One of British point-to-pointing’s most successful broodmares of recent times has passed away, although her legacy is set to prevail for many seasons.
Twelve months ago today that mare, Latenightdip, a daughter of stallion Midnight Legend owned by Warwickshire breeders Tony and Pippa Ellis, chalked up another first with a Cheltenham winner. The heroine of the hour, her daughter Latenightfumble (pictured above left), landed the intermediate hunters’ chase at the evening meeting in the Ellises' colours. Latenightfumble (Malinas) was trained by their son Tom and ridden by his wife, Gina Andrews.
The victory came a few weeks after Latenightdip’s most celebrated foal, Latenightpass (Passing Glance), won Aintree’s Randox Foxhunters’ Chase. Twelve months earlier Latenightpass had finished second in the Aintree test, while at the recent renewal he led at the final fence before fading on the run-in and finishing a close fourth, this after a niggling series of training hold-ups.
Another chapter in the tale of Latenightdip’s offspring had been written at the start of this year when her six-year-old son Latenightrumble (Sulamani) won a maiden race on debut. Affectionately known as ‘Roger’, he scored at Alnwick in January and two months later won a restricted race at Garthorpe.
This initial victory by the big and hitherto backward gelding went some way to disproving Tom’s pre-race comment: “I don’t think he’s very good.”
Sadly, between those two victories, Latenightdip died five days after slipping a daughter of Passing Glance, a double-whammy for the Ellises, whose attempts to breed fillies and continue Latenightdip’s legacy had succeeded just once in the form of Latenightfumble. Now an eight-year-old, Latenightfumble has run twice this season, winning at Horseheath and Charing, and, quite naturally, growing more valuable in the eyes of her breeders given the loss of her dam.
As a result her racing career has been put on hold and she is about to be covered by Batsford Stud stallion Passing Glance, who is still going strong at the age of 24. Their resulting foal will be a three-parts sibling to Latenightpass.
Tony and Pippa Ellis with son Tom and his wife Gina after Latenightfumble's Cheltenham win last year **Carl Evans
The Ellisees also own a two-year-old full-brother to Latenightpass who the couple hope to call Latenightstory, and Latenightdip’s final foal who is a yearling colt by Alne Park Stud sire Dink.
Reflecting on their star mare, Pippa says: “We found it very difficult getting her in foal while she had a foal at foot, and when we did she lost the foal on two occasions. They would have been full-sisters to Latenightpass.”
Not that Latenightdip had been easy as a racehorse, although she won three and was placed in three point-to-points from nine starts. Pippa says: “Tony bought her as a two-year-old from her breeder, Jane Way, a family friend who lived nearby and who ironically also bred Go Go Geronimo, the horse who finished second to Latenightfumble at Cheltenham [12 months ago today].
“In the past Tony had a bad habit – which I have since broken – of buying horses when I was away. I had taken Tom’s sister Laura off for a holiday, and when I got back Latenightdip was here.”
Tony says: “She could spoil the day. We had to ride her in the dark and she needed two handlers at the races.”
Despite temperament issues Latenightdip ran nine times, won three point-to-points under Tom and was placed in three, but at the age of seven she was pulled up in a race after she struck into herself, suffering a tendon injury which ended her career.
Pippa says: “She was possibly going to be very good. Tony, being a typical farmer, saw no point in spending money trying to breed from her, but I put my foot down.”
Her husband relented on one condition, that Latenightdip should go to the nearest stallion and be walked in, rather than incur boarding costs. Passing Glance, who then stood at nearby Pitchalls Stud, was the logical choice.
That proved to be a fortuitous decision, one that created a legacy which endures and a story that will be told for some years to come.
Latenightdip at the Ellises' farm with her first foal, Latenightpass **photo by Pippa Ellis