Thoroughbred Owner Breeder

THE £6.95 MAY 2022 ISSUE 213

PLUS

William Derby

Two decades as York supremo

From Rossa with love

Jockey reveals his desire to one day become champion

First foals

Sires await market judgement

Royal runners

The Queen’s racehorses celebrated

www.theownerbreeder.com

Expert Eye Acclamation - Exemplify (Dansili) 2022 Fee £10,000 1st Oct, Special Live Foal

Eyecatchers First crop 2yos catching the eye of their trainers

Expert Agent b c by EXPERT EYE - Oeuvre d’Art (Marju)

Bred by Mr Peter Gleeson

‘A particularly nice colt, very mature and laid back.

We’re very positive about him at this stage. We will be moving forward with confidence, and we won’t be holding him back.’ Clive Cox, trainer

Berkshire Phantom gr c by EXPERT EYE - Silver Step (Silver Frost)

Bred by Mountain View Stud & JC Bloodstock

‘I really like our Expert Eye colt - he’s a lovely athletic type with a good straightforward attitude. He is a very likeable horse.’ Andrew Balding, trainer

I Still Have Faith b c by EXPERT EYE - The Thrill is Gone (Bahamian Bounty)

Bred by Stratford Place Stud

‘We really like him, he is a big strong and imposing colt and has matured very quickly. Very straight forward and very sound. A pleasure to train.’ Ian Williams, trainer

Coraje b f by EXPERT EYE - Omneeya (Frankel)

Bred by Essafinaat UK Ltd

‘Coraje is a sharp, sound and straightforward filly.

She has the speed for the minimum trip but is likely to get further. There is a lot to like at this stage.’

George Boughey, trainer

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

www.juddmonte.com

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

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

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£6.95 MAY 2022 ISSUE 213

PLUS

William Derby

Two decades as York supremo

From Rossa with love

Jockey reveals his desire to one day become champion

First foals

Sires await market judgement

Royal runners

The Queen’s racehorses celebrated

www.theownerbreeder.com

Cover: Jockey Rossa Ryan pictured in the purple silks of Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing at Newmarket’s Craven meeting in April Photo: Bill Selwyn

Edward Rosenthal Editor

Hats off to Her Majesty after 70 years of success T

he Platinum Jubilee seemed the perfect opportunity to run an appreciation of the Queen’s love of racing and her best racehorses over the last 70 years.

As an owner and breeder Her Majesty has shown an unshakable commitment to the sport, which has benefited greatly from her input and involvement, now stretching into its eighth decade.

Looking back at early photographs in the first article that covers the 1950s up to the 1980s, it’s noticeable how hands-on the Queen was at the races, leading in and greeting winners, and appearing to be in her element around thoroughbreds.

Nancy Sexton’s superb retrospective (see pages 24-33) quotes Bill Curling in The Captain, his biography of Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, as he recalled Aureole’s King George triumph causing much excitement within Royal circles.

“I remember hurrying to see Aureole return to the unsaddling enclosure,” he wrote, “and as I reached the ground level a small figure came racing by. It was the Queen running to greet her champion.

“Kings and Queens are not often seen running in public… behind the Queen, hopelessly outdistanced, came her septuagenarian racing manager Captain Charles Moore.”

The Queen may no longer be sprinting around racecourses but her passion for racing remains undimmed and in the shape of Reach For The Moon, her homebred son of Sea The Stars out of Golden Stream who achieved a high level of form during his two-year-old season, the monarch could well be attending Derby day at Epsom on June 4 with a genuine candidate for the Classic.

Before that could come the Dante Stakes at York on May 12 and William Derby, the track’s longserving Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course, is looking forward to welcoming back crowds to the meeting for the first time in three years.

Derby is now in his twentieth season at the

racecourse, which prides itself on providing outstanding prize-money and an excellent experience for owners and racegoers. Never afraid to innovate, York is staging a syndicates day on the Friday of the Dante meeting, which Derby hopes will prove popular.

“We have invited syndicates from all over to come along and display their wares to racegoers and to parade any horses that they have for sale,” he tells Graham Dench (The Finish Line, page 80).

“We welcome syndicates here and provide six badges and six lunches per horse. The lunches can be swapped for extra badges, and extra badges can be bought at a discounted rate.”

Rossa Ryan is looking forward to all the big spring and summer festivals in his role as first jockey to Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing. The

“The Queen’s passion for the sport remains undimmed” 21-year-old has made a big impression on the racecourse and the backing of Joorabchian’s expanding racing operation has given the young rider the opportunity to further his career and reputation.

“The relationship with Kia is very good,” Ryan explains (The Big Interview, pages 34-37). “I told him from day one that I’d be straight with him. There’s no pretending a bad horse isn’t bad. If I like it, he’ll know about it.”

The first foals by the stallion crop that retired to stud in 2021 are now on the ground and James Thomas gets the lowdown on which sires are set to make waves at the sales later in the year (pages 42-48).

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Contents

May 2022

34

News & Views ROA Leader Racing must be aspirational

TBA Leader The importance of welfare

News Shadwell reduces training roster

Changes News in a nutshell

Howard Wright North-south divide eroded

First foals Kameko and co await sales test

5

From Meydan, Ayr and Aintree

The Queen's racehorses Part one: 1950s-1980s

The Big Interview With jockey Rossa Ryan

Junior NH Hurdles New addition to the jumps programme

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Goffs rewarded for staging Dubai Sale

Sales Circuit 7

Breeze-up season underway

Caulfield Files 8 10

US-breds becoming less resilient

Dr Statz So You Think takes the plaudits

The Finish Line With York supremo William Derby

22

Features The Big Picture

Breeders' Digest

New partnership with Racing Welfare

TBA Forum Regional days return

24 34 38

51 52 60 62 80

Forum ROA Forum

14

42

Breeder of the Month David Brace for Paint The Dream

Great British Bonus Latest news

Vet Forum Rhodococcus equi in focus

64 70 74 75 76

52

24

42

Did you know?

Our monthly average readership is

20,000 THE OWNER BREEDER

3

Are you a member of the ROA and a registered owner? Do you possess the vision, influence, and desire to help shape the future of racing?

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LOVE RACING? JOIN THE ROA ROA.CO.UK

ROA Leader

Charlie Parker President

Aspirational sport built on thriving grassroots

T

he viewing figures for this year’s Randox Grand National totalled 7.5 million, almost double that of Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, the jewel in the crown for entertainment at ITV – and what a race it turned out to be, with Sam Waley-Cohen becoming the first amateur for decades to ride the winner on what was his last ever race under Rules.

The Grand National served as a reminder that despite industry headwinds and external scrutiny, the sport continues to attract widespread appeal, and rightly so – this is what makes horseracing so captivating. What an amazing finale to the National Hunt campaign, followed now by the Flat season and a new generation of Classic stars. Factor in the excitement of first-season sires having their first winners and the breeze-up sale season in full swing, it’s a great time of the year.

With such positive energy, how do we turn this into a force for good and ensure that the sport has an economically prosperous and exciting future? As an industry, we must work together to devise a commercially viable product for the long term. Simply put, in order to be commercially viable, we need to deliver a race programme that is economically sustainable and aligns with the changes to the demographic of the horse population.

There is a genuine need for a strategy to both reflect the needs of the existing horse population and ownership base, as well as sustaining the international standing of British racing. It is essential that the industry comes together to find a solution to falling field sizes. The worrying trend of seeing a handful of starters in a Pattern/Graded race is something that is in danger of becoming the rule and not the exception.

Taking a closer look at data relating to falling field sizes, and analysing comparative figures in France and Ireland, the easy decision would be to indiscriminately cull the number of races – job done. However, the adage that ‘the easy decision is the wrong decision’ has never been more apt. If we look at the horse population and racecards, this is where the disconnect lies. If we are not careful we are going to find ourselves fast approaching a situation of trying to marry square pegs with round holes.

Making decisions based on incomplete or inconsistent data further adds to the risks. War in Europe, Brexit, the cost of living crisis, lack of rain and suitable ground, and increasing opportunities in other jurisdictions all have to be considered as factors contributing to current trends.

Owners obviously want to see their horses run as well as they can and hopefully end up in the winner’s enclosure – the dichotomy here is increasing competition and reducing opportunities in some instances will lessen the chances. However, we have a duty to the future of the sport, whose spectators and fans need and demand the best racing to sustain their interest and

financial involvement, to devise a strategy that takes us forward while at the same time not leaving holes in the race programme.

One issue frequently cited is that there are too many opportunities for the best jump horses. Should this simply be addressed by having a more focused race programme, with fewer opportunities offering greater rewards to increase the competition at the top end of the sport? However, by simply culling races, this would leave a huge gap in revenue for all participants. Therefore, to counterbalance this, we need to optimise the number of races serving the spectrum of horses in training. The industry needs to recognise the natural distribution of equine demographics and develop a commensurate race programme.

“At the base of the pyramid is where we find the majority of horses and thousands of owners” At the base of the pyramid is where we find the majority of the horse population, with thousands of owners who are investing in the sport. Moreover, we must recognise this is the commercial engine of racing for levy, media rights and therefore prize-money.

By focusing on the elite end and scrapping the race programme serving the majority, we are going to cause irreparable damage to the long-term viability of the sport. The population of horses rated below 70 has increased from around 45% in 2017 to over 52% in 2022*. In turn, the number of horses rated 80 and over has dropped during the same period from 31% to 27%.

Yet what we cannot eliminate is ambition. The ultimate goal for participants in any sport is to reach the top. This is reserved for the highest calibre, elite athletes and this must remain as the aspiration, which should not be compromised. *Three-year-olds and older, does not include two-year-olds

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5

Stamping his stock

Showcasing - Roodeye (Inchinor)

Colt x Majmu

Filly x Button Moon

Colt x Maid For Winning

His sire’s best son | Gr.1-winning miler Fee:

£15,000 Jan 1 , SLF st

Contact Tom Pennington: +44 (0)7736 019914 tpennington@shadwellstud.co.uk www.shadwellstud.com

TBA Leader

Julian Richmond-Watson Chairman

Breeders central to welfare provision T

he word welfare is used in many contexts, not least in the name of racing’s all-embracing charity Racing Welfare, which supports people across the board and in particular those who have worked in the industry and need extra help.

As far as direct involvement in the sport is concerned, the focus has been on supporting people welfare through the People Board and horse welfare through the recently founded Horse Welfare Board (HWB). Throughout, it makes sense that the racing industry is concerned that its participants, both people and horses, should benefit from and receive the best welfare possible.

The People Welfare Board covers a wide spectrum, concentrated around those actually in contact with the horses, including stud staff. In this respect the TBA’s team of executives is involved in all initiatives carried out by the BHA and the wider racing industry on people welfare. We will ensure that wherever this work touches breeders and their employees in terms of education, help and advice, we are fully engaged on members’ behalf.

No-one is more closely involved with the horses’ health or closer to horses of every age and stage in life than breeders.

However, we have to be realistic about challenges from the outside world, where affinity for equines may not be so strong.

The reality that around 30 per cent of the annual thoroughbred foal crop often do not enter licensed training premises in Britain has set discussions running about the whereabouts of these horses and what has happened to them. Misinformation is very dangerous, and it is incumbent on breeders to demonstrate that every thoroughbred foal has been given the best opportunity to become a racehorse capable of fulfilling its full potential, which is, after all, why they are bred in the first place.

Work done on data for fillies registered for the Great British Bonus and other research with Weatherbys is helping to understand how these ‘missing’ foals disappear from Britain’s records. Exports appear to be a growing part of the problem, but with limited research already showing that nearly 25 per cent of the crop are exported or trained abroad, we should be able to trace where nearly every foal from a particular foal crop is at any given time. With the advantage of foal notification and increased use of e-passports, it will be possible to trace all foals, thus providing an answer for those who believe there is an issue of welfare in this area.

Aftercare, when racehorses leave training, is a much bigger issue, but it is not one that requires the wholesale changes that some are suggesting. The demand for former racehorses has never been higher, thanks largely to the initiatives of the

charity Retraining of Racehorses, and along with retraining that leads to specific competitions and second careers, most of these horses find good homes.

One only has to attend the ROR annual awards evening, which took place in Newmarket in January, to see how well received and loved so many ex-racehorses become. The range of opportunities open to them is reflected in the awards for elite champions in a variety of disciplines, ranging from dressage and polo to endurance and eventing, with an overall Horse Personality of the Year attracting over 200 nominations this year.

The ability to adapt to a new life and career, providing so much pleasure to so many people, shows the value in

“With the advantage of foal notification and use of e-passports, it will be possible to trace all foals” supporting these horses. However, welfare can become a major issue when ex-racers become older. This is where, in time, the e-passport will prove to be so useful in tracing change of ownership. It should be possible to have suitable apps and reminders to prompt owners who, for whatever reason, are struggling with the care of a horse to seek appropriate advice and support before a welfare issue arises.

Through supporting RoR in its restructuring, financing and expansion to have countrywide coverage, along with an appropriate network on the ground to help monitor care and pick up issues as they happen, the Horse Welfare Board should be able to ensure that besides other welfare initiatives, British racing and breeding has as good an aftercare programme as possible.

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News

GEORGE SELWYN

Shadwell cutbacks continue with six trainers culled from roster

Group 1 winner Mustashry (right) was one of the best horses Sir Michael Stoute (inset) trained for Shadwell

S

ir Michael Stoute has been dropped from the roster of trainers for Shadwell, it emerged last month, as the operation continues to significantly downsize following Hamdan Al Maktoum’s death in March 2021.

Racing manager Angus Gold revealed a list of trainers who no longer have horses for Shadwell in Europe, in the wake of Morghom’s impressive three and three-quarter length victory in a mile maiden for three-year-olds at Newbury.

The Shadwell homebred was saddled there by Marcus Tregoning, having been with Stoute as a juvenile, Gold pointed out.

Ten-time champion trainer Stoute and Shadwell had combined for seven winners in Britain from 36 runners in the past five seasons, with Stoute winning with four of the five horses he ran in the famous blue and white silks last year.

Stoute saddled Mustashry to win nine times for Shadwell, including multiple Group races headed by the 2019 Lockinge Stakes, while another homebred, Maraahel, was an eight-time

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winner including of the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes twice and Group 3 Huxley Stakes on three occasions.

The veteran Newmarket trainer joins Mark Johnston, Ed Dunlop, Brian Meehan, Dermot Weld and Freddy Head as an ex-Shadwell trainer in Europe.

“It’s sad not to have horses with Sir Michael, we’ve been with him a long time” “We were cutting down on some horses and decided to cut down on some trainers,” Gold explained to the Racing Post.

“Sir Michael now has no horses for us, sadly. With all the sales and cutbacks, we had to make some changes. It was a hard decision to move Morghom, but he

was an unraced two-year-old who hadn’t shown a huge amount.

“He’d done a few half-speeds and looked potentially a nice horse, but we got no further than that.

“Then we decided to cut down.

William Haggas, John and Thady Gosden and Roger Varian have horses for us in Newmarket, and then there’s Charlie Hills, Owen Burrows, Richard Hannon and Marcus Tregoning, JeanClaude Rouget and Francois Rohaut in France, and Kevin Prendergast in Ireland.

“We’ve none with Brian Meehan, Mark Johnston, Ed Dunlop and Freddy Head now, but that’s what the family decided when they cut down the numbers.”

Gold added: “There was nothing anti-Sir Michael. We were getting rid of all the other horses we had with him bar one, who’s gone to Richard Hannon, and we kept Morghom because he was a homebred Dubawi and [in case] he turned out to be any good.

“We’ve been with him a long time and it’s sad not to have horses with him any more. Sir Michael’s been there before and it’s very sad, but it’s nothing against him at all.”

Stories from the racing world

Trainer Sir Mark Todd was last month suspended for four months after a video emerged of him striking a horse multiple times with a tree branch on August 29, 2020.

However, the former Olympic equestrian champion was able to resume training with immediate effect, having already served a two-month interim ban and with the other two months suspended.

The 66-year-old had been charged with engaging in conduct prejudicial to the good reputation of horseracing in Great Britain, having been caught on camera striking a horse with a tree branch during a cross-country schooling session.

The video analysed by the disciplinary panel lasted under two minutes and showed Todd striking the horse nine times with part of a branch as he tried to coax it towards a water jump.

Footage of the incident had surfaced earlier this year, drawing widespread criticism – primarily from the realm of Twitter and the nonracing media – and Todd has apologised for his actions.

He said: “I wholeheartedly apologise to the horse and all involved for my actions in this

video clip.

“One of the main things I preach is about establishing a mutual respect between horse and rider, and that patience and kindness is the best way to get results.

“I believe this is one of the main attributes, along with a great empathy with animals, that has enabled me to have a long and successful career in eventing. I am very disappointed in myself that I did not adhere to that in this case.”

The New Zealander, who trains in Wiltshire, won Olympic individual eventing gold in the Los Angeles Games of 1984 and in Seoul four years later, and earned a knighthood for his equestrian achievements in 2013.

He became a trainer in the UK in 2019 after retiring from three-day eventing, and was described by Brian Barker QC, Chairman of the disciplinary panel and one of its members who heard the case, as “one of the foremost horsemen of his generation… whose prominence and achievements have set a high bar”.

But he added: “In the view of the panel the actions of Sir Mark could not be condoned in any form.”

GEORGE SELWYN

Todd resumes training

Sir Mark Todd has apologised for his actions

Jockey Robbie Dunne’s ban for bullying and harassing Bryony Frost was reduced to ten months from 18 months at an appeal hearing at the end of March.

He was found in breach of four counts of engaging in behaviour that was prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of horseracing by bullying and harassing Frost over a seven-month period in 2020, which the appeal board adjusted to one overarching breach which covered all offences.

Dunne, who denied all but one of the charges, appealed against the finding and penalty from the original hearing, and was partially successful, meaning he can return to race-riding from October 9 this year.

Appeal Board Chair Anthony Boswood QC said: “We wish to make it

BILL SELWYN

Dunne ban reduced by eight months on appeal

Bryony Frost: refused to accept apology

clear we think Mr Dunne’s behaviour was thoroughly reprehensible and any jockey behaving like that in future must accept serious punishment.

“We think the [original] sentence was, however, very severe, as it represented the minimum entry point

six times higher than that for rule J20, which was also charged. We think it was severe given the number of rides Mr Dunne will have lost to date and will lose in the future and this late stage of his career.

“We also think that maybe the disciplinary panel gave insufficient credit for items of mitigation such as his attempted apology after the Stratford race – which Bryony Frost refused to accept, as she was fully entitled to do – and the refusal to take part in the ‘banging of heads’ proposed

by Richard Johnson and her father Jimmy Frost at Kempton.

“Again, she didn’t want to participate, a position she was fully entitled to take – but Mr Dunne was prepared to take part. So we have decided to reduce the suspension to ten months.”

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Changes

Racing’s news in a nutshell

People and business Brian Hughes

Becomes only the fourth rider to reach 200 winners in a season, joining Sir AP McCoy, Richard Johnson and Peter Scudamore, as he captures his second champion jump jockey title.

Starting prices

Starting Price Regulatory Commission updates rules and methodology for collecting and working out starting prices.

Great British Bonus

Lucrative scheme passes the £5 million mark for payments to successful connections of eligible fillies.

UK prize-money

Total set to exceed record high of £170 million for 2022 as the industry moves on from the reductions seen during the Covid era.

Frankie Dettori

Legendary jockey is inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame, as is outstanding Guineas and Arc winner Dancing Brave.

Sam Waley-Cohen

Grand National win on Noble Yeats is the final ride under Rules for the amateur jockey, who also won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Long Run.

Paul Nicholls

Celebrates a five-timer on the final day of the NH season at Sandown as he is crowned champion jumps trainer for the 13th time.

Martin Dwyer

Jockey faces up to three months on the sidelines having sustained a knee injury in a fall while riding out for trainer Brian Meehan.

Newmarket

The Jockey Club submits a plan to build a right-handed, floodlit all-weather track on gallops land behind the Rowley Mile.

Dave Roberts

Jockeys’ agent hangs up his mobile having helped Sir Anthony McCoy to 20 straight championships; he also worked for Richard Johnson.

Robin Dickin

Trainer of Graded winners Restless Harry and Thomas Crapper is retiring aged 69; daughter Harriet will start training from Bourton Hill Farm.

Joanna Morgan

Returns to the training ranks after seven years away although insists she will only handle a small number of horses that she owns herself.

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People obituaries Julie Cecil 80 Daughter of Sir Noel Murless was the first wife of Sir Henry Cecil and trained 190 winners from Southgate Stables in Newmarket.

Jimmy Lindley 86

Classic-winning jockey became a much-admired broadcaster on the BBC’s racing coverage for almost 30 years.

Desmond Stoneham 79

Racing journalist who covered the French scene for over 40 years, contributing to the Sporting Life and Racing Post.

Tom Richmond 52

Much admired journalist and editor of the Yorkshire Post who was also the paper’s horseracing correspondent.

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

ABILITY MATCHED BY FERTILITY 5 x Gr.1 placed from 6.5 furlongs to 1 mile By one of the world’s leading sires LOPE DE VEGA

90% OVER

OF MARES TESTED

IN FOAL

2022 Stud Fee

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Nominations 01638 675929 Email stallions@nationalstud.co.uk Web nationalstud.co.uk

Changes

Racehorse and stallion

Movements and retirements Lake View Lad

Nick Alexandertrained chaser is retired aged 12, his wins including the Rehearsal, Rowland Meyrick and Many Clouds Chase.

Acrobat

Coolmore Australia will stand Fastnet Rock’s once-raced son, a winner in Listed company before injury struck. His debut fee is A$13,750.

Vintage Clouds

Stalwart for Sue Smith and the late Trevor Hemmings, winner of a Grade 3 handicap chase at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, is retired aged 12.

Horse obituaries The Last Lion 8

Winner of the 2016 Middle Park Stakes returned to the racetrack last year having been retired to stud at the end of his two-year-old season.

Grindstone 29

Winner of the 1996 Kentucky Derby for owner Overbrook Farm went on to sire Belmont Stakes victor Birdstone.

Erick Le Rouge 8

Six-time winner over hurdles and fences for owners The Culverhill Racing Club and trainer Jane Williams.

Elle Est Belle 6

Talented jumps mare trained by Dan Skelton, winner of three Listed contests for owner Suzanne Lawrence.

Eclair Surf 8

Emma Lavelle-trained chaser, winner of the Classic Chase at Warwick, suffers a fatal injury in the Grand National.

Discorama 9

Staying chaser owned by Andrew Gemmell and Thomas Friel sustains a fatal injury at Aintree.

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The Big Picture

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Meydan

Too close to call A terrific finish to the Group 1 Dubai Turf at Meydan in late March saw a three-way photo as Panthalassa (nearside), Lord North (centre) and Vin De Garde flashed past the post together. The judge couldn’t split Japanese raider Panthalassa under Yutaka Yoshida and Lord North and Frankie Dettori, declaring a dead-heat, with Vin De Garde, also representing Japan, just a nose away in third for Mickael Barzalona. Lord North, trained by John and Thady Gosden for HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing, will be freshened up for a summer campaign.

Photo Bill Selwyn

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The Big Picture

Winging it Progressive mare Win My Wings followed her Eider Chase success with a facile victory in the Coral Scottish Grand National under amateur rider Rob James. The nine-year-old daughter of Gold Well, owned by Sue Howell, finished seven lengths clear of stable companion Kitty’s Light to cap a superb season for trainer Christian Williams.

Photo John Grossick

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Ayr

H&H-racing-CW-win-210x297.qxp_0 19/04/2022 10:56 Page 1

Photo credit - focusonracing.com

THE BEST FEED

Congratulations to Christian Williams on training Win My Wings and Kitty’s Light, Winner and Second respectively in the Scottish Grand National.

NAF is proud to be part of the Team at Ogmore Farm.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sammy Martin, Racing Manager, NAF. Call 07980 922041 or email smartin@naf-uk.com

naf-equine.eu/uk

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

The Big Picture

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Aintree

The final furlong It couldn’t happen, could it? An amateur rider having long since announced that the Randox Grand National, on a seven-year-old novice, would be the final ride of his career.

