Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder by The Owner Breeder

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Incorporating

£4.95 | May 2016 | Issue 141

Meydan magic Postponed kick-starts Roger Varian’s season with victory in Dubai

Plus • Bill Gredley talks pedigrees, paintings and ponytails • Pattern template: Tony Morris says redesign needed • Jim Crowley on his Classic and championship hopes

9 771745 435006

www.ownerbreeder.co.uk

ROTW_TBOB_DPS_May16.qxp_Underwood Review 13/04/2016 15:43 Page 1

F. ex Senta’s Dream (by Danehill ex Breeders’ Cup winner Starine). Owned by Anne-Marie O’Brien.

C. ex Spate (closely related to Gr.1 winner Landseer). Owned by Tim Cooper.

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

ROTW_TBOB_DPS_May16.qxp_Underwood Review 13/04/2016 15:44 Page 2

F. ex Bridge Note (full sister to Gr.1 winning sprinter Soldier’s Tale). Owned by Dr Dean Harron & Partners.

C. ex Crystal Morning (¾-sister to Gr.2 winner Halicarnassus). Owned by Middlelane Farm.

F. ex Pectin (½-sister to four black type horses including Gr.1 2yo Berenson and Gr.3 winner Pollen). Owned by Mrs T Stack.

C. ex Contemporary (Prix Miesque-Gr.3 winner and dam of 2015 Gr.3-winning 2yo Ottone). Owned by Allevamento La Nuova Sbarra.

Gr.1 Epsom Derby winner like his sire GALILEO Possibly the best value sire in Europe at €10,000 (£7,000) Contact: Coolmore Stud, Fethard, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Ireland. Tel: +353-52-6131298. Fax: +353-52-6131382. Christy Grassick, David O’Loughlin, Eddie Fitzpatrick, Tim Corballis, Maurice Moloney, Gerry Aherne, Mathieu Legars or Jason Walsh. Tom Gaffney, David Magnier, Joe Hernon or Cathal Murphy. Tel: 353-25-31966/31689. Kevin Buckley (UK Rep.) Tel: +44-7827-795156. E-mail: sales@coolmore.ie Web site: www.coolmore.com All stallions nominated to EBF.

The sensational 11 length Derby winner

SEA THE MOON CHAMPION 3yo and HORSE OF THE YEAR in 2014 First sire son of SEA THE STARS – Classic German female family

OUTSTANDING FIRST FOALS IN 2016

Colt ex Triple Gr.1 winner and Horse of the Year ALBANOVA (by Alzao) bred by Lanwades Stud

Filly ex ALTA MODA (by Sadler’s Wells), a daughter of dual Gr.1 winning Champion ALBORADA, bred by Lanwades Stud

Filly ex Stakes winner BAISSE (by High Chaparral), half-sister to dual Gr.3 winner AZMEEL, bred by Mr G Schoeningh

Filly ex HANAKIYYA (by Danehill Dancer), half-sister to Group winner HAMAIRI, bred by His Highness the Aga Khan’s Studs S.C.

Also standing: ARCHIPENKO • LEROIDESANIMAUX • SIR PERCY

Visit our New Website at: www.lanwades.com info@lanwades.com • www.lanwades.com • Tel: +44 (0)1638 750222 • Fax: +44 (0)1638 751186

LANWADES SeaTheMoon_OwnerBreeder_May16.indd 1

The independent option TM

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WELCOME FROM THE EDITOR Publisher: Michael Harris Editor: Edward Rosenthal Bloodstock Editor: Emma Berry Designed by: Thoroughbred Group Editorial: First Floor, 75 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LS Tel: 020 7152 0209 Fax: 020 7152 0213 editor@ownerbreeder.co.uk www.ownerbreeder.co.uk @OwnerBreeder Advertising: Giles Anderson Tel: 01380 816 777 USA: 1 888 218 4430 Fax: 01380 816 778 advertise@anderson-co.com Subscriptions: Keely Brewer Tel: 020 7152 0212 Fax: 020 7152 0213 subscriptions@ownerbreeder.co.uk Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder incorporating Pacemaker can be purchased by non-members at the following rates: 1 Year 2 Year UK £55 £90 Europe £66 £105 RoW £99 £154 Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder incorporating Pacemaker is published by a Mutual Trading Company owned jointly by the Racehorse Owners Association and Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association is a registered charity No. 1134293 Editorial views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the ROA or TBA ABC Audited Our proven average monthly circulation is certified by the Audit Bureau of Circulation at 9,340* *Based on the period July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014. Racehorse Owners Association Ltd First Floor, 75 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LS Tel: 020 7152 0200 Fax: 020 7152 0213 info@roa.co.uk www.roa.co.uk Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Stanstead House, The Avenue, Newmarket CB8 9AA Tel: 01638 661 321 Fax: 01638 665621 info@thetba.co.uk • www.thetba.co.uk

Incorporating

£4.95 | May 2016 | Issue 141

Meydan magic Postponed kick-starts Roger Varian’s season with victory in Dubai

Plus • Bill Gredley talks pedigrees, paintings and ponytails • Pattern template: Tony Morris says redesign needed • Jim Crowley on his Classic and championship hopes

9 771745 435006

www.ownerbreeder.co.uk

Cover: Postponed and Andrea Atzeni win the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March Photo: George Selwyn

EDWARD ROSENTHAL

First rule of training: the owner must be obeyed T

here was plenty of discussion in the racing press after Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum decided to switch around 35 horses, including Group 1 winner Postponed, from the stable of Luca Cumani to his Newmarket neighbour, Roger Varian at the end of last season. At the time Cumani was at a loss to explain why the sheikh had removed his string, ending a 20-year association that had enjoyed Derby glory with HighRise in 1998 plus Group strikes with the likes of Zomaradah, Emirates Queen, Afsare and Connecticut. Seventeen years may be a long time between Group 1 drinks for a high-profile owner but surely that cannot explain the sudden exodus from Cumani’s Bedford House Stables, which followed Postponed’s thrilling success in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and subsequent victory in the Prix Foy. Interestingly, that statistic would have been different had Zomaradah’s first offspring been retained by Sheikh Obaid. Instead, Dubawi, the best runner from the sole crop of the ill-fated stallion Dubai Millennium, went on to represent the Godolphin operation of Sheikh Mohammed – Sheikh Obaid’s cousin – and is now one of the world’s elite sires. For every loser there is a winner, of course, and Cumani’s loss has been Varian’s gain. The quietlyspoken handler has not wasted any time in showcasing his own talents and while the majority of his inmates at Kremlin House Stables have been limbering up for the turf season, Postponed has been making hay while the sun shines in Dubai, scoring victories in the City of Gold and Sheema Classic, bagging £2.6 million along the way. Not a bad start to the season for both trainer and owner embarking on a new partnership. In this month’s Talking To (pages 48-52), Varian, who will oversee over 200 horses this season, tells Tim Richards about how he dealt with the matter of receiving Sheikh Obaid’s runners.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

“Owners pay the bills and they have the right to move their horses to another trainer if for some reason they are not happy; it is part of the industry that we have to deal with,” Varian explains, himself having recently lost the patronage of Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar. “This was a high-profile move that naturally gained media coverage. Most important for me was to be honest and respectful to the people closely involved with the change of circumstances, the owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid and trainer Luca Cumani. “I spoke with Luca at length one evening, some considerable time before the story broke. He could not have been more of a gentleman. I admire him for that.” When it comes to the big stars, most people will undoubtedly associate a racehorse primarily with its trainer. Think of Frankel and the first name likely to pop into your head will be [Sir] Henry Cecil, not Khalid Abdullah. Sheikh Joaan Al Thani’s Al Shaqab Racing owned Treve – but Criquette Head-Maarek was always the first point of contact. The fact is that most trainers own – in real terms – as much of these horses as you or I. The breakdown of the relationship between Clive Smith and Paul Nicholls over Kauto Star’s retirement plans shows what can happen when these waters become muddied. One owner and breeder who is unlikely to be overshadowed by any of his trainers is Bill Gredley. It’s 25 years since his famous silks were carried to victory in the Eclipse at Sandown by 28-1 outsider Environment Friend, while in 1992 his exceptional filly User Friendly carried all before her, notching four Group 1s including an Oaks treble and the St Leger. In a superb interview with Julian Muscat (pages 4246), the property tycoon explains why he still gets a kick out of watching his homebreds succeed on the racecourse, with top stayer Big Orange one of his main hopes for the season ahead, and why he’s happy to be known as a maverick in the sport.

“Cumani’s loss has

been Varian’s gain; the latter has quickly showcased his talents with Postponed

”

May_141_Contents_Contents 21/04/2016 17:43 Page 4

CONTENTS MAY 2016

NEWS & VIEWS

FEATURES

18 The Big Picture

ROA Leader Modified levy can work

TBA Leader Protecting the breed crucial

10 News Barande-Barbe’s new star

14 Changes Your news in a nutshell

30 Tony Morris Bloated Pattern requires surgery

32 Howard Wright Hall of Fame essential

INTERNATIONAL SCENE 34 View From Ireland Levins and Keatley climb ladder

36 Continental Tales Germany’s unlikely Derby fancy

39 Around The Globe Dickinson’s training return

David Mullins, with brother Charlie, savours Crabbie’s Grand National success with Rule The World

At Aintree and Meydan

28 From The Archives Dancing Brave’s Guineas win

54 EBF Valued supporter of UK racing

62 Sales Circuit Including Craven Breeze-up Sale

66 Caulfield Files Taylor Made’s new signing

42 The Big Interview With owner/breeder Bill Gredley

48 COVER STORY Talking To... Trainer Roger Varian

88 Dr Statz No critic of Theatre

96 24 Hours With... Jockey Jim Crowley

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4:53 pm

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

Yearlings unsoundness of wind

FORUM

Horses at grass

The Thoroughbred Club Sales ground experience vital

ROA Forum Membership hits eight-year high

LEADING THE FIELD IN BLOODSTOCK INSURANCE

TBA Forum South West Regional Day review

Breeder of the Month Graham Smith for Unowhatimeanharry

Vet Forum Guarding against infectious diseases

DATA BOOK 90

AHEAD OF THE FIELD

NH Graded Races Big winners over jumps

TO STAY

Stallion Statistics Presenting and Kayf Tara in profit

Our monthly circulation is certified at

9,340 Can other magazines prove theirs? THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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

Future Stars ISFAHAN • a BBAG graduate 1. Preis des Winterfavoriten, Gr.3

DHABA a BBAG graduate 1. Preis der Winterkönigin, Gr.3

Sales dates 2016 Spring Breeze Up Sale 27th May Yearling Sales 2nd September October Mixed Sales 21st and 22nd October www.bbag-sales.de

May_141_ROA_Leader_Layout 1 21/04/2016 15:33 Page 7

ROA LEADER

NICHOLAS COOPER President Racehorse Owners Association

Receiving offshore cash remains racing’s top aim Modified levy can deliver extra funds as government shelves Racing Right

ny inhabitant of the world of racing politics knows it as a place full of conundrums. But even the most informed observer would surely find it surprising that the Racing Right has now apparently disappeared from racing’s landscape. For the best part of two years, this column, among many others, devoted a great deal of coverage to how and when a Racing Right, based on intellectual property, was to be instigated to replace the levy as racing’s main source of central funding. So what has happened to it? In short, the government has placed it in the ‘too difficult’ tray. But before we start hurling abuse at this administration, we must consider what we have been given as an alternative. As I said in my column last month, the alternative involves the government pursuing what must surely be a more pragmatic and achievable ‘solution’ so that changes can be made to the legislation underpinning the levy. The key requirement, after all, is to ensure bets channelled via overseas operators will attract payments to racing and, if this can be done through a modified levy, then we must accept it with open arms. This is especially so as the changes will create a system whereby the levy continues to collect funds but will then hand them to racing for distribution. There are various reasons why the Racing Right has hit the buffers, the main one being that it would have required full-blown primary legislation to achieve it, whereas a modified levy requires secondary legislation, acquired through statutory instrument. Furthermore, the Racing Right would have faced a barrage of objections in parliament, fuelled by a very strong bookmaker lobby, while many politicians would have asked the question, why is racing deserving of special treatment? Yes, of course, we know the answer but it would not have stopped a significant number of other sports lining up behind racing to claim they too had a right to receive a share from bets taken on their sport.

This is to say nothing of the special status the levy has in enabling betting operators to pay their dues to racing without VAT. I’m not saying a way could not have been found of circumventing the VAT issue but it would have been another major hurdle to jump. And all the while, the clock would have been ticking and year-on-year the levy would be declining, with dire consequences for racing. Who knows what year the Racing Right would have actually happened, if at all? As it is, achieving the right modifications to the levy is not plain sailing. We still have to get round European state aid legislation, while agreement with the betting industry has to be found on the so-called blended rate of levy, combining the domestic rate with overseas. There are other complications within this area because nobody in racing can be happy about the fact that every time a bookmaker makes yet another special offer to Saturday punters, it deprives racing of revenue, such are the tribulations of the gross profits system. How much simpler in these days of high turnover, low margin, it would be to have a turnover-based system. That said, I have no doubt all the problems relating to a modified levy can be overcome – but whether the body’s reincarnation can be achieved by April of next year is another question. It is why the BHA is absolutely right to continue pursuing their Authorised Betting Partner policy, which ensures those who have signed-up pay racing a percentage on their gross profits, irrespective of whether bets are processed domestically or overseas. Of course, while the big bookmakers – including William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral and Betfred – remain outside of the ABP tent, little by little more betting operators are seeing this as an opportunity for them to get closer to racing through sponsorship and other benefits. It is yet another reminder of the importance of racing to betting. Let nobody tell you any different.

“Other sports would

have been lining up to claim they had a right to receive a share from bets taken

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

”

The TBA Supporting British Flat Breeders & Racing in 2016 • TBA £25,000 Bonuses for EBF Breeders’ Series A bonus worth up to £25,000 in the form of a stallion nomination voucher for qualifying fillies who win or are placed in an EBF Breeders’ Fillies Series race and subsequently win one of the EBF Breeders’ Series Fillies Handicaps on 1st October 2016 (T&C’s apply).

• Sponsorship of 14f+ Handicaps As a result of the Stayers Review, the TBA is supporting longer distance fillies opportunities within the race programme in 2016.

• Introduction of Breeders’ Prizes in Plus10 The TBA encouraged and supported the recent introduction of prizes for breeders within Plus10.

• Support for Fillies & Mares The TBA campaigned for a comprehensive Fillies & Mares Review, currently being conducted by the BHA, to assess current and future opportunities for fillies and mares.

thetba.co.uk

01638 661321

info@thetba.co.uk

May_141_TBA_Leader_TBA 21/04/2016 15:40 Page 9

TBA LEADER

JULIAN RICHMOND-WATSON Chairman Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association

Planning to protect future diversity of the racehorse New funding mechanism must include welfare and advancement of the breed

hanks go to those industry stakeholders who gave time and thought to the TBA’s recent profile and strategy review which proved extremely useful in highlighting what the organisation does well, and in certain areas not quite so well. Our veterinary work and research received high praise, which is a reminder that we must continue to focus on this particular aspect, since it is so vital to all of us on the ground. There was a timely illustration in last month’s publication of the Levy Board’s veterinary science and education investment programme for 2016, with which the TBA is heavily involved. There will always be challenges in this area, and we must continue to keep in focus the diminishing effect of vaccines and drugs, which has already been highlighted in other species. The major pharmaceutical companies have many demands on their research budgets, so we have to demonstrate the thoroughbred, as an important part of the whole equine sector, is large enough to attract their attention. The International Thoroughbred Breeders’ Federation, of which the TBA is an active member, has already established that demonstrating the numbers involved worldwide has helped to focus these companies on the opportunities available in selling their products to an international customer base. The major criticism from this research was that the TBA’s profile is too low, that we do not communicate the good work we do or stress how important breeders are to the racing industry. This is probably a legacy of the association being too ‘gentlemanly’ and the fact that breeders traditionally have adopted a low profile within the sport. We will work on better communication, but we have to accept that much of our activity behind the scenes with the government and European bodies, while vital, is not the stuff of headlines. This brings me on to a subject that will become a regular topic over the coming months – the levy replacement and

the body that will agree and manage the distribution of its funds. Traditionally, support for breeders’ prizes schemes, such as Plus 10 and MOPS, has been hard fought and the outcome involves a very small percentage of the overall levy budget. In any case, they are mostly merely a realignment of prize-money. As we move forward, we must ensure that a much larger percentage is spent on looking after, encouraging and furthering the breed and its physical wellbeing. For every mare that doesn’t breed, foal that doesn’t race or horse that doesn’t run because of injury, there is a loss to all participants in the sport. So we must encourage and incentivise breeders and owners to breed and test their horses for soundness and longevity on the racetrack, from sprinters to stayers, the two ends of the spectrum that the TBA has sought to support through special measures. Once racing has an assured future, we should plan long term and build a system in which breeders and owners are encouraged to invest in that longevity and soundness, rather than make for the quick-fix route we seem to be heading down. The rewards for producing middle-distance and staying horses, who balance the programme, must be commensurate with the extra costs of getting them there. Most National Hunt stars are geldings – and here a word of congratulations to Trish Wilkins and Bobby McAlpine, the British breeders of Grand National winner Rule The World – with no opportunity to join the breeding band, and we have to think along the same lines to encourage Flat horses to stay in training. The stars that keep running catch the public’s imagination and we have a real opportunity to build a programme that gives them a platform. The TBA will be at the forefront of these initiatives and with our Horsemen’s Group colleagues will work to ensure that new money coming into racing is used for the health and advancement of the breed and to the benefit of everyone involved in the sport.

“We must encourage

breeders and owners to breed and test horses for soundness and longevity on the racetrack

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

”

May_141_NewsPrizeMoney_Owner 22/04/2016 09:03 Page 10

NEWS Stories from the racing world

Barande-Barbe dreams of Ascot with new star Trainer of Cirrus Des Aigles eyeing QIPCO Champion Stakes repeat with her homebred gelding Garlingari

MICHAEL BAUCHER/PANORAMIC

he chapter may be closed on the Cirrus Des Aigles story but Corine Barande-Barbe may have unearthed a replacement for her recently retired champion in the shape of Garlingari. Like his illustrious stable companion, Garlingari is a soft ground-loving gelding who looks to be peaking at the age of five, having captured the Group 2 Prix d’Harcourt at Chantilly on April 10 in decisive fashion. Owned and bred by his trainer, British racing fans could well glimpse the five-yearold later this year, with his status as a gelding making him ineligible for many of France’s elite contests. “Will Garlingari visit the UK this year? Of course it is possible!” his trainer exclaimed. “He has a programme to follow in France and will race next in the Prix Ganay [May 1] but why not run in the QIPCO Champion Stakes? He has won a Group 2 easily and now we can reach for the stars. “Everyone wants to try and compare the two horses but no horse will do what Cirrus Des Aigles did. He was unique and knew he was the best. There are some similarities although Garlingari is actually better bred and certainly better behaved and politer; Cirrus was wilder, like Jesse James! “Of course Cirrus could ‘swim’ when others couldn’t and Garlingari also acts well on

heavy ground, though he has also won on good going.” Cirrus Des Aigles made his Group 1 breakthrough in the 2011 QIPCO Champion Stakes at the age of five and went on to run in the race on three further occasions, chasing home the mighty Frankel in 2012 and going down narrowly to Farhh a year later. In all he won 22 races, including seven Group 1s and banking over £6 million.

Corine Barande-Barbe with Group 2 victor Garlingari, who she hopes could emulate the great Cirrus Des Aigles (above, right)

On the question of why her horses appear to peak later in life, the trainer says: “All my career my horses have got better with age – better at five and six than three and four. They change so much as they get older. Geldings especially seem to concentrate more over time; they don’t have to think about another job at stud and seem better able to deal with any physical problems. “When Garlingari won a Listed race at three I was happy; this year he has progressed to win a Group 3 and the Group 2 Prix d’Harcourt. Hopefully we can take some more steps with him; he is not as good as Cirrus Des Aigles but he is getting better and better. Patience is the key with racehorses – as it is in life, too!

May_141_NewsPrizeMoney_Owner 22/04/2016 09:03 Page 11

Prize-money up 9% in first quarter Following record totals last year, prizemoney for the first three months of 2016 rose once again by over 9% compared with the same period in 2015. Between January and March, £22.8 million in prize-money was won, an increase on the £20.8m that was secured last year,

and the £19.5m that was available in 2014. In addition, the contribution from racecourses towards prize-money also saw a rise of almost 20%, with tracks contributing £11.1m of the prize-money total in the first quarter of 2016, up from £9.3m in 2015.

Racecourse Performance Table January – March 2016

“Between wishes and reality is a lot of distance. Perhaps I am too romantic. I just feel so lucky”

“Between wishes and reality there is a lot of distance and perhaps I am too romantic, but dreams can come true. I feel so lucky and it’s marvellous that Garlingari is from the family of my ‘Cinderella’, Carling.” Carling gave Barande-Barbe her breakout triumph in the 1995 Prix de Diane, following up in the Prix Vermeille. Carling’s dam Corraleja is the third dam of Garlingari. Barande-Barbe deserves extra credit for her latest flagbearer’s success, planning the mating of his dam Garlinote with Linngari. “I’m not sure why I picked Linngari – but I did it again and Garlinote is due to foal another of his progeny imminently. “I also have Garlingari’s half-brother, a yearling colt by Youmzain. He is going to the sales – but will only be sold for a good price! “Not being able to afford the likes of Galileo, you have to try to build families over THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Ranking (2015 ranking)

Racecourse contribution to prize-money per fixture 2016 (£) 2015 (£)

1. ASCOT (1)

196,746

2. JOCKEY CLUB GROUP (2)

63,928

61,438

3. NEWBURY (3)

50,943

42,055)

4. CHELMSFORD CITY (5)

46,314

35,090

5. KELSO (4)

42,207

36,046

6. MUSSELBURGH (6)

34,593

28,472

7. FAKENHAM (8)

28,330

24,815

8. CHESTER/BANGOR GROUP (7)

27,261

27,757

9. STRATFORD (10)

27,905

22,539

10. ARC (14)

26,983

16,975

11. TAUNTON (18)

26,242

13,197

12. NEWTON ABBOT (15)

25,851

15,212

150,214

13. LUDLOW (9)

25,421

23,227

14. WETHERBY (11)

24,802

21,514

15. AYR (13)

23,725

20,317

16. FFOS LAS (12)

22,958

21,462

17. PLUMPTON (19)

17,502

11,640

18. CATTERICK BRIDGE (16)

15,971

15,113

19. HEXHAM (17)

15,374

14,103

20. LEICESTER (20)

14,731

11,159

21. TOWCESTER (21)

13,019

9,493

Key to agreement level: GOLD Premier Tier • SILVER Standard Tier • RED Not Signed Notes: 1. Racecourse Groups have signed single agreements to cover all of their tracks. Jockey Club group comprises Aintree, Carlisle, Cheltenham, Epsom, Exeter, Haydock, Huntingdon, Kempton, Market Rasen, Newmarket, Nottingham, Sandown, Warwick and Wincanton. ARC comprises Bath, Brighton, Chepstow, Doncaster, Fontwell, Lingfield, Newcastle, Sedgefield, Southwell, Uttoxeter, Windsor, Wolverhampton, Worcester and Yarmouth. 2. The average racecourse contribution per fixture shows the average amount provided by the racecourse to prize-money at all fixtures during the period including any abandoned fixtures.

time. It is possible to do this, which should offer hope to small breeders.” As for Cirrus Des Aigles, he can look forward to a happy retirement. Currently still in the Barande-Barbe stable, which is home to around 20 horses – “I would like to have ten more with good pedigrees” – the tenyear-old is set to live out his days with regular rider Christophe Soumillon.

● QIPCO British Champions Day, held at Ascot on Saturday, October 15 and worth a record £4.2 million, is the culmination of the QIPCO British Champions Series. The series gets under way with the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday, April 30. QIPCO has underlined its commitment to the sport by agreeing to sponsor the British Champions Series until 2024.

May_141_News_2ndSpread_Owner 22/04/2016 09:07 Page 12

NEWS

Richard Farquhar last month successfully completed his incredible challenge to walk to all 60 racecourses in Britain, a journey that took 13 months and covered approximately 3,000 miles. Farquhar was inspired to attempt his Walking the Courses following the death of his father Peter from pancreatic cancer. Father and son attended 26 Craven meetings together, and that was where Richard Farquhar ended his marathon walk last month. The father of four – one daughter, Minty, was organiser of the endeavour – also paid homage to trainers Dessie Hughes and John Hills, and bloodstock agent John Woodman, who all lost their fight with pancreatic cancer in 2014. In addition to raising money for cancer research, Racing Welfare will also benefit from the racehorse owner’s amazing efforts. At the time of writing around £370,000 had been raised, a figure Farquhar was hoping would rise

GEORGE SELWYN

Farquhar completes his epic challenge A thrilled Richard Farquhar with his family at the conclusion of his 3,000-mile trek

further in the coming weeks and months. A 300-strong welcoming committee accompanied Farquhar in Newmarket as he completed his final furlong. As he walked towards the finishing line at the Rowley Mile he told reporters: “I didn’t really know what it was going to be except that it would be a sod of a long way. “I’ve made a colossal number of new friends and renewed friendships with people dotted all over the country. I’ve visited some racecourses I hadn’t been to before and I’ve been wonderfully welcomed at all of them. “The only real physical low point was between Ffos Las and Chepstow, when I went

lame. By the time I got to Chepstow I was pretty worried, but, thankfully, the racecourse doctor gave me a decent shot of cortisone in the foot. “As a result I’ve arrived here sound and would pass the vet. Whether I’d pass the doping agency I’m not so sure.” He added: “It has been absolutely thrilling. The reality is it has been the most enjoyable, fulfilling, rewarding and uplifting experience of my entire life, by a street. “It has been one wonderful week after another, a complete joy from start to finish.” Donations can be made through www.walkingthecourses.com.

The Flat trainers’ title has reverted to its original format based on a calendar year, January 1 to December 31. For the past five years the championship has been determined by prize-money won from November to November, the exact date determined by the day on which the November Handicap was run and the Flat turf season wound up. The National Trainers’ Federation did consider ending the trainers’ title on QIPCO British Champions Day, to coincide with the culmination of the owners’ and jockeys’ crowns, but considered that unsatisfactory given that it would omit some significant action on the turf, including Group races at Doncaster and Newbury. Trainers seemed unanimous in their support of the change, rumblings of discontent having grown louder in the past couple of years. Bookmakers, having already been betting on the title – for which John Gosden is

GEORGE SELWYN

Trainers’ championship reverts to old format

Ralph Beckett: change makes sense

favourite – before the revised format was announced offered punters the opportunity to void bets. Rupert Arnold, NTF Chief Executive, said:

“There has been much debate about the championships in recent years and Flat trainers were keen to establish a simplified format that was a true reflection of the Flat racing season and the races for which trainers compete. “Reverting to the original format achieves this. We know it won’t satisfy everyone, but it is the most logical format in the context of a sporting competition.” Speaking on behalf of the NTF’s Flat Committee, Ralph Beckett said: “When analysing statistics, Timeform and others use the calendar year as their model and we wanted our championship to reflect this approach. “As all horses’ official birthdays are on January 1, it makes no sense to have November and December’s two-year-old statistics shunted into the following year, as happens under the current format. The NTF Flat Committee has agreed that this is the last time the format will change.”

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May_141_News_2ndSpread_Owner 22/04/2016 09:07 Page 13

NEWS

Equine hospital reveals 2015 caseload The Newmarket Equine Hospital (NEH) treated horses trained by eight of the top ten trainers – Flat and jumps – in 2015, according to their yearly review. The NEH, which says it is not aware of any other equine hospital that makes its audit publically available, reported that their 2015 patients went on to win six Group 1 races, two Group 2 contests and four Group 3s following surgery. “We also enjoyed watching a treble at Royal Ascot,” their review added. Their caseload for last year was an increase on 2014, with total hospital admissions reaching 2,759. The NEH performed surgery on 1,036 horses. The NEH also organised a number of national and international training events in 2015, while their surgeons contributed to courses on advanced arthroscopy – the most common surgery at NEH in 2015 – at the University of Colorado, and on tenoscopy and bursoscopy at Cornell University. The review said: “NEH enjoys the support of many referring veterinary surgeons, owners, trainers, breeders, riders, etc. It is our mission to provide them with the highest possible standards of service and to ensure that every horse, whether an athletic superstar or a family pet, receives the best veterinary care possible.”

NEH Audit/Log 2015 Total hospital admissions

2,759

Radiographic examination

2,422

Ultrasonographic examinations

1,282

Scintigraphy examinations

303

MRI

130

193

Total surgery numbers

1,036

General anaesthesia

843

Mortality associated with general anaesthesia

(0.1%)

Vets at NEH performed surgery on more than 1,000 horses last year

More firms sign betting partner agreements British racing last month reached agreement with more betting operators under its Authorised Betting Partner (ABP) scheme. BetStars, 188BET, McBookie, SeanieMac and ApolloBet all agreed to make a suitable level of voluntary contributions to the sport based on their British racing business. The agreements follow those already reached with Betfair, Bet365, 32Red, Sky Bet and BetVictor, who have also committed to making an agreed level of contribution on their remote betting activity to British racing. Onshore betting operators who have

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

agreements in place with British racing for the duration of the ABP term are Fitzdares, Geoff Banks, Star Sports, Blue Riband Bet, Jack Pearson Ltd, Winning Post and Corbett Bookmakers. However, the biggest firms – Ladbrokes, Coral, William Hill, Betfred and Paddy Power – have so far refused to sign up. In return for their commitments, ABPs receive a kitemark and other benefits from British racing, and a number of commercial entities within racing, under the partnership, including access to key sponsorships, media opportunities and customer data.

Nick Rust, Chief Executive of the BHA, said: “On behalf of British racing, we warmly welcome all new Authorised Betting Partners. British racing provides an important product to betting and gaming operators and we are delighted our ABPs recognise the value of a partnership with British racing. “People who bet on British racing deliver substantial value to betting and gaming operators over and above the gross win generated on racing. We look forward to working with all ABPs to help them take the opportunity to gain significant exposure to British racing’s customers.”

May_141_Changes2pp_Layout 1 21/04/2016 17:17 Page 14

in association with

Racing’s news in a nutshell PEOPLE AND BUSINESS Denis O’Regan Lands plum job as retained rider to leading Irish owner Barry Connell, taking over from Adrian Heskin.

Paddy Power Betfair

Simon Cooper

Merged company announce 650 job losses as part of consolidation process.

Appointed by Weatherbys as its Operations Director; he leaves New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing to take up the role in June.

Jim Best Trainer who received a four-year ban for corruption challenges the findings and will have his appeal heard on May 24.

Pertemps Shergar Cup Ground-breaking Melbourne Cup-winning rider Michelle Payne will be on the girls’ team in August, with Emma-Jayne Wilson and Cathy Gannon.

Company extends its backing of longdistance handicap hurdle series that culminates at Cheltenham Festival for a further three years.

Grand National Channel 4 sign off from their coverage of world’s most famous race with good viewing figure of 10m – ITV take over from 2017.

Ed Walker Trainer set for a 2017 move from Newmarket to Kingsdown Stables in Lambourn, with David Lanigan heading in the opposite direction.

Also... Senet Group, the betting

industry’s self-appointed watchdog, is left searching for a new Chief Executive following resignation of Ron Finlay. Australian-born commentator Michael Wrona gets the racecalling gig at Santa Anita; he succeeds Trevor Denman. Black Caviar’s trainer Peter Moody, disqualified for six months on a cobalt charge and who has no plans to return, signs off with Group 1 win with Flamberge. Judith Allen will step down from role of Executive Director at racing’s educational trust, Racing to School, after a decade. Paddy Power Betfair’s Chief Operating Officer Andy McCue leaves firm. Derek McGrath is appointed new Chief Executive of the Curragh; he is a qualified veterinary surgeon and ex-Ireland rugby international. Trainer Dan Skelton breaks 100-winner mark for first time in just his third season; jockey brother Harry also achieves his maiden century. The Irish National Stud posts profits of €2.5m (up €700,000) and >> revenue of €8.6m (up €800,000) for 2015.

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TWEENHILLS TIMES AN EYE FOR SUCCESS

MAY 2016

Sofia Rosa an Australian Classic first for sire Makfi Qatar Bloodstock stallion Makfi has added an Australian Classic winner to his growing profile. His daughter, Sofia Rosa, who is trained in New Zealand by Stephen Marsh, won the Gr.1 Australian Oaks at Randwick for owners JML Bloodstock. A daughter of the Encosta Del Lago mare Bislieri, Sofia Rosa became Makfi’s second Classic hero following Make Believe, who won last year’s Gr.1 Poule d’Essai Des Poulains. And the filly was very close to making it a

Classic double, for one month earlier she was beaten a nose when second of 16 runners in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks. Makfi sired Sofia Rosa while shuttling to New Zealand’s Westbury Stud, but stands in Europe under the Qatar Bloodstock banner at HH Aga Khan’s Haras de Bonneval – www.agakhanstuds.com. Sofia Rosa (Hugh Bowman) winning at Randwick

staff PROFILE Carrie Bonell Book-keeping, Accounts & Payroll The latest team member? Yes, I joined a few weeks ago as maternity cover for Sophie Turpin, and I’m really enjoying the role. I’m a qualified chartered surveyor, but through working in a bank and then property management I got into accounting. Why the China stamp in your passport? I lived there for six years, doing voice-over work and editing. The voice-overs were for the benefit of Chinese children who were learning to read English. I can understand a little Chinese, but my teenage children speak Mandarin. I love cooking Chinese and Thai food. Quite different from your current role... I grew up on a farm, and as a child took part in gymkhanas and went hunting. Before joining Tweenhills I was the County Organiser for Gloucestershire Young Farmers, so I feel quite at home in this environment. The work around the stud is very interesting, and I’m getting keen to learn more about breeding and racing.

8 to Follow back for 2016 Qatar Racing’s 8 to Follow competition starts on QIPCO 2000 Guineas day, April 30, but there is just time to make an entry to be in with a chance to win up to £10,000. That’s the first prize, although there are cash sums down to fifth place – simply pick eight horses trained in Europe for Qatar Racing or Pearl Bloodstock, and gain points when your selections win or are placed. The list of horses, and some helpful tips from experts, can be found at www.8tofollow.co.uk. You don’t need to be an expert to enter. Last year’s winner, London school teacher Wanda Marshall, said:

“If I’m perfectly honest I’m not that knowledgeable about horse racing. It’s more my husband Joe’s passion. I concentrated on older horses with proven form in Group One races. With the two-year-olds I just had to guess.” Entry costs £10, money raised goes to the charity Racing Welfare, and you can make as many entries as you like – the competition runs until QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot, October 15.

HURRY, THE CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES IS APRIL 29 2016

This mule is never stubborn This 1,000cc Kawasaki Mule-Pro Dx is proving a hit at Tweenhills as a superb utility vehicle for use around the farm and stud. With its 2WD/4WD dual-mode differential and powerful four-stroke engine, it copes with the wettest conditions. Colin Davies at T H White Ltd of Toddington, Cheltenham, can supply further information.

Tweenhills, Hartpury, Gloucestershire, GL19 3BG W: www.tweenhills.com T: + 44 (0) 1452 700177 M: + 44 (0) 7767 436373 E: davidredvers@tweenhills.com 1475 - Tweenhills Times April 2016 (v3).indd 1

19/04/2016 10:08

May_141_Changes2pp_Layout 1 21/04/2016 17:24 Page 16

RACEHORSE AND STALLION MOVEMENTS AND RETIREMENTS Dalakhani Haras de Bonneval sire (pictured right) is ruled out of covering for remainder of the 2016 season due to an unspecified veterinary problem.

Cold As Ice South African Grade 2 winner who joined William Haggas in Newmarket is retired following an injury sustained at Lingfield on Good Friday.

Wishfull Thinking Talented chaser for owners Grahame and Diana Whateley and trainer Philip Hobbs, winning 12 races including five Grade 2s and almost £500,000, is retired aged 13.

