SPORTS
HORSES FOR COURSES Foals, Frankel and partying at The Birdcage, Director of Highclere Stud Jake Warren takes us inside the stables
ABSOLUTELY Is there such a thing as a ‘typical day’ at the stud? JAKE WARREN A typical day on the stud varies throughout the year. We are currently coming towards the end of what’s known as the ‘breeding season’. This window is between the 1st January – 1st June, and in this time we are mainly trying to achieve three things: 1. Get the 50 or so mares here under our ownership or management, in foal. 2. Safely raise 40 or so newborn foals. These are exceptionally valuable commodities which can in some instances be worth over £250,000 from birth. 3. Manage our stallion Paco Boy, who covers on average over 100 mares a season at a charge of £8,000 per mare. With these three things happening at once, our day on the stud doesn’t end! But we have a great team, managed by my family, that are working their socks off to keep the show on the road. ABS What do you enjoy most about your job? JW Aside from the thrill of being involved with a winner, the bloodstock business is extraordinary. The people I deal with on a daily basis might be from all walks of life, but they’re bound by a love of horses. ABS Highclere Stud has been in your mother’s family for over 100 years. What does that heritage mean to you? JW My great-great grandfather laid Highclere Stud down in 1902 and his passion runs through us all. I feel very proud to be continuing the work he started. Highclere Stud has been the source of many champion racehorses because of its excellent pasture, setting and management, so continuing that is going to be my challenge.
which takes a lot of planning. We had 1,000 people dancing in tails and top hats last year, which was quite a sight! ABS During Ascot week how do you manage the pressure? JW If you get a horse to run at Royal Ascot the pressure is off ! It’s the equivalent of the Olympics for us. ABS Your father, John Warren, is HM The Queen’s Racing Manager. Is that something you would like to do one day? JW It is a job that would be a huge honour for anyone in the business to take on.
ABS How do you find working with your parents? JW Pretty disastrous sometimes, as expected! But fundamentally, we get on really well. We find it easy to switch between professional and non-professional matters, which helps, and although I wouldn’t necessarily tell them to their faces, they’re pretty good teachers! ABS Ascot is fast approaching – how are you preparing for it? JW On the horse front we are working with all our trainers deciding which horses could be suitable for which races. We’re also going to be sending a very well bred filly of ours to the inaugural Goffs London Sale, the night before the Royal meeting, which is a new and very exciting aspect of the week. Taking place at Kensington Palace, I think it will be a fantastic opening night for Royal Ascot and I’m looking forward to being there when some very valuable racehorses are auctioned right in the heart of London. I also run a big party on the last day in the Royal Enclosure called The Birdcage,
WE HAD 1,000 PEOPLE DANCING IN TAILS AND TOP HATS LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS QUITE A SIGHT!
ABS Frankel sired your most recent foal. You must have high hopes? JW It’s early days yet, but he’s seriously exciting. He comes from our best mare whose progeny have amassed over £2.5m at public auction before even setting foot on a racetrack! And the fact that Frankel sired him too just adds to the dream of possibilities. ABS A spot of trivia. Downton Abbey is filmed at your uncle’s home, Highclere Castle. Do you have any involvement with the show at all? JW No, I’m afraid not. My acting career died with the curtain drop of my abysmal performance in The Pirates of Penzance aged 12!
The Goffs London Sale, in association with QIPCO, 16th June, The Orangery, Kensington Palace, W8; goffs.com. Royal Ascot (17th-21st June) features seven QIPCO British Champions Series races.
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22/05/2014 18:49