THE STUBBORN ONE

THE STUBBORN ONE

 

 

 

Wednesday at the Cheltenham Festival was a massive day for the Twiston-Davies team as Sam drove The New One home, clear of Irish hotpot Pont Alexandre for his Dad Nigel, to set up a great week for the team, despite the pre-festival concerns over a bug in the yard.

 

 

Thursday brought the excitement of Mad Moose's intended run in the Byrne Group Plate. The meeting already had a sense of perspective as I was attending, as usual, with my brother Pete, who was recovering from a heart attack, only 3 weeks previously, so we were determined to enjoy our day.

The previous day, I had bumped into Oli Bell from Racing UK, who had been in touch, following reading my blog and we had agreed to meet up to do a piece for Racing UK about Mad Moose's chances and the excitement of having a runner at the festival. To my delight, we were able to do this on Thursday and Oli had mentioned that Moose was 'Quirky' to which I replied that he wasn't called Mad Moose for nothing. Neither of us or the Racing UK viewers were to know that this was to be a portent of what was to happen later in the afternoon.

Immediately after Solwhit had won the World Hurdle, we rushed down to the pre-parade ring to see our hero being saddled. Moose looked relaxed and was in tip top form, with everything in his favour. In the parade ring amongst the throng of connections of 24 horses, Sam was his usual really positive self, letting us know how he was going to hold on to Moose for as long as possible before going for it from the bottom of the mighty Cheltenham hill.

We rushed up to the Owners and Trainers viewing area, just behind Venetia Williams and her owners and exchanged Best of Lucks with Tim Vaughan, standing alongside of us. As had been the case all week, the horses were at the start very early and they circled for what seemed like ages before the crowd's roar told us that the horses were rushing out through the small gap to the shute to the very close starting line. Watching on the Big Screen, the field rushed to the first fence to be greeted by the Flag Man and the starter calling them back. No sight of Mad Moose until he was walked into view as the field regrouped at the starting line. Unfortunately the starter didn't ask them to circle to get Moose back into the group, so sadly the inevitable happened when he let them go again and Moose stood stock still as the field went on their way. After removing Head from Hands, we watched the finish before rushing back to the unsaddling for the story from Sam.

Sam's smile had turned to a scowl by the time he rode the 'Quirky' Mad Moose back to greet us. No reason but 'The Stubborn One' had just dug his heels in with no warning and from then on was never going to start. Sam was annoyed, Nigel embarrassed and the owners a mixture of amazement, laughter and disbelief. But as we said the Nigel, there's always another day.

Hindsight is a marvellous thing but the sight of the screens around the stricken Matuhi, who had fallen when challenging at the last in our race, was a real smack of perspective, as sadly were the horrific injuries that took jockey JT McNamara off to Frenchay hospital, where he still lies one week later.

Our prayers and sympathies are with JT and his family as they watch over him and not to forget the owners and stable staff of the David Pipe trained Matuhi, who lost his life when challenging for the lead at the last fence. Not for them the chance to pat their horse and call him a 'Naughty Boy' and refer to him as 'Quirky' next time he runs.

Mad Moose (The Stubborn One) will be back to prove himself at either Aintree or Punchestown (or both) and we might just leave him in a couple of races - 'JUST IN CASE!!!'



IS IT MADNESS TO BELIEVE WE CAN WIN AT THE FESTIVAL?

It's Cheltenham Eve and I'm lucky enough to have an interest in a horse entered in two races this week, giving me the chance to have a runner at the Festival for the second year running.

MAD MOOSE exceeded all expectations last month when finishing an amazing second to Jump Racing Superstar SPRINTER SACRE in the Grade 1 Victor Chandler Chase. This was Moose's best ever performance and earnt him a 5lb rise from the handicapper. During the week we toyed with the possibility of spending £17,500 to supplement Moose for the Champion Chase and another showdown with the Sprinter. In the end all horses stood their ground,, so we decided to stick to the handicap route of either the Byrne Group Plate over 2m 5f on Thursday or the Grand Annual over 2m on Friday. As Sam Twiston-Davies gets on so well with Moose, we will run where Sam is able to ride, with Moose being pretty adaptable between 2m and 3m.

As the weeks have approached, my enthusiasm and positivity have increased and I cannot see how Moose is not a much shorter price for either handicap, given his last run. I'm sure if Somersby was entered off Moose's mark he would be single figures but Moosie stands at a lovely 33/1 for either race, to my biased mind, an enormous price given his brilliant course form.

But surely the bookies can't be wrong, His 2nd to Sprinter Sacre must have been a complete fluke, as must his previous good runs against Top Class opposition.Surely he can't win a big Cheltenham Handicap off his increased weight - after all, these races are won by unexposed types from France (usually trained by Henderson, Nicholls or Pipe)

But Moose doesn't know how to run a bad race and come race time his loyal owners will lap up the atmosphere in the Parade ring before young Sam comes and explains how he is going to win and then we will make our way up to the viewing steps to watch through shaking binoculars.

He's already given us some amazing days and we love him to bits (as do his adoring Cheltenham Fan Club), but if he could get us into the winners enclosure, then Dreams will be coming true.

AND WHAT ABOUT IF HE WINS.............................

NAME THAT HORSE?

As Cheltenham approaches I have a connundrum for you.

The horse in question has performed as follows over the last 15 months:

Grade 2 Novice Chase - 2nd to Silvianaco Conti

Grade 2 Novice Chase - 3rd to Bob's Worth and Cue Card

Grade 1 Hurdle - 4th to Zarkandar, Rock on Ruby and Grandouet

Grade 1 Chase - 2nd to Sprinter Sacre

Now I know I'm incredibly biased but that's one hell of a Cheltenham 2013 Who's Who.

 

 

Our superstar MAD MOOSE is back on track for the festival after his heroics at Cheltenham last month behind Sprinter Sacre.

 

Only raised 5 lbs by the handicapper he is back to a mark only 1 lb higher than when he finished 3rd at Cheltenham over 3m when he was still learning the game l5 months ago.

 

Racing Post Ratings have Moose only 2lbs behind the Pipe Hot Pot, BALLYNAGOUR but still 33/1 NRNB with Paddy Power for the Byrne Group Plate and 33s generally.

 

 

Now, I know I'm biased but..................................??

 



SACRE BLEU - IS IT A DREAM?

MAD MOOSE

 

When I got involved in owning racehorses, I could only dream about having a horse involved in the biggest Race meetings and the biggest Races.

 

 

The wonderful Mad Moose has already enabled me to lead him into the winners enclosure at the home of Jump Racing, and tomorrow, I will be involved in one of the most anticipated races of the jump season so far, when we have the nerve to enter the fray against the current superstar of the jump racing world, SPRINTER SACRE.

 

 

The Victor Chandler Chase has been saved by great work from the BHA and Cheltenham Racecourse and of course the Cheltenham team have done an incredible job in getting the course fit for racing tomorrow (Hopefully!!)

 

 

Clearly Moose is up against it tomorrow and on the formbook, he is lined up for 7th place barring accidents but I can assure you, I won't be dreaming about finishing 7th tonight. In my dreams Sprinter Sacre is clear but tiring over the last on the heavy ground and Sam Twiston-Davies is getting a storming run out of Mad Moose, catching the champion on the line for a momentous victory.

 

 

Dreams and Disasters - You can't dream of miracles unless you are in the race - Wish Moose (and all the other horses) luck!!

 

 



 

 

 



2012 A YEAR TO REMEMBER

2012 A Year to Remember

 

 

Well, 2012 has come to an end and it's been a tremendously successful year for my horses with a wonderful total of 9 Winners all in the Middleham Park Racing colours.

 

In total I've had 70 runners, 9 Winners, 9 Second and 8 Third, which is a 12.9% Winners to runners rate and an amazing 37.2% in the first 3.

 

My Best three horses earnt in excess of £17,000 in Prize Money each, but sadly, even that wouldn't cover a years training fees, which tells you a lot about the state of Prize Money in the UK.

 

That been said, the good days have been spectacular and Ihave been to watch my horses run from Haydock to Thirsk to Newmarket and Paris!!

 

2012 started with my highlight of the Season, leading Nigel Twiston-Davies' Mad Moose into the Cheltenham Winners enclosure in April after an astonishing victory. Moose has become a bit of a legend with a fine army of fans on Twitter and he will give us a lot of fun in 2013.

