Rio aside, Marlborough's Kiwi eventers have had a good season but "Next year can't come soon enough"

Written by Tony Millett on 07 November 2016.

Jonelle & Classic Moet at BurghleyWith the end of the 2016 eventing season in the northern hemisphere, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) rankings put six New Zealand riders in the top ten of the FEI's 3,652 listed riders.  Five of those six are based in the Marlborough area.  

The nation coming closest to New Zealand in the top ten is Great Britain with four riders - the other ten in the top twenty come from Australia and the USA (three each) and France and Germany (two each.)

Continue Reading

Print Email

A bit of a racing legend: Greatwood Charity favourite Montendre dies aged 29

Written by Tony Millett on 03 April 2016.

Montendre with Greatwood studentsMontendre, whose racing career spanned ten years and 104 races, has died at the Greatwood Charity at Clench Common, near Marlborough. He was 29.

He had been a great favourite with the scores of young people who take part in Greatwood's extensive educational programmes.

Last October some of Greatwood's students went to Newmarket (thanks to the generosity of Greatwood sponsor Al Basti Equiworld).   There they met jockey Frankie Dettori and were able to tell him how Montendre was doing since he retired to Greatwood in 2000.  

In 1989 Frankie rode the bay gelding to victory in the Dewhirst Rockingham Stakes at York.    He was then at Luca Cumani's yard.

Montendre - known to all as Monty - was a bit of racing history:  he came second in his first race, then won at Brighton under Dettori and then, eleven days later, won that prestige, listed race at York winning just over £11,000 - good prize money in those days.

During his career Frankie Dettori rode him eight times and from those 104 races he notched up 11 wins under rules and 32 places.  

His last win was at Kempton in July 1999 in the NTL Claiming Stakes - ridden by Ray Cochrane.   He was then being trained by Ron Hodges.

Print Email

Al Basti Equiworld helps build the future for Greatwood students

Written by Tony Millett on 20 April 2015.

General Manager of Al Basti Equiworld, Arun Menon with Greatwood Co-founders Helen & Michael Yeadon.Every year the spring sunshine brings Greatwood's retired racehorses out into the fields at Clench Common, just south of Marlborough - and after a winter being cared for mainly inside, they are looking very good indeed.

This spring has brought another very welcome development for Greatwood, the charity which combines delivery of pioneering education programmes with the rescue and rehabilitation of ex-racehorses. They have officially unveiled a brand new educational facility with the help of Al Basti Equiworld.
 
The Al Basti Equiworld Classroom will allow Greatwood to expand its teaching programmes which are specially designed to educate disadvantaged children and develop life skills in young adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
 
Greatwood's new classroom was formally opened by Arun Menon, General Manager of Al Basti Equiworld, the United Arab Emirate’s leading distributor of horse feeds, supplements and veterinary products which has funded the project.  Al Basti Equiworld’s contribution also extends to supporting the salary of a newly appointed teacher for the next three years.
 
Racehorse owner, sponsor and Founder of Al Basti Equiworld, Malih Al Basti said: "I was introduced to Greatwood last year and was immediately impressed by the work they are doing with horses and children.  The charity is unique both in its approach to education and the rehabilitation of former racehorses no matter how severe the need."
 
"I am delighted with the way the classroom looks and hope it will help Greatwood to enrich the education of young people for many years to come."
 
Helen Yeadon, who founded Greatwood with her husband Michael in 1993 said: "We are enormously grateful to Al Basti Equiworld for their support of this project which will enable us to provide enriched learning opportunities to some of the most socially and educationally disadvantaged children in our community."
 
"We are also delighted to be welcoming a new team member in Jane Muir-Brooks our new SEND teacher whose appointment is as a direct result of Al Basti Equiworld’s support."

Arun Menon joins Greatwood students in the new classroom with SEND teacher Jane Muir-Brooks (right)

Print Email

Alan King's Barbury Castle team win the Hennessy Gold Cup with the fighting grey Smad Place

Written by Tony Millett on 28 November 2015.

Smad Place with owners at each end of the group, Alan King second from right and Wayne HutchinsonYou can watch Racing UK's coverage of the final moments of Smad Place's "rout" on the Hennessy twitter feed.

The eight-year-old grey gelding Smad Place who is trained at Alan King's Barbury Castle yard, won the 59th running of the Hennessy Gold Cup Steeple Chase (Handicap) at Newbury (November 28) over three miles and two furlongs of decidely sticky ground.  It was a truly convincing victory.

Owned by Mrs Peter Andrews, trained by Alan King and ridden by his stable jockey Wayne Hutchinson, Smad Place jumped fantastically from the off and won by 12 lengths over Theatre Guide.

