When I first had the opportunity to write articles for this website Ferdy suggested that I follow the progress of one of the young jockeys, in particular, and one of the Barn Managers. The Jockey was Nathan Moscrop and the Barn Manager was Gemma.
I wrote articles about them both and was impressed about the fact that they both had dreams and aspirations which, as we all know, however committed we are to them do not always come to fruition. How good it is therefore that for these two young people who have worked so hard to achieve their dreams that they have made great strides this season towards them.
Gemma went to Lincoln University and studied equine science. Part of that course required her to devise a training schedule for a race horse to take into account all the theoretical work that she had done throughout the course. As is so often the case unless one put theory into practice it does not seem real. Gemma wanted to train a horse herself. Last year on a journey to Cheltenham with New Alco, she talked to Ferdy about this and he said, when the time was right he would find a horse for her to train. Nothing happened and she did not want to press the issue. Then out of the blue he presented her with a horse belonging to Assistant Trainer Janet, a large handsome chesnut called Messager. He is 8 years of age and came over from France where he had been in one chase and then was entered for I flat race and 3 hurdle races here. He had been turned away for about a year and it was assessed that he was ready for some more work. and point to pointing was seen to be a suitable option.
Gemma’s university work on how feeding, muscles and tendons respond to exercise and physiology was at last put into practice. She had to devise a plan of work.for him. As with every racehorse she had to take care of his legs. A big horse that struggled with the training ring as he was unbalanced. Gemma started lungeing him initially at the trot and then put him into bungee reins to get him to work from behind. That has progressed to some dressage once a week with a lot of slow flat work. He began to bend and come into shape and was a quick learner. The better balance has meant better jumping as he is more co-ordinated. Another decision was how to train him to develop stamina. Do you do interval training, walk, trot, canter gallop or continuous slow training? The latter was the decision. Gemma felt it would help him to have the stamina to run a three mile point to point. All of this had to be organised around her main work. If she was going racing she has had to get up at 4am to see to Messager first and fit in his training in her break periods in the middle of the day. To her great credit the plan and the hard work has paid off. To date he has participated in three point to points and won them all. If he is entered for Whitwell on the Hill on 6th April and comes in the first four he qualifies for a Cheltenham hunter chase on 7th May.
Gemma is very self-effacing saying that she had a great advantage in that he was very well behaved to ride. As he lives away from the main yard she was worried he would be lonely. Janet came to the rescue and he now has his own brand new pale blue radio! Gemma did not let on about his music preference! There is no doubt that she has forged a very close relationship with him and I sense this has in some way contributed to his success.
So, who was to ride this special horse? This is where Nathan came into his own. He had a lot of experience of point to point riding but this season has flown. He is currently the leading Novice Rider of the season. He was brought in to ride Messager at short notice and immediately had a rapport with him. They make a great pair with Messager on the bridle the whole way round the course. In addition Nathan has ridden for Judith and Paul Hodgson and Lucinda Broad. For Judith and Paul he has achieved a second and a third place
For Lucinda he has two rides and two wins on Scenic Storm; two rides on That’s the Reason Why with a second and a third and one ride on Exclusive Swallow coming second. His proudest moment was achieving a double at Hutton Rudby when he won on Scenic Storm and Messager and just missed the treble by coming second with Exclusive Swallow. All of this coupled with his return to the Racing College to take his Category B licence has made a world of difference to his confidence. The acquisition of this licence means that it broadens his horizons in that he can now ride in the majority of races. I had a word with Niall about Nathan. He praised his hard work and his commitment and said that he was a great role model for the lads in the yard.