Tag: Harry Herbert

St Mark’s Basilica Divine at Cartier Racing Awards

St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a four-time Group 1 winner in 2021 and five-time top-level scorer overall, was named the Cartier Horse of the Year and Cartier 3-Year-Old Colt during the 31st annual Cartier Racing Awards at the Dorchester Hotel in London on Wednesday evening.

The sixth Cartier Horse of the Year for the Coolmore partners since the awards began in 1991, the Aidan O'Brien trainee joins the illustrious company of stablemates Giant's Causeway (Storm Cat) (2000), Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) (Danehill) (2002), Hurricane Run (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) (2005), Dylan Thomas (Ire) (Danehill) (2007) and Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (2016).

A winner of the G1 Dewhurst S. at two, the Robert Scarborough-bred completed an unbeaten campaign in 2021 including a brace of French Classic wins in the G1 French 2000 Guineas and G1 Prix du Jockey Club. The 1.3 million gns Tattersalls October Yearling then won a thrilling renewal of the G1 Eclipse S. and defeated 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Turf heroine Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G1 Irish Champion S. to end his career. At the beginning of November, it was announced he would join the Coolmore Stud roster for 2022.

The other nominees for Cartier Horse of the Year were Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Of that trio, Baaeed and Hurricane Lane, along with G1 Derby hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), were nominated in the Cartier 3-Year-Old Colt category.

Raced and trained by the same connections as St Mark's Basilica, Classic heroine Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was given the nod as the Cartier 3-Year-Old Filly. A brilliant winner of the G3 Musidora S. in May, the bay added the G1 Oaks by a record 16 lengths in June at Epsom. The margin of her G1 Irish Oaks victory was 8 1/2 lengths, and she was eased to a four-length win versus her elders in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks in the summer. She was second in the G1 Prix Vermeille in France and third in the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. at Ascot to end her year.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) was named the Cartier Older Horse. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the Highclere Stud and Floors Farming-bred was named the Cartier 3-Year-Old Colt in 2020. After a season that saw him win two Group 1s over a mile last term, he swept all before him in his season opener-the G2 bet365 Mile at Sandown in April. He added the G1 Lockinge S. to his resume later that spring and defeated all comers in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot. After scoring in his second consecutive G1 Prix Jacques le Marois in France, Palace Pier finished his career with a second in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. to Cartier 3-Year-Old Colt nominee Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). He will stand at under the Darley banner at Dalham Hall Stud.

Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) earned Cartier 2-Year-Old Colt honours after a flawless campaign for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby. Bred by Haras d'Haspel, the bay brought 210,000gns at the 2021 Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale and was quickly off the mark at first asking at Sandown. The G2 Superlative S. went his way at Newmarket, and then he traveled to Ireland to face off with fellow Cartier juvenile colt nominee, Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the G1 National S. at The Curragh. Despite the high quality of opposition, the result was the same, with Native Trail running out a 3 1/2-length winner. In his final start of the season, the colt was first past the post in the G1 Dewhurst S. back at HQ in October, the same Group 1 double achieved by former Godolphin star and young sire Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal).

Cheveley Park homebred Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was named the Cartier 2-Year-Old Filly. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the daughter of G1 1000 Guineas bridesmaid Starscope (GB) (Selkirk) carries an unbeaten record into her sophomore season. Successful on debut at Newmarket in June, she landed the Listed Star S. at Sandown a month later and took the G2 May Hill S. at Doncaster in September. She capped 2021 with a 2 1/2-length victory in the G1 Fillies' Mile in October.

Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), a homebred for David Ward, was honoured with the Cartier Sprinter award. A winner of the G2 Duke of York S. in May where he downed 2020 G1 July Cup winner Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}), the 4-year-old colt was back in action in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket. In that race he overcame a troubled trip to win by 1 1/4 lengths and gave his owner and trainer, Ed Walker, a first win at the highest level. It was announced in October that he would stand at Tally-Ho Stud for 2022.

After claiming three major staying prizes in 2021, Singula Partnership's Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) was named the Cartier Stayer. Trainer Alan King was given his first Group 1 success on the Flat in the G1 Goodwood Cup by the 5-year-old gelding. Ridden by Hollie Doyle in that prize, Trueshan reveled in the testing conditions of the G1 Prix du Cadran on Arc weekend, to defeat three-time Cartier Stayer Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). After returning from France, Trueshan, bred by Didier Blot, defended his crown in the G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup.

The Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit was awarded to David Elsworth, one of the most successful dual-purpose trainers in Britain. Besides Flat Classic success, Elsworth has parlayed his 67-year career into victories in the Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup. Licenced in 1978 and still going strong at 83, some of Elsworth's best horses included star jumper Desert Orchid (GB) (Grey Mirage I {GB}), standout stayer Persian Punch (Ire) (Persian Heights {GB}), the crack sprinter Indian Ridge (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}) and Irish Classic heroine In The Groove (GB) (Night Shift). Named Champion National Hunt Trainer in 1987/88, Elsworth has trained seven Group 1 winners on the Flat and has 16 Royal Ascot winners to his name. His filly Arabian Queen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) shocked Derby/Arc hero Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in the G1 Juddmonte International S. at 50-1 in 2015.

Harry Herbert, Cartier's Racing Consultant said, “The 2021 European Flat season has once again highlighted all that is wonderful in this great sport.

“With capacity crowds back at racecourses and some brilliant equine performances, we were ultimately rewarded with a season to savour.

“Racing cannot continue without the ongoing support of owners and I would like to extend my congratulations to tonight's winners–Coolmore, Godolphin, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Cheveley Park Stud, David Ward and the Singula Partnership.

“David Elsworth has truly reached the summit of his profession and is the perfect recipient for the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit in 2021. A man whose life has been steeped in racing, Elsworth's career spans 67 years and has scaled the heights of both Jump and Flat racing. One of the most successful dual-purpose trainers Britain has produced, the sport is lucky to call him one of our own.

“Cartier's support of these prestigious awards stretches right back to 1991 and is ongoing as we once again enjoy all coming together at the Dorchester Hotel for such a wonderful event. We are truly blessed to be able to enjoy such tremendous support.”

Laurent Feniou, Managing Director of Cartier UK, added, “The 2021 European Flat season has lived up to its billing as horseracing once again highlighted the magic and brilliance of the sport following a challenging 2020.

“I am delighted for the Cartier Racing Awards to be taking place once again at the Dorchester Hotel celebrating another wonderful year of sport.

“It is an honour to celebrate the very best of horseracing and it is a privilege for Cartier to be celebrating the 31st anniversary of the Cartier Racing Awards. My heartfelt congratulations go out to this year's exceptional winners.

Horses earned points in Pattern races (30%), combined at the end of season with the opinions of a panel of racing journalists/handicappers (35%) and votes from readers of Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph (35%) to be considered for the awards. Highlights of the 31st annual Cartier Racing Awards will be shown on Sky Sports Racing on the evening of Friday, Nov. 12.

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Royal Patronage Out For The Year

Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who finished last of eight after being struck into in the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S. at Doncaster on Saturday, will not race again this season and will return for a 3-year-old campaign. The Highclere Thoroughbred Racing-owned colt won the G3 Acomb S. at York in August and added the G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket on Sept. 25.

Harry Herbert, managing director for owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, said, “Unfortunately he was struck into and returned with a nasty gash just above his hock. The jockey [Jason Hart] was very happy with him travelling, but he said he felt him wobble behind and he obviously eased him down immediately and pulled him up.

“We were obviously very disappointed. It was too bad to be true and watching it–I was thinking 'what's going on here', and feared the worst watching him being pulled up.

“These things happen–it's just very unfortunate that it happened in a Group 1 race, where you hope you've got a chance. He'll have the winter off and he'll be back, hopefully for a Derby trial in the spring.”

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The Queen’s Arrival

Editor's note: This year marks 50 years since the founding of Bloodstock Research Information Systems, a company that revolutionized data in horse racing and breeding and which was instrumental in the founding of the Thoroughbred Daily News. This article by Brisnet's Vance Hanson and the photos included have been republished with their permission.

Harry Herbert arrived to work at Bloodstock Research Information Services one day in early 1984 with something surprising to tell company founder and president Richard “Dick” Broadbent III, and asked the secretary if he could see Broadbent. The secretary got back to Herbert and said Broadbent would let him know.

“I said, 'It's quite important,' and she said, 'I don't think I'll be quite brave enough to tell him that,'” Herbert said.

