- Monday, 03 July 2023 14:42
- Written by David Pipe
Tamarinbleu
Last week it was mixed fortunes on the runner’s front with not much luck for Pepsiwithacap in her race as she got not further than the third hurdle and was brought down when another horse fell. Thankfully she is none the worse for the incident and she may well head to Worcester next week for her next outing.
Waitara did not perform to expectations on her British debut while Jet Smart ran well on chasing debut to be second at Worcester. Twistedfirestarter unseated Philip Armson at Cartmel and Oceanline showed up well for a long way on his return to action at Uttoxeter but weakened from two out.
This Week
We have no runners on Monday or Tuesday but spring into action with four at Worcester on Wednesday and Lady Reset run on the flat at Epsom. She is running in the Lady’s Derby at 6.20pm with Jo Supple on board. She was second in the race last year and fingers crossed she can go one better this time. Our runners at Worcester include two for our racing club, Dindin and Abaya DU Mathan who were both winners last time out. Mr Tambourine returns to action following wind surgery while Myristica is trying to bring up a hat-trick on wins over hurdle in the novice event. Thursday will then be a blank day before we are likely to have runners at Newton Abbot on Friday while and we have entries at Market Rasen on Sunday. Keep checking the Daily News for more up to date information on the stable runners.
Tamarinbleu
I was saddened to hear of the passing of former Pond House great Tamarinbleu last week who had to be put to sleep at the age of 23. He has enjoyed his retirement very close to our yard, being looked after by former head lad Dennis and his partner Norma. He shared his paddock in recent times with Dynaste and Cyfor Malta so he kept great company! His health had been deteriorating in recent weeks however and it was a very hard but the kindest decision to let him go.
Tamarinbleu came over from France as an unraced three year old. By sire Epervier Bleu his dam was called Tamainia and he ran in the colours of the Arthur White partnership which is family members John, Anne and Sarah who are local to Pond House and have been brilliant supporters of firstly dad and then me for many years.
He made his racecourse debut at Ascot and won a three year old hurdle very impressively with A P McCoy in the saddle. He then finished second at Cheltenham and third at Exeter before he lined up in the 2004 Triumph hurdle. He finished midfield that day but kept on for pressure up the straight in a race that was won by Made in Japan. He wasn’t at his best at Aintree after this but he then went out for the summer to grow strengthen.
He made his seasonal reappearance in the valuable Ladbroke handicap hurdle at Sandown on 8th January 2005 and what a return to action it was! He stayed on strongly to win off a mark of 130 and beat Self Defense by 4 lengths. He then went to Newbury to contest the Totesport Trophy handicap hurdle but a 12 pound rise in the handicap made things tougher. He still ran well though and although officially unplaced he was less than eight lengths behind the winner, Essex. He finished second next time out at Warwick before being seen next in the County hurdle at the 2005 Cheltenham Festival. He ran okay but did not feature in the finish. He returned to Aintree after and ran a cracker in a listed handicap hurdle when stepped up in distance to 2m4f. He finished second at odds of 50/1! His final race of that season was at Sandown and he ran a good fourth behind Rooster Booster.
After another summer holiday he was prepared for a novice chase campaign that autumn and he made his debut over fences at Cheltenham’s November meeting that year over two miles. He finished a short head second to Accordion Etoile. He disappointed at Uttoxeter next time but bounced right back to win his first race over fences at Ludlow on 19th January 2006 and won unchallenged. His final run of that season was in the Arkle at the Festival where he finished ninth behind Voy Por Ustedes,
It was after this he was stepped up in trip in all his races. His first run of the 2006/7 season was in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham and he finished sixth, only 10 lengths behind Exotic Dancer. He then won his next start, a Graduation chase at Ascot in December. After a few more okay runs he put in the best sequence of his life and recorded a hat-trick of wins.
The first of these came in June 2007 when he won the Perth Gold Cup handicap chase. After a holiday he got his crowning Cheltenham Moment when winning the Boylesports Gold Cup at the December meeting. Denis O’Regan was on board on this occasion. Tom Scudamore was back on top for his next win in January 2008 – the Victor Chandler chase, Grade 1 at Ascot. He was unplaced in the Queen Mother Champion Chase that year but ran well to finish third at Aintree in the Melling Chase.
He found winning tough after this but that is because he was running in all the top class races. He was a close second in the 2008 Betfair chase at Haydock and third in the Ascot chase. He was second in the 2009 Charlie Hall chase at Wetherby and also ran another good race at Aintree to finish second.
His final victory came at Haydock in a Veterans Chase in December 2011 with Timmy Murphy on board. He ran a few more times after this before he was retired as he did not seem to be enjoying it anymore
Although his form could perhaps be described as a little ‘in’ and ‘out’ he was rated 167 at best and was very talented on his day. He won eight races from 44 starts and was placed another 16 times. He won over £440,000 in prize money and had a good career that spanned for nearly 10 years at the highest level. We have some fantastic memories to cherish.
Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge
It is the final countdown to the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge which takes place this Saturday in aid of Racing Welfare. My wife Leanne, Gemma from the office and long serving members of staff Mandy and Emma are tackling the challenge this weekend. They have been putting in the fitness in recent weeks and hope to complete the 25 mile journey in under 12 hours. They are travelling up to Yorkshire on Friday and have an early 6.30am start on Saturday. They have done a fantastic job in racing money so for a good cause but still would welcome any more donations which can be made through their Just Giving page, please follow the link below:
Two Year Anniversary
This week Leanne and I are celebrating our two year wedding anniversary – she deserves a medal! ‘Cotton’ is the anniversary year so I shall have to come up with a unique gift – any suggestions welcome!
