Sunday 14 February

Always tricky when Valentines Day falls on a Sunday - my cards must all be in tomorrows post!! Well, that was some week. As we anticipated in last weeks news - it was a quiet week on the racing front - we weren't due to have any runners, but with no racing to keep us entertained in the afternoon we had to find other ways to fill our time! On Monday we floated a 'bit of bread' on the waters of social media to see if there would be any interest in a new syndicate with Fergal O'Brien. We were able to offer a very exciting opportunity - shares in the 3 yr old half sister to our own wonder mare Queenohearts, and to say the response was huge is an understatement. Even without releasing details of the horse on offer we ended up sending over 100 emails to interested parties, and had completed a list of 25 people who had signed up for a share in just under 24 hours. We syndicated Hidden Beauty last summer in 48 hrs, and I thought that was incredible - to complete this one in half of that time was mind blowing. Just over a year ago we made the decision to change our business model. For 20 years we had done things one way, and had great success, some superb fun, and made some great friends - but things change, and we made the decision to expand into different areas, and since doing so things have really taken off for us. We have expanded the team that we use to source available horses, and have added 2 more trainers in Fergal O'Brien and Olly Murphy to the team - not forgetting Jason Maguires and Charlie Postes teams who are crucial in developing the young horses that we have coming through to syndicate and sell. We are increasing our squad of horses, and have waiting lists to join syndicates with varying member numbers. I now have a 10 string team waiting for us to secure them a horse and can't wait to get them something in the next few weeks. Of the 25 people who booked a place in last weeks new syndicate - 23 are having their first horse with us, and plenty of them are having their first interest in racehorse ownership, they haver come from all corners of the UK and Ireland and we wish them the very best of luck! Along with filling this new team in record time it has also been a busy week with Auditoria shares, with shares being taken most days. She is looking fantastic, and Olly has found the perfect place for her to start her hurdling career at the end of the month. There are now just a couple of shares available in her - and there isn't too long to wait for her debut - get in touch for some 'near instant' action. nickbrownracing@gmail.com or 07909 518902. Down at Fergals, Yauthym is well, she has needed a bit of time to get over her run in Fakenham on very heavy ground, but it will not be long before she is out again - just on nothing quite so testing. Hidden Beauty has settled in well, and continues her education, and Volkovka has returned to Ravenswell Farm and has a couple of options for races later this month. She spent a week of R&R at Ivy Lodge Farm, which does them the world of good. San Seb is in fine fettle, and to be fair to him, he hasn't been moving as well as he is now for a very long time! There is a race for him later this month, where he should get his favoured heavy ground, and we are very much looking forward to seeing him run again, as he seems to have improved since just getting nutted in Leicester. At Fences Farm, Go Millie Go and Blue Bikini have race targets next month so are on tick over until then, along with having a little extra treatment for their ulcers. Classic Ben seems OK - he is entered in Sandown next week, but we will wait to se how the des look like before committing to that as he also has an option in the Devon National in Exeter, and the Eider Chase in Newcastle. Queenohearts has completed the treatment she was undergoing at The Elms Stud - she will nit be back this season, and will summer out at The Elms. Molly Childers is in great order, and she will be covered by Planteur this spring. Hopefully she will pass on her tough genes to her offspring! Savingforvegas is due to foal late next month, and she looks well - she is certainly bigger this year than last, when the team at The Elms were thinking she was carrying a filly. Turns out she had a lovely colt foal, so we can't wait to see if she can go 4 from 4 with bay colts this year. Her pedigree has taken some notable updates this year the latest of which was Latest Exhibitions second 2nd place in a Grade 1 at the Dublin Festival. If it weren't for a certain Monkfish there would be a dual Grade 1 winner in the family this season! Our three year olds are progressing really well. Jason is taking his time with the Camelot filly - he likes her a lot, and is doing the right thing by her, she is being lunged and driven in long reins - there is no rush with her, as she is really only there to keep her out of the worst of the cold weather. The Mamool gelding is in with Charlie Poste, and will stay there for the next couple of months before returning to The Elms for some spring grass. At this stage he will be syndicated with the aim to run him in juvenile bumpers and hurdles next season. He is another that will go into training with Fergal.