Shelley and I will be joining the rat race to get away for the New Year tomorrow. When we will be jetting out to Dubai for a week and stay with Ross. It's also a good excuse to check out Meydan Racecourse to see what they have been raving about! I've been looking forward to this for a while and I can't wait to see what Dubai has to offer. So apologies in advance if there is no blog next week!
I hope everyone had a good Christmas yesterday. I couldn't believe my luck when I got everything I asked for, as well as having a delicious family meal at my brother Nick's house. I also wish everyone a prosperous New Year with winners aplenty! Although for us this year will be a hard one to follow up. I never imagined that at would go this well, as the mid- summer drought of winners that we had looked to seal out fate for the rest of the year. But the horses just can't stop wining now, it's a mystery why trainers have flat spots because we have never changed a single thing in the way we train the horses, I suppose they just have minds of their own.
Hoping to have kept in the right frame of mind in Exopuntia who runs on Monday at Southwell. Although going up 7lbs since here last course and distance win, she is still off a winnable mark and with the services again of Greg Fairley she should make the day hers once again. A promising filly who is just finding her stride is Beseech who runs on Thursday at Kempton. She has been crying out for a longer trip so 1m 4f should suite, she's had a few small problems but she is bouncing and kicking like a spring chicken at the moment so hopefully she can convert this positivity to the track. Sail Home may make her British debut alongside Always De One in an apprentice race at Southwell on Saturday, as long as the former does not run too green she should have the upper hand over Always. Night Orbit will be having a day out also at Southwell on Sunday, just a prep run on the flat to keep him fit. Baggsy will be fighting to defend her winning run when she faces some jump action at Folkestone, if it's on!
We are currently looking to syndicate our French import, by Della Francesca, to race here and in France for the excellent prize money and bonuses on offer. For details please check out the Horses For Sale page on the website.
Sunday, 26 December 2010
Sunday, 19 December 2010
It may be cold outside, but we're hot, hot, hot!
Yeehaa! Another fantastic week of winners sees Spirit Of Sharjah win the Listed Sunbury Stakes at Kempton on Wednesday. It's the second Listed race he has won this year (3 in all) and it's really satisfying knowing that he is back to his best, although looking to be too far out of his ground he got a dream run up the inside and a fab ride by Jimmy Quinn. It was just as satisfying seeing Exopuntia win at Southwell the next day. She's genuine and loves the ease in the ground, she looks like winning some more this winter now she's full of confidence.
We've now had 7 winners since the start of the season in November. This brilliant start means we are 3rd in the U.K. All-weather Trainers Championship, top female trainer and top trainer in Newmarket, with only 2 powerful yards in Richard Fahey and Dandy Nicholls above. Although we know we'll be passed by the bigger trainers as the season lengthens it's nice seeing my name that high on the list!
Yet again it has been a tough week with the weather. The heathmen have had to close all the gallops bar one which they work on all night. But we haven't missed a day and if we can keep them ticking over they should stay in good heart, as well as with the help of the continued hard work from my staff who haven't missed a day either!
As for runners next week we have our new French import, Sail Home, running at Wolverhampton under Shelley. However as I write this the track is still unraceable and looks unlikely that she'll be making her British debut. Nonetheless, there is a perfect maiden for her a couple of weeks later. This time next week it'll be Boxing Day where we have Night Orbit and Hartland Point, having a day out at Towcester, which will hopefully materialise if this mini ice age holds off!
We've now had 7 winners since the start of the season in November. This brilliant start means we are 3rd in the U.K. All-weather Trainers Championship, top female trainer and top trainer in Newmarket, with only 2 powerful yards in Richard Fahey and Dandy Nicholls above. Although we know we'll be passed by the bigger trainers as the season lengthens it's nice seeing my name that high on the list!
Yet again it has been a tough week with the weather. The heathmen have had to close all the gallops bar one which they work on all night. But we haven't missed a day and if we can keep them ticking over they should stay in good heart, as well as with the help of the continued hard work from my staff who haven't missed a day either!
As for runners next week we have our new French import, Sail Home, running at Wolverhampton under Shelley. However as I write this the track is still unraceable and looks unlikely that she'll be making her British debut. Nonetheless, there is a perfect maiden for her a couple of weeks later. This time next week it'll be Boxing Day where we have Night Orbit and Hartland Point, having a day out at Towcester, which will hopefully materialise if this mini ice age holds off!
Sunday, 12 December 2010
Great Expectations
Tuesday saw John and I set off for Deauville for the sales on Wednesday, more and more people are opting to run their horses in France just simply because of the fantastic prize money compared to British races. In a buyers market we bought two stunning yearlings, a grey colt by Keltos and a bay colt by Bella Francesca, to be eligible to run in France as 2 year olds they have to be French bred, as well as being eligible to pick up the 2 year old bonuses, so we came back with two bargains and the chance to win around 15,000 euros just for winning a maiden! It is a great feeling seeing some new, young horses around the yard as it helps you get up in the morning knowing you have some exciting prospects for next year. We have put photos of both on the website in the horses for sale page. We also have a yearling called Acer Diamonds who came back to us on Tuesday after being broken in, he is now doing steady canters and showing a nice attitude.
