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Newsletter 2019

“” by Grace. THE SHADE OAK NEWSLETTER: 2020 SEASON This is the sort of winter day I : crisp, dry, the sun rising low in the sky and the fields and hedges glistening with dew as they invite the thrilling chase that surely awaits me and my trusty charge, Sir Francis. So, why, you might very well ask (as I did myself not five minutes ago), am I locked in the loo with just an ipad for company? “That’s where most people read it so that’s where you can write it,” my lovely wifie kindly explained. So here I am, poised to bring you informative information and insightful insights into stud life, stallions, breeding and anything else that comes into my head so that I can produce sufficient words to earn early release, aided only by my trusty assistant who sits poised at the other end of an email connection ready to dig up some relevant statistic I can’t quite call to mind or remind me of the odd fact that I asked him to make a note of for just this moment. So here, just so long as the broadband doesn’t go down, is the annual Shade Oak Newsletter…

THE SEARCH FOR A STALLION For the second year running we have no news of a new both Telescope and Dartmouth and a great trainer of stallion arriving at Shade Oak for the forthcoming season. I middle-distance , made the dreadful mistake of realise that breeders are often excited at the thought of using running him in a 10 furlong Group 1 rather than tackling a new stallion. It is a little like having a new car, shiny and the much simpler task of a 12 furlong Group 2 – and he full of exciting possibilities – for about a week, until you went and won it! My assistant rebuked Sir Michael in no realise that it does pretty much the same thing in getting uncertain terms when he encountered him at a TBA event you from A to B but lacks some of the things you shortly afterwards, but the only response from the eminent really liked about the previous car. However, the fact that knight a roar of laughter. we don’t have a shiny, expensive new model to offer will be a disappointment to some, as in some ways it is to me. Nonetheless I continued with my usual practice in such cases of developing a 10 year spreadsheet forecast of the However, there is no point bringing in a new stallion if he is numbers of nominations we might sell each year, and at simply not as good as the ones we already have here, which what fees, and then performing a Discounted Cash Flow in I believe is the case for all those arriving at British studs in order to indicate what price might sensibly be afforded to 2020. Our policies in buying stallions are simple: purchase him – I just love doing this stuff! Eventually, the 1. We buy a stallion with the intention of keeping him at horse suffered an injury and had to be retired. With several Shade Oak for the rest of his stud career, rather than friends that own good NH broodmares we formed a small selling him on if we receive a tempting offer or if it syndicate and put in our best offer, which involved a sum looks as if he is proving a disappointment. of money that certainly made my eyes water. Unfortunately, 2. We only buy a stallion if we think he is good enough ‘the lads’ whose eyes are already located over the water to send significant numbers of our own mares to, in (in Barbados usually) have ready access to rather greater the expectation that the sales and racing results of their amounts of money and were prepared to spend a tiny produce will advertise his merits to other breeders. portion of it purchasing the horse to stand in Ireland, so it 3. We look for stallions that were high-class racehorses was bye bye and goodnight to dreams of looking out of the with the combination of high cruising speed, stamina, window gazing at a . size, scope, soundness, athleticism and toughness that is required in a top-class NH horse. We also believe The alternative approach, of course, is to look for a stallion that they should themselves be by outstanding sires that has stood abroad or as a Flat sire and is good enough and with good pedigrees. These factors indicate that to be credible but not so good that he can’t be bought. This the stallion is likely to pass on the right genes to a approach can work if you are clever enough (or more likely sufficient number of his produce such that he proves lucky enough) to spot one that is under-rated at the time himself a high-class sire. you buy him, even by his owners! However, the risk for breeders using him is that they are vulnerable to the results Each year I spend many hours, aided only by the odd of a relatively small number of his produce that are likely to observation from my trusty assistant, tracking well-bred Flat race over Jumps in Great Britain and Ireland. horses racing over middle-distances, looking for just these characteristics. Some fall by the wayside, not realising the If some do well the stallion will be regarded as a success. If potential they once appeared to have. The odd one becomes they fail, which is far more likely for a sire with only a few simply too successful to obtain as a Jumps sire – if he wins a representatives (often bred from moderate mares), the foals major Group 1 other than over 1¾ miles or more he is likely you produce by the ‘new hot sire’ may be as cold as yesterday’s to be tried as a Flat stallion and will only become available tea by the time you come to sell them. Using unproven for Jumps breeding if he comes to be regarded as a failure stallions is always a gamble, but the odds are much longer if in that role - not a great advertisement! You are looking for you are relying on hearsay of what is in the pipeline rather one good enough to win at Group 1 level but that for some than hard facts about the stallion’s race record, pedigree and reason didn’t quite succeed – like Telescope when he was produce record – which, coincidentally, we seek to provide collared in the last furlong of the King George VI & Queen below. Elizabeth S by a top-class filly () to whom he was giving 15lbs, a near-impossible task. Anyway, we don’t have a new stallion that ticks all the boxes we want, and we certainly don’t have one that has been at In 2018 we thought we had spotted one, a middle-distance stud for several years but we have been able to identify as Flat horse by a stallion we admire, who had won several a hot-shot that no-one else has noticed; so instead I must but not a Group 1. We were poised to strike. move on to the stallions we actually have – plus one we Then in 2019 Sir , the man who developed might have one day….

