Linda Murphy is a winner to us

Monday, 26 February 2024

We want to wish Linda Murphy our Racing Secretary good luck at tonight's Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards. She will be lining up to meet Princess Ann with all the other finalists at Ascot Racecourse this evening for the award ceremony. Rae and Rachel will be there to cheer her on along with family and friends. Linda is a finalist in the Dedication category having spent her whole working life in the industry. She is already a winner to us just for getting shortlisted as a finalist but we are keeping everything cross for her tonight.

We would also like to thank the organisers of Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, which is sponsored by Godolphin, for highlighting the wonderful work the staff do to keep the racing show on the road. 

First success for Nouveaux

Monday, 16 October 2023

Our two year old filly Nouveaux owned by Lady Cecil, Family & Friends gained the first win of her fledgling career at Chelmsford on Saturday.

The small syndicate comprised of Lady Jane Cecil, Alan and Judy Davies, Sally Noseda, Ann and Darren Lewitt and Andy Muddyman bought Nouveaux as a yearling this time last year alongside another yearling filly by Noble Mission (Noble Miss). Nouveaux is by Tasleet out of the Invincible Spirit mare Alwaafa. The stallion did very well with his first crop which included the Coventry winner Bradsell and she is from the Shadwell family of Sarayir and Ghanaati. Prior to this win she had run five times and been placed twice. She has always showed plenty of speed and the drop back to five furlongs on Saturday proved key to this win.

Drawn seven of the nine runners and with Callum Shepherd back on board he utilised her speed to get across and make the running. Once round the bend they fanned across the track just after the two furlong pole and Nouveaux came up the middle to fend off her rivals. She was able to hold off the Sir Mark Prescott trained Haumea who finished second.

Congratulations to Lady Cecil, Family & Friends on their first win as a syndicate and well done to Babz (pictured) who looks after and rides Nouveaux at home. Grateful thanks also go to Callum Shepherd for steering her home.

Divina Grace secures another win for Top Hat & Tails

Saturday, 30 September 2023

Divina Grace recorded a career best when winning at Newmarket's Cambridgeshire meeting on Thursday. This followed her victory at Bath three weeks ago and was her fourth win overall. The daughter of Golden Horn owned by Top Hat & Tails is obviously still improving and conditions were in her favour for this Class 2 handicap.

The Graham Budd Art & Memorabilia Auction Handicap Stakes was run over a mile and a half on Newmarket's Rowley Mile course on unseasonably good to firm ground. All of Divina Graces' wins have come on fast ground and she definitely prefers it lightning quick. Callum Shepherd was booked for the ride and this was his second win on her having ridden her to victory last year at the July Course. Drawn eight of the nine runners she broke handily and raced in second on the outside. The pace was fairly sedentary which suited her and she travelled smoothly throughout. Three furlongs from home they quickened up and as they rolled into the dip she began to battle with the William Jarvis trained Crystal Delight. Once they hit the rising ground she soon asserted and crossed the line a length in front. This filly does not shirk a fight and relishes a challenger to lock horns with so this suited her down to the ground. 

We would like to get one more run into her if possible before the ground changes and then she will have a well earned holiday. Congratulations once again to Eamonn, Kevin, Scott and Marisa and many thanks to Callum for the ride. Well done to our very own Bola who looks after Divina Grace at home.

Divina Grace proves a tough nut to crack

Thursday, 07 September 2023

Three months on from her win at Chepstow Divina Grace gained another victory yesterday for the Top Hat & Tails syndicate.

This most recent win came in the form of a fillies' handicap at Bath over a mile and three and a half furlongs. This season she has only been out of the frame twice, once in the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes and on her last run at Newmarket where she didn't stay the one mile and six furlongs. Rae looked for another option where she could be dropped back in distance and this Class 4 race at Bath seemed a suitable choice.

Conditions were tough on the day with the country basking in a heatwave as temperatures reached thirty degrees. Ridden by Darragh Keenan in the race itself Divina Grace was drawn six of the eight runners and raced prominently before settling into fourth. Swinging round the bend into the straight she travelled sweetly on the outside before taking the lead two and a half furlongs from home. However she was not without challengers and she found herself the meat in the sandwich between the favourite Warren Hill and Dovena. This filly loves a scrap though and she battled back gamely after being headed to go and win by a head.

The small syndicate of Top Hat & Tails are having some fun with this classy daughter of Golden Horn and long may it continue as she clearly relishes her racing. Congratulations to Eamonn, Kevin, Scott and Marisa and thank you to Darragh Keenan for a positive ride. Well done to our own Bola who looks after Divina Grace at home.

Two from two for Afloat

Friday, 11 August 2023

Afloat continued her recent good form with another win at Great Yarmouth yesterday.

Jon and Sophie Mills' three year old obviously enjoys the coastal track and did not appear to mind the quick turnaround having won there just nine days before. The ground was quicker than last time but she still went off the 11/10 favourite. Having been put up eight pounds from her last win she ran with a penalty this time which made her two pounds better off. Kieran Shoemark took the reins this time and she was drawn from stall 12. Travelling on the outside she eventually managed to get some cover towards the rear. She was able to get a nice tow through the race and a furlong and a half out she laid down a strong challenge to take the lead and repel the fast finishing Letaba by half a length.

Congratulations to Jon and Sophie once again, it is fantastic to see their patience rewarded.