Chernik. 08 April 2001. Norwich-Sue Pickering. Owner-Bendery Properties Holdings Ltd.
The majority of horses that run from Oakwood Stables, are bought to be dual purpose, as it gives the owner an interest all year round, but Chernik never saw a flat track in the whole of his racing days, as he raced in two bumpers, five hurdle races, and 25 chases, over the course of his career under rules. He also ran in seven point to points, for another yard at the end of his career.
Chernik made a very promising start to his career, by finishing fifth in a Wetherby bumper in March 2007, beaten only five lengths, on his next appearance in April, he completed his bumper education, with a third at Hexham, beaten by 17 lengths this time.
After his Summer break, he returned at Hexham in November, making a promising hurdles debut by finishing third under Graham Lee.This run was followed buy two disappointing runs on soft ground, a surface he would steer clear from for most of the remainder of his racing days.After a third place at Wetherby in April 2008, he got off the mark at the seventh attempt,in a four runner race at Hexham, in a race just short of three miles.
That would be his last hurdle race, as on his return from his break in November, he made his novice chase debut at Newcastle, in company that was probably a grade two high.His jumping was poor at Wetherby two weeks later, where he was pulled up before the 11th fence.Back on faster ground in March, and in his first handicap from a mark of 96, he finished forth, but beaten 26 lengths.It was on his next start in April where Chernik finally showed us what he could do.Over Carlisle's extended three miles, and on his favoured faster ground,he was granted an easy lead, and came home strongly under Wilson Renwick, by 23 lengths, for which the handicapper saw fit to raise him a massive 15lb. to a new mark of 110.He raced once more before his break, back at Hexham, in May, but a combination of not being fluent at times, and the extra weight, saw him come home in third. On his return in October 2009, he disappointingly finished last of the five after breaking blood vessels.A month later at Newcastle he pulled up, but after a short break he returned at Carlisle in March under optimum conditions, and ran right up to his best, finishing second of the 10 runners, beaten by two lengths.He was also placed at Market Rasen in April, and at Wetherby in June, suggesting that the handicapper was in control at the moment.He unseated at Hexham in June, but on his final two runs of 2010, he ran as if he was in need of a break.
Chernik was beset by injury, and didn't race again for 14 months, when failing to complete at Carlisle. His next run was in March 2012, where he pulled up in the race won by his stablemate La Pantera Rosa, and it would be a further four runs and 10 months until in June 2013, from a much reduced mark of 73, where he finished second at Hexham, but beaten 18 lenghs, in the hands of Henry Brooke.He raced just twice more for us, but showed no sparkle, so he was retired from rules racing, but did race in point to points in 2014, for the yard of Lynne Ward, where he won twice, on one of those occasions being ridden by Harriet Bethell.