Britain’s first coloured, full Thoroughbred foal was born at West Down Stud in Devon.
“Ben” is the first foal of the US-imported stallion I Was Framed, who was the first Thoroughbred to be registered as coloured with Weatherby’s.
Ben is registered as a bay overo and was born on February 26. He is out of Facsimile, whose progeny are all winners, including Picot de Say who was a triple winner last year over 17 days.
Ben’s owner, Shena Halliwell, said I Was Framed was sold to Ireland last year after covering nine Thoroughbred mares in Britain. Halliwell has another mare due to I Was Framed in April.
Given his breeding, Halliwell is excited about the young colt’s future prospects on the racetrack and in the breeding shed.
“He is a good, strong foal and very well put together. I have been breeding horses for nearly 20 years, and he is the boldest, cheekiest foal we’ve had! He has plenty of character,” she says.
Ben’s sire I Was Framed is by the black overo stallion Racey Remarque (Sonny’s Solo Halo, by Halo). Halo sired Sunday Silence, the winner of the Preakness and Kentucky Derby and $4,968,554 USD.
According to DNA tests, I Was Framed was found to have: 1 black gene; 1 red gene; 1 agouti gene; 1 non agouti gene; 1 frame gene; 1 non frame gene; and 1 LW gene. Nearly all of his progeny should be sabino, with half carrying the frame pattern.
