Power Behind Hillwood Draft

Hillwood Stud's select annual consignment for Doncaster has already produced one of the yearling sale's most famous graduates in the shape of enduring sprinter Sole Power (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) as well as a number of other future winners. So by the time Goffs UK's event gets underway on Tuesday, there will have been plenty of interested parties scrutinising the five youngsters displayed by Charlie and Tracy Vigors and their Wiltshire operation.

“It's been a lucky sale for us,” Charlie Vigors recalled. “You all dream they will end up as good as Sole Power but you can never know. He was very small when we had him but his heart was obviously in the right place as he carried on for plenty of years.”

“We've also had Extortionist (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), who won the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot, while Orvar (Ire) would be another Dandy Man that Tony Nerses bought. Mistress Of Venice (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) has probably been our best from last year, I should think she's the highest-rated maiden in the country after finishing fourth in the Albany and the Duchess Of Cambridge S.”

Situated just outside Marlborough, Hillwood has been home to the family for 12 years. This tranquil corner is visited by some of Nicky Henderson's jumpers for their summer holidays, while that trainer's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth (Ire) (Bob Back) even retired there and is now ridden by the Vigors's horse-mad children.

Mares and foals explore the paddocks, while other horses lodge in the stables and use the gallops in their pre-training regimes.

Right now, sales preparation is the most serious business and candidates have been sifted, sorted and brought up to standard.

“I think the typical Donny horse has changed over the last few years,” Vigors added. “It's a great sale in so much as people still go there to look for the sharp, precocious 2-year-olds, but I think it's attracting more buyers who are looking for more than just that. A lot of people are looking for horses that will not only make 2-year-olds, but have the scope to progress after that.”

Among the quintet are two more colts by Juddmonte's Bated Breath, but Vigors explains they are very different individuals.

“The Waitingonacloud (GB) [lot 349] would be a sharper, earlier type,” he said. “Bated Breath has had plenty of 2-year-olds this year. There's plenty of stamina in the family, which goes back to Persian Punch (Ire), but when the second dam [Bourbonella {GB}] was bred for speed she produced Aqlaam (GB) and Nine Realms (GB). You're hoping you're going to replicate that again when breeding back for speed.”

“The other Bated Breath (lot 39) out of Foxtrot Alpha (Ire) (Desert Prince {Ire}) would be a rangier, probably later- developing type. You wouldn't have called him a typical Doncaster horse in the past but he's a been very good mover on the lunge and will probably need a bit more time.”

“There's a Camacho (GB) out of Foxtrot Pearl (Ire) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) [lot 40]. His pedigree shouts speed and precocity that's exactly what he looks like. He's out of a winning Bahamian Bounty mare and she's out of Nina Blini (GB) (Bertolini), who was third in the Queen Mary, so he's going to be an out-and-out 2-year-old.”

Iffraaj (GB) has had a fine 2017 through the likes of Ribchester (Ire) and Jon Snow (NZ), and lot 326 could be one that flies fairly high. Dam Tesary (GB) (Danehill) has produced the prolific trio Verbeeck (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), Englishman (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) and Englishwoman (GB) (Acclamation {GB}).

“He's a nice colt,” said Vigors. “Iffraaj can do no wrong at the moment and he ought to appeal to plenty of people. The mare has done well and again, he'll make a 2-year-old but has a bit of size about him as well.”

Vigors is taking one filly in lot 69. By Showcasing (GB), she is the first foal of Heho (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who is from the close family of the top-class Domedriver (Ire).

“She's a nice, strong filly who should come to hand at two but has a bit of size and substance to carry on. She's not just a 2-year-old and Showcasing does particularly well with his fillies. Obviously we're all hoping she's the next Quiet Reflection.”