The 11-time British champion National Hunt sire Kayf Tara died “peacefully in his paddock” this morning aged 28.

The eight-time winner of the Horse & Hound Cup, presented by the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association for the leading active National Hunt British-based stallion (chase winners), retired from stallion duties in 2020.

He spent his last two years in happy retirement at Overbury Stud, where he moved after winning the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot for a second time in 2000. Today, he died following “the routine he’d had since arriving” at the stud all those years ago.

Manager Simon Sweeting paid tribute to Kayf Tara, who was the first stallion to retire to Overbury Stud under his tenure.

“This is a very sad day for all of us at Overbury,” he said. “Kayf Tara really put us on the map and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been with him through every step of what transpired to be an extraordinary career as a jump stallion, in which he won more championships than any other British National Hunt sire in history.

“I remain immensely grateful to Sheikh Mohammed and the Darley team for entrusting him to us. He’s been such a great servant to the National Hunt game and to Overbury Stud, where he was looked after for most of his time by Dan Matty. We will miss him terribly.”

Kayf Tara, bred by Meon Valley Stud, enjoyed top success in his four-year career on the racecourse.

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute and laterly Saeed bin Suroor for Godolphin, the Sadler’s Wells son, out of top broodmare Colorspin, won 10 of his 15 starts. These included the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 1998 and 2000, which was his final race. He also scored two Irish St Legers, the Goodwood Cup and the Yorkshire Cup.

He went on to spend 20 seasons at stud, leaving an enormous legacy in National Hunt racing.

His progeny include Edwardstone, who landed his third Grade One victory in the Tingle Creek Chase on Saturday, as well as Thistlecrack, Special Tiara, Edwulf and Carruthers.

Time was called on his career at stud in 2020, owing to declining fertility, which was the year his final crop of foals was born.

“We are all very grateful to Simon Sweeting and his team at Overbury for taking such great care of Kayf Tara for all these years, and we are very proud of the enormous contribution he has made to National Hunt racing and breeding in Britain and beyond during that time,” said Sam Bullard, Darley’s director of stallions.

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THE thoroughbred industry has moved to outlaw double-dealing and bribery, with the threat of criminal as well as regulatory repercussions for “serious malpractice”.

The new bloodstock industry code of practice came into force in Britain and Ireland on 16 August, replacing previous codes that had been in place since 2009 and 2010.

Its aims are to “prevent serious malpractice in the bloodstock sales industry”, including banning bribery – whether described as “luck money” or not. It also bans acting for both sides on a sale, without prior informed consent, and collusive “bidding up”.

“Such practices have no place in the bloodstock industry,” states the new code.

The move follows a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) review of the buying and selling of bloodstock and racehorses in British racing, released in December 2019, and the new code is centred on the key recommendations in that report.

BHA chief executive Julie Harrington confirmed the code will be incorporated into the BHA’s Rules of Racing.

“[The code] represents a significant step forwards in terms of enhancing trust in the process of buying and selling bloodstock in Britain and Ireland,” she said.

“It is essential if we are to attract and retain owners in the sport that anyone involved in the purchase of bloodstock can have confidence that they are being treated fairly, and the code will help further enhance British racing’s reputation on this front.”

Tattersalls marketing director Jimmy George, chair of the Bloodstock Industry Forum that was also formed following the BHA review, added: “Importantly, the new code of practice has introduced a complaints procedure independent of the industry bodies.

“Individuals found to be in breach of the code, either in criminal or civil proceedings or having been sanctioned by the BHA for breach of the code, will also be subject to exclusion from participating at Tattersalls and Goffs sales in Britain and Ireland.”

Mr George added: “We share a collective responsibility to preserve and enhance the global reputation for integrity which has always been central to the success of the British and Irish bloodstock industries. The new code sends out the very clear message that we will do everything in our power to maintain and increase confidence in an industry that is held in the highest esteem throughout the world.”

Federation of Bloodstock Agents chairman Oliver St Lawrence added that the association has also “tightened its membership requirements”.

“Together with a raft of other new measures, this upgraded code should protect principals with a significant tightening up of the definition of acceptable ethical behaviour by all participants in the buying and selling of bloodstock and fully clarifies the law in the UK and Ireland,” he said.

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Galileo, one of the most influential thoroughbred sires of all time, has been put down aged 23.

A statement from Coolmore said the world-renowned champion sire’s life ended today (Saturday, 10 July) on humane grounds owing to a “chronic, non-responsive, debilitating injury to the left fore foot”.

