Breeders Crown

Scotland rules the Breeders Crown!

STAGBI Breeders and Owners were justly celebrating their success at the Breeders Crown last night and the Scots were simply on fire.

Breeders Crown 2 year old Races.

In the interest of welfare, the two year olds in the Breeders Crown are not required to run heats and finals.  Thus, multiple divisions are held. Top of the bill was once again Hamish Muirhead’s MONEYHILL, who won the first Division of the Group 1 Breeders Crown 2yo Colts & Geldings.  MONEYHILL is a home bred by Tom Hill (US) out of Racezapan / Genghis Pan (US), winning in a time of 1.58.6 setting a NEW TRACK and BRITISH RECORD for 2yo Colts & Geldings.  It was most certainly a two horse race as VDM winner ONEFORTHEROAD set the fractions and led until the final stride until MONEYHILL ground him down and got his head in front.  ONEFORETHEROAD is another homebred – See and Ski (US) x Brown Eyed Girl / The Preacher Pan (US). 

MONEYHILL is now a winner of 4 of his 6, having won the Junior Welsh Dragon (Gp 1), BHRC Sire Stakes (Gp 2), VDM Heat, Breeders Crown (Group 1) and finishing second to ONEFORTHEROAD in the Daniel Welling (Gp 1) and VDM Final (Gp 1). 

Congratulations to the connections of both horses, a very encouraging position for many to see home breds by stallions standing in the UK dominating in this manner.

The Scots continued their success winning the second Division of the Group 1 Breeders Crown 2yo Colts & Geldings with BORN IN ISOLATION – Tom Hill (US) x Born To Run/Kikikolt (US).  Another sired by Tom Hill (US) in this his only second crop. A huge delight to STAGBI President Sus Young, who owns and stands Tom Hill (US) at her home in Hereford.

BORN IN ISOLATION has been competitive in his previous starts, winning a 2yo race in York in July, finished third in the Sire Stakes (behind Moneyhill and Onefortheroad), and third in the VDM heat.  The colt was bred the Only Fools Have Horses Syndicate and purchased by Scott Cattigan at the York Standardbred Sael for £1,500.  Congratulations to all the winning connections.

Scottish owners were certainly on a roll and having had a succession of success with two year old fillies, the Gilvear family were certainly not going to miss out.   The first division of the Group 1 Breeders Crown 2yo Fillies was won in 2.01.4 by PUSSYCAT DOLL, another home bred filly by Always B Miki (US)  out of an imported mare Puissant Hanover (US) / Somebeachsomewhere (US).  This was her fourth win in 5 starts having won in York in July, Kelly Blossom at York, (Gp1) & Heat of VDM (4^th Final Gp 1).  Owned & Bred by Steven Gilvear and congratulations to all the winning connections.

The second division of the Group 1 Breeders Crown 2yo Fillies was won by Irish filly ALWAYS B PUFFIN (IRE) – Always B Miki (US) x Hufflepuff (US) /Dragon Again (US), in a time of 2.03.6.  Congratulations to all the winning connections

Breeders Crown 3 year old Races.

With 2 heats of the Group 1 Breeders Crown 3 year old Colts & Geldings division, the one to watch was always going to be AYR CORLEON – Hasty Hall (US) x Sold Out (US) / Western Ideal (US).  Ayr Corleon had 3 starts in Ireland as a 2yo, finishing second on each occasion.  This year, 3 previous starts in GB and 3 wins in the Little Welsh Dragon (Gp1) and the VDM 3yo Heat & Final (Gp1).  Last night, he once again demonstrated his supremacy.  Another by the late great Hasty Hall (US), bred by Ryan O Neil at Ayr Standardbreds, Scotland purchased at the York Standardbred Sale for £15,000.  One suspects that there will be plenty of interest and a higher price tag on his full brother, AYR EXCHANGE that will be offered for sale this year.  Congratulations to all the connections.

The Group 1 Breeders Crown 3yo Fillies was another win for Ireland.  PRICELESS (IRE) – Sweet Lou (US) x Coalford Silk / Rogue Hall (US) Owned and bred by Sean Duggan.  Unraced as a two year old and in her previous starts finished second in both the NWHOA 3yo Fillies (Gp 2) and the VDM 3yo Fillies (Gp 1).  Last might, she may have been a little fortunate to avoid the driving incidents behind her in both heat and final, but she was in the right place at the right time and that ensured her Group 1 victory.  Congratulations to all the connections.

Breeders Crown 4yo Colts & Geldings was won by Claire Fletcher’s  OAKWOOD ARDAN (IRE) – Sweet Lou (US) x Trend Setter (US) / Grinfromeartoear (US).  An impressive horse that has a great turn of foot and the ability to cruise away from his competitors effortlessly. Has several big wins under his belt already this year including the Senior Welsh Dragon (Gp 1), NWHOA (Gp2) and the York 4yo Championship. Congratulations to all the connections.

Breeders Crown 4yo Mares was won by SHES NO APRIL FOOL (IRE) – Sweet Lou (US) x Shesgotanattitude / Kikikolt (US) in a time of 2.00.7.  This was her second back to back win at Tir Prince having also won the VDM 4yo Fillies by 10 lengths.  Another home bred and congratulations to John Richardson as Breeder, Owner, Trainer & Driver!

Full results can be found on the BHRC website