Newsletter 2019 CHOOSING A STALLION FOR YOUR MARE Choosing a stallion for your mare depends upon why you are request one. The problem is that, like those on Black Friday, trying to breed a foal in the first place. If you are doing so to these discounts are often achieved by the ingenious plan of earn a living, then skip this part because I don’t know how to applying them to fees that are excessive in the first place, do that since I earn my living with the help of my good friends which in addition are dependent on the euro/£ exchange Mr Wind-Turbine, Mrs Solar-Panel and Ms Bio-Boiler, and rate. When you look at the most important measure, what by standing a few carefully selected stallions. I breed foals so you will actually pay in pounds sterling, the ‘great deal’ may as to support these stallions and because I enjoy breeding not be quite as great as it seemed to be. them. However, most of the people reading this newsletter probably have the following hopes and aspirations: Then you come to the important issue of getting the mare in foal, which not only affects when the foal will be born (1) They are trying to produce good racehorses. and how much in keep and veterinary charges you will have (2) If they have to sell foals to make ends meet they want incurred by then, but whether she gets in foal at all. Far be to make decent money. it from me to comment, but you may have heard rumours that some studs ‘over the water’ take unlimited numbers of In both cases the choice of the stallion is critical (as, of bookings to their most in demand stallions so that, if your course, is choosing the right mare to breed from in the first mare comes in season on a particular day in Spring, then, as place – but that is a topic for another day!). the well-known bloodstock reporter ‘Dirty Harry’ Callaghan might suggest: “The question you gotta ask is ‘Do I feel The general principle that many hours of in depth research lucky?’”. On occasions it is not unknown for mares owned (mainly spent listening to my trusty assistant droning on by distant breeders from a former colonial power to turn out about the topic) has taught me is that the best NH stallions to be particularly unlucky in that regard, so they cannot be are most likely to come from the ranks of those that were top- fitted in on the due day. class racehorses, ideally over 1½ miles, and by outstanding sires. The great Meatloaf may well be correct in asserting Of course, the stud will try to help and you may well receive that ‘two out of three ain’t bad’, but three out of three is a concerned phone call: “I’m afraid (stallion in fashion), better - and all three of the stallions at Shade Oak today most ‘Everyonesawinner’ would be a bit sore down there today definitely have that, which certainly ain’t bad. Each has the so he’d need to take it easy, but we can get you a cover in 10 genetic potential to be a very good stallion, so if you decide minutes from a real good prospect (stallion not in fashion), to use one the key is to choose the sire you believe has the ‘Mightnotbeuseless’. greatest chance of helping you achieve your objectives with your mare, bearing in mind not only his innate potential All I know is that we regularly receive mares late in the season but how well he complements the mare’s characteristics, that have had ‘problems getting in foal’ despite having visited particularly in conformation and temperament. The notes leading stallions abroad for several months – and we regularly that follow on each stallion should help you do this. get them in foal, though with the owner a couple of thousand pounds out of pocket by the time that happens. So if you Ultimately, the best stallions usually go on to be the most want to follow the fashion of the latest ‘hot sire prospect’, do successful stallions commercially, for the obvious reason that remember to ask yourself ‘the Dirty Harry question’! they are more likely to breed horses that run faster than other horses and people will pay more money for horses like that. First, though, before I try to come up with something new So such as Flemensfirth, Presenting, King’s Theatre, Kayf to say about our stallions, let me share a few statistics relating Tara et al. became successful commercial stallions when they to the most promising NH sires aged 12 or below (and proved their ability to breed top-class jumpers. Right now, therefore relatively unproven) in Great Britain in 2020. As most breeders would struggle to name a proven stallion in you look at these remember the criteria that best predict a their class; and it is doubtful if any under the age of twenty successful NH stallion: racing ability (indicated by his best are. Racing Post Rating), best racing distance (the nearer to 12 furlongs the better), sire (here showing a ranking based on So I would suggest that, unless you really are one of those extensive research that I have personally carried out into the that can see where the market is going before it has any idea RPRs of all runners by over 800 Flat sires). itself, the best approach is to choose a stallion that you believe will breed good horses and that you think could breed one of Stallion Best RPR Best Distance Sire (Quality) these from your mare, and then trust to good fortune that it Telescope 125 12 furlongs (Outstanding) will happen and that potential buyers will recognise the fact. 125 12 furlongs Halling (Good) It is clear that there is a much greater choice of stallions in Dartmouth 121 12 furlongs Dubawi (Outstanding) Ireland and France than in the UK, so why not send your Pether’s Moon 120 12 furlongs (Useful) mare there to be covered? Well here are some (of course) Cannock Chase 120 10+ furlongs Lemon Drop Kid (Very Useful) entirely unbiased reasons on why this might not always be a Frontiersman 119 12 furlongs Dubawi (Outstanding) good idea, in addition to the fact that we firmly believe that the stallions we have here are at least as good as those you Flag of Honour 116 14 furlongs Galileo (Outstanding) will find overseas. 116 14+ furlongs (Useful) Masterstroke 114 12 furlongs Monsun (Very Good) Firstly, of course, it costs more. Transport to and from Ireland is likely to cost almost £1,000 more than to a stud in This is not rocket science: the better the racehorse and the England; whilst your keep and veterinary fees are generally better his sire the more likely a stallion is to possess the genes higher. The money clock starts ticking…. required to produce high-class racing ability in his offspring; whilst top middle-distance horses have a similar blend of As regards stallion fees, you can often get reasonably good speed, stamina and toughness to that required by Jumps discounts on those quoted, with a filly foal deal if you horses.

Newsletter 2019 TELESCOPE

Since Telescope scores Indeed, the attention drawn by the quality of Telescope’s highly on all three of the key early crops reminds me of the excitement caused when predictors of a NH stallion, Presenting’s first foals appeared; and, with two Gold it is small wonder that he Cup winners amongst his progeny, he lived up to those has attracted a great deal expectations fairly well! of attention. Yes, he was a top-class racehorse and a Amongst the mares whose foals we await with particular brilliant 7 length winner of excitement are those from Feathard Lady (herself an a Royal Ascot Group 2. Yes, unbeaten Grade 1 winner who produced Grade 1 winner he is a son of the world’s Augusta Kate), Chamoss Royale (already dam of three high- greatest stallion and one of class chasers – the Southfields Theatre, Royale and Vic), La the greatest in history. And Perrotine (dam of Sizing John) and high-class racemares yes, he is big, beautiful and a wonderful walker. But even I Amaretto Rose, Indian Stream, Gemini Lucy and Lifeboat have been delighted at just how well he has been received. Mona. He has covered over 600 mares in his first four years at stud, which is remarkable for a British stallion; and these included Each year mares of similar quality have visited Telescope and over 100 TBA Elite Mares, more than any other sire over the the first of their offspring are likely to be racing successfully same period. early in the 2021/22 Jumps season. Both my partner in the horse and I have already had particularly promising 2YO His foals too have attracted serious attention at the Sales, fillies broken and pre-trained, ready to make an early start. bringing prices of £40,000, €34,000, €32,000, €31,000, Others from that first crop include offspring from numerous €30,000, €30,000, £28,000, €25,000, etc. Apart from an good racemares such as Aimigayle, Countess Camilla, odd grey they are all bay, usually a dark colour; and their size, Gemini Lucy, Jaunty Flight, Laetitia, Lecon Benefique, scope and walk attract attention, making them ‘must views’ Midnight Belle, Molly’s A Diva, Pepite Rose, Petite Margot, for leading foal buyers. One of the reasons why Telescope’s Posh Pearl, Tally Em Up and Theatre Belle. book increased in his fourth year at stud, at a time when the number of mares visiting a stallion often falls as breeders await Early successes from some of these, which are not difficult his first runners, is that so many people have been impressed to , are likely to stimulate a bout of ‘Telescopofilia’ by his stock. Hopefully they will continue to be so at the in the sales ring in November 2021, just when you may be remaining Sales of 2019 foals (Goffs IRE December, Goffs selling the beautiful foals you produce next year. Telescope in UK Doncaster and IRE February) and by the foals 2020 could be the greatest Jumps stallion bargain since Kayf from Telescope’s biggest and possibly most promising crop to Tara stood for £2,000 in 2006! date, to be born in Spring 2020.

