STASH THE CASH

STASH THE CASH. 01 January 1991. Persian Bold-Noble Girl. Owner-G. Shiel.

Stash The Cash was one of the many horses owned by the late Graham Shiel, a big supporter of the Micky Hammond yard. Graham's best horse was probably the high class, but rather quirky Hills Guard, a winner of The Imperial Cup at Sandown, and also placed at The Cheltenham Festival.

Stash The Cash went in to training as a two year old with Richard Hannon in 1993, and made a promising debut at Kempton, finishing second over seven furlongs.His next run was in better company at York, at the Ebor meeting, in the Moorestyle Convivial maiden, but it was probably the drop back to six furlongs, which could explain the poor run. He was then back to Kempton, where he finished second again, this time in a field of 22 runners.His final run as a two year old was a winning one, when sent up to Musselburgh, and coming in at 11/10 favourite.

He started his three year old career at Newbury in April 1994, winning a mile handicap under Frankie Dettori, from a mark of 80, he followed up eight days later at Sandown, taking his mark to 95. He would race a further four times for the Hannon yard, including in Listed company, but failing to add to his tally.

Stash The Cash was purchased at the Newmarket Sales in the Autumn of 1994 by Graham Shiel, and put in to training with Micky, for his new career as a hurdler. Stash The Cash took a little time to warm to his new task, finishing second at Perth twice, and also being runner a further twice at Catterick and Musselburgh, before finally getting off the mark at Ayr in January 1996. He had found a level of consistency over the jumps, but would race from a lowly mark of 90 in a handicap, which was very low in comparison to his best flat mark of 95, from two years earlier. His consistency throughout the early part of 1996 was commendable as he would win twice more, and be runner up in the other five races he took part in. After his Summer break he reappeared at Kelso in November 1996, where he finished second off 102, but from then on in, he would come on in leaps and bounds. He went on to win four of his next five races, taking his mark up to 131, and was then allowed to take his chance in the 'Fighting Fifth' at Newcastle, which proved just a step too far, as he trailed in last of the eight runners.He raced a further six times over hurdles that season, placing on four occasions, but probably finding his new mark too stiff, and his jockey Russ Garritty also reported on one occasion, that the horse had a breathing problem.

On his return from a break in November 1998 he made a winning chase debut at Hexham, by seven lengths, but disappointed in three subsequent attempts. He was runner up twice again in novice chases at Kelso, and Hexham, but the form was well below that of what he had been achieving. After pulling up at Sedgefield in July 1999, it was decided to let him continue his career elsewhere, and he was sold to be trained by Peter Beaumont in Stearsby, North Yorkshire. He never managed to get his head in front again, but was placed second on two further occasions.

I am sure that Stash The Cash must have given Graham Shiel lots of memorable moments. winning a total of 10 races,finishing second an astonishing 17 times, and being third on five further occasions.