Other Yorkshire Studs - B

Barraca Stud
Dishforth, North Yorkshire
Owner: Marilyn Bean
Type: Public
Previous Stallions:Binary Star (2000: £400), Belfort (2000: £400)
Notes: Barraca stood the useful Belfort after he moved from Aike Grange and this tough sprinter/miler by Tyrant was responsible for a number of good winners including Desert Dawn (Prix d'Arenberg G3, Trafalgar House Sprint L, 2nd.Norfolk S G3), Echo-Logical (Doncaster S L, 2nd.Ayr Gold Cup) and Classic Storm (7 wins). The stud also stood a number of stallions for use in other spheres as well as the thoroughbred sire Binary Star. His sire was top US performer Waquoit (Jockey Club Gold Cup G1 and Brooklyn H G1), more importantly however his dam was Pas De Nom which made Binary Star a 1/2 brother to leading stallion Danzig. Having retired to stud in 1996 he had at one time a 100% record of winners from runners as his only runner - Joely Green - won over seven furlongs at Wolverhampton. Binary Star was sold at the 2000 December Sales to stand in Australia and shortly afterwards Mrs.Bean made the decision to move out of the thoroughbred business.

 

Battlefield Stud
Cuba Farm, Burythorpe, Malton, North Yorkshire YO17 9LB
Owner: Mr. & Mrs.Hutchinson
Acreage;
Type: Private
Notes: Kathryn and Ian Hutchinson's Battlefield was originally based on 10 acres, later expanded to 20, at Hayton House, Aberford near Tadcaster, no distance from Tom Tate's yard. However planning permission troubles (despite the council repeatedly giving permission John Smith's Brewery kept objecting, seemingly as a result of a dispute with the council which was nothing to do with the Hutchinson's) have led to them relocating to Burythorpe near Malton, where they have recently constructed 9 foaling boxes and 14 other boxes along with other ancillary facilities. Battlefield specialises in Sales Preparation, Breaking of Yearlings and Recuperation and Spelling of horses out of training.

 

