ATM wins feature race at Corbiewood

The Scottish division of the STAGBI Future Broodmares Race on Friday 10th June at Corbiewood went the way of former juvenile winner, ATM in the hands of Hugh Menzies, which rounded off a successful night for the driver when notching up a driving double.

The Genghis Pan four-year-old was luckless in 2015 with numerous placed runs, however found herself back in the winner's circle on her second start of the season when beating Kikis Virtue and Sureamsomething in a thrilling finish in the final race of the night.

Prior to the racing, a presentation was held to celebrate the winner of the 2014 and 2015 STAGBI Future Broodmares Races, Live In Beauty, who sadly passed away during the winter.

Sarah Thomas on behalf of STAGBI, and Willie Paterson on behalf of the SHRC, presented owner Bobby Miller and his family, trainer Paul Cullen and wife Caroline, with a trophy awarded by STAGBI. Live In Beauty's three year old Doonbeg colt will hopefully race later in the summer.

The evening of racing commenced with a combined maiden and novice event, in which English raider Best Of Class (William Greenhorn) led out from the gate and remained unchallenged to the half, when Sing My Song (Stuart Mackenzie) tipped out to instigate a head to head for the majority of the remainder of the race.

The improving six-year-old mare eventually got the better of the long-time leader and came home over a length in front. Ayr Superior (Hugh O'Neil Jr Jr), in her first lifetime start, stayed on notably to pip Best Of Class for second right on the line.

Race 1

1st Sing My Song (Hasty Hall-Styx Soprano) – S Mackenzie

2nd Ayr Superior (Daylon Alert-Whos Laughing) – H O'Neil Jr Jr

3rd Best Of Class (Sportswriter-Class Of Her Own) – W Greenhorn

7 Ran Time: 2.08.73 Dist: 1 1/2L & Head

The second race saw Bayrigg Tonto lead out and make all under the guidance of catch driver William Drysdale. Ayr Prestige (Dougie Mckenzie) pressured the leader at stages, and Miami Seelster came off the pace down the home straight with a strong finish to secure second for driver Ross Leary who was celebrating his 18th birthday on the day. Ayr Escape, a winner last time out, ran with credit in third.

Race 2

1st Bayrigg Tonto (Genghis Pan-Daurus Day) – W Drysdale

2nd Miami Seelster (Pierce Seelster-Miamicrombie) – R Leary

3rd Ayr Escape (Artiscape-Unforgotten) – W Greenhorn

6 Ran Time: 2.05.0 Dist: 2L & 1L

Victory in the third went the way of the English raider, Jody Foody, with his four-year-old Rocknroll Hanover mare, Vision Of Hope, with another catch driver, Brian Gilvear, steering her to an effortless win. In command throughout, Justanotherday (William Greenhorn) and GDs Baby (Gordon Gilvear) were the only credible challengers.

Race 3

1st Vision Of Hope (Rocknroll Hanover-Warm Waffles) – B Gilvear

2nd Justanotherday (Dreamfair Vogel-Today I Say) – W Greenhorn

3rd GDs Baby (Daylon Alert-GDs Twin) – G Gilvear

7 Ran Time: 2.07.22 Dist: 8L & 2L

The median point of the seven-race card remained in the same vein as the previous two races. Keir Cullen, younger brother of top Scottish driver Grant, sprinted out of the gate with successful 2015 campaigner Reverend Run, claiming a two grade lift due to his novice driver status.

The result was never in question as the young driver chased his horse home for his first ever driving win, with veteran Kas Best (Mick Grealis) keeping the leader under pressure all the way to the line, finishing runner up for the second week in a row.

Race 4

1st Reverend Run (The Preacher Pan-Lyons Flum) – K Cullen

2nd Kas Best (J Ws Best-Beentheredunthat) – M Grealis

3rd Lyons Pass (Jimmy Long-Lyons Montana) – G Gilvear

5 Ran Time: 2.06.55 Dist: 1L & 4L

Race five gave Jody Foody his second training win on the night and rewarded the Englishman's support of the track when the diminutive Camden Conquest took advantage of the field fighting for early position to take up the running. From there, driver William Greenhorn controlled the pace, set good fractions and responded well when challenged by Loriznitestar (Grant Cullen), who had faltered early on, to run out a convincing winner.

