This may seem the wrong time to put this out but in 2020 there's never going to be a right time. This trio had a disappointing 2019 though at least Mark Dixon had two winners (both trained by Hughes) and both from the same mare Lakatoi (who is now dead). She was the last foal of the Oaks winner Bireme and had no daughter in Dixon’s partnerships. Punting is her last daughter and was promising on her debut, but really quite impressive when taking her maiden. By Power (an excellent 2yo who then won the Irish 2000G) is supplying the speed to Lakatoi’s stamina. There is every chance she can win more races this year (should stay 10f easily) and hopefully will obtain some black type. All Dixon’s mares now trace back to Oaks winner Bireme. Hopefully Punting will safely go to the breeding sheds at the end of this year and be the only mare he has that is not a descendant of Yawl. Other than that Dixon has a few unraced 3yos alongside his 2yos. The 3yos are the filly Deft (Beckett and co-owned with Ashbrittle’s owner), who is a Dubawi sister to Oaks winner Talent. She’ll be aimed at a 10-12f maiden as soon as she’s ready. The other 3yos are the gelding Chivalry (Morrison) who hopefully will win a race, and a more interesting filly called Away to Sea (as yet not with a trainer) who’s a Born to Sea sister to Thomas Hobson . The Ashbrittle partnership has 3 mares and for the first time have all three 2yos (all fillies) from these mares in training (rather than some sold). My pick would be Feisty (Beckett) who’s a Siyouni filly out of Talent’s full-sister Forte. I’d expect to see her making her debut in late Summer/Autumn. Talent’s full-sister, Sibling, is in the care of Ed Walker: a new trainer to the roster. Talent ran twice as a 2yo, winning once, and I’m sure Walker will try to emulate that. The third is Pretty Fair (Crisford) who’s a Dubawi full-sister to Talent’s first foal Ambition. Ambition was sold by the partnership as an unraced 2yo but bought-in by Ashbrittle. Much to Dixon’s chagrin, having been sent to be trained in France, she won two races, one of which was a Group 3. She remains in training, now a valuable broodmare prospect for Ashbrittle alone, but still a promoter of Dixon’s bloodstock. Hopefully Pretty Fair doesn’t hide her light under a bushel like her older sister. The Mount Coote partnership have two, as yet unnamed, 2yos, the most interesting of which is a Maxios colt out of a half-sister to Thomas Hobson. Finally Dixon has sole ownership of a Territories colt called Deep Water (out of a now deceased mare) This must be the year that Dixon’s horses ‘take-off’, otherwise there’ll be some heads scratched. Not helped by there being no racing. Cliveden had only one horse racing in their name last year and she was somewhat disappointing. This year, again, they have only one horse representing them (that in a partnership) and that is a 2yo filly called Clip (Balding). She is the only foal of the now-deceased, Lemon Drop Kid mare, Concise who’s a half-sister to Brevity. Concise won as a 2yo (as did Brevity) and maybe this Iffraaj filly will be seen midsummer. Cliveden always sell their colts these days, but at the 2019 Sales also sold all but one of their yearling fillies. They got a very good price for a Kingman colt out of Brevity (as yet unnamed) who’s in training with Varian. They also got good prices for an unnamed Shalaa filly out of Social Media (a half-sister to Group 2 winner Horseplay), in training with Ed Dunlop, and Mujassid (an Iffraaj colt out of Sparring Queen) in training with Hannon (confusingly there could be two 2yos called Mujassid in training this season as Burrows has a filly with the same name but suffix US). Not such good prices were obtained for a Muhaarar half-brother of Brevity (called Muha, with Meehan who trained Brevity) and an unnamed Oasis Dream filly out of Super Sleuth (with Hills). As all the 2019 foals, but one, are colts it looks as if 2020 will see a similar Sales pattern. The sole filly is by Kingman out of Cut Short, and as Cliveden has two daughters already (in Brevity and Brief Visit) at stud she may be considered for sale. Though Gillian, Lady Howard de Walden had no winners in her name the Lawman colt Gendarme won 3 races after being sold early season. This colt is out of a Galileo mare, Gravitation, who is well bred and well connected (her dam is a half-sister to Fame and Glory). Her 7th foal and 6th to run is her 3yo Grinling (Hannon) and four of those foals have won 7 races between them. None have had the ability of Gravitation or lived up to the family name. Grinling (by Mastercraftsman) looked very green on his debut at ascot but looked as if he was getting the hang of things in the last furlong. His subsequent runs were even more disappointing. His life will be in handicaps and it has to be hoped he’ll get his head in front. He has a Holy Roman Emperor 2yo brother in Genuflex (Hannon). He is a full-sister to Gemina who ran only twice as a 2yo and could have been useful, but was injured and retired to LHdW’s stud. She has a yearling colt by Havana Gold while Gravitation has a yearling filly by Bated Breath. At least LHdW has two horses in training this year and has two broodmares. Hopefully she’ll have a better year in 2020.
