thoroughbred owner & breeder

Thoroughbred Ow

ner & B

reeder inc Pacem

akerF

ebruary 2012

£4.95 | February 2012 | Issue 90 I n c o r p o r a t i n g

Difficult,moi?Exclusive insight intothe world of trainer Nick Williams

Plus• Betfair’s Martin Cruddace warns racing of catastrophe• Lucy Alexander: young rider making waves over jumps• Fresh faces out to impress in their first season at stud www.ownerbreeder.co.uk

Feb_90_FrontCover_new1_OwnerBreeder 19/01/2012 12:14

• ALFRED NOBEL • CANFORD CLIFFS • DANEHILL DANCER • DUKE OF MARMALADE • DYLAN THOMAS • EXCELLENT ART • FASTNET ROCK • FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND • GALILEO •• HIGH CHAPARRAL • HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR • HURRICANE RUN • MASTERCRAFTSMAN • MONTJEU • PEINTRE CELEBRE • POUR MOI • RIP VAN WINKLE • ROCK OF GIBRALTAR •

• STARSPANGLEDBANNER • STRATEGIC PRINCE • THEWAYYOUARE • YEATS • ZOFFANY •

DANEHILL DANCERTop-class at 2 winning the Phoenix S.-Gr.1 & National S.-Gr.1.A champion sire of over 130 SWs & a multiple champion 2yo sire.

Danehill Dancer’s Gr.1-winning 2yo’s include…MASTERCRAFTSMAN

4 Gr.1 wins, European champion 2yo & a Classic-winning miler.Just like the top sires Giant’s Causeway, Rock Of Gibraltar and Shamardal he wasa Gr.1-winning 2yo that also won the St. James’s Palace Stakes-Gr.1.From the family of Broad Brush & Capote, both champion sires in USA.

ALFRED NOBELTop-class at 2 winning the Phoenix S.-Gr.1 & Railway S.-Gr.2.Closely related to New Approach (European champion at 2 & 3).

Danehill Dancer’s sons at stud have already sired Gr.1 winners like…STARSPANGLEDBANNER

Champion sprinter in Europe: won Golden Jubilee S.-Gr.1 & July Cup-Gr.1.Champion sprinter in Australia: won Caulfield Guineas-Gr.1 & Oakleigh Plate-Gr.1.

Danehill Dancer is becoming a sire of siresas 2 of his first sons to stud were:

• CHOISIR, sire of Starspangledbanner (CHAMPION SPRINTER), Chandlery (GR.2 WINNING 2YO IN 2011), Stimulation, Lady Springbank, Sir Parky, Laddies Poker Two etc.

• MONSIEUR BOND, sire of Gilt Edge Girl (GR.1 WINNING SPRINTER), Hoof It (GR.1 SPRINTER IN 2011),My Name Is Bond, Ladies Are Forever, Move In Time etc.

26355_DDancer_TBOB_DPS_Feb'12:26136_CoolmoreChampions_TBOB_DPS_Jan'12 13/01/2012 15:13 Page 1

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

E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.coolmore.com All stallions nominated to EBF.

Fee: €60,000Fee: €15,000

Alfred NobelVery precocious Gr.1 winning 2yo - First foals in 2012.

Fee: €4,000

StarspangledbannerEuropean champion sprinter - First foals in 2012.

MastercraftsmanEuropean Champion 2yo - First foals in 2011 made up to €100,000.

Danehill DancerChampion sire & sire of sires.

Fee: €10,000

26355_DDancer_TBOB_DPS_Feb'12:26136_CoolmoreChampions_TBOB_DPS_Jan'12 13/01/2012 15:13 Page 2

A World Class SireChampion Two-Year-old Sire

Champion Third-Crop Sire

#1 SYnTheTiC Sire STanding in KenTuCKY

#2 Turf Sire in norTh ameriCa

#2 Sire of norTh ameriCan STaKeS winnerS wiTh 15Behind only distorted humor and tied with giant’s Causeway

LGB, LLC 2012 / Photo: Cindy Pierson Dulay

Eclipse Champion Finalist and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Winner Stephanie’s Kitten

6915 Harrodsburg Road | Nicholasville, KY 40356Phone: (859) 887-3200 | Fax: (859) 885-2666 | www.ramseyfarm.com

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

WELCOME FROM THE EDITOR

Nick Williams is not an easy man to pin downfor an interview. In February 2009, when Iwas assistant editor of this magazine, I was

asked by my former boss to arrange a meeting with theDevon trainer, who had a live Cheltenham Festivalcandidate in the shape of star hurdler Diamond Harry.So the call was made, an interview date was set, thephotographer was booked and then… Mr Williamsphoned up and informed me that it would have to becancelled because his wife wasn’t happy with the plan,on the grounds that it didn’t fit in with the yard’sworking arrangements.I was very disappointed. Firstly, for the magazine, asit would mean we wouldn’t get the article we wantedand would have to come up with another idea, andsecondly, for myself, becauseopportunities to pen featureswere few and far between for anovice writer trying to make hisway in racing journalism.Since becoming editor, I havewanted to ‘rearrange’ thefeature, and this month, threeyears late, I’m delighted to saythat we have managed to speakto Nick Williams. Or, rather,Nick and Jane Williams,because the training operation isanything but a one-man show.There are many husband-and-wife partnerships amongthe training ranks but very few, I would guess, are likeMr and Mrs Williams. Take, as an example, Jane’shandling of the sale of promising hurdler Pistolet Noirto the Paul Nicholls stable.“I sold him because I was in a strop,” she explains. “Isaid I was going to divorce Nick – because we werealways getting divorced – and I needed the money tobuy a house. I rang up Anthony Bromley and the dealwas done.”As it turned out, the decision was a good one – “hedidn’t train on and the money paid for a new block ofstables”, her husband confirms – which just goes toshow how unpredictable racing can be.While the couple clearly have their own way ofoperating, which extends to their strategy of buying

jumping yearlings from France, enabling them to escapethe huge price tags that accompany ready-madeperformers from across the Channel, a waiting list ofowners is testament to their success.Alan Lee’s exclusive piece with Nick and JaneWilliams is not to be missed. Turn to page 42 for thefull story.On the subject of unusual relationships, Betfair andBritish racing have not always seen eye-to-eye since thebetting exchange was launched in June 2000. Licensed in Gibraltar, Betfair is not obliged to pay levyon British racing bets like a high street bookmaker,although it does contribute a voluntary payment. Thequestion of whether this is sufficient has been thesubject of much debate within the sport but Martin

Cruddace, the company’s ChiefLegal and Regulatory AffairsOfficer and this month’s BigInterview (pages 49-53), isadamant that Betfair is payingenough.Cruddace goes on to say thatincreasing the levy rate of10.75% is not the answer to UKracing’s funding shortfall, andwarns that charging the bettingindustry more will provedisastrous.“Even now [bookmakers’]promotional budgets are goingto other sports that have a much

better margin,” he says. “The pressure on us toemphasise other products would greatly increase themore expensive racing becomes.“If you increase the rate of the levy, you might see ashort-term spike, but it would lead to long-termdecline.”When Cruddace goes on to reveal how racing’s shareof Betfair business has declined in the face of increasedcompetition from other sports, such as football – abetting trend seen by all the big bookmaking firms – itcertainly makes you sit up and take notice. Yet, if they were all only allowed to bet on one sport,all things being equal, would they choose football orhorseracing? I think we all know the answer to that question.

EDWARD ROSENTHAL

Finally: the interview wewaited three years to get

“It’s an unusual

operation but a

waiting list of

owners is testament

to their success”

£4.95 | February 2012 | Issue 90 I n c o r p o r a t i n g

Difficult,moi?Exclusive insight intothe world of trainer Nick Williams

Plus• Betfair’s Martin Cruddace warns racing of catastrophe• Lucy Alexander: young rider making waves over jumps• Fresh faces out to impress in their first season at stud www.ownerbreeder.co.uk

Cover: Trainer Nick Williamsrelaxes with his string duringmorning exercise in DevonPhoto: George Selwyn

3

Chief Executive: Michael HarrisEditor: Edward RosenthalBloodstock Editor: Emma BerryDesigned by: Thoroughbred Group

Editorial: First Floor, 75 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LSTel: 020 7152 0209Fax: 020 7152 0213 [email protected]

Advertising: Giles AndersonTel: 01380 816 777USA: 1 888 218 4430Fax: 01380 816 [email protected]

Subscriptions: Keely BrewerTel: 020 7152 0212Fax: 020 7152 [email protected] Owner & Breederincorporating Pacemaker can be purchasedby non-members at the following rates:

1 Year 2 YearUK £55 £90Europe £85 £135RoW £99 £154

Thoroughbred Owner & Breederincorporating Pacemaker is published by aMutual Trading Company owned jointly bythe Racehorse Owners Association andThoroughbred Breeders’ Association

The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association is a registered charity No. 1134293

Editorial views expressed in this magazineare not necessarily those of the ROA or TBA

ABC AuditedOur proven average

monthly circulation is certified by the Audit Bureau of Circulation at 10,003**Based on the period July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011

Racehorse Owners Association LtdFirst Floor, 75 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LSTel: 020 7152 0200 Fax: 020 7152 [email protected]

Thoroughbred Breeders’ AssociationStanstead House, The Avenue, Newmarket CB8 9AATel: 01638 661 321Fax: 01638 [email protected] • www.thetba.co.uk

Feb_90_Editors_Owner Breeder 19/01/2012 10:25 Page 3

4

CONTENTSFEBRUARY 2012

4238

Dick Turpin features in ourlook at the new crop ofFlat sires (pgs 54-58)

NEWS & VIEWS

7 ROA LeaderWelcome back, Mr Bittar

9 TBA LeaderNew charity is vital

11 NewsRacing+ re-launch

14 ChangesYour monthly round-up

22 Tony MorrisRacing is two distinct sports

25 James WilloughbyA tale of two nations

INTERNATIONAL SCENE

29 View From IrelandMoyglare Dinner fun

32 Continental TalesJosef Vána’s your Czech mate

35 Around The GlobeNew York’s casino windfall

FEATURES

16 The Big PictureKauto is King

26 Foundation MaresAllegretta

38 Talking To...Lucy Alexander, jump jockey

42 COVER STORYNick WilliamsTrainer and wife Jane in focus

49 The Big InterviewWith Betfair’s Legal Chief Martin Cruddace

54 New SiresFreshmen to watch

61 Breeders’ DigestTalent exported

62 Sales CircuitIn the US and Australia

66 TBA Stallion ParadeTattersalls event previewed

96 FlashbackDanoli’s Irish Hennessy

Feb_90_Contents_Contents 19/01/2012 10:21 Page 4

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49


FORUM

70 ROA ForumRichard Wayman’s first column as Chief Executive

74 TBA ForumAwards winners revealed

79 Breeder of the MonthPeter Nelson, for According To Pete

82 Next Generation ClubWelcoming new arrivals

84 Vet ForumEquine genetics

DATA BOOK

86 Caulfield FilesJapanese runners thrive in Dubai

88 European PatternResults and reviews

93 Stallion StatisticsFive sires break £3m barrier

94 Global Stakes ResultsWorldwide Group and Graded Stakes winners

10,003Can other magazines prove theirs?

Our monthly circulation is certified at

Feb_90_Contents_Contents 19/01/2012 10:21 Page 5

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F O R S A L E A S A W H O L E O R I N VA R I O U S L O T S B Y P R I VA T E T R E A T Y

P E N D L E Y F A R M & C H U R C H F A R MA superb estate comprising two highly regarded racing yards with an extensive range of buildings

and training facilities lying in beautiful and peaceful Chiltern Hills countryside.

Peter Harris developed this very successful training and breeding yard from a permit trainer over the jumps with great successes includingAcarine, moving to a Public trainer in 1988. Concentrating on flat racing he introduced the ‘all-inclusive’ partnership plan which enabled a

new type of ownership. He went on to train a list winners in groups 1, 2, 3, listed and major handicaps.

Pendley Farm, Tring, Hertfordshire! A commanding Georgian residence set in beautiful parkland ! Extensive range of well-maintained buildings ! Circa 133 acres ! 66 stables ! Self-contained granny annex ! Exclusive five and a half furlong gallop

Church Farm, Aldbury, Hertfordshire! An extensive range of traditional brick buildings and modern timber stables ! Impressive Owners’ Reception building ! Circa 308 acres

! Westlands Farm extending to 28.38 acres and comprising a self-contained outlying equestrian unit with bungalow, six stables and permanent pasture ! Two detached cottages ! Seven flats for stable staff ! Well maintained gallops for the exclusive use of the yard ! 50 plus stables

Contact:Tel: 01442 870444 | Adrian Cole | [email protected] | or Josie Brown | [email protected]

JB0002_TOandBreederAdvert_Layout 1 13/01/2012 15:10 Page 1

ROA LEADER

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER 7

Dear Paul,

Welcome back to British horseracing.

I am, of course, aware that you worked for the BHB between2004-2005, so the unusual characteristics of the Britishracing industry are not lost on you.From your time here you will appreciate that, whatever

problems you faced when working in both Australian andNew Zealand racing, they are unlikely to compare with thoseof our complicated, factionalised, betting operator-orientatedindustry. But, then, your old friend and countryman GregNichols, as a former BHB Chief Executive, would have leftyou in no doubt about that.First, though, we need to be

positive. It’s a real plus that you’rea racing man with an obviouspassion for the sport. As such, youwill be familiar with the heritageand tradition of British racing,showcased by our major races andfestival meetings. I am sure youappreciate that, whatever ourfunding problems, our qualityracing, with its well-deservedinternational reputation, is rightlyadmired throughout the world. May I say you made a positive

impression when you visited theUK in November and owners were pleased with your effortsin trying to help with the whip dispute. The fact that you areclearly good at getting on with people and have beeninvolved in racing administration no doubt underlines yoursuitability for this job – though there does, as you know,remain a fundamental question mark over exactly what thejob is. In my view, the ‘job’ is the governance andadministration of the BHA. As we all know, the OFT decreedthat commercial matters cannot be part of the BHA’s remit.In addition, you probably don’t want to be reminded of

the fact that, while British racing administration alwaysseems to be in a state of flux, it is particularly the case at themoment. There are doubts whether the so-called restructureof the industry is going to proceed and whether the levysystem can be replaced by a scheme acceptable to bothgovernment and racing, not to mention betting operators.

If the restructure does happen, it will mean we have aclear system where the commercial side of racing is based onan agreement between the horsemen and racecourses. Eitherway, the BHA is in the position of a regulator.Anyway, I’m sure you’re looking forward to getting stuck

into the BHA budget, which I understand is going to be yourfirst big task. It’s just as well you’re a qualified accountantbecause the BHA shareholders have big expectations of yourexpenditure review and I, in particular, hope that you aregoing to take a ‘blank piece of paper’ approach, where everyitem of expenditure in the budget is questioned. Integrity standards are, of course, crucial but it will come

as no surprise to hear that owners are angry with the BHA’songoing gigantic budget (£29 million) particularly when,

yet again, the BHA has suggestedfunding shortfalls in this budget byincreasing charges to owners.Forgive me for bringing this up

again, but you’ve already beentaken to task for suggesting thebetting industry here makes thebiggest financial contribution toBritish racing when it is, of course,owners who are by far the biggestcontributors. I’m sure you nowunderstand how this jarred,especially when you consider thedamaging lack of prize-money andthe extent to which the betting

industry’s contribution to racing has declined in recent years.Owners may be prepared to remain open-minded

towards a ‘new broom’ approach at the BHA for a limitedperiod and I, personally, am prepared to take a consideredview on your apparent determination to work with thebetting industry provided we see positive results. However,timing is of the essence and, with your background, we canonly hope to see the signs of success in the immediate future.

With best possible wishes.

Yours,

RACHEL HOOD PresidentRacehorse Owners Association

Welcome back, Paul;hard work starts now An open letter to Paul Bittar, the new Chief Executive of the BHA

“British racing

administration is in

a state of flux over

industry restructure

and the levy”

Feb_90_ROA_Leader_Layout 1 19/01/2012 10:27 Page 7

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ��

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �

TBA LEADER


The racing industry is challenged with a very tighttimeframe to comply with the government’srequirement to establish a charity by March in

order to receive a percentage of the first of five tranches of£10 million each in net proceeds from the sale of the Tote.I wish the BHA every success in meeting this deadline.With the exception of the obvious financial year end,

one wonders why the notice period given by theDepartment of Culture, Media and Sport is so short, whenthe same department extended, on more than oneoccasion, the procedure for managing the sale of the Tote.The TBA Board has offered the TBA’s charitable status,

which allows it to collect and distribute funding to thesame recipient profile (thoseassociated with horseracing,breeding, veterinary science andwelfare), as a distribution vehicleshould the BHA’s own newRacing Foundation Charity fail tomeet this deadline. Naturally, thepreferred route must be for theBHA to establish its own charity,but from experience of the TBA’sown recent restructuring, this canbe a far longer process thanoriginally imagined. Surely, after the far from

satisfactory outcome of the Totesale, racing must mobilise itself to ensure that we do notscore another own-goal, albeit of the government’s making,by missing the deadline for creating a charity throughwhich to distribute funds. If we lose the opportunity tosecure the first release of funds in 2012 as a result ofbureaucratic requirements, this would be a disaster, notonly financially but also for the BHA’s reputation.It is essential that the process for inviting and processing

grant applications for the charitable funds is dealt with ina transparent and timely manner. The TBA intends tosubmit an application for charitable funding in support ofthe thoroughbred and would, naturally, like to see supportfor a number of deserving causes, not least for welfare,training and veterinary research. However, there is a need to ensure that while the process

of providing new support for racing’s charities is most

welcome, this short-term gain does not compromise thelonger-term future of other levy expenditure headings. Thisincludes veterinary research and training, which rely onthe Levy Board’s support. It is not a case of simplyremoving them from the list of Levy Board obligations inorder to strengthen its contribution to prize-money. Wemust put safeguards in place to ensure that these vitalservices continue to receive direct attention and are notcompromised by the attraction of new short-term funding.In the inevitable surge of interest in securing new

charitable funds, one issue that must not be allowed toescape our gaze is who are the likely recipients of the non-charitable element and what percentage of the £10m per

annum release will be allocated tothis sector? The potential for conflicts of

interest for the trustees is notinconsiderable and, on carefulexamination of the criteria forgrant applicants for the non-charitable awards, there ispotential for this funding also toprovide direct benefit to membersof the Horsemen’s Group. Ofcourse, the picture could bedifferent if the levy replacementdiscussions with the samegovernment department proceed

apace. But who within the racing and the bookmakingindustries will have an appetite to ensure the son of levywill inherit the rightful responsibilities of its father? One thing is for sure, we need to protect the interest of

the horse throughout these negotiations and the TBA,through the Horsemen’s Group’s rightful influence in thesenegotiations, will be minded to follow this closely. Thehorsemen have an important role to play. Our membersprovide the racing product and, crucially, the Horsemen’sGroup’s co-operation will be essential for the levyreplacement discussions to come to fruition.My name has been submitted for consideration for one

of the trustee’s positions on the eventual RacingFoundation Charity. If appointed, my priorities will focuson working to ensure that the horse, and those that careand nurture him, are the real beneficiaries of this exercise.

KIRSTEN RAUSING Chairman Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association

The racing industry mustnot miss funding deadlineTBA charitable status can help as collection and distribution mechanism

“If we lose the

opportunity to secure

the first release of funds

from the Tote sale it

would be a disaster”

Feb_90_TBA_Leader_TBA 19/01/2012 10:28 Page 9

In the Driving Seat...

TAMAYUZ First crop yearlings by the dual Gr.1 winning miler from the same production line as

GALILEO and SEA THE STARS made up to €170,000 and averaged over €70,000 in 2011.

AMONGST THOSE STEERING THEIR CAREERS AS 2YOS THIS YEAR WILL BE: Freddie Head (4), Richard Hannon (3), Kevin Prendergast (3), John Dunlop, Jean-Claude Rouget, Tim Easterby, Brian Meehan, William Haggas, John Gosden, Amanda Perrett, Charlie Hills, Gary Moore, John Hammond, etc.

Fee: €15,000 (1st. January SLF)

D R I V E N T O S U C C E E D

Maynooth, Co Kildare, Ireland • +353 (0)1 6286228 • [email protected] • www.derrinstown.com

Derrinstown

Tamayuz OwnerBreeder Feb12.indd 1 17/1/12 17:08:35


NEWSS t o r i e s f r o m t h e r a c i n g w o r l d

Frankie Dettori is fronting a ‘Save ItalianRacing’ campaign to highlight the plight ofthe sport in his native land.

The campaign has gained suchmomentum that the ‘Save Italian Racing’Facebook page now has over 4,000members.

As we reported in the Continental Talescolumn of our January edition, austeritycuts mean that Italian prize-money is setto be slashed in the coming months.

The situation deteriorated at the turn ofthe year, with a strike by both the racingand trotting industries meaning that there

was no racing of any kind for the first threeweeks in January.

Strike action reached its zenith whenloud bangs (possibly fireworks accordingto a local reporter) went off during a 600-strong protest outside the Italianparliament in Rome on January 12. No onewas hurt in the incident.

At the time of going to press, latestindications suggested that total prize-money available for racing (Flat and jumpcombined) for 2012 would be around€37.5 million (£31.25m) – a drop of 28%on the €52.25m (£45m) paid out in 2011.

Weekly newspaper Racing+ has replaced theRacing Post as sponsor of Kempton’sprestigious three-mile chase on Saturday,February 25, and that will coincide with thepublication’s re-launch as Racing Plus undernew editor Chris Smith.

Racing+, which is produced on Saturdaysand also daily for Royal Ascot and theCheltenham and Aintree festivals, has beenin existence for four years and has acirculation of around 12,000. RacecourseMedia Group, the parent company ofRacing UK, recently bought a significantstake in Racing+, whose majority owner isformer Norwich City footballer Lee Power.

Smith, former editor of the Racing Post,has been brought in to smarten the paperup and improve the look of the title, whichcosts £1.20 and covers mostly betting andform, with races listed in time order.

“We’re dipping our toe in the water andseeing what happens,” said Smith. “There’sno immediate target in terms of increasedsales but we’d like to appeal to The Sun orMirror reader who likes racing and doesn’twant to spend £2 on a Racing Post.

“In four years the paper has existedwithout any real marketing and the plan isto give it an advertising push; we’re alsodeveloping our online presence.

“The re-design will see a different look tothe form section but the racecards in timeorder will stay the same – it actually worksfantastically well, especially when you want

to follow the action on television.”Smith said that Racing+ was unlikely to

consider more frequent publication ortargeting the bookmaker betting sheetmarket in the short-term, but did not ruleout either in the future.

He added: “Of course we would like tobroaden the circulation but a daily

newspaper is a completely different thing,requiring a much bigger staff.

“We will try to make Racing+ moreattractive to people with a deeperknowledge of the sport and we’ll have somenews items but we’re not going to includelots of industry stories or bloodstockcoverage.”

Racing+ aiming to broaden its readershipNewspaper takes over Kempton three-mile chase sponsorship from the Racing Post

Desert Orchid lands the 1990 Racing Post Chase – now the Racing Plus Chase

Familiar face fronts the campaign

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Dettori draws attention to Italian racing’s plight

Feb_90_News2_Owner 19/01/2012 10:44 Page 11

The story of the World ThoroughbredRankings 2011, unveiled in London onJanuary 10, was not that Frankel topped thechart but that he led the way with a rating of136.

“Not enough” cried many pundits, while,significantly, racing’s foremost historian JohnRandall, not known for jumping onhyperbole bandwagons, reckons Frankel isundervalued by 136, a rating he described as“almost an insult”.

Frankel was rated by the internationalhandicappers the equal of Sea The Stars,although as well as winning the Guineas likeFrankel, the star of 2009 also won the Derby,Eclipse, International, Irish Champion andArc, so arguably achieved much more thanFrankel during his Classic year.

Sea The Stars would have rated higher had he stormed clear of his opponents in his races, but his biggest winning margin in eight victories was two and a half lengths.

Conversely, Frankel won four of his fiveraces in 2011 by an aggregate 19 lengths – theother was his three-quarter length beating ofZoffany at Royal Ascot.

He raced exclusively at a mile in Britain lastyear. Should he demolish his opponents overlonger trips in 2012, and step out of hisgeographic comfort zone, there is everychance he will rate higher.

As things stand he is joint-eighth amongthe best European Flat horses since theestablishment of the internationalclassifications in 1977 – Dancing Brave (141)is the benchmark, although the BHA’shandicappers have pointed out that ratingswere more favourable in past years.

Australia’s sprint star Black Caviar was nextbest in 2011 on a mark of 132, which madeher the highest-rated mare since the rankings

started. Australian racing officials lauded thefact that 47 of the nation’s racehorses wereamong the 351 horses who achieved a world

ranking of 115 or more, up from nine in the2004 classifications.

Shifting the other way was the UnitedStates, the appropriately named Frank Angstpointing out on thoroughbredtimes.com that“the rankings did not look favourably onNorth American racing in 2011 as NorthAmerican-based horses were shut out of thetop ten.”

Thoroughbred Owner & Breedercolumnist James Willoughby feels the decline of US horses in the rankings issymptomatic of deeper problems within the American industry, whilst observing that horses from Japan are going the otherway and set to take higher rank in the future.Read James Willoughby’s take on the WorldThoroughbred Rankings, page 25

Eamonn Wilmott: behind the scheme

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER12

NEWS

Was Frankel undervalued by 136 rating?

Lease your way to success with new club

Frankel’s rating was subject of much discussion when the 2011 rankings were unveiled

A new race club is on the search for a high-classFlat horse to lease for one year – and is preparedto pay £15,000 for the right one.

The club’s leasing process will be handled byEamonn Wilmott, Managing Director of HorsesFirst Racing, whose horses are based withJeremy Gask.

Wilmott said: “In these challenging economictimes and with prize-money even for Patternraces the way it is, I think this offer could hold

particular appeal for those looking to get blacktype into their racemares.

“When you include the cost of training andracing a horse over the year, you wouldprobably need to win £50,000 in prize-moneyto better the guaranteed offer on the table – andthat is no mean feat, even for the type of horseswe are looking for.”

For more information on the club [email protected]

2011 World ThoroughbredRankings (top ten)

Horse Nation RatingFrankel Britain 136Black Caviar Australia 132Cirrus Des Aigles France 128Danedream Germany 128Canford Cliffs Britain 127Rewilding Britain 127Dream Ahead Britain 126Excelebration Britain 126Nathaniel Britain 126So You Think Ireland 126

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Feb_90_News2_Owner 19/01/2012 10:44 Page 12

Harbour Watch rated top 2yo by Timeform

Makfi back

FIRST VICTORIES

New website for Pearl Bloodstock

Harbour Watch was rated the top European two-year-old by Timeform in their Racehorses of 2011 publication.

Rated 121P, this unbeaten Acclamation colt was the impressive winner of the Richmond Stakes (Gr.2) at Goodwood last year for trainer Richard Hannon, and is one of the favourites for the QIPCO-sponsored 2,000 Guineas in May.

A half-share was purchased for Qatar Bloodstock prior to his Goodwood victory,

Makfi returned to Tweenhills in January from Westbury Stud in New Zealand looking in top form having covered a full book of 100 mares.

These included the dam of dual Gr.1 winner Tavistock, half-sisters to the 8-time Gr.1 winner Mufhasa and dual Gr.1 winner Lotteria, as well as the Gr.1 sprinter Bella Renza, Illuminates, a winner of 10 Stakes races, and Tapildo, a dual Gr.1 winner including the NZ Oaks.

Pearl Bloodstock achieved notable ‘first-time’ victories in January. Proud Pearl won her maiden at Laurel in impressive fashion, giving Pearl Bloodstock its first winner in USA. A full-sister to Champion three-year-old filly Proud Spell she has an exciting future Stateside. Also Vulcanite now heads to Cheltenham following his comfortable 7l win over hurdles at Southwell, Pearl Bloodstock’s first victory over jumps.

Pearl Bloodstock will have over 50 horses in training in 2012, including exciting prospective three-year-olds such as Gr.1 winner Lightening Pearl, as well as Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden and 30 two-year-olds. In addition, Classic contenders Strong Suit and Harbour Watch will be running under Qatar Bloodstock’s colours.

To find out more on the horses and their trainers visit Pearl Bloodstock’s new website at www.pearlbloodstock.com

but he will continue to run in the colours of Sheikh Fahad Al Thani’s new partner and original owner Robin Heffer.

TWEENHILLS TIMESFebruary 2012

Tweenhills Farm & Stud Hartpury, Gloucestershire, GL19 3BG W: www.tweenhills.comT: + 44 (0) 1452 700177 / 700545 M: + 44 (0) 7767 436373 E: [email protected]

AN EYE FOR SUCCESS

Timeform’s top 2yo Harbour Watch winning the Richmond Stakes (Gr.2) at Goodwood

What did you do before joining Tweenhills?

Before joining Tweenhills a year ago I’d worked at Templeton Stud for two years preparing yearlings for the sales. Prior to that I’ve been with Arrowfield Stud in Australia and Newsells Park Stud after graduating from the National Stud Diploma Course.

What was the appeal of Tweenhills?

The opportunity to look after such a high profile stallion as Makfi,

STAFF PROFILESam Imrie, Stallions and Sales

and working for an up and coming stud with a great new client.

Most rewarding moment?

Leading up Ventura and a Sea The Stars foal recently at Tattersalls, who made 900,000gns and 340,000gns respectively. And I look forward to following the foal Ventura is due to have by Makfi.

Other interests?

My 19 month old daughter and a baby on the way keep me busy enough.

Future ambitions?

To manage a stud or possibly get my own place, quite different from my initial ambition on leaving school which was to join the army!

Harbour Watch has been trotting for a few weeks and will soon

start cantering. He is sound and very well, and at this stage we are very happy with him.Richard Hannon Jnr

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PEOPLE AND BUSINESSRichard Burton Britain’s most successful point-to-point rider and leading amateur retires from the saddle aged 35 to focus on his business selling equestrian propertiesBertrand Belinguier Former PMU Director General is elected President of France Galop on a four-year term; the 69-year-old replaces Edouard de Rothschild in the hot seatRyan Mania Jump jockey, 22, who quit in the summer of 2011 following Howard Johnson’s disqualification returns to race-ridingSulekha Varma Cardiff-born 26-year-old becomes Clerk of the Course at Huntingdon and Warwick after two years at Nottingham and Market RasenRiding fee Increases by 3% to £112.37 (Flat) and £153.42 (jumps) per race after agreement by Racehorse Owners Association and Professional Jockeys Association Dr Barry Johnson Former vet to Jack Berry becomes Chairman of World Horse Welfare, replacing Christopher HallSheikh Mohammed Gifts two colts by Street Cry to the Queen, having sent Her Majesty 2011 Derby third Carlton House by the same sireDenise Coates Founder and joint Chief Executive of bet365 is made CBE in the New Year’s Honours List; Grundy’s trainer Peter Walwyn is made an MBEMark Bradburne Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey calls time on riding career aged 35 in order to concentrate on his electrician business and being a jockeys’ coachBHA Will reduce administration costs by 5% in 2012 with directors setting a budget of £29 million, although it increases all licence/registration fees by 2.5% Sean Flanagan Jump jockey, 23, quits riding in Britain after lack of success with Evan Williams’s stable and returns to Ireland with the hope of continuing careerBarney Curley Legendary punter/trainer scales down training operation and rents out half of his Newmarket yard to new handler John ButlerCoral Firm soon to relocate to Stratford in London aims to raise more than £500,000 for Macmillan Cancer Research in 2012

RACEHORSE AND STALLION – MOVEMENTS AND RETIREMENTS Madison Du Berlais David Pipe-trained chaser, whose wins included the Hennessy Gold Cup and Totesport Bowl at Aintree during the 2008/09 season, is retired aged tenSahpresa Triple winner of the Sun Chariot Stakes for trainer Rod Collet is retired aged six to owner Teruya Yoshida’s Shadai Farm in JapanLibrettist Sire of Group 2 winner Libranno moves from Haras du Logis in France to Allevamento Fattoria di Renaccino in Italy; his fee is €3,500Planteur High-class middle-distance performer in France, winner of the Group 1 Prix Ganay last year, joins Marco Botti from Elie Lellouche Buena Vista Exceptional Japanese mare, winner of six Grade 1s and over £10m in prize-money, is retired aged five and is set to be covered by King KamehamehaMister McGoldrick Popular chaser for the Sue Smith stable is retired aged 14 after career which yielded 15 wins and more than £370,000 in earningsAwzaan Son of Alhaarth, winner of the 2009 Middle Park Stakes for Hamdan Al Maktoum, is retired to stand at Haras Cuatro Piedras in Progreso, UruguayDon’t Push It Chaser who gave AP McCoy, Jonjo O’Neill and JP McManus their first wins in the Grand National in 2010 is retired aged 12 Ice Box Runner-up in the 2010 Kentucky Derby joins Cactus Ridge at Calumet Farm in Kentucky; the five-year-old son of Pulpit will stand at a fee of $7,500 Sarafina Classic-winning daughter of Refuse To Bend sold privately by the Aga Khan to Teruya Yoshida; the triple Group 1 scorer will visit Deep Impact at stud

PEOPLE OBITUARIES AGE

Michael O’Brien 68 Leading Irish jumps trainer for more than 30 years whose big-race haul included three Irish Grand Nationals and a Hennessy Gold CupRoger Fisher 69 Trainer of talented hurdler Ekbalco and tough sprinter Beckermet who came into racing after working in the chemical industryBarrie Cope 74 Well-known figure on racecourses in the south of England with his seafood catering businessJo Winter 54 Former amateur jockey who ran a pre-training livery yard in Oxfordshire and was the daughter of the late Fred WinterRon Hemmings 77 Bookmaker for more than three decades who was Racing and Trading Director and then Operations Director with CoralTheo Howe 82 Much-respected jumps trainer in Australia who also saddled high-class Flat performer and dual Group 1 winner King PhoenixKarl-Heinz Munchow 89 Leading owner/breeder in Germany, he won the 1964 German 2,000 Guineas with Dschingis Khan, sire of triple crown winner Konigsstuhl

HORSE OBITUARIES AGE

Bering 28 Top-class colt, winner of the French Derby and runner-up to Dancing Brave in the Arc in 1986, who sired Pennekamp and American Post See You Then 31 Brilliant hurdler for trainer Nicky Henderson, winning the Champion Hurdle three years in a row in the 1980s partnered by Steve Smith Eccles Golden Silver 9 High-class two-mile chaser for the Willie Mullins stable, winning three Grade 1s including the 2010 Champion Chase at PunchestownSuny Bay 22 Popular grey chaser who was the winner of the 1997 Hennessy Gold Cup and runner-up in two Grand Nationals for owner Andrew CohenHidden Keel 7 Talented novice chaser for trainer Charlie Longsdon who was set to line up at the Cheltenham FestivalStrike The Gold 23 Son of Alydar trained by Nick Zito who won the 1991 Kentucky Derby and had stood at stud in Turkey since 1998 Highland Valley 6 Promising hurdler for the Emma Lavelle yard, winner of three races and thought of as a future Grand National candidateEcho Of Light 10 Son of Dubai Millennium whose first two-year-olds ran in 2011 and who had been standing at Kildangan Stud in Ireland Rock And Roll Kid 6 Tony Mullins-trained gelding whose biggest win came in the extended mile handicap at the 2009 Galway festivalFath 15 Son of Danzig, winner of the 2001 Lennox Stakes, dies of a snake bite while standing at stud in Western AustraliaHeart Of Joy 25 Daughter of Lypheor owned by John Mabee who was runner-up in both the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas in 1990Chichicastenango 14 Group 1-winning son of Smadoun who is the sire of Vision d’Etat, winner of the French Derby, Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Hong Kong CupUrgent Request 22 Son of Rainbow Quest who beat Cezanne in the 1994 Rose of Lancaster Stakes and claimed the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap a year later

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Feb_90_Changes_Layout 1 19/01/2012 10:44 Page 14

Brian O’Rourke 07789 508157Rachael Gowland 01638 675929Rob Stapleton 07717 558766

2012 FEE: £7,000 1ST OCTOBERBy ARAKAN x MERRILY (Sharrood)

Dual Gr.1 winning miler rated 127

“Dick Turpin proved to be one of the toughest and most consistent milers of his generation…”

A Group winner at 2, 3 and 4 years old

Standing at ! e National Stud, Newmarket for 2012

D I C K T U R P I NN

EW

FO

R 2

012

“He won that REALLY EASILYand is a VERY GOOD HORSE... Richard Hannon (Trainer) 04/07/11 Chantilly a! er winning the Prix Jean Prat Gr.1

“Dick Turpin has WON AT EVERY LEVEL during his racing career and being a Gr.2 winning 2 year old should mean he really appeals to commercial and home breeders alike. We always thought a lot of

him at home and he has PROVED HIS CLASS on the racecourse time and time again. He was a genuine racehorse with a great turn of foot that served him well in both of his Gr.1 victories.” Richard Hannon (Classic winning trainer)

T H E B I G P I C T U R E

Feb_90_Big_PictureV2_Owner Breeder 19/01/2012 10:40 Page 16

Better than Arkle? Maybe not, but Kauto Star cemented his position as the bestchaser since ‘Himself’ with a fifth victory in the King George VI Chase atKempton under Ruby Walsh. The evergreen 12-year-old will now bid to win histhird Cheltenham Gold Cup in March – and who would bet against him?

Photo George Selwyn

King KautoK I N G G E O R G E V I C H A S E

Feb_90_Big_PictureV2_Owner Breeder 19/01/2012 10:40 Page 17

C O C K N E Y R E B E L2012 FEE: £4,000 NFFR !1ST OCTOBER"

INCREDIBLE VALUE FOR MONEY: 43% winners/ runners strike rate (Racing Post, December 2011),

higher than other ! rst season sires including Excellent Art, Lawman, Sir Percy, Dylan " omas and Teo! lio

T H E C O M P L E T E P A C K A G ET H E C O M P L E T E P A C KT H E C O M P L E T E P A C K A G ES T A L L I O N S AT O U T S T A N D I N G V A L U E F O R 2 0 1 2

BAHAMIAN BOUNTY by Cadeaux Genereux - ClarentiaSire of 2011 stakes performers BOGART, FAREER and BOUNTY BOX

and producer of yearling averages over £22,000 for the last 8 years 2012 Fee: £8,500 1st October

COCKNEY REBEL by Val Royal - Factice43% winners/ runners with his ! rst crop of 2 year olds

2012 Fee: £4,000 NFFR (1st October)

DICK TURPIN by Arakan - MerrilyDual Gr.1 winning miler - NEW for 2012

2012 Fee: £7,000 1st October

PASTORAL PURSUITS by Bahamian Bounty - StarSire of the winners of 105 races and over

£1.1million in prize money in his ! rst 3 crops 2012 Fee: £6,500 1st October

e: [email protected]

F U L L B O A R D I N G S E R V I C E SFoaling, Permanent Boarding & Seasonal Boarding

S A L E S C O N S I G N M E N T S AT A L L M A J O R U K S A L E SSales Preparation, Spellers & Temporary Boarding



C O C K N E Y R E B E L2012 FEE: £4,000 NFFR !1ST OCTOBER"

INCREDIBLE VALUE FOR MONEY: 43% winners/ runners strike rate (Racing Post, December 2011),

higher than other ! rst season sires including Excellent Art, Lawman, Sir Percy, Dylan " omas and Teo! lio

T H E C O M P L E T E P A C K A G E

S T A L L I O N S AT O U T S T A N D I N G V A L U E F O R 2 0 1 2BAHAMIAN BOUNTY by Cadeaux Genereux - Clarentia

Sire of 2011 stakes performers BOGART, FAREER and BOUNTY BOX and producer of yearling averages over £22,000 for the last 8 years


COCKNEY REBEL by Val Royal - Factice43% winners/ runners with his ! rst crop of 2 year olds

2012 Fee: £4,000 NFFR (1st October)

DICK TURPIN by Arakan - MerrilyDual Gr.1 winning miler - NEW for 2012


PASTORAL PURSUITS by Bahamian Bounty - StarSire of the winners of 105 races and over

£1.1million in prize money in his ! rst 3 crops 2012 Fee: £6,500 1st October


F U L L B O A R D I N G S E R V I C E SFoaling, Permanent Boarding & Seasonal Boarding

S A L E S C O N S I G N M E N T S AT A L L M A J O R U K S A L E SSales Preparation, Spellers & Temporary Boarding



P A S T O R A L P U R S U I T S2012 FEE: £6,500 1ST OCTOBERSire of Group winners and Gr.1 performers, sales race winners, Royal Ascot winners and Listed winners in his ! rst 3 crops.

