Cartier Award For Kirsten Rausing

A passionate racing and breeding supporter and lady with a connection to South African racing and breeding, Kirsten Rausing received a standing ovation at the 32^nd Cartier Racing Awards last Wednesday as she was presented with the Cartier/The Daily Telegraph Award of Merit to honour her lifelong involvement in the racing industry.

Ms Rausing, who owns Lanwades Stud in Newmarket, was a patron in the Milnerton yard of veteran Vaughan Marshall and stood the Danzig stallion Alado in the Cape.

Kirsten Rausing receives the Cartier/The Daily Telegraph Award of Merit from Marcus Armytage of the Daily Telegraph and Laurent Feniou, Managing Director Cartier UK

She has not only excelled as an owner and breeder since starting out as a 15-year-old in her native Sweden but also served as an integral figure in the sport’s governance and administration. In addition, she has provided significant funding for a host of causes in racing and wider society through the Alborada Trust.

Alpinista wins the Arc in sensational fashion!

A spectacular 2022 for the owner of Lanwades Stud saw Alpinista carry her colours to glory in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, in addition to Eldar Eldarov providing her with a first UK Classic success as a breeder in the Cazoo St Leger.

On receiving the award from Marcus Armytage of The Daily Telegraph and Laurent Feniou, Managing Director Cartier UK, Rausing said: “I’m totally overwhelmed by it all. Many, many years ago and unlike my Viking forebears, I came to East Anglia in peace. Like some of them, I made the detour by way of Ireland. So when I left my native Sweden I was very fortunate to be able to spend some formative years in Ireland, and I still see that wonderful emerald isle as my spiritual home where I have many, many great friends. I’m also extremely grateful to those that have gone before me, that were my mentors in the old days – Margareta Wettermark, Alec Head, Roland de Chambure and most of all the late Captain Tim Rogers of Airlie Stud. They all taught me a few aspects of the international thoroughbred breeding industry, which stand me in good stead still to this day.

“I have now been in Newmarket for nearly 42 years, it will be on 1 December. In that time, we seem to have produced the winners of over 2000 races, including 28 Group One races since the Dewhurst of 1984 with Kala Dancer – one of a crop of five yearlings who also included Petoski, winner of the following year’s King George and Queen Elizabeth. I had two Group One winners in a crop of five yearlings and I thought, ‘this is easy peasy’. I couldn’t understand why the Brits kept telling me how difficult it all was, breeding racehorses. I thought, ‘this is fantastically facile’. It took me 25 years to live it down. That put manners on me, as my Irish friends would say.

“But none of this would have been at all possible but for my wonderful home team, my great team at Lanwades St Simon and Staffordstown Studs, many of whom have been with me for 25, 30 and more years. Some of whom are here tonight. Julian Lloyd, who has been running Staffordstown for 30 years – but we have been friends for much longer than that, and I am immensely grateful to you for your skill, experience, great horsemanship and friendship. Alastair Watson, who has been with us at Lanwades for I’ve slightly lost count, but it must be 35 years, and my wonderful, marvellous trainers who have of course contributed to in particular this year’s great results. Alpinista, trained by Sir Mark Prescott, Sandrine by Andrew Balding, a good few other, very good results this year. During the last year we have bred four individual Group One winners of six Group One races in three countries on two continents. But there are a few weeks left of the year, so who knows!

“Finally, I should also pay tribute to my great friend Rae Guest, whom I think he and I possibly represent the longest racing association here at least tonight, I’m guessing. Rae and I have been together since 1971 when he rode a very good filly called Highlight (SWE) for his uncle Nelson Guest, who trained in Copenhagen and this filly was champion two-year-old. Rae this year has trained her seventh generation descendant Melodramatica to win.

“My longevity in this game now means that we have had a slight changing of the guard, succeeding my great friend the late Lord John Fitzgerald, Richard Frisby has looked after my horses in training and very ably managed them and the liaison between Lanwades and various trainers and of course Julian Lloyd at Staffordstown has in turn been succeeded by young John Oxx. To all of those mentioned and some that I may not have mentioned, but still bear very much in mind, I would like to express my very sincere, heartfelt thanks for all of your important parts in mine, Lanwades St Simon and Staffordstown’s success. Thanks again to Cartier for this wonderful evening.”