Ridin Solo
WINNER WINNER WINNER!!
The first of what we hope will be many horses on the team for The Red Sash Racing Club is Ridin Solo, a 6 yr old gelding by Ocovango, out of Takemewithyou.
Ridin Solo was purchased as an unraced 3 yr old by (his now) trainer, Donald McCain but remained in Ireland to be broken in and begin his journey to being a racehorse. He is from a late maturing family and was given all the time that he needed at the Wexford yard of Champion Point to Point handler Colin Bowe, an academy that has produced some of the best horses that we have seen on the track in the last few years, including Samcro and Envoi Allen. On winning on his debut in Loughrea in early October, Ridin Solo took Colin to a significant milestone in his career, his 500th winner in Irish Point to Points.
Being a late maturing horse himself, Ridin Solo was spared the rigours of running as a weak and unfurnished 4 year old and given time to grow and develop, eventually making his debut in Loughrea in early October 2023. On ground that was described as extremely testing, Ridin Solo did very well to get through it and win his race. He was put on the back foot when blundering five from home but to his credit he soon got back on an even keel and when left in the lead by the exit of Roe And Co on the approach to the straight he showed a willing attitude when pulling out plenty to carry the day by a length and a half. He was the beneficiary of the leader getting carried out on the home turn, but his jockey – Cheltenham Festival winner Rob James, ensures us that Ridin Solo would have beaten that rival anyway, and that Ridin Solo was the winner on merit. The Irish point to Point website stating, ‘He is entitled to step forward from this initial career effort, he should make his mark inside the rails in due course’,
After his maiden win Ridin Solo was recommended to us by Colin Bowe, and independently by the best Irish Point to Point jockey of all time, Derek O’Connor, who was suitably impressed by his performance.
Obviously, we wanted the first horse to run for The Red Sash Racing Club to be one that would make his/her mark on the track in the UK, and so we were very keen to make Ridin Solo that horse!
When he arrived over at Donald McCains Bankhouse Stables later in October and was given plenty of time to acclimatise to his new surroundings and get used to his new routine. He soon began to put on plenty of condition, and Donald was very happy with him, when he felt the time was right, he stepped his work up, and everyone was delighted with what they saw of him when he did his first piece of faster work. He attacked the hill gallop and was hard to pull up at the top of it – he relishes hard work, and has a very tough mental attitude. He is also not short of speed, and as he is bred to be a staying chaser, the fact that he shows plenty of boot on the gallops bodes very well for his future.
Ridin Solo made his debut in Sedgefield on Boxing Day2023 - running a lovely race on rules debut to finish a close second. With that run under his belt and with his previous experience in the point to point field in Ireland he was switched straight to hurdles, finishing a close second in Carlisle in a race that has worked out very well. His third start in Ayr was also a nice run, but it did show us that he was in need of a break, and he had a good long summer at grass.
The 2024 - 2025 season has seen Ridin Solo run 5 times - never beaten more than 7 lengths in any of his starts and with form figures of 3,3,3,5,1 Winning his most recent start in Sedfield on February 5th. All of these starts have been over inadequate trips, and he is sure to improve when stepped up to 3 miles!!
There are so many positives to take out of his runs this far, and it really does look like Ridin Solo has a lovely future, especially as he goes up in trip. He has the makings of a very nice staying chaser – just the type that Donald does so well with – as a Grand National winning trainer he knows what it takes to get the best out of this type of horse, and who knows, we may even see him around Aintree over those big fences sometime in the future! He is in the right hands – and we are really glad to have him!
- Share Issue – Strictly limited to 1000
- Term: 2 years – (this will be extended for a further 12 months June 25-May 26)
- Payment structure:
Year 2 – June 1st 2024 – May 31st 2025- New Members £50.00
- Existing Members £49.00
Price Breakdown:
- Purchase price Including commissions £ 65,000
- Insurance £6,500
- All inclusive training/keep fee £17,500
- Website/Admin costs £5,400
- Syndicate Management £5,600
