It was perhaps a stroke of luck that the Future Champions Syndicate were able to purchase the then 95 rated Regional for just 3,500gns at the Horse In Training sales in 2021. Five years later he’s won them over £820,000. He graduated out of handicap company with a win in the Listed Achilles Stakes in 2023. Two starts later, he was a Group 1 winner at Haydock. Albeit winless since, Regional has hit the frame on seven occasions since. Having made a promising comeback, connections are now plotting their way back to the top.
Speaking to the Racing Post, Byron Hubbert, who alongside Danny Clark runs the syndicate, said: “When we approached Ed, he did think it was a little strange to start, as we’re based down in Brighton. But we soon went to Tattersalls together. We had ten horses on our list and £40,000 of our customers’ money. We were outbid on nine of them, and the tenth was Regional. We thought maybe we’d ended up with a horse with three legs.
“I spoke to people who wanted to be part of it. Many backed out because they thought it was too good to be true. A lot of the people involved with Regional had never owned a horse before and ended up spending £500 for a ten per cent share – and he’s now earned £826,134.”
Royal return for Regional
Regional has finished second and third in the last two King Charles III Stakes, and Hubbard is excited for him to return. “When he won that Group 1, it changed mine and Danny’s lives forever” said Hubbard.
Certain tables in the area were looking across at us like we shouldn’t be there. Their tables were dead. The people were about 70 or 80 and hadn’t said a word to each other all afternoon. Yet they were owning horses in Group 1 races. You think to yourself, flipping heck, if you can’t celebrate the good days, then when can you ever?
“It’s been a real rags-to-riches story. We’ve been within a metre of the King at Royal Ascot and you think, how have we bought a horse for this amount of money? People spend millions of pounds to be in our position, so at times you almost feel like you shouldn’t be there.
“Regional loves Ascot and I think he’ll go there with a live chance this year.”
Regional has given his syndicate the experience of a lifetime. Trips to Meydan and Deavuille demonstrated what an excellent purchase he was. The success story isn’t finished yet, as Hubbard said: “We’re branching out to do more international trips. One thing Byron and I want to do is make it bloody good fun, whether we finish last or first.
“If we get enough money in the pot, we’d love to go to the Breeders’ Cup with him. That would be unbelievable – I don’t know if my heart would be able to take it!”