Latest news with #GradeOne
Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Little-known trainer's joy as Willie Mullins swoops to buy stable star for £300k
Mullins bought Poetisa from Toby Bulgin at the Doncaster's Goffs UK Spring Horses in Training and Point-to-Point Sale. The mare is set to join horses like Grand National hero Nick Rockett and dual Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs at Closutton A trainer with only a dozen horses to compete is celebrating after Willie Mullins swooped to buy his stable star for £300,000. The all-conquering handler was determined to secure Poetisa, a first time out winner for Toby Bulgin at Cheltenham's April Meeting. Mullins had to fend off rival Nicky Henderson in a bidding war at Doncaster's Goffs UK Spring Horses in Training and Point-to-Point Sale on Wednesday. Represented by talent scout Harold Kirk, the Closutton maestro forked out an extra £10,000 to prevent the 20-1 scorer from going to Seven Barrows. "It was beyond our wildest dreams to have Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson bidding against each other for our horse," said Bulgin, who returned to winning ways in 2021 after a 32-year break from racing. "I think she is an absolute star and had been working so well on the run up to Cheltenham." Over the years, Kirk has sourced numerous stars for Mullins, including Hurricane Fly - who gained legendary status with a record 22 victories at Grade One level - and 11-time top flight hero Faugheen. Bulgin and his wife Nicola bought Poetisa from last year's Goffs Doncaster Spring Store Sale for only £42,000 and brought her along steadily. But impressive homework saw her start out at Prestbury Park with three-time champion jockey Brian Hughes in the saddle. Settled in midfield, the daughter of Poet's Word overcame trouble-in-running in a fiercely competitive event to score in determined fashion. Poetisa is now set to join current Mullins-trained stars like Grand National titleholder Nick Rockett and dual Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs at his stables in Ireland. "We took her to Kempton and Newbury on the run up to the race," said Bulgin, a former jockey who went straight from boarding school to take a job with Sir Mark Prescott in 1976. "She has so much natural ability and it was tempting to go for the Grade Two bumper at Aintree, but we decided Cheltenham wouldn't be so much of an ask. "Brian said he would leave it late and it was really exciting to see her get to the front up the hill." The couple, who farmed cattle and sheep for many years in Norfolk, have eight three-year-olds at home in Lambourn, with five yet to be broken in. Many years ago Toby Bulgin left racing and gained a role in a company which manufactured electrical components, earning money to support his family. In 2021 he returned to his beloved sport after more than three decades away when Luckofthedraw hit the target in a Fontwell chase. "I was always going to come back to it," he said. "We usually have a dozen horses in training and others to break in. "Selling Poetisa helped to pay last year's bills - with feed, farriers and so on it is an expensive business. We also found a nice horse for Paul Nolan called Rue Taylor, who has won maiden and novice hurdles in Ireland. "The feeling at the sales is a mixture of nerves and excitement. It is also a relief when the right faces appear at the ringside and you get a result." Kirk admitted he had to dig a little deeper than he had expected to secure Poetisa, bred by Reamonn and Shauna Rice from Chars, an Old Vic half-sister to the top-class hurdler Macs Joy. 'I thought she'd make between £200,000 and £250,000, but there's always going to be somebody else on a horse like this," he said. "If you're up against Nicky Henderson, you're going to have to be strong. I thought she was the standout here today. I hope she's lucky now.'
Press and Journal
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Cricket prodigy, 14, makes two centuries to break Aberdeenshire record dating back almost 200 YEARS
For 14-year-old Aberdeenshire cricketing prodigy Ethan Shedbal, centuries were a bit like buses last weekend. After waiting a couple of years for his first in adult cricket, two came along in quick succession. The teen has been playing in the North East Grades for Mannofield for the last two seasons – since he was just 12 years old – but hadn't made a hundred until last Saturday. However, Shedbal racked up 102 in the Grade One fixture against Aberdeen Grammar, and the following day he scored 110 for 3rd Mannofield in their Grade Four match against Ceylon Deeside. It is thought he may be the youngest person to make back-to-back centuries in the history of the Grades – which go back as far as 1893 – and in the history Aberdeenshire Cricket Club, which formed in 1857. Shedbal said: 'I felt absolutely brilliant after making the two centuries, it was a great weekend and I couldn't really have dreamt of it being any better. 'After the game on Sunday, I was thinking: 'Have I really done this?' 'I'm only 14 and the Grades is a high standard of cricket, so it was unreal to achieve that. 'My century last Saturday was my maiden century in adult cricket. 'Afterwards people were joking with me, saying: 'You got a century today – you'll have to get one tomorrow.' 'When I got the second one, it was a great feeling and an amazing thing to achieve.' Shedbal started playing soft ball cricket when he was nine and began playing with a hard ball a year later. He has appreciated the people who have helped him develop and has lofty aspirations for the future. Shedbal added: 'This is my third year playing adult cricket and the past couple of years have been great for my development. 'I need to thank Phil Wood (Aberdeenshire junior convener), Rahul Chandu (Mannofield captain) and Tony McKenna (Cricket Scotland regional development officer) because they've really helped me in the last few years. 'Four years ago I couldn't hold a bat properly, but they've pushed me on and helped me develop my game so much. 'As well as them, the senior players have helped me a lot. 'So I just want to thank all the people that have helped me reach the stage I'm at today. 'I have high hopes for the future, in the next year I hope I can be playing for Scotland Under-15s. 'Hopefully I can have big roles in games for Aberdeenshire as well and help us win games – those things are driving me to try to keep improving my skills.'
