Owen Burrows may have a future star in his stable after Gethin impressed on the testing ground at Nottingham, claiming the British EBF Future Stayers Oath Novice Stakes in commanding fashion. Ridden by Callum Rodriguez and sent off at 9-2, Gethin was a class above the competition, cruising through the extended mile and pulling six lengths clear of Ralph Beckett’s 6-4 favourite, Holborn.
While many trainers had their eyes on the action at Tattersalls, Burrows made the trip to Colwick Park and was thrilled to see the son of Ghaiyyath secure victory in a race previously won by Cambridgeshire winner Liberty Lane.
"He had been showing up nicely at home," Burrows commented. "I don’t usually gallop a horse in the ground this soft, but he worked well on the softer ground we have, and Callum said he handled it brilliantly today. He’s definitely a nice horse for the future."
Though Gethin excelled in soft conditions, Burrows doesn’t believe that softer ground is essential for his success, noting the colt’s good work on firmer ground at home. He added, "It’s tough on this ground, and some of the others might not have handled it as well, so we won’t get too carried away just yet. But you couldn’t be more pleased with how he travelled and finished."
Burrows will now assess Gethin’s performance before deciding on future plans for the colt.
In other action at Nottingham, Ralph Beckett claimed the second novice race of the day with Arctic Voyage, owned by Clipper Logistics. The Kingman colt, third on debut at Newbury, adapted well to the conditions under Danny Tudhope, winning by six and a half lengths. Assistant trainer Joe Tuite praised Arctic Voyage’s progression, saying, "He handled the ground well today and was much more professional in this run. He’s a nice horse, and we’ve always liked him."