ob_apr09

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£4.95 | April 2009 | Issue 56 Incorporating

� Godolphin: this month’s Big Interview� Who is “the most underrated trainer in Britain”?� New global stakes results section

Star PerformersKauto, Walsh and Nicholls dominate the Festival

2009 STALLIONS • AD VALOREM • ANTONIUS PIUS • AUSSIE RULES • CATCHER IN THE RYE • CHOISIR • DANEHILL DANCER • DUKE OF MARMALADE • DYLAN THOMAS • • EXCELLENT ART • FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND • GALILEO • HIGH CHAPARRAL • HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR • HURRICANE RUN • IVAN DENISOVICH • MONTJEU •

• ONE COOL CAT • ORATORIO • PEINTRE CELEBRE • ROCK OF GIBRALTAR • STRATEGIC PRINCE •

The only son of PIVOTALto win a Group race at 2 and a Group 1 at 3

�The Ballydoyle partners did an extremely clever and lucrative

bit of business when they bought into Excellent Art, winner of the

Mill Reef Stakes [Gr.2] as a two-year-old [despite spreading a

plate] for Neville Callaghan’s Newmarket yard. The Pivotal colt

made vast improvement at three, establishing himself as one of the

best milers in Europe… Ultimately rated more highly than his sire... Excellent

Art is well qualified to get high-class middle-distance performers, but he is sure

to get his quota of sharp youngsters as well.�Tony Morris, Timeform Statistical

Review 2008.

EXCELLENT ART defeats Duke of Marmaladein the St. James’s Palace Stakes-Gr.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 or Mathieu Alex. Tom Gaffney, David Magnier, Joe Hernon or Cathal Murphy. Tel: 353-25-31966/31689. Kevin Buckley (UK Rep.) Tel: 44-7827-795156.

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

Filly born 21st January ex. Riotous Applause(Royal Applause), a half-sister to Racing Post Trophy-

Gr.1 winner & Epsom Derby-Gr.1 favouriteCrowded House, owned by Car Colston Stud.

Filly born 21st January ex. Subito (Darshaan), owned by Lynch Bages Ltd. & Samac Ltd.

Pivotal - Obsessive (Seeking The Gold)

2009 FEE:

€17,500

Project2:Layout 1 16/3/09 09:32 Page 2

Tel: +44 1638 665931 | Fax: +44 1638 660850 | [email protected] | www.tattersalls.com

Group 1 winnerZAFISIO - one of 38 2008

Group/Listed performers from theTattersalls Craven Breeze Up

Craven Breeze Up SaleApril 14th – 16th

Guineas Breeze Up SaleApril 30th – May 1st

Purchase theCLASS of 2009

Featuring 2yos eligible for the £500,000 Breeze Up BonusFull details atwww.breezeupbonus.com

Tattersalls.a4.indd 1 13/2/09 13:02:40

WELCOME

THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER 3

Richard GriffithsEditor

Do the stats give usan accurate story?

Thoroughbred Owner & Breederincorporating Pacemaker ispublished by a Mutual TradingCompany owned jointly by theRacehorse Owners Associationand Thoroughbred Breeders’Association

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Editorial views expressed in thismagazine are not necessarily thoseof the ROA or TBA

Such is its high-profile, acquisitive, whiz-bang nature that Godolphin will alwaysattract curiosity and judgement. Evenas it approaches its 150th Group 1

winner – only four more are needed – there arethose in racing who question whether it has hadthe success which its resources warrant.

Critics will point out that with around 100horses aged three or older at its disposal, resultsin recent seasons have been disappointing, withonly one European Group 1 winner last season,no European Classic winner since 2005 and noBritish one since Rule Of Law won the 2004 StLeger. Certainly those statistics do not comparewell with those achieved by racing’s otherbehemoth at Ballydoyle.

But do they tell an accurate story? After all, inaddition to Creachadoir’s Lockinge Stakessuccess last season, there were six Grade 1victories in America for Godolphin and a Group1 in Australia thanks to All The Good in theCaulfield Cup.

A thought occurs: do Godolphin’s criticsmeasure its success using different criteria tohow Godolphin judges itself?

In this month’s Big Interview, Godolphin’sultra eloquent and diplomatic racing managerSimon Crisford says: “We measure our level ofsuccess by our Group 1 score achieved inchampionship races.” In which case, an averageof nine Group 1 winners a season over 16 yearscould hardly be called a failure.

Of course, since its inception in 1994,Godolphin’s numbers have grown hugely, from49 worldwide runners in its first season to a peakof 202 in 2005, dropping to 169 last year. Whenyou deal with that many horses – all of whom

were bred or bought to compete at the highestlevel – it could be argued that an average nineGroup 1 winners a season is to be expected.

Against that, Crisford argues: “Even with theextra horses, it is pleasing that our worldwidestrike-rate from day one is 24%.”

The huge numbers that stables such asGodolphin and Ballydoyle marshal has led toconcerns among official handicappers that somany good horses in so few hands is leading toan erosion in competitiveness, especially in thejuvenile division. But, again, there is a counterargument: Godolphin, in particular,is more than happy to recruit provenhorses from other stables; Crisfordestimates that 40% of its Group 1winners have come from this route,and that Sheikh Mohammed, being“a trader”, will continue to seekprivate purchases, even as his Darleybreeding operation aggressivelyacquires so many potential stallions.

This has undoubted benefits as ithelps balance the finances of those who sell onto Godolphin and, hopefully, allows them toreinvest in new stock.

Overall, though, as Crisford says, “Godolphinrepresents Dubai”, and it is run chiefly for thebenefit of one man, its founder SheikhMohammed. It has its own aims, its own rules.

That may not suit everyone, but it would behard to argue that the sport overall has notbenefitted from a racing operation that has oftenbroken barriers – by keeping older horses intraining, for example – and produced suchchampions as Dubai Millennium, Lammtarraand Mark Of Esteem, among many others.

“Do Godolphin’scritics measure itssuccess usingdifferent criteria toGodolphin itself?”

WWW.OWNERBREEDER.CO.UK

£4.95 | April 2009 | Issue 56 Incorporating

� Godolphin: this month’s Big Interview� Who is “the most underrated trainer in Britain”?� New global stakes results section

Star PerformersKauto, Walsh and Nicholls dominate the Festival

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Deborah and Chris Buckley, breeders of Grand National contender Butler’s Cabin

Richard Hannon with grandson Harvey

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Behind the scenes with Racing to School56

Tony Morris 16

CONTENTS | APRIL 2009

The Official magazine of theRacehorse Owners Associationand Thoroughbred Breeders’Association

NEWS AND VIEWS6 News Focus

Calls rise for yearling sales bonus10 Changes

Racing’s news in a nutshell 13 ROA Leader

Time right for new levy/commercial deal 15 TBA Leader

The Breeze-Up Bonus Scheme16 NEW! Tony Morris

Warns breeders against complacency17 Lysaght’s People

J Paxman to challenge jockeys 96 Your Say

Marketing man and owner Tony Clifford

INTERNATIONAL SCENE26 View from Ireland

Bill Oppenheim’s call to arms28 Continental Tales

Vertigineux defies humble origins

30 Going GlobalJapan’s breeding industry contracts

FEATURES18 The Thrill of Cheltenham

An outstanding Festival in pictures32 Talking to…

Benny Andersson 36 The Big Interview

Godolphin’s Simon Crisford42 Richard Hannon

On the gallops with an owner’s dream 50 Flat Countdown

Horses who could make the headlines56 Racing to School

The industry’s education programme 62 National Breeders

Tales behind three Aintree contenders67 Sales Circuit

Anxious wait for consignors

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Brian O’Connell celebrates a scintillating victory in the Champion Bumper 18

For the period July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008 the average monthly circulation was 9,698,as certified by the Audit Bureau of Circulations. This figure does not include thosesubscribers who now receive the publication since the incorporation of Pacemakermagazine. The next audit to include this will take place mid-2009.

FORUM70 ROA News

Jubilee Queen strikes for BetfairClub ROA74 Owner of the Month

Simon Clarke, for Nacarat 75 Owners in the News

Judy Wilson’s winner was AP McCoy’s 3,000th76 TBA News

Existing workplace dispute rules abolished79 Breeders’ Prizes

Your latest jumps and Flat winners80 Breeder of the Month

The late Ken Oliver, for Rambling Minster81 Breeders in the News

Shirley Brasher, for Tarablaze82 Vets Forum

Keyhole surgery

DATA BOOK86 Caulfield Files

Unbridled success for Unbridled’s Song88 NEW! International Stakes Winners

A definitive list of global Group/Grade 1 winners 92 Data Book

Grade 1 jumps results93 Stallion Stats

Leading National Hunt sires 2005-0994 British/Irish-breds

Your victories overseas

april_56_contents.qxp 17/3/09 15:07 Page 3


NEWS FOCUSA ROUND-UP OF THE BIG STORIES IN HORSERACING

Talks are under way to tryto create a yearlingincentive scheme –inspired by the new

£5000,000 Breeze-Up Bonus –to attract buyers at this autumn’ssales.

Leading vendors and breeders,as well as representatives fromthe big sales companies, met atKempton on March 6 to discussthe idea.

The meeting was chaired jointlyby former TBA Council memberPaul Thorman, and Joe Foley,Chairman of the ITBA. Foleystressed that the talks were “theformulation of a lot of people’sideas” and that they were “verymuch at an early stage”.

However, he revealed to thismagazine that “the core of anidea” is now on the table thatwould see “vendors and

breeders try to come up with asignificant pool that willencourage people to ownracehorses and to buy yearlings.Basically, vendors and breederswill be putting their hands in theirpockets to try to help offsetcurrent prize-money levels”.

He added: “The owner will nothave to contribute large sums ofcash, if any at all. It has to be veryowner-friendly. It is a very positivestep.”

The move has the support ofthose behind the Breeze-UpBonus Scheme and Thormansaid: “We would like to run it inconjunction with the Breeze-UpBonus Scheme, so that somehorses will in effect be running fora double bonus.

“There is definitely a will to sortsomething out, although it is onlyin its embryo stage. Any yearling

scheme must cater for three-year-old races. It is important that weget the trainers and agents onboard so that they can go toowners with this great incentiveto buy young stock.

“We definitely need tostimulate purchasers, here andoverseas, and if we as vendorsand consignors can help in thatrespect, then why not? The onusis often on the owners to put themoney up, as with sales races,and they need help."

The move is likely to attractwidespread industry support.

Writing in this month’s Leader,TBA Chairman Kirsten Rausingsaid: “It will be interesting toanalyse the outcome of thebreeze-up sales to establishwhether the bonuses have hadthe desired effect.

“If this is positive, whilst the

introduction of a similar incentivewill mean an increase in costs forvendors already faced withdiminishing returns, it issomething that must surely becontemplated. What are thealternatives?”

The Breeze-Up BonusScheme that has attracted such apositive response features a£500,000 pool, open tograduates of the 2009 two-year-old sales at Kempton, Doncaster,Newmarket, Goresbridge,Dundalk and Saint-Cloud.

The owners of the first 40winners of two-year-old maidens,conditions or stakes racesworldwide will receive a £10,000bonus, in addition to the race'sallocated prize-money.

The first 20 winners of sellers,claimers or nurseries will beeligible for a £5,000 bonus.

Response to breeze-up plan prompts talks about “vendor-supported, owner-friendly initiative”

Vendors consider bonusscheme for yearling sales

“The Pattern is dynamic and evolving”

While no-one would disagree with the headline, Philip Freedmanmisses the point in his article, “Poor Listed races serve no purpose”.

The decision by the BHA to allow the Glasgow Stakes at HamiltonPark to retain Listed status was soundly based. In particular, theracecourse’s representations convinced us that it could succeed infurther developing the relative attractiveness of this race. Thisincluded a commitment to make a substantial increase in prize-money.

The fact that the decision overturned the previously stated opinionsof individual BHA committees simply demonstrates one of ourstrengths: that we are both flexible and willing to listen to argument.

Racing’s failure to modernise and to attract new participants ispartly down to inertia and lack of self-examination.

On this occasion we were willing to accept that an earlier decisionhad been over-pessimistic about future development of the GlasgowStakes.

The issue cannot be judged by simple myopic scrutiny of theEuropean Pattern. As Mr Freedman points out, there are inferiorraces to the Glasgow Stakes in that Pattern. What he fails torecognise is that the Pattern itself is dynamic and evolving.

There are other issues. Scotland has just lost two major financialinstitutions, which have been major sponsors of sport. Do we need toadd to the national gloom by depriving Scottish racing of a Listedrace? There are times when encouragement is the better option andthis is surely one of them.

It is clear that Scottish racecourses are highly motivated andpassionate about improving the quality of their racing, and we seek tosupport that. It is now up to Hamilton Park to deliver the goods andmeet the criteria that were set for them.

Philip Freedman thought it appropriate in his article to draw ananalogy with Captain Mainwaring, but in doing so he should havebeen aware that he suddenly brought to mind another character fromDad’s Army, namely Private “We’re all doomed” Frazer.

While it is generally easier to be a blanket pessimist in challengingeconomic times, if there is a sound and well-reasoned argument foroptimism, such as that presented by Hamilton Park, we must offer itsome room to prove itself.

Paul RoyChairman, BHA

BHA Chairman Paul Roy responds to Philip Freedman’s criticism of the decision toreverse the axing of an underperforming Listed race at Hamilton in last month’s issue

april_56_news.qxp 17/3/09 16:37 Page 2


We hope you enjoy thissecond combined issue of Thoroughbred Owner & BreederIncorporating Pacemaker

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Tributes have been paid to SirErnest Harrison, a highlysuccessful businessman andgreat supporter of horseracing,who died on February 16. Hewas 82.

As Chairman of electronicsgroup Racal, Harrison took thecompany into the fledgling mobilephone market in the 1980s. Theventure became known asVodafone and at its height wasworth £230 billion.

Harrison owned high-classhorses such as Cacoethes,placed behind Nashwan in the1989 Derby and King George VIAnd Queen Elizabeth Stakes,and Polish Patriot, winner of theJuly Cup in 1991.

Sir Eric Parker, who knewHarrison for around 40 years,said: “Ernie was a very astute andsuccessful businessman and agreat racing enthusiast.

“He instigated Vodafone’ssponsorship of the Derby whenhe was Chairman of Racal, whichwould have pleased him as aracing man, but he would alsohave been satisfied that thesponsorship was worthwhile onbusiness grounds.

“Ernie had a box at Royal Ascotand loved going to Epsom; I thinkhis ambition was to win theDerby, and he got quite closewith Cacoethes. He was also areally keen Arsenal supporter.”

Harrsion was born on May 11,1926 and attended TrinityGrammar School in WoodGreen, north London.

He qualified as a chartered

accountant with Harker Hollowayin 1950 and joined Racal thefollowing year.

Aside from his business andsporting interests, Harrison wasChairman of the CancerResearch Trust at the Royal FreeHospital.

Parker added: “It would be fairto say Ernie worked hard andplayed hard. I recall that hecompeted with GEC for theacquisition of Decca andmanaged to outmanoeuvreArnold Weinstock, which notmany people managed!

“We used to come and stay atCheltenham for festival week,give dinner parties, end upplaying snooker until 3am or 4am– indulging in Dom Perignon andcheese on toast, which Ernieloved – and then go racing.

“Ernie was a most generousand genuine man, such afantastic and charismatic guy. Asa friend, he couldn’t do enoughfor you. It is a very sad loss.”

Guy Harwood, who trainedCacoethes and Polish Patriot,described Harrison as a"wonderful man and a very goodowner”.

He said: “Ernie had a lot ofsuccess with his horses and hedeserved it. He was a practicalman and would always do whatthe trainer recommended.

“He was a terrific entertainerand loved his racing.”

Harrison is survived by his wife,Janie, their two daughters and ason, and two sons from aprevious marriage.

“Ernie was a most generous and genuineman, such a fantastic and charismatic guy.As a friend, he couldn’t do enough for you.It is a very sad loss” – Sir Eric Parker

Sir Ernest Harrison


NEWS FOCUS


Racing is facing acrucial three monthsas it decides how thesport should be better

marketed and how that shouldbe paid for.

An initial report on definingracing’s brand, compiled bymarketing specialists HarrisonFraser, was due to have beenunveiled to racing’s main bodiesat the end of March.

An indication of HarrisonFraser’s thinking came at theBritish Horseracing Conferenceon February 23, when companypartner David Fraser said:“Racing is such a well-keptsecret; for many people it isinvisible. It is a peripheral activityin the leisure market.

“Casual participants are notsufficiently interested in thesport, or betting, to make therequired investment inunderstanding it. The bettingproduct is virtually impenetrable.Horseracing doesn’t speak tothem in the way the NationalLottery does.”

‘Stage two’ of the marketingprocess, due to be completedby August, is likely to addresshow to change such attitudes.

Although the company wasrecruited by Racing EnterprisesLtd, a marketing fund of around£5 million is likely to be financedindustry-wide, rather than by aspecific group.

Failure to connect REL’s Chairman ChrisMcFadden, also speaking at theconference, said horseracinghad failed “to connect withenough of the 18-35 age group.”

He added: “Racing’saudience demographic is ageingrapidly and betting patterns of

the next generation are markedlydifferent and, more importantly,not on horseracing.

“Our sport is too complex, hasa meandering story with noconclusion, and speaks in analien tongue.

“We need to look at ourselvesvery carefully to recognise ourgreat sport is not connectingwith enough of the 18-35 agegroup that replenishes ouraudience, never mind the betterhalf of the gender divide or themulticultural nature of oursociety.

“We have to make sure weare providing a sport as relevantto today’s consumer as it was toyesterday’s. I am lobbying toconvince bodies that it is aworthwhile thing to do, withracecourses and bookmakersand not in isolation.”

Surprise claim The conference also saw asurprise claim by David Thorpe,Chairman of the RacecourseAssociation, that racesponsorship could fall by asmuch as 40% due to theeconomic downturn. Thorpe hadearlier described sponsorship as“holding up quite well”.

Nigel Payne, Chief Executiveof the Horserace Sponsors’Association, disagreed withThorpe’s sums, saying: “I don’taccept the 40% figure and can’tsee how the annual impactcould be more than 15-20%.”

In other speeches, BHAChairman Paul Roy warned thatracing was caught up “in aneconomic environment that’sgetting tougher and gloomier bythe minute.”

He said: “We all know thatwe’re poorer than this time last

year. The data is shocking. Stockmarkets around the world at six-to ten-year lows, Governmentand private debt at record levels,$5 trillion wiped off the value ofpension schemes alone during2008, house prices in freefalland millions of jobs under threat.

Banking crisis “The crisis in banking andfinancial markets is taking anincreasingly severe toll on thebroader economy. It’s translatinginto the scariest economicrecession in our lifetime.

“No one knows how long thiswill last but markets will almostcertainly not recover until banksworldwide get properlyrecapitalised.”

As for the BHA itself, Roy saidits biggest achievement in thelast 18 months had been “ourwork in pulling together thesport and the industry. Theracecourses, owners, trainers,jockeys, breeders and othershave all put in more effort than Ican ever recall in establishing acommon way forward.”

On the need for levy

modernisation, he said: “Wewant a fit-for-purpose levywithout any need for recourse toGovernment. A fair return frombetting is an immediate issue forracing. Britain, with our traditionof bookmaking, is laggingbehind every other racing nation.

“Whilst betting operators areannouncing healthy profits andsome operators move offshoreto avoid levy and tax, racing, thesport, the real people and thereal lives that depend on it,continues to be under-funded.

“Racing’s position can onlydeteriorate in a recessionaryenvironment and this contrastsstarkly with the majorbookmaking firms reportingexcellent results and claiming tobe relatively resilient to aneconomic downturn.”

FACT BOX 20085.7m Racecourse attendances

£106m Record total prize-money88,000 Direct and indirect jobs; Britain’s

largest sporting employer61 Racecourses

50,000 People with an ownership interest15,000 Average monthly horses in training

£1.2bn+ Bookmakers’ profits onBritish horseracing

Industry will have to decide how much money to spend on a sport that is “not connecting”

Racing’s marketing dilemma

New this month: Tony Morris starts a regular column for uson page 16; listings of all global stakes winners, page 88

Paul Roy: tough times


Tweenhills TimesApril 2009

Tweenhills Farm & Stud

Tweenhills Racing

David Redvers Bloodstock

Suppliers of top quality hay and haylage to the racing industry. Clients include Venetia Williams, Whitsbury Manor Stud, Tweenhills Farm & Stud, Wickfield Stud and Trickledown Stud. Contact Ben Rich on 07774 725332 to discuss your requirements.vale hay

www.tweenhills.comTweenhills Farm & Stud Hartpury Gloucestershire GL19 3BG t: + 44 (0) 1452 700177/ 700545 f: + 44 (0) 1452 700002 m: + 44 (0) 7767 436373 e: [email protected]

Lidar comfortably wins the valuable DBS SpringSales Bumper at Doncaster

ART CONNOISSEURIN FINE FORMChampion British based sire, Lucky Story,looks to have an exciting season aheadparticularly with Art Connoisseur.

Trainer Michael Bell reports: “ArtConnoisseur is in very good form andtraining very well. It is still all systemsgo for the Guineas. He will make hisseasonal debut at the Craven Meetingin either the Craven Stakes or the FreeHandicap. I’m very happy with him.”

BREEDER PROFILE Marc Jonas, Farmer and Businessman

New Tweenhills EIS mare Dame Edith foals a strapping colt by Sinndar

Treble success for King There can be few happier Doncaster May Sales purchasers than Trainer Alan Kingand agent Anthony Bromley after LIDAR’s massively impressive 9 length romp inthe Doncaster Sping Sales £50,000 Bumper. Sold on behalf of new Pinhooker MarcJonas (see below) by Trickledown Stud, he represents a remarkable twist of fortunefor Alan King with David Redvers’ pinhooks.

All three pinhooks bought by Alan and Anthony at the Doncaster Spring Sales arenow winners. Lidar, a €28,000 Deauville yearling purchase joins the recent impressivefirst time out bumper winner Chilli Rose, but they both still have a fair way to go tomatch the achievements of earlier purchase, that superb mare Senorita Rumbalita.

That said, trainer Alan King is understandably enthused by them both and particularlyLidar who now heads for the Aintree Championship bumper and stated, “I’m very,very excited by him. I think he is the best young horse I’ve trained and has lookedthat way from day one.”

STUD SEASON WELL UNDERWAY The busy stud season is well underwayat Tweenhills with coverings, and a hostof cracking foals already born.

Among them is a lovely big bay colt bySinndar out of Dame Edith. Purchasedat the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale in December 2008, she has alreadyproduced dual Gr.1 winner Voix DuNord, winner of the Criterium Du Saint-Cloud (Gr.1) and Prix Lupin (Gr.1).Dame Edith is owned by the Tweenhillsrun Enterprise Investment SchemeSyndicates (EIS) and she is due to visitNew Approach this season.

We will be taking a short break againfrom our monthly newsletter during thespring. In the meantime keep up-to-datewith news and views from Tweenhills atwww.tweenhills.com

What is a ‘pinhook’?Those looking up Pinhook in thedictionary will be understandablyconfused by the absence of thisbloodstock word. Try googling the termand you will be even more nonplussed.There is apparently a charming town inIndiana that goes by the same name.

Pinhooking is the bloodstock word forinvesting in bloodstock – normally foals,with a view to reselling at a profit in therelative short term. At Tweenhills werun an EIS Pinhooking Sydicate andspecialise in bloodstock investments.Contact the office for further details.

How did you first meet David Redvers?Out hunting with the Ledbury, as I used to live just a few miles fromTweenhills before moving to a farmnear Salisbury.

What is your involvement in racing?Initially I invested in David’s EISsyndicates, then the Sleeping Indiansyndicate. On moving to Wiltshire I was keen to have young horses, so David has provided advice on NHstores, purchasing them as yearlingsand selling on at three or four.

What horses do you own now?Two three-year-olds by Exit To Nowhereand Beneficial are heading for theBrightwells Cheltenham Sale in April.At Doncaster Spring Sales I’m selling a Generous three-year-old and a four-year-old by Zagreb. I also have six two-year-olds at home.

Most notable horse to date?Lidar (featured above). He is the firstrunner from my first sales season, and is proving very exciting! The otherthree I sold last year have a lot to liveup to already.

Royal Ascot winning Lucky Story colt Art Connoissuer

m8331_THills_advertorial(Apr)_aw:layout 1 16/3/09 14:14 Page 1


NEWS FOCUS

ChangesRacing’s news in a nutshell

Ffos Las Britain’s newest racecourse, set to stage first meeting on June 18, aligns itself with At The Races and SIS for live picture broadcasts Rowley Mile NatWest ends sponsorship at Newmarket racecourse after three-year associationLord Donoughue Labour peer resigns from role as consultant to bookmaker Paddy Power after row erupted over his chairmanship of Starting Price Regulatory Commission Tote Offers racecourses the opportunity to take a share of all Totepool profits if they agree to make firm an official betting partner BBC Signs three-year deal that guarantees at least 14 days racing coverage in 2009, including the Welsh National from Chepstow, which was under threat Grissell girls Di Grissell trains first winner under Rules with Rear Gunner, as daughter Rose rides first point-to-point winner on Myson at Charing, beating sister HannahTimeform Halifax firm ends association with York’s charity day, having supported the event since 1971 French gambling Online state betting monopoly to end, giving companies the chance to compete for sportsbook and poker licences, which will operate from January 1, 2010 Magna Entertainment Bankruptcy of group that owns and operates Santa Anita racecourse could see November’s Breeders’ Cup meeting switched to Churchill DownsEpsom redevelopment Constructors hand over site to racecourse management, with official opening of the new grandstand looming on April 22BEBF Prize-money allocation to British European Breeders’ Fund increases for the period up until January 2010, exceeding £1.25 million in totalFasig-Tipton Cancels its autumn yearling auction in Lexington, Kentucky, citing lack of viability for the saleStrangles Outbreak of the contagious equine disease confirmed in William Jarvis’s Newmarket yardDFS Doncaster-based furniture giant becomes St Leger meeting sponsor, backing Group races in a deal said to be worth six figuresWilliam Hill Agrees three-year-deal to sponsor Ayr Gold Cup but says it has no intention of continuing backing of Ascot jumps racing due to BBC coverage cutbacks Coral Extends sponsorship of Group 1 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown to 2011, which will be the 36th running under Coral’s banner Betview Awards BSkyB-backed magazine hosts inaugural awards for British and Irish gambling industry; independent firm Better scooped the Newcomer awardLadbrokes Enters new territory by allowing telephone and internet punters to bet after the off, a move they claim will “revolutionise” betting

People and business

Sergeant Cecil Popular stayer who won the Northumberland Plate, Ebor and Cesarewitch in 2005 comes out of retirement aged ten to join William Knight’s stableKingsgate Native Stallion career for Cheveley Park Stud’s new recruit under review after none of the first 20 mares covered are scanned in foal Daiwa Scarlet Top-class mare in Japan, winner of four Grade 1 races, retired due to leg injury; the daughter of Agnes Tachyon was on course for the Dubai World Cup Robin Des Pres Jump stallion, 15, moves to Anngrove Stud in County Laois from France; the son of Cadoudal is the sire of high-class chasers Petit Robin and Panjo BereMontmartre Son of Montjeu, brilliant winner of the Grand Prix de Paris when last seen in July, is retired to stud by owner the Aga KhanGreat Pyramid Nine-year-old son of Danehill, a brother to Rock Of Gibraltar, to stand at Basheer Kielany’s stud in France Sir Percy (pictured) Derby winner and Lanwades Stud stallion is to shuttle to Rich Hill Stud in Matamata, New Zealand for this year’s southern hemisphere seasonBernstein 12-year-old is to remain at Castleton Lyons in Kentucky this season, after seven years of shuttling to ArgentinaBandini Walmac stallion subject of promotional deal, whereby any 12-year-old or younger mare that is Listed placed or better can breed to him for half his fee

Racehorse and stallion – movements and retirements

Morley Street 25 Won four Aintree Hurdles, the Champion Hurdle and the Breeders’ Cup Chase twice during an outstanding career with trainer Toby Balding Urban Sea 20 Brilliant mare on the track and in the paddocks, winner of the Arc in 1993 and dam of Derby hero Galileo and high-class Black Sam BellamyManila 26 Top-class US turf performer, whose five Grade 1 wins included the 1986 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita, and later a successful sire in TurkeyMansonnien 25 Champion jumps sire in France on three occasions whose progeny include Grade 1-winning chasers Taranis and MansonyEndless Power 9 Jim Goldie-trained gelding who landed the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree last yearThyne Again 8 Talented chaser for the Liam Burke stable, recording his biggest success in the Grade 1 Baileys Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown last year Osorio 9 Italian Derby winner and Newsells Park Stud stallion Clarified 7 Tony Martin-trained chaser who became the only equine casualty of this year’s Cheltenham Festival in the Freddie Williams PlateBonus 9 Stable stalwart for Gerard Butler who won ten of 54 starts and over £220,000 in win and place prize-money

People obituaries Age

Ernie Dymock 76 Long-time correspondent of The Sporting Life who became the paper’s assistant editorMichael Allen 80 Pioneer of medical services on British racecourses who was the Jockey Club’s medical consultant for a decadeSir Ernest Harrison 82 Outstanding business leader who owned top-class duo Cacoethes and Polish Patriot (obituary, page 7)Dennis Wickett 55 Former amateur jockey who was left severely disabled after a point-to-point fall in 1984 Robert Kerry 54 Groom who worked for John Dunlop, having previously been based with Guy HarwoodSir Peter Leng 83 Former chairman of the Racecourse Association who had a distinguished career in the Army

Horse obituaries Age

In association with

april_56_changes.qxp 17/3/09 16:16

Contact: Brian O’Rourke Mob: 07789 508157Tel: +44 (0)1638 675 929 Email: [email protected]: www.nationalstud.co.ukNational Stud Ltd., Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 0XE

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PASTORAL PURSUITS

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“Phoenix Reach was a toughandconsistentracehorse. He went on to win at Gr.1level at three, four and five years old, a feat that very few achieve.”Andrew Balding, Trainer

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“She’s a good looking filly... She’s been bought to race.”

Arthur Ackermann Limited since 1783

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John Dalby (1810-1865) Signed and dated ‘Dalby 1845’ 13¾ x 19¾ in. (35 x 50 cm)A chestnut and two bay racehorses belonging to John Bowes with jockeys up Oil on canvas

Henry Frederick Lucas Lucas (1848-1943) Signed and dated ‘1894’ 28 x 36 in. (71 x 91.5 cm)Isinglass with Tommy Loates up, on a race course Oil on canvas

The elegant colt Isinglass (1890-1911) was a Triple Crown champion in the 1890s who dominated racing in a decadewhich saw some of the greatest horses of the Victorian era. He was ridden in all his races by Tommy Loates, depicted

here. His world record for career earnings remained unbroken in England for 57 years.

Ackermann & Johnson OB Apr09:Ackermann & Johnson OB Apr09 16/3/09 09:56 Page 1

ROA LEADER


The levy could be aligned to a standard fixture list of, say, 1,200, leavingracing to negotiate with the betting industry for an extra 300 meetings

Time is right for a jointlevy/commercial deal

The latest throw of the dice in theendless game British racing is forced toplay with the betting industry hascome in the unexpected shape of a

bookmaker proposal to the Levy Board that theterms of the current levy scheme should berolled over for each of the next three years.

The irony of this is that in our levynegotiations last autumn we argued strongly fora rollover, but then the bookmakers wereadamant that an allowance should be made forthe new betting shop picture service, TurfTV,which they said cost them an additional £40million a year.

In the end, the deadlock was broken byracing offering bookmakers a batch ofadditional fixtures that were not originally onthe table and it was this move that could nowpoint the way to a new commercial relationship.

Racing is rightly very circumspect about thislatest offer. First, it is conditional upon therebeing no change to the Government’s fiscalpolicy. Second, we have no idea what 10% of

racing in a bad light with the Government who,in principle, would like this to happen.

Putting a minimum guarantee on the levy of,say, £100m a year is appealing in this economicclimate, but it is difficult to see how this couldwork through the current levy system, which isbased purely on 10% of gross profits on all UKhorseracing bets. There may be another way,however, which picks up on the lessons learnt atlast autumn’s negotiations.

We know that a full racing product remainsimportant to bookmakers, even though ourmarket share has declined significantly. Weknow from last year’s experience bookmakersneed the likes of all-weather racing in the winterevenings to keep their shops ticking over.

Is it not time, therefore, to introduce ahybrid system where the levy runs parallel witha straight commercial arrangement? Could wenot align the levy to a standard fixture list of,say, 1,200, and then tell bookmakers we wouldnegotiate a commercial price on the remaining300 fixtures (some of which could contain

Paul DixonPresident, RacehorseOwners Association

“Racing is rightly very circumspect about the offer frombookmakers to roll over the levy for three years”

gross profits will deliver for racing in hard cash,especially in this economic climate. And, third,the offer does not make any allowance for thepromised modernisation of the levy processwhich has been part of discussions for the lasttwo years.

Trying to make progress with modernisationof the levy is like walking in treacle. A step inwhat is perceived to be the right direction inlogical terms has us banging against the stonewall of the levy’s statutory framework, much ofwhich is embedded in an Act of 1963.

Everyone agrees the levy system is no longerfit for purpose but to get it changed wouldrequire parliamentary time, which is notavailable, and, in any case, the changes mightthen make the levy vulnerable to illegal state aidchallenges.

Whatever the lack of progress on levymodernisation, we have to respond to thethree-year offer. A straight refusal would put

additional races) that is entirely separate fromthe levy? This would encompass those areas ofthe racing programme that may be dismissivelyregarded as “betting shop fodder” but areactually very important to owners, racecoursesand, of course, to bookmakers.

Such a hybrid system might get the traction itneeds because of the importance of winterevening racing to the betting industry. Withoutthis, betting shops would primarily open forpunters to play on FOBT machines and thiswould surely add to the Government’s alreadygrowing concerns over these machines.

Such a commercial arrangement could alsosee British horseracing filling those late morningbetting slots occupied by overseas racing, whileit would create the ideal platform from which todevelop a proper commercial relationship thatmight one day replace the levy system. Most ofall, it would allow racing to achieve a higherincome for its overall product.

april_56_roa_leader.qxp 17/3/09 12:51 Page 3

World-Class Nutrition,World-Class Results.

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TBA LEADER


Close attention must be paid to the very welcome Breeze-Up BonusScheme. If successful, a similar incentive should be adopted for yearlings

Breeders also need aprize-money boost

Reports of an expected reduction in thenumber of British mares due to foalthis season, coupled with anecdotalevidence that the number of British-

based mares visiting stallions this year is also onthe decline, is surely a move in the rightdirection for the industry as a whole. Yet thisdecline contrasts with the requirement forBritish racing to supply in excess of 26,000horses to meet the demands of a fixture listdriven by bookmakers, punters and racecourses.

The demand for such numbers is unlikely toabate in the short term. Whether demand forthe production of thoroughbreds shows acorresponding level depends on one keyingredient: the racehorse owner.

A survey conducted last year by the RacingPost estimated that 67% of breeders own horsesin training. This level of investment confirmsthat racing and breeding in the UK areinterdependent, and breeding, in particular, isdependent on a healthy racing industry for itsfuture.

reducing their employee numbers, does not sitwell on successful businessmen’s shoulders.

The yearling sales are going to be tough. Thesales companies have already invested in a varietyof attractive sales race schemes, but owners arerequired to boost these funds through the entrystructure. If a number of the eligible horses arestill without owners, then the system couldbecome self-defeating.

Talks are already under way to establishwhether a similar bonus scheme for the breezeups should be explored for the yearling sales.

It will be interesting to analyse the outcomeof the breeze-up sales to establish whether thebonuses have had the desired effect. If indeedthey have, a similar scheme for the yearlingsales surely must be considered, even if it willmean an increase in costs for vendors alreadyfaced with diminishing returns. What are thealternatives?

The media has been strong on providingadvice for breeders and producers, and let’s hopebreeders have heeded this. The TBA’s seminar

“The TBA recognises that consignors and purchasers willnot be well served by rises in sales commission”

However, breeders will not be encouraged torace increasing numbers of their homebreds at atime when income, in terms of both prize-money and sales returns, will leave them farshort of covering their costs. Food for thoughtfor racing’s administrators. Let’s hope they arealready addressing the long-term implication ofa drop in production of the raw material, in theUK, Ireland and further afield.

With the above comments in mind, breeze-upconsignors are to be warmly congratulated fortheir initiative in providing more prize-moneythrough the Breeze-Up Bonus Scheme.

The importance of their initiative should notbe underestimated, as what measures, other thana direct increase in prize-money, are likely toencourage people to buy a luxury item like aracehorse in these difficult times?

Wealth still exists, but there is anunderstandable degree of concern in somequarters that keeping horses in training, whilst

on June 30 entitled ‘British Breeding Now andin the Future’ will seek to provide furtherinformation from economists, bloodstock andfinancial experts to help breeders approach their2010 business plans.

One interesting point to note from the ITBA’srecent, well-supported seminar on ‘The WayForward’ suggests that purchasers and theiragents paid considerable attention to thediffering rates of commission among salescompanies in 2008. In the current climate thosesales companies whose commission structure isheavily loaded on purchasers are creating adisincentive to buy, and this fact has not beenoverlooked by some shrewd investors.

During its recent meetings the TBA Councilhas recognised the importance of the industryworking together during the recession, butreaffirmed its view that sales consignors andpurchasers would not be well served by anyfuture increases in sales commission.

Kirsten RausingChairmanThoroughbred Breeders’Association

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We are several years into a cycle ofoverproduction, six months into aperiod of world economicrecession and approaching two

months into a new breeding season, when it isvital that steps are taken to apply a correction.But is that happening to a sufficient degree?

The autumn of 2008 made it abundantly clearthat there were far more yearlings and foals thanthe market required. Nothing has happenedsince then to allow hopes for a revival in demandfor the yearlings who will take their chance atauction this year, or for the prospects of the cropnow being born.

The outlook is grim, at least until 2011, whenthe crop conceived this spring will be looking forend-users to accept them as additions to theracing population.

The “at least” is significant, because historytells us that a serious falling-off in demand,especially when associated with economicconditions not directly related to the bloodstockand racing industries, tends to be more than ashort-term phenomenon. There need be nodoubt that fewer mares will be covered in Britainand Ireland this year, because some breederssimply will not be able to carry on in the currenteconomic climate, while others will recognisethe folly of throwing good money after bad.

But my enquiries have led me to believe thatthere is still some complacency – anacknowledgement that things are going to betough in 2009 and 2010, but coupled with ameasure of optimism that by 2011 the worst willbe over and the good old days will be back.

That is wishful thinking, to judge by whatoccurred in 1974, when the Arab states virtuallyquadrupled the price of oil, and the impact onthe bloodstock industry was both immediateand long-lasting.

The yearling market in Britain had beenmaking significant progress for several years,with the average at Tattersalls’ October Salesadvancing from 1,546gns in 1965 to 3,946gnsin 1973. At the more prestigious Houghtonauction over the same period, the average rosefrom 2,420gns to 8,843gns.

