The History of our Horses
Wavertree Boy
Wavertree Boy (2000 ch. g. by Hector Protector ex Lust) was purchased at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2001. He is from the stout staying family of Classic Cliché and My Emma and is the half brother to the Listed winner Screwdriver and the Princess Margaret Stakes 4th placed Wavertree Girl. Lust was owned by the National Stud Owner Breeders’ Club but that syndicate was wound up and Lust passed through the ring at Tattersalls December Breeding Stock sales in 2004, carrying to Nayef fetching a very respectable 135,000 guineas. Whilst Lust herself never made it to the racecourse it is notable that three of her last four progeny to race (Wavertree Boy included) all achieved Black Type at 2 years old and her 2004 Noverre filly, named Eliza Gilbert was placed in 2 of her 3 starts in 2006. In total on the flat and over jumps 3 of her 5 progeny have been winners. Hector Protector now stands in Japan, but Wavertree Boy is notably a member of one of his sire’s last crops to be foaled in this country.
Wavertree Boy spent his first season as a two year old with John Dunlop at Castle Stables in Arundel. During that first season he won on his second racecourse appearance over 7 furlongs at Salisbury, and from six outings at two, he was in the money on half of those occasions, not least a third placing in the Listed Zetland Stakes at Newmarket over a mile and a quarter on soft ground.
He then moved to David Elsworth at Whitsbury Stables in Hampshire for his three year old campaign. He was in the winner’s enclosure twice in succession, which earned him and the members a trip to Royal Ascot. While the ground there was too firm for him, he restored our faith when he was again placed third in a Listed race at Newmarket, this time the Bahrain Trophy, where he was beaten by David’s other very good young stayer Gold Medallist. His season to this point had been encouraging enough to deserve an entry in the St Leger at Doncaster, where whilst he ran unplaced, he by no means disgraced himself and gave the members a thoroughly memorable weekend.
Unfortunately, towards the end of his three-year-old year, he suffered a tendon injury, which necessitated a long period of rest and recuperation, which effectively ruled him out for the entire 2004 season.
In 2005 he has had only one run, at Taunton over hurdles, and while showing great promise on his National Hunt debut he once again hit the headlines, this time for a controversial 4th place rather than a win. Unfortunately he suffered a repetition of the tendon injury and went to Louise Best's Equine Hydroptherapy Centre for treatment.
He seemed to have returned stronger than ever with the work he was doing at home when he was back with David Elsworth, now at Egerton Stables in Newmarket but unfortunately after two runs on the racecourse at Newmarket and Salisbury there was obviously something amiss and after further veterinary examination yet another tendon problem was diagnosed.
This unfortunately meant the end of his racing career and he was retired to the Racehorse Sanctuary in Cowfold, West Sussex under the care of Graham Oldfield and Sue Collins, more information on the Sanctuary can be found on www. racehorsesanctuary.org
The following is a nostalgic tribute to Wavertree Boy written by founder member Gaynor Renwick:
MEMORIES OF WAVERTREE BOY
by Gaynor Renwick
I am writing this on Newmarket’s Zetland Stakes Day, October 28th 2006, a day of nostalgia which never fails to put me into a reflective mood. The “Zetland” is the only Listed* race for two year olds over 1mile and 2 furlongs, which is quite a distance for youngsters and which invariably features some good future staying types. It was won in 1996 by the wonderful Silver Patriarch, trained by John Dunlop. Silver Patriarch went on to come 2nd in the Derby the following year (1997) and then won the St Leger, the world’s oldest Classic horse race.
Wavertree Boy was the first of the Wavertree Racing Club horses, the offspring of a National Stud mare, Lust, by the stallion Hector Protector. He was bought from Newmarket’s October Yearling Sales by John Dunlop and then Anne Dawson, founder of Wavertree Racing Club who persuaded John to let her syndicate the horse - fortune favours the brave and the Club took off.