B A H A M I A N B O U N T Y2012 FEE: £8,500 1ST OCTOBER“I am a big fan of Bahamian Bounty and an even bigger one a" er this year having Bogart! He is a good source of 2 year old winners year in, year out.” Kevin Ryan, Gr.1 winning trainer


BAHA

MIAN

BOU

NTY

PAST

ORAL

PUR

SUIT

S

When I became a racing journalistin 1963, I was very conscious ofthe fact that I was becoming

involved with two very different sports. Onewas Flat racing, conducted between lateMarch and early November, and the otherwas National Hunt racing, which ranbetween August and April. If I had neededconfirmation that they were different, the factthat the former was regulated by the JockeyClub and the latter by the National HuntCommittee established it beyond doubt.It made perfect sense that there were

separate regulatory bodies for two sports sofundamentally different that one requiredcompetitors to face obstacles in the course oftheir journey while the other did not. Flatracing was a totally professional sport, alliedto a significant breeding industry, whileNational Hunt racing still included a largeamateur element, much of it from a farming,hunting and point-to-point background.There was obviously some crossover, in

that a minority of horses competed underboth rules, a minority of owners and trainerswere involved in both spheres, and therewere a few – a very few – jockeys who pliedtheir trade in both. Some members of theJockey Club were also members of theNational Hunt Committee, but among themit was a rare one who gave a significantcommitment to both Flat and jumping.

‘The illegitimate sport’That had been the situation since the 1860s,when the growth of what was familiarlyknown as ‘the illegitimate sport’ resulted inthe formation of the National HuntCommittee, and the arrangement stood thetest of time for just over a century. In 1969 itwas ended. Someone, applying false logic,determined that in the final analysis all racingwas racing, so that one regulatory bodyshould suffice; the National Hunt Committeedisappeared, subsumed by the Jockey Club.Of course, there have been a few more

changes since that one. Now we have aJockey Club which has no regulatory powersand has been transformed into an estatemanagement company, specialising in theownership of racecourses. Governance of thetwin sports passed first to the HorseracingRegulatory Authority, then the BritishHorseracing Board (or was it the other wayaround?), and most recently, in 2007, to theBritish Horseracing Authority.Among the other significant changes to the

status quo I’ve seen are the arrivals of Sundayracing and all-weather racing, and an end tothose traditional seasons. There is racing ofsome sort scheduled on every day of the yearapart from Good Friday, Christmas Day andthe couple of days before, and both sportshave a 12-month season without a break.The Flat season operates for the full

calendar year, beginning on January 1 andending on December 31, despite the fact thatthe BHA now chooses to disregard largechunks of it in determining thechampionships for trainers and jockeys. The

insanity of that decision has been wellillustrated by the facts that in one yearDettori was proclaimed champion althoughFallon had ridden more winners, and inanother Sanders and Spencer dead-heatedfor the title, although Sanders was the truewinner by a wide margin. I’m never quite sure now when the

National Hunt season begins and ends, but Ido know that the new one starts a day afterthe arbitrary date set for the conclusion of theold one. In truth it scarcely matters what dateis chosen and there may well be a case forswitching to a January 1-December 31season; wouldn’t the King George VI Chaseon Boxing Day provide an appropriate climaxto the campaign?But you can bet your life that that’s one

thing that won’t be changed. National Huntracing has proved immune to the folk fromRacing For Change, who clearly side with myview that it is a different sport, because theyhave left it alone, concentrating theirattention on the Flat.


Isn’t all racing the same? Not at all: the National Hunt scene and the Flat are two distinctand separate sports, which produce vastly different experiences for the viewing public

THE MAN YOU CAN’T IGNORECOMMENT

Tony Morris

Amateurs such as Sam Waley-Cohen, above on Long Run, are integral to jump racing

GEO

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Feb_90_Tony_Morris_Owner 19/01/2012 10:55 Page 22

While they have been so eager to revamp the Flat racing scene, themodernisers have decided that jump racing is not in need of change.And it is easy to understand why. It is still essentially the same sportthat I described when referring to the scenario of half a century ago.It still features a significant amateur element and remains closelyallied to farming, hunting and point-to-point racing. It is a countrypursuit, chiefly involving those brought up in the country, wherehorses may still be seen. And it is a relatively parochial one, of littleor no importance anywhere aside from Britain, Ireland and France.

Global appeal of the FlatIt is a very different sport from Flat racing, which has global appeal,is intensely competitive in consequence and is linked to a multi-billion pound breeding industry. National Hunt racing is, first andforemost, a medium of entertainment, whereas Flat racing is thatand a whole lot more besides. While some people profess to enjoyboth sports equally, most would surely express a preference for oneor the other, because the experiences are very different.

There was a time when Flat racing held sway as both the Sport ofKings and the king of sports, but that hasn’t been the way of thingssince football, cricket, tennis and a host of other pastimes in whichit is easy to participate, rather than just watch, came along. It is nowa minority-interest sport and inevitably so in an era when mostpeople are brought up in towns, where they never see a horse.

In my time as a racegoer four major English conurbations havelost their Flat racecourses: London (Alexandra Park), Birmingham,Manchester and Liverpool all fell by the wayside, unregretted by thelocals who had an abundance of alternative and presumablypreferable pursuits to support. If huge towns like those failed tosupport a Flat racecourse, and other densely populated areas such

as Sheffield, Leedsand Bristol havealways shunned thesport, just whywould anyoneimagine that thepotential exists torecruit thousands ofthe uninterested andinspire them todevelop a passionfor the sport?

Is it possible tocredit that last year’screation of theBritish Champions’

Series converted any non-believers into regular racegoers?It is just possible that Frankel, by dint of brilliance that attracted

attention in the wider media, may have alerted a few of theuninitiated to the fact that racing, like other sports, can produce asuperstar, but he would have done that without the sheercoincidence of the British Champions’ Series.

To my mind, the actions of Racing For Change to this point havealienated us. We don’t object to change – we’ve seen and welcomedplenty of changes over the years – but those changes have evolvednaturally rather than been imposed on us by marketing folk whohave little or no respect for the traditions in racing and scantappreciation of the racegoing experience.

Racing For Change should have treated Flat racing just as it hastreated National Hunt racing, i.e. left well alone. Of course, thatwould have meant they did nothing at all. That would have beenfine by me.


“Jump racing is firstand foremost aboutentertainment; theFlat is that and awhole lot more”

From the great Sadler’s Wells stallion line

Classic bloodlines and a proven sire at a reasonable price

TOBOUGGGr.1 proven sire

DOUBLE TRIGGERSuccessful NH sire

Proven sire of the winners of 350 flat races and 27 Stakes performers, including Gr.1 The Pooka and Gr.2 winners Penny’s Gift and Barside. Best NH progeny include Gr.2 Hurdle winner and multiple Graded placed Bouggler, Gr.3 Chase winner Save My Blushes and Gr.2 Hurdle placed Shalone.

Sire of multiple NH winners including Russian Trigger (5 wins, L Midlands Grand National Ch), Faltering Fullback (5 wins), Double Dizzy (3 wins, 2nd Gr.1 Novice Ch), Solway Sam (5 wins), Trigger the Light (4 wins), Swincombe Rock (3 wins), Triggerman (4 wins), Gold Reef (3 wins), etc.

Gr.1 Champion 2yo and Gr.1 3yo. By a dual Gr.1 winner out of a dual Gr.1 winner.

“We have always been a big fan of Tobougg’s progeny from early on and we were lucky enough to buy Penny’s Gift, his Classic winning daughter. They are good looking, tough horses that we would always consider buying at the sales.” Peter Doyle

“I have trained several horses by Double Trigger over the past few seasons. They have been tough individuals and each one has been successful.” Alan King

STUD FEE: £2,500 1st October SLF (No Groom’s Fee)

Clarendon Farm Teffont Nr Salisbury Wiltshire SP3 5QU

Contact: John HaydonT: + 44 (0) 1722 716107 M: + 44 (0) 7970 019172 www.clarendonfarm.com

FARMCLARENDON

Champion European Stayer as a 4yo, Classic Winner as a 3yo, Listed 2yo winner.

STUD FEE: £1,750 1st October (No Groom’s Fee)

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Feb_90_Tony_Morris_Owner 19/01/2012 10:55 Page 23

George Lambert (circa 1700-1765)A Wooded Lake Landscape with a Village and Figures Bathing in a Lake

signed and dated lower left: G. Lambert. 1752.19 ½ x 23 ½ in. (50 x 60 cm.)

ProvenanceMr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, Richmond, Virginia

ExhibitedRichmond, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, ‘Painting in England 1700-1850’, 1963

Royal Academy, London, 1964-65Number 1 Royal Crescent, Bath

Lambert – ‘The Father of English Landscape’ - was the first British artist to specialise in landscapepainting, creating a new classicist vision, which inspired and refined successive generations of Britishartists. He truly was the founder of an artistic tradition.

£22,000

Daniel Hunt is always looking for great paintings.We have passionate collectors looking for great works from Old Masters to Impressionists and beyond.

We offer discretion, expertise, broking advice and collections management.

email: [email protected]

DANIEL HUNT FINE ART60 Lower Sloane Street, London SW1W 8BP

tel: +44 (0)20 7259 0304

Daniel Hunt Fine Art OB Feb2012_Daniel Hunt Fine Art OB Feb2012 18/01/2012 11:03 Page 1


JAMES WILLOUGHBYCOMMENT

The land of the rising rating

There are several factors at play in the emergence of a potential new racingsuperpower on the world stage and the decline of a once-formidable nation

Publication of the World ThoroughbredRatings (WTR) highlighted two racingnations going in opposite directions.

While 11 horses trained in Japan earned afigure of at least 120 – the best ever for thatcountry – the ratings reflected a decline inquality at the top of the US ranks.In both cases, the panel noted an evident

multi-year trend driving these results.Analysis of past classifications shows there isconsiderable variance in the quality of horsesat the peak of each country's strengths; thereis no writing off these results as a small-sample aberration. In the case of Japan, it is easy to understand

the reasons. It wasn't until Seeking The Pearlwon the 1998 Prix Maurice de Gheest that aJapanese-trained horse took a Group 1 inEurope. Since then, Japan has enjoyed risingsuccess internationally, emboldened byincreasingly strong competition domestically.Moreover, while for years their racing

authority's protectionist policy preventedforeign investment, a more open approachhas seen the influx of a handful of powerfulbloodstock investors. Chief among them isSheikh Mohammed, whose focus on Japanrose after Victoire Pisa and Transcend wereone-two in the 2011 Dubai World Cup.Victoire Pisa earned 122 and Transcend

121 in the classifications. But the current starof Japanese racing is their latest Triple Crownwinner Orfevre. While his 123 fell 13lb shortof Frankel, he will rate higher this year whenhe takes on international competition in racessuch as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.The organisation of Japanese racing, and its

economy, has made this upsurge inevitable.The state-run pari-mutuel betting system isthe biggest in the world, turning over morethan twice its nearest rival, the US. And itsbreeding industry is the envy of the world.Japanese horses still took a long time to

make an impact internationally, partly due tothe insularity of their domestic focus. Butresults in such as the 2006 Melbourne Cup,in which Delta Blues and Pop Rock were firstand second, have seen their haplessreputation on the world stage revised. At the same time as the red line on the

graph has been creeping up, the blue one hasbeen steadily falling. Recently, the presence ofone or two superstars has served to mask the

declining strength of US racing at the toplevel, but this year there was no such saviour. The highest-rated US runner on 124 is the

Breeders' Cup Classic winner Drosselmeyer,whose victory begged searching questions inand of itself. Written off as a poor winner ofthe 2010 Belmont Stakes, his win seemedmore to expose the failings of those aroundhim to sustain their form into the autumn.

Rates of attrition in the US, owing to factorslike training and racing on tough dirt tracks,has always been a limiting factor whereratings are concerned. Big figures can beachieved by wide-margin wins over lesserfoes, but more often it is competition whichdrives performances recognisable as elite. This requires the small number of horses

capable of high class form to remain in shape

for a series of demanding races, but statisticsand veterinary evidence point to US-trainedhorses standing fewer races now. Onewonders whether the increased stringency ofdrug-testing procedures is making it trickierfor trainers to keep their horses in peak form.Whether US horses are less robust owing

to being bred from runners whose frailtieshave themselves been masked by medicationis a wider question. It is not surprising the latest Classic crop –

led by Kentucky Derby winner AnimalKingdom on just 121 – became so thoroughlyshredded by the rigours of competition thatGrade 1s for their age group became more atest of survival than merit by season's end. Somuch was lost by the failure of championjuvenile Uncle Mo.By far the best story of the season was the

rivalry between talented females Havre deGrace, US Horse of the Year, and Blind Luck;however their ratings of 120 and 119 make itclear we were not watching a duel betweenZenyatta and Rachel Alexandra. Those twoare a reminder we don't have to go back far toremember the impression great horses in theUS can make. Yet it is easy to discern how thebalance of power is swinging away from theUS, a fact its parlous finances exacerbate.

“The organisation ofJapanese racing, and

its economy, has madean upsurge inevitable”

Victoire Pisa (left) and Transcend underlined Japan’s power in the Dubai World Cup

GEO

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Feb_90_JWilloughby_Owner Breeder 19/01/2012 10:56 Page 25


The most successful broodmares ofmodern times in Europe includeHasili with her five Group/Grade 1

winners for Juddmonte and Alruccaba forKirsten Rausing, but arguably Allegretta topseven those two as ancestress of nine winnersof 18 Group 1s headed by six Classics, twoPrix de l’Arc de Triomphes and one KingGeorge VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

The eight to have been campaigned inEurope have been rated at least 120 byTimeform, with five rated 126 or above. Thatis a phenomenal achievement for a marefoaled only in 1978, and in a sense thissuccess is a sign of the value of Germanbloodstock because Allegretta hailed from afamily which had produced six winners of theDeutsches Derby between 1930 and 1982.

Allegretta was bred by Gestüt Schlenderhanand trained by Sir Michael Stoute. Given thefamily background, it was predictable that shewould be suited by middle distances – herbrother Anno, foaled a year later, was namedchampion German three-year-old afterwinning the Deutsches St Leger.

Allegretta showed above-average form towin at a mile and at nine furlongs at two,when also showing her stamina to be secondin the Zetland Stakes, and she did well whenchasing home Leap Lively in the LingfieldOaks Trial early on at three. Unfortunately shethen lost her form completely, probablybecause temperament got the better of her –she was a distinctly nervous filly who used tosweat up markedly.

For all the ability shown, this was notexactly the profile of a potentially outstandingbroodmare and Allegretta was sold to race inthe USA for only 24,000gns at the 1981Newmarket December Sales. She did little ofnote on the track there, including when thirdin an allowance race at Suffolk Downs over a

vastly inadequate trip of six furlongs, and wasresold for $55,000 at Keeneland in 1984.

Her new owner, Michel Henochsberg ofMarystead Farm, later admitted: “She was auseful race filly who gave the impression ofnot having much heart but she descendedfrom an exceptional family. I went to look ather. She is not elegant, but she has anexceptional body. I was seduced.”

Allegretta’s first four foals did little to justifythe purchase on the racecourse but theposition changed in 1989 with the arrival ofUrban Sea (by Miswaki), a 280,000 francspurchase at Deauville as a yearling for DavidTsui and partners.

Suited by middle distances, Urban Sea wastough and game but took time to find her bestform. After running third in the Prix Vermeilleduring her Classic campaign she appeared inthe ring at Goffs France, where Tsui boughtout his partners – there were several otherhorses in the package as well – for 3,000,000francs, around £350,000.

This proved a bargain – and in a short timetoo, since Urban Sea improved significantlyas a four-year-old, running second in thePrince of Wales’s Stakes before picking up thePrix Gontaut-Biron. She then sprang asurprise at 37-1 in the Prix de l’Arc de

Triomphe and was named champion olderEuropean filly. At five Urban Sea looked asgood as ever in notching the Prix d’Harcourtbut injury cut short her career.

Urban Sea’s record at stud was superb interms of both numbers, with 11 foals, andquality. She was mated with stallions havinga wide range of stamina, including gettingfour foals by Sadler’s Wells, two by GreenDesert and one each by Cape Cross andInvincible Spirit. Intriguingly, though, allthose to have raced at three or older havebeen suited by middle distances.

Galileo (by Sadler’s Wells) and Sea TheStars (by Cape Cross) allowed Urban Sea tojoin an elite band of mares to have foaled twoDerby winners. They notched seven otherGroup 1s, including two Classics, a KingGeorge and an Arc, and Galileo has nowbecome his sire’s successor as outstandinglythe best stallion in Europe.

Galileo’s brother Black Sam Bellamy stayed12 furlongs plus and notched a couple ofGroup 1s, My Typhoon (by Giant’sCauseway) collected the Diana Stakes overnine furlongs, All Too Beautiful (by Sadler’sWells) ran second in the Oaks before landingthe Middleton Stakes, Melikah (byLammtarra) was placed in the Oaks and Irish

THE FOUNDATION MARESBy JEREMY EARLY

ALLEGRETTA

GEO

RGE

SELW

YN

Allegretta and Walter Swinburn head to post at Epsom for the Oaks of 1981

From sales-ring fireworks to winning some of the most prestigious races in theinternational calendar, the impact of her descendants cannot be underestimated

“Allegretta was adistinctly nervous fillywho used to sweat up

markedly”

Feb_90_FoundationMares_Layout 1 19/01/2012 11:01 Page 26


Oaks and Urban Ocean (by Bering) won the Gallinule Stakes overten furlongs and stayed further. Urban Sea’s final foal is the promising2011 Blenheim Stakes winner Born To Sea; she died of complicationsthat arose in producing him.

The income from sales of several of these as youngsters wasconsiderable. Melikah topped the Deauville sale as a yearling in 1998at 10,000,000 francs, All Too Beautiful went through the ring for arecord 1,100,000gns as a foal at Tattersalls in 2001 and My Typhoonset a new record for the venue when fetching 1,800,000gns there ayear later. Urban Ocean was a 230,000gns yearling.

If Urban Sea had been the only member of Allegretta’s family tohave scaled the heights that would be a fine advert on its own, butthere is more – and as with Urban Sea’s progeny it is colts who havedominated. Allez Les Trois, foaled the year after Urban Sea in 1990and bought back as a yearling, won the Prix de Flore. Her 1998 foalAnabaa Blue went through the ring for 650,000 francs and won theFrench Derby and a couple of Group 2s.

There are also two Listed winners out of Allez Les Trois plus minorwinner Al Ishq, dam of Tamayuz, one of the best of his age in Francein 2008 when successful in the Prix Jean Prat and Prix Jacques leMarois and about to be represented by his first runners in 2012.

To return to Allegretta, her 1997 foal, King’s Best, sold for2,300,000 francs and put up a brilliant display to win the 2,000Guineas easily from Giant’s Causeway. Sadly he ran only once morebut his ability enabled Allegretta’s yearling daughter by Diesis to gofor 9,000,000 francs at Deauville that summer. Named Altruiste, shenever ran but her daughter Alpine Snow appropriately landed theListed Prix Urban Sea in 2009.

The achievements of such offspring as Workforce, Proclamationand Creachadoir have kept King’s Best’s name in the headlines, anda year after his Guineas victory Allegretta’s 1986 foal, Anzille, wasrepresented by Anzillero, winner of the Group 1 Deutschland-Preis.

Another daughter, stakes-placed Turbaine, has done her stuff aswell, getting stakes winners over a range of trips. Tertullian won fiveGroup 3s over seven furlongs, Terek won one at a mile and a quarterand Tusculum notched a Listed race over a mile and three-quartersbefore running fifth in the St Leger. He was sold for 440,000gns soonafterwards, confirming that involvement with the family is virtuallya licence to print money.

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Foaled Winner Races (Timeform rating)

f 1989 Urban Sea Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (126)c 1997 Anzillero Deutschland-Preis (120)c 1997 King’s Best 2,000 Guineas (132)c 1998 Anabaa Blue Prix du Jockey-Club (120)c 1998 Galileo Derby, Irish Derby, King George VI

& Queen Elizabeth Stakes (134)c 1999 Black Sam Bellamy Gran Premio del Jockey Club,

Tattersalls Gold Cup (121)f 2002 My Typhoon Diana Stakesc 2005 Tamayuz Prix Jean Prat, Prix Jacques

le Marois (126)c 2006 Sea The Stars 2,000 Guineas, Derby, Eclipse Stakes,

Juddmonte International, Irish Champion Stakes, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (140)

NEXT MONTH: Drumrora

Feb_90_FoundationMares_Layout 1 19/01/2012 11:01 Page 27


Contact: Sandra Delmotte | Tel: +33 (0)6 62 81 04 86 | www.haras-dhaspel.com | [email protected]

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The 31st Moyglare Dinner was held inearly January at the K Club in Kildare.The event itself is only in its infancy

compared to the celebration of the stud itself,for which 2012 marks 50 years in existence.A huge attendance at this year’s dinner,occupying three spacious rooms, paid tributeto the founder of Moyglare, the 101-year-oldWalter Haefner.

Though not in attendance himself, MrHaefner still takes a keen interest in the stud,which he has now passed on to his daughterEva-Maria Bucher-Haefner. She joined theMinister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, andJohn McStay, who stepped down as SeniorSteward of the Turf Club, in addressing thegathering.

Bucher-Haefner paid tribute to her fatherand the success he enjoyed during his periodin charge of the stud, vowing to continue withhis legacy. The farm has a tremendous recordas owners and breeders, and Group 1 winnersAgain Tomorrow, Assert, Bikala, Brief Truce,Carwhite, Casual Conquest, Dance Design,Definite Article, Dress To Thrill, Go And Go,Market Booster, Media Puzzle, Refuse ToBend, Relaxed Gesture, Stanerra, SuperConcorde, Trusted Partner and TwilightAgenda are just some of the horses that theyhave been successful with.

Describing her father as primarily abreeder, his first love, she announced on thenight that Moyglare Stud was in the process ofputting together a series of races for fillies inIreland, non-stakes races, which wouldqualify the breeder of the winner to a prize of€1,000. In total, 50 such races will beidentified and they will be mostly made up ofhandicaps and maidens, run at every track inIreland that stages Flat racing.

News of this wonderful gesture on the partof Moyglare was enthusiastically received bythe industry and the idea behind the movewas to acknowledge the role of breeders andto help them celebrate the victory of theirproduct.

In addition, the stud is also to give a prizeto the breeder of all the races on MoyglareStud Stakes day at the Curragh. The 2011Moyglare Stud Stakes was won by Maybe.

Minister Coveney further elaborated on hisplans for a review of certain aspects of theIrish horseracing industry. An independentgroup will be given the task of carrying outthe review following a tender process. Thiswill hopefully commence in the spring.

The terms of reference for the review,potentially the most significant roadmap forthe industry in its history, will include:• Contemplating the legislation currently inplace and assessing whether it provides themost appropriate governance structures forthe industry;• Evaluating whether the Horse RacingIreland board structure, size and nominationprocess is appropriate and effective, and to

make recommendations for change ifnecessary;• Looking at the scope for streamlining all ofthe functions assigned under the legislation,including the independence of regulatorydecisions, and making recommendationsaccordingly;• Reviewing current funding arrangements,having regard to funding systems in place inother major racing countries, andrecommend an appropriate funding structurewith regard to the long term development ofthe sector.

The Moyglare Dinner is jointly hosted bythe stud and the Turf Club, and the Ministerassured the members of the latter body that itwas not his intention to deconstruct the TurfClub with this review, but rather to look atefficiencies.

McStay, on behalf of the Turf Club, made apresentation to the committee andmanagement of Galway racecourse,acknowledging their considerablecontribution to racing in Ireland. ChairmanTim Naughton and Manager John Molonywere on hand to accept the award.

Fifty years of Moyglare magicKildare stud founder, 101-year-old Walter Haefner, honoured at K Club dinner

VIEW FROM IRELANDBy LEO POWELL, MANAGING EDITOR OF THE IRISH FIELD

CA

ROLI

NE

NO

RRIS

Eva-Maria Bucher-Haefner and daughter Chiara enjoy the Moyglare Dinner

“The farm has atremendous recordand has had manyGroup 1 winners ”

>>

Feb_90_View_From_Ireland_Owner Breeder 19/01/2012 10:50 Page 29


VIEW FROM IRELAND

The wheelchair-bound Michael O’Brien, oneof Ireland’s leading National Hunt trainers,died two days before Christmas following along illness. Paralysed after a fall in America,where he was a champion jockey, heovercame this major setback to establishhimself as a trainer, heading the trainers’ liston one occasion. He won three Irish GrandNationals, with King Spruce (1982), Vanton(1992) and Glebe Lad (1999).

His Cheltenham Festival winners wereShawiya (Triumph Hurdle) and Kadoun(Pertemps Final), while his first good horsewas Bright Highway, winner of the MackesonGold Cup and Hennessy Gold Cup in 1980.

Peter GibbonsOne of Ireland’s best known veterinarysurgeons, Peter Gibbons, died on NewYear’s Day at the age of 62. He was alsoa breeder and sales consignor of noteand among the best horses he bred wasthe Group 1-placed Asset.

Peter was a member of the veterinarypanels at both Goffs and TattersallsIreland, was a member of the BritishEquine Veterinary Association and aformer committee member, a member ofVeterinary Ireland, chairman of theAssociation of Irish RacecourseVeterinary Surgeons and served his localtracks Navan and Fairyhouse. He and hiswife Ann owned Skara Stud.

Dennison receives OBEWell-known point-to-point ownerWilson Dennison was among just 55people from Northern Ireland honouredin the Queen’s New Year’s List, joiningthe likes of golfers Rory McIlroy andDarren Clarke. He received an OBE.

RTE cuts three live daysAs has happened through the years withcoverage of racing on the BBC, Irish

racing on the main terrestrial channelRTE is to suffer a cutback in 2012. Thismeans now that 23 days instead of 26will be shown.

The meetings losing out are the EasterTuesday of Fairyhouse, the last day ofthe Leopardstown Christmas festival andPretty Polly Stakes day at the Curragh.RTE has signed a deal with theAssociation of Irish Racecourses that thesame 23 days will be safeguarded in2013.

Ryan promotionRoddy Ryan is the new Senior Stewardof the Turf Club in Ireland. His two-yearterm will end in December 2013. Hejoined the Turf Club in 1997 and hasserved on many of its committees and onthe Curragh Committee. A director ofmany companies, he has had a lifelonginterest in racing and has been asuccessful owner and breeder.

Neville O’Byrne, a solicitor byprofession, replaces Ryan as DeputySenior Steward, while veterinary surgeonand stud owner Meta Osborne becomesa steward. The fourth steward is CharlesO’Reilly, an owner and breeder.

One of the most contentious issues in Irishbreeding circles during the last year was thefoal levy, a statutory charge made whenbreeders sought to register their foal. While apublic debate raged for a short while, it wasbehind closed doors that variousrepresentatives finally resolved the issue – atleast for now.

While signing off on the new paymentstructure, the Irish Farmers’ Associationrepresentative James Murphy did still havesome reservations. A further review of the newlevy will undoubtedly be on the cards later inthe year.

Murphy said: “IFA’s position is that theresponsibility of delivering on this issue resideswith Horse Racing Ireland and its success willbe judged by the outcome. The problem willbe totally resolved only when a flat rate levybased on the actual nomination fee isintroduced.”

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’Association said: “The ITBA, through our FoalLevy Committee members, initiated the call for

change to the foal levy bands and the practicaloperation of the scheme in 2009. We welcomethis change as it is fair and equitable, and givesa more even spread of bands.

“It is important that the HRI letter whichgoes out to stallion owners is more precise withregard to which band their advertised fee is in.Despite the fact there will be a decline in the

income generated from the fund the ITBAaccept that this new structure is moreagreeable to a wider range of breeders.”

The main changes are that the number ofbands increases from six to 11 and the amountpaid within the bands has also been adjusted,downwards in the case of stallions standing atup to €17,500, and upwards in all other cases.

New payment structure for foal levy

CA

ROLI

NE

NO

RRIS

Michael O’Briendies aged 68

Band Covering fee 2012 foal levy 2011 foal levyA €0-€1,000 €35 €39

B €1,001-€2,500 €50 €77

C €2,501-€5,000 €100 €153

D €5,001-€7,500 €150 €153 & €231 (up to €7,500)

E €7,501-€10,000 €200 €231

F €10,001-€12,500 €250 €231 & €385 (up to €12,500)

G €12,501-€15,000 €300 €385

H €15,001-€17,500 €350 €385

I €17,501-€22,500 €450 €385

J €22,501-€30,000 €600 €385

K €30,001+ €650 €385 & €615 (over €33,500)

FOREIGN Pay Band F €250 €231

One of Ireland’s leading jumps trainers

In Brief

30

Feb_90_View_From_Ireland_Owner Breeder 19/01/2012 10:50 Page 30

The Roberto Sire Line

Contact: John Osborne, Sinéad Hyland, Gary Swift or Helen Boyce.Tel: +353 (0)45 521251 www.irishnationalstud.ie

Arch

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Big Bad Bob€6,000

HAIL TO REASON

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Flying the flag at the Irish National Stud

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THE WINNING

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Brian’s Time

Dynaformer

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Deep Impact

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Fuji Kiseki Silver Hawk

Rock Hard Ten

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CZE

CH

REPUBLIC

Vána leads Pardubice rescue planCountry’s greatest jump jockey wants track run in ‘dignified, successful manner’

Another page may yet be written inthe incredible history of Czechracing’s greatest ever jump jockey,

Josef Vána. Already the winner of thefabled Velká Pardubická Chase eighttimes (the most recent coming daysbefore his 59th birthday), he nowwants to take over the running ofthe home of the four and a quartermile event, cash-strapped Pardubiceracecourse.

The course has been in financialtrouble for some time, not helped by

a £26,000 negligence claim after apromising horse was killed having run

loose following a fall in June 2008.Dostihovy Spolek, the track’smanagement company, took the matter to

the Court Of Appeal but came out on thewrong end of its judgement in November

2010.Dostihovy Spolek has been operating at a

loss for some years but has been kept afloat vialoans from its majority shareholder, the town

of Pardubice. It is now reckoned to besome £650,000 in debt, promptingallegations of incompetence andcriminal activity.

Its board of directors is riven withpolitical infighting. Four of the five

directors were ousted early last year butthe new appointees, who were devoid of

any racing expertise, fared little better and,following a storm of criticism, the newChairman Jan Nemec fell on his sword inDecember after only ten months in charge.

Against this background, Vána led a groupof businessmen who went to the town hall witha proposal that they should take over therunning of the course, with one of their mainaims being to raise the prize-money on offer forthe Velká Pardubická itself.

“The present leadership of Dostihovy Spolekhas failed and a completely different approachis needed,” Vána said. “For me it is not a matterof whether we rent the course and run it or wepurchase shares. The main thing is that racingat Pardubice is run in a dignified and successfulmanner without all the mess that has piled upin recent years.”

The track is not under long-term threat, asthe town owns it and is committed to racing. Asregards Vána’s future involvement, the pictureshould become clearer at this month’s AnnualGeneral Meeting of Dostihovy Spolek.

Figures published by Petr Malik in theDecember issue of Paddock Revue show thatonly four countries staged more jump racesthan the Czech Republic in 2010. Britain,France and Ireland staged more than 86% ofthe 7,919 races, with fourth-placed Italyhosting 217, followed by the Czech Republicwith 173. The USA (159), Japan (134), NewZealand (122) and Australia (95) were next.

Trainers beware. Themethod of entering horses in

France changed on January 1,becoming exclusively handled by theFrance Galop website, and if you do notregister early there is every likelihood thatyour entries will be rejected.

You now need to log on to www.france-galop.com and obtain a username andpassword before the entry procedure canbegin. Registration currently costs €29.90per year and can be paid for using aWeatherbys account.

And this registration cannot be done atthe last minute. The rules of French racingstate that any horse entered there needs to

be on the France Galop database with itsbasic details of country of foaling, year offoaling, sire, dam and owner correct atleast eight days before an entry can bemade.

This rule has been in place for a whilebut was sometimes waived whereoverseas-trained horses were concerned.But, now that entries can be made onlyusing the internet, it will be much morerigidly adhered to, so trainers who do nothave the foresight to cough up €29.90more than a week prior to their first entrymay be left out in the cold.

Furthermore, it will be the trainer’s ownresponsibility to make sure that horse

details are updated. If a horse is enteredin France that appears on the FranceGalop website with the wrong owner, oras an entire horse instead of a gelding, thatentry may be declared void.

We all know how snowed undertrainers’ secretaries can become, especiallyat the height of the summer season withevening racing in full swing. But, evenallowing for these changes, there is still away of making a French entry with justone phone call (and at the same timepassing on the responsibility ofunderstanding and adhering to the newregulations) – contact the InternationalRacing Bureau in Newmarket!

New entries system could trip you up!FRAN

CE

CONTINENTAL TALESBy JAMES CRISPE, INTERNATIONAL RACING BUREAU

Josef Vána: pivotal to the Pardubice

Feb_90_Continental_Tales_Owner Breeder 19/01/2012 10:46 Page 32


Dubai merely a diversion for ArizkorretaFormer Luca Cumani assistant GuillermoArizkorreta will be endeavouring to saddlethe first Spanish-trained winner at theDubai International Racing Carnival in thecoming weeks.Although he has a second string to his

bow in the form of Plantagenet, a five-year-old who won five of his first sevenstarts but has been beaten ten successivetimes since, his Middle Eastern hopes restlargely on the shoulders of all-weatherspecialist Ariete Arrollador. A son of Kingsalsa who is unbeaten in

three starts on Deauville’s sand surface,Ariete Arrollador can act on turf as well, ashe showed when providing the yard withits first Classic victory in the 2010 Spanish2,000 Guineas. But improvement wroughtby the shift to an artificial surfaceculminated in his landing the Listed PrixLuthier in early December.“Ariete Arrollador has always been

brilliant in the mornings on fibresand,”Arizkorreta revealed, “so I could not waitto give him a race on the all-weather. Iexpect him to adapt well to the Tapetasurface at Meydan.”

A native of San Sebastian, he has nofamily connection with racing. In fact, hisinterest dates from a childhood meetingwith the subsequent four-time Frenchchampion jockey Ioritz Mendizabal. Thepair learnt to ride together and beganexercising racehorses at San Sebastian’sLasarte racecourse at the tender age of 13.Arizkorreta represented Spain three

times in the Fegentri amateur riderschampionships before getting a job withCumani. His three years in Newmarketended in September 2006 and two monthslater he took out a training licence.He currently has 60 horses under his

care at La Zarzuela racecourse in Madridand enjoyed his best season in 2011, whenhe racked up 51 victories including 11 inFrance.Although he hopes to begin the year in

a blaze of Meydan glory, Arizkorreta isunder no illusions about how tough 2012will be back home given the currenteconomic situation. “The most importantthing for racing in Spain in 2012 will be tosee if the new government will support ourindustry,” he concluded.

The German authorities havebeen defeated in their attempt

to delay the German Derby by a week toavoid a clash with the final of the EuropeanFootball Championships.The French objected on the grounds that

the Derby would therefore be run less than aweek before the Grand Prix de Paris – the lastthree-year-old Group 1 of the year availableto colts. So the Derby remains on Sunday, July 1.

But the rest of the Derby festival at Hamburg,which races just once a year and, like somany German courses, is in a parlousfinancial situation, has been reshuffled.Hamburg will now stage action on each of

the two days before the Derby and carry onfor three of the four days afterwards,concluding on Thursday, July 5. Most of the supporting cards will be

evening meetings to enable a crucial cashinjection via simulcast betting into FrenchPMU pools.

GERMAN

Y

Plan to delay Derby scuppered by French

Waldpark lands the 2011 Deutsches Derby, which is to remain in its traditional slot

FRA

NK

NO

LTIN

G

Guillermo Arizkorreta: waiting to seeif new government supports racing

SPAI

N

APR

H

Feb_90_Continental_Tales_Owner Breeder 19/01/2012 10:46 Page 33

A French fairy taleDunaden,

Impressive winner of bothGr.1 Emirates Melbourne Cup and the

Gr.1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vasetrained in Chantilly by M. Delzangles

France,the place to be

for training

[email protected]

© F

. Sor

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Scoo

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ParisChantilly


The future of New York racing arrived onan autumn day last October when adecade-long wait for a casino at

Aqueduct finally ended with the grandopening of a $1 billion facility on the racetrack.

In recent months, New Yorkers have flockedto the only venue in the five boroughs with slotmachines. And thoroughbred racing is a majorbeneficiary. Purses at the New York RacingAssociation tracks – Aqueduct, Belmont Parkand Saratoga – will rise substantially in 2012,NYRA will regain its financial footing threeyears after declaring bankruptcy, and the state’sbreeding industry is expected to surge.

“This is all very good news,” said JeffreyCannizzo, the Executive Director of the NewYork Thoroughbred Breeders Inc., whichadministers the state-bred programme.

For the current Aqueduct meeting, whichruns until April 22, prize-money has increasedby 36%, or $8.6 million. The track had dailyprize-money distribution of $275,000 at the2011 winter meeting, a figure estimated at$375,000 this year. A maiden special weightrace for horses running over a mile was worth$43,000 in 2011 but is now worth $65,000,while a $10,000 claimer over six furlongs wasworth $20,000 last year but $30,000 this time.

Purses at the Belmont spring/summer andfall meeting and prestigious Saratoga summermeeting will rise later this year. Overall NYRA

officials expect the casino to generate up to$100m annually, with $30m for purses.

What is occurring in New York is similar toother venues in North America, where slotmachines have subsidised prize-money andguaranteed the survival of racetracks in placesas varied as Ontario in Canada, Louisiana inthe south, New Mexico in the west and Floridaon the eastern seaboard. Slots have beenapproved at Ohio racetracks.

