Two New Fillies

Wimbledon is on at the minute so I suppose the weather was always going to be unpredictable last week and it went against us more than once.

Premier League is a Southwell specialist so any ease in the ground is better for him but when my husband John walked the course at Newbury on Tuesday, he was disappointed to see it had dried out considerably and was no where near the official description of 'good'.

I do feel that course clerks put 'good' in a going description to tempt trainers wanting soft ground into running and, although it gets a fair bit of stick, I think the GoingStick is a more reliable source for finding out how firm it is. As it gives a numerical value on the softness of the turf, there can be little argument with it.

Thankfully, the weather did turn in our favour by the end of the week in time for Acer Diamonds at Newmarket on Friday. He loves soft going and the deluge the night before helped his case but a troubled passage in running saw him struggle to show his best. We still believe he's got an engine and hopefully he'll be able to exhibit it next time out.

On the other hand, Emma's Gift didn't really like the soft ground but still ran admirably in fifth. She's so tough and deserves to win another after her Ascot success earlier in the year.

We've had a couple of new arrivals in the yard over the last few weeks, the first of which was a three year old filly by American stallion Green Tune. She has only just been broken in but is forward going and has strengthened up a fair bit already. The other new one is a full sister to Premier League, being out of Ellie Simmonds and by Firebreak. She has never been ridden and is only two years old. She looks like she needs a bit of time to grow so don't be expecting to see her on the racecourse any time soon!

Firebreak two year old

Green Tune three year old

There should be a fair few more coming into the yard over the next few weeks as the July Sales at Tattersalls are only around the corner. The pair that we bought at the auction last year (Sail Home and Entrance) have both won for us and we'll be looking to find a few more bargains.

Sail Home is entered this week and I'm hopeful of a good run after she worked well on Saturday morning. She's back at Yarmouth where she won two starts ago and although she didn't drop in the handicap for a defeat last time, she will run well.

We're trekking up to Pontefract tomorrow with Entrance and Generous Genella, both of which I think should land a place at least. Genella ran a much better race last time in a tongue strap even though she didn't stay the distance. I've dropped her back in trip now and it should suit her.

Entrance is looking for back to back wins after scoring at Nottingham last time and I can't see why she shouldn't. She went up four pounds for the win which was a fair rise and if she gets lucky, hopefully she can win again.

Ground dependant, Red Hearts and Pyjoma go to Warwick on Friday. Red Hearts won a maiden earlier in the season but is struggling a bit now but I hope the step up in trip will eek a bit more improvement out of her. Pyjoma is handicapping for the first time and has a decent weight but she does get a little bit wound up at times so it's hard to know what to expect.
The following day, Exopuntia will run if the ground is soft enough and she'll go close if taking her chance.



Three To Follow Update

No points scored this week so standings are as before.

That's That Done For Another Year

Royal Ascot came and went this week and although we had no luck with Emma's Gift in the Sandringham Stakes on Wednesday, it was a pleasure just to have a runner there. Getting dressed up really isn't my thing and to make matters worse, I had a bit of a nightmare with a spray tan experiment. Luckily it was only on my legs so could cover it up with some tights!

As it did at Ascot, it's been pouring it down here all week but not many people are complaining as we have needed it for weeks and it was a great to get on the grass gallops too. We worked a bunch of horses on Saturday morning and last year's Derby winner Workforce had been up there just before us so if it's good enough for him, it's good enough for us. Handily, a great photographer called Michael Smithson was there as well and he got some shots of the horses:

Verona Bay (Adam Beschizza)

Generous Genella (Dean Smith) leads Sand Repeal (Ross Birkett)

Canning Vale (Tetanya)

Acer Diamonds (left, Rob Summers) upsides King Columbo

Acer Diamonds put in a great bit of work, his debut run at Newbury has taken nothing out of him and I'm excited about running him at Newmarket on Saturday. It will probably be another decent maiden but so was his last race where he finished fifth, so I'm hopeful he can be placed. Also on that day, I may run Red Hearts in a listed race to see if we can get some black type on her pedigree. We are a bit stuck with her as she has won her maiden but as a result has to carry a weight penalty in novice races. Because the handicaps for two year olds do not start until August, we may as well run her up in grade.

