by Kieran O’Neill, from the stables of John Best based in Kent who has been supporting the meeting for years and sent a team of four for the three Sundays of the event. In fourth place was Dolphin Vista, ridden by Harry Bentley trained by Ralph Beckett. Kieran O’Neill won the last flat race of the day riding Torbellino.
place for people watching, St Moritz is it, dogs enjoy the day out at the races too, some are in little snow boots and are impeccably behaved as they accompany their owners. Champagne is sipped and there is a stand selling oysters and Lobster.
The first race, the Moyglare Stud, is won by Iron Duke, a smart little grey ridden by Delozier Lukas, incidently trained by Peter Schiergen, father of the Dennis Schiergen. Then comes the big race, The Longines Grand Prix which everyone is waiting for and I am thrilled to find that there are several British horses in this race, It is won by a fabulous compact powerful bay called Wargrave, by Galileo, ridden by Dennis Schiergen who described what is was like to ride at White Turf on a winning horse ‘Wargrave is a lovely horse, he took me easily to the front and I had the race under control all the time, in the back straight I could give him a breather before taking off on the final turn. He showed his class. St Moritz is very special, it is a unique experience and not comparable with any racetrack in the world, you need a horse which is brave. The atmosphere in the mountains is simply beautiful. Winning the Longines Grand Prix of St Moritz has been on my bucket list for some time, I am very grateful for getting this chance’
Another two British horses are in third and forth place. In third was Torochica, ridden
Broadcaster Mike Cattermole, was commentating for the English speaking world feed at White Turf on all three Sundays and has been going to the event for the past two years after his first trip about fifteen years ago. It is certainly something different, he said. ‘The Grand Prix was an excellent race contested by the type of horses who will be running in good races in the summer’.
Now, I was even more excited to find that four year old Wargrave is a local Oxfordshire horse from Bicester which made his win even more special, I spoke to his owners afterwards and got a little bit of background on the story leading up to this win.
‘An ambition, a dream or an obsession, Paul Bowdens desire to win the Longines Grand Prix of St Moritz has been a work in progress for many years now, the goal looked possible in 2019 when Paul, Bill Bailey and Rob North together with other syndicate members sent New Agenda trained by Paul Webber who won on the first weekend but developed a virus and sadly ran very disappointingly in the big race. Even more determined in 2020 Paul instigated the purchase of two horses, Wargrave with George Baker and Agent Zig Zag from the Paul Webber Yard, it was at this point that the BBN (Bowden Bailey North) Syndicate was formed. Disappointment came when Agent Zig Zag was unable to travel due to injury and left Wargrave, a highly regarded colt as the sole representative. Wargrave ran a perfect race and won in fine style with Dennis Schiergen being able to celebrate his victory with ease and Paul Bowden realized his dream of winning the White Turf Longines Grand Prix. It is
Kieran O’Neill on Torbellino
hoped and planned that Wargrave will run at Royal Ascot this year with more success to come’. What a fantastic achievement! Congratulations to all involved.
After a fine Swiss breakfast the next morning I watch as the White Turf banner is taken down and we make our way past the racetrack in the taxi taking us back to the station, the marquees empty and and the lake white and curiously peaceful now after all the excitement of yesterday. As always the weekend had sped past in a blur of snow, horses, cable cars and colour, the little Alpine Glacier Express pulls out of the station and begins its descent down the mountains to Zurich to deliver us back to the airport and reality.
Me, I’m already looking forward to next year.
For more information about White Turf St. Moritz please visit
www.whiteturf.ch
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THE SPRING SPECIAL 2020
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