12-09-2016
One of the best finishes of the day was enjoyed at Chester on Friday by Hawick’s rising teenage star Bruce Lynn when partnering CLASSIC SENIORITY for Marjorie Fife in the gentlemen’s handicap over 7 1/2 furlongs.
Slowly into stride, Bruce was happy to bide his time at the rear of the field led by Gary Beaumont and RALPHY BOY. Bruce then made a bold run up the inner and came with a sustained challenge inside the last couple of furlongs for CLASSIC SENIORITY to hold on by a head in a three-way photo with Simon Walker 2nd on ECHO OF LIGHTNING and Matt Ennis with CHARACTER ONESIE another head back in 3rd.
Chester is a notoriously tricky track for anyone to handle and this was a great ride from Bruce in his first visit there. His coolness in the saddle received much well deserved praise from the attending press. Congratulations to Bruce and to winning connections!
08-09-2016
Many congratulations to Richard Patrick who not only rode his first winner under Rules at Uttoxeter today but also in the process denied champion jockey Dicky Johnson the winner!
A photo finish resulted in Richard winning by a head on DEFINITE FUTURE for Kerry Lee.
Many congratulations to winning connections!
08-09-2016
This weekend sees the annual European Championship for Lady Amateur Riders kindly hosted by our friends in Bratislava and Budapest.
We are delighted that Amie Waugh will be representing Great Britain. Amie is having a fantastic season here at home both on the Flat and also over jumps, with 3 wins so far putting her in 3rd place for the Ladies Flat Championship (behind Serena Brotherton (7) and Joanna Mason (5)). Amie also lies in 2nd place for the Ladies Jump Championship with 3 wins behind Emma Todd (4) and enjoyed a great ride at Perth last night to finish 2nd.
There are 2 races in Budapest on Saturday and another 2 races in Bratislava on Turf on Sunday. Good luck Amie!
02-09-2016
10 runners and riders went to post on Bank Holiday Monday for the Gentleman’s Amateur Derby run over 1m 4f at Epsom with Patrick Mullins hoping to add to his impressive tally of 2 Epsom Derbys in the last 3 years. However it was his fellow countryman Jamie Codd who was to add to his already enviable UK record by giving an impeccable ride to HUBERT’S for Yorkshire’s John Quinn. (Jamie’s wins this year include Cheltenham Festival and Aintree Foxhunters whilst back at home he was crowned Irish Point-to-Point Champion and enjoyed a Galway Festival winner.)
This was Jamie’s first ever ride around the unique course but it was to prove to be a masterclass with him biding his time, content to tuck in at the rear of the field until making his move halfway down the home straight. At this stage long time leader LEYLAND ridden by Will Pettis faded whilst HUBERTAS stormed through to take up the lead and deny JUPITER CUSTOS and James King by 3/4 of a length as they passed the post, with ETON RAMBLER and Simon Walker 6 lengths 3rd.
Jamie said “Its great to come over here and do this on my first ride here. It’s fantastic. John Quinn rang me last week and it didn’t take too much thinking to take on the ride.
When you see it on TV you don’t think it’s daunting, but when you ride it there’s a massive pull for the first 5 furlongs and even the camber in the home straight is quite tricky. I was probably there too soon but my excuse is I’m a jump jockey!
They all fell away so quick around two and a half to go and I was a little bit worried I had got there and committed too early, but he stays well. These are the places you want to be winning at. When you are a jockey its all about getting winners at Cheltenham, Aintree and all the big places as you want to showcase your talents. Cheltenham is our Olympics but it is nice to come here at the Derby track and ride a winner.”
David O’Reilly, part of winning syndicate The Pro-Claimers, added “We won the race three years ago with Beacon Lady with Patrick Mullins on board and a good jockey can make all the difference on a day like this. We brought him over especially for this as he is very good. We wanted him to come late and we thought he’d got there a bit too soon but the race suddenly opened up in front of him. We thought he was going to get caught as the horse has been chinned a few times, but Jamie gave him a nice strong ride.”
Jamie has certainly done that and we send huge congratulations to him and to winning connections on an unforgettable day with this win completing a treble on the card for trainer John Quinn! Well done Jamie!
01-09-2016
As is customary at this time of year, the Ladies Amateur Flat Champion title is hotting up, with wins from Katie Margarson at Thirsk on 15th August for Nigel Tinkler with TEETOTAL, Michelle Mullineaux at Chepstow on 18th August with her father’s DESERT TANGO and Serena Brotherton at Salisbury on 19th August with Ralph Beckett’s COSMIC STORM in a well judged race to deny Ireland’s Lisa O’Neill on the 11/10 favourite NONA BLU by a neck in a thrilling finish! This took Serena one win ahead of her nearest rival Joanna Mason.
Carol Bartley, with Serena Brotherton riding her own CITY GROUND at Redcar on 27 August, took the ride on SAN CASSIANO for Ruth Carr in the Racing UK Handicap over a mile and 2. Always handy, SAN CASSIANO was ridden from 2 furlongs out to lead inside the final furlong and under Carol’s strong driving, in spite of drifting right, holding off FRAILLY GARTH and Amie Waugh by a neck, with Fionn McSharry and MUGARRED a length back in third. Serena Brotherton was 4th. What a finish!
More on the story of the race for the Ladies Amateur Flat Championship was to follow with the running of the Gay Kindersley Memorial by kind invitation of The Duke of Richmond and Gordon at Goodwood Racecourse on Sunday 28 August. Heavy bursts of rain throughout the day resulted in trainers withdrawing 3 runners with concern over the going. However, the wet conditions did nothing to stop Serena Brotherton and PINK RIBBON maintaining their winning partnership (having enjoyed success here back in June) making virtually all to win by 1/2 a length from Joanna Walton and POINTILLISM with Jonjo O’Neill Jnr on his father’s STANLEY 1/2 length back in 3rd.
Many congratulations to Serena who has now extended her lead for the championship with a tally of 7 wins so far this season. Joanna Mason is currently 2nd with 5 wins, and Amie Waugh 3rd on 3.
Picture credits: AJA
