This thread used to be about 3 Owner Breeders but now when discussing one of these, Mark Dixon, has expanded to also consider the Bireme Diaspora and particularly the branch of this emanating from the mare Livia’s Dream, who was sold as a yearling in 2010 by Dixon.
But let’s start with the easier two. Gillian, Lady Howard de Walden now appears to have one mare and that is Gemina, who hails from her lat-husband’s G family imported from Germany in the late ‘80s. It’s most famous members are the high class Fame and Glory and Oaks winner, Legatissimo. Both were owned and bred by others after his death. Gemina is by Holy Roman Emperor out of a Galileo mare Gravitation. She has no 2yo or 3yo this year but is represented by 4yo Gennadius, who was sold January ’25 and has won one race this year. He has been placed 9 times since being sold. Gemina does have a yearling filly called Gene (by Study of Man) and was covered by Lopa Y Fernandez last year. Lady H de W does have a 3yo filly Geodaisia, who ran once as a 2yo but is currently out of training. Her 2yo (and last foal) is called Gravastar (by Tasleet) and is training with Hannon as are the 4yos she sold last year.
Philip Freedman now also appears to own only one mare and that is his useful racefilly Hoseplay. She has a 2yo this year called Lavolta (by Frankel) who is confusingly reported as being bred by Juddmonte. She is not in training at the moment. She has a yearling by Baaeed and was covered by Chaldean last year. There’s not much else you can say, which is very sad when one considers Louis, his father, was a major owner-breeder from the late ‘60s and at one time had three studs and stood 3 stallions.
So on to Mark Dixon. This year he has already had a runner, Trio, who finished a reasonable 3rd on her seasonal debut. This weekend he has a 2yo, Parading, making his debut at Leicester. Nothing out of the ordinary you might say but Dixon’s Uncle, Dick Hollingsworth, would be most surprised this was happening. Apparently if one of his trainers rang him before the September of a horse’s 2yo career he’d expect to be told the horse in question had died on the gallops. The reason being Hollingsworth bred horses to win the Derby so did not expect them to see the racecourse until September. However Parading is a colt by Ardad out of Punting (a granddaughter of Bireme). He’s trained by Hughes and his jockey Finley Marsh takes the mount.
In fact on Saturday Dixon has an interest in 3 horses running. Florentine Law is a colt by Study of Man out of La Marchesa, who is closely bred to Livia’s Dream. Bred by Dixon/Mount Coote he was sold as a yearling. He made his belated debut 2 weeks ago at Yarmouth in a hot maiden won by Del Maro. He was well beaten but should be more suited to this 12f maiden at Southwell. Finally Dreamasar reappears at Doncaster in a 10f handicap. She is a filly who has run only 3 times, all as a 3yo. She is by Masar and is a half-sister to Dreamloper and Santorini Star. Both of these fillies revealed their class as 4yos and Dreamloper was even better as a 5yo, winning two Group 1s. So it is to be hoped this will be Dreamasar’s year.
Enough for now but lots more to say on Mark Dixon.
But let’s start with the easier two. Gillian, Lady Howard de Walden now appears to have one mare and that is Gemina, who hails from her lat-husband’s G family imported from Germany in the late ‘80s. It’s most famous members are the high class Fame and Glory and Oaks winner, Legatissimo. Both were owned and bred by others after his death. Gemina is by Holy Roman Emperor out of a Galileo mare Gravitation. She has no 2yo or 3yo this year but is represented by 4yo Gennadius, who was sold January ’25 and has won one race this year. He has been placed 9 times since being sold. Gemina does have a yearling filly called Gene (by Study of Man) and was covered by Lopa Y Fernandez last year. Lady H de W does have a 3yo filly Geodaisia, who ran once as a 2yo but is currently out of training. Her 2yo (and last foal) is called Gravastar (by Tasleet) and is training with Hannon as are the 4yos she sold last year.
Philip Freedman now also appears to own only one mare and that is his useful racefilly Hoseplay. She has a 2yo this year called Lavolta (by Frankel) who is confusingly reported as being bred by Juddmonte. She is not in training at the moment. She has a yearling by Baaeed and was covered by Chaldean last year. There’s not much else you can say, which is very sad when one considers Louis, his father, was a major owner-breeder from the late ‘60s and at one time had three studs and stood 3 stallions.
So on to Mark Dixon. This year he has already had a runner, Trio, who finished a reasonable 3rd on her seasonal debut. This weekend he has a 2yo, Parading, making his debut at Leicester. Nothing out of the ordinary you might say but Dixon’s Uncle, Dick Hollingsworth, would be most surprised this was happening. Apparently if one of his trainers rang him before the September of a horse’s 2yo career he’d expect to be told the horse in question had died on the gallops. The reason being Hollingsworth bred horses to win the Derby so did not expect them to see the racecourse until September. However Parading is a colt by Ardad out of Punting (a granddaughter of Bireme). He’s trained by Hughes and his jockey Finley Marsh takes the mount.
In fact on Saturday Dixon has an interest in 3 horses running. Florentine Law is a colt by Study of Man out of La Marchesa, who is closely bred to Livia’s Dream. Bred by Dixon/Mount Coote he was sold as a yearling. He made his belated debut 2 weeks ago at Yarmouth in a hot maiden won by Del Maro. He was well beaten but should be more suited to this 12f maiden at Southwell. Finally Dreamasar reappears at Doncaster in a 10f handicap. She is a filly who has run only 3 times, all as a 3yo. She is by Masar and is a half-sister to Dreamloper and Santorini Star. Both of these fillies revealed their class as 4yos and Dreamloper was even better as a 5yo, winning two Group 1s. So it is to be hoped this will be Dreamasar’s year.
Enough for now but lots more to say on Mark Dixon.
