SHOON WIND. 01 January 1983.
Green Shoon-Gone.
Owner-R. H. Scholey.
As far as I know Shoon Wind is the only horse that Micky has trained, and also won on as a jockey. Shoon Wind raced from four different yards under rules, and finished his career in the point to point field, racing for the final time in May 2000, at the grand old age of very nearly 17 and a half years old.
Shoon Wind started his career in the care of R.H.Scholey, who owned, and trained him in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.He won his first race, a novice hurdle at Catterick in January 1988, and would place a further three times from his next four starts, before tackling Listed company at Cheltenham in April 1988, where Micky rode him for the first time, he would finish fifth, beaten just over eight lengths.
Shoon Wind would change trainers over the summer, staying in Doncaster, but now in the care of C.R.Beever, his previous trainer R.H.Scholey, was still his owner. Shoon Wind made a winning debut over fences at Carlisle in December 1988, with Micky in the saddle, but at Kelso later in the month, with Lorcan Wyer riding, he fell when in contention at the 12th. This must have affected his confidence as he pulled up the next twice, after making several mistakes.He was returned to hurdles, running right up to his best at that stage of his career, finishing second at Southwell.
After his Summer break he returned at Haydock in November 1989, when finishing third at Haydock, from a mark of 111. He was back in the winners enclosure in January 1990, over the extended three miles at Catterick, and he would race again on five more occasions that season,with his beat effort coming at Cheltenham in February, when finishing forth in the handicap hurdle.
By the time Shoon Wind returned to the racecourse for the 1990-1991 season, he was still owned by Mr Scholey, but was now in the care of fledgling trainer Micky Hammond. After a sharpener over hurdles in November at Newcastle, it was decided to have another go over fences, ridden by Peter Niven, Shoon Wind won a two and a half mile handicap at Hexham, from a mark of just 103. With his confidence restored, he won again three weeks later at Hexham. A disappointing performance at Carlisle was soon put behind him when winning at Hexham again, in March, taking his rating up to 117.
Shoon Wind must have matured further over the summer, as on his return in November 1991 he beat a good field of handicappers by six lengths off a mark of 119.He was now very much on an upward curve, winning by seven lengths at Newcastle in December, before going down to Chepstow to tackle the 'John Hughes Grand National Trial,' where he was still very much in contention when falling two out in the race won by Cool Ground, off a lifetime high mark of 137 (see video on You Tube.).He finished his season by pulling up in the Scottish Grand National, under Mark Dwyer.
He raced seven times during the 1992-1993 season, and was back in the winners enclosure, winning by 30 lengths at Newcastle in November, he also placed on three more occasions, and won again off 129 at Ayr in April 1993.
His final year of racing under rules was the following season, when he raced just five times more,after a good second in November at Newcastle, his form began to tail off, and he ran his last race for Micky in April 1994.
Shoon Wind's racing career was far from over, as he raced a further 23 times in point to points for Heather Dalton, and J N Dalton, winning an amazing 13 times, and being placed on a further eight. In the whole of his career he never missed a season, racing up to the age of 17, he sadly died at the age of 20.
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