The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Celebrates British Breeding Successes
As the racing world gathers in Newmarket for the July Festival the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) last night celebrated another remarkable year for breeders at the 2014 TBA Awards. Kindly sponsored by Cheveley Park Stud, guests were welcomed to a stallion parade, hosted by Mr and Mrs Thompson, before applauding this year’s award winners at the dinner and prestigious ceremony.
After being named the Leading British based flat breeder of the year for the ninth time last year, Juddmonte were prevented from taking the Queen’s Silver Cup for the tenth time as Darley were this year’s winners. Due, in no small measure, to the exploits of Sheikh Mohammed’s new Dalham Hall resident, Farrh, a son of Cheveley Park’s Pivotal. As always this award is a matter of swings and roundabouts between a chosen few. Now the pendulum has swung back the other way and Darley are on top again, as they were with their next award. It is a supreme achievement by Dalham Hall Stud’s flagship stallion Dubawi to follow up the previous year’s success of his stud companion Exceed and Excel to claim the BBA Silver Cigar Box award for the leading British-based stallion (in terms of flat earnings).
The Barleythorpe Cup returned to Banstead Manor with homebred Oasis Dream winning the award for the most individual winners for the calendar year 2013. With a magnificent 96 winners including his son Captain Gerrard who is also the leading freshman sire. And it was Mickley Stud’s Captain Gerrard who was awarded the Tattersalls Silver Salver for the leading British-based First Season Sire (Flat). A smart juvenile himself, his progeny won 22 races and earned over £106,000 to beat the higher profile Champs Elysees.
James Wigan’s achievements this year did not go unrecognised as he visited the stage twice to collect two prestigious awards. The first was for his now deceased broodmare, Masskana who received the H.J Joel Silver Salver – flat broodmare of the year. Bought by James Wigan of London Thoroughbred Services 20 years ago carrying her first foal, in 2013 Masskana came up with a third individual Group/Grade 1 winner when homebred Dank triumphed in two top events in California culminating with the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf to earn a prestigious Eclipse Award in the USA. James Wigan is also the breeder of her grandson, Bye Bye Birdie, a Group winner at the Curragh last season and for this reason he was also awarded the TBA Special Merit title.
Despite a veritable armada of outstanding homebreds, the late Dick Hollingsworth only ever had one classic winner – Bireme in the 1980 Oaks. In 2013 her great grand-daughter Talent not only won the Oaks and Pretty Polly Stakes, but also finished runner-up in the St Leger. Still in training Talent, who was bred by his joint owners, Ashbrittle Stud and Mark Dixon, saw both recognised as Small Breeder of the Year (Flat) and take home the Langham Cup. The TBA Silver Salver for Flat breeder of the year was collected by Mr and Mrs John Deer for Al Kazeem’s three consecutive Group 1 victories in 2013 comprising of the Tattersalls’ Gold Cup, Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Eclipse Stakes. The son of Dubawi is now back in training for his owner/breeder John Deer of Oakgrove Stud, near Chepstow.
Arguably the evening’s most prestigious award, the Andrew Devonshire Bronze was saved until the finale when Chris Harper of Whitsbury Manor Stud was surprised with the accolade. As one of the leading personalities of the bloodstock world, and former vice chairman of the TBA, it was wonderful to see such a highly regarded figure throughout the bloodstock business recognised for his work and achievements. The second ‘mystery’ award of the evening was the Dominion Bronze which, over the years, has gone to celebrated veterinary surgeons and last night the TBA added another distinguished member of the profession honouring Professor Sidney Ricketts for his brilliance.
The other award that recognised people and their outstanding work is the TBA Stud Staff award. From an overwhelming number of worthy candidates, this award went to Steven Golding, who has been second man at Hascombe Stud for 26 of the 28 years he has been there. Only too happy to be the ‘copilot’ as he puts, he is responsible for all the foaling.
Commenting on Steven, Anthony Oppenheimer says, “Steven’s dedication is second to none. He works to the highest standards taking pride in all aspects of his job and his skill with highly strung animals is exceptional. Throughout his time at Hascombe he has always shown huge interest in all aspects of the stud from the winners we have bred to the students who come here for the breeding season. He believes in leading from the front and is a great example to all. No one could be more deserving of this award.”
The evening then moved on to honour the National Hunt breeders with Simon Sweeting taking the Whitbred Silver Salver for the leading active British-based National Hunt stallion in terms of earnings. The dual Gold Cup hero Kayf Tara has now headed the list of British- based jump sires for a fifth time in the last six years. Seasonal earnings for the Overbury Stud resident exceeded £1m for the first time. The stars were Grade 2 winners Mozoltov, Lieutenant Colonel and Kayf Moss and Ballybolley, successful in the Aintree bumper at the Grand National meeting.
The Horse and Hound cup was returned, once again, to Peter Hockenhull. Remarkably this was the eighth time that Alflora won this award. On two occasions he shared the spoils – in 2012/13 he dead-heated with Kayf Tara with a score of 21 individual chase winners. This time he has beaten his old rival by the narrowest of margins – 19 to 18.
The 2013/14 season proved a good one for Co Durham breeder Heather Calzini who’s broodmare Efizia was awarded the Dudgeon Cup for NH Broodmare of the year. Heather’s homebred was successful five times on the Flat in the 1990s and also the dam of Toubeera, whose two victories included the Grade 2 Prestige Novices’ Hurdle, Haydock Park, and the grandam of Lieutenant General. Regarded as a bright chasing prospect, his three victories included a Grade 2 novices’ hurdle at Fairyhouse.
The final NH award was the The Queen Mother’s Silver Salver – for NH achievement. Once again this very well earned accolade is at the discretion of the awards’ panel and this year was awarded to Nicky Henderson. Quite apart from the overall contribution that Nicky has made to the National Hunt scene, the panel considered that he deserved special recognition for the positive role he has played in helping to promote National Hunt races for mares, which is not something that all his colleagues have embraced.
The evening included a fascinating interview with TBA’s new ambassador Tina Cook who shared stories about her Olympic experiences, training and breeding thoroughbreds with her brother and her nervousness for July 31st when she rides in the Magnolia Cup at Goodwood.
Commenting on the event, Louise Kemble, CEO, Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association said: “It was a wonderful evening; it’s a rare occasion to be able to gather the breeding world together and celebrate successes. Whilst tonight honoured the winners we also commend the achievements and work of all the British breeders as every breeder, in their own way, supports the future of this industry and the breed and tonight was our way of thanking everyone.”