Telescope’s Credentials Bay, 16.2 h.h. by Galileo - Dubawi – Galatee by Galileo. Pure-breeding bay.

By one of the greatest stallions of all time, Galileo, not only sire of the legendary but of four Derby winners amongst 26 Classic winners so far. Holds the joint record total of 84 individual Flat Group / Grade 1 winners and Sire in the UK and Ireland 11 times, the third best total in history. Also an outstanding sire of sires, with 17 different sons that have produced Group 1 winners to date.

From the Sadler’s Wells / cross that produced Derby winner High Chaparral (also sire of Altior) and St Leger winner and top-class NH sire . Dam is half-sister to winner .

Brilliant winner of Royal Ascot’s Hardwicke S, a Group 1 in all but name, beating Hillstar and Pether’s Moon by 7 lengths, and of the Great Voltiguer S. Also placed second in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes to the superb filly, Taghrooda (giving 15lb), and third to in the Juddmonte International (giving 8lb). A combination of high cruising speed and great acceleration made him a formidable racehorse.

DARTMOUTH

I have been delighted breeders to afford. The foals sold well because they looked with the quality, looks strong, they walked well and they had great temperaments. and temperament of This is also what I am seeing in the Dartmouth foals I Dartmouth’s first foals. encounter at home. The first two offered sold for €35,000 and €24,000 Since he has been at Shade Oak Dartmouth has strengthened at Tattersalls Ireland; and, and filled out, and he is an increasingly good-looking horse although both were from that is hard to fault. He has a great pedigree, by the world’s well-bred mares, neither of second best stallion from a daughter of its best; and he was these was the type of high- an immensely tough racehorse at his best from 1½ to 1¾ profile Black-Type winner miles, a horse whose determination to win was exemplified that is difficult for normal when he outfought the remarkable at the

Newsletter 2019 finish of the Ascot’s Hardwicke S. Surely that same hunger Dartmouth’s Credentials for success will one day see some of his offspring battle to victory up the Cheltenham hill? Bay, 16.1½ h.h. by Dubawi – Galatee by Galileo. Pure-breeding bay. Dartmouth has what may be an ideal temperament for a One of the best 1½ mile horses by the outstanding sire , being relaxed to the point of laziness when in training but far from relaxed when it came to a fight to Dubawi, whose few NH runners include Two-Mile the finish; when he would give his all in order to succeed. Champion Chase winner Dodging Bullets. Dam won Although he is plenty big enough at 16.1½ h.h., he is a little Group and Listed races and has also produced both a more compact than Telescope and so may be an ideal mate dual Group 2 winner and a Listed winner. to put some power into a big, rangy mare. Won every year from the ages of two to five, from one He too is a pure breeding bay that cannot sire a chesnut; mile to 1¾ miles, including four Group races, including and having seen his produce I shall increase the number of Hardwicke S by a hard-fought head from the six-times mares I send to him and I believe others will come to the Group 1 winner Highland Reel. Also beat subsequent same conclusion. All being well, one of the mares that will Irish St Leger winner Wicklow Brave in the visit him in 2020 is Sizing John’s dam, since Dartmouth’s S at Chester and took the 1¾ mile Yorkshire Cup over determination and toughness put her owner in mind of the former St Leger winner, . Also 2nd in Midnight Legend. G1 Canadian International and 3rd in King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S.

SCORPION

For those looking to use Punchestown and Aintree chase winner Riders On The a proven sire the choice Storm; and the highly promising novice hurdler, Danny amongst Jumps sires in Great Kirwen. Britain is restricted, with only two having produced Like our other stallions was a top-class racehorse, more than a single Grade winner of three Group 1 races including the St Leger and 1 winner. Heading the list, ; and he is a good-looking, quality horse of course, is Kayf Tara with by an outstanding sire, , who , as well being an seven, but he will be 26 outstanding NH influence, is one of only two horses in the years old in 2020. Runner- last 80 years to sire four Derby winners. Like his sire and his up with three (Might Bite, stud companions Scorpion is a pure-breeding bay. Don’t Touch It and Scorpiancer), but eight years younger, So though there may be newer, shinier models on the is Scorpion. No sire of the same age or younger in either forecourt, none of them have proved that they have the Ireland or France has produced more; and no other stallion ‘power and performance at a price’ offered by a Scorpion – standing in Great Britain is closer to Kayf Tara’s earnings and very few of them ever will. By the time they reach their record. teens many will be rusty has-beens moved on to a second- hand stallion dealer; only the really good ones keep on going Might Bite had a disappointing season in 2018/19, but he is mile after mile after mile, as Scorpion does. Sometimes the one of few horses to prove capable of winning Championship best bargains are the most obvious; and, given the extensive events at Cheltenham (RSA Novices Chase), Kempton (King road test he has already passed, Scorpion is obviously a real George VI Chase) and Aintree (Aintree Bowl, Mildmay bargain! Novices Chase). However, Scorpion maintained his profile as a leading NH sire with other high-class performers in (P.S. I was in trouble there for a moment with that car the Grade 2 and Grade 3 winning hurdler, Derrinross; the analogy but I think I got away with it.)

