Imperial Cup

After spending hundreds of hours on the Newmarket sales catalogue, a shortlist was formed, one of the horses we wanted to take a second look at was called Ebony Express. We loved his profile but thought this classy type would be out of our budget, however we did secure him and paid 27,500gns.

We hoped this son of Superior Premium would be a proper Saturday horse.

On the way back from the sales we joked that he could be an Imperial Cup type, this was before Ebony Express had even seen a hurdle! Wednesday 29^th October 2014 turned out to be a significant day at the sales for Value Racing Club.

Ebony Express was a natural and took to hurdling with aplomb. He won his first two races with ease but on his 3^rd start came back wrong and we discovered he had picked up a bug. Giving him time to recover, The Betfair Hurdle was next, everything was going great until two out, when we were brought down by a faller. It was a horrible tumble, Ebony Express was lucky to come away from it with everything intact.

The Sandown Imperial Cup was the obvious target and the one we wanted. Despite his odds we were sweet on his chances and thought he would be placed, providing his confidence hadn’t been affected.

On the turn for home horses behind were starting to struggle, Ebony Express had never been out of the first two, from the off and was jumping great.

Three out, we were looking good, two out, the excitement was building, jumping the last, Ebony was a head down in second place but jockey Will Kennedy was having none of that, under a power packed ride and a willing partner underneath him, Ebony Express gave everything and got up to win going away at the line.

The dream came true and then the party started!