So, trained by John Dunlop as a two year old, Wavertree Boy followed “Silver’s” footsteps to run in the Zetland. Many people thought we were out of our depth, although the Boy had won on only his second run for us, and came second in his race before the Zetland, this was a big step up in class and I am sure some folk thought we would be collecting the Wooden Spoon as our prize. Not a bit of it, ridden by one of the best jockeys of his day, Pat Eddery, Boy did us proud, coming third and leaving in his wake some much better-fancied horses.
I still remember the feeling of excitement as we raced to the winners’ enclosure to greet our Hero, who had quickly become used to all his adoring owners clustering round to make a fuss of him and treated it all as his due.
That feeling of excitement had been with me back in August, when the Boy ran his second race for us at Salisbury. I watched it from the Coral shop at Epsom races and still feel slightly embarrassed when I remember how I yelled the shop down as he burst through on the rails under Brett Doyle to win going away and give Brett his first winner on his return to race riding in Britain. The Coral shop regulars were very generous with their congratulations when they realised I was a “winning owner” and for the rest of the afternoon I basked in reflected glory.
By the following season, now three, Boy had moved to David Elsworth’s yard. “Elsy” is probably most famous for training both Desert Orchid and Persian Punch, two of the nation’s best-loved racehorses. Those lucky enough to have a horse with him also quickly get to realise that he is never afraid to have a go at the glittering prizes and so that Spring and Summer he and the Boy took us to all the best places.
After a win at Goodwood on his third run of the season, over 1mile 3furlongs, he followed up with another win at Salisbury over 1mile 6 furlongs, both times ridden by Richard Quinn. We realised that we had a horse for whom a ‘distance’ was not going to be a problem and a plan began to form in Elsy’s mind - and a target - the St Leger.
Before that was an appearance at Royal Ascot, in the Queen’s Vase, a Group race over 2miles. Posh hats and frocks were donned and although unplaced, the thrill of having a runner at the major flat race meeting more than made up for it and a grand party was had by all afterwards, with the champagne flowing! Then it was off to Newmarket’s prestigious July meeting and another Listed race, the Bahrain Trophy. Ridden by Richard Hughes this time, the horse was given his usual hold up race, the jockey keeping him back to produce his effort late. This time the plan did not quite pay off and Boy had to do too much too late, but he produced an electric burst of speed to end a fast-finishing third and earn more “black type” **.
After an unplaced effort at Glorious Goodwood - but by this time we were getting used to appearing at all the best places! - it was off to another top meeting, York’s Ebor meeting, and the Melrose Stakes, a high-class handicap race. Boy was back on form and produced his usual thrilling late burst to come third in what is still considered by many to be his best-ever run.
13th September, St Leger Day. Hot and sunny for the Wavetree Club folk as we converged on Doncaster, once again in our posh frocks and hats. The film “Seabiscuit” had recently been released and the race was re-named, for one year only, the “Seabiscuit St Leger”, giving it an extra sense of occasion, if any were needed. The race was won by Brian Boru, with Wavertree Boy coming a “not-disgraced” 9th, just a short head behind David’s other runner Gold Medallist and in Timeform’s words running his heart out for us in this Group One race. No doubts now about whether we deserved to be there, we surely did.
One more run followed, at Ascot’s Queen Elizabeth II meeting, on ground like concrete, which Boy struggled to cope with, coming 4th of 4. All that summer the ground had been “Good” “Good to Firm” and at Ascot “Firm”. Boy had run willingly for us every time and was as tough as they come, but all that racing on such ground took its toll and it became clear that his tendons had suffered and he would need a long rest to recover.
He didn’t run at all the following year and once back in training he developed an aptitude for jumping that led to a re-appearance at Taunton in a hurdles race in January 2005. He came 4th, but caused controversy when it was believed by many that our much-fancied horse had not been trying. In fact it was a recurrence of his tendon problems and another year of rest followed.
Two more unplaced efforts back on the flat in May and June this year convinced us that it was time to call it a day with our beloved Boy. He owed us nothing, rather we owed him - so many happy memories, so much fun, particularly in that golden summer of 2003. We were lucky to have him and lucky also to have the opportunity to send him to the Racehorse Sanctuary where we know he will be in the best of hands and looked after for the rest of his days.