It did you know, as Sam Waley-Cohen added to his superb record over the National fences by partnering 50-1 shot Noble Yeats, trained by Emmet Mullins, to a famous victory over favourite Any Second Now (top left in JP McManus’s green and gold), winning by two and a quarter lengths in dad Robert’s silks. “It’s a fairytale, it’s a fantasy,” said the winning rider, who celebrated with his family (left).

Photos Bill Selwyn

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19

The Big Picture

Clan strikes again Spring weather and decent ground bring out the best in Clan Des Obeaux and the Paul Nichollstrained chaser put his best foot forward to record a length success over Conflated in the Betway Bowl at Aintree under Harry Cobden, following up his 2021 victory in the Grade 1 contest. The winning trainer is pictured above with owners Sir Alex Ferguson and Ged Mason.

Photos Bill Selwyn

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Aintree

From top to bottom: Derek Fox produced a superb front-running ride on the Lucinda Russell-trained Ahoy Senor in the Grade 1 Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase; Paddy Brennan and Davy Russell share a hug after Knight Salute and Pied Piper dead-heated in the Grade 1 Jewson Anniversary 4-y-o Juvenile Hurdle, though the latter was later demoted to second by the stewards; Kielan Woods steers Millers Bank to Grade 1 glory in the SSS Super Alloys Manifesto Novices’ Chase, a first top-level success for the rider and trainer Alex Hales

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The Howard Wright Column

Volume explains northern stables’ giant strides

J

ust as the sound of the first cuckoo heralds the arrival of spring, so the appearance of Horses In Training (HIT) signals the start of the turf Flat season. Racing has become a year-round activity since the introduction of synthetic surfaces, but not even GBR’s arbitrary concoction of a season can mask the fact that opening HIT for the first time brings its own shiver of anticipation.

There is something cozily comforting about an annual volume that sits neatly on the bookshelf, steadfastly maintaining size and purpose. Other old favourites have disappeared down the one-way route to oblivion taken by Ruff’s Guide, Bloodstock Breeders’ Review and most recently Timeform’s Racehorses series, or changed their shape, such as the Form Book, which has gone digital in the post-pandemic age, but HIT has faithfully retained its age-old format.

Squeezing all but the most reluctant trainers in Britain and Ireland into a cover space a little bigger than six by four inches, HIT has significantly changed in only one respect – price. The oldest copy in my consecutive collection is from 1961, priced at 2s6d (12.5p). The official inflation counter says that would be £2.48 at today’s prices. The 2022 edition, published by the Racing Post, comes in at £24.99.

Still, it’s a small price to pay for a snapshot of today’s state of play, especially when lined up against the past, in which HIT’s contents act like a time capsule.

Thumbing through that 1961 edition produces a list of 19 trainers who looked after 50 or more horses, of whom just nine

had 60-plus and only two – Bill Elsey (82) and Ryan Price (77) – had more than 70. The biggest Newmarket stables were those of Noel Murless (73), Geoffrey Brooke (69) and Jack Jarvis (65), while they were split in the top six by Sir Gordon Richards (66), and Walter Nightingall (63) was the busiest trainer in Epsom.

The overall difference in stable strengths between then and now is so vast as to render comparisons of only passing interest. The real story, with a background twist, comes in balancing numbers from the 2002 edition of HIT against those of the latest volume.

In 2002, there were 27 trainers with strings of 90-plus, and the figure would have been 28 had John Gosden participated.

The biggest of those who did submit returns were Sir Michael Stoute (181), John Dunlop and Mark Johnston with 178, and

“Digging deeper into the difference that two decades can make shows that the north-south divide has been eroded”

Foreign forays not always fruitful BBC Radio 4’s More or Less programme, which aims to “explain and sometimes debunk the numbers and statistics used in the news and everyday life,” should ask presenter Tim Harford to look at the success rate of British-trained horses in foreign climes over the winter period.

So much is said about the grass being greener on the other side, but do the results in desert regions bear out such rosy observations? More or Less might find a different picture.

With Qatar seemingly less attractive under new management, Saudi Arabia has taken its place as a magnet for international runners at the late-February fixture in Riyadh.

Japan certainly took advantage of the super-rich opportunities this year, and although Britain’s 12 runners failed to hit the target, five did come away with total prize-money of £255,554, while

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the other seven earned nothing but had most of their expenses paid.

Bahrain also expanded its offering with a ten-race turf series staged between mid-December and midFebruary and aimed at international competition. British trainers supplied 36 runners for no winner and seven minor place earners, who collected £42,000 between them, while the William Jarvis-trained Arqoob picked up a £25,000 bonus, split between owner and trainer, from a pointsbased promotion.

Of the Arqoob experience, owner Emma Banks said: “You can’t be disappointed when you go home with prize-money and a lovely trip to Bahrain.” Maybe not, but does that sentiment extend to the connections of those 29 horses who came back empty-handed, or those 23 Britishtrained runners, representing 47% of

the GB total, that contested this year’s Dubai World Cup Carnival but earned zilch for their efforts?

Only the admirable Lord Glitters landed a winning blow for British trainers outside Godolphin at the Carnival, where cutbacks in the Dubai Racing Club operation have had a detrimental effect on the experience of sending horses for a winter break.

Elsewhere, 18 GB-trained horses managed to earn prize-money on 26 occasions for an average of less than US$10,000.

For every profitable visitor there was one horse who collected a few dollars and another two whose earning capacity never rose above zero. Newcastle, Kempton, Chelmsford and Lingfield might have been cooler but they would, more or less, have offered easier and more convenient pickings.

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David O’Meara: manages one of the biggest strings in the north

Mick Channon (177).

Fast forward to 2022 and the same 90-plus mark has been met by 38 trainers, an increase of 41%. Total numbers are equally eye-watering: Andrew Balding (254), Richard Hannon (235), Fergal O’Brien (221), Charlie and Mark Johnston (220) and Roger Varian (200) have hit the double century, and William Haggas would have joined them had he been able to squeeze just one more inmate into his list.

As well as Haggas’s uplift, from 63 in 2002, individual increases abound – Ralph Beckett from 47 to 150; Clive Cox 31 to 124; Alan King 56 to 156 and Gary Moore 41 to 149, while newcomers of note include George Boughey (104), the Crisfords (112), Neil Mulholland (107), Olly Murphy (145) and Dan Skelton (164). Yet digging deeper into the difference that two decades can make throws up an even more illuminating change: the north-south divide has been noticeably eroded.

In 2002, the biggest stables in the north were run by Mark Johnston (178), Mary Reveley (127), Tim Easterby (125), Mick Easterby (113) and Alan Berry (102, as a left-over from his father Jack). In 2022, two of those outfits remain dominant – the Johnstons (220) and Tim Easterby (174) – but they have been joined in the century-plus bracket by Donald McCain (135), David O’Meara (132) and Kevin Ryan (117). Richard Fahey, who saddled 1,253 runners in Britain in 2021 compared with 370 in 2002, would be there if he had made a submission.

Whereas 15 northern trainers had 50-plus horses in 2002, the number has grown by nearly 50% to 22 in 2022, and while there were six with strings of 90-plus in 2002, the latest figure is ten. More than that, though, the identity of owners shows a much stronger representation in northern yards by those based overseas than was the case 20 years ago, with Karl Burke, Tim Easterby, Richard Fahey, the Johnstons, David O’Meara and Kevin Ryan all benefiting from expansion into the region by such as King Power and Amo Racing, as well as burgeoning Middle Eastern ownership.

‘Levelling up’ is a mantra of the moment, with Michael Gove actually being handed a ministerial position for that purpose.

As far as the north’s racehorse trainers are concerned, many of them have already got there under their own steam.

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24/02/22 16:23

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The Queen leads in Carrozza and Lester Piggott after their victory in the 1957 Oaks at Epsom

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The Queen’s racehorses

Royal

APPROVAL In honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, we celebrate Her Majesty’s favourite pastime and the horses that have excelled for the monarch during her reign, starting with the period from the 1950s to the 1980s Words: Nancy Sexton

Q

ueen Elizabeth II was born into a family that had long shown an appreciation of the thoroughbred.

Her grandfather King George V, for instance, had owned Perdita, out of whom he had bred the Derby winners Persimmon and Diamond Jubilee.

The King, then Prince of Wales, was on hand to welcome both his Derby winners in person, in 1893 and 1900 respectively, and was again present when his Captain Cuttle filly Scuttle triumphed in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket many years later in 1928.

Hers was a particularly important

victory in that it marked the first Classic triumph by a horse bred and owned by a reigning monarch.

When King George VI acceded to the throne in 1936, the Royal Studs were numerically strong but overall at a low ebb. To aid the situation, his racing manager Captain Charles Moore arranged for the stud to lease several yearlings from the National Stud and, in return, its racing fortunes began to take a turn for the better, notably in 1942 when the King’s Big Game and Sun Chariot carried all before them. There is a story of the Royal family visiting Fred Darling’s

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The Queen’s racehorses ›› yard at Beckhampton to view Big Game

and Sun Chariot ahead of their summer Classic engagements. Big Game, then the unbeaten winner of the 2,000 Guineas and favourite for the Derby, was brought out for inspection and Princess Elizabeth was allowed to run her hand over the colt; so taken was the future Queen with the horse that she is believed to have told one of her racing managers many years later that she didn’t wash her hands for several hours afterwards.

As an aside, while Big Game captured the imagination during that Royal visit, the 1,000 Guineas winner Sun Chariot disgraced herself by charging off into a ploughed field, where in the words of her jockey Sir Gordon Richards, “she got on her knees and roared like a bull”. Such obstinate behaviour had become typical of Sun Chariot at that stage of her career, but it failed to stop her progress, with the filly going on to win the Newmarket Oaks and St Leger. Only Big Game’s run in the Derby, when sixth, deprived King George VI of a sweep of the Classics in 1942.

Several years later, Princess Elizabeth was present to see her father’s homebred Hypericum win the 1,000 Guineas, achieved despite unshipping Doug Smith prior to the race and running free across the Rowley Mile. The Princess had followed Hypericum’s development from her days as a foal at Hampton Court and had also been present to watch the filly win the previous year’s Dewhurst Stakes.

Hypericum, as a daughter of Hyperion and the 1,000 Guineas runner-up Feola, encapsulated the nature of the Royal Studs at that time, given that it would glean much of its success over the next few years from the influences of both those parents. That much is especially true of Feola, a 3,000gns yearling acquisition in 1934 by Brigadier-General ‘Mouse’ Tomkinson on behalf of the King from whom the likes of Highclere, her daughter Height Of Fashion and Deep Impact would later descend.

Accession

When the Queen inherited the Royal Studs in 1952, it was home to around 20 mares including Feola, then 19, as well as Hypericum and her accomplished half-sisters Angelola and Above Board, both winners of the Yorkshire Oaks.

Captain Charles Moore remained as racing manager.

Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort sent out Choir Boy to become the Queen’s first winner in a Newmarket handicap that spring and there was further success when the colt followed up in the Royal Hunt Cup in the summer.

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Highclere and Joe Mercer (rail) hold off the late challenge of Polygamy and Pat Eddery to win the 1974 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket

Better was to come, however, since Boyd-Rochfort’s Newmarket yard also housed Angelola’s first foal, the Hyperion colt Aureole, then a two-year-old. Aureole was a typically highly-strung Hyperion who required patience from his trainer, and as a result he faced the starter only twice at two, notably when making a winning debut in the Acomb Stakes at York.

The following spring, Aureole ran well to finish fifth in the 2,000 Guineas to spark thoughts of a legitimate shot at the Derby, hopes that were further consolidated when he won the Lingfield Derby Trial impressively. With the Derby staged just days after the Queen’s Coronation, the scene was set for a popular result, but while Aureole ran a winning race, he was unable to overhaul Pinza, whose win provided Sir Gordon Richards with a much deserved first Derby success.

Aureole went on to win the Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot.

However, by that stage, he had become uncooperative at home, a problem that required the intervention of Dr Charles Brook, a neurologist who had developed a therapy that involved the laying on of hands. This approach appeared to settle Aureole, although he also seemed to go better for Eph Smith rather than the stable jockey Harry Carr. It was under Smith that he had won the Cumberland Lodge and the partnership thrived the following year when successful in the Coronation Cup, Hardwicke Stakes and King George, the latter won bravely in a tight finish from Vamos.

As recalled by Bill Curling in The Captain, his biography of Boyd-Rochfort, Aureole’s King George provided much cause for celebration. “I remember hurrying to see Aureole return to the unsaddling enclosure,” he wrote, “and as I reached the ground level a small figure came racing by. It was the Queen running to greet her champion. Kings and Queens are not often seen running

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in public…. behind the Queen, hopelessly outdistanced, came her septuagenarian racing manager Captain Charles Moore.”

Thanks primarily to Aureole’s achievements, and that of the regallybred Landau (a Dante son of Sun Chariot) in the Sussex Stakes, the Queen ended 1954 as leading owner, a feat she was to achieve again in 1957.

Aureole retired to Wolferton Stud, where he sired Derby winner St Paddy, Arc winner Saint Crespin and Vienna, sire of Vaguely Noble. He was twice champion sire, in 1960 and 1961.

Aureole today remains ranked alongside some of the best horses raced by the Queen. However, he wasn’t the only major runner of the 1950s to carry the Royal silks.

In the 1958 2,000 Guineas winner Pall Mall, there was a first Classic homebred winner. The flashy son of Palestine was produced by a mare, Malapert, who had been bought by Moore for just 100gns out of training. As an individual, he also possessed questionable forelegs – “terrible” in the words of Boyd-Rochfort.

But the trainer was able to keep him sound and in return Pall Mall won the 2,000 Guineas at 20-1, with his better fancied stablemate Bald Eagle well beaten, and two renewals of the Lockinge Stakes. He later stood in Ireland.

Homebred High Veldt, meanwhile, ran second to Ribot in the 1956 King George, a year prior to the Classic campaigns of the three-year-old fillies Almeria, Mulberry

Harbour and Carrozza.

As with all the Royal homebreds, Almeria and Mulberry Harbour were trained at Freemason Lodge by BoydRochfort. Carrozza, as one of the yearlings leased from the National Stud, headed to Noel Murless at Warren Place.

Almeria was closely inbred to Hyperion, being by Alycidon out of the King’s Coronation Stakes winner Avila (by Hyperion). It was a mating that could have yielded brilliance as well as temperament, and Almeria wasn’t short of either.

“Aureole ranks alongside the best horses raced by the Queen” Brought to hand steadily, she won the Ribblesdale Stakes, Yorkshire Oaks and Park Hill Stakes to end the year rated as the best British three-year-old filly of 1957.

She was kept in training at four but with minimal success, with a second to fellow Royal colour-bearer Agreement in the Doncaster Cup the highlight. Agreement was Almeria’s lead horse at home, so the win was somewhat unexpected. But he

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The Queen pats Aureole after her four-year-old’s victory in the 1954 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot

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The Queen’s racehorses ›› was an excellent stayer on his day, as he

“Dunfermline went into the history books as a dual Classic winner” died young. His younger half-brother Above Suspicion also added further to the family by winning the 1959 St James’s Palace and Gordon Stakes following an unlucky fifth to Parthia in the Derby.

1960s

Captain Moore retired in 1962, the year after Aiming High had carried the Queen’s colours to victory in the Coronation Stakes. One of Moore’s last acts was to purchase a yearling daughter of the shortlived Doutelle upon the instruction of the Queen at the 1961 yearling sales. Moore and Boyd-Rochfort settled on a half-sister to the 1955 Queen Mary Stakes winner Weeber from Chantry Stud and the filly in question, Amicable, proved to be an excellent choice, winning the Nell Gwyn Stakes and running a narrow second in the Yorkshire Oaks.

As anticipated, she also became an excellent addition to the stud as the

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The Queen watched Doutelle’s victory at Kempton in 1957

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showed the following year when taking the Chester Cup ahead of a second Doncaster Cup. Behind Almeria in second and third on the 1957 three-year-old filly ratings were Carrozza and the Cheshire Oaks winner Mulberry Harbour. The pair had met in the Oaks, in which the diminutive Carrozza, partnered by Lester Piggott in the second colours, had come out on top in a desperate finish over the Irish filly Silken Glider.

“Carrozza was a fat little lady and a bit lazy but full of guts,” Piggott was quoted as saying afterwards. “She was dying in the last hundred yards, but she gave everything she had got.”

That same year, Above Board’s son Doutelle won the Lingfield Derby Trial, and although not in the same class as that year’s Derby winner Crepello at Epsom, went on to inflict a defeat on Irish champion Ballymoss in the following year’s Ormonde Stakes at Chester. A firm favourite with connections, particularly jockey Doug Smith, Doutelle was retired to stand at Sandringham Stud but sadly

ancestress of a host of high-class Royal runners; today, they include the Queen’s current Derby hope Reach For The Moon.

Fellow yearling purchase Stroma also proved to be an asset.

In 1956, the Queen had paid a visit to Doncaster yearling sales, where she picked out a filly by the sprinter Luminary.

By chance, she was from the same female family as her first winner, Choir Boy, and with a bid of 1,150gns, Moore was able to secure her for the Royal Studs. Named Stroma, she was stakes-placed at two but really came into her own at stud, notably as the dam of Canisbay and granddam of Dunfermline.

Injury had cut short the three-yearold career of Canisbay, a son of Doutelle, meaning that he was best as an older horse in 1965. In a year where BoydRochfort’s string was laid low by the virus, the trainer was reportedly wary of running him in the Eclipse Stakes, which would only be his fourth racecourse appearance.

But it is said that the Queen was keen for him to take his chance and she was duly vindicated, as he held on from Roan Rocket in a desperate finish to win as an unconsidered 20-1 shot. It was the first Royal victory in the race since Diamond Jubilee 65 years before.

At stud, Canisbay went on to take the place of his sire at Sandringham, where he left behind the Italian Derby winner Orange Bay among others before his sale to Italy.

Several stayers also carried the Royal colours with distinction during the 1960s, notably the Aureole gelding Apprentice, who overcame leg problems to win the Yorkshire and Goodwood Cups in 1964 and 1965, and Gaulois, who provided Boyd-Rochfort with a last big staying

Dunfermline and Willie Carson record a second Classic win in Silver Jubilee year in the 1977 St Leger, defeating Alleged and Lester Piggott

by Sir Noel Murless, rising through the ranks to run second in the St Leger before returning at four to claim the scalp of Park Top in the Ormonde Stakes and Vaguely Noble in the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud.

1970s

It was against the backdrop of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations that Dunfermline, a granddaughter of yearling purchase Stroma, announced herself as one of the best middle-distance threeyear-olds of 1977.

By Royal Palace, the 1967 2,000 Guineas and Derby winner, Dunfermline

was out of Bath maiden winner Strathcona and was one of a number of memorable Royal performers trained during the period by Major Dick Hern at West Ilsley.

As befitted her breeding, Dunfermline was a robust filly who gave the impression she would do well with time and distance.

Yet she was also a useful two-year-old, one who was forward enough to run placed in both the May Hill Stakes and Fillies’ Mile.

Come the end of 1976, Willie Carson was appointed to replace Joe Mercer as West Ilsley first jockey, and therefore it

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race win in the 1966 Goodwood Cup. The trainer’s last winner for the Queen arrived in 1968 with the victory of Castle Yard in the Zetland Gold Cup. By that time, Major Richard Shelley was coming to the end of his tenure as manager of the Royal Studs. Lord Porchester was made racing manager and Sir Michael Oswald appointed to take over the running of the Royal Studs.

The last major winner of the decade, Hopeful Venture, was also one of the last yearlings to be leased by the National Stud. Appropriately a son of Aureole, Hopeful Venture was patiently handled

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The Queen’s racehorses into the history books as a dual Classic winner.

“She was a big, rangy, plain filly,” recalls Carson. “I wasn’t in love with her – she didn’t excite at home – but the Major had always liked her and in hindsight, he was training her for one race, the Oaks.

“She had just the one race before Epsom in the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket, and she was workmanlike. It was a bit sharp for her.

“Obviously, it was exciting to win a good race for the Queen, but she didn’t give me the feel of a brilliant animal. She

“The 1980s opened with promise in the form of colt Church Parade” didn’t say anything to you, she just went about her business and did what she had to do. Dare I say it, you’d almost call her a dour stayer.”

While the mile-and-a-half distance of the Oaks was expected to play to Dunfermline’s strengths, much of the pre-race attention focused on Robert Sangster’s Cheveley Park Stakes winner Durtal. That filly unshipped Lester Piggott on the way to the start, however, leading to her withdrawal. Nor had Carson escaped his own drama, having been caught up in a car accident on his way to the course.

“I left a message that I would be there but that I would be late,” he says. “Of course, there was pandemonium – of all the days for that to happen. Dick got another jockey lined up, but I was able to get another car and finally made it to the track.

“I was drawn one in what was supposed to be the coffin box, and the race didn’t go to plan. At the top of the hill I was a bit further back than I wanted to be. We got on the outside and I could see the two Cumani fillies [eventual second Freeze The Secret and third Vaguely Deb] in front of me. My filly hung like a barn door all the way down the straight even though I had my stick in the left hand. All she wanted to do was lean on those two fillies, but she still got up.

“I was a bit disappointed pulling up as I couldn’t find anyone with a Union Jack

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flag to walk in with. But it was one of the greatest thrills of my career. Silver Jubilee year – it was fairytale stuff.”

Dunfermline headed to York thereafter for the Yorkshire Oaks, where she ran an underwhelming third. It was widely perceived that a lack of pace had been her undoing that day, although Carson also recalls “that there was also a bit of coughing about”. To that end, a pacemaker in the form of the Queen’s Glasgow Stakes winner Gregarious was employed for the St Leger, in which she defeated champion Alleged after a hard-fought battle. Later that day, her half-sister Tartan Pimpernel won the May Hill Stakes to cap a wonderful day for all involved.

“The Leger proved just what a good filly Dunfermline was,” says Carson. “There was a lot of chat about Alleged as he had won the Great Voltigeur [by seven lengths] and the St Leger ended up being the only time he was beaten. She had to be a good filly to do that.”

Alleged subsequently turned the tables on Dunfermline in the Arc but the filly still ran a game race to be third. She was kept in training at four but with little success and retired to stud. Sadly, she left behind only four foals, including one filly who was unable to extend the line.

Hern’s first group of Royal yearlings had arrived in 1966, and not long afterwards, a batch would come to include a Pall Mall daughter of Almeria.

Foaled in 1968 and named Albany, the filly provided such a headache early on in her three-year-old career that it was suggested she should be put in foal.

Sent to Highclere Stud’s Queen’s Hussar, the strategy had the desired effect and thus it was a more amenable Albany that successfully progressed through the

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›› was under the Scot that Dunfermline went

season to ultimately win the 1971 Prix de Psyche.

Hern’s yearling intake the following year included a granddaughter of Hypericum named Highclere, by Queen’s Hussar and out of the stakes-placed Highlight.

Hern, who had already enjoyed great success with the progeny of Queen’s Hussar as the trainer of Brigadier Gerard, remembered Highclere as “a lovely bay filly with plenty of scope and a good stride”. A big sort, she ran second in the Princess Margaret Stakes and won her third race, a maiden, as a two-year-old.

As anticipated, she progressed markedly over the winter.

Queen’s Hussar had done much of his best racing when equipped with blinkers, notably when winning the Sussex Stakes, and Highclere was cut from a similar cloth.

Equipped with headgear, she lined up in the 1,000 Guineas without a prep run and, under a forceful Joe Mercer ride, held off the closing Polygamy to win by a head.