Press Statement Son of Hinchinbrook, a dual Group 1 winner over a mile in Australia, is retired aged three to stand at Vinery Stud in New South Wales.

Somersby Dual Champion Chase runner-up who ran at eight successive Festivals, and winner of the 2012 Grade 1 Victor Chandler Chase, is retired aged 12.

La Ville Rouge Dam of 2006 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro is retired from breeding duties at the age of 20 after foaling a filly by Bernardini last year.

HORSE OBITUARIES

Grade 1 hurdle winner for Rich Ricci and Willie Mullins, he returned from almost three years off to prove a useful point-to-pointer/hunter chaser.

Piccolo 25 Winner of the Nunthorpe and King’s Stand Stakes for Mick Channon, he sired top sprinters La Cucaracha, Tiddliwinks and Winker Watson.

Apsis 15 Barathea’s son, sire of Group 1-winning stayer Les Beaufs, who was on lease from Haras de la Hetraie at Coolagown Stud in Ireland.

Hussonet 25

Golden Chieftain 11

Tertullian Germany’s champion sire of 2014 will be rested for the remainder of the covering season due to an injury sustained at Gestut Erftmuhle.

Reg Brown 95

Winner of seven races including a Grade 2 over hurdles for the David Pipe stable and owners the Drew, George and Johnson families.

Son of Mr Prospector who sired Hong Kong Group 1 winners Glorious Days and Contentment, and Australian star Weekend Hussler.

Winner of last year's Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes at Rosehill in record time is retired and will join the roster at Darley's Kelvinside Stud in New South Wales.

PEOPLE OBITUARIES

Marasonnien 10

Kings Palace 8

Exosphere

Son of High Chaparral, winner of last year’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes, will shuttle to Cornerstone Stud in Australia this year, when his fee will be A$18,700.

Dam of champion sire Tapit dies due to complications foaling a colt by Super Saver for Barouche Stud.

Outstanding on the track and at stud in America, winning two Grade 1s and breeding top-level winners After Market and Courageous Cat.

Dual winner of the cross-country race at the Cheltenham Festival, and runner-up in the 2014 Grand National, is retired aged 12.

Free Eagle

Tap Your Heels 20

Tranquility Lake 21

Balthazar King

Stalwart for Colin Tizzard and Brocade Racing, winning nine races, the highlight his handicap chase triumph at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival.

Farmer who trained successfully with a permit from Monmouthshire for more than five decades.

Chris Sharpe 56 Popular Lambourn character known as ‘Singer’, he enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a Travelling Head Lad to Paul Cole.

Ogden Mills Phipps 75 Fourth generation of his family to race horses in the US, breeding champions such as Inside Information, Rhythm and Storm Flag Flying.

Ridley Lamb 89 Trained Teal in his point-to-point career, later selling the future Grand National winner, and was a steward at Sedgefield and Hexham.

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May_141_Big_Picture_AintreeSpread1_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 17:41 Page 18

THE BIG PICTURE

OUT ON HIS OWN Brilliant seven-year-old Vautour was expected to follow up his easy Ryanair Chase success at the Cheltenham Festival in Aintree’s Melling Chase. However, Rich Ricci’s chaser made a mess of the ninth fence and parted company with Ruby Walsh, allowing God’s Own and Paddy Brennan to make the most of the opportunity and take the Grade 1 prize back to the Gloucestershire stable of Tom George Photo George Selwyn

May_141_Big_Picture_AintreeSpread1_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 17:41 Page 19

AINTREE

May_141_Big_Picture_AintreeSpread3_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 17:39 Page 20

THE BIG PICTURE

May_141_Big_Picture_AintreeSpread3_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 17:40 Page 21

AINTREE

JUMPS FOR FUN Arzal’s rivals had only one view of the improving six-year-old in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase as he made every yard of the running to come home a clearcut victor under Gavin Sheehan. It was a first top-level victory for up-andcoming trainer Harry Whittington, whose stable star races in the colours of The Hennessy Six Photo George Selwyn

May_141_Big_Picture_AintreeSpread2_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 17:32 Page 22

THE BIG PICTURE

May_141_Big_Picture_AintreeSpread2_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 17:32 Page 23

AINTREE

WORLD BEATER Rule The World did exactly that in the Crabbie’s Grand National with a fine staying performance in testing conditions under 19-year-old rider David Mullins, making his Grand National debut. Trainer Mouse Morris (left) and Michael O’Leary of Gigginstown House Stud are pictured above with Rule The World, who, remarkably, was recording his first ever win over fences Photos Naresh Joshi and Trevor Meeks

May_141_Big_Picture_DubaiWorldCup_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 17:30 Page 24

THE BIG PICTURE

May_141_Big_Picture_DubaiWorldCup_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 17:30 Page 25

DUBAI WORLD CUP

CHROME SHINES Beaten by Prince Bishop in the 2015 renewal, California Chrome made no mistake in this year’s Dubai World Cup with a resounding victory under regular rider Victor Espinoza. The five-year-old came home three and threequarter lengths clear of Mubtaahij, with his winner’s cheque of over £4 million making him the highest-earning racehorse ever in the US Photo George Selwyn

Juddmonte OB May 2016 f-p_Juddmonte OB May 2016 f-p 18/04/2016 14:00 Page 1

b c ex Starfish Manister House Stud Ltd

gr f ex Wrong Answer Mr Anthony Stroud, Mr James Hanly & Skymarc Farm Inc.

b c ex Toi Et Moi Grundy Bloodstock Ltd

b f ex Caster Sugar Mrs Anita Wigan

b f ex Swiss Diva Lordship Stud

b f ex Intense Pink Socrates Partnership & Mrs Alison Swinburn

Juddmonte OB May 2016 f-p_Juddmonte OB May 2016 f-p 18/04/2016 14:01 Page 2

Looking a Kingman’s ransom HIGH CLASS & QUALITY FIRST FOALS

KINGMAN

2011 b h Invincible Spirit - Zenda (Zamindar)

01638 731115 nominations@juddmonte.co.uk www.juddmonte.com

May_141_FromTheArchivesV4_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 17:37 Page 28

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Dancing Brave and Greville Starkey pull clear of Green Desert and Walter Swinburn in the 1986 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket; above, trainer Guy Harwood greets his exceptional colt in the winner’s enclosure

May_141_FromTheArchivesV4_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 17:37 Page 29

D A N C I N G B R AV E , M A Y 3 , 1 9 8 6

The story behind the photo by Guy Harwood We had no doubt that Dancing Brave would win the 2,000 Guineas. Timeform said they were surprised how much confidence there was behind the horse. But Greville [Starkey] told me after winning on the horse first time at Sandown that this was his Derby ride. He had an unusual build up to the Craven before the Guineas, as the ground was completely frozen throughout February, so he was trained exclusively in the indoor school for the whole month with the rest of the string. At the end of February, there wasn’t a single lame horse in the yard. Luckily Dancing Brave was a relatively easy horse to train. He was such a refined animal. There was plenty of negative press leading up to the Guineas, with one well-known racing personality saying we had been withholding information from the public after Dancing Brave drifted in the betting. Had that been the case I think the owner would have had a serious conversation with me! I watched the race through my binoculars from the other side of the course, near the old air-raid shelters. As always, his turn of foot won the race. The horse was sheer genius. I trained To-Agori-Mou, Rousillon and Warning; they were champions but only over their distance. Very few horses can win top-class races at a mile, a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half. That was what made Dancing Brave unique. He could have won the July Cup over six furlongs, too. Hold-up performers, by their nature, will find traffic at some point in a race. That was what happened in the Derby. Dancing Brave’s owner, Khalid Abdullah, wanted his own jockey to ride his horses. But Greville was a fantastic jockey and the best judge that ever rode for me. Photos George Selwyn

May_141_Tony_Morris_Owner 21/04/2016 15:44 Page 30

THE MAN YOU CAN’T IGNORE COMMENT

Tony Morris The 20 years from 1980 were a bastion of calm and sense as far as the European Pattern was concerned – expansion from the turn of the century is neither rational nor justifiable

GEORGE SELWYN

n March the Racing Post ran a series of articles in which a number of interested parties gave their views on the European Pattern, the scheme which was instituted in 1971 with the aim of identifying and classifying the major races here and on the continent throughout the season. The plan was wholly laudable, its fundamental ethos – revealed in a report delivered as early as 1965 – stating that the Turf authorities should “ensure that a series of races over the right distances and at the right time of year are available to test the best horses of all ages, and they must attempt to ensure that the horses remain in training long enough and race often enough to be tested properly for constitution and soundness”. In 1968, to further underline what the scheme was all about, another report expressed the hope that the innovation would “encourage everyone in the industry to breed, train and race horses which will run in these races both for the prestige they carry and the prize-money attached to them”. A British pilot scheme operated in 1969 and 1970 while international negotiations proceeded, and it was decided to go ahead with the full launch in 1971, in spite of the fact that Germany had still not satisfied the qualifications for membership. In the inaugural year there were 243 European Pattern races, 50 in Group 1, 60 in Group 2 and 133 in Group 3; Britain staged 98 races, France 95, Italy 28 and Ireland 22. There were 161 individual winners. Everyone recognised that the scheme was bound to evolve over time and, with Germany joining in 1972, there had to be amendments for season two. In that year 184 horses took a share of the Pattern prestige from a total of 273 races, which were split logically, with 55 races in Group 1, 70 in Group 2 and 148 in Group 3. Those proportions felt right, and we were confident of having established a scheme that would remain stable. It also seemed

to have been widely accepted as a valuable indicator of racing class – so much so, in fact, that other countries cottoned on and began to emulate it. The North American Graded Stakes scheme had its initiation in 1973, and within a decade some 30 other countries had inaugurated their own Patterns, classifying their major races in three Groups. Some schemes worked better than others, with the American version among the first to forfeit its credibility; for five consecutive years in the 1980s Grade 1 events actually outnumbered those in Grade 2, and regular additions to the schedule devalued it as a measure of racing quality. Europe’s scheme also grew, but for 20 years there were relatively few changes; between 1980 and 2000 there were never more than 329 Pattern races, never fewer than 314; over that period there were never more than 246 individual winners in any season. Would that things had remained like that! The Racing Post’s series about the European Pattern was prompted by the seemingly inordinate growth in the scheme since the turn of the century. In 2015 there were 411 races and 316 individual winners, both figures representing new records, and the schedule for 2016 brings the tally of races up to 413. It was high time to ask the question: Is the Pattern still doing what it was designed to do, and assuredly did do in the first 30 years of its existence? Or has it outlived its usefulness after 46 years and become something in need of a radical overhaul? I was a believer in the Pattern from the start, and so convinced of its merit as a measure of quality in the thoroughbred population that I set myself the task of logging every result and compiling a five-generation tabulated Besharah: Group winner at two, but should juvenile races be in the Pattern?

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May_141_Tony_Morris_Owner 21/04/2016 15:45 Page 31

pedigree of every winner; for the first two decades I was doing that without recourse to a computer, and while it became a tad easier in the 1990s, I’ve always been aware that I’d given myself a life sentence, and am naturally conscious that I have invested an enormous amount of time and effort over an exercise that surely identifies me as a nerd, first-class. I really should have got out more. I’m still serving that sentence, and in one sense it actually seems more necessary now than ever before, because once I’ve compiled a pedigree, I’ve quite forgotten the name of the horse, and if I don’t have it on the computer I’ll never know it again. I retain nothing in my head these days. Just one of the many inevitable consequences of ageing. But in the last few years I’ve frequently felt that there must be more sensible ways of utilising my time – time that I’m entitled to regard as precious now that I’m past the three score and ten mark. The Pattern has grown by 88 races – that’s over 26% – since the year 2000, and I don’t see how anyone could conceivably consider that rational or justifiable. But it seems there are those who do. The Post canvassed the views of six individuals – three trainers, a racecourse executive, a sale company boss and a long-time racing establishment figure – and none of them seemed to have noticed what I’ve noticed. Something is broken and it needs fixing. I was astonished to discover that none of the respondents would go much further than to say that the Pattern was less than perfect, and only one – let’s give him credit, it was Mark Johnston – was in favour of a major review. The rest seemed to think it was fit for purpose. Presented with a question that in the circumstances was plain daft – which races deserved an upgrade? – there were calls for the Gimcrack and the Lowther to be granted Group 1 status. One, who shall be nameless, evidently ignorant of the Pattern’s most basic ground rule, wanted the Free Handicap to be admitted. It is perfectly obvious that the principal effects of routine additions to the Pattern, such as we have seen in the last 15 years, are to make racing less competitive and to award specious prestige to numerous unworthy horses. It’s not necessary to be Brain of Britain to recognise the deleterious consequences for breeding that such a policy encourages. I’m not going to hold my breath in anticipation of the radical changes that are needed, and I know I’m going to continue wasting my time tracing pedigrees of horses who really have no right to warrant my interest. I also don’t expect to see the early introduction, as standard in all sales catalogues, of the ratings achieved by all the horses referenced in the female line. Black type has become cheaper, and Group designations no longer mean what they did in the past. My voice in the wilderness is unlikely to be heard. But I am just a little heartened that a debate has been opened, and I welcome the radical suggestion, already proposed and seconded in the Post’s columns, to drop two-year-old races from the Pattern. It has always struck me as ridiculous that we have a system which encourages the belief that an adolescent racehorse merits equal status with its mature elders. Two-year-old racing has rarely mattered in the development of the breed; it’s a sideshow and should be treated as such. Group 1 prestige should be available only to three-year-olds and older horses.

“Black type has

become cheaper, and Group designations no longer mean what they did”

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

May_141_HowardWright_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 17:01 Page 32

HOWARD WRIGHT COMMENT

Many countries pay homage to their equine stars and history through a Hall of Fame, but Britain is not among them – it’s high time we were

We should play Fame game

anada and the US have one. So do Australia and its tiny – relatively speaking – neighbour New Zealand. Even the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association has one. But where is British racing’s Hall of Fame? In a phrase, nowhere to be seen. And that despite parochial efforts at Epsom (sponsor associated and since disbanded) and Cheltenham, a certain amount of social media discussion and a couple of fairly recent hints from the direction of Great British Racing, the obvious source of a dedicated drive to celebrate Britain’s heritage and achievements as the cradle of international horseracing. “It’s a fantastic idea which will be a great advert for the sport if it’s done right. We want it to happen, and with its history Britain is arguably the ultimate home for a Hall of Fame. We should be in position to start the selection process later this year.” That was GBR Chief Executive Rod Street talking to the Racing Post – in May 2014. Two years on, and although Street made similarly encouraging noises to an industry audience at the Racecourse Association’s Showcase Awards event last November, the situation remains the same. No obvious sign of action, let alone any public attempt to draw up a list of names. In the meantime, national organisations in Canada, the US and New Zealand have forged ahead and made their nominations for 2016. The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, based at Woodbine racecourse, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and has put forward ten horses or people for induction in August. That same month, in Saratoga Springs, near New York, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will hold its annual ceremony to honour the latest US nominees. The New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame, founded as a charitable company with an independent board in 2003 and launched in March 2006, got in first this year and held its biennial induction of ten new members, including a breeder, trainer, journalist, broodmare and the racehorse So You Think, at a gala dinner in Hamilton, its home base, in February. The New Zealand model is particularly interesting. Its selection criteria are wide enough

So You Think, inducted this year into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame

to encompass this year’s recognition of Bess, one of more than 10,000 NZ horses sent overseas during the First World War and among just four, and the sole thoroughbred, to return after the conflict. More significantly, though, and definitely more relevant to Britain, its scope includes taking the scheme to as wide an audience as possible.

“The scope of the

New Zealand model includes taking the scheme to as wide an audience as possible” Basing the project on an informative website, which includes historical video footage, the organisers have developed a digital media strategy “with a vision to take our country’s rich racing history to the people in a form that is appealing to all generations with flair and innovation.” This splendid objective has been borne out

by not only having a permanent display at New Zealand’s national museum in Wellington, which draws more than a million visitors a year, but also placing interactive kiosks in key public locations, such as Hamilton airport and the new world-class velodrome facility in Cambridge, Waikato. The New Zealand experience, which was the subject of a presentation at the Asian Racing Conference in Hong Kong in May 2014 and actually prompted Rod Street’s comments above, is an illustration of what Britain could do – and do better – given the material and resources available. The perfect opportunity to create a British Hall of Fame is available, with the imminent move of the National Horseracing Museum just a few hundred yards away in Newmarket to Palace House, where the new National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art is due to open to the public this year. Adding Hall of Fame to the title, as is the case in Australia and the US, might be a cumbersome step too far, but the addition of such an enterprise can only enhance the attraction. The mechanics for inclusion are easily addressed, and widening the scope through public participation is a no-brainer. All that’s missing is the will. THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

002508-LE-Thoroughbred Owner + Breeder-May 2016.indd 1

4/5/16 11:45 AM

May_141_View_From_Ireland_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 15:47 Page 34

VIEW FROM IRELAND By JESSICA LAMB

Curragh crucial to progression So say Johnny Levins and Adrian Keatley as they try to climb the training ladder

XXXXXXX

etting up on the Curragh away from seclusion is vital for modern Flat trainers, one resident said as young trainer Adrian Keatley moved in last month. Johnny Levins, a former jump jockey, has trained at the Curragh throughout his threeyear career and saddled 30 winners, with the help of backer, businessman and friend Seamus Mannion. He has grown his ownership base from just Mannion to several syndicates, partnerships, and single owners. He is certain that his location is key to his success. “I don’t think I’d be as successful if I was not on the Curragh,” he said. “I think if I was in a rural area I would be training for local farmers and a couple of publicans. That’s not enough on the Flat. Unless you have a wealthy family, or are taking over a licence, you’d have no chance.” Like Levins, Keatley does not come from a

wealthy or racing family. He moved to the Curragh from a yard he was sharing with Peter McCreery in Kilcullen. It was still Kildare, but it limited his progress. “The first year and a half I was renting half a yard and that was hard,” he explained. “This is my own place and I don’t have to explain to anyone, potential clients for example, that I’m sharing.” Echoing Levins, Keatley added: “It’s hard to get into the game if you don’t have the right connections in Flat racing, so until you make them stand up and see what you’re able to do, nobody’s watching. You have to prove yourself and I’m having to do that.” Without the luxury of a backer like Mannion, Keatley has developed a successful system by avoiding horses that are anything like those Aidan O’Brien et al have. “All I can afford is the cheap stock at the sales, so I try to buy yearlings that are going to

make early two-year-olds,” he said. “There’s no point in me having a big, precious threeyear-old that wants a mile and a quarter because the country is full of them with the likes of O’Brien, Weld, Bolger and now Halford. It’s too hard to compete with them. “The best chance I have of winning are with early two-year-olds, sprinters or low-grade handicappers that I can campaign in Scotland or the north of England.” True to his plan, Keatley already has twoyear-old success on the board this year, highlighted by The McGregornator’s win at the Curragh, but he’s also buying horses with form – and cannily. Jet Setting, for example, a winner of a Cork maiden in March, was purchased for £12,000 from Richard Hannon’s yard last autumn and earned black type at Chantilly on her first run for Keatley. However, the daughter of Fast Company really made her mark at

Adrian Keatley with his 1,000 Guineas Trial winner Jet Setting, and Shane Foley

May_141_View_From_Ireland_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 15:47 Page 35

In Brief Bankruptcy rules Lambe out

CAROLINE NORRIS

Trainer James Lambe has become the first to fall foul of a new Turf Club rule prohibiting bankrupt persons from training. Introduced in January, these rules have led to the suspension of Lambe’s licence until he is no longer bankrupt. The County Tyrone trainer received a bankruptcy order on June 29 last year and is expected to regain his licence this summer. His bankruptcy is said to have arisen from court costs relating to the Yachvilli case. Lambe was exonerated of any blame in the case that resulted in jockey Eddie O’Connell being banned for four years for conspiring to prevent the horse running on its merits at Downpatrick in 2011. Lambe’s last runner was in February, though Nicole McKenna is training from his address as a permit-holder.

Johnny Levins: has increased his string

Leopardstown on April 10, winning the Group 3 1,000 Guineas Trial by three lengths to put her handler in the spotlight. A tilt at the German 1,000 Guineas could be next on the agenda. Levins, nearly two years ahead of Keatley on the training ladder, has nine two-year-olds this year and expects to still be starting them at the end of the season. The Curragh Stud Racing Syndicate, set up to buy two-year-olds to sell on for a profit at three, has proven successful for Levins, with Black Beach selling for £220,000 last year having been bought for 42,000 guineas. However, he says buying and selling is not a necessity. He claims he is able to survive largely on training fees and purses alone. “Our main business is the yard,” he insisted. “If we’re lucky enough to come across a nice horse and are offered a lot of money for it, then that’s a bonus. But prizemoney is very good in Ireland at the moment. You have just got to keep it growing, getting the numbers in the stables, and the revenue coming in. It’s all about the results.” Keatley’s move was down to stable capacity. He has more than doubled the space available to him and added to his staff, employing a much-needed secretary. Recent doping controversies have heightened the Turf Club’s security regimes and tightened regulations; it seems everything that happens in a yard must now be documented, creating further expense for trainers. “When you reach a certain point in numbers, it becomes a full-time job, with the amount of regulations coming down from the Turf Club,” Keatley said. “In my new place I’ve had to employ someone to work in the office for me to keep on top of the recordkeeping.” THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

O’Neill set to reel in Codd Point-to-point racing could crown a new champion at the end of this season after Derek O’Connor broke his leg. The 11-time champion was leading 2014 winner Jamie Codd and former novice champion Barry O’Neill in a tight, three-way tussle for the title, but his injury has ruled him out of contention and O’Neill is snapping at Codd’s heels. O’Neill was novice champion six years ago and has since trailed Codd and O’Connor significantly in the senior title race. That pair are the only champions still riding – they have won the last 12 championships – so victory for O’Neill could prove a sea change for pointto-pointing.

It has become so critical that Levins places it among the top three things for a new trainer. “You have got to be good at what you’re doing, keep the books in order and be completely aware that this is a 24/7 game,” he stressed. “The buck stops at the person who holds the licence. If the Turf Club comes into the yard and things have been misplaced, or passports haven’t been stamped, or

“It was stressful

moving everything and getting more staff. I’ve invested a lot of my own money” vaccinations aren’t up to date, you’re accumulating fines, which are so unnecessary. You must make sure nothing is missed. There are absolutely no short cuts.” Levins was lucky enough to have Mannion to invest and get the show on the road back in 2013. It’s given his business a solid grounding and allowed it to begin washing its own face.

Keatley has ploughed a stiffer furrow and is unclear if his training operation will ever progress into a profitable business. “It was stressful moving everything and getting more staff,” he admitted. “I’ve invested a lot of my own money; anything I’ve got out of horses, I’ve put back into this just to get the ball rolling, to get people to have faith in me.” He added: “I don’t know if I’ll ever be in profit, but I’m giving this new place three to five years to try to have it full of paying clients. I will own it outright before the end of the year as I don’t want to be paying any more rent than I am.” Keatley continues to invest, working on the completion of a water walker. Levins has inserted a lunge arena and spent money on modern technology, like weighing scales, a blood analysis database and the groundbreaking Equinity Intelligent Training System, explained in this column by fellow Curragh trainer Michael O’Callaghan last year. He shares O’Callaghan’s views that the eye is still the decision-maker, but having the extra intelligence on heart-rates, stride length, sectionals etc, is a significant aid to the trainer. Levins added: “We’ve had the best start we’ve ever had to a season and are looking forward to a successful year across the board. I’m expecting nothing less than that; I wouldn’t be in this game if I wasn’t competitive.”

May_141_Continental_Tales_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 15:30 Page 36

CONTINENTAL TALES

GERMA

By JAMES CRISPE, INTERNATIONAL RACING BUREAU

Sprengel springs into the spotlight Ante-post Derby favourite Boscaccio housed in unusual quarters

ITALY

FRANK NOLTING

s the German season gets into full swing, the scene is set for another battle between Andreas Wohler and Peter Schiergen, the men who shared last year’s trainers’ championship. If there is to be a new name among the top table of trainers, it could be that of the Mulheim-based handler Yasmin Almenräder, who took out a full licence for the first time only in 2013 and ended last term with a bang when landing Group 3 events at Baden-Baden and Munich with Pas de Deux. Remarkably, she saddled more runners in France than she did in Germany last term and her eyes will surely again be focused to the south-west and the extra prize-money that is on offer on the other side of the border. Hopes that last season’s duopoly might be challenged are enhanced by the unlikely credentials of Boscaccio, the horse at the head of the early ante-post market for July’s German Derby which, at €650,000 (£478,000), is worth almost three times as much as any other German race apart from the Oaks. A son of the Newsells Park stallion Mount Nelson, Boscaccio is not from one of the traditional powerhouse stables but from the Hanover yard of Christian Sprengel. The 59-year-old Sprengel has a solid

Christian Sprengel: Classic in his sights

curriculum vitae, boasting some 600 successes during a career that stretches right back to 1982. Yet his solitary Group 1 success during those three and a half decades came over hurdles rather than on the Flat, courtesy of the

rank outsider Prince Nico in the Corsa Siepi di Merano in Italy. On the level, his only Pattern race triumphs during the last seven seasons have been consecutive runnings of a weak Italian Group 3, the Premio Chiusura, with the sprinter Konig Concorde. So for his yard to house a leading Classic candidate is a surprise, to say the least. Boscaccio does have the pedigree to be topclass as his third dam, Trevillari, is a half-sister to the dam of the dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Treve. Unbeaten in two career starts, he owes his reputation to a brilliant five-length reappearance success in a minor conditions event at Hoppegarten in Berlin on March 27, the Preis von Birkenstein. This race does, however, have a recent precedent of producing a future champion as its 2012 renewal was landed by none other than Novellist – the subsequent German Derby runner-up and winner of the following year’s King George at Ascot. One cautionary note is that Boscaccio shares both his sire and his owner, Rainer Hupe, with a horse called Orsello, who looked like a plausible German Derby contender three years ago when finishing third in the main trial, the Group 2 Oppenheim-Union-Rennen, but has never seen a racecourse since.

Fillies’ Classic crop look promising The Italian racing industry continues to survive and its situation may be easing slightly, though times are definitely still hard. Prize-money is being paid relatively swiftly (allocations for December 2015 had been received before the first week in April was out), hence the looming threat of losing Pattern status has receded. The odd ‘diamond in the rough’ shines brightly among a thoroughbred population that has greatly receded in size and quality over the past decade. The suspicion is that the Classic crop for 2016 may be some way short of a vintage one as far as the colts are concerned, but the fillies could be pretty decent, in particular one called Responsibleforlove, a daughter of Duke Of Marmalade whose dam is an unraced halfsister to the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Vale Of York.

Bought at Goffs in Ireland by Pisa trainer Endo Botti and his wife Cristiana Brivio Sforza for just €17,000 (£14,167), Responsibleforlove had the misfortune to be short-headed by a subsequent Listed winner on her debut last September. She then won a maiden by seven lengths and tongues really started wagging when she demolished a ten-furlong conditions race field, including a Listed winner and the fourth from the Group 3 Premio Dormello, by exactly the same seven-length margin on her Milan reappearance in early April. Responsibleforlove’s potential cannot mask the fact that over recent years most of Italy’s racing talent, be it four-legged or two-legged, has sought the security of a more stable (and lucrative) environment in which to forge a career. That means departing for foreign shores.

Three of the latest horses to jump ship are the 2014 Italian Derby winner Dylan Mouth, and the first two home from that Classic last term, Goldstream and the filly Sound Of Freedom. Both Dylan Mouth and Sound Of Freedom have joined Endo Botti’s cousin, Marco Botti, in Newmarket, while Goldstream has been shipped off all the way to Newcastle, New South Wales, to add to the string of Australian trainer Kris Lees. Italian equine imports continue to make their impact worldwide. The latest example of a big-race hero nurtured in the ‘bootshaped country’ is Beauty Only, who scooped a £200,000 first prize when landing the Chairman’s Trophy in Hong Kong on April 3. There has been a talent drain among humans too. One topical example is the trainer, Gianluca Bietolini, who emigrated to Maisons-Laffitte in Paris a couple of years

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

PUBLIC

Flymetothestars rare British raider?

The publication of the entries for the Slovak Classics just days before a new season commenced there on April 10 has raised the prospect of Bratislava hosting a British runner for the first time in over 20 years. For Newmarket trainer Sir Mark Prescott has been tempted into engaging his beautifully-bred (by Sea The Stars out of a Group winner) recent Southwell maiden winner Flymetothestars, in the Slovak Derby on July 16 and last year’s Listed Montrose Fillies Stakes runner-up Rioca, in the Slovak Oaks, which takes place some eight weeks later. It would be fitting if Flymetothestars makes the trip for the Derby, which enjoys a decent first prize of €32,000 (£23,529), as that was the race which attracted the previous British visitor, Zimzalabim, in 1993, for its inaugural running just after Czechoslovakia had been split into the Czech and Slovak republics. Trained by Barry Hills but with Eastern European owners, Zimzalabim completed a unique tour of three very different Derby venues as, having finished third at Epsom in a conditions race 24 hours after Commander In Chief had landed that year’s Ever Readysponsored Epsom Derby, he journeyed to Vienna to land the Austrian Derby two and a

GEORGE SELWYN

SLOVAK

May_141_Continental_Tales_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 15:32 Page 37

Zimzalabim was the last British challenger for the Slovak Derby 23 years ago

half weeks later then, another month on, ventured to Bratislava for the Slovak equivalent. Ridden by no less a man than Lester Piggott himself, Zimzalabim stormed to an eightlength victory and was to go on to contest numerous other big races, not least the 1994 Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in which he finished an excellent third.

but talent drain continues back. He has hit the headlines of late with his handling of Dicton, bought out of a claimer for just €22,317 (£17,300) last October and subsequently the winner of four of his five races, culminating in the Listed Prix Omnium II, and €78,500 in prize-money. The longstanding trickle of high class jockeys to foreign parts, begun by the likes of Frankie Dettori and Andrea Atzeni, has become more of a flood nowadays – Mirco Demuro has upped sticks to Japan and his brother, Cristian, fled to France alongside Umberto Rispoli. Even some less well-known members of the weighing room, such as Antonio Fresu, who is based with Ed Walker in Newmarket and rode 13 winners at decent strike-rate last year, have managed to carve out a respectable living overseas. The tide may be beginning to turn in Italy,

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

The Slovak Derby has been plundered by various British-based jockeys since then, including both Pat and Paul Eddery, Frankie Dettori and John Reid. But although the trophy has been exported for all but four of the 22 subsequent renewals (most commonly to Germany), there has not, until now perhaps, been a single other British challenger.

Mirco Demuro: one of a number of Italian jockeys plying their trade overseas

where the rising popularity of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals has helped prop up betting turnover, but many problems remain. The most pressing of these is the continued growth in the number of fixtures despite there being no more prize-money to go around – although, thankfully, purses for Group and Listed races is ringfenced. Typically, for Italy, in some ways the administrators’ hands are tied as, in order to comply with an agreement between the racecourses and the Ministry Of Agriculture and avoid the possibility of legal action, the number of fixtures continues to creep up steadily. One partial solution would be to limit the number of races per meeting to six, allowing those six events to be better endowed. But gaining agreement for such a radical move will not be easy.

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May_141_AroundtheGlobe_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 15:29 Page 39

AROUND THE GLOBE THE WORLDWIDE RACING SCENE

NORT H A M E R I CA by Steve Andersen

Refreshed Dickinson raring to go

enjoying this. I train for people I want to train for. I’ve got a young team” “For the last three years, I was trialling them and most of them failed,” he said. “I found a few that work. I told Joan, ‘If we don’t sell the farm, I want to start training again and it will be different’. “For a few days she didn’t speak to me. Then she was very good. She said I could. I THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Dickinson is most famous in Britain for his five-star 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup, and in the US for guiding Da Hoss (below) to two Breeders’ Cup Miles

was a trainer when I met her and I’ve always been a trainer.” Dickinson’s training accomplishments cross the globe. In Britain and Ireland, he will always be remembered for training the first five finishers in the 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup. In the United States, he is remembered for winning the Breeders’ Cup Mile in 1996 with Da Hoss. Two years later, Da Hoss won the race again with the benefit of only one prep race the preceding month. The trainer’s current stable will be based at his Maryland farm and concentrate on racing on the New York circuit and mid-Atlantic. Aside from Strawbridge, his list of clients includes Gallagher’s Stud of New York; Robert Evans, who campaigned 2014 Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist; Monticule Farm of Kentucky; and California

residents Joanne Nor and Jan Van de Bos. In early April, the stable had 13 runners, a number Dickinson expects to increase to 20 this spring. “The horses arrived late in the fall,” he said. “We had eight horses this winter to get things rolling and build my team up. Most were backward maidens. We hope to get some new two-year-olds. A few owners have hinted they will send their two-year-olds and we’ll see what happens.” With such a young and inexperienced team, it could be months before Dickinson has an impact on the game the way he did in the 1990s and 2000s in the United States, with stakes-calibre runners racing throughout the nation. Dickinson trained Fleet Renee in 2001, the year she won Grade 1 races in the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland and Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park. Three years later, Dickinson trained Tapit to a win in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial. Tapit is now one of North America’s leading stallions. Dickinson, who spent a week at Cheltenham in March, may have another runner to add to that list in the near future. He plans a selective approach to build his stable – and his employees. “I’m happy and I’m enjoying this,” he said. “I train for people I want to train for. I’ve got a young team. I’m old, but my team are young.”

GEORGE SELWYN

“I’m happy and I’m

GEORGE SELWYN

he elements were in place for Michael Dickinson’s return to training at Laurel racecourse in Maryland in early April following a seven-year absence. Everything but the trainer’s composure, that is. “The trainer washed out pre-race,” Dickinson said with his wry sense of humour. Fortunately, the three-year-old Tide Is High held up her end of the bargain, winning a conditions race for Dickinson and owner George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stable. With that, Dickinson was back doing what he loved – training thoroughbreds. Dickinson, 66, announced last August that he would resume training after dedicating recent years to the development of his Tapeta Footings synthetic surface. The surface is in place at North American tracks such as Golden Gate Fields, near San Francisco, Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania and Woodbine, near Toronto; and at Wolverhampton in Britain. Dickinson said he missed training, and decided to return to running a stable after he and his wife, Joan Wakefield, opted not to sell their Maryland farm. “When I retired I had no intention of training again,” he said. “For years, when I was with Tapeta, I was looking at other ways of training.” Dickinson said he developed “about 20 ideas” searching through other sports and industries for theories.

>> 39

May_141_AroundtheGlobe_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 15:29 Page 40

AROUND THE GLOBE

AUST R A L I A by Danny Power

Sydney’s autumn carnival, which included the two-day racing-fest at Randwick labelled The Championships, almost went with without a major win for the ever-effervescent Gai Waterhouse. The great trainer has won a Group 1 race at her hometown carnival for the past 18 years, but this year it looked like she was going to step down from her Queenly status to Mother Hubbard with a cupboard bare of Group 1s coming into the final day on April 16. It took the final Group 1 of the meeting for Waterhouse to prevail when her exciting filly English stormed home to win the All Aged Stakes at Randwick. It was a momentous performance by both females. The filly because she is only the second three-year-old of her sex to win the open weight-for-age sprint in 90 years – the other was the champion Atlantic Jewel in 2012 – and for the trainer because it was her 134th Group 1 winner and her fifth All Aged Stakes, equalling the record held by her late father, the legendary Tommy Smith. The All Aged Stakes wasn’t part of The Championships, now it its third year and already successfully branded by the Australian Turf Club, although this year’s edition failed to attract the international representation that the ATC and Racing NSW’s hierarchy crave to give their expensive $10 million ‘baby’ some international credibility. The ATC relies heavily on Japanese runners at the meeting, because an April date will struggle to attract international horses from Europe and the USA, while nearby Dubai’s World Cup meeting sits nicely in the northern hemisphere timeframe. Three Japanese were expected this year, but injuries sidelined two and the one that did come, Tosen Stardom, suffered a bleeding attack in training that resulted in a threemonth ban from racing. The star of The Championships, and the autumn carnival, was Winx, a very special female who slots in comfortably with comparisons with the two great mares of modern times, the unbeaten Black Caviar and New Zealand’s powerhouse Sunline. It’s almost a year since Winx was beaten, and in that time she has won nine races: six Group 1s, two Group 2s and a Group 3. Her performance in winning the Doncaster – one of the great handicap races in the Australian calendar – under 56.5kg on soft ground after an interrupted passage was enormous, and earned the four-year-old top ranking for best

Winx earns superstar status in Sydney

Winx compares favourably with the top distaffers Black Caviar and Sunline

“The Championships struggles to attract international horses from Europe and the USA”

horse in the world, best turf horse in the world and world’s best miler on the current IFHA Rankings (January 1 to April 10 – her 126 was equal top ranked with Dubai world Cup victor California Chrome).