While the lockdown continues for us so does all the toing and froing of the bloodstock world, they can't lockdown. Here's a year old yearling colt bred by the Mount Coote/Mark Dixon partnership who's by New Approach out of La Superba (Medicean). A good looking chestnut who is bred on familiar lines for Mark Dixon. His best horse of the last 20 years was the Oaks winner Talent, by New Approach out of Prowess, by Peintre Celebre out of Yawl. La Superba is out of La Spezia by Danehill Dancer out of a Zafonic daughter of Yawl. It makes sense to try a successful sire with other members of the same family.
Here's a young colt-foal by Lope de Vega out of La Spezia A cracking looking foal and similar to the previous post an attractive chestnut (as was Talent). Of course this foal is a half-brother to Thomas Hobson. So the mare of the yearling above is similarly a half-sister to Thomas Hobson. The similarities of the two young horses is marked.
Cliveden Stud have had a foal by Kingman out of, probably their most exciting mare at the moment, Horseplay. She is now to be covered by Dubawi: very exciting.
Is it my eyesight or does that shoulder look as though it isn't very well laid? I'm trying to imagine how that shoulder would look if he was stood with his leg vertical rather than in front of him
Agree with you that the Lope de Vega foal is the better of the two on conformation. Dixon's last mare to foal, Bari, produced a Time Test filly yesterday.
Deft (a Dubawi sister to Talent) is entered next week. Surprisingly in an 8f maiden: she should stay a good deal further. Apparently Beckett likes her.
Deft ran disappointingly but will be better over further. Her sister Ambition runs in the 1805 at Lyon today. Upped to Group 2, this could be tough but she just kept on improving last year. Cliveden bred a winner yesterday in Holy Kingdom at Newmarket. Consistent last year but won only one race, this was a good start to the season. He can go on from this.
Ambition stepped up to Group2 class with an impressive win at a price of 10-1 in a field of 5. Good for the family but a few people must be embarassed.
A chance for Hughes (and Dixon) to make things feel better with Punting at Lingfield today (Sunday). Looked useful on her debut then relatively unfancied won her next start. Despite being by the fast Power she should get further than this. She's not going to be a Group horse but she could be progressive this year and could be a good handicapper..
The Augustus John inspired Apricot colours of Lord Howard de Walden passed the winning post in front for the first time in 2 years. Grinling (Mastercraftsman) showed a good attitude to win at Windsor on Monday. Only a Group 6 handicap, but he did carry topweight and this was a big step forward. He can probably improve on this and I'd like to see him on a more galloping track. His half-sister Gemina (Holy Roman Emperor) has recently produced a filly foal by Farhh. Her 2yo brother Genuflex made his debut last week and looks as if he will need time too. Some reflected glory for LHdW's bloodstock with the victory of Hello Youmzain, who is from the Slip Anchor and Sandmason family: now sadly long gone from the stud. Grinling's previous run was a 6th in another Windsor maiden. Mark Dixon's Deft was 4th in that heat and she should score soon over 10-12f.
Punting is an important filly for Dixon as she's the only female he still owns from the Bireme line who does not trace back to Yawl. Punting has just won her third race and in 6 starts has never been worse than 4th. She's no world-beater but could improve further. Despite being by Power she could get to 12f, and I wouldn't be surprised to see her tried over a bit further. The most important thing is that she stays healthy and arrives safely in the paddocks this winter. Only 5X4 inbred to Northern Dancer some Danehill blood may not go amiss. My choice would be Starspangledbanner, but a cheaper option could be Bated Breath. Of course there are plenty of other options. Grinling's half brother Genuflex came out for his second start and showed a much improved performance (despite running green) to finish 2nd. He looks as if he could easily take a maiden if he repeats this improvement. All quiet on the Cliveden front, though a sold colt, Keep it Brief, may score soon,
A golden year for Lady Gillian? Well both her colts in training have won and that's positive. Yesterday Genuflex took a nursery at Windsor and if he comes out of it Ok he'll have learnt a lot. Marquand went for a gap , that closed on him, before the distance but he was brought right round the leaders to win comfortably. He can go on from this. He has a Bated Breath yearling sister and there is no return yet to the mating to Time Test. Meanwhile Genuflex's full-sister has a yearling colt by Havana Gold and a filly foal by Farhh. The Fame and glory family is not done with yet for this owner. Unfortunately Grinling found another one too good for him in his race. Punting runs today and must have a chance. This looks tougher though, but she has some toe and the extra 2f may be to her advantage.
A fine performance by Ambition yesterday in the Romanet at Deauville. Along with the winner she came away from the field and was a worthy second in her first Group 1. Her trainer explained that it has been tough to keep her in training with the heat (up to 40degC) she's been seeing in the SW of France. Now not part-owned by Mark Dixon, she is fully owned by his usual Ashbrittle owner patner Jack Rowsell. She now goes for the Prix de l'Opera on Arc day. Of course Ambition is by Dubaw out of Talent by New Approach out of Prowess. Tomorrow the jointly owned Deft runs. She is by Dubawi out of Prowess so closely bred to Ambition. So far she has been very disappointing but time is running out and I'm sure Dixon/Rowsell want to get a win out of this filly.