And, naturally, that growth had encouragedheavier investment in breeding. The Anglo-Irishfoal crop of 1965 numbered 5,923; the cropconceived in 1974, in the wake of the previousyear’s record yearling business, and shortlybefore the shock news from the Middle East sent

the world’s financial markets into turmoil, was toreach a new high at 9,767. By the time thosefoals were born, the bloodstock market hadcollapsed.

The 1974 October auction returned anaverage of 2,073gns, down by 47%. At theHoughton the average was 5,204gns, over 41%lower. The knowledge that the next foal crop tocome would be larger than ever exercised theminds of breeders. Many acted accordingly.

Some 1,400 fewer mares were covered in1975, resulting in 1,000 fewer foals in 1976,and circumspection ruled for some yearsthereafter. It was not until 1986, at the height ofa new boom in bloodstock, that the Anglo-Irishfoal crop rose above the 1975 level.

So how did the yearling sales fare after the1974 debacle? Unsurprisingly, the quality end ofthe market recovered first, business at theHoughton establishing new records for turnoverand average as soon as 1976, and the trend wasgenerally onward and upward thereafter untilthe next crisis year of 1992.

The average at the October Sale, always muchmore representative of the state of bloodstocktrading, did not climb back to the level of 1973until 1978 – and then partly due to acontrivance in the form of a considerablereduction in catalogue numbers.

Global economies were reckoned to be inrecession again from the end of 1990, butyearling sales in Newmarket held up reasonablywell in the following year, when the Houghtonaverage suffered only slightly, albeit with asignificantly smaller catalogue to limit thedamage, and October even contrived a recordaverage (16,357gns), while the medianremained steady at 10,500gns.

The real crunch came in 1992, when theHoughton average plummeted from 82,132gnsto 44,708gns, and the median dropped no lessalarmingly, from 50,000gns to 27,000gns. TheOctober figures were still more disastrous, withturnover, average and median halved, and backto levels not experienced for a decade. This wasthe year when the Maktoums boycotted sales inEngland, which clearly had an impact on theHoughton business, but their absence was only aminor factor in the collapse at October.

Reductions in foal crops were obviouslyappropriate again and, while they did not comedown in vast numbers immediately, they werecut back, and the record tally of 13,295 in 1991

COMMENT

The leading bloodstock writer starts his new monthly column forthe magazine with a warning that breeders must not be complacent

“History tellsus that aserious fall indemand tendsto be more thana short-termphenomenon”

Tony Morris


april_56_morris.qxp 17/3/09 14:57 Page 2


was not exceeded until 2000. Meanwhile, theaverage at both main yearling sales took fouryears to recover the ground lost in 1992.

Of course, in the last few years foal crops inBritain and Ireland have routinely been in theregion of 17,000, in spite of abundant evidenceof an over-supply, and we must expectsomething similar when the 2009 figures arecompiled.

If the industry is serious about putting itshouse in order, it has to recognise the significantdownturn in demand and adjust its productionlevel accordingly.

But is the industry doing enough in thatdirection?

The trouble is that “the industry” is a vagueand all-embracing term, covering manyindividuals with different agendas, from majoroperators for whom the profit motive isparamount, to the hobby breeder who mayhope to make money but whose primeobjective is to have fun. Moreover, this is anunregulated business and any form ofregulation would seem to be impossible,amounting to a restraint of trade.

When the bloodstock market collapsed in1974 and again in 1992, one of the first naturalconsequences was a reduction in stallion fees.

Recognition that commercial breeders werelosing money and could not continue to operatewhile fees remained high was inevitable andstallion studs were bound to react. In theautumn of 2008, as trading at yearling sales wentfrom bad to worse, we had the unprecedentedsituation of many fees being reduced again, onlya week or two after the first reductions wereannounced.

Such moves were, of course, wholly laudablein a scenario that demanded drastic action, butreduced fees do not in themselves provide ananswer to the overproduction problem. In fact,they may well ensure that the problem persists,for the simple reason that lower costs amount toan encouragement to breed, when what is reallyrequired is some encouragement to reduce thepopulation.

There is no reason to doubt fewer mares willbe covered in 2009 than in 2008, but lower feesare bound to ensure some breeders will ignorethe big picture, be attracted by the supposedbargains offered, and continue to mate mareswho should really be taken off the productionline. They will pay for the mistake, just as thosewho took the same chance after the marketdownturns of the 1970s and 1990s paid then,but they will not see it now. That is one reasonwhy we should not expect stability in thebloodstock industry to return any time soon.

How old? When Colin Mackenzie retired asracing correspondent at the Daily Maillast year, it was at an age marginallyabove the tradition for these things –but not all that far above it.

However, he obviously seemedconsiderably older to a boy whoMackenzie and wife Lindaencountered during a just-completedround-the-world tour. Staying withdaughter Alex, a teacher in KualaLumpur, the former Captain Heath,part-owner of Grand National outsiderFleet Street and smart Flat performerThe Betchworth Kid, was asked togive a lecture about the media toAlex’s class.

After chatting about everything fromfinding Great Train Robber RonnieBiggs in Brazil to his days as anintrepid foreign correspondent in theUS, the boy politely asked what it hadbeen like covering the assassination ofPresident Lincoln (in 1865).

Safety secondWhen Paul Carberry and OliverGreenall experienced crashing fallsduring Cheltenham, the delicate andspeedy way in which they werestretchered off the track by themedical team was much-admired.

T’was not always thus, however.Carl Llewellyn recalled a fall – not atCheltenham, I might say – after whicha St John’s Ambulance volunteerarrived at his side, not to offer thestricken jockey any degree of TLC butto berate him for the fall which hadknocked her out of the placepot.

Lysaght’s PeopleThe man from the Beeb brings usall the patter from the racecourse

Paxman roams stewards’ rooms Trainers and jockeys facing bother in the stewards’ room on tracks around thesouth east of England have every reason to answer questions quickly andprecisely. That’s because of the presence on the panel of a J Paxman Esq – JohnPaxman, cousin of Jeremy.

No cries of “get on with it” or “come on” have as yet been reported, but it’ssaid that trainers and jockeys find it as hard as ministers of the Crown to pull thewool over the eyes of a Paxman.

And imagine the potential anxiety attack for Northern Racing’s ChairmanMichael Howard when the ex-Tory leader first spotted J Paxman on the list ofofficials at Northern course Fontwell, part of the Paxman beat.

It was Howard who famously avoided answering a question that was posed12 times, no less, by Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight.

Hearts flutterVictor Chandler enjoyed a fineCheltenham as part-owner of TriumphHurdler Zaynar, but the week was notall plain sailing for the renownedbookmaker. Such were ChampionHurdle liabilities on Binocular thatChandler’s famous cool was severelytested when watching the horse finishthird to stablemate Punjabi.

“I don’t know about Denman,” hedeclared, “but after that I can tell youall about fibrillating hearts.”

Talking of bookies and flutteringhearts, gorgeous pouting Irish layerEllen Martin revealed herself as theImelda Marcos of the millinery worldwhen bringing a staggering 54different hats to the Festival. “If youthink I’m joking,” she told BBC reporterKevin Day, “you can come home withme later to have a look at them all.”

With commendable poise, Day, whowrites on shows like Never Mind TheBuzzcocks and Have I Got News ForYou, replied: “I think you’re joking”.

Zaynar (left) wins the Triumph Hurdle

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Festival of DreamsIt certainly was for Paul Nicholls, Ruby Walsh and a host of owners, such asClive Smith, Andy Stewart and Raymond Tooth. Here’s the pick of the actionPhotos: George Selwyn and Dan Abraham

He was an unconsidered 22-1 shot, but theNicky Henderson-trained Punjabi, owned byleading divorce lawyer Raymond Tooth(above), defied his odds with a thrillingvictory over Celestial Halo in the ChampionHurdle (main picture). Below: Barry Geraghtyand proud groom Sarah Shreeve with theiropening-day hero in the winners’ enclosure


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THE THRILL OF CHELTENHAM



Master Minded was not athis best according to riderRuby Walsh (main picture,green and yellow) – but hewas still seven lengths toogood for his ChampionChase rivals. Cooldine(right) was part of ablistering opening twodays for trainer WillieMullins and Irish runnersin general. Not to beoutdone on the secondday were Brian O’Connelland Dunguib (far right) inthe Champion Bumper


Ruby Walsh and Paul Nicholls took themajor honours on the third afternoon,winning the feature World Hurdle withBig Buck’s (this page and top opposite),who beat Punchestowns by a lengthand three-quarters, with the pair 17lengths clear of the rest. For owners theStewart family, it was deservedcompensation for the narrow defeat ofCelestial Halo in the Champion Hurdle




In addition to BigBuck’s, Paul Nichollsalso saddledChapoturgeon to winthe Jewson Chaseunder Timmy Murphy(left), while ImperialCommander returnedto form with avengeance for NigelTwiston-Davies andPaddy Brennan in theRyanair Chase (farleft)

Paul Nicholls was notthe only trainer tosaddle a third-daydouble, and insending out the firsttwo home in theFestival Plate, VenetiaWilliams arguablytook the traininghonours. Kayf Aramiswon the PertempsFinal (far right), thencame the one-two inthe Festival Plate, viaSomething Wells(winner, on left) andPing Pong Sivola





The pictures speak for themselvesin explaining the final-day highlight,with Kauto Star majestic in winninga vintage Gold Cup for Ruby Walsh,

Paul Nicholls and owner Clive Smith.Astonishingly, Nicholls ended the

meeting a neck away from a cleansweep of the championship races,

Celestial Halo’s defeat denying himthat unprecedented achievement



PH

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LWYN

VIEW FROM IRELANDFROM LEO POWELL

Ahuge crowd of industryprofessionals and interestedindividuals descended on thehistoric city of Kilkenny to hear

three distinguished panels of expertsgive their view on the current state of theracing and breeding industries.

One of the key attractions was BillOppenheim, who told an audience of500 people: “It is astounding to be in acountry where two (former) politiciansare willing to sit on a panel and haveenough knowledge of the thoroughbredindustry to do so, and that is what makesIreland unique and the country it is.

“New entrepreneurs are not interestedin losing money. Yet this is the onlycountry in the known universe wherepeople who make money immediatelysay, ‘What horse will I buy?’ TheGovernment contribution is staggering;you do not see it in any other country.

“The great Irish tradition of the horse isyour strength. It is the basis forregeneration. When money is madeagain, it will be spent on the Irish horse.”

He urged the industry not to beembarrassed by the success of largeorganisations such as Coolmore, Darleyand the Aga Khan’s studs. Suchcombines are often put forward in thenational press as examples of the ‘wealth

“One plan, one body” he tells seminar audience of 500, as British breeder Paul Thorman says: “The earthquake has happened, it’s time to rebuild”

of the industry’ and Oppenheim wastaken aback to think that they might beused in a negative way when portrayingthe overall make-up of the industry.

He said: “Coolmore is a worldrenowned leader of the thoroughbredindustry, and what better advert for theIrish horse? Utilise this resource as muchas possible. You have a Governmentwho will listen to you and provide funds.You’ve very bright people in organisationslike the ITBA, who are willing to talk toGovernment. It is essential the industry isunited. One plan presented by one body.You must give those leaders the latitudeto speak as one voice.”

Breeder and vet John Osborne spokecandidly about the realities of the imageof Irish bloodstock. “We are the thirdbiggest producer of horses worldwide,yet there is a large section of thepopulation that sneers at our industry,pokes fun at it and disapproves of itsfunding. Not every Italian drives a Ferrari,yet every Italian is proud of the Ferrari.”

Britain’s Paul Thorman called forbreeders to accept the current situationand move on and deal with the issues.

“The earthquake’s happened, thebuildings are flat and now it’s time torebuild,” he said. “It’s no one’s fault butour own. We bred them, now’s the time

Leo Powell is ManagingEditor of The Irish Field

Bill Oppenheim (second row, on the right, with beard) was a big attraction at the ITBA seminar

to stop breeding them.“If you’re unsure, leave the mare empty.

Don’t listen to stallion masters offeringtwo for one or foal shares – there’s nomarket for the horses at the bottom. Butdon’t let’s get too depressed. There areplenty of elements that are good. Weexport horses all over the world and thenew breeze-up bonus scheme is aplatform for better things.”

Goffs and Doncaster Chief ExecutiveHenry Beeby continued the positivethinking, saying: “If we read the widerpress we’re doomed, but in this businesswe’re selling the dream and why on earthwould someone come into racing with somuch negativity surrounding it? Weshould keep the positivity alive.”

Among other issues covered by thevarious speakers, Brian Meehan calledfor uniform commissions for all auctionhouses, while bloodstock agent PeterDoyle said the bid boards should reflectthe final price of the lot.

Both felt the days of valuable salesraces were numbered and that the newbreeze-up bonus scheme should beused as a template for similar incentivesaimed at the yearling market.

In advance of the Cheltenham Festival,Willie Mullins, Aiden Murphy and JimmyMangan spoke in great detail about thecurrent explosion of success for French-breds in National Hunt racing. While hehas enjoyed much success with French-breds, Mullins still purchases the majorityof his horses in Ireland. “You have to goto France with a different eye,” he said.

“They’re taller, leaner, more angular.They don’t carry the condition ours carry,which may help to keep them sound.”

The full list of panellists was DesBarnwell MRCVS, Henry Beeby, BobbyBryan, Peter Doyle, Alan Dukes, BrianKavanagh, Simon Kerins, LukeLillingston, Mark MacRedmond MRCVS,Jimmy Mangan, Brian Meehan, WillieMullins, Aiden Murphy, Bill Oppenheim,John Osborne MRCVS and PaulThorman. The sessions were chaired bythis columnist and the former Minister forAgriculture Joe Walsh.

Oppenheim espousesthe need for one voice

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INTERNATIONAL SCENE

Holding our nerveAs I write this column the racing and breedingindustries in Ireland are holding their collectivebreaths.

The announcement, by way of an answerfrom Minister Martin Cullen in a Dail (Irishparliament) debate, that funding for racing isguaranteed for 2009 came as a welcomerelief. What is still up in the air is the questionof the ongoing funding.

Racing and the breeding industry in Irelandfaces an uphill battle to be accepted in thewider public arena for the fact that it is a majorindustry and not simply a sport.

To this end, Horse Racing Ireland recentlyissued a set of facts about racing and breeding,and the contents of their document will nodoubt make for interesting reading to aninternational audience.

These statistics should be measured againstthe fact that Ireland has an island populationthat is the equivalent of some largeadministrative areas of Britain or some cities inthe world.

Some of the keys facts are:� Horseracing and breeding supports16,500 jobs in the private sector and manyin rural Ireland. This is considered by manyto be a conservative figure� The industry has 27 racecourses, almost800 trainers and over 9,500 breeders� Approximately 15% of breeders areoverseas investors, while 92% of breedersown five broodmares or less� There were 416 stallions at stud in Irelandin 2008, with 362 standing for a fee of€7,000 or less.

Last year Ireland exported more than 6,200horses to more than 40 countries. Theseexports were worth more than €200 million.Bloodstock sales accounted for more than10% of total livestock output.

In 2007, 67% of our exports were to Britain,followed by Italy (11%) and France (8%), whilethe combined exports to Germany, Greece,Spain and the USA accounted for another 8%.

Last year there were some 12,000 horses intraining, representing a cost to owners of about€240m into the economy in training fees.

The Punchestown and Galway Festivalmeetings generate €105m for the localeconomies.

Racing accounts for about 80,000 touristvisits to Ireland every year.

Ireland has the lowest rate of betting tax inthe world. Consequently, in spite of the fact thattotal betting in 2008 reached €5.5 billion (justover four times what it was in 2001) the statetook €38m in tax, down from €68m in 2001.

Furthermore, 30% of total betting was routedoffshore to avoid paying the 1% levy.

The annual chestnut about the unfairnessof the British National Hunt handicapperraised its head again in the last month.

This was because of theannouncement of the weights for theJohn Smith’s Grand National and thepublication of the weights for theCheltenham Festival handicaps.

The debate took an unusual form thisyear, with Donn McClean, correspondentfor The Sunday Times and a weeklycolumnist for The Irish Field, writing anopen letter to Phil Smith in the last-named paper. This provoked a responseand was followed by a couple of otherletters. The complete correspondencewas published in The Irish Field.

McClean pointed out that the majorityof Irish horses are rated higher in Britainthan they are in Ireland and he queriedSmith on whether he believed that theIrish handicapper was that far out. Smithdid not address that specific, though he

The art of Anglo-Irish diplomacy

Ireland one, UK handicappers nil: Ninetieth Minute after winning the Coral Cup

retorted that a greater percentage of Irishhorses won handicaps in Cheltenhamthan British runners did at Punchestown,adding: “Looking at it from this side ofthe water, that is very puzzling, don’t youthink?”

The result: possibly a score draw, withSmith deciding that there would be nosatisfactory outcome and drawing upstumps. He wrote: “We seem to begoing round in circles and we could goback and forth on your latest examples.The fact of the matter is that we have twoentirely discrete systems and wetherefore produce our own ratings forIrish horses.”

He added: “I appreciate that youwould like to see even more Irish-trainedwinners at the Cheltenham Festival butwe are entirely satisfied that our systemis fair and have no intention of altering aperfectly equitable system.”

Ouch!

In last month’s column I wrote about theFive Freedoms, a set of principles towhich horse owners are obliged toadhere. The list was issued by LizO’Flynn on behalf of Veterinary Irelandand it forms the basis of a new documentcalled Promoting ResponsibleThoroughbred Ownership.

If you own or keep a horse you aremorally and legally responsible for itshealth, safety and welfare while it is inyour ownership or possession. Thedocument gives guidance on the care ofthe horse and the options available toprevent neglect. These include alternativeuses, retirement and end-of-lifedecisions.

It is the result of co-operation betweena large number of supporting bodies: the

Association of Irish RacecourseVeterinary Surgeons, Association of IrishRacehorse Owners, The Irish BlueCross, Horse Racing Ireland, the IrishHorse Welfare Trust, the Irish EquineCentre, Irish Thoroughbred Marketing,University College Dublin, World HorseWelfare, the Association of IrishRacecourses, the Irish Society for thePrevention of Cruelty to Animals, the TurfClub, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’Association, Veterinary Ireland, the IrishRacehorse Trainers Association andWeatherbys Ireland.

The Five Freedoms encompassfreedom from 1) hunger and thirst; 2)discomfort; 3) pain, injury and disease; 4)fear and distress; and 5) to expressnormal behaviour.

Return visit for the Five Freedoms

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CONTINENTAL TALESTHE NEWS FROM MAINLAND EUROPE

Vertigineux, a surprise dualPattern race winner lastseason who is now makingwaves in Dubai, has overcome

his humble roots to such an extent thathe could be forgiven for living up to hisname and suffering from vertigo.

A five-year-old son of Nombre Premierand the modest Goldneyev mare VeryGold, Vertigineux began his career withsix starts at courses close to theBordeaux base of his owner-trainer-breeders Patrick and Carole Dufreche.

But three wins and three secondsprompted the Dufreches to raise theirsights and, following a Deauville Listedsuccess, Vertigineux lined up in theGroup 3 Prix de la Porte Maillot atLongchamp last June.

An unconsidered 37-1 chance, heshocked the turfistes with a narrowvictory and proved it was no fluke,despite even more insulting odds of 49-1, by taking the Group 3 Prix Perth atSaint-Cloud five months later.

That was on heavy ground, but theprovincial upstart has since proved hisversatility by landing another DeauvilleListed race, this time on the fibresand,before continuing to excel on the firm turfof Nad Al Sheba.

Vertigineux is very much a family horseas Nombre Premier, France’s championfirst season sire of 2001, stands at theHaras d’Ayguemorte of CaroleDufreche’s parents, Yves and ElianeFremiot.

Carole trained Very Gold, who failed toget her head in front in 11 races despitevisiting such little-known venues asEauze and Gabarret, while former jockeyPatrick was aboard in 1984 when VeryGold’s dam, Very Flight, began herunremarkable 18-race career thatgleaned a solitary win.

Carole, at 41 two years younger thanher husband, took over the traininglicence from him in 1999.

She has done well to break into thetop 50 in the trainers’ championship over

Words: James Crispe

Vertigineux (right) exercising with the Pascal Bary-trained Gloria De Campeao in Dubai

the past couple of seasons, initiallyhelped by another Listed race-winningson of Nombre Premier, Gat, who wassold for €110,000 in late 2007 tocontinue his career in the CzechRepublic.

She has remained in the Gironde tooversee their 40-strong team, whilePatrick has masterminded Vertigineux’sGulf adventure.

And, while it would surely be too muchto expect another superstar to emergefrom the string in the coming months,Carole picks out the filly Parcelle Perdue,who, like Nombre Premier in his racingdays, is owned by the Marquesa deMoratalla, as a possible Classicprospect.

Down the road, her father, Yves, who isPresident of the Breeders’ Association ofthe South West of France, has a secondstring to the Ayguemorte bow in the formof Carlotamix, a Group 1-winning son ofLinamix who covered his first mares therein 2007.

Hitting the heightsDespite insulting odds, the French-trained Vertigineux continues toovercome his humble roots by competing well in France and Dubai

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INTERNATIONAL SCENE

Fraam, the veteran Lead OnTime stallion, is getting usedto some decidedly chilly newsurroundings after BjornEklund, the long-servingSecretary General of theSwedish Jockey Club, tookmatters into his own hands toaddress a problem at theheart of the Swedish breedingindustry.

“We have been suffering froma shortage of good stallions forsome time,” said Eklund. “So Igot together with the JockeyClub’s Education Officer, HelenaGärtner, and brought Fraam overto stand at Navesta Stud, whichHelena owns with her husband,Per Arvidsson.”

Navesta, which is 80 milessouth of Stockholm, has beenoperating as a stud for only afew years and Fraam, who isnow 20 years old, is its firststallion.

Fraam did well in Sweden lastyear and after two of hisprogeny, Blusher and Aneebee,won big prizes in consecutiveraces at Täby in September,

including a Listed event, Eklundtook advice from his friend, BillOppenheim, before cutting adeal with Fraam’s owner, DavidRedvers, of Tweenhills Stud.

Eklund first got involved as anowner way back in 1965 andhas had shares in some decentperformers, such as Faster,runner-up in the 1983 SwedishOaks. He was also involved withOtmar, fourth in the 1984Stockholm Cup run at Täby, acourse he used to manage.

Sweden has a thoroughbredstallion roster of 35, but some ofthose are covering only theirbreeder’s own mares. And of thetop three home-based sires of2008, Most Welcome has beenretired and Funambule, the 22-year-old champion, is not asfertile as he once was.

“The aim in importing Fraam isnot to earn much money but toprovide a useful stallion forbreeders – we expect to havehim cover only around 15 maresin his first season,” Eklund said.

“Funambule has no realsuccessor. That is a problem.”

Wido Neuroth has trained theNorwegian Horse Of The Yearso many times that he has lostcount. But, when Appel AuMaitre clinched the 2008 title ata swanky hotel in Oslo lastmonth, Scandinavian’s ten-time champion trainerdescribed the occasion as “abit special”.

For it was the first time that theaward had encompassed thewhole spectrum of equestriansport, so alongside Appel AuMaitre in the shortlist of sixcontenders was not just theDerby winnerTheatrical Award,but a Beijing medal-winningdressage horse, an Olympicshowjumper and two trotters.

Remarkably, Appel Au Maitre, awinner over a mile and a half onfive occasions, is by the samesire, Starborough, as theHungarian sprinting sensationOverdose. But the sibling to threedifferent Pattern winners inFrance is not short of speed, ashe showed when landing theGroup 3 Marit Sveeas Minnelopover nine furlongs last August.

Owned by Bente and MagneJordanger’s Stall Perlen, whobought him as a yearling atDeauville for €155,000 , the lastwe saw of him on a racecoursewas when he limped away fromthe unsaddling enclosure afterfinishing sixth in Cologne’s Preisvon Europa.

“Thank God, he is fine now,”revealed Neuroth.

“He was kicked on his hockbefore the race and should havebeen withdrawn. He didn’t runbadly in the circumstances to bebeaten less than six lengths.

“After that we had hoped to runhim in the Hong Kong Vase, but Icould not get him right in time.”

Appel Au Maitre is now fiveand Neuroth concedes that thecoming season will be a crucialone for the dual Stockholm Cupwinner.

The ultimate aim is to win a bigenough international race to gainhim a place at stud outsideScandinavia.

“We will take him abroad lateron and I still hope to end up inHong Kong,” said Neuroth. “I thinkhe would be suited by racing inEngland, as he likes a fast pace. “

Asked if Appel Au Maitre is thebest horse he has trained,Neuroth is quick to rememberNorway’s all-time leading moneyearner, Valley Chapel.

“Their official ratings are similarat the moment,” he said, “butAppel Au Maitre has theopportunity to go higher. If hewins a Group 2 or Group 1, thatwould make him the better horse.”

Neuroth has been rathernomadic in recent years,spending the spring monthseither in France, at Chantilly, or inGermany, at either Bremen orKrefeld.

However, a virus-ravaged2008, when his horses did notfire until August, has brought achange of tactic for the currentcampaign.

“It is not easy to train in Norwayat this time of year, when it thawsin the daytime and freezes atnight,” he said.

“But the travelling seemed tobring on the virus last year so Ihave decided to stay at home totry and avoid it happening again.”

Sweden

European News in Brief

Norway

� While industry analysts maycomplain of too much racing inboth Britain and Italy, wateringdown the product, the oppositeis the case in cash-strappedGermany. Only 14 years ago thefixture list numbered 325meetings. Now it is down to apaltry 187.

� It will be a while yet before theEuropean Flat season gets into its

stride, but a study of the Patterncalendar reveals that it is not untilthe autumn that the actionreaches its zenith.

Sunday September 13 is adate for the diary, as no fewerthan 18 black type races arestaged across the continent thatday. The spotlight will be onLongchamp for the Arc trials, butthere are also Group races at theCurragh, Goodwood and Taby.

For his trainer Wido Neuroth, Appel Au Maitre has proved “a bit special”

Fraam has been bought to improve the quality of stallions in Sweden

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In a remarkably parallel arc to thegrim economic downturn, breedingin Japan has contracted. Withstatistics showing that Japan’s

economy shrunk at the end of 2008more than at any time since 1974, theJapan Racing Association reported thatthe nation’s registered foal crop wasonly about 6,800, which marks thelowest number since 1974.

Since Japan produced 10,309 foalsto hit its peak in 1992, production hasplunged 34%. The number of stallionshas also fallen by more than half; 603in 1991, the year the largest foal cropwas conceived, to 281 in 2008.

Of that group, 104, or 37%, hadbeen imported, with breeders relyingon America more than any othercountry. Perhaps most interestingly, tenof the 281 stallions standing in Japanlast year covered about one-fifth of thenation’s 11,360 mares that were bred,and each of those ten, all of whomstood at the Yoshida family’s ShadaiStallion Station, was bred to more than200 mares.

Six of the ten most active stallionsare sons of Sunday Silence, includingthe three leaders, Agnes Tachyon,Daiwa Major and Fuji Kiseki, thusfurther concentrating the blood ofJapan’s all-time most significant sire,whose daughters also remain a big partof the breeding pool.

Agnes Tachyon has made a bid to behis sire’s successor after earning hisfirst leading sire title in 2008, with FujiKiseki second in last year’s rankings byprogeny earnings.

However, some challengers areemerging, with Japanese Derby winnerKing Kamehameha ranking as leadingfreshman sire last year and SymboliKris S, the leading first-year sire of2007, standing atop Japan’s 2009general sire list up to early March.

Japan’s dramatic downsizingIn tandem with a decline in the economy, the breeding industry shows a 34% drop in the number of mares being bred since the peak of 1992 Words:

Michele MacDonald

TOP 2008 COVERING SIRES IN JAPAN Stallion (Sire) Mares bred

Agnes Tachyon (Sunday Silence) 229

Daiwa Major (Sunday Silence) 223

Fuji Kiseki (Sunday Silence) 223

Jungle Pocket (Tony Bin) 221

Symboli Kris S (Kris S) 217

Deep Impact (Sunday Silence) 216

Kurofune (French Deputy) 211

Gold Allure (Sunday Silence) 204

King Kamehameha (Kingmambo) 202

Durandal (Sunday Silence) 201

GOING GLOBALTHE COLUMN THAT EMBRACES EVERY CONTINENT

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Perhaps one of the best signs ofhow dire the current times arehas been the reaction to the firsttwo select juvenile sales of theseason in America.

With gross declining 25.5%and 29% at Fasig-Tipton Calderand the Ocala Breeders’ Sales,wounded howls would beexpected from all corners. But,instead, participants voiced acertain sense of relief that theresults were not worse.

“Our decreases were not asbad as what we’ve seen in mostof the other markets outside the

thoroughbred business,” saidFasig-Tipton President BoydBrowning after the company’sone-session auction on March 3.

Fasig-Tipton flew in potentialbuyers from Europe and courtedJapanese clients, but in the end itwas Dubai money that kept thesale – now conducted under theauspices of Dubai-basedSynergy Investments – fromfalling even farther.

Sheikh Mohammed’sbloodstock manager JohnFerguson was the leading buyer,as he has been in the past,

spending $4,635,000 and takingall three of the horses thatbrought at least $1 million.

Topping the sale was a colt byyoung sire Medaglia d’Oronamed Cup o’ Joe, who was soldfor $1.6m by Wavertree Stableson behalf of breeder Jacks OrBetter Farm.

A half-brother to Grade 1winner Midas Eyes, the colt “wasimpressive in every department,”said Ferguson. “This is a horsewe just felt could be very effectivenext year in the three-year-olddivision.”

Ferguson’s two other seven-figure purchases were both greysons of Unbridled’s Song, sire ofSheikh Mohammed’s 2008American two-year-old championMidshipman, who injured himselfat Godolphin’s Dubai base andwill not make the Kentucky Derbyas planned.

Final figures at Fasig-Tiptonshowed 111 horses sold for$26,151,000, compared to 102for $35,100,000 last year.

At OBS, 95 juveniles sold for$9,925,700, while average fell34% to $104,481.

Realism pervades as trade drops at first two juvenile auctions

Agnes Tachyon has taken over the mantle of Japan’s most popular sire

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A lack of diversity and dwindlingnumbers in the sire ranks have alsobecome clear trends in Australia —which is the world’s second largestproducer of thoroughbreds behindthe United States.

Michael Ford, keeper of theAustralian Stud Book, noted in arecent report that the number ofstallions that covered mares hasfallen 73% since 1988, from 2,917to 768 in 2008. The number ofmares bred has decreased byabout 40%, falling from 44,413 to26,800. Perhaps most remarkably,of the 768 stallions bred to inAustralia last year, 114 were byDanehill and another 56 weregrandsons of Danehill, with thatprolific line thus accounting for22% of the total stallion population.

And many of the Danehill linehorses are some of Australia’smost active, with Coolmore’syoung Danehill stallion FastnetRock the busiest in 2008 with atotal of 248 mares covered.

Eleven of the top 20 sires inAustralia in the most recent seasonare sons or grandsons of Danehill,including God’s Own, third mostactive stallion with 196 mares.

Others are Choisir (194), HolyRoman Emperor (180), Oratorio(173), Flying Spur (171), Not ASingle Doubt (161), Stratum (159),Dylan Thomas (157), Commands(151) and Exceed And Excel (148).

Ford, however, focused hiscomments on shuttle stallionsrather than the Danehillphenomenon. “Shuttle stallionshave been the biggest influentialfactor in horse breeding in the last20 years,” wrote Ford in a paperpublished by Australian Breeding& Racing. “In 1989 there weretwo: Bluebird and Last Tycoon, andthey covered 163 mares betweenthem. In 2006, there were 64,covering 5,627 (an average of 90for each shuttle stallion) mares –more than one in five of the totalAustralian population.”

The battle of the Yoshida familyWaging battles on two fronts thattook them down to the proverbialfinish line last year, brothers Teruyaand Katsumi Yoshida continued todominate racing in Japan unlike anyother familial dynasty in the world.

For the fifth consecutive year,Katsumi Yoshida’s Northern Farmscooped the title of leadingbreeder with 617 runnersgarnering 310 wins and earningthe equivalent of a mind-boggling£54,088,324. Northern-bredrunners included three champions:juvenile filly Buena Vista, sprinter-miler Sleepless Night and dirthorse Kane Hekili.

Horses bred by Teruya Yoshida’sShadai Farm, which has earned 13leading breeder titles since 1990,collected £53,093,275 andboasted 337 wins.

Screen Hero, winner of theJapan Cup and champion olderhorse, led the Shadai-breds.

No other farm was even close toNorthern and Shadai in the ranks ofleading breeders, and the power ofthe Yoshidas is illustrated further by

the fact that third-ranked ShiraoiFarm, which was represented by83 wins and earnings of£12,493,647, is also owned by thefamily. The Oiwake Farm of brotherHaurya Yoshida ranked tenthamong breeders with earnings of£4,594,656.

The story is much the samewhen it comes to Japan’s topowners. Shadai Race Horse, asyndicate group led by TeruyaYoshida, claimed the leading ownercrown for the 17th time over thepast two decades, turning back theSunday Racing group affiliated withNorthern Farm that had led allowners in 2005 and 2007.

With 238 runners who made1,181 starts, Shadai Race Horsenotched 144 wins with 100winners that earned a whoppingtotal of £23,525,424.

Another 64 runners competedunder Teruya’s personal name,winning 37 more races and anadditional £7,550,359, which wasenough to rank him seventh on thetop owners’ list.

Active sires inAustralia showa 73% drop in last 20 years

INTERNATIONAL SCENE


Robust views areaired down underJostling over the present and futureof the Australian Jockey Club (AJC),which runs Royal Randwick andWarwick Farm racecourses, reacheda high pitch in early March, with alawsuit threatened, a high-profileresignation and some heavyweightlobbying.

Richard Freedman, AJC ExecutiveDirector of Racing Operations andthe brother of trainer Lee Freedman,abruptly resigned his post aftersaying he had lawyers contacttrainer Gai Waterhouse about hisconcerns regarding the possibility ofa defamation case.

Waterhouse had been critical ofFreedman after a company partlyowned by his family was hired for areported £910,000 to performracetrack maintenance.

Other Randwick trainers have alsobeen critical of Freedman over thepast year. However, AJC ChairmanRoss Smyth-Kirk said Freedman“has overseen some of the mostcomplex challenges that have facedour club in recent times and hasdelivered tremendous results.”

At about the same time Freedmanwas resigning, wealthy owner andbreeder Nathan Tinkler suggestedthat Racing New South Wales andthe New South Wales Governmentoversee the merger of the AJC withthe Sydney Turf Club, whichoperates Rosehill Gardens andCanterbury Park.

“I’ve got over £45 million investedin the racing industry, so I would bedisappointed if the racing industrydidn’t want to hear my thoughts onthe critical issues,” Tinkler wasquoted as saying in The DailyTelegraph.

“Like any merger, whether it is acompany or two race clubs, therewill be casualties. This will be nodifferent. I can’t see any incentivesthere for the race clubs.”

Tinkler has bought thoroughbredsaround the world and his PatinackFarm now owns more than 700horses.

He was also quoted by thenewspaper as suggesting that 5%of annual revenue generated bybreeding stallions be designated tosupport racetrack operations.

Teruya Yoshida (top) and his brother Katsumicontinue to competeferociously in Japan

Of the 768 stallions thatwere bred to in Australialast year, 170 were byDanehill or his sons

april_56_going_global.qxp 17/3/09 12:44 Page 3


The first horse I bred, Davinski, from the firstcrop of Niniski, won the Swedish equivalent ofthe St Leger. Berndt, a veterinary professor, andI have been breeding horses for a long time andin 2004 we won the Danish Derby and St Legerwith Sibelius. And in 2006 we won the DanishSt Leger with Django. You see, I enjoy trying tobreed the staying Classic horse.

You have chosen ‘Chess Racing’ as the name ofyour racing interests and several of your horsesare named after celebrated chess players likeSmyslov and Steinitz. Is that down to thesuccess of your musical or a straightforwardlove of the game?It is as a result of Chess, the musical. I alsowanted the black and white check of the chessboard for my silks, but those colours were takenin Sweden and Britain, so I chose black andsilver. It is difficult finding good names forhorses because so many of them are alreadytaken. If you do come up with a good name, thehorse invariably turns out to be no good. Andthen the name has gone out of the window.

The music of Abba is still immensely populartoday, evidenced by the phenomenal success of

Did your interest in racing start before yoursuccess with Abba, and what was the catalyst?It was Secreto’s Derby in 1984. I rememberbeing in the studio with the 50-strongAmbrosian Singers, who were the choir on theChess recording, when suddenly everythingstopped as all the musicians came into the studioand started phoning trying to find out what hadwon the Derby. You can imagine, there I wasdoing my music and all of a sudden everyonearound me was into horseracing. I wascompletely uplifted by the whole scene andamazed how much interest there was in theDerby.

My own involvement started through thefamily around that time when I was introducedto the racing world by my wife’s formerhusband, Berndt Stromberg, whose wifeCaroline was a racehorse trainer. When I was inthe company of racing people I was hooked bytheir determination and devotion towards thehorses. It is exactly the same devotion you findin the music scene.

I was intrigued by this similarity and felt ascomfortable around racing people as I do in themusic business. Then I bought my firstbroodmare, Miss Davina.

“Racing gives you exactly the samedevotion as you find in the music scene”

Words: Tim RichardsPhotos: George Selwyn

Talking to…Benny Andersson

april_56_talking_to.qxp 17/3/09 15:32 Page 2

the film and stage show, ‘Mamma Mia’. Doesracing allow you to escape from the showbizworld and your life as a musician?I don’t feel as if I need to escape from anything.I am a very disciplined person and write musicevery day; that is my profession. This thing withthe horses just started and I was bitten by thewhole scene, particularly by the attitude of thepeople involved. I do not believe it is anextension of one’s ego to see your horse win, it’sjust a lot of fun.

How many horses do you have in Sweden andin Britain? Who trains for you in Sweden?I have six in training in Sweden with JessicaLong and her Irish husband Padraig. Jessica isthe daughter of Berndt and Caroline. I havethree with John Dunlop at Arundel.

What is it you particularly like about Britishracing?First, it is such an immense industry comparedwith Scandinavia. Your turf tracks arewonderful, all different with their owncharacter. There is so much history attached tothe sport. It is so big, whereas in Sweden it isvery small. Also, if you spend a lot of moneybuying horses you destroy that capital bybringing them to race in Scandinavia. Theyneed to have a chance in your best races if theyare good enough.

We have only two tracks, one in Stockholm,Taby, and one in Malmo, Jagersro. They aredeveloping a new track near Gothenburg and, ofcourse, there is Copenhagen, which is adelightful course. Norway has Ovrevoll in Oslo.We breed approximately 400 foals in Swedeneach year, compared with nearly 6,000 inBritain. Trotting is much, much bigger here andthere are many tracks. It is far bigger than racingand attracts a lot of gambling.

How did you become associated with yourtrainer John Dunlop?It was through Johnny Lewis, the bloodstockagent, who I had known for a long time. Johnnyused to help me when I was looking for horses atTattersalls. He suggested I had a horse intraining in England and introduced me to Johnand Sue Dunlop. I am not a person to knowabout the training of a horse and it is good that Ifeel very comfortable with John. I like his style. Ialways feel my horses are in safe hands there andArundel Park is the most wonderful place to visitand have them trained.

