Heart Of The Matter
What looked like being a quiet week on the runners front - ended up with us being 'double parked' on Saturday.
The week started quietly - I had intended going up to Doncaster for their January sale early on Monday morning to view a decent list of yearling fillys that I thought would be nice additions to the squad. Then things changed - the entries for the Grade 2 mares chase in Doncaster looked as though they needed to be tracked, as it was an option for Volkovka - Olly Murphy spied an opprtunity in a race for very inexperienced jockeys in Uttoxeter, and the BHA rerouted the Listed Bumper that had been frozen off in Market Rasen the Friday before to Cheltenhams' trials day card, and of course, Hidden Beauty was immediately entered. So what was going to be a quiet morning and a trip to Doncaster, became fairly busy, and meant that the journey was delayed until mid afternoon.
The delay was probably a good thing - it meant that I wasn't tempted into purchasing a yearling, although we did make a bid for one outside the ring, but that was unsuccesful. We are always looking to add value stock to the squad, and the sale in Fairyhouse next week is the next one we will be concentrating on. It is the sale that we bought Mamoon Star from!
Tuesday was about the coldest I have ever been in Doncaster - Baltic, but Wednesday was a nice day, and a short day - back to the yard by 3.30.
Thursday was declaration day for Saturday - and with three entries at three tracks it was going to be busy - I was also down at Ravenswell Farm before 7.00am to see Fran, Sheridan and Kevin who were in to see their horses. They got to see Mamoon Star and the Soldier Of Fortune Filly do two canters - Mamoon Star on course for Newbury in a couple of weeks - and the filly progressing nicely on route to (hopefully) a bumper run this spring. Neil was tracking the declarations for the O'Brien pair in the office, and it soon became clear that running Volkovka in Doncaster would not be the right thing to do - so she was not declared. She will be better suited to handicap company and will be out again next month, where we may just try a few different things with her - and to try them left handed in a Grade 2 was probably not the right place to try them. Hidden Beauty was declared for the Listed bumper in Cheltenham, but would only run on the basis that Paddy felt the ground was OK after riding in the earlier races. We watched the Uttoxter option for Auditoria closely, and at 9.45 decided that it was worth declaring, even though she was due to carry plenty of weight - the track and drying ground would be a plus, and Geroid Harney - who works for Olly would take off a valuable extra 3lbs.
So Saturday arrived - Auditoria in the first in Uttoxeter, Hidden Beauty in the last in Cheltenham - and a nice round trip to take in both races.
Auditoria looked terrific in the paddock - as she has matured she has really strengthened, and her coat had a real shine to it. The race was confined to inexperienced jockeys, but Geroid had ridden her plenty at home, and knew her well. There looked like being plenty of the lads that wanted to be handy, so the plan was to hold her up in behind, and challenge as late as possible if possible. The pair found themselves a touch wide and a bit keen as a result, up the home straight the first time as a result of the race being run at an absolute crawl, but he soon switched her to the inner, and Auditoria jumped and travelled away well down the back. He switched to the inner up the home straight, and all looked to be going to plan - but she just failed to pick up, and ended up finishing in a deadheat for 5th. Geroid came back and said she really hadn't enjoyed the ground - which was officially Good, Good to Soft in places, but described by the jockeys in subsequent races as 'horrendous'. All in all Auditoria was unable to quicken off of that pace in that ground - we know she needs to step up in trip, but thought we may get away with another try at 2m on a more galloping track - it was not to be, but she is safe and sound and we get to go again - we will try and avoid very holding, tacky ground with her.
A quick call to Fergal to see what Paddy had made of the ground in the first in Cheltenham - and his reply that Paddy had reported the ground on the hurdles track to be much softer than the officilal description of Good meant that Hidden Beauty would take her chance. Off we headed from Uttoxeter to Cheltenham. 1hr 40 minutes later after an easy trip down the M6 and M5 we arrived at the track. Everyone very excited to see HB strut her stuff. She looked fantastic in the paddock - here we are in nearly February, and she has never had to be clipped - she has such a quality skin, and looked in the peak of physical health and condition. She took all the prelims as she had on debut - wothout a bother - and she certainly looked like she was ready to do the job. Paddy was going to give her the 'Paddy ride' - held up to conserve energy, and to prevent her getting too keen, and then unleash her huge stride down the hill and come through tired horses up the straight. All was going to plan, and she switched off beautifully. At the top of the hill, Paddy gave her a squeeze, and a slap down the shoulder to wake her up and the response was immediate - sadly it was immedaitely opposite to the one we all wanted, HB not going forward, but stopping instantly - Paddy pulling her up straight away. She continued back to the unsaddling area fine, and we were all at a loss as to what had happened. She was immediately checked by the vets, who at that stage found nothing amiss, so she went back to the stable, pulling Georgie all the way, for further checks. It was about an hour later when, the vets reported that they had discovered she was suffering with a fibrillating heart, which would account for the run. When they run that bad there is always a reason - and we were all glad that something had come to light. She returned home, ate up and is fine this morning. She will undergo tests tomorrow, and hopefully the problem has righted itself on its own - if not she will have further tests and treatment which will hopefully put her right again. It is not an uncommin problem, and often rights itself, and if it doesn't most can be treated succesfully. Talented horses with big hearts are more likely to be effected by it - and we think she certainly is that!
So it wasn't the day we had hoped for - but it could have been worse, and both horses are fine this morning.
Next week we will be popping up to Warren Chase to see Tintagel Queen and Auditoria and also to the Elms Stud to have a chat to Louise about mating plans for Savingforvegas and Molly Childers, and to have a walk around the youngstock. No planned entries - but we said that last week!
We now have all 12 horses in work - at Fences Farm, Go Millie Go is back in light work after treatment for hind lameness after Kempton over Christmas, and Classic Ben has had a couple of sessions with the physio after his tumble in Exeter earlier this month, but is in good order and everyone is happy with him.
At Ravenswell - Sunset Melody is cantering away nicely, and is learning her trade all the time - she will hopefully be out in a mares bumper in a few weeks time. We have already mentioned Mamoon Star, The Soldier Of Fortune filly, and Volkovka - Yauthym worked well this week, and has been pencilled in for a run in just under a fortnight, and Blue Bikini is on the way back to full fitness after an enforced break due to a very mucky scope - her second of the season.
Across the valley at Thorndale Farm - Queenohearts has come out of her race in fantastic order - Kim describing her as unbelievably tough! She is back cantering and all is well with her - her legs are all good,and hopefully she will be out again towards the end of Feb, giving her plenty of time to get over the Lingfield run.
We will launch the first of the new syndicates around mid February - I was able to catch up with a few folks at the sales this week - and we have made a few plans for a couple of the young horses.
It was also good to catch up, and have a coffee with couple of folks we have not seen for a good while - good to see them in such great order - intersting chats!
The new horse for new clients is scheduled to arrive from Ireland next week - and will head to Jason Maguire.
