There are few milestones that mean more to a racing yard than reaching a century of winners, and we were delighted to bring up our 100th winner of the year when Cut A Dash struck at York.
It is a fantastic achievement for everyone at Herridge, and one that reflects the hard work, dedication and teamwork that goes into getting our horses to the track each day. Every winner means something, whether it comes at a big meeting or at a quieter fixture, and reaching 100 is a moment for the whole team to be proud of.
There have been some wonderful highlights along the way, with the yard enjoying success on some of the biggest stages of the season. Pershaada provided a particularly memorable moment with victory in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes, showcasing her quality and giving both us and Middleham Park Racing plenty to celebrate at Goodwood.
Persica has also been a real source of pride, adding a Group 3 Superior Mile success at Haydock to the season’s highlights. It was a thoroughly deserved result for a horse who continues to give us so much to enjoy, and another special day for everyone connected with him. He is such an honest horse that wears his heart on his sleeve, a real yard favourite.
Across the Atlantic, Haatem delivered another outstanding performance when winning the Mint Millions Invitational at Kentucky Downs. Success on American soil was a first for us and a brilliant achievement - a reminder of the quality we have in the yard, with the win providing one of the standout moments of our year so far.
While those big-race victories naturally grab the headlines, reaching 100 winners is about much more than a handful of standout afternoons. It represents the collective effort of the team at home, our owners, vets, farriers, physios and everyone who plays a part in preparing these horses for their racing careers. From the early mornings on the gallops to the excitement of race day, there is an enormous amount of work that goes on behind the scenes, and it is hugely rewarding to see that effort reflected in results on the track. There is still plenty of racing left to enjoy, more horses to look forward to seeing progress, and hopefully many more winners to come before the season draws to a close.