Feb_90_ROA_Forum_Owner 19/01/2012 12:21 Page 73
www.racehorseowners.net
ROA MEMBERS IN FOCUS:
SARAH LING
GEORGE SELWYN
The Doncaster option was mentioned by David Pipe in his Racing Post column, which he used to express his disgust at the whip ban incurred by Timmy Murphy at Haydock – an opinion Ling shares. “At Haydock it was heavy and Timmy gave him a lovely ride,” says Ling. “I was shocked he received a four-day ban. I’d be the first to condemn a rider who is too heavy-handed but I felt sorry for Timmy.” Ling’s sister and brother are also ROA members and they all have private ownership interests too. Ling had Kerrigand, who won four times in her own silks, and now has Laustra Bad, her brother has Dynaste, and he and sister Anne share Dom D’Orgeval. The family enjoy their visits to the Pipes’ Pond House stables. “We live in Taunton, 15 minutes from the yard and we like to visit on a Sunday morning armed with a packet of Polos,” says Ling. “It is lovely seeing the horses in the yard and makes you feel more involved. Sunday mornings at the Pipes are always good.” Not good, in Ling’s view, are the way racecourses pander to corporate guests while failing to provide good viewing areas for owners and, surprise, surprise, prize-money, which she laments as a “shame”, though she would rather discuss the positives of the sport in the family’s blood. Thanks to Tamarinbleu, there have been – and hopefully will continue to be – plenty of opportunities to do so.
Sarah Ling (right), with her sister Anne, Martin Pipe, AP McCoy and Tamarinbleu
THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER
his last win. He had 18 months off before this season as he picked up an injury at Sandown in the Bet365 Gold Cup. “We thought about what to do and we knew coming back at his age was a risk but he owes us nothing and we’ll retire him if he can’t do it. But he’s come back with a new lease of life.” That Haydock win meant a 5lb rise to 150 for Tamarinbleu, which rules out veterans’ chases. At the time of going to press, races at Haydock or Ascot, on January 21, or Doncaster a week later were on the agenda.
Win a Horse Racing Abroad trip to Coolmore and Irish Guineas Following the success of our Arc trip competition last autumn, members are urged to visit the ROA website for a chance to win an exciting trip for two people on a three-night tour to Coolmore Stud and the Irish Guineas. This special short break is operated by Horse Racing Abroad from May 24-27. See the world-famous stallions at Coolmore, including supersire Galileo, followed by two days of Classic racing action at the Curragh for the Irish 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas. Visit racehorseowners.net for more details on how to enter.
GEORGE SELWYN
March 19, 2000. A date that crops up in racing quizzes and which the cleverest clogs would answer with ‘Kauto Star’. But while it is indeed the birthdate of the five-time King George VI Chase winner, it is also the day Tamarinbleu popped into the world. The two 12-year-olds are still going strong and, while Tamarinbleu has not scaled the same heights as his illustrious birthmate, he is every bit as important to his owners as Kauto Star is to Clive Smith. Tamarinbleu is owned by The Arthur White Partnership – Sarah Ling, her sister Anne Underhill and brother John White, who keep alive the memory of their father through the name of their shared ownership vehicle. “One of dad’s horses was Beau Ranger (won 1987 Mackeson Gold Cup among other races), and his involvement with horses dated to the mid-1970s – as a family we’ve always had our horses with Martin and David Pipe,” says Ling, who with her siblings has owned horses within their partnership since 1998. Tamarinbleu has been the best, with eight wins including the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham and Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot when it was a Grade 1. “Martin bought him in France and he was the fourth horse the partnership had,” says Ling. “We were looking for one at the time, and Martin said he liked him, though he hadn’t run before. “He is a pleasure to own. I didn’t realise at the time [of his victory at Haydock in December] it had been nearly four years since
Enjoy the unique Curragh atmosphere
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