It was felt in the aftermath of the race that the undulations of Epsom would not play to her strengths and therefore the Prix de Diane at Chantilly was nominated as a suitable target. The Queen made a private visit to watch the race and in front of an enthusiastic crowd Highclere bounded away to win easily and become the first – and to date only – filly to pull

1980s GEORGE SELWYN

Buttress and Willie Carson capture the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot in 1979, with Her Majesty, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret in attendance, pictured left with trainer Major Dick Hern

off the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas French Oaks double. She subsequently ran second to Dahlia in the King George before heading to stud, where in her first year she produced the Princess of Wales’s winner Milford to Mill Reef ahead of the influential Height Of Fashion in 1979.

At around the same time, Ian Balding’s Kingsclere yard was also home to a number of high-flying Royal runners.

Balding had started training for the Queen during the mid-1960s and there began a successful association with Kingsclere that endures to this day.

The Balding-trained Magna Carta, another classy performer out of Almeria, was one of the most progressive stayers of 1970, racking up five wins culminating in the Doncaster Cup. Sadly, he died early the following year.

The loss of a potential Gold Cup horse may have been alleviated somewhat by the achievements that year of Example, an Exbury filly out of Amicable, who landed the Park Hill Stakes and Prix de Royallieu under a pair of masterful waiting rides from Piggott. Kept in training at four, she also went on to win the Prix Jean de Chaudenay.

Several years later, Example’s sister Expansive added further to the family when saddled by Hern to win the 1979 Ribblesdale Stakes. Her victory came at the same meeting that fellow homebred Buttress won the Queen’s Vase.

Another high-class Balding-trained Royal runner of the 1970s, the Jimmy Reppin filly Joking Apart, won the Strensall Stakes and ran third in the 1975 1,000 Guineas.

The new decade opened with abundant promise in the form of the Queen’s Hussar colt Church Parade, a close relation to Highclere who was saddled by Hern to win the 1980 Champagne Stakes at Goodwood.

“He was out of my first winner for the Queen, Christchurch,” says Carson.

“He looked good at two and I remember saying to the Queen when I received my OBE that year, ‘Ma’am, I think I can win the Derby for you next year’. He was a backend two-year-old then and the signs were good, but he didn’t really go on the following year, which was disappointing.”

Church Parade did line up in the Derby but finished a distant fifth to Shergar.

Meanwhile, there were also the early crops of Bustino to look forward to.

Aureole had died at the age of 23 in 1973, leaving a gap on the Wolferton Stud roster. The Royal Studs had for a time been home to the Irish Derby and

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The Queen’s racehorses generally disappointing sire and by 1978 had also been sold to Japan.

Enter Bustino. Chiefly remembered for his epic tussle with Grundy in the 1975 King George, in which he narrowly came off second best, Lady Beaverbrook’s colt had been an excellent middle-distance horse under the management of Hern, for whom he had won the 1974 St Leger and 1975 Coronation Cup. Upon his syndication to stud, the Queen acquired a quarter-stake in the horse, stood him at Wolferton and from his third crop bred Height Of Fashion out of Highclere.

Foaled in 1979, Height Of Fashion was a typically big, rangy member of the family. Yet she was forward enough to make her debut in the Acomb Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting and, partnered by Piggott, went on to win well. From there, she won the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster before signing off her juvenile campaign with a victory in the Fillies’ Mile at Ascot.

Come the end of the season, she was rated the joint-top European two-year-old filly of 1981.

A crunching fall at York that August had forced Carson to miss Height Of Fashion’s two-year-old season but he was back on board when she won the Lupe Stakes the following year from another one of the Queen’s fillies, Round Tower.

With it being decided that Height Of Fashion might not be seen to best effect around Epsom, she headed to the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket for a clash with the brilliant older stayer Ardross.

“I had only 7 stone 12 and Ardross was having to give us a lot of weight [26 pounds],” says Carson. “So the Major and I sat down and devised a plan where we would jump out, make all and go flat out.

That’s exactly what I did – I jumped out and went very fast and by the time we got to the two-furlong marker we were walking. But we managed to get to the winning post in front.”

In winning, the blinkered Height Of Fashion broke the track record for Newmarket’s mile and a half of the July course that had been set in the same race by her half-brother Milford in 1979.

It was following that tour de force that Sheikh Hamdan, then in the early stages of building his broodmare band, made a significant offer – believed to be in seven figures – to buy Height Of Fashion.

It must be remembered that the Royal Studs had plenty of the family at the time – Highclere herself was still in production alongside descendants of Hypericum –

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›› St Leger winner Ribero but he was a

and in what was written up at the time as ‘the sale of the century’, the Queen accepted the offer and was able to fund her purchase of West Ilsley Stables from Sir Michael Sobell and Arnold Weinstock.

When Height Of Fashion turned in lowkey runs in both the King George and Yorkshire Oaks, she appeared well sold.

However, it soon became clear that

“It became clear that Sheikh Hamdan possessed a blue hen mare” Sheikh Hamdan had come into possession of a blue hen mare.

Had Height Of Fashion remained in Royal ownership, it is debatable as to whether she would have been exposed to any of the leading North American-based stallions of the time. As it was, to Blushing Groom she produced champion Nashwan, still remembered today as one of the best

horses of his era. To Northern Dancer she produced the high-class pair Unfuwain and Alwasmi, while to Mr Prospector she foaled the classy fillies Bashayer, Wijdan and Sarayir, in turn the dam of 1,000 Guineas winner Ghanaati. Multiple Group 1 winner Nayef, by Gulch, was her final foal.

Appropriately, the majority were trained by Hern, mostly from Kingwood House Stables in Lambourn, to where he moved after his lease on West Ilsley controversially ended.

“Height Of Fashion was a big, rangy filly,” says Carson. “She wasn’t the most attractive. She was a good filly, though I wouldn’t have said she was a Group 1 animal. She was what I call a galloper.”

While the 1980s weren’t as productive as some of the eras preceding it, there was also a landmark moment in the victory of Unknown Quantity, a homebred Young Generation gelding out of Pas De Deux, in the Grade 1 Arlington Handicap at Arlington Park. His dam had been the only surviving foal out of Example and yet, despite that, the family remains extremely relevant today; Pas De Deux is currently the ancestress of close to 20 stakes winners, including the Queen’s Chesham Stakes winner Free Agent and recent top American filly Duopoly.

Unknown Quantity was an important

The Queen with Prince Philip at Royal Ascot in 1987 – while the decade was not the most productive for Royal runners, filly Height Of Fashion (below) was a standout performer before her sale to Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum

cog in that success. Foaled in 1985, he was trained by William Hastings-Bass and after he had won a pair of handicaps at Sandown and Lingfield as a four-yearold, an audacious plan was hatched to take on America. The $100,000 Arlington Handicap was quite a different task to the races Unknown Quantity had been contesting in Britain and he was duly sent off as the 10-1 outsider, yet he proved up to the challenge, scoring by three lengths under Jorge Velasquez to become the Queen’s first American winner.

In addition to Bustino, the Royal Studs at that time also stood Derby winner Shirley Heights, who had wasted no time in becoming one of Europe’s leading sires. However, by then the Queen was also making much more use of Americanbased stallions.

On one trip in 1984 she was able to visit Keeneland and view an array of leading stud farms including Claiborne Farm, then home to the likes of Mr Prospector, Danzig, Secretariat and Nijinsky. Living then in retirement was Round Table, one of the iconic American runners of the late 1950s, who had been bred by Claiborne out of Knight’s Daughter, herself bred

by King George VI out of Feola. Knight’s Daughter had run up a hat trick of wins for the King but she hadn’t been an easy filly to train, her temperament testing all the skill of her trainer Cecil Boyd-Rochfort and jockey Doug Smith. Offered for sale at Tattersalls in 1951, the daughter of Sir Cosmo was snapped up for 2,500gns

by Arthur ‘Bull’ Hancock, for whom she became a true blue hen.

Thus, upon learning that the mare’s celebrated son Round Table, then aged 30, was still a resident on the farm, the Queen requested to see him – a moment that was captured by American photographer Tony Leonard.

GEORGE SELWYN

Next month: The Queen’s racehorses, 1990s - 2020s

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The Big Interview

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Rossa Ryan

Plenty of

xxx xxx xx

AMO

As retained rider to Kia Joorabchian’s burgeoning racing empire and with the backing of the powerful Richard Hannon stable, Rossa Ryan has plenty of bullets to fire as he targets the upper echelons of the jockeys’ table Words: Edward Rosenthal • Photos: Bill Selwyn

R Rossa Ryan: the 21-year-old is one of the emerging stars in British racing

ossa Ryan recalls vividly his first winner under Rules. Not that it happened in some distant past – at only 21, the jockey is one of the freshest faces in the weighing room. It’s more the circumstances around that debut success at Dundalk in December 2016 as a 7lb claimer that stick in his mind.

“I remember the day well because it was my sister Holly’s birthday,” Ryan explains. “We had family over from Australia at the time. I thought the mare would win so I told them to come up to Dundalk on the Friday, but they all said no, because it was the same day as Holly’s birthday and they had a party planned.

“I had to find my own way to the track and caught a lift with a trainer from Athlone. It was good craic though and the winning owner was a next-door neighbour, so it was even better.”

Ryan is reflecting on his start in racing from outside the Newmarket weighing room during the Craven meeting, which tells its own story. His ascent in the sport has been swift, aided by the support of trainer Richard Hannon and latterly Kia Joorabchian, whose purple Amo Racing silks are now a familiar sight at racecourses in Britain and Ireland.

As the son of a small jumps trainer based outside Tuam in County Galway, Ryan could have been expected to follow his father David into the National Hunt

scene. Yet his career took a different path after family friend John Bleahen, a noted store horse producer who spotted the early potential in future Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Sizing John, put in a word for the young rider, who had excelled on the pony racing circuit, with bloodstock agent Ross Doyle.

Doyle, who with father Peter has unearthed any number of top-class horses for the Hannon stable, rang the trainer to recommend the 16-year-old apprentice.

Hannon phoned Ryan, a trial was swiftly arranged in October 2016 and the rest, as they say, is history.

“I loved it at the Hannons,” Ryan says.

“They asked me to sign up and I did the following January.

“Mum and Dad wanted me to finish school and I was planning to stay on to receive my Leaving Cert, but when the offer came in, Dad took my mother to one side and told her I was going to have to try and make it work.

“It was a big move but it’s only across the water. Where we are in Galway, if I was going to ride out for anyone, I’d have to go for a week or two to make the most of it. Most big trainers are on the other side of Ireland. I was kind of used to travelling; I was never really at home.”

The teenager, who had enjoyed playing Gaelic football for his beloved Corofin until racing took over, wasted

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The Big Interview ›› little time in making an impact in his new

environment. Having finished runner-up to Jason Watson in the apprentice race in 2018, a year that produced 78 winners, he enjoyed a breakthrough Pattern success when guiding the Paul Cole-trained Duke Of Hazzard to victory in the 2019 Group 2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood.

The following year saw another first, also for Cole, as Ryan bagged a maiden Royal Ascot success aboard Highland Chief in the Golden Gates Handicap.

Watching Ryan produce the perfect waiting ride, coming from near last to first and getting the better of Oisin Murphy and William Buick in a tight finish, begs the question – how is someone so inexperienced able to look so polished?

He explains: “I rode 150 winners on the pony racing circuit and I enjoyed it. It’s big in Ireland – horses that have fallen out of love with the Flat game can go pony racing. It’s a real academy.

“Most of the jockeys in Ireland have come through the pony racing scene, including all the apprentices around my age group who have now lost their claim.

“You get experience. You’re sharper.

You know how to hold your position. It’s like bringing a two-year-old to a barrier trial before having a run – it’s just teaching you how to hold your own in a race.

“When the apprentices come through in Ireland, they’re all well able to hold their position against the likes of Kevin Manning and Chris Hayes, all those top lads, whereas here with a 7lb claimer you could give a shout and they’ll just move.”

So what does it feel like to triumph at Royal Ascot – albeit in a Covid-hit year without crowds – having just got the better of some of the best riders in the business?

“I had an awful lot to do on Highland Chief,” Ryan reflects. “But I was surrounded by Ryan Moore, William Buick and Frankie, so I knew I wasn’t too far away.

“Royal Ascot is the longest final two furlongs in the country – you’re never getting home there, at least that’s what it feels like to me.

“I pulled him out and at the two pole I thought I might get there. To be on a horse that can pick up and do what you want them to do – those 30 seconds are what you wake up for every day. When jockeys say you can’t put the feeling into

words, you really can’t.

“Winning a big race – it’s down to you and the horse, luck in running, making the right decisions, everything going right.

“I’ve always asked the owners I ride for – often wealthy people – what has been the key to their success, and the answer is always right place, right time, making the right decisions. It’s the same as horseracing. You ride more losers than winners so you may as well enjoy it when it goes well.”

“I enjoyed my Breeders’ Cup experience.

It’s where you want to be” Ryan’s talents soon caught the attention of Joorabchian, the football agent turned racehorse owner, whose expanding stable of runners under the Amo Racing banner included the promising Mojo Star with Hannon.

“Kia came in when I rode Mojo Star in his first gallop,” Ryan says. “I loved him. Everyone did. He was a star from the word go. In the stable office is a wall with all the good winners over the years, ridden by Ryan Moore, Pat Dobbs, Sean Levey, Tom Marquand, Richard Hughes, Dane O’Neill, Oisin Murphy, all

those lads. But I wasn’t on it!

“He had no stable jockey at that point, but he told me that Mojo would put me on the wall. I said I’d hold him to it. I then won on a horse of his called Mr Kiki – a tricky customer – at Yarmouth [in July 2020] for Ralph [Beckett] and a week later he offered me the job as first jockey.

“I didn’t say yes straight away. I spoke to the boss, Mr Hannon, and discussed it with him. We sat down and he said to me it could be the job that takes me up the ladder quicker. I rang him back and accepted.”

He continues: “The relationship is very good. I told him from day one that I’d be straight with him. There’s no pretending a bad horse isn’t bad. If I like it, he’ll know about it.

“In the first year I was learning what a good horse really was and what was needed where. This year we’re figuring out where we need to go. You’ve more insight of what type of two-year-old you need to go where. I work well with our trainers. They would ask me for my opinion on the horses, most of which are with Richard [Hannon] and David [Loughnane]. We plan our horses’ campaigns and map out the best places to go.”

The story may be overwhelmingly positive so far, yet it should be noted that Ryan has also endured setbacks along the way. A broken collarbone last year meant the jockey was unable to compete in the Derby – “I was sickened to miss out on the ride on Mojo Star” – then a stomach problem resulted in his appendix being removed, which meant being absent from Royal Ascot. Despite missing such a large chunk of the season, Ryan still managed a career-best 120 winners.

Criticism on social media is another fact of life for today’s riders and Ryan admits it’s not always easy to turn the other cheek.

“I do struggle with it sometimes,” he says. “I’m my own worst enemy. But my father is a big help. He’s been my mentor from the start. No matter what abuse I receive, if he tells me I’ve done nothing wrong in a race, I can let it go.

There are days when I’ve rang him to ask about a ride because of criticism. It’s a sport that can knock you down quickly.”

Ryan returned from his spell on the sidelines in time to partner Mojo Star in the 2021 St Leger, chasing home Hurricane Lane in second, before the pair ran down the field in the Prix de l’Arc de Hello You: smart filly is a star performer for Ryan, trainer David Loughnane and owner Amo Racing

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Rossa Ryan

Ryan is enjoying riding for Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing, which has around 75 horses in training in Britain and Ireland

Triomphe, an experience not lost on the rider.

“I always said the race I’d most like to win is the Derby, but not every horse that wins the Derby is the best horse, whereas the best horse always wins the Arc. I found that out last year,” he explains.

“You need to handle everything; to be able to stay, to quicken, to go on any ground. You need the ultimate mile-and-ahalf horse to win that race.”

Ryan has also ridden in Australia, spending three months with David Hayes and partnering seven winners – “all at bush tracks” – while the then Amo Racingowned Devilwala took him to Keeneland for the 2020 Breeders’ Cup. He says: “I really enjoyed my Breeders’ Cup experience – it is where you want to be as a jockey. It’s great to be known around the world to the extent that Frankie [Dettori] and Ryan [Moore] are – if you don’t want that there’s no point being in the sport.

“Kia loves Royal Ascot and British racing, but he spends quite a bit of time in America and I’d say the Breeders’ Cup means everything to him. It’s the world stage.

“I’d also love to go back to Australia.

It’s not like European racing, where we jump, go a gallop and the best horse usually wins. You tend to sit, sit and sprint.

You learn the clock and it was a big eyeopener.”

Before those international ambitions can be realised, this year or in the future, big spring engagements beckon and Ryan, who has captured four Group 2 races at the time of writing, is hoping one of his stables can supply him with a first top-level winner.

He came agonisingly close in last year’s Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day when beaten a short-head on Albaflora

by Eshaada and Jim Crowley, and the likes of Mojo Star and Hello You, last year’s Rockfel Stakes heroine, will help to give him every chance of hitting that milestone sooner rather than later.

He says: “I’d love to win a Group 1 this year and I have a lovely bunch of horses for the big stage. It was a dark place walking in at Ascot when Albaflora got beat on Champions Day; I hope she can win a Group 1. She’s been one of the breakthrough fillies for me.

“What I’m looking forward to is finding the next big thing. That comes with every two-year-old; it’s about seeing the good ones progress. I think Mojo should be there in the staying division. I wouldn’t question his ability to stay the Gold Cup trip. I think he will, but we won’t know until we try. It would be class and a dream [to win].”

It’s fascinating to observe a fierce competitor like Ryan talking with such quiet authority about the sport he loves.

The contrast is stark in an industry that demands complete focus and dedication and can often appear to foster a winat-all-costs mentality. Does he think you need to be ruthless to make it to the top in racing?

“No,” he quickly responds. “Look at Ryan Moore or William Buick riding. Are they ruthless? Not at all. Would they have always made it to the top? Yes, because they have the work-rate and they’re unbelievable riders.

“Of course, you need to be competitive but there’s a difference between being ruthless and having drive, even in a sport where it’s every man for himself in a race.

Or woman – look at what Hollie Doyle has achieved.

“You have to want it so badly and you need that drive and determination. But you also need to be able to take a step back.

“The biggest thing for me is that I would love to be champion jockey one day. I’ve come to terms as I’ve gone on in racing that you must be realistic, and I don’t think it can happen this year. William Buick is a force in himself – he’ll be a hard man to take down, but I’ll do it one day.

I wouldn’t be in racing if I didn’t think I could become champion jockey.”

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Junior National Hunt Hurdles

BILL SELWYN

The Junior NH Hurdles will be open to horses unraced before October 1

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Competitive

EDGE

The introduction of Junior National Hunt Hurdles from late October this year promises to be a beneficial addition to the racing programme in Britain Words: Martin Stevens

I

t sometimes feels as though Frenchbred National Hunt horses possess sublime qualities, allowing them to reach the pinnacle of the sport on a regular basis. Modern greats such as Big Buck’s, Kauto Star and Master Minded and more recent stars Al Boum Photo and A Plus Tard haven’t always boasted the best pedigrees in a conventional sense, or conformed to a superior physical type; they just seemed to have a certain je ne sais quoi.

But all we needed to do to identify the ‘quoi’ that has given French-breds their competitive edge was to join the dots. Look at the records of some of the country’s leading exports and it becomes obvious: they were all sent over obstacles at a younger age than has traditionally been the case in Britain.

Big Buck’s and Kauto Star competed over hurdles in the spring of their three-year-old seasons – by which point commercially-bred jumpers in Britain and Ireland won’t even have been offered at store sales – while Master Minded, Al Boum Photo and A Plus Tard were hurdling in public by the autumn.

The idea that an earlier education in the art of jumping is beneficial to a long and successful career is supported by the rise of four-year-old point-topoints. As Irish trainers have competed to showcase their stock to prospective buyers by getting them to win between the sticks at that earlier age, they have – deliberately or not – emulated the French model.

And, the argument goes, licence holders in Ireland have attracted the deepest pocketed and most ambitious owners at present, possibly thanks to better prize-money levels, allowing them to purchase the most exciting point-to-point graduates – thus fuelling their current dominance at the major

jumps festivals.

The BHA has now moved to redress the balance by encouraging those whose job it is to bring along jumping talent in Britain to do so that bit earlier with the introduction of Junior National Hunt Hurdles from the 2022/23 season.

The races, formulated following a proposal from Bryan Mayoh, Chairman of the TBA National Hunt Committee and subsequently approved by the industry’s Racing Group, are open exclusively to three-year-olds from October to December and four-yearolds from January to April, and will be run from late-October 2022 to the end of the season.

“More is done with young horses in terms of preparation and handling” They will be open to horses that were unraced under any Rules of Racing before October 1 and had, prior to entry, competed only in National Hunt Flat races and no more than three hurdles races (these most likely being other Junior NH Hurdles). They will carry the same status as bumpers and pointto-points, in that winners will not be precluded from competing in novice hurdles in the following season.

That last stipulation, deemed controversial by some, was introduced so that inexperienced horses are not forced into open company prematurely, which would act as a major deterrent

to participation in races intended to aid their development.

Yorton Farm Stud owner David Futter, who sits on the TBA NH Committee, has long banged the drum of getting jumpers going earlier – as shown by Goffs UK Yorton Sales having sold National Hunt-bred two-year-olds every September since 2019.

“At Yorton we’ve been doing more and more with younger horses as I sincerely believe the more things you do with them then, the quicker, easier and better they pick things up later,” he says. “I hope everyone would agree that having horses sitting around in fields doing nothing until they’re three isn’t conducive to them growing and developing, and eventually being competitive as older horses.

“As a business person, you’ve got to look at what other people are doing successfully and adopt what you can.

I’m not saying the whole French system would suit the British market, but I do feel it’s foolish not to look at what they’re doing well and try to emulate certain parts of it, where it fits in. We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, it’s just adding something new into the existing programme as a trial to see if it works.

“It’s going to take a little time to bed in – most things in life do – and I think it will take this first year for people to realise there’s a new market and system in place. Having said that, I’ve spoken to a lot of trainers who say they’re gearing up for it, and the scheme seems to have caught on a lot quicker than I initially expected. But, then again, many trainers are doing more and more with their twoyear-olds and three-year-olds nowadays anyway.”

Futter stresses that no-one is asking trainers to drill still-developing horses in order to get them ready for Junior NH

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Hurdles, but that a gentle introduction to jumping at a younger age would be of benefit whether they mature in time for the series or not.

“Not every horse will be ready to race at three; the horse itself will tell you. But how would you find out unless you do that early work with it?” he asks. “It’s just a case of changing people’s mindsets and getting them to do a bit more. No one’s saying we should be galloping the heads off two-year-olds, but let’s at least loose-jump them and long-rein them, or even sit on them and jog them around as you would with Flat horses.

“I’m really passionate about this, and I’m speaking with knowledge and experience behind me. I genuinely think that an earlier education will benefit every single horse, even if they don’t eventually race as a three-year-old and they wait until they’re four or five to make their first start instead.”

The Goffs UK Yorton Sales have given an intriguing clue that the outstanding results of French-reared stock in jump racing overseas is down to nurture, not nature.

“We’ve already sold several winners and it says it all that last year we sold 14 horses to leading trainers in France, including a good few British-breds, to put into their own system,” says Futter.

“If that doesn’t give British breeders

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Junior National Hunt Hurdles

Tom Symonds: praises the new initiative

the confidence that our horses are as good as theirs, and that we just need to tweak the way we train them, what more do we have to do?”

Tom Symonds is one trainer who is supportive of the new Junior NH Hurdles, although he agrees that it might take more than one season to create a cultural shift in British jump racing.

“I’m a huge advocate, not because it’s trying to replicate the French model in Britain, but because it’s just good to drip feed these younger horses with lessons about how to gallop and how to breathe, for instance, at a younger age,” he says.

“The younger horses are when they get going, the more receptive they are,

and I think for that reason we’ll see two-year-olds sold at store sales more in future.

“Speaking personally, we’ve always broken horses in as two-year-olds, and I’ve got a few horses that could fit the new series, although they won’t be made to – they’ll line up only if we feel they’re ready for it. They’re still going to be schooled properly and learn their trade.

