Broodmares

Its up to three broodmares now, two of which are syndicated and one (Belle Fee) is our own. All three mares are boarded at Riepegrund, an idylic studfarm with a fine record in breeding and raising young stock for clients.
Here are our ladies:

BELLE FEE

Belle Fee was purchased as a yearling at the Krefeld Sales, in 2001. She is by German-Derby runner-up Surako, a son of Königsstuhl, out of the Listed-placed Turfkönig-daughter Bukett. As Catrin was associated with Bukett during her racing days, Belle Fee was picked out at once, and joined us. She was sent to Trainer Christian Sprengel in Hannover to run in the colours of the newly founded "Stall Power Flame" (see his own page!) and did run with credit, though without winning she was placed several times. An untimely injury curtailed her racing career, so Belle Fee is a broodmare now. Her first offspring is Bonfire Night; further matings etc. will be announced in the "Sire"-section.

Finishing last in Hoppegarten does not really create happy faces - Nancy and Dave Vincent Smith after one unsuccessful ride:

Friends after all - ready for a quiet life:

In full size:

March 2006

15.03.06: Belle is due to have her foal any day now, and after 11 month of waiting the final days are especially hard to bear. With current weather conditions it might just be that Belle Fee has decided to fool us a bit longer though. It is not unusual for a maiden mare to carry longer, with some mares going well over two weeks over the expected date. We can hardly sleep at night anymore!

16.03.06: YES SHE GAVE BIRTH LAST NIGHT AND ITS A COLT!!!!
-> HAVE A LOOK AT THE NEW SECTION "BONFIRE NIGHT" !!!!!!!!

25/07/06 - Belle Fee has accident

The old saying that if you want trouble and problems then own a horse came nightmarishly true tuesday night when we received a phonecall that Belle Fee has panicked for no obvious reason and broke throught a fence. She galopped past Wiedingen Stud to cross a main road and disappeared; in the dark of night there was no chance to catch her. Belle was found in a garden wednesday morning, in total shock, dehydrated and badly injured. She was treated with infusions on the spot, and transferred to a clinic, with Bonfire Night, who luckily remained unharmed. Belle Fee worst injury is a deep cut on her off-fore leg, right down to the tendon that acually lay open. She has major scratches and wounds on all four legs, but that one is potentially life-threatening. The tendon-sheath is badly infected; the legs have been cleaned and bandaged,but the healing process is difficult and a lot of dirt and pus appeared out off the wound even three days later. Belle has to stay in the clinic for at least another 10 days. Bonfire will stay with her, as weaning him now (which would undoubtly be best for him) would put Belle under too much stress and cannot be recommanded.

September 2006

After 6 long weeks Belle Fee has finally left the clinic and arrived at her new home (for time being). She looks weak and skinny, still wearing her bandages, but now its nothing that some TLC and even more food won´t sort out eventually. The healing process on both legs has been slower than anticipated, but it now only a matter of some more weeks for the wounds to close completely. She will be confined to her box for about 6 more weeks though; but we are happy to know her in such good and competent hands!

November/December 2006

Again, patience was the name of the game, and Belle´s horrific injuries did heal slower than one would have hoped for (her, that is). But we are happy to report that she has been led out into a small paddock, and has spent some time there every day for the last week or so. Unfortunatly the ground is very muddy, but this is better than being stuck inside all the time; and one can clearly see how much weight she put on already.
Belle will be covered again next year, and Tertullian has been booked as her new partner.

UPDATE BELLE FEE 2007

12.03.07: Bad Luck seemingly does not want to desert us, and again Belle Fee was hit by the most unfortunate circumstances. A routine follicle check by a most experienced vet punctured her guts, and she was found hours later, in distress. Belle was rushed to a clinic, the very one that stiched her leg together last year. She is slowly on the mend, and every day is working in her favour now.

May 2007

Its safe to say that Belle is back to full health now, but she will not be covered this year. Bad timing, as Tertullian just had a Classic Winner in Germany! This is a very recent photo, taken End of april.

BUKETT - is back!

As stated above, I was associated with Bukett (*1993, Turfkönig (by Anfield) - Bella Figura (Surumu)) during her racing days, and what wonderful days they were. I can clearly recall the first time I saw her, only one year old, but very grumpy already! We were part of a racing-club at that time, and raced her until she was four, and she rewarded us with four wins, straight through the Handicaps, and a black-type performance when second in a strong Listed Race, against colts as well. Fading cash meant we had to sell her as a broodmare prospect in 1997, but the buyer outsmarted us and raced her again, getting another win and another Listed placing out of her. I never lost track of her though, and after some twists and turns the chance to buy her back occured, so here Bukett is back for good now, and again we own her in a partnership with Marianne Pasler from Switzerland.
Bukett had several foals after Belle Fee, a Tiger Hill colt who sadly broke his leg as a foal, he was a smashing fellow and star of the sale in Krefeld where we purchased Belle. He was followed by two fillies by Monsun and Perugino respectively, and, after bankrupt meant Bukett was transfered into ownership of Fährhof Stud, two colts by Silvano and Black Sam Bellamy. The latter pair (the colts) have been sold to Switzerland, showing some promise. Bukett has a Silvano-brother on the track at moment, who also raced with much promise this season.
We keep Bukett in a small private place near Soltau, and her 2007 partner will be Shadwell Stud´s Nayef. Bukett has been covered for the first time on the 20th of april. Photos of her in the National Stud will appear here soon.
She has been tested 70 days in foal and is now messing around in the paddock with her bossy daughter Belle Fee.

with Bukett, on arrival from France via Baden-Baden; Hannover, oct. 2006

As Bukett is a mare with a history, she has some offspring on the track already, and even though her earlier foals incl. Belle Fee never managed to win anything of note (to be honest, her female offspring hardly won at all), two colts in Switzerland are about to set the record straight. Buketts son "Best of Thurgau" (by Silvano) just won a nice maiden race in Munich, with the Swiss Derby being his next aim; and her 2005 colt by Black Sam Bellamy called "Bellamy Prince" is also hightly thought of. This is the pair (Thurgau on top), both photos taken by Marianne Pasler:

We are also more than happy to report that Buketts brother BERGO (by Silvano) was just 2nd in a Group-race in Baden-Baden, after two straight wins in France this does make the family look even better! Go on Bergo!

We visted Bukett at the National Stud; here are two recent shots of her:
(Photo: Jimmy Clark)

RIBERA

After an unsuccesful stint in training we had to retire RIBERA (by Champion Racehorse Silvano out of the Riverman mare Rivala) after one single start due to injury. From literally very small beginnings (she was a late may foal and very backward when we purchased her) Ribera has grown into a huge and well-proportioned mare, and as she represents smart bloodlines (her dam is a half-sister to Group-winner and sire Goofalik and has already brought a Group-winner in France herself) she certainly seems worth the chance of breeding from her.
Ribera too is owned in partnership with two friends.