What are the best horses you have owned?Davinski, Sibelius and Django, who won theirshare of Scandinavian Classics, and Cremona, afilly who won the Danish and Norwegian Oaksbut sadly died when she was being covered inGermany. And then there is good old Perks,who could turn out to be the best of all. Youalways hope you haven’t had your best horse yet.

What plans do you have for your progressivehandicapper Perks?I leave that to John. Perhaps he might win aGroup 3, but that is in John’s hands. I have seenPerks run only on television, but if he goes for abig race I will definitely get over to watch him.

You were active at last season’s autumn sales,paying the joint top price of 650,000gns for aMontjeu colt at the Newmarket October sales.What appealed about that particular horse?Everything. He is called Berling and is on thesmall side, but apart from that everything is fineabout him. I must say that I wouldn’t dream ofchoosing a horse like that for that kind of moneywithout asking the advice of the people aroundme. John was with me and so was Peter Doyle,who has been helping me during the last threeyears. I knew Peter’s father, Jack; I shall alwaysremember him as a great character with awonderful face.

I am also keeping my fingers crossed for theSadler’s Wells filly, Miniyamba, whom I boughtat the sales for about 120,000gns. She iswonderful and could be very good.

Have you ever spent anything like that sumbefore, or do you have Meryl Streep and PiersBrosnan et al to thank for it?The price for Berling was a bit steep but Itreated it as a celebration after the success of thefilm ‘Mamma Mia’. I thought I should givemyself a present and that’s what I did. Though Ihave never spent that much on one horse before.

You also breed horses. How manybroodmares do you have andwhere are they based?I have two broodmares withCaroline Green, who takes verygood care of them at TempletonStud in Berkshire. The older mareis Mondschein, by Rainbow Quest,and her daughter Vigelegere, byBe My Chief. I have a DanehillDancer filly yearling out ofMondschein and a Marju coltfoal out of Vigelegere.

Mondschein has been coveredby Dansili and Vigelegere byExcellent Art. I brought Be MyChief over here with aconsortium so we could have adecent stallion in Sweden. He waslater sold abroad. I am trying toconvince myself I am going to makemy little racing business a bitsmaller. At one stage I had fivebroodmares and all of a suddenfound myself surrounded by 30horses, which was too many. I wantto treat this as a hobby.

TALKING TO...

The 650,000gns Montjeu colt

FINGERS ONTHE BUZZERS

Who is your hero?Catherine Johnson (whowrote the script forMamma Mia)What makes youhappy?My wife, MonaDescribe yourself infour words?Intelligent, humorous,charming, handsomeWhat keeps you awakeat night?Nothing. I sleep like a logFavourite band, otherthan Abba?The BeatlesWhat annoys you?Greed

FAVOURITESMealI can eat anything exceptkidneysTuneSilent NightHolidayMy summer house inSwedenDrinkBlack coffeeJourneyTaking my boat out to sea



TALKING TO...


Do you breed to race or breed to sell, and why?I breed to race only, as it is not a commercialprospect. I am doing this for fun and the mostwonderful part of it is deciding where to sendthe mare and then following the foal as itdevelops before going into training. That is themost joyful part, so I don’t want to sell them, if Ican help it. If they don’t turn out so good, thenI can sell them to someone who thinks itworthwhile taking care of them. I see it all as thefun of racing and everything that goes with it.

You certainly seem to enter into the spirit of thesport here. Didn’t you serenade diners in theTattersalls restaurant with Abba tunes on thepiano after the sales in Newmarket oneevening?That was a long time ago! There was a pianostanding there in the dining room and I justthought I would play some tunes. Music isalways a help to the mood of people.

What motivates you?Curiosity. I am a person wanting to see what’sround the corner. But also I am always trying totake care of that lucky talent I have been given,being able to write music. That is what I want todo for as long as I can, so it is very importantthat I take care of it. My music takes up a lot oftime and I also spend a lot of time with racing,watching races on television and reading aboutit.

I am happy to leave the horses to John and themares to Caroline. Sometimes they ask methings and at times I come up with questions forthem. But I believe a trainer would rather be left

alone, not have an owner in his ear all the time. Itrust the people with my horses. Don’t forget, Iwas not born on horseback. I am not ahorseman, so what is there I can contribute? Ireckon I know my way round pedigrees, but it isa big step from pedigrees to knowing what ahorse needs and when it needs it. So I totallyleave it to them.

There is an unbelievable enthusiasm for bandreunions at the moment – some good, somebad – so will we be seeing an Abba reunionsometime soon?No, and that’s a promise. What we did in the1970s and 1980s was good and I am very proudof that. But I think it is wise to stay away fromtrying to re-form because it will never be thesame. What we are in people’s minds is betterleft untouched.

Have you ever watched the comedian SteveCoogan and his alter ego Alan Partridge usingthe ‘Aha …’ line from ‘Knowing Me, KnowingYou’, and what do you make of it?No, I haven’t. But I have heard about it andthink it’s fun. When I went to the first previewof the ‘Mamma Mia’ show in the Prince EdwardTheatre, no one knew what to expect from it.There were 1,600 heads in there and when theycame to ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’ thedecision was that the ‘Aha …’ in the songshould be taken out for various reasons. Butwhen the star was singing and it came to thechorus, ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You …’ thewhole audience went ‘Aha …’. So we put itback in! �

“I feel very comfortable with John Dunlop. I like his style and feel my horses are in very safe hands at Arundel, which is a wonderful place”

Secreto’s Derby inspiredBenny Andersson


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Lammtarra: difficult to train, but mighty on the racecourse The first Group 1: Balanchine lands the 1994 Oaks

Fantastic Light’s Irish Champion Stakes win over Galileo (on left) advertised the merits of international racing and of keeping older horses in training

april_56_interview2.qxp 17/3/09 13:15 Page 2

THE GODOLPHIN STORY


“People need to realisethat while it is a greatachievement to be championowner in Britain, our prioritieswill often lie elsewherebecause of our internationaldimension”

Godolphin has become such a massive part ofthe international landscape, with 146 Group orGrade 1 winners in 12 different countries. Butwhat was the thinking behind Godolphin whenit began to secure horses to race under its namein the autumn of 1992?When Godolphin started, His Highness SheikhMohammed had already been champion ownerin Britain on many occasions and he was lookingto do something completely different. He wasconvinced that wintering horses in Dubai wouldbe good for them and, most importantly, hewanted even more involvement with his horses.There was also a sense in which he saw it asbringing the racehorse home, as the modernthoroughbred originates from this part of theworld.

Setting up Godolphin was the perfect vehicleto do all this as it allowed him to see his horses,to be closely involved with their training, and inmapping out their race programmes.

Did you have any idea how big it would allbecome?Absolutely not. I am sure Sheikh Mohammedhad a plan in the back of his mind, but part ofthe fun he gets comes from watching the restof us struggle to catch up with him, so I had noidea what was in store. I was told to come toDubai for a long weekend in the winter of

1992 and it hasstretched for morethan 16 years already!

Balanchine was the first of all those Group 1winners, in the 1994 Oaks. Was the fact that shethen took on and beat the colts in the IrishDerby an indication that Godolphin wasprepared to throw the rulebook out of thewindow?The easy race was obvious – the KildanganStud Irish Oaks. But doing things the easy waydoes not appeal to Sheikh Mohammed. Themore difficult the plan, the more satisfactionhe gets from it when it comes right. In fact,one of the things that Sheikh Mohammed tellsme most often is that taking no risks is thebiggest risk of all.

A year after Balanchine (and Cezanne),Godolphin won five Group 1s in five countries.How big an advantage – if any – did you feel thewintering in Dubai was proving to be and howdifferent would you say the training was atGodolphin to, perhaps, more established UKmethods?Our horses have always trained American-style inDubai, on an oval track, initially on a sandsurface, but now on a Tapeta synthetic surface.These days, we don’t do all of the work left-

As Sheikh Mohammed’s Dubai-based operation moves closer to its 150th Group/Grade 1 winner, Godolphin RacingManager Simon Crisford (right) reflects on its aims andmethods, and the people and horses behind its successPhotos: George Selwyn


Godolphin founder Sheikh Mohammed

THE GODOLPHIN STORY

handed – we vary it a bit. We have always feltthat we have an advantage wintering in Dubaibecause the climate is fantastic and we avoid thebad weather in Europe. Against that, winteringin Dubai involves us in travelling young horsesquite a bit, with a host of associated quarantineregulations with which we have to comply.Overall, though, we would say that Dubaidefinitely gives us an edge.

We have won nine European Guineas within amonth of coming off the plane, some withhorses you might not have expected to be goodenough, such as Island Sands (the 2,000Guineas winner in 1999), so the advantage isclearly there. But it comes with a time limit. Bythe end of the spring, it is gone! And it doesn’tmatter how big an advantage Dubai offers – youstill have to have the right horses for the rightraces.

How significant is it that the Godolphin team issending some horses back to the UK earlierthan normal this year, or is it simply a one-offdue to Meydan?I do not think the timing of our return ever hasa significant adverse effect on our performance.When horses fail to win races, it is not because ofthe date on which they travelled, it is invariablybecause they are not good enough to win thetype of races that we are asking them to run in.

We are returning to England earlier this yearbecause work on the huge Meydan developmentmeans that the grass track at Nad Al Sheba willnot be available to us. We will assess what effectthis has before deciding how we might do thingsin the future.

The highlight of the 1995 Group 1 quintet wasundoubtedly Lammtarra. He was tough andbrave on the racecourse but is it true he was atricky proposition on the gallops and lessenthusiastic as his three-year-old careerwent on? How much of a challenge did hepresent to the Godolphin team?Yes, Lammtarra did become quitetricky. He was sometimes reluctant togo on the gallops, though he alwaysdid train. The biggest challenge wefaced with him was in February inDubai, when he was a very sickhorse. We were all in despair, butSheikh Mohammed was adamantthat the horse would be fine andthat we should kick on and trainhim for the Derby.

All of the races Lammtarracontested as a three-year-oldwere championship races andhe needed a good breakafter each of them. Ourjob then was to get himback to peak fitness forthe next big race.

Lammtarra was also the spark that fusedFrankie Dettori to the Godolphin operation.He’s well known for his personality and hisshowbizzy style. But how important has hebeen to you as a stable jockey? What are thekey things he brings to the team?Frankie is very important to us. He is a greatfriend and a good team player, and he is in toride work whenever we want him. It goeswithout saying that he is an excellent judge andthat his assessments are a big help to SheikhMohammed and the rest of the team. As forwhat else he brings to the team, I would sayhe brings loyalty, hard work, fun, and

excellence on the racetrack, which is whatit is all about! Of course, there have

been races where things haven’tworked out, but on many more

occasions he has made thedifference between winningsome very big races and notwinning them.

“It doesn’t matter how big an advantage Dubaioffers – you still have to have the right horses forthe right races. And it comes with a time limit”


Frankie Dettori, here riding Refuse To Bend, brings “loyalty, fun, hard work and excellence”


THE GODOLPHIN STORY

Do you have a particular personal favourite?Obviously Dubai Millennium was the greatestchampion Godolphin has produced and we allfeel very privileged to have been associated withso many good horses. I suppose if I had to pickout one that meant most to me it would beMark Of Esteem. Although he was only small,he had real brilliance. His win in the QueenElizabeth II Stakes was fantastic. It wasimportant for so many reasons, not least ofwhich is that it was a showdown between twooutstanding horses in himself and Bosra Sham.

Looking at the Godolphin website, one is struckby the sheer size and growth of the operation;having started with 26 winners, 49 runners in162 races in 1994, it reached 77 winners, 169runners in 558 races last year. Was it always theintention to grow so much?In the early years, we were a select stable and ournumbers were limited as much as anything by thefacilities we had at Moulton Paddocks. We wenton to employ David Loder and Eoin Harty astwo-year-old trainers for a few years, and that alsohad the effect of keeping our numbers down.Once it was decided to operate more like aconventional stable and bring the juveniles in-house, it was inevitable that we would have morehorses in training and more runners. Even withthe extra horses, it is pleasing that our worldwidestrike-rate from day one is 24%.

Campaigning horses internationally – FantasticLight, for example, raced in five differentcountries and three continents – became aGodolphin trademark, as did racing olderhorses. Are there any other ways you are nowplanning to challenge the racing ‘norm’? Godolphin exists to be an international stable.

What was it like being part of his MagnificentSeven at Ascot?It was fantastic. It was one of the best days forGodolphin since we started, because we had fourwinners that day and it was wonderful to be partof racing history. The clash between Mark OfEsteem and Bosra Sham was one of the greatraces of that season or any other, because bothcamps were confident of victory. It was great forour team that our horse prevailed and amazingfor Frankie that it turned out to be a life-defining day.

You have always emphasised that Godolphin isa team. How does that work in practice?Sheikh Mohammed always makes the keydecisions. After that, Saeed bin Suroor andmyself work very well together. Saeed is a toptrainer and a great friend. We are very fortunateto have excellent staff in all areas – you can’toverstate their importance in all of the successGodolphin has enjoyed. The team ethos is at theheart of everything we do. It’s not aboutindividuals, it’s about the company and thebrand. Godolphin represents Dubai.

In terms of the Godolphin champions, DubaiMillennium has to be right up there. When didyou first realise that Godolphin had such aspecial horse on its hands?Even before he went into training we knewDubai Millennium was special. SheikhMohammed loved him when we all went to seehim as a yearling in Ireland and he felt he was anabsolute standout, even at that time. Happily, itquickly became obvious when he started to workthat he was capable of performing every bit aswell as he looked. He really was the mostfantastic racehorse, always so willing to please.

Mark Of Esteem beats Bosra Sham to help Frankie Dettori on his way to his Magnificent Seven at Ascot in 1996


Saeed bin Suroor


THE GODOLPHIN STORY


We are a Dubai company and SheikhMohammed set us up in order to race horses allover the world. Saeed is licensed to train inBritain so some people tend to see us as anBritish stable and judge us on that basis. But weare not. We are an international operation.

International racing has changed a great dealover the past decade or so. It was lesscompetitive when we started and I think SheikhMohammed has contributed to making it muchmore competitive by showing people what couldbe done. There are more recognisedinternational races now, but far more ownerstarget those races with their best horses becausethe prize-money is so good. I think it’s fair to saythat much of that is down to SheikhMohammed’s vision.

So international racing now is ‘the norm’, asyou put it, and it’s up to us to try to be ascompetitive as we can be in as many of thosefeature races as possible – that is what Godolphinis all about.

Although Godolphin has won seven UKchampionships, would it be fair to say it is nowlooking more at winning top races in othercountries, especially following the internationalsuccesses of All The Good, Cocoa Beach, FolkOpera, and Music Note last year?As I have explained, our aim right from the startwas always to be as international as possible.Remember that in our second year we wonGroup 1s in France, Italy and Japan on the sameday, and we won the Grade 1 San JuanCapistrano at Santa Anita that year with RedBishop.

Of course, Britain is also extremelyimportant to us because Sheikh Mohammed andhis family enjoy racing there so much and theracing is so prestigious. But people need torealise that while it is a great achievement to bechampion owner there, our priorities will often

lie elsewhere because of our internationaldimension.

Winning a race like the Caulfield Cup inAustralia with All The Good is an example ofwhat we are trying to do on the internationalstage.

Will there be a growing focus on the US?‘Yes’ in quality, I hope, but ‘no’ in quantity. Ourfocus in the US will continue to be about havinga select group of horses to run in the best races.I am sure that with the advent of racing onsynthetic surfaces in the US, more Europeantrainers will, like us, look to operate satellitestables there, just as a lot of them already do forthe International Carnival in Dubai. Our satellitestable has worked really well for us and we havebeen lucky enough to enjoy some great successin recent years.

Could you ever see Godolphin setting upoperations in Japan and Australia?No, but we will, of course, continue to racethere when there are suitable opportunities.

Can you tell us how Andre Fabre’s newarrangement with Sheikh Mohammed will workin relation to Godolphin?Our hope is that Andre will have some nicehorses (he will reportedly train around 100 forSheikh Mohammed) that will prove goodenough to come to Godolphin over the courseof time. He has always worked very closely withGodolphin and we believe this newarrangement, with Andre training more horsesfor Sheikh Mohammed, will assist us in bringingthrough some new talent.

Sheikh Mohammed has chosen Andre, alongwith a number of other trainers, to train horsesfor him and for his family with the idea thatsome will transfer to Godolphin if they are goodenough. The trainers and their staff understand

GODOLPHIN BY NUMBERS

Taken from the officialwebsitewww.godolphin.com, thetables on the right showhow Godolphin hasperformed each yearsince its first runners in1994. It achieved a best-ever 18 Group 1 winnersduring the 1999 season,but has not hit doublefigures now for four years.A peak of 97 worldwidewinners was achieved in2001, dropping to 37 in2003, before rising to 77last year from a high of558 races.

Year Group Group Group Listed/ Total (Group/1 wins 2 wins 3 wins stakes wins Listed wins)

1994 3 1 3 3 10

1995 12 4 2 3 21

1996 7 7 4 15 33

1997 1 9 3 6 19

1998 12 9 11 7 39

1999 18 10 7 12 47

2000 11 9 6 9 35

2001 15 11 8 7 41

2002 16 10 10 6 42

2003 9 4 5 9 27

2004 11 10 9 9 39

2005 9 3 3 8 23

2006 8 9 7 11 35

2007 6 2 10 12 30

2008 8 4 5 16 33

TOTAL 146 102 96 134 478

Stakes race successes Percentage of winners to runners and winners to startsYear Winners Runners % Winners Wins Starts % Wins-

(horses) -runners (races) starts

1994 26 49 53 49 162 30

1995 28 60 47 43 192 22

1996 43 68 63 76 265 29

1997 43 82 52 56 214 26

1998 68 125 54 102 336 30

1999 63 137 46 93 329 28

2000 57 131 44 75 376 20

2001 97 165 59 133 469 28

2002 61 166 37 88 409 22

2003 37 102 36 56 290 19

2004 88 179 49 128 515 25

2005 77 202 38 102 516 20

2006 61 144 42 101 330 31

2007 70 154 45 97 432 22

2008 77 169 46 112 558 20



that the plan is for some of the horses to cometo us and they want to be part of the team. Wework well together and it is a system that suitsSheikh Mohammed.

There’s a real chance that Godolphin will reachits 150th Group/Grade 1 winner this year? Whatwould that landmark mean to you?It is very difficult even to get a horse to post fora Group 1 race, never mind to win one. To win150 Group 1s would be a great achievement.We have been very lucky to be provided withsuch good horses to train. After that, it is downto a huge team effort by everyone at Godolphinthat we are within sight of that milestone.

Now that Sheikh Mohammed has adopted sucha dynamic approach to his stallion business,could you foresee a time when Godolphin has amore ‘homebred’ feel, perhaps recruiting fewerhorses from other stables?Our focus at Godolphin is purely on the racingside. That means, for example, that you willsometimes see us racing horses who might nothave a pedigree to match the aspirations of thestud or you might see us racing geldings.

Obviously, Sheikh Mohammed has beeninvesting in stallions and we are all very muchlooking forward to seeing their progeny race.There are some very exciting prospects on thestallion roster at the studs now, as well as somefantastic broodmares.

As far as recruiting horses is concerned, we

already have the system in place whereby horsestransfer from Sheikh Mohammed’s other trainers.Beyond that, you are talking about privatepurchases and those will also continue in the future.In fact, more than 40% of our individual Group 1winners have been acquired that way.

Sheikh Mohammed is a trader – he will alwayswant to buy if the right horse comes on the marketwith proven racetrack form. That sort of trading isone of the things that has made Godolphinsuccessful and we hope this will continue to be thecase for years to come.

What are the parameters you use for determininghow successful Godolphin has been each season?Our primary task each season is to get the best outof the horses in our squad, to ensure that they fulfiltheir potential.

Most horses will obviously not be Group 1performers and so it is a question of finding theright level for all of them. Beyond that,Godolphin’s focus is clearly on trying to win bigraces and we therefore hope to be successful at themajor international festivals and carnivals aroundthe world, in Dubai, Europe, North America,Australia and the Far East.

It is also equally important for us to becompetitive in Britain, starting with the Classicsand working through to Royal Ascot and the othershowpiece events in the calendar.

Overall, though, I would say that we measureour level of success by our Group 1 score achievedin championship races. �

“Private purchases will continue in the future; 40% of our Group 1 winners have come that way”

At the sales: Sheikh Mohammed is “a trader”, according to Simon Crisford and is thus likely to continue buying horses from other yards for Godolphin



Richard Hannonenjoying a laughon the gallops

april_56_hannon_interview.qxp 17/3/09 14:42 Page 2


RICHARD HANNON

The entertainerA morning on the gallops with Richard Hannon can leave you with the feeling that it’s great to be alive

Words: Julian Muscat | Photos: George Selwyn

It is 10am on a mild February morning andthe sound of laughter emanates fromRichard Hannon’s kitchen. In the thick of itare Malih Al Basti, a prominent Dubaian

horse-lover, and his entourage of half a dozen. Mixing easily with them are Pat Fahey, the

owner of Goffs Million winner Soul City, andthe trainer’s son and assistant, also Richard. Heis not so much a chip off the old block as castfrom the very same mould.

It’s not just the first hint of spring that sendsthe spirits soaring. This diverse collection ofpeople has been fused into one jovial entity bythe man they are here to see.

Hannon himself is making coffee whiledispensing trademark anecdotes, very few ofthem printable. The overwhelming feeling isthat’s it’s great to be alive.

It’s a feeling familiar to all with horses intraining with Hannon. Few others in hisprofession have the priceless ability to entertain.It’s overstretching the point to describe it as thekey to Hannon’s success, yet his penchant forfun affords him a valuable edge. He can stillamuse owners when times are bad.

There’s no sign of that in February. It’s a time

when every Classic prospect remains just that,when every two-year-old still harbours the RoyalAscot dream. But there’s something more withHannon. It’s a fair bet that owners with animminent date with him will contemplate theprospect and smile.

There are no lengthy discussions aboutpedigrees; the man can barely remember a name,never mind a sire or dam. And there’s no greatdissection of a horse’s conformation. Instead,there are fleeting observations interspersed withyet more anecdotes.

“Hey, Pat,” he says to Fahey. “There’s thatInvincible Spirit colt we bought for you inSeptember. He’s sharp, there’s no questionabout it.”

Wrong wayFahey moved closer to inspect his €160,000purchase, a consequence of Soul City havingplundered the Goffs Millions earlier in the day.“How high does he stand,” Fahey asks?

“Oh, high enough,” replies Hannon. “Did Itell you what happened to Malih the other day?He’s whisked through the airport in Dubai andended up getting on the wrong plane. Went east


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instead of west. Ended up in Bangkok.”In this vein does the entourage proceed

around Herridge, the Wiltshire propertyHannon acquired in 1992. He started out 39years ago from East Everleigh, where his fathertrained before him on the edge of SalisburyPlain, and where he now keeps 78 horses. YetHerridge, which houses a further 120, hasbecome his spiritual home.

“Best thing I ever did was buy this place,” hereflects. “At the time I had to borrow a lot ofmoney at 16% interest. Wondered whether I’dever pay it back – and so did the bank manager,who was always coming round to ask how I wasgetting on.”

Then he pauses, before adding: “Perhaps Ishould look him up and ask him the samequestion.”

In the distance horses are in groups of two and

three for the morning’s work. Fahey sees SoulCity gallop past, then watches his InvincibleSpirit colt glide over the ground, straining formore rein than his work rider would allow.

“Told you he was sharp,” notes Hannon, whosimultaneously inspects the front of his 4x4.“Forgot to pull up the handbrake when I left itthe other day,” he says. “Smashed straight into awall.”

Paco Boy, bound for the Dubai Duty Free,does some solo fast work. As he approaches,there’s a shrill, piercing whistle, followed by abarked instruction to his rider: “Steady,STEADY!”

It’s the only time Hannon intervenes in themorning routine. Even to the untutored eye, itis obvious that the experience of Hannon’s staffis matched by their loyalty. He is fully aware oftheir worth.

Hannon, 63, presides over the embers of alengthy career. The licence will soon pass to

Richard Jnr, who is probably unaware howclosely his father has been monitoring hisprogress. It has been a gradual succession: one inwhich the pupil has been given more rope, butonly when the master has been satisfied that theyard remains in harmony.

In conversation one year earlier, Hannon leftthe impression that some sharp edges remainedto be knocked from his son. Not now. He talksof passing the baton with confidence.

“It won’t be long,” he says. “I might as welllet Richard have a go, but nothing will change.We’ll both do the same jobs we’re doing now.He’s very involved already and is going great.

“He’s good as gold, a good worker and goodwith the staff, which is the really important bit.There’s people been here too long to be messedabout.”

The same is true of Hannon’s owners, manyof whom have been with him for decades. Partof their enduring commitment stems from theway Hannon gathers them all together on oneday in December for a house party that precedestheir taking bits and pieces of the yearlings hebuys at the sales. The man with a few grand ismade no less welcome than his more affluentclients.

High and dryMost recently, in the icy winds of recession,Hannon passed on 40 to new owners but wasleft high and dry with four.

“They were the most expensive,” he moans.“Reckon I’ll shift them in time, but it won’t beeasy.”

This is a telling detail within the Hannon set-up. It remains a mystery why he has neverattracted an old-monied patron, never mind oneamong several Middle-Eastern potentates whopopulate the sport.

Equally, it would be untrue to say that he hasstruggled on a shoestring all his life. Fahey’sInvincible Spirit colt is evidence of that, as arethe yearlings he receives from the Highcleresyndicates, plus homebreds from an array ofowner-breeders, among them the Queen.

Mention of the Monarch animates Hannonlike little else. He is proud to be in the vanguardof a renaissance in royal fortunes that hascoincided with an upgrading of covering sires forthe Queen’s broodmares. She, in turn, is said toanticipate her biannual trips to Hannon’s stableswith relish.

A breach of royal protocol can surely beexcused in the relation of an exchange betweenHannon and the Queen on a recent visit. As thepair drove alongside the string, Hannon tried invain to instruct an Indian groom, who spoke noEnglish, to turn right at the bottom of thegallops.

Exasperated, he turned to his patron andasked: “Do you speak Indian, ma’am?” Whenshe replied that she did not, Hannon thoughtfor a moment before responding, to her

RICHARD HANNON

“Richard Jnr isprobably notaware howclosely his fatherhas monitoredhis progress”

At 63, Richard Hannon may be presiding over the embers of a lengthy career


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amusement: “Well you ought to, ma’am. Youruled the place long enough.”

Pride of place in Hannon’s Visitors Book is theentry of “Elizabeth R” on the opening page. “Iwould love to win a big race for her,” he admits.

In Free Agent, a winner at Royal Ascot lastyear, Hannon feels he might just have one forthe Derby – itself the race he would most like towin before he retires.

Whether or not that comes to pass will makeno more than a footnote in the career of a manwho annually exceeds expectations. Fahey had itright when he recalled a conversation he’d hadwith Newmarket’s perennial totem.

“Sir Michael Stoute told me that Richard isthe most underrated trainer in the land,” he says.

Random narrativeThe insight was delivered when Hannonstopped to examine a series of molehills that hadsprung up overnight. It was the prelude to afive-minute tour of Herridge, with Hannondispensing a random narrative that perfectlyencapsulated the joy of being in his midst.

“Bloody things,” he growled of the moles.“My grass man’s away for the week; think I’llcome down tomorrow morning and set thetraps myself.”

On we travel down a large field which serves asthe Hannon aerodrome. “We’ve had some timesin that plane,” he chuckles.

“Once we got stranded by fog at the races anddidn’t get back here until it was pitch black. Ihad to ring the lads to bring their cars out so wecould see where to land by their headlights.”

He says the plane has made travelling to racemeetings less of a chore. “Otherwise you have tohave a driver,” he points out.

From the airstrip, Hannon points overtowards Sidbury Hill in the distance, where the

East Everleigh gallops are just visible along a lineof trees. Then it’s back down to the yard and abrief encounter with Tom Fletcher, who long-reins the yearlings.

“I smile whenever I think of Tom,” relatesHannon. “The first day he arrived he said it wastoo cold and he wouldn’t be back in themorning. That was 53 years ago now.”

And finally, with second lot over, it’s back tothe kitchen for more coffee – or champagne forthe more adventurous. None is open, soHannon returns from the fridge with ajeroboam inside its wooden case, which he triesto prise open with a knife and fork while relatinghow he came to own a fine bronze of two horsesdisputing a finish.

“I can’t remember where I met the sculptor,


“Sir MichaelStoute told methat Richard isthe mostunderratedtrainer in thecountry” – Patrick Fahey

Tom Fletcher has been with Hannon for 53 years, reflecting the loyalty of his staff

Numbers game: Hannon hard at work, with a vast list of horses behind him

RICHARD HANNON


48 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER APRIL 2009

Our bloodstock and equine team advises on the tax and

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or his name, but he said he would give me onefree if I could sell three for him. I asked him a bitabout the horses and they were from a finish tothe old Cartier Million, I think.

“So I rang Bruce Raymond, who rode thewinner, and the syndicate who owned it – ormaybe it was the runner-up. I can’t rememberwho I sold the third one to, but it didn’t takeme long. And fair play to the sculptor: he sentmine round within the week.”

Ability to sellThe story underlines the fact that trainers live ordie by their ability to sell. Names and details arenot Hannon’s forte but he has no trouble withthe particulars of money.

He remembers what he gave for just aboutevery horse in the yard, especially the two-year-olds he has yet to sell on.

“I just paid three grand to enter that one forthe Goffs Millions, so I’m into him for£103,000 already,” he reflects. “I’m getting tooold for it; these things keep me awake at night.”

At various stages of the morning Hannonmade delicate plays at both Fahey and Al Basti.It was the softest sell imaginable; perhaps backedup by a more forceful pitch by Richard Jnr in thesecond 4x4.

Either way, the mood was undisturbed. Theanecdotes kept coming. It was the sort ofmorning you’d have paid good money to enjoy.

Merriment continued until it was time for thegroup to bid farewell. Lunch was offered,business cards exchanged, invitations to dinner

in Dubai proffered by Al Basti and his associates.And, of course, there was time for a parting shotfrom Hannon.

He clasps a bear-like arm around one of AlBasti’s friends and says: “Never get on the backof a motorcycle with this man. He rode one inDubai like I’ve never seen. Remember, eh, whenyou took us out in the desert? Well, we nearlylost Johnny Murtagh.”

The man smiled at the memory. “You cansmile,” continues Hannon, “but Murtagh’smum wasn’t very happy. You often come acrosssheer drops in the sand and Johnny wasn’tfollowing you, was he?

“The next thing you know he justdisappeared. When he climbed back up he hadsand coming out of every hole in his body –mouth, ears, nose – the lot.”

There’s almost a tinge of sadness as you driveaway from the yard, the house, the kitchen thatexuded so much bonhomie. You wish you weredue there again tomorrow.

Then you realise you have just experiencedsomething rare, something that makes the pennydrop hard. Owning racehorses is a hobby; it’s allabout having fun. This was fun with a capital F.

Moreover, when the source of that fun is aman who was champion trainer in 1992, wouldhave been again last season but for AidanO’Brien’s golden run, and has trained 100winners in 18 of the last 19 seasons, you realiseprecisely why Richard Hannon has flourished onone of the harshest landscapes.

He is the only serious rival to The Mousetrapas the longest-running show on earth. �

RICHARD HANNON

“I’m into one two-year-old for £103,000. I’m gettingtoo old for it; these things keep me awake at night”

Paco Boy works under the gaze of Richard Hannon Jnr



Criquette Head-Maarek, trainer of Proportional

Heads you winFreddie Head has beenovershadowed by his sister Criquettesince he quit the saddle and begantraining, but that all changed in 2008when Goldikova, Marchand D’Or andTamayuz were multiple Group 1winners, and Naaqoos stampedhimself an outstanding prospect withvictory in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

Naaqoos looks a serious player in the2,000 Guineas, while Goldikova andMarchand D’Or once again haveambitious campaigns mapped out forthem on the international stage.However, Criquette Head-Maarek couldhave just as powerful a team for the bigraces, and she too has a majorNewmarket contender in her dazzling PrixMarcel Boussac winner Proportional,

The countdownstarts here

Marchand D’Or (nearside) is likely to be tough to beat again for Freddie Head

As an introduction to a regular series in which he will analyse the major developments that emerge during the 2009 European Flat season, Graham Dench,Chief Analyst for the Racing Post, examinessome of the people, horses and issues hecould well be writing about

Photos: George Selwyn


april_56_flat_hr.qxp 17/3/09 12:41 Page 2

FLAT COUNTDOWN


who is second favourite behind RainbowView for the 1,000 Guineas, a race shehas already won with Ma Biche, Ravinellaand Hatoof.

While both trainers are still weighingup their options and may yet stay closerto home, they are clearly leaning towardsNewmarket.

The Sheikh Hamdan-owned Naaqooslooks the type to excel at Newmarket.Compared by Willie Carson atLongchamp to the brilliant Nashwan, heis a tremendously imposing individualwith a great stride on him. His trainer isexcited, and no wonder.

He says: “He’s quite exceptional andhe has done very well. I couldn’t behappier with him and, while it is notdefinite, I think he is more likely to run atNewmarket than Longchamp.”

It will be hard to resist bringing theKhalid Abdullah-owned Beat Hollow fillyProportional to Newmarket, and shecould also be an Oaks filly.

Maarek-Head says: “Proportional wasmy best two-year-old by far and she hasdone well through the winter. It’s tooearly to say if she will run at Newmarketor Longchamp, but I think she has morestamina than Ma Biche or Ravinella. Ithink she will stay a mile and a half, butshe has speed too. Above all, she has

class. If you have class you have speed.”While Tamayuz is now at stud, Freddie

Head still has Goldikova and MarchandD’Or. Goldikova is likely to reappear inthe Prix D’Ispahan on May 17 and couldrun at Royal Ascot and Newmarket, buteverything is once again geared towardsSanta Anita, where she showed such asensational turn of foot to land theBreeders’ Cup Mile.

Marchand D’Or, now six, will start outin the Golden Shaheen at Nad Al Sheba,then be aimed at the other main sprintsaround the world again.

Criquette Head-Maarek’s other mainhope is another Juddmonte filly, the four-year-old African Rose, who last year wonthe Group 1 Ladbrokes Sprint Cup, runat Doncaster after Haydock wasabandoned. She will be aimed at the bigsprints again and could well return toEngland for Royal Ascot.

From the same stable we are advisedto watch out too for the four-year-old FullOf Gold, who had smart middle-distance form last year, and for Fuisse,his year-younger half-brother who isalready Group-placed and is expectedto make a much better three-year-old.

And a dark one to look out for is theunraced Linamix colt Mirific, who isentered in the Derby.

Hats off?It’s a bit soon to be putting out theflags, but the Queen has her bestchance in years of enjoying her firstsuccess at Classic level sinceHighclere and Dunfermline in the mid1970s.

From a total Flat string of just over 20,she has five three-year-olds quoted inClassic ante-post lists, although one ofthem, the Richard Hannon-trainedHaynes, Hanson & Clark second FullToss, has met with a setback and will notbe out until late summer.

While Full Toss’s stablemate FreeAgent won last year’s Chesham and isquoted for the 2,000 Guineas and theDerby, the pick of the bunch are arguablythe fillies Enticement and GoldenStream, both of whom are trained by SirMichael Stoute.

Enticement, a Montjeu filly who wasbought at auction for 310,000gns with aview to injecting some new blood intothe Royal Studs, is unbeaten in tworaces, including a Listed event atNewmarket.

According to racing manager JohnWarren, she has “wintered exceptionallywell and developed into a very strongfilly”. If Stoute starts her off in theMusidora it will be an indication that she

Goldikova (above) was an exceptional winner of the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita, while Sprint Cup winner African Rose is also one to watch



SPREAD THE COST OF YOUR TRAINING FEESWe have a group of bloodstock investors in the UK, Ireland and Australia looking for horses to purchase shares in and send to trainer Jeremy Gask

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JEREMY GASK

HorsesFirstRacing

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Sunday SilenceHalo (USA) Hail To Reason

Cosmah

Understanding

Mountain Flower

Ambrosine

M. Prospector (USA)

Gold Digger (USA)

Unplaced - 9 winner

Damascus (USA)

Courtly Dee (USA)

(JPN) 2001


FLAT COUNTDOWN


is regarded as a possible Oaks filly, notjust an Oaks trial filly.

Golden Stream broke the juvenilecourse record on her debut atNewmarket and worked so wellafterwards that Stoute pitched her in atthe deep end in the Fillies’ Mile at Ascot.

She ran too free and did not do herselfjustice but she too has wintered well, andas a sister to the Oaks second Flight OfFancy she has Oaks, or at least

Ribblesdale, aspirations.Free Agent suffered a slight setback

after Royal Ascot but he is back in goodorder now. If he does not have the speedfor the 2,000 Guineas connections willlook at one of the Derby trials.

Interestingly, an entry has been madefor him over the intermediate distance inthe Prix du Jockey-Club.

Four Winds, the first horse MichaelBell has trained for the Queen, was lateinto training at two and still a bit greenwhen third behind Kite Wood in theAutumn Stakes. Warren would “besurprised if he is a Derby winner”, butreckons he is a “nailed-on 105 to 110colt and could go higher”. He will begiven his chance in a trial and could beone for something like the King EdwardVII Stakes.

Speed freakWe have become all too accustomedto the Australians plundering our topsprints, but it was something of ashock to the system when theSpanish-trained Equiano took theKing’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascotlast year.

This year an even more potent threatcomes from an even less likely source.Hungary.

The unbeaten Starborough coltOverdose first hit the headlines when hewas a runaway ‘winner’ of the voided firstrunning of the Prix de l’Abbaye, in whichthe majority of the field were pulled upafter a false start. It was a disaster forconnections that he was unable to takepart in the re-run won by Marchand D’Orat the end of the afternoon, for times andvideo evidence suggest he might havebeaten the European champion. Butthere was consolation of sorts.

For Overdose was rated Europe’s bestthree-year-old sprinter in the prestigiousWorld Thoroughbred Rankings – just apound behind Marchand D’Or – andconnections will now seek to establishhim as a proper Group 1 winner. Theyhave mapped out an ambitiousprogramme for 2009, which is sure toinclude a rematch with Marchand D’Or.

