Balding honoured as best of British bloodstock is celebrated for 2020 campaign

The best of British bloodstock was celebrated at Chippenham Park, near Newmarket, on Thursday evening, as the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association staged its annual Flat awards.

A total of 14 were presented relating to success in 2020, including the prestigious Andrew Devonshire Award, given in recognition of outstanding contribution to the industry. This year’s recipient was Lady Emma Balding.

The wife of former trainer Ian and mother to award-winning broadcaster Clare and Classic-winning trainer Andrew, Lady Balding is a former TBA trustee and was instrumental in the creation of the Retraining of Racehorses charity by obtaining a bequest from the Mellon family.

At the helm of Kingsclere Stud, she has nurtured families through generations. In Europe the stud has produced many successful performers, including Racing Post Trophy winner Elm Park, German Group 2 winner Passing Glance and Imperial Cup winner Scorned, the latter pair just two of seven black-type earners for their dam Spurned.

Further afield, Side Glance, a son of Passing Glance, won the Cox Plate in 2013, and more recently Urban Aspect, better known as Ka Ying Star in Hong Kong, has been a Group 3 winner.

Daughter-in-law Anna Lisa collected the award on her behalf, and said: “She’ll be totally overwhelmed to receive this, and I know would thank the team at home, Pete Beasant and everyone.

Anna Lisa Balding with TBA chairman Julian Richmond-WatsonCredit: Adam Smyth/the TBA

“She’s an amazing lady, and a pretty amazing mother-in-law. She walks round the fields and sees all the mares and foals every day. This will mean the world to her.”

Dalham Hall Stud employee Ken Crozier was the recipient of the Dominion Award. A key part of the Godolphin/Darley team, Crozier’s tenure at the Newmarket stud commenced in 1982. His earlier job experience included a position at Floors Stud in his hometown of Kelso, and he has also worked with numerous stallions in both hemispheres.

Two new awards were added to the evening’s proceedings. The Filly of Merit Award, for a two- or three-year-old filly who had achieved significant success on the racecourse, was presented to Philip Wilkins, breeder and owner of Liberty Beach. The daughter of Cable Bay was a stakes winner and also third in both the King’s Stand and Prix de l’Abbaye.

Liberty Beach@ raced to the Filly of Merit AwardCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

The second, the Barton Stud-sponsored Industry Merit Award, recognises those within the industry who are making progress through their business, role or personally expanding the reach of the British breeding industry by increasing engagement, involvement or developing innovative concepts to improve the thoroughbred breeding sector.

The inaugural award was presented to Highclere Stud, on account of its new 50/50 and Euro4Euros stallion terms. Jake Warren, on behalf of his family and the stud, also collected the HJ Joel Silver Salver (Flat Broodmare of the Year), for Beach Frolic, dam of Palace Pier.

Shadwell’s Ron Lott was the recipient of the TBA Stud Employee Award. Sponsored by New England Stud, Lott's prize was a magnificent Charlie Langton bronze perpetual trophy and £2,000 in cash. The runners-up and recipients of £250 were David Gardner, Greg Hooley, Antonia Neal, Bev Woodley and John Rice, who was also applauded on the night for his work with award winner Mayson at Cheveley Park, where he heads the stallion division.

Recipient of the Langham Cup (Small Breeder of the Year) was Gaie Johnson-Houghton, breeder of Mohaather, winner of the Sussex Stakes and the Summer Mile in 2020.

The TBA Silver Salver went to Anita Wigan, who in 2020 bred a pair of Group 2 winners, Nando Parrado (Coventry Stakes) and Angel Power (Premio Lydia Tesio), from her small broodmare band.

As breeder of Glass Slippers, winner of the Flying Five Stakes and memorably of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, and French Group 3-winning juvenile Lullaby Moon, Bearstone Stud was named Flat Breeder of the Year (TBA Silver Rose Bowl).

The British EBF’s Stallion Special Merit Award was presented to the aforementioned Mayson. The Cheveley Park Stud resident enjoyed a breakout 2020, headlined by the July Cup triumph of son Oxted. His success was supplemented by that of stakes performers Country Carnival, Laugh A Minute, Lesrel and Maystar.

Dubawi: a silver cup and silver cigar box are heading Darley and Godolphin's way thanks to his ongoing successCredit: Edward Whitaker

The statistical awards announced at the beginning of each year were also presented. The Godolphin operation’s flagship stallion Dubawi won both the Barleythorpe Stud Silver Cup for leading British-based stallion by individual winners and the BBA Silver Cigar Box for leading British-based stallion by prize-money.

The Queen’s Silver Cup for leading British-based breeder by prize-money completed a trio of awards for Godolphin.

The other statistical award, the Tattersalls Silver Salver, for the leading British-based first season sire, was presented to Chris and Nicky Harper of Whitsbury Manor Stud for their stallion Adaay.

The event was sponsored by Fitzdares and hosted by Gina Bryce, and TBA chief executive Claire Sheppard reflected: “It has been fantastic to be able to recognise and celebrate the successes of British breeders in person again at tonight’s awards evening.

"Our sincere congratulations extend not only to the winners but to all the nominees this evening for their outstanding achievements domestically and on the global stage. We are incredibly grateful to William Woodhams and the team at Fitzdares for their support of British thoroughbred breeding as headline event partner, and to all our event supporters.”

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