REPORT – FLETE PARK RACES (SATURDAY 2ND MAY)

The Totnes and Bridgetown Race Co Ltd meeting took place at the popular Flete
Park race venue on Saturday 2 nd May, and drew in a good crowd to enjoy the
atmosphere of the day. This was a day for Trainer /Jockey Josh Newman to be proud
of, training three winners, riding two of those himself, and then Cheshire
based jockey Ellie Callwood riding the winner of the Ladies Open, also
trained by Josh Newman.

The first race of the day was the SW Law and Finance Hunt Members
race. This was a thriller, and saw Pirates Tale for owner George Welch, trained
locally by Deborah Treneer and ridden by son Barnaby, win by four lengths, ahead of
odds-on favourite Fighter Allen under James Pyeman. Fighter Allen had led the
small field of three runners, but the shrewd ride of Barnaby Treneer took the racing
up over the last fence, going on to win by four lengths. After the race, delighted owner
George Welch quoted “He’s home-bred and had shown some promise over hurdles
last season before losing confidence. We plan to aim at the Totnes & Bridgetown
Hunter Chase at Newton Abbot. Barnaby, who works as a consultant in finance in
London, added “It’s my first winner this season and only ride today. I have ridden six
winners so far. We hunted him early in the season, and it has really helped his
jumping.”

The next race was the Fawns Farm Maiden race, which saw the first part of the
Josh Newman training treble, in which he partnered Ghost Jury. This pleased both
the owners and backers when the odds-on-favourite came home the eight-length winner
winner, ahead of Down The Valley in second. The owners were delighted with the
win, Tina Haskings, speaking on behalf of the 4 Racing Owners Club, of which there
are 29 syndicate members, stated “We are based all over the country and were also
involved with Our Dylan and others. We are thrilled with Ghost Jury, and the decision
was made to race her in Point-to-Points rather than chase fences for now to build up
her confidence. Adding, we also like to support charities with our winnings such as
The Injured Jockeys Fund and The Retraining of Racehorses (ROR).” With the
trainer/jockey adding, “We sourced her from Chris Barber, and the plan is to run in
another Point-to-Point before going chasing.”

Three horses went to post in the Rathbones-sponsored Restricted race. This was
another thrilling tactical race, in which at the second last fence all three looked to be
in with a chance, but it was Absolut Grey under jockey Ed Vaughan for trainer Emma Summersby, stretching on after the last to come home the two-and-a-half length
winner, leaving Fongs Way in second. With three owners in the syndicate, delighted
part-owner Tony Boon quoted “A credit goes to jockey Ed Vaughan and trainer
Emma Summersby, he’s not the easiest of horses, he was sourced by Dean as a
three-year-old. Our future plans are to run again in Point if ground holds, before
being turned out for a well-earned rest.” With the jockey adding “Thanks to Emma
and Dean for letting me ride him, he has taken a bit of working out, but we have now
got the hang of him.”

The second part of the Josh Newman training treble came in the The Totnes &
Bridgetown Races Company Ladies Open race in which three entries set off, the
field being led initially by odds-on favourite Hearts Corner, under jockey Ellie
Callwood for owner Rebecca Roach. This was a tactical race in the now wet and
slippery conditions. Reflex Action under jockey Jo Supple ran confidently and tried to
assert on the final circuit, but with the horse appearing to jump left, was unable to
defend off the challenge of Hearts Corner, who went on to win by six lengths, another
race to please the backers, giving the bookies a tough day. Quoting after her win,
jockey 23yr old Ellie Callwood, who lives in Cheshire and rides for Kelly and Laura
Morgan. Stated, “He is a lovely horse, he loved it today.” With Crewkerne-based trainer, Newman
adding, “We are delighted, he has won 9 races since being in our yard, of which we
have twenty-five horses in training for the Point to-Points.”

The Marchand Petit-sponsored Conditions race had attracted the biggest field of the
day with seven entries, but by this time, the rain had an effect on the ground, making it testing. Talimar Pearl, another of the Josh Newman entries, had been sent off as
another odds-on favourite, but they were unable to fend off the challenge entry
African Lady, under jockey Ashley Dascombe for Devon-based trainer Jimmy Cole.
The winner only came home a neck in front of second-placed horse Talimar Pearl, in
a race in which jockeys had respected the conditions, leaving the battle to the end.
Jubilant owner/trainer Jimmy Cole stated “I only have two in training, this winner
thanks goes to David Pipe’s son Jack, who bought her and helped with the one-to-
one training, also thanks to Jo Supple. I have no plans for training next year, and she
is likely heading to sales.”

Finally, to finish the day was the Dream Catering sponsored Maiden race run over 2
miles-four-furlongs. This was another race, only attracting three runners, in which
trainer/jockey Josh Newman rode another impressive tactical race, with his mount
Cherry Lane for owners John & Sonia Gardener, being held up to be produced to
challenge over the second last going on to win, leaving Glenary under Zak Baker in
second. Quoting after the race “She was bought out of a field in Ireland, and is full sister to winning pointer Jet Smart, and was only broken last September. She has come on from her previous fourth at Trebudannon and is a project for us.”

There had been a pony race earlier in the day, with the joint sponsors being Anthony
Mildmay- White and Mrs Anne Kane. With entry Africa under jockey Tristan Alers-
Hanky winning the 138cm division and Jack Pipe on Little Chiefy winning the 148cm
division. Both jockeys look to have a promising future in racing, with Jack being the son of proud father David Pipe. Jack now 16 years-old, rides out for his father at home in Wellington. “We bought the pony out of Ireland before Christmas.” quoted David, with Jack adding about his future career “I will hopefully try amateur Point-to-Point, I am studying my GCSE’s at the moment, so will see what happens.”