- Monday, 19 August 2024 13:08
- Written by David Pipe
Mr & Mrs Morgan
Jumps action returned over the weekend and we have our first runners over jumps since the mini-break at Worcester on Monday afternoon. They also race there on Wednesday this week, we have three declarations and it is a big day for young Jack with his horse, African Lady making her stable debut!
Jack purchased African Lady at the Doncaster Summer Sale last month, the first sale he has ever been to and the first horse he has ever been involved in buying. While he has not ridden the four year old filly he has helped plan her daily exercise routine, been involved with loose schooling her and watching her schooling over hurdles. He has be learning about race planning and all what goes on behind the scenes paperwork wise so it has been an interesting learning experience for him. He is very excited and expectant as to how she might run so I hope things do go to plan! She has done everything we have asked of her at home and shows ability and has a good attitude. She steps up in trip to make her handicap debut on Wednesday with cheek pieces added so it will be interesting to see how she gets on. In Ireland, she was provisionally given a rating of 92 over hurdles, while over here they have given her 100, which is a little disappointing. They do tend to get a slightly higher rating this side of the Irish Sea but eight pounds higher is plenty enough! I hope that she can run well for Jack and give us all something to shout about!
Our other runners on Wednesday are Walk of the Roses and Micornormous. Walk of the Roses runs in division two of the mare’s maiden hurdle and she needs to bounce back from a slightly disappointing run last time. She wears a first time tongue strap and I hope that will make a difference to her on the track as it has done at home. Micronormous runs in the 2m7f handicap hurdle and she returns to action from over a year off the track with injury. She is looking for her first win over hurdles but is a former bumper winner and her rating of 102 looks fair, this will just be her second start in a handicap. She has been away for a racecourse gallop and providing Worcester get the forecast rain and the ground is safe, it will be good to see her back on the track.
On Thursday, we have entries at Newton Abbot and on Friday we have flat entries at Ffos Las and Goodwood. Keep checking the Daily News on the website for all the latest information on the stable runners.
Chelsea Wedding
While Jack and I were on our little trip to Ireland I actually missed the wedding of Chelsea and Simon. Chelsea joined our office team in November last year and married Simon on Saturday 10th August at Charlton House, Shepton Mallet. A few of our team went to the evening do and a good time was had by all. There were many people from the racing world there as both Simon and Chelsea and their families are all involved in the industry. They met when both working for Nicky Henderson and after a spell with the Tizzard team, Chelsea is now with us and Simon has just moved to the Paul Nicholls yard. Simon and Chelsea are currently in Morocco on Honeymoon and I would like to wish them both well for the future.
Friendly Cricket
Last Friday evening, we cobbled together a Pipe cricket team to play against a visiting side from South Dorset. It was more of a social game than high-class cricket but it was very competitive and fun to watch! Our team opened the batting but when Jack Pipe was out early on, we knew we were in trouble! We posted a reasonable score but were chased down easily enough in the end. The other team was made up of ‘horsey’ people and included top West Country point-to-point trainer Chris Barber amongst others. It was a nice evening and most went to the Culm Valley in afterwards where there was live music to continue the party!
Retired Horses
We take pride here at Pond House in helping to find homes for all of our horses when their racing careers are over or when perhaps they just need a change of scenery. We like to do our best for them and their owners to ensure everyone is happy and well looked after. I would just like to highlight one such horse this week, his racing days are not over yet but who we have tried something different with and it has been a heart-warming success story. The Horse is Itacare, and his story told by Gemma below;
Itacare joined the Pond House team after being claimed from France following his win in a four year old chase at Auteuil. He was snapped up to run in the silks of owners Somerset Racing and although it was an inauspicious start to his British career he won his first race over hurdles at Ludlow in March 2022. His improvement was brought about by wind surgery and better ground and he continued to run consistently well that summer, making the frame several times. He then struggled a little from an inflated handicap mark and it was decided to lease him to the Corcoran family for point to pointing in the summer of 2023 as a schoolmaster.
Rian was 15 years old at the time and had been very successful Pony Racing but was very much looking forward to his sixteenth birthday that autumn and getting is point-to-point licence.
He spent some time at grass when initially joining the Corcoran’s and instantly became a family favourite. He has always been a gentleman to ride and do in the stable and enjoyed their laid back lifestyle and hacking around the Devon countryside. Rian has younger sisters and his nine-year-old sister Niamh particularly formed and strong bond with him and enjoyed riding Itacare.
Claire, always kept in regular contact with their progress, he ran in his first point to point at Great Trethew in November 2023, and they couldn’t have wished for a better start and made a winning debut, in the process giving Rian his first winner on his first ride. There were photos aplenty, it was clear to all how much Itacare had become part of the family, and a win was just the icing on the cake. Niamh continued to ride him at home and took him to Pony Club events with the riding instructor somewhat disappointed his return to the racetrack was imminent as he had ‘so much trainability and real potential to do a nice dressage test’. Itacare was able to keep the entire family happy however and he won his next point-to-point outing at Wadebridge in Cornwall as well!
His only unsuccessful point-to-point outing was at Badbury Rings but he bounced back to win the Mixed Open race at Milborne St Andrew in Dorset. This was his and Rian’s third success together and he made the headlines in the local press with everyone enjoying the family success and following Rian’s journey to hopefully becoming a professional jockey.
Meanwhile at home, not only Niamh (now 10) was riding the seven year old but younger sisters Aoife (7) and Fionnaula (5) were also being looked after by the super kind grey. Niamh was jumping him and doing dressage while they also all enjoyed regular days out to the beach and rides across Dartmoor. Itcare’s actual birthday is 30th March and all three girls made their favourite horse a very special birthday cake, which he very much enjoyed!
Itacare joined the Corcoran family on a yearlong free lease and having finished the point-to-point season with three win from four starts and very much providing Rian with the best possible start to his jockey career. From this platform, Rian was able to gain ‘outside’ rides for other trainers, further valuable experience, and another couple of winners along the way. It was then decided he would not ride any more winners towards the very end of the last season to maintain his novice status as a jockey (having ridden less than five winners). He is therefore now in a very strong position to contend for top riding honours next season, including having eyes on the National novice title. Rian will join the Pond House team this winter and will stay as an amateur jockey. He will also ride out for the Summersby yard, which is a strong team to be associated with in west-country point to points. He will continue to gain valuable experience between the flags while looks to get some more rides under rules along the way. Rian won the ‘Rising Star Award’ at the Wessex point-to-point awards evening for his winning ride aboard Itacare at Milborne St Andrew.
Meanwhile, it was great news that the owners of Itacare continued his free lease to the Corcoran family and made the whole family very happy! He has continued to have a very varied and active time away from the racecourse, from lambing sheep to cross-county schooling and musical rides!
At the beginning of July Niamh and Itacare rode their first dressage test under British Dressage Conditions and were asked by the DC of their Pony Club to represent them at the upcoming Area Dressage competition at Bicton. While they may defer that opportunity for now, with more low-key experience for the duo preferred at this stage of their development, it was certainly an honour to have been considered.
This has been a wonderful journey for all involved with Itacare and their promises to be plenty more to come in this inspirational story and we look forward to continuing the journey with him and all of the Corcoran family.
