Juddmonte, Dubawi and Elite Racing Club honoured at TBA awards night

A stellar year for British breeding was celebrated at the Moorestyle Pavilion on Newmarket's July course on Wednesday evening as the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) staged its annual awards ceremony.

A total of 14 awards were presented, headed by the prestigious Andrew Devonshire Award, which went the way of Philip Freedman in recognition of his contribution to the thoroughbred industry.

As well as being a successful owner and breeder in his own right, Freedman has also served the industry in a number of roles including: chairman of the TBA, British European Breeders’ Fund and president of the Racehorse Owners’ Association.

He is also a member of the Jockey Club and has been a director of Jockey Club Estates, chairman of the Flat Pattern Panel, a director of the British Horseracing Board and a member of its Taxation Committee.

Freedman is currently the chairman of the Horsemen's Group, which represents the collective interests of owners, trainers, jockeys, stable staff and breeders within the British racing industry.

Lord Grimthorpe, Stephen Wallis and Andrew Devonshire Award winner Philip Freedman at the ROA AGM

The Dominion Award was presented to Patrick Lennon, who recently retired from Shadwell Stud. Lennon was a thoroughly deserving winner, having dedicated his working life to the thoroughbred breeding industry.

Lennon's career began at Lord and Lady Howard de Walden's Thornton Stud, where he worked his way up through the ranks to become stallion man and then stud groom.

He went on to work at Plantation Stud before moving to Shadwell's Beech House Stud, where he has had a tremendous influence on the horses and people at Sheikh Hamdan's operation.

The cream of the British stallion crop were also honoured, with Dalham Hall Stud linchinpin Dubawi claiming the BBA Silver Cigar Box - presented for the leading British-based stallion by Flat race earnings - and the Barleythorpe Cup for being the leading British-based stallion by number of individual Flat winners.

Dubawi: the Dalham Hall resident collected a brace of prizesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Overbury Stud stalwart Kayf Tara dominated the National Hunt categories, winning the Whitbread Silver Salver - presented for the leading active British-based National Hunt stallion by 2017-18 earnings - and the Horse and Hound Cup for leading active British-based National Hunt stallion by number of individual chase winners during the same period.

Also collecting a brace of awards was Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte operation, who landed the TBA Silver Rose Bowl for Flat breeder of the year and also won the HJ Joel Silver Salver for broodmare of the year for Concentric, dam of the mighty Enable.

Hats off! Enable's dam Concentric was crowned broodmare of the yearCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Tweenhills Farm and Stud resident Havana Gold was awarded the Tattersalls Silver Salver for the leading first-season sire from the 2017 Flat season. The Group 1-winning son of Teofilo supplied 18 winners in Britain and Ireland last year, headed by the Curragh Stakes winner Treasuring and Molecomb Stakes winner Havana Grey.

Treasuring was bred by the Pocock family, who were honoured later in the evening with the TBA Silver Salver (Special Merit Award), in recognition of their outstanding success with Rekindling, who memorably won the Melbourne Cup in November.

The Queen’s Silver Cup for leading Flat breeder in terms of earnings was presented to Darley, whilst the Langham Cup for small breeder of the year was awarded to the Elite Racing Club, whose homebred Marsha kept the club's name in lights throughout 2017.

The daughter of Acclamation got the better of a thrilling duel with Lady Aurelia in the Nunthorpe Stakes and was later sold on to Coolmore for 6,000,000gns at the Tattersalls December Sale.

Rekindling (pink cap): the Melbourne Cup winner's breeder, the Pocock Family, bagged the TBA Silver SalverCredit: Grossick Racing Photography 0771

James and Jean Potter won the Queen Mother's Silver Salver in recognition of their efforts and achievements in the sphere of National Hunt breeding, while Tinagoodnight, the dam of Grade 1 winner Santini and Grade 2 placed Dusky Legend, claimed the Dudgeon Cup (National Hunt broodmare of the year) for her owners Richard and Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes.

Claire Sheppard, TBA chief executive said: "Tonight the TBA celebrated our world-class industry and the achievements of British breeders who produced the highest proportion of thoroughbreds in the world's top Flat rankings in 2017.

"We have recognised successful breeding operations under both codes, and seen prizes won for victories around the globe, and from the progeny of smaller studs through to the major stallion farms.

"We have two very deserving recipients of the Dominion and Devonshire awards who have both made an outstanding contribution to British breeding.

"Our thanks go to everyone who attended and supported the event, including The Jockey Club Group, Weatherbys General Stud Book, The National Stud, Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder Magazine, Tattersalls and Horse & Hound Magazine."

The TBA will host its Annual General Meeting at the Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket on Thursday at 10.30.

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