Grace Skelton and stud manager Nick Pearce pictured with Dink. Photo – Carl Evans
Established as a stallion farm just over two years ago, Dan and Grace Skelton’s Alne Park Stud in Warwickshire has flourished to the stage where it will offer breeders three options for 2023, ranging from the proven Dink and Ocovango to first-year horse Midnights Legacy.
Dink, the only son of Poliglote at stud, was purchased out of France for the 2021 season after coming to attention as the sire of Nube Negra. Trained by Dan Skelton, the electric two-miler chaser lowered the colours of Altior in the 2020 Desert Orchid Chase before going on to land successive renewals of the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham. In return, Dink has been enthusiastically supported by the Skeltons along with a number of outside breeders since his arrival to Alne Park.
“I’m really excited about Dink,” says Grace Skelton. “He’s obviously already had good winners but there’s not actually that much stock out there by him. So it’s been great for us to see what he throws. The ones we have are correct, very well balanced with good bone and generally sensible brains on them. He’s also a pure-breeding bay.
“I try to look at ours with a stockman’s eye but what has been encouraging is the good reports we’ve had from other breeders and from those who have come to us to buy his stock. And his book is now filling up, which is reflective of that.”
“I try to look at ours with a stockman’s eye but what has been encouraging is the good reports we’ve had from other breeders and from those who have come to us to buy his stock. And his book is now filling up, which is reflective of that.”
Ocovango, a Group 2-winning son of Monsun, joins Alne Park having begun his stud career at The Beeches in Ireland. While his son, the Imperial Cup winner Langer Dan, is a much-loved member of Dan Skelton’s yard, Ocovango’s star has also risen in recent weeks due to the exploits of Champ Kiely, winner of the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle.
“Ocovango is something of a flagship horse and another elite stallion for us alongside Dink,” says Skelton. “Ocovango has a lot of stock on the ground but they’re winning at all levels and I think you consistently see a good attitude with them. It’s exciting because you’d have to anticipate that there is plenty more to come.”
Meanwhile, in Midnights Legacy there is the unique opportunity to tap into the Midnight Legend sire line. Midnight Legend was a real friend to the British jumps breeder, making the most of the chances afforded to him to sire numerous high-class jumpers, among them Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Sizing John. He died in 2016 at his long- term home of Pitchall Stud but not before its owners David and Kathleen Holmes had embarked on a quest to breed a colt with the potential to stand at stud.
Midnights Legacy, out of the Generous mare Giving, is the outcome and an impressive one at that in light of a race record that included a novice win at two, another four wins in competitive Flat handicaps and a further three successes over hurdles. Indeed, such versatility is reminiscent of the race record compiled by his sire.
“I feel tremendously privileged to stand him on behalf of David and Kathleen,” says Skelton. “They’ve been in this business for so long and had so much success – they did so well with Midnight Legend and Passing Glance. I hope we can repay that faith.
“He’s a beautiful mover, very athletic, with a real Midnight Legend head. He always gave everything on the track and ended up being rated 101 on the Flat.”
She added: “It’s very exciting. The roster has trebled, and what I think is really exciting is that each horse offers something a bit different.”
Midnights Legacy: classy under both codes, he joins Alne Park Stud for 2023. Photo – Francesca Altoft focusonracing.com