“It’s going to take a bit of time to change the behaviour of people, you can’t expect it to happen overnight, and I don’t think anyone will buy stores this year and prepare them for these races – well, people might try, but I think it would be a big ask for any horse.

“Rather, I think people will have to take a two-year view, take the horses as two-year-olds, train them on and off for a period of time, expose them to things they will inevitably get like coughs and other yard bugs, and train them specifically for these new races.”

Symonds can see Junior NH Hurdles opening up opportunities for forwardthinking breeders and traders in future, too.

“If you owned a smaller store horse, which is likely to be more forward but less commercially desirable than a three-year-old standing 16.3 hands, you could feasibly break it in during the January and have it ready to run later

BILL SELWYN

Big Buck’s: iconic performer began his hurdling career in the spring of his three-year-old season in France

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the store sales, so I’ve bought him back and re-syndicated him, and although he might be one for junior bumpers as he’s out of a wonderfully bred Flat mare, it’s great to have the back-up option of hurdles now too.”

Industry efforts to encourage trainers to educate jumps-breds over hurdles at a younger age might feel like a significant break with decades of convention, but the scheme received the seal of approval from an unlikely source when a panel of experts discussed it at an ITBA National Hunt Seminar in April.

Respected commentator Jane Mangan recalled: “I can remember when four-year-olds were sold as stores, and six-year-old maidens at point-to-points were as popular as those for four-yearolds. The times are changing, and if the horses don’t stand up to being broken at two, or getting stuck into at three, you can always back off them, because the race programme is still there for the later developers anyway.”

Richard Pugh, point-to-point guru and director of horses in training for Tattersalls Ireland, addressed some of the doubters who insist that a later approach to educating jumpers is better by saying:

“You’ve got to look at what other people are doing successfully” “You often hear people say ‘Tom Dreaper waited until they were older’, but he ran Arkle in two four-year-old bumpers, and had sent him chasing by the time he was six.

“Kauto Star ran as a three-year-old, Dawn Run ran as a four-year-old, Desert Orchid ran as a four-year-old, Best Mate ran as a four-year-old, Denman ran as a five-year-old but he was an exception.

We regularly run statistics on point-topointers and they show that horses who ran at four tend to be better than those that started later.”

Pugh added that sales companies’ efforts to get consignors to do more with their store horses had also paid off.

“Point-to-point trainers are applauded, and rightly so, but the people who don’t get enough credit are the store producers for the work they’re doing

GOFFS UK

in the year, rather than tread the normal path of taking it to a sale and becoming disheartened when no-one will buy it for £5,000,” he says.

“It also makes a good option for leasing horses, and allowing owners to have their day at the races or find out what they have before too long. But it’s always worth emphasising that none of that should happen if the horse isn’t ready. It’s no use trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.”

A devil’s advocate might ask why a National Hunt-bred horse couldn’t be trained at a younger age and take their chances in the programme of three-yearold hurdles that already exists.

Stating the opposing case, Symonds says: “Look at Knight Salute: he’d run seven times on the Flat before running in three-year-old hurdles last autumn, and was already much hardier than a jumps-bred newcomer, both physically and mentally. What these young jumpers need is their own nurseries, to race against their own kind at their own pace.

“Or look at those three-yearold bumpers you get at tracks like Huntingdon, which are contested by the lesser Frankels and Camelots from the top Flat stables just down the road in Newmarket. It creates a loophole, and it’s those trainers’ prerogative to exploit it, but it doesn’t help the National Hunt scene very much.”

For similar reasons, successful syndicator Nick Brown is also standing foursquare behind the new Junior NH Hurdle series.

“When they announced that jumpsbred horses could take on their own classmates over obstacles instead of ex-Flat horses I thought it was a brilliant scheme,” he says. “It’s advantageous for the young horse but also for owners, because sooner rather than later they’ll be able to see what they’ve got and whether they’re worth pursuing or not.

“I’ve always enjoyed juvenile hurdles and junior bumpers, because we try to go for a bit of value when we buy horses and that often means getting those that aren’t the bigger, more valuable models, and they tend to suit being trained at a younger age.

“I have a homebred with a beautiful pedigree who’s strong but just lacks a little bit of size at 15.3 hands, and he should be ideally suited to the new races.

He’ll go into training with Donald McCain and target them.

“I have another horse we bought as a foal for a pinhooking syndicate who sadly hasn’t grown into the sort of horse that would be in the most demand at

David Futter: “an earlier education will benefit every single horse”

before they’re sold,” he said.

“More is done now in terms of preparation and handling, and you see it on social media: the week after the Derby sale, people are sitting up on horses, trotting them down lanes and even starting to pop them over a hurdle after a week or two. That’s because the horses are naturally accepting of people, they’ve had good handling and a level of fitness.”

Consensus on the panel seemed to be that more stores will be sold as twoyear-olds in future, initiating a virtuous circle in which buyers can crack on with their purchases sooner and vendors will receive an earlier payday.

However, the conversation ended in unresolved speculation about how a system of Rules races that would fuel that demand might be introduced in Ireland. For once, it appears as though Britain might just be ahead of the game.

The last word goes to the original proponent of the idea, Bryan Mayoh, who says: “Whatever their source, the potential of young jumps horses will be enhanced by early jumping education and by racing over obstacles.

“The prospects of British-trained jumpers will be boosted when Junior NH Hurdles are viewed as an important element of their development programme, just as three-year-old hurdles are in France and four-year-old point-to-points in Ireland.

“Right now, ambitious British trainers have a choice. They can: (1) find owners able to buy horses that have shown ability in French three-year-old hurdle races or Irish four-year-old point-topoints; (2) carry on as before, smiling through gritted teeth when they lose such horses; or (3) use Junior NH Hurdles to develop their future stars.”

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First foals

Time to JUDGE It’s an exciting – and nerve-wracking – time for those stallion masters with young horses on their rosters as they monitor the arrival of their first foals Words: James Thomas

ALEX CAIRNS

COOLMORE

A Circus Maximus filly out of Freedonia

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THE OWNER BREEDER

Ghaiyyath himself was an exceptional foal, as evidenced by his €1,100,000 price tag, and Moloney notes that while his stock have a real look of their grandsire about them, plenty have inherited the unmistakable movement that Galileo brings to the mix.

“It’s fair to say Dubawis aren’t terrific walkers, and everyone accepts that, but Ghaiyyath has that big fancy Galileo walk,” says Moloney. “I remember the day he walked out from behind the mare and I knew he was going to cost a fortune! I’ve seen that same great shape and walk in his foals too.”

Ghaiyyath was joined at Kildangan

by Earthlight, the son of Shamardal who went unbeaten during a two-year-old campaign that culminated with success in the Group 1 Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes, which he won in juvenile course

A strong Far Above filly out of Light Bay

ALEX CAIRNS

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When it comes to pedigree, performance and physique, Ghaiyyath boasts the complete package. He retired with four Group 1 victories to his name, including the Coronation Cup, Eclipse Stakes and Juddmonte International, which he won during a stellar 2020 campaign. He earned an official mark of 130 for the latter performance, the highest figure awarded anywhere in the world that campaign.

The son of Dubawi and Nightime, Galileo’s first Classic winner, covered 140 mares in his debut season at Darley’s Kildangan Stud at a fee of €30,000, and the operation’s nominations manager Eamon Moloney says Ghaiyyath’s progeny appear very much in their sire’s image.

“The biggest thing is the quality that he seems to be putting through into his progeny,” he says. “A lot of them have that rich bay colour that he has himself, they’re a good size, and the comments I’ve had from a few people is that there’s plenty of leg on them with good bone. The other thing that strikes me is that they’re not great big long foals, they’re a little bit more short coupled and you can really see that bit of Dubawi about them.”

ew events in the bloodstock world are as eagerly anticipated as the arrival of new stallions’ first foals, and the class of 2021 is a typically varied and well-credentialled bunch.

Among those whose first offspring are on the ground already are a generationdefining two-year-old, a champion three-year-old and the world’s highestrated horse from 2020, while the sirelines represented include the breedshapers Dubawi, Galileo and Shamardal.

Breeders invest considerable amounts of time, money and emotion into producing each and every foal, but breeding is a pursuit fraught with risk and there are very few guarantees.

One thing we can be certain of is that every new name at stud has something to recommend them, be that pedigree, racecourse performance or physique.

The service breeders provide by sending their mares and revealing which of the new names are ultimately capable of passing on the desired mix of genes is an essential one for the future of the industry, and as such, win, lose or draw, they deserve plenty of credit for their endeavour.

Far Above is also sire of this strong colt

LAURENCE SQUIRE

Peas in a pod: these first foals by Kameko on show at Tweenhills Farm and Stud have inherited his markings

A striking Mohaather filly out of Tanouma

››

COOLMORE

offspring and you’ll definitely be able to pick out those by Mohaather come the foal sales.

“The feedback from breeders has also been particularly pleasing and it’s testament to the foals Mohaather is producing that they’re returning again this year on the back of what they’ve had.

Several breeders have commented on how Mohaather has really upgraded their mares. They might have had a couple of okay foals, but Mohaather has injected a bit of much-needed quality into their stock and smartened them up, which is fantastic to hear.”

British-based breeders looking for a Group 1-winning miler were rather spoilt for choice in 2021, as Mohaather was one of three such recruits to the country’s roster. Tweenhills added Kameko to its line-up having won the Vertem Futurity

Tom Pennington, Shadwell’s nominations and marketing manager, admits that awaiting a stallion’s debut crop is not without its anxious moments, but says Mohaather’s offspring have quickly helped convert nerves into excitement.

“It’s always an exciting and nervewracking time of year waiting for a stallion’s first crop of foals, but it’s fair to say we’ve been blown away by Mohaather’s,” says Pennington. “The biggest plus for me, at this early stage, is how he’s stamping them. The majority are all incredibly similar: dark in colour with quality heads, stamped with his white star.

“They’re also forward-looking and hugely athletic, which is what I expected and hoped to see. Whether you like it or not, breeders and buyers alike prefer to see a stallion putting a stamp on his

SHADWELL

record time. The Godolphin homebred covered 162 mares at an introductory fee of €20,000, making him the most popular Flat recruit last year.

“Earthlight’s foals are exactly what we were hoping for,” Moloney says. “They’re really solid, strong-topped, powerful foals with a lot of hind-end on them.

Interestingly they have a little bit more size than we’d expected and there’s a lot of rich bays among them, which is great.”

Ghaiyyath and Earthlight were not the only new names to stand under the Darley banner in 2021, as the operation’s British base at Dalham Hall Stud welcomed the brilliant Pinatubo, who was rated the best two-year-old since Celtic Swing in 1994.

That rating of 128 came from his ninelength demolition in the Group 1 National Stakes, an effort he followed up by winning the Dewhurst Stakes. The son of Shamardal showed he was more than just a two-year-old by winning the Prix Jean Prat at three, when he also reached the frame in the 2,000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes and Prix du Moulin.

Shadwell’s Nunnery Stud welcomed one of 2021’s most exciting recruits in Mohaather, whose turbo-charged turn of foot carried him to success in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes. He was introduced at a fee of £20,000 and covered 146 mares, including 43 stakes performers and 42 black-type producers.

The Sottsass colt out of We Are Ninety

THE OWNER BREEDER

43

First foals ›› at two and the 2,000 Guineas, with his

BILL SELWYN

Classic victory gained in race-record time. The son of Kitten’s Joy stood his first season at a fee of £25,000 and entertained a book of 114 mares.

“I genuinely couldn’t be happier with what we’re seeing in Kameko’s foals,” says Tweenhills’ David Redvers. “They’re very much in his image; it’s noticeable how they all have his markings, his temperament and his frame with that massive shoulder and hip.

“He’s a complete dude with very definite mannerisms and a certain cheekiness and his foals seem to be taking after him in that regard as well. If I’m honest I was quite worried about our numbers [of mares] at the beginning of the season as we didn’t seem to have anything like the take up I was expecting, but now I’m very relaxed and we’re in good shape as there have been an awful lot of people come to him on the back of his first foals.”

Another horse with a Group 1 success over a mile on his CV is Without Parole, who won the St James’s Palace Stakes and now stands at Newsells Park Stud.

Top-level miling talent flows through Without Parole’s pedigree, as he is a son of none other than Frankel and is a

“Breeders prefer to see a stallion putting his stamp on his offspring” half-brother to Tamarkuz, who won the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

Leading Coolmore’s three recruits in 2021 was Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Prix Ganay hero Sottsass, who also landed the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club during a world championship-winning season at three. The son of Siyouni and the Galileo mare Starlet’s Sister was introduced at a fee of €30,000 and attracted a high-class book of 132 mares.

“Peter Brant [Sottsass’s racing owner] supported him very strongly in his first season and has sent most of those mares back to him again this year,” says Mark Byrne, a member of Coolmore’s nominations team. “The likes of Ecurie des Monceaux, Shadai, OTI and Normandie Stud also sent him

some high-calibre mares as did Coolmore.

It’s all very international which comes with him being a world champion.

“We’ve got Sottsass foals on the farm out of mares like $800,000 purchase Toinette and Albany winner Different League along with the dams of Fleeting and Interpretation. In fact, one of the highest-rated foals we have on the farm is

by Sottsass out of a mare called We Are Ninety – he’s a beautiful foal.”

Peter Kavanagh of Kildaragh Stud said of his Sottsass filly out of Inez, dam of Siyouni’s Group 3-winning daughter Spectre: “She’s a quality, balanced filly and merits repeating the mating.”

Sottsass was joined by the top-class miler Circus Maximus, who landed Group 1s in the St James’s Palace Stakes, Prix du Moulin and Queen Anne Stakes. The son of Galileo, who served his first book at a fee of €20,000, was a dual Royal Ascot winner just like his dam, Duntle, and received particularly strong home support from his breeder, the Niarchos family.

“I’d say no first-season sire last year will have covered as good a racemare as Alpha Centauri,” says Byrne. “She has a very nice filly foal at foot with loads of quality. The Niarchos family also sent him Freedonia, dam of Group 1-winning twoyear-old Albigna, who produced another smashing filly. Other major breeders who used him included the likes of Triermore, Airlie, Croom House, the Aga Khan and Moyglare so he got fantastic support. Like those by his father, the foals by Circus Maximus are great walkers, very athletic and balanced horses.”

The triumvirate of Coolmore recruits was completed by Arizona, the Coventry Stakes-winning son of No Nay Never who joined the Castlehyde Stud roster at €7,000.

“Arizona was a brilliant two-year-old and is very much in the mould of Scat Daddy and his son No Nay Never,” says Byrne.

“He won the Coventry Stakes, just like Scat Daddy’s son Caravaggio, who was last year’s champion firstseason sire. He’s very like his father

Pinatubo: champion two-year-old covered a glittering book of over 150 mares in his first season

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THE OWNER BREEDER

››

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First foals

GEORGE SELWYN

Southern Hills: classy son of Gleneagles featured among an army of new recruits for LM Stallions

›› and he’s getting those typical Scat Daddy types; big, strong, early-looking foals. The feedback has been very good so we’re excited by him.”

Norman Ormiston is one of the breeders who used Arizona last year, and said of his filly out of Puttore: “I’m absolutely delighted with this foal and I’m using Arizona again this year because she’s so good. She is a beautiful mover, has a fantastic temperament and is a precocious type.”

The O’Brien family also supported Arizona and Ana O’Brien has been rewarded with a quality filly out of her Pivotal mare Dancer’s Leap.

Another son of Scat Daddy who joined the stallion ranks in 2021 is Sergei

Prokofiev, whose three black-type victories include the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes. The powerfully built individual, who fetched $1,100,000 as a yearling, offers breeders access to some soughtafter US bloodlines, being out of a Tapit half-sister to Grade 3 scorer Necessary Evil. The Whitsbury Manor Stud resident was the most popular British-based Flat newcomer in 2021, with 154 mares covered at a fee of £6,500.

“I’ve probably seen 50 foals by him and they’re definitely a bigger, more American type of foal than we’ve had from the likes of Showcasing and Havana Grey,” says stud director Ed Harper. “The average birth weight of the Sergei Prokofiev foals is about four and a half kilos heavier than

the rest of our foals, which is fairly telling.

“We’ve got a lot of Showcasing fillies and he works terrifically with them and hopefully that’s a cross we can keep repeating. We sent about 35 of our own mares last year and he covered 154 in total. We’ll not be far off that this year and the great thing about him is that, because of his pedigree and physique, anyone who likes him can use him.”

On the theme of speed and precocity, Norman Court Stud introduced Rumble Inthejungle, a son of Group 1-winning sire Bungle Inthejungle whose finest hour came when landing the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Another promising stallion son of Shamardal is Shaman, who joined the

THE OWNER BREEDER

47

››

First foals the O’Callaghan family’s Yeomanstown Stud in County Kildare. The strapping Wertheimer brothers’ homebred won five times while under the care of Carlos Laffon-Parias, headed by the Group 2 Prix d’Harcourt. He also performed with distinction at Group 1 level at two, three and four, most notably when runner-up in the Prix Jacques le Marois and the Poule d’Essai des Poulains.

His debut crop hails from a book of 134 mares and he received strong support from breeders such as Manister House Stud, Mount Coote Stud, Norelands, Pier House Stud, Ringfort Stud and his own breeder, the Wertheimer brothers.

A bit of French flair was also added to the Coolagown Stud roster by Way To Paris, a son of the much-missed Champs Elysees who won the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. He also won a brace of Group 2s, namely the Grand Prix de Chantilly and Prix Maurice de Nieuil and served 120 Flat and National Hunt mares in his debut book.

“He got some nice Flat mares,” says Coolagown’s Davey Stack. “I shared some pictures of the Way To Paris filly out of Missandei bred by Lianne DelaunoisVanderperren running around the field at 24 hours old and we got ten mares sent to us on the back of that. He marks his stock very well, nearly everything he’s got is bay and they’re well marked foals with good

“What has been striking about Far Above’s foals so far has been their size” physicals. They have very good attitudes and they’ve inherited their father’s step.

We’ve already covered the dam of Trip To Paris this year and Liskennett, who was second in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.”

Joe Foley’s Ballyhane Stud welcomed Sands Of Mali for 2021 after a racing career that was capped by victory in the Group 1 Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes, having also won the prestigious Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at two.

Sands Of Mali certainly has the looks to match his high-class race record, which is backed up by an outcross pedigree, being a son of the Mr Prospector-line stallion Panis. Those attributes, allied to

48

THE OWNER BREEDER

GEORGE SELWYN

›› likes of Dark Angel and El Kabeir at

Rumble Inthejungle: Molecomb Stakes winner stands at Norman Court Stud

an introductory fee of €6,500, made Sands Of Mali a sound commercial option, and his first foals come from a book containing 152 mares.

Ballyhane’s leading light is undoubtedly Dandy Man, and one of his top flight-winning offspring joined the Irish stallion ranks last year in River Boyne, who won the Grade 1 Frank E Kilroe Mile Stakes at Santa Anita before beginning his stallion career at Derek Iceton’s Tara Stud in County Meath.

The Irish ranks also welcomed two sons of Farhh for 2021, including Palace House Stakes winner Far Above, who, at a fee of €5,000, has proved particularly popular at Starfield Stud. The powerful physical specimen is standing under the banner of Bloodstock.Racing, whose principal Jack Cantillon offered a positive bulletin on Far Above’s first foals.

“He covered 142 mares in his first season and we were overwhelmed by the support,” he says. “We have some wonderful breeding right holders, people like Tally-Ho, Con Marnane and David Lowe, people who understand fast horses.

“What has been striking about his foals so far has been their size. We would historically at Tinnakill put a lot of emphasis on size in terms of later quality.

State Of Rest was a very big foal at birth, as was Stellar Mass, who was third in the Irish Derby, so we were very struck by having the biggest foal we’ve ever had since our records began, which was a colt foal by Far Above out of Seracina at 72kg.

“If I had to pick one who I think could be Far Above’s first winner I think it’s the foal out of Centime. He’s beautifully bred and has so much quality.”

Far Above was not the only important addition to the Starfield Stud roster last year, as St Leger hero Galileo Chrome also began his second career at the County Westmeath operation. The Group 1-winning son of Australia caught the eye of Flat and National Hunt breeders alike and duly covered a six-figure debut book.

The other son of Farhh who retired in 2021 was Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes scorer King Of Change, who also finished runner-up to Magna Grecia in the 2,000 Guineas. He joined the team at Derrinstown Stud at a fee of €7,000 and attracted a book of 70 mares.

No operation welcomed more newcomers in 2021 than LM Stallions, which operates out of March Hare Stud.

Legends Of War, a son of Scat Daddy who topped the 2018 Craven Breeze-Up Sale at 900,000gns, headed the roster at £5,000, having finished runner-up in the Gimcrack Stakes and winning a Kentucky Downs Grade 3.

Legends Of War was joined by Windsor Castle Stakes winner Southern Hills, a son of Gleneagles who covered his debut book at £3,000, Tip Two Win, a son of Dark Angel best remembered for his runner-up effort in Saxon Warrior’s 2,000 Guineas, and Teofilo’s son Diplomat, a dual Group 2 winner in Germany who also struck over hurdles at Auteuil. Diplomat was introduced at a fee of £2,000.

LM Stallions was not the only operation to recruit the services of one of Gleneagles’ sons in 2021, as Royal Lytham, winner of the Group 2 July Stakes and placed in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes, took up a berth at Irish Emerald Stud at a fee of €4,000.

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OWNER/BREEDER 17/2/20.indd 1

17/02/2020 12:40

NOW RECRUITING Director of Stud Operations Job Title: Director of Stud Operations Based at: The National Stud, Newmarket Contract type: Permanent We have a fantastic opportunity for a Director of Stud Operations to join the leadership team at The National Stud. This is a pivotal leadership role overseeing the efficient running of day-to-day stud operations, proactively maintaining and developing client relationships & role modelling exceptional people management.

The Director of Stud Operations will lead and grow the stallion roster, the sales consignment business and seasonal boarding. The role will develop a positive and thriving working environment embedding the culture, vison and mission for The National Stud and maintaining the highest standards of people & equine welfare.

About you The successful candidate in this role will be a proven people manager and an excellent communicator with a record of leading teams to achieve business goals.

You will have extensive experience of handling horses and a broad network established from a career in the thoroughbred industry (including stallion management, foaling, sales preparation and business development).

About us The National Stud has been an integral part of the British Thoroughbred industry for over 100 years. Alongside our breeding services we also offer a comprehensive education programme for stud staff and public tours through our partner Discover Newmarket.

Our objectives are simple: • To provide a first class range of services to international and domestic thoroughbred breeders • To provide a full range of education opportunities for those wishing to work or working in the industry • Raise interest and knowledge in the thoroughbred industry with our public tours

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We would really like to hear from you – Please follow the below link to apply. https://careers.thejockeyclub.co.uk/

Breeders’ Digest

Nancy Sexton Bloodstock Editor

Innovative Goffs Dubai Sale catches the imagination

GOFFS

N

ever afraid to think outside the box, Goffs’ decision to break new ground by hosting a breeze-up sale in Dubai in association with the Dubai Racing Club (DRC) in late March was well rewarded.

It was an ambitious plan, one that required the shipment of 69 two-yearolds from Britain and Ireland out to Dubai. Naturally, not every aspect to it was plain sailing but you can guarantee that any issues that came to light have been recognised, with the necessary tweaks in line to be made ahead of next year’s sale.

However, for a first sale of its kind, the end result represented an excellent foundation from which to build upon.

The Middle East, fuelled by an expanding race programme, are an increasingly powerful presence within the breezeup sector, and in the words of one consignor, the Goffs Dubai Sale provided the opportunity for them to “bring the horses to the buyers for a change.”

The sale is covered in greater depth in Sales Circuit but to recap, 54 of the 69 horses offered sold for a total of €8,374,539 and an average of €155,084.

