Johnnymark lands the Ladbrokes Final by Moletown!

First Silverware, Johnnymark Lands Ladrokes Final

The weekend saw the first challenge finalists of the new season go to post in the Ladbrokes Monthly Challenge races for juvenile stayers. England was the location for the colts, whilst the fillies travelled to America's dirt track to contest the race. Both fields were faced with 2850m on sound surfaces. England had some decent weather prior to the race and the underfoot conditions were running perfect, good ground being the order of the day. The sun was also blazing in America, creating a fast track for the runners to bounce over. Both races saw quality animals enter the stalls, with a few early season auction purchases strutting their stuff for their new yards. It was, however, two sales ring purchases that had been held onto by their original yard who were going to land the spoils. 

As the colts left the stalls, the early running came from the inside. Sky Castle Stables had two runners in the race and what appeared to be one of the rank outsiders in the race, Sun Light led them an early march. The 66/1 shot was defying his ante post price and looked strong in front. His bold bid to make all was credit to the horses stamina and it appeared his quest to wear them all out had faltered late in the race, when making the turn for home. Johnnymark's charge, So You Think had been covered up in midfield for the duration and only got going as they made the turn for home. Swinging off the final bend, he pulled upsides the leader, going well. The 3/1 second favourite of the race was seeking to give the yard their first taste of challenge success and it came, although not without a fight. Having been headed, Sun Light's jockey, Charlie Saxon, really got to work and the champion showed strength in the saddle to rally his mount late on and regained the lead inside the final 400m. The eventual winner of the race appeared tapped for toe and Kieran Doyle had to pull out all the stops to get So You Think back on terms. 

In behind the front two a second race to the finish had emerged between Bush Master and Maluckyday, coming out of the yards of Tanglewood and Mac Hardy, respectively. Both horses had done their best running late in the race and went stride for stride to the line and it was the colours of Tanglewood who edged Mac Hardy as they passed the post. Bush Master went off the 2/1 favourite in the race and had followed the winner all the way round. He was something of an unlucky runner in the race as he hit trouble coming round the final turn and with a little more space, could have troubled the front two. When the winning horse entered the winners enclosure it signalled a first championship win for the yard. The confidence in his ability was later commented on by the trainer, "I really did fancy him in the race and I even backed him to win, although the price did put me off a bit." He didn't escape my attention when publishing the race preview either.

"Johnnymark hasn't had much luck in running in the sixteen challenge finals of seasons gone by. The only return has been a solitary place. However, when taking a close look at this contender I firmly believe that he could be one we will see fighting out the finish. He will enter the fray off the minimum weight and even though he finished down the field in his debut run in qualifying, it's his initial outing of his career in a rated race catches the eye and could be the marker we rate his chances in this on. He should handle the ground well enough and could be in the mix at the line, if his trainer has got him spot on for the race."

So You Think landing Johnnymark's first challenge victory

Prior to this win, the yard had found it difficult to get to grips with challenge finals. Their best success had come with a single placed effort. It's not that the yard haven't tasted the sweet feeling in challenge races as the statistics show there have been sixteen quallifying wins in a career spanning over five years and with career earnings close to £25000, it was only a matter of time before the yard added that little trophy to their profile. The win also cements that with patience, good things come to those who wait. Johnnymark chose the option to hold onto what he thought was a decent challenge contender and the confidence to do so has served him well. There were three horses in the race who had sold at auction for serious money. His sales ring endevours blessed him with some lady luck and a challenge final champion to boot. This win could be the first of many future champiions as I have found, like many others before me, the first one is always the hardest to get. I'm still waiting on mine, hopefully I won't have to wait much longer. So You Think will remain the one horse that Johnnymark will remember most and when questioned in the future, I'm sure he will always look back on this as his greatest achievement as a trainer. Congratulations! 

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