"Newark Northgate station must be one of the very best railway terminals in Britain. A wondrously courteous amazingly helpful, impressively uniformed staff abounds - even the man who sweeps the floor of the waiting room was dressed as it Her Majesty was due in on the 18.34.
When I arrived there from Southwell, after the last race and the Friday traffic jam, the man at the barrier, noticing I was past the flush of youth, showed me the location of the lift that saves the halt and the lame from the rigours of the footbridge stairs."
Announcements of a quality superior to Radio 4 provided almost non stop enterntainment.
The article goes on...
"I wallowed in contentedness, tried to think back to when I last felt this happy, even though there was one element of discomfort about my person. This was caused by an unyielding lump in my left trouser pocket, and yet it was this lump that made for my euphoria:the consequence of having placed £50 each way on Last One Standing at 50-1 in the bumper.
Since I started my gambling life with a bet of two pence each way at Buckfastleigh in the early 1930's, I must have backed something at 50-1, although I certainly don't recall winning anything at that attractive price.
Last One Standing, who had never seen a racecourse, whose only previous trip in a horsebox had been the previous week when her trainer drove her to an adjacent roundabout as an introductin to travelling, won nicely. Mark Goldstein rides well, is worth his 5lb claim, while the talented trainer, Sheena West of Lewes, is one whose horses always deserve another look.
Had I attended another meeting, or taken my business to Hill's or Chandler's plush betting offices in Mayfair, I would have received my winnings in three sealed packages of £1000 plus two £50 notes. Not at Southwell, I did not.
Michael Cannon - A Sure Fire Bet - with whom I transacted the speculation asked me to wait a few minutes, and then handed me this massive bundle that began with five Scottish £100 notes abd followed via two £50 notes, with more £20's nd tenners and fivers than you can shake a stiock at, all wrapped - at my request - by two ultra strength rubber bands. What is more, the bookmaker was really nice about paying out, said: "Well done."
Courtesy of The Racing Post
The evening started with another front-running winning favourite in Split The Wind, who took the 1m1f fillies' handicap on her sixth start for Sheena West. West had taken a fancy to Split The Wind after watching her racing without much luck for Eve Johnson Houghton, and when the filly was dropped in class at Brighton in June she took the plunge and claimed her.
Johnson Houghton was the first to congratulate her when the filly broke her maiden at the 22nd attempt.
After Split The Wind had made all in the hands of apprentice Harry Poulton and held on by a neck from Myohmy, West said: "It took us a while to work her out and she's been quite busy for us, so I think she'll have a little break now. She's one-paced, so there's no point riding her for a turn of foot, but she does fight."
Courtesy of The Racing Post
FOLKESTONE
Published: 28/06/2008 (Sport) Will O'Hanlon
TOBAGO BAY, who looked wholly uncooperative on occasions on the Flat, is proving a different horse over jumps and followed up his recent Sedgefield win by making virtually all under Jamie Goldstein in the 2m1f juvenile hurdle, writes Will O'Hanlon.
The ex-Mick Channon horse had been sent off at 16-1 at Sedgefield, but he was 5-2 favourite here and, jumping boldly throughout, had taken the measure of Karashar when that horse crashed out at the last, leaving the Sussex raider to come home unchallenged.
Tobago Bay is trained by Sheena West for the 20-strong Heart of the South syndicate, whose spokesman, John Penny, said: "We very nearly gave up on him because he was pulling himself up on the Flat and obviously not enjoying it. But we decided to give him a change of scene and a switch to hurdling instead, and the job Sheena has done with him is fantastic."
Courtesy of The Racing Post
STRATFORD
Published: 16/06/2008 (News) by Will O'Hanlon
SHEENA WEST has a promising young jumper on her hands in GolanWay, who completed his hat-trick under Jamie Goldstein in the 2m novice hurdle, the 11-10 shot being left clear when nearest challenger Sendani came down at the last.
Because he has the potential to be useful, West is minded to be especially careful with GolanWay at this stage of his career and not to go to the well too often.
"We're only a small stable and to have a horse like him - who could be very good - is exciting," said the trainer. "But I wouldn't want him to be running under big weights in handicaps through the summer, so I'll put him out in a field for a couple of months now and start him off again in the autumn."
Emma Lavelle sent out Fieldsofclover to land the feature 2m7f handicap chase, and was quick to praise the horse's jockey Jack Doyle for his part in the success.
