Aidan O’Brien’s Peeping Fawn, who won four consecutive Group Ones last season, has been retired.

A daughter of the great sire Danehill, she has not run since winning the Yorkshire Oaks nearly 12 months ago and has failed to fire on the gallops this year.

“We took her away from home to work before she was due to run in the Pretty Polly Stakes in June and thing’s weren’t quite 100% with her afterwards,” said O’Brien.

“While the problem wasn’t a major one, she didn’t come back the way we had thought she would.

“As she has been such a great filly, we took the decision on Friday morning to retire her. She will be covered next year,” he told the Racing Post.

After being unraced at two, Peeping Fawn did not lose her maiden tag until her fourth race before she finished third in the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh.

She then belied her 20-1 starting price in the Oaks at Epsom to finish second to Light Shift before beginning her four-race winning streak.
(Source: Sporting Life)

Brian O’Rourke, a former Central Kentucky farm manager who had been working as a bloodstock agent, has been hired as managing director of the National Stud in Newmarket.

O’Rourke, 39, will replace David Somers, who is resigning to take a new position at Eliza Park in Australia.

O’Rourke is a bloodstock agent in Kentucky for London Thoroughbred Services. He previously was manager of Wimbledon and Doninga Farms in Lexington. His appointment is effective October 1.

“While I have greatly enjoyed my stay in Kentucky, I jumped at the opportunity to return to Europe to manage the National Stud,” O’Rourke said. “I am very much looking forward to managing the stud’s services to the breeding industry and overseeing the role of offering training courses for stud staff and the provision of public access, activities which make the stud unique in this country. It is a challenging and exciting opportunity.”

O’Rourke is the brother of Liam O’Rourke, manager of Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket, and Garrett O’Rourke, manager of Juddmonte Farms in Lexington.
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)

Silver Deputy, one of North America’s top veteran stallions, is facing an uncertain future in the breeding shed. The 23-year-old son of Deputy Minister found it increasingly difficult to get mares in foal during the 2008 breeding season, according to Ric Waldman, who manages the bay horse’s stallion career.

In 2007, when Silver Deputy was bred to 65 mares, he got approximately 60% of them in foal, Waldman reported. This year, the stallion’s in-foal rate was about the same at the beginning of the breeding season, “but his fertility decreased as we progressed deeper into the season,” Waldman said.

No decision has been made about whether Silver Deputy will return to the breeding shed in 2009.

Silver Deputy, who is owned by a syndicate, stands at Fred Seitz’s Brookdale Farm near Versailles, Ky. The stallion is the sire of 74 stakes winners. His offspring include Silverbulletday, the champion 2-year-old filly of 1998 and the champion 3-year-old filly in 1999, and Canadian champions Deputy Inxs, Archers Bay, Deputy Jane West, Scotzana, Poetically, and Larkwhistle.

International Thoroughbred Breeders bred Silver Deputy in Canada and sold him, through Parrish Hill Farm, for $200,000 to Windfields Farm at the 1986 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July select yearling auction. Carrying Windfields’ colors, Silver Deputy won both of his career races, including the Swynford Stakes at Woodbine.
(Source: The Blood-Horse)

Notional, a multiple graded stakes winner, has been retired from racing after breaking the coffin bone in his left front foot when he finished fourth in last weekend’s Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga.

Owned by Paul Reddam and trained most recently by Mark Hennig, the 4-year-old Notional won 4 of 12 starts, including the Grade 2 San Rafael and Grade 3 Risen Star at 3, both when trained by Doug O’Neill. For Hennig, Notional won the Grade 3 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park, a Win and You’re In race that earned him a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita on Oct. 25.

Notional, a son of In Excess, earned $733,240. No plans have been made for his stud career.
(Source: NTRA)

Just when he might think about slowing down, Bart Cummings is about to embark on a new breeding venture with Queensland Derby winner Empires Choice set to stand at Princes Farm this spring.

The master trainer has bred many horses from his own mares over the years most notably Saintly, winner of the 1996 Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.

