The close friends behind The Real Partnership were introduced to exciting chaser Trelawne soon after he took his first uncertain steps almost nine years ago.
And on Saturday 23rd November they were celebrating his biggest success so far – an emotional victory in the valuable Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase at Haydock Park.
“I was completely overwhelmed,” said owner-breeder Sandra Steer-Fowler, who named her pride and joy after one of husband Martyn’s holiday parks and shares him with three other couples.
“Five us were lucky enough to be at Haydock and we all felt the same way. It was the most wonderful day. We shed tears and drank a lot of wine that night, I can tell you.”
It was the fifth win of the Kim Bailey-trained gelding’s 10-race career and could be a springboard to the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham, the home of National Hunt racing, in the new year.
Bred and raised by Sandra at her North Devon home, Trelawne was the result of broodmare Black Collar’s visit to former classy Flat stayer Geordieland but didn’t appear blessed with much ability as a young horse.
“He was a slow burner,” she said. “Kim took him on an away day to Lambourn before he ran but he didn’t show us a lot. We thought he’d gone to the pub as there was no sign of him but he kept plugging on up the gallop at his own pace.
“He showed he had stamina if nothing else but the night before he made his debut as a six-year-old in an Exeter bumper Kim rang me and said we should be prepared to bring the trailer and take him home after the race.
“That’s how confident he was! So when he bolted up by 18 lengths we were all astounded. My mouth had never been so wide open. My jaw was on my chest,” she smiled.
Against all odds, The Real Partnership suddenly had a racehorse and later that year Trelawne followed up in a novice hurdle at Ffos Las before winning again in a valuable handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter last spring.
His fourth win in five starts followed on his chasing debut at Carlisle, before a third in a novice chase at Cheltenham at Christmas paved the way for a close second in the Grade 2 Towton Novices’ Chase at Wetherby in January this year.
“It was a dream come true to go the Cheltenham Festival for the Ultima after that,” adds Sandra. “He was ready to run a blinder but fell at the second fence and my heart just sank. For a moment it didn’t look good but thankfully he was alright.”
Sandra and Martyn enjoy the 152-rated eight-year-old with Tim and Anita Dymond, John and Veronica Full and Robert and Katy Axcell-Steele, but they aren’t the only ones with a soft spot for the gelding.
“Kim thinks the world of Trelawne,” she adds. “He raced his dam, who was gifted to me, and always says he has no right to be as good as he is with a fairly modest pedigree.
“To run in the Cotswold Chase would be amazing but we just leave that to Kim and his team at Thorndale Farm. They know exactly what they’re doing and we know nothing, really,” says Sandra, who has had success with other broodmares including Real Treasure, whose fifth foal English Willow is due to debut at Chepstow soon.
“We’d all love to go back to the Festival in March but if we don’t it matters not. If there are a few chapters still to come then great, but Trelawne owes us nothing and will live out his days with me when his career ends.”
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