"Jack suggested that we step the horse up from two and a half miles because, after riding the horse at Ludlow, he reported that he was flat out over that trip and felt he would be able to get a couple of breathers into him over this longer distance," said the trainer.
Robert Thornton, who took a nasty tumble from Motarjm in Golan Way's race, bounced back to ride a cracker on Iffy in the 2m handicap hurdle, getting the Richard Lee-trained gelding up on the line to beat Moon Star.
"Iffy has taken time to recover from a career-threatening injury he got at Newbury a couple of years back," said trainer's daughter Kerry Lee. "He's a gutsy horse, but there isn't a lot of him, so let's hope the handicapper isn't too hard on him."
Gaelic Flight left recent form well behind him when taking the 2m4f handicap chase under a fine ride from Tom O'Brien and, while conceding that the horse is not consistent, trainer Jeremy Scott hopes that this performance sets him up for a good summer.
"He'd lost his way a bit," said Scott, "but he's been coming back to himself recently and this trip suited him after he didn't quite get home over an extra two furlongs last time."
A day after Frankie Dettori weighed in 11/2lb light at Sandown, Paul Moloney did the same here on third-placed Orfeo Conti and picked up a three-day ban (June 29, July 2-3).
"I'm totally baffled, and can only think it's happened because it's a hot, clammy day," said Moloney. "I just feel sorry for the owners, as they've lost the thirdplace money."
O'Brien completed a double when he got Don't Be Bleu home by a head in the 2m6f novice handicap hurdle.
Star performance Tom O'Brien was the jockey to follow, completing a 116-1 double on Gaelic Flight and Don't Be Bleu
Quote of the day "He got out of trouble as quick as he got into it, but you'd prefer it if he didn't get into it in the first place" - trainer Sheena West of Golan Way's mid-race blunder
Courtesy of The Racing Post
WORCESTER
Published: 26/06/2008 (News) by David Toft
SHEENA WEST does well with her string and she deserves plenty of credit for getting Ladino to win the best race on the card, the 3m handicap hurdle.
He was running for the first time since November 2006 when finishing second at Exeter as a 100-1 shot last month and proved that effort was no fluke by winning nicely under a good ride from Jamie Goldstein.
American-born owner Michael Moriarty, who has been based in Europe for about 16 years, said: "We had to give him time off as he picked up something at the end of 2006. He needs three miles and quick ground, and there does not seem a lot of those types of races around.
"We thought he would go well today and are obviously pleased with the way he has done it."
Article from the Brighton & Hove Argus
Friday June 15 2001
Horse trainer Sheena West on the 1,000 acre Balmer Farm near Lewes which is owned by her father Conrad
It is a proud moment for a young trainer when she saddles her first winner.
But things can go a bit flat when the horse concerned disappears to another yard immediately afterwards.
That was just what happened to Sheena West after apprentice David Kinsella booted home Celtic Venture at Lingfield ten days ago.
The problem was that Celtic Venture had won a claiming race, in which every runner was claimed for a specific price, dependant upon the weight it carries.
Friendly claims are allowed but take their chance with all the others. Sheena's father put in a bid but was beaten by a rival claim drawn out of the hat.
The Wests put a brave face on it, at least Sheena had trained a winner. As a result, the Jockey Club granted her a full licence rather than one restricted to training for her family only.
Sheena, 35, stables her 11 horses on the 1,000 acres of her father's Balmer Farm, on Brighton Road, near Lewes.
She has been involved with horses since pony club days when she won championship events at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire. Sheena also won the first point-to-point she ever rode in at Heathfield.
She said: "I thought it was easy, but I didn't ride another winner after that."
Father Gerald had several horses on the property trained by Sheena's partner, who has now departed Balmer Farm leaving her to train a dozen horses on her own.
In February, she was granted a permit which allowed her to have family-owned horses only and from eight runners she saddled a second and two thirds.
She said: "We also had It's Wallace which finished seventh in the Stayers' Championship Hurdle at Sandown behind the brilliant French-trained Barracouda.
He had won five races at Plumpton before he came to us and he will be going back there when racing resumes in the autumn."
But the Lingfield win of Celtic Venture was all important.
Sheena said: "Now I have a public licence so I can train for anyone and I have organised a website (www.sheenawest.com) to try and attract new owners."