A Curlin colt sold by Tom Whitehead’s Powerstown Stud, who had been a $150,000 yearling pinhook, topped the sale on a bid of AED2,500,000 (€619,808) to Mohd Al Subousi.

Not every transaction was knocked down as a sale in the ring but this was where Goffs deserve plenty of credit, notably its Dubai Sale co-ordinator Tom Taaffe, who worked extremely hard in the days afterwards to assist consignors in moving on horses privately. As a result, only a handful returned unsold.

“Henry Beeby [Goffs CEO] and I had a meeting with the DRC after the Dubai World Cup,” says Taaffe. “His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Rashid bin Dalmook Al Maktoum [Chairman of the DRC] were very pleased with the sale and how it went. They were very supportive and they are looking forward to holding it again.

“We have had very good feedback from vendors and purchasers. A lot of effort was put into it – I can’t thank the vision of Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Rashid enough – and it was good to see it pay off. It was very important for us to

Two-year-olds were asked to turn in a gentle two-furlong breeze ahead of the sale

get it right.”

While Middle Eastern interest underpinned the sale as anticipated, Japanese buyers made their presence felt, notably Hirokazu Okada and Big Red Farm, who signed at the equivalent of €520,638 for a Frankel colt out of Noyelles. Several horses are also coming back to Europe to race.

“There was a great appetite among the buyers and I think it will be stronger again next year,” says Taaffe. “When these horses start to run and win, then the confidence will be there.

“As it was, about five were sold to US buyers and 12 have come back to race in Europe. A good number were also sold to run in Saudi Arabia.”

In contrast to various other breezeup sales worldwide, two-year-olds were asked to do no more than a gentle two-furlong breeze, allowing them to be judged for their movement rather than by the clock. Taaffe says the idea of turning in a swinging canter was “well received by purchasers and consignors alike”; after all, those that stayed in the Middle East won’t be running until around October time at the earliest and so will have to be let down as they acclimatise.

What did come to light was the Middle Eastern affinity for the American horse, particularly a big two-turn dirtbred colt. Of the 17 horses to realise the equivalent of €150,000 or more,

11 had been sourced in America led by the sale-topping son of Curlin. His vendor, Powerstown Stud, also hit gold with a first-crop son of Coolmore’s Mo Town, whose valuation blossomed from $110,000 as a yearling to approximately €500,000 in Dubai.

“A certain type of horse suited it better,” says Taaffe. “With that in mind I think next year we’ll be looking at a catalogue 75% dirt-bred horses. But it’s changing all the time. I’m very aware of what is happening with the racing programme in the Middle East – it is expanding and evolving, and with that there are going to be more turf races.

They’re making great strides in that department.”

The breeze-up community is currently riding the crest of a wave thanks to the achievements of champion two-yearold Native Trail, who made an excellent winning return in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket. His win came hot on the heels of that from fellow Craven Breezeup graduate Cachet in the Nell Gwyn Stakes and in the same week that dual Group 1 winner Perfect Power, sold at last year’s Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale in Doncaster, furthered his Classic claims with a victory in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury. Now with the Dubai Sale to aid vendors, the opportunity is there to further consolidate the strengths of the product on the Middle Eastern stage as well.

THE OWNER BREEDER

51

Sales Circuit • By Carl Evans

Sound start to European breeze-up sales season Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale

TATTERSALLS

Europe’s breeze-up season made a sound start when Tattersalls staged its annual two-day Craven auction in Newmarket.

Surfing the wave of good publicity which emanated from European champion two-year-old Native Trail, who had been sold at the event for 210,000gns in 2021, the auction drew buyers from around the world and resulted in some heady pinhooks and six-figure sales.

There were losses on some horses, and the clearance rate dropped from a curiously-high 88% last year to 77%, but all the other key indicators went in an upward direction.

Turnover rose 15% to a figure just shy of 12 million guineas, the average gained

TATTERSALLS

This homebred son of Kodiac from Tally-Ho Stud topped the Tattersalls Craven Sale

Roger, Tony and Henry O’Callaghan of Tally-Ho Stud enjoyed an exceptional sale

35% at just under 116,000gns, while the median rose 30 per cent to 90,000gns, figures which put the event on a footing comparable to its position pre-Covid.

Tony and Anne O’Callaghan’s Tally-Ho Stud walked away with star-pupil honours, heading consignors by selling eight lots for 1,787,000gns, and enjoying the kudos of trading the top colt and filly, who were both offspring of resident sire Kodiac.

Shropshire trainer David Loughnane, teaming up with “a new syndicate”

TALKING POINTS • Research by freelance writer James Thomas revealed some interesting insights to the plusses and minuses for consignors at this sale.

Writing in the Racing Post he stated that 56% of pinhooks were sold for a profit, or slightly more than one in two horses. That emphasises the fine line which breezeup pinhookers walk.

His figures said 19% of pinhooked horses made a loss, while a quarter were unsold. Thomas will be forgiven if he does not track the unsold lots to find out how they progress over the next year or two, but it would be interesting for the rest of us if he did.

• Good contacts are useful in all industries, but probably essential in the volatile world of bloodstock trading, a point worth bearing in mind by novices.

They may be ambitious to leap into a pond that can reap huge rewards, but are advised to stay close to seasoned

52

THE OWNER BREEDER

called Omnihorse, bought the headline colt for 525,000gns, while Amo Racing and Partners brought down the hammer for the filly with a bid of 460,000gns.

Amo Racing’s Kia Joorabchian, whose racing investments have been funded through his career as a football agent, is listed as a director of Omnihorse.

Newmarket trainer Joseph Parr has found an important new patron at his yard, one prepared to invest 425,000gns in a War Front colt who exited Norman Williamson’s care when

campaigners for as long as possible before striking out on their own.

An example could be gleaned from the sale of a son of War Front who was knocked down to agent Ted Durcan for 425,000gns. Norman Williamson, a brilliant jump jockey in his day and now a long-established consignor of embryonic Flat horses at yearling and breeze-up auctions, sold the horse having bought him privately in America last autumn.

Williamson may not have spotted or sourced his lucky lot without a tip-off from another industry player, Avenue Bloodstock’s Mark McStay, who noted the colt had failed to sell at the Keeneland September Sale and knew Williamson had enjoyed a good pinhook with War Of Will, another son of War Front now standing at Claiborne Farm.

The wheels were put in motion, the War Front was viewed at the farm, a deal was struck and the result was another Craven windfall for Williamson (and partners).

TATTERSALLS

knocked down to agent Ted Durcan, while a late entry for a filly from the first European crop of Zoustar resulted in a 400,000gns sale for Robson Aguiar.

The buyer was Peter and Ross Doyle Bloodstock in partnership with the aforementioned Omnihorse.

The Doyles were key buyers throughout, their 11 purchases with various partners adding just over 1.8 million guineas to turnover, although top-buyer honours went to Dubai trainer Satish Seemar, who bought four horses for 750,000gns. He said two-year-old racing in Dubai was on the up, and added that Native Trail’s success for Godolphin after being bought as a breezer had fuelled his interest in

TATTERSALLS

David Loughnane: signed at 525,000gns for the sale-topper with Omnihorse

Tally-Ho Stud also sold the most expensive filly, a 460,000gns daughter of Kodiac

attending the sale.

Native Trail showed he was not just a precocious juvenile by winning his three-year-old debut, the Craven Stakes, a few hours before the sale’s second session, confirming his place as favourite for the 2,000 Guineas. Still unbeaten after five races, he became the first winner of the Tattersalls Craven Group One Bonus, a £125,000 prize

introduced last year and given to the first graduate of the sale to land a Group 1 race.

Tattersalls are hoping for a repeat this year, and also for a graduate of this sale to win one of the half-dozen two-year-old races at Royal Ascot for which there is an identical bonus, one that slipped through the net in its inaugural season.

Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale Top lots Sex/breeding

Vendor

Price (gns)

Buyer

C Kodiac - No Lippy

Tally-Ho Stud

525,000

David Loughnane/Omnihorse

F Kodiac – Yajala

Tally-Ho Stud

460,000

Amo Racing and Partners

C War Front - Pine Needles

Oak Tree Farm

425,000

Durcan Bloodstock

F Zoustar - Saccharose

Aguiar Bloodstock Ltd.

400,000

Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock/Omnihorse

C Sioux Nation - Thames Pageant

Mocklershill

380,000

Stroud Coleman Bloodstock

C Oasis Dream – Queimada

Brown Island Stables

310,000

Godolphin

F Mehmas - Soft Power

Tally-Ho Stud

300,000

Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock

C Kingman – Fate

Longways Stables

300,000

Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock/Omnihorse

F Zoustar – Cordial

Gaybrook Lodge Stud

270,000

Stetchworth and Middle Park Studs

C American Pharoah – Circulation

Lynn Lodge Stud

260,000

Najd Stud/Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock

Figures Year

Sold

Aggregate (gns)

Average (gns)

Median (gns)

Top price (gns)

2022

103

11,939,500

115,917

90,000

525,000

2021

121

10,408,500

86,021

68,000

360,000

2020

70

6,649,500

94,993

61,000

575,000

THE OWNER BREEDER

53

››

Sales Circuit

Vendors Tom Whitehead and Johnny Collins both enjoyed good sales

Pinhooked for $150,000, this Curlin colt resold for approximately €620,000 to top the sale

Whitehead of County Kilkenny’s Powerstown Stud for $150,000 at the Keeneland September Sale. Whitehead would have incurred more than one shipping bill during the time the colt was under his care, but those costs would have been comfortably absorbed when he sold for AED2.5 million (about €620,000). The buyer was Mohammed Al Subousi, who would have been aware that the colt’s sire had won the 2008 Dubai World Cup. Bloodstock agent Ross Doyle was among overseas buyers in attendance, and it was his bid of AED2 million (just under €500,000) which gained a son of Kingman offered by Robson Aguiar. The vendor had joined forces with Amo Racing’s Kia Joorabchian when buying the colt for 110,000gns at Book 1 of last year’s October Sale.

Doyle said training plans were undecided, but the sale’s busiest buyer, Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland, secured six lots for Middle Eastern clients who he said would keep their purchases in the Emirates. Donohoe was another fan of the breeze’s easy nature, saying it was a good way of enabling horses to

showcase their action.

Turnover reached a figure that was the equivalent of €8,374,539, the average achieved a mark of €155,084 while the median reached €100,000. Of 69 horses on offer, 54 (including private sales) were sold at a rate of 78%.

Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said it had been a privilege for his company to orchestrate the auction and he saluted “the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed in adding the sale to his amazing weekend of racing”. It seems the sale is likely to be held again in 2023.

GOFFS

GOFFS

This innovative breeze-up sale produced some fine pinhooks and praise from vendors and overseas buyers who gave high marks for hospitality and organisation.

It had been put together by the Dubai Racing Club and Goffs, and involved a ‘relaxed breeze’ in which horses were able to show their paces on Meydan’s Tapeta surface without the gun – or the clock – being put to their heads. That would certainly have suited some lots, one example being a colt by Frankel who sold for AED2.1 million (about €520,000) to Japan’s Big Red Farm and Hirokazu Okada after being consigned by John Cullinan and Roger Marley of Church Farm and Horse Park Stud. Cullinan said: “You wouldn’t be bringing a Frankel to an early-season breeze-up sale, but this was slightly different. This horse was never going to be a two-furlong rocket.”

Bred by Nick and Alice Nugent out of the mare Noyelles, the Frankel was sold by his breeders for €360,000 as a foal and then resold by Oneliner Stables to Dermot Farrington for 300,000gns as a yearling.

Trade was headed by a son of Curlin who had been pinhooked by Tom

GOFFS

Goffs Dubai World Cup 2yo Sale

The inaugural Goffs Dubai Sale was held with Sheikh Mohammed in attendance

Goffs Dubai World Cup 2yo Sale Top lots Sex/breeding

Vendor

Price (€)

Buyer

C Curlin - Saucy Dame

Powerstown Stud

619,808

Mohd Al Subousi

C Frankel – Noyelles

Church Farm & Horse Park Stud

520,638

Hirokazu Okada/Big Red Farm

C Kingman – Raskutani

Aguiar Bloodstock Ltd

495,846

Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock

C Mo Town - Tizza Trick

Powerstown Stud

495,088

Prince Fasil Khalid bin Abdul Aziz

F Into Mischief – Ageless

MC Thoroughbreds

396,677

Fitri Hay/Alex Cole

Figures Year

Sold

Aggregate (€)

Average (€)

Median (€)

Top price (€)

2022

54

8,374,539

155,084

99,585

619,808

54

THE OWNER BREEDER

Goffs UK Aintree Sale

At a sale dominated by four-year-old Irish point-to-pointers, a racemare took centre stage even though she did not make the top price.

Put The Kettle On, an eight-year-old who won the Grade 1 Arkle Trophy Chase and Grade 1 Queen Mother Champion Chase in successive years for Henry de Bromhead’s stable, would have been a standout lot at any auction of jumping stock, but as a banner name for this event – which was being restarted after a break since 2019 due to Covid – she was priceless. The sale would have been a success without her – it recorded record turnover and average-price figures – but it was richer for her presence.

In a fillip for British jumps breeding, the daughter of Stowaway was bought by racehorse owner and breeder Simon Davies, who stands the stallions Bangkok, Planteur and Waltzertakt at Chapel Stud in Worcestershire. Working alongside Anthony Bromley of Highflyer Bloodstock, Davies gained Put The Kettle On with a bid of £380,000 and then said she would be covered by Planteur, whose six-year-old son Trueshan, Europe’s leading stayer on the Flat, had made a winning seasonal debut in a Listed race at Nottingham the previous day.

Of the 31 horses who walked the ring – aka Aintree’s winner’s enclosure – 27 found a buyer, generating an aggregate of

GOFFS UK

››

Gordon Elliott will take charge of Croke Park, purchased for £400,000

TALKING POINT • Just one British point-to-pointer was entered for this sale, a disappointment given that the event falls at an ideal time in the season.

The singleton who did make the line-up, No Questions Asked, failed to change hands in the ring but was bought

by Ben Pauling for £50,000 in a private sale. That was a good result for vendors Tom and Gina Ellis, who had bought the four-year-old one year earlier for €16,000 and then trained him to win a point-to-point on debut. They had teamed up to win the Randox Foxhunters’ Chase a few hours before the sale with Latenightpass, owned and bred by Ellis’s mother Pippa and ridden by Gina.

Why this was the sole British representative at the sale, when three to five would have been expected, is difficult to fathom. Although the overall number of British pointers is down – Covid has had a notable impact in causing disruptions to fixtures for the past two seasons – the number of four-year-old pointers is holding steady.

Relatively dry weather and quick ground may have played a part in the lack of British representation at this sale, or maybe it was just unfortunate luck for Goffs UK? Two weeks later, following a flurry of action on the pointto-point circuit, the Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale had gained entries from at least nine British pointers.

THE OWNER BREEDER

55

Sales Circuit the event and 14% up on the sum achieved in 2019. Thirteen horses sold for a six-figure fee, lifting the average price six per cent to a new mark of £135,407.

The median was down 10% at £95,000, while the clearance rate was 87%.

Four-year-old Irish point-to-point winner Croke Park headed trade when selling for £400,000 to trainer Gordon Elliott on behalf of an undisclosed client. County Wexford’s Denis Murphy, who had saddled the son of Walk In The Park to win a maiden race five days before his ring appearance, had splashed out €150,000 when buying the gelding as a store, but his boldness was amply rewarded. He’s My Hero and Helnwein, who finished second and third to Croke Park, were sold for

GOFFS UK

›› £3,656,000, which was a new high for

Simon Davies (right) and Anthony Bromley came out on top for Put The Kettle On

£120,000 and £70,000 respectively.

County Westmeath trainer Ciaran Murphy enjoyed a good result when offering Deep Cave, who he had trained

to win a point-to-point for breeder Susan Allen. She had offered the son of Court Cave at the Derby Sale, but when he failed to change hands she put him into training.

This proved a sound decision when he raced to an emphatic win on debut and was then sold for £235,000 to Henry de Bromhead at this sale. It seemed like the perfect precursor to a first Grand National bid for Murphy, who was due to saddle Enjoy D’Allen in the big race two days later. The eight-yearold had been bought by JP McManus ahead of the race and as a 20-1 shot went into it with a sound chance.

It seems Murphy’s luck had peaked in the sale ring, however, for Enjoy D’Allen stumbled and unseated Conor Orr at the first fence.

Goffs UK Aintree Sale Top lots Name/age/sex/breeding

Vendor

Price (£)

Buyer

Croke Park 4 g Walk In The Park – Toledana

Ballyboy Stables

400,000

Gordon Elliott Racing

Put The Kettle On 8 m Stowaway - Name For Fame

Knockeen Racing

380,000

Highflyer Bloodstock

Deep Cave 4 g Court Cave - Lady Knightess

Charlestown Racing

235,000

Henry de Bromhead

Encanto Bruno 4 g Mahler – Stratosphere

Yellowford Racing

210,000

John McConnell Racing

Act Of Authority 4 g Authorized - Leah Claire

Coolmeen Stables

200,000

Alex Elliott, agent

Fancy Girl 4 f Champs Elysees - Chase The Favorite

Monbeg Stables

200,000

H Kirk/ WP Mullins

Classic Anthem 4 g Affinisea - Clohass Lane

Rob James Racing

200,000

Peter & Ross Doyle/Tizzard

Cato Capone 4 g Notnowcato - Cap The Rose

Monbeg Stables

180,000

Gordon Elliott Racing

Winchmore Hill 5 g Walk In The Park - Hats And Heels

Coolmeen Stables

150,000

Donald McCain

Magical Zoe 4 f Shantou – Fedaia

Old Leighlin Stables

140,000

Alex Elliott, agent

Figures Year

Sold

Aggregate (£)

Average (£)

Median (£)

Top price (£)

2022

27

3,656,000

135,407

95,000

400,000

2019

25

3,198,000

127,920

105,000

440,000

2018

21

2,417,000

115,095

100,000

325,000

2017

17

1,720,000

101,176

90,000

300,000

2020 - 2021: No sale

Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale

Boom time in Australian racing and bloodstock sales showed no signs of pulling up when the country’s premier auction of yearlings took place at Riverside Stables in Western Sydney.

Smashing records for any auction held by Inglis in its 117-year history, the two-day event turned over slightly more than Aus$151 million (£86,554,399) at an average of

56

THE OWNER BREEDER

Aus$400,274 (£226,582) and a median of Aus$300,000 (£129,000). The aggregate figure narrowly eclipsed the Aus$150m achieved at the 2008 edition of the sale when a spending spree by Darley and the Ingham family – who had just sold their Woodlands empire to Sheikh Mohammed – and a much larger catalogue created figures that some thought would stand for decades.

Inglis Bloodstock Chief Executive Sebastian Hutch described trade in

2022 as “unprecedented” and “hard to comprehend”.

While the successful syndication of racehorses have brought many new southern hemisphere faces into the world of ownership and helped to drive buoyancy in the Australian market, smaller but very wealthy partnerships hunting for stallion prospects lay behind many of the 40 seven-figure sales which the auction produced.

With Tom Magnier of Coolmore Stud

Tom Magnier, pictured with son Charlie, spent a total of Aus$10.3 million

entered stud.

She has repaid them handsomely, for her six yearlings to have been offered at auction subsequently have turned over Aus$5.7m (about £3.3m).

Magnier also signed for the secondhighest priced horse on the top-ten board, a son of resident sire Snitzel, whose sale for Aus$2,250,000 contributed handsomely to Arrowfield Stud’s Aus$30m turnover from sales of 59 yearlings.

That gave John Messara’s New South Wales-based farm leading consignor honours, ahead of Coolmore and Widden Stud, which both turned over more than Aus$10m worth of sales.

INGLIS

A son of Tweenhills shuttler Zoustar was the star of the Inglis Easter Sale at Aus$3 million

INGLIS

spearheading a team which included Sir Peter Vela and trainer Chris Waller, the sale’s top lot, a colt by Zoustar, was created with a valuation of Aus$3m (about £1.7m). That made him the joint-third-highest priced yearling sold in the southern hemisphere behind colts by Redoute’s Choice and Fastnet Rock who sold for Aus$5m and Aus$4m at the 2013 Easter Sale.

Magnier said the aim was, as always, to source potential stallions, and since the sale-topper was a full-brother to the top-class sprinter Sunlight (who Coolmore now own), he had a page to go with his looks.

The result was celebrated by vendor Antony Thompson of Widden Stud, who said: “We are just flabbergasted.”

Thompson and Qatar Racing had bought the yearling’s dam, Solar Charged, for Aus$650,000 (£368,000) in 2014 to support Zoustar when he

The leading buyer was Magnier, whose six purchases added Aus$10.3m to the event’s coffers.

Other names who will have been familiar to European sales observers included Godolphin Australia, which bought two horses for Aus$680,000, Badgers Bloodstock, buying two for Aus$400,000, and David Redvers Bloodstock, which joined two partnerships that between them purchased eight yearlings for almost Aus$4.1m.

China Horse Club, Hong Kong Jockey Club and Japan’s Katsumi Yoshida were other leading international buyers who made a mark.

Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale Top lots Sex/breeding

Vendor

Price (A$)

Buyer

C Zoustar - Solar Charged

Widden Stud

3,000,000

Tom Magnier

C Snitzel - Response

Arrowfield Stud

2,250,000

Tom Magnier

F Snitzel - Silent Sedition

Arrowfield Stud

2,200,000

Hawkes Racing

F I Am Invincible – Pinocchio

Tyreel Stud

2,000,000

The Yellow Brick Road Company/Mitchell Bloodstock

F I Am Invincible - Ruud Awakening

Newgate Farm

1,700,000

James Harron Bloodstock

F Dundeel - Stay With Me

Arrowfield Stud

1,700,000

Hawkes Racing

Figures Year

Sold

Aggregate (A$)

Average (A$)

Median (A$)

Top price (A$)

2022

382

152,905,000

400,275

300,000

3,000,000

2021

365

134,665,000

368,945

280,000

2,500,000

2020

236

72,260,500

306,189

250,000

1,800,000

THE OWNER BREEDER

57

››

Sales Circuit

FASIG-TIPTON

Two million-dollar lots and a steady median may have resulted in some positive headlines, but this is also a sale that Fasig-Tipton will likely be taking a good look at, writes Nancy Sexton.

It boasts a long reputation as a select sale of two-year-olds in training but never has the word ‘boutique’ been so applicable in its history than with the 2022 edition, which consisted of a catalogue of just 103 horses. The attrition rate at American breeze-ups also tends to be high and so by the time the sale rolled around, just 52 were slated to take their turn under the hammer in the Gulfstream Park paddock. Three hours later and 35 had sold for a total of $13,155,000, a fair drop from last year when approximately $25 million was turned over on the sale of 67 horses.

Spendthrift Farm came away with three of the top ten lots including the sale-topper, a purchase that underlined its belief in its resident young stallion Bolt d’Oro. The Grade 1-winning son of

Jamie McCalmont: signed at $1.1 million for a son of Justify on behalf of MV Magnier

FASIG-TIPTON

Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale

Young sire Bolt d’Oro received a vote of confidence in the sale of this filly for $1.2 million

Medaglia d’Oro has been extremely popular throughout his stud career to date and won further admirers last year with a smart group of first yearlings that averaged just over $100,000.

Tom McCrocklin’s filly out of Rich Love added further to his lustre. A granddaughter of multiple stakes winner Richetta, she had turned heads during the sale’s under tack show when zipping a quarter-mile in :20 2/5 seconds and she duly became the star attraction, falling to Spendthrift Farm on a $1.2m bid.

The filly was consigned by McCrocklin on behalf of her breeder Solana Beach Sales, the pinhooking division of Little Red Feather Racing. Originally bred on a foal share, she had been sold for $80,000 as a weanling at Keeneland in November 2020 but bought back by Solana Beach for $85,000 at last year’s Keeneland September Sale.