Trainer Sandor Ribarszki hopes to firstgive locals another glimpse of their heroat Kincsem Park in Budapest. Then it’s acase of onwards and upwards, startingwith the Temple Stakes, followed by

Hungarian sprint sensation Overdose, winner of the Prix de L’Abbaye that never was, and the mount this year of Christophe Soumillon

The Queen’s Chesham winner Free Agent

“Anyone whoremains to beconvinced byOverdose shouldaccess videos of hisraces on YouTube”



Please contact Wayne Hutchinson to discuss 2009 stud feesTel/Fax: (01664) 812677 • Mobile: (07860) 432790 • E-mail: [email protected] • Web: www.waltonfields.co.uk

Walton Fields StudChesnut 1991, 15.3hhFirst TrumpDeportivoBay 2000, 16hh

By Night Shift – Valencia (Kenmare)

TOP CLASS FIRST SEASON SIREincl. Senor Mirasol LR Curragh

Winner of 6 races from 10 starts (2-3 years), earning £148,178.Won Gr.2 Flying Five, 5f, CurraghWon LR King Of Beers Stakes, 5f, CurraghWon LR Rose Bowl Stakes, 6f, NewburyWon Balmoral Handicap, 5f, Royal AscotWon the first 3 of his 4 starts at 2 years

By Primo Dominie– Valika (Valiyar)

COMPLETE OUTCROSS FOR NORTHERN DANCER LINE MARESPROVEN STAKES PRODUCING SIRE

Winner of 5 races and placed 5 times from 12 starts (2-3 years), earning £186,679.Won Gr.1 Middle Park Stakes, 6f, NewmarketWon Gr.2 Richmond Stakes, 6f, GoodwoodWon Gr.3 July Stakes, 6f, Newmarket3rd Gr.2 Mill Reef Stakes, 6f, Newbury4th Gr.2 Challenge Stakes, 7f, Newmarket

Also standing: NH sires SHAHRASTANI – Eng/Ire Derby Winner • SAMRAAN – Leading Italian distance horse.

FIRSTSEASON

2YRS HAVEAVERAGED A41% STRIKE

RATE

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Royal Ascot and Newmarket in racesthat count towards the Global SprintChallenge.

Anyone who remains to be convincedhas only to access a video of his raceson youtube.com. It’s fascinating enoughto view the void race at Longchampside-by-side with the re-run, but thesubsequent Group 2 win at theCapannelle, where Overdose showedblistering speed and gave weight and aten-length thumping to smart Italiansprinter Black Mambazo, is simplybreathtaking. He really is quitesomething.

Best policyExpect to see many more trainerstrying their luck in the States this year.

The wins enjoyed by both JohnGosden and Ralph Beckett on the newPro-Ride surface in the Breeders’ Cup atSanta Anita, and by John Best, whosaddled Square Eddie to land a Grade 1on Polytrack at Keeneland, havehighlighted what can be achieved outthere, and with synthetic surfacesbecoming more widespread and thebetter prize-money now a bigger carrotthan ever, more and more trainers are setto broaden their horizons.

One only has to look at the entries forthe Kentucky Derby, the Preakness andthe Belmont Stakes. Gosden and Bestare represented, of course, along withGodolphin, Aidan O’Brien and DermotWeld, but so too are Brian Meehan,Jeremy Noseda, Jamie Osborne, MarcoBotti and Mikael Magnusson. And that’sjust the Triple Crown races.

While those races, along with theenhanced programme for the Breeders’Cup at Santa Anita again, have obviousattractions, there are many more racesworth travelling over for, and a horse withthe right pedigree does not even have towin to make the trip worthwhile if theowner is prepared to sell.

Best makes no bones about whatattracts him. He says: “We are targetinghorses there mainly with a view to sellingthem and, although the credit crunch hasreduced the number of potential buyers,it is still a good market place for us.

“The prize-money is a hell of a lotbetter than here – although not quite asgood as it looks when you take intoaccount all of the costs and the taxes –and that’s what will attract some trainers,but it’s not the main thing for us.”

Best, who has had several trainersapproach him to discuss the logistics ofcampaigning in the States, says: “We’vemade a few mistakes, but we’ve learned

a hell of a lot and hopefully we’ll makefewer this year. With 65 two-year-oldsthis year I expect to have plenty ofrunners there.”

BallydoyleAfter the astonishing success of 2008,it won’t seem quite the same atBallydoyle without the likes of DukeOf Marmalade, Henrythenavigator andHalfway To Heaven. However, Yeats,Septimus and Soldier Of Fortune arestill there, and Aidan O’Brien has oftenturned one of the lesser known olderhorses into a star.

Trained increasingly with an eye to thelonger term, the two-year-olds, now threeof course, did not exactly carry all beforethem last year.

Nevertheless, Mastercraftsman toppedthe European Rankings on a mark of122, and stablemates Rip Van Winkle,

the winter favourite for the 2,000Guineas, Westphalia, Fame And Glory,Drumbeat, Masterofthehorse and the fillyHeart Shaped all made it on to the sameexclusive list, with marks of 110 or more.

That, however, tells only half of thestory, for as usual O’Brien also has anenviable team of unexposed three-year-olds, many of which are not bred to comeinto their own until they tackle middledistances, yet some of whom alreadyfigure prominently in ante-post lists forthe 2009 Classics.

Among those who have shownparticular promise are the Galileo coltsAge Of Aquarius, Aristocrat andFreemantle, the Sadler’s Wells coltsBlack Island Bear and Byzantine, theMontjeu colt Indian Ocean, and MalibuBay, who is by El Prado.

O’Brien’s team has this year made awelcome return to the popular Horses InTraining publication, and alongside tenolder horses and 56 three-year-olds,there are 64 juveniles listed for 2009.

The vast majority of them have thepedigrees one would normally associatewith middle-distance three-year-olds, butdon’t bet against one of them topping therankings once again. �

“Wins enjoyed by John Gosden,Ralph Beckett and John Best lastyear highlighted what can beachieved in the United States”

Square Eddie, winner of a Grade 1 at Keeneland for ambitious Maidstone-based trainer John Best

FLAT COUNTDOWN


A perfect balanceRacing and schools both aim to benefit from the growinginitiative that educates children by taking them to the races Words: Edward Rosenthal | Photos: Mark Williamson and Dan Abraham


Razia Ichatun from King Charles I School in Kidderminster tries out the scales

april_56_schools3.qxp 17/3/09 16:45 Page 2

RACING TO SCHOOL

How can horseracingactively set about tryingto attract a new, youngeraudience that will

participate in and contribute to thesport for years to come?

That is the issue being addressedby the British HorseracingEducation and Standards Trust(BHEST), a Government-recognised body and registeredcharity, through its Racing toSchool education programme.

Since 2000, the initiative hasintroduced young people from theages of four to 18 to the sport,covering the National Curriculumthrough the core subjects of maths,literacy and science. This is donewithin a range of stimulatingracing-related tasks.

The youngsters are not onlylearning and broadening their skillsbase, they experience at first handthe thrills of a sport which – it ishoped – they might wish to pursuein future, either as a leisure activityor as a career.

One important aspect of Racingto School is the focus on achievinga minimum 30% participation frominner city schools and colleges.

To date, over 60,000 studentshave been involved, and a further10,000 will enjoy 270 events acrossthe country this year. Most Racingto School days take place at theracecourse, although trips to studsare also undertaken. SheikhMohammed’s Darley operation isone significant supporter, with tenevents held at Dalham Hall inNewmarket in 2007 and 2008.

BHEST, which receives themajority of its funding from theLevy Board but has also received

£100,000 from theJacobs Foundationover the last two years,hopes that Racing to

the grandstand. There he talksabout the difference between Flatand jump racing – most presenthave heard of the Grand Nationaland the Derby – and then it’s on tothe weighing room to explain theconcept of handicapping, one ofracing’s most insular arts.

It is soon apparent that McPhailhas the ability to engage with hisaudience and break down a conceptthat might appear complicated intosomething very simple.

After a lesson in the differencebetween the metric system andimperial weights andmeasurements, McPhail selectsthree of the group by asking who is

a fast, medium and slow runner,stands them in front of the scales,and asks what would happen werethe three to race. Everyone agreesthe fast runner would always win.

So the question is: how can yougive the other two a chance to win?How can you make it a fairer andmore interesting race?

Responses fly back from theschoolchildren and it is agreed thatthe fastest runner should be atsome kind of disadvantage.

“He should be made to carryextra weight”, one says. Heads nod.It’s handicapping made easy.

The electronic scales provideplenty of amusement as everyonetakes it in turn to discover theirriding weight.

Interaction between teacher andpupil is an essentialingredient in theRacing to School


“Of the 13 teenagers who walkinto the director’s box atStratford, only one has ever setfoot on a racecourse before”

School will provide learningopportunities for up to 20,000schoolchildren a year by 2011.

Figures for 2008 show that 73%of pupils would like to visit aracecourse again, havingexperienced a Racing to School day.

While Racing to School isfocused on bringing a youngeraudience to the sport, it also tries toattract the parents of children whohave been involved in it.

To that end, there is a RacecourseAssociation-run voucher schemethat offers parents free tickets torace meetings: 712 vouchers weretaken up in 2008.

At the startOn a bright but blustery morningin February, 13 teenagers walk intothe director’s box at Stratfordracecourse. Only one has ever setfoot on a racecourse before.

The duo charged withimplementing today’s Racing toSchool programme are JudithAllen, Executive Director ofBHEST, and former jumps jockeyOllie McPhail, now a RegionalEducation Officer.

McPhail, who rode around 130winners, has worked on the Racingto School programme for threeyears, based in the Midlands andsouthern England.

Other members of the teaminclude Vaughan Jones and TobyBecton, who work in the northeast of England, Louisa Odell,based in Newmarket, while JoMcCain, daughter of Ginger, andCarrie Ford, who rode ForestGunner into fifth place in the 2005Grand National, are based in thenorth west.

After an initial introduction,McPhail leads pupils from NorthEast Worcestershire College andKing Charles I school to

Students from North East Worcestershire College, from left: Pawel Lapko, Daniel Ridgway, Pavandeep Sidhu and Anton Reid (right); Ollie McPhail is second right



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The girls want to know if he has agirlfriend; the boys ask about hismost horrific injury.

All questions are dealt with in anaccomplished and stylish manner –much like his riding – and Tinklerreveals that, yes, most jump jockeysdo have partners, even if they don’tnecessarily get to see them thatoften, while his recall of aparticularly nasty jaw injury leavesmost people wincing.

The room is silent as Tinklerexplains how riding horses was allhe ever wanted to do, that he hopesto ride well into his 30s, and whyjump jockeys are so competitive.

Racing often seems like it has itsown vocabulary, which can act as adeterrent to newcomers. However,Tinkler, like McPhail, has the abilityto explain things in such a way that

those unfamiliar with the sport areable to understand exactly what heis talking about.

A jockey’s food intake is one ofthe recurrent themes. As a result,the pupils devise a healthy diet tohelp riders maintain their weight,working out the nutritional valueand calorie content of certain food.

The first sight of a horse and ridertakes the excitement level up acouple of notches. It is time for theclass – who have been shown howto interpret the information in aracecard – to visit the parade ringand view the runners for the day’sopening contest, a maiden hurdle.

The combination of educationwith a day at the races appears to bea successful one. Racing will hopethat it, too, is the winner in thelong run. �

RACING TO SCHOOL

Trundle wheels are handed out andthe group is asked to estimate thelength of the perimeter in metres.Each finds out for himself/herselfhow accurate their prediction is.

Plenty of ribbing accompaniesthe efforts of two of the group tomake up the front and back of ahorse – pantomime style butwithout any costumes – however,there is a serious underlyingmessage to the activity, namely theimportance of safety around horses,which is emphasised strongly.

One of the tasks is to work outhow many horses can safely beaccommodated in the parade ring.

The class moves trackside for aclose up look at the hurdles andfences. A sense of authenticity isadded by the nearby presence ofMick Fitzgerald preparing for an At

The Races broadcast.Maths is directly applied to a

variety of situations, including thecosts associated with putting ahurdle together and the distancecovered by a horse when it jumps afence. Everyone enjoys the ‘accessall areas’ feel to the day.

Question timeAfter lunch, Andrew Tinkler, whohas one ride on the card in thefinal race, fields questions aboutlife as a jump jockey.

concept. The group is continuallyset challenging tasks and made tothink on their feet.

Throughout the day, theycomplete an exercise bookcontaining primarily maths-basedquestions, which require them toimpart what they have learned.

Barriers brokenAny reticence that some pupils mayfeel about getting involved in theday’s activities quickly disappearsonce they enter the jockeys’changing room, where valets arebusy scurrying around preparingfor the afternoon’s racing.

Trying on racing silks, sitting onthe scales and exploring the ‘innersanctum’ that few are lucky enoughto have experienced may appearnothing more than a great photo

opportunity, but it has the impactof involving everyone.

A run-down of the jump jockey’sclothing; boots, britches, vest,jumper, body protector, bib andtights – the last two items inparticular causing a breakout oflaughter – is accompanied by anexplanation of why each is essential.

McPhail then recounts thegruesome story of how he receivedthe scar under his right eye. Thereare more than a few gasps when hediscusses the intricate operation torearrange his face.

The subject of a jockey’s weightleads to questions about calorieintake, exercise and the percentageof water in the human body, whilethe reason for using lead in weightcloths is also discussed.

Next stop is the parade ring.


“Andrew Tinkler talks about life as a jump jockey. The girls ask ifhe has a girlfriend; the boys wantto know his most horrific injury”

Students from King Charles I School start a new fashion trend, from left: Lydia Deakin, Jessica Kerigan and Razia Ichatun

Ollie McPhail (right) talks to North East Worcestershire College students and teacher Jennifer Willis about the make-up of a hurdle (left picture)



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RACING TO SCHOOL

mown grass! He’d come out of theinner city and not known what thesmell of mown grass was. If you cangive children that joy, thatexperience, it must be a positivething.

“In the process, we are teachingthat racing is not an elitist sport,but a sport for everyone to enjoy.The children learn something in afunctional environment. Why elsedo the schools come back to us yearafter year?

“Racing to School is somethingwe should be proud of. It’sachieving so much of what we wantto do in racing.”

The cost of educating one childfor each Racing to School event isaround £25. Morgan-Jones isaiming to raise further fundsthrough BHEST’s charitable status,although he admits that there iswariness in some quarters about anindustry linked to gambling,particularly if it is linked tochildren’s schooling.

“But we’re not teaching childrento gamble,” he added. “We don’tshy away from it and even havemodules on gambling, but this is atthe discretion of the schools. Drugsand diet is another area we cover.We’re conscious of all these areas.”

The teachers at Stratford had noqualms about their day. One, HelenMerrill, said: “I was very impressed

with the educational side of racing.It was great for students to see thefacilities behind the scenes. I didn’tknow very much about racing butit was an interesting and fun day.”

The views from the students werealso positive, with the chance tomeet a participating jockey, AndrewTinkler, a particular plus.

“It was great to have theopportunity to see the racing andmeet an actual jockey,” said LydiaDeakin, aged 14.

“It was good to talk to a realjockey. Thank-you Ollie!” added15-year-old Aimie Hodges.

Clearly, the day offered a straight-up account of the dangers of racing,as Jess Kerigan, also 14, noted: “Itwas fun to see all the horses. I lovehorse riding but I’ve never had anaccident. I don’t like the sound andthought of their injuries!”

Such a triumvirate of commentswill no doubt encourage Morgan-Jones, who said: “Research showsthat one of the main reasons whypeople go racing in later life isbecause they had a good experienceas a child. We are using Racing toSchool to hopefully give childrenthat good experience.

“To see the kids go away with asmile on their faces and not realisethey’ve actually been learning, isn’tthat what you wanted to do atschool?”

Racing to School is thebrainchild of RhydianMorgan-Jones, Chairmanof BHEST, whose aim is

to use the scheme to educate25,000 children a year.

He said: “The racecourses are allon side, studs and trainers supportus. In fact, there isn’t anybody whohas ever seen the scheme that won’thelp us.”

Funding will be crucial, though,and he is seeking an extra £250,000a year to supplement the £285,000costs of 2007/08.

“Getting an Ollie [McPhail) anda Judith [Allen] has been verydifficult and our costs have gone upbecause of it,” said Morgan-Jones.

“But Ollie has been one of ourgreat finds. He’s doing a fantasticjob and that’s what makes it work.Ollie has that ability to interact withthe children and they love it.”

Including children from innercity and disadvantaged areas isintegral to the educationprogramme and Morgan-Jones is inno doubt that the initiative canmake a real difference.

He said: “We’re giving childrenthe opportunity to do somethingthat we take for granted.

“I remember once at Aintreegoing across to the paddock with agroup and one of the children said,‘What’s that funny smell?’ It was

“It’s something to be proud of”

“Research shows that oneof the main reasons whypeople go racing in later lifeis because they had a goodexperience as a child”

RhydianMorgan-

Jones


Racing to School is designed to introduce children as young as four to the delights of the sport



Butler’s Cabin9yo b g Poliglote-Strictly Cool(Bering)Trainer Jonjo O’Neill Owner J PMcManus Breeder Chris Buckley

Chris and Deborah Buckley ofWarwickshire’s Hunscote House FarmStud could be suffering a touch of cabinfever as the John Smith’s Grand Nationalapproaches.

They own eight mares, including

Strictly Cool, the dam of leadingcontender Butler’s Cabin. Since she isstill an active breeder at 17, there is morethan mere nostalgia at stake.

Butler’s Cabin has already proved amarketing tool for his mother thanks tovictories in Cheltenham’s National HuntChase and the Irish Grand National, butan Aintree win would put ice, candlesand indoor fireworks on the cake.

Chris Buckley says: “I’ll be keeping myfingers crossed until they jump Becher’ssecond time around. Last year (whenridden by Tony McCoy) he was incontention until falling at that fence, butit’s been a fantastic experience having anassociation with the horse.”

Buckley is named as breeder of nine-year-old Butler’s Cabin, although headmits the conception was orchestratedin France, saying: “Strictly Cool was bredby the Wertheimer brothers, who senther to Newmarket’s December Sale in

1999 carrying to Poliglote. We boughther for 12,000gns and the foal insideturned out to be Butler’s Cabin.

“She stood out for being a huge marewho had won over a mile at two. Despiteher size she obviously had some abilityand was attractive.”

The following March, one month beforeButler’s Cabin emerged from his mother’swomb, his future half-sister Highest Cool(Highest Honor) was Listed placed inFrance for trainer Freddie Head and ayear later Heezapistol (Pistolet Bleu) wonfor Criquette Head-Maarek, and went onto land a Grade 3 juvenile hurdle whentrained by Willie Mullins.

As a yearling Butler’s Cabin was sentto Tattersalls’ October Sale, where hewas bought by Timmy Hyde for25,000gns. Buckley says: “His dam hastended to produce dual-purpose horses,although we’ve not bred to her everyyear. Her Desert Prince seven-year-old

Deborah and Chris Buckley at their Hunscote House Stud in Warwickshire, with a three-year-old half-sister to Butler’s Cabin by Beat Hollow

National treasures

Behind every John Smith’s GrandNational runner there’s a breeder.Carl Evans tracked down thoseresponsible for three British-bredcandidates for this year’s big race – with some French andGerman influences thrown inPhotos: George Selwyn and Mark Williamson

april_56_national3.qxp 17/3/09 14:45 Page 2


Jaamid has won for Noel Meade and shehas a Dansili six-year-old called DannyCool, who is with Keith Reveley. He hasbeen big and backward but could makehis debut in a spring bumper.

“We also have a three-year-oldunnamed Beat Hollow filly who we hopeto lease to owners of Nicky Henderson’s,and a King’s Theatre yearling filly. At themoment Strictly Cool is in Ireland beingcovered by Refuse To Bend.”

The Buckleys know about success onbig stages having owned Royal Ascotwinner Diaghilef (1995 King George VHandicap) and classy jumper RandomHarvest (1998 Rowland Meyrick Chase).

Their breeding interests grew afterthey sold a business that manufacturedhandkerchief tissues. A box might comein handy if Butler’s Cabin wins on April 4.

Cloudy Lane9-y-o b g Cloudings-Celtic Cygnet(Celtic Cone)Trainer Donald McCain Owner TrevorHemmings Breeder Gleadhill HouseStud

Take the anticipation of owning a leadingGrand National candidate then spice itwith the marrow-deep pleasure of havingbred the horse, and you have a sublimefix for hedonists of jump racing.

That combined satisfaction belongs

to Trevor Hemmings, whose GleadhillHouse Stud was responsible for themating that produced Cloudy Lane.

The nine-year-old has won in excessof £200,000 and finished sixth in lastyear’s National, so he has ability andAintree experience, two qualities tostand him in good stead when he goesback for a second cut at the great race.

Cloudy Lane was produced when thestallion Cloudings, in whom Hemmingshas an interest, covered the late CelticCygnet, a small mare foaled 28 yearsago after a mating between Jo (JockScot) and the stallion Celtic Cone, whostood at Robin and Scarlett Knipe’s

Fingers crossed: Butler’s Cabin looked tailor-made for Aintree, racing prominently and jumping well . . .

Cobhall Court Stud in Herefordshire. Mrs Knipe’s mother Mercy Rimell

trained Celtic Cygnet, who was sold toDavid and Trish Brown’s Furnace MillStud, before changing hands oncemore and joining Hemmings’sbroodmare band. She gave birth toCloudy Lane in February 2000.

Mick Meagher, who looks afterHemmings’s bloodstock interests, says:“Cloudy Lane was Celtic Cygnet’s finalfoal. She was a good mother and had aproper National Hunt pedigree, althoughshe tended to produce small foals.

“Cloudy Lane was the last, the biggestand best. Her other foals were all around

NATIONAL BREEDERS

. . . until falling at Becher’s second time round. He will go to Aintree again as one of the leading fancies


15.2 hands high, but he is 16 and a bit.Her second best foal was Celtic Duke,who was tiny, but a super jumper. Hewon a couple of races for us whentrained by Micky Hammond and wasthen sold to Joe Turner, a leadingtrainer and owner of pointers in EastAnglia, where he won a load of racesridden by Joe’s grand-daughter Zoe.”

Some horses never recover their zipafter running in the National, butCloudy Lane seemed none the worsewhen picking up the Peter MarshChase at Haydock in January. Hethen spoilt his Aintree prep whentaking a first-fence fall the followingmonth at Kelso.

Meagher says: “What with all thehype at Aintree last year (he was 7-1joint-favourite) and the fact he lookedwell handicapped, we weredisappointed when he finished sixth.

“On the face of it he didn’t get thetrip, but he may have been over thetop. Hedgehunter was beaten whenfalling at the last in 2004, then won by14 lengths the following year, so weare hopeful.”

State Of Play9-y-o b g Hernando-Kaprice(Windwurf)Trainer Evan Williams Owners Williamand Angela Rucker Breeder RolandLerner

During the global economic downturn

there are worse things than being asmall-scale breeder. You could be asmall-scale breeder and a banker, likeFrankfurt-based Roland Lerner.

Herr Lerner laughs when ponderingthis double-whammy, but he is anoptimistic man with the satisfaction ofhaving bred State Of Play, the winner oftwo major chases already.

State Of Play has a GB suffix, for hewas foaled by the German-bred mareKaprice while she was at LanwadesStud, home to his sire, Hernando.

Lerner says: “I was a very big fan of thestallion Niniski, who sired Hernando – Ibreed Flat horses, mostly for Germany.Niniski has worked extremely well hereand is a perfect outcross for Germanmares, so I thought I’d try his son.

“I bought Kaprice privately after shestopped racing as a four-year-old. Shehad been in training with Harro Rennertand won two races for him, and I waslooking for a broodmare prospect from asolid German family. She is from a verygood line that traces to Konigsstuhl, thesire of Monsun.

“She produced eight foals for me andthey have all been winners. I sold her afew years ago to people who bred onemore foal and then retired her. She’s 20now, but still alive.”

Lerner, who keeps a handful of maresat Gestut Westerberg near Frankfurt,says of State Of Play: “Being a colt Ioffered him as a foal at Tattersalls’December Sale in 2000, but he did not

make the money I was expecting (wasled out at 11,500gns). I took him homeand reoffered him the following year atBaden-Baden, where he was sold forDM15,000, which was not much better,but I had other foals from the mare, so Ilet him go.”

State Of Play subsequently racedsuccessfully from the Banbury yard ofPaul Webber and gained a rating of 108over hurdles, but after he was bought for18,000gns by Evan Williams atDoncaster in August 2005 his true talentwas unveiled over fences.

Victory in Newbury’s HennessyCognac Gold Cup in 2006 and theCharlie Hall Chase in October last yearsaw his rating achieve a high of 160. Ithas slipped back now, to a GrandNational mark of 150 and a winnable-looking burden, even though ExoticDancer’s absence means a weights rise.

Back in Germany, Lerner admits hehas not seen his potential Aintree herosince he was a yearling, adding: “Wedon’t get the racing information you enjoyin Britain, although friends keep me up todate and I have spoken to the horse’strainer on the phone.

“I have three horses in training of myown with Hans-Jurgen Groeschel inHannover, including a four-year-oldgelding called Leivano by Spectrum. Hestays 2,000m (ten furlongs), is a bigstrong horse and has been placed in twoListed races. Perhaps someone in Britainwould like to buy him for jumping?” �

NATIONAL BREEDERS


After landing a Hennessy and Charlie Hall, has State Of Play slipped enough in the ratings to win the National?



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“We strongly recommend Hay Bar for saving waste and as a very safe method for feeding youngstock from the floor in the natural position helping them to develop correctly.”

JONATHAN DODD, THE LOUELLA STUD



John Ferguson’s appearance atFasig-Tipton’s Calder breeze-up sale in early March wasenormously reassuring for the

European two-year-old consignorsset to offer their wares in theupcoming weeks.

Ferguson bought all three seven-figure lots at the Florida sale onbehalf of Sheikh Mohammed andthe level of his input at Tattersallsand Doncaster looks sure to becrucial to the market.

The Maktoum entities and theirassociates at Rabbah Bloodstockbought 28 of the 48 six-figurebreeze-up horses in Britain last yearand, in a vastly different economicenvironment, their contributionwill be all the more vital in 2009.

Darley stallions account for nearly30% of this year’s Doncastercatalogue and over a fifth of theCraven breeze-up book atTattersalls.

In contrast, Coolmore sires makeup only 12% of the Tattersallscatalogue this year, having

accounted for 27.7% in 2007.Top vendor Con Marnane of

Bansha House Stables is hopingthere will be other major buyers aswell as the Maktoums.

“I’m not that hopeful going intothe sales but there are a lot ofpeople who have been lucky gettingGroup winners from the breeze-upsand I think they will be back,” hesaid. “Trainers still need nice horsesto make their names and people willalways have a huge love of racing.”

Marnane traditionally has one of

the biggest representations at thesales but his team will be reducedthis year.

“We will be selling 45, which isabout 15 less than last year,” hesaid. “It’s where we want to be onnumbers – the costs and expensesare not so high that way. We didwell last year but were left with acouple of expensive unsold horses,which really hurt us.

“The only thing I concentratedon this time was to get horses wholooked like athletes and I thinkwe’ve got a serious bunch of two-year-olds.”

Marnane is keen for Australian-style barrier trials to be introducedin Britain for horses who fail to sellat the breeze-ups.

“I was over in Australia inNovember and they would be agreat idea here,” he said. “Unsoldhorses could race over four furlongsin a barrier trial and they could betimed and filmed, and then shownon the internet. The horses whowon the trials would sell well and itwould get guys in places like HongKong interested.

“It would be great if the salescompanies got behind it and I’msure Irish ThoroughbredMarketing and British BloodstockMarketing would help promote it,as they have done with the bonus.”

Vendors look to Darley tomake a juvenile splash

SALES CIRCUITFOCUS ON THE BREEZE-UPS

The breeze-up market could well be boosted by a new bonus scheme that rewards winning horses

After buying all three seven-figure lots at Calder, European consignorswill hope to see Sheikh Mohammed active in their own backyard, tooWords: Edward Prosser

John Ferguson: busy in the US Con Marnane: “Not that hopeful”

april_56_breeze_up2.qxp 17/3/09 14:39 Page 3


SALES CIRCUIT

GOFFS KEMPTONBREEZE-UP

AGG £655,550 (-66%)SOLD 35 (61% clearance)AV £18,728 (-43.4%)MED £15,000 (-40%)

A drop in turnover of 66% andaverages falling by around 40%seemed pretty brutal, but therewere definite reasons for futureoptimism after Goffs’ Kemptonauction on March 6.

The reduced catalogue saw 61%of entries change hands and, whilefew made great profits, there was acosmopolitan array of buyers.

A Danehill Dancer colt out of ahalf-sister to Goldikova was the starattraction, selling for £58,000 toQatari owner-trainer Mohamed AlAttiya, a new client of KernLillingston’s Ed Sackville. SeanClancy, Goffs’ US representative,was underbidder on behalf ofCalifornian trainer Lisa Lewis.

The top lot, who had made80,000gns as a foal, is one of threewho will join Tom Dascombe,along with a £24,000 ProudCitizen colt bought by De Le WarrRacing and a £10,000 Choisir coltalso bought by Al Attiya.

Denmark’s champion trainerBent Olsen, Norwegian RuneHaugen and Spain’s MaurizioDelcher were among other overseasbuyers of the top ten lots.

“It was obvious the breeze-upbonus had caught the imaginationand I thought the Kempton salewas very encouraging,” said CharlieVigors, who runs Hillwood Stud.

“It bodes well for the rest of theyear. If your horse breezed well andyou were realistic with your reservesthen it sold. There was a good buzzand it seemed a strong market.

“Everyone was testing the waterthere a bit but came away a lothappier than before the sale.”

Vendor Con Marnane would liketo see the sale move to a later date,saying: “The later sales have a bigadvantage and to my mind theEnglish trainers were not out inforce at Kempton,” he said.

“We’ve had a hard time with theweather, with a lot of snow andrain, and it’s just difficult to getthem to peak that early.”

It took several months to cometo fruition but there was no

doubting the impact of the new£500,000 bonus schememasterminded by the breeze-upconsignors at this sale.

Bonus boostA bonus payment of up to £10,000is available to successful graduatesfrom the 2009 two-year-old sales atKempton, Doncaster, Newmarket,Goresbridge, Dundalk and Saint-Cloud, and it marks the first timeIrish Thoroughbred Marketing andBritish Bloodstock Marketing willteam up.

Tattersalls, DBS, Goffs andArqana are all contributing to thebonuses, along with consignors.

“A mountain of work went intoit,” said Marnane, who created thescheme. “No stone went unturnedinto getting it into shape. The factthat sterling is weak at the momentis a big help. What we need now isfor three or four winners to comeout quickly from the Kempton sale,with the cheques for £10,000presented.”

Agent Bobby O’Ryan paid£56,000 for the second top lot, aKyllachy colt, at the Kempton saleand reported that the bonusscheme was a big incentive.

He said: “The colt was boughtfor Rob Lloyd Racing, to be trainedat his yard by Pat Morris and theyare already planning to try to win£10,000 by scoring at Chester’s

May meeting. The scheme is a greatnew incentive for owners.”

Horses scoring overseas are alsoeligible for the prizes, available on afirst come first served basis, andDanish owner Henrik Villadsen –with a large party from Scandinavia– reported the bonus was the mainincentive for them to come over.

“The krone is linked with theeuro and it is much better to buyhere than in the past, but I have tosay the bonus is the main reason wecame over,” said Villadsen. �

Shaping the Breeze-UpsHow graduates of the big two studs in Europedominate the Doncaster and Tattersalls catalogues

Craven

Doncaster

Darley Coolmore

2007

2008

2009

2007

2008

2009

18.8%

27.7%

21.3%

12%

15.5%14.1%

14.7%

24.1%

17.9%

29.6%

15.5%

20.6%

0 60NUMBER OF HORSES

A corking buy? The Danehill Dancer colt out of Le Montrachet, who topped the Goffs Kempton sale

40

59

30

40

39

22

34

31

25

41

26

43

april_56_breeze_up2.qxp 17/3/09 14:39 Page 4

APRIL 2009 THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER 69



ROA FORUMTHE SPECIAL SECTION FOR ROA MEMBERS

BetfairClub ROA enjoyedfurther success on theracecourse when the DavidPipe-trained debutanteJubilee Queen won a bumper

at Bangor on February 25. The six-year-oldmare won comfortably by a length and a half,to the delight of the members in attendance.

Minutes earlier, club stalwart Cornus hadfinished in the money yet again, with a close-

up third at Wolverhampton. The club’s sixrunners have continued to maintain animpressive win and place strike-rate for theiryoung owners, with a winning tally of 16.

Prior to Jubilee Queen’s first run, membershad enjoyed the chance to see the mare athome as part of a tour of the legendary PondHouse Stables. The group saw their horseworking on the gallops and were shownaround the extensive facilities by David Pipe

and his father Martin. The many highlights ofthe fascinating ‘behind the scenes’ tourincluded visiting the veterinary laboratory andenjoying the chance to try riding themechanical horse, under the expert tutelageof former jockey Jonothan Lower.

Members then travelled on to Wincantonfor an enjoyable afternoon’s racing. The daywas successfully rounded off by the groupbeing on hand in the winner’s enclosure towelcome the David Pipe-trained Ashkazar,owned by David Johnson, after his victory inthe featured Kingwell Hurdle.

The club’s social calendar has continuedapace, with a private chalet on the Thursdayof the Cheltenham Festival. Pictures to followin the next issue.

SPECIAL HALF PRICE OFFER For a limited period, ROA members canpurchase an annual BetfairClub ROAmembership as a gift, for a relative or friend inthe 18-32 age range, at the very special priceof £99, a saving of 50%. A monthly paymentoption of just £8.25 is also available.Club membership is the perfect year-roundpresent for young racing enthusiasts.

To purchase this gift, or for further details,please call the ROA office on 020 74080903 or email [email protected]

Crowning moment for QueenJubilee Queen (yellow colours) makes a winning debut for BetfairClub ROA at Bangor

STOP PRESS! ZA BEAUBECOMES THE CLUB’S16TH WINNER, TAKINGA HANDICAP CHASE AT7-2 AT NEWCASTLE ONMARCH 15

Prior to Jubilee Queen winning, club members visited her at David Pipe’s Pond House stables

Bangor success for Jubilee Queen on first run for Club ROA; stalwart Cornus continues to shine

april_56_roa_news_prize#282.qxp 17/3/09 12:54 Page 2


Levy Proposal from BookmakersThe Council discussed the offer submitted bythe Bookmakers’ Committee to the LevyBoard that proposed the current levy dealruns for a period of three years, starting fromApril 1, 2010. While observing the irony thatin last year’s levy negotiations racing had topull out all the stops to achieve a so-calledrollover, the Council agreed that racingshould now remain extremely circumspectabout this new offer.

It was clear that racing could not abandonits push for levy modernisation and there wasnothing within this offer that suggested thebookmakers wanted to work for an improvedscheme to facilitate the funding of Britishhorseracing. Racing had already put forwardthe suggestion of some form of arbitrationsystem which was now apparently beingignored. There was also the importantquestion of how much in real terms this offerwould deliver. Purely on a 10% of grossprofits basis, there was no guarantee as towhat the final sum might be over the nextthree years. If gross profits fell, racing’sincome and prize-money would fall.

The Council were keen to continue tofurther explore those possibilities that hadbeen raised by last year’s levy negotiationsand which had been encouraged by Sir PhilipOtton. Racing was keen to develop a systemwhereby a standard levy was paid for a basicfixture list and additional payments werelinked to add-ons, such as winter eveningsand certain matinee and Sunday fixtures. Thiswould come closer to the sort of commercialrelationship that had often been mooted inrecent years. The Council acknowledged thelevy had to work within a statutory frameworkbut felt there remained sufficient scope tomodernise the system within that framework ifthe will was there to do it.

Channel 4 RacingIt appeared that racing’s stance would beto try to persuade the Levy Board tosupport Channel 4 without the subsidybeing deducted from prize-money. It wouldinstead come from other levy sources.There was hope that Dubai Holding wouldcontinue to sponsor the programme andthat a combination of the two subsidieswould be sufficient for Channel 4 Racingto remain on our screens. Rationalisation ofproduction would, it was hoped, also bringcosts down.

The ToteThe President reported on a positivemeeting with the Tote, at which the newTote Chairman presented an encouragingoutlook for racing. Tote pool betting wasshowing signs of bucking the gloomyeconomic trend, while there wereencouraging noises relating to the Toteextending their race sponsorshipprogramme.

Daily Mail ArticleThe Council were pleased to see the BHAhad written a strong letter of complaint tothe Daily Mail editor about thesensationalist article that had appearedrecently, suggesting that racing was actingirresponsibly on welfare issues. A letterfrom the BHA’s Chief Executive hadthreatened to complain to the PressComplaints Commission and, since theMail had not responded formally within thetime frame given, a further letter had beensent to the PCC lodging a formalcomplaint.

Free Lease ExchangeThe Council heard there were now 60 two-year-old horses listed on the scheme and itwould soon be extended to include olderhorses. Matches were now beginning totake place and there was an expectationthis would accelerate as more horses werebroken in.

Inside InformationPaul Scotney and Sara Hay-Jahans fromthe BHA answered questions on InsideInformation. It was noted there would be aninitial mail-out of an information leaflet to allcurrent active owners. A range ofquestions were dealt with, includingwhether a trainer could legitimately provideinformation about his horses to otherowners in his yard. Mr Scotney saidinformation about a horse was theintellectual property of the owner and itwas their choice as to whether theywanted other owners to have access tothis before it was in the public domain.However, several Council membersdoubted the enforceability of this. MrScotney also told the Council that the BHAlegal team were re-assessing the “fit andproper person” definition in terms oflicensing.

CouncilAgenda

ROA FORUM

The February Council meeting, by Chief Executive Michael Harris

Time to make astand for ownersApplications are invited from membersinterested in standing for a place on theROA Council.

The annual elections offer anopportunity to racehorse owners whohave an interest in racing politics toplay an important role within theindustry.

This year there are three placesavailable. Three existing Councilmembers, Dena Arstall, Peter Cundelland David Silk will be re-standing forelection.

A vote amongst ROA membersdecides the successful candidates,who are required to attend monthlymeetings from July onwards.

To qualify, owners must be membersof the ROA and have had a horse intraining, or part ownerships thatamount to at least one horse, duringthe past 12 months.

Applications should be sent by April1 to Michael Harris, ROA ChiefExecutive, in writing or by email [email protected]. For further detailssee www.racehorseowners.net

New venue forAGM and lunchMembers are encouraged to attend theROA Annual General Meeting beingheld on the morning of Thursday, June25.

This year sees the event being held ata new London venue, the JumeirahCarlton Tower Hotel, in Knightsbridge.

The AGM allows members theopportunity to question the Council onany aspect of racing or the associationbusiness. The programme will includethe announcement of the ROACouncil election result, and the formalbusiness will precede a President’sAddress and a guest industry speaker.

A Champagne reception and lunchfollows the AGM, and this givesmembers the opportunity to meetfellow owners in a genial atmosphere.

Members can book tickets inadvance for themselves and theirguests for the reception and lunch.Tickets are £85 each or £750 for atable of ten and can be bookedthrough the ROA office.

It is not necessary to book a placefor the AGM itself.


ROA FORUM


Box benefits forRoyal meetingAscot is offering a number of benefits toROA members interested in booking aprivate box at Royal Ascot. Members willreceive priority booking ahead of theusual waiting list on any day of themeeting. They also have the option toupgrade guests to Royal Enclosure daybadges on the Saturday at a cost of £25per person inc VAT.

The usual minimum number of peopleneeded to book a box is ten, but ROAmembers can book a box for six people.

