I was on a bit of a wild goose chase this morning as we woke up to find Clyde the fallabella pony missing from his field. He's known to perform Houdini-style escapes from his pasture but usually it's just to say hello to some of the horses in the yard. This morning, though, he was nowhere to be seen.
Using all the family's detective skills, we manged to trace some fresh poo and hoof marks to a gap in the fence where he had knocked a rail down and made his run but after looking all over the village, he was still a on the loose.
About an hour later, we got a call saying he was chasing a couple of yearlings around a field down the road. Luckily no-one was harmed except Clyde (who is a colt) may be getting a visit to the vets and be coming back two stone lighter!
The week began with plenty of runners. Red Hearts was our first two year old to go to the races this season and she showed plenty of speed until getting tired towards the end. It's been hard to get the newcomers fully fit with the dry weather we've had (as all Newmarket trainers are complaining about) but she's in again this week at Brighton and I think we'll see a much better performance.
Night Orbit ran a blinder on Tuesday to finish second in the country's longest flat handicap - The Pontefract Marathon. He is a proven stayer and the fast pace helped him show it but he was unlucky to run into a freak result - the winner was 100/1! He loves these kinds of races and it's just a shame there are not more of these extreme stamina tests.
Premier League was favourite at Bath on the same day with Richard Hughes on board but he was slightly disappointing. Hughesie said the horse didn't like the track's undulations and the fast ground wasn't a help either so he can be judged than better than this result.
We had high hopes for Generous Genella on Wednesday but she could never get competitive off a break-neck pace. I think she needs a tongue strap to help her breathing and hopefully that's the solution because she gallops so well at home.
We've got a vast range of abilities on show in the next seven days, including the already mentioned Red Hearts. At the bottom end of the scale, Emmeline Pankhurst runs for the first time this year at Lingfield. We thought she would be a decent two year old last year but she never showed it on the track yet she has been working well at home and if she can get to the front from her wide draw, I think she'll go well.
On the other side of things, Emma's Gift runs in a valuable conditions race at Ascot on Wednesday. She's one of the highest rated in the race and Adam Beschizza will be claiming five pounds off her back so I'm hoping for a good showing if the ground stays firm.
As too I expect from King Columbo on Sunday at Salisbury. He won a charity race earlier this year so if that has done his confidence some good and we get a bit of rain, there will be a fair bit in his favour.
Three to Follow Update
Night Orbit landed five points for his second on Tuesday but no-one had included the old boy in their lists so the standings are as before.
Sunday, 24 April 2011
Sunday, 17 April 2011
No rain is a pain
I may have been basking in the spell of pleasant weather this time last week but you can only have so much of a good thing and the dry conditions that were so welcome are now starting to become a disruption.
As Henry Cecil has been so publically saying this week with regards to his horses, not being able to work on the grass due to it being too firm is a pain. It's not that you can't train without the green stuff - there are a vast array of all-weather canters in Newmarket - it just makes a nice change for the horses to gallop on a bit of lush grass and it also means you can work the stayers over a bit further than a mile.
Anyway, there's nothing wrong with the horses at the minute and I hope they can show their well being with all the runners we have this week.
Tomorrow sees our first two year old runner of the year when Red Hearts goes to Windsor. We only bought her three weeks ago from Kempton's breeze-up sales but she's very sharp. It's a hot looking contest and it's hard to gauge how good the youngsters are when you haven't had a juvenile runner yet but she is pretty precociuos and I hope she shows some promise.
At the veteran end of the scale that same day, nine year old Bavarica runs. The trip, track and ground are perfect and as long as the race pans out in the right way I can see her going very close.
We're busy on Tuesday as well with three runners. Richard Hughes' agent rang up for the ride on Premier League at Bath and he thinks he should go close so it looks positive. My only concern is the fast ground as all his best form is on the deep surface at Southwell.
Night Orbit runs in one of the longest flat races you will see all year (2m5f) at Pontefract. He has no stamina doubts and as long as he doesn't get too detached when he hits his customary flat spot halfway, he will be flying at the finish.
Emmeline Pankhurst makes her seasonal reappearance at Wolverhampton. She's showing plenty of speed at home but might find it hard to make the running from her wide draw.
Generous Genella looks to have a lot in her favour at Southwell on Tuesday. It's not a great race and the step up in trip will suit her. She's needed a few runs to get fit and I hope she can win.
After that there's barely any racing as we hit the Easter period but the Lester Awards are on Thursday and the yard as plenty of interest as Baggsy and Mattie Batchelor are nominated for 'Jumps Ride of the Year' after their epic win at Towcester late last year. My, apprentice, Adam Beschizza, also has a nomination for 'Apprentice Jockey of the Year'.
Good Luck to them both.
