Barneys Mate — Pitchcroft favourite

5:40pm Wednesday 6th August 2008

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IN a short space of time, Barneys Mate has become a firm favourite with Pitchcroft punters and staff alike.

He put up another impressive performance last week to bring his winning tally to three in four weeks and was also awarded his third ‘Best Turned Out’ prize prior to his race. Having stood with the race sponsor in the paddock on each of the three occasions, I can honestly say that this chestnut gelding is an ab-solute stunner and consistently puts paid to the myth that winning a ‘BTO’ can jinx a horse on the track. He simply looks the best and is the best.

Mention must be made of jockey Rachael Green’s masterful connection with the horse. Coming out on top of a driving finish up the long run-in to the winning post with champion jockey Tony McCoy breathing down your neck is no mean feat.

In a week when another Panorama investigation has brought the integrity of certain jockeys on the flat into question again, McCoy is one jockey to whom the expression ‘tenderly ridden’ would never be applied because the desire to win is what drives the very life blood through his veins.

Winning, in contrast, was a brand new, birthday experience for owner, Helen Thomas as she watched her Alison Thorpe-trained Lost Treasure take the Selling Hurdle at the grand age of 11. The horse was Helen’s first runner under rules — if only it were always that simple.

Grey horse, Roby de Cimbre won the feature race for well known owner with a passion for greys, Terry Warner. At just five, Roby de Cimbre may be one to keep an eye on if he proves to be anything like the calibre of Warner’s previous grey superstars, Rooster Booster and Detroit City.

It is always good to see local trainers going through a purple patch and none more so than Tony Carroll who trains at Cropthorne Stud, near Pershore.

Carroll has turned the former stud into a state-of-the-art training centre since he took it over a couple of years ago. His horse, Sarobar won by 14 lengths at his 38th attempt last week, giving owner, Han-nah James, from Malvern, her first winner which also just happened to be at her local course.

Sarobar must have relished the experience, because three days later he followed it up with a win at Bangor. True to current form, Carroll had two more winners at Stratford last Thursday with Pip’s Assertive Way and Is It Me.

Another local trainer, Alvechurch-based Ian Williams, is making his mark on the flat with a growing reputation for reverting horses to winning ways. Last week, Williams took the Invesco Perpetual Stakes at Goodwood with long distance specialist, Baddam under Johnny Murtagh. Williams also recently won the Chester Cup with Bulwark. Less prominent with his jumpers of late, it is rumoured that the flat is where he is now concentrating.

With the Worcester Festival in full swing, Pitchcroft stages two race meetings during the three-week period. The first is tomorrow afternoon and the second is the Caribbean race night on Tuesday, August 19.

The first race on Friday, August 8 is due off at 2.20pm. Admission starts from £7 per adult, accompanied children under 16 are free in all areas.