Neil King's yard celebrate Southway Star's star performances: four wins in a row

Written by Tony Millett.

Southway Star (with Trevor Whelan) winning at Fontwell [photo courtesy Fontwell Park Racecourse]Up at Ridgeway Racing, Neil King's training yard at Upper Herdswick Farm near Barbury Castle, they are all very proud of nine year-old mare Southway Star.

And justifiably so: she has now won her last four races - that is four 'chase victories in 18 days. She won on her first outing for King - at Fontwell, and went on to win again at Fontwell, at Fakenham and then on Tuesday (November 25) at Lingfield.

Her win at Fontwell on November 16 was especially sweet for Neil King. Her win gave him a hat trick of winners for the day with Zeroshadesofgrey and The Boss's Dream winning at Uttoxeter - by 20 and 13 lengths respectively.

Southway Star has been winning well - if you add up her winning lengths in those four races, she's left the others behind by a total of 58 lengths.

Neil King, who moved to Barbury from Newmarket earlier this year, bought Southway Star at October's Ascot sales for £2,300. She had, after all, begun her racing career in 2008.

Southway StarBefore Neil King bought her she had just seven wins to her name. But she seems to have taken against winning over the last two years.

Neil King is obviously very fond of this "this cracking little mare who jumps for fun." She is small - and, they say, calm and good natured. She may be even getting to like the star attention she's being paid - even on a foggy day.

She is now owned by The Ridgeway Racing For Fun syndicate - and has won them over £15,000 in prize money in those last four wins. The syndicate has fifteen shares - and to date they are not all sold. But with a recent record like hers, you will have to hurry to secure a share.

She is usually teamed with the yard's main jockey Trevor Whelan. But at Fakenham the Tuesday before last (November 18), he was racing elsewhere and she was ridden to victory by Bridget Andrews.

Southway Star's next outing may be at Plumpton on Monday (December 1.) And that would put her back over hurdles in a race for staying mares.

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