In a months time the big Newmarket Sales take place. This has been very important to Cliveden Stud for some time and has sometimes been important to the Mark Dixon partnerships. Last year the Ashbrittle partnership retained their yearlings. None of the 3 2yo fillies retained have run yet, but I’ll be surprised if one or two don’t run in the next 8 weeks. This year both Ashbrittle partnership yearlings go to October Sales. Pride of place must go to the Sea the Stars’ filly out of Oaks winner Talent. She goes to the Book 1 Sale and you’d expect her to fetch in excess of half a million. Her worth has been increased by the excellent results achieved by Talent’s first foal Ambition, who is not only a Group 2 winner but a Group 1 placed filly. She is joined in the Book 2 Sale by an Iffraaj colt out of Forte, who’s a full-sister to Talent. Dixon’s other partnership is with Luke Lillingston of Mount Coote Stud. They seem to be keeping an Australia colt who’s a half-brother to Thomas Hobson, but selling a New Approach colt out of a Medicean sister to Thomas Hobson. The latter colt is interesting in that Talent is by New Approach out of a granddaughter of Yawl (Oaks winner Bireme’s best daughter), while La Superba is out of a great granddaughter of Yawl. On the racecourse Deft has proved to be a huge disappointment and apparently looks a champion on the gallops but doesn’t exert herself on the track. It looks as if Dixon is hunting for some Black Type with Punting and has even entered her for the September Stakes. Cliveden Stud’s sole racing interest this season is the 2yo filly Clip, who is part-owned and in training with Balding. She makes her debut this Thursday in what is usually a good maiden at Salisbury. Balding’s 2yos are in form so it won’t be a surprise if she makes a forward show. Of the sold horses Keep it Brief at last won a race at the fourth attempt. He can do a lot better. It is perhaps surprising that this son of Muharaar broke his duck over 11f. At the moment I’ve detected that three Cliveden yearlings are going to the Sales. The offspring of Super Sleuth (by Iffraaj) and Social Media (Nathaniel) sell at the Book 2 Sales, while the filly I liked, Brief Visit, has her first foal by New Approach selling at Book 3.
How do you start a stud of mares if you have the aspirations of the Aga Khan (to have families) yet you don't have the bank of an Arab Prince? Well, you might like to look at Olivia Hoare. In 2010 Mark Dixon sent a Teofilo yearling to the sales out of his good racemare Brindisi, who was a daughter of Genoa ( in turn a daughter of Yawl, and granddaughter of Oaks winner Bireme). Olivia Hoare went to 45,000gns for the filly, naming her Livia's Dream and put her into training with Ed Walker. Over 4 seasons she ran 26 times and won 4 races, getting a little better every season. She finished her career with a listed win at Lingfield. She went to stud and has produced 2 foals to race. The first was was a Mastercraftman gelding cleverly called Dreamweaver who as a 3yo won 3 times as a 3yo for Hoare, was then sold and has won again as a 4yo this year. The second foal was called Dreamloper (by Lope de Vega) and as a filly has just won her second race and that a C2 event. She could win again as she is definitely improving, but I'd be surprised if Hoare doesn't send her to stud. The World was a different place for Mark Dixon back in 2012 but look to have changed for the better in 2013 when Talent won the Oaks. At nearly the same time the decision was taken to sell Brindisi and then tragically Genoa died. Remedial action was taken and Brindisi's last foal was retained (La Marchesa} while a Cape Cross filly out of Genoa who had been stolen was rebought. This filly was trained by Lucy Wadham and made her debut as a 4yo. An average filly she did manage to win an Apprentice Handicap. She was sent to stud but Dixon decided to sell her first foal. This filly by Intello fetched 55,000gns and . you guessed it, was bought by Olivia Hoare. Sent to Jessica Harrington, Maud Gonne Spirit was unraced as a 2yo but has won 2 races this year. So Hoare now has Livia's Dream, her daughter Dreamloper and Maud Gonne Spirit all from Dixon's Felsetta family and all tracing back to Dick Hollingsworth's Oaks winner Bireme. The Aga Khan would be proud of her, but she now faces to difficult decision on whether to invest in 3 stallions next year.
A reasonably important day for Mark Dixon as the first of his Ashbrittle 2yos makes her debut at Kempton tonight. Fiesty is unlikely to win but hopefully will give a good account of herself. I was surprised to see that Bentley is not at Newmarket today but takes the mount on this Siyouni filly. There's a chance that Pretty Fair (Dubawi filly out of Talent) may run this year. Dixon has had an uncomfortable time at the Sales with his star lot, a Sea the Stars filly out of Talent, withdrawn at the last moment. He did sell an Iffraaj brother to Fiesty for 52,000gns and an Australia brother to Thomas Hobson making only 34,000. If he sells the Sea the Stars filly it looks as if he'll only have one 2yo at most next year.
