Sinclair seizes her chance
An 18-year-old jockey triumphs on only her second ride
Kimblewick, Kingston Blount, Oxon
TEENAGER Katie Sinclair enjoyed her first victory from just her second ride between the flags. Partnering the Andrew Campbelltrained Moscow Chancer, Katie fended off eventual runner-up Balinroab (Lily Bradstock) by half a length in the 2m 5f PPORA club members’ conditions race.
“I was unseated at the second last in my first ride [on another horse], so going into the last fence today I was just thinking, ‘Don’t fall,’ but he winged it. It was my first spin on him and he gave me a great ride,” said the 18-year-old, who works for National Hunt trainer Fergal O’Brien.
The day’s feature, the
Southern Grand National mixed open, was won by the Alan Hilltrained Supreme Danehill for
‘I used to get told off at Pony Club for going too fast on my 12.1hh pony’
LILY PINCHIN
the third year running.
Six runners went to post for the four-mile contest, but it was the 11/8 favourite under Gina Andrews who won convincingly by eight lengths to En Passe (Peter Mason). The winning jockey was deputising for the trainer’s son, Joe Hill, who is sidelined with injury.
“Supreme Danehill ran two disappointing races this season and it turned out he had pulled a stomach muscle,” said Alan of the 10-year-old, who was initially purchased for Victoria Pendleton to ride. “But he’s now back to his best and he suits Gina’s style of riding. He will now head to Cheltenham on 4 May and may go to Stratford for the Horse and Hound.”
The same trainer/jockey combination also dominated the day’s opener, the 11-runner confined, with the 10-year-old Changeofluck, whose winning margin increased when the challenging Pithivier (Peter Mason) fell at the last.
“He likes this course but when he ran here last time he got stuck in the mud,” explained Gina. “It was good ground today and he was a different horse.”
Tim Underwood racked up a training double with Tempelpirate (Craig Dowson) in the novice riders’ and Cnoc Sion (Phil York) in the three-mile open maiden.