Owner of the day: Newsells Park Stud - Ossie Ardiles: Espressoo

As the voice of Owners, the ROA are consistently promoting the impact and benefits of ownership whilst working to make ownership more rewarding.

Once again we will be hailing our popular “ROA Owner of the Day” for Royal Ascot, which showcases an owner with a runner at the meeting. 

Today’s (Friday 17 June) ROA Owner of the Day is Newsells Park Stud - Ossie Ardiles syndicate, which owns Espressoo, a runner in the Sandringham Stakes (5pm).

A baking hot Royal Ascot on Friday will be more about cold drinks than coffee, but there is still a shot of Espressoo to be had in the Sandringham.

The daughter of Dark Angel, bred by Newsells Park Stud out of Danehill Dancer’s daughter Elas Diamond, is one of several coming into the mile handicap for three-year-old fillies in good order, having won at Ayr and Chelmsford and been beaten a head at York on her three runs this year. What’s more, she has yet to finish worse than fourth in her six-race career.

In competing at the most prestigious Flat meeting on the planet she provides her Hertfordshire stud’s Ossie Ardiles syndicate with a fantastic early highlight, given that it launched just three months ago.

Former midfield maestro Ardiles, the Tottenham and Argentinian legend who helped his nation to World Cup glory in 1978, is very much involved - Newsells Park’s owner Graham Smith-Bernal is a big Spurs fan - and will be at the track on Friday to cheer on the filly. 

Gary Coffey, the syndicate manager, and aptly-named when it comes to discussing Espressoo, says: “We are thrilled to have a runner at Royal Ascot, especially a filly who goes there with solid credentials and in great form. She is a progressive filly who Mark and Charlie Johnston have always liked, and is well entitled to take her chance on Friday.

“There are 20 shareholders and it’s a really interesting group. They’re from the sports, business, legal, medical and media worlds, and we also have the local vicar involved keeping an eye on us all! It’s a fun group and the members are enjoying the ride, they all have a great passion for sport.

“Ossie is very involved, he’s extremely enthusiastic and will be there on Friday with his wife Silvia, they’re really looking forward to it. 

“The majority of shareholders will be there, and with partners we’ll have 20-plus people supporting the filly.”

The syndicate was launched in March with six horses to go into bat with, spread between the Johnstons, John and Thady Gosden, William Haggas and Roger Varian.

Coffey says: “We have Espressoo, then another three-year-old filly named Oblong Song, with Roger Varian, who runs on Thursday at Chelmsford, and the remaining four are two-year-olds.

“There’s Perfect Play, who is named after Ossie’s performance in the 1978 World Cup Final! He’s with Charlie and Mark Johnston and has had just the one run, in the race won by subsequent Coventry winner [Bradsell] at York. 

“He’s a full-brother to Grenoble, trained by William Haggas, who was just touched off in the first race at Epsom on Derby day. Perfect Play is a nice horse and will be especially so next year, though he’ll be running again this year.

“We also have an attractive Nathaniel filly called Atlantic Belle. She’s with John and Thady Gosden. Again, she’s a nice type but it will be all about next year for her. She will be out this autumn but is a long-term prospect.

“The other two are Viterbo, a colt with William Haggas, who will be racing this summer at some point, and another interesting colt, Green Go, who is with Roger Varian.”

The vast majority of syndicates of course are racing through and through, as opposed to having a bloodstock or stud basis, which rather sets apart Newsells’ initiative. 

“We’re first and foremost a stud farm and all the members have been here, they have seen the mares and foals and stallions, and will visit again, and we’ve had days in Newmarket and will be visiting other studs also,” says Coffey.

“The syndicate is an offshoot of our stud operation and the brainchild of Graham Smith-Bernal, our new owner. He comes from a very successful business background and instigated this. It was one of the first items he put to the management team after purchasing the stud last year. 

“Our boss was very keen to start a syndicate to involve people with a passion for sport who are not necessarily currently involved in racehorse ownership and to make it very inclusive to the stud. We’re very pleased to be achieving this and going to Royal Ascot in our first year, and want to build on that.”

Friday will be an exciting afternoon all round for the boss, the stud staff and syndicate members as Mr Smith-Bernal also has a runner himself in the concluding event at Royal Ascot, the Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap. 

“Mr Smith-Bernal has some horses who run in his own personal colours and Manaccan, who runs at Royal Ascot on Friday, is a nice colt,” says Coffey. 

“He’s training well and one of the top-rated horses in the race; it’s all very exciting for everybody involved.”