COLJANI GAINS SECOND WATHBA STALLIONS CUP WIN IN PHOTO FINISH
Coljani and Paddy Bradley winning the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap at Chepstow © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media
Thrilling battle between British homebreds at Chepstow
Tuesday 3 September 2024 –
Coljani added a second win to his career this afternoon in the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap at Chepstow over 1m2f. This was hot on the heels of his previous success in another HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Festival sponsored race at Lingfield last month. Racing in front of an even bigger crowd of his supporters at the West Wales track, Coljani has struck up a great partnership with jockey Paddy Bradley to give his owners, the Raffles Partnership, their first back-to-back wins in their time as owners.
They were given a strong challenge from local runner Sassy, owned, bred and trained by Steve Blackwell and partnered by Oliver Carmichael on only his 17th ride, and his first on an Arabian. It took a photo to separate them at the line, whilst winning trainer Peter Hammersley was also responsible for the third placed Belle Angelique ridden by Mia Nicholls.
Quotes:
Paddy Bradley, jockey,1st: “Coljani likes to get on with it, but he’s a dour stayer and I thought I’d done plenty early. He was carrying top weight, and I just wanted to hold on to him a little bit at the bottom of the straight – I was blaming myself at the furlong pole thinking I’d not gone quick enough.
“All he does is stay and in fairness to him the last 20 yards he pulled out all the stops because he was beaten, he stuck his head down and got back up on the line. Peter’s a great guy, Coljani’s a quirky horse and he’s done great job with him and I’m sure he’ll be winning again.”
Pete Hammersley, trainer,1st, 3rd: “Coljani has battled on well hasn’t he, I thought at one stage Belle Angelique was going to give him a race, but we’re pleased she got into the frame. Paddy’s given Coljani a great ride, I think he rode a perfect race.”
Trevor Banks, owner, breeder, 1st: “We’re delighted to get a second win in a row with Coljani and we’re so grateful to Paddy, Pete and all the team at home for this success.”
Oliver Carmichael, jockey, 2nd: “Sassy nearly had her nose in front. She’s picked up really nicely on the bend there and she’s just ran on well bless her, Steve [Blackwell] says it’s the best race she’s run yet.”
Peter Hammersley, Coljani, Paddy Bradley, Trevor Banks and Micheal Flack, winners of the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap at Chepstow © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media
Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival commented, “We’re thrilled for all the team behind Coljani, who have brought him here to Chepstow to win a second Wathba Stallions Cup and hope that he can progress again to highlight the importance of these races to locally bred horses. The Festival supports 150 races globally with the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nayhan Jewel Crown as the highlight in Abu Dhabi in December.”
Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We are delighted for everyone involved in the Raffles Partnership, along with Paddy, Pete and his staff. It’s also pleasing that the two horses involved in the photo finish were British breds retained by their owners to race in the UK which is exactly in the spirit of the Wathba Stallions Cup series, that we’re so grateful to the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival for supporting.
“We also congratulate Steve Blackwell who won the Best Turned Out Award with Sassy and we look forward to our next race at Doncaster on Sunday 15 September, run as part of the Doncaster St Leger Festival.”
Trevor Banks, Paddy Bradley, Peter Hammersley and Micheal Flack, winners of the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap at Chepstow with Coljani © Debbie Burt- Equine Creative Media
1st: COLJANI
2nd: Sassy
3rd: Belle Angelique
6 ran – NR 7
Distances: Nose, 1.5
Time: 2.19.76
Going: Good
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