Luhaif bounces back

Yarmouth is usually our lucky track and we have done well there down the years so it was a relief to get on the board at the course for the 2014 campaign after Luhaif bounced back to form.
We bought him last autumn and he came highly rated after a decent juvenile year but it took him a while to find his level now he's a bit older and it was frustrating he couldn't win straightaway but he now seems to be in the right place. To keep him sweet we have been turning him out in the field during the day and he has really thrived for it. This success should have done his confidence the world of good and hopefully he can have a few more days in the sun.
It was also great to get another winner for owner Dick Creese who has been with me since day one of my training career and, despite some slow horses down the years, has been unwaveringly loyal.


Happy connections with Luhaif (photo: http://photoaction.co.uk/

The winning rider was our apprentice Shelley and it was an extra special day for her as she notched the first double of her career after winning on Gay Kelleway's Royal Alcor too. She seems to do very well at Yarmouth and it was a great advert for her skills as she won in different styles with one victory coming from the front and the other being a patient, hold-up ride.

After a load of runners last week, we're quiet for the next few coming days with just Candesta running on Thursday at Yarmouth. He showed promise in his maiden runs before disappointing in handicaps. We thought he wasn't really putting maximum effort in so we've had him gelded and he'll run in blinkers to wake him up furthermore. He's come out his operation well and can hopefully channel his energies in the right direction now. He's in a 'hands and heels' race where jockeys can't use their whips so our rider will need to keep pushing!

Candesta (Shelley) & Silver Alliance (Ross)

 

The likes of Attain, Avidly, Veeraya and Meddling have been on the go for quite a while now after winter campaigns and they have showed signs recently of a bit of fatigue so I've decided to give them a month in the field to recharge the batteries and ready themselves for another go at success.

THREE TO FOLLOW UPDATE

There has been a big shake-up in the standings recently thanks to the wins of Automotive and Luhaif. Just two entries included both these horses so topping the leader board now with 15 points are Malcolm Roper and Ross Birkett. Chasing this pair up with 13 points are Jim Stevens, Len Cousens and Bill Aspland. There are plenty of others within striking distance too so there's still plenty to play for!

Ascot gone, Lingfield next!

I can't believe another Royal Ascot has been and gone already which must mean we're well into the season now. Unfortunately we didn't have anything to run at the meeting this year which was a shame because it is always an honour to have a runner at such a prestigious meeting but it just goes to show you how hard it is to have a runner there, never mind a winner. You only have to look at some of the big names who couldn't get on the score sheet to realise that.

I don't like dressing up that much anyway so I'll be much more at home at Lingfield tomorrow when Tolly McGuinness hits the track for the first time this year. He just had one run last year but he was very weak so I expect him to put up a good show this time around. The one mile might be a bit far for him but there are limited opportunities for maidens to run so he is going there for some more experience.

Tolly Mcguinness (Shelley) & Bushy Glade (Ryan)

 

We like to have a few runners at out lucky track of Yarmouth so we've got a few heading there for their two-day meeting, starting on Thursday.
No Such Number has been mixing hurdles runs with the flat and, as there aren't any races for him over the timber, he's back on the level. It looks a good race for him and he's in decent form so I expect another consistent effort.
Also there will be Luhaif. He seemed to bounce right back to form last time when second at Nottingham and, if he can repeat that, he should have a great chance of going one better. The key to him is making the running so hopefully he can get an easy lead in front.
Completing the Yarmouth trio will be Previous Acclaim. She ran well last time and is a better horse on turf I think so don't be surprised if she's in the shake-up again.

No Such Number (Danny)

 

Another runner on Thursday is last week's hero Automotive. He came out of the win in great order and was put up five pounds in the ratings by the handicapper which I think is fair. He seems to like galloping tracks so the long straight at Leicester should suit him and we can't have any complaints with the jockey as Ryan Moore has been booked to ride. The only thing is that Automotive has only won amateur races to date but I think Ryan is a bit better than most amateurs!

Making the trip to the coast at Yarmouth the following day is Bethan. She is desperate for soft ground to show her best but we're unlikely to get that anytime soon so she might as well run. She can still run well on firm ground, as proven last time so she should get some prize money again.
Yarmouth legend The Ducking Stool is entered this day too but she's also in on Tuesday at Newbury and she will run depending where conditions are most favourable.

