David’s long wait finally comes to end
A QUARTER of a century is obviously a long time.
That’s how long David Brace OBE, the owner of the Pyle-based Dunraven group of businesses, has been waiting to win a race he sponsors every April at Chepstow.
Last Friday that long wait finally ended when Pink Eyed Pedro, a horse he owns and trains, easily won the Dunraven Bowl under teenage Welsh jockey Jack Tudor.
To say there was a smile on David’s face is an understatement, and there won’t be a single person in Welsh racing who is not delighted that David’s drought has ended.
The Bowl has been part of the racing calendar at Chepstow for 24 years and a large group of hospitality guests were at the track the celebrate Pink Eyed Pedro’s victory.
As for the rider, he is another young Welsh jockey going places. He’s currently based with trainer Christian Williams at Ogmore-bySea and he couldn’t be in better hands in terms of having a great teacher. Christian rode hundreds of winners over jumps, including partnering the great Denman, before turning his hand to training.
David Brace’s teenage grandson Connor also continues his rise up the jockey ranks.
Last Wednesday he rode a winner at Taunton for Vale of Glamorgan trainer Tim Vaughan before flying to Perth in Scotland where he had two winners for Fergal O’Brien. One of his wins was aboard Paint The Dream, owned by his grandad.
He is definitely one of the brightest prospects in jump racing and it will be fascinating to see his progress in the coming years.
The next meeting at Ffos Las is when Madness come to town on Saturday, May 25. Tickets sales have been strong and the course is expecting its biggest attendance since the opening day in 2009.
Tickets are £40 and this includes the racing as well. Hospitality packages are also available. Gates open at 3pm and the first race is off at 6.05pm. Suggs and the gang will be on stage around 9.15pm.
The following month, the track celebrates its 10th anniversary with a meeting on Thursday, June 20. Admission is £10 in advance.