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St Nicholas Abbey heads ourcast of potential stars in 2010

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HENRY CECIL EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW | CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL IN PICTURES

£4.95 | April 2010 | Issue 68£4.95 | April 2010 | Issue 68 Incorporating

Apr_68_Front Cover2:Layout 1 21/03/2010 22:02 Page 1

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER 3

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Cover: St Nicholas AbbeyPhoto: George Selwyn

WELCOME FROM THE EDITOREdward Rosenthal

We got it wrong. The Gold Cupshowdown between Kauto Star andDenman – and there may be somepeople who are a little tired of hearing

those two names – as previewed in last month’sissue never materialised.

Perhaps we did get carried away with these twohorses, overlooking the claims of others, includingImperial Commander, who deserves to take theplaudits after delivering a stunning performance onthe day.

Yet one of the joys of racing, and indeed anysport, is identifying the superstars, enjoying theirbrilliance and celebrating their achievements. Timewill tell if the new holder of jumping’s Blue Ribandcan elevate himself to the status of the famousDitcheat duo.

One thing is for sure: Cheltenham provided fourdays of top-notch drama, wonderfully captured byGeorge Selwyn and Patrick McCann (pages 20-27).

The Festival may be over for another year butsuch is the nature of racing that there is alwayssomething exciting around the corner, with Aintreeand the Grand National now moving into focus.

One man who will forever be associated with theevent is Bob Champion, whose recovery fromcancer to win the great race on the fragile Aldanitiin 1981 is one of sport’s great moments.

Champion is now embarking on a journey thatwill see him visit all 60 British racecourses in 60days to help raise money for his cancer trust andthe Injured Jockeys’ Fund. Tim Richards talks tothe ex-jockey to find out what his latest challenge isall about (pages 40-41).

The new Flat season is upon us and the horsethat most people are looking forward to seeingreappear is Coolmore’s St Nicholas Abbey.

Comparisons with the incredible Sea The Stars maybe unfair at this stage of his career but such was themanner of his two-year-old victories that he is astrong favourite to emulate that champion and winboth the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby.

St Nicholas Abbey is set for a big year, as areHayley Turner and William Buick (pages 49-55).Turner, now established as a top jockey – not just atop female jockey – was forced to miss a major partof last season after being signed off following a fallon the gallops. She is keen to make up for lost timeand is raring to go on the turf.

William Buick, meanwhile, has made thetransition from promising apprentice to stablejockey with John Gosden in the blink of an eye.Comparisons with Frankie Dettori will only addextra pressure but Buick has what it takes tobecome a headline act in his own right.

Henry Cecil has been writing his own headlinesfor 40 years. The title ‘legend’ is easily handed outin sport but seldom deserved; however, with Cecil,it is entirely appropriate.

The dip in stable numbers and winners at WarrenPlace which occurred during the previous decaderesulted in speculation that Cecil could be about towalk away from the sport. So did the ten-timechampion trainer consider calling it a day when hewas down to a handful of moderate runners?

“Never,” he tells Julian Muscat (pages 42-46).“At that time what I really needed was inspiration.My wife Jane has been a great help, very supportivein lots of ways. And I also needed one or twodecent horses, which I got.”

Cecil’s resurgence is evidenced by a yard toppingthe 120-mark, containing a number of Group 1winners and a host of promising youngsters.

It looks like being an exciting year.

apr_68_Editors:Layout 1 22/03/2010 11:30 Page 5

4 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

No other publication is better equipped to representthe wishes and interests of ALL owners and breeders.We’d love to hear your views:[email protected]

06 News FocusLatest developments in Racing For Change project

10 ChangesNews in a nutshell

13 ROA LeaderLevy scheme needs reform, not another rollover

15 TBA LeaderYearling Bonus Scheme can act as stimulus for market

16 Tony MorrisThe career and legacy of Bull Hancock

18 The Maxse FactorWhy racing is not like marmite

30 NEW The Great Owner/BreedersNew series starts with Dick Hollingsworth

96 Your SaySheila Bailey: what the Pony Club can do

32 View From IrelandNew owner but same old success for Moyglare Stud

34 Continental TalesFabre’s starlets: Maxime Guyon and Mickael Barzalona

37 Going GlobalRachel Alexandra defeat means no Zenyatta showdown

NEWS AND VIEWS

INTERNATIONAL SCENE

FEATURES20 Cheltenham Festival

The story in pictures

28 WIN! Reader CompetitionWin a trip to Hong Kong with Horse Racing Abroad

49 Hayley Turner can prove to be one of the stars of the Flat season42 Henry Cecil: all is looking rosy again for Britain’s best-loved trainer

CONTENTS

40 Aldaniti’s rider Bob Champion faces another daunting challenge

28 Win a fabulous holiday to the Hong Kong International Races

apr_68_Contents:Layout 1 21/03/2010 21:48 Page 4


FEATURES continued40 Talking To...

Grand National legend Bob Champion

42 Henry CecilBack where he belongs – at the top of the tree

49 COVER STORY Focus on the FlatIs St Nicholas Abbey Flat racing’s new equine star?

56 First-season stallionsThe sires’ championship that attracts plenty of interest

64 Sales CircuitGoffs’ Kempton sale kicks off 2010 breeze-up season

FORUM

DATA BOOK86 Caulfield Files

Japan on the global stage

88 Global Stakes ResultsGraded scorers and analysis of Group/Grade 1 winners

91 Stallion StatisticsHe’s 29 but Bob Back is still doing well

20 Imperial Commander wins the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup

Our proven average monthly circulation is certifiedby the Audit Bureau of Circulations at 10,183**based on the period July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009

Industry agreed measurement

66 ROA ForumProfessional Riders Insurance Scheme so important

70 Racecourse League TableOn the basis of contributions to prize-money

72 TBA ForumHailing the heroes of the Stud And Stable Staff Awards

79 Breeder of the MonthGeoff Brown, for Silver By Nature

80 Vet ForumInfectious diseases

apr_68_Contents:Layout 1 21/03/2010 21:49 Page 5


Yearling Bonus Scheme racesunder way with pot of £2.6mBonus races spread throughout mainland Europe with 200 to be run in Britain and Ireland

The first of at least 260races carrying one ofthe £10,000 (orequivalent) prizes from

the Racing Post-sponsoredYearling Bonus Scheme(YBS) was run at theCurragh on March 21.

The owners of 2,450 two-year-olds have opted to pay the£250 required for eligibility tothe scheme, just short of 60%of the number of yearlingsoriginally entered by breedersand/or consignors ahead oflast year’s yearling sales.

David Redvers, a member ofthe YBS committee, said:“Beforehand, if anyone hadbeen brave or silly enough topredict that we’d raise £2.6million they’d have beenlaughed at. We’d hoped we’dget maybe £1 million, so forthe bonus fund to be nearlythree times that is tremendous.

“I think it will have apositive effect on this year’ssales as there will be a huge PRpush throughout the year.There’s a real feel-good factorto it.

“I suppose we were hopingthat more of the eligibleyearlings would have beenkept in the scheme but thesethings take a bit of time to bedin and I hope that vendorswho didn’t sell their yearlingswill see the benefits of keepingthem in the scheme.”

Of the total number ofraces, 150 are set to be run inBritain, 50 in Ireland and theremainder throughoutmainland Europe, with around10% of the races to be reservedfor next year’s maiden three-year-olds.

From the recent Goffsbreeze-up sale at Kempton, 70of those catalogued wereeligible for the Yearling BonusScheme, while Tattersalls’Craven breeze-up on April 13to 15 features 90 eligible two-year-olds. The followingweek’s DBS breeze-up has138 of its 186 horsescatalogued in the scheme.

The deadline for yearlingpurchasers to maintain ahorse’s eligibility for thescheme passed in December,

but potential breeze-up buyersshould be aware that not allhorses in the sales, even ifmarked as eligible, are fullypaid-up for the scheme.

“We gave concessions tobreeze-up consignors, whoalso have to pay for theBreeze-up Bonus Scheme,”said YBS co-ordinator KerryMurphy. “Some have paid thefinal £250 to keep the horses

in the scheme but not all.Purchasers of those horses willhave up to seven days after thesale to make this payment ifthey wish to retain eligibilityfor the bonus scheme.”

She added: “Where possible,it will be announced on thesales companies’ websites andlists will be put up on boardsat the sales. People can alsoenquire directly to me.”

NEWS FOCUSThe big stories in the racing world

David Redvers: delighted that bonus pool has exceeded expectations

THE 14-strong TBA Next GenerationCommittee has become involved inongoing talks with Racing For Change(RFC) regarding ways to attract theyounger generation to become regularracegoers and industry participants.

“The Next Generation Committee ispart of the team of people we’re talking to

in order to ensure we’re on the rightwavelength,” said RFC’s PR DirectorNick Attenborough. “We really appreciatetheir input and ideas in formulating ourstrategy going forward.”

Vice-chairman of the Next GenerationCommittee, Daniel Polak, was one of fourmembers to attend a recent meeting withRFC and representatives from theRacecourse Association (RCA).

He said: “Our presence is only in anadvisory capacity but it has been great tobe involved and one of our main topics ofdiscussions was the student market.

“I think the fact that the meeting took

place out of office hours and thateveryone there was doing this out ofgoodwill legitimises what RFC is about.

“It’s racing and breeding and the RCAgetting together to iron out ways in whichwe can work together. It was productive.”

Attenborough added: “The NextGeneration Committee is coming at itfrom the perspective of what will getyoung people to engage with racing as asport and then in the longer termhopefully encourage them to be ownersand breeders.

“Their ideas are very valid as a means ofconnecting with that age group.”

Next Generation Committee takesactive role in Racing For Change

Daniel Polak: representing NGC in talks

apr_68_News Focus2:Layout 1 21/03/2010 22:42 Page 6


Tom Goff: bigger gap needed

ASCOT and Goodwood areamong nine racecourses thatwill offer a day of freeadmission as part of theRacing For Change initiativeto attract more people to thesport.

The fixtures, over six daysbetween Monday, April 26and Saturday, May 1 provide amix of both afternoon andevening meetings, and Flatand jump racing.

Ascot’s card on Wednesday,April 29 features the Group 3Sagaro Stakes, while thehighlight at Goodwood onSaturday, May 1 is the ListedEBF Conqueror Stakes.

Racing For ChangeChairman Chris McFaddensaid: “These fixtures give thepublic a real choice. The

quality of the racing is great.“With three of the fixtures

being in the evening and oneon Saturday afternoon, theyare at times that areconvenient for people to comealong with their families.”

A number of trial initiativeswill be launched during theweek, including a new displayof photo-finish results on bigscreens, modernised racedayannouncements and improvedraceday programmes.

Top tracks to open doors for free

Monday April 26 Towcester and Wolverhampton Tuesday April 27 Sedgefield (evening) and Nottingham (evening)

Wednesday April 28 Kempton Park (evening) and Ascot Thursday April 29 Huntingdon (evening)

Friday April 30 Doncaster Saturday May 1 Goodwood

For more information, email [email protected] stating which course you areinterested in attending. A reply will be sent with full details whentickets become available.

THE Federation ofBloodstock Agents (FBA) hasmade a request to Tattersallsthat Books 1 and 2 of itsOctober Yearling Sale start aday later than has been thecase in recent years.

October Book 1, usually athree-day sale, is scheduled tostart on Tuesday, October 5which, in the opinion ofagents, does not allow enoughtime between the Arc meetingand the start of the sale forviewing yearlings.

Tom Goff of BlandfordBloodstock, who representedthe FBA at a recent TattersallsLiaison Committee meeting,said: “I hope there is a degreeof concensus that it would be

Calls to delayTattersalls’October Sale

NEWS FOCUS

Free admission fixtures

Goodwood’s May 1 fixture will be free to attend as part of a week-long Racing For Change initiative

Bloodstock Racecard now availableWEATHERBYS have launched a newracecard aimed at owners, breeders, stallionowners, agents and consignors. It containsbreeding and sales information on eachhorse, including its sire and first three dams.

The Bloodstock Racecard is free tosubscribe to and free to receive. It will beproduced for all Group races in the European

Pattern and selected international Groupraces such as the Dubai World Cup meetingat Meydan, the Breeders’ Cup, Hong KongInternational and the Japan Cup.

Each issue will contain the following day’sGroup races and is delivered by email. To findand subscribe to the Bloodstock Racecard,visit www.bloodstockracecard.com.

beneficial to have a bigger gapbetween two very significantevents. It would be moredesirable for all parties to havemore time to scrutinise 600 ormore of the best collection ofyearlings in Europe. Tattersallshave been very helpful andhave listened to our ideas.”

Tattersalls’ MarketingDirector Jimmy George said:“There has been discussionabout whether it would be agood idea to start the sale onthe Wednesday instead of theTuesday but there are logisticalissues as consignors and agentswon’t want only two daysbetween Books 1 and 2.”

Book 2 of the October Saleis scheduled to start onMonday, October 11.● See TBA Leader, page 15



NEWS FOCUS

Sales at Keenelandand Arqana altered

Keeneland and Arqanahave both announcedsignificant changes tothe format of this

autumn’s yearling sales.Keeneland’s September Sale,

which starts on Sunday, 12September, will feature aslimline Book 1, with around200 select yearlings cataloguedto sell on Sunday and Mondayevening.

Book 2 consists of a morecomprehensive catalogue of1,300 yearlings, selling fromTuesday, September 14through to the Friday.

The remaining sessions ofthe mammoth sale, whichtraditionally features morethan 5,000 yearlings, willcontinue on the followingSunday (September 19).

“This new format allows usto offer 1,500 yearlings priorto the sale’s ‘dark day’ whichbenefits both consignors andbuyers,” said Keeneland’sDirector of Sales GeoffreyRussell.

“At the same time, we aredoing it within a format thatallows us to sell feweryearlings each day.”

He added that he hoped thenew-look sale would “helpcreate more stability andcontinuity for the marketplaceas economic conditions beginslowly to rebound both athome and internationally.”

Deauville-based Arqana hasinstigated a grading system forits October Yearling Sale,which runs from October 18to 20. The sale is now in twoparts, with the first to beconducted over twoconsecutive afternoon sessionsstarting on Monday, October18, and featuring yearlingsconsidered to be morecommercial.

Part two is a full-day sessionon Wednesday, which willinclude around 250 lots. Thedeadline for entries to this salehas been extended to April 15.

Arqana’s President EricHoyeau said: “Our OctoberYearling Sale has doneextremely well over the lastfew years in a particularlychallenging environment.

“However, it is vital toinnovate if you want to keepprogressing in this fast-changing bloodstock market.”

DARLEY’S multiple Group1-winning stallion Singspielhas encountered a problemwith his fertility since thestart of the covering season.This is thought to be theresult of an illness the 18-year-old suffered in January,from which he has fullyrecovered.

A statement from DalhamHall Stud said: “It is hopedthat Singspiel’s fall in fertilityis temporary so he remains

covering a reduced bookof mares and will continue tobe assessed as the breedingseason progresses.”

A son of In The Wingsand half-brother to Rahy,Singspiel was responsible forthree Group 1 winners lastyear, Dar Re Mi, EasternAnthem and Hibaayeb.

Singspiel’sfertilitysetback


NEWS FOCUS

ChangesRacing’s news in a nutshell

Investec Derby sponsor to back all six races at Epsom’s first fixture of 2010 on April 21Paddy Power Reports 15% decline in pre-tax profit in 2009, from £79m to £67.2mAlexis Murphy Chief Executive of Tote Ireland to step downSmurfit Kappa Sponsor of the Champion Hurdle since 1991 will no longer back the race Brian Rothwell Returns to training ranks in Yorkshire having spent the last two years working with Aidan O’Brien at BallydoyleWilliam Hill Pre-tax profit for 2009 fell by 8.6% from £216.1m to £197.5mDavid Myerscough 28-year-old calls time on training career citing financial pressures; he sent out 31 winners including Listed scorer Bruges Racing For Change Proposes new dates for Flat and jumps championships at British Horseracing ConferenceCathy Gannon Jockey will have Andrew Sheret booking her rides after split with agent Neil Allan Wertheimer brothers Top-ranked owner/breeders on Forbes’ Billionaires List; Goldikova’s owners are said to be worth $7.5b, which places them 93rd overallSam Thomas Gold Cup-winning jockey cracks neck vertebra after schooling fall on Paul Nicholls’s gallops Stuart Messenger Head Lad to Sir Michael Stoute named Employee of the Year at the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff AwardsPolly Gundry Becomes winning-most female point-to-point rider of all time riding Ned The Post at Wadebridge, her 288th success in that sphere

People and business

Whiteoak High-class mare, winner of the inaugural David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle at the 2008 Cheltenham Festival, retired owing to injuryEagle Mountain 2008 Hong Kong Cup winner suffers tendon injury and is retired to stud Vodka (pictured) Outstanding Japanese mare retires as the second highest money-earner of all time; the seven-time Grade 1 winner will be covered by Sea The Stars Desert Code Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner of 2008 retired to stand at Harris Farms in Coalinga, California Candy Creek Six-year-old daughter of Definite Article, winner of the Listed mares’ bumper at Aintree in 2009, is retired Lord Shanakill Group 1 winner when trained by Karl Burke joins Henry Cecil from Richard Mandella in the US Windsor Castle Son of Generous, winner of the 1997 Queen’s Vase and Northumberland Plate, to stand at John Jones’s Gwernau Ganol Farm near Caerphilly for £500Snoopy Loopy 2008 Betfair Chase winner retired for a second time after pulling up in the Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock Manighar Group 2 winner joins Luca Cumani’s stable from Alain de Royer-Dupre, having been sold by the Aga Khan Red Element Multiple stakes winner and brother to star Australian racemare Typhoon Tracy to take up stud duties at Glenlogan Stud, QueenslandBig Brown Vinery Australia acquires significant shareholding in 2008 champion three-year-old male, who will stand southern hemisphere season at Hunter Valley farmMarchand D’Or Multiple Group 1-winning sprinter moved from Freddie Head to Mikel Delzangles by owner Carla Girla after winless 2009Anasheed Ten-year-old AP Indy horse out of Flagbird, by Nureyev, is sold by New York-based Anasheed Syndicate, to stand in RussiaMedaglia D’Oro Rachel Alexandra’s sire will shuttle to Australia from the US for the first time this year, based at DarleySoneva Triple Group 3 winner retired to the paddocks after being beaten on Super Thursday at Meydan; she will be covered by GalileoLife Is Sweet Zenyatta’s Breeders’ Cup-winning stablemate retired after recurrence of muscle cramps; she will be bred to Smart Strike

Racehorse and stallion – movements and retirements

Chief Oscar 9 Gallant son of Oscar collapses just moments after winning the Ulster Grand NationalRocky Marriage 30 South-African based stallion who began his racing career in Britain before moving to America, where he won a Grade 2Changingoftheguard 4 David Hayes-trained colt, formerly in the care of Aidan O’Brien, who was a Melbourne Cup hope for his new Australian connectionsAqaleem 6 Australian import who ran third to Authorized in the 2007 Derby dies soon after stablemate ChangingoftheguardCasey Jones 9 Won the 2008 Grade 1 Knight Frank Novice Chase at Leopardstown for the Noel Meade stableLaroche 19 Germany Derby winner of 1994, defeating Overbury, who later sired three Listed winners Coe 8 Trevor Hemmings-owned staying chaser trained by Sue Smith Flanders 18 Daughter of Seeking The Gold who won three Grade 1s in the USCitizen Vic 7 Grade 1-winning chaser trained by Willie Mullins

People obituaries Age

Sue Lamyman 69 Lincolnshire trainer whose best horses included multiple winning stayers Jamaican Flight and Victory QuestLinda Sheedy 57 Former amateur jockey who partnered eight winners under Rules and rode in Aldaniti’s Grand National in 1981Simon Scrope 75 Member of the York race committee for 24 years who was also Director and Chairman of Pontefract racecourseJohn Mulhern 69 Trainer of Galmoy, winner of the Stayers’ Hurdle in 1987 and 1988, and 1995 Irish Grand National victor Flashing SteelSam Waller 92 Secretary to the Levy Board, Director General of the Racecourse Association and Senior Steward of the Turf Club

Horse obituaries Age

In association with


apr_68_changes:Leader 22/03/2010 12:12 Page 12


Levy scheme rolloversimply not acceptableLevel of funding required to reflect fair return to racing from betting industrya cornerstone of levy submission which has the approval of top economists

There is something about the next annual levyprocess that smacks of it being horseracing’slast throw of the dice. Industrycommentators will argue that we have been

here before; that this is just another round in theinterminable squabble between racing andbookmakers.

There are, however, a number of factors thatsuggest things are now reaching such a pitch forBritish racing that a simple ‘rollover’ of the currentscheme would be completely unacceptable.

Like many levy schemes before it, the 50thscheme, which relates to funding for the fiscal year2011/12, will hinge on racing’s ability to convincethe Levy Board and probably the Government thatracing’s needs and the bookmakers’ capacity to payare both greater than ever before.

If the route for an agreement between the twoparties cannot be found by the Levy Board byOctober 31, then the outcome will be determinedby the Department for Culture, Media and Sport,or whatever the appropriate Governmentdepartment will be called if the Conservatives are inpower.

In the past there has always been an attitude that,if getting a deal between the two sides requiresGovernment intervention, this is somehow seen asa failure. The BHA is, however, determined tochange this perception, believing that unless thereis significant movement from the bookmakers’position then it is right that the Governmentshould be brought into the decision-makingprocess.

The consequences are, after all, extremelysignificant, not just for racing but also for the ruraleconomy.

With the levy yield currently dropping like astone and prize-money levels for 2010 set todecline sharply as a result, it is small wonder thatthe racing industry is impatient for change. Thishas been reflected in racing already putting its caseto the Levy Board well in advance of the usualopening salvo that comes from the bettingindustry.

This submission was presented at the last LevyBoard meeting and, although a confidentialityagreement prevents any detail from beingdiscussed, I am breaking no confidences when I saythat top economists have been wheeled in and nostone left unturned in racing’s efforts to present itscase.

The extent to which British racing’s economicstanding has deteriorated and the level of fundingthat is required to reflect a ‘fair return’ to racingfrom the betting industry are the cornerstones of adocument that penetrates the mysteries of racingpolitics and finance.

There is, of course, already much we do knowabout this industry without seeking the help ofeconomists. Any owner or trainer will tell youabout increasing costs and deteriorating prize-money, while public accounts will reveal the hugegrowth in profits generated by the betting industryduring the last decade.

We also know that, despite the widediversification within betting shops, racing remainsthe biggest attraction to entice punters in, thoughracing does not share in the profits generated bynon-racing betting products.

We know that two of the major bookmakers havereneged on an undertaking to Government to keeptheir businesses in the UK by setting up theironline operations overseas to avoid paying tax andlevy, and that this trend is likely to continue.

We know the fixture list has greatly expanded inrecent years, largely to satisfy the wishes of thebetting industry. We know that this has cost racing– and particularly owners – much, much more thanit has received back from betting and that, to rubsalt into our wounds, the levy yield in 2009dropped by 20% from £115m to £92m andcontinues to be in freefall.

Most of all, however, we know full well that the50-year-old levy system is in desperate need ofreform, its statutory framework requiringimmediate modernisation to reflect today’s realitiesof racing’s relationship with bookmakers.

We know that this is going to be very difficult toachieve with an overloaded post-election legislativeprogramme.

Yet failure to find a route through will simplyaccelerate the widening disparity between Britishracing and other major racing nations which enjoythe advantages of pool betting monopolies andfunding for their respective industries on a scale wecan only dream of.

We know that, despite all the disadvantages thatBritish racing has endured for many years, itcontinues to put on the best racing in the world,but we also know that its position on the globalstage is simply not sustainable unless a new fundingmodel can soon be found.

“Given the levyyield and prize-money, it issmall wonderthe industry isimpatient forchange”

Paul DixonPresidentRacehorse OwnersAssociation

ROA LEADER

apr_68_ROA Leader:Layout 1 21/03/2010 22:21 Page 15


Self-help crucial instimulating marketTBA and BBM have roles to play in raising awareness of Bonus Schemeraces, so creating stimulus for retaining owners and attracting new ones

Paul Dixon’s column in the March issue ofthis magazine continued on the theme ofdeclining prize-money and quite rightly heconcluded that even the British racehorse

owner has a limit to which he can continue to berelied upon to fund the sport.

At a current rate of 23% cost recovery, which islikely to show an increased decline as racing’sincome from the levy is further eroded, thoseracehorse owners who invest in our sport purely forthe ‘craic’ are becoming thinner on the ground.

The Racing For Change (RFC) initiatives are oflittle help in the short term in boosting ownershipnumbers. The outcome of the breeders’ self-funded marketing initiative – the 2009 Racing PostYearling Bonus Scheme – will be rolled out in thecoming months.

We need to see these races creating a stimulus toretain our existing sporting owners, whilst alsodriving future and wider appetite for ownership. Ihope the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association andBritish Bloodstock Marketing can play a part indisseminating information and raising awareness.

Yearling consignors will be invited to contributeto the 2010 scheme over the coming months and,whilst analysis of the 2009 outcome is some wayoff, I understand that consignors may be moreselective in their future support. The breedingindustry has always recognised the importance ofself-help to stimulate the bloodstock market.

The European Breeders’ Fund is a fine exampleof how effective channelling support throughenhanced prize-money can be, but funding via self-help measures must be an enhancement to prize-money levels, not a subsidy. The responsibility formaintaining an adequate level of prize-moneyshould not fall upon the participants.

After the British Horseracing Conference,accusations were flying in the press regardingracecourses’ contributions to prize-money.

Horsemen and racecourses must accept that theyneed to work together to find a solution, with eachrecognising and respecting the other. The TBA isfully supportive of the Horsemen’s Group’sChairman’s determination to find a solution.

In the meantime, however, this leaves theindustry relying more heavily on traditionalowner/breeders, and those commercial breederswho have transferred a number of their own stockinto training after disappointing sales results. Thissituation may not be sustainable.

Whilst our recent survey of a representativesample of TBA members showed that 80% hadhorses in training, 53% of this sample had or wereconsidering relocating their interests overseas,where the recovery percentages were significantlyhigher.

Britain’s racing calendar could have asignificantly different look in years to come ifRacing For Change proceeds with its aim toshorten the Flat and National Hunt seasons viatailored championships.

No firm outline has yet been given but if, assuggested, the Flat championship is decided beforethe major two-year-old Group races of the year arerun, not to mention other key autumnal contests,this appears to pose a threat to the sires’ tables ifraces such as the Racing Post Trophy, run atDoncaster in October, do not apply.

One would hope that common sense will prevailand that even if new methods of identifying thechampion jockey and trainer are formulated, thetraditional ways of deciding stallion championshipswill remain unaltered.

Returning to the subject of the importance ofowners, at an industry meeting at Tattersalls, theTBA representatives gave their full support to thebloodstock agents’ requests that Tattersalls delaythe start of their 2010 October Books One andTwo Yearling Sales.

Coming straight after the Arc weekend, whereattendance is nigh on vital for all professionals,there is a strong view that agents, trainers andprospective owners do not have sufficient time toview all lots, and that this year starting the sale aday later (Wednesday, October 6 to Friday,October 8), would be an enormous help to theindustry.

The obvious turnaround before the second weekwould then necessitate Parts Two and Three to beheld from Tuesday, October 12 to Friday, October15. It was accepted that there will be somelogistical issues to address, but if not in 2010,certainly 2011 and beyond, the reduction in thenumber of yearlings presented for sale will easethese issues.

Crucially, in the meantime, our priority must beto ensure that there is ample viewing time forprospective purchasers and that breeders andconsignors are given the opportunity to show andpromote their stock to as many people as possible.Anything less would be unacceptable.

“Responsibilityfor maintainingan adequatelevel of prize-money shouldnot fall uponparticipants”

Kirsten RausingChairmanThoroughbred Breeders’Association

TBA LEADER

apr_68_TBA Leader:Layout 1 21/03/2010 22:30 Page 15


THE MAN YOU CAN’T IGNOREComment

Tony MorrisUnder the guidance of Bull Hancock, Claiborne rose tobecome the standard bearer of American stud farms

Many factors were involved in theestablishment of the USA as thedominant power in thoroughbredbreeding, but if there was one man who

might be said to have been chiefly responsible itwas surely Arthur Boyd Hancock, Jr – BullHancock, as he was invariably known.

The presiding genius of Claiborne Farm from1949, when he assumed control from his ailingfather, until his sudden death in 1972, Hancockwas an exceptional horseman with outstandingbusiness acumen. A man of vision whoseaccomplishments earned him universal respect andrecognition, he took Claiborne to new heights,following some of his father’s practices andinitiating some of his own. It was acknowledged hehad no peer when it came to assessing the potentialof a prospective stallion.

In the years immediately after the end of WorldWar II there was a measure of gloom in Britain andIreland over the regular successful raids by Frenchhorses. But few in Europe could conceive Americaas any kind of threat; besides, the mere breadth ofthe Atlantic meant direct competition was rare.

Just to confirm the European complacency inthat respect, Citation, America’s Triple Crownchampion of 1948, hailed as his nation’s best sinceMan o’ War, suffered defeat in four clashes withNoor, third in England’s Derby, when they werefive. On the last occasion, at Golden Gate Fields,Noor conceded 1lb and won by three lengths.

While Europe celebrated the ‘proof’ that itssuperiority remained intact, Hancock was in theprocess of buying Noor’s sire, Nasrullah, a deal

that would soon have enormous repercussions.Ireland’s loss was Claiborne’s – and America’s –gain. A year later Nasrullah would head the Anglo-Irish sires’ list; in the coming years he would headthe North American table five times, and amonghis sons was supersire Bold Ruler.

Hancock was following his father in looking toEurope for sire power; the old man’s acquisitionsincluded Sir Gallahad, Blenheim and Princequillo,all tremendously successful. But he had his ownideas about breeding, culling the broodmare banddeveloped by his father, acquiring fresh blood (insome cases, again from Europe, including blue henRough Shod), abandoning the policy of sellingyearlings at auction, preferring instead to sell someprivately, while operating a racing stable.

Hancock’s touch was certain from the start. Hewas North America’s leading breeder four times,but more significant was his impact in the selectionand management of Claiborne’s stallions. For 15consecutive seasons to 1969 a Claiborne horsefinished top of the sire list – Nasrullah five times,Princequillo twice, Ambiorix once, and Bold Rulerseven times in a row. During that period there werenever fewer than three Claiborne residents in thetop 20; on three occasions there were half a dozen.Six times the farm had winner and runner-up, andin 1960 Nasrullah, Ambiorix and Turn-toregistered a remarkable one-two-three.

Born to be wildly successfulThe next two champion sires after Hancock’s deathwere Round Table and – for the eighth time – BoldRuler; the pair had been born in the same foalingbarn at Claiborne within seven hours of oneanother one April morning in 1954, both wonHorse of the Year, both followed outstandingcareers at the track with doughty deeds as stallionsat their first home. Among horses not alreadymentioned who stood at Claiborne in Hancock’sday were, Sir Gaylord, Herbager, Tom Rolfe,Buckpasser, Forli, Damascus, Sir Ivor and Nijinsky.

The early success with Nasrullah set the pattern.Claiborne would syndicate the horses amongprominent breeders and provide the managementfor the consideration of four free nominationsannually. What was certainly a good deal forHancock also suited others, who had every reasonto express faith in his judgement.

More often than not Hancock’s judgement wasright – usually spectacularly right. Throughout theworld he was recognised as the leading authoritywhere the selection and management of stallionswere concerned, so it was hardly surprising otherspaid keen attention to his pronouncements on thesubject and endeavoured to follow his principles.

Years after Hancock’s death, in an era whenstallion syndication had fallen out of fashion andmarketing had become the studmaster’s all-important tool, advertisements for new horsescommonly featured quotes from the old man.

Many new recruits to the stallion ranks seeminglypossessed a lot of the qualities Hancock had citedas necessary for success at stud, or so the advertisers

“It was acknowledged Hancock had no peer inassessing the potential of a prospective stallion”

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claimed. From beyond the grave the maestro wasapparently offering recommendations about horsesof whom he had no knowledge.

Whether the practice was ethical did not signify.Nobody in the modern world was so naïve as tobelieve every word they read in an ad; on thecontrary, it was known marketing folk regularlymade assertions that stretched credulity.

Ad the result of 40 years of hurt?So a full page ad placed by Hancock’s older son,Arthur Boyd Hancock III, in a recent edition ofThoroughbred Daily News came as some surprise.Under the heading: “What Bull Hancock ReallyThought”, the man who operates Stone Farm andis himself a renown breeder revealed: “Onemorning in 1969 in a conversation with my father,I asked him why he didn’t take a few more maresto Bold Ruler, whose stud fee was $100,000 andwho was getting about 38 mares, and he said,‘Because, son, overbreeding a stallion compromisesthe quality of the offspring. It has been tried withstallions who got a couple of stakes winners in theirfirst crops and were never heard from again.’

“He would not double a stallion two days in arow because he believed it diminished semenvitality and was not conducive to producing thesoundest and most robust offspring. He said that astallion should make around 100 covers a year. Inthe early 1970s before the days of palpation andultrasound, that was about 40 mares at 2.5 coversper mare. Today that would be about 75 mares at1.3 covers per mare.”

And the ad ended with the observation: “Nowthose who quote Bull Hancock know the rest ofthe story.”

This was a curiosity. Was the son incensed by thelong-established practice of advertisers exploitinghis father’s name? Why had he waited 40 years toreveal what he considered his father’s real message?Were we to believe the explanation he wanted toinitiate a debate over big books, which have beencommon throughout the industry for decades?

Notwithstanding Bull Hancock’s genius, theopinion that he expressed in 1969 was of its time,for its time. While many would favour a reductionin book sizes for the most active stallions, there isnow any amount of veterinary evidence to refutethe notion that more than 100 covers in a seasonnecessarily diminishes semen vitality and results inmore unsound stock. Had Hancock lived ten yearslonger, he would surely have changed his mind.

What Hancock got right was that he managedhis stallions properly. He knew his clients, and heknew their mares well; he knew how they shouldbe mated for their own benefit and to enhance theprofiles of his stallions and the interests of theowning syndicates.

What he would deplore today is the lack ofmanagement in the stallion industry. It is the questfor quantity and the neglect of quality control thatresults in the unsoundness in the 21st centurybreed, and ensures that no stallion will ever matchNasrullah’s ratio of 23% stakes winners to foals.

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The good, the bad and the downright uglyfrom Cheltenham, served with some marmite

JOHN MAXSEComment

MAXSEFACTOR

THE

The Cheltenham Festival thisyear was not only abuzz withwhich horses were supposed towin, there was also much talkabout a couple of striking PRand marketing initiatives.

Not surprisingly, the PaddyPower sign on Cleeve Hillprovoked most debate. Ithought it was a clever stunt,albeit one not withoutramifications for thecompany’s relationship withCheltenham through theirsponsorship at the OpenMeeting in November.

Paddy Power is no strangerto controversy and the signwas in keeping with theirreputation for courtingpublicity through shocktactics. From their perspective,no doubt, it was deemed asuccess; seen and debated byover 200,000 racegoers, as

well as millions of TV viewersand newspaper readers.

Ruby Walsh was againleading rider at Cheltenhamand this spring at Pitch wehave been working withRacing UK on theirsponsorship of the jockey.

It won’t come as a surpriseto many to learn that Ruby is acomplete professional to workwith.

Indeed, both Ruby and APMcCoy deserve credit for themanner in which theyconducted themselvesthroughout their rollercoasterrides at the Festival.

Time and again they showedtheir true sportsmanship,highlighted by the jointinterview they gave after beingdefeated in the Gold Cup.Racing is lucky to have them.

All Power to Paddy ployThis year I have to say Iwas very relieved when thecurtain came down on theFestival as it meant nothaving to suffer anotherairing of the song‘Cheltenham’, the versionof Downtown put togetherto coincide with this year’smeeting and playedseemingly at everyopportunity during themeeting.

It might have been for agood cause – four charitiesbenefitted from anyproceeds generated bysales, including RacingWelfare, of which I am atrustee – but just becausesomething is for charitydoes not mean we have tolike it.

Without wishing toappear too cynical, theactual objective of theproject is still lost on me.The cost of renting outvarious recording studios,with a film crew at each,and production costs forthe song and video wouldhave bought a nominationor two to Sea The Stars.

