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The Royal Stud 2019

Discussion in 'Horse Racing' started by Bustino74, Mar 22, 2019.

  1. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    As in previous years I’ll start by stating the Royal Stud is going through a phase of change which dwarfs anything it has done in the last 60 years. I’ll illustrate that by listing 2yos of families that were not in the stud 10 years ago.

    Spanish Music c by Lope de Vega out of Set to Music (first runner, Eightsome Reel, from this mare (Petite Etoile family) won his only 2yo race) not allocated at present,
    Dusty Dream f by Dubawi out of Memory (half-sister to group winners Recorder and Call to Mind) in training with Haggas,
    Approximate f by Dubawi out of Estimate (full-sister to maiden Calculation) in training with Stoute,
    Punctuation c by Dansili out of Key Point (mare is half-sister to Kalanisi but has been disappointing as a mare) in training with Balding,
    Cranberry f by Toronado out of Raymi Coya (half-sister to a number of disappointing horses and one winner Make Fast) with Hughes,
    Evening Sun c by Muharrar out of Fiery Sunset (dam is from El Gran Senor family and first foal Flarepath (Exceed and Excel) won as a 2yo) in training with Charlton,
    Kew Palace f by Kingman out of Shama (2nd foal of mare from Shergar family, first foal is 3yo Shrewdness) with Haggas,
    Vindicate c by Lope de Vega out of Aurore (half-brother to a set of disappointing animals, just one winner Enliven) with Stoute,
    Code of Conduct c Siyouni out of Sequence (dam is half-sister to Sinndar but so far disappointing mare) with Charlton,
    Dauntless c by Dubawi out of Enticement (full-brother to useful Diploma) with Gosden.

    This year I’ll look at them trainer by trainer referring to families. I’ll mention early type 2yos only, at this stage.

    Stoute
    I suppose Stoute is still considered the leading Royal trainer. His main Royal older horse is the 4yo Sextant (by Sea the Stars). An unraced 2yo, he appeared very green last year and even after winning a fairly straightforward maiden he finished with a schoolboyish final outing. Has been gelded and needs to grow up and show us if he has real ability. This colt is from the Amicable family which provides the Queen with most of her runners. What seemed his best Royal 2yo last year was also from this family and that was Sovereign Grant (by Kingman). This colt won his maiden well enough but needs to step up a good deal as a 3yo. On pedigree you’d fancy him to get 10f but the mares’ previous foals, who’ve both won, have seemed better suited to 6 to 8f. I can see Stoute starting him in a good handicap somewhere and going from there.

    A big disappointment as a 2yo was Estimate’s first foal Calculation (by Dubawi) who ran 3rd (of 5) on his debut behind too Darn hot, but then ran a shocking race at Goodwood. Estimate did not win until the May of her 3yo career (then going on to win at Royal Ascot) and I’m sure Calculation will start at 12f as Estimate did. An early win at Newbury or Newmarket would be good to see. He, too, has been gelded.
    Mentioned in the 2000G betting over the winter was the unraced Frankel colt Invictus Spirit. He is out of a difficult mare called Daring Aim, who never wanted to exert herself. Her offspring have all been quirky, though some of them have had ability. He is still entered for the Derby. He doesn’t appear to have an early 2yo.

    Haggas
    Haggas has only one older horse this year and that is the fully exposed gelding Seniority but this trainer did have a couple of 2yo winners last year. The most impressive was Magnetic Charm (by Exceed and Excel) who is a brought-in filly from Darley: from Wildenstein’s Vitiges family. After winning her maiden she was a little patchy in a series of listed events. However if she could be more consistent she could be a useful 8-10f handicapper or listed horse. Haggas’s other 2yo winner was Flarepath, who won an all-weather maiden fairly convincingly. Again by Exceed and Excel this filly’s ambition must be some black-type and an 8-10f race should suit her.
    Haggas has the two latest foals out of Memory, who has so far delivered two Group winners as well as a another 2yo winner from her first three foals. The unraced 3yo is Space Walk and being by Galileo is a full-brother to the two Group winners Recorder and Call to Mind. He remains entered for the Derby and Haggas has now entered him for two French Group 1s: an unusual act for an unraced colt (Haggas slightly got it wrong last year with Humbolt Current. I’d expect Space Walk to start at somewhere like the April Newbury meeting and to move on from there, but if he’s to move on to Group 1s he’ll have to move fast. The first filly from this mare, Dusty Dream (by Dubawi), may not be seen until mid-summer but must be much awaited.
    Other Haggas 3yos are Shrewdness (who was highly entered as a 2yo but in the end only managed a reasonably promising Newbury run), Desert Caravan (by Oasis Dream out of Sinndar’s sister Sequence) was unraced and unentered and has now been gelded.

