IT took 12 long years - and eight as a breeder - but owner Reg Bond is now getting the taste for Group 1 winners.

Whenever pressed, the Pocklington tyre magnate could pinpoint his one big ambition as one of North Yorkshire's most high-profile horsemen - his desire to win one of the very best races.

And while all the headlines rightly lauded David O'Meara, after the Nawton trainer's career took another steep upward curve when Move In Time produced magic to win the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp earlier this month, the role played by Bond in securing his first Group 1 victor was somewhat overlooked.

For not only did he have a third share in the six-year-old, along with Andy Turton and John Blackburn, but he also bred him.

Move In Time is yet another huge success story for his star stallion Monsieur Bond.

While Bond had to wait for his own Group 1 glory as an owner, his 14-year-old son of Danehill had already experienced that accolade - fathering Gilt Edge Girl, who won the Abbaye in 2010.

Ladies Are Forever, Hoof It and My Name Is Bond are among a host of other high profile winners that are making Monsieur Bond look a bargain at his stud fee of £5,000.

Bond's son, Charlie, who handles the day-to-day running of his father's rapidly-growing breeding empire, the Bond Thoroughbred Corporation at Yapham Mill, says there is a clear desire to make sure Move In Time is just the first of a series of top class successes for the family.

"We will do everything that we can," he said. "We have put a lot of money into racing. My dad gives me the running of it and we never thought we would breed a Group 1 winner. For me, this is the start of things. We don't want to stop at one or do it just with the one horse.

"We have bred stronger mares and they are being covered by Monsieur Bond. They are making £60,000, £50,000 and £55,000 at the sales. When Richard Hannon, Richard Fahey, Edward Lynam and Michael Bell are starting to buy the two-year-olds, it means a lot to us in our breeding."

"It's even more special that we bred him," he added of Move In Time's Abbaye win. "We loved his dam, Tibesti, on breeding. Her mum was a champion out in Dubai but she was un-raced. The Machiavellian side of her is pretty quick. We went to Doncaster, saw the horse and you couldn't go near her. She was wild.

"Karen Daddy has played a big part. We had just employed her at the time and she is like a horse whisperer. We paid something like £34,000 for her but it was a great pedigree and half the price we thought."

Now success is set to bring its own records. Move In Time's Abbaye heroics have brought a flurry of inquiries and Monsieur Bond's progeny will be frequent performers on the track over the next 12 months.

"They all want to go to Monsieur Bond," Charlie Bond said. "He will have over 90 runners on the track next year and there are more than 100 to run. There were a number of breeders who came up to us after the Abbaye. He stands for £5,000 currently and a lot have been on the phone. There is always interest in him."


It’s Dale and hearty for Top Notch Tonto

JOCKEY Dale Swift has been given the task of steering Top Notch Tonto to Queen Elizabeth II Stakes glory at Ascot tomorrow.

The rider was in the saddle on Norton trainer Brian Ellison's runner when the chestnut ran a fantastic race to fill the runner-up spot behind Olympic Glory in the race a year ago Brown's pride and joy has also been ridden by James Doyle, Mikey Ennis and Colm O'Donoghue this season, but Swift is set to renew acquaintances on Champions Day.

Brown said: "They were queuing up to ride him, but I insisted on Dale again as you've got to be true to your roots.

"He's been very loyal to me and I just thought it was the right thing to do.

"He's a good jockey and we trust him."

Of Top Notch Tonto, Brown said: "The horse could not be in better form. We really can't wait for it.

"The money has been piling in on week - not my money, you understand - and it wouldn't surprise me if he goes off at 4-1 or 5-1 on the day.

"Everything looks to be in his favour."