Coakley News

• Party Island encounters traffic troubles at Wolverhampton

  11 March 2025

  Heading up to Wolverhampton over an extended nine furlongs, Party Island travelled well under familiar pilot George Bass, making great strides forward into the straight only to be checked in his run, without which he would certainly have made the frame. He was not able to recover from losing momentum at a crucial stage, so that he finished only fifth and beaten just over five lengths this time. Party Island clearly retains his well being and his zest for racing, and should be out again soon when he will hopefully get much better luck in running.

• Sharma d'Amour pleases at Lingfield Park

  07 March 2025

  There was a lot to like about the reintroduction of Mrs Chris Young's filly Sharma d'Amour to racing action on the polytrack at Lingfield on Wednesday. Going over a mile under jockey Tyler Heard, she broke smartly and was a little keen before being setlled back to midfield after three furlongs. She raced comfortably up with the leading group down the side into the last half mile and then finished off her race very well to be fifth and only beaten a little over five lengths by the line. As this was her third run she will be given a handicap mark at the beginning of next week, and hopefully she will then be aimed at a suitable target race soon into April.

• Stable stalwarts head to Lingfield for good season pipe openers

  17 February 2025

  At Lingfield yesterday Party Island and Waterloo Sunset returned to all weather track action after long breaks, contesting class 4 handicaps on a very competitive winter card. Having had five months off racing Party Island switched right down to a mile race under his regular pilot George Bass. The Tagula gelding broke well and travelled very nicely indeed for his first run of the year, being well placed in a rail position right until turning into the straight. From here he was just outpaced by some experienced milers in the sprint to the line, and he finished off a little tired and so will come on a lot for this run and will be aiming at better fortune in a return to longer trips in the near future. Waterloo Sunset went into a ten furlong handicap later in the afternoon, having had a prolonged spell away from the track following a problematic run at Christmas 2023. Under lightweight jockey Tyler Heard the Adaay gelding put in an excellent run throughout the race, well up with the pace all the way round and switching right for a good mid track finish just four lengths off the winner. Finishing fifth this time after a good ride from Tyler, he has every prospect of returning to the winners enclosure soon, and he would hold no fears in contesting future events over ten or twelve furlongs.

• January 2025 gallops pictures now uploaded to the Gallery

  

  

  25 January 2025

  Sue Huntingdon was up on the gallops on Wednesday of this past week to photograph some action shots, which have now been posted in a Gallery album.

  Pictured here are the two year old colt Terranoble, owned by Imelda Coakley, and also West Ilsley Racing's Golden Phase giving a lead to the two year old filly of the Bramble Syndicate, named Dijon Gone

• Exciting prospects for the 2025 season

  

  

  24 January 2025

  

  A great start has been made with the New Year at Keeper's Stables, and it is always an exciting time with the lengthening days and brighter mornings already quite evident. The winter weather has posed the normal challenges with some very cold snaps and the odd storm, but the group of horses have been working very well. The new intake, set to race as two year olds in the coming season, are headed by the sole filly Dijon Gone and a group of four colts - the "Class of 2025" - who have been getting along together very well and showing their progressive talents in schooling as well as strong showings up on the gallops. Recently they have been learning how to challenge, go upsides and through with their runs to pass a rival. There is a real camaraderie among the group, who each seem to have terrific prospects once readied for racing.

  The older horses are all returning to work after their winter breaks, with a number of three year olds set to build on the real promise they showed last season - Barry's Boy and four fillies all ready to make an impact. The yard is very busy now to get ready for an exciting season ahead.

  Pictured above the two year old colts : Sparking Partners' Chelio, by Sergei Prokofiev and an as yet un-named colt by Earthlight, owned by Mrs Chris Young;
  walking down from the gallops these two colts are followed by Terranoble, by Ubettabelievit, owned by Imelda Coakley.

More posts