Tuesday 1st April - Regional Day, East Anglia
On the morning of Tuesday 1st April TBA members were privileged to have an ‘access all areas’ pass to 10-time Champion Trainer Henry Cecil’s renowned training stables, Warren Place. Henry has held a licence since 1969 and has trained at Warren Place since 1976; he currently has about 105 horses in training, up from 60-70 last year.
Warren Place stands at the top of Warren Hill gallops in Newmarket, and this is where the TBA members started their day. Each day Henry sends three lots out with a string of about 35, they warm up by trotting in the indoor ride before heading down Warren Hill. Second lot, a string of 37, the largest sent out to date, went up the Warren Hill polytrack canter with TBA members watching from the grass. Included in this string were two 3-year-old colts BATTLE GROUP (unraced) and TIMETABLE (full brother to PASSAGE OF TIME). The rest were 2-year-old colts and fillies including a colt by Cape Cross out of Love Divine (Cecil trained LOVE DIVINE to win the Oaks in 2000), FATHER TIME (full brother to PASSAGE OF TIME) and HYADES (half brother to LIGHT SHIFT). Others which may be seen out this year are TIANTAI, WINGWALKER, BOUVARDIA, TINAAR, RARE VITUE, MIDDAY, ROSE MAYLIE, SAM SHARP, ON OUR WAY, MADISON PARK and KINGS TROOP. The horses did one canter due to the cold wind blowing, Henry likes to keep his fillies warm and will keep them in the indoor ride rather than out on the gallops on cold days and through the winter.
It was then back to the yard for an informal chat with Henry and a wander around the four different yards and the gardens. Members saw the stable stars including PASSAGE OF TIME (winner of the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and Group 2 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes), MULTIDIMENSIONAL, TWICE OVER (second favourite for the Derby), KANDAHAR RUN and PHOENIX TOWER (unbeaten in all 3 career starts).
After lunch members were taken to Plantation Stud in Exning. The stud was formed by John, 9th Lord Howard de Walden and Seaford after purchasing the land from the Earl of Derby in 1958. During his time at the stud Lord Howard de Walden bred and raced winners of over 600 races. The Stud together with the majority of the bloodstock was purchased in July 2005 by Dermot and Perle O’Rourke of Keredern House Stud, Naas, Co. Kildare.
Members were welcomed on the day by Kevin Buckley (General Manager), and together with his excellent team were given an extensive afternoon programme, which included a good look at of Araafa. During his time on the track Araafa won 10 races, 4 of those as a 2-year-old accumulating total prize money of £392,500. Both Kevin Buckley and Stewart Bevan (Assistant Manager) were on hand to answer any questions.
Plantation Stud is also the home of Slip Anchor, and although he was unable to parade due to slight lameness, the members were still able to view him in his box and ask questions of James Rowley (Stud Groom).
Members were then shown around the stud facilities and saw a selection of youngstock. In the Foaling Yard there were three mares with January born foals by Araafa, Cape Cross and Hurricane Run. In the Main Yard four filly yearlings by Pivotal, Van Nistelroy, Motivator and Oasis Dream, and then in one of the paddocks, mares with March born foals by Hurricane Run, Barathea, Araafa and Shirocco.
A most successful and interesting day, our thanks go to Henry Cecil and his racing secretary Claire Markham for providing such a fascinating morning, and to the Team at Plantation Stud especially Kevin Buckley and Sian Phillips (Stud Secretary) for a wonderful afternoon.
www.henrycecil.com
www.plantationstud.co.uk
