he unforgettable sight of owners such as those from the Ontoawinner syndicate celebrating the Commonwealth Cup victory of Quiet Reflection, or the massed ranks of the Hot To Trot Racing Club, many of whose 75 members were there to welcome back Heartache after her success in the Queen Mary Stakes, have helped to make Royal Ascot an even more special occasion in the last couple of years.
Last year, the Nick Bradley Racing syndicates enjoyed one of their biggest days when Commissioned took the Queen Alexandra Stakes. Sadly, niggling injury problems subsequently forced that horse into retirement soon afterwards.
However, the white‐and‐black Nick Bradley silks are set to be carried again at this year’s meeting by Raising Sand, a leading hope in the Hunt Cup and a confirmed mudlover whose owners will have been enjoying every drop of the rain that arrived in the days leading up to the big meeting.
Another group of owners hoping for lightning to strike twice is the Fred Archer Racing partnership, put together by trainer James Fanshawe’s wife, Jacko. Their horse, The Tin Man’s, has a career prize money haul comfortably topping the £1million‐mark and has become something of a poster boy for the joys of joint ownership.
There are now a dozen horses syndicated into the Fred Archer Racing colours, each group of owners identified by the name of a horse on which legendary rider Archer enjoyed success. The Tin Man is by no means the only success story among them, but he has become the horse of a lifetime for the 10 joint‐owners involved.
“The Tin Man works with Envisaging, a lead horse that his partners bought specifically to lead him in his fast work,” reported Fanshawe. “Envisaging has been doing a good job and it has been good to get The Tin Man back on the grass in recent weeks. Everything seems to be going to plan for Royal Ascot.”
Now a seven‐year‐old, The Tin Man will be bidding to repeat his 2017 success in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, a race in which he also finished eighth in 2016 and a close fourth last year.
While Quiet Reflection has gone on to a new career as a broodmare (having been sold for 2.1million guineas in 2017, the year after her Royal Ascot success), Ontoawinner – whose enthusiastic owners can often be identified by sporting the yellow and white colours of their horses – hope to have a handful of runners at this year’s meeting.
Spokesman Simon Bridge said: “We are looking at running Concello in the Sandringham Stakes on the Friday of the meeting and possibly three in the Wokingham the next day – Flying Pursuit, Staxton and Corinthia Knight.
“We’d be thrilled if any of the three could be involved, and they have already done their owners proud, but the one that I do the like of is Corinthia Knight, if he can translate his smart All‐weather form to the turf at Ascot.”
Also looking forward to Royal Ascot are the Middleham Park Racing team, who step Raymond Tusk up in trip for the Gold Cup – and believe he might just be a bit of a forgotten horse.
“When he finished second in the Sagaro Stakes to Dee Ex Bee, he was conceding that horse 5lb, and they will be on level weights at Ascot,” said Director Of Racing Tim Palin. “It’s obviously very exciting for all of his owners to be heading to such a famous race with their horse.
“We also have some very nice possible runners in the two‐year‐old races, some of whom will be in action this week before we make decisions as whether they go to Ascot.
“Ventura Rebel, who was such an impressive winner for us at Ascot on his debut, has been privately sold to Abdullah Menahi, but he remains in training with Richard Fahey, and we will be watching how he gets on in the Coventry Stakes with great interest.”
The part‐owners of Ventura Rebel banked what the Club refers to as “a healthy return” from the sale. They might not be entering the winner’s enclosure this year at Royal Ascot, but at least the cost of the champagne and strawberries are well and truly covered.
