Soft Going Keeps Us Grounded

As I said last week, the weather was going to be a major factor as to what we did over the next seven days and so it proved. Having geared myself up for a busy one, it turned out to be a much subdued period as various runners couldn't take their chance due to the soft ground.
The ones that did run, however, put in decent displays.

Luckily, the pain in my hip has ceased so I'm back up and running but I've had x-rays done and it looks like I'll be back on the operating table. There's no let up for me in the meantime though as I'm leading up at Epsom tomorrow!
Sancho Panza runs there in the Amateurs' Derby and I hope he can improve on his fourth place over the course and distance last time. He's gradually coming down in the weights and the jockey, my son Ross, has promised a Mickel Barzalona-esque celebration should he win - that would definitely be a photo for the mantelpiece!

One of the major headaches for any of us when we head south is the M25. It is such a nightmare and, as I'm sure you all know, you just can never guess what it is going to be like - on Friday it took me four hours to get to Brighton (a journey which usually takes just over two). I was tempted to turn around and come home but even the opposite carriageway was at a standstill!

We'll be braving it anyway on Tuesday when Sail Home travels to Goodwood. After promising to be an improving animal at the beginning of the year, she has disappointed on the last few runs but she seems in great form at home and she's sure to bounce back to form soon.

We took a chance with Red Hearts at Yarmouth on Tuesday as the ground was on the easy side and, as she is only a tiny filly, we thought it wouldn't suit her. To our surprise, she ran a blinder in finishing second so I wouldn't be too worried if the ground is good at Folkestone Wednesday when she runs again. The race doesn't look too great so she should be in the money again.
Dolly Bay goes with her and has come on a great deal for her debut a few weeks back. She worked well on Saturday and could win some money if there aren't any fancied horses from big yards against her.

Brighton is on the agenda again at the end of the week with Entrance and King Columbo. Both horses might not go together though as Entrance wants the ground firm and Columbo quite the opposite. Whichever one does run, we have quite a lot of success at the track and I hope they can both add to it.


As most of you probably know, we turn a lot of our horses out in the paddocks on a Sunday to let them unwind and stretch their legs. They really do love it and I think it's how we keep the older horses going year after year without them becoming sick of racing. Although they get some fresh grass in their bellies, the main benefit comes from the social interaction with other horses. I manged to catch Blackmore (left) strutting his stuff to Spirit of Sharjah this morning:

Bavarica Does It Again

Well, the signs were there that we were a due another winner and it came at long last thanks (as ever) to the magnificent mare that is Bavarica.
On her 101st career run, she recorded her 11th victory and, to add to it all, it was also the first winner for my daughter Shelley. To say I was emotional would be an understatement!
Remarkably, Bavarica also landed first wins for my son Ross and nephew Adam - she is definitely one of the family. I never thought it would happen though as Shelley had ridden the mare twice before and things hadn't exactly gone to plan so we thought we would let her have another ride and, if she lost, at least she would drop in the handicap - how wrong we were!

It was a busy week for Shelley as she was riding over the following two days and finished fourth on both. Sancho Panza was running in the ladies' derby at Epsom and plugged on well but the rain came too late to improve his chances. The same can be said for King Columbo as the going was nowhere near as slow as the 'soft' description but he also landed some prize money.

The weather will be playing a big part in the plans this week as we're due a heavy shower tonight/tomorrow so wherever it lands will dramatically alter the going.
Should it arrive at Yarmouth tomorrow, Red Hearts won't be running as she needs the ground rock hard. If she does take her chance, she would have an each way squeak but my only worry is the seven furlong distance as she finds it a bit too far.

Rain could also affect Khajaaly's participation at Brighton on Friday. He needs it firm but would also be in with a shout should things fall right.

Unfortunately I couldn't make it to Folkestone with Entrance yesterday as I was rather lame. Having had a hip replacement back in January, I had waited (as the doctor advised) until mid-August until I could ride out again and after a week on a trotter, I rode a bit of work on Saturday. As soon as I got off though, I knew things weren't right - my hip had gone but not the new one, it was my other one that hadn't been replaced that was causing the pain. I've been to the doctors and go for an x-ray in a few days but the likelihood is that I'll need a new hip which does worry me after the complications I went through with the other. However, I can't have any excuses left when it is all done - unless something else gives way!

Back to Entrance. She was a bit disappointing on Sunday but it was the first time she had tried running over a mile and half in a while and, after racing freely early on, I don't think she quite saw out the trip. That's not to say she didn't stay but if she is to get the distance, she needs to relax more early on. I've got her in again on Saturday. It is at Redcar, a place we don't travel to very often, but the race is for amateurs and the filly has run some of her best races in them so it should be worth the journey.

We're busy on Sunday with quite a few in at Yarmouth. Exopuntia won this race last year and is in similar form this time around. She's had some excuses the last few times but if the ground has some ease in it, she should go well. The same applies for The Ducking Stool who hated the undulating track at Folkestone last time and she is miles better than that effort. I've entered Sail Home there too as the race looked week. She was the horse on whom my ill-fated piece of work took place on and I didn't get injured because I was pushing her, far from it - she was pulling my arms out and flew up the gallop. She's been a bit below par the last twice but we're going to try holding her up instead of making the running to see if it has a positive effect.



