HARRY HERBERT Q&A

[albrookes]

Our Q&A’s are in full swing now and following on from Mike Cattermole, Bill Pressey and Phil Smith is none other than Highclere Thoroughbred’s main man – The Hon. Harry Herbert

Anyone that knows those pale blue silks with navy armlets and cap automatically recognises the amicable Harry Herbert and appreciates the enthusiasm he has for his horses, owners and the sport as a whole.

It’s with great personal delight that I can say Harry has very kindly agreed to answers your questions in the wake of the sad news of Harbinger’s retirement.

If you could, please try and stick to about 3 questions each as I wouldn’t want to over-burden our guest as you can imagine how busy he is.

Fire away….

[The Ante-Post King]

Its only right and proper that the King of the Forum goes 1st!
Mr Herbert, i put up

Harbinger

on this forum last September as the likely winner of this years King George as i like to think i am a good judge! Unfortunately i put up

Syrian

as the likely winner of this years 2000 gns!! Horses can make fools of you.Anyway my question is-Do you think

Memory

has got everything to be next years 1000gns winner? As i think she is an absolute machine!
Congratulations on a super year,
Gord.

Gord – Thanks for your question regarding Memory – I am afraid that Ireland was a complete disaster and as it turned out, we were completely done by the draw and the tactics of the opposition. Those drawn high went like bats out of hell and Memory got way too far back and to be honest had no chance from half way. Richard Hughes was very easy on her and she wouldn’t have blown a candle out after the race so we will put a line though that and head now to The Cheveley Park. I am sure that she will stay a mile next year and we certainly haven’t lost any faith in the filly, so hopefully her next run will prove her to be the best filly this year.

[eddie case]

Hi Harry,

I notice a very high proportion of your horses are one word names, is this company policy and are syndicate owners only allowed to suggest one word names?

Do members vote for their favourite name or does someone pick the best?

Thanks
Eddie

[thedarkknight]

Hi Harry

To what extent do you think there are integrity issues in the bloodstock industry these days?

Obviously there is significant potential for owners to be ripped off via collusion between whoever is buying on their behalf and the seller – and there have been some high profile examples over the years…

What measures do you take to ensure your Highclere patrons get good value for their money?

John Warren and I take the buying of our horses extremely seriously and Highclere’s reputation stands first and foremost upon total integrity. Naturally we hear of all sorts of dealings going on at the sales but we do not our success has been built upon John buying the horse that he likes from what is always a tiny short list. The two of us are extremely secretive at the sales and keep our business to ourselves and our vet in order that we have the best chance possible of buying horses in our price range

[Cav]

Hi Harry

Thanks for taking the time and congratulations on your ongoing success.

Are you directly involved in picking horses at the sales and if so how long did it take before you felt you had the necessary expertise to be confident in your opinions? Did you have a mentor in this regard?

If Harbinger had stayed healthy to the end of the season what would have happened if yourself and the trainer had wanted to sell to a breeding operation but the owners had insisted on the horse staying in training?

Is prizemoney at Pattern level on UK racecourses sufficient? How big a part does it play in the decision for potential clients to become actual clients of Highclere?

What advice would you give to racings rulers to enable them to mirror your own organisations success in spite of the difficult economic climate?

Continued success.

Rgds

Paul Fitzgerald

[yeats]

Hi Harry

With prize money here on a nonstop decline and many races offering an absolute pittance would you consider having syndicates with horses trained in France where the prize money is much better and possibly better value for money can be found?

Have you any vision or thoughts on where you would like to see Highclere and/or Harry Herbert in say 10 years time?

Thanks
yeats

[albrookes]

Harry,

A horse of Highclere’s who’s been talked about already as a decent prospect is Deny, a colt out of top-class filly Sulk – please tell us a little bit about him and when will he be out?

How many mares do you have at Highclere and who are some of the old names that are still breeding there?

I share one mare with them, a lovely daughter of King Mambo called Model Queen and she is the dam of Regal Parade who must have a great chance of winning his first Group 1 at Haydock on Saturday. She is also the dam of Hot Prospect who so nearly won the Group 3 at Windsor last weekend and who looks sure to make into a very smart four year old next year. The mare currently has a Dansili yearling colt heading to the Tattersall sales and there is a Cape Cross filly foal that we will keep to race and breed from.

Which young stallion’s offspring are you most looking forward to viewing/purchasing in the near future?

Many thanks,

[albrookes]

Last chance to put your questions to Harry.

[cormack15]

Thanks very much for taking the time to answer these questions.

Havign been incvolved with horses from (presumably) a very young age, which were the horses and who were the racing industry figures that inspired you to make racing a lifelong passion/business?

The racing figures that inspired me most as a young boy were my father, Sir Peter O’Sullivan. Lester Piggot and Major Dick Hern. When I left the city, having worked as a stockbroker for four years, I went to Kentucky in my mid twenties and there met Barry Weisbord, who taught me so much about marketing and gave me the confidence to set up Highclere when I returned to England. Horsewise, Brigadier Gerard would certainly be the biggest star from my early years and I was lucky enough to hear the tactics being discussed prior to his victory in the King George. My father had a very good horse called Smuggler who caught my imagination as well as a wonderful stayer named Little Wolf who won the Ascot God Cup and finally, I couldn’t possible miss out Lyric Fantasy, the pocket rocket, who proved that good things come in small parcels.

[Prufrock]

Dear Harry.

You have been billed for this Q&A session as "racing’s tallest gentleman". Is this true, and, if so, have you ever proved the point by standing back to back with Timeform’s Kieran Packman or Racing Post’s James Willoughby?

Many thanks.

[Gingertipster]

If I am not too late:

Harry,

Highclere, more than any other syndicate try for top quality horses. What was your inspiration for this?
Seem to remember Vincent O’Brien starting "Classic Thoroughbreds" in a similar organisation. You’ve been a lot more successful.

Is The Fox at Tangley your prefered watering hole after a winning day? Heard a few of your members mention it, is there some significance?

I think that I am now known as the Paul Gascoine of the racing world following that outburst of emotion at Ascot on King George day. I have always found those unique and special moments at the highest level of racing incredible emotional as they are so hard to come by and they really are boyhood dreams coming true!

Great to see someone really enjoying a victory and talking so freely. Wish you continued success.

Mark

Value Is Everything

[albrookes]

All questions have now been put to Harry (hopefully squeezed yours in too GT).

As soon as the answers come back I’ll post them.

Cheers

[cormack15]

Absolutely fantastic answers from Harry Herbert I’m sure everyone will agree.

Very much appreciated by all at TRF.

[Anonymous]

An excellent read and thanks again to Harry Herbert. Congrats on your success. Gentleman like yourself and the dearly departed Harry Lawton in Australia give racing a good name.

You’ve played down old Regal Parade though big fella. Ah well you can’t win them all.

Regal Parade who must have a great chance of winning his first Group 1 at Haydock on Saturday

Cheers,
M.

[Cav]

Many thanks to Harry Herbert. A very good read.

[Author]

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