Gainsborough, Leigh Honored by British Breeders' Association

Edited press release from Racenews
Gunner B, who turned 29 on January 1 and is believed to be the oldest stallion still covering in Europe, has picked up two Thoroughbred Breeders' Association awards for 2001, as leading active British-based National Hunt stallion in both the earnings and individual winners categories.

It is the third successive year that Shade Oak Stud resident Gunner B, sire of Grand National winner Red Marauder, has picked up a TBA award. Peter Hockenhull, Manager of Shade Oak Stud, said: "We are delighted to be collecting a TBA award for a third time with Gunner B. Winning these awards is something we have strived towards since we started out as National Hunt breeders. Gunner B is fit and well and will hopefully be covering again this year."

Dalham Hall Stud resident Machiavellian, sire of Medicean, No Excuse Needed and Storming Home, is the leading British-based flat stallion in prize money terms while Cadeaux Genereux picks up the equivalent award for individual winners.

Cadeaux Genereux, who stands at Whitsbury Manor Stud, is the property of Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum's Gainsborough Stud Management as is the Royal Studs-based Royal Applause, who is leading British-based first season sire on the flat with 17 individual winners in Britain and Ireland.

Indeed Gainsborough Stud Management has picked up the award for leading British-based breeder with such flagbearers in 2001 as Lailani, No Excuse Needed and Storming Home. Michael Goodbody, managing director of Gainsborough Stud Management, commented: "We are very honored and delighted to have received the award as leading British-based breeder. It is a tribute to all the people involved in our organization."

Gerald Leigh of Eydon Hall Farm has been given the discretionary TBA Silver Rose Bowl award for a flat breeder following the exploits of his group 1-winning two-year-olds Gossamer and Act One.

Shropshire-based Peter Tellwright has won the Langham Cup for a small breeder deserving special merit thanks to the efforts of the group II Pretty Polly Stakes winner Rebelline and Heavenly Whisper, who was successful in the listed Masaka Stakes.

Former trainer Neville Dent takes the National Hunt Achievement Award in recognition for his efforts in advancing the cause of jump breeding and breeders in Britain, standing stallions for 30 years at his Hart Hill Stud near Shaftesbury.

Prince Faisal's Prix de Diane winner Rafha, who is based at Cliff Stud in North Yorkshire under the owner's Nawara Stud banner, wins the flat Broodmare Award, having been responsible for Invincible Spirit, Aquarius and Massarra, who won six races between them in 2001 including three stakes events.

Anne Jenks' Cover Your Money, who was put down aged 26 in the summer of 2000, takes the National Hunt equivalent for the second successive year. She is the dam of Grand National winner Red Marauder and his full brother Red Striker, who also won at Aintree in April.

The prizes will be presented at the TBA Awards' Dinner in London on Tuesday, January 8, when the winners of two Special Awards for contributions to the British breeding industry will be announced. Peter Savill, Chairman of the British Horseracing Board, will be guest of honor at the dinner.

Nigel Elwes, chairman of the TBA, said: "Our annual awards' dinner gives the TBA the opportunity to acknowledge the outstanding achievements by some of the well-known and less familiar names, both human and equine, who contributed to the success of the British breeding industry in 2001."