'Fantastic': Newmarch and Berry enjoy success at Doncaster and Newton Abbot

Two of the undoubted highlights of Racing Staff Week are the races for stable staff at Doncaster and Newton Abbot, and the first of those on Friday went to Gareth Newmarch, 25, from Hull.

Newmarch, who led home his colleagues aboard San Souci Bay, went to the Northern Racing College and has been in racing for nine years, having worked for Richard Hannon and Antony Brittain before joining San Souci Bay's trainer Scott Dixon four months ago.

The groom had revealed in his racecard biography that he hoped riding in the Betfair Clock Tower Cup would give him the chance to showcase his skills as he wants to be a professional jockey.

He said: "That's my ambition and that's why I wanted to ride in the race to help get my career started, and I hope I can win some more races."

After the seven-furlong race, in which he pushed out his mount to a clear-cut win, Newmarch added: “That was absolutely fantastic, I’m still shaking! I have to thank everyone at the yard.

“I’ve ridden San Souci Bay quite a few times at home and he’s a lovely horse.

“I’d like to have waited a bit longer before going to the front but it still worked out.”

At Newton Abbot it worked out best for another 25-year-old in Christina Berry.

She took the Betfair-sponsored Flat race over a mile and a half on the Grace Harris-trained Berry De Carjac.

Her mount passed the post with three and three-quarters of a length to spare over General Ginger, and Berry, who works for Chepstow-based Harris, was elated to take the spoils.

She said: "It's a great cause we were all riding for and it was a pleasure to ride in the race.

"It's my first winner and it's fantastic to do it at this course as I was born only a few miles away near Ashburton.

"I was always fairly confident in the home straight as the horse was going so well, but you never know until you past the post."