The Making of a Champion
Since it's Christmas, I hope you'll forgive a more emotional offering this month than the usual analytical fayre.
With that said, the subject is topical – time sensitive, even – and, in the best traditions of Christmas, there is something you can do to help (if you feel inclined) that will take only a few seconds of your time and might make all the difference!
More on this shortly.
Firstly though, we will begin as with our more typical data analysis offerings, by presenting some raw form data from the Smartform database as a teaser.
In this case, it's a database query to fetch the results of an ex-Jumper, from his first to last race under rules.
Just another also ran?
On the face of it, we're looking at just another racehorse who failed to make the grade. Or the frame. In any of his races. Under every type of Jumps racing under rules – National Hunt Flat, Hurdles and Chases. The only consistent, discernible trend between these races being beaten by many, many lengths. Even the analysis section of The Racing Post – which tends to mention most horses in any given race – fails to mention him once. In any of his races. Including his debut. As you will soon discover, they may have failed to spot a champion in the making.
However, like all “also rans”, there were loyal connections, hopefully planning and fretting over every single one of these races, from the owners and the trainer to the stable staff and onwards. And, of course, whilst we have the luxury of knowing the bare facts of the form book in hindsight, the story did not unfold with the knowledge that this would be the horse's racing record, and neither does the form book do justice to the trials and tribulations of connections before, during and after every race.
Economic Security, the owners
The hopeful owners in this case went by the name of Economic Security, in the knowing irony that racehorse ownership was neither economic nor secure.
The partnership was always about 12 or so members strong, depending on the horse.
My late father, Ian, was one of the founding partners and involved with the day to day running of the syndicate; I too started out as a fully paid-up member with one of the early horses, but by the time this particular story begins, I was watching from the sidelines.
From the outset, this was a partnership with a clear ambition. The impossible dream of the partners was always to own a very good jumps horse (ideally a chaser), that could compete at the highest level (ideally at Cheltenham) and every horse was acquired with this dream in mind. Paul Webber, the trainer of most of the partnership’s horses, and himself a partner, supported at every step of the way.
Master Wickham, the racehorse
After 2 decades trying, enter in 2013, Master Wickham, who was bought to be the flagship bearer of the syndicate's colours in pursuit of this dream.
Here's how the partners' saw their adventure at the time:
The new recruit was a bay gelding standing 16.2 hands by the 2006 French Derby winner, Darsi. Trainer Paul Webber bought him at the DBS Hennessy breeze-up sale at Newbury in December 2012.
The original idea was to name the new recruit Master Darsi but, for reasons that were never explained, this was rejected by the racing authorities.
Instead, he was named Master Wickham. In Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice, George Wickham was Mr Darcy's rival (Darsi, Darcy, geddit?)
Master Wickham showed early promise but faced a setback in March 2013 due to a non-displaced hind leg fracture. After recovery, he debuted at Ludlow in November, finishing seventh under Richie McLernon. He and his groom, Amy Chamberlain, deservedly won the Best Turned Out award, and trainer Paul Webber deemed the run “satisfactory.”
As one of the partners once remarked, “”The early days are the best when you don’t know how bad your horse is.”
A wet winter delayed his return until February 2014 at Doncaster, where he faded in testing ground. A fourth-place finish at Stratford in March saw jockey Tom O’Brien describe him as “babyish.” He improved to finish fifth at Uttoxeter in May before a summer break, with the trainer noting his preference for left-handed tracks and softer ground.
Returning in October, he ran at Uttoxeter but stopped abruptly due to a pulmonary bleed. Treatments followed, but heavy ground at Plumpton in November led to a disappointing sixth. Switching to fences in December at Leicester, a slipping saddle forced him to pull up. Jockey McLernon called him “nervy,” recommending a tongue tie. A January 2015 run at Leicester ended in another bleed and an unseating.
It was decided Master Wickham would retire from racing, starting a new life in hunting, eventing, or dressage.
