Distinguished owner-breeder Catherine Wills dies at age of 71

Respected owner-breeder Dr Catherine Wills, who had horses in training in Britain, France and the US for more than 25 years, has died aged 71 after a long battle with cancer.

Wills bred Dynever, runner-up in the Dubai World Cup in 2005, as well as notable winners Sir Gerry (Gimcrack Stakes 2007), Furthest Land (Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile 2009) and Selino, who landed last year's Group 1 Sydney Cup. When trained by James Fanshawe, Selino took two minor handicaps in Britain in her colours before being sold to Qatar Racing.

Wills inherited the blue-and-white cross-belted colours of her father Sir David Wills, who owned the great sprinter Right Boy and 1,000 Guineas winner Happy Laughter and died in 1999.

She kept the family breeding operation going by boarding mares at the Kirtlington Stud close to her home in Oxfordshire, as well as in Ireland and the US. She bred horses in her own name and in the name of St Clare Hall Stud.

A member of the Jockey Club, Wills was busy outside racing as an art historian and a trustee of many good causes including the Sandford St Martin Trust, the Dulverton Trust and the HDH Wills Charitable Trust. In addition she was a trustee of the independent Rendcomb College near Cirencester.

She was also a judge of the Martin Wills Writing Awards, which she set up in memory of her brother. The awards were for aspiring racing writers and ran for 25 years until 2017. Other judges included the Racing Post’s Brough Scott and Lee Mottershead.

Like her father before her, Wills enjoyed much success with Sir Henry Cecil, including Listed success with Succinct in 2002. She had three horses in training with James Fanshawe at the time of her death including Murau, who proved to be her final winner at Kempton on June 1.

Wills also had horses with Fanshawe’s former assistant Kevin Philippart de Foy as well as Nicolas Clement and in the US.

Fanshawe said: “The Wills family have been great supporters and suppliers of nice horses for us at Pegasus Stables. Catherine was an extremely enthusiastic owner who will be much missed. We had plenty of winners for her and the best three were Sir Gerry, Be Mindful and Selino. She took a real interest in the yard. She really cared about her horses and retired them to her home when their breeding careers had finished.”

The funeral is to be held at St Martin's Church at Sandford St Martin, Oxfordshire on August 11 at 11am. There will also be a memorial service at Knockando Parish Church, Moray, Scotland on August 22 at 11am. Garden flowers only.