FEGENTRI 2012

20-02-2012

It was a difficult choice to select two Fegentri representatives from a huge number of excellent applicants but the AJA are pleased to announce that the lucky pair to represent Great Britain for 2012 will be HAYLEY MOORE and MIKEY ENNIS.   They travel out to Qatar where the Fegentri 2012 General Assembly takes place in Doha on Monday 27th February with a men’s race and 2 ladies races over the following 3 days.  Sadly Hayley missed the first Fegentri ladies race of the year in Oman as this was originally non-Fegentri and offered a great chance for PERNILLA HERMANSSON to represent GB; similarly Mikey missed out at Cagnes-sur-mer last weekend with no invitation extended from France but such is the nature of Fegentri and plenty of rides worldwide await both jockeys.

Thanks to the kind invitation of Lara Sawaya, Festival Director to HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nayhan’s Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, more opportunities than ever before can be shared between our lady jockeys with the running of a new Arab series, THE SHEIKHA FATIMA BINT MUBARAK LADIES IFAHR CUP 2012.  HELEN CUTHBERT enjoyed the first race of this series in Oman in January.

PIP TUTTY visited Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne a fortnight later finishing 2nd and enjoyed the added bonus of seeing Black Caviar recording another historic win.  Visit  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ktz5YuBoGoU to get a flavour of the great atmosphere.  ADELE MULRENNAN will represent GB next in Houston, Texas in early March.

We really appreciate the bonus of these Arabian races to allow more lady jockeys a share in the unique experience of race riding abroad.  The series asks for a different rider for each race and, unlike Fegentri, riders do not need 5 wins to participate.  We are working on more opportunities for our gentlemen riders in the near future to level out the playing field.

First jumps victory a royal one for Nico de Boinville

17-02-2012

Many congratulations to Nico de Boinville (3rd for Great Britain in last year’s Fegentri Mens Jump Championship) on joining an elite band of winning royal jockeys by enjoying success today at Fakenham for Her Majesty the Queen aboard Nicky Henderson’s Barbers Shop bred nearby at Sandringham.

This was Nico’s first NH winner under Rules with Barbers Shop jumping his two rivals into submission.  He now has the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham in his sights but needs to win or finish second in a Hunter Chase or win a point-to-point before the end of February in order to qualify.  After the race Nico said “It was a real privilege and an honour.  It was the perfect way to register my first winner over jumps.  He jumped well and travelled great.  Obviously there has been talk of the Queen Mother Memorial and the Foxhunters but I would not have a clue where he will go at this moment in time.”

Derek O’Connor ruled out of Cheltenham with broken leg

17-02-2012

Ireland’s champion point-to-point jockey Derek O’Connor, successful at last year’s Cheltenham Festival on both Zemsky and Chicago Grey, broke his leg at Musselburgh yesterday when taking a heavy fall from Simonsberg in the hunter chase.  Unfortunately the horse was fatally injured.

Derek said “I might be getting an operation later today.  Its disappointing obviously and I am probably looking at 8 to 10 weeks out of action.”  The timing could not be worse with not only Cheltenham but also the Irish Grand National, Aintree and Punchestown looming over the next few weeks.  We all wish Derek well for a speedy recovery.

SWC and Long Run victorious at Newbury

17-02-2012

Congratulations to Sam Waley-Cohen on getting off the mark at Newbury this afternoon with Long Run in preparation for the Gold Cup only a few weeks away.  Seeming happy with their performance, Sam said “That is what we came here to do and you never know whether you are going to do it or not.  I was really pleased with his jumping and that is exactly the sort of confidence booster you want to go to the Gold Cup with.  He has gone out there and done it really well.”

In spite of challengers from What A Friend and stable companion Burton Port, when Sam asked Long Run for a big one at the last he jumped brilliantly. Next stop Cheltenham and we all wish the partnership all the best in their bid to repeat last year’s incredible success.

Sam Waley-Cohen’s prize money funds JAMIE HAMILTON’S FIRST WINNER AT KELSO

15-02-2012

Today’s Amateur Jockeys Association Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase at Kelso was the first of three races utilising a £20,000 fund of prize money earned by Sam Waley-Cohen from Long Run’s Gold Cup success and Oscar Times’ Grand National second place and chosen by Sam via the BHA to be invested in amateur races in 2012.  The intention to build a stronger platform from which amateur jockeys can launch their riding careers was put to perfect use with such a skilled performance by rookie jockey Jamie Hamilton.

Many congratulations are due to Jamie on winning his first race under rules, partnering TARTAN SNOW owned by the Whitemoss Gold Syndicate for trainer Stuart Coltherd.  This was a decent handicap chase which produced a shock result with Tartan Snow being the complete outsider and with four in line at the last it was a great spectacle as Jamie went on to score with ease.