    Bell
    Bell ended up having a good 2017 with Royal favourite Fabricate, now a 7yo gelding, winning 2 Group 3 events. Getting long in the tooth now it would be nice to feel he can add to his total of 7 wins this year. The really interesting animals are his two 3yo colts who both got off the mark towards the end of last season on their seasonal debuts. Eightsome Reel (Iffraaj) was the first and this first foal to race of Set to Music (who won the Galtres Stakes and was 2nd in the Park hill) should get at least 10f and may stay further. Perhaps more impressive was the victory of the Sharmadal colt Youthful, who is the first foal of the Cape Cross mare, Good Hope. This mare emanates from the Feola family whose key members include Aureole, Highclere, Nashwan and Deep Impact. It’s a long way from a Wolverhampton to Listed races but there must be a hope this well-bred colt will make the grade. He looked a bit of handful on the gallops and it is no surprise that he’s now been gelded. Good Hope won a small race over 10f and that distance looks ideal for Youthful. It is about time the Queen had another good animal from this family.
    As ever Bell has a clutch of 2yos (in fact 6). On paper the most interesting is Formality, who’s a Frankel colt out of an Oasis Dream mare (and the last foal of Ribblesdale winner Phantom Gold). The Queen hasn’t had a lot of success with Frankel and if this foal was rated I’d expect him to be with Stoute or Haggas (sorry Michael). Bell also has Good Try an Iffraaj sister to Youthful, and also Cloud Drift (by Toronado) who is a half- brother to Humbolt Current and Bell’s other 3yo Regular. So far their dam Humdrum has had 3 winners from her first 3 foals and these two should keep up the record. There’s a yearling colt by Oasis Dream to follow these. Surprisingly Equal Sum’s 2yo full-sister, High Shine, is in training with Bell. Bell also has Otago (a Cable Bay colt out of Humdrum’s dam) though Good Try and High Shine look the 2yos to be interested in.

    Hannon

    This trainer ended up having 2 2yo winners in 2018. The first was the Toronado colt Topical who may win again but I find difficult to get excited about (now gelded). The other winner was the filly Equal Sum (by Paco Boy) who won well on her debut and then failed to give 7lb to Enable’s half-sister Entitle. They were both promising performances as Equal Sum comes out about 7lb ahead of Youthful and 4lb ahead of Entitle. We don’t know which way she will go but while this filly has speed for 7 to 8f she may get a lot further as her dam (Hypoteneuse by Sadler’s Wells, dam of Sextant and full-sister to Oaks 2nd Flight of Fancy) stayed 12f. A start in Listed company may not be out of reach for this member of the Amicable family.
    Hannon has two 2yos and the most likely looks to be Divine Covey, who is a Dark Angel filly out of the decent Pack Together (by Paco Boy). She was an early 2yo and her first foal could be similar.

    Balding
    Natural History, who won on his handicap debut, has been gelded and will be aiming at 12-14f handicaps this year. He is the last member of the Starlet branch of the Amicable family, so this branch will die out now. A horse worth following I should think,
    Balding is not sent the best horses and has done reasonably well with what he gets, but he’s only got 3 other horses (two 2yos and 3yo). His 3yo is an unraced Henrythenavigator gelding called Compass who is half-brother to a good 2yo filly called Light Music. Balding should get a win out of him. His most likely 2yo is Kings Lynn, a colt by Cable Bay (a first season sire at Highclere) out of a Royal Applause sister to Humdrum. This mare, Kinematic, was pretty fast and if the foal’s any good I can see Kings Lynn being an early sort.

    Charlton
    The Beckhampton trainer had a miserable 2018 (due to a virus) not troubling the judge with any of his Royal inmates. He has one 3yo who needs to wake up and that is the well-bred West Newton (by Kitten’s Joy out of a full-sister to Hypoteneuse). At least this fine trainer has a couple of well-bred 2yos. The first is Code of Conduct, who is by Siyouni out of a mare called Sequence. Unfortunately this mare has been super disappointing so far, despite colts by Oasis Dream and Frankel. Perhaps more exciting is Evening Sun (Muhaarar), who’s the 2nd foal of the Galileo mare Fiery Sunset, whose first foal, Flarepath, won as a 2yo. Being by Muhaarar, you’d expect Evening Sun to have some speed and could be out as was her older sister, midsummer. Charlton badly needs a winner or two for the Royals.

