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War Chant's winning streak continues
Vicky Markowiak's progressive War Chant completed a hatrick of wins last night at Bath when taking the mile handicap in some style.
This is War Chant's third win this month and he seems to be thoroughly enjoying his racing and improving with each run. Now rated 68 he was put up 4lbs by the handicapper from his win at Wetherby a fortnight earlier and looks to have more improvement still to come. He showed his increasing versatility as these last three wins have come at three different tracks in the shape of Nottingham, Wetherby and now Bath.
Connor Planas took 5lbs off his back which helped make his task easier and he went to post the 9-4 favourite (incidentally Connor is the grandson of Rae's cousin !). Drawn from stall 6 he broke swiftly and contested the lead with Natzor early on before settling into second place. He travelled sweetly on the outside before they quickened up the hill and he soon asserted a furlong and a half out, and despite drifting left under pressure he did not cause any interference as he had the race won.
Vicky is understandably ecstatic with this latest win and this is her first hatrick of wins as an owner. We are so pleased for her, and for War Chant who will soon be vying with Aramis Grey for the title of stable star if he continues in this vein of form !
Reprobates Too
Three shares left in a new syndicate called Reprobates Too. Like the winning model of the successful Reprobates, Chestnuts and Calm Again partnerships, the new syndicate includes three fillies - this time by top two year old sire Kodiac (sire of Tiggy Wiggy), Group 1 winner Frozen Power and Group 1 producer, Intikhab, sire of Snow Fairy and Red Evie. If you are interested in taking a share at £5,500 + VAT + £1,000 per month, ring Rae now on 07711 301095 as we expect them to go quickly.
The fillies are racy two year old types by Kodiac, Frozen Power and Intikhab and have been progressing extremely well. Two of the three have had their debut on the track and show great promise. Details as follows:
Alaskan Bay
Bay filly Kodiac x Party Appeal (Mr Greeley) 14/05
By Kodiac, the sire of the bijou Tiggy Wiggy and a consistent producer of early 2 year olds, this is a good moving filly who is a late foal and so a touch on the small side. Luckily for us, as otherwise we couldn’t have bought her! She is out of a Mr Greeley mare who is closely related to Flying Childers winner and stallion Zebedee.
Winter Waltz
Bay filly Frozen Power x Quail Landing (Mark of Esteem) 12/02
Her sire Frozen Power was the Godolphin-owned 2009 German 2000 Guineas winner. He is a half-brother to top-class Finsceal Beo. This one is a thoroughly likeable filly who walks well and is related to Group 3 winner and Group 1 performer Enforcer and Listed placed Canaveral.
Roman Spinner
Chestnut filly Intikhab x Pompeia (Singspiel) 23/02
This attractive filly is the first foal of her dam, a two year winner by Singspiel who was rated 80 and is a half sister to two small black type horses. Intikhab is a proven high class sire, most notably of multiple Group 1 winning fillies Red Evie and Snow Fairy and Rae was pleased to get her at the sales.
The upfront fee of £5,500 plus VAT for each share in the New Partnership includes:
- - Purchase price for all three fillies
- Payment to register Frozen Power for Plus10 bonus scheme - £10,000 bonus on most maidens – www.plus10bonus.com
- New partnership registration and administration fees
- Naming and registration fees for all three fillies
- Registration of colours
- Registration and management fees for Weatherbys VAT reclaim service
The monthly fee has been estimated as an all-inclusive fee of £1000 (no VAT) per sixth share. This will cover all training fees, transport costs, farrier fees and minor veterinary fees and would be paid by standing order direct to the New Partnership’s Weatherbys account on 1st of each month.
(NB: This fee does not include foreign racing travel & entry fees, major race entries other than those already agreed above and significant vets fees (eg. operations and other major treatments).
Brendan Flahive passes
It is with a great deal of sadness that we pass on the news that Brendan Flahive has passed away after a long illness.
Brendan has been an owner here for many years, involved with the Hornets syndicate alongside long-term business partner Eamonn Duggan. Brendan enjoyed a lot of success owning Guilia and most recently God's Speed and Goodyearforroses. He was also involved in Calm Attitude.
Our deepest sympathy goes out to everybody connected with Brendan.
RIP Montecristo
A personal tribute by Rachel Flynn.
Yesterday my favourite horse, Montecristo, died aged 22. The bare statistics will tell you that he was a good racehorse, the winner of 19 races and over £100,000 with a highest official BHA rating of 93; sound and hardy, he won for 12 different jockeys, starting with Frankie Dettori and right downhill to me twice (my first two rides) and was most successfully ridden by Neil Pollard for whom he won three times.
As with most statistics, this doesn’t start to tell the story. Monte was in the first group of horses Rae trained for Lord Matthews, the breeder of subsequent Group winner My Emma, a spindly Warning colt who had to go out in blinkers and would whip round so dramatically that he fell over in the process more than once.
Gelded at two, he became a legend in these parts when, after winning four lowly races as a three year old, he became very sick and was given to Rae by Ian Matthews on a promise that he would be put down if he couldn’t be cured. A strict diet involving raspberry leaves brought him back from death’s door in 1996 and he repaid Rae’s faith in him by winning five consecutive races and a further eleven over his twelve year racing career.
All good work, but his real element was on the gallops, ideally soft ground over seven furlongs on the Flat gallop, where he led dual Group 1 winner My Emma, her daughter Listed winner Moments of Joy and even this year Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome. You could never have a more enthusiastic and reliable partner and we used to say that if he got loose he would run up the gallops between the discs. Even though he never could trot round the paddock without seeing a lion behind the bollards.
People are not always complimentary about trainers’ yards, but Monte absolutely thrived on the environment, enjoying trying to kick and bite people every day for fun. It is tribute to the care and attention of first John Wilsoncroft and now Steve Lodge that he thoroughly enjoyed his life. In his later years he gave so many people their first taste of riding a racehorse and was adaptable enough to do the 20 mile Cancer Research ride in 2010. Saturday was the first morning that he hasn’t shouted for carrots when he heard my footsteps and, although he didn’t suffer and he died here with us, I shall miss him every day. It’s the end of an era. To borrow from Graham Goode’s commentary, you could count on Montecristo. RIP old friend.
Mirza arrives in Dubai
Chris and Lesley Mills' crack sprinter Mirza has arrived safely in Dubai for the first leg of his eastern adventure. Mirza, who is due to run in a Group 3 next 'Super Saturday' at Meydan ridden by James Doyle, set off from Heathrow on Saturday evening and was met by travelling head lad Andrew Bubb who is out there with him. Mirza has three days of quarantine before he can exercise on the track and Rae will join him on Thursday morning. Saturday is Part 1 of a two stage trip, culminating in a Group 1 sprint on World Cup night.