Two Winners & A Week of ‘Oh So Close, But Oh So Far’

It was a very frustrating week last week with the runners as they all ran extremely well but we had more seconds than hot dinners. We are not complaining though as the horses are running in tremendous form and are looking fantastic in their coats for this time of year, as the coats can start change with the nights drawing in and the chiller evenings too.  The week of very nearly was kicked started with Talismans Time at Newcastle on Tuesday where he finished a very positive third on his debut, he ran a fantastic race and galloped through the line exceedingly well.

Callisto Dream set the bar high on Wednesday for her debut start to win very impressively at Carlisle under PJ McDonald. She ran very greenly throughout the race, but she grew in confidence during the race and showed a great amount of class in her run. She has a very exciting future and we really look forward to see her run again.

The following day was the opening day of the Doncaster St Leger Meeting we had Oolong Poobong running in the Fillies Nursery Handicap Class 2. She ran a huge race and made the running and set out in earnest, the ground was good, good to soft in places which meant there was a lot of pace throughout the large field. She really knuckled down and dug deep to finish a very close second, she was so close to winning her race, everyone was thrilled with her performance.

The rain came which meant the ground was softer at Doncaster on the Thursday, Intrusively ran in the sales race worth £300,000, he ran very well throughout his race and he finished a very respectful fifth place and only three lengths off the winner. Intrusively has had a tremendous season so far and has been a true flag bearer for the Bethell Racing teams two year olds. He is rated 102 and has group form to his name, that’s pretty impressive going in only several starts in his first season.

Later that day on Thursday Marianglas ran very well at Newcastle to win, it was great to see her win so well as she has come close on several occasions this season. It is not only great for the team to have the 42nd winner of the season on the board but also it is brilliant to see her win for her loyal and supportive owners.

Chester saw a couple of runners for the team, we were meant to have more runners at this meeting but unfortunately Chester had a huge amount of rain which turned the going to soft, heavy to soft in places and this was being generous as the going looked rather heavy when the horses were racing. Dothan a two year old colt was making his debut appearance at Chester for his owners (the same owners as Marianglas), so the pressure was on as his stable friend in the same colours had won the day before. He ran a tremendous race and rally showed his professional attitude and the speed that he has. A fantastic first fun for him and he will have learnt a huge amount especially at a big meeting like that!

Cabrera was another runner we had on Friday this time back at the St Leger meeting at Doncaster, she has been in absolutely tremendous form at home and has been really pleasing to watch her train everyday, she has a very bonnie outlook on life and loves her work, she truly thrives on her work routine. She was going to Doncaster with a good chance and headed there as favioute in the betting market. Everything was going her way in the race, she was travelling very well throughout and in the final couple of furlongs she was leading the field, she was travelling very well to the finishing post and we were all getting very excited. She was unfortunately just pipped at the post and came second by a short head. This was extremely unlucky as she ran so beautifully, everyone was still very proud of her and she tried to put her best foot forward. Her owners were thrilled with how she ran, Hot to Trot racing Syndicate lease her from her breeder who also has an active share in her along side the syndicate, it is special for them as they also bred her too.

Our luck wasn’t going to change on Saturday when Kirkdale finished second at Musselburgh on his second start of his career, although he came second which is still a very good strong result he still showed signs of greenness throughout his run. He has come on a huge amount from Haydock where he made his debut. He is a big framed horse who is still going to grow, he will definitely be one to watch for next year when he has matured further into his frame!

The fourth and final day at Doncaster St Leger meeting saw two runners for the team, the first being Elim who was running in a Gr. 3. She looked very well in herself and ready to run while walking around the  paddock, well done to the staff who were travelling with her as they won best turned out. She ran fantastically throughout the race and was coming up through the field and was loving the soft ground. We all thought she was going to get to the finishing post with her head in front with  the way she was travelling but she was just pipped to the post to come second. This is still a huge achievement and we along with the owners were absoluetly thrilled with her performance, she will now have an easier time before she hopefully heads to a listed race at Ascot at the beginning of October before a very well deserved winter break. She has a huge amount of character and loves her job and racing, we very much look forward to seeing her out again in a few week. Arkendale ran later that day also at Doncaster and he tried to put  a win on the board at the St Leger meeting for the team as he also came a very close second. He ran a brilliant race and it looked like he thrived in the soft going that  the ground had become with the steady rain we had over the duration of the day. Although there weren’t any winners at Doncaster the team and owners were all still in very high spirits and pleased with the way the horses ran (although I know the boss would want the seconds to be turned into winners to keep the winners tally, prize money and stats looking even healthier than what they currently are. Although the team of horses didnt win we technically still had a winner as our secretary Sammy Jo was riding in the Leger Legends race and she won in fine style, a great performance and so pleased for her.

After a good week last week with the horses we are looking forward to our runners this week. Today we have Gressington & See That Storm running at Redcar both under Callum Rodriguez and tomorrow we have two runner at Beverley, Surprised & Skinny Malinka. To see our other entries for this week please click the link:

Edward Bethell | Historical Race Entries | Racing Post