“It is a very sad day, but we all feel incredibly fortunate to have had Galileo here at Coolmore,” said John Magnier.

“I would like to thank the dedicated people who looked after him so well all along the way. He was always a very special horse to us and he was the first Derby winner we had in Ballydoyle in the post MV [Michael Vincent] O’Brien era.

“I would also like to thank Aidan and his team for the brilliant job they did with him. The effect he is having on the breed through his sons and daughters will be a lasting legacy and his phenomenal success really is unprecedented.”

Galileo, by Sadler’s Wells out of 1993 Arc winner Urban Sea, was unbeaten in his first six starts, under the guidance of trainer Aidan O’Brien. His top racing achievements included the 2001 Derby, Irish Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He was named European Champion three-year-old colt in 2001.

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But it is his legacy as a sire for which Galileo is best known. He broke Danehill’s world record in June 2020, when he sired his 85th Group One winner, Peaceful, who won the Irish 1,000 Guineas. Fittingly, this was the same race won by one of his first crop of foals, Nightime.

That tally now stands at 91, while 20 of his sons – including Frankel and Australia – have also sired Group One victors.

“Following Galileo’s strikingly impressive Epsom Derby success the front-page headline in the Racing Post was the single word ‘PERFECTION.’ It could not have been more apt,” added the Coolmore statement.

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Tributes have been paid to Frankel’s dam, Kind, who died following complications after foaling.

Kind (Danehill x Rainbow Lake), a second generation Juddmonte homebred, died on 8 March aged 20, six days after foaling a colt by Kingman.

She won six of her 13 starts on the Flat under the guidance of trainer Roger Charlton, including the Flower of Scotland and Kilvington Stakes, before retiring to stud in 2005, and it is her outstanding contribution to thoroughbred breeding for which she will be best remembered.

Kind leaves five stallion sons at stud, including the unbeaten superstar Frankel and Group One winner Noble Mission. Her daughter, Joyeuse, and granddaughters Jubiloso and Jovial are also continuing her breeding legacy, while her three-year-old Galileo filly, Chiasma, is in training with John Gosden.

“I cannot thank the Rossdales and Juddmonte team enough for the tireless care they have given Kind,” said Juddmonte’s UK stud director, Simon Mockridge.

“To many she will rightfully always be best remembered as the dam of Frankel and Noble Mission, to us at Juddmonte she will always be Kind by name and Kind by nature.”

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Kind’s legacy as a broodmare, producing two Group One winners (Frankel and Noble Mission), plus a further Group winner (Bullet Train), means her name is on the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities’ list of protected names.

Kind’s grand-dam, Rockfest, arrived at Juddmonte in 1983. She was bought privately in 1983 as part of the John “Jock” Hay Whitney dispersal sale.

Rockfest’s progeny included Lancashire Oaks winner Rainbow Lake, who produced three Group/Graded Stakes winners, as well as dual listed winner Kind.

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Two fillies by Galileo have become the most expensive yearlings sold at auction in the world this year – as nine lots fetch seven figure prices at the Tattersalls October yearling sale book one last week (6-8 October).

Lot 436, a Galileo filly out of Shastye, was bought by MV Magnier, Coolmore, for £3.57 million on the final day of the sale. The Newsells Park Stud consigned filly is the full sister to Group One winners Japan and Mogul and will join her full-brothers at Ballydoyle.

“It is a great result for everybody involved, she has been bought in partnership with Westerberg,” said MV Magnier. “She is a very nice filly and a very nice mover, like Japan and Mogul. The mare produces great looking stock and great racehorses, let’s hope she does it one more time.”

The second Galileo filly, Lot 374, was also bought by MV Magnier. The filly, out of the dual Grade Two winner Prize Exhibit, sold for £2.94 million.

‘[Her] breeder David Nagle has been saying for a very long time how good a filly she is. We are very lucky to have been able to buy her. She has a great page, and she comes from a very good nursery,” said Mr Magnier.

“These kind of fillies are collectors items with Galileo and how he is doing as a broodmare sire. She is just exceptional.”

During the auction’s three days nine lots sold for seven figure prices including Lot 174, the son of Kingman who sold for £2.84 million to Oliver St Laurence from Houghton Bloodstock, on behalf of Pantile Stud. The colt, out of Galicuix, is a half brother to class winner Galileo Gold.

Bo Hicks-Little, stud manager of Pantile Stud, said the colt has “never put a foot wrong”.

