Susan Finnerty

UP WITH THE LARK

2000. 168cms SHB(GB): Graded

BRITISH event horse breeding has taken on a renewed focus in recent years and with the recent loss of British Eventing’s top-ranked sire Jumbo, the classically-bred Up With The Lark is set to become an increasingly popular sire choice.

Like the late Jumbo, Up With The Lark was also campaigned successfully on the eventing circuit and was British Eventing’s Breeding Champion as a four-year-old. He then finished in the top-10 the following year in the Burghley Young Event Horse final – which like our Future Event Horse League, has produced noted performers. One Burghley success story is Tina Cook’s dual Olympic team horse Miners Frolic, who also won individual bronze at the Hong Kong Games.

Promising youngsters can fade on the competition front, however Up With The Lark went on to compete successfully for eight seasons with Michael Jackson and had already reached Advanced level as an eight-year-old. Some of his best results included his 2010 season when he placed ninth, ahead of Coolio, Mr Cruise Control and High Kingdom, in the advanced section at Chatsworth International. This was followed by another top-10 place in the two-star class at Barbury Castle International where he placed seventh, again in stellar company with Shamwari 4, Parklane Hawk and Lionheart also in the field.

Up With The Lark retired sound in 2012 and was purchased by the Harforth family to stand at their Stanley Grange Stud, set in beautiful North Yorkshire countryside. Founded in 1975, it is now firmly established as one of Britain’s leading studs and Jerome Harforth stands a variety of stallions, from top show pony sires to thoroughbreds, all with outstanding bloodlines.

Up With The Lark’s sire, Welton Apollo was also an advanced event stallion and was bred by the pioneer of British eventing breeding Sam Barr. Both Badminton-placed Welton Apollo and Lucy Thomson’s Welton Romance, a grand-daughter of Barr’s foundation sire Welton Gameful, went on to compete at European championships level, with Thomson winning a gold medal for Ireland in 1995.

The influence of the brilliant Tourbillon, seen in the leading eventing sires Master Imp and Heraldik, is also seen in Welton Gameful’s pedigree. Another of this thoroughbred’s best-known offspring is Welton Gazelle, the dam of the successful half-brother stallions; Yarlands Summer Song, on the French Olympic eventing team and dressage star, Catherston Dazzler.

Magical Lark, Up With The Lark’s dam, was successfully competed by Sarah Taylor, reaching advanced before retiring to stud. In 2000 she was one of the top-five graded mares with SHB(GB) and both her sire and the brilliant event sire, I’m A Star, were by the Raise A Native son, Crowned Prince.

I’m A Star produced leading event horses of the calibre of Mary King’s Badminton and Punchestown winner Star Appeal, with the pair also on the British team at the Sydney Olympics; Comanche and Moon Man.

She has also produced Up With The Lark’s half-brother Merlot’s Magic, competing at three-star level with Italian rider Vittoria Panizzon. Bred to perform, Up With The Lark has proven to be extremely fertile and is available to Irish breeders via fresh, chilled or frozen semen.

The oldest offspring of this stallion, who is 87% TB, are now appearing under saddle, and seem to have inherited his trademark qualities of laid-back temperaments, movement and careful jump. His correct conformation, lovely flat bone, and extravagant movement are also proving popular with showhorse breeders. One such example is Davillon Athena, whose dam Baydale Venus was the 2009 Hack of the Year. This exceptional filly received the third-highest mark at the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) futurity foal gradings last year.

Stanley Grange Stud manager David Dixon is the resident qualified AI technician, and has over 25 years experience of working with broodmares, foals and stallions. He is available at any time to discuss requirements, and visitors are always made welcome. A frequent visitor to Ireland, including judging duty, Dixon has also sourced Irish-bred mares including Emperor Augustus broodmare daughters to add to the Stanley Grange herd.

The stud offers top-class visiting mare and AI facilities and works closely with Hambleton Equine Clinic, who offer customers an all-inclusive veterinary package.

STANLEY GRANGE STUD

Contact: David Dixon

Telephone: 00 44 7732 645066

Web: www.stanleygrangestud.com