2020 Newsletter
Firstly I would like to wish everyone a very happy and healthy 2020. URSA Major is going into its 3rd year. We have grown steadily with 53 members and now own 5 horses. I can’t believe how far we have come since we bought Cape Hideaway in March 2018. The future is very bright and we are hopeful that we will see plenty more winners in carrying the Battenburg silks.
Our horses for 2020;
Kodimoor 7 Year Old Flat Horse Rating: 51 Career Earnings: £24,673
We bought Kodimoor early in 2019 from Chris Kellett. Our trainer Mark Walford said he thought the horse was well handicapped and could win a race, possibly 2 on the bounce. After 3 moderate yet promising runs, Mark and Dougie Costello said he would benefit stepping up in trip to 7f. In July at Beverley Kodimoor took to 7f with great success, he then went on to win races at Ayr and Lingfield. An amazing feat surpassing even Marks previous predictions. Kodimoor very nearly made it a four timer at Catterick only to finish a gallant second to a well handicapped winner. Having travelled the length and breadth of the country in the summer Kodimoor went for a nice long holiday in October. He is now back at Cornbrough Manor in training and will return to the track in March with further wins looking assured.
Illustrissime 7 Year Old Dual Purpose Flat Rating: 80 Hurdles Rating: 112 Career Earnings: £47,678
Illustrissime was acquired from the Skelton yard in October. He is our highest rated horse. Rated 80 on the flat and 112 over hurdles, he is a 4 Time winner with 7 seconds to his name, he is very exciting horse. We knew when we bought him he would prefer a sounder surface, so he will start the summer running in some big field handicaps at some of the better tracks. He has had 3 runs for us; 1 on the flat and 2 over hurdles. Illustrissime will be starting his season in late March early April, mixing flat and hurdle races. A horse we are all very excited about. His homework is the best by far of any horse at Cornbrough Manor and when he brings that to track he will provide the battenburg army with plenty of fun.
Event Of Sivola 6 Year Old Jump Horse Rating: 100 Career Earnings: £9,961
We bought him in Oct 2018 having won in Wissembourg, France. He had a few niggles after his first couple of runs for us so had an extended break of 9 months off the track. He has returned and showed much improvement Sedgefield last time out. He jumps and travels fantastically well and now we feel Mark has unlocked the key to him. We expect him to be much more competitive and show his true colours in the upcoming months, starting at Catterick on the 31st of January.
Clifftop Heaven 3 Year Old Flat Horse Rating: 65 Career Earnings: £235
Personally my favourite horse of our 5. We always said whatever he achieved as a 2 year old would be a bonus, with the future very much in mind. Clifftop Heavens first race was a disappointment, but We were sure that wasn’t his true running. He returned to the track a week later at Leicester to show plenty of improvement to finish a close up 6th. Clifftop Heaven would go on again to show improvement with a fantastic 4th at Thirsk, trying to make all, but being caught for pace in the final furlong. A line should be drawn through his final run, as he came back with a few niggles on desperate ground and was subsequently put away for the winter. He has grown and strengthened up hugely and will be back racing around April. There is a possibility that he may even run in a juvenile hurdle before the end of the year. A very exciting prospect.
Candescence 2 Year Old Flat Horse Unraced
The newest member of URSA Major team. I absolutely love this Power 2 year old. She will start over 7f and be ready for the track early June. As with any young horse you have to dream big. Signs are very promising and we look forward to watching her career blossom.
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From The Stable
Emma Todd Q and A
1. Battenburg - Yes or No? ET - Yes! Nobody says no to cake!
2. What would be her dream horse to ride? ET - Frodon - love his way of racing & attitude.
3. Do you prefer flat or jumps? ET - Jumps for me
4. Who’s the best looking member of URSA? ET - Unfortunately I haven't met everyone from URSA but the ones I have are a good looking bunch!!
5. Would you rather ride at the Cheltenham Festival or ride the Grand National? ET - Grand national. It is just so unique.
6. If you had the power to change one thing in the horse racing industry tomorrow what would it be? ET - Probably more time off for jockeys through the season. So much racing now with all weather & summer jumping it's a long season and then there’s no real break.
7. What do you have for breakfast before a race? ET - Normally porridge with honey unless it's a light weight then it's just been fresh air!
8. One horse from the past you would have liked to have ridden? ET - Desert Orchid - one of the toughest horses I've seen and a real racing character.
9. Which is your favourite horse in Marks Yard? ET - Has to be Uno Valerso. Hes been at the yard a long time now and I've ridden him a lot over the past few years. I love schooling him too.
10. Best horse in the Yard? ET - Magical Max possibly at the moment. We've got some lovely young horses this season which is exciting to see what potential they have! Illustrissime is the best work horse nothing can keep up with him!
11. You’ve just come last in a race and you are confronted by an irate punter who’s just lost his pocket money. Would you A, explain how the race went. B. Ignore him and carry on C. Jump off the horse Frankie style and spark him out? ET - Would love to be C but I'm not that brave so probably B!!
12. What’s you’re favourite Drink? Alcoholic and Non Alcoholic ET - Alcoholic- Pina Colda. Non - Yorkshire Tea!
13. Do you have any superstitions/ rituals you always do before a race. ET - Not really I think you can get carried away with things like that. I had lucky tights for ages but was forced to throw them away as they were falling apart! And when I did nothing changed!
14.How/ why did she get into horse racing? Were there any setbacks when she started out? What is the best thing about it ? ET - Came from non horse / race background but got into it by chance really. Went to British Racing School after college had no intention of race riding but had a go pointing and fell in love with it! Setbacks for me was probably it was tough to get going a bit even as an amateur if you want to be any good it's hard work but worth it in then end. The best thing about it is the buzz you get from it. Not just from winning either. I pulled up 2 out at Aintree in the Foxhunters and it's the best days racing I've ever had! You cant buy days like that.
15. Whats the best thing about working at Cornbrough Manor? ET - The cake at coffee time !! And the people. Everyone gets on so well which is important!
16. Favourite URSA Major Horse? ET - Take A Break. Lovely horse to deal with at home and ride and provided the club with a lot of fun!
17. What would you be doing if not involved in horse racing? ET - I'd be working with animals in some way. Like to be a vet if I had the brains/stomach for it!
18. Will yourself and Will become a training team in the future? ET - Training is something I'm really interested in and we've had point to point horses we've done well with which has been great fun. Its and extremely tough job by the looks of it though! If the right opportunity came along I'd love to give it a go.