23 February 2009 Report: Carmarthenshire Hunt - Erw Lon
BALEARIC STAR: in splendid isolation on the way to taking the Mens Open
The name on everyone's lips after the Carmarthenshire Point-to-Point meeting was that of John Mathias. Making up for a disappointing start to the season, John (a Mechanical Engineering student at Pembrokeshire College) once again showed why he was last season's area champion jockey by taking four of the seven races.
John's father Philip - based in Manobier - trained the first: Tokpela for owner Christine Toy in the opening Hunt Members race. The 10 year old gelding was last season's leading maiden and champion area horse but connections were left scratching their heads after a lacklustre performance at the Vale of Clettwr meeting. The Paul Hamer trained City Breeze had been backed down to 6-4 joint favourite with Tokpela but the latter drew away in the closing stages to win easily by ten lengths.
Only half a length separated the first two in the Men's Open. Dewi Lewis' Balearic Star came away the shock winner from Twilight Dancer in a great race for the line. Ballycassidy had been sent off the 4-5 on favourite, but was never able to dominate up front and came off the bridle and under pressure on the first circuit. Cannon Bridge took them along in his usual front running style, but with a seven pound penalty and it being his first run of the season he began to tire three out and had to settle for third place. Balearic Star proved a consistent performer last season but victory eluded him. Trainer, Mark Lewis, the owner's son, put the performance down to "a good summer break. Something he has never had before, he's come back a different horse for this year". The Men's Open at Brecon is next on the agenda for the winner but he may not be available at the generous odds of 20-1 again.
Paktol Des Brosses came home an impressive winner by three lengths from Grey Kid in the Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate. The first four in this race qualified for the Intermediate Point-to-Point final hunter chase on May 6th at Cheltenham and connections of the first two will definitely consider the trip to Prestbury Park. This was John Mathias' third win of the day but by far the one that impressed him the most. Owner/Trainer Dai Rees from Clarbeston Road, Pembrokeshire also holds a National Hunt trainers licence so will be looking to a summer campaign over hurdles with this one after the point-to-point season ends.
The Rees/Mathias combination was successful again during the afternoon, winning the Restricted race with Kasha King. The 6-1 shot had looked a certainty for second place before the even money favourite and clear leader Silver Story ran out through the wing four out, giving jockey Dean Coleman a nasty fall, and John managed a Frankie Dettori style dismount back in the winners' enclosure.
A summer away riding out at licensed trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies' yard has really benefited John. There was to be another winner during the afternoon that benefited from knowing Twiston-Davies, that being previous employee Marcella Bayliss. A lorry breakdown looked to halt the trip to Erw Lon from her Cotswold base but her former boss came to the rescue with a replacement vehicle, allowing Marcella's home bred Twiga Woods to take the Mares Maiden race by a distance, ridden by 26 year old veterinary surgeon Isobel Thompsett.
It completed a double for Isobel who had earlier taken the Ladies Open, making all on Chestnut Annie who justified favouritism at 1-3 on. The ensuing runners tried in vain to keep tabs on this relentless galloper but at the line she had eight lengths to spare over Chloe Roddick on Bob Bites Back.
The most exciting finish of the day must go to the final race, the Horses and Geldings Maiden. Two horses were disputing the lead two out, but were forced to settle for the minor placings at the last. The eventual winner, 2-1 favourite Duggans Forge ridden by Jodie Hughes, seemed to be outpaced along with the second placed Doctor Supremo down the back straight. Both gained a second wind to wear down and pass Michigan Assassin and Musque En Tete at the last, with the official winning distances 3 lengths and 5 lengths.
It was a fitting end to the day for the largest crowd seen at Erw Lon for a Carmarthenshire meeting. The area now hands over to South Wales until a return to Erw Lon for the Llandeilo Farmers Meeting on Saturday 4th April.
