The 2023-2024 season provided some memorable days and it was great to see lots of clients having success on the track.
Two of the biggest international pots were won with horses I bought in conjuncture with the Beswick Brothers. The first was Rockstar Ronnie who won the Grand Annual at Warrnambool the longest and most valuable jump race in Australia. He was bought as a E10,000 store and beautifully prepped to win his point by Aidan Fitzgerald and subsequently sold for £78,000.
The second was Noah and the Ark, who relished the dampened ground at Far Hills and won the American Grand National for Todd Mckenna. He was ridden by Bart and Warwick’s cousin Harrison Beswick. So a real family affair. Sadly we were not present for his victory, instead we chose to go out there the year before, where he was second in it, bumping into no other than subsequent King George winner Hewick. He was bought with Donald Mccain off Tim Dennis after winning an English Point to Point.
The cross bar was hit at both the English festivals, Mr Vango ran a mighty race in the National Hunt race at the Cheltenham Festival coming 3rd, a very emotional run as it was soon after the passing of Mark Bradstock.
Lively Citizen hit the front up the Aintree run in and got all connections shouting and hollering, he couldn’t quite maintain his challenge and finished a very gallant 4th beaten only 3 lengths in the conditional handicap hurdle at the Aintree Festival.
On the flat Wise Eagle provided a memorable day, after finishing 3rd in the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot he booked his ticket for the Gold Cup at the Royal Meeting. Sadly he lost a shoe in that race and came back sore. Still it’s been some journey with him and to have a runner in the Gold Cup that was picked up for £7,000 was a fairy-tale. Hopefully there’s another chapter or two!