Winx, a daughter of Street Cry, is the superstar that her trainer Chris Waller has been lacking on his CV. The mare possesses a wonderful turn of foot and will to win that has sometimes left jockey Hugh Bowman speechless. “It’s just a privilege to be able to sit on her back,” he said after the Doncaster demolition on the first day of The Championships. Winx will return in the spring for another crack at the Cox Plate, after which it is likely she will be aimed at an overseas campaign, probably in Hong Kong in December followed by Royal Ascot next year after she has a crack at the headline race of The Championships, the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. This year’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes lacked the depth of the past two editions, won by stars Criterion (2015) and It’s A Dundeel (2014). The former New Zealand mare Lucia Valentina produced a whirlwind finish from near-last to beat the former Aidan O’Brientrained The United States. The win was a career highlight for Newcastle trainer Kris Lees and another notch in the Group 1 belt of champion jockey Damien Oliver, who also won the Queen Of The Turf Stakes earlier in the day on another ex-Kiwi Azkadellia for up-andcoming Melbourne trainer Ciaron Maher. The Australian Derby witnessed something of an upset with the odds-on favourite Tarzino finishing a disappointing fourth after racing too keenly, but a triumph for the exciting New Zealand sire Tavistock (by Montjeu), who sired the winner Tavago. Between the two big race meetings, the internationally recognised Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, at Inglis’ Newmarket saleyards, near Randwick, was the main event. This year’s sale did not reach the heights of past years, with the average down from A$293,000 to A$284,200. The top end of the sale was strong, bolstered by a large international presence. The leading buyer was Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Shadwell Stud Australasia, with agent Angus Gold signing for 19 yearlings (outlay $10.2m). Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s agent Tim Stakemire signed for 11 yearlings ($5.4m). The top-priced yearling was, as expected, the half-brother (by Snitzel) to Winx. The athletic youngster, offered by Segenhoe Stud for breeder John Camilleri, sold for $2.3m to Waterhouse, agent Julian Blaxland and Nasser Lootah’s Emirates Stud.

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May_141_BillGredley_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 15:53 Page 42

THE BIG INTERVIEW BILL GREDLEY

Fortune favours

THE BRAVE Bill Gredley emerged from working class roots in London’s East End to make his mark in the property business – while the commercial world no longer holds him in thrall, the same cannot be said of the thoroughbreds he still loves to breed and race Words Julian Muscat • Photos George Selwyn

hen you can look out through French doors at the splendour of Stetchworth Park Estate, as Bill Gredley can, you are entitled to see the world on your terms. The man who came out of London’s wartorn East End in the 1940s has made his own way through life. He has accrued several fortunes, ruffled as many feathers and consistently aroused comment by his penchant for unorthodoxy. Often to be seen with a smile on his face, he can surprise people by his occasional bouts of vehemence. To enter his fiefdom in Stetchworth, three miles south of Newmarket, brings another surprise. Two statues, a pair of bears at least 12 feet tall, patrol a driveway that leads to the main house, where an equally arresting figure of Geronimo greets you. The Apache talisman is cast aboard his horse on a nearvertical descent, as if he had just jumped Becher’s Brook hard against the inside rail. Once inside, you are ushered into a boardroom where colour threatens to explode from walls overladen with strikingly vibrant paintings. No two of them are alike. The odd classical landscape apart, it is a collection of polar extremes that probably reflect the diversity of their owner’s mind. In one corner, wine flutes strewn randomly on a wooden table are reproduced

with remarkable purity on canvas. Subtle shades of light and dark trace glass curves so faithfully as to be redolent of acclaimed photography. Next to this hangs a morass of colourful, particularly corpulent faces in near-caricature style. “I commissioned this Polish artist to paint 100 of the ugliest faces he could possibly

“Breeding horses

takes me completely away from my other businesses. I find it so relaxing” imagine,” Gredley, 83, says with a smile. “When I look at it, I try to match the faces with those of well-known people, or people I know. I can see Gaddafi in there.” Mischievously, he points out other doppelgangers that would be manna from heaven in the hands of a muck-raking journalist. But that’s Gredley in a nutshell. As he concedes later: “I’m very prone to doing things on the spur of the moment.”

This summons another contrast within the man himself. The lure of spontaneity does not square with the layers of patience required to own racehorses, never mind breed them, as he has done at Stetchworth Park for 40 years now. The first top-class horse he bred and raced was 1991 Eclipse Stakes winner Environment Friend. The grey was followed a year later by User Friendly, who won three Classics before she surrendered her unbeaten record by a scant neck in the 1992 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. In Big Orange, Gredley now has another homebred to point at the big races – starting with the Gold Cup at Ascot. He admits to making mistakes, and plenty of them. He didn’t see why Environment Friend should retire from racing when the horse took up stallion duties: after the Eclipse he ran 24 times over four seasons without winning. And for a brief spell in the early 1990s he had his horses trained at Stetchworth Park Stud. His desire to challenge convention became evident. “Not long after I started having horses I realised how little I knew about it,” he reflects. “In the 1970s

May_141_BillGredley_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 15:54 Page 43

Art lover: Bill Gredley surveys his impressive collection of paintings at home in Stetchworth, Newmarket

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BILL GREDLEY

>> Clive Brittain asked me to take two horses back

to my farm for a rest, a colt and a filly. I turned them out in the same paddock and they had a terrible fight. “But the most wonderful thing about breeding horses is learning about it. It takes me completely away from my other businesses. I find it so relaxing.” Gredley’s affection for horses spawned from the formative years he spent living with his grandmother. He arrived there by a circuitous route.

“A friend said I’d

never turn up at Royal Ascot with a ponytail. So we had a bet and I did it” “I was born in the East End of London,” he starts. “Father was a dock worker, mother was as Irish as the day is long. I was evacuated at the start of the war, aged six, to Wales. I was on my own with a load of other kids and had a label on my shoulder with my name on it. “I was put with a miner; wonderful people he and his family were. Then my father brought me back to London during the Blitz. Well, we were bombed out of our house so we went to my grandmother in Essex, where I stayed until I was 17. “That was the first time I came into contact

with horses, which were ponies that belonged to the gypsies. Big fat things, they were. They never ran anywhere, they walked the whole time. I used to look at them in wonderment. “I went into National Service and was sent to the Air Ministry, where I served at an American base in West Drayton. One of the officers there was an Air Commodore, a bomber pilot who flew an Anson. “He was a racing guy and he took me up in a plane over Bath racecourse. I was fascinated. At that time I didn’t know what a racecourse was!” These would have been merely anecdotal memories had Gredley not made his fortune in the property business through his company, Unex. A regular fixture in any ‘Rich List’ compilation, he soon had the means to get involved with racing and breeding. “I did some deals, made some money,” he says. “I had offices in Mayfair for 25 years and one day I decided to move it all here to Stetchworth. We now have 30 people working here, most of whom came with me from London. It has changed their lives.” Even then, however, Gredley’s engagement with the sport came on his terms. He would often arrive at the races bereft of a tie and a long ponytail tumbling down his back. “That ponytail business seems to have stuck with me,” he reflects. “I know it wasn’t the done thing to go racing wearing a ponytail but I don’t know why it aroused such a lot of comment. I suppose it was because you weren’t conforming.” The origins of it were innocuous enough. He was holidaying in Acapulco when his hair had grown longer that he would normally keep it. “When I got out of the swimming

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BILL GREDLEY

From left to right: User Friendly powers clear of All At Sea in the 1992 Oaks; Gredley greets his 1991 Eclipse winner Environment Friend after the grey’s victory at odds of 28-1; top stayer Big Orange, a contender for this year’s Gold Cup, captures the 2015 Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket

pool I’d borrow one of my wife’s hairbands to tie it up,” Gredley recalls. “A friend said to me I’d never turn up at Royal Ascot looking like that, so we had a bet, and I did it.” What he didn’t know at the time was that people high up in Ascot’s chain of command debated whether he should be asked to leave. He can’t remember when the ponytail was shed but he can remember the circumstances. “I’d been to a party with my late wife Sarah [who died of cancer in 1992] and when I woke up the next morning I found the ponytail in my hand,” he says with a smile. “Sarah had cut it off in the night.” At that time Gredley thought nothing of standing up for what he believed were inequalities or injustices within the sport. He provoked a furore in 1992 when he advocated an owners’ strike to highlight shortcomings in racing’s financial relationship with bookmakers and the pedantic pace of change that saw the Jockey Club eventually hand over much of its power to the newlyconstituted British Horseracing Board (BHB). Those unwilling to rock the boat described the strike as an idle threat, although Gredley’s recollections illustrate how much progress he had made. “I talked to a lot of politicians at the time,” he says. “Douglas Hurd, the Home Secretary, kept telling me racing and bookmaking had to sort out their own differences without troubling the government [with a referred levy settlement]. “Peter Savill was around at the time; he was a rough diamond who I got close to because he wanted to see change as much as I did. I tried to set up a BHB of my own. I had Peter Middleton, then Chairman of Barclays Bank, lined up and some other important people, but then the BHB got up >>

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BILL GREDLEY

Maverick, me? Gredley’s eclectic taste saw him commission a Polish artist to paint 100 of the ugliest faces he could imagine

>> and running. It sorted itself out.”

It was the sort of behaviour that led to Gredley being described as a maverick. “I prefer the word eccentric,” he says. Doesn’t maverick fit him better? “What does maverick mean, exactly?” he replies. To the dictionary’s promptings of individualism, non-conformism, freespirited, unorthodox and unconventional, Gredley smiles and says: “Okay, then I’m happy to be called a maverick.” Although he might have disputed the choice of word 25 years ago, Gredley is far less concerned with such matters now. He still brings a formidable business presence to the boardroom – leopards don’t change their spots – but the time has come for him to smell the roses. His favourite rose garden is his horses. “I get as much enjoyment from them as I always have,” he says. “I was travelling everywhere on business in the US, South America, Germany, France. One day I came back home, got in among the horses and realised I’d had enough of the commercial world. “I didn’t think that would ever happen, but it did. I’d be very surprised if the same thing ever happened with the horses. “I continue to make mistakes, we all do. I might have done things differently when I started had I known then what I know now, but what I love is that it is a great leveller. You spend all that time and money, and when your horses get to the racetrack they can’t even pick their legs up.”

User Friendly was one that could. Her rampage throughout the 1992 season saw her win the Oaks, Irish Oaks and St Leger. She was, quite simply, the horse of a lifetime. Before User Friendly ran as a four-year-old, Gredley sold half of her to Gary Tanaka, who raced predominantly in the US. There was a tug of war over where she should be campaigned but Gredley prevailed in keeping User Friendly in Europe, where she

“People might have

laughed when I told them how I intended to do something but I was entitled to my view” won the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud from five starts in which she never rescaled the heights of her Classic campaign. “At the end of that year Gary bought the other half and sent her to California,” Gredley recalls. “It didn’t suit her; she only ran twice and didn’t do much. Afterwards I felt very sorry to have let her go. There will always be an emotional attachment.” When User Friendly retired Tanaka sold her for $2.5 million at Keeneland in 1995, after which she went to Japan. From there

she returned to Keeneland four years later and was bought by David Nagle for $1.7m. For Gredley, however, living embodiment of User Friendly takes the shape of her unraced half-sister, Friendlier, whose three daughters, Beyond Fashion, Madame Defarge and Unex Mona Lisa, are also among the 18strong broodmare band at Stetchworth. The best of them was Madame Defarge, a winner who ran third in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes for Michael Bell, the latter one of seven trainers Gredley patronises with around 30 horses in training. A pair of three-year-olds to receive favourable mention are Peru, trained by Hugo Palmer, and Dwight D, with William Haggas. In doing so, however, Gredley expects very little. “Today’s swans are tomorrow’s geese,” he maintains. It says a lot about Gredley that he can make the assertion at all. It’s a long way from the land of the Queen Vic to the 450-acre Stetchworth Park estate he bought from the sixth Duke of Sutherland. But he has never wanted to shed his roots. “I have found that you can’t do that even if you wanted to,” he says. “That pleases me. My [six] children are growing up in a totally different world to mine and the one thing I would like to see in them is a bit of humility. “I have made a success of many things I’ve been involved with. People might have laughed when I told them how I intended to do something, but I think I was entitled to my view. It hasn’t done me too badly.”

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

To discuss your sale consigning requirements in 2016, contact Bill Dwan (+353 87 648 5587) or Andrew Mead (07940 597573) dwan@castlebridge.eu mead@castlebridge.eu

May_141_TalkingTo_v2_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 15:55 Page 48

TALKING TO... ROGER VARIAN

Kremlin’s

POWER He’s not sure if he’s got the biggest string in Newmarket, but what is certain is that trainer Roger Varian – boosted by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid’s support – has a lot to go to war with By Tim Richards • Photos George Selwyn

n March – a time when the majority of your string are in exercise only – you won the Dubai Sheema Classic with Postponed. What challenges are there in getting a horse to peak early? You must be organised. The plan to run in Dubai has to be set in motion in the autumn/early winter. You need time to prepare the horse for a Dubai campaign – it cannot work as an afterthought. Horses thrive going into the warmer weather and it has never proved to be a problem sending a horse from a cold climate to a warm climate. Is there more improvement to come with this five-year-old and will he be trained with an international or domestic campaign in mind? It is possible that Postponed is still improving as the progeny of his sire Dubawi tend to get better with age. He looks to me like a horse in his prime. Postponed will have a summer campaign leading up to an attempt at defending his King George crown and it is likely his next target will be the Coronation Cup at Epsom. I believe good or faster ground is key to seeing him at his best. It is too soon to be making plans regarding domestic or international plans in the autumn. Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum moved Postponed and around 30 other horses to your stable from Luca Cumani, which prompted plenty of discussion in the press. How do you deal with these situations? Owners pay the bills and they have the right to move their horses to another trainer if for some reason they are not happy; it is part of the industry that we have to deal with. This was a high-profile move that naturally gained media coverage. Most important for me was to be honest and respectful to the people closely

involved with the change of circumstances, the owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid and trainer Luca Cumani. I spoke with Luca at length one evening, some considerable time before the story broke. He could not have been more of a gentleman. I admire him for that. As a youngster you were committed to jumping, spending time in the point-to-point yard of Alan and Lawney Hill, riding seven winners

“It’s great we have a large and healthy number of horses. I am ambitious – I always have been”

during a three-year spell with Josh Gifford and even three winners as a conditional in Maryland. What brought about the switch to the Flat? I became very interested in Flat racing while I was at Josh Gifford’s. I enjoyed reading the pedigrees and got hooked one year watching the build-up to the Guineas. I was fortunate that Josh did not entertain summer jumping so I got a good summer holiday every year and went straight to Newmarket to spend time working for Michael Jarvis. After I got hurt in a fall in America, Michael offered me the role as his assistant. I didn’t need to think twice before taking him up on the offer. In which ways did your early jumping experience prepare you for life as a

Flat trainer in Newmarket? I worked for Josh Gifford between 1998 and 2001. It was a great time in Findon and Josh was a gentleman to work for. He was a hard taskmaster but wanted the lads to enjoy themselves, too. It was a great place to learn some valuable ‘life’ lessons; I was much the wiser leaving Findon than I was when I arrived. Being exposed to jump racing gives you a level of horsemanship that stands up whatever sphere of the industry you’re in, be it sales, breeding or training. This season you are training around 200 horses, possibly the largest string in Newmarket. Can you explain what excites you about the responsibility of being in charge of so many horses? I’m not sure we are the biggest string in Newmarket, but it’s great we have a large and healthy number of horses. I am ambitious – I always have been. What excites me is seeing the buzz and ambition from the team around me. I believe this game needs to be shared. Training a large number of horses, I get to enjoy the action with many different people – owners, staff and family alike. Promoting the sport in the public domain is important, too, and the British media covers racing well. But I would love to see racing receive more colour and space in the dailies, particularly in the immediate build-up to big races. That would develop a national level of interest, as it does in some other racing nations. In Japan, for instance, racing is the third biggest sport behind football and baseball, and is portrayed that way. Here racing always seems to be elbowing for space between other sports. Is there also a degree of trepidation with training such a big string?? I don’t have any negative feelings about training a large string. We are in a privileged position >> THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

May_141_TalkingTo_v2_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 15:55 Page 49

Roger Varian is in his sixth season training having taken over the running of Kremlin House Stables from his late boss Michael Jarvis in 2011

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

May_141_TalkingTo_v2_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 15:56 Page 50

R O G E R VA R I A N >> and any added pressures should be embraced.

Last winter we worked on developing the team and structure of the business in order to deal effectively with a large number of horses. A business should be able to cope with growth but it is important to have key personnel in key positions, otherwise you find yourself swimming up hill. Fortunately, we have a great team from the bottom to the top with some very good managers. As a trainer you have to find the right staff; when you do, you have to trust them and delegate. How tricky was the transition from offering opinions as an assistant to making the decisions as a trainer? Unfortunately for Michael his health was deteriorating during his last season training, which meant I took on more responsibilities than a regular assistant trainer would normally do. This was a sad time for the boss but it meant that when I took over the licence the transition was less of a culture shock than perhaps it might have been. Of course, when your name is on the licence you’ve got to get used to new pressures and you find out quickly the buck stops with you. I was very conscious that I had nothing to fall back on if things didn’t work out. I was anxious to do Michael justice and prove to the outside world that I was the right man to be taking on the job. What important lessons did you learn during your time with Jarvis? I was incredibly lucky to work under Michael for ten years. He was a gentleman from the day I met him until the day he died. He was unflappable and so calm in any situation. Michael was also seriously competitive, which was sometimes lost on people because of his relaxed demeanour. I was spoilt to have him in my corner for the first six months that I trained. Starting off as a salaried trainer, you always said you wanted to have your own business. Are you any nearer? I was a salaried trainer for the first two years I was training, and I couldn’t have scripted a better way to start. It allowed me to concentrate on the horses and the owners without the stress of managing a business. But after two years the time was right for my wife Hanako and I to set up our own business and we have since leased Kremlin House Stables from Michael’s widow, Gay Jarvis. Varian Stables Ltd started trading in the spring of 2013. The effort put into training horses, the combination of hard work, success and failure, is something that becomes very personal to the trainer because you invest your entire life in this industry. Andrea Atzeni and Harry Bentley are on board this season, but both with separate retainers. How will your jockey set-up work?

Varian and wife Hanako in the Meydan winner’s enclosure after Postponed’s superb

I wanted a jockey structure that will allow for consistency. Andrea is employed by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid and will ride for him before anyone else. I’m sure he will also have plenty of opportunities to ride for my other owners and I’d like him to be on as many of my horses as possible. He’s an exceptional talent. Harry has a contract with HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani and will ride for him before me. However, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani does not have a vast string and I think Harry will ride for me very regularly. I think he’s in a good position to take the next step forward in his career. This could be his breakthrough year; I’m certain he will be in demand from a number of other trainers. I also have a lot of time for Jack Mitchell. He rides out regularly,

works hard and deserves his chances. His confidence is high after a good winter and I hope his outside support picks up as well. You acknowledge the importance of global competition and, with your Japanese wife Hanako, do you have long-term ambitions on the massively endowed big races in Japan? With the help of Hanako I have learnt a lot about Japan and met a lot of the Japanese racing personalities including owners, trainers and jockeys. It is an ambition to train a Group 1 winner in Japan. My brother-in-law, Mitsu Nakauchida, trains in Japan and is doing very well. Racing in Japan is an amazing experience. The tracks regularly attract over 100,000 fans

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

May_141_TalkingTo_v2_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 15:56 Page 51

R O G E R VA R I A N

victory in the Dubai Sheema Classic under Andrea Atzeni, for which Sheikh Mohammed Obaid’s horse won nearly £2.5 million

and it is a hugely popular sport. It is no coincidence they are enjoying global success. Does Hanako, who has presented you with a daughter, Momoka, and a son, Eiji, play a part in the running of the yard? Hanako knows me better than anyone and has had a huge influence on my career, although she has not been seen in the yard as regularly as you might think. She has had a full-time job working for Darley Japan, which is due to finish on May 1. So we are likely to be seeing more of her. Training horses does not allow much time out, but we are family people and any spare time is happily spent with the kids. They are 4 and 2, and very funny at that age. THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

There has been lots of talk about a lack of suitable employees in our sport. How easily have you found recruitment and retention of staff? Racing is a labour-dependent industry and is not the only one having difficulties with staff recruitment and retention. It’s tougher finding staff in winter when the days are short and it’s not so glamorous, but once into April there are more staff available, particularly those used to working in warmer climates. I think, as an employer, your team needs to know that you generally care about their input and also their wellbeing. Everyone has a different role to play within the operation and if people feel valued they will give you so much more. I am lucky to have a great team.

You campaigned Kingston Hill through the 2014 Triple Crown programme of the Guineas, Derby, St Leger and he did you proud, finishing eighth, second and first, respectively. Is there still a place for our Triple Crown? Our Triple Crown will always be harder to achieve than the US equivalent due to the variation in distances and dates. When we ran Kingston Hill in all three Classics I was surprised how few horses had tried to do it over the years. I am sure that with more suitable underfoot conditions Kingston Hill would have gone closer to winning the Triple Crown. Camelot nearly achieved it in 2012 and that created huge excitement throughout the sport. At some stage a superstar will come along with

May_141_TalkingTo_v2_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 15:56 Page 52

R O G E R VA R I A N

Kingston Hill and Andrea Atzeni streak clear to win the 2014 St Leger and provide Roger Varian with a first Classic success

>> all the qualities to win the Triple Crown and

hopefully connections will give it a go. There is nothing like witnessing a genuinely special horse being given the opportunity to create history. And the commercial benefits to our sport would be huge. You are a big competitor on the allweather. Is there a tipping point in terms of the number of fixtures (versus turf) and are we close to it? I think the balance is fine, but I’d not want to see too much more all-weather during the turf season. The all-weather has become a particularly important tool for educating maidens over the winter. Before the proliferation of all-weather racing, trainers were forced to rush backward two-year-olds into useful autumn maidens or wait to gain experience in the spring. Now we are seeing a number of top-quality horses make their debuts over the winter. Look at Jack Hobbs, who went on to win the Irish Derby after making his debut at Wolverhampton on December 27. The all-weather experience has to be helpful to trainers, particularly as four of the five Classics are run early.

Do you get involved in racing politics, or the local Newmarket community? I try to keep up with racing politics, although it is not always easy as it is an ever-changing and complicated beast. It is my understanding that we have got some great minds currently leading us in Nick Rust and Steve Harman. It is important that we get behind them. Give us a two-year-old, three-year-old and older horse to follow this season...

My two-year-old is Zeelander, a Dubawi colt and late summer/autumn type. My three-yearold Ennaad, who completed his hat-trick on the all-weather at Kempton over Easter, should keep improving and may go for the Heron Stakes at the end of May. My older horse is the aforementioned Postponed, who we hope will keep improving through the summer. Do you consider the replacing of 90% of maiden races with novice events to be a good thing for the sport? I can see the logic in the changes, as under the old programme there were limited chances to run first-time-out winners before Royal Ascot and the start of the nursery programme in July. Now trainers who have prepared a horse to win on debut have the opportunity to get more experience into the horse before tackling stakes company. I won’t be too affected by this earlyseason change, as I don’t run many five- or sixfurlong two-year-olds. But I think a key factor will be how many juveniles will be able to defy a penalty, and whether or not asking a young horse to concede 7lb is too much. On the other hand, some trainers might be exasperated at having to tackle a wide-margin first-time-out winner, even in receipt of 7lb. There is no doubting the programme is radical. Time will tell if 90% was too drastic a change too soon. Your first runner, Laaheb, was fourth in the Dubai Sheema Classic, a race you won this year. Evaluate your first five years in the job, and what would you like to achieve in the next five? Ups and downs but generally progressive. The graph is pointing in the right direction, which is the most important thing. The first five years

have gone some way to cementing foundations, but you cannot take anything for granted and hopefully the next five years will prove that the first five were no fluke.

CLOSE UP AND... PERSONAL Four dinner party guests… Barack Obama, George Clooney, James Corden and Julia Roberts Actor to play me in a film… Harry Reid I relax by… spending time with the kids Favourite book… the Emperor series by Conn Iggulden My guiltiest pleasure… watching X Factor

CLOSE UP AND... PROFESSIONAL Best bet I’ve ever had… a few quid each-way on Millville, who won at 12-1 at Lingfield about ten years ago Racing has taught me… don’t get carried away with winning; don’t get down with losing; stay level Alternative career… psychiatrist Biggest disappointment… Kingston Hill’s Guineas run. I thought he could win, but in hindsight it wasn’t a bad effort I dream of winning… the Derby

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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May_141_EBF EB_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 16:11 Page 54

EUROPEAN BREEDERS’ FUND

RACING’S

best-kept secret In 2016, the EBF will make its biggest financial contribution to British racing, as well as backing a valuable new fillies’ series, yet the organisation still goes largely unheralded Words Emma Berry

GEORGE SELWYN

ow often have you scanned a racecard and seen the initials EBF preceding a race without giving the sponsor a further thought? Throughout the 2016 Flat season, those initials will be seen on 618 occasions, as that is the number of races the British wing of the European Breeders’ Fund (the BEBF) will be sponsoring this year, adding a much needed £1,637,000 to the prize-money fund. Set up in 1983 when a funding shortfall threatened the prize-money allocation to twoyear-old maidens, the EBF draws its finance principally from European stallion owners, with further ‘international stallion income’ from countries such as America and Japan. The respective stallion owners’ contribution is set on a sliding scale based on nomination fee and the number of mares covered, with all progeny of each stallion signed up to the scheme automatically eligible for EBF races.

“The EBF was started in Britain by a group led by Peter Willett, and they very quickly pulled in Ireland and France, with Italy, Germany and Switzerland joining later,” explains the EBF’s CEO Kerry Murphy. “It was 90% funded by stallion owners and still is now. Every penny of stallion income gets paid straight back into prize-money. “The international stallion income comes from the way we allow international foals to join the EBF and the 50% fee from a handful of stallions in America.” With the ending of the cross-registration agreement between the EBF and the Breeders’ Cup in 2010, the team at Shadai was persuaded to sign up its impressive roster of stallions to the EBF several years ago. Murphy adds: “It was a real boost to have the Japanese stallions join the EBF. We receive about $1 million in income from stallion fees and the three stages owners can nominate a horse

they’ve bred or bought to the EBF even if it is by a non-EBF stallion. Some of the international income is used for running costs but it more than covers all our running costs.” Despite the apparent popularity of select American-bred horses at the breeze-up sales, Murphy notes a general decrease in arrivals from the US. She says: “Although we’re receiving $1 million from abroad, the drop off in Americanbreds coming to Europe is quite significant. The number is down by roughly 50% over the last ten years.” Over the years, the BEBF has boosted the prize-money coffers by more than £30 million. A 20% increase in this year’s contribution to prize-money represents the largest amount the BEBF has ever assigned – up from £1,347,000 last year – and the reason for that is largely good news for the British breeding industry. >>

May_141_EBF EB_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 16:13 Page 55

NUMBER OF RACES

RACES BY TYPE Ascot

£76,000 16 £47,000 Bath 13 £28,000 Beverley 10 £9,500 Brighton 13 £15,000 Carlisle 11 £26,500 Catterick 10 £9,000 Chelmsford 14 £13,000 Chepstow 9 £4,500 Chester 13 £43,500 Doncaster 18 £72,500 Epsom 8 £6,500 Ffos Lass 5 £6,500 Goodwood 21 £91,000 Hamilton 15 £45,500 Haydock 26 £55,000 Kempton 32 £58,000 Leicester 17 £49,500 Lingfield 32 £71,500 Musselburgh £71,500 17 £52,000 Newbury 20 £53,500 Newcastle 13 £18,500

Ayr

z 2yo Maiden/Novice

394

£244,500

15%

z 2yo “Sire Restricted” Maidens

£50,000

3.0%

z 2yo Conditions

£75,000

4.6%

z Nurseries

£77,000

4.7%

z 2yo Listed

£80,000

4.9%

z 3yo & up Only Maidens

£82,000

5.0%

z 3yo & up Conditions

£90,000

5.5%

z 3yo Only Fillies Handicaps

£261,000

16.0%

z 3yo Only Listed

£353,500

21.6%

z Breeders Series Handicaps

£305,000

18.6%

Handicaps z Open

£15,000

0.7%

Nottingham

Stakes z Classified

£4,000

0.4%

Pontefract

618

£1,637,000

Newmarket

51 £267,500

Redcar

£68,000

16 £59,500

£59,500

£15,500 Ripon

12 £15,500 10 £26,500

Salisbury

24 £85,000

£267,500

27 £68,000

Sandown Southwell

£85,000

17 £23,500

7 £6,000

Thirsk

18 £29,500

Wetherby Windsor Wolverhampton £25,000 Yarmouth

York 1

1 £500 17 £15,500 17 £25,000 16 £20,000 19 £113,000

May_141_EBF EB_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 16:11 Page 56

EUROPEAN BREEDERS’ FUND “The British income is at an all-time high as we have more successful stallions here now,” says Murphy. “The number of individual farms standing stallions has dropped significantly but the quality of the stallions here has easily overtaken America.” The trustees of the BEBF – Philip Freedman (Chairman), Philip Mitchell, Simon Sweeting, Sam Bullard and Chris Richardson – are charged with allocating the funds raised from British stallions. In line with its original mission, just over 400 of the races that will receive backing this year are two-year-old maidens, and the BEBF is also lending its support to a valuable new series of handicaps for fillies and mares that fall just short of Listed class (see panel for further details). Murphy explains: “Each member country of the EBF deals with its own stallion income and the pay-out, so it’s entirely up to them to allocate the money as they see fit. The annual payment is decided upon in September in readiness for the following season. “The trustees meet six times a year and our team in the office works really closely with the BHA on race programming. To adhere to the EBF principles we have to confine races to EBF-eligible horses only. What’s changed in the last few years is that whereas formerly three-quarters of the total EBF contribution would have gone into maiden races, in the last few years we’ve decided to put less into maiden races as the BHA has set minimum values. We’ve moved some of the money to support things likes the fillies’ series and to maintain conditions races, which frankly are under >>

GENDER BREAKDOWN 2YO RACES O All

298

(68.2%)

113

(25.8%)

Colts & Geldings 20 O

(4.5%)

O Fillies

Unallocated

3YO ONLY RACES

O All

(60.4%)

(37.2%)

O Colts & Geldings 1

(2.3%)

O Fillies

3YO+ RACES

O All

(24.8%)

103

(75.1%)

O Fillies

O Colts & Geldings 0

(0%)

GEORGE SELWYN

Not just extra prize-money but a Yorkshire hamper for Richard Hannon from BEBF Chairman Philip Freedman, left, and Harry Herbert

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ownerbreeder ad pages 05-2016_OwnerBreeder Ad pages 05-2016 21/04/2016 10:47 Page 57

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By Leading International Sire GIANT’S CAUSEWAY FIRST TWO-YEAR-OLDS 2016

First yearlings sold for up to £40,000

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May_141_EBF EB_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 16:11 Page 59

EUROPEAN BREEDERS’ FUND

EMMA BERRY

EBF Fillies’ Series a boost for owners and breeders

Kerry Murphy: BEBF contribution has grown with success of British stallions

>> threat if we don't support them, because they

don’t get very big fields.” Though individual racecourses are able to pitch for EBF sponsorship, Murphy maintains that there are strict requirements which need to be met. She says: “We ask racecourses to match our funding of races – it’s not just a hand-out. We’re all for racecourses coming to us and we want to work with them but they’ve got to put the money down. “We are also right behind the BHA with the Authorised Betting Partner initiative and we have said to racecourses we will not be cosponsors with firms that haven’t signed up as APBs.” The BEBF also allocates a sum to support HBLB-backed veterinary research projects, which has been doubled this year to £20,000. BEBF Chairman Philip Freedman is keen to stress, however, that recycling the stalliongenerated income back into prize-money is the body’s number one concern. He says: “We’re the second-biggest sponsor of racing and it’s important for us to be able to show that we’re putting our income back into racing. We’ve made a conscious effort in the last few years to ensure that our principal funders – the stallion studs – are represented among our trustees.” Freedman continues: “Thank goodness the income to the British EBF is higher than it has ever been – that’s down to the strength of the British stallions. The likelihood is that the income from 2016, which will govern our sponsorship for 2017, will be higher again.” At a time when the BHA has issued a plea for more horses in training, any incentives to keep the current pool of horses in training for longer and encourage further investment will be music to the ears of owners, breeders and trainers alike. THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Newmarket’s Craven meeting saw the launch of the £625,000 EBF Breeders’ Fillies’ Series – a total of 20 races including four finals over a range of distances at the Rowley Mile on Saturday, October 1 – organised in association with the BHA and TBA. “With the EBF pay-out growing year on year at the moment there’s a lot of focus on how we can improve things, such as people breeding and owning fillies, and trying to deter them from exporting or retiring fillies too early,” says EBF CEO Kerry Murphy. “That's where the EBF Breeders’ Fillies’ Series has come in, which was driven by a TBA report on the fillies’ programme, and I know that Ruth Quinn at the BHA has spent a lot of time going over the fillies’ programme. They asked us if we would put a big chunk of money into this and the trustees agreed. The BEBF is putting in £305,000, with the rest coming from the Levy Board, executive contribution from the racecourses and other sponsors.” The series for three-year-olds and above includes races over six, eight, ten and 12 furlongs, each with a minimum value of £20,000, with the finals each worth £50,000. Furthermore, the TBA is offering nomination vouchers of up to £25,000 to owners of the four final winners who are also TBA members. To qualify for the finals, fillies and mares must have won or been placed in one of the qualifying races, which start at Ascot with a £45,000 open handicap over a mile on May 7. “We are delighted to see this series up and running for fillies just below Pattern level,” says TBA Chairman Julian Richmond-Watson. “Many of our members have commented on the lack of opportunities for these fillies, particularly later in the season, and we hope that the Newmarket races provide connections with a suitable end-of-season target.” The BHA’s Director of Racing Development, Ruth Quinn, adds: “This series is designed to create and enhance opportunities for those fillies often referred to as ‘twilight’ horses. It is a valuable and worthwhile initiative, and one which complements the BHA’s ongoing review into the fillies’ race programme. While we have made great improvements to the fillies’ programme in recent years, the generous prize-money provided by the EBF and TBA serves to further strengthen the fare for fillies. “It is excellent news, too, that several racecourses, when approached by us, have upgraded races in order to be part of this series.”