Before that, on Tuesday, Premier League will be bidding to make it two wins in a row at Newbury. He won at Southwell so a slow turf surface shouldn't bother him and I can see no reason why he won't run well again. Elsewhere, Emmeline Pankhurst runs at Brighton. She's been frustrating but has run promisingly at the course before so, fingers crossed, she can show a bit of form.

Now the Newmarket Friday night meetings are back, King Columbo has his diary full for the next few months as there is always an ideal race for him there. He's in this week and should love the soft ground along with Exopuntia who I was delighted with as she came third last Friday at the track. She wasn't 100% fit that day so it looks like she will go even closer this time around.

Looking back at the week's runners, the one who ran with most promise despite finishing down the field was Khajaaly at Warwick on Thursday. The jockey admitted he got into a lot of trouble and as a result he could never get into top gear. The horse has come out of the race really well and will run better next time.

Three To Follow Update

Adam Beschizza was the only entrant to include Exopuntia in his list and the three points she gained on Friday see him move into joint third.

1st - Richard Salmon (38 points)

2nd - Peter Darlington (33 points)

3rd - Shelley Birkett, Adam Beschizza (31 points)

5th - Maureen Youngs (28 points)

Two other on 25 points, 4 on 23, 3 on 18, 11 on 15, 2 on 13, 1 on 10, 2 on 8, 2 on 5 and one person on three points.

Luck Moves in Mysterious Ways

Another week, another winner. It's becoming a bit of a habit now after having one winner a week for the last three and it's not one I'll ever wish to stop.
We fired plenty of bullets this week though and it was the most unlikely shot that hit the target - from five runners on Thursday, Entrance (the biggest priced at 40/1) won at Nottingham. It could have all been so different...
The truth is, that on Wednesday night, it looked like Entrance wouldn't even be able to run because there was no available transport to get her to the races and I was resigned to the fact that her first run after a 100-day break would have to wait a bit longer. Luckily, Gay Kelleway's horse didn't run at another meeting that same day so we used her box instead - and thank God we did!
Although she was a big price, it wasn't a massive shock that she won. It was her first start on turf for us and she had strengthened up a lot during her break. It was a great win for the Hoofbeats Racing Club and there are still shares available in her if she really caught your eye!

As already mentioned, we had a lot of runners last Thursday and probably the most promising performance was from the two-year old, Acer Diamonds. We've thought a lot of him but he's so big and babyish that he would need the run and he did - he ran green when asked to quicken but looked to get the hang of things. He didn't have a hard race and has come out of it happy so he should improve next time.

My heart was in my mouth the following day when I saw Sunny Spells slip on the bend at Market Rasen. I get worried enough when one of mine goes jumping but the last thing you expect is one of yours to fall when there's not even an obstacle in front of him. Thankfully, he got up fine and jumped round with the others and I hope the experience doesn't effect him as he's ready to win.

Another heart-stopping moment was seeing a horse clip heels and fall right in front of my daughter Shelley at York on Saturday. I'm even more of a wreck when the kids are riding and although Bavarica was a bit too keen for Shelley, I'm just glad both came back in one piece as the outcome could have been a hell of a lot worse.

On a brighter note, I'm all ready for Royal Ascot this week and I'll be there in my finery on Wednesday with Emma's Gift in the Sandringham Stakes. I know you can't get too confident at such a competitive meeting but I really do think the filly has got a great chance. She loves Ascot but not soft ground so I hope the rain stays away.Night Orbit is in the Queen Alexandra on Saturday and although he will love the extreme 2m6f distance, he will no doubt be outclassed.

Not all the action is in Berkshire this week as I hope to have winners elsewhere.Khajaaly goes to Warwick on Thursday and, although it's his first start on turf in a while, the track should suit and he's in great form.

It's great to see the Newmarket Nights back on the calendar this Friday and I've got three high hopes if the ground is ideal.King Columbo is starting to show a bit more promise now and the softer the conditions, the better.
The same probably applies for Exopuntia who hasn't run in a while but is fit enough to do herself justice.
Spirit of Sharjah wouldn't want the ground as soft as the other two but he is so well handicapped and it is the lowest class he has run in for a good while. If things go right, he will win.