Other states, notably California, Illinois,Kentucky, New Jersey, and Texas, have not

received government approval for slotmachines at racetracks. Racing participants inthose states can only look on with envy.

In each state with slot machines, thestoryline has been largely similar. A surge ofbetting revenue from slot machines has helpedmany lower-tier racetracks thrive, giving horseowners greatly enhanced prize-money andcontributing to a change in the landscape ofAmerican thoroughbred breeding. The state-bred programmes in New Mexico,Pennsylvania and Oklahoma, an afterthoughtbefore slot machines, now have more robustbreeding markets, despite the recent recession.

The casino at Aqueduct, about three milesfrom John F Kennedy Airport, has been araging success. Operators typically expect$300 in daily revenue from slot machines. Atone point shortly after opening, the Aqueductmachines were producing $600 a day, a figurethat fell with the installation of more machinesin December. NYRA has budgeted $380 indaily revenue per machine in 2012.

The casino is managed by Genting Group, aMalaysia-based company that operates morethan 40 casinos in the UK through CircusCasinos, Maxim Casinos and Mint Casinos.

The Aqueduct casino’s success led New YorkGovernor Andrew Cuomo to state a desire fora further expansion of casino gambling in aspeech in January, calling for table games suchas blackjack. For New York racing, the casino’sdevelopment is expected to mean more horsesbeing shipped there and higher field sizes thatwill appeal to bettors. New York racing officialssaid that approximately 1,500 horses wereavailable for racing on the circuit last winter, afigure that will be closer to 2,000 this year.

The full benefits will not be known for yearsbut will be felt as quickly as this year for NewYork breeders. Cannizzo predicts the state’sfoal crop for 2012 will be 1,500 to 1,800 foals,a substantial gain on the 2001 figure of 1,225.

“Our foal crop this past year was probablythe smallest we’ve had in the last decade,”Cannizzo said. “That will change. We shouldsee a significant increase of 300 to 500 moremares in the population in New York state.”

The state’s breeding fund – which enhancesracetrack prize-money and pays performancebonuses to breeders and stallion owners – willrise 100% to $17m this year, he said.

“The revenue is flowing from the casino,”Cannizzo said. “It’s fantastic for racing.”

AROUND THE GLOBETHE WORLDWIDE RACING SCENE

Purses on the up as chips go down NORTH AMERICA by Steve Andersen

Racing at Aqueduct in New York state has benefited thanks to the casino’s arrival

>>

“Our foal crop wasprobably the smallest

in the last decade.That will change”

NYR

A

Feb_90_AroundtheGlobe_Owner Breeder 19/01/2012 10:19 Page 35


AROUND THE GLOBE

Complacency in AI court case?AUSTRALASIA by Danny Power

Some of the arguments presented during theintriguing artificial insemination case that isbefore the Australian Federal Court make forincredible and embarrassing reading.

Justice Alan Robinson is hearing a case putforward by former Sydney Turf Club Chairmanand prominent breeder Bruce McHugh thatchallenges the rule that disallows the use ofartificial insemination in breeding. McHugh’sargument is one of restraint of trade.

He is battling some high profile opposition,including Thoroughbred Breeders’ Australia,the Australian Stud Book, some of Australia’sleading studs and prominent race clubs. JusticeRobinson’s decision is expected in February.

Tony Bannon, counsel for the Sydney TurfClub, said: “Allowing artificial inseminationwould threaten traditions behind the sport’sappeal to kings, queens, sheikhs andbillionaires.” Justice Robinson may haveshifted uneasily in his seat after that.

James Emmett, for Thoroughbred Breeders’Australia, chimed in by suggesting that ifMcHugh wanted to breed thoroughbreds byAI, there was nothing stopping him starting upa rival racing association for such horses.

“McHugh can put $1 million into a prizepool for a race and open it to horses bredthrough artificial insemination… that would

be very attractive,” he said. “Should Australiaallow artificial insemination, the race rankings,which determine a thoroughbred’s rankingsinternationally, would be downgraded oreliminated.”

Emmett went on to say that “you can’tsensibly assess a horse’s ranking in races

involving thoroughbred (and horses conceivedby AI)... it would be like comparingthoroughbreds and camels.”

Are Emmett and the TBA suggesting thathorses conceived naturally are superior tothose conceived by AI? I know that is one ofthe arguments some of the anti-AI push hasthrown about, but surely nobody takes thisclaim seriously enough to use it as an argumentin a Federal Court?

Try to sell that argument to the many

children conceived by artificial meansthroughout the world. Are they inferior,destined to be banned from competing againstthe naturally conceived at the Olympic Games?

North American racing commentator FrankMitchell said Emmett’s suggestion of McHughsetting up a rival racing circuit was an exampleof the TBA not taking the case seriously.

“The TBA and their legal advisers have notmet this issue with the seriousness and depthof understanding that it merits,” Mitchell saidon his blog, Bloodstock in the Bluegrass.

“Artificial insemination is a serious businessand it requires careful and judiciousexamination. There are measures that theJockey Clubs of the world could take tomoderate the influence of AI, but from thetenor of the arguments being made inAustralia, those ‘Down Under’ seem to bepunch drunk from the attacks on the naturalcover requirements as a restraint of trade.

“The TBA’s counter-arguments make themappear to be reeling and waiting for thecoming knockout punch. If the decision comesin favour of AI, the change will be felt roundthe world.”

McHugh’s counsel Ian Tonking argued theindustry had become self-regulatory, anti-competitive and exclusionary.

On a lighter note, champion mare Black Caviar returned totrainer Peter Moody’s Caulfield stable on Boxing Day 60kgheavier, after doing her usual three-week “pre-train” on thewater-walker at Peter Clarke’s Murchison farm, two hoursnorth of Melbourne.

Moody said that the unbeaten Black Caviar, who has raced16 times, would have three runs in Melbourne, the last theGroup 1 Futurity Stakes over seven furlongs at Caulfield onFebruary 25. He has not decided whether the great mare willrace again before leaving for Britain.

“Everything is geared towards Royal Ascot in June but Ihaven’t looked beyond the Futurity,” Moody told the HeraldSun.

“But she will need to have at least one run or a barrier trialbefore she leaves because you need to go to England race fit.”

Moody also announced his intention to expand his operation with the opening of a satellite stable at Rosehillin Sydney.

An extra 60kg of Caviar

Black Caviar: plan is for three more runs before Royal Ascot

“If the decision comesin favour of AI, thechange will be feltround the world”

BRO

NW

EN H

EALY

Feb_90_AroundtheGlobe_Owner Breeder 19/01/2012 10:19 Page 36

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Feb_90_TalkingTo_Owner Breeder 19/01/2012 11:29 Page 38


TALKING TO...LUCY ALEXANDER

Lucy Alexander has established herself this season in the male bastion that is race-ridingover jumps. A ride at the Festival would be “brilliant” and cap a breakthrough campaign

By Tim Richards • Photos George Selwyn

Making WAVES

What made you give upyour university studies infavour of a career as a

jump jockey?I had much more interest in racing thanstudying at university and felt that if Iattempted to do both I would end up withonly moderate results. I wanted to have aproper go at the riding and give it my all.

You were going to study biology atEdinburgh University and thensports science. Do you missacademia and the student life?After finishing school I took a year out andworked in racing. Then I attempted thebiology course for a couple of months butrealised I didn’t have any interest in it, so Iapplied for sports science the followingyear and did that for a couple of monthsbefore reaching the same conclusion. Idon’t think I’m the type of person forstudent life, though they do get massiveholidays!

How high on your list of disciplinesis fitness, how strong a regime doyou set yourself and do you have astrict diet?I think fitness is a very important part ofthe job. I always played sport at school –hockey, netball, athletics – and I havealways kept myself fit. I run a lot now if Iam not racing, about four or five miles. Ialso have an equiciser, which I use everyday. Seeking Power is a very slow horse ofdad’s and when he runs over four miles inthe heavy he is off the bridle from the startso you have to be fit to do him justice. Like

one of those mechanical horses, he justdoesn’t really go anywhere how ever hardyou ride.

Your father, Fife trainer NickAlexander, was initially unhappywith your decision to quit universityand start riding professionally. Howdid you change his mind?I wouldn’t really say he was unhappy, butmy parents could see that I wasn’t keen onuniversity. And my father took the view thatas long as I worked hard at whatever I didhe would support me.

How much did your backgroundinfluence you?My father’s father had a permit and dadnow trains. I did Pony Club and startedhunting with my brother when I was eightor nine. We weren’t allowed saddles untilwe went hunting; before that we were justbouncing about bareback for a few years! Istarted in point-to-points when I was 16,rode seven winners from 51 rides. I had agreat horse of my dad’s called Wiseman,

who provided me with three wins on myfirst three rides pointing. That was followedby a stint as an amateur under Rules beforeturning professional last September. It hasbeen pretty much a natural progressionsince starting when I was very small.

You have been much in demand inthe north. Obviously the winnersspeak for themselves, but what hasbeen the secret of your promotionamong so many trainers?Richard Hale, my agent, looked after me asan amateur and has done a great job for meas a professional, getting me loads of rides,while my dad has been very good lettingme go away to ride out for various trainers.Other conditionals would not normally bereleased by their stable to ride out on aregular basis at other yards and I’ve beenlucky to have been allowed that advantage.It is a big help to be able to go and sit onhorses and give them a pop for differenttrainers.

Ferdy Murphy, who supplied yourCastleford Chase winnerCharingworth, said that “jockeyshave either got it or they haven’t –and Lucy has definitely got it”. Howdo you deal with such praise?It’s very nice to hear it because riding isabout confidence and being fashionable. Itcan be a very fickle business and suchwords are a help, but must not be allowedto go to your head. And they wouldn’tbecause racing is full of so many ups anddowns, one minute you’re flying and thenext you’re on the floor.

“Conditionals are notnormally released bytheir stable to ride out

at other yards, so Ihave been lucky”

>>



At present you claim 5lb – do youthink trainers will support you asmuch when you lose your claim andis this something you think about?I lost my 7lb claim on Charingworth atWetherby after Christmas. Obviouslyhaving a claim is a big advantage and I ama long way off losing it (75 winners). Ofcourse it’s much tougher without a claimbut hopefully you are improving andmaking more contacts as you approach thatlandmark.

It has been said that your “realknack” is over fences. Do you preferriding over fences rather thanhurdles?I like them both but, coming from thepoint-to-point world, riding over fencesprobably comes more naturally. It gives mea bigger buzz. As an amateur I was doing itfor fun; now being paid for having that funis different class. It helps to cover the petrolbills as well!

You have ridden out for top Flattrainers Sir Michael Stoute, AidanO’Brien and Kevin Ryan. How didyou come to work at suchprestigious stables?When I took a year out after school I wentto Ballydoyle for about five months andloved it, went home to my dad’s to ride inpoint-to-points and then on to Newmarketto Sir Michael Stoute’s for a couple ofmonths before making that abortive start atuniversity. Richard Hale arranged for me togo to Kevin Ryan’s for a month lastsummer, when I rode loads of work andhad two rides for him on the Flat, a winnerand a second.

Originally, I had been to Ballydoyle for amorning on the gallops with my dad and itwas after that visit when I left school Ireturned to Aidan O’Brien’s for five monthsand, again in 2010, for another three-month spell. It was John Warren, theQueen’s Racing Manager, who kindlyintroduced me to Sir Michael Stoute.

What did you learn during your timeat these famous yards and how did

it benefit your race-riding?It tightened up my riding and sharpenedme up generally. At Ballydoyle there are alot of very good riders and I am sure havingthem round me all the time upped mygame a bit. I suppose being in Flat yardstidied me up. I rode a couple of bits ofwork at Stoute’s, one with Kieren Fallon.

Did you ever consider following inthe footsteps of Hayley Turner onthe Flat? I do about 9st and would never have beenlight enough to do the job properly on thelevel. I’ve had about 20 rides on the Flat asan amateur and, I have to say, I didn’t reallyenjoy it. I just much prefer going overjumps. If I was 8st then I’d have toconcentrate on the Flat because it wouldmean a much longer career. People keepsaying if it can be done at the top level by agirl on the Flat, then why not over jumps?The success of Hayley, Cathy Gannon andother girls on the Flat and the publicitythey receive has definitely been a help tome.

Do you see a time when you will bebased further south in order to ridemore at the top tracks?Not really, all my contacts are in the north.Of course you don’t know what’s round thecorner, but I am happy in the north. If theopportunity of a ride in the south came upthen I’d take it.

Is there a jockey you model yourselfon? Which one do you admire most,and why?There isn’t one in particular. I do watch allthe top jockeys and see what I can learn.Tony McCoy is incredible setting recordafter record. In the north Graham Lee isvery good. When he is pushing a horse onhe is going up and forwards with the horse,not bouncing up and down. That’ssomething I’ve noticed; going with thehorse is very important. If I have to pickone rider as far as women are concerned itwould be Nina Carberry, who is very good.

Have you found the new whip rules,which limits usage to eight strikes ina jumps race, a help or a hindrance?Even before the new rules came out Iwouldn’t use my whip very much, so ithasn’t really affected me. It might soundsilly saying this, but counting to eight overthree miles on soft ground on a horse that’snot travelling can be harder than you think.You can easily forget giving a horse a smackwhen there’s a lot going on around you andstill a circuit to go. Keeping track of howmany times you’ve used the whip in thecourse of a race like that can be difficult.

What would it mean to win a race atthe Cheltenham Festival and do youhave any potential rides?Obviously it would be brilliant just to get aride there. Graham Lee was injured when Iwon the Castleford on Charingworth andthere is no obvious ride for me at theFestival so far.

Where do you see yourself in fiveyears time?I wouldn’t set myself numbers or anythinglike that. I just take each day as it comesand try to keep improving. In five years Ihope I’m in one piece, riding winners andstill learning.

T A L K I N G T O . . .

CLOSE UP AND...PERSONALSong that makes me happy…Paradise by ColdplayPerfect meal… anything cooked bymy mum, especially fishFavourite TV programme… theracing channelsMy weakness is… trying to parkthe carI get nervous when… asked for aninterview

CLOSE UP AND...PROFESSIONALI handle defeat by… learning fromthe mistakesRacing has taught me… to bepositiveI cope with the early starts andlong days by… going to bed earlyand taking it all in my strideBest advice I’ve been givenis…“get them in a rhythm”Race I’d most like to win… thenext one

>>

“I’ve had about 20rides on the Flat and Ididn’t really enjoy it. Ijust much prefer going

over jumps”


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NICK AND JANE WILLIAMS

Feb_90_Williams_v2_Owner 19/01/2012 12:12 Page 42

The teamWORKS

Nick Williams holds the licence and picks out the bargain buys which have helped the yardrise to prominence, but, as wife Jane points out, their operation is very much a joint effort

Words Alan Lee • Photos George Selwyn

There is a strong woman behind manyfine trainers but very few like JaneWilliams. Asked to describe the

division of labour between herself and herhusband, Nick, Mrs Williams replies fastand firm. “It’s very easy. I do all the work,he takes all the credit.”The tone and expression indicate she is

at least half-serious. Nick Williams ismaking a stir in jump racing by competingat high level with only a fraction of thehorses trained by his leading rivals, but heis certainly not doing it alone. A morningspent on their converted dairy farm, on thesouthern edge of Exmoor, confirms that this is no ordinary racing couple, noconventional training stable.We are sitting in the low-beamed dining

room of their 15th century farmhouse.Outside, a builder is working on a newstone patio, the latest stage in transforminga derelict property they took on ten yearsago. “We had no money at all when wecame here, we’re not wealthy people,” Nickinsists. “Some months,” his wife adds, “wehad to borrow to pay the mortgage. We’vedone this through hard work – and we’veput three children through public school.”Now, the rolling 100 acres of fine Devon

land houses 35 horses, eight stable staff, 40Hereford cows and assorted poultryenjoying the muddy legacy of midwinterfloods. Two lots have already braved thewindswept conditions, working four timesup the woodchip gallop that completes its

climb on land borrowed from aneighbouring farmer. The next lot is set fora showjumping session in a speciallycreated ring. Come lunchtime, all thehorses will be put out for three hours in thepaddocks that punctuate the property.“I don’t want everyone else to know all

our methods but we certainly couldn’t dothis operation with 100 horses,” Jane says.“I do all the training and I write up theprogrammes for each horse in a book everymorning. They are all individual. PhilipHobbs once said that training was nothingmore than galloping them up a hill twice aday. That’s about as far away as you couldget from what we do.”Nick, 55, has just sat down from

buttering his wife’s toast. It seems aconciliatory gesture but it cuts no ice when

talk moves to his recent sale of theaccountancy practice they had run togetherin nearby South Molton. “I was coerced intogiving it up,” Jane says. “I still don’t wantto.”The idea is to free up time for the

flourishing training business, though bothare continuing to work for long-standingclients of the practice. It is a change ofdirection neither had expected but thedemands and ambitions of Culverhill Farmare growing. “We could have 50 or 60horses if we wanted them,” Nick says.“We’ve been turning them down. Not manyyards have a waiting list, but we do.”Two years ago, Nick Williams had sat in

another part of the property and told me hethought it was possible to becomechampion trainer with 35 horses. His wife

“It’s very easy. I dothe training and writeup programmes foreach horse, but Nicktakes all the credit”

>>

Nick and Jane Williams make aremarkable team in many respects



scoffs at the memory. “Nick’s a twit,” she saysbluntly. “After that, so many people asked himfor horses that he panicked and bought a lot ofbad ones.” Her husband adopts a suitablypenitent expression. “I don’t say anything now.”Indeed, he makes a habit of not saying much.

Jane points out that the antipathy towards themedia, widely ascribed to her, is actually downto Nick. “You’re just like that solicitor out ofDavid Copperfield you are always quoting,” shescolds him. “Mr Spenlow,” he confirms.“Whenever he wanted to get out of something,he would always say that his partner, MrJorkins, would never allow it.”This is typical of the jousting between the

couple. Usually it is good-natured. Jane isforthright and emotional, Nick absorbent andanalytical. By their own admission, they bickera lot. Sometimes, it gets worse, such as the dayin 2010 when Jane spraypainted ‘Nick, You AreA Bastard’ on one of the outside walls. Or theday when she took it into her head to sellPistolet Noir.Bought cheaply in France, ‘Pistol’ was

favourite for the Triumph Hurdle two years ago.I ask why he was sold to Paul Nicholls. “Youanswer that question,” Nick prompts. Jane doesnot hesitate. “I sold him because I was in astrop. I said I was going to divorce Nick –because we are always getting divorced – and Ineeded the money to buy a house. I rang upAnthony Bromley and the deal was done.”Rather than resent such admissions of

discord, Nick rocks with laughter. He laughs alot and is agreeable company. “Commercially, itwas a good call – he didn’t train on and themoney paid for a new block of stables,” he sayseventually. “But it happened by accident.Personally, I would sell just about any horse,any time, because they are unbelievably fragile.The best way of making money in this game isby selling horses. The crunch would come if we

got a very good one but Jane didn’t want adivorce that day – would the big offer beaccepted then?”Across the table, Jane reminds him that this

has already happened. In the year of PistoletNoir, the Williamses also trained Me Voici, whowon the Finale Hurdle and the Victor Ludorum.“We were offered £250,000 and turned itdown,” she says. “What do we do this for? I’m50 this year. I’m not going to live for ever. Therehas to be some pleasure in it. He was the best

horse we’ll ever have. Nick and I both regardedhim in the same league as Long Run. I’d neverhave sold him but he died at four and I’m stillgetting over it. His picture is my computerscreensaver.” And then she shows her soft sideand quietly weeps.It is not all confrontation between the two.

Far from it. “Nick understands the programmebook much better than I do,” Jane says. “Andhe has an encyclopaedic memory for horses andraces. That puts him streets ahead of mostpeople in this business and helps our operationa lot. I can’t even remember yesterday.”There is, though, something of the accidental

trainer about Nick Williams, an impression hereadily accepts. “I’m a London boy, with noracing background at all,” he says. “I cut myteeth with a spell as a stable lad when I was 18.It was at Bramley, near Guildford – WillieMusson was the trainer and Mark Tompkinswas his assistant. It didn’t last long. I was doinganything to make money, from being a waiterin a local pub to dressing up in a beret andselling onions in a supermarket. Then, at 21, Iwent into accountancy.“Both Jane and I were married before and we

met through accountancy rather than racing.Jane did have horses in her background but I’mstill not sure how it went from having one horseunder permit to what we are doing now.”Out on the gallops, Nick is little help in

identifying the horses cantering past. “We haveso many bays with white faces,” he says with

>>

N I C K A N D J A N E W I L L I A M S

>>

An eye for bargains has been one of thearresting qualities of the Williamsoperation. Hennessy hero Diamond Harrycost only 11,000 guineas, while Grade 1winners Reve De Sivola and Me Voici plusGrade 2 scorer Pistolet Noir were allpicked up cheaply in France as yearlings.Though Nick Williams insists there is

“no real science” to the system – “just anice type of individual with a goodpedigree”– his wife gives him more credit,saying: “People underestimate what Nickknows about pedigrees. It’s a lifetime oflearning and he has an instinctive feel forit. We’re realistic. If it is somethingHighflyer want, we’re not going to get it.But Nick’s knowledge of bloodstock isunbeatable and, while others may go forfashionable sires, we go for the dam line.“We have a set routine when we go to a

sale. Nick will have gone through thecatalogue closely and marked up thehorses he is interested in. We only everlook at those horses, so we are fullyconcentrated, and we have a system ofrating them. The ones we like are often theones others don’t, hence the bargains.”

Discount diamonds

“I sold Pistolet Noirbecause I was in a strop. I said I was

going to divorce Nickand needed money”

Jane Williams leads second lot on Shalimar Fromentro, who cost just €2,500


Whitsbury Feb OB 2012_Whitsbury Feb OB 2012 17/01/2012 16:06 Page 1

N I C K A N D J A N E W I L L I A M S

that infectious laugh. “They all look the same tome.” Yet later, walking round their stables, he isa mine of information about pedigree, pricesand planned races. He is also firm on certainissues. “I won’t have a horsewalker on theplace,” he says. “You have to train the mentalside of the horse, as well as the physical side.Monotony is no help with that.”

He refuses to allow any owner a dominantrole at the yard. That policy was tested whenJared Sullivan took his horses away fromCharlie Mann and divided them betweenWilliams and Nicholls. “He rang out of the bluebut I said we couldn’t have more than four,” herecalls. “For Non Stop was the one I reallywanted and I hope he’ll run in the Jewson atCheltenham. I wasn’t so keen on Gauvain,because he’d broken down, but horses like himseem to thrive in our regime. He’s on target forthe Ryanair.”

Cheltenham has an irresistible lure forWilliams, despite his lack of fortune there so far.“We’ve yet to have a Festival winner and quitea few of ours have got injured on quick groundthere,” he says. “I hate the meeting in some ways– if I had my way, it would be run on slowground at Newbury in February – but thatdoesn’t mean we won’t compete.” Indeed,he rattled off 15 potential Festivalcontenders, more than half the horses hehas run so far this season.

Whether the Festival squad willinclude either of the horses with

which he is most closely identified remains indoubt. Diamond Harry and Reve de Sivola, whoboth run for the Paul Duffy DiamondPartnership, were not in strong work duringJanuary. “Reve has a little injury and we stillhope he’ll come right for Cheltenham,”

Williams says. The other horse justbrings a deep sigh. “He’smentally fragile, physicallyfragile. A nightmare.”

Twice this season DiamondHarry has been withdrawn,lame, on the morning of abig race. He did run inthe Betfair Chase but

disappointed. Jane points out this is one horsein the yard with which her husband does all thetraining. “I’ve made a bad job of it, then, haven’tI,” he responds mournfully. “He’s run once sincewinning the Hennessy in 2010. Oddly, I wouldrun him in the Grand National. I think he’s gotmore chance in that than the Gold Cup.”

There are many more to excite the trainer –Urbain de Sivola, bought for Sullivan to contestthe Triumph Hurdle, the revitalised Zaynar andthe returning James de Vassy. “And we haveplenty of nice unraced horses to run before theend of the season,” he says with relish.

Who is going to ride them is up in the air.James Reveley took over as stable jockey whenDaryl Jacob left to join Nicholls but it has notbeen a smooth transition. “Daryl had told meabout 20 times he would not go to Paul, so thatleft a bit of a sour taste with me,” Nick says. “Butthe arrangement with James is loose and he hassometimes chosen to ride in the north when wehave runners. It’s unresolved. In fact, the wholeissue of a stable jockey is an area of conflictbetween Jane and me.”

It is not the only one, that much is clear. Yet,somehow, it works. As I leave, there are smiles,laughter and anticipation of the next stage inthe grand plan. “The optimum is to have 35 or40 horses all rated 140 or above,” Nick says.“We both agree on that!”

>>

Nick Williams (top) rates Diamond Harry moreof a National horse than Gold Cup contender


Whitsbury Feb OB 2012 (B)_Whitsbury Feb OB 2012 (B) 17/01/2012 16:08 Page 1

BEARSTONE STUD THE SOURCEOF SPEED

Enquiries: Terry or Margaret Holdcroft or Mark Pennell, Bearstone Stud, Market Drayton, Shropshire TF9 4HFOffice: 44 (0)1630 647197 Mobile: 44 (0)7974 948755e: [email protected] w: www.bearstonestud.co.uk

All £3,500 Oct 1stLive Foal Free Return

Special Offer for 2012'Free Keep Fees' for

visiting mares

INDESATCHELClassic-placed dual Group winner

A fast emerging son of sire of sires Danehill Dancer,and with a growing reputation

His impressive two year old strike rate lastseason equalled the achievements ofRoyal Applause and Kheleyf

and his yearlings made up to almost £40,000

MAJOR CADEAUXTop class sprinter/miler and

multiple Group winnerAn exceptional son of an exceptional sire

with his first yearlings in 2012

Too good on the racecourse for Dutch Art (champion1st crop sire in 2011) and Holy Roman Emperor

(champion 2nd crop and 2yo sire in 2011)and now off to a flying start at stud

His first foals averaged 17,167 gns -almost 5x their covering fee

FIREBREAKGroup 1 Millionaire Miler - Group 1 Sire

The Leading Sire of 2YO's in GB since 2009by % Stakes winners to runners

Another hugely successful year, highlighted by thespeedy Group class two-year-old Caledonia Lady

and a yearling average at the major sales ofover £33,000 - more than 11x their covering fee

Bearstone roster TOB02-12:Layout 2 16/1/12 11:23 Page 1

A fairEXCHANGE

Should Betfair contribute more money to the sport on which its business was founded? Notaccording to Martin Cruddace, the online firm’s Chief Legal and Regulatory Affairs Officer

By Edward Rosenthal • Photos George Selwyn

Betfair has revolutionised bettingbut its effect on the on-coursemarket has squeezed margins –

good for punters but bad for racing,with its income based on grossprofits. Do you have any sympathywith the view that Betfair should paymore to UK racing?There is no evidence that margins have beenaffected. That was the finding of the

Donoughue Commission which looked intostarting prices. Even the traditionalbookmakers no longer say that margins havebeen affected in any material way.Do I have any sympathy with the view that

we should pay more to UK racing? Absolutelynot. We pay effectively the levy on 10.75% ofour gross profits on British horseracing likeevery other bookmaker. The fact that we getthere through a different business model islargely irrelevant. Betfair may be based offshore but we pay thelevy as though we are British-based. Racinghas not lost out from the fact that we arenot licensed in the UK.

Your deals with other racingjurisdictions have been morefavourable than to British racing, asyou have had to pay to get thesupport of overseas racing nations. Isthis not short-changing our sport?No. It’s the basic principle of business that youpay the rate necessary in each jurisdiction. Thecost of transacting in a country is the same forall operators, so if Ladbrokes wanted to operatein Tasmania, they would have to pay 20% aswell. But the fact is that there are any numberof factors to take into account, such as theoverriding tax position in those countries.We’re quite relaxed about what the levy rate

THE BIG INTERVIEWMARTIN CRUDDACE

>>

Martin Cruddace warnsthat bookmakers will stoppromoting racing if they arecharged more in levy fees

Feb_90_Big_Interview_Owner Breeder 19/01/2012 11:38 Page 49

may be here but we’re not going to pay anymore than anyone else.

So you’re saying if the rate doubled itwould be the same for everyone?It would be the same for everyone but ofcourse that would be an absolute disaster forBritish horseracing, because there would be noincentive for any operator to promote thesport. If you double the cost of that productthen what will happen is that operators willpromote only the products that are competing

with British horseracing. One of myfrustrations with horseracing is that I don’tthink it has quite understood that it has tocompete with any number of products that itdidn’t have to compete with ten years ago.

But isn’t that idea, that bookmakerswould pass up the chance to promotethe Cheltenham Festival or GrandNational, ridiculous because theseevents generate so much revenue?No, and I take issue with that point. If Don’t

Push It wins the Grand National then it has amajor cost for the levy, because it’s a heavilybacked favourite ridden by Tony McCoy. WhatI would say is that Cheltenham, Aintree andthe Derby are to a large extent self-promoting.It’s absolutely vital to have those crown jewelsin the sport but they are a very small part ofthe overall picture.

Are you saying that bookmakerswould turn their backs on the sport?Yes. You’re seeing it even at 10.75%.Promotional budgets are going to other sportsthat have a much better margin forbookmakers. That’s commercial reality. Ofcourse we promote horseracing and we alsocompete for sponsorship of the crown jewels.But much of the promotional activity from themajor bookmakers on racing – the best priceguarantee, for example – is effectively a lossleader. Their business model is to get people‘in’ with such offers and then cross-sell themother products. The pressure on us toemphasise other products would greatlyincrease the more expensive racing becomes.If you increase the rate of the levy, you mightsee a short-term spike, but it would lead tolong-term decline.

Betfair pays British racing a voluntarylevy. How can this be satisfactory?Is the sport dissatisfied with the situation? Themost important thing to remember is thatwithout a long-term commercial agreement,you necessarily have a year-by-year agreement,so racing has never had the certainty of whatthe levy will deliver more than 12-24 monthsin advance. We paid the £6 million on the firstday of the 50th levy scheme and we’ve enteredinto a legally binding deed for the 51st scheme[that starts in April] so that no-one can saywe’re not legally obliged to pay for it.

As for the 52nd scheme, who knows whatthe position is going to be and whether we’llhave a commercial agreement in place? Itwouldn’t be appropriate to extend the legallybinding deed to pay for the 52nd scheme butI don’t anticipate there being any change to ourcommitment.

What share of your overall businesscomes from British racing? Around 30%. Football accounts for more andabout 50% of new customers place their firstbet on football. The percentage of customersplacing their first bet on British horseracing isdeclining all the time; you’d be lucky if it’s20%. That’s not a Betfair problem and it’s notan internet problem, it’s a racing market shareproblem. When I started with Betfair in 2004British horseracing accounted for around 65-70% of business. There’s been a decline inmarket share but not in absolute terms. Thatreinforces my point; racing has to understandwhat a competitive world it is out there.


T H E B I G I N T E R V I E W

>>

Last year the Levy Board took the decisionthat betting exchange users should not beliable for levy payments, including thosesaid to be acting as ‘quasi bookmakers’. TheBHA, under the guidance of Chairman PaulRoy, believes differently and has joinedforces with William Hill to launch a courtchallenge against the decision.

Cruddace says: “In relation to thechallenge I’m immensely saddened. This isgoing to cost millions in prize-money –we’ve had to suspend our £1 million grassroots contribution for the next financialyear. The Levy Board’s costs in defending itsposition are already around £650,000 andcould be a lot more. Then, of course, youhave the BHA’s costs.

“Even if the BHA were to be successful,and we were unsuccessful in our appeal tothe Court of Appeal and, if unsuccessfulthere, the Supreme Court, it would go backto the Levy Board for a reassessment of itsoriginal decision. And then there is noguarantee the Levy Board would come to adifferent verdict. If it did, we wouldjudicially review that decision.

“I’m so sad that the BHA, as the sport’sregulator, has got into bed with one of ourmain competitor’s in an effort to damage

our business. Any sane person would say itis ridiculous to have this litigation.

“The only way the BHA could affect ourbusiness is if they could change the primarylegislation and I don’t see the governmentinterested in that in our lifetime.”

Whilst the BHA and William Hill havebrought the judicial action against thedecision of the Levy Board, interestedparties – which includes Betfair – canintervene, and this has incurred significantlegal costs for the betting exchange.

“For the first four months of this litigationour legal fees were £500,000; the estimatefor the year is £1.7m,” says Cruddace. “Icannot go to our business and say, ‘We’repaying £6.5m in voluntary levy, we’repaying an additional £1m in voluntarycontribution to grass roots racing and, bythe way, can I have another £1.7m as theBHA has had a temporary loss of sanity?’

“I want to make it absolutely clear: ifwe’re successful I will be seeking thosecosts. The BHA is risking millions of poundsof prize-money with William Hill, whoseonline business is Britain’s largest non-levypaying bookmaker. It gives William Hill abadge of respect by joining forces andbringing this action; for the two to get intobed together is utterly wrong and historywill show that this has been a catastrophicdecision for UK horseracing.

“Paul Roy and Ralph Topping [ChiefExecutive of William Hill] have shownthemselves to be the Statler and Waldorf ofBritish horseracing by taking this action.”

Cruddace adds: “Ralph has decided toplough his own furrow in various areas.He’s decided to single Betfair out forconsiderable attack, not only on theBookmakers’ Committee, but at GamblingCommission level, at government level andalso at HBLB level through this action withthe BHA. But frankly, to us, he’s no morethan a mosquito bite in his annoyance.”

Cruddace likens the men at the BHAand Hills to the Muppet characters

“Roy and Topping? They’re theStatler and Waldorf of UK racing”



Is quality racing more important to youthan traditional bookmakers?No, it’s important to the whole industryequally. On a Saturday, good quality action isenormously beneficial to our horseracingbusiness. But we mustn’t overlook howimportant the more ordinary fare is to the levycoffers. We were the first operator to share our data

with the Levy Board and Race PlanningCommittee so races could be planned withlevy yield in mind. It is important that thefixture list is produced with information onhow much levy certain fixtures produce.

How important is race sponsorship toyour business?Sponsorship of better quality racing, such asthe Betfair Chase, is important commerciallyto our brand and our identity among theBritish horseracing public. But there are a lot ofinitiatives that we do that have no commercialbenefit but which we do because we believeit’s the right thing, such as giving £1m eachyear to grass roots racing and racing charities.Unfortunately, that’s going to have to stopbecause of the BHA/William Hill litigation.That £1m represents what the levy would beon international customers betting on UKracing.

What other initiatives have youstarted?We’ve launched a new jump racing series withJCR tracks that will culminate with a £50,000final over fences and hurdles on EasterSaturday, for horses that you wouldn’t expectto see at Cheltenham. Last year we gave a six-figure sum to Scottish racing, producing aseries that culminated with a raceday that saw0-70 horses running for a £25,000 first prize.

But is it a good thing to getmoderate horses running for bigpurses?People argue that [lower class racing] willdilute the quality of the breed. I’m afraid thatsort of thinking is consistent with the idea thatracing doesn’t have to compete. The fact is youhave to look after the owner – and there are65% of owners whose horses never see thewinner’s enclosure. It is vital that the breadand butter owner has a chance of a big payday.

Would you support the‘premierisation’ of British racing?We support Champions’ Day at Ascot andbelieve premier racing is vital for the industry.But if you do that to the exclusion of thesmaller owner then you do so at your peril.You should bear in mind that over 50% of

prize-money goes to about 30 people. Theindustry is benefited by ownership from themany thousands beneath those 30 people.

What about a third tier outside of thelevy, supported by a commercialagreement between racecourses andbookmakers?You have to be careful what you wish for,because for the prize-money it pays out itbrings in a larger amount for the levy. Wewould welcome the ability of the bookmakingindustry to get together and commerciallyfund third tier fixtures providing we didn’thave to pay levy on the income from thosefixtures. You can’t have your cake and eat it.

How does Betfair view the proposedabolition of the levy and thepossibility of a licence condition forbookmakers in order to take bets onBritish horseracing?The BHA and racing are mistaken if theythink this is the silver bullet. Even if thegovernment introduces legislation to bringthe UK business of offshore companies intothe regulatory and tax net, the idea that itmeans you can impose a licensing conditionthat you make a payment to a particularsport is one which is bound to be open to


>>

“In 2004, Britishracing accounted for70% of business on

Betfair. Now it’snearer 30%”


substantial legal challenge. Arguably it willbe state aid and the government, if it wantsto do that, has a very tricky legal minefieldto navigate. All of the more reputable companies

would have no choice but to seek agambling licence from the UK if thelegislation demanded it. But the idea thatthey would do it without a legal challenge isfar-fetched, in my view.

Changing from a private to a publiccompany must have had a huge effecton many levels of your business. Whyhas the share price been sodisappointing since the float?We have to accept that we did disappoint themarket with some of our numbers last year.The IPO process made us take our eye off theball. It took an enormous amount ofmanagement time, time that should have been

focussed on the company. The share price isalso compressed because of the regulatory riskof going into other jurisdictions. But we’re nowseeing a return to double digit growth, as wemade clear in our last results announcement.

What is your relationship like with theBetfred-owned Tote? Our relationship with the Tote continues to beconstructive. They recognise that we’ve beengood for them in allowing our three millioncustomers to access the Tote product throughour site, which has had a positive effect on Toteincome. It is also great for our customers whodon’t have to leave our site to place a Tote bet.

Have the traditional bookmakersaccepted you after years of hostility?In over 11 years of existence, various aspects ofracing and traditional bookmakers haveattempted to get the way we pay the levychanged, through Treasury reviews, throughthe Gambling Commission, through the HBLBconsultation, through the Bookmakers’Committee, and so far we continue to pay thelevy like everyone else. Now is the time for the



PRINCE FLORI

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bookmaking industry to work together andcome up with a really good commercial dealthat supports racing.

Do you resent efforts to remove youfrom the Bookmakers’ Committee?We’re entitled to our seat, even though WilliamHill and the BHA have tried to take it awayfrom us. It would be difficult to justify the seaton the committee if we didn’t commit to legallypay the same amount of levy as if we operatedunder a UK licence. It’s important that bettingexchanges are represented at this level.

The Voler La Vedette saga createdplenty of negative headlines forexchanges and Betfair. Discuss...Being as much a technology company as abetting operator, this wasn’t great for us. We’veidentified what the problem was, which was aresult of a perfect storm of all sorts of thingsthat may happen once in x million times, andwe’ve fixed it. Clearly, in any technologycompany where you process over six milliontransactions every day, there is always a risk oftechnology failure. That’s why the money staysin our system, to mitigate that risk to protectnot only ourselves but also our customers.

We made the decision to void the in-running win market and the place market. Byex gratia payment we compensated thosecustomers that had placed winning bets up tothe time of the technology fault during therace. But if you placed a losing bet up to thattime then you still keep your money. So we’retaking the hit (reported to be £100,000).