EBF BREEDERS’ FILLIES’ SERIES 2016 Date

May 7 May 14 May 15 May 20 June 10 June 24 July 8 July 16 July 16 July 27 August 11 August 13 Sept 3 Sept 3 Sept 10 Sept 15 Oct 1 Oct 1 Oct 1 Oct 1

Course

Age

Ascot Doncaster Ripon Goodwood York Chester Ascot Newbury Newmarket Goodwood Salisbury Lingfield Ascot Haydock Doncaster Pontefract Newmarket Newmarket Newmarket Newmarket

3yo & up 3yo & up 3yo & up 3yo & up 3yo & up 3yo & up 3yo & up 3yo & up 3yo & up 3yo & up 3yo & up 3yo & up 3yo & up 3yo & up 3yo & up 3yo & up 3yo & up 3yo & up 3yo & up 3yo & up

Distance

8f 10f 6f 12f 6f 10f 12f 8f 6f 10f 12f 8f 8f 10f 12f 6f 6f 8f 10f 12f

Rating Prize-money

Open 81-95 76-95 71-90 81-100 71-90 76-95 81-100 76-95 81-100 81-100 76-95 86-100 86-100 86-100 86-100 Open Open Open Open

£45,000 £20,000 £20,000 £20,000 £30,000 £20,000 £20,000 £30,000 £20,000 £30,000 £30,000 £20,000 £30,000 £30,000 £30,000 £30,000 £50,000 £50,000 £50,000 £50,000

May_141_Bloodstock_Intro_Owner 21/04/2016 17:47 Page 61

BREEDERS’ DIGEST By EMMA BERRY, Bloodstock Editor

Our bloodstock coverage this month includes:

• Sales Circuit: More than £2 million traded in an hour at Goffs’ Aintree Sale – pages 62-64 • Caulfield Files: The golden opportunity of California Chrome’s stud career – pages 66-67 • Dr Statz: How well the top National Hunt sires upgrade their mares – page 88

Protection and preservation over self-promotion

eyes glaze over. While I hasten to stress that the work of the TBA, while important, is in no way boring, this column was brought to mind when reading certain comments in this month’s leader written by TBA Chairman Julian Richmond-Watson (see page 9). Julian highlights the fact that a recent strategy review raised the question of whether the TBA as a body is communicating its aims and achievements effectively enough and concedes that, “our activity behind the scenes with the government and European bodies, while vital, is not the stuff of headlines”. The very fact that the TBA is set to celebrate its centenary next year is testament to its enduring importance. Its core ambition of protecting the thoroughbred breed – which was essentially the reason for its formation during the First World War – remains the same. Protection comes in a manner of forms. Though the thoroughbred is hardly in danger of dying out, as it once was, the TBA’s modernday concerns are centred more on preserving the versatility within the breed. There are very real fears that we could end up with a gene pool woefully short on stamina, as more and more sprint-bred stallions are retired to stud, often without racing past their two-year-old season. That’s not to say that some of these colts won’t go on to be good sires – and the success and popularity of Dark Angel provides the perfect example of this – but as both a racing fan and small breeder, I love to see a horse prove his mental and physical toughness over a number of seasons. The TBA’s Stayers’ Report, which was launched last year, is the starting point for the provision of enhanced opportunities and rewards for horses bred for middle distances or beyond, which will hopefully start to encourage more breeders to use stallions capable of producing such runners.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

GEORGE SELWYN

here’s a column in my favourite nonracing publication The Week called ‘Boring But Important’ in which the key points are outlined for subjects which might otherwise makes one’s

The Gold Cup remains a highlight of Royal Ascot but fewer stayers are being bred

Other behind-the-scenes work by the TBA which also probably isn’t fully credited is its liaison with other racing bodies. The factionalisation of British racing has often been “the stuff of headlines” for all the wrong reasons. Far less interesting for those with a tabloid agenda are the examples of different groups working together for the greater good of our sport. An excellent recent example of this can be seen in the creation of the EBF Breeders’ Fillies’ Series, which is outlined in more detail on pages 54-59. The series is the result of a collaboration between the EBF, TBA and BHA, and aims to provide a welcome fillip to those owners and/or breeders racing fillies which fall just below Listed class. An added bonus for owner/breeders who are also TBA members is the chance to win a nomination voucher of up to £25,000 from the four finals over different distances to be run on Sun Chariot Stakes day at Newmarket in October. The work of the EBF, which decided to lend significant financial backing to the series thanks to the TBA’s report on the fillies’ racing programme, is something which could easily be taken for granted, so accustomed are we to seeing its name attached to races all over the country. Our in-depth look at the role played by the British wing of the EBF will hopefully serve

as a reminder of its vital role within the wider racing world, and it’s worth bearing in mind when we grumble about stallion fees that it is the owners of the most popular and expensive stallions that make the biggest contribution to this fund – all of which is ploughed back into prize-money.

Australia to register breeders There was a heated response from Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBAus) last month to the introduction of a requirement by Racing Australia for breeders to be governed by the Rules of Racing. Henceforth, anyone registering a foal in the Australian Stud Book (ASB) will be required to sign a form acknowledging this change. While Racing Australia announced in its press release that its intention is to improve its ability to track the whereabouts of thoroughbreds throughout their lives, the TBAus hailed the move as a “power-grab” by Racing Australia. The breeders instead favour the creation of the role of an ASB Steward who would investigate breaches of ASB rules, with potential disqualifications of up to ten years for breeders found guilty of offences relating to animal cruelty. We’ll keep you updated on this story as it unfolds in the coming months.

May_141_Sales_Circuit_Sales 21/04/2016 16:37 Page 62

SALES CIRCUIT By CARL EVANS

Condensed Craven Sale sees US-breds in demand Average and median figures on the rise as a select number offered at Newmarket

The only son from the first crop of The Factor in the Craven Sale sold for 350,000gns

proved a profitable investment at this event for clients of Mark Dwyer’s Oaks Farm Stables when Jamie McCalmont brought the hammer down on behalf of Coolmore Stud’s Magnier, Tabor and Smith partnership. No less noticeable were the six Keeneland

LAUAR GREEN/TATTERSALLS IRELAND

This sale suffered a wobble in several figures last year following a record event in 2013, but righted itself with a solid display at the latest staging. There were no millionaire sales of the type seen in 2013, when a War Front colt made 1,150,000gns, and this year’s top price of 360,000gns was way below the 850,000gns best in 2014, which was also given for a War Front colt. However, the median bettered the previous record set 12 months’ earlier, climbing a further 9%, and the average rose 8%. No fewer than 17 horses made 200,000gns or more, although the clearance rate dipped 8% to 73%. A slightly smaller catalogue resulted in 107 horses entering the ring – compared to 121 last year – and 78 found buyers. Talk in advance was that pinhookers had found it hard to buy the really smart yearlings that could have created a seven-figure sale at this, Europe’s highest-grossing breeze-up auction, and it was telling that the top lot, a 360,000gns son of Invincible Spirit, was sourced from that fruit bowl of yearling bluebloods, Book 1 of Tattersalls’ October Sale. Bought for 150,000gns on that occasion, he

TATTERSALLS

Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up Sale

Top lot at Ascot was this Exceed And Excel filly, who is to be trained by Edward Lynam

September Yearling Sale graduates who reached the top-ten board. All were bought and reoffered by Irish pinhookers, who clearly retain faith in North American bloodstock. That can mean attempting to sell a breezer by a stallion who is little-known in Europe, but if the sire in question is the son of a top-flight stallion whose progeny have done well on turf, it is unlikely to be a negative factor. That proved the case with a colt by The Factor, a son of War Front standing at Lane’s End Farm. Consigned by Tally-Ho Stud, he too joined Coolmore, this time in partnership with Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Stables. Another buyer of a US-sourced colt was Alastair Donald of SackvilleDonald, who gave 270,000gns on behalf of Hong Kong racehorse owner P K Siu for a colt by the late Scat Daddy. One day later, Siu’s Stormy Antarctic, who had been bought at this sale last year for 200,000gns, became a leading contender for the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas when winning the Craven Stakes. Willie Browne’s Mocklershill was the leading consignor, turning over 925,000gns by selling seven horses, while Charlie Gordon-Watson THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

May_141_Sales_Circuit_Sales 21/04/2016 16:37 Page 63

Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up Sale Top lots Sex/Breeding

Vendor

C Invincible Spirit – Loch Jipp (Belong To Me)

Oaks Farm Stables

Price (gns) Buyer 360,000 Jamie McCalmont

C The Factor – Sweet Belle (Deputy Commander)

Tally-Ho Stud

350,000 Coolmore & Stonestreet Stables

C Exchange Rate – Blessings Count (Pulpit)

Lynn Lodge Stud

340,000 Blandford Bloodstock

C Zoffany – Flying Flag (Entrepreneur)

Grove Stud

320,000 Hillen & Ryan

C Invincible Spirit – Mambo Light (Kingmambo)

Oak Tree Farm

320,000 Rob Speers

LAURA GREEN/TATTERSALLS

C More Than Ready – Rainbow Luck (Honour And Glory) Brown Island Stables 300,000 C Gordon-Watson Bloodstock C Scat Daddy – Rosangela (El Prado)

Oak Tree Farm

270,000 SackvilleDonald

C More Than Ready – Limonar (Street Cry)

Mocklershill

220,000 Shadwell Estate

F Showcasing – Thankful (Diesis)

Yeomanstown Stud

220,000 Saeed Altayer

C Nathaniel – Wait It Out (Swain)

Mocklershill

220,000 Jamie McCalmont

Five-year tale

was leading purchaser, taking seven horses for 802,000gns. That was slightly ahead of Turkey’s Ibrahim Araci, who bought four horses with Rob Speers for 775,000gns.

Tattersalls Ireland Ascot Breeze-Up Sale Steadily growing as a feature of the breeze-up season, and happy to be the first of the year in Europe, this one-day sale took a big step forward. It is anyone’s guess whether Brightwells, which had created and run the event until selling its bloodstock division to Tattersalls Ireland last autumn, would have managed to grow the catalogue from 46 horses last year to 85 this, or achieve a 10% improvement in median and 38% rise in average, but consignors and buyers had definitely warmed to it following a shaky start and a one-year gap between the 2011 and 2013 editions. The clearance rate dipped slightly to 69%, but given the much bigger catalogue that was not unexpected. A further indicator of the event’s wellbeing came in the shape of a first six-figure lot, soon followed by two more. Ubiquitous bloodstock agent Tom Malone landed the biggest prize, a 180,000gns daughter of Exceed And Excel, who he said would be joining trainer Edward Lynam to run in the colours of Charles Wentworth. The same filly had barely registered when making 30,000gns at Book 1 of the October Sale, but she proved a very profitable purchase by her breeze-up consignor, Roger Marley, of Yorkshire-based Church Farm Stables. Just ahead of Marley on the leading consignors’ list was Con Marnane’s Bansha THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Year

Sold

Agg (gns)

Avg (gns)

Mdn (gns)

Top Price (gns)

2016

8,641,500

110,788

77,500

360,000

2015

9,893,500

103,057

71,000

850,000

2014

10,489,000

112,785

70,000

1,150,000

2013

103

9,235,000

89,660

55,000

760,000

2012

117

8,578,000

73,316

57,000

500,000

House Stables, selling seven lots for £272,000.

Goffs UK Aintree HIT Sale Held on the opening day of the Grand National meeting, and similar in size and design to sales held at the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals, this new event proved a first-time-out winner.

Turnover of more than £2 million was double the sum Goffs UK’s Managing Director Henry Beeby had aspired to when the event was first mooted, and at its conclusion he was quick to say it would be back in the sales calendar next year. Held in the winner’s enclosure, it was a buzzy event that generated an atmosphere lacking at postracing auctions held at Newbury and run by DBS before it was renamed Goffs UK. An average in excess of £100,000 and a >>

EMMA BERRY

Ibrahim Araci was active at the Craven

Ascot racecourse provides a stately backdrop for the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-up Sale

May_141_Sales_Circuit_Sales 21/04/2016 16:38 Page 64

SALES CIRCUIT

sold – were further indicators of the occasion’s success. All the ingredients were in place at Aintree, starting with leading owners and their representatives, many of whom were in Liverpool for the racing. It fell during the middle of the Irish point-to-point season, so there were some smart horses with decent pedigrees and the crucial fresh form that gives a horse added appeal, and there was a smattering of bumper performers, too. No less important, in terms of helping to promote the sale, was a horse with a Grand National entry. Nine-year-old Black Thunder, offered from Paul Nicholls’ stable, was more than twice the age of many in the catalogue, but his bigrace entry was a talking point. Making £90,000, he was bought by Robert WaleyCohen and three friends, and duly took his place in the National line-up under the buyer’s son, Sam. Pulled up after a blunder at the water jump, he should give his new owners plenty of fun. The top horse, four-year-old Samcro, was consigned by Colin Bowe, who is Irish pointing’s equivalent of Willie Mullins. Bowe has a superb record of winning races with first-time-out four-year-olds, and is brave enough to run them just before a sale. “That’s the nature of the job,” he said phlegmatically when asked about the risks of running Samcro in a three-mile race over fences just five days ahead of his appearance at Aintree. Mags O’Toole brought the hammer down for this one with a bid of £335,000, a new high for a horse sold at one of these niche festival auctions. Gordon Elliott went down as the buyer, and given the association he and O’Toole have with Gigginstown House Stud it will be no surprise if Samcro carries Michael O’Leary’s colours when next seen. Perhaps the Ryanair boss had a premonition he would win the Grand National with a maiden over fences, and was therefore prepared to dig deep to buy the youngster. At the sale’s conclusion, bloodstock agent Tom Malone, who bought three horses, was asked if he was a fan of the concept. “If the right horses are available we will be there, regardless of when or where or who is staging it,” he said. One man he may not have expected to see in the bidding area was Sheikh Fahad, whose Qatar Racing and Pearl Bloodstock interests have made him a leading player on the Flat. Eighteen months ago you would not have expected to see him buying an Irish pointer, but the sheikh has taken a sporting interest in riding, and with it a greater awareness of jump racing. At this sale he bought five-yearold Irish pointer Carter McKay for £160,000, and his Irish representative, Peter Molony, said Willie Mullins would do the training.

Tattersalls Ireland Ascot Breeze-Up Top lots Sex/Breeding

Vendor

Price (£)

Buyer

F Exceed And Excel – Masai Queen (Mujadil)

Church Farm Stables

180,000

Tom Malone

C Lonhro – Wild Idle (Seeking The Gold)

Kilminfoyle House Stud 170,000

Dick O'Gorman

C Equiano – Miss Rimex (Ezzoud)

Grove Stud

Hillen & Byrne

115,000

F Pivotal – Coy (Danehill)

Greenhills Farm

95,000

Dermot Cantillon

C Equiano – Majoune (Take Risks)

Lynn Lodge Stud

78,000

Dermot Cantillon

C Kyllachy – Director’s Dream (Act One)

Brown Island Stables

75,000

David Phelan

C Bated Breath – Frabjous (Pivotal)

Mocklershill

75,000

Rabbah B/s

C Kodiac – Ms Mary C (Dolphin Street)

Church Farm Stables

68,000

David Dennis Racing

C Royal Applause –Suzy Alexander (Red Ransom)

Bansha House Stables

58,000

Ken Condon

C Canford Cliffs – Little Empress (Holy Roman Emperor)

Bansha House Stables

55,000

Fredrik Reuterskiold

Comparative figures Year

Sold

Agg (£)

Avg (£)

Mdn (£)

Top Price (£)

2016

1,914,500

32,449

22,000

180,000

2015

838,000

24,647

22,000

90,000

2014

315,700

15,033

8,000

52,000

2013

147,300

7,365

4,650

25,000

2012 No sale

Goffs UK Aintree HIT Sale Top lots Name/Breeding

Vendor

Price (£)

Buyer

Samcro (Germany – Dun Dun)

Milestone Stables

335,000

Gordon Elliott

Give Me A Copper (Presenting – Copper Supreme)

Gurtacrue Stables

270,000

Tom Malone

Black Op (Sandmason – Afar Story)

Ballygelly Stables

210,000

Roger Brookhouse

Carter McKay (Martaline – Saxona)

Knockbrack B/s

160,000

D Redvers

Judgement Day (Martaline – Gaye Moscow)

Cois Coille Stud

145,000

H Kirk/WP Mullins

Topofthegame (Flemensfirth – Derry Vale)

Monbeg Stables

120,000

Highflyer Bloodstock

Black Thunder (Malinas – Blackmika)

Manor Farm Stables

90,000

Highflyer Bloodstock

It’s Obvious (Tobougg – Hiho Silver Lining)

Lingstown Stables

85,000

D Pipe

Another Stowaway (Stowaway – Another Pet)

Ballyboy Stables

80,000

Brendan Bashford B/s

Figures Year

Sold

Agg (£)

Avg (£)

Mdn (£)

Top Price (£)

2016

2,170,000

103,333

70,000

335,000

SARAH FARNSWORTH/GOFFS

>> clearance rate of 88% – 21 of 24 horses were

Willie Mullins, Sheikh Fahad Al Thani and Harold Kirk in discussion at the Aintree Sale

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

ownerbreeder ad pages 05-2016_OwnerBreeder Ad pages 05-2016 21/04/2016 10:36 Page 65

Westerlands Stud Bred to Win Success on the track so far this season includes: Steady Pace - trained by Saeed bin Suroor provided Godolphin’s first Dubai World Cup Carnival winner of 2016 in the UAE 2,000 Guineas Trial and went onto come 4th in the UAE 2,000 Guineas Sponsored, Group 3. Darkroom Angel (right) - filly, trained by Clive Cox. Showing great promise. Ayr of Elegance - 2nd in her maiden race - first time out. Westerlands Stud, Graffham, West Sussex, GU28 0QJ + 44 (0) 1798 867 644 • www.westerlands.com

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May_141_Caulfield_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 17:02 Page 66

CAULFIELD FILES ANDREW CAULFIELD REPORTS ON THE BLOODSTOCK WORLD

Chrome’s signing a golden opportunity One of my greatest regrets about the 2015 season was that the brave plans to run California Chrome in Britain had to be abandoned. The Lockinge was bypassed when it was felt that he needed more time to recover from his exertions in Dubai. Then the Prince of Wales’s Stakes had to be ruled out when the colt developed pus in a foot. Another turf race, the Arlington Million, was chosen as the next target for California Chrome after his return to his native USA, but once again he was thwarted, this time by cannon bone inflammation, which required three months’ rest. While it was very disappointing for all concerned that his four-year-old season was effectively ruined, the enforced rest has proved to be highly beneficial to a horse who had packed 16 starts into his first two seasons. Alan Sherman, assistant to his veteran father Art, reported: “He missed a lot of last year, but he returned to training a far bigger, stronger, horse. We could not be more happy with him.” Sherman was right to be happy. California Chrome has been unbeaten since his return, winning a Grade 2 at Santa Anita in January, a handicap at Meydan in February and then the Group 1 Dubai World Cup a month later, when he overcame a wide draw and a slipping saddle to win easily. Now the biggest earner in American racing history, California Chrome has thoroughly justified the decision by the Taylor Made Farm team to invest in the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner. And it isn’t just his racing ability which sets California Chrome apart. He thoroughly enjoys what he does and his enthusiasm is matched by his versatility. Art Sherman had him ready to race early in his first season, with his first victory coming over four and a half furlongs at Hollywood Park on May 18, on his second start. By the end of the year he had added a couple of stakes victories, one over five and a half furlongs, the other over seven. Not bad going for a horse who has gone on to win two of the world’s most sought after dirt races over a mile and a quarter.

Racing surface not an issue California Chrome moves so well, and covers so much ground with every stride, that all surfaces seem to come alike to him. At two he won over Cushion Track and Polytrack. In winning his first five starts at three, he scored over three different dirt tracks – at Santa Anita, Churchill Downs and Pimlico – and he was given his chance to try turf in the Hollywood Derby at

EMMA BERRY

Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup star a worthy addition to Taylor Made ranks

It would have been wonderful to see California Chrome race on turf in Europe

Del Mar at the end of November. As this race came just under four weeks after his gallant third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, many owners would have considered it a step too far. However, California Chrome was up to the task and won again, giving rise to the idea of a European campaign – and giving an incentive for European breeders to consider using him. So here we have a horse who scores full marks for precocity, durability, enthusiasm and versatility, both on the score of ground and distance. So is there a drawback? The answer, unfortunately, is yes. His pedigree is unlikely to please the purists, even though his greatgrandsires include those outstanding sires AP Indy and Mr Prospector. A positive slant can also be put on the fact that his sire, Lucky Pulpit, shares the same sire – Pulpit – as Tapit, the champion sire of 2014 and 2015 who is comfortably the highest-priced stallion in Kentucky. But Lucky Pulpit isn’t based in Kentucky. His services were available

for as little as $2,500 at Harris Farms in California in the run up to California’s Triple Crown triumphs in 2014 To the end of 2013, Lucky Pulpit had four crops racing and these numbered only 28, 23, 19 and 26 named foals. That’s a total of just 96, with California Chrome being one of the 26 foals in crop number four. Fortunately, Lucky Pulpit’s breeders, Larry and Marianne Williams, retained plenty of faith in him, even though he had won only three of his 22 starts. One of those wins had come in the Smile Stakes over five furlongs on turf as a fouryear-old, and Lucky Pulpit had earlier been Graded-placed at around a mile both at two and three. He won on dirt and turf and had the added attraction of being out of a three-partssister to the dam of that highly successful stallion Unbridled’s Song. Another stallion from this female line – the French and American topflight winner Seattle Song – sired the dam of Tiznow, another with enormous earnings. Lucky Pulpit has repaid his breeders’ faith. His first crop contained a pair of stakes winners bred by Mr and Mrs Larry Williams. They did even better with Rousing Sermon, a colt from Lucky Pulpit’s second crop. Rousing Sermon did so well as a juvenile in 2011 that he was rated only 7lb inferior to the co-top weights Hansen and Union Rags on the Experimental Free Handicap. Rousing Sermon even contested the 2012 Kentucky Derby, finishing seventh. These early successes helped stimulate support for Lucky Pulpit and there were 63 foals in his 2012 crop. He has 81 three-year-olds, 54 twoyear-olds and 94 yearlings in 2016, with the yearlings conceived around the time of California Chrome’s first three-year-old wins. Of course we will never know how California Chrome would have fared had he been able to pursue his European turf targets. Parts of his pedigree support the view he could have made his mark, even though the AP Indy male line has yet to make a major impression in Europe. His third, fourth and fifth dams were daughters of Sir Ivor, Vaguely Noble and Ribot, three outstandingly good European-raced middledistance horses. This female line can also take credit for the fact that California Chrome stays better than quite a lot of his other antecedents. In a European industry where outcrosses are hard to find, perhaps California Chrome will have something to offer breeders who share this wonderful horse’s boldness and commitment. Northern Dancer is no closer than the fourth generation of his pedigree.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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Sea The Stars makes the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe his sixth straight Group 1 win

that distinction even though his daughter Ouija Board contributed little more than £7,000 to his tally. Needless to say, Ouija Board highlighted Cape Cross’s potential over the next few years. She collected a tremendously impressive tally of Group/Grade 1 victories in three different continents, including the Oaks and Irish Oaks and two editions of the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. As if that wasn’t enough, Ouija Board has now become the dam of Galileo’s top-class son Australia, which means that Cape Cross appears in the pedigrees of three of the last seven Derby winners. With a few more crops still to come, it will be interesting to see whether Cape Cross can add to this terrific record. Having done all this talking about the Green Desert male line, Cape Cross – unlike Invincible Spirit and Oasis Dream – is not physically typical of the line. Green Desert

GEORGE SELWYN

News that Green Desert’s son Cape Cross has been retired at the age of 22 brought to mind that ancient saying that “great oaks from little acorns grow”. It is a measure of the success enjoyed by the Green Desert male line that it is currently represented by several of Britain and Ireland’s highest-priced stallions. Sea The Stars is standing at €125,000, which is just €5,000 more than Invincible Spirit’s fee. Over in England, Oasis Dream is the fourth-highestpriced stallion at £75,000, with Golden Horn and Kingman also in the top ten, at £60,000 and £55,000. Oasis Dream’s first-season son Muhaarar also makes it into the top ten, at £30,000. Cape Cross, of course, was responsible for Sea The Stars and Golden Horn, so he became the only stallion ever to sire two colts who completed the Derby and Arc double. Not a bad accolade to have on one’s CV! Invincible Spirit, for his part, sired Horse of the Year Kingman. The achievements of these two sons of Green Desert are all the more remarkable in view of the fact that their success came the hard way, built on crops sired at unremarkable fees. Invincible Spirit spent his first four seasons at €10,000, starting in 2003, but his road to success was surely made more negotiable by the solid foundations laid down by the three-years-older Cape Cross. This winner of the 1998 Lockinge Stakes began his stallion career at Kildangan at a fee of only IR£8,000 in 2000. Yet, by the end of 2003, he had not only established himself as the year’s leading first-crop sire but also as the champion sire of two-year-olds. He achieved

GEORGE SELWYN

Success has come the hard way for sires Cape Cross and Invincible Spirit

Golden Horn was the second son of Cape Cross to win the Derby and the Arc

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

stood only 15.2 hands and was strong and compact (to the extent that Timeform described him as “bonny”). Cape Cross, though, stands nearly one hand higher, at 16.1½, and he is rangy and rather angular. Timeform said he had a rather lethargic disposition and perhaps this relaxed nature has played its part in allowing many of his best progeny to stay middle distances, or further. In addition to his Epsom Classic winners, his other northern hemisphere Group winners at a mile and a half or more include Bekhabad (Grand Prix de Paris), Rising Cross (Park Hill Stakes), Namibian (Queen’s Vase), Agent Murphy, Crystal Capella, Star Lahib, Treat Gently, Halicarnassus, Laaheb, Mekong Melody and Mazuna. On the other hand, he never sired a leading sprint winner beyond the age of two – an omission made all the more surprising by his pedigree. Not only is Cape Cross a son of Green Desert (July Cup and Haydock Sprint Cup), but his dam Park Appeal was a Cheveley Park Stakes winner by the very fast Ahonoora. For good measure, his second dam Balidaress was by another top sprinter in Balidar. The likely explanation is that, when mated with mares with stamina in their makeup, his parents’ speed became less significant than the fact that three of his great-grandsires – Northern Dancer, Sir Ivor and Lorenzaccio – was all top-notch middle-distance winners. There was also the stamina-packed Sea Hawk II – sire of winners of the Gold Cup, St Leger and the 15.5-furlong Grand Prix de Paris – lurking as the sire of Cape Cross’s third dam Innocence.

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Sales ring experience sets you up nicely for a career in racing

From l-r: Ellie Harrod, Claudia McDougall and Ed SmythOsbourne all enjoyed their time spent at the sales

t’s the best place to learn – well, everything. So said Ed SmythOsbourne. He is not talking about the classroom; Mark Johnston’s Yard Manager is referring to the sales ring. Every year many youngsters will gain experience in all aspects of the sales, whether marking cards, leading up, showing, spotting or running. There is certainly a lot to be learned during sales season. This was certainly the case for Smyth-Osbourne, Ellie Harrod and Claudia McDougall, who all learned their trade working at various sales up and down the country, helping them to land very different jobs within the industry. Harrod, a BHA TTC graduate, enjoyed

stints at Tweenhills Farm & Stud and Newsells Park Stud before landing a job in marketing at European Bloodstock News (EBN). Her work at Tweenhills was based around handling the livestock and foals on the farm, and her time at Newsells was mainly spent at the sales. “It was very exciting with a couple of Frankel foals going through the ring and then the Dubawi filly that we consigned selling for 2.1 million guineas,” she says. While on her placement, Harrod gained experience in all aspects of bloodstock, and Newsells certainly threw her in at the deep end, something she says only helped build her knowledge and understanding of the industry.

“I was doing the cards for Newsells, I would receive them in the morning and the clients would come to me and tick off the yearlings they wanted to see,” she says. “I then let the guys know which ones to get ready.” This has now led to her working for the EBN, selling adverts to studs and people in bloodstock, the result of a chance meeting she had with one of the EBN team whilst working at Tattersalls in Newmarket, who suggested she apply for the role. “I’m now working in advertising,” she continues. “I speak to clients and sell advertising in the magazine and design the pages myself. It’s really fun. THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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www.thetho ro ug hb re d clu b . co . u k • “I still get to cover the sales, which is something I love doing. I speak to people and keep the Twitter page up to date and let people know about the sales. It is a wide-ranging role, perfect for me.” Smyth-Osbourne has really packed plenty in. For someone of 26 he certainly doesn’t sound like he’s ever stopped. After finishing Leeds University he got a job with bloodstock agent Johnny McKeever as his sales assistant. It was here SmythOsbourne immersed himself in bloodstock. “Johnny was incredibly helpful and I learnt a huge amount,” he says. “I didn’t really realise how much I didn’t really know. I mean, I watched racing from a very early age but I didn’t really know anything about bloodstock. Marking catalogues taught me so much about this.

“It was very exciting

with Frankel’s foals going through the ring and a Dubawi filly selling for 2.1m gns” “Johnny was always happy to tell me what he was looking for in a horse and talked me through what he wanted, which differed from client to client.” Smyth-Osbourne also highlights the importance of networking and meeting people who can provide valuable insight and guidance into the industry. “There really is no other place to meet people than at the sales,” he says. “It’s really the only place you can fully learn everything you need to know, not just about horses but the industry as a whole.” A familiar face at the sales is 26-year-old McDougall. A racing fanatic from a very early age, she says her weekends were very much dictated by racing. McDougall’s enthusiasm for bloodstock is obvious, but growing up half an hour from Newmarket this is hardly surprising. “I’ve always got excited by pedigrees, it’s a bit sad really,” she says, remembering back to when Cue Card’s full-sister arrived at the pre-training facility she was based in at the time. After five years in Gloucestershire, where McDougall finished a degree and worked for Martin Jones’s pre-training yard and THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

then a stint at Tweenhills, she returned to Newmarket to work for Luca and Sara Cumani at Fittocks Stud. “At Fittocks I got opportunities to see loads more stallions and do more sales work,” she says. “I missed the sales time while I was in Gloucestershire. I missed the buzz. It’s never the same when you’re not in Newmarket.” While at Fittocks, McDougall threw herself into the sales, absorbing every bit of information she could. “I went to the sales with Fittocks, I did mares and foals and we were encouraged by Sara [Cumani] to use our holidays to work at other sales,” she says. There seems to be no sale McDougall has not worked at and even when she’s not working she can still be found sitting, listening, learning. “I’ll just go and sit at the sales,” she says. “The more you see the more you learn. You will never stop learning when it comes to horses.” Some valuable advice McDougall received when shadowing consignor Malcolm Bastard was the importance of not being afraid to develop your own opinions. “When I went around with Malcolm, he said you shouldn’t try and make yourself like a horse and that the best yearling sales to go to were the Book 2s,” she says. “You’ll see a greater variety and learn a lot more. And the importance of politeness and a thank you goes a long way, even if you are not working you should always present your best self, you never know who you might bump into.” For Harrod, Smyth-Osbourne and McDougall, sales experience has no doubt been invaluable to them in their new roles. Smyth-Osbourne is now working for Johnston, after a stint with Gai Waterhouse in Australia. McDougall is now based at Darley in Newmarket, the heart of Godolphin’s breeding operation, currently working on a foaling farm. All three have one thing in common: they all agree that sales work has helped propel them to where they are today. McDougall puts the experience in a nutshell when saying “You need to work all sides of the horse. You can then really appreciate all aspects of the industry and gain as much experience as possible, and the sales is really the only place to do that.” ● Don’t miss next month’s pages, where we talk to those employing young people for the sales season, what they look for and how to get involved.

@ T T C_ GB

DIARY DATES & REMINDERS Friday, July 8: Behind the scenes at York racecourse Friday, July 22: Overview of British Racing Seminar, London Saturday, August 6: The Royal Studs tour, Sandringham Saturday, September 10: Dan Skelton Racing tour, Warwickshire TTC Raceday Benefits: Ascot, May 6 & 7

MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS Open to all 16- to 30-year-olds

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

Associate Member - Free • Six-month membership • Limited TTC events access • Limited TTC website access

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

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ROA FORUM The special section for ROA members

ROA reaches 7,500 members Highest number for eight years and since recession struck ROA membership reached an important milestone last month, hitting 7,500 for the first time in eight years. The last time we reached this level was in 2008, before the impact of the recession hit. Over the past three years (2012-2015), membership has grown steadily by 3%. This is set against a background of the number of registered owners reducing by 6% over the same period. An exceptional first quarter to this year achieved a monthly average of 7,472 members. We’re pleased to report the number of registered owners is likewise showing resilience, with a monthly average of owners in quarter one at 8,127. The spring period tends to reflect the number of registered owners at a peak, as numbers are swelled with horses in training under both codes. The number of owners typically flattens out during quarter two, as horses that have been active during the jump season are turned away for their summer break. Without doubt the ROA has been working hard to achieve this result. Effort has been directed at helping improve returns for all owners in recent years by negotiating increases in minimum prize-money values. Through the Horsemen’s Group, the ROA has helped gain a fairer deal for owners by helping create PrizeMoney Agreements, which link racecourses’

media rights payments with their contributions to prize-money. We have broadened the scope of the benefits package for members, with enhanced free admission schemes, the Owners Jackpot scheme offering a weekly bonus of £2,000 to members, and extending our calendar of exclusive member events, both on and off the racecourse. The ROA offers value to members at every level and have held the membership fee of £230 unchanged for the past three years. The Association has also been working hard to make a difference in the way owners are treated when they have a runner. Improving the raceday experience is always high on the ROA list of objectives, and we are acutely aware this is a crucial component of the ownership experience for members. Existing members are, of course, our best ambassadors, and we welcome ideas and suggestions from members as to how we can improve the benefits package. We would also urge members to encourage their fellow owners who don’t currently give their support to the ROA to do so. We are making a difference but there is more to do, and the more owners we represent the stronger we are as an organisation. Charlie Liverton, ROA Chief Executive, said: “The team at the ROA are delighted to see

Charlie Liverton: ‘feedback is crucial’

membership numbers hit an important milestone and we very much hope that all members continue to see the benefits of their annual subscription. “The industry is going through a period of important changes and I am delighted to say that the ROA remains at the forefront of the important conversations, both on course and off course. The feedback we get from our members is crucial to us, so please continue to provide your feedback, be it good or constructive, and we will continue to ensure your views are heard. We look forward to working on behalf of all members, both old and new.”

Join us in private box for British Champions Day The first Classics of the season are about to be run and the first potential stars of the Flat season unveiled. These winners could potentially round off their season at QIPCO British Champions Day on Saturday, October 15 and members can book tickets now to join us at the superb

culmination to the Flat Turf Season. The ROA and Ascot racecourse have combined once again to offer members a fantastic hospitality package in a beautiful private box, which accommodates 40 people. This facility offers outstanding views of the

Will the exceptional Solow defend his crown in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes?

racing from its own balcony, and is located on the third floor of the Grandstand. The bespoke ROA package costs £310 and includes: • Queen Anne enclosure admission badge and racecard • One car park label per two places booked • Morning coffee and biscuits • Three course sit-down lunch • Full afternoon tea • Complimentary house wines, beer and soft drinks, served throughout the afternoon This package is available on a first-come, first-served basis and is always a sell-out, so we recommend that you book early to avoid disappointment. Should you wish to book, please contact Sarah Holton on 020 7152 0200, or book via the Events section of the ROA website at roa.co.uk. THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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www.roa.co.uk

International hospitality exchange We are delighted to confirm that members will be able to enjoy exclusive access to a number of European racing events once again this year in a hospitality exchange programme for British, Irish and French owners. Members of the ROA, the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners and France Galop can enjoy access to each association’s facilities at several major European racing festivals. This follows the success last year of an inaugural exchange, which included festival events at Cheltenham, Punchestown, the Curragh, Galway, Chantilly and Deauville.

This proved a positive initiative and each association received excellent feedback from owners who availed themselves of the arrangements. This year’s programme has been expanded for international visitors to include Royal Ascot in June and the Qatar Goodwood Festival in July. Further details of arrangements will be communicated to members as the season develops. France Galop will be confirming details of racedays in France to be included in the exchange in the coming weeks.

HOSPITALITY EXCHANGE PROGRAMME THIS SUMMER Royal Ascot Tuesday, June 14 – Saturday, June 18 Specially tailored fine dining and hospitality package for Carriages Restaurant, available with or without Queen Anne admission (full details at www.roa.co.uk). The Curragh: Pretty Polly Stakes Day Sunday, June 26 Free admission to racecourse, and access to Curragh Rooms which overlook the Parade Ring. Complimentary snack refreshments will be served. Galway Festival July 25, 26, 27, 29, 30 (excludes July 28)

Access to members’ marquee, where complimentary snack refreshments will be served. Glorious Goodwood Tuesday, July 26 – Saturday, July 30 Special service to book badges for the Richmond Enclosure, which is otherwise reserved for owners, trainers and annual members. Up to four badges can be booked for each day. Deauville Festival Selected dates during August Members can book into the exclusive owners and trainers garden area at Deauville

Deauville: a hot ticket in August

This collaboration recognises the vital contribution made by owners to the thoroughbred industry. ROA Membership Manager Sadie Evans enthused: “The ROA is delighted to be able to offer its members these wonderful hospitality opportunities and we are grateful to our colleagues at the AIRO and France Galop. “The owners’ facilities in Ireland and France were an instant hit with ROA members, it’s very good to know that owners can be looked after and enjoy a memorable raceday experience when they’re racing abroad.” Full details can be found at roa.co.uk.

