Meet The Horses

MACARONE (Born: 2021) - Sire: Havana Grey  - Dam: Multi Quest 
Charity: The Motor Neurone DIsease Awareness & Rob Burrow Discretionary Trust

The most well known horse of The Good Racing Company, who has gained a large following in both horse racing and rugby league, given the connections to the late, great Rob Burrow, who recently passed away following a hard fought battle with motor neurone disease. All prize money won by the colt goes straight to charities who spend so much dedication to finding cures to help change the future.
Macarone is a son of the very speedy racehorse Havana Grey, who won at Group One level during his racing career and has sired the likes of high class Vandeek and Elite Status in the past three years. The dam Multi Quest ran at a much modest level, but is herself a half sister to Captain Ryan and Big Lachie, winners of seventeen races between them. The signs weren't as promising to begin with for Macarone as he showed plenty of inexperience in his first few starts. Despite this, he improved with racing and on his sixth start at Beverley, he got up close home to win in front of Rob Burrow and his family, as well as his owners, which sparked an emotional parade ring. Macarone would also be the final winner in the saddle for Paul Hanagan, who has continued the links by becoming a director of The Good Racing Company. A second career success would a few months later for Macarone, this time at Newcastle and the popular three year old has continued to run well this year. 

ALFA KELLENIC (Born: 2021) - Sire: Havana Grey - Dam: Silhuette 

The star of the Craig Lidster stable also carries the silks of The Good Racing Company's syndicate, run by Paul Hanagan and Sky Sports Racing's presenter Simon Mapletoft.

The filly is another produce of the reliable sire Havana Grey, who has been well supported for the precocity and speed inherited by his offspring. The dam Silhuette started her career brightly with two wins from her first two starts, but she began to retreat back down the ladder as her form deteriorated. 

Alfa Kellenic's career began with the long trip to Essex where she debuted at Chelmsford in December, but showed immediate promise when staying on at the finish into third, catching the eye in the process. A few days into 2024, she would race at Southwell but this time with a change of tactics. Alfa Kellenic would make the early running, but was constantly hassled by rivals and she weakened into fourth. The form of that race would be boosted with the winner that day following up in listed company. A first career success would come just a fortnight later, this time at Newcastle. Reverting to hold up tactics, the three year old travelled smoothly and picked up impressively to bound clear at the line and win by four lengths. It would be a visually impressive display and a sign of what was to come. A five month break would follow as the filly was given time to strengthen ahead of targets on the turf and she picked up where she left off by routing a class five handicap at Thirsk without showing signs of rustiness. 
Just a week on from that win, she would be back in action, this time at York for a much harder class two handicap. She would face Group placed runners and plenty of experienced older horses, but the occasions failed to faze her as she pulled clear at the finish in her now accustomed style. It would be a mighty effort by the relatively inexperienced filly who needed to improve by two stones on ratings to feature, but she did so and more. The win would also give Craig Lidster a much sought after first win at York and the highest profile winner for the stable.

The future is very bright for Alfa Kellenic and The Good Racing Company's syndicate. Currently rated at 85 at the time of writing, she could easily land another handicap before dipping her hooves into Group races later in the season, potentially in Britain or abroad. 

THE CHILDE OF HALE (Born: 2022) - Sire: Havana Grey  - Dam: Dame Helen

The next syndicated horse is the once raced The Childe Of Hale, who made her debut recently. 

Another daughter of Havana Grey, the pedigree is all about speed and the filly is a half sister to French horse Incredit, who won his only race on track. Further back in the family, she is a distant relative to smart handicapper Demolition, who won nine times during his career. 
Named after a pub in Liverpool, the filly made her racecourse debut at York in the middle of June at the popular charity meeting. She would face well touted and smartly bred newcomers as well as others who had placed on their previous starts. Therefore, it looked a strong maiden for York and The Childe Of Hale was predictably outclassed. Despite the best efforts of legendary jockey Hayley Turner, she was unable to get a look in and returned tenth of eleven runners. 
As so often is the case in racing, success doesn't always come immediately and the hope remains that The Childe Of Hale can find her level in the coming months and begin to show what she can do. 

BELLA LOVE (Born: 2022) - Sire: Kodiac - Dam: Nations Alexander

Another syndicated horse for The Good Racing Company is a young filly who showed an abundance of promise on debut recently and could even follow the exploits of Alfa Kellenic.

