Dubai: On Dubai World Cup night, there are many horses owned by the superpowers running but there are also those owned by less established global owners.
We caught up with Piers Winkworth, who co-owns and runs the syndicate Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds (KVT) with Sam Hoskins, who have their horse Magical Memory running in the $1-million Al Quoz Sprint (Group 1).
First of all we found out about the syndicate and Winkworth explained: “KVT is a pioneer of the UK syndication business, having been founded by Nick Robinson. This year we celebrate our 30th year of operation. We run single horse flat racing partnerships in the UK. We currently have 12 horses, spread with some of the top trainers in the UK Andrew Balding, Ralph Beckett, Charlie Hills, Clive Cox, Mark Johnson and William Knight. We have 16 partners in each syndicate and we provide a fun, relaxed atmosphere but with the serious aim of punching above our weight. Recent star Tullius and of course Magical Memory were relatively cheap yearlings, but both have competed at the top level, are UK Group race winners and have won more than £500k each in prize money.
“Excitement about the big night is high and there are four or five of the partners [who] will be coming out to Dubai. As it was fairly last minute, many have plans for Easter but will be eagerly watching the race on the TV.”
When did you know you were coming and was this always the plan?
I was chatting to Sam on Monday [March 19] in the morning and, at that stage, we had not received an invitation to Dubai, so the plan was to enter him in the Cammidge, the first race of the UK turf season, and run at Doncaster if the ground was OK. When I got off the phone to Sam, Charlie Hills called with the exciting news that he had been invited to Dubai. Racing for $1 million as opposed to £20k was a no-brainer and the Al Quoz was always the dream as a starting point this season. Magical Memory has won 8 times, 3 at Group level, but as a 6-year-old gelding, our plan is to try and target the high value races — so this race is perfect for us!
What has Charlie said about the horse Magical Memory?
Had a short winter break and has been back with Charlie since just after Christmas. The plan was always to crack on early with him and Charlie thinks he is in the form of his life. Even with the snow and cold conditions in the UK, Charlie has got him fit enough and he had a nice spin around Lingfield Racecourse on Tuesday which should have put him spot on. Obviously, this is a highly competitive race and the Godolphin horse, Blue Point, who beat us at Ascot last season, looks a hard nut to crack, as do many others, but we aren’t here to make up numbers and would love to take lots of dirhams home for the syndicate partners!
Who rides him?
Frankie Dettori, who has won 5 races on Magical Memory, looks set to be reunited with his old friend. He gets on very well with the horse and it’s great for a small owner like us to have one of the world’s top jockeys wanting to ride. I believe as soon as he heard we had been invited, Frankie was on the phone to Charlie and has called again to make sure he has the ride! He thinks we have a decent chance on a fair track and Magic always runs well fresh.
What are your hopes?
As I said, this is a hot race, full of top quality sprinters. A win would be out of this world, but realistically if he could run into a place we would be thrilled and would set him for a great season.
Tell us about your other horses.
We have 12 horses running for us this season, with the team led of course by Magic. However, we have an exciting 4-year-old, Contango, trained by Andrew Balding who has won 3 of his 4 starts to date, narrowly touched off for a four timer and he will hopefully make up into a stakes horse this year. Of our 3-year-old Cuban Heel, trained by Clive Cox, has wintered very well and should improve up the ranks and White Turf, an unraced 3-year-old with Andrew could be anything at this stage, being a half-brother to Andrew’s EP Taylor winner Blond Me. We have six 2-year-olds this season and early vibes are positive, with Lethal Lover (Clive Cox), Superseded (Charlie Hills) and Sir Busker (William Knight) being the more likely earlier ones.
Winkworth ended up saying: “We are very excited about our trip to Dubai and a win for a small owner like us would be fairytale stuff. The Dubai World Cup meeting is right up there with some of the world’s top racing and to be a part of it is what race horse ownership is all about.” And mulling over his chances he said: “It might sound obvious, but the hot favourite looks hard to beat and Ertijaal is obviously a very fast horse. Dean Ivory’s Librisa Breeze is progressive and looked good in the Champions Sprint at Ascot at the end of the season. There are many other dangers but we hope to be in the mix and Frankie will know when to make his challenge.”
It will be great to welcome the syndicate here and lets hope they have the night of their lives.
— Harry Tregoning is a horse racing expert and Managing Partner, Tregoning Property
