PAUL Pierce, who trains near Enniscorthy in Co Wexford, had a fine point-to-point season with 11 winners from a string of around 20 horses.

The handler also holds a trainer’s licence and struck in a Wexford mares’ bumper recently with Wilton Mills Trier, a six-year-old by Affinisea.

She was purchased for just €22,000 at Goffs by the Pierce family in partnership with Jim Whelan. She took a bit of time to come to hand but won first time out at Dromahane on December 30th.

“When she wasn’t sold after that we decided to syndicate her,” Paul explains. “Jim Whelan is still the main man but there are 11 people involved now.”

The mares’ point-to-point bumper at Cork’s Easter Festival was targeted and, sent off favourite, she finished a close third. A month later she won a similar race at Wexford where, according to The Irish Field, Wilton Mills Trier received the biggest cheer of the day.

It was only afterwards that many of the syndicate members learned they had also won a €7,500 Weatherbys ITBA National Hunt Fillies Bonus. She was one of 11 bonus winners in May.

Given her ability to win a point-to-point first time out, Wilton Mills Trier could be winning more bonuses when she goes over jumps in the autumn.

Paul, who retains a share in the mare, said: “She won’t be sold. We always liked her but she was very backward and we had to push her to get her ready for her point-to-point last Christmas.

“She was still backward afterwards and so, she needed time before we could run her in a bumper. That gave us a chance to put the syndicate together and I renewed my trainer’s licence. We were delighted when she finished third at Cork. I don’t really train them sharp for the track but if it had been a truly-run race we thought we could have won it.

“When she won at Wexford it was a great day for the owners – they were over the moon. It was a true-run race and she stays well. It’s the first bonus we’ve won and hopefully she can win another one. She jumps well too. She’ll be back in next week – we’re just waiting for safe ground for her.

“We have another mare for the track, [Colegram] who won two point-to-points. She’ll go chasing. She’s eligible for the bonus scheme too and we’re hopeful for her on soft ground.”

Reflecting on the past season, Paul added: “It was our best year ever. We had 11 winners from about 22 horses in the barn. Please God, it turns out as good next year. We didn’t run many four-year-olds – we don’t rush them.”

Paul picked up a few more at the sales recently. “The market was unreal, it was tough going but we got a few. We’ve got some nicer horses coming through so maybe we’ll have more for the track in future, if it works that way.”