The resulting version ofa 46-year-old songreminded me of the variedmusical efforts footballclubs used to impose uponthe public to celebrate aWembley Cup Finalappearance. A practicewhich always seemed odd,if not redundant, as otherthan a die-hard supporter,who would ever want tobuy such a thing?

Singlestrikesbum note

Clever or distasteful? The controversial ‘Hollywood’ sign on Cleeve Hill

Radio 5 Live hostPeter Allen recentlydescribed racing as thesporting equivalent ofmarmite. His pointbeing that peopleeither love or hate it.Yet this is completerubbish.

Racing may not be as popular as some othersports, but few people actively dislike it.

On the contrary, research has shown thatmany people enjoy a day at the races and that itis other factors which prevent them frombecoming more regular racegoers.

At the British Horseracing Conference,REL’s Chief Executive Rod Street (pictured)made another food/racing comparison whenhe said implementing the recommendations putforward by the Racing For Change board waslike wading through treacle.

He’s right, and for the sport to, er, spread itsappeal sufficiently to deter the Peter Allens ofthis world from making similar marmite claimsin the future, we need to put aside our vestedinterests and deliver material change, startingwith a properly tiered fixture list.

Otherwise there’s a risk that by the time weget to agreeing on a diluted compromise,racing’s ‘best by’ date will have come and gone.

Lazy comparisons no help to racing

John Maxse is Associate Director at Pitch

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One Fantastic FestivalRacing’s annual Cheltenham spectacular didn’t disappoint in the excitement stakes, with a host of upsets, dramatic finishes and high-class performances to delight the watchers

Photos George Selwyn and Patrick McCann

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Menorah (top) collected the Supreme Novices’ Hurdleunder Richard Johnson, with odds-on Dunguib and BrianO’Connell only third, while Sizing Europe (below) jumpedsuperbly to take the Arkle Trophy under Andrew Lynch

Binocular looked set to miss the meeting but there was no doubting hiswell-being as he powered home in the Champion Hurdle under TonyMcCoy, to the delight of his jockey, owner J P McManus (above left), andNicky Henderson, who was to finish the meeting as top trainer



CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2010

Colm Murphy (above left) is congratulated by fellow Irish trainer PaulNolan after Big Zeb (right) saw off Master Minded and co to win theQueen Mother Champion Chase. Peddlers Cross preserved hisunbeaten record in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’Hurdle (below), while Weapon’s Amnesty landed the RSA Chase



DAY TWO




Big Buck’s (above right) wins his second World Hurdle under Ruby Walsh at the expense of Time For Rupert, as the crowd watches on



DAY THREE

First Festival winners forHadden Frost on BuenaVista (right) in thePertemps Final andDanny Cook riding GreatEndeavour in the ByrneGroup Plate

Below: Albertas Run andTony McCoy see off allchallengers in the RyanairChase




Imperial Commander delighted trainerNigel Twiston-Davies and jockey PaddyBrennan with victory over Denman in theGold Cup; favourite Kauto Star fell, buthe was well enough to be hacked backto the stables by Ruby Walsh (right),who ended the Festival as leading jockey



DAY FOUR



WIN A SIX‑DAY TRIPTO THE HONG KONGINTERNATIONAL● This holiday for two, from leading tour operator

Horse Racing Abroad, is worth more than £3,500

● See the top‑class racing action on December12 at the magnificent Sha Tin racecourse,with four Group 1s on the card

● Enjoy one of the worldʼs most exciting cities

The fantastic prize on offer to readers of ThoroughbredOwner & Breeder is this very special opportunity to visitHong Kong to enjoy the Cathay Pacific Hong KongInternational Races on Sunday, December 12. In addition,there are free days to explore all the sights of Hong Kong.

The superb dayʼs racing includes four Group 1 championship events, worth a combined HK$62 million.The highlight is the richest race in Hong Kong, theHK$20 million Group 1 Hong Kong Cup.

READER COMPETITIONCATHAY PACIFIC HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL – DECEMBER 8‑14, 2010

HOW TO ENTERSimply answer the three questions opposite and submit your entry by email or freepost mail.

SUBMIT ANSWERS TO:Reader CompetitionThoroughbred Owner & BreederFreepost WD1194London SW1A 1BRor [email protected] (includename, address and contact telephone number).

TERMS AND CONDITIONSThe closing date for entries is midnight on May 1,2010. Entrants must be aged 18 or over. The winner will be selected at random from all correct entries. The prize is not transferable andthere is no cash equivalent. The competition isnot open to the staff of Thoroughbred Owner& Breeder magazine, the ROA, the TBA,Horse Racing Abroad, or their families.The Editorʼs decision is final.

apr_68_competition:June_46_ROA Leader.qxd 21/03/2010 21:47 Page 1


The Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong has long been hailed as one ofthe finest hotels in the world. Created in the glamorous 1920s,the legendary “Grande Dame of the Far East” continues to sethotel standards worldwide, offering a blend of the best ofEastern and Western hospitality in an atmosphere ofunmatched classical grandeur and timeless elegance.

The opulent guestrooms are comfortable and stylish, and equippedwith advanced technology for theconvenience of hotelguests. The restaurants and barsare among the mostexclusive and elegant in Hong Kong. High tea at The Lobby is a Hong Konginstitution and the best authentic Cantonese food in town isserved at Spring Moon. The hotel features a state of the art fitness centre and a huge Roman‑style swimming pool. Thepool opens onto the hotelʼs sun terrace, providing an incredibleview of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island.

ItineraryWednesday 8 DecemberDepart London Heathrow for your evening flight with BritishAirways.

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Friday 10 & Saturday 11 DecemberTwo days at leisure in and around Hong Kong – time to discover the city with optional excursions/tours.

Sunday 12 DecemberRacing at Sha Tin racecourse for the Cathay Pacific Hong KongInternational Races, with full hospitality.

Monday 13 DecemberDepart hotel and transfer to the airport for overnight returnflight from Hong Kong to London.

Tuesday 14 DecemberMorning arrival in London.

INCLUDED IN THE PRIZE● Return Economy Class scheduled flights with British Airways ● Four nights accommodation on a bed and American

breakfast basis, in a twin/double deluxe room at ThePeninsula Hotel, Hong Kong

● Full hospitality at Sha Tin racecourse● Assistance of Horse Racing Abroadʼs local agent● Transfers by Rolls Royce to and from the hotel, airport and

racecourse● All Airport Passenger Duties and Taxes

Enjoy five‑star accommodation at The Peninsula Hotel, withRolls Royce transfers to and from the airport, hotel and racecourse

To enter answer these three questions: 1 Sha Tin is one of two racecourses in Hong Kong. Can

you name the other?

...............................................................................................................................2 Which Italian‑born jockey rode Falbrav to win the

2003 Hong Kong Cup?

...............................................................................................................................3 Who was the Lord Derby‑owned supermare who

won the 2005 Hong Kong Vase?

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Entrant details:

Name:............................................................................................................................

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Cut out form and send toReader Competition, Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder, Freepost WD1194, London SW1A 1BR

or email your name, address and answers to [email protected] winner will be selected at random from all correct entries

apr_68_competition:June_46_ROA Leader.qxd 21/03/2010 21:47 Page 2


Proud staying tradition the cornerstoneof Felucca’s influential dynasty

In its purest form, the artof the owner/breederinvolves gainingconsiderable and

consistent success over alengthy period with horsesbred at a single stud, from abroodmare band of no morethan a dozen, tracing to justone or two foundationmares.

These criteria have neverbeen easy to fulfil andarguably they are virtuallyimpossible nowadays, butDick Hollingsworth achievedthe feat magnificently atArches Hall Stud in

Hertfordshire, which heinherited on the death of hisfather in 1951.

There were several mares tostart with but the one herowner focused on, and wholeft an indelible mark, wasFelucca. By Nearco, she wonover seven furlongs and ransecond in the Cambridgeshirein 1944, but speed was notwhat Hollingsworth waslooking for. Although hesometimes used pacy sires,getting major winners at up toa mile, his principle target wasmiddle-distance performerscapable of staying further.

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His methods are perfectlyillustrated by the stallions whosired Felucca’s ten foals oncehe took over the stud. BigGame, sire of Kyak, was theonly one who showed his bestform at distances short of amile and a half. The others –Acropolis, Aureole, Borealis(three), Donatello II,Precipitation, Straight Dealand Tenerani – were all suitedby a mile and a half or more.

The results were spectacular,with Ark Royal, Kyak andCutter all landing the Park HillStakes over a mile and three-quarters between 1955 to1958. Ark Royal also won theRibblesdale Stakes andYorkshire Oaks, while Cutterwon the Yorkshire Cup.

With three mares of thatquality to go to war with atstud, it came as no surprisethat Hollingsworth’s runnersexcelled in the following years.Ark Royal’s offspring includedOcean (Coronation Stakes)and Hermes (Dante Stakes,Great Voltigeur Stakes andJockey Club Cup). Ocean wasby a speed influence inPetition, while Hermes was byAureole.

THE GREAT OWNER/BREEDERSBy Jeremy Early

Nothing much followed onfrom Ark Royal at Arches Hall,but the same cannot be saidfor Cutter and Kyak. Theformer foaled four stakeswinners at the equivalent ofGroup 3 level, including GoldCup runner-up Torpid, whilethree of Cutter’s daughtersproduced top winners.

Bedeni went against the normby getting Sky Ship, wholanded the July Stakes andVintage Stakes, but Pirogueand Cutle were much more inthe staying tradition.

Pirogue’s 1981 coltLongboat notched the stayers’Triple Crown in 1986 forHollingsworth, but Cutle’sClassic scorers, Sharp Edge(Irish 2,000 Guineas) and CutAbove (St Leger), were bothbred by old friend Jakie Astorafter an exchange of maresbetween the two that broughtno success for Hollingsworth(Pirogue was also grandam ofBolas, winner of the Irish Oaksfor Khalid Abdullah in 1994).

Kyak’s progeny includedMariner, winner of the KingEdward VII Stakes, but it washer daughter Ripeck, a stakes-placed winner effective at 12furlongs, who shone brightest.

Exceptionally, she wasmated with at least as manyspeedy stallions as those whorequired further, notably GreySovereign, Habitat, MajorPortion, Petition and WelshPageant, and this boosted herprospects no end.

Her two best winners were

Dick HollingsworthNEW SERIES

from the old school, withBuoy, who won theCoronation Cup in 1974, andBireme, successful in the 1980Oaks, respectively by Aureoleand Grundy. But to GreySovereign she foaled Fluke,winner of the Duke of YorkStakes and Jersey Stakes, andto Major Portion she foaled

“Speed was not what he was looking for;his target was middle-distance horses”

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It may seem odd thatalthough some of themstayed further, all theGroup 1 winners thiscentury tracing to maresbased at Arches Hallwere able to win at up to amile. This probably justconfirms what was shownwith Ripeck’s matingsanalysed alongside: thedynamism of a familywhich, with an injectionof pace, has been able toadapt to modern trends.Kyak is fourth dam, viaPacket, of Dash For Cash(VRC Australian Guineas)and fifth dam, via Ripeck’sdaughter Anchor, ofNannina (Fillies’ Mile andCoronation Stakes).

Via Ripeck’s daughter Boathouse, Kyak is fourth dam ofNorse Dancer, who won no Group 1s but showed fine formfrom a mile to a mile and a half. Boathouse is grandam ofGood Faith (six-furlong Ellerslie Sires Produce Stakes) andMail The Desert (seven-furlong Moyglare Stud Stakes), andthird dam of Daffodil (New Zealand 1,000 Guineas and Oaks).

Ripeck was also third dam of 2002 Grand National winnerBindaree and the next big-race winner from the family maybe to hand, though not at Aintree. Irish 2,000 Guineashope Steinbeck’s dam Castara Beach is a sister by Danehillto Nannina’s dam Hill Hopper.

Next month: Jim Joel

Recent stars adapt to modern trends

Anchor, on the mark in theNell Gwyn Stakes.

Bireme was no great shakesat stud, though she didproduce Yawl, who wasHollingsworth’s last Patternwinner in the 1992 RockfelStakes.

Anchor went on to producetop-class stayer Sea Anchorand was grandam of AdelaideCup winner Water Boatman,while Boathouse (by Habitat),a smart filly at up to tenfurlongs, foaled Chester Vasewinner Dry Dock andShowboat (by Warning), a six-length winner of the 1999Royal Hunt Cup.

Showboat was trained byBarry Hills, one of only fourtrainers used by Hollingsworthin 40 years. The others were

George Colling, John Oxley(Hills was apprenticed to theformer and head lad withthe latter) and Dick Hern.

Good advisers can help astud, but continuity intraining can help even more,especially when, as with theFelucca line, there could bequirks of behaviour (Kyakhad a Timeform squiggle)and a tendency for legproblems.

Hollingsworth died twoyears after Showboat’s RoyalHunt Cup victory. Hissuccess over the previousdecade had been well belowthat gained earlier in hisillustrious career, but thisremoved none of the glossfrom the reputation of atruly exceptional breeder.

Classic hope Steinbeck traces tothe family of Arches Hall’s Ripeck

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Moyglare Stud looks to build onpast success with new owner Kildare-based operation started nearly 50 years ago continues to go from strength to strength

One of the few Irish studfarms to publish their studbook is Moyglare Stud inCounty Kildare, close to thetown of Maynooth.

Established by WalterHaefner in 1962 and set among450 acres, the stud had a goodyear in 2009, welcoming its16th homebred Group 1winner in the shape of CasualConquest, successful in theTattersalls Gold Cup at theCurragh. That success wassupplemented by Group winsfor Mad About You andProfound Beauty, the firstnamed being among the newrecruits to the broodmare bandfor 2010 and she will visitOasis Dream. Profound Beautyremains in training withDermot Weld.

Lady Luck, the dam ofCasual Conquest, will beamong the stellar group ofmatrons visiting Sea The Starsin his first season at stud.

There has been somechanging of the guard atMoyglare, though muchremains the same. Theownership of the stud haspassed on to Walter Haefner’sdaughter, Eva-Maria Bucher-Haefner. She is taking a verykeen interest in the stud andcan rely on the wisdom ofmanager Stan Cosgrove, andalso of Fiona Craig, who looksafter sales and breeding.

A policy change in 2006 sawthe stud re-enter the sales marketas vendors, selling a number ofyoung stock each year. Forbuyers, this has broughtinstant reward with the likes ofLove Lockdown and Aahaykidamong the gems offered.

Love Lockdown, a son ofVerglas trained by Ger Lyons,is out of a daughter of TrustedPartner. Sold for just €12,000as a weanling, he has now

earned some £90,000 andcapped a fine juvenile season in2009 when he landed theGroup 3 Sirenia Stakes atKempton to bring his record

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to four wins from seven starts.Aahaykid was a Group-placedjuvenile in 2008.

The current broodmareband at Moyglare comprises35 mares, with a quarter ofthem based in the USA. Thereare 28 foals due this spring,

while the yearlings are madeup of seven fillies and 16 colts.A total of 22 two-year-olds willgo into training (13 fillies,nine colts), while the three-

VIEW FROM IRELANDFrom Leo Powell, Managing Editor of The Irish Field

Eva-Maria Bucher-Haefner has taken over the running of Moyglare Stud in County Kildare from her father

year-olds of 2010 in trainingwill number 13, all but threeof which are fillies. Theyinclude a single winner, theNavan maiden heroine SenseOf Purpose, a daughter ofGalileo. The 12 other horses intraining are older stock.

While 16 Group 1 winners isa most admirable achievement,the stud has bred some 64stakes winners, and notablenon-Group 1 winners includeBe My Guest and Big Shuffle,who went on to becomesuccessful sires.

In alphabetical order, thestud’s winners at the highestlevel have been AgainTomorrow, Assert, Bikala,Brief Truce, Carwhite, CasualConquest, Dance Design,Dress To Thrill, Go And Go,Market Booster, Media Puzzle,Refuse To Bend, RelaxedGesture, Stanerra, TrustedPartner and Twilight Agenda.

“The stud has bred 16 Group 1 winners,plus sires Be My Guest and Big Shuffle”

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INTERNATIONAL SCENE

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Alexis Murphy, the Chief Executive of Tote Ireland,is leaving his position at the beginning of April totake up a role with the parent company of bettingexchange Betdaq.

Plans for a proposed air show at Punchestownracecourse in early June have met with oppositionfrom local stud owners and farmers.

Choisir is not to shuttle to Ireland for the 2010season, though a new name on the Coolmoreroster is Fastnet Rock, a Group 1-winning son ofDanehill.

Tattersalls Ireland is to introduce a €100,000bumper next year at Fairyhouse. The race will beconfined to graduates of this year’s Derby andAugust Sales.

The 1989 Irish Derby winner Old Vic has beenretired from stud duties. His leading winnersinclude Kicking King, Our Vic, In Compliance, OneCool Cookie and Comply Or Die.

The dual Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustaceis to come out of retirement and compete in thecharity race at Punchestown on Saturday, April 24,the final event of the festival meeting. MoscowFlyer did likewise a few years ago.

A dispute between the Turf Club and its officialswas unresolved as we went to press, though a dayof threatened action failed to materialise whenboth sides agreed to further talks and to a bindingresolution of the problem. A reduction in fundingfrom Horse Racing Ireland has forced the TurfClub to cut salaries of its staff.

A star was born on February 6, when the unbeatenPrix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Zarkava foaled afilly by another winner of the Arc, Dalakhani.Zarkava visits the 2009 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphewinner Sea The Stars this year.

One of the most successful breeders ofthe last half a century in Ireland, AverilWhitehead, has died. She was 86.

Though she and her late husband,Captain Bill Whitehead, bred many topwinners from both Owenstown andBroadfield studs, she will forever beassociated with the top-class sprinterand influential sire Indian Ridge.

Owenstown Stud, not far fromMoyglare, was bought in 1936 byAveril Whitehead’s father, FrankTuthill. He had managed the stud forDaniel Dixon and later purchased thefarm. There he bred Classic winnersMusidora, Cavan, Barclay, ChristmasIsland, Indiana and Humble Duty.Whitehead took over the stud in 1988and today the family tradition carrieson through her nephew John Tuthill.

A long list of other major stakeswinners from Owenstown includes theGroup/Grade 1 winners Gala Eventand Sondrio, the champion two-year-old filly Negligent and the Group 3winner Sedulous, grandam of thechampion Shirocco.

Whitehead bought Broadfield Studwith her husband in 1959 and it wasthere that Indian Ridge was born andreared. He won the King’s StandStakes and Jersey Stakes, and sired tenGroup 1 winners, including Breeders’Cup Mile winners Ridgewood Pearland Domedriver, and Irish 2,000Guineas victor Indian Haven.

In recent years, Whitehead enjoyedgreat success with two fillies she had intraining with Kevin Prendergast.Evening Time was a dual stakeswinner, while Choose Me, the lasthorse to carry her colours, won theTattersalls Ireland Sales Race in 2008.

Tributes were paid to her by manypeople in the industry. KevinPrendergast said: “She had horses withme for over 40 years, as did her fatherbefore her. She was a very goodsupporter of mine and a lovely lady. Icouldn’t speak more highly of her.”

Fellow trainer Dermot Weld added:“Averil was a wonderful lady, one ofthe outstanding Irish breeders. She wasa great ambassador for Irish racing.”

Death of renowned Irish breederIndian Ridge, bred by Averil Whitehead, excelled on the track and at stud

The number of trainers with afull licence fell by 10% whenfigures were revealed at theend of February. The numberof licences was 328, downfrom 364 a year earlier.

David Myerscough(pictured) was one trainer whodecided to call it a day, agedjust 28. He held a licence forfour years and sent out thewinners of more than 30 races,including Bruges, a two-year-old Listed winner at

Leopardstown in 2007. Hisfinal winner was atWolverhampton in December.

The grandson of VincentO’Brien has not ruled out thepossibility of returning totraining in the future.

“In five or six years, if thepicture looks better, I mighttry again,” he said.

Other trainers are known toface difficulties with unpaidbills, coupled with a reductionin the numbers of owners and

horses in training. Evenfinancing the cost of renewinga licence is proving difficult.

The Irish Racehorse TrainersAssociation Chief ExecutiveJim Kavanagh explained:“Between the two licences(Flat and National Hunt) andthe subscription to the IrishRacing Calendar – which iscompulsory – there is littlechange out of €2,000 whenyou add in the cost of stablestaff cards and other extras.”

Myerscough quits as trainers feel heat

The number of horses intraining in Ireland was down5% in the latest figures issuedby Horse Racing Ireland,though it is believed that theyhave fallen further since then.

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Fabre duo set for big time Chantilly trainer employs two future riding stars in Maxime Guyon and Mickael Barzalona

Not so long ago, Frenchjockeys were regularlyridiculed by British and Irishracing fans alike. FreddyHead, so stylish atLongchamp, never got togrips with the Epsomrollercoaster, while those oldenough to rememberPhilippe Paquet still grimaceat the ride he gave thesubsequently-disqualifiedNureyev to ‘win’ the 19802,000 Guineas.

How times have changed.Nowadays, if injury,unavailability or suspensionrobs them of their regular pilotfor a big race, trainers on thisside of the Channel reach forthe phone to secure theservices of Christophe

Lemaire, Olivier Peslier andChristophe Soumillon.

Admittedly, there is still theoccasional aberration,especially when theidiosyncrasies of Epsom needto be conquered. Soumillon’sembarrassing defeat aboardAlnadana in the PrincessElizabeth Stakes on Derby day2009 springs to mind.

But, from limitedopportunities, Lemaire hassnaffled five British Group 1s,including back-to-backrenewals of the ChampionStakes, since 2005. Peslier hasfared even better during thesame period, with six top levelBritish triumphs augmentinghis 2007 Irish 2,000 Guineasvictory aboard Cockney Rebel.

Listening to Monsieur Fabre: Maxime Guyon (left) and Mickael Barzalona

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Stephane Pasquier alsodeserves a mention as heboasts a strike-rate of over 20%on his British raids over thepast three seasons. His 32 rideshave gleaned seven victories,all in stakes races.

The strength in depth oftalent in the French weighingroom has surely never beengreater. And there is everyindication that a newgeneration of Gallic ridingsuperstars is set to burst ontothe scene.

Last year the man to grabthe headlines was 20-year-oldMaxime Guyon, who made itto third place in the Frenchjockeys’ championship with113 wins and enjoyed his firstGroup 1 triumphs aboardCavalryman in the Grand Prixde Paris and Shalanaya in thePrix de l’Opera.

Guyon has been privilegedto be granted the job asnumber one jockey to thepeerless Andre Fabre. But hemay yet be overtaken in therankings by another Fabreprotégé in Mickael Barzalona.

Grandson of Corsicantrainer Christian Barzalonaand nephew of the jockeyArmand Barzalona, Mickaelwas always going to continuehis family’s connection withthe sport. Having spent fouryears at the French Jockeys’School at Gouvieux, nearChantilly, he began workingfor Fabre at the beginning oflast season, partly thanks to therecommendation of formerjockey Sylvain Guillot.

His progress since has beenrapid. On October 24 he rodeout his claim when reachingthe 70-winner mark aboardLasos at Clairefontaine. Hisscore for the season eventuallyreached 72, leaving him justoutside the top ten in thestandings.

Fabre found Barzalona asix-week winter placementwith Godolphin in Dubai. Heended his stay in the Emiratein the best possible fashion, hisninth and final ride bringing afirst foreign victory.

He did it in the grandsurroundings of a spanking-new Meydan and it was noordinary contest, but the£108,000 DRC Gold Cup.

Unfazed by the presence inthe field of three better-fanciedstablemates, Barzalonaimpressed onlookers with apolished display, bringingSabotage through to collarFrankie Dettori’s mount, AgeOf Reason, in the last 100yards of the two-mile test.

“It was fantastic and therewas an amazing atmosphere atMeydan,” the 18-year-old saidof the biggest victory of hisnascent career. “If I can go outthere again next year I wouldlove to.”

Barzalona is adamant that heand Guyon can work well intandem, even though the agegap between the pair is littlemore than two years.

“There is absolutely norivalry between Maxime andmyself, we get on really welland he is a very good jockey,”he stressed.

“I have absolutely no ideahow Mr Fabre chooses whowill ride each horse, he justtells us when it is necessary toknow.”

With regards to the 2010Flat season, he revealed: “Myaim for the year is to win aListed race or a Group 3.

“As for the future, I haven’tyet set a goal but I would liketo continue to work with theWertheimer Brothers [forwhom he has been retained assecond jockey behind Pesliersince September] and, ofcourse, win a Group 1!”

CONTINENTAL TALESBy James Crispe, International Racing Bureau

FRANCE

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Turkish racing in general andthe Bosphorus Cup inparticular gained a boost atMeydan on February 11 whenHalicarnassus and Pan River,first and second in that mileand a half contest in Istanbullast September, wonconsecutive races on day four

of the Dubai InternationalRacing Carnival.

Despite being named afterthe ancient Turkish city that isnow Bodrum, the teak-toughHalicarnassus is in fact trainedin Berkshire by MickChannon. But Pan River,winner of the 2008 Turkish

Pan River showcases Bosphorus form

SWEDEN

Selim Kaya drives Pan River to a length success from Lucky Find at Meydan on February 11

TURKEY

Sweden can expect an upsurge in overseasrunners this year, with racing having enjoyeda 20% prize-money increase since 2009.

Thoroughbred racing has a lot to begrateful to trotting for, as the current boomhas a lot to do with the success of gamblingon the sister sport.

“Betting turnover went up by 5% last yearand the daily multiple trotting bet is biggerthan the lottery,” said Bo Gillborg, Directorof Swedish Racing.

This bet, called the V75, V65 or V64, issimilar to the Scoop 6, except that it has avery low unit stake of 5p or 10p. Gillborgadded: “The low unit stake allows majorgamblers to cover the entire field in three orfour legs, while small players like it as theybelieve it can make them multi-millionaires.”

Derby, is Turkish-owned,-trained and -bred, and wasgiving the nation its fourthCarnival success.

The Bosphorus Cup will berun on Sunday, September 5in 2010 as, after a two-yearmidweek experiment, the two-day Turkish International

Racing Festival reverts to aweekend date. Sadly, thismeans that it will clash withthe Haydock Sprint Cup, theIrish Champion Stakes, thePrix du Moulin and GrosserPreis von Baden.

Despite strong bettingturnover and an extremelyhigh tote take-out, thefestival’s four thoroughbredraces have suffered a 40% dropin prize-money since last year.

However, they are still morethan worth winning and theBosphorus Cup and the sameday’s Topkapi Trophy havebecome the first Turkishevents to feature in theEuropean Pattern Book –both having been awardedGroup 2 status.

Even at the reduced levels,the Topkapi boasts a first prizeof almost £240,000, while theBosphorus winner will takehome almost £160,000. A dayearlier, the European Capitalof Culture Trophy (1m, filliesand mares) and the AnatoliaTrophy (1m2f on thePolytrack) each offer a£100,000 winner’s cheque.

Scandinavian scene hot to trotThe Stockholm Cup (won last year by Touch

Of Hawk, pictured) has overtaken Norway’sMarit Sveaas Minnelop as the most valuablerace in Scandinavia – indeed, it is now themost valuable Group 3 in Europe. Run over12 furlongs at Taby on September 12, its firstprize will be 1 million Swedish krone for thefirst time, which equates to £86,580.

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Zenyatta wins again but defeatfor Rachel scuppers match-upOaklawn’s $5 million showdown bites the dust after Rachel Alexandra is turned over at 1-20

Chances for the mostanticipated American racingshowdown in decades wereshattered on March 13 whenHorse of the Year RachelAlexandra suffered her firstdefeat since November2008, while her championrival, Zenyatta, kept hercareer record perfect.

In the immediate aftermath,plans for the $5 million AppleBlossom Invitational atOaklawn Park on April 9disintegrated when RachelAlexandra’s majority owner,Jess Jackson, said she wouldnot be ready to compete, andthe race reverted to its originalpurse of $500,000.

After watching Zenyatta toywith seven rivals in the SantaMargarita InvitationalHandicap at Santa Anita Park,her owner, trainer and jockeyare forging ahead to Oaklawn,continuing an unstatedcampaign to prove voters whochose Rachel Alexandra forAmerica’s top 2009 awardwere wrong.

Owner Jerry Moss said:“We’re disappointed thatwe’re not going to be able toface [Rachel Alexandra] in theApple Blossom. Hopefully, wecan meet down the line. Werespect both [trainer] Steve[Asmussen] and Mr Jackson ashorsemen and they’re going todo what’s right for theirhorse.”

Rachel Alexandra’s camp hasvoiced concern that therigours of her 2009 campaign,which comprised eight races,all victories, including three inGrade 1s against males, mayhave drained her.

Asmussen called herperformance when finishingsecond to Brazilian-bredGrade 2 winner Zardana in the$192,000 New Orleans Ladies

Stakes at the Fair Grounds“extremely disappointing.”

“Obviously, that’s aconcern of ours,” he said whenasked if her Horse of the Year

season might have affected herphysical prowess. So far,however, no specific medicalissues have emerged.

“I’m hoping it’s only fitnesswe’re waiting for and dealingwith,” he added, noting thatRachel Alexandra was given along vacation from racing afterher win last September overolder males in the Woodward

Stakes so that she could regainher strength and be refreshedfor the 2010 season.

Following the New Orleansrace, Asmussen and Jackson

GOING GLOBALThe worldwide view from Michele MacDonald

had no specific targets, withJackson saying it may bemonths before the daughter ofMedaglia d’Oro races again.

“Instead of trying to make adate, we’ll let her tell us,”Asmussen said. “Me telling herdid not work.”

Jackson said: “We tried andwe really wanted to go [to theApple Blossom]. It’s

unfortunate but the timingjust wasn’t right for the healthof the horse. It’s obvious she’snot in top shape. I repeatedlytold people she was only 80%or 85% of what I thought wasup to her top condition lastyear. That race proved it.”

Ironically, the horse whobeat Rachel Alexandra,Zardana, is trained by JohnShirreffs, who stayed inCalifornia to saddle Zenyattafor the Santa Margarita, whichbecame her 15th victory. Fansat Santa Anita, who aredevoted to Zenyatta, cheeredas they watched RachelAlexandra’s loss on televisionjust prior to the running of theSanta Margarita.

Jockey Calvin Borel said ofRachel Alexandra: “My littlefilly tried hard. She needed therace more than anything. Shewas so tired when I pulled herup.”

Zenyatta looked anythingbut tired. Jockey Mike Smithhad predicted the six-year-oldwas training better than everand he expected her to runthat way, despite carrying thehigh weight of 127 pounds inher first competition sincewinning the Breeders’ CupClassic on November 7.

“This was a great race forher and it wasn’t taxing at all,”Smith said. “We got enoughout of this race to moveforward.”

Smith never had to raise hiswhip and he added: “I wish Icould say I contributed. Imight have done a littlesteering, but that was about it.… It’s as easy a race as she’shad. It’s phenomenal.”

“Isn’t it amazing?” saidShirreffs. “She’s a superathlete. She can do it all. Howare you going to be betterthan perfect?”

“Zenyatta is a super athlete. How areyou going to be better than perfect?”

>>>>>>>>>>>>

Collector’s item: all the more so perhaps as the clash will not happen

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INTERNATIONAL SCENE

Japanese racing entered a new international eraon February 20 when the first runner forSheikh Mohammed under his new JapanRacing Association licence competed at Kyotoracecourse. John Ferguson, who has overseenthe growth of the Darley Japan stallionbusiness, travelled to see the race in person.

The record will show that the first starter forSheikh Mohammed, who was the first non-Japanese person living outside Japan to receive acoveted JRA licence, was Notorious, a three-year-old son of Wild Rush, bred in Japan by theHattori Bokujo. Although Notorious had theservices of Yutaka Take in the saddle, he couldfinish only eighth of 15 on his debut.

Darley Japan spokesperson Hanako Sonobesaid that seven horses have been designated torun under the JRA system for SheikhMohammed and his wife, Princess Haya ofJordan, and his son, Dubai Crown PrinceSheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum.

In addition to Notorious, who is trained byTakayuki Yasuda, Sheikh Mohammed also hasLunar Legacy in his JRA stable. A three-year-oldson of Godolphin’s Dubai World Cup winnerMoon Ballad, Lunar Legacy is trained byYasutoshi Ikee, the conditioner of DreamJourney, Japan’s 2009 champion older male.

Ikee is also the trainer of Sunday Muse, athree-year-old filly from the first crop of DarleyJapan’s Japan Cup winner Alkaased who will bein Sheikh Hamdan’s stable. The crown prince’sother horses are Coup de Wonder, a son ofGrass Wonder from the family of Sadler’s Wells,and Principality, a son of King Kamehameha.

Ananda, an Alkaased filly trained by KenichiFujioka, and Epic Journey, a colt by Afleettrained by Kenji Nonaka, make up PrincessHaya’s stable.

More horses will be added in the futureunder terms of the JRA licenses, which restrictforeign-breds.

Japan goes globalwith Sheikh’s firstlicensed runner

JRA licensed: Sheikh Mohammed and Princess Haya

Hope returns at Calder asmedian and average riseEven though the Fasig-TiptonCalder two-year-olds in trainingsale – America’s flagship juvenileauction – marked yet anotherthoroughbred sale decline since theoverall market’s peak in 2007,some flickers of hope brightenedstormy skies in Florida and theindustry overall.

By the time the hammer camedown for the final time on March2, two important statistics had risensignificantly from 2009 results.Median price jumped 33.3% from$150,000 last year to $200,000,and average price increased by 9.3%to $257,473.

Turnover of $23,430,000represented a 10.4% decline, yetthere was some consolation in thatfewer horses were catalogued andsold this year. On the flip side ofthat topic, the ominous auctiontrend of many late withdrawalscontinued, with only 145 of the237 juveniles consigned actuallygetting to the ring and then only91 being reported sold (including adozen listed as sold privately afterfailing to meet reserve prices). Inshort, only 38.4% of the horsesentered for the sale were sold.

Yet one of those horses sentsparks through the sale grounds. Astrapping chesnut son of DistortedHumor out of Tomisue’s Delight, amultiple Grade 1-winning full sisterto Mineshaft, elicited bids from adeep but discerning internationalbuying bench. Eventually, JessJackson snared the colt for $2.3

million. In comparison, last year’stop price was the $1.6m JohnFerguson paid for Godolphin’s AlZir, a son of Medaglia d’Oro.

Jackson’s bloodstock agent, JohnMoynihan, said the DistortedHumor colt reminded them of2007 and 2008 Horse of the YearCurlin. Jackson also owns amajority interest in current Horseof the Year Rachel Alexandra.

“We didn’t want to have to runagainst him,” Moynihan said of thecolt, who was consigned by JillJulian and Stacy Yagoda, and is ahalf-brother to Grade 1 winner MrSidney. “We love the horse. He hasan amazing mind. He has it all.”

The Distorted Humor coltworked a strong furlong thatcaught the attention of many,including trainer Paul Cole and hisclient Jim Hay, who according toCole’s son Oliver were in thebidding up to $2.1m.

While there were no other seven-figure juveniles this year, DemiO’Byrne and the Coolmore teamwere welcome return buyers afterskipping the sale last year followingFasig-Tipton’s acquisition by theDubai-based Synergy Investments.

O’Byrne signed the ticket for thesale’s second highest-priced horse,a son of Smart Strike out of theDixieland Band mare SouthernSwing, who has produced twostakes runners.

However, Ferguson cut backfrom 2009, buying two juvenilesagainst six last year, namely a$750,000 Medaglia d’Oro colt anda $375,000 War Front colt.

Cole, who signed tickets on fourjuveniles last year, spent $400,000each on two fillies by Yes It’s Trueand Dixie Union.

Japanese buyers were againprominent, continuing to capitaliseon the yen’s strength. The mostintriguing Japanese buy was thesale’s highest-priced filly, adaughter of champion Bernardiniand a half-sister to young sire Tapit,purchased by Katsumi Yoshida ofNorthern Farm for $520,000.

Jess Jackson bought the top lot atCalder, a half-brother to Mr Sidney

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What is the 60:60 Challenge?I’ll travel to the 60 British racecourses within 60consecutive days when they are racing. I’ll coverthe 10,000 miles by car, occasionally with a driver,but mostly on my own. There will be some severeexcursions like the five days in April when I go upand down from the north east to the south west,from Newcastle to Wincanton to Kelso toHereford to Musselburgh.

