Its not often that The Sun trumps the racing press with a story but they were the only ones to cover the departure of Minella Premier from Seven Barrows last week.
Minella who? I hear most of you asking. Well he was one of the most talked about horses at the beginning of the 24/25 National Hunt season. After winning a maiden P2P at Ballindenisk in May 2024 in very good style (video below) he was purchased by Nicky Henderson on behalf of Oliver Harris for the eye-watering sum of £400,000. He was talked of as the next Seven Barrows superstar by pretty much all concerned and his debut was eagerly anticipated. But racing fans waited in vain as there was no news (and no entries) for Minella Premier throughout the winter. Now it emerges that the son of Shantou has left Henderson and is now in the care of Richard Hobson (ownership unclear but still listed as Harris although he has sold many of his other horses).
The form of his P2P win is not looking that great. Second placed Malinificent is now with Warren Greatrex and has an OR of 116; third placed Quay Item finished 2nd in a P2P at Curraghmore and is now owned by Middleham Park and with Nicky Henderson (but yet to run); none of the others have moved beyond the P2P scene.
Ultimately Minella Premier's P2P victory that caused such a rush of blood at the sales may have been more about style than substance but it will be interesting to see how his career progresses this coming winter.
Minella who? I hear most of you asking. Well he was one of the most talked about horses at the beginning of the 24/25 National Hunt season. After winning a maiden P2P at Ballindenisk in May 2024 in very good style (video below) he was purchased by Nicky Henderson on behalf of Oliver Harris for the eye-watering sum of £400,000. He was talked of as the next Seven Barrows superstar by pretty much all concerned and his debut was eagerly anticipated. But racing fans waited in vain as there was no news (and no entries) for Minella Premier throughout the winter. Now it emerges that the son of Shantou has left Henderson and is now in the care of Richard Hobson (ownership unclear but still listed as Harris although he has sold many of his other horses).
The form of his P2P win is not looking that great. Second placed Malinificent is now with Warren Greatrex and has an OR of 116; third placed Quay Item finished 2nd in a P2P at Curraghmore and is now owned by Middleham Park and with Nicky Henderson (but yet to run); none of the others have moved beyond the P2P scene.
Ultimately Minella Premier's P2P victory that caused such a rush of blood at the sales may have been more about style than substance but it will be interesting to see how his career progresses this coming winter.
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