57 Phoenix Stakes, Gr.1; sire. PERSIAN SECRET (FR), won 3 races at 2 and 3 years at home and in France including Prix La Sorellina, La Teste Buch, L., placed second in Ewar Stud Empress Stakes, Newmarket, L. and third in Bonusprint Champion 2yo Trophy, Ripon, L.; dam of winners. O HONOURS (I E) C dS

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win the Norfolk, we were drawn on the wrong side.” - RYAN MOORE

Gr.2 Richmond Stakes

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Changes

Movements & retirements Seeyouatmidnight

Chaser who put trainer Sandy Thomson on the map is brought out of retirement age 12 ahead of a hunter chase campaign.

Harry The Viking

Staying chaser, a dual winner of the Borders National at Kelso, is retired aged 15 after his sixth in the Edinburgh National.

Wusool

Group 3 winner by Speightstown will stand at Lilling Hall Farm in Yorkshire this year at a fee of £1,500.

Soffia

Daughter of Kyllachy successful at Group 2 level for Lady O’Reilly is retired; the fiveyear-old will be covered by Frankel.

Linda’s Lad

Panic Attack

Impressive winner of his sole bumper at Market Rasen for trainer Willie Mullins is bought by Bryan Drew and sent to David Pipe.

Easysland

David Cottin-trained cross-country specialist, an impressive winner at Cheltenham in December, is bought by JP McManus.

Yorton Farm recruits son of Sadler’s Wells, sire of useful Irish performers Cash Back and Tout Est Permis. His fee is £3,000.

Sans Frontieres

Jumps stallion relocates to Vauterhill Stud in Devon from Coolmore’s Beeches Stud in Ireland.

People obituaries Jim Gale 73

Helped to establish the Northern Racing College; he was awarded an OBE in 2011 for his services to the racing industry.

Sebastien Le Forban 35

French bloodstock agent from Maisons-Laffitte, who established his agency in 2013, dies suddenly in Florida.

Paddy Broderick 80

Trained Cool Dawn to win the 1998 Cheltenham Gold Cup, also handled top-class chasers Kingscliff and The Listener.

Luciano Gaucci 81

Tony Bin won the 1988 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in his silks under John Reid. Later President of Perugia football club.

Irish jockey who will forever be associated with Night Nurse, dual winner of the Champion Hurdle in 1976 and 1977.

Betty Moran 89

Paul Blockley 61

James Banks 36

Sue Dunlop 81

Hari Singh Bati 41

Former jump jockey who retired from the saddle in 2018 after a career that yielded 85 winners.

Robert Alner 76

Owner of 2000 Grand National winner Papillon, she also bred US Grade 1 winners Unique Bella and Hard Spun.

Wife of late champion trainer John Dunlop and mother to current trainers Ed and Harry.

Former trainer who enjoyed Group 1 success with Zafisio in the 2008 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud.

Long-serving member of staff at trainer Mark Johnston’s Middleham stable suffers a heart attack in India.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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EQTIDAAR INVINCIBLE SPIRIT - MADANY (ACCLAMATION)

ROYAL ASCOT

GROUP 1 WINNER (6f)

“

He was a very talented sprinter and what he did in the Commonwealth Cup, considering his draw, was U LT R A IMPR ESS IVE

- Jim Crowley

“

2020 Fee:

£6,500

( 1 st J a n S L F )

Get in touch for a great deal Tom Pennington 01842 756963 or 07736 019914 - tpennington@shadwellstud.co.uk Ellen Bishop 01842 756929 - ebishop@shadwellstud.co.uk

The Big Picture

Pic perfect in Newbury hurdling highlight The Betfair Hurdle is one of those big-field handicaps where it’s often anyone’s race jumping the last, and this year’s renewal was no exception. The picture can also be changed dramatically by final-flight mishaps, and joint-leader Lightly Squeeze (noseband) was to take a tumble and bring down two rivals – all three horses emerged unscathed. Racing wide of the melee was 33-1 shot Pic D’Orhy (left, noseband), who picked up best under Harry Cobden to beat favourite Ciel De Neige (green and gold hoops) by three-quarters of a length and give trainer Paul Nicholls a second success in the Newbury race after Zarkandar in 2012. Photo George Selwyn

THE OWNER BREEDER

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Newbury

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THE OWNER BREEDER

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The Big Picture

Aba helps owner take it all For owner Trevor Hemmings, last month’s Betway Masters Handicap Chase at Sandown was a race to remember as his two runners Deise Aba (right) and Cloudy Glen fought out the finish. The Philip Hobbs-trained Deise Aba, under Tom O’Brien, is pictured jumping the last just in front of the Venetia Williams-trained Cloudy Glen, ridden by Charlie Deutsch, with the leader extending his advantage to three and a half lengths at the line. Sarah Hobbs, wife of the winning trainer, said: “He had an attitude problem last season, but suddenly he has clicked this season. He did jump very well and is maybe a future Grand National horse.” Photo George Selwyn

THE OWNER BREEDER

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Sandown

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THE OWNER BREEDER

21/02/2020 17:20

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The Big Picture

Sandown

Trainer and owners’ itch is scratched Your first top-level triumph is one to relish and savour, and it arrived for both trainer Olly Murphy and owners Kate and Andrew Brooks when Itchy Feet and Gavin Sheehan (right) prevailed in the Betway-backed Scilly Isles Chase at Sandown. The duo outpointed northern raider Midnight Shadow, ridden by Danny Cook, by three and a half lengths, the first two pulling well clear. Murphy said: “I’m not an emotional person but that meant a lot. I’m only 28 and have been training only a couple of years, so to train Kate and Andrew a Grade 1 winner is fantastic.” All connections – pictured above – felt likewise! Photos George Selwyn

THE OWNER BREEDER

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21/02/2020 17:16

From The Archives

Nurse in charge Andy Turnell on Birds Nest (left) wears a look of concern as Night Nurse and Paddy Broderick (right) lead the 1976 Champion Hurdle field after jumping the second last, with Lanzarote and John Francome close up behind. Night Nurse made every yard of the running under Broderick, who passed away in February aged 80, defeating Birds Nest by two and a half lengths. The duo repeated the feat in 1977. Photo George Selwyn

THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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Night Nurse at Cheltenham on March 17, 1976

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The Howard Wright Column

Racing can be proud of training initiatives T wo apparently unconnected events in the last weekend of January should have given British racing, and the BHA in particular, collective cause for a pat on the back. They happened in Australia, where reflected glory for the sport in Britain is not always in plentiful supply. The first involved Tom Marquand, who continued his successful winter break by riding a Group 3 double at Randwick in Sydney for trainer Ciaron Maher, following on from his breakthrough into the top four riders in the British championship in 2019. The second came in the neighbouring state of Victoria, where for the second year running all hope of a Briton making a serious impression in the Australian Open tennis championships disappeared in a cloud of Melbourne dust in round two. And this under the auspices of the Lawn Tennis Association, which has an annual turnover of £64.5m and according to a recent yearly report represents “the interests of nearly 600,000 British tennis members, 4,400 accredited coaches, over 2,700 registered clubs and 950 licensed officials.” By contrast, British racing spends a fraction of the LTA’s budget on its jockey coaching and training programme, yet the returns are becoming increasingly impressive. Marquand, a beneficiary, drew a Twitter plea from one Aussie racing fan, who implored: “Could Tom please stay forever.” Imagine that happening to Heather Watson or her like, unless it was a tongue-in-cheek request to provide cannon fodder for local talent. Yet Marquand is not the only emerging young rider to have benefited from the jockey coaching programme. Jason Watson, with four wins from his first 17 rides in a similar spell in Australia that was deliberately intended to be more educational than competitive, is another, while despite having obvious family footsteps in which to follow, last year’s champion apprentice Cieren Fallon acknowledged the “tremendous value” of feedback from coaches Michael Hills and Michael Tebbutt. Dedicated jockey coaching in Britain is a fairly recent phenomenon. It began in 2011 with a pilot scheme run by thethen Northern Racing College – in which I should declare an interest as vice-chairman – and has since been managed by the British Racing School for the BHA, with both schools sharing the load of maintaining its progress and momentum. That standards among those providing the service have risen over the ensuing nine years is clear. Sue Ringrose was named coach educator of the year at the UK Coaching Awards, and Phil Kinsella,

personal development manager with the Jockeys Education and Training Scheme (Jets), has achieved the BEF level 4 coaching award in a first for racing. Shortly, there will be a further boost to the programme with the appointment of a jockey coaching and performance

“The jockey coaching programme has received significant buy-in from young riders” development lead, a full-time post whose importance is reflected in its annual salary of up to £50,000. The successful appointee, who will be responsible for overseeing a panel of 22 part-time coaches, has been handed a wide-ranging remit that boils down to taking the current model to a new level. Whoever fills the position will benefit from a sector alliance that others in British racing may wish to study and emulate, after the Professional Jockeys Association, Jets and the Injured Jockeys Fund made a combined application to secure a £2.3 million grant from the Racing Foundation, which will be allocated to jockey development and support over the next five years. The joint proposal has the expressed objective of positioning riders as elite athletes, comparable to highperformance athletes in other sports, and the jockey coaching programme will be one of three areas of priority. The security of long-term funding means that not only will coaching be extended, but the scheme will also cover emotional wellbeing, mental health and nutrition, as well as provide PR and promotional skills for jockeys to act as ambassadors for racing as a whole. The days when jockeys were left to paddle their own canoes, and several slid over the rapids into oblivion, are becoming an increasingly distant memory. Of course, human nature being what it is, not everyone issued with an apprentice or conditional licence will put in the maximum effort, but, so far, the jockey coaching programme has received significant buy-in from young riders. Here is one aspect of British racing of which the sport can be proud. Tom Marquand: showing the benefits of coaching

THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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02/03/2020 10:30

SOLID AS A ROCK !

News of changes to this year’s Pattern schedule in Europe received scant coverage. That’s a pity, for the official communique from the European Pattern Committee also contained further evidence of the parlous state of Italian racing, which in turn confirms that government and horseracing generally make uncomfortable bedfellows. Racing in Italy has been on the slide for more than a decade. However, the decline has accelerated over the last two years. In January 2019, the EPC found some backbone and downgraded Italy to associate membership, with no voting powers. At the time, the EPC said it would “be monitoring progress over the next 12 months” and hoped Italy would become a full member again “in the near future.” That hope seems as far away as ever. One year on, the EPC “noted that the situation had not changed by a meaningful margin… and reaffirmed its decision that Italy remain an associate member.” Ten years ago Italy staged seven Group 1 races; now it has none, and the Derby Italiano, once the jewel in the three-year-old crown, faces being downgraded from Group 2 under the latest EPC warning note. It seems things can only get worse, and the blame can be squarely credited to Italy’s chaotic political structure. The country’s reputation for unstable government is legendary, yet racing in Italy is controlled by the ministry for agriculture, which has inevitably led to impossibly uncertain relations with the horsemen. Further regional differences have merely accentuated their desperation. Lest other EPC members should think everything is rosy, a note of caution is appropriate. Ireland, which is also heavily dependent on government support, will be awaiting the fall-out from last month’s spectacularly inconclusive general election, while officials at France-Galop, who have had their own problems with government, may ponder events on their home patch. For the last three years the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe has topped the IFHA’s table of the world’s top 100 Group/ Grade 1 races for three-year-olds and upwards. Yet France’s racing programme is in danger of becoming a one-trick pony, based on the 2019 list, where the Arc and Prix Ganay, both won by Waldgeist, were the only two of its races to make the top 70. Just five in the top 100 represents a new low water mark. On this evidence, and with the levy assured, it’s to be hoped the BHA can continue to keep the British government at arm’s length.

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Waldgeist: won the two best races in France last year

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Bearstone TOB March 2020:Layout 2

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Page 1

FIRST FOALS 2020 By Zoffany x How’s She Cuttin’ N OF THE ONLY SO IN UD IN BRITA T S T A Y N A F ZOF ies d in 3 countr Group 1 place re than who sired mo By ZOFFANY in 2019, 120 winners yos including 28 of them 2 one of his ner Albigna, Group 1 win horses 27 black type sire ily of leading From the fam GE GRAND LOD rnings of ith career ea He retired w £513,679 Fee: £5,000 Oct 1st SLF

Timeform rated 121: “well-made horse: smart performer” “He’s very fast…He’s all speed.” Aidan O’Brien

By Oasis Dream x Attraction nding t crop sire sta rs fi l fu ss e cc u S ich produces at a stud wh ning sprinters Group 1-win is first places from h 33 wins and including crop runners CE GRAVITY FOR k l Sta es, Gr.3 4th Horris Hil gs op of yearlin His second cr s n 55,000g sold for up to

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Mares sorted; now stallions? programme, believing mares are “7080%” responsible for whatever ability their foals have. “It means there are more mares in training,” he said. “Maybe by them winning, it might improve the stock, and breeders become less inclined to breed from mares they have tried and found nothing from.

“Derby form is important to me but so is [Ascot] Gold Cup form” “Having said that, Monalee’s dam, Tempest Belle, did go into training but fell in a point-to-point and fractured her pelvis. After some box rest she was probably okay to go back into work, but I had a half-sister in training already, Be My Belle, and a friend down the road had a

half-sister, too, so I thought maybe this was a message from the gods not to run her.” Aherne did run Many Clouds’s dam Bobbing Back, achieving nothing more than fifth in a Cork bumper, and yet she produced a Grand National winner and dual Grade 1 scorer The Tullow Tank. Aherne believes Irish breeders may be falling down on breeding staying chasers because they are looking in the wrong places when covering their mares. “I look at a sire that stays and gets stayers,” he said. “I suppose Derby form is important to me but so is [Ascot] Gold Cup form. A horse I think is really good value is Yeats, who won that race four times. “Everyone raves about Kayf Tara, but he only won it twice. Yeats needed a big Saturday winner and he finally got it with De Rasher Counter in the Ladbrokes Trophy. He needs one to two more to really be considered a great National Hunt sire, but I’ve already got a Yeats foal and I’ll probably go back to him.” True to form, Aherne has two mares in foal to Derby winner Wings Of Eagles, and another in foal to Derby second Walk In The Park.

Lostintranslation: Cheltenham Gold Cup win would be shot in arm for Irish breeders

THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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››

GEORGE SELWYN

he dominance of Irish-bred horses in the Cheltenham Gold Cup appears to be a thing of the past. From 1996 to 2014, an Irish-bred horse won every Gold Cup bar those taken by the French-breds Kauto Star and Long Run, but the tide has now turned. Where once Irish-breds filled 73% of the first three placings in Cheltenham’s showpiece, across the past nine races they have filled only 41%, their dominance declining by some 32% versus the ten previous runnings. Morgan Kavanagh from Borris House Stud will be among those Irish breeders represented in the 2020 Gold Cup, having produced the Colin Tizzardtrained Lostintranslation. As he sees it, Irish breeders have not stopped trying to produce staying chasers, but the French have become much better at it. “I think the French sires are more geared towards National Hunt racing,” he said. “The French are not afraid to stand a horse that has jumped a fence, but you can see that’s not the case in Britain or Ireland. “Look at Midnight Legend; no one really gave him a chance. He could have been brilliant.” Midnight Legend, bred and raced in Britain, won Grade 2 hurdles as a novice and finished his career out with a lacklustre Champion Hurdle campaign, having previously won Listed races and valuable handicaps on the Flat. He was not a traditional sire, and did not attract the best mares. Despite this, he produced 2017 Gold Cup hero Sizing John, and has talented novice chaser Midnight Shadow ﬂying his ﬂag this term. And of course, the King George VI Chase winner Clan Des Obeaux is by classy French chaser Kapgarde. Kavanagh adds: “The work that the ITBA have done making the mares’ [jumps] programme better is really improving National Hunt breeding. Maybe we need to concentrate on that more, and perhaps we have taken our eye off the ball with stallions. I think the French are still ahead of us.” Aidan Aherne, already a Grand National-winning breeder thanks to Many Clouds, also has a Gold Cup contender in the shape of Monalee. He agrees with Kavanagh over the positive impact of the ITBA’s improvements of the mares’ jumps

21/02/2020 16:33

View Fr m Ireland ››

The Gold Cup hope Kavanagh bred was not a product of best-laid plans. Dam Falika had been bought from Artic Tack Stud in foal to Dream Well. The Kavanaghs kept that first colt, named Master Todd, but he never won, and nor did her next five runners on the track, though two came close enough to prompt a covering by the mighty Flemensfirth. Kavanagh describes Lostintranslation, the product of that mating, as a “small, backward foal, with big joints”. It was clear he would grow into them, though, and he walked well. Having paid €8,000 for the Flemensfirth nomination, he then sold Lostintranslation as a foal for just €500 more. What made the difference to this Falika foal was the late Willie Codd, who broke him and trained him to be fourth in his only point-to-point. “Willie Codd was the man who made him,” said Kavanagh. “He was the man responsible for giving him time, an education, and teaching him how to jump. It is a tragedy that he isn’t here now to see him run in the Gold Cup.” In contrast to Lostintranslation, Monalee was a “good-sized, athletic sort” who Aherne reared for just a few months before selling him at the November sales. “What’s funny,” he said, “is that he was born in Middleton, County Cork, and I drove him all the way up to Fairyhouse in County Meath to sell him at Fairyhouse to a man from Middleton, who trained him to win at one of the most local point-topoints to me, Templenacarrig.” Aherne was there that day and has hardly missed an outing of his since. “When you have brought a horse into the world, they are like your children,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how big they grow up, they are still your children and I follow all of them. “I get so nervous my stomach does somersaults, worrying whether they will get home safe.” He added: “I am very attached to Monalee’s mother, Tempest Belle. Even though she’s a fiery redhead, she has such a good temperament. When my young fellow was small, he would stand between her front legs and she’d rest her head down towards him like an elephant’s trunk, minding him.” Aherne’s attendance at Cheltenham, where he has already witnessed his star finishing second in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and RSA Chase, will be dictated by his six in-foal mares, but at 20-1 non-runner-no-bet, he will certainly have €20 down to support Barry Maloney’s son of Milan.

Hans and Lianne Delaunois-Vanderperren moved from Norfolk to Wicklow

Ferdlant Stud breeders vote leave As Brexit became reality in the UK last month, Ireland gained a new stud farm and vet as one family from Leave-dominant Norfolk called time on their life in England. It was not lightly that Hans and Lianne Delaunois-Vanderperren packed up Ferdlant Stud, first home of Colin Tizzard’s six-time winner Padleyourowncanoe, but when nobody could guarantee the security of their jobs and residency status, Ireland came calling. “It was Brexit, pure and simple,” said Lianne. “I’m Irish and my husband is Belgian and our children don’t have dual nationality. I knew I’d be allowed to stay, but no matter who we asked, we couldn’t get any straight answers about my husband or the children. “On top of that, the area we are living in is quite pro-Brexit, and we just decided it was time to go.” Hans first found a veterinary practice to buy in Wicklow, now called Happy Horse Veterinary, and the property came with ample space and facilities for their breeding and boarding business. At the time Ferdlant Stud housed a range of broodmares totalling 11, but to move the band had to be narrowed down to only the most commercial two and one filly, who is set to go into training later this summer. There were some hard decisions to make ahead of this fresh start. “We have kept four horses, our little pony, and three mares,” said Lianne. “Everything else was either getting to retirement age anyway, or had been bred several times and never

proved anything, so they have gone to homes where they can be retired, or act as companions.” Ferdlant Stud arrived in Ireland last month with Dutch Art broodmare Dutch Mistress, who has had two foals, the first – Wrath Of Hector – due to begin his career this year, and Red Rocks mare Missandei, who has had fillies by Mukhadram and Poet’s Voice. Neither are in-foal this year, but both will be covered, with last year’s Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Phoenix Of Spain, based at the Irish National Stud, being considered for Missandei. The Delaunois-Vanderperrens also have a homebred filly by Swiss Spirit out of Le Coeur De Lys, a Mount Nelson half-sister to Faulkner, who was placed in Group races in Meydan when trained by Doug Watson. She has arrived at trainer Colm Murphy’s yard in Wexford to be broken, with a view to going into training this summer – though not necessarily with Murphy. “We do want to expand our broodmare band again once we have settled in,” said Lianne, “But for now the extra capacity at the yard will be filled with foaling mares for clients.” A big positive Lianne has found about setting up a stud farm in Ireland is that stallions are better value, which could be an opportunity for Ferdlant Stud to aim higher. She said: “When it comes to stallions in Ireland, there seems to be much more choice, and the studs seem more willing to do deals on covering fees. It means you get more for your money and better value.”

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KUROSHIO E 0 FE 0 ,0 FR €6 FF

S TA L L I O N S

HIGH-CLASS JUVENILE AND SPRINTER BY

EXCEED AND EXCEL 20% Black-Type horses to named foals inc: KURIOUS

Gr.3 & Listed winner

DUNKERRON

2nd Gr.2 Qatar Vintage Stakes

DAPHINIA

2nd L Marygate Stakes

Over 100 mares in 2019 Cappella Sansevero

Kuroshio

Smooth Daddy

My Dream Boat

Micheál Orlandi, Compas Stallions info@compasstallions.com + 353 (0)83 809 2299 compasstallions.com + 44 (0)7535 263388 Standing at Starfield Stud, Ballinagall, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland N91 K8Y9

Continental Tales

French turn surely near at hand FRANCE

s Gallic raider Easysland heads to the Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase on a six-race winning streak, it’s difficult to believe that there has not been a French-trained Cheltenham Festival winner since 2005. In the dozen Festivals up to and including that year, Francois Doumen had notched no fewer than six victories, while Guillaume Macaire, untouchable in big races over jumps at home, had hinted at his emerging appetite for targeting Prestbury Park’s showpiece fixture when saddling Jair du Cochet to finish second in the 2003 Sun Alliance Chase. Ten months later the same horse returned to land the big Cheltenham Gold Cup trial, then known as the Pillar Property Chase, before the wheel of fortune took a cruel turn. Jair du Cochet suffered a fatal injury during his final serious gallop prior to the big race, while Doumen experienced a few near-misses, notably with Kasbah Bliss, before he stopped training jumpers in 2010. Macaire’s enthusiasm for plundering our crown jewels waned, prompted by a policy change that saw him sell many of his most promising proteges, including the future multiple Cheltenham Festival winners Vautour and Master Minded, and a consequent wariness for enduring a 2,300-mile round- trip simply to take on your own former charges. Hence the current drought. Equally unfathomable is France’s inability to provide so much as a single winner in the 15-year history of the Cross-Country Chase at the Festival. France could, after all, be considered as the European home of cross-country races alongside the Czech Republic – some of its biggest races of the genre stretch back half a century and more. So how come the score in the Cross-Country Chase currently stands at Ireland 13, England 2, France 0? The bottom line is that the race attracted minimal French participation in its first decade – just two runners to be precise, neither of whom made the frame. The odd cross-Channel challenger had come over for Cheltenham’s autumn cross-country contests and Macaire even saddled Plum’Tee to finish second to the mighty Spotthedifference in late 2006. But it was not until Emmanuel

Easy does it: Easysland led home a French 1-2 at Cheltenham in December Clayeux’s Urgent de Gregaine sprang a 50-1 surprise over the idiosyncratic inner course in January 2017 that French handlers began to realise what was possible and started to target these unusual events. This season the penny has really dropped and Easysland led home a 1-2 for trainer David Cottin in Cheltenham’s December cross-country chase to emulate the feat that Clayeux had achieved a month earlier, thanks to Diesel d’Allier and the redoubtable Urgent de Gregaine. Since that course triumph, Easysland has been sold to the Festival’s biggest supporter, owner JP McManus, and the son of Gentlewave made a fine debut in his green and gold silks in a thrilling renewal of France’s biggest winter cross-county race, the Grand Cross de Pau Reverdy, at Pau on February 2. In the air alongside two of his 11 rivals at the last of the 31 fences, he drew clear in the final 200 yards to score by three lengths. Now he is likely to be joined by

Urgent de Gregaine as they face the unenviable task of trying to get the better of the ‘people’s horse’, Tiger Roll, in a race he has already won twice, last year by a ridiculously easy 22-length margin. Regardless of how the pair get on against the dual Grand National hero, there is a distinct feeling that French jumps trainers and owners are becoming more adventurous in their attitudes towards raiding Britain’s top prizes. It would be a surprise if the current French champion trainer, Francois Nicolle, does not add to his single Festival runner (Le Curieux, down the field in the 2016 Fred Winter) in the coming years.

Archy Bald outlives Rummy

While on the subject of French crosscountry horses, the recent death of the legendary Archy Bald allows us one last chance to celebrate the life of this remarkable gelding. The darling of the French provincial

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By James Crispe, IRB He passed away just a few miles from Craon on January 22 at the grand old age of 32, having last visited the course in 2016 to lead a pre-race parade. So, he outdid both Spotthedifference, who made it to the age of 25, and the

jumping scene at the turn of the century, he won Craon’s biggest cross-country race, the €70,500 three-mile-six-furlong Prix Nicolas Feuillate, on no fewer than five occasions, the last coming on his return from a 14-month absence.

legendary Red Rum, who lived past his 30th birthday. Who says that the stresses and strains of taking part in long-distance steeplechases preclude a horse from having a long and healthy life.

