Point-to-Point Focus

A chance to catch up on the latest point-to-point focus column, which appeared in the Racing Post on Friday, May 21.

Reflecting on his ten-winners lead in Britain’s men’s championship, James King says conservatively: “It’s a good cushion.”

With just six days of racing until the season ends on June 13, King’s score of 25 seems to have carried him to his first national title in the sport, and that is certainly the view of reigning champion Jack Andrews, one of three riders lying second on 15 winners. Andrews says: “I don’t have the ammunition, and would have to ride 11 winners while James rides none.”

Such a scenario is possible. In May 2007 Richard Burton broke his leg while holding a lead of 11 over James Tudor, who put on a spurt and knocked in 14 winners over the ten remaining days of racing.

King, 25, a former champion amateur under Rules, also trains two horses who have won five races this season and provided him with a three-way share of the lead in the Foran Equine champion trainer title for yards with seven or fewer horses. One of his key supporters, Gloucestershire-based Jason Warner, heads the Tattersalls leading owner award.

The two men team up at Bratton Down on Sunday where King is booked for the Warner-owned Blairs Cove, although he is trained in South Wales by Luke Price, who is level with King – and Joe O’Shea – for the small trainers’ title. Perhaps a conflict of interest should be declared.

Warwickshire-based King says of his push for the title: “You want to be the best in your sport. It’s been amazing – I have to pinch myself.”

On a Song and a prayer

Garthorpe’s point-to-point Flat race provides an unusual link with pony racing in the shape of five-year-old Suntara’s Song, who was foaled by the pony racer Sundays Best.

A daughter of Soviet Star, she is owned by Nell Stevens and was ridden by her daughter Alice, who has since become a leading rider on the pointing circuit and will partner Suntara’s Song. Quirkily, given his dam’s background, he is not by a run-of-the-mill stallion, but champion Kayf Tara.

Alice says: “Sunday’s Best was a rocket. Before her first race she dropped me, did a circuit, but still won. She also won a pony race at Cheltenham by 20 lengths. Mum is good friends with Simon and Lara Sweeting at Overbury Stud, so when we retired Sundays Best she went to Kayf Tara – it was just before his fee shot up.

“She was 148cm [14.2hh] while her son is 16.1hh. He was pretty scrawny as a youngster – Mum will kill me for saying that – but he looks good now. He’s our pride and joy, but whether he will be any good I don’t know. I’ll tell you more on Sunday evening.”