Rhyl Journal
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Cinderella's Dream blooms in Dahlia test
The bay was one of two Charlie Appleby-trained and Godolphin-owned contenders in the Group Two, and was the chosen ride of William Buick as Ryan Moore partnered Beautiful Love. As the 11-8 favourite Cinderella's Dream did not feature prominently in the early stages of the race and had the whole field to pass in the final furlongs, but clearly she was content to bide her time and when asked to go on and win the race, she did so comfortably to prevail by four and a half lengths from Elmalka. Beautiful Love was a further three-quarters of a length back in third. Appleby said: 'She's a stronger model this year, definitely, that is one thing we have noticed since she came back from Dubai. 'We actually took her out there to do all that but to be honest with you, she didn't really, but she's thrived since she's been back here. 'It was pleasing to see her do that, her work had been very good at home and her lead horse had been Beautiful Love so when she was still there swinging two out, I just thought Will just had to give her the office and she'd quicken away. 'Will said it is not very often you travel into the dip still pulling.' Cinderella's Dream was a Grade One winner in America last year but suffered an unlucky half-length defeat at the Breeders' Cup meeting, a statistic Appleby is eager to right. He added: 'The grand plan is to work back from the Breeders' Cup, she was unlucky in the Filly & Mare Turf last year and that's the target again. She'll probably have one race before it out there. 'Normally we send our fillies out to America but she looks very good, I'm just not that familiar with the programme for them here! I'll go away and have a look, she's beaten some smart fillies today but they'll be more frightened of us wherever she goes I imagine.'
Rhyl Journal
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Warren Greatrex rewarded for Punchestown trip with Bill Baxter
The winning trainer is no stranger to success in Ireland and indeed this meeting, with his One Track Mind scooping Grade One honours at Punchestown in 2016. The Lambourn handler was out of luck with his first two runners at the Kildare track this week, but his admirable nine-year-old ensured he heads home with more riches from the Emerald Isle having seen off Anthony Honeyball's Jasmin De Grugy and the Jonjo and AJ O'Neill-trained Beachcomber. 'We've always been keen to come here if we have the right sort of horse,' said Greatrex. 'This horse has just been a star for us. He won the Topham two years ago and has found it hard since then, but he was on a dangerous mark today. 'He came over on Tuesday and he's a horse that loves going on a trip, like I do. He's thrived since he's been here. He was squealing in the morning. 'He almost ups his game when he goes away and we knew we had him in good shape.' Although Sean and James Bowen had steered Keep Running and Herakles Westwood respectively earlier in the meeting, it was left to Harry Bannister to partner 12-1 chance Bill Baxter in this Listed event. 'I was a bit worried about the ground, but Harry's given him a great ride,' continued Greatrex. 'He does like soft ground, but as I said he was on a dangerous mark and he's gone and done it so it's brilliant. 'I'm all for having a go and it's important that we all have a go if we have the right sort of horse. It pays off every now and then. It's what it's all about, competition is good.'
The 42
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Joy for Mullins as Jade De Grugy too good for Brighterdaysahead, Lulamba boost for Henderson
JADE DE GRUGY produced a career-best performance to continue Willie Mullins' recent domination of the SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown The Closutton handler had saddled eight of the last 10 winners of the Grade One contest and having finished best of the rest behind esteemed stablemate Lossiemouth in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, Jade De Grugy was even-money to add to his tally. After initially being settled in third place by Paul Townend, the six-year-old was allowed to stride on in front heading out for the second circuit, a move which was covered by her main rival Brighterdaysahead, who was bidding to bounce back from a disappointing run in the Champion Hurdle. The big two were clear of the chasing pack rounding the home turn and Jade De Grugy always looked to be going the better, pulling further ahead in the straight to score by six and a half lengths. A tiring Brighterdaysahead was eventually beaten to the runner-up spot by the winner's stablemate Gala Marceau. Mullins said of the winner: 'She's a mare that's been improving all year. Nicer ground was a big help and tactically Paul was brilliant. 'Brighterdaysahead probably just had a very hard race at Christmas and she never really recovered from it. Advertisement 'We're delighted to be able to win a Grade One with a filly like this and I'd say we'll probably train her for the Mares' Hurdle again next year.' Later at Punchestown, Lulamba turned the tables on his Cheltenham Festival conqueror Poniros to land the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle. So impressive on his British debut at Ascot, Nicky Henderson's Lulamba looked set to follow up in the Triumph Hurdle after getting the better of a protracted battle with East India Dock. But both were caught late by the Willie Mullins-trained 100-1 shot Poniros, who was making his hurdling debut. Lulamba was an 11-10 favourite to exact his revenge on Irish soil and give Henderson and jockey James Bowen a welcome boost following Constitution Hill's disappointing run in the Boodles Champion Hurdle just over 24 hours earlier – and ultimately did so in good style. Always close to the pace, Lulamba led Poniros into the home straight and finished strongly from the final flight to win the rematch by four lengths, with Hello Neighbour a close-up third. Lulamba was providing owners Joe and Marie Donnelly with their second Grade One winner of the week following State Man's victory over Constitution Hill on Friday. 'These are big days, it's been a big week and a great week for the Donnelly family. Two winners like that is pretty special,' said Henderson. 'We tried to get in the way yesterday, it was a bitter pill, but well done them. Now we've done it together.' He added: 'This is a fantastic place, we love it. This is a proper horse for another day. He deserves it as much as everybody. 'I wouldn't say he was unlucky not to win in Cheltenham, he couldn't do anything about it at the time and we got a bit of revenge there. 'He's a lovely horse for the future, you wouldn't be surprised if he didn't come back over fences next year. I don't know, it's early days and it's only the fourth race of his life. 'He's a big baby to be doing juvenile hurdles against Flat horses, so fair credit to him.' Of Constitution Hill, Henderson said: 'He's OK. He's a bit sore, but he's fine. 'He's got a long summer in front of him, he'll be back.'