No challenge toobig for ChampionBob Champion and Aldaniti negotiated 30 fences to winthe National; the ex-rider now has 60 tracks in his sights

Words Tim Richards

How did the idea come about?I am always trying to think of different fund-raisingstunts for the Bob Champion Cancer Trust and Iam doing this one for the Injured Jockeys’ Fund aswell. The IJF were so good to me when I was illwith cancer. I had this idea of riding to all 60courses, but realised it would be virtuallyimpossible on horseback. So I decided to go by carand discovered that the only 60 consecutive dayswhen you could visit each course on a raceday waswithin our chosen dates of April 18 and June 16.

Is there a plan when you get to each course?The idea is to get people interested in racing.Anyone who donates at least £50 will be able tovisit the weighing room, stewards’ room, walk thecourse with a jockey, go down to the start; see whatgoes on behind the scenes. John Hurt (who playedBob in the 1984 film ‘Champions’) lives nearFakenham and is keen to come along when he can.

What is the outstanding memory you have ofAldaniti’s 1981 Grand National victory?Aldaniti fulfilling the confidence I had in him. Afew years before Aintree I got off him after winningat Leicester and told Josh Gifford he would win aNational. Had I not made that statement he wouldhave been put down as he broke down so badly atSandown afterwards. The Embiricos familycherished this hope of winning a National and withJosh nursed him back. Aldaniti was confined to hisbox for six months and in plaster for God knowshow long. We were a couple of crocks together!

Bob Champion and Aldaniti won the SportsPersonality Team of the Year Award in 1981.Did racing enjoy a higher profile in those days?Yes, particularly when you consider that last yearAP [McCoy] wasn’t in the top ten nominations forSports Personality of the Year. And he’s the mostfantastic jump jockey ever! There was much morewritten about racing when I was riding; nowadaysthere are umpteen pages on football, while racing islucky if all the cards are published in some papers.The problem is too much racing.

It is often said that fences are easier now thanwhen you were riding. Has the Grand Nationallost some of its appeal because of this?It is good for the sport because nobody likes to seehorses fall. In any case, the horses have changed;they are all from Flat pedigrees. I don’t think theNational has lost its appeal; it always attracts a hugeaudience and is still the greatest race in the world.

Who was the best jockey you rode against? I rode against ten different champions, includingStan Mellor, Terry Biddlecombe, Bob Davies,Tommy Stack, Ron Barry, Graham Thorner, JonjoO’Neill, John Francome and Peter Scudamore.People forget what an amazing jockey Jonjo was.But the one that stands out is John Francome, whowas such a great horseman. He had everything;you couldn’t fault him. Today it’s got to be AP.

TALKING TO...Bob Champion“ ”

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TALKING TO...

“To be told atthe RoyalMarsden allmy tests areclear is myhighlight ofevery year”

Will McCoy ever win the Grand National?Yes, if he’s on the right horse on the right day! Heis keeping pretty good company with the likes ofJohn Francome, Jonjo O’Neill, Ron Barry, StanMellor, Terry Biddlecombe and Josh Gifford, whonever won the National.

What do you think of the idea to alter thedates of the Flat and jumps championships aspart of Racing For Change?Both should run for the full calendar year. Bothcodes race 12 months of the year and if they keepchanging no one will know where they stand. Ifthey start the Flat with the Guineas, what happensto the Craven and Greenham? A season withoutthese Classic prep races doesn’t make sense.

Do you speak publicly to fellow sufferers aboutyour experiences with cancer?I have done for years. Hopefully, it gives them alittle bit of hope. I do functions and also speak tothose who ring up just for a chat. Discussing illnessand looking for positives can often be a big help.

What great advances have you seen in the fightagainst cancer since you had the disease?Amazing progress has been made. If I had gottesticular cancer 18 months before I did therewould have been no cure. I was given a 40% chanceof recovery, whereas now there is a 90-95% chanceof recovery, as long as it is caught early enough. Mycancer trust at the Royal Marsden Hospital iscurrently working on cures for prostate cancer,which is the biggest killer of men at the moment.

You give talks on cruise liners. Where have youbeen and what do you talk about?My life in racing and different aspects of the sport.

I did nine cruises last year, each one about fivedays. Though my latest in the Pacific lasted threeweeks and I ended up sailing from Hong Kong toSydney, where I had a couple of days at the races.

What was your personal highlight of 2009?Going back to the Royal Marsden to be told all mytests were clear. That’s my highlight every year.

Tell us a funny story about someone in racing?Brough Scott had a fall early on in a three milenovice chase at Wye and got tangled up in theelectric fence, which kept the sheep penned in themiddle of the course after they had been clearedfrom the weighing room, where they lived on non-race days. Passing him on the second circuit he wasjumping up and down trying to free himself fromthe electric shocks. On the third circuit he was stillthere. We just couldn’t stop laughing!

Who is your racing hero?Lester Piggott, who was responsible for getting meinterested in racing. Whenever he was at my localcourse, Redcar, the crowds seemed to be biggerthan ever and there was a certain buzz about theplace. The fact that younger race fans today knowall about him, but never saw him ride, tells yousomething about the man.

If you could be someone else for a day whowould it be and why?The Prime Minister so I could ensure that all MPswere over 45 with successful experience in businessor commerce. How many of today’s MPs couldrun a corner shop?

What’s the best thing about your life?Waking up every morning.

FINGERS ONTHE BUZZERS

How do you relax?I don’t

What annoys you?Traffic jams

Four guests fordinner?John Francome, NigellaLawson, Celine Dion,John Hurt

Best advice you’vebeen given?Always have pride inyourself and never give up

Most difficult thingyou’ve done?Trying to kid the clerk ofthe scales when I wasweighing in with myweight problems

Sum yourself up infour words...Stubborn, resilient,forthright, quick-tempered

FAVOURITES

HolidayFlorida

SportTwenty20 cricket

MealDover sole

JourneyFlying anywhere as longas the airports are runningto time

TV programmeCSIGrand National-winning jockey Bob Champion is planning to set off from Ascot to start an epic journey on April 18.

For information about Bob Champion’s 60:60 Challenge visit www.champions6060.org.uk

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Back at the top table

HENRY CECIL

Henry Cecil endured a tough few years after three decades of continuous success but athriving stable filled with quality bloodstock has the legendary trainer in buoyant mood

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It is invigorating to drive up Warren Hill foran audience with he who lives at the summit.Only a mile from the urban sprawl ofNewmarket High Street, it feels like a

different world. And a very different receptionis assured.

Henry Cecil does not disappoint. A vexing workmorning might render him brusque, when he isbest left to recover his equilibrium, but that’scertainly not how he is on this occasion in March.

He wears that distinctive, mischievious smile ashe emerges with greetings from the house. Hissequinned suede mocassins could be straight froman Indian plantation. And despite his well-documented fight against cancer, he looks youngerthan his 67 years.

To tell him so is to make a mistake. “I hate age,”he replies. “I was constantly reminded that last yearwas my 40th as a trainer, which makes me seemquite old. I don’t feel it. I’ve got masses of energy.I get up at five o’clock every morning and neverseem to get tired. Mentally, I’m very young.”

So how old is that in years? “Sometimes he’s likea teenager,” insists Jane, whom Cecil married twoyears ago after a lengthy courtship. Plainly pleasedby the comparison, Cecil is quick to vindicate it. Itisn’t long before he is behaving like a high-spiritedsixth-former with his whole life ahead of him.

Moving behind his desk, he imagines he is sittingbefore the photgrapher he’d maintained he simplycouldn’t entertain and pulls a series of comicalfaces. His arms, akimbo at first, start gyrating asthough he is conducting the LondonPhilharmonic. It is a charming sequence. And allthe while Jane smiles the benign smile that says shehas seen it all before.

Welcome to Warren Place, the land of fantasywithin racing’s deadpan parish. “Jane thinks thatoccasionally I am like Mr Bean,” Cecil reveals. “Ido silly little things and maybe people need to takethat with a pinch of salt. Underneath it I’m quitedetermined and serious, but there’s no point goingaround with a long face. It’s boring. And somepeople are just too heavy.”

Fair enough. Except that it isn’t the sort ofconversation one expects to have with a ten-timechampion trainer whose haul of 23 British Classicsfar exceeds the best of his contemporaries. And noother man in Newmarket would welcome beinglikened to a television caricature who amuses by hisuncoordinated helplessness.

Words Julian Muscat Photos George Selwyn

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HENRY CECIL

It’s not as if Cecil’s life has been a parody, either.It has done its best to chew him up and spit himout. And despite Frankie Dettori’s profile, Cecilremains the one that really excites the newspapers’saucier sections. Inside a man of unrobust physicalappearance is a fighter who will not be countedout.

Mind you, Warren Place, from where Cecil hastrained for more than 30 years, is certainly worthfighting for. It is not just cement that binds the redbricks. Its walls have absorbed memories by turnexhilarating and debilitating, yet Cecil in thepresent tense flourishes in a way that seemedutterly implausible four years ago.

Back then, he was up against the wall. His once-mighty string had dwindled to 50. He hadn’t wona Group 1 race, never mind a Classic, for six years.It was an unrelenting slide into oblivion, which waspretty much where he stood when ThoroughbredOwner & Breeder visited him in spring 2006.

Although he spoke defiantly, his words lackedconviction. All around him was evidence of acrumbling empire. Warren Place had been splitinto four separate units; horses trained by EdVaughan, Paul Howling and Jonathan Jay filledboxes that once housed horses of aristocraticlineage.

“Mentally, I got quite down,” Cecil said then,

“but I’ve come out of that now. I’m no longerstruggling and I’m just working on picking thewhole thing up. I would like to build it up to 80horses that I really like and hope to be trainingmore successfully in five years’ time.”

He is ahead of schedule. Cecil starts theimminent season with a team of 120 – itself thelegacy of a successful 2009 campaign, when hereturned to the top ten on the trainers’ list for thefirst time in seven years. He won three Group 1s,including his first Breeders’ Cup bauble withMidday, who’d come within a whisker of winningCecil his ninth Oaks in June.

The transformation would encourage many inCecil’s shoes to dwell on it. Not him, though. Heisn’t particularly comfortable talking about himself,especially not his catalogue of professionalachievement.

Yet the burning question is whether he genuinelybelieved he could reverse his fortunes. Whether hedoubted himself.

“Never,” he maintains. “At that time what Ireally needed was inspiration. Jane has been a greathelp, very supportive in lots of ways. And I alsoneeded one or two decent horses, which I got fromKhalid Abdullah and the Niarchos family. Withoutthem, I’d be struggling to exist.”

If Cecil’s words are taken at face value,frustration must have poisoned his blood. There hestood, convinced of his ability yet hamstrung by 50predominantly slow horses that would collectivelyearn less than £180,000 – the equivalent of oneGroup 1 race – in 2006.

“There was a little frustration, maybe, but it was

“I never doubted myself. I just needed inspirationand one or two decent horses, which I received”

Cecil says wife Jane “has been a great help, very supportive in lots of ways” as he looks forward to working with a team of 120 horses this year

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HENRY CECIL

more about the challenge,” he replies. “I like achallenge, but now our numbers are up and thereis a bit more quality through the string. Hopefullythings are going up rather than down.”

Once again, his synopsis concludes with thefuture rather than the past. Instead of smelling theroses, he prefers the nascent promise of this year’sbuds. One final effort to prompt him on some ofhis finest training achievements is unavailing. Doeshe not recognise that thousands of racing fanswould love him to take them down memory lane?

“I don’t agree,” he says. “It’s like a lot of racingbooks; I find them boring. They write about howthey won this race and that, how they would havewon by a short head but for this and that, so manyyears ago... it’s pretty dull, I think.”

A trademark smile betrays that he is warming tothe theme. “There’s got to be some excitementabout the stupid things we do in life,” hecontinues. “When a trainer is interviewed [ontelevision] he goes on about the ground, it’s a left-handed course or right, and so on. That’s when Igo and pour myself a cup of coffee.”

So much so that Cecil does his best to avoid thepre-race television “window”.

“It’s difficult to know what to say,” he explains.“Then people say that I often answer a question byasking one of my own; it’s probably because Idon’t know the answer, so I ask them. Two headsare better than one – don’t you think?”

There is probably another facet at play here,since Cecil is extremely superstitious. “All sorts ofthings,” he says. “Magpies: Jane and I both on thatone. And I never fill my car up with petrol theevening before; always on the way to the races. Idid that for years and years.”

No longer? “Actually, when I went into thedoldrums, when I couldn’t win an egg and spoonrace, I realised it wasn’t working. So I stopped.And those windows: whenever I have talked abouta horse before a race it has never, ever won it. Whyshould I continue getting my own horses beat?”

Ironically, television has been the conduit forCecil’s intimate relationship with a doting public.The format is well established: it’s plain for anyviewer to see that he is intoxicated by a big-racewinner. His eyes soften like a teenager tipsy onpunch.

That’s when he is most inclined to draw theeccentric analogies for which he is cherished. Whenhe once described a backward filly coming to handas akin to growing roses (neither can be forced),the media portrayed him as a master-gardener for20 years.

In that respect he is an interviewer’s dream. Theyknow that to entice Cecil down the yellow-brickroad is a journey of untold promise. This is theessence of live television, yet Cecil is not always awilling participant.

He is often pushed to elaborate on an exquisiteone-liner when there is nothing more to add. Andby his admission, he has to be in the mood. He is alot like that backward filly: he can’t be coerced.

A perfect vignette arose at the Breeders’ Cup in

October, when Cecil, a source of endlessfascination to the American media, was asked howhe was enjoying his first trip to California.

“I can’t really say; I’ve only just arrived,” Cecilreplied.

“Your first impression?” his interviewer persisted.“It beats Wolverhampton on a rainy day.”“Oh, I haven’t been to Wolverhampton,” the

man went on.To which an increasingly perplexed Cecil

responded: “Now that you come to mention it,neither have I.”

An uplifting 2009 season means that Cecil isn’tabout to become a regular at the Black Countrycircuit. Banished to the memory is the year whenhe went to the sales with “one or two orders foryearlings costing a few thousand pounds.”

Last October he shopped for yearlings in theboutiques, from where so many of his clothesoriginate. That, too, has enjoyed a renaissance. “Ido enjoy it but I hate it if I’m not able to afford itfinancially,” he says. “I’ve experienced some leantimes when I could only do window-shopping. Itwas hopeless.”

All in all, he approaches the new season with thekind of ammunition he could only have dreamtabout four years ago. He has handsomely defiedthe odds. Numbers are up, some new andinfluential owners are in the books, and this at atime when the economic outlook remains bleak. >>

Cecil, pictured with top filly Indian Skimmer, is reluctant to talk about past triumphs

“People talk about how they won this race andthat so many years ago...it’s pretty dull, I think”



HENRY CECIL

Which is just as it should be. The day will comewhen Cecil no longer cradles the game in his arms.Racegoers will not experience that unique frissonwhen he lands a major prize. It will be a sad day.

Cecil’s assurance that those days are distantpromotes a comforting feeling. And there is everyreason to believe him. His demeanour is that ofone who cannot wait for the Craven meeting,where he traditionally announces his stablestrength. But perhaps the most encouragingportent is that laughter and jollity have returned toWarren Place.

It’s impossible to imagine the depths to whichCecil sank, just as there’s no denying the zest with

which he clamboured from the wreckage to rebuildhis galleon. He has left the doldrums with sails fulland compass set. He is clear about where he isheading, and how to get there.

“You’ve got to be in the right frame of mind tosucceed at training,” he says. “You’ve got to bepositive. If you’re negative nothing is any good,and I wasn’t any good, health-wise and in otherways, for a while.

“Now I’m trying to do things sensibly. Jane hasme on a great diet, which I’m trying to stick to,and at the moment I am holding my own. I feelpretty well and intend to be here for a long time.That’s the way I look at it.” ■

The worst Newmarket winterfor 30 years has done nothingto dampen Henry Cecil’sexpectations for 2010. Histeam of older horses is headedby Group 1 winners TwiceOver and Midday and he hasbeen sent around ten horses –including Lord Shanakill – fromMark Gittins’s Mogeely Stud.

Cecil is guardedly optimisticthat he can advance on hisachievements last year. “PrinceKhalid Abdullah has alwayssupported me,” he says, “but Ivery much like the collection ofjuveniles he has sent mecompared to previous years.”

Although his horses havedone plenty of conditioningwork, they are a jigsaw inprogress. “This season we startthe campaign with around 120horses. There seems to bemore potential than in recentyears and we have a nicecross-section of horses, witharound 55 two-year-olds.

“Last season was veryencouarging. With the luck oneneeds, this year will hopefullybe as exciting, if not better.Midday has grown and seemsto have strengthened; she is agood prospect over ten and 12furlongs.

“Tranquil Tiger has been thelead horse for Twice Over thiswinter. He is a tough horse whoshould pay his way, whileManifest, Father Time andBlizzard Blues could beinteresting horses this season.Lord Shanakill has joined usand if we can get his form backhe could make his mark.

“It is early days but some ofmy three-year-old colts couldbe worth following. And someof the fillies have the potentialto make their mark in bettercompany. They started theirfaster work in mid-March aftersome pretty bad winterweather, although they havedone plenty of work in the

Cecil’s horses to follow in 2010Three-year-old colts Pedigree Owner

All Action Storm Cat – Wandesta Khalid Abdullah

Bullet Train Sadler’s Wells – Kind Khalid Abdullah

Corporal Maddox Royal Applause – Noble View Mogeely Stud

Ebony Boom Boreal – Elegant As Well PKD Partnership

Honest Strike Smart Strike – Honest Lady Khalid Abdullah

Out Of Eden Monsun – Eden Sheikh Al Nahyan

Moose Moran Lemon Drop Kid – After All Raymond Tooth

Protaras Lemon Drop Kid – Seven Moons Niarchos Family

Rodrigo De Torres Bahamian Bounty – Leonica Mogeely Stud

Rigidity Indian Ridge – Alakanada Thomas Barr

Three-year-old fillies

Aviate Dansili – Emplane Khalid Abdullah

Jacqueline Quest Rock Of Gibraltar – Coquette Rouge Noel Martin

Kithonia Sadler’s Wells – Ratukidul Niarchos Family

Principal Role Empire Maker – Interim Khalid Abdullah

Timepiece Zamindar – Clepsydra Khalid Abdullah

Two-year-olds

Unnamed b c Empire Maker – Reams Of Verse Khalid Abdullah

Unnamed br c Empire Maker – Valentine Ban Khalid Abdullah

Unnamed br f Dansili – Clepsydra Khalid Abdullah

>>

indoor ride and have had a lotof grounding.”

Cecil’s riding arrangementsmirror those of last year. “TomQueally will be backed up byEddie Ahern, Ian Mongan andJimmy Quinn,” he says. “They allcome here and ride work forme twice a week.

“I have always been happierusing my own jockeys, ratherthan picking who is available onthe day. I don’t like using

“With luck this year will be better than 2009”

Breeders’ Cup winner Midday stays in training as a four-year-old

jockeys that haven’t ridden myhorses before and will probablybe unable to ride them nexttime. I like having continuity andworking as a team.

“My two-year-olds lookencouraging, even though atthis stage they are onlycantering. We bought 12 niceyearlings at the sales, which I’mgreatly encouraged by, as theyhave some quality about them.It should be an exciting year.”



Back at the top table

HENRY CECIL

Henry Cecil endured a tough few years after three decades of continuous success but athriving stable filled with quality bloodstock has the legendary trainer in buoyant mood



It is invigorating to drive up Warren Hill foran audience with he who lives at the summit.Only a mile from the urban sprawl ofNewmarket High Street, it feels like a

different world. And a very different receptionis assured.

Henry Cecil does not disappoint. A vexing workmorning might render him brusque, when he isbest left to recover his equilibrium, but that’scertainly not how he is on this occasion in March.

He wears that distinctive, mischievious smile ashe emerges with greetings from the house. Hissequinned suede mocassins could be straight froman Indian plantation. And despite his well-documented fight against cancer, he looks youngerthan his 67 years.

To tell him so is to make a mistake. “I hate age,”he replies. “I was constantly reminded that last yearwas my 40th as a trainer, which makes me seemquite old. I don’t feel it. I’ve got masses of energy.I get up at five o’clock every morning and neverseem to get tired. Mentally, I’m very young.”

So how old is that in years? “Sometimes he’s likea teenager,” insists Jane, whom Cecil married twoyears ago after a lengthy courtship. Plainly pleasedby the comparison, Cecil is quick to vindicate it. Itisn’t long before he is behaving like a high-spiritedsixth-former with his whole life ahead of him.

Moving behind his desk, he imagines he is sittingbefore the photgrapher he’d maintained he simplycouldn’t entertain and pulls a series of comicalfaces. His arms, akimbo at first, start gyrating asthough he is conducting the LondonPhilharmonic. It is a charming sequence. And allthe while Jane smiles the benign smile that says shehas seen it all before.

Welcome to Warren Place, the land of fantasywithin racing’s deadpan parish. “Jane thinks thatoccasionally I am like Mr Bean,” Cecil reveals. “Ido silly little things and maybe people need to takethat with a pinch of salt. Underneath it I’m quitedetermined and serious, but there’s no point goingaround with a long face. It’s boring. And somepeople are just too heavy.”

Fair enough. Except that it isn’t the sort ofconversation one expects to have with a ten-timechampion trainer whose haul of 23 British Classicsfar exceeds the best of his contemporaries. And noother man in Newmarket would welcome beinglikened to a television caricature who amuses by hisuncoordinated helplessness.

Words Julian Muscat Photos George Selwyn

>>



HENRY CECIL

It’s not as if Cecil’s life has been a parody, either.It has done its best to chew him up and spit himout. And despite Frankie Dettori’s profile, Cecilremains the one that really excites the newspapers’saucier sections. Inside a man of unrobust physicalappearance is a fighter who will not be countedout.

Mind you, Warren Place, from where Cecil hastrained for more than 30 years, is certainly worthfighting for. It is not just cement that binds the redbricks. Its walls have absorbed memories by turnexhilarating and debilitating, yet Cecil in thepresent tense flourishes in a way that seemedutterly implausible four years ago.

Back then, he was up against the wall. His once-mighty string had dwindled to 50. He hadn’t wona Group 1 race, never mind a Classic, for six years.It was an unrelenting slide into oblivion, which waspretty much where he stood when ThoroughbredOwner & Breeder visited him in spring 2006.

Although he spoke defiantly, his words lackedconviction. All around him was evidence of acrumbling empire. Warren Place had been splitinto four separate units; horses trained by EdVaughan, Paul Howling and Jonathan Jay filledboxes that once housed horses of aristocraticlineage.

“Mentally, I got quite down,” Cecil said then,

“but I’ve come out of that now. I’m no longerstruggling and I’m just working on picking thewhole thing up. I would like to build it up to 80horses that I really like and hope to be trainingmore successfully in five years’ time.”

He is ahead of schedule. Cecil starts theimminent season with a team of 120 – itself thelegacy of a successful 2009 campaign, when hereturned to the top ten on the trainers’ list for thefirst time in seven years. He won three Group 1s,including his first Breeders’ Cup bauble withMidday, who’d come within a whisker of winningCecil his ninth Oaks in June.

The transformation would encourage many inCecil’s shoes to dwell on it. Not him, though. Heisn’t particularly comfortable talking about himself,especially not his catalogue of professionalachievement.

Yet the burning question is whether he genuinelybelieved he could reverse his fortunes. Whether hedoubted himself.

“Never,” he maintains. “At that time what Ireally needed was inspiration. Jane has been a greathelp, very supportive in lots of ways. And I alsoneeded one or two decent horses, which I got fromKhalid Abdullah and the Niarchos family. Withoutthem, I’d be struggling to exist.”

If Cecil’s words are taken at face value,frustration must have poisoned his blood. There hestood, convinced of his ability yet hamstrung by 50predominantly slow horses that would collectivelyearn less than £180,000 – the equivalent of oneGroup 1 race – in 2006.

“There was a little frustration, maybe, but it was

“I never doubted myself. I just needed inspirationand one or two decent horses, which I received”

Cecil says wife Jane “has been a great help, very supportive in lots of ways” as he looks forward to working with a team of 120 horses this year

>>



HENRY CECIL

more about the challenge,” he replies. “I like achallenge, but now our numbers are up and thereis a bit more quality through the string. Hopefullythings are going up rather than down.”

Once again, his synopsis concludes with thefuture rather than the past. Instead of smelling theroses, he prefers the nascent promise of this year’sbuds. One final effort to prompt him on some ofhis finest training achievements is unavailing. Doeshe not recognise that thousands of racing fanswould love him to take them down memory lane?

“I don’t agree,” he says. “It’s like a lot of racingbooks; I find them boring. They write about howthey won this race and that, how they would havewon by a short head but for this and that, so manyyears ago... it’s pretty dull, I think.”

A trademark smile betrays that he is warming tothe theme. “There’s got to be some excitementabout the stupid things we do in life,” hecontinues. “When a trainer is interviewed [ontelevision] he goes on about the ground, it’s a left-handed course or right, and so on. That’s when Igo and pour myself a cup of coffee.”

So much so that Cecil does his best to avoid thepre-race television “window”.

“It’s difficult to know what to say,” he explains.“Then people say that I often answer a question byasking one of my own; it’s probably because Idon’t know the answer, so I ask them. Two headsare better than one – don’t you think?”

There is probably another facet at play here,since Cecil is extremely superstitious. “All sorts ofthings,” he says. “Magpies: Jane and I both on thatone. And I never fill my car up with petrol theevening before; always on the way to the races. Idid that for years and years.”

No longer? “Actually, when I went into thedoldrums, when I couldn’t win an egg and spoonrace, I realised it wasn’t working. So I stopped.And those windows: whenever I have talked abouta horse before a race it has never, ever won it. Whyshould I continue getting my own horses beat?”

Ironically, television has been the conduit forCecil’s intimate relationship with a doting public.The format is well established: it’s plain for anyviewer to see that he is intoxicated by a big-racewinner. His eyes soften like a teenager tipsy onpunch.

That’s when he is most inclined to draw theeccentric analogies for which he is cherished. Whenhe once described a backward filly coming to handas akin to growing roses (neither can be forced),the media portrayed him as a master-gardener for20 years.

In that respect he is an interviewer’s dream. Theyknow that to entice Cecil down the yellow-brickroad is a journey of untold promise. This is theessence of live television, yet Cecil is not always awilling participant.

He is often pushed to elaborate on an exquisiteone-liner when there is nothing more to add. Andby his admission, he has to be in the mood. He is alot like that backward filly: he can’t be coerced.

A perfect vignette arose at the Breeders’ Cup in

October, when Cecil, a source of endlessfascination to the American media, was asked howhe was enjoying his first trip to California.

“I can’t really say; I’ve only just arrived,” Cecilreplied.

“Your first impression?” his interviewer persisted.“It beats Wolverhampton on a rainy day.”“Oh, I haven’t been to Wolverhampton,” the

man went on.To which an increasingly perplexed Cecil

responded: “Now that you come to mention it,neither have I.”

An uplifting 2009 season means that Cecil isn’tabout to become a regular at the Black Countrycircuit. Banished to the memory is the year whenhe went to the sales with “one or two orders foryearlings costing a few thousand pounds.”

Last October he shopped for yearlings in theboutiques, from where so many of his clothesoriginate. That, too, has enjoyed a renaissance. “Ido enjoy it but I hate it if I’m not able to afford itfinancially,” he says. “I’ve experienced some leantimes when I could only do window-shopping. Itwas hopeless.”

All in all, he approaches the new season with thekind of ammunition he could only have dreamtabout four years ago. He has handsomely defiedthe odds. Numbers are up, some new andinfluential owners are in the books, and this at atime when the economic outlook remains bleak. >>

Cecil, pictured with top filly Indian Skimmer, is reluctant to talk about past triumphs

“People talk about how they won this race andthat so many years ago...it’s pretty dull, I think”



HENRY CECIL

Which is just as it should be. The day will comewhen Cecil no longer cradles the game in his arms.Racegoers will not experience that unique frissonwhen he lands a major prize. It will be a sad day.

Cecil’s assurance that those days are distantpromotes a comforting feeling. And there is everyreason to believe him. His demeanour is that ofone who cannot wait for the Craven meeting,where he traditionally announces his stablestrength. But perhaps the most encouragingportent is that laughter and jollity have returned toWarren Place.

It’s impossible to imagine the depths to whichCecil sank, just as there’s no denying the zest with

which he clamboured from the wreckage to rebuildhis galleon. He has left the doldrums with sails fulland compass set. He is clear about where he isheading, and how to get there.

“You’ve got to be in the right frame of mind tosucceed at training,” he says. “You’ve got to bepositive. If you’re negative nothing is any good,and I wasn’t any good, health-wise and in otherways, for a while.

“Now I’m trying to do things sensibly. Jane hasme on a great diet, which I’m trying to stick to,and at the moment I am holding my own. I feelpretty well and intend to be here for a long time.That’s the way I look at it.” ■

The worst Newmarket winterfor 30 years has done nothingto dampen Henry Cecil’sexpectations for 2010. Histeam of older horses is headedby Group 1 winners TwiceOver and Midday and he hasbeen sent around ten horses –including Lord Shanakill – fromMark Gittins’s Mogeely Stud.

Cecil is guardedly optimisticthat he can advance on hisachievements last year. “PrinceKhalid Abdullah has alwayssupported me,” he says, “but Ivery much like the collection ofjuveniles he has sent mecompared to previous years.”

Although his horses havedone plenty of conditioningwork, they are a jigsaw inprogress. “This season we startthe campaign with around 120horses. There seems to bemore potential than in recentyears and we have a nicecross-section of horses, witharound 55 two-year-olds.

“Last season was veryencouarging. With the luck oneneeds, this year will hopefullybe as exciting, if not better.Midday has grown and seemsto have strengthened; she is agood prospect over ten and 12furlongs.

“Tranquil Tiger has been thelead horse for Twice Over thiswinter. He is a tough horse whoshould pay his way, whileManifest, Father Time andBlizzard Blues could beinteresting horses this season.Lord Shanakill has joined usand if we can get his form backhe could make his mark.

“It is early days but some ofmy three-year-old colts couldbe worth following. And someof the fillies have the potentialto make their mark in bettercompany. They started theirfaster work in mid-March aftersome pretty bad winterweather, although they havedone plenty of work in the

Cecil’s horses to follow in 2010Three-year-old colts Pedigree Owner

All Action Storm Cat – Wandesta Khalid Abdullah

Bullet Train Sadler’s Wells – Kind Khalid Abdullah

Corporal Maddox Royal Applause – Noble View Mogeely Stud

Ebony Boom Boreal – Elegant As Well PKD Partnership

Honest Strike Smart Strike – Honest Lady Khalid Abdullah

Out Of Eden Monsun – Eden Sheikh Al Nahyan

Moose Moran Lemon Drop Kid – After All Raymond Tooth

Protaras Lemon Drop Kid – Seven Moons Niarchos Family

Rodrigo De Torres Bahamian Bounty – Leonica Mogeely Stud

Rigidity Indian Ridge – Alakanada Thomas Barr

Three-year-old fillies

Aviate Dansili – Emplane Khalid Abdullah

Jacqueline Quest Rock Of Gibraltar – Coquette Rouge Noel Martin

Kithonia Sadler’s Wells – Ratukidul Niarchos Family

Principal Role Empire Maker – Interim Khalid Abdullah

Timepiece Zamindar – Clepsydra Khalid Abdullah

Two-year-olds

Unnamed b c Empire Maker – Reams Of Verse Khalid Abdullah

Unnamed br c Empire Maker – Valentine Ban Khalid Abdullah

Unnamed br f Dansili – Clepsydra Khalid Abdullah

>>

indoor ride and have had a lotof grounding.”

Cecil’s riding arrangementsmirror those of last year. “TomQueally will be backed up byEddie Ahern, Ian Mongan andJimmy Quinn,” he says. “They allcome here and ride work forme twice a week.

“I have always been happierusing my own jockeys, ratherthan picking who is available onthe day. I don’t like using

“With luck this year will be better than 2009”

Breeders’ Cup winner Midday stays in training as a four-year-old

jockeys that haven’t ridden myhorses before and will probablybe unable to ride them nexttime. I like having continuity andworking as a team.

“My two-year-olds lookencouraging, even though atthis stage they are onlycantering. We bought 12 niceyearlings at the sales, which I’mgreatly encouraged by, as theyhave some quality about them.It should be an exciting year.”



This is our yearAs the new Flat season kicks off we look at some ofthe names who are set to make a big impact in 2010

Words Graham Dench of the Racing Post Photos George Selwyn

FOCUS ON THE FLAT

Classic hopes have had their traditional racecoursespin after racing at the Curragh one day.

However, the best Ballydoyle colts regularly runin both the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby, andthere is a real chance St Nicholas Abbey mightemulate Sea The Stars and win both races – a featwe waited 20 years for after Nashwan.

And should he do that, there might even be atemptation to have a crack at the Triple Crown.Nijinsky was the last horse to pull it off, in 1970,and it was not seriously contemplated for Sea TheStars, but you never know.

“The best Ballydoyle colts often run in the Guineasand Derby, and St Nicholas Abbey might win both”

>>

St Nicholas AbbeyIt is St Nicholas Abbey’s misfortune thathe will inevitably be compared with SeaThe Stars, however brilliantly heperforms.

However, he already has onedistinction that sets him apart, for,unlike Sea The Stars, he wasunbeaten at two and ended theyear the undisputed championof his generation, his impressivedefeat of the highly regardedElusive Pimpernel in the RacingPost Trophy earning him a mark of124 on the World ThoroughbredRankings – not quite head and shoulders clear ofhis contemporaries, but a clear 4lb ahead of closestrival Passion For Gold.

St Nicholas Abbey was favourite for the Derbyeven before he ran at Doncaster, having alreadywon a decent maiden and the Group 2 BeresfordStakes, but he was immediately cut to around 5-2afterwards and one can see why.

His 2,000 Guineas odds are a little longer, butwhile some wonder whether he will have the speedto be still effective at a mile in May there must be agood chance he will.

He travelled smoothly through the Racing PostTrophy under a patient ride and once he was askedto go and win his race he responded immediatelyand sprinted away in style.

It’s true that most of Montjeu’s best sons haveexcelled over middle distances, but St NicholasAbbey is not short of speed and there isencouragement on the dam’s side too, withLeaping Water a Sure Blade half-sister toStarborough and Aristotle. Besides, credibleopposition is in fairly short supply.

Aidan O’Brien is in no hurry to commit himselfand indicated that he will know more once his

apr_68_Flat Season:Layout 1 21/03/2010 21:59 Page 51


FOCUS ON THE FLAT

Hayley Turner’s big year was going to be 2009,but a head injury suffered on the Newmarketgallops in March kept her out of the saddleuntil July.

In the circumstances a final tally of 60 winnerswas more than creditable. Big winners were inshort supply, but she had the honour of captainingGreat Britain in the Shergar Cup.

Having wintered well and kept herself tickingover on the all-weather she says she has lookedforward to the resumption of turf racing feeling“very fresh and very excited”.

Talking at a minor Polytrack meeting at Lingfieldshe said: “This time last year I was really excitedand had some good horses to look forward to, butthe head injury meant four months off and it washard to get going again, even though I had a lot ofsupport.”

Michael Bell, who has more than 100 horses, islikely to be Turner’s principal source ofammunition once more, but she rides for a broadrange of stables and, besides Bell, expects to rideout for the likes of Ed Dunlop, James Fanshaweand Gerard Butler.

Turner said: “I’ve been riding out at Michael’sand he has some really nice two-year-olds. It wouldbe great to get on a really good one.”

She is also excited about resuming herpartnership with two three-year-old colts by Bell’sDerby winner Motivator. She said: “I’mparticularly looking forward to riding Prompter forthe Royal Ascot Racing Club, after his head secondin a Group 3 at Ascot, and Tactician, who ran wellat Doncaster and Newbury, for the Queen.

“If I could ride a Group 1 winner that would beperfect – I might have had one last year but for theinjury, you just don’t know – but I’d also like toget to get 100 winners again, to show that 2008was no fluke.”

Few can seriously believe that there was any flukeabout Turner’s first century and a Group 1 win willsurely come her way sooner rather than later.

Never mind being the best female jockey on thescene: she is among the very best of either sex.

Hayley Turner

“Michael Bell has some really nice two-year-olds.It would be great to get on a really good one”

>>



FOCUS ON THE FLAT

In around ten years as a jump jockey TomDascombe rode fewer than 100 winners, buthis time attached to Martin Pipe’s stablecertainly was not wasted and he is by no meansthe first journeyman rider to make a name forhimself as a trainer.

