Horse racing: Shelley takes up training reins

Aug 15 2008 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Friday

SHELLY JOHNSTONE is Scotland’s latest recruit to the training ranks and she’ll be a familiar face to many as she’s a young lady that has spent most of her working life in racing.

The 33-year-old from Langholm is based just outside the town of her roots at Westerkirk where she is a near-neighbour to established handler James Ewart.

Shelly doesn’t expect her next runners to hit the racecourse until the autumn and things can only get better after the tragedy of seeing her first debut performer General Swinny killed in action at Perth in mid-July.

She said: “I was going to start training last year but it took a while to go through the courses and modules that everyone has to sit nowadays.

“What happened at Perth wasn’t the best of starts but we’re getting on with things now and looking to the future.

“I’ve got a lovely little yard which is sponsored by the Edinburgh Woollen Mill and we get to use James’s gallops which are absolutely fantastic.”

Shelly now finds herself with three horses under care and the number is likely grow as the jumping season starts in earnest when the ground eases and the nights begin to draw in.

She added: “I’ve got a couple of seasoned campaigners in Malt De Vergy and Rossin Gold plus one of my one called Red Minster. Malt De Vergy had winning form for Len Lungo and is now shared by several people including Mrs Alix Sevenson and my mum.

“Rossin Gold won a few times over hurdles for Peter Monteith and he’s currently having a little break. Like Malt De Vergy he could go to Carlisle in late November when the ground is softer and, like Red Minster, two and a half miles will be his trip.”

Shelly has been with several trainers including Brian Storey and Rayson Nixon but she first started in racing at Kettleholm with the late Colin Parker.

“I learned a lot there and it was great experience,” she recalled. “I looked after Sparky Gayle and he gave a memory we’ll never forget when winning the Cathcart Chase at the 1997 Cheltenham Festival. I’ve been in racing since 1992 and this is something I’ve wanted to do for ages.”

By the way, James Ewart himself is looking forward to the jumps season stepping up a gear or two and he’s set to officially unveil his new gallops on Sunday, September 14. We will have more about James’s hopes for autumn and beyond in our next column.

Meanwhile with the dearth of jumping in northern parts, it’s the Flat that again holds centre stage this weekend when the feature race is the William Hill Great St Wilfrid at Ripon.

A lot depends on the draw for the valuable six-furlong dash and the far side has been the place to be in recent years. Fullandby knows all about that as he was tenth 12 months ago and runner-up from a low berth in 2006.

His trainer Tim Etherington said: “He ran a super race last year and actually ‘won’ the race on his side which gives you an indication of just how crucial the draw is. He’s in great form and ran very well to finish second at Ayr last time. We’re hopeful he’ll go well in what is always a fiercely competitive race.”

Fullandby should be a half decent sort of price but a word of caution about backing fancied horses in the race as only one favourite has obliged in the last ten renewals and that was seven years ago.

Dates for your diary start at Hamilton next week (20th & 22nd), Hamilton again on the 29th and September 1st while it’s good to have Sedgefield (2nd) back.