On-the-up Olsson has Shergar Cup aspirations SWEDEN

Fanny Olsson: career in US has taken off recently

ELINA BJORKLUND/SVENSK GALOPP

Currently beginning to make a name for herself during the ultra-competitive winter meeting at Gulfstream Park in Florida, Swedish rider Fanny Olsson is someone that should be added to the likes of Hollie Doyle, Hayley Turner and Josephine Gordon as a fine role model for aspiring female jockeys. In truth, Olsson’s career trajectory equates more closely to another woman rider, Sophie Doyle (no relation to Hollie but sister of Godolphin jockey James). For, like Doyle – now a Grade 1-winning jockey with some 350 lifetime successes to her name – Olsson suffered a downturn in her fortunes after enjoying success in her homeland as an apprentice and was forced to cross the Atlantic to have a second crack at the big time. Born in Arboga, 90 miles west of Stockholm, Olsson has no family background in racing yet first became

acquainted with a saddle at the age of three at a riding school. She was guided towards the racing side of equine sport by one of her schoolteachers who bred thoroughbreds. Having cut her teeth in pony racing, she started out under rules in the amateur ranks before graduating to apprentice and then full professional status, achieving the unusual feat of winning on her first mount in each of those three categories. Olsson’s first serious setback came in October 2014, when a horse she was exercising at Jagersro racetrack in Malmo reared up and came down on top of her, breaking her pelvis in four places and her back in two. Doctors initially suggested she would never ride again. Olsson, who never gave such an outcome a moment’s thought, was back astride a horse the very day that she was discharged from hospital and back competing within six months, riding out her apprentice claim. Like so many before her, she found things tough once the weight allowance disappeared and her annual winning tallies regressed, from 15 in 2015 to ten, four and three in the following years. She rode in the Stockholm Cup and the Norwegian Derby on a couple of occasions but marquee races evaded her and, to this day, a Group 3 triumph in a race for Arab-breds remains her solitary Pattern win. Yet, ever since a visit to Florida as a callow 18-year-old, she had always dreamt of plying her trade in the Sunshine State. So, at the age of 25 in November 2018 with over 100 winners under her belt, she packed her bags and crossed the pond. “It was becoming hard to get rides and I made the decision that if I was going to struggle, I’d rather struggle in America than in Scandinavia,” Olsson recalls. “I began my time over here as assistant to [trainer] Saffie Joseph junior, which was not what I wanted to do, I just wanted to ride, but I had to pay the bills.”

After waiting over six months for her first ride, things began to pick up towards the end of last year and by the end of January she had managed eight wins from just 46 rides. “I’m super happy with the way things have turned out,” she enthuses. “I never imagined that I would pick up so many rides so soon, especially not during the current meet when so many of the top riders are based in Florida. It shows that if you work hard it pays off.” It must help that she talks so well and has always been a superb selfpublicist. In Sweden in 2015 she was one of the stars of a television documentary series called Jockey, charting the ups and downs of two aspiring female riders. A second series, following her around in Florida, is already in the can. “I’ve had so much feedback from the two series and a lot of people get in touch to tell me what I’m doing is really cool,” she relates. “Swedish people over here on vacation ask me to show them around the track and I feel really proud when they say that I’m doing a good job.” Of course, like anyone else, Olsson needs a star horse to put her name in lights. That horse could be the three-yearold Nikki And Papa, a $500,000 breeze-up purchase who overcame forfeiting ten lengths at the start to finish third on her racecourse debut in the Grade 3 Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream on February 1. “Nikki And Papa is a chestnut filly who I ride every morning and is a little tricky,” Olsson says. “Her owner, Mister Paolucci, has assured me that he will let me ride her again next time.” In the longer term, maybe a visit to England to take part in the girls team at the Shergar Cup would appeal? “I would love to be a part of that!” she exclaims. “I’ve only ever ridden in two Arab races in England and I followed the Shergar Cup very closely in 2018 when Per-Anders Graberg was taking part – it would be a dream thing to do.”

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FEED THE DIFFERENCE

Around The Globe

The Worldwide Racing Scene

Walsh stable enjoying great run NORTH AMERICA By Steve Andersen

“I would rather concentrate on having a bit more quality for good owners” Plus Que Parfait gave Walsh his richest win in the $2.5 million UAE Derby on the undercard of the Dubai World Cup last March. Maxfield gave Walsh his first Grade 1 triumph in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland in October. Maxfield was a sentimental winner. The promising colt is owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing. Walsh worked for Godolphin as an exercise rider and spent several winters in Dubai. He

KEENELAND

his is the time of year trainer Brendan Walsh often travels across the Gulf of Mexico a few times a month to oversee the 60 horses he has based between Fair Grounds in New Orleans and the Palm Meadows training centre near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Fortunately, the journey takes less than two hours and the racecourses are close to major airports. Walsh, of County Cork, wants to be in both places at once, for plenty of the right reasons. Through the first week of February, Walsh had won seven races from 30 runners at Fair Grounds and Gulfstream Park in Florida, compared to three wins from 41 races during a similar time last year. The stable is off to an excellent start at a time when standards have risen. “We had a good January,” he said on a recent weekday. “Normally, it can be pretty tough. We have a nice team of horses right now.” Boosted by success from Plus Que Parfait and Maxfield, Walsh, 46, had a career-best season in 2019 with stable earnings of $3,788,625. The stable won 59 races, not far from his personal best of 69 wins in 2017.

Brendan Walsh, who again has Kentucky Derby pretensions, with Florent Geroux

later worked for Godolphin at Arlington Park, near Chicago, taking on more responsibilities along the way. “It was unbelievable, actually,” Walsh said. “They’ve been a big part of my career. I have a lot of good friends still attached to Godolphin. “To win in Dubai last year was special. Back in the day, I’d look at those horses and dream about having a horse like that.” Maxfield missed a start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita in November and later underwent surgery to have a bone chip removed from an ankle. By late January, Maxfield was back in training with the hope he can be ready for a start in the Kentucky Derby on May 2. “We couldn’t be happier with him right now,” Walsh said. “He had a good recovery from his little issue that he had. It’s still up in the air what our plans will be. We’re not going to force the issue by any means. “Everyone wants to win the Derby for obvious reasons. I wouldn’t rule it out yet; I think he has a chance to get to it.” Plus Que Parfait, owned by Imperial Racing, followed his win in the UAE Derby with a ninth in the Kentucky Derby last May, Walsh’s first runner in the historic race. Plus Que Parfait was

later third in the $500,000 West Virginia Derby before the rig was given a late season rest. By Point Of Entry, Plus Que Parfait is in training for a start later this winter or in early spring. Walsh opened his stable in the United States in 2012 after working as an assistant for Mark Wallace in Newmarket and Eddie Kenneally, who is primarily based in Kentucky. Walsh had his first stakes win in 2014 and had 12 last year. In the spring, the stable will return to Kentucky, where purses are on the increase thanks to revenue from slot machines at racetrack-owned casinos. The stable will grow slightly when the early two-year-olds begin to arrive, although Walsh said he is not seeking a massive expansion. “I don’t want to have a huge, huge number of horses,” he said. “I like where we’re at now. When we go back in the spring, we always get very busy. You need 75 or 80 to get to the 60 eventually. “I would rather concentrate on having a bit more quality for good owners than have a crazy number of horses running all around the country. “We have a good team of horses now, a couple of high-profile horses – and we have a nice team coming under them as well.”

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Around The Globe

No luck for Yes Yes Yes as injury curtails career AUSTRALIA By Danny Power

COLIN BULL

“O

h no, Yes Yes Yes has been retired” declared one clever wag on Twitter after the Chris Waller stable and part-owner Coolmore Stud announced that the crack colt’s racing career is over. Veteran jockey Glen Boss, who rode Yes Yes Yes to a dramatic win in last year’s $A14 million The Everest at Randwick last October, said he was shattered that he couldn’t “take on the world” with a horse he described as “something pretty special”. “Unfortunately, I got to ride him only twice and one was in a gallop,” Boss told RSN radio. “He just made my skin feel on fire, he gave me tingles.” Boss said he was looking forward to riding the son of Rubick in his autumn campaign that was going to culminate in a start at Royal Ascot in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes. It’s disappointing for Australian racing that a headliner such as Yes Yes Yes is retired after only seven starts, and just as disappointing for the Coolmore team, who had hoped to turn him into a shuttle stallion. Coolmore bought into Yes Yes Yes early in his juvenile career, snapping up a 50% stake in the colt after he won the Group 2 Todman Stakes, leading into last year’s $A3.5m Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes, in which he finished a luckless seventh after being near last of 16 at the 400-metre mark. Yes Yes Yes, who damaged a nearfore tendon in a track gallop late in January, will stand alongside his sire Rubick and in view of a statue of his famous grandsire, Encosta De Lago, at Coolmore’s Jerry’s Plains Stud in the 2020 stud season, which begins in September. His fee will be announced after the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney in early April. Interestingly, Yes Yes Yes’ pedigree has an incredible Coolmore connection. He’s set to be a fourth-generation stallion for the Irish-based international conglomerate, tracing from Rubick to Encosta De Lago and his sire, Sadler’s

Yes Yes Yes: connections were minded to aim him towards Royal Ascot this summer

Wells’ brother Fairy King, who shuttled from Ireland to Australia in 1992 and 1996, leaving 110 foals. There is only one other stallion on any of Coolmore’s rosters that can boast an unbroken line of four generations to stand under the famous banner – and he’s also Australian. Starspangledbanner is by Choisir, who is a son of Danehill’s wonderful shuttler son, Danehill Dancer. Yes Yes Yes is from Rubick’s first crop; it’s a case of a stallion producing a son better than himself. Rubick, who is closely related to champion sire Redoute’s Choice, was a very fast juvenile who won at Group 3 level before training on to win the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes as an early-season three-year-old. He retired the winner of three of his eight starts, but he’s proved a revelation at stud off a low $A15,000 service fee. His son, who is bigger and stronger, will command a fee three times that of his sire’s starting point, even though he also didn’t win at Group 1 level – he was second to Bivouac in the Golden Rose in September, but he beat the best sprinters in the land in The Everest, running a record 1:07.32 for the six furlongs. Yes Yes Yes has a very Australian dam line, tracing back 110 years when the mare Vicella, born in 1906, was imported from England to New Zealand in foal to the stallion Ian, producing a filly foal named Greenstreet, the

descendant of Yes Yes Yes. Late in her breeding career, Vicella, after moving to Australia, produced the good-looking and outstanding Melbourne galloper Carradale (by Caraval), who, after winning two important juvenile races, resumed at three in the 1929 AJC Derby at Randwick but found one better than him – Phar Lap. He followed up with another second to the great horse in record time in the Victoria Derby at Flemington. Remove Phar Lap and Carradale is the champion colt of his year. However, the stoutness of the pedigree has dissipated with the introduction of speed. The next good horse to come from the family was Salaam, who won three top-class sprint races in the last 1970s, including The Galaxy, which is now a Group 1 sprint in Sydney. Yes Yes Yes’ grand-dam, Steam Heat, was unraced, but she is the dam of three fast stakes winners – Hot As Hell, Flaming Hot and Craig’s Dragon – and also Hell It’s Hot, the dam of two-time Group 1-winning sprinter In Her Time, who like her relation Salaam won The Galaxy in 2018 and then added the Lightning Stakes last year. Yes Yes Yes’ dam, the Fantastic Light mare Sin Sin Sin, was extremely quick. She won the ‘bushman’s Golden Slipper’ as a juvenile, the aptly named Wellington Boot, an 1100-metre scamper at Wellington in country NSW.

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Racing Life

edited by Sarah Rodrigues

New Heights Dubai’s status as an ever-evolving destination means you’ll never be bored

Dubai’s glittering skyline didn’t exist half a century ago

aturday, March 28 marks the occasion of the Dubai World Cup, one of the most exciting dates on the city’s social calendar. Whether you’re there for just a day or two on either side of the event, or for a longer stay, this is a destination that’s worth exploring – and with this year being the 25th anniversary of the race, it’s an ideal time to celebrate everything that Dubai has to offer. Call to mind an image of Dubai and it is surely glittering skyscrapers and aggressive development that you’ll visualise. It makes it difficult to believe that, less than 60 years ago, this was a remote desert outpost with little in the way of infrastructure. The discovery of oil, in 1966, changed all of that – yet even in that relatively short space of time, the country has come to claim tourism, rather than natural resources, as its primary source of economy. Its climate – warm in winter, albeit scorching in summer – is one reason for this, especially for Britons, who have to endure only a seven-hour flight to escape their own dreary winter months. Added to this are mega-star hotels, as well as unparalleled leisure amenities and a vibrant retail offering, spanning high street to high end, in the airconditioned comfort of sprawling malls. The proliferation of such modern spaces causes many to overlook Dubai’s historical core, with a tendency to assume that it no longer exists. It does:

it’s just very much in the shadow of the city’s more modern structures, such as the towering Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, which stands at 828 metres and is, perhaps unsurprisingly, home to the world’s highest restaurant, Atmosphere. Equally, given that so much emphasis is placed on the city as a mecca for retail, it’s easy to see why tourists might overlook Dubai’s colourful souks and lively teahouses, where time might be imagined to have been standing still for centuries. Visitors eager to dip a toe into the pool of tradition should make their way to Dubai Creek, where the handsome prows of wooden abra boats hark

back to a time when the area relied on pearl diving and fishing. Now used to ferry people between Deira and Bastakiya, both of which are historic neighbourhoods, it costs less than £1 to take a trip across the water. Deira, in particular, is a rapidly evolving area, but it’s still easy to while away several beguiling hours nosing around in the Gold Souk and Spice Souk, where local life plays out in front of you. For anyone with an interest in the role of women in Arab culture, a visit to the Women’s Museum Bait al Banat is a must: here, the lives and achievements of significant women are positively celebrated and the works of female

Thunder Snow (left) last year became the first dual winner of the Dubai World Cup

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Travel

Dubai’s souks provide a vibrant retail experience

artists displayed in a way that, while not redressing gender inequality, makes worthy steps in a positive direction. Heritage House also merits a visit, as it provides a rare glimpse into what was once a private family home; in this case, that of a merchant. History of a more curated kind may be examined at the Dubai Museum, which commands an incredibly modest Dhs3 entrance fee and is located within the walls of the Al Fahidi Fort. A range of life-size dioramas, depicting historical Emirati life, are on display here, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in traditional scenes playing out within such settings as mosques, souks and domestic residences, while skeletons, some dating back to 1500BC and now excavated from the area, are also on display. Of course, Dubai’s more modern side is inescapable – not only because of the sheer scale of it, but because the city’s temperatures demand that reprieve be sought, if not inside, then on or in the water. From Aquaventure, where the Leap of Faith slide catapults you through a glass tunnel surrounded by sharks, to the Legoland park, which

Old meets new in Dubai

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Glittering retail spaces abound

is located in the Riverland waterside district and features numerous watersides and attractions - not to mention Kite Beach, with its inflatable floating obstacle course and Laguna Waterpark, with a wave machine that allows you to test your surfing mettle there are plenty of fast-paced ways to cool off. For those looking for something a little more sedate, taking in the view of the vast Dubai Fountain, with its plumes of water choreographed to a variety of musical genres and, by night, accompanied by a laser and light show, may suffice. For those whose adrenaline chasing comes with a side order of air, rather than water, try zip lining on XLine, which shoots you high over the city at speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour. Billed as a great way to get a different perspective of the city, it’s worth noting that you’ll have to open your eyes first! High-end restaurants abound throughout the city, but those in search of a genuine taste of authenticity should contact a local walking tour company, such as Frying Pan Adventures, which allow you to explore and sample your

way through the maze-like passages of the souks, tasting a variety of different flavours and culinary influences as you go. Elsewhere, expect restaurants showcasing the talents of renowned chefs and offering an array of cuisines in dazzling surrounds – think, for example, Nathan Outlaw at Al Mahara, where the Michelin-starred British chef’s take on seafood is enhanced by its aquarium setting and illusory ‘submarine’ that takes you to the restaurant, or the legendary Nobu at the Atlantis Hotel. As well as being the month in which the Dubai World Cup is held, March also signals the start of the city’s art season, which lasts for two months and includes such highlights as Art Dubai and the SIKKA Art Fair. Despite Christie’s cancelling its annual Dubai sale of Middle Eastern Art, citing ‘supply constraints for top quality works,’ Art Dubai will this year celebrate its 14th year with works from 38 countries across 90 venues. The event will feature 21 first-time exhibitors, including galleries from Nigeria, Sudan and Vietnam. visitdubai.com

The city doesn’t want for 5-star amenities

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Racing Life

ARTFUL LIVING Artist Freddy Paske’s work bursts with movement and excitement

Freddy’s work conveys dash and colour

NICO WILLS

for, and working on, the project, so it was fantastic to see it all together in the one place, and even better that it was really well received, a great success.” White Turf, in particular, made an impression on the artist – not only for the exceptional and laudable attention to the welfare of the horses in such harsh, wintry conditions (“their stables were more luxurious than my hotel!” he exclaims) but also for the sheer spectacle of the race. “The horses almost seem to be gliding across the track, because the thunder of their hooves is muﬄed by the snow,” he recalls. “Then, as they draw near, there’s a dull booming thud

Freddy Paske at work

NICO WILLS

decompressing,” he says, “so it was so encouraging to see that people really loved the sketches I’d done out in Afghanistan – everything of mine sold. It gave me the confidence to think, ‘Brilliant, let’s work hard at this and make it into a career.’” The end of 2019 saw Freddy showing at Belgravia’s Osborne Studio. It was his second solo show (the first, in 2017, was also held at Osborne) and displayed a collection of more than 40 works which documented, as he puts it, “an unusual side of horseracing, covering everything from beach racing in Andalusia to the snow races of St Moritz’s White Turf.” He says: “I spent two years travelling

uring his seven years in the army, Freddy Paske was rarely without his sketchbook. It demonstrated a relationship – between art and army – that goes back to one of his earliest memories, in which he is drawing tanks and helicopters on photocopier paper. Yet despite having won a prestigious art scholarship to Harrow School in 1999 and studying Art History at Leeds, it wasn’t until he returned from Afghanistan in 2012 and was invited to show some of his sketches at an exhibition in London that he seriously considered that he could make a living out of his art work. “When we got back, we were still

Freddy paints in a converted stable in Hampshire

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Art that seems to be coming from the ground ... and then it quickly becomes quiet again. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Seeing the horses in a completely different light and environment was just fascinating. I’ve never painted in Alpine light before; probably the closest was in Andalusia, where you get a very bright, Mediterranean sun that seems to reflect off the sand. But here, the brightness was even better and purer - the colours would just sort of reflect off the snow underneath the horses and give them a kind of glowing appearance.” It was, he says, the perfect setting for him to render the colour and movement which are key to his expressive style. “I love broad brush strokes, big flicks of paint and little blurry lines combined with a myriad colours to create a sense of movement and urgency,” he says. Even in the army, he favoured colour over pencil or charcoal, working with watercolours for their ability to dry quickly. “There was never much time,” he explains. “I was on a tank and we’d park up for about five minutes, so the work had to dry quickly.” From his studio in Hampshire, however, to which he commutes daily from west London, he gravitates towards oils, for the range and depth of colour that they offer. Here, in a converted stable yard, he is surrounded by horses. “I walk past them every morning on my way in, which is a really nice reference point before I start painting them,” he says – although he draws the line at keeping a horse at work, which would be ruinous to his productivity. That said, having grown up in a riding family – his mother and father were both keen riders and his sister, Leilia Paske, is a member of the British Eventing Squad - he still rides as often as he can. “As I progressed into the art world, horses have naturally been a key focus for me,” he says, estimating that about 50% of his work is commission-based. Does he still draw helicopters? “Not as much as I’d like,” he laughs. “I’ve had some military commissions – usually parades – but my other great passion is wildlife, so I’d say my remit is anything from a racehorse to a rhino.” The artist will be pursuing the wildlife side of his work with three weeks in Costa Rica this year and says that travel is critical to his art. “I think it’s so important to go and

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St Moritz’s ‘White Turf’ was a “fascinating” experience

Freddy’s 2019 exhibition at Belgravia’s Osborne Studio was a huge success

About 50% of Freddy’s work is privately commissioned

observe your subject in its natural setting, but also just to exist in the environment that your subject’s in,” he explains. “You simply can’t get a grasp of colours and movement and composition unless you immerse yourself in that setting.” He takes a similarly immersive approach to his commissioned work, describing the process as beginning with “collecting as much reference material as possible”, and adds: “I’ll spend time with the horse and take photos and video, as well as doing sketches. I’ll also talk with the client about what they love about the horse, its quirks and characteristics. I find that I’m often commissioned for my style,

so I’m given quite a lot of freedom, but I’ll do an oil sketch – sort of a postcard sized version - of what I’m envisaging and once we’re all happy I go into creating the full-sized work.” This level of personal investment doesn’t lend itself well to just handing over the finished piece as soon as the paint is dry. “I tend to sit with the completed version for a while,” he says. “As an artist, your impression of a work changes over time – things reveal themselves to you - so I like to give myself time to make adjustments and perfect the image before delivering the finished piece.” www.freddypaske.com

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The Big Interview

Richard Kelvin Hughes is looking forward to his first ever runner in the blue riband event at the Cheltenham Festival

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Richard Kelvin Hughes

Best of

BRITISH Santini will carry the hopes of owner-breeder Richard Kelvin Hughes and the British National Hunt breeding fraternity when he lines up for the Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 13 Words: Edward Rosenthal • Photos: George Selwyn

t’s all there in black and white in the March 2008 issue of this magazine. ‘This man has an overriding ambition… to breed a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner on his grouse moor,’ ran the headline accompanying a feature on Richard Kelvin Hughes. Twelve years later and the owner-breeder will head to this month’s Cheltenham Festival with the favourite for the blue riband in the imposing form of eight-year-old homebred Santini, the young pretender out to topple the established giants and cement his place on the famous roll of honour at jump racing’s premier fixture. Much has changed in the past decade for the property developer who grew up on Dartmoor. The aforementioned grouse moor, occupying a beautiful tract of wilderness at Knarsdale in the Pennines, was sold in 2014, while Kelvin Hughes’ Trull House Stud now handles only horses out of training, his broodmare band ensconced at Robert and Jackie Chugg’s Little Lodge Farm in Worcestershire. Yet what has remained constant is a steely determination to compete against the biggest owners and best horses around on the showpiece racedays. It is the reason why Kelvin Hughes has pumped a considerable amount of money and devoted countless hours into developing a boutique breeding operation that has cultivated pedigrees and families with the aim of producing champions. That Santini now heads to the Gold Cup as the sole British-bred, owned and trained contender is no accident. “For me it’s been a dream since I was ten years old,” Kelvin Hughes relates. “I did a lot of showjumping, eventing and some point-to-pointing, also working with the Canadian team at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. I’ve always loved horses and racing. “But I think it really took hold when I saw Dawn Run. You fall in love with a horse, don’t you? And I just fell in love with Dawn Run. That’s when I knew I really, really wanted to have fillies – to have another Dawn Run and breed my own

Cheltenham Gold Cup winner. “Of course, you get sucked into business and working and I didn’t have the money early on; everything I was earning I had to plough back into what I was trying to build. As we got successful in business we started with some point-topointers and did that for a few years. Then we got a little more successful and went into it a bit more seriously.” To take the next step and move into the world of National Hunt breeding, Kelvin Hughes enlisted the help of a trainer he felt understood racemares better than anyone else. “I started with Nicky [Henderson] because of his reputation with fillies,” Kelvin Hughes explains. “We have become very close friends. We fish together, we shoot together, we socialise together. “Nicky wears his heart on his sleeve. Whether you have one horse with him or 20 horses, he just makes it so personal and such fun that you want to go racing as much not to disappoint him as for the horse. “When we started, we set out a tenyear plan. We wanted to buy fillies, get to know them, race them, grade them, and then with that knowledge, choose the right sires for them. “We did buy some geldings at first because we had nothing to race apart from the fillies. We were buying horses from different bloodlines and I loved it; for anyone who likes detail, pedigree research and knowledge adds another dimension to this sport.” Those early purchases included Santini’s dam Tinagoodnight, bought privately from France, Chomba Womba, My Petra and Lindeman. All were successful on the track for Kelvin Hughes and became important foundation mares at stud. An abundance of fillies on its books saw Trull House Stud conduct a part dispersal at Goffs UK in January 2018. While Hora, dam of classy performers Thomas Campbell and Lisp, found a new home, the big names stayed in the Kelvin Hughes ranks. Santini, the product of Tinagoodnight’s pairing with Milan,

“You fall in love with a horse, don’t you? And I fell in love with Dawn Run”

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The Big Interview ›› has amassed an impressive race record,

with seven wins from ten outings, having started out in the point-to-point sphere. The signs of promise were there right from the start. “Even when Nicky saw Santini as a foal, he was an outstanding mover,” Kelvin Hughes recalls. “Then he grew bigger and bigger and Nicky thought he was too slow! “Will Biddick rode him when he won his point-to-point at Didmarton and after the race he said to me and [wife] Lizzie, ‘Thank you for letting me be part of this horse’s journey’. “We always compare him to Jack Reacher [the fictional character in the novels by Lee Child] – a big strong man with huge hands and feet but also very light on his feet and very kind. For a big horse he’s very light on his feet and very well put-together. “However, it seems nature always makes one weakness and Santini has very soft soles, which means he bruises

very easily if he stands on a pebble the wrong way. That’s the problem we had last year before the RSA Chase. “How Nicky got him there I do not know but he did no work for two and a half weeks and still ran a cracker to

“Santini is like Jack Reacher; big and strong but very light on his feet” finish second [to Topofthegame].” At the time of writing there were 19 horses still engaged in the Gold Cup, 17 of whom were bred in either France or Ireland, leaving just Presenting Percy, trained in Ireland by Pat Kelly, and Santini as the sole entries carrying the GB suﬃx.

