Current News

Super Listed winner for Motivator and Highclere Stud

The Motivator filly, Super Motiva, scored an emphatic win in the Criterium Aretuseo (L) over 1600m at Siracusa in Italy today. 

 

A clear winner by 3l and unbeaten in her two runs to date, she looks an exciting 2010 prospect for leading Sicilian owner Antonio Bosco and trainer Sebastiano Cannavo.

 

Bred by Highclere Stud, she is the first foal out of Haute Volta (Grape Tree Road), a half-sister to seven winners including the National Stakes (Gr.1) winner Heart of Darkness. 

6th December 2009

 

Dr Fong moves to France

Following nine years standing at Highclere Stud, Dr Fong will move to France for the 2010 season, having been purchased by Haras du Thenney. 

 

Whilst standing at Highclere, Dr Fong was the sire of several Gr.1 winners, including Secretariat Stakes winner Shamdinan and Prix Saint-Alary winner Ask For The Moon.  To date he has sired over 50 individual Stakes horses in countries all over the world.

27th November 2009

Comfortable success for Motivator filly

The Motivator two-year-old filly, Mirabella, comfortably won the competitive 7f nursery at Lingfield today for The Royal Ascot Racing Club.  Highly regarded by her trainer Richard Hannon she looks to be an exciting three-year-old prospect.

 

Bred by the Irish National Stud out of the A P Indy mare Anayid, it was another decent winner for her first season sire Motivator.

13th November 2009

 

Super Motivator winner in Italy

The Motivator newcomer Super Motiva quickened in good style despite some traffic problems to comfortably win her maiden at Siracusa, Italy, over 1700m this weekend.

 

This two-year-old filly from the first crop of Motivator, was also bred by Highclere Stud out of Haute Volta, a half-sister to Heart of Darkness, winner of the Gr.1 National Stakes.

9th November 2009

 

Dr Fong Stakes winner on Melbourne Cup Day

The consistent Right Fong couldn't have been more impressive striding to victory in the Melbourne Cup Day Plate (Listed) over 1800m on 3rd November in Australia.  Jockey Mark Pegus produced the David Balfour-trained gelding at the top of the straight and immediately pounced upon his rivals to score emphatically by 3l.

 

Another horse by Dr Fong to gain success down under is Dr Nipandtuck, winner of The Sandown Six Handicap (Listed) at Flemington, and third in the Cleanevent Manikato Stakes (Gr,1) at Moonee Valley.

5th November 2009

 

Celimene wins second Gr.3 for Dr Fong

The Dr Fong filly, Celimene won her second Gr.3 race today when landing the Prix de Flore at Saint Cloud.  Earlier in the year she had won the Prix Penelope (Gr.3) at the same track, and had also finished a gallant fourth in the Prix de Diane (Gr.1) at Chantilly.

 

Trained by C Lerner, this three-year-old filly also won as a juvenile.  She was bred by Petra Bloodstock out of the Groom Dancer mare Lunassa. 

28th October 2009

 

Highclere bred Ouqba unlucky second in Gr.2

The Highclere bred, Ouqba, was an unlucky second in the Challenge Stakes (Gr.2) at Newmarket on Saturday for trainer Barry Hills and owner Hamdan Al Maktoum.  Having been short of room, this three-year-old colt ran on strongly when in the clear, but the winner Arabian Gleam had taken the first run.

 

By Red Ransom, he was following up his Jersey Stakes (Gr.3) victory at Royal Ascot, and his comfortably success in the European Free Handicap (L).

 

Ouqba was the top lot consigned by Highclere Stud as a yearling at the Doncaster St Leger Sales in 2007, realising 140,000gns when knocked down to Shadwell Estates. He is out of Dancing Mirage, a winning daughter of Machiavellian and the dam of four winners including the Stakes winner Foxhaven.

19th October 2009

 

Highclere Stud leading vendor at Tattersalls Book 2

Highclere Stud was yet again the leading vendor at Tattersalls Book 2, having also been the leading vendor at Tattersalls Book 1 the week before.

 

At Tattersalls Book 2 Highclere sold 12 horses for an aggregate of 812,500gns, making an average of 67,708gns, well above the average for the whole sale.

 

Highlights of the sale included two yearlings by Motivator.  The colt out of Briery realised the top price of the draft when knocked down to Shadwell Estate Company for 120,000gns (Lot 1004).  Just five lots later the half brother to stakes horse Meer Kat was sold to Blandford Bloodstock for 110,000gns (Lot 1005).

 

Another yearling to make six figures was the colt by Encosta de Lago out of Jabali, from the family of Montjeu (Lot 1254).  Trainer Marcus Tregoning purchased him for 110,000gns, and said: "This colt is like his sire conformation wise, and he's come from a good stud who prepped him well."

 

These sales rounded off another excellent season for Highclere Stud.

16th October 2009

 

 

Three more Motivator yearlings reach six figures

Tattersalls Book 2 saw three more yearlings by Motivator reach six figures. 