Beechwood Grange Stud
Malton Road, York
Owner: Steve Knowles
Acreage:
Type: Public
Current Stallions:
Previous Stallions: Haafhd , Sleeping Indian, Desideratum, Primitive Rising, Totem, Robertico, Keen (died Aug 05), Sugarfoot, Elmaamul (died Aug 2006), Muhtarram, Danbird, Paris House
Notes:
1999 was Paris House's (Petong - Foudroyer) first season at Beechwood, having previously stood in Ireland. A top class two-year-old and sprinter when trained by Jack Berry he is sure to be popular with Yorkshire breeders. His racecourse successes included the Flying Childers S G2, Temple S G2, Palace House S G3 and the Field Marshal S L. He has already sired numerous winners including Tobruk (Bayer Classic G1, Doomben Classic G3), After Me Please (Tunku Gold Cup G2), Misty Eyed (Molecomb Stakes G3, Dragon Stakes L, 2nd.Flying Childers Stakes G2), Southern House (Won 6, 2nd.Premio Regina Elena G2), Parisian Lady (3rd.Surrey S L), Maduka (3rd.Cork S L) and the Melbourne Hall Stud bred duo of Mecca's Mate (Land Of Burns Stakes L, 3rd.Beverley Bullet Stakes L) and Grazeon Gold Blend (Britannia Rescue Nursery Handicap)..
Keen, who died in August 2005, was less successful on the racecourse (Easter S L and 2nd.St.James Palace S G1) but was wonderfully bred being a full brother to both Kris and Diesis. He originally stood in Australia where he got Gamine (South Australian Oaks G1, 2nd.Australian 1000 Gns), On With It (Florentino S G3) and Keen N'Naughty (Foster's Classic L) before being repatriated to the National Stud in 1990. Whilst here he sired River Keen (Californian S G2) and Hikoki Gumo (Kisaragi Sho L), before moving to Beechwood for the 1998 season (having spent one season in the Czech Republic). This well bred horse proved to be very popular with northern breeders, especially following the success of River Keen who, since Keen moved to Yorkshire, won the Woodward S G1 and Jockey Club Cup G1 and finished second in the Pacific Classic G1 in the States. Keen covered 25 mares in his final season.
Sugarfoot retired to Beechwood for the 2002 season, following an excellent career on the track with Nigel Tinkler, during which time he won 9 races including the Leicestershire S G3, Park S G3, Hambleton Rated S L and the Michael Page Silver Trophy S L as well as being placed in numerous top 7f/mile races including third in the Prix de la Foret G1. He has now been moved elsewhere however.
For the 2003 season the stallion roster was further boosted by former Dick Hern star, and decent sire, Elmaamul (returning from stud duties in Italy), and by 1998 German Derby winner Robertico, who stood as a National Hunt stallion, having most recently competed over fences in France. The re-patriation of Elmaamul looked even more promising after the good campaign of Lateen Sails in 2003, who has won the Prix Daphnis G3, and the Glasgow Stakes L. Another horse adding to Elmaamul's reputation in 2003 was the Wildenstein colt Risk Seeker (who has a 3x2 cross of Roberto) who won the Prix Berteux G3 and the Prix de Lutece G3 and was second in the Prix Hubert de Chaudenay G2 and third in the Prix Hocquart G2. The following year he won the Sagaro Stakes G3. The icing on the cake however was Sweet Return who won the Hollywood Derby G1 in 2003, the Frank E Kilroe Mile Handicap G2 in 2004 and the Charles Whittingham Handicap G1 and Eddie Read Handicap G1 in 2005. Elmaamul was put down in August 2006 at the age of 19, due to a heart condition.
In October 2003 it was annouced that the Muhtarram (by Alleged) who, like Elmaamul, is owned by Shadwell Stud, would be joining the ever improving Beechwood Grange roster. His leading progeny to daye include Muntej (Sky Classic Handicap G2, 3rd.Niagara Breeders Cup Handicap G1), Fight Your Corner (Chester Vase G3, Autumn Stakes L), Muakaad (Meld Stakes G3, Kilternan S L, Golden Ball Foxrock Stakes L, Mooresbridge Stakes L, 2nd.Goffs International S G2, 3rd.Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial S G3, Desmond S G3), Alburno (Premio Botticelli L), Tankarama (Premio Baggio L) and Thecelo (Turkish Oaks).
Towards the end of the 2011 season is was announced that the Elmaamul and Muhtarram 'Shadwell boarder' experiment would resume with Beechwood Grange standing the useful sire Haafhd ; already the sire of Silver Grecian (Superlative S G2, Sha Tin Mile Trophy, 3rd.Champagne S G2), Emirates Champion (Winner of over £200,000, mainly in the UAE), Almiqdaad (John Smith's Handicap), Show Rainbow (Sandy Lane S L, 3rd.Cecil Frail S L), Aaraas (3rd.Killavullen S G3), Biased (3rd.Prix Charles Laffitte L), Don't Call Me (Dubai Duty Free Handicap), Primera Vista (3rd.Prix du Ranelagh L), Telwaar (2nd.Washington Singer S L) and Imperialistic Diva (3rd.Empress S L) etc. The following year he was sire of Ann Duffield's good filly Melody Of Love (First Of Clyde Stakes G3, 2nd.Ripon Champion Two Year Old Trophy L) amongst others.
In November 2012 it was further declared that former Tweenhills resident Sleeping Indian had been purchased by the Knowles' and would be standing at Beechwood from 2013 onwards. A group two winning sprinter/miler he is already the sire of Indian Jade (3rd in 2012 Grand Criterium G1), Night Carnation (Coral Charge G3, 2nd.Nearctic Stakes G1, Queensferry S L etc), Hototo (Windsor Castle Stakes L, DBS Premier Yearling Stakes, 2nd.Redcar Two Year Old Trophy L, 3rd.Molecomb Stakes G3) and Melbourne Memories (Bosra Sham Stakes L) amongst others.
Although best known for it's stallions Beechwood is now building up a useful group of mares, mainly boarders, and has bred Kevin Ryan's good filly Blades Girl, who picked up £50,120 when second in the 2005 renewal of the£250,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes at Newmarket.

 

