Kyper Disco Race Reports 2004~2006

15 June 2006, Newbury - Now this is a first – the jockey writing up the race report! At least I really will be able to give a blow-by-blow account; I shall be kind though and spare you the details of my months of pre-race training! Kyper looked as fit as a flea on Thursday and not an ounce of extra condition on him in fact I don’t think I have ever seen Kyper looking as well as he does at the moment. The rest of the field was a total mixed bag of horses and riders – from a 3-y-o flat horse with a British Racing School coach on board to a 13 year old chaser with a 16 year old school boy on board as well as a hearse driver making his racecourse debut! And of course a nerve riddled NewROG manager with the added pressure of wearing the NewROG colours at her home track and carrying Martin Dwyer’s Derby winning whip (I was terrified of dropping it)! But of course the real purpose of the race was to raise money for Spinal Injuries Association and each rider did admirably – I raised near on £2,500. Kyper was keen as mustard as soon as Johnny legged me up in the Paddock and he took a fair pull going to the start but once there he immediately settled. I knew I wasn’t to hang around at the start so once we had established with the Starter who was going to ‘make it’ – Clare Hazell on the Jamie Osborne trained Laawaris requested to set the pace - I jostled for my position. It was a flag start (I don’t think Kyper would have fitted into a stall anyway!) and as it was dropped Laawaris to my side whipped round leaving me free to jump off first. I got the rail and Kyper settled into a very nice pace down the back straight, I dared not look round to see where the rest of the field was, but taking the first bend I knew I had something very close behind as Kyper picked up the bit; within seconds Lennart Sachs, a 63 year old Swedish retired amateur (with 50 wins under his belt), on board the Gerald Butler trained Diktatorial scooted past me on the outside. Not wanting to drain Kyper so early on in the race I let Lennart pass and settled Kyper back into a nice pace close behind, tight on the rail. Turning for home I was on Diktatorial’s heels as he upped the pace and started to kick on for the line; three furlongs out (I think Newbury has the longest straights ever – or it feels like it anyway when the muscles in your legs are screaming for a reprieve) I could see that Lennart hadn’t even moved on his mount yet, but even though he was off the bridle, Kyper was game and plugged on with me trying my hardest to scrub away at him to the finish. I tried to edge closer in the run in, in the hope of getting a gap on the rail inside Diktatorial and so encouraging Kyper to run on but Lennart made sure he didn’t let me in (nothing like a non-competitive charity race!!). As the post drew nearer I could hear all the shouting and it gave me the much needed encouragement to keep going despite serious rubber legs setting in. In the end we were only beaten by 1 1⁄2 lengths, and as I later discovered, Diktatorial won a Group 3 and ran in 2000 Guineas last year with Martin riding him, so good old Kyper didn’t have much of a chance against him. I was delighted with the race - Kyper didn’t make a single noise, he travelled well and couldn’t have tried harder. He was a perfect gentleman and I shall remember it as one of the best days of my life so far. I’m still on a high!

28 April 2006, Sandown - With Kyper in good order and ready for a run, first time back after this wind op, Nicky decided that despite this race at Sandown being pretty competitive it was worth the gamble by running Kyper, as the prizemoney paid down to sixth place. As predicted the dry spell meant that the ground was declared as ‘Good’ and consequently the race cut up in our favour, with only six other confirmed runners. The Gary Moore trained, Mr Boo, having won his last three races on the bounce was our biggest danger but with all the other runners having won at least one race each this season, we knew this was not going to be a walk in the park for Kyper; especially having had 71 on the side lines and still carrying an extra bit of unwanted condition. They jumped off at a decent enough pace and Kyper had no trouble keeping with them, however he met the first fence very hesitantly and this continued for the first circuit with Kyper jumping in a very novice fashion making mistakes at the 3rd and 6th fence. All credit to Andrew though, as he didn’t give Kyper the smallest opportunity to down sticks and nursed him round the first mile, giving him his confidence back. Kyper travelled nicely on the flat and lobbed past the stands and up the hill but it wasn’t until he turned down the back straight did Kyper’s jumping begin to improve and Andrew was able to make some progress. As things started to hot up Saddlers Cloth and Lord Rodney were pulled up leaving an exciting race to the finish for the rest of the field. Two from home it looked likely that Mr Boo would take the silverware but Lubinas hampered him and was consequently brought down; leaving Kyper a place in the winners’ enclosure! The very decent Harris Bay was soon clear and decisively notched up 12 lengths before passing the winning post in front of Lubinas; leaving the top weight Thistlecraft to finish 3rd and Kyper 1 1⁄4 lengths behind him in 4th place (picking up £1,099.50 in prizemoney). Andrew dismounted blowing nearly as much as Kyper after reportedly having to push him from a mile and 1⁄2 out! Andrew was disappointed with the way Kyper jumped but said he did warm up after the first mile and travelled nicely despite the ground being slightly quicker than ideal for him. The most important news though, is that Kyper didn’t make a single noise the whole way round and it seems that the wind operation has been a success – which is fantastic news. In conclusion Andrew thinks Kyper will come on a lot from the race.

