Great Pretender colt takes top honours at TBA NH Foal Show
Unique show saw increased number of foals and quality
Full list of results are available here: NH Foal Show 2015 Results
Despite the deluge, the third Thoroughbred Breeders' Association 'Stars of Tomorrow' National Hunt Foal Show saw an increase in the number of foals put before the judges with an obvious continuous improvement in quality across all entries. The unique show, set up and run by the TBA, with generous sponsorship from DBS and BEFB, took place at Bangor racecourse on Sunday 26th July.
Commentator for the day, Nick Luck, ably guided spectators and exhibitors through the entries of each class as the appropriate National Hunt weather didn’t deter the breeders who turned out in force. A total of 45 youngsters were put before the panel of international judges, Hubert Barbe, John Bleahen, Tessa Greatrex, Cathal Murphy, Robert Robinson and Anna Ross who cast their expert eyes over each foal who were shown alongside their dams.
The Overall Supreme Champion title went to Stephen Hadley and Goldford Stud’s GREAT PRETENDER ex BOLD FIRE colt who won Class 1 (colt born on or before 14th April). Commenting on the win, Richard Aston, Goldford Stud said: “We always thought he was a lovely foal, we loved Great Pretender when we saw him and were determined to send a nice mare to him. We thought that she would suit and it turned out that that was the right decision.” As a member of the TBA NH Committee and an ardent member of the organising team behind the show, Richard also commented on the show itself: “You only have to come and experience the reaction to see that the show is a great aid to the exhibitors and also to British breeding, one helps the other and vice versa. I feel so committed to this that I won’t be happy until we’ve got crowds 5 deep around the ring.”
Class 1 also produced the eventual Reserve Champion of the show, Mr and Mrs Richard Kelvin Hughes’s MILAN ex MY PETRA colt, exhibited by Little Lodge Farm. Delighted with the results the colt took home, Richard said: “This is the first colt from the mare, who is one of our foundation mares, following three fillies we’re very excited about him. He’s likely to eventually go into training with Nicky Henderson.”
Thanks to the generous sponsorship from DBS, the first and second winners in all four classes were awarded £400 and £200 in prize money, together with free entry to DBS NH foal sales. Additionally to this, the champion and reserve also collected £800 and £400 respectively. Saracen Horse Feeds also generously gave bags of feed to all winners and presented a jacket to the overall Champion.
A lovely filly of KAPGARDE ex DOUBLY GUEST took the honours in Class 2 (filly born on or before April 14th) Owned by Dr G.W. Guy and Exhibited by The Glanvilles Stud. Doug Procter, general manager and co-owner of The Glanvilles Stud was thrilled with the win and what it offers in terms of opportunity: “We’ve had three gorgeous NH foals this year and all are fillies, which is always a bit depressing as you know that they’re not going to sell as well. That’s what for me is particularly good about this show, it gives you a way of showing off your nice fillies. As a rule we sell fillies as 3 year olds as the market for foal fillies is not strong, but this filly will certainly be considered for DBS.”
Class 3 (colt born after April 15th) went to a son of KAYF TARA out of Aiden Murphy’s home-bred Invincible Spirit mare MISS INVINCIBLE, who has produced a bumper-winning full-brother in Officer Cadet. The win reinforced the objective of the show for Aiden Murphy, who won the same class two years ago: “Any event that encourages breeders to have more mares at stud and produce good jumping foals is a good event.”
Last year’s supreme champion winning owner, Pauline Cowey, came with no expectations this year, strongly believing that, “lightning doesn’t strike twice.” However, after her SULAMANI ex SHE LIKES TO BOOGY filly, scooped the win in Class 4 (filly born after April 15th) Pauline said: “We were coming here for a nice day out to see some friends and have a very nice lunch, and I’m absolutely amazed.” Exhibited by Thatchmire Stud, the filly was the second youngest foal shown on the day but clearly inherited the big, scopey features of her dam and impressed the judges.
With the relentless weather not giving up, all exhibitors were even more grateful for the complementary lunch sponsored by BEBF, who remain loyal sponsors of the show. Louise Kemble, TBA, CEO, summarised the event: “In its third year we’ve had a really good turnout and slightly up on last year. The quality has been fantastic, which is a comment echoed by everyone around the ring as well as the judges. We are very proud of what we are doing, and of our breeders.”