Home by a neck in third place was First Lieutenant. The Paul Nicholls trained favourite Saphir Du Rheu and the Hennessy's 2012 winner Bobs Worth were both unplaced.

This victory on the final day of Newbury's three-day bet365 Festival was King's second recent winner in a major handicap chase - after Annacoty's win in Cheltenham's Paddy Power Gold Cup. 

Jumping to Hennessy victoryBut the yard has had recent sadness too - with the death following a car crash on the A346 near Ogbourne Downs Golf Club of one of the yard's staff, John Goggin.

“It’s been," Alan King said after the race, "a tough week for the yard. We lost a lad in a car crash and this means a lot. Here’s to John, but it doesn’t bring him back.”

Smad Place was fifth in last year's Hennessy. His victory this year makes him the sixth grey to win the historic race in its fifty-nine years.

Alan King sketched out his future plans for Smad Place's: "He won't be entered for the Grand National, but he will have to have an entry in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Smad Place has his confidence back - he won't have a lot of racing this season - one run before the Cheltenham Festival - he won't go for the King George."

Alan King Racing staff watch in trepidationTravelling Head Lad Matt Howells holding the rug - Assistant Trainer Oliver Wardle on the rightHe's made it...Joy...and relief

Hutchinson said of the ride: "He never missed a beat."  He is now quoted at 16-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Alan King, Wayne Hutchinson and the Hennessy Gold CupSmad Place had won his first outing of the season at Kempton on November 2 in a two mile and four-and-a-half furlong chase.  He won by eight lengths over Fingal Bay and it was noted then that his jumping was good.

Before the race Alan King had said Smad Place was a much stronger candidate - especially after an operation to repair a trapped epiglottis.  King told the Racing Post:  "We've got a prep into Smad place this time, which is important, both to make sure he's fit enough and to boost his confidence. Wayne and I have been thrilled with his schooling and I'm fairly relaxed groundwise."

In Saturday's Racing Post, Stuart Riley described Smad Place as "...one of those unfortunate and overlooked souls whose reputation fails to match his CV.  Third in two World Hurdles and second in an RSA chase, he seems the living proof of Bill Shankly's assertion "second is nowhere", but getting weight from several of his rivals today looks his best chance of a big success."  

Smad Place can no more a saddled with that Shankly jibe - and you can be sure Mr Riley is glad he added the 'but...'.

Alan King's other entry in the Hennessy was Ned Stark - brought in at eighth place by Denis O'Regan.  [Click on photos to enlarge them.]

Smad Place led out of the saddling box - Alan King on the rightMudfree: in the ring before the race

Print Email

European Eventing Championships: Team GB's juniors take bronze medal - Chelsea Pearce finishes best of British in eighth place

Written by Tony Millett on 26 September 2016.

Great Britain's junior eventing team took the bronze medal at the European Junior Eventing Championships at Italy's Military Equestrian Centre in Monteliberetti near Rome.  That was the same position the British team took in the 2015 championships.

This year Germany won the competition, and the British team riders finished twelve point behind the French who took second place.

The British team had an eventful show jumping stage with two clear rounds, and two fences down and a handful of time penalties.

Jumping as an individual, Marlborough's Chelsea Pearce and her horse Albert VI finished with "a lovely clear" - moving her up from eleventh place after the cross country to take eighth place.  This made her the best placed British rider in the competition.

Chelsea said it was the best round Albert had jumped all season.

The British Young Riders team finished in fifth place.  They suffered from the withdrawal of one horse before the final trot-up and the retirement of another team member during the cross country.

Print Email

A magical time of year - spring arrives and with it the Cheltenham Festival  

Written by Sam Hoskins on 01 March 2016.

During the Festival the huge crowds will make the stands look quite different!Whether you are a racing fan or not, the Cheltenham Festival (Tuesday, March 15 – Friday, March 18) seems to bring with it a breath of fresh air for everyone. There's a change in the weather for all and the most spine-tingling week of horse racing for those of us besotted with this wonderful sport and its incredible equine athletes.
 
Cheltenham is gearing up to its annual Irish invasion where, for one week only, any stray visitor would question whether we were in the Cotswolds or Leinster.

The Irish equine challenge this year is as strong as it has perhaps ever been mainly through the phenomenal and very gracious Willie Mullins who has dominated the Cheltenham Festival in recent years, taking the leading trainer award four out of the last five years.