There, you might think, the story ends. Economic Security never quite crowned a Cheltenham champion, and after 3 decades chasing the impossible dream, with notable ups and downs along the way, the syndicate itself disbanded in 2023.
Cometh the hour, cometh the horse
Back to 2015. Master Wickham went from training with Paul Webber to Claire Lewis, a veterinary surgeon who was an amateur rider. She had space for Master Wickham having just lost her pony and was able to offer him a lifelong home where he’d want for nothing and be under the care of a vet.
That was the last the partners had heard of Master Wickham – until his new owner got in touch with Paul Webber in March this year, writing:
I would just like to let you and the owners from Economic Security know that their former horse “Master Wickham” will be at Aintree on Friday 12th April for the Grand National meeting. I know the syndicate have since sold all their horses but if you are still in contact with any of them and they would like to meet him then he will be there, and I’d love for them to see him again!
Since retirement he has been to the famous Badminton horse trials three times placing 11th in the 100 championship in 2023, as well as achieving placings in events held at Burghley, Bramham, and Blenheim horse trials. He has jumped clear and finished 3rd at the royal international horse show working hunters as well as 2nd in one of their back ring derby classes at their Hickstead derby meeting! He is only a month away from becoming a grade A showjumper if he continues the way he is now with the British showjumping spring championships this weekend and the winter championships in April. He has won a British showjumping national title in 2021 and has qualified for all their major championships for the last 5 years in a row! He has won 12 ROR national titles and represented the organisation at several show case events across the country. The horse may have lacked any competitive spirit in racing, but he is now perhaps the most successful amateur horse of any breed in the country!
Master Wickham, ex racehorse
Claire takes up the story from here directly:
Darsi, as he’s known to his friends, came to me in February 2015 with very low expectations. We all know he showed zero competitive spirit in racing, so I thought he’d just be a nice, friendly horse to spend my free time with.
2015/16 was all about getting to know the horse. Looking back, I judged him all wrong! I thought he wanted routine and a quiet life—low-key shows, a few clinics, everything repetitive. I couldn’t have been more wrong. He was tricky and showed the same traits as in racing. At times, it felt like it wasn’t meant to be.
Everything changed in 2017 when my older event pony suffered a career-ending injury, leaving me with entries at The Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead—the biggest and most famous outdoor show in the country—and the Welsh Home International Showjumping meet. With only six weeks to prepare, Darsi had to step up. He won the championship in Wales on his debut and then amazed me at Hickstead, jumping clear and placing out of 125 competitors in a loud, busy atmosphere.
From that day, we found the key to Darsi. He thrives at the biggest shows, soaking up the attention and the energy of huge crowds—he genuinely thinks everyone is there to see him! The noisier the atmosphere, the better he performs. Routine doesn’t suit him; he never does the same thing twice in a week. He competes a lot and thrives on it- if the lorry leaves without him, he throws a tantrum!
Darsi excels at championships, and the moment he steps into the ring, he lights up—you just know he’ll give you 110%. Ironically, he’s now the most competitive horse I know, across multiple disciplines. He’s achieving things at an amateur level that very few ex-racehorses have ever done – if any, when you look at the Grade A showjumping status that he achieved this year!
As a thoroughbred succeeding in a sport dominated by warmbloods, he’s putting his breed firmly on the map. Together, we’ve reached heights I never imagined, even competing against my idols on the international stage. This year, he won a class that included four of the famous Whitaker dynasty. He really is the most unbelievable fairy story!
Here's Master Wickham in action
And boasting of his new achievements:
Master Wickham – your vote for ex-racehorse of the year?
Within the last month, Master Wickham has been officially shortlisted for ex racehorse of the year 2024. The shortlist will come down to a public vote to decide the winner at Cheltenham festival trials day in January, and the public vote is now open. In a supreme twist of fate, it’s possible for Master Wickham to be crowned a Champion at Cheltenham!
Finally, if you would like to help with Master Wickham’s bid, please vote for him at the following link:
Colin Magee