Three To Follow Update

Shelley Birkett was obviously trying hard to win as her victory aboard Bavarica puts her joint top with Richard Salmon.

1st - Shelley Birkett, Richard Salmon (44 points)
3rd - Maureen Youngs (38 points)
4th - Peter Darlington (36 points)
5th - Adam Beschizza (34 points)

Building On The Promise

It was billed as a week full of promise and luckily it did not disappoint despite us not getting the winner we were desperately after.

Khajaaly got the ball rolling on Monday with a solid second and then Dolly Bay made an encouraging debut at Yarmouth when finishing fourth. The same day, Exopuntia baffled us - she had ran a corker in a tongue strap first time out but then on Wednesday she seemed to resent the gadget and held her head very high in the finish even though she came fifth.
Thinking that she hadn't had too hard a race, we ran her again at Newmarket on Friday but I could tell from an early stage that things were not 100% - the filly seemed very lifeless in the preliminaries and I told the jockey not to be too hard on her if she had no chance. As it turned out, she never even got into the race after rearing up in the stalls when upset by a horse next to her. It was disappointing but she will be back another day soon.

The biggest and most pleasing surprise was King Columbo finishing third at Yarmouth. He hasn't won in two years and is pretty inconsistent these days but he ran a great race and, to be honest to him, it is the first time Columbo has had the soft ground that he really loves. It's a shame we don't get it more often but if you see him running on it in the future, he is definitely worth backing.

Verona Bay also made his debut this week. He is a very big horse and is likely to fulfill his potential next year when he has had time to fully grow but he was ready for a race and didn't fare too bad in what is traditionally a very strong contest (Frankel won it last year!). He has come out of the race in good order and wasn't beaten too far by some highly regarded horses - the winner is now prominent in the betting for next year's Derby.

We were back at Newmarket the following day with two runners in one of the world's most unusual races - the grey horses only handicap. Our main hope, Quarrel, was a decent two year old but hadn't shown any form in well over a year. It was his first run for us and he bounced right back to his best by finishing third despite the distance being a bit too short for him. The owners wanted to have a bit of a gamble and, although we're not interested in betting, they manged to have a good bit on at 40/1.

Quarrel (number 8) nabs third spot in the grey horses race at Newmarket

Emma's Gift hated the ground and found the trip a bit sharp too but, as this is the only race of its kind, you have to take the chance of running.

I'm hoping the decent form can carry on into the next seven days.
Thing don't kick off until Wednesday when my two children, Shelley and Ross, go head-to-head once again in an amateur race. Ross currently holds the bragging rights with the score 2-0 in his favour and I'm afraid he will enhance that lead at Folkestone. He rides The Ducking Stool who surprised us by running so well when fourth aster a 18 month absence and since then she has improved even more. The 1m4f distance might be a bit too far but if she can see it out, she should win.
There are no such worries for Shelley's ride, the ultra-tough Bavarica. We were disappointed with her run last time at Windsor but she had a very strong blow afterwards and probably needed it after a short break. Shelley hasn't really got the hang of riding her yet but if things fall into place, Ross could have his sister breathing down his neck!

We do pretty well at Epsom and we're there the following day. Red Hearts has been struggling since winning a maiden earlier in the year but this will be the first time she has raced in a handicap. I thought there would be little runners but there are plenty of entries so it might turn out to be a tough race. Likewise for Sancho Panza who runs the same day. I think the track will be to his liking and the more rain that comes, the better.

Folkestone is on the agenda again on Sunday with Entrance and Canning Vale. The latter ran quite well on her debut last time but will probably need another run. Entrance has been very consistent this season and hopefully she can be rewarded with another victory.

I came back from a brilliant (if a bit boozy) weekend in Ireland yesterday and straight away could definitely feel a upbeat atmosphere in the yard.
John and myself don't go on too many holidays but our son Ross managed to hold things together back at home and was even rewarded with a decent result after Khajaaly was only beaten a head when second at Wolverhampton on the day we returned.
I think that result could be the sign that the horses are coming back to form after a quiet spell recently. I do hope so because we have some great chances coming up.

But first I must mention the Irish visit. It's something that we have done annually for a while now and it's great to catch up with old friends and also to see what yearlings might potentially be coming our way in the autumn.
On our travels we also go to the legendary Dingle races which is Ireland's premier pony racing festival. With a first prize of over £3000 for the feature event, The Dingle Derby, it puts our prizemoney for thoroughbred races to shame!

Lost in translation? Dingle's 'Weigh-In' Weighing Room.

Rose Of Mooncoin is an extremely successful broodmare who has bred several winners for us, including Emma's Gift and Ocean Legend.


Dingle Races: You've got to see it to believe it.


Breeder Donal Cummins inspects some of his potential superstars.

My batteries have been most definitely recharged and we'll be hitting the next seven days with gusto, starting with Yarmouth tomorrow.