Dascombe reckons he learned more in his firstfive years with Pipe than he would have learned in15 years with any other trainer, and he furtheredhis education with Ralph Beckett and Mike DeKock.

He has stepped up his winning totals markedlyfrom season to season, following a 2006 tally of tenwith totals of 26, 42 and 58. Now, following lastautumn’s move from Lambourn to Malpas,

Tom Dascombe

Cheshire, where he enjoys the benefit of state-of-the-art facilities and the financial backing of bothfootballer Michael Owen and Betfair founder‘Bert’ Black, he has the firepower for another clearpersonal best and possibly as many as 90 or 100winners.

For having taken the vast majority of his oldowners with him to Cheshire and inherited most ofOwen’s, he is listed in Horses In Training as having102 horses, having had just 57 in 2009. Amongthem are around 70 juveniles, comprising an idealblend of relatively precocious types and moreClassically-bred youngsters who will benefit frommore time.

Dascombe said: “We’ve got a lot of nice horsesto look forward to. Among my older horses I’dsingle out Prince Of Dance, who has won threefrom three and will be aimed at the Group 2 over amile at Sandown and then the Lockinge, while thepick of the three-year-olds on the figures is PartyDoctor, who was placed at Royal Ascot and York.He could go for the Dee Stakes and even theFrench Derby once he’s won his maiden, but it willbe up to his owner Sir Robert Ogden.

“As for the two-year-olds, the ones that standout at this stage are the sharp ones and I’dnominate the unnamed Proclamation colt out ofShaieef and a very nice Bahamian Bounty fillycalled Coconut Ice. It’s a very exciting time.”

“The two-year-olds that standout are CoconutIce, and aProclamationcolt. It’s a veryexciting time”

>>



FOCUS ON THE FLAT

The appointment of William Buick as stablejockey to the powerful John Gosden stablecaught many of us on the hop. It should nothave done.

The 21-year-old was impressing good judges onthe Kingsclere gallops even before he had his firstride in public in 2006, and his rise through theranks has been little short of meteoric. The jointchampion apprentice in 2008, he rode a firstGroup 1 winner on Lahaleeb in the EP TaylorStakes in 2009, when he also enjoyed significantsuccess for such shrewd judges as Luca Cumaniand Barry Hills.

Many were hailing him as a future champion andalthough he had never even ridden work for

William Buick

Gosden at the time of the appointment, hisprogress had clearly not gone unnoticed.

When he made the announcement, Gosdencompared Buick to Frankie Dettori, the only otherrider he has ever retained, pointing out that he has“a similar profile” and has been “brought up in theright school”. Praise does not come much higherthan that, and bookmakers reacted by quotingBuick as short as 1-2 to ride a Group 1 winner inthe United Kingdom, 6-1 to ride a Breeders’ Cupwinner at Churchill Downs, and only 10-1 to bechampion jockey in 2010.

Buick, whose father Walter was an eight-timechampion jockey in Scandinavia, had another goodwinter in Dubai and hit the ground running whenhe returned to the UK briefly early in March tostart getting to know the Gosden horses and staff,winning a Lingfield maiden for long-time fanMarcus Tregoning on his first ride back.

His ambitions for 2010 are simple. He said: “I’vegot a lot of nice horses to look forward to and Iwant to ride as many winners as possible. A Group1 winner in Britain would be fantastic, but in myfirst year with Mr Gosden there will be a lot for meto learn and I’m just looking forward to getting toknow the horses and the way things are done there.”

With multiple Group 1 winner Dar Re Mi andGimcrack winner Showcasing heading the list of172 names in Horses In Training for his new boss,he is unlikely to be disappointed.

“There will bea lot to learn,and I’m lookingforward togetting to knowMr Gosden’shorses”

>>

>>



FOCUS ON THE FLAT

If losing his Doncaster Cup and Cesarewitchwinner Darley Sun to Godolphin was a blow,David Simcock put a very brave face on it.

In truth, Darley Sun raced under the RabbahBloodstock umbrella, which is something of anursery for Sheikh Mohammed, and so it wasalmost inevitable. In any case, while Simcockwould have dearly loved to have prepared DarleySun for the Ascot Gold Cup, he has plenty of otherirons in the fire.

Now in his seventh season at Trillium Place inNewmarket, having learned the ropes with suchdistinguished trainers as Dick Hern, Ian Balding,Luca Cumani and William Muir, Simcock revealed:“I’ve acquired some new owners this year and mynumbers are up to around the 75 to 80 mark. I’mvery happy with that.”

A rare realist in a sport in which many of hiscontemporaries raise expectations to unrealisticlevels, Simcock admits that last year’s two-year-oldswere “very ordinary” on balance, so even thoughsome of them look to have improved significantlyover the winter he is looking more to his two-year-olds and older horses for the bigger wins this year.

He said: “I’ve got a lovely bunch of two-year-olds and I’ll be very disappointed if they aren’t a lotbetter than last year’s. It’s difficult singling out

individuals at this early stage, but if you twisted myarm I’d go for the Cape Cross colt out of Easy ToLove and the Medaglio d’Oro out of BourbonBlues. Neither is named yet, but they areparticularly nice.

“So far as the older horses are concerned, we’vestill got the likes of Bushman, who is very solid anda good horse on soft ground, as well as Suruor,who I hope might get his head in front in one ofthose valuable seven-furlong handicaps, but we’vealso got some new blood. Among the new arrivalsare Nasri, a talented horse who used to be with

Brian Meehan, Georgebernardshaw, who will beone of our better horses but probably wasn’t atCoolmore, and Block Party, who was with RogerCharlton last year and might still be wellhandicapped.” ■

David Simcock

“The two-year-olds are a lovely bunch, particularlythe unnamed Cape Cross and Medaglia d’Oro”

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FIRST-SEASON SIRES

QUICK OFF THEMARK…The fight is on to be the champion first-season sire yet thetitle is not always an indicator of greater things to come

Words Sue Montgomery

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FIRST-SEASON SIRES

Though most visitors to Doncaster on March27 would not have been aware of it, the 2.20race signalled the launch of the battle for oneof the most desirable and keenly fought

crowns of the season. As the traditional openingtwo-year-old contest of the season, the BrocklesbyStakes is the earliest opportunity for a first-seasonsire to make his mark.

Despite its lowly status (its fame is morehistorical than anything else), the five-furlong dashis often a pointer to something better. Twelvemonths ago Hearts Of Fire, for instance, not onlystarted the year in style for his sire Firebreak, butended it in the same fashion when he took theGroup 1 Gran Criterium at San Siro, beatingsubsequent Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Vale OfYork in the process. And four years ago, SpoofMaster was the first notch on the breeding sheddoor for Invincible Spirit in his record-breakingchampionship season.

Fortune and fame are the hopes for every horsewhen he starts his second career but a freshmancrown is more often the precursor to a goodhonest living and a respectable reputation than tobrilliance. It falls to few to emulate Sadler’s Wells,the last first-season leader to progress to the overallchampionship, or Kris and Vaguely Noble, whoboth followed in the hoofprints of St Simon nearlya century earlier by taking the two titles inconsecutive years.

Of course, since their time, the goalposts havemoved. The title is traditionally decided byearnings and once, just as the champion jump sireused to be identified by the winner of the GrandNational, a single high-class juvenile would sealvictory. An extreme example was Vaguely Noble,whose only success in 1972 was Noble Decree'sObserver Gold Cup (now Racing Post Trophy).

Sheer weight of numbers, though, now meansthat quantity can muscle in on quality, and not only>>



FIRST-SEASON SIRES

“Thereseems to beno foolproofformula toproduce afirst-seasonchampion”

as far as representation is concerned. Theprogramme book offers a plethora of lucrativeopportunities and here there is a sense of the wheelhaving turned. The last two leading freshmen eachowed their success to one huge pot, earned by thewinner of one of the ubiquitous sales-related races.

There seems no foolproof formula to produce afirst-season champion. Some assets seem to bemust-haves: talent as a runner (nine of the last tenwon at least one Group 1 contest and five achieveda Timeform rating of more than 125), precocity(all scored at two, eight over five or six furlongs,five at the top level), speed (four were top sprinters,four were top milers, none scored beyond tenfurlongs), opportunity (seven had first books ofmore than 100), pedigree (six were sons of top-class sires) and heritage (five have been sons ofleading freshmen) are all part of the jigsaw.

But none of those qualities offer a guarantee;plenty of sires with similar profiles failed to make amark. Using the trends as a guide, this year’slikeliest lads should be Ad Valorem, Holy RomanEmperor, Proclamation, Diamond Green andAraafa. But in the end, it will come down to a fewserendipitous shakes of the genetic cocktail and it isthat very unpredictability that underpins the industry.

Some stallions progress from their early promise,others do not and often the best of a given vintageemerges later. But of the last ten championfreshmen, most are still providing a valuable serviceof some sort to the industry.

Tagula had been fast and pretty classy as ajuvenile – he won the July Stakes and Prix Morny –and headed both the earnings and races-won list in2000, in the latter instance following the exampleof his own sire Taufan, whom he replaced atRathbarry Stud. His first crop, conceived atIr4,000gns, produced a pair of Group 2-winningjuveniles and he has since compiled a solid recordwith speedy two-year-olds and tough handicaptypes, some of whom stay farther than he did.

His fee, currently €4,000, has never been morethan €7,500, and he remains a sound commercialprospect for the smaller breeder. The best may yetbe to come, too; Canford Cliffs, last year's runaway

Coventry Stakes winner, has the 2,000 Guineas inhis sights and is an exciting prospect to break hissire’s Group 1 duck.

The star among the 2000 freshmen has provedto be Pivotal, who finished eighth in the table.

Royal Applause, the 2001 champion, wasunbeaten at two, progressing up the Group laddervia the Coventry, Gimcrack and Middle ParkStakes, and a champion sprinter at four. Thoughhis sire Waajib was a miler, he was from a family ofspeedsters – notably his half-sister Lyric Fantasy,the first juvenile to win a Nunthorpe in 40 years,and brilliant July Cup hero Pappa Fourway – andfast, precocious juveniles were expected as his duewhen he retired to the Royal Studs at £6,500.

He did not disappoint on that score. His firstcrop produced 18 individual winners of 24 racesand his prize-money total of £526,453 would haveseen off runner-up Danehill Dancer, who toppedthe numerical list, even without Acclamation'svaluable sales-related prize at Doncaster.

Royal Applause has held his own as a reliablesource of above-average two-year-old talent,consistently in the top 20, with last year’s star theRoyal Ascot winner Habaayib. He is not one-dimensional; his sole top-grade winner, Ticker Tape,won an American Oaks over ten furlongs and lastseason's older performers included Finjaan, winnerof the seven-furlong Lennox Stakes at Goodwood;Battle Of Hastings, winner of the ten-furlongVirginia Derby at Colonial Downs; and CrimeScene, second in the two-mile Melbourne Cup.

But through his own efforts and with the mightof Coolmore behind him, Danehill Dancer has, ofcourse, gone on to true greatness; he is thereigning overall champion, has topped the juvenilelist for three of the last four years and now trades atsix figures. Not bad for a horse who started out atIr4,000gns.

Air Express, winner of two European Guineasand the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at three, came infrom left field to top the 2002 table, thanks to hisdaughters Airwave (Cheveley Park Stakes) andPresto Vento (Super Sprint). But how the son ofSalse, who retired to the National Stud at £5,000,might have progressed will never be known, as hedied after his second covering season. It was an ill-fated year; third-placed Danetime also died young.

Fasliyev and Cape Cross made such a sensationalstart in 2003 that they headed not only the first-crop leaderboard but also the overall two-year-oldlist. The former had the better earnings; they tied onraces won, with a better percentage for the latter.

Their racing careers were a marked contrast;Fasliyev retired injured after a brilliant unbeatenjuvenile campaign; Cape Cross was a slowerburner, a high-class miler at four and five with winsin the Lockinge and Queen Anne Stakes. Thepattern was rather repeated at stud. Fasliyev startedwith two high-class juvenile fillies, Much Faster andCarry On Katie; Cape Cross's first big earner wassales race winner Cape Fear. But there is no doubtwho has made the greater impact since.

Fasliyev, by Nureyev, left the Coolmore roster forCanford Cliffs could be the one to provide a deserved Group 1 win for his sire Tagula >>

>>



FIRST-SEASON SIRES

Japan after the 2007 season. Cape Cross, by amuch better sire of sires in Green Desert, remainsat Kildangan where, from a modest start(£Ir8,000), he progressed first to excellence, asflagged by Ouija Board and a high winners-to-runners percentage, and then to immortalitythrough the outstanding Sea The Stars.

The 2004 table was unusual for the fact that thefirst two, the Coolmore pair Giant's Causeway andMontjeu, had both proved themselves top-classover middle distances. Giant’s Causeway flippedbetween a mile and ten furlongs for his famous fiveGroup 1s in a row at three, and served only oneseason in Tipperary (at IR100,000gns) beforedecamping for America, where he had finished hiscareer with a narrow defeat on dirt in the Breeders’Cup Classic and where his sire Storm Cat shone.

His chief earners from that first crop wereShamardal, winner of the Dewhurst Stakes, MaidsCauseway and Footstepsinthesand. He is nowestablished as a leading sire on all surfaces and, afterthree European Classic winners (Shamardal,Footstepsinthesand and Ghanaati) has a KentuckyDerby contender in Eskendereya this year. From a

high of $300,000, he now stands at $100,000.The 2,000 Guineas winner King’s Best headed

the numerical list as a freshman, his 18 winnershelping him to tie for third place on the overalltwo-year-old table with Danehill Dancer, just twowinners behind the leader, Pivotal.

King’s Best’s first-crop son Proclamation, winnerof the 2005 Sussex Stakes, added to his tally ofwinners for the year and is now one of the sires incontention for this year’s title.

There was another Coolmore inmate at the topof the table in 2005, but July Cup winner Mozart,by Danehill, was another short-lived champion,with a sole crop that included smart sprintersDandy Man and Amadeus Wolf. His runner-upBertolini, by Danzig, did best numerically andalthough Green Desert’s close relative hadCheveley Park Stakes heroine Donna Blini in hisfirst crop, juvenile quantity has continued to be histrademark from his various bases.

Irish National Stud resident Invincible Spirit, byGreen Desert, played the numbers game in 2006,but to much better effect. A record 50 races camefrom 28 individual winners, very nearly half hisrunners, and quality went along with quantity, withthe Group 2 winners Conquest and CaptainMarvelous.

His own talent had been as a sprinter; he won hissole Group 1 prize, the Haydock Sprint Cup, as afive-year-old in the last stride of what was his lastrace. His best runner has been the blindingly fastfilly Fleeting Spirit, but he can get those who stayfarther, notably Lawman at the top level, and hasanother such prospect this season in Vale Of York.

A year later Acclamation, a high-class sprinterwho failed to win at the top level, was another tohead both the earnings and races-won lists, theformer thanks mainly to Middle Park Stakes winnerDark Angel and the efforts in sales races ofHitchens, second at the Curragh, and Exclamation.Like his sire Royal Applause, he delivers speed andit will be interesting to see if a Classic contendercan emerge from classier mares booked to him afterhis first-season success.

Middle Park Stakes winner Amadeus Wolf is a member of the sole crop of Mozart

Ad Valorem 88Araafa 69Aussie Rules 72Byron 64Diamond Green 105Holy Roman Emperor 111Hurricane Run 146Iceman (deceased) 105 Iffraaj 107

Indesatchel 48 Ivan Denisovich 77 Kodiac 78 Layman 61 Librettist 105 Phoenix Reach 32 Proclamation 84 Shirocco 110 Sleeping Indian 99

Leading contenders for the 2010 championshipBetfair offers a market on the outcome of the first-season sires’ title. At thetime of writing, the favourite Holy Roman Emperor had just notched his firstwinner, High Award, in the first juvenile contest of the Irish season. This listshows the number of live foals from the first crop of this year’s freshmen:

>>

>>

Holy Roman Emperor: leading first-season sire fancy



FIRST-SEASON SIRES

JULIAN DOLLARManager of Newsells Park Stud, homeof 2010 first-season sire Mount Nelson“There is no perfect way to decide theleading first season sire. Prize-money canbe skewed by the high value sales racesfor example, while deciding purely onnumber of winners does not respect thequality of the races.

“I think it’s important that the leadingfirst-season sire produces the best two-year-olds and that means a balance ofhaving won lots of races and them beinghigh quality races. Similar to the way BillOppenheim’s APEX figures work, I thinkthat prize-money is the best way to decidethe title, although by no means perfect.”

JOE FOLEYITBA Chairman and boss of BallyhaneStud, which stands freshmen siresDiamond Green and Majestic Missile“Firstly, whatever system is used shouldrepresent all of Europe and not just Britainand Ireland due to the many two-year-oldsrunning in the rest of Europe. There’s not

a simple solution to come up with: prize-money is a good system but can beskewed by sales races; number ofwinners doesn’t work due to the variety inbook and runners numbers.

“Percentages of winners to runners is agood indicator. Perhaps it’s time to inventa new system which would includewinners to runners percentages and alsoquality of runners.”

BRIAN O’ROURKEManaging Director of the National Studin Newmarket, base of Phoenix Reach“I’m not sure that prize-money is the bestway these days, with the massive salesrace pots. Perhaps a points system, withpoints awarded according to the level ofthe race. A horse would get more pointsfor a Group 1 winner than for an ordinarywinner.”

MALCOLM BASTARDLeading breeze-up consignor“I think the money list is fine. Yes, thesales prizes can make a difference but

they’re very competitive races so whyshouldn’t they be worth a lot? The horsesthat do well in them are usually prettygood; they’re worth so much that trainersnow save some of their better horses forthem. They’re comparable to or better thana lot of Group 3s.

“Numbers are probably essential, soyou get representation on the track andthe pace to have won at two. But if ahorse is a good first-season sire he’susually a good sire anyway – they’re notnormally a flash in the pan. Even if they dohave a flat couple of years, they usuallycome back.”

MARK JOHNSTONTrainer of Shamardal as a two-year-old“The traditional prize-money system forrecognising top sires is flawed but onlybecause of varying levels of prize-moneyin different countries and, in particular,due to restricted races (especially salesraces and bonus races). Nonetheless, itprobably still tells a more accurate storythan number of winners.”

The runner-up in 2007 has proved not only thebest sire of that intake, but of most others as well.Oasis Dream (like Pivotal and Danehill) is one ofthose paragons, a top-class sprinter who gets eliteperformers over all distances.

For Elusive City, the 2008 champion, andShamardal, last year's top freshman, it is still veryearly days. Elusive City (best at two, when he wonthe Morny, and now based at Haras d’Etrehamafter starting in Ireland) owed his title entirely toSoul City’s Goffs Million winnings. But he did

consolidate last year when his talented daughterElusive Wave took the French 1,000 Guineas andbeat all bar Goldikova in the Prix Rothschild.

He is from the first crop of US-based sire ElusiveQuality, since responsible for such as Raven’s Pass,Smarty Jones and Quality Road, and his fee hasrisen from €8,000 to €20,000.

Kheleyf, by Green Desert, led the numbers in2008 and continued in that vein last year (thoughnot quite as well as his fellow Darley horse ExceedAnd Excel, freshman runner-up in both categories),when his best to date, the speedy Sayif, ended hisseason in style by winning the Diadem Stakes.

Two more Darley stallions, Shamardal andDubawi, scrapped at the top of the earnings andquantity tables last year, with Dubai Millennium’sson Dubawi, who also had an excellent percentage,just shading the numbers battle. The pair more orless matched each other in terms of quality, too:Shamardal’s Group winners were Shakespearean andArctic, and Dubawi’s Poet's Voice and Sand Vixen.

Shamardal followed his sire Giant’s Causeway tothe title when Shakespearean won the GoffsMillion and Dubawi clinched second place with thehelp of Dubawi Heights, runner-up in sales races atAscot and Newmarket. But last year’s moral victoris perhaps Oratorio, who started his second careerwith a one-two in the Dewhurst Stakes, courtesy ofBeethoven and Fencing Master. He is in exaltedcompany: the last to make that sort of instantimpact was none other than Sadler’s Wells, whosefirst-crop sons Prince Of Dance and Scenic dead-heated for the Dewhurst in 1988. ■

Is prize-money the best way to decide the leading first-season sires’ title?

Shamardal (second left)followed his sire Giant’sCauseway when winninglast year’s freshman title

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Goffs’ turnover up as marketbraces for flagship auctionsSatisfactory start to breeze-ups but Maktoum investment will be key as season progresses

As breeze-up consignors count downthe final weeks until this year’sflagship two-year-old sales inNewmarket, Doncaster and Saint-

Cloud, one thought more than any otherpreoccupying their minds is whetherSheikh Mohammed will be buying on thesame scale as last year.

John Ferguson didn’t sign for a singlelot at the European breeze-ups in 2009,yet the Darley team used a whole swatheof different agents to almost single-handedly hold the market at Tattersallstogether.

Regular Darley buyers such as DickO’Gorman, Anthony Stroud, BlandfordBloodstock, Mark Johnston and BorjeOlsson were joined on the buying teamby the likes of David McGreavy, BobbyO’Ryan, Hugo Lascelles, JohnMcCormack, Richard Frisby andMcKeever St Lawrence.

Various wild figures have circulatedabout what percentage of the 2009Craven Breeze-Up Sale turnover wasaccounted for by Godolphin, SheikhMohammed and Darley subsidiaryRabbah Bloodstock, but – just fromownership registrations – it’s fair to saythat it was at least 40% of the sale’s 8.56million gns turnover.

Additionally, there were several privatepurchases, including subsequent Breeders’Cup Juvenile Turf winner Vale Of York(who was unsold in the ring) to go withthe likes of Group-winning juvenilesPassion Of Gold and Sand Vixen.

Vendors certainly seem to be bankingon the sheikh’s team holding together thisyear’s breeze-ups. Of the 166 lotscatalogued at the 2010 Craven Sale, 31%are by Darley stallions and, if adding thoseby sires such as Invincible Spirit andPivotal, in which the Dubai ruler owns aninterest, that figure rises to 40%.

Likewise at Doncaster, exactly a third ofthe 186 two-year-olds are the progeny ofDarley stallions.

There have been economic problems inDubai since last year’s sales, leading to

fears from consignors that the Maktoumfamily would reduce their racinginvestment this year.

But they can take some heart from thefact that Sheikh Mohammed’s bloodstockadvisor John Ferguson told Thoroughbred

Words Edward Prosser

SALES CIRCUITThe breeze-up season

Owner & Breeder that his team will be onthe lookout at the upcoming sales.

“The 2009 breeze-up sales were verylucky for us with Mendip, who is goingfor the UAE Derby, and Al Zir in Americaand Vale Of York and Passion For Gold,both from Newmarket,” said Ferguson.

“Naturally, the team will be lookingforward to working the 2010 breeze-upsales and making recommendations toSheikh Mohammed.”

And vendors believe that it will be

difficult for the sheikh’s team not to havesome involvement at the Craven Sale.

“It will be very hard for them to ignorethe sale and I’m sure they won’t,” saidCon Marnane of Bansha House Stables.

“That is where they have had most

success, I think four of their highest-ratedtwo-year-olds came from the Europeanbreeze-ups. It’s where they have had mostGroup 1 success from.”

Ferguson made two purchases for$1.125 million at the year’s first flagshipUS breeze-up, held by Dubai-ownedFasig-Tipton at Calder, although theDarley team predictably didn’t make theirmark at the lower-key Goffs KemptonBreeze-Up Sale, which kicked off theBritish campaign in mid-March.

“Of the 166 Craven Sale lots, 40% are by Darley stallionsor sires in which Sheikh Mohammed owns an interest”

Many consignors feel that a later date for Goffs’ breeze-up at Kempton would increase interest

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SALES CIRCUIT

The Kempton sale provided a satisfactorybut far from spectacular start to theEuropean year. Although turnover for anincreased catalogue rose by 30% to£863,500 and the clearance rate improvedfrom 63% in 2009 to 67% this year, thisevent has struggled to progress since itfirst took place in 2007.

The average and median prices, thisyear respectively £15,991 and £12,500,have fallen each year since the sale wasinaugurated and the 2010 figures wereonly half of those at the inauguralKempton auction.

The sale’s top price has similarly gonedown each year, with an outlay of£55,000 proving enough to head trade atthe 2010 sale.

That was paid by Swedish trainerLennart Reuterskiold for a Street Cry coltwho will race for Dr Omar Zawawi.

The colt’s new owner is one of Oman’smost successful businessmen, chairingover 75 companies under the banner ofhis Omar Zawawi Establishment LLC.

He has owned horses with Reuterskiold

2010 European Breeze-Up dates

April 14-15 Tattersalls Craven April 21 Doncaster April 30 Tattersalls Guineas May 15 Arqana, Saint-Cloud May 21 Goresbridge June 4 BBAG, Baden-Baden

Goffs KEMPTON BREEZE-UP

Aggregate £863,500 (+30.2%)

Average £15,991 (-14.6%)

Sold 54 (67% clearance)

Median £12,500 (-16.7%)

Sex Pedigree Vendor Price (£) Buyer

c Street Cry–Inspired Kiss (Inspired Prospect) Oak Tree Farm 55,000 Zawawi Racing

f Exceed And Excel–Fingal Nights (Night Shift) Mocklershill 50,000 Bobby O’Ryan

f Kheleyf –Monarchy (Common Grounds) Tally-Ho Stud 36,000 Stephen Hillen

f Royal Applause–Pearl Venture (Salse) Oaks Farm Stables 30,000 Peter Doyle BS

f Holy Roman Emperor–Queen Of Palms (Desert Prince) Harefield Lodge Stables 30,000 Bobby O’Ryan

f Librettist–Dunloskin (Selkirk) The Bloodstock Connection 28,000 Marco Bozzi

c Silver Train–Endless Sea (Mt Livermore) Mocklershill 26,000 BBA Ireland

f Oasis Dream–Vallee Blanche (Zafonic) Bansha House Stables 25,000 Gay Kelleway

f Exceed And Excel–Innclassic (Stravinsky) The Bloodstock Connection 24,000 Aidan O’Ryan

c Majestic Missile–Xena (Mull Of Kintyre) Bansha House Stables 23,000 John Quinn

c Layman–Miss Dish (Marju) Bansha House Stables 23,000 Emerald BS

f Marju–Tashyra (Tagula) Keyhouse Stud 23,000 Marco Bozzi

c Diamond Green–Tranquil Sky (Intikhab) Bansha House Stables 23,000 Robert Mills

Goffs Kempton Breeze-Up Top Lots

Year Cat Off Sold Clear Agg (£) Av (£) Med (£) Top (£)

2010 94 81 54 67% 863,500 15,991 12,500 55,000

2009 75 57 36 63% 663,100 18,728 15,000 58,000

2008 101 86 64 74% 1,944,500 30,383 25,000 105,000

2007 100 82 65 79% 2,074,000 31,908 26,000 110,000

Goffs Kempton Breeze-Up (since it began in 2007)

since the latter started training around tenyears ago.

Former jockey Norman Williamson’sOak Tree Farm sold the top lot, who hadbeen picked up for $17,000 as a yearlingat Keeneland.

As last year, only two lots made£50,000 or more, compared to 14 in2007 and 11 in 2008, and this was thefirst sale where the new-look Breeze-UpBonus Scheme, sponsored by the RacingPost, was in operation.

Darley-sired fillies steal the limelightThe prize for winning a race has beenreduced from £10,000 to £5,000 thisyear, something that drew a mixedreaction from buyers.

Surprisingly, five of the top six prices atthe Kempton Sale were for fillies and allbut one of the six dearest lots was by aDarley stallion.

Goffs, prompted by several leadingvendors, are keen to move the sale to alater date, possibly the week beforeTattersalls’ Craven Breeze-Up Sale, when

Goffs’ subsidiary DBS previously held itssale. DBS has this year moved its sale tothe week after the Craven.

“I’ve not got a problem with it being inMarch but it would be good if it couldmove to even a week after Cheltenham – Ijust think nobody is thinking about Flatracing when the sale is on at present,” saidCon Marnane of Bansha House Stables.“There were a lot of trainers missing andwe need to get more buyers there.

“As I’d say 90% of the vendors are fromIreland and it’s an Irish sales company, itcould be a good opportunity for IrishThoroughbred Marketing to join forceswith their British equivalent and reallypush the sale. It’s probably the bestbreeze-up in the world in terms ofpercentage of winners sold.

“But most of ours actually sold aboveexpectations at Kempton; maybesomething cost £7,000 as a yearling andwe got £25,000 for it. That’s what thisyear will be all about, we need to movehorses on, hopefully leave a couple ofquid behind and pay our bills.”

Norman Williamson sold the top lot for £55,000

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Ensuring that riders are lookedafter in the event of disablement Professional Riders Insurance Scheme is a lifeline to professional jockeys

The ROA office has receiveda number of enquiries frommembers about the sumwhich is paid in addition tothe riding fee to theProfessional RidersInsurance Scheme (PRIS).

PRIS was set up in 1974 toprovide licensed jockeys,apprentice jockeys andconditional jockeys withincome benefits in the event oftemporary disablement, andcapital benefits in the event ofdeath or permanent disability.

It is a fixed benefit schemeunderwritten by insurance forthe benefit of currentlylicensed jockeys and isgoverned by a strict set ofrules.

PRIS is an entirely separateoperation from the InjuredJockeys’ Fund. Although PRISand the IJF work closelytogether through theiralmoners, they have differenttrustees and there is no directlink between the two groups.

Each time a riding fee ischarged, an additional 13% isautomatically earmarked forPRIS. In monetary terms, thisamounts to £13.45 per ridefor a Flat jockey and £18.36for a jump jockey.

Christopher Sporborg,Chairman of the trustees,explained: “PRIS ensure thereis a capital fund, in the event ofthe death of a jockey,permanent total disablement,or the loss of a limb or eye.The insurance company thenpay whatever the designatedamount is in terms of theclaim.

“Benefits cover jockeys forincidents on the racecourseand also on the gallops orschooling. A jockey whosuffers an accident on his orher way to the races may alsobe eligible for compensation.A jockey who suffers a fallwhich leaves him or her unableto ride again is paid for up to18 months.

“A jockey who istemporarily injured and signedoff is paid a benefit until fit toresume race-riding. Thetemporary benefit paymentsare graded by a scale of 1-9,according to the jockey’snumber of rides in theprevious season.

“A jockey whose number ofrides falls in the Grade 9category (over 600 rides)contributes considerably morethan a rider in Grade 1 (up to74). The temporary benefitsare designed to keep jockeysgoing when they are medicallyunfit to ride.”

The day-to-day running andadministration of the scheme isundertaken by PRIS’s onlypaid member of staff, IreneRogers, who is based atOaksey House in Lambourn.

She receives a daily redentries list from Weatherbys,which details any jockey whohas had a fall or suffered abodily injury and is medically

unfit to ride. Where a jockeyhas suffered an injury, Rogersmakes contact to check ontheir condition and establishwhether they need a claimform.

Claims are completed byjockeys with the input of theirGP or specialist, and returnedwithin 21 days of the incident.

Rogers explained: “Thescheme covers any professionaljockey, but doesn’t coverillness or sickness, e.g. swineflu. The jockey must suffer abodily injury to qualify for aclaim.”

Any licensed jockey whosuffers a significant injury suchas concussion or a fractureneeds the approval of DrMichael Turner, the BHA’schief medical adviser, beforereturning to race-riding.Jockeys suffering less seriousinjuries, e.g. soft tissue, can bepassed fit to ride by aracecourse doctor.

Grade 1 conditional riders

ROA FORUMThe special section for ROA members

PRIS provides income benefits to riders after incidents on and off the racecourse

apr_68_ROA Forum:Layout 1 21/03/2010 22:20 Page 4


ROA FORUM

and apprentices who suffer aninjury at the stables, on thegallops or schooling makeclaims under a separatescheme, the Racing IndustryAccident Benefit Scheme(RIABS), for paid stableworkers, which is funded bylicensed and permittedtrainers and by contributionsfrom stable staff.

During 2009 PRIS paid out£1,303,888 in total:£628,888 in temporarybenefits and £675,000 incapital (career ending)benefits.

The capital benefitpayments were reclaimed fromthe scheme’s insurers andrelated to two permanent totaldisablement claims and oneloss of vision claim. Due tothe nature of the terms of the

insurance policy, these claimsrelated to accidents inprevious years.

The sums insured under thecapital benefits include£500,000 for death,£750,000 for permanent totaldisablement and £75,000 for10% of total disablement.

Trustees meet three times ayear and, with the assistance ofalmoners, monitor theperformance of the schemeclosely.

Kevin Darley, ChiefExecutive of the ProfessionalJockeys Association, said:“The Professional RidersInsurance Scheme is a lifelineto jockeys when they’residelined through injury.

“The scheme covers jockeysfor loss of riding fees at a timewhen the bills keep coming in.

It gives them some peace ofmind whilst they arerecuperating.

“It would be unthinkablefor professional jockeys to beriding without this cover andthe PJA values the scheme andthe excellent support it givesto our members.”

The total sum paid to PRISlast year was £1,458,219, with57% awarded to Flat jockeysand 43% to National Huntriders.

Riding injuries that occurred in 2009

Injury type No of cases Days off racingConcussion 12 554Dislocation 5 211Fracture 39 2,440Soft tissue 27 360

Total 83 Total 3,565

The data in the table belowdoes not include the details ofjockeys who have not beensigned off as fit to ride, orreached 78 weeks of claimingPRIS, as of February 25 thisyear.

There are another tenjockeys who are currentlybeing paid by the ProfessionalRiders Insurance Scheme forinjuries that they suffered in2009 who are not included inthese statistics.

For further information and a full description of theinsurance cover, please contact Lycetts’ offices inNewmarket or Marlborough.

Lycetts www.lycetts.co.uk

NEWMARKET

The Coach House, 168 High Street, Newmarket,Suffolk CB8 9AQ. T: 01638 676700 F: 01638 [email protected]

MARLBOROUGH

1 Stables Court, The Parade, Marlborough,Wiltshire SN8 1NP. T: 01672 512512 F: 01672 [email protected]

Now is an ideal time for racehorse owners totake advantage of the Racehorse OwnersCompensation Scheme (ROCS). With two-years-olds in full training, and the tempoincreasing for older horses, it makes perfect sense to insureagainst veterinary costs and disability.

This ground-breaking scheme, launched in February, isdesigned specifically for ROA members. It allows owners toinsure horses in training against injury and veterinarytreatment from £2 per day, with payments ranging from£2,000 to £8,000.

Michael Harris, ROA Chief Executive, said: “We’vereceived an overwhelming response from members to thelaunch of ROCS.

“We hope the scheme will provide some financialcushioning to owners when they are faced with thefrustrating prospect of their horse being sidelined aftersuffering an injury.”

Designed specifically for ROA members

ROCS PROVIDES:

✔ Financial compensation for the owner of a racehorsethat is injured, either temporarily or permanently

✔ The costs of treating the horse at a topveterinary clinic

✔ The value of the horse if it dies

ROCS



ROA FORUM

The February ROA Council Meeting

Michael Harris, Chief Executive

AGENDAROCSThe Council was informedthat the month’s marketingfocus had been on theRacehorse OwnersCompensation Scheme(ROCS) insurance. There hadbeen an excellent initialresponse with over 600expressions of interest and thisnumber continues to increase.

New ownership guideThere was discussion on a newbook that the ROA haddecided to publish. Work hadnow commenced on a ‘Guideto Racehorse Ownership’, forwhich a sponsor would besought.

Levy SchemeThe Council noted that prize-money for 2009 was at arecord high, mainly because ofthe Levy Board’s outstandingcontribution and because ofthe so-called ‘high-roller’effect. Conversely, prize-money for the current yearwould decrease substantiallywith a decline in levycontributions, due, in part, tosome major bookmakerstaking their online businessoffshore.

Discussions then took placeabout various aspects of thelevy process including thefuture of the Capital Fund, theFixture Incentive Scheme andthe general fundingmechanism relating to fixtures.It was agreed that all the levy’sexpenditure heads would haveto be scrutinised to minimizecuts in prize-money.

The huge importance of the50th Levy Scheme (2011/12)was emphasised. The openingdebate on this wouldcommence at the forthcomingmeeting.

NEWS IN BRIEF

ROA office moveAs of Thursday, April 1, the ROAwill be at a new address:1st Floor, 75 High Holborn,London, WC1V 6LST: 020 7152 0200F: 020 7152 0213

Rasen loses Gold StandardMarket Rasen, which firstreceived the Gold StandardAward in 2007, is no longeramong the ranks of presentholders, due to a sustaineddecline in their executive andsponsorship contributions toprize-money.