Does Kelvin Hughes feel like a bastion of the British National Hunt breeding scene, trying to keep the invading hordes at bay so jump racing’s most coveted prize stays at home? “No,” he responds without hesitation. “We all know how much luck is involved. We’re all terrified of tempting the gods in this sport. “At the beginning of the season I wrote to Paul Nicholls and the owners of Topofthegame because my heart felt for them when their horse was ruled out for the season. Topofthegame beat Santini last year, so they must be thinking they would have been favourite for the Gold Cup. “It’s a tough game and you can easily be left on the other side of the fence very quickly. There are so many moving parts – you can never be arrogant.” One of the most discussed topics in recent weeks regarding the Cheltenham Festival has been whether or not adding a fifth day would be beneficial. Kelvin Hughes is in no doubt that a five-day meeting would be a positive move for all involved in racing and breeding. “I’ve told [Cheltenham racecourse Chairman] Martin St Quinton that it would be a good thing, as long as the money from it goes back into prizemoney. The Saturday would produce more betting turnover and help attract a younger audience. “Better prize-money will help smaller

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Richard Kelvin Hughes “The best horse will win on the day. Nicky will have done everything he can, like all the trainers. And there’s no-one better than Nico [de Boinville] in the saddle. He’s really matured as a rider.” Santini’s two performances this season, scraping home by a head on his return at Sandown before seeing off Bristol De Mai in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January, didn’t convince everyone of his Gold Cup potential. Kelvin Hughes, however, feels that his charge heads towards his biggest test as a horse still on the upgrade. He says: “The [negative] comments are all part of racing – and it sells newspapers. “We’ve never lost faith or confidence in the horse. He’ s such a genuine horse, he doesn’t know any other way but to try, that’s why he comes up the hill so well.” Kelvin Hughes adds: “Of course, we’ll be thrilled if he’s placed. We love it when our friends win and always The Kelvin Hughes and Henderson families celebrate their victory at Cheltenham in January

breeders; the higher the prize-money the more their foals will go for. “It’s like throwing a stone into a pond. The bigger the stone, the more ripples there are around it. A lot of people won’t have the resources I have but they’re still benefiting from those ripples. “If we make the stone bigger, everyone benefits.” Debate around a five-day Festival will continue but for now, Kelvin Hughes is focussed on his own team heading to Cheltenham. Lisp will head

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to the speed test that is the Grand Annual but it is stayer Santini, unsurprisingly, that is occupying most of his owner-breeder’s thoughts. “It’s quite surreal, really,” he says with a smile. “You feel like you’re in a dream. Suddenly on March 13 you’re going to wake up! “At the moment, naturally, you’ve won the race in your mind. You’ve planned it, ridden it, done everything. You just want to think good thoughts.

Santini and Nico de Boinville challenge Bristol De Mai and Sam Twiston-Davies at the final fence in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham

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The Big Interview ››

celebrate together. But you can’t be in this game and not be competitive. “We invest a lot of time, money and commitment into the horses, and of course it’s not just for you; we’ll have everyone with us at Cheltenham, from the stable staff to the farrier, trainer and friends. They all want him to win, too. “At the end of the day you have to be quite British about it but underneath you hurt when you don’t win – and if you don’t then you shouldn’t be in this game, should you?” If there is one regret about the Santini story for Kelvin Hughes it is that his good friend, Anthony Speelman, will not be a co-owner with him on Gold Cup day. On the recommendation of Kelvin Hughes, Speelman took a share in Santini before he ran as a novice. Yet after Nicky Henderson decided the gelding wasn’t ready to stand up to full-time training, and advised going down the point-to-point route instead, Speelman had his money returned. “A year later everything had changed,” Kelvin Hughes says. “How do you value a horse like that when he starts winning? “But I’m sure we’ll have another one together and I know that Anthony will be standing right next to me in our box at Cheltenham, cheering on Santini in the Gold Cup.”

Richard Kelvin Hughes

My Petra was a Grade 2 winner over fences and is now helping to shape the future of the Kelvin Hughes racing/breeding operation

New challenge It hasn’t escaped Richard Kelvin Hughes’s attention that some of the top French National Hunt stallions were themselves successful over jumps. Indeed, two of Santini’s main rivals at Cheltenham this month, 2019 Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo and dual King George VI Chase victor Clan Des Obeaux, are by the winning jumpers Buck’s Boum and Kapgarde. Britain hasn’t produced a prolific jumping sire since Midnight Legend, who did well despite not covering the best-bred mares. Kelvin Hughes is hoping to take on the French at their own game. “We have been trying to make a stallion for four years now,” he explains. “We have been looking at all the colt foals when they are born to try and choose one and now we have selected our first one – a Kayf Tara colt out of My Petra [who is by Midnight Legend].

“He’s three years old and in training with Dan Skelton, where the facilities are superb. We expect him to race in France in a juvenile hurdle at the end of March. “I think we’ll try it with another one next year, too. It’s just the level you want to get to.” Britain and Ireland does not lack for either established or up-andcoming jumps sires, as the list of coverings for the current Kelvin Hughes broodmare band attests, featuring such names as Flemensfirth, Jack Hobbs, Crystal Ocean and Australia. So why go to the hassle and expense of trying to ‘make’ your own? “Think of the challenge – I’d love to have my own stallion!” Kelvin Hughes responds when the question is put to him. “You need to find the right one temperament-wise, then they have to be good enough [on the racecourse]. It’s a high-risk game but it’s an interesting one to play.

“We tried it with one of Chomba Womba’s but he never grew and wasn’t scopey enough. This one has the size and the temperament, which is so important. He’s so laid back, probably because he hasn’t seen girls yet! He’s like a five-year-old, so forward. “The real experts would criticise me for not putting speed in to the pedigrees. But I believe you breed stamina to stamina and speed to speed. As I see it, I’d be silly not to try. As a breeder, it would be a huge success.” He adds: “Life is all about adventure, isn’t it? After all, why do people own racehorses? Because most of us who are involved in racing like living on the edge – and racing is living on the edge. One minute you’re up, the next minute you’re down. So you really feel alive. That’s what passionate people like and I’m passionate about racing.”

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Al Kazeem TOB-March 2020:Oakgrove Stud

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Page 1

Al Kazeem

bay 2008, 16.1hh by Dubawi - Kazeem (Darshaan) N Four-time Gr.1 winner by DUBAWI Won Gr.1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, 2015 Won Gr.1 Coral-Eclipse, 2013 2020 FEE PRIVATE Won Gr.1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes, 2013 Call David Hilton 07595 951248 Won Gr.1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, 2013 N Joint Champion Older Horse in Europe in 2013 (9.5f-10.5f ) N Timeform rated 128 in three consecutive seasons N Sire of ASPETAR, Gr.1 Preis von Europa and Gr.2 Grand Prix de Chantilly (new race record), black type sprinter GOLDEN SPELL (RPR 103) and promising three-year-old filly FINERY N 56% winners to runners from his first crop N 9% black type horses to foals from his first crop

Group 1 Sire!

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

Talking To...

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Harry Skelton

Happy as

HARRY

Harry Skelton would like more outside rides and winners but knows where his bread is buttered and is very content with his lot – with the family firepower at his disposal, it’s easy to see why Interview: Tim Richards • Photos: George Selwyn

ou and Dan have combined to become the most successful sibling trainer-jockey combination, importantly, with the support of your father Nick, the Olympic gold medal-winning showjumping legend. What part does dad play and has his work ethic rubbed off on you both? Dad plays a massive part. He is still very busy even though he’s retired from competitive riding. The nature of him is work. He’s given us this leg up, Dan into training and me as a jockey. Dad is always there whenever we need help or advice, whether it’s about a horse or how to approach a certain matter. We do a lot of jumping with the horses from breaking them in at three and we have learnt a lot about the correct jumping technique from dad. We’ve been learning from him since we were kids on our ponies. He worked for a very tough showjumper, the late Ted Edgar, and dad’s father was a very hard-working man. They would all send out the same message: ‘You’ve got to get up and got to go to work.’ That’s definitely rubbed off; dad certainly doesn’t like you sitting around for too long!

Harry Skelton: looking forward to this month’s Festival with what he thinks is his strongest book of rides to date

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What is the secret of running a successful close-knit family business? And what happens when you don’t all see eye to eye? The biggest positive is that there’s never a boundary as far as questions are concerned. I can ask Dan anything

and he can do the same with me without any fall-out. I’m not in fear of him sacking me if I put a delicate issue to him, whereas a lot of jockeys might be fearful of raising certain topics with their boss. We don’t want to leave any stone unturned, so we chat freely on any subject and that gives

“The nature of dad is work. He doesn’t like you sitting around for too long!” you confidence. If we don’t agree on something Dan has the final say. His name is on the licence and I have to shut my mouth, which can be quite hard! Most of the time Dan is right. The family connection extends to your wife, Bridget Andrews, who is also a jump jockey. How do you help each other professionally with all the ups and downs during a season? We both have a very busy lifestyle with so many horses [150]. It is very helpful that she understands the highs and lows. She won’t let me dwell on things for too long, particularly the lows and that’s got to be important. We are both

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Talking To... ›› very competitive. It’s not often we’re

in the same race, but we have been competing on ponies from a very young age. Bridget’s family have always had horses and it’s always been about going out there to win. Is it possible to switch off completely from the pressures of race-riding? What would be the ideal day-off for you and Bridget? It is very hard to completely switch off, but now I am a bit older I think it’s a bit easier. You can’t worry about what everyone else is doing, only worry about what you’re doing yourself. If I’m not race-riding on the day there is plenty of work that needs to be done in the two yards. And that brings us back to dad! There’s no time for sitting around here and you wouldn’t find me in front of the TV watching racing all day. Bridget and I occasionally walk with our two whippets to Broadway Tower, where there is a nice coffee shop. That gets us away, but we also like to go to the point-to-points and watch Bridget’s brother Jack, and sister Gina, and meet up with family and friends.

“I’d love more outside rides but my loyalties are here at home – it is a family business” You have ridden three Cheltenham Festival winners – Superb Story (2016 County Hurdle), Roksana (2019 Mares Hurdle) and Ch’tibello (2019 County Hurdle). What effect did those Festival moments have on you personally, and your career? Superb Story, the first one, was definitely a relief. It took a while coming. It was the first real chance I had at the Festival and he was trained to perfection by Dan. It was the monkey off my back. Everyone is watching during the four days; if you ride a winner there you come away with that feeling and knowing, ‘I can do it’. It gave me more confidence and gave owners confidence in me. Roksana was

our first Grade 1 in the Mares Hurdle and it was great to do it for an ownerbreeder of ours, Sarah Faulks, who puts a lot into the sport. Bridget has also ridden a Cheltenham Festival winner, Mohaayed (2018 County Hurdle) which meant a lot to you. Does she get the opportunities she deserves? Yes, Bridget does get the opportunities she deserves and her Festival win on Mohaayed gave me that winning Festival feeling as well. She certainly deserved the amazing experience of crossing the line first and walking back in front of the packed grandstand. I know how much it meant to Bridget, and to me. She doesn’t have an agent, she doesn’t ride out anywhere else and is fully committed seven days a week to Dan and all our owners, like I am. If there are horses I can’t ride the owners are happy to put up Bridget. At the end of the day we know these horses inside out and she is a very talented rider. How do you cope with criticism, especially on social media? It depends on who it’s coming from. You get criticised in sport and have to take it. Generally, it doesn’t affect me because I listen to criticism and advice only from professionals closest to me, those who understand the business, have been there and done it. Sometimes I could have a difference of opinion when my dad is pointing something out to me. I might disagree at first but then come round to his way of thinking. Social media doesn’t affect

me in the slightest because I am older now and the opinions don’t matter, though they might affect the younger generation. The vast majority of your winners are trained by your brother, his support helping you to achieve centuries for the past four seasons. Why don’t you have more outside rides? I’d love more outside rides. I’d love more winners. But the fact is that I have 150 horses to ride here at home and it is a family business. This is where I am committed; I know I am putting all my eggs in one basket, but I believe it is worth it. I want to win for Dan and my family; it is sweeter when we win but harder when we lose. Ian Popham, my agent and best friend, is doing a

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Harry Skelton

Harry Skelton flies over a hurdle on the hugely promising Allmankind, while left he congratulates wife Bridget after her victory on Mohaayed at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival

brilliant job but my loyalties are here with the horses I have to ride. I did a bit of riding out for Paul Nicholls in the autumn but, as we know, he has jockeys of his own. Having spent five years at Ditcheat with Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh, what did you take away from that experience? Even now when I’m riding, I often think what Ruby would do in a certain situation. There were always little things Ruby would say to me, not in many words, but always worth listening to. He always tried to help and I’d watch how he’d ride certain courses. Paul always said Rome wasn’t built in a day; it all takes time with patience and hard work. He insists you have to stick

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to a plan and that’s one of the many things Dan learnt in his time with Paul. I was lucky enough to school the five best: Kauto Star, Denman, Big Buck’s, Master Minded and Neptune Collonges. Dan and I will always be grateful for everything Paul did for us. How important is it for jockeys to promote the sport and how can we raise the profile to a wider audience? It is very important to show racing in a good light and educate the younger generation and maybe even encourage them to find a job in racing. It is brilliant the way schoolchildren are brought on racedays [through Racing to School] to learn how a racecourse operates, even getting a glimpse of what happens in the jockeys’ room. Maybe at the same

time linked into a maths lesson of sorts and working out pounds for lengths. The kids walk around wearing racing colours, enjoying themselves and that’s got to be a big positive. How should racing handle criticism from the wider world around use of the whip and horse welfare? We have to take on board what the critics, those outside racing, are saying and at the same time our governing body, who are doing a good job, must listen to the professionals within the industry. At the end of the day we have the knowledge and first-hand experience. After all, horses have been our lives and we love them. The BHA must take on board what we have to say because we are the ones that

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Talking To... ››

Harry Skelton

care for the horse. The stick must be used on the racecourse for correction, encouragement and safety because half a ton of horse is a lot more powerful than a human being. We have got to try to pass on some of our knowledge. Educate people better, take them to places like the British Racing School, studs, stables and retirement centres, so they can see for themselves how we look after the horses, from birth to the end of their careers. I follow other sports, but I don’t know enough about Formula One to make qualified criticism and that’s the same for people outside racing. The daily discipline of riding out at 7am, driving 70,000 miles a year and constantly watching your weight must take its toll. How do you cope? How much does the weighing room camaraderie help? I love it, I really do; riding the young horses at home in the morning, schooling them and getting excited about the future wondering how they will progress. Driving is a very difficult part of the job, but we are well located in Warwickshire within a two-hour drive to most racecourses, though some are three to four hours away. I’m lucky with my weight and can do 10st. Bridget is a very good cook and we eat well and sensibly, but we do love a pudding now and again. The weighing room is like one big family with a lot of banter flying about. You can go in feeling a bit down and soon get a lift, particularly from the valets, who quickly take you out of a bad mood with a laugh and a joke. Bridget and I will chat through the good and tough times, and of course that helps. You say you have “never touched alcohol”. Is that the result of following the iron-willed dedication of teetotaller AP McCoy? Yes, I did follow AP’s example. As a young lad I always wanted to be like him, but soon realised it wasn’t that easy. I don’t find it tough not having a drink. I’ve never done it, so I don’t miss it and don’t need it to have a good time. I have seen what drink can do to people and that almost scares me a little bit. There are lots of things I have learnt from watching different jockeys. I completely admire what AP achieved and what Dickie [Johnson] went through, finishing second to AP for so many years. And now as champion, Dickie is still wanting it. He’s incredible.

Harry (right) with trainer brother Dan and father Nick, the showjumping legend

Has the Cheltenham Festival become too predominantly the ‘be-all and endall’ of the British jumps season? No, I don’t think so. The whole meeting is brilliant – maybe I would say that because I have had a taste of success there. It’s our Olympics, a massive four days and everyone gets geared towards the Cheltenham Festival, which never fails to bring together the best of the best. You couldn’t ask for a better advert for racing. As for adding a fifth day, why not? There’d be more chances of a winner! Was there one performance at last month’s Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown that caught your eye? Faugheen was just brilliant to see. He’s been through the mill, keeps coming back and loving his job. He’s a great example of a horse showing how much he enjoys life at 12. If Willie Mullins thought Faugheen wasn’t performing or enjoying himself he’d have retired him. The fact is he sent him over fences at such a late stage because he’s showing that sparkle at home and now still winning Grade 1 races at his age. What are you looking forward to riding at this month’s Festival? I think I’ve got the strongest bunch of rides I’ve ever had. Allmankind is favourite for the Triumph Hurdle after his three wins, including the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow. He hasn’t run for a bit and will go there fresh and well. Oldgrangewood goes for the Plate, Roksana heads back for the Mares Hurdle, which she won last year, and

CLOSE UP AND… PERSONAL

Favourite meal… roast leg of lamb Four dinner party guests… Bridget, Ryan and Hannah Mahon, Ian Popham Can’t get through the day without… cup of tea and a chocolate digestive or two Actor to play me on screen… Tom Cruise I like listening to… Coldplay

CLOSE UP AND … PROFESSIONAL

Racing has taught me… to move forward Toughest competitor… Richard Johnson I handle defeat by… annoying Bridget about it! Best advice given… when you get up, wake up I’d love to win… the Grand National Protektorat is being lined up for the Coral Cup. Beakstown has been running well but the soft conditions haven’t played to his strengths. He wants a bit of nice ground in the novices’ handicap chase on the Tuesday. Do you have one burning ambition? I’d love to be champion jockey. It takes so much graft over a whole season to ride more winners than anyone else and puts you on top of the game. Of course, you want to win Gold Cups and Grand Nationals but being champion would be very special.

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T H E R E ’ S ST I L L T I ME ... OV E R 1 0 0 M A R E S B O O K E D S O FA R T H I S S E AS O N FO L LO W I N G H I S O U T S TA N D I N G FIRST CROP FOALS AND IMPRESSIVE S A L E S R E S U LT S . Call and speak to the team now about your mare - before it’s too late!

TIME TEST

D U B A W I - PA S S A G E O F T I M E ( D A N S I L I ) £ 8 , 5 0 0

E U R O P E A N S I R E F O A L P R O F I TA B I L I T Y 2 0 1 9 (Leading sires by median with ten or more sold arranged by fee price range) 2018 fee up to £9,999

S I RE

SOLD

AVG £

MED £

FEE ‘1 8 £

AVG PROFIT

FEE ‘20 £

26,024

23,625

8,500

7,524

8,500

Dandy Man

27,019

22,344

8,875

8,144

13,313

Footstepsinthesand

21,405

19,254

8,875

2,530

13,313

Camacho

15,253

12,600

6,656

-1,403

8,875

*El Kabeir

18,084

11,981

7,100

984

7,100

Fast Company

14,785

11,981

7,987

-3,202

10,650

*Cotai Glory

16,328

10,384

5,325

1,003

4,438

*Time Test

* First Season Sires

Source: G1 Bloodstock Review & Irish Racing Yearbook as of 17/02/2020

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Old Mill Stud

Old Mill’s NEW DAWN Ibrahim Araci does not do things by halves and after buying and renovating Old Mill Stud, he and daughter Pinar are excited by what the future holds Words: Julian Muscat • Photos George Selwyn

he’s as bold as you like, deserting her dam’s side to cast a beady eye over intruders to her paddock. There are four of us in total as the chestnut foal with a broad white blaze circles around us in a state of heightened curiosity. She is less than three weeks old. She’s the first offspring of US Triple Crown winner Justify to be foaled in Britain, and she symbolises the new dawn at Old Mill Stud, on the fringes of Newmarket. As statements go, they don’t get any more emphatic. The filly is out of Butterscotch, a Group-placed mare who was bought for 700,000 guineas by Ibrahim Araci at last year’s December sales. Butterscotch’s foal was the first to be born at Old Mill since Araci purchased the 100-acre property in January 2019. Butterscotch wasn’t alone in catching

Araci’s eye. Two more mares, also sourced from the same Tattersalls sales, graze in a nearby paddock. There’s Guerriere, an 825,000-guinea purchase from the fabled Wertheimer line of Solemia’s dam Brooklyn’s Dance; and Predawn, a 600,000-guinea full-sister to Oaks winner Qualify. They are expecting produce by Lope De Vega and No Nay Never respectively. An industrialist in his native Turkey, Araci isn’t new to the British breeding scene. Nor do these mares represent an upgrading of his broodmare band. It’s more that the purchase of Old Mill, formerly owned by the late David Shekells and his wife Carol, was a milestone worth celebrating. It represents the culmination of a lengthy search for a suitable base in Britain.

Native Khan: Classic-placed colt now stands at the Araci family’s Vefa Stud in Turkey

“We had been looking for about ten years,” says Araci’s daughter Pinar, who runs her father’s bloodstock interests in tandem with their racing and bloodstock manager Rob Speers. “We looked at other farms but they didn’t have the right soil or the right facilities. Now we have found the perfect place.” The purchase of Old Mill triggered an extensive renovation project. No horses grazed the land for ten months, when paddocks were re-fenced, barns overhauled and purpose-built facilities added in tandem with a significant redevelopment of the main house. In time the acreage is likely to be supplemented by the acquisition of more land. “We are always looking to expand,” Pinar says. “Knowing my father, he never leaves things small. He always wants to grow.” It will be some time before the project comes to fruition but a significant early chapter in the stud’s new identity was written in November. “Mr Araci stayed on the farm when he came to the December sales,” Speers

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Ibrahim Araci has embarked on a renovation project at the stud under the eye of Rob Speers

says. “In the past he’d stay at the Bedford Lodge Hotel or the Jockey Club Rooms but he felt at home and relaxed here. The horses had just arrived and he spent time walking around looking at them. It was a big step forward.” For Araci, 60, big steps forward mean exactly that. There are 13 mares based at Old Mill, all defined by their regal roots, and all bought in their youth with their breeding careers ahead of them. There are also 44 mares and five stallions in Turkey, where Araci and his daughter are deeply committed to raising standards and introducing people to the joys of breeding. Racing has always resonated in Turkey. Its prize-money puts Britain’s to shame but the breeding scene is more esoteric. It has been largely overseen by the Turkish Jockey Club, whose focus revolved around producing sufficient stock to service the racing programme. Where the Turkish Jockey Club drew lots to determine which breeders would be assigned use of its stallions, the Aracis want breeders to be more discerning.

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They are encouraging them to develop their own bloodlines. To that extent the five stallions at the family’s Vefa Stud at Izmit, in Kocaeli Province, are not cast-offs from more prominent European domains. In their number is leading Turkish sire Native Khan, who is central to the whole story.