These days Boy is enjoying a different life, learning new skills, but still the same ultra-friendly horse who loves people and attention. Wavertree Racing folk are looking forward to following him in his new life and meanwhile, if you are visiting the Centre be sure to go and say hello to the Boy……you’ll be hard put not to if he has anything to do with it!
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*Listed and Group (including the Classic) races are the highest class of Flat race and not surprisingly the best horses run in them.
** Black type is given to horses that win or are placed in Group or Listed races, i.e. the highest class of race. Their efforts are written in bold type whenever they are referred to, in race history or sales catalogues, for example so that they catch the eye.
Wavertree Girl
Wavertree Girl (IRE) ... Marju - Lust (Pursuit of Love) was bred by the National Stud Owner Breeders Club in 2001 and purchased by Wavertree Racing Club at Tattersalls, Newmarket in 2002 for 15,000 gns.
One of the three yearlings purchased at Tattersalls for W. R. Syndicate B, Wavertree Girl as a half sister to Wavertree Boy is from the family of Classic Cliché, Ebor winner Mediterranean and Yorkshire Oaks winner My Emma. She joined Wavertree Dream and Wavertree Spirit at Ravens Barn, Burrough Green nr Newmarket to be started by Sam Magdalino in November 2002.
Right from being a foal she was quite precocious and when she went to Nick Littmoden to start her training she quickly showed talent on the gallops, confirming this with a 3rd on her debut in July 2003 in a Class 4 maiden at Newmarket. Nick thought enough of her to put her into the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot on Diamond day in only her second start. She looked every inch a very professional racehorse in the paddock, taking the huge crowd and hullabaloo of a big race-day in her stride. After taking the lead at one point she just missed out on a place but she did manage to finish a very creditable 4th, allowing her delighted connections their first visit to the Ascot winners enclosure. This highly promising start was then followed by a run on totally unsuitable ground at Nottingham, where overwatering had resulted in false ground rather than the advertised good to firm and her 7th place can therefore be discounted as it was totally unsuitable for her. Her fourth run was at the quirky track of Chester where despite not being suited to the track and being struck into she still managed a respectable 4th and was then put away for her winter rest.
She returned to the racetrack to start her 3 year old campaign at Lingfield on the all weather in February as a preparation to put her spot on for the turf season. She stepped up to 7f for the first time and again ran a very creditable 3rd (8l clear of Imperium in 4th) behind Eccentric, who has gone on to win a further 8 races to date, including the £100,000 listed Winter Derby at Lingfield in 2005. Buoyed on by this run when the opportunity arose just 2 weeks later to run in a maiden against horses rated significantly lower than her she justifiably went off as clear favourite at 5/4. However just as the horses were coming into the pre-parade ring the weather took a turn for the worse and the heavens opened with the rain turning to hail stones, which together with the raging wind meant it was imperative that she was given as much cover as possible. This didn't happen as she was pulled out onto the wide outside of the pack not only contradicting the way she needed to be ridden under 'normal' circumstances but making sure she had to encounter the full force of the horrendous conditions in her face as she floundered on what is usually the disadvantaged side of the track at the best of times.
It was with some relief and still a degree of optimism that she reverted to the turf at Beverley in April, but by then the damage had been done and Nick's fears that she would take some time to recover from her ordeal at Lingfield were well founded, the good to soft going in the dip did not suit her at all and she was beaten by 11L into 5th place.
Back on good ground, over 7f at Newbury, this time at 25/1she came 7th of 20 beaten by 7 lengths. This was followed by a disappointing run at Ayr in May on firm going which saw her come 4th of 6 and It was beginning to feel as though, despite all her talent, something which all who came into contact with her agreed she had, she was never going to get her head in front.
However the syndicate’s spirits were raised by her gutsy 3rd of 11, beaten by just 3 lengths, at Salisbury in June this time back on her favoured good ground. But it seemed that the Girl flattered only to deceive and her final two runs saw her come 10th of 11 and 11th of 14 at Lingfield and Yarmouth respectively. By now it was obvious that the Girl had ideas of her own about her life and they did not seem to include racing and certainly not winning! Her three-year-old campaign was one of promise unfulfilled and frustration for connections – and probably for the horse herself if we could only have asked her.
