Ruth revels in ’ton of work

9:35am Friday 8th February 2008

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RUTH Carr couldn't have had a better teacher.

The Stillington handler is settling in to her first full training role after taking over the reins of the Mowbray House Farm yard from her grandfather David Chapman at the start of the month.

Chapman called time on a stellar career, which included guiding Quito to seven Listed race successes along with an Ayr Gold Cup, and handed control of the stable to Carr, who has been his assistant for the last 15 years.

Carr has always been around horses - riding show, gymkhana and jumping ponies through her early years and having her first race ride on her 16th birthday in an amateur riders' contest at Redcar.

But while State Governor finished last that day, Carr would go on to ride 28 winners on the Flat, eight over hurdles and notch up 20 point-to-point successes.

She was the leading amateur rider on the Flat in 1997 - a year in which she gleaned 13 victories in total - but these days she is now focussed on training winners rather than riding them.

Her first runner in her own right, Jabraan, was pulled up at Catterick on February 1 but Carr is unlikely to have to wait long before hitting the heights.

And, like her grandfather, it is on the all-weather surface where the 31-year-old hopes to forge her reputation.

"They are big shoes to fill," says Carr of her grandfather. "But I am not afraid of that. I am very lucky to have had a leg-up - I don't have to start from scratch - but I also know it is going to be a lot of hard work and won't be easy.

"It is on the Flat where we see the results coming. I have been doing it my whole life. I was mucking out at a very young age. I am looking forward to the challenge.

"I haven't set myself any targets. I would just like my horses to go out there and look as well as they can and perform to the very best of their ability.

"You need luck on your side and I can still call on granddad for advice - his new job title is racing consultant and advisor."

While Chapman had Quito, Carr is hoping to find her own star in her stables, which are currently home to 18 thoroughbreds. One of those could be Moheebb, a three-time winner last year.

"His last win was very nice. We ran him on the all-weather but he didn't take to it at all," she added. "He likes to get his feet in and we could see him at York if we can find a handicap for him.

"Newgate is another. He has only had four runs. He is off a nice mark of 53. We've run him on the all-weather but we are going to give him a spin on the turf."

With starting stalls, an oval sand gallop and lunge pits, along with numerous paddocks and turn-out pens, Carr has the best of facilities with which to work.

And she was also handed a boost when influential racing syndicate group Middleham Park Racing signed up to the yard. "That could be fantastic if we can do the business," Carr said. "Of course, we are delighted to welcome any new owners."

Alongside her grandfather's expertise and her grandmother Marion's skills as racing yard co-ordinator, Carr also says she is fortunate to have the services of stable lasses Melanie Westwick and Natasha Hayes.

She added: "Mel and Tasha are great, they really love their horses. Some yards have a high staff turnover but I think good staff mean everything in this industry."

To find out more about Ruth Carr, log on to her website at www.ruthcarrracing.co.uk