Heavenly Heather out to cause Nunthorpe surprise for Waggott

It is 59 years since Arthur Stephenson’s Forlorn River took his place on the Nunthorpe roll of honour, but now County Durham’s Tracy Waggott is dreaming of recreating the glory days of a proud racing region with her horse of a lifetime, Heavenly Heather.

Thoughts immediately turn to The Thinker and his snow-laden Cheltenham Gold Cup success of 1987 when Stephenson’s name is uttered. But 20 years prior to his Prestbury Park heroics it was in fact York and its showpiece sprint that would provide the incomparable ‘W.A.’ with his first notable success.

He would enjoy further success at York’s Ebor Festival when Forlorn River’s son Rapid River stormed to Gimcrack honours in 1972, while Bishop Auckland neighbour Denys Smith only enhanced the region’s rich racing heritage with his own stellar career including Red Alligator’s Grand National triumph of 1968.

However, with Stephenson and Smith’s achievements consigned to the walls of the local pubs adorned in racing memorabilia, it is Waggott – whose Spennymoor base is just a strongly thrown stone away from Stephenson’s old Crawleas centre of excellence – that is attempting to rekindle the glory days in a land that takes the utmost pride in its equine heroes.

Waggott, who also trains just 13 miles from where Michael Dods sent out Mecca’s Angel to win back-to-back Nunthorpes in 2015 and 2016, said: “Every time I go to the shops someone asks me how such and such is going, or telling me don’t worry this one will win next time. There’s always someone asking a question about the horses or offering their best wishes.

“I enjoy training where I am. I used to work for Denys Smith and I’ve always had a lot to do with the lads at Arthur Stephenson’s. I’ve always been really friendly with them all throughout my life so it’s good to be representing the area.

“We’re just keeping our fingers crossed now they’ll have something to cheer on at York.”

That something to cheer will hopefully be provided by the improving Heavenly Heather, a horse whose journey started local and one who has already secured her place in northern racing folklore thanks to her shock 200-1 All-Weather Championships Finals Day success in April 2025.

Still a maiden, but with plenty of Gosforth Park experience under her belt, it was a late call from Waggott to send the horsebox on a short trip up the A1 that would not only pay dividends but also provide the biggest success of her training career to date.

Remembering that unbelievable first triumph of the five-year-old’s career, Waggott explained: “I was scanning the entries at 11.45am and I was left thinking ‘this is a bad race’.

“We threw her in and she won which was tremendous and then she has just gone from strength to strength.

“I didn’t back her – I wish I did – but I did think we would be in the first four.”

Heavenly Heather, named after part-owner Chris Rain’s late mother, would return with regularity to Tyneside as her stature began to grow, but it is since turning her attentions to turf that she has taken the bold leap into elite company, mixing it with the very best of the sprint division this term.

“She was going really well and she liked Newcastle but I do think she’s a better horse on the grass now,” continued Waggott.

“She’s got loads sharper and every time she has run she has needed to come further back in trip and has just been getting faster and keener and then the last one off the bridle. Now she’s just a star here.”

Heavenly Heather’s progress would see her fulfil her owner’s long-held dream of competing at Royal Ascot, a first for the trainer and one that brought a whole new level of nerves and anticipation to accompany the glitz and glamour of the summer’s most regal event.

Now having firmly eclipsed the achievements of Waggott’s former sprinting star Intrinsic Bond with her sixth-place King Charles III Stakes performance, all eyes turn to Heavenly Heather’s Nunthorpe bid in a race not afraid of offering up a romantic outcome.

“She’s definitely got a touch of class and along with Intrinsic Bond is the best we’ve had here,” added Waggott.

“She was our first runner at Ascot and the owners always wanted a runner at Royal Ascot so we had to go. It was a tremendous occasion and she deserved her chance there and she ran exceptional. We were over the moon with her.

“It’s a bit more local this time, just down the road which brings a little less stress. She’s a very free sweating mare but I love going to York as the stables are out the way and she will be nice and relaxed.

“We’ve really freshened her up and we’ve now just got to keep our fingers crossed. If she gets a nice draw at York and a bit of cover I really do think she will run well.”

Margot Did, Jwala, Alpha Delphini and Live In The Dream have all surprised on the Knavesmire since Sole Power’s daring late dart at 100-1 in 2010 in a race that has a habit of throwing up big-priced winners.