Winter warmth keeps Scully's legacy in permanent bloom

Clovelly Farms regularly punched above its weight in the 52 years it was owned by Robin Scully. Nine Group or Grade 1 winners were bred and raised there - ranging from the Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Pleasantly Perfect to Elusive Kate, whose victory in the 2011 Prix Marcel Boussac came a year after Scully, then 86, had dispersed his stock.

Though based in Kentucky, Scully's penchant for European racing meant that a distinct turf flavour was cultivated in many of his bloodlines. As a result, Clovelly can also be credited as the source of Alkaased (won Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Japan Cup), Silver Hawk (third in the 1982 Derby and influential sire) and Scully's trio of homebred Prix Morny winners (Ancient Regime, Seven Springs and Regal State) among others.

Following the dispersal of its stock, the Clovelly property itself was sold in December 2011 to Richard and Sue Masson and renamed Green Lantern Farm. Scully died 18 months later, in the summer of 2013.