Short Flight flew & Stags Leap leapt

Well what a day at Cartmel……and how proud are we of these two superstar horses?!

First up was Short Flight in the 2m6f, 0-100 handicap hurdle….

Under jockey Sean Quinlan, the 6 year old led the field of thirteen from flag fall setting a fairly searing pace which ensured a truly run race from the outset. Hurdling fluently, including a particularly prodigious leap at the 3rd last, Short Flight was briefly headed on the long run in. But Sean, cool under pressure & knowing exactly how much horse he had under him, just rode Shorty out and, whilst the official result required a photo, the reality was a “comfortable” short head.

Co-owner Kiel Ward has been immensely patient with this gorgeous horse since acquiring him from the Sales following his point to point 3rd in Ireland (amongst some very talented classmates) and today was a huge repayment of that faith in a horse who hasn’t been rushed to perform.

              

 

Then in the 2m1f, 0-100 handicap hurdle came stable stalwart Stags Leap….

Ridden by our own John Kington, this was Staggy’s first run since a recent wind operation.  The 11 year old had missed the whole of 2017 so whilst having nothing to prove on one hand, he in fact had everything to prove…..and didn’t he just!

JK always had Staggy prominent and in the closing stages they looked comfortable for 3rd at least, but then ran on strongly after the last in the final furlong to win by a decisive four lengths!

Owned by Julia’s father John and Uncle Billy (Platts), and ridden every day by Julia herself, Staggy’s was an emotional win to say the least but in the context of giving the yard and trainer a first ever double, it really couldn’t have been sweeter.

          

 

23/07/18