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!