Britain looks to live up to family name

By Bren O'Brien

Cover image courtesy of Berkeley Farm

Berkeley Park Stud's Neale Bruce is hoping 2-year-old Britain (Snitzel) can live up to the substantial reputation of his family when he debuts at Rosehill on Saturday.

Britain is out of the Group 3 winning mare London Lolly (Charge Forward), the half-sister to Champion sprinter Chautauqua (Enocsta De Lago). Like that pair, the colt was bred by Edwina Throsby, who has been a loyal client of Berkeley Park for many years.

Britain was foaled at Berkeley Park and offered as part of its draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

"We took him to Magic Millions and he had a respectable reserve on him, which was $300,000. He had clean x-rays and looked well, but obviously no-one really liked him," Bruce told TDN AusNZ.

"London Lolly always has nice foals. There was obviously something there at the yearling sales which they didn't like. But he has always been hassle free. That family can be a bit light of frame, so they look like they are going to take a bit longer than a 2-year-old. But this fella always had a fairly strong constitution."

"He was brought home and a group of Edwina's friends and ourselves got together and now we are racing him."

The colt was placed in the care of trainer Greg Hickman, who has been giving good reports on his progress. Holding a nomination for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, Britain won a trial at Warwick Farm last week ahead of his debut this Saturday.

"He has been as positive as a trainer can be to say that he is doing everything right," Bruce said. "He got through the trial and they did the trial without pushing him too far. He was quite professional in doing that.

"It’s good for Edwina to be able to race a 2-year-old really. The others have taken a bit more time, but the family can run and so this time, they are there as a 2-year-old."

Bruce had plenty to do with Chautauqua as a younger horse and Berkeley Park offered the subsequent five-time Group 1 winner at the 2012 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, where he was passed in short of his $400,000 reserve.

He said there is little in common between Britain and the powerful grey, apart from perhaps some familial mannerisms.

"There's probably no comparisons to Chautauqua, other than the whole family are always fairly strong willed foals," he said.

"The foals out of London Lolly and Lovely Jubly have all been independent horses but hassle free. The colts seem to do a bit better than the fillies, but then London Lolly came along, she was a decent racemare. She's producing nice foals. Hopefully that keeps going on."

London Lolly, who raced in the same colours as Britain, won twice in 12 starts, including the G3 Breeders S. at Morphettville, defeating subsequent Group 1 winner Go Indy Go (Bernardini {USA}).

Her first foal, a filly called Candy Bar (Exceed And Excel) has only had one start for Throsby and Peter and Paul Snowden. After Britain, she then foaled an I Am Invincible colt, who will go through the Inglis Easter Sale next year.

"We won't be at Easter so he'll be in another draft," Bruce said. "He's a lovely individual, a nice strong colt who has progressed along nicely. Hopefully, he attracts a fair bit of support."

With foaling season finished, Berkeley Park's focus now turns to yearling preparation, with five in the Inglis Classic Sale and the rest likely to go to the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Sale in June.

"It’s been a bit harder to get them in sales, but that's the way things are heading. With the bigger numbers from certain stallions, you have to have the right stallions," he said.

"It’s very competitive out there and selection is getting a bit harder, so you have to pick them right.

"But if we can find a good amount of winners and every now and then come up with a decent horse to keep us on track, that always helps."