Yard Visits

The past week saw visits to four yards in three days. On Wednesday we headed down to the Cotswolds. First stop was in to Fergal O'Brien's Ravenswell Farm to see three. Blue Bikini has switched yards this year, and it was good to see her looking relaxed and well. She arrived at the yard 10 days previously and after a few days walking and trotting to get back in the swing of things she is already cantering on the deep sand circular gallop. The canters are not very long, but form the foundation of the conditioning work. The Mamool 3 yr old travelled with her to Ravenswell, and he has also settled in really well. Max Kendrick had a sit on him on Wednesday in a canter and couldn't believe he was just a three year old, he was very impressed with his attitude and athleticism. The trainer likes him already too! His future was planned from the day he was bought as a foal - he was broken and pre trained at 2 by Charlie Poste, who did a great job with him. The horse pretty much knew his job before he was let off in the summer last year. He had done plenty on the gallop and had also jumped everything he will see in the future - it was a great grounding. After a break he returned to Charlie this spring for a refresher course - which has obviously stood him in good stead for the start of his career proper. The ground work is very important, and this is an approach we will continue to take with the youngstock that we breed or buy to race - it is really important to give them the best chance at the earliest opportunity. It was also good to see Yauthym enjoying a short break in the field with a few friends. She will be back into work soon. After a fun morning with Fergal we nipped down the road to see Jason Maguire, who is pretraining Queenohearts and Hidden Beauty this season. Queenohearts had a stop start return to the track last autumn, after a year off, so her owners decided to send her to Maguires Ivy Lodge Farm this year so that she can have the benefits of all of the equipment that they have there, including quiet lanes for walking and trotting, a water treadmill to help her with some muscle problems she suffered with last year, an arena with a lovely surface and a deep sand circular gallop where she will be able to get a decent level of fitness without the need for speed work, along with lovely small railed paddocks to chill out in in the afternoons. They are giving her the very best chance to return to the track after just one run in over 2 years. Hidden Beauty is a gorgeous filly that really impressed in her homework in the spring with Fergal. She has piled plenty of weight on over the summer, and currently weighs in at over 600kg! She is a big girl, but a filly that everyone seems to believe has a really nice future! On Thursday I visited a point to point yard - and was really impressed with the set up there. We are looking forward to working with the team in the future. On Friday it was another early leave - and a trip down to Pulborough in West Sussex to see David Menuisier and his team. David has a 75 strong team on the yard that was developed by Guy Harwood. It is an outstanding facility - with some of the best private gallops you will see in the country. It was a fascinating morning - I have got to know David well over the course of the last two years - and it was fascinating to have the morning to talk to him, and hear about his approach to training. He is a very intelligent, deep thinking trainer, who really does treat all of the horses in his care as individuals - giving them all the time they need. He really is patient with them, and gets the very best out of them. It was fascinating to learn that he rarely has a vet on the yard - his training methods lending themselves to happy, healthy and sound horses that stand the test of training and running races. There are countless examples of horses that he has taken on that have improved stones, and he can of course train very good ones too - it was lovely to meet dual Group 1 winning filly Wonderful Tonight. We plan this year to begin our first foray into flat racing proper - and David will be taking charge of the horse that we buy - be that a two yr old in training, or a yearling. We are very much looking forward to the start of this next chapter with NBR. I already have a list of names of people that have expressed a wish to have a share in our first flat syndicate - get in touch to add yourself to that list! nickbrownracing@gmail.com This coming week we will be up to see Olly Murphy and his team, and catch up on the progress of Auditioria. She too has settled back into work well, and is another that is already back doing short steady canters on a deep sand circular gallop. It will be good to see the latest addition to the facilities at Warren Chase - an Olympic sized arena that will be used to warm the horses up in, and for schooling sessions - with top 3 day eventer Laura Collett going in on a weekly basis to teach the young horses, and give the older horses a refresher course in their jumping. It is good to see a young trainer investing in his facilities, and trying everything to get the very best out of the horses in his care. Go Millie Go is walking and trotting at Fences Farm, and was joined by Classic Ben on Thursday after the vet passed him to return to training. The vet has prescribed a plan for his return, and it will be a longer than normal route back for him - but hopefully he will repay the patience of his owners.