“My father never leaves things small. He always wants to grow” The naming of Native Khan emanated from a translation of Araci’s father’s name. Araci bought the colt for 180,000gns at the 2010 Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale and sent him to Ed Dunlop, who

saddled him to win the Group 3 Solario Stakes. The following season Native Khan won the Group 3 Craven Stakes before he ran third behind Frankel in the 2,000 Guineas and fifth in the Derby. Araci thus became the first Turkish native to have a runner in the blue riband. “Although Mr Araci was willing to buy high-class stock from the beginning, you always need that little bit of luck,” Speers says. “He had that with Native Khan, who was one of the first horses he had in training in Britain.” The die was cast. Pinar, 30, was already involved by then. She was educated in Britain after her family, all of whom are British citizens, settled there in 1997. While at Reading University, where she studied agricultural business management, her love of horses had taken her to Lambourn, where she met Templeton Stud’s Caroline Green. Green then set about establishing Mertoun Paddocks on the Stetchworth Estate, near Newmarket. Pinar had simultaneously enrolled on the National Stud’s diploma course and kept two mares at Mertoun, where Speers was

››

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Old Mill Stud

TATTERSALLAS

This filly by US Triple Crown winner Justify out of Butterscotch is among the new arrivals

Ibrahim Araci (centre) and daughter Pinar have grand ambitions for Old Mill Stud

››

overseeing the stud’s development. Speers got to know Pinar from her regular visits. He subsequently met Pinar’s father, started helping him at the sales and moved over to his operation when Mertoun closed down. “I started riding when I was nine on retired racehorses, so the thoroughbred has been in my life for a long time,” Pinar says. “At Reading I had a friend who owned an arable farm near Newmarket and I stayed with her during the Guineas weekend. I went to the races and was blown away.” Despite that adrenaline rush, Pinar and her father have been patient in their quest to participate at the highest level in Britain. That project started in the middle of the last decade. With Araci having consolidated his holdings around Old Mill, the project is poised to step up a gear. “The plan is to build for the next generation of the family,” Speers says. “Mr Araci has a love of horses and racing, but Pinar is the driving force. She has children now and the hope is Mr Araci’s grandchildren will one day be interested in taking it forward.” There is an existing model to which Pinar aspires, and which demonstrates the extent of her family’s commitment. “I look up to Juddmonte and what they have achieved,” she says. “They have set a standard and work hard to maintain it. I’d like to reach that standard in time.” Whatever the future holds, the Aracis are keen to intermingle the stock they keep in the UK and Turkey, where a pre-breaking facility currently under construction will complement two farms already under their wing. Inherent within Pinar’s love of breeding is a determination to spread the message among Turkish citizens. Her enthusiasm is infectious. “Originally we planned to keep ten mares in Turkey but now we have 44,” she says. “We have

increased in size by 400 per cent in the last six or seven years.” The Aracis’ quest to raise Turkey’s profile is evidenced by their decision to station Unity there after her purchase. A daughter of Sadler’s Wells, Unity was bought for 525,000gns in 2012 and shipped to Turkey so that the Sea The Stars foal she was bearing would carry the (Tur) suffix. Subsequently returned to Britain to race for Hugo Palmer, who trains for Araci, Crimean Tatar won a Listed race on his second start. The high hopes entertained for him were scuppered by setbacks, however, and he now stands alongside Native Khan at Vefa Stud. Unity was covered by Native Khan before her own return to Britain, but the product of that union also succumbed to injury before she could run. She is among the 13 mares now based at Old Mill. Those mares have some enticing progeny grazing the pastures. There are nine yearlings, among them colts by Frankel and a pair by Kingman, while the tribe of six fillies is headlined by a daughter of Galileo. “We have some nice horses in training,” Speers says, “but this year’s yearlings are an exceptional bunch. The hope is that they will take us to the next level.” Having purchased Old Mill, Araci is now in a position to sell horses under the stud’s banner. He has sold young stock in the past and will continue to do so, especially after his substantial outlay in purchasing and renovating the property. As for his racing interests, Araci has raced a string of between ten and 16 horses in Britain for the last few years. But his string in Turkey is about to swell. More than 20 two-year-olds have just gone into training, 17 yearlings are waiting in the wings and 36 foals are expected this year. But for Araci in Turkey, it’s not just about racing and breeding. He imports

feed made in Britain and has sent out farriers to deal with specific limb problems, in the process helping to educate local blacksmiths. And Pinar is overseeing programmes designed to improve the overall care of horses. “Go back ten years and the staff who looked after horses had little or no training,” she says. “I am setting up programmes to do that, and I’m talking to the British Horseracing Authority and the British Racing School about sending people to Turkey to train staff. We have definitely seen improvements, both in the skills of the staff and the quality of the horses themselves.” To the latter end, a movie released last year raised significant public awareness. It told the story of Bold Pilot, Turkey’s very own Seabiscuit who won 16 of his 21 races in the mid-1990s, when Turkey was in the midst of a severe economic crisis. Bold Pilot represented a beacon of

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hope to people in despair, and the film was a big hit. “A lot of people watched it,” Pinar says. “It opened their minds to racing and I am now seeing a lot of new people getting involved. “More of them are coming to Europe to invest in bloodstock, and they are spending more money. In the past there were no syndicates or partnerships but that is also changing. It should have a big impact.” It was just the sort of impetus Pinar had hoped for. She wants to open a gateway between Turkey and the UK to demystify the breeding business. “I want to bring people who love horses to the UK to see how it is done,” she says. “I want them to come to Old Mill so we can show them. A lot of people want to get involved but don’t know how. I was lucky enough to live in the UK; I saw it for myself and made contacts, which was a big help.

Mar_187_OldMillStud.indd 55

“A lot of Turkish people cannot speak English but I want to overcome those barriers, all the while hoping the Turkish scene becomes more international. It’s

“Originally we planned to keep ten mares in Turkey but now we’ve 44” my passion to see Turkish horses race internationally and do well. People come to the UK from all over the world to buy horses. I want Turkey to be a part of that.” As she strives over the years to make

that happen, the mares at Old Mill will continue to produce homebreds with the requisite pedigrees to compete in the best races. There might have been a Classic winner among them had Araci not run into Sheikh Mohammed when bidding for Oaks heroine Dancing Rain at the 2013 Tattersalls December Sale. Araci’s final bid of 3.9 million guineas was trumped by the sheikh, yet a prophetic truth emerged from the embers of disappointment. “Soon afterwards I said to Mr Araci it was probably just as well,” Speers recalls. “I told him with that money we could buy a farm and four mares for £500,000 each, which would probably be much better value.” Five years later and that very scenario has come to pass. For roughly the same money Araci bought Old Mill and three enchanting young mares to add to the herd. It’s hard to dispute that things have turned out for the best.

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Breed a potential winner from Yorton’s talented stallion roster Masterstroke

Scalo

“Masterstroke is one of the most exciting young jump stallions in Europe and he also comes from one of the best stallion pedigrees in the stud book.” Nick Luck

“Scalo is a stallion I like very much, and the horse I’ve just bought by him comes from a good French pedigree. I look forward to training more of his stock.” Gabriel Leenders

Pether’s Moon

Linda's Lad

“We bought Pether’s Moon as a yearling and we’ve already bought a yearling by him, he’s a lovely horse who’s now in training with Willie Mullins.” Ross Doyle

"Linda's Lad is a very good-looking sire, I have bought several of his stock, including Grade 1 Winner Draconien. He always produces high performers and is a stallion we look out for." Harold Kirk

Norse Dancer

Gentlewave

“Norse Dancer should be taken seriously as a leading jumps sire.” Racing post

“I’m very excited about running our Gentlewaves this season. He’s certainly a sire we follow.” Donnchadh Doyle

The next Goffs UK Yorton Sale will take place on 10th September 2020 01938 559 648 | info@yortonfarm.co.uk | www.yortonfarm.co.uk

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National Hunt sires

Fresh

BLOOD

Veterans dominate jumps sire standings but there are no shortage of younger names coming through for British and Irish breeders to choose from Words: Nancy Sexton • Photos: George Selwyn

ome the end of the Cheltenham Festival and the jumps sires’ standings will be defined for another year with the week’s array of major races having either underlined the importance of a veteran sire or highlighted the emergence of a younger name. At the time of writing ten stallions had broken through the £1 million barrier by prize-money for the 2019-20 season, led by the Coolmore veterans Milan and Flemensfirth. Both promise to exert some

kind of influence on this year’s Festival, as does their stud mate Yeats, who currently lies in third. However, as is typical of the jumps game, the current standings are dominated by stallions who are either in the veteran stage or deceased; indeed, the 19-year-old Yeats is the youngest horse within the top eight. Thankfully, as outlined below, there are as ever a number of younger horses coming through, some of whom may even come out of this month’s Festival having gained vital further recognition.

THE BRITISH SCENE

British jumps racing remains indebted to Kayf Tara, an immense influence who has reigned as the country’s leading jumps sire for well over a decade now. At 26, the Overbury Stud stalwart is in the twilight of his stud career, however, making the hunt for Britain’s next jumping success story that bit more urgent. Overbury Stud itself has a pair of interesting young horses coming through in Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs, an excellent middle-distance performer with the looks to match, and Frontiersman, a Group 1-placed Dubawi half-brother to Australia, to complement the older Schiaparelli. The latter is in the midst of one of his best seasons yet thanks to the classy mare Indefatigable and the Grade 1-placed novice chaser Ronald Pump.

Big season in store for Yorton Meanwhile, change has been afoot at

››

Batsford Stud’s Harbour Law was the ready winner of the 2016 St Leger

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National Hunt sires

›› David Futter’s Yorton Farm Stud in

Shropshire, where the addition of a proven Classic sire, an emerging young sire son of Monsun and a noted source of jumps talent has led to a high-profile and varied roster for 2020. In Preis von Europa winner Scalo, Yorton provides access to a Group 1-winning son of Lando who has already hit Classic heights on the Flat as the sire of Deutsches Derby winner Laccario. Hopes also run high for the former French-based Masterstroke, a Group 2-winning relation to Galileo and Sea The Stars whose first crop includes Grade 3-winning jumper Floridee and the Group 1-winning Sadler’s Wells horse Linda’s Lad, the sire of Cash Back who has shifted from Vauterhill Stud. “Scalo has got some pretty good stats,” says Futter. “He’s also had a couple of jumps winners in France despite covering very few jumps mares, and he’s out of a mare by Exit To Nowhere, who is obviously an excellent influence. “We’ll really get behind him now and support him.” He adds: “The one thing we try to do is support our own stallions. With Masterstroke, I’ve seen lots of his stock in France and we’ve bought five or six of them ourselves to put into training. “We actually thought we had Masterstroke bought in 2018 but that fell through. But we kept an eye on him and thankfully we were able to buy him from Darley last year. “The response has been good. Obviously he has a very good pedigree and he’s a quality looking horse with

good conformation.” Futter is also looking forward to watching the first three-year-olds by Coronation Cup winner Pether’s Moon work their way through the system. “We could well have half a dozen in training in France this year and that will give us a gauge of where we are with him,” he says. “He was a terrific racehorse and he’s breeding good stock with good minds. At the moment I wouldn’t swap him for anything else.”

“Scalo has got some pretty good stats. We’ll really get behind him” No British shortage of Galileo

Linda’s Lad’s place at Vauterhill was swiftly filled by Irish St Leger hero Sans Frontieres, whose early Irish-bred runners include the exciting Venetia Williams-trained Easy As That. The son of Galileo joins another well-bred Group 1 winner at Vauterhill in the Lemon Drop Kid horse Cannock Chase, winner of the Canadian International. With Sans Frontieres, Telescope and Norton Grove’s classy stayer Forever Now among those British-based sons of Galileo, there really is no lack of opportunity for jumps breeders to tap into the blood of the most dominant

sire of our time. In Telescope, Shade Oak Stud offers a high-performing son who was a dual Group 2 winner in the Hardwicke and Great Voltigeur Stakes. Also well-related, he has really caught the imagination of breeders, who sent him 190 mares in 2019. His first-crop are three-year-olds. Galileo is also the damsire of Shade Oak’s other Hardwicke winner, Dartmouth. A tough son of Dubawi who also won the Yorkshire Cup, he has been well supported by his connections, including the Queen. Shade Oak, of course, is also home to Might Bite’s sire Scorpion, who looks to have another star to his credit in Riders Onthe Storm.

Classic form

Anyone in search of Classic form need look no further than either Harbour Law or Falco. Batsford Stud’s Harbour Law, by Lawman, ran out the popular winner of the St Leger and boasts the additional appeal of hailing from a fine Hascombe and Valiant family. As for Poule d’Essai des Poulains winner Falco, he is already proven under both codes as the sire of Group 1 winner Odeliz on the Flat and Triumph Hurdle hero Peace And Co over jumps from his time in France. He joined Elusive Bloodstock in Lincolnshire in 2019, where he stands for £3,000. “We were looking for a stallion that we would be happy to use on our own broodmare band,” says Elusive’s James Gray of the son of Pivotal. “He has enough going on on the Flat but now there are the National Hunt-bred crops coming through. The other thing about him is that they seem to come to hand early. Obviously Peace And Co won the Triumph but he’s also had his four-yearold point winners. “He’s a big horse with a good walk and plenty of presence, and the response has been good - the half-

›› GOFFS UK/SARAH FARNSWORTH

YORTON FARM STUD

Masterstroke: a classy addition to Yorton Farm Stud for 2020

Telescope: son of Galileo covered 190 mares in 2019

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NEW FOR 2020

FLAG OF HONOUR GALILEO - HAWAL A (WARNING) | FEE: £4,500 LIVE FOAL

GR.1 CLASSIC WINNING SON OF GALILEO FOUR-TIME GROUP WINNER INCLUDING GR.1 I R I S H S T. L E G E R AT T H R E E AND GR.3 EYREFIELD S TA K E S AT T W O “FLAG OF HONOUR is an eye-catching individual who is a tremendous walker. He is the winner of four Group races including a Gr.1 at three, and I very much like the fact that he won a Group race as a two-year old as well. He has an extremely commercial pedigree and must surely represent great value as a dual-purpose stallion.” D AV I D M I N T O N , H I G H F LY E R B L O O D S T O C K

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National Hunt sires ›› sisters to Penhill and Master Dino were

among his book last year.” He adds: “Gordon Elliott bought one, Folcano, for £110,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale in January and Guillaume Macaire trained another, Hitman, to win by eight lengths the other day. So they’re in the right hands. “We’ll certainly be supporting him and we’re also keen to support the foals, as we are with our other stallion Sun Central.” Another relatively recent import from France is Nunstainton Stud’s Dragon Dancer, the narrow 2006 Derby second. A well-bred son of Sadler’s Wells, his early crops contain the Grade 1 jumper Lord Dragon, while he currently has a noteworthy British flagbearer in Goodbye Dancer. 2020 also features the addition of Frammassone to Peel Hall Stud. It is well known how successful some highclass jumpers have been at stud – think Kapgarde, Midnight Legend and Saint Des Saints – and in Grade 1-winning jumper Frammassone, breeders have the option of a similar type whose early winners to runners statistics read very well from his time in Ireland. Poet’s Word: the 2018 King George hero is new to Boardsmill Stud this season

THE VIEW IN IRELAND

The Irish stranglehold of the leading jumps’ sires list shows little sign of abating, however. A deep passion for the winter game allows for a healthy intake of new jumps stallions each year into Ireland, each with that eye from connections of developing into the next Flemensfirth, Milan, Getaway, King’s Theatre, Presenting or Yeats. As with King’s Theatre, several are now fulfilling a dual-purpose role having transitioned away from the Flat. Doyen, the sire of Battleoverdoyen, is one such example and no doubt his base, Sunnyhill Stud, will be hoping that their recent recruit Casamento follows a similar path; the sire of talented juvenile hurdler City Dreamer in his first crop, he has been embraced by breeders in his

new role. Similarly, Glenview Stud has reaped the rewards of standing Shirocco and Sholokhov, both Group 1-producing sires under both codes, alongside the successful Malinas, and is now in the process of developing Youmzain, already the sire of Grade 2-winning hurdler Saglawy, into a similar dualpurpose force. In the meantime, it should pay to follow Blue Bresil, a talented jumper himself whose early crops are headlined by Mick Jazz and Le Prezien. A new addition to Glenview Stud following a stint at Yorton Farm Stud, the son of Smadoun enjoyed a bold showing in the auction ring in 2019 as the sire of stock that sold for up to €280,000. Boardsmill Stud offers a similarly varied roster, one that comprises proven Grade 1 sires Court Cave, Kalanisi and Califet alongside Poet’s Word, who joined the stud following the death of Mount Nelson last year. Court Cave boasts the achievement of having sired a Cheltenham Festival winner for each of the past three years, while Califet, one of the leading active sires of French-bred Grade 1 winners, has a live Champion Hurdle contender in Cilaos Emery. Boardsmill continues to have one

eye on the future, however, and with that there must be some satisfaction in the acquisition of Poet’s Word, the 2018 King George hero who switches following a debut season at Nunnery Stud. “His race record stands up very well,” says Boardsmill’s John Flood. “The response has been excellent. He’s a very good looking horse and a good mover – people come to see him and seem to like what they see. He’s getting quality support too, the dams of Grade 1 winners and the half-sisters to Grade 1 winners. We’re very happy to have him.”

Montjeu’s army

Much anticipation also abounds ahead of the first jumps-bred crops for Burgage Stud’s Jukebox Jury. The dual Group 1 winner has sired a clutch of Flat stakes winners from his seasons in Germany, but as a middle-distance son of Montjeu he was always a strong possiblity to end up in the National Hunt game and in December 2017 it was announced that he was to join Shantou and Sea Moon at Burgage Stud in County Carlow. “At that time his first-crop son Farclas was a winner on the Flat and of course he went on to win the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival,”

››

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Shade Oak Stud OB Mar 2020 f-p_Shade Oak Stud OB Mar 2020 f-p 21/02/2020 08:52 Page 1

DARTMOUTH 16.1 h.h

By DUBAWI – GALATEE by GALILEO A tremendously tough, game and sound racehorse who won every year from two to five, from 1 mile to 1¾ miles, including the Hardwicke S (beating HIGHLAND REEL), the Yorkshire Cup (beating SIMPLE VERSE), the Ormonde S (beating WICKLOW BRAVE). First colt foals sold realised prices of EUR 35,000, EUR 24,000 and EUR 18,000, from only four offered. Now attracting increasing attention from breeders based on the superb quality of his foals. A sire with a super nature and a wonderful temperament.

Fee:

SCORPION

£3,000 (1st Oct terms)

By MONTJEU – ARDMELODY by LAW SOCIETY

16.11⁄2 h.h

One of only two active British NH sires to produce as many as four Grade 1 winners, all from just his first five crops, including top-class chasers MIGHT BITE (King George VI Chase, RSA Chase, Aintree Bowl, 2nd Cheltenham Gold Cup) and RIDERS ON THE STORM (Ascot Chase). A beautiful, classy looking horse who won 3 Group 1 races, including the St Leger, Coronation Cup and Grand Prix de Paris and whose pedigree combines the great jumps sire-lines of Montjeu and Alleged with the family of our 3-time Champion sire Alflora. Where else can you find a stallion that has proven his ability to produce outstanding horses for such a reasonable price? Don’t bother searching – the answer is ‘Nowhere’! Fee:

TELESCOPE 16.11⁄2 h.h

£4,000 (1st Oct terms)

By GALILEO – VELOUETTE by DARSHAAN The most exciting horse to retire to a British NH stud for many years, with a truly outstanding potential as a NH / DP sire. A brilliant racehorse with a fabulous pedigree, great looks and a wonderful walk. Over 600 mares covered in his first four seasons, including over 100 TBA Elite mares, and in the past two years his foals have realised prices of £40,000, €34,000, €32,000, €31,000, €30,000, €30,000, €28,000, €25,000 etc. A truly great and impressive foundation giving him an unrivalled opportunity to succeed. ‘To look for future stars use a Telescope’. Fee:

£3,500 (1st Oct terms)

Contact: PETER HOCKENHULL • Tel: (01939) 270235 • Mobile: 07740 257547 E-mail: info@shadeoakstud.co.uk • Website: www.shadeoakstud.co.uk

EMMA BERRY

National Hunt sires line in Wings Of Eagles. A good-looking individual, he covered 227 mares in his first season at the Beeches in 2019.

Signs encouraging for Galileo sons

Soldier Of Fortune: had 276 mares in 2019

›› recalls Victor Connolly of Burgage Stud. “As a Montjeu we had been watching him anyway, and when he became available we were lucky enough to buy him. It was interesting how many people knew of him. They had seen his stock in Germany and in some cases were already using him. And he had a very similar profile to Shantou - he started overseas, didn’t cover huge books of mares but got a Group 1 winner early on and has a high percentage of winners to runners.” Breeders have obviously liked what they have seen from Jukebox Jury, having sent him a total of 309 mares over the past two seasons. The popularity of Montjeu is partly at play here. Well established as a force via the likes of Fame And Glory, Scorpion and Walk In The Park, he could well have another name to add to his legacy in Coolmore’s St Leger winner Leading Light, the regular recipient of three-figure books. Similar comments apply to the regally-bred Group 2 winner Ol’ Man River, while it wouldn’t be surprising to see Kilbarry Lodge Stud’s new son of Montjeu, three-time Canadian International hero Joshua Tree, follow suit. Breeders now also have the option of a Derby-winning member of the sire

In contrast to Montjeu’s established standing, it remains early days for his paternal half-brother Galileo. However, as a supreme source of middle-distance talent who invariably passes down a degree of mental and physical soundness, it stands to reason that the son of Sadler’s Wells will follow Montjeu’s example. Breeders certainly think so; no fewer than five sons of Galileo standing within a dual-purpose capacity covered in excess of 100 mares in 2019, led by Coolmore’s Soldier Of Fortune (276 mares) and Order Of St George, the Ascot Gold Cup hero for whom the combination of talent, soundness, pedigree and looks saw him attract 275 mares in his first season. There was also a warm welcome towards the Classic-placed Idaho, the recipient of a 225-strong book. The early signs for Galileo’s sons within this world are encouraging. For instance, Soldier Of Fortune’s early French crops yielded the Grade 1-winning hurdler Mega Fortune, while Mahler continues to go from strength to strength, particularly as a source of classy staying chasers. Recent weeks have also featured a series of promising point winners for Imperial Monarch, another under the Coolmore banner whose first crop already includes Paul Nicholls’ promising Cill Anna. Whytemount Stud’s Feel Like Dancing and Coolagown Stud’s

Shantaram, both of whom won the Bahrain Trophy for Lady Bamford, are also off the mark with their early runners. Early promise has also been shown by New Approach’s son Libertarian, the 2013 Derby runner-up whose first runner, Holymacapony, recently made a winning debut between the flags at Kirkistown. Libertarian stands at Knockhouse Stud alongside another Classic performer in Workforce, the Derby and Arc hero of 2010 who was repatriated from Japan in 2017.

The Monsun cross

As potent as Sadler’s Wells’ blood is, however, its prolific nature underlines the need for an outcross. With that in mind, stallion masters and breeders have latched on to the Monsun sire line, and with some early success, as the likes of Getaway, Shirocco and Network attest. Thus, hopes must run high for some of the younger names coming through in Ireland, in particular Coolmore’s Ocovango, whose first runner under rules turned out to be Dan Skelton’s Listed-winning juvenile hurdler Langer Dan. Recent Tallow point winner Glenglass also looks to have a bright future. A warm reception is also likely to head the way of Maxios. A new recruit to Coolmore’s jumps arm, his early German crops include several promising hurdlers including Aramax, Wild Max and Global Freedom.

Young guns

Jet Away, a Group 3-winning relation

››

Jukebox Jury: sired Triumph Hurdle hero Farclas in his first crop

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Nunstainton Stud 2020 Nunstainton Stud 2020 Nunstainton Stud 2020

DRAGON DANCER DRAGON DRAGONDANCER DANCER

ByBySadler’s Wells ex. Sadler’s Wells ex.Alakananda Alakananda By Sadler’s Wells ex. Alakananda

Consistent Group level performer over 12F   Consistent Group level performer over 12F  Consistent Group level performer over 12F inc. beaten a short head in in the 2006 Derby. inc. beaten a short head the 2006 Derby. inc. beaten a short head in the 2006 Derby.   Sire ofof winners under both codes including Sire winners under both codes including  Sire of winners under both codes including recent Cheltenham hurdle winner Goodbye recent Cheltenham hurdle winner Goodbye recent Cheltenham hurdle winner Goodbye Dancer unbeaten 3 time French Dancerand and unbeaten 3 time French Dancer and unbeaten 3 time French Juvenile hurdle winner Wutzelino Juvenile hurdle winner Wutzelino Juvenile hurdle winner Wutzelino   Top class pedigree, looks and confirmation. Top class pedigree, looks and confirmation.  Top class pedigree, looks and confirmation.   Fantastic Temperament Fantastic Temperament  Fantastic Temperament   Highest OR 119 119  Highest HighestOROR 119   One of a few remaining Stallions byby the One of a few remaining  One of a few remainingStallions Stallions bythe the great Sadler’s Wells. great Sadler’s Wells. great Sadler’s Wells.   2020 Fee: £1500 2020 Fee: £1500  2020 Fee: £1500

For details contact; Chris Dawson, Nunstainton Stud, Co. Durham, DL17 0LG. Forfurther further details contact; Chris Dawson, Nunstainton Stud, Co. Durham, For further details contact; Chris Dawson, Nunstainton Stud, Co. Durham,DL17 DL170LG. 0LG. Tel: 07796 530084 Tel: 07796 530084 Tel: 07796 530084

CANNOCK CHASE

WINNER OF GP3 OVER 10 FURLONGS AND GP1 OVER 12 FURLONGS.

From a brilliant family including , winner of three Gp 1’s in 2019. , winner of Gp2 and Gp3 over 10 furlongs and five time hurdle/chase winner.

Fantastic news for South West breeders – standing at Vauterhill Stud for the 2020 season. For more information contact Andrew Bull 07836 647064 | northbradonstud@gmail.com

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£1,000 COVERING FEE

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National Hunt sires ››

to Dansili at Arctic Tack Stud, is already off the mark with his first four-yearolds, which include recent point winners Supreme Jet and Brandy Love. It will also be interesting to see how Diamond Boy fares following his switch from France to Kilbarry Lodge Stud. The son of Mansonnien has been quick to make his presence felt on this side of the Channel thanks to the likes of Grand Sancy and Monsieur Lecoq, and with approximately 470 mares coming his way during the past two years alone, he has every chance to build on that promising beginning. The best is also likely yet to come for Elusive Pimpernel. Although his fee didn’t shift beyond €1,000 until this season, he has managed to sire a pair of Flat stakes winners alongside a host of promising hurdlers. They include Coeur Sublime, a €260,000 three-year-old purchase by Kevin Ross who continues to acquit himself well at Grade 1 level for Gordon Elliott, and recent Grade 3 scorer Soviet Pimpernel. Well liked by trainers and increasingly popular in the sale ring, it was no surprise to hear that he is already full at his new fee of €3,000 at the Irish National Stud this season.

