Hayley Turner says she has no plans to retire having edged closer to 1,000 career winners aboard Club Manager at Nottingham.
Turner now requires five to reach the landmark number and had a willing partner at Colwick Park in the form of Andrew Balding’s four-year-old, who bettered his second at Bath last month in the testing going.
The former champion apprentice previously hung up her saddle at the end of the 2015 season only to return the following year and the 40-year-old is in no rush to depart the weighing room for a second time.
“I’m enjoying it so much,” said Turner.
“I realised when I retired before you have to actually work quite hard.
“I’ve got five to go (for 1,000) and I’m getting there slowly.”
Club Manager was sent off the 11-4 favourite for the Follow @worldpool On X Handicap, with the three-year-old thriving in his first try over two miles.
Turner added: “He’s a well-bred horse being a half-brother to Side Glance and he loved the ground and travelled very easy on it.
“Probably getting to the front two out wasn’t ideal as he can be a little bit lazy, but I kept him up to his work and he did it well.”
Tom Ward’s Our Golden One (4-1) put her experience to good use as she prevailed over the John and Thady Gosden-trained debutant Beeley in the opening HKJC Riding High Together EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
Probert said: “She was very tough. I just wanted to put her to sleep early on and do it the right way round – she was a bit keen in the early stages at Sandown and looked a touch unlucky when needing room quite late.
“She ran well in defeat there and the winner has held up her form by running quite well in a Group One.
“I think she will stay further next year and is very versatile in terms of what ground she will go on. She’s moved on that ground today like it was good ground, so she’s a likeable filly and on the improve.”
In-form trainer Ben Brookhouse took the Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicap with 100-30 favourite Ray Vonn, but was denied a double when the hat-trick seeking I Still Have Faith could only finish second behind an on-song Dubai Souq (5-2) in the concluding worldpool.hkjc.com Handicap.
Saeed bin Suroor’s six-year-old had been without a victory since November 2021, but relished the testing conditions in the hands of Kieran Shoemark to register the second course-and-distance triumph of his career.
“He ran away with me really, I was a bit of a passenger,” said the winning jockey.
“He skipped clear and loves that ground. They told me to kick just before they got to me and I was a bit concerned about doing that as I thought it would be too much too early.
“But he’s a genuine type and just kept galloping. He’s won decisively so you would like to think he’s well handicapped.”
The HKIR In December Handicap went the way of the Kevin Frost-trained Spoof (9-4 favourite), who once again proved there is plenty left in the tank.
It was the eight-year-old’s fourth win since joining the Newark-based handler late last year and Frost could not hide his delight in the stalwart sprinter.
“He’s done us proud and won us plenty of prize-money,” said Frost
“The key to him is getting some soft or heavy ground. He will go on ground others won’t entertain.
“He’s a tough old lad and a typical sprinter. He’s good for me as he keeps me on my toes and you have to think about what you are doing with him every single day. You can’t do the same yesterday as you do today. You have to be mixing it up and keeping his mind right.
“He’s great and been a good old stick for us.”
There was also a fitting success for Tom Marquand on the card as he partnered Richard Price’s 14-1 shot Rhubarb to victory in the World Pool At Newmarket This Saturday Handicap.
“She’s not had much go her way this season and I had a horror story on her at Windsor,” said Marquand.
“She’s had a couple of races like that but it was nice to roll back the years and ride a winner for Richard because, to be fair, when I first started he was one of the trainers I rode the most winners for alongside Tony Carroll and of course Richard Hannon.
“It’s always a pleasure riding him a winner.”
Supreme Ventures Racing urges review of racing rule after Caymanas Park abandonments
Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), operators of Caymanas Park, have called for a review of Rule 44 (iii) enforced by the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) following the cancellation of two races during the April 27 race meet at Caymanas Park.
In a press conference on Monday addressing the abandoned races, SVREL Executive Chairman Solomon Sharpe expressed frustration with the rule, highlighting its potential impact on the racing industry.
"This rule, unique to Jamaica, imposes a strict five-minute limit after the published post time for races at Caymanas Park," Sharpe stated. "It fails to account for various factors that can delay race starts and penalizes all stakeholders when races are abandoned, affecting punters, jockeys, grooms, trainers, owners, promoters, and the government."
Last year, Caymanas Park contributed over $260 million in combined taxes to the government's coffers. Sharpe urged the JRC to engage SVREL in discussions on Rule 44, emphasizing the need for constructive dialogue to address the rule's impact.
