Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Awards Announced

Edited release from TBA
The 2006 Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) Awards, of which 12 of the 14 are announced Dec. 7, acknowledge the achievements of a diverse selection of British breeders, both large and small.

Ouija Board is the undoubted darling of British racing and the 5-year-old mare's exploits during the summer in winning the group I pair of the Prince Of Wales's Stakes and Vodafone Nassau Stakes, ahead of becoming the first British-trained runner to win two Breeders' Cup contests when securing the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT), sees Lord Derby's Stanley House Stud receive the TBA Silver Salver Award for special merit.

Peter Stanley, manager of Stanley House Stud, said: "In a very international world, with extremely wealthy owners and breeders, to be fortunate enough to breed a horse good enough to win an award is a great honor, as well as being a great privilege for all of us at the stud who have been a part of it.

"Ouija Board has been more than a remarkable mare because she's been so genuine the whole way through. When anything's gone wrong it hasn't been her fault, it's just been the way cards have fallen.

"We've had three, if not four, amazing years racing her. We've thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it and we're very excited and looking forward to the next challenge, which is to breed one as good as we possibly can from her."

Harry Ormesher of Old Suffolk Stud, based at Hundon in Suffolk, takes the Small Breeder of the Year Award for Flat racing, the Langham Cup - the stud produced the Epsom Derby (Eng-I) winner Sir Percy.

Ormesher purchased Percy's Lass from Darley and Sir Percy was the mare's last foal as she died aged 19.

"I'm absolutely delighted and honored. It's a wonderful thing for a small stud like mine with just eight mares - it's incredible really.

"Sir Percy was a most wonderful foal and the best colt I'd ever seen in my life. He kicked me on the head with his near foreleg when he was 10-seconds old, and I knew then he was precocious. All he wanted to do was get up on his feet and get out into the world and run. He had wonderful balance from the day he was born.

The Queen's Silver Cup, awarded to the breeder who accrues the most prize money on the Flat in Britain and Ireland throughout the season with UK-resident mares, goes to David and Patricia Thompson's Cheveley Park Stud.

The group I winning fillies Nannina (group I Coronation Stakes) and Peeress (group I Lockinge Stakes) were the most high-profile contributors to Cheveley Park's successful season.

The BBA Silver Cigar Box, given to the leading British-based sire based on earnings, went to Dalham Hall stallion Mark Of Esteem, sire of Sir Percy and dual group I-winning sprinter Reverence.

The Barleythorpe Cup is awarded to the leading British-based sire in terms of individual winners, and this year saw a season-long duel between the Cheveley Park stallion Pivotal and his Banstead Manor Stud rival Dansili.

Pivotal clinched the award with 60 winners to Dansili's 55, with the pick of his successful progeny comprising the group winners Peeress, Excellent Art, Brazilian Bride, Alzerra, Enticing, Pivotal Point, and Violet Park.

Cheveley Park Stud's year was augmented by the success of Pivotal's son Kyllachy, who stands alongside his sire at the operation's Newmarket base.

Kyllachy is rewarded for a fine first crop by securing the Tattersalls' Silver Salver for the leading British-based first-season sire, with 17 winners of 24 races and £262,250 in prize money. His main flag bearers were Sadeek and Blue Echo.

Juddmonte Farms' Hasili took the Broodmare of the Year Award - H J Joel Silver Salver - thanks to the exploits of the Danehill own-brothers Dansili, Banstead Manor Stud's flagship stallion, dual grade I winner Cacique and Champs Elysees, a winner and placed in two French group races. The remarkable Hasili is also the dam of the champion race mares Banks Hill, Heat Haze and Intercontinental.

Hasili and her stallion son Dansili helped Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms to the coveted TBA Silver Rose Bowl, a discretionary award presented to the Breeder of the Year.

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) winner Rail Link was the owner/breeder's principal European campaigner in 2006.

The Awards will be presented at the TBA Awards Dinner at the Hyatt Regency London Churchill Hotel Jan. 9, 2007, when the winners of two special awards for contributions to the British Breeding Industry are announced.

2006 THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION AWARDS

TBA Silver Salver (Special Merit) - Stanley House Stud
The Langham Cup (Small Breeder of the Year) - Harry Ormesher
Queen's Silver Cup (Leading British-based Breeder, Flat earnings) - Cheveley Park Stud
BBA Silver Cigar Box (Leading British-based Stallion, Flat earnings) - Mark Of Esteem
Barleythorpe Cup (Leading British-based Sire, individual winners) - Pivotal
Tattersalls' Silver Salver (Leading British-based First Season Sire) - Kyllachy
HJ Joel Silver Salver (Leading British-based Flat Broodmare of the Year) - Hasili
TBA Silver Rose Bowl (Flat Breeder of the Year) - Juddmonte Farms
Langham Cup (Small Breeder of the Year) - Old Suffolk Stud
Duke of Devonshire Award - Announced Jan. 9, 2007
Dominion Award - Announced Jan. 9, 2007