Scorpion’s Credentials Bay, 16.1½, by Montjeu – Ardmelody, Law Society. Pure-breeding bay. By a great racehorse and stallion, Montjeu, not only sire of four Derby winners and grandsire of another but also of dual Champion Hurdler, Hurricane Fly, and sires of top-class NH winners Walk In The Park (Douvan and Min) and (Nichols Canyon and Tiger Roll). Dam is by a grandson of from the family of Ardross and our own Alflora. Very good racehorse from three to five, from 1½ to 1¾ miles. As well as wins in three Group 1 races, the St Leger, Grand Prix de Paris and Coronation Cup, also placed a close second behind in the and Yeats in the Irish St Leger. Sire of quadruple Grade 1 winner and Cheltenham Gold Cup second Might Bite; also of Grade 1 Hurdles winners Don’t Touch It and Scorpiancer; Grade 2 and Grade 3 Hurdles winner Derrinross; Grade 3 Chase winner and G1 Hurdle second, Tell Us More and several Graded and Listed winners.

Newsletter 2019 MIDNIGHTS LEGACY

Almost three years ago, Last season ‘Leggy’ was a 2YO and David decided that he shortly after Sizing John would be raced at that age, despite his uninvited marketing won the Cheltenham Gold advisor telling him that this was a really bad idea, since Cup, Dorte Mayoh (as losing in so-so Flat races would seriously undermine the she now is) had one of the innovative and exciting marketing messages he had planned barmiest ideas in what I am to boost the horse’s stallion career (which concept, I must reliably informed is a long remind you, he had previously described as ‘bonkers’). On career of barmy ideas (I am 30th September ‘Leggy’ made his racing debut over one mile far too polite to speculate at Bath, going off at odds of 33-1. To everyone’s satisfaction on what is probably the and considerable relief he ran most promisingly, getting barmiest of them all). This away slowly, tapped for speed 3 furlongs out but then was that one of the colt running on strongly at the finish to close on the leaders. foals from Midnight Legend’s last crop, born that Spring, should be kept entire to become a stallion. Just over two weeks later he ran over 1 mile 2 furlongs on soft ground on the same course, going off at 11-2 despite Her kindly husband patiently explained that the idea was being faced by a Frankel colt trained by and bonkers; very few foals were even due from that last crop others sired by , , and and finding a breeder that was (a) mad enough to try and Authorized, trained by the likes of Mark Johnson, Richard (b) lucky enough to succeed was a very long shot indeed. Hannon and Mick Channon. Before the start Leggy looked in no way overawed by such company, strolling around A couple of weeks later they ran into Midnight Legend’s calmly with the lovely long-striding walk that we look for owners, David & Kathleen Holmes, in the Goffs Yorton in a Jumps Stallion. suite at ; and Dorte outlined her cunning plan. To Dr Mayoh’s considerable surprise, He was held up during the race and pushed along two Kathleen looked taken aback, not from astonishment that furlongs out, but then stamina kicked in and he first closed someone could come up with such a crazy concept but with the leaders and then powered past them to go on to a because she had already had the very same idea! The Holmes convincing victory. David’s own ‘crazy’ idea of running him had just one mare in foal to Midnight Legend that year, a as a 2YO had paid off… I can almost see the advertisement well- bred daughter of called Giving; and when it now: “Beat sons of Frankel, Camelot & Golden Horn as a was suggested that Midnight’s Legacy would be an excellent 2YO, won XXXXX on the Flat and YYYYY over hurdles – name for the progeny Kathleen’s surprise grew even more, the stallion son of the great Midnight Legend who did it for she had thought of the self-same name! under both codes!”

However, the foal hadn’t even been born yet, so his or her First, of course, he has to do it at all and the odds are still sex was another minor obstacle that might lie in the way of against ‘Leggy’ proving as good as we all hope he will be; but a stallion career, even in these enlightened days of more fluid at least the dream lives on for a while longer. Let’s hope it is gender determination. actually beginning to come true when I write the 2021 or 2022 editions of this Newsletter! On May 1st 2017 Giving duly gave birth to a bay colt foal at Batsford Stud; but within a few hours the mare died N.B. Someone who finds the time to watch far more tv of a broad ligament rupture, leaving ‘Leggy’ an orphan. racing than I do tells me that one person not quite sharing However, a foster mother was swiftly and the colt the dream was TV interviewer Matt Chapman, who grew into a strong, bold individual very like his great sire. evidently had no idea who Kathleen Holmes was when he He was duly named Midnights Legacy (Kathleen forgot the spoke to her after the race and had clearly never read any apostrophe) and the target from Day 1 was to prove him a of Martin Steven’s articles about ‘Leggy’. One might think good enough racehorse to justify a stallion career, though this is bad enough for someone ‘earning’ a living as a TV his owners were well aware of the considerable odds against presenter, but worse was to follow. Kathleen told him that him succeeding. the dream had long been to make the colt a stallion after racing successfully over hurdles, as the French sometimes Early in the foal’s life Dr Mayoh appointed himself do with Jumps-breds, and that Martin Stevens had covered marketing executive for ‘Leggy’ and told Martin Stevens of the story in the Racing Post. Mr Chapman, evidently not the Racing Post about the cunning plan; and Martin began one to let what someone has just told him get in the way occasional features telling the story from birth to weaning of his next opportunity to speak rather than listen, then to breaking to going into training. David & Kathleen were asked how long the colt would be keeping his ‘equipment’ determined that Alan King would train the colt, since he had as he would surely need to lose it to race over hurdles! For a helped look after Midnight Legend when assistant to David Barnsley lass Mrs Holmes was remarkably patient in giving Nicholson and had since won numerous races with the sire’s the same answer a second time. There is no evidence that Mr produce. However, ‘Kingy’ was instructed by Kathleen that Chapman took in a single word of it. he must under no circumstances cut the colt, for if he did he would suffer the same fate shortly afterwards - but without the benefit of an anaesthetic.