"We were not consulted during the initial discussions on this rule, and now, with two races abandoned in a single race day, our concerns have materialized," Sharpe explained. "SVREL is open to collaborating with the JRC to review and refine this amended rule."
Representatives from the Grooms Association, Jockeys Association, and the United Racehorse Trainers Association echoed SVREL's concerns and supported the call for a review of Rule 44.
Sharpe concluded by appealing to regulators, stakeholders, and the public to support the growth of the horseracing industry in Jamaica. "Horseracing has immense potential in Jamaica and can become a significant foreign exchange earner. Realizing this potential requires collaboration among all stakeholders."
SVREL has been operating Caymanas Park since March 2017 after the government divested the property. With investments exceeding J$4 billion in product enhancements and innovations like the Mouttet Mile, which boasts the largest purse in the English-speaking Caribbean, SVREL remains committed to advancing the horseracing experience in Jamaica.
Supreme Ventures Racing regrets abandonment of two races at Caymanas Park on Saturday
Supreme Ventures Racing & Entertainment Limited (SVREL) has expressed regret and disappointment following the abandonment of two races during the Saturday, April 27 race day at Caymanas Park in St Catherine, Jamaica.
The decision to abandon these races, SVREL said, was made in compliance with regulations set forth by the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC), leading to the refund of all related pools according to SVREL's Pari-mutuel rules.
According to the statement released by SVREL late Saturday, the abandonment of races number one and six, respectively, was declared by the stewards of the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) due to delays that exceeded the permitted time frame as stipulated by Rule 44(iii).
Specifically, in race number one, scheduled to commence at 12:00 pm, a saddling issue with horse number five and a mandatory veterinary check for horse number eight, which reared and fell after exiting the saddling barn, resulted in delays beyond the allowable limit.
Similarly, race number six, slated for 3:10 pm, was delayed due to a horse running loose, ultimately leading to its abandonment by the stewards of the JRC.
SVREL explained that the recent amendments to Rule 44(iii), which came into effect from April 1, 2024, mandate strict adherence to race start times with a maximum allowance of five minutes after the published post time. SVREL noted that Jamaica is unique in enforcing such a rule without prior consultation with the sole promoter of horseracing in Jamaica.
The enforcement of this rule has led to financial losses for industry stakeholders, including owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms, punters, and the promoter and as such the disruption caused by the abandonment of these races understandably resulted in unrest among stakeholder groups.
Despite the challenges faced, the race meet resumed with race number seven at approximately 4:00 pm, SVREL noted.
SVREL has now issued a sincere apology to valued customers and stakeholders for the inconvenience caused by the abandonment of races one and six by the JRC. SVREL also emphasized its readiness for open dialogue with the JRC and all impacted stakeholders to ensure the continued success and integrity of the horseracing industry.
As the sole promoter of horseracing in Jamaica, SVREL said it remains committed to addressing challenges collaboratively and upholding the highest standards of professionalism and service within the industry.
Light seeking to shine again at Sandown
Kitty’s Light is taking aim at his usual season finisher in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.
The gelding has been a star for trainer Christian Williams, winning big handicap events like the Eider Chase and the Scottish Grand National and going close in the Charlie Hall and the Coral Trophy.
He has particularly good record in the bet365 Gold Cup on the final day of the season, missing out only due to interference when second in 2021 and coming home third in 2022.
Last year he was completed the set of podium finishes when winning by two and a half lengths under usual jockey Jack Tudor.
The two are well acquainted and teamed up for Kitty’s Light’s Grand National bid at Aintree earlier in the month, where he ran a valiant race to finish fifth behind four Grade-One winning Irish chasers.
Williams was incredibly proud of his stable star and is now hoping the gelding can shine again in the Sandown contest he has found to be lucrative in the past.
“It was wonderful, we trained him to win the race and we thought he could, but you couldn’t be disappointed with what he did,” Williams said of the National performance.
“We were thrilled, the horse tried his best and we were very, very proud of horse and jockey.
“He’s come out of it very well, if the race was run today even then he’d be running, he’s in good form.
“He loves it at Sandown with the big fences, his jumping has come on now but even as a five-year-old he nearly won the race.
“He was third the year after that, it really seems to suit him.
“I think he likes going right-handed, he hangs a little bit right at home and he seems to really enjoy it there.
“We’re taking our chance anyway, he seems well and we’ll hope for the best.”
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