Sedgefield hold their second meeting of the new season, which is their twilight fixture this Friday, where we have three representatives,
In the 5.30.pm, the extended two miles, and three furlongs novice hurdle, Foster'sisland makes his hurdles debut.He raced consistently in three bumpers last season, placing twice, and showing above average ability, culminating with a very good second at Catterick last March, Joe Colliver will ride him for the first time.
We also have two runners in the finale, the handicap hurdle, over the same trip at 7.30.pm.The grand old mare Russian Royale, now a veteran of 68 races makes her seasonal debut, with our stable conditional jockey Aiden Macdonald retaining the ride.Russian Royale has always shown a preference for good ground, but it is reasonable to expect her to need this run to put her spot on.
We also run Kisumu with Emma Smith-Chaston once again claiming the 6lb that she did when she last rode the horse, when finishing second at Wetherby back in March, that was as close as Kisumu has come to winning a race in 44 attempts, and unbelievably the handicapper saw fit to raise him 4lb for his half length defeat.
Good luck to the connections, The Oakwood Nobels, Raypasha, and Tasker-Brown & Partners.
FOSTER'SISLAND. 12 April 2015. Trans Island-Mrs Eff. Owner-The Oakwood Nobels.
On what he has shown us so far Foster'sisland looks well up to winning races, in his four appearances to date he has improved with every race, and most importantly of all, has shown a willing attitude on each occasion.He is by the Group 1 placed Trans Island, and is the first progeny of Mrs Eff, a three time hurdles winner in 2013.
Foster'sisland made his debut at the North Yorkshire point to point track of Heslaker, as a four year old, representing the yard of Chris Dawson.He finished third of the five runners, beaten under two lengths, gaining valuable experience.
He was transferred to Oakwood Stables for his rules career, which to date has consisted of three bumper runs, where he has been partnered by our stable conditional Emma Smith-Chaston on each occasion.
He made his rules debut at Haydock on December 30th, 2019, finishing third, after racing prominently throughout, he was outpaced from two furlongs out, and only weakened from the furlong marker. The winner of the race Ask a Honey Bee, had won his previous race, and would win again, before finishing down the field in the Cheltenham Festival bumper. On the face of it, finishing sixth at Wetherby in February on his next start, looked a shade disappointing, but he received a higher Racing Post Rating than he had at Haydock previously.Once again the winner of the race was Ask A Honey Bee, who was 3lb worse off, but Foster'sisland had narrowed the winning margin from 20 lengths at Haydock to 14 lengths at Wetherby.
He has raced on one more occasion since, finishing second at Catterick to the Jamie Snowden trained Anythingforlove, with a previous winner 13 lengths back in third.