A lifelong dream should be fulfilled for Northampton-based racehorse owner Mohan Fonseka next Thursday at Royal Ascot, a highly-charged five-day meeting which will be tinged with emotion following the death of racing legend Sir Henry Cecil on Tuesday.
If Royal Ascot is to once again prove a theatre of dreams and drama, a cocktail reaching out to the most humble of owners, a scenario of which Sir Henry would undoubtedly have approved, then success for Number Theory in the Ascot Gold Cup over 2m 4f next Thursday would surely fit the bill.
The five-year-old Halling gelding, who’s trained by John Holt at Peckleton in Leicestershire, has improved out of all recognition since making his debut as an unconsidered 100/1 shot in a 7f Leicester maiden in August 2010.
Only out of the frame twice in his last eight starts, Number Theory has four career wins to his name and was second of 10 runners at odds of 40/1 when stepped up for Group 3 company for the first time at Sandown a fortnight ago.
Fonseka, a retired psychiatric nurse who worked at St Andrew’s Hospital in Northampton for 25 years after moving to this country from his native Sri Lanka, is not a man you naturally associate with the rich trappings of wealth, living, in his own words, ‘a frugal existence’ in his flat at Duston.
Yet he has paid a £3,500 entry fee for Number Theory to tackle Flat racing’s blue bloods who look like being headed by last year’s winner Colour Vision for Godolphin, the John Oxx-trained Saddler’s Rock and Simenon for crack Irish trainer Willie Mullins.
“It is really a case of Hobson’s Choice with the horse now to run in this sort of race as he has been raised 10lbs to a mark of 108,” said Fonseka.
“This doesn’t give us too many choices of races.
“We are giving him a chance because the horse deserves it on what he has done so far.
“I believe my trainer John may have had an offer or two for the horse last season but I am not really interested in selling.
“After all, what would I do? Perhaps only buy another one who might not turn out to be as good. The day at Ascot will hopefully turn out to be a nice occasion and a day out for my daughters and a few of my friends.”
Assessing the horse’s chance, Fonseka said: “He ran over two miles for the last time at Sandown and seemed to be staying on at the end so we hope he will cope with the extra distance but you won’t know for sure until you try.
“The horse doesn’t want firm ground and probably needs soft to excel but a big meeting such as Royal Ascot will make it safe so I am fairly certain he will run.”
Number Theory has had two runs so far this season, only finishing fourth of five behind Ektihaam at Ascot, but Fonseka said: “The horse had an injury in March when he had some muscle spasms so we couldn’t get him ready for other races and weren’t sure how he would run. The effort at Sandown was really unexpected.”
EDGCOTE trainer Alex Hales has been delighted by the progress made by dual Flat winner Take Two since his arrival at Trafford Bridge stables in early spring.
The four-year-old, formerly trained by John O’Shea, is owned and bred by Steve Wallace who was introduced to Hales by local owner Jane Way, who has Farewellatmidnight at the stables.
Hales, who ran Take Two at Haydock yesterday, said: “That tends to be how you get a lot of your best owners... through existing ones. So far the arrangement has worked well for everyone!”
Take Two had a couple of spins over hurdles at his previous base but has won his races on the level at 1m 2f.
“We were also pleased with him in his latest run at York when he was upped in grade and he needs a bit of juice in the ground,” said the trainer, who also has a promising juvenile filly by Dutch Art named Come On Lila getting ready to run.
IMPRESSIVE Towcester bumper winner Reves D’Amour took centre stage at the Brightwells June Derby Sale at Ascot last week after being bought by agent Tom Malone for 17,500gns.
Reves D’Amour, who was trained at Towcester by Polly Gundry, will now come under the guidance of Jamie Snowden.