17 March 2009 Scene & Heard: Fitzwilliam (Milton) - Cottenham
Master Rex, who had stood on the lorry with his foot packed in ice as a precaution against the lameness which had been plaguing him all week, showed the benefit of the cold treatment by taking the Men's Open under Johnny Bailey, despite hitting the front earlier than was ideal.
"At his best, he could have picked these up and carried them," said owner-trainer Alex Embiricos's husband Tim Bryce, "but mind you, I was a bit worried when Johnny took it up three out." "I left it too late last time," countered Johnny, "so I wasn't going to make the same mistake again!"
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Johnny had earlier left the stewards' room £75 lighter in the pocket after dropping his hands on Classic Shot on the run-in and losing third place in the Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate. His colleague Tom Ellis had not been slow to take the mickey. "Ask him if he can lend you £75," he said to a female member of the press. "I bet you don't get the same answer that I did!"
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Johnny was deputising for Ashley Bird, whose car had broken down en route so arrived too late for that race, but he was at the course in time to take the 2m4f Maiden Division One on Nothingtoloose. It was an initial victory between the flags for Ashley, who works for John Bridger and has two Rules successes to his name. Nothingtoloose, bought as a foal at Fairyhouse but who failed to get a bid when taken to Doncaster in May, is for sale "if the decimal point is in the right place," said Russell Teague, who trains her for Maurice and Ailsa Jones. Ailsa, the daughter of former Olympic showjumper Rowland Fernyhough, recalled that her father's first winner was in the sixties with the very useful mare Sarky Sails.
Russell was a former apprentice to Henry Candy, and coincidentally the runner-up to Nothingtoloose was Ahwaak, trained by Henry's daughter Emma, assistant to James Fanshawe.
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Rocja found the better ground to his liking when springing a surprise in the Intermediate for the Stearn family. The 11-year-old, described by Simon Stearn as "awful at home - he plants himself and won't move," is lucky to be alive. After running at Garthorpe two years ago he developed colic-like symptoms immediately after the race, and it was discovered that his spleen had flipped over. Fortunately a combination of plenty of lunging and some expensive drugs prevented the necessity of an operation.
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Scotland Yard, who has not been out since his victory on this track four weeks ago due to treading on a stone, took the Ladies' Open in the hands of Claire Allen, who was in Qatar two weeks earlier representing Britain in the Fegentri championship. "It was 30 degrees there, and as the sun was shining when I left home this morning I put my shorts and flip-flops in the car just in case," she laughed.
There are no definite future plans for the winner, who, said trainer Fleur Hawes's husband Walter, is not averse to jumping out of his field and going to have a look at the neighbour's garden!
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"This will be as smooth as a cashmere codpiece." Matt Smith, before going out to win the Members' race on Wicked Nice Fella.
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Matt doubled up in the Restricted on Prince Car, whose owner-trainer Sarah Humphrey is on the mend following her accident just after Christmas. Sarah was unconscious for five days when a fall while cantering at home left her with, among other things, a broken back, ribs, cheekbone and eye socket. "The horse used me as a mattress," she smiled.
Prince Car was purchased from Adrian Gibbons at around that time on Matt's recommendation. "I used to ride Adrian's horses, and liked him the first time I sat on him," explained Matt, who works for Sarah, "so when Adrian wanted to sell him I tried to persuade all the owners for whom I ride to buy him." Graham Wylie had paid 125,000gns for Prince Car in 2007, but Adrian picked him up at Doncaster for over 120,000 less. Perhaps he was slightly cheaper than might have been the case had Sheila Crow, who was bidding on the phone, not lost the signal on her mobile at the wrong time!
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Harry Fowler won the 3m Maiden on Mountain Emperor, who has joined John Ibbott's yard this season. "I always thought he could win a race," said John, "but that he needed to be held up, not ridden from the front as he had been. I think he'll win a Restricted." Harry was more than happy to obey orders and sit in behind the leader Si Anthony. "It was nice following Kelly [Smith] around," he grinned. "It was a better view from where I was!"
