Hey guys and happy new year! The new year has got off to a great start with winners left right and centre at work with our most recent Royale Pagaille winning the Peter Marsh Grade 2 chase at Haydock for the 2nd year running.
My last ride pointing was with Tango at Chaddesley Corbett on the 28th of December, where he decided to take matters completely into his own hands and I was merely a passenger. We finished 2nd to Gina Andrews on Dubai Quest. He was definitely feeling well, tanking us all around the lorry park and the paddock in the deep mud! Lining up for the race I took the outside knowing full well what he’s like. Once we had all lined up and were walking, we were let go and in true Tango fashion, he towed me straight to the front! It became apparent that there was going to be no negotiating with this beast today.
So I sat tight and did my best to get him where he needed to be in a safe fashion. He had now decided that he wanted to be at the front and I wasn’t in any position to try and slow him down, however he did slow himself down when we made a significant mistake at a fence down the back straight slowing him down a bit and making him think for a second. Luckily I managed to keep him between me and the ground and we came out relatively unscathed. He came out of this race even better than the last and even more pleased with himself (if that’s possible). He then had a couple of days easier work as he is an older horse and Venetia wants to look after him, so he’s coming back up to work slowly; good news for him not such good news for me!
On top of this, I’ve had a busy couple of weeks driving around watching the racing in various different places. On Thursday 20th I was off to Ludlow racecourse to watch a number of horses run. I watched Gardefort under Lucy Turner, our amateur jockey at Venetia Williams, who came 2nd in the 2m4 handicap chase after a cracking ride and good sit over one fence. I then waltzed off to Ascot on Saturday to watch 2 of Venetia’s horses and the Clarence House Chase! Again, both ridden by Lucy. Her ride of the day was on Fanion D’estruval, only getting pipped on the line. The Clarence House chase was amazing to watch and a once in a lifetime opportunity, where Shiskin and Energumene battled it out with Shiskin emerging victorious!
The season is beginning to fly and the winners keep rolling in; hopefully I can come to you with more good news and updates on Tango De Juilley, his naughty personality and plans for him next soon!
Images kindly provided by Hattie Austin Photography
Comments