My talented young apprentice Adam Beschizza had another flight this week, this time to Pisa. Where he is competing in the Young Jockeys Challenge, a series of races for young riders across the globe. This will be his first rides since his winter break in November, then he's back for a book of rides at Kempton on Wednesday where he is reunited with Bavarica, the mare who gave him his first winner and was also his first ride at this venue. The ultra-consistent mare is finding it hard to win with her handicap mark being so high, last year she won 3 races and is now running off an all time high mark.
We we're unlucky last week not to score with out runners on Friday night at Wolverhampton. Khajaaly put up another sterling effort to finish 2nd when not getting his ideal conditions with a slow pace in which he pulled to hard, and Premier League who is running consistently of late could not reel in Attrition, although Vertumnus did them both on the line. But I can't complain if they are in good heart and running to the line. Entrance also didn't get the run of the race at Kempton on Wednesday, they went very quick (only a second outside the course record) and she doesn't have a very high cruising speed, but will find a race when the handicapper is kind to her. Night Orbit is becoming very frustrating following his lack-lustre performance at Doncaster the same day. Usually he is a game front runner, jumping with zest but he just sulked and was never travelling. He is getting on a bit and knows a little too much about they game these days, considering how well he works at home (nothing can get him off the bridle!).
My son Ross will be arriving home tomorrow following a 4 month stint in Dubai for the winter working for Gill Duffield and Meydan T.V. Hopefully this experience bodes well for him in the future, although he is dying to come home and ride some thoroughbreds instead of the small, buzzy Arabian horses!
A final plead to anyone who has not yet voted. Following Mattie Batchelor's never-say-die ride on Baggsy at Towcester in November, he has been nominated for Jumps Ride Of The Year at the prestigious, annual racing awards The Lesters. You can send your vote via e-mail at thelesters@racingpost.com putting the jockeys name in the subject heading. Also, with a possible chance of a Lester award in their hands in Mr Beschizza who has been nominated for apprentice of the year, although this is not a public vote.
Sunday 27 February 2011
Sunday 20 February 2011
'Horses are film stars for the day'
A film crew have been in the yard all day today filming a promotion for the new Mercedes Benz's snazzy new red SLK sports car to be shown at the Geneva Motor Show, I understand it includes the world premiere of a panoramic glass roof with 'Magic Sky Control' that lets the driver switch from dark to light. Unfortunately I couldn't take it for a test drive as my foot still won't work and would have been stuck on the accelerator!!
Riccardo Villa the other French bred two year old by Keltos that we bought at Deauville, came back to the yard on Friday after being beautifully broken in by Sam and Colin Huggan, he is an imposing white colt, who will certainly stand out in a race. I am trying to find a name for our other French colt by Della Francesca out of Verone as he is going very well and could be running sooner than we expected, any suggestions greatly received along with a cheque for £2,500 for a 10th share, training for one year and the chance to race in France for some serious prize money!
Premier League ran a great race in finishing second at Southwell last week, he was unlucky not to win as the winner just got first run on him, but he closed the distance to half a length. He clearly enjoyed the fibre sand surface, he will run at Wolverhampton on Friday in an apprentice race for riders that have not ridden 10 winners, so we have booked the promising Lucy Barry who has been catching the eye lately. Khajaaly will also run at Wolverhampton that day and seems to be coming back to himself after a flat run at Lingfield last time. He has proved that he loves Wolves with two good wins there.
The only other day we have runners this week is Wednesday, when Entrance goes to Kempton. She has proved that she has a liking for the track and has run her best races there. Night Orbit also runs that day over hurdles at Doncaster. He is switched back to the hurdles in a bid to gain some confidence with his jumping which he lost last time over fences at Fakenham.
Riccardo Villa the other French bred two year old by Keltos that we bought at Deauville, came back to the yard on Friday after being beautifully broken in by Sam and Colin Huggan, he is an imposing white colt, who will certainly stand out in a race. I am trying to find a name for our other French colt by Della Francesca out of Verone as he is going very well and could be running sooner than we expected, any suggestions greatly received along with a cheque for £2,500 for a 10th share, training for one year and the chance to race in France for some serious prize money!
Premier League ran a great race in finishing second at Southwell last week, he was unlucky not to win as the winner just got first run on him, but he closed the distance to half a length. He clearly enjoyed the fibre sand surface, he will run at Wolverhampton on Friday in an apprentice race for riders that have not ridden 10 winners, so we have booked the promising Lucy Barry who has been catching the eye lately. Khajaaly will also run at Wolverhampton that day and seems to be coming back to himself after a flat run at Lingfield last time. He has proved that he loves Wolves with two good wins there.
The only other day we have runners this week is Wednesday, when Entrance goes to Kempton. She has proved that she has a liking for the track and has run her best races there. Night Orbit also runs that day over hurdles at Doncaster. He is switched back to the hurdles in a bid to gain some confidence with his jumping which he lost last time over fences at Fakenham.
Sunday 13 February 2011
A Saturday of racing to forget
I'm sure many of you have heard or seen of the scenes at Newbury races on Saturday, it was a shocking, surreal sequence of events. It seems the horses had some sort of electric shock when walking over the grass in the paddock, perhaps something to do with the fact they have metal shoes on and have a metal bit in their mouth, which may explain why there we no people suffering the same horrendous trauma. Newbury have got a lot of pressure on their shoulders now to find some sort of explanation, but my condolences go out to everyone connected, every time we send a runner out we know the risk factor but no one could have predicted this.
