"Trainer lavishes praise on apprentice Tommie Jakes, praising him as an underappreciated race winner"
Racing Roundup: Zaltalla Breaks Through, Arlo's Girl Wins for Parr
In an exciting weekend of horse racing, two notable victories stood out. Arlo's Girl, a newcomer trained by Joseph Parr, ended a lengthy barren run by winning the 5f fillies' novice. Meanwhile, the five-year-old Zaltalla secured its first career win at the 16th attempt in a 7f apprentice handicap.
Arlo's Girl, a daughter of Harry Angel, scored by three lengths under Darragh Keenan. This victory marked Parr's first success since February 2022, a welcome return to the winner's circle for the trainer.
Zaltalla's recent racing results have shown a significant improvement. After a poor performance under trainer Michael Attwater on July 22, 2025 (11th place), the horse improved markedly after a 90-day break. Under the guidance of apprentice jockey Tommie Jakes, Zaltalla won at Lingfield Park on August 12, 2025, finishing first among 13 runners with a winning time of 1:26.01.
Attwater praised Jakes' performance, stating that he is one of the most underused claimers. Jakes managed to get Zaltalla into a good position and kicked at the right time, despite the horse's reputation for being awkward.
In the 1m1f fillies' handicap, Typical Woman, ridden by Billy Loughnane, upset 4-5 favourite Charming Princess with a late run. The win was for trainer George Boughey. Meanwhile, Invited, a horse trained by Attwater, won the 7f handicap for Amo Racing. Ridden by Loughnane, the three-year-old took the lead in the final furlong and won by a neck. Zaltalla denied 25-1 shot Buttercross Flyer by half a length in the same race.
Attwater's recent performances as a trainer have been impressive. He has now won with three of his last four runners, including Zaltalla's victory. Attwater's agent had been pushing him to use Jakes, and things have been going right since they did.
Amo Racing is experiencing fine form after an excellent weekend in Ireland. The win for Invited added to their success, making it a successful weekend overall.
In conclusion, the racing weekend was marked by the victories of Arlo's Girl and Zaltalla. Parr's return to the winner's circle with Arlo's Girl and Zaltalla's long-awaited first win under Jakes were highlights of the weekend's races. Attwater's recent performances with Zaltalla suggest a positive recent form, although broader data on his overall recent performance beyond Zaltalla's races is not available.
Sports enthusiasts were thrilled by the unexpected turn of events in horse-racing this weekend. Zaltalla, a horse that had been struggling to secure a win, finally broke through in a 7f apprentice handicap, marking a significant improvement in its racing results.
