THISTLECRACK has emerged as one of the most exciting horses in training and his performance when winning the Grade 1 King George VI Chase at Kempton on Monday was spectacular for a novice.
Bred by Robin and Scarlett Knipe at their Cobhall Court Stud, Thistlecrack was sold as a foal at Tattersalls Ireland for €32,000 to John McDonald. He resold him at the August Sale in the same venue three years later for €43,000 to John Snook, his current owner.
Thistlecrack’s three-year-old full-sister was sold to John Snook for £165,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham Sale back in March.
She was the sixth and last offspring of her dam Ardstown, and the only filly she produced. Three of the five geldings raced and all of them won.
Her first foal was Kennel Bridge, a son of Classic Cliché, and he won a bumper and a pair of hurdle races. Thistlecrack is her best produce, a multiple Grade 1 hurdle winner and now a star chaser.
The Tizzard star was followed by West Approach, another to carry the Snook colours, and this son of Westerner has been Grade 2 placed over hurdles and is a winner in that code and of a bumper.
He was bought for just £10,000 at the DBS August Sale three years go.
While there are winners in every generation of the family, the emergence of Thistlecrack is the best thing to happen in the female line.
The only other runner in four generations to earn any blacktype was Kalona, a son of Rough Lad who was placed in the National Trial Chase at Punchestown more than two decades ago.
Kayf Tara covered 148 mares this year and his fee for 2017 is a private matter, known only to those lucky enough to have a mare accepted. He will be 23 officially tomorrow. A son of Sadler’s Wells, he twice won both the Ascot Gold Cup and the Irish St Leger and he has long been the pre-eminent National Hunt stallion in England.
Kayf Tara has a list of big race winners as long as your arm, but special mention must be made of his son Special Tiara who battled to success in the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton on Tuesday.