SARTIGILA. 05 February 1989. Efisio-Ichnusa. Owner-John Lishman.
Sartigila was bred for speed, being by Efisio, out of a Bay Express mare. She raced on 23 occasions for Micky between 1993-1994, winning, or placing six times, on the flat, the All Weather, and over hurdles.
Sartigila started her racing career in the hands of J W Payne in Newmarket, making her debut at Folkestone in July 1991, being outpaced over five furlongs, under Ray Cochrane, coming home seventh, of the 18 runners.
She didn't reappear until March 1992, back at Folkestone, this time over seven furlongs, she led until just over one out, before fading in to forth, the place she would also finish in her next three races, over five, and six furlongs, including her handicap debut from a mark of 65. Her final start for the Payne yard was at Leicester in October, going down by two and a half lengths on soft ground, under Frankie Dettori.
Sartigila made an excellent start for Micky in April 1993 at Ripon over six furlongs on good ground, when finishing well to be second of the 19 runners, with Jimmy Quinn in the saddle. 10 days later at Thirsk, when dropped back to five, she dwelt at the start, and never got involved.Back at six furlongs at Carlisle in May, she stayed on again, this time to be third, before winning for the first time at Thirsk, over six furlongs, in the soft ground, with Dean McKeown in the saddle, she was given a mark of 64, which would be turn out to be a career high.
Sartigila was a tough filly, as a four year old she ran a total of 15 races, after winning at Thirsk she was stepped up to seven furlongs for her next five starts, the pick being a one length third finish at Carlisle in June.She won for the second time on her 14th start at Redcar in October, this time over one mile.She finished down the field at Southwell in January 1994, on her only appearance on the All Weather, before making her only start over jumps at Catterick in February, when staying on at one pace, when third on good to soft in a novice hurdle, over the extended one mile and seven furlongs.
After 17 races in 10 months Sartigila had a six months break, returning at Ripon in August, when finishing down the field.She took a little while to find her form, but on her sixth start back in October she finished forth, in a field of 24 at Newmarket, going down by one and a half lengths.
This was to be her last racecourse appearance, but she went on to a very successful second career as a broodmare, producing six racecourse representatives, three of which also ran over jumps. In total her offspring were the winners of 11 races. Sartigila was a wonderful representative to the sport of horse racing.
POLISHING. 23 April 1987. Touching Wood-Loveshine. Owner-James-Douglas Gordon.
Polishing raced out of two yards during a 39 race career, between 1991-1996.He was out of a Touching Wood mare who had six representatives on the racecourse, of which he could boast the best flat form, though his Ger Lyons trained half brother, Difficult Times was the better hurdler, achieving a Racing Post Rating of 132.
Polishing started out life in the Wetherby yard of Mrs P.A.Barker, and although he didn't race until July, as a four year old in 1991, he soon made up for lost time.He won at Newcastle in a 12 furlong maiden on his third start, earning an official BHA mark of 76, and although he couldn't win off that mark in handicap company, in four further attempts, he did place twice.In November 1991 he was sent hurdling, and at the third attempt on Boxing Day, he got off the mark at Wetherby, and under a penalty on New Years Day 1992,he won again at odds of 4/6,this time at Catterick. He next stepped up in class, finishing third at Kempton, 17 days later, before returning to Catterick in February for a handicap hurdle, where he won easily from a mark of 111.His last two runs of the 1991-1992- season were at the Cheltenham Festival where he finished tailed off in the Supreme, before going on to Aintree, to finish a very respectable third to Mick Easterby's Coulton, in the Grade 2 Novice Hurdle. Polishing changed yards, and owners over the Summer, and made his debut for Micky at Newcastle in November 1992, when finishing forth under Peter Niven. He won at Wetherby a week later, taking his mark to a new high of 121, but lost his way on his next three starts, before winning again at Newcastle in March.He raced a further three times that season, showing a definite preference for Good, or Good to Firm going, and also looking like three miles was now required.
On his return in November 1993 he finished second at Newcastle, but on his next three runs all on a softer surface, once again he failed to fire, until a return to Good ground in March 1994, when he was third at Doncaster. He then took his chance in the 'Hamlet Cigars Gold Card Handicap Hurdle,' at the Cheltenham Festival, where he finished 20th, of the 30 runners, behind the Malcolm Jefferson trained Tindari. That race did him no harm, as he reappeared six days later, winning at Newcastle by four lengths.
His first race back, after his Summer break in November 1994, was his chase debut at Hexham, he finished third, but was beaten more than 44 lengths. A month later at Wetherby he once again showed us that chasing was not his game, when failing to complete.He raced a further three times, twice more over hurdles, but he failed to spark, before racing for the final time at Musselburgh, in January 1995, where he once again failed to complete over fences.
THIS APPEARED BACK IN JANUARY
A VERY HAPPY RETIREMENT TO ONLY ORSENFOOLIES A LEGEND FOR OAKWOOD STABLES.
It is with mixed feelings that I learn of the retirement of Only Orsenfoolies. I am happy in the knowledge that he retires in one piece, and can hopefully enjoy the long retirement he fully deserves,but I am sad that an era has come to an end.For a racehorse to be in training for eight and a half years is unusual,and when they are with you season after season it is impossible not to become emotionally attached.
Only Orsenfoolies ran 67 times winning nine, and being placed a further 18,his career earnings stand at £98,033,not bad for a horse that cost less than £700 when originally purchased.He was equally good on the level, and over hurdles,his two career highs being his victory in the prestigious 'Victor Ludorum' juvenile hurdle at Haydock in 2013, earning him an official BHA mark of 137, and also on the flat, winning the £25,000 'Braveheart' handicap at Hamilton Park in 2015, off a mark of 84.
One of his last runs on the flat was in May 2019 when outstaying his younger stablemate Cornerstone Lad over 17 furlongs at Carlisle by a neck, when they finished first and second,and his last ever racecourse appearance was in December 2019 at Wetherby over hurdles, when at the ripe old age of very nearly 11 he finished a gallant second off a mark of 127.
I will always remember Only Orsenfoolies as an exceptionally game front runner who loved heavy ground,I hope he enjoys the retirement he deserves.
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