The likes of Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls are unlikely to have it any easier this year with Mullins’ hand so strong (courtesy of the likes of hot favourites Min, Douvan, Annie Power, Vroum Vroum Mag and Un De Sceaux) that one major bookmaker makes him a 1/33 shot to retain his title as the Festival's top trainer!
 
However, whilst most form anoraks will be pawing over the implications of the many nail-biting bouts in the mud this winter both sides of the Irish Sea, it may pay to save some time and instead throw this year's formbook completely out of window and pick up the one from last spring.  That was the last time many of these star horses were able to run on ‘decent’ ground - given how wet a winter it has been this time around.

Mother nature is drying Cheltenham’s hallowed turf the whole time and by 1.30pm on Tuesday, March 15, the time when the big roar erupts and all hairs stand to attention, the ground may look more of the green than the ploughed variety.  And that may come to the bookmakers' rescue as the form gets turned on its head.
 
The shortest price favourite from the home and indeed local brigade is Yanworth from Alan King’s Barbury Castle yard.  Yanworth is set to tackle the Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle on the Wednesday at prohibitive odds.

The talented chestnut looks one of the most exciting novice hurdlers we have seen in recent times.  This time next year, he could well be trying to emulate his owners’ own Istabraq in the Champion Hurdle.

Nicky Henderson Nicky Henderson, who trains in Lambourn, has had a bit of an in and out season  He has been the king when it comes to the Cheltenham Festival and whilst he lacks an obvious star this time around, his yard is full of 'good ground' horses that will have been trained to peak for these four days.

He is a man to follow in the Championship Races and Handicaps alike and I feel he may be able to pluck a couple of white rabbits from his hat in two of the big hurdle races courtesy of Hargam (Champion Hurdle, Tuesday, 20-1) and Whisper (World Hurdle, Thursday, 20-1), two forgotten horses who love good ground and who can go close at rewarding odds.
 
Sam HoskinsOnce Cheltenham is over, it is time for my own attention to focus on the flat racing season and in particular the syndicates I manage, namely Kennet Valley Thoroughbred Syndicates and the Hot To Trot Syndicate.

We have some extremely exciting horses to go to war with this year, not least our aptly-named grey sprinter Magical Memory, trained by Charlie Hills at Lambourn, who won last years’ Stewards Cup at Goodwood before going on to finish third in the Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup.

He boasts a very high cruising speed and watching his big grey self loom up large on the bridle as if he is in a two mile hurdle race is simply exhilarating. Sixteen people are lucky enough to own him and my fingers and toes are crossed he can fulfill the dreams we all have for him this year.

April is a particularly exciting month as we host many stable visits for our syndicate owners.  For many, these are some of the most special days of the season, being able to get up close and personal with the horses and to hear all the latest news (usually taking an optimistic spin!) from the horse's month.

This game is all about dreaming and it is certainly the time of year for that whether you are into the jumps or the flat. For me it is both - and I can’t wait!

Print Email

Alan King hunting for first Hennessy crown with Smad Place and Midnight Prayer

Written by Harriet Rochester on 21 November 2014.

Smad Place (nearest the camera) and Midnight Prayer check out Newbury's going (Photo courtesy Newbury Racecourse & GJ Multimedia)Barbury Castle trainer Alan King talks to Harriet Rochester about next Saturday’s Hennessy Gold Cup

Next Saturday (29 November), marks the 58th running of the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury Racecourse. The race is one of the most significant handicap chases this side of Christmas. And Hennessy’s sponsorship of the race is the longest running commercial sponsorship in world sport.

Rich in horseracing heritage, the race’s winners include such names as Arkle and Denman, who both won the race twice – taking pride of place on its distinguished roll of honour.   The Hennessy Gold Cup is the jewel in the crown of the Berkshire track’s jump racing calendar and of the three day Bet365 Hennessy Festival, featuring two further fantastic days of racing on the Thursday and Friday.

Marlborough’s Alan King is planning a two pronged attack on the historic race with Smad Place and Midnight Prayer as his two confirmed runners, with a third, Medermit, also holding an entry, but likely to run at Haydock on Saturday. [Medermit did run at Haydock today (November 22) and was unplaced in the Betfair Chase.]

Smad Place leads up the all-weather gallop (February 2014)Smad Place who has not seen a racecourse since he was beaten a neck by O’Faolains Boy in the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last March is currently priced at 10/1.  The gallant grey had a progressive and impressive campaign last season, beating Sam Winner in February this year. He also was the convincing winner in a novice chase at Exeter last November.

Smad Place took part in a racecourse spin at Newbury on Tuesday along with stable mate Midnight Prayer, whose last race was also at the Cheltenham Festival when he won the four mile chase for amateur jockeys.