However, on a lighter note I was pleased to see Always De One pick up a place on her first start over obstacles. Only one bad jump knocked the stuffing out of her and she was outclassed in the end, but a friend of mine that is going to start up training with a small team offered me some money for her, she was going to go to the sales this month anyway so it's nice to know she has gone to a nice home just around the corner. On Tuesday Entrance ran better seemingly for a huge step up in trip from around a mile to 1m 4f, it's risky trying this trip by bypassing the 1m 2f trip but sometimes they do run well and she's in again tomorrow over a slightly less distance- although it is a more competitive race. Beseech ran her best race on Friday coming 4th, she was finally able to have a clear run and a good ride by Cathy Gannon saw her convince us of her early ability, a step up perhaps to 2 miles should see her go closer, we also had Little Meadow that day but she is struggling at the moment and will fare better back at Brighton.
As for my well-being I am like a spring chicken bouncing around with no assistance from my walking sticks, although I suffer in the night from the swelling blowing up but no complaining as it is for the good in the long run. It's made easier also by taking trips up to the heath to see the horses exercising and two new ones that have just come back from being broken in, Canning Vale a little filly by Araafa and a cold by Della Francesca who was one of the two we bought whilst at the Deauville sales and who we are still selling shares in. I've had my apprentice riding him since his return and Adam says he feels like a three year old, he's so professional and should be something to look forward to, so hopefully he's proved right.
However, on a lighter note I was pleased to see Always De One pick up a place on her first start over obstacles. Only one bad jump knocked the stuffing out of her and she was outclassed in the end, but a friend of mine that is going to start up training with a small team offered me some money for her, she was going to go to the sales this month anyway so it's nice to know she has gone to a nice home just around the corner. On Tuesday Entrance ran better seemingly for a huge step up in trip from around a mile to 1m 4f, it's risky trying this trip by bypassing the 1m 2f trip but sometimes they do run well and she's in again tomorrow over a slightly less distance- although it is a more competitive race. Beseech ran her best race on Friday coming 4th, she was finally able to have a clear run and a good ride by Cathy Gannon saw her convince us of her early ability, a step up perhaps to 2 miles should see her go closer, we also had Little Meadow that day but she is struggling at the moment and will fare better back at Brighton.
As for my well-being I am like a spring chicken bouncing around with no assistance from my walking sticks, although I suffer in the night from the swelling blowing up but no complaining as it is for the good in the long run. It's made easier also by taking trips up to the heath to see the horses exercising and two new ones that have just come back from being broken in, Canning Vale a little filly by Araafa and a cold by Della Francesca who was one of the two we bought whilst at the Deauville sales and who we are still selling shares in. I've had my apprentice riding him since his return and Adam says he feels like a three year old, he's so professional and should be something to look forward to, so hopefully he's proved right.
Sunday 6 February 2011
The old mare back for another season
It was a real pleasure taking Bavarica to the races on Monday after giving her a few months off. Now in her 9th year she showed her usual zest for racing when coming 3rd and picking up a few more banknotes for me. Originally from Juddmonte, she always needed time and was sent to the sales after being described as a 'runaway', since we've trained her she's won 9 races and over £20,000 in prize money running in a lowly level. She in a lovely school mistress for my young jockeys and will continue to light up the racecourse until we pull the curtain down sometime towards the end of the year.
Sail Home was a little disappointing at Southwell on Thursday, after we had high expectations of her since winning earlier in the year. However, a fast pace set by Eseej found her stamina out a little and we've decided now to save her for when the turf kicks off, as at home she goes alot better on the grass. Baggsy showed up at Lingfield on Friday and gave another poor performance so she'll be sent to the sales soon, hopefully with that win at Towcester under her belt she'll be a nice little horse for a jumps trainer. We've also reserved a space at the sales for Always De One, although she's entered up in a hot race at Huntingdon and again at Market Rasen, we will have to wait and see if this is her niche because she's been jumping like Dawn Run at home!
Entrance on Wednesday would be in with a shout as I will admit she hasn't been as fit as I'd like in her first few runs for me, we're also still learning about her trip wise. Little Meadow and Beseech will go to Southwell on the 11th, the latter has been a slight disappointment so far but she keeps on staying on in her races.
As for me I'm having my stitches out (hopefully) tomorrow. My doctor said I'll be on two walking sticks for about 4 weeks, but it's been about 2 and I'm already going freestyle with none! I've been keeping drugged up to block out the pain but to be honest if I knew the surgery would be this painful then I would have given it a miss!
Sail Home was a little disappointing at Southwell on Thursday, after we had high expectations of her since winning earlier in the year. However, a fast pace set by Eseej found her stamina out a little and we've decided now to save her for when the turf kicks off, as at home she goes alot better on the grass. Baggsy showed up at Lingfield on Friday and gave another poor performance so she'll be sent to the sales soon, hopefully with that win at Towcester under her belt she'll be a nice little horse for a jumps trainer. We've also reserved a space at the sales for Always De One, although she's entered up in a hot race at Huntingdon and again at Market Rasen, we will have to wait and see if this is her niche because she's been jumping like Dawn Run at home!
Entrance on Wednesday would be in with a shout as I will admit she hasn't been as fit as I'd like in her first few runs for me, we're also still learning about her trip wise. Little Meadow and Beseech will go to Southwell on the 11th, the latter has been a slight disappointment so far but she keeps on staying on in her races.
As for me I'm having my stitches out (hopefully) tomorrow. My doctor said I'll be on two walking sticks for about 4 weeks, but it's been about 2 and I'm already going freestyle with none! I've been keeping drugged up to block out the pain but to be honest if I knew the surgery would be this painful then I would have given it a miss!
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