 

 



May brought the debut of Richard Fahey's very fast 2 Year old Tatlisu. Very well fancied, he got home well to land a £10k Racing Post Yearling Bonus for his owners.

 

 

 

Our Boy Jack started his 3 year old career in fine style with a fine victory on his second start at Mussleburgh over 7f. Jack had a stunning season, winning again at Chester in July and being very unlucky in losing on two further occasions. Overall he was only unplaced in 1 race out of 10 fine runs going up 18 pounds in the handicap from 67 to 85 and winning over £17,000 in prize money. He will be back next year for the big 7f/1m Handicaps, hopefully a big prize awaits.

 

 

 

 





True Blue finally got his head in front at Towcester in June on unsuitably soft ground. The incredibly wet year has not been in his favour and hopefully he can get some nice fast summer ground in 2013.

 

 

 

Private Story moved to the magician David O'Meara in June and David got a great selling win out of him at Catterick showing the first decent piece of form of his season.

 

 

 

July saw the Catterick debut of the Richard Fahey trained 2 year old filly Strange Magic. As you know she was my biggest investment of the season and named by me, so obviously very close to my heart. She scooted clear to win comfortably and talk of Listed and Group races was very exciting. A disappointing run on firm ground in a Group 3 at Ascot was followed by very respectable runs in 2 Big sales races and a hot nursery. Richard and the MPR team decided to drop her back to 5f and she won a heavy ground Novice again at Catterick, to get her back on track. A study of the European Pattern book identified a Listed race at Longchamp over 5f in November and Strange Magic ran a blinder to finish 2nd and gain that valuable Black Type. I followed her to Fontainbleu at the end of Nov where she again placed in a 6f Listed race picking up very decent French Prize Money on both occasions. Now rated 95, she will be aimed at Fillies Listed Sprints, early in the 2013 season. A very exciting time awaits us.

 

 

 

 

Finally my shortest ownership of the season, 2 days and a winner!!!!. I was at Newmarket with David O'Meara and the MPR buying team when they picked up Equitania from Richard Hannon's for the bargain price of £10,000. I bought my share on Tuesday 13th November and she won her Southwell claimer very easily on Thursday 15th November, after which she was claimed by an owner from Alan Bailey's yard for £16,000. Good piece of business!!

 

Mad Moose and Minella Theatre have already done us proud this jumps season finishing 4th and 5th in the very valuable International Hurdle at Cheltenham in December, picking up over £10,000 between them and they will be 2013s first runners together with John Quinn's exciting novice chaser Distime.

 

Hoping we can beat 2012s successes, but you can be sure there will be lots of Dreams and Disasters along the way.

 

 



 

 

 

 

 



IT DOES EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS ON THE TIN

When I named my Blog, 'Dreams and Disasters', I didn't realise that 1 hour in racing could encompass both so completely last weekend.

As we reached the end of the outstanding 2012 Flat Season, the eyes of the Racing world were firmly focused on Ascot for Champions Day (Sponsored by Frankel/Qipco). Everything that day was concentrated on that wonderful animal and he produced the goods in fantastic style, helped in no small way by one of the best pace making rides I have seen by Ian Mongan on Bullet Train.

Sat 20th for me, revolved around 2 horses. Firstly my 2 year old filly STRANGE MAGIC. After her superb debut win at Catterick, she had mixed it with the big boys and girls. Firstly in a Group 3 at Ascot, where she disappointed on ground much too quick for her and then running very respectable races in Big Sales Races at Doncaster and Redcar.

Richard Fahey and Nick Bradley from MPR had decided that a drop to 5f could help her substantially and this small field novice looked tailor made for her to regain winning ways. The ground was very testing but STRANGE MAGIC broke well and gradually wore down the field to win going away, clearly enjoying the ease in the ground.

 

 

A great start to the day as I watched from the bookies in the Members Bar at Cheltenham, where I had gone to watch MAD MOOSE'S seasonal debut in the Feature 2m 4f chase at the Showcase meeting. After Moose's  tremendous win at Cheltenham last April, we had high hopes for this debut. I had been to Nigel Twiston-Davies' yard a week ago to watch Moose work up the Naunton gallops. He was in sparkling form and worked really enthusiastically.

