ON TO A WINNER…
Highclere’s northern two-year-olds have enjoyed considerable success, reports Jason Fildes
People have been asking us how the Highclere northern two-year-olds are getting on and we are delighted to say that it’s been a great start with the four who have run, all being in the first three. Here are the highlights so far:
Byline
He was a fast-finishing second, beaten only three quarters of a length on his debut at Ayr. He then put this experience to good use at a lively evening meeting at Hamilton. Trainer Kevin Ryan had found the perfect opportunity over six furlongs as the race had bonuses available for any horse bought at a certain sale. Byline qualified and in winning easily scooped bonuses of £35,000 plus the winner’s prize money of £6,500. It was an amazing night, especially as there was a Michael Jackson tribute act on after racing which was brilliant. Byline might run next in the Gimcrack Stakes at the York Ebor meeting.
Precocity
Our pretty filly trained by Richard Fahey has run twice at Ripon, finishing fourth and then third in two good races. There is a lovely balcony outside the owners’ and trainers’ restaurant and on both occasions, we arrived early and all had lunch on a big table in the sunshine overlooking the paddock. Richard Fahey thinks Precocity can step up next time, perhaps on a flatter track, so look out for her in the next fortnight.
Sermon
Our dark grey sprinter, trained in Cheshire by Tom Dascombe has to be one of the unluckiest horses in training having finished third, second, second and second in his four runs. His last two runs have been at Chester where it is always exciting to have a horse running with such big crowds. It is special to be in the paddock before the race with so many people looking at the horses – and the owners!
Both times he has started favourite only to be narrowly beaten in photo finishes. On one of the occasions, many of the shareholders brought friends and family and we all had Sunday lunch together, sat on two tables in the very smart owners’ restaurant. It was a cracking day – and very sociable.
More recently, Sermon was a very gutsy seventh of 22 runners in a very valuable Sales Race at York. There was prize money down to 10th so we were delighted with his run at odds of 25-1. It was a top day out!
Thunderous
He is potentially our superstar having won both his races so far. He was 5/1 for his debut at Doncaster in June so it was thrilling to see Thunderous take up the running at the two-furlong pole and begin to pull away from his rivals. He was three lengths ahead at the line – hugs all round as none of us could quite believe what we had seen.
After the prizegiving we were invited by Doncaster officials for a glass of champagne and to watch the replay. It was a special day.
Thunderous proved it was no fluke when he won again at Redcar. He was a red hot favourite that day and won quite easily. There is lots to look forward to with him and he is entered in the very valuable Champagne stakes at Doncaster on St Leger Day on 14th September.
Warranty
Mark Johnston, Warranty’s trainer, is very fond of our colt but says he needs a bit more time. He hopes that he will be making his debut in the next few weeks.
For more information email: Jason Fildes at jason@highclere.co.uk
Jason Fildes
01200 444622
07721 311778
www.highclereracing.co.uk
