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THE RETURN OF OUR STABLE STAR.

Ian Ender

Cornerstone Lad has been declared at Redcar on Saturday for the 3.0.pm, in a 0-75 handicap over 14 furlongs, with Billy Garritty who knows him very well in the saddle. Cornerstone Lad always starts a new campaign with a spin or two on the flat, and that is the plan again this season. He finished fourth in this event last season, before going on to win over the same course and distance in November. The going at the time of writing is good, good to firm in places, which means that if there isn't a significant amount of rain then he will be highly unlikely to run.

We also have a runner down at Wolverhampton where Sparkle In His Eye returns from a four months break to contest the 8.0.pm, a 0-60 handicap over the extended nine furlongs, with Marco Ghiani riding for us for the first time. Sparkle In His Eye made his stable debut back in May when running an eye catching fourth at Wolverhampton, but when turned out again at Newcastle three weeks later he could never get competitive. Sparkle In His Eye is a very well handicapped horse at the moment, with a current rating of 60.

To keep up to date with all the latest happenings at Oakwood Stables, and Sharp Hill, click on 'NEWS' at www.mickyhammondracing.


Good luck to the connections Mrs B M Lofthouse, and Samuel Sutton.

To read the full essay on Cornerstone Lad's career to date, click on NEWS at www.mickyhammondracing and scroll down.


SPARKLE IN HIS EYE. 13 April 2016. Sea The Stars-Nyarhini. Owner-Samuel Sutton.

Sparkle In His Eye started his racing career in Newmarket, before moving to France, where he raced out of four different yards, and all over the course of just 13 runs.

Sparkle In His Eye is out of a Fantastic Light mare who only raced on five occasions between 2005-2006, winning her maiden at Lingfield, and going on to record an official rating of 95. As a broodmare she has been busy producing eight offspring, including the 108 rated mare Token Of Love. One of Sparkle In His Eyes half brothers is the 127 rated winning hurdler Medalla De Oro.

Sparkle In His Eye started his career in January 2019 at Newcastle, racing from the yard of William Haggas, making a promising debut when finishing second, with improvement on the cards, which came to fruition at the same venue 17 days later when getting off the mark in style over a mile, and earning a Racing Post Rating of 78. His first run on grass was at Windsor in May, and although finishing in third, he bettered his first too efforts in a hot novices stakes. He next made his handicap debut from a mark of 82 at Sandown, finishing in fourth place, beaten by five lengths.At Chester in June in first time cheek pieces he could only manage sixth, with the jockey reporting that he hung right handed throughout. His final start for the Haggas yard was in July when he was sent over to Deaville, where he went off the 8/5 favourite, coming home by a decisive length, to record his second career win.

Sparkle In His Eye would next appear in August at Le Lion-D'Angers, and now in the care of Madame Pia Brandt. Over 10 furlongs on a good to soft surface he was beaten by eight lengths. 19 days later he ran at Compiegne when stepped up to 14 furlongs, but trailed in last of the five. His next start was at Deauville 37 days later, having changed stables to Andrea Marcialis, back at the extended nine furlong trip, he finished 10th, but beaten only five and a quarter lengths.His one other run for that yard was at Lyon-La Soie over 11 furlongs, where he came home in sixth place, beaten by 11 lengths. In January 2020 he had his one start for the yard of F. Vermeulen, at Marseille Pont-de-Vivaux, trailing in last of the 10 runners. After a break he returned in September of last year at Saint-Cloud, and now running from the yard of Eliass Mascalino, he went down by four and a half lengths, over one mile.His final start in France was also in September, this time at Lyon-La Soie, where he stepped back up to 11 furlongs, but was eased down when beaten, coming in 11 lengths behind the winner.

On his arrival in the spring to Oakwood Stables, Sparkle In His Eye was gelded and given a good long break before starting out on the next stage of his career. His reappearance came on the all weather at Wolverhampton in May 2021 over the extended mile where after losing a good early position he stayed on for a three and a half lengths fourth of the 11 runners. His next start was three weeks later at Newcastle over the straight mile, but after sitting in midfield to around halfway, he disappointingly dropped away. TO BE CONTINUED.

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