Did you feel the media criticism andreporting was over the top?We suffer slightly from people wanting to seeus fail and trip over; elements in the media, ourcompetitors and horseracing. We need to tryand change that. It’s subjective whether or notthe reporting was over the top. It was to beexpected and I don’t have any complaints.Could we have communicated with our

customers better? Probably. But, again, the firstpriority would have been to identify the sourceof the problem and fix it.

Do you let customers bet on credit?In very small instances for larger customers,but it is de minimis; if you happen to be a verylarge customer and your money is tied up in anumber of bets throughout the market. Anumber of them are bookmakers. If a railsbookmaker bets with another railsbookmakers, they don’t pay out straight away,they settle up later.

Is Betfair intrinsically linked withbetting corruption? California was the first state to introduce drugtesting on racehorses. Funnily enough, therewere positive examples, so people saidtherefore California was responsible for dopingin horseracing. The recent corruption case

demonstrates that we have been the onlycompany to share specific account informationand details to help police the sport. The ideathat corruption in horseracing started when wearrived in 2000 is ridiculous.

No-one has said there was notcorruption before Betfair, but youhave made it possible to lay a horseto lose by one click of a mouse…If you know a horse is not going to win thenyou’ve been able to profit from thatinformation since chariots were racing in theRoman coliseum. Yes, in theory, laying a horseis easier in terms of pressing a button. But thefact is if someone is determined to makemoney through a corrupt activity they will doit, on any platform. The most important thingis to say that if you do it through us, you willbe detected, you will be warned off and youmay face criminal prosecution.

Sports book offeringsOur intention is to bring in a moretraditional sports book as part of ourproduct offering, because we want ourcustomers to be able to bet on everythingthey want to without having to leave oursite. If you want to bet with us on the1.05pm at Fontwell on your way to work at7am, the liquidity might not be there foryou, so we want to offer a sports bookoffering like the other operators with fixedodds betting. We hope it happens in thiscalendar year.

Mobile bettingFor our second quarter I think the numberof mobile bets we had placed on our sitewas 16 million, more than all of ourcompetition put together. We want to own

that space as much as possible. You’ll findthat the phenomenal growth in the amountof people using the mobile product has tocontinue. It’s what the next generation isdoing.

Europe and beyondWe have a lot of potential to expand,certainly into European jurisdictions. Weare licensed in Denmark, we anticipatebeing licensed in Spain and Italy, andcountries in Eastern Europe are looking tolicence us and other operators. We alsohave legislation that allows for a bettingexchange in California in May. We have ateam looking at opportunities in the FarEast but we have to accept that in the shortto medium term our resources are betterdeployed elsewhere.

Martin Cruddace on…



Assessing the NEW BOYS

The Derby winner retires to Ireland alongside Canford Cliffs, while theBritish intake is headed by new recruits for Darley and the National Stud

Words Jeremy Early • Photos George Selwyn

NEW SIRES FOR 2012

The tendency to keep colts in training asfour- or five-year-olds is of tremendousbenefit to the sport and, with luck, to

the reputation of the horses concerned in sofar as they are able to show what they are madeof as mature thoroughbreds. The policy can have an impact on the set of

new sires on offer each year, though. Amongthe top British-trained colts of 2011, Frankel,Excelebration, Nathaniel, Strong Suit, MaskedMarvel and Sea Moon will all be back for moreon the track. The departure of Workforce toJapan has also removed one racing star fromthe stallion ranks but there is plenty forbreeders to aim at across Europe and this

feature turns the spotlight on the batch whowill be covering their first books next month.

BritainThere is a good range of talent among the sixto stand in Britain. Top sprinters and milershave the edge, led by Dick Turpin (NationalStud, £7,000) and Poet’s Voice (Dalham HallStud, £12,000).Dick Turpin is a timely replacement for

Myboycharlie, who has moved to Haras duMézeray. The newcomer compiled an excellentrecord, showing fine consistency in running 20times for nine wins and four placings forearnings of nearly £1 million.

He was among the best of his age for each ofthe three years he raced, notching theRichmond Stakes at two, the Prix Jean Prat atthree and the Premio Vittorio di Capua plustwo Group 2s at four. Dick Turpin also finishedrunner-up in three Group 1s in his Classic year,including the 2,000 Guineas.His pedigree, by Arakan out of a mare by

Sharrood, contains more speed than staminaand he can be expected to sire runners verymuch in his own mould.Poet’s Voice was also best at around a mile

and it was a shame that his campaign as a four-year-old proved abortive after a good debutrun at Meydan. It was a different matter at two,when he won the Champagne Stakes, and at

three when he proved a real force from Augustonwards. He easily landed the CelebrationMile before touching off Rip Van Winkle in theQueen Elizabeth II Stakes, where he showedboth a turn of foot and battling qualities.Poet’s Voice is good-looking and by

the young star in the Darley firmament,Dubawi, who is only ten but is responsible for

“Dick Turpin is atimely replacement

for Myboycharlie; hispedigree containsplenty of speed”

A Group winner at two, three and four, Dick Turpin is now at the National Stud

THE

NAT

ION

AL

STU

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Feb_90_NewSires_Sept2010 19/01/2012 11:49 Page 54


six Group 1 scorers over a wide range ofdistances. The distaff pedigree includes thatmarvellous mare Exclusive, dam of ExclusiveNative, as fourth dam.

By Bertolini out of a Superlative mare it wasno surprise that Prime Defender (HedgeholmeStud, £1,750) proved best at short distances.He had a long career, showing smart abilityand toughness in contesting 57 races throughsix seasons, winning eight of them.

The highlights came in the Free Handicapand Sandy Lane Stakes in 2007, theCammidge Trophy in 2009 and the Group 2Duke of York Stakes in 2010. He showedplenty of courage as well as pace to get thebetter of Showcasing in the last-named andalso showed his mettle when beaten only acouple of lengths in the July Cup and HaydockSprint Cup in 2008. Prime Defender is likely tosire runners that take after him in stamina.

Sixties Icon will be represented by his firstrunners this season while his Cape Cross half-brother Native Ruler is about to embark on hisown career at stud (Louella Stud, £800).Having won a ten-furlong maiden at three, hemissed the whole of his four-year-old seasonthrough injury but made an astonishingcomeback when beaten only a nose by thetough Dandino in the Group 2 Jockey ClubStakes after 21 months off the track.

Trained like his dam, the Oaks winner LoveDivine, by Sir Henry Cecil, Native Ruler wassubsequently a length and a quarter behindDuncan when fourth in the Yorkshire Cup.

Eastern Anthem (Withyslade Farm,£2,000) ran only once in 2010 and not at all in2011 but it is worth remembering how goodhe was over middle distances. Winner of five ofhis 15 starts, his tally included the SheemaClassic and second places in the Grosser Preisvon Baden and Preis von Europa, in which hewent down by a nose to Jukebox Jury. EasternAnthem has a cracking pedigree, by Singspielout of dual Classic heroine Kazzia, and it willbe fascinating to see how he fares.

The Gold Cup in June will not seem quitethe same without Geordieland (Beech TreeStud, £1,500), who ran in four editions from >>

Dream Ahead, above, beatingGoldikova, is at Ballylinch Stud; PrimeDefender, left, joins Hedgeholme Stud



2007 onwards. He made his presence felt inmost of them too, chasing home Yeats whensecond in 2007 and 2008, and third in 2009.Geordieland was invariably waited with

before coming with a fine run in the closingstages and he used this talent and his stamina togood effect when winning seven races,principally the Group 2 Grand Prix deChantilly, Yorkshire Cup and Henry II Stakes.He was also runner-up in three other Group 2s.

IrelandThere are more Group 1 winners as new sires inIreland than in Britain and France together, withDerby hero Pour Moi (Coolmore, €20,000)leading the way. The colt’s triumph at Epsomstill seems fresh in the mind given the way itwas achieved as he stormed past horse afterhorse in the straight to get up close home. His subsequent injury and retirement were

blows to the shape of the season, as well as hisconnections, but at least he is able to strut hisstuff at stud. Overall he won three of his fivestarts, including also the Prix Greffulhe, andbeing by Montjeu out of a Darshaan mare hisbeing very well suited by a mile and a half wasentirely predictable. The distaff family isexceptional, with first-rate fillies Awaasif andSnow Bride among Pour Moi’s relatives.Coolmore have also bagged the admirable

Canford Cliffs (€17,500), one of the best milersof recent years and successful in seven of his 11starts, highlighted by five Group 1s in a row,including the Sussex Stakes from Rip VanWinkle and Queen Anne Stakes fromGoldikova. His turn of foot had to be seen to bebelieved.The pedigree, by Tagula out of a Marju mare,

is not so fashionable as Pour Moi’s but CanfordCliffs has good looks to go with his superbability and will surely be well patronised.The third new Coolmore stallion, Zoffany

(€7,500), also landed a Group 1, the Phoenix

Stakes as a juvenile. That was one of five raceshe won that year, including also the TyrosStakes, and although he failed to triumph in hisClassic campaign he put up two fineperformances before training off, going downby three-quarters of a length to Frankel in the StJames’s Palace Stakes and by a head to MutualTrust in the Prix Jean Prat. Zoffany has acommercial pedigree, by Dansili out of aMachiavellian mare, and he may prove asurprise package.Dream Ahead (Ballylinch Stud, €17,500)

had two magnificent campaigns, provinghimself one of the best of his age in both. At twohe was officially rated the equal of Frankel afterwinning his first three starts, among them the

Prix Morny and the Middle Park Stakes by astunning nine lengths.Things did not go to plan early on for Dream

Ahead as a three-year-old but once he returnedto distances short of a mile he excelled himself,winning the July Cup, Betfred Sprint Cup andPrix de la Foret, accounting for Goldikova inthe last-named.Diktat was a sprinter and the distaff family is

a fast one, so Dream Ahead looks a safe bet tomake his mark with juveniles and horses best atup to a mile or so, helped by the proven skillsthe team at Ballylinch have at marketing andmanaging their sires.The same comment applies to Rathbarry

Stud, who are standing Lilbourne Lad (€7,500).This one raced only at two last year and showedconsistency, toughness and talent with threewins and three placings from eight outings.His principal success came in the Railway

Stakes but he also landed a Listed race andfinished a good second in the Gimcrack Stakesand Middle Park Stakes. There is some staminaon the female side but with top-ranking speedsire Acclamation at the top and Green Desertalso close up Lilbourne Lad stands every chanceof getting off to a flyer with his first crop.Roderic O’Connor (Ballyhane Stud, €9,500)

had two stellar moments and picked up twoGroup 1s in the process. First, after runningsecond to Frankel in the Dewhurst Stakes, henotched the Criterium International, then lastspring he made all to triumph over DubawiGold in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.His form at middle distances was nowhere

near so good and in all probability, like a few ofGalileo’s progeny, he was best suited by a mile.Roderic O’Connor’s dam is by Danehill andalthough Gold Cup winner Gildoran is in therethe recent trend has been for speed.Ballyhane has also acquired the German

2,000 Guineas winner Frozen Power (€4,500),by Oasis Dream. The former Godolphin

>>

N E W S I R E S F O R 2 0 1 2

>>

Lilbourne Lad was retired at the end of his juvenile season and heads to Rathbarry

2011 Derby winner Pour Moi

Ballyhane has signed Roderic O’Connor


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representative, who will cover a maximum of125 mares, is a half-brother to the dual Classicheroine Finsceal Beo and was no slouchhimself, winning the Listed Prix de Huderie attwo before taking the Group 2 Mehl Mulhens-Rennen in his Classic season.

Frozen Fire (Coolagown Stud, €3,000) didnot run in 2011 and the last race he won wasthe 2008 Irish Derby, but his level of form inthat event showed him a very good colt as hestayed on strongly to beat Casual Conquest. Heis by Montjeu from a good German family.

Big Bad Bob started his stallion career atIslanmore Stud and that too is the destinationfor another of Cristina Patino’s homebreds, hisrelative Elusive Pimpernel (€1,000). The son ofElusive Quality won a pair of Group 3contests – the Acomb and the Craven – and wasrunner-up to St Nicholas Abbey in the RacingPost Trophy. Elusive Pimpernel’s dam CaraFantasy (Sadler’s Wells) is a daughter of Big BadBob’s third dam Gay Fantasy.

FranceThe French intake is pretty small and in truththe stallion industry in that country is understrong pressure. Wootton Bassett (Harasd’Etreham, €6,000) certainly looks a good oneto have captured though.

Little went right for him in 2011 but as a two-year-old he was unbeaten in five starts,culminating in a decisive victory in the PrixJean-Luc Lagardere in which he made most ofthe running to defeat Tin Horse. WoottonBassett had plenty of pace, as one would expectwith Iffraaj as his sire and a mare by PrimoDominie as his dam, and he is unlikely to provea major influence for stamina.

The same can be said for Dalghar (Haras deSaint Arnaud, €4,000), who is by championsprinter Anabaa out of the Miswaki mareDaltawa, also dam of Dalakhani and Daylami.Dalghar stayed a mile, including winning aListed event at that trip at Deauville, but didmost of his racing over shorter distances.

His biggest success in 18 runs came in thePrix du Palais Royal but he ran well to be placedin five Pattern races, notably when second inthe Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte, DiademStakes and, probably his best effort, behindSahpresa in the Prix du Pin.

Never On Sunday (Haras du Grand Camp,€3,000), by Japanese-foaled Sunday Break, wasa different kettle of fish since he stayed a mileand a half, though he was certainly effectiveover less. He won seven of his 17 starts,including the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan and

Group 3 Prix du Prince d’Orange.However, arguably his best performance

came when beaten into third, less than a lengthbehind Vision d’Etat, in the 2009 Prince ofWales’s Stakes. He also finished second in theGulfstream Park Turf Handicap after beingtransferred to the States. Sunday Break is byForty Niner out of a Storm Cat mare and thedam is by Kendor, so Never On Sunday isunlikely to be a pure stamina influence.

By Indian Ridge out of a Rainbow Questmare, Rayeni (Haras des Sablonnets, €2,000)took after his sire in having plenty of speed. Hestayed a mile, finishing second toMastercraftsman in the Irish 2,000 Guineas onheavy going, but he won the Group 3Killavullan Stakes over seven furlongs at twoand the Listed Waterford Testimonial Stakesover six at three. He also went close in theGladness Stakes as a four-year-old.

Soul City (Haras du Saz, €1,800) was at hisbest as a juvenile, winning four of his sevenoutings headed by the Prix La Rochette andGoffs Million. His best run thereafter was thirdplace in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Attempts toturn him into a middle-distance colt provedfutile, predictably given that his sire Elusive Citywon the Prix Morny and his dam’s sire PolishPatriot the July Cup.

Haras de la Hetraie boasts an impressivedual-purpose roster and added to its ranks thisyear is the British-trained Group 2 winnerShakespearean (€3,000), whose sire Shamardalwas a dual French Classic winner. Furtherbolstering his appeal in France is the fact thathis dam Paimpolaise raced there and is a half-sister to the good French sprinter Pont-Aven.

Joining Hetraie’s sister operation Haras de laBarbottiere in the Pays de Loire is MonitorClosely (€2,000). By Oasis Dream out of aclassy racemare from a superb Cliveden Studfamily, he stayed better than one might haveexpected given his breeding and was suited bya mile and a half or more, over which distanceshe won the Great Voltigeur Stakes and finishedthird in the St Leger.

>>

The unbeaten juvenile Wootton Bassett will stand in France, scene of his best win

Soul City joins his sire Elusive City among the ranks of French stallions


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SIR PERCY

ARCHIPENKOGroup 1 winning miler and one ofthe best bred stallions in the worldRated 2lbs higher than his outstanding sireKINGMAMBO.

Half brother to the dam of 2010 AmericanChampion BLAME from the superb stallionproducing family of NUREYEV andSADLER’S WELLS.

His first crop are yearlings in 2012

Fee: £5,000 (1st October SLF)

AUSSIE RULESClassic winning miler by DANEHILLfrom the family of ALBANOVA, ALBORADA,QUARTER MOON, YESTERDAY, etc.

A Leading European 2nd Crop Sire 2011His first two crops include:

• 7 Group/Stakes winners • 38 individual 2yo winners • Earnings of over £1.7 million


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The Leading 2nd Crop Sales Sireat the major UK and Irish yearlings sales in 2011, with an average of 43,679gnsand a top price of 260,000gns.*Stallions standing at £10k or less, 10 or more yearlings sold to 13/10/11

The UK’s 2nd Leading 1st Crop Sire with 11 winners of 18 races from 5f to 8f, incl.COQUET (LR winner), ALLA SPERANZA,SALFORD ART, PERCY JACKSON, etc.


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Archi-Aussie–Percy fp Owner Feb_Arch Aussie Percy 17/01/2012 15:54 Page 1


There’s nothing newabout top-class European and

American racehorses beingexported to Japan.Through both stallionsand broodmares, ‘outside’influences are evident inmany of Japan’s top

families and judging by recent events thatwill continue to be the case.

Workforce is the first Derby winner to head tostud in Japan since Oath, whose export after his1999 victory followed a rash of similardepartures, including High-Rise (1998),Lammtarra (1995), Erhaab (1994),Commander In Chief (1993), Dr Devious(1992) and Generous (1991). He joins on thelist of stallions in Japan his erstwhile stablemateHarbinger and the former European-trainedBago, Conduit, Fantastic Light, Falbrav,Johannesburg, Rule Of Law, Storming Home,Stravinsky, White Muzzle and Xaar.

It is hard to imagine that the importing of anyhorse could have a bigger impact on a nation’sbloodlines than the arrival of the American-bredSunday Silence in Japan. The great horse died in2002 but is represented in the stallion ranks ofhis adopted home by 34 sons and an increasingnumber of grandsons.

One of those sons, and arguably the best onthe racecourse, Deep Impact, is a son of Oaksrunner-up Wind In Her Hair, a granddaughterof the Queen’s Highclere, who, through HeightOf Fashion, has been responsible for quite adynasty in Europe too.

His eldest runners have only just turned fourbut Deep Impact already has 12 stakes winnersto his name, including the Grade 1 winners RealImpact, Joie De Vivre (a three-parts sister toJapan Cup winner Buena Vista) and Marcellina,winner of the Oka Sho, Japan’s equivalent of the1,000 Guineas.

Marcellina is out of the Irish-bred, Italian-trained Marbye, who won the Prix d’Astarte inTeruya Yoshida’s colours before being shippedto Japan to take up broodmare duties. She hasalso produced the Grade 3 Nisai Stakes winnerGrandezza to another son of Sunday Silence,Agnes Tachyon.

Among Deep Impact’s other stakes winnersare Best Deal, a son of the French-bred Grade1 EP Taylor Stakes winner Commercante;Gentildonna, out of the Cheveley Park Stakeswinner Donna Blini; and Adam’s Peak, fromthe British-bred mare Singhalese, winner of theGrade 1 Del Mar Oaks. Deep Impact’s Grade3-winning sons Frere Jacques and DanonBallade are both members of the same family,with Singspiel’s dam Glorious Song and herhalf-sister Angelic Song as their third andsecond dams respectively.

The rollcall of great mares visiting DeepImpact will not stop there: Sarafina hasrecently been purchased privately by Yoshidafrom the Aga Khan following “an offer he couldnot turn down” and she is already confirmedamong his book for 2012. The three-timeGroup 1 winner is just one of a clutch of recenthigh-profile European purchases by the Shadaioperation, along with Stacelita and Sahpresa,while Yoshida has also bought significantshares in the Arc victrix Danedream and PrixMarcel Boussac winner Elusive Kate.

Along with these private purchases, theYoshida family and plenty of other Japanesebuyers have been active at recent sales inEurope and America, buying the top lot atKeeneland January and spending decent sumson Reve d’Iman, Wyola, On Verra and LollyFor Dolly at Tattersalls in December.

The flipside of so many European ownersenjoying good sales is that these horses arenow lost to the gene pool in this part of theworld. The recent favourable exchange rate

may have emboldened Japanese breeders buttheir commitment to excellence – specificallythrough top-class middle-distance bloodlines– is longstanding and makes them anincreasingly dominant presence on racing’sworld stage. As Andrew Caulfield points outon page 86, Orfevre may not be heading toDubai but Japanese raiders are to be feared atthe carnival. Last year’s one-two in the DubaiWorld Cup was no fluke and only tightenedquarantine laws have prevented Japanesehorses returning for assaults on the MelbourneCup following the quinella of Delta Blues andPop Rock in 2006.

What Gina did nextSince its inception, the committee of the TBA’sNext Generation Club has gone to greatlengths in its attempts to introduce a youngeraudience to the delights of the sport.

One of its highest profile members is GinaBryce, a presenter on At The Races and writerfor this magazine, who has a lot of experiencein both the racing and breeding side of theindustry. Her parents Colin and Melba runLaundry Cottage Stud, which bred WoottonBassett, and she rides out for the likes of PaulCole, Michael Bell and John Berry.

On March 15, Bryce is aiming to add‘Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey’ to herlist of achievements when she lines upalongside 11 other riders for the St Patrick’sDay Derby, run in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Last year’s inaugural race raised £250,000. Ifyou would like to help Gina and her fellowcompetitors to beat this tally, you can sponsorher via www.justgiving.com/GinaBryce.

Deep impact of Japanese commitment to excellence

61

Our bloodstock coverage this month includes:

• Sales Circuit: Keeneland January and Magic Millions – pages 62-65

• TBA Stallion Parade preview – pages 66-68

BREEDERS’ DIGESTBy EMMA BERRY, Bloodstock Editor

Melbourne Cup winner Delta Blues

Gina Bryce in training in Newmarket

EMM

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Feb_90_Bloodstock_Intro_Owner 19/01/2012 11:51 Page 61


SALES CIRCUIT

By SidFernando

Newsflash: The USbloodstock marketcontinues to reboundfrom the depthsplumbed in 2008 as

demand exceeds supply for quality offerings inearly 2012. The Keeneland January horses of allages sale, held in Lexington from January 9 to 12,in uncharacteristically mild winter weather untilsnow arrived on the last day, eclipsed the totalgross proceeds of last year’s five-day sale afterjust two days of selling.

At its conclusion, the numbers against a yearago continued at the explosive levels seen atKeeneland’s November sale: gross proceedsincreased 50.5%, from $25,250,350 for 1,021sold to $37,991,900 for 1,003 lots sold; averageprice was up 53.2%, or $37,878 versus $24,731;median rose 100% to $15,000 from $7,500; andRNA rates decreased to 19.8% from 27.4%.

Broodmares and broodmare prospectsbrought the top prices, with demand for qualityin pedigree, performance and physique fuelingthe surge at all levels. The four most expensivemares went to foreign interests, with the sale-topping Thunder Gulch mare Topliner, the damof 2011 Grade 1 winner Star Billing, in foal toDarley’s Medaglia d’Oro, selling for $1.4 millionto Katsumi Yoshida. The next highest lot wasSpice Island, the Tabasco Cat dam of 2010 Grade1 winner Ice Box. Offered in foal to Tapit, she soldfor $775,000 to Qatari interests, with agentHunter Valley Farm signing the ticket.

Later-born yearlings sold vigorouslythroughout the sale, too. The sale’s highest-pricedweanling was a Unbridled’s Song colt that RickPorter’s Fox Hill Farm purchased for $490,000.Porter has had a successful relationship with theTaylor Made sire, racing such stakes winners byhim as Old Fashioned, Rockport Harbor, EightBelles, Honest Man, and Winslow Homer, to

KeenelandJanuarycontinues US upswingin prices

Keeneland January horses of all ages saleTop lotsSex/Name/Breeding Vendor Buyer Price ($)

M Topliner (Thunder Gulch) Hill N Dale Sales Agency Katsumi Yoshida 1,400,000

M Spice Island (Tabasco Cat) Bluewater Sales LLC Hunter Valley Farm, Agent 775,000

M Magnificent Honour (A P Indy) Paramount Sales Blandford Bloodstock 600,000

F Cozi Rosie (Pleasantly Perfect) Lane’s End Shadai Farm 525,000

C (Unbridled’s Song-Ideal Image) Havens Bstk Agency Inc Fox Hill Farm 490,000

M Touching Beauty (Tapit) Gainesway Eaton Sales, Agent 450,000

M Art Princess (Officer) Gainesway Katsumi Yoshida 400,000

F (Empire Maker-Ticker Tape) Eaton Sales T Hyde 400,000

Five-year taleYear Gross ($) Catalogued Sold

2012 37,991,900 1,594 1,003

2011 25,250,350 1,827 1,021

2010 23,895,100 1,753 982

2009 32,824,000 2,379 1,338

2008 70,446,000 2,548 1,493

Topliner, in foal to Medaglia d’Oro, topped the sale and is another on her way to Japan

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name a few. Porter also owns 2011 Horse of the Year Havre de Grace.Coolmore’s Ashford Stud-based Giant’s Causeway led all covering

stallions with two or more mares sold, with a $475,000 average, followedby Gainesway’s popular young horse Tapit, who had five in-foal maresbring an average price of $420,000. Lane’s End’s Candy Ride was third,with two mares averaging $340,000. Unbridled’s Song led all sires of weanlings, with two averaging $357,500.

Keeneland holds four sales each year, beginning with January’s mixedauction, followed next by its April sale of two-year-olds in training, thenby its marquee September yearling sale, and ending with the Novembermixed sale. Last year, three of the four sales – excepting April – were upby gross proceeds, most notably the November auction which grossed$208,511,200 versus $147,392,200 in 2010. With January now in thebooks, this is the second consecutive year that the January sale’s gross proceeds have risen and the upward trend is becoming obvious.

Tom Thornbury, Keeneland’s congenial associate Director of Sales, tooksome time at the end of the auction to give his take on the trend.

“The big question before this sale was whether it would follow the pricegains of the November sale,” he said. “The November sale was augmentedby a couple of sensational dispersals (the Edward P Evans and Palides Investments NV dispersals led November with Christmas Kid at $4.2mand Royal Delta at $8.5m, respectively, headlining each) that elevated themarket to dramatic heights, but the January sale is such a mixed bag ofdifferent-valued stock.

“This was borne out on the first day, for example, with one horse bringing a ‘no bid’ and another selling for $1.4 million. But as we lookedat the numbers today, we realised that this sale was up on all scores.”

Thornbury, correctly, attributes price gains to the concentration of quality on offer.

“Over the last three years, breeders have been reducing their herds byeliminating their lesser-quality stock,” he said. “The bottom has been eliminated, or is currently being eliminated, so to speak. It’s a cycle thataddressed the overproduction we faced before the bottom fell out. As a result, we’ve had a reduction of sales days – four this year at January, whilewe had five days last year – and perhaps next year we’ll have only threedays, which is what this sale once was, as far back as I can remember.”

Thornbury also noted that the “stratospheric percentage increases inprices for ‘weanlings/yearlings’ tells you that those who bought for resalein 2011 made money and, as people make money, they are more inclinedto spend it at a higher level to compete.”

Based on the numbers alone, Thornbury believes that “those buying athigher prices are confident in the market,” and he said this can send onlypositive signals to those who breed horses. Thornbury’s encouragingassessment and the numbers behind it indicate that the upswing in themarketplace is a harbinger of better days.

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Spice Island was sold to Qatari interests carrying to Tapit

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Etalons OB Feb 2012_Etalons OB Feb 2012 16/01/2012 13:23 Page 1

Magic MillionsGold Coast Yearling SaleJuveniles by Fastnet Rock and Redoute’s Choice filled the first two placesof the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast on January 14 andthe two stallions finished in the same order at the concurrent MagicMillions Yearling Sale, with Demi O’Byrne and James Bester going to$960,000 to secure the Fastnet Rock colt out of Rose Of Cimarron.

Coolmore’s Fastnet Rock, whose fee is listed as private ahead of the2012 northern hemisphere covering season, has enjoyed a tremendousseason in Australia, where his runners include the top-rated filly AtlanticJewel, winner of the 1,000 Guineas at Caulfield for a Coolmoresyndicate, and the VRC Oaks winner Mosheen.

“James and Demi absolutely loved the horse and they were ravingabout him all week,” said Tom Magnier of Coolmore Australia. “We arereally trying to get the good Fastnet Rock colts. We knew there wereplenty of people interested in him and we would have to do a bit offighting to get him.”

The four-day select sale concluded with an impressive clearance rateof 84.4%, which saw 492 yearlings change hands for a total of $62.6million. The median rose from $90,000 last year to $100,000 and theaverage price was also up, to $127,175 from $123,675 in 2011.

“The story of the sale is the clearance and the median price,” saidMagic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox. “And the average price hasincreased on last year’s figures, so all in all we’re very happy.”

A brother to dual Group 1-winning mare Melito was the star attractionon the second day of the sale, selling for $750,000 to Gerald Ryan, whoalso trained Melito.

Ryan said of the Redoute’s Choice colt: “I wasn't sure whether I’d buyhim or not until I saw him out the back there just before he went intothe ring. I looked at him and thought, ‘He’s a good horse, just buy him’.

“Melito was a top mare for the stable and she’s now at stud and infoal. This bloke looks a more early type than his sister, so he couldcertainly be one for the race next year.”

Gai Waterhouse trained the first two home in the Magic MillionsClassic and she ended the week as leading buyer at the sale. Inpartnership with James Harron, the Sydney-based trainer bought 20yearlings for a total of $5,112,500, signing for a colt and a filly by MoreThan Ready for $680,000 and $600,000 apiece. The colt, which wasthe third top price of the sale, is out of the Danehill mare Aqua d’Amore,who was trained by Waterhouse to win the Group 1 Futurity Stakes.

Fastnet Rock may have toppedthe sale but Australia’s formerchampion sire Redoute’s Choiceled the stallion averages, with eight individuals selling for anaverage $356,250. The leadingfirst-season sire was Darley’sVictoria-based shuttler NewApproach, with three yearlingssold for an average of $172,500.Another freshman, Widden Stud’sSebring, a former top-classjuvenile by More Than Ready, wasalso popular, with a draft of 26selling for an average $154,423and top price of $450,000.

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Improved trade forAustralian yearlings

Gai Waterhouse: leading buyer

BRILLIANTLY BREDGROUP WINNINGSON OF DANZIG



MAWATHEEQ First foals in 2012

One of the best yearlings I have ever seen. He should appeal to breeders being a strong sort by Danzig from an illustrious female line.

-Marcus Tregoning

“

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Concessions available for quality mares and multiple bookings

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First fifteen set to line up at Tattersalls

TBA Stallion Parade at Park Paddocks, Thursday, February 2 at 10am

TBA STALLION PARADE

The TBA Stallion Parade is becoming awelcome tradition at Tattersalls’ one-day February Sale and the line-up for

this year’s 15-strong showcase is arguablythe strongest ever assembled.

Eleven Group 1 winners will parade inthe sales ring before the day’s auctionbegins, and early visitors to Tattersalls willhave the chance to see four Guineas winnersalongside two Eclipse winners, twoJuddmonte International winners, an Arcwinner and a Lockinge winner. Not bad fora chilly midwinter’s morning.

Our new stallion feature, which starts onpage 54, gives a greater insight to theattributes of Dick Turpin, one of the mostexciting new recruits to the British ranksthis season, and he will be joined by hisfellow National Stud resident, the dualClassic winner Cockney Rebel, whoenjoyed a good start with his first-croprunners in 2011. The son of the late ValRoyal sired ten individual two-year-oldwinners, including the 99-rated RebelliousGuest.

New to Britain in 2012 is Aussie Rules,who retired to Coolmore in 2007 and isalready the sire of seven stakes winners. Hejoins Lanwades Stud, the birthplace ofmany of his illustrious family and, as aClassic-winning son of Danehill, is anexciting addition to the English ranks.

Aussie Rules will be accompanied onthe short trip from his new home byArchipenko, the regally-bredwinner of five Group races,including the Group 1Audemars PiguetQEII Cup at ShaTin in 2008. Thefirst yearlings bythe son ofKingmambowill be put

to the market this year.Oasis Dream has just won the TBA award

for leading British-based sire by earnings inBritain and Ireland for the second time in

three years and both Whitsbury ManorStud and Mickley Stud will be

hoping that he follows his ownfather Green Desert as a sire ofsires, as both studs stand youngsons of Oasis Dream.

Richard Kent’s MickleyStud is home to CaptainGerrard, whose fourstakes wins all came overthe minimum trip. Hefollowed up hisCornwallis Stakes winwith victory at three inthe Palace HouseStakes and has his first

Words Emma Berry • Photos Trevor Jones

Sakhee: sire ofthree Group 1winners

Acclamation’s best son Equiano

Feb_90_Stallion_Parade_v2_Owner 19/01/2012 12:04 Page 66


yearlings at the sales this year from a first book which was just shortof 100 mares.The Juddmonte-bred Showcasing was one of the best of his

generation as a juvenile, winning the Gimcrack and finishing thirdto Awzaan in the Middle Park Stakes. Now based at the Harperfamily’s Whitsbury Manor Stud, an outfit noted for its success withspeedy stallions over the years, he will have had every chance tomake a flying start in his new career, covering 117 mares in his firstseason in 2011.The Newsells Park Stud team will be eagerly anticipating the start

of the Flat season as this spring we will see the first runners by dualGroup 1 winner Mount Nelson. The offspring of the imposing sonof Rock Of Gibraltar were well received at the 2011 yearling sales,with 34 selling for an average of 35,854gns.He is complemented at the Royston stud by top-class sprinter

Equiano, the best son of one of the most sought-after stallions atlast year’ sales, Acclamation. Twice the winner of the King’s StandStakes, Equiano was unsurprisingly well supported in his debutseason with a book of 127 mares. Stanley House Stud’s Notnowcato had a decent winners-to-

runners strike rate last year with six first-crop winners and his tallyhas already been extended by the New Year’s Day victory of the RaeGuest-trained debutante Miss Cato. There will doubtless be more tocome this season from the offspring of a horse who produced hisbest form at four and five when winning the JuddmonteInternational and the Coral Eclipse Stakes in consecutive seasons.He is not the only Juddmonte International winner on display as

Sakhee also includes that great midsummer event on his CV and hefollowed it up less than two months later with victory in the Arc.Bred in America by Shadwell, he has resided at the organisation’sNorfolk base, Nunnery Stud, since his retirement to the stallion barnin 2003 and during that time has produced the Group 1 winnersSakhee’s Secret, Presvis and Tin Horse. Cheveley Park’s homebred Virtual was twice a Listed winner at

three but saved his best efforts until the following year whenwinning the Lockinge Stakes and finishing third to Goldikova thenAqlaam in the Prix Jacques le Marois and Prix du Moulin repectively.He was a welcome replacement at stud for his late three-partsbrother Iceman and he is another who will have first-cropyearlings on sale later this year. >>

Aussie Rules stands in Britain for the first time in 2012

STANDING FORGROUP1 BREEDINGEXCELLENCE



SAKHEE

My method of assessing sire performance, called APEX ratings,says unequivocally that Sakhee is atop-flight sire. His ‘A Runner Index’ranks him in the top 10 percent of ‘commercial’ stallions.

-Bill Oppenheim

“

”SAKHEE will be on show at the TBA Stallion Parade at Tattersalls, Thursday 2nd February.

Concessions available for quality mares and multiple bookings

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T B A S T A L L I O N P A R A D E

Tweenhills Stud resident Makfi returnsto Newmarket where he first burst on to thescene when winning the 2,000 Guineas in2010. He lowered the colours of Goldikovalater that season in the Prix Jacques leMarois and was the first stallion purchase ofmajor new owner/breeder Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani. A son of one of Britain’s mostexciting young stallions, Dubawi, his firstfoals are certain to be popular come theend-of-year sales.Another with first foals arriving in the

forthcoming months is the grey Hellvelyn,who represents a first foray into the stallionmarket for Roisin Close of Bucklands Farm.A Coventry Stakes winner by the lateDanzig sire Ishiguru, and with speedinfluences on both sides of his pedigree,Hellvelyn’s first runners will be worthkeeping an eye on in 2014.

Indian Haven is another representativeof a new stallion operation, the Wiltshire-based Withyslade Farm, where he standsalongside Eastern Anthem. An Irish 2,000Guineas winner by the late Indian Ridgefrom a good Cliveden Stud family, IndianHaven is standing for the first time inBritain having started his stud career at the

Irish National Stud. During his tenure therehe sired the stakes winners Aspen Darlin,Ashram, Beachfire and Tellovoi.Concluding the line-up is another recent

retiree, the tough Group 2-winning sprinterPrime Defender, a stalwart of BarryHills’s stable for six seasons before joiningthe Hedgeholme Stud roster. Not manystallions retiring to stud these days canclaim a racing record of 57 starts for eightwins and nine places but it is testament tothe son of Bertolini’s consistency anddurability that he was able to perform withsuch credit for so many years.Notnowcato has first three-year-olds

Indian Haven now stands at Withyslade

Rainbow HIGHRainbow Quest – Imaginary Bay 16.1hh 1995£800+VAT NFNF Oct 1st

Group winning son of Classic sire Rainbow Quest.

Sire of Real Treasure, 2 wins and placed over hurdles and won and placed over fences.

Simply Blue, 2 wins and placed twice over hurdles.

The Rainbow Hunter won and placed over fences,winner of 2 P-P’s and won and placed over hurdles.Rated 132.

Lambs Cross made £60.000 at the breeze ups and has won over hurdles. Western High, bumper winnerand placed horses Rainbow Haze and Murchan High.

DenounceSelkirk – Didicoy Bay 16.2hh 2001

£650+VAT NFNF Oct 1st

The three parts brother to Cityscape, leading Miler in 2011. From the family of Xaar,

Spinning World, El Gran Senor and Try My Best

‘Denounce was a miler with great potential, good looking and beautifully bred, so he

should breed some winners.’Sir Henry Cecil

Sire of Destiny Of A Diva,3 wins and placed 5 times on the flat.

Other Denounce horses in training with Reg Hollinshead, Robin Dickin and Linda Perratt.

Native RULERCape Cross – Love Divine Bay 16.2hh 2005

£800+VAT NFNF Oct 1st

By Cape Cross, the sire of Sea The Stars and Ouija Board out of the oakswinner Love Divine, and half brother to the European champion Sixties Icon.

Sir Henry Cecil described him as‘….Potentially a high class Group performer. He is a lovely mover with a top

class pedigree. I can see him at stud, producing horses of real ability both onthe Flat and National Hunt. I strongly recommend him, as I feel that he is a

very exciting stallion prospect.’

Won at 3yrs and placed 4 times from 7 starts including 2nd by a nose in theGr.2 Jockey Club Stakes and 4th in the Gr.2 Yorkshire Cup.