Bishop Wilton Stud
Bishop Wilton, York, North Yorkshire
Owner: Formerly John & Trish Johnson
Acreage:30
Type: Private
Notes: Bishop Wilton is no distance away from Garrowby Stud on the other side of the A166 where John Johnson was Stud Groom from it's inception in 1961 until his retirement in August 2000. The Johnson's started breeding in their own right in the early sixties and have pinhooked and generally traded horses since that time. Prior to going upto Garrowby Johnson had worked at the Solario Stud at Newmarket. Although they achieved some notable successes in the sales ring (as long ago as 1989 they sold a Taufan filly for 56,000gns), it was not until a few days before Johnson's retirement from Garrowby that the stud achieved it's best result on the track upto that time when the homebred Peaceful Paradise won the Sweet Solera Stakes L at Newmarket. Her dam, Megdale (by Waajib) was bought as a foal for 28,000 gns and is a half sister to Alhijaz. Megdale managed a couple of places on the track when trained by John Hetherton, her first foal, by Be My Chief, was a winner in Germany. Her second, Peaceful Paradise, by Turtle Island, fetched 16,000gns as a yearling and won her maiden at the second attempt at Kempton. Since the Sweet Solario, Peaceful Paradise has been third in the Prix de Calvados G3, and the following year she was third in the Atalanta Stakes L.
In July 2002, two years after this first listed success, they had another 'black type' win when Maycocks Bay (Muhtarram - Beacon) won the Foster's Silver Cup Rated Handicap L, she was later dam of Epsom and Irish Oaks winner Sariska for Lady Bamford in 2009. Beacon is appropriately a daughter of Garrowby stalwart Mountain Lodge and therefore a half sister to Compton Ace (Gordon Stakes G3, 3rd.Ascot Gold Cup G1), John Johnson having purchased her privately for £1,000 from Lord Halifax. Prior to Maycocks Bay she had also produced Indian Light who won two races and was second in the July Trophy L and tenth in the French Derby. Another Beacon foal is the Erhaab mare Ha'Penny Beacon who was a minor winner but has produced Haafaguinea for Bishop Wilton who in 2013 won both the £46,688 Dubai Duty Free Handicap and the historic Esher Cup, 2014 saw him placed in a couple of valuable races in Dubai, and this was built upon the following season when he won both the £67,307 IPIC Trophy Handicap and the £46,153 Jebel Ali Port Handicap, both at Meydan. In 2016 this doughty son of Haafhd won the £61,224 Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum City - District One Handicap and finished second in the Dubai Millennium Stakes G3 and third in the Dubai Gold Cup G2, again all at Meydan. The Johnson's further showed their belief in the old Halifax families when paying Garrowby 30,000gns for Ermine, a winning seven year old half sister to Border Arrow, at the 2003 December Sales, the 'in utero' colt by Barathea more than recouping this outlay when sold for 65,000gns at the Newmarket October Sales of 2005. The following foal, a 2005 colt by Nayef also sold for 65,000gns, subsequently named Top Lock he has so far had three third places in top class races, most notably the 2008 Deutsches Derby G1, he was also second in the Great Voltigeur Stakes G2 later that season. Top Lock's own sister in Ermine And Velvet who sold for 40,000gns and she was subsequently second in the Surrey Stakes L at Epsom on Oaks Day 2009, the same date as Sariska's success !
John Johnson died in 2019 and Trish gave up the stud in early 2020, but Tweet Tweet (2018 filly by Twilight Son - Tweety Pie) was amongst the horses retained and she has won three races in the Johnson colours including the Class 2 £36,078 'IRE Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Stakes (Fillies' Handicap)' at York's 2021 Ebor meeting, trained by Declan Carroll, and bought in for only 800gns at the December Foal Sales, primarily it seems on account of her small stature.

Mare and Foal, Bishop Wilton March 2005. Click for larger image Yearlings, Bishop Wilton March 2005. Click for larger image

The best Bishop Wilton bred horse to date however is probably Red Lancer (Deploy - Miss Bussell) whom they sold for 5,500gns and who to date has won four races and has progressed from sellers and handicaps to take the 2004 Chester Vase G3. The Derby was out of the question as he is a gelding. Unfortunately Bishop Wilton had sold Red Lancer's dam (a daughter of Sabrehill from the family of crack sprinter Abergwaun) for a mere 3,000gns earlier in 2004. Red Lancer went a little off the boil in 2005 but was still placed in the Magnolia Stakes L, Buckhounds Stakes L and the Old Newton Cup. A mere five days later Red Lancer's Chester victory the Bishop Wilton team struck again when Megdale's son Frank Sonata (by Opening Verse) had the second win of his career when taking the £12,841 Newton Rated Handicap, the opening race of York's prestigous Dante meeting. Later in the same season Frank Sonata became yet another 'black type' winner for Bishop Wilton when taking the July Trophy L at Haydock, and finished the 2004 season with a good second in the St Simon Stakes G3. His 2005 season has started in similar vein as he was a good second in the John Porter Stakes G3 at Newbury and the Further Flight Stakes L at Nottingham.
The stud has 30 acres and a dozen boxes and usually has around four mares and their followers on the property at any one time, from such a small band of mares and using relatively cheap stallions they have an excellent record, especially in the last few years.

