Geoff Wragg - Pentire

Pentire

Arguably, the best horse that Wragg trained in his career was the top class middle distance colt Pentire who on the basis of his relatively ordinary two-year-old form was not deemed good enough to be considered for the 1995 Epsom Derby. However, the colt thrived as a three-year-old, winning three Derby trial races at Sandown, Chester, Goodwood, seemingly thriving for the additional winter and also the extra test of stamina in his second season. Unfortunately the owners declined the opportunity to supplement the horse for the 1995 Derby, leaving Wragg without an entry for the Blue Riband event despite Pentire having leading claims on form.

Pentire subsequently finished half a length behind Lammtarra, winner of the Epsom Derby the previous, in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in 1995 leading to further speculation that he would have challenged Lammtarra for the Epsom Derby had he turned up himself, particularly as jockey Michael Hills seemed to go too soon at Ascot on his mount who, as was widely recognised, possessed the greater turn of foot of the two colts. Wragg ran Pentire in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, which he won comfortably from future Ascot Gold Cup winner Classic Cliche and the horse was kept in training as a four-year-old, a decision that was justified when Pentire won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 1996. He was subsequently sold to stand as a stallion in Japan, but now stands in New Zealand.

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