The X-Ray Files: Norman Williamson

The TDN sat down with Irish pinhooker Norman Williamson for this last installment in the series presented in cooperation with the Consignors and Breeders Association (CBA). Through conversations with buyers and sellers, the series looks to contribute to the discussion on radiograph findings and their impact on racetrack success.

The Oak Tree Farm of retired National Hunt jockey Norman Williamson and his wife Janet is responsible for Classic-winning graduates on both sides of the Atlantic. The operation sold future 2019 GI Preakness S. winner War of Will (War Front) and 2022 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) at Arqana Breeze-Up Sales. The Williamsons' search for pinhooking prospects encompasses the international stage, as well.

“The world has become a smaller place,” Norman Williamson said. “I've been doing this for 19 years or so and when I first went to America, there were a huge amount of horses that you wouldn't bother looking at, especially the dirt-bred horses. But now, your list tends to be a lot longer. The past couple of years, we've had a sale in Dubai. We are selling horses around the world basically, to Saudi and back to America. I suppose the best example was War of Will. He was pinhooked by an Irishman, he sold in France and he gets back to America to run in the Kentucky Derby and win the Preakness. That wouldn't have happened 20 years ago, I don't think, because people were thinking, 'We will go to America and just buy the turf-bred horses.' Now I think we can look at most horses.”

For Williamson, the vet report goes hand-in-hand with consideration of a yearling's potential price tag.

“We go through the full vetting,” he said. “Sometimes it will depend on the price range, as in what you can forgive and what you can't forgive. I can't forgive bad knees or if the X-rays of his knees aren't great. For breezing, it tends not to work. They get knee pain and you're in trouble from an early stage. So there are certain things that you can put up with, but the price also has to come into account. If you are going to give what we call good money for a horse, well you need to have a clean set of X-rays because it's very important at the other end.”

Williamson said buying horses to resell automatically eliminates some horses with vetting issues.

“I would have put up with plenty of things, only when I am re-selling, those people won't,” he said. “I have a horse that is breezing well and he's 100% sound, but if his X-rays aren't clean they are going to say, 'Well he's going to go lame at some point.' Most of the breeze-up people know if you get a horse to a breeze and he's very sound, whatever his issues are, they are probably not going to come against him if he can take all of that early. We put up with a bit, but because of the other end–for instance, if you are selling to Hong Kong, they have to be absolutely squeaky clean and also if it's a big-money horse, they have to be clean. But it's not necessarily the answer to soundness, in my opinion.”

He continued, “There are quite a few things that wouldn't bother me in the slightest. Sesamoiditis, for me, is just a bit of time. I have never had any trouble with it. And every single horse seems to have had sesamoiditis. Everyone mentions sesamoiditis, but if the joints and legs handle well and they are tight and they look good, I don't tend to have any problems with them. You can't just go galloping tomorrow morning. You've got to take your time. But I haven't had any trouble with it.”

And vet issues are always subjective.

“As we all know, some vets are more critical than others,” Williamson said. “It is the same process, but you tend to find the racehorse vets, as in people who are going in and out of trainers' yards every morning, tend to accept a lot more because they are seeing it every day. If you just have a vet who is sent there to make the horse squeaky clean, well he won't pass much. But the guys that really see these 2-year-olds and see what they can put up with and they don't tend to go lame on things, they will pass them. You'll be passed with a comment. So it does depend quite a bit on the vet. But again going back to it, if you're looking for a big result and big money, you need to have them pretty good.”

When he returns to sell juveniles in the spring, Williamson acknowledged there are some buyers who will take his assessment of his horses into consideration, in addition to the vet report.

“You can certainly talk to trainers and to some of the agents,” he said of discussing the impact, or non-impact, of perceived vet issues in horses he has been training all winter. “But you've also got to realize that some of these agents are employed by some wealthy businessmen and if the horse does go wrong, they have to go back and say whatever. So you do build up a rapport with your trainers and with your customers. And yes, they do start to believe you, because if you don't tell the truth, you're not going to be in business for very long. The trainers can put up with a certain amount, and will say, 'that doesn't bother me' or 'that doesn't bother me.' But it's a tricky one, the agent might understand you and might totally believe you, but he's got to go to a businessman who is investing his money. So I can see where they are coming from as well. They want everything squeaky clean from their point of view. If you stand there and tell somebody we think this is a good horse and he has probably breezed five times and he hasn't been made to go very fast and I really like him, in time, if the horse is a good horse, they will be back to you.”