 

Blink Bonny Stud
Malton.
Owner; I'Anson family
Type; Public and Private
Past Stallions; John O'Gaunt, Selby, Kenilworth, Petros, Merchiston, Bosphorus and Waterford.
Notes; This stud was founded by William I'Anson senior and was appropriately named after his famous Derby and Oaks winning mare. Much of I'Anson's success as a trainer was dependant on his success as a breeder, which in itself was largely due to the mare Queen Mary. Her first foal for l'Anson was a filly called Haricot, who I'Anson did not like and thus sold the dam to a Scottish farmer and kept the filly as a hack. However one day when riding Haricot across Langton Wold he became convinced that she really wasn't that bad as her subsequent race record proved. He famously then tracked down Queen Mary in Scotland (where the original owner had sold her on) where she was now in foal to, of all things, a Clydesdale sire. He managed to repurchase her for 100gns. Her next foal (after the Clydesdale!) was Oaks runner-up Blooming Heather. Queen Mary then produced (the appropriately named) Bonnie Scotland followed by Blink Bonny he later produced Blair Athol (Derby and St Leger), Borealis (3rd Oaks) and Blinkhoolie (Gimcrack Stakes) who were all owned and trained by the I'Anson's. Haricot meanwhile produced Caller Ou who won the St.Leger for I'Anson and she also produced Lady Langden who, in turn, was dam of Sir Bevys (Derby) and tap-root sire Hampton. We can see therefore that this solitary mare was important not only to I'Anson's career as a trainer, but also as a breeder! Blink Bonny's skelton is preserved at York Museum.
After death of William I'Anson senior the stud was inherited by his younger son Miles. At Blink Bonny Stud he stood a number of stallions, as well as boarding around ninety mares, approximately twenty-five of which were his own, the rest belonging to his brother (William junior the trainer) and others. In the 1897 Racing Calendar Blink Bonny advertises as standing Selby (25gns), Kenilworth (15gns), Petros (30gns), Merchiston (10gns), Bosphorus (10gns) and Waterford (10gns). As this was at a time when Amphion was standing for 150gns, Florizel II at 100gns and Melton at 200gns we can see that these stallions were not exactly top class, certainly not compared to a subsequent resident John O'Gaunt (when the stud was leased to Sir John Tursby). Of the 1898 stallions Waterford has the best race record, being fourth in the Derby, and second in the Hardwicke Stakes. Keep fees were 25 shillings for in-foal mares, and 21 shillings for barren mares!
The yard remains and has, from time to time, been used as a training stable, having at one point also been a pig farm.

 

