Periodical
November
2025
SPYCATCHER
Winning Prix de Seine-et-Oise (Gr3) at Chantilly
27.10.25
Harry’s Introduction…
Although it might not have been the busiest month on the track as the Flat Season has drawn to an end, there has been a real buzz around those runners that have made an appearance.
Spycatcher has kept the winning thread alive in tremendous style, first capturing the Group 3 Prix de Seine-et-Oise in Chantilly and then following up with a brilliant Listed victory in the Wentworth Stakes at Doncaster — a fabulous double and a fitting way to draw the flat season to a close.
The two-year-olds continue to keep the anticipation simmering. Tryst showed all the determination and class we hoped she had, breaking her maiden in fine fashion. Angel Gabriel, another who has been turning heads at home, is shaping into a very exciting prospect indeed. He’s done everything right so far and we are confident he can get his head in front, he might well have another run this year - so watch this space!
Although the National Hunt Season is only just beginning to gather momentum, there’s already a real sense of excitement building around the horses who have taken to the track.
Cooltobecareless set the tone in superb fashion when finishing second at Chepstow. Carlenrig followed suit delivering a professional debut that hinted at plenty more to come when finishing runner-up at the same track. With performances like these, the National Hunt team has certainly given us plenty to look forward to in the weeks ahead.
I am delighted to announce that we have added a seriously exciting prospect to the ranks in the form of Sporting Gerard. Fourteen-time Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls will train him, he is great fun and has had plenty of success for us in the past with the likes of Beau Balko and Posh Trish. We only have a couple of shares left in him so I would encourage you to take a look at him and get in touch with my team to avoid disappointment.
Attention now shifts towards the yearlings, who are progressing beautifully. There is an unmistakable sense that this is a particularly smart group. Do take a moment to look at this month’s Horse in Focus, the Sioux Nation ex Helen of Albany, a colt with a super physical and wonderful temperament to match.
With my best wishes,
Harry Herbert
Chairman
HORSE IN FOCUS
Our yearlings have all been making great strides in their pre-training. All of which are backed and ridden away already which is great to see. The Sioux Nation colt has been particularly eye-catching through this process and we wanted to bring him to your attention as he has been receiving glowing review from both the pre-trainer Ellie Whitaker and trainer, James Ferguson.
ON THE TRACK
The last few weeks have brought plenty of highs as we reached the end of the flat season. Most notable has been Spycatcher’s phenomenal winning streak. On the 27th of October, he landed the Group 3 Prix de Seine-et-Oise on French soil at Chantilly. He displayed a total show of class as he tracked the leader until the 2f marker, at which point jockey Pierre-Louis Jamin asked for more. Spycatcher gamely responded, accelerating away to hit the line an impressive four and a half lengths in front.
THE PRE-TRAINING PROCESS
Since the Yearling Parades in October, our yearlings have been progressing through the breaking-in process at their respective pre-training establishments. Their early education follows a series of carefully structured steps designed to lay the foundation for a successful racing career.
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
It’s taken us a while to book our trip to Longchamp for the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe. We don’t know why, as it’s on our racing wish list, but when we saw Highclere were offering a trip, we thought why not do it in style. We could have booked it and gone on our own, but going with like-minded people felt a much better idea.
Spycatcher and Me - An Incredible FIve+ Year Journey
I decided I needed something to look forward to and with having an interest in horse racing since I was six, I decided that buying into a racehorse was a good idea. I looked around at lots of various options and then I found Highclere and my simple logic was that the Queen’s Godson would surely run a credible and trustworthy organisation (plus of course the obvious successes with horses such as Harbinger). How right I was and what a good choice I made.
ROLF’s Ramblings
Sherlock Holmes was no ‘after-timer’ no, the super sleuth was ahead of the game. Nobody loves the after timer, crowing after the event, that he (not so many she’s) was ‘all over’ the winner.
Taittinger Moment
Congratulations to Mary Neale who has reached 90 winners with Highclere! Mary (pictured here with partner Geoff Ainge) has been a long standing member of Highclere and has very good taste in horses having been a share holder in both Believing and Cachet!
We wish Mary the best of luck with all her horses both on the flat and national hunt side. Bring on the 100 winner mark!
WHERE ARE THEY NOW
Where are they now - Herons Heir crowned the RoR Elite Endurance Champions of 2025!