25 March 2009 Report: Wilton - Badbury Rings
WOODBRIDGE QUEST: winner of the Restricted
Sam Allwood reached the 10-winner mark with a double on Trade Off (Mens Open) and Flying Schuttle (Maiden) at Badbury Rings on Saturday.
Trade Off just got his head in front of Knighton Combe (Michael Miller) after a thrilling duel throughout the last mile. "Knighton Combe must be getting fed up of my horses, as Braeroy has beaten him twice and now Trade Off once this season", said Beaminster owner Bill Dupont, who shares the winner with Ann Tory. A tilt at the Stewart Tory Memorial Hunter Chase at Wincanton on 9th April is now on the agenda.
Flying Schuttle was a first-ever winner for Sam's Shropshire-based parents Robert and Rachel Allwood, although Rachel recalled that their colours, formerly her grandfather's, were once carried to victory in the Chester Vase. "We bought him at Ascot in June", explained Robert. "We'd been at Doncaster sales for three days and not bought a horse and were getting rather fed up when we finally got him". Trained at Boscastle by Karyn Heard - "we came here for the ground", said the trainer - Flying Schuttle finished two lengths ahead of Sweet Nap (Michael Miller) after the pair had battled it out over the last three fences.
Silver Monarch survived a last fence scare to run away from a quality Ladies Open field and delight jockey, Rilly Goschen. She said: "I rode my first winner here, my first double here, my only treble here and have ridden more winners here than anywhere else, and now I'm finally off the mark for the season".
Woodbridge Quest gave a fine front running performance in the Restricted, making virtually all the running and refusing to yield when challenged by favourite Even Homer Nods. "He settled well and that enabled him to keep pulling out that little bit more when needed", said Ian Chanin, who has formed a fine partnership with Christine and Michael Davies' 9yo.
Two riders rode their first-ever winners at the meeting. Will Brennan, 18, currently riding out for owner-trainer Lucy Franks before going up to Brasenose College, Oxford University to study chemistry, opened his account on Sure Future in the Hunt race. Golden Jack (2-5F) led over the last, but Will forced Sure Future in front on the line. Chris Dennington, 23, who works for Ray and Phillip York, got off the mark at the 12th attempt when Leonardo's Friend walked over in the Novice Riders race.
