LARKHILL 11TH MAY 2002

By Claire Taylor & Rob Woollard

The Chloe Louise Small Owner/Trainer Maiden Stakes.  1 Mile

1. Olivphaya (C Cone) Patrick Murphy
2. WFA Promotion (N Van Dijk) R Woollard
3. Millenium Ibn Procyon (L Jenkins) L Jenkins
4. Nicholettah (A Potts) L Salt

Winner trained by Mr. P Murphy.  1l, 2l. 2m 2s.

The Videos from The White Van Anglo Arab/Part Bred Stakes.  1˝ Miles

1. Pride Of James (S Shefras) B Gonsalves
2. Sugar Dandy (C Green) C Green
3. Spring Psalm (J Moseley) J Moseley
4. Chiloe (P Rondell) P Rondell

Winner trained by Mrs D Wheatley.  1˝l, 5l.  2m 50s.

The Winergy Handicap Stakes.  6 Furlongs

1. Island Rover (G Morris) S Morris
2. Afra (A Potts) B Uden
3. Doraman (A Jennings) Patrick Murphy
4. Island Star (C Taylor) R Woollard

Winner trained by Mrs A Boulton.  1˝ l, 5l.  1m 25s.

The Binley Arabian Stud Handicap. 1 Mile.

1. Charan El Nefous (A Boulton) B Boulton.
2. Phaymon (C Cone) Patrick Murphy
3. The Silver Gambler (J Holman) K Waterman
4. Sakit Sura (G Farr) G Farr

Winner trained by Mrs A Boulton.  Neck, 10l.  2m 2s.

The Jamlinninkor Handicap Stakes. 1˝ Miles.

1. Sellwyn (R Baker) A Baker
2. Pha Khamoun (W Pracey) R Bailey
3. Al Jabal (A Boulton) B Boulton
4. Rezahs Starfighter (G Richardson) L Salt

Winner trained by Mr R Baker.  4l, 4l. 3m 7s.

RACE REPORT

The sun shone on the start of the season for AHS Amateur Flat Racing at Larkhill Racecourse.  Competitive racing with some close finishes was the order of the day at the scenic Wiltshire track.  This is a great day out for spectators who can enjoy a picnic with the whole family, and a fun sport for those who like to compete their horses. 

The opener, a maiden for owners/trainers not to have had more than 10 winners during 2001, included two well bred four year olds amongst the runners, both by Vert Olive.  These two featured in the closing stages of the race as Olivphaya who took up the running from the bend, went on to finish a length ahead of the fast finishing WFA Promotion who ran a bit green during the race.  Winning jockey, Patrick Murphy, also the trainer of this promising youngster, said his horse travelled really well through out the race and he was able to go for home early as the filly was going so well.  Patrick, along with his wife, runs a yard near Towcester breaking in yearlings and National Hunt store horses, and has been riding in Arab races for three years now.

There was a sense of apprehension before the start of the Anglo/Part Bred race as connections of favourite Pride of James waited to see if this talented 5 year old would jump off with the other runners as he had been left at the start in his previous race at Goodwood last season.  There were no worries as Spring Psalm set off to make the running and Pride of James followed the rest.  John Moseley led the field to the final bend where Sugar Dandy joined him on the inside rail, meanwhile Bernie Gonsalves was poised ominously in behind waiting for the right moment to pass the leaders.  In the home straight Sugar Dandy and Pride of James made a race of it as Spring Psalm ran wide on the bend putting him out of the race.  Bernie pushed his horse on from half a furlong out to take the race by one and a half lengths.

The well handicapped Island Rover went off favourite for the sprint, with confirmed sprinters Doraman and Afra also in the field.  Bob Uden set off to make all on Afra with Island Star and Doraman in hot pursuit, however it was the happy face of Sam Morris on her mother’s Island Rover who crossed the winning line first.  Sam was delighted with her win and explained that ‘Frank’ had been schooling over show jumps and hunter trials during the winter and is also registered with Endurance GB, an excellent example of the versatility of the Arabian horse.

Andrea Boulton had a double as trainer when her Charan El Nefous ridden by husband Brian got up on the line to pip Phaymon by a neck in the Binley Arabian Stud Handicap. 

The last race featured two grand old campaigners, Rezahs Starfighter 17 years old, and the 19 year old Al Jabal; both these are trained by their owners who obviously look after them well.  However it was the youngsters who showed a clean pair of heels to the others as 16 year old Amy Baker, having her first ever race, won on her parents’ horse Sellwyn.  Proud Dad, Russ Baker, could not contain his delight as he explained that he had given Amy instructions before the race which she had obviously taken note of.  This race was sponsored by Margaret Fowler of Oxford Hill Rugs and named after her horse Jamlinninkor who won 6 Arab races in his time.  Now 27 years old he led the runners out onto the track and enjoyed a gallop back past the spectators looking very pleased with himself.  Margaret kindly donated trophies for the first three horses and also sponsored the Best Turned Out for the day.  Thanks go to all the sponsors of the day, including Mr M Mohammed who donated trophies to all the winning owners; Roy Leggett of Racecourse Video Services; Mr D Robinson Managing Director of Winergy; Caroline Sussex of Binley Stud; Mrs M Fowler of Oxford Hill Rugs; and The Wessex Group of the AHS.

Next race meeting is at Lingfield on Saturday 25^th May.

Claire and Rob