Gina Andrews and Quedillac take their second AGA Ladies' Open Point-to-point Championship qualifier at rain-swept Ston Easton
Quedillac and Gina Andrews became the first partnership this season to win two AGA qualifiers, following up their victory at Larkhill last month. The plan had been to return to the Wiltshire track two weeks ago, only for the meeting to be called off.
Connections were looking for good ground for their charge, but incessant rain had rendered the going on the soft side by the time the ladies' race got under way.
"We were pleasantly surprised that he handled it so well," said octogenarian owner Hazel Goody, who, as usual, had driven herself to the mainland from her home on the Isle of Wight. She added: "I prefer coming racing to going on holiday!"
Quedillac had been up with the pace at Larkhill, but on this occasion he was held up to help him get the trip. Gina now shares the lead in the race to win an AGA Total Control cooker with Jane Williams, who earned some points courtesy of her victory at Whitwick on Shernally.
FULL RESULTS
1 Quedillac, owned by Hazel Goody, trained by Stuart Penny, ridden by Gina Andrews. SP 2/1 joint.fav.
2 Logans Run, owned ansd trained by Susan Busby, ridden by Hannah Watson.
3 Power Shared, owned by Helen Hart and Nick Sarson, trained and ridden by Claire Hart.
4 Foynes Island, ridden by Chloe Roddick
5 Trueflyingcolours, ridden by Bridget Andrews. 2/1 joint.fav.
6 Special Occasion, ridden by Sarah Gould
7 New Little Bric, ridden by Holly Evans
8 Martin Pitchwood, ridden by Alice Mills
PU John Daniell, ridden by Amanda Bush
PU Oslot, ridden by Lara Mahon
PU Ryeman, ridden by Leanda Tickle
UR Wee Fly, ridden by Bryony Frost
12 ran. Distances: 1 length & 4 lengths. Time: 6 min 32 sec.
Alex Dunn and Double Mead winners by 20 lengths at Milborne St Andrew
In the AGA Ladies' Open Point-to-point Championship qualifier at Milborne St Andrew, Double Mead was left with little to beat after his main market rival, Classic Swain, fell at halfway and he justified his status as favourite in impressive style to give Alex Dunn her first training success from her new yard at West Buckland.
Alex has taken over the training from her mother, Katherine Smith-Maxwell, who had made the journey from Worcestershire to cheer her daughter home.
One person missing from the family gathering was Alex's husband Tom, who was celebrating his birthday with a day's showjumping.
Double Mead may combine Pointing with Hunter Chasing, although Alex has no definite plans for him. He started favourite for the AGA final at Cheltenham last May, but ran very disappointingly and appeared to struggle to get the trip.
Bridget Andrews took a heavy fall from Classic Swain, but although it was at first feared that she had broken her collarbone this proved to be unfounded. Her father Simon reported her to be very sore but otherwise unscathed.
FULL RESULTS
1 Double Mead, owned by Katherine Smith-Maxwell, trained and ridden by Alex Dunn. SP 11/10 fav
2 Eljay's Boy, owned by Mr F Daw, trained by Justin Myerscough-Walker, ridden by Rilly Goschen
3 Karshaan, owned and trained by Fiona Shaw, ridden by Alice Mills
F Classic Swain, ridden by Bridget Andrews.
4 ran. Distances: 20 lengths & 3 lengths. Time: 6min 16sec.
AGA LADY RIDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
The standings in the race to win an AGA Total Control cooker worth almost £10,000 are as follows:
