Prolific mare Kotkikova to join Henderson stable BY BRUCE JACKSON 2:51PM 19 MAY 2016 KOTKIKOVA, one of the brightest young lights on the French jumping scene, has been bought by JP McManus and will be trained by Nicky Henderson. The five-year-old mare, who has won 11 of her 14 races, is already at her new owner’s Martinstown Stud in Ireland for her summer break. Frank Berry, the owner’s racing manager, said: “JP has bought her and she is spending a couple of months at the stud after arriving there this week. “It’s nice to have her and she will be going to Nicky Henderson in the autumn but there are no plans for races for her.” Bookmakers believe Kotkikova could be a strong contender to break the Willie Mullins stranglehold on the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival as Paddy Power chalked her up at 16-1 with Sky Bet just 14-1. Kotkikova, who had been trained by Jean-Paul Gallorini, has won twice over hurdles at Auteuil in recent weeks and was a notable contender for Saturday's Prix La Barka, which she will now bypass following her sale. She is one of three high-profile new recruits for McManus after the leading owner bought The Organist and Le Prezien for £260,000 and £290,000 respectively at the Goffs UK Spring Sale in Doncaster on Wednesday.
No worries Ron - two interesting buys at the bottom not true G1 horses imo but good improvers with some talent
Not a dry eye in the house at the news she will be barned with Mr Henderson. Barney, does this give the mare every chance of reaching her full potential under the guidance of the man?
As ever with anything that J.P. chap purchases I think the old girls future success depends very much on how much his ‘team’ (especially the racing manager) get involved and interfere with things. If they give the trainer (be it Mr Henderson, Alan King or Pip Hobbs) free hand to do as they wish things could be very good but that is rarely, rarely the case with this organisation who do like to dictate matters (and more often than not unwisely). All named have good chances (although Le Prezien does look very, very expensive at £290,000) if, and it’s a big if, handled correctly. Most interesting purchase for me, at that sale, was that of the former Seven Barrows inmate, Newsworthy. Dissolved the partnership between Mr Buckley and Rich Richtea, the heir to the biscuit tin fortune. Sold to T.C. & A. Winter & Partners (no me neither!) for £40,000. Could be cheap that. Must also mention Ned Stark leaving the county and going to Gord Elliot for £70,000. Looks potentially well perched on 133 and if he benefits from his new surroundings old boy Ned could be another that could prove very good for its new connections. Is a Grade 2 winner over fences and could land a big handicap off such a figure.
