Sunday 31st March 2024

With thanks to the Craig Lidster Racing Club for hosting the visit and to the staff at Eboracum Racing Stable for providing a welcoming atmosphere.

Meet The Horses:

EAST BANK - Sire: Aclaim - Dam: Twist Of Magic - Born: 2021
Race Record (As of 31st March 2024): Wins: 2 - Placings: 0 - Runs: 8

The son of Group One winning sire Aclaim joined the racing club before his racecourse debut at the start of 2023. The gelding is bred to be reasonably smart as a full brother to the Irish-based Anatoli, a debut winner before running in Group company as a juvenile in 2021. Expectations for East Bank will have been drawn on a clean slate ahead of his debut as members will have been hoping for an encouraging first day at school.

Racing at the unique Beverley racecourse in mid-April, East Bank made the perfect start to his racing life by staying on strongly through the uphill finish to win first time out. The result would be a dream outcome for his owners and they had a promising sort on their hands. Next up would be a trip to Scotland where a useful looking novice event at Musselburgh was on the agenda. East Bank would finish fifth of six in that race but displayed a few quirks during the race which needed ironing out. The juvenile was then absent from the course for four months before appearing race-rusty at Wolverhampton, trailing in last. 
The turn of the new year saw a continuation of the low key runs on the all-weather with midfield finishes at Newcastle and Southwell, but he wouldn't be disgraced in any way. At the beginning of March at a damp and drizzly Newcastle, the long awaited breakthrough came and East Bank found himself coming home in front. Stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time, East Bank and Tom Eaves got a perfect break from the stalls and soon dictated the pace. Travelling best of all throughout the contest, his rivals came close, but East Bank pulled further clear under a well judged ride by the veteran rider. Just when it appeared he had turned the corner, East Bank produced a lesser run a week later at the same venue by finishing sixth. On the day of the visit, East Bank had suffered a cut to his foot which restricted him to box rest for a brief spell. 

His return to action will be eagerly awaited by all as he remains a horse with potential. Once the turf dries out, hopes will be pinned on an uninterrupted season with the three year old.

POLLY THE ROCKET - Sire: Profitable - Dam: Suraya - Born: 2021 
Race Record (As of 31st March 2024) - Wins: 1 - Placings: 4 - Runs: 12

The three year old filly is the most experienced horse in the racing club and she deservedly gained a first career win at the start of 2024. A daughter of Profitable, winner of the Group One King's Stand Stakes, Polly The Rocket is also a half sister to the modest sprint winner Danzart. 
Affectionately known as "Polly", the filly made a promising start to her racing career when finishing third at the stiff Pontefract track, chasing home Ziggy's Condor who went on to run at a higher level. Her second race would take place at York which provided the club with a big day out at their local course. She took part in a strong looking novice race which featured the Acomb Stakes third Loose Cannon and a big sales race one-two Apiarist and Sailthisshipalone. Polly held her form well and finished third twice at Newcastle towards the end of the year. 
Returning to the North-East once again at the turn of the year, Polly gained her breakthrough win. Running in a class six handicap, she rallied well and got up close home to cause a surprise. Since that win, Polly endured a busy spell with three more runs within a month of her win. Now enjoying a small break from action, she will hopefully be able to recharge the batteries and be able to continue her improved form when she returns. Polly may not be a superstar on the track, but she is a well loved member of the club and an honest sort who will continue to make her owners proud. 

Photo taken in Feburary 2024, Polly The Rocket is currently away on holiday. 

CAESARS PEARL - Sire: Profitable - Dam: Malilla  - Born: 2020
Race Record (As of March 31st 2024): Wins: 1 - Placings: 3 - Races: 12 (Career total)

There would be plenty of excitement felt by the members of the racing club as they got the first chance to meet the newest racehorse for the Craig Lidster Racing Club. The four year old filly Caesars Pearl has spent her entire career under the care of Craig Lidster, but the decision was made at the start of March to move the former winner into the club's ownership. 

She is a daughter of King's Stand Stakes winner Profitable, something she shares in common with new clubmate Polly The Rocket. Caesars Pearl is also the offspring of a relatively useful mare Malillia, who went close in a maiden at Glorious Goodwood before winning her maiden and finishing sixth in listed company, the highlight of her racing career when trained by Clive Cox. Further back in the family, Caesars Pearl is a distant relative to the useful handicapper Golden Force,  a five time winner for Charlie Fellowes.