The Gold StandardCommittee and ROA Counciltook the decision not to renewthe Lincolnshire course’s currentaward after several months ofdiscussions with the coursemanagement.

The stipulated threshold of15% has not been achieved,even allowing for mitigatingfactors such as abandonments.

The Gold StandardCommittee will continue willcontinue a dialogue with theMarket Rasen team with the aimof working towards restoring theaward when their prize-moneycontributions improve.

Late arrival penalty increaseThe BHA Board has approved anincrease to the fine imposed onthose entering the parade ringlate for Group and Grade 1races. Connections of any horsethat arrives after the timestipulated on the Timetable Planfor Start Times will be fined0.5% of the total prize-fund forthat race.

Raise £100 for TRC in MayThe Thoroughbred RehabilitationCentre is encouraging as manypeople as possible to hold afundraising event during May,with a target of at least £100.Suggestions of ideas to do thisare available on the TRCwebsite, which will also postdetails of planned events.For details email [email protected]

The 50th scheme would beorganised in a different way toprevious years. Instead ofbookmakers putting in theiropening position, racingwould be putting forward theamount of money itconsidered the industryneeded to function, taking inall economic and socialconsiderations.

The levy part of the meetingended with an update on thelevy position with regard tooffshore operators and bettingexchanges, while furtherconcern was expressed overthe balance of racing’s incomeshifting from the levy toracecourse picture rights. Thefact that owners had nocontrol over the latter was amatter that needed to beaddressed in terms ofracecourse prize-moneycontributions.

Racecourse figuresDiscussion moved on to prize-money agreements withracecourses. These related to a48-hour declarationagreement and a general prize-money agreement. It was cleara significant majority ofracecourses had fallen belowthe required level of prize-money contributions for 2009,although it was recognisedthat most of these courseswould produce so-called‘justifiable reasons’ for theirshortfall. A reduction insponsorship and income fromcorporate entertaining wouldbe among them.

The Council agreed thatthese very disappointingfigures further emphasized theneed for a more robust prize-money agreement between theHorsemen’s Group andracecourses.

Racing For ChangeThere was further debate onRacing For Change, inparticular the plans for puttinga stronger emphasis onracing’s premier events and theFlat championship. It wasexplained that although therewould not be a qualificationlink between the major eventsand ‘Champions’ Day’ itself,the championship racesthroughout the season wouldreceive better marketing andsignposting so the publiccould better relate to them.

Racing SyndicatesA report was heard on the newRacing Syndicates and ClubsAssociation (RSACA). Itspurpose is to provideaccreditation to thosesyndicates that traded fairlyand adhered to a code ofpractice. While the Councilbelieved this was a worthwhileaim, some members queriedwhy this was not a functionbeing carried out by the BHA,under whose wing all mattersrelating to integrity fell.

Handicap weights proposalThe Council received thisinformation on Race Planning:A proposal to increase the

basic weight in standardhandicaps by 3lb was rejectedon the grounds that it wouldbe too disadvantageous tolightweight jockeys. An analysis of non-runners,

which showed a deterioratingpicture, was also discussed andthe Council noted that theBHA would continue tomonitor the numbers beforetaking any action. Also discussed was the idea of

establishing a maximumoverweight that a jockeyshould be allowed to declare.



ROA FORUM

Totesport-sponsored winners in JanuaryPeopleton Brook Lingfield 02/1 GS Thompson & P Banfield

Near The Water Plumpton 03/1 Ms Jane Southall

Shake On It Wolverhampton 04/1 Mrs L Bangs

Miss Taken Southwell 07/1 K & D Racing Partnership

Black Falcon Southwell 10/1 Mrs A E Harris

Noble Jack Lingfield 14/1 M K George

Formidable Guest Lingfield 14/1 Macniler Racing Partnership

Head To Head Wolverhampton 14/1 Mrs M Doherty

Rince Donn Folkestone 19/1 R P Behan

Munich Kempton Park 20/1 R P Behan

Peopleton Brook Lingfield 22/1 GS Thompson & P Banfield

Ballyfoy Lingfield 25/1 M K George

Augustus John Wolverhampton 25/1 Arthur Clayton

One Cornetto Lingfield 25/1 Mrs Carrie Zetter-Wells

The City Kid Wolverhampton 25/1 Luke McGarrigle

After The Show Lingfield 29/1 Miss L Thompson

Karky Schultz Uttoxeter 30/1 Harold Nass

Total runs – 287; Total wins – 17 (6% wins/runs)

There were no Group or Graded winners this month, however Totesport-sponsoredrunners achieved an across-the-card four-timer at Lingfield and Wolverhampton onJanuary 25, and a treble at the same tracks on January 14

Ascot racecourse is delighted to offer ROAmembers the following benefits whenbooking private boxes:■ Priority booking of private boxes ahead of

the Royal Ascot 2010 waiting list. ■ Option to upgrade guests, free of charge, to

Royal Enclosure Guest Badges (Sat only).■ Facilities to book a minimum of six packages

(subject to availability). Usual minimumnumber is ten per box.With a waiting list approaching 650 people,

private boxes for Royal Ascot are selling fast. Inorder to be offered boxes ahead of this listplease contact Susan Thomsett for availability,quoting reference ROA Boxes.

Tel: 0870 726 3042, Fax: 0870 460 1253 oremail: [email protected]

Priority booking for privateboxes at Royal Ascot

DIARY DATES &REMINDERS

April 20-24ROA members who purchasetickets for any of the four days,April 21-24 (Wednesday toSaturday) of the PunchestownIrish National Hunt Festival willreceive the equivalent bookingfor Tuesday, April 20 free ofcharge.

To book, [email protected] call Stacey on +353 45897704, quoting your ROAmembership number. Prices:General Admission €30,Reserved Enclosure €40,Senior Citizen €18 (optional€10 R.E upgrade). Paymentcan be made by credit card orEuro Bank draft.

June 24ROA AGM followed bymembers’ and guests’ lunch atthe Jumeirah Carlton TowerHotel, Knightsbridge, London.

July 27-31Special service for ROAmembers to order badges forthe Richmond Enclosure atGlorious Goodwood.

The opening fixture of the 2010 season atEpsom racecourse takes place on Wednesday,April 21. The Investec spring meeting stages athrilling card of racing including the first of theofficial Derby trials, the Investec Blue RibandDerby Trial.

The Grandstand and Queen’s Stand will beopen as one enclosure, allowing racegoers toenjoy all of the facilities and viewing areas.Tickets cost £15 in advance and £20 on theday; tickets booked in advance withpromotional code ROASP10 will validate a 2-for-1 offer for ROA members. Call 0844 8480197 or visit www.epsomdowns.co.uk topurchase your tickets. Bookings close atmidnight on Tuesday, April 20.

Epsom is also offering 13 fixtures as part ofthe Racecourse Badge Scheme for ROAmembers this year. This policy means thecourse’s series of race evenings, which arefollowed by concerts, are also included. Onlythe Investec Derby and Oaks meeting isexcluded from the scheme this year.

Epsom 2-for-1offer

Package prices start from £505 perperson plus VAT. They include:

Private hire of the box Grandstand admission One car park label per couple Morning coffee and biscuits Champagne Reception with canapés Four-course luncheon Selected fine wines Port or brandy with coffee Afternoon tea Complimentary bar throughout the dayconsisting of selected fine wines, housechampagne, Grey Goose vodka, BombaySapphire gin, Famous Grouse whisky, Rubyport, Courvoisier brandy, Heineken,Fullers London Pride, mixers, orange juiceand mineral water until 30 minutes afterthe last race

Betting facilities close to the box Racecards Racing papers Floral arrangement


ROA FORUM


This table sets out the three maincontributors to prize-money withpercentages of the total: 1Racecourses’ executive andsponsorship; 2 Levy Board; 3Owners. A small additionalcontribution is also made by theDivided Race Fund and the BHADevelopment Fund. The order istaken from the percentage in thesecond column of figures. This showshow much each racecourse hascontributed to prize-money,expressed as a percentage of theiroverall prize-money. The arrows at theend of each line are based on acomparison between thepercentages for the two rolling yearperiods. If a racecourse has improvedits position by this criteria it receives agreen ‘up’ arrow. If the year-on-yearpercentage has decreased it receivesa red ‘down’ arrow.Note: All of the figures are producedon an ‘as originally programmed’basis, i.e. where any transferredfixtures were originally programmedrather than where the fixtures haveactually taken place. However, anytransferred BHA ‘National’ fixturesand ‘Regional’ fixtures are attributedto the courses where the fixtureshave actually taken place.

RACECOURSEOWNERSHIP KEY

JCR Jockey Club Racecourses

North Northern Racing Ltd

Arena Arena Leisure Ltd

I Independently ownedracecourse

Gold Standard Award (*July Course)

EXPLANATION OF TABLE

In order of racecourses’percentage contributionsto overall prize-money

Figures relate to prize-money for the 12-month period March 1, 2009 toFebruary 28, 2010

Ptn Racecourse Racecourse Exec + % of Levy Board % of Owners % of Total 2009/10 Total 2008/9 % total Up/ownership Sponsors (£) Total (£) Total (£) Total (£) (£) 2008/9 down

1 Aintree JCR 1,652,752 50.1 1,185,950 36.0 459,890 13.9 3,298,592 3,273,598 50.4 ▼

2 Cheltenham JCR 2,952,783 49.8 1,990,610 33.6 897,106 15.1 5,924,499 5,562,823 50.1 ▼

3 York I 2,041,777 42.6 1,596,550 33.3 1,116,316 23.3 4,791,143 1,995,325 37.9 ▲

4 Ascot I 4,015,615 42.2 3,117,910 32.7 2,323,888 24.4 9,524,913 10,180,849 46.7 ▼

5 Epsom Downs JCR 1,191,553 40.4 998,360 33.8 737,857 25.0 2,952,770 2,965,662 39.1 ▲

6 Haydock Park JCR 1,234,956 34.1 1,811,950 50.1 485,187 13.4 3,620,093 3,285,870 31.4 ▲

7 Chester I 480,147 32.1 887,710 59.3 80,560 5.4 1,497,417 1,510,940 37.9 ▼

8 Goodwood I 1,174,931 31.3 1,997,170 53.2 512,426 13.7 3,752,527 3,832,910 38.4 ▼

9 Sandown Park JCR 1,013,235 28.2 2,060,500 57.3 478,907 13.3 3,594,142 3,677,965 33.8 ▼

10 Newmarket JCR 2,994,179 28.1 3,731,210 35.0 3,742,521 35.1 10,650,410 11,182,239 30.7 ▼

11 Hamilton Park I 224,282 27.0 513,800 61.9 55,777 6.7 830,359 823,744 38.7 ▼

12 Doncaster Arena 1,115,649 26.3 2,005,029 47.2 1,033,458 24.3 4,247,135 4,819,031 33.2 ▼

13 Newbury I 1,051,519 26.3 2,208,180 55.3 569,123 14.2 3,996,322 4,052,921 23.6 ▲

14 Musselburgh I 334,450 26.2 812,250 63.5 96,000 7.5 1,278,200 1,205,425 23.8 ▲

15 Ayr I 519,448 26.0 1,141,840 57.1 285,932 14.3 1,999,220 2,127,603 26.7 ▼

16 Ripon I 211,040 23.7 583,990 65.5 66,175 7.4 892,205 792,366 30.0 ▼

17 Salisbury I 216,935 21.7 623,180 62.5 84,684 8.5 997,499 957,818 26.1 ▼

18 Stratford-on-Avon I 202,515 21.3 664,870 69.9 66,201 7.0 951,086 865,124 25.4 ▼

19 Beverley I 175,638 20.7 574,590 67.6 62,172 7.3 849,650 849,115 20.6 ▲

20 Newcastle North 317,871 20.4 1,035,930 66.4 185,341 11.9 1,561,292 1,225,403 30.5 ▼

21 Pontefract I 202,764 20.1 692,640 68.7 63,887 6.3 1,008,791 866,664 23.9 ▼

22 Windsor Arena 236,486 19.8 785,250 65.8 120,568 10.1 1,193,304 1,127,677 27.3 ▼

23 Thirsk I 144,504 19.7 476,840 64.9 79,251 10.8 734,195 632,050 32.4 ▼

24 Bath North 143,186 19.4 515,667 69.8 67,034 9.1 738,886 678,639 30.4 ▼

25 Leicester I 229,986 18.6 844,647 68.4 100,386 8.1 1,234,019 1,179,837 18.5 ▲

26 Carlisle JCR 144,640 18.4 564,140 71.8 76,385 9.7 785,165 708,400 25.9 ▼

27 Sedgefield North 78,205 18.0 299,680 69.0 51,415 11.8 434,300 529,896 6.8 ▲

28 Fakenham I 63,980 17.2 308,395 82.8 0 0 372,375 373,284 25.1 ▼

29 Ffos Las North 110,287 17.2 460,200 71.7 59,545 9.3 642,032 N/A N/A N/A30 Wetherby I 129,364 17.2 541,210 71.9 59,586 7.9 753,160 986,446 23.0 ▼

31 Chepstow North 196,103 16.6 809,030 68.6 131,940 11.2 1,179,073 1,118,100 17.4 ▼

32 Yarmouth North 136,432 16.2 571,720 67.8 100,714 12.0 842,966 753,942 26.5 ▼

33 Ludlow I 100,278 16.1 481,490 77.1 42,720 6.8 624,488 675,800 11.9 ▲

34 Cartmel I 31,670 14.4 162,360 74.0 25,370 11.6 219,400 203,383 16.4 ▼

35 Lingfield Park Arena 571,727 13.4 3,175,440 74.5 344,391 8.1 4,262,258 3,723,434 20.0 ▼

36 Bangor-On-Dee I 93,342 13.1 571,750 80.2 36,333 5.1 712,675 714,916 14.9 ▼

37 Nottingham JCR 106,637 12.9 539,510 65.1 114,287 13.8 828,934 691,927 14.7 ▼

38 Perth I 79,462 12.8 488,770 78.9 45,857 7.4 619,089 677,900 15.1 ▼

39 Kelso I 81,905 12.3 536,460 80.6 37,341 5.6 665,206 543,720 16.4 ▼

40 Kempton Park JCR 559,670 11.3 3,764,225 76.1 455,676 9.2 4,949,621 4,636,764 15.0 ▼

41 Exeter JCR 84,654 10.5 633,693 78.9 82,205 10.2 803,052 812,136 8.0 ▲

42 Market Rasen JCR 103,758 10.4 791,030 79.6 93,083 9.4 993,371 905,400 18.0 ▼

43 Redcar I 88,061 10.3 534,200 62.6 221,739 26 854,000 876,300 16.5 ▼

44 Uttoxeter North 106,492 10.2 787,170 75.2 142,661 13.6 1,047,323 997,350 10.4 ▼

45 Catterick Bridge I 79,405 10.1 624,543 79.1 58,388 7.4 789,336 735,842 13.3 ▼

46 Warwick JCR 99,271 9.8 770,750 76.1 112,035 11.1 1,012,306 777,909 12.2 ▼

47 Taunton I 50,542 9.7 422,170 80.6 32,649 6.2 523,611 554,355 6.1 ▲

48 Fontwell Park North 77,502 8.7 725,460 81.0 92,678 10.4 895,640 834,402 13.3 ▼

49 Huntingdon JCR 67,310 8.3 645,850 79.5 84,005 10.3 812,165 721,623 17.4 ▼

50 Wincanton JCR 68,677 8.2 666,350 79.3 85,704 10.2 840,731 1,068,900 14.1 ▼

51 Folkestone Arena 48,335 7.7 514,410 81.7 62,415 9.9 629,660 768,142 10.7 ▼

52 Brighton North 46,472 7.2 529,070 81.7 66,035 10.2 647,877 569,025 15.6 ▼

53 Hereford North 20,209 4.3 389,130 82.0 62,023 13.1 474,662 454,188 6.7 ▼

54 Plumpton I 20,256 3.7 492,410 89.6 32,650 5.9 549,316 485,484 2.3 ▲

55 Newton Abbot I 21,911 3.2 627,240 93.0 5,264 0.8 674,715 604,666 6.7 ▼

56 Towcester I 10,631 1.9 499,480 89.2 49,655 8.9 559,766 604,000 6.2 ▼

57 WolverhamptonArena 46,783 1.4 2,848,252 86.7 292,438 8.9 3,287,073 2,848,427 -0.3 ▲

58 Southwell Arena 29,753 1.2 2,299,600 89.4 199,975 7.8 2,572,428 2,047,074 4.3 ▼

59 Worcester Arena 5,409 0.8 588,062 83.3 84,096 11.9 705,566 626,214 2.0 ▼

60 Hexham I -1,881 -0.4 434,900 89.2 47,681 9.8 487,500 333,100 26.4 ▼

Total 27,635,452 25.3 61,954,772 56.8 17,259,586 15.8 109,169,510 105,766,025 28.3 ▼

Racecourse League Table

*

apr_68_prizetable:Leader 22/03/2010 10:30 Page 5


Stud staff to the foreat the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff AwardsGreat success enjoyed by Hascombe & Valiant and Whitsbury Manor Stud employees

This year’s Godolphin Studand Stable Staff Awardsproved a great success forstud staff, with finalists inthe David NicholsonNewcomer and HighAchiever categories, as wellas the Stud Staff Category.Generously sponsored byGodolphin, and run by theBritish HorseracingAuthority and the RacingPost, the awards have nowestablished themselves as atruly inspiring event in theindustry calendar.

Roy Gedge, of Hascombeand Valiant Stud nearNewmarket, scooped the awardin the Stud Staff category.

Having put retirement planson hold twice, this award isdue recognition of hisdedication and long service tothe stud, where he has workedfor 44 years, the last 25 as studgroom.

Gedge’s winning attributesinclude an impressiveknowledge of the industry thathe is more than willing to passon to others, and anexceptional attitude,temperament and willingnessto help. Speaking at the awardslunch, he was delighted andgrateful to have won his awardand felt the event was “a greatopportunity for stud staff, whomay not always be in thelimelight, to be recognised forthe work done behind thescenes on a stud farm”.

In addition to a trophy as amemento of the occasion,Gedge received a cash prize of£5,000, which was matchedby £5,000 to be sharedamongst his colleagues.

Deserving runners-up in thiscategory, David Cartledge,stallion man at the RoyalStuds, and Hazel Woods,yearling foreman atKirtlington Stud, both took

home trophies and £2,000,with an additional £2,000 foreach of their studs.

Just starting out in hiscareer, James Gray fromWhitsbury Manor Farm andStud, Hampshire, took theDavid Nicholson NewcomerAward. Having joinedWhitsbury Manor from theNational Stud’s apprenticeshipcourse, Gray spent a seasonlearning the ropes at leadingSouth African Stud Klawvlei,after which he returned toWhitsbury, taking up theposition of second head manin 2009.

Gray has a strong andabiding passion for theindustry and a determinationto make it up the ladder byexperiencing as many aspectsof the industry as he can. Hecollected a trophy and £5,000,with an additional £5,000going to staff at WhitsburyManor, and is picturedreceiving his award from

former Derby-winning jockeyJohn Reid.

Catherine Morse, studgroom at Overbury Stud inGloucestershire, was a strongcontender in the HighAchiever category, and as arunner-up to eventualEmployee of the Year StuartMessenger in this category,received a trophy and £2,000for herself and a further£2,000 for the stud.

Judges of all categoriescommented on the strengthand depth of the nominationsthis year, and the eventbenefited from nearly twice asmany entrants in all categories.

All the finalists enjoyed theirstay in London, praising theorganisation of the event, thehospitality at the JumeirahCarlton Tower Hotel and thefriendly manner in which theywere interviewed by judges.

TBA FORUMThe special section for TBA members

Roy Gedge, pictured at Hascombe and Valiant Stud, was successful in the stud staff category

Whitsbury Manor’s James Gray (right) receives his award from John Reid

apr_68_TBA Forum:Layout 1 21/03/2010 22:29 Page 4


The recently published British Bloodstock Marketing Yearbookfor 09/10 is available free on request.

The publication includes over 100 pages packed full of usefulinformation on the British racing and breeding industry. It ispresented by calendar month, combining forthcoming racefixtures and sales in 2010 with a racing and sales review of 2009.

It also includes monthly features and exclusive interviews fromMichael Owen, Richard Fahey and National Hunt breeder PaulMurphy, together with useful statistics and stallion fees.

The yearbook can be viewed online, where specific pages canbe directly downloaded, emailed or printed. Please visitwww.bbm.gb.com. Alternatively, please contact BBM to receivea hard copy in the post by emailing [email protected].

An interview with Michael Owen is one of the Yearbook’s highlights

Membership to the Breeders’Badge Scheme (BBS) entitlescomplimentary access to theracecourse for the TBAmember plus one guest at over1,300 participating fixturesthroughout the year.

However, if you do notupdate the breeding detailsheld on your TBA/RCAHorseracing Privilege card, itwill automatically de-activateon April 30, 2010.

All members of the BBSnow need to have the officialHorseracing Privilegephotocard, or access will bedenied at the racecourse.The old style maroon cardsand TBA membershipcards are not accepted.

RENEWAL NOW DUE

New BBM Yearbookavailable free of charge

TBA members were sent aform in the send-out fromStanstead House at the end ofFebruary; the form shouldhave now been completed andreturned to Weatherbys. If youdo not have a photocard, pleasesend a passport-sized photowith your renewal application.

If you have misplaced theform, or have any questions,please contact SamanthaKnight at Stanstead House.

TBA/RCA Breeders’ Badge Scheme 2010-2011


Lesley O’Shea will be joining the team at Stanstead Housein April and brings with her a wealth of experience in thebloodstock industry, including eight years in Dubai. Lesleyis employed on a one-year contract to cover SamanthaKnight’s maternity leave.

New face at the TBA


TBA FORUM

From April 4, the rate of statutorymaternity pay will rise from £123.06 to£124.88 per week. This is payable after thefirst six weeks of leave, when 90% ofemployees’ average weekly earnings shouldbe paid. Statutory sick pay will remain atthe current level of £79.15 per week.

For further information on managingmaternity leave go to the Employers’ Areaof the TBA website – www.thetba.co.uk –and log-on or register to access the relevantFact Sheet.

Statutory pay rates

Health and Safety

Racing Welfare helpline

Stud owners often forget that, as directors,they and their partners are also employeesof their business. Hence, most will probablyhave reached the ‘5+ employees’ thresholdand therefore need to have documentedrisk assessments and policies.

The guidance publication ‘Health & Safetyin the British Racing & Breeding Industry’,otherwise known as the ‘Red Book’, isavailable on the TBA website and shouldhelp you to meet this legal requirement.

The TBA Employers’ Area of the websitealso provides free templates that can bedownloaded and completed to save time.

If, however, you are too busy at presentto do this and would like some support,our retained Safety Consultant, TonyPayne, of ‘adams-payne safety ltd’, offersassistance with the production of a Healthand Safety policy, risk assessments andsupporting documents that will helpemployers comply with the law.

To qualify for the TBA members rate,contact Payne on 01353 698767 or 07739709767 and quote your TBA number.

Racing Welfare’s recent success at the Helplines Association Awardswas well deserved and highlighted the benefits of a 24/7 national numberthat anyone in the industry can call for confidential advice and support. TheTBA supports this valuable initiative and we urge employers to make theirstaff aware of it. Posters and mugs displaying the number – 0800 6300443– are available from Racing Welfare or Stanstead House.

NOTES FOREMPLOYERS

The TBA Stud Staff Award for Marchgoes to David Gardner of New EnglandStud. With nearly 25 years service underhis belt at Meddlar Stud, Gardner joinedNew England ten years ago, initially asa stallion man.

Owner Peter Stanley describesGardner as a wonderful asset to theStud, citing his immense dedication andreliability. Always a willing volunteer for

March TBA Stud Staff Award

any additional role, Gardner is in earlyeach morning to do the feed round andon duty at night when needed. He is atop-class horseman able to handle anyanimal, and his calm temperament ishighly valued by Team New England.

Gardner is pictured receiving hiscertificate and cheque for £100 fromTBA Stud Satff Award Co-ordinatorDerek Christopher.

TBA Stud Staff Award winner David Gardner (right) with Derek Christopher



TBA FORUM

DIARY DATES

Breeding racehorses is not an activity to betaken lightly: only 3% of all horses willbecome stakes winners and only about 60%will win a race. We can, however, try to pushthe odds in our favour with a few basicbreeding principles aimed at producinggood, sound racehorses.

As a small breeder in South Africa, nowworking in the UK, I’m amazed at theinfluence ‘fashion’ can have on breeders whentheir bloodlines are the envy of the world. I canunderstand the word fashion being used inconjunction with racehorses and the races, buthow can the notion of what is ‘in one season,out the next’ be applied to the breeding ofracehorses?

Breeding requires a minimum of two years’investment if you plan to sell as a weanling, orthree if you sell as a yearling. The mostfashionable stallion of 2007 was probably theCartier Horse of the Year. Can anybodyactually remember who that was? So why arewe breeding for a fashionable market placewhen we are breeding yearlings that are at leasttwo or three years out of fashion?

Cardinal sinMany breeders make the cardinal sin ofbreeding maiden mares to first-season sires,with no idea of the type of stock the mare willproduce or, indeed, the stallion. Breeding issuch a tough game in the first place that onehas to try to eliminate the unknowns.

The Aga Khan once said that breedingracehorses is like playing chess with nature. It isa game of patience and understanding, oflearning from mistakes and correcting them. Itcan hardly be the mistake of the stallion or themare if breeders put two unknown quantitiestogether and don’t end up with what wasanticipated.

The other surprising element of the marketin Great Britain and Ireland is the currentshortage of proven stallions in the £20,000 –£35,000 bracket. In South Africa we may lackthe quality but we have around 20 provenstallions to choose from.

The era of big books of mares mustexacerbate this: 30 years ago the best 1,000mares in Britain and Ireland were distributedbetween at least 20 stallions, but last year thetop six stallions covered nearly 1,000 maresbetween them. The contraction of the genepool devalues the product by having too manyof the same.

Benefits of syndicationAnother reason could be that high profilestallion prospects are now rarely syndicated,meaning that mare owners have no vestedinterest in stallions and are happy to jump fromone to another. Thus, decisions are not basedon what suits the stallion but rather on whichstallion is more fashionable.

Ultimately, small breeders who helped ‘make’a stallion can’t then use him once he hasbecome successful and his fee rises.

Breeders work together to get a horse off theground in South Africa, where stallions are stillmostly syndicated. Stallions can’t survivewithout support and, while so many of themproduce a fair amount of stakes winners in theirfirst crop, they struggle in the post-fashionableyears and never recover.

Because of the lack of support in a stallion’ssecond, third and fourth crops, it takes a lesserstallion around eight years (four years for thefirst two-year-olds and four for the good mares’progeny to hit the track) to see what they canfinally do with good mares, but by that stagethey are no longer fashionable anyway!

It is my hope that breeders begin to reinvestin stallions and only when they do will we see agreater variety of high-quality proven stallionsand less of a monopoly of mares for the horsesat the top of the sires’ table.

If this doesn’t happen breeders have little elseto fall back on but their broodmares when itcomes to making a profitable return. It is,therefore, absolutely imperative that we getbreeding right.

What is fashionable should not be aconsideration: the most important maxim is tobreed to a stallion that suits your mare. If she isa maiden use a proven stallion. Base yourselection not on the best price or deal you canfind, but on a sire whose pedigree and physicalattributes are the best match for your mare.

Even with the advent of the lucrative bonusschemes, the whole idea that buyers are lookingonly for early two-year-old types is absurd,especially when one considers the distributionof prize-money in Europe is greatly in favour ofthe Classic distances, not to mention theprestige attached to later-season races.

Breeding is an inexact science but thoroughresearch is vital. Be assured that at the lowerend of the market pedigree is less important.

Soundness, however, is of the utmostimportance and a good looking yearling willalways get a bid.

Tuesday, April 13Scotland Regional DayA visit to Lucinda Russell’s ArlaryHouse Stables

Thursday, April 15CheltenhamBreeders’ Club Day(National Hunt Breeders’ Day)

Friday, April 16South West Regional DayPaul Nicholls’s Manor Farm Stables

Wednesday, April 28West Midlands Regional DayTom Dascombe’s Manor HouseStables

Thursday, May 6The North Regional DayRose Dobbin’s Hazelrigg Racing

Tuesday, May 11East AngliaSir Michael Stoute’s FreemasonLodge and Juddmonte Farms’Banstead Manor Stud

Wednesday, May 19The West Regional DayA morning visit to Highclere Stud,followed by the afternoon atHighclere Castle

Friday, May 21Yorkshire Regional DayDandy Nicholls Racing, followedby the Bedale Hunt Kennels andracing at Catterick

Monday, June 21Wales Regional DayTim Vaughan’s Pant Wilkin Stablesand racing at Chepstow

Tuesday, June 22Open to all membersA visit to Jeremy Gask’s HorsesFirst Racing, Wiltshire

Monday, June 28TBA Awards Dinner, NewmarketApplication forms to apply fortickets will be sent to members inApril; mark your diaries for whatpromises to be a great evening

Tuesday, June 29TBA AGM, followed by the TBAAnnual Seminar, NewmarketFull details will be sent tomembers in April, together with anapplication form to apply forplaces at the TBA Annual Seminar

Tuesday, July 20South East Regional DayGary Moore’s Cisswood Stablesand Sir Eric Parker’s CrimbourneStud

TBA NEW MEMBERSLitex Commerce, Somerset. RCrellin Esq, Gwent. Mrs S Steer-Fowler, Devon. Mrs I Wainwright,North Yorkshire. Miss L Philipson,Tyne & Wear. Mrs A Merry,Gloucestershire. R TompkinsEsq, Wiltshire. D Breen Esq,France.

Words Kevin Sommerville

Next Generation CommitteeA back-to-basics approach can help young breedersto countermand the fickle fates of stallion fashion



TBA FORUM

National Hunt HBLB Breeders’ Prizes worth £500 or more Based on dates money was paid

Breeders’ Prizes

Breeder Prize (£) Horse Sire Dam Date CourseR J Francome 10,000 Restless Harry Sir Harry Lewis Restless Native 30/1/10 CheltenhamG Brown 10,000 Silver By Nature Silver Patriarch Gale 20/2/10 Haydock ParkThe Earl of Halifax 5,200 Lease Lend Zilzal Moogie 05/2/10 Catterick Bridge

15/2/10 Catterick BridgeE Hanbury 2,600 Mighty Man Sir Harry Lewis Vanina II 27/1/10 HuntingdonE R Hanbury 2,600 The Hollinwell Classic Cliche Action de Balle 28/1/10 WarwickR and J Micklethwait 2,600 Over Sixty Overbury Free Travel 09/2/10 Market RasenColn Valley Stud 2,600 Ringaroses Karinga Bay Rose Ravine 11/2/10 HuntingdonE Briggs 2,500 Last Of The Bunch Silver Patriarch Elegant City 17/2/10 MusselburghCobhall Court Stud 2,500 Tara Royal Kayf Tara Poussetiere Deux 26/1/10 Sedgefield

Wishfull Thinking Alflora Poussetiere Deux 14/2/10 ExeterMrs A L Merry *2,290 Playing With Fire Witness Box Smokey Path 05/2/10 Bangor-on-Dee

26/1/10 LeicesterW E Philipson 1,500 Miss Abbey Missed Flight Little Brockwell 27/1/10 MusselburghP Murphy 1,250 Carole’s Legacy Sir Harry Lewis Carole’s Crusader 28/1/10 Ffos LasJ S Wright 1,250 Kildonnan Bob's Return Celtic Tore 04/2/10 TowcesterW P Jenks 1,250 Pearlysteps Alflora Pearly-B 04/2/10 TowcesterR and J Micklethwait 1,250 Over Sixty Overbury Free Travel 12/2/10 Bangor-on-DeeMrs M J Matthey 1,250 Hidden Keel Kirkwall Royal Keel 24/2/10 DoncasterMrs Helen Plumbly *1,040 Wogan Presenting Fall About 29/1/10 DoncasterMrs J A Gawthorpe *1,040 Daldini Josr Algarhoud Arianna Aldini 08/2/10 SouthwellSandicroft Stud *1,040 Bakbenscher Bob Back Jessolle 08/2/10 Lingfield ParkHesmonds Stud Ltd *1,040 Ogee Generous Aethra 23/2/10 SouthwellMrs K Birchenhough *1,040 Giles Cross Saddlers’ Hall Mystockings 29/1/10 ChepstowMinster Stud 500 Lesanda Hernando (FR) Wardeh 26/1/10 SedgefieldMr D G Ford 500 Lifestyle Karinga Bay Like Manner 28/1/10 Ffos LasR J Tompkins 500 Gallox Bridge Kayf Tara Explorer 07/2/10 Fontwell ParkB J Griffiths *500 Black Jack Blues Definite Article Melody Maid 10/2/10 Ludlow*second tier (40% of breeder’s prize)

Flat HBLB Breeders’ Prizes worth £400 or more Based on dates money was paid

Breeder Prize (£) Horse Sire Dam Date CourseHesmonds Stud Ltd 1,800 Dalradian Dansili Aethra 13/2/10 Lingfield ParkLondon Thoroughbred Services Ltd 1,500 Shadows Lengthen Dansili Bay Shade 26/1/10 SouthwellHorizon Bloodstock Limited 1,500 Exceedthewildman Exceed And Excel Naomi Wildman 03/2/10 Kempton ParkThe Queen 1,400 Full Toss Nayef Spinning Top 04/2/10 WolverhamptonCheveley Park Stud Ltd 1,200 Peace Corps Medicean Tromond 08/2/10 WolverhamptonMrs Y Dixon 1,000 Thunderball Haafhd Trustthunder 30/1/10 Lingfield ParkMrs J Gittins 800 Abergavenny Dubai Destination Welsh Dawn 05/2/10 Lingfield ParkMrs L S Millman 800 Mrs Boss Makbul Chorus 06/2/10 Lingfield ParkThe National Stud 800 Solstice Dubawi South Of Saturn 07/2/10 SouthwellMrs N A Ward 800 Myplacelater Where Or When Star Welcome 13/2/10 WolverhamptonC J Murfitt 400 Il Forno Exceed And Excel Fred’s Dream 27/1/10 Lingfield ParkGenesis Green Stud Ltd 400 Arry’s Orse Exceed And Excel Georgianna 03/2/10 Lingfield Park

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The gutsy triumph of SilverBy Nature in the BlueSquare Gold Cup atHaydock earned GeoffBrown the FebruaryBreeder of the Monthaccolade, for which he winssix sacks of Blue ChipOriginal feed balancer andsome Blue Chip clothing.

Silver By Nature, who wasgaining compensation for hissecond in the Welsh Nationalon his previous start, is trainedby Lucinda Russell in Scotlandfor his owner/breeder, whoadmitted that he has alwayshad a soft spot for greys.

“I suppose it’s the DesertOrchid effect,” mused Brown.“Somehow they always seemto race enthusiastically and tobe enjoying themselves. Greysinvariably race up with thepace and they seldom seem tocome from behind.”

Brown lives at Glencarse onTayside, just outside Perth,not far from Lucinda Russell’sstable at Milnathort.Sometimes there is a conflictof sporting interests as he isalso owner and Chairman oflocal Scottish Premier Leagueside St Johnstone.

He explained: “I was bornin St Johnstone’s NursingHome, which is a bit of acoincidence in view of myfootball interests, and it is nowa care home so I may well endmy days there!” In themeantime, he has built up hisfamily house-building firm,G.S. Brown Construction.

He acquired his first horsesin 1987 and they includedDalkey Sound, the grandam ofSilver By Nature. “A friend ofmine bought her for me inIreland,” he recalled. “She hadwon a bumper and I sent herto Mary Reveley. We had tohave her pinfired early on, butshe did really well, winning tentimes over fences.”

Two of Dalkey Sound’s bestperformances came in defeat,when runner-up in the 1992Scottish Grand National atAyr, and in the AGFADiamond Chase at Sandown.There was added poignancy atAyr, as Brown recalls: “Thewinner was Captain Dibbleridden by Peter Scudamore, sohe owes me one! I also thinkshe is the last mare to beplaced in a Scottish National.”

Scudamore is now assistant

(and partner) to LucindaRussell, having previously beenassistant to Captain Dibble’strainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies.There is an equine connectiontoo, as Captain Dibble andDalkey Sound are both by theBusted horse Crash Course.

