HUNTINGDON 22ND JUNE
2002
By
Claire Taylor
ANGLO
ARABS FEATURE AT HUNTINGDON WITH 13 RUNNING.
The choice
of two Anglo races at Huntingdon saw a total of 13 runners and
12 different sets of connections taking part in the action. The
feature race was the Penn Wood Challenge Open Handicap over a
mile for Anglo and Part Bred Arabs, kindly sponsored by Stuart
Shefras. The start of this race was interesting as Tamagotchi
looked like he was trying to set off in the wrong direction taking
Pride Of James with him, however once trainer/jockey Peter Murphy
got Tamagotchi headed in the right direction there was no looking
back for Claire Ward’s handsome 5-year-old as he came from last
to first to beat Sugar Dandy by a short head with Pride Of James
and Rushing third and fourth. These three placed horses have all
won this season so watch out for more exciting finishes in future
Anglo/Part Bred races.
Shropshire-based
Anthony and Karan Jones, the husband and wife team who bred Field
Of Dreams, were thrilled with their winner as they also bred and
trained the sire, Prince Maajed, to win a race. In 10 years of
Arab Racing they have trained a total of four horses and had many
placed so another winner was particularly sweet. Karan had bred
‘Artic’, as she is known at home, as a dressage horse for herself,
but Anthony was keen to race her.
As at Barbury,
each race at Huntingdon was won by a different set of connections,
however Champion Jockey Pierre Deymonaz was making his presence
felt with a three timer on the day which takes him near the top
of the Jockey Table along with Patrick Murphy and Brian Boulton.
Pierre’s first winner came on the Anglo, Field Of Dreams, his
second was on Al Reeh Janoob for Jenny Lees. By Chatanz, this
talented 8-year-old eased ahead in the straight and did just enough
to keep Joy Maclean and Rawen a length behind in second place.
Pierre completed his treble by winning the Matt Farrelly Memorial
Stakes on Floriferouz, trained by Linda Meakins for Mr Ellis.
Pierre and Floriferouz were quickly away in this 6 furlong sprint
with Island Rover and Sam Morris in hot pursuit, these two pulled
well clear of the other runners, and Floriferouz stayed ahead
to win by one length.
Trainer/jockey
Patrick Murphy continued his winning streak by riding a double.
He won the Maiden on Anne Unwin’s homebred mare, Egypt, who looked
particularly fit in the paddock for her racecourse debut, a credit
to her trainer Genny Haynes. Genny has five Arabs in training
at her home in Leicestershire and says that Egypt is a ‘little
star at home’, while Anne, Chair of the AHS Race Committee and
one of the new AHS Directors, says she is a star on the racecourse.
Patrick’s second winner came on Christine Cone’s Olivphaya, this
useful 4-year-old was held up behind others as Shane Westwood
set a fast pace on his Nefous Rais, then produced in the home
straight to give an exciting finish between the two. Christine
has been training Arabs for about 15 years now and her daughter
Valerie used to ride for her. Valerie and husband Patrick worked
for several years with thoroughbreds in Ireland and Dubai before
settling back in England to help Christine run her yard.
Interest in
the two mile race was heightened by the fact that a mother and
daughter were both running in the same race. Owner Mrs Ann Potts
bred Nicholetah and Naserah, both trained by Bob Uden who elected
to ride the dam, Naserah. Lyndsey Salt set off to make the running
on Nicholetah who made all to finish ahead of the top weight Island
Benedict.
Come
and enjoy the races at
Warwick
on Saturday 10th August, first race 5.30pm,
and at Stratford on Saturday 17th August, first race
2pm.
For
further details please telephone Maxine Cave-Debuse on 01189 302
953
