Trip to the Sunshine pays dividends

Saturday, 22 February 2014

The Hornets' God's Speed who took on the sun and sand at Cagnes Sur Mer gained valuable black type when finishing third in the Prix Policeman, a Listed race over 1m 2f on only his fourth start.

Ridden by Chris Catlin, who has ridden him in all of his starts, he was slowly away out of the stalls but stayed on well to finish third from the French trained Mr Pommeroy and Cockney Bob. The other two English runners finishing eleventh and twelfth respectively.

The journey is a lengthly one, with some two days spent travelling to get there and back.  Looked after by our travelling head lad Andrew all the way, and driven by RentRight who take a lot of our runners racing when we have more than one meeting.

Collecting £7,500 for finishing Third the trip pretty much paid for itself and with the Hornets breeding regularly from his dam, the black type will add value to her pedigree.

God's Speed after some winter sun

Friday, 21 February 2014

Not unusual for horses to escape to sunnier climes at this time of the year with the racing world focused on Dubai, however the Hornets' own God's Speed is currently 'sunning it up' a little closer to home in Cagnes-Sur-Mer, South France.

After winning his maiden a little over two weeks ago and earning a mark of 76, options in England were limited so he will contest the 'Prix Policeman' Listed Race over 1m 2f on Saturday afternoon.  The race is ran at 1.30pm local time, 2.30pm our time although we are as of yet unsure if it will be shown on either At The Races or Racing UK.

Best of luck to all concerned!

Archive off the mark!

Monday, 10 February 2014

Archive, a four year old filly by Dansili out of a Sadler's Wells mare in Modesta became the second of two purchases bought by her owner and successful breeder Colin Murfitt to get off the mark after Ruffled completed the same feat a few weeks ago.

Bought for 80,000 guineas from Lady Cecil and formerly Henry Cecil's stable at the December Mares sale, she had three previous runs to no success earning herself a lofty handicap mark of 76.  Rae managed to find her what looked like the perfect opportunity this afternoon at Wolverhampton in a maiden over a mile and a half.

Archive went off a warm 4/9 favourite and justified her odds scoring by a comfortable nine lengths under jockey Chris Catlin.  Congratulations to Steve Davis who rides her and Pravesh who looks after her.  

She will now join Ruffled in her owner Colin Murfitt's Pantile Stud in Soham with an invaluable win on her pedigree.

God's Speed to success

Saturday, 08 February 2014

The Hornets' owned three year old colt by Oratorio became the latest of star mare Guilia's produce to win.

His third attempt, all previously at Wolverhampton became his first winning one in what looked like a modest event on paper. That said, he travelled well throughout the race and was pushed out hands and heels by Chris Catlin to score by a somewhat comfortable ten lengths with the third horse a further fourteen lengths behind.

Congratulations must go to Pravesh who looks after him and Nasir who rides him out most days.

Ruffled off the mark!

Monday, 20 January 2014

Ruffled, a four year old bay filly by Harlan's Holiday who was previously trained the other side of town with John Gosden and bought from the Tattersalls December mares sale for 40,000gns by her owner Colin Murfitt got off the mark this evening at Wolverhampton.

Having had five previous runs with no win, running keen on several occasions she gained a handicap of 70.  Rae seemed to find a nice place to start her off in a three runner maiden.  Ridden by 'stable' jockey Chris Catlin, she settled well in second place before rounding the home turn and getting her head in front to win by just under two lengths and become our second winner of 2014.

She was bought as a breeding proposition, and she will now head to stud with the added value of having won a race on her pedigree. Congratulations to Lenka who looks after her, Steve who rides her and Colin Murfitt.