Kate Walton Racing: News Page

News: April 2010

In my news bulletin earlier this month I mentioned that the horses seemed to be in great heart and this has continued with the yard operating at over a 50% win and place strike rate.

Members of the Yarm Racing Partnership were celebrating earlier this week as Breaking Storm returned with a win at Sedgefield on April 27th. He had been off the track for over 530 days with an injured tendon so it was great to have him back on the track and even better that he was successful for his ever patient and enthusiastic owners. He showed real battling qualities to win a competitive Handicap Hurdle. There are a number of potential races for him over the next month.

Embsay Crag followed up his gallant seasonal re-appearance with another second at Doncaster under Ian Brennan on April 17th. He is a real yard stick who always tries his very best he will continue to run in middle distance flat handicaps over the coming months.

Jupiter Fidius returned to the track on April 15th at Ripon in an extremely competitive and valuable mile handicap on the flat. He jumped and travelled well for Kelly Harrison and looked the likely winner only to get tired in the final half furlong. We were delighted with his re-appearance and he is due to run again at Doncaster on Friday 30th April.

We had mixed fortunes when we took Stopped Out and Fairynuff to Perth for the spring jumps festival. Stopped Out ran in in the 2 mile 4 furlongs Handicap Hurdle and was trying to follow up his win at Kelso. The handicapper raised him 13lbs for his win but he was able to compete in this race with only a 7lb penalty, so it made sense to run here. Unfortunately rain arrived and turned the ground soft which is not ideal for him but he ran a very brave race to finish second under a welter burden. Whilst the softer going was not ideal for Stopped Out, it was better for Fairynuff who was favourite and due to contest the National Hunt Flat Race. However, disaster struck as a horse in front of him whipped around as the flag was dropped and crashed straight into Richie knocking him off. Both horse and jockey were fine and we live to fight another day.

We have some exciting times ahead with some of the two and three year old maidens making their debuts shortly. We are delighted to welcome a new syndicate to the yard, The Elland Road Partnership. They will hopefully have their first runner when West Stand makes her debut at Beverley on Monday May 3rd.

April 2010
The horses seem in great heart and the team at home have been rewarded with them running well.

Stopped Out gained victory for the Well Oiled Partnership at Kelso on April 11th under a front running ride from Richie McGrath. His jumping allowed him to gain lengths at each flight and he showed great determination to win decisively. He seems to have returned from his race in fine fettle and we may considering running him next week at Perth depending on what the handicapper decides to do with him.



Away from the jumping action the flat team have also made a very pleasing start and the whole yard is looking forward to the months ahead. Embsay Crag ran at Doncaster on the 27th March and was a very gallant second gaining all the way to the line under jockey Paul Mulrennan. We could not really ask anymore from this tough horse as he always tries his best and never goes down without a fight. The ladies of the team made their reappearance at Redcar on Easter Monday. Kataragama was having her first run for the yard since arriving from France and she ran a great race to finish 4th under Kelly Harrison. We were delighted with her effort and she seemed to enjoy her first experience of racing in the UK. Under the same ownership Unawatuna contested the 2 mile handicap on the back of 2 wins last season. She ran a good race but tired in the last furlong and a half. She will improve for the run.

On a slightly different scale, Pen Gwen contested the 2 Mile 5 Furlongs Hunter Chase at Sedgefield under Henry Brooke on April 12th. We kept Pen Gwen to be a yard horse so Henry and Kate Schindler could gain riding experience. He is a great jumper and very safe for them to learn on. He ran a fantastic race to finish second beaten only a neck. He will continue to run over the next couple of months and will also continue to go show jumping as it seems to keep him interested and helps with his flexibility.

The horses continue to please at home and they are enjoying the benefits of some spring grass in the fields. We are very excited about some of the flat horses making their debuts and the likes of Still At Lunch, Breaking Storm and Its A Roofer starting their summer jumps campaign as the better ground is crucial for them.

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