Dear All,

I couldn't be happier with the way the horses have performed so far this season and there is lots to look forward to in the weeks and months ahead.

With 37 winners on the board, we are currently in the top 20 yards both in terms of winners and prize-money so far this campaign, but there was one that didn't count towards the tally that meant a huge amount to us, namely my son Ed's success in the Pony Racing Final at Cheltenham last month.

It rounds off what has been a spectacular season for Ed.  I've included a little more on his achievements further down the newsletter, but suffice to say that Abbi and I are hugely proud of him and I am already looking forward to seeing Mr E Vaughan (7) by one of our runners in the racecard in a few years’ time!

Having shown career-best form when landing a Southwell handicap on her previous outing last month, Oriental Cross had been raised 9lbs and was up significantly in grade at Sandown Park on Saturday, so it was fantastic to see her win once again under Alan Johns for owners Nigel Harris and John Durston.

She is clearly an improving mare and she has the size and scope to go chasing in time.  However, I am looking forward to seeing what she can achieve over hurdles this term, with the Challenger Series Mares Final the main spring target.

It had been a little while between drinks for Timely Gift, who suffered a setback that saw him miss all of 2018, so I was really pleased to see him reward his owners’ patience with success at Plumpton last month. 

Upped 4lbs for that success, he was given a strong ride by Alan Johns to get his head in front on the line at Market Rasen last week, scoring for the third time in his career to date. 

He is unlikely to go up more than a couple of pounds for that success and I am confident he can record the hat-trick on his next outing, but we may well give him a little break now before his next start.

Norwegian Woods got off the mark in style at Southwell under Alan Johns, the six year old son of Arcadio showing no ill effects following a last-flight fall at Hereford on his previous outing.

Dropping back in trip, he came right away up the home straight to win by eight lengths for his owners David & Susan Luke & The Lucky Strats.

A winner of an Irish point last year, his future lies over fences and I am looking forward to getting him started over the larger obstacles in due course, but I hope he can win another over hurdles before we go chasing.

Barntown had shown plenty of promise in Ireland last year and following an unlucky last-flight fall when looking set to shed his maiden tag at Lingfield Park last month, he made amends on his quickfire return to the course the following week, scoring in the manner of a progressive young horse.  The five year old son of Jeremy travelled strongly through the race for Alan Johns and got the better of a useful and experienced opponent in what was a prolonged tussle up the home straight.  

I think there is a good deal more to come from him and though there is another race for him back at Lingfield later this month, he could instead head to Cheltenham on Friday for the two-mile handicap hurdle, which I'm sure would be popular with his owners in the Pant Wilkin Partnership!

I was delighted to see Len Brennan gain a deserved success for his owners The Oxymorons, making all the running to win emphatically in a novice hurdle at Sedgefield under Alan Johns.  Third in a competitive handicap chase on his previous outing, he had bumped into one when runner-up on his seasonal return and it was great to see him get his head in front. 

He wasn't at his best last time, but is capable of winning another novice under a penalty and we’ll look for something in January for him next.  Longer-term, we'll be going back over fences with him and I hope he can win a nice prize in that sphere in due course.

A winner on his debut for us at Taunton in the spring, Adherence maintained his 100% record at the track when scoring over fences there under Alan Johns.

He looked to have plenty on his plate when turning into the home straight at the back of the main pack, but he made good headway to challenge between the second last and the final fence, keeping on strongly up the run-in to win well on what was just his third start over fences.

The handicapper has reacted with a 6lbs rise, but that looks fair and he will return to the track on Thursday for a novice handicap chase, in a bid to record a course hat-trick for his owners The Bill & Ben Partnership!

It has been quite a year on the pony racing circuit for Ed Vaughan.

In August, he became the youngest ever winner of the Dingle Derby (please click here if you would like to watch the race!), became Irish Champion pony rider and then leading British 148cm rider. 

His win at Cheltenham's November Meeting was the culmination of what has been an incredible journey for Ed and it was wonderful to see the above photo make the Racing Post front page!

Racing TV were in to film him in action at the yard last week and he has been invited to appear on the Morning Line soon...I am in grave danger of being overshadowed by him already and he is only 12!

We have several horses for sale at present, including a couple that are ready to run and shares in two as well!

If you would like further details on any of the below, please give me a call on 07841 800081 or email tim@timvaughanracing.com.

BRANDY JAMES

Age: 4yo

Pedigree: Motivator ex Bold Classic

Price: £14,000 + VAT (includes all costs to 1st December 2019)

- Ready to run in the next three weeks

- Well-handicapped novice hurdler

Please click here for further info

HICKEY'S ROCK

Age: 7yo

Pedigree: Westerner ex Golden Odyssey

Price: £10,000 + VAT (includes all costs to 1st December 2019)

- Ready to run

- Very well-treated on his old form

- Type to run up a sequence

Please click here for further info

JEAN GENIE

Age: 3yo

Pedigree: Turgeon ex Lady Koko

Price: £2,250 +  (includes all costs to 1st December, then monthly fees)

- Scopey three year old

- 123-rated maiden with form around Auteuil 

- Very exciting chasing prospect

- FINAL 10% SHARE REMAINING!

Please click here for further info

UNNAMED BY KAYF TARA

Age: 3yo

Pedigree: Kayf Tara ex Maggie Aron

Price: £3,750 for 10% share (includes all costs to 1st December, then monthly fees)

- Strapping, good-moving sort

- By top sire and from family of Iris's Gift

- FINAL THREE 10% SHARES REMAINING!

Please click here for further info