Spartan Arrow has already finished second in the valuable Epsom Dash and won a Listed race in France and steps up to Group 2 company in Friday’s King George Qatar Stakes over the flying five furlongs.
Trained in Lambourn by Archie Watson, Hambleton Racing’s speedy five-year-old has a Goodwood win to his name and has been described by big race jockey Hollie Doyle as one of the fastest horses she has ever ridden.
“It’s his toughest race so far but he’s not going there to make up the numbers,” says proud owner Peter, 73, a retired local government housing manager who will be making the long journey from his home near Chorley in Lancashire in anticipation of another memorable day.
“I was at Epsom when he ran so well in the Dash and flew to France to join up with some of the other syndicate members, which was an amazing experience. Now we go to Goodwood with nothing to lose.
“He’s such a fast horse who is already proven on the track and in Hollie (Doyle) has the ideal partner. She’s ridden him brilliantly this season, especially at Chantilly when he was headed and fought back.
“We don’t want to get carried away but if he runs well on Friday the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York next month could be on the cards, which would be so exciting,” adds Peter.
Spartan Arrow isn’t the first star horse Peter has owned a share in with Hambleton Racing. He saw the Watson-trained Tempus win two Group 3s and David O’Meara’s Watchable smash the six-furlong track record at Epsom in 2019.
“Hambleton have been very lucky for me,” adds Peter, whose interest in racing was fuelled by a trip to Nottingham races as a student. “I’d had shares in horses before I got involved about 12 years ago but they’ve made memories for me that will last a lifetime.
“Their syndicates are so well run. I’m kept informed on a regular basis and am always well looked after on the racecourse. There are only six of us in Spartan Arrow so we’ve got to know each other well and it’s great to share such exciting experiences.”
Spartan Arrow was bought for Hambleton Racing by Tom Biggs of Blandford Bloodstock at the horses in training sale at Tattersalls in Newmarket last October for just 17,000 guineas.
A dual winner for Simon and Ed Crisford, he got off the mark in the Hambleton silks at the second attempt when he won a Wolverhampton handicap in March – a success he repeated at Epsom the following month.
The son of Sioux Nation came within half a length of winning the Dash at the Derby meeting before making his stakes breakthrough at the first time of asking in the Prix Hampton on 24th June, taking his record to five wins in just 14 starts.
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