Enquiries to Jonathon Dodd;Louella Stud, Bardon Grange, Grange Road, Hugglescote, Leics LE67 2BTTel: 07584 513899 / 01530 813357 Email: [email protected] www.louellastud.co.uk

>>


69THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

HELLVELYN!"#$%&''#(%)*+$%"&)%#

BUCKLANDS FARM & STUD, GLOUCESTERSHIREContact: Roisin Close T: 01452 849077 M: 07738 279071 W: www.bucklandsfarmandstud.co.uk

See him at the TBA Stallion Parade at Tattersalls in February

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5-(0$,$-,./01$2/3314$5614$$-789$/3:$;4<=$%5613.4>$?.@A1B))

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HEDGEHOLME STUD

WINSTON, DARLINGTON, CO. DURHAM DL2 3RS.Enquiries: ANDREW SPALDING • Telephone: 01325 730209 • Mobile: 079 90 518751 • Fax: 01325 730769

e-mail: [email protected] • www.hedgeholmestud.co.uk

Won 8 races from 2 to 7 years, incl.WON 5f Maiden, Sandown Park (as 2-y-o)

WON 6f Conditions Stakes, Wolverhampton (as 2-y-o)

WON LR European Free H’cap, 7f Newmarket (as 3-y-o)

WON LR Sandy Lane Stakes, 6f Haydock (as 3-y-o)

WON LR Cammidge Trophy, 6f Doncaster (as 5-y-o)

WON Conditions Stakes, 6f Haydock (as 6-y-o)

WON Gr.2 Duke Of York Stakes, 6f York (as 6-y-o)

WON Conditions Stakes, 6f Doncaster (as 7-y-o)

TOUGH AND CONSISTENT GR.2 WINNING SPRINTER

PRIME DEFENDERCh. 2004, 16.1 h.h., by BERTOLINI – ARIAN DA, by SUPERLATIVE

PRIME DEFENDER CAN BE SEEN AT TBA STALLION PARADE

This remarkably tough son of BERTOLINI was regarded by Timeform as:“Strong, good bodied, smart performer, tactically versatile, impresses in appearance....”

All the attributes for a Stallion capable of producing precocious stock!

NEW fo

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2012

Fee for 2012:£1,750(Oct 1st)



Plenty to achieve and co-operation will be key Richard Wayman vows to fight hard for all owners in his first column as ROA Chief Executive

It is a huge honourfor me to have beenappointed ChiefExecutive of theRacehorse OwnersAssociation and tohave been given theopportunity torepresent the single

biggest contributors to the funding of Britishhorseracing.

Although the ROA Forum is normally usedto update you on latest industry developments,as this is my first contribution, I thought Iwould take the opportunity to tell you a littlebit about some of my hopes and aims.

I should begin by saying, though, thatracing has been my passion since a chancevisit to Tattersalls at the age of eight and Ihave been fortunate enough to have beeninvolved in the industry throughout myprofessional life including, most recently, asthe Assistant Racing Director at the BHA.

In terms of racehorse ownership, I havebeen a member of various partnerships forthe last 15 years or so, and my dreams arecurrently centred on a three-year-old filly,who made a pleasing, if unspectacular, startto her racing career on the final day of the2011 Flat season.

I am not the first to suggest that prize-

money is the key indicator of the health ofour sport and, set against a backdrop inwhich owners in Britain have received verylow rates of return compared with all othermajor racing nations, the 15% reduction overthe past two years provides ample evidenceof a patient in need of serious treatment.It is

not surprising that the number of owners hasbeen in decline since 2007, leading to fewerhorses and a worrying increase in the numberof races attracting small fields.

Reversing these trends should be thepriority, not just for the ROA but foreverybody involved in running the sport andI firmly believe that we have a greater chanceof succeeding in this by working togetherwith our partners in the Horsemen’s Group.

Even though we are going through difficulttimes, the success of the Horsemen’s Group

in encouraging significantly increasedcontributions to prize-money fromracecourses during 2011 provides hope forthe future. We will continue to focus onsecuring a levy (or levy replacement)agreement that deals with many of the currentshortcomings, as well as achieving a fairershare of the increasing media rights paymentspaid directly to racecourses.

The ROA’s role does, of course, extendbeyond prize-money with our raison d’êtrebeing to promote and protect the interests ofracehorse owners in Britain. Although thishas a number of aspects, I believe we shouldbe focusing on enhancing the experience ofracehorse ownership, ensuring that owners’voices are heard and also by providingbenefits that members find of real value.

We should be the first port of call when anowner has a problem and I would also likethe ROA to get more involved in encouragingnew owners into the sport.

Finally, we must never lose sight of the factthat the ROA exists only because of itsmembers’ continued support and I amparticularly looking forward to meeting withas many of you as possible in the comingmonths so that I can learn more about what isimportant to you and how the ROA can helpyou get the very most out of racehorseownership.

ROA FORUM T h e s p e c i a l s e c t i o n f o r R O A m e m b e r s

“Reversing the trendof a decline in ownersshould be the priorityfor the whole sport”

Riding fee increase agreed

Jump jockeys now receive £153.42 per ride

The Racehorse Owners Association and the Professional JockeysAssociation reached agreement on a 3% riding fee increase for this year.From January 1, the Flat jockey fee was £112.37 and the jump ridingfee £153.42.

Michael Harris, ROA Chief Executive at the time of the decision,explained: “Having discussed this at length, the ROA Council took theview that this represents a balanced decision in these very difficulteconomic times when prize-money is falling and costs are rising.

“While this doesn’t match the current rate of inflation, virtuallynobody is receiving inflationary increases in the wider world at themoment. Against that, the Council took into consideration that jockeys’expenses represent an increasing proportion of their income. Motoringand fuel costs have risen dramatically in the past year and jockeys ridingbelow the very top level are really struggling.”

Jockeys also receive 13% on top of their riding fee to cover theProfessional Riders Insurance Scheme (PRIS).

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Feb_90_ROA_Forum_Owner 19/01/2012 12:20 Page 70

In BriefCheltenham Festival Golf Day andPreview Dinner at Celtic ManorA 10% discount is on offer for ROA memberson packages for The Official CheltenhamFestival Golf Day and gala dinner, on Monday,March 12 at the former Ryder Cup venueCeltic Manor. Packages include an overnightstay at the five-star resort hotel, a round ofgolf on the historic fairways and a previewdinner hosted by a panel of racing celebrities,including David Pipe, Jason Maguire andMick Fitzgerald, on the eve of the Festival.Prices start from £224 per person, includingthe ROA discount. For more information visitthe ROA website, call Sam Krume at FairwayTo Furlong on 020 7336 5346 or [email protected]. Quote ROA2012.

Tariff bands for jump racesThe Horsemen’s Group has announcedchanges to streamline tariff bands for jumpraces from February 1 onwards. The tariff’sminimum prize-money recommendationsare set out in two bands instead of three.Band 1 will cover races taking place onMonday to Friday and Band 2 will coverraces on Saturdays, Sundays and Festivalfixtures. The previous Band 3 values havebeen applied to the newly defined Band 2.Upcoming race values can be comparedagainst the Horsemen’s Group tariffrecommendations on the Daily Update onthe ROA website at racehorseowners.net

New owners’ colours The BHA has asked the ROA to informmembers that Clerks of the Scales havebeen tasked to place particular emphasison checking owners’ colours being used forthe first time on the racecourse as per theregistered description. The checking by theClerks of the Scales will also focus onidentifying sets of colours which havefaded over time. This is to ensure that theactual colours worn are an accuratereflection of the exclusive ownershipregistration and to avoid any possibleconfusion for the racing and betting public.

Newbury badge policyROA members who are HorseracingPrivilege Card Holders are entitled to twobadges at every meeting at Newbury, exceptHennessy Gold Cup Day, providing theyshow their valid ROA photocard.Newbury’s generous policy on badgeallocation is always well received byowners and is reflected in the course beingvoted Racecourse of the Year by ROAmembers in 2011.

ROA sponsorship schemeThe next ROA sponsorship scheme startson March 1. Owner-sponsorship allowsowners to register for and reclaim VAT ontheir costs of ownership. Schemes run for12 months and owners receive a paymentin return for the ROA logo appearing onthe chest and collar of their racing colours.To apply, contact Keely Brewer [email protected]


www.racehorseowners.net

The Festival is the busiest meeting of the season but our facility (inset) is a haven

With the ongoing popularity of our ROAsilk ties, we have introduced a smart shadeof maroon as a new colour for 2012 (aboveright). We are also producing premiumitems for the ROA range. These include anelegant sterling silver engraved brooch for

ladies (pictured) and sterling silver engravedcufflinks for men, to be available soon.

You can purchase these items exclusivelythrough our website and they would makeperfect gifts. For the range of merchandisevisit www.racehorseowners.net

Order your Cheltenham marqueebadges now to escape the throng

New ROA merchandise online

A visit to the Cheltenham Festival is one of thehighlights of the racing year and theexperience is undoubtedly enhanced byhaving a welcoming base to escape the throngof the crowd at one of racing’s busiest fixtures.

The ROA marquee offers such a haven andas a consequence attracts repeat visitors andowners with runners each year. Located in thehorseshoe shaped tented village area, next tothe paddock, the marquee providesunreserved seating and several large overheadTV screens.

Hot and cold food is available to purchaseand there is a cash bar. The marquee isequipped with Totepool betting facilities.

Members can book badges for entry into

the facility for themselves and up to threeguests on all of the four days. Gates open at10.30am each day.ROA Member GuestDaily £27 £38Weekly £80 £125

ROA marquee badges can be purchasedonline at racehorseowners.net or by calling theROA on 020 7152 0200.

ROA marquee badges do not allowadmittance into the course. Members canpurchase Club badges from the racecoursedirect by calling 0844 579 3003 or visitcheltenham.co.uk/fixtures.

The closing date for orders will beThursday, March 8.

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Diary dates and remindersMARCH 13-16 ROA marquee at the Cheltenham Festival Exclusive ROA marquee for members andtheir guests at the biggest jump meeting ofthe year. See previous page for details andhow to book badges for the marquee.

APRIL 24First day of Punchestown festivalROA members attending the first day of thePunchestown festival can take advantage offree admission to the racecourse, onproduction of their ROA HorseracingPrivilege Photocard. Please visitpunchestown.com for hotel deals and traveladvice.

JUNE 19-23Exclusive facility at Royal Ascot The ROA has a superb facility for membersand guests for the five days of Ascot’sshowpiece of the Flat season. See detailsalongside.

JULY 10Annual General MeetingThe ROA Annual General Meeting will beheld on Tuesday, July 10 at the JumeirahCarlton Tower hotel in Knightsbridge,London. The formal business of the AGMwill be followed by a lunch for membersand guests. Details will be sent to membersin the spring.

DECEMBER 6ROA Horseracing AwardsThe Awards evening celebrates the year’stop racehorses and their owners, as votedfor by ROA members, at the London Hilton.Photographs from previous ROA socialevents, including last year’s Awards, appearin a gallery in the Events section of theROA website.


Admission, champagne reception, lunch and afternoon tea are included in the deal

The ROA has teamed up again with Ascotracecourse to offer members a heavilydiscounted hospitality package in the ROAchalet at Royal Ascot.

Members can take advantage of a bespoke package for the five days of themeeting. The ROA chalet offers members andguests the opportunity to enjoy top-classracing in the comfort of luxurioussurroundings.

The exclusive ROA facility is located in theGrandstand admission enclosure, in the OldPaddock Chalets, situated in front of the tripledecker marquee on the curve of the trackafter the winning post, and has a head-onview down the course. The chalet holds 50people and guests will be seated on sharedtables of ten.

The package price includes admission(which can be deducted if members alreadyhave Royal Enclosure or Owners’ Badges), aparking label, racecard, a champagnereception, four course sit-down lunch withhalf a bottle of wine per person, andafternoon tea.

There will be televised viewing, as well asTote facilities, and a cash bar will operate until30 minutes after the last race.

Prices, which include VAT, are as follows:

Tuesday, June 19 £340 £280*Wednesday, June 20 £330 £270*Thursday, June 21 £390 £319*Friday, June 22 £360 £289*Saturday, June 23 £315 £244**Price excluding admission

Places are available on a first come, firstserved basis and can be booked online atracehorseowners.net or by calling 020 71520200.

As from the start of this year, a rule change madepossible by an increased contribution from theLevy Board means there is no longer a reduction inrace value for those races which divide at thedeclaration to run stage.

Previously, for races with a value of £2,500 orabove, the advertised prize-money in bothdivisions was reduced by £500 each, unless theracecourse executive took the decision to increaseprize-money for each division.

DID YOU KNOW?

ROA FORUM

Incredible value packagesfor our Royal Ascot chalet

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March 19, 2000. A date that crops up inracing quizzes and which the cleverest clogswould answer with ‘Kauto Star’.But while it is indeed the birthdate of the

five-time King George VI Chase winner, it isalso the day Tamarinbleu popped into theworld.The two 12-year-olds are still going strong

and, while Tamarinbleu has not scaled thesame heights as his illustrious birthmate, he isevery bit as important to his owners as KautoStar is to Clive Smith.Tamarinbleu is owned by The Arthur

White Partnership – Sarah Ling, her sisterAnne Underhill and brother John White, whokeep alive the memory of their father throughthe name of their shared ownership vehicle. “One of dad’s horses was Beau Ranger

(won 1987 Mackeson Gold Cup among otherraces), and his involvement with horses datedto the mid-1970s – as a family we’ve alwayshad our horses with Martin and David Pipe,”says Ling, who with her siblings has ownedhorses within their partnership since 1998. Tamarinbleu has been the best, with eight

wins including the December Gold Cup atCheltenham and Victor Chandler Chase atAscot when it was a Grade 1. “Martin bought him in France and he was

the fourth horse the partnership had,” saysLing. “We were looking for one at the time,and Martin said he liked him, though hehadn’t run before. “He is a pleasure to own. I didn’t realise at

the time [of his victory at Haydock inDecember] it had been nearly four years since

his last win. He had 18 months off before thisseason as he picked up an injury at Sandownin the Bet365 Gold Cup.“We thought about what to do and we

knew coming back at his age was a risk but heowes us nothing and we’ll retire him if hecan’t do it. But he’s come back with a newlease of life.”That Haydock win meant a 5lb rise to 150

for Tamarinbleu, which rules out veterans’chases. At the time of going to press, races atHaydock or Ascot, on January 21, orDoncaster a week later were on the agenda.

The Doncaster option was mentioned byDavid Pipe in his Racing Post column, whichhe used to express his disgust at the whip banincurred by Timmy Murphy at Haydock – anopinion Ling shares. “At Haydock it was heavy and Timmy gave

him a lovely ride,” says Ling. “I was shockedhe received a four-day ban. I’d be the first tocondemn a rider who is too heavy-handedbut I felt sorry for Timmy.”Ling’s sister and brother are also ROA

members and they all have private ownershipinterests too. Ling had Kerrigand, who wonfour times in her own silks, and now hasLaustra Bad, her brother has Dynaste, and heand sister Anne share Dom D’Orgeval. The family enjoy their visits to the Pipes’

Pond House stables. “We live in Taunton, 15minutes from the yard and we like to visit ona Sunday morning armed with a packet ofPolos,” says Ling. “It is lovely seeing the horses in the yard

and makes you feel more involved. Sundaymornings at the Pipes are always good.”Not good, in Ling’s view, are the way

racecourses pander to corporate guests whilefailing to provide good viewing areas forowners and, surprise, surprise, prize-money,which she laments as a “shame”, though shewould rather discuss the positives of the sportin the family’s blood.Thanks to Tamarinbleu, there have been –

and hopefully will continue to be – plenty ofopportunities to do so.

ROA MEMBERS IN FOCUS:

SARAH LING

Sarah Ling (right), with her sister Anne, Martin Pipe, AP McCoy and Tamarinbleu

www.racehorseowners.net

Following the success of our Arc tripcompetition last autumn, members areurged to visit the ROA website for a chanceto win an exciting trip for two people on athree-night tour to Coolmore Stud and theIrish Guineas. This special short break isoperated by Horse Racing Abroad from May24-27. See the world-famous stallions at

Coolmore, including supersire Galileo,followed by two days of Classic racingaction at the Curragh for the Irish 1,000 and2,000 Guineas. Visit racehorseowners.netfor more details on how to enter.

Win a Horse Racing Abroad tripto Coolmore and Irish Guineas

Enjoy the unique Curragh atmosphere

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TBA STATISTICAL AWARDS


Juddmonte and Cheveley Park Studdominate the 2011 TBA Flat Awards

THE QUEEN’S SILVER CUP

JUDDMONTE FARMSNot surprisingly Frankel has earned his owner/breeder just about everyaccolade going. Inevitably this unbeaten colt is the major contributor toPrince Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms landing this award, for theleading British-based breeder in the British Isles, for the eighth time inthe first 12 years of the 21st century.

Nothing emphasises the strength in depth of Juddmonte’s contributionmore than the result of the Group 1 International Stakes. Never previouslysuccessful in Juddmonte’s own sponsored event, this looked an idealopportunity for Frankel himself, yet in his absence Khalid Abdullah’sbreeding operation promptly provided the first, second and third, TwiceOver, Midday (both homebreds) and Await The Dawn.

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Words Alan Yuill Walker

BBA SILVER CIGAR BOX

OASIS DREAMFor the second time in the last three years Oasis Dream is the leadingBritish-based sire by earnings in Great Britain and Ireland – the previousseason he had to play second fiddle to his Banstead Manor Studcompanion Dansili, another Juddmonte homebred.

Oasis Dream was a champion sprinter, but as his first three dams are byDancing Brave, Mill Reef and Busted, there was always the expectation hisstock would stay infinitely better and such has proved to be the case. HisGroup 1 winners in the British Isles during 2011 were the Juddmonte-bred pair Midday (Nassau Stakes) and Prohibit (King’s Stand Stakes), andPower (National Stakes) won a Group 1 for him in Ireland.

Oasis Dream takes the prize from his stablemate Dansili

Frankel: by no means Juddmonte’s only star, but the brightest

The full list of TBA Awards will be announced atour dinner in June but with the statisticalawards for the Flat having been concluded at

the end of the calendar year, we can now pay tributeto two British farms for whom consistency andexcellence go hand-in-hand

Feb_90_TBA_Stats_Awards2_TBA forum 19/01/2012 12:19 Page 74


Another great Cheveley Park homebred success story: Pivotal wins the Barleythorpe Stud Silver Cup for the eighth time

Dutch Art: the leading first-season sire of 2011

Flat awards are for the calendar year 2011, National Hunt awards relate to the 2011/12 season

BARLEYTHORPE STUD SILVER CUP

PIVOTALSince his first crop of runners appeared in 2000, Pivotal has won thisaward for the most number of individual winners in Great Britain andIreland for the last seven consecutive years and eight years altogether,thus surpassing the seven-time winner Green Desert.

In 2011 the Cheveley Park Stud resident recorded 80 individualwinners. Next on the scoreboard was Oasis Dream (75), followed byPivotal’s son and stud companion Kyllachy (73). Outstanding amongstPivotal’s representatives was Immortal Verse, who supplemented herCoronation Stakes victory with success in the Prix Jacques Le Marois.

This is a great Cheveley Park success story and not only was Pivotalbred and conceived there, but so too was his Group 1-winning sonVirtual, yet another on the Cheveley Park stallion roster.

TATTERSALLS’ SILVER SALVER

DUTCH ARTIn their time Green Desert, Royal Applause, Kyllachy, Oasis Dream andDubawi have all won this award for the leading British-based first-season sire (GB and Ireland), so expectations must be high that DutchArt can achieve comparable success in the future.

It’s a fact of life that chesnut is a far less prevalent colour than bayor brown amongst thoroughbreds, so it is extraordinary that CheveleyPark should have such successful homebred chesnut stallions as Pivotaland Medicean, and Dutch Art is another of the same hue.

His initial crop of winners is headed by the dual Group 2 scorerCaspar Netscher (Gimcrack Stakes, Mill Reef Stakes), one of the bestjuveniles ever produced by Meon Valley Stud.

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Feb_90_TBA_Stats_Awards2_TBA forum 19/01/2012 12:19 Page 75

TBA FORUM T h e s p e c i a l s e c t i o n f o r T B A m e m b e r s


Thirty-eight delegates attended the mostrecent three-day Annual Stud FarmingCourse, held at the British Racing School inNewmarket in December. The course was well supported by a cast

of expert speakers from Rossdale & Partners,Newmarket Equine Hospital, the RoyalVeterinary College and the Animal HealthTrust, as well as a selection of industryexperts willing to share their extensiveknowledge with the audience. Starting with conception, moving through

to foaling and developmental aspects andtaking in disease management, salespreparation and stallion management, theprogramme was packed full of lectures, andthere were plenty of opportunities fordelegates to exchange views, including at thedinner held at the Bedford Lodge Hotel onthe first evening. Instructive external visits took place each

day, in a more familiar ‘out of doors’environment, providing a chance to learnfrom those working at the coal face. Thus, atRossdales Equine Hospital, partner TimGreet explained how the state-of-the-artfacilities and cutting-edge equipment andtechniques now used routinely at thehospital had resulted in an increased focuson accurate diagnosis to ensure the bestoutcome for patients. At Dalham Hall Stud, delegates saw the

exceptional sire Dubawi, his son, the newrecruit Poet’s Voice, leading sire of two-year-

olds Kheleyf, and the well-establishedHalling. A selection of weanlings were alsoviewed, with accompanying commentary onconformation from assistant stud managersRay Eyre and Jim Moss. The tour of the estatefinished with a trip to the composting facility,which deals productively with the estate’senvironmental waste – a topical issue for allstud owners. On the final day, early risers accompanied

British Racing School Chief Executive Rory

MacDonald on a tour of the school, the manyand varied activities of which proved to be arevelation to the group. We are extremely grateful to all of our

speakers and visit hosts for their contributionto the course, without which it could nottake place. The course remains one of theTBA’s flagship events, giving delegatesunrivalled access to speakers’ knowledge andexpertise, to aid in the daily management ofstud operations large and small.

Stud farming course goesfrom strength to strength

Delegates on the stud farm course gather at Dalham Hall Stud to assess weanlings

Breeders’ PrizesNational Hunt HBLB Breeders’ Prizes worth £1,250 or more Based on date money was paid

Breeder Prize (£) Horse Sire Dam Date Course

Goldford Stud 2,500 Stewarts House Overbury Osocool 03/12/2011 Aintree

Mrs A. M. O'Sullivan 2,000 Bunclody Overbury Wahiba Reason 17/12/2011 Haydock Park

D. I. Bare 1,750 Kentford Grey Lady Silver Patriarch Kentford Grebe 27/12/2011 Kempton Park

J. M. Jefferson 1,500 Mac Aeda Kayf Tara Altogether Now 27/12/2011 Wetherby

Exors Of The Late D. E. S. Smith 1,250 No Principles Overbury Selective Rose 01/12/2011 Market Rasen

K. Benson & Mrs E. Benson 1,250 Our Mick Karinga Bay Dawn's Della 26/12/2011 Kempton Park

*See the table of breeders' prizes effective as from January 1 on the TBA website, www.thetba.co.uk

Feb_90_TBA_Forum_Layout 1 19/01/2012 12:30 Page 76

The first Stud Staff Award of 2012 goes toPeter Beasant, whose 28 years ofemployment at Kingsclere Stud commencedon leaving school. He worked initially underLady Emma Balding’s mother, PriscillaHastings-Bass. Now Stud Groom at Kingsclere, Peter

turns his hand to everything, from foaling totractor driving and coping with the daily upsand downs of stud life. He has enjoyed theachievements of homebred horses, such asSide Glance, whose sire Passing Glance he

also looked after from birth.According to Lady Emma, Peter is a

passionate jump racing fan, who is “longingfor another Flat-bred from the stud to run atCheltenham!” Described as unswervingly loyal, hard-

working and a model employee, Peter is, inLady Emma’s opinion, “the diamond of thewhole operation without whom we could notachieve anything”. Peter is clearly a very deserving winner for

the start of the 2012 stud season.

Over recent years the TBA has been able tosupport members when appealing against awind farm application by providing letters ofsupport and some factors to consider whenwriting to the planning authorities. Several of our members have dealt first-

hand with applications and no doubt manymore are currently ongoing. We felt it wouldbe helpful to offer guidance on how to dealwith this situation and for collective notes onthe best points to raise. We would like to expand on this

information, so if you have appealed, or arecurrently appealing, against a wind farm nearto your stud then we would be interested tohear the details. Please email Samantha Knight([email protected]). General advice for appeals against a wind

farm is to be pro-active and insist that the wind

farm applicant carries out a physical study,depending on the stud’s situation, whichreports on the following, as relevant:1. The effects and results of at least one

stallion’s fertility record in a full coveringseason being at a maximum of 1km fromthe turbines.

2. The effect on visiting mares seeing andhearing the turbines for the first time whenturned out into the paddock again within1km of the turbines.

3. The effect on mares carrying their foals aftercovering, for the full gestation periodwithout absorbing or aborting, with aminimum of half the mares being exposedto the turbines for the whole of thegestation period.

4. The effect on foals turned out with theirdams for the first time.

5. The effect on foals when weaned from theirdams and turned out in the paddock witha group of foals of similar age when they allcollectively experience the turbines for thefirst time, the turbines to be within 1km.

6. The effect on yearlings when they areturned out in paddocks within 1km of theturbines for the first time.

7. The effect on unbroken young stock at 18months of age that have been conditionedand muscled ready to go to the majoryearling sales. The turbines being within1km.

8. The effect on young stock at 18 monthsand two years old when they are being‘broken-in’ and ridden for the first timewithin 1km.

9. The effect on staff and accidents to staff tobe monitored, within 1km of the turbines.

10.The effect on staff working outside in all ofthe above situations and their generalhealth and accident records within 1km.

An environmental statement should addressthe impact of noise, infrasound, vibration,shadow flicker and light reflection caused bywind turbines on mares, foals and young stockin general, and in particular any threat to thewelfare of these animals regarding mare andstallion fertility, abortion/stillbirths in mares.

Diary dates THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2TBA Stallion Parade at Tattersalls,NewmarketPreceding the start of the February Salethe TBA, in conjunction with Tattersalls,will hold its popular Stallion Parade,providing a unique opportunity for mareowners to view a number of stallions fromaround the country in one place.Following the parade the stallions will beavailable for individual viewings. Forfurther details contact Pauline Stoddart atthe TBA on [email protected] or01638 661321.

TBA NEW MEMBERS UNITED KINGDOMMr & Mrs J Aisbitt, Sussex. Mrs AliciaAldis, Buckinghamshire. R Allcock Esq,Shropshire. J Barton Esq, Suffolk. Mrs A JBoswell, Northumberland. The BlakeneyBreezes, Suffolk. M Chandler Esq, Kent. RDavies Esq, Suffolk. A Driver Esq, Suffolk.Mr & Mrs S Fleetham, Carmarthen.Pamela Forbes, Suffolk. Mr & Mrs RLewis, Carmarthen. Mr & Mrs C Mullin,Staffordshire.18-35Charlotte Blakey, Suffolk. Lara Hellyer,Rutland. Laura Hurley, Warwickshire. BLogan Esq, Surrey. Sorcha Moneley,London.

www.thetba.co.uk


Peter Beasant, pictured with a yearling filly by Mount Nelson out of Victoria Montoya

Kingsclere’s ‘diamond’ is the first winner of the year

Dealing with wind farm applications



TBA FORUM

The 2012 HBLB Breeders’ Prizes Scheme wasagreed in December and took effect fromJanuary 1. The 2012 scheme has been maintained at

its 2011 value of £700,000, a reduction of55% on the 2010 allocation (£1.539million). This considerable reduction makesallocating a meaningful incentive toencourage the production of qualityracehorses in Great Britain challenging, butwith limited funding there is still some scopeto incentivise breeders to improve the qualityof their stock. Funds will be allocated on anapproximate 60/40 ratio for the Flat andNational Hunt, reflecting the Levy Board’sprize-money allocation to the two codes.As a result of pressure from the

Horsemen’s Group, ably supported by theTBA, the Levy Board Quality Support Fundhas been greatly enhanced in 2012. Therewill therefore be an increase in the number ofhigher quality races programmed and thesewill carry HBLB Breeders’ Prizes. The TBA therefore took a prudent view

that the allocation of prizes should remainthe same as 2011. However, some take-uplevels on the Flat were less than predictedand therefore it has been possible to increaseprize values at Group 3, Listed and Class 2levels where take-up rates are customarilyhigher. The National Hunt scheme remainsunchanged with no prizes awarded below£1,000, including in 2012 prizes to second-tier horses. The first year of the TBA Elite

National Hunt Mares Incentive Scheme hasbeen well received and next month’s issuewill include a report on the outcome.TBA Chief Executive Louise Kemble said:

“I would once again like to thank the LevyBoard members and executive for theirsupport of the scheme. Throughout 2011 theTBA took every opportunity to underline theimportance of supporting quality breedingand in this context we will continue to payclose attention to race planning issues in2012 for the benefit of our members.”

Breeders’ Prizes maintained at 2011 levels

Flat Breeders’ PrizesFlat 2YOs Colts/ Fillies/

Geldings (£) Mares

Group 1 4,500 4,500

Group 2 3,500 4,500

Group 3 1,700 3,400

Listed 1,300 2,600

Class 2 800 1,600

Class 3 750 1,500

Class 4* 700 1,400

Flat 3 & 4YOs Colts/ Fillies/Geldings Mares

Group 1 6,000 6,000

Group 2 4,500 6,000

Group 3 3,700 6,000

Listed 1,800 3,600

Heritage Handicaps 1,000 2,000

Class 2 800 1,600

Class 3 750 1,500

Class 4* 700 1,400

*Class 4 restricted to Open Maiden andNovice WFA races only

National Hunt Breeders’ PrizesFirst Tier (100% of Breeders’ Prize)

Colts/Geldings Fillies/MaresSTEEPLECHASES General (all £) Novice General Novice

Grade 1 10,000 8,000 10,000 10,000

Grade 2 8,000 6,000 10,000 10,000

Grade 3 6,000 - 10,000 -

Listed 4,000 3,000 8,000 6,000

Class 2 2,500 2,000 5,000 4,000

Class 3 Novice/Maiden/ - 1,500 - 3,000Beginners’ WFA

Class 3 Novice Handicaps - 1,250 - 2,500

Colts/Geldings Fillies/MaresHURDLE RACES General Novice General Novice

Grade 1 8,000 6,000 10,000 10,000

Grade 2 6,000 5,000 10,000 10,000

Grade 3 5,000 4,000 10,000 8,000

Listed 3,000 2,500 6,000 5,000

Class 2 1,750 1,500 3,500 3,000

Class 3 Novice/Maiden/ - 1,000 - 2,000Juvenile WFA

Class 3 Novice/ - 1,000 - 2,000Juvenile Handicaps

Colts/Geldings Fillies/MaresNH FLAT RACES General Novice General Novice

Grade 1 5,000 – 10,000 –

Grade 2 3,500 – 7,000 –

Listed 2,500 – 5,000 –

Second-tier eligible horses receive 40% of the NH prize awarded. All figures are subject tochange; please see the TBA website for any updates and eligibility for the scheme

Louise Kemble: “TBA supports quality”



DECEMBER 2011

PETER NELSON

In the North Yorkshire village of Helperby, Peter Nelson runs the familygarage business and the locals also depend on him and his daughtersSandra Windross and Louise Nelson-Lee to receive their dailynewspapers.

There was a day off for the family on Boxing Day, when the Nelsonsmade the journey down the A1 to Wetherby, their local course, towitness According To Pete’s 33-1 triumph in the Grade 3 RowlandMeyrick Handicap Chase. “To have a runner in such a prestigious racewas incredible, but to have the winner, well that was just unbelievable,”Sandra Windross enthused.

Windross explained just how the name According To Pete cameabout, saying: “My dad is always known as Pete and this is a muchused expression in the Nelson household! So as a son of Accordion, itall seemed to go together rather well.”

Of course, what makes the whole involvement really meaningful isthat the 11-year-old gelding was homebred. “Dad and I share the workbetween us, although a lot more falls on me now since he injured aknee,” said Windross. “We have a paddock behind my parents’ houseand a five-acre field outside the village. Mum is involved too so it’s areal family effort.”

Prior to Wetherby, According To Pete had not won for over threeyears, albeit he had put up some good performances. This most recentsuccess brought his winning tally to ten, for earnings in excess of£177,000, all achieved in the north for Malcolm Jefferson’s Maltonstable.

He also trained According To Pete’s dam Magic Bloom in the sameownership. Successful twice over hurdles and seven times over fences,she had embarked upon her racing career with James Dooler at Gooleon North Humberside, from whom the Nelsons originally bought herprivately. Windross said: ”We just fell in love with her – she has abeautiful white blaze just like Pete.”

Jefferson, who is invariably consulted on the subject of matings, isfamiliar with all Magic Bloom’s other progeny of racing age. Theseinclude The Magic Bishop, who also scored three times last year. Theirdam, now pensioned off at home aged 26, had two further produce,Magic Present (5g, by Presenting), and her final offspring, a three-year-old colt by Revoque.

Meanwhile, her solitary daughter Annie’s Gift’s first two progeny are

a two-year-old filly by Primo Valentino and a yearling colt by IndianDanehill. “She is due to foal to Revoque in April and will probably goto Malinas, at Yorton Farm,” added Windross. “Our only otherbroodmare is Youamazeme, but she is from a different family.”

Magic Bloom herself was Yorkshire-bred by Jonathan Dimsdale atHigh Winsley, near Harrogate. A former senior racecourse judge, healso produced National Hunt horses as well as pedigree sheep on hisGrange Farm, which lies on the other side of the A1 from Helperby.Subsequently she joined Andrew Spalding at Hedgeholme Stud,County Durham.

Dimsdale had procured Magic Bloom’s unraced dam Mantavellafrom Greenstead Hall Stud as an in-foal mare at Tattersalls’ 1980Newmarket December Sales for 1,500gns. Greenstead Hall in Essexbelonged to Chris Blackwell, who bred such good horses in the 1970sas Jimsun and Major Green.

While his deceased sire was one of the first to advertise the prowessof sons of Sadler’s Wells as jumping stallions, According To Pete is alsowell related in Flat terms on the distaff side. His third dam Tavel(another unraced mare) was half-sister to English Miss, dam of the1974 Irish Derby hero English Prince.

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According To Pete wins Wetherby’s Rowland Meyrick Chase

RAC

ING

FOTO

S.C

OM

Words Alan Yuill Walker

NH BREEDER OF THE MONTHwww.thetba.co.uk


THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER80 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER

TBA FORUM www.thetba.co.uk

The Environment Agency, with the support ofthe Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association,National Trainers’ Federation and theLambourn Trainers’ Association has launcheda stable waste advice campaign in the BerkshireDowns, which is being run by ADAS on behalfof the Environment Agency, writes GeoffFairfoull of ADAS.The number of incidents involving the stor-

age, spreading and burning of manure in thisarea is causing concerns for the EnvironmentAgency, the local authority and the fire service. To address these concerns, stables and studs

in the area have been posted advice that aims tohelp them do their bit to prevent nutrientpollution from yards and manure heaps.Further to the postal campaign a workshop

was run by ADAS in Lambourn to provide in-formation and advice on pollution prevention,including the issue of sediment run off fromgallops and walkways entering local streams.Delegates at the workshop learnt that the

storage of large quantities of manure can have

a serious impact on the environment. If it is notstored correctly, liquid run-off can pollute localstreams and groundwater. Best practice is for run-off from concrete

storage areas to be contained, and for fieldheaps to be sited at least 10m from streams orditches, and at least 50m from boreholes, wellsor springs. Field heaps should also avoid land where

there are field drains, or which is prone toflooding or waterlogging. The sensitivity ofgroundwater to pollution can vary, so stables inthe Berkshire Downs have been advised onhow soil type and depth to groundwater ontheir land can be considered when choosing thebest site for field heaps. Delegates learnt when manure is legally

classed as waste. Horse manure is notconsidered a waste if it is a mixture of faecesand plant tissue based bedding material (e.g.straw, hemp or woodchip/shavings from virgintimber), and is to be used as a soil fertiliser onland, with only the amount required for this

being stored. However, horse manure is waste and subject

to regulatory controls when the beddingmaterial is any non-plant tissue based beddingmaterial. This includes shredded paper andcardboard or shavings and sawdust from non-virgin trees. It is also waste if it is going to be actively

composted, is being stored pendingcomposting, or is contaminated or infectiousdue to a disease outbreak. Disposal by burningis an illegal waste activity. Within the Berkshire Downs, ADAS is

available to provide free advice until the end ofFebruary 2012. Please get in touch [email protected]. Studs and stables across the country can find

out more about how to protect their localenvironment and comply with wasteregulations by contacting the EnvironmentAgency on 03708 506 506, and looking out forforthcoming guidance on its websitewww.environment-agency.gov.uk.

Racehorse industry pollution advisory project

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They’re not only the best of British, they’re the best in the world.

It’s offi cial.British-bred, sired or sold horses fi lled fi ve of the top 10

places in the recent World Thoroughbred Rankings.

Frankel

Rewilding

Canford Cliffs

Dream Ahead Excelebration

bbm_tob_jan2012.indd 1 18/01/2012 10:11

Unfortunately not all rules at the top canmatch Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure andso the Next Generation Club enters a

new phase as founding Chairman Jane Hedleypasses the baton to Zenia Wright after threeyears at the helm of one of the UK’s most activeorganisations for young racing enthusiasts.With over 15 years of experience in the

thoroughbred industry including roles at RacingUK, the Jockey Club, the TBA and New ZealandBloodstock, Wright is ideally placed to driveforward the excellent foundations laid by the

former Chairman and with the help of DBSDirector Tim Kent as Vice-Chairman, the teamare looking forward to another successful year.For Hedley, a recipient of the renowned Alex

Scott Memorial scholarship, it is on to warmerclimes, leaving her usual base in Middlehamwhere she works as a yard manager for Mark Johnston, to head to Dubai, where she willspend a month as assistant to trainer Doug Watson. Wright echoed the thoughts of the TBA and

the NGC committee in expressing her gratitudeto Hedley and Vice-Chairman Daniel Polak,saying: “If anything, Jane and Dan have had thehardest job in getting the club off the ground.They have worked tirelessly to make the originalcontacts and establish some really great eventswhich we can now build on, and we are allhugely grateful for what they have achieved.” Building on initiatives introduced by Hedley

will be at the forefront of Wright’s hopes for theNGC in 2012 and she outlines a desire to workmore closely with the racecourses and RacingFor Change as just two of the objectives at thetop of a long list. She says: “Even though ultimately our goal is

to get more young people involved andinterested in bloodstock, the foundation of thatis getting more of them to go racing.“I haven’t experienced a buzz like I did on


Be there...FEBRUARY 17Darley Flying Start applicationdeadlineFor more information on Darley’s two-yearmanagement training programme visitwww.darleyflyingstart.com

FEBRUARY 28BHA Graduate Scheme deadlineWith a history of churning out leadingindustry players for over 20 years, therenowned BHA graduate scheme is anexcellent way to gain vital experience in yourchosen area of the thoroughbred industry.Application details are available atwww.careersinracing.com

MARCH 13-16Cheltenham FestivalTry to make it through the famed GuinnessVillage to witness history being made at thedefining four days of the National Huntseason. Any day’s a winner but with KautoStar hopefully out to reclaim his Gold Cupcrown, Friday could be one for the ages.

MARCH 24NGC Newbury racedayFollowing on from the success of last year’sevent, we kick off with a visit to JamieSnowden’s Lambourn yard before heading onto enjoy the final jumps meeting of the yearat Newbury. To secure a place, register for freeat www.the-ngc.co.uk

THE NEXT GENERATIONBy GINA BRYCE

Welcoming a new chairmanand committee members

Alison Rea joins the NGC committee

Rupert HawksleyRacing enthusiast“In short, all I couldpossibly hope for is acontinuation of theinspiring scenes wewitnessed in 2011. Turning a blind eye to theill-timed introduction of the new whipregulations and the disastrous scenes thatfollowed, it was a vintage year for Britishracing. The sport thrives on stars andindividual brilliance, and I sincerely hope2012 will see performances from PeddlersCross and Camelot to match the hype.”