Newsletter 2019 JAMES AND THE JACKET One of the major responsibilities of my trusty assistant, determination to get to his bed as he had when pursuing which I am forced to delegate given my complete inability his Telescope jacket; he marched forward straight as a to consume more than two pints of beer without feeling ramrod, turned right and left the bar. Five minutes later chronically ill the next day, is to participate in the ‘craic’ at he marched back into the bar, having made the important Irish Sales in order to promote the benefits of using Shade discovery that the lift to the bedrooms lay in the other Oak stallions. This he does conscientiously until the early direction. hours, often aided by ace consignor Michael Moore; and to help him spread the message he wears a conspicuous The remainder of this account is as related by him the next blue and red jacket with a ‘Shade Oak Stud’ logo on the morning… front and the legend ‘TELESCOPE’ on the back. It transpires that James disrobed, went to bed and slept On one recent such occasion, refreshed and relaxed by the like a baby until around 3.30 a.m., when he rose to excellent prices brought by his Telescope and Dartmouth answer an urgent call of nature. He opened the toilet door, foals (with the help of ace consignor Michael Moore, who entered and pushed it closed behind him. Turning to find has kindly agreed to sponsor each mention of his name in the loo he then realised that the toilet was (a) brightly lit, this newsletter) he was approached at around 1 a.m. by the (b) had no toilet facilities and (c) appeared to be a hallway familiar face of Swanbridge Bloodstock’s super stud groom, in which he was standing stark naked with his room door James, who, after a tough day trying to avoid phone calls firmly locked behind him. James was in something of a giving him contradictory instructions on the reserves of quandary. the mares he had been despatched to sell, was now officially off duty. However, such was his determination to promote Judging that it might be unwise to go downstairs to the qualities of his charges to those assembled in the bar Reception to ask for another key, James decided to stand that he had forced himself to consume copious quantities in the corridor with his hands covering his modesty. We of Guinness in order to spread the word; and even at this are unable to confirm a rumour subsequently passed late hour he was looking for another prospective customer. on by his employer, namely that James was particularly confused by a mirror in the hallway since this left him But then James became distracted, as his eyes homed in on unsure of which particular part of his anatomy he should the jacket: “I love that jacket; I LOVE THAT JACKET”, concentrate on covering (although this was not the precise he proclaimed. “I love Telescope, I LOVE TELESCOPE. phrase used when the story was told, which was something Can you get me a jacket like that? I WOULD LOVE A about deciding between his **** and his ****). JACKET LIKE THAT. Can I have a jacket like that?” he asked plaintively. Unclear that my assistant had got the How long he might have stood like this we shall never message he repeated this request a further six or seven know, for after a mere 20 minutes someone emerged times, adding for extra emphasis that: “I loved Midnight from the lift. James hunched himself up and bent his Legend, I LOVED MIDNIGHT LEGEND. But I never knees, holding his hands tight against what in his native asked for a jacket. But I love Telescope, I WOULD LOVE Yorkshire might be referred to as ‘his tackle’. His luck was A TELESCOPE JACKET. CAN YOU GET ME A in! The person that emerged from the lift was a male and TELESCOPE JACKET?” was also an employee of the hotel. He also carried a key able to unlock the room and, having had James explain Reassured by my ever-obliging and friendly assistant the situation and satisfied himself that this was the sort that such insights into Telescope’s unparalleled merits of normal, dependable, conscientious, person that one had indeed rendered him worthy of the honour of might expect to represent such a prestigious bloodstock being awarded his very own Telescope attire (I believe organisation, rather than a perverted exhibitionist flasher, the exact phrase used was ‘Yes, you can have a bloody allowed James back into his room. He then slept soundly jacket’), James relaxed with a further pint to celebrate for what remained of the night, rose early the next morning the imminent of what was apparently and showed his mares with such professionalism that both his lifetime ambition. A little later he was seen gently brought excellent prices. slumped, either slumbering or unconscious, in his chair, in which condition he remained despite the loud and So, James, at Doncaster Sales in January 2020 Shade Oak somewhat derogatory comments of his erstwhile drinking Stud will be delighted to present you with your very own companions. Concerned that he be properly rested before Shade Oak Stud ‘Telescope’ jacket. We hope you will wear the demanding day’s selling and phone call avoidance that it with pride whenever you are performing your official lay ahead of him, my trusty assistant eventually roused duties, particularly for walk-ins to other NH studs and him from his slumbers and encouraged him to go to bed. at Sales. Indeed, we hope you will be so pleased that you might even sleep in it. That way, should the same Reminded of his duty to Mrs Swanbridge, James snapped misfortune befall you on another of your trips to Ireland, to attention and jumped up from his seat, before promptly you will be able the tie the arms together behind your waist crashing to the floor when his legs gave way. Immensely and wear the jacket like an apron as you stroll casually to concerned at his plight, his companions courageously Reception to announce that you have mislaid your key fought off hoots of laughter to lift him onto his feet and and could you possibly have another. And many thanks set him back on his way. James then showed the same for your future promotion of our stallion.