Dolly Bay is making her debut and hopefully she can at least be placed. She does go quite well at home and the race isn't particularly strong so I do feel a top four placing is not too much to ask.

Equally, Exopuntia should be in the money later on in the day. She is extremely consistent and loves Yarmouth. The softer the ground, the better. The same can be said for King Columbo. He hasn't raced on genuinely soft ground in ages so I hope that if he does get some, he can show that he is a very well handicapped horse.

Good old Bavarica couldn't quite make her 100th career start on Monday a winning one but maybe she can on her 101st race. She runs at Catterick on Friday and I think she should fare better than last time.

Also on Friday we have Verona Bay making his debut. He has needed plenty of time to fill his big frame and still isn't quite there yet but he is ready for the run and will come on for the experience.

With any luck, Acer Diamonds will run in the same race if he is not balloted out. He has been going very well at home and hopefully will get the soft ground he loves.

The grey horses only race at Newmarket on Saturday is a fantastic spectacle and I'm proud to have two runners in it this year. It is a race I'd love to win as it's one of a kind and I do think I could this year (at my first attempt, I must add). Emma's Gift is an ideal candidate and although six furlongs is a bit too short for her, I hope that the notorious uphill finish will draw her stamina out. Quarrel is in the race too but he hasn't raced in a while and is running just to give the owners a nice day out.

Three To Follow Update

Khajaaly's second place shook up the rankings lower down the pecking order but Richard Salmon still leads the way.

1st - Richard Salmon (44 points)
2nd - Peter Darlington (36 points)

3rd - Adam Beschizza, Shelley Birkett (34 points)

Some snaps to keep you occupied...

I'm going to Ireland for a relaxing weekend so won't be able to write a post until I get back on Monday but in the meantime I thought I'd show you some of the pictures I have taken on my new camera.

I definitely needed my debut run with the piece of kit but I manged to get them (mostly) in shot and thank God it has auto focus!

One of my birds

New purchase Automotive (Ross Birkett)


Khajaaly (Ross Birkett) with Dolly Bay (Adam Beschizza) hiding behind

Bonnie the fallabella on the loose

Blackmore (Shelley Birkett) looking good in preparation for his comeback

Acer Diamonds (Rob Summers) just ahead of Verona Bay (Dean Smith)

Dreaded July... We Survived!

Thankfully dreaded July is out of the way and we can now boot home some winners.
As I said last week, the seventh month of the year is never a profitable one for us with all the horses having various excuses for not winning - most of them being due to the handicapper.
We're hitting this week with full force though as we send out a fair few runners in the next few days.

Today, my son and daughter, Ross and Shelley, have a score to settle at Windsor after racing against each other at Newbury yesterday. Ross, riding a horse for John Bridger, won whilst Shelley finished fourth on Entrance. Whilst it was a shame our filly couldn't win, it was a victory of sorts.
This time, Ross is on Bavarica who is having her 100th career race and the Racing Post have done a nice tribute to her in today's paper which is worth a read.

It looks as though Shelley may be extra busy this week as she is down to ride for Gay Kelleway at Brighton on Thursday. Gay is notorious for her post-race hairdryer treatment of unsuccessful jockeys so let's just hope Shelley can follow her orders to the letter!

Although not as vocal as Miss Kelleway, I'll be pretty peeved if Sail Home can't show some form at Southwell tomorrow. She has been a bit disappointing the last two runs but I'm hoping a return to the track where she has won and re-spark her. Also there is two year old Canning Vale who makes her debut. She has taken a while to come to herself and will need the race for experience.

On the other end of the scale, despite also being a two year old, the multiple-raced Red Hearts goes to Lingfield. She won a maiden at Brighton but hasn't really improved that much but she was competitive in a seller last week and I think this is an easier opportunity.
I won't be there to see her though as on Friday John and I fly off for our annual visit to Dingle in Ireland. It's a great place with a lovely hotel and we'll be watching the pony racing there as well as visiting Donald Commins' stud where the likes of Spirit of Sharjah and Emma's Gift came from. I've just bought a very professional camera as well do if I can get the hang of working it, there'll be plenty of photos to see.

That means I won't be at Newmarket on Saturday to watch Exopuntia. The filly is really consistent at the minute and loves the track. She is best on soft ground but is running well on the firmer stuff so she has to have an each way chance.


Three To Follow Update

As we are now halfway through the competition, now is your chance to add another horse to your selections to boost your chances of winning. To keep things simple, instead of substituting one horse for another, just add a selection to your current list of three so you end up with four horses.

All points already scored by an added horse will not be added to your current score but any points from August 1st onwards will. To make a selection, simply leave your name and choice in the comment box below or email to: rbirkett1989@hotmail.co.uk

Here is the list of horses to choose from and their current points in brackets:
Emma's Gift (10), Entrance (13), Sancho Panza (18), Khajaaly (3), Sand Repeal, Exopuntia (3), Automotive, Sail Home (10), Verona Bay, Blackmore (5), Pyjoma, Acer Diamonds, Spirit of Sharjah, King Columbo, Angel Of Mercy, Red Hearts (16), Bavarica (13), Premier League (10), Canning Vale.