Bolton Grange Stud
Grange Farm, Minskip, Boroughbridge
Owner: Ellis family
Type: Private
Notes: Bolton Grange Stud was previously the trading name of the late John Ellis and his son Andrew. John farmed at Grange Farm, Minskip, Boroughbridge, whilst Andrew lived at Alnwick in Northumberland. Ellis has been involved in bloodstock for around 25 years, buying and selling and pinhooking (they bought Balla Cove as a foal, and indeed had him in training until only 2 weeks before he won the Middle Park Stakes G1). Amongst the horses they have bred in the past is Mummy's Pleasure who twice won the Bunbury Cup in the Eighties. Recently however they have enjoyed remarkable success, given that they only usually have around 5 or 6 mares on the property. This success story traces back to Penna Bianca, who was bought at the 1984 December Sales, in foal to Red Sunset, having won 7 races in Italy. Although she only produced two winners these included Musianica (by Music Boy) who won a valuable Ascot nursery when trained for Ellis by Mark Tompkins and who, to date, has produced five winners including two who have done very well in Hong Kong viz Mensa by Rudimentary, who is known as Industrialist in Hong Kong (Queen Elizabeth II Cup G2, Hong Kong Gold Cup L, Hong Kong Classic Trial L, 2nd.Heron S L etc.) and the Flying Spur gelding Volata (Chipchase S G3, Weatherbys General Stud Book H L, Centenary Sprint Cup L, Sha Tin Vase L), known as Firebolt in Hong Kong. Volata was a rare colt to run in the Ellis colours before his sale to Hong Kong. Amongst Musianica's other winners is Pizzicato (1994 filly by Statoblest) who was sold by Ellis as a yearling, won 2 races, but was claimed back at Lingfield and came back to Grange Farm. Her first foal was the stud's Wunders Dream (by Averti), who won the Flying Childers Stakes G2 and the Molecomb Stakes G3 and was second in the Weatherbys Super Sprint in Ellis' colours in 2002 when trained by James Given. Wunders Dream was twice put up for sale as a youngster, but on both occassions was bought back by Ellis, first for 17,500gns as a foal, then for 10,000gns as a yearling! She failed to train on at three and has now been retired to Bolton Grange, where her first foals include Fire Eyes (by Exceed And Excel) who was second in the Roses Stakes L in 2012 after breaking his maiden and the retained Inyordreams (2009 f by Teofilo) who has won three times inluding the 2014 Boadicea Fillies' Stakes L and was second in the Land O'Burns Fillies' Stakes L in the same year. Wunders Dream's half sister Grecian Dancer (2003 filly by Dansili, sold for 100,000gns) was bought by non other than Vincent O'Brien and has won six races for his son Charles including the Ridgewood Pearl Stakes G3 and Prix Miss Satamixa L and a valuable handicap at Cork and placings of second in the Fairy Bridge Stakes L and JAXX-Wiedenpescher L and thirds in the Patrick P. O'Leary Memorial Phoenix Sprint Stakes G3 and the Bud Light Stakes L, before running third in the Windsor Forest Stakes G3 at Royal Ascot 2008, presumably her last run as she was in foal. Pizzicato meanwhile is continuing to produce good horses with her 2009 colt (now gelded) by Oasis Dream and now named Nocturn winning four races for Jeremy Noseda including the 2013 £19,407 Betfair Supporting The Animal Health Trust Handicap, having been sold via Battlefield Stud for 130,000gns as a yearling. Another Pizzicato daughter is Pizzarra (2008 by Shamardal), sold for 35,000gns as a yearling but now back in the Bolton Grange fold and dam of another good Bolton Grange horse in the shape of Fashion Queen (2014 by Aqlaam) sold for 27,000gns as a yearling and winner of the 2017 Westow Stakes L at York's Dante meeting, having won a Thirsk maiden and finished fifth in the Lowther Stakes G2 the previous year.
Another mare from the same family is the Star Appeal mare Appelania who is another daughter of Penna Bianca, she has produced Domappel (by Domynsky), a gelding who won seven races under both codes including a Class C Handicap at Yarmouth and a £10,000 Class B Handicap Hurdle at Uttoxeter and Machikane Ashura, who has won 2 races and over £50,000 in Japan. Another daughter of Penna Bianca is the Red Sunset mare Penset who has produced Blakeset (by Midyan) who won 7 races for David Barron including a couple of valuable handicaps.
The Ellis yearlings are normally prepared for sale by Trickldown Stud and Ellis has had some considerable success with pin-hooking such as the Red Ransom colt bought for 26,000gns as a foal in 1994 and sold the following year for 170,000gns and the Mister Baileys colt bought for 40,000gns in 1998 and sold the next year for 70,000gns. The Ellis' re-invested some of their earnings from the 2002 season by buying the 5 year old Diesis mare Demeter for 44,000gns at the 2002 December Sales. A daughter of the Irish 1000 Guineas winner Nicer and in foal to Night Shift this mare will hopefully make a strong contribution to the stud in future years. At the 2003 Foal Sales they bought a total of six foals:- Dansili colt (4,500gns), Rossini filly (19,000gns), Mozart colt (19,500gns), Namid colt (29,000gns), Montjeu colt (65,000gns) and an Afternoon Deelites filly (18,500gns). At the 2004 foal sales they bought fewer lots, but spent a lot more money on a Johannesburg colt (200,000gns, sold for 215,000gns in 2005), Dr Fong colt (17,000gns), Slip Anchor filly (2,500gns) and a Montjeu colt (60,000gns sold for 56,000gns in 2005).
The Ellis' hit the financial jackpot in 2005 when their 1/2 sister to Wunders Dream by Kyllachy sold for 300,000gns at the Tattersalls October Sales. The family (human and equine) now seem to be primarily based at their Thrunton Lowfield Farm near Alnwick, and I'm unsure whether they still have a Yorkshire base, either way the 2022 December Sales showed mares (from Trickledown) for sale as part of a complete dispersal of Bolton Grange.

