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Woodstock Octo made a winning British debut on Sunday when landing the second GB Pointing Bonus Young Horse Maiden Series race which was sponsored by Goffs and held at Dunsmore in Devon.

Under a cool ride from trainer Josh Newman, the five-year-old son of Ocovango (5/4f) (pictured above) carried the colours of John and Sonia Gardener to victory over fellow West Country rivals Electric City (20/1), from the stable of Ian Chanin, and Next Gen (3/1) who was trained and ridden by Will Biddick. All winners from the 15-race series are eligible for a handsome bonus if successful within two years in a maiden, novices or beginners’ hurdle or chase under rules from the stable of a licensed trainer based in Britain.

They can win £25,000 if bred in Britain, or £15,000, if, like Irish-bred Woodstock Octo, they were foaled overseas.

Woodstock Octo had the benefit of a couple of runs for Terence O’Brien in Irish point-to-points in the spring before he was sent to Goffs UK’s Spring Sale and bought by Newman’s wife, Kayley Woollacott, for £11,500. His racing experience was put to good use on Sunday, although there was a moment when Newman thought his chance had gone.

He said: “He did it well in the end, but he was caught a touch flat-footed and lost a couple of lengths running down the back straight. I thought it wasn’t going to be his day, but I didn’t want to over-react. I just wanted to keep getting air into him, so just squeezed quietly away to try and keep in touch with the leaders. He picked up again, and rounding the final bend I was close behind the first two and had to take a bit of a pull. From there I just rode him out with hands and heels.”

Woodstock Octo is not heading to the sales, and for the time being there are no plans to run him from Woollacott’s licensed yard in a bid to try and land a novices’ race – and the bonus – under rules. Newman said: “There is no rush with the horse, and since his owners are predominantly point-to-point people we will look for a restricted race for him somewhere.”

Chanin was delighted with the run of Electric City, who is a year younger than the winner, and who he owns in partnership with Tom Hooper, Peter Kingwell and Mark Booth. Their horse was having his third race after a couple of outings in the spring.

Reflecting on Electric City, Chanin – who rang George Stanners of Goffs after the race to thank him for his company’s sponsorship – said: “He was very green the first time he ran, then showed more at Cothelstone when third. He did well over the summer, and travelled and jumped well for James [Shaw] on Sunday. Maybe he was in front a bit too long, because he was nabbed by the winner on the run-in, but he showed a great attitude and we were really pleased.

“He’s for sale, and has a lovely improving profile.”

Chanin is going through the process of gaining a full licence to operate under rules, and hopes to be ready to go by Christmas. He said: “If we don’t sell Electric City privately he could run in a maiden point-to-point or in a bumper from my yard once I get a licence.”

The GB Pointing Young Horse Maiden Series and its bonuses are backed by the British Horseracing Authority and Horserace Betting Levy Board and aims to highlight links between the sport and racing under rules. It also places a spotlight on young British point-to-pointers with a view to generating interest in them when they are offered for sale. Auctioneers Tattersalls Cheltenham and Goffs UK have backed the idea by sponsoring 14 races between them.

Sunday’s race at Dunsmore can be viewed here: https://gbpointing.co.uk/young-horse-maiden/woodstock-octo-ire/

Winners of a GB Pointing young-horse maiden race land bonuses of £25,000 or £15,000 if subsequently successful in any of the following:

  • A class 1 hurdle or chase
  • Any weight-for-age novice or maiden hurdle, or novice or beginners’ chase
  • Any Class 2 or 3 novices’ handicap chase