coach pays tribute to steady stalwart

Kim Bailey’s Nationwide Hunt star and Grade One winner First Stream has been retired after a profitable profession, notching 12 victories from 28 runs, and successful £307,409.

All his successful performances got here underneath jockey David Bass, who struck up a fantastic partnership with the gelding owned by Terry Solomons, a long-standing proprietor of Mr Bailey’s. The 12-year-old was final seen successful the Godstone Handicap Chase at Lingfield in the course of the Winter Million assembly in January, carrying prime weight to victory by a size and 1 / 4 over Saint Segal.

“What a star he’s,” stated Mr Bailey. “There will probably be few others as powerful and pleasurable to coach as First Stream. Thanks for being the horse that I simply beloved.”

First Stream was initially purchased by Irish occasion rider Karrie Fanshawe as a retailer [unbroken three-year-old] for €4,500 on the Tattersalls Derby Gross sales in Eire.

“Karrie broke him in and after a yr she rang me and requested me to come back and watch him work,” Mr Bailey stated. “David Bass rode him, and after watching him strut his stuff on that bitterly chilly snowy day, we sat down and did a deal.

“Tony Solomons was in search of a horse to exchange Harry Topper, and First Stream fitted his funds and therefore the beginning of an exquisite partnership.”

It was nicely documented that leaping didn’t come naturally for First Stream; Laura Collett and fellow eventers Lucy Jackson and Ginny Thompson all frolicked education the gelding to assist him with this.

“The top product was that he jumped okay on the racecourse, even when at instances we questioned what he and David Bass had been doing,” stated Mr Bailey. “However they constructed a complete understanding on bravery, based mostly on belief and stupidity, which was to set them as much as tackle the massive boys in Graded races.

“First Stream was all the time higher right-handed, however we tried the Champion Chase at Cheltenham [in 2021] and contemplating David almost pulled him up as a result of he couldn’t steer him around the bends, he nonetheless in all probability ran his greatest race ever by ending sixth, overwhelmed six lengths behind Put The Kettle On.”

First Stream’s profession highlights embody successful the Clarence Home Chase at Ascot in 2021 and the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon, additionally in 2021.

“Sadly his proprietor Tony Solomons shouldn’t be in the most effective of well being so his colors, like his horse will probably be retired,” defined Mr Bailey. “Great reminiscences of each Tony’s enjoyment with all his horses and admittedly, I actually don’t consider I’ve ever skilled a horse who confirmed such ardour and guts as First Stream.”

Mr Bailey stated {that a} “very appropriate house” will probably be discovered for First Stream.

“That will probably be tough as I’m detest to say goodbye to him.”

You might also be excited by…

Horse & Hound journal, out each Thursday, is full of all the most recent information and reviews, in addition to interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and coaching recommendation. Discover how one can take pleasure in the journal delivered to your door each week, plus choices to improve your subscription to entry our on-line service that brings you breaking information and reviews in addition to different advantages.

H&H options, racing and point-to-point editor

Gemma is an skilled journalist, having been a part of the H&H staff since 2014, who’s captivated with all equestrian sports activities, together with racing and point-to-pointing. She has loved driving out for prime trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took half in a charity Flat race at in August 2018. Gemma’s reporting abilities have taken her to quite a few five-star occasions round Britain and Europe, in addition to European championships.