 

Bolton Stud
Wensley, Leyburn, North Yorkshire
Owner: Lord Bolton (8th)
Acreage:35
Type: Private
Notes: The first Lord Bolton was granted his peerage in 1797, after marrying the daughter of the Duke of Bolton. Thus are thus (distantly) related to the Scrope's of Danby Stud. The current lord is the eighth to hold the title and with it the 20,000 acre estate of the extinct dukedom in Leyburn.By a bizarre coincidence the Orde-Powlett's are also Lords of The Manor of Kingsclere, the Hampshire town that contains the well known racing stables! In the early 1700's the Duke of the time owned the famous 'Bay Bolton' who was trained at the hall to win numerous races and later stood as a stallion at the stud with great success. Bay Bolton was buried on Middleham High Moor, overlooking the Hall down in the valley. More recently a small part of the Bolton estate is devoted to the production of throughbreds. There are usually around 4 or 5 mares on the stud. The Seventh Lord Bolton had a small number of horses in training with Patrick Haslam (Middleham) and Capt.J.Wilson (Preston). The Seventh Lord Bolton died aged 72 in August 2001, to be succeeded by his son. Historically this stud bred numerous top winners, the most important of which was probably the 1821 St.Leger winner, Jack Spigot. From 1963 till the mid seventies the seventh Lord Bolton leased Stables House Stud (during which time it traded as Bolton Stud) thus reviving the family racing interests. Lord Bolton's son Harry Orde-Powlett is a permit holder based at the family seat, Wensley Hall. The eldest son and current heir to the title, Thomas Orde-Powlett, served as a Lieutenant in the Irish Guards in Iraq and received the Military Cross. The family also own Bolton Castle. The best horses bred by the stud in recent times are Mark Hush, Prolific and Bajan Sunshine (Cesarewitch Handicap and Bagshot Handicap Chase 1988), and their top price for a yearling is 42,000gns (in 1979 at the St Leger Sales for a son of Star Appeal and Nyanga). They also owned Coca, who was the dam of Greenwich Papillon (Feilden S L, 2nd.Select S G3) for a previous owner, although she was sold aged 16 in 1991 for 5,600gns at Tatts.
Allegedly Hyperion was based here out of season for part of the Second World War (he later moved to Thornton Stud) although other stories claim he was based at Wynbury, now Ferdy Murphy's yard.

Wensley Hall from Middleham High Moor, July 2005, click for a larger image.

The stables were also occupied by trainer Geoff Harker, but from June 2006 Bill Ratcliffe was the incumbent. More recently Field & Country Racing have taken over the lease and have a four broodmares of their own, plus boarders and followers, based at the stud as well as a training operation.

 

Brampton Hall Stud
Skelton-On-Ure, Ripon, North Yorkshire
Owner: Mr.& Mrs.G.W. Turner
Acreage:200
Type: Private
Notes: Previously a public stud standing Cree Song in the mid-Eighties, at which time they had around 10 mares. One time winner of the Hoechst N.H. Breeder of the Month award thanks to the useful Gowan House, out of Mrs.Turner's mare Carbia. They are now better known as breeders of Charolais cattle.

 

Branton Court Stud
Farnham, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire
Owner: Steve Parkin & Family (Branton Court Stud LLP)
Acreage:~300
Type: Private
Notes: Branton Court was last publicly placed on the market in 2002 with a guide price of £3m for the 6 bedroom main house, annexe, farmhouse, 4 cottages and 260 acres. At some point subsequent to this it was sold to Steve Parkin, founder and Chairman of Clipper Logistics (in January 2021 he sold £62m worth of shares in the company, at which time his remaining stake was valued at about £80m), a name well known to racegoers, the business was founded in 1992 by Mr.Parkin, and was floated in 2014 (when he sold £30m worth of shares). Big early winners for Clipper have included Last Empire (Oak Tree Stakes G3), Space Traveller (Boomerang Stakes G3, Jersey Stakes G3), Eagles By Day (John Smith's Silver Cup Stakes G3), Living In The Past (Lowther Stakes G2), Soldier's Call (Flying Childers Stakes G2, Prix d'Arenberg G3), Electrelane (German 1,000 Guineas G2) and Rosdhu Queen (Chevley Park Stakes G1, Lowther Stakes G2). The first major horse was the (initially) Richard Whitaker trained Captain Rio although he was purchased whilst in training and after his keynote victory in the Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte G2 but before his win in the Testimonial Stakes L and his good placings in the Prix de Seine-Et-Oise G3 and Greenlands Stakes G3. Danny Tudhope has been the retained jockey. Until May 2014 many of these horses were owned by Parkin but leased to Clippper Logistics (who paid the training fees but kept any winnings), since then all costs have been bourne by Parkin but they still run as 'Clipper Logistics' for advertising purposes, and the Clipper name has actually become more prominent since Parkin sold the business entirely (the stud trading company was renamed from Branston Court Stud LLP to Clipper BCS LLP for example) in 2022 which yielded Parkin a further ~£139m; the business having been renamed GXO Logistics.
Rosdhu Queen was bought for 65,000gns and sold for 2.1m gns, and Electrelane, bought for 35,000gns and sold for 500,000gns but these days it seems more likely that such fillies would be retained for the paddocks at Branton Court (although Fallen Angel was sold in 2024) which adjoins Copgrove and has had considerable money spent on it by Parkin to convert it into a model thoroughbred nursery, with the first homebred group winner being Dramatised (see below), and pride of place going to Fallen Angel (Irish 1,000 Guineas G1, Moyglare Stud Stakes G1) and Starlust (sold, but winner of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint G1 in 2024). The plan is to grow to around 25 mares and the broodmare band currently includes, or has included, the following:

.... with the likes of Last Empire to be returned to the paddocks, but not Fallen Angel who was, somewhat surprisingly, sold to Wathnan Racing in August 2024. The racing and breeding operations were initially run with considerable input from Joe Foley of Ballyhane Stud (where Captain Rio stood), and the day-to-day manager is Rob Stapleton. In 2023 Parkin bought Mark Tompkin's Dullingham Park Stud in Newmarket, with the plan being to stand stallions there. There was a parting of the ways between Branston/Parkin and Foley at the start of the 2024 season, which resulted in Asymmetric and Space Traveller being moved from Ballyhane to Starfield Stud after a "breakdown in the business relationship between Clipper principal Steve Parkin and Ballyhane Stud owner Joe Foley". Parkin also owned, and developed, the206 acre Rathbride Stud on the Curragh, although that was due to sell in the Autumn of 2024 (but failed to meet it's reserve). In 2024, it's first season as a public stud in the new ownership, Dullingham Park stood Shaquille (a dual Group One winner for Julie Camacho) and Soldier's Call. The Parkin/Foley breakdown has led to court proceedings in Ireland over, amongst other things, the ownership of stallion Sands Of Mali.

 

Brecongill Stud
Middleham, Leyburn, North Yorkshire
Owner: Miss Sally Hall
Type: Private
Notes: As well as being a noted trainer of racehorses and a breeder of pure-bred Limousin cattle, Sally Hall is also a breeder of bloodstock at Brecongill, on the edge of Tupgill Park. She usually has around eight mares, split roughly 50/50 between flat and National Hunt. Sally's late mother, Agnes, was also a noted bloodstock breeder and they jointly bred Lord Lamb, who set a bumper record when sold for 125,000gns in 1996. On the racetrack her best success has been with the admirable Lago di Varano (Clantime - On The Record), trained by Richard Whitaker. Lago di Varano has won twelve races to date, most notably the Harry Rosebery Trophy L, Royal Windsor Festival Classified Stakes, Armstrong Memorial Rated Showcase Handicap, Anthony Fawcett Memorial Handicap and the Ehrmanns Y2K Rated Handicap as well as finishing a fine second in the 2000 Ayr Gold Cup, having been third in the same race in 1998, and third in the 1996 Portland Handicap. Lago di Varano's half sister Sky Music (by Absalom) has produced a nice two-year-old of 2004 for Tim Easterby in the shape of Space Shuttle (by Makbul), who has so far won 3 races including the Ripon Champion Two Year Old Trophy L and the £11,798 Irwin Mitchell Nursery Handicap at the Ebor Meeting, Hall sold Space Shuttle for 7,500gns at the Doncaster Sales in 2003.

 