The all-important clock dominates the under-tack shows at 2-year-old sales in the U.S. and, while a :9 3/5 furlong work might turn heads in Ocala, there is no official timing at the European breeze-up sales. The difference reflects the different nature of racing in Europe versus America, according to Williamson.

“I think, from a horseman's point of view–and I used to ride myself–European racing is very different from American racing,” Williamson said. “They tend to start off slow and they tend to quicken up–American turf racing is now like it, they quicken off the bend. But dirt racing looks to me like it's the horses that go the fastest for the longest. They break from the gate and they go very quick. Breezing probably doesn't make much difference to that type of horse, but if you have a horse here and you want him to go a mile or a mile and a quarter, and you train him to be a clock horse like America, you'd end up with nothing. You'd spend the next 12 months trying to get him to settle. You can't jump off in a turf race here and have the horse run keen with you because he's not going to finish out. So we tend to do it a bit slower and a bit more gradual. But of course there are unofficial timings now and we still have to do a certain time. You won't get away with a slow horse. But I don't think official times will ever work in Europe.”

Without the reliance on the clock, nuance becomes more important at European breeze-up sales.

“There are people who read it very different,” Williamson said. “Some people say, 'Oh, he did a good time,' and some people will say, 'I didn't like his stride.' Whereas in America, it seems to be the fastest is the best, the fastest makes the most money. I don't think any of us breeze-up people in Europe want a professional clock because we tend to train them like that. And you have a huge amount of horses in America breezing in blinkers. I don't think any horse has ever breezed in blinkers in Europe. Straight away, it would be like a red rag, they'd say 'What's wrong with him?' Which tells you the difference. They don't need to see them go that fast here, but once they have nice action and they do it well at a nice dial, I think it's better than trying to break the clock.”

Not trying to beat the clock also allows European pinhookers added time to allow yearlings to overcome issues that their American counterparts might not have the luxury of waiting out.

“I suppose the one thing you can take out of it, you can slightly, as a pinhooker, buy a horse that's a little more backward maybe as a yearling,” Williamson said. “I don't mean necessarily backward, but maybe a big horse. And you can gradually take your time and then if he has natural ability, well he's going to breeze well anyway. In America, they seem to be the big strong horses with big backsides that people buy for breezing. But here, you can buy a horse that looks like a 1 1/4-mile horse to go breezing and give him that little bit of time. I don't really know anything about the American set-up, but here you can [give them extra time]. You still put them into the routine and get them going into the system, but they don't have to be galloping to break a clock. So you can actually give them a week off here or there and a few days off and maybe have a trot out tomorrow rather than go off cantering or galloping again. So you can forgive a little.”

Asked what changes he might like to see in the yearling sales in America, Williamson said, “You need to keep the horsemanship in it. There are certain things–like every single vendor in America mentions sesamoiditis. Well, it's up to yourself to take a chance. We've all bought horses over the years that had moderate X-rays and have been perfect through their racing careers. So, it's not the end of the world, but you are taking a risk.”

Check out previous installments of The X-Ray Files: with Tom McCrocklin, David Ingordo, Liz Crow, Ciaran Dunne, Bill Heiligbrodt, Wesley Ward, and Elliott Walden.

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New Energy To Continue Career in Australia

New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), the 40-1 runner-up behind Native Trail (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the 2022 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, will be gelded and will ultimately continue his career under the care of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace in Australia after being acquired by Jamie Lovett's Australian Bloodstock following a lengthy courtship.

Trained in England by Sheila Lavery for her brother John, the £65,000 Tattersalls Goresbridge breezer won his maiden at first asking in June 2021, his lone victory to date, but he has run with credit at group level, as he was eighth and not beaten far in last year's G1 St James's Palace S. while also finishing runner-up to Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G2 Park S. at Doncaster last September. Fourth as the 5-4 favourite on his seasonal return in the May 7 G3 Amethyst S. at Leopardstown, he was a latest third in the Listed Owenstown Stud S. at the Curragh May 21.

