Aug_120_TBA-BreederOfTheMonth-NGC_Owner 18/07/2014 18:16 Page 94
BREEDER OF THE MONTH
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Words Alan Yuill Walker Sponsored by
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GEORGE SELWYN
The brothers have another connection with Australia as their uncle Bill Birch used to manage Mornmoot Stud in Victoria, home of the illustrious Australasian sire Century. Nearer to home, Christopher Hanbury is now developing his own Triermore Stud in County Meath. The latest Derby winner is a chesnut despite having two bay parents, just like the great Hyperion, who appears in the pedigrees of both Galileo and Ouija Board in the sixth generation. It was the mating of Alycidon, the last good horse bred by the 17th Earl of Derby, with Gradisca which produced Ouija Board’s fourth dam Samanda. Gradisca was acquired on behalf of the Derby family by their manager Adrian Scrope from Elizabeth Couturie of Haras du Mesnil.
Derby and Irish Derby hero Australia, a son of Ouija Board
BREEDER OF THE MONTH – June 2014
Stanley Estate & Stud Co As expected Australia emulated his own sire Galileo in completing the English/Irish Derby double – the former was inaugurated in 1780 and the latter in 1866 after two failed attempts. Australia’s historical affiliations with the two Epsom Classics are truly remarkable – the son of Galileo and Ouija Board was bred by Edward Derby (the 19th Earl) at his Stanley House Stud, Newmarket, managed by his brother Peter Stanley. The present Earl inherited the title on the death of his uncle, John Derby, in 1994. Not only is the Derby named after the 12th Earl of Derby, but the fillies’ equivalent commemorates his house at Epsom. Furthermore, Australia is the only ever winner of the Blue Riband whose respective parents finished first in the Derby and the Oaks. The 18th Earl owned what used to be termed Stanley House and Woodlands Studs, and it’s worth mentioning in the present context that he also owned Woodlands Stud in New South Wales, which is now Darley Australia. The Stanley brothers are grandsons of the late Nan Birch/Kennedy. The Lambourn trainer had three daughters: Rosie, the mother of Lord Derby and Peter Stanley; Stella, who married the champion jump jockey Tim Molony; and Bridget, whose husband Christopher Hanbury is a polo enthusiast and a patron of Nicky Henderson’s stable.
SPECIAL MERIT – June 2014
Shadwell Estate Co Taghrooda initiated a great Epsom Classic double for British-breds when triumphing in the Oaks for owner/breeder Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, whose stud at Shadwell is managed by TBA Chairman Richard Lancaster. The estate on the edge of Thetford was acquired from Sir John Musker in 1984, and the first stallion Sheikh Hamdan stood there was Green Desert. Not only is Green Desert’s son Cape Cross the grandsire of Taghrooda (by Sea The Stars), but he is also the maternal grandsire of Australia. Subsequently, 500 adjacent acres were bought from Jeremy Lowndes, which was developed into the Nunnery Stud. Together with Derrinstown Stud in Ireland, they accommodate the principal Shadwell stallions in Europe. The Derby home at Knowsley and Sheikh Hamdan’s Norfolk establishment have a most unexpected criminal legacy. In 1952, Lady Derby was dining alone one evening when shot in the neck by a footman. Miraculously she recovered, but her assailant then proceeded to kill two members of staff. Then in the early 1990s Lowndes murdered his wife at home in their Spanish villa. Taghrooda’s background is rather more mundane. Her dam is the triple Listed winner Ezima, who was acquired by Shadwell for 320,000gns at Tattersalls’ 2008 December Sale. At the time, her dam’s own-sister Ebaziya had already produced Enzeli, Ebadiyla and Edabiya. Last season, Ebaziya became the first mare to be responsible for four individual European Group 1 winners when The Queen’s Estimate emulated Enzeli by winning the Ascot Gold Cup. This is a family that became synonymous with the Aga Khan after he negotiated a deal for the bloodstock belonging to French textile magnate Marcel Boussac.
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Camelot, 2012 English & Irish Derby winner
UK Highclere Stud - Raised and consigned Derby Winner Camelot IRELAND Jim Bolger - Redmondstown Stud USA Ian Brennan - Pre-trainer of superstar broodmare Havre de Grace, Eddie Woods - Leading US Consigner, represented by 11 horses in the Breeders Cup races 2012 and Wavertree Stables.
THE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE SUCCESS
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EXCELLENCE IN EQUINE NUTRITION
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THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER