Thursday 1st October 2020 – denied in the shadows of the post!

Pisgah Pike missed out on winning the 28k Listed Prelude hurdle at Market Rasen last Saturday by a short head in an agonising photo finish.  With Gavin off injured, Johnny Burke was a late substitute and he rode him very well.  Pike tanked his way through the race, he hit the front at the 2nd last flight of hurdles and looked home and hosed half way up the run-in.  However, we were just caught in the shadows of the post to be denied by a short head in a photo finish.  Poor Gavin was sitting on the sidelines with a badly bruised hand – and that may have been the difference between winning and losing.  It was a wonderful run, none the less, and surely recompense awaits.   

Pisgah Pike is denied a Class 1 victory in the shadows of the post.

Fortunate Fred was another to pick up the silver medal when he ran well to be 2nd at Sedgefield this week.  He took a fall on his hurdling debut, and so it was lovely to see him bounce back so well.  Unfortunately, he’s picked up an injury in the process and will be out of action for a moment. 

Datsalrightgino was 3rd last weekend at Market Rasen on his racecourse debut.  He is a smashing youngster, by It’s Gino, who was 3rd in the Arc (and the sire of Grade 1 winner Lalor) and out of a 3-time winning ‘Group placed’ mare.  He looked quite keen and green, but ultimately showed he has a real engine.  He will improve enormously for this effort, and looks a horse with a bright future.

Howdilyoudo was 4th on hurdling debut, and looks to have a bright future.  Whilst, Sovereign Duke didn’t appear to stay 2m5 when 4th at Newton Abbot earlier this week.  He would have won on hurdling debut when he took a crashing fall, so in all honesty it was just lovely to see him jumping around safely.  He certainly remains an exciting novice especially when we drop him back to 2m! 

I’ve been thinking that my next ownership project might be to put together a partnership with a one-off cost of only £1,000 to buy into a horse, and then only a further £1,000 for the ongoing associated costs until 1st January 2022, with no extras at all.  We have recently been sent a gorgeous Walk In The Park 3-year-old filly, who is a half-sister to 3 winners including Bandit Country and the 135 rated Granny Biddy.  She is out of a winning sister to the Coral Cup winner, Son Of Flicka.  This Walk In The Park filly has been backed and ridden away in Ireland prior to arriving with us. She looks a useful type, and will hopefully win a bumper in the spring before progressing.  There would be 25 shares available in this partnership, so please let me know if you might be interested in this idea?   

 A gorgeous Walk in the Park filly 

Although we’ve had a slightly frustrating start to the season with too many 2nd places, we’ve still got 6 winners on the board already and to be heading into the core season in 13th position in the trainer’s championship having accrued £60,000 in prizemoney bodes well for when we get the winter horses out.