July Runner Highlights

Diamond Bay (above) ran at Newbury on 23rd July over 2 miles, in a class 5 handicap, under Kieran Shoemark. He led comfortably for most of the race, and was challenged at 2 furlongs out but kept on strongly to finish 2nd by 1 1/4 lengths. He is owned by Ebury Racing 5, who have had lots of fun with him over the past few years.  

So Tempting (below) followed up the next day to come 2nd by just a head on her handicap debut, partnered by Ashley Lewis, over 6 furlongs at Chepstow. She jumped out of the stalls well and settled towards the rear of the field. During the last furlong she started pushing though the field to gain second position, finishing just a head behind the winner.  She is owned by Ebury Racing 3 and WH Racing, and was purchased by Tom and Alex at the Tattersalls Book 3 Yearling Sale last year.

Glorious Goodwood

We had two runners at Glorious Goodwood; Abundant in the HKJC World Pool Handicap on Thursday and Magnatura in a Class 3 Handicap on Friday.

Abundant put up an encouraging performance, finishing 5th in a competitive 19 runner handicap. He was drawn wide and had a lot of ground to make up, but stayed on well in the last furlong to finish just 3 lengths behind the winner. It was a pleasing effort against strong opposition and gives his owners, The Abundant Syndicate, plenty to look forward to for the rest of this season.

SPOTLIGHT: The Valley of the Racehorse

Our new mini series will be looking at various different topics over the next few months and focusing on a wide range of industry news as well as interesting racehorse-specific subjects. If you have any suggestions for the series or if there is something that you would like to know more about, then please do let us know by emailing [email protected]

Lambourn is known as the “Valley of the Racehorse” and is home to more than 1,500 racehorses, over 40 trainers and is one of the largest training centres in the country.

The story begins almost 300 years ago, when the Craven family staged race meetings across the Berkshire Downs, with some being held just outside Lambourn at Ashdown House. The Craven family also supported racing in Newmarket and founded the Craven meeting, which is still held today. In 1731, William Craven (pictured below with his horse Wild Dayrell in front of Ashdown House) began organising races on the downs, taking advantage of the open countryside and rolling chalk hills.

As the sport grew, trainers soon recognised that Lambourn’s natural landscape offered the perfect environment for training racehorses. The chalk ground provides excellent drainage, allowing horses to exercise throughout the year, while the undulating hills help to develop both fitness and stamina. By the late 1800s professional trainers had established themselves in the village, laying the foundations for the thriving racing community that is here today.

One of the areas of the training grounds was Weathercock Hill, which later became the home to Jenny Pitman. In 1983 she made history by becoming the first woman to train the winner of the Grand National with Corbiere, firmly cementing both her own place in racing history and Lambourn’s reputation as a home of champions.

Another significant milestone came in the 1930s, when the Nugent family took over the Mandown Gallops and opened them up for use by multiple trainers. This meant that instead of each trainer relying solely on private gallops, they could share the facilities. This helped transform Lambourn into a collaborative training centre and played a major role in its continued growth.

Over the years some of the sport’s greatest trainers have called Lambourn home, including Fulke Walwyn, Fred Winter and Peter Walwyn. More recently, champions such as Battaash (4 x winner of the King’s Stand Stakes), Many Clouds (2015 Grand National winner) have continued the village’s proud tradition of producing top-class racehorses.

Today, the Jockey Club estates manages more than 500 acres of training grounds, and over 50 miles of gallops, including grass, all-weather, woodchip and hill gallops, allowing trainers to tailor work to each individual horse and meaning the grounds can cater for everything from starting two year olds to Grand National horses. Nearly three centuries after the first races were run on the Berkshire Downs, the village continues to be at the very heart of British racing.

Success at the Sales

Tom started off this month at the Tattersalls July sale, successfully purchasing Galileo Island (pictured below). The three year old son of Galileo Gold is joining Whitehouse Stables with an official rating of 80, having proven himself on the racecourse already, winning twice as a two year old, and placing multiple times since. He has been successful on both the turf and all weather over 7 furlongs.