 

 

Moose looked in fantastic condition as he walked around the paddock. Sam Twiston-Davies was very confident about his chances and we rushed up the the stand to watch the horses at the start. After quite a delay, the horses circled at the start waiting for the starter to give them the go ahead. Suddenly they were off BUT one horse was left stationary at the start as the rest of the field jumped the first. The problem with having recognisable silks is that there was no doubt that it was the Moose who hadn't started and we stood there barely watching the race with a mixture of shock and dismay, with a hint of hysterical laughter. As soon as the race finished we rushed round to the unsaddling enclosure to greet Sam, Nigel and MAD MOOSE. Sam reported that they were waiting a long time and unfortunately the starter suddenly called them forward with Moose planted and despite Sam's appeals, he let them go. Nigel was very apologetic but fortunately we have become used to the ups and downs of racing and we still have a fit, healthy horse unlike others who are sometimes not so lucky. The badly behaved MAD MOOSE will have the help of blinkers next time out, where we hope not to see a repeat performance.

 

 

 

Which brings us on to this weekend......

 

STRANGE MAGIC was in great form following her win at Catterick and Nick Bradley of Middleham Park Racing had spotted a Listed sprint at Longchamp this Sunday that could suit her on her favoured soft ground. As final decs closed on Thursday, we decided to supplement her against 6 opponents in the CRITERIUM DE VITESSE over 1000m tomorrow. This is a fantastic opportunity for our filly to gain some valuable Black type, but she will need to be at her best to get in the top three. Drawn 2, we hope that Freddie Tylicki can get her out to the rail quickly. It's proved almost impossible for me to get over to Paris, without paying more than the supplementary entry fee!! So much for cheap and easy flights abroad with Easyjet or FlyBe.

 

STRANGE MAGIC has had similar travel problems this morning, unable to travel by ferry due to the strong winds, she is currently on the EUROSTAR making her way through the tunnel to Paris. Hope her passage through the race is smoother.

 

Meanwhile MAD MOOSE runs (hopefully) in the Matalan Handicap Hurdle at Aintree tomorrow. We had considered the OLD ROAN CHASE today but Moose would have been 5lb out of the handicap and with Sam sidelined through suspension, Nigel has decided that the hurdle route would be more suitable. David England will be charged with making sure that Moose gets away with the rest of the field, everything will be crossed.

 

So between 12.30pm tomorrow and 1.10pm we will have another opportunity for more DREAMS AND DISASTERS!!! - Hopefully both Dreams

 

 



 



STRANGER THAN FICTION

Apologies for my absence from updates recently, been particularly busy at work but an equally busy time with the horses both flat and jumps.

STRANGE MAGIC

In late April Middleham Park went to Doncaster Breeze Up Sales and bought 4 Two Year Olds. I inspected the speedy breezes of the first three carefully, but the one that caught my eye was the steady but classy breeze of the Diamond Green filly. Sister to 3 Two year old winners and from the family of Oaks winner Diminuendo, she fitted my bill of a well bred athlete at a sensible price of £26,000.
I contacted MPR and agreed to buy a share and they kindly allowed me to name her.

In my early days, I bought a jumps mare who sadly never made the racecourse. I had named her Strange Magic, a song title from one of my favourite bands at the time, ELO. I thought it would be great to get the name on the course at last and after checking with Weatherbys that I could re-use the name, our Diamond Green filly was named STRANGE MAGIC (i'm sure you can You-Tube it!!)

STRANGE MAGIC was entered for her debut in a normal Maiden Auction Race for Colts and Fillies at Catterick on Weds. In the first race of the day the two MPR fillies had come over to the stands rail and stolen First and Second place with their tactics (and their ability). STRANGE MAGIC was drawn 1, and as the only debutant in the field, she made a hesitant start from the gates, before quickly making up her ground up the rail. As the field turned into the straight, the leaders made a bee line for the stands rail but Tony Hamilton shot STRANGE MAGIC round the far bend and kicked on in front. Split by the width of the track, it was very difficult to see who was in front but to my relief, our girl had gone clear under hands and heels to win by a comfortable 3 lengths.

Sat watching in a tiny bookies in Tiverton, some 200+ miles from Catterick was not quite the dream, but the performance was. It would be wonderful to imagine she could compete at listed level or higher in the future, but for now, the genius of Richard Fahey will decide the next step for my girl.

She's certainly done the name proud so far!!