Carlisle’s Ultimate Ladies Night opens with Ladies Fegentri Race

06-08-2014

Carlisle Racecourse’s annual Ultimate Ladies Night played host to the ladies Fegentri race for the first time ever on Monday with the first race of the evening’s all-ladies 7 race card.  With recent sponsorship of Longines secured for this international amateur series, of the 9 runners declared, 7 were drawn for Fegentri riders pictured below: Michelle Blumenauer (Germany), Alice Mills (GB), Annie Yeager (USA), Liz Lalor (Ireland), Nicole Schlatter (Switzerland), Christina Buesa (Spain) and Silja Storen (Norway).   (The girls had travelled direct to Carlisle from Deauville where our English rider Alice Mills had a successful weekend finishing 2nd twice in two ladies’ races and our gentleman rider Freddy Tett also finishing 2nd in the gentlemen’s race as well as 3rd in the Fegentri World Cup of Nations.)

Run just over a mile on good ground, Monday night’s race provided a thrilling finish with Spain’s Christina Buesa hanging on by a short head (from non-Fegentri rider Megan Nicholls and HAIL BOLD CHIEF) to give a first career win to MIDNIGHT WARRIOR.  Winning trainer Ron Barr said “He’s been a little bit disappointing but is a nice horse who is learning to settle.  He’s going the right way.”

The only other non-Fegentri rider Helen Cuthbert finished 3rd with Alice Mills for GB in 4th place to add to her fine tally of points earned over the weekend.

The evening provided some great racing with amateur graduates to the fore, Anna Hesketh enjoying her first career double and Emma Sayer winning the last on old favourite Sergeant Pink.  The only other non-professional to enjoy success was Irish invader Niamh Fahey with her first career winner aboard family owned and trained Point The Toes.  Many congratulations to all winning lady jockeys and above all to Carlisle Racecourse for making this unique evening such a resounding success.

Picture credits: AJA

Newbury host 2nd leg of HH Sheikha Fatima Apprentice Series

03-08-2014

The 2nd leg of the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship was hosted today by Newbury Racecourse as the first race of the afternoon with GB represented by amateur graduate Jack Gilligan, now apprenticed to Sir Mark Prescott, and Ireland represented by Rob J Fitzpatrick, apprenticed in Yorkshire to Karl Burke.  By coincidence Jack rode his first amateur win under Rules here at Newbury exactly 12 months ago.

Robbie had a dream ride turn into a nightmare when, having enjoyed a comfortable win, he weighed in a pound and a half light, and subsequently had the race taken from him.  The revised placings saw GB’s apprentice Jack Gilligan promoted to 3rd place and the race awarded to France’s apprentice giving him his first ever career win.

The series now moves on to Germany for the 3rd leg in Baden Baden on 7th September.  Many congratulations to all winning connections.

The amateur race immediately followed to open the afternoon’s thoroughbred racing and was won by Ella Smith riding VICTOR’S BET for her Epsom based trainer father Ralph.  This was Ella’s second career victory; well done Ella!