Hampton courts best from Sally

Matt Hampton drove Whenharrymetsally to victory in the latest Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Club Members’ races for fillies and mares, which took place at Chipley Park in Somerset on Sunday.

The partnership, finishing hard against the inside running rail, got up to beat the favourite, Posh Totty (Midnight Legend), by two lengths, with Knight Blaze (Bach) a further eight lengths back in third. It was a performance of some grit by Whenharrymetsally, who is trained in North Devon by Keith Cumings, and is owned by Hannah and Andrew Broggio – their mare is a daughter of King’s Theatre out of the Flemensfirth mare Wyndham Miss Sally, and her film-savvy owners named her after the movie starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal.

Whenharrymetsally broke her duck in a maiden point-to-point in March 2013, and has won another seven races since, but has yet to try a race under Rules. Her dam was unraced, but a half-sister to several winners over jumps, and, given her sire and damsire, a career in the breeding sheds beckons the eight-year-old.

Cumings’ wife, Janet, says: “Keith bought her at Tattersalls Ireland’s Derby Sale as a three-year-old [for €5,500] and she’s turned out to be very consistent and very tough. On Sunday she landed in a heap over the last, but she ran on and always tries her hardest.

“She’s not the easiest to train, and we keep her on a special diet, canter her every day and turn her out daily.

“Hannah and Andrew love racing, but their mare has a future at stud. A win under Rules in a hunters’ chase would help, and we considered the recent race at Taunton, but we will have another look while the ground remains soft because she loves mud.”

Sunday’s race was the second in a series of 12 TBA-sponsored point-to-points for fillies and mares – the next one takes place at Barbury Castle in Wiltshire on Sunday, February 14.