Cheveley Park's Pivotal living up to his name with an Ascot double

The old adage tells us age is but a number and for Pivotal, for so long the stalwart of Cheveley Park Stud's stallion roster, it is a case confirmed after enjoying a sensational Group 1 double on British Champions Day courtesy of Addeybb and Glen Shiel.

At the age of 27 most stallions would be spending their days in well-earned and comfortable retirements, but Pivotal, as connections can attest, is no ordinary stallion.

Addeybb and Glen Shiel flew the flag in the Champion Stakes and Sprint respectively, while for good measure the popular Brando finished a nose second to Glen Shiel. At the ages of six, six and eight, it is further evidence of the toughness Pivotal imparts to his offspring.

Chris Richardson, managing director of Cheveley Park, said: "It’s quite something. It's exceeded all expectations, not only for ourselves but for the industry as a whole.

"We were lucky enough to have five or six colts from the first crop and fortunately we decided to keep Pivotal and race him, and the rest were all offered as part of the policy to offer the colts. It was a great relief we did keep him.

"I don’t think anybody really expected him to do what he's done. He started off at £6,000 and even dropped down further in his third year and then the horses started running.

Addeybb: one of two Group 1 winners for Pivotal at Ascot on SaturdayCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

"He's in great form. He's showing his age a bit now, as you'd expect. He resents the hot weather, so the summer was quite tricky for him, but he's in good heart."

Sons Siyouni and Farhh have also further shown their worth in the breeding barn, with Siyouni siring this year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Dewhurst winners Sottsass and St Mark's Basilica, while Pivotal's daughters have produced the likes of Cracksman, Love, Advertise, One Master and homebred Veracious in what has proved a stellar broodmare sire career.

That was a case exemplified last Saturday as Pivotal made his notable presence felt in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Winner The Revenant is out of a mare by his St James’s Palace Stakes-winning son Excellent Art, while runner-up Roseman has Pivotal as his broodmare sire.

Richardson added: "Pivotal has been champion broodmare sire in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and continues to produce fantastic racehorses that provide a huge amount of pleasure at the top level and broodmares who have foaled the likes of Magical, Advertise and Veracious, so it’s a dream come true and something that [stud owners] Mr and Mrs Thompson are so thrilled and excited about."

Despite being fewer in number, Pivotal's yearlings are still in demand and Books 1 and 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale saw three lots realise six-figure sums, a testament to his enduring popularity.

Pivotal is the broodmare sire of top-class racehorses such as CracksmanCredit: Justin Setterfield

Richardson added: "His stallion career is waning and the prospect of a wonderful retirement here is probably beckoning, but his yearlings are still in demand. We sold two that we were connected with and made over 100,000gns this last fortnight, so the old boy is still producing good-looking individuals even at this age.

"He produces fantastically sound, reliable, beautifully well-bred and balanced horses. It has been so exciting to be part of it and, for the moment, it’s not over yet.

"He covered 30 mares this year and got 15 in foal, he covered 54 last year, but whether he will cover anything next year we haven’t decided yet. He will tell us in February if it's something he's going to be capable of doing. We don’t know, but at the age of 28 it would be highly unusual."

This article and series is in association with Great British Racing International

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