Top comedian for our AGM We look forward to seeing a good number of members at the ROA AGM, which will take place in the welcoming surroundings of the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel, London, on the morning of Tuesday, June 28. The AGM provides a great chance to members to engage in the industry they are passionate about, with keynote industry presentations and debate. An owners’ forum gives an opportunity for members to pose questions to the ROA Board on all aspects of horseracing and ownership. We will also announce the result of the ROA Board elections, which are decided by a postal vote amongst members. The industry speaker is Martin Cruddace, Chief Executive of Arena Racing Company. Cruddace is an owner himself, being THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

involved in a racing partnership that has a horse in training with David Pipe. The formal business of the morning is rounded off with a champagne reception. Members are invited to book places for a three-course lunch with wine. Guests will be entertained after lunch by the top impressionist and comedian Rory Bremner. Places for the lunch are £90 or £825 for a table of ten. We expect a full house on the day, and bookings for lunch will be taken on a firstcome, first-served basis. To book, please see the Events section at roa.co.uk or call 020 7152 0200. Members can expect to receive voting information on the candidates standing for election to the Board by post in the coming weeks.

Rory Bremner will entertain after lunch

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ROA FORUM

Can you help Racing to School?

For many children, Racing to School is their first exposure to the world of horseracing and the career opportunities within it

Members may be aware of the charity Racing to School (formerly BHEST), which runs an education programme supporting the learning and development of young people through curriculum-based activities at their local racecourse, trainer’s yard or stud. The charity’s work involves over 10,000 young people a year (30% of these attending inner city schools) and is for over 70% of them their first introduction to the horseracing and breeding industries. Racing to School is unique and they are proud that their work, which from this year will include two new programmes to engage even more young people, supports a wider industry strategy to give back to local communities and to promote training and career opportunities within the sport. They are present around the country on around 250 racedays and the partner schools are easily spotted when the children appear in their own set of silks, as they go about a racecourse learning how to apply their numeracy and literacy skills. Calculating and translating their own weight on the jockeys’ weighing scale and measuring the perimeter of the parade ring are very popular activities. The charity is contacting a large number of owners for their support with their work and are asking for you to kindly consider three requests to allow them to bring more young people closer to our wonderful sport.

1) Could Racing to School use your silks? The children always enjoy wearing owners’ silks

and understanding the key part they play in the day-to-day running of the sport. It helps them to learn by making a Racing to School day an even more fun and engaging experience. The silks suffer a lot of wear and tear as they are used by so many young people right across the country. The charity is desperate to add to their stock, and it would be an enormous help if you were willing to kindly donate a set of silks for the children to wear proudly on the Racing to School education day.

“It would be an

enormous help if you were willing to kindly donate a set of silks for the children” 2) Could Racing to School use your silks in an online matching game? Racing to School have developed several interactive games for their website based on racing. One of these, ‘The Matching Silks Game,’ requires children to match different images of racing silks in a grid. Once children have correctly matched the silks they are provided with headline

information about the owner whose silks they have matched. Please let Racing to School know if you are happy for your silks to be included in their online game, in which case Racing to School will contact Weatherbys to access an image of your colours. They will then prepare a short accompanying paragraph listing number of winners, famous horses owned, etc.

3) Could you help Racing to School through your network? Racing to School is the smallest non-equine charity in racing, with only three staff funded completely by voluntary donations. Their final request is for you to help raise awareness of their work through new networks, which is vital to help access funding and partners they need to keep their programmes going and expanding. They would value your advice and be grateful to chat about how they might be able to achieve the income they need. Racing to School would like to introduce their work to prospective donors and Charitable Trusts that identify with their objectives. Could you help them make such connections? If you can help Racing to School in any way, by donating silks or are willing to give your permission to allow your silks to be used in interactive games their contact details are info@racingtoschool.co.uk. Telephone 01869 248855. Silks can be posted to Racing to School, 3 Hamilton Close, Bicester, Oxfordshire OX26 2HX. THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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w w w. r o a . c o . u k

The ROA has arranged a private box for members in the Melrose Stand for the York Ebor festival – but book early!

Member box for Juddmonte International day The opening day of York’s Ebor Festival in August features the Group 1 Juddmonte International. Members will be able to enjoy the afternoon’s racing on Wednesday, August 17 in the comfortable surroundings of a private box in the Melrose Stand. In collaboration with York racecourse, we have put together a bespoke package for members to enjoy this excellent day’s racing in the Melrose Stand, located adjacent to the parade ring and with a

balcony and head on view of the course. It includes: • Private box with balcony • County Stand badge with racecard • Car park label (1 per 2 guests) • Private cash bar • Morning coffee and biscuits • Canapes • Hot three-course lunch • Full afternoon tea

The special price for ROA members for this bespoke York package is £199 per person. This price has been held at last year’s rates and represents excellent value for money. Places will be limited and we expect to sell out swiftly, so please book early to avoid disappointment. Bookings can be made online at www.roa.co.uk or by contacting Sadie in the ROA office, sevans@roa.co.uk.

Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) has published its review of 2015. It is British racing’s official charity for the welfare of horses that have retired from racing, and recently appointed Sir Anthony McCoy as a patron. The charity funds its activities through a combination of donations, investment income, grants sponsorship and fundraising. Total funds generated in 2015 were in excess of £755,000, of which owners contributed 26%, racecourses 12%, investment income 19% and the HBLB, trainers, breeders, jockeys and auctioneers 9%. Fundraising and sponsorship activities provided the balance. During 2015 RoR provided grant payments to the British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre, Greatwood, HEROS and Moorcroft in excess of £335,000. A further £110,000 was made available for horses requiring care and retraining at other horse welfare centres. The review in full can be found at RoR’s newly rebranded and responsive website ror.org.uk

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

GEORGE SELWYN

RoR 2015 review

Sir Anthony McCoy: recently-appointed patron of RoR

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ROA FORUM

TRACK TALK The latest news from the UK’s racecourses The three-day Dante festival will kick-start York’s 2016 season, and for the fifth year in succession will boast an increase in prizemoney. Commencing on Wednesday, May 11, the three days will offer over £1 million in prize-money, an increase of £45,000 on last year. Wednesday’s highlight, the Group 3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes, is one of 18 races across the York season to offer a sixfigure sum to connections. The feature races on Thursday and Friday, the Group 2 Betfred Dante and Betway Yorkshire Cup respectively, will each be worth £160,000, an increase of £10,000. These additions mean that across all of its 17 racedays York’s prize-money will now reach £7m, an increase of £300,000 on 2015. Chief Executive William Derby said: “We are pleased to make a further investment in prize-money at the Dante festival, which will see prize funds of £1,120,000, a 30% increase over the past five years. With three fabulous days of great racing to kick off the

Newton Abbot prize-money Gold Standard Award holder Newton Abbot has announced record prize-money levels for this season. The popular summer jumps track is offering prize-money in excess of £1m across its 18 fixtures. The minimum prize-money on offer will be: £6,000 for all Class 5 hurdles, £6,500 for all Class 5 chases, £7,000 for all Class 4 hurdles and £7,500 for all Class 4 chases. The course will also continue to not charge entry fees for all races, a commitment which has been in place for the last six years. Patrick Masterson, Newton Abbot Managing Director, said: “We remain committed to supporting each fixture with a maximum prize fund and we will continue to do so for the year ahead. “Amongst the highlights of the new season will be our two-day meeting on Wednesday, May 4 and Thursday, May 5, which will see a total prize fund of £150,000. As we approach the end of our 2016 season, the prize-money for our Friday, October 9 meeting has been raised to £100,000. “We hope that owners will continue to support Newton Abbot this year and our exciting race programme, which we feel gives significant prize-money to support all

GEORGE SELWYN

Record prize-money for York’s Dante festival

Golden Horn leads home Jack Hobbs in last year’s Dante – form that stood up!

York season, we have much to look forward to in 2016. The 2015 Betfred Dante Stakes unearthed the Derby one-two in Golden Horn and Jack Hobbs – it will be fascinating to see who follows in their hoofprints!”

Racegoers will have the chance to explore the Edwardian Weighing Room, which has benefitted from refurbishment over the winter and is lighter, brighter and more spacious than before.

owners, especially the grass roots of racing, and our wonderful sport.”

Chepstow parking

Beverley improvements Beverley racecourse may have been closed for the winter months, but they have not wrapped it in mothballs, as owners with a runner this year will soon realise. Their arrival is set to be a smoother experience, as the owners’ car park has been totally revamped and resurfaced. In the owners’ suite complimentary food will also now be on offer, with a choice of sandwiches or locally sourced hot pork baguette (a maximum of six vouchers per ownership will be given). The main restaurant has been refurbished and extended, and owners will now be given priority-booking status after declarations have been made. Additionally, no Class 5 races will be run for less than £6,000. Stable staff will also be treated to new washroom facilities throughout the Racecourse Lodge, and the horses in their charge will now have access to additional washdown areas on a fully rubberised surface, as well as a newly surfaced horsewalk from the stables to the pre-parade ring.

Chepstow wishes to alert ROA members to changes to car parking arrangements. Following consultation with the council, all public access through Lions Gate (Gate 1) has now ceased. Please note that horseboxes only will be allowed access to the racecourse via this entrance. Instead, owners will need to proceed to the main car park (Gate 3).

Summer series Windsor is the venue for a Summer Sprint Series of nine races, starting on May 9 and culminating in a £75,000 final on August 15. All the qualifying races will be run at the popular evening meetings and are worth a minimum of £10,000 each. Details are in the ROA Resources section at roa.co.uk.

Free entry to Jersey racecourse The Jersey Race Club are offering ROA members’ free admission to all their fixtures this summer. The Les Landes track is in the north-west corner of Jersey and offers beautiful views across the sea to neighbouring Guernsey, Sark and Herm. The Jersey Race Club dates back to 1832, with racing commencing at the purposebuilt Les Landes site in 1961.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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Diary dates and reminders MAY 24 Visit to Weatherbys HQ In Wellingborough

JUNE 14-18 Last year’s event was a success – the Betfair-backed race will return to Doncaster

Clock Tower Cup highlight of stable staff week Following on from the success of last year’s inaugural race for stable staff, the second running of the Betfair Clock Tower Cup will take place on the Racing Welfare Charity Raceday, sponsored by Betfair, at Doncaster on Friday, July 1. This day will be the highlight of Betfair Stable Staff Week, a week of activities and promotions to celebrate the key role that stable staff and other racing support staff play in the production of British horseracing. The initiative will also highlight community projects and support for individuals that Racing Welfare provides. A special lunch and auction will raise funds

for Racing Welfare, which will take place in Doncaster racecourse’s Mallard Restaurant at the Charity Raceday on July 1. Members can join fellow racehorse owners, trainers and industry personnel on this special day and support racing’s workforce. Tickets for the day, which includes a champagne reception and three-course lunch, are £130 per person. Tables of ten can be booked for £1,300. For more details, to book a table, or to nominate a member of staff to ride in the race, please contact Mary-Ann Sandercock at msandercock@racingwelfare.co.uk or call 07786 925803.

Hospitality package at Royal Ascot

JUNE 21 Impressions of the Turf private view Osborne Studio Gallery, London

JUNE 26 Pretty Polly Stakes Day At the Curragh, admission and access to The Curragh rooms

JUNE 28 ROA AGM in London

JULY 13 Lingfield Park regional meeting

JULY 25, 26, 27, 29, 30 Galway Festival Access to AIRO members marquee

JULY 26-30 ROA members can gain access to the following fixtures by either emailing secretary@jerseyraceclub.com, or calling 01534 863484, in advance of the meeting they wish to attend: Date Fixture May 15 Warwick Vase May 30 Whitsun Meeting June 17 Evening Meeting July 1 Champion Hurdle (evening) July 24 Jersey Derby Aug 14 Ladies Day Aug 29 The Clarendon

Feedback monthly winner The online Racecourse Feedback questionnaire takes just a minute to complete and can be found in the Raceday section of the ROA website at roa.co.uk. As well as assisting the ROA Raceday Committee in selecting this year’s Gold Standard Award recipients, all those submitting feedback are entered into a monthly prize draw. This month’s lucky winner of £50 John Lewis vouchers is Mr Ead, who owns shares in two horses with Tim Vaughan, including recent Bangor scorer Tanit River. Could it be you next month?

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Regional meeting at Aintree in May

Badge service and hospitality package at Glorious Goodwood

The next ROA regional meeting will take place at Aintree before evening racing on Friday, May 13. Regional meetings provide an opportunity to meet with the ROA team at a local racecourse. Members are given a briefing of current industry issues, and invited to air their views on a wide range of ownership and membership matters. Attendees will enjoy a seated buffet and have use of the facility during racing where the ROA team will be on hand during the evening. The mares’ hurdle on the evening card is an Owners Jackpot race, giving connections the opportunity to win a £2,000 bonus. Members who live near to Aintree have been sent details. We would encourage any members who would like to attend to contact the ROA office to book a place or email info@roa.co.uk

Chepstow regional meeting

August Racing at Deauville

AUGUST 9

OCTOBER 6 Ayr regional meeting

OCTOBER 15 British Champions Day at Ascot

NOVEMBER 4 Warwick regional meeting

NOVEMBER 15 Nichola Eddery private view Osborne Studio Gallery, London

DECEMBER 1 ROA Horseracing Awards

Further details and how to book for ROA events can be found online at www.roa.co.uk, by emailing info@roa.co.uk or by calling the office on 020 7152 0200

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ROA FORUM

Go behind the scenes at Weatherbys Weatherbys are hosting a visit for ROA members to their offices in Northamptonshire, on Tuesday, May 24 for a tour of the organisation, followed by lunch. The tour will provide guests with an insight into the fascinating role played by Weatherbys, as racing’s administrators, and will give an opportunity to meet some of the Weatherbys team. Nick Cheyne, Client Relations Director of Weatherbys, said: “We are much looking forward to welcoming ROA members to our headquarters in Wellingborough, where the tour of the offices will include talks on Horse Registry, Racing Services and operations, where the entries and naming is carried out,

Bloodstock services, Weatherbys Bank and our VAT recovery department. “The morning is a fascinating insight into life behind the scenes at Weatherbys and is always enjoyed by both new and established owners.” The tour will begin at 10.15am with coffee, and guests can expect to leave by 2.30pm. Weatherbys is located a five-minute taxi ride from Wellingborough station. Members wishing to attend should email Sarah Cotton at scotton@weatherbys.co.uk or call Sarah on 01933 440077, stating whether they will be attending on their own or with a guest. Spaces on the tour will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Home of racing’s administrators

The owners of Diamond Vine celebrate their ROA Owners Jackpot triumph at Wolverhampton in April

Don’t miss your Jackpot chances The ROA Owners Jackpot will be spread around the north, midlands and Scotland during May. The series, supported by the Racing Post, gives an outstanding opportunity for owners to win a £2,000 bonus on top of win prize-money in a weekly race. Winning horses need to be owned by ROA members to qualify for a jackpot. Horses owned jointly will qualify provided 51% of the owners are ROA members. In the case of a racing partnership, both nominated partners need to be members of the ROA. ROA Owners Jackpot races in May May 6 May 13 May 17 May 25

Ripon Aintree Nottingham Hamilton Park

Class 5 (56-75) Handicap 2m Class 4 (0-120) Handicap hurdles (mares) 2m 4f Class 5 (61-75) Handicap 6f Class 5 (56-70) Handicap 1m 3f

Entries close April 30 Entries close May 7 Entries close May 11 Entries close May 19

Details of future races can be found in the Jackpot section on the ROA website at www.roa.co.uk

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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M AGICAL M OM E NT S More often it is the parent that introduces the delights of horseracing to child. In the case of Tom Morley it was the other way round. An ROA member since 1999, while a farmer by trade, it is as a racehorse owner that Morley finds his kicks – as, eventually, did his parents. “My parents had no prior interest in racing, it was me who opened their eyes to the sport,” he says. “I can remember going racing when I was a child. I began studying form and developed an interest in betting. “Watching it all the time, the idea of owning a horse just kept arousing my curiosity. The day I bought my first horse my father had told me in the morning that under no circumstances was I to buy one. “It took me about six months to tell them, and that was only because it was ready to run. I’d foolishly named it after the farm [Clopton Green] and thought it was better they heard the bad news from me rather than someone else. “The horse did win a race but he was very slow! However, from that time on it was something my mother and father really began to enjoy.” Enjoyment has reached its pinnacle in the form of top-class sprinter Goldream, who races for Julia Morley and Norfolk butcher Jeff Sargeant, though he is by no means the only horse on the Morleys’ teamsheet. “We have been involved in a lot of horses over the years,” says Morley. “Some we have with one or at the most two other people, but predominantly they’re owned jointly by my mother and myself. “A few run under the name of ‘The Morley Family’, which is actually just the two of us. My father died, but without him and his support we’d never have been able to get involved in the sport in the manner we have.”

Reality bites Most Morley horses are recruited from the Horses in Training sales, topped up by a few from the breeze-ups. “Whilst I understand the desire of people who dream of buying a champion as a yearling, I want to buy reality,” says Morley. “It’s logical to me to buy a horse that has already shown a level of ability. I think they’re better value.” The Morleys’ trainers are Robert Cowell and Stuart Williams.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

GEORGE SELWYN

with ROA member Tom Morley

Prohibit’s connections enjoy victory in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot

He continues: “Robert has trained for us since 2005, when we sent him an old rogue, Taboor. He’s now trained 56 winners for us. “Prohibit was the horse that really kickstarted the upward curve of his career and I was lucky enough to be involved. Robert is a very decent trainer, especially of sprinters. “Stuart first trained for us in 2009 but it was only in 2012 we started being fully involved in his yard. He’s now trained 26 winners for us, including five in 2016 already. “I’m very lucky to have two trainers who I can liaise constantly with, don’t tell me any rubbish, and have our best interests at heart.” Asked for his magical moments, Morley replies: “Every time I buy a horse that does well and vindicates my decision to buy it is rewarding. “Prohibit winning the King’s Stand in my colours was very pleasing. Though the day is somewhat a blur in the memory and probably made me feel I had cracked it before reality reminded me that type of thing doesn’t happen often. “The biggest highlight however would be Goldream winning the King’s Stand and Abbaye last year in the colours of my mother. Generally I can be a pretty miserable son, but in horseracing terms my job is to find us horses that will provide her with happiness and entertainment. “I felt pretty satisfied with Goldream’s achievements last year and the joy he brought us and Jeff.”

He adds: “The challenge of finding and buying a good horse is what motivates me, and when successful that satisfaction is what gives me the buzz and what feeds the addiction.

Overachieved “I’m very privileged to be in a position where I can spend what in everyday terms is a huge amount on a very expensive hobby. Yet in racing terms I’ve spent a relatively small amount and we’ve had some amazing results. We’ve massively overachieved and that makes me proud.” Does he have any frustrations with ownership? “The whole ownership experience needs to be better,” answers Morley. “Owners are taken for mugs by many parts of the industry. Prizemoney is pathetic, especially at the lower end. If a horse wins a race, how can it be right it may not have even paid for its training for one month? “Everything is geared in the industry to a select few who get the red-carpet treatment whilst the rest are left to fend for themselves.” Fortunately, Morley is not left to tend the family farm for himself – “my knowledge of farming and love for it is pretty small,” he says honestly, “but I have a very good team who deal with the day-to-day running whilst I keep abreast of the financial side.” A situation which affords him the time to live the racing dream with his mother.

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Flat Racecourse League Table Ptn Racecourse

1 Ascot 2 York 3 Goodwood 4 Epsom Downs 5 Newmarket 6 Chester 7 Newbury 8 Doncaster 9 Sandown Park 10 Haydock Park 11 Lingfield Park 12 Chelmsford City 13 Musselburgh 14 Ayr 15 Ripon 16 Pontefract 17 Salisbury 18 Wetherby 19 Hamilton Park 20 Thirsk 21 Newcastle 22 Carlisle 23 Beverley 24 Kempton Park 25 Leicester 26 Nottingham 27 Ffos Las 28 Windsor 29 Bath 30 Redcar 31 Catterick Bridge 32 Yarmouth 33 Wolverhampton 34 Chepstow 35 Brighton 36 Southwell Total

Figures for period April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016

Ownership

Avg racecourse spend per fixture (£)

Avg HBLB spend per fixture (£)

Avg owner spend per fixture (£)

Avg prizemoney per fixture (£)

Total no. of fixtures

Total prize-money (£)

Avg racecourse spend per fixture 2013-14 (£)

Up/ down

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

388,619 188,919 168,936 136,791 105,410 86,530 68,579 65,590 57,439 49,896 41,753 40,673 39,867 36,465 34,084 33,032 32,289 32,205 27,399 27,121 26,159 25,473 24,486 24,383 24,323 23,318 22,888 21,099 20,435 18,992 18,539 18,517 18,252 17,669 14,759 11,595 48,230

139,472 101,606 93,300 79,482 82,238 44,190 66,664 54,295 51,919 45,355 26,071 16,172 24,136 34,194 25,913 32,988 28,809 9,725 19,217 19,250 21,961 16,869 21,890 20,503 23,200 21,304 13,170 20,085 14,305 19,623 18,609 30,219 20,177 14,793 16,181 23,238 33,482

238,948 109,663 60,270 92,702 99,302 10,164 34,603 32,884 23,148 18,729 4,718 4,446 5,796 10,857 4,816 3,724 5,354 4,508 3,776 5,533 6,892 4,389 3,076 4,218 5,054 5,764 3,391 4,872 3,089 10,858 2,707 5,680 3,337 3,162 2,556 2,441 19,791

767,040 401,012 322,506 308,975 287,001 141,217 170,290 153,052 132,880 115,047 72,586 61,332 69,799 81,634 64,813 69,744 66,577 47,250 50,392 51,904 55,449 46,731 49,702 49,171 52,827 50,626 39,449 46,333 38,019 49,474 40,105 54,415 41,806 36,249 33,496 37,274 101,657

18 17 19 11 39 15 18 22 16 23 87 62 17 17 16 16 16 4 18 16 16 13 20 60 21 23 7 28 21 19 17 2 95 16 21 41 888

13,806,712 6,817,200 6,127,610 3,398,725 11,193,049 2,118,260 3,065,213 3,367,149 2,126,088 2,695,379 6,314,965 3,802,555 1,186,591 1,387,783 1,037,000 1,115,902 1,065,238 189,000 907,050 830,468 887,184 607,500 994,030 2,950,264 1,109,365 1,164,399 276,140 1,297,325 798,400 940,000 681,788 108,830 3,971,564 579,982 703,416 1,528,235 90,314,824

360,861 169,619 88,884 118,711 91,930 81,446 55,785 65,290 54,675 47,465 27,942 35,090 39,444 30,759 31,611 30,775 27,442 0 22,641 27,174 23,350 21,234 21,852 21,392 20,104 19,898 24,490 19,707 17,760 16,378 16,912 16,478 15,927 13,169 12,786 10,406 41,158

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲

Jumps Racecourse League Table Ptn Racecourse

1 Aintree 2 Cheltenham 3 Ascot 4 Sandown Park 5 Haydock Park 6 Newbury 7 Kempton Park 8 Ayr 9 Newcastle 10 Doncaster 11 Kelso 12 Chepstow 13 Ludlow 14 Wincanton 15 Wetherby 16 Stratford-on-Avon 17 Cartmel 18 Taunton 19 Perth 20 Newton Abbot 21 Musselburgh 22 Market Rasen 23 Fakenham 24 Warwick 25 Exeter 26 Huntingdon 27 Carlisle 28 Uttoxeter 29 Leicester 30 Bangor-On-Dee 31 Ffos Las 32 Hexham 33 Fontwell Park 34 Southwell 35 Lingfield Park 36 Plumpton 37 Catterick Bridge 38 Worcester 39 Sedgefield 40 Towcester Total

Ownership

Avg racecourse spend per fixture (£)

Avg HBLB spend per fixture (£)

Avg owner spend per fixture (£)

Avg prizemoney per fixture (£)

Total no. of fixtures

Total prize-money (£)

Avg racecourse spend per fixture 2013-14 (£)

Up/ down

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

242,694 235,295 152,656 94,126 93,560 62,277 49,594 36,712 35,754 30,154 29,279 28,909 28,530 28,067 25,618 25,447 25,256 24,448 24,218 23,848 23,094 22,661 21,853 20,619 19,812 19,766 19,392 19,218 18,171 18,034 17,610 16,431 15,971 15,933 15,855 15,780 15,689 14,741 13,909 12,964 36,462

129,888 114,770 89,066 85,996 78,253 85,993 58,875 41,279 43,102 44,404 28,554 36,651 27,097 31,157 27,230 17,539 21,388 21,182 26,114 27,687 33,896 24,954 24,324 29,717 29,190 23,656 28,297 23,903 26,219 22,839 21,629 18,428 22,755 19,524 26,864 24,576 25,998 21,230 20,627 19,874 34,589

66,846 61,240 20,291 17,046 16,729 23,565 10,006 11,687 8,805 8,385 2,926 7,873 4,480 5,001 4,567 3,650 4,528 4,804 2,439 0 5,136 4,420 0 5,389 4,877 4,532 4,267 5,360 4,546 4,500 3,771 2,877 3,173 3,595 3,348 3,532 2,917 3,615 3,045 3,349 7,940

439,615 411,305 262,013 200,500 190,004 171,834 119,629 90,586 87,661 83,360 61,301 73,433 60,107 64,390 57,522 46,636 51,171 50,434 52,772 51,535 62,776 52,254 46,178 57,382 55,148 48,247 53,119 48,764 48,936 45,373 43,009 37,921 41,899 39,168 46,067 43,888 44,834 39,701 38,165 36,370 79,350

8 16 7 9 10 8 13 11 7 12 12 15 15 14 14 16 8 14 14 17 10 22 13 16 16 17 14 23 10 13 11 14 21 20 6 16 10 20 19 11 542

3,516,918 6,580,881 1,834,092 1,804,503 1,818,613 1,374,675 1,555,178 996,450 613,626 1,000,318 735,606 1,101,500 901,600 901,455 805,312 746,172 409,368 706,076 738,803 876,102 627,762 1,149,589 600,310 918,106 882,374 820,207 743,672 1,121,570 489,356 589,852 473,100 530,900 879,876 783,362 276,400 702,210 448,339 794,014 725,141 400,066 42,973,453

248,442 222,430 135,525 96,828 99,475 45,631 51,896 30,510 21,606 27,022 27,892 25,113 25,492 26,879 24,013 22,631 24,425 15,163 25,650 21,166 26,507 22,112 23,616 22,499 19,254 19,622 20,845 18,118 12,844 20,309 18,676 16,671 15,431 11,527 13,076 13,974 15,602 14,083 13,569 11,218 34,088

▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲

EXPLANATION The tables set out the average prize-money at each fixture staged by a racecourse over the last 12 months. They show how this is made up of the three sources of prizemoney: 1. Racecourses’ contribution 2. Levy Board (HBLB) 3. Owners The tables also confirm the number of fixtures staged and the total amount of prize-money paid out by each racecourse throughout this period. The racecourses are ordered by the average amount of their own contribution to prizemoney at each fixture. This contribution originates from various sources including media rights, admission revenues and racecourse sponsors. If a racecourse has increased its average contribution at each fixture compared with the previous 12 months, it receives a green ‘up’ arrow. If its average contribution has fallen, however, it receives a red ‘down’ arrow. As these tables are based on the prize-money paid out by each racecourse, the abandonment of a major fixture could distort a racecourse’s performance.

OWNERSHIP KEY JCR Jockey Club Racecourses

ARC Arena Racing Company

I Independently owned racecourse Gold Standard Award

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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TBA FORUM The special section for TBA members

Update from the Small Breeders’ Group It’s been a busy year for the Small Breeders’ Group (SBG), which is chaired by TBA Board member Philip Newton. Quarterly meetings were well attended and thanks to Paul Thorman, Fiona Denniff, Larry Stratton, Julian Wilson and David Hodge for their time and contribution. It wasn’t all talk, and during the year the group achieved or influenced the following: • The new Foal Scoping Code of Practice that was introduced at the December Sales directly at the initiative of the SBG is currently still only a recommended practice, but it was widely used and we expect over time that this will become fully established as a sale procedure. • The Plus 10 incentive scheme continues to be a work in progress and the SBG

AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE

of high-value races for fillies and mares that will be run over a variety of distances during the course of the year. A Finals’ Day will take place at Newmarket in October, with the winners of those races potentially qualifying for nomination vouchers to the value of £25,000. One of the pressing subjects for the SBG was to introduce a series of races that specifically targeted the small breeder and owner, and as a consequence of these discussions a paper has been presented to the BHA Racing Committee. We are hopeful that some more positive news can be given soon. So, plenty done and plenty to do. The SBG is committed to improving circumstances and conditions for the many breeders that do so much for the industry.

TBA Annual General Meeting Notice

‘Stars Of Tomorrow’ National Hunt Foal Show 2016

The 99th AGM of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association will be held at The Jockey Club Rooms, 101 High Street, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 8JL on Tuesday, July 5. Members are also invited to join the board for lunch and refreshments following the meeting. The agenda and further details will be circulated at a later date.

GAVIN JAMES

This year’s Annual Breeders’ Awards Evening will be held at Chippenham Park, Newmarket on May 5. The evening will commence with a drinks reception and will be followed by a dinner and the presentation of awards. It is a unique opportunity to celebrate the breeding successes of our industry with friends and colleagues. Invitations to apply for places will be sent to members next month. Numbers are strictly limited and places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. To avoid disappointment, return your application to Stanstead House as soon as possible.

made significant overtures to the Race Committee to consider and implement changes to the registration process and the dates of payment. This important scheme is a major boost for breeders and clearly a step in the right direction, supporting breeders and owners alike. • The BHA initiated a major review of the programme for fillies and mares, the details of which will be published in the near future. Both the TBA and in turn the SBG lobbied hard for this study and the impact of it will be seen in the coming years in innovation and change, where appropriate, in the racing programme. To kick-start this ‘change’, the EBF, encouraged by the SBG together with the TBA, introduced at the recent Craven meeting a series

TBA Chief Executive Louise Kemble and EBF Chairman Philip Freedman present the awards to the connections of Briery Queen, winner of the EBF & TBA Mares’ National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle Finale at Newbury on April 2

The TBA is delighted to invite members, their families and friends, to the unique ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ National Hunt Foal Show at Bangoron-Dee racecourse on Sunday, July 24. Now in its fourth year, the event provides the ideal opportunity for mare owners to showcase their young stock, with separate classes for colt and filly foals, which are also divided by age and judged on conformation and movement, backed up by pedigree. The winner of each class will be the foal thought by the judges – who are drawn from the UK, Ireland and France – most likely to be a National Hunt horse of the future. By exhibiting a foal in the show, owners can enjoy a delicious complimentary buffet lunch, which is generously sponsored by the British European Breeders’ Fund and takes place before the afternoon classes begin. Generous prize-money is given by Goffs UK Ltd to the owners of the winner and secondplaced foals in each class. Those two foals then go forward to the Championship at the end of the day, with the Champion and Reserve Champion being awarded £800 and £400 respectively. Winners throughout the day also receive bags of feed from Saracen Horse Feeds and the coveted champion show jacket goes to the overall winner. A schedule and entry form will be sent to all members in the next send-out from Stanstead House. Entries close on Monday, July 4. All enquiries to pauline.stoddart@thetba.co.uk. THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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REGIONAL DAY UPDATES

A beautiful spring morning greeted members at Philip Hobbs’s stable in late March

South West Regional Day Regional Chairman Anthea Gibson Fleming made the right decision when selecting the venue and date for the South West Regional Meeting held at Philip and Sarah Hobbs’s Sandhill Racing Stables in Minehead on Thursday, March 31. We enjoyed a glorious spring morning and our hosts made the 50 TBA members and guests very welcome. After coffee and introductions we headed up the hill to watch third lot do three canters each on the threefurlong Polytrack gallop. With 108 horses in training, Philip, who reached his 100 winners in record time this campaign, explained that it had been a busy season, but numbers were now dropping as the season draws to a close. Questions came thick and fast and Philip acknowledged the TBA’s role in promoting mares-only races, and referred to the 14 mares he now trains as a result of the need to recognise this element of the programme. Choice and selection of NH stallions was also

debated frankly as members asked for the trainer’s opinion. Assistant trainer Johnson White was on hand to ensure everyone was made familiar with the stars on show, which included Grand National entries Kruzhlinin and Onenightinvienna, Topham entry Village Vic and Garde La Victoire. Wishfull Thinking, Fingal Bay and Dunraven Storm were also pointed out, and before they left the gallops members had an opportunity to get closer to the horses as Philip summarised their campaigns. Back in the yard there was plenty of time for further questions of our host and to view the yard, with many people heading for old favourite Balthazar King’s box before a convivial lunch at the Luttrell Arms in nearby Dunster. Thank you to everyone concerned for ensuring that the 2016 programme of TBA Regional Meetings started in fine style.

Thank you to all those members who have already returned the application form request sheet for the forthcoming regional days. The application forms for the West (June 7) and South East (June 8) have been posted to those members who reside in each specific region, along with all those who have requested details from other regions. Look out for the forms in the post and remember that applications are on a first-come, first-served basis, except where over-subscribed when members from the relevant regions will be given preference. No places will be reserved until we receive your completed application form and payment, so in order to avoid disappointment please return your forms promptly. East Regional Day, Tuesday, June 21: We can now confirm that the East Regional Day will be hosted by Godolphin in Newmarket. The day will start at Godolphin’s Dalham Hall Stud to view the stallions, followed by a tour of the 1,200-acre Moulton Paddocks training estate with a drive-through tour of the gallops area and tour of the stables and facilities. Lunch will be at Granary Barns in Woodditton. Full details will be included in the application form. Scotland Regional Day, Monday, August 1: Details are confirmed to include a visit to trainer Iain Jardine at Hetland Hill Farm, Dumfriesshire, followed by lunch at a nearby venue with a guest speaker. Full details will be included on the application form. North Regional Day, Tuesday September 6: This will include a visit to David O’Meara near York, North Yorkshire, lunch at a nearby hostelry and a stud visit (venue to be confirmed) in the afternoon. Further details will be announced in the near future. For further details on the Regional Day programme for 2016, please call Annette on 01638 661321 or email annette.bell@thetba.co.uk

Members enjoyed seeing a number of stable stars from the 108-strong Hobbs team

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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TBA FORUM

NH Mare Owners’ Prize Scheme – Eligible Races (May-July 2016) The awards are: £10,000 for wins in mares-only class 1-2 open races and class 1-4 novice chases & hurdles. £5,000 for wins in mares-only NH flat races. Prizes reduced by 50% for fields with fewer than eight runners. T&Cs apply Course Name

Race Date

Class Type

Race Name

EXETER

03/05/2016

Ley Arms Kenn Mares’ ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle

WETHERBY

04/05/2016

wetherbyracing.co.uk Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

NEWTON ABBOT

04/05/2016

Paignton Zoo Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

CARLISLE

05/05/2016

ApolloBet Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race

UTTOXETER

05/05/2016

32Red.com Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race

WINCANTON

10/05/2016

Charlton House Cup Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

PERTH

12/05/2016

Breakthrough Breast Cancer Touch Look Check Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race

BANGOR-ON-DEE

14/05/2016

Property & Thoroughbred Services Ltd Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race

SOUTHWELL

24/05/2016

Porsche Centre Nottingham Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

SOUTHWELL

24/05/2016

BlueBird Care Providing High Quality Care Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race

BANGOR-ON-DEE

26/05/2016

Cheltenham Preview Evening Mares’ ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle

WORCESTER

27/05/2016

Ladbrokes Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race

UTTOXETER

09/06/2016

Dove Valley Outdoor Events Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race

NEWTON ABBOT

10/06/2016

‘STATION ROAD’ PLAYING AFTER RACING MARES’ NOVICES’ HURDLE

STRATFORD-ON-AVON

14/06/2016

Alveston Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

WORCESTER

22/06/2016

EFG Harris Allday Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race

SOUTHWELL

10/07/2016

mrfreebet.co.uk On Your Mobile Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race

STRATFORD-ON-AVON

17/07/2016

Retro Rebel Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race

UTTOXETER

24/07/2016

Burton Albion Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

Please note that race details are subject to alteration. The TBA cannot accept responsibility for changes, errors, omissions or abandonments. The TBA and HBLB reserve the right to amend the list of eligible races at any time.

