Category: Jockey News
16-08-2014
Congratulations to leading lady jockey Serena Brotherton who took her tally for the season to equal her best ever 2011 total of 9 today when winning the Betfred Ladies Derby at Newbury. This was Serena’s 4th win of this race since its inception 7 years ago, and her first ride for Richard Hannon.
A thrilling three-way battle to the line saw Serena ride a strong finish and lift LIL ROCKERFELLER to the winning post a neck in front of Megan Nicholls aboard her father’s AMANTO with Irish leading lady Jane Mangan half a length back in third for Sylvester Kirk on LAST MINUTE LISA.
Serena said “Its been a very lucky race for me. There were very few entries this year so I called Richard Hannon’s yard and asked to be put on the list. Luckily they called back!”
15-08-2014
The 6th race in the Betfair Novice Riders Series at Nottingham saw 4 non-runners of the original 11 declared with monsoon conditions giving concern for a slippery surface after heavy rain falling on hard ground. After listening to expert guidance from Jockey Coach Jimmy Bleasdale on the pre-race coursewalk, jockeys set off at a steady pace and did not quicken until turning into the straight where they formed a line abreast.
A battle to the line ultimately ensued between Jordan Williams on TASTE THE WINE and first time jockey Marcus Haddock on SOUNDBYTE who led near the finish to hold on by a head. Many congratulations to Marcus, a graduate of the Northern Racing College, seen here receiving his prize from Betfair’s Simon Kirk. The series now moves on to the penultimate race on Bank Holiday Monday at Ripon.
Picture credits: AJA
15-08-2014
A cool head and a patient ride were demonstrated at Catterick tonight when Alex Ferguson‘s waiting tactics with trainer Saeed bin Suroor’s ARABIAN BEAUTY were used to good effect in the familiar Godolphin colours. Having won here three times already (including both last year and this in the Betfair Series), Alex is becoming something of a course specialist.
Holding the filly up in the rear, Alex still had most of the field in front of him 2 furlongs from home but when he asked her to quicken she stayed on strongly to get up inside the final furlong and won by just over a length, going away. This was Alex’s 4th win on the course from 5 rides, and his 6th win overall. Congratulations Alex!
12-08-2014
The final 2 races in the Arabian Ladies Series take place in August, in Ostend Belgium on 18th where Rachel Leyshon from Wales will represent Great Britain and on 24th August in Sluzeiwic Poland where Katie Margarson from Newmarket will ride.
This extraordinary worldwide series has already taken British lady riders so far this year to Al Flaij, Oman (Berkshire’s Michelle Edden), Melbourne, Australia (Yorkshire lass Aly Deniel WON), St Moritz Switzerland (only professionals and Scotland’s Lucy Alexander 2nd), Sam Houston Park Texas (Joanna Walton), Casa Anfa Morocco (Serena Brotherton), Newbury (Page Fuller 2nd), Stockholm Sweden (pro Racheal Kneller), Dundight Netherlands (Jessica Gillam) and Pleasanton California (Rachael MacDonald).
All of the year’s participants will be invited to the annual finale on 9th November in Abu Dhabi where winners from the year will also be invited to ride.
Many thanks to Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Chairman of Ladies Racing at the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) for these incredible opportunities for amateur lady jockeys to ride all over the world and experience diverse cultures and racecourses.
11-08-2014
The 5th race in the 8 race Betfair series was won today by Kaine Wood giving him his 3rd career win from only 8 rides this season. Riding DAN EMMETT for trainer John Wainwright, he held his horse up and made steady headway, tracking the leaders and kicking for home from 2 furlongs out to forge well clear of the field and score by 12 lengths! Many congratulations to Kaine and winning connections.
Enjoy the race replay here: http://www.chroma.premiumtv.co.uk/streaming/watch/RacingUKFlashVOD/partnerId_166/videoFileId_14289335/clipId_2421682/index.html
The next race in this exciting series takes place at Nottingham on Friday evening.
10-08-2014
Many congratulations to Alex Ferguson who has surged into the lead in the Betfair Novice Amateur Riders Series with a second win in the series today at Royal Windsor, to add to his victory in the opening race of the series at Catterick Bridge.
Again riding in his mother Fiona’s colours but this time on a horse leased from trainer Lawney Hill, the trainer said “He was in front sooner than planned, but it wasn’t Alex’s fault because the race fell apart on him. He was strong and kept him running – it was a very good ride.”
Many congratulations to all winning connections. The series now moves North tomorrow to Thirsk for the 5th of the 8 races provided by the series and the current rankings are as follows:
|
Mr Alex Ferguson
|
2
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
10
|
|
Mr Harry Stock
|
1
|
–
|
1
|
–
|
7
|
|
Miss Joanna Walton
|
1
|
–
|
–
|
2
|
7
|
|
Mr Dylan McDonagh
|
–
|
1
|
–
|
2
|
5
|
|
Miss Page Fuller
|
–
|
1
|
–
|
2
|
5
|
|
Mr Jordan Williams
|
–
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1
|
–
|
1
|
4
|
|
Miss Megan Nicholls
|
–
|
1
|
–
|
–
|
3
|
|
Miss Sarah Peacock
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
3
|
3
|
|
Miss Emily Bullock
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
2
|
2
|
|
Mr Philip Dennis
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
2
|
2
|
|
Mr Robert Hooper
|
–
|
–
|
1
|
–
|
2
|
|
Mr James Hughes
|
–
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–
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–
|
2
|
2
|
|
Mr Hugo Hunt
|
–
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–
|
1
|
–
|
2
|
|
Mr Kevin Locking
|
–
|
–
|
1
|
–
|
2
|
|
Mr Kaine Wood
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
2
|
2
|
with riders on 1 point: Katherine Begley, Alexander French, Patraic Hardy, Katy Lyons, Katy Mabon, David Noonan, Ollie Pimlott, Harry Reed, Emma Todd, Charlotte Watling, Laura Wilson, John Willey, Michelle Bryant and Tabitha Worsley.
Picture credits: AJA
09-08-2014
Well done to Freddy Tett, our British Fegentri representative, who rode on the beach in Sanlucar on Thursday and finished 3rd behind two Spanish jockeys before returning to the UK to ride in Jersey independently on Sunday. Freddy has clocked up several winners in the Channel Isles this summer both on the Flat and over hurdles when he has not been travelling. Congratulations Fred!
Sanlucar can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiBWmtluS1Q
08-08-2014
With two wins in two days, yesterday at Brighton on regular ride CITY GROUND (pictured above) for owner Steve Hull and the Easterbys (who travelled nearly 300 miles from North Yorkshire) and today at Musselburgh with LA BACOUETTEUS for Iain Jardine, Serena Brotherton seems to be unstoppable in her quest for another Ladies Flat Championship. She now leads the ladies table with 8 winners, her nearest rival being Megan Nicholls with 4. The season is proving to be one of Serena’s best ever. Well done Serena!
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
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!
