Trainer Profile: Harriet Brown
This will be the second full season that Harriet, assisted by her sister Charlotte and new team member Abi King, will be training her point-to-point horses from her yard at Mappowder near Dorchester. She will have an increased number of horses to train for the new season starting on 18th November and at a recent Open day she paraded the majority of these and updated owners and friends in attendance of the prospective plans for her horses.
Theatre Evening – now owned by Charlotte having been purchased from the Bishop family at the end of last season. The runner up in a Conditions race at Larkhill in May was followed by a triumph in a Men’s Open at Bratton Down for Rex Dingle who is now a Conditional Jockey with Anthony Honeyball. The intention is that Charlotte will resume her riding career on Theatre Evening and his jumping should ensure that she has some enjoyable rides on this 10 year old gelding next season
Gracious Prince – The winner of a Maiden race at Milborne St Andrew when given a clever ride by George Hiscock he suffered an injury after that race but Harriet was able to report that he is fully recovered and ready to resume his racing career in 2018/19. He is working well at home and hopes are high that his career will progress through the ranks next season. George will be keen to maintain the partnership.
Country Legend – owned by Frances Bishop and will be ridden by her son Tom. She ran some good races in defeat last season and it is hoped that next season she will be able to break her maiden status provided she is able to run on better ground. A nicely bred Midnight Legend mare out of a Silver Patriach mare who won a Hurdle at Hereford. A Mare’s Maiden race ought to be well within her grasp.
Finch Fancy – A 6 year old Arvico mare who Harriet broke in last year and ran in a point-to-point Bumper at Barbury Castle in January on very heavy ground which was not to her liking. She subsequently ran in Bumpers for Richard Mitchell with her best run being when she finished sixth in a fifteen runner race at Newton Abbot. Again a Mare’s Maiden race will be on her agenda for the new season and she is a good prospect.
MyheroColin – a 6 year old Arcadian Hero gelding owned by Colin Mitchell who had three races in 2017 when trained by Rilly Goschen. He has had a chance to grow up and is working and jumping well at home. He will start off in Maiden races.
Colins Hero – an 8 year old full brother to Myherocolin and is in the same ownership. A late developer who is to date unraced and plans for him have yet to be made.
Montarlot – a 6 year old Soldier of Fortune gelding bought privately in the summer. He is a fine looking horse who has been placed in all three of his races to date in Ireland including finishing runner up on his debut at Courtown on soft ground. He looks a good prospect and it is hoped that he may be seen before Christmas.
Merrion Square – a 12 year old Kotashaan gelding that raced in good company when owned by Andy Stewart and trained by Paul Nicholls. The winner of a Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown and three other chases plus a Hurdle he would have won his penultimate start in a Hunter Chase at Wincanton but for unseating his rider at the last. He will be ridden by Jemma Sargent who will be having her first rides in point-to-points. Jemma, 18, rides out for Colin Tizzard and is the niece of former well known flat jockey Tim Sprake who rode over 100 winners in his last season of riding in 1999. Merrion Square should be an ideal schoolmaster for Jemma and their progress together will be watched with interest.
An unnamed 3 year old Lucarno gelding bought at Ascot in the summer. Related to a gelding trained by Peter Bowen who has been placed in both a Bumper and a Hurdle he has already been showing a great attitude and natural ability. No firm plans have been made for him yet with either a Bumper or a Maiden after Christmas the most likely options.
So far as riding arrangements are concerned other than already mentioned above it is expected that George Hiscock will ride the majority of Harriet’s horses with Shane Quinlan and Freddie Procter mentioned as other possible options.
George, who is Charlotte’s partner, will be training two horses himself this coming season with the progressive Doctor’s Differ the one to take note of. The winner of two races last season and runner up in his two other starts he will be starting off in Intermediates in the new season and may be seen at an early Larkhill meeting depending on the going.
His other intended runner will be the promising Artson the runner up in a Maiden at Milborne St Andrew on soft ground last season. He has strengthened over the summer and this 6 year old Milan gelding should be able to find a Maiden race in the new season.
