Conduit loss for Suffern

THE breeding scene in Northern Ireland has suffered a major loss with the death of Conduit, the only thoroughbred stallion standing in the region. Commiserations to Hugh Suffern and all the team at Tullyraine House where the chesnut had become a real favourite in a short space of time. (See page 7.)

THE dual Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Skymas was just one of the many successful horses trained by Brian Lusk who this week features in the Irish Horse World section of this paper (page 110) along with his brother Harold and the latter’s wife Jenny.

The siblings not only recall the great horses who passed through their hands but also refer to local riders who rode for them on the track and in show jumping.

WHEN racing resumed in Britain at the start of this month, one of the earliest winners mentioned in this column was Muker whose work rider is Co Antrim-born Sammy Jo Bell, partner of the two-year-old’s trainer, Philip Makin.

The north Yorkshire-based couple, and owners SYPS (UK) Ltd, were just denied a listed race success at Royal Ascot on Wednesday when the Mehmas colt, who was sent off a 40/1 shot, was beaten by one and a quarter lengths and a short-head in the Windsor Castle Stakes by Queen Elizabeth’s homebred Tactical (7/2 favourite) and the 20/1 chance Yazaman.