17 March 2008 Meynell & South Staffordshire - Weston Park
Machalini: landed the Novice Riders race under Lucina Dutton
The South Hereford meeting at Garnons fell victim to the weather yesterday, but there were no such problems at the Meynell & South Staffs fixture at Weston Park.
The heavy rain during the night meant that the going was good to soft, but the course was a credit to the joint Clerks of the Course Richard Froggatt and David Smith. Despite the cold weather there was a reasonable crowd at the course and those that stayed away missed a really good day's racing.
The Club Members race for novice riders was a very dramatic affair. Coming to the final fence the Caroline Robinson trained Jemaro, with her daughter Immy in the plate, had a lead of 10 lengths with the race at their mercy, but then the combination parted company, which caused a huge groan from the crowd. This left the Geoff Dutton trained Machalini in the lead, with his daughter Lucinda in the plate, and they took full advantage to come home unchallenged by 20 lengths from Raconteur, with Strongtrooper a further 6 lengths back in third. The winner is trained at Marchweil, Nr Wrexham by Geoff Dutton, who bought the horse as a schoolmaster for his daughter. It was money well spent as this was her first ever winner between the flags, the 18 year old is currently taking her A levels at Penley School.
It was good to see Gordie Edwards back in the winners enclosure again after Shady Anne jumped like a stag to win the Men's Open readily by two and a half lengths from the well backed favourite My Best Buddy. The Derrylin mare was a given a very confident ride by Barry Denvir, who works for the trainer. The winner was bred by Shrewsbury auctioneer Derek Pugh who used to have her in training under rules with Frank Jordan, where she won 2 bumpers and 3 hurdle races. Gordie was elated afterwards, he said, "My wife Sarah rides her in most of her work at home on our gallops. I knew she would improve from her second at Whitwick, and I thought Barry gave her a great ride. The Bangor Final is a possibility." Edwards is a master at training mares, Scally Muire was a yardstick for this area when she raced, and the trainer has won the Bangor Final three times in the past.
Only five runners faced the starter in the Ladies Open. The race went to the Ruth Tutton trained, owned and ridden, Move Over who bolted in by a distance from the Corrine Wynne trained Gigs Bounty under Carly Goodall.
The Camerengo made every yard under Andrew Corbett to win gamely, by a fast diminishing length from Will Kinsey on Mister Bloom, in the Restricted. The winner is trained in Northampton by Gerald Bailey, who said afterwards that his charge was a stayer and added that he will improve quite a bit from this race. The gelding is owned by the Macfarlane and Corbett families.
Rider Peter Man recorded his first winner at the course in his first visit following the very smooth success of Killarney Prince, who won very easily by 12 lengths from Cool Carroll. The rider's mother Jo Mann owns and trains the winner at Leamington Spa, where she has 5 horses in training and plans to run the winner at Cheltenham's Hunter Chase meeting.
The opening Maiden race went to the Sandy Lie under Sarah Phizacklea. The combination were not extended in beating Chase The Dreams by 12 lengths. The winner got Orton on The Hill trainer Roger Harvey off the mark for the season and is owned by Philip Andrew
The two and a half mile Maiden was won in good style by Mad Victor, who never came off the bridle under Adam Wadlow, towin going away by 7 lengths from Sammie Beddoes on Red Law. Silver Ace was a further 10 lengths back in third.
The winner is trained not far from Wolverhampton by Sue Taylor who, speaking after the race, said, "He is very aptly named. Paul bought him in Ireland two years ago outside the sale ring. We have just had to be patient with him and now that he has settled and got his head in front it will have boosted his confidence and he will improve from this race."