A larger-than-life character with the reputation for a mercurial temperament, Broadbent was soon on the office intercom and, in mildly colorful language, demanded Herbert come see him. The greeting when Herbert arrived in Broadbent's office was similar in tone.

“'You really don't know much about me,'” Herbert recalled telling Broadbent. “'My dad is quite a well-known person in racing in the U.K., and he also manages the Queen's horses and is her closest friend.' (Broadbent) went ballistic. He thought I was literally taking the piss out of him.

“I said, 'No, Mr. Broadbent, it's true. (The Queen) wants to come to Kentucky and see where I work–to see what you've done here, and what you've achieved.'

“Bit by bit, this terrifying, huge man disintegrated. He sort of shrank in front of my eyes. He literally became a different person. It was quite extraordinary.”

Among the undisputed highlights of Brisnet's 50-year history was the visit from Queen Elizabeth II to its Lexington, Kentucky, offices on Oct. 10, 1984, an event that likely wouldn't have happened at any other time if not for the mutual connection of Harry Herbert.

Herbert, 62, has worn and continues to wear many hats in the racing and breeding industry, most notably as chairman and managing director of Highclere Thoroughbreds. Herbert is the second son of the late Seventh Earl of Carnarvon, who viewers of the Netflix miniseries “The Crown” would recognize as the Queen's life-long friend and racing manager Lord Porchester (“Porchy”).

“I started following my dad's horses in my very early 20s, and he saw I was getting interested (in racing),” Herbert said. “It was a dormant gene, where you suddenly wanted to learn more. You want to see the horses train in the morning. I used to go with him to Major Dick Hern's yard. I suppose that's what really got me going.

“I was working in the City (London's financial district) for a stockbroking company. It wasn't doing it for me, and ideally I wanted to be an actor. That wasn't really going to happen.”

Possessing a U.S. passport and dual citizenship, via his American-born mother, Herbert was encouraged by jockey Steve Cauthen, who by then had shifted his tack to England, to pursue an industry career in the U.S., rather than be a “daddy's boy” at home. With prominent horsemen George Strawbridge and Russell Jones Jr. serving as intermediaries, Herbert eventually secured interviews with Bloodstock Research and with Santa Anita.

“I heard right before Christmas I got both jobs I had applied for. (It was) Incredibly exciting,” Herbert said. “I decided on Kentucky, and I still don't quite know why. (It was) sort of a gut feeling to go to Lexington versus Santa Anita, which is a very weird decision.”

Although he drew Broadbent's ire by unknowingly arriving late to work on his first day, Herbert soon relished the day-to-day opportunities and access to pedigree information afforded to him in his new position. In particular, the ability to computer generate an analysis between certain stallions and mares for genetic compatibility proved a boon, both professionally and personally.

“I was told when I left Eton College–I wasn't the best academic by a long stretch–but my master told me, 'The one thing we've set you up for in life, Harry Herbert, is how to write a letter.' And so, when I joined Bloodstock Research, I started writing letters to those people who wanted their mares mated and put through the system. I guess I could write a half-decent letter, and suddenly the business began to go really well. People started hearing about it. Arthur Hancock came in, (along with) Nelson Bunker Hunt.

“All sorts of people wanted this service, and I would stay pretty late in the evenings, because I so wanted to study all of my father's pedigrees and why he'd done the matings he'd done over the years. One of those great moments was calling him up and saying, 'Now I know why you made this mating.' He couldn't believe it, as I sort of dissected every pedigree.”

Duly impressed with what he was hearing from his son across the pond, it was natural to expect Lord Porchester would share this information with the Queen.

“My father called me up and said, 'I was talking to the Queen and I thought she might be interested to come to Kentucky and see the stud farms and to see it all for the first time. Maybe you can help organize it. She definitely wants to see how the whole computer thing works and what you're doing on the pedigree,'” Herbert said.

To read the rest of this story on www.brisnet.com, click here.

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Ghaiyyath Crowned Cartier Horse Of The Year

Godolphin’s four-time Group 1 winner Ghaiyyath (Ire) has scooped the top honours at the 30th annual Cartier Awards.

