Sizing Continues to Progress

Smiles all round as Sizing Sahara finishes 3rd at Wincanton

It's been another exciting week at Paul Henderson Racing this week, culminating in a great result for Sizing Sahara who finished 3rd at Wincanton  Races yesterday. 
The week started at Plumpton, where we had 3 runners; Amron Kali, Miss Oscarose and Raising Hope. Amron was first up and the 8-1 chance started well, held up at the back but still in touch. She progressed through the pack from 3 out and was rallied well but Tom O'Brien 2 from home and stayed on well to take 3rd place. Next up was Miss Oscarose. She was running her first race since winning well at Plumpton 12th December. The 10-year-old chased the leader and was in good position until 3 out. Though she pushed hard, when ridden by Paddy Brennan, she ended up a respectable 3rd. So it was two down and two places going into the 4 pm and Raising Hope was up and hoping to put her best hoof forward and secure the ew treble. The 8-year-old gave it everything she had, didn't quite get the trip and could only manage a fourth place finish on the day. As always it was an enjoyable day's racing with a good crowd of our owners, and we left on a positive note, with the feeling that there is still more to come from all three of these promising mares.
On Tuesday we were racing again, this time down at Fontwell with Thepartysover. It was desperate ground and the 12-year-old struggled to make an impact in the race, finishing 5th under Tom O'Brien. 
So to the packed out Betway Kingwell Hurdle meeting at Wincanton on Saturday, and Sizing Sarah continued his comeback from a fractured cannon bone last year. The gelding had been out for 7 months before making his return at Fontwell in December. On that occasion, he unseated his rider in a nervy performance. In January he was pulled up at Leicester, after which Paul made the call to ease him back in over hurdles. The switch in tactics had an immediate impact, and in February Sizing put in a solid performance finishing 4th under a good ride from our man, Gordon Treacy. Yesterday was yet another step in the right direction for the 9-year-old grey. After stealing everyone's heart in the parade ring, picking up best turned out, he was well ridden by another one of our promising young talents, Bradley Paris-Crofts, who guided the plucky 28/1 shot home into 3rd. With his recovery now well behind him, Paul is firmly focused on progression. You cannot argue that Sizing Sahara is really looking more and more like the real deal with every race, and it is surely now a matter of time before this powerful thoroughbred delivers a well-deserved win for the yard!

Brad focused on the task in hand

Jack doing a great job at keeping Sizing relaxed before the race

Three wise men

Images all from our fantastic resident photographer, Michelle Day.