Younger British and Irish jumps stallions with youngstock coming through* Name (Sire)

Stud

No. mares covered in 2019

First 3yos Hillstar (Danehill Dancer)

Garryrichard Stud

Lucky Speed (Silvano)

Sunnyhill Stud

Pether’s Moon (Dylan Thomas) Yorton Farm Stud

Sea Moon (Beat Hollow)

Burgage Stud

Snow Sky (Nayef)

Ballycurragh Stud

Telescope (Galileo)

Shade Oak Stud

190

Affinisea (Sea The Stars)

Whytemount Stud

227

Marcel (Lawman)

Anngrove Stud

Ol’ Man River (Montjeu)

Arctic Tack Stud

First 2yos 44 51

First Yearlings Berkshire (Mount Nelson)

Kedrah House Stud

Dartmouth (Dubawi)

Shade Oak Stud

Jack Hobbs (Halling)

Overbury Stud

203 56 126

My Dream Boat (Lord Shanakill) Starfield Stud

Pillar Coral (Zamindar)

Kilbarry Lodge Stud

*who covered over 30 mares in 2019

Crystal Ocean tops classy intake of new dual-purpose recruits The dual-purpose market was given a tremendous lift this year with the addition of Crystal Ocean to Coolmore’s National Hunt division at a fee of €8,000. Beautifully-bred as a Sea The Stars half-brother to Group 1 winner Hillstar, himself available at Garryrichard Stud, Crystal Ocean boasts the talent and constitution to match, having won eight races including the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. Joining Crystal Ocean within Coolmore’s jumps wing is another tough Group 1 winner in Capri. The son of Galileo was top-class on his day, as he showed when defeating Wings Of Eagles in the Irish Derby and Crystal Ocean in the St Leger. British breeders, meanwhile, have gained access to another Group 1-winning son of Galileo in Irish St Leger hero Flag Of Honour, who is new to the National Stud. A fee of £4,500 has been set for the horse, who was also forward enough to win at Group 3 level as a two-year-old.

Crystal Ocean: promises to be popular in new role

“He’s getting great support from breeders across the spectrum,” says Tim Lane, stud director of the National Stud. “He’s a quality individual and he’s very light on his feet - he moves like a cat. We’re excited about him.” It will also be fascinating to see how Tiger Roll’s half-brother Austrian School, a tough five-time winner and stakes performer, fares in his new role

at Clongiffen Stud. A lengthy race record and attractive bloodlines are also key elements behind Kilbarry Lodge’s Group 2-winning Success Days, a son of the much-missed Jeremy. Nocturnal Fox, the sole son of Farhh to stand at stud and winner of the Prix Hocquart, is another new option, at Windmill View Stud.

64 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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SOGANN

Bay 2016, 16.1 (1.64m) by FRANKEL ex RUMORED (ROYAL ACADEMY)

BY AN EXCEPTIONAL RACEHORSE AND SIRE €550,000 yearling by the exceptional FRANKEL, the fastest ever stallion to sire 35 group winners. Half-brother to European Champion 2yo and proven sire DABIRSIM.

New to stud for 2020 Fee: £2,000 (1st Oct)

NORTON GROVE STUD

Standing at: , Norton, Malton, N. Yorkshire, YO17 8EF • Contact: RICHARD LINGWOOD Tel/Fax: 01653 693887 • Mobile: 074 83 992151 • E-mail: nortongrovestud@btinternet.com • Website: www.nortongrovestud.co.uk

Poet’s Word

MULTIPLE GR.1 WINNER OVER 10-12f DEFEATED 23 GR.1 WINNERS incl Cracksman, Crystal Ocean, Churchill etc.

NEWR FO

0 202

FROM THE DUBAWI SIRE LINE Gr.1 NH Winners: Dodging Bullets, Hisaabaat, etc.

Califet

Only SAINT DES SAINTS & KAPGARDE have sired more French bred GR.1 NH winners (up to 14-2-20, active sires) Recent impressive 5yo winners from 1st Irish Crop incl. ERNE RIVER, LADY HEATH & WILL CARVER

Court Cave

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL WINNERS IN 2017, 2018 and 2019 ANOTHER SALES TOPPER: CLONDAW SECRET sells for £135,000 to Gordon Elliott at Tatts Cheltenham January Sale

Kalanisi

Only FLEMENSFIRTH, KAYF TARA & MILAN have sired more GR.1 NH winners (up to 14-2-20, active sires) Contact: William Flood +353 (0)87 2380583 Serving the Irish and UK Breeder since 1935 or John Flood +353 (0)87 9066772 www.boardsmillstud.com

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Frammassone

Triple grade 1, winning hurdler Winner of 14 jumps races Winner on the flat as a 2 year old

e showed a great temperament and constitution for racing which he is passing onto his stock

Frammassone is producing correct and clean winded progeny who are inheriting his athletic jumping ability

Standing at Peel Hall | Cheshire £2,000 OCT 1 SLF

“ Very much an underrated Stallion with some beautiful moving stock on the ground.”

- Derek O’Connor

Fantastic results from a small number of Irish Point-to-Pointers So far 6 runners, 3 winners, 2 seconds & 1 third Who have sold

E170,000, £50,000, £48,000 & £38,000 Fram.indd 1

Will Kinsey 07803753719 will@peelbloodstock.co.uk Marcus Collie 07855169249 info@marcuscolliebloodstock.co.uk 20/02/2020 12:36:30

Breeders’ Digest

Nancy Sexton Bloodstock Editor

Our bloodstock coverage this month includes: Sales Circuit: Satisfactory start to 2020 sales season – pages 68-78 Caulfield Files: Quirks persist in sires despite improvement in handling – pages 80-81 Dr Statz: Galileo a safe bet regardless of broodmare sire combination – page 106

Market’s perception of fillies being addressed with greater gumption

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GEORGE SELYWN

he harsh realities facing smaller breeders were brought to attention back in July 2018 as findings out of the TBA’s economic impact study were released. Conducted by analysts Pricewaterhouse Coopers, the study showed that while 45% of breeders were termed unprofitable in 2013, that number had risen to 66% by the time the report came to light. That’s an alarming jump but not so surprising given that a breeder could expect to suffer an estimated average loss of £23,500 per yearling sold at Tattersalls’ October Book 3 Sale or £12,000 on a National Hunt-bred yearling filly. With that being the case, the departure of 353 breeders from the business during the preceding five years becomes more understandable. Talk to any breeder and there will be differing views on a number of issues, ranging from the polarised nature of today’s marketplace to the problems facing racing itself, of which a lack of prize-money remains the biggest evil. One legitimate commonly held view, however, is the market’s perception towards fillies; while those with fancy pedigrees will always be in demand, others that fall short of the mark on paper place breeders on a back foot before they have even started. And quite often, it is those smaller breeders operating within the lower market echelons of both the Flat and National Hunt spheres that are hurt the most. This is nothing new. Nor is it likely to change in the short term, despite the awareness raised by various advertising campaigns. However, a seemingly greater willingness from stallion masters to face the problem and offer assistance towards breeders is certainly a step in the right direction. Filly foal concessions have long been part of the bloodstock landscape, particularly in the jumps world where

Aclaim: connections of the Group 1 winner are offering breeders a filly foal discount

they sometimes feature under the guise of ‘Filly foal, free return’ or as advertised discounts on a set fee. More recently, several major Flat outfits have publicly embraced the idea. For instance, Newsells Park Stud attached an incentive – the ‘Filly+ Scheme’ – to Equiano and Mount Nelson for the 2016 season; breeders using either stallion that year had the option of either taking ‘Filly Foal, Free Return’ terms or‘50% Rebate’ terms if they subsequently bred a filly foal. Last month, it was announced that the connections of Aclaim were following a similar path by advertising a 25% discount to breeders should their mare produce a filly foal. The Group 1-winning son of Acclamation has recently embarked on his third season – traditionally a tricky year for any stallion – at The National Stud in Newmarket, where he stands for £9,500. “We all know the realities and pressures of the breeding game,” says Mark McStay of Avenue Stallions, which manages Aclaim. “And the majority of breeders looking to use a horse like Aclaim are in the commercial market. A lot of the time, that marketplace is looking for that big, strong, goodwalking colt. So those fillies who may

go on to be equally good racehorses are overlooked.” The filly foal discount is the latest initiative from Aclaim’s connections following last year’s decision to offer the horse on live foal terms rather than October 1. “We took that decision last year as a move to help breeders,” says McStay. “And now with the 25% filly foal discount, hopefully that will help them make a bit more money as well.” He adds: “Aclaim’s first foals are nice; he had a top price of €120,000 and he was supported by some of the best buyers in the business. He has two big books behind him and so now we’re working away on getting him a good third book.” Seemingly there are other Flat studs currently offering similar incentives to breeders for the 2020 season, although in a private capacity. Either way, it is a development that agent Oliver St Lawrence, a respected name when it comes to trading stallion nominations, is keen to see evolve. “As I understand it, it is fairly commonplace in the National Hunt world and I don’t see why it shouldn’t become more of an option on the Flat,” he says. “I understand the counter argument that it might encourage breeders to breed from mares that shouldn’t be bred from. But unfortunately if you do get a filly by a stallion standing in that £10,000 and under bracket, then you are probably going to end up selling in a lesser book where you’ll struggle to cover even your nomination cost. And for that, it should be considered to try to help the smaller breeders.” Some would argue that smaller breeders have probably never been under so much pressure. With that in mind, it will be interesting to see if any other studs join the connections of Aclaim in going public with such an incentive.

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Sales Circuit • By Carl Evans

Demand for quality offerings aids satisfactory start to 2020 Trade at Tattersalls’ Newmarket headquarters got away to a satisfactory start in 2020, producing a solid set of results at this sale and achieving the aim for vendors of turning over stock. Of the 305 lots offered during the two-day event 264 found a buyer, a clearance rate of 87%, which was two points higher than in 2019. Despite a smaller catalogue which saw 41 fewer horses walk the ring there was a four per cent rise in turnover, while a 16% increase in the average price and 3% improvement in the median figure confirmed the catalogue had the sort of stock which appealed to buyers – albeit at a level. They came in from around the globe, and while the sale was short on choice jumping prospects and horses with serious appeal in the major racing nations, those hoping to buy for such as Israel, Hungary or Kazakhstan were spoilt for choice. Those from the USA and Australia did feature, but not in any meaningful way on higher-end buys. The 200,000gns top lot, four-yearold filly I’ll Have Another, was consigned by The National Stud on behalf of Paul and Clare Rooney and

TATTERSALLS

Tattersalls February Sale

Listed winner I’ll Have Another topped the Tattersalls February Sale on a bid of 200,000gns

knocked down to agent Cormac McCormack, acting for “an established Irish client”. As a Listed winner and Group 3-placed daughter of Dragon Pulse and from the close family of two-year-old

Group 1 winner La Collina, I’ll Have Another had plenty of appeal to breeders and was said by McCormack to be heading for a mating with Coolmore Stud’s new stallion Ten Sovereigns.

Tattersalls February Sale Top lots Name/sex/breeding

Vendor

Price (gns)

Buyer

I’ll Have Another f Dragon Pulse - Jessie Jane

The National Stud Ltd

200,000

Cormac McCormack

Power Link g Data Link – Greyciousness

Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd. from Jamesfield Stables

100,000

Emblem Stable

Memphis f Dubawi – Suez

Godolphin

62,000

Howson & Houldsworth Bloodstock

Creationist g Noble Mission - Bargain Blitz

Beckhampton House Stables

60,000

RPG Bloodstock

F Churchill - Miss Mariduff

The Castlebridge Consignment

56,000

Tally-Ho Stud

Dubrava f Dansili - Rose Diamond

Godolphin

55,000

Blandford Bloodstock

Five-year tale Year

Sold

Agg (gns)

Average (gns)

Median (gns)

Top price (gns)

2020

264

3,260,300

12,350

6,500

200,000

2019

294

3,139,100

10,677

5,000

105,000

2018

299

8,037,150

26,880

7,000

1,900,000

2017

338

5,735,200

16,968

8,000

500,000

2016

251

2,718,800

10,832

5,000

145,000

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Overview and analysis of the latest events in the ring TALKING POINTS

TATTERSALLS

• Middleham trainer Jedd O’Keeffe may be best known as ‘Sam Spinner’s trainer’, but that could be about to change. With the backing of Jonathan Ramsden he has taken in a group of horses that run under the banner of Quantum. Ramsden set up Quantum last year as a racehorse-owning syndicate and it now has around 12 horses in training, though sadly the O’Keeffe-trained smart juvenile hurdler Tavus, who was bought for 105,000gns at Tattersalls’ Autumn HIT Sale, suffered a fatal injury on the gallops. At the February Sale Ramsden added to O’Keeffe’s string when securing St Just for 55,000gns out of William Haggas’s Somerville Lodge draft. Eight-year-old Sam Spinner, who was second in last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle, is currently sidelined with a pelvic injury that was sustained as he began building an exciting novice chase profile with three straight victories. That was a blow to O’Keeffe, likewise Tavus, but with new horses arriving his career is on the rise. Cormac McCormack: signed ticket for I’ll Have Another for “an established Irish client”

She had been bought for the Rooneys by agent Kevin Ross for just £32,000 as a Doncaster yearling, and had won nearly three times that sum on the racecourse while with trainer Mark Johnston. Trade on day one also featured the

100,000gns sale of consistent allweather performer Power Link, who left James Tate’s Newmarket stable bound for Saudi Arabia’s Emblem Stable, while the Roger Charlton-trained Creationist headed trade on day two when selling for 60,000gns. Agent Rupert PritchardGordon lowered the hammer for the gelded son of Noble Mission, and then

revealed he had been bought to race and be a lead horse for the Ken Condon-trained Romanised, who won last year’s Prix Jacques Le Marois. Tattersalls’ Chairman Edmond Mahony referred to “an extraordinarily diverse international cast of buyers,” in his end-of-sale statement, and reflected on a “positive start to the year”.

Goffs reduced this sale from three to two days in 2019, and stuck with that plan for the latest edition. It did increase the catalogue by 64 lots, with an additional 21 young yearlings and 42 older horses and breeding stock. The result was a 3% rise in turnover to just over €4m, but a fall of three points in the overall clearance rate to 65%. The market just about swallowed the increase in young yearlings who were offered on day one, when there was a two-points gain in the clearance rate. That was the good news, but the fact it achieved just 65% indicates that pinhookers were in no mood to chance their luck on horses with question marks. Heading this section of trade was an €82,000 Churchill colt, offered from Jimmy and Mary Mangan’s Riverview Farm and knocked down to Flash Conroy of Glenvale Stud. Conroy said he would be reselling his purchase, who was a first foal of Najma. The Darley-bred Najma – by Cape Cross out of Ribblesdale Stakes winner Silkwood – was eight when foaling this colt, but despite her relatively late start in the breeding sheds her striking-looking son gave her a great opening show. The leading yearling filly came

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GOFFS

Goffs February Sale

Eamonn Reilly of the BBA Ireland won out at €220,000 for the Aga Khan-bred Sheranda

from the first crop of Kildangan Stud stallion Profitable and made €75,000. Consigned from the Callanan family’s Nanallac Stud in County Kildare, this filly was sold to Mags O’Toole, representing Eddie O’Leary’s Lynn Lodge Stud. Day two’s breeding stock selection

produced the sale topper, Sheranda, a four-year-old Siyouni filly bought by Eamonn Reilly of BBA Ireland for €220,000. Twice placed from four races while with Dermot Weld, the Aga Khan-bred and raced Sheranda was a half-sister to the Blandford Stakes winner Shamreen.

››

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Sales Circuit With Reilly and colleague Michael Donohoe on their A-game, BBA Ireland was soon heading for top-buyer status. Donohoe signed for the Grange Hill Stud-consigned Hergame, a five-yearold mare by Motivator who made €200,000, while Reilly gained another Aga Khan cast-off in the shape of four-year-old Hazakiyra, a daughter of Camelot who realised €150,000. This trio of purchases were all made on behalf of undisclosed Irish stud owners, but Newmarket’s Blue Diamond Stud was less coy, putting its name to four mares who were bought by owner Imad Al Sagar. They were headed on price by Stereo Viewing, a winning daughter of Galileo who made €80,000.

GOFFS

››

The Mangan family had a memorable result as this homebred Churchill colt sold for €82,000

Goffs February Sale Top lots Name/sex/breeding

Vendor

Price (€)

Buyer

Sheranda f Siyouni – Shareen Hergame f Motivator – Kayaba

Aga Khan Studs

220,000

BBA Ireland

Grange Hill Stud

200,000

BBA Ireland

Hazakiyra f Camelot – Hazarafa

Aga Khan Studs

150,000

BBA Ireland

Vrai f Dark Angel - Sogno Verde

Baroda Stud

130,000

John Walsh Bloodstock

C Churchill – Najma

Riverview Farm

82,000

Glenvale Stud

Five-year tale Year

Sold

Agg (€)

Average (€)

Median (€)

Top price (€)

2020

293

4,078,700

13,920

6,500

220,000

2019

264

3,976,150

15,061

8,000

120,000

2018

333

4,806,000

14,432

6,800

280,000

2017

387

5,131,300

13,259

5,500

210,000

2016

289

4,333,250

14,994

8,000

165,000

Mancunian businessman Mike Grech is back in the business of racehorse ownership, and left this sale with top-lot Keskonrisk, whose £370,000 valuation was easily a record for the event. Not that Grech’s involvement was apparent when the son of No Risk At All left Doncaster’s sales ring, because former trainer Henrietta Knight had carried out the bidding for the fiveyear-old Fairyhouse bumper winner, and she could not reveal the buyer’s name. Knight had been similarly coy after spending £450,000 on four-yearold point-to-point winner Gallyhill at Cheltenham a month earlier, although it was reasonable to assume both horses were for the same anonymous person.

››

GOFFS UK/SARAH FARNSWORTH

Goffs UK January Mixed Sale

Bumper winner Keskonrisk set a record at the Goffs UK January Sale, selling for £370,000

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FIRST FOALS 2020

RAJASINGHE C H O I S I R - B U N D I T T E N ( S OV I E T S TA R ) £ 5 , 0 0 0

A N O U T S TA N D I N G R O YA L A S C O T G R . 2 WINNING SPRINTER

FIRST BOOK OF MARES F E AT U R E D M U LT I P L E BLACK TYPE PRODUCERS

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Sales Circuit TALKING POINTS

GOFFS UK/SARAH FARNSWORTH

• What a week for Goffs’ representative and amateur rider Derek O’Connor. On the Sunday before Doncaster’s January Sale opened he won an Irish pointto-point on A Distant Place, a five-year-old son of Sunday Break, who he owned in partnership with his wife, Carol O’Donnell. The couple had bought the gelding for €7,000 as a store at Goffs’ Land Rover Sale. With that win on his CV, A Distant Place headed to Doncaster, where he sold for £78,000 to Anthony Bromley. Three days later and O’Connor was back in action at Doncaster, but on the racecourse, riding OK Corral for Nicky Henderson and JP McManus in the £100,000 Sky Bet Chase (formerly Great Yorkshire Chase). When you are on a high the highs keep coming, and sure enough OK Corral won, and could now be heading for an amateurs’ chase under O’Connor at the Cheltenham Festival.

Henrietta Knight is congratulated by Camas Park Stud’s Timmy Hyde after buying Keskonrisk

As February broke so did the buyer’s identity, and it became apparent that Grech was back. He and Stuart Parkin had acquired a healthy string of jumpers over several years until announcing they were dissolving their partnership last year. Grech’s quick return is a positive outcome. It seems he is placing his new eggs in Irish baskets, for Keskonrisk, who was consigned by Timmy Hyde, has now joined Joseph O’Brien, while Gallyhill is with Gordon Elliott. Keskonrisk’s sale enabled turnover during the in-training section – held on day two of this auction – to fall just £13,000 shy of last year’s total despite the session containing 44 fewer horses. The average gained 57%, while the median doubled. These good figures were helped by Irish point-to-pointer Fishkhov who had finished second on his only start and

made £115,000 to a bid from agent Kevin Ross on behalf of trainer Harry Fry. The first day’s breeding stock and ‘foal’ trade was headed by a Blue Bresil

GOFFS UK/SARAH FARNSWORTH

››

The sale of Keskonrisk was a fine result for vendors Timmy Hyde and son Tim jnr

yearling colt who was consigned by Juliet Minton’s Mill House Stud and sold for £55,000. Bred by John Hales, he was bought by pinhooker Brian Cahill. This section also showed gains, with a 5% rise in the average price to £11,551 and a clearance rate that reached 68%, a gain of six points. Overall turnover for both days was up 8%, and there were rises of 23% and 64% in the average and median figures.

››

Goffs UK January Mixed Sale Top lots Name/sex/breeding

Vendor

Price (£)

Buyer

Keskonrisk g No Risk At All - La Courtille

Camas Park Stud

370,000

Henrietta Knight

Fishkhov g Sholokhov – Kavalle

Leighmoney Stables

115,000

Kevin Ross Bloodstock

A DIstant Place g Sunday Break - South Africa

Fiddaun Farm

78,000

Highflyer Bloodstock

Elios D’Or g Puit D’Or - Naker Mome

Nicky Richards

58,000

Robert Walford

C Blue Bresil - High Benefit

Mill House Stud

55,000

B A A Bloodstock

Three-year tale Year

Sold

Agg (£)

Average (£)

Median (£)

Top price (£)

2020

176

2,693,100

15,302

9,000

370,000

2019

195

2,459,250

12,612

5,500

105,000

2018

262

4,108,200

15,680

8,000

270,000

72 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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Sales Circuit ››

Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale

TATTERSALLS CHELTENHAM

Tattersalls reintroduced a January Sale to Cheltenham, the former version having been moved into February and renamed to reflect the transition. That auction is now established and has a secure place in the sales calendar, but this one has work to do. Tattersalls gave it a twist by staging it in the Owners’ & Trainers’ Marquee, a novelty which only partly offset the fact that the horses could not be similarly accommodated and were walked around Cheltenham’s paddock. They could be viewed by buyers via a closedcircuit television broadcast, but the atmosphere of a traditional bloodstock sales ring was inevitably missing. The sale faced two other hurdles, the first being Goffs UK’s January Sale, which has a firm place in the calendar and was held earlier in the week. It involved several horses who could have been candidates for Cheltenham (or looking at it another way, the Cheltenham sale contained several horses who could have been at Doncaster). The second was that Irish point-to-pointing, the lifeblood of a sale like this, does not allow four-yearolds to run until the first weekend in February, and so none were present. As it transpired the £135,000 top lot, five-year-old Clondaw Secret, had won a four-year-old maiden point-to-point on debut at Boulta the previous month for Mick Goff’s stable. Gordon Elliott bought this one and the auction’s other six-figure lot, Folcano, who had scored at Tinahely for trainer Colin McKeever. Elliott could not reveal the names of his client(s). Britain is less coy about running four-year-olds in January point-to-

TATTERSALLS CHELTENHAM

Boulta debut winner Clondaw Secret: star turn of the Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale

Gordon Elliott returned with valuable stock including the top lot Clondaw Secret

points, and it was a horse of that age, Freezing Point, who proved best of the home team when selling out of Fran Nimmo’s Warwickshire yard for £65,000 to agent Ryan Mahon, acting for trainer Dan Skelton. That was good business for Nimmo and her husband, Charlie Poste, who had bought the gelding for €15,000 at Tattersalls Ireland’s May Store Sale eight months earlier. Of the 15 lots on offer 13 found a buyer and Tattersalls turned over slightly more than £800,000 in less than an hour of selling, elements that will be factored into their review of the event.

››

Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale Top lots Name/sex/breeding

Vendor

Price (£)

Buyer

Clondaw Secret g Court Cave - Secret Can’t Say

Moate Stables

135,000

Aidan O’Ryan/Gordon Elliott

Folcano g Falco – Floriana

Loughanmore Farm

110,000

Aidan O’Ryan/Gordon Elliott

Teasing Georgia f New Approach - Hallowed Park

Newlands Farm

75,000

Donald McCain Racing

Nada To Prada m Kayf Tara - Ambrosia’s Promise

Cobajay Stables

65,000

Tom Malone/Michael Scudamore

Freezing Point g Arctic Cosmos - Maisey

Down Station Yard

65,000

Ryan Mahon

Figures Year 2020

Sold

Agg (£)

Average (£)

Median £$)

Top price (£)

802,000

61,692

55,000

135,000

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FIRST YEARLINGS 2020

MONDIALISTE DUAL GROUP 1 WINNING SON OF GALILEO

“Well made good muscled foals, he’s really stamping them, two year olds in the making.”

