Golden Horn, who covered 173 mares this spring, stood his first season at Overbury Stud in 2023, having moved from Dalham Hall Stud after his purchase by Jayne McGivern. His fellow new recruit was Caturra (Ire), a son of Mehmas (Ire), who has been cut to £5,000 from an opening fee of £6,500. He covered a book of 110 mares in his first season.

Caturra's fellow Flying Childers winner Ardad has 101 juveniles to run in 2024. His current crop of foals numbers 144 and he covered a further 154 mares in 2023, his increased numbers being a result of a successful first crop of runners åwhich included the treble Group 1 winner Perfect Power (Ire). 

Simon Sweeting, manager of Overbury Stud, said, “We are very lucky to have such popular stallions who are achieving plenty and yet have even more to look forward to. Ardad's young stock from his excellent 2022 book of mares includes many quite outstanding individuals, and so many breeders have bred back to him to get more of the same. These big books he's had really do stand him in great stead. Meanwhile, Golden Horn has had a really tremendous year: nine Stakes winners, five at Group level – he's outperforming many stallions at far higher fees.”

The fees for Overbury's other stallions, Jack Hobbs (GB), Frontiersman (GB) and Schiaparelli (Ger), will be set later in the year.

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Haskoy, fourth in the St Leger last year, having gone past the post in second, made a winning return at Newbury when landing the G3 Al Rayyan S. She had been just 8-1 for the Gold Cup at Ascot.

Beckett said of the Juddmonte-owned filly on Twitter, “Haskoy has strained a tendon, consequently she is being retired to the paddocks.”

Haskoy is the first foal from a listed-winning half-sister to Spinning Queen (GB) (Spinning World), who left the likes of Soviet Song (Ire) and Alexander Goldrun (Ire) nine lengths behind when upsetting the G1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot S. in 2006.

Big talent since day one! Enjoy your retirement, Haskoy! @RalphBeckett @JuddmonteFarms

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 12, 2023

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Those words are uttered not far up the road from the home of National Hunt racing, at Overbury Stud, by the new owner of the stud's newest stallion. Jayne McGivern is unashamedly proud of her recent purchase of Golden Horn (GB), the horse who lit up the 2015 Flat season, graduating from Derby trials, to winning the Derby itself, followed by the Eclipse, the Irish Champion S. and the Arc. No prizes then for guessing that by the end of that glorious season he was made Horse of the Year.

Since those days, Golden Horn, now 10, has resided at Dalham Hall Stud on the Darley roster. But with his Flat stallion career perhaps not as explosive as it might have been hoped for, but with some eye-catching early results over jumps, he was sold this summer by his owner-breeder Anthony Oppenheimer to McGivern, whose passion for all things equine is equal to her formidable curriculum vitae in the construction industry. With a track record that includes London's Crossrail project, a major construction development at Madison Square Gardens in New York, and a seat on the board of one of the world's leading construction companies, McGivern has recently been appointed as the CEO of the Sports Boulevard Foundation in Saudi Arabia. Currently on her plate is that company's major urban regeneration of the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

Horses, then, provide a pleasurable respite during McGivern's return trips from Riyadh to the green pastures of her Dash Grange Stud, or nearby Overbury, which is temporarily home to her four broodmares and their followers. Golden Horn, meanwhile, is now a permanent resident at the latter and has been reunited with two old stablemates from his time at John and Thady Gosden's Clarehaven Stables in Jack Hobbs (GB), who was runner-up to him in the Derby, and Ardad (Ire), whose more precocious profile makes him a rather different prospect.

McGivern has been steadily making some notable purchases in her establishment of a boutique broodmare band. Queen Of The Stage (Ire) (King's Theatre {Ire}), the dam of the outstanding young hurdler Constitution Hill (GB) (Blue Bresil {Fr}), is perhaps the stand-out and was bought for €340,000 in May. Buildmeupbuttercup (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}) was acquired last November, a year after the purchase of Jelan (Ire) (Milan {GB}), a full-sister to the Champion Hurdler Jezki (Ire). She had good reason then to wish to secure a stallion whose profile is rising fast among the National Hunt sector.

Of her mission to ensure that good stallions remains in Britain, McGivern told visitors to Overbury Stud last week as Golden Horn paraded before them, “I'm starting with the very best. I've looked for a stallion for some time and missed a couple for various reasons. I had a little go for Nathaniel and then [Newsells Park] stud got sold. But for the right reasons, I've ended up with this magnificent horse. I can pinch myself. I'm the luckiest person on the planet that he's mine. He's very intelligent and fortunately very fertile.”

Indeed he is. Golden Horn may have seen his appeal adjusting more from the Flat towards the National Hunt crowd but he has not been standing idle, and he covered more than 150 mares this spring before he left Newmarket. One of those was McGivern's treble listed-winning hurdler Buildmeupbuttercup, and while there are some smart jumping names on the list, such as L'Unique (Fr) and My Petra (GB), there are also still some Flat names to conjure with. At Overbury, which has been home to two leading first-season sires in Bertolini and Ardad, as well as multiple British champion National Hunt sire Kayf Tara (GB), it could be said that Golden Horn will have the chance to be involved in the best of both worlds.

McGivern is quick to emphasise that it is Golden Horn's genuine dual-purpose profile that appeals to her and, she hopes, to her fellow breeders. While his smattering of jumps runners to date can boast a strike-rate in excess of 60%, with 14 of his 23 representatives in this sphere having won, including the smart Grade 2 winner Stag Horn (GB), he has also had an encouraging summer on the Flat since relocating to Overbury. The thrice-raced Juddmonte filly Haskoy (GB) has won twice, including the Listed Galtres S., and may yet win back her second-past-the-post finish in the St Leger that was taken away in the stewards' room. The Andre Fabre-trained dual group winner Botanik (GB), meanwhile, is heading to the Breeders' Cup Turf, and another Godolphin representative, Trawlerman (GB), won the valuable Ebor.

