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Racing fans find it's a small world
August 2005
FANCY SEEING YOU HERE – Sterling marketing director Chris Timm, third left, makes the presentation in the winner's enclosure to Steve Chessum and the other Mineral Star owners at Sandown Park last week.
A bizarre set of Northants-related coincidences marked the victory of Mineral Star at Sandown last Wednesday evening in the 7f Sterling handicap.
The Mark Tompkins-trained three-year-old gave his owners, who include county-based Barrie Price, Steve Chessum and Duncan Ward, a third visit to the winner's enclosure with an impressive ‘all the way’ 12/1 success at the Esher track.
But imagine the surprise of Rushden cricketer Chessum when he went forward to collect the trophy, on discovering it was being handed over by Chris Timm, the marketing director of Wellingborough firm Sterling who are responsible for printing the racecards for 56 of the 59 courses on mainland Britain, on behalf of Weatherbys.
The racing/cricket theme then developed a keener edge as Timm, who is chairman of Brixworth Cricket Club, came face to face with Chessum once more on Saturday when Brixworth scored a winning draw at Rushden in the only Northants League Premier Division match to beat the weather.
It was the first time we have sponsored a race on such a scale,
" said Timm. "We wanted to do something at Sandown as it was quite an important coup to get their race card on board. There is only Haydock, Kempton and Newton Abbot which we don't print for Weatherbys.
He added: But it was quite surreal to have a winner with Northants owners and to see Steve Chessum step forward. Steve rang me on the Thursday, and then we played cricket against one another two days later.
Meanwhile, Mineral Star goes from strength to strength. The three year-old, sired by the former Aidan O'Brien top-grade performer Monashee Mountain, stole the race with a bold front-running display, winding it up from halfway before coming home a length and a half clear of runner-up Desert Imp.
The horse is named after the Earls Barton business run by Price and business partner Ward, who are currently working on the Level Six roofing of the new Wembley Stadium, and who have another lucrative, more local ‘stadium’ project in the pipeline.
Mineral Star, the horse, had previously notched successes at Yarmouth in March and York in May and is now ‘three from five’ in 2005.
His previous outing at Newmarket is best forgotten, as it came on good to firm going, although he was apparently unsuited to galloping downhill. The horse has been ridden to success by three different pilots in the Tompkins claimer – Saleem Golam, Jamie Mackay and now Richard Hills.
Price said: The horse has entries this week at Chester today and Sandown tomorrow as well as several next week. Mark has always said he will make a proper four year-old... in fact his secretary Phil Green has remarked that he has seen more mature two-year-olds, so we believe the best may be yet to come.
Mark may have a plan for him, but he is keeping it close to his chest and we expect him to stay handicapping this year. Every time we have raised an eyebrow or queried anything, Mark has come up with an answer so I could hardly recommend a better trainer.
Fellow owner Chessum has enjoyed a remarkable run of success with Tompkins runners as he has had past winners in ownership with the likes of Inch Again and Mighty Emperor while he also has a share in a two-year-old named Mighty Observer, which is due to run shortly.