British Success Celebrated at NH Breeders' Awards

Breeders Keith and Jayne Sivills, Overbury Stud and Distillery Stud collected the most silverware on a night that celebrated British bred success at the TBA’s fifth annual National Hunt Breeders’ Celebration Dinner – sponsored by Goffs UK.

Host Nick Luck presided over the presentation of 14 awards at the Mount Pleasant Hotel near Doncaster, which included four usually presented at the TBA’s Annual Awards that takes place in July.

Robert Robinson of Distillery Stud collected a hat-trick of prizes for the success of his mare Whisky Rose, who not only produced the winner of the Peel Bloodstock Trophy for leading NH mare Misty Whisky but also One For Rosie who landed the Shade Oak Trophy for leading novice hurdler. Her progeny’s recent successes also earning her the Dudgeon Cup for NH broodmare of the year.

The popular Lady Buttons secured both the Mickley Stud Trophy for leading hurdler mare and the Overbury Stud Trophy for leading chase mare. The winner of the Grade 2 OLBG.com Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle in January, the nine-year-old daughter of Beneficial also scored three other back to back race wins in the 2018-2019 season for her owner-breeders Keith and Jayne Sivills.

Kayf Tara’s dominance of the domestic stallion ranks continued with a fifth victory in the Horse & Hound Cup (Leading active NH British-Based stallion, 2018-2019 individual chase winners), and an eighth consecutive win of the British EBF sponsored Whitbread Silver Salver (Leading NH British-Based Stallion, 2018-2019 earnings). The Overbury Stud resident was also responsible for the winner of the leading NH flat horse award (Distillery Stud Trophy), Thyme Hill.

The Yorton Stud Trophy for leading novice hurdler mare went to Dr G W Guy, the breeder of the unbeaten Honeysuckle, whose tally of victories this season included the G1 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final at Fairyhouse.

Rory Bannerman collected the Midnight Legend trophy (Leading Hurdler), on behalf of the Potassium Partnership who bred the Grade 2 William Hill Rendlesham Hurdle winner Shades Of Midnight.

Santini won the Beech Tree Stud Trophy (Leading Novice Chaser), for owner-breeders Richard and Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes, whilst Thistlecrack was awarded the Highflyer Trophy as leading chaser, for breeders Robin and Scarlett Knipe.

Two special recognition awards were also presented at the event. Midnight Legend was posthumously awarded the Eric Gillie Ltd Trophy in recognition of his enduring legacy. The late sire has continued to dominate the NH stallion rankings through such progeny as Sizing John, Seeyouatmidnight, Midnight Shadow and Shades Of Midnight.

The final award, the Queen Mother’s Silver Salver, was presented to Dr Bryan Mayoh in acknowledgement of his significant contribution to the British NH industry. A successful national hunt breeder and stallion owner, Mayoh has also dedicated many hours to the development of TBA initiatives and policy for the long term health and improvement of British NH breeding.

TBA Chief Executive Claire Sheppard said: “Now in its fifth year, the National Hunt Breeders’ Celebration Dinner has firmly established itself as a key event within the jump breeding community. Held on the eve of the Goffs UK Spring Store Sale the awards present a great opportunity for breeders to gather and celebrate their successes.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the TBA’s NH Committee, Nick Luck, Goffs UK, Racing TV and all of our sponsors for their vital ongoing support.”