Time Proves The Key For Fillies Double
Patience and time are very important in racing and it was in full effect for both Enjoy Life and Norwegian Highness as they earned their first career wins. With the fillies showing plenty early on in the season it was a surprise having to wait so long for them to enter the winner’s enclosure. Fortunately the patience shown by connections payed off and earned Kevin an across the card double.
Enjoy Life had the pedigree that convinced Godolphin to pay E180,000 for her as a yearling, hoping the daughter of Acclamation could prove to be a star in blue. She never reached the track and was turned back to the sales ring as an unraced 3 year old. Owner CN Farms were on the lookout for a filly who could be a good breeding prospect and Enjoy Life ticked all the boxes. With the pedigree behind her it was now up to Kevin to try and get the important wins under her belt, ready for a future breeding career.
She had shown enough in her home to suggest there were plenty of races to be won with her. The first three runs were full of promise, improving from run to run and earning her a relatively fair mark of 62. Now Kevin turned his attention to handicaps whilst also feeling a drop in trip would suit Enjoy Life. A good second on handicap debut was another step forward but then Enjoy Life threw in a couple of poor efforts over 6f. There was no real excuse and connections were disappointed but not deterred. The trip of 6f looked fine but it was possible that she had never run on ground to suit, every run was either on soft ground or quick ground.
After a few weeks break between runs, Kevin found the 6f Handicap at Carlisle which looked to be the perfect race for Enjoy Life. Tom Eaves had partnered the filly for her last run and took the ride once more. It was a competitive race for the level but Enjoy Life went into the contest as the least exposed out of the 10 runners. With the plum draw of 1 Tom decided to take the shortest route throughout the race. As the stalls opened, Enjoy Life was quickly into stride and went forward to track the early pace. There was a good dash for the lead and it was Jacob’s Pillow who took up the running, going at a good even pace. Tom just sat off the leader, a length back against the far rail.
For the first time Enjoy Life was racing on good ground and she travelled nicely on the surface. Coming downhill the field were on the turn very early on and Enjoy Life was making sure she was giving no ground away. Tom was in the perfect position to strike when the time came and was happy to let his filly stride out, chasing the leader.
With 2 1/2f to run the field straightened up entering the home straight and Enjoy Life was still sat in second, lining up a challenge. Very little was getting into the race and the leader still travelled very well. With the pace increasing a small gap opened up as Jacob’s Pillow began to set sail for home moving inside the 2f pole. Tom now had to squeeze Enjoy Life along to try and keep tabs, hoping to make a run at the leader. There were one or two hard at work alongside Enjoy Life, trying to make inroads on the leader.
Tom was in full drive moving between the 2f-1f markers and his work was paying off with Enjoy Life picking up. Along with a couple of her rivals they ate into the lead of Jacob’s Pillow but unfortunately this created a bit of traffic. Enjoy Life soon had the leader’s rear end in her face and with challengers on her outside there was nowhere to go. Tom didn’t stop riding and when they hit the 1f marker the smallest gap just appeared. With the race in his grasp Tom decided it was big enough and angled for a run. Enjoy Life proved very brave but unfortunately did give a bump to her rivals which created a little domino affect to a couple of others. Now in the open she found another gear and quickened into the lead. The advantage was only small but they had the uphill finish to run up and she was still full of running. Both horse and jockey were in full flow and with every stride started to pull out a little more. Enjoy Life’s nearest challengers had nothing more to give and the late finishers looked too far back to be a danger. She continued to find in front and pull clear inside the last few hundred yards. By the time Enjoy Life crossed the line she had opened up a 3/4 length advantage and secured her first career win.
It was a victory that had been on the cards and Enjoy Life deserved it after threatening a few times. She travelled well and saw the trip out nicely so there should be more to come from the 3 year old. One thing that could prove important is that she now knows how it feels to get her head in front and this may be a nice confidence boost for the filly. It was a sweet and important win for her owners CN Farms Ltd. They now have a filly who has a nice pedigree and a win under her belt. With a future likely to lie in the breeding sheds this bodes well for her but there is still more racing to come and Enjoy Life looks like she may now go on from this.