Standing stallions is something different for Cummings but he believes the environment at his property north-west of Sydney is ideal.

“There is a little bit of work to be done on the facilities at the farm over the next three weeks but it should be ready for the breeding season,” Cummings said.

“Geoff White stood Marscay next door at Robrick Lodge and I think Empires Choice should do well.”

Although Empires Choice’s mother Rosie’s Star is a daughter of 1988 Melbourne Cup winner Empire Rose, Cummings is not looking to Empires Choice to produce only stayers.

“He ran good races over sprint distances as a two-year-old,” he said.

By supersire Redoute’s Choice, Empires Choice ran second to Casino Prince at his first start in the Skyline Stakes (1200m) and was runner-up to Tarleton in the Pago Pago over the same distance.

As an early three-year-old he was runner-up to Court Command in the $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) and finally broke his maiden over 1500 metres at Hawkesbury in March 2007.

His other two career victories came later that year when he claimed the Rough Habit Plate (2020m) on the way to his win in the Queensland Derby (2400m).

Empires Choice was retired from racing in February this year after suffering a soft tissue injury to a foreleg.
(Source: Racing & Sports)

Classic and three-time Group One-winning sire, American Post, registered his first stakes winner from his first crop yesterday when Queen America ran out a facile winner of the Listed Prix des Jouvenceaux et des Jouvencelles over seven furlongs at Vichy.

A winner over course and distance eight days previously Queen America backed up to post a win which assures her of a bid in better company later in the season. Trained by Robert Collet who owns the filly with breeder Mme Christian Wingtans, Queen America has now landed her second victory from four career starts.

American Post, now seven, was trained by Criquette Head-Maarek for Khalid Abdullah for whom he won the Gr.1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère, Gr.1 Racing Post Trophy and the Gr.1 French 2,000 Guineas.

Following a disappointing run in the 2004 Gr.1 Prix du Moulin he was retired to the Haras d’Etreham in Normandy where he stands at a fee of €7,000.
RacingNewswire

Release

Starcraft (NZ), the only Southern Hemisphere horse to win two Group 1 races in Europe, is the sire of Arrowfield’s first two foals of the 2008 crop. The first post-EI foal born at Arrowfield is a nice colt delivered on 28 July out of the Tabasco Cat mare Burningwood (USA). The mare, owned by Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm, Japan, is a daughter of Group 2 winning mare Wood So and is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Iwoodificould.

The second foal born the following day is a filly out of Debutante Robe (JPN), also owned by Mr Yoshida. The mare (by Admire Vega) is a daughter of Derobe, winner of the G1 South Australian Oaks.
Both foals boast the same strength and scope as the yearlings from Starcraft’s first crop, which are to be offered in the 2009 Australasian Yearling Sales series.

Starcraft enjoyed an excellent start at stud both at Cheveley Park, Newmarket, where he served approximately 100 mares in his only Northern Hemisphere season and at Arrowfield, where he has served two generous books to date which have included 49 stakes-winning mares and 23 dams of stakes winners as well as many other well-related matrons.

Paul Makin has been a strong supporter of his champion racehorse, patronising Starcraft with many quality mares including the likes of Private Steer, Dowry, Sylvaner, Pay My Bail, Classy Dane and Ain’t Seen Nothin’.

In addition, Starcraft covered Group 1 winners such as Episode, Miss Potential, Macedon Lady, Elevenses, etc. Yearlings from Starcraft’s only North Hemisphere crop will be sold at the upcoming European yearling sales.

Starcraft is serving his third book at Arrowfield Stud at a fee of $33,000 (inc GST).
www.arrowfield.com.au

Release

The Oaks Stud’s dual group one winning stallion Spartacus has claimed the coveted title of New Zealand’s Champion First Season sire for the 2007/08 season.
Spartacus took honours ahead of a trio of exciting young sires in Captain Rio, Thorn Park and Gold Mine.

“We are delighted to see Spartacus make such a solid start to his stud career in New Zealand”, reflected The Oaks Stud’s General Manager Rick Williams.

