BUSY JUWWI STARTS NEW YEAR IN TRIUMPH

With 36 visits to the racecourse in the year 2000 there can have been few harder working horses than Juwwi who began the New Year in positive fashion when taking Southwell`s richest ever all weather race the Stg. £20,000-added Arena Leisure PLC Handicap at the Nottinghamshire track today.

Last year`s efforts produced just three victories but Milton Bradley`s charge can go two thirds of the way to that record if, as his trainer expects, he runs in the One Too Many Stakes (Showcase Handicap) at Wolverhampton tomorrow.

Today, Juwwi, 10-1 at the off, produced his usual tardy start from gate six but once he picked up under 5lb claimer Darren Williams in the final two of the five furlongs event he fairly flew alongside the far rail to deny Air Mail by half a length with Tom Tun back in third.

'That was a nice race to win,' smiled Bradley who joked that his wife had reminded him as he set off for the course that they had not yet had a winner so far this year.

It is a family affair at Bradley`s Chepstow base and as he loaded his pair for today`s races, Bradley was also represented by the unplaced Nineacres, his daughter Susan remarked 'Juwwi`s very well today dad.'

Bradley put today`s success down to Susan and travelling head lass Liz Batchelor.

'They both ride him in fast work and they are my eyes and ears with my horses. The people who are on top are the ones who know these horses and I never have a jockey riding work,' he admitted.

Bradley also paid tribute to the role of Williams, one of the tallest jockeys in the weighing room.

'He (Juwwi) runs well for him although I don`t really know why.

'Hopefully, Juwwi will run at Wolverhampton tomorrow if he`s all right.'

Outstanding apprentice George Baker who rode 57 winners last year has begun this in positive style with a near 22-1 double courtesy of Clopton Green in the second division of the National Bloody Mary Day Handicap and Makarim in the closing Bet Direct `Today`s Best Bets` Handicap.

The former was a half length victor over Morgan Le Fay and winning trainer Pip Payne commented: 'He`s (Clopton Green) been knocking on the door for a long time which is why he`s slipped down the handicap. He has been unlucky though.'

Following the race jockey Paul Quinn was suspended for three days after committing two offences on board third placed Seven Springs who was demoted to fourth with Marengo officially placed third.

Quinn was banned for one day for careless riding inside the final furlong after Marengo was interfered with and two days for an earlier incident of careless riding when Ballina Lad was the chief sufferer of interference.

Quinn`s bans will run from January 10-12 inclusive.

Meanwhile, Baker flies out to Dubai for two months later in January.

'I leave on January 14th and stay until the day after the Dubai World Cup,' he said. 'Let`s hope I can continue this success.'

Quinn had better luck in division one of the Happy Hangover Selling Stakes when booting home Santandre the three quarter length victor over fellow 5-2 joint favourite Stratton.

Meanwhile, his namesake Jimmy Quinn conjured an amazing effort out of Jorrocks to land the Bet Direct On 0800211 222 Handicap Stakes.

Drawn 15 of the 16 strong field, Jorrocks benefited from Quinn`s efforts to come home five lengths ahead of Culzean.

'We had a dream run down the inside and it was a case of hands and heels,' smiled the jockey who takes up an appointment to ride in Germany for a year from March.