PINE MOUNTAIN, Ga.--Jack Fisher saddled Sheila Williams and Northwoods Stable's Storm Team, ridden by Mikey Mitchell, to win the $75,000, 2 1/4 miles Sport of Kings Novice Hurdle Stakes at Callaway Gardens in Georgia on Nov. 9.

Jack Fisher, Leading Trainer, Races Won, with 37 winsStorm Team won by 1 length over Riverdee Stable's City Dreamer (Ire), also trained by Fisher and ridden by Jack Doyle.

Mitchell's win propelled him into a tie for the Leading Rider, Races won, with Doyle.

The course at Callaway Gardens favored speed, and horses running in the front did well through the day.

"It's horses for courses," said Fisher. "Storm Team is a front end horse. We're going to try him over timber next year. He's been trying it out for himself by jumping out of fields. He's going to fox hunt this winter, get more experience over timber."

"We're not going to Charleston," said Fisher, referring to the final steeplechase meet of the year, the Steeplechase of Charleston in Hollywood, S.C.

That leaves Fisher as the Leading Trainer, Races Won, with 37 wins to Jonathan Sheppard's 20 wins.

Doyle had a fall over the last fence in the final race of the day when Zanzi Win (Fr) pecked badly and almost fell.

"Jack got badly hurt yesterday, he broke his jaw" said Fisher in an interview on Nov. 10. "With us not going to Charleston, that leaves Mikey and Jack in a tie for Leading Rider, Races Won. Jack's very classy. It's nice for them to share the title."

 

LESLIE YOUNG won the first two races on the card.

She saddled Meadow Run Farm's Goodoldtimes (Ire), ridden by Brian Linehan, to win the $20,000, 3 1/8 miles Novice timber by 14 1/2 lengths over Curve of Stones, trained by David Bourke.

"I purchased Goodoldtimes for Ben Griswold, he owns Meadow Run Farm, at Tattersalls' April sale," said Young "He'd had a couple of seconds and won a point-to-point in Ireland. I was looking to broaden my timber band, so I asked Ben if he wanted a horse."

"He's a fun, genuine little horse," said Young. "His first race in this country was a Genesse  in an amateur apprentice race. He had a nice, educational spin around there. He was going for a steeplethon, but he got kicked in the field. Brian was pleased with the way he ran. He won for fun."

"He'll do some point-to-point in the spring and then maybe go to the Manor," said Young.

Young won the second race, the $20,000, 2 1/4 mile Maiden Claiming Hurdle, with her own Court Ruler (Ire), again ridden by Linehan.who won by 5 3/4 lengths over Flushed, trained by Sheppard.

"The man who owned Flaming Sword (now owned by Joy Slater) was so pleased with the way Flaming Sword in doing over here that he sent him over," said Young. "Hopefully, I'll find an owner for him. He had one point-to-point in Ireland, but he bled. Luckily we have Lasix over here."

Young stands third in Trainers, Races Won, with 13 wins.

 

IN SHEPPARD'S absence, assistant trainer Keri Brion saddled Galway Kid (Ire) , owned by Ed Swyer's Hudson River Farms and ridden by Darren Nagle, to win the $30,000, 2 1/4 miles Sport of Kings Maiden Hurdle by 3 lengths over Lonely Weekend, trained by Todd Wyatt.

"Galway Kid came over here at the end of July," said Sheppard. "He's won a point-to-point in Ireland, which of course is not sanctioned, so we could race him in a maiden race."

"His first race here was a training flat race an Shawan," said Sheppard. "He was third, but we didn't push him too hard. He was fifth at Far Hills. He went to he front and got a little bit tired, so that probably wasn't the best tactic. He settled nicely off the pace yesterday and won nicely. Hes a nice young horse with some promise."

"We got him from Michael Goff in Ireland," said Brion. I saw him when I was over there in June. He'd won a point-to-point in June by 15 lengths. Ed Swyer was nice enough to buy him."

"He was a bit green at Far Hills, but we were pretty certain he'd do well at Callaway," said Brion. "He ran a good race. Mr. Swyer was here."

"Flushed ran great, but he never was going to beat Leslie's horse," said Brion.

Family Tree, owned by Irv Naylor, trained by Neil Morris and ridden by Barry Foley, won the $30000, 2 1/4mile 4-year-old Hurdle by 7 lengths over Caldbeck, trained by Ricky Hendriks.