“He has hit the ground running and has already shown the ability to leave both fast and staying types.

All reports indicate that there are some exciting types to step out in the new season and we have high expectations that his early success will continue.

Spartacus proved very popular with breeders last season covering 170 mares, and will serve a quality book of 120 – 130 mares again this year”.

The first southern hemisphere crop stakes performers for Spartacus numbered four, namely Maureen Dorothy, Fyfetheknife, Bright Spark and Spontaneous.

Continuing the expansion strategy of The Oaks Stud, Spartacus who was formerly owned in association with Coolmore Stud in Ireland was purchased outright earlier this season by a partnership including the Cambridge-based thoroughbred nursery and Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan, Peter and Philip Vela, Scott Richard, Scott Williams, and Peter Francis.

The result caps off a sensational season for The Oaks Stud. Seachange, the seven-time group one winning mare who was bred, raised and raced by The Oaks is the raging hot favourite to take consecutive Horse of the Year titles at the Mercedes Racing Awards dinner to be held on August 15.
www.nztm.co.nz

Multiple Grade 1 winner Brother Derek has been retired and will begin his stallion career in 2009 at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Kentucky.

A stud fee has not been announced for the five-year-old Benchmark horse out of Miss Soft Sell, by Siyah Kalem.

Bred in California on a free season, Brother Derek won the Hollywood Futurity (G1) and Norfolk Stakes (G2) as a two-year-old and stamped himself as the state’s top contender for the 2006 Triple Crown with consecutive victories in the San Rafael Stakes (G2), Santa Catalina Stakes (G2), and Santa Anita Derby (G1).

Trained by Dan Hendricks for owner Cecil Peacock, Brother Derek finished fourth in both the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1). That fall, he ran second to Lava Man in the Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G2) and fifth to Invasor (Arg) in the Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1).

After missing more than a year following ankle surgery, Brother Derek finished second to eventual Grade 1 winner Mast Track in a one-mile allowance race on April 20 at Santa Anita in his only start this year.

Purchased for $275,000 in the 2005 Barretts March selected two-year-olds in training sale, Brother Derek retires with six wins in 17 career starts and earnings of $1,611,138.

“Our single most important criteria for selecting our stallions is brilliance, and Brother Derek had brilliance in spades,” Airdrie’s Bret Jones said. “To be able to come through a two-year-old sale after going :20 4/5 [in a breeze show], break his maiden that May going 4 1/2 furlongs, win a Grade 1 at the end of his two-year-old year and then train on to dominate the Santa Anita Derby going a mile-and-an-eighth shows the brilliance, versatility, and true toughness that we believe will ultimately lead to his great success at stud. He’s also an outstanding individual that the commercial breeder can really get excited about.”

Brother Derek will stand alongside a former rival, Stevie Wonderboy, at Airdrie.

Brother Derek finished fourth to Stevie Wonderboy in the 2005 Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and turned the tables in the San Rafael with a victory over the champion two-year-old male. Stevie Wonderboy stood his first season in 2008.
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)

With the Australian racing season set to conclude this week, Racing & Sports’ Breeding continues its look back on the season that was. Today we look at the horses to crack $1million in earnings for 2007-08.

Encosta De Lago and More Than Ready, fittingly first and second on the Australian General Sires List this season, are the only two sires to have dual $1million earners in Australia this season.

Encosta’s season earning topped $10million for the very first time, spearheaded by the Group 1 winners Sirmione and Princess Coup.

Sirmione rose to be one of Australia’s premier Group 1 weight-for-age performers this past season, taking out both the Australian Cup and Mackinnon Stakes at the highest level.

Those wins propelled the four-year-olds earnings to $1.3million for the season and taking his overall tally to $1.579million.

From the Defensive Play mare World Guide, Sirmione was a $300,000 purchase for Bart Cummings at the 2005 Conrad Jupiters Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast.

Though not a Group 1 winner in Australia (Sirmione denied her twice), Princess Coup (ex Stoneyfell Road, by Sovereign Red) topped seven figures in earnings this season as well, through a number of placings and a win in the G2 St George Stakes.

