Has David Probert ever ridden a Group 1 winner?

Perhaps a little surprisingly, the short answer is no, he hasn’t. Born on January 1, 1988 in Bargoed, South Wales, Probert attended the British Racing School in Newmarket and subsequently became apprenticed to Andrew Balding at Park House Stables in Kingsclere, near Newbury. In 2008, he shared the apprentice jockeys’ title with another Balding protégé, William Buick, both jockeys having ridden 50 winners apiece.

Unlike Buick, who became stable jockey to John Gosden in 2010 and a retained jockey for Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation in 2015, Probert has spent his whole career with Andrew Balding. Prior to 2021, his best seasonal tally came in 2019, when he rode 112 winners but, having reached the landmark of 1,000 winners on British soil at Lingfield on June 8, 2020, reached his fastest ever century at Nottingham on August 10, 2021. Indeed, at the time of writing, Probert is enjoying far and away his most successful season ever, numerically, with 135 winners to his name.

However, despite a career-best season, which has included two high-profile victories on Sandrine in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and Bangkok in the Sky Bet York Stakes – both of which are Group 2 contests – a maiden Group 1 win remains elusive. Reflecting on his lack of success at the highest level, Probert said, ‘Yet to still find that one superstar, but hopefully it will come and hopefully within the next thousand winners.’ Surely it is only a matter of time.

How many Cheltenham Festival winners have Simon Munir & Isaac Souede owned?

At the time of writing, Simon Munir and Isaac Souede lie second in the 2021/22 Jump Owners’ Championship, with six winners and just over £79,500 in prize money. Most recently their distinctive two-tone green silks were carried to victory by Sceau Royal, who recorded a comfortable 3½-length win from Silver Streak in the Listed Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Hurdle at Kempton on October 17, 2021. Sceau Royal also ran well in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, almost being brought down by the drfting Chacun Pour Soi shortly after the third-last fence before recovering to finish fifth, beaten 3¾ lengths.

As far as winners at the Cheltenham Festival are concerned, Munir and Souede have jointly owned three, although Simon Munir already had two to his name before they joined forces. His earlier winners were Soldatino in the Triumph Hurdle in 2010 and Une Artiste in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle in 2012, both horses having been trained by Nicky Henderson. More recently, the financiers have won the Triumph Hurdle, again, with Peace And Co, trained by Nicky Henderson, in 2015, Arkle Challenge Trophy with Footpad, trained by Willie Mullins, in 2018 and Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle with Concertista, again trained by Mullins, in 2020.

Is William Haggas related to Lester Piggott?

The short answer is yes, he is, at least by marriage. In 1989, Haggas married Maureen, the elder daughter of Lester Piggott, officially making him the son-in-law of the former eleven-time champion jockey. Indeed, according to Haggas, as far as his training career is concerned, ‘Lester has always been extremely helpful in lots and lots of ways.’

Born in Skipton, North Yorkshire in 1960, Haggas was educated at Harrow but, following an abortive, three-month spell in the family textile business, headed to Newmarket. He effectively begged employment, in any capacity, from the late Jeremy Hindley, who trained a horse for his father and had recently acquired Clarehaven Stables on the Bury Road.

The rest, as they say, is history. After two years as assistant to Sir Mark Prescott and four more as assistant to the late John Winter, Haggas first took out a training licence in his own right in November, 1986. He sent out his first winner from Somerville Lodge, Tricky Note, in April, 1987 and has since saddled over 2,000 more, including two Classic winners. Haggas won the Derby with Shaamit in 1996 and the Oaks with Dancing Rain in 2011 and, at the last count, had 21 Group 1 winners to his name at home and abroad. He saddled over a hundred winners in a season for the first time in 2013 and has done so again in every season since, amassing over £2 million in prize money – indeed, over £3 million in 2018 and 2019 – on each occasion.

 

Is It True All Racehorses Have Their Birthday on January 1st?

It sounds a strange question.

However, there is a grain of truth in the answer.

Surely, racehorses are born throughout the year? Even this isn’t quite true. As the UK Flat horse racing season starts in March or April you will find most racehorses are born from January – June. For horse racing purposes, a simple way to categorise each age group, horses become a year older on the turn of the new year.

So for racehorses, January 1st signifies one year older.

However, you will find that most two-year-old racehorses, although classified as two, are not officially two until their birth date (some are older).

For example, an individual born on the 2nd May will not officially be two until that date. However, publications such as the Racing Post or Sporting Life will show them as being two.

All age groups of race horses are categorised the same.

Predominantly, two-year-old thoroughbreds race against their own age group. There is a small number of races where they are eligible to contest older horses. They are given a significant weight advantage (handicapped) because they would have little chance of beating older opposition without this advantage.

The most significant race where two-year-olds race against older opposition is the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1) which is held at York racecourse in the month of August over 5f.

Since 1922, just five two-year-olds have won this race: High Treason (1953), My Beau (1954), Ennis (1956), Lyric Fantasy (1992) & Kingsgate Native (2007).

With a weight allowance of at least 22lbs and winning prize money of £226,840 it’s a race most horse trainers would like to win.

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