    Gosden
    Appointed as a Royal trainer for the first time in 2018, he received 2 Darley bred 2yos but nothing from the Royal Stud. One of those 2yos, Pianissimo (by Teofilo) ran once on the all-weather, finishing a respectable 2nd. He doesn’t appear a world-beater at the moment, but should be capable of winning a maiden. His unraced 3yo is the Dubawi colt Gold Study.
    2019 sees him becoming a fully fledged Royal trainer as he has been sent Dauntless , a colt who is a full-brother to the listed winner Diploma. Diploma won as a 2yo and I’d expect to see Dauntless entered this Autumn. He is also training another Dubawi colt out of the Royal Stud’s mare Free Verse whose first foal Frontispiece had some ability. Gosden also trains another couple of brought-in 2yos from Darley, who are both by Sharmadal.

    Hughes
    This trainer is getting the lesser types and has a 3yo and 2yo this year. The 3yo, Puzzle, looks as if he will win a small race. His 2yo is out of the disappointing Raymi Coya. Her only winner was Make Fast (by Makfi) and Cranberry (by Toronado) is more likely to be a 2yo than 3yo.

    Summary

    The Queen is now a major owner in number terms but not in quality terms. She has 58 flat horses in training this year, small compared with the likes of Godolphin and Coolmore but sizeable nonetheless and much her biggest number ever. In the main she is using many top stallions: she has 10 Dubawis for example. Hopefully she has a better year than last year. 20 winners is not good enough for someone using these sort of resources.

    What does worry me is some of her throws with certain sires. She has 3 Cable Bay 2yos, has yearlings by this sire and sent 3 mares to him in 2018, and it should be no surprise he stands at Highclere. In 2018 she sent 7 mares to her good 2yo Recorder. That is an enormous investment in a new sire. I’m pleased she has sent a mare to Muharrar, and in 2018 one mare went to Caravaggio but she needs to do more of this. After Kingman’s excellent first season I’d like her to use him more.

    I am expecting a better year and much better quality wins from this year’s horses. A good start at Newbury in April would help.

    More on the 2yos later.
     
    #1
  2. Janabelle13

    Janabelle13 Well-Known Member

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    Some very cleverly named horses in HM's stables
     
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  3. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    at least some thought goes into them. My favourite of the 2yos is Divine Covey.
     
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  4. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    Don’t usually mention her jumpers but she has a saucily named new inmate at Colonel Henderson’s by Mount Nelson out of Romantic Dream called Hamilton’s Fantasy.
     
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  5. Janabelle13

    Janabelle13 Well-Known Member

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    :shocked:
     
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  6. Sir Barney Chuckles

    Sir Barney Chuckles Who Dares Wins

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    Re her jumpers is likely to have the fav (or one of them at any rate) in the race immediately following the GN on Saturday (6.20 - some 65 minutes after the main event!). In fact it’s the heat that closes the entire Aintree meeting.

    SUNSHADE (interestingly, her grand-dam is the above mentioned Romantic Dream) returned to the track a couple of weeks ago, after a year off, and that should have nicely set her up for this £50k event restricted to conditional and amateur riders. And, Lieutenant Henderson has ‘form’ in winning this contest with a mare as Lifestyle won the event for the great man back in ’12.
     
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  7. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    The first Friday flat meeting at Newbury is a day the Queen likes to attend the races. Hopefully she'll be free to do so because her trainers have entered 3 of hers (all Royal Stud). The most interesting are the unraced 2yo Divine Covey and the once raced winning 2yo from last year, Eightsome Reel. Divine Covey's dam Pack Together won on her debut as a 2yo (6f) but never won again despite being a 100 rated filly. She did earn some black type as a 3yo. She comes from the Royal Stud's Feola family and traces back to Highclere's dam Highlight, though most of the Feola mares owned by the stud trace back to Highclere herself. Being by Dark Angel I can see this filly being speedy and capable of a positive debut.

    Eightsome Reel (by Iffraaj) was probably not expected when he won his maiden in November as he started at 50-1. However there was a lot to like about his debut and he certainly seemed to know where the finishing line was. He now steps up a good deal and takes on a lot of promising types from good stables. A tough one but he may surprise again. Bell certainly liked his debut. This colt is the result of a scheme worked with the Aga Khan as his dam Set to Music (by Danehill Dancer and the winner of 5 races inc. Galtres Stakes) traces back to Petite Etoile.