 

These included a colt consigned by Sussex Stud out of Intaaj, a half sister to Gr.3 winner Indian Maiden, who had the good looks to match (Lot 1246).  He was purchased for 150,000gns for Highclere Thoroughbred Racing by John Warren, who is understandably a big fan of Motivator as he manages the horse and because he has had several promising first crop successes this year.

 

The other two yearlings by Motivator to sell for over 100,000gns were both consigned by Highclere Stud.  A colt out of Briery realised the top price of their draft when knocked down to Shadwell Estate Company for 120,000gns (Lot 1004).  Just five lots later the half brother to stakes horse Meer Kat was sold to Blandford Bloodstock for 110,000gns (Lot 1005).

15th October 2009

 

Another Motivator 2yo gains Black-Type

The Motivator two-year-old, Prompter, ran a brave race leading all the way to be narrowly beaten into second by a head in the Autumn Stakes (Gr.3) at Ascot at the weekend. 

 

He looks an excellent three-year-old prospect for his owners The Royal Ascot Racing Club and trainer Michael Bell, the successful partnership who owned and trained Motivator himself.

 

Bred by Mr and Mrs G Middlebrook, Prompter is out of the Efisio mare Penny Cross.   He has now earned himself an impressive Timeform Rating of 109p.

12th October 2009

 

Highclere Stud leading vendor at Tattersalls Book 1

Highclere Stud was the leading vendor at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 for the third year running. 23 yearlings were sold for an aggregate of 3,359,000, making an impressive average of 146,043gns.

 

The highlight of the consignment was the Pivotal colt out of the Darshaan mare Blue Symphony (Lot 269), a half-brother to Gr.3 Nell Gwyn winner and Gr.1 placed Fantasia. Purchased by Michael Goodbody for 450,000gns on behalf of racehorse trainer Thomas Barr, he said: “He had everything – the mare’s a young, proven producer, and her son ticked boxes everywhere”.

 

This colt was bred by Fittocks Stud and consigned by Highclere, as was his promising half-sister Pink Symphony who realised 400,000gns last year as a yearling.

 

Other yearlings to reach six figures included a half sister to the Gr.2 Ribblesdale Stakes winner Thakafaat by Dansili who was knocked down to Shadwell for 330,000gns (Lot 413), and Hugo Lascelles purchased the half sister to Stakes horses Regal Parade and Mount Helicon by Encosta de Lago out of Model Queen for 280,000gns (Lot 588).

9th October 2009

 

Two winners in two days for Motivator

Al Ghazal was the first of two winners in as many days for Motivator.  This scopey colt enjoyed himself in front and was never challenged to easily win the 1m2f Conditions Stakes at Leicester yesterday.  Rated 99p by Timeform, he holds various Group entries and is expected to make an even better three-year-old for Godolphin.

 

Motivator's second winner was North Shadow, who won a 6f nursery at Nottingham today by over 2l, and looks sure to go on to better things.

7th October 2009

 

Motivator colt realises €230,000 at Goffs Orby Sale

An excellent Motivator colt offered by Tinnakill House realised €230,000 yesterday at the Goffs Orby Sale, when purchased by Tom Tate (Lot 96 - pictured).

 

The colt is a half-brother to the Stakes-placed duo Dramatic Quest and Proceed With Care, out of a Stakes-placed Rahy half-sister to the Arc de Triomphe winner and sire Suave Dancer. 

 

Tom Tate commented: "He's a big, scopey horse and a real trainer's type of horse.  He's been bought for Mr Hay, and it's going to be a pleasure to train him."

 

Another Motivator yearling to reach six figures this season was the half-brother to Gr.1 Prix de la Foret winner Dedication out of Dissertation. Offered by Le Quesnay at the Arqana August Yearling Sale in Deauville, he was sold to Shadwell for €320,000 (Lot 60).

30th September 2009

 

 

Motivator 2yos highly rated by Timeform

Hibaayeb's Gr.1 win at the weekend was a fine complement to the Motivator two-year-old filly Pollenator, as only a few weeks earlier she had beaten Hibaayeb in the May Hill Stakes (Gr.2) at Doncaster. 

 

Pollenator now has an impressive Timeform Rating of 111p.  The Motivator colt Hot Prospect also has an excellent rating of 102p.  Add to that a host of other highly rated two-year-olds, including Prompter (95), Al Ghazal (92p), Tactician (86p), Jibrrya (85p), Lumineux (84p), Zayaan (83p), Saddlers Lodge (80p) and Mirabella (80p), Motivator’s future looks very bright.

 

These ratings are even more exciting if you consider that due to injury in his first season covering, Motivator's first crop is half the size of his contemporaries.

28th September 2009

Motivator filly Pollenator wins the Gr.2 May Hill

The exciting two-year-old filly, Pollenator, was an impressive winner today of the May Hill Stakes (Gr.2) at Doncaster, the first Stakes success for her sire Motivator.  Just 10 minutes later Motivator had another thrilling winner in Hot Prospect who comfortably won his maiden at Sandown in a very fast time.

