Horses
HORSES IN TRAINING
All our horses here are very much individuals and we hope you enjoy reading about them and watching their videos. Many have been with us for a good while and we have four yard superstars who have won 31 races between them – Amazing King, Andorn, Agglestone Rock and Simply Smashing….
King leading the string at Malton in 2011.
‘Amazing King’
8 year old 15.1hh bay gelding by King Charlemange. Owned by THE AMAZING OPTIMISTS..
King was bought in December 2007 from Doncaster Sales for £9.5k. He had won a selling hurdle and was rated 103 and 58 on the flat. Phil liked him immediately – he is a small, compact, attractive horse with an athletic walk and good bone for his size. His 2nd to a well thought of Jonjo O’Neil horse called Dr Mcfab attracted Phil to him, and he was just within the Partnerships budget. After building him up and giving him a confidence boosting run at Doncaster over hurdles (5th to subsequent top class ‘Songe’) King duly hacked up at Musselburgh under 7lb clamer Richard Tierney in a Class 3 Juvenile handicap (pictured). King and Pippa leading him up made it onto the front of the Racing Post with this win – as a result of it being Richard’s last ride before he got banned for 2 years (nothing to do with us thank goodness!)
This was Philip’s first winner as a Licensed trainer, and King later also became Phil’s first flat winner, at Wolverhampton ridden by Jamie Spencer (pictured). King has since ran regularly for us for the past four years. He has risen now to a mark of 79 on the flat, and has been as high as 134 over hurdles. He has won 8 races for us and over £50k (and placed 2nd or 3rd fourteen times)- 5 wins on the flat, 2 over hurdles and 1 over fences, winning over fences on his first time of asking this season at Southwell. King is a legend in our yard – he has landed a couple of lucrative gambles over the years, and has been utterly reliable when required – we haven’t got another like him – he is totally versatile and holds his form under all codes. 
In 2011 he has won his novice chase, come a very close 2nd in the Grade 3 Silver Cup hurdle at Fakenham, won impressively on the flat at Musselburgh, came a close 2nd at Ayr when going for home rather too soon, and just last week ran his best ever flat race at Chester off 78, beaten a head in a photo finish. We hope he continues for the rest of the summer in this rich vein of form, andwe look forward to a good few more seasons with our stable star. King is a kind horse to look after in the stable but a demon to catch, (he loves to be out in the field) and he is also cold backed and can be quite sharp to get on at home. The photos below are of his first hurdle and flat wins.
Click on this youtube video links to see King in action up the gallops and schooling with Kyle.
‘Haka Dancer’
9 year old 16.2hh gelding owned by Dennis Birch
Haka joined us in the May of 2008 from DoncasterSales, although this was a long way from where he started out in America, a $240,000 yearling bred to win a Kentucky Derby by Derby winner ‘War Chant’ although he didn’t make any appearances on the track there, he made his first start in Ireland in a maiden hurdle! Haka is Dennis’s first and only racehorse to date, and despite yet not winning (he has come close several times) , he and his family are very attached to him and he is the most understanding and caring of owners (many could take a leaf out of his book!). Haka is a big, handsome gelding who has been 2nd over hurdles and over fences for us, 
and run consistently on the flat too. He can be a challenging ride at times on the gallops but he is a gentleman in the stable and to do anything with. Haka definately possess theability to win again (he won a maiden hurdle in Ireland) and he is unfortunate the the hadicapper does not relent much on his jumps marks. As you can see he is a big, scopey jumper, ridden here by Kyle who gets on with him particularly well in his NH races. Haka likesfast ground, although goes on gd-soft, and his best race run to date was when just geting touched off at 50-1 in a valuable 2 mile handicap hurdle at Musselburgh. His day will come! He has had three close seconds in 2011.
Click on the youtube link below to see a video of Kyle schooling Haka at home.
’ Andorn ’
7 year old 15.1hh bay stallion by World Class stallion ‘Monsun’ owned by Preesall Garage. Won SEVEN races for us, including 5 in 2010.
