JOHNNY Weatherby holds two of the most important roles in racing and breeding, those of chairman of the family-owned Weatherbys and of Ascot Racecourse. In the latter case he is Her Majesty’s representative, overseeing the management of the racecourse on behalf of the Queen.
He is one of the trustees appointed by the Queen under an Act of Parliament to run the racecourse and he commenced this role about five years ago. He has worked with Weatherbys for a considerably longer time, joining the firm in 1979 and being appointed to the most senior position in 1993. The company was founded in 1770 and its most important role is to maintain the stud books in Ireland and Britain. Johnny is the seventh generation of the family to run the company in an unbroken history.
Next week Johnny will be at Punchestown where Weatherbys Ireland will sponsor the mares’ bumper at the five-day Festival. This is part of a commitment by the company to support the ITBA National Hunt Fillies Scheme, a huge boost to the series of initiatives to boost the profile of jumping fillies and mares which has seen some very significant improvements in their racing programme.
While that involvement will represent Johnny’s professional involvement at Punchestown, he has a very personal interest in one horse running at the meeting.
Presenting Percy is expected to step up to Grade 1 class and tackle Penhill in the Grade 1 novices’ hurdle on Wednesday following his recent impressive victory in the Listed Pertemps Network Final at Cheltenham. Following that win he went up nearly a stone in the ratings.
Presenting Percy was bred by Preston Lodge Stud in Oakham, Rutland and this is the stud farm owned by Johnny Weatherby.
Presenting Percy is a six-year-old son of the Lanwades Stud-owned Sir Percy and is out of the Presenting mare Hunca Munca.
She is the only National Hunt mare among the half a dozen broodmares owned by Johnny solely or in partnership. There are a number of Irish connections among them.
Hunca Munca was sourced in Ireland by Aidan Murphy and the late David Nicholson and carried the Weatherby silks to victory in a couple of point-to-points in England.
OURSTANDING PERFORMER
Presenting Percy is her outstanding performer to date, but was preceded by a brace of point-to-point winners by Kayf Tara.
Hunca Munca is from the immediate family of the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition, another Cheltenham Festival winner in King Harald, and the Grade 2 NH winners Emotional Moment, Blueberry Boy and Tulsa Jack.
She is in foal to Sir Percy and has a yearling by Malinas.
Presenting Percy was sold at Tattersalls Ireland through Victor Connolly’s Burgage Stud, while other mares reside at times with Luke Barry in Manister House Stud and at Kiltinan Castle Stud under the care of Simon Marsh.
The flat mares include the listed-placed Stirring Ballad (half-sister to Group 1 winner Balisada) and Padmini (a winning daughter of the multiple Group 1 winner Petrushka) in partnership, while the three-time winning Tiger Hill mare Epernay, four-time winner and listed-placed Dragonera, and the winning Oasis Dream mare Deserted are wholly owned.
The Preston Lodge mares are under the daily care of Kelly Morgan, a daughter of the recently retired trainer Kevin who has been succeeded to the licence by another daughter Laura.