“I do think that he's proving himself on the Flat and is a proper dual-purpose stallion,” says McGivern, who also owns 4% of Nathaniel (Ire), another stallion who has piqued the interest of jumps breeders but is eminently capable of siring top-class runners on the Flat.

“And I don't want to get political, but I think everybody may agree that Brexit has been a bit of a disaster for the thoroughbred breeding industry. I look at my own mares and the thought of sending them to Ireland, as we might have done some years ago, just doesn't work for me any more. It's incredibly expensive, it's a huge amount of admin, and I don't think that it's practical.”

She adds, “I have lovely mares, and I think it's really important that we start securing these terrific stallions for the United Kingdom.”

McGivern's broader-brush interests on the equine front run to the ownership of some smart eventers ridden by the current Burghley champion Piggy March. Together they won last weekend's CCI4* class for young horses at Blenheim Horse Trials with the grey stallion Halo.

“I'm fortunate enough that Pig rides for me, but really racing is my heart,” says the effervescent McGivern, who, like her husband David Crossland, previously rode in point-to-points.

“I am a National Hunt person. I love National Hunt racing. It is my passion and has been for most of my life. But that said, I'm moving to the dark side.”

It could be described as returning to the dark side, as McGivern's current horse on the Flat, the winning juvenile Sirona (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), is with Mark Johnston, whom she and Crossland previously had horses with in the 1990s. She also bid on the filly's full-brother at the recent BBAG Yearling Sale, but he was eventually bought by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

She says of Sirona, who was recently second in the valuable British EBF Fillies' Series Final, “I'm really chuffed at the way that she's panned out. We're entering her for a listed race at the end of this month and then a Group 3 in Dusseldorf in mid-November. And then I think we'll just turn her out and see what we've got as a 3-year-old, but her pedigree's perfect for Golden Horn.”

McGivern adds, “I'm moving over into Flat racing a little bit, because this is a dual-purpose stallion by anybody's measure. If it had been six weeks later, the deal might have been slightly different, but as soon as I heard he might be available, we moved very quickly. I think I was extremely lucky to get him and he will be with me for the rest of his life.”

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Top of the Somerville Lodge list of horses, and the earner of roughly a third of the yard's prize-money this year, is of course arguably the best horse in the world, Baaeed (GB), around whom continues to swirl uncertainty as to where we will see him next. What we now know with some certainty is that he will appear only once more on the racecourse, but whether that will be at Ascot or ParisLongchamp seems largely dependent on how soft the ground becomes in October following a drought-ridden summer.

The Haggas stable is no one-trick pony, however. Star of the show Baaeed is backed by a supporting cast which includes G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Alenquer (Fr), the Group 2 and 3 winners Sea La Rosa (Ire), Maljoom (Ire), Purlepay (Fr), Lilac Road (Ire), My Prospero (Ire), Ilarab (Ire), Bashkirova (GB), and the Haggas family homebred, Hamish (GB). A particularly pleasing result for the team would have been the victory nine days ago of Perfect News (GB) in the G3 Ballyogan S., a first at group level for the daughter of Frankel (GB) and the former Haggas-trained G2 Lowther S. winner Besharah (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who died earlier this year at the age of just nine.

The championship is far from over, with some of the most valuable races of the season still to be run during an action-packed autumn. Haggas will doubtless be guided not just by weather forecasts but by Baaeed's owner Sheikha Hissa when it comes to deciding on the colt's swansong. While the Arc is the more valuable race overall, the near £750,000 on offer for the winner of the QIPCO British Champion S. could potentially make the difference for Haggas to gain his own championship for the first time.

The relentless winner-producing machine that is Mark Johnston reached a new milestone in the last week when passing the 5,000 mark. Technically speaking, the Johnston counter was reset to zero on New Year's Day 2022 when the trainer brought son Charlie on board as co-trainer, but only a pedant could insist that Johnston senior, one of racing's most successful participants and clearest thinkers, could be denied a continuing tally. 

Donny Dances to the Tune

I was strolling on a quiet Scottish beach last week while my colleague Brian Sheerin did the hard yards at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale. The Highland idyll was interrupted every now and then to check on proceedings at Doncaster, where the words 'frenetic' and 'hunger' appeared to be being bandied around with frequency. Indeed, the final results testified to the strength in demand across the board that is extremely welcome at a yearling sale pitched at a more everyday level than the elite boutiques of Arqana August, Goffs Orby or Tattersalls October Book 1.

There had been pre-sale angst in some quarters that the relatively new Tattersalls Somerville Sale had been taking some of the Premier Sale's ground but that appears to have been unfounded, and Donny did as Donny does, only better again than last year. A rise in the number of six-figure lots and strong clearance rate pulled the rest of the sale up by its bootstraps to deliver what appears to be a satisfying set of figures.

The results from next Tuesday's Somerville Sale will be indicative as to whether this level of demand is set to continue as the season wears on. Considering racing's myriad problems, particularly in Britain, it is heartening, and perhaps somewhat mystifying, that this bullish market for horses continues not just at the very top level but on lower tiers as well. Yes, to a degree, there will be people buying with a close eye on the overseas resale market, and that includes the bold breeze-up pinhookers. But a scroll through the results shows that there remains a huge range of trainers waving their catalogues to start the annual restocking of their yards, which is an encouraging sign.

John and Jess Dance's Manor House Farm was the second-leading buyer at the sale which must remain a favourite to them, having purchased the mighty Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) at Doncaster six years ago. The Dances can also take encouragement from the excellent start made at Manor House by their resident trainer James Horton, who now has 12 wins to his name and sent out his first stakes winner at the weekend when Sam Maximus (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) won the Listed Hopeful S. at Newmarket. The 3-year-old was bred by Whitsbury Manor Stud, which continues to enjoy an excellent year courtesy of its graduates. 

