HM The Queen Receives Prestigious Award from the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association
The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) Annual Awards culminated on a highly memorable note as the TBA, last night, revealed the winner of their prestigious Andrew Devonshire Bronze. As the industry celebrated another remarkable year of British breeding, the event concluded with the announcement that HM The Queen had been chosen, by the TBA Board, as the recipient of the award to honour The Queen’s long term commitment to Thoroughbred breeding.
There were additional awards throughout the night that also left guests guessing. The second ‘mystery’ award of the evening was the Dominion Bronze which, over the years, has gone to celebrated members of the industry and last night another distinguished professional was added to the list. A stalwart of the TBA, Joe Grimwade LVO was thanked for his commitment and generosity to the TBA and breeding industry since stepping down as a TBA Board Member after 17 years.
The evening commenced with presentation of The Queen’s Silver Cup, an award for the leading British-based Flat Breeder in terms of prize money. For a second year running this accolade was awarded to Darley. Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation posted yet another remarkable year and was dependent on the popular Cavalryman to strike for the homebreds. Darley visited the stage once again, as they also collected the BBA Silver Cigar Box for the supreme achievements of Dalham Hall Stud’s flagship stallion Dubawi who has certainly made up for the premature demise of his own sire Dubawi Millennium. Dubawi has proved one of the best young stallions worldwide and rightly received the title of the leading British-based stallion (in terms of flat earnings). Another dual winner of the evening was Juddmonte Farms who were honoured as the Flat Breeder of the year, a discretionary award, but not a hard decision for the panel. With Noble Mission and Kingman between them taking seven victories at top level, The TBA Silver Rose Bowl was presented to Juddmonte for their outstanding 2014 season. Following that, Oasis Dream took the Barleythorpe Cup back to Banstead Manor for the third consecutive year. With a magnificent 83 individual winners only Oasis Dream could be the 2014 leading British-based stallion (in terms of winners). And it was a Juddmonte homebred by Oasis Dream, Showcasing, who clinched the Tattersalls Silver Salver for the leading British-based first season sire (flat). Whitsbury Manor Stud’s Showcasing was quickly off the mark with his first crop of runners. With a Group 2, 3 and Listed winner, Ed Harper had much to celebrate during 2014.
The third and final double winner of the evening was another British bred, Kayf Tara, who was responsible for 87 winners of 127 races, over £1,488,000 and 18 individual chase winners. This is the sixth time in the last seven seasons that the reputable stallion has headed the list of leading British-based NH sires for earnings and the third time in the he has been the leading British-based NH stallion in terms of individual chase winners. Simon Sweeting therefore took back to Overbury Stud the Whitbread Silver Salver and the Horse and Hound Cup on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Breeding a Derby winner out of an Oaks-winning mare is what dreams are made of and an incredible achievement that could not go unrecognised. Lord Derby was therefore thrilled that Ouija Board was awarded the H.J Joel Silver Salver for the 2014 Flat broodmare of the Year. The NH equivalent, the Dudgeon Cup for Broodmare of the year, was rightly sporting the name of Plaid Maid for the outstanding Grade 1 and 2 wins of novice Coneygree during the 2014/15 season. After the Oaskey and Bradstock families has finished celebrating the Gold Cup win, Coneygree’s half-brothers, Carrruthers and Flintham made the month of March a memorable one for this exceptional dam.
The TBA’s Special Merit Award was this year given to Sheikh Hamdam Al Maktoum, thanks to another Oaks heroine, Taghrooda. The spectacular filly became only the second three-year old to complete the Epsom/Ascot double and recorded a remarkable 2014 for Shadwell Estates. Albert Perry of, previously Ridgecourt, now Woodcote Stud, was the third breeder of an English classic winner to be rewarded during the ceremony. He was honoured by the awards panel as the Small Breeder of the Year for the St Leger winning Kingston Hill whom he bred, reared and sold. Barry and Fiona Reilly, whom run Woodcote on behalf of Albert, proudly collected the Langham Cup on his behalf.
The final NH award was the The Queen Mother’s Silver Salver – for NH achievement. Once again this accolade is at the discretion of the awards’ panel and this year was awarded to Robert Waley-Cohen who has made a major contribution to National Hunt breeding in recent years. Thanks to his efforts and loyal commitment to the TBA NH Committee and their subsequent campaigns and initiatives, the TBA believes that NH breeding is in a far better position than it would otherwise be. Yesterday marked the end of Robert Waley-Cohen’s tenure as TBA NH Chairman so it was both fitting and deserving that he was to take home the Queen Mother’s Silver Salver.
Another award that recognised people and their outstanding work is the TBA Stud Staff award. From an overwhelming number of worthy candidates, this award was presented to a very surprised David Porter-Mackrell, senior stallion man at Newsells Park Stud. On hearing he had been selected as the winner, David said: “personally, it meant so much just to be nominated so winning today is a bonus. Knowing that Julian [Dollar] took the time to put me forward is recognition in itself.” David took home £1000 prize money, very generously donated by New England Stud as well as a portrait of his most favoured, Mount Nelson, kindly painted and given by Liz Armstrong.
Miss Kirsten Rausing treated guests to an exclusive Stallion Parade which she kindly hosted at the wonderful Lanwades Stud before the dinner and ceremony which took place at The Granary Barns. This year’s awards ceremony included short films of each of the evening’s winners, providing unique profile pieces and a great insight into the winning operations that produce the fantastic roll of honour that were recognised during the evening.
Commenting on the event, Louise Kemble, CEO, Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association said: “2014 was a triumphant year for British Breeding so we were delighted to be celebrating and recognising those successes with breeders here tonight. It’s a rare occasion where this vital part of the industry is able to gather together and be acknowledged and, whilst we honoured the winners, we would like to thank the work of all the British breeders as all of them support the future of this industry and our sponsor Lanwades Stud.”