16 February 2006, Huntingdon - After chasing the leader in second place, for the first circuit, Kyper looked to be in good order however he started jumping to the left after the fifth fence and after making a mistake at the ninth fence Mick began to lose ground rapidly. Three out Kyper weakened with no chance of recovery and in the end KD finished 7th of 9, ten lengths behind the 6th placed horse; with the Venetia William’s trained Magico taking the honours from the favourite Pricilla. I called Mick on his way home and he reported that despite the description of ‘Good’ ground it was definitely soft and very hard work to boot. Kyper had struggled with the ground and despite having a tongue strap he choked as soon as he had to find another gear. He jumped left handed and overall his jumping could have been better but the real problem lies with his breathing; however Mick still thinks that if we got his breathing sorted then he most certainly has a race in him.

19 January 2006, Taunton - Kyper jumped and travelled well and was prominent until the eighth; four out he looked to have every chance as he chased the leader but three from home he blew up and weakened finishing 4th, 16 lengths behind the third placed horse. We still picked up £381.60 for the place though! Since returning I have spoken to Mick directly and he reported that he had been pleased with the way Kyper had been travelling and jumping throughout the race but despite the tongue strap he choked three fences from home and was left behind in the last stages of the race. His view is that the race was more than likely too close to Kyper’s Fontwell run and that frustratingly he has a lot more ability than he is showing on the track at the moment. The most important news though is that Kyper came back in one piece and is well after the race.

7 January 2006, Fontwell - with Andrew Tinkler on board Kyper tracked the leaders keenly, drew clear with the favourite (and eventual winner) approaching four out, leaving the rest of the field behind. Kyper had the narrow advantage when two fences from home, but he stumbled badly and had no chance of regaining the lost ground on the leader after that. In the end Kyper finished second, six lengths behind the Venetia Williams’ trained Magico, with the remaining horses strung out like washing behind him. Andrew reported afterwards that Kyper had travelled and jumped very well and it was only the mistake at the penultimate fence that had let him down; the way that Kyper travelled also led Andrew to say that he thinks that Kyper wouldn’t want anymore than 2 1⁄2 miles. The use of the tongue strap for the first time also appeared to help a lot.

14 December 2005, Newbury - The instructions to Mick were to keep KD in touch all the way with the hope of there being a bit of fuel left in the tank in the run-in. To KD's credit he jumped like a stag and didn't put a foot wrong and with KD nicely on the bridle after the first circuit things looked promising. Even down the back straight KD was going really nicely but turning in for home KD met the cross fence and went out like a light. You could see Mick going to work on him but Kyper went rapidly backwards and just before the open ditch in the straight, Mick pulled Kyper up abruptly. Back in the un-saddling enclosure Mick was able to give more of an explanation, saying that Kyper had jumped perfectly, putting in a much more of a polished performance than at Fontwell, first time out over fences back in April. Turning for home Mick was pleased at how easily Kyper was travelling and thought there was a good chance that he would be able to pick off a fair few horses in the run-in. However as soon as he cleared the cross fence Kyper started making a noise and stopped dead, so much so that going in to the open ditch Kyper had lost that much momentum that Mick had to pull him up sharply as he didn’t think he would have cleared the fence safely. Mick suggested that we may want to give Kyper the benefit of the doubt for his first run back, but dropping him back in trip could well be helpful next time out and there is no doubt that he would come on a lot from the race.

29 April 2005, Fontwell - Having schooled well at home and with the start of the new NH season, it was time to try the bigger obstacles. Kyper has always looked built to tackle fences and he most certainly did not disgrace himself, jumping fluently and travelling well, taking a prominent role in the race. Despite this only being a Class E Beginners' chase it was a pretty competitive field with the main threat coming from Winsley and Flying Spirit and in the end the battle was between the three of us and the Paul Webber trained Space Star. Kyper rallied well three from home but Space Star and Flying Spirit kicked for the line and on the fast ground Kyper wasn't able to make a final impression but in the end finishing a very respectable 4th. Marcus (Foley) dismounted and reported that Kyper had jumped well and as he was running over a much shorter trip than is ideal coupled with the quick ground, Kyper had not disgraced himself one bit. All in all a very encouraging debut over fences, showing that there is a lot more to come from Kyper. The plan is to try and find him a suitable race over 3 miles, if the ground does not dry up too much. We will then turn Kyper away for the summer.

