From sale-topper to show-stopper: Lloyd Webbers round off incredible week

From sale-topper to welcoming in the Dewhurst winner, it has been a week that will live long in the memory for owner-breeders Andrew and Madeleine Lloyd Webber.

At Tattersalls on Wednesday, Too Darn Hot's yearling colt brother lit up the sales ring when selling for an eye-popping 3.5 million guineas to Qatar Racing.

Three days later it was easy to see why the bidding to grab a piece of an exceptional bloodline was so intense, as Too Darn Hot remained unbeaten with a scintillating Dewhurst victory.

At the heart of both stories are the Lloyd Webbers, who began their breeding operation from Watership Down Stud in Berkshire in 1992.

Reflecting on an incredible few days, Madeleine Lloyd Webber said: "It's beyond our wildest dreams. The brother was fantastic at the sales, he's very similar to Too Darn Hot, a little bit bigger as a yearling. We're not used to having colts, we sell all our colts and keep all our fillies."

Some x-ray issues as a yearling meant Too Darn Hot stayed home rather than going under the hammer, and Lloyd Webber added: "I'm rather enjoying having a colt now."

The colts may be in the spotlight, but they have inherited a large dose of their mother's talent. Dar Re Mi, a triple Group 1 winner during an excellent career, has proved herself an exceptional broodmare.

The excitement, and money involved, when her next progeny becomes available, will be incredible, and Lloyd Webber said: "For any owner-breeder this is the absolute pinnacle you could ever get to. To get a two-year-old champion to win the Dewhurst has to be up there with the very best.

"The mare is now a Group 1 producer so she now goes into being one of the very best blue-chip mares in the world, like her mother was."

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