Bavarica: A Mare in a Million

I have trained more talented, bigger and faster horses but I have never known one to be as tough, reliable and resilient as Bavarica.

She's a nine year old now but won the tenth race of her career at Newmarket on Friday (pictured right) in her 98th race. We bought her as an unraced three year old in the annual Juddmonte disposal sale and she came from Roger Charlton's yard with a reputation as an 'unrideable bolter'.

Indeed, when we first got her, she was a very moody mare and would love to take a bite out of you and she did take a few runs to to get her head in front but since then she has been an asset to the yard and one of my favourite horses.

She has also been a great schoolmaster for younger jockeys to get the hang of race riding on as she is a very balanced horse but still takes a bit of riding as she can be keen if getting no cover in a race. My son Ross (who has won on her 5 times now), my nephew Adam Beschizza and Slade O'Hara all rode their first winners on her and set them on their ways.

The key to her longevity has probably been down to the fact that we turn her out every day and not over-worked her as she keeps herself very fit. After her Newmarket win, Bavarica had amassed over £60,000 in prize money (not bad for a low-level horse) and been placed on 49 of her 98 runs.

As I own her, the money has come in handy over the years and every time she wins, we acquire a new piece of kit - last time it was a flat-screen TV and now I've got my eye on a proper Sony camera. Let's hope she can keep winning because my shopping list is a long one!

On the same day as Bavarica, we had Sail Home at Pontefract. I was really disappointed with her run as I thought she should win but it turned out that she hated the course and it makes sense as all her winning (Yarmouth and Southwell) has been achieved on galloping tracks, so we will stick to that formula.

Sunny Spells also had two quick runs over hurdles during the week. He now qualifies for handicaps and I think he'll do well when stepped up to 2m4f as his jumping is a real asset.

I'll be getting a posh frock out for Friday as Spirit of Sharjah runs at Epsom on Oaks day. He has won over course and distance before, is well handicapped and I think he'll run a big race if getting the splits. I shouldn't get too dolled up though as it's straight on to Goodwood that evening with King Columbo. He too is well handicapped and the trip is ideal. A bit of rain could help his cause but it wouldn't surprise me if he ran well.

Earlier on in the week, Premier League is looking to lose his maiden tag at Southwell. He has run well at the place before but he's had a bit of a break and as he's a big horse, it wouldn't surprise me if he needed the run.

Three To Follow Update

Bavarica was not a popular choice in the entries but Shelley Birkett was lucky enough to choose her and the decision paid off as she now heads the leader-board. The victory also saw Maureen Youngs move into a tied second place.

1st - Shelley Birkett (31 points)

2nd - Maureen Youngs, Adam Beschizza (28 points)

4th - Rita Aspland (25 points)

Five others on 23 points, 4 on 18, 10 on 15, 1 on 13, 1 on 10, 2 on 8, 4 on 5 and one person on three points.

Blown Away by BHA News

Last week's picture of an upside down caravan got plenty of laughs and I could have put it up again this week as the wind around here at the minute is strong enough to blow a house down never mind a caravan!
It may be windy but there's still no sign of rain which makes it at least three months since we had a good showering of the wet stuff. A report on the TV the other day said the Sahara desert has seen more precipitation than East Anglia and looking out on the barren, dusty landscape of the heath in the mornings, I can believe it!

I was expecting to be really busy with runners last week but for some reason or another, some didn't run but we still had good performances from the rest.
Khajaaly was an unlucky third at Wolverhampton on Monday and he might have won with a clearer passage. The key to him is keeping him fresh which means we can only run once a month but he's consistent anyway. That same day, Bavarica ran in the amateur race with my daughter Shelley aboard and she just needed the run to get the hang of riding the filly as she may be in the veteran stage of her career but she takes some knowing.

We didn't go racing then until Saturday when we had three horses running.
At York, Sancho Panza ran another fine race to finish third in what was his toughest assignment to date. The 1m4f trip was probably a bit short for him on the firm ground and he'll be better over further or with some give in the going.
Emmeline Pankhurst and Spirit of Sharjah were at Goodwood and they both put up good performances. Spirit was running over six furlongs, which is shorter than ideal, but he showed he's well handicapped to finish a close-up sixth. He will win a big race over seven furlongs soon.
On the other hand, Emmeline found the trip a bit too far and I'm confident that she has the ability to win a race somewhere.

Riding both those horses was Jimmy Quinn who only the day before had been revealed as one of the jockeys under investigation by the BHA for race fixing. It was a shock to me to hear the news as Jimmy has ridden me plenty of winners (indeed my first ever) and has never struck me as guilty. I can only say that a suspect is innocent until proven guilty and I will be more than happy to use his services in the future. Even more surprising was the news that Greg Fairley was suspected of the same offence. Greg regularly rides Night Orbit for me and he is so quiet and unassuming that I would never have thought him capable of such a crime.

