ROBERT WINSTON had his first winner since his comeback when winning on Broxi yesterday at Nottingham in the colours, appropriately enough, of Heather Yarrow.
Michael and Heather Yarrow have been big supporters of the yard and indeed the jockey over the years so it was fitting that Robert should don those mauve and pink colours for his first winner on only his tenth ride back since retiring some two years ago.
Broxi has plummeted down the weights since coming to Harper Lodge Farm at the start of the season, some two stone but several jockeys have tried and failed to win on him. Robert gave the gelding a fine display of front running and judging pace as he made all on the three-year-old son of Kodi Bear. The 5/1 shot was always in command and at the line was three-quarters of a length to the good over runner-up, Katyusha.
He has been frustrating but certainly started off the year far too high in the weights, off a mark of 92 but also seven furlongs on good to soft ground also played to his strengths.
Congratulations to the joint owners, Heather Yarrow and the trainer’s wife, Lesley Ivory! Hopefully, Broxi can go on from here now he has some confidence back.
As for Robert, his main job is riding out for Godolphin trainer, Charlie Appleby in Newmarket but this was his fourth ride back for the yard with many owners very happy to support him on his return.
Before retiring from the saddle in 2019, he had ridden over 1600 winners with 105 of those coming for the yard. He has been restablishing contacts among the training ranks and hopes to ride more winners over the winter for them. Hopefully, many of them will be for owners at Harper Lodge Farm!