The turf
Keith and Kate's day
Robin Oakley
Now that Tony Blair has decreed we will all be middle class I thought I had bet- ter sample some fish-and-chip racing before the government declares jellied eels a prohibited substance, bans braces on the beach and Blackpool illuminations and makes beer-crate office excursions to all- weather tracks a criminal offence. (Well, all right, I admit the cancellation of Ascot's jumping card did also have something to do with my arrival at Lingfield on Saturday to watch what I expected to be some slowish horses kicking sand into the faces of even slower ones.) The case for all-weather tracks was made comprehensively by the flooded fields and brimming ditches on the way to the Surrey course. The crowd was cheerful. Race- course commentator John Hickman metic- ulously listed tongue-strapped runners and some keen finishes produced a lively day's racing which certainly converted me to the pleasures of the all-weather. I even man- aged to get up the Tote placepot with my six selections, although, since it paid just £6.20 rather than hundreds, I was not alone.
Tongue-tying is certainly becoming all the rage (I can think of a few politicians who might benefit from the same practice) and Sweet Wilhelmina, who was brought to win the mile handicap with a well-timed swoop by Martin Dwyer, was yet another to win when wearing the device for the first time in her English career. Formerly trained by Lord Huntingdon, she will surely win again, similarly equipped. Watch out, too, for the Brian Meehan-trained Sand- storm, who should be capable of winning a small race or two. The three-year-old apprentice-ridden filly, who was making her racecourse debut, took time to pick up what it was all about but was running on really well at the finish in the Racegoers Club maiden.
Variety was added to the Lingfield card by the Keith and Kate Loads Wedding Day amateur riders handicap. With one of the two sponsors riding in his own race it pro- vided a racecourse first, as well as the scope for a number of paddock puns which I will spare the reader. Keith and Kate, she told me, had been married on the course at 10.00 a.m. and had already had a cham- pagne reception. The groom, riding at 9st 91b for Jeff Pearce between courses two and three of the wedding breakfast, fin- ished down the field. Last, actually. But as his bride confided, 'He has been very tense this week.' The next scrawl on my racecard said: 'This performance should do his con- fidence good.' But that, I realised, was Ian Balding on his winner Fields of Omagh, not bride on groom. Happy honeymoon, anyway, Keith.
Between races I encountered Epsom's newest trainer Brett Johnson, who took over a few months ago what used to be Reg Akehurst's overflow yard. The New Zealander, who was five years with Geoff Lewis, may not be a household name here but he rode 360 winners in Australia and New Zealand and his brother Peter has long been the leading jockey in New Zealand.
He runs the Shifnal Cottage yard in part- nership with his girlfriend Julie Reeves, who, he says, is the backbone and book- keeper of the stable, and schools his jumpers as well. 'She tells me when they are ready.' Brett Johnson has 13 horses in his small yard and with another four about to arrive he is already seeking more space. He is still looking for his first winner but Kpolo has finished second both on the all- weather and over hurdles and there have been other placed horses.
He pays tribute to the guidance from Geoff Lewis. His former boss, he says, has treated him like a son. He was with the master of Thirty Acre Barn in the best years, like the one when Lewis had a hefty bet he would train 60 winners. He hit the mark, and all the lads in the stable collect- ed £1,200.
Having partnered Lake Coniston in much of his work Brett Johnson says the key thing he learned from his mentor was how to prepare sprinters. But that may be of limited application in his future career. While he runs a mixed yard now, his real ambition is to train jumpers. In that his ori- gin may prove a bonus. Good jumpers do not only come from Ireland and from fash- ionable France. Trainers like Derek Kent and David Barons did well in the past importing good jumping stock from New Zealand, and brother Peter is now scouring Kiwiland for suitable purchases.
If he turns out to train as well as that shrewd handler Eric Wheeler can talk he will do well. Having collected the three- year-old maiden with Catchthebatch, the Pangbourne trainer was full of praise for his 71b-claimer Steve Carson, who needs only one more winner to lose his full allowance. 'He rides all of mine when the owners allow . . . and when they don't allow,' he said. Hoping for some good sprint successes this year with the well- handicapped five-year-old Dancing Mys- tery, who likes fast ground, Wheeler is up to 30 horses for this year and confident of increasing success 'provided I can get some lads to ride them. I've even been to the graveyard to see if I can dig a few up.'
It reminded me of the amateur who had ridden a poor race and was surprised to be told by the trainer on dismounting, 'You ride like Steve Donoghue.' Only to hear the disgruntled handler continue, 'Yes, you rode it like a man who's been dead for 30 years . . . '
Robin Oakley is political editor of the BBC.
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