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“He is a superstar, and not just physically, he is so mentally strong too, he is such a professional. He was a late April foal and we had a bad night when he was born as we nearly lost the mare. We had to bottle feed him for 24 hours,” he said.

“He has been bought for Fawzi Nass and Bahraini interests. He is a gorgeous horse, he has a stallion’s pedigree and he will go into training with Roger Varian,” added Mr St Laurence.

Lot 109, a colt by Dubawi out of Cushion, was bought by Godolphin for £2.21 million from Floors Stud. The stable also bought Lot 162, a filly by Frankel out of Flesh d’Or for £2.1 million from Norelands Stud and Lot 41, a colt by Frankel out of Attraction, for £1.16 million from Floors Stud.

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Four years ago, Sophie Buckley bought her first three foals at the thoroughbred sales. Last week, she sold a Cable Bay colt — a €4,000 purchase — for an impressive 160,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale (pictured below as a foal and at the sales).

However, it is Sophie’s unusual approach to preparing yearlings for the sales, which makes her stand out within the bloodstock world.

In a competitive industry, which is focused primarily on making a profit at the sales, Sophie uses her background in dressage and showing to concentrate on the finer details when prepping yearlings.

“I prepare my yearlings differently to others in the industry,” said Sophie. “It’s not just about making a profit, it’s about also giving the yearlings the confidence to go onto their racing careers, and give them the ability to cope with life.”

After purchasing foals at the sales in November, they are turned out in the field and “well fed”. Sophie then begins their sale ring preparations around July, before they head back to the sales from August through to October — a busy time for all involved.

“Each day, I make sure the yearlings are doing something different at home,” she explained. “They will either go on the walker, be hand-walked, lunged or I ride-and-lead them off my hunter up the gallops.

“I don’t like the idea of them just going round in circles. It’s good to teach them to go up the gallops in a straight line and be next to another horse in an open space,” she added.

“I use my background in showing and dressage to produce the yearlings correctly. For example, I lunge them like dressage horses with a Chambon and incorporate transitions, so they have to use their natural balance. I believe it’s all about the marginal gains, although some yearlings are harder to work with than others.”

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Before breaking into the world of pinhooking, Sophie — who grew up in Ireland — enjoyed success in the show ring when under the tutelage of show producer Frances Cash, and also trained with international dressage instructor Gisele Holstein.

She also credits support from working hunter specialist Rory Gilsenan, who has been shortlisted for Absorbine Inspiration of the Year awards at the 2019 H&H Awards.

Sophie and her husband, Charles, with their two children, are based at Culworth Grounds near Banbury, where they have been creating a purpose-built equestrian facility.

“It’s hard to break into the bloodstock industry, and it took me many years,” said Sophie. “That first year I purchased three foals, the next I had six and then the following I bought 12 — each year went well and it just grew from there.

“When buying foals at the sales pedigree is important, but there is certainly an art to buying foals. You have to have an eye for their athleticism — they must have a good walk and good conformation. It’s all about finding a diamond in the rough.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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The turn of the new year always signals the impending arrival of exciting thoroughbred foals across the racing industry, and 2019 has been no exception so far, with some of the best stallions in the bloodstock world welcoming their first foals of the year.

Here’s a selection of just some of the gorgeous newbies and potential future stars of the racecourse...

1. Cheveley Park Stud welcomed a filly by dual Group One Ulysses, whose stud fee is £17,500, out of My Hope.

2. Three healthy foals — including offspring of Tweenhills sires Hot Streak and Havana Gold — were born in January. The Gloucestershire stud has the exciting addition of superstar Roaring Lion standing for 2019.

3. A colt by Darley stallion Ribchester, a four-time Group One-winning horse, was born, out of Mystic Love.

4. With a distinctive face marking, this filly will be easy to spot on the racecourse. She was born at Shadwell Stud and is sired by the 2014 Coral-Eclipse winner Mukhadram.

5. Check out this very cute 15-minute-old foal by Kool Kompany, who stands at Spanish stud Dehesa De Milagro.

6. French stud Haras de Saint Julien welcomed the first foal by Highland Reel — a filly out of Sundene.

7. This foal, born at Cheveley Park Stud, has impeccable bloodlines. The filly is by superstar Frankel out of Persuasive, both horses won Ascot’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes during their racing careers — can she follow in her parents footsteps one day?

8. A handsome colt was welcomed at Elkington Stud in Oxfordshire, sired by Coolmore stallion Excelebration, out of Jadwiga.