Package prices start from £550 plusVAT and include box hire, generaladmission, one car park label per couple,racecards, racing papers and flowers.Guests will be served morning coffee, aChampagne reception with canapés,four-course lunch with fine wines, port orbrandy with coffee, afternoon tea and acomplimentary drinks bar. To bookcontact Sue Thomsett on 0870 7263042 or [email protected] quote reference ROA Boxes.

The British Horseracing Authority guide to InsideInformation is enclosed with this magazine.

Entitled ‘A Guide to Inside Information forRacehorse Owners’, it covers the definition ofInside Information, the Code of Conduct thatrelates to owners and the associated Rules ofRacing.

The BHA wants all owners to have receivedthe guidance leaflet by the end of May 2009.

In the case of racing syndicates, nominatedpartners who are registered owners are askedto cascade the message about InsideInformation to their non-nominated partners.

Further leaflets may be requested for this

purpose by contacting the BHA’s IntegrityServices Department on 020 7152 0000. Aninteractive online guide can also bedownloaded from the BHA websitewww.britishhorseracing.com/integrity.

The guidance leaflet emphasises that it is thepassing of negative information which posesthe greatest threat to integrity, but also focuseson passing information for reward and passinginformation repeatedly.

Owners are also reminded that they caninform their trainer in writing if they do not wishthe yard to discuss their horse with otherowners.

Your guide to Inside Information

ROA extends range ofbranded merchandiseThe ROA has a new range of brandedmerchandise available for members to buy. Each of the items is designed to be practical andstylish to wear racing, and the choice rangesfrom a water resistant jacket to silk ties, ladiesscarves and umbrellas.

Full details of colour choices and sizes can beviewed on the ROA website atwww.racehorseowners.net, or please contactthe ROA office with any queries.

Prices, including postage and delivery to any UKaddress, are as follows:� Beige water resistant jacketwith removable lining £68 � Grey and black water resistant jacket £39 � Silk tie (navy/red/purple) £22 � Ladies silk scarf(gold/purple) £21 � Wood stick umbrella £11 � Compact umbrella £10

Grey and black waterresistant jacket, £39

Silk tie, in navy, red or purple, £22

Beige water resistant jacketwith removable lining, £68

Ladies silk scarf, in gold or purple, £21

Wood stick umbrella, £11

IN BRIEF:Free Lease ExchangeDetails of horses available on theFree Lease Exchange are listed onthe ROA website. Over 60 two-year-olds and a number of olderhorses are listed. Furtherinformation is available bycontacting the ROA office.

John Smith’s brandingOwners of horses running in theJohn Smith’s Grand National will bepaid £750 to carry John Smith’sbranding. This is an increase of £50on last year’s arrangement. P

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

RACECOURSEOWNERSHIP KEY

JCR Jockey Club Racecourses

North Northern Racing Ltd

Arena Arena Leisure Ltd

I Independently ownedracecourse

Gold Standard Award

EXPLANATION OF TABLE

In order of racecourses’percentage contributionsto overall prize-money

Figures relate to prize-money for the 12-month period March 1, 2008 to February28, 2009

Ptn Racecourse Racecourse Exec + % of Levy Board % of Owners % of Total 2008/9 Total 2007/8 % total Up/ownership Sponsors (£) Total (£) Total (£) Total (£) (£) 2007/8 down

1 Aintree JCR 1,648,337 50.4 1,180,520 36.1 414,741 12.7 3,273,598 2,815,616 60.4 �

2 Cheltenham JCR 2,785,302 50.1 1,819,820 32.7 887,701 16.0 5,562,823 5,634,382 55.5 �

3 Ascot I 4,754,208 46.7 2,939,880 28.9 2,359,261 23.2 10,180,849 9,399,769 51.7 �

4 Epsom Downs JCR 1,160,120 39.1 736,780 24.8 1,040,762 35.1 2,965,662 3,026,583 45.4 �

5 Hamilton Park I 319,179 38.7 409,890 49.8 56,675 6.9 823,744 797,561 19.6 �

6 Goodwood I 1,470,947 38.4 1,740,060 45.4 535,903 14.0 3,832,910 3,452,474 40.0 �

7 Chester I 573,270 37.9 784,840 51.9 86,830 5.8 1,510,940 1,366,447 37.8 �

8 York I 757,003 37.9 870,350 43.6 340,472 17.1 1,995,325 4,290,913 45.1 �

9 Sandown Park JCR 1,243,000 33.8 1,885,215 51.3 503,750 13.7 3,677,965 3,597,366 39.1 �

10 Doncaster Arena 1,599,070 33.2 2,045,770 42.5 1,039,191 21.6 4,819,031 3,971,933 36.1 �

11 Thirsk I 204,567 32.4 339,200 53.7 66,183 10.5 632,050 720,250 27.8 �

12 Haydock Park JCR 1,032,309 31.4 1,769,690 53.9 386,621 11.8 3,285,870 2,884,175 33.2 �

13 Newmarket JCR 3,433,466 30.7 3,361,990 30.1 4,127,283 36.9 11,182,239 7,785,901 38.0 �

14 Newcastle North 373,833 30.5 690,590 56.4 146,780 12.0 1,225,403 1,490,591 28.3 �

15 Bath North 206,382 30.4 392,890 57.9 66,167 9.8 678,639 645,705 14.5 �

16 Ripon I 237,655 30.0 481,920 60.8 43,291 5.5 792,366 736,371 27.2 �

17 Windsor Arena 307,810 27.3 652,090 57.8 123,777 11.0 1,127,677 1,083,000 24.5 �

18 Ayr I 567,009 26.7 1,229,367 57.8 297,927 14.0 2,127,603 1,957,562 21.3 �

19 Yarmouth North 199,823 26.5 440,380 58.4 84,779 11.2 753,942 687,378 11.3 �

20 Hexham I 88,069 26.4 215,190 64.6 29,841 9.0 333,100 484,300 14.5 �

21 Salisbury I 250,325 26.1 544,150 56.8 83,343 8.7 957,818 824,813 23.2 �

22 Carlisle JCR 183,807 25.9 441,940 62.4 67,653 9.6 708,400 670,323 16.2 �

23 Stratford-on-Avon I 219,724 25.4 570,110 65.9 68,290 7.9 865,124 710,500 18.3 �

24 Fakenham I 93,564 25.1 279,720 74.9 0 0 373,284 378,000 17.4 �

25 Pontefract I 207,335 23.9 564,690 65.2 57,139 6.6 866,664 1,007,359 24.8 �

26 Musselburgh I 286,991 23.8 801,360 66.5 82,574 6.9 1,205,425 1,180,272 22.4 �

27 Newbury I 956,576 23.6 2,365,700 58.4 535,645 13.2 4,052,921 3,543,886 28.9 �

28 Wetherby I 227,007 23.0 646,630 65.6 88,809 9.0 986,446 810,946 11.2 �

29 Great Leighs I 449,631 21.1 1,469,000 68.9 142,852 6.7 2,131,983 - - N/A30 Beverley I 174,967 20.6 573,660 67.6 65,488 7.7 849,115 929,879 21.4 �

31 Lingfield Park Arena 745,038 20.0 2,497,830 67.1 314,247 8.4 3,723,434 4,109,322 15.6 �

32 Leicester I 218,760 18.5 804,013 68.1 91,563 7.8 1,179,837 1,279,895 14.0 �

33 Market Rasen JCR 163,325 18.0 657,965 72.7 81,610 9.0 905,400 938,214 13.5 �

34 Chepstow North 194,592 17.4 769,575 68.8 120,433 10.8 1,118,100 1,098,810 12.0 �

35 Huntingdon JCR 125,616 17.4 499,560 69.2 81,447 11.3 721,623 661,935 12.0 �

36 Redcar I 144,246 16.5 463,460 52.9 235,044 26.8 876,300 906,350 5.7 �

37 Cartmel I 33,314 16.4 152,355 74.9 17,714 8.7 203,383 199,550 9.8 �

38 Kelso I 89,320 16.4 414,610 76.3 31,290 5.8 543,720 758,597 19.8 �

39 Brighton North 88,746 15.6 424,110 74.5 56,169 9.9 569,025 524,932 3.3 �

40 Perth I 102,216 15.1 537,990 79.4 30,694 4.5 677,900 651,500 12.3 �

41 Bangor-on-Dee I 106,421 14.9 560,500 78.4 46,495 6.5 714,916 711,650 14.7 �

42 Kempton Park JCR 690,793 14.9 3,328,400 71.8 439,294 9.5 4,636,764 4,060,489 21.0 �

43 Nottingham JCR 101,950 14.7 442,210 63.9 93,267 13.5 691,927 660,985 11.7 �

44 Wincanton JCR 150,602 14.1 778,920 72.9 103,878 9.7 1,068,900 1,025,112 19.3 �

45 Catterick Bridge I 98,206 13.3 560,720 76.2 54,916 7.5 735,842 855,580 11.4 �

46 Fontwell Park North 111,329 13.3 635,450 76.2 79,123 9.5 834,402 738,535 12.2 �

47 Warwick JCR 95,009 12.2 562,250 72.3 95,150 12.2 777,909 1,087,526 14.3 �

48 Ludlow I 80,215 11.9 537,770 79.6 51,315 7.6 675,800 720,529 15.3 �

49 Folkestone Arena 82,067 10.7 580,860 75.6 81,465 10.6 768,142 874,243 21.2 �

50 Uttoxeter North 103,858 10.4 753,590 75.6 134,902 13.5 997,350 1,087,350 6.5 �

51 Exeter JCR 65,294 8.0 615,260 75.8 90,082 11.1 812,136 882,792 15.9 �

52 Sedgefield North 35,959 6.8 414,430 78.2 58,107 11.0 529,896 530,150 2.4 �

53 Hereford North 30,626 6.7 376,820 83.0 46,742 10.3 454,188 454,200 0.8 �

54 Newton Abbot I 40,524 6.7 545,970 90.3 4,972 0.8 604,666 594,165 5.1 �

55 Towcester I 37,235 6.2 509,025 84.3 50,740 8.4 604,000 546,836 3.2 �

56 Taunton I 33,477 6.0 460,160 83.0 43,768 7.9 554,355 549,877 12.3 �

57 Southwell Arena 88,574 4.3 1,763,670 86.2 155,280 7.6 2,047,074 1,828,150 -0.6 �

58 Plumpton I 11,349 2.3 445,510 91.8 28,625 5.9 485,484 570,384 4.8 �

59 Worcester Arena 12,412 2.0 530,270 84.7 75,932 12.1 626,214 342,289 -1.8 �

60 Wolverhampton Arena -8,513 -0.3 2,517,720 88.4 253,720 8.9 2,848,427 3,140,770 3.2 �

Total 29,883,842 28.3 56,384,365 53.3 16,877,712 16.0 105,766,025 99,274,970 29.9 �

Racecourse League Table



ROA FORUMTHE SPECIAL SECTION FOR ROA MEMBERS

Owner of the Month: Simon ClarkeRacing Post Chase winner Nacarat is the first horse to race in Simon Clarke’s own colours

Famous racing family enjoys another big-race success as Nacarat annihilates hisrivals in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton Words: Edward Rosenthal

As the son of the late Stan Clarke, theracing entrepreneur who ownedGrand National hero Lord Gylleneand brilliant hurdler Barton, Simon

Clarke should certainly know a top-classjumper when he sees one.

And in the grey guise of Nacarat, whoevoked memories of the great Desert Orchidwhen romping home by nine lengths in theRacing Post Chase at Kempton in February, helooks to have unearthed a chaser of his ownwith the potential to bid for top honours.

“Kempton was a massive thrill, a dreamcome true,” said Clarke, who owned horses inpartnership for around a decade beforepurchasing Nacarat, the first horse to race inhis own colours.

“We knew we had a decent chance goinginto the race because everything seemed to bein his favour, but we never imagined he wouldwin in the style that he did.

“Nacarat has a few options at Aintree, butthose decisions will be left up to [trainer] TomGeorge. We missed Cheltenham because hedoesn’t like the undulations – he’s run theretwice and been pulled up on both occasions.”

It was John Edwards, the former trainer whois the father of Tom George’s wife Sophie,who found Nacarat in France.

The initial response was not overlyencouraging. Clarke explained: “We wonderedwhat we had got when he first turned up,because he certainly needed a good feed! Buthe won easily on his debut for us at Wincantonand so we knew he had plenty of ability.”

Clarke was brought up around horses at thefamily home in Burton-on-Trent, where hisfather kept point-to-pointers, and attendedPony Club and hunted as a youngster alongwith his three sisters.

Having moved into farming after leavingschool – Clarke still farms 1,000 acres inStaffordshire, a mixture of beef, sheep andarable, and runs an agricultural dealership – hebecame Deputy Chairman of NorthernRacing, the racecourse group founded by hisfather in 1987. He worked there until thecompany was sold in 2006.

“I had a great time at Northern Racing andmiss it enormously,” Clarke said. “It was atough working environment, but also veryexciting. However, we sold because it was the

“We wonderedwhat we had gotwhen Nacaratfirst turned up;he certainlyneeded a good feed”– Simon Clarke

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Tony McCoy’s quest to ride his3,000th winner over jumps reachedits dramatic conclusion on a cold,wet afternoon at Plumpton onFebruary 9 aboard chasingdebutant Restless D’Artaix.

For owner Judy Wilson, who hasexperienced the thrill ofCheltenham Festival and RoyalAscot triumphs alongside her latehusband, Lynn, it was a trulyremarkable occasion.

“It was one of those incredibledays that you never think willhappen to you – unbelievablereally,” said Wilson, a huntingenthusiast who is involved inbreeding and racing point-to-pointers.

“Conditions were absolutelyatrocious – the paddock was like alake – and the course did very wellto hold the meeting. I think it waswonderful for Plumpton that theyhad so much publicity.

“Walking back to the winners’enclosure after the race, Iremember Nicky [Henderson] said,‘This is where the fun starts’,because there were so manypeople there. We had to fight ourway through them all!”

Restless D’Artaix’s place in thehistory books came about as aresult of events earlier in the day.

Having already ground out ahard-fought success on Hello

Moscow, McCoy looked assured ofvictory aboard Miss Sarenne in themares’ novices’ hurdle, only to takea crashing fall at the final flight.

Wilson said: “I felt sad for theconnections of Miss Sarenne andalso for Tony, because he hadwasted to do that weight.

“He looked so gaunt after the fall,but he just got on with the job.That’s the man – totally dedicated.”

Having been associated withjumpers of the quality of HenryMann, Barna Boy, Blue Royal andGreenhope, plus talented Flatstayer Enjoy The Moment, Wilson islooking to the future with RestlessD’Artaix and her top hurdlerPunchestowns, gallant runner-up toBig Buck’s in the World Hurdle.

She said: “Restless D’Artaix wasoff the track for two and half yearshaving injured both front tendons,and then tweaked a shoulder afterhe was brought down at Bangor,so we have had to be very patientwith him.

“He jumped beautifully atPlumpton and didn’t put a footwrong. He went over the last withhis ears pricked and did very well tocope with the conditions after suchan absence.

“The amount of phone calls andtext messages I received after therace was amazing. Lynn would haveadored it!”

Owners in the News –Judy WilsonA dramatic afternoon in East Sussex sees TonyMcCoy ride his 3,000th winner over jumps incolours normally associated with grander venues

Simon Clarke leads in Nacarat at Kempton

Tony McCoy drives Judy Wilson’s Restless D’Artaix to that landmark 3,000th win


right decision for our shareholders. The waythe economy has gone proved it was the rightdecision.

“Now that I’m not involved in the runningof racing businesses – I was also Vice-Chairman at the RCA – I have more time toenjoy the sport.”

Sir Stanley Clarke was one of racing’s mostpopular figures. With his wife, Hilda, theyenjoyed a host of big successes over the years.

Lord Gyllene and Barton aside, Rolling Ballcaptured the RSA Chase at the CheltenhamFestival and Lord Relic won the ChallowHurdle at Newbury.

OutstandingClarke said: “Barton was the best; he wasoutstanding. But he had a problem with hisfeet that affected him when he went chasing.Lord Gyllene was a one-off. Whenever I hearthe Grand National music on the television,the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

“One of my abiding memories of my fatheris after Lord Gyllene won the National. Hissmile was as big as it could get – he was thehappiest man alive! My mother still loves herracing and keeps broodmares at home.”

A glance at the Racing Post Chase’s roll ofhonour finds two horses, Rhyme ‘N’ Reasonand Rough Quest, who went on to GrandNational glory.

With his family’s history in the race, what arethe odds against Nacarat, who fell in theTopham Chase over the big fences last year,contesting the Aintree race at some stage?

“The National has never featured in ourdiscussions over Nacarat,” said Clarke. “And Iwouldn’t want to get in front of myself bymaking any grand plans.

“Saying that, although he fell in theTopham, Tony Dobbin said he loved thefences and really enjoyed himself until hismistake. I certainly wouldn’t be put off goingback to Aintree with him, put it that way.”

april_56_owners.qxp 17/3/09 16:18 Page 5


TBA FORUMTHE SPECIAL SECTION FOR TBA MEMBERS

The statutory disputeresolution proceduresintroduced in October2004 were intended to

simplify process and reduce thenumber of employment tribunalapplications by between 34,000and 37,000 claims a year, about athird of all claims. In practice theprocedures did the opposite.

They have caused numerousproblems for employers, forcingtribunals to find that somedismissals were automaticallyunfair even where a failure wassmall or inconsequential. Once adismissal had been foundwanting, a tribunal was thenobliged to make an uplift incompensation of 10% to 50%,penalising the employer further.

The problem with the statutorydismissal procedures was not alack of clarity or simplicity, butrather an inflexibility that provedhard for employers andemployees to operate. TheGovernment’s Gibbons Reporton the procedures was publishedin March 2007. It pulled nopunches, calling the procedures“a classic case of good policy butinappropriately inflexible andprescriptive regulation”.

So having been introduced inOctober 2004, the proceduresare to be abolished in April 2009.

What will replace theprocedures and what will thismean for existing disciplinary andgrievance processes? Happily, theanswer may be surprisingly little.

Rather than setting down athree-step process that must befollowed, each dismissal will belooked at with reference to theACAS Code of Practice onDiscipline, and to which tribunalswill refer when consideringwhether dismissals are fair. Thiswill cover all dismissals exceptthose for redundancy and on theexpiry of a fixed-term contract.

Although it may seem long-winded at ten pages, the ACAScode’s provisions are not novel:establish the facts, inform theemployee of the problem, meet todiscuss and make an appropriateand fair decision, allowing for anappeal. The emphasis is onacting promptly, consistently andfairly. All reasonable steps andwhat most reasonable employerswill be doing anyway.

While the ACAS code must beadhered to, its flexibility will allowtribunals to forgive a technical

breach and make allowances forthe smaller employer.

Instead of the existing upliftprovisions, tribunals will have adiscretionary power to upliftcompensation by up to 25%where appropriate. It will be moreimportant than ever that internalprocedures are followed everytime and for that reason a reviewof an employer’s own disciplineand grievance procedures will bea valuable exercise. Do you followthe processes every time? Arethey in line with the ACAS code?Have staff been involved indrawing them up?

Regarding grievanceprocedures, again, there isnothing very new: deal with thegrievance by meeting, establishthe facts, come to decision/takeappropriate action, and allow theright of appeal.

One difference is that fromApril 2009 it will no longer beincumbent on employees to raisea grievance prior to submitting atribunal claim. The downside ofthis for employers is that they maybe surprised by – and thereforeunprepared for – a tribunal claim.

On the other hand, it willcounteract one of the unwelcome

side effects of the statutoryprocedures, in that it will nolonger be necessary to deal withevery written expression ofdiscontent from employees (oreven former employees) as aformal grievance.

Another welcome change isthat ACAS officers will be able tohelp facilitate settlementdiscussions between the partiesthroughout any dispute that goesto employment tribunal, ratherthan being restricted to the first17 weeks of any dispute, as theyare under the current regime.

The restriction was supposedto encourage early settlements,but in practice it proved unwieldyand unhelpful, and had theopposite effect.

The draft ACAS Code ofPractice and Guidance isavailable at www.acas.org.uk.There are resources available freeof charge to keep employers andemployees up to date with theiremployment rights.

ACAS and Business Link(www.businesslink.gov.uk) areparticularly helpful. Further adviceis available from the TBA’shelpline (contact CarolineTurnbull at Stanstead House).

The existing statutory rules for resolving disputes in theworkplace are to be abolished from April 6. TBA lawyer Rachel Flynn of Taylor Vinters looks at how it may impact on the way in which disciplinary issues, staff grievances and dismissals are dealt with at your workplace

Rules on automatic unfairdismissal to be abolished

The two winning foals at the TBA Kenneth OliverMemorial Foal Show, held on the first day of theDoncaster January Sales, were selected by judgesMichael Browne and Tommy Wade. Their championswere a colt by King’s Theatre out of Temptation,owned by Patrick Burling, and a filly by Old Vic out ofNo More Money, owned by David Jenks.

TBA Kenneth OliverMemorial Foal Show

TBA ChiefExecutive LouiseKemble and RhonaOliver make thepresentation toSally Aston ofGoldford Stud andowner PatrickBurling

april_56_tbanews.qxp 17/3/09 13:07 Page 2

TBA FORUM

Patrick Lennon with TBA Chairman Kirsten Rausing

Stud Staff Award March 2009Patrick Lennon –Shadwell Estate Company Ltd

Patrick Lennon has spent 40years working in the breedingindustry, 37 of them for LordHoward de Walden as studgroom, first at Thornton Stud inYorkshire and then PlantationStud in Newmarket. During thistime he has worked withstallions Kris, Slip Anchor,Generous, Pursuit Of Love andOlden Times. Patrick remainedat Plantation Stud until it wassold in 2005.

Since joining Shadwell EstateCompany Ltd at Beech HouseStud, Patrick has become ahighly valued member of staff.

Assistant Manager Arthur Belldescribes Patrick as a greatasset who undertakes allaspects of stud work forShadwell, including theinternational travel of horses.

His skills at dealing withpeople, both on the stud and inthe public arena, are particularlystrong, and his knowledge andexperience of the industry makePatrick a natural role model forthe staff at Beech House.

Bell sums Patrick up as apleasure to work with, 100%reliable and a fine example toyoung staff entering the industry.


STUDSTAFFAWARDMARCH2009

Rhona Olivermakes thepresentation toDavid Jenks –his champion filly is in thebackground


Complimentary accessMembership to the BreedersBadge Scheme (BBS) entitlescomplimentary access to theracecourse for the TBAmember plus one guest at over1,000 participating fixturesthroughout the year.

However, if you do notupdate the breeding detailsheld on your TBA/RCAHorseracing PrivilegePassCard, it will automaticallyde-activate on April 30, 2009.All individual members of theBBS now need to have aphoto card. For cardsregistered under joint orstud/business names, themaroon card is valid so long asidentification is taken to theracecourse, along with thecard.

TBA members were sent aform at the end of February,which should be completedand returned to Weatherbys. Ifyou do not have a photo card,please send a passport-sizedphoto with your renewalapplication. If you have

misplaced the form, or haveany questions, please contactSamantha Knight at StansteadHouse.

Spring grassFact sheets, giving guidance forthe preparation of studpaddocks for spring, havealready been emailed to TBAmembers and are also postedon the website. Theseinformative articles have beenprepared by ADAS UK Ltd onbehalf of the TBA. If membersneed further information pleasecontact Geoff Fairfoull of ADASUK Ltd by email –[email protected]

April 3 Central Regional Dayat Defence Animal Centre.

April 16 CheltenhamBreeders’ Club Day (NHBreeders’ Day).

May 7 Yorkshire RegionalDay – Ferdy Murphy’sWynbury Stables and tour ofTheakstons Brewery.

May 20 Scotland RegionalDay – Morning lectures and atour of The Royal DickVeterinary School.

May 21 The North RegionalDay – seminar and racing atHaydock Park.

June 2 The West RegionalDay – Richard Hannon’sstables and Raffin Stud.

June 25 South East RegionalDay – Whitsbury ManorRacing Stables andWhitsbury Manor Stud.

June 30 TBA Seminar,‘British Breeding: Now and inthe Future’, at Tattersalls.

July 14 East Anglia RegionalDay – Godolphin stables andNewmarket Equine Hospital.

July 23 West MidlandsRegional Day – Far WestfieldsFarm and Upton Viva Stud.

Wales Regional Day – Dateand details to be arranged.

TBA New MembersPlease contact StansteadHouse on 01638 661321 ifyou have any queries.Home: Katrina Wall, Dorset.Marion Shone, Essex. Mrs DL Mitchell, West Midlands.Mrs R O Hutchings, Dorset.Mr C M Oakshott,Hampshire. The Hon IanWills, Gloucestershire. Mr EO' Malley, Carmarthenshire.Mrs J Gawthorpe, Kent.

News in Brief

Diary Dates and Reminders

TBA FORUM


Amongst the array ofservices provided by theTBA to members, support

for employers on staffmanagement and employmentmatters fall within the remit of theTBA Education and EmploymentCommittee (previously known asthe British Stud Staff TrainingScheme Committee).

This was established followingthe Report of the Stable andStud Staff Commissionpublished in June 2004, whichmade specific recommendationsfor the breeding industry onrecruitment, training, employmentand retention of stud staff. Underthe day-to-day management ofTBA Education and EmploymentManager Caroline Turnbullemployers now have access toguidance on a range ofemployment-related matters anda voice at wider industry level onissues relating to training,recruitment and staff welfare.

CommunicationA key recommendation of thereport was to establish a registerof employers within the TBAmembership, to improvecommunication with and supportfor our employers. The TBAEmployers Register is an internet-based database accessed via theTBA website, which employerscan log on to through thehomepage to register theirdetails. Registered employershave access to freedownloadable employment lawfact sheets and sample policies,quarterly employment lawupdates, health and safetyguidance, and education andtraining information. Employerscan also speak directly toCaroline, who will provide initialadvice and signpost employerstowards further help.

Another significantachievement of the committeehas been the introduction of theTBA Employee Benefits Scheme2008, a benefits package whichcomprises Death in Service and aGroup Personal Pension Plan.

This has been commissioned toassist members in preparation forlegislation in 2012, when theGovernment plans to introduce aNational Pension SavingsScheme which will becompulsory for employees,unless the employer offers abetter or comparable scheme.

Also falling under the umbrellaof education and employment,the TBA Stud Staff AwardScheme rewards stud staffnominated by their employers, theAnnual Stud Farming Courseprovides up to date education ontopics ranging from themanagement of broodmares tothe equine genetics, and anAnnual Seminar is held on a topicof relevance to breeders.

This year the seminar – ‘BritishBreeding: Now and in the Future’– is on June 30 and is a not-to-be-missed event. Employers arealso advised of relevant trainingcourses and educational eventsby email as they arise. CarolineTurnbull also works closely withthe wider British racing industry,representing the breedingindustry on industry qualificationdevelopment, promotion ofcareers and staff welfare matters.

If you are an employer, take thetime to visit the TBA websitewww.thetba.co.uk and register, orif you are already registered,please update your details on thesite. All employment lawdocumentation has recently beenreviewed and so it is worth havinga look to check that you are fullyup-to-date.

Education and Employment –what the TBA is doing for you



TBA FORUM

National Hunt HBLB Breeders’ Prizes worth £1,000 or moreBased on dates money was paid

Breeders’ Prizes

Breeder Prize (£) Horse Sire Dam Date CourseGleadhill House Stud Ltd 10,000 Cloudy Lane Cloudings Celtic Cygnet 17/01/09 Haydock ParkRichard J Phizacklea 10,000 *Pagan Starprincess Robertico Pagan Star 24/1/09 DoncasterThe Queen 10,000 *Chief Yeoman Machiavellian Step Aloft 31/1/09 Sandown ParkJ K M Oliver 10,000 Rambling Minster Minster Son Howcleuch 14/2/09 Haydock ParkTaker Bloodstock 9,600 Cape Tribulation Hernando Gay Fantastic 24/1/09 DoncasterMrs S J Brasher 9,600 Tarablaze Kayf Tara Princess Hotpot 14/2/09 Haydock ParkMr & Mrs B Mayoh 7,700 Kornati Kid Kayf Tara Hiltonstown Lass 31/1/09 WetherbyLord Oaksey 7,700 Carruthers Kayf Tara Plaid Maid 14/2/09 AscotR J Wilding 6,000 Big Fella Thanks Primitive Rising Nunsdream 24/1/09 DoncasterMill House Stud 5,500 *I'msingingtheblues Pistolet Bleu Nova Rose 31/1/09 DoncasterJennie M Raymond 4,800 Jass Robellino Iota 31/1/09 DoncasterMrs J A Gawthorpe 4,800 Daldini Josr Algarhoud Arianna Aldini 31/1/09 WetherbyM H Iings 4,800 Bob Bob Bobbin Bob Back Absalom's Lady 21/2/09 ChepstowGoldford Stud 2,600 *Ring The Boss Kahyasi Fortune's Girl 22/1/09 WarwickMartin Blandford 2,600 Morgan Be Alderbrook Vicie 25/1/09 AyrEamonn O’Malley 2,600 Cromwell Court Overbury Slip A Coin 25/1/09 AyrMiss K Rausing 2,600 Heathcote Unfuwain Chere Amie 06/2/09 Fontwell ParkG Brown 2,600 Silver By Nature Silver Patriarch Gale 07/2/09 AyrHalewood International Ltd 2,600 Bannister Lane Overbury Miss Club Royal 13/2/09 Sandown ParkThe Woodhaven Stud 2,600 Psychomodo Mark Of Esteem En Vacances 16/2/09 CarlisleA G Knowles 2,600 Brave Rebellion Primitive Rising Grand Queen 20/2/09 MusselburghMrs J A Gawthorpe 2,600 *Daldini Josr Algarhoud Arianna Aldini 21/2/09 NewcastleG Reed 2,000 Par Avion Efisio Blow Me A Kiss 24/1/09 DoncasterMrs L M Williams 2,000 Moorlands Teri Terimon Sandford Springs 06/2/09 Bangor-On-DeeMrs C Massey 1,500 Kealshore Lass Alflora Queenford Belle 31/1/09 WetherbyD McCain 1,500 Comhla Ri Coig Sir Harry Lewis Analogical 25/1/09 AyrMrs P Conway-Garrett 1,500 Ellen Tilley Overbury Fortunes Course 29/1/09 WincantonRita Hutchings 1,300 Apatura Dik Deltic Apatura Hati 27/1/09 FolkestoneJ E Potter 1,300 Mister Potter Classic Cliche Potter's Gale 29/1/09 TowcesterLondon Thoroughbred Services Ltd 1,300 *Kingham Desert Prince Marie de Flandre 30/1/09 Catterick BridgeR W Russell 1,300 Phardessa Pharly Mardessa 21/2/09 ChepstowHelshaw Grange Stud & Mr B Ridge 1,000 Alexander Beetle Beat All Fleeting Affair 26/1/09 LudlowF G Matthews 1,000 Roman Conquest Roi de Rome Kellys Conquest 29/1/09 Wincanton

*second tier (40% of Breeders’ Prize awarded)

Flat HBLB Breeders’ Prizes worth £1,000 or more

R S A Urquhart 2,800 Suits Me Bertolini Fancier Bit 10/2/09 Lingfield ParkHighclere Stud 2,700 Robby Bobby Selkirk Dancing Mirage 31/1/09 Lingfield ParkCheveley Park Stud Ltd 2,000 Spinning Pivotal Starring 06/2/09 Wolverhampton

Gallantry Green Desert Gay Gallanta 07/2/09 Lingfield ParkHesmonds Stud Ltd 1,800 Titan Triumph Zamindar Triple Green 14/2/09 Lingfield ParkRidgecourt Stud 1,600 Signella Selkirk Sarah Georgina 23/1/09 Lingfield ParkCotswold Stud 1,500 Greenwich Village Mtoto D'Azy 21/1/09 Kempton ParkOold Mill Stud 1,500 Benhego Act One Sadaka 12/2/09 Kempton ParkR Coogan 1,400 Matsunosuke Magic Ring Lon Isa 21/2/09 Lingfield ParkExord of the Late K G Powter 1,200 Eighteenfifty Hernando Colleville 09/2/09 WolverhamptonChippenham Lodge Stud Ltd 1,000 Teasing Lujain Movieland 30/1/09 WolverhamptonNewsells Park Stud Limited 1,000 St Moritz Medicean Statua 06/2/09 WolverhamptonMrs D O Joly 1,000 Exit Smiling Dr Fong Away To Me 10/2/09 SouthwellMr & Mrs G Middlebrook 1,000 Tous Les Deaux Efisio Caerosa 14/2/09 Kempton ParkC H and W A Greensit 1,000 Fesko Shinko Forest Young Sue 15/2/09 Southwell

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TBA FORUMTHE SPECIAL SECTION FOR TBA MEMBERS

Rambling Minster’s victory in the BlueSquare Gold Cup at Haydock hasearned the Breeder of the Monthaward for the late Ken Oliver.

Co-incidentally, Rambling Minster is out of amare called Howcleuch – the same name as the1899 Buccleuch Cup winner at Kelso, who wasridden by Ken Oliver’s uncle Andrew Oliver.

“The name Howcleuch is taken from a farmon the other side of Hawick,” explained KenOliver’s widow Rhona from her home atHassendean Bank in the Scottish Borders, whereshe and her husband trained so many winners.

She receives a year’s free nutritionalconsultancy and 20 sacks of stud feed balancerfrom TopSpec following Rambling Minster’slatest triumph, the biggest so far in the career ofjockey James Reveley, riding for his father Keith.

Borders NationalKen Oliver died in 1999 when RamblingMinster was a yearling and Howcleuch’s onlyother two progeny were both bred by Rhona,who said: “Lord Rodney joined Peter Beaumontand was killed at Aintree jumping the Chair, andI bought Lady Howe back to breed from just aweek before Rambling Minster won the BordersNational last season.”

Rambling Minster leads the field on his way to victory in the Blue Square Gold Cup

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Stamina gains the day as Rambling Minstersecures Grade 3 prize at Haydock to rewardhis late Scottish breederWords: Alan Yuill Walker

Sponsored by

NH Breeder of the Month: February - Ken Oliver

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Tarablaze’s win in the Grade 2 AlbertBartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Haydockin February represented anothermemorable sporting achievement forhis breeder Shirley Brasher.

An ex-professional tennis playerwho was once ranked number threein the world, Brasher (then ShirleyBloomer) won the women’s singlestitle at the French Open in 1957 andalso appeared in the women’sdoubles final at Wimbledon.

Her late husband Chris famouslyhelped to set the pace for RogerBannister when he ran the first subfour-minute mile in 1954, and laterwon a Gold medal at the 1956Melbourne Olympics. He also co-founded the London Marathon.

“I married a steeplechaser and Ithink I’ve bred one too – I seem tolike them!” said Brasher, who rodeponies and hunted in her youth andbecame involved in ownership withher husband in the early 1990s.

“Tarablaze won a point-to-point inIreland so he’s surely a chaser in themaking. I’m grateful that he hasended up with a trainer like PhilipHobbs, who is very astute and issure to get the best from the horse.”

Brasher, who runs two propertycompanies, took plenty of advicefrom professionals before embarkingon her breeding venture, despitebeing told by the Inland Revenue itwas just a ‘hobby’.

“I’ve never done anything as anamateur!” she exclaimed.

Her small but select broodmareband was originally based with her athome in Chaddleworth, Berkshire,but now resides with David Owen at

Hawkwind Stud in Newmarket. She said: “Princess Hotpot, the

dam of Tarablaze, was boughtprivately by Henrietta Knight fromMark Dwyer on my behalf, initially asa racing prospect. I had no intentionof breeding from her at the time.

“Of the three mares who I racedand later bred from – Heart andDebutante Days were the other two– she was the poor relation, yet themost successful in the breedingshed, which just shows that youcannot always tell in this business!

“I sold Tarablaze’s half-brother byKaringa Bay for €15,000 atTattersalls Ireland last year, and haveher Luso filly and Definite Articlegelding to sell.

“Princess Hotpot is 21 and hadactually been retired after visitingDefinite Article, but Henrietta Knightpersuaded me to bring her back.She is now in foal to Kayf Tara again.”

Brasher’s decision to sendPrincess Hotpot to Kayf Tara in2002, when he was then justanother new sire on the block, isnow proving inspired.

Undoubtedly the hottest NationalHunt sire in Britain, his progeny arenow excelling on the track andmaking large sums at auction.

“As soon as I saw Kayf Tara, thatwas it,” recalled Brasher. “He hadamazing looks and presence, wastop notch on the track and with a finepedigree to match. He just had it all. Ialso thought he was amazing value.”

“Picking the right stallions for mymares is something I really enjoy andpart of the whole fascination withbreeding.”

Barren to her 2000 covering by Minster Son,Howcleuch met a sad end the followingFebruary. “She was turned out in the paddockby the house,” explained Rhona, “and we had asnowstorm. Then someone passing telephonedto say that there was a mare lying down outthere. Somehow she had managed to break herpelvis.”

Howcleuch was acquired by the Olivers at theDoncaster Spring Sales as a four-year-old from afarming neighbour, Charles Scott.

Ken Oliver always had a high regard for Irishstock and the mare had the right credentials,being by Buckskin out of a mare by Deep Runout of a mare by Artist’s Prince.

LucklessAlthough Rhona Oliver never received anyaccolades for breeding the luckless Wynburgh,the only horse to finish runner-up in the GrandNational three times without winning, herhusband earned the TBA’s prestigious annualjumping award after Deep Sensation brought offthe Champion Chase and Melling Chase doublein 1993.

While Howcleuch did not have to venture farto be mated with Minster Son at Acrum LodgeStud in County Durham, Lady Howe is havingto travel rather further for her breedingassignations. Currently in foal to Beat All, she isscheduled for a return trip to Mickley Stud inShropshire to visit Overbury.

Rhona Oliver, whose late husband Ken bred Rambling Minster

“The mare was turned out in the paddock by the house and we had a snowstorm. Somehow she managed to break her pelvis”– Rhona Oliver


TBA FORUM

Ace hurdler Tarablaze serves it up to his rivals atHaydock to take Grade 2 honours and provide hiscrack sire with another high-class performer

Breeders in the News – Shirley BrasherTarablaze’s dam Princess Hotpot is part of a small but select broodmare band

april_56_breeders.qxp 17/3/09 13:28 Page 3


‘K eyhole surgery’ refersto surgery that iscarried out through ashort incision using

small instruments. In horses, by farthe most common and importantexample of keyhole surgery isarthroscopy, which is theexamination of the interior of ajoint with an arthroscope.

Arthroscopy has revolutionisedboth the diagnosis and treatment ofcommon equine joint conditions,and equine veterinary surgeonshave become so proficient at this

operation that it is now a routineprocedure.

Arthroscopy has been performedon horses for the last 30 years andin that time the techniques andequipment have advanced rapidly.

To enable maximum visibility ofthe joint it is inflated with sterilesaline using a motorized pump andthen a small rigid endoscope calledan arthroscope is inserted into thejoint. A powerful light is projecteddown a channel in thearthroscope, giving the surgeon anexcellent view inside the joint.

Another tiny incision is thenmade elsewhere in the joint,through which instruments areinserted to perform surgery.