Proud Chieftain, Opus Too (Adam) & Bethan (Ross)

 

Completing a busy week, we have Opus Too and Honeymoon Express at Lingfield on Saturday evening. Opus ran well on his debut last time and the step up in trip will be right up his street. He's one for the longer term but it'd be nice for him to score some early points at this stage of his career.
Honeymoon struggled a bit last time and it may be that the handicapper has her in his grips but she had some excuses and could bounce back.

Tiger's Home (Graham) & Honeymoon Express (Shelley)

Attain (Graham)

 

We're well used to having visitors here at Harraton Stud so we were delighted to welcome a professional photographer who was visiting to take some snaps for a local magazine. It was all a bit 'arty' and Shelley had to pull some moody poses but Silver Alliance proved to be a natural model and, as you can see, he was more than happy to steal the limelight!

Big show from Mo!

Horses are always trying their best to make you look like fools and Automotive did his best this week to trick his only friend by winning at Newbury on Thursday.
My son Ross loves Mo to bits and really fancied his chances at Goodwood last week but the horse ran a shocker and disappointed us all. After a blood test and a few steady canters, he seemed none the worse for that run so we took him to the races again just six days later and he duly won. We have been extremely lucky in this exact race, having won it five times in the last eight years now. I don't know why we keep on winning this race but I'm certainly not complaining!

Automotive & Ross win at Newbury

 

We were at the races for a different reason last Monday as the Queen's Baton came to town as it heads up to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games. Our apprentice Shelley had been chosen to carry the baton up a section of the Newmarket race track and she shared the honours with town stalwart and a former Commonwealth Games medal winner, Ron Wallwork. Ron won his medal in the walking race but lucky age has slowed him down a bit so Shelley could keep up!

Shelley and Ron carry the Queen's Baton

 

It was a great morning at the course with champion jockey Ryan Moore also carrying the baton and he did so on horseback wearing the Queen's colours. It made for a special sight.

 

 

Back to the proper racecourse action now and we still have a few to run over the coming seven days despite nine runners last week.
Luhaif goes to Nottingham on Monday and I really hope he can bounce back to form. He has shown glimmers of promise since we bought him but the handicapper has given him a chance now and the small field should mean he can get to the front and lead the pack as he likes to do. He's in good order at home so hopefully he can put in a decent performance.

Handheld (Reno) & Luhaif (Ross)

 

Then on Thursday Meddling will be bidding to win back-to-back races as she goes to Lingfield. She won over the course and distance last time and the success seems to have done her confidence a lot of good. We have found the key to her now and I hope she can fulfil all her potential.

Meddling (Ross)

 

Joining her at the Surrey track will be Tolly McGuinness. He's treated a bit like a pony in the yard because he is so kind and small plus we've had him since he was a foal but he has been taking his homework very seriously. He has strengthened up over the winter and looks very strong now. We're not expecting much but I think there's a race in him somewhere.

Bushy Glade (Ryan) & Tolly McGuinness (Danny)

 

Candesta and Opus Too are similar types of horse who will improve with age but they are both going well at the moment and will be out again in the next couple of weeks.

Candesta (Graham) & Opus Too (Shelley)

 

No Such Number is giving his syndicate of owners a lot of fun at the moment by mixing hurdling with flat racing and running consistently with it. He'll probably go on the flat next time as there aren't many hurdle options for him at the minute.

No Such Number (Reno)

 

 

There has been quite a bit of movement in the three to follow standings after a number of horses scored points last week. Ross reassures me he's adding up the new tallys and will have the revised leader board ready for next week's blog!

Hunting winners

After a few near-misses last week, we've got a load of runners over the next seven days to hopefully get us back into the winner's enclosure.
Kicking off on Wednesday, we have three live chances at our favourite track Yarmouth and probably the best looks to be Honeymoon Express. She ran a blinder on her seasonal reappearance to finish second at Newmarket so with that run under her belt, plus Shelley riding her again, she should go close.
Another one to look out for is Avidly. After a promising start with us, she hasn't quite progressed as we'd have hoped but as a result she is now very well handicapped. We galloped her yesterday in a special bridle to help her breathing which hasn't been great and she seemed to go well in it so hopefully that is the key and she can put up an improved performance.

