Flat season review 2022
Flat season review 2022
We have been blessed by one of our best seasons in terms of results and the horses have run consistently well throughout the season.
30 winners, 43 seconds and close on 50% of all runners placed. Prize money has been an all time high for us at over £360k. That may not sound much but take a look at the average rating and purchase price of the 47 horses that have run over the year and then the results take on an altogether more remarkable look.
Our headline act has been 2 year old colt Rumstar. By first season sire Havana Grey, bred by Whitsbury Manor Stud and owned by Vincent Ward who raced very successfully his dam before trading her to the stud for this yearling. What a good move that was as this tough little colt concluded his season by winning the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes at Newmarket. A race so dear to us having won it twice previously.
Rumstar has run 7 times and always finished in the winners enclosure with three wins now to his name including a nursery handicap at Glorious Goodwood. David Probert was aboard for the first win but it was Rob Hornby up for the big ones.
Other two year olds to have played their part were Enochdhu who won two races for Julia Scott. Bonnsie won two races for the Williams family. Enola Grey won for Mary Anne Parker.
One who didn’t quite win but still gave his owners Whitcoombe Park Racing a marvellous season was Uffington who finished an honourable third in the £150k Tattersalls October Auction Stakes after various other placed runs. Bought for just £8k as a yearling he went on to be sold abroad for £85k. We will miss him but it was good trade.
The older horses gave us much fun. Sweet Reward ran 8 times and was placed five times. The highlights being a fourth at Epsom on Oaks Day and a second at Sandown on Eclipse day for owners Old Stoic Racing Club and Eddie Ankarcrona.
Four year old Way Of Life won his first three races of the year and was placed for his next three runs until the handicapper inevitably caught up with him. He has done well having been a £800 yearling purchase. He started his handicapping life on a rating of 53 and to date has won 5 races and is currently rated 83 for owners Berkeley Racing.
8 year old Orin Swift ran 8 times and finished in the first three 5 times, winning at Bath.
Four year old gelding Mark Of Respect ran 9 times and he too was placed in the first three five times including a win at Bath. Such a sound and consistent horse for owners Berkeley Racing and we wish his new owners success with him in Bahrain having realised £40k at the Horses In Training sale.
An aim of the season was to win the £30k 6f Grey Horse Handicap at Newmarket in August with Strike and that’s just what we did. Rob Hornby was in the saddle that day for the Emmet family.
Four year old filly New Heights was busy running 11 times but she did win three races for owner Simon Skinner. Two of those ridden by our apprentice Tyler Saunders.
The three year olds were not our strongest division but Mrembo won for RWH Partnership, Belisa De Vega won twice for Portlee Bloodstock and Falesia Beach backed up several placed runs with two wins for the Williams family.
We mourned the death of our long standing owner Anthony Boswood in the summer and his three year old homebred Knight’s Gambit fittingly won a couple of days before his memorial service.
That win signalled the arrival of our other apprentice Olivia Tubb who’s first career win that day was. Olivia has been attached to our stable for a couple of years now and she has made a promising impression as a rider.
Matthew Salaman has continued in invaluable and efficient form as head lad. Reg Payne and Pat Kennedy have clocked up the miles in travelling lad roles. Long serving James Harding made a belated return to race riding as an amateur due to injury. The aforementioned Tyler Saunders has had a good year. Emily Wingate has made several successful trips to the races and Amelia Butterworth has worked very hard. Matthew Slater joined us during the season and had his first ride as an amateur on Knight’s Gambit, finishing a commendable second. Our former apprentice Ned Curtis returned from a successful stint in France as a jump jockey to join us as an assistant and he has been a very helpful addition to our team.
We thank all of our staff for such a successful season as we do our owners for their support and patience. Roll on 2023!
