Tuesday 10 May 2016

Playing it safe at royal Windsor evening racing

Controversy at Windsor racecourse surrounded what was to be a classy card of early season flat racing.


Windsor was to stage the first race of their £75,000 sprint series, the final in August, together with the £16,000 listed race the meeting was to be one were trainers could make an early start on their end of season winning tally.
 But it was not to be. 
Looking back in records I cannot see the last time the Berkshire course had abandon racing only three races old, and with Her Majesty in residence in shouting distance of the course, a lot though it a very rum to do.


An evening that started well enough, before racing a Shetland pony race using the final two and half furlongs, all young jockeys donning the royal colours to impress awaited press, the crowds arriving in their evening finery.
 And a first race ran in the relatively dry overcast atmosphere, a five furlongs’ novice’s filly stakes won by Mark Johnston’s Sea of Snow, ridden by James Doyle, in a close fought finish beating Richard Hannons Tiggalisious.
The two-year-old by Distorted Humor out of an Oasis Dream mare, certainly bred to go a little further, Doyle mentioning that the race gave no hiding places for any of the runners, especially this small filly, that showed a good turn of foot.

Sea of Snow (grey colours), ridden by James Doyle
‘I think we would like to get another run in he before we decide on a plan for her.’ Mentioned the jockey who has a big week of big time races in front of him. Riding this Sheikh Hamdan possible improver, a massive start to the week for the young jockey.

As the second race hacked down to the mile two furlongs start, the rain started to cover the Berkshire track. Roger Varian sending to post Central Square the 11/10 favorite for the maiden stakes.

The four-year-old gelding by Azamour took on the race driven by Andrea Atzeni to stay on well to beat Doyle on charge for a quick double on Hugo Palmer's Paris Magic. 

‘He is a nice laid back sort, that needs a bit more of a galloping track really, over a mile and half he might be one to pick up a decent prize,’ The jockey already sowing a few doubts in racegoers minds that the home bend that would cause controversy later on mentioning the gelding had felt uncomfortable as they turned toward home.

Central Square
The jockey with a nice book of rides for the week, was looking forward to finding out a little more about Choreographer his ride in the group two Dante on Thursday. The well-built colt by See the Stars that took his maiden at Windsor and would be looking to improve.

The rain continued a little more dominantly during the third race, a one mile two-furlong handicap for three year olds. But not hard enough to wilt the Charles Hills colt Grapevine ridden by Michael Murphy.
The home bend now showing a little more concern as the leader stumbling slightly as he turned for home.
 ‘The bend is very slippy at the moment, but the horse was well balanced so he managed to keep going forward.’ 

Grapevine No6 ridden by Michael Murphy.
The trainer who had a very promising Chester the previous week mentioned that he was a nice horse that had done well to keep on his feet
Charles Hills colt Grapevine  who won the one mile two furlong handicap

The concerns of the winning jockey and of others who had also found pulling up on the sharp right handed bend a little tricky, was enough to send trainers, jockeys, stewards and safety officers down to the affected parts to check the state of the ground. 
An inquiry was held as some showed astonishment in the length of time it took to make what they though were a forgone conclusion.

Racing was abandoned, reports that most of the jockeys were happy to ride in the fourth, the six furlong sprint challenge, were quashed by stipendiary steward Richard Westropp who mentioned in the safety of all in concern we have put measures in place to abandon the meeting.

The cause, a slippy surface on the home turn and the pull up area, were the grass was short enough not to allow the horses gain their grip. The conclusion the right one.
Of course there will be racegoers and professionals on both sides of the fence, controversy, plenty.  But to be fair to say all live to take on another day, the only causality being the meeting itself.

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SEVEN RACES, SUN AND FUN AT THE KIMBLEWICK KINGSTON BLOUNT POINT TO POINT 7-5-16

With seven races for the Kimblewick hunt point to point held at Kingston Blount on its penultimate race meeting of the year, in glorious early summer sunshine the crowds came out in support of some top pointing action.

