Hot, hot, hot!

At the start of the week I thought it would be nice to at least get another winner in seeing as the yard is in such flying form, but to come out with 2 winners and a second is even better. Canning Vale started the week off running a poor race at Southwell on Monday, however it wasn't as bad as her finishing position suggests as from the word go she hated the surface and the kick back in her face and although she has run there before, this time round she really showed us that she doesn't want to go back there again! Tuesday saw Silver Alliance make is debut for the yard at Kempton, he travelled well in second all the way round, but never managed to pass the one in front of him who won with something in hand. However nothing got near 'Silver' for second and we were pleased to see him run such a good race first time out for a while.

The next day was a bit dramatic as I was scheduled to go to Southwell with Blackmore and Exopuntia but my daughter, Shelley, managed to get buried by one of the two year olds in the morning and dislocated her shoulder again so I stayed at home and John went instead (back from Dubai, story to follow!). But it was another successful trip as 'Blacky' came home deservedly infront after being bridesmaid the last three times. 'Exo' confirmed our suspicions that she needs a break and after another poor run that was her last for a while and will now be roughed off in the paddock ready for the flat season, mainly Yarmouth.

So the week was going well and I was in good spirits taking Sail Home to Lingfield on Friday. Another horse in form, another winner! Adam Beschizza kept it simple by taking her up the inside and coming home half a length in the good. Here's a great snap just before the line...


It was a big finale to the week on Saturday as I took Emma's Gift to contest in a listed race at Lingfield. She had a luckless passage and they all came home in a bunch but she owes us nothing now and will have a few weeks easy now as there is not another race for her for a while.

With most of the yard running this week we didn't really have anything to work. So they just did a routine canter, here's one of the canters we mainly use, Hamilton Hill, it is a right handed, up hill canter only about 4 1/2 furlongs long and it's good for giving them a quick blow out just before they run. Here we have Entrance leading Kampai (right), Believe In Me and Tiger's Home (behind).

Another canter we use but mainly for galloping is Cambridge Road polytrack, it's a left handed track about 9 furlongs long. Here we have Acer Diamonds infront, followed by Angel of Mercy, Verona Bay, The Ducking Stool and Lea Valley.



So John came back from sunny Dubai last week after 6 weeks looking after Spirit of Sharjah, who also comes back next week. However I was horrified when I saw his face! Not that he'd lost his looks but he had a black eye and swollen face, I asked him if he'd bumped into David Haye whilst out there but he replied 'I had a falling out with a quad bike'. I think he got some funny looks when I sent him racing the next day!