Fun for all ages!

We've been lucky enough over the past couple of years to be able to accommodate not just the horses in training but also some youngsters thanks to the 30 acres of grass paddocks that we have at the yard.
It all started with Celestine Abbey and Mercy Me who we bought as foals two years ago and it's hard to believe that they are now full racehorses ready to begin their careers.
Last year, our two mares Bavarica and Bushy Dell gave birth to a foal each and those two have been developing nicely and will be ridden for the first time in the autumn.
The latest recruit arrived this week as our star mare Emma's Gift returned to the yard after giving birth to a lovely colt by Sir Percy. He is a real character and whizzes around his field at a good rate so hopefully he'll be able to reproduce that when hitting the track in 2016!

Sir Percy colt meets our other miniture Bonnie

 

Despite a load of runners over the past fortnight, we still have a few to run this week as the turf season really gets into full swing.
At Doncaster tomorrow, old reliable The Ducking Stool runs in a fillies' handicap. All her winning has been done at Yarmouth but Doncaster is a very similar track so should play to her strengths. She is a bit high in the handicap after a great 2013 but she usually gives her all so can't be far away.

It'll be nice to have a couple of runners at our local track Newmarket on Thursday as Avidly and Automotive run in the same race that evening. It isn't ideal to have them taking on each other but there aren't many ideal races for either of them in the near future. There is very little between them at home and they are rated near enough the same so it would be hard to say which one is better. They both have their quirks so it will be about who feels up for it on the day.

Avidly (Graham) & Automotive (Reno)

 

I can't wait to see Honeymoon Express make a return to action at Newmarket too on Friday. She ended last year on a high with two wins and has done really well over the winter. She does need firm ground so hopefully it will be a dry week. The race doesn't look a great one at this stage and we have a good apprentice in David Parkes booked for this race which is limited to jockeys who have had less than 10 career winners.

Attain (Ross) & Honeymoon Express (Shelley)

 

Also at HQ on Friday will be out first juvenile runner of the year as Celestine Abbey makes her debut. She has really come on in the past few weeks and goes well enough at home but this will probably be a hot maiden and she will need the experience so it's fair to say she will improve for the run.

Previous Acclaim (Ryan) & Celestine Abbey (Shelley)