Burghwallis Grange Stud
Skellow, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Owner: G.B.Turnbull Ltd.
Type: Private
Notes: A private stud founded by George Turnbull in 1952 at Hampole Stud (from where they sold the top lot of the 1975 St Leger Sale - a son of Blakeney for 13,000gns), there are usually around half a dozen mares on the stud. Burghwallis Grange was purchased in 1977 and the breeding operation switched to that property from that date. The stud's most significant foundation mares were Shirley Pat and Aunt Agnes. Shirley Pat produced the Ayr Gold Cup winner Janeat and also Wiljotur, whilst Aunt Agnes had Helen Rosa and Brother. Probably the best horse they have bred to date is Punch N'Run (Forzando - Wrangbrook) who won the Rockingham S L and a valuable Ascot nursery and was placed second in the Premio Chiusura G3 and the Prix Contessina L and third in the Raceall Gold Trophy. Punch N'Run fetched 19,500gns as a yearling. Burghwallis Grange also realised 30,000gns for a Sharpo colt in 1987. Another good horse is Wardara (Sharpo - Ward One) who won 8 races including the 1998 Prix Hampton L and Prix Cor de Chasse L. This mare was also second in the Prix du Gros-Chene G3, and third in the Prix de Saint-Georges G3. Typically the dam of Wardara was a three times winning homebred filly by Mr.Flourocarbon. George Turnbull, whose business was farming, died in April 1994, but the stud continues in family ownership. The Turnbulls frequently had horses in training with the Camacho family in Malton, as well as Avril Vasey, Bill Elsey, Snowy Gray, Charlie Hall and James Bethell and they now have the odd filly with Chris Thornton and George Moore (who trained the Turnbull's useful homebred Rising Prospect to land the £16,574 Nigel Angus Memorial Nursery at Ayr in 2008) in Middleham. They dipped into the mare market in 2002 with the purchase of Lot 1991 at the Tattersalls December Sales, a winning daughter of Nashwan, in foal to Spinning World, from the family of Divine Danse, Pursuit of Love and Noblequest, who seems a bargain at 27,000gns. At the same sale they also bought Lot 1645 a Southern Halo winning mare in foal to Observatory, from the family of Law Society, who cost 22,00gns.

 

Burns Farm Stud
Moor Lane, East Keswick, Leeds LS17 9ET
Owner: Paul and Gay Scott
Acreage: 100
Type: Private
Notes: In the sixties and seventies Burns Farm was owned by Peter Asquith, who was co-founder of Asda, and who later trained at Grange Farm, Wetherby. Amongst his early mares was Priddy Fair, the grandam of Dibidale. Burns Farm is now owned by Asquith's daughter Gay Scott and her husbandPaul, although Asquith still kept his mares there, and lived only 400 yards away at Reighton House before his death in June 2008. The colours of Peter Asquith and 'Burns Farm Racing' are virtually identical. Asquiths mare Madam Millie has produced Celtic Mill (by Celtic Swing) who won 3 races in 2002, the valuable St.Giles Handicap in 2003, and the Leisure Stakes L and Scarbrough Stakes L in 2004. 2005 saw Celtic Mill come into his own when he won the Temple Stakes G2, as well as coming third in the Leisure Stakes L and the Scarbrough Stakes L, and in 2006 he won the Scarbrough Stakes L. Prior to her success in the paddocks Madam Millie won 3 races in 1988 and was owned and bred by Asquith, although she was trained by Ron Boss in Newmarket. She is also the dam of good handicapper Mr Wolf, also owned by Asquith and trained by Barker. Following some good sales in recent years the stud invested in some new blood when paying 25,000gns for Sauce Tartar at the Tattersalls December Sales 2003. This five year old mare won 3 times and is from the family of Rainbow Quest, she was in foal to Mark Of Esteem at the time of her purchase; the in utereo filly, retained and named Steam Cuisine, won four races and over £39,000 and was placed third in the Pipalong Stakes L and the October Stakes L. They hit the December Sales ring again in 2005 to pay 55,000gns for Lake Nipigon a 3yo unraced filly by Selkirk out of stakes winner Hawait Al Barr. In 2005 the Burns Farm owned and bred Dixie Belle (filly by Diktat - Inspiring) won two including the Empress Stakes L and the following year she was placed second in the Scurry Stakes L at Sandown before springing at major 50-1 suprise to land the Dubai International Airport World Trophy G3 at Newbury. In 2010 the home bred Sensei, (2008 c by Dr Fong - Query by Disant View), also retained with Mike Quinlan, was third in the Washington Singer Stakes L at Newbury on his second start, whilst in 2011 the Burns Farm/Quinlan combo was most noticeably represented by Blanche Dubawi (2008 f by Dubawi - Dixie Belle) who won the EBF Boadicea Fillies' Stakes L and was third in the Starlit Stakes L.

 

Busk Hill Stud
Westow, York, North Yorkshire
Owner: Max Abram
Acreage: 100
Type: Private
Notes: Previously a public stud standing Current Magic, Dublin Taxi and Rapid River amongst others. Is still a stud, but no longer standing 'racing' sires, concentrating instead on H.I.S. sires. The property with 106 acres was placed on the market in July 2016 for £1.1m.

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Copyright 2002 Stephen George-Powell

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