Learning plenty after Kemsing's win

Even after 40 years working in horse racing, I am always learning and trying new things. This was shown no better last week than with Kemsing. He ran on Tuesday and looked an unlucky loser when beaten two heads into third place. Shelley came in afterwards annoyed that she had committed the horse too early. I had declared him for the following Thursday just in case he won easily but, after getting beaten, this looked like a bad move. However, Kemsing came out of the race so well the following day - he had eaten all of his dinner and breakfast and was kicking the door down - I decided to let him take his chance again, just two days after running. If my memory is correct, this is the first time I have let a horse run that soon after a previous race but luckily it all paid off as Shelley bided her time and Kemsing scored an easy win by over three lengths!
I still can't believe I own 60% of this horse - selling shares hasn't been easy and I can't understand why; this is a horse on the upgrade fast and he is still a long way from reaching his peak. 10% shares are available for the price they have always been - £1200 a share plus £200 per month all-inclusive training fees. If he wins again I might have to start putting the price up! Email me on juliafeilden@aol.com for more details.

Kemsing returns victorious

I'm delighted to report that the horses seem to be in great form with three winners on the board already this new year. Hopefully the ball can keep rolling and we can have a record-breaking year.
Already a winner in 2016 is Dakota City and he finally gets a chance to run over a long trip at Chelmsford on Thursday. I've been wanting to run him over further for a while and his win last time over his usual distance was a bonus. He settles very well so I think he has every chance of getting 1m6f and his turn of foot could be lethal against slower horses. Chelmsford do a great job and the prize money there is probably the best in the country - Dakota's class 5 race is worth £8000. We are taking a gamble with him but I hope it's one that pays dividends.

Dakota City (Caitlin)

Dark Diamond ran very flat last time after winning at Southwell before that and I think he just struggles with the rise in grade that comes after winning. He will need to drop a few pounds in the weights again and he can only do that by running so he heads to Lingfield on Friday. He is usually a reliable horse so hopefully he can bounce back and get competitive again.

Dark Diamond (Nick)

I was going to run Vastly this week but his usual jockey Adam advised against it as he felt last time that the horse didn't stay the 1m4f trip so he has to wait another week or two before there's a suitable race. He will probably try claiming company as he can get in off a good weight and there should be a smallish field which seems to suit him.
Architech is coming along nicely and isn't far off making his debut for the N.E.T. Racing Club. He has needed time to mature but looks a nice, strong gelding now and a run will do him the world of good.

Vastly (Mark) & Architech (Liam)

Our six juveniles are coming along very well and going about their canters with great professionalism. Obviously, the two-year old races do not start until April so there's plenty of learning for them to do yet but the early signs are promising and I definitely think they are the best bunch of babies we have had in a good few years. I just hope I'm right!

Secret Ballerina (Chloe)

Champagne Reef (Liam)

I'll give you an early warning that the hugely popular 'Three To Follow' competition will be back again this year with the start date penciled in to be March 1st. More details will follow in the coming weeks but you can get some early form research done to find those points scorers!

Double cheer in the new year!

I was happy enough to get the first winner of 2016 on the board when Dakota City won at Kempton on Wednesday but to double up with Attain at Lingfield on Saturday was even better. It was only last week on the way back from Chelmsford after Attain had run a stinker that myself and Poppy were wondering where our next winner would come from but these two boys put in near career-bests to finish in front.
I probably frustrated a few people with Dakota after saying I was going to run him over a longer trip but then reverted back to his usual distance. This was only because there were no suitable races for him over two miles and luckily he showed his well being by winning over his usual distance. I am still keen to try him over further but it needs to be at the right time.

Dakota  City & Adam Beschizza win at Kempton

Attain is a credit to himself and notched his fourth win in 12 months. He handicaps himself and only wins when he is back down to 60-rated grade. It is likely he will go up a few pounds for this win, have to race in a higher grade and then only get competitive again when he eventually falls down again but he seems to love his routine and is a great, fun horse for the N.E.T. Racing Club which you can join for just £200 a year.

Attain and Shelley Birkett score for the N.E.T. Racing Club

Hopefully we have some other good chances this week.
On Tuesday at Southwell we have a trio of raiders, starting with Candesta. He finally got his head in front at Kempton a few weeks back and has been training well since. He seems to go best when a bit fresh so the short break isn't a worry and he has shown form at the course before. After waiting so long for his first success, it's hard to be confident but he should be competitive.
Star Of The Stage is unproven at the course but I think it is somewhere he will handle. He is coming back down to a grade where he can win at and, although it is a competitive race, he could be in the shake-up.

Star Of The Stage (Adam) & Candesta (Liam)

Completing the trio is Kemsing. He won on his first run for us since being bought at the sales over the course and distance last month. He has come on great guns for that win and, although we wanted to try him over a mile, this looked another good opportunity so hopefully he can continue his good run.

Limerick Lord (Mark) & Kemsing (Ross)

We're back to Southwell on Thursday but with just the one runner as Limerick Lord looks to follow up his recent win there. The success did his confidence the world of good and his regular rider Mark has been very happy with the horse's form. He will need to raise his game after going up in the weights but the horse does seem a lot more happy and relaxed now so fingers crossed he can improve.

