TAUNTON 25TH AUGUST
2002
By
Claire Taylor
RIVERDANCE
RETURNS TO FORM IN THE ' JAMLINNINKOR' OPEN RACE AT TAUNTON
Six of the
seven races at Taunton were named in recognition of the winners
of the first Arab Horse Society race meeting to be held at Taunton
in 1983. The first Arab Horse Society race meeting was held at
Hawthorn Hill in 1978.
The Open Handicap
was run over 1 mile and 5 furlongs or thereabouts, named in honour
of Margaret Fowler’s Jamlinninkor; a keen supporter of AHS racing
Margaret regularly sponsors a race. Five runners started unfortunately
only three passed the finish. Cathy Thomas set off on Pavot Al
Kyle and made the running until reaching the far side of the course
where she had to pull up quickly due to injury to her horse, unfortunately
Gaynif, who was travelling well at the time, was taken off course
and rider Caroline Doyle had no choice but to pull up and trot
Gaynif back across the racecourse. The Veterinary Officer was
immediately on hand to attend to Pavot Al Kyle who was led away
to the stables. This incident left the race to Riverdance who
was pushed out hands and heels by Brian Boulton to win ahead of
Segovia Sunrise and Ygnasio.
The Open Anglo/Part
Bred race, named after Suntal Golden Token, gave jockey Phil Collington
his ninth win of the season and trainer Jenny Candlish her eighth.
Carolyn Green on her very game Sugar Dandy, took over the lead
from Romany Dream in the back straight but could not maintain
it as Rushing quickened to pass them in the home straight to win
by a comfortable 4 lengths ahead of Romany Dream with Sugar Dandy
in third.
In the other
Anglo/Part Bred race, the Sindolar Tangerine Dream Maiden Stakes,
Spring Psalm led going into the final furlong ridden by his owner/trainer
John Moseley when he seemed to run out of steam leaving Spring
Harmony and Pierre Deymonaz in front to take the race just ahead
of Kiwi Passion who made a very late run from a long way off the
pace.
The Maiden
race for pure bred arabs saw a four-year-old win for his new connections
after a change of ownership and yards. Sally McIlwaine set off
to make all on Tim Smith’s Hamac and she did just that, setting
a strong pace for the mile which the other runners could not go
with. Second was Bob and Jo Fiddler’s Babuska who had won Best
Turned Out for daughter Maggie, with WFA Whirlwind a long way
adrift in third.
Cathy Thomas
went a good gallop in the Difayah Stakes on WFA Prophecy and made
all to stay ahead of Sakit Sura and the fast-finishing Drongo.
The winner, a 5-year-old mare by Abitibi, looked fit and well
in the paddock and could be one to watch in the future.
It was an
easy win for Horizon in the Limkumstar Joshua Stakes over 1 mile,
and the impressive grey stallion certainly caught everyones eye
as he was pushed clear by jockey Mark Alston to win as he liked.
Owner/trainer Mark Smallman was very pleased with Horizon who
‘was much more settled today’ after his win at Warwick two weeks
ago.
Two other
horses looking for a second successive win were Island Star and
Island Rover in the Rippling Amber Stakes over 6 furlongs. Island
Rover with top weight was trying to follow up his Warwick win,
while Island Star had won the previous week at Stratford over
a mile and two furlongs and had a six-pound penalty to carry.
Sam Morris on Island Rover, set off to make every post the winning
post, while Rob Woollard settled his mount in behind the rest
of the runners waiting until going around the final bend where
Island Star got on terms with the others and moved through to
take the lead in the final furlong, finishing 2 lengths the good
of Island Rover, with the lightly-weighted Starinsky another 2
lengths behind in third.
The next Arab
Horse Society Race Meeting is at Goodwood on Saturday 28th
September, always a popular day out for competitors and spectators
alike, Mary Carline has organised a variety of attractions to
entertain everyone, while the good level of sponsorship for both
Lingfield and Goodwood has allowed a welcome increase in the amount
of prize money on offer in the seven races at Goodwood.
Please ring
Maxine at the Race Office for more details: 01189 302 953.