Expectations are also understandably running high for the prospects of the

Coolmore-based American Triple Crown winner Justify and there was an encouraging glimmer into his potential as a sire through the sale of a halfbrother to Belmont Stakes winner Tapwrit for $1.1m to Jamie McCalmont.

The agent was acting on behalf of MV Magnier for the colt, who had been bred

by Barronstown Stud out of Appealing Zophie and bought back for $290,000 as a yearling.

It will be interesting to see what direction – if any – Fasig-Tipton takes with this sale going forward. Host of the $16m sale of The Green Monkey back in 2006, when staged at Calder, it remains relevant to the American racing scene as one of only a few two-year-olds in training sales to be staged on dirt. By comparison, market rival Ocala Breeders’ Sales stages its breezes on Tapeta and by the end of April had already hosted the sale of over 1,000 two-year-olds.

Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale Top lots Sex/breeding

Vendor

Price ($)

Buyer

F Bolt d’Oro - Rich Love

Tom McCrocklin, agent

1,200,000

Spendthrift Farm LLC

C Justify - Appealing Zophie

Wavertree Stables Inc

1,100,000

Jamie McCalmont, agent

C Medaglia d’Oro - Baffled

Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds

900,000

West Point & Lane’s End

C Uncle Mo - Lady Tapit

Tom McCrocklin, agent

800,000

Spendthrift Farm LLC

C Runhappy - Sue’s Good News

Niall Brennan Stables, agent

700,000

Donato Lanni, agent

C Nyquist - Soul Crusader

Classic Bloodstock, agent

700,000

Gary Young, agent

Figures Year

Sold

Aggregate ($)

Average ($)

Median ($)

Top price ($)

2022

35

13,155,000

375,857

300,000

1,200,000

2021

67

25,360,000

378,507

300,000

2,600,000

2020 No sale

58

THE OWNER BREEDER

The source of last year’s Group 1 winners Native Trail, Perfect Power, Trueshan...

...who will you find at this year’s Breeze Up Arqana May

Tattersalls Goresbridge

12-13th May

18-19th May

“The Dewhurst - Middle Park Stakes double [ won by Native Trail and Perfect Power] represent a hugely significant moment for this sales medium and proves beyond all doubt that top-class racehorses are available to be bought at these sales” - John Boyce, The Owner Breeder

Perfect Power

Native Trail

DURABILITY

sales?

VALUE

UBETTABLEIEVEIT KODIAC - LADYLISHANDRA (MUJADIL)

NEW FOR 2022

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

Trueshan

SUCCESS

www.br zups.com

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

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

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

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

THE OWNER BREEDER

59

Caulfield Files

have long been convinced that not every so-called veterinary advance has been in the long-term interests of the breed – and figures published by the American Jockey Club would appear to confirm that the thoroughbred is not as durable as it used to be.

In the figures listed in five-year increments between 1950 and 1975, the average American racehorse made more than ten starts per year, with a top figure of 11.31. Since then, though, there has been a steady decline in the average and it has never been as high as seven starts since 2001. The emergence of Covid probably makes it unfair to read too much into the figures for 2020 and 2021, but they respectively stood at 5.26 and 5.95.

Of course, to achieve an average of more than 11, a lot of horses will have had to race a considerable number of times to balance the handful of starts made by unsound horses or late-developing juveniles. The 2006 edition of The American Racing Manual details 29 “Great Horses of the 20th Century.” Some of the 29 are geldings, including such beloved individuals as Exterminator, John Henry, Kelso and Forego, veterans respectively of 100, 83, 63 and 57 races, and there are some tough-as-teak mares on the list too, such as Lady’s Secret and Shuvee, both of whom started more than 40 times.

Inevitably the list also includes several of America’s Triple Crown winners, but not all. It seems remarkable to modern eyes that several of these outstanding three-year-olds had been thoroughly tested at two, with 1941 winner Whirlaway packing 16 of his 60 career starts into his juvenile career, while 15 of Count Fleet’s 21 starts were made at the age of two. Four of the next five Triple Crown winners – Assault, Citation, Secretariat and Affirmed – all raced nine times as juveniles and somewhere between 11 and 20 times at three. By the time they lined up for the Kentucky Derby, Whirlaway had raced 23 times, Count Fleet 17 times, Citation 16, Secretariat 12 and Affirmed 13.

Quite a few accomplished colts missed out on completing the Triple Crown after their successes in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Among the most notable were Northern Dancer, who had

60

THE OWNER BREEDER

GEORGE SELWYN

Medication reliance playing out in diminished durability I

Arcangues: shock win in 1993 Breeders’ Cup Classic without the help of Lasix and Bute

raced 14 times prior to the Kentucky Derby, even though he was still 25 days short of his actual third birthday when he landed the Derby. Spectacular Bid also lined up at Churchill Downs as a veteran of 14 starts, whereas the 1987 winner Alysheba had raced ten times before the Derby. And while Hail To Reason didn’t last long enough to contest the Triple Crown, this champion two-year-old was tough enough to compete 18 times as a juvenile in 1960. Even he could be said to have had things cushy in comparison to the astonishing Seabiscuit, who made 35 starts as a two-year-old in 1935, starting on January 19 and ending on November 11.

So how does this compare with subsequent generations? Needless to say, there was a very long interval of more than 30 years after Affirmed’s achievement before America saw another Triple Crown winner and then two came along in the space of four years. The first, American Pharoah, had raced just five times prior to his first Classic victory but proceeded to prove his soundness, retiring as an eight-time Grade 1 winner.

The second, Justify, had made just three starts, never having raced at two, and wasn’t seen again after his Triple Crown triumphs.

Of other recent winners, California Chrome had raced ten times, Orb and Nyquist seven times, Super Saver six times, I’ll Have Another and Always

Dreaming five times and Animal Kingdom four times. These are respectable totals, fuelled by the fact that connections of Kentucky Derby hopefuls are effectively forced to race their candidates if they are to secure enough points to make the final line-up.

I find it hard to pinpoint exactly when American trainers became so reliant on the use of raceday medication. Medication hasn’t always been included in the various race charts and it would be naive to think that widespread use of raceday drugs suddenly happened. However, the chart for Strike The Gold’s victory in 1991 shows that eight of the 16 runners were treated with Lasix (furosemide) and that 15 of the 16 were racing on the anti-inflammatory Butazolidin (phenylbutazone).

Bute had been in widespread use well before 1991, as the 1968 Kentucky Derby winner Dancer’s Image was disqualified after traces of the drug were found in his post-race test. The drug hadn’t been approved by Churchill Downs at that time, but was legal on most racetracks.

Fortunately, it was eventually recognised that racing on Bute represented a threat to both horse and rider.

The chart for Lil E. Tee’s 1992 Kentucky Derby victory shows only six of the 18 runners on Lasix, but 16 of the 18 on Bute.

Mention of Bute seems to have disappeared from the Equibase charts soon afterwards but the winner Go For

Gin was one of only four horses not on Lasix in a 14-horse field for the 1994 Kentucky Derby. By 2005, 18 of the 20 runners were on Lasix.

I also rooted through old issues of the Blood-Horse’s Breeders’ Cup review. The 1991 Classic at Churchill featured 11 runners, of which seven were on Lasix and nine were on Bute. The first three finishers – Black Tie Affair, Twilight Agenda and Unbridled – were all on both medications.

There was no mention of Bute on the 1992 chart, but the 1993 Classic at Santa Anita had eight of the 13 runners on Bute but only five on Lasix. The French-trained winner Arcangues was on neither.

If the 1994 chart is to be believed, only six of the 14 runners were on Lasix, but they filled the first six places.

Understandably, ten of the 11 contenders for the next year’s Classic were on Lasix.

Bute was mentioned in 1997, when the action returned to California. This time all nine runners were on Lasix and seven were also on Bute. By now raceday Lasix was very much the norm rather than the exception. Bute was again in evidence when the Cup reverted to Santa Anita in 2003, with all ten runners in the Classic being doubly medicated.

“It would be naive to think that the use of drugs suddenly happened” Interestingly, the review of the 2007 Classic, which Curlin won decisively from Hard Spun, commented that “Curlin and Hard Spun are rare individuals – throwbacks to a time when horses were tough and durable and thrived on racing,” but both were on Lasix.

Bearing in mind that racing on Lasix can result in significant weight loss, it isn’t surprising that trainers often felt the need to space out their runners’ races, which must have been a contributing factor to the fall in the number of starts being made by the average modern racehorse.

Change, though, is gradually coming.

Although every single runner in the 2020 Triple Crown events raced on Lasix, the hosts of the Triple Crown races subsequently phased out its use within 24 hours of a race. For the first time, the Breeders’ Cup also staged all 14 of its races in 2021 without any raceday

medication, having initiated the rule in its two-year-old races in 2020.

There have been other pioneers, including the Stronach Group and 2015’s champion sprinter Runhappy, campaigned without the use of drugs on the insistence of his owner. Anyone who listened to the defenders of drug use, such as Eric Hamelback of the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, could have been forgiven for thinking that the racing world would stop turning after the introduction of the drug-use reforms.

That doesn’t seem to have happened and the sport in general now seems to recognise that reforms are essential if American racing is to have a future.

So what is the situation with the 2022 Kentucky Derby? Following the running of the remaining trial – the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes – capable of altering the points table, there are 19 colts which have earned 40 or more points. It almost goes without saying that none of the 19 has come close to matching the sort of action-packed preparations of the old-timers. That said, I would be delighted to see contenders for the Epsom Derby accrue similar amounts of experience before their big day in June.

The least experienced of the Kentucky Derby top 20 include two sons of the admirably tough Gun Runner. One of them, Taiba, landed the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on only his second start, and the other, Early Voting, was beaten only a neck in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes on his third appearance. There’s also Charge It, a very well-connected Tapit colt, who was racing for only the third time when second to White Abarrio in the Grade 1 Florida Derby. At the other end of the scale, the versatile Tiz The Bomb, a winner on dirt, turf and all-weather, has raced eight times.

At this stage, one of the most exciting aspects of the 2022 Kentucky Derby field is that a pair of young stallions – Gun Runner and Not This Time – are responsible for several of the contenders.

In addition to Taiba and Early Voting, Gun Runner could be represented by Cyberknife, who had nearly three lengths to spare at the end of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby. These three rank among a tremendously impressive total of 11 black-type winners from a first crop of 127, alongside the champion two-year-old filly Echo Zulu and her fellow two-year-old Grade 1 winner Gunite and Grade 2 winners Pappacap and Wicked Halo.

That’s seven Graded winners so far and it isn’t difficult to envision Gun Runner developing into a champion sire.

Gun Runner was, of course, a

GEORGE SELWYN

Bloodstock world views

Gun Runner: future star sire?

champion on the track, notably landing the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Horse of the Year title as a four-year-old in 2017, as well as the richly-endowed Pegasus World Cup shortly before his retirement to stud.

With Candy Ride as his sire and a Giant’s Causeway mare as his dam, Gun Runner was bred to stay a mile-and-a-quarter and he is clearly passing on a good measure of his stamina, as well as his talent. He was tough, too, winning 12 of his 19 starts.

Not This Time’s racing career was much shorter, limited to four outings as a juvenile. This son of Giant’s Causeway created a very favourable impression when he took his second and third starts by wide margins – so favourable that he started favourite for a hot-looking edition of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Although he ran well in the Juvenile, failing by only a neck to wear down Classic Empire, he came out of the race with a soft-tissue injury which meant that he covered his first mares at three, instead of going down the Triple Crown trail.

Like so many young stallions, Not This Time suffered from diminishing demand in his early years, with 145 mares in his first season, 129 in his second and 87 in his third. However, his first two-year-olds included the Grade 1 winner Princess Noor and his second contains two of the most experienced contenders at Churchill Downs. Coincidentally, both these colts are out of daughters of Candy Ride, so their pedigrees contain the same elements as Gun Runner’s.

One of the colts, Epicenter, amassed the most Kentucky Derby points, thanks largely to his Grade 2 victories in the Risen Star Stakes and Louisiana Derby. The other, Simplification, was third in the Grade 1 Florida Derby after his success in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes. Not This Time could also have a third contender in Fountain of Youth runner-up In Due Time, who at the time of writing is number 22 on the leaderboard.

Let’s hope that they again show that raceday Lasix isn’t necessary, as most of the racing world recognises.

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Dr Statz

John Boyce cracks the code

Group 1 treble places So You Think into elite club

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GEORGE SELWYN

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ne of the pleasures of studying pedigrees is putting modern-day achievements into historical context. It’s essential from an empirical perspective but it also serves as a valuable and enjoyable history lesson. Two events that deserve to be acknowledged are the Group 1 Randwick treble by Coolmore’s Australian sire So You Think, plus the win of Eastern World in the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal at Meydan last month, thus providing his prodigious dam with her sixth stakes winner from as many foals.

Many of us will remember So You Think as a tall, imposing son of High Chaparral who enjoyed a stellar three- and four-yearold campaign in Australia before transferring to Aidan O’Brien for an equally impressive European stint. He won Australia’s premier weight-for-age contest, the W S Cox Plate, at both three and four and added victories in three other Group 1s in an eight-race series where he was beaten just twice, including on his final start when third in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup carrying joint-top weight.

So You Think hit the ground running the following year in Europe, posting successes in four of his initial five outings, the Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes among his haul of Group 1 victories. He then concluded his racing career the following season by winning Royal Ascot’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes en route to stud.

It’s safe to say there hasn’t been another Aussie middle-distance star – he was rated 133 in Australia – that has come to Europe and proved just as competent.

His feat of siring three Group 1 winners on a single day is not unique, but that doesn’t diminish the achievement in the slightest. Neither, might I say, does the fact that one of his Group 1 successes came in the Sydney Cup, a two-mile handicap where his seven-year-old son Knights Order won off a low weight for which he received a rating of 117. His other Group 1 scorers that day – Think It Over in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Nimalee in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes – were legitimate weight-for-age victories.

So You Think’s success as a sire has a demonstrably Australian hue to it, as his 34 stakes winners at a rate of 6.2% from runners might suggest, compared to a paltry four stakes winners from his three

So You Think achieved his feat at Randwick

northern hemisphere crops, headed of course by his Sydney Cup hero who started out here in the UK. So, what are the other sires that achieved this feat of siring three Group 1 winners on the same day? This century it has happened on six previous occasions.

No prizes for guessing Galileo, I’m afraid.

He did it twice, both on the same afternoon five years apart. In 2015, Minding won the Moyglare Stud Stakes and Order Of St George the Irish St Leger, while Mondialiste travelled to Canada to take the Woodbine Mile. In 2020, Galileos won the same two races at the Curragh, this time with Shale and Search For a Song, while Mogul was successful in a Covid-delayed Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp.

In the intervening period, Kitten’s Joy enjoyed a Grade 1 treble, siring Arlington Million winner Real Solution, Secretariat Stakes hero Admiral Kitten and Big Blue Kitten in the Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga on August 17 in 2013. Fellow American sire Smart Strike also struck gold on September 30, 2007 at Belmont Park when his three Grade 1 successes featured six-furlong Vosburgh Stakes winner Fabulous Strike, ten-furlong Jockey Club Gold Cup hero and now major sire Curlin, plus English Channel, winner of the 12-furlong Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.

South Africa’s Jet Master also notched a top-flight treble of sorts when his daughters Gluewin and Love Is In The Air dead-heated for the Majorca Stakes at Kenilworth on the same day in January 2010 that River Jetez won the J & B Met. In March, Eastern World, a five-year-old son of Dubawi, became the sixth stakes

winner produced by the Dubai Destination mare Eastern Joy from her first six foals.

Her previous five in order of birth are Ihtimal (by Shamardal), Always Smile (by Cape Cross), First Victory (by Teofilo and dam of Classic aspirant Coroebus), Thunder Snow (by Helmet) and Winter Lightning (by Shamardal). Eastern Joy was no great shakes as a racehorse, winning just once over 1,800 metres on soft ground at Vichy as a three-year-old.

As a broodmare she has been a revelation.

Remarkably, a search for mares that produced as many or more consecutively foaled stakes winners yielded only two others worldwide since the 1970s.

You’resothrilling’s achievements are well-documented. Her first five foals – born in the same time span as Eastern Joy’s – feature three Group 1 winners, Marvellous, Gleneagles and Happily.

Interestingly, had her 2017 colt Vatican City managed a stakes win – he was certainly talented enough, as his second in the Irish 2,000 Guineas suggests – You’resothrilling would now have seven consecutive stakes winners, following the win of Joan Of Arc in the French Oaks.

You have to travel back to the 1970s to find our third member of the famous-five club. That was the Derring-Do filly Stilvi, who won a pair of Group 3 sprints and was second in the Nunthorpe Stakes in the days when it was a Group 2.

Her first five foals featured three Group 1 winners in Middle Park Stakes scorer Tachypous, champion two-year-old Tromos and Irish Derby hero Tyrnavos.

Tolmi, the last of the five, won the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, a race that now holds Group 1 status.

All three mares are clearly exceptional, but you’d have to say Stilvi’s record may be the best of the three. On Timeform ratings, her average score is 126, ahead of You’resothrilling on 119 and Eastern Joy on 115.

Moreover, Stilvi did it with five different sires, none of them remotely in the same league as Galileo, responsible for all of You’resothrilling’s stakes winners, nor as good as the sires that helped Eastern Joy along the way. Stilvi bred three fillies but none were good enough to build on their dam’s achievements and the family has not seen such talented racehorses since.

ADVERTORIAL

THE SCIENCE OF WINNING, AN ANALYTICAL APPROACH TO HORSEMANSHIP

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aniel and Claire Kübler are advocates for the role of science in training. “We embrace it,” says Claire, who holds a degree in physiology from Cambridge.

“Having the additional awareness, gives you a greater understanding,” she asserts.

Coming from a non-racing background, has allowed Daniel to approach training with a fresh perspective: “You can analyse the conventions. Lots of things are done the way they’ve always been done, and you can normally work backwards and find that the reason they work is because, scientifically, it stacks up. The exciting times are where you look at the science, and you identify a better way.” “I love reading about sports science and listening to podcasts to get ideas,” he explains. “It’s about looking for winning edges and ways to deliver better care.”

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Harry Kane are just 2 examples. But the consequences are more far-reaching than just missing out on the next superstar. There is evidence to suggest that tailoring training load to the stage of the athlete’s biological maturity reduces injuries. Cumming’s research at clubs using the approach pointed to a 72% reduction in injuries.

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Utilising science allows the Küblers to develop happy, healthy horses—“I’d like to say our horses are very sound and durable,” notes Claire. The couple’s clients benefit in other ways, too .

“Owners enjoy the insights and gain a better understanding as to how horses develop,” she says.

Most horses reach full physical maturity around six. A two-year-old is an adolescent; it has reached approximately 97% of its mature height by 22 months but critically, its bones will not fully fuse for another four years. Like humans, horses grow from the feet up—with the pasterns fusing at around six months, followed by the cannons at around the one-year mark. The pelvis and spine fuse last. During the horse’s two-year-old year the major leg bones will fuse. It is therefore important to understand where a two year old is on the growth curve and tailor its regime accordingly. “It’s about injury reduction,” argues Daniel. “Young athletes are highly susceptible to injury, and by recognising and identifying the growth curve, you’re reducing the injury rate by adapting the training load.”

The science is compelling. But, emphasises Daniel “Solving the challenge of training racehorses requires combining the data together with watching and feeling, it’s about having lots of information. Bio Banding is an example of using a scientific, datadriven, analytical approach to enhance the welfare and time the horse’s development in the right way for that individual,” he says.

“The numbers don’t lie, but still you need the horsemanship,” agrees Claire. Feedback from work riders and grooms can provide as much insight into a horse’s state of growth as an x-ray.

“They can pick up on the subtle cues of a horse, whether it’s still maturing physically or doesn’t quite mentally understand what it’s doing. Then you can come up with ideas together as a team,” she says. ‘Winning both Lycetts Team Champions and Leadership Awards recognised we’ve worked hard to build up a great team of horsemen and women to care for the horses here at Sarsen Farm”

One example is bio-banding horses, this helps determine when to increase a horse’s workload. Part of the process is x-raying knees. “Together with a great team of horsemen and women we back most of the horses at Sarsen Farm and develop them until they are cantering easily,” says Daniel. “Then we take x-rays.” The horses are graded based on the degree of fusion in the growth plates in the knee.

“You’re always trying to find ways to help get an edge on the track—to get more winners,” says Claire. “You also want to do the best for each horse so you’re developing a sound horse that can achieve its optimum.” n Contact Daniel on 07984 287 254 or Claire on 07714 294 172 Sarsen Farm, Upper Lambourn, Berkshire www.kublerracing.com

Bio Banding is an increasingly important concept in human sports development. Athletes are grouped on the basis of attributes associated with growth and maturation, rather than chronological age. Professor Sean Cumming reached out to the Küblers after seeing their social media posts. Based at the University of Bath where he researches growth and maturation in human athletes, he explains “Whether you mature earlier or later has quite a lot of bearing in sport, where greater speed, strength or power can be important. At around 11 or 12 years of age, the variance in biological maturity can already be up to five or six years.”

Every football academy has a story about the one who got away—the player cut for being too small, Jamie Vardy and THE OWNER BREEDER

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ROA Forum

The special section for ROA members

GEORGE SELWYN

RACING WELFARE AND ROA IN PARTNERSHIP

Owners understand the importance of safeguarding the health of racing staff

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he ROA and Racing Welfare have joined forces, with the partnership set to provide further benefits for their respective stakeholders within the industry.

Both organisations have committed to formalising their long-standing relationship, with greater scope for collaboration and to share key messaging and opportunities. To mark the launch of the partnership, the ROA logo will now be visible on all Racing Welfare uniform.

Charlie Liverton, ROA Chief Executive, said “On behalf of the ROA and our members, we are thrilled to announce a formal partnership with Racing Welfare.

There is a natural synergy in our ambition to protect and promote the health of everyone in the horseracing industry.

This represents a genuinely exciting opportunity to foster a closer relationship between owners and racing staff.

“Owners recognise the vital role that racing staff play and understand the importance of safeguarding their health, welfare and wellbeing, and therefore working together to deliver this partnership is of critical importance to the ROA. The retention and recruitment of racing staff is vital for the industry and we look forward to

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partnering with Racing Welfare to help and support them in this key area.”

Racing Welfare Chief Executive Dawn Goodfellow welcomed the move, saying: “We are delighted to be partnering with the Racehorse Owners Association, which will afford us the opportunity to align more closely with one of the industry’s key bodies.

“There is a clear synergy in that both organisations have the interests of racing’s people at their heart, and the benefits of connecting racing’s staff members and owners more closely cannot be underestimated.

“We are grateful for the support of the ROA going forward and are pleased to extend our services to their members, who are equally important to the wellbeing of racing as the workforce involved with making their days at the races possible.”

As a partner to the charity, we are pleased to announce that Racing Welfare has offered to extend access to the following services to ROA members: • Racing’s Support Line: ‘in the moment’ telephone support from an accredited counsellor, available 24/7 365 days a year.

• Access to professional counselling: via telephone or online to suit the individual.

• Telephone Information Service: advice on a range of matters, with all advisors being Citizens Advice Bureau-trained.

• Woebot: an easy to use app created

by Stanford-trained psychologists that enables users to access in the moment emotional support 24/7.

The app checks in on you, helping you track your mood, identify patterns and give insight into particular issues or concerns that you may not have realised were causing emotional distress. Woebot can teach techniques and tools such as behavioural therapies or breathing exercises.

• Sleepstation: accessible through www.racingwelfare.co.uk, Sleepstation is designed to help you overcome your sleep issues with effective, tried and tested methods which are easily implemented into your life.

These services are available now and will be offered for a year, as part of a trial. Other initiatives are expected to come online later this year.

New contact details:

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

RacehorseOwnersUK

Racehorseownersassociation

Following on from their successful inaugural bike ride last August, those hardy souls at Racing Welfare are organising another ride in July with a true test of endurance – a 24-hour team sportive!