    The final runner is Topical, who won once last year but appeared a bit limited. He runs in the final handicap and now gelded may exert himself a little more.

    Bell has one of his 2yos on the go and Otago (by first season sire Cable Bay out of an Alzao mare) is half-sister to a number of 2yo winners. He seems a reasonable sort on the gallops and will probably be seen out soon.
     
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    Last edited: Apr 6, 2019
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  8. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    (Updated: caused by me being wrongfooted by the entries in Racing Post taking time to fill up)
    Another 4 entries for the Queen on the Saturday of the Newbury meeting but unfortunately 3 horses are entered for the same race! Pianissimo (Dettori booked) runs in the 11f maiden, while also entered are Space Walk and Gold Stick. Doesn't make sense and the race is unlikely to be split.So we'll have to see what they do on Thursday at declaration time.
    The 4th horse is a Haggas gelding, Desert Caravan (doyle already booked), who is entered for the mile maiden along with Gosden's Gold Stick. This colt traces back to an Astor family (that of Rosalba, who was unfortunate to be born the same year as Petite Etoile) and is by Dubawi. The dam won the Cherry Hinton and the Dubai 1000G. This mile maiden is likely to be split.
    By the way Moore has been booked for Divine Covey on Friday.
     
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    Last edited: Apr 9, 2019
  9. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    May update

    A mixed bag for the Queen and the Royal Stud. 3 winners so far and all pleasing performances. Eightsome Reel came out at Newmarket and could not give 7lb to Jalmoud in what was a hot Novice event. !0 days later he reappeared at Ripon and won as he liked. If Jalmoud had been in the race at the same weight of Eightsome Reel would he have been 2-1? People must have a different form book to me. Anyway he ran very similarly to his dam, Set to Music. She improved considerably as a 3yo ending up winning 4 races and finishing 2nd in the Park Hill. That was probably too far for Set to Music and it’s difficult to gauge how far Eightsome Reel will stay as he is by Iffraaj. He certainly stays 10f but will he get 12f? My guess is that he’ll stay at 10f for now and his next race is likely to be a listed event: very encouraging. He has a Lope de Vega brother called Spanish Music, who is yet to go into training. There is a full-brother yearling to this one.

    The Queen’s next winner was her Dansili gelding Elector, who won a good 9f handicap at Newmarket. A first-time out winner as a 2yo, his 3yo career was a big disappointment and at one stage he was entered in the Autumn Horses in Training sale. He travelled well throughout his race and came away in the last 100yds. He should get further and nice 10f handicap should be within his grasp. Elector’s dam is the Montjeu mare Enticement who was a rare Royal purchase. She has already produced the very useful Diploma (who has a yearling and a foal by Deep Impact) and has a Dubawi colt in training with Gosden called Dauntless , while in the wings is a yearling full-sister to Dauntless. Definitely a family to watch.

    Gosden got off the mark as a Royal trainer when the Dubawi colt Gold Stick won on his second start at Wetherby. Not the most competitive race however Gold Stick won well. Out of a mare who won the Cherry Hinton as a 2yo and a group race over a mile as a 3yo this colt should be suited by 10f and can improve to win a good handicap somewhere.

    The two big disappointments so far have been Space Walk (who has run two poor races, at Newbury and then Salisbury) while Gold Cup winner Estimate’s first foal Celebration ran poorly at Windsor. Using stallions like Galileo and Dubawi doesn’t guarantee success. I’d like to see both these mares sent to faster stallions.

    One encouraging run was Shrewdness’s 2nd at Lingfield . She has been entered for the Ribblesdale but was not backed as if she was expected on her seasonal debut. However despite looking green she outran all the field such that just over a furlong out she was 5 lengths clear. However one came out of the pack and beat her ¾ length. Shrewdness looked green in the finish and was not given a hard race by Doyle. I await her next race with interest.

    No 2yos seen so far though Bell has had two out on the gallops featured in his videos. While Otago (by Cable Bay) looked to have ability it was the Toronado colt Cloud Drift who impressed me more. I’d expect to see both of them run in the next month. Hannon had Divine Covey entered at Newbury but she was withdrawn 2 days before the race. She has not been entered since, but again if she is well I’d expect her to run soon.

    So far so good I suppose, but I'd like to see more horses running.
     
    #9
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  10. stick

    stick Bumper King

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    GOLD STICK, good strong name
     
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  11. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    The really well-named Sextant (Sea the Stars out of Hypoteneuse) has grown up. He was cantering all the way round and then when the button was pushed looked as if he didn't know what to do. He then came away from a pretty good field. He still has some growing up to do but he can be a lot better than this.
     