The going classed and good-good to firm, the track reported by those who have walked the Oxfordshire course as good racing ground ample sized fields were on hand to give the enthusiasts of the amateur racing game something to cheer about.
Top riders in attendance, more notably Gina Andrews and Clare Hart, who are battling hard for the ladies’ rider’s championship crown as the season draws to a close.

The first race a restricted, saw the pace harsh as the front runners trying to make the race a speed event thundered over the Oxfordshire countryside.
Dicky Collinson given the all clear by doctors to ride the day before after his fall at Whitfield a few weeks’ back  got himself straight back into contention  from three fences out making his stamp on the race and try to give the slip to the eight other competitors.

But it was new boy Shane Quinlan on board Emgee, trained by Andrew Campbell who tracked Collinson to challenge and overtake the Pennock horse Torran Na Dtonn coming over the last.

‘I was having to get after my fella from about halfway, but he kept going for me all the way to the line,’ mentioned the Irishman, who has only just taken out his amateur licence. ‘I have not been here before as I only got my licence a few weeks back, this is my fourth ride as an amateur, and my first winner so all is going well.’
The young jockey previously conditional to Neil Mulholland maybe new to the amateur game but is no slouch in the saddle having had fifty rides under rules with nine trips to the winners enclosure, and should be a force to be reckoned with as he looks forward to the new season in November were he can take the pointing game on from the start.

The horse who was pulled up at the Cheltenham Hunter chase meeting in April, but a winner at Lockinge looks like he maybe one for the note books as he runs  at meetings on fast ground towards the end of the season.

Shane Quinlan on board Emgee

Clare Hart took the next race, the conditions event on a horse owned by her parents and trained by herself. 
Kazuri Kate battled hard from the home turn to challenge and overtake Phil Bull Aboard On your max who like Dicky Collinson in the first took the race on from three out.
Sam Davies Thomas On the consistent six-year-old Tulsa looked to be the challenger before hart kicked her eight-year-old mare home in fine style.

‘She is such a gutsy mare,’ mentioned the jockey.’ I know with her if we have the right conditions with her she can be off the leaders two out and I’m still confident we can get to the front.’
 The mare now will look to go again in a few weeks’ time at the same track. Only if the ground is safe and not too firm.
The trainer/rider now with nineteen winning rides for the season, and four behind the top spot held by the reigning ladies champion Gina Andrews is a keen as ever to ride, but rest assures the horses come first and she mentioned she would not put any horse in jeopardy in order to gain the crown.

Kazuri Kate
The owners of the mare by Exit to Nowhere were delighted to the win. ‘we were not going to come  here until a few days ago, the Garthorpe was the intended run for her. But the ground seemed right here so we u turned and came here instead.’
The hart family steeped in the pointing fraternity history, still enjoying the excitement of the sport.

With that in mind Clare hart came out for the four runner ladies open race to ride Dabinett Moon for Fran Marriott, this time challenging her rival in the jockey’s standings on the very consistent Alan hill charge Start Royal.
Andrews looked a sure winner from four fences out as the twelve-year-old gelding took a commanding lead, Clare hart pushing her eight-year-old mare to stay in contention.

‘This mare is awesome, to beat a class horse in Start Royal is something else.’ The mare taking over the race before the home turn and stepping through the gears to beat Andrews by a commanding twenty length’s.
‘Next season she could be something very special, she is such a lovely horse.’

Dabinett Moon,Clare Hart
Talk of the mare going handicapping over fences or brush hurdles is in the air but time is on the hands of this Midnight Legend eight-year-old.
The owner Christopher Marriott mentioned that as long as Clare has a chance of the championship she will run again. Hart now only three wins from the top spot.
The mare’s half-sister Apple days incidentally has just had a foal by Passing glance, so the thought maybe how long this mare can continue before being sent to stud.

