Baby Ticker
Donald Whillans col
Baby Ticker : 2009 chestnut mare
Owner :  D. W. Whillans
Stud photo

Pedigree

                                                                      Assert
                                        Endoli
                                                                      Grabelst
  Baby Ticker
  2009 chestnut mare
                                                                      King Among Kings
                                        Baby Gee
                                                                      Market Blues

The family

With her dam passing away a couple of years after her birth, Baby Ticker is the only progeny of the prolific winning hurdler Baby Gee, who was also trained by Donald here at Dodlands Steading.
Baby Gee was one of 4 individual winners out of Market Blues, with most having Whillans' connections, best of which was Palacegate King trained by Brother Ali to win 10 hurdle races (he also won 3 on the level for Jack Berry).
And all 4 of these winners were sired by King Among Kings.

Back to Baby Gee, who won 6 hurdle races, and was well suited by 2m and soft ground.
The most recent member of the family to be trained in Hawick was Baby Sister (a full sister to Baby Gee) who didn't quite win but was runner up in a bumper and subsequently placed 5 times over hurdles.

About the sire

Having raced once (unplaced) as a 2yr old for Dick Hern, Endoli (bay horse, born 1987) was next seen as a progressive 4yr old for Clive Brittain winning a couple of minor grade events. His best (and last) season was as a 5yr old winning a listed staying race before signing off with a very creditable 4th place in the 1992 renewal of the Ascot Gold Cup.
With a stayer's pedigree, Endoli was always going to appeal most to NH Breeders, and he did stood for several seasons at Girsonfield Stud at Otterburn, just across the border in Northumberland

Endoli was frequented mainly by local breeders and Harriet Graham trained two of his best stock in Scotswell and Indy Mood. Always gave the feeling that, as a sire, he could have done a lot better given more opportunities.

Baby on the gallops
Form Summary

Season 2020-21 outlook
Two runs only in 2018-19 and a year on the sidelines followed but Nosdtradamus himself could not have foreseen Baby Ticker's 2019-20 season.
A hard fought victory at Hexham in December (off OR107) was followed a couple of runs later by an impressive 6l Ayr success (off OR111). Lifetime best as an 11 year old!
She is destined for the paddocks next spring, but we'll give her a couple of runs should the ground come up testing this season. Commences on a OR118 mark. Although Baby Ticker has been seen to best effect over 2½ miles in handicap hurdles so far, both The Trainer & his assistant are keen to try 3 miles. She acts well with give in the ground and seems to love Ayr.

Previously....
Baby Ticker is a neat, athletic mare, who can be a bit moody at times but she has always showed up well in the morning gallops in all her time at the stable. The late Chuck Whillans, father of Donald,  had owned and enjoyed much success with many members of this family. Brother Ali trained full siblings of the dam (Baby Gee) in Palacegate King and Gospel Song, while we trained Baby Gee herself and full sister Baby Sister - all running in Chuck's yellow, red sash and blue sleeved colours.
It was certainly a long time coming but our home bred mare made her belated racecourse debut in a bumper (as a 6 year old) at Carlisle in December 2015. Hampered by administrative issues over her passport (it's a long story), the mare had actually been at Dodlands in training for a couple of seasons prior to that debut run. She ran with a lot more promise than the bare form might reflect in finishing 4th of 5 to Irish raider Billy Billy. Each of the first two then went on  to win over hurdles. 'Baby' then had three fairly quick runs in novice hurdles at the back end of winter 2016, again showing enough promise in the second of these when 4th of 7 at Sedgefield in March. The mare completed her 2015-16 season in the middle of March at Kelso over 2m 2f running a fine race, with improved jumping, to finish 3rd in a maiden hurdle beaten 15l.
On handicap debut in a hurdle at Sedgefield in January '17, she jumped the last in a clear lead only to swerve violently right 100 yards from the line as she spotted the paddock, unshipping Callum in the process. Up 8lbs for that effort, she finished 2nd next time beaten just under 2 lengths before signing off 2016-17 season with a below par effort in a Musselburgh handicap.
In season 17-18, she ran consistently well in testing conditions over distances between 2 and 2½ miles, winning once and runner up twice before rounding the season off with an 8th place at Ayr over 3 miles on good ground.