    #11
  12. Janabelle13

    Janabelle13 Well-Known Member

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    He looked a big horse
     
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  13. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    Sextant was mentioned in dispatches as a 2yo but didn’t run. As a 3yo he ran 3 times, winning once. His last run of these 3 was distinctly disappointing and he seemed to have a mind of his own. It was not a surprise to see him gelded. Yesterday’s run was a big step forward.
    His dam is a Sadler’s Wells full sister to the Oaks 2nd Flight of Fancy. As a mare she has been a prolific producer with up to now her best foal being Math’s Prize. Her 3yo is a Paco Boy filly called Equal Sum, who won on her debut and then failed to give 7lb to a decent filly called Entitle. Sadly we have not seen her this season. High Shine is a 2yo full-sister to Equal Sum. Coming up is a Kingman yearling filly and a Golden Horn filly foal. A family to watch though they do have their ‘quirks ‘: as anyone who saw Sextant’s debut will testify. He tried to demolish Ryan Moore.
     
    #13
    Last edited: May 13, 2019
  14. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    The first representative of the Queen's 2yo runs tomorrow at Leicester. Otago is a Cable Bay colt out of a mare called Spinning Top, who was lightly raced but finished 2nd in the Lupe Stakes. She has produced at least 5 winning 2yos, the best of which were probably Humdrum and Musical Comedy. I'd be surprised if Otago doesn't manage to get his head in front this season. I'd also expect a positive display tomorrow. He's been well tried on the gallops and the stable's 2yos are running well.
     
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  15. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    After the promise of May June was nearly a wash out. Biggest disappointments were the 4yos, Elector and Sextant. It could have been that neither were suited to Epsom but both will have to do better next time. When Sextant won at Ascot in early May he looked a promising horse. In that race he was ridden by Louis Steward, and I’m not surprised to see him in the plate for Sextant’s next run.

    As regards the 2yos, two have run (both twice) and are not world beaters. Divine Covey was backed down to odds-on favourite for his debut and ran very green Next time out he was even worse. Hannon may work the oracle with him later but not too encouraging so far. Otago made a fair debut, then finished a close up third. I’m sure Bell will find a race for this one. The value of what you see or hear/read about the gallops is difficult to evaluate but 2 colts have been mentioned. The first is Bell’s Formality (by Frankel) and the second was Stoute’s First Receiver (by New Approach). Expect them to make their debuts in the next 6-8 weeks if all goes well. There are in excess of 20 unraced 2yos in the wings.

    The 3yos have had a mixed time of it. The Queen had 2 runners at Royal Ascot and both acquitted themselves well. Top marks goes to Magnetic Charm who failed by a length to give 21lb to the winner of the Sandringham Handicap. She looked as if she had inproved since York, and her York performance would have put her as a close-up 4th in the Coronation Stakes. She may be better than that. Eightsome Reel ran 4th in the Hampton Court Stakes, way ahead of any form he’d shown before. He was a bit adrift 3 furlongs out and can do better than this.

    There were two other 3yo winners. Space Walk at last got off the mark when winning his 3rd start at Haydock. He looks as if he will not be inconvenienced by 14f (just like his brother Call to Mind). More of a surprise was West Newton who won a Doncaster Handicap (actually on 31st May). He has improved very slowly so let’s hope that continues. Interestingly he wasn’t entered for the July Sales (Regular and Puzzle are).

    The disappointments are the maiden fillies. Shrewdness looked a good filly on her reappearance but then ran very poorly at Goodwood . Clarion looked a surefire winner, next time out, on her debut but was then easily outpointed at Goodwood. Hopefully they’ll both run better races next time out, both failed on soft ground and maybe firmer surfaces will help them. Flarepath ran well at Newmarket to finish 2nd on her seasonal debut and should do better next time out.


    The most frustrating thing with these Royal runners is how few of them are running. Horses are supposed to race, that’s why they are called racehorses.
     
    #15
  16. Cyclonic

    Cyclonic Well Hung Member

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    I think a more interesting subject, is the future of the Royal Studs. Once the good lady passes, what happens to them? As Chuck shows little real interest in the sport, and as an alleged insider opined (tongue in cheek), with the risk of the Cambridges turning them into tennis courts, what's in store for the studs?

    Chilla's missus takes an interest in the game, so will she be a saving grace? Still, the new king will probably make the obligatory carriage ride when the big carnivals roll around. He might not care all that much, but he does have a top hat and well practiced royal waive.

