Double On The Cards With First Career Wins
The first win can do so much for a horse’s confidence. Instead of finishing behind their counterparts they get the feeling of going past rivals, maybe making all and not seeing a rival, giving them a platform to build on. So often after that first win they can thrive and hopefully Lady Erimus and George Mallory can now build upon their first career wins, going on to further success.
Juveniles are a blank slate at the start of the season, they could be anything and whilst there is so much optimism, there are also so many questions. Mix in a first season sire and it offers even more of a puzzle as there is not family history to research. Due Diligence had a very short sprinting career so there is little to go on with regards to his progeny. Lady Erimus came to hand early to race over the minimum trip but it was winning the 1m British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Nursery at Thirsk where she really showed her true colours.
Bought as a foal, Lady Erimus is the first horse that the Riverside Racing Syndicate have had in training. She took to her work well and came to hand very early on in the year. Unfortunately Kevin did feel that she would need further than the minimum trip but at the same time she was bursting for a run so his arm was twisted. Her first couple of runs combined a lack of experience and unsuitable trip which saw the filly struggle to get involved. Fortunately those runs taught her some good lessons and it also meant that some longer trips were on offer for her third run. Stepping up to 7 1/2f for her third run, Lady Erimus took a big step forward, showing a lot more promise.
Nurseries were the order of the day when Lady Erimus received a mark of 60. Unfortunately there were very few races open to the filly and she made her handicap debut over 7f at Catterick. The sharp nature of the track really played against Lady Erimus and she struggled to land a blow. Thankfully there was an option just around the corner which should be a lot more suitable. Stepping up in trip to a mile, the race at Thirsk looked likely to be the ideal test. The handicapper had given her some more help by dropping Lady Erimus to 57.
There was only 6 runners declared for the contest and with recent rain, the ground would ensure it was a proper stamina test. Tom Eaves came in for the ride, the first time he had sat on her in public. Lady Erimus was sent off the outsider of the field but Tom chose to be positive from the off. Jumping out just a stride of the lead, Lady Erimus had to be driven along to move forward. Callipygian had been quickly away around the outside to lead but Lady Erimus responded to Tom and moved up to give chase sitting in second spot after the first furlong.
It was fairly brisk pace being set and as the leader moved across to take the rail, Lady Erimus just had to switch around to avoid the leader’s heels. This move saw Lady Erimus move up to the girth’s of the leader as they galloped down the back straight. After the first couple of furlongs the pace eased down as they headed down towards the left handed bend. The six runners moved into the long sweeping bend with little separating them and would soon be facing the second half of the race. Lady Erimus was always keeping the leader honest and inched into her lead as they rounded the bend.
Some distress signals were sent out by a few runners as they began to exit the bend. One who started to come under pressure was the leader and Lady Erimus capitalised on this, travelling nicely on her outer and took control of the race entering the straight. Tom probably would have liked to get a lead into the contest for longer but he didn’t want to disappoint his filly so made a positive move 3f from home. There was a long way to run but he decided to get Lady Erimus to stretch and it proved to be a shrewd move. Suddenly Lady Erimus had the field on the stretch and she opened up a 1 1/2 lengths lead.
Passing the 2f marker and Tom now went for broke. Holding the lead he got serious, asking Lady Erimus to go and put the race to bed. Her rivals were bunched up behind, still 1 1/2 lengths to make up but nothing was was proving to be a major danger just yet. Lady Erimus was proving game in front but she just started to wander off a true line. Tom quickly adjusted to get his filly balanced and straightened her up. Having drifted into the centre of the track, the move had just allowed her rivals to close the gap and eat into the lead.
Lady Erimus had seen her lead halved as she moved into the final furlong and still all of the 6 runners looked to be in with a chance of winning. Having got his filly straightened up, Tom now asked her some serious questions and he got the response he was asking for. Having looked like a sitting duck, as her rivals lined up to challenge, Lady Erimus found some more in front. She really stuck her head down and started to go on again. With 1/2 furlong to run she began to show her stamina and galloped on. Lady Erimus galloped all the way through the line, forging clear once more to gain her first win by 1 1/4 lengths.