The event will be based out of Cheltenham racecourse over the weekend of July 16-17. Teams of four will ride around a 30km looped circuit, visiting the beautiful Cotswolds, tackling some challenging climbs with outstanding views. The ride starts at midday, with a lap of the famous parade ring at Cheltenham, before heading out into the hills of the Cotswolds.

Team members will take turns in riding around the route, with at least two riding and two resting at any one time. It’s up to each pair how long they ride for, who is in which pair, or if individuals should swap pairs. Cheltenham racecourse will house a mechanic station, changing rooms, indoor and outdoor chill-out zones, medical room and of course food and snacks to keep everyone going. The ride finishes at midday on Sunday, July 17. This will be a true test of strength, stamina, teamwork and endurance.

There will be a huge range of cycling abilities on show throughout the 24 hours so whether it’s the start of someone’s cycling journey or they are semi-pro, please get them involved!

Each rider will be provided with a Racing Welfare Cycling jersey but there is an option to create your own for the event using your branding to really make sure that your team stands out.

For more information visit: https:// racingwelfare.co.uk/challenges/thegreat-racing-welfare-cycle/.

Alcohol Free: set to defend her Sussex Stakes crown at the Qatar Goodwood Festival

BILL SELWYN

Racing Welfare bike ride

Enjoy Goodwood in style Once again we are delighted to partner with Goodwood to give ROA members access to a number of exclusive offers for the Qatar Goodwood Festival, which takes place between July 26-30.

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, we can once again offer members access to Richmond Enclosure tickets. The stylish Richmond Enclosure provides a fantastic view of the action as well as access to the best bars and dining options on course, and is normally only open to Goodwood annual members. Tickets are priced at £85pp.

Also back on the menu is exclusive access to the Horsewalk Restaurant.

Again, normally reserved for annual members, the restaurant is on the ground floor of the pavilion overlooking the horsewalk to the course, giving easy access to watch the racing and to the paddock. The package includes Richmond Enclosure badge, a table for the day, three course a la carte lunch, afternoon tea, access to the cash bar and a racecard. Tickets are priced at £220pp.

Goodwood is also kindly offering a 10% discount on both their Secret Garden and Final Furlong packages.

All bookings will be taken directly through Goodwood racecourse. For more information on the offers please visit roa.co.uk/events.

ROA BOARD ELECTIONS In late April the nominations process opened to elect three new ROA board members. Any ROA member who wishes to express their interest in one of the available positions should apply online using the details provided to all members via our Election eBulletin or by emailing Charlie Liverton at cliverton@roa. co.uk.

Anyone wishing to apply must be a registered owner and have at least one horse in training in the UK (or have done so during the previous 12 months) or have part-ownership that amounts to at least one horse. Horses owned

under the names of spouses will qualify for this purpose.

Candidates should be passionate about improving the racehorse ownership experience, be able to attend monthly meetings, and be willing to draw on their experiences and knowledge to help shape the future of horseracing.

As members will be aware, last year the ROA implemented a corporate governance review and one of the recommendations was the transition to a skill set-based board. Therefore, to help ensure that we have the correct skills and expertise to help progress

the ROA’s strategy and wider industry initiatives, we would like to encourage candidates to apply who have experience and knowledge in finance, communications or technology.

The deadline for applications is July 1, following which members will be asked to participate in an online ballot to vote for their preferred candidates. The successful candidates will be announced at the ROA AGM on September 15.

Further information on the election process is available in the ROA’s Articles of Association – roa.co.uk/ articles

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ROA Forum

JP McManus claims leading owner honours at Aintree

JP McManus, leading jumps owner for the 2021/22 season, enjoyed five winners at Aintree

JP McManus was this year’s undisputed winner of the ROA Leading Owner Trophy at the Randox Grand National Festival. His horses recorded five wins, two seconds and two thirds over the three days of racing at Aintree.

JP recorded his first win with Epatante on Thursday in the Betway Aintree Hurdle. This was followed by a win with Fakir D’oudairies in the Marsh Chase. His other winners were Gentleman De Mee in the Poundland Maghull Novices’ Chase, Jonbon in the Betway Top Novices’ Hurdle and Sire Du Berlais landed the JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle with Champ taking third.

He came very close to landing the title race of the Festival with Any Second Now, piloted by Mark Walsh, who rode three of JP’s winners. JP, who collected his trophy from ROA President Charlie Parker and his wife Mary-Anne, was subsequently crowned overall leading jumps owner for the 2021/22 season.

ROA VAT Solution service – staying on course The Racehorse Owners VAT Scheme was introduced in 1993. The scheme enables racehorse owners to register and reclaim all racing-related VAT transactions providing they qualify under the conditions of the scheme (VAT Notice 700/67). The average annual reclaim is approximately £4,700 per horse per annum. Often, quarterly VAT returns submitted under the scheme result in a repayment situation with HM Revenue & Customs.

How do I qualify for VAT? To be able to register for VAT under the Racehorse Owners VAT Scheme, the following conditions must be met: 1. Own a minimum 50% share in each racehorse owned; 2. Have a sponsorship agreement in place and registered with the BHA; 3. Racehorse(s) must be in training with a UK-licenced trainer.

What happens next?

Once the registration has been accepted by HMRC, the BHA must be notified of the VAT registration so that VAT can be applied to all

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income-related racing transactions i.e. prize-money, appearance money etc from the effective date of registration onwards. In turn the BHA will produce monthly VAT summaries highlighting your VAT-related income and expenditure. There is an annual charge for this levied by the BHA. What happens if my racehorse is sold, retired, or passes away?

Whenever a racehorse leaves the VAT

registration, it must be accounted for in the VAT return. The scheme states: ‘You must account for VAT if you recovered input tax on the original purchase’. The value for VAT is the open market/sales value at the time the non-business use occurs, or the horse is disposed of. If you are not certain of the open market value, you should ask a bloodstock agent for a valuation.

Once a racehorse is valued out

Owners can reclain VAT on the purchase price of their horses(s)

help in putting this together: • Day 1 – The Megson Family • Day 2 – The Racegeors Club • Day 3 – Nicola Drysdale Catch up on their stories at roa.co.uk/ news.

Gentleman De Mee captured the Maghull Novices’ Chase, one of JP McManus’s quintet of winners at the Randox Grand National Festival

BILL SELWYN

ROA facility popular

Aintree Owner of the Day The ROA was putting owners at the forefront of Aintree Festival action, with another successful series of Owner of the Day stories pushed out to media outlets during the Grand National meeting.

of the VAT registration, the VAT registration number can be kept by submitting quarterly nil returns providing there is an intention to acquire a new horse. Or if the VAT registration number is no longer required, it can be de-registered with HMRC. The BHA must also be notified of any de-registrations to ensure their records are accurate for VAT purposes.

With the introduction of HM Revenue & Customs Making Tax Digital requirements, it is essential that all inputs and outputs are compiled accurately and submitted in a digital format for the VAT return. With over 20 years’ experience in the Racehorse Owners VAT Scheme, our team is on hand to advise and assist owners through every stage of their ownership journey.

The ROA VAT Solution offers an efficient, transparent, and comprehensive VAT return service across all racing ownership entities. For further information please contact our VAT team on vat@roa.co.uk or call 01183 385685 to speak to Davina or Glen.

One lucky owner was chosen each day to tell their ownership story, how they got involved in ownership and their experiences. We would like to thank those involved during the week for their

The ROA hosted an exclusive hospitality box on the opening day of the Randox Grand National Festival.

On Thursday, April 7 more than 70 members joined the ROA team to enjoy lunch and afternoon tea, whilst enjoying an incredible vantage point overlooking the start line of the iconic Grand National course.

The most daring amongst the attendees braved the elements to walk the course with retired jockey Richard Johnson. Before the racing started, Richard talked guests through the racecard and gave his insights into the runners and riders.

For ROA members interested in further hospitality events, we have linked up with Goodwood and Royal Ascot to provide discounts to hospitality at their flagship events this summer. Find out more at www.roa.co.uk/events.

Gambling Review – ROA members lobby MPs With the Gambling Review set to reach its conclusion, all ROA members have been urged to write to their local MP and help prevent regulation that could potentially damage the horseracing industry.

As owners in the UK, members will understand the precarious financial position racing is in. The ROA has been clear that we want to build investment in the sport and improve the financial returns for owners and participants for

the benefit of the wider sport across the rural economy.

Some of what has been reportedly discussed in the review – including affordability caps, deposit limits and even stake limits – could cause wholly unnecessary damage to our beloved sport.

Thank you to all those owners who have taken the time to access our online portal which helped them contact their local MP directly.

Racecourse Badge Scheme for Owners fixtures The latest participating fixtures for the Racecourse Badge Scheme for Owners have been released and are now online.

Meetings included over the next three months can be viewed in the members area of the ROA website if you are a registered owner and have been activated for the scheme.

Members can pre-book their visit via the PASS website www.rcapass.com.

Pre-booking must be completed by 4pm the day before the participating fixture. If you do not wish to pre-book,

you can gain access directly at the course on the day by arriving with your membership number and passcard or photo ID. For those members who are not registered owners, access to a number of fixtures is possible via our PreBooked Admission Scheme. Details of meetings included can be found on the Pre-booked Admission page in the members area. When you are logged in, click on the second picture on the screen for further information.

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ROA Forum

MAGICAL MOMENTS

Neil Berry and Lucie McGarity with Tom O’Brien, groom Tracy Drover and trainer Noel Williams after Largy G’s Newbury success

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n incredulous trainer crediting the owners of a horse after a seemingly surprise victory always catches the eye, and one such example came at Newbury in a Grade 2 mares’ novices’ hurdle last month.

Largy G’s name does not betray her size – she is tiny – but that did not stop her defeating ten opponents at odds of 14-1, much to the joy of trainer Noel Williams and owners Neil Berry and wife Lucie McGarity, with the latter’s foresight the subject of much praise from the trainer.

“I was thinking about places like Newton Abbot in the summer for her, but Lucie said we should stick her in and I thought, ‘Oh God, she’ll get lapped’,” said Williams. “Then I started to pick it apart and thought to myself, ‘She could just go and run a massive race’.

“I am shocked – delighted as well – although I thought she’d outrun her price.

This was beyond our wildest dreams.”

The eight-year-old more than justified her place in the field with a

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length victory over favourite Nina The Terrier, keeping on well under Tom O’Brien. Largy G ran off 109 there and has been raised 7lb.

ROA member Berry is happy to admit that his other half is the driving force of the couple’s involvement, and says: “It’s my wife, Lucie’s, passion really. She lived in Ireland in her early twenties, spending time as a student at the Irish Equine Centre in Naas and then returned to work for David Redvers at Tweenhills, back in the early noughties.

“We both ride and I used to play a bit of low goal amateur polo. But as the ponies aged, I didn’t replace them and Lucie convinced me that having a racehorse would be far more fun and less expensive, though I’m not sure about the latter!

“Lucie has a great friend from her Pony Club days, Ben Arthey, who originally held a licence in Ireland but is now involved with the Crawford brothers.

The pair of them convinced me that Largy G was a wise investment.

“She’d had limited opportunities as Covid really had a huge impact on Irish pointing. So she was bought ‘unseen’ out of Ross Crawford’s yard, on Ben’s recommendation. And was delivered to Rothwell truck stop on the side of the A14!

“I will admit my heart slightly sank when this diminutive filly came down the lorry ramp. It is not so much that she lacks height. There is just not a lot of her!

But, as we’ve found out, they don’t need to be big to be tough and genuine. And neither do they need to be expensive.”

The daughter of Shantou has since made for some better memories than that first impression on the A14, often outrunning her odds.

She was 50-1 on her debut under Rules for Williams’ Blewbury yard at Newton Abbot last April but was beaten just a neck, while she was third at the same track the following month. After finishing down the field at Leicester in December on her return, she ran a good third behind stablemate Speech Bubble

STEVE CARGILL

Neil Berry and Lucie McGarity have struck lucky with Largy G

at Newbury, again starting at 50-1, before her triumph back at the same track.

“Largy G is our first horse to run under Rules,” says Berry. “We previously had another horse from the same connections that we had hoped to run in British points, but unfortunately he never got further than a team chase at Garthorpe point-to-point course.

“We also have a four-times winning Getaway mare who is expecting to Passing Glance. She didn’t run for us but was bought as a long-term broodmare prospect. Largy G will eventually join her, under the new venture of Knapdale Stud.

“We sometimes board horses for a Flat owner in the village – our stable and land is split between Slawston and Hallaton, Leicestershire, home of the famous Easter bottle-kicking! – and we have a couple of non-thoroughbreds too. Plus the occasional horse in for rehabilitation, as Lucie is an equine chiropractor.”

Your first horse to run under Rules winning a Grade 2 is not a bad start, to say the least, though as her odds tend to imply – regardless of whether they are too dismissive of the form book – the mare is not the most straightforward.

“Largy G, or Sheila as she is known at home, can be a bit gassy to ride and eating isn’t her favourite pastime,” reveals Berry. “We knew she wouldn’t suit a big yard. We sent her to Noel because he’s a proper horseman and, most importantly, he knows how to train mares.

“Many mares just can’t be trained the conventional way. Some can have quirks and foibles and you need someone who can work with that – and Noel certainly does. It can take a brave man to follow the ‘less is more’ approach to training. So many horses can easily be over-cooked.

It’s a fine balance and an even greater one when it comes to mares.

“He’s a talented and patient trainer, a good communicator and he has an experienced team working with him.

He certainly deserves to train far more horses.”

Berry and McGarity will of course not yet have a welter of magical moments stored up but, whatever happens in the future, they will always have that day at Newbury.

Berry says: “How could we top this win? It’s just incredible! A Grade 2, albeit a handicap, with a filly who had been bought to run in a hunt members’ or mares’ maiden at our local point-to-point track!

“Had it not been for the disruption of Covid and Lucie breaking her arm last year when the mare was half fit, Sheila might have been aiming for Dingley, not the chance of some black type.

“All came right for us at Newbury. We got the ground she needed and Tom O’Brien was available to ride her. He’s a brilliant jockey and much is owed to him too. I doubt we’ll ever have another day of racing like it.”

“The perception is that horses must cost five or six figures to be any good” He adds: “Where she goes next is up to Noel. There seems to be limited opportunities for good-ground fillies like Largy G to run over hurdles in the late spring and into the summer months – certainly if you are wanting to run in Class 3s, against your own sex.

“And opportunities in the two-milefour to three-mile division are nonexistent. To run against the boys in a handicap, without a weight allowance, seems a hard task for a light-framed filly.

Bryan Mayoh, in a guest article for the Racing Post’s Good Morning Bloodstock, highlighted that still only 20-25% of the total of eligible mares in Britain and Ireland hit the track and that there should be more encouragement to race mares.

“He also acknowledged the “innate physical advantage enjoyed by geldings”.

Whilst National Hunt racing will always remain a winter sport at heart, the smaller fillies often appreciate the better ground and some sunshine on their backs. It’s a pity there isn’t a programme

for them, which might help to keep a few more of them in training.”

Berry continues: “The best thing about being an owner has to be days like we’ve just had at Newbury. Our first horse in training, an inexpensive purchase and she has broken her maiden in a Grade 2 handicap hurdle. It’s unbelievable!

“She had run well at Newbury in January against some good horses and finished 17 lengths behind Speech Bubble off level weights, when in reality she was carrying a greater percentage of weight for her size than Speech Bubble, who looks a proper chasing type.

“The chance to carry a lesser weight, irrespective of the handicap, was an opportunity not to be missed for a lightframed filly.

“There is the perception that horses have to cost five- or six-figure sums to be any good. The Saturday she won helped to disprove this, through the first and second horses home in the Scottish Grand National and the winner of the EBF Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, who were all four-figure mares. It can be affordable.

“And there are plenty of smaller handlers who deserve more support from both owners and perhaps the media too. But you’ll have big yards selling big-priced horses to perhaps slightly naïve owners, off the back of a drinks reception and being ‘sold the dream’.

“Inevitably, many people become disillusioned. We know that. We know people that have. It may be a business and everyone has to make a living. And I appreciate that many factors can affect the success of a horse. But, for owners to keep investing in the sport, integrity is paramount.”

Berry is a tax partner with MHA MacIntyre Hudson, a large firm of chartered accountants and tax advisers.

“As a partner, I’m responsible for the Leicester office but have clients nationwide,” he says. “I advise high net worth individuals, their associated businesses and ultra high net worth International clients.

“It’s my wife’s turn to advise when it comes to buying horses though. To be fair, she’s done okay so far!”

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TBA Forum

The special section for TBA members

Treble up on the Tuesday of Festival

F

Edwardstone and Tom Cannon struck in the Arkle Novices' Chase

BILL SELWYN

our races down on the first day of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival and British-breds had won three of them – all Grade 1s. The roar which resounded around Prestbury Park as the field for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle started out was replaced come the end of the two-mile contest with awe at the performance put up by the Sally Noott-bred Constitution Hill.

The son of former Yorton Stud resident Blue Bresil was bred out of the Listedplaced Queen Of The Stage, and put in a display of pure class to land a second Grade 1 of the season.

In the second race, Edwardstone created a day to remember for the Abrey and Thurtle families when winning the Arkle Novices’ Chase. Bred by the longstanding friends, Robert and Ian, the son of Kayf Tara brought up his fifth win on the bounce when winning by over four lengths.

The treble was completed when hurdling queen Honeysuckle retained her Champion Hurdle crown. Bred by Dr Geoffrey Guy at The Glanvilles Stud, the eight-year-old daughter of Sulamani was extending her unbeaten record to 15 under Rules.

The quartet of British-bred Cheltenham Festival winners was completed on the Thursday when the Mouse Hamilton-Fairley-bred Third Wind captured the Grade 3 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Chase.

Big handicap victories have been the domain for British-breds this season and March was the same. The David Brace-bred Paint The Dream, a son of Brian Boru who stood at the time at Brace’s Dunraven Stud, took the Grade 3 Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury. A week later and the Grade 3 Imperial Cup was won by the Derwent Dene Farm-bred Suprise Package in good style.

At Kelso’s big early March meeting Nells Son (Trans Island) got up in the shadows of the post to win the Grade 2 Premier Novices’ Hurdle for ownerbreeder Langdale Racing, while Nuts

Well, bred by Chesters Stud Ltd, captured the Listed Premier Chase.

One of the most impressive displays in the month was that of Luccia in the Listed EBF bumper on the Imperial Cup undercard. The four-year-old, who is owned and bred by Pump and Plant Services Ltd, coasted home by 17 lengths.

In Italy, the Newsells Park Studbred Big City won the Listed Premio Steeplechase di Treviso.

On the Flat and Australia proved to be fruit ripe for picking. The Southcourt Stud-bred Crystal Pegasus captured the Roy Higgins and the Mornington Cup, both Listed events at Flemington and Mornington respectively.

The Godolphin-bred Promise Of Success, a maiden when racing for Saeed bin Suroor, gained her biggest cheque down under when capturing the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes at Newcastle.

The Juddmonte Farms-bred Ironclad (Dubawi), winner of the Listed Matrice Stakes at Morphettville, was one of three stakes scorers around the globe for the

operation. At Dundalk, Juncture won the Listed Patton Stakes, while in France, Agave (Dubawi) took top honours in the Listed Prix Rose de Mai. Representatives of Dubawi were in fine form. In addition to Agave, the Godolphin-bred Desert Wisdom captured the Group 3 Burj Nahaar and In Italian won the Grade 3 Honey Fox Stakes at Gulfstream Park. There was also a Listed win for The Revenant, who got his season off to the best start in the Prix Altipan.

There was also a notable Listed double for sons of Frankel. Zagato won the King of Bahrain Cup at Sakhir, while in France, Lady Bamford’s homebred Dreamflight won the Prix Omnium II. The Whitsbury Manor Stud-bred El Caballo (Havana Gold) won the Listed Spring Cup Stakes at Lingfield Park, while the Merry Fox Stud Limited homebred Tinker Toy took the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton.

At Abu Dhabi the Godolphin-bred Law Of Peace captured the Abu Dhabi Championship.

Flat Breeders' Awards Evening: tickets now on sale Tickets are on sale now for the TBA’s Flat Breeders’ Awards Evening, which will take place at Chippenham Park on Wednesday, July 6.

Priced at £80 per person, tickets can be purchased via the events page of the TBA website.

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Set in the delightful surrounds of Chippenham Park, the evening will consist of a drinks and canapes reception, before a two-course dinner and the awards ceremony, and celebrates and rewards British breeders’ successes from the 2021 Flat season.

Regional days return

The TBA's popular regional days are nationwide

The TBA is offering a full complement of seven regional days in 2022 which are open to all members, but priority will be given to those from the local region should the day be oversubscribed.

Tuesday, May 10 – WEST • Meet at the Jockey Club Office in Lambourn for a guided tour by minibus of the Lambourn gallops • Visit to Ed Walker’s yard followed by lunch • Visit to Watership Down Stud Wednesday, June 22 – SOUTH EAST • Vist to Garry Moore’s Cisswood Stables, view horses on the gallops followed by a stable tour • Drive to Hickstead to view Breen Equestrian with Shane Breen and his vet • Lunch at Hickstead (there will be classes taking place) with a talk by Tina Cook • View the Breen Equestrian breeding facilities

Tuesday, June 28 – EAST • Meet at Charlie Fellowes yard in Newmarket for a tour of his facilities and the gallops • Visit to Godolphin’s Rehoming of Racecourse yard followed by lunch • Visit to Old Mill Stud Wednesday, July 20 – WALES AND WEST MIDLANDS • Meet at Steph Hollinshead’s yard followed by a tour of the facilities • Lunch followed by a tour and talk at Pool House Equine Hospital Friday, July 29 – SCOTLAND • Visit to Kenny Alexander’s New Hall Stud – further details to follow

September 1 or 2 – SOUTH WEST • Meet at Emma Lavelle’s yard to view the facilities and horses followed by lunch • Visit to Hillwood Stud Monday, September 19 – NORTH • Meet at Julie Camacho’s stables for a tour of the facilities • Lunch at the Old Lodge, Malton followed by a tour and talk at Rainbow Equine Hospital There are various ways to pay for these events, either online via the events page on www.thetba.co.uk, over the phone or by cheque. * Dates and activities are subject to change

Ellis proves a dab hand in TBA-sponsored races Intrepide Sud, a son of Coastal Path, was victorious in the hands of Zac Baker.

Two weekends later and in a competitive event at Edgcote, No

Questions Asked, a son of the now Willow Wood Stud-based Ask, made most of the running and went on to score by eight lengths under Gina Andrews.

TRICIA HONOUR

Trainer Tom Ellis supplied the winners of the third and fourth TBAsponsored four-year-old only maiden point-to-points this spring.

At Garthorpe on March 20,

Tom Ellis and Gina Andrews either side of No Questions Asked and the stable's novice rider Ellie Callwood, and Intrepide Sud's jockey Zac Baker with TBA Bloodstock Executive Rob Davey at Garthorpe

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TBA Forum Sustainability best practice booklet and podcast released Members have been regularly kept up to date with the association’s work on sustainability since a working group formed to increase understanding and develop guidance for breeders.

The group is headed up by Shadwell’s Assistant Stud Director James O’Donnell, who is supported by Victoria Murrell, the TBA's Equine Health and Welfare Manager.

In March the TBA released an e-booklet titled ‘Best Practice Environmental Management for Stud Farms’, which was funded by the Racing Foundation and is available to all members on the TBA website. In addition to the booklet, James and Victoria have recorded a podcast, which is also available to listen on the website.

By way of introducing this project area, Victoria has answered some questions on the background and ambitions of the TBA’s sustainability workstreams.

How important is environmental sustainability to the TBA? Environmental sustainability is a rapidly growing area of interest, and it is hoped that the e-booklet will be the first of a series of member communications to encourage and support more sustainable practices on UK stud farms.

Once details of the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) – the new subsidy framework that is due to take over from the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) grant system – are announced, more specific guidance on how to access this funding will be communicated, whilst support will also be given to breeders in meeting the requirements of any future legislation that may be introduced to meet the ambitions of the Climate Change Act.

