100 Not Out
When I first took my license out in September 2016 I can honestly say it was like stepping into the deep dark unknown. The nature of this business requires constant results in order to keep operating and suffice to say that, when Breath Of Joy won at Pontefract, it hadn’t even crossed my mind she was my 100th winner. Obviously, in amongst those winners, there is a Grade One (Kalashnikov), Grade 3 (Really Super) and two Listed races (Kalane N.H. & Happy Odyssey F), however, every single winner we have is celebrated as if it were a top level success. All of this could not have been achieved without a team loyal owners and staff that are on board at Southgate Stables and looking forward, I would hope that in the next century of winners we can build on and better what has already been achieved.
As previously mentioned, Breath Of Joy took a step up in class at Pontefract and she did not disappoint under the lady of the moment – Hollie Doyle. Unfortunately, next time out at Kempton, she was harassed up in front from the get-go and never managed to get a breather. However, she is one of the toughest fillies I know as she battled all the way to the line only to get pipped in the dying strides. The good news is that, although she is unlikely to run again in 2020 due to fast ground requirements, she will remain in training as a four year old with black type races being the focus.
Breath Of Joy becomes winner 100 for the team
Solider On Parade has been a revelation since switching codes and is now three from four over hurdles. Finishing 2nd on his debut to Hiconic at Bangor, he has since built on that performance to score a three timer at Market Rasen culminating in a Class 2 Juvenile Hurdle. Once again, Hiconic posed a serious threat in opposition being rated 128 compared to our 117 and she also had a 7lb pull in the weights due to the race conditions. Solider, Hiconic and Taking About You, the three market leaders, made it a stern test from the start, however, it was our lad who kicked clear coming round the home turn leaving the other two toiling in his wake. Unfortunately, he has taken a massive hit from the handicapper for his efforts and was raised a whopping 19lb in the ratings.
Soldier On Parade winning his third race in a row at Market Rasen for the Hostages To Fortune
Thunder King finally got a win under his belt for Daniel MacAuliffe & Anoj Don at Windsor although his journey to the winning post was not an easy one. With Silvestre De Sousa on board, he encountered trouble throughout the race, and it was only in the last moments that he found himself in front under a strong De Sousa drive. Nirodha also came good for the same ownership at Haydock having shown she had retained her two year old ability in her first two races of 2020. Rossa Ryan took up the running and set a strong pace and even though the eventual second laid down a serious challenge at the two furlong pole, Nirodha then went up a gear to scoot away and win comfortably by two and a half lengths
Nirodha storming home at Haydock for Daniel MacAuliffe & Anoj Don
Urban War is an exciting prospect for us having won his last two starts at Ripon and Beverley comfortably. By the exciting first season sire Mehmas, he has shown us enough to think he is good enough to take his chance at a higher level. There is always uncertainty at the beginning of a horse’s career as to how good they might be and, if he were able to hold his own in a Pattern race, then there will only be more to come from him as a three year old.
Urban War & Tim Went in the Winner's Enclosure at Beverley
The boss of Southgate Stables Blessed To Empress finally got her running shoes on to win easily at Chelmsford. In all honesty, we had concluded she no longer wanted to be a part of the team and retirement beckoned. However, she put us firmly back in our place as she sauntered home under Tom Marquand. She almost made it back to back wins at Wolverhampton but David Probert decided to throw his away his stick like a majorette’s baton at the furlong pole which inevitably denied Blessed by a nose. She also picked up a criteria failure for her unruly behaviour behind the gates but in the words of Catherine Tate’s Lauren…..she ain’t bovvered.
Blessed To Empress - The real boss of Southgate Stables
A trip to Kempton with Marlborough Sounds and Alborkan proved to be a successful one as the pair scored a quickfire double. We purchased Marlborough Sounds last year as a hurdling prospect mainly because is a good stamp of a horse and has good form on the Flat in Ireland. We decided to see if he still had the pace to win on the Flat prior to his jumping campaign and he duly obliged under Callum Shepherd. Alborkan followed up in the very next race under George Wood to break his maiden tag. He is a very lightly raced three year old and the step up in trip proved beneficial. He is entered in the Tattersalls Autumn in Training sale and could be a nice prospect for someone going forward.
Marlborough Sounds wins on the Flat prior to his National Hunt Campaign
Supermare Really Super made it full of house under all codes when winning her first race on the Flat at Chelmsford. The versatile mare seemed unlikely to get that elsusive first win on the Flat as she was hemmed in on the rail coming round the home turn. Thankfully, a gap presented itself in the straight giving Super the opportunity to coast home under Kieran Shoemark. In fact, she was enjoying herself so much that it took Kieran a full circuit to pull her up!!
Really Super now a winner on the Flat and over hurdles & fences
On My Command is a filly that we have always liked since joining the yard from Ireland and she won very impressively on her debut at Plumpton. Jack Quinlan had her handy throughout and when the others came off the bridle with five furlongs left to go, Jack was still traveling with a double handful. The aim is to hopefully win another bumper with a view to then taking her to the November Cheltenham meeting for the Listed Mares National Hunt Flat Race.
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