The Sports Pony Studbook Society

Head Office, Bernwode Stud, Sock Farm, Chilthorne Domer, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 8QZ

Tel: 01935 840029; Mobile: 07721 766210 

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RACEHORSE GETS DOUBLE GRADING

Report by Colleen Salmon

"Simnel" a Thoroughbred mare owned by Kerry and Colleen Salmon of Soham, Cambridgeshire, has we believe, just become the first ever horse in Great Britain to be graded into the Head Stud Books of both the Sports Horse Breeding of Great Britain (SHB)(GB)), and most recently into the Sports Pony Studbook Society (SPSS).

The mare was originally graded at the end of 2003 with the SHB(GB) literally weeks after she came out of racing, where she was trained in Newmarket at that time by the sisters' racehorse trainer Shaun Keightley who gifted the mare to them. 

Simnel is a 6 year old, 15hh, dark bay TB mare who is by "Turtle Island" out of a "Taufan" mare.  She was bred in Ireland and was purchased by Mr Keightley at the Tattersalls Bloodstock Sales in Ireland as a yearling.  She raced four times in England but it was felt that the filly needed more time to mature. 

The mare was therefore put in foal in 2004 to the sisters own 15.2hh TB stallion "Advise", who is by "Warning" out of an "Kings Lake" mare, and in March 2005, Simnel had a filly foal. 

They both attended their first ever show in June, where in The National In-Hand Show at Worcestershire, Simnel took two 3rd placings in her classes (also winning Best Amateur awards) and her foal "Gift of Speech" won both her classes. 

Simnel is now back in full work and it is hoped that she will be coming out in 2006 under saddle and who knows, if the sisters have their way and finances dictate, Simnel could become the first ever Head Stud Book Graded Broodmare to be back on the racetrack within a year of having a foal.