Wahay, Cufflink gets us there at last

Friday, 31 August 2012

It has seemed like a long time since win number 27 although it was only 11 days ago, so it was great to see Cufflink end the waiting in style at Wolverhampton this evening, posting a convincing 2 1/2 length win over red hot favourite Medhyaar under jockey Chris Catlin.  Although Cufflink was keen enough through the race, Chris settled her as well as he could in a wide third and turning into the straight the second and third obligingly parted like the Red Sea to let her post her first win on her fourth start.

Cufflink is owned and bred by Soham builder Colin Murfitt from his first horse, Fred's Dream.  It has been a good week for Colin's Pantile Stud homebreds, as on Wednesday he sold another yearling filly by Dutch Art out of Petong's Pet for £110,000 at Doncaster Bloodstock Sales.  Many congratulations to Colin and his family.  Also a big well done to Bo Hicks-Little, who used to work in the office here at Chestnut Tree Stables and now manages Pantile Stud, looking after many of our horses in training and clients' broodmares.

Oh and I nearly forgot - 28 (27 in England and Mirza in Ireland) marks Rae's best total ever for one year!

First Class takes yard to best total

Monday, 20 August 2012

Brian and Elaine Cooper's First Class relished the sounder surface at Doncaster on Saturday night to help the yard to 27 winners, our best equal total, last achieved back in 2001.  So just one more needed for a best ever year numerically and still one or two horses who look as though they can add to the total.  The strike rate of 22% also bears scrutiny compared to many very successful trainers' 2012 totals (for illustration Sir Henry Cecil 35 winners 18% strike rate/Jeremy Noseda 22 winners, 16% strike rate/Sir Mark Prescott 24 winners, 18% strike rate).

Anyway, the yard's achievement should not dilute the significance of First Class's third win of 2012, a massive step up on where he was a year ago.  He was a bit of a slow learner but is a horse who has shown consistent improvement since the penny dropped earlier this year.  Owner/breeders Brian and Elaine adore 'Ronnie' and it is good to see him repaying their faith in him.  Congratulations to them.

Another great double as Princess returns to form

Sunday, 12 August 2012

Saturday saw an excellent double for the yard.  First, Ever Fortune at Redcar, winning narrowly but proving that he had improved on his debut effort; and then last year's best two year old Princess of Orange returning to form with a vengeance over 1 mile under Seb Sanders, who gave her the confidence she needed to win by 4 1/2 lengths at Newmarket.  She had been pulling too hard which makes it hard to win at any trip but certainly makes it difficult to know what the right trip is.  Owing to good work put in at home by Nick McKee and Jamie Jones she has begun to recapture her form of last year and this was a great effort that puts her right back at the head of things. Congratulations to everyone concerned.

Minalisa doubles up

Monday, 30 July 2012

This afternoon at Yarmouth Chris and Lesley Mills' Minalisa won the second race of her three outing career, this time beating her year older full brother Peace Seeker into a close (head) second place over six furlongs, ridden by Neil Callan.  Although still showing signs of greenness, Minalisa stuck her neck out in very likeable fashion.  She really is a gorgeous looking filly and is sure to benefit from the further experience.  Selkirk mare Mina is proving a useful broodmare at this early stage of her career.  Well done to Chris and Lesley and Farman who led her up today.  Unlike Minalisa, Flynn's Boy was not suited by the soft ground but ran a good race in third.

Future Wonder wins at Leictester

Monday, 30 July 2012

Well the sun finally shone enough for Leicester to race last week (after four consecutive abandonments) and for Future Wonder to put her best foot forward for owners Barry Stewart, Derek Willis and Rae Guest.  Ridden by Chris Catlin she came with a smooth run to stamp her authority on the situation a furlong out.  Although it was only a seller (and they had to pay to keep her overall) it was a good win, taking the yard to 23 for the year (including one in Ireland).  For anyone wondering, 27 is the yard's best total ever so let's try to maintain the progress to get over that magic mark.