Tallulah LewisNGC member“I hope that the racingworld continues tosupport young people

moving into the industry as well asproviding support for those within theindustry. I also hope that future decisionson rules made by the BHA are not rushedand all people involved have the potentialof giving an opinion and even the possibilityto involve the racing public in thesedecisions so that bad publicity does nothinder the progress of the sport, as the whipdebate had the potential to do.”

Sophia Heath Journalist“I hope that 2012 willbe the year that theracing world goes backto basics and starts tofocus on the importance of thehorse at the heart of the sport. It would befantastic if people in the racing community

create more opportunities for people tointeract with and understand racehorses. Ibelieve this would help to ensure that youngpeople do not just attend the races for adrink and a quick flutter but becomelifelong racing enthusiasts.”

Tom MarchUniversity ofCambridge RacingClub“I would like to see KautoStar confirm his standingalongside the all-time greats by winning athird Cheltenham Gold Cup, and forFrankel to do likewise when stepped up toten furlongs next season. Most importantly,I would like to see free entry for studentswidely adopted by racecourses to encourageyoung people to come racing.”

Talking Point... What would be your wish for racing in 2012?

Feb_90_NGC_Layout 1 19/01/2012 12:32 Page 82


Champions’ Day since Fantastic Light andGalileo went head to head in the 2001 KingGeorge. That was the moment I got hooked andI want to make sure that we give that experienceto other people. With horses like Frankelaround there couldn’t be a better time to do it.” As a member of the NGC committee for the

last two years, Wright oversaw the appointmentof NGC President Sam Waley-Cohen, a moveshe also hopes to build on in 2012.

“Growing our database is one of our mainobjectives and we are hugely grateful to Sam forgiving up his very limited time to becomeinvolved with the Club and help us to do that,”she says. “He is one of the few people in racing that

attracts mainstream media attention andsomeone that young people not necessarilyinvolved in the sport directly can relate to andbe inspired by.“The NGC drinks party, at which we

introduced Sam as President of the club, was ahuge success and gave our members a uniqueopportunity to meet and chat to Sam and it isdefinitely something we want to work onexpanding this year.” In addition to the draw of Waley-Cohen,

several racing personalities gave up their time toattend the party, including Rishi Persad andNick Luck.If the NGC drinks party was one of the

resounding successes of 2011, Wright

hopes that 2012 will see the club cast its neteven further. She says: “We have been fortunate that

through the contacts of the committee membersand the generous support of the racing industry,we have been able to provide young people witha ‘money can’t buy’ opportunity to go behindthe scenes at some of the country’s leadingracing and breeding operations.” In the future, the club is also keen to open up

the experience to other areas of the industry.Wright says: “I think it would be great to go

behind the scenes at a bookmakers, forexample. I think the understanding of the

commercial side of the business is quite weak,even among those working in the industry, andit would be great to try to balance this out andgive our members the chance to learn about allthe potential angles that may interest them inthe future.” In the spirit of diversification, the committee

is also pleased to welcome Student RacingDirector Mike Spence and Darley’s Head ofEuropean Marketing Alison Rea to the team.Their fellow members include bloodstock agentMatt Coleman, Hot To Trot Racing syndicatemanager Sam Hoskins, Tattersalls’ Hetty Stearnand Whitsbury Manor Stud’s Ed Harper.

www.the-ngc.co.uk

The English phase of the Darley Flying Starthas come and gone since the last entry and ittruly was a whirlwind of activity. Stable visits,work rotations and practical training,combined with attending a most excitingDecember Sales, made for a very busy eightweeks in the spiritual home of horseracing. Throughout all this, and permeating its

way into many of our daily encounters andlectures, was discussion, opinion and flat outarguments about the use of the whip inBritish racing, mirroring the debate thatensued so publically between racing’sregulators and the jockeys. This is undeniablyan issue that will persist in shaping publicperception of racing and is therefore an issuethat the next generation of industryprofessionals will have to fully and moreeffectively address in future. The Darley Flying Start bandwagon has

now moved stateside, to Lexington,Kentucky, and as the ever-sparse crowds atTurfway Park in nearby Cincinnati haveattested, British racing should be applaudedfor the crowds it attracts, despite drasticallygreater admission charges. These crowds areessential for an industry that gains little returnfrom betting input. Therefore its public imageis that much more important. A sport inwhich the participants – who take partwithout free will – are struck in order toachieve their maximal potential will alwaysalienate a certain percentage of the public. This issue exemplifies the conflict of the

inner purist with the inner realist and, whileconscious of racing’s place in the wider world

of society, a sport in which horses are notjustly and effectively persuaded to give theirmaximum would certainly take some gettingused to, but is not something any of us oughtto close our minds to. Without the whip therewill still be a three-year-old who passes theEpsom Derby post first. Would it not bebetter if that horse needed not to be hit inorder to do so?Next, and already hot on the debate list in

our short time in America, is the subject ofmedication in racehorses. Horses beingpersuaded to give their absolute all by use ofthe whip may be hard to defend, but horsesrequiring medication even to compete has analtogether more difficult resonance. Many point to an uncertain future for the

horses providing the bread-and-butter fare ofAmerican racing, but to suggest that theselow-level animals have a rosier future with theadministration of raceday drugs is delusional;their future is just as uncertain with theadministration of medication on racedays. Itis therefore heartening to note that from thisseason all two-year-old graded stakes races inAmerica will be free of the anti-bleedingmedication furosemide (lasix).Hopefully this will pave a path to a more

generally drug-free programme of racing inAmerica, so that its horses may compete morefreely on the worldwide stage withoutconnections having the worry of runningwithout anti-bleeding medication as a built-inexcuse for not leaving their backyard. Theincreasingly global nature of horseracing canonly be further enhanced by such measures.

Student diarySTEPHEN HEATHDarley Flying Start

“Our goal is to getmore young

people involved and interested in

bloodstock”

New committee member Mike Spence

Feb_90_NGC_Layout 1 19/01/2012 12:32 Page 83


Despite the poor economic climate, weare currently in a research golden agethanks to the sequencing of the

equine genome in 2007. Research is beingcarried out all over the world into equinegenetics and Equinome’s ‘Speed Gene’ and‘Elite Performance’ tests could be the first ofmany.

Thoroughbred breeders have an intuitiveunderstanding of genetics from seeing theresults of generations of matings which haveproduced today’s elite athlete. The fact that allliving organisms inherit traits from theirparents has been used since prehistoric timesto selectively breed animals for desirablecharacteristics. These inherited traits resultfrom genes which correspond to regionswithin DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), adouble-stranded molecule composed of fourdifferent types of nucleotides. The sequence ofthese nucleotides is known as the ‘genetic code’and this is why many refer to DNA as ‘theblueprint for life’.

Sequencing of the EquineGenomeFollowing a ten-year programme to create anequine genetic map involving scientists fromaround the world, sequencing of the equinegenome was completed and made publicallyavailable in 2007. The ultimate aim of thiswork was not to manipulate the geneticcomposition of horses but to provide us withthe knowledge to take genetic information intoaccount and therefore hopefully improvehealth and performance.

However, during this research it soonbecame apparent that the horse is a complexanimal. Given that approximately 4,000human disorders have been identified as beingcaused by a single gene defect and that it isalready possible to test for an extensive list ofcanine single gene disorders, it was hoped thatseveral single gene tests might be found in thehorse, but as yet things appear to be morecomplex.

After the equine genome sequence becameavailable, a few single gene diseases and traitswere found, for example, the gene responsiblefor a horse being grey and the gene that causespolysaccharide storage myopathy, which is acondition of heavy breeds that is similar to

‘tying-up’. However, none of these genetic testswere directly relevant for the thoroughbred –that is, until Equinome Ltd opened forbusiness.

EquinomeOn January 20, 2010, ‘Equinome’ Ltd, led byDr Emmeline Hill, introduced the first equinegenetic test that was relevant to an athletic orperformance trait – the ‘Speed Gene Test’,which was designed to identify a horse’soptimum racing distance by looking at agenetic marker in the myostatin gene. For a feeof €1,000, a blood sample could be tested tofind out whether a horse has the sprinter (‘C-C’), middle-distance (‘C-T’) or stayer gene(‘T-T’). This was a ground-breaking discoveryas it had the potential to fundamentally changethe way in which breeders plan matings, aswell as providing trainers with a guide as to ahorse’s optimum racing distance.

However, the speed gene test had itsdoubters; they wondered if it could simply bea passing fad. For example, the number of testswhich had been performed when the speedgene test was launched was in the hundredsrather than thousands and there was a popular

VET FORUM: THE EXPERT VIEWBy JAMES TATE BVMS MRCVS

Equine Genetics – watch this spaceMany believe Equinome’s work will prove a passing fad; others that they are merelyamong the first genetic tests and that in ten years time such analysis will be common

It is not always possible to tell a horse’s optimum racing distance from itspedigree, as illustrated by Frankel, who has won over £1 million and nine racesat seven and eight furlongs, whilst his half-brother Bullet Train performed bestover 11 to 12 furlongs

Co-founder and Chairman ofEquinome Ltd, Dr Emmeline Hill

Feb_90_Vet_Forum_Owner Breeder 19/01/2012 12:33 Page 84


belief that only Jim Bolger’s horses had beentested (he is a co-founder and director ofEquinome). Given the trainer can make a hugedifference to the distance a horse races over(for example, David Nicholls could reduce aFlat horse’s optimum trip when compared tosomeone who trains predominantly jumphorses), this seemed like a reasonable concern.

Unsurprisingly, Equinome are quick todismiss this and at the time of writing theprogeny of nearly 300 different sires have beentested all over the world. They are currentlyworking with trainers, breeders and owners inthe UK, Australia, USA, Ireland, France, HongKong, Turkey, New Zealand, Singapore, Russiaand China.

Some argue this test is unnecessary and thatthey know what distance a horse will race overfrom its pedigree. But it is not always easy totell, as illustrated by Frankel, a son of Galileowho has won over £1 million and nine races atseven and eight furlongs, whilst his Sadler’sWells half-brother Bullet Train, also trained bySir Henry Cecil, is best over 11 to 12 furlongs.

Equinome argue “pedigree is often not theappropriate indicator of what an individual’soptimum racing distance is likely to be. Forinstance, when a C:T mare is bred to a C:Tstallion, each horse passes on either a ‘C’ or a‘T’ allele (as each foal inherits two copies ofevery gene, one from each parent). Therefore,a C:T / C:T mating produces a C:C foal 25% ofthe time, a T:T foal 25% of the time and a C:Tfoal 50% of the time. This explains why fullsiblings that are completely different types canoccur, and why pedigree alone cannotdetermine this.”

Some are still not convinced and highlighthorses like 1996 Melbourne Cup winnerSaintly, who also won a Group 1 over sevenfurlongs. If the connections of this horse hadused the speed gene test before its racing careerit is not unreasonable to assume it may have

tested as a middle-distance horse, which couldhave resulted in it not running in either ofthose Group 1s.

Equinome are not standing still and on July18, 2011 it launched the ‘Elite PerformanceTest’, designed to identify individuals with thegreatest genetic potential for racecoursesuccess. Different sets of genes are used to puthorses into four classes of ability within thesprinter (‘C-C’), middle-distance (‘C-T’) orstayer groups (‘T-T’). Dr Hill claims that by“using the Elite Performance Test incombination with the Speed Gene Test, we cannow definitively identify the optimum racingdistance for an individual racehorse andevaluate their potential for elite performance atthat trip.

“It is well-established that there are differentmetabolic and physiological requirements forshort-duration, high-intensity sprint typeexercise and longer-duration, more moderateintensity exercise. We have determined that,similarly, the genetic requirements differ forcontrasting types of exercise and thereforedifferent sets of genes will contribute to eliteperformance in each type of thoroughbred.”

Ongoing researchEquinome are not the only equine geneticresearchers and work is being carried outaround the globe into this subject. As a result,concerns have been voiced that informationarising from discoveries in equine genetics maynot become widely available to the equineindustry if all of the work is carried out byprivate commercial companies like Equinome.

It was for this reason that the Animal HealthTrust joined with the BHA in a joint ventureunder the name of Equine Genetics Research(EGR) Ltd. The aim of EGR was to determinethe areas of research that are most likely toprove beneficial and to ensure that access tothe new technology is available to all.

Through funding provided initially by theBHA and more recently by the Levy Board andTBA, associations have been found betweengenes and three specific musculoskeletalconditions: fracture, ‘tying up’ andosteochondrosis dissecans (‘OCD’). It is hopedthat one day soon it may be possible to testhorses for a predisposition to these conditions.

ConclusionIn summary, we are living in hugely excitingtimes as a result of the current genetic research.Doubters of Equinome’s speed gene and eliteperformance tests believe they are a passing fadbut it is also possible they are the first of manygenetic tests for the thoroughbred and that inten years time genetic testing for performanceand health traits will become widespread –something that could have a huge impact onracing. Equinome expects to report a numberof new developments in 2012 and researchcontinues on a global scale at world renownedlaboratories such as the Gluck Equine ResearchCenter in Kentucky and Japanese Laboratoryof Racing Chemistry. Watch this space.

Charts showing all the possible speed gene mating outcomes illustrating howfull siblings can have wildly different optimum racing distances

As a result of research carried out atthe Animal Health Trust, it is hopedthat one day in the not too distantfuture it may be possible to testhorses for a predisposition tomusculoskeletal conditions such ascatastrophic fractures

Feb_90_Vet_Forum_Owner Breeder 19/01/2012 12:33 Page 85

Look to German mares to provide outcrosses


L ook through the results of the mainevents on the Dubai World Cup card and it is impossible not to be

impressed with the achievements of theJapanese raiders.

Thanks to Victoire Pisa they recorded theirfirst victory in the World Cup in 2011, whenthe runner-up Transcend also representedJapan. The Japanese mare To The Victory hadalso finished second in the World Cup tenyears earlier.

It hadn’t taken Japan nearly as long to makeits mark on the Dubai Sheema Classic, withStay Gold defeating Fantastic Light to win in2001. A second victory came Japan’s waywhen Heart’s Cry won easily in 2006 and thatexcellent mare Buena Vista failed by onlythree-parts of a length to beat Dar Re Mi in the2010 edition. Then the Dubai Duty Free sawJapanese colts take first and third places in2007, thanks to Admire Moon and DaiwaMajor, and Utopia triumphed in the 2006Godolphin Mile.

Bearing this in mind, it is well worth takingnote of potential Japanese challengers for the2012 World Cup meeting, even thoughOrfevre, who has recently been named

Japan’s Horse of the Year for 2011, is notlikely to have Dubai on his itinerary. His maininternational target is said to be the Prix del’Arc de Triomphe later in 2012.

Appropriately, Orfevre is a son of thepreviously mentioned Stay Gold, who not onlywon the Dubai Sheema Classic as a seven-year-old in 2001 but also the Hong Kong Vase.Timeform rated his efforts 127. Stay Gold alsohad the unusual record of having contested theJapan Cup at the ages of four, five, six andseven, without showing the level of form hedisplayed in Dubai and Hong Kong.

Stay Gold had the pedigree to make astallion. In addition to having the peerlessSunday Silence as his sire, he is out of a sisterto the smart miler Soccer Boy, who siredwinners of such races as the Tenno Sho(Spring), Japanese St Leger and Shuka Sho.

Stay Gold’s first foals were born in 2003.Although there were a couple of JapaneseGrade 3 winners in that initial crop, it was hissecond which put him on the map. Despitethe presence in this crop of El Dorado, a three-time winner of the Singapore Gold Cup, itsstar member was undoubtedly Orfevre’sbrother Dream Journey.

Having won Japan’s top juvenile prize, theAsahi Hai Futurity, Dream Journey confirmedhis talent by winning the Japanese 2,000Guineas over ten furlongs. Although his careerthen stagnated for quite a while, DreamJourney flourished again as a five-year-old in2009, notably defeating Buena Vista to takethe end-of-year Arima Kinen.

Remarkably Orfevre emulated his olderbrother in the 2011 Arima Kinen, which hewon by three-quarters of a length from the2010 Japanese Derby winner Eishin Flash,with Buena Vista finishing only seventh on herswansong.

This performance capped a tremendousyear for Orfevre, as he had won the Japanese2,000 Guineas in April, the Derby in May andthe St Leger in October. He did so despitehaving a May 14 birthday, so it would be nosurprise if he still has improvement in him.

Triple Crown requires staminaWith Japan’s three Classics being contestedfrom a mile and a quarter to 15 furlongs, theJapanese Triple Crown doesn’t demand thesame blend of speed and stamina as the Britishversion. Even so, it still takes a very talented

Japanese runners to be feared in DubaiHorse of the Year Orfevre an unlikely runner but Smart Falcon could add to country’s haul

CAULFIELD FILESANDREW CAULFIELD REPORTS ON THE BLOODSTOCK WORLD

With the British and Irish industriesbecoming increasingly dependent on theblood of Sadler’s Wells, Danehill and GreenDesert, the quest for outcrosses is likely tobecome more urgent over the next decade.Fortunately the likes of Dubawi, Shamardal,Dalakhani and Acclamation all have pedigreeswhich should make them invaluable, andthere are others, such as Nayef, Raven’s Pass,Sir Percy and Canford Cliffs, which could alsoride to the rescue.

Alternatively, breeders could considerbuying German-bred broodmares, safe in theknowledge that mares by German stallionshave produced winners of the Japanese Derbyand Kentucky Derby over the last two seasons.

Acatenango, who died in 2005, wasGermany’s champion broodmare sire in 2011,just as he had been in 2009. This suggests that

this three-time German Horse of the Yearcould well replicate the enormous success thathis sire Surumu enjoyed in this role (11broodmare championships between 1991 and2008).

Daughters of Acatenango pulled off thestriking feat of producing the winners of boththe Kentucky Derby and Deutsches Derby in2011, thanks to Animal Kingdom andWaldpark. Daughters of Acatenango havealready produced Group winners to sons ofSadler’s Wells (Montjeu, Galileo and hisbrother Black Sam Bellamy), Green Desert(Oasis Dream, sire of the Group 1 winnerQuerari) and Danehill, so they appear to haveplenty to offer British and Irish breeders.

Monsun is another champion German sireand broodmare sire who has followed in thefootsteps of his sire, Konigsstuhl. It is worthremembering that Monsun was used

comparatively sparingly for much of hiscareer, so he hasn’t a huge number ofbroodmare daughters. One has alreadyproduced a Group 1 winner to a son ofSadler’s Wells (Sholokhov), while another hasproduced a very promising 2011 Germantwo-year-old to a grandson (the GermanHorse of the Year Soldier Hollow, sire of theGroup 3 winner Pastorius in his first crop).Monsun mares also have Group winners byDanehill’s sons Rock Of Gibraltar and TigerHill, so once again they have obviouspotential.

Shuffle makes big impactBig Shuffle became Germany’s champion sirein 2011. As this was his fifth championshipin nine years, the Irish six- and seven-furlongspecialist has proved a tremendous asset tothe German industry since he commenced

Feb_90_Caulfield_Owner Breeder 19/01/2012 09:29 Page 86


and tough performer to win all three legs. The last colt to achieve this feat was Deep

Impact in 2006 and then you have to go backto 1994 to find the previous Triple Crownwinner, Narita Brian. The only others tocomplete the series were Symboli Rudolf(1984), Mr. C.B. (1983), Shinzan (1964) andSt Lite (1941).Dream Journey has now retired after racing

at the age of seven in 2011, but it is unlikelythat Orfevre will stay in training that long. Itwould be fascinating to see whether he canfare better than Deep Impact in the Arc, a racewhich nearly fell to another of Stay Gold’ssons, Nakayama Festa, in 2010.Orfevre’s dam Oriental Art is by Mejiro

McQueen, an unfamiliar name to mostEuropeans. However, this stamina-packedhorse won the Japanese St Leger and twoeditions of the Tenno Sho over two miles.Perhaps the most striking aspect of

Orfevre’s pedigree is that he is inbred 4 x 3 toNorthern Taste, a horse who was himselfclosely inbred. Northern Taste was a smarttwo-year-old who later won the Prix de laForet over seven furlongs as long ago as 1974.The flashy son of Northern Dancer had a

broad blaze which extended past his left eye, but that proved no hindrance to him. He could justifiably be described as theSunday Silence of his era, as he took the champion sire title ten times in an

11-year period between 1982 and 1992.Northern Taste also had the distinction of

being inbred 3 x 2 to Nearctic’s dam LadyAngela. This Hyperion mare could hardlyhave been better bred, as her dam was SisterSarah (ancestress also of St Paddy, GreatNephew, Flying Water, Balidaress, Workforce,etc), her third dam was Molly Desmond(ancestress of Brigadier Gerard) and herfourth dam was the immortal Pretty Polly.

Falcon poised to swoopAnother leading Japanese horse who is morelikely to head for Dubai is Smart Falcon, whowill be attempting to follow in Victoire Pisa’sfootsteps after his all-the-way win in theTokyo Daishoten on December 29.Like Orfevre, Smart Falcon is a grandson of

Sunday Silence. Unlike many of this clan,though, he is a dirt specialist and now has the proud record of having 22 victories from32 starts. Sunday Silence, of course, won the

Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes andBreeders’ Cup Classic on dirt. Smart Falcon’ssire Gold Allure was a leading dirt performerin Japan, where his victories included theTokyo Daishoten, a race won by Smart Falconin 2010 and 2011. His 2010 win helped himearn second place behind Espoir City –another son of Gold Allure – on the officialratings for Japan’s older dirt performers.Smart Falcon has a 2011 victory over

Transcend, runner-up in last year’s DubaiWorld Cup, so don’t underestimate him.

GEO

RGE

SELW

YN

Orfevre’s sire Stay Gold edges out Fantastic Light in the 2001 Sheema Classic

stallion duties in 1990. His son Areion waschampion sire in 2010, so Big Shuffle hasexerted a pretty strong grip on the title.Although Big Shuffle was bred in America

and not Germany, he also has an outcrosspedigree, with no Northern Dancer blood.The first four generations of his pedigreecontains several British Classic winners,including the Oaks winner HomewardBound, Derby winner Owen Tudor and 2,000Guineas winners Tudor Minstrel, My Babuand Court Martial. These bloodlines, blendedwith German mares, mean that many of hisbroodmare daughters will have plenty ofopportunities. Big Shuffle finished thirdbehind Acatenango and Dashing Blade amongGermany’s broodmare sires in 2011, with oneof his daughters being responsible for Tai Chi,High Chaparral’s promising winner of theGroup 3 Preis des Winterfavoriten.Dashing Blade, another of Germany’s

champion sires, has the considerableattraction of having Shirley Heights andSharpen Up as his grandsires. Over the lastthree years he has progressed from fourth, tothird and now second on the broodmare sires’table. His potential as a broodmare sire could

hardly have been better demonstrated than byStacelita, a four-time Group 1 winner inFrance who collected two of America’s topturf prizes for fillies and mares in 2011. Twoother Dashing Blade mares made their markin 2011 with their progeny by sons of Sadler’sWells. First, Earl Of Tinsdal became a Group1 winner for Black Sam Bellamy and thenSholokhov’s daughter Monami establishedherself as a Classic prospect with her victoryin the Group 3 Preis des Winterkonigin. In previous years Dashing Blade mares have

produced Group 2 winners to In The Wingsand Barathea, plus another Group winner byBlack Sam Bellamy, so they have a fruitfulpartnership with Sadler’s Wells.Lomitas, Germany’s champion sire of 2001,

was mainly in the news in 2011 as the sire ofthe stunning Arc winner Danedream, but healso cropped up as the broodmare sire of goodGroup winners in the US (the smart turf fillyMalibu Pier) and Italy (the Group 1 PremioRoma winner Zazou).

Lomitas: broodmare sire of Zazou

Feb_90_Caulfield_Owner Breeder 19/01/2012 09:29 Page 87


National Hunt Grade Ones

DATA BOOKSTAKES RESULTS

SANDOWN PARK. Dec 3. 16f. Good to Soft.1. AL FEROF (FR) 6 gr g

Dom Alco - Maralta (Altayan)O-J Hales B-J Rauch, M G Chenu TR-P Nicholls

2. For Non Stop (IRE) 6 b g Alderbrook - Lost Link (Shernazar)

3. Lancetto (FR) 6 b g Dubai Destination - Lanciana (Acatenango)

Age Starts Wins Places Earned4-6 13 8 3 £134,031See race 161 in the May 2011 issue for analysis

58 HENRY VIII NOVICES’ CHASE G1

TrafficRhenaneLa VarendeArctic StarNearcticSeximeeSheshoonCenerentolaForliIn Hot PursuitRed GodAlannyaRight Royal VChambre d’AmourCarmarthenVamira

DOM ALCO gr 87

MARALTA b 94

Dom Pasquini

Alconaca

Altayan

Marowa

Rheffic

Boursonne

Nonoalco

Vela

Posse

Aleema

Rex Magna

La Romantique

AL FEROF gr g 2005

SANDOWN PARK. Dec 3. 16f. Good to Soft.1. SIZING EUROPE (IRE) 9 b g

Pistolet Bleu - Jennie Dun (Mandalus)O-Ann & Alan Potts Partnership B-Mrs A Bracken TR-Henry de Bromhead

2. Kauto Stone (FR) 5 ch gWith The Flow - Kauto Relka (Port Etienne)

3. Cornas (NZ) 9 b gPrized - Duvessa (Sound Reason)

Age Starts Wins Places Earned4-9 28 13 10 £735,212

59 TINGLE CREEK CHASE G1

Derring-DoCamenaeCharlottesvilleLa SegaMossboroughArdelleKlaironAmagallaPetitionGreat FunAbernantLamriPampered KingTrial By FireVic DayPolperro

PISTOLET BLEU b 88

JENNIE DUN b 94

Top Ville

Pampa Bella

Mandalus

Lakelands Girl

High Top

Sega Ville

Armos

Kendie

Mandamus

Laminate

Deep Run

Charlie Girl

SIZING EUROPE b g 2002

Sizing Europe, conqueror of Big Zeb inthe 2011 Queen Mother ChampionChase, confirmed that he is no backnumber when he dominated the TingleCreek Chase on his first visit toSandown. The son of Pistolet Bleu hasnow won 13 times, the longestdistance he has won over being twoand a half miles, but he has twicefinished a respectable second, beatenby Kauto Star and Quito de la Roque,in the three-mile Champion Chase atDown Royal.

Sizing Europe’s sire Pistolet Bleudied at the age of 13 after only oneseason under Coolmore’s NationalHunt banner. This winner of theCriterium de Saint-Cloud and GrandPrix de Saint-Cloud had establishedhis credentials in France by siring suchas Katarino and Geos, and more goodwinners flowed from his Irish crop. Itsleading performers included Your SumMan (Grand National Hurdle in theUSA), Merigo (Scottish GrandNational), Tullamore Dew, Coscorrig,

Seven Is My Number, Parsons Pistol,Copper Bleu, I’msingingtheblues,Dover’s Hill, Cappa Bleu and Snap Tie.

Sizing Europe’s dam Jennie Dun isan unraced daughter of Mandalus, sirealso of those good staying chasers SirRembrandt, Macgeorge and HenryMann.

Other good recent winners out ofMandalus mares include Powerstation,Get Me Out Of Here, RobertoGoldback, Made In Taipan and MountOscar.

FAIRYHOUSE. December 4. 16f. Soft to Heavy.1. SOUS LES CIEUX (FR) 5 ch g

Robin des Champs - Joie de La Vie (Quart de Vin)O-Mrs S Ricci B-Mme Karine Colson, Nicolas De Lageneste TR-WP Mullins

2. Galileo’s Choice (IRE) 5 b gGalileo - Sevi’s Choice (Sir Ivor)

3. Miss Nomer (IRE) 4 b f Overbury - MissInformation (Commanche Run)


60 ROYAL BOND NOVICE HURDLE G1

Never BendMilan MillSicambreRight AwaySicambreInsulaireEl RelicarioOrdonneuseWordenSeesTantiemeQuaker GirlTiffaugesPetula IIFaristanOseille

ROBIN DES CHAMPS b 97

JOIE DE LA VIE gr 97

Garde Royale

Relayeuse

Quart de Vin

Una Rosa

Mill Reef

Royal Way

Iron Duke

Reliorneuse

Devon

Quartelette

Perouges

Graminee

SOUS LES CIEUX ch g 2006

A winner of one of his four starts fornon-thoroughbreds on the Flat in hisnative France, Sous Les Cieux headedfor Ireland after finishing third on hishurdling debut at Auteuil in March2010. Showing the benefit of beinggiven plenty of time, the geldingwasn’t extended to win a maidenhurdle at Fairyhouse in November andthen stepped up to beat the usefulFlat performer Galileo’s Choice in theGr1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle.

Sous les Cieux’s exploits will helphis sire Robin des Champs, who leftFrance for the Cashmans’ GlenviewStud in 2008. Robin des Champscovered 144 mares in his first year, 82in his second and 81 in his third. His2012 fee of €5,000 reflects the factthat he has also been represented bythat excellent mare Quevega, Quinz,Escort’men and Original. His bestwinner in France is Oeil du Maitre,winner of the French ChampionHurdle in 2008 – the year Robin desChamps finished second amongFrance’s leading jumping sires. He hassince finished fifth in 2009, ninth in2010 and 11th in 2011.

Robin des Champs raced as athree-year-old, winning the first four ofhis five starts over hurdles by a total ofnearly 20 lengths. He is by Mill Reef’sson Garde Royale, whose Irishrepresentatives included Nicanor andGarde Champetre, and Garde Royalealso sired the dam of Master Minded.

Sous les Cieux’s dam Joi de la Vieis an unraced daughter of Quart de

Vin, who made his mark in Britain withhis top-class sons Rolling Ball and Vald’Alene. Quart de Vin also sired somemajor winners over fences in France,including Ucello, twice a winner of theGrand Steeple-Chase de Paris.

Stamina was one of Quart de Vin’sstrong suits as he won over two and aquarter miles on the Flat and also tookthe Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil.Sous les Cieux is his dam’s third foal andthird winner, and the mare has youngdaughters by Lavirco (two) and Network.

FAIRYHOUSE. December 4. 20f. Soft to Heavy.1. VOLER LA VEDETTE (IRE) 7 b m

King’s Theatre - Steel Grey Lady (Roselier)O-Mrs M Brophy B-Mrs M Brophy TR-Colm A Murphy

2. Mourad (IRE) 6 ch gSinndar - Mouramara (Kahyasi)

3. The Real Article (IRE) 6 b gDefinite Article - Soul Mate (Phardante)


61 HATTON’S GRACE HURDLE G1

NearcticNatalmaBold ReasonSpecialRaise A NativeCharloCrafty AdmiralEvasionMediumMistFastnet RockLa PaixYellow GodDoganaWelsh SaintGift Rose

KING’S THEATRE b 91

STEEL GREY LADY gr 94

Sadler’s Wells

Regal Beauty

Roselier

Gobolino

Northern Dancer

Fairy Bridge

Princely Native

Dennis Belle

Misti IV

Peace Rose

Don

Broccoli

VOLER LA VEDETTE b m 2004

The female of the species shone inIreland’s end-of-year Gr1 races overhurdles, with Voler La Vedette takingthe Hatton’s Grace Hurdle andUnaccompanied the Festival Hurdle.Voler La Vedette then rounded off2011 with a decisive victory in the Gr2Christmas Hurdle, to improve herrecord to five wins from her last sixstarts. Her overall record now standsat an impressive 13 wins from 21starts.

Voler La Vedette’s ChristmasHurdle win proved that she stays threemiles. With King’s Theatre as her sireand a daughter of Roselier as herdam, she is bred to the same patternas The Minack, a smart andprogressive staying chaser. She mustbe considered the best jumpingdaughter of King’s Theatre, ahead ofthe smart staying chaser Miss Mitch.

King’s Theatre, who died in June2011, made his name as a winner ofthe Racing Post Trophy and KingGeorge. He ranked third behindPresenting and Oscar among theleading sires of jumpers in 2010/11,with an impressive 39 per centwinners to runners. In addition to VolerLa Vedette he has shone with CaptainChris, Riverside Theatre, Menorah,Cue Card, Wichita Lineman and FingalBay.

Voler La Vedette’s broodmare sireRoselier died in 1998, so the FrenchChampion Hurdle winner nowadaysrelies on his broodmare daughters tokeep his name to the fore. Another

daughter produced Askanna, winner in2011 of a Gr2 hurdle race over threemiles, to another son of Sadler’s Wells.Stamina was one of the hallmarks ofRoselier’s progeny, which featuredwinners of the Grand Nationals inBritain, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

Steel Grey Lady, the dam of VolerLa Vedette, is also dam of Hennessy,who stayed well enough to win theBet365 Gold Cup Chase. Steel GreyLady was also a half-sister to BolinoStar, a Gr2 winner over hurdles.

FAIRYHOUSE. December 4. 20f. Soft to Heavy.1. BOG WARRIOR (IRE) 7 b g

Strategic Choice - Kilmac Princess (King’s Ride)O-Gigginstown House Stud B-J Furlong TR-AJ Martin

2. Shinrock Paddy (IRE) 7 b gDeploy - Arts Theater (King’s Theatre)

3. Rivage d’Or (FR) 6 b gVisionary - Deesse d’Allier (Pure Hasard)

Age Starts Wins Places Earned7 5 4 0 £62,547

62 DRINMORE NOVICE CHASE G1

Tom RolfeWavy NavyPrince JohnDetermined LadyNorthern DancerPas de NomTom RolfeSister ShuHethersettWho Can TellSovereign PathTurfPampered KingTrial By FireTiepolo IISapphire Spray

STRATEGIC CHOICE b 91

KILMAC PRINCESS b 95

Alleged

Danlu

King’s Ride

Vixen Run

Hoist The Flag

Princess Pout

Danzig

Lulu Mon Amour

Rarity

Ride

Deep Run

Elands Kop

BOG WARRIOR b g 2004

In a career which extended to sevenyears on the track, Strategic Choiceshowed very smart form in severalcountries. In Ireland he won the StLeger in 1995; in England he finishedthird in Lammtarra’s King George; inItaly he won the Gran Premio diMilano; in France he won the GrandPrix de Deauville; and in Japan hefinished third to Singspiel in the JapanCup.

His total earnings fell not far shortof £900,000, so it was surprising thathe wasn’t snapped up for stud dutiesbefore the age of ten. He is, after all, ason of Alleged, a stallion who foundconsiderable favour in the jumpingsector, thanks to the success ofseveral of his stallion sons. Amongthem are Montelimar (sire of theGrand National winners Hedgehunterand Monty’s Pass), Flemensfirth (sireof Cheltenham Gold Cup winnerImperial Commander, plus such asTidal Bay, Pandorama and Time ForRupert), Alesso (sire of Baracouda),Husyan (sire of Liss A Paoraigh),Jurado (sire of Hello Bud) andReligiously (sire of Macs Joy).

Now Strategic Choice has alsocome up with a potentially high-classwinner in Bog Warrior. The geldingwas winning for the fourth time in fourcompleted starts when he benefitedfrom the blunders of favourite FirstLieutenant to win the Drinmore NoviceChase at Fairyhouse by more than 30lengths.

Bog Warrior’s dam Kilmac Princess

Feb_90_databook_Leader 19/01/2012 09:32 Page 88


Caulfield on Boston Bob: “He is the latest in a long line of high-class jumping sons of BobBack; he never won over further than a mile and a quarter but plenty of his best winners stay well”

Monsun’s son Network finished ashigh as eighth among France’s leadingsires of jumpers in 2011, thankslargely to the efforts of Rubi Ball. Inaddition to finishing second in theGrande Steeple-Chase de Paris, thisexcellent young jumper has won theGr1 Prix La Haye Jousselin (for asecond time) and the Gr3 PrixToytown. Other good 2011 Frenchwinners by Network included NetLovely (a Gr3 winner over hurdles andListed winner over fences) and QuartMonde (a Gr3 winner over fences).

Network’s progeny have also left nodoubts about their potential in Britainand Ireland. Sprinter Sacre won theGr2 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase,having finished third in the SupremeNovices’ Hurdle, and Saint Are wonthe Gr1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle. Heowes his first Irish Gr1 success to thevery smart Rubi Light, winner in 2011of the Gr2 Red Mills Chase and theGr1 John Durkan MemorialPunchestown Chase.

Network won the Gr2 Union-Rennen over 11 furlongs in his nativeGermany. We are likely to hear plentymore of the Haras National de CercyLa Tour stallion as he has plenty ofyoung stock in France, including a2010 crop which is large by Frenchstandards.

Rubi Light comes from an AQPSfamily. His dam Genny Lights, whofailed to win in eight attempts on theFlat, is by Lights Out, a smartperformer at around a mile and a half

showed little promise in point-to-points and over hurdles but she is bythat good National Hunt stallion King’sRide. Other daughters of King’s Ridehave produced the likes of Cue Card,Mackeys Forge, Cool Quest, Barker, ItTakes Time, Celestial Gold,Fiveforthree, Candy Girl, PremierVictory, Valley Ride, Tarablaze andBohemian Lass in recent seasons.

Bog Warrior’s second dam VixenRun was a winning half-sister to thesmart hurdler/chaser Allten Glazed.

PUNCHESTOWN. December 11. 20f. Heavy.1. RUBI LIGHT (FR) 6 b g

Network - Genny Lights (Lights Out)O-W Hennessy B-P Vagne, V Vagne TR-Robert Hennessy

2. Joncol (IRE) 8 b gBob’s Return - Finemar Lady (Montelimar)

3. Cooldine (IRE) 9 b gBeneficial - Shean Alainn (Le Moss)


63 JOHN DURKAN MEMORIAL PUNCHESTOWN CHASE G1

Dschingis KhanKonigskronungSurumuMonasiaTantiemeRelance IIINarasNinaBlushing GroomTales To TellWollowLighted GloryProve OutMail RushFrancois SaubaberGlanie

NETWORK br 97

GENNY LIGHTS b 94

Monsun

Note

Lights Out

Tenacity

Konigsstuhl

Mosella

Reliance II

Nicotiana

Crystal Glitters

Light A Star

Prove It Baby

Manie

RUBI LIGHT b g 2005

in France by the Blushing Groomstallion Crystal Glitters and from agood family. The next dam, the middle-distance winner Tenacity, was by Proveit Baby, a smart Group winner at up to15 furlongs in France.

There is plenty of stamina here,although Rubi Light has beencampaigned largely at around two anda half miles since his arrival in Irelandin 2009. He had won only one of hissix starts in France, a steeplechase atFontainebleau.