The sales caravan rolls on next to the somewhat depleted Osarus Yearling Sale at La Teste de Buch on Tuesday, with much livelier fare likely to emanate from Germany's main event, the BBAG Yearling Sale, on Friday. I've been lured back from the beach for a return to the glorious spa town of Baden-Baden later this week. Go figure. 

Buick Forges On

There are few nicer people to bump into for a quick chat at the sales than Walter Buick and his son Martin, who now works with agent Hubie de Burgh having completed a stint with the Niarchos family. Walter, a former multiple champion jockey in Scandinavia, is a regular buyer for a number of his contacts in that part of the world and can count this year's Swedish Derby and Norwegian Derby winner Hard One To Please (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) among his recent purchases. 

The greatest result of the season for the Buick family, however, will be if William, the eldest of Walter's three sons, is crowned champion jockey at Ascot in October, and it is a scenario that becomes more likely by the day.

After an extraordinary week, particularly at Goodwood, where he won all three group races on Saturday and eight of his 12 rides there across the weekend, William added another 13 wins to his name and is now 43 clear in the championship (though only nine wins ahead of Hollie Doyle for the year as a whole). 

Tempus Fugit

While William Buick was hogging the Goodwood group action, his nearest pursuer for the title of champion jockey, Hollie Doyle, added yet another black-type victory to her increasingly impressive record at Deauville on Tempus (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who has now won back-to-back Group 3 races for Archie Watson and the Hambleton Racing syndicate.

Tempus was already a four-time winner with a rating of 97 for Roger Charlton and Juddmonte when he came up for sale exactly a year ago, and it now seems scarcely believable that the half-brother to Time Test (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was bought for just 25,000gns. But by the time he popped up in the Tattersalls August Sale he had missed all of the 2021 season with what Juddmonte's useful and typically fulsome sales notes described as “sub condyle bone bruising in his left fore and left hind cannon bones” and which noted that Tempus had “exhibited a high level of form but is delicate”.

So, caveat emptor and all that, but in this case the outlay of 25,000gns was a risk worth taking because Tempus really is now flying. Making his first start for more than a year, and since being gelded, the 6-year-old won at Newcastle on January 2 and, with another five starts and a ratings rise to 103, he struck again at Ascot on July 23. Following that latest handicap success his two subsequent runs–and wins–have been in the G3 Sovereign S. at Salisbury, followed by Sunday's G3 Prix de Quincey. What next for the son of Group 1 winner Passage Of Time (GB)?

And talking of time flying, Deauville's August meeting has passed in what seems like the blink of an eye, and it has been a fruitful one for the Andre Fabre-trained Botanik (GB), who won the G3 Prix de Reux followed by Sunday's G2 Grand Prix de Deauville. With seven wins under his belt he thus becomes the top performer for his sire Golden Horn (GB). The Derby and Arc winner of 2015 recently moved from Dalham Hall Stud to Overbury Stud and has been represented in the past fortnight by the Ebor winner Trawlerman (GB) and Juddmonte's Listed Galtres S. winner Haskoy (GB), who appears to be heading next to the G2 Park Hill S. at Doncaster. 

Classic Potential?

If you saddle a horse with the name Classic, you'd have to be pretty sure he was worthy of such a portentous moniker. In the case of the 2-year-old Classic (GB), a winner at Newmarket for Richard Hannon on Friday, he had justifiable claims to a proper name just on paper, for the colt is a son of Dubawi (Ire) out of the stakes-placed Date With Destiny (Ire), the only offspring of the subfertile and ill-fated superstar George Washington (Ire).

Date With Destiny raced in the colours of Julie Wood, who now owns her son Classic. She has already produced the Group 3 winner Beautiful Morning (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), and Classic could yet surpass his elder sister as he has some pretty fancy entries in the coming months. 

“He still has signs of immaturity there but he is a very talented horse,” said Hannon of the colt, who was making his third start on Friday. “It wouldn't surprise me if we see him turn up at the top level, especially on soft ground. We will speak to Julie but she is never afraid of taking on these big races. I'd say there is a fair chance we go to the Champagne at Doncaster next.”

The Group 2 on September 10 is certainly a race in which the trainer has enjoyed plenty of success, having won three of the last eight runnings of the Champagne S.

Date With Destiny, who is now 14, remains in the Newsells Park Stud broodmare band and will be represented at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by her colt from the first crop of another Newsells Park graduate, the Arc winner Waldgeist (GB).

Secretariat's Silks For Sale

With the yearling sales in full flow, there is of course no guarantee that any of us will ever find a horse as good as Secretariat, but next Tuesday there is (bizarrely) a chance to bid for the right to register the famous colours carried by Penny Chenery's Triple Crown winner.

Officially described as 'royal blue and white check, striped sleeves, royal blue cap', the set of colours formerly worn by the champion lovingly known as 'Big Red' is one of six to be offered for auction by the BHA during Sotheby's sporting memorabilia sale on September 6. The sextet of cherished colours also includes the distinctive set of aquamarine jacket and black cap and, according to the BHA's notes, the auction “presents the opportunity to purchase a unique set of silks that are not available to own through any alternative avenue”. 

The guide price for Secretariat's silks is £5,000-£10,000. Then all you have to do is find a horse to wear them who moves like a tremendous machine. 

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When it comes to being a benevolent dictator, the Prescott pendulum has, by his own admission, swung more from dictatorship towards benevolence in recent years and, more than anyone involved in British racing, the master of Heath House cares deeply for the history of the sport, its milestones, and its continuing traditions.

Prescott will certainly be enjoying the fact that Haggas currently has the best horse in the world in his clutches, Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who notched his perfect ten in the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday, earning a provisional Timeform rating of 137 with his imperious six-and-half-length romp over last year's winner, Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}).