Therefore the decision was taken, albeit reluctantly, to retire her. It was felt that with her breeding and family connections she would make a desirable broodmare and that perhaps having a family was now a better option for her than having a racing career.
The Girl went to the Tattersalls broodmare sales in December of 2004, where despite being the first lot of the day she provoked a bidding war and finally went through for 42,000gns, delighting connections and more than repaying her purchase price of 15,000gns.
Her new owners selected Hernando as the sire of her first offspring and whilst it took a couple of visits to get her in foal, not uncommon with maiden broodmares, Girl is finally due in March 2006 and reportedly is thriving.
She has summered at Kilshannig Stud, Rathcormac, near Fermoy, County Cork. The estate had belonged to the Fermoy family, ancestors of Lady Diana and as you can see from the photos it is a really beautiful place. She has spent the summer in a paddock with eight other mares and on the day these photos were taken didn't see why she should leave her friends just to have her picture taken. Therefore she spent most of the time trying to get back to them, with the same expression on her face as those days at Lingfield and Salisbury when she had to go out in the rain. She is looking very well and seems pretty content with her new role in life.
So, as with Wavertree Spirit, while the Girl never quite fulfilled her early promise, the syndicate certainly enjoyed some high points together with the frustrations that are so much a part of racing. As with her brother Wavertree Boy, amongst many other special memories, she did allow the syndicate members to experience the thrill of being owners at a top class meeting that July day at Ascot in 2003. Plus we had the additional benefit that, as the only filly the Club has owned to date, hopefully the financial return went some way to recompense the members for their unfulfilled dreams. We also now have her progeny to look forward to following, we hope from 2008 and for many years to come.
She went through the sales ring again in the Mares Sale at Tattersalls, Newmarket on Monday 28th November and was again purchased by Hugo Merry Bloodstock this time for 120,000gns.
Wavertree Spirit
Wavertree Spirit ... Hector Protector - Miss Clarinet (Pharly) was bred by the National Stud Breeders Club in 2001 and purchased as a yearling by Wavertree Racing for 17,000gns in 2002, making him the most expensive of the three yearlings purchased at this sale. A extremely attractive bright chesnut with a personality to match, Spirit’s looks and movement impressed from the outset. He went, along with Dream & Girl to Duncan and Candy Sass at Ravens Barn to commence his education, they were 'started' by Mexican Sam Magdalino in his natural horsemanship style. Sam did a great job with all three horses but he was especially impressed with Spirit who in turn responded well to the sensitive handling and attention.
A slow developer, Spirit took time to grow into his big frame and didn’t make his debut until York in September 2003 when he came 6th of 8 runners but the race took its toll. He was discovered to have bled, so plans for him to follow in the footsteps of Wavertree Boy and run in the Zetland were shelved and he was put away for the winter. The decision was taken at the same time to geld him in order to focus his growing into his frame. He spent the winter at the National Stud.
As with his 2yo career, the challenge was to keep weight on the horse, it seemed that Spirit was a worrier who responded to the training regime by losing weight far too easily, despite the best attentions of the yard. His second run was at Newmarket in May2004 where it was discovered that once again he had bled.
Spirit’s recuperation took place at Kentavr Stud, the Kent base of the Petersens, where he enjoyed the best of care and attention and blossomed, putting on more condition than ever before. He responded well to Bolette Petersen’s regime of long-reining and join up, as well as healing sessions and left there looking better than ever.
He then went to David Elsworth’s yard to join Wavertree Boy and while enjoying moderate work it soon became clear that the stresses of a racing regime were too much for the horse, particularly as he always tried hard, so the decision was taken to send him to Moorcroft Racehorse Welfare Centre for retraining.
Since going to the Centre Spirit has not looked back, free from the extreme stresses of a racing regime, the bleeding has not recurred. With his interest in everything going on and his love of people and attention, Spirit quickly became a yard favourite. He loved the work and all the new experiences, was able to show off his beautiful movement and both he and the yard enjoyed exploring his untapped potential, with a view to competing in the Dressage arena. He also developed a bond with Graham Oldfield, the Centre’s Chief Executive, and they would share a quiet moment or two together in Spirit’s stable at the end of every day. Graham describes the horse as having “charisma and stunning looks”. He also says that the horse has “an upper class whinny” and would be a BBC newsreader, were he human!!
