Studs & Breeding

Dullingham Park Stud

Group-winning Topatoo (out of Topatori) bred at Dullingham with her first foal

Toptempo, herself a winner

Dullingham Park Stud is an integral part of our business. The yard and the stud farm work together as one. The stud gives owners the opportunity to retire their successful race fillies to a high class establishment and watch them as they develop the second part of their careers.

Owners thoroughly enjoy planning the matings for their mares and visiting the stallion farms to see prospective sires. They are fully involved with the complete breeding cycle which is another fascinating side of the racing industry. We always welcome owners, with their families and friends, to visit their mares and young stock at any time.

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Dullingham Park Stud consists of nearly 100 acres of beautiful and peaceful parkland in the village of Dullingham, just three miles outside Newmarket. Deer Park, although part of the stud, offers additional paddocks and boxes on a separate site. Since we have been living on the stud, we have been able to develop it and establish a loyal team of staff headed by stud groom David Woodley. He is vastly experienced and has literally done hundreds of foalings.

The main yard at Dullingham Park Stud and below David and some of the team

We are very fortunate to have the marvellous support of Rossdales veterinary practice. The vets cover both the stud and at the yard which allows great continuity of care. www.rossdales.com

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The stud in winter

When owners wish to keep their fillies as broodmares, the horses leave training and come to Dullingham to have a new way of life. In contrast to the training yard, the stud runs at a relaxed pace. Mares, foals and young stock are given the time and peace which they need to thrive. From conception through to training, every animal in our care has constant and individual attention. There is no greater excitement for an owner than to have a winner which they have bred themselves and watched develop through every stage.

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Maiden mares, in-foal for the first time, relaxing at Deer Park

We have an excellent selection of paddocks. These range from nursery and intermediate for the young foals, to the large fields where four or five mares can be turned out with their offspring. Foals learn to socialise and play together with their contemporaries before they are weaned. We consider that it is vital that the foals are well handled from day one to make them confident and calm.

Young foals

Mark with Optimistic - one of the founder member mares

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Optimistic was the most marvellous horse. For a start she was a very good race mare, winning at Yarmouth and York as a two-year-old and only through injury did she fail to win again. As a broodmare she bred some smashing horses who have won under both codes, including Rayvin Black. This exemplifies what our goal is for owners.

Optimistic's daughter Astrolibra with her Medicean colt

Astrolibra, out of Optimistic, was bred at Dullingham by Mystic Meg Ltd. She won four races and was placed in the first four 25 times. She was an owner's dream as she was 100% sound and genuine throughout her racing career. She retired to the stud and had foals by Medicean and Havana Gold.

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Anyone wanting to have a filly in training to make into a broodmare need only look at the success of Topatori, seen above with Topamichi. She, herself, was a good racehorse, winning four times and her progeny to-date are as follows: Toparudi (four wins), Topatoo (four wins, including Group 3 Middleton Stakes), Top Shot (two wins), Top Tiger (winner), Top Tinker (winner), Topamichi (two wins), Topaling (six wins) and Topapinion (who won once but sadly died). Topatori's owner, Mr Mike Bowring and his mother the late Mrs P. Bowring, were named 'Small Breeder of The Month', following their one mare having such notable success. I feel this is the perfect example of what we are trying to achieve at the stud - producing winners for our owners.

Seasonal Blossom with her stakes winning daughter, now broodmare, Brushing and their foals

I love it when the mares I have trained retire to the stud. We know each other so well, and I think this keeps the mares very relaxed and content. It is exciting for me to train horses that Angie and I have foaled, especially when we see the hard work from all aspects of the business pulling together to get the best from each animal. Angie runs the breeding side of the business - her knowledge and enthusiasm have been at the cornerstone of its success.