Category: Jockey News
20-08-2009
Fegentri returned to Stratford-upon-Avon on 20th August for the gentleman amateur riders’ invitation hurdle with 9 runners going to post.
Jockeys’ photocall (L to R back row): Florent Guy (France), Urs Wyss (Switzerland), Marian Weissmeier (Germany), Oliver Greenall, Andrew Doyle (Ireland), Tom David, (front row): Harry Challoner, Ian Chanin (Great Britain) and Sam Twiston-Davies.
Unfortunately France’s leading amateur jockey Florent Guy, with 220 wins on the Flat, was unseated at the second flight but the race soon developed into an interesting challenge with Marian Weissmeier for Germany leading the field on Tim Vaughan’s DABARATSA.
Oliver Greenall always had the leader in his sights and kicked on approaching the last flight to lead as the post approached and win comfortably by 2 lengths for Ian Williams on KICKAHEAD. Oliver, current NH amateur champion and last year’s national point-to-point record breaking champion, was emulating his brother and previous champion amateur rider Thomas, who won this race in 2007.
Marian Weissmeier was second, which took him into the lead of the Gentlemen’s Fegentri tables, with Urs Wyss for Switzerland in third and Andrew Doyle for Ireland fourth. Marian was last year’s youngest German champion amateur jockey ever at the age of only 16.
20-08-2009
Fresh from her victorious Newbury Ladies Derby only five days before, Serena Brotherton came to Epsom full of anticipation for the thrill of rounding Tottenham Corner in what was to be the first amateur lady jockeys’ race ever held on this historic track.
With 8 runners going to post, Emily Jones and ESEEJ led the field together with Kelly Burke and DRAMATIC SOLO but it was to be the two horses held up throughout who were to provide the final dramatic stages of the race. Emma Littmoden and LORD THEO always had the leaders in her sights but Serena Brotherton and EPSOM SALTS were never far away and stayed on by a neck to take this first Epsom Ladies Derby. This was a great result for local trainer Pat Phelan and an extraordinary conclusion for Serena Brotherton, having competed in and won 2 Derbys in 5 days. Many congratulations to winning connections!
15-08-2009
A field of 13 went to post for the Ladies Derby at Newbury on 15th August sponsored for the first time by UK Hygiene.Gerard Butler’s JUST LIKE SILK, ridden from behind by Serena Brotherton and tracking the leaders to go into the lead 2 furlongs from home and come clear to win comfortably by 4 lengths, ran on to give Serena her second successive Newbury Derby win, with Katie Walsh and SAFEBREAKER hanging on to second place ahead of Emily Jones on the gallant 10 year old WIGGY SMITH a neck behind in third and Hayley Moore on her father’s FUNDAY a further neck behind in fourth. Many congratulations to the winners!
09-08-2009
Fresh from the first Flat victory of her prolific point-to-pointing career when scoring in a ladies Fegentri race in Sweden on 24th July, Claire Allen was victorious again on the Flat in Deauville in the ladies Fegentri there on 9th August. Claire is no stranger to scoring in France, having won 3 times over jumps there – twice when working for top French trainer Guillaume Macaire and once when becoming the first lady jockey ever to win the cross-country race in Nuilly-sur-Vicoin. This victory was especially significant as the top scoring points pushed Claire into the lead in the race for the Fegentri Ladies World Championship!
The strains of the National Anthem were played whilst Claire received her prizes from Nathalie Belinguier, President of Fegentri.
The Fegentri World Cup of Nations featured later in the day and another British amateur jockey’s success was enjoyed when David Dunsdon rode as part of Team Europe and enjoyed a comfortable victory.
06-08-2009
The inaugural running of Rina Tairo Jewellery Brighton Belle Lady Riders’ Handicap was a welcome return to Brighton Racecourse for lady amateur jockeys after an absence of a few years.The race got off to a dramatic start when Lucy Horner, more familiar to us over jumps as reigning National Hunt amateur lady champion jockey, was unshipped from GRANNY MCPHEE.
Early on several rides pulled hard on this undulating track with a fast pace being set but it was those held up at the rear who came through to feature in the finish, with local lady jockey HAYLEY MOORE staying on well on David Simcock’s THEOCRITUS to win by 3/4 of a length from Emily Jones on Gay Kelleway’s EASTERN GIFT with Amy Hutchinson and Julia Feilden’s STRIKE FORCE a further 3 3/4 lengths away in third.
01-08-2009
25-07-2009
The husband and wife team of Richard and Vicki Fahey claimed the opener on Ascot’s big late July Saturday card with easy winner CASTLES IN THE AIR.
The Longines Handicap is one of the major ladies’ races of the year and it was smooth sailing for Vicki to land the third winner of her career as she cruised into the lead at the furlong marker and surged four and a half lengths clear.
Golden Desert, the 5-1 favourite and mount of Katie Walsh, was second. “Amazingly it all went to plan” said the jockey. “I spoke to Jim McGrath (owner) this morning and he just said ride him as you find him. That’s my third winner, and the second since I was married. I said to Richard if I win this and the ladies’ race at York, I’ll retire!”
Vicki is enjoying a fine season. She rode her first winner at Brighton 6 years ago, and since then she has had her daughter Niamh. Vicki rode her second winner at Beverley in early July when THE LAST ALZAO scored in determined style to justify her position as favourite. (Vicki pictured below giving her husband’s charge ROSE BLOSSOM a welcome drink after her victory at Hamilton earlier this season.)
24-07-2009
Not to be outdone by her Fegentri male counterpart Ian Chanin, who rode his first Flat winner in Norway at the beginning of this month, our British amateur lady jockey Claire Allen has now ridden her first Flat winner under Rules in Sweden today! Many congratulations to Claire! A great achievement – this Fegentri season is certainly proving to be exciting for Great Britain!
Claire Allen receiving her winning trophy from Nathalie Belinguier, President Fegentri, and Hans Engblom, President of Amatorryttarkluben (ARK), the Swedish Amateur Jockeys Association.
04-07-2009
Ladies Night at Nottingham on 4th July provided a great stage for a thrilling Fegentri ladies flat race with the finish fought out by GB representative Claire Allen and Germany’s Nadine Gratz, with Nadine getting the upper hand as the post drew close to win by a neck.
The British team, made up of this year’s GB Fegentri representative Claire Allen as well as Serena Brotherton, Alyson Deniel and Lorraine Ellison, rode against Fegentri lady jockeys representing France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, The Netherlands and Switzerland in a field of 10 runners. Ireland was third with Clare MacMahon and all the lady jockeys agreed that Nottingham is a great course with a crowd who gave them a wonderful welcome.
Left to right: (Sarah Oliver), Melanie Plat (France), Alyson Deniel, Serena Brotherton, Claire Allen (Great Britain), Nadine Gratz (Germany), Emily Jones, Paula Wolters-Flierman (Netherlands), Lorraine Ellison, Catherine Burri (Switzerland) and Cathrine Engebretsen (Norway).
02-07-2009
A delighted Ian Chanin, our Fegentri gentleman representative for Great Britain this year, experienced a first when riding the winner of the gentlemen’s Flat race in Norway today.
More familiar to the point-to-point winner’s enclosure with over 60 wins so far in his career, Ian has not only had to acquaint himself with the starting stalls but also adjust to a shorter riding style to get the most from his rides. Many congratulations to him!