At the moment Sheena has just two staff on the payroll, Deena Goad, who rides in amateur races, and Adam Laraway. All three share the tasks of mucking-out, grooming and riding exercise.
She said: "Sometimes my daughter Megan, who is six, comes out on her pony as well, although she is not yet old enough to ride horses."
Sheena's stable has already saddled a third place besides the winner.
She said: "Everything has happened so fast.
"From being granted a permit just four months ago, here I am with a full licence. It's great but we have to move on now, get more horses and more winners."
One horse who could up the strike rate is Barrantes, a four-year-old filly by Distant Relative out of the mare Try The Duchess, who runs at Windsor on Monday evening.
Facilities for training are not a problem when 1,000 acres of Sussex Downs are on the doorstep.
Sheena said: "We school the horses over little jumps all the time. It does them good to learn to get off the ground early on in life and adds interest to their lives as well."
Although Sheena is fully aware that the serious money is in flat racing, her heart is in jumping.
She said: "It is my ambition to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup within five years. I am determined to achieve that somehow."
Training at Balmer Farm is a real family business. Mum does the catering for visitors and potential owners and sister-in-law Dale, a New Zealander married to Sheena's brother Jeremy, does the books and sorts out the wages.
This is a team that is going places judging by the results so far and maybe that Gold Cup will turn out to be more than just a dream.
From The Argus
From the archive, first published Friday 27th Jan 2006.
Sheena West is stepping up her preparations for the Cheltenham Festival.
She is enjoying her best season since she started training at Lewes five years ago, and has laid out four of her 18 horses for the National Hunt spectacular in seven weeks time.
Pride of place goes to Kalmini, a shrewd Newmarket July sales purchase who has won both her hurdle races and will go for the hat-trick at Cheltenham's one-day fixture tomorrow.
West said: "I'm so proud of her because, unlike her first win at Huntingdon, she had to fight at Taunton the other day and she beat horses running in the colours of two of the biggest owners, JP McManus and Sir Robert Ogden."
West's decision to take jockey Jamie Goldstein on full time has paid dividends.
He is there every morning to ride out and school and has formed a happy partnership with Kalmini, whose Cheltenham target is the Triumph Hurdle, which is the championship for four-year-olds.
West said: "She cost £14,000 at the sales but that is looking cheap now. Kalmini is by Rahy who is not noted for getting jumpers but Mick Channon, who trained her on the flat, encouraged me to buy her."
Now, Kalmini is among the favourites for the Triumph and West is ready to fend off potential buyers as Cheltenham approaches.
West said: "She is now owned by a syndicate, WRB Racing, and I doubt if the members, who are so looking forward to Cheltenham, would be interested in even a silly offer for her."
Second string for the National Hunt meeting is Screenplay who has had a good break after winning five hurdle races and will go for the three-mile novice event.
West said: "I was careful not to run him before his novice status could expire and, as it is, he will be among the more experienced horses in the race."
Screenplay is owned by a syndicate organised by Paul Hancock, who also owns Belita, another likely Cheltenham runner.
West said: "Belita had various problems which prevented her running until quite recently.
"But Paul has been so patient and was thrilled when she won at Warwick and went on to finish second at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. All being well, she will be back there in March."
Belita is a light-framed filly who would not take too much racing and West will take it easy with her in the build-up and not race her until the big day.
To complete the quartet, It's Wallace Junior, who is poised to begin a career over fences, will probably revert to hurdles for the three-mile Pertemps Handicap.
West said: "He might run over fences at Newbury on February 11 or at Folkestone three days later.
"But he would take a race over hurdles in his stride, he's an adaptable horse who jumps whatever you put in front of him."
Since the start of the season, West has acquired two more horses to bring her string to an unprecedented 18.
"I have to decide whether to take on another full-time member of staff," she says.
"Including Jamie and me, there are four of us at present but we are under maximum pressure.
"On the other hand, if I take on someone new and two horses go wrong we are looking at the difference between profit and loss."
With nine jumping winners and one from just three runners on the flat West is enjoying her best season and the expansion of Balmer Farm stables shows a steady upward trend so that the increase in staff is surely inevitable.
Daughter Megan, ten, is hardly old enough to take her place but she has outgrown her first pony and acquired a new one just before Christmas.
"Megan hadn't had him more than a few days when he flung her off and gave her concussion," said West.
"Of course, she was thoroughly checked out at the hospital and had to have two weeks off school but now she and Sunny are the best of mates.
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