“It wasn’t serious work, but they both enjoyed it. They just cantered quickly down the back, breezed along – neither had a hard blow, they just did enough”, King explained at Newbury’s media launch.

Speaking from his yard on Friday, Alan King told Marlborough News Online:  “Smad Place’s form is very strong and progressive, his win against Sam Winner in February has franked this.”  

“His racecourse gallop on Tuesday should also tune him up nicely before next Saturday and he will work tomorrow and school next week, the only question mark is who will ride, as I am not sure if Wayne Hutchinson will be ready”.

Wayne Hutchinson is Alan’s stable jockey along with Robert Thornton. They have both been side-lined with injuries.

“Midnight Prayer’s main target is the Welsh National after Christmas and to be honest there aren’t too many options for him. His form is also very good and I am not worried about dropping him back in trip from four miles especially on soft going”.

In previous years King has not had many runners in the race and has yet to saddle a winner in the race:  “I love this fixture and its history and it would be marvellous to win the Hennessy”.

Newbury Racecourse’s Bet365 Hennessy Festival runs from Thursday 27 to Saturday 29 November.

Print Email

Andrew Nicholson is back in the saddle - but he is keeping it "calm and quiet for a bit longer"

Written by Tony Millett on 20 December 2015.

Last Friday: Andrew Nicholson with AveburyWhen Andrew Nicholson opens his front door he is smiling - is it a good news smile? "I've been riding this morning." That is very good news indeed.

New Zealand eventer Andrew Nicholson, who suffered a very serious neck injury in a fall during the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park in August, is back in the saddle.  For the past week he has been riding daily dressage exercises at his stables just west of Marlborough.  

He had a scan at the beginning of last week, and on Wednesday (December 9) his surgeon at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital, Jeremy Reynolds, was "very positive" and gave him the all clear to ride again. Nicholson told Marlborough News Online that all the bits of his neck are still in the right place:  "What the surgeon did was unbelievable.  Mr Reynolds is a very clever man."

For now he is sticking to dressage and keeping it "calm and quiet for a bit longer". But he says it feels "very comfortable" to be back riding and schooling on the  dressage arena.

Nicholson knows that he has been very lucky.  In 98 per cent of cases that severe an injury to his neck would have caused paralysis: "What I did was a very serious thing to do to your neck. Now the flexibility in my neck is improving all the time."  

He fell from nine-year-old Cillnabradden Evo at the final fence of the cross country course during the CIC 3* competition at Gatcombe Park on August 9.  He had already ridden four horses round that cross country course - and after Cillnabradden Evo he would have taken Perfect Stranger and Nereo over the course.

Now he is taking it week by week and there are 'ifs' and 'mights' to overcome:  "I never doubted I'd be back riding.  I'd like to get back to competing - I don't have to rush it.  If I feel I'm not as good as I used to be I won't do it.  I might jump and think I'm getting nervous - who knows."

...and with NereoNicholson has eighteen horses at his stables.  They range from the veteran competition winners like fifteen year-olds Avebury (with whom he has won the Barbury feature class four years running and a Burghley hat-trick) and Nereo (voted the world's best eventing horse in 2013) and the twelve-year-old mare Quanza onto the three and four-year-olds just starting their journey to the higher level competitions.  

While he has been recovering he has had two young riders - one English and one French - exercising his horses in return for tuition: "They've done a very good job.  The horses I have here will be fit to start competing next year - whether it's with me or other riders."

The owners of his squad of horses and his family have been very supportive - especially his wife, Wiggy: "It's very tough on Wiggy - I'm sure she'd prefer me not to sit on a horse again."

"Riding horses is dangerous - you mustn't shy away from that fact.  When it's all going smoothly it's fine - but when it goes wrong...half a ton is quite a lot of horse to have landing on you."

He's studied how people fall off animals.  While he was recuperating he watched a lot of horse racing: "Jump jockeys expect to take a fall in one out of ten rides."  

He also watches Pro Bull Riding from the USA on Sky's Extreme Sport Channel: "That's got to be among the most dangerous things there is.  The bulls are massive - and after the eight seconds riders have to stay on - well, the bulls don't stop for them - they just have to fall off."  

His family can be assured that he will not be tempted by horse racing or bull riding.

2016 looms and as the rider who has competed in six Olympics Games for New Zealand and helped them win three Olympic medals, the question will return of Nicholson's position in New Zealand's eventing team.  

It's a relationship that's been none too happy: "I wouldn't want to go to the Olympics if I wasn't as good as before.  If I'm back competing and they want me, I'd have to think about it."

Print Email