Stars Of The Week: Numitor features in Tom Collins' standout performers

Did you miss the action over the last seven days and want to know the star horse, jockey and trainer? Our specialist writer awards this week's accolades.

Star horse

Numitor

Oxon trainer Heather Main is primarily known for her exploits on the flat and she almost recorded her first big-race success when Island Brave finished a close-up fourth to eventual winner Nicholas T in the 2021 Northumberland Plate 14 months ago.

Although Island Brave might be considered Main’s stablestar, it has been Numitor who has kept the flag flying high throughout the winter months and his latest success came at Doncaster on Friday, where he justified strong market confidence by recording a bloodless victory. 

Main had to wait ten years for Numitor after her last jumps winner - Mam Ratagan, who won at Ffos Las in 2010 - but this attractive grey has already become a fan favourite and produced a career-best performance with a strong-staying effort to finish 20 lengths clear of runner-up Across The Line. 

The handicapper has hit him with a 9lb rise and we may not see him back at his best until the autumn, but he has already achieved more than expected for a relatively small yard and deserved this week's ‘star horse’ status.

Star jockey

Connor Brace

It is exceptionally difficult to make your name as a bona fide top-level jockey, especially over jumps where the number of rides for conditional and amateur riders is limited. However, Connor Brace has already begun to shine and notched another big-race success aboard Paint The Dream in the Grade 3 Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

Previously successful aboard Verdana Blue in the Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle in 2019, Brace hasn’t had too many opportunities this season but £1 on each of his 133 rides since April would have produced a profit of +£66.38, which shows that he is riding better than market expectations.

He was foot-perfect on Paint The Dream, too. After initially tracking the leaders, the pair moved up alongside front-runner Kalooki going down the backstraight and took the race to their rivals. From then on it was plain sailing as Brace saw the right stride at each fence and eventually eased down to win by 15 lengths. He has a big future ahead of him.

Star trainer

Rebecca Menzies

This almost certainly won’t be the last time that I wax lyrical about Rebecca Menzies. Grossly underrated and capable of churning out winners across both codes, Menzies has already recorded a career-best jumps tally of 28 winners this term and racked up her first Listed winner at Doncaster on Saturday as Fonzerelli bellied big odds to win the 3m½f mares’ hurdle. 

Her 2021 flat record is even more impressive with ten winners from 47 runners, a 21 per cent strike-rate which has exclusively come from the all-weather. She has sent out just 17 horses on the level over the last two months and six have won, which is an incredible statistic for a trainer who has been plying her trade at relatively low levels. 

There is no denying that Menzies deserves to be sent a selection of talented horses, whether that be on the flat or over jumps. Once she gets a classy horse or two, she will prove her mettle on the big stage.