Initially Brown patronisedIrish-based stallions – in herfirst three stud seasons DalkeySound went to Strong Gale,King’s Ride and Good Thyne.

“But I think things havealtered since then,” he said.“Silver Patriarch looked anideal National Hunt stallion.Second in the Derby, heretired sound and had plentyof bone.” Unfortunately hedied last autumn.

Brown has three horses intraining (all Silver Patriarch

geldings with Russell) in theown-brothers Silver By Natureand Hurricane Jack, togetherwith Do It For Dalkey.

Silver By Nature andHurricane Jack are out ofunraced Gale, who is one ofonly two broodmares thatBrown still owns, along withGale’s half-sister, This Thyne.All the breeding stock are keptat Brown’s Castle Farm, a hillfarm of 130 acres at Kinfauns,next door to Glencarse.

“It’s all tremendouslyrewarding,” said Brown.

“Anyone can go and buy ahorse at the sales, but to dothe matings, foal them athome, as we always do, andwatch them develop asyoungsters before they go intotraining, is very satisfying.”

Words Alan Yuill Walker

Geoff Brown

BREEDER OF THE MONTHFebruary 2010

Sponsored by Blue Chip Feed Ltd

Breeder of theMonth

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Infectious Diseases:Why prevention is so importantVigilance is paramount in containing the spread of infectious diseases, from mild respiratoryinfections to cases of ‘exotic’ diseases on the rise as a side-effect of global warming

The thoroughbredowners and breeders ofthe United Kingdomare used to preventing

certain infectious diseases,either by vaccination or bythe routine testing of horsescoming into and out of thecountry. However, whilstthe names of these diseasesare well-known, their effectsand why it is so importantto prevent them is less well-known. In addition, it isbecoming even moreimportant to prevent the‘exotic’ infectious diseases asthere is a fear that we arelikely to see more of them inthis country owing to globalwarming.

Dealing with equineinfectious diseases such as

ringworm or mild respiratoryinfections is a day-to-day taskfor anyone involved withthoroughbreds. However,there are also severalimportant highly contagiousdiseases that, although rarelyseen in the United Kingdom,can have devastatingconsequences when they dooccur as they compromisehorse welfare, disrupt racingand breeding, and are verycostly to deal with.

Thoroughbreds areroutinely vaccinated againstequine influenza and many arevaccinated against otherdiseases, for example, equineherpesvirus. Periodically, thereare isolated outbreaks ofimportant infectious diseasessuch as equine viral arteritis

Words James Tate BVMS MRCVS

(EVA), contagious equinemetritis (CEM), West Nilevirus (WNV) and the recentdetection of equine infectiousanaemia (EIA) in two horsesin Wiltshire on January 19.

However, despite the factthat the names of thesediseases are very familiar, littleis written about what thesediseases actually are and why itis so important to preventthem. This article aims toremedy this.

Equine InfluenzaEquine influenza is probablythe best-known infectiousdisease because it has a nearworldwide distribution. Insome countries it is foundfrequently and localisedoutbreaks occur each year.

However, in the UK mostcompetition horses arevaccinated against equineinfluenza, which means thatoutbreaks are rare and so, tosome extent, the importanceof the actual disease is easilyforgotten, although there wasan outbreak in 2003 duringwhich at least 20 racing yardsin Newmarket were affected.All thoroughbred racehorsesand broodmares should befully vaccinated for equineinfluenza, with all injectionsrecorded in their passports.

In Australia, quarantine andbiosecurity precautions againstequine influenza failed inAugust 2007, when a largeoutbreak occurred. The viruswas spread from an infectedhorse in a quarantine station

VET FORUM: THE EXPERT VIEWEquine Infectious Diseases

Racehorses are fully vaccinated against equineinfluenza with injections recorded in passports

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VET FORUM

via human personnel to thedomestic horse population ofNew South Wales (NSW).

High temperatures, severecoughing, nasal discharges andpoor performance werecommonplace, and someyoung foals died as the diseasespread rapidly in the states ofNSW and Queensland. Strictand prolonged movementrestrictions and vaccination inthe face of the outbreak finallyeradicated the infection by thebeginning of 2008.

Equine HerpesvirusEquine Herpesvirus (EHV) iswidespread throughout theworld and occurs in the UK.EHV-1 and EHV-4 cause themost important problems,with EHV-1 causingrespiratory infection, abortion,neonatal death andneurological disease, andEHV-4 respiratory infectionand occasionally abortion.

EHV-2 and EHV-5 arethought to cause only minorproblems and EHV-3 is asexually transmitted virus thatcauses lesions on externalgenitalia.

As EHV-1 and -4 are themost important equineherpesviruses, it makes sensethat they are most commonlyvaccinated against. Racehorsesshould initially receiveinjections four to six weeksapart, then every six months to

prevent respiratory problemsand mares should also bevaccinated every six months aswell as receiving boostervaccinations at five, seven andnine months of pregnancy inorder to help preventabortions. In practice, mostmares are vaccinated againstEHV-1 and -4 and this doesseem to reduce the incidenceof abortion ‘storms’, but themajority of racehorses are notvaccinated because manytrainers simply do not find thatvaccinating helps to reducerespiratory disease.

If a horse becomes infectedwith EHV they can pass it onto others and they can alsobecome latently infected, withthe possibility that the viruscan re-emerge whenever theirimmune system is suppressed,such as when they are stressedduring weaning, mixing,transport and strenuousexercise. Therefore, if horsesare going to be vaccinatedagainst the disease, this shouldreally begin at a young agebefore they get a chance tobecome infected with thevirus. It is often underestimatedhow frequently EHV occurs –nearly all adult horses showevidence of exposure to EHV-4 when tested and at least athird of all adult horses alsoshow evidence of exposure toEHV-1.

Localised outbreaks of EHV

are relatively common and, infact, a neurological case ofEHV-1 was confirmed in aracing yard in England inJanuary 2010 and in France atthe beginning of February.

The English outbreak wascontrolled by strict movementrestrictions, which preventedhorses going racing, andextensive laboratory testing ofhorses in the yard. The yardwas given the all-clear in mid-

February, with no furtherneurological cases recorded.

In contrast to equineinfluenza, vaccination in theface of neurological EHV-1infection is not recommendedand, in fact, EHV-1/-4vaccines are not licensed foruse against neurologicaldisease caused by EHV-1 asthey can exacerbate theproblem and makeinterpretation of diagnostictests difficult.

Equine Viral ArteritisEquine Viral Arteritis (EVA) isnotifiable by law, which meansthat the Department forEnvironment, Food and RuralAffairs (DEFRA) will berequired to carry out aveterinary inquiry where the

Vaccination against equine influenza is commonly carried outthroughout the UK: outbreaks are rare but can still occur

Horses infected with equine herpesvirus, which is widespreadthroughout the world, often present with a severe nasal discharge

>>

disease is suspected andprohibit movement of horsesinto and out of the premises.

EVA can be passed on byany horse via nasal dischargeand stallions are capable oftransmitting the virus viainfected semen. Mostinfections either go undetectedor present with only mild signsbut it may cause abortion inpregnant mares.

There was a big outbreak of

EVA in Kentucky in the 1980sand there was also a smalloutbreak in the UK in themid-1990s related to aninfected Anglo-Arab stallionthat was being used forartificial insemination. In orderto prevent EVA it is essentialto stop carrier stallions fromspreading the disease, whichinvolves not only blood testingthe stallion and his semen butalso testing mares followingcovering or insemination.

It is possible to vaccinateagainst EVA but vaccinatedhorses test positive forexposure to the disease and soit is then impossible todistinguish between a horsethat has been vaccinated and ahorse that has been exposed toEVA, unless a negative blood

“Horses infected with EHV can pass it onto others and the virus can re-emerge”



VET FORUM

sample is obtained prior toadministration of the vaccine.

As a result, manythoroughbred stallions andteasers are vaccinated in orderto prevent them becomingcarriers of EVA, but mares inthis country are not vaccinatedbecause the incidence of EVAin the UK does not justify it,they cannot become carriersand we want to keep ourpopulation of mares as testingfree from the disease.

Equine Infectious Anaemia Equine Infectious Anaemia(EIA) is an exotic viral diseasethat affects horses, mules anddonkeys. It is usuallytransmitted via biting insectsbut can be spread by humansthrough contaminatedneedles, equipment and bloodproducts, which is whatoccurred in Ireland in 2006.

Like EVA, it is also anotifiable disease and horsesare most likely to becomeinfected when travellingabroad. It is usually a verysevere disease which causesfever, anaemia, bloodydiarrhoea, incoordination,weight loss and often death.

Official diagnosis of thedisease is by a blood testknown as a ‘Coggins’ test andanimals who test positive areeuthanased to prevent spreadof the disease.

The UK had not had aconfirmed outbreak of EIAsince 1976 until the infectionwas detected in two horses in

Wiltshire on January 19,following importation fromBelgium, but with the horseshaving originated fromRomania, where EIA is acommon infection of horses.

As EIA is transmitted bybiting flies, this was unlikely todevelop into a large outbreakgiven the time of year andproviding that poor hygienepractices, such as sharingblood-contaminatedequipment, did not occur.

However, if this had takenplace during the summer thenthere is a risk that, due toglobal warming, the mostimportant ‘exotic’ diseasessuch as EIA could becomemore of a problem in the UK,because the insects thattransmit these diseases arebecoming more common inthe northern hemisphere.

West Nile VirusWest Nile Virus (WNV) is anotifiable, emerging ‘exotic’disease that mainly affectsbirds, horses and humans, andis spread by mosquitoes. It is aviral infection which causesneurological disease. Thedisease historically occurs inAfrica, southern and easternEurope, the Middle East andAsia but it emerged in the eastcoast of USA in 1999 and hassince progressed to the westcoast, causing many thousandsof equine cases on the way.

There have been discreteoutbreaks of WNV in Italysince 1998 and France since

>> the 1960s, but the disease hasnot yet been confirmed inhorses in the UK. In 2001, avaccine was licensed in theUSA which has been veryhelpful in controlling thedisease in North America andit has now been licensed inEurope and the UK but, aswith all vaccines, it is not 100%effective.

PiroplasmosisPiroplasmosis is a tick-borneparasitic infection of the bloodof horses, mules, donkeys andzebras which can cause anaemiaand jaundice in infectedanimals. The infection is alsospread via blood-contaminatedequipment, such as sharedneedles, and from mares tofoals through the placenta.

Given the disease is usuallyfound in countries where thetransmitting tick species arecommon, it was surprisingwhen there was an outbreak ofthe disease confirmed inIreland in September 2009.

Fortunately, the diseasespread was limited and causedonly minor inconvenience bymeans of extra blood samplingto ensure that the infectionwas not spreading morewidely. Nevertheless, theoutbreak does support thosewho are concerned that globalwarming will cause us to seemany more of these ‘exotic’infectious diseases in the UK.

African Horse SicknessAfrican Horse Sickness (AHS)

is caused by a virus that istransmitted by midges and itaffects horses more severelythan mules, donkeys andzebras. There are nine differenttypes of the AHS virus and theseverity of the disease varies tosome degree between eachstrain. There are broadly fourforms of the disease: thepulmonary form, the cardiacform, a milder horse fever formand a mixed form. Affectedhorses generally recover fromthe milder horse fever formbut the other three forms ofthe disease are often fatal.

AHS has never beenconfirmed in the UK and thelast outbreaks of AHS inEurope were in Spain andPortugal between 1987 and1990 following theimportation of infected zebrasfrom Africa. Whilst thelikelihood of the introductionof AHS virus to the UK via thelegal importation of horses isconsidered to be very low, theoutbreak of midge-bornebluetongue virus-8 in farmanimals in recent years hasshown the potential for thespread of such diseases intopreviously non-affected areas,which were presumed to be atlow risk of maintaining theinfection.

As a result, DEFRA isfinalising its plans for theintroduction of a new AHScontrol strategy and associatedlegislation, which have beendeveloped in collaborationwith the equine industry.

StranglesStrangles is a highly contagiousupper respiratory tractinfection of the horse caused bythe bacterium Streptococcusequi. It is easily spread directlyby close contact betweenhorses and indirectly throughcontamination of tack, stables,fences, water troughs, etc.

Affected horses have hightemperatures, nasal dischargesand enlarged glands, leadingto multiple abscesses, mostcommonly found under thejaw. Diagnosis is often madeon the basis of thesecharacteristic clinical signs but

Mares and stallions should be routinely blood tested for Equine Viral Arteritis



VET FORUM

confirmation requireslaboratory testing.

Although most horsesrecover from the disease, it isextremely contagious andhighly undesirable. A smallproportion of horses becomelong term carriers and can actas sources of new outbreaks,without themselves showingclinical signs. Whilst stranglesis not notifiable by law,interestingly, under the rulesof racing, trainers must reportlikely or confirmed cases to theBritish Horseracing Authority.There is currently no stranglesvaccine licensed for use in theUK, but a vaccine licensed in2005 and later withdrawnfrom the market, is, accordingto the manufacturer, due toreturn to the market in 2010.

Contagious Equine MetritisContagious Equine Metritis(CEM) is a notifiable, sexuallytransmitted, bacterial disease ofhorses that was first reported

in the UK in 1977. Infectionspreads through directtransmission of bacteria frommare to stallion or vice versa atthe time of mating, although itcan also be spread by artificialinsemination (AI) via infectedsemen and through veterinarypersonnel that fail to takeappropriate hygiene measuresbetween horses. In fact, CEMwas spread into several USstates last year by AI and theUK was again banned as asource of breeding stockimports to India for aprolonged period due to anoutbreak of CEM last Octoberin a mare who was thought tobe infected by AI. Infectedstallions usually show noclinical signs but infectedmares may have a discharge afew days after mating. Thedisease is controlled by testingstallions and mares usingswabs – something with whichmany owners and breeders arevery familiar.

SummaryIt should be clear from the brief and selective outlineprovided here, along with other exotic diseases not covered(glanders, farcy, dourine, rabies, equine encephalitides,vesicular stomatitis among others), that equine infectiousdiseases remain a critical threat to equine activitiesworldwide. DEFRA and veterinary advisors to the equineindustry are conscious of this threat and together continueto develop appropriate preventative control and eradicationstrategies to try to avoid the worst effects of these infectionsbeing felt by the thoroughbred industry.

All mares should be swabbed before being mated to check they are notinfected with Contagious Equine Metritis



Desire proves Japan’sworth on global stageNation should export more sons of Sunday Silence to stand in Europe

The UAE Classic victories ofMusir and Raihana, twoAustralian-breds whoarrived in Dubai via SouthAfrica, were reminders thatthe thoroughbred world isbecoming ever moreinternational.

Super Thursday at Meydanprovided further evidence,with the first three in Round 3of the Group 2 Al MaktoumChallenge coming from Japan,Brazil and South Africa. Thesame day saw second place inthe Dubai City of Gold Stakesgo to Turkish raider Pan River,while the placed horses in aListed race were imports fromChile and Argentina.

The Japanese winner of theAl Maktoum Challenge wasthe filly Red Desire. The four-year-old is a daughter ofShadai stallion ManhattanCafé. If that name soundsvaguely familiar it is probablybecause the son of the greatSunday Silence challenged forthe Prix de l’Arc de Triomphein 2002. Unfortunately hecould only finish 13th behindMarienbard, failing toreproduce the kind of formwhich had previously brought

him victories at three in theJapanese St Leger and theArima Kinen, and at four inthe two-mile Tenno Sho.

On two occasionsManhattan Café got the betterof Jungle Pocket, winner ofthe Japanese Derby and JapanCup in 2001, perhaps becausehe was the better stayer.

Shadai have closely guardedthe very best of SundaySilence’s sons for the Japaneseindustry, much to the chagrinof pundits like myself whowould have dearly loved to seeSunday Silence’s genes gain astrong foothold in Europe.

As it is, Manhattan Café wasone of no fewer than 14 sonsof Sunday Silence in Shadai’sstallion team in 2009. DeepImpact and Agnes Tachyonwere the highest priced, at10,000,000 yen (£73,000 attoday’s rate), but AgnesTachyon died in June 2009,having had little time tocapitalise on his 2008 sires’championship. Consequentlysome of the other sons haveclimbed the pecking order,thanks to some notablesuccesses in 2009, with the2003 2,000 Guineas and

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Derby winner Neo Universemoving up 5,000,000 yen andManhattan Café to 6,000,000from 2,500,000, while DeepImpact’s fee has dropped to9,000,000.

The jump in ManhattanCafé’s fee reflects hisachievement of becomingchampion sire in Japan in2009, helped by the Group 1successes of Red Desire andJo Cappuccino.

He ranked alongside AgnesTachyon, Dance In The Dark,Fuji Kiseki and Special Week asone of five sons of SundaySilence in the top sevenstallions, so there is no sign ofSunday Silence’s dominancecoming to an end – and he stillhas sons of the quality of DeepImpact, Daiwa Major andHeart’s Cry still to face theracecourse test (the first cropsby Deep Impact and Heart’sCry race in 2010).

While Red Desire was bredin Japan, there is nothing

CAULFIELD FILESAndrew Caulfield reports on the bloodstock world

“Sunday Silence’s best sons have beenclosely guarded for the Japanese market”

remotely Japanese about herbloodlines. Manhattan Café isby an American-bred stallionout of Subtle Change, anIrish-bred Law Society marewhose dam, Santa Luciana,came from a German family.And Red Desire’s dam GreatSunrise is a reminder of thetime when three consecutiveboxes at Coolmore housedchampion sires, as she wassired by one of them,Caerleon, from a daughter ofanother, Sadler’s Wells.

Great Sunrise was bred inEurope but then headed forJapan, as did so many ofCaerleon’s sons and daughtersafter the Group 1 Japanesesuccesses of Shinko Lovely, L-Way Win and Biwa Heidi.

Incidentally, Caerleon siredBiwa Heidi, the top Japanesetwo-year-old filly of 1995,from a daughter of SantaLuciana, so it is easy to seewhy Great Sunrise, a daughterof Caerleon, ended up visitinga grandson of Santa Luciana.

Biwa Heidi has alsoadvertised the potential of theSunday Silence-Caerleon cross,producing the 2009 Japanese1,000 Guineas and Oakswinner Buena Vista to SundaySilence’s son Special Week.

Caerleon became championsire in 1988 and repeated thefeat in 1991, but then Sadler’sWells began his record-breaking run of titles.

It was natural that breedersshould think of combining thetwo champion sires, eventhough mating Caerleon toSadler’s Wells mares created 3x 3 inbreeding to NorthernDancer. Only 14 foals werebred this way but threebecame stakes winners, thebest of them being FusaichiConcorde, winner of the 1996Japanese Derby. It was aFusaichi Concorde mare whoproduced the Grade 1 winnerJo Cappuccino to Red Desire’ssire Manhattan Café.

Red Desire (red and white silks) denies Gloria De Campeao to win the last round of the Maktoum Challenge

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CAULFIELD FILES

I like to think that there aren’t manynotable winners whose pedigrees meanlittle to me, but I was somewhatconfounded when Nicky Hendersonunveiled his French import Soldatino in theGrade 2 Adonis Juvenile Novices’ Hurdleat Kempton in February.

The non-thoroughbred, who duly scoredby seven lengths and went on to win theTriumph Hurdle, is by Graveron, whoturned out to be a grandson of the greatMill Reef – the stallion who appears twicein the pedigree of another notable Frenchimport, Kauto Star.

Graveron is by Mille Balles, a very smartperformer at up to a mile and a quarter, butGraveron proved much less talented thaneither his sire or grandsire. Despite racing72 times (including once in Turkey) up tothe age of eight, Graveron never attainedthe status of stakes winner, but he did scoreeight times, mainly over a mile.

Unsurprisingly, Graveron hasn’t beenextensively used as a stallion and Soldatinois one of only 30 foals by him, but he wasalso responsible for Sarako, a Listed cross-country winner.

Perhaps it is significant that Soldatino’ssecond dam is by Le Pontet. This winner ofthe French Champion Hurdle numberedthe 1994 King George VI winner Alganamong his best scorers, along with LePontif, the top French jumper of 1984, andAs Des Carres, the top-earning four-year-old of 1991. Le Pontet’s broodmaredaughters also made their mark, KingGeorge hero Edredon Bleu being just oneof their good winners.

Ever heard ofGraveron? No,neither had I

Australian runners payRansom biggest tributeRed Ransom’s death in Australia lastNovember signalled that we arenearing the end of a remarkable story,which saw the lightly-raced son ofRoberto sire major winners on threecontinents. The story certainly isn’tover yet, though. After five seasons atDalham Hall Stud, Red Ransom hasmore than 100 three-year-olds, as wellas 70-plus two-year-olds to representhim in 2010, and there are at least 26yearlings from his final British season.

It has been in Australia, though,where the most vivid epitaphs to RedRansom are being written, by hisdaughter Typhoon Tracy and his sonCharge Forward. After recording acouple of Group 1 victories against herown sex, Typhoon Tracy proved muchtoo strong for the males in a pair ofGroup 1 contests at Caulfield inFebruary, taking the CF Orr Stakesover seven furlongs and the FuturityStakes over a mile.

Charge Forward, for his part, defeatedFastnet Rock to take the title ofchampion first-crop sire in the2008/09 Australian season, thankslargely to his daughter Headway, whois a Group 1 winner during the currentseason. Typhoon Tracy and ChargeForward are among a total of 14 top-level winners sired by Red Ransom,who also supplied 12 winners atGroup/Grade 2 level and another 28at Group/Grade 3 level, making a totalof 54 worldwide.

Although his British crops have sofar produced nothing better than theGroup 3 winners Muthabara, Moiqenand Ouqba, several of his Americanfoals, led by such as Electrocutionist,

Casual Look, Red Clubs and Intikhab,showed that Red Ransom’s stock couldbe very much at home on Europeanturf tracks, as might be expected of ason of a Derby winner.

Although these figures have to betempered by the fact that Red Ransomhas around 1,250 northern hemispherefoals aged three or over, plus morethan 500 Australian foals of racing age,they still represent quite anachievement for a horse who wasforced into early retirement.

Red Ransom had shown such speedas a two-year-old, despite his middle-distance pedigree, that the revered JoeHirsch once suggested that the colthad shown more potential than anytwo-year-old since Seattle Slew. RedRansom’s famous trainer Mack Milleralso paid him the considerable tributeof saying that he was “the mosttalented individual I have ever trained.”

As with Red Desire, TyphoonTracy’s bloodlines have little to do withthe fact that she carries the AUS suffixafter her name. Admittedly her damTracy’s Element was conceived andfoaled in Australia but both her parents– the champion sprinter Last Tycoonand the Group-winning sprinterPrincess Tracy – were bred in Irelandand raced in Europe. Tracy’s Elementwas sent to race in South Africa, whereher Irish-born half-sister Topasannahhad been a Group 2 winner.

Tracy’s Element excelled in heradopted country, winning four Group1s, and she was eventually returned toAustralia, via the USA.

One of Tracy’s Element’s unraceddaughters produced a Group 2 winnerto a son of Danehill – a stallion whoenjoyed considerable success withPrincess Tracy and one of herdaughters. Princess Tracy’s Danehillcolt Danasinga won the Group 1Stradbroke Handicap and has sincesired numerous Group winners fromhis New Zealand base.

Incidentally, Typhoon Tracy is thelast of four consecutive foals sired byRed Ransom from Tracy’s Elementand this policy of repeat matings haspaid off, with the smart filly Kylikwongand the Listed winner Red Elementamong her predecessors. The legacy of Red Ransom is assured

Soldatino: Triumph Hurdle winner by Graveron

apr_68_Caulfield Files:Layout 1 21/03/2010 21:44 Page 5


Global Stakes ResultsDate Grade Race Dist Horse Age Sex Sire Dam Broodmare SireArgentina06/03 G1 Gran Premio Santiago Luro 6.0f Villero Cat (ARG) 3 C Easing Along (USA) Bien Rea (ARG) Contested Bid (USA)06/03 G1 Gran Premio Saturnino J Unzue 6.0f Sembra Fe (ARG) 3 F Manipulator (USA) Siembra Pasion (ARG) El Sembrador (ARG)20/02 G2 C. Miguel Angel y Tomas Juarez Celman 8.0f Bouclette Gulch (ARG) 4 F Thunder Gulch (USA) Bouclette Champ (ARG) Ski Champ (USA)06/03 G2 Clasico Otono 10.0f Cafrune (ARG) 4 C Colonial Affair (USA) Ipacarai (ARG) Interprete (ARG)06/03 G2 Clasico Arturo R y Arturo Bullrich 10.0f Foggy Stripes (ARG) 4 F Equal Stripes (ARG) La Boira Baixa (ARG) Gem Master (USA)13/02 G3 Clasico Horacio Bustillo 8.0f El Chapita (ARG) 4 C Not For Sale (ARG) Chambota (ARG) Gem Master (USA)21/02 G3 Clasico General Viamonte 5.0f Que Felicidad (ARG) 6 M Bernstein (USA) Queen Tango (ARG) Lode (USA)03/03 G3 Clasico Derli A Gomez 6.0f Grand Coquette (ARG) 3 F Grand Slam (USA) Vedette's Parade (ARG) Parade Marshal (USA)

Australia13/02 G1 Pulse Pharmacy W Reid Australia Stakes 6.0f Turffontein (AUS) 6 H Johannesburg (USA) Spirit of Grace (AUS) Dr Grace (NZ)20/02 G1 Arrowfield Stud Blue Diamond Stakes 6.0f Star Witness (AUS) 3 C Starcraft (NZ) Leone Chiara (AUS) Lion Hunter (AUS)20/02 G1 Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate 5.5f Starspangledbanner (AUS) 4 C Choisir (AUS) Gold Anthem (AUS) Made of Gold (USA)27/02 G1 Rokk Ebony Futurity Stakes 8.0f Typhoon Tracy (AUS) 5 M Red Ransom (USA) Tracy's Element (AUS) Last Tycoon06/03 G1 Newmarket Handicap 6.0f Wanted (AUS) 4 C Fastnet Rock (AUS) Fragmentation (AUS) Snippets (AUS)06/03 G1 Patinack Farm Chipping Norton Stakes 8.0f Theseo (AUS) 7 G Danewin (AUS) Ozone Sand (USA) L'Enjoleur (CAN)13/02 G2 Light Fingers Stakes 6.0f More Joyous (NZ) 4 F More Than Ready (USA) Sunday Joy (AUS) Sunday Silence (USA)13/02 G2 Top Cut Alister Clark Stakes 8.0f Linton (AUS) 4 G Galileo (IRE) Heather (NZ) Centaine (AUS)13/02 G2 Schweppes Royal Sovereign Stakes 6.0f Shoot Out (AUS) 4 G High Chaparral (IRE) Pentamerous (NZ) Pentire (GB)13/02 G2 Breeders' Classic 6.0f Alverta (AUS) 7 M Flying Spur (AUS) Grilse (USA) Rahy (USA)13/02 G2 Sportingbet Sunline Stakes 8.0f Zarius (NZ) 9 G Zabeel (NZ) Sadlers Home (IRE) Sadler's Wells (USA)20/02 G2 D'Urban Autumn Stakes 7.0f Denman (AUS) 4 C Lonhro (AUS) Peach (AUS) Vain (AUS)20/02 G2 BMS Angus Armanasco Stakes 7.0f Set For Fame (AUS) 4 F Reset (AUS) Northpoint (AUS) Dehere (USA)20/02 G2 Pure Blond St George Stakes 9.0f La Rocket (AUS) 6 H Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) La Bella Dama (NZ) Desert Sun (GB)20/02 G2 Winning Edge Presentations Apollo Stakes 7.0f Danleigh (AUS) 7 G Mujahid (USA) Graceful Lily (AUS) Dr Grace (NZ)26/02 G2 Moonee Valley Classic 8.0f My Emotion (NZ) 4 F Savabeel (AUS) Midnight Rock (AUS) Rory's Jester (AUS)27/02 G2 Franklins Silver Slipper 5.5f Chance Bye (AUS) 3 F Snitzel (AUS) Rouge Femme (AUS) Red Ransom (USA)27/02 G2 Yalumba 161 Autumn Classic 9.0f Extra Zero (AUS) 4 C Danzero (AUS) Extra Bubbly (AUS) Bellotto (USA)27/02 G2 Schweppes Hobartville Stakes 7.0f Monton (AUS) 4 C Catbird (AUS) Dynamic Flyer (AUS) Marauding (NZ)06/03 G2 Sires' Produce Stakes 7.0f Shamrocker (NZ) 3 F O'Reilly (NZ) Bohemian Blues (NZ) Blues Traveller (IRE)06/03 G2 Tabcorp Kewney Stakes 7.0f Faint Perfume (AUS) 4 F Shamardal (USA) Zona (AUS) Zabeel (NZ)06/03 G2 Jim Beam Surround Stakes 7.0f More Joyous (NZ) 4 F More Than Ready (USA) Sunday Joy (AUS) Sunday Silence (USA)08/03 G2 Yallambee Classic 6.0f Majestic Music (AUS) 4 F Al Maher (AUS) Regal Flute (AUS) Royal Academy (USA)08/03 G2 Adelaide Casino Adelaide Cup 16.0f Capecover (NZ) 8 G Cape Cross (IRE) Set Up (NZ) Zabeel (NZ)13/02 G3 Jim Beam Southern Cross F.Clissold Stks 6.0f Kenny's World (AUS) 6 G Kenny's Best Pal (AUS) See The Stars (AUS) Mr Henrysee (USA)20/02 G3 Rokk Ebony TS Carlyon Cup 7.0f Rightfully Yours (AUS) 6 H Show A Heart (AUS) Academy Of Dreams (AUS) Royal Academy (USA)20/02 G3 TBV Mannerism Stakes 7.0f Tootsie (NZ) 6 M Pins (AUS) Hyades (NZ) O'Reilly (NZ)24/02 G3 AAMI Launceston Cup 12.0f Larry's Never Late (NZ) 5 G Pentire (GB) Laebeel (NZ) Zabeel (NZ)27/02 G3 Marsh Breeders' Stakes 6.0f Shrapnel (AUS) 3 C Charge Forward (AUS) Fragmentation (AUS) Snippets (AUS)27/02 G3 De Bortoli Wines Millie Fox Stakes 6.5f Montana Flyer (AUS) 5 M Flying Spur (AUS) Montana Downs (AUS) Bluebird (USA)27/02 G3 Boag's Lord Reims Draught Stakes 13.0f Moment In Time (AUS) 6 M Archway (IRE) Concluding (AUS) Kenny's Best Pal (AUS)06/03 G3 TBV Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes 6.0f Shaaheq (AUS) 3 F Redoute's Choice (AUS) Damaschino (AUS) Last Tycoon06/03 G3 V V Diggers Kindergarten Stakes 5.5f Solar Charged (AUS) 3 F Charge Forward (AUS) Soul Singer (AUS) Danehill (USA)06/03 G3 Champion Fillies Stakes 8.0f Le Plunge (AUS) 4 F Tobougg (IRE) Ski Lodge (AUS) Grand Lodge (USA)06/03 G3 Bicentenary Liverpool City Cup 6.5f Dreamscape (AUS) 5 H Choisir (AUS) Faith In Dreams (USA) Ferdinand (USA)08/03 G3 Dunes Port Hughes R N Irwin Stakes 5.5f Augusta Proud (AUS) 5 M More Than Ready (USA) Kadasha (AUS) Langfuhr (CAN)

Brazil20/02 G1 G. P. Henrique Possolo (1000 Guineas) 8.0f Dolly Max (BRZ) 4 F Crimson Tide (IRE) Shanay (BRZ) Coax Me Clyde (USA)21/02 G1 Grande Premio Estado de Rio de Janeiro 8.0f Sal Grosso (BRZ) 4 C Our Emblem (USA) Ken de Saron (USA) Kenmare (FR)20/02 G2 Grande Premio Hernani Azevedo Silva 8.0f West Hope (BRZ) 5 M Crimson Tide (IRE) West Night (BRZ) Slap Jack (USA)06/03 G2 Grande Premio Presidente Guilherme Ellis 7.0f Vale da Lua (BRZ) 3 C Torrential (USA) Prosperidade (ARG) Payant (ARG)06/03 G2 Grande Premio Piratininga 11.0f Mr Nedawi (BRZ) 6 H Nedawi (GB) Cryptic Crucial (USA) Cryptoclearance (USA)21/02 G3 GP.Presidente Joao Carlos Leite Penteado 6.0f Uva Preta (BRZ) 3 F Dodge (USA) Lynx (USA) Mountain Cat (USA)27/02 G3 C. Presidente Augusto Souza Queiroz 6.0f Ed American (BRZ) 3 C First American (USA) Cuca Legal (BRZ) Cigar Toss (ARG)07/03 G3 G. P. Presidente Arthur da Costa e Silva 10.0f Time For Fun (BRZ) 6 H Yagli (USA) Tarradine (BRZ) New Colony (USA)

Chile05/03 G3 Premio Thompson Matthews 8.0f Papelon (CHI) 4 C Monthir (USA) Encubierta (CHI) Edgy Diplomat (USA)06/03 G3 Premio Seleccion de Potrancas 6.0f Bagur (CHI) 3 F Saddad (USA) Best Fashion (CHI) The Great Shark (USA)

Sembra Fe was a comfortablewinner, sitting outside the leader untilgoing on over one furlong out andscoring by two and a half lengths with

the minimum of urging. She had runsecond in a Group 2 over fivefurlongs but should stay further thanthis six.

Her time was 0.27s slower thanVillero Cat, who is now unbeaten infour appearances. Que Chistoso(Southern Halo) looked dangerous

entering the final furlong but VilleroCat opened up a bit of a gap andthen held his late rally by a short neck.Jorge Dulom trains both colts.

Wanted finally managed to get hisname on to the Group 1 roll of honourafter a hectic Autumn Carnival inMelbourne. Touched off by Nicconi inJanuary’s Lightning Stakes, hesuffered another narrow defeat toTurffontein in the William Reid Stakes,followed by a fourth place toStarspangledbanner in the OakleighPlate. But it all came right for thePeter Moody-trained Fastnet Rock

colt (who was sold to Widden Studduring February) in the NewmarketHandicap, gaining revenge on theAidan O’Brien-boundStarspangledbanner (third),Turffontein (fifth) and Nicconi (14th).The Newmarket was run in afrightening thunderstorm which saw19mm of rain fall in 18 minutes andresulted in the other two Group 1s onthe Flemington card being delayed by

a week. Spooked by the subsequenthailstorm, fourth-placed King Pulsegot loose in the tunnel on the wayback to the stables and sufferedserious injury.

Moody is also responsible for theFuturity Stakes winner TyphoonTracy. This was the first leg of theAsian Mile Challenge and the RedRansom filly, who has now won threeconsecutive Group 1s, may travel to

Hong Kong for leg three, theChampions Mile, on April 25.

Theseo returned from injury at theage of six to claim his fourth careerGroup 1 following a thrilling duel withRangirangdoo in the Chipping NortonStakes, while the unbeaten StarWitness could be Australia’s toptwo-year-old judged by the way heovercame a poor draw in the BlueDiamond Stakes.

Dolly Max completed a four-timer inthe Rio 1,000 Guineas. She ledinside the final quarter-mile and ran onto beat Dear Nati by two and a halflengths. It was a one-two for CrimsonTide, a son of Sadler’s Wells who

won Group 2 events in Germany andItaly for John Hills as a three-year-old,and went on to add the Group 3September Stakes in 1998 when itwas run at Epsom, rather thanKempton.

Sal Grosso brought off a mildsurprise in the Rio 2,000 the followingday when beating the favourite TooFriendly (Signal Tap) by half a length.Too Friendly had been well beaten inthe Sao Paulo version, but Vupt Vapt

(third of 20 here) had landed thesecond leg of the Triple Crown atCidade Jardim, while Timeo (fourthhere) had finished second in theDerby Paulista at that track inNovember.