1 April 2005, Newbury - Kyper looked fantastic before the race, gleaming coat and his usual air of quite confidence, as he strode round the pre-parade and then parade ring. Before being legged up, Nicky's instructions to James were to keep him covered up in roughly 3rd place before the final turn, then after the dreaded and jinxed 9th flight, kick on home to the line. As in his previous races everything went to plan with Kyper jumping beautifully and travelling nicely, down the home bend things were shaping up nicely and turning for home Kyper looked to be in a prefect position. Then the 9th hurdle (3 from home) loomed up and as if like clockwork Kyper blundered at it and went out like a light, weakening instantly. Stopping dead like that meant that it was an impossibility for James to get Kyper back into the race and so he nursed him back finishing 5th. As Kyper returned to the un-saddling enclosure it was apparent that he looked uncomfortable, blowing very hard indeed. After a week where many of Nicky's horses had failed to complete their races, it looked like that KD has succumbed to the mystery bug that Seven Barrows has been trying to shake all season.

4 March 2005, Newbury - As ever Kyper looked a picture in the Paddock beforehand; Mick was on board and his instructions were to keep Kyper covered up in 5th or 6th place and then kick for home once round the home bend. In a competitive field of 13 there were quite a few horses to be wary of but Mick's parting words were that it was winnable race and that Kyper deserved to be up there in the frame. As per instructions, Mick tucked Kyper in behind the leading pack and he settled into a lovely rhythm immediately as he bowled past the stands for the first time. Kyper's jumping was impeccable and despite the horribly tacky and slippery ground Kyper travelled beautifully too. Turning for home Mick had KD in the perfect position but as he jumped the first flight in the home straight the horse in front clipped the hurdle and Kyper got caught in it, as it flicked back viciously catching him very hard behind. From the stands we couldn't see what had happened only that Kyper had stopped dead and Mick did a balancing act to stay on. It was apparent that something was wrong as Mick immediately eased up on KD and you could see him looking down at Kyper's legs but after a few strides Kyper freed up and he cantered back, clearing the remaining flights. Back in the un-saddling enclosure Mick dismounted and explained what had happened, saying that it was 100% not Kyper's fault and that he had received a nasty knock behind with the hurdle, which in return had put an end to the race. To add insult to injury, Mick also said that turning for home he had Kyper in the perfect position, on the bridle and cruising and thought that the race was in the bag. I guess that's racing for you!

1 January 2005, Cheltenham - It would have been a perfect start to the New Year - a winner at Cheltenham but unfortunately luck does not seem to be on poor old Kyper's side this season. He looked magnificent in the Paddock before the race and reports from the yard all week had been that Kyper had been working well at home and was in good order. The race unfolded as planned with Kyper chasing the leaders and jumping nicely and was still on the bridle up the home-bend incline, but as the ground flattened Kyper went out like a light and started to go rapidly backwards. When Kilgowan fell two from home Kyper was hampered but by this stage he wasn't going to be in the picture and in the end Mick pulled him up and we finished last, tailed off. Back in the un-saddling enclosure the vet took a look at Kyper as he didn't appear to be 100%, and was then duly taken off for a tracheal scope. The scope came back showing that Kyper had a viral infection; there does seem to be a virus going through Seven Barrows at the moment and therefore we can put Kyper's disappointing run down to this. The good news is that Kyper came back sound and is now much better.

11 December 2004, Doncaster - In field of 13, there wasn't too much competition to get worried about, despite us being top weight at 11st 12lbs, and we went off Joint-Favourite with the Oliver Sherwood trained, Once Seen. The instructions to the jockey were to keep Kyper up in the leading pack, covering him up if necessary but making a bid for the line turning for home. It was therefore with great surprise that Kyper was dropped in the back and switched on and off for the whole race. Turning for home, Kyper was faced with a bank of horses in his way but when the gap did come and he was changed up a gear, three from home, Kyper made good headway but having too much ground to make up, he was soon driven out and chased the leaders finishing a disappointing 6th. Despite the jockey's report of Kyper not handling the ground, this race was unfortunately not a true indication of Kyper's ability as he was not given the best opportunity for a true performance. Thankfully Kyper came out of the race fit, sound and well.

10 November 2004, Newbury - In a field of 16 and over 2 miles 3 furlongs this Novices' Hurdle race was for the taking and Kyper Disco looked to have it sown up turning for home. On the bridle and cruising, he was in a commanding position with the other jockeys already working away on their mounts whilst Mick was sitting pretty in 2nd gear. However three from home Kyper blundered, flicking a hurdle hard and unseating Mick Fitzgerald. A huge disappointment as it looked like we would have been in the final shake-up for the line. The good news is that Kyper returned home sound, well and ready to fight another day.