Girl Friday

Girl Friday is an Old Gold Racing syndicate with a difference: owners will own a share alongside Francesca Cumani as she becomes a National Hunt racehorse owner (again)!

For Francesca, this isn’t a leap into the complete unknown. She has long been recognised as a leading authority on the flat, but her involvement with Old Gold Racing has brought her closer to the world of jumps. And she’s already felt it first-hand — schooling over the Grand National practice fences in Lambourn with Richard Johnson, where the thrill of National Hunt racing truly bit.

Owners can expect exclusive content featuring Mick, David and Francesca, stable visits with Francesca, and race days when Girl Friday runs!

Please note: this is not a partner syndicate - Girl Friday will run in Old Gold Racing silks throughout the coming seasons.

Girl Friday is a scopey mare who was purchased on behalf of Old Gold Racing for £45,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale by Anthony Bromley of Highflyer Bloodstock.

She made the perfect start to her career when winning her point-to-point at Curraghmore in October, a performance made all the more notable given she was the only debutante in the field. Settled in a smooth rhythm throughout, she travelled strongly before asserting between the final two fences and staying on powerfully to the line.

Girl Friday built on that promise with an impressive success on her hurdles debut at Wetherby, maintaining her unbeaten record. She showed a notably professional attitude, jumping fluently throughout and travelling with ease in a prominent position. When asked to quicken turning for home, she responded immediately, moving into contention before asserting, approaching the last and staying on strongly to score with something in hand. It was a highly encouraging introduction to hurdling, with both her attitude and jumping marking her out as a mare of considerable potential. You can watch her victory on debut here.

She was then stepped up into Listed company at Haydock, where she faced a much deeper and more experienced field. While the race came relatively early in her development, she shaped with promise and gained valuable experience. Racing on ground that proved quicker than ideal, she was outpaced at a crucial stage but kept on steadily in the closing stages, showing a willing attitude despite her chance having gone. She also showed signs of inexperience at times, which is to be expected at this level so early in her career.

Girl Friday’s sire, Elusive Pimpernel, was a multiple group-winning colt, from the family of Big Bad Bob and Snow Fairy and has produced the likes of Thedevilscoachman, Coeur Sublime and Exit Poll, who have all won at Graded level. Her dam, Adderstonlee, is herself an emerging producer of real quality, with a perfect record to date, three winners from three runners under Rules, including the high-class Grade 3 winner Abuffalosoldier. She also brings further distinction to the pedigree as a half-sister to Myretown, who captured the Ultima Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival for Lucinda Russell.

David couldn't be more pleased with her, reporting... “Very pleased with her, she has taken everything in her stride.” Francesca added, "She has got a lovely big rounded stride to her, a lovely big deep girth - a lot of engine room there."

Girl Friday is a professional, likeable type with a strong way of going. Her debut success marks her out as a mare with plenty of potential, and she looks sure to continue progressing as she gains further experience.

Mick Easterby has been training racehorses for over 60 years. He began working for his uncle Walter before helping his brother Peter establish a yard at Great Habton, eventually moving to a rented farm at Sheriff Hutton in 1955. His career has since gone from strength to strength, with thousands of winners and almost 900 individual winning racehorses passing through his hands. Among his best-known successes are classic-winning filly Mrs McArdy (1000 Guineas), Wiganthorpe (Gimcrack Stakes), and Peterhof (Triumph Hurdle). Now Britain’s oldest active racehorse trainer and longest-serving licence holder, Mick is admired for his straight-talking, down-to-earth Yorkshire character.

He has also raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities, most notably through the annual Sheriff Hutton point-to-point in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

In 2021, his son David, formerly a successful amateur jockey, joined the licence, and together they have already notched up more than 200 winners.