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Flat Breeders Honoured At Virtual Event

The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association gave out 10 awards during a virtual edition of its Flat Breeders’ Awards Evening on Thursday.

Godolphin won four: the Queen’s Silver Cup for leading British-based breeder by prize money; the BBA Silver Cigar Box for leading British-based stallion by prize money (Dubawi {Ire}); the Barleythrope Stud Silver Cup for leading British-based stallion by individual winners (Dubawi); and the inaugural British European Breeders’ Fund Stallion Special Merit Award for Night Of Thunder (Ire).

European Breeders’ Fund Marketing Communications Manager Rachael Gowland said, “Night Of Thunder stood in Great Britain for two seasons and a significant portion of his winners and stakes horses have been in Great Britain. As a mid-price-range stallion, he caught breeders’ attention with a significant winners to runners percentage driven by talented offspring rather than sheer weight of numbers in 2019. The award is in its infancy and still developing but ultimately its purpose is to help showcase high-achieving stallions irrespective of book size and nomination fee.”

Cable Bay was awarded the Tattersalls Silver Salver as leading first-crop sire in 2019 by prizemoney; Dar Re Mi recorded back-to-back wins as Broodmare of the Year; Newsells Park Stud was Flat Breeder of the Year; Mick and Fiona Denniff received the TBA Silver Salver for Special Merit; and Bearstone Stud the Small Flat Breeder of the Year award. Jacques Prinsloo of Whitsbury Manor Stud received the Stud Employee Award.

TBA Chairman Julian Richmond-Watson said, “Although we have been unable to host our usual event, we are delighted to be able to recognise the achievements of British breeders from the 2019 flat racing season. My congratulations go to all of the nominees, winners and their supporting teams who have demonstrated such dedication to our industry. I would also like to thank all of our event supporters and sponsors this year for continuing their contribution to the British breeding industry.”

Weatherbys Chairmain Johnny Weatherby said, “We are absolutely delighted to support the TBA’s Flat Breeders’ Awards, and as a small breeder myself I am fully aware of the challenges that we all face, particularly in the current climate, and I whole heartedly congratulate this evening’s winners.”

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Pat Smullen Laid To Rest

In St Peter’s Church, which was bedecked with flowers from the garden at Moyglare Stud, Pat Smullen was laid to rest on Friday near his home in Rhode.

The family service, restricted in numbers because of Covid-19 protocols, was streamed via Zoom and was joined by 700 mourners from around the world, including many of the multiple champion jockey’s friends from the weighing-room.

Paying tribute to her husband during the service, Frances Crowley referred to the fact that his death came exactly a year after the Pat Smullen Champions Race, which helped to raise more than €2.5 million for Cancer Trials Ireland during Irish Champions Weekend.

“I think that symbolises exactly what it meant to him,” she said.

Smullen, 43, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March 2018 and died in St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin on Tuesday evening. As he was brought home to Co Offaly on Wednesday, the hearse passed by the Curragh, where the flags flew at half-mast at the racecourse which had been the scene of some his greatest triumphs, including two Irish Derby victories aboard Harzand (Ire) and Grey Swallow (Ire). Harzand’s saddle cloths from the Derby and Irish Derby were draped across his coffin.

In her composed address, which acknowledged the loss felt by her husband’s legion of family and friends, Crowley offered encouragement to others facing a similar struggle with illness.

She said, “I have a message to you from Pat: keep going, don’t lose heart, please don’t let this knock you back.”

Crowley’s moving tribute ended with her own message to her husband, “We know you did your best in everything you did, Pat. You always did your best. Always.”

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Reports Of Riot, Horse Death At Fairview Racecourse

A riot at Fairview Racecourse in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, on Thursday morning has resulted in the death of at least one horse while others were injured, according to published reports.

The reasons behind the protest vary somewhat between publications, but the most commonly-cited factor is that grooms were standing in solidarity with a groom that had been fired from the yard of trainer Yvette Bremner months earlier-some publications citing that the groom in question had been fired for stabbing a horse.

The SA Police Service tweeted that 150 to 200 protestors had freed 28 horses at the racecourse on Thursday. The Sunday Times reported that one horse died as a result of being stabbed while others were injured in that manner; industry publication SAH Racing, however, reported that one horse died as a result of injuries sustained after running into a fence.

Racehorse owner Michael de Haast told Sunday Times, “We want action now. We are calling on all trainers and other yards to stop all racing immediately until [racing authority] Phumelela take responsibility for what is happening and protect these horses. What is worrying is that the trainer at this yard is a woman and she is being threatened with physical violence if she tries to protect the horses. Gender-based violence, a scourge in our country, is able to rear its ugly head in this situation too. Something has to be done.”

“It is a very sad day in this country when innocent animals are slaughtered and abused due to greed and hate. As Gandhi said: ‘The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated’–and I fear that our nation has lost its way unless we take a very big stand against this.”

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Make A Challenge To Abbaye

Make a Challenge (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) will make his next appearance in the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye Oct. 4. The winner of four of six starts this season, including a pair of Irish listed stakes in August, the gelding finished fifth–beaten two lengths–in his most recent start in the Curragh’s G1 Flying Five S. Sept. 13.

“We were very happy with the horse,” said Hogan. “He raced out on his own for most of the race and the drying ground probably didn’t help, but I think the main thing was he was drawn away from them and the race got away on him a little bit.”

Hogan continued, “We were delighted with the run really and all being well, we’ll go straight for the Abbaye–you’d like to think we’ll get a bit of cut in the ground at Longchamp.”

“He’s also in the Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot over six furlongs, but the Abbaye is the plan at the moment.”

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