There are specially designedinstruments that ‘grab’ loosefragments and motorisedinstruments that can remove areasof damaged cartilage, soft tissue orbone.

The intricate surgery is usuallycarried out under generalanaesthesia whilst the specialistsurgeon watches on a large monitorto guide the procedure. On

VETS FORUMTHE EXPERT VIEW

A key part of surgery

Arthroscopy is the most common example of keyhole surgery on horses and is usually carried out under general anaesthetic

Keyhole surgery is a growing part of equine treatment, suchas for the removal of bone chips. It can be performed in lessthan an hour and greatly reduces the risk of complicationsWords: James Tate BVMS MRCVS

An x-ray revealing a knee chip which was removed via keyhole surgery

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completion of the surgery, repeat x-rays may be taken to check that thesurgery has achieved its aim (forexample, the removal of bonechips) and the joint is flushed outwith sterile saline. This is a sterilesolution similar in electrolytebalance to that of equine tissuefluid and this small procedure canbe very beneficial as an anti-inflammatory therapy. The tinyincisions are then stitched and it isoften hard to tell a horse has hadsurgery once the wounds havehealed.

All keyhole surgeries require atleast four well-trained people – aspecialist surgeon to perform thesurgery, a veterinary nurse to assistthe surgeon, a theatre technician toman the equipment and an equineanaesthetist to monitor the horseduring the operation. The timetaken to perform such an operationobviously varies significantly withindividual procedures.

For example, the removal of asmall chip from a fetlock joint withno other abnormalities in the jointcan be very fast, whereas thefixation of a large displacedcondylar fracture by the insertion offour screws and guiding the surgeryvia arthroscopy of the fetlock jointwould take significantly longer.

Generally, most arthroscopiestake less than one hour, whichgreatly reduces surgery-relatedcomplication rates.

There are many different types ofjoint problems that can be treatedby arthroscopy. Yearlings headingfor the major sales often undergokeyhole surgery to remove chipfractures so that their x-rays lookgood to potential buyers. Horseswith persistent lameness problemsthat can be localised to particularjoints are also good candidates forsurgery. These uses combined withthe treatment of infected joints andthe use of arthroscopy as an aidduring fracture fixation has madethis keyhole surgery a routineoccurrence. It is the most commonorthopaedic procedure carried outat the world-renowned NewmarketEquine Hospital.

UltrasoundsOnce a problem has been localisedto a specific joint, x-rays andpossibly ultrasound scans are usedto try to image the exact problem.

Often, rest or intra-articularmedication may be tried first toattempt to deal with the problem.

However, if the problem is non-responsive to treatment or if theproblem is considered to be besttreated with keyhole surgery in thefirst instance, then arthroscopy isperformed. X-rays are only verygood at revealing bony changes andgiven that ultrasound scans canonly examine limited areas of joints,arthroscopy gives so much moreinformation. It allows theevaluation of the non-bony tissuesof the joint, i.e. the cartilage, jointcapsule, intra-articular ligamentsand menisci, all of which are eitherdifficult or impossible to assess byany other means.

ExcellentAs a result, arthroscopy has becomean excellent procedure for both thediagnosis of joint problems and thetreatment of joint damage, forexample, the removal of damagedcartilage, the removal of chipfractures and the removal ofosteochondritis dissecans (OCD)fragments in young horses. Theadvent of arthroscopy has alsogreatly aided fixation of fracturesthat involve joints, such as‘condylar’ lower cannon bonefractures. Such fractures have beenrepaired using screws for some timebut arthroscopy allows theassessment of the joint via tinyincisions at the time of repair toensure the fractured pieces of boneare put together perfectly and theresultant joint surface is absolutelylevel. Any irregularity in jointsurface can cause future lamenessproblems. Everything must bedone to avoid this.

Keyhole surgery hasrevolutionised veterinary medicine,as it has so many advantagescompared to open surgery. First,

the cosmetic appearance of the jointis excellent – something that iscrucial when removing chips fromyearlings. Second, horses recover somuch faster from keyhole surgerybecause the tiny wounds heal soquickly. Finally – and perhaps mostimportantly – there are fewercomplications with keyhole surgery,for example, infection rates aremuch lower due to the tinyincisions and vastly reduced surgerytimes. As a result, survival rates areexcellent.

At this point, the reader could beforgiven for thinking thatarthroscopy has no disadvantages,but this is not the case. It requires ageneral anaesthetic, it is an invasiveprocedure, it requires specialistequipment, and an experiencedsurgeon, while some low-motionjoints that are commonly affectedby osteoarthritis, for example, thelower hock joints, cannot beentered arthroscopically.

However, the disadvantages arenot just practical and some relate tothe decision on whether to carryout arthroscopy.

After the introduction of routinex-rays at the select yearling sales,purchasers began to reject horseswho had OCD fragments unless

VETS FORUM

“Arthroscopy offers moreinformation than x-rays,which are only very good for bony changes, andultrasounds, which examinelimited areas of joints”

X-rays and arthroscopic images of a horse who has hada ‘condylar’ fracture in his fetlock joint repaired usingscrews inserted under arthroscopic guidance. Note thesmooth joint surface after fracture repair (bottom right)



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VETS FORUM

keyhole surgery had beenperformed to remove them. Thisresulted in huge amounts of younghorses having arthroscopy when itwas not always necessary.

The American Consignors andCommercial Breeders Associationbecame so concerned about thisthat in 2006 they produced apublication entitled ‘Vet Work Plainand Simple – OCDs in SaleHorses’. The publication statesthat “even though an OCD mayhave no effect on a horse’s ability totrain or perform, its very existencecan be a mark against the horsewhen seen on radiographs atauction”, before going on toexplain that typically most OCDsgo away with time and horses likeXtra Heat and Unbridled’s Songbecame champions despite havingOCDs at the yearling sales.Publications like this are helping tochange attitudes but many are stillguilty of performing too manykeyhole surgeries on young horses.

When to operate?Another debate with regard toarthroscopy is when to performsuch a surgery on an older horsewith a joint problem. In 2000,Colón et al. reported on the resultsof 461 horses that had surgery toremove chips from the front of thefetlock joint. Pleasingly, 89% racedafter surgery and 82% did so at thesame or a higher level. However,firstly it must be questioned howmany of these could have racedsuccessfully without removal of the

chips and, second, it must bepointed out that for whateverreason 50 of these horses neverraced after surgery. Whilst it is hardto suggest that much harm can bedone by removing a loose chip, thedebate starts at the ‘repair’ of thesite from which the chip originated– the removal of the ‘poor quality’cartilage and the bone underneath.

The theory is that by removingdegenerate tissue, new, healthytissue will grow back in its place,but this is not always the case.

Whether it is due to the initialproblem, or surgical intervention,sometimes the bone and cartilagein the surgical location does notgrow back to what it should be, butkeeps on growing. The result is alarge bony prominence where thesurgery was carried out that causesa greater problem than there wasoriginally. There are examples ofhorses to support both sides of theargument – horses who aresuccessful after surgery and horseswith joint changes who did nothave surgery and who continue toperform at the highest level yearafter year. The decision on whetherto operate is not a straightforwardone and each individual case mustbe considered on its merits.

Keyhole surgery in horses is notjust limited to joints. Thearthroscopic equipment is alsoexcellent for the treatment of any‘synovial’ structure, for example,tendon sheaths or bursas.

Laparoscopy is an improving areaof equine keyhole surgery, with

perhaps its most common use beingfor the removal of retainedabdominal testicles in a cryptorchidor ‘rig’. However, it also has manyother uses, for example herniarepair, biopsy of abdominal organs,removal of ovaries or ovariantumours, treatment of adhesions,and the repair of a ruptured bladdermost commonly seen in foals.

In summary, keyhole surgery hasrevolutionised veterinary medicineparticularly with regard toarthroscopy. Before its introductionthere was hardly a veterinarysurgeon in the world who wouldcontemplate removing a chip fromthe joint of a horse and have itracing the same season or going toa major yearling sale the same year.However, veterinary surgeons havebecome so proficient at thisprocedure that it may be starting tobe over-used, particularly inyearlings that are primarily beingoperated on to ensure they fulfileconomic potential at the sales.

Veterinary surgeons mustcontinue to educate their clientsand prevent equine keyhole surgerybecoming an over-used procedure,and thereby maintain its status asone of the greatest scientificadvances of our time. �

On the left is a horse witha ‘chronic’ long-termupper knee joint issue,which has not stopped itfrom staying sound andwinning races everyseason in its career so far.On the right is a horsewho was retired after fourknee surgeries failed tomake it sound enough tostand racing

“Vets must educate their clientsto prevent one of the greatestscientific advances of our timefrom becoming over-used”



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CAULFIELD FILESANDEW CAULFIELD REPORTS ON THE BLOODSTOCK WORLD

Songsational!

Grade 1 successes of Unbridled Elaine(Breeders’ Cup Distaff), Songandaprayer(Fountain of Youth Stakes) and Buddha (FloridaDerby). However, it is fair to assume that his2005 book of mares was his best up to that date,as it followed his first top-12 finish in 2004 anda terrific time with his 2004 yearlings. These hadaveraged more than $370,000, with help fromyoungsters which made $2,800,000,$1,250,000 and $1,150,000.

Those successes of 2004 have now translatedinto even more success for the Taylor Madestallion, thanks to his foals of 2006. Unbridled’sSong ended 2008 in second place amongAmerica’s sires of two-year-olds, behind thesensational first-crop sire Tapit (incidentallymaking it two grey stallions in the top twoplaces). Unbridled’s Song owed his position toMidshipman, who won two Grade 1s to earntop weight on the Experimental Free Handicap,and Old Fashioned, an impressive winner of theGrade 2 Remsen Stakes who received anExperimental weight of 121, just 5lb belowMidshipman.

Media attentionMidshipman was injured while wintering in theUAE but Old Fashioned took another stepalong the Kentucky Derby trail in the Grade 3Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park in February.Improving his record to four wins from fourstarts, the $800,000 yearling came home morethan three lengths clear, with anotherUnbridled’s Song colt, Silver City, in second.

There has also been a lot of media attentiondirected at Dunkirk and Zensational, two otherUnbridled’s Song colts.

Dunkirk, a $3,700,000 yearling purchase bythe Coolmore partners, made a solid impressionwhen he won by nearly six lengths on his debutat Gulfstream Park on January 24 and he addedto his reputation when he overcame somedifficulties to win a nine-furlong allowancenearly four weeks later.

All eyes were on Zensational, following somevery impressive work, when the $700,000juvenile reappeared in a Santa Anita maiden raceon February 21. He obliged by nearly fourlengths and was promptly described as “the realdeal” and “freaky fast” by Sobhy Sonbol,manager for the powerful Zayat Stables.

Sonbol had some interesting things to sayabout the Zayat colt, who had been transferredto California following a disappointing debut atSaratoga in the summer of 2008.

“It seems that the Unbridled’s Songs havebeen doing better out there on the syntheticsurfaces,” Sonbol told Thoroughbred Daily News.“They are fragile animals and you have to bevery careful with them.”

No doubt the Taylor Made team would takeissue with that suggestion of fragility, asUnbridled’s Song’s team of eight 2008 Gradedstakes winners included two four-year-olds and

Unbridled’s Song has gone from strength tostrength since his breakthrough 2004 season

Anyone looking for proof that successbreeds success need look no furtherthan the American stallionUnbridled’s Song.

Although the winner of the Breeders’ CupJuvenile and Florida Derby has been a successfrom the time his first crop reached the track in2000, it was the 2004 season which trulyhighlighted Unbridled’s Song’s potential. Thatwas the year he notched up the impressive totalof eight Graded winners, made up of a Grade 1winner (Splendid Blended), four Grade 2winners (Domestic Dispute, Even The Score,Last Song and Rockport Harbor) and threeGrade 3 winners (Forest Music, Rare Gift andSeducer’s Song).

Only two American stallions achieved a highertotal and they were the major league stallionsStorm Cat and A P Indy, whose fees had longbeen in six figures. Unbridled’s Song’s fee, onthe other hand, had been no higher than$40,000 in his first five seasons and his eightGraded winners in 2004 all came from those firstfive crops.

Unbridled’s Song, too, had become a memberof the exclusive band of stallions standing at feesof $100,000 or more in 2003, thanks to the

Unbridled’s Song ended 2008 in second place in the two-year-old sires category

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three five-year-olds, in addition to two juvenilesand a three-year-old. The fact remains, though,that, at 17 hands, Unbridled’s Song is a very bighorse (especially by European standards).

Unbridled’s Song was bred to be big, as hissire Unbridled, grandsire Fappiano andbroodmare sire Caro were all advertised asstanding 16.3 hands. Unbridled often did wellwith mares by big stallions, encouraging thebelief that he was a stallion who was suited bybreeding like to like, and it is interesting that thevery promising Old Fashioned is out of a mareby the 17-hands Meadowlake.

Unbridled’s Song did all his racing ontraditional dirt. However, he is siring topwinners on all surfaces in the States, includingthe Grade 1 turf winners Thorn Song andMagnificent Song, and the first threegenerations of his pedigree include the topFrench horses Le Fabuleux and Caro. Thissuggests that some of his progeny should suitEurope, but he had only four runners in Britainand Ireland in 2008, and three in 2007.

Now, with his reputation so firmly establishedin North America, chances are this situation isnot going to change much. For example, theWertheimer brothers, who maintain a sizeablestable in France, opted to keep their homebredthree-year-old Affirmatif in the States with ToddPletcher, even though Affirmatif’s future is likelyto be on turf. The very promising colt justifiedthe decision with a nine-length debut victory infast time on turf at the end of February.

It traces to 2004Affirmatif promises to be another example ofhow Unbridled’s Song’s success in 2004 hasconverted into even greater success four and fiveyears later. Breeders and buyers would be welladvised to remember that this is a fairly commonphenomenon.

The fact that Unbridled’s Song initially madehis name at fees of $30,000 and $40,000 alsoacts as a valuable reminder to take into accountthe type of fee a stallion commanded when hefirst drew attention to himself. Stallions likePivotal, Cape Cross and Dansili have all earnedpromotion to the premier league fromcomparatively modest beginnings, and it isalways tempting to judge these high flyers ashigh-priced stallions, even before their high-priced progeny reach the track. Cape Cross’sfirst €50,000 foals are three-year-olds in 2009,which will finally allow him to be assessed fairly,but Dansili’s first higher-priced crop won’t raceuntil 2010, with all his 2009 representativessired at fees no higher than £12,500.

It is also worth remembering that, just assuccess breeds success, a disappointing year canalso translate into another disappointing spellfour or five years later, because a substandardyear in today’s ultra-competitive marketinevitably results in either a smaller book or abook of lesser quality.


CAULFIELD FILES

One remarkable aspect of the RacingPost’s list of leading jumpers for the2008/9 season is the near totaldominance at the top level of animalsbearing the ‘FR’ suffix. Of the 23 jumpersrated 166 or higher on March 1, as manyas 17 were bred in France, another wasconceived in France and yet another isby a winner of the French ChampionHurdle.

So what lessons can be learnt in thebattle to redress the balance? Although Ihave pointed it out on a couple ofprevious occasions, I am working on thebasis that the slow drip of information willeventually wear down the resistance ofBritish and Irish breeders to usingstallions which were themselvessuccessful jumpers. The stallionsresponsible for those 23 highest-ratedjumpers include seven prolific winnersover jumps.

The youngest of these stallions is the15-year-old Indian River, whose sonMadison du Berlais earned a rating of177 for his impressive victory overDenman and Albertas Run in the Grade2 Levy Board Chase.

Indian River raced exclusively overjumps, winning three hurdle races andthree steeplechases over distances

ranging from two miles to just underthree miles. His finest victory came in thePrix du President de la Republique, aGrade 3 chase at Auteuil as a five-year-old. Adding to his appeal was the factthat he is a son of Cadoudal, a stallionwho dominated French jump breeding inmuch the same way that Deep Run oncedominated the Anglo-Irish scene.

Cadoudal never raced over jumps buthe is currently being very ablyrepresented by Paul Nicholls’s BigBuck’s. His other notable jumpingoffspring include the French starsKotkijet and Kadalko (himself sire of thevery smart Irish chaser Notre Pere), plussuch as Fadalko and Lacdoudal.

Saint des Saints, another ofCadoudal’s smart jumping sons, figuredamong France’s top ten jumping stallionsin 2008, even though his eldest progenywere only four years old. Second placeon that leading sires’ list went to Robindes Champs, another comparativeyoungster who won the first four of hisfive starts over hurdles.

Robin des Champs has now beenacquired by Liam Cashman to stand athis Glenview Stud, so it looks as thoughat least one leading Irish stud master istaking heed of current trends.

French lessons As of March 1, 17 of the top 23 jumpers in Britain were French-bred – so will the trend be heeded?

Madison du Berlais did sire Indian River a good turn when beating Denman at Kempton

april_56_caulfield_files.qxp 17/3/09 12:25 Page 69


DATA BOOKNEW! LISTINGS OF EVERY SINGLE WORLDWIDE STAKES WINNER

Speed is of the essence In advance of the European Flat season, the start ofof a monthly series of tables that show all worldwidestakes results and the breeding of the winner Words: Jeremy Early

With the Flat seasonupon us, this seems agood opportunity tooutline to new readers

what they will find in the DataBook section.

For every Group race that takesplace in the UK, Ireland, France,Germany and Italy, we will carrythe full result, featuring the sire,dam, broodmare sire of the firstthree home, along with theirowners, breeders, and trainer.

For each winner, we will publishtheir race record, sire record,broodmare sire record, and fullbreeding record of every foal itsdam has produced, as well as adetailed summary of the seconddam.

Added to that, we analyseprevious successful crosses that thesire/broodmare sire combinationhas produced and there is, ofcourse, a five-generation pedigreefor each winner. For all Group 1races there is the added bonus ofexpert pedigree commentary fromAndrew Caulfield.

We very much hope you enjoythe European results section, fromthe next issue onwards.

Dubai CarnivalMoving on to the global results,the Dubai Carnival provided theMaktoum family with plenty ofsuccess, since they own eight of the14 Pattern winners at Nad Al Shebaeither outright or in partnership.

And in Australia, where SheikhMohammed owns more horsesthan anyone else, victories camethick and fast in Group 2 andGroup 3 events for his fillies andmares, namely Colour, Neroli,Portillo and Romneya. The coltFravashi also won.

Two of the Maktoums’ Dubai

group, Asiatic Boy and My Indy,are Argentine-bred and the dangerof underestimating horses fromSouth America was also confirmedby the victory of Brazilian-bredEinstein in America’s Santa AnitaHandicap on March 7. Magnumfrom Argentina and Matto Mondofrom Chile also won Graded eventsStateside.

In South America the emphasis instakes races is on speed rather thanstamina. Of the 46 stakes inArgentina, Brazil, Chile and Perulisted here, only two were over 12furlongs or more. Indeed, just 16of the 252 stakes races run up toMarch 9 were over 12 furlongs, andonly 51 were over ten furlongs ormore.

That said, four of the successfulsires in this table are by, or trace to,stamina influence Sadler’s Wells. Ofthose, Dewhurst Stakes dead-heaterScenic, suited by ten furlongs laterin his career, leads the way amongall sires with three Group 1 strikes.

AustralasiaAt Flemington in Australia, ScenicBlast landed the Lightning Stakesover five furlongs and NewmarketHandicap over six furlongs, beforeConiston Bluebird was on targetfor Scenic in the New ZealandDerby at a mile and a half.

Another middle-distancespecialist, King George winnerPentire, is responsible for Mufhasa,successful at the top level in NewZealand over six furlongs inJanuary and seven furlongs inFebruary. Pentire has also sired aGroup 1 six-furlong scorer in 2005and a winner of the two-mileAuckland Cup.

Pentire is based at Rich Hill Studin New Zealand at NZ$22,500(£8,455), to which Sir Percy will be

shuttling this year from Lanwadesfor NZ$15,000 (£5,600). Sir Percytraces to Mill Reef but Pentire –like most Group 1 sires in Australiaand New Zealand in the table –goes back to Northern Dancer.Four of the eight Group 1 winnersin Australia and five of the seven inNew Zealand are by NorthernDancer-line sires; in South Africathe tally is four out of five.

South AmericaYet in South America only one ofthe seven Group 1 sires, LuckyRoberto in Argentina, traces toNorthern Dancer, and in the Statesthe figure is also one from sevenwith Tale Of The Cat.

In contrast, descendants of MrProspector, who managed just twoGroup 1 strikes in Australia, NewZealand and South Africa, have atally of six in the Americas,including former championsApprentice (by Gulch) in Peru andStuka (by Jade Hunter) in Chile.

Stuka, based at Haras DonAlberto near Santiago, is of interestsince he sired winners of two legs ofthe latest Chilean Triple Crown,including Amor de Propre (PremioEl Derby), whose grandsire,Stagecraft, is at the same stud andwill be familiar to readers inEurope.

Compared with Mr Prospector,Seattle Slew, great-grandsire ofTapit, whose score is two Grade 1svia smashing three-year-old fillyStardom Bound, has not had ahuge impact in South America,despite getting two champion siresin Venezuela. Not that he has madea massive mark via sires in the restof the southern hemisphere orEurope either, not helped in thatregard by the fact that a number ofhis top offspring died young.

april_56_international.qxp 17/3/09 13:24 Page 2


Global Stakes Results – 2009ArgentinaDate Grade Race Dist Horse Age Sex Sire Dam Broodmare Sire07/03 G1 Gran Premio Santiago Luro 6.0f Don Ladino (ARG) 3 C Lucky Roberto (USA) Dona Polaca (ARG) Candy Stripes (USA) 07/03 G1 Gran Premio Saturnino J Unzue 6.0f Peristaltica (ARG) 3 F Interprete (ARG) Pediform (USA) Go For Gin (USA) 07/03 G2 Clasico Otono 10.0f Inter Optimist (ARG) 5 H Incurable Optimist (USA) Es Interprete (ARG) Interprete (ARG) 07/03 G2 Clasico Arturo R y Arturo Bullrich 10.0f Ollagua (ARG) 4 F Pure Prize (USA) Open Secrets (USA) West By West (USA) 05/03 G3 Clasico Agustin B Gambier 6.0f Lord Gem (ARG) 3 C El Sembrador (ARG) Lady Gem (ARG) Gem Master (USA) 01/03 G3 Clasico Derli A Gomez 6.0f Xassari (ARG) 3 F Interprete (ARG) Sugar Girl (USA) Personal Flag (USA) 21/02 G2 C. Miguel Angel y Tomas Juarez Celman 8.0f Cagnotte (ARG) 4 F Sunray Spirit (USA) Compagne (ARG) Payant (ARG) 20/02 G3 Clasico General Viamonte 5.0f Pryka (ARG) 6 M Southern Halo (USA) Gold Rule (USA) Forty Niner (USA) 14/02 G2 Clasico Guillermo Kemmis 5.0f Allez Zizou (ARG) 3 C Editor’s Note (USA) Refreshing Ballet (USA) Moscow Ballet (USA) 14/02 G2 Clasico Carlos Casares 5.0f Poty Kuru (ARG) 3 F Pure Prize (USA) Florida Light (USA) Fluorescent Light (USA) 13/02 G3 Clasico Horacio Bustillo 8.0f Rupit (ARG) 6 H Lucky Roberto (USA) Avinca (ARG) Cipayo (ARG) 07/02 G1 G. P. Miguel Alfredo Martinez de Hoz 10.0f Body Soguero (ARG) 5 H Body Glove (ARG) Visee de Femme (ARG) Purple Mountain (USA) 03/02 G3 Clasico Luis Maria Doyhenard 5.0f Cafrune (ARG) 3 C Colonial Affair (USA) Ipacarai (ARG) Interprete (ARG) 01/02 G3 Clasico Fortunato Damiani 5.0f Rancante (ARG) 3 F Shuttle Diplomacy (USA) Rain Magic (ARG) All of Me 31/01 G2 Clasico Juan Shaw 11.0f Ollagua (ARG) 4 F Pure Prize (USA) Open Secrets (USA) West By West (USA) 24/01 G3 Clasico Irlanda 5.0f Que Vida Buena (ARG) 4 C Bernstein (USA) Queen Tango (ARG) Lode (USA) 21/01 G3 Clasico Congreve 5.0f Mr Equal (ARG) 3 C Numerous (USA) Equaliza (ARG) Equalize (USA) 18/01 G3 Clasico Latinoamerica 8.0f Mithrandir (ARG) 4 C Luhuk (USA) Glorieta (ARG) Mutakddim (USA) 17/01 G3 Clasico Buenos Aires 8.0f El Garufa (ARG) 7 H Luhuk (USA) La Camorrera (ARG) Rainbow Corner (GB) 16/01 G3 Clasico Las Heras 7.0f Fonda Alegre (ARG) 4 F Thunder Gulch (USA) Ghost Princess (USA) Silver Ghost (USA) 10/01 G3 Clasico Gay Hermit 5.0f Que Vida Buena (ARG) 4 C Bernstein (USA) Queen Tango (ARG) Lode (USA) 02/01 G3 Clasico Apertura-Copa 10.0f Carioca da Gema (ARG) 5 M Pure Prize (USA) Carlinha (ARG) Lode (USA)

Australia09/03 G2 Yallambee Classic 6.0f Champagne Harmony (AUS) 4 F Choisir (AUS) Hansuyen (NZ) Zabeel (NZ) 09/03 G2 Skycity Adelaide Cup 16.0f Zavite (NZ) 7 H Zabeel (NZ) Miss Vita (USA) Alleged (USA) 09/03 G3 Patricks/Dunes R N Irwin Stakes 5.5f Diplomatic Force (AUS) 5 G Oamaru Force (AUS) Talk It Over (AUS) Umatilla (NZ) 07/03 G1 Cadbury Australian Guineas 8.0f Heart of Dreams (AUS) 4 G Show A Heart (AUS) Academy Of Dreams (AUS) Royal Academy (USA) 07/03 G1 Darley Australian Cup 10.0f Niconero (AUS) 8 G Danzero (AUS) Nicola Lass (AUS) Scenic 07/03 G1 Crown Newmarket Handicap 6.0f Scenic Blast (AUS) 5 H Scenic Daughter’s Charm (AUS) Delgado (USA) 07/03 G1 Patinack Chipping Norton Stakes 8.0f Tuesday Joy (NZ) 6 M Carnegie (IRE) Joie Denise (AUS) Danehill (USA) 07/03 G2 PDF Food Service Kewney Stakes 8.0f Gallica (AUS) 4 F Redoute’s Choice (AUS) Swing Queen (USA) Kingmambo (USA) 07/03 G2 Surround Stakes 7.0f Portillo (AUS) 4 F Red Ransom (USA) Snowdrift (FR) Polish Precedent (USA) 07/03 G2 Volunteers Sires’ Produce Stakes 7.0f Rostova (AUS) 3 F Testa Rossa (AUS) Space Talk (AUS) Anabaa (USA) 07/03 G3 Liverpool City Cup 6.5f Judged (AUS) 6 M High Yield (USA) Adjourn (AUS) Waajib 07/03 G3 TBV Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes 6.0f My Emotion (NZ) 3 F Savabeel (AUS) Midnight Rock (AUS) Rory’s Jester (AUS) 07/03 G3 Schweppervescence Francis Tresady Trophy 7.0f Typhoon Tracy (AUS) 4 F Red Ransom (USA) Tracy’s Element (AUS) Last Tycoon 07/03 G3 Kindergarten Stakes 5.5f Wanted (AUS) 3 C Fastnet Rock (AUS) Fragmentation (AUS) Snippets (AUS) 28/02 G1 Rokk Ebony Futurity Stakes 8.0f Niconero (AUS) 8 G Danzero (AUS) Nicola Lass (AUS) Scenic 28/02 G2 Franklins Supermarkets Silver Slipper 5.5f Melito (AUS) 3 F Redoute’s Choice (AUS) Cloister (AUS) Marauding (NZ) 28/02 G2 Hobartville Stakes 7.0f Mic Mac (AUS) 4 G Statue of Liberty (USA) Amandine (AUS) Tertian (USA) 28/02 G2 Yalumba 160 Autumn Classic 9.0f Stokehouse (AUS) 4 G Anabaa (USA) Malapert (AUS) Encosta de Lago (AUS) 28/02 G3 Marsh Breeders’ Stakes 6.0f Colour (AUS) 3 F More Than Ready (USA) Regrowth (AUS) Unbridled’s Song (USA) 28/02 G3 Toohey’s New Lord Reims Stakes 13.0f Miss Pavlova (AUS) 5 M Blevic (AUS) Sugarplum Fairy (AUS) Western Symphony (USA) 28/02 G3 De Bortoli Wines Millie Fox Stakes 6.5f Neroli (AUS) 6 M Viscount (AUS) Dalquarren (AUS) Canny Lad (AUS) 25/02 G3 AAMI Launceston Cup 12.0f Zavite (NZ) 7 H Zabeel (NZ) Miss Vita (USA) Alleged (USA) 21/02 G1 Arrowfield Stud Blue Diamond Stakes 6.0f Reward For Effort (AUS) 3 C Exceed And Excel (AUS) Miss Prospect (AUS) Rory’s Jester (AUS) 21/02 G1 Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate 5.5f Swiss Ace (AUS) 5 H Secret Savings (USA) Rapid Serve (USA) Carson City (USA) 21/02 G2 D’Urban Autumn Stakes 7.0f Fravashi (AUS) 4 C Falbrav (IRE) Angelic Smile (AUS) Dehere (USA) 21/02 G2 BMS Angus Armanasco Stakes 8.0f Gold Water (AUS) 4 F Choisir (AUS) Float (USA) Devil’s Bag (USA) 21/02 G2 Pure Blond St George Stakes 9.0f Theseo (AUS) 6 G Danewin (AUS) Ozone Sand (USA) L’Enjoleur (CAN) 21/02 G2 Winning Edge Presentations Apollo Stakes 7.0f Tuesday Joy (NZ) 6 M Carnegie (IRE) Joie Denise (AUS) Danehill (USA) 21/02 G3 R M Williams Champion Fillies Stakes 8.0f Danebeela (AUS) 4 F Danetime (IRE) Tenbeela (AUS) Tenby (GB) 21/02 G3 TBV Mannerism Stakes 7.0f Symphony Miss (AUS) 5 M Distant Music (USA) Regencia (AUS) New Regent (CAN) 21/02 G3 Luxury Preferred TS Carlyon Cup 7.0f Time Matters (AUS) 7 G Gilded Time (USA) Maat (AUS) Sarab 14/02 G1 Pulse Pharmacy Australia Stakes 6.0f Apache Cat (AUS) 7 G Lion Cavern (USA) Tennessee Blaze (AUS) Whiskey Road (USA) 14/02 G2 Breeders’ Classic 6.0f Hot Danish (AUS) 6 M Nothin’ Leica Dane (AUS) Hot ‘n’ Breezy (AUS) Zephyr Zip (NZ) 14/02 G2 Top Cut Alister Clark Stakes 8.0f Pre Eminence (AUS) 4 C Encosta de Lago (AUS) Lady Silver Hawk (USA) Silver Hawk (USA) 14/02 G2 Light Fingers Stakes 6.0f Rock Me Baby (AUS) 4 F Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) Highest Cool (FR) Highest Honor (FR) 14/02 G2 Sportingbet Moonee Valley Classic 7.5f Romneya (AUS) 4 F Red Ransom (USA) Mannington (AUS) Danehill (USA) 14/02 G2 Arrow Training Services Sunline Stakes 8.0f Subtle Cove (AUS) 5 M Mull of Kintyre (USA) Subtle Miss (AUS) Nadeed (USA) 14/02 G2 MGrath Royal Sovereign Stakes 6.0f Youthful Jack (AUS) 4 G Youthful Legs (USA) Formative (AUS) White Bridle (USA) 14/02 G3 Southern Cross Frederick Clissold Stakes 6.0f Marchinski (AUS) 4 G Magic Albert (AUS) Elishir (AUS) Spectacular Spy (USA) 09/02 G3 AAMI Hobart Cup 11.0f Gotta Keep Cool (AUS) 6 G Racer’s Edge (AUS) Cellar Dweller (AUS) Luskin Star (AUS) 08/02 G1 Sportingbet C F Orr Stakes 7.0f Maldivian (NZ) 7 G Zabeel (NZ) Shynzi (USA) Danzig (USA) 08/02 G3 Hyderabad Race Club G Belmaine Stakes 6.0f Annesong (AUS) 7 M Rubiton (AUS) Taymah (AUS) Military Plume (NZ) 08/02 G3 Arrowfield Stud Blue Diamond Prelude(cg) 5.5f Real Saga (AUS) 3 C Tale of The Cat (USA) Windy Kate (AUS) Air Express (IRE) 08/02 G3 Arrowfield Stud Blue Diamond Prelude (f) 5.5f Rostova (AUS) 3 F Testa Rossa (AUS) Space Talk (AUS) Anabaa (USA) 07/02 G2 Expressway Stakes 6.0f Burdekin Blues (AUS) 5 G Sequalo (AUS) Winsome Blue (AUS) Blue Run (AUS) 31/01 G1 Coolmore Lightning Stakes 5.0f Scenic Blast (AUS) 5 H Scenic Daughter’s Charm (AUS) Delgado (USA) 31/01 G3 Cadbury Tasmanian Derby 11.0f Betwixt (NZ) 4 F O’Reilly (NZ) Not Sure (NZ) Masterclass (USA) 31/01 G3 C S Hayes Debonair Stakes 7.0f Fair Trade (AUS) 4 G Danewin (AUS) Villa Igea (AUS) Papal Power (USA) 31/01 G3 The Mittys Vanity 7.0f Romneya (AUS) 4 F Red Ransom (USA) Mannington (AUS) Danehill (USA) 23/01 G2 Essendon Mazda Carlyon Stakes 6.0f Lucky Secret (AUS) 6 G Rubiton (AUS) Won’t Tell (AUS) Rory’s Jester (AUS) 10/01 G3 Rubiton Stakes 5.5f Mind Your Head (AUS) 7 G Mujahid (USA) Nefertari (NZ) Clay Hero (AUS) 01/01 G2 BMW Perth Cup 12.0f Guy No (NZ) 6 G O’Reilly (NZ) River Century (NZ) Centaine (AUS) 01/01 G3 Standish Handicap 6.0f King Hoaks (AUS) 6 G King Charlemagne (USA) My Nancy (AUS) Noalcoholic (FR)

Brazil08/03 G2 Grande Premio Presidente Guilherme Ellis 7.0f Questing New (BRZ) 3 F Romarin (BRZ) Loving New (BRZ) Choctaw Ridge (USA) 07/03 G2 Grande Premio Piratininga 11.0f Mr Nedawi (BRZ) 5 H Nedawi (GB) Cryptic Crucial (USA) Cryptoclearance (USA) 01/03 G1 Grande Premio Estado de Rio de Janeiro 8.0f Engaging (BRZ) 4 C Arambare (BRZ) Great Radiance (BRZ) Midnight Tiger (USA) 28/02 G1 G. P. Henrique Possolo (1000 Guineas) 8.0f Smile Jenny (BRZ) 4 F Wild Event (USA) Jenny Jacquet (BRZ) Roy (USA) 28/02 G3 C. Presidente Augusto Souza Queiroz 6.0f Jardim (BRZ) 3 C Ski Champ (USA) Copacabana Beach (BRZ) Midnight Tiger (USA) 26/02 G3 Grande Premio Copa Velocidade ABCPCC 6.0f Senhor Temido (BRZ) 3 C Spring Halo (ARG) Darter (BRZ) Afleet (CAN) 21/02 G2 Grande Premio Hernani Azevedo Silva 8.0f Mary Re (BRZ) 5 M Ghadeer (FR) Itaquere Mint (BRZ) Clackson (BRZ) 21/02 G3 GP.Presidente Joao Carlos Leite Penteado 6.0f Mrs Boss (BRZ) 3 F Wild Event (USA) Lychee (BRZ) De Quest (GB) 07/02 G3 G. P. Linneo Eduardo de Paula Machado 10.0f Quadriball (BRZ) 4 C P T Indy (USA) Cryptocrystalline (USA) Cryptoclearance (USA) 01/02 G3 Grande Premio Jose Buarque de Macedo 8.0f Ausone (BRZ) 4 C First American (USA) Ipanema Band (USA) Lord Avie (USA) 31/01 G3 Grande Premio Roger Guedon 8.0f Qualidade Indy (BRZ) 4 F P T Indy (USA) Enable To Loose (BRZ) White Clover (CAN) 25/01 G2 Grande Premio 25 de Janeiro 10.0f Notavel Surena (BRZ) 4 F Redattore (BRZ) Estrela Surena (BRZ) Music Prospector (USA) 25/01 G3 Grande Premio Presidente do Jockey Club 8.0f Girua (BRZ) 5 H Bonapartiste (FR) Ellefrance (BRZ) Fast Gold (USA) 20/01 G3 G.P. Prefeitura Cidade do Rio de Janeiro 9.5f Portobelo (BRZ) 6 H Public Purse (USA) Echoes Of Honor (BRZ) Fit To Fight (USA)

DATA BOOK



DATA BOOKNEW! LISTINGS OF EVERY SINGLE WORLDWIDE STAKES WINNER

GlobalStakesResults – 2009ChileDate Grade Race Dist Horse Age Sex Sire Dam Broodmare Sire07/03 G3 Premio Seleccion de Potrancas 6.0f Chica Angelita (CHI) 3 F Tumblebrutus (USA) Valuable (CHI) Hussonet (USA) 04/03 G3 Premio Thompson Matthews 8.0f Edgy Night (CHI) 4 C Edgy Diplomat (USA) Noche de Paz (CHI) Nureyev Dancer (USA) 02/02 G2 Premio Verano - Arturo Cousino Luisino 10.0f Last Impact (CHI) 7 H Stuka (USA) Angel de Furia (CHI) Stagecraft 01/02 G1 Premio El Derby 12.0f Amor de Pobre (CHI) 4 G Stuka (USA) Angel de Furia (CHI) Stagecraft 09/01 G2 Premio Copa Jackson 9.5f Indy Boy (CHI) 4 C Indy Vidual (USA) Gee Baby (ARG) Ringaro (USA)