NH MOPS fillies on offer in Spring Sale Fourteen NH MOPS-registered fillies head to the Goffs UK Spring Store Sales on May 17. ‘NH MOPS’ will appear on the catalogue pages of registered lots and their eligibility will be announced at the sale in Doncaster. NH MOPS-registered fillies can win some great prizes if successful in qualifying mares-only races; £10,000 in class 1-2 open races/class 1-4 novice chases and hurdles, and £5,000 in NH flat races (T&Cs apply).

National Hunt Breeders’ Celebration Dinner An invitation is extended to all National Hunt enthusiasts to join us at The Mount Pleasant Hotel near Doncaster on Monday, May 16 for the National Hunt Breeders’ Celebration Dinner, where nine award winners will be honoured. The winners’ names, from the three nominees put forward for each award, will remain a closely-guarded secret until the evening, when compere and NH Committee Member Nick Luck will announce the winners. The TBA NH Committee would particularly like to thank Goffs UK Ltd for its generous cosponsorship of the event, and the individual sponsors for the nine awards, namely:

Pitchall Trophy – Leading Chaser; Mickley Trophy – Leading Novice Chaser; Highflyer Trophy – Leading Novice Hurdler; Shade Oak Trophy – Leading Hurdler; Yorton Trophy – Leading NH Flat Horse; Overbury Trophy – Leading Chase Mare; Birch Farm Stud & DGS Horse Transport Trophy – Leading Hurdles Mare; Beech Tree Trophy – Leading Novice Hurdles Mare; Mill House Trophy – Leading NH Flat Mare. Places for what promises to be a fantastic evening cost only £50 per head and can be booked by contacting NH Committee Member Liz Lucas via email: info@swanbridgevets.com. THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

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w w w. t h e t b a . c o . u k

TBA Courses and Seminars The TBA has an exciting range of professional development courses and seminars on offer in 2016 to cater for breeders and stud employees across the country. Commencing at the end of May, we have seven educational events with something for everyone:

TBA One-day Seminars This year the TBA offers two separate one-day seminars for members, located in Newmarket and at Haydock Park racecourse.

TBA Annual Seminar – Thursday, June 23, at Tattersalls, Newmarket Each year the TBA Seminar focuses on current topical issues and for this year the morning session leads on the topic of equine genetics and breeding the racehorse. We have secured international genetics experts Professor Max Rothschild, Dr Sarah Blott and Dr Peter Webbon to give members a comprehensive and expert view on this fast-moving subject. The afternoon session will include an update on infectious diseases, including an update on EHV1 and vaccination supplies, and also the launch of the HBLB’s Codes of Practice App.

• Registration is at 9.30am and the day ends at 4pm • The TBA member rate is £54, which includes lunch and refreshments • For further information and to book a place contact Leaya Slater at the National Stud on 01638 675930/email: Leaya@nationalstud.co.uk

Supervisory Skills Course – June 28 and 29 at the National Stud, Newmarket

• The seminar runs from 10am to 4pm and is free to TBA members

In response to demand from members we have partnered with the National Stud to deliver a course that will assist those responsible for supervising staff. This is a two-day course tailored to the thoroughbred breeding industry, which will provide delegates with the skills needed to lead a team. It is aimed at those new to a supervisory role and those wishing to make the transition to team leader and will cover key aspects of leading a team, including communication, motivation, delegation, effective leadership and relevant employment law.

• To book your place, contact Christine Standley at the TBA on 01638 661321/email Christine.standley@thetba.co.uk

• Course fees: TBA members £165 (non-members £295), which includes lunch and refreshments on both days but not accommodation

TBA Annual Seminar – Wednesday, July 13, Haydock Park racecourse Thanks to the generosity of Saracen Horse Feeds, we are delighted to offer members the chance to hear speakers Dr Joe Pagan and Roger Allman, who will reprise their presentations given at last year’s seminar on growth and development in the young growing horse, and the balancing of nutrients in relation to pasture management and available forage. Additional speakers will include Simon Curtis on farriery management of foals and young horses, Charlie Cooke on parasite control and Matthew Robin on infectious diseases. • The seminar runs from 10am to 4pm and is free to TBA members • To book your place, contact Christine Standley at the TBA on 01638 661321/email: Christine.standley@thetba.co.uk

TBA-sponsored courses held in partnership with the National Stud

• For further information and to book a place contact Leaya Slater at the National Stud on 01638 675930/email: Leaya@nationalstud.co.uk

Regional educational events As part of the TBA’s aim to offer regional learning opportunities to breeders and stud employees, the TBA and National Stud have joined forces to deliver two one-day courses in the South West and South East this summer. These are co-funded by the Racing Foundation’s proactive funding initiative, which aims to provide a coordinated career development and learning programme for those working in racing and breeding The programme will cover veterinary management of the mare, including preparation for covering and biosecurity, farriery and foot care, equine first aid and dealing with emergency situations, and nutrition. Speakers include Simon Curtis and Louise Jones. Venues and dates:

The Foal: weaning to sales – Wednesday, May 25 at the National Stud, Newmarket

Wednesday, July 20 – Plumpton College, East Sussex

This TBA-sponsored course focuses on the foal’s journey from weaning to the sales ring. Topics covered include nutrition, farriery, veterinary care, weaning and sales preparation, which are delivered by industry experts including Simon Curtis, Louise Jones and Liam MacGillivray.

• Both days will run from 10am to 3pm and are free of charge to TBA members

Wednesday, July 27 – Exeter racecourse, Devon

• For further information and to book a place, contact Leaya Slater at the National Stud on 01638 675930/email: Leaya@nationalstud.co.uk

TBA Stud Farming Course Wednesday, December 7 to Friday, December 9, British Racing School, Newmarket

The popular Annual Seminars will be held at Tattersalls in Newmarket and at Haydock Park racecourse this year

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

Looking ahead to the end of the year, the TBA’s popular and well-respected Annual Stud Farming Course consists of 24 sessions over three days on topics ranging from conception of the foal to foaling and care of the newborn and older foal, nutrition, sales preparation and disease prevention. Each day also includes an external visit to a local stud, veterinary practice or other relevant location. The course is delivered by industry experts in an informal setting which allows plenty of opportunities to ask questions and learn from speakers and other delegates. For further information and to book your place contact Christine Standley at the TBA on 01638 661321/email Christine.standley @thetba.co.uk

May_141_TBA_Forum_Owner 21/04/2016 15:36 Page 84

TBA FORUM

Lady’s day at Garnons as Neighbours triumphs

Neighbours Lady battles home for her victory with Mathew Barber in the saddle

Owner Les Woodhouse collected the trophy for Neighbours Lady’s win in the TBA maresonly race at Garnons in Herefordshire on March 20. The daughter of Karinga Bay beat the odds-on favourite by a length and a half under rider Mathew Barber. The same weekend also saw a TBAsponsored mares-only race at the Belvoir point-to-point in Garthorpe. The Helen Connors-trained She’s Real won for owner John Chatfeild-Roberts, whose son Tom was in the saddle. The 2015-2016 TBA race series will conclude in May with the Melton Hunt Club (May 8), Dulverton West, Belvoir and The Border (May 15).

TBA diary dates SUNDAY, MAY 8 TBA Mares-only Club Race At Melton Hunt Club Point-to-Point.

SUNDAY, MAY 15 TBA Mares-only Club Race At Belvoir Point-to-Point.

SUNDAY, MAY 15 TBA Mares-only Club Race At Dulverton West Point-to-Point.

Owner Les Woodhouse receives the trophy for Neighbours Lady’s win in the TBA mares-only race at Garnons

TBA BOARD ELECTION All members will by now have received by post a nomination form and information on the process for the forthcoming 2016 Board Elections. With two vacancies available, the TBA Board invites you to nominate any member of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association that you consider would be a valuable addition to the TBA Board and to the future of the thoroughbred breeding industry. It is important the nominated members are able to reflect the views of the membership – this is your chance to ensure the board is enriched with a broad spectrum of expertise. This year we are seeking to appoint two elected members for a four-year term of office to represent the range of breeding interests within the membership. Whilst the elected members enjoy a shared interest and knowledge of breeding, the board is

looking to have adequate representation from the various sectors of the breeding industry and it would be advantageous if at least one incoming board member has knowledge of race planning, be an owner/breeder or commercial breeder, and both members need an understanding and passion for the breeding industry, with direct involvement. Candidates should be prepared to devote considerable time and energy in support of the TBA and sit on a range of sub-committees, attend associated functions and meetings, and possess some experience of the workings of a board. Please make the most of this opportunity. If you know someone who would bring valuable experience, perspective and judgement to the board, please nominate them. The closing date for nominations is Tuesday, April 26.

SUNDAY, MAY 15 TBA Mares-only Club Race At the Border Point-to-Point.

MONDAY, MAY 16 National Hunt Celebration Dinner Near Doncaster.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23 TBA Newmarket Seminar At Tattersalls.

TUESDAY, JULY 5 TBA Annual Awards Evening At Newmarket.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13 TBA Northern Seminar At Haydock Park racecourse.

SUNDAY, JULY 24 National Hunt Foal Show

NEW TBA MEMBERS Hugh Morris, London; Kirst Windsor, Herefordshire; Rhys Matcham, Shropshire; Mrs E V A Trotman, Monmouthshire; Will Smith, Gloucestershire; Vere Phillipps, Leicestershire.

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

May_141_BreederOfTheMonth_Owner 21/04/2016 17:45 Page 85

BREEDER OF THE MONTH

www.thetba.co.uk

Words Alan Yuill Walker Sponsored by

Manufacturers of

NH BREEDER OF THE MONTH – March 2016

Four Grade 1 victories for British-breds at the Cheltenham Festival was a very satisfactory haul by any standards, the more so as three of them were by British-bred Kayf Tara, the Overbury Stud stalwart ending as the week’s top sire. However, the respective breeders of the Kayf Tara geldings Blaklion (RSA Chase) and Thistlecrack (World Hurdle) were ineligible for the March award as between them they had accounted for the two previous ones. The other duo is Graham Smith for Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle winner Unowhatimeanharry, and Pleasure Palace Racing for Champion Bumper winner Ballyandy. The fact that the former had to negotiate a few obstacles gave him the nod over his rival, as well as the breeder of a Grade 1 winner at Fairyhouse over Easter. Graham Smith, of G J Smith Farriers at Wymeswold in Leicestershire, made headlines in the sport horse world last November. He and a partner sold the dual Nations Cup-winning team member Dougie Douglas at Goresbridge for a record €1.4 million – they had paid €5,800 for him in the same ring in 2009. The financial return from Unowhatimeanharry (the 17 characters in his name is one under the maximum allowed by Weatherbys) was not quite so remunerative, as Smith explains, saying: “He was dismissed by potential purchasers as he was small and looked more like a polo pony than a racehorse, but we managed to sell him through an advertisement in Horse & Hound.” Trained initially by Helen Nelmes near Dorchester, the gelding won a bumper at Fontwell Park on his debut, later joining fellow Dorset trainer Harry Fry, for whom he became a first official Cheltenham Festival winner to remain undefeated in five starts for his new connections. The term ‘official’ is relevant to Unowhatimeanharry in another context as the General Stud Book actually gives the credit for breeding him to R J Smith, Graham’s octogenarian father, but “that is only because he paid for the nomination to his sire Sir Harry Lewis,” his son explains with a laugh. His dam Red Nose Lady had been bought aged seven at Doncaster in November 2004 for 4,200gns. At that stage she had scored twice over hurdles for Malcolm Jefferson and she proceeded to win two more hurdle races when trained by Graham Smith himself for the splendidly named Slow Donkey Partnership.

GEORGE SELWYN

Graham Smith

Being small no barrier to success for Unowhatimeanharry, right

From the family’s Fox Covert Farm, Red Nose Lady visited Sir Harry Lewis in her first three stud seasons, the intermediate mating resulting in Unowhatimeanharry. “Joss Hanbury recommended the sire as he had been responsible for his Long Walk Hurdle winner Mighty Man,” says Smith. Hanbury is joint-master of the Quorn Hunt, for which Smith is a field master. Red Nose Lady had two further progeny in Smith’s ownership – an own-brother to Unowhatimeanharry, who died as a youngster, and an Indian Danehill filly, who was sold privately as a four-year-old last autumn. Meanwhile, having slipped to Indian Danehill to her 2011 covering, Smith decided to sell Red Nose Lady herself. “I sold her privately for £500 to an elderly man from Northern Ireland,” he says, “so I don’t have any bloodstock at all at the moment.” Runner-up to Unowhatimeanharry at Cheltenham was Fagan (by Fair Mix). Both geldings are out of mares by Teenoso, who used to stand at Shade Oak Stud, where the grey Fair Mix is based. Unowhatimeanharry’s distaff relations have a long association with this Shropshire nursery owned by the Hockenhull family. Indeed, it was one of no fewer than nine consecutive matings between Cytisus and resident stallion Rymer that produced Unowhatimeanharry’s grandam, Red Rambler.

CALPHORMIN

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

May_141_Vet_Forum_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 15:45 Page 86

VET FORUM: THE EXPERT VIEW By DEIDRE CARSON BVSc MRCVS

Guarding our breeding stock against infectious diseases Pre-breeding tests are vital to ensure that exotic diseases transmitted either via equines or insects do not endanger Britain’s disease-free status

DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE HORSE, 2003

n the UK, the 2016 thoroughbred breeding season is well under way with a large number of mares having already foaled and many scanned in foal again. It is a time of year where the number of thoroughbred mares on studs in breeding centres such as Newmarket increases dramatically. With that influx of mares of all ages comes the increased risk of the introduction of infectious disease. The diseases we are most concerned with are the obvious ones such as equine Herpes virus and strangles. Both are endemic in the UK and there have been cases of both neurological herpes infection and Herpes virus abortion reported earlier in 2016. Vaccination against EHV is widespread and testing for strangles is increasingly common – both efforts to reduce the risk of introduction of disease to studs. However, there are other diseases which don’t occur in the UK – these are known as ‘exotic’ diseases. Because of the increased transportation of horses into the UK from Europe and further afield, our local horse population is at risk of exposure to these diseases. Pre-import testing and health checks can do only so much and these rely on proper implementation and enforcement. The Tripartite Agreement allows for the free movement of thoroughbred horses from France provided they are accompanied by a DOCOM which confirms the animal’s disease-free status. Horses from elsewhere in the EU must be accompanied by a health certificate which is signed by a veterinary surgeon and will state the tests required by legislation to be done to permit entry to the UK. In addition to these import tests, the HBLB Codes of Practice require testing for EVA, EIA and CEM to be done, ideally before entry to the UK, but certainly before the mare can be covered. We need to be aware of the risk of introduction of these diseases and their common symptoms and be on the look-out for cases which might occur. The HBLB Codes of Practice, which provide a considerable amount of information on these infections and are recommended reading for anyone involved in breeding, can be found at http://codes.hblb.org.uk. The ‘compulsory’ pre-breeding tests for all

Conjunctivitis in a horse infected with Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA)

mares and stallions are for Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA), Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) and Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM). Occasionally, other tests, for example for strangles or Dourine, might be requested by a boarding stud or stallion farm.

“African Horse

Sickness would be rapidly fatal among our ‘naive’ horse population” Equine Viral Arteritis As the name suggests, this is a viral disease which primarily affects the blood vessels. It occurs in all parts of the world. It is a notifiable disease, which means that any occurrence must be reported to DEFRA and restrictions on movement of horses will be imposed. The infection is transmitted directly or indirectly during teasing or mating, via the use of fresh, chilled or frozen semen from an infected stallion, from an aborted fetus or the associated fluids and via inhalation of infected particles. Stallions might not show any clinical signs but may shed the virus in the semen. Clinical signs include fever, depression, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis and swelling of the lower limbs

and scrotum. In pregnant mares, abortion can occur. In line with the HBLB codes, all thoroughbred mares in the UK must be tested at least once for EVA prior to covering. Mares from outside the UK will require a minimum of two tests to be performed, with one of these to be done at least two weeks after the mare’s arrival in the UK to ensure they were not exposed just prior to export. If the result is positive, another test must be performed to ensure the antibody titre is stable or declining. Thoroughbred stallions are vaccinated against the disease.

Equine Infectious Anaemia This is also a viral infection which occurs in many parts of Europe and the rest of the world and is notifiable by law. It is transmitted in a number of ways: by certain biting insects such as particular flies; by administration of infected blood products such as plasma; via equipment which has been contaminated with blood from an infected animal such as dental or veterinary equipment; directly from mare to foal via the placenta. Symptoms vary depending on the form of the disease seen. In the acute form, signs will include fever, depression, weakness and jaundice, petechiation (tiny bleeds) on mucous membranes, and skin swellings. Many of these cases become chronic with weight loss, recurrent bouts of fever, muscle wastage and weakness. There is no specific treatment and many chronic cases become carriers. There is no vaccine available for EIA. Prevention depends on detection of carriers and for this reason all mares and stallions in the UK should be tested for EIA before the start of the breeding season, and preferably within 28 days of mating. Different stallion farms might have their own requirements for testing and these should be checked before any mare is sent to board or to walk in.

Contagious Equine Metritis This is a bacterial infection which can cause infertility and metritis (uterine infection) in infected mares. Affected stallions are usually asymptomatic carriers of the disease and some infected mares also remain symptom free and act THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

May_141_Vet_Forum_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 15:45 Page 87

as a source of infection to others. This is another notifiable disease. The infection is transmitted directly from the stallion’s external genitalia (or, rarely, in the semen) during mating or teasing and can also be spread via contaminated equipment or personnel – or even the teaser’s nose – that have come into direct contact with the genitalia of an infected horse. Symptoms include vaginal discharge in mares and reduced fertility. All stallions (including teasers) and mares must be swabbed for CEM before breeding activity commences, in line with the requirements of the Codes of Practice. The swabs must be sent to an HBLB-approved laboratory for testing. Where artificial insemination (AI) is being used (this is not permitted in thoroughbred racehorses), there is also a risk of spread in infected semen so it is also recommended that stallions used for AI are also swabbed. Culture for CEM takes seven days but if a result is required urgently, a PCR test can be done and the results might be available in as little as 12 hours. It is important to note that the swabs taken for testing for CEMO will normally also be tested for certain Klebsiella and Pseudomonas species of bacteria. While these are not exotic diseases, they can cause infection of the female reproductive tract and are spread by venereal contact. It is possible to treat all of these infections but they can be difficult to clear. The veterinary surgeon responsible for the case will advise on the best course of action. There are a couple of other exotic diseases that we need to be on the lookout for as they are either endemic in parts of Europe or appear to be heading our way due to northward movement of the insects that carry them.

African Horse Sickness

CLASSIFIED

While the three diseases already mentioned could be brought into the UK by an infected

though the current risk of incursion is perceived as low.

Dourine Dourine is considered an emerging venereal disease as a result of an outbreak in Italy in 2011. This is a protozoal infection caused by Trypanosoma equiperdum. Clinical signs vary but may include swelling of the genitalia and skin lumps (plaques). Up to 50% of cases are fatal. The infection is transmitted during mating, AI with infected semen or from a mare to her foal. Horses leaving or arriving from affected areas should be tested and confirmed to be negative on CFT test before mating is permitted. Some UK studs require a negative Dourine test before allowing a mare from Italy to be covered.

Precautions for all African Horse Sickness has been reported recently in South Africa

horse, we face the potential risk of African Horse Sickness, also a notifiable disease, arriving in biting insects. The Culicoides spp responsible for the spread of AHS have been gradually moving northwards from their ‘native’ homeland of subSaharan Africa. The Blue Tongue Virus, responsible for the outbreak in 2008, is carried by the same vector as AHS and those midges were ‘blown’ across the English Channel and established disease in the south east. Symptoms can vary but include fever, rapid or difficult breathing, frothy nasal discharge, facial swelling and colic. AHS would be rapidly fatal in most of the infected horses as our horse population is ‘naive’, i.e. has not had any previous exposure to the disease. The government has prepared a control strategy for African Horse Sickness even

It is strongly recommended that any animal arriving onto premises, particularly from abroad, is placed into an isolation facility for at least two weeks or until the results of all pre- and postimport tests and pre-breeding tests are available. These isolation units should be geographically separate from the other facilities and have separate staff and equipment. While it is tempting to feel that pre-breeding testing or screening for disease is a waste of money, the implications of a case or outbreak of one of these exotic diseases might be massive. Closure of premises, restrictions on movement of horses and breeding activities, and costs of testing and retesting both affected and in-contact horses can result in huge financial losses. In addition to this, there are some exotic diseases for which humane slaughter is compulsory for affected animals, with little or no compensation available. On a larger scale, losing our national ‘disease-free status’ would have long-lasting repercussions for the UK’s growing international trade as many importing countries would refuse to accept our horses.

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May_141_DrStatz_Owner Breeder 21/04/2016 17:34 Page 88

DR STAT JOHN BOYCE CRACKS THE CODE

Theatre acting the king when it comes to improving his mares Late son of Sadler’s Wells’ prowess all the greater given the quality of mares he received

e are all used to the term ‘improves his mares’ when referring to a stallion’s prowess. It is most often used for Flat sires, probably more so in America, where they have several ways to measure the phenomenon. But what about National Hunt stallions? One way to tackle jump stallions, which are often neglected when it comes to good analysis, is to compare them over a number of seasons by the percentage of winners they get. We can also look at establishing some sort of benchmark to see if they are in fact improving their mares, by generating a figure for the sire’s runners and another figure for the siblings of these runners. The table alongside is for the last six seasons and it includes sires that had 150 or more runners in that period. Crucially, they must all have improved their mares in that period. Our list of 19 that meet these stringent criteria is ranked by the average Racing Post ratings of each sire’s top ten lifetime runners. It contains as many as ten Sadler’s Wells-line stallions, but there are significant contributions by sons of Ardross and Alleged as well. It is worth bearing in mind that it is usually easier to improve on poorer mares than it is to upgrade very good ones. So all those sires that have sibling winner-to-runner ratios in the 40s have done very well indeed. At the top of our table is Cue Card’s sire King’s Theatre, the Sadler’s Wells colt formerly trained by Sir Henry Cecil for Sheikh Mohammed to win the Racing Post Trophy and King George as well as finishing runner-up in two Derbys. Rated 128 by Timeform, King’s Theatre is the best son of his illustrious sire on this table, but he had done a marvellous job in converting 56% of his runners into winners from mares that managed 42% with other sires. His efforts are all the more noteworthy considering he has covered possibly the best mares of any stallion on this table. This is also backed up by the not inconsiderable fact that he’s sired 7% black-type horses to runners in the period, from mares that have produced 4% with other stallions. And it’s worth saying that 4% is a considerable benchmark for this group of stallions. No other

National Hunt sires with 150+ runners 2010-2016 ranked by average RPR of lifetime ten best horses Name

Born

Sire

W-R

Sibling W-R

Diff

Best 10 RPR

King’s Theatre Flemensfirth Old Vic Accordion Bob Back Beneficial Kayf Tara Moscow Society Milan Montjeu Dr Massini Winged Love Alderbrook Shantou Midnight Legend

1991 1992 1986 1986 1981 1990 1994 1985 1998 1996 1993 1992 1989 1993 1991

Sadler’s Wells Alleged Sadler’s Wells Sadler’s Wells Roberto Top Ville Sadler’s Wells Nijinsky Sadler’s Wells Sadler’s Wells Sadler’s Wells In the Wings Ardross Alleged Night Shift

56% 42% 47% 41% 40% 46% 42% 37% 43% 45% 43% 42% 38% 49% 52%

42% 40% 40% 39% 40% 39% 40% 34% 37% 37% 36% 35% 35% 37% 34%

14% 2% 6% 2% 1% 6% 2% 3% 6% 8% 6% 7% 3% 12% 18%

168 168 167 166 165 164 164 162 159 157 157 156 156 155 153

sire covered a group of mares capable of producing 4% black-type horses. Dual Grade 1 winner Flemensfirth, the sire of Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander, matched King’s Theatre with his best ten by RPR, but he wasn’t as good at siring winners, with an average of 42%, just above what his mares managed with other sires. The Sadler’s Wells pair Old Vic and Accordion are next best. Old Vic, winner of the Irish and French Derbys, sired the outstanding chaser Kicking King, while Accordion is responsible for Dato Star and Flagship Uberalles. Both have winnersto-runners ratios broadly in line with what their generally high-quality mares produced with other sires. Special mention must go to Ballylinch Stud, which not only stood King’s Theatre but also Bob Back, the sire of Bobs Worth and ranked fifth on our table. Beyond that these rankings acknowledge what everyone knows: the fact that Kayf Tara is Britain’s premier National Hunt sire. This season has seen him sire his best-ever runner in Thistlecrack (RPR 178). While King’s Theatre’s excellent ratio of winners may not be a surprise to many,

the horse with the second highest ratio probably is, if not to the folk at his home Pitchall Stud, who are evidently keenly aware of his strengths. His name is Midnight Legend. A son of Night Shift, Midnight Legend was a three-time Listed winner on the Flat and also Group 2-placed on a few occasions, but he had nothing like the ability of some of his rivals on our table. He sires stock with generally less ability than the King’s Theatres of the National Hunt world, but his winner-to-runner percentage is an excellent 52. What’s more, there is no better sire for the mid- and lower-ranked mares: he adds a remarkable 18 percentage points to the strike-rate that all other sires have posted with his mares. In fact, no sire adds more!

Cue Card, one of many advertisements for his phenomenal sire King’s Theatre

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DATA BOOK ANALYSIS BY ANDREW CAULFIELD

National Hunt Grade 1s 199 OLBG DAVID NICHOLSON MARES’ HURDLE G1 CHELTENHAM. Mar 15. 4yo+f. 19f 110yds.

1. VROUM VROUM MAG (FR) 7 11-5 £58,802 b m by Voix du Nord - Naiade Mag (Kadalko) O-Mrs S. Ricci B-A. Maggiar & A. Maggiar TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Rock On The Moor (IRE) 8 11-5 £22,154 b m by Flemensfirth - Home At Last (Mandalus) O-Mr R. Irwin B-C. O’Brennan TR-Mrs J. Harrington 3. Legacy Gold (IRE) 8 11-5 £11,087 b m by Gold Well - Durgams Delight (Durgam) O-Mr R. S. Brookhouse B-C. K. Johnson TR-Stuart Crawford Margins 2.75, 0.5. Time 4:45.00. Going Good to Soft. Age 4-7

Starts 15

Wins 11

Places 4

Earned £236,636

Sire: VOIX DU NORD. Sire of 11 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - VROUM VROUM MAG Kadalko G1, VANITEUX Video Rock G2, VIBRATO VALTAT Dom Alco G2, BACHASSON Shafoun G3, MISS DE CHAMPDOUX Hawker’s News G3. 1st Dam: NAIADE MAG by Kadalko. Winner over jumps in France. Dam of 3 winners: 2009: VROUM VROUM MAG (f Voix du Nord) 11 wins, OLBG David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle G1, olgb.com Warfield Mares’ Hurdle G2, I.S.F. EBF Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase G2, Coolmore Anaglog’sDaughter EBF Nov Chase G2, Kerry Group EBF Lombardstown Nov.Chase G3, EBF T. A. Morris Memorial Mares Chase G3, John & Chich Fowler Mem. EBF Mares Chase G3. 2010: ANTO MAG (f Lavirco) 2 wins at 4 in France. 2011: Brise Vendeenne (f Dom Alco) 3rd Betfred TV Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle LR. 2012: CABRIOLE MAG (f Gris de Gris) Winner at 3 in France. 2013: Dandy Mag (c Special Kaldoun) unraced to date. Broodmare Sire: KADALKO. Sire of the dams of 12 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - VROUM VROUM MAG Voix du Nord G1, ARKWRISHT Lavirco G3, MA FILLEULE Turgeon LR. The Voix du Nord/Kadalko cross has produced: VROUM VROUM MAG G1, Volca de Thaix G1, VIEUX MORVAN G2, Unique de Cotte LR.

VROUM VROUM MAG b m 2009 Lomond Valanour Vearia VOIX DU NORD b 01 Top Ville Dame Edith Girl of France Cadoudal Kadalko Koln NAIADE MAG b 01 Video Rock Fortanea Alconea

Northern Dancer My Charmer Mill Reef Val Divine High Top Sega Ville Legend of France Water Girl Green Dancer Come To Sea Fant Kornahre No Lute Pauvresse Brezzo Leuconea

The Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival has been dominated by Willie Mullins’ stars. After Quevega’s six wins, Glens Melody maintained the sequence after her stablemate Annie Power appeared to have the race won until she fell at the last. Mullins made it eight straight victories when Vroum Vroum Mag landed the odds in the latest edition. Vroum Vroum Mag may eventually prove worthy of comparison with Quevega and Annie Power, as she is now unbeaten in nine starts since she left her native France. Her first six starts in Ireland were over fences. Although she collected five Graded chases, the decision was taken to put

her back over hurdles and she has proved equally effective. Her sire Voix du Nord died of a heart attack as a 12-year-old in March 2013. This son of Valanour had earned the position of favourite for the 2004 Prix du Jockey-Club with his victories in the Criterium de SaintCloud and Prix Lupin. Unfortunately he suffered a serious injury shortly before the Chantilly Classic. Voix du Nord’s early demise looks to be a significant loss to France’s National Hunt breeders, as he ranked eighth on the leading sires’ list for 2015. He left 11 foals from his final season and had nearly 50 foals in both his 2012 and 2013 crops, so more is likely to be heard of him. His other good recent winners in Britain and Ireland include Vaniteux (Gr2 Lightning Novices’ Chase), Vibrato Valtat (Gr1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase, etc), Bachasson (a Gr3 novice hurdle winner), Val de Ferbet (a Gr2 novice chase winner), Aristo du Plessis and Taquin du Seuil. Vroum Vroum Mag was bred to jump. Her dam, the winning French chaser Naiade Mag, is a daughter of Kadalko. This son of the outstanding jumping sire Cadoudal was ordinary on the Flat but his record over hurdles was very different. Kadalko won 11 of his 15 races, with his last win coming in the Prix Leon Orly-Roederer over three miles, so he stayed well. Kadalko’s broodmare daughters are doing well, others being responsible for such as Balder Succes, Ma Filleule, Arkwrisht and Mr Mole. The next dam, the Video Rock mare Fortanea, was a selle francais who scored four times on the Flat and three times over jumps. Fortanea also produced the Grand National runnerup Saint Are. 200 RACING POST ARKLE CHALLENGE TROPHY CHASE G1 CHELTENHAM. Mar 15. 5yo+. 15f 110yds.

1. DOUVAN (FR) 6 11-4 £85,827 b g by Walk In The Park - Star Face (Saint des Saints) O-Mrs S. Ricci B-S.A.R.L. Haras de La Faisanderie TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Sizing John (GB) 6 11-4 £32,457 b g by Midnight Legend - La Perrotine (Northern Crystal) O-Ann & Alan Potts Partnership B-Dr B. & S. Mayoh TR-Henry de Bromhead 3. Fox Norton (FR) 6 11-4 £16,452 b g by Lando - Natt Musik (Kendor) O-Mr B. Dunn B-S.A. Scuderia Del Bargelo TR-Neil Mulholland Margins 7, 3.75. Time 3:48.60. Going Good to Soft.

Broodmare Sire: SAINT DES SAINTS. Sire of the dams of 4 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - ADRIEN DU PONT Califet G1, DOUVAN Walk In The Park G1, TOMMY SILVER Silver Cross LR.

DOUVAN b g 2010 Sadler’s Wells Montjeu Floripedes WALK IN THE PARK b 02 Robellino Classic Park Wanton Cadoudal Saint des Saints Chamisene STAR FACE b 04 Saint Preuil Folie Star Gate Miss French

See race 87 in the February issue 201 SKY BET SUPREME NOVICES’ HURDLE G1 CHELTENHAM. Mar 15. 4yo+. 16f.

1. ALTIOR (IRE) 6 11-7 £68,340 b g by High Chaparral - Monte Solaro (Key of Luck) O-Mrs Patricia Pugh B-P. Behan TR-Nicky Henderson 2. Min (FR) 5 11-7 £25,644 b g by Walk In The Park - Phemyka (Saint Estephe) O-Mrs S. Ricci B-Madame M. Mimouni TR-W. P. Mullins 3. Buveur d’Air (FR) 5 11-7 £12,840 b g by Crillon - History (Alesso) O-Potensis Bloodstock Ltd & Chris Giles B-Gerard Ferte TR-Nicky Henderson Margins 7, 1.5. Time 3:46.00. Going Good to Soft. Age 4-6

Starts 8

Wins 6

Places 1

Starts 11

Wins 10

Places 1

Earned £386,074

Sire: WALK IN THE PARK. Sire of 4 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - DOUVAN Saint des Saints G1, MIN Saint Estephe G2, PARK LIGHT Lightning LR.

1st Dam: MONTE SOLARO by Key of Luck. 2 wins, Brandon Hotel H. Hurdle G3. Dam of 3 winners: 2007: KEY TO THE WEST (g Westerner) 4 wins. 2008: Cestus (g High Chaparral) 2009: PRINCESS LEYA (f Old Vic) 3 wins, R E./B G.Golf Classic New Stand H.Hurdle G2. 2010: ALTIOR (g High Chaparral) 6 wins, 3rd Betfair Bumper Standard Open NH Race LR, Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle G1, Sky Bet Supreme Trial Sharp Nov.Hurdle G2. 2011: Silverhow (g Yeats) 2013: (f Milan) 2015: (c Milan) Broodmare Sire: KEY OF LUCK. Sire of the dams of 14 Stakes winners.

ALTIOR b g 2010 Northern Dancer Sadler’s Wells Fairy Bridge HIGH CHAPARRAL b 99 Darshaan Kasora

Chief’s Crown Key of Luck Balbonella MONTE SOLARO br 00 Broken Hearted Footsteps Remoosh

1st Dam: Star Face by Saint des Saints. ran over jumps in France. Dam of 1 winner: 2010: DOUVAN (g Walk In The Park) 9 wins, Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle G1, Herald Champion Novice Hurdle G1, sportinglife.com Moscow Flyer Nov.Hurdle G2, Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase G1, Frank Ward Arkle Challenge Cup Nov.Chase G1, Racing Post Christmas Novice Chase G1. 2011: Ribostar (c Epalo) unraced. 2013: Kalimama (f Charming Groom) unraced to date.

Earned £113,455

Sire: HIGH CHAPARRAL. Sire of 84 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - ALTIOR Key of Luck G1, HIGH MASTER Lion Cavern G2.