First foals sold with an average of

£35,000 AL M OST 6 T IM E S H I S N OM IN ATION F EE

PETER NOLAN, BLOODSTOCK AGENT

STANDING AT ELWICK STUD Elwick Stud, Sheraton Farm, Co. Durham TS27 4RB t: +44 (0) 1429 856 530 e: info@elwickstud.co.uk w: www.elwickstud.co.uk

FEE £6,000

Sales Circuit Haras De Montaigu’s No Risk At All is enjoying a wave of positive results. His son Keskonrisk achieved a record price at Goffs UK’s January Sale, one of his young yearling sons headed trade at this event when making €60,000, and a nomination to him was about to make news at Arqana’s February Sale. If his daughter Epatante, who hails from his first crop, wins the Unibet Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, expect his stock to rise higher. He is also responsible for Allaho, the Willie Mullinstrained, Cheveley Park Stud-owned novice chaser who is near the head of markets in several Festival races. Bloodstock agent Ryan Mahon and racehorse owner Colm Donlon teamed up to secure this sale’s No Risk At All top lot, who was consigned from Harry and Lorna Fowler’s Rahinston Stud. The Fowlers had sold the leading yearling at the 2019 edition of this sale, a €62,000 son of Walk In The Park. Their 2020 sale topper was foaled by the mare Sardagna, making him a halfbrother to the Graded-placed jumpers Amore Alato and Solomon Grey. He had been entered but withdrawn from the November Sale. Other highlights included the sale of a Mount Nelson half-brother to RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase fancy Battleoverdoyen who made €55,000 to a bid from agent Aiden Murphy, while a son of Network, one of only a handful sired by that stallion last year, made €42,000 to an offer from pinhookers Jim Mernagh and John Donaghy. The mare Pakora headed trade with an €80,000 sale tag at this event last year – 12 months on and the top mare made just €27,000. This was given by

TATTERSALLS IRELAND

›› Tatts Ireland February NH Sale

No Risk At All was again in the limelight at this sale as the sire of this €60,000 colt

Seamus Murphy for the Ballincurrig House Stud-consigned Isabellas Girl, a five-year-old half-sister to the great Faugheen. Trade in jumping stock is in generally good health, and there was further proof here in the median figure which achieved a record €9,250 (up 23%). The average price of €11,482 was the

second-highest achieved at the event, but while the clearance rate gained a point to reach 57% it still meant that 128 horses left without a buyer. A total of 294 were offered and 166 were sold. In his summary of the event, Tattersalls Ireland CEO Matt Mitchell referred to “strong trade for choice lots”.

››

TALKING POINTS • Tattersalls Ireland’s fledgling May Store Sale is apparently established after two years – pinhookers who have bought stock there have enjoyed some fine followup results – and now the company is beefing up its August Sale. The last-named event is a weaker version of the flagship Derby Sale held in June, and while it is very unlikely to steal that sale’s glory, it has been given a new look in a bid to give it added kudos. • In mid-January the company announced the three-day August Sale would open with Part I, a session of ‘select stores’, to be followed by two sessions of lesser lights at Part 2. Tattersalls Ireland’s CEO Matt Mitchell said the revamp meant vendors had a “credible sale option to sell their late store horse”.

Tattersalls Ireland February National Hunt Sale Top lots Sex/breeding

Vendor

C No Risk At All – Sardagna

Rahinston Stud

Price (€) 60,000

Buyer Ryan Mahon/Colm Donlon

C Mount Nelson - Battle Over

Caroline Berry

55,000

Aiden Murphy

C Network - Holly Girl

Thistletown Stud

42,000

J and J

C Flemensfirth – Florafern

Beeches Stud

40,000

Ian Ferguson

C Champs Elysees – Thuringe

Foxleigh House

40,000

Hamish Macauley

Three-year tale Year

Sold

Agg (€)

Average (€)

Median (€)

Top price (€)

2020

168

1,928,950

11,482

9,250

60,000

2019

167

1,940,600

11,620

7,500

80,000

2018

161

1,880,194

11,678

7,500

62,000

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Sales Circuit Arqana February Mixed Sale

This sale featured two notable dispersals last year, but bereft of such gems 12 months later there was bound to be a fall in the figures. Stock owned by Lebanese ownerbreeder Issam Fares, plus that offered by the executors of the Marquesa De Moratalla, had given the 2019 sale a double header of delight that may not be matched for many a year at a February Sale, as evidenced by a top lot of €500,000 for the mare Graciously. Returning to more familiar ground, the latest renewal of the sale returned figures similar to the 2018 edition, but with a clear fall in the clearance rate to one of 66%, down 18 points on the previous year, despite 58 fewer lots on offer. It suggests the two dispersals of 2019 had drawn in buyers that would not normally have attended, for the 84% clearance rate achieved in that year had been surpassed only once in the sale’s history. Unfortunately it seems those buyers did not return for the latest edition, at which the ratio of sales to horses was the worst since 2010. As ever it was not all bad news, for while the average (-33%) and median (-27%) were well down on last year, they came in on a par with the 2018 sale. A pair of horses made a six-figure sum and both were four-year-old fillies who changed hands during the first of two days of selling. Agnes, a daughter of Planteur bought out of a French claiming race for €32,000 as recently as October, was reoffered at this auction and made €135,000. In the interim she had won a handicap and finished second in a Listed race for Pia Brandt’s stable. For now she will race on said buyer

ARQANA/ZUZANNA LUPA

››

Listed-placed Agnes will race on for Luigi Roveda after topping the Arqana February Sale

Marco Bozzi, who was acting for Italian racehorse owner Luigi Roveda. The last-named raced and owns stallion Affaire Solitaire, a Group 2-winning son of Danehill Dancer who stands at Razza Ticino, and whose half-brother Aizavoski is making a mark as a jump sire in Ireland. The day’s other six-figure lot – Running D’Or, a €100,000 daughter of Archange D’Or – fell to Geoffrey Howson of Howson & Houldsworth Bloodstock. It was no surprise to hear Howson say that Listed winner Running D’Or had been bought for an owner with a breeding operation, but having said she will continue racing for the time being he revealed she is set to go jumping from the Herefordshire stable of Tom Symonds. Heading trade at the second session was five-year-old mare Princess Bianca who made €82,000 when offered by Pierre Talvard of Haras Du Cadran.

Talvard brought the hammer down for the full-sister to sire Prince Gibraltar, and said he now owned her in a partnership involving her breeder, JeanFrancois Gribomont, and Ecurie Melanie. This second session also saw a group of young yearlings offered to the market. The pick on price proved to be a €52,000 colt who was bought outright by Gerard Augustin Normand having been sired by Montfort et Preaux stallion Recorder. A son of Galileo, bred and raced by The Queen, Recorder ran only as a juvenile before injury curtailed his career, but he bagged the Acomb Stakes when landing two of three races. A 13-year-old horse who was tucked up in his box at Haras De Montaigu added another €62,000 to the day’s turnover. This was given for a 50th share in stallion No Risk At All. Cheshire-based Richard Aston, who heads Goldford Stud with his wife Sally, secured the prize.

Arqana February Mixed Sale Top lots Name/sex/breeding

Vendor

Price (€)

Buyer

Agnes f Planteur – Agenda

Pia Brandt

135,000

Marco Bozzi Bloodstock

Running D'Or f Archange D'Or - Running Running

Foucher

100,000

Howson & Houldsworth Bloodstock

Princess Bianca f Rock Of Gibraltar - Princess Sofia

Haras du Cadran

82,000

SCEA Ecurie Haras du Cadran

Deadline Diva f Frankel - Hurry Home Hillary

Clement

80,000

Windfield Bloodstock

La Pedrera m Danehill Dancer - Straight Lass

Haras de l’Hotellerie

75,000

Meridian International Sarl

Three-year tale Year

Sold

Agg (€)

Average (€)

Median (€)

2020

247

2019

358

2018

292

Top price (€)

2,432,300

9,754

4,000

135,000

5,282,500

14,922

5,500

500,000

2,851,500

10,005

4,000

300,000

78 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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D E R B Y

S A L E

Consistently The Best 24 - 25 June

24 horses sold for €100,000+ 2 horses sold for €200,000+

140 horses sold for €50,000+ 61 horses sold for €75,000+

figures from Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale 2019

ENTER NOW

Closing Date 3 April 2020 Select Store Sales 2020

T: +353 1 8864300 info@tattersalls.ie tattersalls.ie

4 4 Black Type 2yo Winners in 2019

SUMMER SANDS winner of the Redcar 2yo Trophy, L, placed 3rd in Middle Park S.,Gr. 1

TAT T E R S A L L S A S C O T B R E E Z E U P S A L E MARCH 31 - APRIL 1, 2020

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Caulfield Files

Handling of wayward tendencies has evolved but quirks still persist

Nasrullah was tricky as a racehorse and stallion but was a huge success in both disciplines

t my only meeting with the careers’ advisor at school, I said I would like to work in horseracing. This prompted the response that “if that’s the sum total of your ambition after an education at Hymers College, you should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself.” He might have had a point. Instead of concentrating on the likes of Virgil, Shakespeare and Dickens, I spent many hours reading The Racing Week, a wonderful weekly publication by Timeform which was the source of much of my knowledge and enthusiasm. I was especially enthralled by a six-part series by the learned racing historian J. Fairfax-Blakeborough which carried the enticing title of “Stories of Savage Racehorses.” Part One began “when one remembers what highly strung animals thoroughbred horses are, and how artificial is the life and environment of those put into training to compete on the Turf, it is not, after all, surprising that amongst them there should be ‘savages’ and ‘man-eaters.’ “There always have been such amongst racehorses and probably there always will be. Hot temper, viciousness and excitability is inherent in certain equine strains and families, just as marked, faithfully handed down and perpetuated as other outstanding characteristics. Sometimes it is bred out in the course of years as a result of crossing and careful treatment, but it will be shown later how temper and the sins of the sire are passed on to the progeny for generations.” Fairfax-Blakeborough was in his eighties when he wrote this series in 1966 and his long experience had taught him that it was by no means always the horse’s fault. “Brutal treatment by stable-boys has not infrequently occasioned a complete change of temper and conduct; the unmerciful use of whip and spur by jockeys at a time when the animals were doing their utmost has made savages of other horses...” He also pointed out that horses in training spent the greater part of their lives in solitary confinement. My limited experience of how stallions were managed up to that point suggested that they too were isolated. The first stallion paddock I saw had very high walls, which meant that the stallion could see absolutely nothing, even though he tried

standing on his hind-legs. The stallion even had to reach his paddock via a highsided passageway, which only added to his solitary existence. In Fairfax-Blakeborough’s stories, ignorant mismanagement and sheer cruelty often played a leading role in his grisly case histories, which began with the story of Vatican, third behind The Flying Dutchman in the 1849 St Leger. An eye-witness mentioned seeing Vatican “roped and chained from every side, and he screamed, roared and kicked in such frenzy at having been touched that the memory of him has always been a vivid one in my mind.” The story goes that his owners tried giving him a donkey as a companion, only to find the poor beast disembowelled and almost decapitated the next morning. Eventually they even had him blinded in a failed bid to make him more manageable. As Fairfax-Blakeborough conceded, nurture wasn’t always to blame for the appalling behaviour detailed in his stories, with nature also playing its part.

Nasrullah no angel

He no doubt was very familiar with the story of Nearco’s hugely talented but wayward son Nasrullah. Nearco himself was once described as “generally kind of nature” but he “was given to idiosyncrasy and suspicion, and he refused to allow anyone to take liberties with him. There were several grooms who irritated him, and he could be very difficult towards them.” Phil Bull’s assessment of Nasrullah’s

three-year-old career was that “on not a single occasion did he visit the racecourse and leave it without his performance having some blemish upon it. His display on the way down to post for the Chatteris Stakes was a disgrace. He refused to leave the paddock, he refused to break into a trot, he refused to respond to the blandishments of the friendly hack sent out on to the course to kid him; he refused to do anything except behave like a spoiled child.” Nasrullah’s rider Gordon Richards was commended by Bull for his enormous patience and for resisting the temptation to give the colt a resounding crack across the quarters. Nasrullah’s quirkiness extended to his stallion career, even though he managed to become champion sire in Britain and Ireland in 1951 and then topped the North American table five times. Only one groom was able to handle him during his years at Claiborne, and the story goes that the groom once threatened to quit, saying: “Either he is going to hurt me, or I am going to hurt him.” Nasrullah passed on some of his wilfulness to quite a few of his best sons, with Grey Sovereign, Red God and Zucchero all having the dreaded Timeform squiggle which denotes unreliability. Grey Sovereign, with his tendency to start slowly, was arguably the most pronounced example. Alan Yuill Walker’s obituary for this very influential stallion noted that Grey Sovereign’s “highly-strung temperament” caused concern throughout his lifetime. Even as a two-year-old he was frequently

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ridden in the paddock preliminaries and was often accompanied to the start by the trainer’s assistant, whose unenviable task was to help the horse relax by ‘pulling his tongue.’ However, Grey Sovereign was never inclined to do anything against his will. His stubbornness persisted into old age, when he would sometimes defy all attempts to bring him in from his paddock. If rearing up and striking out failed to have the desired effect, he would charge with teeth bared.” Grey Sovereign was to establish a very successful male line, which flourished especially in France, where his male-line descendants won the Poule d’Essai des Poulains with almost monotonous regularity between 1968 and 1989, starting with Grey Sovereign’s son Zeddaan. This is a valuable reminder that a spirited temperament need not be a barrier to a successful stallion career. There were, though, some notable rogues among Grey Sovereign’s descendants, some of whom raced before starting

“Nasrullah’s display before the Chatteris Stakes was a disgrace” stalls had come into general use. Young Emperor established himself as the outstanding two-year-old of 1965 with wide-margin wins in the Coventry and Gimcrack Stakes. Unfortunately, he blotted his copybook in the Richmond Stakes, repeatedly rearing when asked to line up and he was left at the start. His son Dragonara Palace made amends by winning the 1973 Richmond Stakes, but I seem to remember Derek Thompson interviewing stalls handlers about whether there were any stallions whose offspring represented a challenge and the answer was Dragonara Palace. Fortino II, Grey Sovereign’s winner of the 1962 Prix l’Abbaye de Longchamp, sired the admirably tough and game Caro, who became a significant sire in France and North America. But Fortino also sired a few less stable individuals. Daughter Floosie received the Timeform squiggle after twice being left at the start, and his gelded son Knockroe was

Bloodstock world views

Two months before winning the Irish Oaks Chicquita fell when drifting into a hedge

such a colourful eccentric that he became a great favourite in the early 1970s. His dislike of other horses’ company meant that Knockroe’s galloping companion was his trainer’s 3.5-litre Rover. On the racecourse he usually fell well behind in the early stages before being brought wide with a powerful late run. The tactics worked so well that Knockroe won 11 times and achieved a Timeform rating of 122. Another of Grey Sovereign’s best stallion sons, the Lockinge Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Sovereign Path, appeared to be free of his sire’s quirks, but the same couldn’t be said of his Free Handicap and Lockinge Stakes winner Supreme Sovereign. Trained by a different man in each of his three seasons in training, Supreme Sovereign was later moved from stud to stud. I have memories of a magazine article in which he was pictured with a ‘Jaws’ sign above his box and – again if I remember correctly – was approachable only by someone carrying a bucket of water, making a splashing noise!

Bite-sized Arazi links

Red God’s brilliant son Blushing Groom wasn’t generally associated with hot temperaments, but his son Arazi was responsible for Noverre, who tried to take a bite out of Keltos’ quarters as they fought for the 2002 Lockinge Stakes. I was therefore intrigued that Arazi’s name also cropped up last year as the sire of the second dam of Palomba, who tried to take a chunk out of her main rival’s jockey in the Listed Prix Joubert. The brilliant Mill Reef was another member of the Nasrullah male line. His

temperament was good enough to see him through a demanding racing career, which included two impressive victories on visits to France, and it also allowed him to recover from a foreleg fracture which would have put many another horse in its grave. However, it became noticeable that fillies by Mill Reef and his best stallion son, Shirley Heights, often had a tendency to flash their tails, especially when their jockeys put them under pressure. This isn’t the only example of temperamental traits tending to appear in one sex rather than the other. Although the branch of the Nearco line tracing through Nearctic and Northern Dancer had long been associated with soundness of mind and body, with Sadler’s Wells and Galileo both being the embodiment of steadiness, Montjeu gave the impression of being more highly-strung than many of Sadler’s Wells’s sons. He initially tended to be on edge during the preliminaries but that didn’t hinder his development into a phenomenal racehorse and sire. Montjeu wasn’t a typical Sadler’s Wells in appearance and his edginess could also be attributed to the bottom half of his pedigree. His broodmare sire Top Ville was on edge before the two disappointing defeats which ended his career and Montjeu’s third dam, Adele Toumignon, was a grand-daughter of none other than Grey Sovereign. Montjeu’s stallion career wasn’t very far advanced before rumours started to circulate that his daughters could be difficult to manage and often needed careful handling. They certainly didn’t perform nearly as well as Montjeu’s sons, but five fillies from his Coolmore crops eventually became Group 1 winners, with two of them winning the Irish Oaks. One of those Irish Oaks winners was Chicquita, who showed an alarming tendency to swerve. On one occasion she fell after swerving into a hedge and on another she threw away victory in the QIPCO British Champions Fillies’ & Mares’ Stakes. Another of Montjeu’s Group 1-winning daughters, Miss Keller, was ridden by a jockey not carrying a whip when she landed the EP Taylor Stakes. The consideration shown to the likes of Miss Keller and Chicquita shows that today’s enlightened handlers are very different from the old school of trainers who, according to Fairfax-Blakeborough, “argued that by fair means or foul (often foul), horses difficult to deal with had to have their spirit broken and shown who was ‘boss.’”

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ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

Bloodstock owners and breeders — What CGT changes may impact me from April 2020? Many bloodstock owners will own stud farms which contain several residential properties. A number of taxation changes come into effect from 6 April 2020 that owners should be aware of. Over the years some breeders have found that where cashflow is particularly tight or conditions have been unkind for breeding, selling one or two cottages on the stud farm has provided the cash injection they required.

UK residential property disposals Currently, where a traditional stud farm sells a small let cottage, the disposal and any capital gains tax (CGT) payable need to be reported and paid to HMRC by 31 January following the end of the tax year. This means the tax may not be due for up to 21 months after the disposal.

Smith & Williamson OB March 2020 dps.indd 2

From 6 April 2020, this all changes. If a gain is realised on disposal of a UK residential property after this date, a return and payment on account of CGT is due within 30 days of completion. The payment on account will need to be estimated reliably and so an idea of income levels of the person making the disposal may be required. However, the estimate can take into account brought forward capital losses and any annual exemption available, as well as private residence relief (PRR).

If the 30 day reporting deadline is missed then a fixed £100 penalty will apply as with current self-assessment tax returns.

It is worth noting that these new rules also cover gifts and transfers — for example, where a residential property is gifted to a trust or where a residential property is passed down the generations by way of gift. These transfers would also trigger the same reporting and payment requirements, although holdover relief may be available to reduce any payment due.

Where the house stands at a gain and the owner has lived there constantly throughout ownership, the gain should be covered by PRR. However, where owners do not occupy the property in full throughout their ownership, for example they live elsewhere or work abroad for business, then any gain accruing to a period of non-occupation may be chargeable to CGT. PRR, and currently potentially lettings relief, can help reduce any chargeable capital gain arising.

Private residence relief (PRR) Many owners and breeders will occupy a property on their stud farm. Although not exclusively, these tend to be homes with significant value that may have been within the family ownership for several generations (where the breeding enterprise has been generational).

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ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

Although legislation is still in draft form, and the outcome of March’s Budget remains to be seen, it is expected that from 6 April 2020, the grace period — known as the final period exemption — will be reduced from 18 months to just 9 months. Even where the house has been occupied fully by the owner up to the point it is put on the market, if the period between moving out and sale exceeds 9 months then CGT may still be payable. Where the main home was also let at some point during the owners’ occupation, then lettings relief may apply to reduce any capital gain further.

From 6 April 2020, however, it is expected that this relief will only apply where the homeowner shared occupancy with the tenant. As there are no transitional rules, periods of letting before 6 April 2020 will also fall under the new regime.

Penelope Lang Partner, Smith & Williamson LLP t: 01722 431 064 e: penelope.lang@smithandwilliamson.com

It is worth noting that where the main home is used for business purposes then full PRR will be restricted to the residential occupation only. Normally most stud farms tend to have an office where the business activities are undertaken and so this may not be of particular importance to many owners.

smithandwilliamson.com Offices: London, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cheltenham, Dublin (City and Sandyford), Glasgow, Guildford, Jersey, Salisbury and Southampton.

By necessity, this briefing can only provide a short overview and it is essential to seek professional advice before applying the contents of this article. No responsibility can be taken for any loss arising from action taken or refrained from on the basis of this publication. Details correct at time of writing. The tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. Smith & Williamson LLP Regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for a range of investment business activities. A member of Nexia International. The word partner is used to refer to a member of Smith & Williamson LLP. 22720eb.

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www.thethoroughbredclub.co.uk •

@TTC_GB

Diary Dates and Reminders Tuesday, March 3 TBA Regional Forum Exeter racecourse Tuesday, March 24 Olly Murphy and Charlie Poste visit Warwickshire Sunday, March 29 Spring Family Raceday Ascot racecourse Tuesday, April 21 West Regional Day Thursday, April 30 TBA Regional Forum & Scotland Regional Day Musselburgh racecourse, East Lothian Further information on all events can be found on the TTC website TTC members can avail themselves of the TBA regional visits, which kick off this month

Invitation to attend TBA regional visits

TC members are invited to attend the TBA regional visits that take place throughout the coming year. The events provide the ideal opportunity for members to integrate with like-minded people from across their area. Wales and West Midlands – Olly Murphy and Charlie Poste Tuesday, March 24 The first Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association regional visit of the year is almost here and places are still available

for TTC members. The day will include a tour of Olly Murphy’s Warren Chase Stables and a pre-training facility run by former jockey Charlie Poste. For full itinerary and booking details, please visit The Thoroughbred Club website. Members can also bring one guest at the full price rate. Other dates confirmed for regional days include: Tuesday, April 21 – West Thursday, April 30 – Scotland Wednesday, June 10 – South East

The Thoroughbred Club is pleased to announce the following badge offer for members: Spring Family Raceday Ascot racecourse, March 29 This is Ascot’s final fixture of the 2019-20 jumps season. Half-price tickets can be purchased on the day from Ticket Office East upon presentation of a valid TTC membership card. For further information on upcoming badge offers to members please visit the TTC website or email info@thethoroughbredclub.co.uk

ROYAL ASCOT BADGE OFFER Ascot racecourse has kindly offered TTC members the opportunity to purchase advanced half-price entry to the Queen Anne or Windsor enclosure on the Tuesday and Wednesday of Royal Ascot. The Tuesday of Royal Ascot kicks off proceedings with three Group 1 races, featuring the Queen Anne, King’s Stand Stakes and St James’s Palace Stakes. The Wednesday offers an equally exciting card featuring the Queen Mary Stakes, Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Duke of Cambridge Stakes. Applications for tickets are available on TTC’s website; applications received after the closing date of May 25 will not be accepted.

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Circus Maximus is driven to victory in last year’s St James’s Palace Stakes by Ryan Moore

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ROA Forum

The special section for ROA members

Permanent retirement changes

he British Horseracing Authority has made changes to the way retired racehorses are registered in a drive to further improve the traceability of horses leaving the sport. As reported in January, the new system is based on the Racing Admin site and involves opening up the ability to register the new homes of newly retired racehorses to trainers as well as owners, and is designed to ensure that there is as much traceability as possible for horses who are permanently retired from racing. Under the previous system only owners had been able to register where their horse was going once it had retired, but recent surveys on aftercare indicated that trainers are often involved in this first retirement decision for horses in training to assist owners. As such, since February 13, both owners and trainers are able to use a simplified online system for permanently retiring a horse. A digital non-racing agreement will be generated if applicable, and the details of the new keeper will now be required and kept on file as part of the process. Completion of the process will trigger a notification to any new keeper advising them that they are responsible for completing a transfer of ownership within 30 days. If the new keeper fails to do this, they may incur a fine of up to £5,000 from Trading Standards. There will be a 14-day window to reverse the process in case it is made in error, and a dedicated page on the BHA’s website will allow participants to check the retirement status of any horse. This can be found at britishhorseracing.com/retire. David Sykes, Director of Equine Health and Welfare at the BHA, said: “At all stages of a racehorse’s life, being able to trace a horse’s whereabouts is vital in demonstrating responsibility and commitment to the long-term welfare of our equine athletes. “Whilst there are many possible routes that horses may take on leaving training, the first step is to identify those that have been retired from the sport. “The change will ensure the industry’s record keeping is as accurate and up-todate as possible.” Charlie Liverton, Chief Executive of the Racehorse Owners Association, said: “Owners take great care in ensuring the horses who have given them so much pleasure are suitably re-homed following retirement. To have a system which is

horse is made ineligible to run and is no longer bound by the Rules of Racing. It also triggers a notification to any new keeper, advising them that they are responsible for completing a transfer of ownership within 30 days. If the new keeper fails to do this, they may incur a fine of up to £5,000. Owners should ensure their contact details on Racing Admin are up to date to guarantee they receive notifications when a horse is retired.

Help and guidance Harry The Viking has recently been retired from racing aged 15

simpler and easier to use and which allows trainers, who are often handling the logistics of the situation, to assist is undoubtedly a positive step.” Di Arbuthnot, Chief Executive of the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), said: “As the sport’s official charity for the welfare of retired racehorses, we place great value on improving traceability and one of our key roles is assisting and advising owners and trainers on rehoming and retraining their horses. “The changes to the process for retiring a horse from racing provides an opportunity to increase the number of horses registered with RoR. “By registering with RoR, not only will we learn where horses are and what activities they are doing, but the new owners will also be able to benefit from the extensive programme of educational activities run by RoR, helping them to take better care of, and get more enjoyment from, their former racehorse.” Further to this, the independentlychaired Horse Welfare Board’s strategy, which is due to be published shortly, will take a longer term strategic look at traceability of racehorses.

