Littleton Stud

"I was speechless," says David Bowe of being presented with this year's Wild Geese Award at the ITBA's National Breeding and Racing Awards on Sunday night.  The award recognises Irish men and women who have forged successful careers in the bloodstock industry worldwide, and its recipients to date have included those working in Australia and America. Bowe didn't fly too far afield, though he did serve a stint in the States early in his career. For more than a quarter of a century he has been based just across the...

Four-time Group 1 winner Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) reeled in a cool 5.4million guineas final bid from BBA Ireland to highlight Tuesday's second session of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale in Newmarket. Out of the placed mare Plying (Hard Spun), she was consigned by Andrew Balding's Park House Stables on behalf of Littleton Stud. A half-sister to listed winner Alexander James (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), the 4-year-old is responsible for annexing the G1 Sussex S., G1 July Cup, G1 Cheveley Park S. and G1 Coronation S.   [tdn_video service="youtube"...

It's a rare Jeff Smith colour-bearer that has not been bred at his successful Hampshire nursery of Littleton Stud, but shopping around for new blood can pay dividends for breeders, and in the case of Alcohol Free (Ire), there have been handsome dividends indeed.  Four years ago, the weanling daughter of No Nay Never caught the eye of Littleton Stud manager David Bowe at the Goffs November Sale, where she was bought from her breeder Churchtown Stud for €40,000. By the time the four-time Group 1 winner exits from her...

Just minutes after losing the argument for keeping the G1 Commonwealth Cup on Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), Oisin Murphy was playing Mr bouncebackability as he steered Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) to clear-cut glory in the G1 Coronation S. It will certainly be a Royal Ascot Friday the reigning champion jockey, who has generally been put through the emotional wringer this month, will never forget with such extreme highs and lows all within the space of less than an hour. To add another aside to this tumultuous...

Like last year's G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. winner Millisle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) beaten in the G3 Dick Poole Fillies' S. at Salisbury Sept. 3, Jeff Smith's Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) made a similar step forward to prove fastest where it mattered in Saturday's fillies' feature at Newmarket. Quickly able to head the fast-breaking G2 Lowther S. winner Miss Amulet (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), the heavily-supported 7-2 second favourite was there to be shot at on the front end throughout but was able to ward off threats on...