Caesars Pearl raced just twice as a juvenile and showed promise when fifth on debut, finishing less than five lengths behind the winner Oviedo, who would go on to be placed in Group race company. She would take a backwards step on her next start at Beverley, but soft ground was to blame for the perormance. 2023 started brightly and Caesars Pearl began to live up to her potential with a second at Wolverhampton, where she was beaten a nose. The improvement would continue by filling the silver medal place on two more occasions at the testing tracks of Ripon and Pontefract. It would be at the West Yorkshire venue of Pontefract where Caesars Pearl finally got her first victory where she defeated a field of good handicappers, most of whom had a lot more experience. In her three subsequent starts, Caesars Pearl failed to progress but found the career high rating of 72 against her. A short break was followed by a spell on the all-weather at the end of the year where she managed a best finish of sixth.

Caesars Pearl will make her seasonal debut in new colours and remains relatively lightly raced for her age. The filly has shown a liking to undulating courses such as Pontefract and Ripon as well as not having a preference for the turf or the all-weather. That creates plenty of options to choose from when her season begins and she is adaptable between five and six furlongs. Held in a good regard, Caesars Pearl will be an exciting prospect for the club this year. 

Craig Lidster Racing Syndicate

KANANGA - Sire: Mondialiste - Dam: Bondesire - Born: 2020 
Race Record (As of 31st March 2024) - Wins: 0 - Placings: 1 - Runs: 9

The syndicated horse for Craig Lidster Racing is Kananga, a four year old gelding who has yet to show his full ability. Kananga is a son of Mondialiste, a popular globetrotter for David O'Meara who improved rapidly to win two Grade Ones in North America. He is also a half brother to the progressive sprinter of this winter, Gustav Graves, a seven time winner on the all-weather.

Three quick runs in novice company would see him sent off a long odds on each start, but his third start at Newcastle caught the eye. It showed that there was some ability there and life would be easier in lower handicap company. After two starts following a long break, Kananga showed promise once again when finishing third at Wolverhampton in December. His progress stalled slightly in three starts in 2024, but he has appeared to stay on at just the one pace in tightly knit contests. 

The main target for Kananga was an attempt of winning the monthly Horse Of The Month award, given to the horse with the most wins on the all weather within the calendar month. With the all-weather season now finished, time ran out for that goal but it could be targeted further down the year as he improves with time. For now, a first start on turf could be on the cards this year, but when everything falls into place, it will hopefully provide Kananga with a first victory. 

MASQUE OF ANARCHY - Sire: Sir Percy - Dam: Charming - Born: 2016

Race Record: (as of 31st March 2024) - Wins: 7 - Placings: 6 - Runs: 35

The second syndicated horse for Craig Lidster Racing is also the yard legend. Masque Of Anarchy is part of the furniture at the stable and has been with Craig since the very beginning of his training journey. Affectionately known as "Sausage Roll", there a few horses who are loved more than Masque of Anarchy.

Arriving from Ireland in early 2021, the son of Epsom Derby winner Sir Percy had yet to show anything on the track. Following his move to North Yorkshire, he began to improve and later in the year at Newcastle, Masque of Anarchy made his breakthrough and won for the first time. It would be a relief to everyone involved and it would spark further improvement by winning at Beverley a few weeks later and once again back at Newcastle. 

The big move to the current location of Eboracum Racing Stables brought about even more improvement. Finishing third in an apprentice riders' race at Doncaster on Lincoln Handicap day, he would relish the quick ground to score a hat trick of wins in the space of a month. Even more impressive about the feat was that it was accomplished at three unique tracks; Beverley, Nottingham and Ripon. Masque of Anarchy wasn't finished with just yet and he would become half of a brilliant achievement by chasing home stablemate The Menstone Gem in a race on the world famous Newmarket Rowley Mile in a one-two finish for Craig Lidster. More success came in 2023 with a win at Pontefract, yet another twisty and tight racecourse, and he provided plenty of big days out through the summer. 
Not seen since late November 2023 on the all-weather, Masque of Anarchy has enjoyed some time off and will surely return for the turf season. At his best on fast ground over a mile and two furlongs, it is hoped there will be even more wins with the stable legend. His accomplishments have also been a great advertisement for Craig Lidster's training approach as he improved the gelding to win seven times under his care. 

Full Gallery:

On the Gallops: Kananaga (lead horse) - Coulsty x Perle de la Mer 2-y-o (middle) - Caesar's Pearl (behind)