Archive - Thursday, 20 June 2002


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York winner Artie fulfils Alf's dream

Artie, one of Tim Easterby's four runners in the race, gained a 25-1 success in the £65,000 William Hill Trophy, the showpiece event of last Saturday's 32nd Timeform Charity Day at York.

Partnered by Dale Gibson, who was riding at his "rock-bottom" weight of 7st 10lb, Artie, carrying the colours of Scarborough nightclub owner Alf Arton, prevailed by a short-head from Impressive Flight, trained by David Barron and ridden by Paul Hanagan.

Easterby's other three runners, Fayr Jag, Travelling Times and Silver Band, finished fifth, seventh and tenth respectively.

"The thunderstorm we had on Friday night, which changed the ground to soft, suited this horse, but probably went against my others," said Easterby, as Arton, fulfilling a long-held ambition of winning a race at York, admitted to having had "a good bet" on his 25-1 winner.

"I've had horses for eight years and to have a winner at York is a great feeling," said the delighted owner.

Easterby said: "I know it sounds corny, but Alf and I decided a long time ago that this was 'the' race for Artie. But it hasn't been easy getting him there. I couldn't run him early on because the ground was too firm, and then he looked as though he wouldn't get in the race. As it turned out, he made the cut by one - I wouldn't have liked to have been the one to tell Alf if he hadn't!"

Easterby believes that Artie's optimum distance when the ground is on the soft side is five furlongs and, over six on Saturday, it was only by the skin of his teeth that he held off the strong late challenge of the runner-up.

"He was dying at the end and it was only Dale's strength that got him home. If he'd put up a pound overweight, we would have been beaten," admitted Easterby.

Gibson revealed: "I went for a run on the morning to make sure I did the weight. When we went past the line, I feared I'd been beaten and thought 'Oh no, not again.' I just missed out recently on Macaw in the Cecil Frail Handicap at Haydock and also on Elvington Boy in a £40,000 race at Musselburgh. Both were beaten a short-head, but this time the photo went in my favour. I think I deserved this one!"

Norton trainer Linda Stubbs' Arran Pilot is one horse to watch out for her in today's Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. The two-year-old has made great strides since being beaten at Musselburgh on his debut and is certainly not without a solid each-way chance in this five-furlongs dash.

Updated: 10:37 Thursday, June 20, 2002