Tag: Havana Grey

The Next Bucanero Fuerte? Aguiar Lands 200k Wootton Bassett At Doncaster

Robson Aguiar showered Tuesday's Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale-topping Wootton Bassett (GB) colt with praise by comparing him to his Group 1 winner Bucanero Fuerte (GB) and said £200,000 could prove to be good value for the colt in time. 

The leading breeze-up handler, who also plays a major role in the Amo Racing operation, flew back to Ireland following inspections but lot 48 clearly made a lasting impression with Aguiar, who saw off stiff opposition for the Highclere Stud-drafted colt remotely.

Speaking after the sale, Aguiar said, “He really reminded me of Bucanero Fuerte when I bought him as a yearling. He's got a good loose walk, he's very athletic and has a good pedigree. If he works out I think he could be another Bucanero Fuerte. I see a lot of value in this horse at that price.” 

Bucanero Fuerte cost €165,000 at last year's August Sale at Arqana. He became an important first Group 1 winner for Amo Racing when landing the Phoenix S. at the Curragh and is as short as 8-1 with some firms for next year's 2,000 Guineas. 

Aguiar revealed that a number of options are open to his latest acquisition by the stallion and said the half-brother to Flying Childers S. winner Trillium was a standout for him in the sale. 

“I bought him for myself at the moment but we'll see, maybe later on I could have a partner in the horse,” he said. “I'll get him home, break him in and see how he's going before deciding what I do with him. He could breeze or race but I like him a lot and for me he really stood out in this sale.” 

Wootton Bassett continues to go from strength to strength and the Coolmore-based stallion's exploits on Tuesday came after a sensational August Sale at Arqana where 21 were sold for an average of €378,810.

Like Arqana, the trade at Doncaster was strong, with the opening day top lot one of 18 horses to make six figures. Of the 218 lots offered, 183 sold at a clearance rate of 84%. The aggregate was up 1% on last year at £9,082,000 while the average climbed 10% to £49,629 and the median stood at £36,000. 

 

 

Johnston Snaps Up Sister To Sacred Angel

Sacred Angel has proved herself one of the best horses in Charlie Johnston's stable this season in winning the G3 Princess Margaret S. at Ascot and the trainer went to £175,000 to secure her sister from Yeomanstown Stud. 

Last seen finishing fourth behind Vandeek in the Prix Morny, Nurlan Bizakov's Sacred Angel will now be aimed at the Cheveley Park, and her little sister was purchased on behalf of the same owner. 

Johnston explained of lot 160, “She's for Nurlan Bizakov who now owns Sacred Angel. Things have gone fantastic since he acquired her and we were delighted with her run in the Prix Morny. She will almost certainly go to the Cheveley Park next and let's hope lightning can strike twice as we were keen to get the sister.”

He added, “I think there are similarities and this filly is a bit more backward than Sacred Angel was at this time last year. She will get broken in fairly quickly now and then get turned away. She has the same athleticism as Sacred Angel. Delighted to get her.”

Sacred Angel came out of this sale last year and was originally knocked down to John Dance's Manor House Farm for £52,000. She won her maiden at Newmarket in the colours of the Titanium Racing Club before switching ownership to Bizakov. 

The Sumbe boss reaped immediate rewards when Sacred Angel landed the Princess Margaret and was then beaten just under five lengths by Vandeek (GB) in the Morny, a race which is sponsored by the French stud. 

Explaining how the relationship came about, Johnston said, “This is Sumbe's first year sponsoring the Morny and Nurlan was keen to have a runner in it. They were on the hunt for suitable horses in the months leading up to the race and Richard Knight [bloodstock agent] got in touch off the back of her winning her maiden at Newmarket.”

He added, “Could I have said to him that the filly was capable of holding her own in Group 1 company at that point? No. But we were already thinking that her next start would be in the Princess Margaret. It was a bit of a punt with regards to the Morny but it worked out fantastically well.”

Sacred Angel is out of Sacred Aspect (Ire) (Haatef), herself a speedy two-year-old for Ken Condon back in 2013 when landing a listed event over five furlongs at Tipperary.

 

 

'The Sire Is Absolutely On Fire' – Williamson Keen On Havana Grey Colt

Vandeek (GB) has flown the flag for the breeze-ups this season with a scintillating two-year-old campaign that featured Group 1 glory in the Prix Morny earlier this month and Norman Williamson pushed the boat out to secure what he hopes could be the next top colt by Havana Grey {GB}) for £120,000. 