Newsletter 2019 BEDROOM SECRETS OF THE SIRES With the #MeToo movement having gained increasing These days a stallion’s bedroom manners are almost as traction (apparently it’s all to do with someone called important as his racing ability, pedigree and fertility; and Harvey Wallbanger), we are aware, so I am told, that we are fortunate that in their different ways our boys all breeders may wish to be reassured of our stallions’ approach know how to make a girl happy – and pregnant. This is to matters of romance so that they can be satisfied that quite a contrast with the most ‘nutty’ stallion we ever had, their mares will be treated as they would wish. So here is a a chap called Full Extent. swift guide to the bedroom behaviour of the boys we have Full Extent’s behaviour towards the opposite sex might be now and some of their predecessors. politely described as ‘wholly inappropriate’. Less politely, Scorpion is rather like Flashheart in the Blackadder he was *plain kinky, the sort that if he were human would Elizabethan series (“Captain Darling? Funny name for a be into whips and chains. He liked to begin in a fashion chap, isn’t it? Last person I called darling was pregnant 20 that I hope none of my readers would ever contemplate, seconds later.”) He immediately impresses his lady friends by nibbling their legs. However, if the girl was not too by loudly announcing his arrival and whilst entertaining happy about this and decided to kick him in the head, them tells the other boys all about it: If your mare is he would really get turned on. “More, more,” he almost looking for a discreet gentleman able to keep a secret, he seemed to gasp, sniffing more frenziedly and putting his may not be the ideal choice. His preference in females head closer and closer to the flying foot. might be described as ‘anything with a pulse’ - and I’m not Full Extent was a stallion that was not easily put off entirely certain how important the pulse would be. achieving his mission. In those days we used to cover in Both Telescope and Dartmouth served their apprenticeship a small paddock and in the corner of the paddock was a muck heap. One day a potential girl-friend unsurprisingly under the guidance of their close relative, Black Sam took a dislike to Full Extent’s advances and ran away, Bellamy, with whom they shared many a ‘man to dragging her groom, a tiny Welshman, with her. Into the man’ chat in their early days at Shade Oak, doubtless muck heap she went, accompanied by the groom; and benefitting from the wisdom of one who was ‘the ultimate into the muck heap after her crashed Full Extent, growing professional’. Sam would always introduce himself more and more frenzied with unrequited lust. properly to a lady before seeking to take matters further in a calm, unflustered fashion. Unlike Grape Tree Road, who The mare appeared on the far side of the muck heap, had an obsession for greys, or Fair Mix, who favoured ‘fat showing clear evidence of her encounter with the contents, bottomed girls’, Sam made no distinction between black, leaving the Welshman deposited on the floor but not bay, chesnut, grey or white; big, small or somewhere in shaking off her amorous equine pursuer. She rushed down between. All of his conquests were treated with the same a walkway towards the stables and eventually took refuge attention and courtesy for the full five minutes of their in an open stable at the end of the walkway. Phew! encounter. Unfortunately the stable she took refuge in was Full If you are sending a mare to Telescope he does have one Extent’s and it took him no time at all to find her there. definite preference that you should bear in mind. Like There was no hope of escape; and before Dad, the stallion some human males he likes dirty girls, although in his man and the bedraggled Welsh groom could come to the rescue the deed was done and the mare was covered in the case we are talking about physically dirty. He doesn’t want stable. It would be nice to report that this coup de foudre a glossy coat and tail, as some like to send their mares; (I don’t know what that means but I’m told it’s relevant) he wants them ‘au naturelle.’ Superficial glamour is not led to the best Jumps horse Full Extent ever bred, but I something that appeals to him: he likes to see the real have no idea if it did. Even if this were the case it would woman underneath. He too introduces himself properly, have been a rather poor racehorse, because he really was with a friendly sniff of the bottom; and after a satisfactory bad as well a*s mad. encounter he likes to rest his head on his beloved’s neck to ask: ‘Was that good for you too, honey?’ Sadly for those wanting to use Full Extent in 2020, I am sorry to say that he passed on to heavenly pastures some If you have a girl that is shy and retiring, Dartmouth may time ago, where the equine angels are likely to need full be the perfect choice, for he is a subtle seducer that likes use of their to avoid him. We shall not see his like to nibble and gently blow in the lady’s ears before taking again, I hope… things a little further. Their eyes swiftly glaze from such attentions and within seconds any shyness disappears and they are putty in his hands… FERTILITY Every year I talk about the things we do to achieve the best fertility results we can from the mares visiting our stallions. There is little evidence of anyone actually reading what I write but it does make our brilliant and innovative vet, John Spencer, feel appreciated – and I always say: ‘A happy vet is a fertile vet’, as John proved by getting his own new wife in foal on what he tells me was the very first cover. So we won’t over-emphasise points we’ve made before, which is that basically achieving high fertility involves doing a lot of little things right, not the least of which is ensuring that the stallion actually covers the mare when he’s had a long and energetic season and feels like he’d rather fake it and go back to his stable for a refreshing beer. We try to do all of these little things thoroughly, which we are best able to achieve for mares kept with us at least until pregnancy is confirmed. Here is a Table of fertility data for all British and Irish NH sires aged under 20 and covering over 50 Thoroughbred mares in GB or Ireland in the 2018 season. It shows the percentage of mares that got in foal, as recorded in Weatherbys 2019 Return of Mares, and is ranked so that stallions with the highest percentages of mares in foal are found at the top of the list: The Table reads top to bottom, left to right:

Newsletter 2019 STALLION STUD % IF STALLION STUD % IF Telescope Shade Oak 86.4% Milan Grange 69.2% Dartmouth Shade Oak 85.5% Snow Sky Ballycurragh 69.1% Black Sam Bellamy Shade Oak 80.0% Malinas Rathbarry 68.4% Scorpion Shade Oak 79.7% Mahler Beeches 68.0% Boardsmill 78.0% Sans Frontieres Beeches 67.8% Hillstar Garryrichard 76.3% Sageburg Garryrichard 67.8% Sholokhov Rathbarry 75.3% Westerner Castle Hyde 67.1% Pether’s Moon Yorton 75.0% Valirann Whytemount 65.2% Yeats Castle Hyde 74.7% Jukebox Jury Burgage 65.0% Walk In The Park Grange 73.5% Sunnyhill 64.6% Diamond Boy Kilbarry Lodge 72.2% Grange 64.4% Old Road 72.2% Court Cave Boardsmill 63.3% Jack Hobbs Overbury 71.9% Affinisea Whytemount 61.5% Soldier of Fortune Beeches 71.5% Tullyraine 60.7% Lauro Hayes 71.2% Lucky Speed Sunnyhill 60.0% Getaway Grange 71.0% Champs Elysees Castle Hyde 58.3% Sunnyhill 70.8% Notnowcato Knockhouse 58.2% Ocovango Beeches 70.1% Califet Boardsmill 57.7% Shirocco Rathbarry 70.1% Imperial Monarch Beeches 56.8% Youmzain Rathbarry 70.1% Grange 54.2% Blue Bresil Yorton 69.8% Ol’ Man River Arctic Tack 52.1% Jet Away Arctic Tack 69.2% Shantaram Coolagown 40.9% Even non-statisticians might notice something unusual about this Table, namely that the top four stallions in terms of percentage of mares in foal all stand at the same stud, whose name modesty forbids me from mentioning. I have just worked out in my head that the odds against a single stud filling the first four places in such a list with its only four eligible stallions are 135,750-1. Since those are quite long odds, it is probably not a coincidence. These results are partly due to our stallions’ innate vitality and fertility, partly due to the great care we take with your mares and largely due to the ability and thoroughness of our vet - not to mention his enormously long arms. So if you have a mare that didn’t get in foal last year, or who is due to foal late so you will only get one chance to cover her, or who you fear is getting rather too old to get in foal at all, or you simply want the best chance of getting your mare in foal as soon as possible, then take a good look at this Table and decide where your best chances lie!

