Ask Princess - 2013
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Rumours circulating on Twitter that BLACK CAVIAR's connections have said they may be interested in another trip to Royal Ascot if they could tie it in with a visit to Frankel. Obviously the mare would be covered to southern hemisphere time and would have to stay in the UK for at least 6 weeks to confirm a pregnancy - perhaps a crack at the July Cup while she's here? 
From Darley's website:
As the foaling season gets into full swing, many breeders have already turned their attention to next yearâs crop and the Darley stallions are certainly not short of quality in their 2013 books.
It is no surprise that Dubawi, now well established as one of Europeâs leading sires, has attracted yet another superb book of mares. No fewer than 25 G1 winners and 18 G1 producers are due to visit him at Dalham Hall during the coming months, including Shawanda â dam of Godolphinâs 2012 St Leger winner Encke, Summertime Legacy â dam of G1-winning juvenile Mandaean (Manduro), who recently returned to winning ways in impressive style at Meydan, and Land Of Dreams â dam of Dream Ahead.
Also booked to Dubawi this year is dual Classic winner and G1 producer Kazzia, fellow G1 winners Blue Bunting, Nahrain and Solemia, plus Express Way â dam of one of Darleyâs newest stallion recruits Rio de la Plata.
Another stallion who has been understandably popular having enjoyed a tremendous season that saw him crowned Champion first-season sire and record an unrivalled three juvenile Stakes winners at Royal Ascot is New Approach.
The sire of unbeaten multiple G1 winner Dawn Approach has 14 G1 winners and nine dams of G1 winners booked to him for 2013, including Sant Elena - dam of another of 2012âs superstar two-year-olds in Reckless Abandon, a future Darley stallion who rounded off his season with victory in the G1 Darley Prix Morny and the G1 Middle Park Stakes.
Also due to visit the outstanding dual Champion is Zarkasha, dam of none other than Zarkava (who is herself expecting a foal by Dubawi this year), plus Out West â dam of Motivator, and Street Cryâs G1 Filliesâ Mile winner Lyric Of Light.
Ravenâs Pass also enjoyed a superb season with his first crop, headed by record-breaking Royal Lodge Stakes winner Steeler, and he has been rewarded with a high-class book of mares that includes seven G1 winners and seven dams of G1 winners, including Porto Roca, dam of last yearâs Dubai World Cup winner Monterosso, Green Minstrel, dam of Rosdhu Queen, and Dolores, dam of Duncan.
Shamardal, who has made the best start at stud of any Irish stallion since Pattern racing began, recorded ten individual Group winners last year â three at the highest level â and excelled at the sales, will once again cover an excellent book of mares this year. 12 G1 winners including White Moonstone will visit him in 2013, plus three dams of G1 winners with Love Divine â dam of Sixties Icon â one of the standout mares due to head to Kildangan Stud.
Two of Darleyâs new stallions â Helmet and Sepoy â have also proved popular with breeders and have several talented mares due to visit them at Kildangan Stud and Dalham Hall respectively.
Helmet is due to cover Special Dancer, who has already enjoyed tremendous success with Helmetâs sire Exceed And Excel courtesy of G1 winner Margot Did.
Sepoy was himself crowned World Champion three-year-old sprinter, and he will be visited by two mares that have themselves produced speedsters of the highest class in Demerger (dam of Nunthorpe Stakes winner Sole Power) and Easy To Imagine (dam of Prix de lâAbbaye victor Tangerine Trees).
There are many more mares, that either excelled themselves on the racecourse or who have made their mark as a producer, now booked into other members of Darleyâs European roster including the dam of Kesampour (due to visit Cape Cross), G1 winner Rock Opera (due to visit Exceed And Excel following the success of their earlier pairing courtesy of Heavy Metal); and the dams of Red Cadeaux, Dark Angel and Hearts Of Fire (all due to visit Teofilo).
So while the focus may now be turning to this yearâs foals, and of course the upcoming flat racing season, there are reasons aplenty why 2016 â when the foals produced from this yearâs matings will step onto a racecourse â could be one of the most exciting years yet for the Darley stallions.
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Blue-blooded books for Darley stallions
With the new covering season officially underway, there are plenty of blue-blooded mares due to visit Darleyâs European stallions in 2013.
With the new covering season officially underway, there are plenty of blue-blooded mares due to visit Darleyâs European stallions in 2013.
