Rachael Blackmore had an ideal first experience at York Racecourse when Term Of Endearment won the William Hill Bronte Cup Fillies' Stakes in Group Three.
Despite having won the Grand National, Cheltenham Gold Cup, and Champion Hurdle, the rider has fulfilled all the requirements in the National Hunt world yet, this one-mile, six-furlong race was her greatest accomplishment to date.
Trained by Henry de Bromhead, a longstanding ally, season Of Endearment won this company last season and was given a 4-1 start on the Knavesmire, setting off her challenge a few furlongs from home.
Night Sparkle put up a strong fight, and the two became very close, prompting a stewards' inquiry. However, Term Of Endearment was ultimately verified as the three-quarter-length winner.
Blackmore said: “It’s very cool to be asked to ride in the first place and a race of this calibre, it’s very special to be able to win it. I’m delighted. I was hopeful in the middle of the week that if I got to ride her she would have a right chance because there was so much rain, but it really dried up. After walking the track I wondered if the best of her would come out on that ground. She produced a really good run and seemed to be able to do it on that ground as well. That was her first time stepping up to that trip and maybe the nicer ground on that trip suited her fine. It’s just very cool to get a ride in the Group Three race and even better to win. It’s very much a different type of riding (on the Flat), it’s just so different to what I do day to day – you’re learning different things all the time.”