Praise for Master Minded
On Saturday, 18 January 2009, a magnificent horse with the name of Master Minded was in the starting lineup at Ascot Racecourse for the running of the Grade One Victor Chandler Chase. Trained by Paul Nicholls and owned by Clive Smith, Master Minded is stable mates to jumps racing phenomenons Kauto Star and Denman, and seems to be upholding the same presence they command when entering a racing event. Nicholls couldn’t praise Master Minded enough as they enjoyed their victory in the winner’s circle.
In 2007, Master Minded was bought by Clive Smith, also owner of Kauto Star, as he had been extremely impressed by his performance and saw enormous potential in Master Minded. Foaled on 14 April 2003, the French bred racing powerhouse was bred by Marie Christine Gabeur, out of the mare Haute Tension, sired by Nikos. Once under the guidance of Paul Nicholls, Master Minded seems to have grown and improved with each race, with major victories in 2008 including the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the Tingle Creek Chase and the Game Spirit Chase. Nicholls has put a lot of training into Master Minded and on Saturday everything came together to show a more confident, sure footed and relaxed Master Minded, as the Victor Chandler Chase got underway.
Master Minded finished the course with a near perfect performance, leading to Nicholls expressing that he was probably the best horse he has ever trained, saying: “He’s the best I’ve trained, and probably the best I’ll ever train.” Jockey Ruby Walsh was also overjoyed to be back in the saddle and guiding Master Minded to a sixteen length victory over second place finisher, Petit Robin, followed home by Mahogany Blaze and Or Noir De Somoza. Walsh commented to the media that Master Minded was a perfect ride and that his experience and training is really serving them well, also adding: “Papillon, Denman and Kauto Star are all wonderful horses but this fellow, in his own bracket, is exceptional. What he did last year in the Champion Chase as a five-year-old was phenomenal.”
Nicholls is looking at the Game Spirit Chase, being held at Newbury, for Master Minded’s next start, but will decide closer to the time. No matter if he enters at Newbury, Master Minded will definitely be seen at Cheltenham for the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Master Minded is definitely a horse that enjoys jumps racing, and has a limitless racing future ahead of him.