As the foaling season gets into full swing, many breeders have already turned their attention to next yearâs crop and the Darley stallions are certainly not short of quality in their 2013 books.
It is no surprise that Dubawi, now well established as one of Europeâs leading sires, has attracted yet another superb book of mares. No fewer than 25 G1 winners and 18 G1 producers are due to visit him at Dalham Hall during the coming months, including Shawanda â dam of Godolphinâs 2012 St Leger winner Encke, Summertime Legacy â dam of G1-winning juvenile Mandaean (Manduro), who recently returned to winning ways in impressive style at Meydan, and Land Of Dreams â dam of Dream Ahead.
Also booked to Dubawi this year is dual Classic winner and G1 producer Kazzia, fellow G1 winners Blue Bunting, Nahrain and Solemia, plus Express Way â dam of one of Darleyâs newest stallion recruits Rio de la Plata.
Another stallion who has been understandably popular having enjoyed a tremendous season that saw him crowned Champion first-season sire and record an unrivalled three juvenile Stakes winners at Royal Ascot is New Approach.
The sire of unbeaten multiple G1 winner Dawn Approach has 14 G1 winners and nine dams of G1 winners booked to him for 2013, including Sant Elena - dam of another of 2012âs superstar two-year-olds in Reckless Abandon, a future Darley stallion who rounded off his season with victory in the G1 Darley Prix Morny and the G1 Middle Park Stakes.
Also due to visit the outstanding dual Champion is Zarkasha, dam of none other than Zarkava (who is herself expecting a foal by Dubawi this year), plus Out West â dam of Motivator, and Street Cryâs G1 Filliesâ Mile winner Lyric Of Light.
Ravenâs Pass also enjoyed a superb season with his first crop, headed by record-breaking Royal Lodge Stakes winner Steeler, and he has been rewarded with a high-class book of mares that includes seven G1 winners and seven dams of G1 winners, including Porto Roca, dam of last yearâs Dubai World Cup winner Monterosso, Green Minstrel, dam of Rosdhu Queen, and Dolores, dam of Duncan.
Shamardal, who has made the best start at stud of any Irish stallion since Pattern racing began, recorded ten individual Group winners last year â three at the highest level â and excelled at the sales, will once again cover an excellent book of mares this year. 12 G1 winners including White Moonstone will visit him in 2013, plus three dams of G1 winners with Love Divine â dam of Sixties Icon â one of the standout mares due to head to Kildangan Stud.
Two of Darleyâs new stallions â Helmet and Sepoy â have also proved popular with breeders and have several talented mares due to visit them at Kildangan Stud and Dalham Hall respectively.
Helmet is due to cover Special Dancer, who has already enjoyed tremendous success with Helmetâs sire Exceed And Excel courtesy of G1 winner Margot Did.
Sepoy was himself crowned World Champion three-year-old sprinter, and he will be visited by two mares that have themselves produced speedsters of the highest class in Demerger (dam of Nunthorpe Stakes winner Sole Power) and Easy To Imagine (dam of Prix de lâAbbaye victor Tangerine Trees).
There are many more mares, that either excelled themselves on the racecourse or who have made their mark as a producer, now booked into other members of Darleyâs European roster including the dam of Kesampour (due to visit Cape Cross), G1 winner Rock Opera (due to visit Exceed And Excel following the success of their earlier pairing courtesy of Heavy Metal); and the dams of Red Cadeaux, Dark Angel and Hearts Of Fire (all due to visit Teofilo).
So while the focus may now be turning to this yearâs foals, and of course the upcoming flat racing season, there are reasons aplenty why 2016 â when the foals produced from this yearâs matings will step onto a racecourse â could be one of the most exciting years yet for the Darley stallions.
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Well Ballymacoll have surprised me by sending Gift Range to Frankel. She's a full-sister to Golan and Tartan Bearer, which makes her well-related and she's virtually (see later) an outcross for Frankel as she is only inbred to Never Bend (5X5) and has only one dose of Northern Dancer in her 5th generation. Both possible pluses maybe.But she's been barren several times and has only one live foal who's made it to the stables but was useless. She has a 2yo called Conveyor Belt but he must be too backward as he's not in training. A Frankel/Gift Range foal will be 3X3 inbred to Rainbow's Quest which I've heard nothing for or against.
