29 March 2011 Report: Hampshire - Hackwood Park
by Robin Gray
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MEDIC: winner of the Restricted for Tom Ellis
photo: Julie Drewett
A crowd in excess of 1700 flocked to Hackwood Park on Sunday, encouraged by perfect weather and the prospect of exciting racing.
They were rewarded with some close finishes, although local Owners and Trainers were out of luck on the seven race programme.
The only success for the home team was that of Mandingo Chief, owned, trained and ridden by Clare Wills, one of Hackwood most successful Riders. Mandingo Chief was qualified with the Hursley Hambledon Hunt and he won the Ward-Thomas Removals Limited Club Members race by one length from the Philip York-ridden Sesame Rambler.
Wills was denied a double when High Five failed by five lengths to concede 7lb to Dumadic in the AGA-sponsored Ladies Open. Third in this was Honour's Dream, giving 16-year-old Catherine Ward-Thomas, whose father sponsored the first race, her first ride in public.
Another 16-year-old, Zac Baker, rode his first winner from only seven rides when scoring on Penric in the Mens Open. Zac is the younger brother of top flat race jockey George Baker, whose father Peter is a leading farrier on many southern racecourses.