But when it came to moments of exultation on the Knavesmire last week, there was as much jubilation for the victory of the Prescott-trained Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Yorkshire Oaks as there was for Baaeed. Alpinista had been runner-up to the Oaks winner Love (Ire) in the Yorkshire Oaks of 2020 and, despite adding British Listed and Group 2 victories to her tally since then, her big-race successes had all come overseas until last Thursday.

Even if Kirsten Rausing's grey mare had retired last year at the end of her 4-year-old season she would still have been a treble Group 1 winner who had  achieved the remarkable feat of emulating her own grand-dam, Albanova (GB), by winning the Grosser Preis von Berlin – famously beating subsequent Arc winner Torquator Tasso (Ger) – then the Preis von Europa and Grosser Preis von Bayern. But we were treated to an extra season, and what a year it has been so far for the current star of the prolific Lanwades breeding programme. Two-for-two in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Yorkshire Oaks, Alpinista looks set for a rematch with Torquator Tasso at Longchamp on the first weekend of October. Whether or not she will also face Baaeed in the Arc remains in doubt. The crowd are certainly baying for it, and indeed the manner in which the Shadwell homebred won the Juddmonte International did nothing to suggest he would not see out another two furlongs. Haggas raised the idea that the Irish Champion S. could be the colt's next port of call for what looks likely to be his penultimate race, but wherever and however he ends his career Baaeed will surely be Horse of the Year.

Maybe because he didn't race at two and isn't a Classic winner, Baaeed is somehow not afforded the level of adulation deserving of a horse of his calibre, which is a shame, because let's face it, he's bloody brilliant. Naturally he is most often compared to two previous winners of the International in his own sire Sea The Stars, for whom it was one of six consecutive Group 1 wins in 2009, starting with the 2,000 Guineas and ending with the Arc, and Frankel, who brought York to a standstill a decade ago with his seven-length victory.

The debate will rage endlessly among racing folk as it which of those two greats was the greatest, but it doesn't really matter. What is more important is that both Sea The Stars and Frankel have gone on to be important sires in their own right, with their offspring lighting up racecourses around the world, just as Baaeed and Alpinista did last week at York.

And in the case of those two most recent Group 1 winners, equally important is that they both represent families which have been the cornerstone of their respective breeders' empires for generations. From Sheikh Hamdan's purchase of Height Of Fashion (Fr) from the Queen in 1982 stems Baaeed, while the purchase of Alpinista's fourth dam Alruccaba (Ire) in 1985 by Kirsten Rausing and Sonia Rogers from the Aga Khan has resulted in an impressive dynasty being assembled largely, but by no means solely, at Rausing's Lanwades Stud. Alpinista's run of success is all the more special to those who enjoy the continuity of the great families for it being the centenary of the Aga Khan Studs, an operation which owes much of its own success to her tenth dam, one of the greatest greys of all time, Mumtaz Mahal (GB), who was born 101 years ago and still exerts such influence over the breed.

Trevaunance at the Double

On the subject of anniversaries, the 60th year of Moyglare Stud continues to be marked with great success on the track. As well as an Irish 1,000 Guineas victory for Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), and racing the top stayer in Europe, homebred Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), in partnership with Coolmore, Eva-Maria Bucher-Haefner's operation celebrated back-to-back group wins for Trevaunance (Ire) in the G2 Prix de la Nonette. Trained by Jessica Harrington, the daughter of Muhaarar (GB) had previously won the G3 Prix de Psyche at Deauville's opening meeting 18 days earlier.

Trevaunance marks the blending of two notable Irish stud farms. Her dam Liber Nauticus (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) was bought by Moyglare from the Ballymacoll Stud dispersal of 2017, and is from a celebrated family which includes dual Breeders' Cup hero Conduit (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and Irish 2,000 Guineas and Champion S. winner Spectrum (Ire) (Rainbow Quest).

Never Again – and Again

Nine years ago No Nay Never bounced from victory in a Keeneland maiden to the G2 Norfolk S. followed by the G1 Darley Prix Morny, and he is now the sire of a Morny winner following the success of Blackbeard (Ire) on Sunday.

It has to be said that a five-runner Prix Morny with no French-bred or -trained horse was a little disappointing, but there is nothing disappointing about the winner himself, who has had a busy first campaign and has now won five of his seven starts for Aidan O'Brien, including the G2 Prix Robert Papin. 

Twenty-four hours earlier, No Nay Never had been represented by a Group 2 juvenile double at the Curragh, courtesy of the exquisite-looking Meditate (Ire) and Aesop's Fables (Ire), both Ballydoyle stable-mates of Blackbeard and the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. winner Little Big Bear (Ire). No Nay Never is steaming ahead as the leading sire of juveniles in Europe this year, with Whitsbury Manor Stud's freshman Havana Grey (GB) in determined pursuit.

Deauville's other group races on Sunday fell to Richard Hannon, with the Rathasker Stud-bred Aristia (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) going one better than her finish behind Nashwa (GB) in the G1 Nassau S. to win the G1 Prix Jean Romanet, and to William Haggas, who completed a fantastic week in style with simultaneous victories in the G2 Prix de Pomone with Sea La Rosa (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and G3 Tally-Ho Stud Ballyogan S. at Naas with Perfect News (GB) (Frankel {GB}). 

Sea La Rosa also brought up an impressive double for both her dam Soho Rose (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) and breeder Guy Heald following the win of her brother Deauville Legend (Ire) in the G2 Dante S. at York. 

Only Yann Barberot managed to keep a group race at home for the French trainers this weekend, and that has been a theme in Deauville again this summer, with 13 of the 17 group races having been won by British or Irish trainers, including all five Group 1 contests.