The two year old filly is a daughter of experienced stallion Kodiac, who is one of the elder statesmen in the breeding world, but continues to produce quality offspring. On track, Kodiac placed in Group races on a number of occasions, but his legacy has continued through the likes of Group One winners Hello Youmzain, Tiggy Wiggy and El Bodegan. On the female side, the dam Nations Alexander was a classy racemare and won the Group Three Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket back in 2016. That makes Bella Love a half sister to Yaahobby, a capable sort at a lowly level for Antony Brittain. 

The filly would make her debut at Wetherby in mid-June in a decent looking novice contest over six furlongs. Ridden by Jason Hart, she would be prominent throughout and came to challenge close home, but the well backed favourite Lesley's Boy would get up by a length at the line. It would be a very promising debut second and she would also be the lead filly of the field. The Richard Fahey-trained winner had been well spoken of beforehand, so to give him a scare will only boost the performance. 

Based on that display, a win should be imminent and the careful race planning needed will ensure that it remains a possibility next time out. Possessing a talented pedigree and proven ability, Bella Love will be one to follow as well as giving her owners plenty of excitement. 

INNSE GALL (Born: 2018) - Sire: Toronado  - Dam: Reaf

The six year old Innse Gall joined the Easingwold stable after getting scouted out by Paul Hanagan and the Good Racing Company as a potentially fun syndicate horse to race through the whole year. 

Formerly trained in the Scottish borders by Iain Jardine, the son of high class miler Toronado has been a useful type at lower levels over the past three seasons. Holding his form to a consistant standard in the main, Innse Gall would win five times for Iain Jardine before moving down south at the start of the year.

At the time of writing, Innse Gall has raced twice for The Good Racing Company and Craig Lidster, but could only manage two midfield finishes on the all-weather at Southwell. His form is much stronger on the turf however with all five wins coming on grass. Following an absence of around six months, everyone will be eager to see him return to action. His official rating has dropped to 74 which is now below the rating he last won on. During his time at Iain Jardine's stable, he was thought good enough to contest a class handicap at last year's Ebor Festival at York, where he was far from disgraced in eighth. 

His owners have been patient, but there are plenty of positives to draw on as soon as Innse Gall returns to the track. 

WE'VE GOT THIS (Born: 2022) - Sire: Invincible Army - Dam: Silver Sabre

Charity: The family of Graham Lee (The Graham Lee Racing Club)

The final horse on display is another flag bearer for a highly supported cause. She has also been specially selected as a potentially talented horse for her owners. 

The juvenile filly We've Got This was announced in May for the Graham Lee Racing Club. This value-for-money club was created to raise money for the family of jockey Graham Lee, who unfortunately suffered life changing neck injuries in a fall at Newcastle last November. Graham Lee has been a very popular member of the Northern racing circuit and has achieved the rare double of winning a Grand National over jumps and Nunthorpe Stakes on the flat. Following his accident last year, the racing community has offered their help in the after care and all proceedings made by We've Got This will also go to the family.

The filly is a daughter of second season sire Invincible Army, who was very smart on track and won numerous Group Two contests during his career. At stud, he has produced the recent valuable York handicap winner James's Delight and exciting filly Kitty Rose. We've Got This is the first foal of an unraced mare Silver Sabre, who is in turn related to classy juvenile Crown Prosecutor and listed race winner Riskit Fora Biskit. 

We've Got This would make an eagerly anticipated debut at Redcar in late May, where plenty of racegoers turned up to catch a glimpse of the horse. She would run very well by making late headway into second and show plenty of encouragement. The wide margin winner that day would be a well thought of newcomer from the Lambourn stable of Archie Watson. Following the promise of her debut, We've Got This was next in action at Carlisle, a different style of track to Redcar. Under a positive ride by Hollie Doyle, We've Got This would cut out the early running. Approaching the final stages, she would weaken on the uphill finish to come last of nine, but was only beaten six lengths at the line. The winner of that race would go on to race at Royal Ascot and the field contained runners from the Fahey, Johnston and Ryan stables.

The bare form of her recent start may look like a backward step, but We've Got This is still learning the ropes and a return to a flat track similar to Redcar could suit her better. Already a popular horse for the cause she supports, it will be a great moment if she was to gain a first win too.