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Published on Sunday 11 December 2011 08:11
LAST weekend really could not have gone any better for Sheena West.
The Falmer-based trainer saw her stable star Golan Way win a notable Listed chase at Sandown and her youngsters Be All Man and Brilliant Barca win their respective races whilst displaying plenty of potential in so doing.
The success of Golan Way was a step toward fulfilling the high level of belief that his trainer has always had in him and his front running style and fluent fencing really took the eye at Sandown.
“He has got an entry in the King George and it wasn’t a haphazard thing,” said West.
“But he had to show what he could do before it and he has – we’ve got to go there. He jumps so well and jumped the last as well as the first.
“When he refused to race there was a mix up with the jockeys and he takes some knowing. Marc knows him well and that helps,” said the trainer post-race.
Golan Way beat only an average field for a Listed contest but he did it well and though the championship pace of the King George will undoubtedly prove a much more exacting assignment, it would appear to be an excellent preparation for the Racing Post Trophy in February which is also run at Kempton.
As I mentioned last week, it is a valuable event that, given decent ground, I feel the seven year old gelding would have all the attributes for.
Meanwhile, Be All Man went a little way to justifying his £26,000 price tag when showing great tenacity in winning his first race at Warwick and Sheena was rightly pleased with his attitude.
“I thought there was a bumper in Be All Man after his second at Ascot and he has proved me right.
“He has had some quick runs and will have a break now before going hurdling in the New Year.”
Brilliant Barca will need to sharpen up his hurdling but he really finished with a flourish to overcome that deficiency in his game and claim his victory.
It was his hurdling debut so it would be reasonable to assume he can benefit from the experience and Sheena can obviously be relied upon to sharpen up his technique at home.
As a mile and a quarter winner on the flat in the March of his three year old campaign, it was not unsurprising to hear Sheena talk of a step up in trip for the horse in time.
“Brilliant Barca is workmanlike rather than flashy and we will try to find him another of these under a penalty at a galloping course, but later on I would think he will need 2m4f.”
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Marc Golstein on "Star" just before he left the parade ring
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Niall, Stephen, Marc and the back of Sheena's head
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Coolagad star after the race with Christina.
Coolagad Star ran on her debut at Newbury racecourse on Wednesday and finished certainly not disgraced in 7th place. A very pretty filly who lapped up all the attention and was very well behaved throughout. She is owned by Stephen Monks and her breeding is a real family affair.
Coolagad Star – History
written by Stephen Monks
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Niall Coakley and myself (current owners) were previously involved in a Syndicate in Ireland involving University friends where we owned a mare Trinity Flyer. She ran two races but unfortunately picked up an injury. After a few years of persisting with her I decided to buy her as a brood mare and sent her to my sister and her family at Coolagad Horse Farm to look after her. Coolagad is an area in County Wicklow, just south of Dublin, where the farm overlooks the Irish Sea and the picturesque Wicklow countryside.
We got her covered by Dr Massini and in March 2008 and our first filly was born at the National Stud in Ireland.
She was nicknamed Star due to the star on the front of her face by my sisters kids – Amy, Harry and Lisa – and over the following 3 years my sister Renee, her husband Paul and the kids looked after Star while she was growing into a racing proposition. Even my Dad used to drop up to the farm a couple of times a week to feed her. At the end of 2010 she was broken in by local trainer, Alfie Evans, who is actually an uncle of Paul. So all in all it was a true family effort!
In January 2011, after lots of previous success with other horses with Sheena West, I shipped her over from County Wicklow to Sheena’s yard and the training process began, not to mention the search for a name for her. Sheena and the yard instantly named her Bobby so the poor girl has so many names she is bound to be confused.
Even though my name is officially down as the breeder, I think most of it was down to all at Coolagad Horse Farm, so they have to get most of the recognition and hence why I named her Coolagad Star.
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There is just no stopping the yard producing winnners at the moment. Just Josie under a great ride from Marc Goldstein ran a cracker of a race to beat the JP McManus favourite.
« 3:40 Stanford Handicap Chase (Class 5) (0-95, 4yo+) 3m1f Good 18 fences
Courtesy of The Racing Post
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The first two set a decent standard in pulling 31 lengths ahead of the rest.
JUST JOSIE, beaten a long way in all previous starts, was finally faced with her ideal test as she has done well physically in recent months and has always been a chaser in the making. She finished clear with the well backed favourite, so this must rate as a decent performance.
QUOTES: Sheena West, winning trainer: "Just Josie is a big mare and hurdles were never going to suit her. She´s always jumped like a chaser. Last year she was all skin and bone but this year she´s nice and round."
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Photos courtesy of Stan Clegg
From our on the spot reporter, Stan Clegg, Although Hi Note did nt win at Fontwell yesterday, she ran a cracking race, leading all the way until she was passed by the odds on favourite. She kept going up the run in and would have finished second had she not tried to duck out at the exit to the stable block, a common occurrence with horses at Fontwell when it is soft, but to finish 3rd was a great effort.