I wonder why they didn't send either Gift Range's dam, Highland Gift, or her half-sister, Leocorno, who has produced 2 foals to 2 matings and should produce a foal by Raven's Pass soon. They obviously know their reasons but I'm surprised.
I wonder why they didn't send either Gift Range's dam, Highland Gift, or her half-sister, Leocorno, who has produced 2 foals to 2 matings and should produce a foal by Raven's Pass soon. They obviously know their reasons but I'm surprised.
I should explain, "walked in" means the mare was not boarding at the stud where the stallion resides. She simply arrives at the stud, visits the stallion, then returns to her own boarding stud. In this case Tweenhills Stud in Gloucestershire.
Hi PN. I was just curious, how exactly do breeding nominations work? Obviously a stallion like Galileo or Frankel is going to be massively popular, so how exactly do they decide which mares they cover? Is it a first come first served basis or do they look at each mare individually?
Thanks!
Thanks!
For a stallion like Frankel then each mare will be looked at on her individual merits. It has already been reported that he is fully booked for the next three years.
Owners will have been sending applications in for the high profile stallions since last autumn, as they know that the popular boys get booked up fast.
The stud will then look through the mare's credentials, her race record, her pedigree and her produce record, to decide if she is suitable for their stallion. It is in the interests of the stallion's owner to only secure the best mares for his horse.
For the less popular stallions, whilst they won't accept every single mare that applys, the most important factor will be can the owner afford to pay the stud fee.
In Frankel's case Juddmonte have also said that they are avoiding commercial breeders - ie the stud farms that are more likely to want to sell the foals/yearlings. They want to keep as many of Frankel's offspring out of the sales ring as possible, so they are focussing on owner/breeders. In all honesty though, owner/breeders are likely to be the only people that can afford the £125k fee!
There will end up being a handful of them sold as foals/yearlings, but I would not expect more than 20 to pass through the sales.
Owners will have been sending applications in for the high profile stallions since last autumn, as they know that the popular boys get booked up fast.
The stud will then look through the mare's credentials, her race record, her pedigree and her produce record, to decide if she is suitable for their stallion. It is in the interests of the stallion's owner to only secure the best mares for his horse.
For the less popular stallions, whilst they won't accept every single mare that applys, the most important factor will be can the owner afford to pay the stud fee.
In Frankel's case Juddmonte have also said that they are avoiding commercial breeders - ie the stud farms that are more likely to want to sell the foals/yearlings. They want to keep as many of Frankel's offspring out of the sales ring as possible, so they are focussing on owner/breeders. In all honesty though, owner/breeders are likely to be the only people that can afford the £125k fee!
There will end up being a handful of them sold as foals/yearlings, but I would not expect more than 20 to pass through the sales.
Thanks PN, I had always wondered exactly how the process worked. Reviewing all those mares must take a long time!
Hi PN
i don't know if it's your forte but have you heard anything on Nicky's charge Spirit Son, The last I heard he was in a bad way last summer. Do you know if he pulled through? and if so do you think he will see a racecourse again or be left to enjoy his future endeavours?
Many thanks
i don't know if it's your forte but have you heard anything on Nicky's charge Spirit Son, The last I heard he was in a bad way last summer. Do you know if he pulled through? and if so do you think he will see a racecourse again or be left to enjoy his future endeavours?
Many thanks
from 15 sept 2012
SPIRIT SON, quoted as short as 8-1 for the Stan James Champion Hurdle, will be out of action this season and his career is in jeopardy after an injury to a bone in his neck which required surgery. After missing the Cheltenham Festival due to a tendon problem, Nicky Henderson's six-year-old was recovering at Charlie and Tracy Vigors' Hillwood Stud near Marlborough, where he was found on the floor of his box unable to get to his feet.
Tests showed Spirit Son had a rare virus that attacks the neurological system but which can remain dormant. When he was able to get to his feet, a CT scan also revealed a fracture to his fifth cervical vertebra, which was operated on.
The horse, who is owned by Michael Buckley, is now back at Hillwood Stud convalescing.
Henderson said: "It has been a traumatic time for everyone and Spirit Son has been incredibly brave.
"It has been a fantastic team effort to save the horse, from Michael [Buckley], who cares so deeply about all of his horses, to the various teams of vets and everyone here at Seven Barrows and at Hillwood.
"The prognosis for Spirit Son racing again remains very low, but he deserved a chance to have a life, whether it is on a racecourse or in another role."