Kemsing and Limerick Lord cool down

I will give Teputina an entry in a maiden at Chelmsford on Sunday and, depending on how she gallops on Tuesday, she could take her chance. She only needs one more run to qualify for handicaps and then she will find life a lot easier.

Serendib's Glory has been going great guns lately and her debut run late last year really brought her on and she will be ready to visit the track again soon. Her owner's other horse, Veeraya, is making his way back to full fitness after a break and he too is in good order. He is well handicapped now so I hope we can nick a race with him before the all-weather season comes to an end.

Serendib's Glory (Liam) & Veeraya (Ross)

Rising waters

The wet weather shows no signs of stopping and, although we have to deal with a lot of mud in the yard at the minute, my heart goes out to all of those in the north who are battling daily with flood water in their homes. A few years ago we had a pipe burst underground which flooded the hay barn area and caused a fair bit of work to get rid of all the sodden stuff so I can’t imagine what it’s like to have water in your home. Although we do not have any jumpers at the minute, I still watch the jumps action daily and it looks pretty tough at the moment with the bottomless ground around the country but I suppose it may be a blessing for some as it could just be the perfect ground for their particular horse.

York racecourse under water

All-weather racing has its critics but at least you can go to the races with the peace of mind that the ground will be roughly as it always is. So many times during the summer we have traveled to the races only to find the going is not at all like the Clerk of the Course’s description and had a fruitless day as a result.

On Wednesday, Dakota City heads to Kempton. I had been planning to run him over two miles but there just isn’t a suitable race around for him at the minute so we will stick to the distance he usually runs over until the right opportunity arises. He is working well at home and seems in good health but I do feel the handicapper has him in his grip at the moment.

Automotive (Nick) & Dakota City (Adam)

I’m sure you all know that Automotive is one of the more ‘characterful’ horses in the yard and one of his pet hates is the dentist. I like the horses to have regular dental check-ups as bad teeth can affect their appetite and also their comfort when ridden. However, Automotive will not go near a dentist and had gone a long time without seeing one as he seemed none the worse for it. Dodging the dentist eventually caught up with him this last week though as he wasn’t eating as much as usual and further inspection revealed he had some nasty ulcers in his mouth. Horse’s teeth are not like human’s – they continually grow, hence the term ‘long in the tooth’. Horses have to have their teeth painlessly rasped regularly to ensure the teeth do not get too long and start digging into the gum line. This is the stage Automotive had got to so action had to be taken – he was sedated by the vet and then could have his teeth sorted out. Since then he has been much happier and eating as well as ever. We’ll see if he’s feeling better this week as he goes to Chelmsford on Thursday and it will be interesting to see how he goes at a track he has never run on before.

Limerick Lord (Mark) & Kemsing (Ross)

Serendib's Glory (Chloe)

Veeraya (Sam) & Candesta (Caitlin)

Attain never really fired at Chelmsford last week but it was a race run at a muddling gallop which would not have suited him. He has come out of the race in good health so I’ve given him an entry at Lingfield on Saturday. I’ll have to see how he takes the next few days and if he is feeling fresh enough we will take our chance.

Kicking into the new year!

I hope you all had a good time over the New Year celebrations, mine was lovely a meal round a friend's house in the village which ended with John and I both asleep by 10.30pm! The horses keep you out of trouble as they always needs attention everyday of the year. I'll be glad when the rest of the country gets back to work so things can finally get done!

Reflecting on last year, it was another consistent season and a good end to the campaign saw us finish with 16 winners, three more than in 2014 which means we are improving! We had an identical number of 2nds (19) than 12 months ago too so it must mean we had a few horses who were better at winning than before. None of this would be possible without the support of my lovely owners and I can honestly say there isn't one who I would not call a friend and it makes the job a hell of a lot easier when you are training racehorses for lovely people. Thank you all and let's hope 2016 can bring more winners and wine!

Dissertation was our first runner of the new year on Saturday and she did well to finish 3rd. All she does is stay so I think she should win a race over two miles before the spring is here.

Hoping to get the first score on the board is Vastly at Southwell on Tuesday. He's stepping right up to 1m4f but it's a trick which worked for Dark Diamond when he won at the track last month so I hope lightning can strike twice. Vastly is in great form and is now down to a good handicap mark so everything looks in place for a good run.

Dakota City (Ross) & Vastly (Adam) working up Long Hill

Cooling off after exercise

Also at Southwell on Tuesday is Artbeat. She ran a career best when a narrow second at the track last time and the turnaround in the weights gives her a great chance. It remains to be seen whether she can take another run just a week after the last but we had to make the most of her handicap mark before it is reassessed the following day.

On Wednesday, Attain goes to Chelmsford. He bruised his foot a couple of weeks ago but has recovered from that fine and is well in himself on the gallops. He is down to a good handicap mark and probably would have won last time with a clear run. He has been on the go a long time but it would be wonderful if he could add to his three wins from last year.

Attain (right) back when there was less mud in the world!

Rounding off the week is Dark Diamond at Southwell on Sunday. He bolted up over the course and distance last time but the handicapper wasn't taking any chances and upped him seven pounds in the weights. It means he has to race in a higher grade now but he looked like he loved the track's unique surface last time so we will see how he goes.

Dark Diamond

All the horses who were on their winter holidays are now back in exercise on the horse walker and it will be a few more weeks before they are ready to canter again. There are some really exciting individuals among them as well as some old favourites so they are something to look forward to so watch this space!