Eternally Yours

Eternally Yours : 2013 bay mare
Owner : D. W. Whillans

Pedigree

                                                                      Hernando
                                        Sulamani
                                                                      Soul Dream
Eternally Yours
2013 bay mare
                                                                      Beneficial
                                        Well Disguised
                                                                      Executive Move

The family

Eternally Yours is the second foal out of the Dodlands Steading trained racemare Well Disguised. Bought as a 3yr old store, Well Disguised raced for Al Duncan and 'Lucky Dave' Leslie for whom she won 4 hurdles and was placed numerous times in bumpers and hurdles.
Well Disguised is a half sister to that useful staying jumper of Paul Nicholls' French Executive, the winner of 7 races over jumps including the Sussex National. Her full sister, Thirty Days Out was also trained at Dodlands and was placed several times in bumper and hurdles.
The granddam, Executive Move, unraced but a half sister to useful hurdler/chaser Parson's Green, who won 7 races for Nicky Henderson in the early 90s.
The family traces back to the Scottish National winner Cockle Strand.
In addition to "Thimble" Well Disguised has produced 2 other foals to race. An unfortunate half sister Our Elsie (b 2015) died in 2021, and a Midnight Legend half brother Nights In Venice (b 2016) is now in training at Dodlands.

About the sire

Bred by the Niarchos family and trained by Patrick Bary in France as a 3yr old (winning the French Derby), Sulamani (bay horse, b 1999) continued to prosper as a high class racehorse for Godolphin over the next 2 seasons. He added 5 Group 1 victories to his tally for Godolphin.
Sulamani was campaigned successfully far and wide notching up victories in UAE, England, Canada and the USA. He showed winning form from 10-12f and seemed best suited with a little give in the ground.
To stud in 2005, he spent several years standing as flat stallion at Darley Studs in Newmarket, Brazil and France. First crop included a Classic winner in Mastery, and he has sired numerous Stakes winners in Brazil.
In 2011, he was acquired by Richard Venn on behalf of the Cashman family to stand at David Futter’s Yorton Farm in Shropshire as a National Hunt sire. He has sired several classy jumpers in his time - dual Champion Hurdler Honeysuckle, 2016 Grand National winner Rule the World, Grade 1 winner Cash 'n Go and 2021 Bet365 Gold Cup hero Potterman.
Sadly though, Sulamani passed away in January 2017.

Form Summary

Season 2022-23 outlook

Last season the genuine hurdler Eternally Yours continued where she had left off - 4 runs, 3 places and at least one luckless run but just not quite achieving another victory. She ran well in an extended 3 mile handicap at Ayr (3rd) in March but maybe not quite seeing out the extended part. At least that run opened up the range of distance that she can be aimed at.
So 2022-23?
Well, Eternally Yours appeared to need her first race last season but she is literally sparking in her coat this October, so who knows this time around?

'Thimble' is a lovely, athletic filly just that little bit long in the back and has matured into an attractive 16.1hh frame. Lightly raced, suited by 2½ but stays 3 miles, this fairly useful hurdler will again be aimed at handicap hurdles (starts the season off OR117) preferably with some cut in the ground.

Profile....

The 3 yr old filly warily walking to her box in the Autumn of 2016 wouldn't have been aware she was entering an environment that had not so long ago been home to her mum and auntie, and just how much the human residents had been looking forward to meeting her.
And who could have foreseen the forthcoming pleasure-filled seasons of racing that Eternally Yours would bring?

Eternally Yours was forward enough to run at 4, and before 2017 was out she had gained her first success in a Sedgefield Boxing Day bumper. And there was more, because by the end of that season "Thimble" had opened her account over hurdles too - scuppering plans for a novice hurdle season in the process, but hey ho......
Her only subsequent hurdles win came in a handicap at Newcastle in December 2018 but she has run some tremendous races since then, in particular in a Class 2 event at Aintree a couple of years back when pipped by a nose by Kateson.

Of course on those days when she has under performed, a physical issue has emerged but each time, after some TLC, the mare has bounced back in pleasing style on the racecourse.........running well if just not quite getting her head in front. But her race record in those 6 years here - 3 wins, 4 second and 4 third places from 16 runs - has made her a very popular horse.

