The new training combination of Bernard Llewellyn and Robert Williams enjoyed a red-letter day at Ffos Las last week.
Williams joined his grandfather Llewellyn on the training licence earlier this summer. And the pair struck an early blow with just their fifth runner when Kaleidoscope Eyes took a seven-furlong handicap at the Carmarthenshire course (see photograph).
The four-year-old had been an unlucky third on her previous visit to the track but made no mistake on this occasion under Robbie Downey.
Llewellyn is no stranger to success at Ffos Las – his stable star Zambezi Magic holds the record for the most wins at the course with seven – and he and Williams are sure to be targeting more victories as the track enters the busiest period in its summer.
The headline attraction this month is Ladies’ Day on Friday, August 21 – one of the biggest days in the West Wales social calendar.
Last week’s meeting was also notable as it staged the latest battle between jockeys’ title contenders Billy Loughnane and Oisin Murphy. Reigning champion Murphy struck the first blow when landing the opener on Safari Dream, but Loughnane hit back by partnering a treble, including Lerwick for his father Mark.
This Wednesday’s meeting at Ffos Las has been brought forward to avoid the potential effects of the solar eclipse.
The first race had initially been scheduled for 5.40pm but with it being unclear how much light will be lost, that has been rescheduled by the British Horseracing Authority to 3.35pm.
It is hoped an earlier start time will allow the meeting to be finished before the eclipse, meaning the safety of participants will not be affected by the potential effect of low visibility.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly between the earth and the sun, blocking out much of its light.
Our sister track Chepstow celebrated its centenary raceday on Sunday. And it was perhaps fitting that the meeting concluded with a Welsh winner.
That came courtesy of warm favourite Crimson Road in a 10-furlong handicap, the five-year-old winning his second race in a row at Chepstow for the Bridgend father-and-son combination of John and Rhys Flint.
Riding honours went to Finley Marsh, who bagged a double.
David Probert claimed a high-profile winner on Newmarket’s Saturday card. But it was the horse – not the race – which attracted most attention.
The Bargoed product rode Lex Victoria to make a winning debut in a £40,000 maiden fillies’ contest.
Lex Victoria – at €1,100,000 – was the most expensive individual to have been bought from any of the European breeze-up sales this spring.
Probert gave her a wake-up call but Simon and Ed Crisford’s runner duly outpointed Thi Qar, a well-bred newcomer from the John and Thady Gosden stable.
The card came to a close with Bridgend-born Mason Paetel partnering Prince Quattro to victory in a staying handicap for James Owen. It was Paetel’s 27th winner of the year.
