William Jarvis brings down the curtain on training career

There was to be no final winner for long serving trainer William Jarvis after his last ever runner Crystal Delight failed to read the script when finishing down the field in the Betfred Play Fred’s 5 Million Handicap at Newmarket today.

After saddling more than 700 winners in a career spanning 38 years, which has included the likes of Group One scorers Grand Lodge and Lady Bowthorpe, the Newmarket handler was out of luck with the four-year-old in the mile and a half prize.

Despite the defeat Jarvis, whose family have been involved in the sport for more than 100 years, looked back with great fondness during his time in racing, one of which he hopes to extend in some capacity. 

Following the race Jarvis was presented with a bottle of champagne and a framed picture of his now retired stable star Lady Bowthorpe winning the 2021 Group Two Dahlia Stakes at the track by his sister, and Newmarket Racecourses committee member, Jane George.

Jarvis said: “I’ve had a fantastic time and I’ve met some wonderful people. I’ve employed some fantastic staff and I look forward to continuing to being involved in the industry and being of use to people. If I’ve not learnt anything over the last 38 years then I’ve been a mug.

“It is a wonderful sport we are involved in. I’m concerned we are in for a rocky ride, but we have got so many good people behind us. The industry will be very strong as it has lasted this long, and it will continue to last. It is a wonderful way of life. 

“It was not always the plan to have my final runner here, but that is the way it has worked out. We could have done without the rain in the last 72 hours but there you go.”

Victory in the race went the way of the David Evans-trained Wind Your Neck In (5-2 favourite), who prevailed by a neck to complete a 331-1 treble for winning jockey Richard Kingscote.

Black Kalanisi continued to defy his advancing years when forming leg two of Kingscote’s treble ahead of a return to hurdles with a clear-cut victory in the Betfred Nifty 50 Handicap. 

After returning to winning ways at Pontefract last time out the sprightly 10-year-old was too strong for his rivals in the two-mile prize which the 100-30 Favourite claimed by four and a half lengths.

Ian Williams, winning trainer, said: “For a 10-year-old to do that is quite something. He travelled into it well and he enjoyed the ground.

“He had the win at Pontefract last time and he was not punished for that, but this looked a more competitive race on paper. 

“It is quite possible that we will go back and run him over hurdles now as he has been schooling well at home, but it is always great to win a race at headquarters.”

There was no hiding the smile on the face of teenage jockey Tommie Jakes who enjoyed a red-letter day after riding his first winner on the Rowley Mile when steering Parisiac (18-1) to victory in the Prestige Vehicles Handicap.

The 17-year-old, who lives just a few miles away from the course in Freckenham, was overcome with joy after obliging by a head aboard the four year old, which also doubled up as a first winner at the course for successful trainer Alice Haynes. 

Jakes said: “It is great to ride a winner here. I’ve had a few rides here, but I’ve not had much luck here. It was such a good feeling passing the post in front.

“I felt for half a furlong late on that they might catch me, but he has run on well. He battled away lovely. This means a lot to me.

“I’m based with Alice now as well which makes the win that bit sweeter. I’ve been with her for four weeks and it has been a good experience there.”

Maureen Haggas knows better than most just what a tricky character Hamish can be, however she described the talented gelding as a ‘real star’ after securing the seventh Group race success of his career in the re-arranged Betfred St Simon Stakes at Newmarket this afternoon.

The William Haggas-trained son of Motivator came in for plenty of praise after continuing what has been arguably the greatest season of his career at the age of seven when making it four wins from as many outings this season in the Group Three contest, which was re-routed from Newbury last Saturday.

Sent off the 5-4 Favourite, Hamish, who has been ridden out on a regular basis by Maureen since he was a three-year-old, demonstrated what a solid yard stick he is when revelling in the testing conditions much to the delight of his supporters.

Cruising powerfully into contention alongside King Of Conquest the multiple Group race scorer, who was homebred by the trainer’s father Brian, showed his appetite for a battle when the chips were down entering the closing stages of the mile and a half test.

Despite being burdened with a three pounds penalty it failed to stop Hamish from galloping on with great endeavour to defeat the hat-trick seeking Al Qareem by a length and three quarters to form the middle leg of a near 259-1 treble on the card for the triumphant Newmarket handler.

