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Point-to-pointing gives people from all backgrounds an opportunity to take part, although Iana Stoyantcheva’s involvement is not without some firsts.
This article first appeared in the Racing Post on Friday 12th May.
Born in Bulgaria, she moved to Britain eight years ago to study at Sheffield University, where she gained a degree in genetics and microbiology. Her father, a health care worker at a hospital in Plymouth, headed north to join his daughter and is now employed at a Sheffield hospital, while her mother is an accountant at the Korean embassy in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia.
That background does not add up to winter afternoons at point-to-points, but in her first season of involvement, Stoyantcheva has made a mark with ten-year-old Darius Des Sources, who she owns and trains and who in the past five weeks has won races at Mosshouses and Charm Park.
She says: “I didn’t expect this – I bought him to have some fun, but he’s become a different horse. It might have been too much for him under Rules. Horses are live creatures who are smart and know what’s going on. He gets all my attention.”
While at university, she went to Doncaster races where she became aware of the National Horseracing College, then did a course there, entered racing and recently has been working for trainer John Quinn.
In May last year, having wanted her own horse since she was a child, Stoyantcheva headed to Goffs UK’s Doncaster Spring Sale. With a little help from Nicky Tinkler, who runs a breaking and pre-training yard near Malton, she viewed Darius Des Sources and says: “He got me with one look. There was something about him. Nicky spoke to Chris Grant [who was acting as vendor, having trained the horse to win a hurdle and chase] who told him all about Darius and so I bought him [for £8,000].”
Iana with Darius Des Sources
Her new acquisition moved to Tinkler’s yard, but his owner’s plans to ride him in a point-to-point proved a step too far and they pulled up. She says: “I wanted to try it, but I’m not a jockey and it’s not for me,” so Lois Teal was booked to ride Darius Des Sources and, after a close second to the useful Mount Mews at Sheriff Hutton (pictured top), the new combination has won twice.
That could well become a hat-trick when he runs in a point-to-point at Hexham tomorrow, while a hunter chase could be targeted next season. In an international industry, horses are racing under numerous flags, but a winner under Rules trained by a Bulgarian would be a landmark for British racing, not just Stoyantcheva.