 

Pollenator clearly stepped up to this higher grade in style having won last time out for her connections, trainer Richard Hannon and The Royal Ascot Racing Club, who also owned Motivator during his racing career.

 

The club's managing director, Harry Herbert, said: "Next year she will hopefully develop into an Oaks filly.  She is a grand filly and to have Motivator's first Pattern winner owned by the club is very special."

 

Pollenator was purchased by John Warren for the club from Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2 for 50,000gns.

 

The future certainly looks very bright for Motivator.  He now has several highly rated two-year-olds to his name, even though he only had half the crop of his contemporaries.  Another recent juvenile to note is the highly regarded Tactician, a runner-up on his debut at Doncaster yesterday. 

11th September 2009

 

Tattersalls Lot 588 Catalogue Update:  half-brother Hot Prospect wins maiden in a very fast time

Hot Prospect, the half-brother to the Encosta Del Lago yearling filly to be consigned by Highclere Stud at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 (Lot 588), comfortably won his maiden today.  He made all and readily won to record a time just outside a second slower than the juvenile record over a mile.

 

This two-year-old is out of the Highclere mare Model Queen, from the family of Elmaamul, Reams of Verse etc.  He was following up the Gr.1 success of his half-brother Regal Parade last weekend.

 

He was also providing the second winner of a very exciting day for his first season sire Motivator (see story above).  

11th September 2009

 

Tattersalls Lot 269 Catalogue Update: important Stakes catalogue update for half-brother to Fantasia

Fantasia comfortably won the JRA Sceptre Stakes (L) over 7f at Doncaster yesterday, providing an important catalogue update for her half-brother by Pivotal, who will be consigned by Highclere Stud at the Tattersalls October Sale Book 1 (Lot 269).

 

The Sun Chariot Stakes (Gr.1) on 3rd October is this three-year-old filly’s next target for trainer Luca Cumani and owner George Strawbridge. Out of the Darshaan mare Blue Symphony, Fantasia also won the Nell Gwyn Stakes (Gr.3) and was third in the Prix d’Essai des Pouliches (Gr.1) this season, and as a juvenile she won the Prestige Stakes (Gr.3) and finished second in the Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile (Gr.1).

11th September 2009

 

Dr Fong's Emergency narrowly beaten in Gr.3

The Dr Fong filly, Emergency, was narrowly beaten by just a neck and a short head to finish third in the 7f Prix du Pin (Gr.3) at Longchamp on 5th September.

 

This consistent three-year-old was following up finishing second in the Prix du Lieurey (Gr.3) at Deauville over 1m in August, having won the 7f Prix Amandine (L) at the same racecourse in July. Bred by Juddmonte Farms, Emergency is out of the Warning mare Well Warned.

7th September 2009

 

Highclere bred Regal Parade wins Gr.1

The Highclere Stud bred, Regal Parade, showed an impressive turn of foot to win the 6f Betfair Sprint Cup (Gr.1) at Haydock today.

 

Regal Parade was winning his eighth race, others include the City Plate (L) at Chester, the competitive Ayr Gold Cup and Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last season.  He is extremely consistent having also finished second in the Hungerford Stakes (Gr.2) and third in the Lennox Stakes (Gr.2) on his two previous runs leading up to this victory for trainer Dandy Nicholls.

 

By Pivotal, Regal Parade is out of the Highclere mare Model Queen, from the family of Elmaamul, Reams of Verse etc, and was sold at Tattersalls as a yearling for 430,000gns.

 

His half-sister yearling by Encosta Del Lago will be consigned by Highclere Stud at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 (Lot 588).

 

Another horse consigned by Highclere to gain Stakes success at Haydock today was Nideeb. This two-year-old colt finished second in The Ascendant Stakes (L) following up his victory in the Winkfield Stakes (L) at Ascot. From the family of Luso, Needle Gun and Warrsan, his half-brother by Shirocco will be consigned by Highclere Stud at Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 (Lot 553).

 

Other recent Highclere bred or consigned horses to win include Charm School, a winner at Kempton on 4th September she is out of the Highclere mare Eve, and her half-brother yearling by Dansili will be offered at Tattersalls October Book 1 (Lot 379). In addition, the two-year-old filly Pink Symphony was narrowly beaten by a nose into second having pulled clear of the rest of the field in the 7f maiden at Newmarket on 28th August. Highclere Stud will also be consigning her half-brother by Pivotal at Tattersalls October Book 1 (Lot 269).

5th September 2009

 

Maiden win for Breeze-up purchase

Centigrade confirmed his promising debut when winning the 7f EBF Maiden Stakes at Warwick yesterday on his second start.  This two-year-old Verglas colt was purchased by John Warren Bloodstock from the Tattersalls Breeze-Up Sale for Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, and looks to be yet another exciting juvenile for the syndicate.

 

Trained by William Haggas, he showed a good turn of foot to take the lead early in the straight and displayed a great attitude.  He is sure to win more races.

1st September 2009