Three to Follow Update:
No change to last week's standings.
As Henry Cecil has been so publically saying this week with regards to his horses, not being able to work on the grass due to it being too firm is a pain. It's not that you can't train without the green stuff - there are a vast array of all-weather canters in Newmarket - it just makes a nice change for the horses to gallop on a bit of lush grass and it also means you can work the stayers over a bit further than a mile.
Anyway, there's nothing wrong with the horses at the minute and I hope they can show their well being with all the runners we have this week.
Tomorrow sees our first two year old runner of the year when Red Hearts goes to Windsor. We only bought her three weeks ago from Kempton's breeze-up sales but she's very sharp. It's a hot looking contest and it's hard to gauge how good the youngsters are when you haven't had a juvenile runner yet but she is pretty precociuos and I hope she shows some promise.
At the veteran end of the scale that same day, nine year old Bavarica runs. The trip, track and ground are perfect and as long as the race pans out in the right way I can see her going very close.
We're busy on Tuesday as well with three runners. Richard Hughes' agent rang up for the ride on Premier League at Bath and he thinks he should go close so it looks positive. My only concern is the fast ground as all his best form is on the deep surface at Southwell.
Night Orbit runs in one of the longest flat races you will see all year (2m5f) at Pontefract. He has no stamina doubts and as long as he doesn't get too detached when he hits his customary flat spot halfway, he will be flying at the finish.
Emmeline Pankhurst makes her seasonal reappearance at Wolverhampton. She's showing plenty of speed at home but might find it hard to make the running from her wide draw.
Generous Genella looks to have a lot in her favour at Southwell on Tuesday. It's not a great race and the step up in trip will suit her. She's needed a few runs to get fit and I hope she can win.
After that there's barely any racing as we hit the Easter period but the Lester Awards are on Thursday and the yard as plenty of interest as Baggsy and Mattie Batchelor are nominated for 'Jumps Ride of the Year' after their epic win at Towcester late last year. My, apprentice, Adam Beschizza, also has a nomination for 'Apprentice Jockey of the Year'.
Good Luck to them both.
Three to Follow Update:
No change to last week's standings.
Sunday, 10 April 2011
Sun shining, rugs off.
What gorgeous weather we had this week. It was great to be able to put the horses out in the field this morning stripped without the masses of rugs (thermal and waterproof) that they've had to wear for the last six months. 
One filly who has really come out of her winter break well is Entrance. She has grown a few inches taller and has put on a bit of weight. As you can see in the pictures (before left, after right), she hasn't quite got her summer coat yet but she's started back in light work and I hope she can give the Hoofbeats Racing Club some fun this year.
The sun was shining at Folkestone on Monday where Generous Genella showed some of the ability we have been seeing on the gallops. She's not a big filly but takes a lot of work to get fit so I think now she's had a couple of runs and is stepping up in trip, she should be winning soon.
Blackmore ran another cracking race the following day at Pontefract. He's a really progressive horse and we were delighted that Paul Hanagan was able to ride him again. He settled beautifully in the race and Paul produced him to hit the front with a furlong to go. At this point, I think the horse thought he had won and started easing up (as he always does in front) and unfortunately a fast-finisher just chinned him on the line. There will definitely be more success for him this year though.
As there will be too for good old Bavarica. She landed yet more prize money at Lingfield on Wednesday when she finished third and it took her career earnings to £58,000 which in these days of shoddy finances isn't too bad. Beseech ran a bit below par that day and surprised us by not staying the two miles, a trip she had looked to be in need of. I'm going to turn her out for a few months, let her grow and bring her back for the new all-weather season.
Emma's Gift made a pleasing seasonal reappearance on Saturday in a Listed race at Lingfield. She hadn't grown much over the winter and the question with talented two year olds is if they will train on the next year but she showed enough to suggest she can land some big prizes in 2011.
Also on the hunt for lucrative pots this year is our stable star Spirit of Sharjah. He goes to Leicester on Saturday to retain his Leicestershire Stakes crown after winning the Listed race last year under Frankie Dettori. He needs good ground and a bit of luck but he's in great nick. On the same day, King Columbo travels to Doncaster. My daughter Shelley rides him and I hope his win in a charity race last time has done his confidence some good.
Three to Follow Update:
The competition got off to a flyer st the weekend with both Sancho Panza and Blackmore finishing second and scoring some points. Bavarica nicked 3rd place on Wednesday to give her followers something to shout about.
One filly who has really come out of her winter break well is Entrance. She has grown a few inches taller and has put on a bit of weight. As you can see in the pictures (before left, after right), she hasn't quite got her summer coat yet but she's started back in light work and I hope she can give the Hoofbeats Racing Club some fun this year.