New Energy will be transferred to Harry Eustace and pre-trained in Newmarket before heading to Melbourne, where he will be trained towards a start in the G1 Cox Plate in the Australian springtime.

“He's probably the best performed horse we have ever bought,” Lovett told racenet.com.au.

“I think when we bought [G1 Melbourne Cup winner] Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}), he'd had 11 starts and run fourth in an Arc, this bloke has had 11 starts but run second in an Irish Group 1 classic, the 2000 Guineas, his form card is exceptional and we think with gelding and Maher/Eustace, we can find some improvement.

“He has been on everyone's radar. We couldn't get near him last year as the stable [Sheila Lavery] had stallion aspirations for him, but he's a 4-year-old now and we kept chasing him and finalised a deal last week, he was paid for on Tuesday.”

Lovett is comfortable that New Energy will pass the stringent veterinary examinations in Victoria.

“He was A1 on X-rays, scans and scopes, so we would have to be pretty confident he will pass all the tests that are required,” he told racenet.

Sheila Lavery told PA Sport: “They've been trying to buy him for over a year and in the end it just made economical sense for the owner to sell him.

“They've some very deep pockets and I was at a bit of a crossroads with him. It makes economical sense for the owner for him to go to Australia, so I'm delighted for John but heartbroken to see him go.

“I'm gutted. I didn't think I'd be as upset as I am, but it's the right thing and it's the right business decision. I've been very privileged and proud to train him.”

Ballylinch Stud's New Bay is the sire of three winners from as many to race in Australia, including the Chris Waller-trained New Mandate (Ire), winner of the G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup this past April. New Bay's three top-level scorers include 3.6-million gns Tattersalls November seller Saffron Beach (Ire).

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Al Riffa To Miss Irish 2000, Royal Ascot Bid Still Possible

Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), winner of last year's G1 National S. and ante-post favourite for Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, has been ruled out of the race with “a little setback,” the Irish Field reported. While announcing that the Jassim Bin Al-Attiyah-owned colt would not make the Curragh this weekend, trainer Joseph O'Brien remains confident that the colt will make the G1 St James's Palace S. on opening day of the Royal Ascot meeting June 20. He is a 6-1 chance for that mile test ante-post with Coral.

“He has just had a little setback in training,” O'Brien told the Irish Field. “Hopefully it's nothing too serious and he will be back later in the summer. He has options at Ascot and further afield than that as well.”

Al Riffa also holds an entry for the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh July 2.

“These things happen, so it's a long way from a problem,” O'Brien continued. “It is obviously disappointing for the owners. This race has been his target for the last while, but we will look forward to things later in the summer.

“Timing-wise, Royal Ascot will be fine, but we will have to decide whether we want to run there or in other races. We'll not be rushing into any decisions.”

The defections leaves G1 English 2000 Guineas hero Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) as market leader for the Irish 2000, but he is expected to wait for the St James's Palace.

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Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas: Where Did They Come From?

The European champion 2-year-old of 2021, Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), is clearly the class act of the field as he bids to go one better than his runner-up finish in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas. Should he do so, he would give his trainer an unprecedented third European Guineas victory with three different horses in the same season. Also represented is last year's winning owner/breeder/trainer combination of Jim and Jackie Bolger, while, at 420,000gns, Amo Racing's Malex (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) was the most expensive of the field to have been sold at auction.

 

NATIVE TRAIL (GB), Oasis Dream (GB)–Needleleaf (GB) (Observatory)
Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Le Haras d'Haspel
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Sales history: €50,000 Arqana December foal (Sam Sangster), 67,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale (Mags O'Toole/Oak Tree Farm), 210,000gns Tattersalls Crave Breeze-up Sale (Godolphin).
Pedigree notes: His unraced Juddmonte-bred dam is a sister to the top-class sprinter African Rose (GB) and Group 3-winning miler Helleborine (GB), both of whom are now stakes producers, the latter as the dam of Coolmore sire Calyx (GB) (Kingman {GB}).

