Breeder award for Precieuse

BRENDAN and Anne Marie Hayes have won the Connolly’s Red Mills The Irish Field Breeder of the Month award for May. They bred Precieuse, who carried their colours to success in the French 1000 Guineas at Deauville. Now sold to Peter Brant of White Birch Farm, Precieuse is due to take on dual Guineas winner Winter in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Wildcard entry for Yulong Warrior

YULONG Warrior is the latest addition to Monday evening’s Goffs London Sale. The Street Cry colt is trained by Michael Halford and has finished second on both his racecourse starts to date. He holds entries in the Windsor Castle Stakes and Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot. The full sale preview is on page A44.

Barton to retire

PAUL Barton will retire from his role as head of stewarding with the British Horseracing Authority at the end of 2017 calling time on a career in horseracing spanning over 45 years.

The 63-year-old was promoted to his current position in March 2013 following 22 years of experience of officiating at racecourses for the Jockey Club, Horseracing Regulatory Authority and BHA. In total by the time of his retirement he will have been officiating on behalf of the sport’s regulator for nearly 27 years.

Prior to his time as a stipendiary steward, he was a successful jump jockey for 15 years, riding in excess of 350 winners, including a career highlight when riding Peter Scott to victory in the 1979 Welsh Grand National.

Barton is retiring to spend more time with his family.

Tattersalls July Sale catalogue out

THE catalogue for the Tattersalls July Sale has been published. The three-day sale runs from Wednesday, July 12th-14th and there are 910 lots catalogued, up from 873 last year. There are 747 horses and fillies in/out of training and 163 broodmares. The sale includes consignments from Cheveley Park Stud, Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell Estates.

Progress noted at Sligo Racecourse

HOPES are rising that Sligo will stage its first meeting of the year on July 16th. The track has already lost three meetings due to drainage issues. Yesterday the Turf Club said its inspectors are satisfied that the track is “progressing well and displaying significant improvement from their previous visit” in May.

“Cautiously optimistic” that the July 16th fixture will proceed, officials will stage a trial of horses galloping on the track in early July. “This trial day will take place in advance of the entry stage, and will involve industry professionals, observed by the Turf Club Licensing Committee and officials.”

Sligo’s problems were caused by drainage work carried out during the winter months.