Over the past few years, Equilume sponsored rider Phillip Dutton has put his money where is mouth is when it comes to advocating for off-track Thoroughbreds. Together with racing trainer Graham Motion, he’s created an incredible pipeline of Thoroughbreds from start gate to the cross country start box.
Phillip Dutton and Sea of Clouds at Ocala Jockey Club in November 2019. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
The top OTTB in his barn currently is Sea of Clouds, a 2011 Thoroughbred (Malibu Moon x Winner’s Ticket) owned by Anita Motion, Sue Haldeman, Annie Jones, Evie Dutton and Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani. The horse raced twice before retiring from the track in November 2014 and starting his training with Phillip. He won his very first Beginner Novice event in 2014 and is now successfully competing at the Advanced level — in 2019 he finished 2nd in the CCI3*-S at Virginia Horse Trials and 3rd in the CCI4*-S at Morven Park, and turned in a double-clear cross country round in the Ocala Jockey Club CCI4*-L. They finished 3rd in their first post-quarantine outing, the Advanced at Stable View in June.
Another top stall in the barn belongs to Icabad Crane, who enjoyed five stakes wins on the track with Graham Motion before taking up eventing. Phillip rode him to the original America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred title at the inaugural Thoroughbred Makeover in 2014, following that up with an impressive career with Phillip and then daughter Olivia. He’s officially retired but we hear that he still enjoys the occasional lark with Phillip’s wife Evie.
Those are some big horse shoes to fill for newer OTTBs in his string!
Photo by Maggie Kimmitt courtesy of Graham and Anita Motion’s Herringswell Stables.
The baby OTTB of the barn is Lincoln’s Address, a 2016 Thoroughbred gelding (2012 Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags x Sincerely, by Meadowlake) owned by Graham and Anita Motion, R. Larry Johnson and Phillip and Evie. The flashy chestnut came to True Prospect as a lightly raced three-year-old and his laid-back temperament and willingness to work quickly made him a favorite in the barn: “He is a real talent and one to look for in the future.”
Video of one of his workouts in winter 2019:
Olivia Dutton piloted Lincoln’s Address into 4th place in Open Novice at Maryland International & H.T. over the weekend, finishing on their dressage score of 25.It was his fourth horse trial and second Novice start.
Here they are schooling on the farm last week.
Let’s meet the baby of the barn: Lincoln’s Address is the youngest member of our team but already one of our favorites…
Posted by Phillip Dutton Eventing on Thursday, June 25, 2020
Phillip says that it’s unusual for he and Evie to own horses themselves, and that they’ll likely bringing in partners as he progresses up the levels, but that they are enjoying being shareholders in the young talent. “It’s certainly been fun to have this guy, seeing him come from the track and to watch his progression has been really rewarding,” Phillip says. “He’s a really nice balanced horse, great self-carriage, soft mouth, nice trot and great canter, and most importantly an incredible work ethic.”
He likes to be ridden every day, Phillip says, and in turn, “It’s not hard to educated him because you enjoy riding him all the time. The flatwork is really going to come along in leaps and bounds; it all comes pretty easy for him, pretty natural.”
His natural athleticism is evident over fences. “He’s got a good understanding of the jump, is easy to get to the jump and holds on the jump well,” Phillip says. “He’s got a nice big, soft jump and uses himself pretty well. He is forward but holds on the jump which is a nice balance to have. He is overall a really impressive horse and one that I’m really excited about.”
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