Monthly Newsletter - February 2025
A relatively quiet month as the team gear up for the turf season ahead… We have a few more horses to come in from their holidays to make a full stable of 45 horses. We are excited for what lies ahead. The team have worked incredibly hard through this winter and the results on the track have shone through and paid off, with a 33% strike rate of 5 winners from 15 runners.
February’s Runner Highlights
PERFECT PAROLE (right above) and LADY DREAMER (left above) certainly started the month off with some excitement bringing home a double at Wolverhampton on 1st February.
PERFECT PAROLE got off the mark under Sean Levey in the one mile handicap. The filly, drawn in stall 1, was in behind the leading trio and rallied hard to get her head in front just when it mattered, winning by a shoulder. PERFECT PAROLE is by Without Parole, and out of the Dubai Destination mare, Perfect Delight. She was bred and is owned by Mildmay Racing.
Our second win for the evening at Wolverhampton was LADY DREAMER. Sean Levey was in the saddle for the six furlong handicap. Drawn in stall 5, the filly was prominent in behind the leader and led within the final furlong, just doing enough to win by a shoulder. LADY DREAMER is by Dandy Man, out of the Acclamation mare, Weekend Getaway. She is owned by Mr Arjun Waney.
TRANSPARENT (pictured below, left) is certainly one to look forward to for the turf season this year. From only 3 runs, he has now won twice and placed 2nd. On this occasion, Sean Levey was back in the saddle and the pair were at Southwell on 6th February for the one mile Restricted Novice Stakes. The three year old colt was running under a penalty from his previous win on 8th January. Drawn in stall 4, TRANSPARENT made hard work out of the race getting up to the line, and only leading where it mattered in the final furlong to win by 3/4 of a length. The colt is owned by The Transparent Syndicate and he is by Mehmas, out of the Lope De Vega mare, Light Glass.
Other notable performers include CLOUD FREE again on 13th February, as he brought home another 3rd place being beaten just one and a half lengths. The pair in front of him just getting away a bit too quickly on crossing the line. On 21st February WHIZZ BY (Above, top right) was unlucky getting caught up in a messy race around the bend, but managed to bring home a second place. She is a progressive filly on the rise and it won’t be long until she is back out on the track once again and winning races.
Meet The Team
Andina Bailey
Age & Where are you from:
Born in 2001, I’m from a country town in New Zealand.
Your role at Tom Ward Racing:
Rider/ Groom
How long have you worked for Tom:
I’ve worked for Tom for 18 months in total, I took a few months off over my first winter to go and enjoy the Aussie summer.
Favourite Horse:
My favourite horse is always changing, but Northern Blaze aka Norman (pictured above, right below), because he always loves a cuddle.
Favourite Racing Moment:
While I spent time in Australia, I was lucky enough to strap a Group One Winner with a horse called Sunshine In Paris.
If you had a fully paid trip to anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I’ve done a bit of travelling around Europe, but would love to travel as much of Europe as possible while I am over here so anywhere but Italy and Croatia are the next possible holiday destinations.
If you had one superpower, what would it be?
It would be to teleport myself anywhere in the blink of an eye, so I could go home for the weekend and not pay the flight fees.
News
Racing Home Visits
At the end of January, Tom Ward Racing got a visit from RACING HOME, a programme set up to help support mothers in the racing industry as they transition back to riding. As well as the Racing Home team, Julia Budd, Chair of the Racing Foundation, funders of the initiative, was also visiting so that she too could learn about the Post-Pregnancy Rehabilitation & Support Programme.
The team originally got in contact with Alex to find out more about how they can best support her journey from becoming a mother to getting back in the saddle and the challenges that she may face. With over 70% of new entrants into racing being female, programmes like this are crucial in ensuring women receive the support they need to balance career and family life.
Watch the full video to hear from Julia and the Racing Home team.
Out and About!
Earlier this month, Tom and Alex took a trip to Mount Coote Stud in Ireland to visit Luke and Tabitha Lillingston.
A wonderful few days where they viewed some of the youngstock (pictured below). Tom Ward Racing have a great working relationship with Mount Coote Stud and have had success in the past (and present!) with some of their progeny including LUISA CASATI, WHIZZ BY and OUR GOLDEN ONE.
We look forward to seeing more of the Mount Coote graduates here at Whitehouse Stables and on the racetrack very soon!
Time To Breeze…
The days are getting lighter, the sun is shining and the daffodils are about to flower which means one thing… Spring is almost here and the Breeze Up sales are just around the corner!
The catalogues have been released for the first of the three Breeze Up sales at both Tattersalls in Newmarket and Goffs in Doncaster. The first sale will be the Craven Breeze up’s which will be held at Tattersalls between the 14th - 16th April.
We have had some success with previous recruits from the Breeze Ups which include DOUBLE CHERRY, who won and placed in some Class 2 and Class 3 handicaps at York and Haydock and subsequently sold to Australia for £250,000, and TRANSPARENT, who has won twice and placed second from three starts. He looks to have an exciting summer ahead of him with sights eyeing up a possible start at Royal Ascot in June.
If you are thinking of purchasing a new exciting prospect for this summer of racing, now is the time to get your head in front.
Email [email protected] for further details or alternatively, give Tom a call for a chat!
HORSES FOR SALE
At Whitehouse Stables we have a selection of different ownership options to suit everyone’s budget. This could be the purchase of a horse outright, or maybe even a smaller share. Below is a selection of the horses we currently have for sale. Get in touch now for more information.
FULL MOON PARTY - Do you love horses and want an insight into the life and journey of a racehorse from the beginning and all the way through to the racetrack? For a one off payment of £75, you will receive weekly updates, pictures & videos of the colt and you will get the exclusive opportunity to attend the races as an owner. Click on the link here - https://tom-ward-racing.sumupstore.com/product/full-moon-party-subscription
PRIESTESS - A precocious looking 2 year old filly by MASSAAT was purchased from the Tattersalls Somerville sale for £11,000. She is a full sister to black type gelding, MAS RAPIDO and winning filly, RAPIDO GIRL. She qualifies for the lucrative GBB Bonus and there is just 15% of her left. She has an entry in the Newbury Super Sprint Stakes on 19th July, as well as an entry in the £100,000 Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes on 23rd August! Get involved now!