Bought alongside Mags O'Toole, Williamson had to fend off a strong challenge from Roderick Kavanagh, who transformed Vandeek from a 42,000gns yearling purchase into a 625,000gns breeze-up sensation at the Craven Sale. 

Williamson has never breezed a Havana Grey before but said he was keen to snap up the colt from Whitsbury Manor Stud with a view towards the premier sales in the spring. 

“He has been bought to breeze and we all saw what Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) did this year,” Williamson said. 

“The sire is absolutely on fire and I'm delighted to get him. He looks as though he might need a little bit of time but he's a great mover and he has size and scope.

“I haven't breezed a Havana Grey before–I haven't been able to buy one. We had to stretch to get this lad but that's what it has been like at all of the markets. The better ones are making a premium.”

Asked if the colt being by Havana Grey played an important part in the buying of lot 91, Williamson replied, “It is very important at the other end. Of course they have to breeze well but, the plus here–which gave me an extra kick–was the fact he is out of a Pivotal (GB) mare. That's a plus. But he has a lot of size and scope to him and I think in the spring he will turn into a fine horse. Hopefully.”

  • Who said the smaller sums don't make a big difference? For Billy Kelly, son of bloodstock agent Peter, his £36,000 Tasleet (GB) filly represented a sizable profit given he bought the horse for just 6,000gns as a foal at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale. The 18-year-old completed his leaving certificate this year and owned the Tasleet [lot 147] in partnership with Paul Winters. Asked what he planned on doing with the proceeds of the sale and Kelly's reply was “go again”.
  • David Loughnane has a £180,000 Blue Point (Ire) colt to look forward to next year after Ed Sackville purchased lot 197 on behalf of an unnamed British owner. The colt was consigned by Longview Stud and is out of the listed-placed So Hi Society (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}). Sackville said, “He was a real standout and the sire needs no introduction. He's out of a fast race filly and the pedigree goes back to a lovely Wildenstein family. He will be trained by David Loughnane, who has a good record with two-year-olds.”
  • Alastair Donald has had great success purchasing on behalf of PK Siu, notably with Stormy Antarctic (GB) (Stormy Atlantic) and more recently G3 Hampton Court S. winner Waipiro (Ire) (Australia {GB}). The top agent added lot 84, an Eathlight (Ire) filly from Jamie Railton's draft, for £160,000 on behalf of the owner.
  • Anna Sundstrom's good run continued when lot 60, a Havana Gold (Ire) colt purchased with Filip Zwicky at the Goffs November Foal Sale for €44,000, rocked into £85,000 to Howson and Houldsworth/Jamie Insole. The sale came off the back of a bonanza of results at Arqana for the Coulonces operator that included a €1 million Wootton Bassett colt to Yoshito Yahagi. Interestingly, Insole is the former assistant trainer to Charlie Hills and has recently joined Dr Richard Newland on the licence. The pair will operate a dual-purpose training facility.
  • As well as signing for a host of horses for his father Richard and landing the buy of the day in the shape of lot 121, Peter Fahey enjoyed a productive session in purchasing on behalf of Karl Burke, Kevin Ryan and Clive Cox. Fahey landed seven yearlings all told on Tuesday to the tune of £419,000 which represented something of a breakout sale for the young agent.
  • One of the more interesting stories to emerge from this sale last year was the strength of Richard Hughes and the trainer once again flexed his buying power by signing for four yearlings for £330,000. Hughes bought 11 yearlings for a total of £744,000 last year and his Tuesday purchases were headed by a £160,000 Sea The Stars (Ire) filly from Barton Stud.

 

 

Bromley Lands “Wish List” Mehmas For New Client And Classic-Winning Owner 

Classic-winning owner Phil Cunningham snapped up the services of ace agent Anthony Bromley of Highflyer to secure five yearlings for £422,000, headed by a Mehmas (Ire) colt from Tally-Ho Stud for £145,000.

The brief, according to Bromley, was simple; “fast ones,” for Cunningam, who owned 2,000 Guineas winner Cockney Rebel (Ire). In lot 97, the agent picked up a speedy-looking colt for Richard Spencer to go to war with next season. 

