Whatton Manor Stud

"It feels like a holiday!" joked Ed Player when discussing the task of showing Whatton Manor Stud's three-strong consignment to potential buyers ahead of Book 1 of the Goffs Orby Sale, a historic offering as the first at this particular sale from an operation with over 40 years of experience in the industry. Player has been the one responsible for overseeing this latest chapter in Whatton Manor's history since taking over at the helm from father Peter, but don't mistake him for a man taking his responsibilities lightly because of...

British horseracing's most active sponsor, the British EBF, welcomed the appointment of two new Trustees to its board this month, it was announced on Tuesday. Whatton Manor Stud's Ed Player joins the British EBF Trustees, alongside being a committee member at Nottingham Racecourse. After eight years at Schroders Investment Management in London, Player returned to his passion of racing and joined the family-run Whatton Manor Stud. Over the last 20 years, Player has helped oversee a significant expansion in the acreage of Whatton Manor, leading to a similar increase in...

The first foal of the three-time Group 1 winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) was born at Whatton Manor Stud on February 3, Darley announced on Monday. The bay filly is a daughter of the former Richard Fahey trainee Vaulted (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), a half-sister to the multiple Group 2 winners Dimension (GB) (Medicean {GB}) and Spacious (GB) (Nayef). Whatton Manor's Ed Player described her as, "A big, strong filly, nice limbs and [we're] pretty pleased with the model we've got." Perfect Power, who won the G1 Prix Morny and...

NEWMARKET, UK--That's a wrap for the yearlings of 2022, with the late-season curtain-up for a fortnight of sales of all ages at Park Paddocks netting 4,501,500gns from the exchange of 130 fledgling racehorses. Figures dipped a little from last year's slightly larger catalogue, but there was still plenty of money about for the 'right' horse, with a number of those towards the top of the list having missed an earlier engagement at Tattersalls for a variety of minor reasons. The average of 34,627gns was pretty much on a par with...

Godolphin's Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--God Given {GB}, by Nathaniel {Ire}), whose yearling half-brother sold for 1,500,000gns at Tattersalls' Book 1 sale during the week, bounced back off a below-par effort--behind subsequent G1 Dewhurst S. hero Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB})--in last month's G2 Champagne S. to deliver a game victory in Saturday's G3 Emirates Autumn S. at Newmarket and completed a hat-trick for connections following in the wins of Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the two most recent editions of the seven-furlong...

The makers of the popular BBC programme Country File could easily film a riveting episode just within the 700 acres of Nottinghamshire countryside that is Whatton Manor Stud. The farm is home to Longhorn cattle and rare breeds such as Wensleydale sheep and Suffolk Punch horses. But its main business is of course the breeding and rearing of thoroughbreds, something the Player family has done increasingly well in the 40 years since Peter Player inherited the farm from his aunt. An inheritance of a plot of such rich land deep...

Wednesday's G1 Prince of Wales's S. came down to a display of supreme jockeyship, but it was not Moore or Dettori or even Demuro who provided it but Shane Crosse, whose masterclass from the front on the under-rated State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) proved the difference in such a tight Royal Ascot encounter. The race is a qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland in November. While Frankie fumbled with the blindfold on Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) as the gates opened and lost all chance there,...

When the affable David Ward bought a Montjeu (Ire) yearling filly at Goffs Orby through SackvilleDonald for €50,000 in 2011, he could not have envisaged the journey she would take he and his family on over the next 10 years. Named Northern Star (Ire), she was no world-beater on the track, winning a maiden at Bath as a 3-year-old; however, her record as a broodmare was impeccable before her untimely death after delivering just three foals. Her second foal was Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), who carried Ward's colours to...

If you asked a trainer to design the perfect owner, he or she may well come up with something very close to David Ward. His horses would likely agree, too. Ward had two runners as York's Dante meeting and they both returned to Ed Walker's stable victorious. The 4-year-old homebred Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) won the G2 Duke of York Clipper Logistics S. on the opening day, followed 48 hours later by the listed success of Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}). Both now head to Royal Ascot with Group...

On the back of the eagerly anticipated stallion fee announcements in Europe, Gary King spoke with a number of leading industry figures about value. Today we have the astute Ed Player of Whatton Manor Stud. GK: Who have you identified as a first-year stallion at an appealing opening fee? EP: There are some seriously exciting new stallions for next year with Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal), Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) top of the list. However, I think the value lies with Without Parole (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a...

In this TDN series we ask a group of experts for their predictions for the 2020 flat season in Europe. Today we hear from Whatton Manor's Ed Player. TDN: Who do you think will be the leading first-season sire this year? EP: I'm a big fan of Shalaa (Ire). He has it all; good looks, racing ability and he bred a fantastic first crop of mares. TDN: Have you raised/bred many by Shalaa? Does he typically stamp his stock? EP: We sold an outstanding yearling colt by him, out of...