9. A colt by Darley stallion Dubawi — who has an eye-watering stud fee of £250,000 — was born, out of Hertford Dancer.

10. The Irish National Stud welcomed this gorgeous foal by three-time Group One winner Decorated Knight.

11. A lovely picture courtesy of Childwickbury Stud in Hertfordshire of a new foal, born in a rather chilly -3 degrees.

12. Overbury Stud in Gloucestershire introduced a first foal of Royal Ascot winner Ardad, out of successful mare Amitola.

13. This beautiful foal was born at The National Stud in Newmarket, a colt by Aclaim out of Unilit.

Don’t miss our bloodstock special in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound (24 January), where we visit Roaring Lion in his new role as a stallion at Tweenhills and more. For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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An Irish event rider who runs a solo operation buying and selling young racehorses at horse sales made a hefty profit when her Dabirsim colt sold for a remarkable €500,000 (£447,572) on Wednesday (4 October).

Co. Kildare-based Edie Murray-Hayden bought the colt (pictured, above) last year at Goffs November Foal Sale for €56,000 (£50,117).

After 11 months spent at Edie’s 35-acre Gormanstown Stud, during which time he was backed, the youngster was sold for half a million Euros to agents Sackville Donald at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale.

“His sire was unknown when I bought him, but I fell in love with him and was willing to take a chance on him — there is a lot of luck involved in this game,” Edie told H&H.

“He was very good-looking and an exceptional walker. Despite his unknown sire, he looked a good enough horse and I had done my homework.”

The Irish rider buys and sells — referred to as “pinhooking” in the bloodstock industry — from her 10-stable farm and usually buys one or two foals each year.

“It’s great to see the horses go on and race — it’s even better when they prove themselves,” said Edie, who previously worked for big breeding operations including Coolmore and Godolphin.

“I knew he was an exceptional colt, but I didn’t think he’d go for that much money. Once the price went above €200k it all became a bit of a blur — usually you can remain astute but I definitely got a bit lost at that point.”

Edie (pictured, below) was a member of the first Irish pony eventing team and was the first reserve for Ireland at the 2002 World Equestrian Games. She also produces event horses up to two-star before selling them on, alongside pre-training racehorses.

This is not her first “pinhooking” success — after setting up Gormanstown Stud, she bought Sir Prancealot for €52,000 as a foal and sold the future sire for €142,000 at the 2011 Orby Sale.

The Willie Mullins-trained Black Hercules, a Cheltenham Festival winner, also spent time in Edie’s care when she bought him as a three-year-old before selling him on.

“I actually find it harder to sell the eventers because you take them up the levels and they gain your trust — you get to know them over a longer period of time,” added Edie.

“With the yearlings, it is slightly different because I only have them for about 10 months before they are sold.

“The profit will be re-invested into my farm — I have been overwhelmed by the media attention and the well wishers.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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Now in his latter years as a stallion, you'd think things would be slowing down for the champion sire, however, thanks to the success of the Colin Tizzard-trained star Thistlecrack, Kayf Tara is more in the spotlight than ever before. We take a look at the facts and figures of this wonderful equine

Still going strong…

Aged 23, Kayf Tara is still going strong as a leading sire of National Hunt horses and this season he is set to cover up to 100 mares.

British-bred…

He is British-bred and was foaled at Meon Valley Stud, near Southampton in Hampshire.

A superb pedigree…

He has a particularly impressive pedigree himself and is sired by top stallion Sadler’s Wells. His dam, Colorspin, by High Top, won the Irish Oaks and had previously produced the multiple Group One winner Opera House.

Famous silks…

He is owned by Sheikh Mohammed and raced in the famous blue silks of Godolphin during his time on the racecourse.

Where he stands…

He has stood at Overbury Stud in Gloucestershire since 2000 and is looked after by former rugby player, Dan Matty (pictured, above).

Leading sire…

At the 2016 Cheltenham Festival, Kayf Tara was the leading sire during the four-day showcase after the success of Thistlecrack, Blaklion and Ballyandy.

The boss of the stud…

He is described as “playful” by stud manager Simon Sweeting. “There’s nothing nasty about him — he just wants you to know he’s in charge,” he says of the popular stallion, who is also known to chase Simon out of his paddock “for a bit of fun”.

Impressive form…

During his racing career, the stallion won the Ascot Gold Cup and the Irish St Leger in 1998. The following year, he was victorious in the Prix Kergorlay, the Goodwood Cup and Prix Vicomtesse Vigier before taking a second Irish St Leger. In 2000, he won the Yorkshire Cup and a second Ascot Gold Cup before the recurrence of an old injury brought his racing days to an end.