When 2 year olds make their debut there is always an air of expectation, especially if they have been showing plenty of ability at home. Norwegian Highness started her racing career back in April and Kevin was confident the filly could be a nice early type. Her debut was promising, after missing the break she then stayed on well and finished strongly. Connections were pleased and agreed that she was a filly who could make her mark before long.
There was only a couple of weeks between her first and second runs. With experience now in the bag, Highness looked like she may improve to be a big player on her second start at Thirsk. This looked the case when she broke well and was travelling strongly with the leaders through the first half of the race. With 2f to run she looked likely to play a big part in the finish but when the pressure came she weakened out of it. Although finishing in mid-division it was a disappointing run but there were signs that she may be still growing and going through a little bit of a weak stage in her development. Kevin felt that it would best to give her the time needed to mature and fill out in her physique.
Following a few weeks break, which looked to have done her the world of good, Norwegian Highness was brought back in to training. There was no rush and it was decided that her next run would come when the filly showed that she was ready. Her work was as good as ever and she thrived with each passing week. Owner Mr Guy Pariente had to be patient but he was happy to be and it proved to be the correct call.
It was a return to Thirsk for the daughter of Kendargent after almost 3 months off the track and everyone was interested to see how she would perform now. The ground had softened up which was felt would be a positive and Highness had shown positive signs leading up to the race. Despite facing some well touted rivals, Kevin was confident she could go close and the filly didn’t disappoint.
Shane Gray has been trusted with many of the yards 2 year olds and he was in the saddle for Highness. With a draw of 6/12 Norwegian Highness was positioned ideally, with options of going wherever Shane chose. After jumping slightly to her right she was quickly into stride and chased the leaders early on. The pace was strong and as the field shifted across to the stands side rail, Shane followed getting a nice toe into the contest. Highness was showing good speed and looked to be relishing the softer ground, moving well across the Yorkshire turf.
There was the well fancied debutante, Mr Black, who had travelled up from Newmarket and was settled further back in the field. Meanwhile Highness continued to push the leader, setting up a fast run race. With his filly travelling well, Shane just dropped his hands and allowed her to own devices. Due to the fast pace it wasn’t long until the field flew past halfway and into the business end of the race.
Moving past the 2f marker little had got into the race and the leaders all looked full of running. The back markers, including the favourite, were now getting to work but making no inroads into the race. Norwegian Highness still went well and travelled with ease, looking like a big danger. Now was time to see if she had learnt and strengthened up since her last run. Shane was still motionless and he drew up alongside the leader with relative ease. With this move the leader, Ocelot, now had to go for the line and injected a little more pace into the race.
There was only the final furlong left to run and it was now obvious that Highness held a big chance if she could quicken up. She had been in this situation before but this time her strength was there and she responded. Shane got hold of her and kicked for home. Highness quickened up and stuck her chestnut head in front. There was still a big danger on the outside, Connacht Girl, who went with the filly. Clearly the places were now between the first three and it was also obvious that Highness should be finishing in the first two. Everything Shane asked Highness gave and the further they went the stronger she looked. In the final 1/2 furlong she was well on top and galloped all the way through the line to win by 1 1/2 lengths.
Norwegian Highness showing the field a clean set of heels and clearly she is an improving filly
The win was testament to the filly but also to the patience shown. From day 1 Kevin had said she was a good filly and his faith was fully repaid. Being a full sister to Erik The Red, Norwegian Highness will certainly get further in time but she has shown so much speed in her races. She should be capable over either 5f or 6f and is a filly that is going the right way. It was very nice to get a win for owner Mr Guy Pariente as he not only bred Highness but also stands her stallion, Kendargent. She will now take a step up in grade and there is a good possibility she may turn into a pattern filly before too long.