Different Mare

This past week has been both fun and busy. Monday was an office admin day - time to get the office jobs out of the way before we headed up to the Goffs UK Doncaster August Sale that was to be held on Wednesday. We got another of the Itchy Feet shares finalised, and can't wait to see him back on the track this autumn - a real star for the team,  he will be gracing the biggest races at the big Saturday meetings throughout the winter. There is a single share left in him - so please get in touch of you would like to join us at those prestige meetings through the season - opportunities like this, to get a 10% share in a Grade 1 winning chaser, currently rated 150 are very rare - and he should certainly not be missed! Itchy has had a wind op recently, and Olly is looking forward to starting him off with a clean slate this autumn. Also on Monday, Classic Ben's summer holiday came to an end - when Louise dropped him back to Fences Farm. Looking forward to seeing him this winter - I dare say there will be a few Exeter trips on the cards! 

Classic Ben

Tuesday was the day that the last two mares summering at The Elms headed back to work. Hidden Beauty and Volkovka were picked up by Maggie Jones and headed back to the Cotswolds. They were going to go straight back to Ravenswell, but a last minute switch meant that they went instead to Ivy Lodge Farm, and will spend their first two weeks there before heading back to Fergs. Both have summered really well. In the afternoon we headed up to Doncaster in preparation for the August Sale. A real mixture of stock on offer, from flat and national hunt horses in training to 3 yr old stores, in foal mares with foals at foot, and a new section of national hunt 2 yr olds. It was great to catch up with plenty of people on the eve of the sale, and interesting to hear from John Benfield - a farrier that takes care of the horses in a number of yards around Cheltenham, including Fergals. We chatted about the horses and in particular Blue Bikini, who he he thinks has returned to Ravenswell 'a different mare this year' - she is much more settled, is carrying far more condition, and from his point of view is very easy to shoe - something she has never been in the past. Her gastroscopes have proved that the team are well on top of her ulcers now, it has taken time - but it would appear that now she is in less discomfort she is a far happier mare - John certainly believes so - and he thinks she should have a very good time of things over the winter! She certainly looked good on the hill gallop this week! 

Hidden Beauty

Volkovka

Wednesday was sale day - nothing to buy, but we had a busy day with the horseboxes, which continue to be very sought after. It was good to catch up with Donald McCain who gave a very encouraging report about 'Dean', our homebred 3 yr old that is in training with him at his Bankhouse yard. He reports that he has settled in really well, and has gone through the first phase of training without a bother - so much so that he has now started cantering and is going away very nicely - he tells me he is a very forward going young horse, who takes his work really well, and he thinks he is ideal for the races that we are aiming him at - the national hunt juvenile hurdles that are new to the calendar this year. Please have a look at his profile on our For Sale Page ( Doyen x Savingforvegas) - he will be plenty of fun over the winter for sure, and there are shares available in him for just £25/week (inclusive of all costs) with no capital outlay. He reminds Donald of some very nice horses by Doyen that he has trained in the past.

Another one to catch the eye of a good judge this week was 'Barry' our homebred Blue Bresil yearling who got a glowing report from one of the representatives of one of the sales companies when they popped in to see the young stock at The Elms - we will take this description of him -'He's fxxking gorgeous'!! He is by the hottest sire around - from a very good family - and has the physique to go with it - his owners, who bought into him while he was still in utero, have really landed on a good one! The beauty of breeding. He is the product of our first Breeding Syndicate - somthing we could well do again this year - this time she is carrying to Golden Horn, who has been very much in the news in the last couple of weeks after his sale and subsequent transfer to Overbury Stud. 

Back home Wednesday evening - Thursday spent in the office preparing for a video meeting scheduled for Friday.

Friday was an interesting and informative day. I can assure you that I am one of the most 'un-tech savvy' people you will ever meet - so the prospect of an important video meeting simply filled me with dread, but as it happened I was about the only participant in the meeting that had a clean run through - I was quite proud of that in itself! We wait to see the outcome of the days proccedings. 

Around the yards - all of the horses that have been back to work for a few weeks are now cantering. Olly has them all tipping away nicely - Auditoria is as cheeky as ever, and Tintagel Queen is moving well. I had an interesting chat with Ollys vet about her when our paths crossed in Doncaster, and we have put in place a plan that should help her through parts of the season - she is such a big scopey mare with a gorgeous easy going way about her - she will start in bumpers this autumn. 

At Ravenswell Farm - Fortune Forever is the furthest forward of the autumn/winter horses - she is going well and has certainly strengthened since the spring - she should be ready for a bumper next month. The remainder are all well - Blue Bikini, as mentioned earlier, is a different mare this season, and Mamoon Star is cantering away nicely. Yauthym still resides at Martins Hill, as it suits her better to be there. She could well be seen out on the flat again later this month. Recent bumper winner Intrepide Sud will not run again this year - he is a huge shell of a horse, who has been in training for a very long time - so on the back of his win he will have a few months off work, and be brought back in the spring - he will undoubtably improve for the break, and will fill out and mature and only improve for it. He will come back over hurdles next year. He will head to Jason Maguires for his R&R. 

Fortune Forever

At Ivy Lodge Farm - Hidden Beauty and Volkovka have settled in well. Sunset Melody isn't quite ready to return to work yet, although she should be good to go in a couple of weeks, she gets to spend a short time turned out away from the huslte and bustle of the yard, as she wasn't settling in her paddock there. Our 2 yr old Jukebox Jury filly continues to go very nicely, and really looks the part - everyone seems to really like her! The three year old Jukebox Jury gelding is also coming along really well, and it will not be long before he is heading off to Gary Moores. 

A quieter week next week, and we will be able to get to The Elms to see the youngsters there. I obviously need to get eyes on Barry! We will also be finalising the stable visits to Ravenswell and Warren Chase that we plan for September and will announce those dates here next week. In the meantime enjoy the sunshine - it's been some summer!!