The Centre always place their horses very carefully when re-homing and were prepared to wait until the perfect match for Spirit came along. They were rewarded when Jane Walford came looking and fell in love with Spirit. Jane has a good grounding in thoroughbreds, as she works for John Dunlop.
Spirit now lives in some luxury in the Sussex countryside and enjoys hacking out with Jane. He has also taken her over logs and other obstacles while out hacking and has dispelled any nervousness she initially had about his ability to cope sensibly with all his new experiences. Indeed, Jane talks glowingly about how Spirit looks after her when they are out, never putting a foot wrong, although she also acknowledges that he can put on the speed when the mood takes! It is clear that she is besotted with Spirit and it sounds as though he is repaying her love and attention by giving his best. They are planning to tackle dressage and possibly eventing as well, as Spirit seems to enjoy his jumping and to respond well to having things to do and new experiences.
So this particular Wavertree story, while it might not have the ending originally envisaged that autumn day at the Tattersalls sales, does have a very happy one and everyone who has been involved with this most beautiful and charismatic horse is looking forward to reading about his and Jane’s future exploits in Horse & Hound!
To learn more about the rehabilitation work of Moorcroft Welfare Centre please click on Moorcroft Welfare Centre.
Wavertree Dream
(2001 b. g. by Dushyantor ex Dream On Deya)
Like Wavertree Boy, Wavertree Dream’s dam, Dream On Deya was owned by the National Stud Owner Breeders’ Club. Dream On Deya only ran once without much success but when put to the first season sire Dushyantor, her first produce was Wavertree Dream, who won as a two year old at Newmarket.
Her second foal, Dream Tonic, also won as a two year old in 2004. Dushyantor now shuttles between Rathbarry Stud in Ireland and Chile for the southern hemisphere season, but had his first Group 1 winner in February 2005 with Cefalu who won the Premio El Derby in Valparaiso on 6th February 2005. Dushyantor’s other Black Type winners are Castellamare (Premio Cotejo de Potrancas, Gr.3) and Kaleb (Premio Luis Cousino Squella Stakes, Gr.3). In 2004, Dushyantor’s record in Europe was 8 individual winners from 2 crops of racing age (including Wavertree Dream), with Black Type awarded to Loriana (won Premio Bellini, L., 3rd Oaks d’Italia, Gr.1) and Amourallis (3rd Fairy Bridge Stakes, L.) both from the same crop as Wavertree Dream.
Wavertree Dream went into training with Nick Littmoden at Southgate Stables in Newmarket, ostensibly for his two and three year old career. Showing promise early on, he was placed 2nd on only his second start in a 5 furlong maiden at Redcar. In only his third start he was to face the eventual Dewhust (Gr.1) winner of that season, Milk It Mick where he finished a creditable 8th place from a terrible draw. He followed that up with a second place at Brighton to Billy Allen (now a dual Listed winner in France and Germany in 2005), and then just three weeks later, he won a 7 furlong nursery at the July course in Newmarket on one of their renowned “Newmarket Nights”.
Sadly, he was to sustain an injury during that race, which meant he was not seen out again until October, but to his credit, on the basis of his previous form, he retained his entry in the £100,000 Tattersalls Autumn Auction Stakes, where he covered himself in glory by finishing 6th of 29 runners. When you take his long layoff into consideration, what made this run even more creditable was that the distances separating him from 4th place were only a head and a short head, and only 3.5 lengths more to the winner over a distance that was more than likely far too short for him.
He ran another three times as a two year old, gaining a further 2nd place in the process, making his total for the season 9 runs, 1 win and 3 places. Sadly, once again injury forced him to spend the following year on the sidelines, and the syndicate was wound up at the end of its 2 year run.
However, his future remains with Wavertree in another form, as he has been retained and re-syndicated under a new banner - The Dream Partnership, and is now based in Kent with John Best.