Standing alongside the trainer, Bromley said, “We've got three so far today. Two-year-olds and fast ones, that's the plan. Mehmas was on our wish list if we could get one. This looked like the archetypal Mehmas–all square, good bum on him, walks well, speedy family and the dam has had a good record. She was fast and there are some good ratings out of the dam.”

He added, “It just ticked all the boxes apart from the fact he was getting expensive! I don't normally spend that high but he was a proper two-year-old type and we really hope he can do well for Phil. Excited.”

Bromley also picked up a Mohaather (GB) colt from Barton Stud for £70,000 and an Advertise colt from Lynn Lodge Stud for £40,000 on behalf of his new client and praised the stock on offer at the sale. 

He said, “The vendors have really supported the sale well and they are being rewarded with what looks to be pretty decent trade. It must be said that the sales race [Harry's Half Million] is a great incentive.”

After purchasing the Mehmas, Bromley and Spencer landed another colt Mohaather (GB) [lot 185 for £95,000] and one by Kodiac (GB) [lot 156 for £72,000].

Buy Of The Day

The River Boyne (Ire) colt that Peter Fahey sourced from Tara Stud for just £15,000 looks well bought. 

A ball of speed, he is exactly the type of yearling that Henry Beeby spoke of as being synonymous with this sale. 

By first-season sire River Boyne, who won his Grade I in America before returning home to Tara Stud, the colt will be trained by the agent's father Richard. 

At £15,000, he can run in the lower class maidens in the north of England and he looks early so can be expected to be out in the first few weeks of the season. 

He's not that light on pedigree, either. Out of a Manduro (Ger) mare Princess Eva (Fr), herself a half-sister to Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), she has already produced a black-type winner, albeit in Italy. Given the strength of the trade at Doncaster on Tuesday, the River Boyne colt looks decent business. 

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Oliver St Lawrence bought a quality-looking Mohaather filly from Barton Stud for £75,000. 

Although above the average for the Tuesday trade, lot 125 boasts a good pedigree being a half-sister to the listed winner and Group 2-placed Sir Boris (Ire) (Due Diligence).

The filly was one of the nicest offerings by Mohaather to hit the sale ground this week and one to keep track of, for sure.

There is a strong chance, however, that the best transaction of the day did not happen on the sales ground at Doncaster, but a couple of miles down the road in an antique shop in the town centre. 

For just forty quid, bloodstock agent Peter Kelly unearthed a vintage top hat that should have cost many multiples of that initial outlay. Hats off, Peter!

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‘Horse First, Pedigree Second’ – Donny Rockets Take Centre Stage At Goffs 

DONCASTER, England-The vendors have answered the rallying call. That was the message issued by an upbeat Henry Beeby on the eve of the eagerly-anticipated Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale. And judging by the footfall here since Sunday, the Goffs chief has every reason to be positive. 

The Al Mohamediya Racing team have been out in force trying to find the next Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}). Top trainers Richard Hannon, Clive Cox and Ger Lyons have also been busy inspecting the stock on offer, not to mention the number of leading agents and breeze-up handlers in attendance. 

If Arqana lit the touch paper on the European yearling sale season with a booming trade, all of the ingredients are here at Doncaster for another lively session, and Beeby was left praising vendors for coming up trumps in fitting the brief that was set out to them.

He explained, “There is no doubt the vendors have stepped up and answered our call. We had a good sale last year and, when our team went on to the farms in Britain and Ireland, we asked vendors for a step up in quality for this year's sale. The vendors have done us proud and we have been very well supported by them. 

“I have looked at almost all of the horses that I am going to be auctioning myself and I am very impressed. There are some lovely horses here-horses that would grace any other first choice sale.”

Luke Barry: has a strong draft | Emma Berry

One man who has brought more than his fair share of classy yearlings to Doncaster down through the years is Luke Barry of Manister House Stud. It was at this sale where Barry sold Group 1 winners Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) and La Collina (Ire) (Strategic Prince {GB}). He offers an 11-strong draft on Tuesday and Wednesday and reported the action at Barn B to be encouraging. 

In between organising shows for Brian Meehan, the Al Mohamediya team, Shadwell boss Angus Gold and more, Barry said, “Footfall in Donny is always good and it has been very good again this year. We have a nice bunch of horses and this sale has been very good. It's been busy but, like I said, it always is here. 

“They do a great job and people always turn out in force for this sale. We've been lucky here. We've sold a lot of Group 1 winners here. We've had luck in the ring and on the track from this sale so hopefully that continues this week.”

