LUCYMAI, a seven-times winner for the stable, gave birth at the week end to her first foal, a colt by Due Diligence. Owned by “proud father”, Roger Beadle, the bonny colt was born a little early at Childwickbury Stud but is healthy and doing well, reports Stud Manager, Max Weston.
The Multiplex mare, Lucymai, showed ability right from her debut when she was a winner as a 2yo over 6f at Kempton in June 2015 at 50/1 under Martin Harley! It was a while before she regained winning ways but she won twice in 2017 and four times in 2018, reaching a rating of 105. The filly loved 7f at Chelmsford, where she won five races over course and distance. In total, “Lucy” raced 36 times and was in the prize money in nearly two-thirds of those races.
The sire, Due Diligence, trained by Aidan O’Brien for Coolmore owners, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier, was a winning juvenile in the United States before going on to be a high class sprinter at three in Europe. Indeed, he was Champion Sprinter in Ireland in 2014 with his racing career highlight being runner-up in the Group One Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot.
The stallion stands at Whitsbury Manor Stud near Fordingbridge in Hampshire for £6,0000 and in 2020, he was joint leading second crop sire of sprinters in Europe by Group horses. The foal would be one of Due Diligence’s first to be born this year and is part of the sire’s fifth crop.
Owner, Roger Beadle, is thrilled with the colt and reports that “Lucy” is due to visit another Whitsbury Manor stallion, Havana Grey, within the month for her next covering. Breeding requires plenty of patience and it will be at least two years before Roger’s pride and joy reaches the racecourse but we hope the colt develops into the real deal. If he takes after Mum and Dad, he should give him a lot of great days out on the racecourse.