CREDIT TOM MILBURN PHOTOGRAPHY FOR THE IMAGES
The Zetland Point to Point Review
This bank holiday Monday saw the Zetland stage the penultimate meeting of the Yorkshire season at the lakeside track of Witton Castle. There were six races on offer which saw Paddy Barlow continue his run of good form, along with Isla John recording her first success on only her third start.
The first of what would a double for Paddy Barlow came in the Restricted race aboard the Fiona Needham trained Moonlight Flit. The pair were making it a second success for the season after romping home previously at the Bedale, always to the fore Paddy drove his mount out close home to win by a length, with the lightly raced Black Aphrodisiac and Henry Crow back in second on his seasonal debut, whilst Endless Adventure was third under John Dawson. Previously with Nicky Henderson under rules Moonlight Flit is slowly living up to his potential that he shows at home “his work at home is said to be excellent and he has loads of ability” said Paddy and there could be more to come from the winner if he can be persuaded to do so.
It would be a quick double in the Mens Open for Barlow as he piloted Cullin Hills to her sixth success of the season and re-assert her lead in the national leading horse title. The pair were left in the lead entering the back straight as favorite Go Go Geronimo departed at fence 14, this aloud the 6yo mare to set sail for home and power clear up the straight and beat the four time winner Mount Mews and John Dawson back in second, whilst Fresh New Dawn and Thomas Easterby stayed on nicely for third. Cullin Hills was making it four straight wins in the space of five weeks and continues her march up through the ranks “she’s never stopped improving all season, she’s seriously tough as well…that was her biggest test yet and she didn’t disappoint” said a delight Will Milburn who will now aim this daughter of Millenary at the prestigious Heart Of All England Hunter Chase in two weeks time.
Isla John had a day she would never forget as she rode her first winner aboard her own Wishful Dreaming in the Veterans conditions race, the pair forged clear approach two out and stayed on well to beat Fairy Mix and Scarlett Frank in second, whilst Nortonthorpelegend and Hester Hardy were back in third. Isla who rides out for Cherry Coward on a regular basis was having only her third ride, after only turning 16 at the beginning of April. Previously trained by Sam England where he was second over the national fences back in 2019, joined current connections after sustaining an injury but has been nursed back to health by his young pilot and the pair will no doubt go on to more success.
The opening Adjacent Hunts race went the way of Pillowman and Christy Furness, the winner has slowly returned to form this season after a couple of below par efforts, however the return to his favored good ground saw the pair make all the running, gallop on strongly to the line and fend off the odds on favorite Torygraph under John Dawson, whilst Whateveryousay and Phil Lawrence were running a highly creditable race in third and will surely have a maiden within his grasp.
Kelly Morgans drive North was not in vein in the final race, the Open Maiden as the well back British debutant Definite Call led a long way from home under Joe Wright and after surviving a last flight blunder stayed on well to win by seven lengths, with the 4yo son of Ocovango Red Delta back in second for John Dawson and a further gap back to Your My Getaway in third under Ross Wilson. Showing plenty of promise in Ireland and starting favorite for his last start in Ireland when unseating close home, this giant winning son of Califet looks to set to improve further.
The Ladies Open would see another emphatic victory from Vent d’Automne under young Scarlett Frank who leads the Ladies Novice Riders title in Yorkshire. The pair set a strong pace and gradually strung her rivals out, allowing her to come home by an impressive 30 lengths, with Chase The Wing taking second under Jess Bedi, whilst Cellar Vie and Pippa Brown completed in third.
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