Succession of wins puts trainers in front (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Succession of wins puts trainers in front

8:41am Friday 10th December 2004 in Sport By Gazette News Desk

A SUCCESSION of wins has catapulted a Furness couple into the ranks of the top Arab racing trainers in the country after just their first season on the track.

Sarah and David Sanders of Gleaston were overwhelmed to find they had been listed among the top 20 trainers of Arab race horses after one season with their champion mare Jana.

The couple gained a 100 per cent strike rate after Jana either won or was placed in every race she started with top jockey Sam Holdsworth.

Despite tough competition from the giants of the Arab racing world, including Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Sarah and David have become well-known faces in the winner's enclosure at courses around the country.

And their five-year-old home-trained Arab Jana is already recognised as a serious contender with bookmakers pricing her at short odds through the season.

But, according to Mrs Sanders, the couple are determined to do even better next year with both Jana and their Arab stallion, before turning their passion into a full-time business.

Mother-of-three Mrs Sanders, 38, is hoping to take other horses in at the family stables at Beck Gate to train alongside her own.

She also plans to promote the sport, which is similar to thoroughbred racing, in the area.

"We travel across the country to races in Newbury, Uttoxeter, Wolverhampton, Stratford, Lingfield and Chepstow, which mean eight or nine hours behind the wheel just to get there," said Mrs Sanders .

"As far as we know, we are the only people to do Arab racing in Cumbria but I'm sure more people would enjoy it if there were meets up here at Carlisle, Cartmel or Thirsk. It's a great family day out."

Former Arab jockey Mrs Sanders bought Jana as an unbroken two-year-old following a ten year break from the sport during which she had a family and gained a degree in Business Information Systems.

She set about training Jana herself to get the grey mare into winning form.

Husband David even put his DIY skills to the test to construct wooden starting stalls to prepare the young horse for the field.

But the competition has so far proven no trouble for the Sanders racing team.

"I won the last race I rode in ten years ago so it was fantastic to come in and do so well as an owner and trainer with Jana," added Sarah.

"The top trainers have several horses at each meet, whereas I've usually got a pushchair in one hand and a horse in the other so it can be a bit stressful.

"But we love it and would like to bring it to this area so more people can become involved and enjoy it.

"Training starts again after Christmas so we're hoping we hit the winning formula for the coming season once again."