ASCOT. December 17. 25f. Soft.1. BIG BUCK’S (FR) 8 b/br g

Cadoudal - Buck’s (Le Glorieux)O-The Stewart Family B-H Poulat TR-Paul Nicholls

2. Five Dream (FR) 7 b gTake Risks - Jenny Pous (Kaid Pous)

3. Restless Harry (GB) 7 b gSir Harry Lewis - Restless Native (Be My Native)

Age Starts Wins Places Earned3-8 34 19 9 £1,042,051

64 LONG WALK HURDLE G1

Northern DancerFlaming PageVal de LoirSly PolaHerbagerSea NymphSayajiraoCamillaStop The MusicQuick CureLe FabuleuxLa MagnanarelleYelapaBete A Bon DieuStar MossBesides

CADOUDAL br 79

BUCK’S b 93

Green Dancer

Come To Sea

Le Glorieux

Buckleby

Nijinsky

Green Valley

Sea Hawk II

Camarilla

Cure The Blues

La Mirande

Buckskin

Thereby

BIG BUCK’S b/br g 2003

The blunder Big Buck’s made at thelast fence in the 2008 Hennessy GoldCup has proved a huge blessing indisguise. Although good enough towin three of his previous six startsover fences, he has subsequentlyproved much more at home over thesmaller obstacles, to the extent that hehas compiled an extraordinarysequence of 14 victories, includingeight at Gr1 level. Although his threewins in the World Hurdle must beconsidered his finest achievement, henow also has three victories to hisname in the Long Walk Hurdle, plusthree in the Liverpool Hurdle (the firstwhen it was a Gr2) and another threein Newbury’s Gr2 Long DistanceHurdle.

The dam of Big Buck’s, Buck’s, is adaughter of Le Glorieux, a French coltwho landed the Washington DCInternational and the Japan Cup in thesame season. Buck’s raced 42 timesbut won only twice, in a steeplechaseat Cagnes-sur-Mer and a claiminghurdle at Auteuil. She now has sixwinners to her credit, including BigBuck’s’ Gr1-placed brother Buck’sBoum. Her youngest foals are Buck’sBandit, a 2010 filly by the Arc winnerTrempolino, and Bingo Buck’s, a 2011colt by Nickname, a Gr1 winner overhurdles in France and over fences inIreland.

The second dam Buckleby could bethe source of some of Big Buck’s’stamina, as she was by theoutstanding long-distance horse

Buckskin, but Buckleby’s half-brotherPas de Seul showed plenty of speedfor a son of Mill Reef, as evidenced inwinning the Prix de la Foret.

Cadoudal, a son of the Nijinskystallion Green Dancer, died in 2007 atthe ripe old age of 28 but this many-times champion sire continues tomake his presence felt, his 2011winners also featuring the likes ofLong Run (Gr1 Cheltenham Gold Cup)and Le Beau Bai (Gr3 WelshNational).

NAVAN. December 18. 20f. Soft to Heavy.1. BOSTON BOB (IRE) 6 b g

Bob Back - Bavaway (Le Bavard)O-Graham Wylie B-Burgage Stud TR-WP Mullins

2. Mount Benbulben (IRE) 6 b gBeneficial - Dramatic Dame (Buckskin)

3. Ipsos du Berlais (FR) 5 gr gPoliglote - Isis Du Berlais (Cadoudal)


65 NAVAN NOVICE HURDLE G1

Turn-ToNothirdchanceNashuaRareleaSaggyJoppyBeauchefRoman ZephyrWordenSeesLe HaarLueur d’EspoirArctic StarRoman GalleyVulganSkateaway

BOB BACK br 81

BAVAWAY b 87

Roberto

Toter Back

Le Bavard

Chillaway

Hail To Reason

Bramalea

Carry Back

Romantic Miss

Devon

Lueur Doree

Arctic Slave

Freezeaway

BOSTON BOB b g 2005

When Boston Bob came under thehammer at Doncaster Bloodstock’sNewbury sale in March 2011, hisracing career consisted solely of a winin a point-to-point at Tallow and aclose third in a bumper atPunchestown. Owner Graham Wylietherefore took quite a gamble whenhe splashed out £150,000 for him, butthe gamble is paying off in fine style.

The gelded son of Bob Backquickly won a bumper at Hexham,after which he was sent back toIreland, to be trained by Willie Mullins.After making a winning debut overhurdles at Navan in November, BostonBob was immediately thrust into Gr1company, to win the Navan NoviceHurdle.

Boston Bob is the latest in a longline of high-class jumping sons of BobBack. Bob Back never won overfurther than a mile and a quarter, thedistance of his victories in the Princeof Wales’s Stakes and PremioPresidente della Repubbica, but plentyof his best winners stay well. Othergood recent representatives by himinclude Bobs Worth, Rare Bob, BurtonPort, Roberto Goldback, Minella FourStar, Back In Focus, Saludos andRigour Back Bob.

Previous flag-bearers for thestallion, who was euthanized becauseof the infirmities of old age at the ageof 30 in 2011, included Cousin Vinny,Back In Front, Thisthatandtother,Bachannal, Putty Road, Treble Bob,Farmer Brown and Calling Brave.

Boston Bob has a traditional jumpspedigree, his first three dams beingdaughters of Le Bavard, Arctic Slaveand Vulgan. Le Bavard won the Prix duCadran before siring the likes ofKildimo, Perris Valley, Bankers Benefitand Barney Burnett.

Boston Bob’s dam, the unracedBavaway, is a half-sister to the smarthurdler/chaser Danny Harrold and thenext dam, Chillaway, was a half-sisterto the very useful chaser GoldenFreeze.

LEOPARDSTOWN. December 26. 17f. Soft.1. BLACKSTAIRMOUNTAIN (IRE) 6 b g

Imperial Ballet - Sixhills (Sabrehill)O-Mrs S Ricci B-Mrs JM Mullins TR-WP Mullins

2. Notus de La Tour (FR) 5 b gKutub - Ridiyla (Akarad)

3. Foildubh (IRE) 7 b gWoods of Windsor - Bushey Glen (Roselier)


66 RACING POST NOVICE CHASE G1

NearcticNatalmaBold ReasonSpecialBold RulerBarn PrideBaldric IIVioletta IIISharpen UpDoubly SureAllegedMazacaBlakeneyChristianaCharlottownMargaret Ann

IMPERIAL BALLET b 89

SIXHILLS b 99

Sadler’s Wells

Amaranda

Sabrehill

Moidart

Northern Dancer

Fairy Bridge

Bold Lad

Favoletta

Diesis

Gypsy Talk

Electric

Marypark

BLACKSTAIRMOUNTAIN b g 2005

With the hot favourite Bog Warriorfalling at the fourth in the Racing PostNovice Chase, Blackstairmountainwas able to record the second Gr1victory of his career on only hissecond appearance over fences. Hisprevious major success came in 2010,when he won Punchestown’sChampion Novice Hurdle, and he alsohas victories to his name on the Flat,in bumpers and over hurdles.

His wins over jumps have all comeat around two miles, which reflects thefact that his sire, the Royal Hunt Cupwinner Imperial Ballet, was one ofSadler’s Wells’s faster sons. ImperialBallet inherited some speed from hisdam Amaranda, an impressive winnerof the Queen Mary Stakes, and thisspeed also emerged in ImperialBallet’s daughter Imperial Beauty,winner of the 2001 Prix de l’Abbayede Longchamp.

Blackstairmountain’s dam Sixhills,who gained her only success over amile and three quarters, has alsoproduced the useful bumper horseAllure Of Illusion. This female line hasendless stamina, asBlackstairmountain’s second damMoidart won at up to two miles, inaddition to finishing second in theChester Cup. Moidart’s usefuldaughter Eilean Shona also stayedwell, as did Moidart’s dam Marypark,who won at up to two and a quartermiles. This family has also producedwinners of the Park Hill Stakes andPrix du Cadran (Invermark).




DATA BOOKSTAKES RESULTS

KEMPTON PARK. Dec 26. 24f. Good to Soft.1. KAUTO STAR (FR) 11 b g

Village Star - Kauto Relka (Port Etienne)O-CD Smith B-Mme H Aubert TR-Paul Nicholls

2. Long Run (FR) 6 b/br gCadoudal - Libertina (Balsamo)

3. Captain Chris (IRE) 7 b gKing’s Theatre - Function Dream (Strong Gale)

Age Starts Wins Places Earned3-11 40 23 11 £2,375,883See race 2 in the January issue for analysis

67 KING GEORGE VI CHASE G1

Never BendMilan MillHautainPaladrinaTantiemeRelance IIIAureoleCauserieNever BendMilan MillCanisbaySaigonRelkoCranberryLionelTyrolina

VILLAGE STAR ch 83

KAUTO RELKA b 93

Moulin

Glitter

Port Etienne

Kautorette

Mill Reef

High Fidelyty

Reliance II

Glistening

Mill Reef

Sierra Morena

Kautokeino

Verdurette

KAUTO STAR b g 2000

KEMPTON PARK. Dec 26. 24f. Good to Soft.1. GRANDS CRUS (FR) 6 gr g

Dom Alco - Fee Magic (Phantom Breeze)O-Roger Stanley, Yvonne Reynolds III B-Mr JM Prost Alamartine TR-David Pipe

2. Silviniaco Conti (FR) 5 ch gDom Alco - Gazelle Lulu (Altayan)

3. Bobs Worth (IRE) 6 b gBob Back - Fashionista (King’s Theatre)


68 FELTHAM NOVICES’ CHASE G1

TrafficRhenaneLa VarendeArctic StarNearcticSeximeeSheshoonCenerentolaNijinskyForeseerRun The GantletArburieLuthierTop TwigJeffersonMiss Cuyp

DOM ALCO gr 87

FEE MAGIC b 00

Dom Pasquini

Alconaca

Phantom Breeze

Carama

Rheffic

Boursonne

Nonoalco

Vela

Vision

Ask The Wind

Tip Moss

Miss Jefferson

GRANDS CRUS gr g 2005

The continued presence of Big Buck’sin the top staying hurdles severelylimited Grands Crus’s chances ofbecoming a Gr1 winner over hurdles.Having twice finished second to him in2011, Grands Crus has taken evasiveaction by switching to the biggerobstacles, with instant success. Hewas winning for the third time in asmany starts when he jumped too wellfor Silviniaco Conti and Bobs Worth inthe Feltham Novices’ Chase.

Grands Crus and Silviniaco Contiare reminders of the talents of theirsire Dom Alco, who died in 2010 atthe age of 23. This French stallion isalso responsible for the 2011Cheltenham Festival Graded winnersNeptune Collonges and Al Ferof andhis other current representativesinclude the progressive chaser Roalcode Farges and the smart Frenchhurdler Rhialco.

Dom Alco won six races overhurdles, including two Listed events atAuteuil. He tackled a distance as long

as three miles only once but clearlystayed well and he has passed onplenty of stamina to the likes ofGrands Crus, Neptune Collonges andAl Ferof. Remarkably, Dom Alco failedto win in 14 attempts on the Flat,including in claiming races.

Grands Crus’s dam Fee Magic is anunraced half-sister to Al Tip, a Listedwinner over hurdles at Auteuil by DomAlco. The gelding’s third dam MissJefferson was also a Listed winner atAuteuil, as was Miss Jefferson’s sonLe Cheyenne. Fee Magic’s sirePhantom Breeze, a son of Caerleon’sfull-brother Vision, was fourth in the1989 Irish Derby before beingswitched to run in the USA. He didwell enough there to be invited toparticipate in the 1990 Japan Cup butwas too stoutly-bred to become afashionable stallion. He retired at amodest fee in France, where his bestwinners include Le Coudray, a top-class hurdler and chaser, and Bilboa, amare who did very well over hurdles.

KEMPTON PARK. Dec 26. 16f. Good to Soft.1. BINOCULAR (FR) 7 b g

Enrique - Bleu Ciel Et Blanc (Pistolet Bleu)O-John P McManus B-E Lellouche TR-Nicky Henderson

2. Rock On Ruby (IRE) 6 b gOscar - Stony View (Tirol)

3. Overturn (IRE) 7 b gBarathea - Kristal Bridge (Kris)


69 CHRISTMAS HURDLE G1

Northern DancerFairy BridgeHabitatCanton SilkRaise A NativeSpring SunshineBladeCommemorationHigh TopSega VilleArmosKendieSharpen UpTrephineLyphardSweet And Lovely II

ENRIQUE b 96

BLEU CIEL ET BLANC b 95

Barathea

Gwydion

Pistolet Bleu

Bouge De La

Sadler’s Wells

Brocade

Raise A Cup

Papamiento

Top Ville

Pampa Bella

Trempolino

Syndaar

BINOCULAR b g 2004

In winning the Christmas Hurdle,Binocular accomplished the unusualfeat of winning the same race twice inless than a year. Having decisivelydefeated Overturn in the 2010Christmas Hurdle, delayed untilJanuary 15, 2011 because of badweather, he had to work much harderto get the better of Rock On Ruby inthe official 2011 edition. This was thefourth Gr1 win of Binocular’s career,the highlight being his victory in the2010 Champion Hurdle.

Binocular didn’t perform up to hisbest on his only attempt at a distanceas long as two and a half miles. Hissire Enrique was noted for speedrather than stamina, winning theGreenham Stakes prior to finishing aneck second to Island Sands in the2,000 Guineas. However, Enrique’sbest Flat performers, the AmericanGr2 winner Obrigado and the FrenchGr3 winner On Est Bien, have bothdisplayed more stamina. Enrique isalso responsible for Slim Pearl and

Avenue Marceau, two Gr3-winninghurdlers in France, plus other goodFrench hurdlers.

Binocular’s dam Bleu Ciel et Blanc,a winner over 13 furlongs who wasplaced over hurdles, has three winnersfrom six foals, including Assassino, asuccessful dual-purpose performer.The next dam, Bouge De La, won onthe Flat and over hurdles. Binocular’sfourth dam is Sweet And Lovely,whose numerous smart descendantsinclude the Derby winner Kris Kin.

LEOPARDSTOWN. Dec 27. 17f. Good to Yielding.1. BIG ZEB (IRE) 10 b g

Oscar - Our Siveen (Deep Run)O-Patrick Joseph Redmond B-L Buttimer TR-Colm A Murphy

2. Noble Prince (GER) 7 b gMontjeu - Noble Pearl (Dashing Blade)

3. Forpadydeplasterer (IRE) 9 b gMoscow Society - Run Artiste (Deep Run)


70 PADDY POWER DIAL-A-BET CHASE G1

NearcticNatalmaBold ReasonSpecialTantiemeRelance IIIRoi DagobertHeavenly BodyPrince ChevalierNetherton MaidCourt MartialMitrailleuseSaint Crespin IIIFeevaghSica BoyRififi

OSCAR b 94

OUR SIVEEN ch 83

Sadler’s Wells

Snow Day

Deep Run

Clontinty Queen

Northern Dancer

Fairy Bridge

Reliance II

Vindaria

Pampered King

Trial By Fire

Laurence O

Si Si

BIG ZEB b g 2001

For the third time in four years Big Zeblanded the Gr1 Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase and the former winner ofthe Queen Mother Champion Chasenow has a record of 11 wins and fiveseconds from 17 completed startsover fences (he has also fallen fourtimes).

Big Zeb won at up to 21 furlongsearly in his chasing career butnowadays he is kept to around twomiles, even though there is noshortage of stamina in his pedigree.

His sire Oscar was bred to stayquite well, with Sadler’s Wells as hissire and a Reliance mare as his dam.Oscar’s brother Blue Stag was secondin the Derby and Oscar also relished amile and a half, as he showed whensecond in the Prix du Jockey-Club onhis final appearance.

Oscar is also responsible for suchaccomplished stayers as Refinement,Black Jack Ketchum, Oscar Time,Offshore Account, Razor Royale, TrickyTrickster, Oscar Looby and CaseyJones. That said, by no means all ofhis best progeny relish a thorough testof stamina, as Oscar Whisky, PeddlersCross, Silent Oscar and Rock On Rubyhave shown. Despite siring so manynotable performers, Oscar has neverquite managed to take the title ofchampion sire. He was runner-up in2010/11, third in 2006/07 and2009/10, fourth in 2008/09 and fifthin 2007/08.

Big Zeb was bought for €34,000as a three-year-old. He is one of only

two winners among the first 13 foalsout of Our Siveen. This daughter ofthe phenomenal National Hunt stallionDeep Run won at up to two and a halfmiles over hurdles.

Big Zeb’s second dam ClontintyQueen produced four winners from 15foals. She was an unraced daughter ofLaurence O, an excellent long-distance performer who numbered theQueen Alexandra Stakes over two andthree-quarter miles among hisvictories.

LEOPARDSTOWN. Dec 27. 16f. Good to Yielding.1. CASH AND GO (IRE) 4 b g

Sulamani - Calcida (Konigsstuhl)O-David Monaghan B-Gestut Erlenhof TR-EJ O’Grady

2. Dylan Ross (IRE) 5 b gShantou - Quit The Noise (Un Desperado)

3. Sous Les Cieux (FR) 5 ch gRobin des Champs - Joie de La Vie (Quart de Vin)


71 FUTURE CHAMPIONS NOVICE HURDLE G1

NijinskyVirginia HillsMiswakiLyrismHoist The FlagPrincess PoutNorthfieldsMia PolaTamerlaneDonna DianaTiepolettoKronungLe HaarFavrealeWindwurfCzenia

SULAMANI b 99

CALCIDA b 96

Hernando

Soul Dream

Konigsstuhl

Casella

Niniski

Whakilyric

Alleged

Normia

Dschingis Khan

Konigskronung

Frontal

Casadei

CASH AND GO b g 2007

History is repeating itself for Irishtrainer Edward O’Grady. He enjoyedconsiderable success a few years agowith the German import Catch Me,whose total of five Graded victoriesincluded a defeat of Brave Inca andHardy Eustace in the 2008 Hatton’sGrace Hurdle.

Now O’Grady is doing well withCatch Me’s half-brother Cash And Go.This bumper winner remainedunbeaten in three starts over hurdleswhen he showed plenty ofdetermination to take the FutureChampions Novice Hurdle. Cash AndGo has raced only over two miles butthere is every reason to expect him tocope well with longer distances, asCatch Me was a Gr2 winner over threemiles. Whereas Catch Me was by awinner of the Irish Derby in LawSociety, Cash And Go is a member ofthe second crop by Sulamani, a winnerof the French Derby and three otherGr1 races over a mile and a half.Sulamani’s first crop producedMastery, winner of the St Leger andHong Kong Vase.

Sulamani is now resident at YortonFarm in Shropshire, where he stoodhis first season as a National Huntstallion in 2011. He is well qualified tosucceed in this role, as his sireHernando is responsible for suchnotable jumpers as State Of Play andSacundai. Sulamani’s broodmare sireAlleged also exerted a powerfulinfluence on jump racing.

Cash And Go comes from a good



Caulfield on Last Instalment: “He is well suited by three miles, even though his sireAnshan was fast enough to win the Free Handicap and Supreme Stakes over seven furlongs”

German family. His third dam, Casadei,was second in the 1983 GermanOaks and was a sister to the veryuseful Czardas. Casadei was also ahalf-sister to the 1992 German Derbythird Carlton and the 1985 GermanDerby fourth Cassis.

Cash And Go’s dam Calcida gainedthe majority of her five victories ataround a mile. Her three-parts-brotherCome And Win was runner-up in theGr1 Gran Corsa di Siepi di MilanoHurdle.

CHEPSTOW. December 27. 16f 110yds. Heavy.1. HOLLOW TREE (GB) 3 b g

Beat Hollow - Hesperia (Slip Anchor)O-Brannon Dennis Dick Holden B-Mount Coote Stud TR-Donald McCain

2. Countrywide Flame (GB) 3 b gHaafhd - Third Party (Terimon)

3. Secret Edge (GB) 3 b gTobougg - Burton Ash (Diktat)


72 FUTURE CHAMPIONS JUVENILE HURDLE G1

NearcticNatalmaBold ReasonSpecialLyphardNavajo PrincessMill ReefSorbusMill ReefHardiemmaBirkhahnSuleikaBe My GuestIrish BirdCyaneBook of Verse

BEAT HOLLOW b 97

HESPERIA b 92

Sadler’s Wells

Wemyss Bight

Slip Anchor

Throw Away Line

Northern Dancer

Fairy Bridge

Dancing Brave

Bahamian

Shirley Heights

Sayonara

Assert

Obeah

HOLLOW TREE b g 2008

There was a time when 44 maresconstituted a full book but nowadays abook of that sort of size places astallion at a considerabledisadvantage. Beat Hollow’s first fourcrops numbered 38, 42, 54 and 51foals, but a pair of first-crop two-year-old stakes winners led to his beingmuch more strongly supported in2007. His 118-strong 2008 crop hasgiven him a chance to demonstratewhat he can do. Among his total ofmore than 40 individual winners arethe high-class Sea Moon and thepotentially high-class St Simon Stakeswinner Beaten Up.

Another of the winners, the dual14-furlong scorer Hollow Tree, isdemonstrating Beat Hollow’s potentialas a sire of jumpers, as he was gaininghis third win from four starts overhurdles when he took the FinaleJuvenile Hurdle. Beat Hollow’s otherhurdlers include the Gr3 winner BattleGroup and the promising Cinders AndAshes. Beat Hollow’s unraced brotherCourt Cave has sired the very usefulyoung chasers Champion Court andWhodoyouthink.

Hollow Tree is a half-brother to theuseful Halling filly Lucky Date. Theirdam Hesperia was a useful middle-distance winner in France and Italy butthe next few dams were bred inAmerica, where Hollow Tree’s thirddam, the very smart Obeah, produceda string of smart performers headedby the outstanding American filly GoFor Wand.

LEOPARDSTOWN. December 28. 24f. Good.1. LAST INSTALMENT (IRE) 6 ch g

Anshan - Final Instalment (Insan)O-Gigginstown House Stud B-J O’Mahony TR-Philip Fenton

2. First Lieutenant (IRE) 6 ch gPresenting - Fourstargale (Fourstars Allstar)

3. Allee Garde (FR) 6 b gKapgarde - Allee Du Port (Port Etienne)


73 FORT LENEY NOVICE CHASE G1

Bold RulerBarn PrideRelkoRunning BlueCaptain’s GigSlipstreamExburyYour Grace IIExclusive NativeOur JackieRuritaniaArctic ActressLord GayleAzurineBlack TarquinMiss Busybody

ANSHAN ch 87

FINAL INSTALMENT b 95

Persian Bold

Lady Zi

Insan

Augustaeliza

Bold Lad

Relkarunner

Manado

Exbury Grace

Our Native

Artania

Callernish

Miss Madam

LAST INSTALMENT ch g 2005

Last Instalment’s career is followingthe path established by so many smartIrish performers. Successful in a point-to-point and a bumper before showingplenty of promise over hurdles, the sonof Anshan has now graduated tosteeplechasing with excellent results.His three starts over fences haveyielded three victories worth around£75,000 and the boldness of hisjumping suggests he will continue tobe hard to beat.

Last Instalment has already shownthat he is well suited by three miles,even though Anshan was fast enoughto win the Free Handicap and Gr3Supreme Stakes over seven furlongs.Anshan was also third in the 2,000Guineas and later became a dualstakes winner over nine furlongs in theUS. He died in 2005, so LastInstalment is a member of hispenultimate crop, as is anotherprogressive young chaser,Quantitativeeasing. If Last Instalmentcontinues to improve, he couldbecome Anshan’s highest-ratedwinner, ahead of the likes of AsianMaze, Powerstation, Il Duce,Shakalakaboomboom, Mr Cracker,Back Of The Pack, Dave’s Dream,Quakers Field, Greenhall Rambler andPay It Forward.

Last Instalment’s dam FinalInstalment is an unraced daughter ofInsan. After winning the Gr2 BeresfordStakes at two, Insan didn’t enjoy muchluck, once being caught on the line byKahyasi in the Irish Derby after hisrider lost his whip. Insan retired to studin Yorkshire and then moved toGermany in 1991. His next move wasto the famous Garryrichard Stud inIreland after Be My Native, anotherhigh-class son of Our Native, becameall the rage in Irish jumps breeding.

Insan went on to sire such asDavenport Milenium, Ballycassidy andBoychuk. Last Instalment’s seconddam Augustaeliza was an unracedsister to the useful hurdler/chaser CallMe Later.

LEOPARDSTOWN. December 28. 24f. Good.1. SYNCHRONISED (IRE) 8 b g

Sadler’s Wells - Mayasta (Bob Back)O-John P McManus B-Mrs N McManus TR-Jonjo O’Neill

2. Rubi Light (FR) 6 b gNetwork - Genny Lights (Lights Out)

3. Quito de La Roque (FR) 7 b gSaint des Saints - Moody Cloud (Cyborg)


74 LEXUS CHASE G1

NearcoLady AngelaNative DancerAlmahmoudHail To ReasonLalunForliThongHail To ReasonBramaleaCarry BackRomantic MissBeau SabreurSnob HillGolden CloudCellular

SADLER’S WELLS b 81

MAYASTA br 90

Northern Dancer

Fairy Bridge

Bob Back

Sarahcee

Nearctic

Natalma

Bold Reason

Special

Roberto

Toter Back

Prominer

Celestial Gold

SYNCHRONISED b g 2003

The great Sadler’s Wells made atremendous impact on jump racing,both with his own progeny, such asIstabraq, Pridwell and Zaiyad, and viastallion sons of the calibre of Old Vic,King’s Theatre, Accordion and Oscar.Even so, it was somewhat surprisingthat one of his regular visitors in thelate 1990s and early 2000s wasMayasta, a Bob Back mare who hadenjoyed her finest moments overhurdles. Mayasta gained the best ofher five hurdle victories in 1996 andlater confirmed her versatility byrecording her second and third winson the Flat and her first over fences. Itno doubt helped that Mayasta carriedthe colours of John Magnier’s closeassociate JP McManus.

Mayasta’s covering in 2002, whenSadler’s Wells’s fee was in the regionof IR£250,000, resulted inSynchronised. After winning theMidlands Grand National on only hisfourth start over fences, Synchronisedhas recorded further victories in theGr3 Welsh National and Gr1 LexusChase, having warmed up with acouple of hurdle races on eachoccasion.

Synchronised’s broodmare sire BobBack was responsible for such goodjumpers as Back In Front, Bacchanal,Thisthatandtother and Bobs Worth.His second dam Sarahcee was awinning sister to Grangemore, dam ofthe successful juvenile hurdler DailEireann, and half-sister to Kathy Too, achampion juvenile filly in Ireland.

LEOPARDSTOWN. December 29. 16f. Soft.1. UNACCOMPANIED (IRE) 5 b m

Danehill Dancer - Legend Has It (Sadler’s Wells)O-Moyglare Stud Farm B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd TR-DK Weld

2. Thousand Stars (FR) 8 gr gGrey Risk - Livaniana (Saint Estephe)

3. Oscars Well (IRE) 7 b/br gOscar - Placid Willow (Convinced)


75 ISTABRAQ FESTIVAL HURDLE G1

Northern DancerPas de NomHis MajestySpring AdieuAtanRocchettaCaroLiangaNearcticNatalmaBold ReasonSpecialExclusive NativeWon’t Tell YouSpeak JohnPoster Girl

DANEHILL DANCER b 93

LEGEND HAS IT b 00

Danehill

Mira Adonde

Sadler’s Wells

Magical Cliche

Danzig

Razyana

Sharpen Up

Lettre d’Amour

Northern Dancer

Fairy Bridge

Affirmed

Talking Picture

UNACCOMPANIED b m 2007

Dermot Weld is no stranger to a boldapproach to racing. Weld sent Go AndGo to the US to land the 1990Belmont Stakes for Moyglare Studand Weld also took the 2002Melbourne Cup with the Moyglare-bred Media Puzzle. Perhaps it isn’t sosurprising, then, that Weld andMoyglare are allowingUnaccompanied to continue herhurdling career, even though thisexpensively-bred filly now boasts aListed victory among her three wins from six starts on the Flat.

Their boldness continues to reaprich rewards. Unaccompanied waswinning for the fourth time in six starts– and her second time at Gr1 level -when she took advantage of her 7lbsex allowance and her Flat speed todefeat the hot favourite ThousandStars in the Festival Hurdle.

Unaccompanied’s dam Legend HasIt, who was sold by Moyglare Stud for€42,000 at Goffs in 2009, won threetimes, including twice over a mile anda half. Unaccompanied’s third dam isMoyglare’s famous mare TalkingPicture, America’s champion juvenilefilly of 1973.

Talking Picture was a regular visitorto the American Triple Crown winnerAffirmed, producing the 1988 Irish1,000 Guineas winner Trusted Partnerand three other stakes winners, plusUnaccompanied’s second damMagical Cliché. Trusted Partner visitedUnaccompanied’s grandsire Danehillto produce the top filly Dress To Thrill.She also visited Sadler’s Wells toproduce Ladbroke Hurdle winnerArchive Footage.

Unaccompanied is by 2009’schampion sire Danehill Dancer, astallion not associated with NationalHunt. Among the few exceptions areLightning Strike, winner of a Gr2novices’ hurdle. Unaccompanied isone of Danehill Dancer’s 113 foals outof Sadler’s Wells mares, others beingthe Gr3 winners Chrysanthemum andDanehill Music.

NEWBURY. December 31. 21f. Soft.1. FINGAL BAY (IRE) 6 b g

King’s Theatre - Lady Marguerrite (Blakeney)O-Mrs RJ Skan B-J Kinsella TR-Philip Hobbs

2. Ballyrock (IRE) 6 b gMilan - Ardent Love (Ardross)

3. Double Ross (IRE) 6 ch gDouble Eclipse - Kinross (Nearly A Hand)


76 CHALLOW NOVICES’ HURDLE G1




DATA BOOK STAKES RESULTS

NearcticNatalmaBold ReasonSpecialRaise A NativeCharloCrafty AdmiralEvasionHugh LupusBride ElectHornbeamChorus BeautyCrepelloSans Le SouSkymasterLos Patos

KING’S THEATRE b 91

LADY MARGUERRITE b 91

Sadler’s Wells

Regal Beauty

Blakeney

Butosky

Northern Dancer

Fairy Bridge

Princely Native

Dennis Belle

Hethersett

Windmill Girl

Busted

Patosky

FINGAL BAY b g 2006 The much-missed King’s Theatreended 2011 in pole position in therace to become champion sire for2011/12, with his son Fingal Baymaintaining his unbeaten record in theGr1 Challow Hurdle on New Year’sEve. This exciting prospect has nowwon four Graded races from only fourstarts over hurdles, having started hiscareer with a win in a National HuntFlat race.

Fingal Bay should eventually provesuited to three miles. His dam, Lady

Marguerrite, is by Blakeney, a Derbywinner who also finished anhonourable second in the Ascot GoldCup. King’s Theatre’s sire Sadler’sWells had some smart performers outof Blakeney mares, including theDerby second Tamure and the GreatVoltigeur Stakes winner Sea Wave.Other Blakeney mares enjoyed Classicsuccess with User Friendly, Sir Percyand Shemaka.

Fingal Bay’s second dam Butosky, amiddle-distance winner by the stamina

influence Busted, was a half-sister tothe smart sprinter Crews Hill and tothat fine broodmare Pato. Pato foundfame as the dam of the YorkshireOaks and Prix Vermeille winner MyEmma, and the St Leger and Gold Cupwinner Classic Cliché.

My Emma was by Marju, who alsosired the 2011 Cheveley Park Stakeswinner Lightening Pearl from thisfamily. Lady Marguerrite also visitedMarju, to produce the useful stayingchaser Oodachee.

National Hunt Graded racesDate Grade Race (course) Dist Horse Age Sex Sire Dam Broodmare Sire IndexDec 02 G2 Winter Novices’ Hurdle (Sandown Park) 20f Fingal Bay (IRE) 5 G King’s Theatre Lady Marguerrite Blakeney 77Dec 03 GrB Ballyhack H Chase (Fairyhouse) 17f Lastoftheleaders (IRE) 8 G Supreme Leader Heather Breeze Lord Americo 78Dec 03 GrB Bar One Racing H Hurdle (Fairyhouse) 16f Staying Article (IRE) 6 G Definite Article Sejour Bob Back 79Dec 04 G3 Bar One Racing Juvenile Hurdle (Fairyhouse) 16f Sam Bass (IRE) 3 G Alhaarth Super Trouper Nashwan 80Dec 04 GrC Batterstown H Chase (Fairyhouse) 29f Smoking Aces (IRE) 7 G Old Vic Callmartel Montelimar 81Dec 08 G2 Peterborough Chase (Huntingdon) 20.5f Gauvain (GER) 9 G Sternkoenig Gamina Dominion 82Dec 09 G3 Majordomo Hospitality H Chase (Cheltenham) 25.5f Shakalakaboomboom (IRE) 7 G Anshan Tia Maria Supreme Leader 83Dec 10 G2 Bristol Novices’ Hurdle (Cheltenham) 24f Deireadh Re (IRE) 5 G Old Vic Donaghmore Lady Orchestra 84Dec 10 G2 International Hurdle (Cheltenham) 17f Grandouet (FR) 4 G Al Namix Virginia River Indian River 85Dec 10 G2 Relkeel Hurdle (Cheltenham) 20.5f Oscar Whisky (IRE) 6 G Oscar Ash Baloo Phardante 86Dec 10 G3 Spinal Research Atlantic4 Gold Cup Chase (Cheltenham) 21f Quantitativeeasing (IRE) 6 G Anshan Mazuma Mazaad 87Dec 10 G2 Summit Juvenile Hurdle (Doncaster) 16.5f Royal Bonsai (GB) 3 G Val Royal Bonsai Woodman 88Dec 10 GrC Proudstown H Hurdle (Navan) 23f Powerstation (IRE) 11 G Anshan Mariaetta Mandalus 89Dec 11 G3 Cork Stayers Novice Hurdle (Cork) 24f Corbally Ghost (IRE) 4 G Central Park Classic Lin Linamix 90Dec 11 G2 Hilly Way Chase (Cork) 16.5f Golden Silver (FR) 9 G Mansonnien Gold Or Silver Glint Of Gold 91Dec 11 G3 Lombardstown Novice Chase (Cork) 17f Knockfierna (IRE) 6 M Flemensfirth Garden Town Un Desperado 92Dec16 G2 Kennel Gate Novices’ Hurdle (Ascot) 16f Molotof (FR) 4 G Smadoun Memorial Homme De Loi 93Dec 16 G2 Noel Novices’ Chase (Ascot) 19f Zaynar (FR) 6 G Daylami Zainta Kahyasi 94Dec 18 G2 Future Champions Pro-Am Flat Race (Navan) 16f Don Cossack (GER) 4 G Sholokhov Depeche Toi Konigsstuhl 95Dec 18 G2 Tara Hurdle (Navan) 20f Zaidpour (FR) 5 G Red Ransom Zainta Kahyasi 96Dec 26 G2 UAE Embassy Juvenile Hurdle (Leopardstown) 16f His Excellency (IRE) 3 G King’s Best Road Harbour Rodrigo De Triano 97Dec 26 G2 Greenmount Park Novice Chase (Limerick) 19.5f Sir Des Champs (FR) 5 G Robin Des Champs Liste En Tete Video Rock 98Dec 26 G3 Rowland Meyrick H Chase (Wetherby) 25f According To Pete (GB) 10 G Accordion Magic Bloom Full Of Hope 99Dec 27 G3 Welsh National (Chepstow) 29.5f Le Beau Bai (FR) 8 G Cadoudal Dame Blonde Pampabird 100Dec 27 G2 Desert Orchid Chase (Kempton Park) 16f Finian’s Rainbow (IRE) 8 G Tiraaz Trinity Gale Strong Gale 101Dec 27 G2 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase (Kempton Park) 16f Sprinter Sacre (FR) 5 G Network Fatima III Bayolidaan 102Dec 27 GrB Paddy Power H Chase (Leopardstown) 24f Cross Appeal (IRE) 5 G Cape Cross Hadeb Unfuwain 103Dec 27 GrB Tim Duggan Memorial H Chase (Limerick) 19.5f Seabass (IRE) 8 G Turtle Island Muscovy Duck Moscow Society 104Dec 28 G2 Christmas Hurdle (Leopardstown) 16f Voler La Vedette (IRE) 7 M King’s Theatre Steel Grey Lady Roselier 105Dec 28 G3 Dorans Pride Novice Hurdle (Limerick) 24f My Murphy (IRE) 5 G Presenting Fine De Claire Teenoso 106Dec 29 G3 ITBA Fillies Scheme Mares Hurdle (Leopardstown) 20f Our Girl Salley (IRE) 6 M Carroll House Lenmore Lisa Phardante 107

Statistics to December 31

Leading National Hunt sires 2011/12 by earnings A case of ‘as youwere’ for NH boysThe more things change, the morethey stay the same. Exactly a year agothe jump sires’ table was led by King’sTheatre from Flemensfirth, Presenting,Oscar, Beneficial and Anshan.

This time the same horses, in slightlydifferent order, are chasing the sameleader, who succumbed to colic lastJune. All of them except the long-deadAnshan have had more runners, to adegree because of fewer cancellationsthrough the weather.

Three fine successes in a row giveVoler La Vedette star status amongKing’s Theatre’s progeny but there isplenty more ammunition for him.

Presenting’s earnings are lower thanusual but that will change, given hisoffspring’s strength in depth. It is, afterall, early days. Milan in eighth isbeginning to make his presence felt,and Carruthers has helped Kayf Tara,whose winners to runners ratio is thebest of any of the leading group.

