Divina Grace secures another win for Top Hat & Tails

Saturday, 30 September 2023

Divina Grace recorded a career best when winning at Newmarket's Cambridgeshire meeting on Thursday. This followed her victory at Bath three weeks ago and was her fourth win overall. The daughter of Golden Horn owned by Top Hat & Tails is obviously still improving and conditions were in her favour for this Class 2 handicap.

The Graham Budd Art & Memorabilia Auction Handicap Stakes was run over a mile and a half on Newmarket's Rowley Mile course on unseasonably good to firm ground. All of Divina Graces' wins have come on fast ground and she definitely prefers it lightning quick. Callum Shepherd was booked for the ride and this was his second win on her having ridden her to victory last year at the July Course. Drawn eight of the nine runners she broke handily and raced in second on the outside. The pace was fairly sedentary which suited her and she travelled smoothly throughout. Three furlongs from home they quickened up and as they rolled into the dip she began to battle with the William Jarvis trained Crystal Delight. Once they hit the rising ground she soon asserted and crossed the line a length in front. This filly does not shirk a fight and relishes a challenger to lock horns with so this suited her down to the ground. 

We would like to get one more run into her if possible before the ground changes and then she will have a well earned holiday. Congratulations once again to Eamonn, Kevin, Scott and Marisa and many thanks to Callum for the ride. Well done to our very own Bola who looks after Divina Grace at home.

Divina Grace proves a tough nut to crack

Thursday, 07 September 2023

Three months on from her win at Chepstow Divina Grace gained another victory yesterday for the Top Hat & Tails syndicate.

This most recent win came in the form of a fillies' handicap at Bath over a mile and three and a half furlongs. This season she has only been out of the frame twice, once in the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes and on her last run at Newmarket where she didn't stay the one mile and six furlongs. Rae looked for another option where she could be dropped back in distance and this Class 4 race at Bath seemed a suitable choice.

Conditions were tough on the day with the country basking in a heatwave as temperatures reached thirty degrees. Ridden by Darragh Keenan in the race itself Divina Grace was drawn six of the eight runners and raced prominently before settling into fourth. Swinging round the bend into the straight she travelled sweetly on the outside before taking the lead two and a half furlongs from home. However she was not without challengers and she found herself the meat in the sandwich between the favourite Warren Hill and Dovena. This filly loves a scrap though and she battled back gamely after being headed to go and win by a head.

The small syndicate of Top Hat & Tails are having some fun with this classy daughter of Golden Horn and long may it continue as she clearly relishes her racing. Congratulations to Eamonn, Kevin, Scott and Marisa and thank you to Darragh Keenan for a positive ride. Well done to our own Bola who looks after Divina Grace at home.

Two from two for Afloat

Friday, 11 August 2023

Afloat continued her recent good form with another win at Great Yarmouth yesterday.

Jon and Sophie Mills' three year old obviously enjoys the coastal track and did not appear to mind the quick turnaround having won there just nine days before. The ground was quicker than last time but she still went off the 11/10 favourite. Having been put up eight pounds from her last win she ran with a penalty this time which made her two pounds better off. Kieran Shoemark took the reins this time and she was drawn from stall 12. Travelling on the outside she eventually managed to get some cover towards the rear. She was able to get a nice tow through the race and a furlong and a half out she laid down a strong challenge to take the lead and repel the fast finishing Letaba by half a length.

Congratulations to Jon and Sophie once again, it is fantastic to see their patience rewarded.

Back to back wins for One Colour

Tuesday, 08 August 2023

Rae and Rachel's Teofilo filly One Colour made it back to back wins on Sunday following up her victory at Southwell three weeks ago with a win at Market Rasen.

Rae selected another National Hunt flat race and she went to post the 11/10 favourite. Tabitha Worsley took the ride this time and gave the filly a beautiful ride. The early pace was fairly sedentary and One Colour was tucked in neatly behind the leaders for most of the race. Swinging round the bend and descending the hill the pace quickened up and Tabitha brought the filly round the outside to begin her challenge. She closed them down easily and swept by to win by nearly five lengths. Well done to Tabitha and congratulations to Rae and Rachel.

Congratulations Jon and Sophie !

Wednesday, 02 August 2023

Congratulations to Jon and Sophie Mitchell whose three year old filly Afloat captured her first win yesterday at Yarmouth.

Afloat is by the Lanwades stallion Sea The Moon out of the winning Dansili mare Planete Bleue and is related to the champion stayer and three time Ascot Gold Cup winner Stradivarius. Jon and Sophie purchased her from last years breeze up sales but she wasn't a typical breeze up two year old as she was always going to need time to mature and develop. They have had to be patient as she never raced last season and this year had four runs on the all-weather earlier in the year before switching to the turf. She has shown steady progression despite conditions not being ideal in her last two races on good to firm ground.

Fortunately the rain came in time for this latest start at Yarmouth and it was good to soft on the day. Callum Shepherd was in the saddle for this mile and a quarter handicap and she was drawn 10 of 10. They settled on the outside towards the rear of the field and Callum was happy to let the front runners dictate the pace and a strong pace it was which suited Afloat perfectly. The early pace told as one by one they came off the bridle with Afloat still travelling well. She was asked to go and win her race at the two furlong pole and win she did, going away by nearly five lengths (let's hope the handicapper went off to make a cup of tea at that point !).

We are delighted for Jon and Sophie and would also like to thank Callum for the ride and to say a big well done to Amelie Davies who looks after Afloat at home and also took home the Best Turned Out prize.