The following horses have not run in our Share A Winner colours' however, they were formally and several remain currently owned with a direct involvement of the Share A Winner syndicate managers. We have chosen to highlight their individual profiles at time of purchase and what they have gone on to achieve on track.
AYR HARBOUR
Ayr Harbour was purchased as a 2 year old colt having raced only once for former trainer Richard Hannon
I loved nearly everything about this debut! Uneasy in the betting before hand drifting to an SP of 33/1 he produced a big performance. Prominent throughout, having come from stall 11 at Lingfield he demonstrated clear ability with a willing attitude clocking a very useful time at Lingfield. The form of this Novice strengthened by the fifth placed winning a class 3 Novice at York 9 days later. On face value this was a very encouraging debut so naturally there were reservations why connections would opt to sell off the back of one solid performance. Having been checked over by the vets, they were happy with him physically. Ayr Harbour is out of a high class dam who’s first foal had already recorded 2 early wins, he was ticking all the right boxes but perhaps buyer perception of unfashionable sire Harbour Watch allowed Ayr to change hands for a steel at just 18000 GNE. Sent to expert trainer Michael Appleby, Ayr Harbour won 5 races in little over a year on route to an official rating of 100
He left my stewardship after his Southwell domination on New Years 2021 and although Ayr Harbour's race planners haven't managed to get his head back in front approaching 2 years later, Ayr Harbour undoubtedly remains a high class operator
MISTER BLUEBIRD
Mister Bluebird offers a different profile as the only home bred on this list having raced exclusively for his long term owners Dawn Aldham And Wetumpka Racing. He is a close relation off current Share A Winner syndicate horse Agapanther and comes from a family Kingston Common Farm know very well
Dawn’s husband & syndicate manager Andrew Knott owned the dam of Mister Bluebird Childesplay a versatile 4-time winner over 6 & 7 furlongs (turf and the AW) achieving a peak rating of 87. It has proven a case of the apple not falling far from the tree with Mister Bluebird already a 4-time winner over the same distances including the seemingly preordained success of Mister Bluebird winning the exact same Ascot handicap his mother won in 2015. Further success came in the valuable Sky Bet Sunday Series Handicap at Musselburgh when stepping up to 7F for the first time. This was an excellent placing. Proven over 5 & 6F his raw speed allowed him to easily take up ideal position and hit the line well over the sharp Musselburgh 7F. Mister Bluebird is a very likable type with an excellent win & place strike rate,
wholly genuine, he will be a live chance wherever he runs next!
ONLY SPOOFING
Only Spoofing is huge character that has earned himself a cult like following with punters having notched his 10th 11th & 12th career wins in 2022. The ever green 8 year old “Spoof” is trained in Ireland by the charismatic Kevin Coleman shows no signs of slowing down just yet. Spoof has provided part owner & Share A Winner syndicate manager Francis “Charlie" Durbin with many big race day memories. A class 2 Ascot success, another at Glorious Goodwood, A narrow second in the Epsom Dash and a lucrative win in the Sky Bet Sunday Series at Musselburgh are just some of the memorable days Spoof delivered his owners. I became part of the Spoof journey in June of 2019 having met his former and current owner Mr S Mannion at a seminar. I knew of Spoof from a distance having advised him as a former selection on my tipping service in the Rockingham Premier Handicap at the Curragh. I believed there was further scope off his then rating of 73 despite him having won 4 prior races by the age of 5. I felt a few subtle tweaks could see him elevate his official rating allowing him to run in some nice handicaps. A sound sprinter who loves to win should be any owners dream horse. Spoof takes his racing well and has a real zest for his job and as a result is approaching the £200,000 marker in prize money. He doesn't owe anyone, anything but whilst he loves his job we will allow him to do what he does best
MOSTLY SUNNY
Mostly Sunny trod a unconventional path on route to the racecourse having remained unraced during time spent with not one but two former trainers. "Sunny" was sold at the 2021 Tattersalls August sale changing hands for just 2000 GNE purchased by former Grand National winning jockey Graham Thorner a man with a proven eye for spotting a race horse. The Desk Til Dawn partnership learned of the gelding's availability and duly purchased with Wetumpka Racing like all good deals brokered at the local pub. We are delighted that Heather Main's ability as a trainer has made it a case of third yard lucky for Sunny!
With no form clues the purchase was based on pedigree, appearance and general soundness. A first foal out of an unraced dam by a first season sire presented us pedigree that might split opinion. We were immediately taken by his page however for several reasons.
The first stems from punting. We have a strong handle on the emergence of Dubawis' sons proving excellent sires in their own right. Zarak a son of the aforementioned out of unbeaten 123 rated Zarkava appeared likely to continue the excellent Dubawi record as a grandsire with Night Of Thunder and New Bay already setting the bar high for him.
Zarak’s progeny, primarily based in France had made a positive start and fittingly Heather trained the first of his progeny to win in the UK with Island Bandit scoring at odds of 125/1 at Newbury. The initial Zarak stud fee of €12,000 looked set to rise and this has proven the case at a time stud fees are generally falling. Without overstating things we were well ahead of time with our judgements made.
The second positive angle was the frequency of smart horses linked to granddam Foodbroker Fancy. Her daughters Dalvina, French Dressing & Soft Centre were well above average types on track but perhaps of greater significance is their record of producing offspring rated well above 100. Our pedigree summery was of an exciting first season sire and a proven dam family. A feature of Dubawi's progeny is that they often take a big step forward from 2 to 3 years of age. We therefore weren't adversely put of by a January foal late into the 2 year old season. Heather was taken by Sunny physically even with the gelding out of trainer & deep into his winter coat. We knew to trust her instincts and James expertise regarding his wellbeing. Sunny would need time to develop but having commanded a 55,000 Euro’s fee at the Arqana Deauville Yearling Sale he already looks a shrewd purchase at 1/10th his yearling fee. We hold Sunny in high regard and look forward to see what he achieves for the Desk Til Dawn Partnership & Wetumpka Racing.
ASAD
Asad was another horse purchased inexpensively at just 2500 GNS. He offered a quirky profile on paper having been a 300,000 Euro yearling; this well-bred sort had spent two brief stints with different yards before appearing in the Tatts July sales catalogue. Asad, although a risky proposition did conform to a general criteria I look for having demonstrated ability in races where the form works out
He ran perfectly well in a pair of well above average maidens at Windsor & Redcar before returning a beaten favourite at Ripon on third career start with the obvious mitigating factors that stepping up to 10F had worked against him. There were some other extenuating circumstances that day. It was unlikely the unique undulations of Ripon would have suited Asad’s powerful frame, this was also his first run as a 3 year old having spent 172 days off. The race itself worked out very well just as his previous races had.
Wind surgery and a gelding operation had been reported prior his Tattersalls July sale. The auction halls opinion may have been this well-bred horse had not benefitted from the reported procedures and therefor left unraced. I was of the opinion; his frame carried so much power that a drop back in trip could be the key to him. Asad is not dependant on the AW having run many nice races in turf but the progeny of Lope De Vega boast a terrific record at Chelmsford and it was an incredible performance by trainer & horse to win on HC debut (Class 3) having spent 600 days off track. A peak rating of 87 and career prize money approaching £40,000 he has surpassed the expectation of his 2500 GNE sales price