Galileo Island comes from an excellent family, with black type performers throughout the pedigree. Galileo Gold Won the 2000 Guineas and the St James’ Palace Stakes, and is known for producing versatile offspring. His dam, Puffin Island is a dual winner, and his second dam has produced multiple winners including Victory Chime, an 11 time winner, including a listed race.

We are excited to welcome him to the yard and look forward to seeing how he progresses in the future. Shares are available in him; if you would like the opportunity to get involved please get in touch at [email protected]

Upcoming Sales

Throughout the next few months, over 2,000 yearlings will be going through the sales rings, and Tom and Alex will be attending all the major sales in the UK, Ireland and France. 

There are lots of different ways to get involved, so if you are interested in racehorse ownership, or being part of a syndicate or partnership, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss the different options available. 

The dates for this year’s sales are below:

19th August - V2 Arqana Yearling Sale, Deauville

25th - 26th August - Goffs Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale

2nd September - Tattersalls Somerville Sale

22nd - 23rd September - Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale

28th - 29th September - Goffs Orby Yearling Sale (Book 1)

30th September - 1st October - Goffs Orby Yearling Sale (Book 2)

6th - 8th October - Tattersalls Yearlings Book 1

12th - 14th October - Tattersalls Yearlings Book 2

15th - 16th October - Tattersalls Yearlings Book 3 & 4

23rd November - Tattersalls December Yearling Sale

Meet the Team

New Employee Tilly is in the hot seat this month! Tilly  joined the team in June, having previously worked in a National hunt yard, and is hoping to take out her apprentice license soon.

Age & where you’re from:

18, from Malvern, Worcestershire

Favourite horse:

Probably Peaberry as he’s just a dude.

Favourite Racing Moment:

When I rode a winner at Cocklebarrow point to point!

If you had a fully paid trip to anywhere, where would you go?

Ooh definitely the Maldives, I’ve always wanted to go there.

If you had a superpower, what would it be?

To be invisible… on command.

If you didn’t work in racing, what would be your dream job?

I always wanted to be a singer so probably that!

Horses for Sale

At Whitehouse Stables we have a selection of different ownership options to suit everyone’s budget. This could be the purchase of a horse outright, or maybe even a smaller share.

Please see below a selection of horses on offer at the moment - head to our website or email [email protected] for more information or to register your interest.

SAM SMOKE

This is an exciting four year old mare by the proven National Hunt sire Scorpion, who comes to us having won her most recent point-to-point, on just her third start. Sam Smoke boasts an excellent jumping pedigree; her dam, Theatre Belle, was a four time winner over hurdles, while Sam Smoke is a half-sister to four winners over hurdles and fences. With stamina and jumping ability firmly in the family, she has all the attributes to develop into an exciting staying mare.

Shares are now available, so if you would like the opportunity to get involved with this progressive young mare, please get in touch. The price includes a 10% stake in the horse, training fees and all racing expenses.

£5,900 per share (all in until May 1st , 2027)

or

£4,200 per share (until Dec 1st, 2026) with a top fee of £1,700 (due thereafter)

2024 BAAEED ex KINGDOM GIRL Filly

The Scout Syndicate has a new recruit! This athletic filly has a sire who needs no introduction. She is by BAAEED, the highest rated horse since Frankel whose flawless career saw 6 Group 1 wins and over £2.3 million in prize money. The filly’s dam, KINGDOM GIRL, by Kingman, was a winner herself and a half sister to Group 2 & 3 winners in HATTA FORT and BLUE BAYOU. This filly is registered for the lucrative GBB scheme, and can earn up to an extra £100,000. The buy-in is for the 2026 AND 2027 season & includes all pre-training, training, keep and UK racing costs.

£3,000 for both the 2026 & 2027 season