Furthermore, she took out the rich G1 Kelt Capital Stakes in New Zealand, meaning she won more than $2million for the season, taking her overall tally to $2.6million – a wonderful investment on the $260,000 she cost at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale in 2005.

More Than Ready’s dual stars were both two-year-olds, headed by the Golden Slipper winner Sebring (ex Purespeed, by Flying Spur), whose five wins from six starts netted connections $2.537million and a lucrative stud career.

Augusta Proud won Magic Millions races in both Adelaide and the Gold Coast, to push her tally to $1.5million in her debut season.

Efficient won just the one race this season, but it was enough to see him finish as Australia’s biggest prizemoney earner, with $3.113million – the bulk of which was earned with his Melbourne Cup win.
(Source: Racing & Sports)

Morgan Dollar’s devastating win in the Listed SAJC Dermody Stakes at Cheltenham on Saturday has proven a brilliant piece of timing with news that his sire Planchet is set to re-locate to South Australia where he will stand at John Chapple’s McLaren Thoroughbreds at Nangkita.

Located in the famous McLaren Valley wine district, just 40 minutes from Adelaide, Planchet will be standing at an advertised fee of $4,400 incl GST.

“Morgan Dollar’s timely Stakes win on Saturday in the SAJC Dermody Stakes will bolster his appeal for South Australia as he is also sire of the above average filly Mrs Penny trained by David Jolly, who is a winner of two of her six starts to date,” said respected South Australian bloodstock agent Adrian Hancock.

“His 11 winners so far from limited opportunities indicate that Planchet is more than capable of siring quality racehorses which also include the smart Hong Kong winner Plan Ex.”

A brilliant juvenile, who won four of eight starts at that age including the Group Two STC Pago Pago Stakes beating champion colt Choisir, Planchet trained on at three to win the Group Three AJC Liverpool City Cup in which he defeated another Group One winner in Snowland.

Completely free of Northern Dancer blood, Planchet is by Golden Slipper winner Canny Lad from the family of another Golden Slipper winner in Sweet Embrace, who has gained further fame as the grand-dam of Group One producing sires Strategic and Clang.

“South Australia has never had a lot of Star Kingdom speed available to breeders so Planchet will suit many of the mares in this state,” said Hancock.

“It is also pleasing to see another addition to the state’s stallion ranks which are starting to assemble a nice selection headed by the extremely popular Good Journey.

“With horses like Face Value and Mugharreb’s oldest progeny about to turn two and the likes of Barely A Moment on the horizon, it is all good news.”
(Source: Breednet)

Classy Gem overcame an unsteady start, seized the lead entering the lane, and drew off to a comfortable victory in the second race at Assiniboia Downs on Saturday to become the first winner for Canadian champion and freshman sire Perfect Soul (Ire).

Trained by Carl Anderson for Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Bennett, Classy Gem scored by 3¼ lengths in her career debut under Mark Anderson and completed the five-furlong maiden special weight race in 1:01 on a track rated as fast. The Kentucky-bred filly is one of two winners from as many starters out of the unraced Dehere mare Classiest Gem.

Perfect Soul is a ten-year-old by Sadler’s Wells out of the Secretariat mare Ball Chairman, whose dam is stakes winner A Status Symbol. He stood the 2008 season for $15,000 at Darby Dan Farm in Lexington. Perfect Soul has 86 two-year-olds in his first crop.

A homebred campaigned by Charles Fipke, Perfect Soul won three of eight starts in 2003, including the Shadwell Keeneland Turf Mile Stakes (G1) and King Edward Breeders’ Cup Handicap (Can-G2) at Woodbine en route to Canada’s Sovereign Award as champion turf male. Winner of the 2004 Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes (G2) at Keeneland in a turf course record time that has yet to be eclipsed, Perfect Soul finished second in the ’04 Atto Mile Stakes (Can-G1) before concluding his career with an overall record of seven wins in 21 starts and earnings of $1,527,764.
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)

Danzig, a prominent stallion ever since his freshman crop emerged, was represented by his 200th stakes winner when the 6-year-old Olympic won the July 26 Mataji Stakes at Calder Race Course. The victory came for owner Edmund Gann and trainer Martin D. Wolfson.