Award winner…

Kayf Tara won the prestigious Cartier European Stayer of the Year award three times from 1998 to 2000.

Well-known offspring…

Alongside Thistlecrack, his most successful offspring include Planet of Sound, Special Tiara, Tea For Two and Hennessy winner Carruthers.

How much?

His stud fee has risen to £10,000 for this season, which is the highest it has ever been set at.

Where it all began…

Kayf Tara’s first winning offspring was called Ruby Wine — who won a listed Flat race at Newbury as a three-year-old.

H&H visits Kayf Tara at home in our Bloodstock special issue — read the full feature in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale tomorrow (Thursday 26 January)

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A group of 5 fillies worth an estimated €1m (£830,000) have died after being electrocuted during Storm Darwin (13 February) in Ireland.

The yearlings were in a paddock at Kilfrush Stud, Knocklong, Co Limerick, when an electricity cable snapped and the current travelled through the ground, killing the horses instantly.

The alarm was raised by a member of staff, who went to check on the horses during the storm. The horses were checked 3 times daily.

One of the fillies — a daughter of New Approach — was purchased for the stud in November for €510,000 (£420,000).

Stud manager David Ryan, of Aran Bloodstock, said that while all the yearlings “had great potential”, the New Approach filly was a “rare commodity, which doesn’t come on to the market often”.

Mr Ryan bought the filly as breeding stock to build up a quality broodmare band for the stud’s Qatari owner, Mubarak al-Naemi. The 300-acre stud was purchased last summer for an undisclosed sum.

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After spending 12 years with leading bloodstock companies, including Coolmore, Darley and Juddmonte, Richard Knight is setting up on his own.

Richard, who is based in Newmarket, is offering foal, yearling and mare purchase services, plus mating plans, nomination booking and racehorse management.

Richard says he gained “first-class all-round experience of the bloodstock industry” through working on the stud farms at Coolmore and Highclere and the advertising and nominations departments at Darley and Juddmonte.

“This experience has already proved itself,” he said.

“From a small amount of horses purchased to date I have bought Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed filly Up In Time, who was bought as a yearling.”

Another purchase was Brazen, bought by Richard for 40,000 guineas as a foal and sold for 80,000 guineas as a yearling. Brazen recently won his two-year-old maiden by six lengths.

For more information visit www.richardknightbloodstock.com or telephone 07769-349240.

South African students – many from disadvantaged backgrounds – will have the opportunity the join the National Stud’s flagship diploma programme, thanks to a new scheme.

The National Stud, together with the Childwick Trust, are to offer a scholarship to a graduate from a leading South African breeding operation. Mick Goss’s Summerhill Stud, near Durban, has run the Al Maktoum School of Management Excellence for more than 20 years.

The three organisations have agreed a system for one School of Excellence graduate to have a fully funded place on the internationally renowned Diploma in Stud Practice and Management, run annually at the National Stud in Newmarket.

With the support of the Childwick Trust, the South African student will join the other diploma students, working alongside National Stud staff during the breeding season and experiencing racing in the northern hemisphere.

Mick Goss from Summerhill Stud, said: “Our young and enthusiastic students are keen horse people, who display an unusual potential and connectivity with the world of racing and we’re delighted to be offering one of our graduates the opportunity to study with the National Stud.

“We believe the overseas placement will fast-track our graduate into a world they might never have accessed without the scholarship, with the hope that they bring their experiences back to fellow students at home.”

Graduates of the National Stud’s diploma are highly regarded by industry employers; the vast majority secure employment immediately after graduating.

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Twenty-five-year-old Toby Coles is Britain’s newest — and youngest — trainer. He is writing a weekly diary for HHO about the trials and tribulations, the highs and the lows, the work and play of a young man trying to make a go out of training racehorses.

The week began with some stiff work to be done. Sammy, my one member of staff, was in Ireland at a friend’s wedding for the weekend, arriving back on Tuesday morning. After six lots for the third day running (my horses mostly only get a day off after they have galloped, and they only gallop when they need to, even on Sunday if needs be) I was most relieved when she did return!

Tuesday came quickly, and with it a visit from my blacksmith and vet, annoyingly for the same reason. Quarter cracks are not really that common here in the UK, unlike America. The most famous case was Big Brown, favourite to win the American Triple Crown two years ago. His efforts were thwarted by these annoying injuries. The one that we are suffering from does not seem to be that bad (I hope). However it has needed to be treated, stitched and patched.

Preparations were then made for the next day’s exploits with half the yard running at Folkestone.

Ups and downs at Folkestone

Pipit Nest was the first to run. She flew out the stalls and took the lead rather quickly, I must have forgotten to tell her she should be there at the end! One has to try and take the positive from a negative — “Well, at least it will give me something to write about!”

She came out of the race very well and we will try and get her back to the track at the end of the month. I have a little plan for her, and I will either look rather clever in just over a month’s time or a “rookie trainer” learning through his mistakes.

“Never admit you have made a mistake, even if you have.” Sir Mark Prescott.

So the latter will not apply to me…

Littlemisssunshine, well, if she were a human being, she would be a tomboy with small person syndrome. She never gives in, however hard the fight. She is a real stable star and always lifts spirits when times are tough. Thank goodness she pulled something out the bag, only to be beaten a short-head, otherwise it would have been one of those days where a short fall off a long drop could have been preferred!

Cotton King, bred in the blue, ran like he was bred — well, not for running, not yet anyway! But there is a little light at the end of the tunnel. One hopes it is not the light at the front of a train about to run us down.

Tom McLaughlin (the jockey) came back and told us not to worry too much — he did not handle the track in any way and ran on strongly up the straight. I suppose time will tell. I just wish we had a little luck for Mrs Hamilton, my main owner who has given me all the support any new trainer could ever wish for.

Back home — briefly

Thursday was an easier day, having returned past midnight from Folkestone. A visit from an owner in the afternoon, along with a photo shoot for a website were the only issues of the day. There was even time to watch racing from York, and let the green-eyed monster rear his ugly head.

“Phh, give me one of those horses and I could do that,” was just one of the thoughts going through my head.

Friday was back to the busy days one has become most accustomed to. After finishing morning work with the horses, I left Sammy cleaning the tack and “polishing the taps!” The A1M lived up to its reputation, and I was stuck at a standstill for a good hour. When it did clear I was well on the way to my parents’ home to see two horses out at grass.

A quick check of how they are developing during their break, then back on the road to Limestone Stud to see Mr Sugden, Mr Rowels Nicholson’s stud groom, and their yearlings. It is nice to see them before they come into their yearling prep as one can get an idea of how they have changed when they do get there. And no, I am not going to tell you which ones I liked. (If Mr Rowels Nicholson is reading this — all of them!)

Back on the road and past yet another poor soul who had turned their car over in Friday night traffic, to dinner in Essex with some friends, who treat me as family.

Saturday and Sunday were spent in front of the computer putting together the text for my website (soon online) and editing some photos for the same and Coles Racing on the ever growing Facebook site. When I got bored of square eyes, I delved into the depths of the Doncaster Bloodstock Sales catalogue, so it at least looked like I knew something when I got to the sales this week and started pulling out horses.

Saturday also saw an old favourite of mine running in the Arlington Million, Gio Ponti of Christophe Clement’s. He finished second to John Gosden’s Debussy.

Off to Doncaster

Today [Sunday] after an early morning, exercising the horses, and a phone call to both my vet and blacksmith discussing how we are going to deal with the slightly worsening quarter crack, I was on the road yet again, this time to Doncaster for the sales, and the palaver that comes with it. This is a very important time of year for me, as somehow I have to try and persuade as many owners as I can to send me their horses.

Why should they? Well to use the words of Mr Clough, the famous football manager: “I wouldn’t call myself the best, but I am in the top one!”

Even if no one believes it, I have to, as in this game if you do not believe in yourself, how can anyone else believe in you?

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XL Insurance has strengthened its equine underwriting team with the acquisition of the bloodstock team from London-based Unicorn Underwriting Ltd.

Leading the five-man team, as chief underwriting officer of equine for XL, will be Guy Morrison, who has 20 years’ experience in equine insurance.

Neil Robertson, chief underwriting officer for global speciality at XL Insurance, said: “The appointment of Guy and his team further strengthens our capabilities and commitment to bloodstock insurance.

“The team has a wealth of global equine underwriting and claims handling expertise, particularly in the London market.”

XL Insurance will take over the portfolio of bloodstock businesses formerly serviced by Unicorn. The equine team will be based in London and Kentucky in the US.

The team offers a comprehensive bloodstock service, including mortality, theft, specialised perils, barrenness and prospective foals, stallion availability, infertility and loss of income.

For more information go to www.xlinsurance.com

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now