The sun was shining at Folkestone on Monday where Generous Genella showed some of the ability we have been seeing on the gallops. She's not a big filly but takes a lot of work to get fit so I think now she's had a couple of runs and is stepping up in trip, she should be winning soon.
Blackmore ran another cracking race the following day at Pontefract. He's a really progressive horse and we were delighted that Paul Hanagan was able to ride him again. He settled beautifully in the race and Paul produced him to hit the front with a furlong to go. At this point, I think the horse thought he had won and started easing up (as he always does in front) and unfortunately a fast-finisher just chinned him on the line. There will definitely be more success for him this year though.
As there will be too for good old Bavarica. She landed yet more prize money at Lingfield on Wednesday when she finished third and it took her career earnings to £58,000 which in these days of shoddy finances isn't too bad. Beseech ran a bit below par that day and surprised us by not staying the two miles, a trip she had looked to be in need of. I'm going to turn her out for a few months, let her grow and bring her back for the new all-weather season.
Emma's Gift made a pleasing seasonal reappearance on Saturday in a Listed race at Lingfield. She hadn't grown much over the winter and the question with talented two year olds is if they will train on the next year but she showed enough to suggest she can land some big prizes in 2011.
Also on the hunt for lucrative pots this year is our stable star Spirit of Sharjah. He goes to Leicester on Saturday to retain his Leicestershire Stakes crown after winning the Listed race last year under Frankie Dettori. He needs good ground and a bit of luck but he's in great nick. On the same day, King Columbo travels to Doncaster. My daughter Shelley rides him and I hope his win in a charity race last time has done his confidence some good.
Three to Follow Update:
The competition got off to a flyer st the weekend with both Sancho Panza and Blackmore finishing second and scoring some points. Bavarica nicked 3rd place on Wednesday to give her followers something to shout about.
- Peter Darlington, Julia Feilden, Poppy Feilden, Zac Fitzgerald, Tetyana (ALL 10 POINTS)
6. Maureen Youngs, Ross Birkett, Shelley Birkett. (ALL 8 POINTS)
21 others on 5 points, 4 with zero.
Monday, 4 April 2011
Donny ground has me worried
I thought it was going to be a disastrous weekend after we arrived at Doncaster on Saturday only to find that they had none of the forcast rain and how bad a state the ground was in. It would be easy to blame the Clerk of the course for not looking after the ground properly but with the winter we had this year, not even Mr Fothergill could have done any better. There was no grass at all on the track which meant it was in a tacky state and horses either acted on it or they didn't. Sail Home on Saturday clearly didn't and you can forget her run.
I thought it would be a similar story for Sancho Panza the next day as he loves soft going and the Doncaster turf had firmed up after a dry and windy night. To my surprise, he loved the ground and flew home into second after being cut up in the straight. This gives us loads more options for him now as we are not limited by the ground and I'm looking forward to running him over 1m6f next time.
There's no rest for the wicked as I'm off to Folkestone today with Generous Genella. We've always thought a lot of her but she has been a shade disappointing. However, it's not a great race today and with a run under her belt, I hope she can show something.
Far from disappointing is Blackmore who has won three of his last four races. He goes to Pontefract on Tuesday and I'll be surprised if he is beaten. The ground, trip and course should all suit, champion jockey Paul Hanagan has decided to ride him rather than one for his boss Richard Fahey and it all looks promising.
As do Bavarica and Beseech's chances on Wednesday at Lingfield. Both are now finally well handicapped and should pick up some prize money.
We had a really good response to the Three to Follow competition with 33 entries. Many of you picked up five points after Sancho Panza'a 2nd place and I will list the top five in the standings every week in this blog. Good luck with your entries this week.
I thought it would be a similar story for Sancho Panza the next day as he loves soft going and the Doncaster turf had firmed up after a dry and windy night. To my surprise, he loved the ground and flew home into second after being cut up in the straight. This gives us loads more options for him now as we are not limited by the ground and I'm looking forward to running him over 1m6f next time.
There's no rest for the wicked as I'm off to Folkestone today with Generous Genella. We've always thought a lot of her but she has been a shade disappointing. However, it's not a great race today and with a run under her belt, I hope she can show something.
Far from disappointing is Blackmore who has won three of his last four races. He goes to Pontefract on Tuesday and I'll be surprised if he is beaten. The ground, trip and course should all suit, champion jockey Paul Hanagan has decided to ride him rather than one for his boss Richard Fahey and it all looks promising.
As do Bavarica and Beseech's chances on Wednesday at Lingfield. Both are now finally well handicapped and should pick up some prize money.
We had a really good response to the Three to Follow competition with 33 entries. Many of you picked up five points after Sancho Panza'a 2nd place and I will list the top five in the standings every week in this blog. Good luck with your entries this week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)