Maureen Haggas said: “He has had a good year, and he has been great. It is never easy when you have a horse that needs that slow ground. He has had his problems so we have to look after him and I think he has lasted this long because we look after him.

“He was very naughty at Goodwood, and he can be quite difficult, but we saddled him in the stables and it has all gone like clockwork so I’m relieved.

“He got really naughty as a three-year-old and he wouldn’t go anywhere so I started riding him and I’ve ridden him ever since.

“I ride him every day and I know him back to front, but he hates Newbury so I wasn’t too displeased with the race not being down there and being here instead. He is just very argumentative, and you could spend all day arguing with him.

“As long as he goes out, does his work every day, and comes back I just try and leave him alone, but he has always been like that. I suppose that is the Montjeu in him. He was a bit heavy today as it is that time of year where you don’t want to overdo them.

“Usually at this time of the year he looks like a hat rack, but he is fat, but he has gone and done it. I love him to bits, but he barely tolerates me. 

"He is a great horse and I’m thrilled for William’s father (Brian) who bred him. He is just a real star. It is nice when you have had them for so long as he is like a pet.”

While Classic winning-handler Haggas will take the plaudits for the victory connections felt that a big part of the victory was down to the presence of the stable hack Cape Classic, who is known in the yard as Chunky.  

Maureen Haggas added; “I wasn’t actually that enamoured with the thought of coming here today but we brought Chunky the pony (Cape Classic) with him and he has been brilliant.

“Chunky has been the hack for quite a few years now, but Hamish, for some reason, loves him. I don’t know why but every morning he sees him he attaches himself to him.

“I thought we would give it a try bringing him (Chunky) with him and it has worked. We have now got options with him as we can maybe take Chunky with us and he might behave himself better.”

Despite Hamish turning eight at the turn of the year he is expected to be seen back on a racetrack in 2024.

She concluded: “I hope we see him back next year. As long as he stays in one piece he has got nothing else to do except be a racehorse, then he is going to have to be my hack, so I think he would rather be a racehorse for a while.”

Zoum Zoum ensured his connections have plenty to dream about over the winter after following in the hoofprints of his dam when maintaining his unbeaten record in division one of the Beftred “Double Delight” British EBF Novice Stakes at Newmarket on Friday.

Having made a winning debut at Kempton Park 23 days ago the gelded son of Zoustar backed that effort up on his switch to the turf in the seven-furlong contest four years after his dam Richenza landed the Listed Boadicea Stakes on the Rowley Mile.

Racing among those closest to the stands side rail the Ralph Beckett-trained 11-8 favourite found plenty out in front once sent on by Rob Hornby to defeat newcomer Kikkuli, who is a half-brother to the mighty Frankel, by two and a half lengths.

Lynn Turner, joint owner, said: “We were not sure how she would handle the ground, but we owned the dam and she won a Listed race here on her final start on soft ground. We were hopeful but we are really pleased with him. He will be tucked away for the winter now.

“It is even more thrilling as he is the first foal from the dam and he is now two out of two.

“Ralph seems to think he might want six furlongs but then Rob said he could stay at seven or possibly get a mile. We will have a chat with Ralph then decide a plan for next year.”

The Reverend gave joint owner Tony Bloom the perfect boost ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion’s Premier League clash with Everton on Saturday after defying his inexperience to make a winning debut in division two of the seven-furlong contest.

Handling the testing conditions better than most, the 9-2 chance, who is owned by Brighton & Hove Albion chairman Bloom in partnership with Ian McAleavy, answered his connections prayers when swooping past his rivals late on to score by a length and three quarters.

Maureen Haggas, wife to winning trainer William Haggas, said: “He did well, but he probably handled the ground a bit better than some of the others as he is by Lope de Vega, but he does not necessarily have to have it like that.

“He has taken a little time to get there. He has changed quite a lot over the year, and he is now physically and mentally more mature. He has taken it all in his stride today. A lot of today was about the experience.

“Although there are not many people here he has behaved well as it is totally different to what he is used to.”