After a few narrow misses at Ascot last week, Marlborough trainers are back to more mundane matters under both codes, but winning remains the name of the game. And not everyone runs a yard with 100+ horses.
Exit Marlborough on the A4 westward, and before you reach the Kennet long barrow, you'll find Flintstone Stud on your left hand side, at East Kennet. Set up by racing and breeding enthusiast David Weston some 15 years ago on an old dairy farm, the consignor and part-time trainer has a handful of flat horses and jumpers.
With less than 100 runners over the past 5 years under either code, the Stoutes and Nicholls of this world won't be quaking in their boots at this newcomer on the scene, but as yesterday's winner at Southwell illustrated, size is no impediment to ability, and any top trainer would swap a 50% strike rate for the more normal 16-18% range.
Seven year old Solstalla ran out a comfortable 6l winner of the Mares Handicap Hurdle under Page Fuller, and swanks an impeccable record since the season began - 211 - being only 3 1/4l off a hat trick from her seasonal debut in May. The mare has now run up 7 victories for the stable since joining from William Muir in early 2016.
Weston first came to prominence in November 2019 when his single consigment to the Tattersalls foal sale was knocked down for 95,000 gns. The stud is quietly building its book of mares and aiming for Book 1 standard.
After a few narrow misses at Ascot last week, Marlborough trainers are back to more mundane matters under both codes, but winning remains the name of the game. And not everyone runs a yard with 100+ horses.
Exit Marlborough on the A4 westward, and before you reach the Kennet long barrow, you'll find Flintstone Stud on your left hand side, at East Kennet. Set up by racing and breeding enthusiast David Weston some 15 years ago on an old dairy farm, the consignor and part-time trainer has a handful of flat horses and jumpers.
With less than 100 runners over the past 5 years under either code, the Stoutes and Nicholls of this world won't be quaking in their boots at this newcomer on the scene, but as yesterday's winner at Southwell illustrated, size is no impediment to ability, and any top trainer would swap a 50% strike rate for the more normal 16-18% range.
Seven year old Solstalla ran out a comfortable 6l winner of the Mares Handicap Hurdle under Page Fuller, and swanks an impeccable record since the season began - 211 - being only 3 1/4l off a hat trick from her seasonal debut in May. The mare has now run up 7 victories for the stable since joining from William Muir in early 2016.
Weston first came to prominence in November 2019 when his single consigment to the Tattersalls foal sale was knocked down for 95,000 gns. The stud is quietly building its book of mares and aiming for Book 1 standard.
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