Flat season review 2025

How lovely to be writing this not really knowing which highlight to mention first! A seasonal best win tally so far of 43, a strike rate consistently at around 16%, owners prizemoney figure an all time best at nicely over £500k, arriving at our career 500 winner mark early in the year, winning two Group 3 races in a season, scoring a treble at Newbury, winning our annual sponsor’s race, getting 60% of our stabled horses to be winning ones. Plenty of highlights to choose from!

Star turn was Rumstar (Vincent and Russell Ward) aged 5. He won the 5f Group 3 Place House Stakes at Newmarket in May first time out and later in the season he won the Group 3 Coral Sprint Stakes at Sandown. Rumstar also took us to Royal Ascot, Ireland and France.

Thunderous Love (Whitcoombe Park Racing) aged 4 led the older horses team by winning five races. 6 year old Two Tempting (Berkeley Racing) did not quite manage to match his previous stellar season but still managed to win and pick up nice prizemoney again. Veterans Way Of Life (Berkeley Racing), Sweet Reward (Old Stoic Racing) Mrembo (RWH Partnership) and Russian Rumour (Fillies First) were also winners.

Four year old Newfangled (Berkeley Racing) was kept busy and rewarded us with three wins.

The most exciting three year old was Abundance (M Sinclair and Portlee Bloodstock) who won two races and looked like being a star. Sadly he was beset with various problems and it was sad to see him go at the sales.

Bulletin (Whitcoombe Park Racing) gave us similar cheer and won two races during the season. He has run 12 times to date and never been out of the first four. His attitude and consistency is wonderful to see and it must be hoped that his owners can expect to see further improvement in him next season.

3yo filly Personal Best (Hot To Trot Racing & Mrs Pease) won a race and a GBB bonus but also came very close more than once in decent company so hopefully she can be one to look forward next year as can John T (Mrs Joy Hobby) who was also a winner and multiple placed.

Our turf season started on day one with a nose defeat in the Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster with Son Of Sarabi (Old Stoic Racing) and ended there on the last day of the season with a half length defeat of 2yo Gorey Gold (Portlee Bloodstock) in their 6f nursery handicap.

Eight of the two year olds were winners. Brisk Symphony (Whitcoombe Park Racing) won two races including the Win Races With Jonathan Portman Novice Stakes at Newbury in July before running with credit in Listed company at the end of the season. We shall look forward to her next season as we will with Salisbury winner Box Clever (Whitcoombe Park Racing).

Most winning owner is Whitcoombe Park Racing on 11. Second is Berkeley Racing on 7 , Portlee Bloodstock on 6 and Fillies First on 4. All being must join partnerships!

Rob Hornby rode 25 of our winners including both the Group 3 races. Hector Crouch was involved along with Trevor Whelan and Jack Mitchell among others. Joe Leavy was crowned champion apprentice and it was nice to be able to help him along the way with that with a few winners. Our own apprentice Olivia Tubb was forced to miss an important part of the season through injury but still added winners to our score.

Our staff have been at the forefront of this season’s success so a big thanks to every one of them.

We were active at the autumn yearling sales and one or two of the purchases will be offered for syndication so please get in touch to get involved!