Danzig, who was pensioned the summer of 2004, died in early 2006.

Bred in Kentucky by Emory A. Hamilton, Olympic is the third stakes winner and the second by Danzig out of the Mr. Prospector mare Queena, who was a champion for Hamilton. Queena’s first stakes winner, Brahms (by Danzig), scored his big win in the 2000 Early Times Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) and later became a sire.

Queena’s other stakes winner, La Reina, a grade II-winning filly, is by A.P. Indy.

Danzig (Northern Dancer—Pas de Nom, by Admiral’s Voyage) ranks third on the all-time list by number of stakes winners behind deceased Danehill, with 349, and pensioned Sadler’s Wells, with 298. The two closest behind Danzig are deceased Sunday Silence and pensioned Storm Cat, with 169 and 166, respectively.

Danzig is represented by two other stakes winners this year. He stood his entire career at the Hancock family’s Claiborne Farm near Paris, Ky.
(Source: The Blood-Horse)

For the first time since Charles Haughey was finance minister, Ireland’s bloodstock industry will have to pay tax on its earnings, writes Ian Kehoe, Chief News Correspondent.

Almost 40 years after it was introduced, one of Ireland’s most controversial tax breaks enters its final furlong this week. The tax exemption on stallion profits - introduced by the then finance minister Charles Haughey in 1969 -is widely credited with transforming the Irish horse breeding industry from a rural also-ran into an international thoroughbred performer.

On Friday, however, the tax break will end and a new regime will come into force. For the first time in nearly forty years, Ireland’s horse breeders will have to stump up income tax and corporation tax on their equine earnings.

The abolition of the tax exemption came after the European Commission deemed it an illegal form of state aid. After some diplomatic posturing, the government succumbed to Brussels and announced last year that it would end the relief.

The move has been welcomed, not just by the EC, but by many of Ireland’s neighbours. After being outflanked by the Irish thoroughbred market, international competitors are relishing the prospect of challenging its thoroughbred dominance.

‘‘There are a lot of people in Britain and France who were very happy with the move,” said Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), the state body responsible for developing, funding and promoting the Irish horse industry.

‘‘Ireland has had a competitive advantage because of the tax situation, but obviously that is changing. We will now be competing internationally on a level playing field -i t is a massive change.”

It is difficult to overstate the global success of the Irish thoroughbred industry. Spurred on by the tax break, Ireland has become the third largest producer of thoroughbreds in the world, behind the US and Australia. Ireland produces about 12,000 thoroughbred foals each year, more than France and Britain combined.

According to data released by the Department of Finance, some 70 per cent of the world’s top stallions have been located in Ireland in recent years, while the country accounts for 42 per cent of total thoroughbred output in the European Union.

However, the big question is whether Ireland can maintain its position without the tax break.

Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan thinks that it can. ‘‘I believe that the industry is mature enough and strong enough to continue to thrive in the future,” he said.

However, industry insiders are more cautious about the future. A wide-ranging report on the sector in 2004 by Indecon Consultants found that 62 per cent of Irish breeders felt a change to the tax break would adversely affect their business, and that they would also suffer a loss of competitiveness relative to other locations for breeding.

A majority of those surveyed by Indecon also suggested that it was very likely this would either reduce the scale of operations in Ireland, or would lead to closure of operations.

‘‘It remains to be seen how it will play out. We will just have to wait and see,” said Kavanagh of HRI. ‘‘Time will tell if the industry is strong enough to stay ahead of competitors.

‘‘We are certainly not going to see a massive exodus of stallions from the country overnight. The bigger questions surround the industry in the long term. But I think the foundations are certainly in place for Ireland to be competitive.”

In an effort to dull the blow, the government has introduced a range of incentives aimed at helping the sector. Significantly, the new regime allows owners to write off the purchase price of a stallion over four years.

This is similar to the way that companies can depreciate an asset for tax purposes, but the four-year write down period is far more generous than in other sectors.

‘‘I think it is as good as we could have got,” said Hubie DeBurgh, who runs DeBurgh Equine, a stud farm and bloodstock consultancy in Co Kildare.

‘‘I think most people out there recognise that the government worked hard to come up with a new scheme that was acceptable to everyone.”

The four-year window reflects the fact that some stallions have a short nomination life, and also takes into account the fact that the majority of stallions are actually unsuccessful at stud, with a conversion rate of about one in ten.

The industry also argued that the nomination fee for a stallion was at its highest in its first year at stud - before it was known if its lineage would actually be successful on the track -so it is appropriate that the write-off is concentrated in a short period.

‘‘The industry is happy enough with the new deal,” said one senior figure in the sector.

‘‘There is no talk of movement overseas, though it is a highly competitive and mobile business internationally. Overall, the Irish regime still appears competitive internationally.”

It is difficult to estimate in financial terms the extent of the tax relief, or even how much money the state will generate in tax revenues under the new regime.

The nomination season in the northern hemisphere ends in late June and early July, so the first block of profits on which tax will be payable will be those earned in the first half of next year.

As much of this will be offset against the four-year write down period, it could well be four years before the government starts to see any sizeable taxes from the stallion sector flowing its way. Most of the industry is made up of companies which will pay 12.5 per cent corporation tax rate on stallion nomination profits.

If owners want to extract the money by way of dividend, income tax would also be payable. This provides the incentive for breeders to reinvest their profits in their businesses.

There is limited information about the financial performance of Ireland’s main stud farms. Until a change in the 2003 Finance Act, stallion owners did not need to make returns to the Revenue detailing how much they were worth.

According to figures from the Department of Finance, the Irish tax authority received 185 claims for the stallion tax exemption for the 2006 tax year. The total profits declared under the scheme came to €90.9million,which represents a cost of €22.5millionto the exchequer.

Ireland is home to some of the highest-earning stallions in the world, many of which are controlled by the holy trinity of the Irish breeding sector - Kildangan Stud in Co Kildare, owned by Dubai’s ruling Maktoum family; the Aga Khan’s Gilltown Stud, also in Co Kildare; and Coolmore Stud, the John Magnier-controlled operation in Co Tipperary.

In addition to covering mares in Ireland, the main breeders transport their prime stallions to the US and to the southern hemisphere.

Under the previous tax regime, the income earned overseas was also tax-exempt. Stallion nomination is big business. In Australia, for example, Coolmore took in around €40 million during the country’s most recent breeding season. Stallions owned by the group covered 1,700 mares, compared to 2,200 in 2006, reflecting a setback from the outbreak of equine flu.

Most nomination fees are under €10,000, but a premier horse, such as Rock of Gibraltar, can command €55,000 a time. And a dalliance with Sadlers Wells - which has now been retired - cost up to ten times that amount.

However, most Irish breeders are small farmers with a limited number of stallions, and would never earn such figures. While the international operations such as Coolmore earned large profits under the old regime, the industry and the government argued that the scheme was primarily aimed at keeping small breeders in business.

Come Friday, when the tax relief is formally terminated, the bit-players will find themselves facing further hurdles in the sport of kings.

Making money on the hoof

Ireland is not the only country offering incentives to horse breeders. Britain, France, New Zealand, Australia and a host of US states offer various forms of financial encouragements.

In Britain, the value of stallions can be depreciated in equal instalments over ten years, while other incentives exist for brood mares, racehorses and young stock.

The thoroughbred industry in Australia is organised regionally, and all six states offer different incentives. The majority offer some form of annual payment and added bonuses to owners, trainers and breeders.

The US offers a range of incentives, with Kentucky, New York and California offering particularly attractive schemes.

In California, for example, there is a lucrative combination of a state-bred breeder programme and a ‘‘state sales and use tax’’ exemption for breeders.

A 2004 report by Indecon Consultants found that, ‘‘while the nature of the incentives offered vary [sic] from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, the results show that competition on the basis of incentives is strong’’.