The men’s open was another event were local trainer Alan hill had to settle for second spot.
Again with a consistent horse throughout the season looking for his fourth win on the bounce Consigliere ridden by Joe hill was beaten by a horse that has had experience around the best tracks in the country, but not as constant in the winner’s enclosure as the thirteen-year-old Hill horse.

Swallows Delight trained by Julie Mansell lapped up the fast going to beat consigliere coming up to the last. 
The trainer electing to take a trip to Badminton rather than come to Kingston Blount.
Jockey, veteran rider David Mansell mentioned ‘I’m so pleasedd for the owners who are so supportive to the sport,we were concerned about the Hill horse but we heard through the grapevine he had a hard race on heavier ground, so were not sure if this type of ground would suit.’

The jockey on his third win for the season said ‘I have a hard season to be fair, but I have had some rides were I think the horses would be nice for next season.’ The jockey on his one hundred and eightieth winner of his career, and at the age of fifty two still openly enjoys riding. 
‘I have said to my wife, when you see me not pushing a maiden horse on tell me, then I’ll know it’s time to give up.’ Though talking to David that does not seem anytime in the future yet.

Swallows Delight trained by Julie Mansell

Merrydown Vintage, Phil Bull near his three hundredth winner
Another veteran of the saddle Phil York was responsible for bringing home the winner of the Intermediate race. 
Merrydown Vintage, trained in Guildford by Ray Fielder took a commanding lead from two out to see off Velvet Royale by eight length’s
‘The horse needed good ground and a galloping race, which we have been looking for all season. Phil mentioned to me that the track was riding a little softer that it looked.’ Mentioned the trainer who may run the horse a couple more times before the season closes, the hunt race at the Berks and Bucks meeting at Kingston Blount in a few weeks’ time looks a possibility.

The jockey now on his two hundred and ninety eighth winner of his career and turning fifty this Friday mentioned,’ I have only had about seven wins this season, but I still love riding and we will keep plugging on until I get the three hundred.’ But asked if plans to retire then, the answer firmly back,’ no way. I still like to keep playing.’

Nandini, trained by David Kemp and ridden by Rupert Stern who was on his first visit to the Oxfordshire course took the newly developed older horses maiden race, limited to four, five and six year olds.
The six-year-old that has been well run throughout the season was commented by the trainer as being a very hormonal type of mare, ’we may have run her a few times just coming in or out of season which has affected her, she wants the top of the ground anyway, so I hope this win might be a breath of fresh air for her to go on and win again.’
The jockey on a 100% strike rate at present on the course was a last minute replacement on the horse Sam Davies Thomas the usual call up. But it was decided to change things around to freshen the mare up, Rupert being at the course to ride another runner for the owner and was asked to give the mare the ride. 
The plan worked and the mare took on the race from the front and won the race well giving the second placed horse a length at the finish line. 
‘The plan was never to make the running, but we popped out in front, nothing came past me so I sat there comfortably and let her get into a rhythm,’ the mare obviously is a type that likes to think she is getting her own way, as long as she puts in runs of that caliber then I’m sure connections will allow her to continue in that chain of thought.

Nandini, trained by David Kemp and ridden by Rupert Stern

The final race of the afternoon a member’s race saw the return to the course of Victoria Pendleton on now her own horse According to Sarah, trained by Alan Hill the eight-year-old ran a creditable second in a well-run race to Tim Underwood’s Tempelpirate a horse that has been off the scene for two years with injuries.
Victoria Pendleton on now her own horse According to Sarah
Ridden by Joe Hill the nine-year-old took on the race with authority from three out getting to the line well in front of the second. ‘I got the call to ride this horse early this morning, I think Tim was going to ride him but I’m delighted that’s my first ride for him.’
‘The horse that has had an occurring leg problem,but has always been a horse that has looked well,’ mentioned the trainer. ‘He has just not been ready to race, but we can take him home, see how he comes out of the race and go from there.’ Rest assured the veteran trainer will look after and place this gelding just right for next time out.

Tim Underwood’s Tempelpirate, ridden by Joe Hill