Three To Follow Update
After trailing the competition for so long, Richard Salmon has spectacularly lept into life and now is a clear leader thanks to Entrance's victory. The win also saw Peter Darlington edge into second spot.
1st - Richard Salmon (38 points)
2nd - Peter Darlington (33 points)
3rd - Shelley Birkett (31 points)
4th - Adam Beschizza, Maureen Youngs (28 points)
Two other on 25 points, 4 on 23, 3 on 18, 11 on 15, 2 on 13, 1 on 10, 2 on 8, 2 on 5 and one person on three points.

Can't Complain About Another Winner

He tried to do everything he could to avoid winning but Premier League finally got his head in front where it mattered at Southwell on Thursday.
'Harry', as he is known, had been placed on numerous occasions yet he was starting to look like winning was not his top priority. Once again, he travelled strongly in behind the leaders and turning for home, it looked like there would only be one winner. However, this was a sight we had seen before.
Remarkably this time, Harry decided to quicken past tiring horses and hit the front where he proceeded to hang from one side of the track to another but still won by over four lengths. Royston Ffrench was on board and I'm always glad to give him a winner as I taught him how to ride at the British Racing School when he was a tiny 16 year old who had never sat on a horse in his life. It worries me to think how long ago that was now!

Amie Karlsson, who had been working for me for a couple of years, sadly left us this week to return to her native Sweden in order to finish her degree. Her riding had improved a hell of a lot during her time with us and she took special care of her horses, of which Beseech was her favourite. No doubt she will be back to visit soon.

One of the other horses Amie used to look after was Sancho Panza and he's entered at Nottingham on Thursday along with five others dotted around the country. Travelling with him will be the Hoofbeats Racing Club horse Entrance who has done incredibly well over her winter break and she has now grown into a much bigger and stronger horse. I've got her pretty fit so she shouldn't be lacking in that department but we still don't really know her optimum trip so that is my only concern.

At Yarmouth, Night Orbit is entered in the two mile race and although he ideally needs further, it's a bad enough race for him to win. He will be going to Royal Ascot for the 2m6f race afterwards and although he won't have the class to win, I hope his proven stamina can see him run respectably and give the owners a good day out. Also there is Generous Genella but I think she may get balloted out. If she does run, I'm hoping she can win now we've put a tongue strap on her. If it is the answer to her disappointing performances, she will run her best race to date.

Ground dependant, Acer Diamonds makes his long awaited debut at Newbury. He's only a two year old but has caught many people's eyes as he is such a physically imposing horse and he has been doing all his homework quite easily. The six furlongs may be a bit on the short side for him and he's still a big baby but it wouldn't surprise me if he ran a big race for his enthusiastic owners. Going with him to keep company is King Columbo in the amateur race. Now, I can confirm that this is the race we have won three of the last four years and not the race I mentioned a few weeks back. However, Columbo isn't in much form at the minute and I'll be surprised if we can land the race for a fourth time after Bavarica in 2007 & 2010 and Night Orbit in 2008.

Sunny Spells got what we thought was a very lenient mark from the handicapper after having three runs over hurdles. He's entered in two races at Market Rasen on Friday and whichever one he goes for, I'm hoping he can go close off a low weight. He jumps well and the step up in trip will certainly suit him.
On the same day is Emmeline Pankhurst at Goodwood. She's only running for the owner's business function and the distance will be a bit short for her I think.

It was a fantastic sight on Friday morning as we arrived at Epsom with Spirit of Sharjah. All the trade stands and amusements were set-up on the Downs and it was breath-taking to see just how big an event the Investec Derby Festival is. Spirit ran a blinder to finish fifth but the race distance of one mile and half a furlong just found him out as he is best at seven furlongs and just got tired in the last 200 yards. He's still well handicapped though and is sure to win a big race soon.


Three To Follow Update

Premier League's victory boosted the tally for two lucky entries but it wasn't enough to wrestle the lead from Shelley Birkett who still heads the table.

1st - Shelley Birkett (31 points)
2nd - Maureen Youngs, Richard Salmon and Adam Beschizza (28 points)
5th - Rita Aspland (25 points)
Five others on 23 points, 3 on 18, 11 on 15, 1 on 13, 1 on 10, 2 on 8, 3 on 5 and one person on three points.