John Rattenbury Skeaping R.A. (1901-1980) MILL REEF signed and numbered 3 of 10, bronze, rich brown patina, mounted on a marble plinth, 25.5 by 32cm., 10 by 12 1/2in. Mill Reef was a bay colt foaled in 1968 by Never Bend out of Milan Mill. He won 12 of his 14 starts for his American owner Mr Paul Mellon. The colt was trained at Kingsclere by Ian Balding and in 1971 he was voted Racehorse of the Year following a series of outstanding performances and then record European earnings of £300,192. After winning the 1971 Derby Mill Reef won the Eclipse Stakes in a record time; the King George by a record winning margin; & the Arc in a record time. On 30th August 1972 Mill Reef broke a leg on the exercise gallops. Thanks to expert veterinary care, the horse's life was saved and he was sent to the National Stud at Newmarket where he became principal stallion. Mill Reef sired countless good horses including two Derby winners Shirley Heights (1978) & Reference Point (1987).
£25,000 - £30,000
John Rattenbury Skeaping R.A. (1901-1980) MILL REEF signed and numbered 3 of 10, bronze, rich brown patina, mounted on a marble plinth, 25.5 by 32cm., 10 by 12 1/2in. Mill Reef was a bay colt foaled in 1968 by Never Bend out of Milan Mill. He won 12 of his 14 starts for his American owner Mr Paul Mellon. The colt was trained at Kingsclere by Ian Balding and in 1971 he was voted Racehorse of the Year following a series of outstanding performances and then record European earnings of £300,192. After winning the 1971 Derby Mill Reef won the Eclipse Stakes in a record time; the King George by a record winning margin; & the Arc in a record time. On 30th August 1972 Mill Reef broke a leg on the exercise gallops. Thanks to expert veterinary care, the horse's life was saved and he was sent to the National Stud at Newmarket where he became principal stallion. Mill Reef sired countless good horses including two Derby winners Shirley Heights (1978) & Reference Point (1987).