It added: ‘‘Incentives offered tend to focus on the reduced rate application or non-application of income tax and sales tax, as well as breeder incentive programmes that offer additional prize money to domestic-bred race winners.”
(Source: Sunday Business Post)

Copper Line pressed the pace in his career debut on Friday at Charles Town Races and surged clear to a three-length score to become the first winner for West Virginia-based freshman sire Stored.

Trained by Gary Capuano for owner Black Horse Tavern, Copper Line completed 4 1/2 furlongs in :53.27 on a track rated as fast. He is out of the winning Explosive Bid mare Explosive Charm.

Stored, a seven-year-old by Coronado’s Quest out of 1990 champion sprinter Safely Kept, by Horatius, stood the 2008 season for $3,500 at Naylee Farm in Summit Point, West Virginia. A half brother to Grade 3-placed multiple stakes winner Contrast, Stored has 11 two-year-olds in his first crop.

Stored won two of five starts in two seasons and earned $45,210 for breeder Jayeff B Stables and trainer Alan Goldberg.
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)

The Hong Kong Breeders Club, an international syndicate of equine investors, has launched a legal action against an Irish thoroughbred breeder over the rights to one of the world’s most successful racehorses.

The club has initiated High Court proceedings against Hubie de Burgh, a bloodstock consultant and horse breeder based in Co Kildare, in relation to Rakti, a racehorse that has won six Group One races.

The dispute dates from 2006, when Rakti was based in Huma Stud in Co Kildare, which was co-owned by De Burgh at the time. The company behind Huma Stud is also listed as a codefendant in the case.

The syndicate is claiming that it is owed payment for the season in relation to the stallion.

De Burgh intends to defend the action, and has retained Dublin law firm William Fry.

De Burgh has been involved in the bloodstock industry for three decades, and spent 20 years developing the bloodstock interests of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, crown prince of Dubai. He set up his own stud farm and bloodstock consultancy business in 2003.

He now runs De Burgh Equine, which buys and manages thoroughbred horses on behalf of clients around the world. The Hong Kong Breeders Club was established in 2005, and owns some of the world’s top thoroughbred horses.
(Source: Sunday Business Post)

After standing 20 years at Alec Head’s stud farm in Normandy, France, Highest Honor, a French champion and two-time leading sire, has been pensioned.

Bred by Haras de la Louvière, the 25-year-old son of Kenmare raced in the colors of Issam Fares, the owner of Haras de Manneville in France and Fares Farm near Lexington. Fares is perhaps best known as the breeder of reigning Horse of the Year Curlin.

Trained by Pascal Bary, Highest Honor won the Prix Edmond Blanc (Fr-III) and the Prix d’Ispahan (Fr-I) at 4.

Syndicated upon his arrival at stud, Highest Honor has sired numerous group winners, including group I victors Reve D’Oscar, Marotta, Medaaly, Sagacity, Admise, Royal Honor, and Dedication. Admise and Dedication were also graded stakes winners in North America, respectively taking the 1996 Oak Tree Turf Championship Stakes (gr. IT) and the 2004 Beaugay Handicap (gr. IIIT).

Highest Honor is also the broodmare sire of such group winners as Vettori, Geordieland, Stella Blue, Ruwi, Bernebeau, and Groom Tesse.

A sire of sires, some of Highest Honors sons currently standing at stud include Verglas, Take Risks, Sagacity, Baroud D’Honneur, Medaaly, and Vangelis, a group II-placed runner in North America.

To date, Highest Honor has sired 474 winners from 691 starters and has progeny earnings of $34,327,906.
(Source: The Blood-Horse)

Helen Gardiner, owner of one of Ontario’s leading breeding operations, died on July 22 at age 70 after a short bout with cancer.

Gardiner operated Gardiner Farms in Caledon following the death of her husband, George, in 1998. The farm has accounted for Canada’s leading stallion by progeny earnings the last two years. Bold Executive, who began his stud career at Gardiner Farms in 1989, led the Canadian sire list in 2007 for the fourth time in five years.

