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Sarahs Art Profile
Sarah's Art was purchased for us as a four-year-old at the July Sales in 2007 by Stef Higgins. Although only rated 50 she quickly identified him as a horse clearly capable of better who might benefit from a change of scenery. Even at that very early stage the trainer identified the Grey's Race as a target for the son of City On A Hill.
Things got off to an explosive start with Stef getting him ready to win on his first outing under Tolley Dean at 20/1. The trainer had been confident of a big run and this was reported to shareholders, many of whom got a nice payout. Unfortunately, the gelding then sustained a niggling injury on his second run and his preparation for the 2008 Grey's Race was rushed and he disappointed in the Newmarket showpiece. Two months later he was back on form being placed at Kempton finishing 2008 with a run of consistent efforts.
2009 was to be his Annus Mirabilis. Starting the year win a quick-fire double at Wolverhampton off marks of 55 and 61 he then ran consistently before adding another victory to his name at Warwick in April. The trainer opted to give him a break in the early summer with a prep run pencilled in two weeks before the Grey's Race. This fell into place perfectly at Windsor and then all sights were focussed on Newmarket.
15th August 2009 will live long in the memory of those who were there. Over 100 shareholders attended and had been told that Stef Higgins was in a confident mood ahead of the race. Everything came together for the gelding who was given a perfect ride by Jim Crowley to come through the field and take the race by a rather cosy half-length. There were wonderful scenes in the Winner's Enclosure on the historic July course as the Clerk of the Course had to lead Sarah's Art around the parade ring as trainer Stef Higgins was needed for an interview with Channel 4 Racing.
After a disappointing run back at Newmarket he was back in the Winner's Enclosure after a break at Wolverhampton in December - his fifth win of the year. Having arrived with us rated 50 in February 2010 he won again at Lingfield off a mark of 75. Things became a little harder for the grey having gone as high as 80 in the Handicap but he finished the year off in great style winning back at Lingfield on New Year's Eve.
In 2011 Stef Higgins moved to Lambourn and later that year handed in her training licence. Sarah's Art moved to Melton Mowbray to be trained by Derek Shaw where he continued to run some good races adding a couple of further places to his name. The plan had been to retire Sarah's Art after his race at Kempton on 24 November 2011 but he was unexpectedly claimed. This is the only time in sixteen years we have ever had a horse claimed and we were desperately disappointed to lose him. He ran twice more before being retired.
A grey that runs in the style of fast-finisher that improves about 30lbs from his first run, it's easy to see why Sarah's Art was so popular and much loved by all his shareholders.
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