Kozana

Age 4-6

Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge Top Ville Toute Cy Roberto Isobelline Kris Brazen Faced Green Dancer Come To Sea Pharly Tuneria Dom Pasquini Montecha Mistigri Lise Belle

Nearctic Natalma Bold Reason Special Shirley Heights Delsy Kris Koblenza Danzig Six Crowns Gay Mecene Bamieres Dara Monarch Smash Glint of Gold Rivers Maid

Although High Chaparral’s legacy includes such high-class Flat performers as Toronado, Free Eagle, So You Think and Wigmore Hall, there was a time when the 2002 Derby winner’s career could have taken a different direction. With his fee in freefall – down to €10,000 in 2009 – High Chaparral began attracting attention from National Hunt

breeders. His 2009 book included numerous mares with National Hunt backgrounds, one being Monte Solaro, a bumper winner as a fouryear-old who later won a Grade C handicap over hurdles. The resultant foal, Altior, could finish only sixth in the Champion INH Flat Race at the 2015 Punchestown festival, but it has been a different story since he was switched to hurdling. He was winning for the fifth time in five starts when he strode away from hot favourite Min to take the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. High Chaparral’s black-typewinning hurdlers Caracci Apache and Different Gravey and his Gr3-placed daughter Mztique are other members of his 2010 crop which went straight to National Hunt careers. It wouldn’t be correct to describe Altior’s dam as having a National Hunt pedigree. A daughter of Key Of Luck, Monte Solaro shares the same sire as Alamshar, winner of the Irish Derby and King George. Monte Solaro’s dam Footsteps (who admittedly shared the same sire, Broken Hearted, as the Grand National winner Numbersixvalverde) was a dual seven-furlong winner as a two-yearold. Monte Solaro visited another son of Sadler’s Wells in 2008, producing another talented hurdler in Princess Leya, who gained all her wins over two miles. Altior has done all his racing at around the minimum trip and there seems no reason at this stage to try him over further. Monte Solaro also has youngsters by Sadler’s Wells’s sons Yeats and Milan. The Yeats gelding, Silverhow, was second on debut in January this year. 202 STAN JAMES CHAMPION CHALL.TROPHY HURDLE G1 CHELTENHAM. Mar 15. 4yo+. 16f.

1. ANNIE POWER (IRE) 8 11-3 £248,302 ch m by Shirocco - Anno Luce (Old Vic) O-Mrs S. Ricci B-E. Cleary TR-W. P. Mullins 2. My Tent Or Yours (IRE) 9 11-10 £93,173 b g by Desert Prince - Spartan Girl (Ela-Mana-Mou) O-Mr John P. McManus B-F. Dunne TR-Nicky Henderson 3. Nichols Canyon (GB) 6 11-10 £46,652 b g by Authorized - Zam Zoom (Dalakhani) O-Andrea & Graham Wylie B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited TR-W. P. Mullins Margins 4.5, Head. Time 3:45.10. Going Good to Soft. Age 4-8

Starts 17

Wins 15

Places 1

Earned £715,234

Sire: SHIROCCO. Sire of 35 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - ANNIE POWER Old Vic G1, ROCK THE KASBAH In The Wings G3, MINELLA ROCCO Alleged LR. 1st Dam: ANNO LUCE by Old Vic. 4 wins at 2 to 4 at home, Germany, P.der Hannoverschen Sparkassen & der VGH G3, 3rd Preis der Diana - Deutsches Stuten Derby G2. Dam of 6 winners: 1999: ALOOF (f Rahy) Winner at 3 in France. Broodmare. 2000: Anno Mundi (f Red Ransom). Broodmare. Dam of GIANTOFAMAN (g Stowaway: 2 wins over hurdles, boylesports.com M.Purcell Mem.Nov Hurdle G2), Stowaway Shark (g Stowaway: Winner over hurdles in 2016, 2nd INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hp Hurdle G2) 2001: ANGELENO (f Belong To Me) Winner at 3 in France. Dam of LADY PIMPERNEL (f Sir Percy: 5 wins at 2 to 4 at home, USA, Robert J Frankel S G3, 3rd Yellow Ribbon H G2)

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May_141_DataBook_Layout 1 21/04/2016 17:17 Page 91

Caulfield on Annie Power: “Her considerable achievements, along with those of Lac Fontana, have ensured Shirocco has been much in demand since his move to Glenview Stud”

2003:

2004: 2005: 2007: 2008:

2009: 2010:

HEAD WAITER (g Lend A Hand) 7 wins, 2nd Listowel Races Supp.Club Lartigue Hurdle G3, Owens Mccarthy Claims H. Chase G3, 2nd Carrickmines Mick Holly H. Chase G2. ATHENEUM (c Noverre) 6 wins at 3 to 5 in Hungary. Manuels Sister (f Lend A Hand) ran twice in N.H. Flat Races. Broodmare. AIR TROOPER (g Monsun) 2 wins at 3 in France, Prix de l’Avre LR. ANNIE POWER (f Shirocco) 15 wins, Stan James Champion Chall.Trophy Hurdle G1, Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle G1, Irish Stall. Farms EBF Mares Nov. Hurdle G1, Irish Stall.Farms EBF Mares Chpn. Hurdle G1 (twice), paddypower.com Johnstown Novice Hurdle G2, Coral Ascot Hurdle G2, olbg.com Doncaster Mares’ Hurdle G2, 2nd Ladbrokes World Hurdle G1. Kalucci (g Kalanisi) Anna’s Star (f Hernando) unraced.

2nd Dam: ANNA PAOLA by Prince Ippi. Champion 2yr old in Germany in 1980, Champion 3yr old filly in Germany in 1981. 5 wins at 2 and 3 in West Germany Preis der Diana G2. Dam of ANNO LUCE (f Old Vic, see above), ATLAAL (g Shareef Dancer: Bic Razor Lanzarote H. Hurdle LR, James Capel Novices’ Chase LR). Grandam of POZARICA, ANNABA, ANNUS MIRABILIS, ANNA OF SAXONY, MIDDLE CLUB, PIPING ROCK, SADLERS WINGS, Anna Mona, Andean, Anna Royal, Ancelin, Abyaan. Third dam of HELMET, EPAULETTE, ANNA MONDA, SMOOTH OPERATOR, PEARLS, AUTUMN GLORY, BULLBARS, ANNA PALARIVA. Broodmare Sire: OLD VIC. Sire of the dams of 29 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - ANNIE POWER Shirocco G1, BONNY KATE Beneficial G2.

ANNIE POWER ch m 2008 Konigsstuhl Monsun Mosella SHIROCCO b 01 The Minstrel So Sedulous Sedulous Sadler’s Wells Old Vic Cockade ANNO LUCE ch 93 Prince Ippi Anna Paola Antwerpen

Dschingis Khan Konigskronung Surumu Monasia Northern Dancer Fleur Tap On Wood Pendulina Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge Derring-Do Camenae Imperial Prinzess Addi Waldcanter Adelsweihe

The record books make it clear that it takes a mare of rare talent to win the Champion Hurdle. African Sister became the first to do so in 1939 and then we had to wait until 1984, when the great Dawn Run initiated her Champion Hurdle-Gold Cup double. The only other mare to win was Flakey Dove in 1994, until that is Annie Power earned her place in history with an authoritative display. The daughter of Shirocco was winning for the 14th time in 16 outings and her record would have been even more impressive but for her last-flight fall in the 2015 Mares’ Hurdle. Her considerable achievements, along with those of her fellow Gr1 hurdles winner Lac Fontana, have ensured that Shirocco has been much in demand since his move to Glenview Stud, where he covered 265 mares in 2014 and 267 in 2015. Shirocco also has the smart staying chaser Minella Rocco and the Gr3 hurdles winner Rock The Kasbah among his current representatives. He also sired that admirable stayer Brown Panther, winner of the Irish St Leger, Dubai Gold Cup and more than £1.1 million.

Annie Power was in utero when her dam, the Gr.3 Flat winner Anno Luce, was sold by Darley for €60,000 in 2007. Anno Luce was subsequently represented by two notable winners, but in different sectors. Air Trooper, a colt by Annie Power’s grandsire Monsun, won his first two starts on the level, including the Listed Prix de l’Avre. However, it was over fences that Head Waiter, her gelding by Lend A Hand, won a Grade C contest in 2010. Annie Power’s second dam, the Preis der Diana winner Anna Paola, became the ancestress of numerous Group performers following her purchase by Darley, two of the most recent being the top Australian colts Helmet and Epaulette (who have shuttled to Europe for stallion duties). No fewer than five of Anna Paola’s daughters produced stakes winners on the Flat, including six Group winners, one being the remarkably tough Annus Mirabilis, who earned over £1 million in Europe, Dubai and Japan. Old Vic, the broodmare sire of Annie Power, was a powerful influence for stamina, as he showed by siring two Grand National winners. The mare’s family has produced several other good jumpers, including Atlaal and Sadlers Wings (a Gr1 winner over hurdles). 203 BETWAY QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE G1 CHELTENHAM. Mar 16. 5yo+. 15f 110yds.

1. SPRINTER SACRE (FR) 10 11-10 £199,325 b/br g by Network - Fatima III (Bayolidaan) O-Mrs Caroline Mould B-Mr C. Masle TR-Nicky Henderson 2. Un de Sceaux (FR) 8 11-10 £74,795 b g by Denham Red - Hotesse de Sceaux (April Night) O-E. O’Connell B-Haras de La Rousseliere & Mme Monique Choveau TR-W. P. Mullins 3. Special Tiara (GB) 9 11-10 £37,450 b g by Kayf Tara - Special Choice (Bob Back) O-Mrs S. Rowley-Williams B-D. E. M. Young TR-Henry de Bromhead Margins 3.5, Nose. Time 3:48.90. Going Good. Age 4-10

Starts 23

Wins 17

Places Earned 4 £1,065,697

Sire: NETWORK. Sire of 18 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - SPRINTER SACRE Bayolidaan G1, ACAPELLA BOURGEOIS Valanjou G2, BALL D’ARC Moon Madness G2, VALYSSA MONTERG Panoramic G2, VENITIEN DE MAI Grand Tresor G2, VENT SOMBRE Video Rock G2, BEL CANTO VALTAT Dom Alco LR, UN ROC DU GRANDVAL Chef de Clan LR. 1st Dam: Fatima III by Bayolidaan. Dam of 4 winners: 1998: KASHIMA (f Kadalko) 3 wins over jumps in France. Broodmare. 1999: Lavande (f Iris Noir) ran on the flat in France and over jumps in France. Broodmare. 2000: Magniolia (g Our Account) unraced. 2001: NUIT SACREE (f Brier Creek) 2 wins over jumps in France. 2003: Private (f Brier Creek) unraced. 2005: REGAIN DU CHARBONNEAU (g Arnaqueur) Winner of a N.H. Flat Race. 2006: SPRINTER SACRE (g Network) 17 wins, 3rd Stan James Supreme Novices’ Hurdle G1, Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase G1, Sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase G1 (twice), boylesports.com Drogheda Champion Chase G1, Sportingbet Tingle Creek Chase G1, John Smith’s Maghull Novices’ Chase G1, Victor Chandler Clarence House Chase G1, John Smith’s Melling Chase G1, Betfair Super Saturday Game Spirit Chase G2, williamhill.com Wayward Lad Nov. Chase G2, williamhill.com

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2007: 2010: 2011: 2013:

Desert Orchid Chase G2, Shloer Cheltenham Chase LR, 2nd Sodexo Clarence House Chase G1, Bet365 A P McCoy Celebration Chase G1. Toscane Sacree (f Dear Doctor) Altesse Sacree (f Daramsar) unraced. Baccara Sacree (f Fragrant Mix) unraced. Divine Sacree (f Network) unraced to date.

Broodmare Sire: BAYOLIDAAN. Sire of the dams of 4 Stakes winners.

colt named Flinteur Sacre. Viva Sacree, the second dam of Sprinter Sacre, is also the second dam of the useful French chaser Tiot Cas. Viva Sacree’s sire, the well-bred Maiymad, did well over hurdles before siring the outstanding Ubu III, whose record featured two wins in the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil and one in the Grand Steeplechase de Paris. 204 NEPTUNE INVESTMENT BINGHAM NOV HURDLE G1

SPRINTER SACRE b/br g 2006 Konigsstuhl Monsun Mosella NETWORK br 97 Reliance II Note Nicotiana Kamaridaan Bayolidaan Bayonne FATIMA III b 93 Maiymad Viva Sacree Kiki Sacree

Dschingis Khan Konigskronung Surumu Monasia Tantieme Relance III Naras Nina Djakao Diamond Drop Stymphale Belsta Rheingold Miss Melody Edellic Amie Sacree

I never expected to be called upon to review Sprinter Sacre’s pedigree again after this once seemingly invincible chaser was diagnosed with a heart condition. However, the son of Network has proved exceptional in more than one way and he has bounced back so well that he won his second Queen Mother Champion Chase three years after his first, having been pulled up in the 2015 edition. Now a winner of 13 of his 17 starts over fences, Sprinter Sacre is a perfect example of what Monsun’s stallion sons have to offer National Hunt racing – as are Network’s other good current winners, such as the Irish Gr2-winning hurdlers Acapella Bourgeois and Ball d’Arc. These are by no means the first to represent Network with distinction outside France, as their predecessors include Saint Are (Gr1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle), Rubi Light (Gr1 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase and Gr2 Red Mills Chase) and Adriana des Mottes (Gr1 Mares’ Novice Hurdle Championship Final). Network won the Gr2 UnionRennen over 11 furlongs in Germany, but success as a stallion didn’t come easily. He wasn’t extensively used early in his stallion career, with none of his first five crops containing more than 31 foals. These crops produced a string of notable performers in France, including Rubi Ball (twice a winner of the Gr1 Prix La Haye Jousselin), and he ranked fourth on France’s leading sires’ list in 2015. Seven of Sprinter Sacre’s eight Gr1 successes have come at around two miles, but he also won the Melling Chase over an extra half-mile before his problems began. Sprinter Sacre’s dam Fatima III is a once-raced daughter of Bayolidaan, a stallion who gained five of his six wins over hurdles, at up to around two and a half miles. Fatima has three other winners to her credit, two of them over jumps, and also has two young siblings to Sprinter Sacre – a 2013 filly named Divine Sacree and a 2015

CHELTENHAM. Mar 16. 4yo+. 21f.

1. YORKHILL (IRE) 6 11-7 £68,340 ch g by Presenting - Lightning Breeze (Saddlers’ Hall) O-Andrea & Graham Wylie B-P. Keating TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Yanworth (GB) 6 11-7 £25,644 ch g by Norse Dancer - Yota (Galetto) O-Mr John P. McManus B-Wood Farm Stud Limited TR-Alan King 3. Its’afreebee (IRE) 6 11-7 £12,840 b g by Danroad - Aphra Benn (In The Wings) O-Rebel Jumping B-E. Sexton TR-Dan Skelton Margins 1.75, 7. Time 5:00.80. Going Good. Age 4-6

Starts 8

Wins 7

Places 0

Earned £151,442

Sire: PRESENTING. Sire of 63 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - MY MURPHY Teenoso G1, NO MORE HEROES Naheez G1, ROGUE ANGEL Luso G1, YORKHILL Saddlers’ Hall G1, RIVERSIDE CITY Beneficial G2, SNOW FALCON Kahyasi G2, SOUTHFIELD ROYALE Garde Royale G2, TOP GAMBLE Sadler’s Wells G2, UP FOR REVIEW Good Thyne G2, LORD SCOUNDREL Dahar G3, SADDLERS ENCORE Saddlers’ Hall G3, TRIANA DU BERLAIS Mansonnien G3. 1st Dam: Lightning Breeze by Saddlers’ Hall. unraced. Dam of 1 winner: 2009: Hear The Thunder (f Presenting) ran once in a N.H. Flat Race. 2010: YORKHILL (g Presenting) 5 wins, Neptune Investment Bingham Nov Hurdle G1, 32Red Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle G1. 2011: (f Flemensfirth) 2013: Ocean Breeze (f Presenting) unraced to date. Broodmare Sire: SADDLERS’ HALL. Sire of the dams of 12 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - YORKHILL Presenting G1, WINTER ESCAPE Robin des Pres G2, SADDLERS ENCORE Presenting G3, THREE STARS Westerner G3. The Presenting/Saddlers’ Hall cross has produced: YORKHILL G1, SADDLERS ENCORE G3.

YORKHILL ch g 2010 Busted Mtoto Amazer PRESENTING br 92 Persian Bold D’Azy Belle Viking Sadler’s Wells Saddlers’ Hall Sunny Valley LIGHTNING BREEZE b 04 Strong Gale Park Breeze Park Delight

Crepello Sans Le Sou Mincio Alzara Bold Lad Relkarunner Riverman Vallarta Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge Val de Loir Sunland Lord Gayle Sterntau Saint Denys Lover’s Delight

See race 95 in the February issue 205 RSA CHASE G1 CHELTENHAM. Mar 16. 5yo+. 24f.

1. BLAKLION (GB) 7 11-4 £85,425 b g by Kayf Tara - Franciscaine (Legend of France) O-S Such & CG Paletta B-Mrs M. D. W. Morrison TR-Nigel Twiston-Davies 2. Shaneshill (IRE) 7 11-4 £32,055 b g by King’s Theatre - Darabaka (Doyoun) O-Andrea & Graham Wylie B-Mr D. Johnson TR-W. P. Mullins

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DATA BOOK

National Hunt Grade 1s 3. More of That (IRE) 8 11-4 £16,050 b g by Beneficial - Guigone (Esprit du Nord) O-Mr John P. McManus B-Mrs E. Hadden TR-Jonjo O’Neill Margins 0.5, 8. Time 6:06.20. Going Good. Age 4-7

Starts 21

Wins 9

Places 8

Earned £199,902

Sire: KAYF TARA. Sire of 39 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - BALLYANDY Karinga Bay G1, BLAKLION Legend of France G1, IDENTITY THIEF Flemensfirth G1, TEA FOR TWO Tragic Role G1, THISTLECRACK Ardross G1, AUNT NORA Supreme Leader G2, KAYF GRACE Strong Gale G2, VALUE AT RISK Orchestra G2, WAR SOUND Gunner B G3, COPPER KAY Presenting LR, RONS DREAM Emperor Jones LR. 1st Dam: FRANCISCAINE by Legend of France. Winner at 3 in France. Dam of 3 winners: 2002: Francis du Mesnil (g Saint Preuil) 2 wins, 2nd www.lakehotel.com Lough Leane H. Chase G3. 2003: Madame Kahyasi (f Kahyasi) unraced. Broodmare. 2004: (c Accordion) 2005: Francesa (f Silver Patriarch) 2 wins over hurdles, 2nd OLBG.com Mares H. Hurdle LR. Broodmare. 2006: Just Rodders (g Generous) unraced. 2008: Pete The Pastor (g Pastoral Pursuits) ran once and ran twice in N.H. Flat Races. 2009: BLAKLION (g Kayf Tara) 8 wins, Totepool Persian War Novices’ Hurdle G2, Albert Bartlett Bristol Novices’ Hurdle G2, 2nd Albert Bartlett River Don Novice Hurdle G2, Neptune Investment Hyde Novices’ Hurdle G2, 3rd Betfred Challow Novices’ Hurdle G1, RSA Chase G1, Totepool Towton Novices’ Chase G2, 2nd BetBright Dipper Novices’ Chase G2. 2010: Max The Minister (g Pastoral Pursuits) 2012: Wite Lioness (f Tobougg) unraced. Broodmare Sire: LEGEND OF FRANCE. Sire of the dams of 11 Stakes winners.

BLAKLION b g 2009 Sadler’s Wells KAYF TARA b 94 Colorspin

Legend of France FRANCISCAINE b 96 The Fun

Northern Dancer Nearctic Natalma Bold Reason Fairy Bridge Special Derring-Do High Top Camenae Jimmy Reppin Reprocolor Blue Queen Northern Dancer Lyphard Goofed Primera Lupe Alcoa Meadow Mint Funny Hobby Zakyna Lanark The Lark Norman Lass

Overbury Stud’s Kayf Tara enjoyed a spectacular Cheltenham Festival, with Blaklion taking the Gr1 RSA Chase, Ballyandy the Gr1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper and Thistlecrack the Gr1 World Hurdle. Another son, Special Tiara, was a fine third in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. In winning the RSA Chase, Blaklion was scoring for the third time in five completed starts over fences. This former point-to-pointer is clearly even more effective over fences than he was over hurdles – and he was a Gr2 winner and Gr1-placed over the smaller obstacles. He has already shown that he has inherited an ample measure of the stamina which brought Kayf Tara two successes in the Gold Cup at Ascot. Blaklion’s dam, the French 12furlong winner Franciscaine, began her broodmare career in France before being moved to Britain. Her Saint Preuil gelding Francis du Mesnil

won over two miles over fences in Ireland and her Silver Patriarch filly Francesa was Listed-placed over hurdles. Blaklion’s broodmare sire, the Earl of Sefton Stakes winner Legend Of France, was a royally-bred son of Lyphard and the Oaks winner Lupe. Franciscaine was a half-sister to several successful jumpers in France, notably the smart chaser Indian River, who won at up to nearly three miles. Their dam, The Fun, was a half-sister to The Wonder, a high-class miler in France who later did well in the US. 206 WEATHERBYS CHAMPION BUMPER NH FLAT RACE G1 CHELTENHAM. Mar 16. 4-6yo. 16f.

1. BALLYANDY (GB) 5 11-5 £39,865 b g by Kayf Tara - Megalex (Karinga Bay) O-Options O Syndicate B-Pleasure Palace Racing TR-Nigel Twiston-Davies 2. Battleford (GB) 5 11-5 £14,959 b g by Midnight Legend - Well Maid (Saddlers’ Hall) O-Andrea & Graham Wylie B-Mr & Mrs B. & G. Griffiths TR-W. P. Mullins 3. Bacardys (FR) 5 11-5 £7,490 b/br g by Coastal Path - Oasice (Robin des Champs) O-Shanakiel Racing Syndicate B-E. Vagne & J. Da Silva TR-W. P. Mullins Margins Nose, 2. Time 3:47.70. Going Good. Age 4-5

Starts 6

Wins 4

Places 2

Earned £72,736

Sire: KAYF TARA. Sire of 39 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - BALLYANDY Karinga Bay G1, BLAKLION Legend of France G1, IDENTITY THIEF Flemensfirth G1, TEA FOR TWO Tragic Role G1, THISTLECRACK Ardross G1, AUNT NORA Supreme Leader G2, KAYF GRACE Strong Gale G2, VALUE AT RISK Orchestra G2, WAR SOUND Gunner B G3, COPPER KAY Presenting LR, RONS DREAM Emperor Jones LR. 1st Dam: MEGALEX by Karinga Bay. Winner over hurdles. Dam of 6 winners: 2004: MEGASUE (f Kayf Tara) 3 wins. Broodmare. 2005: MEGASTAR (g Kayf Tara) 4 wins, John Smith’s Champion Open NH. Flat Race G2, 2nd 32red Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle G1. 2006: ZHAKIERA SPIRIT (f Kayf Tara) 2 wins in N.H. Flat Races. 2007: Megagrace (f Kirkwall) ran twice in N.H. Flat Races and ran a few times over hurdles. 2008: BERT THE ALERT (g Proclamation) 4 wins at 4 and 6. 2010: STONEGATE (g Kayf Tara) Winner of a N.H. Flat Race. 2011: BALLYANDY (g Kayf Tara) 4 wins in N.H. Flat Races at 4 and 5, Weatherbys Champion Bumper NH Flat Race G1, Tap Tap Boom Standard Open NH Race LR, High Sheriff Cheltenham N.H. Flat Race LR, 2nd Neptune Championship Open NH Flat Race LR. 2012: Kaveman (g Kayf Tara) unraced. 2013: (f Kayf Tara) 2014: (f Kayf Tara) 2015: (g Kayf Tara) Broodmare Sire: KARINGA BAY. Sire of the dams of 3 Stakes winners. The Kayf Tara/Karinga Bay cross has produced: BALLYANDY G1, MEGASTAR G1.

BALLYANDY b g 2011 Northern Dancer Sadler’s Wells Fairy Bridge KAYF TARA b 94 High Top Colorspin Reprocolor Ardross Karinga Bay Handy Dancer MEGALEX ch 98 Roselier Flaming Rose Little Flame

Nearctic Natalma Bold Reason Special Derring-Do Camenae Jimmy Reppin Blue Queen Run The Gantlet Le Melody Green God Miss Golightly Misti IV Peace Rose Little Buskins Some Flame

The £16,000 paid by Highflyer Bloodstock for a colt foal by Kayf Tara at Doncaster in December 2011 has proved to be money very well spent. Named Ballyandy, the now-five-year-old has suffered only one defeat in five starts in National Hunt Flat races and boosted his prize-money to over £70,000 in gamely winning the Weatherbys Champion Bumper. As a winner of the Champion Bumper, Ballyandy has a lot to live up to, as the previous winners include such as Monsignor, Florida Pearl and Cue Card. There is reason for hoping that he will continue to shine when he tackles jumps and longer distances. He is a brother to several other bumper winners, one of which – Megastar – was second in the Gr1 Tolworth Hurdle. And he is by Kayf Tara out of a grand-daughter of Ardross, whereas Kayf Tara’s topclass staying hurdler Thistlecrack is out of a daughter of Ardross. Kayf Tara, of course, won two editions of the Gold Cup at Ascot, plus the Goodwood and Yorkshire Cups, and so did Ardross, who added the Doncaster and Jockey Club Cups for good measure. Ballyandy’s dam Megalex won over 19 furlongs during a brief career over hurdles. Her sire Karinga Bay won the Gr3 Gordon Stakes over a mile and a half but later collected four further Gr3 successes from a mile to a mile and a quarter in Germany. Karinga Bay will always be best remembered as the sire of Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Coneygree. The stamina of Kayf Tara and Ardross is reinforced in Ballyandy’s pedigree by Roselier, sire of his second dam Flaming Rose, and Little Buskins, sire of third dam Little Flame. Stamina was one of the hallmarks of Roselier’s progeny, which featured winners of the Grand Nationals in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, and Little Buskins won the Great Metropolitan Handicap over two and a quarter miles. 207 JLT GOLDEN MILLER NOVICES’ CHASE G1 CHELTENHAM. Mar 17. 5yo+. 19f 110yds.

1. BLACK HERCULES (IRE) 7 11-4 £74,035 b g by Heron Island - Annalecky (Bob’s Return) O-Andrea & Graham Wylie B-S. Hawkins TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Bristol de Mai (FR) 5 11-4 £27,781 gr g by Saddler Maker - La Bole Night (April Night) O-Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede B-Mr J. Touzaint TR-Nigel Twiston-Davies 3. L’Ami Serge (IRE) 6 11-4 £13,910 b g by King’s Theatre - La Zingarella (Phardante) O-Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede B-P. Ryan TR-Nicky Henderson Margins 3, 1. Time 4:55.20. Going Good. Age 4-7

Starts 12

Wins 8

Places 1

Earned £134,186

Sire: HERON ISLAND. Sire of 11 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - BLACK HERCULES Bob’s Return G1, BISHOPS ROAD Shernazar G3. 1st Dam: Annalecky by Bob’s Return. unraced. Dam of 2 winners: 2007: Last Palm (g Great Palm) unraced. 2008: Eileithyia (f Great Palm) unraced. Broodmare. 2009: BLACK HERCULES (g Heron Island) Sold

2010: 2011: 2012: 2014: 2015:

2,527gns yearling at TIFEB. 7 wins, Kerry Group Cork Stayers Novice Hurdle G3, JLT Golden Miller Novices’ Chase G1, Betfred Hampton Novices’ Chase LR. HEDGEINATOR (g Beneficial) Winner over fences at 6. Tullow Tonic (f Beneficial) (g Whitmore’s Conn) (c Shantou) (c Flemensfirth)

Broodmare Sire: BOB’S RETURN. Sire of the dams of 5 Stakes winners.

BLACK HERCULES b g 2009 Mill Reef Shirley Heights Hardiemma HERON ISLAND b 93 Top Ville Dalawara Delsy Bob Back Bob’s Return Quality of Life ANNALECKY br 03 Kemal Kemchee Chamowen

Never Bend Milan Mill Hardicanute Grand Cross High Top Sega Ville Abdos Kelty Roberto Toter Back Auction Ring Flirting Countess Armistice Ilrem Master Owen Chambolle

Shirley Heights’ son Heron Island didn’t have a lot to show for a career which saw him rated 114 by Timeform at three and 116 at four. His only stakes victory came in a 14furlong Listed race, but he showed that he stayed well when fourth in the Gold Cup. Heron Island had the added appeal of being closely related to Shirley Heights’ top son Darshaan, his dam Dalawara being a half-sister to Darshaan by Top Ville. As Top Ville made a considerable impact on National Hunt breeding, it was understandable that Heron Island was given his chance as a National Hunt stallion, beginning in 2000. He was to become very popular before his death as a 15-year-old, to the extent that he covered 185 mares in 2006 and 314 in 2007. Heron Island was finally represented by his first Gr1 winner when Black Hercules proved too strong for Bristol de Mai in the JLT Novices’ Chase. But for a last-fence fall at Navan, Black Hercules would probably be unbeaten in four starts over fences. He had also tackled Gr1 company in the earlier stages of his career, notably finishing fourth in Cheltenham’s Champion Bumper. Black Hercules has already won over three miles and several of Heron Island’s other good winners also stay well, good examples being Bishops Road (Gr3 Grand National Trial), Puffin Billy and If In Doubt (Great Yorkshire Chase). Black Hercules also has a St Leger winner, Bob’s Return, as his broodmare sire and his second dam, the winning hurdler Kemchee, was by the French stayer Kemal, sire also of winners of the Grand National (Rhyme ‘N’ Reason) and Scottish National (Belmont King). Kemchee was a sister to the smart chaser Kissane and she also ranks as the dam of the Gr2 hurdling winner Indian Scout and third dam of the smart hurdler/chaser Monksland.

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Caulfield on Unowhatimeanharry: “His dam Red Nose Lady is a daughter of Teenoso, a Derby and King George winner who proved very disappointing as a stallion”

208 LADBROKES WORLD HURDLE G1 CHELTENHAM. Mar 17. 4yo+. 23f 110yds.

1. THISTLECRACK (GB) 8 11-10 £170,850 b g by Kayf Tara - Ardstown (Ardross) O-John and Heather Snook B-Mr & Mrs R. F. Knipe TR-Colin Tizzard 2. Alpha des Obeaux (FR) 6 11-10 £64,110 b g by Saddler Maker - Omega des Obeaux (Saint Preuil) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Marie Devilder & Stephanie Fasquelle TR-M. F. Morris 3. Bobs Worth (IRE) 11 11-10 £32,100 b g by Bob Back - Fashionista (King’s Theatre) O-The Not Afraid Partnership B-Mrs L. Eadie TR-Nicky Henderson Margins 7, 22. Time 5:42.60. Going Good. Age 5-8

Starts 14

Wins 9

Places 2

Earned £460,002

winners. NH in 2015/16 - UN TEMPS POUR TOUT Bonnet Rouge G1, VAUTOUR Dom Pasquini G1, LISTEN DEAR Lavirco G3, SIR DES CHAMPS Video Rock LR, WELSH SHADOW Persian Mews LR. 1st Dam: GAZELLE DE MAI by Dom Pasquini. 20 wins, Prix d’Iena Hurdle LR. Dam of 4 winners: 1998: Brink de Mai (c Sir Brink) ran on the flat in France and over jumps in France. 1999: BELLE PREUILLADE (f Royal Charter) 2 wins over jumps in France. 2000: Mozart du Berlais (c Pistolet Bleu) unraced. 2002: Line Mexia (f Indian River). Broodmare. 2003: LINE OCEANE (f Bonnet Rouge) 5 wins over jumps in France. 2004: GREG JACK (g Lost World) Winner at 4 in France. 2005: Disco Jack (g Kingsalsa) 2009: VAUTOUR (g Robin des Champs) 10 wins, Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle G1, Tattersalls Ireland Champion Nov. Hurdle G1, Deloitte Novice Hurdle G1, Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle G2, Ryanair Festival Trophy Chase G1, JLT Golden Miller Novices’ Chase G1, Stella Artois 1965 Chase G2, Leopardstown Killiney Novice Chase G2, 2nd William Hill King George VI Chase G1, Racing Post Christmas Novice Chase G1. Broodmare Sire: DOM PASQUINI. Sire of the dams of 21 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - VAUTOUR Robin des Champs G1, OFF BY HEART Kapgarde LR, SAPHIR DU RHEU Al Namix LR, VERDURE DES OBEAUX Saddler Maker LR.

VAUTOUR b g 2009 Mill Reef Garde Royale Royal Way ROBIN DES CHAMPS b 97 Iron Duke Relayeuse Reliorneuse Rheffic

Broodmare Sire: ARDROSS. Sire of the dams of 29 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - THISTLECRACK Kayf Tara G1, ANNACOTTY Beneficial G3. The Kayf Tara/Ardross cross has produced: THISTLECRACK G1, THE PACKAGE G3.

THISTLECRACK b g 2008 Northern Dancer Sadler’s Wells Fairy Bridge KAYF TARA b 94 High Top Colorspin Reprocolor Run The Gantlet Ardross Le Melody ARDSTOWN b 91 Master Owen Booterstown Vulgan’s Rose

Nearctic Natalma Bold Reason Special Derring-Do Camenae Jimmy Reppin Blue Queen Tom Rolfe First Feather Levmoss Arctic Melody Owen Tudor Miss Maisie Vulgan Nevada Rose

See race 83 in the February issue 209 RYANAIR FESTIVAL TROPHY CHASE G1 CHELTENHAM. Mar 17. 5yo+. 20f 110yds.

1. VAUTOUR (FR) 7 11-10 £178,538 b g by Robin des Champs - Gazelle de Mai (Dom Pasquini) O-Mrs S. Ricci B-Haras de Saint Voir & P. Joubert TR-W. P. Mullins 2. Valseur Lido (FR) 7 11-10 £66,995 b g by Anzillero - Libido Rock (Video Rock) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-M. Contignon & Mme N. Contignon TR-W. P. Mullins 3. Road To Riches (IRE) 9 11-10 £33,545 b g by Gamut - Bellora (Over The River) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Sunnyhill Stud TR-Noel Meade Margins 6, 0.5. Time 5:05.50. Going Good. Age 3-7

Starts 15

Wins 10

Places 4

Earned £568,187

Sire: ROBIN DES CHAMPS. Sire of 25 Stakes

Dom Pasquini Boursonne GAZELLE DE MAI gr 89 Sword Dancer Mexia Kozmic Blues

Never Bend Milan Mill Sicambre Right Away Sicambre Insulaire El Relicario Ordonneuse Traffic Rhenane La Varende Arctic Star Eudaemon Doll Dance Swaps Red Spy

Not for the first time, Robin des Champs enjoyed a rewarding Cheltenham Festival. Un Temps Pour Tout, a winner of the French Champion Hurdle, used his stamina to win the Gr3 Ultima Chase two days before Vautour achieved the remarkable feat of three consecutive Gr1 Festival victories. Vautour added the Ryanair Chase to his 2014 success in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and his 2015 win in the JLT Novices’ Chase. Vautour belongs to the French crop sired by Robin des Champs before this very successful stallion moved to Glenview Stud. Several members of Robin des Champs’ earlier French crops have also excelled outside France, prime examples being Sir des Champs (Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown and the Punchestown Gold Cup), Quevega (four editions of the Gr1 World Series Hurdle) and the Gr1 winners Un Atout and Sous les Cieux. Robin des Champs himself won four of his five starts over hurdles, racing only as a three-year-old. His first Irish foals, the oldest of which are six-year-olds of 2016, include such as Tombstone (twice runner-up at Gr1 level), Champers On Ice (third in the Gr1 Spa Novices’ Hurdle), Listen Dear (a Gr3 winner over hurdles), Duke des Champs (placed at Gr2

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level) and Welsh Shadow (Listed winner). Clearly Robin des Champs is going to remain a potent force with his Irish-bred youngsters. The maximum distance tackled by Robin des Champs was just under two and a quarter miles. However, both Sir des Champs and Quevega were suited by three miles and Vautour tackled that distance for the first time when caught on the line by Cue Card in the King George VI Chase, but that defeat seems to have raised some doubts about his stamina. He is the last foal and fourth winner out of Gazelle de Mai, who won at up to two miles five furlongs in winning nine times on the Flat, six times over hurdles and five times over fences. Her brother Lord Pasquini was also a prolific winner on the Flat and over fences. Gazelle de Mai has two daughters with youngsters in France. Her sire, the Gr2 Prix Greffuhle winner Dom Pasquini, was twice France’s champion sire of jumpers. Dom Pasquini is best known here for his son Dom Alco, sire of such fine stayers as Neptune Collonges, Grands Crus and Silviniaco Conti. 210 ALBERT BARTLETT SPA NOVICES’ HURDLE G1 CHELTENHAM. Mar 18. 4yo+. 23f 110yds.

