Horse_amp_amp_Hound__06_February_2018

RACING
BLOODSTOCK
Quality over quantity for Valentines Lady
Irish Gold Cup
victor Edwulf
is one of two by
Valentines Lady
proving classy
over fences
WHATEVER Irish Gold Cup
hero Edwulf does in the future,
he already has his place in
racing folklore. At last year’s
Cheltenham Festival he
collapsed and lay for dead on
the run-in after suffering severe
oxygen deprivation at the end
of the four-mile chase, when
poised to take second.
That JP McManus’ gelding
survived was a testament to the
horse’s own constitution and to
the dedication of vets and the
team around him. And that he
not only raced again, but also
By SUE RUSSELL
fulfilled his trainer Joseph O’Brien’s
faith in his talent at the highest
level, is verging on miraculous.
Edwulf was bred by farrier
Ivor Valentine, for many years
responsible for the feet of the
residents at the Reveley family’s
successful yard near Saltburn,
North Yorks. Among those under
the Irishman’s care was his own
Valentines Lady, dam of Edwulf.
The Zaffaran mare was out of
Jessica One, trained by the late
Mary Reveley to win a bumper
and five hurdle races round the
northern circuit and run in the
money on seven other occasions.
After her racing career, the
daughter of Supreme Leader
was acquired as a broodmare by
Valentine, and produced 10 foals,
all by Irish-based sires.
Her first was Valentines Lady,
who won a bumper and two minor
hurdles for now-retired Keith
Reveley and gained valuable black
type when third in a Listed bumper
at Aintree. Jessica One’s only
other success was bumper winner
Priests Road, by Presenting.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
VALENTINES LADY remained in
Britain for her second career
and though not as prolific as her
dam — she has had two foals to
date — she has made up for it with
quality. Nine-year-old Edwulf, by
Kayf Tara, was her first produce
and his six-year-old Midnight
Legend half-brother Grand Morning
won over hurdles at Ayr last month
for Lucinda Russell.
This branch of the distaff family
is now firmly jumps-orientated, but
another developed in a contrasting
direction, as Jessica One shares
her third dam Peggy West with
two top-class sprinters in Royal
Applause and Lyric Fantasy.
Edwulf was a ninth individual
Grade One winner for Kayf Tara, the
best jump sire ever to have stood
in Britain, after Planet Of Sound,
Special Tiara, Lieutenant Colonel,
Edwulf, by Kayf Tara out of
Valentines Lady (by Zaffaran)
Thistlecrack, Identity Thief, Tea
For Two, Blaklion and Ballyandy.
The son of Sadler’s Wells, now
24, has been at Overbury Stud,
Glos, since he signed off from
racing with a head victory to
win his second Ascot Gold
Cup — having returned to the
track after a severe suspensory
injury. Like father, like son when
courage is needed. H&H
Picture by Healy Racing/Racingfotos.com
'
(
& &
)#(# * ' #
) * '# &&
!
%/ ,0 ))%,,0$
&)%-* *% #$0
$,. /$$)*
$* ),$ $
" %%(* "0
*-**-" 0)
%/ ,% &)&) ")$
%) )$ $ , )$
, , -* )
"%%!$ %) $%/
#
+ * '# &&"$ $& #
/ *,)* *$ )# ",) %$ /,
, )"0 .$,* , ,!* ,% /$
%""%/)*
-#&$ $ ,) 1*