Glen and Fiona Symes, owners of the 188BET Stayers Series leading horse, Glens Wobbly, say it’s ‘catch me if you can’ in the series final.
In a recent interview with Bath Racecourse Clerk Of The Course, Katie Stephens, Glen described why they hope to have success in this year’s series.
“He [Glens Wobbly] loves to front run. It’s catch me if you can, that’s the basic principle. He’s consistent and one thing you’ll always get from him is he’s trying.”
Glens Wobbly is the most raced horse in the series, collecting 23 points - including 9 bonus points for 3+ appearances – from his four qualifying appearances. Nordenfelt ties for the lead going into the final having gained 23 points from three runs. They’re joined at the top of the leaderboard by in-form High Wells, who has a win and a place in the series for trainer Seamus Durack, and Altra Vita who has just one winning run in the series but has won at Bath in other contests this year.
Glen and Fiona described the fortune that brought about their course specialist.
“It was about eight years ago and we were supplying respite foster care to some young children when we heard about John Manners’ death and his wife was selling about 30 odd horses. We managed to buy this two-year-old gelding for about £500 when no one else wanted to bid on him.
“We raced him first at Kempton to see what he was like and the jockey said he’s not a sprinter, he’s a Staying type. We told the trainer we just want to race locally, we don’t want to go travelling all around the country and he’s had six wins here [at Bath] and one at Chepstow and placed 15 times here.”
When we bought him, he was an unbroken two-year-old and that’s where Glen's wife Fiona came in.
“He announced to me he’d bought this horse and that’s when he told me you’re going to break him in, and then we’ll find a trainer to take him racing.
“I took him out and he was easy to back, he’s such a kind horse. We’re lucky we live next door to a point to point trainer who very kindly let us use the gallops and so he went into training as a three-year-old and basically was running within a month.”
Glen and Fiona have targeted the 188BET Stayers Series for Glens Wobbly with trainer Dominic Ffrench Davis and will be cheering him on during the £20,000 final, which takes place on Sunday 16 September, day two of the inaugural Bath Cup Festival.
The Bath Cup Festival will also feature the final of the 188BET Sprint Series, which is led by David C. Griffiths’ Archimedes, as well as the inaugural running of the Bath Cup.
Tickets for the Bath Cup Festival are available with Cup Day on Saturday 15 September from £25 Centre Course, or £40 Grandstand and Family Fun Day on Sunday 16 September from £18 Grandstand.
