Meet Atalanta's Boy

A five-time winner at Goodwood Racecourse in his career Atalanta's Boy has carved out a name for himself at the West Sussex track. It was only last August that the seven-year-old trained by Pulborough trainer David Menuisier brushed aside a competitive field in the Tote Handicap to win under jockey, Thomas Greatrex.

As a Goodwood regular, who has won over £56,000 in prize-money in his career, we thought we would catch up with the six-furlong specialist out of training with his owner, breeder Monica Borton.

How did you come about Atalanta's Boy? 

I bought his dam Affirmatively as a 50th birthday present for my husband. By chance, I found her on PRELOVED, where the advert just jumped out at me, so I gave my husband a choice between a quad bike or a horse. In reality, he had so little time to think, I was already on the road with a hired horsebox and on the way up to Yorkshire to collect her.

The plan was to ride Affirmatively, but she had amazing breeding, so in the back of my mind, if all else failed, I could breed from her. It turns out that's exactly what ended up happening. She was too quick for me, so I spoke to my vet regarding breeding and landed on stallion Paco Boy who had won the Lennox Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival in 2008 and was second in the Sussex Stakes to Rip Van Winkle in 2009.

Out popped a gorgeous foal in April 2015, and we named him Atalanta's Boy. His name derives from both parents – 'A' from Affirmatively and Boy from Paco Boy. Atalanta was the Goddess of Speed!

What's Atalanta's Boy like at home? 

We call him Atty at home. He loves enjoying his downtime with us in East Sussex, being totally spoilt rotten. He devours his slow-cooked barley for breakfast, plays with his mother and younger brothers in the field during the day, and then listens to Classic FM in the evening – he lives the life. If he's lucky, a Brown Kendell Mint Cake and Carrots come his way!

It is wonderful to have all his siblings at home. They all think they are part of the "Cirque Du Soleil" and spend more time with all four feet off the ground.

What you're looking forward to with him this summer? 

We love Goodwood, as does Atty, and this is most certainly where he will run this summer at some point. It is simply the best racecourse in the country! The atmosphere is welcoming and homely, and a fantastic day out with friends and family.

Dreams do come true, well nearly, at ten years old, I rode my pony on the course dressed as a Native Indian in a dressage display of sorts! I knew that all I really wanted to do was race, and although I haven't competed in a race myself, I live it all through Atalanta's Boy – it's a phenomenal feeling.

This summer, we hope Atty's brother, Bobby's Blessing, will make his debut at the course. Atty runs with "his heart on his hoof," and my only job when he is back in training with his wonderful stable jockey David Cole, is to LOVE him! As well as myself, his devoted team known as 'Atty's Angels' will be cheering him on all the way.