DISCOUNTS ON OUR STALLIONS The advertised fees for our stallions are already extraordinarily reasonable for sires of their quality, as I’m sure you’ll all agree; but we know that NH breeders not only like a bargain, many of them need one to keep on doing what they love to do – breeding Jumps horses. This year we are trying to make things as transparent as possible by offering a clear discount structure that encourages early booking, loyalty to our stallions and bookings of multiple mares. Because each of our stallions has a different ownership structure, the loyalty and quantity aspects normally only apply on a stallion by stallion basis, i.e. for repeat or multiple use of the same stallion. There is also a separate structure for TBA Elite Mares. The fee structure is then: Stallion Scorpion Telescope Dartmouth Advertised Fee: Not TBA Elite Mare £4,000 £3,500 £3,000 Early Booking Discount (10%) £400 £350 £300 Loyalty (2nd booking in past 3 years, 10%) £400 £350 £300* Two+ mares visiting stallion in 2020 (10%) £400 £350 £300 Fee payable if only one applies £3,600 £3,150 £2,700 Fee payable if two apply £3,200 £2,800 £2,400 Fee payable if all three apply £2,800 £2,450 £2,100 *As Dartmouth is in only his second year at stud the Loyalty Discount will be given to all mares visiting him!

Stallion Scorpion Telescope Dartmouth Advertised Fee: TBA Elite Mare £4,000 £3,500 £3,000 Elite Mare discount £4,000 voucher £4,000 £3,500 £3,000 Fee Free Free Free Elite Mare £3,000 voucher £3,000 £3,000 £3,000 Elite Mare SOS Discount £500 £500 Not Reqd. Fee payable £500 Free Free Elite Mare £2,000 voucher £2,000 £2,000 £2,000 Elite Mare SOS Discount £500 £500 £500 Fee Payable £1,500 £1,000 £500

Newsletter 2019 FILLY DEALS Some breeders like to hedge against the production of a filly in the case of a foal they intend to sell. We are happy to do this. The deal we offer is as follows: (1) Let’s agree a fee on the above basis for the stallion you want to use. (2) You decide how much more than that fee you are willing to pay for a colt. This amount is how muchless you will pay if you get a filly. So if we agree a fee of, say, £2,800 for a visit to Telescope because you are booking early and have sent a mare previously, but you are willing to pay the full fee of £3,500 for a colt foal (£700 above the colt/filly price), then you will pay £700 less than the colt/filly price for a filly, i,e.£2,100. If you would be willing to pay £4,000 for a colt foal (£1,200 above the colt/ filly price), then you will pay £1,200 less for a filly than the colt / filly price, i.e. £1,600. You decide what suits you best; we’ll oblige. The only rule is that we agree the price before the mare is covered and you don’t then try to renegotiate if a colt is born. It has been tried!

THE BRITISH-BRED PREMIUM SCHEME, YET AGAIN! Last year we talked about the British-bred Premium Scheme for fillies. For NH breeders this would basically be a being proposed to the powers that be by the TBA and much more generous version of NH MOPS. aimed at bringing major benefits to breeders of both British • Determined to take action to help British breeding and Flat and NH horses. At the time we were hoping for swift recognising the efforts made to reduce costs, the Levy approval of the scheme followed by a full explanation from Board agreed to fund this revised scheme, starting in its author at our Open Day in February 2019. We are now 2020. However… hoping, with rather less optimism, for belated approval of • …it appears there may be a special trophy awarded the scheme followed by a full explanation at our Open Day to the government department that takes the longest in February 2020. Basically, the story so far is: time to agree any idea that has actual benefits for the British economy, because as of mid-November 2019, 12 • The original scheme would have brought in significant months after being first notified of the concept and four bonuses for the breeders and owners of British-bred months after the Levy Board said ‘yes’ for the second horses winning a wide variety of races, both Flat and time, the DCMS is still reluctant to give approval. It NH and for colts and geldings as well as mares. The really must be a tough job, trying to think up reasons to funding for this scheme was provisionally agreed by the avoid doing anything that might possibly be helpful to Levy Board, awaiting approval by the Department of the people you are meant to help. Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS). • Before this was forthcoming the Levy Board experienced a drop of £17 million in its income, largely due to ‘loss As I write, the struggle is ongoing, with Version 21 of the leader’ offers by bookmakers at the Cheltenham Festival, Proposal and Cunning Plan No. 3 being actively pursued. designed to entice new punters that might later be Perhaps one day, even before the glorious dawn when the persuaded to bet on sports where no levy is payable and oppressed workers of the world have broken free of their margins are much higher. Because of this drop in levy chains and flexible 8 hour working weeks, free broadband income the new scheme became impossible to afford. and the ability to define your gender on a minute-by- • Accordingly, a revised scheme was put forward that minute basis are regarded as universal human rights, we will provided exactly the same rewards but only to fillies have good news about the British-bred Premium Scheme. I and mares. This still addressed the major difficulty for do hope so! breeders of NH horses in particular, namely low demand