Golden Moments

Both Nathaniel (Ire) and Golden Horn (GB) have covered a number of National Hunt mares this year, and indeed the latter is now officially standing as a dual-purpose sire at Overbury Stud from next season. But both are still eminently capable of getting decent Flat runners, as exemplified by results at York this week.

Godolphin's Trawlerman (GB) landed the valuable Ebor H. under Frankie Dettori, while Haskoy (GB) became the second of Golden Horn's daughters to win the Listed Galtres S. The Juddmonte-bred filly, who was making just her second start, is out of a mare by Nathaniel, who also featured as the damsire of G3 Solario S. winner Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), the first foal of Group 1 winner God Given (GB).

Meanwhile, though the G2 Lonsdale Cup was drastically depleted by the defections of Stradivarius (Ire) and Trueshan (Fr), there was plenty to enjoy about the emphatic victory of Nathaniel's five-year-old son Quickthorn (GB) for his owner/breeder Lady Blyth.

While we are handing out bouquets, the mighty mare Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) deserves an extra-large one for winning back-to-back Group 1s in Deauville and York within 12 days, to take her tally to 11 wins from 29 starts for her owner/breeder John Fairley and trainer John Quinn.

Another should go to the Whitsbury Manor Stud broodmare Suelita (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), who added the G3 Acomb S. winner Chaldean  (GB) (Frankel {GB}) – a rare non-homebred runner for Juddmonte – to her list of black-type performers which now numbers five and includes the G2 Mill Reef S winner Alkumait (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). 

Finally, one trainer who almost certainly hasn't been bashed over the head with a frying pan by Sir Mark Prescott, but who, like Haggas, has enjoyed a fruitful week, is Ralph Beckett. Within five minutes on Saturday his stable was represented by the G2 City of York S. winner Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Listed Chester S. victrix River of Stars (Ire), who was one of five stakes winners for Sea The Stars last week. Beckett's good week also included the aforementioned Haskoy among his seven winners.

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David Menuisier is not a man to concentrate on the past. The stable has been in the news over the fact that Phillipa Cooper of Normandie Stud decided to move stable star Lionel (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) to John and Thady Gosden after his poor performance in the G1 Irish Derby.

   However, while Menuisier has had his say on the high-profile split in this week's Q&A, he explained that he has closed the chapter on the situation and is keen to move on.

   There are few better ways to move on from the hammer-blow of losing the best horse in your yard than receiving support from a major owner-breeder, which is exactly what has happened, with Guy Pariente joining the stable.

   Along with revealing his excitement about teaming up with the man who stands Galiway (Fr), Menuisier speaks about his high hopes for rapidly-progressive Caius Chorister (Fr) (Golden Horn {GB}), on track for the Melrose H. at York on Saturday and much more in this week's TDN Conversations.

Brian Sheerin: It's a big weekend ahead with Caius Chorister (Fr) (Golden Horn {GB}) bidding for a six-timer in the prestigious Melrose H. at York. What are the expectations like ahead of Saturday?

David Menuisier: I am hoping that she is going to win, obviously. She is a nice filly. She took us all by surprise, really. When she was rated in the 50s, I thought she would win a race but I couldn't say at that point that she would become what she has become. If the winning streak was to stop now, then fine, because she owes us absolutely nothing. But it just feels like there is more to come. The way she won at Goodwood, dropping back in trip, which wasn't easy for her, she did exceptionally well to win there. She actually won pretty easily despite the winning margin because Benoit [De La Sayette] controlled the race. She was magnificent at Goodwood and the step up in trip at York should be in her favour because she is stoutly-bred on the damside–her mother stayed two miles standing on her head. We are very hopeful that the step up in trip could bring about even more improvement.

BS: She even had enough gas left in the tank to unship Benoit after the line at Goodwood!

DM: Exactly–that will teach him to gather his reins next time! Benoit is banned for Saturday so that's why we went for Pat [Cosgrove], because he has won on the filly before. But, anyway, the filly is uncomplicated and she does her own thing. You just have to get your fractions right on her because she is so generous. She gets into her stride and you just need a guy who knows how quick he is going, really.

BS: It's funny that you describe her as uncomplicated as I would have had her down as slightly quirky.

DM: No. She wants to get on with things but she's really not quirky at all. In the mornings, she really is a super kind and a super chilled horse. Yes, when she goes racing, she can be a little bit keen going to the start and things like that but she's really not that complicated.

BS: So there's no wizardry involved in her training and no special routine that has helped to unlock this huge improvement?

DM: She goes out with the string as normal and, frankly, she probably does less than the others because she's not the biggest. She's quite tiny so she doesn't do a lot of exercise–we just keep her ticking over. But she's a very strong horse for her size and that's why you have to find the right rhythm in her races because she would make your arms go numb if you tried to pull out of her. The second time she won at Epsom, Benoit let go of her a little bit, just before the seven-furlong pole, because I think his arms were a little bit dead!

BS: She may be straightforward but her owner, Clive Washbourn is certainly colourful. I've seen him on course in Ireland a few times and he clearly gets a good kick out of the game.

DM: Yes, I think the filly is definitely more straightforward than the owner! I think it's fantastic for racing to have people like Clive involved. Obviously he has been a great supporter of our yard and we have had a lot of success. He's been quiet the past couple of years so it's good that he can bounce back to fame and glory after those barren years. Also, he bred Caius Chorister, and she is the first homebred of his. Not only that, but the dam, Corpus Chorister (Fr) (Soldier Of Fortune {Ire}) is actually the first yearling that I ever bought when I started training. More than people realise, Caius Chorister is making us proud for many reasons.

BS: Was the original plan to sell Caius Chorister as I see she was led out unsold at Goffs as a foal?

DM: He made the right decision not to sell but, in the meantime, he actually sold the dam in foal to Belardo (Ire) for just €3,000 to go to Sweden. He's made somebody very happy.

