Littleton Stud was originally owned by the Deane family and has a
fascinating history for disciples of thoroughbred breeding. Among the stallions to have
stood there, BUCHAN sired by the 1911 Derby winner Sunstar, was dual winner of the Eclipse
Stakes and won the Ascot Gold Cup in 1920 as well as many other races. His best produce
were fillies including two winners of the Queen Mary Stakes at Ascot, BOOK LAW in 1926 and
the Aga Khan's QURRAT-AL-AIN in 1929.
CRAIG AN ERAN, another son of Sunstar and winner of the Eclipse Stakes, won the 2000 Guineas and was second in the Derby, beaten a neck by Humorist. HURSTWOOD, foaled in 1921 was by Gay Crusader. He won the Newmarket Stakes, beating Sansovino, winner of the Derby and Salmon Trout, winner of the St. Leger. Before retiring to stud, HURSTWOOD added the Hardwicke Stakes to his tally. APELLE, another stallion who stood at Littleton in the 1920s and 1930s, won the Italian Derby, the Coronation Cup at Epsom beating the favourite BOOK LAW and twice won the Anniversary Cup at Sandown Park.
Since buying Littleton Stud in 1984, Jeff Smith has enhanced the Stud's reputation through a string of home-bred success stories. Pride of place belongs to the sprinting mare LOCHSONG who won numerous top class races including the Prix de l'Abbaye in France twice and was champion sprinter in 1994. Trained by Ian Balding at Kingsclere, LOCHSONG captured the imagination of the public with her thrilling style of front-running, ridden on many occasions by Frankie Dettori with whom she had a special rapport.
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Lochsong |
LOCHSONG's sire, SONG, was the resident stallion at Littleton Stud in 1984. He died in 1988 and is buried on the Stud. LOCHSONG'S dam, Peckitt's Well, sadly died in 1996 but her daughters LOCHANGEL and LOCH SABRE and her only son LOCH MAGIC, are all in training with ]an Balding. Now retired to Littleton Stud, LOCHSONG's first foal, a filly by Cadeaux Genereux, was born in 1997 and will begin her racing career in 1999.
BLUE SIREN is a home-bred filly who, although a winner and placed in some good races, was probably the unluckiest racehorse owned by Jeff Smith. Both BLUE SIREN and LOCHSONG were entered to run in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York in 1994, with LOCHSONG the firm favourite. However, the excitement of the occasion caused LOCHSONG to "boil over' and she bolted on the way to the start, throwing away her chances. BLUE SIREN was first past the post but was demoted to second because of interference in the final phase of the race.
Amazingly, she was again demoted in her reappearance the following year at Beverley, though she was first past the post. Sadly, an injury prevented her from racing again but she is now happily settled as a brood mare at Littleton Stud, with her first foal due in 1998.
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Grey Shot |
Another home-bred, GREY SHOT, caused a great deal of excitement among connections when he was flown to Australia in November 1996 to run in the Melbourne Cup. Although finishing 7th of 22, he ran a terrific race, only conceding the lead a furlong or so from home. He took time to find his best form in 1997 but towards the end of the season, won the Jockey Club Cup at Newmarket in record time. In a rare departure from flat racing for his owner, GREY SHOT won his first race over hurdles at Taunton by 23 lengths and was second at Sandown the next time out.
In addition to Ian Balding, Jeff Smith currently has horses in training with David Elsworth at Whitsbury, Tim Etherington in Malton, James Eustace in Newmarket, Richard Hannon at Marlborough and with Myriam Badel in France. Ron Sheather, who originally trained for Jeff Smith, has the enviable job of Racing Manager while Reid Coulter manages Littleton Stud.
The brood mares at the Stud currently number 23 and all their
offspring are tested on the racecourse before their futures are decided. In addition, a
few yearlings are purchased each year and more recently a number of foals have been bought
to be reared at Littleton before going into training in 1999.
Littleton Stud currently stands three stallions. ROBELLINO, the property of a Partnership, is at 20 in the twilight of his stud career but as sire of 2000 Guineas winner MISTER BAILEYS and Irish 1 000 Guineas winner CLASSIC PARK, among many good winners over the years, he is still in strong demand.
DILUM, owned by Newgate Stud Company and Littleton Stud, retired to stud in 1993 and had his first runners in 1997. He had a promising start with 5 winners and will be represented by two runners owned by Jeff Smith this year, DILLINGER trained by Ian Balding and DILLIONAIRE trained by Richard Hannon.
SO FACTUAL, owned by Darley Stud Management Company and Littleton Stud, retired to stud in 1997 and was very well supported by breeders from the UK and Europe. His first foals will be born in 1998 and he will have his first runners in the year 2000.
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| Dashing Blade Triple Group 1 winner |
In recent years Jeff Smith bred DASHING BLADE, whose dam, Sharp Castan, is still among the current brood mare band. DASHING BLADE was champion two year old colt in Ireland in 1986. He won in Italy, France, Ireland and England including the Dewhurst Stakes, Newmarket. He had one season as a stallion at Littleton before going to Germany where he is now a successful sire.
It is the ambition of most racehorse owners, Jeff Smith included, to breed and race the winner of the Epsom Derby, so watch this space!