I first encountered Indian Stream at the Cheltenham ‘Mares’ day’ programme in April 2016 when she easily won the EBF / TBA Mares Novices Hcp Chase Final, beating rivals such as Kilronan High, Kalane, Kassis, Bon Chic and Cresswell Breeze (who fell after jumping beautifully early on). This was Indian Stream’s fifth win in all, but first Black-Type success, for which she received an Official Rating of 134 and an RPR of 139.
By mid-summer of that same year she had been second in one open handicap chase and won another, reaching an OR of 145 and RPR of 152. Later that season she won a Listed Handicap Chase at Wetherby, followed by a 5-month break before finishing a good fourth to Apple’s Jade, Vroum Vroum Mag and Limini in the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham, beaten only just over 5 lengths, and was then third under top weight in the Listed Mares Hcp Hurdle at the Cheltenham Mares’ meeting.
I watched that race with my friend Liz Lucas, and she expressed an interest in buying the mare. I suggested we approach the winning connections, trainer Neil Mulholland and owner Gillian Davies, to enquire about a potential purchase, However, the mare was still only an 8YO so this was a little premature, and in any case Mrs Davies informed us that she had an understanding that the mare would return to her breeder, Alfie Buller, after her racing career. So that was the end of that – or so it seemed.
The mare’s next season started quietly, with two unplaced runs over fences before another high-class run when fourth to Benie Des Dieux (again behind Apple’s Jade) in the David Nicholson, with Midnight Jazz sixth and La Bague Au Roi further back, followed by a moderate run (this time behind Midnight Jazz) in the Mares Hcp Hurdle won by Rejaah at the Cheltenham April meeting, and another poor effort in a chase at Uttoxeter. She was now 9 years old and her form was clearly tailing off.
It was around this time that David Hockenhull, Peter’s father, encountered Mrs Davies at Bangor-on-Dee and chatted to her about horses, mares and so on. Shortly afterwards, when I was at Shade Oak, he handed me a piece of paper with the name ‘Indian Stream’ written on it along with Mrs Davies’ name and phone number; he suggested the mare might be for sale as a broodmare.
I called Mrs Davies, and for a period of several months we haggled about whether the mare would or would not be for sale or be kept in training, and if she were for sale what might a reasonable price be or not be. It was next Spring before the deal was finally done and we drove down through the beautiful Mid-Wales countryside and along the coast road to pick Indian Stream up.
Once taken to Shade Oak, a leggy chestnut mare swiftly transformed into a big, strong, beautiful broodmare with plenty of substance. She has now produced four foals. Details for the first four (she missed in 2023) are given under their photographs below, the most recent being a big chestnut colt by Logician to be sold in November 2024.
Overall, Indian Stream won seven races (1 NH Flat, 1 hurdle and 5 chases) and placed 2nd, 3rd or 4th a further 11 times from 25 races. Her highest Official Ratings were 148 (chase) and 145 (hurdles), with corresponding RPRs of 152 and 146. As a high-class mare over both hurdles and fences, by the brilliant Derby winner Generous, her prospects of breeding high-class Jump horses must be excellent – in which case the months of haggling that led to her purchase will have all been worthwhile!