Girl Friday

Girl Friday is a scopy 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.

Girl Friday 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 line-up.

On that day, she settled into a lovely rhythm behind the leaders, travelled strongly throughout, then showed a willing attitude to move upsides between the final two fences. From there, she quickly asserted herself, putting the race to bed in a few strides and staying on powerfully to the line to defeat a previously placed rival.

Settled in a lovely rhythm behind the leaders, she travelled strongly throughout before showing a willing attitude to move upsides between the final two fences. From there she quickly asserted, putting the race to bed in a matter of strides and staying on powerfully to the line to defeat a previously placed rival.

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.

M/D has reported “”.

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.