DATA BOOKListings of every worldwide Group or Graded stakes winner

apr_68_international:Leader 21/03/2010 22:12 Page 2


Global Stakes ResultsDate Grade Race Dist Horse Age Sex Sire Dam Broodmare SireJapan21/02 G1 February Stakes 8.0f Espoir City (JPN) 5 H Gold Allure (JPN) Eminent City (JPN) Brian's Time (USA)20/02 G2 Kyoto Kinen 11.0f Buena Vista (JPN) 4 F Special Week (JPN) Biwa Heidi (JPN) Caerleon (USA)28/02 G2 Nakayama Kinen 9.0f Tosen Crown (JPN) 6 H Opera House (GB) Sunday Brave (JPN) Dancing Brave (USA)07/03 G2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho 10.0f Victoire Pisa (JPN) 3 C Neo Universe (JPN) Whitewater Affair (GB) Machiavellian (USA)14/02 G3 Kisaragi Sho 9.0f Neo Vendome (JPN) 3 C Neo Universe (JPN) Princess Cut (JPN) Tony Bin14/02 G3 Diamond Stakes 17.0f Forgettable (JPN) 4 C Dance In The Dark (JPN) Air Groove (JPN) Tony Bin20/02 G3 Daily Hai Queen Cup 8.0f Apricot Fizz (JPN) 3 F Jungle Pocket (JPN) Manhattan Fizz (JPN) Sunday Silence (USA)27/02 G3 Arlington Cup 8.0f Cosmo Sensor (JPN) 3 C King Kamehameha (JPN) Keiai Ballade (JPN) Rivlia (USA)28/02 G3 Hankyu Hai 7.0f A Shin Forward (USA) 5 H Forest Wildcat (USA) Wake Up Kiss (USA) Cure The Blues (USA)06/03 G3 Tulip Sho 8.0f Shoryu Moon (JPN) 3 F King Kamehameha (JPN) Moon The Dream (JPN) Dance In The Dark (JPN)06/03 G3 Yukan Fuji Sho Ocean Stakes 6.0f Kinshasa No Kiseki (AUS) 7 H Fuji Kiseki (JPN) Keltshaan (USA) Pleasant Colony (USA)

New Zealand13/02 G1 Waikato Draught Sprint 7.0f Tavistock (NZ) 5 H Montjeu (IRE) Upstage (GB) Quest For Fame13/02 G1 Darci Brahma International Stakes 10.0f Veloce Bella (NZ) 7 M Volksraad (GB) Wave To Lottie (NZ) Crested Wave (USA)28/02 G1 Fully Fledged Fairdale Otaki-Maori Cl. 8.0f Mufhasa (NZ) 6 G Pentire (GB) Sheila Cheval (NZ) Mi Preferido (USA)06/03 G1 Telecom New Zealand Derby 12.0f Military Move (NZ) 4 G Volksraad (GB) All Night Party (NZ) Just A Dancer (NZ)13/02 G2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Classic (f) 10.0f Katie Lee (AUS) 4 F Pins (AUS) Miss Jessie Jay (NZ) Spectacularphantom (USA)20/02 G2 NZ Equine Veterinarians Championship Stk 10.5f Zarzuela (NZ) 4 F Zabeel (NZ) Star Satire (NZ) Volksraad (GB)27/02 G2 J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders S. 6.0f Banchee (NZ) 3 F Oratorio (IRE) Miss Jessie Jay (NZ) Spectacularphantom (USA)20/02 G3 Waikato Stud Taranaki Classic 6.0f Icepin (NZ) 3 G Pins (AUS) Ice Maiden (NZ) O'Reilly (NZ)20/02 G3 Hooker Pacific Taranaki Cup 10.0f Bruce Almighty (NZ) 7 G Deputy Governor (USA) Striking Angel (NZ) Straight Strike (USA)06/03 G3 Homebush Partnership Lowland Stakes 10.5f Posavina (NZ) 4 F Tiger Hill (IRE) Dance My Dance (IRE) Sadler's Wells (USA)

Espoir City is Japan’s undisputeddirt champion after he followed up

December’s easy Japan Cup Dirtvictory with an equally comfortable

success in the February Stakes.However, initial suggestions that he

would head for the Dubai World Cupproved erroneous.

Trainer Shaune Ritchie lifted the NewZealand Derby with Military Move25 years after leading up the greatBonecrusher to land the same racefor his father, Frank. Well ridden byMichael Walker, the Volksraad geldinggot first run on the unlucky Corporal

Jones. Runner-up in the 2,000Guineas but unspectacular in twosubsequent defeats, Military Move willsoon head west to continue hiscareer in Hong Kong.

Mufhasa, last season’s Horse OfThe Year, heralded a return to form

when third to Tavistock in the WaikatoDraught Sprint and duly went twobetter a fortnight later in the Otaki-Maori WFA.

Tavistock had a similar profile, amid-season slump following hisOctober Mudgway Stakes win having

been ended when runner-up in theThorndon Mile on January 30.

Veloce Bella finally gained adeserved Group 1 success in theInternational Stakes following threetop level placings and four Group 2triumphs.

DATA BOOK

Peru14/02 G3 Clasico Baldomero Aspillaga 10.0f Bradock (PER) 4 C Keseff (USA) Samara (PER) El Duce (PER)

South Africa28/02 G1 L Jaffee Empress Club Stakes 8.0f Mother Russia (SAF) 5 M Windrush (USA) Russian Muse (SAF) Russian Fox (USA)28/02 G2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas 8.0f Isani (SAF) 4 F Kahal (GB) Gypsey Spirit (SAF) Coastal (USA)28/02 G2 Gauteng Guineas 8.0f Pierre Jourdan (SAF) 4 G Parade Leader (USA) Vin Fizz (SAF) Qui Danzig (USA)28/02 G2 Hawaii Stakes 7.0f Braggadacio (SAF) 7 G Western Winter (USA) Fair Bianca (SAF) Priceless Asset (SAF)09/02 G3 Three Troikas Stakes 7.0f Catherina Lady (SAF) 4 F Anytime (IRE) Elegantka (USA) Conquistador Cielo (USA)09/02 G3 Tony Ruffel Stakes 7.0f Pierre Jourdan (SAF) 4 G Parade Leader (USA) Vin Fizz (SAF) Qui Danzig (USA)16/02 G3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap 5.0f Noble Heir (SAF) 5 M Kahal (GB) Irish Honour (SAF) Kilconnel (USA)20/02 G3 Riverworld Stud Prix du Cap 7.0f Sunsational (SAF) 5 M Windrush (USA) Summers Sweet Song (SAF) Model Man (SAF)27/02 G3 Chairman's Cup 16.0f Hospitality (SAF) 5 G Badger's Drift (SAF) Party Hostess (SAF) Jallad (USA)

United Arab Emirates19/02 G2 Commercial Bank of Dubai Al Fahidi Fort 8.0f Bankable (IRE) 6 H Medicean (GB) Dance To The Top (GB) Sadler's Wells (USA)04/03 G2 Intikhab Sheikh Maktoum Chall. Round 3 10.0f Red Desire (JPN) 4 F Manhattan Cafe (JPN) Great Sunrise (GB) Caerleon (USA)04/03 G2 Marju Dubai City of Gold Stakes 12.0f Campanologist (USA) 5 H Kingmambo (USA) Ring of Music (GB) Sadler's Wells (USA)04/03 G2 Haatel Derrinstown Stud Jebel Hatta 9.0f Presvis (GB) 6 G Sakhee (USA) Forest Fire (SWE) Never So Bold05/03 G2 Meydan Zabeel Mile 8.0f mbongi (SAF) 6 G Russian Revival (USA) Garden Verse (SAF) Foveros11/02 G3 Xpress Al Shindagha Sprint 6.0f War Artist (AUS) 7 G Orpen (USA) Royal Solitaire (AUS) Brocco (USA)18/02 G3 Shadwell Estate Maktoum Challenge 2 9.5f Allybar (IRE) 4 C King's Best (USA) Irika (USA) Irish River (FR)18/02 G3 Sakhee Shadwell Estate UAE 2000 Guineas 8.0f Musir (AUS) 4 C Redoute's Choice (AUS) Dizzy de Lago (AUS) Encosta de Lago (AUS)25/02 G3 Meydan Balanchine Stakes 9.0f Deem (IRE) 5 M Dalakhani (IRE) Hijaz (IRE) Sadler's Wells (USA)04/03 G3 Elnadim Mahab Al Shimaal 6.0f Desert Party (USA) 4 C Street Cry (IRE) Sage Cat (USA) Tabasco Cat (USA)04/03 G3 Alhaarth Burj Nahaar 8.0f Cat Junior (USA) 5 H Storm Cat (USA) Luna Wells (IRE) Sadler's Wells (USA)

United States13/02 G1 Las Virgenes Stakes 8.0f Blind Luck (USA) 3 F Pollard's Vision (USA) Lucky One (USA) Best of Luck (USA)06/03 G1 Santa Anita Oaks 8.5f Crisp (USA) 3 F El Corredor (USA) Cat's Fair (USA) Sir Cat (USA)06/03 G1 Santa Anita Handicap 10.0f Misremembered (USA) 4 C Candy Ride (ARG) Beyond Perfection (USA) Quack (USA)06/03 G1 Frank E Kilroe Mile Handicap 8.0f Proviso (GB) 5 M Dansili (GB) Binche (USA) Woodman (USA)13/02 G2 Robert B Lewis Stakes 8.5f Caracortado (USA) 3 G Cat Dreams (USA) Mons Venus (CAN) Maria's Mon (USA)13/02 G2 Strub Stakes 9.0f Jeranimo (USA) 4 C Congaree (USA) Jera (USA) Jeblar (USA)13/02 G2 Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship 7.0f Munnings (USA) 4 C Speightstown (USA) La Comete (USA) Holy Bull (USA)13/02 G2 Santa Maria Handicap 8.5f St Trinians (GB) 5 M Piccolo (GB) Cherrycombe-Row (GB) Classic Cliche (IRE)14/02 G2 La Canada Stakes 9.0f Striking Dancer (USA) 4 F Smart Strike (CAN) Dancing Shoes (IRE) Danehill (USA)15/02 G2 San Vicente Stakes 7.0f Sidney's Candy (USA) 3 C Candy Ride (ARG) Fair Exchange (USA) Storm Cat (USA)15/02 G2 General George Handicap 7.0f Greenspring (USA) 5 H Orientate (USA) Violet Lady (USA) Seattle Slew (USA)15/02 G2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap 7.0f Sweet Goodbye (USA) 5 M Louis Quatorze (USA) Thirty Eight Steps (USA) Thirty Eight Paces (USA)15/02 G2 Buena Vista Handicap 8.0f Tuscan Evening (IRE) 5 M Oasis Dream (GB) The Faraway Tree (GB) Suave Dancer (USA)20/02 G2 Hutcheson Stakes 7.0f D' Funnybone (USA) 3 C D'Wildcat (USA) Elbow (USA) Woodman (USA)20/02 G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes 9.0f Eskendereya (USA) 3 C Giant's Causeway (USA) Aldebaran Light (USA) Seattle Slew (USA)20/02 G2 San Carlos Handicap 7.0f Bob Black Jack (USA) 5 H Stormy Jack (USA) Molly's Prospector (USA) Native Prospector (USA)21/02 G2 San Luis Obispo Handicap 12.0f Bourbon Bay (USA) 4 G Sligo Bay (IRE) Coral Necklace (USA) Conquistador Cielo (USA)27/02 G2 Davona Dale Stakes 8.0f Amen Hallelujah (USA) 3 F Montbrook (USA) Sara's Success (USA) Concorde's Tune (USA)

Mike de Kock, who has beenenjoying a sensational Dubai

Carnival, has not lost his touch backhome either judged by the Empress

Club Stakes victory of MotherRussia. Sent off long odds-on after

her fine second in the J & B Met,she scored by an easy two lengths.

>>



Global Stakes ResultsDate Grade Race Dist Horse Age Sex Sire Dam Broodmare SireUnited States (cont)28/02 G2 Mac Diarmida Stakes 11.0f Presious Passion (USA) 7 G Royal Anthem (USA) Princesa's Passion (USA) Marquetry (USA)13/02 G3 Sam F Davis Stakes 8.5f Rule (USA) 3 C Roman Ruler (USA) Rockcide (USA) Personal Flag (USA)13/02 G3 Hurricane Bertie Stakes 6.5f Kays and Jays (USA) 4 F Macho Uno (USA) Lovin Spoonful (USA) Dixieland Band (USA)13/02 G3 Endeavour Stakes 8.5f Lomaki (USA) 6 M A P Indy (USA) Debit Account (USA) Mr Prospector (USA)20/02 G3 El Camino Real Derby 9.0f Connemara (USA) 3 C Giant's Causeway (USA) Satin Sunrise (USA) Mr Leader (USA)20/02 G3 Southwest Stakes 8.0f Conveyance (USA) 3 C Indian Charlie (USA) Emptythetill (USA) Holy Bull (USA)20/02 G3 Risen Star Stakes 8.5f Discreetly Mine (USA) 3 C Mineshaft (USA) Pretty Discreet (USA) Private Account (USA)20/02 G3 Silverbulletday Stakes 8.5f Jody Slew (USA) 3 F Slew City Slew (USA) Trustbuster (USA) Housebuster (USA)20/02 G3 Canadian Turf Stakes 8.0f Courageous Cat (USA) 4 C Storm Cat (USA) Tranquility Lake (USA) Rahy (USA)20/02 G3 Honey Fox Stakes 8.0f Wasted Tears (USA) 5 M Najran (USA) Wishes And Roses (USA) Greinton20/02 G3 Mineshaft Handicap 8.5f Stonehouse (USA) 6 H Chester House (USA) Jenny D (USA) Regal Embrace (CAN)20/02 G3 Fair Grounds Handicap 9.0f Blues Street (USA) 6 G Street Cry (IRE) Capote Blues (USA) Capote (USA)27/02 G3 Sabin Stakes 8.0f Aurora Lights (USA) 4 F Pulpit (USA) Lady Lochinvar (USA) Lord At War (ARG)27/02 G3 The Very One Stakes 11.0f Changing Skies (IRE) 5 M Sadler's Wells (USA) Magnificient Style (USA) Silver Hawk (USA)06/03 G3 Sham Stakes 9.0f Alphie's Bet (USA) 3 C Tribal Rule (USA) Miss Alphie (USA) Candi's Gold (USA)06/03 G3 Gotham Stakes 8.5f Awesome Act (USA) 3 C Awesome Again (CAN) Houdini's Honey (USA) Mr Prospector (USA)06/03 G3 Palm Beach Stakes 9.0f Paddy O'prado (USA) 3 C El Prado (IRE) Fun House (USA) Prized (USA)06/03 G3 Herecomesthebride Stakes 9.0f Khancord Kid (USA) 3 F Lemon Drop Kid (USA) Confidently (USA) Storm Cat (USA)06/03 G3 Toboggan Stakes 6.0f Wall Street Wonder (USA) 4 C City Place (USA) Kisses And Hugs (USA) Kissin Kris (USA)06/03 G3 Razorback Handicap 8.5f Win Willy (USA) 4 C Monarchos (USA) City Fair (USA) Carson City (USA)06/03 G3 Azeri Stakes 8.5f Freedom Star (USA) 4 F Street Cry (IRE) Willie's Luv (USA) Williamstown (USA)

Blind Luck remains favourite for theKentucky Oaks despite a surprisedefeat in the Santa Anita Oaks. Adual Grade 1 winner as a juvenile, inthe Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anitaand Hollywood Starlet, Blind Luckmade a winning return with a last-to-first success in the Las VirgenesStakes, also at Santa Anita, gettingup right on the line to pip EveningJewel.

However, this come-from-behind

style proved her comeuppance in theSanta Anita Oaks, as a gap closed onher at the vital moment and she failedby two necks to reel in Crisp, whohad been only fourth in the LasVirgenes and was wearing first-timeblinkers. Crisp, handled by JohnSadler, had previously won a Grade 3at Santa Anita in January.

Trainer Bob Baffert took theowner’s (via his wife, Jill) andbreeder’s prizes following the Santa

Anita Handicap, in whichMisremembered managed to holdoff the late thrust of Neko Bay by halfa length. Misremembered’s victorysnapped a rather frustratingsequence, which had seen the roanfinish runner-up in three successiveraces, including the Grade 1 MalibuStakes. The Santa Anita Handicapwas Misremembered’s first top-flightvictory, as he had failed to shinebehind Richard’s Kid in the Pacific

Classic the previous year. Proviso, a dual French Group 3

winner for Andre Fabre, finally brokeher Grade 1 duck five months afterthe stewards robbed her of a top-flight victory in the Spinster Stakes.The Juddmonte Farms homebredbeat the boys too, nailing Fluke in thevery last stride of the Frank E KilroeMile. It was her 19th start and will aidher cause immensely after she isretired.

DATA BOOKListings of every worldwide Group or Graded stakes winner

>>


Leading National Hunt siresAt 29, Bob remainsno back numberBob Back is still going strong atthe ripe old age of 29 and hecovered around a dozen maresas a 26-year-old in 2007. This isa comment on his constitutionand on the quality of care hehas received at Ballylinch Stud.

He has always been in thetop group among jump sires,handicapped to some extent byhaving fewer runners owing tothe stud not letting its sirescover shedloads of mares.

Over the years Bob Back hasbeen responsible for suchhorses rated 160 or higher asBacchanal, Back In Front andThisthatandtother. He is insixth place, with anotherpromising performer on thebooks in Reynoldstown Chasewinner and RSA Chase runner-up, Burton Port. RobertoGoldback has been doing wellfor him too.

Although Burton Port issuited by a stamina test, BobBack is not an out-and-outinfluence for staying power byany means, with an AverageWinning Distance (AWD) ofraces landed of 19.7 furlongs.

In that respect he mirrors thevast majority of British- orIrish-based stallions with theirFlat backgrounds in pedigreeand performance. To a degree,higher AWDs reflect the abilityof the sire to get successfulchasers so it is no surprise to seethe leader, Presenting, with afigure of 21 furlongs.


2009-10 by earnings Name YOF Sire Rnrs Wnrs %WR Races AWD Earnings (£) Top horse Earned (£)Presenting 1992 Mtoto 281 68 24.2 93 21.0 1,430,783 Dunguib 117,437Oscar 1994 Sadler’s Wells 241 63 26.1 85 19.7 1,162,919 Oscar Time 104,413Flemensfirth 1992 Alleged 200 49 24.5 66 19.4 875,936 Pandorama 112,848Old Vic 1986 Sadler’s Wells 158 41 26.0 55 20.3 818,134 Vic Venturi 92,312Accordion 1986 Sadler’s Wells 129 37 28.7 52 19.5 760,078 Get Me Out Of Here 98,477Bob Back 1981 Roberto 139 39 28.1 56 19.7 645,914 Burton Port 69,137King’s Theatre 1991 Sadler’s Wells 129 49 38.0 75 18.0 621,270 Voler La Vedette 73,316Beneficial 1990 Top Ville 212 44 20.8 58 19.8 559,363 Cooldine 30,265Saddlers’ Hall 1988 Sadler’s Wells 199 38 19.1 51 21.0 517,363 Operation Houdini 45,749Supreme Leader 1982 Bustino 144 27 18.8 35 20.7 507,374 Whinstone Boy 72,668Kayf Tara 1994 Sadler’s Wells 122 36 29.5 44 19.8 469,618 Planet Of Sound 54,522Anshan 1987 Persian Bold 142 31 21.8 43 19.6 440,158 Treaty Flyer 59,087Alflora 1989 Niniski 146 33 22.6 45 18.8 425,548 What A Friend 133,071Dr Massini 1993 Sadler’s Wells 60 20 33.3 33 20.0 386,297 Fosters Cross 53,445Bob’s Return 1990 Bob Back 95 23 24.2 32 19.3 372,694 Joncol 170,276Pistolet Bleu 1988 Top Ville 53 16 30.2 26 19.6 355,758 Sizing Europe 100,091Sadler’s Wells 1981 Northern Dancer 82 26 31.7 33 18.6 336,412 Judge Roy Bean 38,928Winged Love 1992 In The Wings 46 12 26.1 20 18.9 331,298 Twist Magic 152,694Zaffaran 1985 Assert 47 9 19.2 14 20.5 328,148 Treacle 66,320Montjeu 1996 Sadler’s Wells 76 16 21.1 25 18.6 327,680 Our Monty 50,194Overbury 1991 Caerleon 89 24 27.0 32 20.0 306,893 Ballyfitz 28,064Alderbrook 1989 Ardross 106 19 17.9 26 20.8 290,251 Bygones Of Brid 38,412Daylami 1994 Doyoun 57 14 24.6 17 18.9 282,030 Zaynar 84,032Lord Americo 1984 Lord Gayle 87 16 18.4 20 19.8 274,377 Siegemaster 62,100Cadoudal 1979 Green Dancer 26 9 34.6 16 21.6 270,446 Big Buck’s 68,104Midnight Legend 1991 Night Shift 55 20 36.4 31 20.5 257,610 Winsley Hill 22,833Tiraaz 1994 Lear Fan 14 6 42.9 12 19.8 253,624 Ballyholland 157,639Sir Harry Lewis 1984 Alleged 57 16 28.1 22 20.9 248,023 Diamond Harry 95,588Turtle Island 1991 Fairy King 98 13 13.3 17 19.6 244,873 An Cathaoir Mor 59,930Kahyasi 1985 Ile de Bourbon 40 14 35.0 16 17.7 237,016 Kalahari King 43,372Roselier 1973 Misti IV 14 5 35.7 6 23.3 235,274 Monet’s Garden 119,837Village Star 1983 Moulin 1 1 100.0 2 24.0 226,680 Kauto Star 226,680Luso 1992 Salse 115 16 13.9 20 19.9 220,800 Chicago Grey 28,768Mansonnien 1984 Tip Moss 20 4 20.0 7 22.1 219,217 Golden Silver 101,470Silver Patriarch 1994 Saddlers’ Hall 74 14 18.9 19 19.8 212,946 Silver By Nature 104,935Witness Box 1987 Lyphard 60 21 35.0 29 19.6 211,042 Wymott 22,457Key Of Luck 1991 Chief’s Crown 32 11 34.4 14 18.3 197,562 Starluck 61,950Definite Article 1992 Indian Ridge 77 20 26.0 23 19.2 196,317 Tasman 25,681Alhaarth 1993 Unfuwain 54 16 29.6 20 18.1 194,069 Lucky Wish 32,560Solon 1992 Local Suitor 2 1 50.0 3 16.0 184,927 Solwhit 184,331Moscow Society 1985 Nijinsky 70 5 7.1 7 20.1 180,670 Forpadydeplasterer 41,357Bahhare 1994 Woodman 15 4 26.7 6 20.6 180,437 Bahrain Storm 160,263Mujahid 1996 Danzig 14 6 42.9 8 18.6 176,920 Khyber Kim 142,525Dushyantor 1993 Sadler’s Wells 34 6 17.7 12 18.9 171,039 Loosen My Load 40,166Glacial Storm 1985 Arctic Tern 40 9 22.5 10 20.5 166,934 Valley Ride 34,206Sea Raven 1991 Sadler’s Wells 17 4 23.5 6 18.2 165,349 Tranquil Sea 144,984Double Eclipse 1992 Ela-Mana-Mou 11 2 18.2 4 17.1 163,360 Go Native 157,374Galileo 1998 Sadler’s Wells 35 10 28.6 16 18.6 162,618 Celestial Halo 69,211Shernazar 1981 Busted 58 10 17.2 13 20.0 162,472 Nudge And Nurdle 26,214Lahint 1991 Woodman 2 1 50.0 2 20.5 148,910 Poquelin 148,910Taipan 1992 Last Tycoon 53 9 17.0 10 22.5 148,316 Calgary Bay 19,515Portrait Gallery 1990 Sadler’s Wells 22 10 45.5 13 20.9 146,258 Beat The Boys 47,888Saint des Saints 1998 Cadoudal 11 6 54.6 8 19.4 144,373 Me Voici 42,124Captain Rio 1999 Pivotal 18 3 16.7 6 16.4 144,273 Jumbo Rio 71,575Naheez 1984 Critique 14 5 35.7 6 22.9 143,369 Northern Alliance 101,359Dr Fong 1995 Kris S 38 11 29.0 14 17.3 139,278 No One Tells Me 23,963Kalanisi 1996 Doyoun 21 8 38.1 17 18.4 138,792 Alaivan 41,673Great Palm 1989 Manila 65 7 10.8 9 18.4 137,511 Donnas Palm 76,327Hernando 1990 Niniski 38 12 31.6 14 19.1 137,140 Harry Tricker 31,199Rudimentary 1988 Nureyev 67 9 13.4 12 19.7 136,096 Duers 42,733Norwich 1987 Top Ville 52 8 15.4 8 18.4 133,279 Newmill 32,777Carroll House 1985 Lord Gayle 41 8 19.5 12 18.6 131,046 Coole River 60,066Karinga Bay 1987 Ardross 100 16 16.0 17 19.5 127,451 Cool Dude Luke 12,294

Statistics to March 7

DATA BOOKExclusive stallion statistics

apr_68_stats:Leader 21/03/2010 23:24 Page 2

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER XXX

DATA BOOK

apr_68_stats:Leader 21/03/2010 23:24 Page 3


British and Irish-bred success abroadBreeder Winner Sire Age/sex Dam Ctry Date Racecourse Distance Prize-moneyAdams, R J E Bell Fess (GB) Lujain (USA) 5 h The Sun Also Rises (GB) Ity 14/1/10 Albenga 1m3f £1,315Adams, R J E Bell Fess (GB) Lujain (USA) 5 h The Sun Also Rises (GB) Ity 15/2/10 Varese 1m2f110y £4,137Addison Racing Ltd Inc Royal Bergere (GB) Royal Applause (GB) 7 h Filly Bergere (IRE) Ity 02/3/10 Rome 1m £2,632Agricola Dell 'Olmo Srl Destination Place (IRE) Dubai Destination (USA) 4 f Pleasure Place (IRE) Ity 25/2/10 Naples 7f £4,513Al Khalifa, Sheikh Abdulla bin Isa Good Return (GB) Fasliyev (USA) 5 g Fickle (GB) Mac 06/2/10 Taipa 6f £7,303Al Qatami & Hugo Merry, M Lord Peter Flint (IRE) Cadeaux Genereux 5 h Bibi Karam (IRE) Hk 21/2/10 Sha Tin 7f £28,341Allan, D Hardy Norseman (IRE) Mull Of Kintyre (USA) 7 g Miss Willow Bend (USA) Swe 20/2/10 Taby 6f £2,943Allevamento Gialloblu S R L Gemonio (IRE) High Chaparral (IRE) 4 c Guardiagrele (IRE) Ity 25/2/10 Naples 1m2f £3,761Alpha Bloodstock Limited Choose Your Moment (GB) Choisir (AUS) 5 h Time Will Show (FR) Hk 07/2/10 Sha Tin 7f £52,148Amizette Partnership, The King Of Rome (IRE) Montjeu (IRE) 5 h Amizette (USA) Uae 04/2/10 Meydan 1m2f £40,752Aston House Stud Sapperton (GB) Key Of Luck (USA) 3 c Lebenstanz (GB) Ity 17/2/10 Pisa 7f110y £1,880Avington Manor Stud Papyrian (GB) Oasis Dream (GB) 4 g La Papagena Qtr 27/1/10 Al Rayyan 1m1f55y £9,661Aylesfield Farms Stud Count Lucien (GB) Danehill Dancer (IRE) 4 c Paquita (IRE) Gny 28/2/10 Dortmund 1m1f £3,540Az Agr Razza Emiliana SRL Grand Sphinx (IRE) Gold Sphinx (USA) 3 f Grand Storm (IRE) Ity 22/2/10 Varese 7f110y £2,256Azienda Agricola delle Groane Regina Sprint (IRE) Desert Prince (IRE) 4 f Regina Saura (GB) Ity 13/2/10 Siracusa 1m1f £1,504Azienda Agricola Francesca Famusa (GB) Medicean (GB) 3 f Step Danzer (IRE) Ity 07/3/10 Pisa 7f110y £9,402Azienda Agricola Ginestre SS Brass Hill (IRE) Captain Rio (GB) 5 h Susan Bold (IRE) Ity 10/2/10 Albenga 6f £1,504Azienda Agricola Loreto Luciani White Oleander (IRE) Xaar (GB) 7 h Carmen The Best (IRE) Ity 04/3/10 Pisa 7f110y £1,533Azienda Agricola Patrizia Ludstar (GB) Domedriver (IRE) 4 c Lyonette (IRE) Ity 24/2/10 Pisa 1m1f £3,008Azienda Agricola Rosati Colarieti Bosco Ciliegi (GB) Diktat (GB) 8 h Maid In The Shade (GB) Ity 24/2/10 Pisa 6f110y £1,725Azienda Agricola Rosati Colarieti Tony's Power (GB) Mujahid (USA) 3 c Cuba Lady (IRE) Ity 10/2/10 Pisa 1m2f £4,513Azienda Agricola Rosati Colarieti Ekin (GB) Mujahid (USA) 5 h Eye To Eye (GB) Ity 18/2/10 Naples 5f £4,513Azienda Agricola Rosati Colarieti Yajala (GB) Fasliyev (USA) 4 f Desacara (GB) Ity 05/3/10 Rome 7f £5,641Azienda Agricola Rosati Colarieti Ekin (GB) Mujahid (USA) 5 h Eye To Eye (GB) Ity 05/3/10 Rome 6f £8,274Azienda Agricola S Giamcomo Srl Ciano (IRE) Fasliyev (USA) 4 c Histoire d'Amour (GB) Ity 01/3/10 Varese 7f110y £1,533Baggen, J H A Nolien (IRE) Nayef (USA) 5 m No Mercy (GER) Bel 26/2/10 Mons 1m6f £1,770Balding, P Isla Graciosa (GB) Bold Edge (GB) 4 f Nine To Five (GB) Spa 21/2/10 Canarias 5f £354Balding, P Mr Rigsby (GB) Forzando 7 g Rain Splash (GB) Spa 21/2/10 Mijas 6f £6,195Ballygallon Stud Limited Madison Park (IRE) Montjeu (IRE) 4 c Crystal Gaze (IRE) Spa 07/3/10 Mijas 1m1f £4,425Ballygrelihan Partnership Super Refuse (IRE) Refuse To Bend (IRE) 3 f Panthere (GER) Ity 21/2/10 Siracusa 1m2f110y £1,504Bandini Marino Giulia Vis (IRE) Altieri (GB) 3 f Vis Et Robur (GB) Ity 21/2/10 Rome 1m £5,641Barnett Ltd, W and R Granary (GB) Singspiel (IRE) 6 m All Grain (GB) Qtr 07/1/10 Al Rayyan 5f £4,831Barnett Ltd, W and R Granary (GB) Singspiel (IRE) 6 m All Grain (GB) Qtr 11/2/10 Al Rayyan 7f £9,661Barnett Ltd, W and R Granary (GB) Singspiel (IRE) 6 m All Grain (GB) Qtr 18/2/10 Al Rayyan 5f £9,661Barronstown Stud Around Me (IRE) Johannesburg (USA) 3 f Moon Flower (IRE) Fr 17/2/10 Cagnes-Sur-Mer 1m £8,850Barronstown Stud & Cobra Bankable (IRE) Medicean (GB) 6 h Dance To The Top (GB) Uae 19/2/10 Meydan 1m £92,617 (Gr2)Barton Stud Key To Success (GB) Mujahid (USA) 6 h Shining Cloud (GB) Kor 06/2/10 Seoul 1m1f110y £18,660Begley, M Loving Choisir (IRE) Choisir (AUS) 3 c Lovingit (IRE) Ity 18/2/10 Naples 5f £4,513Bellaccini Gianluca & Joan Coburn Rojo Rajo (IRE) Distant Music (USA) 5 m Mugello (GB) Ity 23/2/10 Albenga 1m £1,504Bergin, D & T Winterwind (IRE) Orpen (USA) 5 h Brickey Beech (IRE) Swi 07/2/10 St Moritz 1m1f £5,030Beston, Miss P Joyride Of Love (IRE) Fruits Of Love (USA) 7 m Poly Dancer (GB) Swe 28/2/10 Taby 1m4f £2,597Bourne, Mrs A D Tamarah (GB) Beat Hollow (GB) 4 f Valagalore (GB) Qtr 07/1/10 Al Rayyan 1m2f £4,831Brady, P Tee Off (IRE) Barathea (IRE) 6 m Forget Me Not (IRE) Usa 26/2/10 Sunland Park 1m £3,519Brickley, D Super Ratatuille (IRE) Desert Prince (IRE) 3 c Valluga (IRE) Ity 23/2/10 Albenga 1m £2,632Brinkley Stud SAS Sevedum (GB) Dansili (GB) 5 h Avowal (GB) Ity 21/2/10 Pisa 1m1f £1,880Brinkley Stud, Ficomontanino, Bego Blu Boccadamo (IRE) Rakti (GB) 3 f Holly Hock (FR) Ity 15/2/10 Varese 1m2f110y £1,880Brivio Sforza, C Masaimara (IRE) Orpen (USA) 3 c Jalcamin (IRE) Ity 16/2/10 Albenga 1m £1,504Broughton Bloodstock Braccio di Ferro (GB) Medicean (GB) 4 c Sleave Silk (IRE) Ity 10/2/10 Albenga 1m £3,761Brunton, Sir Gordon La Data di Giulio (GB) Generous (IRE) 5 m Persian Victory (IRE) Ity 17/2/10 Pisa 1m1f £1,725Burns, A a M Rosso Med (IRE) Titus Livius (FR) 3 c Go For Red (IRE) Ity 28/2/10 Siracusa 1m2f £2,256Burton Agnes Stud Co Ltd Casemate (GB) Efisio 8 g Flying Carpet (GB) Qtr 14/1/10 Al Rayyan 2m £19,322Butler, T C Hawk And I (IRE) Hawk Wing (USA) 5 h Dos Talas (USA) Swe 27/2/10 Taby 1m2f £2,943Byrne, P One Cool Mission (IRE) One Cool Cat (USA) 4 f San Luis Rey (GB) Qtr 25/2/10 Al Rayyan 5f £9,661Carroll, Mr J M Bellinissimo (IRE) Hawk Wing (USA) 4 c Princess Electra (IRE) Fr 05/3/10 Deauville 1m1f110y £14,602Cheveley Park Stud Ltd Carnival Queen (GB) Carnival Dancer (GB) 5 m Irish Light (USA) Usa 30/1/10 Santa Anita 6f £7,037Chevington Stud Almaguer (GB) Spectrum (IRE) 8 g Cerita (IRE) Fr 22/2/10 Cagnes-Sur-Mer 1m2f £6,637Citadel Stud Mafra (IRE) Kalanisi (IRE) 4 f Sovana (IRE) Fr 27/2/10 Cagnes-Sur-Mer 1m2f £20,796Colclough, Bernard Tornado City (IRE) Elusive City (USA) 3 c Top Story (IRE) Ity 28/2/10 Siracusa 7f £1,504Coleman, Mr W Vasiliki (IRE) Antonius Pius (USA) 3 c Yaqoot (GB) Ity 15/2/10 Varese 7f110y £3,009Compagnia Generale SRL Landowner (GB) Shamardal (USA) 3 c Rentless (GB) Uae 14/2/10 Abu Dhabi 7f £6,040Condon, Mr J C Importer (IRE) Efisio 4 c Dwingeloo (IRE) Qtr 18/2/10 Al Rayyan 7f £3,864Conneally, Mr A L Overachiever (IRE) Exceed And Excel (AUS) 4 f Panglossian (IRE) Spa 21/2/10 Canarias 1m £354Conneally, Mr A L Gang Show (IRE) Desert Prince (IRE) 5 g Terry Jean (FR) Bah 05/2/10 Sakhir 1m £1,066Connelly, T Camp Rock (IRE) Tagula (IRE) 3 c Olympic Rock (IRE) Ity 21/2/10 Pisa 7f110y £3,761Cooke, B Hawk Island (IRE) Hawk Wing (USA) 5 h Crimphill (IRE) Aus 06/2/10 Rosehill 1m2f £23,333Corduff Stud Acapulco Gold (IRE) Azamour (IRE) 3 c El Rabab (USA) Fr 05/3/10 Deauville 7f110y £10,619Cullinan, J Eldorado Days (IRE) Elusive City (USA) 4 c Blue Daze (GB) Bah 22/1/10 Sakhir 7f £746Cullinan, J Brexca (IRE) Diktat (GB) 5 g Hemaca (GB) Bah 01/1/10 Sakhir 1m1f £852Cullinan, J Brexca (IRE) Diktat (GB) 5 g Hemaca (GB) Bah 15/1/10 Sakhir 1m3f £2,131Dalton, M Aiko (IRE) Intikhab (USA) 4 f Royal Bossi (IRE) Ity 11/2/10 Naples 1m £3,008Dalton, M Miss Refuse (IRE) Refuse To Bend (IRE) 3 f Advancing (IRE) Ity 20/2/10 Siracusa 1m2f110y £3,761Darley Cipher (GB) Reset (AUS) 4 g Subtle Charm (GB) Bah 05/2/10 Sakhir 1m3f £852Darley Cipher (GB) Reset (AUS) 4 g Subtle Charm (GB) Bah 29/1/10 Sakhir 1m1f £1,066Darley Cordon Bleu (IRE) Key Of Luck (USA) 5 g Blue Note (FR) Bel 19/2/10 Mons 1m £1,327Darley Cordon Bleu (IRE) Key Of Luck (USA) 5 g Blue Note (FR) Bel 26/2/10 Mons 7f110y £1,327Darley Targgis (GB) Mtoto 8 m Fair Shirley (IRE) Bel 26/2/10 Mons 1m3f £1,327Darley City Of Light (GB) Singspiel (IRE) 4 f Electric Society (IRE) Gny 21/2/10 Neuss 1m1f110y £1,770Darley Salt Man (GB) Mtoto 7 h Romaneh (GB) Qtr 11/2/10 Al Rayyan 1m1f55y £3,864Darley Country Dance (GB) Machiavellian (USA) 7 h Gold's Dance (FR) Jpn 19/2/10 Funabashi 7f110y £6,658Darley Detonator (IRE) Fantastic Light (USA) 5 g Narwala Uae 28/2/10 Abu Dhabi 1m3f £7,046Darley Swinging Sixties (IRE) Singspiel (IRE) 5 h Velvet Lady (GB) Uae 26/2/10 Jebel Ali 7f £10,067Darley Andina (IRE) Singspiel (IRE) 3 f Fragrant Oasis (USA) Usa 29/1/10 Santa Anita 1m £17,778Darley Skysurfers (GB) E Dubai (USA) 4 c Fortune (IRE) Uae 19/2/10 Meydan 1m £40,751Darley Alexandros (GB) Kingmambo (USA) 5 h Arlette (IRE) Uae 04/2/10 Meydan 1m1f £74,094 (Gr3)Davin Investments Ltd Uramazin (IRE) Danehill Dancer (IRE) 4 c Uriah (GER) Hk 16/2/10 Sha Tin 1m1f £136,038 (L)Davison, Miss M Bailey (IRE) Captain Rio (GB) 5 g Baileys Cream (GB) Swi 24/1/10 Arosa 1m1f £3,449Dayton Investments Ltd Poincon de France (IRE) Peintre Celebre (USA) 6 h Poughkeepsie (IRE) Fr 13/2/10 Cagnes-Sur-Mer 2m1f £7,965Delloye, P Fellous & T Clout, H L'Auvergnat (IRE) Saddlers' Hall (IRE) 8 g L'Authie (FR) Fr 20/2/10 Lyon La Soie 1m4f £4,867

