Signe

The term 'blue hen' may have emanated from the game birds of the American state of Delaware, but its appropriation by the Thoroughbred breeding industry bears similarities to its origins in that it remains a badge of honour. There are few true blue hens across the world but one who has certainly earned that title is Vimal and Gillian Khosla's Green Room, who died in December at Ballylinch Stud at the age of 23. Bred in Kentucky by Juddmonte Farms, the daughter of Theatrical never made it to the racecourse...

ASCOT, UK -- From a maiden on May 9 to a Group 2 winner at Royal Ascot less than 40 days later is some going but, as ever with bloodstock, the story reaches back much further than these few glorious weeks.  In the case of the Queen's Vase winner Carmers (Wootton Bassett), his owner-breeder Fiona Carmichael bought his dam Signe (Sea The Stars) as a yearling more than a decade ago and, as a half-sister to Group 1 winner Lord Shanakill, she carried the pretty hefty price tag of €1.1...