Dosman powers clear to give Oli Rix his first win as a trainer
During my five years in total spent in the UK in the 1990s I followed racing avidly and there were some unforgettable moments and unforgettable people in racing, writes the Turf Talk editor.
One of the latter was Henry Rix, a tipster in the Racing Post who became a legend before going on his own.
Henry’s son Oli is now one of the UK’s newest trainers and recently had his first winner, a horse called Dosman who was purchased cheaply on a Tattersalls Online Sale.
Dosman started out with Roger Varian, having been bought at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 375,000 gns, and he has an amazing claim to fame.’
After winning his maiden at Kempton second time out he ran in a Novice over a mile at Newmarket and finished third, beaten just 2,75 lengths by none less than Ombudsman, who just over a year later was rated the best racehorse in the world.
Dosman had three more runs for Varian for one second place finish, before moving to the Jamie Osborne yard after being bought in a Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale for 100,000 gns.
He had four runs for Osborne, but lost his form completely.
Rix, with the help of bloodstock agent Charlie Dee, then spotted him on a Tattersalls Online Sale and they managed to purchase him for a mere 4,000 gns.
He had dropped from a 97 OR (Official Rating) to an 88 while with Osborne and quickly found his form with Rix, finising 8th, 3rd and 2nd before being entered into a big handicap at Southwell with a first prize of £28,787.
He won the big race in front of a big crowd, because it was on the same night that Constitution Hill made his flat debut, so it was a memorable occasion for Rix Racing.
Oli Rix has had two more winners since, including Broadway Act winning first time out for him, despite it being his first start for two years. This former Godolphin horse was bought at a Tattersalles Horses Out Of Training Sale for £28,000.
Hi other winner was a UBetterbelieveithad two-year-old colt, Mr Macartney, who won his second career start having been bought at a Tattersalls Yearling Sale for £17,000.
To date Rix has had 24 runs for three wins, so is going nicely and so is Dosman, who has had three further runs after his win for a second, fourth and fifth.