As well as offering some early and fast-looking types, Barry has never been afraid of throwing a nice horse who could benefit from more of a trip, into this sale while his neighbour in Barn B, Tom Blain or Barton Stud, is another consignor who has brought a classy draft of horses that features everything from a sharp Pinatubo (Ire) [428] to a good-walking Sea The Stars (Ire) [234].

However, according to Beeby, the foundations of the Premier Yearling Sale have been built on Donny rockets, which is something the sales house does not want to lose focus on again. 

He explained, “We are seeing the faces we want to see here. The industry takes this sale very seriously. It has a long, rich history. We took a long look at the Premier Yearling Sale a few years ago. We felt we had morphed slightly away from what we were always known for. We reviewed it all and thought that the most important thing was to get back to the Donny rockets.

“When I started in the early eighties and when my father was there before me, it was always about the individual. It was always about the good-looking horse. When we went into the fields with the vendors, we told them we needed a looker, and that's what we have delivered. It's horse first, pedigree second here. And unashamedly so. It works and, of all the sales, the Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale has as an identity, if not the strongest identity, of any other sale. Everybody knows what they are going to get when they walk in through these gates and we're very proud of that.”

Beeby added, “The horses from this sale have done well on the track and, the fact that we have increased the prize-money for the Harry's Half Million has obviously caught the imagination and we had a very good renewal of the sales race on Thursday. That demonstrates the quality of the horses on offer and the footfall ahead of this year's sale has been great.”

One of the fascinating subplots of the Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale each year is how it provides the first taster of how the market reacts to a first-season stallion. One horse, or at least a couple of different variations of his name, has come up in conversation more than any other over the weekend, and that's Whitsbury Manor Stud's Sergei Prokofiev, or as one leading buyer called him on Monday, 'Sergei Provoloff.'

While everyone may not be in unison on how to pronounce his name, the stock of Sergei Prokofiev has gone down well with many industry judges, and Whitsbury's Ed Harper is optimistic about what this week will bring. 

Ed Harper of Whistbury Manor Stud | Sarah Farnsworth

He said, “The past few weeks, you couldn't open the newspaper without seeing a son of Scat Daddy producing a stakes winner. It has been ridiculous. Whether it's Justify, No Nay Never, Sioux Nation, Seahenge or Seabhac, it's every day. It's unreal. I was very confident about Sergei Prokofiev being a son of Scat Daddy but it has just been off the scale. You want to come here and see a resemblance in his stock compared to the other sons of Scat Daddy and they are big, strong horses. That's what I have seen here from them-they are strong, have lots of bone and seem to have great attitudes as well. I couldn't be happier.” 

Indeed, Whitsbury Manor Stud is familiar with launching a young stallion and it's their own Havana Grey who is responsible for this sale's poster boy Jasour. An £85,000 purchase by Clive Cox from renowned pinhooker and consignor Jenny Norris, Jasour won his maiden in June before running out an impressive winner of the G2 July S. last month. 

That success sparked great scenes on the July course, with Ali Majeed of the Bahraini outfit celebrating as though he'd struck a last-minute winner at Wembley, and he was busy trying to find the next winner to toast on Monday.

He said, “We like fast horses and Doncaster is the sale for fast horses. We like coming to Doncaster. We bought Jasour, Shagraan (Ire) (Sioux Nation) and Golden Horde (Ire) here. We bought two in France last week. One was by Golden Horde, so we wanted to support him, and the other was by Hello Youmzain (Fr). We're happy with how the yearlings by Golden Horde have sold and there is a filly here [219] by him as well. The majority of them will sell in France, where Golden Horde is standing, but hopefully when buyers see more of his yearlings they will like them.”

Majeed added, “We are very happy with how racing in Bahrain is developing and improving. We had a Group 2 there this year and hopefully there will be a Group 1 next year. We really enjoy coming together for the racing and the sales. It is one family and one group of people involved and that's why we enjoy it so much. The sales in France were very strong but, here at Doncaster, you can buy the fast horses. We look for speed.”

There will be no shortage of speed on offer here over the next two days with the sale kicking off at 10 am on Tuesday. 

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Kavanagh: ‘To Be Associated With A Horse Like Vandeek Is Huge For Us’

Relief quickly turned to joy for Roderick Kavanagh on Thursday after Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), the highest profile horse to have graduated from his Glending Stables after fetching 625,000gns at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale, confirmed himself a top-notch colt in the making when landing the G2 Richmond S. at Goodwood. 