BS: It could get even better for the Swedes as I see Caius Chorister has some fancy entries beyond York.

DM: We've made a couple of fancy entries for her because we just don't know when she will stop improving. I could not have guessed that she would improve by 40lbs so God knows, if she improves by another 15lbs, she could be right there with the best fillies in the country.

 BS: It must be huge to have one like her to look forward to, especially after the news broke that Lionel (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) has been moved to John and Thady Gosden.

DM:  Well, I would rather have both of them but I don't have a choice in the matter. Things are what they are; owners make decisions–stupid decisions–but it's their problem. I just want to focus on the people who back us and support us on the good and the bad days. Many of our clients, if not all of them, have backed us from the very early days. I don't want to speak about the people who are just with us for a fling. I'm not in this for a fling. I am in it for the long run so I'd rather focus on the people who deserve my attention.

BS: But on that, were you surprised by some of the comments that were made by Phillipa Cooper of Normandie Stud, who said the reason behind the decision for the move was made, in part, on welfare grounds. I know you came out with a very famous French saying on Twitter, 'Quand on veut tuer son chien, on dit qu'il a la rage,' which translates to 'When one wants to kill his dog, one tells everybody he has rabies,' in response to that.

DM: I can sleep well at night but the comments regarding welfare were absolute rubbish. The ground at the Curragh [for the Irish Derby, in which Lionel finished down the field] was very nice. It was lovely, fast ground, but it didn't suit the horse. There is no welfare issue regarding that. As for the horse, he doesn't even know what the vet looks like because he never even had the slightest little hiccup. The only time he sees the vet is to get his vaccinations. So, when somebody talks about welfare, yes I am surprised. It doesn't matter. People can make up what they want to in order to justify their own decisions, which is absolutely fine. This is a chapter in my life that is closed and I am ready to open up more chapters with people who will support us in the long run.

The other comment that was made was on betting, something like, 'I [Cooper] would have taken evens that the horse would be with John Gosden by the end of the year.' This is a legitimate comment, because people are free to move horses whenever they like and, if they felt that I wasn't going to do a good job with the horse in 2022, maybe they should have moved the horse before that.

BS: On that, you say you are happy to move on with people that will support you in the long run. I saw you were at Arqana last week. Did you buy anything there?

DM: We bought two. I bought a lovely Churchill colt (lot 246) for new clients. They went to €120,000 to get him and he's from a good family. I also bought a lovely Walgeist (GB) filly (lot 309) out of a Kitten's Joy mare. She will make a lovely 3-year-old. We also managed to get a top French owner, Guy Pariente, on board. He bred and owned Restiadargent (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), who nearly beat Black Caviar (Aus) at Royal Ascot one year, so one door closes and another opens. I am delighted to have the support from people like that. He sent me lot 140, a lovely colt by Galiway (Fr).

It's funny, when I worked for Criquette Head, his mother Danzigaway (Danehill) was there. It's a small world. Guy Pariente stands Galiway so he wants to promote him in the United Kingdom. So that's what he's trying to do. I used to train one of the best Kendargents in the UK, Blue Cap (Fr), who also improved something like 40lbs with us. The owner may send us some Gokens (Fr) as well so it's an exciting project.

 BS: How important is it as a trainer to put yourself out there and get these owners?

DM: I'm not a beggar. All of the people who have joined the yard have decided to be here. I don't go out on the lash to try and make contacts. I don't go to the sales and tell people how beautiful and handsome they are. All of the people in our yard came here themselves and, by the same token, they decided to leave on their own accord as well. We have always taken a view that the horses will speak for us. If people like what they do and like the way we function, then great. If not, I am more than happy for them to go elsewhere. I don't want 200 horses in training. We are more than happy with 50-70 horses in training. We have really good staff and it's a pleasure to get up in the morning rather than have headaches that we should not have with people who are not fully committed to the yard. That's the bottom line.

BS: From Thundering Blue (Exchange Rate) to Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), the stable has managed to produce one, if not a couple of flag-bearers every season.

DM: What can I say? When you are good, you are good!

 BS: You are the Eric Cantona of horse racing!

DM: The very first horse we trained was Slunovrat (Fr) (Astronomer Royal). He was the last homebred from my parents. He started off with a rating of 54 and ended up at 89. He was the first one and we have had a fair few good ones since. As we speak, we have Migration (Ire) (Alhebayeb {Ire}) cantering up the gallop in front of me. He is another stable star who didn't show much at two but keeps on improving. Even this year, he's only had one run, but was second in the Spring Cup at Newbury. I mean, what a race that was. That's what I want to carry on doing. I want to do the best with the horses that I have rather than chase the horses who are elsewhere. I don't want to get the wrong people in the yard and am happy with what I have got. Obviously, any owner is welcome here but, what I don't want is a big owner with 30 horses who could dissemble all that we have built.

BS: Will you be at Doncaster next week?

DM: It may be a cliche but Doncaster is more for the speedier types and I don't really have the clients for that. Most of my clients would prefer, as I do, middle-distance horses. We have more choice going to Tattersalls or Arqana for those sorts of horses. I try to focus on what I know and on what has worked before.

BS: What else have you got to look forward to this season?

DM: Migration is on his way back and I am hopeful that he will be ready for the Balmoral H. on Champions Day at Ascot. That's the big target. Sir Bob Parker (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) is also on the mend. He finished third in the G2 Prix Greffulhe behind Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) so that form is not looking too bad now. He got a little chip in his hind fetlock and, while I don't think he will race again in Europe this year, we are looking at running him in Dubai this winter. That's exciting. Flyin' Solo (GB) (Roderic O'Connor {Ire}) could also be one for Dubai. We also have a nice bunch of youngsters coming through.

BS: And finally, why England? You were born in France but decided to set up in the South of England.