Stuart Coltherd said “Full marks to Jamie.  He gave him a cracking ride and did everything I told him.”  Jamie works for Richard Fahey who tweeted: ” Nice to see Jamie Hamilton riding a winner at Kelso.  He’s attached to our yard and I’m sure he will go a long way – Flat and jumping.”

The remaining races which will use this fund are yet to be confirmed.

National Hunt Chase honours HM the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

25-01-2012

Cheltenham Festival have renamed the National Hunt Chase in honour of Her Majesty the Queen’s 60 year reign.  Now in its 142nd year, the 4 mile NH Chase is one of the oldest races at the Festival run as the opener on the Wednesday.

Cheltenham supremo Edward Gillespie said “The royal connection with Cheltenham is something that we are particularly proud of and we are delighted to be marking the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year by renaming the most historic race of the festival in her honour.  In recent years, the National Hunt Chase has been restored to its former glory and is now the foremost novices’ chase for long distance steeplechasers.  I am sure that the 2012 running will produce a thrilling spectacle amd highlight the talents of more big race winners of the future.”

The AJA are also particularly proud that one of our showcase races should be chosen to receive this prestigious title.

MIRANDA ROBERTS MAKES IT A WINCANTON HAT TRICK!

21-01-2012

Congratulations to Wincanton course specialists Miranda Roberts and Chesil Beach Boy trained by Miranda’s father John Coombe who made it a hat trick with a winning ride again today against professionals, having been victorious there also on Boxing Day and on 7th January.

To add to the day’s headlines, retired amateur jockey Anthony Knott made news as winning owner for all the wrong reasons, joining Nick Scholfield in the saddle on his return to the winner’s enclosure!  This was great entertainment for his many Somerset friends but the stewards handed Anthony a £100 fine for improper conduct.

Additional amateur chases to be added to calendar

16-01-2012

In recognition of the memorable 2010/11 NH season which culminated in Sam Waley-Cohen winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Long Run (the first amateur since Jim Wilson and Little Owl 30 years ago) the BHA put aside £30,000 of that season’s amateur prize money won against professionals.  Sam Waley-Cohen was asked to determine the distribution of these funds and chose £20,000 to be held by the BHA for investment in amateur races.

We are happy to announce that the first of 3 amateur races will take place on 15th February at Kelso.  This will be 2 mile 6 furlong HANDICAP CHASE (Class 3) for 5 year olds and upwards rated 0-135 with a total prize fund of £12,000, £6,000 being provided via the BHA from prize money won by amateur jockeys whilst winning against professionals in 2010/11.  The remaining 2 races have yet to be announced.

Robert Cooper handed 52 day ban and answers with a winner

12-01-2012

Robert Cooper began today negotiating the road from Shropshire to the British Horseracing Authority’s headquarters in London to face the Disciplinary Panel before journeying on to Fontwell races.   Having been referred to London by the Stewards at Uttoxeter following his victory on Elton Fox in a maiden hurdle on 31st December, he was given a 52 day ban for excessive use of the whip  and for not allowing time for the horse to respond.

The New Year’s Eve victory had provided Robert with his first winner in 12 years for his guv’nor John Needham and he went on to ride another winner later that day.  In response to his hefty ban, Robert rode his 3rd winner within a fortnight this afternoon to an enthusiastic Fontwell crowd and threw his stick away in defiance as he passed the winning post.

Robert said that he was “gutted” with his punishment but “rules are rules and you can’t break them. Obviously some were connecting but not intentionally but they didn’t look at it that way.  I know I was way too many over, but it wasn’t intentional.”  Robert’s ban will only apply on days when there are amateur races as dictated by current Rules of Racing, but with Hunterchase season fast approaching this will ease the punishment considerably for him.

The current whip rules state that the maximum number of whip usage during a race is 7 on the flat and 8 over fences.

THE SHEIKHA FATIMA BINT MUBARAK LADIES IFAHR CUP 2012

05-01-2012

The year ahead has plenty on offer for some lucky lady jockeys with this wonderful series to look forward to thanks to Lara Sarawaya:

Each race will be a purebred Arabian Handicap for amateur lady riders, and a different jockey can participate in each race which makes this series very special to our members.  Unlike the Fegentri World Championship which currently offers so much to one solitary jockey, this series offers many lady jockeys a thrill of a lifetime riding in exotic and unique places around the globe.  Lara Sawaya, Festival Director to HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nayhan’s Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, has organised the series with a prize fund of £20,000 at Newbury (and similar prize levels worldwide), making this the most valuable ladies flat race in the world.

Helen Cuthbert has agreed to represent Great Britain in the first race in Oman and Pip Tutty will be representing us in Australia.