17 May 2010 Report: South Durham - Mordon
by Will Milburn
JOANNE BROWN: tried to hide her excitement after winning the Maiden on Octavio
photo: Jon Hodd
The Yorkshire season came to a fantastic close this weekend with the South Durham meeting at Howe Hills, Mordon. The beautiful weather and free entry attracted a very large crowd to this fantastically prepared course. The meeting saw Chris and John Dawson fight it out for the area jockeys' title, with older brother Chris clinching it.
One of Chris's wins came in the Mens Open aboard the highly talented Oaklands Bobby, who after making all the running and displaying a high class round of jumping, stayed on well to hold off the staying on Brize Norton and Guy Brewer. Nippy Des Mottes and Jake Greenall filled third place.
Skarmanche won the Hunt Members with John Dawson in the saddle. The pair were settled in rear and made good headway throughout the race, Dawson taking his mount to the lead at the last and stayed on well to win a shade cosily.
An hour later Skarmanche's half-brother The Masters Lesson, who was previously in training with Sue Smith and named after Harvey Smith for his talented handling of the horse, won the two and half mile Open Maiden, in doing so completing a double for meeting Secretary Sarah Dent. Settled in rear, John Dawson's mount challenged the leader in the straight and after a driving finish got up on the line to beat College Land Boy and Andrew Glass, who is reportedly hanging up his boots.
The Confined race went the way of Chris Dawson and Forty Shakes, however they only won by a short-head after a long battle all the way down the straight with long time leader Allborn Lad. Baron Romeo looked as though he would trouble the two leaders two from home, but only managed the one pace back in third.
The progressive Cottam Phantom continues to improve and took the Ladies Open under Jacqueline Coward. Always travelling well, the pair came to dispute the lead three out, led at the last and won a shade easily. Blandings Castle was a very game second, whilst Major Shark was back in third. Cottam Phantom's upward progression is thanks to work rider Jane Gray who has taught the horse to settle much better in his races.
One of the most popular and deserved winners of the day came in the final race and saw Joanna Brown win on her father's horse Octavio. Always prominent, the pair stayed on strongly after the last to get up near the line and beat Pekan One, who ran a solid race in second, whilst long time leader Double Past weakened close home to finish third. Octavio was bought from Guy Reed as a three-year-old and gave his rider a second career win.
Sendeed bounced back to form in the Restricted and was most likely suited much better by the quicker ground. Leading a long way from home, the only danger Yes I Can fell two out, allowing Sendeed to win with relative ease. Fernandina came home a modest second, with Pop Play Again in third.
