Garthorpe point-to-point: Andrews lands treble at Quorn meeting
Gina Andrews celebrated a treble and Thetalkinghorse stormed to Quorn Gold Cup glory at Garthorpe on Saturday.
The champion lady jockey opened her account in the Ladies’ Open with an impressive display on board Susan Busby’s Top Smart.
Only three started, including Sharp Suit, ridden by Waltham jockey Kelly Morgan, but no-one could match the speed of the winner.
She pulled away in the last half-mile to beat Qoubilai, with Lottie Crane on board, by 18 lengths, with Sharp Suit a further six lengths back.
Andrews’ other winners both came from the maiden divisions.
The first was a surprise victory for Quick Oats who beat a spirited Robin De Boss (Morgan) by four lengths, with Demood (Johnny Bailey) in third, eight lengths back.
The second division saw a close finish between Celtic Silver (Andrews) and Hurricane Vic (Tom Strawson).
The latter was travelling well as they turned for home, but Andrews’ grey gelding found more and won by one-and-a-half lengths.
Say No (Fred Henderson) set the pace for the feature race, the Men’s Open, and had the race been a half-mile longer, might have won.
But Thetalkinghorse (Tom McClorey) and Brackloon High (A. Barlow) had too much pace and pulled past in the final stages, the winner going 20 lengths clear to set the day’s fastest time.
The opening race was a members’ race for Garthorpe hunts and the early running was set by Agent for Chaos (Morgan) and Billy Cuckoo (Crane).
But after two laps, back markers Dream Mistress (Fred Henderson) and L’Eldorado (Tom Chatfeild-Roberts) moved past and pushed the pace, with L’Eldorado winning by five lengths.
The Midlands Area Members’ race, looked a good race on paper with Rocky Island going off as favourite.
He made the running for the first half, but was eventually hampered by a loose horse, and dropped off quickly. Proximo (Jack Andrews) produced a great finish to beat an improving Grumblers Holt (Tom McClorey) by three-quarters of a length.
The members’ race for nine-year-old-and-over horses without a win since December 2014 saw Carlicue (Richard Collinson) and Scenic Route (Sam Davies-Thomas) set the pace before the former dropped back.
Scenic Route tried vainly to keep up, but Theodore Lamb (Hugh Nugent) eased past approaching the last to win by a length.
The last members’ race of the day, the PPORA Members Conditions, saw a second win in quick succession for the Oakham-based Bevin team for whom Bravehearted Harry, ridden by owner’s Son Rory, won last week at Andoversford.
They led from the start and had enough left to hold off a spirited attack from Punter Friendly (J. Newman).
Capping the 10-race card were two charity flat races, won by established horses Medermit (Sarah Welford) and Piccaroon, ridden by assistant clerk of the course Serena Tyler.