Horseplay is such fun for Skip the dog

A Newmarket contact assures me that the following advert appeared in his local newspaper: "Talented rider seeks position. Can do light weight. Prepared to work like a dog." However, the applicant is only eight-and-a-half years old and insists on being paid in bones.

I can reveal that the subject of this joke is, in fact, a tan and white Jack Russell called Skip, an integral part of Don Cantillon's yard at Headquarters, where her boss often puts her up on his stable star Stratton, who has won eight races this year.

The little terrier bitch is a familiar sight on the way out to the gallops in the morning perched high on one of Cantillon's small but exclusive string.

The trainer said: "I remember when it all started. It was a Sunday way back and there were a few cars flying about as I took one of my old timers, Sea Breaker out to the training grounds. To keep Skip safe I threw her up on to the horse's back, and there she stuck. She has remarkable balance, like a top jockey, and thoroughly enjoys it."

Along with her astute master, Skip seems to have worked wonders with Stratton, one of the most improved horses in training. The fouryearold gelding began his winning streak in January in a lowly Lingfield selling race and then graduated to handicaps. His latest win came on Cambridgeshire Day on the Rowley Course last Saturday, when he led on the bit over a furlong out under a big weight to beat Swynford Welcome by two and a half lengths.

Stratton, who Cantillon bought for just £7,400 out of Chris Wall's yard, will be going for glory at the same track on Champion Stakes Day on 20 October. He is then bound for the local Sales and his handler added: "He will have a nice reserve on him because he is better than a handicapper now. Michael Hills, who rode him to his last win, thinks he is Group race class and I believe he can hold his own in Listed events next year. I have a half share in him and am not a rich man, but I would love to carry on training him.