A great run by Hi Note finishing a respectable 3rd! Currently owned by Sheena's father, Gerald West.
Courtesy of The Racing Post
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C&D winner Hi Note was in the firing line all the way, but could not hold off the favourite between the last two flights and, tiring, was caught for second on the run-in. Her yard is ingood form and this was a creditable effort.
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Sheena's daughter, Megan leads in Be All Man ridden by Leighton Aspell.
Many congratulations to the owners, Ashley Head, Richard Lockwood and Malcolm Burne.
That's 3 out of 3 this week. Sheena's strike rate just gets better and better!
COURTESY OF THE RACING POST
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BE ALL MAN lacked the scope of some of his rivals but gained a fully deserved success after a couple ofdecent previous efforts. He had every opportunity to give up had he wanted to under pressure, but his attitude is sound and he fought on bravely for a narrow success. The win also pays a handsome compliment to leading bumper performer Population, who beat Be All Man comfortably at Ascot last time. The trainer reported afterwards that her horse would go novice hurdling after a break.
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Brilliant Barca being led in by winning connections, Patricia and James (left) both members of the Affordable Partnership andf Megan on the right. Photos courtesy of Stan Clegg
Sheena has always liked this horse ever since he arrived at the yard. Stan Clegg who runs The Affordable Partnership did a great job getting the shares sold relatively quickly on the basis he too thought this horse would certainly win races. Not sure even he thought he would win first time out, but that's the key to having a shrewd trainer who can pitch the horses in her care at the right races and under the right conditions and yet again this has paid off. Many congratulations to all the members of this recently formed partnership and I hope the new members all enjoyed a fantastic afternoon out at Warwick. A great start to Brilliant Barca's hurdling career and well done to jockey Marc Goldstein too. Another great ride on a horse he has personally schooled at home.
Another great team effort by all involved at Sheena's yard!
I can guarantee there will be a few champagne corks popping tonight.
BRILLIANT BARCA seemed to become a bit disappointing for Mick Channon on the Flat after winning a 1m2f AW maiden, but took well to hurdling and showed a good attitude under pressure, after a slight mistake two out, to win on his debut for a stable that does well with other trainer´s cast-offs.
QUOTES: Trainer Sheena West: "Brilliant Barca is workmanlike rather than flashy and we will try to find him another of these under a penalty at a galloping course but later on I would think he will need 2m4f."
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Fantastic to see Golan Way who has always been so highly thought of by both Sheena, Marc and all the owners get his head back in front. Golan Way is not the easiest of horses but is extremely talented whish is why he deserves his chance at The King George at Kempton on Boxing Day where he already holds an entry.
Many congratualation to all the connections.
Courtesy of The Racing Post
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GOLAN WAY refused to race only two starts ago, but that was totally out of character as he´s usually such as enthusiastic type and he was right back to his best here, really attacking his fences, in contrast to the runner-up. His connections plan an ambitious assault on the King George, but he´ll find it tougher to keep going at championship pace and will be a long shot.
QUOTES: Trainer Sheena West: "Golan Way has got an entry in the King George and it wasn´t a haphazard thing, but he had to show what he could do before it and he has - we´ve got to go there. He jumps so well and jumped the last as well as the first. When he refused to race there was a mix-up with the jockeys and he takes some knowing, Marc [Goldstein] knows him well and that helps."
Golan Way makes all as Bostons Angel only third
By David Baxter 2:37PM 2 DEC 2011 Report: Sandown, Friday
Sportingbet Future Stars Chase (Intermediate) (Listed) 3m½f, 4yo+
GOLAN WAY made all for jockey Marc Goldstein as the 12-1 outsider of the five-strong field took advantage of his rivals' misfortunes.
With last season's RSA winner Boston Angel and Racing Post Chase victor Quinz among the contenders the Sheena West-trained Golan Way appeared up against it.
The seven-year-old refused to race in the Badger Ales trophy at Wincanton earlier in the season. But Golan Way happily bounded off at the start in Friday's Listed race and got into a lovely rhythm under Goldstein.
There was little to note in the first circuit, bar Benbane Head making a few mistakes when jumping. The second circuit, however, proved much more eventful. Quinz quickly dropped out of contention having jumped well for Richard Johnson with something seemingly amiss.
Next to come to grief was the returning Royal Charm, who appeared to be travelling well for Ruby Walsh but sprawled badly on landing after the last railway fence with the jockey standing no chance of remaining in the saddle.
Bostons Angel was urged to close by Robbie Power down the home straight, but the favourite made little impression, and with Benbane Head not as fluent at the last Golan Way stayed on for a deserved three and a quarter length win.
Trainer Sheena West will now turn Golan Way's attention to the King George on December 26 as she said: "He's got an entry in the King George and it wasn't a haphazard thing, but he had to show what he could do before it and he has - we've got to go there. He jumps so well and jumped the last as well as the first.
"It's great for a little yard like ours and we have to take our chance [in the King George] as we don't often get them."
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