10 March 2011 Young Rider Feature: George & Lucy Saunders
by Carolyn Tanner
With a family tree such as theirs, it is hardly a surprise that brother and sister George and Lucy Saunders would want to race-ride.
Their mother Tik partnered nearly 90 winners - a mix of Point-to-Point, under Rules and Arabs - while her father, George Vergette, who hunted regularly with the Cottesmore, rode successfully on the flat and under National Hunt rules before turning his attention to training, saddling 340 winners while at the same time concentrating on his farming commitments.
George and Lucy's paternal grandfather was Dick Saunders, who won the 1982 Grand National on Grittar, while their father Toby's twin sister is trainer Caroline Bailey, herself a leading jockey between the flags before injury cut short her race-riding days. Perhaps the most competitive of all was Dick's wife Pam, among whose many successes was one when she was pregnant with the twins.
Breeding, though, does not guarantee talent, but those watching George and Lucy on their, to date, handful of outings, will have been left in no doubt that they are chips off the old block. No "nervous novice" about this pair, who have ensured they are in the thick of the action from the word go. Sadly neither Dick nor George is alive to watch their grandchildren in racing action, but both would undoubtedly have been very proud to witness the family tradition being so well upheld.
Although both siblings have yet to partner a winner between the flags, they are no strangers to success, having enjoyed plenty of victories in the Pony Racing field. Lucy won the Wincanton final in 2004 on the one-eyed Crosswell Robbie, while George reached the finals most years on a variety of mounts, although the top prize eluded him. "Anyone who thought they had a fast pony to sell would give us a ring," he laughed.
George, who had his first rides last season at the age of 16, has had just one outing this year, and had that initial victory in his sights when being decanted at Horseheath's final fence by The Hairy Lemon. Having just recovered from a stress reaction to his right shin, obtained playing hockey for the school (a sport which some may consider far more dangerous than racing!), he acquired a haematoma on the left calf calf muscle and a slightly ruined boot from the kick he received.
He represents Bloxham School at both hockey and rugby, and is having to balance racing with his ‘A' level studies in Maths, Physics and Business Studies. A gap year beckons, with cattle ranching in Australia and a ski season on the agenda.
"I'll have all the horses to ride while he's away," grinned Lucy in mock glee. Two years older than her brother, she was a later starter, having made her debut only this season. "I knew I wanted to do it properly and I didn't have enough time to give to it before," she explained.
Lucy's own gap year also included skiing, plus riding eventers in New Zealand and working for Darley last summer. She is now at Cirencester, doing a course which she said "Has a long title but it's basically business management with horses thrown in!"
Neither George nor Lucy is into pulling strings because of the family background, and neither expects any favours. Lucy rides out for Kim Bailey once a week, but it is an arrangement she organised for herself. Of course, the family name could have its drawbacks as far as pressure and expectation are concerned. "You do feel it a bit," confesses Lucy, though George admits to being hard on himself as opposed to feeling pressure from outside. "But the more I do, the more I enjoy it," he adds.
Both have got local sponsors, and both will survive nicely if it ever came to famine. Lucy is supported by high quality butchers, Sauls of Spratton, while George is sponsored by fine wine merchants, Goedhuis & Co, much to the especial appreciation of his parents!
Lucy speaks for both of them when she says "We know how lucky we are to be able to do it and to have such nice horses." Both will be in action at Ampton on Sunday, and win or lose this weekend, their refreshing attitude, allied to their obvious ability and competitiveness, means that the Saunders name will surely continue to be carried with distinction in the years ahead.