DM: Why England? For the beautiful weather and the food! I am only joking. I worked for John Dunlop for six years and I felt it was making a lot of sense to set up here as I fell in love with the area and with British racing. I thought, if I can set up as a trainer, it would make the most sense to set up here. People think France is amazing because of the prize-money but there are many things that they don't see. For example, the red tape is unbelievable. The employer's laws and things like that are an absolute nightmare. I think I have the best of both worlds in the South of England. It's very hard to find clients in France as well. The programmes in Britain and France are quite complementary of each other and I am not too far from the boat if we want to take one over there, which we have done in the past. England is based on the handicap system and, once they reach a certain level, they can run for better money, whether that is here or in France, Germany or wherever. Obviously, travelling horses has become a little bit more complicated because of Brexit, but I think it will just get easier and easier in time.

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It is, frankly, a staggering tally, with 101 of his 121 named first-crop foals having set foot on a racecourse in 2020. Moreover, there was strength in depth. Mehmas’s 12 black-type performers include four stakes winners in Europe, led by Supremacy (Ire), winner of the G1 Middle Park S. and G2 Richmond S. and Minzaal (Ire), winner of the Gimcrack S and third behind the former in the Middle Park. He also finished the year with a flourish as the sire of a fifth stakes winner, Quattroelle (Ire), in the Blue Norther S. at Santa Anita.

Having passed this first stage with flying colours, the challenge now is for Mehmas to sustain this dominance. He covered 177 mares in 2018, and unsurprisingly the results of those matings were popular at the most recent round of yearling sales. The true test of any stallion is what happens when his runners turn three and beyond. We’ve seen plenty burn brightly in their debut season with runners only to fizzle out, but nonetheless this son of Acclamation (GB) is most certainly a stallion to follow keenly in 2021.

Take Mehmas out of the equation and 24 winners is a decent first tally. That was the number of winners notched by Whitsbury Manor Stud’s Adaay (Ire) in 2020 from his 64 runners. He is missing a stakes winners but has been represented by three black-type performers and two useful dual winners, Shark Two One (GB) and Twaasol (GB), both rated in the mid-90s.

With Mehmas and Adaay the leaders in Ireland and Britain respectively, the emerging young sire in France was Haras de Colleville’s Goken (Fr), who was another stallion to make his mark almost as soon as racing resumed in France, and the day after his stud-mate Galiway (Fr) had supplied the first juvenile winner of the season in the high-class Sealiway (Fr). What will certainly have pleased his breeder and Colleville’s owner Guy Pariente is that Goken is a son of the stallion who made the Normandy stud’s name, Kendargent (Fr).  Furthermore, his 15 winners, including the Group 3 winners Livachope (Fr) and Go Athletico (Fr), came from a first crop of just 61 foals. Support for him will certainly grow, along with his popularity.

The Darley duo of  Territories (Ire) and Belardo (Ire) feature in fourth and fifth in the European table, with the former hailing from the family of Shamardal and Belardo, by Lope De Vega (Ire), being one of Shamardal’s grandsons.

The 19 winners and seven black-type horses for Territories represent a decent start and they included the Group 3 winner Rougir (Fr), who was also third in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac. Belardo is certainly worth noting and following closely in the season to come. From his 51 runners, he has 13 winners, four of which were stakes winners, with Isabella Giles (Ire) landing both the G2 Rockfel S. and G3 Prestige S. and Lullaby Moon (GB) winning the G3 Prix Miesque and listed Two-Year-Old Trophy among their four wins apiece.

Coolmore’s Pride Of Dubai (Aus) did not return to Ireland after his debut season but a case could be made for him doing so in future. The son of Street Cry (Ire) was champion first-season sire in his native Australia last year and, from 43 runners in his sole northern hemisphere crop he sired 11 winners, five of which were stakes winners. These include the Italian Group 2 winer Telepathic Glances (Ire) as well as Flying Visit (Ire) and Star Of Emaraaty (Ire), who are Group 3 winners in Ireland and Britain respectively.

Another of the young Kodiac (GB) stallions at stud, Kodi Bear (Ire), joined Adaay in the top ten, with 17 winners from his 54 runners, which again was an encouraging debut for a sire with 79 first-crop foals. Plenty of stallion masters have Clive Cox to thank for getting their youngsters off to a good start (think Supremacy) but in the case of Rathbarry Stud’s Kodi Bear, Cox trained both the stallion and his best offspring to date, the 107-rated Cobh (Ire), winner of the listed Stonehenge S. and third in the G2 Royal Lodge S.

As a grandson of Pivotal (GB) and son of Kyllachy (GB), Twilight Son (GB) was always going to be a popular new recruit to Cheveley Park Stud and, by number of first-crop winners, he is third behind Mehmas and Adaay on 22. His sole stakes winner, Aria Importante, won both the G3 Premio Primi Passi and listed Eupili in Milan.

Ballylinch Stud not only has the globally popular Lope De Vega (Ire) as its lynchpin but it also has some promising young stallions on the way through, including New Bay (GB), who, from a first crop of 77 foals, was represented by 43 runners and 12 winners in 2020. Encouragingly, this group includes four stakes performers, among them the G2 Royal Lodge S. winner New Mandate (Ire) and G3 Oh So Sharp S winner Saffron Beach (Ire). Unfortunately, the gelded New Mandate cannot be aimed at this year’s Classics but, being out of an Authorized (Ire) mare, one could reasonably expect him to improve further with age and distance. Saffron Beach looks a worthy Guineas contender for Jane Chapple-Hyam and her step-brother Ben Sangster, who races the filly in partnership with his son Oliver and James Wigan.

Haras de Bouquetot’s Shalaa (Ire) was the toast of this crop as his first foals and yearlings hit the sales, and he has sired 21 winners overall from his first northern hemisphere crop, two of those coming in America and one in Kazakhstan. His best European performers are the G2 Coventry third Saeiqa (GB) and the 102-rated No Speak Alexander (Ire). 