Just the two runs in 2018-19 due to lingering ill-health, but she did finish second (blinkered first time) in that season's final of the Northern Lights Series Mares Hurdle at Carlisle, a valuable series. Not seen again that season.

Season win 2nd 3rd 4th other
2015-16 NH Flat 1
2015-16 Hurdles     1 1 1
2016-17 Hurdles   1     3
2017-18 Hurdles 1 2     2
2018-19 Hurdles   1     1
2019-20 Hurdles     1 1
2020-21 Hurdles 1   2 1  
Current Season Form
13 March 21 Ayr 2m 4½f Handicap Hurdle (Class 3 0-140) OR 121 heavy 11 ran (T Gillard (5)) - 3rd (beaten 11½l)                               video
Mid division, effort and closed on leader after 4 out, ridden 3 out, no impression on 1st two from 2 out 
Another fine run from Baby Ticker only losing out to Lucinda's revitalised Grand Morning and Brother Ali's progressive youngster Corrieben Reiver. 

line

23 February 21 Wetherby 2m 5½f Mares' Hdcp Hurdle (Class 3 0-135) OR 121 soft 6 ran (T Gillard (7)) - 3rd (beaten 3l)                       video
Prom till outpaced and dropped to rear after 4 out, good headway appr 3 out, chased leader and not fluent 2 out, stayed on run-in but not reach winner.
Another very fine run from Baby Ticker who was just a touch short of pace to mount a challenge over the last 3 flights. Slight mistake 2 out but she kept on well nonetheless on a track that places less of an emphasis on stamina. 

line

14 December 20 Ayr 2m 4½f Handicap Hurdle (Class 3 0-125) OR 116 heavy 8 ran (Mr Connor Wood (7)) - 1st (won by ¾l)                     video
Close up, outpaced after 3 out and dropped to 5th, good headway from 2 out to challenge last, soon led and stayed on well 
Baby Ticker may be rising 12 years of age but turned in another personal best here. Racing off 5lb higher then her previous winning mark, and up in grade, a tremendous performance with huge credit to our stable amateur Connor Wood gaining his first win against professionals 

line

11 November 20 Ayr 2m 4½f Mares' Handicap Hurdle (Class 4 0-120) OR 118 soft 8 ran (Mr Connor Wood (7)) - 4th (beaten 9½l)      video
Tracked leaders, took closer order and every chance 3 out, staying on at one pace when mistake last.
Baby made her seasonal debut in the same race as she did last year with a similar result (4th). Up 7lb following her second win last season, she raced off a 10lb higher mark this year against many of the same horses so a very encouraging first run for our mare, in the veteran stage of her career. 

line

Previous Season Form
7 March 20 Ayr 2m 5½f Mares' Handicap Hurdle (Class 4 0-120) OR 111 soft (heavy places) 8 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 1st (won by 6l)       video
Always prominent, chased leader 3 out, soon switched left, led after 2 out, ridden and stayed on well run-in.
Quite a stunning performance. Baby won this 4lb higher than her previous winning mark at 11 years of age. And by 6 lengths. A mare we've known to possess lots of ability but never quite showing it on the racecourse. Given soft ground, the series final would be a nice race in a fortnight's time. 

line

29 December 19 Kelso 2m 2f Mares' Handicap Hurdle (Class 4 0-120) OR 111 soft 11 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 6th (beaten 14½l)             video
In rear, outpaced 4 out, driven from 3 out, never able to challenge.
Baby Ticker was up 4lb in the handicap and together with the shorter trip and less testing condition, this told here. Never quite travelling with the pace of the race, she kept on in the home straight without troubling the leaders.

line

11 December 19 Hexham : 2m 4f hdcp hurdle  (Class 4 0-110) OR 107 heavy 9 ran (C Whillans (3)) -   1st (won by nk)                           video
Tracked leader, mistake 3 out but soon recovered, ridden after 2 out, challenged and dsptd lead appr last, driven and stayed on well to lead near finish
What a performance from our mare as she approaches the veteran stage to record her second victory of her career.  Our thoughts pre-race were that a trio of horses returning from long absences may be to the fore, and so it proved but 'Baby' was strong enough to battle through to win. Our heroine!

