Katie Sunny Dancer

Katie’s Legacy Syndicate is the brainchild of Peter Pritchard, a racehorse trainer from South Warwickshire and a close friend of Old Gold Racing.

In June 2023 Peter tragically lost his 37-year-old daughter Katie to cervical cancer after an initial misdiagnosis in December 2022. Katie was an NHS nurse manager and is survived by her husband and two young children.

Despite this devastating turn of events, Peter is determined to honour Katie’s memory and make a positive impact in the process. He approached Old Gold Racing with the idea to donate a racehorse he had bred for syndication and for us to run a syndicate designed to raise awareness and funds for research and support.

Katie Sunny Dancer is valued at £20,000 and all shares include an additional £10 charitable donation. Once all 2,000 shares are sold, the initiative will have raised £40,000 for two fantastic cervical cancer charities: The Lady Garden Foundation and Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust.

About The Lady Garden Foundation: Since its inception in 2014, The Lady Garden Foundation has donated over £2.8 million to fund groundbreaking research into the treatment of the five gynaecological cancers as well as medical equipment and personnel working in the field every day. They believe that by changing the way we talk about female health, we can save lives.

About Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust: Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is the UK’s leading cervical cancer charity. They provide trustworthy information and support to everyone that needs it, and campaign for the best in cervical cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care. Their vision is of a day where cervical cancer is a thing of the past.

In addition, Old Gold Racing will be donating 25% of its management fees to The Myton Hospices where Katie passed away.

Katie’s Legacy Syndicate aims to raise awareness and funding towards research and support for cervical cancer

To give Peter the last word: “If this initiative helps save just one life like Katie’s, I’ll be happy.”

Katie Sunny Dancer is a charming 5-year-old filly by Passing Glance and out of the Anshan mare, Earcomesannie.

Katie Sunny Dancer was donated to the syndicate by her breeder Peter Pritchard, who has had a lot of success with the family.

Katie Sunny Dancer is a strong filly with a deep girth, suggesting she’s got the constitution to be a tough and progressive National Hunt horse. She will be going into training with Alex Hales, where we expect her to go through the whole system.

Her sire, Passing Glance, had a great deal of success in Group races over a mile. As a stallion, he is responsible for a Group 1 winner on the Flat with Side Glance. He has also supplied the winner of two National Hunt Grade 1 winners in Dashel Drasher and Millers Bank. Dashel Drasher was the winner of the Ascot Chase (Grade 1) along with further 10 successes at the time of writing. Millers Bank, who was also trained by Alex Hales, won the Manifesto Novices Chase (Grade 1) by 10 lengths. Passing Glance’s overall strike rate over fences is 15%, one of the highest of the stallions standing at his price level, with over 60% of his progeny winning or placing under all codes.

Her dam, Earcomesannie, was a four time winner and placed in the top four on a further 16 occasions. She has produced five foals, all of which have been placed in the first four during their careers so far.

Katie Sunny Dancer’s dam’s sire, Anshan, has produced Grade 1 winners over jumps in Asian Maze and Last Installment. He has also been hugely successful as a broodmare sire, recently with Minella Times in the Grand National in 2022. On the other side, her granddam, Play It By Ear I, has produced winners of ten races between four registered runners.

Earcomesannie’s half brother, Earcomesthedream, won 10 times and placed in a further 12 races, earning £31,869 over the course of his career.
Katie Sunny Dancer was broken in by Claire Hart in Gloucestershire where her education started but she has since graduated to full training with Alex Hales.

Alex was very much looking forward to Katie Sunny Dancer joining his string. He has been very pleased to see that “She’s very Passing Glance” and that “mentally she seems to have a very relaxed nature” and looks “a nice person to be around as such, which is a really good start for her career”.

Katie Sunny Dancer has required a patient hand and follow a couple of relatively minor setbacks is now back in training with the rest of Alex’s string with a view to preparing her for a bumper later in the season.