MORE HOMEBRED SUCCESS FOR OWEN AS VICTORIA WINS AT SOUTHWELL
Victoria and Miss Teagan Padgett winning the ARO (0-70) Handicap at Southwell © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media
ARO Leading trainer now leads the owner’s table too
Sunday 18 August 2024 –
ARO’s five-time leading trainer James Owen could add a new championship title, that of leading owner, to his collection as his Victoria ran out a comfortable winner of the ARO (0-70) Handicap at Southwell today. Fittingly on Southwell’s popular Ladies Day, his four-year-old homebred filly was ridden by stable amateur and current leading ockey Teagan Padgett, who rode a waiting race over the 1m6f test.
The early steady pace was set by another homebred mare, Sheila Collington’s Hattie Sparks. Ridden by Joey Haynes, she was very green in front, finally giving way to Victoria in the home straight, but was coming back at the winner on the line. She had looked useful on her debut, and though disappointing next time, has clearly improved and should come on again for this run. Gavin Kelly’s Assassen, had also made a promising debut over shorter, and though travelling smoothly throughout under Lewis Saunders, failed to respond when asked to challenge.
This was a second win for Owen’s Victoria which now puts him at the head of the ARO owner table and consolidates his leading trainer and breeder positions too. Though Al Asayl Bloodstock’s Marakeb failed to improve for the step up in trip, he is only a juvenile, and should be stronger next season. There was still a positive for the Al Asayl team as Victoria is a daughter of their multiple Group 1Pa winner RB Burn who is drawing clear in the ARO leading sire’s table.
Quotes:
Lissie Reeves, Arabian Assistant to James Owen, trainer, 1st: “We’re delighted for Victoria, she’s been so consistent for us all season, she really deserved that. She’s run over a variety of trips for us, but she does stay on and has a little bit of a turn of foot to get her to the finish line. We’ll look at her mark on Tuesday and see where we can go from there, it would be nice to get a few more runs into her this season if we can.”
Peter Hammersley, trainer, 3rd: “Lewis was happy with him until turning in, but he just didn’t pick up for him as he’d hoped. He doesn’t stay, so we’ll drop him back in trip next time.”
Miss Teagan Padgett with Victoria and Lissie Reeves after winning the ARO (0-70) Handicap at Southwell © Debbie Burt – Equine Creatie Media
Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “ARO congratulates James, Lissie, Teagan and all the team at Green Ridge Stables winning again today with their homebred Victoria. We always get a warm welcome at Southwell and to run in front of such a large summer holiday crowd of over 9,000 can only be a positive for our sport.
“We also congratulate Jodie Hebberson for winning the Baker McVeigh Best Turned Out Award with Marakeb. We now look forward to our next race, which is at Chepstow on Monday 2 September.”
Lissie Reevs recives the trophy from Willie McFarland for Victoria’s win in the ARO Handicap (0-70) Handicap at Southwell © Debbie Burt- Equine Creative Media
1st: VICTORIA (GB)
2nd: Hattie Sparks (GB)
3rd: Assassen (GB)
4 ran – Non-runner 5
Distances: 1, 4.75 Time: 3.28.78
Going: Standard
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