What owners need to know

The new process allows owners and trainers to record through the existing Racing Administration system the following details: • The reason for the horse’s retirement • Restrictions on racing in the future (non-racing agreement) • Details of the horse’s new keeper Completion of the online form triggers the start of the permanent retirement process, which takes 14 days; after that date the

The BHA has developed a series of helpful guides to assist owners and trainers with the new process. These cover updating lists of horses, accepting a transfer of responsibility, and retiring a horse. A dedicated page will allow participants to check the retirement status of any horse at britishhorseracing.com/ retire and will include a downloadable guide with video walkthroughs. The changes are aimed to support and simplify the first retirement decision for horses in training and will help ensure we can identify and have full traceability for those racehorses that have retired. If you have any questions about the new system, please don’t hesitate to contact Lucy Ralph on lralph@ britishhorseracing.com

Retraining of Racehorses (RoR)

As British horseracing’s official charity for the welfare of retired racehorses, Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) places great value on improving traceability. In addition to meeting legal requirements in updating the passport, the owners of former racehorses should register their horse with RoR. Initial registration is free, ensuring both ongoing traceability of where a horse is in retirement, and providing the new keeper with a support network. Registering for free includes the opportunity to benefit from the extensive programme of educational activities run by RoR. Last year over 300 educational events were available to those registered with RoR. RoR also assists racing owners and trainers in rehoming and retraining their horses. The charity offers an advice line, the Source a Horse website facility and a retrainers directory. RoR is also awaiting funding to roll out a nationwide network of regional field officers who, once recruited, will be the on-the-ground points of contact for owners and trainers.

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The Hospitality Pavilion will accommodate ROA members in April

Exclusive facility for members at Aintree The ROA has an exclusive members’ facility at Aintree on the opening two days of the Randox Health Grand National Festival, Thursday April 2 and Friday April 3. Located on the ground floor of the Hospitality Pavilion, overlooking the Grand National start area, the bespoke, discounted package includes racecourse admission and a sit down four-course lunch followed by afternoon tea. The facility includes

a cash bar to purchase drinks. Our special package is priced at £240 per person on Thursday and £320 per person on Friday. We expect to sell out, so do book in quickly to secure your place. A course walk will be arranged before racing on both days for a limited number of guests and preference will be given to join the walk in the order of bookings made.

For more details or to book your places, see roa.co.uk/events

Festival Zone

Members can enjoy free raceday admission to Aintree’s Grand National meeting on April 2 and 3 on production of their PASScard or Horseracing Privilege Card. This is only redeemable with access through the Owners’ & Trainers’ Entrance reception.

Movement of people and horses post-Brexit The Thoroughbred Industries Brexit Steering Group provided an update at the end of January to participants following the UK leaving the European Union on January 31. During the implementation and transition period, from February 1 to December 31, arrangements relating to the movement of thoroughbreds and people will continue as before. The existing Tripartite Agreement for thoroughbred movement remains in place. The group strongly encourages European Union and European Economic Area nationals working in the industry to apply now for Settled Status beyond the end of the transition period. Support is available for staff who have any concerns. More broadly their focus is now on the nature of the UK’s future relationship with the EU and how it impacts the racing and breeding industries. The UK government has stated its ambition to negotiate a

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3. Ensure there are common technical, transport and taxation policies in order to assist with the above.

The UK wants to avoid restrictions on the movement of the thoroughbred

comprehensive free trade agreement with the European Union, underpinned by high standards of animal welfare. The Steering Group welcomes and supports fully this approach.

Their stated priorities are:

1. Maintenance of the free movement of the thoroughbred horse across Europe; 2. Safeguarding the free movement of people working within the thoroughbred industry as much as possible;

The update can be found in full at britishhorseracing.com, along with information on the work being carried out, where a dedicated Brexit page reflects the current situation. Julian Richmond-Watson, Chair of the Thoroughbred Industries Brexit Steering Group, said: “As the Brexit negotiations move in to the second phase, our industry continues with an international outlook and the aim of avoiding any unnecessary barriers to trade or the movement of the thoroughbred. “We will work alongside European and sector colleagues, and the UK government, aiming to deliver a future relationship with the EU which will enhance our great industry, support our highly valued European employees, and raise the already high animal health and welfare standards we have in place.”

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ROA Forum

The first ‘Go North’ Weekend takes place this month, featuring three exciting days of jump racing and behind-the-scenes access in the north of England and Scotland. This is part of an initiative to boost jump racing in the region, led by the BHA and sponsored by the Racing Post. A total of £400,000 in prize-money is on offer across three fixtures at Musselburgh (Friday, March 20), Kelso (Saturday, March 21) and Carlisle (Sunday, March 22). The weekend’s racing features all seven finals of the Northern Lights Series spread across the Musselburgh and Carlisle meetings, and Kelso’s fixture will be televised live on ITV. A number of local trainers will be opening their yards on the morning of each fixture, offering the public behindthe-scenes access before enjoying the afternoon’s racing. Retraining of Racehorses will be parading some former regulars at the tracks and each racecourse will stage an exhibition on the history of northern jump racing. A prize for the top trainer/jockey/

GEORGE SELWYN

Inaugural ‘Go North’ Weekend

Grand National-winning trainer Lucinda Russell is opening her stable on March 20

owner of the three fixtures will be presented at Carlisle on March 22. A weekend ticket covering all three days of racing will be available for £40, with tickets also available for each individual fixture. Both can be purchased from the relevant racecourse websites. A ticket for that day’s racing will be required to access the stable visits in the morning and those who wish to attend are required to register their interest via https://www.cognitoforms. com/BritishHorseracingAuthority/

Day

Trainer

Stable

Location

Friday, March 20

Nick Alexander Lucinda Russell

Leslie Tayside

Fife Kinross-shire

Saturday, March 21

Rose Dobbin Sandy Thomson Katie Scott Stuart Coltherd

Alnwick Duns Galashiels

Northumberland Berwickshire Scottish Borders

Sunday, March 22

James Ewart Iain Jardine Nicky Richards

Langholm Carrutherstown Greystoke

Dumfriesshire Dumfriesshire Cumbria

GoNorthStableTours. ROA members can enjoy free admission to most of the race meetings, but please note this will not include admission to the training yards. See roa.co.uk/freead for details of the free racecourse admission which apply to you. The Northern Lights Series was founded in 2016 to boost National Hunt racing in the region. It was revamped to run through the core of the jumps season last year, and now has seven categories. Musselburgh will feature finals of the juvenile, two-mile, three-mile and mares’ hurdle series, whilst the two-mile, middledistance and staying chase series finals will take place at Carlisle. All three fixtures are supported by the BHA development fund, helping to boost prize-money on offer. The aim of the Northern Lights Series was to provide an incentive to own and train horses in the north and stimulate investment into the grassroots of the sport in this region.

Louise Norman joins the ROA The ROA is delighted to welcome Louise Norman as its new Head of Ownership Experience. Louise will be known to many owners and trainers as she was previously employed at Weatherbys within the VAT and racing bank teams, latterly as senior manager. She has a wealth of experience and knowledge built over 20 years, which will be of enormous help to the ROA and working with stakeholders across the sport. Her deep understanding of the industry is matched with an energy and dynamism to elevate the ownership experience at every level.

Louise Norman: new ROA role

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Full house at Exeter’s ROA Owners Day a successful meeting for syndicateowned horses, who won five of the eight races. Our next two ROA Owners Days will see the ROA host regional events for members at Musselburgh on March 31 and at Sedgefield on April 21, each featuring an Owners Jackpot race.

ROA members and staff joined in with presentation duties at Exeter on January 21

The first ROA Owners Day of the year took place at Exeter on January 21. A frosty start to the morning prompted three inspections, ensuring the course was well walked by general manager and clerk of the course Jack Parkinson. A crisp morning turned into a bright and sunny afternoon and the card went ahead, albeit with four hurdles and fences in the back straight omitted. The ROA regional meeting saw 100 members and guests gather in the River Rooms in the Haldon Stand, which offered fabulous views of the course overlooking the finish line. Mick Fitzgerald was our host, introducing discussions and involving members in choosing best turned out awards and presentations during racing. Chief Executive Charlie Liverton gave an update on industry and ownership issues before racing commenced, with

topics discussed including media rights, distribution of prize-money, equine welfare, owner badge allocations, field size limits, the sales integrity review and Nick Rust’s departure as BHA Chief Executive later this year. The raceday experience for syndicate members was raised, and specifically affordable mementos for multi-ownership groups when their horse wins a race. A trainer present explained that a group of his owners in a partnership had enjoyed a winner at Warwick earlier in the year, and received a TV in a card memento. When they approached the racecourse about duplicate copies it was explained that the cost would be £50 per person. This cost was deemed overly high and a disincentive for partnership and syndicate owners. The ROA Jackpot race was not won on the day, although it proved to be

Upcoming Owners Jackpot races: Musselburgh, March 31, 41305, 7f Handicap (Class 5) 3yo, rated 56-75 Sedgefield, April 21, 32334, 2m5f (Class 5) Handicap Hurdle 4yo+, rated 0-100 Incentives are attached to each Owners Jackpot race: • £250 travel expenses to the owner of each qualified runner • £500 bonus to the winning yard if the horse is qualified, and the trainer is a member • £500 bonus for the winning breeder if the horse is qualified, and the breeder is an ROA member Horses owned by sole owners who are ROA members qualify for the Jackpot races. Partnerships qualify provided the horse is registered at least 51% in the ownership of ROA members. For clubs and syndicates, the majority of the club/syndicate managers need to be members of the ROA to qualify. Further details can be found at https://www.roa.co.uk/ benefits/jackpot.html

ROA: developing a brand to stimulate racehorse ownership The ROA has a new look, which members will start to see more widely on-course, across the website and in our correspondence in the coming weeks. Our new brand has been developed to recognise owners’ valuable contributions to the industry, and to: • Be instantly recognisable as the brand raising the voice of owners; • Capture the pride and highlight the true thrill of ownership; • Have a clear and coherent brand that

reflects the vision for the future of the sport; • Be associated with supporting potential and existing owners throughout their experience; • Be representative across all levels of ownership involvement. During the course of the brand development we took insight into the commercial, practical, social and emotional needs of existing and prospective racehorse owners and

aligned this with the work undertaken as part of the Industry Ownership Strategy. We also held interviews with stakeholders and owners and participants at our ROA Owners Days, in order to review and develop our existing brand into the new brand you will see. We thank you all for your assistance throughout and look forward to working with you and on your behalf in the future.

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ROA Forum

MY DAY AT THE RACES

MEGAN ROSE

With Nigel Collison at Ascot on December 21

Nigel Collison has Acting Lass and Just A Sting in training with Harry Fry

igel Collison was introduced to racing through his parents, who were interested and went racing regularly. Nigel and his father enjoyed 30 years together visiting the Cheltenham Festival. On retirement he and his wife Barbara got involved in their first horse, Supreme Copper in 2001 and since then have enjoyed owning a number of horses in training. Their current two horses Acting Lass and Just A Sting are trained by Harry Fry. They were bought from Tattersalls Ireland as foals with the help of Richard Rohan. Both horses were kept in Ireland at Ballincurrig House Stud with Michael Moore and broken in as three-year-olds by Dennis Leary. Acting Lass, who ran at Ascot on December 21, has gone on to win five races and finish second twice from 11 runs. Did you receive any welcome information as an owner in advance of the raceday? We received detailed information from Ascot racecourse, which included information about badge collection and complimentary lunch for up to six people.

How was the experience of arrival at the racecourse, and collecting your owners’ badges? We parked our car in the owners’ and trainers’ car park and made our way to the allocated office to collect our tickets. All went very smoothly and our tickets were ready and waiting. Did you use the owners’ and trainers’ facility on the day? We enjoyed the lunch in the dining room, which was of a good standard. We then headed to the grandstand to watch the racing and returned to the O&T facility after our race. What were your thoughts on the location, comfort and provision in the facility? Although the facilities for owners and trainers are good, it is a shame with the vast grandstand at Ascot that the owners’ and trainers’ facility is tucked away at the rear.

Owners’ viewing is good from the grandstand. Were you able to review a replay of your race easily on course? We watched the usual replay on the big screen. How were you treated as a winning owner on the day? Unfortunately Acting Lass lost out by half a length and therefore we were not able to experience the whole package. What was your overall lasting feeling of the day, based on your racecourse experience? We thoroughly enjoyed our day and were made to feel welcome by all the staff.

HOW IT RATED Entry

How was the pre-parade ring/ paddock experience? The pre-parade ring and paddock experience is very good.

Viewing

How did you find the facilities for owners’ viewing?

Overall score

Atmosphere Owners’ facilities Food

★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ 20

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Diary dates and reminders MARCH 10-13 ROA marquee facility for four days of the Cheltenham Festival MARCH 16 Members morning viewing barrier trials at Lingfield Park

The ON 5 Restaurant offers stunning trackside views

Fine dining at Ascot in April The ROA has paired up with Ascot racecourse to provide an exclusive fine-dining offer for members next month for the opening meeting of their Flat season, Royal Ascot Trials Day on Wednesday, April 29. Our offer provides access to Ascot’s ON 5 Restaurant, which comes highly rated with contemporary design, a private balcony and roof terrace offering stunning trackside views on the fifth floor of the Grandstand. The package includes King Edward VII admission with a private table, champagne reception, three-course à la carte luncheon, car-parking label, racecard and racing paper. A tipster will go through the card before racing. Our bespoke package is priced at £149 per person plus VAT (reduced from £196 plus VAT). Optional upgrades are available. The day’s racing is tailored to provide an opportunity for younger horses to gain valuable experience ahead of the Royal Meeting in June and there are four specific trials on the card. The feature race of the seven-race card is the Group 3 Longines Sagaro

Stakes, won in previous years by Colour Vision and Estimate on their way to Gold Cup glory. Dee Ex Bee claimed the prize a year ago and went on to finish a fine second to Stradivarius in the Gold Cup. For details and to book see roa. co.uk/events

Great offers

Members can enjoy a number of offers this year through the ROA’s association with Ascot racecourse, including: • Discounted hospitality offers for a number of prime restaurant locations during the five days of Royal Ascot, June 16-20; • A 50% discount on Queen Anne admission tickets on the opening two days of Royal Ascot, June 16 and 17; • A discount of 15% off hospitality throughout the rest of the year (excludes Royal Ascot and British Champions Day). Further details of all these offers can be found at https://www.roa.co.uk/ event/royal-ascot-offers-2020.html

MARCH 31 ROA Owners Day and regional meeting, Musselburgh APRIL 2-3 Aintree hospitality package for the first two days of Aintree’s Randox Health Grand National meeting. Plus free admission for members on April 2 and 3. APRIL 21 ROA Owners Day and regional meeting, Sedgefield APRIL 28 Complimentary admission to day one of the Punchestown Festival APRIL 28, 29, 30 & MAY 1 Access to the AIRO marquee for the first four days of the Punchestown NH Festival MAY 7 ROA Owners Day and regional meeting, Huntingdon JUNE 2 ROA Owners Day and regional meeting, Newcastle JUNE 16-20 Royal Ascot hospitality packages For more details or to book places see roa.co.uk/events or call 020 7152 0200

News in brief Marquee sold out

We look forward to welcoming members who have booked into the ROA’s marquee at the Cheltenham Festival. The marquee is now sold out on all days, but members looking for a fun evening out honing their selections ahead of the Festival might like to check the ROA website for a comprehensive listing of Festival preview evenings at https://www.roa.co.uk/events/ cheltprev.html

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Fakenham’s arty alternative

Gold standard racecourse Fakenham is offering winning owners at the track an alternative to a trophy – a painting of their silks or an embroidered cushion of their silks. The offer applies to the two most valuable races on the card and gives the successful owners the chance to have their colours painted by renowned artist ‘Mouse’ Cooper. Fakenham’s unique prizes for winning owners

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ROA Forum

MAGICAL MOMENTS Tim Frost wants to play it again with Sam Brown

hen it comes to breeding a racehorse, just seeing him or her at the start ready to line up is a cause for celebration, at least according to Tim Frost’s father, Arthur. So the mind boggles as to what Arthur would have made of his son’s Sam Brown winning a Grade 2 chase at Haydock and being in contention to run at one of the big spring festivals. Owners will tell you that seeing your colours carried to victory in any race is a thrill, but when it’s a big race, and you’ve also bred the horse, that pride and joy escalates. Tim Frost has been breeding horses for more than half a century and the buzz remains strong, thanks largely to novice chaser Sam Brown, winner of five of his seven races. Explaining his lifelong involvement with horses, he says: “In the 1940s my father Arthur moved the family to west Dorset and for as long as I can remember we’ve had horses at the farm. My first memory of racing was as a 14-year-old at the Cotley pointto-point outside Chard. My father had a horse called V-Day running – she won the very first race at the course, ridden by my brother, Patrick. “I returned from National Service in 1959 to start my farming life at our family home at Childhay Manor, in west Dorset, by setting up a pig unit alongside the family dairy herd. “During the 1970s and 80s, my wife Monica and I built a successful creamery and ice cream business, which we sold in 1993. Since then, with my son Will, we have developed a goat unit which milks 2,500 goats a day; we’re the second largest producer of goat milk in the UK. We also share-farm an organic milking dairy herd of 380 cows. Will won Dairy Farmer of the Year in 2019. “I first got involved in breeding horses in the late 1960s. The first mare I bred from was called Roxana and she had two foals, Lady Rock and Prince Rock. In over 55 years I would estimate that I’ve had 44 horses in training, either as point-to-pointers or under Rules, and of those I’ve bred 35 of them. My father’s advice to me

Tim Frost has been breeding racehorses for more than half a century

when it came to breeding horses is that if you are stood in the paddock and the horse makes it down to the start for its first race, then you can throw your hat in the air!” Frost continues: “Unbelievably, my first runner as an owner-breeder, Prince Rock, won at the Tiverton Staghounds point-to-point. That season we had some great days out with him as he won five ladies’ races, trained by Anthony Fortesque-Thomas and ridden by his wife, Gillian. “After what turned out to be a stellar season, I sold Prince Rock to Michael Buckley, which was not a difficult decision as it helped me to complete the purchase of Childhay, of which I was a tenant at the time. “Prince Rock was trained by Peter Bailey in the early to mid-70s and it was such a thrill to see him run in all the big staying handicap chases, including the Welsh National, in which he was second twice, the Irish National, where he finished second to Tied Cottage, and the Grand National, where he started favourite but unfortunately was interfered with three out by a loose horse and failed to complete. “Over the next decade we had a modicum of success with our horses who were in training with the likes of

Simon Christian, Robin Blakeney and, at an early stage in his career, Philip Hobbs. Lewesdon Prince provided us with a day in the sun when he came fourth in what is now the RSA Chase at Cheltenham.” Frost, however, felt his breeding operation required a boost. “I decided that I needed to improve the bloodline, so Anthony FortesqueThomas and I went to Doncaster sales to look at four mares that had caught our eye in the sales catalogue,” he says. “We opted to buy the mare Cream By Post, who was by Torus out of Lady Manta, whose line goes back to Arkle through Flying Cherry. “She went into training with Richard Barber and won seven point to points from 11 races. We started to breed from her in 1996; she had four foals for us including Mister Wellard

“I don’t believe I’ve ever met anyone who is as thorough as Anthony Honeyball” and Sam Brown’s dam, Cream Cracker. “Mister Wellard was trained by Paul Nicholls and we believed we had an outstanding horse on our hands; like Sam Brown he won his first two bumper races. Tragically when upsides Our Vic on the final turn at Exeter, he broke his leg and was put down. I came very close to quitting the breeding game. When you live with the horses from foal to racehorse, I can honestly say that when you lose one it feels as close to losing a child as it comes.” The comparable fortunes of Mister Wellard and Our Vic need no elaboration, and such incidents feed into why really appreciating the

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Honeyball himself is enjoying the best season of a career which began in the autumn of 2006. “Anthony has trained my horses for the last eight years,” says Frost. “The first horse we sent to him, Taradrewe, won her very first race. Anthony was initially recommended to me by my close friend Richard Barber, who said at an early stage Anthony was doing a good job. “Anyone who knew Richard would tell you that was a massive compliment. Anthony is

supported by his wife Rachael, herself a top rider, and together they make a formidable team. In my time in business and with horses, I don’t believe I’ve met anyone who is as thorough or pays so much attention to detail. “Testimony to this is his approach to the training and wellbeing of Sam Brown. When you visit his yard at Potwell Farm, it is immaculate, the horses look in great shape and his team are always welcoming – which includes my daughter Lucy, who is his secretary.” It has been some journey from Roxana to Sam Brown’s two-yearold sibling, but the best might yet be to come. “Despite the fact that I recognise that patience is the key commodity for owning and breeding racehorses, as I move into my 82nd year it would be lovely to reach a new height with the latest batch of young horses, with the current focus on Sam Brown,” says Frost. “I’m delighted that my son and daughter and our extended family share a passion for racing. I hope that in years to come the legacy of the bloodline I have created will continue to thrive.”

Sam Brown: talented chaser

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GEORGE SELWYN

good times, and not taking them for granted, is so important. “Cream Cracker was trained by the late Robert Alner,” says Frost. “She ran 36 times and was rarely out of the frame. Her only progeny to make it to the racecourse so far is Sam Brown, who is by Black Sam Bellamy. We have two full-sisters to Sam out of Cream Cracker, a four-year-old who is ready to go into training and an unbroken two-year-old who is still at home. “Following the sad loss of Mister Wellard at Exeter, I waited 15 years to feel the thrill of having what I believed was a special horse again. Sam Brown won his bumpers at Wincanton and Newbury, claiming some notable scalps. After that summer, and prior to novice hurdling, there were a litany of setbacks and we wondered if we’d ever get him back again. “After a break of 750 days he won by over 20 lengths at Lingfield in January – it was a magnificent feeling for me and the family. To win again in a similar vein at Haydock 11 days later was brilliant, however it has moved the pressure dial up a few notches as we look at higher goals in future.” A higher goal was duly attempted in the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot last month, but on what was a miserable, Storm Dennis-affected afternoon, Sam Brown was pulled up by Aidan Coleman despite starting favourite. The eight-year-old had been prominent in the RSA Chase betting beforehand, but a crack at the Cheltenham Festival contest in which Frost’s Lewesdon Prince had run so well to be fourth to Cross Master in 1986, when it was known as the Sun Alliance Chase, looks set to be jettisoned. Reflecting on Sam Brown’s disappointing performance at Ascot, trainer Anthony Honeyball says: “He never got into any rhythm early on and as a result lost his position and with that his confidence ebbed away. He has come out of the race fine and we move on – I’m keen to go to Aintree next, which will be spot on timescale wise.”

