Cricket connection has owner Mitchell bowled over with Derham association
When Dargiannini fell at Doncaster on December 29, owner Andrew Mitchell could be forgiven for wondering what he had let himself in for.
Since that disastrous Town Moor debut for his first ever runner adorned in the black and white silks based on his beloved Derby County, the ownership experience has been a dream for Derbyshire-based Mitchell, who has since seen his charge register back-back victories – firstly at Uttoxeter, then in front of the cameras at Newbury.
Mitchell is well known in sporting circles as the man behind the successful Owzat-Cricket shop and it was his cricketing connections that led to the long-time racing fan scratching an itch to become an owner.
It was during a charity function at Lord’s when pal Mark Wallace, the former Glamorgan wicket-keeper and boyfriend of Amy Derham, introduced Mitchell to Amy’s brother Harry and it didn’t take long before one of the newest names of the training ranks was adding a recruit to his roster of owners.
Delighted to win with Dargiannini @NewburyRacing today under Paul O’Brien
Huge congratulations to his owners Andy and Julie Mitchell pic.twitter.com/VTTuC6ttuK
— Harry Derham (@Harry05Derham) March 4, 2023
Dargiannini’s success has led to Mitchell becoming a fully paid up advocate of Derham’s talents and revels in the fact his new venture allows him to combine a couple of his passions.
“It’s brilliant and it’s a new venture for us,” explained Mitchell.
“I’m involved in cricket and I was at a dinner at Lords with a friend of mine Mark Wallace explaining how I might buy a horse to name after my dad as he loved his horses and I like my racing.
“Wally (Wallace) said you want to have a word with Amy’s brother and we got talking.
“Originally my plan was just to buy a young horse as I wanted to name him after my father and Harry said he would help me find one.
“We went to the sales up at Goffs at Doncaster and didn’t find anything, but the following week Harry rang me to explain if I got a youngster it might take 18 months for that to come to hand or would I like a go with Dargiannini, see how I get on and then find a youngster moving forward.
“I never wanted to be in a syndicate, we always wanted to do it on our own if we were going to do it, and it was simply a case of right time, right place with how I met Amy through my cricket connections and then getting introduced to Harry.
“Harry’s best friend is Jamie Overton (England international) so it is all quite cricket orientated which is quite nice.”
He added: “Harry is a great kid and it is nice to back a young lad who is finding his feet if you like.
“His family have been really nice and welcoming to us and you can tell they are really supportive of Harry and want him to do well.”
Dargiannini has gone up 8lb for his Newbury triumph which earnt his owner just shy of £11,000 but unlike some, Mitchell is far from concerned about prize-money levels as he embarks on the ownership journey, preferring to focus on the prestige of success in his new sporting venture.
“To be honest, and it sounds blase, it’s not all about the money,” he continued.
Dargiannini wins well in the BetVictor Non-Runner-No-Bet At Cheltenham Seniors' Handicap Hurdle under Paul O'Brien. 🥇#ITVRacing | @NewburyRacing | @Harry05Derham pic.twitter.com/0VV0ZFUIV5
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 4, 2023
“Don’t get me wrong, it helps a lot with upkeep, of course it does. But the prestige of seeing a horse in your name on TV is firstly a bit weird and also a bit surreal. It is also a bit strange when they call you up for the prize, but at the same time it’s really nice.
“The story is going round about my love of Derby County and having to miss matches to go to the races and that is kind of true. Originally I told Harry I didn’t want him to run on Saturdays. Harry always wanted to run at Newbury and I wasn’t too keen as obviously I have other interests, but Harry kept going on and on about it and in the end I took his advice and I’m pleased I did now.”
Dargiannini’s on-course exploits will now see him head to either Aintree’s Grand National meeting or the Punchestown Festival for his next outing.
“Harry is now thinking of taking him to Aintree or Punchestown,” explained Mitchell.
“I’ve been to both Galway and Leopardstown in Ireland but never Punchestown and that is quite appealing, but the thought of having a runner during the Grand National meeting is very prestigious if you like having been to the National and to Aintree many times. To have a runner there would be very special.”
🗣️"It would obviously be a step up in grade and we would have to improve."@Harry05Derham gives us some reaction to the success of Dargiannini, who might now be Aintree bound! 👇 pic.twitter.com/YhcZT9phPo
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 4, 2023
Bitten by the ownership bug, Mitchell has now wasted little time expanding his equine empire, finally fulfilling his dream of buying a two-year-old to name after his father and also dipping his toe into the French market.
He said: “We ended up getting a youngster from Donny sales and we’ve named that Les’ Lad, that’s in pre-training at the moment with Jason Maguire and we bought another couple of youngsters from France – a filly and a gelding. They are two-year-olds and one is from really good stock.
“It’s enjoyable and we got on the bus with Harry when it started off is one way of looking at it.
“Harry having a winner on terrestrial TV won’t have hurt and if he gets one to win at Cheltenham he will be flying.”