The five-year-old son of Dubawi is the third Cartier Horse of the Year for Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation following Daylami (Ire) in 1999 and Fantastic Light in 2001. Trained by Charlie Appleby, Ghaiyyath also claimed the Cartier Older Horse category ahead of Addeybb (Ire), Enable (GB) and Magical (Ire).

There was further success for the Maktoum family when Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}), owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and trained by John Gosden, was named Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt ahead of Kameko, Pinatubo (Ire) and Siskin. In an outstanding 2020 season, he won the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot before defeating his elders in the G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois at Deauville.

Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) remained undefeated in her three starts this year, winning the 1000 Guineas, Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks for Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore partners. The Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly in a division which included fellow nominees Alpine Star (Ire), Fancy Blue (Ire) and Wonderful Tonight (Fr).

Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s 6-year-old Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was awarded the Cartier Sprinter honours following a season which included victory in the G1 King’s Stand S., G2 King George Qatar S. at Goodwood for the fourth time, and the G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. for the second year running. The Charlie Hills-trained gelding clinched the award ahead of fellow nominees Dream Of Dreams (Ire), Glass Slippers (GB) and Glen Shiel (GB).

For the third consecutive year, one of the most popular horses in training, Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was named Cartier Stayer. Owned and bred by Bjorn Nielsen and trained by John Gosden, the 6-year-old captured the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot for a third time as well as winning his fourth G1 Qatar Goodwood Cup. Also shortlisted in this category were Galileo Chrome (Ire), Princess Zoe (Ger) and Wonderful Tonight (Fr).

The Aidan O’Brien-trained G1 Criterium International winner Van Gogh, who became the first European Group 1 winner for his sire American Pharoah, has been named Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt of 2020. Van Gogh is yet another feather in the cap of David and Diana Nagle’s Barronstown Stud, whose long list of Group 1-winning graduates includes Irish Derby winner Sovereign (Ire), G1 St Leger winner Kew Gardens (Ire) and the four-time G1 Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats (Ire). The operation’s record of breeding top-class horses over four decades was recognised at the ITBA breeding and racing awards last January as they were inducted in to the Hall of Fame. In total, the Nagles have bred 29 individual Group 1 winners of 44 Classic or Group 1 races. Also nominated in the juvenile colts’ category were Battleground, Mac Swiney (Ire) and St Mark’s Basilica (Ire).

The Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly fell to one from the Joseph O’Brien stable, Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}). Owned by John Oxley, she finished the year in style by winning the G1 bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket. Her fellow nominees were Alcohol Free (GB), Campanelle (Ire) and Tiger Tanaka (Ire).

With two horses from his stable having picked up awards, John Gosden OBE was the recipient of the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit in 2020. Champion trainer in Britain for the past three seasons, he has saddled over 3,500 winners during a 41-year career and has been responsible for a record five Cartier Horse of the Year recipients: Kingman (2014), Golden Horn (2015), Enable (2017 & 2019) and Roaring Lion (2018).

Harry Herbert, Cartier’s Racing Consultant, said, “Back in the spring, nobody knew if we would even have a European Flat season in 2020 but with the hard work of everyone in the racing industry we were ultimately rewarded with a season to savour.

“Racing cannot continue without the ongoing support of owners and I would like to extend my congratulations to tonight’s winners—Godolphin, Coolmore, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, Bjorn Nielsen and John Oxley.”

He added, “John Gosden has truly reached the summit of his profession and is the perfect recipient for the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit in 2020. With his supreme eloquence and communication skills, racing is very lucky to have such a fabulous ambassador.

“I would like to end by extending special thanks to Cartier, Sky Sports Racing, The Daily Telegraph and Racing Post. Cartier’s support of these prestigious awards stretches right back to 1991 and is ongoing, even in today’s troubled times. We are truly blessed to be able to enjoy such tremendous support.”

Laurent Feniou, Managing Director of Cartier UK, commented: “In what has proved to be a year in which so many people have faced exceptional challenges, I am delighted for the Cartier Racing Awards to be broadcast on Sky Sports Racing allowing the racing public to join us in watching the presentation this year. It is an honour to celebrate the very best of horseracing, especially this year as we honour the 30th anniversary of the Cartier Racing Awards. My heartfelt congratulations go out to this exceptional year’s winners.”

The Cartier Awards, which are usually presented during a glittering ceremony in London, were this year broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing.

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