Horses owned by John Dance will again be prevented from running by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) after “further concerns” have been encountered in the ongoing investigation into the owner's business affairs by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Dance's WealthTek LLP was shut down by the FCA in April amid allegations of fraud. His horses, primarily trained by James Horton at Manor House Farm in Middleham, were prevented from racing until an arrangement was made by the BHA and FCA for them to return to the track to race under the banner of Dance's Coverdale Stud and the associated Titanium Racing Club. Five of the 30 runners for Coverdale Stud, trained by five different trainers, have won since that resumption, while Titanium Racing Club has had two winners among its 10 runners. They include the Charlie Johnston-trained Sacred Angel (Ire), who was sold privately to Nurlan Bizakov prior to her victory in the G3 Princess Margaret S.
The BHA released a statement on Monday which read, “Since May, the BHA has permitted runners through Mr Dance's business in the name of Coverdale Stud and Titanium Racing Club in accordance with the terms of the high court freezing order. However, further concerns have since come to light and as a result the BHA has taken interim action to stop all such runners.”
Among Dance's broodmare band is the six-time Group 1 winner Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), whose offspring to date include a two-year-old Invincible Spirit (Ire) colt named First Ambition (GB) and a yearling filly by Kingman (GB). Laurens has been covered by Dubawi (Ire) in the last two seasons.
Dance has been bought out of his share in the top-class steeplechaser Bravemansgame (Fr) by his partner in the Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old, Bryan Drew.
Dance was also previously the sponsor of the G1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster through his company Vertem Asset Management.
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