Japan07/03 G3 Yukan Fuji Sho Ocean Stakes 6.0f Urbanity (JPN) 5 H Manhattan Cafe (JPN) Legacy of Strength (USA) Affirmed (USA) 01/03 G2 Nakayama Kinen 9.0f Company (JPN) 8 H Miracle Admire (JPN) Brilliant Very (JPN) Northern Taste (CAN) 01/03 G3 Hankyu Hai 7.0f B B Guldan (JPN) 5 H Chief Bearhart (CAN) All The Chat (NZ) Westminster (NZ) 28/02 G3 Arlington Cup 8.0f Double Wedge (JPN) 3 C Meiner Love (USA) Fine Dimple (JPN) Silver Hawk (USA) 22/02 G1 February Stakes 8.0f Success Brocken (JPN) 4 C Symboli Kris S (USA) Success Beauty (JPN) Sunday Silence (USA) 21/02 G2 Kyoto Kinen 11.0f Asakusa Kings (JPN) 5 H White Muzzle (GB) Croupier Star (JPN) Sunday Silence (USA) 21/02 G3 Daily Hai Queen Cup 8.0f Dear Geena (JPN) 3 F Mejiro McQueen (JPN) Ines Tarquin (JPN) Bishop Bob (CAN) 15/02 G3 Diamond Stakes 17.0f Monte Kris S (JPN) 4 C Symboli Kris S (USA) Kei Woman (IRE) Last Tycoon 15/02 G3 Kisaragi Sho 9.0f Reach The Crown (JPN) 3 C Special Week (JPN) Crownpiece (JPN) Seattle Slew (USA) 08/02 G3 Kyodo News Service Hai Stakes 9.0f Break Run Out (USA) 3 C Smart Strike (CAN) Queue (USA) French Deputy (USA) 08/02 G3 Silk Road Stakes 6.0f Urban Street (JPN) 5 H Swept Overboard (USA) Taiki Christie (USA) Theatrical 07/02 G3 Kokura Daishoten 9.0f Sunrise Max (JPN) 5 H Stay Gold (JPN) Green Hill Mac (JPN) Dancing Brave (USA) 01/02 G3 Kyoto Himba Stakes 8.0f Celebrita (JPN) 4 F Black Hawk (GB) Acapulco (JPN) Amber Shadai (JPN) 01/02 G3 The Negishi Stakes 7.0f Ferrari Pisa (USA) 5 H Touch Gold (USA) Dolly Talbo (USA) Capote (USA) 31/01 G3 Tokyo Shimbun Hai 8.0f Absolute (JPN) 5 H Tanino Gimlet (JPN) Prime Stage (JPN) Sunday Silence (USA) 25/01 G2 American Jockey Club Cup 11.0f Never Bouchon (JPN) 6 H Marvelous Sunday (JPN) Pearl Necklace Mill Reef (USA) 25/01 G3 Heian Stakes 9.0f Wonder Speed (JPN) 7 H King Glorious (USA) Wonder Heritage (USA) Pleasant Tap (USA) 18/01 G2 Nikkei Shinshun Hai 12.0f T M Precure (JPN) 6 M Paradise Creek (USA) Feriado (JPN) Stately Don (USA) 18/01 G3 Keisei Hai 10.0f Early Robusto (JPN) 3 C Bubble Gum Fellow (JPN) Quiet Earth (USA) Mazel Trick (USA) 11/01 G3 Nikkan Sports Sho Shinzan Kinen 8.0f Antonio Barows (JPN) 3 C Manhattan Cafe (JPN) Little Arrow (USA) Kingmambo (USA) 11/01 G3 Fairy Stakes 8.0f Germinal (JPN) 3 F Agnes Tachyon (JPN) Ombre Legere (IRE) Double Bed (FR) 05/01 G3 Sports Nippon Sho Kyoto Kim Pai 8.0f Tamamo Support (JPN) 6 H Tamamo Cross (JPN) Answer Me (JPN) Jolie’s Halo (USA) 04/01 G3 Nikkan Sports Sho Nakayama Kim Pai 10.0f Admire Fuji (JPN) 7 H Admire Vega (JPN) Admire Lapis (IRE) Be My Guest (USA)

New Zealand07/03 G1 Ford Diamond Stakes 6.0f Kaaptan (NZ) 3 C Kaapstad (NZ) Fanny Black (NZ) Chem (USA) 07/03 G1 Skycity New Zealand Stakes 10.0f Maco’reilly (NZ) 6 G O’Reilly (NZ) Double Babu (NZ) Centaine (AUS) 04/03 G1 Stella Artois Auckland Cup 16.0f Spin Around (AUS) 9 G Spinning World (USA) Be Yourself (USA) Noalcoholic (FR) 01/03 G1 Telecom New Zealand Derby 12.0f Coniston Bluebird (AUS) 4 C Scenic Turbo Lady (AUS) Bellotto (USA) 01/03 G3 Darley King’s Plate 6.0f Accardo (NZ) 7 G Elnadim (USA) Princess Marengo (NZ) Umatilla (NZ) 28/02 G3 First Sovereign Trust Lowland Stakes 10.5f Ekstreme (NZ) 4 F Ekraar (USA) Cashcade (NZ) Anziyan (USA) 21/02 G2 Robin, Duke of Bedford Breeders’ Stakes 6.0f Te Akau Rose (NZ) 3 F Thorn Park (AUS) Straussbridge (NZ) Straussbrook (AUS) 20/02 G1 First Sovereign Trust Otaki Maori Stakes 8.0f Culminate (NZ) 6 M Elnadim (USA) Solstice (NZ) Marceau (AUS) 14/02 G2 Telecom Championship Stakes 10.5f Down The Road (NZ) 4 G Danroad (AUS) Dixies Girl (NZ) Stark South (USA) 14/02 G3 Ford 2yo Taranaki Classic 6.0f Seven Schillings (NZ) 3 F O’Reilly (NZ) Landon (NZ) Shannon (NZ) 14/02 G3 Hooker Pacific Taranaki Cup 10.0f Vickezzchardonnay (NZ) 5 M Don Eduardo (NZ) Our Rosalee (NZ) Conquistarose (USA) 07/02 G1 Whakanui Stud International Stakes 10.0f Maco’reilly (NZ) 6 G O’Reilly (NZ) Double Babu (NZ) Centaine (AUS) 07/02 G1 Waikato Draught Sprint 7.0f Mufhasa (NZ) 5 H Pentire (GB) Sheila Cheval (NZ) Mi Preferido (USA) 07/02 G2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Classic (f) 10.0f Due Diligence (NZ) 4 F Danasinga (AUS) My Amazing Grace (NZ) Siege Perilous (NZ) 31/01 G3 H S Dyke Waikato Guineas 10.0f Easy Ryder (NZ) 4 G Brilliance (USA) Ledahead (NZ) Jugalug (NZ) 31/01 G3 White Robe Lodge Handicap 8.0f Eel Win (NZ) 5 G San Luis (AUS) Escapade (NZ) Deputy Governor (USA) 24/01 G1 Trusts Charity Foundation Thorndon Mile 8.0f Sir Slick (NZ) 8 G Volksraad (GB) Miss Opera (NZ) Paris Opera (AUS) 24/01 G2 Century City Developments Wellington Cup 12.0f Megapins (NZ) 6 M Pins (AUS) Instant Divorce (NZ) Fiesta Star (AUS) 24/01 G3 Stella Artois Desert Gold Stakes 8.0f Glamorous Girl (NZ) 4 F Thorn Park (AUS) J’Lo (NZ) Unbridled’s Song (USA) 17/01 G1 First Sovereign Trust Telegraph Handicap 6.0f Mufhasa (NZ) 5 H Pentire (GB) Sheila Cheval (NZ) Mi Preferido (USA) 17/01 G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes 6.0f King’s Ransom (NZ) 3 G King’s Chapel (AUS) Joan (NZ) Colonel Collins (USA) 17/01 G3 Trentham Stakes 10.5f Court Ruler (NZ) 4 C Viking Ruler (AUS) Free Court (NZ) Pompeii Court (USA) 17/01 G3 Wellington Stakes 8.0f Shanzero (AUS) 4 F Danzero (AUS) Arising (AUS) Marauding (NZ) 01/01 G1 Waiwera Mineral Water Railway Handicap 6.0f Jacowils (NZ) 7 G Diamond Express (NZ) Patch My Eye (AUS) Purple Patch (NZ) 01/01 G2 Rich Hill Mile 8.0f Culminate (NZ) 6 M Elnadim (USA) Solstice (NZ) Marceau (AUS) 01/01 G2 New Zealand Bloodstock Royal Stakes 10.0f Puttanesca (NZ) 4 F Bertolini (USA) Tesoro (NZ) Prized (USA) 01/01 G2 Don Ha City of Auckland Cup 12.0f Six O’Clock News (NZ) 5 H Zabeel (NZ) Maurine (NZ) Harbor Prince (USA) 01/01 G3 Stella Artois Eclipse Stakes 6.0f Katie Lee (AUS) 3 F Pins (AUS) Miss Jessie Jay (NZ) Spectacularphantom (USA)

Peru15/02 G3 Clasico Baldomero Aspillaga 10.0f Dushanbe (PER) 6 H Riyadian (GB) Stage Exit (IRE) In The Wings 01/02 G3 Clasico Velocidad 5.0f Alado (PER) 4 C Apprentice (USA) Singara (PER) Magnet Cove (USA) 25/01 G3 Clasico Enrique Meiggs 10.0f Morena (PER) 5 M Privately Held (USA) Charytin (PER) Summing (USA) 18/01 G2 Clasico Ciudad de Lima 10.0f Zeide Isaac (USA) 4 C Freud (USA) Winning Agenda (USA) Twilight Agenda (USA) 11/01 G1 Gran Premio Nacional-Augusto B Leguia 13.0f Maitena (PER) 4 F Apprentice (USA) Nieve Perpetua (PER) Devil’s Moon (USA)

South Africa07/03 G3 Jacaranda Handicap 9.0f Aquitaine (SAF) 5 M Al Mufti (USA) Requista (SAF) Fort Wood (USA) 28/02 G1 L Jaffee Empress Club Stakes 8.0f Dancer’s Daughter (GB) 5 M Act One (GB) Reason To Dance (GB) Damister (USA) 28/02 G2 Gauteng Guineas 8.0f Oracy (NZ) 4 C Zabeel (NZ) Lady Dehere (NZ) Dehere (USA) 28/02 G2 Hawaii Stakes 7.0f Our Giant (AUS) 6 G Giant’s Causeway (USA) Macrosa (NZ) McGinty (NZ) 28/02 G2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas 8.0f Zirconeum (SAF) 4 F Jallad (USA) Sweet Sheila (AUS) Kenmare (FR) 28/02 G3 Chairman’s Cup 16.0f Meteor Shower (IRE) 6 H Danehill (USA) Teslemi (USA) Ogygian (USA) 21/02 G3 Riverworld Stud Prix du Cap 7.0f Mother Russia (SAF) 4 F Windrush (USA) Russian Muse (SAF) Russian Fox (USA) 21/02 G3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap 5.0f Royal Exit (ZIM) 5 H Kitalpha (USA) Intriguing (SAF) Northern Guest (USA) 08/02 G3 Flamboyant Stakes 8.0f Outcome (SAF) 6 M Muhtafal (USA) Culminate (SAF) Elliodor (FR) 07/02 G3 Acacia Handicap 8.0f Gypsy’s Warning (SAF) 4 F Mogok (USA) Gypsy Queen (SAF) Royal Chalice (SAF) 07/02 G3 Tony Ruffel Stakes 7.0f Mount Hood (SAF) 4 G Manshood (GB) Break North (SAF) Northern Guest (USA) 07/02 G3 Three Troikas Stakes 7.0f Sharp Mistress (SAF) 4 F Tamburlaine (IRE) Sharp Affair (SAF) Sharp Romance (USA) 31/01 G1 Investec Cape Derby 10.0f Big City Life (SAF) 4 C Casey Tibbs (IRE) Dollar Crisis (SAF) Goldmark (SAF) 31/01 G1 Fancourt Majorca Stakes 8.0f Mother Russia (SAF) 4 F Windrush (USA) Russian Muse (SAF) Russian Fox (USA) 31/01 G1 J & B Met 10.0f Pocket Power (SAF) 7 G Jet Master (SAF) Stormsvlei (SAF) Prince Florimund (SAF) 31/01 G2 J & B Reserve Stayers Handicap 14.0f Mokaro (SAF) 6 G Manaloj (USA) Matumi (SAF) Fort Wood (USA) 24/01 G1 Betting World Cape Flying Championship 5.0f Rebel King (SAF) 6 H National Emblem (SAF) Cousin Linda (SAF) Badger Land (USA) 10/01 G1 TBA Paddock Stakes 9.0f Emblem of Liberty (SAF) 5 M National Emblem (SAF) Dafka (AUS) Kenmare (FR) 10/01 G1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate 8.0f Pocket Power (SAF) 7 G Jet Master (SAF) Stormsvlei (SAF) Prince Florimund (SAF) 06/01 G2 Peninsula Handicap 9.0f Ivory Trail (SAF) 5 G Badger’s Drift (SAF) Hunter’s Glen (SAF) Complete Warrior (USA) 03/01 G2 Sceptre Stakes 6.0f Lady Windermere (SAF) 4 F Western Winter (USA) Ballad of Reading (SAF) Averof



United Arab EmiratesDate Grade Race Dist Horse Age Sex Sire Dam Broodmare Sire05/03 G2 Invasor Sheikh Maktoum Challenge Round 3 10.0f Asiatic Boy (ARG) 6 H Not For Sale (ARG) S S Asiatic (USA) Polish Navy (USA) 05/03 G2 Daaher Jebel Hatta 9.0f Balius (IRE) 6 H Mujahid (USA) Akhla (USA) Nashwan (USA) 05/03 G2 Swain Dubai City of Gold Stakes 12.0f Front House (IRE) 4 F Sadler’s Wells (USA) Adjalisa (IRE) Darshaan 05/03 G3 Dayjur Mahab Al Shimaal Stakes 6.0f Gayego (USA) 4 C Gilded Time (USA) Devils Lake (USA) Lost Code (USA) 05/03 G3 Intidab Burj Nahaar 8.0f Snaafy (USA) 5 H Kingmambo (USA) Nafisah (IRE) Lahib (USA) 26/02 G3 Meydan Racecourse Zabeel Mile 8.0f Archipenko (USA) 5 H Kingmambo (USA) Bound (USA) Nijinsky (CAN) 26/02 G3 Meydan Horizons Al Quoz Sprint 6.0f J J The Jet Plane (SAF) 5 G Jet Master (SAF) Majestic Guest (SAF) Northern Guest (USA) 20/02 G3 Balanchine Stakes 9.0f My Central (ITY) 5 M Central Park (IRE) My Luigia (IRE) High Estate 19/02 G2 Dubai Commercial Bank Al Fahidi Fort 8.0f Gladiatorus (USA) 4 C Silic (FR) Gmaasha (IRE) Kris 12/02 G3 Gulf News UAE 2000 Guineas 8.0f Desert Party (USA) 3 C Street Cry (IRE) Sage Cat (USA) Tabasco Cat (USA) 05/02 G3 Derrinstown Stud Cape Verdi Stakes 8.0f Deem (IRE) 4 F Dalakhani (IRE) Hijaz (IRE) Sadler’s Wells (USA) 05/02 G3 Derrinstown Stud Al Maktoum Challenge 2 9.0f My Indy (ARG) 5 H Indygo Shiner (USA) My Light (ARG) Southern Halo (USA) 29/01 G3 Dubal Al Rashidiya Stakes 9.0f Silver Mist (SAF) 7 G Western Winter (USA) Palace Bride (AUS) Palace Music (USA) 22/01 G3 Al Shindagha Sprint 6.0f Big City Man (USA) 4 C Northern Afleet (USA) Mini Appeal (USA) Valid Appeal (USA) 15/01 G3 Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum Challenge I 8.0f My Indy (ARG) 5 H Indygo Shiner (USA) My Light (ARG) Southern Halo (USA)

United States08/03 G3 Azeri Stakes 8.5f Acoma (USA) 4 F Empire Maker (USA) Aurora (USA) Danzig (USA) 07/03 G1 Santa Anita Handicap 10.0f Einstein (BRZ) 7 H Spend A Buck (USA) Gay Charm (BRZ) Ghadeer (FR) 07/03 G1 Frank E Kilroe Mile Handicap 8.0f Gio Ponti (USA) 4 C Tale of The Cat (USA) Chipeta Springs (USA) Alydar (USA) 07/03 G1 Santa Anita Oaks 8.5f Stardom Bound (USA) 3 F Tapit (USA) My White Corvette (USA) Tarr Road (USA) 07/03 G3 Toboggan Stakes 6.0f Ah Day (USA) 6 G Malibu Moon (USA) Endette (USA) Thirty Eight Paces (USA) 07/03 G3 Honey Fox Stakes 8.0f I Lost My Choo (USA) 4 F Western Expression (USA) Fairy Queen (USA) Tom Rolfe 07/03 G3 Gotham Stakes 8.5f I Want Revenge (USA) 3 C Stephen Got Even (USA) Meguial (ARG) Roy (USA) 07/03 G3 Razorback Handicap 8.5f Let It Rock (USA) 4 C Trippi (USA) Timeless Measure (USA) Timeless Native (USA) 01/03 G2 Davona Dale Stakes 8.0f Justwhistledixie (USA) 3 F Dixie Union (USA) General Jeanne (USA) Honour And Glory (USA) 01/03 G3 Baldwin Stakes 6.5f Battle of Hastings (GB) 3 G Royal Applause (GB) Subya (GB) Night Shift (USA) 28/02 G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes 8.0f Quality Road (USA) 3 C Elusive Quality (USA) Kobla (USA) Strawberry Road (AUS) 28/02 G3 Sham Stakes 9.0f The Pamplemousse (USA) 3 C Kafwain (USA) Comfort Zone (USA) Rubiano (USA) 28/02 G3 Canadian Turf Stakes 8.0f Twilight Meteor (CAN) 5 H Smart Strike (CAN) One Over Prime (CAN) With Approval (CAN) 22/02 G2 San Luis Obispo Handicap 12.0f Spring House (USA) 7 G Chester House (USA) Spring Star (BRZ) Itajara (BRZ) 22/02 G3 The Very One Stakes 11.0f Criticism (GB) 5 M Machiavellian (USA) Innuendo (IRE) Caerleon (USA) 21/02 G2 San Carlos Handicap 7.0f Georgie Boy (USA) 4 G Tribal Rule (USA) Ippodamia (USA) Peterhof (USA) 21/02 G2 Mac Diarmida Stakes 11.0f Presious Passion (USA) 6 G Royal Anthem (USA) Princesa’s Passion (USA) Marquetry (USA) 20/02 G3 Sabin Stakes 8.0f One Caroline (USA) 4 F Unbridled’s Song (USA) Powder (USA) Broad Brush (USA) 16/02 G2 San Vicente Stakes 7.0f Evita Argentina (USA) 3 F Candy Ride (ARG) Jealous Wildcat (USA) Forest Wildcat (USA) 16/02 G2 Buena Vista Handicap 8.0f Jibboom (USA) 5 M Mizzen Mast (USA) Palisade (USA) Gone West (USA) 16/02 G2 General George Handicap 7.0f True Quality (USA) 4 C Elusive Quality (USA) Louve Mysterieuse (USA) Seeking The Gold (USA) 16/02 G3 Southwest Stakes 8.0f Old Fashioned (USA) 3 C Unbridled’s Song (USA) Collect Call (USA) Meadowlake (USA) 15/02 G2 La Canada Stakes 9.0f Life Is Sweet (USA) 4 F Storm Cat (USA) Sweet Life (USA) Kris S (USA) 15/02 G3 Hurricane Bertie Stakes 6.5f Any Limit (USA) 6 M Limit Out (USA) Clandestinely (USA) Forty Niner (USA) 15/02 G3 Daytona Handicap 6.5f Desert Code (USA) 5 H E Dubai (USA) Chatta Code (USA) Lost Code (USA) 14/02 G1 Santa Maria Handicap 8.5f Santa Teresita (USA) 5 M Lemon Drop Kid (USA) Sweet Gold (USA) Gilded Time (USA) 14/02 G2 Richter Scale Sprint Stakes 7.0f How’s Your Halo (USA) 6 H Halo’s Image (USA) Say How You Feel (USA) Little Current (USA) 14/02 G2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap 7.0f Royale Michele (USA) 4 F Elusive Quality (USA) Michele Royale (USA) Groovy (USA) 14/02 G3 Endeavour Stakes 8.5f Ballymore Lady (USA) 6 M War Chant (USA) Basking (USA) Alydar (USA) 14/02 G3 El Camino Real Derby 9.0f Chocolate Candy (USA) 3 C Candy Ride (ARG) Crownette (USA) Seattle Slew (USA) 14/02 G3 Sam F Davis Stakes 8.5f General Quarters (USA) 3 C Sky Mesa (USA) Ecology (USA) Unbridled’s Song (USA) 08/02 G2 San Antonio Handicap 9.0f Magnum (ARG) 8 H El Compinche (ARG) Merrymaker (ARG) Rainbow Corner (GB) 07/02 G1 Las Virgenes Stakes 8.0f Stardom Bound (USA) 3 F Tapit (USA) My White Corvette (USA) Tarr Road (USA) 07/02 G2 Strub Stakes 9.0f Cowboy Cal (USA) 4 C Giant’s Causeway (USA) Texas Tammy (USA) Seeking The Gold (USA) 07/02 G2 Robert B Lewis Stakes 8.5f Pioneerof the Nile (USA) 3 C Empire Maker (USA) Star of Goshen (USA) Lord At War (ARG) 07/02 G3 Fair Grounds Handicap 9.0f Diamond Tycoon (USA) 5 H Johannesburg (USA) Palacoona (FR) Last Tycoon 07/02 G3 Risen Star Stakes 8.5f Friesan Fire (USA) 3 C A P Indy (USA) Bollinger (AUS) Dehere (USA) 07/02 G3 Mineshaft Handicap 8.5f Honest Man (USA) 5 H Unbridled’s Song (USA) Oath (USA) Known Fact (USA) 07/02 G3 Thunder Road Handicap 8.0f Matto Mondo (CHI) 5 H Sir Cat (USA) Muy Euforica (CHI) Sadlers Congress 07/02 G3 Silverbulletday Stakes 8.5f War Echo (USA) 3 F Tapit (USA) Wild Vision (USA) Wild Again (USA) 01/02 G1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap 9.0f Kip Deville (USA) 6 H Kipling (USA) Klondike Kaytie (USA) Encino (USA) 01/02 G3 Suwannee River Stakes 9.0f Lady Carlock (USA) 5 M Chester House (USA) Incha (GB) Nashwan (USA) 01/02 G3 La Habra Stakes 6.5f Pasar Silbano (IRE) 3 F Elnadim (USA) Give A Whistle (IRE) Mujadil (USA) 31/01 G1 Donn Handicap 9.0f Albertus Maximus (USA) 5 H Albert the Great (USA) Chasethewildwind (USA) Forty Niner (USA) 31/01 G1 Santa Monica Handicap 7.0f Ventura (USA) 5 M Chester House (USA) Estala (GB) Be My Guest (USA) 31/01 G3 Holy Bull Stakes 9.0f Saratoga Sinner (USA) 3 C Harlan’s Holiday (USA) Naughty Linda (USA) Slew City Slew (USA) 30/01 G2 Hutcheson Stakes 7.0f Capt Candyman Can (USA) 3 C Candy Ride (ARG) Stormy Way (USA) Storm Creek (USA) 30/01 G2 Forward Gal Stakes 7.0f Frolic’s Dream (USA) 3 F Smoke Glacken (USA) Flashy Frolic (USA) Premiership (USA) 25/01 G2 Palos Verdes Handicap 6.0f Johnny Eves (USA) 5 G Skimming (USA) Capote’s Halo (USA) Capote (USA) 25/01 G3 Tuzla Handicap 8.0f Foxysox (GB) 6 M Foxhound (USA) Triple Tricks (IRE) Royal Academy (USA) 19/01 G2 San Marcos Stakes 10.0f Artiste Royal (IRE) 8 H Danehill (USA) Agathe (USA) Manila (USA) 18/01 G2 El Encino Stakes 8.5f Life Is Sweet (USA) 4 F Storm Cat (USA) Sweet Life (USA) Kris S (USA) 18/01 G3 First Lady Handicap 6.0f Game Face (USA) 4 F Menifee (USA) Galleon of Gold (USA) Gone West (USA) 17/01 G2 Santa Ynez Stakes 7.0f Alpha Kitten (USA) 3 F Tale of The Cat (USA) Alpha Mama (USA) Unbridled’s Song (USA) 17/01 G2 San Fernando Stakes 8.5f Nownownow (USA) 4 C Whywhywhy (USA) Here And Now (FR) Exit To Nowhere (USA) 17/01 G3 Mr Prospector Stakes 6.0f Ikigai (USA) 4 C Whywhywhy (USA) Contessa Halo (USA) Southern Halo (USA) 17/01 G3 San Rafael Stakes 8.0f The Pamplemousse (USA) 3 C Kafwain (USA) Comfort Zone (USA) Rubiano (USA) 11/01 G3 Santa Ysabel Stakes 8.5f Century Park (USA) 3 F General Meeting (USA) Ecclesiastes (USA) Saint Ballado (CAN) 10/01 G2 San Pasqual Handicap 8.5f Cowboy Cal (USA) 4 C Giant’s Causeway (USA) Texas Tammy (USA) Seeking The Gold (USA) 10/01 G3 Colonel E R Bradley Handicap 8.5f French Beret (CAN) 6 G Broad Brush (USA) Misty Mission (CAN) Miswaki (USA) 10/01 G3 Lecomte Stakes 8.0f Friesan Fire (USA) 3 C A P Indy (USA) Bollinger (AUS) Dehere (USA) 04/01 G2 San Gorgonio Handicap 9.0f Tizfiz (USA) 5 M Tiznow (USA) Gin Running (USA) Go For Gin (USA) 04/01 G3 Old Hat Stakes 6.0f Gemswick Park (USA) 3 F Speightstown (USA) Queen’s Park (USA) Relaunch (USA) 03/01 G3 Hal’s Hope Stakes 8.0f Delightful Kiss (USA) 5 G Kissin Kris (USA) Deputy’s Delight (USA) French Deputy (USA) 03/01 G3 Monrovia Handicap 6.5f Jibboom (USA) 5 M Mizzen Mast (USA) Palisade (USA) Gone West (USA) 01/01 G3 El Conejo Handicap 5.5f In Summation (USA) 6 H Put It Back (USA) Fiesta Baby (USA) Dayjur (USA)

DATA BOOK



DATA BOOKNATIONAL HUNT BIG-RACE RESULTS AND STATISTICS

National Hunt Grade Ones

ASCOT. February 14. 21f 110yds. Heavy.1. VOY POR USTEDES (FR) 8 b g

Villez - Nuit D’Ecajeul (Matahawk)O-Sir Robert Ogden B-Ecurie Macaire Guillaume & Mr Francis Picoulet TR-A King

2. Gwanako (FR) 6 b/br g Sin Kiang - Vaubecourt (Courtroom)

3. Tamarinbleu (FR) 9 b g Epervier Bleu - Tamainia (Lashkari)

Age Starts Wins Places Earned3-8 29 13 12 £818,810

26 ASCOT CHASE G1

Northern DancerGoofedSensitivoGarden ClubberCrepelloMatatinaPan IIValeHerbagerSea NymphSt PaddyCarrozzaTanerkoVieille DemeureWild RiskJeannine

VILLEZ ch 92

NUIT D’ECAJEUL b 87

Lyphard’s Wish

Valhalla

Matahawk

La Divette

Lyphard

Sally’s Wish

New Chapter

Varig

Sea Hawk II

Carromata

Orvilliers

Wild Girl

VOY POR USTEDES b g 2001

LEOPARDSTOWN. February 15. 24f. Soft.1. NEPTUNE COLLONGES (FR) 8 gr g

Dom Alco - Castille Collonges (El Badr)O-Mr J Hales B-GAEC Delorme Freres TR-PF Nicholls

2. Notre Pere (FR) 8 b g Kadalko - Gloria IV (Video Rock)

3. Chelsea Harbour (IRE) 9 b g Old Vic - Jennyellen (Phardante)


27 HENNESSY COGNAC GOLD CUP CHASE G1

TrafficRhenaneLa VarendeArctic StarNearcticSeximeeSheshoonCenerentolaBustedMariansAstecCurrarevaghChamantNive BlueHollywoodIdylle

DOM ALCO gr 87

CASTILLE COLLONGES b/br 90

Dom Pasquini

Alconaca

El Badr

Gitane Collonges

Rheffic

Boursonne

Nonoalco

Vela

Weavers’ Hall

Indian Maid

Vieux Chateau

Penelope

NEPTUNE COLLONGES gr g 2001

LEOPARDSTOWN. February 15. 21f. Soft.1. COOLDINE (IRE) 7 b g

Beneficial - Shean Alainn (Le Moss)O-Mrs Violet O’Leary B-Mrs E Hadden TR-WP Mullins

2. Forpadydeplasterer (IRE) 7 b g Moscow Society - Run Artiste (Deep Run)

3. Trafford Lad (GB) 7 b g Tragic Role - Another Shuil (Duky)


28 DR PJ MORIARTY NOVICE CHASE G1

Derring-DoCamenaeCharlottesvilleLa SegaNijinskyGreen ValleyPrimeraFlower DanceLe LavandouStella’s SisterBallymossFeevaghAbove SuspicionSyncopationStraight LadShean Lass

BENEFICIAL b 90

SHEAN ALAINN b 88

Top Ville

Youthful

Le Moss

Stable Lass

High Top

Sega Ville

Green Dancer

First Bloom

Le Levanstell

Feemoss

Golden Love

Kilcoran Lass

COOLDINE b g 2002

LEOPARDSTOWN. February 15. 18f. Soft.1. PANDORAMA (IRE) 6 b g

Flemensfirth - Gretchen’s Castle (Carlingford Castle)O-RJ Bagnall B-P Carmody TR-N Meade

2. Western Charmer (IRE) 7 b/br g Good Thyne - Tulladante (Phardante)

3. Zarinava (IRE) 5 gr m Daylami - Zariliya (Darshaan)


29 DELOITTE NOVICE HURDLE G1

Tom RolfeWavy NavyPrince JohnDetermined LadySharpen UpDoubly SureRoyal CoinageNatoDevonLueur DoreeSkymasterSipDicta DrakeCheongsamBaburHigh Velocity

FLEMENSFIRTH b 92

GRETCHEN’S CASTLE ch 93

Alleged

Etheldreda

Carlingford Castle

Whisper Moon

Hoist The Flag

Princess Pout

Diesis

Royal Bund

Le Bavard

Rachel Ruysch

Chinatown

Velocity’s Gift

PANDORAMA b g 2003

In easily winning the Betfair AscotChase, Voy Por Ustedes improvedhis record over fences to tenvictories and six seconds from 19starts, in the process underlining hisstatus as one of Britain’s mosttalented chasers. His latest win alsoconfirmed that, as he gets older, heis suited by distances of two and ahalf miles or more.

He has now won a Gr1 in each ofthe last four seasons, thoroughlyjustifying the 106,000gns he cost atDoncaster’s 2005 Spring Sale. Hissire Villez, who died in 2003,finished third among France’sleading jumping stallions in 2006and 2007.

His best recent representativesinclude such as Pancho Villez,Rigoureux, Malcolm, Villesia, IHave A Dream, Smabelle andNorville du Bois, and he previouslymade his name with Le Duc, MonVillez and the smart French chaserWilldance. He has also been makinghis mark in Ireland through thesmart hurdlers Kazal and Shakervilz.

Although Villez won only once onthe Flat, he shone over hurdlesbetween the ages of three and five,winning eight stakes races, includingthe Prix Amadou.

Voy Por Ustedes is a half-brotherto the useful jumper Le Pero and toEn La Cruz, a filly who was secondin a Gr2 chase after winning twohurdle races and two chases. Histhird dam Wild Girl – a daughter ofthe French Champion Hurdlewinner Wild Risk – was a talentedjumper, as was her smart son Filsd’Ecajeul. Voy Por Ustedes’s seconddam, Fils d’Ecajeul’s sister LaDivette, was a winning chaser andproduced Roi d’Ecajeul, a runner-upin the French Champion Hurdle.

Voy Por Ustedes’s broodmare sire,Matahawk, won the Grand Prix deParis in the days when it representeda stiff test of stamina, but brokedown soon afterwards.

Travelling to Ireland seems to bringout the best in Neptune Collonges.After winning the PunchestownGuinness Gold Cup in 2007 and2008, he added the 2009 HennessyCognac Gold Cup to his total of 14victories from 25 starts. He was alsoin the lead, travelling well, when hefell at the second last in the LexusChase at the end of 2008 on his onlyother visit to Ireland.

Three miles seems the minimumdistance for Neptune Collonges. Hissire Dom Alco tackled a distance aslong as three miles only once, whensecond at Auteuil, but stayed well.

Although Dom Alco failed to winin 14 starts on the Flat, includingclaiming races, he won six races overhurdles, including two Listed eventsat Auteuil. This French NationalStud stallion is also being very ablyrepresented by the French hurdlerMonoalco. His other goodrepresentatives include HerosCollonges, Mysoko, Naiad duMisselot, Etoile d’Ainay and TribalVenture.

There is stamina in the bottomhalf of Neptune Collonges’spedigree, as his dam CastilleCollonges is by El Badr, an out-and-out stayer who twice won the Prixdu Cadran over two and a half miles,and his second dam is by PrixKergorlay winner Vieux Chateau.

Castille Collonges failed to winin 42 starts but she is alsoresponsible for QuadretteCollonges, a runner-up in Listedraces over hurdles and fences.Castille Collonges is closely relatedto Diane Collonges, whose sonNenuphar Collonges scored at the2008 Cheltenham Festival. DianeCollonges is by El Badr out ofCastille Collonges’s half-sisterMariane Collonge. NeptuneCollonges’s third dam Penelope alsoranks as the third dam of HussardCollonges, winner of the Royal &SunAlliance Chase in 2002.

When Shean Alainn’s 2004 geldingby Beneficial came on the market atBrightwells’ Cheltenham’s NationalHunt breeze-up sale in December2008, he made £100,000. This wasa sharp contrast to when the mare’sprevious foal by Beneficial was soldat Goffs in 2005, when the thenthree-year-old made only €10,000.There’s a simple explanation for thedifference in these prices – the firstBeneficial gelding, Cooldine,developed into a dual Gr2 winnerover hurdles and has now become aGr1 by winning the Dr P J MoriartyNovice Chase.

Cooldine has the distinction ofbeing the first Gr1 winner byBeneficial, even though theKnockhouse Stud stallion is alsoresponsible for such accomplishedjumpers as Gungadu, Lennon,Sweet Kiln, Dashing George,Petertheknot, Blazing Sky, ThePolomoche and GVA Ireland.

Beneficial’s appeal to jumpingbreeders was twofold. First, he hadbeen a very good middle-distanceperformer, winning the Gr2 KingEdward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot,and second he is a son of Top Ville,sire also of the likes of UnDesperado, Toulon, Pistolet Bleu,Norwich and Shardari.

Beneficial had enough speed towin a Gr3 over a mile and a quarterat four and it remains to be seenwhether Cooldine is best over threemiles. There is plenty of stamina inthe bottom half of his pedigree, ashis first two dams are daughters ofLe Moss and Golden Love, bothwinners over two and a half miles onthe Flat. His dam Shean Alainn wonover 21 furlongs over hurdles and isa sister to Brackenfield, a usefulnovice hurdler up to three miles.

Other daughters of Le Moss haveproduced the likes of Tidal Bay,Albertas Run, Sir Rembrandt,Imperial Commander and ChiefDan George.

With his fee again set at €10,000 for2009, Flemensfirth remains thehighest-priced stallion onCoolmore’s National Hunt rosterand it is easy to understand why. TheGr1-winning son of Alleged hasbeen making rapid progress up theleading sires’ list. After finishingthird to Old Vic and Presenting in2007/8, he held second placebehind Presenting at the end ofFebruary 2009. He owes his highpositions to the likes of Muirhead,Joe Lively, Tidal Bay, ImperialCommander, Kicks For Free,Beshabar and King Johns Castle.

Flemensfirth has also excelled inthe sales ring and in 2008 his foalsmade up to €95,000, his three-year-olds achieved such good prices as£170,000 and €155,000, and hisfive-year-old son On Raglan Roadmade £320,000.

It was a different story whenFlemensfirth’s son out of Gretchen’sCastle was offered as a foal andyearling. The bidding rose no higherthan €5,000, but this gelding,Pandorama, has gone on to win fiveof his first six starts (two in bumpersand four over hurdles), havingpreviously won a point-to-point.

His winning margins have beensubstantial and he had ten lengths tospare over at the end of the Gr1Deloitte Novice Hurdle, but he wasfortunate to win, as the odds-onCousin Vinny appeared to have hismeasure when he lost his rider afterthe last.

Gretchen’s Castle is an unraceddaughter of Carlingford Castle, aDerby runner-up who shares thesame sire, the Prix du Cadran winnerLe Bavard, with Kildimo, PerrisValley, Bankers Benefit and BarneyBurnett. Pandorama’s third damVelocity’s Gift is also the seconddam of that remarkable little mareMrs Muck, winner of Ascot’s LongDistance Hurdle and Haydock’sPremier Long Distance Hurdle.