We've got Sunny Spells back in the yard now as he is due to run over hurdles on Tuesday at Huntingdon. He is trained on the flat by Stuart Williams but comes to me for jumps runs as Stuart doesn't have a National Hunt licence. The horse hasn't run in a while and will probably need the race.

Later on in the week, Bavarica runs again at Newmarket. My son Ross has won on her four times and he's back aboard. He says she feels in great form at home and the handicapper has given her a chance so I hope she can go close.
Sail Home runs on Friday too at Pontefract. She won last time out but went up six pounds in the handicap so she needs to improve a bit but she is in top form and it wouldn't surprise me should she win again.



Three To Follow Update

Khajaaly scored his first few points of the competition with a third place whilst Sancho Panza's three points see Adam Beschizza back on the top spot alone.

1st - Adam Beschizza (28 points)
2nd - Rita Aspland (25 points)
3rd - Tetanya, Zac Fitzgerald, Poppy Feilden, Julia Feilden, Peter Darlington (23 points)
4 others on 18 points, 10 on 15 points, 2 on 13, 3 on 8, 4 on 5 and one on 3 points.

Double Delight At The Seaside

Carlsberg don't do days at the races but if they did, they'd probably be...like last Tuesday.
I really couldn't have thought of a better day than I had at Yarmouth; sipping champagne in the sun at the caravan of Sancho Panza's owner, Carol Bushnell (who was also celebrating her birthday), was a real delight - and that was before the racing had begun!
The day just got better and better as Sail Home lived up to her name and narrowly managed to last home and win by a nose. That was pretty good but to cap it all off, Sancho Panza followed up in the next race by hacking up with a seven-length victory and in the process landing the third double of my training career. We had a fair bit more champagne after that!
But seriously, both horses surprised me as I wasn't sure they would handle the fast ground but luckily both races were weak enough for them to win even with conditions against them.

Sancho Panza has a few entries this week at Haydock, York and Newbury. If he is put up more than six pounds by the handicapper on Tuesday, I'll probably run him at the first named course, otherwise it's the latter two, ground dependent. He's in flying form and should win again.

Later on last week we had a whole load of horses travelling to the big meeting at York. Both Emma's Gift and Red Hearts went in the hope of landing some black type form to boost their pedigrees and, although they narrowly missed doing this, they both ran blinders.
Spirit of Sharjah and Night Orbit ran great races too despite having their excuses but Blackmore failed to show us his best and at first we were mystified by the performance but afterwards he had a very sore back which is being treated now by the physiotherapist and the ground was probably a bit too quick for him. He's still a stayer going places.

I'm hoping the yard's good form can carry on this week as I've got some fancied runners.
Tomorrow, Khajaaly goes to Wolverhampton in the hope he can get back on a winning trend. We've found the key to him is keeping him fresh so he's had a short break but he's very fit and if he can get the breaks, he should be in the money. Bavarica is also at Dunstall Park that day but she's not very well in at the weights as the race is a claimer and I've put her in for the top price because I don't want another trainer buying my favourite horse. My daughter Shelley rides her for the first time and she's had plenty of orders from my son Ross who has won on her four times. She's reliable and tough so should have an each way chance.

Then we're quiet until the weekend with the already mentioned Sancho Panza and loads of runners on Saturday.
Alan Dee's two horses, Spirit of Sharjah and Emmeline Pankhurst, go to Goodwood because the owner is having a function there. Spirit is running over six furlongs which will not suit him but Emmeline ran better than the form suggests last time and the step up in trip will see her in a better light.
The same day, I'll have Bavarica, Sail Home and King Columbo entered in the amateur race at Newbury that I have won for the past three years running. I've never planned to win it so much but it just seems to be a lucky contest for us. I won't be running all three against each other but I hope whatever runs can win it for a fourth time.



Three To Follow Update

The Tuesday double shook things up considerably and now Rita Aspland and Adam Beschizza find themselves sharing the top spot. Considering Adam rode both winners, at least I know he was trying!

1st - Rita Aspland, Adam Beschizza (25 points)
3rd - Peter Darlington, Julia Feilden, Poppy Feilden, Tetanya (20 points)
7th - Maureen Youngs, Shelley Birkett (18 points)
13 others on 15 points, 3 on 10 points, 1 on 8 points, 6 on 5 points and 1 on zero.

Hanging on the weather

What looked likely to be a busy week failed to materialise after Blackmore, Pyjoma and Spirit of Sharjah were all withdrawn from their engagements due to the ground being too firm.
It really has been a severe drought and I can't remember ever experiencing such a long spell without rain so early in the year. Knowing how this country works, we'll probably be in for a horrendously wet summer and I'll be moaning then too!

