Team Woodway was out in full force on Sunday 28th January, with 4 horses running at 2 different racecourses with 3 different jockeys!
Lawney headed to local course Cocklebarrow with Start Royal & According To Trev, and jockeys Izzie Marshall & Sam Burton. Veteran Start Royal, known at home as Ferdy, was in the 3½ mile Ladies Open for his first run of the season as hopefully it would be a slightly slower gallop which would help. He was able to dictate the race and enjoyed a front running role with Hennessy horse Carruthers, jumping superbly throughout. He tired a little over the last couple of fences as he is custom to do in his first run of the season, which he needed, to finish a very pleasing 3rd. At the age of 14 it was a fantastic start to the season; the aim of this season is to win a race, as he has done at least once every year we have run him (10 years) and on that run he looks well capable of maintaining that record. Izzie and Ferdy came back with the biggest smiles of the day and get on very well as a partnership.
According to Trev ran in the Lord Ashton Of Hyde Cup Men's Open and has had a wind op since his last run (declaring this is a current topic in the media). This longer race of 3¾ miles would help him relax and get more confidence in his breathing. This was certainly seen to good effect with him traveling well throughout and jumping under Sam probably the best of any horse on the day, to run a very competitive race. He was beaten just under 10 lengths for 3rd by two inform and far superior horses. Another race of this type will be the next aim. It was so encouraging to see both horse and rider have such a good spin.
Start Royal and Izzie Marshall
According To Trev and Sam Burton
Gaby very happy with Trev's performance who she enjoyed autumn hunting this season
(Photos from Cocklebarrow kindly provided by Chasdog Photography)
Alan went to Higham with two of the yard's most promising horses, Broken Eagle and Hawkhurst, both ridden by Joe. It was Eagle's first run of the season as we've been waiting for the ground all winter. It was only a 2 runner Men's Open race as he had scared the competition, and was left in isolation at fence 5. He hack cantered round comfortably, jumped well and was never asked to extend. He finished in a fantastically quick time; 1 second slower than the fastest time of the day. Our aim with him for the season ahead is open races on top of the ground, and if a Hunter Chase could be found with genuine fast ground we would also like to take one of those on.
Hawkhurst went to run his 3rd race of the season in the Conditions race. Both trainer and jockey blame themselves for running him on the wrong course, as they learned he will be seen in better light going right handed. The gelding still ran a fantastic race after being brought to a stand still at the 7th fence when tracking a faller, to finish 2nd place. What impressed us the most what that when overtaken Hawk did not give up the challenge and fought back to be beaten by only 3 lengths, showing courage and fight from the small horse. After 3 runs this early in the season, he is yet to finish outside of the first two, which we are very happy with!
Flying like an Eagle!
(Photo's from Higham kindly provided by Graham Bishop Photography)
Reflecting on a busy weekend, the trainer is very happy with 5 runners, 1 winner, one 2nd and three 3rds. All horses ran good, healthy, solid races, with those having their first outings coming on for it, and we can only be very pleased with the well being of the horses in the yard at the moment.
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