Sometimes, as with the proverbial London buses, the amateur racing calendar goes through a barren patch and then 2 races are scheduled for the same day. So it was last Tuesday when Southwell hosted an all-weather race over a mile and 6 and Kempton ending their evening all-weather meeting with a handicap for amateurs over a mile and a half.
The only amateur jockey to brave both races 4 hours and 160 miles apart was Serena Brotherton who began her quest for a double in fine style with a facile win aboard Michael Appleby’s RESTIVE, easing up and winning by 11 lengths. Sophie Smith on GRANDSCAPE was second, with Molly Presland finishing third but subsequently disqualified after weighing in light and Pat Millman taking that place with KEITH.
Sadly the race was marred by the dramatic loss of Dave Evans’s RISK MITIGATION who fell when challenging 3 furlongs out and sustaining a fatal injury. Jo Mason thankfully was uninjured.
Well done to winning connections and to Serena on a great start to her quest for a double before she headed south for Kempton!
The final ladies race of the season survived the weather (unlike the previous 3 scheduled ladies races) and saw 16 go to post on the heavy ground at Nottingham on Wednesday.
Congratulations to Alice Stevens who, fresh from enjoying her first ever win under rules over hurdles at Exeter recently, was experiencing her first ever ride on the flat and ultimately her first ever flat winner!
Partnering Oliver Greenall’s diminutive GAMESTERS ICON, this was also a four-timer for the gamest of mares. Having tracked the leaders and taken it up as they turned into the home straight, the pair were headed 2 furlongs out only to rally again inside the final furlong and deny Lottie Crane on BOMBERO by 3/4 of a length with Antonia Peck a further couple of lengths 3rd aboard SHE’S A NOVELTY.
Many congratulations to winning connections on a great finale to the ladies season!
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE AMATEUR JOCKEYS ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN LIMITED
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2018 Annual General meeting of the AJA will be held on Thursday 28 November 2019 at 12:00 noon at The Terrace Room, The Welcombe Hotel, Warwick Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 0NR when the following ordinary business will be considered:
to receive apologies for absence
to consider and if thought fit to approve and confirm the Minutes of the previous AGM and to authorise the President to sign them
to receive and consider the report of the directors
to receive and consider the report of the Chief Executive
to receive and consider and if thought fit to pass a resolution adopting the accounts for twelve months ending 31 December 2018. The accounts are now completed and copies will be available at the AGM. Alternatively, on receipt of a stamped addressed envelope, copies will be sent to members on written request
The following director retires at the AGM in accordance with Regulations 26.1 and 26.2 and offers himself for re-election: Bob Davies (nominated by Anthea Morshead and seconded by Richard Dunwoody).
to re-appoint Andrew Winterburn Chartered Accountants as auditors and to authorise the directors to fix their remuneration
Congratulations to our top lady jockey Brodie Hampson on a great win at Hereford today aboard Archie Watson’s JUGE ET PARTI in the maiden hurdle, thereby riding out her 5 lb claim – a huge achievement.
Always handy, the partnership led from two out to stay on well and score by 4 1/2 lengths. Well done Brodie!
Now that the gentlemen’s flat season has drawn to a conclusion with the championship title shared, its time for many congratulations to the Top Three: William Easterby, James Harding and Pat Millman
Many congratulations also to runner-up Eireann Cagney just one winner behind them, who also won a Novice Riders race this year (which cannot count towards the championship because of its conditions).
Well done lads – we are already looking forward to next season!
Congratulations to Ciaran Jones aboard Mark Usher’s BORN TO PLEASE when winning Division II of the Mansionbet Handicap Stakes at Nottingham yesterday, the last gentlemen’s race of the amateur season. This was a day to remember for Ciaran, an experienced Arabian jockey, with this being his first winner under rules!
Reigning champion Simon Walker cut a lonely figure on Scott Dixon’s SOCIOLOGIST coming wide off the home bend to take the better ground on the near rail, but Ciaran had been biding his time and started to urge his horse from two furlongs out to lead in the last 75 yards and win by 3/4 of a length, with Pat Millman 8 lengths 3rd.
Congratulations to George Eddery on winning Division I of the Mansionbet Handicap Stakes, the penultimate gentlemen’s flat race of the season, on his father Robert’s COUNTRY’N’WESTERN at Nottingham yesterday.
Ross Birkett on his mother Julia Feilden’s TELEKIINETIC led the field from early on, only to be joined a couple of furlongs out by George and Country’N’Western who were always going comfortably and won by a length. James Harding and his recent winner PARA QUEEN did well to finish just over 2 lengths 3rd having been slowly into stride. They denied William Easterby that place by a nose.
Many congratulations to George and his father on a great end to the season!
Brilliant to see our reigning NH champion winning over hurdles on Sunday at Wincanton with a great ride on the Philip Hobbs trained DOLPHIN SQUARE to challenge from two out and lead in the final stride, and in so doing deny Adrian Heskin by a short head!
Many congratulations to David Maxwell for whom this was his third win so far of the NH season. Well done David!
Friday saw our last mixed flat race of the season sponsored by the AJA at a very wet Doncaster with no less than 19 going to post.
Ultimately in such conditions on heavy ground and in driving rain the field finished well strung out.
Aaron Anderson and John Quinn’s GRASEON ROY were always prominent and challenged Cai Williams on Oliver Greenall’s well named GAMESTERS ICON well over a furlong out, with the Greenall mare gamely holding on in a battle to the line to score by half a length well clear of the rest. Eireann Cagney finished closest, 13 lengths away 3rd on Richard Fahey’s FIREWATER.
This was a day to remember for Cai giving him his first ever winner under rules. Many congratulations to him and to winning connections!
The eagerly awaited return to Cheltenham by NH fans on Friday saw 13 amateurs go to post for the Ryman Stationery Cheltenham Business Club Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase.
Gina Andrews was always prominent on Seamus Mullins’ PLANTAGENET and took it up from 4 out. However, an exciting finish was in store as Liam Harrison partnering Fergal O’Brien’s PETITE POWER had them clearly in his sights and laid down a commanding challenge at the last to stay on and win by 3 and a 1/4 lengths, with Gina second and Millie Wonnacott on Neil Mulholland’s FINGERONTHESWITCH a further 3 and 3/4 lengths third, denying stable companion DOING FINE and Sam Waley-Cohen by a neck.
Many congratulations to winning connections on a memorable victory (the 2nd leg of Fergal’s treble on the day!) which is the highlight of Liam’s career to date and his third of this campaign. Liam represented GB abroad earlier this year both in Cologne and on the beach in San Lucar and has made a great start to the season. Well done Liam!