It was a dusty scene on Thursday night for the annual Newmarket Heath Race. Once again, we sent some of our staff to run but sadly couldn't field a team of three as Adam was riding at Ffos Las. He couldn't have been further away even if he tried! However, Ross finished 7th and Shelley 88th (both pictured at the front in green shirts) out of 200-odd runners (including The Stig) and both recorded times quicker than last year so it was a good performance all round.

The rain does seem to be easing its way into things though and places around the country have been drenched but Newmarket remains a barren landscape - we had a sprinkle this morning but nothing significant for at least a month now.

We'll be keeping an eye on the forecasts for the coming seven days as there are a lot of horses entered but it all depends what the ground is like.
Starting off what could be a busy week are Emmeline Pankhurst (Brighton) and Spirit of Sharjah (Windsor). The latter is in a tough race but the owner insisted on running him. He's in at York later in the week and I think the ground will suit him better there. Emmeline has been very disappointing so we are trying a pair of blinkers on her as she has ability but doesn't like to show it. Hopefully she can surprise me at a course we have a lot of success at.

Tuesday sees Sail Home and Sancho Panza travel to Yarmouth. Both ideally want a bit of cut in the ground but they're in great form and the races look winnable so I'll let them take their chances.

As mentioned, Spirit is in at York on Thursday along with Blackmore and Night Orbit in the staying race. If it's firm I'll only send Orbit but it looks like there will be a bit of dig so hopefully we'll have the two. At the weights I couldn't say which one would beat the other but they both have a great chance of success plus it looks like we can have champion jockey Paul Hanagan aboard Blackmore again.

We're back at York the following day with last week's winners Emma's Gift and Red Hearts in a pair of listed races. They both want the ground rock hard though so we'll have to wait and see if it is worth running.

I hope you all saw the Racing Post today (page 19) as there was a nice feature with Emma's Gift's owner, Emma Raffin, about how she came to acquire the filly and the joy success has brought her. It's nice to know that the owners are having a great time and getting plenty out of the experience.



Three to Follow Update

With only King Columbo running and finishing 5th last week, the leader board is as before.

Still no rain but our dry spell ends

After a series of unlucky placed horses over the last few weeks, the balance finally tipped in our favour as we visited the winner's enclosure not once but twice.

Emma's Gift (right) landed our first ever winner at Ascot and what a buzz it was. The fact that we were the 16/1 outsider of the field added to the excitement and that we were by far the smallest stable in the field but still managed to beat the big boys.
Emma is a super tough filly and I half regret not putting her in the 1000 Guineas because it was a weak race and she had solid form with some of the main protagonists.
The race was called the X Factor Stakes and it was sponsored by Simon Cowell so I was really looking forward to meeting him but sadly he wasn't there and I was left to receive the prize off some nobody friend of his!

Still buzzing from the success the day before, Ross and I drove the horsebox down to Brighton with our two year old Red Hearts. She hadn't run too badly first time out, finishing mid-division after getting tired and we hoped she could improve.
Once again, the bookies didn't rate our chances and we were available at the 16/1 mark but the little filly belied those odds by storming up the hill and winning by just under a length. To say we were ecstatic would be an understatement as I was chuffed for her owner, Dick Creese, who has been with me since I started training and the race also carried a £10,000 yearling bonus which was a lovely reward for Dick's patience and commitment to the sport over the years.

We hoped the momentum could carry forward to King Columbo at Salisbury on Sunday but, alas, it wasn't to be. The ground was rock hard and he just didn't let himself down on it. He's in good form though and will be winning on a better surface.

We've got some high profile runners this week too. Blackmore is in a valuable staying handicap at Ascot on Friday but I think the ground might be a bit too firm for him to take his chance. Pyjoma is in at Goodwood the day before but she needs a bit of cut too.
Also in the same boat is Spirit of Sharjah in the Victoria Cup at Ascot on Saturday. It's a big race but he's well handicapped and it all depends if he is 100% happy on the quick ground.



Three to Follow Update

The victory of Emma's Gift shook the standings up and now Maureen Youngs heads the table with 18 points. Maureen can also boast to be the first person to have scored with all three of her selections already. Red Hearts was not part of the original shortlist as we hadn't bought her by then but keep following her as she could be yours in the transfer window later in the season.

1st - Maureen Youngs (18 points)

2nd - Lee Cousens, Adam Beschizza, Rita Aspland, Len/Maureen Cousens (15 points)

6th - Rosalind Taylor, Peter Darlington, Julia Feilden, Poppy Feilden, Zac Fitzgerald, Tetanya, Bill Aspland (10 points)

Two entries on 8 points, 17 on 5 points and 2 on zero.