Sustainability is a key focus for industry participants

How is the TBA encouraging breeders to get involved with increasing biodiversity and carbon capture?

It is encouraging breeders to plant trees as part of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The ‘Queen’s Green Canopy’ initiative invites people to ‘plant a tree for the jubilee’ and we would recommend that breeders select native species that will also create habitats and food sources for wildlife. As well as increasing carbon sequestration, trees can have benefits for the environment such as flood mitigation, whilst also providing shade and shelter for horses.

What are the greatest challenges for the thoroughbred sector in reducing carbon emissions and adopting practices that are more sympathetic towards the environment?

It is important to remember that the breeding industry is already doing lots of positive things in this area, as low impact grassland farmers. A wealth of native species and pollinators thrive in the paddocks, hedgerows and woodlands so it’s about connecting these habitats, optimising what is already in place and taking a joined-up approach with neighbouring properties, where possible. Stud land is already managed with regular soil analysis

and return of organic matter, where required; and to minimise impaction or poaching of the soil, which also provides a safe footing for the horses.

The industry faces a number of larger issues, which may benefit from the input and expertise of the broader equestrian community. These include the widespread use of soya as a protein source in hard concentrate bagged feed. Most soya is grown as a monocrop in Brazil and high demand has contributed to mass deforestation in these areas. Also, the carbon emissions derived from horse transport for the racing, covering and sale of thoroughbreds, are a challenge for the industry. Technological advances developed for the logistics sector will no doubt be adopted by the racing and breeding industry in time.

What other sustainability projects is the TBA currently working on?

Whilst the association awaits the findings of the industry environmental sustainability audit, it is developing a strategic plan to help direct future activity for members, but also to guide internal operations and events. The association's newest TBA Trustee, Simon Cox, has experience in this area and will assist with this process.

Don’t miss out: NH Breeders’ Awards Evening Tickets are selling fast for the NH Breeders’ Awards Evening and members are advised to book as soon as possible. Priced at £65 per person, for a three-course meal with champagne reception, the awards tickets can be purchased via the events page of the TBA website or by calling the TBA office on 01638 661321.

Commencing at 7pm, the event, which is kindly sponsored

by Goffs UK, will take place on Monday, May 16 at the Hilton Garden Inn, on the evening of the first day of the Goffs UK Spring Store Sale.

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The ceremony is on May 16 at the Hilton Garden Inn

Nominate now for 2022 Stud Employee Award Nominations for this year’s TBA Stud Employee Award, which is kindly sponsored by New England Stud, will be accepted up until Tuesday, May 3.

They can be submitted by an employer, or a fellow colleague, by downloading a form from the TBA website, where you can find the terms and conditions, and further information about the award.

The award winner is selected from six shortlisted candidates and receives the perpetual Charlie Langton bronze trophy, a £2,000 cash prize, and is invited to attend the TBA's Flat Breeders' Awards evening on Wednesday, July 6. The remaining five shortlisted nominees will receive a certificate and £250 each, in recognition of their achievement.

Completed nomination forms should be sent to the TBA office or e-mailed to Heather Ewence at heather.ewence@thetba.co.uk.

Great British Bonus yearling deadline Breeders and foal pinhookers are reminded that May 31 is the yearling deadline for the Great British Bonus (GBB). The yearling nomination stage is open to 2021-born British-bred fillies, Flat and National Hunt, who were nominated into the scheme at the foal stage. The cost of the nomination stage is £200. Late entries will not be accepted.

The payee of the yearling stage needs to be the registered General Stud Book owner. Should the yearling be owned by someone other than the breeder and the ownership of the yearling not have been updated, there is the opportunity to do this whilst paying the yearling payment of the scheme.

30-day foal notification reminder All breeders are reminded that they are required to notify the General Stud Book (GSB) of the birth of all foals within 30 days of their birth date.

Notifications can be managed through the Weatherbys GSB online system – www.weatherbysgsb.co.uk.

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

30-day foal notification is different from foal registration. This must still be completed with the GSB in accordance with the legislative requirements and any other Rules of Racing.

If notification has not been received

within the 30-day window, before the horse may be eligible to race, the TBA may require a Certificate of Analysis reporting no evidence of the presence or use of a substance prohibited at all times in a sample collected by the BHA. You will be liable for the cost of the sample collection and analysis, which currently is £425 + VAT (cost of sampling is subject to fluctuation and may vary year on year).

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

MEMBER BENEFIT – public liability, why do I need it?

The TBA has partnered with Lycetts to offer third-party public liability insurance as a benefit to full members.

Public liability is an essential requirement for any equestrian business. It exists to protect you if a client or a member of the public claims they have been injured, or their property damaged because of your business activities. The policy will protect you if a claim results in legal proceedings and will cover the cost of these expenses, including any compensation you are required to pay.

An example where a public liability policy came into force is below.

The defendant has been in the equine business their entire life and in recent years has been managing a

successful stud with a few of his own personal horses kept at the premises.

The claimant is a long-term acquaintance of the defendant who has regularly been to the stud. They are a family friend who on several occasions has helped the defendant out when going for coverings.

The incident occurred when the claimant arrived without any advance warning at the premises. As they arrived the defendant was preparing to load a mare onto the lorry to go for covering. On arrival the claimant went to assist and held back a stable door for the mare to go through on their way to the lorry. As the mare exited the stable, she got spooked and ran backwards into the stable pinning the

defendant against the wall, which resulted in the defendant breaking their wrist. As a result of their injury the claimant has not been able to work and has endured ongoing medical requirements.

The claimant filed a claim against the defendant for the loss of income and the public liability policy responded in respect of the legal defence costs and the claim was defended.

Lycetts arrange the public liability insurance for TBA members and can assist with all your insurance requirements. For further information please contact the TBA office 01638 661321

THE OWNER BREEDER

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Breeder of the Month Words Howard Wright

Sponsored by

Manufacturers of

BREEDER OF THE MONTH (March 2022)

Breeding thoroughbreds can involve a range of contexts. Take the example of David Brace, who has been honoured as TBA Breeder of the Month for March on account of the career-best performance his chaser Paint The Dream put up in winning the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury.

Not only did he breed the eight-yearold at his Dunraven Stud in Pyle, near Bridgend, from his then-owned stallion Brian Boru, but he is also the grandfather of the gelding’s regular jockey Connor.

David, who gave up coalmining to create a thriving business selling windows, explains: “My son Matthew went down the rugby route, but his son Connor, who started in point-to-points at 16, and his brother Jude, who’s just turned teenager and is riding winners on the pony circuit, followed me into racing.”

Connor’s second racecourse ride on Paint The Dream sealed his owner’s view that he had a special talent on his hands, although the exercise did not go quite as planned.

Brace recalls: “We hold a point-topoint on our land every year and after Paint The Dream’s first two outings, we had him primed for the open maiden at the meeting in April 2018. He was steaming along in the lead, well clear, only to fall at the second-last. It was disappointing, but we knew then he was out of the ordinary, so we sent him to Fergal O’Brien that autumn. It suited me because Connor was there and it helped to get him going as a conditional jockey.”

David, who celebrated his 71st birthday ten days after the Newbury

BILL SELWYN

David Brace

Paint The Dream: won the Greatwood Gold Cup under Connor Brace

success, is into his fourth decade as an owner and trainer. A handful of his horses have been farmed out to Philip Hobbs, Christian Williams and now Fergal O’Brien, but the majority have stayed at home and the 2021-22 season has been his best so far as owner and trainer, thanks to Paint The Dream and his half-brother Gats And Co, plus dual winner Shanandoa, Champion Hurdler Honeysuckle’s enigmatic half-brother Colorado Doc, and two others.

“We’ve been having a great time,” Brace says, “but we’re not doing anything different. You’ve just got to have the right horses, and they don’t come along every day of the week.”

Sometimes they come along by chance, and Brace would probably not have encountered Paint The Dream had one of his clients harboured different ideas about what he wanted from a mating. He remembers: “I was foaling down a mare for a friend, who when I rang him, said, ‘Don’t tell me it’s a chesnut filly.’ Well, of course, it was a chesnut filly, so I bought the foal and the mare.”

The mare, Vineuil, by Godolphin’s top-class miler Muhtathir, had won over hurdles in her native France and was a half-sister to the very useful hurdlerchaser Drole De Drame. The foal, by Martaline, was named Lady Veronica and never ran, but she visited Nathaniel this season for her first cover and Brace is excited by the prospect.

Vineuil’s second foal was Paint The Dream, who followed up his Newbury success with an excellent fourth at level weights in the Melling Chase at Aintree, and her third and final produce was Gats And Co, by Dr Massini, who graduated from point-to-points and got his act together in February and March to such purpose that he won successive handicap chases at Chepstow by 14 and 12 lengths respectively.

“Sadly, we lost the mare,” Brace says, “but at least we’ve got her daughter Lady Veronica and we’ve been gradually upgrading our mares.”

Brace has also spiced up Dunraven’s stallion offering, bringing in St Leger and Gold Cup winner Leading Light from the Coolmore band. While Leading Light continues his first season in South Wales at a fee of £2,500, his standing has been given a timely boost through Three Stripe Life, who represents his sire’s first crop and opened both their Grade 1 accounts by winning the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree.

“We’re not in a strong breeding part of the world and you have to have patience in the jumping game,” Brace reflects, “but you have only to look at old Midnight Legend, who was getting on when he hit the jackpot, so we’re lucky that Leading Light is 12. He’s got plenty of time ahead of him.”

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Five million reasons to join the GBB club We’ve just paid out £5 million in bonuses – including more than £3 million to owners like you.

If you want a slice of the pie, simply buy, breed, register and race GBB fillies and mares for your chance to win multiple bonuses of up to £20,000 per eligible race.

Don’t just take our word for it…

Just got the email confirmation – what a pleasant surprise. Not only a lovely winner and lovely horse, and winning the bets, but £20,000 as well.

I can tell you one thing, I will be looking for more British-bred fillies.

Alan Rogers on Twitter after his horse GENTLE JOLIE won a £20k bonus at Hexham on 8th May 2021.

GBB was a big influencing factor when considering these fillies. It was certainly a part of our conversations at the sales. Owners don’t take too much convincing to purchase GBB-registered fillies when you can boost their prize money by £20,000 at a time.

Richard Brown, Blandford Bloodstock. Purchased 3 GBB fillies at Goffs Premier Sale.

GBB Jumps winners:

136

GBB Jumps bonus payments:

GBB Flat winners:

231

£1.7 million For more information on eligibility, visit greatbritishbonus.co.uk

GBB Flat bonus payments:

Total bonus payments:

£5 million

£3.3 million Information correct at time of going to press

Vet Forum: The Expert View

Rhodococcus equi in focus R hodococcus equi is a bacterium that is ubiquitous in the soil and is one of the most important causes of pneumonia in foals aged between one and six months. Disease of adult horses has been described, however this is limited to cases with severe underlying immunodeficiency. Similarly, R.equi infection has also been reported in immunodeficient humans, for example people with HIV or undergoing cancer chemotherapy. In addition to pneumonia, R.equi can also result in infection in other body systems, for example bone infection, ocular disease, diarrhoea and abdominal abscesses.

Costs in terms of treatment and foal losses on farms with widespread disease can be substantial and R.equi has a significant impact on the horse breeding industry worldwide.

How does infection occur?

R.equi is detectable in the soil of virtually all horse farms throughout the world. Despite this fact, not all farms see clinical cases and occurrence of disease varies from widespread on some (i.e. endemic farms), sporadic on others, and unrecognisable on many.

Disease prevalence not only varies from region to region and farm to farm, but also from year to year. The reasons for this variation of disease incidence are not well understood. The virulence (i.e. the ability to cause disease) of the individual strain of bacteria has been shown to play an important role, with the vapA gene shown to be a key factor in the development of clinical disease.

Factors such as stocking density, farm size, soil parameters, low pasture heights and increased levels of dust also appear to contribute to disease, but other factors have yet to be identified. It’s been demonstrated that under identical circumstances, some foals develop disease while others do not, indicating that certain foal factors are important for the development of clinical disease.

Recent research has suggested that there may be a genetic predisposition for developing R.equi infection. It is clear that the incidence and development of disease is complex and more research in this area is required.

The major route of infection is by inhalation of a dust aerosol into the foal’s respiratory tract, though ingestion can also occur. The bacteria replicates in the foal’s

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Studies have shown that there is not a relationship between which mares are shedding the bacteria in their faeces and which foals become infected with R.equi pneumonia and that increased soil concentration is not associated with an increase in disease incidence in a particular farm. An association has however been demonstrated between airborne concentrations and incidence of disease.

What are the clinical signs of R.equi?

Figure 1 Mucopurulent nasal discharge may be apparent in some cases, however this is not a consistent finding

respiratory tract and is then coughed up and swallowed. Further replication occurs within the gastrointestinal tract resulting in large amounts of R.equi being passed in the foal’s faeces, regaining entry to the soil.

Although adults are very rarely infected, it is known that mares will also contaminate the soil by passing large numbers of R.equi in their faeces.

Pneumonia is the most common clinical condition of foals infected with R.equi with most showing signs of disease by around four months of age. Clinical signs include fever, depression, laboured breathing, cough, and a rattling sound (noise in the windpipe due to mucous accumulation). Mucopurulent nasal discharge may be apparent in some cases however this is not a consistent finding (figure 1). Pneumonia caused

by R.equi is insidious in onset and considerable disease is often present before clinical signs are evident.

In addition to pneumonia, infection of other body systems has also been widely reported. These are known as extrapulmonary disorders. One study documented that at least half of affected

Figure 2 This ultrasound image demonstrates a pulmonary abscess in a foal with R.equi

By Cat Mackenzie BVMS MRCVS

VapA gene.

The insidious nature of R.equi infection makes early diagnosis challenging. For this reason many farms have introduced early screening for disease. Various strategies have been suggested, however serial blood evaluation and ultrasound examination form the basis of most screening programmes (figure 3). The widespread implementation of these screening programmes has led to detection of subclinical forms of disease.

Although there are undoubtably benefits of early detection in certain cases, this approach has also resulted in the unnecessary treatment of many foals that would likely have resolved spontaneously.

Research is ongoing into how we can consistently identify which foals with subclinical disease will progress to clinical disease and which will not.

warmer climates or seasons. Rarely, mares of foals that are being treated will develop diarrhoea because they ingest small amounts of these antibiotics to which they are exposed from their foals. Although these cases are infrequent, the diarrhoea can be severe and in some cases even fatal.

Widespread use of antimicrobials has led to the emergence of resistant R.equi strains that are no longer susceptible to these commonly used medications, with few good alternatives available. The appearance of these resistant strains of R.equi highlights the need to critically review the way in which the current antimicrobials are used. In particular, the need for widespread treatment of foals that are not suffering from severe forms of disease has been questioned. A recent study evaluating the management of R.equi demonstrated that 78-88% of untreated foals recovered without intervention.

Recent studies have looked at the use of a once weekly intramuscular injection of Gamithromycin for the treatment of R.equi. Although shown to be effective, a high percentage of foals were reported to show side effects consisting of either colic or hind limb lameness following drug administration. Investigations into alternative drug choices continue, however treatment with rifampicin and a macrolide remains the current recommendation.

In addition to antimicrobial therapy, additional treatments such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications and gastroprotectants may also be required in foals with R.equi. Efforts should also be made to avoid stress and control temperature, ensuring foals are kept in a cool, shaded area. In more severe cases, hospitalisation and oxygen therapy may be required (figure 4).

How can the infection be treated?

What is the likely outcome in cases of R.equi?

Figure 3 Screening programmes including ultrasound are commonly used to aid the early detection of disease

foals had intestinal lesions found during necropsy evaluation, even though clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease were not evident. The clinical signs present depend on the body system involved, but can include diarrhoea, lameness, joint swelling or uveitis (inflammation of the eyes). In some cases, ill thrift and poor weight gain may be all that is apparent.

How is R.equi infection diagnosed?

Diagnosis is not made by one single diagnostic test alone, but instead is based upon clinical presentation, findings on diagnostic imaging and laboratory testing. This is because not all foals with R.equi will go on to develop significant clinical disease, and some may have pneumonia caused by other bacteria.

In foals presenting with clinical signs, blood evaluation is usually performed and will demonstrate evidence of infection including an increased white blood cell count and increased markers of inflammation. It is then important to document evidence of lung abscesses or consolidation with ultrasound or radiography (figure 2).. These findings may be strongly suggestive of R.equi, particularly in a farm with widespread disease, however they do not provide a definitive diagnosis of R.equi. In order to do this, the virulent strain of R.equi must be demonstrated. The gold standard method for detecting the bacteria is based on culture from fluid obtained via tracheal aspiration and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to confirm the presence of the most relevant virulence factor of the R.equi: the

A variety of antimicrobials have been shown to be effective against R.equi in the laboratory, however not all of them are effective in the live animal.

This is because some antimicrobial drugs fail to reach high enough concentrations within the cells to kill the bacteria. A combination of rifampicin and a macrolide (clarithromycin or azithromycin) has been shown to be effective in clinical cases and has been the treatment of choice for many years.

While they are effective, these drugs do carry the risk of serious side effects.

Macrolides have a tendency to cause diarrhoea and overheating in foals, with this being especially true in older foals in

The prognosis for most foals with R.equi pneumonia is in fact good, with survival rates reported to be around 60% and athletic function reported at approximately 54%. However, those with severe disease or those with abdominal abscesses are less likely to survive.

Unsurprisingly, foals infected with resistant strains of R.equi are also less likely to survive.

Can disease be prevented?

Due to the potential for widespread disease on endemic farms, and the associated costs, there has been huge interest over the years into how to reduce the incidence of disease.

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Vet Forum: The Expert View ››

The most widely used strategy is the administration of hyperimmune Plasma within the first few days of life.

Protection is incomplete and despite some conflicting evidence, plasma administration provides the mainstay of prevention on most farms with a history of disease. Management strategies aimed at limiting overcrowding of foals and ensuring that they are housed in well-ventilated areas where dust is minimised, are also advised.

Ultimately vaccination represents the ideal prevention strategy. Despite intensive investigation no effective vaccine is yet available, however researchers are making promising steps towards the development of a vaccine to protect foals against R.equi.

Conclusion

R.equi remains an important cause of pneumonia in foals around the world.

Costs of treatment and foal losses can be substantial and disease caused by R.equi has a significant impact on the horse breeding industry worldwide.

Incidence of disease is variable, though

demonstration of clinical disease (using physical examination, blood work and diagnostic imaging) in combination with identification of the virulent bacteria by laboratory testing. Early diagnosis is challenging and has led to the introduction of screening programmes on many farms.

Treatment of R.equi pneumonia involves the use of antimicrobials (a macrolide and rifampacin) and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance bacteria is a major concern.

It is now widely accepted that many foals will recover without the need for antimicrobial therapy and the treatment of subclinical cases is to be avoided.

However, accurately predicting which foals will recover and which require treatment remains a challenge.

Administration of hyperimmune plasma is the mainstay of prevention on most farms, however this does not prevent disease in all cases. Promising steps are being made towards the development of a vaccine to prevent R.equi, which is much needed by the breeding industry worldwide.

Figure 4 Hospitalisation and oxygen therapy is required in some of the more severely affected cases

on endemic farms it can be associated with widespread disease. There is a great need to better understand the factors underlying why some foals or some farms are affected, and to identify management practices that can reduce the incidence of disease.

Diagnosis of R.equi is based on the

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The Finish Line with William Derby William Derby is now in his twentieth season at the helm of York racecourse – and he has much to celebrate. With a longstanding commitment to providing excellent prize-money and a top-class raceday experience for owners and racegoers alike, few have a bad word to say about York, a regular Racecourse of the Year winner which has had its most prestigious contest, the Juddmonte International, recognised as the world’s best horserace twice in the last ten years. Unusually, Derby holds the dual position of Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course, but with a horsey upbringing and a professional background as a qualified accountant he is well equipped for both roles.

Interview: Graham Dench

I

took over from John Smith at York in 2003 and the years have simply flown by. I’m not aware of anyone else at the bigger courses who combines the roles of Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course, but I’m very well supported on both sides of the business, on the racing side by Anthea Leigh, who looks after all things racing and equine, and on the business side by an excellent management team.

Having the same person heading up both sides works for York, because it keeps racing front and centre strategically in everything we do.

called Locked Inthepocket, who is enjoying his retirement as a much-loved family pet, exploring every corner of Yorkshire hacking alongside my eldest daughter Sophie.

Having ‘completed the circle’ in order to stage the long-distance races for Royal Ascot at York in 2005, we undertook the biggest track infrastructure project of its kind in 2008 and 2009. We’ve continually invested in the racing surface since, with a state-of-the-art irrigation system, widening the track and applying world-leading agronomy under the expert eye of Head Groundsman Adrian Kay. But there’s lots more development work we’d like to do in order to make York the best racecourse it can be, and I don’t think you ever get to the end of the rainbow.

A role that caters for both my passion for sport, and racing in particular, and also for my background in business suits me well. Horses are in my DNA and I qualified as a chartered accountant at PWC’s Cambridge office, where I had bloodstock and racing clients in Newmarket, before joining Ascot, initially as Head of Accounts and later as Commercial Director. Growing up I did pony club and eventing, and I took our eventer from novice to advanced level. I also helped subsidise student life by riding out for Tom Kemp and Colin Weedon. I now have an ex-racehorse,

GEORGE SELWYN

Everyone at York is looking forward to a return to normal, starting with a Dante Festival crowd for the first time since 2019. We are offering record prizemoney of £10 million, which is £2.5m more than we offered last year and £1.2m more than our previous record in 2019.

The York Race Committee have made a big investment in prize-money across the board, with no race worth less than £15,000 and the country’s richest maiden, richest nursery and richest Group 2 and Group 3s for juveniles. We are trying to cater for all stratas and to reward people who have kept their horses in training during the pandemic.

Frankel’s Juddmonte International win in 2012 was a highlight for William Derby

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THE OWNER BREEDER

Prize-money is hopefully a big part of what makes York so popular with owners, but there’s a lot more to it. We also work hard on the owners’ experience, and they love the atmosphere of York. Competition between the local trainers and the big battalions from elsewhere makes for a real cauldron of the best competition. It’s hard to win at York, so it’s all the more meaningful when you do.

We are staging a syndicates day on the Friday of the Dante meeting. We have invited syndicates from all over to come along and display their wares to racegoers and to parade any horses that they have for sale. We welcome syndicates here and provide six badges and six lunches per horse. The lunches can be swapped for extra badges, and extra badges can be bought at a discounted rate.

We had a £1m Sky Bet Ebor in 2019, and at £500,000 this year the race is still by many miles the richest Flat handicap in Britain. This year we have put £400,000 into the Sky Bet City of York Stakes, making it the richest racecourse-funded Group 2 in the calendar. We’ve got ambitions for the race to be a Group 1 because Britain still doesn’t have a sevenfurlong Group 1. Last year’s winner Space Blues went on to land the Foret and the Breeders’ Cup Mile, and the 2018 winner Expert Eye also won at the Breeders’ Cup. We hope the ratings justify the upgrade.

York is very proud of its long association with Macmillan Cancer Support. What started as Timeform Charity Day in 1971 has raised over £9m for Macmillan, and the six-furlong handicap once won by Sheikh Albadou is still going strong. The Macmillan Ride of Their Lives charity race has raised over £1.2m over the last decade, and there’s a new charity skydive this year in which Anthea, Maiti Stirling, our Marketing Executive, and Louise Daly, our Commercial Director, are taking part.

I find it difficult to choose when I’m asked for a favourite York memory. Frankel’s Juddmonte International in 2012 was very special, and Sea The Stars’ win three years earlier was another highlight. Staging Royal Ascot at York in 2005, and then the St Leger before a sell-out crowd in 2006, were also happy occasions. Hopefully there are many more still to come.

Mighty May

European Champion juvenile and Darley stallion Belardo: conceived in May

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08/04/2022 15:30