Just bubbling under the top ten were Prince Of Lir (Ire), whose 13 winners include the G2 Norfolk S winner The Lir Jet (Ire), and The Gurkha (Ire) on 14 winners. 

As is often the case, the table is numerically dominated by Irish-based stallions. In addition to those mentioned above, the smaller British contingent includes Bobby’s Kitten, whose 12 winners were led by Sheikh Hmadan’s promising dual winner Monaasib (GB), who was runner-up in the G2 Beresford S. With Roaring Lion having met an early demise and Hawkbill having been relocated to Japan, the Lanwades Stuyd resident leads the charge for his successful American sire Kitten’s Joy in Britain, with Kameko having recently taken up stud duties at Tweenhills.

Also worth noting among the young German stallions is the Deutsches Derby winner Isfahan (Ger), who, from only 10 starters, notched five winners including Italian Group 3 winner Isfahani (Ger).

Second-crop sires of 2020
Darley’s Night Of Thunder (Ire) made a huge impression with his first-crop runners and the 2019 champion first-season sire retained the upper hand as his second crop took to the track, albeit with fewer eye-catching juveniles than in his dazzling debut season. A Group 1 winner eludes him, though surely not for long, as the son of  Dubawi has 14 stakes winners to his credit, with G2 Dante S. Winner Thunderous (Ire) and G2 Oaks d’Italia victrix Auyantepui (GB) his leading lights in 2020.

We’ve already touched on Ballylinch Stud’s small but select stallion roster above and Make Believe (GB) continued his fledgling career in upwardly mobile fashion with a first-crop Classic winner to add to his credentials. The Prix du Jockey Club winner Mishriff (GB) remains the star of his runners to date, while Believe In Love (Ire) was consistent and progressive for Roger Varian and Koji Maeda, winning five of her nine starts in 2020, culminating in the G3 Prix Belle de Nuit in October.

The six stakes winner for Coolmore’s Gleneagles (Ire) in 2020 included the Jessica Harrington-trained Silence Please (Ire). His contemporary Golden Horn (GB) matched him on 51 winners for the year and, while the Darley stallion could do with a few more stakes winners, he has a decent array of highly-rated winners who could yet take that next step into group class.

Similar comments apply to Shadwell’s Muhaarar (GB), whose 52 winners for the year equalled the tally of Night Of Thunder. The Francis Graffard-trained Paix (Ire), from the family of Irish Oaks winner Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), was his star performer of the season with victories in the G3 Prix de Lutece and listed Prix Frederic de la Grange.

Worthy of a special mention in this category is Haras de Colleville’s son of Galileo (Ire),  Galiway (GB). With only 85 foals from his first two crops, his 18 winners include the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere victor Sealiway (Fr) and Kenway (Fr), winner of the G3 Prix la Rochette and two listed contests. Both are out of mares by his fellow Colleville resident Kendargent.

Also noteworthy is the Ashford Stud-based American Pharoah, whose 27 runners in Europe this year included 16 winners. Top of the pile was the G1 Criterium International winner Van Gogh, a son of the dual Oaks winner Imagine (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells).

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A breeding right to four-time Group 1 winner Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) (lot 3), whose oldest foals are three, went for €42,000 to Select Bloodstock. Also marked as sold were a breeding right in Due Diligence (War Front) (lot 5) to Haras Mont-dit-Mont for €6,000 and Blandford Bloodstock snapped up a breeding right to Group 1 winner Havana Grey (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) (lot 4) for €19,000.

The only lot that was unsold was a 1/50th share in champion Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) (lot 1)which RNA’d for €240,000.

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1.10 Nottingham, Mdn, £6,300, 2yo, f, 8f 75yT
John Gosden is somewhat familiar with the progeny of storied matriarch Magnificient Style (Silver Hawk), having moulded six off the production line, and the Clarehaven conditioner is set to unleash a seventh when Nat Rothschild’s SILVER HORN (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) contests this extended one-mile heat. The May foaled bay, opposed by eight here, is the latest of 15 foals and a half-sister to MG1SW sire Nathaniel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G1 Irish Oaks heroine Great Heavens (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), G1 Fillies’ Mile victress Playful Act (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), et al.

1.40 Nottingham, Mdn, £6,300, 2yo, 8f 75yT
King Power Racing’s 260,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling FANTASTIC FOX (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is a half-brother to this term’s G1 Haydock Sprint Cup winner Dream of Dreams (Ire) (Ahead) and opens up for the Roger Varian stable in a heat won last year by subsequent G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}). His rivals include fellow newcomer Stiletto (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is a John Gosden-trained son of G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 Coronation Cup third High Heeled (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}).

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3.25 Navan, Mdn, €15,500, 2yo, f, 8fT
MADONNA (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is a full-sister to the G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Maybe (Ire) and the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Promise To Be True (Ire), with the former also gaining renown as the dam of Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Aidan O’Brien introduces the May-foaled bay against Donnacha’s proven April Showers (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a full-sister to the four-times Group 1 winner and Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Misty For Me (Ire) who was second in the Cork maiden contested by Friday’s G3 Flame of Tara S. one-two Divinely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Ahandfulofsummers (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

3.55 Newmarket, Novice, £5,400, 3yo/up, f/m, 10fT
DOMINO DARLING (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) is due to make her eagerly-awaited 3-year-old return, soft ground-permitting, having impressed when beating the notable trio of Gold Wand (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}), Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and Lady G (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) on her sole start on heavy ground at Doncaster in October. Anthony Oppenheimer’s homebred is a William Haggas-trained half-sister to the strong-staying G3 Queen’s Vase and G3 Gordon S. winner Namibian (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) descended from the classy sprinter Divine Danse (Fr) (Dance Quest {GB}).

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