 

ATOMIC JONES (FR), Wootton Bassett (GB)–Loyale (Fr) (Turtle Bowl {Ire})
Owner: Beauty Stable
Breeder: Gestut Zur Kuste & Riviera Equine
Trainer: Ger Lyons
Sales history: €75,000 Arqana December foal (BBA Ireland), 95,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale (Gaelic Bloodstock).
Pedigree notes: His dam is a half-sister to four black-type performers from a Wildenstein family which has fared well on both sides of the Atlantic and includes the four-time Group 1 winner Bigstone (Ire) (Last Tycoon).

 

IVY LEAGUE (IRE), Galileo (Ire)–Timbuktu (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus})
Owner: Westerberg, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Alan O'Brien
Pedigree notes: His full-brother Ontario (Ire) was runner-up in the G2 Royal Lodge S., while his dam is a half-sister to Chesham S. winner Tha'Ir (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and seven-furlong listed winner Flashing Colour (Ger) (Pivotal {GB}). The family traces back to the Meon Valley blue hen Reprocolor (GB), who is this colt's fourth dam.

 

BUCKAROO (GB), Fastnet Rock (Aus)–Roheryn (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Owner: Qatar Racing Ltd
Breeder: The Roheryn Partnership
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
Pedigree notes: Dam Roheryn was a listed winner over 1 1/2 miles and is a daughter of the dual six-furlong Group 3 winner La Chunga (More Than Ready). Buckaroo's half-siblings by Kingman (GB) and Harbour Watch (Ire) have both won over 1 1/2 miles and one is a winning hurdler.

 

DUKE DE SESSA (IRE), Lope De Vega (Ire)–Dark Crusader (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire})
'TDN Rising Star'.
Owner/Breeder: Newtown Anner Stud
Trainer: Dermot Weld
Sales history: Bought back for €60,000 at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale.
Pedigree notes: His dam was a Group 3-placed multiple winner over 1 3/8 miles to 1 3/4 miles and is a half-sister to the listed winner Naughty Or Nice (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Ire}). Granddam Monty's Girl (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) is a three-parts-sister to the G2 King Edward VII S. and American Grade I winner Subtle Power (Ire) (Sadler's Wells).

 

MALEX (GB), Kodiac (GB)–Trois Lunes (Fr) (Manduro {Ger})
Owner: Amo Racing Limited
Breeder: Haras de Saint Pair
Trainer: Michael O'Callaghan
Sales history: 420,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale.
Pedigree notes: A half-brother to Group 3 winner Trais Fluors (Fr) (Dansili {GB}), their dam won the nine-furlong G3 Prix Vanteaux and is out of the listed-winning miler Trip To The Moon (GB) (Fasliyev).

 

NEW ENERGY (IRE), New Bay (GB)–For Joy (GB) (Singspiel {Ire})
'TDN Rising Star'.
Owner: John Lavery
Breeder: Anne Hallinan & John O'Connor
Trainer: Sheila Lavery
Sales history: £65,000 Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale (Durcan Bloodstock/Sheila Lavery).
Pedigree notes: His half-sister Victoria Regina (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) won an Italian Group 3 over a mile, and their dam is a sister to the G3 Henry II S. winner Gloomy Sunday (Fr) and G3 Autumn S. winner Abjer (Fr).

 

WEXFORD NATIVE (IRE), Teofilo (Ire)–Yes Oh Yes (Gone West)
'TDN Rising Star'.
Owner: Jackie Bolger
Breeder/Trainer: Jim Bolger
Pedigree notes: Full-brother Theodorico (Ire) is a four-time winner over seven furlongs and their unraced dam is a half-sister to Aaroness (Distorted Humor), who was fourth in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. Yes Oh Yes has also produced the six-furlong Naas maiden winner Western Dawn (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}).

 

IMPERIAL FIGHTER (IRE), The Gurkha (Ire)–Endure (Ire) (Green Desert)
Owner: Michael Blencowe
Breeder: Lynn Lodge Stud
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Sales history: £30,000 Goffs Orby Yearling Sale (held in the UK, private sale to Andrew Balding).
Pedigree notes: Half-brother Bunker (Ire) (Hurricane Run {Ire}) won the Listed Prix Francois Boutin, beating future GI Breeders' Cup Mile winner Karakontie (Jpn) (Bernstein), and he is one of nine winners and three black-type performers for their twice-raced dam, who has three listed-winning half-siblings, all by Alzao.

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