Court Cave enjoyed yet another profitable campaign with his point-to-pointers during the shortened 2019/20 season, with a total of eight race victories, headlined by the performances of My Story and Clondaw Secret.
The former was one of a number of horses to win three races, and this son of Court Cave began the season with real purpose, becoming the first horse of the campaign to make it to the three-winner mark following consecutive successes in the opening weeks.
Having initially beaten Rocking Roxtown by a comfortably 20 lengths at Loughrea on the second weekend of the season, My Story immediately followed up a fortnight later when set a much stiffer task at Loughanmore in a winner-of-two race.
With regular pilot Rob James once again in the plate, he defied his short price to hold off the challenge of Drimsree Lad by two lengths.
Two weeks later he returned to action and stepped into open company for the first time at Knockmullen House, winning a novice riders race there in early November by three quarters of a length.
The eight-year-old also came close to adding to his tally twice later in the season, suffering narrow defeats at both Tinahely and Borris House, the latter race saw him finish behind the subsequent champion point-to-pointer Eddies Miracle.
At the opposite end of the age spectrum within point-to-pointing, Clondaw Secret was a notable winner within the ultra-competitive four-year-old age division for the Boardsmill Stud resident when he made a winning debut at Boulta in December.
A €28,000 purchase from the Goffs Land Rover Sale by Frances Fenlon, he is well related being an own-brother of Clondaw Court, and as his name suggests, is also connected with Goff, having won his point at Largy before being sold to Willie Mullins for £130,000.
Clondaw Secret repeated that achievement of his elder sibling when he also got off the mark at the first time of asking, winning a four-year-old geldings’ maiden at Boulta.
Introducing @CoddJJ our Irish %u2618%uFE0F Representative, also a rather talented jockey and @mickgoff5 Trainer of Lot 16 @tattscheltenham #CheltenhamJanuary Sale CLONDAW SECRET a Gelding by Court Cave out of Secret Can’t say. Winner on debut at Boulta. #ThoroughbredTales pic.twitter.com/X0j3mKuoS2
— Thoroughbred Tales (@ThoroughbrdTale) January 24, 2020
Following his two-length victory, he was bought by Aidan O’Ryan and Gordon Elliott for £135,000 at the Cheltenham Sales.
Notably three of Court Cave’s six individual winners came courtesy of mares, including Cave Queen who picked up a nice pot for her connections when winning her maiden at Tyrella.
Her tough attitude was well rewarded as she picked up a €1,000 bonus for her short-head maiden success at the Co. Down venue.
The second INHSC Bonus Race for 6yo Maidens is on Sunday at North Tipperary(F). The winning owner will receive €1000 bonus on top of first prize money of €1225.
— IHRB (@ihrb_ie) February 14, 2020
%uD83D%uDCF8 Cave Queen winning the first INHSC Bonus Race at East Down(F) for handler Peter Flood & owner Teresa Flood pic.twitter.com/enxt8BJUmX
Court Cave 2019/20 Point Winners
My Story (3x Winner)
Handler: Sean Doyle
Ryans Cave
Handler: Gerard Lawless
Lough Derg Lyric
Handler: Lough Derg Lyric
Clondaw Secret
Handler: Mick Goff
Cave Queen
Handler: Peter Flood
Whisper In Court
Handler: Paul Stafford