It is great to see the delight on owner’s faces especially when it is their first ever winner. The Riverside Racing Syndicate were on hand to welcome Lady Erimus to the winners enclosure and hopefully now she can build on this. She really enjoyed the step up in trip and also seemed at home on the ground. Tom took a positive approach and he had a very game filly at hand. She has already got an entry in another nursery but Kevin will probably have a look at what the handicapper does before deciding on what the next move is.
This season looked like it could be a coming of age year for George Mallory but so far it had been slightly disappointing. After a promising juvenile year, which always seemed too soon for George, his 3yo season was where he could improve and show his trued colours. It has taken more time than expected but George Mallory headed to Haydock to win the 1m2f Rainhill Handicap and shed his maiden tag.
The son of Kingman had come from the Arqanna Breeze Up sales after impressing Kevin. He knew he was getting a horse who do better with time and a trip but once he got him home, George Mallory impressed in his work. The Convivial Maiden at York, one of the hottest maidens of the year, was where George Mallory would make his debut which was full of promise. Unfortunately he didn’t build on that but it was felt he was too immature to do so as a 2yo. Kevin decided to geld him following his third run and put George Mallory away for the winter.
With a starting handicap of 70 there seemed to be plenty of options for the season ahead this year. Unfortunately George Mallory just hasn’t fired so far and it has led Kevin to try various options with the gelding. Different trips, tactics and ground types have been raced with in an attempt to get George Mallory off the mark and fulfil his undoubted ability. With each run it was getting more frustrating as his homework was as good as ever.
George Mallory was sent to Haydock and there was one more tactic that was to be implemented which had not been used before. Tom Eaves travelled down to Haydock following his win earlier in the day to partner George Mallory. This time around George Mallory would be ridden positively and although this had been tried before, Tom was going to be even more so and attempt to jump out and lead.
Lining up against 8 rivals, George Mallory was well away and as none of his rivals were that keen to go on Tom was gifted the lead. Having been drawn wide Tom kept straight and took the field through the first furlong along the far side rail. When they passed the kink in the track, the field began to drift over towards the centre of the track to race down the back straight. Through the first couple of furlongs George Mallory had dictated at a steady enough pace and would continue to lead as they moved towards the home bend.
Tom allowed his mount to continue to edge over as they got closer to the bend, readying him to take the left hander. With a length lead, George Mallory entered the bend with his ears pricked, seemingly enjoying being out in front. Tom still shunned the rail though and raced just off it as they swung around the bend. This move was because they wanted the better ground when entering the home straight which was centre to stands side.
With 1/4 mile to run George Mallory took the field into the home straight and now just injected the first bit of pace. His rivals had left him alone throughout the contest but were stalking his every move. Tom just loosened the reins on his mount and the tempo increased down to the 3f pole. The field had edged over to race closer to the stands side rail which had seen the 9 runners fan out, readying their challenges.
George Mallory travelled well as his one by one his rivals came under pressure. Tom just had to pull a pair of goggles down at the 2f marker before he asked George Mallory to quicken up. He was the last one off the bridle but his rivals had moved up menacingly, with challengers coming from both sides. The lead had been cut to just a neck now and for a few strides George Mallory looked like he could be swamped. Tom sensed this and really began to work on his mount who showed a gritty side which hadn’t been seen before.
Having repelled Firewater, who had tracked him throughout the contest, George Mallory headed into the final furlong with a 1/2 length lead. Despite having his first effort pushed back, Firewater rallied for one more crack. This time he got even closer to the lead but George Mallory dug deep and fought back. Again he repelled his rival and found so more in front. With 1/2f to run he finally saw off Firewater and moved away again. This was George’s day and he powered through to the line, opening up a length advantage and gaining his first career win.
It has been longer than expected but George Mallory is finally off the mark and this can be the stepping stone to better things. He has always shown plenty of ability but unlocking it was proving to be problematic. George Mallory showed a great attitude when challenged and had to dig deep on a couple of occasions. In the end he has won well and he could well be adaptable with trips in the future. It looked as though the positive tactics really suited him and it could be the way to ride him now. If this gives him the spark it should do then George Mallory could really go on now and improve through the ranks.