Season		win	2nd	3rd	4th	other
2017-18	NH Flat	1			2
2017-18	Hurdles	1
2018-19	Hurdles	1	2
2019-20	Hurdles			2		1
2020-21	Hurdles		1			1
2021-22	Hurdles		1	2		1
2022-23	Hurdles	1			1	2

Current Season Form

14 January 23 Wetherby : 2m 3½f handicap hurdle (Class 3 0-140) OR120 soft 8 ran (Craig Nichol) - 6th (beaten 53½l)

Mid-field, left behind from 4 out

This race may have come too soon after her fine run at Ayr (despite departing at the last). A competitive event. The winner Iroko looks very useful.

22 December 22 Ayr : 2m 4½f Handicap Hurdle (Class 3 0-125) OR 120 Good to Soft 8 ran (T Gillard (3)) - fell last

Disputed lead, led 3 out till headed after 2 out, 3rd and 1 length down but still every chance when fell last

Although she didn't complete the course, this was yet another creditable performance from Eternally Yours. Leading most of the way, jumping well (up to the last), she still held every chance and given her finishing spurt last time, who knows? Horse and jockey both well.

9 November 22 Ayr : 2m 4½f Mares' Handicap Hurdle (Class 4 0-120) OR 116 Soft 5 ran (T Gillard (3)) - won (by neck)

Close up, outpaced after 3 out and ridden, 5th but in touch between last 2, strong run flat to lead near line.

A welcome victory for Eternally Yours, 4 years on from finishing 2nd in this race. On that occasion she won next time out but despite some creditable runs, hadn't won since. The first two sprinted clear from the last and a very fine ride from Theo saw our mare just prevail from old rival Charm Offensive.

29 October 22 Ayr 3m ½f Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) OR117 good to soft 8 ran (Dylan Johnston (7)) - 4th (beaten 19¾l)

Mid division, nudged along when mistake 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, weakened last

This was Eternally Yours' second attempt at 3 miles, on ground faster than ideal and her first outing of the season. So take your pick if you're searching for clues. Probably a mixture of all three but this leaves a wee bit to prove next time.

Previous Form

11 April 22 Hexham 2m 4f Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) OR118 good to soft 8 ran (Craig Nichol) - 3rd (beaten 8¼l)

Tracked leaders, effort after 3 out to dispute lead, soon ridden and outpaced approaching last

Thwarted by the drying conditions on ground which was soft/heavy a couple of days earlier, Eternally Yours has run well nonetheless but couldn't match the pace of the front two going to the final flight. 17 lengths back to 4th......

12 March 22 Ayr 2m 5½f Handicap Hurdle (Class 4) OR116 soft 9 ran (Craig Nichol) - 2nd (beaten 1¾l)

Led, effort and 2 or 3 lengths clear after 3 out, ridden 2 out, headed last, kept on well but always held

Drop in class here for the mare and she's run a very fine race. Agonisingly, after making the running and jumping well, she was headed over the last by the winner (Charm Offensive) who repelled Eternally Yours renewed effort on the run to the line. Still, this run wasn't far off her best form.

2 January 22 Ayr 3m ½f Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) OR118 soft (heavy places) 9 ran (Craig Nichol) - 3rd (beaten 6½l)

Close up, disputed lead 3 out, led 2 out till headed last, no chance with winner, weakened final 100 yards and caught for second place near line

Back at a track that she loves and ground to suit this was much better from Eternally Yours. She probably didn't quite see out the full distance of this extended 3 miles but a valiant effort nonetheless.

31 October 21 Carlisle 2m 4f Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) OR122 soft 9 ran (Craig Nichol) - 5th (beaten 35¾l)

Close up, till lost place 5 out and behind from 4 out, kept on through beaten horses from last

Eternally Yours looked to be in need of this race.

22 February 21 Carlisle 2m 3½f Handicap Hurdle (Class 3 0-135) OR126 soft (heavy places) 7 ran (Blair Campbell (3)) - p.u.

Soon chasing leaders, pushed along halfway and lost touch, pulled up before 2 out

Blair Campbell reported that Eternally Yours was never travelling

5 December 20 Aintree 2m 4f Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) OR 122 Soft 11 ran (B Campbell (3)) - 2nd (beaten nose)

Tracked leaders on outer, jumping well. Ridden to dispute lead after 2 out, slight advantage last, kept on well, just caught on line

Heartbreaking. Eternally Yours has put in a tremendous performance on seasonal debut, jumping was electric. She looked to have won the battle with Kateson after the last and held a slight advantage with 100yds to run but was just outdone on the nod at the post.

