All guns blazing for Baaeed as Chasemore Farm reveals covering plans for 2023

The choicest mares from Chasemore Farm will be treading a popular path to arguably the most exciting British newcomer to stud in 2023, Shadwell's brilliant six-time Group 1 winner Baaeed.

Leading the way for Andrew and Jane Black's operation is Eartha Kitt, a Listed-winning daughter of Pivotal and the wonderful Ceiling Kitty, but perhaps better known now as the dam of the unbeaten Gimcrack Stakes winner and 2,000 Guineas hopeful Noble Style.

The son of Kingman, who sold to Godolphin for 525,000gns as the first lot into the ring at Tattersalls Book 1 in 2021, was three from three for Charlie Appleby last term despite a bout of colic cutting his year short before a shot at the Middle Park Stakes.

Farm manager Jack Conroy says: "Noble Style looks very exciting and will likely start off in the Greenham before a tilt at the Guineas. Eartha Kitt's back in foal to Kingman and will then go to Baaeed."

Noble Style: unbeaten son of Kingman and Eartha KittCredit: Edward Whitaker

Madame Zeroni, an unraced four-year-old daughter of Frankel and Eartha Kitt, has been booked in for Kingman off the exploits of her Group 2-winning half-brother.

There is a data-driven approach when it comes to selecting stallions for the Chasemore broodmare band - perhaps no surprise given Andrew Black's background as the co-founder of Betfair and designer and builder of the exchange's first interface.

It is also a team effort, as Conroy explains, saying: "Myself, Andrew and Pat [Sells, Orbital Veterinary Services vet] draw up a shortlist from sales time onwards, which will chop and change a bit. We have meetings so that the bigger mares get into the books of the stallions who fill up quite quickly.

"We discuss logistics as we like to foal everything at Chasemore. If they are barren or a maiden, we like to utilise that year and send them abroad. It is whittled down to pros and cons, and takes in the commercial angles.

"Andrew looks at stallions from a lot of data, he'll look at the mares and really target particular stallions, while Pat and I bring the logistic side of things and physical and commercial aspects to tie it all together."

The stud, based in Cobham, Surrey, also houses several client-owned mares, most notably the regally bred Frankel's Storm, a Listed-placed winning full-sister to 2021 Irish Derby, St Leger and Grand Prix de Paris hero Hurricane Lane, and Nyaleti, a daughter of Arch who struck in the German 2,000 Guineas for Mark Johnston.

Chris Stedman's daughter of Frankel was picked up for 160,000gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in 2020, a price that now looks a bargain given her brother's exploits.

Frankel's Storm has a yearling colt by Too Darn Hot and is booked in for Baaeed, alongside Nyaleti, who has a two-year-old colt by Frankel and a yearling colt by Dubawi.

Baaeed: will receive some of Chasemore Farm's leading mares

To continue the Baaeed theme, another classy producer booked in for the son of Sea The Stars is Restiadargent, the dam of two black-type winners in Kingentleman (by Kingman) and Restiany (Frankel), the former the winner of the Group 3 Prix Texanita at Chantilly last May.

Conroy jokes: "She's another who is going to visit Baaeed, he may as well come here and cover them!"

Wall Of Sound, meanwhile, has already produced stakes winners Uncle Bryn and Boomer, by Sea The Stars and Kingman respectively, and is due to return to the Banstead Manor Stud resident after foaling to another Newmarket-based stallion titan.

"She's carrying a colt by Dubawi, I was onto Andrew for a bit and he finally succumbed so fingers crossed it works out," says Conroy. "It's lucky he did as I don't think we'd have used him in his new price bracket [of £350,000].

"Wall Of Sound will go back to Kingman, which seems obvious as she's had Boomer and her yearling sold for 750,000gns at Book 1 last year.

"Uncle Bryn should be winning Group races in Australia so hopefully the pedigree will get another boost. She's an old favourite of ours and has produced the goods."

Wall Of Sound's Group 3-winning daughter Boomer had her first foal in 2022, a filly by Lope De Vega, and all is well with both despite her rejection of the now yearling. The daughter of Kingman visits another Ballylinch Stud resident in the form of the exciting New Bay.

Chasemore Farm made headlines last autumn when graduate Lezoo struck in the Cheveley Park Stakes for Marc Chan and Ralph Beckett, and the team will be hoping a reproduction of the Zoustar - Red Clubs cross will work wonders with stakes producer Illaunglass.

Conroy says: "She's empty this year but will visit Zoustar. We have produced a Group 1 winner from that nick with Lezoo, so hopefully we can do it again.

"Another who will go to Zoustar is Ursulina, she's a very nice Kodiac filly and a half-sister to Illaunglass.

Lezoo: last year's star juvenile performer was bred by ChasemoreCredit: Edward Whitaker

"Brogan, who is Lezoo's half-sister by Pivotal, has a nice Showcasing colt with Wesley Ward and we've got high hopes for him. She's in foal to Zoustar and will go to Lope De Vega."

There were plenty of top-level updates for the farm to savour last year and Miss Jingles' Exceed And Excel full-brother Mischief Magic provided much cheer in November when winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint for Godolphin.

His sister has been booked in for Mehmas, alongside the high-class producer Chachamaidee, a Matron Stakes-winning daughter of Footstepsinthesand who joined the team last summer having sold to Blandford Bloodstock for 200,000gns at the Tattersalls July Sale.

The 16-year-old is, notably, the dam of Group 2 winner Valiant Prince (by Dubawi) and Group 3 winner Klassique.

A firm favourite at Chasemore Farm is Kenzadargent, the dam of the Blacks' popular dual Group-winning sprinter Brad The Brief, and hopes are high her mating with a Coolmore superstar can bear fruit.

Conroy says: "She's a beautiful mare who's had problems with colic over the years, but she's in foal to No Nay Never and is carrying her first filly so we're really happy.

"No Nay Never was brilliant last year and this mating should result in a really nice, speed-oriented pedigree. She's due in a few weeks and will then be covered by Pinatubo."

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