VIEW OUR STALLIONS AT DONCASTER The TBA Stallion Show held at the Goffs UK January Sale at Doncaster has now established itself as the prime location where breeders can see a wide variety of British NH stallions and their foals at a venue that many would be attending in any case. Stallions can be viewed individually, with as much scrutiny as required, at any time of day (at least whilst the light holds); and you can discuss potential deals with stallion owners, of which in my entirely unbiased opinion ours undoubtedly offer the best combination of quality versus price. So makeDoncaster on January 21st a ‘must visit’. You might even pick up a very decent prospective broodmare at the Sale, one perfectly suited to produce a top-class horse as her very next foal, if you only send her to a Shade Oak stallion. The stallions on show will be located in the ‘A’ or ‘B’ boxes to the left (as you walk in) of the Parade Ring.Dartmouth, Scorpion and Telescope should all be there strutting their stuff; and the TBA will provide hospitality in the form of a warm room, hot drinks and light bites. If you are fortunate enough to own an Elite Mare you can complete your nomination form and hand it to the TBA there and then, to ensure you don’t miss the closing date. Our foal consignment will include a couple of filly foals from mares whose dams won Black-Type races and have good pedigrees, which accordingly will have residual value as broodmares after racing (Beat Hollow – Down Ace, Jack Hobbs – Laetitia). However, they are chesnuts and, given that some people (despite the rather strong evidence provided by Annie Power and Limini in recent years) don’t like chesnut fillies, this is likely to affect their prices so you could pick up a bargain! Of course, breeders using Dartmouth, Scorpion or Telescope will not face such colour prejudice when they come to sell their foals, since each of these is incapable of siring a chesnut. Sorry if that disappoints you.

Newsletter 2019 NH BREEDING AS AN INVESTMENT: SHADE OAK ELITE BREEDING

Many of us would like to have a broodmare band consisting • These mares would be mated to stallions as determined of high-class (‘Elite’) broodmares that we send to a by all shareholders in the company. These would be variety of top-class stallions to produce future champions. chosen on the likelihood that they would produce a Unfortunately, few of us have the means to afford such high-quality, valuable foal from the mare. They need broodmares, which can easily cost £50,000 or more. not be stallions standing at Shade Oak Stud although However, it occurs to me that it may be possible for us to significant discounts would be available should a Shade share in such mares, perhaps helped by the tax advantages Oak sire be chosen, of an Enterprise Investment Scheme. The following is the • The offspring would be sold at public auction in the germ of an idea that I am floating here to see if people are UK or Ireland by ace consignor Michael Moore of interested in joining such an ‘Elite Breeding’ operation. Ballincurrig House Stud (who now owes us £300 for The way it might work is as follows (and please remember various mentions in this newsletter). The income from that, as the formal phrasing goes: ‘None of the following sales, less the costs of keep, preparation and selling of the constitutes financial advice!’): foals, would be returned to the company. Shareholders would be free to purchase any foals they wish, in • We would set up a company under the Enterprise competition with other bidders. Investment Scheme (EIS). The advantages of this are • After a maximum of four years (allowing an extra year that each individual’s initial investment in the scheme is for sale of any mares or foals that it is inappropriate to subject to tax relief of 30% of the sum invested; whilst dispose of after the minimum period of three years) Capital Gains are free of tax if the investment is held for all remaining mares and young stock would be sold at at least three years, whereas Capital Losses are eligible for public auction. The residual funds in the company after tax relief. All of this means that investing in high-quality such sales would be returned to shareholders, profits broodmares, breeding from them and selling their being free of Capital Gains Tax but losses (after allowing produce is far more likely to be an economic proposition for the initial tax rebate) able to be reclaimed against than if done outside an EIS. other personal tax liabilities. • The company would be owned by shareholders that each hold a minimum of 5% of the company (perhaps requiring an investment of £15,000). These shareholders This is the gist of the scheme that I worked out, with a few would include Shade Oak Stud and Bryan Mayoh, who boring details (namely the facts) added by my Personal would each purchase between 10% and 15% of the Assistant. If it appeals to you as an idea and you want to equity on the same terms as everyone else. discuss things further, please talk to me; if not, sorry to have • The funds raised would be used to purchase between gone on about it when I might have used the space to give four and eight mares that are either Black-Type winning more interesting insights into the bedroom antics of our mares (the more expensive), Black-Type placed mares or stallions. siblings to Grade 1 winning horses, between six and ten years of age. Most would be TBA Elite Mares eligible for free or heavily discounted nominations to British stallions. Mares would be kept at Shade Oak at the usual rate charged to clients for long-term livery.

THE SHADE OAK OPEN DAY After last year’s unexpected cancellation of our Open Day the time, to which you are asked to respond if you intend due to the equine influenza outbreak, which at least gave to come. Please attend if you can; all the stallions will be me the chance to spend some quality time with my beloved paraded and various proud mares and their lovely new foals on February 14th (as I rode him over a few huge hedges can be viewed. There will be food and liquid refreshments, that no sane person would have thought of attempting, along with the chance to meet fellow enthusiasts of NH whilst trying to forget that I still hadn’t arranged the key- breeding, discuss topics of mutual interest and hear the man insurance Emma keeps going on about), we hope latest rumours and gossip. to hold this annual event (Further Brexit referenda or If you are unable to come on that particular day don’t General Elections permitting) in mid-February. This is a worry. We will be delighted to show our stallions whenever time when the covering season will have just commenced it is convenient to you, along with any new foals produced and our boys will look at their peak, with some lovely new by them. Just give us a call to make arrangements. We very foals for you to see. All of these, of course, will be by our much hope to see you either here, at the Sales or on the own stallions, since any lovely new foals that happen to be racecourse during 2020. by other people’s will be safely hidden away. Well that’s it for another year. Didn’t take nearly as long as Who knows, we may even have had a positive decision on I thought – just goes to show what you can do with a bit of the Premium Scheme by then (which is also what I wrote pre-planning (namely getting someone else to write most last year but hopefully won’t be repeating in the 2021, of it in advance). 2022 and 2023 Newsletters). If so, someone other than me can tell you all about it. Best Wishes and a Corbyn-free New Year to each and every one of you... So make a diary note of Thursday, 13th February, 2020 at 11 a.m. Each person that receives this Newsletter is most welcome to attend. You will be receiving an RSVP nearer Peter Hockenhull

Newsletter 2019 Scorpion

Dartmouth

PETER HOCKENHULL, SHADE OAK STUD, BAGLEY, ELLESMERE, SHROPSHIRE SY12 9BY Tel; 01939 270235 Fax; 01939 270516 Email; [email protected] Website; www.shadeoakstud.co.uk