Raymond Tusk wins the Group 2 Gran Premio del Jockey Club

Mon 22 Oct 2018

For some very lucky owners who had travelled to Milan yesterday, it was the 3rd year in a row that they had made the trip to San Siro with one of our horses, on Italy's most prestigious race day! When we won the race with Ventura Storm in 2016, it was a Group 1. This year it was a Group 2, with a sumptuous €125,000 to the winner. We went there with our Richard Hannon trained Raymond Tusk, with hopes that with the riding tactics and instructions given to Jamie Spencer, would assist him in winning. 

Everything went perfectly to plan and he showed real tenacity and stamina to fend off challengers on both sides to win the race in great style. Tim, his syndicate manager was in attendance with Richard and both were jubilant, as Jamie reported: "He's a really tough horse and will stay all day."

Tim says "This is quite the most perfect way to round off Raymond’s 3yo season; it’s been some journey from his maiden victory at Newbury in just April. He still looks to be improving and we are already planning for his 4yo campaign. To see so many Middleham Park owners in attendance in Milan, and to have runners in both the Gran Criterium Gp2 and Gran Premio Del Jockey Club Gp2, was both a delight and a privilege." 

Richard added this morning: "He has been a great horse for us this year and I feel there is more to come next year with him. He got too far back at Doncaster but managed to be ridden handier today. The plan will be to give him a break now before heading for another campaign next year."

Many congratulations to his owners who had a fine old time as you can see from the gallery of images, sipping champagne with Richard, Jamie, Oisin Murphy and Andrea Atzeni on the owners' balcony surrounded by their many trophies, which included a bridle for Raymond!

Read the Racing Post story, (which also contains a replay of the race finish and an interview with Tim) here: https://www.racingpost.com/news/international/raymond-tusk-toughs-it-out-for-delighted-middleham-park-team/350489. We have also added the feature in the EBN, which can be read in the 'Gallery' with a few memorable photos from the day!

Watch the full race here.

This race brought up our 40th Group and Listed winner and leaves us now with 3 more winners to go to reach 1,000..