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November 2013 Newsletter . . .
As the long nights begin to draw in and our equine friends begin their well deserved holidays, things are beginning to quieten down here at Robert Cowell Racing and another season has seemingly passed us by without drawing breath.
We are proud to end the season with yet another Group 1 win to our name thanks to Jwala’s brilliant victory in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York. This was a fantastic achievement for all concerned, in particular for her owners and breeders the Watson family (Manor Farm Stud) and Miss Sheila Hoare.
We were delighted with her performance next time out in the Prix de L’Abbaye on Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe weekend. The four year old daughter of Oasis Dream looked like she would go on to provide us with our second Group 1 of the season with a furlong to go, but the slow ground found her out late on.
All is not quite done yet for Jwala, who will look to finish her career on December 8th in the Hong Kong Sprint on International Weekend.
It wasn’t just Group 1 success that we enjoyed in 2013, however, with Group 2 victories by Kingsgate Native and Spirit Quartz and Jwala’s Listed win at York.
Kingsgate Native has been a pleasure to train for Cheveley Park Stud this season and we were delighted that he put his head back in front at HaydockParkin the Group 2 Temple Stakes. He is such a happy horse and lovesHaydockPark. We hope that he will again get his chance to shine in next year’sTempleStakesand continues to enjoy his racing at the grand old age of nine.
Spirit Quartz leaves us for a new life in France after being purchased at the Arqana Saint Cloud sale prior to Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe weekend. We made no secret of our hopes and aspirations of Spirit Quartz in his second season with us, and were admittedly a tad disappointed that he could not go on to win the Group 1 victory he deserved, but we are pleased that he leaves us with a Group 2 to his name, having incredibly started the season as a maiden in this country. We wish him and his new connections well for the future.
We also sadly lose Monsieur Joe after an unlucky second place finish in the Listed Mercury Stakes atDundalk. Monsieur Joe has brought his owners many years of success, including victories in Dubai and Deauville, and was sold at the Tattersalls Horses in Training sale.
Compton, Hand In Glove, Jameela’s Dream and Pandar are others to depart our stable, whilst Aminah has been sold to go jumping with Venetia Williams.
With every fond farewell begins another new chapter and we are privileged to be sent Duke of Firenze to train by Cheveley Park Stud. Over the last twelve months we have thoroughly enjoyed the consistently high class performances that Kingsgate Native has provided us with and hope that Duke of Firenze can also do us and his connections proud as the Epsom Dash winner begins his new life here at Bottisham Heath Stud.
Cheveley Park Stud have also entrusted us with an unraced two year old by the name of Oasis Mirage. A daughter of Oasis Dream and out of a Storm Cat mare, she is an exciting unraced prospect to look forward to next season.
Sir Pedro and Intrinsic round out the new recruits – both of whom were purchased at the Tattersalls Horses in Training sale – while we retained Normal Equilibrium (Now owned by Mr T W Morley), Angel’s Pursuit, R Woody and Skinny Love all with the same ownership.
A team of two fillies (Notnowcato x Two Step and Stimulation x Sontime) and one colt (Showcasing x Excello), all three yearlings were bred on our Bottisham Heath Stud estate, a unique part of our business that sets us apart from many others, and we hope that they too can “sprint to success” like their sires before them.
Our team of two years olds for 2014 will number approximately fifteen to date, which will include a varied selection of late maturing and precocious looking individuals. Among others, we are delighted that Wasps fly-half Andy Goode becomes an owner for the first time and that Rabbah Bloodstock have entrusted us with some young stock.
We have been actively trying to make use of our wonderful stud facilities and pastures and have been fortunate enough to have been sent mares from Tweenhills Farm and Stud this summer. A small proportion of these are being prepped for the December Sales at Tattersalls.
We are keen to expand this side of the business as our grass is plentiful and the horses thrive. More detailed information will be published on our website shortly.
2013 is proving a fantastic year for us all, and we can only hope for further successes as 2014 draws ever nearer.