The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society honored Gardiner as its breeder of the year for 2007. In recent years, the farm bred stakes winners Are You Serious, Bullish Executive, Legal Move, London Snow, Midnight Shadow, and Top Ten List.

Gardiner Farms also stood Ciano Cat, Domasca Dan, Peaks and Valleys, Philanthropist, Raj Waki, Trajectory, and Where’s the Ring in 2008.

Born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Gardiner graduated from York University and the Christie’s fine Arts Course in London, England. She received the Order of Canada in 2006 for her contribution to Toronto’s Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art.

The Gardiner family will receive friends at Morley Bedford Funeral Home, 159 Eglinton Ave. W., in Toronto, on Sunday. A service of celebration will be held at St. James Cathedral, 65 Church St., Toronto, on Monday at 11 a.m., followed by a private burial. A reception will follow honoring Gardiner. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Gardiner Museum, 111 Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C7, Attention: Helen Gardiner Fund.
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)

Swiss Yodeler will stand the 2009 breeding season at John Harris’ Harris Farm near Coalinga, Calif. He previously stood at Pepper Oaks Farm.

Grade I winner Swiss Yodeler, now 14, was raced and is still owned by Heinz Steinman and was trained by Mike Harrington. Swiss Yodeler won five stakes as a 2-year-old including the Hollywood Futurity (gr. I), Hollywood Juvenile (gr. II), and Best Pal Stakes (gr. III). He earned $761,442.

Sire of the 2006 TVG Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) and Eclipse Award winner Thor’s Echo, Swiss Yodeler has consistently been a leading California sire with progeny earnings of $16,626,626. With seven crops of racing age, Swiss Yodeler (Eastern Echo-Drapeau, by Raja Baba), has sired 19 stakes winners, 35 stakes-placed, 71% starters from foals and 71% winners from starters.

“I have always greatly admired Swiss Yodeler and am absolutely delighted to have him standing at our farm,” said John Harris. “He was a top race horse and is an outstanding sire. His progeny perform well on all types of track surfaces, and at a variety of distances. He is such a good looking individual. I wanted to breed to him the first time I saw him several years ago and we have bred several mares to him the last few years. We will definitely be sending some of our best mares to him and know that he will do very well here.”

Harris continued: “We are very honored to now be the only farm in California standing two stallions that have sired champions and Breeders Cup winners-Cee’s Tizzy, sire of Tiznow, the only horse to ever win the Breeders Cup Classic (gr. I) twice, and now Swiss Yodeler, sire of Sprint winner Thor’s Echo, both of which were raised at Harris Farms.”

Heinz Steinman added, “We’re very excited about moving Swiss Yodeler to Harris Farms and the support he will receive there. Patricia Youngman and her staff at Pepper Oaks did an excellent job with Swiss Yodeler and w appreciates their contributions to his success.”

Mike Harrington, who purchased Swiss Yodeler as a yearling and trained him throughout his career added, “Heinz and I feel this is a great opportunity to further Swiss Yodeler’s career going forward and are pleased to be associated with Harris Farms. Swiss Yodeler has a great disposition, outstanding confirmation and gets correct foals that can run early and often. His future is very bright.”

Swiss Yodeler’s 2009 fee will be announced in September. He joins Cee’s Tizzy, High Brite, Redattore, Tizbud, Stormy Jack, Lucky Pulpit, Downtown Seattle, and Avanzado at Harris Farms.
(Source: The Blood-Horse)

Spanish Steps sired his first winner yesterday, when his daughter Spanish Ice won the fifth race at Del Mar by 1¾ lengths.

A homebred racing for Martin Stables Inc., Spanish Ice was making her second career start for trainer Craig Dollase. The California-bred is out of the Sovereign Dancer mare Lemon Ice, and is a half-sister to stakes winner Dakota Diamond.

Spanish Steps, by Unbridled out of Trolley Song, by Caro, is a full brother to Unbridled’s Song. He stands at Martin Stables South, Reddick, Florida.