On track at Yarmouth

We finally made a return to our lucky course Yarmouth this morning as the track hosted a gallops day to test out the resurfaced turf. Overall, everyone was happy with the condition of the course and it certainly needed the extra time that management have given it. I think it could suffer badly should there be racing held after a deluge of rain but it can only improve with time and will be a top-class surface next season. It was disappointing not to see any of those 'big' names who had been so critical of the old surface show up to approve the improvements, the dozen or so horses who galloped were supplied by trainers, like myself, who were fans of the track before the renovation work. Maybe we will be graced with their presence at the first fixture later this month.
The two who I sent to the track would certainly benefit for an outing away from the Heath and none more so than Moment To Dream who hasn't run yet but is coming along nicely ahead of her debut. A nice experience at the races is just what she needed after a list of set backs and she will improve significantly for the experience. Accompanying her was Honeymoon Express who is on the comeback trail after suffering from a chest infection earlier in the summer. Both her wins came at Yarmouth and she seemed happy to have returned by doing a pleasing piece of work.

Honeymoon Express & Moment To Dream test out Yarmouth's new turf

We just have a couple of runners this week, starting on Monday with Duke Of Diamonds at Kempton. He made a nice debut when finishing fourth at Newmarket last time with the soft ground in his favour. It will be a different ball game on the all-weather this time though and he will improve furthermore for another run.

Duke of Diamonds (Adam) & Attain (Ross)

Then we're not off anywhere until It's A Sheila Thing goes to Chelmsford on Saturday. She didn't do too bad in her three maiden runs and we are very happy with the rating of 55 which the handicapper gave her. She should find things a lot easier now in handicaps and hopefully she can land some prize money.

It's A Sheila Thing (Adam) & Veeraya (Shelley)

Guising and my brother Nick are gearing up for their big day in the historic Newmarket Town Plate in two weeks' time. The race is the oldest still run in Britain and its 3m6f distance provides a real test to the horses and their amateur riders. The horse has been doing plenty of stamina work to prepare him for the trip, I just hope Nick is as fit!

Guising (Nick)

Dark Diamond, Automotive & Dakota City have all come out of their latest runs in top form and are back in routine work. They'll all be out again the week after next and I'm excited to see what they can do.

Dark Diamond (Luke), Automotive (Ross) & Dakota City (Mark)

Sheila's Heart has returned to us after a spell with another trainer and he has settled back into his old surroundings very well. He has grown a lot and really filled out his big frame and I think he should be winning some staying handicaps over the winter. He was promising in his early career for us and hopefully we can get him back on track.

Sheila's Heart (Peter)

Silver Alliance (Tess), Harry Bosch (Sarah) & Candesta (Sam)

Little Orchid (Caitlin)

As you know, most of our horses get to chill out in the fields on a Sunday and it does them a world of good not just to get their heads down and eat some grass but also to have some social interaction with other horses and chill out for a while. The boys have a big 10 acre field to themselves but seem to find the field shelter more interesting!

Ross says thank you for all the replies to the golf day he is organising on Sunday 3rd September. It is open to all abilities with the option of a 9 or 18-hole round, so if you'd like to come - let us know. I know some of you can't make it which is a shame but trying to organise these things will never suit everyone - the weekend before we are racing and then it is the Newmarket Open weekend soon after. Hopefully the event is a success and we can do it again in the future.