Name YOF Sire Rnrs Wnrs %WR Races AWD Earnings (£) Top horse Earned (£)King’s Theatre 1991 Sadler’s Wells 146 44 30.1 61 19.8 639,688 Voler La Vedette 88,254Oscar 1994 Sadler’s Wells 229 43 18.8 55 19.0 591,844 Big Zeb 77,047Beneficial 1990 Top Ville 217 58 26.7 72 19.1 565,264 Mount Benbulben 36,940Flemensfirth 1992 Alleged 209 52 24.9 70 19.7 518,397 Muirhead 53,508Anshan 1987 Persian Bold 99 25 25.3 37 21.0 517,407 Quantitativeeasing 89,005Presenting 1992 Mtoto 227 36 15.9 48 20.5 486,566 First Lieutenant 50,909Accordion 1986 Sadler’s Wells 79 20 25.3 26 19.6 448,753 Blazing Tempo 141,793Milan 1998 Sadler’s Wells 176 43 24.4 57 19.7 430,812 Raya Star 90,769Old Vic 1986 Sadler’s Wells 158 41 26.0 56 19.9 398,338 Royal Reveille 38,797Kayf Tara 1994 Sadler’s Wells 101 33 32.7 44 20.7 349,216 Carruthers 89,705Definite Article 1992 Indian Ridge 113 22 19.5 30 20.7 312,013 The Real Article 83,319Sadler’s Wells 1981 Northern Dancer 64 20 31.3 25 19.0 272,913 Synchronised 88,197Bob Back 1981 Roberto 85 21 24.7 26 19.8 269,871 Boston Bob 47,552Cadoudal 1979 Green Dancer 14 3 21.4 6 23.3 257,366 Long Run 81,880Barathea 1990 Sadler’s Wells 33 7 21.2 10 17.2 243,217 Overturn 169,018Alderbrook 1989 Ardross 73 15 20.6 18 19.8 237,258 Groody Hill 75,677Saddlers’ Hall 1988 Sadler’s Wells 84 20 23.8 23 21.8 229,493 Giles Cross 27,366Pistolet Bleu 1988 Top Ville 21 6 28.6 8 21.0 219,489 Sizing Europe 113,124Village Star 1983 Moulin 1 1 100.0 2 24.0 216,064 Kauto Star 216,064Overbury 1991 Caerleon 64 17 26.6 24 19.3 206,479 Stewarts House 57,246Norwich 1987 Top Ville 40 7 17.5 9 17.7 202,250 Moon Dice 140,330Daylami 1994 Doyoun 35 8 22.9 12 17.2 193,485 Brampour 98,995Montjeu 1996 Sadler’s Wells 62 19 30.7 20 18.5 192,929 Noble Prince 37,931Dr Massini 1993 Sadler’s Wells 75 13 17.3 16 18.3 179,987 Fosters Cross 43,103Great Palm 1989 Manila 49 7 14.3 10 17.6 172,038 Great Endeavour 93,420Galileo 1998 Sadler’s Wells 46 11 23.9 13 18.6 169,040 Celestial Halo 71,124Alflora 1989 Niniski 111 21 18.9 25 19.7 168,159 Arthurian Legend 20,178Cape Cross 1994 Green Desert 21 9 42.9 13 18.9 164,679 Cross Appeal 108,129Witness Box 1987 Lyphard 62 15 24.2 20 20.9 162,789 Havingotascoobydo 17,695Luso 1992 Salse 86 13 15.1 16 22.1 158,397 Blazing Beacon 24,651Dom Alco 1987 Dom Pasquini 17 8 47.1 11 20.0 153,688 Grands Crus 47,230Alhaarth 1993 Unfuwain 34 13 38.2 16 18.8 150,617 Sam Bass 32,129Shantou 1993 Alleged 31 11 35.5 17 18.6 148,063 De Valira 35,323Saint des Saints 1998 Cadoudal 10 5 50.0 6 17.8 141,185 Quito de la Roque 84,052Karinga Bay 1987 Ardross 96 21 21.9 24 19.3 135,312 Royale’s Charter 11,426Al Namix 1997 Linamix 4 4 100.0 6 18.7 133,288 Grandouet 99,059Bach 1997 Caerleon 53 9 17.0 18 20.2 130,370 Ongenstown Lad 33,952Winged Love 1992 In The Wings 55 15 27.3 19 20.5 121,866 Cannington Brook 22,574Grand Plaisir 1989 Darshaan 5 4 80.0 4 24.9 120,332 West End Rocker 56,437Sir Harry Lewis 1984 Alleged 49 12 24.5 17 22.6 118,111 Restless Harry 29,451Turtle Island 1991 Fairy King 44 5 11.4 8 17.3 111,811 Seabass 35,582



DATA BOOK EXCLUSIVE EUROPEAN STALLION STATISTICS

Five stallions breakthe £3m barrierWith few pickings available inDecember the earnings table saw nochanges in order among the top 15sires. Perhaps the most notableachievement was Dansili’s reaching £3million, which meant five sires hadbreached that figure.

A few strands can be broughttogether. With three of the top sixsired by him, Sadler’s Wellsmaintained his status as theoutstanding stallion and sire ofstallions in the modern era in Europe,but Danehill also proved a point. Hehad six sons in the leading 21.

The influence of Northern Dancerremains predictably prodigious.Sixteen of the top 20, including allthose referred to above, aredescendants of his. Only two –Dubawi and King’s Best – trace to MrProspector.

Galileo is unlikely to surrender hiscrown in a hurry. He covered around580 mares between 2009 and 2011and, with resultant huge cropsannually, he must be a short price tohave 300 runners in a season sometime soon. He wasn’t far off last yearwith 294. This made him a clearleader but inevitably reduced hispercentage of stakes winners, to 6.5%.

He was tenth in that division, aremarkable performance given themountain his number of runners gavehim to climb.

Leading sires in Europe by earningsName YOF Sire Rnrs Wnrs %WR Races AWD Earnings (£) SH % SW %Galileo 1998 Sadler’s Wells 294 114 38.78 159 10.9 7,330,234 40 13.6 19 6.5Montjeu 1996 Sadler’s Wells 190 80 42.11 130 11.9 4,058,664 25 13.2 18 9.5Lomitas 1988 Niniski 81 43 53.09 70 10.7 3,140,382 8 9.9 2 2.5Oasis Dream 2000 Green Desert 237 106 44.73 161 7.5 3,111,465 24 10.1 13 5.5Dansili 1996 Danehill 226 100 44.25 146 9.8 3,002,773 30 13.3 18 8.0High Chaparral 1999 Sadler’s Wells 194 65 33.51 103 10.4 2,760,631 12 6.2 7 3.6Dubawi 2002 Dubai Millennium 162 77 47.53 119 8.9 2,565,974 34 21.0 17 10.5Danehill Dancer 1993 Danehill 214 85 39.72 135 9.1 2,554,270 25 11.7 11 5.1Pivotal 1993 Polar Falcon 203 107 52.71 158 8.0 2,435,196 19 9.4 8 3.9Shamardal 2002 Giant’s Causeway 148 76 51.35 120 8.5 2,204,258 21 14.2 12 8.1Rock Of Gibraltar 1999 Danehill 183 77 42.08 115 9.2 2,192,703 21 11.5 13 7.1Invincible Spirit 1997 Green Desert 277 116 41.88 169 7.5 2,183,515 21 7.6 7 2.5Dalakhani 2000 Darshaan 143 42 29.37 63 10.7 2,092,900 13 9.1 6 4.2Exceed And Excel 2000 Danehill 194 79 40.72 134 6.5 1,989,004 15 7.7 10 5.2Holy Roman Emperor 2004 Danehill 161 71 44.1 119 8.0 1,980,043 14 8.7 7 4.4Verglas 1994 Highest Honor 228 88 38.6 145 8.4 1,732,612 9 4.0 2 0.9Cape Cross 1994 Green Desert 228 96 42.11 130 9.4 1,731,823 17 7.5 5 2.2Slickly 1996 Linamix 111 45 40.54 68 10.1 1,665,513 9 8.1 3 2.7King’s Best 1997 Kingmambo 190 67 35.26 94 9.1 1,657,381 13 6.8 9 4.7Sinndar 1997 Grand Lodge 103 36 34.95 60 12.5 1,614,575 4 3.9 2 1.9Oratorio 2002 Danehill 216 93 43.06 140 9.0 1,594,968 12 5.6 4 1.9Selkirk 1988 Sharpen Up 130 56 43.08 83 9.4 1,554,554 16 12.3 6 4.6Hurricane Run 2002 Montjeu 126 53 42.06 81 10.3 1,498,457 14 11.1 10 7.9Intikhab 1994 Red Ransom 118 49 41.53 83 8.4 1,470,021 5 4.2 2 1.7Refuse To Bend 2000 Sadler’s Wells 181 83 45.86 144 9.1 1,452,873 3 1.7 2 1.1Acclamation 1999 Royal Applause 204 83 40.69 125 7.0 1,441,435 15 7.4 9 4.4Footstepsinthesand 2002 Giant’s Causeway 141 57 40.43 102 8.1 1,435,873 8 5.7 4 2.8Diktat 1995 Warning 145 45 31.03 78 8.3 1,414,626 7 4.8 3 2.1Medicean 1997 Machiavellian 189 73 38.62 120 9.0 1,385,614 17 9.0 6 3.2Kingsalsa 1996 Kingmambo 123 51 41.46 83 9.3 1,258,780 6 4.9 2 1.6Dubai Destination 1999 Kingmambo 191 80 41.88 119 9.2 1,230,688 8 4.2 3 1.6Anabaa 1992 Danzig 98 39 39.8 59 9.6 1,226,406 2 2.0 1 1.0Singspiel 1992 In The Wings 145 49 33.79 78 10.2 1,223,922 8 5.5 5 3.5Muhtathir 1995 Elmaamul 136 48 35.29 79 9.8 1,217,444 3 2.2 1 0.7Anabaa Blue 1998 Anabaa 99 44 44.44 70 10.1 1,188,744 3 3.0 1 1.0Big Shuffle 1984 Super Concorde 151 58 38.41 84 8.1 1,168,326 11 7.3 4 2.7Monsun 1990 Konigsstuhl 117 52 44.44 82 11.2 1,164,471 21 18.0 10 8.6Tiger Hill 1995 Danehill 176 59 33.52 83 10.4 1,155,677 11 6.3 6 3.4One Cool Cat 2001 Storm Cat 186 73 39.25 128 7.9 1,144,743 6 3.2 2 1.1Even Top 1993 Topanoora 5 2 40 6 10.8 1,144,497 1 20.0 1 20.0Lando 1990 Acatenango 125 48 38.4 71 9.9 1,139,346 8 6.4 2 1.6Hawk Wing 1999 Woodman 190 67 35.26 110 9.8 1,137,316 5 2.6 3 1.6Elusive City 2000 Elusive Quality 159 54 33.96 96 7.1 1,119,203 7 4.4 3 1.9Whipper 2001 Miesque’s Son 117 47 40.17 82 8.9 1,109,828 11 9.4 3 2.6Shirocco 2001 Monsun 122 38 31.15 53 10.5 1,093,873 8 6.6 3 2.5Kyllachy 1998 Pivotal 185 84 45.41 139 6.5 1,064,888 11 6.0 6 3.2Halling 1991 Diesis 127 55 43.31 82 11.0 1,050,289 7 5.5 2 1.6Aussie Rules 2003 Danehill 102 42 41.18 63 9.2 1,040,371 8 7.8 4 3.9Dynaformer 1985 Roberto 49 23 46.94 31 11.4 1,031,712 7 14.3 3 6.1Beat Hollow 1997 Sadler’s Wells 110 60 54.55 105 10.2 1,028,828 7 6.4 5 4.6Sakhee 1997 Bahri 97 43 44.33 65 9.3 997,139 8 8.3 4 4.1Kheleyf 2001 Green Desert 183 69 37.7 116 6.9 982,159 6 3.3 1 0.6Green Tune 1991 Green Dancer 117 45 38.46 64 10.8 976,219 4 3.4 1 0.9Motivator 2002 Montjeu 130 54 41.54 71 10.5 971,746 13 10.0 4 3.1Peintre Celebre 1994 Nureyev 102 43 42.16 63 10.6 967,673 7 6.9 5 4.9Choisir 1999 Danehill Dancer 158 65 41.14 109 7.0 958,990 8 5.1 4 2.5Gold Away 1995 Goldneyev 94 34 36.17 49 10.3 954,544 3 3.2 0 0.0

*first-season sire; statistics to December 31

Leading sires of two-year-olds 2011 by earnings Emperor rulesDutch Art came with a great rattleconsisting of four winners to level thescore with Red Clubs on 32 among thefirst-season sires, the pair two clear ofDark Angel.

In stakes winners neither couldmatch Teofilo, who had four, orExcellent Art on three. Encouragingly,the freshmen of 2011 include a fairnumber who should make the grade infollowing seasons. The overallchampion was Holy Roman Emperor,who took over in front in September.With Banimpire from his first cropalso in his team it is not surprising hisfee has risen from €10,000 to €12,500.

Intriguingly, his stakes winnerspercentage was lower than all theothers in the top seven sires ofjuveniles, with one exception: Galileo.

Name YOF Sire Rnrs Wnrs %WR Races AWD Earnings (£) Top horse Earned (£)Holy Roman Emperor 2004 Danehill 97 37 38.1 49 6.5 898,605 Mehdi 141,222Acclamation 1999 Royal Applause 87 37 42.5 56 6.1 864,082 Lilbourne Lad 162,833Rock Of Gibraltar 1999 Danehill 70 23 32.9 31 7.2 827,477 Samitar 264,341Oasis Dream 2000 Green Desert 65 19 29.2 26 6.2 725,180 Power 284,539Galileo 1998 Sadler’s Wells 83 24 28.9 29 7.6 580,810 Maybe 229,657*Dutch Art 2004 Medicean 58 32 55.2 48 6.0 580,797 Caspar Netscher 143,399Dansili 1996 Danehill 55 20 36.4 26 6.7 529,612 Fire Lily 165,057Clodovil 2000 Danehill 53 23 43.4 33 6.6 525,013 Coupe de Ville 297,533*Dark Angel 2005 Acclamation 69 30 43.5 50 6.1 498,466 Lily’s Angel 84,274Exceed And Excel 2000 Danehill 68 24 35.3 36 5.7 475,396 Best Terms 115,417Kheleyf 2001 Green Desert 74 27 36.5 43 6.2 447,479 Vladimir 58,194Oratorio 2002 Danehill 76 25 32.9 35 7.8 441,275 Cherry Collect 101,031*Excellent Art 2004 Pivotal 63 24 38.1 33 6.6 433,414 Hazel Lavery 76,431*Teofilo 2004 Galileo 56 18 32.1 22 7.0 425,414 Parish Hall 213,223*Red Clubs 2003 Red Ransom 75 32 42.7 52 6.2 405,091 Vedelago 106,808*Hat Trick 2001 Sunday Silence 1 1 100.0 5 6.2 396,965 Dabirsim 396,966Choisir 1999 Danehill Dancer 57 19 33.3 29 6.2 383,364 Strategic Game 85,927Dubai Destination 1999 Kingmambo 55 21 38.2 27 7.2 377,006 Family One 196,560Bahamian Bounty 1994 Cadeaux Genereux 31 7 22.6 10 5.8 366,809 Bogart 269,492Street Cry 1998 Machiavellian 40 18 45.0 26 7.4 356,251 Lyric Of Light 136,946Invincible Spirit 1997 Green Desert 64 23 35.9 27 6.5 347,495 Pimpernel 54,958Whipper 2001 Miesque’s Son 40 14 35.0 20 7.2 334,571 Topeka 86,293Kyllachy 1998 Pivotal 45 24 53.3 35 5.7 327,698 Dragon Pulse 95,078*Lawman 2004 Invincible Spirit 45 18 40.0 23 7.0 324,417 Loi 52,241Kodiac 2001 Danehill 39 20 51.3 25 5.8 310,875 Seanie 64,849High Chaparral 1999 Sadler’s Wells 29 4 13.8 9 7.5 304,249 Tai Chi 209,478Zamindar 1994 Gone West 48 17 35.4 20 7.5 303,224 Zantenda 74,388Blu Air Force 1997 Sri Pekan 41 18 43.9 35 6.4 301,582 Blu Air Bally 46,946Intikhab 1994 Red Ransom 18 8 44.4 12 6.6 298,986 Tell Dad 247,615Gold Away 1995 Goldneyev 39 9 23.1 13 7.7 297,384 Louve Rouge 71,853


DATA BOOK LISTINGS OF EVERY WORLDWIDE GROUP OR GRADED STAKES WINNER


Global Stakes ResultsDate Grade Race Dist Horse Age Sex Sire Dam Broodmare SireArgentina17/12 G1 G. P. Joaquin Anchorena-Int. Antiacido 8.0f Thunder One (ARG) 3 C Thunder Gulch (USA) Palmtin (ARG) Cautin (ARG)17/12 G1 G. P. Carlos Pellegrini - Internacional 12.0f Expressive Halo (ARG) 4 C Halo Sunshine (USA) Embrace Moi (ARG) Ride The Rails (USA)17/12 G1 G.P. Felix de Alzaga Unzue Internacional 5.0f Dona Ley (ARG) 3 F Orpen (USA) Dona Polenta (ARG) Candy Stripes (USA)17/12 G1 G.P. Copa de Plata - Int. R. V. Mansilla 10.0f La Laguna Azul (ARG) 3 F Orpen (USA) La Laguna Verde (ARG) Candy Stripes (USA)25/12 G2 Clasico Invasor 7.0f Dreamer Emperor (ARG) 4 C Emperor Jones (USA) Sonadora Fitz (ARG) Fitzcarraldo (ARG)18/12 G2 Clasico Uberto F Vignart 6.0f Hauswagen (ARG) 6 H Housebuster (USA) Ilusamente (ARG) Interprete (ARG)04/12 G2 Clasico Los Criadores 10.0f Dixie Ready (USA) 5 M More Than Ready (USA) Dixie Jewel (USA) Dixieland Band (USA)16/12 G3 Clasico Republica Oriental del Uruguay 8.0f Come Into (ARG) 3 F Honour And Glory (USA) Come Out (ARG) Romanov (IRE)

Australia03/12 G1 GR Kingston Town Classic 9.0f Playing God (AUS) 4 G Blackfriars (AUS) Dolly Will Do (AUS) Rubiton (AUS)31/12 G2 Golden River DVL Perth Cup 12.0f Western Jewel (AUS) 5 M Jeune (GB) Our Millster (AUS) Marooned17/12 G2 Landscape Development C B Cox Stakes 10.5f God Has Spoken (AUS) 5 H Blackfriars (AUS) Dolly Will Do (AUS) Rubiton (AUS)17/12 G2 Inglis Villiers Stakes 8.0f Monton (AUS) 5 G Catbird (AUS) Dynamic Flyer (AUS) Marauding (NZ)31/12 G3 Good Guys B J McLachlan Stakes 6.0f Driefontein (AUS) 2 F Fastnet Rock (AUS) Follow Gold (AUS) Export Price (FR)31/12 G3 Channel Seven Vo Rogue Plate 6.5f Punch On (AUS) 3 F Tiger Hill (IRE) School Blue (AUS) Geiger Counter (USA)26/12 G3 Summer Cup 12.0f Yulalona (AUS) 4 G Dubai Destination (USA) Klamath Falls (USA) Storm Cat (USA)10/12 G3 Channel 7 George Moore Summer Stakes 6.0f Adebisi (AUS) 4 C Shovhog (AUS) Hell For Leather (AUS) Sanction (AUS)10/12 G3 Sir Ernest Lee Steere Classic 7.0f Night War (AUS) 3 F General Nediym (AUS) Samar (AUS) Secret Savings (USA)03/12 G3 A J Scahill Stakes 7.0f Grand Nirvana (AUS) 6 G Scenic Paradise Park (AUS) Bletchley Park (IRE)

Brazil1/12 G2 Grande Premio Consagracao 14.0f Viewfinder (BRZ) 3 C Wild Event (USA) Querenca (BRZ) Spend A Buck (USA)11/12 G2 G. P. Almirante Marques de Tamandare 12.0f Uno Amore Mio (BRZ) 4 C Signal Tap (USA) Namoradinha (BRZ) Royal Academy (USA)03/12 G2 C. Pres.Jose Bonifacio Coutinho Nogueira 12.0f Desejo Infinito (BRZ) 3 F Nedawi (GB) Felicidade-Bela (BRZ) Notation (USA)17/12 G3 Grande Premio Natal 9.0f Jeca (BRZ) 4 C Inexplicable (USA) Volition (BRZ) Ghadeer (FR)

Canada04/12 G3 Valedictory Stakes 14.0f Eagle Poise (USA) 5 H Empire Maker (USA) Reams of Verse (USA) Nureyev (USA)

Chile17/12 G1 Premio St Leger-Cristal 11.0f Amani (CHI) 3 F Morning Raider (IRE) Just Fine (CHI) Doneraile Court (USA)02/12 G1 Premio Las Oaks - Carlos Hirma A 10.0f La Haina (CHI) 3 F Milt's Overture (USA) Lady Frontier (CAN) Mining (USA)17/12 G2 Premio Seleccion de Velocistas 5.0f Marques de Bradomin (CHI) 5 H Edgy Diplomat (USA) Coqueta (CHI) Domineau (USA)15/12 G3 Premio Alfredo L Jackson Handicap 9.5f Contralmirante (CHI) 3 G Camp David (USA) Orquidea Blanca (CHI) Milt's Overture (USA)01/12 G3 P. General Jose Miguel Carrera Verdugo 9.0f Paso de Jama (CHI) 6 H Dushyantor (USA) Edina (CHI) Golden Voyager (USA)

Hong Kong11/12 G1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase 12.0f Dunaden (FR) 5 H Nicobar (GB) La Marlia (FR) Kaldounevees (FR)11/12 G1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup 10.0f California Memory (USA) 5 H Highest Honor (FR) Kalpita (USA) Spinning World (USA)11/12 G1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint 6.0f Lucky Nine (IRE) 4 G Dubawi (IRE) Birjand (GB) Green Desert (USA)11/12 G1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile 8.0f Able One (NZ) 9 G Cape Cross (IRE) Gardenia (NZ) Danehill (USA)

Expressive Halo had scored onlyonce in seven outings since his triumphin the GP Nacional (Derby) inNovember 2010. Furthermore, his onlyattempt on turf had resulted in amoderate 13th in that year’s CarlosPellegrini – admittedly run on softground. Yet he was the one who foundthe resources to claim the 2011 editionof the great race. The Brazilian four-year-old Anakin set a strong pacebefore steadying it at halfway, at whichpoint he was leading from Val Champ,Inter Milano, Star Runner andExpressive Halo. Val Champ took overearly in the straight but was challengedby Star Runner more than a furlong

from home. Juan Carlos Noriegabrought the 20-1 Expressive Halo downthe outside to catch them both enteringthe final furlong. He held the late thrustof recent Derby Paulista winnerVeraneio (Signal Tap) by a short head,with the improving Veni Veni, who ralliedstrongly after being outpaced early inthe straight, one length behind. VeniVeni, who was bred by his Argentineowners in Kentucky, is likely to joinExpressive Halo in the field for the GPLatinoamericana which will be run overan extended mile and a quarter on dirtat Palermo on March 10.

The Chilean-owned but Argentine-trained La Laguna Azul will probably

fill another of the six places reserved forthe home country in that peripateticevent after proving far too good for her13 opponents in the Copa de Plata.She shot to the front after a furlong, wassoon four lengths up and came homean untroubled three lengths in front ofCatch The Mad (Catcher In The Rye),who had chased her for most of theway.

La Laguna Azul was completing adouble for Orpen, who was already onthe scoreboard thanks to the speedyDona Ley. Racing up the middle of thecourse in a field of 16, Dona Ley tookover with more than a furlong to run andwas pushed out to hold the late

challenges of In The Shot, Armas eFlores – both of whom had been drawnon the wide outside – and The NewYorker in a four-way photo. Julio CesarMendez did not appear to be hard onher but she swished her tail severaltimes in the final 50 yards. Dona Leywas completing a five-timer and winningher second consecutive Group 1.There’s a chance that she could beamong the field for the King’s StandStakes in June.

The 33-1 Thunder One produced astrong run from the back to catch thehard-ridden Flowing Rye (Catcher InThe Rye) and Key Decision in the final50 yards.

La Haina, 59-1 when runner-up toMaria Morena in the Polla de Potrancasin September, had progressedsufficiently to start third favourite whengaining a Classic of her own in LasOaks. She is the fifth foal by Milt’sOverture (Dynaformer) out of LadyFrontier but the others were sprinters. It

was only her third success in 12 triesand the form of the leading fillies on turfhas been patchy. Huaso Celebre(Peintre Celebre), who beat La Hainaand Llena de Fuego in the PaddockStakes, waited for the GP Coronacionat the end of the year. Llena de Fuegowent on to run La Haina to one and a

quarter lengths in Las Oaks but it wasthat day’s third, Indy Station, who beatthem all at the end of December. HuasoCelebre ran third, La Haina fourth andLlena de Fuego only eighth of nine.

Amani was much too good for thecolts in the St Leger, scoring by five andthree-quarter lengths from the

unfortunate Quick Casablanca. Beatenonly once in 11 appearances for MarcoPavez, Amani has now joined NeilDrysdale in California. Will QuickCasablanca ever win again? He has runseven times since his winning debut, allin Group races, and has been secondsix times, four of them Group 1s.

Dunaden showed remarkabletoughness and speed in equal measureto land the Hong Kong Vase for trainerMikel Delzangles and owner PearlBloodstock just six weeks after hisMelbourne Cup triumph. Ed Dunlop’sRed Cadeaux, who had been inchedout by Dunaden in Australia, found the

ground on the fast side but still coveredhimself in glory to fare best of the threeBritish runners, dead-heating for third.The result provided some degree ofcompensation for jockey CraigWilliams, who missed the winningMelbourne Cup ride because ofsuspension.

Lucky Nine, who was known asLuck Or Design when racing forAndrew Oliver in Ireland as a two-year-old, looks likely to take over from thedisappointing Sacred Kingdom asHong Kong’s top speedster following anarrow success in the Sprint. As hasbecome normal in this event, the

Europeans were well beaten, withBated Breath doing best in eighth.

In the Cup, two more Europeanimports, California Memory (whoraced as Portus Blendium in France)and Irian, filled the first two spots, infront of the Waldemar Hickst-trainedGerman raider Zazou. The local

Trainer Neville Parnham’s decision toattempt to revitalize Playing God witha holiday and visits to the beach proved

inspired as the five-year-old belied oddsof 18-1 to land his second successiveKingston Town Stakes. Playing God ran

some excellent races in defeat inMelbourne in September and earlyOctober, but then lost his form badly

and beat only two horses home on hisreturn to Western Australia in theRailway Stakes on November 19.

feb_90_global stakes res_Leader 19/01/2012 09:33 Page 94


DATA BOOK

Japan25/12 G1 Arima Kinen 12.5f Orfevre (JPN) 3 C Stay Gold (JPN) Oriental Art (JPN) Mejiro McQueen (JPN)18/12 G1 Asahi Hai Futurity 8.0f Alfredo (JPN) 2 C Symboli Kris S (USA) Princess Camellia (JPN) Sunday Silence (USA)11/12 G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies Stakes 8.0f Joie de Vivre (JPN) 2 F Deep Impact (JPN) Biwa Heidi (JPN) Caerleon (USA)04/12 G1 Japan Cup Dirt 9.0f Transcend (JPN) 5 H Wild Rush (USA) Cinema Scope (JPN) Tony Bin17/12 G2 Hanshin Cup 7.0f San Carlo (JPN) 5 H Symboli Kris S (USA) Diva (JPN) Crafty Prospector (USA)03/12 G2 Sports Nippon Sho Stayer's Stakes 18.0f Meiner Kitz (JPN) 8 H Chief Bearhart (CAN) Takara Kanna (JPN) Soccer Boy (JPN)24/12 G3 Radio Nikkei Hai Nisai Stakes 10.0f Adam's Peak (JPN) 2 C Deep Impact (JPN) Singhalese (GB) Singspiel (IRE)18/12 G3 Aichi Hai 10.0f Fumino Imagine (JPN) 5 M Manhattan Cafe (JPN) Shinko Imagine (USA) Dixieland Band (USA)11/12 G3 The Capella Stakes 6.0f Keiai Gerbera (JPN) 5 M Smarty Jones (USA) Anna Sterz (USA) Danzig (USA)10/12 G3 Chunichi Shimbun Hai 10.0f Cosmo Phantom (USA) 4 C Stephen Got Even (USA) Southern House (IRE) Paris House (GB)03/12 G3 Naruo Kinen 9.0f Red Davis (JPN) 3 G Agnes Tachyon (JPN) Dixie Jazz (JPN) Tony Bin

New Zealand26/12 G1 Zabeel Classic 10.0f Shez Sinsational (NZ) 4 F Ekraar (USA) Original Sin (NZ) Shinko King (IRE)03/12 G1 Westbury Stud Captain Cook Stakes 8.0f Mufhasa (NZ) 7 G Pentire (GB) Sheila Cheval (NZ) Mi Preferido (USA)26/12 G2 Northern Guineas 8.0f Knight's Tour (AUS) 3 C Reset (AUS) Hestia (GB) Machiavellian (USA)26/12 G2 Eight Carat Classic 8.0f Planet Rock (AUS) 3 F Fastnet Rock (AUS) Akris (NZ) Zabeel (NZ)10/12 G2 Cal Isuzu Lady Norrie Stakes 8.0f Lady Kipling (NZ) 4 F Savabeel (AUS) Akela (NZ) Al Akbar (AUS)10/12 G2 Waikato Times Gold Cup 12.0f Dawn Ghost (NZ) 6 M Pyrus (USA) Lucadore (NZ) Wild Rampage (AUS)03/12 G2 The Aussie Butcher Concorde Handicap 6.0f Durham Town (NZ) 4 G Falkirk (NZ) Durham Walk (NZ) Marju (IRE)17/12 G3 Hotel Coachman Manawatu Cup 11.5f Cassini (AUS) 6 M Reset (AUS) Mathematical (NZ) Honor Grades (USA)17/12 G3 Manawatu Harcourts Challenge Stakes 7.0f Justanexcuse (NZ) 5 G No Excuse Needed (GB) Aggressive (NZ) Val Dansant (CAN)10/12 G3 Ezibuy Eulogy Stakes 8.0f Zurella (NZ) 3 F Zabeel (NZ) Doneze Girl (NZ) Volksraad (GB)

Peru18/12 G2 Clasico Hipodromo de Monterrico 12.0f Peyback Manning (USA) 3 C Repent (USA) Claudia's Type (USA) Forest Wildcat (USA)17/12 G3 Clasico Jose Rodriguez Razzeto 8.5f Paijan (USA) 4 C Mingun (USA) Countus Affair (USA) Black Tie Affair26/12 G3 Clasico Cesar A del Rio Suito 10.0f Signada (USA) 3 F Borrego (USA) Up And Above (CAN) Mt Livermore (USA)

South Africa17/12 G1 Cape Premier Yearling Sales Guineas 8.0f Variety Club (SAF) 3 C Var (USA) La Massine (SAF) Secret Prospector (USA)03/12 G1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies' Guineas 8.0f Princess Victoria (SAF) 3 F Victory Moon (SAF) Platinum Princess (SAF) Rakeen (USA)17/12 G2 WPOTA Diadem Stakes 6.0f What A Winter (SAF) 4 C Western Winter (USA) Waseela (IRE) Ahonoora10/12 G2 Calulo Services Premier Trophy 9.0f Chesalon (SAF) 4 G Fort Wood (USA) Sarabande (SAF) Goldmark (SAF)04/12 G2 Mike de Kock Stables Ipi Tombe Challenge 8.0f Igugu (AUS) 4 F Galileo (IRE) Zarinia (IRE) Intikhab (USA)03/12 G2 Tony Taberer Southern Cross Stakes 5.0f Val de Ra (SAF) 5 M Var (USA) Minelli (SAF) Elliodor (FR)17/12 G3 Victress Stakes 9.0f Super Elegant (SAF) 3 F Daylami (IRE) Pacific Gem (SAF) Model Man (SAF)04/12 G3 The Racing Association Magnolia Handicap 5.5f Jackodore (SAF) 3 F Toreador (IRE) I'm Alright Jack (SAF) Shoe Danzig (USA)

United States31/12 G1 La Brea Stakes 7.0f Teddy's Promise (USA) 3 F Salt Lake (USA) Braids And Beads (USA) Capote (USA)26/12 G1 Malibu Stakes 7.0f The Factor (USA) 3 C War Front (USA) Greyciousness (USA) Miswaki (USA)17/12 G1 Cashcall Futurity 8.5f Liaison (USA) 2 C Indian Charlie (USA) Galloping Gal (USA) Victory Gallop (CAN)10/12 G1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes 8.5f Killer Graces (USA) 2 F Congaree (USA) Heatherdoesntbluff (USA) Old Trieste (USA)26/12 G2 Sir Beaufort Stakes 8.0f Mr Commons (USA) 3 C Artie Schiller (USA) Joustabout (USA) Apalachee (USA)04/12 G2 Bayakoa Handicap 8.5f Ellafitz (USA) 4 F Tiznow (USA) Skat Girl (USA) Dixieland Band (USA)26/12 G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes 8.5f Gemologist (USA) 2 C Tiznow (USA) Crystal Shard (USA) Mr Prospector (USA)26/12 G2 Remsen Stakes 9.0f O'Prado Again (USA) 2 C El Prado (IRE) Leh She Run (USA) Pulpit (USA)26/12 G2 Citation Handicap 8.5f Jeranimo (USA) 5 H Congaree (USA) Jera (USA) Jeblar (USA)26/12 G2 W L McKnight Handicap 12.0f Musketier (GER) 9 H Acatenango (GER) Myth And Reality (GB) Linamix (FR)31/12 G3 Mr Prospector Stakes 6.0f Apriority (USA) 4 C Grand Slam (USA) Midway Squall (USA) Storm Bird (CAN)10/12 G3 Sugar Swirl Stakes 6.0f Pomeroys Pistol (USA) 3 F Pomeroy (USA) Prettyatthetable (USA) Point Given (USA)03/12 G3 Native Diver Handicap 9.0f Kettle Corn (USA) 4 C Candy Ride (ARG) Somethingbeautiful (USA) Lil E Tee (USA)02/12 G3 Tropical Turf Handicap 9.0f Silver Medallion (USA) 3 C Badge of Silver (USA) Another Vegetarian (USA) Stalwart (USA)02/12 G3 La Prevoyante Handicap 12.0f Casablanca Smile (CHI) 5 M Ocean Terrace (USA) Periza (CHI) Sadlers Congress

favourite, Ambitious Dragon, was onlyfourth, one place in front of ChampionStakes hero Cirrus des Aigles.

British visitors Cityscape andDubawi Gold both ran extremely well inthe Mile, finishing second and fourth.

Victory went to 66-1 veteran Able One,who would have been favourite for therace 12 months earlier but for being

withdrawn at the start and is a miracleof veterinary science having recoveredfrom five separate stress fractures.

Orfevre is set to try and improve uponthe placed efforts of Nakayama Festaand Deep Impact in next autumn’s Prixde l’Arc de Triomphe after he wrappedup Horse Of The Year honours whencompleting a six-timer in the ArimaKinen. Orfevre, who had already landedthe colts’ Triple Crown, beat the 2010

Derby winner Eishin Flash by three-quarters of a length, with his YasutoshiIkee-trained stablemate, To The Glory,third for the second year running. Manyof the 115,000-strong crowd stayed onafter racing to watch the retirementceremony of the Japan Cup winnerBuena Vista, who this time could

manage only seventh, one place in frontof the Dubai World Cup hero VictoirePisa.

But Buena Vista’s blood lives on inthe shape of her half-sister Joie deVivre (by Deep Impact), who carried offthe nation’s top two-year-old event, theHanshin Juvenile Fillies, and is a leading

candidate for the 2012 Classics. The colts’ equivalent continued the

stellar form of Australian Craig Williams,who guided the favourite, Alfredo, to acomfortable two-length triumph.

Transcend, runner-up to VictoirePisa in the Dubai World Cup, landedthe Japan Cup Dirt for a second time.

Seemingly better than ever at the age ofseven, Mufhasa took his career tally toeight Group 1 wins with a comfortablelength and a quarter Captain CookStakes success. Trainer Stephen

McKee hopes to take his top level tallyinto double figures with February’sWaikato Draught Sprint, which he hasalready won twice, an obvious target forearly 2012.

Shez Sinsational is beginning tolive up to her name and the daughter ofEkraar has the Melbourne Cup on herlong term radar after escaping from apocket on the inside to beat the front-

running favourite, Veyron, by a lengthand a half in the Zabeel Classic. Shehas already been to Australia, gettingplaced in both the Derby and Oaks inQueensland last June.

Champion juvenile Princess Victoriaattempted to become the first filly for 20years to pull off the Cape Guineasdouble. But, having beaten Trinity

House (the only horse to havepreviously beaten her, on her debut) bya length and a quarter in the FilliesGuineas she had to settle for third

behind Variety Club in the colts’equivalent.

Variety Club, who scored by overthree lengths, has a couple of British

connections as he is trained by JackRamsden’s son, Joey, and is by CliveBrittain’s 2004 Prix de l’Abbaye winner Var.

The Factor bounced back from acouple of poor performances, includingwhen eighth in the Breeders’ Cup [BC]Dirt Mile, when making most of therunning to give trainer Bob Baffert hisfirst Malibu Stakes triumph in front of abumper 44,500 Boxing Day crowd at

Santa Anita. Other BC runners did notback up so well.

Turbulent Descent, favourite whenonly fifth in the BC Filly & Mare Sprint,ran flat to be sixth behind 16-1 Teddy’sPromise in the La Brea Stakes.

Weemissfrankie, who posted a solid

third-placed effort in the BC JuvenileFillies, blew the Hollywood StarletStakes with a stumble at the start. Thisleft Killer Graces to overturn her SharpCat Stakes placings with Charm TheMaker and prevail by half a length.

The CashCall Futurity is the

corresponding juvenile colts’ event tothe Starlet and this saw Baffert unearthan early Triple Crown contender in theform of Liaison, who chiseled out aneck victory over Rousing Sermon aweek after his sire, Indian Charlie, sadlysuccumbed to cancer.

feb_90_global stakes res_Leader 19/01/2012 09:33 Page 95


FLASHBACK

Danoli allied toughness withability and a never-say-dieattitude that made him one of

the most popular NH horses to emergefrom Ireland in the last 20 years. Trained by Tom Foley in

Bagenalstown, County Carlow, Danoli’scourage was not only shown on thetrack with 17 victories – including sixGrade 1s – but in the operating room,as he fought back from a fracturedfetlock to score at the highest level.First announcing his brilliance in the

Sun Alliance Novices’ Hurdle at the

1994 Cheltenham Festival, Danoli wenton to win two Martell Aintree Hurdles,a Hatton’s Grace Hurdle and a DennyGold Medal Novice Chase.His 1997 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup

triumph, achieved under novice status,came against a field that included twoprevious winners, triple scorer Jodami(1993, 1994 and 1995) and ImperialCall (1996), both with a CheltenhamGold Cup triumph on their cv.Danoli, trying three miles for the first

time, was always prominent underTommy Treacy. When favourite Imperial

Call cracked after the second last, itwas left to 12-year-old Jodami to throwdown the final challenge, but he couldget only to within a length and half ofthe local hero at the line. Imperial Call(also in shot above) was 20 lengthsback in third.Danoli, named after owner Dan

O’Neill and his daughter Olivia, wononly once more and retired in 2000.“He is a horse we'll hardly ever see

the like of again,” Foley said of Danoli,who was put down in 2006 aged 18after suffering a severe bout of colic.

February 2, 1997 Danoli and Tommy Treacy sail clear of Jodamiover the last in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown

CAROLINE NORRIS

Feb_90_Flashback_v2_Owner 19/01/2012 09:38 Page 96

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Darley+44 (0)1638 730070+353 (0)45 527600www.darleystallions.com

SHIROCCOMonsun – So Sedulous (The Minstrel)

£7,000Oct 1, SLF.

A new wind is blowing...

Three G1 colts and nine Group or Stakes horses in his first crop.Many more big improvers among his second-crop juveniles.

Among all European sires, only Galileo has more three-year-olds on the World Thoroughbred Rankings. Shirocco has as many high-ranking performers as Dubawi, Shamardal and Dansili, including G1 St Leger second Brown Panther, rated behind only Masked Marvel and Japanese Triple Crown winner Orfevre amongthree-year-old stayers; the fiercely brave G1 Preis von Europa second Ibicenco; G2 Prix Noailles winner Grand Vent; and German G2 winner Arrigo who was second in the G1 Gran Premio del Jockey Club.

Great things to come:They could all go on again at four – after all, Shirocco did, retiring as the highest-rated horse in the world. Plus 2012 three-year-olds include very highly-rated G2 Rockfel fourth Bana Wu, Derby entrants for Luca Cumani and Roger Varian, and impressive Newbury winner Shirocco Star.

Darley OB Feb 2012_Darley OB Feb 2012 18/01/2012 14:28 Page 1

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