Although we’ve had a number of runners in recent weeks, some of the boys had packed their suitcases and departed the yard for their summer holidays.
Even though our horses in training get turned out every day, when they are having a well earned break it does them good to go somewhere different away from the work environment.
With names like Globetrotter and Short Flight, there was some debate between the pair as to whether they were going long haul or local. In the end no passports were required and they have had a lovely summer so far in their resort.
Ashes Corner (Alf) and Stags Leap ventured slightly further afield, and upon receiving their “wish you were here” postcard, Fiddlers Bow soon joined them.
Staggy is officially retired and although Ashes Corner has finished racing, he is soon to join the British Racing School as a schoolmaster for their budding jump jockeys.
We are very much looking forward to having the others back into work towards the end of July in preparation for the autumn start of the jump season.
In the meantime we thought we’d share some of their holiday snaps…….
The equivalent of sun loungers by the pool for Fiddlers (far), Alf (middle) & Staggy (right)
Fiddlers Bow & Ashes Corner enjoying the all day buffet
“It’s a boys holiday mum, I can’t tell you what we’ve been up to”
Globetrotter (chestnut) & Short Flight (bay) showing off their “at rest” physiques when Julia & Danny visited yesterday
End
30/06/19
So the scientists say……and so it seemed in a weird alignment on Saturday 22 June when True Romance, wearing number 2, came 2nd on his second start over hurdles at Perth.
Piazon, also on 22 June, came 2nd at Redcar (albeit wearing number 3 and thereby slightly spoiling the ‘two’ synergy…..)
Forewarning then went to Pontefract on Sunday 23 June – and guess where he finished…..2nd!
Whilst we were absolutely delighted with the performance of all three horses and for their connections, it was slightly galling to be so close to the winners spot – particularly for Piazon and Forewarning whose beaten distances were half a length & a neck respectively!
True Romance was stepping up in trip to 2m4f from his previous winning debut over 2 miles, and on this occasion ran into a 1/7 favourite of Gordon Elliott’s who, at a year older, with winning form and much more experience, was a hot prospect to take on. However the pair were upsides at the second last and although Truey was then respectably held for second, he was some 20 lengths ahead of the next placed horse. Henry felt his jumping improved as the race went on having been a little keen in the early stages, and it will be very exciting to see where the gorgeous grey goes next.
Piazon was turning out quickly having run just four days earlier at Thirsk where, ridden by his mate Nathan Evans, he finished 4th of 17 over 5 furlongs. This was after he had to pass a mandatory stalls test following his misdemeanour at Ripon earlier in the month on a day when the moon was clearly doing the ruling….. After redeeming himself at Thirsk, he & Nathan then went even better at Redcar when finishing 2nd (of 14) again over 5f, and thereby only narrowly missing out on being the yard’s first flat turf winner (having already delivered our first all-weather win last November). The Ripon blip aside, Piazon has been ultra consistent for his owners The Body Warmers, and is providing them with not just plenty of opportunities to go racing but also several trips into the winners enclosure; the 8 year old having finished in the first four in eight of his last nine runs!
Forewarning was having his first run for us having been purchased by new owners to the yard, Ladsdoracing, earlier in the year. These guys are a great bunch and we are delighted to have a horse for them. It was a bit of a step into the unknown given it was Forewarning’s debut for us and six months since he last ran, but he is a horse we already think a lot of. He was running in the 2m2f Pontefract Cup which is part of the racecourse’s Stayers Championship Series 2019 and the race had attracted some quality horses. Cam Hardie had him in touch and nicely settled all the way round the undulating track, and he picked up well when asked to make headway 3f out. He then closed down the leader strongly inside the final furlong and was in front just after the line!! Despite getting so frustratingly close to the win everyone was nevertheless over the moon with the 5 year old’s performance, not least Forewarning himself, and he was looking forward to getting home to tell his field mate Pete (So High) all about it.
So a good weekend with our runners – at least they were consistent in their finishing places! And lots to look forward to with all three horses.
End
24/06/19
True Romance made his jumping debut today at Southwell in the 2m Novices’ Hurdle.
Although facing just three other rivals, he was up against a very short priced favourite (1/16) who had recently posted two impressive wins over hurdles & was therefore running with a double penalty, although that was slightly negated by his regular jockey claiming 7lbs.
Despite True Romance being the only debutante in the field, and apparently keen to get on with matters initially, he jumped the fixed brush hurdles brilliantly under Henry (Brooke) and was always prominent, tracking the front running favourite.
Henry sent him on to lead approaching the last, at which he produced one of his best jumps of the whole race, and they went readily clear on the flat to win by 9 lengths.
We are all absolutely delighted for the gorgeous, if sometimes “charismatic”, Truey, but even more so for his owner Kiel Ward who has been immensely patient with the five year old, even when he didn’t quite fulfil expectations last year on the flat. Clearly having a few fences to break up the monotony of just plain old galloping was all he was missing!
End
04/06/19