Denis Coakley's latest news...
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Stars aligning for Sami and EMPHATIC SOUTHWELL WIN FOR MY FERMOY
29 November 2025
The horses from the yard have been putting in some more good track runs this week on the all weather at Lingfield and Southwell. Firstly over the sharp six furlongs around the tight Surrey track Starlight Sami delighted Denis and owner Chris Young with an excellent closing run behind a very useful looking favourite. Lit up from the start the favourite set a high tempo to the race and stretched away from the top of the straight. Sami had travelled well around the circuit for Cieren Fallon and went on again once he had got balanced towards the finish, making the third good run in his career thus far and the form of all of his outings looks to be very strong. Next time he may step up to seven furlongs and a maiden win for him is sure to come soon.
Later in the card Connie Moon suffered from a wide draw, ten furlongs being one full circuit of the Lingfield course. Jockey Cieren Fallon made a bid to break quickly and gain a better position but he was still left quite wide by the crown of the first bend. From there he elected to move right round the field and get to the head of affairs in disputing the lead, thereby using quite a lot of fuel in the first three furlongs which told by the last quarter mile of the race. Connie Moon faded in the straight to finish near the tail of the field, and it would be wise to draw a line through this outing, as a fairer stall and better run of the race should see her return to showing her true ability next time.
My Fermoy had been given a good rating after four very encouraging runs, and unsurprisingly he was at the head of the market switching back to a mile under top jockey Billy Loughnane. It was full steam ahead for Billy as he sent My Fermoy to the front early and looked to make the event a proper test over a mile with a good long straight. His rival in the market did come to offer a challenge after the quarter mile mark, but My Fermoy stretched clear comfortably in the closing stages to coast through the final furlong and still win by almost five lengths. After this straightforward success the Kodiac gelding will be looking to build on his profile over a mile to ten furlongs.
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All this week's runners filling places in competitive races
21 November 2025
This week Denis has sent out three runners who all acquitted themselves with great credit in their runs. Firstly over a mile at Kempton he was delighted with the performance of Barry's Boy, with his first run after a recent wind operation. Moving up from the pack forming the second half of the field after five furlongs, it looked like he had a winning chance as he made rapid headway in the last quarter mile. He just tired a little inside the last fifty yards to lose two places, but jockeys reported that the going in his line of run against the far rail was less favourable, and this could have made the difference for him if he had been able to come up the middle of the track. A very close up fourth place was well deserved on this occasion, and delighted his connections.
At Lingfield Party Island ran another very fine race over a mile and a half, just coming up against a well handicapped and up and coming three year old. The veteran gelding ran on very strongly to easily take second place, and he is knocking on the door to notch up his tenth race win as he remains in very good heart. Also at Lingfield Chelio ran his second race at very long odds 125/1, on account of his tardy start on debut a couple of weeks back. He defied these odds in fine style to rally well for a clear third, after having started well and racing well up with the pace. The clear winner is obviously a well regarded horse, and with the second being a £100,000 purchase, Chelio was clearly in very good company in making the frame behind these two in only his second racecourse outing, and there would seem to be lots more to come from this son of Sergei Prokofiev
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Owners Party a great success once again
11 November 2025
Despite very inclement weather on the day, nothing could dampen the enthusiasm of the owners and all the staff from the yard at the October 2025 Owners Party. A collection of photographs of a memorable day can be found in an album on the gallery.................
Welcome to Keeper’s Stables
Located on the Berkshire Downs in the famous racing village of West Ilsley, Keeper’s Stables is picturesque and tranquil racing yard with some of the finest and most famous gallops in the country, making it a fantastic place to have a horse in training. Pictured right is Miss Marjurie winning Group 3 Pinnacle Stakes at Haydock 30th May 2015
Find out more about the yard and Denis Coakley…
Denis Coakley – Racehorse Trainer
Irishman Denis was born into racing, working with leading trainers around the world and he was a successful professional jockey before commencing his training career in 1999.
See our race entries and recent results…
A day with West Ilsley trainer Denis Coakley’ by Robin Oakley, The Spectator July 2014
Racehorse Ownership
Trainer Denis Coakley runs a small team with big ambitions, maximising the potential of each horse in the yard.
Find out more about racehorse ownership with Denis Coakley.
See “Horses for Sale“ page for current available shares.
There is an Owners’ Party held in October - If you are interested in racehorse ownership please contact us for an invitation. This year the yard will be taking part in the National Racehorse Week, opening the stables on Sunday 12th September 2021, from 12 noon until 3pm. This is an opportunity to wander around the yard and chat to Denis and others caring for the horses at Keeper’s Stables
Denis, Barbara and Charlie Coakley pictured here at the yard. Denis Coakley Racing is very much a family business.
Statistics……
Go to websites for Racing Post or At The Races for up to date statistics.
Contact us
Telephone:
01635 281622
Fax:
01635 281624
Mobile:
07768 658056
Email:
Keeper’s Stables
West Ilsley
Newbury
Berkshire
RG20 7AH
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