Proclamation joins Longford House
STILL in the ownership of Sheikh Mohammed, the Group 1 Sussex Stakes winner and champion miler Proclamation is the latest new addition to the stallion ranks at Longford House Stud in Co Tipperary for the 2018 stud season. He will stand now as a National Hunt sire and a fee will be set at a later date.
Described as “a lovely, big grey horse with good bone and super temperament”, the son of King’s Best also won the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and beat eight Group 1 winners in his career. A half-brother to the Grade 1 Sun Alliance Novices’ Hurdle winner No Refuge, Proclamation comes from a hugely successful Aga Khan family.
Proclamation has enjoyed plenty of success with his runners under both codes. Renowned for the durability of his stock, his winners on the flat include the highly rated trio of Annunciation (Shergar Cup Sprint), Frosty Berry (seven wins) and the unbeaten Magic Casement, while others include Precision Five (eight wins), Echo Brave (seven wins), Silver Alliance (10 wins) and Goninodaethat (eight wins). His best performer over jumps is the Gary Moore-trained Chris Pea Green. September has been a good month for the progeny of Proclamation with Prominna and Our Lord winning on the level, and Pengo’s Boy winning over hurdles.
John Ferguson back in business
THREE months after resigning from his role as CEO of Godolphin, John Ferguson has returned to racing. He has teamed up with Sam Haggas, son of trainer William, to re-form John Ferguson Bloodstock, buying for numerous clients.
Almanzor fee set at €35,000
ALMANZOR, winner of the Qipco Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and Ascot last year, will stand at Haras d’Etreham in France next season. His fee has been set at €35,000.
A son of the Iffraaj horse Wootton Bassett, Almanzor was retired after just one start this season. His 2017 campaign was badly affected by a bout of equine herpes in the yard of trainer Jean Claude Rouget.
Almanzor raced in the colours of Gerard Augustin-Normand but it is believed that shares in the horse are also held by Antonio Caro, SF Bloodstock, Haras d’Etreham, Riviera Equine SARL and Maurice Lagasse. Other international breeders are being invited to join the syndicate.
Plus 10 bonanza at Naas
NEXT Wednesday, Naas will host a meeting which consists of seven races for two-year-olds, including maidens, handicaps and claiming races. All seven of these races carry a Plus 10 bonus, giving connections of qualified horses the opportunity to boost their winning prize money by €12,500.
The addition of the Plus 10 bonus funds increases the prize money available by 91% and, should all winners be qualified for Plus 10, an additional €87,500 will be collected by owners, breeders and trainers.Almost 270 Plus 10 bonuses have been won across the Britain and Ireland in 2017 paying out over €3.3m in additional prize money. This takes the total amount paid out to date to over €13 million in less than three years.
Web: plus10bonus.com