Back in work and fit to race again 2012! We hope all goes well with Andy as he was injured over hurdles last October and it looked as though his racing career was over. Should be back May 2012 all being well.
‘Back to Paris’
- 9 year old 16.2hh bay gelding by Lil’s Boy owned by Julie Haughton, Mark Cooper & Ownaracehorse
Paris has been with us over a year now and has given us and his owners Mark and Julie some great days in 2011. he will be part owned in 2012 by Ownaracehorse as well, as we wish them much luck withhimas well. Decisive winner of both a hurdle andaflat race for us, making all both times, Paris has als run some brave races in defeat, his 2nd at Towcester being particularly memorable. Paris is a lovely big horse, very handsome and he has a wonderful temperament. He is the quietest on the yard to ride out (but can be keen up the gallops) andThea enjoys riding him most of all at home. He may not be as good as Frankel but watch this lad on his favoured fast ground and he has a stride just like the great horse! He is a tremendous mover and he also prefers lady jockeys!
‘Triple Eight’
4 year old bay gelding by Royal Acadamey owned by CB Construction Ltd
T riple had what we view as an exaggerated rating of 92 when he arrived here from Ireland after running in top class races. He has finished 2ndtwice for us, most recently in December at Wolverhampton where he was beaten by half a length. Winner of a maiden in Ireland in 2010, this 4 year old has now reached a sensible handicap mark for the flat in 2012 and is soon back in work, beginning of March 2012.
‘Ancient Times’
6 year old 15.2hh bay gelding owned by Ryan Hadfield
**Won his 1st point-to-point at Alnwick**
‘Oz’ is a lovely, quiet ride and is Thea’s favourite. He has now returned to his handicap hurdling, we are hoping that winning his point might of given him new confidence. A close 2nd at Ayr was a tremendous run – oh so close!
6 year old 16.1hh bay gelding by Royal Acadamy owned by CB Construction Ltd
‘Roger’ has won three times, been 2nd three times and3rd three times. All his wins were on the all-weather in Ireland, so he is yet to win this side of the water. He won at Dundalk twice and once at Laytown – on the beach! He can hopefully progress from his recent 3rd at Doncaster. UPDATE 4th at Southwell and a decisive winner at Musselburgh mid February.
‘Earl Grez’
7 year old 16.1hh liver chestnut gelding owned by CB Construction Ltd
‘Earl’ finished 4th for us first time out after showing nothing for his previous trainer. He has also been placed in 5 of his 8 runs for us. He was very unlucky not to win his handicap chase at Warwick when beaten by an A.P inspired ride which went 1000-1 in running, drilled to the line beating us by half a length! Earl is a handsome, well built, impressive looking horse and is an excellent jumper. He is yet to win, but has come close a few times!
‘Simply Smashing’
12 year old bay gelding by Simply Great owned by Colin Fletcher & Mick Mahon.
‘ Tiny ‘ joined us early 2009 and didnt show much promise, but after heading off to the sales (and returning unsold) he had a change of heart! He has won a hurdle and 6 chases for us, including the Durham National at Sedgefield. Tiny loves nothing better than rattling his feet off good, hard ground and the further the better. Unlucky not to win a 2nd hurdle race at Hexham. He stuck his neck out and battled all the way to the line, beaten by only a short head by Eyre Square. He is now trying his hooves at pointing! Tiny is a true gent at home and a pleasure to have around, everyone loves him, especially Sarah!
Point to Pointing – seperate yard
‘Cool Operator’
9 year old bay gelding owned by Alderclad Ltd.
‘Howard’ is a fairly recent addition to the yard who is very straight forward and easy to deal with. He is a good looking, fine sort. Looks like he lost his way a little over fences after running in the 2009 Arkle. Hopefully we can restore his confidence and get him enjoying himself. He has a touch of class about him and we look forward to some good days on the track with him. He is another favourite of Sarah’s!
