First Experience, First for 2014

Friday, 10 January 2014

First Experience, a recently turned three year old filly by Tamayuz and owned jointly by Guy Carstairs and the Fit or Fat racing syndicate; some of whom are local to Wolverhampton kept up her 100% strike rate at the track gaining her second win from just her fourth attempt.

With regular jockey Chris Catlin on board she sat behind the leaders off a strongly run race, turning into the straight she drew level before quickening clear to score by a neck from the long term pace setter.

Congratulations to all connections and to Hollie who looks after her and led her up.

First Experience makes second one a winning one

Saturday, 23 November 2013

First Experience, a two year old filly by Tamayuz proved too good for her rivals at Wolverhampton yesterday evening when streaking clear under Chris Catlin on only her second racecourse experience.

Named First Experience due to her lead owner's first foray into racehorse ownership, Nick Pogmore has had an involvement in Kickingthelilly's successes in the past but chose to go it alone this time last year and bought 50% of First Experience of this very website.  The other 50% was purchased by Guy Carstairs of which Racehorse ownership is not a new experience but being one at Chestnut Tree Stables is. Welcome to a winning team Guy!

Congratulations must go to all concerned not least Steve Davis, Steve Lodge, Andrew and all at Gary Witheford's.  First Experience has not been the easiest to deal with in the stalls, her first run in a hood and blinkers was due to her stalls fear and we always thought with them on she wouldn't show her best.  Gary and his team had her for a week and done great work with her to get her to control her fear. Well done to all involved in the ownership as well; Nick Pogmore, Guy Carstairs, Stephen Piper, Jon Plant and Andy Fincham. Patience has been key as with all racehorse ownership and thankfully the patience has been rewarded.

First Experience became our 30th winner of the season and our 11th two year old winner showing the younger division is in fine form.  Our strike rate of two year-old winners to runners is 28% which is quite an impressive feat when you consider the likes of Richard Hannon 19%, Saeed Bin Suroor 25%, Richard Fahey 16%, Mark Johnston 11% and John Gosden 15% lead the top of the trainers table.

Cape Factor finishes the season on a high!

Friday, 01 November 2013

Cape Factor is starting to dominate this news feed of late and gained yet another success at Newmarket earlier today when powering clear to win the Bosra Sham Listed Race for Derek Willis whose colours gained arguably their greatest success at Newmarket when winning the Cheveley Park Stakes with Serious Attitude.

Cape Factor is related to Serious Attitude and showed her own dash and speed coming from near last to first to score by a length and a half and collect some very valuable black type in the mean time.

After winning at Yarmouth a little over nine days ago, the handicapper hiked her some sixteen pounds which meant that pattern company is becoming a more obvious choice and she showed she was far from out of her depth as she powered up the hill under successful jockey Chris Catlin.  It was no mean feat either, she vied for favouritism with Expect of Jeremy Noseda whose only previous defeat came to Al Thakhira who is in Breeders Cup action later tonight in the Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita. Expect finished down the field today, managing only seventh.

Congratulations must go to Derek Willis, Rae who managed to buy (steal!) Cape Factor from Goffs Ireland last year for a paltry €10,000 and to Hollie who looks after her, rides her most days and is most definitely the apple of her eye! Her nickname is Olive, named after Popeye for her guts and determination and she lived up to her nick-name today!

On the subject of the Breeders Cup, good luck must go to Leonard Powell who was our Landlord last year when Miss Cato ran in the American Oaks. He is a follower of this news feed and trains Aotearoa in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf this evening.

Cape Factor trebles up!

Tuesday, 22 October 2013

Cape Factor, a tough little Oratorio filly who is owned by Derek Willis and runs in the famous colours carried to victory by Serious Attitude streaked several lengths clear before being eased down to gain a comfortable success in the Nursery Handicap at Yarmouth this afternoon.

Cape Factor clearly relished the softer conditions and took her career tally to three wins from four runs. Congratulations to all concerned, especially Hollie who looks after her and rides her most days. Hollie is pictured aboard Cape Factor (right).

Mirza makes the L'Abbaye

Friday, 04 October 2013

Chris and Lesley Mills' star gelding Mirza made the final cut for the Group One Prix De L'Abbaye at Longchamp on Arc day this coming Sunday.

Widely recognised as one of the premier sprint races in the world the Prix De L'Abbaye is ran at Longchamp racecourse in Paris over five furlongs.  The same course and distance that Mirza was victorious (dead-heated) at almost three weeks ago.  That day he was ridden by William Buick but in the L'Abbaye he will be partnered by Champion Jockey and the most successful jockey aboard Mirza, Richard Hughes.

He has a low draw (five) and the race is due off at 1.45pm (local time) so 12.45pm English time.  Good luck to all connected and fingers crossed!