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ROA Forum Figures for period February 1, 2019 to January 31, 2020

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 Newbury Chester Sandown Park Doncaster Haydock Park Ayr Pontefract Kempton Park Chelmsford City Salisbury Musselburgh Ripon Hamilton Park Thirsk Wetherby Beverley Carlisle Lingfield Park Redcar Nottingham Newcastle Windsor Catterick Bridge Leicester Bath Yarmouth Ffos Las Wolverhampton Chepstow Brighton Southwell Total

Ownership

Avg racecourse spend per fixture (£)

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

486,133 281,530 224,507 179,919 135,666 86,180 84,906 84,834 78,662 78,135 53,029 45,629 43,348 43,067 41,863 41,502 41,410 41,292 39,767 39,741 39,000 38,361 35,128 34,634 34,494 34,134 32,486 30,969 30,739 29,204 25,928 23,392 22,399 20,510 20,007 20,003 62,668

Avg HBLB spend per fixture (£)

Avg owner spend per fixture (£)

Avg prizemoney per fixture (£)

Total no. of fixtures 2019-20

Total prize-money 2019-20 (£)

Avg racecourse spend per fixture 2018-19 (£)

121,800 263,948 93,347 116,783 86,943 81,712 70,754 108,762 70,735 74,132 53,937 37,036 45,863 14,776 52,732 40,631 41,804 31,679 43,273 19,189 35,591 13,961 29,736 3,509 20,189 6,287 21,214 5,611 27,287 6,215 21,594 5,801 21,822 5,119 22,473 4,601 20,146 7,169 13,743 5,520 20,652 4,386 20,068 6,454 25,374 4,664 22,460 16,900 22,442 7,102 21,415 7,315 20,549 5,788 19,750 3,149 20,725 5,314 18,610 4,492 18,698 4,773 12,993 3,614 17,438 3,516 14,214 3,381 15,927 2,856 16,160 2,446 30,976 20,871

876,784 495,549 398,515 359,435 282,969 182,447 146,745 180,331 152,202 145,232 102,580 81,141 70,257 71,601 76,182 69,485 68,351 68,366 67,253 59,003 64,038 64,883 65,262 74,394 64,532 63,202 58,823 53,868 57,715 52,363 50,160 39,998 43,371 38,106 38,790 38,609 115,475

18 18 18 11 39 17 15 15 22 21 14 15 62 67 15 17 17 16 16 3 19 13 71 15 23 51 26 14 16 22 23 6 83 15 21 46 900

15,782,112 8,919,874 7,173,268 3,953,785 11,035,792 3,101,591 2,201,175 2,704,958 3,348,445 2,977,251 1,436,120 1,217,108 4,355,938 4,797,267 1,142,724 1,181,250 1,161,972 1,093,860 1,076,049 177,010 1,216,716 843,480 4,633,593 1,115,915 1,484,233 3,223,299 1,529,393 754,146 923,443 1,151,984 1,153,684 239,990 3,599,793 571,587 814,585 1,775,997 103,869,386

471,381 247,392 214,435 203,471 134,724 87,169 83,457 91,898 82,427 74,173 52,677 47,646 41,928 55,407 47,797 47,807 42,657 43,731 37,037 46,662 36,671 39,809 39,664 39,412 38,004 41,096 36,059 36,955 37,039 29,094 31,074 28,703 28,059 23,675 24,862 25,524 65,396

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 41

Aintree Cheltenham Ascot Sandown Park Haydock Park Kempton Park Newbury Ayr Doncaster Kelso Fakenham Perth Wincanton Carlisle Taunton Cartmel Newton Abbot Ludlow Market Rasen Wetherby Exeter Newcastle Chepstow Warwick Huntingdon Hexham Leicester Uttoxeter Plumpton Stratford-On-Avon Catterick Bridge Musselburgh Bangor-On-Dee Ffos Las Fontwell Park Hereford Sedgefield Worcester Southwell Lingfield Park Towcester Total

Up/ down

s s s t s t s t t s s t s t t t t t s t s t t t t t t t t s t t t t t t t

Ownership

Avg racecourse spend per fixture (£)

Avg HBLB spend per fixture (£)

Avg owner spend per fixture (£)

Avg prizemoney per fixture (£)

Total no. of fixtures 2019-20

Total prize-money 2019-20 (£)

Avg racecourse spend per fixture 2018-19 (£)

Up/ down

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

289,663 280,944 171,905 110,150 105,423 73,537 59,793 45,972 40,872 40,418 37,847 37,130 36,616 36,273 35,415 35,049 33,957 32,495 32,451 32,351 32,210 32,027 31,722 30,008 29,461 27,762 26,948 24,673 24,628 24,285 23,914 23,395 22,572 20,972 20,575 20,475 19,346 16,810 16,712 16,423 0 45,693

150,322 131,532 93,858 94,250 87,396 68,945 71,171 40,105 49,724 36,609 22,617 32,903 34,331 29,750 20,893 30,387 33,357 29,074 29,206 31,380 29,256 31,299 33,064 31,317 26,456 21,570 28,246 28,768 25,174 24,097 24,409 23,288 21,270 24,203 20,409 25,645 21,302 23,597 19,646 21,033 0 37,035

78,032 74,102 18,223 18,116 17,498 11,430 16,639 11,890 7,993 5,872 42 4,170 7,019 6,212 6,073 5,468 0 4,708 5,956 6,466 6,779 5,563 8,385 6,513 5,650 2,476 4,724 6,189 4,401 4,178 3,224 3,823 3,942 4,427 3,161 4,754 3,278 3,675 3,414 3,378 0 8,892

518,611 487,245 288,361 228,627 222,199 154,366 149,080 102,133 101,811 85,665 60,506 74,520 78,466 73,598 62,382 70,904 67,313 66,610 67,829 70,554 68,639 69,306 73,170 67,963 63,132 51,808 59,917 59,630 54,203 52,561 51,547 50,960 47,971 49,601 44,145 50,874 43,925 44,082 39,772 40,833 0 92,419

8 15 8 9 9 11 11 12 9 15 12 15 16 11 14 9 15 15 22 14 15 12 16 18 17 15 7 23 17 17 10 11 12 16 23 9 18 15 20 6 0 547

4,148,885 7,308,673 2,306,887 2,057,645 1,888,695 1,698,031 1,639,882 1,225,600 916,300 1,284,981 726,073 1,117,800 1,255,463 809,583 873,345 638,133 1,009,701 999,156 1,492,227 987,759 1,029,580 831,670 1,170,725 1,223,330 1,073,244 777,121 419,422 1,371,483 921,443 893,534 515,468 560,564 575,651 793,621 1,015,345 457,870 790,657 661,234 795,444 245,000 0 50,507,225

288,649 271,643 155,804 110,405 101,147 58,003 32,913 46,625 38,793 47,955 34,020 87,156 38,307 33,596 29,999 34,420 31,494 58,003 27,130 34,297 34,530 32,467 35,884 32,079 31,922 26,753 31,922 28,291 22,378 34,815 26,759 23,658 22,832 27,317 23,029 32,543 20,912 23,720 19,759 47,955 25,953 47,312

s s s t s s s t s t s t t s s s s t s t t t t t t s t t s t t t t t t t t t t t t t

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 prize-money: 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 prizemoney 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

94 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER 95

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TBA Forum

The special section for TBA members

SARAH FARNSWORTH

A crisp sunny winter's day awaited those who came to view the 14 stallions on show

TBA National Hunt Stallion Showcase

SARAH FARNSWORTH

Sire of last year’s German Derby winner, Scalo is new to Britain and Yorton Farm for 2020

Last year’s busiest British-based National Hunt stallion with 190 mares was Telescope, who stands at Shade Oak Stud

SARAH FARNSWORTH

season at stud. The TBA would like to extend its thanks to Goffs UK and the studs and stallion masters who helped to make the day such a success. The NH Stallion Showcase included the silent auction of stallion nominations, which gave breeders the chance to bid on their choice of exciting British-based stallions. The auction raised around £26,200 to go towards funding the TBA’s National Hunt activities, which include the NH Breeders’ Awards Evening in May and the Mares’ Showcase at Cheltenham in April. The activities form part of our broader objectives to develop domestic NH breeding, which includes promoting British-bred success, increasing chances for fillies and mares, incentivising owners to retain mares for breeding careers and encouraging breeders to utilise Britishbased stallions. We congratulate winning bidders and thank participating studs for generously donating nominations to the auction.

National Stud, while the other newcomer to the British stallion ranks for 2020 in attendance was Frammassone. Based at Will Kinsey’s Peel Hall Stud in Cheshire, the son of Fraam was a triple Grade 1 winner over hurdles in Italy and his first few crops have been making a splash in the sales ring. Sire of top-level winners under both codes, Falco was shown alongside his stablemate Sun Central by Elusive Bloodstock, while Shade Oak Stud brought young stallions Telescope and Dartmouth. Also on show were Overbury Stud’s Frontiersman and Batsford Stud resident Harbour Law, who covered their first mares in 2019, as well as narrow Derby runner-up and Nunstainton Stud stallion Dragon Dancer, whose progeny are headed by seven-time winner Goodbye Dancer. Norton Grove Stud was represented by Forever Now, a stakes-winning son of Galileo who is embarking on his third

he NH Stallion Showcase, held at Goffs UK on the opening day of its January Sale, proved very popular once again. The event gave breeders the opportunity to view a number of exciting jumps stallions and to discuss nominations with stud representatives. Supported by Goffs UK, the event attracted a large crowd and 14 British-based sires. Amongst Yorton Farm’s four stallions on show were Scalo and Masterstroke. The former, a Group 1-winning son of Lando, is the sire of the 2019 German Derby hero Laccario, while the latter, a Group 2-winning son of Monsun and a descendent of Urban Sea, has sired the Prix Bournosienne victress Floridee. Completing the quartet of stallions on show from Yorton was Gentlewave, who returned late last year from France, and Pether’s Moon. Winner of the Irish St Leger on the track and a son of Galileo, Flag Of Honour was brought to the event by the

A dual stakes winner, Sun Central is a son of Galileo and stands at Elusive Bloodstock

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SARAH FARNSWORTH

Sire of top-level winners under both codes, Elusive Bloodstock’s Falco

New to the stallions ranks for 2020 is the Irish St Leger hero and National Studbased Flag Of Honour

SARAH FARNSWORTH

From a regal family, Masterstroke is new to Britain this year and is based at Yorton Stud

Triple Grade 1-winning hurdler Frammassone is new at Peel Hall Stud for this year

SARAH FARNSWORTH

Shade Oak Stud resident Dartmouth will embark on his third season this year

SARAH FARNSWORTH

Dragon Dancer, the narrow runnerup in the 2006 Derby, who stands at Nunstainton Stud

Yorton Farm-based Pether’s Moon, whose first crop are three-year-olds

Returning to Yorton Stud for 2020 is the Classic-winning Gentlewave

St Leger hero Harbour Law will stand his second season at Batsford Stud in 2020

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SARAH FARNSWORTH

Overbury Stud’s Frontiersman, a son of Dubawi and the Oaks heroine Ouija Board

SARAH FARNSWORTH

Standing at Norton Grove Stud is Forever Now, a stakes-winning son of Galileo

THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER 97

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TBA Forum

ADAM SMYTH

Best of British Flat sires on parade

The Left Yard was a hive of activity after the parade with plenty of viewings – left is Massaat, right is Time Test

ADAM SMYTH

Winner of the Jersey Stakes, Overbury’s Classic-placed Le Brivido

ADAM SMYTH

yearlings. Stud representatives were on hand to discuss mating enquiries for the forthcoming season, and the TBA provided complimentary food and light refreshments in the hospitality box. The TBA would like to thank all who supported the parade, with special recognition to the stallion handlers and the stud farms, Tattersalls, Weatherbys, Gina Bryce and Matt Hall.

second-season stallions Havana Grey, Massaat, Rajasinghe and Washington DC. Commentaries on the day were provided by television and radio presenter Gina Bryce and Tattersalls Cheltenham auctioneer Matt Hall. Following the parade, breeders were invited to view the stallions in the Left Yard, where they were joined by Time Test, whose first crop are

nce again the TBA’s Flat Stallion Parade, which took place before the Tattersalls February Sale on January 30, proved a popular event. Offering the chance for breeders to see a number of exciting British-based stallions, freshman sires Flag Of Honour, Land Force and Le Brivido were paraded in the packed sales ring, before being followed by

The five-time stakes-winning sprinter and Bearstone Stud-based Washington DC

A speedy juvenile, from a fast family and by No Nay Never, Highclere Stud’s Land Force

ADAM SMYTH

National Stud resident Flag Of Honour proved a popular attraction

Standing his second season at the National Stud is the Coventry Stakes winner Rajasinghe

Whitsbury Manor Stud resident Havana Grey, who was a Group 1 winner as a three-year-old

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In Brief Alix Jones: events supremo

Membership Executive – Alix Jones The TBA has welcomed Alix Jones as its new Membership Executive. Alix initially started at the TBA in a parttime capacity working on the NH MOPS scheme and now concentrates fully on membership matters. With a background in event management, she is looking forward to arranging the various regional events that are in the calendar for 2020. In addition to the TBA, Alix is a keen rider and is currently in training for the London Marathon. TBA members’ prestige badge offer The TBA is delighted to announce that Newmarket racecourses has once again very kindly offered owner and trainer badges to members who have bred a horse that is declared to run at the Guineas Festival. Members can apply for up to two badges (there are a limited number available) and applications will be required by midday on the day prior to the race, and must be submitted via email to alix.jones@thetba.co.uk with the breeder’s name, details of the horse, race entered and the name of

the person collecting the badges if not the breeder. New member benefit Recovering debt is never an easy task to tackle and using a collection agency can take the weight off the load. The TBA has joined forces with AR Legal Collections Ltd, who specialise in debt recovery and credit control in the racing and bloodstock industries. Set up 27 years ago by Arno Rudolf, AR Legal Collections Ltd prefer to avoid legal proceedings whenever possible and prefer to negotiate and use Alternative Dispute Resolution techniques. Using the ‘no collection, no fee’ service, TBA members are offered a reduced rate of 13% on all debts recovered, a 2% discount, and the TBA does benefit via commission from any business it refers. To utilise this service, find out more information, get free initial advice or for a general discussion, contact Arno on +44 (0)20 8202 0730 or email arno@legaldebtcollectors.co.uk. New role for Chloe Pitts Many congratulations are in order for Chloe Pitts on the announcement that she has joined Tattersalls as its Marketing Executive. During her placement for the BHA Graduate Programme, Chloe was a valued employee within the team at Stanstead House, and after the completion of her placement she joined the TBA on a permanent basis in the role of Membership Executive.

Don’t forget to notify the GSB of your foals within 30 days of birth When a foal is bred for racing in Great Britain, the breeder/owner must notify the General Stud Book (Weatherbys) of its birth and whereabouts within 30 days of its birth (day one being the date of birth). Notification is FREE and should be done through the online portal: https://www.weatherbysgsb. co.uk/. If you are unsure as to whether a foal has been notified, visit https:// selim.britishhorseracing.com/potro/ to check a horse’s status. Please be aware that 30-day foal notification is different from foal registration. This must still be completed with the General Stud Book in accordance with the legislative requirements and any other Rules of Racing. If notification has not been received within the 30-day window, before the horse may be eligible to race, the BHA may require a Certificate of Analysis reporting no evidence of the presence or use of a substance prohibited at all times in a sample collected by the BHA. You will be liable for the cost of sample collection and analysis currently £425 + VAT (cost of sampling is subject to fluctuation and may vary year by year). In exceptional circumstances, for example where an individual or company continually fail to comply with the requirement, a foal may not be approved as eligible to run in Great Britain.

The TBA NH Breeders’ Awards Evening will this year take place on Monday, May 18 on the evening before the Goffs UK Spring Store Sale, at the Hilton Garden Inn, which is conveniently located within walking distance of the Goffs UK sales complex. The event, which is kindly supported by Goffs UK, will both celebrate and reward Britishbred successes on the racecourse

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throughout the 2019-2020 National Hunt season. Owners, breeders, trainers and National Hunt enthusiasts are invited to attend the evening, which will commence with a drinks reception and dinner, followed by the presentation of the awards. Tickets for the event can be purchased on the TBA website, where there is further information on the event and awards.

SARAH FARNSWORTH

Save The Date: NH Breeders’ Awards Evening

Cherished prizes will be up for grabs

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TBA Forum

GEORGE SELWYN

New year starts with a bang for British-breds Cheltenham staged its traditional new year curtain raiser and a trio of Britishbreds made their way into the Prestbury Park winner's enclosure. First up was the Sue Smith-trained Midnight Shadow, who took the spoils in the Grade 2 Dipper Novices’ Chase. The son of Midnight Legend was bred by the late Captain A L Smith-Maxwell and had won on the card the previous year in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle. One race later, and in the valuable Grade 3 Paddy Power Handicap Chase over the intermediate distance, Oldgrangewood came home best in a pulsating three-way photo finish, backing up his win at Newbury at the end of November. This was a seventh win under Rules for the nine-year-old son of Central Park, who was bred by Richard Kent’s Mickley Stud. The day ended with the Listed junior bumper, which went to the Houghton Bloodstock UK Ltd-bred Audacity. Warren Greatrex’s gelded son of Pivotal made all and proved too tough to pass in the closing strides. In the middle of the month Haydock Park staged a high-class card and two of the Grade 2 events went the way of British-breds, both by sire stalwarts of the British breeding scene. Bred by Pleasure Palace Racing, Ballyandy, a son of Kayf Tara, gained due reward for a consistent season when seeing off last year’s Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle winner Pentland Hills in the Grade 2 Champion Hurdle Trial. Earlier in the

day and the lightly-raced Sam Brown, an eight-year-old son of Black Sam Bellamy, ran out the wide-margin winner of the Grade 2 Altcar Novices’ Chase. Bred by Tim Frost, the bay had won on chasing debut just 11 days previously, having been off the track for over two years. Cheltenham Trials Day witnessed Richard and Lizzie Kelvin Hughes’ homebred Santini throw his hat into the ring for the Cheltenham Gold Cup this month with a battling display in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase. Staying is his forte and the extra furlong of the Cheltenham showpiece should suit him down to the ground. On the same day, but at Doncaster, Lady Buttons powered clear for a fifth win at the Yorkshire venue in the Grade 2 Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle. A winner of the race in 2019, Keith and Jayne Sivills’ homebred showed a seriously sharp turn of foot to readily put the race to bed in the last half furlong. The previous day and nine juvenile fillies lined-up for the Listed hurdle. In what proved a competitive affair, the Mel Roberts and Richard Fahey-bred Fantastic Ms Fox, by Foxwedge, came out best, having taken the lead approaching the final flight. The Carnival at Meydan got under way in January and there were a trio of British-bred Group 2 scorers. Dalham Hall Stud resident Dubawi supplied a couple of them and the first was Benbatl in the Singspiel Stakes on January 9. Bred by

Santini: Gold Cup-bound

Darley, the six-year-old made most and cruised home. Later in the month and the Normandie Stud Ltd-bred gelding Glorious Journey made a successful Middle East debut in the Al Fahidi Fort. Magic Lily was another to make her Meydan debut in January. A daughter of New Approach, bred by Godolphin, she got up in the final stride to take the Group 2 Cape Verdi. A quartet of Listed contests were also captured in the month, starting off with the Rabbah Bloodstock Limited-bred Universal Order, by Universal, in the Dubai Racing Club Classic on the opening night. Two weeks later and the Barry Waltersbred Certain Lad was the smooth winner of the Zabeel Turf. Bred by Petches Farm Ltd, Dubai Love improved plenty from her UAE debut on January 2 to take the first Classic of the year, the Listed UAE 1,000 Guineas on January 23. Having hit the front over a furlong out, she readily went away to win her second race in four starts. One race later and Equiano’s son Equilateral, on his first start since being gelded, made a bright five-year-old debut in the Dubai Dash. Juddmonte Farm’s homebred easily put the race to bed once hitting the front a furlong from home. Produced in association with GBRI

NH MOPS WINNERS Saturday, January 11 WETHERBY Racing TV On Sky 426 Fillies’ 'Junior' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race Winner: MARIDADI Owner: D H Low Bonus: £5,000 Wednesday, January 22 WARWICK Racingtv.com/freetrial Mares’ 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle Winner: MOLLY OLLYS WISHES Owner: West Mercia Fork Trucks Ltd Bonus: £10,000

100 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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Regional days in 2020 Having already trained over 200 winners, he gained a maiden Grade 1 winner with Itchy Feet in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown Park last month. Following this, members will make their way to former jockey Charlie Poste and partner Francesca Nimmo’s Station Yard near Stratford. An up-and-coming point-to-point outfit, the business also includes breaking and pre-training. Graduates from the operation include the likes of Garry Clermont, One Touch and Presence Of Mind, as well as the highly-promising dual bumper winner Third Time Lucki. Following the two visits, lunch will be taken at the Chequers Inn in Ettington, just outside of Stratford.

GEORGE SELWYN

The ever popular regional days are back for 2020. Offering members the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most successful racing and breeding operations all across the country, they also provide the perfect opportunity for members to socialise with like-minded people from the area. The first regional day will be for the Wales and West Midlands region. Taking place on Thursday, March 24, the day will start with a visit to Olly Murphy’s Warren Chase Stables, which is based just outside Stratford-upon-Avon. Having spent five years with Gordon Elliott, Murphy went out on his own in 2017 and his rise through the training ranks has been meteoric.

Olly Murphy: meteoric rise

Other dates confirmed for regional days are Tuesday, April 21 (West), Thursday, April 30 (Scotland) and Wednesday, June 10 (South East). Please monitor the TBA website for further regional day announcements. If you would like to receive an application form for any of the days, please contact Alix Jones (alix.jones@ thetba.co.uk). As usual, priority will be given to members residing in each region if the day is oversubscribed.

Diary Dates & Reminders Tuesday, March 3 South West Regional Forum Exeter racecourse

Thursday, October 1 West & South West Regional Forum Salisbury racecourse

Thursday, March 24 Wales & West Midlands Regional Day Warren Chase Stables & Station Yard, Stratford-upon-Avon

Further information on all TBA events can be found on the TBA website

Thursday, April 16 TBA Showcase at Cheltenham Cheltenham racecourse Tuesday, April 21 West Regional Day Thursday, April 30 (new date) Scotland Regional Forum & Regional Day Musselburgh racecourse

NEW MEMBERS Lynnette Hamilton Smith Mr Nigel Snape Mr N A Jackson Amy Bannister-Bell Mr Robin Lewis Mr Simon Davies Larkshills Racing Partnership II Mr John De Lisle Wells

Monday, May 18 NH Breeders’ Awards Evening Hilton Garden Inn, Doncaster

Mr Stuart Shefras

Wednesday, June 10 South East Regional Day

Mr Paul Wells

Tuesday, July 7 North Regional Forum Pontefract racecourse

Mr Michael Allen

Tuesday, September 22 Wales & West Midlands Regional Forum Warwick racecourse

Mr Garry Ambrose

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Mr David Newland Mr J Stainer

Mr and Mrs Sillett Mr Robert Davenport The Affordable Partnership Mr John Benfield Dan Skelton Racing Ltd Ms Patricia Edmunds Mr Roger Musson Ms Janet Evans Mr Nick Skelton Ms Lucinda Atkinson No Illusions Partnership Mr Graham Jones Mr Terence R Beadle Ms Tabitha Worsley Mr Hugh Jarvis Swanee River Partnership Mr Cathal Ennis

Mr & Mrs R Fitton Mrs Dawn Ritson Mr Nigel Eggleton Mr Simon Edwards

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TBA Forum

Breeding ﬁgures remembered Two well-respected and admired figures from the world of breeding, John Johnson and Sue Percival, passed away earlier this year. John Johnson, who died on January 2 aged 84, was based at Lord Halifax’s Garrowby Stud for 37 years, during which time he was associated with some of the Turf’s star names, none more so than Shirley Heights, winner of the Derby in 1978. Originally from Cambridgeshire, Johnson initially worked for Fred Day at Hamilton Stud in Newmarket after leaving school, before moving to the neighbouring Solario Stud, becoming stud manager. After Lord Halifax decided to build a stud at Cheesecake Farm on his Garrowby estate in Yorkshire in the early 1960s, Johnson was recruited to oversee the new operation, moving north in October 1963. It was the start of a wonderfully successful partnership. Shirley Heights, foaled in 1975, was the product of Hardiemma, a daughter of Hardicanute out of the Grandmaster mare Grand Cross, being bred to Mill Reef. Sent into training with John Dunlop, Shirley Heights captured the Royal Lodge Stakes as a two-year-old before winning the Dante, Derby and Irish Derby at three. After his racing days were over, Shirley Heights enjoyed a successful stallion career at The Royal Studs, siring the likes of Darshaan (Prix du Jockey Club), Slip Anchor (Derby) and Arcadian Heights (Gold Cup). Another top-class performer bred at Garrowby was Be My Guests’s son Pentire, the best progeny out of Gull Nook. Pentire, trained by Geoff Wragg for Mollers Racing, made huge improvement between the ages of two and three, when

John Johnson: four decades at Garrowby

Robert and Sue Percival with the Andrew Devonshire Bronze

his wins included the King Edward VII Stakes, Great Voltigeur Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes, also going down by a neck to Derby hero Lammtarra in the 1995 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He made amends by taking the Ascot feature the following year. In a stud career that took in three continents, Pentire enjoyed particular success in Australasia, highlighted by the victory of Prince Of Penzance in the 2015 Melbourne Cup. Johnson married Patricia Wells in 1971, having met his future wife in the summer of 1969 when she came to the estate for a job interview. Together, John and Trisha, who survives him, ran their own stud farm at Bishop Wilton, breeding and selling a number of winners over many years. Terry Doherty of Watership Down Stud, voted Employee of the Year at the Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards in 2017, began his career at Garrowby in 1979 and described his former boss as “the driving force behind my ambition.” Speaking to this magazine in 2018, Doherty said: “My career began in 1979 at Garrowby Stud – as a tractor driver rather than a horseman. I could ride horses but not very well. “John Johnson was the driving force behind my ambition, in a way. In his cottage, he had a silver-plated horseshoe on the mantelpiece, from Shirley Heights when he won the Derby. “That’s where my ambition comes from. I wanted a shoe from a Derby winner. In my life, that’s all I’ve ever wanted.” Johnson retired from Garrowby in

2000 and was later the recipient of the Dominion Award from the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association for services to the industry. Sue Percival, who died on February 1 aged 82, ran Glen Andred Stud in Northamptonshire with her husband Robert, the couple having met while hunting with the Pytchley. Starting off by pinhooking foals in 1964, the Percivals gradually built up their broodmare band, with foundation mare Rennet producing Haydock Park Sprint Cup victor Runnett. The best horse bred at Glen Andred was Millkom, a high-class performer in France for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. A son of Cyrano De Bergerac out of the Mummy’s Game mare Good Game, Millkom scored three times at the top level, taking the Prix Jean Prat and Grand Prix de Paris in 1994 before crossing the Atlantic to scoop the Man o’War Stakes in 1995. In an article about Goffs UK (then Doncaster Bloodstock Sales) in 2012, Robert told this magazine: “Sue and I were oddities when we started out; we were both in our twenties amongst all these older people.” The Percivals were leading vendors at the St Leger Sale for 12 successive years and sold a Grey Sovereign colt for a then massive 42,000gns in 1972. With Sue by his side, Robert collected the prestigious Andrew Devonshire Bronze at the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Awards in 2009. Sue is survived by Robert and twin daughters Alison and Rosemary.

102 THOROUGHBRED OWNER BREEDER

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