Race 5

1st Camden Conquest (Arts Conquest-Sheeza Sakra) – W Greenhorn

2nd Loriznitestar (Dreamfair Vogel-Starry Nite) – G Cullen

3rd Diamond O'Neil (Chaps-Rosie O'Neil) – H Menzies

6 Ran Time: 2.04.9 Dist: 2L & 2L

The penultimate race saw one of Scotland's top horses, Robhall, go to post the strong betting favourite. It was Stoneriggs Banner and Hugh Menzies who led out and set sedate fractions, turning the race into a last lap shootout. Robhall (Grant Cullen) came with a sustained challenge on the leader, but Menzies had paced the race to perfection and was a worthy winner.

Race 6

1st Stoneriggs Banner (Banner Yankee-Thepansquickrnthei) – H Menzies

2nd Robhall (Dreamfair Vogel-Yoko Hall) – G Cullen

3rd Grinnin CT (Grinfromeartoear-Heaven Can Jate) – R Thomson

5 Ran Time: 2.06.62 Dist: Neck & 1L

Six pacing mares went to post in the final race of the night, the feature STAGBI Future Broodmares Race, sponsored by the Standardbred and Trotting Horse Association of Great Britain and Ireland to promote racing mares who may go on to produce the racehorses of the future.

Kikis Virtue (Stuart Mackenzie) led out; Check On Wilma (Grant Cullen) challenged throughout. In the latter stages of the race, Sureamsomething (William Greenhorn) came with a three-wide challenge which forced Mackenzie to kick on, opening up a gap down the centre for Robhall's half-sister, ATM, to go one better than her sibling and charge home to victory.

This gave Hugh Menzies a back-to-back double on the night. Sureamsomething finished second with long-time leader Kikis Virtue in third.

Race 7

1st ATM (Genghis Pan-Yoko Hall) – H Menzies

2nd Sureamsomething (Wolfdancer Mindale-Suream Smart) – W Greenhorn

3rd Kikis Virtue (Scarlet And Gold-Coalford Virtue) – S Mackenzie

6 Ran Time: 2.04.44 Dist: 1/2L & 1/2L

The weekend of Scottish wins didn't finish there, as the Scottish contingent ventured south of the border to Appleby New Fair meeting on Sunday 12th June.

After the success of the northern horses two weeks ago at the major two-day fixture at the same venue, when Master Plan (Gilvear stable) won the Appleby Whit Monday heat and final, and Evenwood Ruthless (Kennedy stable), Viva Sautonne (G Menzies stable), Springhill Art (Cullen stable), Camden Castellano (J Menzies stable), and My Left Foot (G Drysdale stable) also picked up red ribbons, it was no surprise to see the Scots back in the winner's circle again.

This time the limelight shone on the Paterson family, who fielded two winners and a second in a photo finish from three runners at the meeting.

Dreamfair Carrie came with a late run to be narrowly denied in a combined maiden and novice event with William Greenhorn in the bike; Ayr Pandemic picked up her second win of the season for owner/driver Gary Logan with an inspired rail-hugging drive which saw him take advantage when the leader drifted off the rail coming home, giving him enough room to sprint to the line on the former juvenile champion; and Hawthorns Maggie blitzed the field when coming home handy for catch driver Hugh Menzies.

Willie Paterson, father of trainer Gregor, commended the work that the team puts in, with Ross Leary, Gary Logan, Bryan Moncrieff and Gregor himself all rising at daybreak to lend a hand before their daytime jobs. The hard work is clearly paying off, and it was a double celebration on Sunday as Gregor celebrated his 24th birthday.

The next meeting at Corbiewood will be Thursday 16th June, featuring the SHRC 3YO Derby. First race at 7.30pm.

By Sarah Thomas, for Harnesslink