Here we reflect on five of the most memorable performances.
Highclere Racing are no strangers to the big time but the 20 owners of this flying filly experienced “the ultimate thrill” when she became a Classic winner in May. The daughter of Aclaim gave Highclere their second Classic success and her young trainer George Boughey his first when repelling every rival under an inspired front-running ride by James Doyle.
Director Alex Smith told inthepaddock.co.uk: “Our shareholders in the Wild Flower Syndicate, who come from a variety of backgrounds including several who are retired, dared to dream and their dream came true.
It was the most amazing day. “Sixteen of them were at Newmarket to shout her home. It was a very long last furlong for all of us as she was stepping into unknown territory but saw out the mile really well. It was the ultimate thrill.”
This rags to riches home bred wrote one of the most remarkable shared ownership stories in history when he rampaged to a famous victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot in July.
Born to an unsuccessful hurdler, the son of unfashionable stallion Harbour Watch took his career earnings close to the £2 million mark in landing Flat racing’s mid-summer showpiece in the hands of northern based rider PJ McDonald – a super sub for the injured Martin Dwyer.
The La Pyle Partnership’s Guy Leach, who owns Pyledriver with his brother Huw and friend Roger Devlin, said: “We had our families with us to share the occasion which made it all extra-special. They’d hardly seen him run because of all the Covid restrictions but what a day for them to be there! We all went back to William’s yard afterwards to celebrate with his staff and the champagne was certainly flowing.”
Middleham Park Racing’s fleet-footed filly became the first two-year-old since 1978 to win the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp on Arc Day in October – some achievement by a filly who cost some of her 18 owners as little as £750 for a share as a yearling.
Middleham Park’s founder Tim Palin said: “They couldn’t believe their luck when she won the Abbaye under a great ride by Hollie Doyle. The celebrations will live in our memory forever and it was so special to have most of her owners with us in Paris.”.
Snapped up for just 57,000 gns at the breeze-up sales, Platinum Queen finished second to Highfield Princess in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York before etching her name in the history books for trainer Richard Fahey and was subsequently sold at the mares’ sale at Tattersalls in Newmarket for 1.2 million guineas.
Middleham Park Racing’s continued expansion from Flat racing to the jumps yielded a notable success at the Cheltenham Festival in March when their flagship horse claimed the Grade 1 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle.
Trained by Nicky Henderson and ridden by his stable jockey Nico de Boinville, the seven-year-old defied her big odds to score a comfortable success before repeating the feat in the Grade 1 Mares’ Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.
A relatively cheap purchase at 35,000 euros, Marie’s Rock supplemented her two Listed wins to give Middleham Park’s shareholders an unforgettable day at Cheltenham. “It was amazing to have a fancied runner in a race at the Festival but to win it and follow up with a top-level success in Ireland was simply unforgettable,” said Middleham Park’s Tom Palin.
Cheltenham also made some magical memories for the owners of this filly, who extended her unbeaten record to six when she stormed up the hill under Johnny Burke to win the Grade 2 Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, better known as the Dawn Run.
It was a proud occasion for former Festival winning jockey Noel Fehily, as the mare was running in the colours of his syndicate Noel Fehily Racing. “It was nerve-racking stuff watching it but when she hit the front we knew she’d come home strong,” said Fehily.
David Crosse, who runs the syndicates with Fehily, added: “Days like that are what we dream of. It was as magical for us as it was for her part-owners, her trainer Harry Fry and her jockey, who celebrated his first ever Festival success.”
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