We're Underway
Our winter season got underway this week with two runners in Warwick. Blue Bikini made her hurdling debut in the mares novices hurdle. She looked great for her debut for the Fergal O'Brien yard, and this was very much a learning experience for her, she was fit enough do run, but there will be plenty more to come. Her jumping will certainly need to improve, despite schooling really well at home she was a long way from perfect over the timber hurdles. She still ran a nice race for her seasonal debut - doing a lot wrong and still only beaten 15 lengths behind a couple of nice fillies - the winner has Listed targets very soon! Lots were learned about her. She will be out again soon over 2 miles. She hit a couple of the hurdles very hard, and came back with a slight swelling above her off fore knee, so she has spent the weekend at Jason Maguires for a few spa sessions to help get the swelling down. It's great to have Ivy Lodge Farm so close, and be able to pop them down to use the facilities there when they are needed.
Yauthym is another that will benefit hugely form her first run after a short summer break. Her hurdling was very slick and quick, and she travelled very well, until weakening off of the home turn. She is well up to winning of her current mark, and will be out on some decent ground in 3/4 weeks. We continue with another runner this week, and a very exciting debutant. Mamoon Star is declared to make his debut in Huntingdons concluding 3 yr old bumper on Tuesday. This has been the plan for him since we bought him in Feb 19, and he is a horse that we are quietly excited by. His prep has gone really well, and he is doing everything right at home - so much so, that an away day was thought to be unnecessary. Win lose or draw on Tuesday - he has a really nice future - we could do without taking on a Frankel half brother to a Group 1 winner though - you don't get many of them in bumpers! Back at home - Edmunds reports Go Millie Go to be close to her first entry. She has not been gastro scoped, but is having a course of gastro guard now that he has upped her work, she suffered with ulcers last winter, and hopefully she can move forward this season without them getting too bad.
Classic Ben is still on the long road back - and is cantering, but only very steadily and not for very far. Down at Ravenswell Farm, Volkovka is in blinding form - she has really benefitted from her break and is a big robust filly now. She will be ready to run around the end of the month. Hidden Beauty is also in great order, and she continues to impress. She should be ready to make her debut in a bumper this month.
At Olly Murphys, Auditoria has been away for a couple of gallops and has impressed in her work. She could make her seasonal debut in a mares maiden hurdle in a couple of weeks - Olly sent through a couple of videos of her schooling on his new schooling strip earlier this week, and she was her usual quick and efficient self -we are very much looking forward to the season ahead with her. Jason Maguire is cracking on with the Westerner filly, who is doing plenty of cantering, and he will soon have two more to play with when the Soldier Of Fortune filly comes back in and is joined by the Camelot filly from The Elms. The Camelot filly will be named this week! Queenohearts has now moved on from Jasons and has gone to Kim Bailey. She has had a very frustrating few years with injuries, and her remaining owners are very aware that they are drinking in the last chance saloon with her - so they have opted to try another avenue with her. Nice to add a new trainer to the roster, and we look forward to working with Kim and Matt. She will certainly be given all the time she needs, and hopefully her owners patience will be rewarded.