    And what's with William and Harry? Here's their chance to become famous and they're blowing it big time. They could be hobnobbing it with the champagne swilling ladies with those silly hats and even sillier frocks instead of wasting valuable time on the starving and homeless.

    Maybe they could just sell up the studs and put the money to mobile pie carts that hand out free hot food and drinks to the underprivilaged that haunt the dark streets of the more dangerous parts of London. Those desperate places where knife wielding bandits seek out the weak and defenceless for a good old fashioned stabbing. If these poor souls have to perish, at least they have the comfort of doing so with a belly full of warm food.

    Besides, think about how yukky it would be working at a horse stud. Having to watch all that horse humping is enough to churn the stomach. Horse rooting is hardly candy for the eye.
     
    #16
    Last edited: Jun 27, 2019
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  17. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    This dilemma has occurred before. The Duke of Cumberland took over for a period in the mid 1800s (when not savaging the Scots).Victoria showed no interest in Racing and at first an Uncle, then Albert and then the future Edward VII stepped into the breach. Since then they've all been racing mad. Edward VIII was not, and actually planned to sell Sandringham.
    I think it's wrong to say Charles has no interest. I think it's more he realises it's Mummy's domain and that's the way it should be. Besides his wife was more into horses than anyone and would pick up the baton I'm sure.
    If there is a thought the Royals would give up racing it makes no sense when one considers how the stud has expanded in the last 10 years. Why do this if the thought is it won't be wanted in 5-10 years? I'd estimate the stud has more than doubled in size in that time, with more mares at stud (many brought in from outside families) and so many more horses in training each year.
    I'd hope eventually the Cambridges take over. Kate seems to me the most level headed of people. Ir was no surprise they were at Ascot and the Sussex duo were not. I don't think you need to worry too much Cyc. You and your produce will still have the occasion to laugh at all those silly hats and frocks
     
    #17
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  18. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    Pleased to see Steward got Sextant home at Windsor. Only just but the gelding still seems a big baby. A sudden rash of winners as this is the 3rd Royal winner in two days from 4 runners. The first 2yo, Otago, scored at Yarmouth while Estimate's first foal Calculation won at Doncaster over the Leger distance and looks a stayer in the making: given his pedigree that's no surprise. However this was at least 7lb in advance of any other form he'd shown and he won really easily, so hopefully he's capable of more.
    The other runner finished 2nd. Had no chance with the winner and the way Dobbs rode Divine Covey made you feel he is still work in progress. If that's how they feel now why was he backed down to odds-on on his debut?
    Another 2yo, Cloud Drift, is set to make his debut at Chepstow on Tuesday. A colt by Toronado, and the 5th foal of Humdrum (the other 4 have all won) he's likely to be suited by the 7f trip. Stoute runs Clarion at Brighton. Usually a bad sign to see a Stoute runner at this track but maybe he just wants to get an easy win into this Dubawi filly. She'd better do it.
     
    #18
  19. Gladness

    Gladness Member

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    Why are so many of the colts gelded? Is it their make and shape or have they got mental quirks? Or is it more horses are being gelded than they were used to be? It is poor that geldings are being allowed in the top group 1 contests now, Defoe is a waste of space lovely horse though he is, but his future will be someone's hack.
     
    #19
  20. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    I think a number of reasons. If a horse is not going to be a sire then you might as well geld them, is one thought.

    Remembering the words of Jack Colling, the Astors trainer, 'give me a yard full of geldings and I'll have the bookies crying for mercy'. He obviously felt geldings were tougher and more straightforward and he got results: his greatest advertisement was High Stakes who ran in 49 races and was placed in 43 of them, winning 34 times (still a record I believe).

    Another reason that horses are either untrainable or unraceable. Collings' successor at West Ilsley trained Boldboy, who despite his talent was a nutter. His 2nd race as a 2yo, still a maiden, was the Middle Park but Hern had to put his work rider on him. He was gelded at the end of the season and came out as a 3yo and won the Greenham beating the 2000G favourite. He then went on to become the record prize-money winning gelding.

    As regards Defoe, he was a disappointment last year. Either he had his mind on other things or it made him more sound: maybe they should do it to humans, like Boris. At least you'll get to see him running many years into the future (I don't mean Boris).

    I think Sextant was a lot of trouble on the racecourse and often didn't seem to be asserting himself as an entire. Though not entirely straightforward he seems better this year after his op.
     
    #20
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2019

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