The joint top lot of that sale, Vandeek was knocked down to Anthony Stroud on behalf of KHK Racing Ltd and was making it two wins from as many starts for Simon and Ed Crisford at Goodwood. 

After Vandeek made a successful debut at Nottingham last month, Kavanagh admitted that relief was the overriding emotion that he experienced. 

However, with Group 1 targets put forward by connections after Thursday's triumph, the young operator explained that he was beginning to allow himself to enjoy the occasion and pointed to how special it is for his family to be associated with a colt who could now be bound for the Prix Morny in France. 

He said, “It's a great accolade for the horse to come out and be unbeaten in his first two starts on a racecourse and to win such a prestigious race as the Richmond. It's a testimony to what is a family run business here at home between Glending, Kildaragh Stud and Alice [Kavanagh's sister] with AK Thoroughbreds. I can remember the first day I got the leg up on Vandeek, Alice was holding on to him, and he was a fine, big and strapping colt. Having capable people in place to do the job right and produce them at the sales in the best possible shape is a huge asset.”

Kavanagh added, “Even my mum [Antoinette] in accounts who manages the logistics of everything and my Dad [Peter] who has been a great guide from day one, it's been a massive team effort. We have some key people on the farm here as well but for us as a family, being associated with a horse like Vandeek, it means a lot.”

Vandeek was bred by Maywood Stud, who sold him as a foal to Childwickbury Stud at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale for 52,000gns. He was knocked down to Glending at the December Yearling Sale at Tattersalls for just 42,000gns before turning that mammoth profit less than six months later at the Craven Breeze-Up Sale, which has proved a major confidence booster for everyone at Glending, according to Kavanagh.

He explained, “We put in a new gallop at home and this year's two-year-olds were the first to come off it. I'm sure there are lots of other variables that make it work but the fact that the system is in place for producing horses for the breeze-ups and for them to go on and do the business on the track and continue to progress, it's very encouraging. We plan to go back and do something similar this year and results like this gives you the confidence to reinvest.”

Vandeek has already confirmed himself as one of the smartest juveniles in training in Britain but Kavanagh says that he is confident that the colt can be even better next year.

He said, “I know we are getting towards the back end of the season now but I didn't expect him to be doing it as he is. With Havana Grey, you'd be expecting precocity but I wasn't sure he was going to be as early as this. It's great to see him kicking on and getting to an international level of competition. The Morny will be the ultimate test but, at this stage, he has earned his place in the line-up in a Group 1.

“Cormac O'Flynn, who owned the horse in partnership with me, was talking about the Craven Stakes for the horse next year even before today. I was slagging him about that but it's looking like it could be a fair shout now. Hopefully he would be on course for races like that next season and, with his physical stature, you would be thinking that he can make up into a very good three-year-old.”

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Seven Days: Four Hundred

On December 3, 1995, the G1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle was won by the Aidan O'Brien-trained Thats My Man (Ire). It is unconfirmed, but those may well have been the words uttered by John Magnier when he decided to appoint O'Brien to uphold the good reputation of his surname at Ballydoyle. This he has done with aplomb.

From that December day at Fairyhouse until Sunday at the Curragh, A P O'Brien has been the name printed alongside 400 Group or Grade 1 winners. From his roots in National Hunt, he quickly set about conquering the Flat world. In O'Brien's first year at Ballydoyle, Desert King (Ire) became his first Group 1 winner in the 1996 National Stakes in the colours of Michael Tabor, with Walter Swinburn up. The son of Danehill later became his second Classic winner, but only by 24 hours, when the trainer signalled the manner in which he intended to continue his Flat training career by saddling the winners of the Irish 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas in the same weekend. Classic Park (Ire) struck in the fillies' contest and, like so many top-class fillies trained from Ballydoyle, became influential in her stud career as the dam of Derby runner-up and sought-after National Hunt sire Walk In The Park (Ire).

Desert King went on to win the Irish Derby and later that year we would see just how well recommended by John Durkan was the brilliant Istabraq (Ire), when he posted the first of 23 wins for O'Brien and JP McManus.