Spirit Son, officially rated 154, has been beaten once in a career limited to five races. At the 2011 Cheltenham Festival he was second to Al Ferof in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and the following month he beat Cue Card by 13 lengths in Aintree's John Smith's Mersey Novices' Hurdle, in which subsequent Champion Hurdle hero Rock On Ruby was back in third.
I haven't heard anything since this so would greatly appreciate it if anyone else has any news.
SPIRIT SON, quoted as short as 8-1 for the Stan James Champion Hurdle, will be out of action this season and his career is in jeopardy after an injury to a bone in his neck which required surgery. After missing the Cheltenham Festival due to a tendon problem, Nicky Henderson's six-year-old was recovering at Charlie and Tracy Vigors' Hillwood Stud near Marlborough, where he was found on the floor of his box unable to get to his feet.
Tests showed Spirit Son had a rare virus that attacks the neurological system but which can remain dormant. When he was able to get to his feet, a CT scan also revealed a fracture to his fifth cervical vertebra, which was operated on.
The horse, who is owned by Michael Buckley, is now back at Hillwood Stud convalescing.
Henderson said: "It has been a traumatic time for everyone and Spirit Son has been incredibly brave.
"It has been a fantastic team effort to save the horse, from Michael [Buckley], who cares so deeply about all of his horses, to the various teams of vets and everyone here at Seven Barrows and at Hillwood.
"The prognosis for Spirit Son racing again remains very low, but he deserved a chance to have a life, whether it is on a racecourse or in another role."
Spirit Son, officially rated 154, has been beaten once in a career limited to five races. At the 2011 Cheltenham Festival he was second to Al Ferof in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and the following month he beat Cue Card by 13 lengths in Aintree's John Smith's Mersey Novices' Hurdle, in which subsequent Champion Hurdle hero Rock On Ruby was back in third.
I haven't heard anything since this so would greatly appreciate it if anyone else has any news.
There was an article about him in Horse and Hound magazine about a month ago.
"Nine months after his collapse, the gelding is making slow but steady progress. It can take up to a year for his nerves to repair fully. Initially, he had to be supported by two people every time he walked out of the stable, but now he is much more independent and is lead out a couple of times a day by one person on the end of a rope.
It is extremely unlikely that Spirit Son will race again. Unfortunately, top sports horses do obtain a lot of career ending injuries because of the level that their body functions at, sometimes, collapses can be fatal. Spirit Son is a successful case, and although he will not race again, he is still only a 5yo and will have a long, prosperous life ahead of him."
More here.
"Nine months after his collapse, the gelding is making slow but steady progress. It can take up to a year for his nerves to repair fully. Initially, he had to be supported by two people every time he walked out of the stable, but now he is much more independent and is lead out a couple of times a day by one person on the end of a rope.
It is extremely unlikely that Spirit Son will race again. Unfortunately, top sports horses do obtain a lot of career ending injuries because of the level that their body functions at, sometimes, collapses can be fatal. Spirit Son is a successful case, and although he will not race again, he is still only a 5yo and will have a long, prosperous life ahead of him."
More here.
Newsells Stud have tweeted that Nathaniel has had his first mare scanned in foal.
It is a little bit naughty for all these studs announcing that their stallions have their first mares scanned in foal - 15 days is the earliest you can scan a mare after foaling (most studs wait till 18 days) - as it is basically an admission that they started covering early.
The first official day of the covering season is 15th February, which means we shouldn't see anything about mares scanning in foal until 2nd March at the earliest. Whilst the dates are not legally enforceable, covering earlier than 15th February gives a foaling date of early to mid-January, running a real risk that the foal could put in an early appearance in a late December - a real disaster.
It is a little bit naughty for all these studs announcing that their stallions have their first mares scanned in foal - 15 days is the earliest you can scan a mare after foaling (most studs wait till 18 days) - as it is basically an admission that they started covering early.
The first official day of the covering season is 15th February, which means we shouldn't see anything about mares scanning in foal until 2nd March at the earliest. Whilst the dates are not legally enforceable, covering earlier than 15th February gives a foaling date of early to mid-January, running a real risk that the foal could put in an early appearance in a late December - a real disaster.
Surely that's completely exceptable. I never knew there was rules, i just assumed they would try and get as early a foal as possible whilst avoiding the dreaded december month. Imagine if you bred the next Frankel and he came out in december. Would be a very expensive circumstance.