7 March 20 Ayr 2m 4½f Handicap Hurdle (Class 3 0-140) OR 125 Soft (heavy places) 5 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 3rd (beaten 11½l)

Set slow pace. Disputed lead till bad mistake and lost place 4 out, soon outpaced, stayed on from 2 out to take 3rd place near finish

Eternally Yours had a few weeks off to recover from an infection so came into this race a little ring-rusty. Nevertheless, she was running well till blundering 4 out just as the pace quickened. That put paid to her winning chance but she kept on pleasingly to the finish. Better for race.

2 January 20 Ayr 2m 5½f Handicap Hurdle (Class 3 0-140) OR 127 Soft 9 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 7th (beaten 59l)

Prominent, ridden and weakened before 3 out

This wasn't the mare's true running and Eternally Yours wasn't right on her return to the stables. We'll get her checked out fully.

3 November 19 Carlisle : 2m 4f Handicap Hurdle (Class 2 0-150) OR 127 soft 9 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 3rd (beaten 20l)

Waited with in rear, headway to track leaders after 4 out, ridden 3 out, kept on but no chance with leading pair.

A fair enough season opener from the mare. Slight mistake at the second, but jumped well otherwise. She was a tired horse over the last two flights but kept on under hands and heels to reach the frame. We're slightly limited in opportunities given her rating but hope she can step forward on this.

9 March 19 Ayr 2m 4½f Handicap Hurdle (Class 3 0-140) OR 127 Soft 12 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 2nd (beaten 5l)

In rear, headway after 5 out to track leaders, disputed lead 3 out, soon headed and stayed on one pace, left 2nd last

It's fair to say Eternally Yours was rushed off her feet early by the strong pace on her first attempt at this grade. Callum settled her in rear and jumping very well throughout came there 3 out holding every chance. Not able to quicken, but a fine run nonetheless.

22 December 18 Newcastle 2m 4½f Mares' Handicap Hurdle (Class 4 0-120 OR116) Soft 7 ran (Craig Nichol) - won by 16l

Tracked leaders, smooth headway to challenge after 3 out, led and mistake 2 out, shaken up and soon clear, easily.

Being careful not to get too carried away - in a mares only 0-120 handicap - this was an impressive display by Eternally Yours. She still made a couple of novicey mistakes at her hurdles, but from 3 out she responded each time when asked by Craig, who gave our mare a fine ride.

14 November 18 Ayr 2m 4½f Mares' Handicap Hurdle (Class 4 0-120) OR 110 Heavy 12 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 2nd (beaten neck)

Held up in rear, good headway after 4 out to track leaders 3 out, disputed lead from 2 out till last, ridden and kept on well but just held near line.

Excellent handicap debut from the mare on just her second run over hurdles. She lacked experience in this competitive field, and was held up a fair way off the pace made by eventual winner Bon Chic. Just pipped by the battle hardened winner on the run-in.

14 April 18 Newcastle 2m 4½f Novices Hurdle (Class 4) Heavy 8 ran (C Whillans (3)) - won by 3l

Took keen hold, held up, smooth headway to track leaders 3 out, challenged last, quickened and soon clear, eased near finish, readily.

Fine win on hurdling debut from Eternally Yours. The favourite under-performed which has left not too much substance to the bare form but our mare produced a very impressive performance, jumping well and quickening clear under a classic, hands and heels ride from Callum.

14 February 18 Musselburgh 1m 7½f Mares only NH Flat Maiden (Class 5) Good to soft 8 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 4th btn 10l

In rear on inside off modest pace, hampered 5f out, not clr run 3f out, ridden but not quicken until stayed on final furlong but not reach leading pair.

Guess she's not really suited by Musselburgh................

26 December 17 Sedgefield 2m 1f Mares only NH Flat (Class 6) Soft (Good to soft places) 12 ran (C Whillans (3)) - won by 2¾l

Tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, driven to challenge 3f out, led just after 2f out, stayed on well.

You know, our filly still ran a bit green during the race but under excellent handling from Callum, she was well placed when the leaders set for home with 4 furlongs to race. Eternally Yours joined the leader (eventual runner-up Birch Vale) over a furlong out, and soon put the race to bed. Fantastic!!.

30 November 17 Musselburgh 1m 7½f NH Flat Maiden (Class 6) Good 13 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 4th beaten 7l

Towards rear on inside, ridden 4f out, headway 2f out when not clear run, ran on well, nearest finish.

Despite running green almost throughout, Eternally Yours ran on well over the final two furlongs and delighted connections with a eye-catching run on debut finishing 4th. We'll see how she comes out of this in the next few days, but maybe a mares bumper over a galloping track will be on the cards.