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ASHBRITTLE STUD >> of the late Dick Hollingsworth. Dixon inherited
GINNY WHALES
Hollingsworth’s Arches Hall Stud and its equine residents upon his uncle’s death in 2001. Though the Hertfordshire stud, which was bought by Dixon’s grandfather Sidney Hollingsworth in the 1930s, has subsequently been sold, he retains four broodmares, plus his half-share of Prowess, all of whom trace back to Dick Hollingsworth’s great foundation mare Felucca, through the 1980 Oaks winner Bireme. “Anthony Stroud kept badgering me to sell Prowess. I didn’t really want to but he said that he had this nice chap who was interested and that I’d get on really well with him if we went into partnership,” says Dixon of his introduction to Rowsell. “Everything has been whittled down now from the stock I inherited from my uncle and so much depends on Prowess for me, but there are good mares from this family all over the world.” Still in Dixon’s ownership is Bireme’s last foal Lakatoi, Prowess’s dam Yawl, now 23, and La Spezia, out of Prowess’s half-sister Genoa. The trio all board in Ireland at Luke Lillingston’s Mount Coote Stud, while Dixon’s final mare, Jump Ship, a grand-daughter of Bireme, is also at Ashbrittle. When Talent lined up at Epsom she became the fourth generation of her family to run in the Oaks. Following Bireme’s victory, her daughter Yawl – the final Pattern winner for Hollingsworth in the 1992 Rockfel Stakes – finished 12th in the following year’s Oaks, while Prowess was ninth behind Alexandrova in 2006. Dixon says: “Prowess was never going to run into a place in the Oaks but nevertheless she
Stud Manager Brendan Boyle with Talent’s dam Prowess and her Fastnet Rock colt
ran. It’s really something special for all four generations of the family to have run in the race.” If there’s a downside to suddenly being the owner of a Classic winner, it’s that age-old conundrum of to sell or not to sell. Following Talent’s Epsom win, the decision was taken not to offer her sister at this season’s yearling sales and it seems likely that when Talent eventually retires she will return to her birthplace. “I know James doesn’t want to sell her and I don’t want to either,” admits Dixon. “The old dictum still stands good – you have to keep your best fillies, especially when you’re trying to build up a stud.” The heroine’s return would certainly be
GEORGE SELWYN
A taxi driver’s labour of love
Bireme is led in after the 1980 Oaks
For London taxi driver Barry Thompkins, a chance encounter with the Dick Hollingsworth homebred Buoy in Epsom’s parade ring in 1974 led to an obsession with this great equine family tracing back to Sidney Hollingsworth’s Felsetta. Thompkins has recently launched an enchanting website dedicated to her descendants and their success around the world, which is a lovely resource for
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pedigree enthusiasts and can be found at www.felsetta-bloodline.com. Thompkins became a regular visitor to Arches Hall Stud and recalls his first visit there, saying: “The stud was at the top of a hill, with the valley and river Rib running below. I parked the cab and crossed the river. I walked up the main drive noting the beautiful surroundings, everything so peaceful, in stark contrast to the pace of driving a cab around London. I felt like I was on holiday.” It will no doubt have given the family’s biggest fan immense pleasure to have been able to add Talent’s name to the list of major Hollingsworth winners on the website – all of whom carried the owner/breeder’s famous crimson colours with silver braid, so closely reminiscent of those worn by Talent’s stable-mate and Oaks runner-up Secret Gesture.
something for the team at Ashbrittle to look forward to. Not only was Talent foaled there but she was broken in by Boyle’s assistant manager, dressage rider Ginny Whales. She is not the only member of staff to be actively involved with bridging the gap between stud and racing yard, as stud secretary Lucy Bosley is also adept at breaking in young horses. “Talent never gave us a day’s worry in her life,” says Boyle. “She was very straightforward and easy to break in. We had her back here for a holiday in the winter. Most of our paddocks are sloping so she was well used to going downhill before she got to Epsom.” Though originally from the north of England, Boyle is quick to point to his adopted home’s proud record of producing top-class horses. He says: “It’s not just us – the south-west is batting above its average for Group horses produced here. There’s Oaks runner-up Something Exciting, the Pococks at Stringston Farm bred Golden Sword, and Brian and Jane Hammond bred Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach and two Royal Ascot winners. “This is being done with a broodmare band of around 70 horses. It’s a healthy area with a mild climate.” How soon Talent returns to the fold certainly depends on her degree of success throughout the remainder of the season. At the time of writing she was about to make her first foray outside England in the Irish Oaks. The last filly to win the Oaks on the back of a Pretty Polly victory was Ouija Board, who also claimed the Curragh Classic and much more besides. Whatever Talent’s future holds, the time from the stalls snapping open to her crossing the line in triumph at Epsom is likely to remain the best two minutes and 42 seconds in the lives of all of those entwined with this thoroughly well-named filly. THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER