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How did you first get involved with Kim?
I initially had Flat horses with David Arbuthnot and then
had my first Jump horse with Kim. I owned it with a friend, Jan
Steinman, who already had a horse with Kim. The horse we had
was a mad New Zealand horse, Dundee Prince. He won once but
then refused to race, he slept with a sheep, he was quite a
character!
What do you think are the plus points of
owning Jump horses compared to Flat?
I suppose the Jumps are more interesting and when you have a
good Jumper I feel there is more room for success as there are
more opportunities. On the Flat I think you have to have a
very, very good horse to do well.
I do like going to all the big Festivals
although a wet winter Wednesday at Catterick isn’t a great
prospect but I’ve been there of course!
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How did you get into the breeding side?
Well I’ve always leant towards the Flat mainly because of
the better weather but I bought Gaye Fame specifically so I
could breed from her. I have two Flat broodmares and her and
she has been fantastic. She was bred by Mercy Rimell and is
from a great family, the same family as Simon (recent winner of
the Racing Post Chase).
Her progeny have had a good record and
include Oulart who won the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham and was
also runner-up in the Irish Grand National. She also has two,
My Friend Sandie and Round The Horn who are owned by Wally Sturt, with Jim Old. She has so far only produced colts and this
is her first filly so I have kept her.
What are your impressions of this filly?
She seems to be quite keen and very green. Her family
definitely get better with age and mature well so I’m definitely
hoping something half decent will emerge. She is slightly
smaller than her dam and is obviously a different colour; Gaye
Fame is a chestnut with a big white face. I’m hoping that this
filly will have a bit more speed than her dam.
How have you learned about breeding over
the years?
It’s very much been a case of trial and error. You have
success and you learn what works well. Of course you can keep
it easy by just going to the top when you’re choosing stallions
but I’ve always tried to look for value. With Kahyasi, I feel
he has a bit of class for a reasonable price and I also think he
makes good broodmares. |
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How much satisfaction do you get from
the breeding side?
It’s always nice to be able to watch horses you’ve bred in
their racing careers but you do get very attached to them. It’s
not such a big deal with the ‘Flatties’ who have been and gone
before you know it but I don’t sell the Jumpers until they’re
four years old so you’ve had time to find out about their
personalities. It’s sad to see them go but you hope they will
go on and do well.
My next one is a Sadler’s Hall and goes to
Doncaster Sales, he’s a fine horse which I like a lot and I sold
an Oscar foal which I’m still worrying that I might regret. But
what can you do, you have to pay the bills! |