line

13 November 19 Ayr 2m 4½f Mares' Handicap Hurdle (Class 4 0-120) OR 108 heavy 10 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 4th (beaten 12l)             video
Waited with in behind leaders, headway to challenge on inner 3 out, soon ridden, no extra when mistake last.
This was Baby's first run in nearly a year and she has run very well in the circumstances. Trip, course and distance were all in her favour but much like most of the stable runners early season, lack of a previous outing told after 2 out. 

line

2 December 18 Carlisle : 2m 4f mares' handicap hurdle (Class 2 0-125) OR 108 heavy 10 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 2nd (beaten 11l)              video20
Mid division, ridden after 4 out and in touch, stayed on from 2 out, mistake last, no impression on winner
This was the final of the Northern Lights Series Mares Hurdle and a fine performance Baby Ticker. Sporting blinkers for the first time, this seemed to help a touch and she kept on well up the hill but could not catch the clear winner.

line

12 November 18 Carlisle : 2m 1f mares' handicap hurdle (Class 4 0-120) OR 111 soft 8 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 5th (beaten 17l)              video20
Behind, not always fluent, hampered 4 out, some late headway from 2 out but never dangerous
Seasonal pipe-opener from Baby Ticker - and it showed. She did give some indication of her well-being by picking up the bit from the bottom of the hill (3 out) but was well beaten. She now qualifies for the Northern Lights Series final in early December.
20 April 18 Ayr : 3m ½f mares' handicap hurdle (Class 2) OR 112 good 16 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 8th (beaten 13¾l)              video20
Held up, headway on outside before 3 out, weakened before next
Another good run from Baby Ticker but she wasn't enjoying the sounder surface and although came to challenge after 3 out, she wouldn't really let herself down on the surface. She's had a good season and will now head off to summer grass.

line

31 March 18 Haydock : 2m 3f mares' handicap hurdle (Class 2 0-135) OR 112 soft 13 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 5th (beaten 6l)              video20
Mid division on inner, chasing leaders when bad mistake 3 out, ridden and stayed on approaching last but not reach leading group 
Baby Ticker has held her form well throughout this season and this was another good performance, although just out of the placings. She met 3 out wrong as the pace quickened for home and lost vital momentum. She'll go for a race at Ayr's National meeting next..

line

11 February 18 Ayr : 2m 3½f mares' handicap hurdle (Class 4 0-120) OR 112 heavy 3 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 2nd (beaten 1¾l)              video20
Tracked leaders, good headway to dispute lead 3 out, not fluent and 1l down last, rallied to challenge 200yds to go, just held by winner 
Another brave performance by our mare in atrocious weather conditions of driving wind and snow. Disputing lead, didn't jump the last as well as the winner but battled gamely, although in vain, all the way to the line once again.

line

15 January 18 Ayr : 2m mares' handicap hurdle (Class 4 0-120) OR 108 heavy 8 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 1st (won by ¾l)              video20
Slowly into stride and in rear early, on and off bit throughout, ridden and took closer order 4 out, driven after 3 out, chal last, soon led and stayed on 
Well, 'Baby' won alright but it took an energetic ride from Callum to keep the mare in touch during the first circuit as she was not helping The Jockey one bit. But she is a very brave horse, for once Callum challenged the leader at the last, she battled all the way to the line.

line

23 December 17 Newcastle : 2m ½f handicap hurdle (Class 5 0-100) OR 99 soft 15 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 2nd (beaten neck)              race video
Waited with in rear, ridden and headway 5 out, tracking leaders 4 out, chased leader 3 out to 2 out, drew clear with winner but always held run-in
Baby Ticker ran a fine race, only going down by a neck to a well handicapped rival. She battled on to the line and the first two were 12 lengths clear of a well strung out 15 runner field.

line

   © DonaldWhillansRacing.com 2012  all rights reserved  |   Web Design : Viewforth Consultants Ltd.