Kirsten Rausing

Being a leading broodmare sire is so often a posthumous honour. It is also one that tends to come on the back of a stallion either having been sent strong books of mares from the outset, or having earned that right through eye-catching early results in his stud career.  Of the top 20 broodmare sires in Europe in 2025, only half of them are still living, and of that 10, eight remain active. It is hardly earth-shattering news to reveal that Galileo's name was at the top of the list,...

As old-fashioned as it may now seem, in this small corner of the bloodstock world a strong personal preference it still held for the Derby above all races. And by that, of course, we are talking about the original version, at Epsom, with that piece of wood at the end of the unique mile-and-a-half challenge which was made famous in a quote from the revered breeder Federico Tesio.  We can't all agree on everything though, can we? That would just be dull. But beyond the stifling and shouty sphere of...

Mark Johnston was appointed as a new trustee of the Alborada Trust, after a trustees' meeting last week. The Alborada Trust was established in 2001 by philanthropist and distinguished owner/breeder Kirsten Rausing. Since inception the Alborada Trust has supported a broad range of domestic and international charities proving grants to those that evidence a solid track record of impact in their particular fields. It supports a number of global, domestic and local charities raging from medical research, international aid, equine veterinary research, higher education, racing charities and smaller charities operating...

The victory of Allonsy in Sunday's Pontefract Castle Fillies' Stakes brought up a notable milestone for Lanwades Stud as the Study Of Man filly was the 100th Listed winner bred at the farm during the tenure of Kirsten Rausing.  The owner-breeder's association with the stud began in 1984 and during the intervening four decades 34 Group 1 winners have been bred at Lanwades, led by the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Alpinista (Frankel), along with 29 Group 2 and 41 Group 3 winners, bringing the total to 204 stakes...

Kirsten Rausing homebred Almeric (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}) is bound for a Classic campaign after registering a career best on seasonal return in Tuesday's Listed bet365 Feilden Stakes at Newmarket. The G2 Dante Stakes and G1 Irish Derby entry, who bettered a debut fourth at Sandown in September with a breakthrough score at York the following month, employed hold-up tactics and raced seventh of the eight runners through the initial fractions of this black-type debut. Taking closer order once past halfway, the 11-4 favourite's momentum carried him to the...

The International Thoroughbred Breeders' Federation (ITBF) will be hosting its annual, free to attend, live event at 12pm (London time) on Tuesday, February 18. International racing broadcaster, Nick Luck, will put questions to six breeding experts, from six countries, on how their nations are reacting to the issues currently facing the Thoroughbred breeding industry. Attendees will learn about new initiatives, implemented schemes and proven methods within the different countries. An open Q&A session will then follow, with Luck putting to the panellists questions received from attendees in the registration process...

It is plain to see that the Aga Khan Studs are in excellent hands, but the passing of His Highness the Aga Khan IV nevertheless signals the end of one of the most significant chapters in the long and storied history of Thoroughbred breeding. During his 65-year tenure at the head of the Aga Khan Studs, he presided over a prolonged period of growth, both in the stature and size of the operation, which was consolidated and expanded by the acquisition of stock from other major breeders. Those included Francois...

When someone as measured and experienced in his professional role as Des Leadon describes a situation as "the most potent threat to this industry there's ever been" then it is wise not to brush these words aside as hyperbole.  The European Commission (EC), under the auspices of its Farm to Fork Strategy, has in the past few years been reviewing animal welfare legislation within the European Union (EU). As part of this work the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was instructed to deliver an independent report on the welfare of...

After a stormy first day of 2025, Newmarket Heath was bathed in frost-speckled sunlight by January 2, but local trainer Rae Guest is now setting his sights on sunlit uplands of a different kind.  This he is doing in his usual quiet way, to the extent that his decision to call time on his training career took even some of his longest-standing owners by surprise when he contacted them prior to making an official announcement in December. The prophetic victory, two days after the news broke, of his filly Sunlit...

Great British Racing International (GBRI) and the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) have today launched the first episode in a new six-part video series entitled 'Be A Part Of It: Breeding In Britain'. Kirsten Rausing's Lanwades Stud is the focus of the first episode in a series designed to showcase Britain's world-leading thoroughbred breeding operations and highlight why many of the world's most prolific owner-breeders have chosen Britain as the headquarters for their bloodstock interests. Tweenhills, Watership Down Stud, Shadwell Stud, the National Stud and Hazelwood Bloodstock also feature in the...

Amo Racing purchased their second seven-figure lot of the afternoon at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale on Tuesday when going to 2,500,000gns for Staffordstown's Frankel (GB) full-sister to Alpinista (GB), who counted the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe among her six Group 1 victories. Evangelos Marinakis, the owner of Nottingham Forest football club, has been standing alongside Amo's Kia Joorabchian all day. Lot 72 is out of the Listed-winning mare Alwilda (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) which also makes her a half-sister to the Listed winner Alpenblume (GB) (Kendargent...

A Frankel (GB) filly (lot 465) brought €1 million from Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin during the second day of the Goffs Orby Sale Book 1. Consigned by Staffordstown, the bay filly is a half-sister to multiple group winner Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten), who has been placed in both the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes and G1 Falmouth Stakes for breeder Kirsten Rausing. The dam, four-time winner Seychelloise (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), is a daughter of G3 Prix d'Arenberg heroine Starlit Sands (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Lot 465 is the second...