O'Brien's first triumph in an Epsom Classic came in 1998, when Shahtoush (Ire) won the Oaks. Giant's Causeway was perhaps his first real superstar, with his imperious run through the high summer of 2000 foreshadowing the appearance of the horse with whom O'Brien's name will be forever entwined: Galileo (Ire).

He was of course the first of his trainer's eight Derby winners in 2001. By the end of this week it's not impossible that O'Brien will have brought his tally of Classic wins at Epsom to 20. He has six of the remaining 15 entries in the Oaks, led by Savethelastdance (Ire), a daughter of his old friend Galileo, and four of the 16 for the Derby, including the winter favourite Auguste Rodin (Ire), looking to bounce back from the disappointment of the 2,000 Guineas.

Over last weekend, it was Paddington (GB) and Luxembourg (Ire) who brought his tally of Group 1 wins to the 400 mark, with the former sparking an Irish Guineas double for Siyouni (Fr) which was completed by Tahiyra (Fr) for the Aga Khan and Dermot Weld on Sunday.

The Older Guard

Luxembourg's triumph over Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) and Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) in the Tattersalls Gold Cup brought to a close a treat of a week when it came to action from the older-horse brigade.

There was the rare, if not unique, spectacle of last year's Coronation Cup and Derby winner, Hukum (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), returning in the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. after neither had been seen in public since their respective Epsom wins. Hukum's turn of foot in the closing stages was a sight to behold as he reeled in Desert Crown as the post loomed to win by a half-length. His trainer Owen Burrows kept the ball rolling with another of his older inmates, and another grandson of Cape Cross (Ire), when the five-year-old Anmaat (Ire) became the first Group 1 winner for this sire Awtaad (Ire) in Monday's Prix d'Ispahan.

The aforementioned Luxembourg perhaps doesn't get the recognition he deserves. Like the previous weekend's Lockinge winner Modern Games (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) , he is a Group 1 winner at two, three, and four, which is no easy feat and is the mark of a proper horse.

Luxembourg's sire Camelot (GB) surely holds a place in Aidan O'Brien's heart for providing his son Joseph with a first Derby triumph as a jockey. As we head into the Derby weekend it is worth reflecting on the influence of Camelot's sire Montjeu (Ire), whose sons Motivator (GB), Authorized (Ire), and Pour Moi (Ire) also won the Derby in a seven-year-period, to be followed by Pour Moi's son Wings Of Eagles (Fr) in 2017.

The quirky but brilliant Montjeu was often derided when it came to his record as a sire of fillies, but he is currently performing well in the broodmare sire table, some 11 years after his death at the age of just 16. On Saturday, he featured as the damsire of Classic winner Paddington, while previous group winners around the world this year out of Montjeu mares include Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) and Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). He has already featured as the broodmare sire of an Oaks winner, courtesy of Meon Valley Stud's 2019 victrix Anapurna (GB) (Frankel {GB}), and he could enhance that record further if Heartache Tonight (Fr) were to oblige on Friday for David Menuisier. The daughter of Recorder (GB) has been produced on the same pattern of 3×3 inbreeding to Sadler's Wells as Anapurna, and they respectively have the half-brothers Unfuwain and Nashwan in the bottom half of their pedigrees. 

It was also a big week for some of the star juveniles of 2022. Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) pulled up lame after the 2,000 Guineas but put that firmly behind him with a resolute win in the G2 Sandy Lane S. under Frankie Dettori. In the second of two cracking sprints at Haydock, Steve Parkin's homebred G2 Queen Mary S. winner Dramatised (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) returned to lift the G2 Temple S. She heads to the G1 King's Stand S., while Little Big Bear is now a warm favourite for the G1 Commonwealth Cup.

Whitsbury World

When it comes to golden geese, Whitsbury Manor Stud appears to have one of both the male and female variety. The stud record of last year's leading freshman sire Havana Grey (GB) goes from strength to strength, and on Thursday his son Elite Status (GB) emulated his dad by winning the Listed National S. for the Karl Burke stable, becoming the first stakes winner of Havana Grey's second crop. Among those from his debut crop of three-year-olds, Mammas Girl (GB), Great State (GB) and Shouldvebeenaring (GB) are all black-type winners this year, with the last two named, along with Elite Status, having been bred by Whitsbury Manor Stud.

The stud also features this year as the breeder of 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}), whose half-sister Get Ahead (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) gave Whitsbury Manor yet another Listed win on Friday in the Cecil Frail S. The four-year-old thus became the fourth stakes winner for the increasingly celebrated mare Suelita (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}).

