Pointing Diary June 2006
"Things won’t be quite the same…"
by Graham Fisher

That’s it then after eight seasons and thirty seven races (please see stats at end of report) Ted has run for the final time – and best of all he has come back fit and well following his race at Dingley.

It was all a bit unreal on Sunday, as even though I think we had finally come to realise it would be the last time we would see him racing it was hard to believe. It had almost seemed as though he could go on for ever.

There had been a fair bit of discussion about running Ted at Dingley following his last fence fall at Tabley three weeks earlier. But Dick was sure he was none the worse and in the end there seemed no reason why he shouldn’t go. Although it looked a decent enough race with Cheltenham Hunter Chase winner Derrintogher Yank and multiple scorer Cape Stormer both entered along with Be My Dream and some other useful types.

The days before the race had been eventful as always. Julian had called to say that he was out for the season having aggravated his shoulder injury when falling in the final race at Chaddesley on Whit Monday. Gary Hanmer had been on standby for the ride at Tabley but was not eventually required that day, but this time it was Gary who got the call from Dick a couple of days before the race at Dingley. At first Gary was a little cagey when Dick asked him if he was going to Dingley, but when Dick explained the reason for the call the response was “I’ll definitely be there!”

Dick had three runners at Dingley with Father Tom looking to follow up last year’s win in the Ladies Open and Milljaz being aimed at the Open Maiden. The journey didn’t begin as planned as Milljaz who isn’t the best of travellers was already upset by the time the box had got to Berkeley – only a matter of minutes into the journey! Geoff Slatter decided to fit a blindfold on the mare and this did the trick. At least she quietened down enough for the rest of the trip, although the new box had a few extra hoof prints on it by the time they arrived at Dingley. She travelled much better on the way back apparently.

	Things started well for the stable when Claire and Father Tom repeated last’s years win in the Ladies Open in good style. They went a decent gallop in this and the time was pretty quick, so it looked as though the Mens Open could be a hot contest with both Derrintogher Yank and Cape Stormer in the field.
The Men’s Open was upon us before we knew it and it was strange to think this would probably be the last time Maurice and I would be in the paddock watching Ted amble round in his usual relaxed manner. He looked well enough and Dick commented that after all the problems he had faced it was good to see him striding out so soundly. The jockeys soon arrived and Gary who was having his only ride of the day said he was really pleased to have the mount on Ted. He had ridden Ted before, two years ago at the Berkeley, but said today he would not ride him as handy as he had then. His comment a few weeks ago when he thought he may have ridden Ted because of Julian’s injury was that he had heard we needed a younger rider! When the race got underway Dave Mansell set off to make all on Derrintogher Yank who had started favourite. He was being challenged for the lead by Tourniquet and the two were making it a really strong gallop. Gary had Ted settled well at the back not too far off the remainder, and despite getting in a bit close to the third was jumping well.
	As they came past me with a circuit to go the old horse cleared the first fence in the home straight very well and was beginning to get into contention. Going down the back straight for the final time we were beginning to become really hopeful as Ted moved up to dispute third behind the two leaders. Gary said that at this point he thought he was in with a chance of pegging them back. But after this effort there was no more in the tank, and although he jumped the last in fourth place Gary knew he was tired and eased him down on the run in to finish an honourable sixth. Amazingly this was the only time when he had completed for us that Ted hadn’t finished in the first four!
Ted and Gary return safely along with Dare and Adam Wadlow. So that was it – Gary said Ted had given him a great ride but just got tired running to the second last. I don’t think we could have asked for anything more. He had come back safe and sound, but time and the lymphangitis have finally caught up with him.
	Dave Mansell kept Derrintogher Yank going strongly to hold off Cape Stormer by about a length in a time four seconds quicker than the Ladies Open.

I heard Dave saying that when the other horse took him on early he was concerned about getting home. It was quite fitting that Dave had ridden the winner of this race as he had actually lead Ted up at the Ascot Sales back in November 1998 when we bought him.

Ted seemed fine after the race although he had looked tired on the long walk back up the hill to unsaddle.

Inevitably there have been plenty of memorable moments during the last eight seasons, but in particular ones that come to mind are the first win at Chaddesley in 1999 only to lose the race when Geoff stepped into the changing room before weighing in. The victory over Ad Hoc at the Berkeley the same year. The run in the Bangor hurdle when he finished third, but was lame after the race. Winning the Heygate Gold Cup at Whitwick in 2003 and the Mens Open at Bitterley the same season. The race against Jemaro at Dingley in 2004, and winning at the Exmoor last season as well as the second to Katarino at Paxford. I think he’s the only horse to have won at Paxford going both right and left handed. Then on a different note the last fence fall at Tabley a few weeks ago.

It’s been a real roller coaster ride throughout!

When one door closes another opens as they say, and this was the case when Dick saddled Milljaz a few minutes later for the first division of the Open Maiden. Paula Cooper’s mare had run well when third at Upper Sapey and went clear a fair way out to score unchallenged for Geoff Barfoot-Saunt.

At the end of the day I think the main feeling was one of relief that things had ended well. Ted seemed fine and I don’t think people would have said we were wrong to run him. He had run a perfectly respectable race. The following day Dick did report he was a just a bit jarred up, but by the end of the week he was fine and enjoying being turned out.

There won’t be any more days when we are waiting to see what he will do on the track – you could never really be confident what would happen. But I’m sure he’ll enjoy a happy retirement. I still don’t know how Dick has managed to train him to run in 36 races with all the problems he’s had – pure genius.

As Dick has said a few times over the last eight years “It would be alright if we could find another like him!” But horses like Ted don’t come along very often, and we all feel very fortunate to have been involved with him.

See you next season, but it won’t be quite the same.

Stats

Form in England – U1d11-34U11-13-UU2123-121P-3131-P322121-43PF6

36 runs in Points – Won 13 (disqualified once for failing to weigh in) – second six times – third six times – fourth twice – unplaced once – pulled up three times – unseated four times – fell once.

One run under rules for Tom George when third in 3 mile hurdle at Bangor – May 2001

Courses won at:

Chaddesley Corbett (disq) – Woodford (2) – Paxford (2) – Bonvilston – Milborne St Andrew – Whitwick Manor – Andoversford – Bitterley – Dingley – Bredwardine – Bratton Down

Jockeys:

Julian Pritchard 19 – 7 wins

Geoff Barfoot-Saunt 13 – 6 wins (1 disq)

Gary Hanmer 2

Scott Joynes 1

Alison Dare 1

Jason Maguire 1