Amidst the fireworks and glittering gems of the Scepter Session, with its treasure trove of jewels attracting the attention and purses of breeders from around the world is a profound dispersion for the herd. cherished by Philippa Cooper, as she parted 16 mares and mares from the families she had. fostered for more than three decades, first at her idyllic West Sussex Normandie Stud, and then for them at Coolmore and Newsells Park.
Through the Hertfordshire nursery, Cooper’s beloved horses were sold, with six of them standing out among the galaxy of stars assembled for Scepter Sessions.
Cooper’s admirable adherence to her principles and desire to produce mid-distance performers, most recently exemplified by the winner of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) in 2021, the Grand Prix de Paris (G1) and winner Cazoo St. Leger Stakes (G1) storm alley has seen her forced to accept defeat at the expense of striving to create classic winners such as her 4-year-old son. Frankel no longer feasible.
“I can’t bear the cost of it much longer,” she said after seeing her scatter bring in a total of 4,197,000gns ($5,304,613).
“The boarding and training fees are high enough but the nomination fees are the worst. Breeding has now become absolutely elite and it’s no longer possible for me to try to breed the type of horse I’ve been trying to breed since since I started with my three girls.”
Financial difficulties, although a major contributing factor in Cooper’s decision to leave the fingerling business, were not the only considerations. The ever-increasing cost of stallions, especially for the type of stallion Cooper wanted to use, and the size of the breeding population also prompted her to make this decision.
Mohaafeth whose dam? French fashion —a winner listed by star sea and the pony of Frankel, Mohaafeth’s father—earned 925,000gns ($1,161,574) for BBA Ireland on Tuesday night.
Despite that success, Cooper made the decision earlier this year that she could not afford to continue trying to breed such horses due to increasing costs.
“When I sold the stallion five years ago, I said I would give myself five years to see if it could be sustainable but it’s not. I don’t want to keep writing checks,” she admitted. review. “I decided to do it and the decision was made six months ago.”
While it was certain that it was the only viable way for her to conclude, Cooper had expected the split to be more difficult than it actually was, although seeing mares ready to show up on Sunday was something more difficult than any other aspect.
“It’s much better than I thought. I’ve been here since Sunday and it was the worst day, seeing all the mares in the boxes here at the sales area, I thought it was going to be difficult. much more difficult than I imagined. My whole life was in those boxes,” she added.
The strong emotional connection Cooper has maintained with her horses, if not severed, is certain to diminish with the loss of her farm. The lack of that relationship with her animals has greatly affected her, and in many ways Tuesday’s events were inevitable as the joy of spending time with mares and Her pony has been removed from her life.
She said: “For 25 years this has defined what kind of person I am and it would be strange without that involvement but I am no longer in contact with my mares that I used to be. have since I sold the stallion five years ago. Losing that contact with my mares is difficult.”
Philippa Cooper bred 2021 St Leger, Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Paris hero Hurricane Lane
The number one spot on Tuesday night’s distribution was My love is you ‘s 4-year-old daughter King bring her first pony St Mark’s Basilica . Listed Racing TV winner Radley Stakes and Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes (G3) lowered the hammer to 1,400,000gns ($1,758,057) and was one of two consecutive batches of Normandie Stud to be purchased by Godolphin.
Love Is You is the sister of the multi-group champion Glorious Journey , whose eight career successes include Cazoo Park Stakes (G2) and Unibet Hungerford Stakes (G2). They don’t have a coronation stake winner (G1) fall in love with you Dansili’s daughter and Michael Page International Silver Trophy Stakes winner has been listed on the Fallen Star by Brief Truce list.
Fallen For You is a half-sister to Bet365 Runner-up Lancashire Oaks (G2) love sick by Galileo whose daughter won in group 3 Love things by Pivotal and the pony of Sea The Stars was purchased by Bandford Bloodstock for 260,000gns ($326,497).
Anthony Stroud, on behalf of Godolphin, also purchased EBF Share winner & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres UK listed Fleur-de-lis . 8 years old Teofilo The mare was offered for sale as a pony to Sea The Stars on the February cover and brought in the winning bid of 425,000gns ($533,696).
“The results exceeded my expectations. I did not give specific numbers and it is lovely that people appreciate my mares and my family. It is touching that friends in the industry bought them. and they will have good homes,” one person said. Cooper was delighted.
In addition to the Scepter Session, Cooper sold two more six-figure lots. John Gunther, creator of the undefeated Triple Crown hero and an exciting first season male justification , up to 240,000gns ($301,382) for Polish French. The 5 year old kid is the winner New approach Mohaafeth’s half-brother and succeeded at the age of 3. Her first pony was a New Bay pony and she was sold in ponies for palace pier .
Legendary equestrian Willie Carson, who was six years ahead of Cooper as an Irish Derby winner breeder breeder, bought Leah, an unnamed 5-year-old. Le Havre mare from one of Cooper’s most famous families for 200,000gns ($251,151).
In ponies to Saxon Warrior she is the half-sister to the Irish winner St Leger by Cooper Duncan and group 2 winners Samuel and Gretchen .
Cooper didn’t put her two mares for sale—Fallen For You and Fallen In Love—and both mares will have a long and happy retirement with their owners, who are hoping for a long and happy retirement. Hopefully she can now rediscover her love of racing and breeding that she no longer has to compete with the industry.
“It’s going to be a hobby for me like it was when my husband and I first started the National Hunt and hopefully I’ll enjoy it again.”