‘Call it On’
6 year old chestnut gelding owned by The Wiggins Family
He is a well built horse who is a great work horse at home. ‘Colin’ has won once and been places 6 times. He was narrowly beaten first time out by the now highly regarded Alarazi who went on to win the Imperial Cup and went up 30lbs in the handicap. He is a nice straight forward and kind horse who everyone loves riding. UPDATE - good 2nd at Musselburgh last week behind the progressive Red Tanber.
‘Antoella’ -
5 year old grey mare owned by Ramjam and Ownaracehorse
‘Ella’ won a juvenile handicap hurdle for us at Musselburgh. She is a gutsy little mare who tends to be very keen. Can be tricky to ride at home, but Joel seems to get on with her well. She gets a bit frustrated at the races, which probably makes running harder on her, although we do think she is capable of winning another. She had an unlucky run on the flat at Southwell one day when the hood got stuck on her head, getting left at the start by 6 lengths, and then only getting beat by 6 lengths at the line!
‘Stormy Morning’
6 year old liver chestnut 16hh gelding owned by Ownaracehorse & Colin Fletcher
‘Stormy’ is a compact, well built little horse who joined us in November when Phil bought him from Doncaster sales. He jumped poorly before he came to us, but has improved a lot since some intensive schooling. The work paid off as he won a novice handicap hurdle for us at Sedgefield in December, so has made a good start! Stormy is a favourite of Kirsty’s! UPDATE 3rd at Musselburgh.
‘Chloe’s Image’
yearling half sister to Lady Chloe. Bay, 15hh owned by G.Fawcett & Philip Kirby
She is very much like our other mare Lady Chloe in every way. She has been backed and is riding away nicely.
‘Number One Guy’
5 year old 15.3hh Black gelding by Rock of Gibralter owned by John Lees & keith Foster.
Won in October 2009 for Mark Tompkins on the flat, shown nothing on the level since, but recently had a couple of promising runs in novice hurdles this winter, 5th and 4th on his latest starts. A light-framed, good looking black gelding who we hope will mature with age. When he learns to settle and jump he could be very nice. Is currently on a winter break and will return in the spring/late winter (depending on the ground) for some runs at tracks like Cartmel.
‘Pickworth’
7 year old bay mare owned by Keith Sivills
Winner of a bumper and a handicap hurdle. Just returned from her summer holidays looking well. Looks like she could maybe progress into a chaser.She is a lovely ride and enjoys her work. She isn’t so keen on being stabled so gets turned out as much as the weather allows. She has to be stabled surrounded by ‘friends’ as she frets a lot if she thinks she has been left alone. She loves nothing more than a good hack out around the moors and might go hunting soon with her owner aboard!
‘Skip The Present’
9 year old Bay gelding by Presenting – Owned by Skip Racing Ltd.
‘Skip’ is a new addition to the yard. He is huge imposing horse who looks every inch a chaser. He is by Presenting who usually produces 3mile chasers. A lightly raced horse so we will have to see what he has to offer…..
‘Acknowledgement’
10 year old Bay gelding by Josr Algarhoud – Owned by Skip Racing Ltd.
Another new addition to our yard who has the same sire as one of our yards star’s Agglestone Rock. He won a 2m1f handicap hurdle in December ’09 at bangor on soft ground. Could be another dual purpose horse for us as he has ran on the flat too.
Jamaddji
5 year old Bay mare by Needwood Blade – Owned by West Coast Racing Partnership.
‘Jammi’ is a nice, quiet and straight forward mare who is an angel to ride. She is another new addition to the yard who has also only been lightly raced.
Elspeth’s Boy
Not in full training or summer resting.
Agglestone Rock
Goldan Jess
Lady Chloe
Millie Jane
Huntingfortreasure
Danehillsundance
Riverside Poppet & Iktiview (at home until the Spring)
Riley (yearling)
Georgia (yearling)
Buttons (yearling)
Prince (Yearling)