There were wildly contrasting emotions for the Parker and Akers kennels following the final of the BGBF British Bred Oaks Final at Doncaster on Monday night.
Victory went to the Akers’ 5-2jf Fearsome Encore (Geelo Vegas-Fearsome Dee, May 17) though the final was marred by the broken hock of Russanda Reel who had to be put to sleep.
Sean Parker said: “It’s terribly sad but one of those that happens very occasionally in racing. We bred her ourselves and she would have eventually have gone down the breeding route. But it was a bad one and the damage was irreparable.”
For winning trainer Chris Akers, there were mixed emotions. At one level his biggest success as a trainer, but having lost two runners to career ending – though not fatal – injuries in the last week – his first thoughts were with connections of Russanda Reel
He said: “It is terribly sad. You would rather finish last with a sound dog than win with one who goes lame. We lost Sonic Spur with a hock injury last week, she will go back to Ireland to her breeder. Gymstar Elusive did a wrist when he won his Derby trialstake last week and is off to the vet.”
With eight wins in her last ten races, Encore is in the form of her life, though Chris admits that he seriously underestimated her when he took over her training from breeder John Marriott last October.
He said: “John is first and foremost a breeder and when he asked if I would take on Fearsome Encore for the Vegas Five Syndicate, I didn’t have very high expectations. She ran in a few A2s and in the end, I asked the racing office to downgrade her to A3.
“But she won an A1 since the lock down and to win a competition like this is such a great feeling. She seems to be loving her life. She loves routine especially long walks in the fields and woods; she is the only dog in the kennel who hates the walking machine.
“The lads who own her were delighted, they had backed her to win it at 12-1. They are a great bunch, and all local Doncaster lads. They went for a curry before the final and then came to see her after the race. They will be over at the weekend to get some proper photographs.”
For obvious reasons, we will not be publishing the video of the final.