Khajaaly did us proud once again winning at Wolverhampton on Friday, he seems to only do enough in his races which is no bad thing to enable him to keep low in the handicap. It's also great for the syndicate who own him, there is about 50 people in him who can enjoy the thrill of being a winning owner. Khajaaly brings our winners for the year to 21, making it our best ever year since I began training in 2000, we only have about 20 horses in training so it is satisfying knowing we can get results like this. Hopefully we can continue with the rich vein of form until the year is out.
Our apprentice Adam Beschizza jetted out to America last week for a 6 week stint in New Orleans. He is riding 7 lots a day so he should be filling his mind with knowledge to use for the 2011 season, lots of jockeys have done this in the past as apprentices and I hope this bodes well for his future as a fully fledged jockey.
As for runners for next week, the genuine mare Bushy Dell will run at Wolverhampton on Monday. Although a little disappointing last time out hopefully she can run with her usual confidence and zest. I will be looking forward to Wednesday when Spirit Of Sharjah runs in the listed race at Kempton, 'Spirit' has been a brilliant yardstick winning 2 listed races for us and if he runs well he may have a trip over to France next year. Exopuntia is running in a weak race on Thursday at Southwell so she may have a good chance if she is able to dominate from the front. The frosty mornings have been playing havoc with some trainers facilities but fortunately the heathmen have been working hard to ensure safe gallops for the Newmarket trainers, however the frost beat us today at Huntingdon where Hartland Point was meant to run in the bumper.
Christmas is on its way and I would like to thank everyone who has sent us cards and presents already this year. I haven't even got the decorations up yet, hopefully I can get into the Christmas spirit after drinking a few bottles of wine I have received! More immediately Tony McCoy has been short listed for BBC Sports Personality Of The Year, he is a fantastic ambassador for racing and I urge everyone to vote for him as it would be a huge boost for the profile of racing and at last recognition for a legendary sportsman.
Khajaaly did us proud once again winning at Wolverhampton on Friday, he seems to only do enough in his races which is no bad thing to enable him to keep low in the handicap. It's also great for the syndicate who own him, there is about 50 people in him who can enjoy the thrill of being a winning owner. Khajaaly brings our winners for the year to 21, making it our best ever year since I began training in 2000, we only have about 20 horses in training so it is satisfying knowing we can get results like this. Hopefully we can continue with the rich vein of form until the year is out.
Our apprentice Adam Beschizza jetted out to America last week for a 6 week stint in New Orleans. He is riding 7 lots a day so he should be filling his mind with knowledge to use for the 2011 season, lots of jockeys have done this in the past as apprentices and I hope this bodes well for his future as a fully fledged jockey.
As for runners for next week, the genuine mare Bushy Dell will run at Wolverhampton on Monday. Although a little disappointing last time out hopefully she can run with her usual confidence and zest. I will be looking forward to Wednesday when Spirit Of Sharjah runs in the listed race at Kempton, 'Spirit' has been a brilliant yardstick winning 2 listed races for us and if he runs well he may have a trip over to France next year. Exopuntia is running in a weak race on Thursday at Southwell so she may have a good chance if she is able to dominate from the front. The frosty mornings have been playing havoc with some trainers facilities but fortunately the heathmen have been working hard to ensure safe gallops for the Newmarket trainers, however the frost beat us today at Huntingdon where Hartland Point was meant to run in the bumper.
Christmas is on its way and I would like to thank everyone who has sent us cards and presents already this year. I haven't even got the decorations up yet, hopefully I can get into the Christmas spirit after drinking a few bottles of wine I have received! More immediately Tony McCoy has been short listed for BBC Sports Personality Of The Year, he is a fantastic ambassador for racing and I urge everyone to vote for him as it would be a huge boost for the profile of racing and at last recognition for a legendary sportsman.
Sunday, 5 December 2010
SHOPPING TRIP TO FRANCE THIS WEEK
I apologise if this blog isn't up to the usual standard, but I am writing this with a massive hang over after the Xmas party last night. I would like to thank everyone for coming and making it a good night. My staff said it must have been good as there where no arguments and no fighting!
It was nice to celebrate our 20th winner as well, after Sunny Spells won at Southwell on Saturday. Stuart Williams has sent him to me to go hurdling but as that has been a no no with the weather, it was a bonus to win on the flat first. 20 winners was our target for the season and is our best number yet.
John and I are off to Deauville on Tuesday, but not just for the Xmas wine and beer, we hope to buy a couple of French bred yearlings which we will be able to race in France next year and hopefully take advantage of their excellent prize money and French bred bonuses.
Acer Diamonds is coming back to the yard on Tuesday after going away to Eugene Stanford's to be broken in. By all accounts he is cantering nicely and very well behaved.
We hope to unleash some of the jumpers next week, but the forecast does not look good, so we might have to keep them under wraps until the thaw.
Hears hoping the snow and frost stays away.
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