Kingman colt Alameery preparing for career as a show horse sire

Sons of Kingman always command attention, and Alameery was no different - but for Natalie Vincent the attraction came not in his prospects as a racehorse stallion but as a sire of show horses.

The Queen's Barbers Shop and top-class chaser Cue Card are just two prominent former racers to have taken up showing, while Alameery will tackle eventing alongside his covering duties commencing next year.

Vincent said: "I’ve got a couple of other stallions but they’re not thoroughbreds. Alameery is such a big mover - he floats along - and is just what the show world needs. I’m hoping he’ll be a real asset."

The son of Kingman was a 160,000gns purchase by Shadwell at Tattersalls' October Book 2 yearling sale in 2017. He had two starts for Ed Dunlop, finishing third on his debut but then down the field, and then made a second appearance in the Park Paddocks ring when selling to Adrian Nicholls for 12,000gns.

Three further unplaced efforts followed, and on how she came across the four-year-old, Vincent explained: “We got him at the beginning of July, he’d come from Clare and Adrian Nicholls’ yard. He’d been sent to a lady called Diane Hill. who does a lot of racehorse re-homing for many of the local yards.

“We saw him advertised on Facebook and half fell in love with him straight away. We did want a little thoroughbred stallion because we show, and in that sphere we’re missing them - especially ones with a good temperament."

Alameery: has taken to jumping with aplombCredit: Natalie Vincent

Some time out in the paddock was next for Alameery, whose stud career will be combined with taking part in a sport that will give him plenty to think about, with the three phases of dressage, cross-country and showjumping.

Vincent added: “He was really quiet and we thought we’d take a chance and see where we'd get. We brought him back and let him spend some time out in the field.

“He’s been in work only the last month, we tried jumping him a few times and he was so quiet I said to my other half, 'There’s no way he’s going to event'."

Unlike the majority of thoroughbred racehorse stallions, sports horse sires often combine stud duties with another discipline, something Vincent is keen for Alameery to do.

"I don’t like to have a stallion without a job; yes, they’ve got to cover, but I like them to do something else too," she said.

"However, the last time he flew [the jumps] and I was gobsmacked. He had a jumping lesson the other day and was flying over 90cm [three foot] like he’d been doing it for months, so we’re hopeful we might get him out eventing alongside my Up With The Lark mare and stand him next year."

Alameery, who is owned by Vincent's business partner Michael Hall, will stand at Pottofields Equestrian Centre in Northallerton.

Read more

Expert jury: Cathy Grassick, Jack Cantillon, Luke Barry and Clive Cox share their expertise (£)

Without Parole set for strong support as big breeders reveal early mating plans

Nurlan Bizakov merges Hesmonds Stud and Montfort & Preaux under Sumbe banner