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National Hunt sires 2008-09 by earnings Name YOF Sire Rnrs Wnrs %WR Wins AWD Earnings (£) Top horse Earned (£)Presenting 1992 Mtoto 278 60 21.6 82 20.2 1,059,519 Herecomesthetruth 79,948Flemensfirth 1992 Alleged 162 44 27.2 61 19.9 1,040,307 Pandorama 108,632Old Vic 1986 Sadler’s Wells 152 29 19.1 42 19.5 881,840 Snoopy Loopy 238,022Oscar 1994 Sadler’s Wells 229 52 22.7 71 20.1 817,379 Conem 57,442Accordion 1986 Sadler’s Wells 139 32 23.0 45 19.2 733,925 According To Pete 88,859Supreme Leader 1982 Bustino 204 47 23.0 65 20.6 659,223 Can’t Buy Time 60,837Saddlers’ Hall 1988 Sadler’s Wells 207 39 18.8 49 19.9 545,311 Barbers Shop 55,157Beneficial 1990 Top Ville 157 30 19.1 44 19.0 486,194 Cooldine 76,129Bob Back 1981 Roberto 132 31 23.5 39 17.9 449,611 Irish Invader 46,489Kayf Tara 1994 Sadler’s Wells 109 32 29.4 48 19.4 425,311 Katies Tuitor 49,241Kahyasi 1985 Ile de Bourbon 43 14 32.6 21 18.7 391,844 Sentry Duty 134,063Pistolet Bleu 1988 Top Ville 75 15 20.0 24 20.8 371,545 I’msingingtheblues 80,347King’s Theatre 1991 Sadler’s Wells 96 30 31.3 42 19.2 353,067 Sesenta 29,141Sadler’s Wells 1981 Northern Dancer 86 20 23.3 23 19.1 331,149 Ashkazar 45,608Overbury 1991 Caerleon 106 29 27.4 43 20.6 316,358 Ballyfitz 41,887Montjeu 1996 Sadler’s Wells 58 13 22.4 15 17.4 293,874 Hurricane Fly 81,250Zaffaran 1985 Assert 77 19 24.7 27 19.8 286,492 Will Be Done 47,830Villez 1992 Lyphard’s Wish 18 8 44.4 10 22.9 279,635 Voy Por Ustedes 112,784Moscow Society 1985 Nijinsky 81 14 17.3 19 18.5 277,428 Forpadydeplasterer 53,973Alderbrook 1989 Ardross 73 13 17.8 16 20.5 276,289 Glenfinn Captain 81,536Anshan 1987 Persian Bold 135 18 13.3 26 21.0 273,457 Powerstation 35,228Taipan 1992 Last Tycoon 63 16 25.4 23 19.7 257,943 Made In Taipan 70,621Lord Americo 1984 Lord Gayle 105 12 11.4 14 21.5 250,570 Siegemaster 41,421Hernando 1990 Niniski 37 12 32.4 13 21.1 243,825 State Of Play 55,021Nikos 1981 Nonoalco 24 4 16.7 7 19.1 233,393 Master Minded 179,098Good Thyne 1977 Herbager 38 7 18.4 9 18.5 229,333 Brave Inca 94,993Glacial Storm 1985 Arctic Tern 61 11 18.0 18 20.4 227,649 Alpha Ridge 85,977Dr Massini 1993 Sadler’s Wells 79 13 16.5 18 19.4 225,610 Massini’s Maguire 36,311Definite Article 1992 Indian Ridge 69 19 27.5 24 18.9 213,131 Emotional Article 22,479Passing Sale 1987 No Pass No Sale 11 4 36.4 6 22.7 209,704 Oslot 111,356Midnight Legend 1991 Night Shift 33 14 42.4 22 19.9 204,182 My Petra 59,710Turtle Island 1991 Fairy King 91 14 15.4 19 18.3 202,833 An Cathaoir Mor 25,653Village Star 1983 Moulin 1 1 100.0 2 24.0 197,595 Kauto Star 197,596Kadalko 1988 Cadoudal 13 5 38.5 9 22.8 196,512 Notre Pere 142,911Daylami 1994 Doyoun 47 15 31.9 20 17.4 190,819 Ebadiyan 35,312Fourstars Allstar 1988 Compliance 54 5 9.3 7 17.9 184,108 Chomba Womba 122,785Norwich 1987 Top Ville 63 13 20.6 14 18.9 181,159 Skip Two 32,921Mister Lord 1979 Sir Ivor 41 8 19.5 11 19.9 179,705 Kahuna 39,434Selkirk 1988 Sharpen Up 33 10 30.3 16 16.9 179,078 Sublimity 64,095Robin des Pres 1994 Cadoudal 9 3 33.3 4 19.5 175,017 Petit Robin 65,606Turgeon 1986 Caro 15 3 20.0 3 20.7 173,565 Exotic Dancer 130,643Sir Harry Lewis 1984 Alleged 40 12 30.0 20 20.4 169,959 Diamond Harry 62,664Bob’s Return 1990 Bob Back 82 7 8.5 17 21.3 169,620 Joncol 38,151

Leading sires

Statistics to March 1. MOR = mares other runners. This classifies siblings of each sire’s runners to give a benchmark by which a sire can be judged

National Hunt sires 2005-09 by earnings Name YOF Sire Rnrs Wnrs %WR Wins AWD Places Earnings Av earnings/runnerPresenting 1992 Mtoto 575 180 31.3 387 20.2 960 £4,849,853 £8,435MOR 495 148 29.9 300 20.4 876 3,426,687 6,923Old Vic 1986 Sadler's Wells 360 115 31.9 258 20.7 648 4,847,278 13,465MOR 291 94 32.3 178 20.7 511 2,435,437 8,369Oscar 1994 Sadler's Wells 508 166 32.7 336 19.5 869 3,917,283 7,711MOR 369 101 27.4 214 19.8 663 2,519,233 6,827Supreme Leader 1982 Bustino 582 201 34.5 398 19.9 985 3,880,810 6,668MOR 544 171 31.4 339 20.3 913 3,736,924 6,869Accordion 1986 Sadler's Wells 318 108 34.0 260 19.6 634 3,486,631 10,964MOR 234 69 29.5 150 19.6 383 2,359,663 10,084Flemensfirth 1992 Alleged 326 105 32.2 227 19.6 575 3,283,866 10,073MOR 245 69 28.2 143 20.3 364 1,679,883 6,857Roselier 1973 Misti IV 203 73 36.0 163 23.0 469 2,572,149 12,671MOR 214 58 27.1 112 20.2 310 1,181,583 5,521Lord Americo 1984 Lord Gayle 333 85 25.5 176 20.5 573 2,433,496 7,308MOR 244 75 30.7 154 20.9 395 2,612,619 10,707Saddlers' Hall 1988 Sadler's Wells 450 130 28.9 251 19.6 688 2,370,591 5,268MOR 431 144 33.4 288 20.4 758 3,657,539 8,486Beneficial 1990 Top Ville 301 100 33.2 205 18.7 505 2,190,965 7,279MOR 220 59 26.8 123 20.1 354 1,773,512 8,061Bob Back 1981 Roberto 298 117 39.3 212 19.2 508 2,164,822 7,265MOR 236 78 33.1 163 19.4 392 1,967,670 8,338Anshan 1987 Persian Bold 368 87 23.6 164 20.6 559 1,994,156 5,419MOR 370 119 32.2 226 20.7 696 2,539,458 6,863Sadler's Wells 1981 Northern Dancer 187 73 39.0 146 19.0 467 1,863,452 9,965MOR 60 21 35.0 49 17.6 136 957,633 15,961Zaffaran 1985 Assert 247 82 33.2 166 20.6 442 1,831,396 7,415MOR 209 48 23.0 92 20.2 251 937,466 4,485In The Wings 1986 Sadler's Wells 109 49 45.0 111 18.3 231 1,696,860 15,568MOR 72 25 34.7 49 17.9 128 605,069 8,404Kahyasi 1985 Ile de Bourbon 96 40 41.7 95 18.5 199 1,652,584 17,214MOR 83 29 34.9 45 19.0 160 482,685 5,815Good Thyne 1977 Herbager 153 43 28.1 87 20.3 237 1,631,586 10,664MOR 154 53 34.4 111 21.4 277 1,447,244 9,398Norwich 1987 Top Ville 159 50 31.5 115 18.9 281 1,568,776 9,867MOR 118 37 31.4 73 20.7 209 833,774 7,066Be My Native 1979 Our Native 152 56 36.8 111 21.7 272 1,502,679 9,886MOR 175 56 32.0 133 19.9 313 1,328,923 7,594Villez 1992 Lyphard's Wish 33 19 57.6 62 19.9 108 1,474,485 44,681MOR 21 7 33.3 18 19.7 41 137,707 6,557King's Theatre 1991 Sadler's Wells 160 68 42.5 140 18.8 297 1,465,153 9,157MOR 101 31 30.7 55 19.3 150 590,865 5,850

Cheltenham boostsPresenting advantagePresenting’s place at the top ofthe table was further boosted byresults at the CheltenhamFestival, as his progeny earned£281,000 thanks to wins byDunguib and Weapon’sAmnesty, and seconds forDenman, Horner Woods andSome Present.

Old Vic also had two strikes,through Andytown and NinetiethMinute, and Flemensfirth(Imperial Commander) andOscar (Tricky Trickster) oneapiece.

Presenting certainly has amarvellous record and, to set therecord straight, his fee for 2009is €12,000 (Oct 1), not €9,000as stated in our jump siresfeature last month.

His appeal among breeders isconfirmed by this year’s bookwhich includes such as LadyRebecca, Senorita Rumbalita,Nas Na Riogh and SupremeSerenade.

The curious tale of Sadler’s WellsWhile there is undoubtedly anemerging force of exciting andsuccessful English National Huntsires, the traditional dominance ofIreland in this field can be seenwith our earnings table for theperiod 2005/09 as a whole.

Runner-up Old Vic’s averageearnings per runner are £5,096higher than the tally for themares’ runners by other stallions,whereas for the leader,Presenting, the difference is£1,512.

Interestingly, Sadler’s Wells’srunners have average earnings of£9,965, whereas the mares’runners by other stallionsaverage £15,961.

His son In the Wings has thereverse arrangement, with figuresof £15,568 against £8,404.

Comments: Jeremy Early

DATA BOOK

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DATA BOOKTHE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BLOODSTOCK WORLD

British and Irish-bred winners overseasBreeder Winner Sire Age/sex Dam Ctry Date Racecourse Distance Prize-money (£)Addison Racing Ltd Inc Lexeko Boy Dr Devious 8 h Rose Bourbon (USA) Gr 09/1/09 Athens 7f £5,670Addison Racing Ltd Inc Lexeko Boy Dr Devious 8 h Rose Bourbon (USA) Gr 23/1/09 Athens 7f £6,591Addison Racing Ltd Inc Lexeko Boy Dr Devious 8 h Rose Bourbon (USA) Gr 13/2/09 Athens 1m £7,654Airlie Stud Raiding Party Orpen (USA) 4 f Lady Angola (USA) Usa 24/1/09 Santa Anita 1m £21,667Al Sulaim, Mohammed Irish Jig Celtic Swing 4 c Siem Reap (USA) Hk 15/2/09 Sha Tin 6f £58,842Annalee Bloodstock & Rockhart Trading Ltd Cyan Fantastic Light (USA) 4 c Holly Blue Gr 06/2/09 Athens 5f £6,379Appleby Lodge Stud Domeside Domedriver 3 c Buck's Fizz Fr 28/2/09 Toulouse 1m2f110y £6,796Aram, M V S and Mrs Sky Crusader Mujahid (USA) 7 g Red Cloud Fr 06/3/09 Deauville 1m1f110y £16,019Aston Mullins Stud & Knockainey Stud Duke Of Homberg Dynaformer (USA) 3 c Woodlass (USA) Usa 14/2/09 Gulfstream Park 1m £52,083 (L)Ballylinch Stud Dan Chillingworth Indian Ridge 4 c Shizao Uae 30/1/09 Jebel Ali 7f £7,386Bamford, Lady Lover Boy Alhaarth 6 h L'Amour (USA) Uae 30/1/09 Jebel Ali 1m1f165y £9,090Bamford, Lady Love Dancer Fasliyev (USA) 4 g L'Amour (USA) Gr 12/1/09 Athens 6f £9,922Barouche Stud Ireland Ltd Furnace Green Desert (USA) 5 g Lyrical Dance (USA) Uae 26/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 1m £41,818Barronstown Stud & Cobra Bankable Medicean 5 h Dance To The Top Uae 20/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 1m194y £73,181Bayless, S & Mrs M Shiva Adiva Needwood Blade 3 f Eastern Lyric Gr 23/2/09 Athens 7f £12,332Bearstone Stud Royal Protector Royal Applause 4 c My Daisychain Fr 08/2/09 Cagnes-Sur-Mer 1m £7,282Boland, R Dukeside Bachelor Duke (USA) 3 c Night Spirit Fr 13/2/09 Mont-De-Marsan 6f £7,282Boucheron, Serge Atilano Highest Honor (FR) 5 h Hollanda (FR) Fr 28/2/09 Toulouse 1m £6,311Brain International Ltd Do Or Die Tomba 5 h Satiric Gr 04/1/09 Athens 7f £5,316Brain International Ltd Do Or Die Tomba 5 h Satiric Gr 16/2/09 Athens 7f £6,946Brain International Ltd Do Or Die Tomba 5 h Satiric Gr 23/2/09 Athens 7f £10,525Brick Kiln Farming Excellent Girl Exceed And Excel (AUS) 3 f Dame Blanche Fr 07/3/09 Saint-Cloud 1m2f £16,505Brook Stud Bloodstock Ltd Misselliebee Polish Precedent (USA) 4 f Pursuit Of Peace Gr 18/2/09 Athens 6f £6,379Brook Stud Bloodstock Ltd Misselliebee Polish Precedent (USA) 4 f Pursuit Of Peace Gr 25/2/09 Athens 7f £6,379Broughton Bloodstock Braccio di Ferro Medicean 3 c Sleave Silk Ity 05/2/09 Pisa 7f110y £5,776Bryant, I Elinaki Okawango (USA) 4 f Corn Dolly Gr 26/1/09 Athens 7f £9,922Burrell, Mrs M Dream Bee Oasis Dream 4 f Chief Bee Gr 04/1/09 Athens 7f £8,278Byrne, David F Indos Almutawakel 4 c Crystal Land Gr 27/2/09 Athens 7f £7,087Caley, Exors of the Late W L Algol Kyllachy 5 g Heckle Hk 22/2/09 Sha Tin 6f £230,251 (L)Campbell-Andenaes, Mrs M Presvis Sakhee (USA) 5 g Forest Fire (SWE) Uae 26/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 1m2f £73,181Cantoni, Mr R Quiza Quiza Quiza Golden Snake (USA) 3 f Quiz Chow (ITY) Ity 23/2/09 Naples 1m1f £6,189Carroll, Mr J M Bellinissimo Hawk Wing (USA) 3 c Princess Electra Fr 14/2/09 Cagnes-Sur-Mer 1m £13,107Chandris, Mrs J Pactolos Way Docksider (USA) 6 g Arietta's Way Gr 12/1/09 Athens 7f £5,457Chandris, Mrs J Pactolos Way Docksider (USA) 6 g Arietta's Way Gr 19/1/09 Athens 1m £6,520Chandris, Mrs J Live Concert Singspiel 5 h Dance Lively (USA) Jpn 01/2/09 Tokyo 1m £139,369Charlton & Floors Farming, Roger Airbuss Mozart 6 h Kardelle Uae 27/2/09 Jebel Ali 1m £7,954Chippenham Lodge Stud & Rathbarry Stud Eliza Junior Barathea 6 m Finger Of Light Gr 20/2/09 Athens 7f £7,463Churchtown Bloodstock Ltd Tamazirte Danehill Dancer 3 f Tanami Desert Fr 27/2/09 Deauville 7f110y £14,078Churchtown House Stud Capo Malfatano High Chaparral 3 c Toy Show Ity 03/3/09 Rome 1m1f110y £6,189Churchtown Stud Night In Night Shift (USA) 6 g Sherannda (USA) Spa 01/3/09 Mijas 6f110y £5,340Clarke, M Corioliss Verglas 3 c Queen's Ransom Ity 06/2/09 Rome 1m £5,364Cora Srl Chiaravalle Rock Of Gibraltar 3 f Tuscania (USA) Ity 24/2/09 Rome 1m £6,189Cosgrove, Mrs B Nans Joy In The Wings 5 m True Joy Usa 29/1/09 Fair Grounds 1m £20,000Crangle, B J and Mrs Foxysox Foxhound (USA) 6 m Triple Tricks Usa 25/1/09 Santa Anita 1m £41,667(Gr3)Cyzer, C A Restless Soul Singspiel 5 m Seasonal Splendour Usa 28/1/09 Santa Anita 1m2f £21,667Darley Ajeelah Cape Cross 4 f Jazmeer Gr 18/2/09 Athens 6f £5,741Darley John Donne Fantastic Light (USA) 5 h Upper Strata Jpn 08/1/09 Funabashi 7f110y £6,138Darley Baron's Court Pivotal 4 c Grafin (USA) Gr 09/2/09 Athens 5f £6,379Darley Beaujeu Singspiel 4 c Baya (USA) Gr 16/2/09 Athens 6f £6,379Darley Esquire Dubai Millennium 7 h Esperada (ARG) Uae 13/2/09 Jebel Ali 1m £6,818Darley For Once Green Desert (USA) 6 h Belle Argentine (FR) Uae 13/2/09 Jebel Ali 7f £6,818Darley Bashful Bride Holy Bull (USA) 3 f Satin Finish Gr 19/1/09 Athens 5f £7,938Darley Swaziland Green Desert (USA) 4 c Susu Gr 26/1/09 Athens 5f £8,292Darley Dahteer Bachir 7 g Reematna Uae 27/2/09 Jebel Ali 7f £8,522Darley Quiberon Singspiel 4 c Silica (USA) Gr 23/1/09 Athens 7f £9,214Darley Bashful Bride Holy Bull (USA) 3 f Satin Finish Gr 13/2/09 Athens 7f £25,515Darley Fares Mark Of Esteem 5 h Iftitan (USA) Uae 29/1/09 Nad Al Sheba 1m £46,000Darley Blue Denim Singspiel 5 m Velvet Lady Spa 01/3/09 Mijas 1m3f £49,515Darley Eastern Anthem Singspiel 5 h Kazzia (GER) Uae 05/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 1m2f £50,181Darley Alexandros Kingmambo (USA) 4 c Arlette Uae 06/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 1m194y £62,727Darley Kirklees Jade Robbery (USA) 5 h Moyesii (USA) Uae 12/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 1m2f £62,727Darley Eastern Anthem Singspiel 5 h Kazzia (GER) Uae 19/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 1m4f £62,727Darley Veracity Lomitas 5 h Vituisa Uae 26/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 2m £73,181Davin Investments Ltd Uramazin Danehill Dancer 3 c Uriah (GER) Hk 22/2/09 Sha Tin 1m £43,492De Druval, Haras Sakkaline Pennekamp (USA) 9 h Shardazar Fr 05/2/09 Cagnes-Sur-Mer 1m2f £7,282Deer, Mr & Mrs D J Chuwa King Dubai Destination (USA) 4 c Kanzina Jpn 08/2/09 Kokura 1m110y £55,244Deerfield Farm Desert Master Green Desert (USA) 6 g Khambani Gr 16/2/09 Athens 7f £5,457Dettori, L Seiun Rhodem Singspiel 5 h Nova Cyngi (USA) Jpn 28/2/09 Kokura 1m110y £55,244Devin, Henry Kachgai Kaldounevees (FR) 6 g Toujours Juste (FR) Uae 06/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 1m £50,181Dodd, P M Parmilou Lujain (USA) 4 c Paris Mist Gr 26/1/09 Athens 5f £9,922Donlon, B Choosing Choisir (AUS) 4 f Some Merit Usa 31/1/09 Gulfstream Park 1m £8,333Doyle Bloodstock Ltd, P J Desert Nights Desert Style 4 f Midnight Partner Fr 05/2/09 Cagnes-Sur-Mer 1m4f £8,252Doyle, J Eirinosofi Namid 4 f Kibarague Gr 30/1/09 Athens 5f £9,214Doyle, R P Varonos Hawk Wing (USA) 3 c Lioness Gr 23/2/09 Athens 6f £9,214du Feu & Trickledown Stud, Mrs D Green Pride Piccolo 6 g Little Greenbird Fr 16/2/09 Cagnes-Sur-Mer 7f £7,767Dual S R L Acqua Ragia Imprevedibile 6 m Acqua Pesante Ity 15/2/09 Rome 1m £6,189Duffy, M Sir Zacharias Indian Danehill 5 h Special Park (USA) Gr 27/2/09 Athens 7f £5,316Dwan, Bill Emirati Dubai Destination (USA) 4 g Kobalt Sea (FR) Fr 21/2/09 Cagnes-Sur-Mer 1m4f110y £8,738Eaton Sales Asbeautifulasyou A P Indy (USA) 4 f Santa Catarina (USA) Usa 22/1/09 Laurel 1m £11,083Egan, Mrs Ann Kazan Boy Choisir (AUS) 4 c Lime Hill Honey Gr 19/1/09 Athens 7f £9,922Emily Krstina (Australia) Pty Ltd With Diktat Diktat 5 h With Fervour (USA) Jpn 28/2/09 Hanshin 1m £116,619Fair, I D Craggy Cat Statue Of Liberty (USA) 4 c Trexana Hk 25/2/09 Happy Valley 6f £71,634Finegan & Noel Cogan, N Ragtimeband Danetime 3 c True Freedom (FR) Ity 22/2/09 Rome 7f £6,189Floors Farming & Side Hill Stud Comic Strip Marju 7 g Comic Hk 22/2/09 Sha Tin 1m2f £403,950 (L)Forenaghts Stud Unquenchable Fire Invincible Spirit 4 g Tasha's Dream (USA) Fr 01/2/09 Pau 1m1f110y £6,796Foy, C J Russian Rosie Traditionally (USA) 5 m Pink Sovietstaia (FR) Usa 30/1/09 Gulfstream Park 1m1f £17,083Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd Ipponikos Machiavellian (USA) 5 h Russian Snows Gr 19/1/09 Athens 7f £6,251Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd Radical Views Machiavellian (USA) 5 g Nawaiet (USA) Gr 23/1/09 Athens 1m £6,379Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd Trimaran Red Ransom (USA) 4 f Moonlight Sail (USA) Gr 26/1/09 Athens 7f £7,442Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd Ipponikos Machiavellian (USA) 5 h Russian Snows Gr 09/2/09 Athens 1m £8,009Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd Grand Fleet Green Desert (USA) 4 g Janaat Gr 23/1/09 Athens 6f £9,922Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd Friston Forest Barathea 5 h Talented Uae 06/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 1m5f165y £62,727Gibbons & Dermot Forde, P Asset Marju 6 g Snow Peak Uae 06/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 6f £50,181Glending Bloodstock Caesar Beware Daggers Drawn (USA) 7 g Red Shareef Usa 11/2/09 Gulfstream Park 5f £10,833Goldford Stud Better Believe Bertolini (USA) 4 f The In-Laws Gr 16/1/09 Athens 1m1f £25,515Good, Exors of the Late J R and Mrs P Manchurian Singspiel 5 g Royal Passion Gr 13/2/09 Athens 7f £5,316Good, Exors of the Late J R and Mrs P Manchurian Singspiel 5 g Royal Passion Gr 27/2/09 Athens 7f £5,316Hackett, Mrs Monica Golden Arrow Danehill (USA) 6 h Cheal Rose Uae 30/1/09 Jebel Ali 1m £56,818 (L)Hartery, Mrs C Everygrainofsand Desert Sun 6 g Serious Delight Gr 06/1/09 Athens 7f £9,249

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The data published in this section is restricted to breeders based in Great Britain or Ireland, as determined by the address used when the foalwas first registered. Some foreign-based breeders may be included if the mare was boarded in Great Britain or Ireland and is registered as being‘care of’ a domestic breeder. Performance data covers results processed by Weatherbys during February

DATA BOOK

Hascombe & Valiant Studs Tuscan Evening Oasis Dream 4 f The Faraway Tree Usa 22/1/09 Santa Anita 6f £18,750Hascombe & Valiant Studs Leo Pivotal 6 h Miss Penton Usa 08/2/09 Aqueduct 6f £19,583Hedgeholme Stud Hawkes Bay Vettori 7 g Nordico Princess Hk 01/3/09 Sha Tin 7f £117,684(L)Hedsor Stud Minjim Kyllachy 4 c Sarabah Gr 09/1/09 Athens 7f £7,371Hellwood Stud Farm Cosmic Art Bertolini (USA) 4 c Cosmic Song Hk 18/2/09 Happy Valley 5f £43,492Hennessy, P Alonisos Trans Island 4 f Sans Souci Gr 01/1/09 Athens 7f £9,922Hesmonds Stud Ltd Sunny Peace Vision Of Night 4 f Three Gifts Usa 29/1/09 Santa Anita 7f £6,250Highclere Stud Commandos Terz Marju 8 h Shamriyna Gr 13/2/09 Athens 7f £5,670His Highness the Aga Khan's Studs SC Risayla Polish Precedent (USA) 5 m Riyafa Aus 11/2/09 Warwick Farm 7f £8,519His Highness the Aga Khan's Studs SC Kadabi Dalakhani 4 c Kadaka Fr 04/3/09 Fontainebleau 1m2f £12,621His Highness the Aga Khan's Studs SC Eyshal Green Desert (USA) 5 h Ebadiyla Hk 08/2/09 Sha Tin 1m1f £117,684 (L)Holdcroft & Mrs M Forsyth, Mrs M Reel Gift Reel Buddy (USA) 4 f Its Another Gift Gr 30/1/09 Athens 7f £10,348Holden, P Baylivia Golan 4 f Siana Springs Gr 07/1/09 Athens 7f £8,930Honniball, R Steal My Fire Iron Mask (USA) 4 c Lady Of Pleasure Gr 01/1/09 Athens 1m1f £25,515Horse Breeding Company Betcherev Barathea 5 g Clare Bridge (USA) Fr 27/2/09 Deauville 1m4f £9,223Horses AG Galazios Okeanos Groom Dancer (USA) 4 c Belle d'Argent (USA) Gr 06/1/09 Athens 7f £9,922Iceton, D G Stef Traditionally (USA) 4 f Zuccini Business Gr 23/1/09 Athens 7f £9,313Irish, J Anikiti Raise A Grand 4 f Majestic Jenny Gr 28/1/09 Athens 5f £7,938Johnson Houghton, R F Judd Street Compton Place 7 g Pudding Lane Uae 19/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 6f £50,181Juddmonte Farms Ltd Bright Mind Zamindar (USA) 5 h Bright Spells (USA) Aus 26/2/09 Gosford 1m2f110y £7,888Keane, M Ousaros Raise A Grand 4 c Spritsail (USA) Gr 13/2/09 Athens 6f £6,379Kennedy, J Medeside Medecis 3 c No Friend Spa 01/3/09 Mijas 6f110y £6,796Kennedy, Patrick Concealment Iron Mask (USA) 4 f Akatib Gr 20/2/09 Athens 1m1f £25,515Kentish, M F Young Mick King's Theatre 7 g Just Warning Uae 19/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 1m4f £62,727Kersey, N C All Nines Royal Applause 9 h Jugendliebe Hk 28/1/09 Sha Tin 1m £24,816Kersey, N C All Nines Royal Applause 9 h Jugendliebe Hk 01/3/09 Sha Tin 1m £24,816Kilfrush Stud Kersaint Catcher In The Rye 4 c Quivala (USA) Mac 28/2/09 Taipa 6f £11,149Kilfrush Stud Rain Of Melody Night Shift (USA) 3 c Hit The Sky Fr 02/3/09 Compiegne 1m £11,650Kilnamoragh Stud Al Nasr Dream Marju 4 c Batilde Usa 24/1/09 Tampa Bay Downs 1m £7,375Knockainey Stud King Malachi King Charlemagne (USA) 6 h Sparky's Song Mac 06/2/09 Taipa 6f £16,966Knocktoran Stud Anglos Evgenis Peintre Celebre (USA) 8 h Truly A Gift Gr 09/1/09 Athens 7f £5,932Knocktoran Stud Anglos Evgenis Peintre Celebre (USA) 8 h Truly A Gift Gr 06/2/09 Athens 7f £6,591Kurtel, A Invincible Son Orpen (USA) 3 c Safe Exit (FR) Tur 18/2/09 Izmir 6f £7,770Lady Betambeau Partnership Caprice des Bleus Kyllachy 4 f Lady Betambeau Fr 13/2/09 Salon-De-Provence 1m1f £8,252Langan, Mrs Natalie Kongoleza Statue Of Liberty (USA) 4 f Mepa Discovery (USA) Gr 23/2/09 Athens 5f £6,379Leigh, Exors of the Late G W Call Me George Rainbow Quest (USA) 6 h Coretta Uae 13/2/09 Jebel Ali 1m1f £11,363Lightbody, M Fantast Win Fantastic Light (USA) 4 c So Admirable Jpn 27/1/09 Kawasaki 1m £7,673London Thoroughbred Services Ltd Cool And Composed (USA) Buddha (USA) 3 f Fire And Shade (USA) Fr 07/3/09 Toulouse 1m £6,796Loughtown Stud Pompeyano Rainbow Quest (USA) 4 c Lady Lodger Uae 20/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 1m2f £50,181Lynch, K B Beaver Patrol Tagula 7 g Erne Project Uae 26/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 6f £41,818Magliari, Dr Francesco Folk Kris Kris Kin (USA) 4 f Folk Riviera Ity 08/2/09 Pisa 7f110y £5,776Magliari, Dr Francesco Red Kimi Denon (USA) 3 c Happy Flight Ity 22/2/09 Pisa 1m2f £6,189McGregor, D A Go On Green Kyllachy 5 h Colouring Gr 26/1/09 Athens 7f £6,946McLoughney, John Martin Carimo Fasliyev (USA) 5 h Barnabas (ITY) Fr 23/2/09 Marseille Borely 1m2f £21,903Middle Park Stud Ltd Charlie Cool Rainbow Quest (USA) 6 h Tigwa Uae 20/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 1m2f £50,181Moroney, Paul Monashee Gold Monashee Mountain (USA) 6 h Onsomespecialnight (CAN) Usa 31/1/09 Gulfstream Park 1m £10,833Murphy, S Rompicapo Lend A Hand 7 h Mysticism Ity 25/2/09 Grosseto 1m165y £7,427Newsells Park Stud Wraith Maria's Mon (USA) 5 h Really Polish (USA) Gr 06/2/09 Athens 7f £5,316Nolan, J Spartan Orpen (USA) 4 c Fanellan Gr 04/1/09 Athens 5f £9,214Nolan, Mrs S Master Winter Masterful (USA) 3 c Winter Dolphin Fr 11/2/09 Cagnes-Sur-Mer 1m2f £7,282Nolan, Mrs S Master Winter Masterful (USA) 3 c Winter Dolphin Fr 04/3/09 Fontainebleau 1m3f £10,194Nolan, S Maltezos Raphane (USA) 4 c Foreign Love (USA) Gr 26/1/09 Athens 5f £7,371Norelands Bloodstock Summit Surge Noverre (USA) 5 g Lady Peculiar (CAN) Uae 05/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 7f110y £50,181O'Connor, J Wingstar In The Wings 5 m Thirtysomething (USA) Fr 21/2/09 Cagnes-Sur-Mer 1m4f110y £36,408 (L)O'Riordan, Mrs S Natal Lad Acclamation 4 c Gentle Guest Fr 05/3/09 Deauville 7f110y £12,621Osborne, J Vrazilianos Terz Key Of Luck (USA) 7 h Sea Clover Gr 09/2/09 Athens 7f £5,670Osborne, J Vrazilianos Terz Key Of Luck (USA) 7 h Sea Clover Gr 23/2/09 Athens 1m £6,060Penfold Bloodstock Ltd, Mr D Clark & Mrs F Gordon Lord Prospector Zamindar (USA) 5 h Lanasara Ity 14/2/09 Siracusa 1m110y £7,427Petra Bloodstock Agency Ltd Pivon Pivotal 5 h Serisia (FR) Fr 02/3/09 Compiegne 1m £8,252Petra Bloodstock Agency Ltd Sandsnow Verglas 3 f Sandbox Fr 06/3/09 Deauville 7f110y £11,650Quay Bloodstock Fast Rock Rock Of Gibraltar 5 h Alisidora Jpn 18/1/09 Nakayama 1m1f £139,047Ralphs, Miss S N Natmana Alhaarth 4 c Gracious Gift Aus 29/1/09 Rosehill 1m1f110y £8,519Ralphs, Miss S N Natmana Alhaarth 4 c Gracious Gift Aus 19/2/09 Canterbury 7f165y £8,519Rathbarry Stud Swop Shinko Forest 6 g Changing Partners Uae 19/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 7f110y £50,181Rausing, Miss K Alcimedes Domedriver 4 g Allegra Gr 30/1/09 Athens 7f £8,292Reddan, D J Pasar Silbano Elnadim (USA) 3 f Give A Whistle Usa 01/2/09 Santa Anita 6f £41,667 (Gr3)Redmyre Bloodstock & Stuart McPhee Okikoki Ishiguru (USA) 5 g Crofters Ceilidh Mac 21/2/09 Taipa 7f110y £12,361Redpender Stud Ltd Warsaw Danehill Dancer 4 c For Evva Silca Uae 12/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 7f £50,181Robinson & A W Robinson, I Kalamaria Tobougg 4 f Dawn Alarm Gr 01/1/09 Athens 5f £9,214Rockdown Investments Classic Energy Daylami 4 c Divine Quest Hk 01/3/09 Sha Tin 1m1f £31,979Rockhart Traping Ltd Baby Rose Singspiel 3 f Intizaa (USA) Jpn 22/2/09 Kyoto 1m1f £38,364Rocklow Stud Korinthos Catcher In The Rye 4 f Afifah Gr 28/1/09 Athens 6f £9,214Ryan, Mrs T V Jaasoos Noverre (USA) 5 h Nymphs Echo Uae 15/2/09 Abu Dhabi 1m £7,954Shadwell Estate Company Limited Fanaaneh Bahri (USA) 4 g Alfunun Gr 23/2/09 Athens 7f £6,379Shadwell Estate Company Limited Feraa Sakhee (USA) 4 f Ayun (USA) Gr 28/1/09 Athens 5f £9,922Sharkey, M Trust In Me Spartacus 4 c In The Highlands Gr 06/1/09 Athens 7f £9,922Shutford Stud Timoros Nayef (USA) 4 c Nordica Gr 20/2/09 Athens 7f £6,379Skymarc Farm Beyond Time Key Of Luck (USA) 3 f Begin The Beguine Fr 14/2/09 Cagnes-Sur-Mer 7f110y £9,709Skymarc Farm & E De Rothschild Nid d'Abeilles Green Desert (USA) 7 g Massarossa Fr 07/2/09 Cagnes-Sur-Mer 1m £7,282Snailwell Stud Co Ltd Flogeros Erastis Fantastic Light (USA) 4 c Ellie Ardensky Gr 06/1/09 Athens 7f £9,922Stratford Place Stud Gimme Some Lovin Desert Style 5 m Licence To Thrill Gr 01/1/09 Athens 6f £5,316Stratford Place Stud Gimme Some Lovin Desert Style 5 m Licence To Thrill Gr 15/1/09 Athens 6f £5,316Stratford Place Stud Dafo Daylami 4 c Darling Harbour (USA) Spa 15/2/09 Seville 1m2f110y £5,340Sweet Retreat Syndicate Last Hero Danehill Dancer 4 c Sweet Retreat Gr 26/1/09 Athens 7f £8,930T W Bloodstock Ltd Alo Pura Anabaa (USA) 5 m Rubies From Burma (USA) Uae 13/2/09 Jebel Ali 5f £9,659T W Bloodstock Ltd Alo Pura Anabaa (USA) 5 m Rubies From Burma (USA) Uae 27/2/09 Jebel Ali 5f £13,636Taker Bloodstock Clasp Singspiel 7 h Embrace Me Uae 19/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 1m2f £46,000Thompson, Miss S Cocody Choisir (AUS) 3 c Jamaican Punch Fr 14/2/09 Cagnes-Sur-Mer 1m £7,282Thompson, Miss S Cocody Choisir (AUS) 3 c Jamaican Punch Fr 27/2/09 Deauville 7f110y £10,194Thoroughbred Farms Ltd Fantastic Olmo Fantastic Light (USA) 3 c Puritanical Ity 15/2/09 Rome 1m2f110y £5,364Turri, Miss F Biasimo Celtic Swing 3 c Bitter Love (ITY) Ity 01/3/09 Rome 1m £6,189Weld, J Lorgan Desert Style 5 h Society Fair (FR) Spa 15/2/09 Seville 1m £15,534Wellsummers Farm Hatta Fort Cape Cross 4 c Oshiponga Uae 05/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 6f110y £73,181Whisperview Trading Ltd Kalotyhos Fath (USA) 4 c Clear Procedure (USA) Gr 20/2/09 Athens 6f £7,087Wiji Bloodstock & Leo Powell Signorinasilvani Trans Island 3 f Emy's Girl (USA) Ity 15/2/09 Pisa 7f110y £7,014Woodlock & Seamus Kennedy, M Akadora Dr Fong (USA) 3 f Akilara Fr 22/2/09 Mont-De-Marsan 1m3f £6,796Yeomanstown Lodge Stud Halicarnassus Cape Cross 5 h Launch Time (USA) Uae 05/2/09 Nad Al Sheba 1m2f £50,181

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YOUR SAY


The industry’s top players may know deep down that the sport needspromoting effectively, but none of them want to listen because of costs

Marketing - racingneeds to act now

Marketing racing should be simple;the product is exciting, colourfuland different from any other sportdue to the exciting aspect of

gambling that it offers. However, it has never proved to be simple,

mainly because all of the relevant sections of theindustry cannot come together to form a unitedgroup, which is what is needed, if the industry isgoing to move forward over the next decade.

In November’s issue of Thoroughbred Owner& Breeder, Paul Dixon argued that thepromotion of the sport is vital, but he alsorecognised that betting is an integral part of theoffer and that punters are a large majority of theday-to-day audience.

In the same issue Gavin Pritchard-Gordontalked of the new British Bloodstock Marketingteam and said: “For all of us to prosper, it isessential that Britain raises its banner and plays amore proactive role in the promotion of theindustry.”

He is obviously talking about the bloodstock

What is needed is for all the relevant parties tocome together and importantly agree amarketing budget. It may be naive of me but Ibelieve it can be done.

But that is the easy part. The hard part is thengrabbing the public’s attention. We have somany jewels in the crown already – the GrandNational, Cheltenham, the Derby. However, thisis not enough. Years ago when I worked on theArena Leisure business I saw a report that saidthat fewer than 5% of all adults in the UK hadvisited a racecourse. That figure may havechanged but I guess that it is still very low.

To excite the masses racing has to developmore personalities – jockeys, horses, trainers.Frankie Dettori needs help. The media arelatching onto Hayley Turner but what is theindustry doing to enhance this and give itlongevity?

Equally, we have never had such a great lineup of stars among the equine field. Denman,Kauto Star and Master Minded are gifts to theracing world in marketing terms, but is the

Tony Clifford Owner of Orchard Kingand Managing Directorof Blue Tiger Marketing

“Is the industry relying too much on the mediato do the job of marketing horses like Kauto Star?”

sector but BBM is one of the big players withinthe industry that needs to work with all sectors.

Then, in December’s issue Paul Roy talkedabout marketing the sport effectively andattracting new individuals.

All of the industry’s top players know it musthappen but it is my experience that none ofthem really want to listen because they know itwill cost money initially and they are unable tofinance such a move individually or collectively.

In The Times on Thursday, January 13, AlanLee asked: “Why has racing done so little tomake itself more attractive to TV?”

He suggests too little innovation and I wouldagree. There is so much for racing to do and Ibelieve there are a good body of people whoreally care but they are not marketeers and theyare not together.

As an owner who likes a punt and who alsohas over 25 years experience in the marketingindustry, I feel ideally placed to comment.

industry relying too much on the media to dothe job of marketing for them as far as thesehorses are concerned?

And in the trainers’ field, alongside such jewelsas Paul Nicholls, Alan King and David Pipecomes the fantastic Oliver Brady from Ireland.There should be a marketing team saying to theracing hierarchy, ‘Look, this is what we need todo with Oliver Brady.’

If a strange little toy called My Little Ponycould become a best seller because of children’slove of horses, then surely the racing industrycan sell the real thing.

That’s why the time has come for racing’s bigplayers to stand up and be counted.

Footnote: Racing Enterprises Ltd and brandingexperts Harrison Fraser are in the process ofcompleting wide-ranging qualitative research onBritish racing as a forerunner to a full marketingplan for the “Future of British Horseracing”.

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Darley

The Authorized versionsWhat they’re saying about the world-class foals by the world’s best three-year-old…

AUTHORIZED C=25,000 Oct 1st, SLF. Kildangan Stud, Ireland.Call Mick, Eamon or Celine on +353 (0)45 527600 or Dawn or the team on+44 (0)1638 730070. www.darleystallions.com

‘He’s a cracker and has been from day one. He’s very correct and solid with great presenceand a great walk.’Brian O’Rourke, National Stud, on the colt out of Circle Of Love.1‘She’s a very nice filly andvery much in his mould. You’d know she’s an Authorized. I wouldn’t trade her.’Dwayne Woods, Brook Stud, on the filly out of Danella. 2‘He’s great, the best of those we’ve had this year. He looks just likeAuthorized and has plenty of boneand good conformation.’Tony Smith, Ermyn Lodge Stud, on the colt out of Yesteryear. 3

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