Avidly (Graham) & Honeymoon Express (Ross)

 

The following day we're back beside the seaside as Silver Alliance bids to make it a quick double at the track. He put up a career best to win last time and will find things tougher now he has gone up in the weights again but he is in great form and might surprise us again.
The Ducking Stool is also entered that day but I'm not certain whether she will run yet as there are a few other options for her in the coming weeks.

Silver Alliance (Reno) & The Ducking Stool (Danny)

 

We will also be represented at Newbury that same day as Automotive tries to win the amateur race for the second year running. We've been very lucky in this race having won it four times before. Mo ran very poorly last week at Goodwood but things probably didn't go his way and it wouldn't surprise me if he bounced right back and put in a good run.

The horsebox will get a quick refill and then be on the road again on Friday as we have two at Sandown. We don't seem to have many runners at the track which is a shame because it is a lovely place but they don't seem to have any ideal races for my horses.
Veeraya did well on the all-weather and wasn't disgraced in a hot race on Guineas day at Newmarket last time. He certainly has the ability to win off his current mark and if he feels like doing it, he could land some money.
Keeping him company will be Celestine Abbey. She is the only two-year old we have run this year and she wasn't embarrassed on her debut last time. The form is working out well with some of the other horses placing next time so it could have just been a hot maiden. If she's come on for that then she should fare better.

Luhaif (Reno) & Veeraya (Ross)

Celestine Abbey (Adam) & Tolly McGuinness (Danny)

 

Rounding off a busy week will be Handheld at York on Saturday. As always, he needs soft ground to run and he looks a bit high in the handicap at present too.

Mud lovers at the ready

After a sodden week it was nice to see the sun again this afternoon and the horses in the field seemed to appreciate not getting a soaking once more.
The rain hasn't been too much of a pain though as it means we can get a few of the mud lovers out this week for a run. Opus Too was very weak as a two-year old but has come back from his winter holiday a lot stronger and is now ready to make his debut at Leicester tomorrow. He is a big galloper so will want a trip in time and this experience should bring him on a lot and wake him up mentally as he is pretty laid-back.
We've been having a bit of trouble with Bushy Glade's back recently which has kept her off the track but a visit from the chiropractor has sorted her right out. She was tight in the area behind the saddle and it all stems from a bad tooth which causes her to tense up when ridden. The problem tooth has been extracted and the improvement in her back is remarkable. Hopefully now we can kick on with her.

Bushy Glade (Ryan) & Opus Too (Shelley)

 

On Tuesday, Handheld and Bethan travel to Yarmouth and I'm hoping the track gets plenty more rain as they both love soft ground. Handheld looks a bit high in the handicap at present but he tries his hardest and won't be far away.
Bethan is still a maiden but has come very close to winning in the past. She is quite one-paced so soft ground suits her and if it is testing, she will be right there at the finish.

Bethan (Danny) & Handheld (Ross)

 

The same day, No Such Number goes hurdling at Southwell, the track he made his 50/1 winning debut at. It is the first time he has run in a handicap and I thought the mark of 115 was a bit harsh so we'll have to see how he goes but the drop back to two miles is ideal.

No Such Number (Reno)

 

The best chance of the week probably come on Friday when Automotive travels down to Goodwood. He was a very impressive winner over course and distance last August and is fully fit after two runs this season. Both his career wins have come in amateur races so he seems to enjoy that type of event and I think he should be in the money at the end.

Luhaif (Graham) & Automotive (Ross)

 

Veeraya finished mid-division in a big-field handicap at Newmarket last time but I don't think that was too bad a run on a track he didn't like and the winner has come out and won again since. Sandown next time will be ideal and he is ready to win.

Veeraya (Adam)

 

Another who should be winning soon is Avidly. She has been a bit frustrating since showing early promise but it has taken a while to get her head straight and I think we're getting on top of her now. She goes to Yarmouth in a couple of weeks in what might be a bad maiden handicap so hopefully she can get off the mark there.

Avidly (Graham)