1. UNOWHATIMEANHARRY (GB) 8 11-5£68,340 b g by Sir Harry Lewis - Red Nose Lady (Teenoso) O-Harry Fry Racing Club B-R. J. Smith TR-Harry Fry 2. Fagan (GB) 6 11-5 £25,644 gr g by Fair Mix - Northwood May (Teenoso) O-Mr R. A. Bartlett B-J. R. Weston TR-Gordon Elliott 3. Champers On Ice (IRE) 6 11-5 £12,840 gr g by Robin des Champs - Miss Nova (Ra Nova) O-Professor Caroline Tisdall & Bryan Drew B-Mrs G. C. List TR-David Pipe Margins 1.25, 1.5. Time 5:48.10. Going Good. Age 5-8

Starts 18

Wins 6

Places 9

Earned £119,730

Sire: SIR HARRY LEWIS. Sire of 16 Stakes winners. 1st Dam: RED NOSE LADY by Teenoso. 4 wins over hurdles. Dam of 1 winner: 2008: UNOWHATIMEANHARRY (g Sir Harry Lewis) 6 wins, Albert Bartlett Spa Novices’ Hurdle G1, Albert Bartlett Bristol Novices’ Hurdle G2. 2009: (c Sir Harry Lewis) 2011: (f Indian Danehill) 2013: (f Tikkanen) Broodmare Sire: TEENOSO. Sire of the dams of 10 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - MY MURPHY Presenting G1, UNOWHATIMEANHARRY Sir Harry Lewis G1. The Sir Harry Lewis/Teenoso cross has produced: UNOWHATIMEANHARRY G1, Comhla Ri Coig G1, Reindeer Dippin LR.

UNOWHATIMEANHARRY b g 2008 Hoist The Flag Alleged Princess Pout SIR HARRY LEWIS b 84 Mr Prospector Sue Babe Sleek Dancer Youth Teenoso Furioso RED NOSE LADY b 97 Rymer Red Rambler Cytisus

Tom Rolfe Wavy Navy Prince John Determined Lady Raise A Native Gold Digger Northern Dancer Victorine Ack Ack Gazala II Ballymoss Violetta III Reliance II Piave Above Suspicion River Gold

The transformation that Harry Fry has wrought in Unowhatimeanharry has been remarkable. This son of Sir Harry Lewis had suffered 12 consecutive defeats since he made a winning debut in a bumper in February 2013. That meant that he was still eligible for novice contests in the 2015/16 season when he joined Fry. Equipped with a tongue tie, he has won all five of his starts, culminating in the Gr1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. Sir Harry Lewis shares the same sire, the dual Arc winner Alleged, as several National Hunt stallions with important winners to their credit, such as Flemensfirth, Montelimar, Shantou, Husyan, Alesso, Jurado, Religiously and Leading Counsel. Sir Harry Lewis won the Irish Derby after finishing fourth in the Derby. He was later returned to his native USA to take up stallion duties but proved very disappointing in that role. Returned to Europe, he justified his return by siring three high-class sons in Mighty Man (Gr1 Long Walk Hurdle), Diamond Harry (Gr1 Challow Hurdle and Hennessy Gold Cup) and Harry Topper (three Gr2 successes including the Charlie Hall Chase and Denman Chase). Unowhatimeanharry’s dam Red Nose Lady, a four-time winner over hurdles, is a daughter of Teenoso, a Derby and King George winner who proved very disappointing as a stallion. Teenoso was a grandson of the American champion Ack Ack, who sired the leading hurdler Broadsword. 211 JCB TRIUMPH HURDLE G1 CHELTENHAM. Mar 18. 4yo. 16f 110yds.

1. IVANOVICH GORBATOV (IRE) 11-0 £68,340 b g by Montjeu - Northern Gulch (Gulch) O-Mr John P. McManus B-Lynch Bages & Camas Park Stud TR-Aidan O’Brien 2. Apple’s Jade (FR) 10-7 £25,644 b f by Saddler Maker - Apple’s For Ever (Nkosi) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Mr R. Coveliers TR-W. P. Mullins 3. Footpad (FR) 11-0 £12,840 b g by Creachadoir - Willamina (Sadler’s Wells) O-Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede B-L. Collet & C. Collet TR-W. P. Mullins Margins 1.25, 6. Time 3:55.10. Going Good. Age 2-4

Starts 7

Wins 4

Places 3

Earned £115,430

Sire: MONTJEU. Sire of 138 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - CHICAGO Mark of Esteem G1, IVANOVICH GORBATOV Gulch G1, PLINTH Machiavellian G2. 1st Dam: Northern Gulch by Gulch. Dam of 4 winners: 1999: Momayez (c Spinning World) unraced. 2000: (f Wild Again). died. 2002: Oh What a Feeling (f Dixieland Band). Broodmare. 2003: Northern Woodsman (c Forestry) ran on the flat in USA. 2004: HAMOODY (g Johannesburg) 14 wins, Sterling Insurance Richmond S G2. 2006: Arcodoro (g Medaglia d’Oro) 7 wins at 4 to 9, 2015 in USA, 2nd Cinema H G3. 2009: MOUNT MCLEOD (f Holy Roman Emperor) Winner at 3. Broodmare. 2010: Delight (f Danehill Dancer) 2012: IVANOVICH GORBATOV (g Montjeu) 4 wins, JCB Triumph Hurdle G1. 2nd Dam: NORTHERN STYLE by Ack Ack. 3 wins at 3 in USA San Clemente S, 3rd Linda Vista H G3, 4th Del

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National Hunt Grade 1s Mar Oaks G2. Own sister to ACK ACK HEIR. Dam of STYLISH STAR (f Our Native: Del Mar Oaks G3, Dahlia H G3, 2nd Gamely H G1, 3rd Beverly Hills H G1), Stylish Lass (f Captain Nick: 3rd Budweiser Arlington Breeders’ Cup H’cap LR), Western Style (f Gone West: 3rd Los Altos H), Stylish Society (f Forty Niner: 2nd Alameda County Fillies & Mares H, Meagher Farm H). Grandam of BROWNIE POINTS, STATELY STAR, Stylish Talent, Pirate’s Gulch. Third dam of SENTIMENTAL VALUE, REVERON, Patricia’s Gem, Maruvy, Kingsford Drive, Luvymar, Silver Morgan, Carolina Mist, Synchrony, Player One. Fourth dam of Mayaguezana, Triano Express, Cay Lobo. Broodmare Sire: GULCH. Sire of the dams of 60 Stakes winners.

IVANOVICH GORBATOV b g 2012 Northern Dancer Sadler’s Wells Fairy Bridge MONTJEU b 96 Top Ville Floripedes Toute Cy Mr Prospector Gulch Jameela NORTHERN GULCH ch 94 Ack Ack Northern Style Northern Heiress

Nearctic Natalma Bold Reason Special High Top Sega Ville Tennyson Adele Toumignon Raise A Native Gold Digger Rambunctious Asbury Mary Battle Joined Fast Turn Nearctic Yanina

Montjeu’s influence on the National Hunt scene is surely going to be immense. His sons Fame And Glory, Leading Light and Scorpion collectively covered more than 750 mares in 2015 and they have since been joined under the Coolmore banner by Walk In The Park, sire of the dazzling Douvan. We have also seen Authorized represented by the multiple Gr1 winner Nichols Canyon. Montjeu himself sired the extraordinary hurdler Hurricane Fly and he now has another potential star in Ivanovich Gorbatov, who produced a telling turn of foot to defeat Apple’s Jade in the Triumph Hurdle. The bottom half of this gelding’s pedigree is American, his dam Northern Gulch being a daughter of the champion American sprinter Gulch. Describing Gulch as a sprinter is a bit misleading, as he was also a Gr1 winner over eight and nine furlongs and he is best known in Europe as the sire of the top middledistance horse Nayef. Northern Gulch is also the dam of Hamoody, winner of the Gr2 Richmond Stakes, and she was a half-sister to Stylish Star, a dual Gr3 turf winner at up to nine furlongs. Gulch was by Mr Prospector, a stallion whose grand-daughters made a significant contribution to Montjeu’s success story. Camelot, Motivator, Leading Light, Gallante and Frozen Fire were all Gr1 winners in Europe out of mares by other sons of Mr Prospector. 212 TIMICO CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP CHASE G1

3. Don Poli (IRE) 7 11-10 £61,525 b g by Poliglote - Dalamine (Sillery) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Brian J Griffiths & John Nicholson TR-W. P. Mullins Margins 4.5, 10. Time 6:35.00. Going Good. Age 4-9

Starts 26

Wins 16

Places 6

Earned £892,678

Sire: SHOLOKHOV. Sire of 21 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - DON COSSACK Konigsstuhl G1, DESCARTES Dashing Blade LR, SERIENSCHOCK Highest Honor LR. 1st Dam: DEPECHE TOI by Konigsstuhl. 2 wins at 3 in West Germany. Dam of 6 winners: 1996: Demetrius (c Polish Precedent) 1997: DUBAI DANCER (g Lando) 3 wins. 1998: DUBAI DIVA (f Unfuwain) 3 wins at 3 in Germany. Broodmare. Dam of Dubai Star (c Lord of England: 3 wins over jumps in France, 2nd Prix Aguado Hurdle LR) 1999: Dendera (f Lando) ran on the flat in Germany and over jumps in Germany. 2000: DABOYA (f Hernando) Winner at 4 in France. Broodmare. 2001: DUBAI KING (g Dashing Blade) 2 wins. 2002: Dubai Perle (f Sagamix) ran on the flat in France. 2003: Don Corleone (c Tiger Hill) 2004: DIAMOND KING (c Dashing Blade) Winner at 4 in Czech Republic. 2007: DON COSSACK (g Sholokhov) 16 wins, Irish Form Future Chpns Pro-Am Flat Race G2, 2nd Racing UK Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle G2, 3rd paddypower.com Johnstown Novice Hurdle G2, Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase G1, Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase G1, John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase G1, Betfred Melling Chase G1, Bibby Punchestown Gold Cup Chase G1, jnwine.com Champion Chase G1, Ladbrokes Ireland Kinloch Brae Chase G2 (twice), Powers Irish Whiskey Skymas Chase G2, Star Best For Racing Carvills Hill Chase G3 (twice), 2nd Betfred Mildmay Novices’ Chase G1, Dr P J Moriarty Novice Chase G1, Dobbins Catering Florida Pearl Nov.Chase G2, 3rd Ryanair Festival Trophy Chase G1. 2nd Dam: Diaspora by Sparkler. 2 wins at 2 and 3 in West Germany, 2nd Schwarzgold-Rennen (1000 Guineas) G3. Dam of DAPPRIMA (f Shareef Dancer: Everest TV Fruhjahrs Stuten Preis LR, 2nd ARAG Preis (1000 Guineas) G2), Donja (f Julio Mariner: 3rd Preis der Landeshauptstadt Munchen LR). Grandam of DENARO, DAVIDOFF, DUELLANT, DEAUVILLE, DOMINANTE, Dubai. Third dam of GABRIAL’S KING, Dajolie. Fourth dam of Gestapo. Broodmare Sire: KONIGSSTUHL. Sire of the dams of 58 Stakes winners.

DON COSSACK br g 2007 Northern Dancer Sadler’s Wells Fairy Bridge SHOLOKHOV b 99 Lord Gayle La Meilleure Gradille Dschingis Khan Konigsstuhl Konigskronung DEPECHE TOI b/br 91 Sparkler Diaspora Diu

Nearctic Natalma Bold Reason Special Sir Gaylord Sticky Case Home Guard Gradiva Tamerlane Donna Diana Tiepoletto Kronung Hard Tack Diamond Spur Utrillo Didergo

See race 20 in the January issue 213 IRISH STALL. FARMS EBF MARES NOV. HURDLE G1 FAIRYHOUSE. Mar 27. 4yo+f. 20f.

CHELTENHAM. Mar 18. 5yo+. 26f.

1. DON COSSACK (GER) 9 11-10 £327,463 br g by Sholokhov - Depeche Toi (Konigsstuhl) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-Gestut Etzean TR-Gordon Elliott 2. Djakadam (FR) 7 11-10 £122,878 b g by Saint des Saints - Rainbow Crest (Baryshnikov) O-Mrs S. Ricci B-Mr R. Corveller TR-W. P. Mullins

1. JER’S GIRL (IRE) 4 10-8 £43,382 b f by Jeremy - African Scene (Scenic) O-Mr E. Bourke B-Mr E. A. Bourke TR-Gavin Cromwell 2. Jessber’s Dream (IRE) 6 11-7 £13,971 b m by Milan - Maddy’s Supreme (Supreme Leader) O-Mr Chris Giles & Potensis Bloodstock Ltd B-D. Noonan TR-Harry Fry 3. Asthuria (FR) 5 11-6 £6,618

b m by Sagacity - Baturia (Turgeon) O-George Creighton B-A. Chaille-Chaille TR-W P Mullins Margins 13, Short Head. Time 5:10.70. Going Yielding. Age 3-4

Starts 7

Wins 3

Places 2

Earned £70,381

Sire: JEREMY. Sire of 12 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 - JER’S GIRL Scenic G1, HENRY HIGGINS Acatenango G2, WHO DARES WINS Polish Precedent G2. 1st Dam: African Scene by Scenic. Dam of 4 winners: 2002: (f Daggers Drawn) 2003: (f Sayarshan) 2004: FREDA’S ROSE (f Rossini) Winner. 2006: ROSEWIN (f Hawkeye) 6 wins at 3 to 5. 2007: (c Swallow Flight) 2008: Spring Rose (f Hawkeye) ran once in a N.H. Flat Race. 2010: SCENIC STAR (g Erewhon) Winner at 5. 2012: JER’S GIRL (f Jeremy) 3 wins over hurdles at 3 and 4, Irish Stall. Farms EBF Mares Nov. Hurdle G1, Betfred Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle LR, 2nd Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle G2. 2013: Aboutagout (g Jeremy) in training. 2014: (c Lord Shanakill) Broodmare Sire: SCENIC. Sire of the dams of 49 Stakes winners.

JER’S GIRL b f 2012 Danzig Razyana Sharpen Up Lettre d’Amour JEREMY b/br 03 Blushing Groom Arazi Danseur Fabuleux Glint In Her Eye Alzao Wind In Her Hair Burghclere Northern Dancer Sadler’s Wells Fairy Bridge Scenic Foolish Pleasure Idyllic Where You Lead AFRICAN SCENE b/br 96 Sing Sing African Sky Sweet Caroline African Bloom Sovereign Bloom Florescence Sovereign Game

Flat, Jer’s Girl was gaining her third win from five starts over hurdles when she took the Gr1 Mares’ Novice Hurdle Championship Final. In winning the Final by 13 lengths, Jer’s Girl proved that she is suited by two and a half miles. Jer’s Girl’s broodmare sire, the Dewhurst Stakes dead-heater Scenic, came from the brilliant first crop by Sadler’s Wells. Scenic could well be the source of Jer’s Girl’s stamina, as the next three dams were sired by African Sky, Florescence and Sovereign Path, all of whom possessed more speed than stamina. 214 RYANAIR POWERS GOLD CUP NOVICE CHASE G1 FAIRYHOUSE. Mar 27. 5yo+. 20f.

1. KYLEMORE LOUGH (GB) 7 11-10 £43,382 b g by Revoque - One of The Last (Supreme Leader) O-M J McMahon & Denis Gallagher B-Mr M. J. McMahon TR-Kerry Lee 2. Outlander (IRE) 8 11-10 £13,971 b g by Stowaway - Western Whisper (Supreme Leader) O-Gigginstown House Stud B-R. O’Neill TR-W. P. Mullins 3. Blair Perrone (IRE) 7 11-10 £6,618 b g by Rudimentary - Stonehallqueen (King’s Ride) O-Mr John Breslin B-J. Moran TR-A. J. Martin Margins 1, 6. Time 5:22.90. Going Yielding.

Danehill

Danehill Dancer

Mira Adonde

The famous Garryrichard Stud must have been delighted with the reception that jumping breeders gave Jeremy, after this very smart son of Danehill Dancer joined the County Wexford stud from the Irish National Stud. Jeremy appealed on several counts: he had enough size at 16.1hh; he had acted well on soft ground; and, as a Group winner at up to a mile, he had the speed to help stoutly-bred National Hunt mares. Although Jeremy proved generally disappointing during his innings as a Flat sire, he was responsible for several very useful performers, including the fast 2014 two-year-old Kool Kompany, the dual Gr3 winner Yellow Rosebud, the 2015 Derby runner Success Days and the French Gr2 middle-distance winner Baino Hope. More importantly – from the viewpoint of the National Hunt sector – Jeremy’s first crop had also produced Our Connor, winner in 2013 of the Gr1 Triumph Hurdle, and Stocktons Wing, winner of the Gr2 Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle. Jeremy covered 229 thoroughbred mares in his first season at Garryrichard in 2013 and 204 in his second. Unfortunately Jeremy died in September 2014. His death looks all the more unfortunate now that he has been represented by two more good young hurdlers in Who Dares Wins and Jer’s Girl. Lightly raced on the

Age 5-7

Starts 15

Wins 9

Places 3

Earned £91,488

Sire: REVOQUE. Sire of 12 Stakes winners. 1st Dam: One of The Last by Supreme Leader. unraced. Dam of 1 winner: 2008: Firstbythelast (g Revoque) unraced. 2009: KYLEMORE LOUGH (g Revoque) 8 wins, 3rd Lafarge Sidney Banks Mem. Nov. Hurdle LR, Ryanair Powers Gold Cup Novice Chase G1. Broodmare Sire: SUPREME LEADER. Sire of the dams of 60 Stakes winners. NH in 2015/16 KYLEMORE LOUGH Revoque G1, OUTLANDER Stowaway G1, PRINCE OF SCARS Flemensfirth G1, AUNT NORA Kayf Tara G2, JESSBER’S DREAM Milan G2. The Revoque/Supreme Leader cross has produced: KYLEMORE LOUGH G1, Rev It Up G2.

KYLEMORE LOUGH b g 2009 Northern Dancer Fairy King Fairy Bridge REVOQUE b 94 Lafontaine La Bella Fontana Sorebelle Bustino Supreme Leader Princess Zena ONE OF THE LAST b 03 Strong Gale Mesp Queenie Kelly

Nearctic Natalma Bold Reason Special Sham Valya Prince Tenderfoot La Belle Busted Ship Yard Habitat Guiding Light Lord Gayle Sterntau The Parson Saucy Society

The connections of Kylemore Lough must have wondered whether the son of Revoque was ever going to fulfil the promise of the bright start to his career. Having easily won his first three starts over hurdles, the gelding was pulled up on his fifth and sixth starts. However, a switch to steeplechasing has seen Kylemore Lough return to form and he was gaining his fifth consecutive victory, from six starts, when he got the better of Outlander in Fairyhouse’s Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase. Kylemore Lough represents a

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May_141_DataBook_Layout 1 21/04/2016 17:17 Page 95

Caulfield on Jer’s Girl: “Her broodmare sire, Dewhurst dead-heater Scenic, came from the brilliant first crop by Sadler’s Wells. Scenic could well be the source of Jer’s Girl’s stamina”

blend between a Flat-bred stallion, Revoque, and a National Hunt-bred mare in One Of The Last. Revoque was a high-class two-year-old, unbeaten in four starts including a pair of Gr1s in France, and he went on to finish second in the 2,000 Guineas. Although Revoque disappointed as a sire of Flat

Kylemore Lough’s dam One Of The Last never raced but, with Supreme Leader as her sire and a Strong Gale mare as her dam, she was bred on the same cross as several of Supreme Leader’s best performers, notably Keen Leader and Fundamentalist. One Of The Last was also a half-sister to a couple of Gr2

performers, he had a second string to his bow. He was a big individual, standing 16.2hh, and he was also out of a mare by Lafontaine – the stallion responsible for the Grand National hero Papillon. Revoque had another talented novice chaser to his credit in the 2014-15 season in Ted Veale (out of a Roselier mare).

winners over fences in Ottawa, a Roselier gelding, and Calling Brave, a son of Bob Back. Supreme Leader, of course, was a champion sire of jumpers, as was Strong Gale, and Kylemore Lough’s third dam, Queenie Kelly, was a daughter of The Parson, another highly successful sire of jumpers.

National Hunt Grade 2 & 3 Races Date 05/03 05/03 06/03 06/03 12/03 12/03 13/03 13/03 13/03 13/03 15/03 16/03 16/03 17/03 17/03 18/03 18/03 27/03 27/03 27/03 27/03 28/03 28/03 28/03 28/03 28/03 29/03 29/03 29/03

Grade G2 G3 G3 GrB G3 G3 G2 G2 G3 GrC G3 G3 G3 G2 G3 G3 G3 G2 G3 GrB GrC G2 G2 G2 G3 GrA G2 GrB GrB

Race (course) Holden Plant Rentals Shamrock Hcp Chase (Gowran Park) stanjames.com Greatwood Gold Cup H Chase (Newbury) Naas Directors Plate Novice Chase (Naas) Woodlands Leinster National Hcp Chase (Naas) Close Brothers Imperial Cup Hcp Hurdle (Sandown Park) EBF Greenall’s Nat.Hunt Nov.Hcp Hurdle (Sandown Park) totescoop6 Premier Kelso Nov. Hurdle (Kelso) coral.ie EBF Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase (Limerick) Kerry EBF Shannon Spray Mares Nov.Hurdle (Limerick) Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nov. Hcp. Chase (Navan) Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase (Cheltenham) Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Cheltenham) Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Cheltenham) Trull House Dawn Run Mares Nov. Hurdle (Cheltenham) Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Hcp Chase (Cheltenham) Johnny Henderson Gd. Annual H. Cup Chase (Cheltenham) Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Cheltenham) Agnelli Motor Pk. Festival Novice Hurdle (Fairyhouse) Imperial Call Chase (Cork) Boylesports Greenogue Nov Hcp Chase (Fairyhouse) Easter Handicap Hurdle (Cork) Keelings Ire. Strawberry Ballybin Hurdle (Fairyhouse) Rathbarry Hardy Eustace Novice Hurdle (Fairyhouse) Rea Grimes Consutltants Juvenile Hurdle (Fairyhouse) John & Chich Fowler Mem. EBF Mares Chase (Fairyhouse) Boylesports Irish Grand National H Chase (Fairyhouse) Normans Grove Chase (Fairyhouse) Farmhouse Foods Glasscarn Hcp Hurdle (Fairyhouse) INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hp Hurdle (Fairyhouse)

Dist 18f 19.5f 20f 24f 15.5f 19.5f 18f 22f 16f 24f 25f 21f 16f 16.5f 20.5f 16f 16.5f 20f 24f 17f 19f 20f 16f 16f 20f 29f 17f 16f 24f

Horse Toon River (IRE) Sametegal (FR) Sub Lieutenant (IRE) Venitien de Mai (FR) Flying Angel (IRE) Barney Dwan (IRE) Le Prezien (FR) Bonny Kate (IRE) Barnahash Rose (IRE) Kilford (IRE) Un Temps Pour Tout (IRE) Diamond King (IRE) Diego du Charmil (FR) Limini (IRE) Empire of Dirt (IRE) Solar Impulse (FR) Superb Story (IRE) Acapella Bourgeois (FR) Fine Rightly (IRE) Solita (IRE) Last Goodbye (IRE) Value At Risk (GB) Sutton Place (IRE) Slowmotion (FR) Emily Gray (IRE) Rogue Angel (IRE) Top Gamble (IRE) Clondaw Warrior (IRE) Coney Island (IRE)

Age 11 7 7 7 5 6 5 6 8 10 7 8 4 5 9 6 5 6 8 7 5 7 5 4 8 8 8 9 5

Sex G G G G G G G M M G G G G M G G G G G M G G G F M G G G G

Sire Witness Box Saint des Saints Brian Boru Network Arcadio Vinnie Roe Blue Bresil Beneficial Exit To Nowhere Snurge Robin des Champs King’s Theatre Ballingarry Peintre Celebre Westerner Westerner Duke of Marmalade Network Alflora King’s Theatre Millenary Kayf Tara Mahler Soldier of Fortune Flemensfirth Presenting Presenting Overbury Flemensfirth

Dam Melody Thyne Loya Lescribaa Satellite Dancer Meylba Gypsy Kelly Kapricia Speed Abu Dhabi Peppardstown Shean Bracken African Waters Rougedespoir Georgia On My Mind Daramour Her Grace Rose of Inchiquin Moon Glow Yes My Love Jasmine Bealtaine Wind Over Water Welsh Ana Miss Orchestra Glebe Beauty Second Emotion Rose Island Carrigeen Kohleria Zeferina Thespian Millys Gesture

Broodmare Sire Good Thyne Robin des Champs Satco Grand Tresor Roselier Vertical Speed Saint Cyrien Old Vic Le Moss Be My Native Bonnet Rouge Belmez Anabaa Blue Spectrum Roselier Solar One Anabaa Valanjou Zaffaran Erins Isle Welsh Term Orchestra Good Thyne Medaaly Jupiter Island Luso Sadler’s Wells Tiraaz Milan

Index 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243

Leading National Hunt sires 2015/16 by earnings Name

YOF

Sire

Rnrs

Wnrs

%WR

Races

AWD

Earnings (£)

Top horse

Earned (£)

King's Theatre Presenting Kayf Tara Flemensfirth Beneficial Milan Westerner Oscar Midnight Legend Old Vic Robin des Champs Sulamani Network Shirocco Shantou Dom Alco Authorized Sholokhov Martaline Winged Love Gold Well Cloudings Voix du Nord Saint des Saints Brian Boru Alflora Vinnie Roe Poliglote Saddler Maker Dr Massini Heron Island Definite Article Kalanisi Notnowcato Court Cave High Chaparral Stowaway Walk In The Park Sir Harry Lewis Indian River Smadoun Montjeu Scorpion Overbury Golan Jeremy Arcadio Kapgarde Gamut Halling Cape Cross Turtle Island Generous Exit To Nowhere Indian Danehill Tikkanen Revoque Califet

1991 1992 1994 1992 1990 1998 1999 1994 1991 1986 1997 1999 1997 2001 1993 1987 2004 1999 1999 1992 2001 1994 2001 1998 2000 1989 1998 1992 1998 1993 1993 1992 1996 2002 2001 1999 1994 2002 1984 1994 1990 1996 2002 1991 1998 2003 2002 1999 1999 1991 1994 1991 1988 1988 1996 1991 1994 1998

Sadler's Wells Mtoto Sadler's Wells Alleged Top Ville Sadler's Wells Danehill Sadler's Wells Night Shift Sadler's Wells Garde Royale Hernando Monsun Monsun Alleged Dom Pasquini Montjeu Sadler's Wells Linamix In the Wings Sadler's Wells Sadler's Wells Valanour Cadoudal Sadler's Wells Niniski Definite Article Sadler's Wells Sadler's Wells Sadler's Wells Shirley Heights Indian Ridge Doyoun Inchinor Sadler's Wells Sadler's Wells Slip Anchor Montjeu Alleged Cadoudal Kaldoun Sadler's Wells Montjeu Caerleon Spectrum Danehill Dancer Monsun Garde Royale Spectrum Diesis Green Desert Fairy King Caerleon Irish River Danehill Cozzene Fairy King Freedom Cry

281 354 292 290 309 291 198 272 149 92 89 22 42 46 102 38 59 19 40 60 83 61 23 32 97 86 82 25 8 84 74 109 125 14 60 65 87 9 38 49 15 42 123 91 68 47 39 37 55 48 38 55 63 50 55 50 37 16

105 116 101 106 100 93 69 75 53 30 33 12 21 13 34 15 22 5 18 23 26 25 10 16 31 32 31 9 6 19 21 26 31 8 21 19 22 3 12 15 4 10 31 26 22 14 7 14 12 14 11 20 18 12 13 12 10 8

37.37 32.77 34.59 36.55 32.36 31.96 34.85 27.57 35.57 32.61 37.08 54.55 50.00 28.26 33.33 39.47 37.29 26.32 45.00 38.33 31.33 40.98 43.48 50.00 31.96 37.21 37.80 36.00 75.00 22.62 28.38 23.85 24.80 57.14 35.00 29.23 25.29 33.33 31.58 30.61 26.67 23.81 25.20 28.57 32.35 29.79 17.95 37.84 21.82 29.17 28.95 36.36 28.57 24.00 23.64 24.00 27.03 50.00

159 163 155 146 139 131 99 106 71 50 44 13 36 17 59 20 32 8 31 33 42 37 21 23 48 45 38 14 10 30 29 37 37 17 27 29 28 9 20 19 9 18 39 33 37 20 14 22 18 23 21 27 28 24 18 17 17 15

20.2 20.0 19.5 20.6 19.5 21.0 20.2 20.2 19.0 21.3 18.7 20.2 19.1 19.9 20.6 21.7 16.4 22.7 17.9 22.3 20.5 21.2 17.7 19.0 21.0 21.9 20.0 19.2 18.9 21.9 21.7 19.7 19.5 17.4 20.4 17.8 18.6 17.4 22.4 20.4 20.8 17.6 18.3 20.8 18.8 16.7 17.8 18.1 18.4 17.2 17.5 20.4 20.1 21.1 19.4 20.7 19.9 18.5

2,601,731 2,160,239 2,129,315 1,727,725 1,609,028 1,297,623 1,237,117 1,139,065 791,581 732,609 722,287 693,170 655,519 591,781 588,457 521,800 497,813 488,161 479,500 474,855 471,810 411,756 410,433 409,647 407,128 398,071 378,860 375,599 367,328 362,739 362,198 360,905 322,302 319,499 317,098 306,293 304,931 300,011 280,288 277,807 277,248 274,171 267,265 262,752 254,267 251,302 249,936 246,982 242,045 236,821 230,580 228,668 227,005 221,973 220,569 219,780 217,899 210,851

Cue Card Rogue Angel Thistlecrack The Last Samuri Annacotty Mountainous Wakanda God's Own Sizing John Vics Canvas Vautour Rule the World Sprinter Sacre Annie Power Shantou Flyer Silviniaco Conti Nichols Canyon Don Cossack Agrapart Firebird Flyer Kylecrue Many Clouds Vroum Vroum Mag Djakadam Henri Parry Morgan Fine Rightly Barney Dwan Don Poli Alpha des Obeaux Sound Investment Black Hercules Definitly Red Barters Hill Old Guard Court Minstrel Altior Outlander Douvan Unowhatimeanharry Native River Smad Place Ivanovich Gorbatov Might Bite Dartford Warbler Roadie Joe Jer's Girl The Game Changer Ubak Road To Riches Rayvin Black Devilment Lettermacaward Drop Out Joe On the Fringe Shanahan's Turn Buywise Kylemore Lough Adrien du Pont

367,795 217,985 372,003 277,920 126,630 72,269 106,781 141,419 80,903 109,558 261,143 590,993 287,598 370,387 51,770 131,450 153,316 420,432 101,333 100,665 61,853 49,767 112,629 174,544 56,029 50,437 42,983 179,196 104,628 53,562 93,422 35,997 50,160 142,571 70,820 108,818 79,078 227,254 111,004 120,267 202,211 98,928 21,176 23,407 25,297 71,033 102,933 59,126 83,978 79,025 36,058 17,817 52,717 47,704 94,612 54,448 81,385 61,094

Presenting and Kayf Tara hit purple patch Predictably the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals had an impact on the table but King’s Theatre is still heading for another championship, assisted by Cue Card’s easy win in the Betfred Bowl, Diamond King notching the Coral Cup and good placings for Shaneshill and L’Ami Serge at both the big meetings. Presenting had an exceptional month thanks to Yorkhill landing a brace of Grade 1s and Rogue Angel picking up the Irish Grand National. Champion staying hurdler Thistlecrack also doubled up at the highest level, pushing Kayf Tara above the £2 million mark in an outstanding season for him. Blaklion’s victory in the RSA Chase was icing on the cake for the sire, who is only just behind Presenting. Eastlake’s success in the Topham Chase and the £211,000 The Last Samuri earned for his second place in the Grand National have enabled Flemensfirth to take fourth place off Beneficial. The latter joined Presenting in having more than 300 runners.

Statistics to April 11

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May_141_24Hours_Owner 21/04/2016 15:27 Page 96

24 HOURS WITH… JIM CROWLEY

GEORGE SELWYN

hen I’m riding out at Newmarket I’m up and away by 4.30 and that’s with the help of an alarm call. Otherwise, I find my three kids – Alice, 8, Bella, 6, and Sam, 3 jumping on me between 6.30 and 7, the signal for me to be out of bed to go and ride out locally in Sussex, or set off on my regular fivemile run. The only time the body is not so willing is when I’ve been wasting the day before and feel dehydrated. I am a driven person with a very competitive nature. Being 37, I am aware there are a lot of young lads coming through, so I’ve got to be as fit as possible and that’s basically what gets me out of bed every morning. You set yourself goals, and mine are winning as many races as possible, perhaps a Classic or even one day the jockeys’ championship. Before leaving the house I grab a coffee but don’t have anything to eat until after I’ve ridden out or been for a run. If I can make it home before racing I’ll have some muesli and cook ham and eggs, poached or scrambled, to make sure I have the necessary protein. A year ago I wasn’t eating properly and it wasn’t good, but now I feel much better. A run and a decent breakfast sets me up for the day. My wife Lucinda, who is Guy Harwood’s daughter and sister of Pulborough trainer Amanda Perrett, is a full-time mum and housewife so I am left to cook breakfast myself. But I must do all right because I can eat it! I have to say some of the parents at the kids’ school think Lucinda is a single mum because they never see me in the summer. When the Flat eases off I try to spend more time with the children and their school-time activities.

A good breakfast and a morning run set JIM CROWLEY up for a busy day in the saddle, while his kids and a bit of Peaky Blinders or Game of Thrones winds him down for a (usually bad!) night’s sleep My parents trained pointto-pointers in Ascot and I rode about 300 winners over jumps. If it wasn’t for Guy Harwood, I wouldn’t be riding on the Flat. During the summers when I wasn’t jumping, I’d ride out for Amanda and Guy would keep saying, ‘Why don’t you pack up that bloody jumping and get your weight down!’ Guy gave me the push and the whole family were amazing in the way they helped and backed me. Nowadays my closest contact with the jumping game is dual Grand National-winning jockey Leighton Aspell and his family. Leighton lives locally, is a good friend and our kids play together. I was one of the first

jockeys to swap codes fulltime and found people kept thinking of me as a jump jockey on the Flat, so I had to change their mindset. Of course, I had to alter the way I rode to convince people to take me seriously as a Flat jockey. The only way was to ride big winners and I was lucky to grab a Group 1 on Lord Shanakill in France soon after I’d switched. In my first full year on the level I rode over 90 winners. The atmosphere in the Flat and jumps weighing rooms is very different. There are great lads in both, but the camaraderie among the jumping boys is stronger. If someone rides a big jumping winner everyone is pleased for each other, but it’s more business-like on the Flat,

where there’s so much at stake with high value stallions and breeding involved. But there’s still fun to be had with characters like Martin Dwyer and Jamie Spencer, who can be really funny. My agent Tony Hind is the person who talks about me becoming champion jockey. He is positive and upbeat, but I see any championship aspirations as a work in progress. If I said I was going out to be champion I could end up with egg on my face. Lunch on the racecourse is normally a bit of chicken, a banana and some fruit with water or a cup of tea. But if I’m at home it can be fatal because I end up raiding the kids’ chocolates! The most draining part of my job is driving 50,000-plus miles a year. As the only local Flat jockey where I live in Sussex, there is no one to share [the driving] with, though I do employ a parttime driver in the summer. My relaxations are hunting and I also enjoy a day’s shooting. Sometimes Lucinda gets me riding out the kids’ six ponies; we also have three dogs and some chickens. My favourite holiday spot is Meribel, where we have been skiing for the last 12 years – I have to admit Lucinda is better than me, unfortunately. When I’m night racing I don’t have an evening meal, but at home we’ll sit down with the kids at about five and afterwards I enjoy watching Peaky Blinders and Game of Thrones on TV. It’s bed at about 11 with my iPad to look through the next day’s runners. Strangely, the only time I sleep well is on an aeroplane. In my own bed I’m a very light sleeper, always tossing and turning and awake at the slightest noise.

Interview by Tim Richards

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