2012

EXCELEBRATION was in the running for a big prize on the Curragh this week, and this time there was no Frankel about to spoil the party.

The occasion was the Connolly’s Red Mills/The Irish Field Breeder of the Year completion, and the accolade went to Excelebration’s breeder, John Tuthill of Owenstown Stud in Maynooth, Co Kildare. Tuthill, a nephew of the late Averil Whitehead, was the winner of a monthly award for last September, when Excelebration won the Group 1 Prix du Moulin at Longchamp.

The horse has run four times since then, winning at the Curragh and finishing second to Frankel the other three times.

The 2011 flat season was an incredible one for Tuthill as he was also responsible for last year’s Group 2 winning two-year-olds Dragon Pulse, then trained by Jessica Harrington, and Chandlery with Richard Hannon. It was no surprise that his achievements were recognised by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association earlier this year.

In the year of Excelebration’s birth, Tuthill sold the dam Sun Shower, by Indian Ridge, in foal to Strategic Prince for just €10,000 at Goffs to Hugo Merry. She was exported to India but has since been repatriated by Coolmore who, of course, have also bought Excelebration himself.

“Let this be a lesson to all breeders, to think twice before you sell your mares!” joked Tuthill on receiving his award at the Hanged Man’s in Milltown, near the Curragh, last Monday evening. A further dozen monthly awards were also presented on the night, including two for last October when the competition produced a dead-heat between Jim Bolger and Ballymacoll Stud.

Absent on the night were Paul and Marie McCartan of Ballyphilip Stud in Co Limerick, who won the award for May of this year. They bred Xtension, the multiple Group 1 winner in Hong Kong.

[The award winners for 2011-2012 were Kilfrush Stud for Immortal Verse, James Aylward for Moon Dice, Nick Hartery for Margot Did, John Tuthill for Excelebration, Jim Bolger and Ballymacoll Stud for Parish Hall and Glass Harmonium respectively, Lois Eadie for Bob’s Worth, John Furlong for Bog Warrior, John F Costigan for Seabass, John O’Mahony for Last Instalment, John O’Dwyer for Rock On Ruby, Sean Cahill for Champagne Fever and Paul and Marie McCartan for Xtension]

Great promise for the future

2007

LAST Sunday’s meeting at Maisons-Laffitte was a relatively quiet one, but the two group races on the card provided winners which offer plenty of promise for the future.

The Group 3 Prix du Bois over five furlongs marked the first pattern race of the season in France for two-year-olds, and was won in good style by Natagora. Pascal Bary’s filly was a warm even-money favourite on the back of two wins prior to this, her first run in group company. Her smooth four-length success in the Listed Prix la Fleche last time out set the standard for this eight-runner event, and her many backers were spared any anxious moments.

Settled just off the pace set by Wilki, Natagora quickened up when asked by Stephane Pasquier, and took up the running two furlongs from home. She also had plenty in the tank as she found more in the final furlong, running on well to keep Wilki at bay by three-parts of a length.

A return here on July 22nd for the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin looks a logical next step for Natagora, especially as she has taken her racing well this season, and was not subjected to an overly strenuous afternoon here.

This was also a terrific result for her sire, the Japanese-bred son of Sunday Silence, Divine Light. Natagora is one of just eight foals from his first crop, and both his representatives to date have been winners. Divine Light stands at a small stud in the south west of France and, although lack of numbers will hinder any aspirations of a freshman sire title, he looks to have done enough already to earn himself a move to one of the major Normandy studs next season.

[Natagora, as predicated by Desmond Stoneham, did win the Prix Robert Papin before adding the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes and earning her the title of best juvenile filly in England. The following year she won the Group 1 1000 Guineas and her placings at the highest level included finishing third in the Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby.

At stud Natagora is the dam of four winners, one of them a stakes winner]

Berry is on fire at Bellewstown

1982

CHAMPION National Hunt rider, Frank Berry, could not have had a better Bellewstown.

He rode in one race on each of the three days and won on all three, bringing his total to 29 for the year. That tally reached 30 when his dash to Thurles on Thursday night was rewarded.

Sineads Princess, Northern Sky and Tamers Belle were the Berry winners, while Declan Gillespie’s bid for the flat jockey’s title was boosted by successes on Sentas Girl, Sanmarr and Loose Goose.

Wally Swinburn, who rode two winners at the meeting, will remember Bellewstown 1982 for other reasons. He took a heavy fall when his mount, Publisher, stumbled inside the final furlong of a race on Thursday, and the rider was extremely fortunate to escape with bruises and a shaking.

When times were uncivil indeed

1932

SIR Henry Greer gave me particulars of Blandford’s early years, and from these it was clear that had the colt not inherited a fundamentally sound constitution, he would not have survived.

During the civil war (it was mighty ‘uncivil’ at times), a number of cart horses broke into the National Stud. They galloped madly about the place and interfered with Blandford, who was then a yearling. They maltreated him, so much so that there was a fear that he would not survive. He was rescued from his malefactors and stabled safely.

For quite a length of time Blandford seemed to have lost the use of the muscles of his legs; he had to be raised to be hand fed. The careful treatment he received brought him round. He thrived apace, and was sent up for sale in the usual way. Mr R.C. Dawson, the Whatcombe trainer, told Sir Henry Greer that he liked the colt very much, and that his bloodlines were so well balanced that he would buy him.

Sir Henry agreed that the colt was very good-looking and well-bred, but he said to Mr Dawson that before he bid for him he should know that he had had a rough experience. The details were given to Mr Dawson, who thanked Sir Henry for his frankness, and added that he had not changed his mind, and would bid for him.

He bought Blandford for 730gns.

[Blandford went on to be champion sire in Ireland and Britain three times and sired four winners of the Derby at Epsom. He was champion sire once in France. He was bred at the Irish National Stud in Tully.

Trained by co-owner Dick Dawson, Blandford raced only four times. At two he ran second in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Ascot and at three he won the Princess of Wales’s Stakes. When he retired to stud he initially stood at a fee of £149. This was later raised to 400gns.

He sired Trigo (Derby, St Leger and Irish St. Leger), Blenheim (Derby), Udaipur (Oaks), Brantôme (Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe), Campanula (1000 Guineas), Windsor Lad (Derby, St Leger and Coronation Cup), Bahram (English Triple Crown) and Pasch (2000 Guineas)]