Long trip. Big win.
Washington to Heathrow to Kempton to Exeter to Sussex. Smooth. Certainly, the last bit as I slept, and my driver drove. Nothing like a driver.
Sherminator made the trip worthwhile, for the second straight Cheltenham spree, as he continues his ascent with a facile score in his handicap debut at Exeter Friday. The German-bred improved to 4-for-5 over hurdles, his only blemish when falling at Cheltenham (management error). He ran off a 118 mark yesterday, that will certainly rise. Justifiably.
Racing Post: SHERMINATOR, on handicap debut, stamped his authority on this after the last, now unbeaten in all four completed starts over hurdles. He’ll get further if needs be and can carry on progressing.
Retired jockey and friend Liam McVicar texted, “Will win a grade in (American flag). Hopefully he’ll do that (Union Jack). Hey, we can always dream. Nice horse. That’s all I kept saying as I watched him run free after the last hurdle, as a I walked down the steps of the owner/trainer bar at Exeter and as I met jockey Bryan Carver, trainer Harry Fry and our big raw chestnut star. I almost kissed him, all of them.
With two of my all-time favorite people – George Baker (the driver) and Richard Hutchinson (the loyalist) – we enjoyed a monumental and memorable day at the picturesque track. That is what racing is about, that is what life is about.
The games continue today with Imperial Cup Day at Sandown. My driver with a runner in the big one. Come on Gooloogong, one time, my son.
