Union Jack Flying High as Small Breeders Strike on the Big Stage

[Wandering Eyes]

ASCOT, UK — There may be cause for concern when it comes to the tumbling number of foals bred in Britain but, with Ascot festooned with the Union Jack, the first three races represented a terrific result for the United Kingdom, falling to horses bred in England, Wales and Scotland. 

In front of the King and Queen, first Docklands then Gstaad and American Affair testified to the strength of Thoroughbreds produced in the country, with British-based Irishmen Richard Kent and John McGrandles being the breeders behind the first two Group 1 winners of the royal meeting.

The pride of Mickley Stud, Docklands is by the farm's resident stallion Massaat and went one better than his second-place finish in last year's Queen Anne Stakes to lift the opening contest of Flat racing's biggest meeting and give trainer Harry Eustace his first Group 1 winner.

As Eustace was engulfed in hugs by his parents James and Gay and brother and fellow trainer David, over from Hong Kong, a beaming Terry Henderson of OTI Racing followed Docklands in to the winner's circle, the globetrotting Australian syndicator bringing a welcome international feel to the day. 

But it was over in Shropshire that the winner's life began and, as his breeder Richard Kent leaned on the rail of the enclosure, his face a little higher of colour than usual, he accepted congratulations from Angus Gold. It was through Shadwell and Gold that the the 2,000 Guineas runner-up Massaat ended up at Mickley Stud and, as with any of the stallions Kent stands, he has had plenty of home support.

Kent said, “I rang Harvey Bell yesterday with the list of horses and I have eight or nine Massaats who were going to the Autumn Sale but now I think they might have to have an upgrade – or I could keep a few and run them in next year's Windsor Castle!”

He continued, “Genuine horses and genuine people never let you down. Go for a genuine horse and try to stick around as many genuine people as you can. We've two Massaat fillies who both ran yesterday and both were second and they both ran their hearts out. We went to Germany with a filly by him last year and she ran her heart out, and they are not the fanciest of pedigrees. My friend Liam Norris bought the dam Icky Woo for me and she wouldn't win a beauty contest but then she breeds us a genuine horse like this. It's all about their heart.”

Docklands shares his birthplace with one of the hottest stallions around at the moment, Havana Grey, who was bred by Kent in partnership with the late Lady Caroline Lonsdale. Other notable recent Mickley graduates include G2 Temple Stakes winner Liberty Beach and G1 Irish St Leger winner Brown Panther for Michael Owen. 

“We used to breed jumpers and we went broke doing that so we went over to the sprinters,” Kent added. “Docklands was a beautiful horse and Adrian Costello is a very good judge and he bought him off me as a foal. Terry Henderson was keen to buy the horse because he had bought his half-brother Harbour Views, who was a very good horse down in Australia, by Le Havre.”

Mickley Stud will be represented at Ascot again on Thursday as the breeder of London Boy (Havana Grey), who runs in the Norfolk Stakes for Amo Racing.

'This is history repeating itself'

First blood in the two-year-old contests of the week went to Gstaad, the Starspangledbanner half-brother to dual Group 1 winner Vandeek, bred by Kelly and Huw Thomas at Maywood Stud in Wales. Their dam Mosa Mine (Exceed And Excel) was also a homebred and is now in foal to Wootton Bassett. 

 

Huw and Kelly Thomas, breeders of Gstaad | Emma Berry

 

“I can't believe it – another one,” said Kelly Thomas after the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt had stormed to success in the Coventry. “The mare's at home now and I was just looking at her as I left. She's in the front paddock and is being kept a very close eye on.”

She continued, “This is history repeating itself. Vandeek went out and won on his first run and then goes into a Group 2 on his second run and wins, and this lad has done just the same.”

Gstaad was sold for 450,000gns to MV Magnier as a foal in the year of Vandeek's great triumphs at Newmarket and Deauville.

Thomas, who keeps four mares at Maywood, added, “To have their support means so much. To think that our little stud can produce a horse who's in training at Ballydoyle. I took the mare over to Coolmore to be covered this year and whilst I was there I was lucky enough to go to see Gstaad in his stable. It's a privilege to go there.”

Flower of Scotland

Another couple enjoying a day they will never forget was John and Wendy McGrandles, the owner-breeders of American Affair. In becoming the first Group 1 winner for his sire Washington DC, he also provided Scottish trainer Jim Goldie with a first Group 1 as well as a first Royal Ascot winner in the King Charles III Stakes, and King Charles III himself was there to hand over the trophy to to the winning connections. The ownership group includes the trainer's wife Davina Goldie and David Gatherer. 

 

John McGrandles, left, and fellow owners with the King | Racingfotos

 

“American Affair is probably the only horse here with a Glasgow postcode in his passport,” said John McGrandles.

“Jim trained his dam, granddam and grandsire, and he gave me the mare but I only got two foals out of her. She was a super mare but sadly I never got a filly from her.”

That mare was Classy Anne, whose sire was the erstwhile Goldie stable star Orientor. From the same crop of foals bred by the McGrandles came Copacabana, who races at the opposite end of the distance spectrum to American Affair and won a bumper for Willie Mullins earlier this year.

“We breed them at home just about 10 miles outside Glasgow. We've always had horses – we've bred event horses and racehorses all our lives, but this is without doubt the best racehorse I've ever bred,” added McGrandles, who is off to another major event tomorrow to show some sheep at the Royal Highland Show. 

“Washington DC isn't popular but the reason that I went to him is that the mare was a very fast mare and I thought I would go to the fastest stallion that I could afford. We've sent another mare back to him this year and she is also by Orientor.”

Both Massaat and Bearstone Stud's Washington DC, who stand not much more than a stone's throw from each other in Market Drayton, were available at £3,500 this year. They may not be the most sought-after of stallions, but at the most fashionable meeting of them all, their offspring showed that fashion counts for little as long as you have heart. 

 

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