The winds will also have an effect on the runners this week too as Leicester are holding an inspection at 7.30am tomorrow to see if racing can take place. We have Hamble going there, just a few days after he ran at Yarmouth last week. He came out of that race well and opportunities are running out for him on the turf now so we have to get him out quickly and make the most of the soft ground. He probably wants a mile but the finish is a stiff one so hopefully that will negate the seven furlong trip.
We'll be mob handed at our favourite track of Yarmouth on Tuesday as the course hosts its final meeting of 2013. Remarkably, I'm in the top three of leading trainers at the track this year with 8 winners - we have had a lot of luck by the seaside.
One course regular with five victories at the course is The Ducking Stool and she'll be heading there for one last hurrah. She keeps on improving and probably ran a career best when second last time. She is high in the handicap now but never lets us down so must have a chance.
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| The Ducking Stool (Reno) |
Completing the quartet of runners at Yarmouth on Tuesday are Believe In Me, Omega Omega and Silver Alliance. Silver has had a great year with three wins and ran a blinder to finish third at Nottingham last time. He's high in the handicap but still in great form so could land a place.
Omega Omega has been a bit disappointing but has shown ability on the gallops. She's running out of chances now so needs to put up a good show.
Believe In Me keeps finding ways to avoid running and as a result has only been seen once this year. She is fine now and needs to show us what she has got.
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| Believe In Me (Shelley), Omega Omega (Adam) & Silver Alliance (Ross) |
Our apprentice Shelley Birkett has had a season to remember with 22 winners in her debut year and Friday at Newbury was another memorable occasion as she was crowned champion of the 'hands and heels' apprentice riders' series. Richard Hughes did the honours of presenting her trophy and she also received a mechanical horse to practice her riding on. The day got better for her as she won the final race on the card by a whopping eight lengths!
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| Two Champions: Shelley & Hughsie |
It's a busy time of year in the yard as not only do we have the older horses still on the go but also the babies are starting to come into the yard. We currently have five yearlings, three of which are still at school being taught the basics. However, the two fillies who we have had since they were foals are now back with us and I'm very happy with them.
Mercy Me is a strong filly who looks like she could be decent whilst her mate Celestine Abbey will probably need a bit more time to grow but has a really nice attitude and is by a successful sire in Authorized. They will just be hacking and trotting to strengthen up and there is no rush with them as they cannot run until they are two year olds next April.
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| Mercy Me |
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| Celestine Abbey |
Despite the astronomical prices seen at Tattersalls yearling sales over the past few weeks, I managed to pick up a few bargains and, amazingly, they all have owners!
The one who I think will be a real racy two year old is a filly by Zebedee owned by Dick Creese. Zebedee himself was a top class juvenile and she is from a precocious family so is certainly bred to be speedy.
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| Dick Creese meets his Zebedee filly |
Owner Carol Bushnell was looking for a replacement for her old star Sancho Panza who was retired in the summer. She got just that and couldn't have picked a better replacement! The colt by Duke of Marmalade is a dead-ringer for Sancho and even has his grey-specked coat. He will likely get better with age but the sire is an exciting young one and he is related to some very good horses.
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| Duke of Marmalade colt |
I'm going to be flat out this week because we have runners everyday and the horses in training sale at Tattersalls is on all week. I'm hoping to buy a couple and we usually find a decent handicapper here.
Exopuntia heads to Nottingham on Wednesday and we're hoping the step up to 1m2f will bring about some improvement. She is well handicapped but hasn't been getting competitive over one mile.
One with plenty of speed is Bestfootforward and she goes to Lingfield the following day. She was a bit outclassed last time but drops in grade now and the seven furlongs at Lingfield should suit her perfectly so hopefully we can get another win out of her.
Finally, on Friday we're closer to home as Handheld heads to Newmarket. He won with a bit in hand last time and is thriving so could get us a rare HQ winner.
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