Chris Mason (photographed) is on the verge of his best ever season and could edge even closer to it with Alkuwarrior at Ffos Las on Friday.
Mason trains close to Chepstow racecourse in Caerwent and has sent out 12 winners on the flat this season, capturing £123,275 in prize-money.
Two years ago, he registered 14 winners, so is within touching distance of that, while his most lucrative campaign came last term when he won £127,493. In Alkuwarrior, he has a useful sprinter who has been declared for the 6f handicap on the Ffos Las card.
The three-year-old, who will be ridden by Mason’s primary jockey Gina Mangan, won over 5f at the track in June, although is rated higher in the handicap now, so will face a tougher task.
Like Mason, Grace Harris is also having a fine season and she also runners at Ffos
Las. Based in Shirenewton, the trainer has put Pull The Rug in the same race as Alkuwarrior and she could command maximum interest given her latest effort.
Formerly trained in Yorkshire by Ed Bethell, the filly moved this summer to Harris and shaped with encouragement at Windsor last month before a close second at Chepstow recently.
A repeat of that effort would put her right into the mix, while A Rose Adaay could also go close in the classified stakes.
Yet to win, the four-year-old is a consistent sort and perhaps stepping up in distance to 1m2f could unlock some improvement, especially as there are stamina influences in her pedigree.
Ffos Las is expecting an attendance of more than 6000 for Friday’s meeting, which is Ladies Day, the most popular fixture of the year.
Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Carmarthenshire countryside, the afternoon has a focus on fashion and flair - as well as the competitive racing - and there are best-dressed awards for ladies and gentlemen with £500 worth of vouchers on offer for the winners.
Musical entertainment will be provided by Lovely Laura & Ben Santiago, an electrifying act that should coax racegoers to the dancefloor, while DMF Band will also perform, bringing high energy and specialising in 1990s and 2000s club anthems.
More details for the day can be found on the Ffos Las website.
The next meetings at Chepstow are Saturday 29th and Monday 31st August.
