Queen Mother’s Silver Salver success for Simon Sweeting
The annual TBA National Hunt Breeders’ Awards were held as part of the TBA’s new NH Summer Party at Poulton Hill Vineyard on Tuesday 21 July. Generously sponsored by Gallagher and hosted by Alice Plunkett, the event brought together more than 100 guests from across the NH breeding community to celebrate the successes of the 2025–26 National Hunt season. Among the evening’s highlights, Simon Sweeting was honoured for his outstanding contribution to British National Hunt thoroughbred breeding.
Awarded the Queen Mother’s Silver Salver, Sweeting, who worked for the likes of Colin Hayes, Timmy Hyde, Henry Cecil, Bobby Frankel and Luca Cumani, the latter three as assistant, took over the lease at Overbury Stud in 2000 and later that year it was announced that Kayf Tara would take up residence at the stud. The dual Ascot Gold Cup-winning son of Sadler’s Wells went on to have a profound impact on British NH breeding, siring the likes of Thistlecrack, Special Tiara and Edwardstone, and being an 11-time British Champion NH sire.
The current roster includes Golden Horn, sire of Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace, Grade 1-producing sire Jack Hobbs, Graded-producing young sire Frontiersman and stalwart Schiaparelli.
Overbury’s success is not limited to jumps orientated stallions, as it was the base from which Bertolini was crowned Europe’s leading first-season sire of 2005.
It is not just with stallions that Sweeting has succeeded; a former Chair of the British EBF and formerly a director at Warwick racecourse, Sweeting has had high level success as a breeder. Over obstacles he bred Thyme Hill, winner of the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle and Liverpool Hurdle, who went on to win the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase, as well as being part breeder of Fighting Fifth Hurdle scorer Cornerstone Lad. Meanwhile on the Flat, just last year, he was represented by the European Champion Juvenile Gewan, whom Sweeting co-bred with the Wyatt family’s Dukes Stud.
Away from the main award, there was a distinct Overbury flavour to the whole evening. Sons of Kayf Tara – The New Lion, bred by the Chugg Family, and Edwardstone, bred by the Abrey and Thurtle families – were respectively awarded the Midnight Legend Trophy for Leading Hurdler and the Peel Bloodstock Trophy for Leading Chaser.
Meanwhile, April’s Mersey Novices’ Hurdle winner Bossman Jack, a first top-level winner for his sire Jack Hobbs, was awarded the Shade Oak Stud Trophy for Leading Novice Hurdler. Breeders Richard and Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes collected their award.
David and Kathleen Holmes were on hand to pick up a pair of stallion statistical awards for the late Passing Glance, whose legacy includes the likes of Dashel Drasher, Millers Bank and Strong Leader. The son of Polar Falcon was posthumously awarded the Whitbread Silver Salver for his progeny accumulating the most prize money - an award he also won for the 2023-24 season - and a first victory of the Horse & Hound Cup, awarded to the sire who supplied the most numerous winners over fences during the season.
Breeder Will Kinsey left the evening double handed. The Cheshire-based breeder took home the Dudgeon Cup, sponsored by Eric Gillie Ltd, for Miss Bailly’s achievements as broodmare of the year. Last season the 15-year-old was represented by three black-type horses – Ascending Lark, Bailly’s Comet and Romeo Coolio – the latter, a three-time Grade 1 winner last season, was crowned Leading Novice Chaser and was awarded the Batsford Stud Trophy.
There were two winners on the evening for Nathaniel. The Overbury Stud Trophy for Leading Mares’ Hurdler went the way of Newbury’s Grade 2 BEBF NH Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle winner Charisma Cat, who was bred by Robert Waley Cohen’s Upton Viva Stud. The other Nathaniel was Lady Hope, bred by David Redvers, who took the Mickley Stud Trophy as Leading NHF Performer. She made an impressive debut when winning the Goffs Hundred Grand Bumper in March.
The other prize awarded to mares was the Yorton Trophy, this year presented to the Leading Mares’ Chaser, which was collected by Caroline George, breeder of Lady Protectress Mares’ Chase winner Jasmine Bliss.
TBA NH Committee Chairman Simon Cox commented: “Our awards evening is one of my favourite events of the year as we come together as a community to recognise the wonderful horses and people that make this industry such a joy to be part of. British National Hunt breeding is under pressure but evenings like this are an important reminder of how many talented and dedicated people are producing quality bloodstock in Britain.
“Simon Sweeting is a most deserving recipient of the Queen Mother’s Silver Salver. A friend to all and highly respected, Simon is duly recognised by the NH Committee for his achievements as a breeder, stallion manager along with his many contributions to the wider industry - he is a great asset to National Hunt breeding and racing.
“This past season witnessed Grade 1 successes from a six-year-old through to a 12-year-old and not only would I like to congratulate each of the award winners, but also each of the nominees.
“Finally, I would like to thank Gallagher for joining us in sponsoring this year’s event for the first time - to Goffs UK for sponsoring the evening’s drinks, to each of our award sponsors and to Alice Plunkett – your support is hugely valued and appreciated.”
Sophie Chambers, Director of Gallagher Bloodstock, the evening’s main sponsor, said: "It’s a privilege to recognise the outstanding achievements of the British National Hunt breeding community at this year’s awards. Too often they are the unsung heroes of our industry, and it is so important to celebrate their success.
“At Gallagher, we are dedicated to supporting breeders with specialist insurance solutions that reflect the unique demands of this industry. Congratulations to all the winners on their well-deserved success."
TBA NH Breeders’ Award Winners (2025-26 NH Season)
Queen Mother’s Silver Salver – Simon Sweeting
Dudgeon Cup, sponsored by Eric Gillie Ltd (Broodmare of the Year) – Miss Bailly (Will Kinsey)
Midnight Legend Trophy for Leading Hurdler – The New Lion (Chugg Family)
Peel Bloodstock Trophy for Leading Chaser – Edwardstone (Abrey & Thurtle families)
Yorton Trophy for Leading Mares’ Chaser – Jasmine Bliss (Caroline George)
Overbury Stud Trophy for Leading Mares’ Hurdler – Charisma Cat (Upton Viva Stud)
Shade Oak Stud Trophy for Leading Novice Hurdler – Bossman Jack (Richard & Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes)
Batsford Stud Trophy for Leading Novice Chaser – Romeo Coolio (Will Kinsey)
Mickley Stud Trophy for Leading NHF Performer – Lady Hope (David Redvers)
Whitbread Silver Salver – Leading British-based stallion (earnings in GB & Ire) – Passing Glance
Horse & Hound Cup – Leading British-based stallion (individual chase winners in GB & Ire) – Passing Glance