DATA BOOKOverseas winners

apr_68_overseaswinners2:Leader 21/03/2010 22:18 Page 3


Ditta Nardi Raffaele Wangona (IRE) Okawango (USA) 5 h Nalaya (IRE) Ity 10/2/10 Pisa 1m3f £3,761Ditta Nardi Raffaele Satwa Street (IRE) Elusive City (USA) 4 c Black Tribal (IRE) Uae 26/2/10 Jebel Ali 5f £6,040Donlon, B Chinisesi (IRE) Celtic Swing (GB) 3 c Angelico (IRE) Ity 02/3/10 Rome 1m1f110y £5,641Donworth, P Bigi's Dream (IRE) Entrepreneur (GB) 8 m Ardent Range (IRE) Ity 10/2/10 Pisa 7f110y £1,725Dunne, F Montmorency (IRE) Pivotal (GB) 4 c Clear Spring (USA) Uae 09/2/10 Abu Dhabi 7f £15,100Egan, D and B Leahurst (IRE) Verglas (IRE) 4 g Badee'a (IRE) Uae 18/2/10 Meydan 6f £55,570Ezekiel, Mrs V Tombeur de Femmes (IRE) One Cool Cat (USA) 4 c Nadayem (USA) Ity 21/2/10 Pisa 6f £3,761Farrell, C and E Adorabile Med (IRE) Iron Mask (USA) 5 m Sin Lucha (USA) Ity 20/2/10 Siracusa 5f110y £1,504Fattoria di Marcianella S R L Montherlant (IRE) Desert Sun (GB) 6 h Meznh (IRE) Ity 09/2/10 Rome 1m3f £4,513Firman & Webster Bloodstock El Bolao (GB) Vettori (IRE) 4 c Rion River (IRE) Spa 21/2/10 Mijas 1m1f £4,425Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd Diwali (GB) Fantastic Light (USA) 7 h Zandaka (FR) Spa 21/2/10 Canarias 1m2f £354Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd Red Arrow Line (GB) Red Ransom (USA) 4 c Ya Tarra (GB) Jpn 11/2/10 Sonoda 1m110y £1,664Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd William Blake (GB) Rainbow Quest (USA) 5 g Land Of Dreams (GB) Bah 08/1/10 Sakhir 1m £2,131Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd First Queen (GB) Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) 4 f Orange Blossom (IRE) Usa 03/2/10 Santa Anita 1m £5,185Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd Yirga (GB) Cape Cross (IRE) 4 c Auratum (USA) Uae 12/2/10 Jebel Ali 6f £7,550Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd Emirates Champion (GB) Haafhd (GB) 4 c Janaat (GB) Uae 18/2/10 Meydan 1m3f £40,751Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd Sirocco Breeze (GB) Green Desert (USA) 5 h Baldemosa (FR) Uae 18/2/10 Meydan 7f £64,832Gallagher, Mrs M Key Art (IRE) Kheleyf (USA) 3 c Gift Of Spring (USA) Bel 05/3/10 Mons 1m £1,327Gardiner, Mrs C G Kal Barg (GB) Medicean (GB) 5 h Persian Air Uae 05/2/10 Meydan 1m1f110y £40,752Gestut Sohrenhof Val d'Espoir (IRE) In The Wings 6 h Vert Val (USA) Fr 14/2/10 Cagnes-Sur-Mer 1m £6,637Gianatti & Scuderia Patrizio Bertagri, P L Sugarello (IRE) Mull Of Kintyre (USA) 3 c Margaretha Lay (IRE) Ity 28/2/10 Pisa 1m2f £4,513Gillespie, Dr A J F Arlequin (GB) Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) 3 c Fairy Dance (IRE) Fr 13/2/10 Cagnes-Sur-Mer 1m2f £11,947Glending Bloodstock Issacar (IRE) Traditionally (USA) 3 c Indolente (IRE) Fr 28/2/10 Mont-De-Marsan 1m2f £11,062Glenview House Stud Misano Lasen (IRE) Kheleyf (USA) 3 f My Lilli (IRE) Ity 28/2/10 Rome 1m £8,274Gorman & B Gallagher, S Zenside (IRE) Diktat (GB) 4 f Zenith (GB) Fr 03/3/10 Toulouse 1m £5,752Grace, P My Drop (IRE) Danetime (IRE) 6 h Notluckytochange (IRE) Bah 05/2/10 Sakhir 6f £2,131Graiguelin Stud Naked Ambition (IRE) Royal Applause (GB) 6 g Model Bride (USA) Qtr 24/2/10 Al Rayyan 6f £9,661Grangecon Stud To Believe (IRE) Elusive City (USA) 4 c Lure oO The Moon (USA) Ity 13/2/10 Siracusa 1m £3,761Grogan, J Vigna Rossa (IRE) King Charlemagne (USA) 6 m Go Likecrazy (GB) Ity 19/2/10 Grosseto 1m165y £1,504Grundy Bloodstock Ltd Daylang (GB) Daylami (IRE) 5 h Kelang (GB) Ity 14/2/10 Pisa 1m2f £11,283Grundy Bloodstock S R L Sheitan (GB) Dalakhani (IRE) 5 g Biosphere (GB) Fr 26/2/10 Lyon La Soie 1m1f £7,522Hackett, Mrs Monica Global City (IRE) Exceed And Excel (AUS) 4 c Victory Peak (GB) Uae 04/2/10 Meydan 6f £44,456Hackett, Mrs Monica Global City (IRE) Exceed And Excel (AUS) 4 c Victory Peak (GB) Uae 19/2/10 Meydan 6f £44,456Hadi al Tajir Green Coast (IRE) Green Desert (USA) 7 h Oriental Fashion (IRE) Uae 19/2/10 Meydan 7f £44,456Halligan, M J Pictor Optimus (IRE) Peintre Celebre (USA) 6 h Individual (USA) Ity 20/2/10 Siracusa 7f110y £2,256Harris, P Antinori (IRE) Fasliyev (USA) 4 g Albavilla (GB) Uae 25/2/10 Meydan 1m3f £40,751Hartery, Mrs C Ten Downing Street (IRE) Mujadil (USA) 7 g Karen Blixen (GB) Usa 02/2/10 Sunland Park 6f £3,519Hartery, Mrs C Ten Downing Street (IRE) Mujadil (USA) 7 g Karen Blixen (GB) Usa 21/2/10 Sunland Park 6f £3,704Hascombe & Valiant Studs Tuscan Evening (IRE) Oasis Dream (GB) 5 m The Faraway Tree (GB) Usa 15/2/10 Santa Anita 1m £55,556 (Gr2)Haughey, Mrs M Formula Rara (IRE) Orpen (USA) 4 f Dame Portia (IRE) Ity 27/2/10 Siracusa 1m2f110y £1,504Hesmonds Stud Ltd Sunny Peace (GB) Vision Of Night (GB) 5 m Three Gifts (GB) Usa 28/1/10 Santa Anita 6f £3,704Hesmonds Stud Ltd Super Dubai (GB) Dubawi (IRE) 3 c Credit-A-Plenty (GB) Ity 11/2/10 Naples 1m110y £4,513Highclere Stud Kloof (GB) Cape Cross (IRE) 4 c Ravine (GB) Bah 01/1/10 Sakhir 1m1f £852Highclere Stud Kloof (GB) Cape Cross (IRE) 4 c Ravine (GB) Bah 29/1/10 Sakhir 1m £5,328Hitchins, J C, J R & S R My Aunt Fanny (GB) Nayef (USA) 5 m Putuna (GB) Usa 31/1/10 Santa Anita 1m £11,852Hodgson, K and Mrs Winsome Hearts (GB) Erhaab (USA) 4 g Boulevard Rouge (USA) Qtr 24/2/10 Al Rayyan 1m2f £9,661Houghton & J S Moore, E J and Mrs Lebowski (GB) Beveled (USA) 12 g Sandkatoon (IRE) Ity 12/2/10 Grosseto 1m165y £1,533Hunt, P C Becher (GB) Vettori (IRE) 6 h Hidden Meaning (GB) Qtr 28/1/10 Al Rayyan 1m £9,661Hunter, Mrs E L St Trinians (GB) Piccolo (GB) 5 m Cherrycombe-Row (GB) Usa 13/2/10 Santa Anita 1m £92,593 (Gr2)Hyde & S Millard, M Peggy's Pearl (GB) Ishiguru (USA) 6 m Sweet Compliance (GB) Swe 14/2/10 Taby 6f £4,329Hyde Park Stud Gun In Hand (IRE) Bertolini (USA) 4 c Berliese (IRE) Ity 15/2/10 Varese 1m1f165y £1,504Hyde Park Stud Gun In Hand (IRE) Bertolini (USA) 4 c Berliese (IRE) Ity 25/2/10 Naples 1m2f £1,880Irish National Stud Indian Dumaani (GB) Indian Ridge 3 f Mubadalah (USA) Ity 09/2/10 Rome 7f £3,761Irish Tours Thoroughbred Partnership Stay Another Day (IRE) Iron Mask (USA) 6 m Plaintarra (SWI) Fr 07/3/10 Seiches-Sur-Le-Loire 1m5f110y £2,655James & Arnfinn Lund, J Flavin (GB) Lujain (USA) 6 h River Coln (USA) Ity 22/2/10 Varese 1m1f165y £1,534Jayeff "B" Stables Mutheeb (USA) Danzig (USA) 5 h Magicalmysterykate Uae 04/2/10 Meydan 7f £44,456Juddmonte Farms Inc Common Purpose (USA) Elusive Quality (USA) 6 g Kithira (GB) Swe 24/1/10 Taby 1m2f £4,329Juddmonte Farms Inc Common Purpose (USA) Elusive Quality (USA) 6 g Kithira (GB) Swe 07/2/10 Taby 1m £4,329Juddmonte Farms Ltd Birdbrook (GB) Zamindar (USA) 4 f Chaffinch (USA) Ity 11/2/10 Naples 1m2f £1,880Juddmonte Farms Ltd Intercom (GB) Dansili (GB) 5 h Dialing Tone (USA) Gny 14/2/10 Dortmund 1m110y £2,655Juddmonte Farms Ltd Autocue (GB) Dansili (GB) 5 h Sing For Fame (USA) Usa 20/2/10 Santa Anita 1m £4,074Juddmonte Farms Ltd Intercom (GB) Dansili (GB) 5 h Dialing Tone (USA) Gny 28/2/10 Dortmund 1m1f £5,310Juddmonte Farms Ltd Greenwich Meantime (GB) Royal Academy (USA) 10 g Shirley Valentine (GB) Fr 26/2/10 Lyon La Soie 1m4f £5,752Kelly, Mrs L Manhattan Beach (IRE) Captain Rio (GB) 5 m Ruby Ridge (IRE) Usa 31/1/10 Santa Anita 6f £17,037Kenilworth House Stud Pim Pam (IRE) Verglas (IRE) 3 f Pacy's Ridge (IRE) Fr 20/2/10 Angers 1m £11,947Kennedy, G Fichimori (IRE) Pyrus (USA) 3 f Dispol In Mind (GB) Ity 04/3/10 Pisa 6f £4,513Kennedy, P Camilla Grey (IRE) Clodovil (IRE) 3 f La Captive (IRE) Ity 28/2/10 Rome 1m £5,641Kiernan, Mr C J Drunken Sailor (IRE) Tendulkar (USA) 5 g Ronni Pancake (GB) Uae 19/2/10 Meydan 1m3f £44,456Kildaragh Stud El Pib d'Oro (IRE) Oasis Dream (GB) 4 c Trinity Joy (GB) Fr 03/3/10 Lyon La Soie 1m1f £7,522Kilfrush Stud Venetian Dancer (IRE) Danehill Dancer (IRE) 6 h Venize (IRE) Bel 19/2/10 Mons 1m £2,212Kilfrush Stud Prince Elidane (IRE) King's Best (USA) 3 c Albacora (IRE) Fr 13/2/10 Cagnes-Sur-Mer 1m2f £6,637King Bloodstock London Wing (IRE) Hawk Wing (USA) 5 h Thaidah (CAN) Jpn 20/2/10 Kochi 6f110y £666Knocklong House Stud Scoglitti (IRE) Hawk Wing (USA) 3 c Maydaymayday (IRE) Ity 11/2/10 Naples 1m2f £5,265Lavington Stud, The Six Shots (GB) Josr Algarhoud (IRE) 6 h Captive Heart Usa 20/2/10 Turfway Park 1m2f £3,481Lawn Stud Tottie (GB) Fantastic Light (USA) 4 f Katy Nowaitee (GB) Usa 06/2/10 Gulfstream Park 1m1f £46,296 (Gr3)Leonard, Mr R Bacco Perbacco (IRE) Medecis (GB) 4 c Fancy Boots (IRE) Ity 23/2/10 Albenga 6f £1,315Lightbody, M Fantast Win (GB) Fantastic Light (USA) 5 h So Admirable (GB) Jpn 09/2/10 Urawa 1m £6,658Loder, Sir E J Days Of My Life (IRE) Daylami (IRE) 7 g Truly Yours (IRE) Hk 10/2/10 Happy Valley 1m55y £38,544Lodge Park Stud Albertinelli (IRE) Danehill (USA) 7 h Sunset Cafe (IRE) Aus 17/2/10 Warwick Farm 7f £9,750Lofts Hall Stud Siyaadah (GB) Shamardal (USA) 3 f River Belle (GB) Uae 11/2/10 Meydan 1m £92,617 (L)London Thoroughbred Services Ltd Dream Of Kunda (GB) Oasis Dream (GB) 3 c Kunda (IRE) Ity 02/3/10 Rome 1m110y £4,137Lostford Manor Stud Tom Paris (GB) Bertolini (USA) 6 g Nom Francais (GB) Mac 06/2/10 Taipa 1m1f £15,036Lyons, Mrs Helen Calming Influence (IRE) King's Best (USA) 5 h Idilic Calm (IRE) Uae 18/2/10 Meydan 1m £40,751M3 Elevage & Haras d'Etreham San Martin (GB) Oasis Dream (GB) 3 c Suedoise (GB) Fr 23/2/10 Marseille Pont De Vivaux 1m2f £6,195M3 Elevage & Haras d'Etreham Ballast (IRE) Desert Prince (IRE) 9 g Suedoise (GB) Usa 20/2/10 Tampa Bay Downs 1m £6,556Madigan, P Captain Stock Alca (IRE) Captain Rio (GB) 3 c Glamour Stock (USA) Ity 27/2/10 Siracusa 1m £7,522Malih Lahij Al Basti Egypt (GB) Dansili (GB) 4 c Royal Flame (IRE) Usa 29/1/10 Santa Anita 1m £7,407Mansergh-Wallace, Mrs P Serena Kay (IRE) Trade Fair (GB) 3 f Lady Of The Inn (IRE) Ity 14/2/10 Pisa 7f110y £6,393Martica Srl Go Jo Black (IRE) Desert Prince (IRE) 7 h Karvis (GB) Ity 15/2/10 Naples 1m1f £4,513

The data in this section is restricted to breeders based in Britain or Ireland, as determined by the address used when the foal was first registered.Some foreign-based breeders may be included if the mare was boarded in Britain or Ireland and registered as being ‘care of’ a domestic breeder

DATA BOOK

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Martinezli, M Arakan Rose (IRE) Arakan (USA) 3 f Rose Tint (IRE) Ity 06/3/10 Siracusa 6f £3,761McMahon Madden, Miss K Su Contadori (IRE) Indian Haven (GB) 4 g Mikes Baby (IRE) Ity 19/2/10 Grosseto 1m3f £1,504Meon Valley Stud Primera Vista (GB) Haafhd (GB) 4 c Colorvista Gny 28/2/10 Dortmund 1m1f £1,770Millenium Partnership Pallodio (IRE) Medecis (GB) 5 h Bent Al Fala (IRE) Fr 14/2/10 Cagnes-Sur-Mer 1m2f £26,549 (L)Millsec Limited Super Barathea (GB) Barathea (IRE) 3 c Vulnerable (GB) Ity 13/2/10 Siracusa 1m2f110y £2,256Minch Bloodstock Porto Marmay (IRE) Choisir (AUS) 5 m Nordicolini (IRE) Usa 12/2/10 Santa Anita 6f £24,519Minster Stud Al Shemali (GB) Medicean (GB) 6 h Bathilde (IRE) Uae 19/2/10 Meydan 1m2f £44,456Minty, Barry Flapjack (GB) Trade Fair (GB) 3 f Inya Lake (GB) Spa 21/2/10 Canarias 7f £354Moratalla, Marquesa De Rixe Veto (IRE) Storming Home (GB) 3 c Caldea (FR) Fr 20/2/10 Mont-De-Marsan 1m2f110y £6,195Mount Coote Partnership Grey Latino (GB) Daylami (IRE) 5 h Zarara (USA) Ity 07/3/10 Rome 1m3f £6,017Murphy, Miss M Golden Fong (IRE) Dr Fong (USA) 3 c Peeptoe (IRE) Ity 12/2/10 Grosseto 1m165y £1,880Myerscough & Charles O'Brien, P & J Tapio (IRE) Forest Wildcat (USA) 9 h Lyric (GB) Usa 13/2/10 Rillito 6f £1,210Nass, Fawzi Act Waif (GB) Act One (GB) 5 m Waif (GB) Bah 29/1/10 Sakhir 1m £1,066Neary, J Saratoga Black (IRE) Pyrus (USA) 3 c Mary Martins (IRE) Ity 02/3/10 Rome 1m3f £8,274Nunn, S Southpaw Lad (GB) Diktat (GB) 5 h Ashantiana (GB) Hk 21/2/10 Sha Tin 1m1f £38,544O'Brien, M Blue Julia (IRE) Fumo di Londra (IRE) 5 m Julia Titus (IRE) Spa 07/3/10 Mijas 1m3f £4,867O'Connor, J Miss Singhsix (IRE) Singspiel (IRE) 5 m Whatamiss (USA) Usa 20/2/10 Laurel 1m1f £18,519Oppenheimer, Mrs B D Saluki (GB) Dubai Destination (USA) 4 c Dog Rose (SAF) Saf 30/1/10 Kenilworth 1m £4,603Ormsby, L Delitto Perfetto (IRE) Elnadim (USA) 4 c Black Jack Girl (IRE) Ity 20/2/10 Siracusa 7f £1,504Ormsby, L Delitto Perfetto (IRE) Elnadim (USA) 4 c Black Jack Girl (IRE) Ity 06/3/10 Siracusa 7f £1,504Ormsby, L Wake Me Now (IRE) Almutawakel (GB) 4 f Shiyra Usa 19/2/10 Santa Anita 1m £13,333O'Sullivan, G Train Deal (IRE) Camacho (GB) 3 f Fanciful (IRE) Ity 13/2/10 Siracusa 7f110y £3,761Oung, Madame L Kornei (IRE) Shinko Forest (IRE) 7 g Constantia (IRE) Fr 10/2/10 Cagnes-Sur-Mer 1m2f £7,080Penny, John and Mrs Caroline Relative Order (GB) Diktat (GB) 5 h Aunt Ruby (USA) Hk 16/2/10 Sha Tin 6f £52,148Phelan, M Virginia Med (IRE) Antonius Pius (USA) 3 f Cajo (IRE) Ity 21/2/10 Siracusa 6f £2,256Plantation Stud (For Breeder's Prizes Only) Grand Prix (GB) Grand Lodge (USA) 6 h Divine Quest (GB) Bah 01/1/10 Sakhir 6f £1,066Plumbly, Simon and Helen Mr Day Off (GB) Erhaab (USA) 5 h Branston Berry (IRE) Ity 28/2/10 Pisa 7f110y £1,880Puerari, Sunflower Int Ltd & Mohican Breeding, E Zidane's Gold (GB) Indian Ridge 6 h Danira (IRE) Saf 17/1/10 Scottsville 7f £4,184Queen, The Highland Glen (GB) Montjeu (IRE) 4 g Daring Aim (GB) Uae 11/2/10 Meydan 1m3f £40,751Quinn, K Sir Moretti (IRE) Trans Island (GB) 4 c Vanity (IRE) Gny 21/2/10 Neuss 1m1f110y £885Rathasker Stud Part Timer (IRE) Mujadil (USA) 6 h Dame Laura (IRE) Usa 15/2/10 Turf Paradise 6f £2,037Redmyre Bloodstock & S Hillen Radiohead (GB) Johannesburg (USA) 3 c Security Interest (USA) Usa 27/2/10 Gulfstream Park 1m £16,296Ridgecourt Stud Strike One (GB) Danehill Dancer (IRE) 6 g Intellectuelle (GB) Aus 27/2/10 Rosehill 1m4f £23,333Rima Stud Srl Lucky Bielle (IRE) King Charlemagne (USA) 3 c Santa Severa (GB) Ity 27/2/10 Casarano 6f £1,504Robiati, Angelo Pepper Popper (IRE) Indian Haven (GB) 4 c Armenia (IRE) Ity 28/2/10 Rome 1m110y £11,283Rockwell Bloodstock Eastern Empire (GB) Dubai Destination (USA) 4 g Possessive Artiste (GB) Hk 10/2/10 Happy Valley 1m1f £38,544Round Hill Stud Kingstand (IRE) King's Best (USA) 4 c True Crystal (IRE) Fr 14/2/10 Lyon La Soie 1m4f £4,867Roundhill Stud & Gleadhill House Stud Ltd Keyala (IRE) Key Of Luck (USA) 5 m Alwiyda (USA) Bel 05/3/10 Mons 7f £1,327Ryan, P Folie Med (IRE) No Excuse Needed (GB) 5 m Glencoagh Order (IRE) Ity 13/2/10 Siracusa 1m3f110y £1,504Savill, P Firth Of Fifth (IRE) Traditionally (USA) 4 c Wish List (IRE) Hk 07/2/10 Sha Tin 1m55y £52,148Savill, P D Collection (IRE) Peintre Celebre (USA) 5 g Lasting Chance (USA) Hk 28/2/10 Sha Tin 1m2f £362,769 (L)Sc Day Just Sas Queen Black (IRE) Fasliyev (USA) 4 f Grand Teacher (IRE) Ity 27/2/10 Siracusa 5f110y £1,504Schoeler, B Sabine Wild (IRE) High Chaparral (IRE) 4 f Stefania (IRE) Gny 07/2/10 Neuss 1m3f110y £2,301Scuderia Cesare Turri Martora (IRE) Verglas (IRE) 3 c Mia Pantera (IRE) Ity 24/2/10 Pisa 7f110y £4,513Scuderia Cesare Turri Eustachione (IRE) Desert Prince (IRE) 5 h Vaghezza (IRE) Ity 07/3/10 Pisa 7f110y £21,061(L)Scuderia Golden Horse S R L Golden Exclusive (IRE) Pyrus (USA) 3 c Golden Announce (USA) Ity 22/2/10 Naples 1m1f £2,256Scuderia Golden Horse S R L Golden Acclamation (IRE) Acclamation (GB) 3 c Nelly Golden (USA) Ity 14/2/10 Pisa 7f110y £6,393Scuderia Golden Horse S R L Golden Ramon (IRE) Captain Rio (GB) 3 f Solid Golden (USA) Ity 05/3/10 Rome 5f110y £8,274Scuderia Sant' Ambroeus S R L Shosholoza (IRE) Soviet Star (USA) 5 m Sagar Queen (USA) Ity 12/2/10 Grosseto 1m £1,504Scuderia Tamara S A S Mister Ghiaccio (IRE) One Cool Cat (USA) 4 c Mauricienne (FR) Ity 21/2/10 Siracusa 1m2f110y £1,504Scuderia Tamara S A S Mister Ghiaccio (IRE) One Cool Cat (USA) 4 c Mauricienne (FR) Ity 06/3/10 Siracusa 1m2f110y £7,522Sexton, A Great Ambition (IRE) Great Exhibition (USA) 3 c Ocean Bell (IRE) Ity 28/2/10 Pisa 6f110y £5,265Shadwell Estate Company Limited Naiazek (GB) Refuse To Bend (IRE) 4 c Elshamms (GB) Bah 08/1/10 Sakhir 1m1f £639Shadwell Estate Company Limited Alwaabel (GB) Green Desert (USA) 5 h Etizaaz (USA) Uae 12/2/10 Jebel Ali 7f £6,040Shadwell Estate Company Limited Mukhber (GB) Anabaa (USA) 5 g Tarbiyah (GB) Bah 12/2/10 Sakhir 1m2f £6,148Shenkin, Ian Gran Aguila (IRE) Hawkeye (IRE) 4 c Heiress Of Meath (IRE) Spa 14/2/10 Dos Hermanas 1m2f110y £3,982Sig Luciano Arcolini Sirod (IRE) Fantastic Light (USA) 6 h Yxenery (IRE) Ity 01/3/10 Varese 7f110y £1,504Skymarc Farm Vestris (IRE) Vettori (IRE) 5 g Parting Gift (GB) Fr 24/2/10 Cagnes-Sur-Mer 1m £10,177Slatch Farm Stud We'll Confer (GB) Piccolo (GB) 6 h Medina de Rioseco (GB) Spa 14/2/10 Dos Hermanas 5f £4,425Smith, Miss E M Mdawee (IRE) Choisir (AUS) 3 c Its All Eurs (IRE) Qtr 04/2/10 Al Rayyan 5f £3,864Snowdrop Stud Co Ltd Doolin Dalton (GB) Bertolini (USA) 5 h April Magic (GB) Ity 14/2/10 Pisa 6f110y £2,300Soc Finanza Locale Consulting SRL Pour Toujours (IRE) Almutawakel (GB) 7 h Swinging Secret (IRE) Ity 16/2/10 Albenga 1m3f £1,504St Clare Hall Stud Giardini (GB) Vettori (IRE) 7 m Motto (FR) Gny 14/2/10 Dortmund 1m1f165y £2,301Stefania Giurelli Cyclone Club (IRE) Indian Lodge (IRE) 5 h May Milton (GB) Ity 22/2/10 Naples 5f £3,008Sunderland Holdings Ltd El Gouna (IRE) Perugino (USA) 8 h Kengar (FR) Swe 28/2/10 Taby 1m £4,329Swettenham Stud Progreso (IRE) Danehill Dancer (IRE) 4 c Castilian Queen (USA) Hk 03/2/10 Happy Valley 5f £28,341Swettenham Stud Changing Skies (IRE) Sadler's Wells (USA) 5 m Magnificient Style (USA) Usa 27/2/10 Gulfstream Park 1m3f £37,037 (Gr3)Swettenham Stud Progreso (IRE) Danehill Dancer (IRE) 4 c Castilian Queen (USA) Hk 24/2/10 Happy Valley 5f £38,544Swordlestown Stud Gold Neo (IRE) Invincible Spirit (IRE) 6 h Waltzing Around (IRE) Jpn 16/2/10 Nagoya 1m1f110y £3,795Tally-Ho Stud Pippiedda Aio (IRE) Redback (GB) 5 m Million At Dawn (IRE) Ity 17/2/10 Pisa 6f110y £3,008Team Valor Hasay (GB) Lomitas (GB) 3 f Saralea (FR) Gny 21/2/10 Neuss 7f110y £2,301Theakston Stud Golden Cashmere (GB) Kyllachy (GB) 3 f Kind Of Light (GB) Ity 15/2/10 Naples 5f £2,256Thoroughbred Farms Ltd Fantastic Olmo (GB) Fantastic Light (USA) 4 c Puritanical (IRE) Ity 22/2/10 Naples 1m7f £3,761Tumsich, G Arenzano (IRE) Tagula (IRE) 6 h Artesina (IRE) Ity 10/2/10 Albenga 1m3f £1,315Tumsich, G Soglio (IRE) Monashee Mountain (USA) 7 h Absintina (IRE) Ity 21/2/10 Pisa 7f110y £3,761Venner, P and Mrs A G Marning Star (GB) Diktat (GB) 5 g Mustique Dream (GB) Bah 01/1/10 Sakhir 7f £2,131Venturi, Dario Blow Up (IRE) Daggers Drawn (USA) 3 c Miss Buffy (GB) Ity 22/2/10 Naples 1m2f £5,641Villa Dosia S R L Ul Zincarlin (IRE) Definite Article (GB) 7 h Flying Petrel (USA) Ity 21/2/10 Rome 1m2f110y £5,641Weld, J Lorgan (IRE) Desert Style (IRE) 6 h Society Fair (FR) Spa 14/2/10 Dos Hermanas 1m £14,159Wertheimer et Frere Allybar (IRE) King's Best (USA) 4 c Irika (USA) Uae 05/2/10 Meydan 1m2f £55,570Wertheimer et Frere Allybar (IRE) King's Best (USA) 4 c Irika (USA) Uae 18/2/10 Meydan 1m1f110y £74,093 (Gr3)Wickfield Farm Partnership The Twelve Steps (GB) Diktat (GB) 5 g Polygueza (FR) Bah 15/1/10 Sakhir 5f £746Wilson, Capt J H Kool Katie (GB) Millkom (GB) 5 m Katie Komaite (GB) Bel 19/2/10 Mons 1m2f110y £1,327Wilson, Capt J H Kool Katie (GB) Millkom (GB) 5 m Katie Komaite (GB) Bel 05/3/10 Mons 1m2f110y £1,770Wisbey, Miss D L Gaby North (GB) Puissance 6 h Diamond Vanessa (IRE) Ity 21/2/10 Rome 7f £2,256Wood Hall Stud Limited Burning Flute (GB) Piccolo (GB) 4 c Fiamma Royale (IRE) Bah 15/1/10 Sakhir 1m £1,066Yeomanstown Lodge Stud Halicarnassus (IRE) Cape Cross (IRE) 6 h Launch Time (USA) Uae 11/2/10 Meydan 1m4f93y £64,832Zanocchio, Gabrielle Nisri di San Jore (IRE) Sri Pekan (USA) 8 h Ninna Nanna (IRE) Ity 10/2/10 Pisa 6f110y £1,692


British and Irish-bred success abroad

DATA BOOKOverseas winners

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Pony Club can inspirethe next generation Racing For Change’s drive to recruit new participants to racing should notignore those youngsters who have already shown an interest in horses

The ROA and the TBA have grasped the nettleand are actively looking for ways to makeracing attractive to a new, younger audience.The next generation of racegoers will expect

more from the experience and if we are to ensurethat the numbers prepared to invest in both racingand breeding grow, we will have to utilise everyopportunity to promote our great sport.

One investor in inspiring ‘the next generation’ isthe Pony Club. Often forgotten as the nursery formany of our top jockeys, trainers, breeders andofficials, for over 80 years this charity has ensuredthat our young riders receive a thoroughgrounding in horsemanship and care of the horse.

For many, the first real taste of the sheer joy ofriding was learned at Pony Club camp. Thestandards set were high, both for horsemanshipand discipline. Looking back, plenty of thefriendships forged there have lasted longer thanmany marriages! Encouragement was alwaysplentiful and the results are evident right across theracing and breeding industry.

Liam Treadwell, rider of last year’s GrandNational winner Mon Mome, spent many happyyears as a member of Cowdray Pony Club. He said:“It really was where the first seeds of ambition tobe a jockey came from.

“Although I had a background in racing, I stillloved going to Pony Club, especially to camp. I’vealways had a great love of sport so joining thetetrathlon team allowed me to compete in severaldisciplines. There was such camaraderie and wewere really competitive.

“The Pony Club is a great grounding for anyonewho wants to forge a career with horses. After Iwon the Grand National I went back to give a talkto the branch and it brought back such greatmemories.”

Champion jockey Ryan Moore and his brotherJamie both spent years as members of theSouthdown East Pony Club. Trainer Sheena Westattended the same branch and has also had successas a rider.

The Pony Club introduced Pony Racing as apilot scheme in 2004 and in 2006 it became anofficial discipline. This year the first instruction daywas held at Aintree racecourse, where members,parents, officials and instructors learned about thefitness of horse and rider, and raceday procedures,and had practical demonstrations from the BritishRacing School and Northern Racing College.

This is a great opportunity for young riders toget a taste of the world of racing. Otherracecourses are following this lead and will hostinstruction days later this year.

Wincanton and Exeter racecourses are eachhosting ‘Children’s Race Days’ which provide freeadmission to the racecourse on that day andprovide an opportunity to meet jockeys before andafter racing, walk the course, try out the equicizer,and generally feel part of the action.

They have also set up a Junior Jump Club tokeep the children and young people engaged overthe whole season. The Pony Club was delighted tobe included in this project and is sending 100members along.

In the not too distant future, members of clubssuch as this will become our captains of industryand will rule the Square Mile, so such foresight willpay dividends over time. Hopefully, otherracecourses will follow suit and we would love tobe included in the planning process.

There are 340 branches of the Pony Clubthroughout the UK, from the Orkneys to Land’sEnd, with 33,000 members up to the age of 23years. This is most definitely within the Racing ForChange project group’s target age group and it isclear that they all have a proven interest inequestrian sport, many at competition level.

Working together with branches, racecourseshave the potential to put together admissionpackages for their family and friends that wouldmaximize the potential of these occasions. This canhelp to achieve the aspiration to bring in newcustomers and new spending for the long termbenefit of racing.

Despite the economic recession, membershiplevels in the Pony Club in both Ireland and the UKhave held up well, demonstrating a commitment tohorses, riding and sport.

If each racecourse invited along the local branchto one meeting each year, that in itself wouldintroduce a whole new captive audience to thethrills and spills of racing.

Indeed, if the whole racing industry dedicatedone day each year to inviting Pony Club membersto join them and learn about their work, then thenext generation will be ambassadors for the sportas they go on to university, into industry and theprofessions.

Then we really will be racing ahead in the RacingFor Change stakes.

“Our memberscan becomeambassadorsfor the sport asthey go on touniversity andthe workplace”

Sheila BaileyTrustee of the Pony Cluband ROA member

YOUR SAY

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