Another win for Say Grace

Friday, 20 May 2022

The three year old filly Say Grace gained her second career win yesterday at Lingfield. Owned by the Rainy Day Partnership this was her first run after a break of 101 days and followed up her win at Wolverhampton back in February (pictured).

This was her first race on turf this year and she did it in good style. Eight runners went to post for this seven and a half furlong Claiming Stakes on ground officially described as good. Say Grace was drawn 4 and ridden by Jim Crowley. She broke smartly from the stalls and travelled just behind the leaders. Approaching the two furlong marker she had the rest of the field off the bridle and once Jim got to work on her she quickened away to win by an easy four and a quarter lengths.

The owners have put her in the July Sale but as that is a while off yet there may be another race to target in the meantime. Congratulations to the Rainy Day Partnership and many thanks to Jim Crowley for the ride.

Super Seven for Aramis Grey

Tuesday, 10 May 2022

Aramis Grey gained her seventh career win yesterday evening at Windsor. What an amazing mare she is !

This was her first run on turf since July last year when she finished fourth at Salisbury. She has become a bit of an all weather specialist but showed her versatility on this good to firm ground at Windsor. 

Callum Shepherd was jocked up again and he knows her inside out by now. She was drawn 5 of the 8 runners and raced in her usual position at the rear of the field. She travelled strongly throughout and hit the front just before the half furlong marker where she went on to win cosily by a neck from the Rod Millman trained Crazy Luck. This win was off an official rating of 82, let's hope the handicapper isn't too harsh ! The race was a qualifier for the Windsor Sprint Series Final which is on 1st August with prize money totalling £75,000 so she will be aimed at this.

When buying racehorses we look at conformation, pedigree and movement but the one thing we cannot see is the will to win and Aramis has it in spades. If we could make a template for a syndicate horse then she is the ideal model. She has given the Musketeers so much pleasure and long may it continue.

Photography credit - Francesca Altoft Photography

The Chestnut's are on a roll !

Saturday, 16 April 2022

What a couple of days it has been for the Chestnut Tree Syndicate. Less than twenty four hours after Bella Veneta won at Bath their other filly Mizzen You won at Chelmsford yesterday !

With Bath being a fair distance away none of the owner's were able to witness Bella Veneta's win in person but they certainly made up for it at Chelmsford ! A large contingent accompanied by family and friends turned out to watch Mizzen You gain her first win. It was the perfect day with the sun shining and a party atmosphere and we are over the moon for them !

Like her stablemate, Mizzen You was purchased by Rae on behalf of the syndicate at the Tattersalls October Yearling sale (Book 3). She is by the US sire Mizzen Mast out of the Dansili mare Preferential and like her sire she is an attractive grey. As a two year old she had three runs and was never out of the placings with two seconds and a third so her potential was there for all to see. Early last year she was plagued by a recurring hock infection so thanks go to Rossdales vet Tom O'Keefe for his care of her during that time. After her two year old campaign was over she joined stablemate Bella for a holiday in the field and came back in stronger for it.

Rae began to look for a race to start off her three year old campaign and this Restricted Maiden over 7f at Chelmsford was chosen. Ten runners were declared and the in form Callum Shepherd was jocked up fresh from his win on Bella Veneta. In the race itself she had a great draw from stall 1 and travelled on the inside rail just behind the leaders. Coming round the home turn at the two furlong pole she began her challenge and under a strong drive from her rider she ran on to lead inside the last furlong and won by a length and a half beating the favourite Mountbatten.

Scenes of wild celebrations were seen as she passed the winning post, not only at Chelmsford but here in the office too ! The Chestnut Tree Syndicate are a lovely bunch of people and this is what racehorse ownership is all about, these are the days which make it all worthwhile so congratulations to all of you.

A first win for The Chestnuts !

Friday, 15 April 2022

The Chestnut Tree Syndicate had their first winner yesterday as their filly Bella Veneta won the Restricted Novice Stakes at Bath.

Bella Veneta is by Belardo out of the Galileo mare World Class and her second dam is the dam of Epsom Derby winner Motivator. Rae purchased Bella for the syndicate from the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2020 (Book 3) and as a two year old she ran twice at the back end of last year on the all weather. However, the road to her first race was a bumpy one as early on she took a keen dislike to the starting stalls so much so that she was sent away to Adam Kirby's Vicarage Farm for a month of remedial schooling. Adam and his team did a great job with her regaining her confidence and this work has been cemented at home by Dan and Jock. 

Rae gave her a months break in late December/early January where she spent time in the field relaxing and growing, and grow she did ! When we brought her back in she had grown two and a half inches, she was always a tall elegant filly but now with her extra height she resembles a catwalk model !

So a race was found for her over a mile at Bath for her first run on the turf. The ground yesterday was good to soft and the ever reliable Callum Shepherd was booked for the ride. Dan was at the start to load her and luckily after a push from the stalls handlers she went in and stood impeccably while some of her rivals misbehaved, a big sigh of relief all round ! She jumped from stall 9 and due to a fairly pedestrian pace she travelled strongly on the outside to the head of the field to race in second place. Just over two furlongs out they quickened up and a furlong from home she drew away to win by a convincing three lengths beating the Marco Botti trained Aguaplano into second.

The only downside was that none of the Chestnut Tree members were there in person to see the win but we are sure there will be plenty in attendance when Bella makes her next appearance on a racecourse !

Well done Derek !

Tuesday, 12 April 2022

We were delighted to see Eklil shed his maiden tag at Windsor yesterday providing us with our first turf winner of the new campaign.

This Invincible Spirit three year old out of the Dubawi mare Raaqy is owned by our longstanding owner Derek Willis. Derek purchased him from last years Autumn Horses in Training sale at Tattersalls where he was part of a Shadwell consignment. Formerly trained by Owen Burrows he had only had two runs when Derek bought him and it is safe to say that he didn't exactly light up the racetrack on his first two starts ! After a two month break Rae gave him four runs on the all weather over the winter where he progressively showed improvement. In early February this year he was gelded and this win at Windsor was his first race since the operation.

Callum Shepherd was booked for this mile handicap on good to soft ground and gave him a great ride. Breaking a tad slowly from stall 3 he raced in the middle of the field before challenging two and a half furlongs out and battled gamely to beat the Ed Dunlop trained Girl In the Picture by a neck, with the pair drawing just over four lengths clear of the third.

We would like to congratulate Derek on this well deserved win and say thank you to Callum Shepherd for the ride. A big well done also to Shahzad Ahmad who looks after Eklil at home.