Blackie Barely Beaten

Barely Black ran her best race for the stable to date last Thursday at Uttoxeter in the 2m7f , 0-100 Mares Handicap Hurdle and was desperately unlucky not to bag her first win.

Image by kind courtesy of www.nigelkirbyphotography.com

Ridden by Henry Brooke for owner John Sagar, Blackie took a keen hold and raced with  much enthusiasm, disputing the lead to the 6th. Henry then let her go on from the 7th and she was still travelling strongly at the business end of the race when many were starting to dig deep to stay with her.

She extended her lead two out & looked all over as if she would be the winner but a slightly awkward jump at the last (in what had otherwise been an impeccable round of hurdling over the previous 11 obstacles) briefly paused her momentum and she found herself in a three-way race for the post on the run-in.

To Blackie’s absolute credit, whilst one horse got the better of her by just over a length, she wasn’t letting the other past and she bravely held on for second by a length at the line, with the remainder of the eleven runners 15+ lengths behind the front three.

Image by kind courtesy of www.nigelkirbyphotography.com

Barely Black is a horse very much with her own views on life & hasn’t necessarily always been the most straightforward to live with (!) but whilst she didn’t quite manage the win, it was nevertheless a proud day for all concerned to see her justify the faith that has long been held in her.

18/06/18