Stand By To Party

When Con and Theresa Marnane's Different League (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) appeared at Royal Ascot in 2017 with two wins under her belt and promptly took the G3 Albany S., the revelling continued not just late into that night but for several months. Stand by then to join the party if Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {Ire}) should follow suit for the Marnanes in the G2 Coventry S. Similarly unbeaten so far in his two starts, the Airlie Stud-bred €11,000 yearling consigned two six-figure rivals to the minor placings when winning the G3 Marble Hill S on Saturday. Like the aforementioned Chaldean and Get Ahead, he is out of a mare by Dutch Art, in this case the 1m4f winner Dromana (Ire), a half-sister to the G3 Henry II S. winner Lismore (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}).

It was a good day for the Marnanes' Bansha House Stables, which sold Salisbury debut winner Reveiller (Ire) at the Goffs UK Breeze-up Sale last month. The Archie Watson-trained colt took the tally of wins for Soldier's Call (GB) to 11. Ballyhane Stud's young sire was also trained by Watson and triumphed as a juvenile at Royal Ascot, where a number of his first-crop members will surely be heading.

Incidentally, Different League, who went from being an €8,000 foal to a 1.5 million gns in-training purchase, was represented by her first winner at the Curragh on Friday when her three-year-old son Subzero (Ire), who has borrowed his name from a Melbourne Cup winner, won the three-year-old maiden for Peter Brant and the Coolmore team.

Premierisation and Injunctions

It is generally the preference in this column to sail on and celebrate all that is good about the sport. There are, however, two looming issues which cannot presently be ignored. 

It is a desperate measure for a racecourse operator to have to apply for a High Court order in an attempt to prevent disruption at a major meeting, but this is exactly what the Jockey Club has been forced to do in the wake of overt threats from the protest group Animal Rising. On Friday, an injunction was granted for Epsom Downs, which could lead to fines and/or imprisonment for anyone attempting to prevent the smooth running of races during the Derby meeting. 

The group has been offered a spot near the entrance to the racecourse to conduct a peaceful protest, but it remains a chilling prospect that this will not be taken up, and instead the safety of the horses, which the protestors claim they want to protect, and their jockeys will potentially be put at risk by those intent on halting proceedings.

As well as facing outside threats, racing is not immune to acts of self-harm, and it remains to be seen how well the British Horseracing Authority's 'premierisation' experiment works. In announcing some of the details of this scheme on Thursday, the BHA stressed that this is a two-year trial. Its key element revolves around restricting Saturday afternoons to two premier meetings and one of lesser status, referred to as a core meeting, in order to drive betting turnover. Data supplied to the BHA by the betting industry is said to imply that a clearer schedule during the 2pm to 4pm slot will encourage punters to bet more. It seems a dubious claim, but time will tell.

What is not in doubt is that staging fewer meetings on a Saturday afternoon will have a negative affect on racecourse attendances, which are already on the wane. There are few better ways to introduce new people to the sport than through an enjoyable day out at the races, and for many working people, a weekend afternoon presents the perfect opportunity for this.  

Other racecourses beyond the three with the selected meetings can still race on a Saturday, but they must either start early enough for their races to be concluded by 2pm, or stage a twilight or evening meeting. Both options are less convenient for most racegoers (not to mention owners, trainers and racing staff).

Enhancing the current fare on offer on Sunday afternoons in Britain has also, sensibly, been suggested, and along with that will be staged a trial of Sunday evening racing. It is no surprise that the prospect of the latter has been greeted with widespread dismay. 

As stated, however, it is a trial. If owners and trainers don't like the idea, they can simply not enter to run. It has to be said that some of the language used in reference to this pilot scheme sticks in the craw a little, with the fixtures described as betting sessions rather than race meetings. These six test sessions are, of course, for “lower-grade horses” and will take place between January and March. 

The meetings are clearly not aimed at encouraging racegoers–more for the punter at home during what has been identified as a time when “betting activity tends to be strong”. But the horses and the travelling staff still have to get there and, more importantly during the winter months, get home safely in the cold and dark. The same goes for the owners of those lower-grade horses, plenty of whom enjoy actually going racing to see them run. It is up to them and their trainers to decide whether this is a step too far, or whether the rewards on offer will be enough to entice them away from Countryfile on a Sunday evening.

 

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