Crowning Glory
In a week where much of the nations attention has been centred on London and the coronation of Knig Charles III, we started our week in a town with a rich Royal history, and yards from where Henry VIII enjoyed the thrills and spills of the tournament - Warwick.
Having seen the 2022/23 National Hunt champions crowned in Samdown on Saturday, everyone had a whole 24 hours to sit back and relax before the start of the 2023/24 season on Monday. It has always seemed very strange to me that that there isn't a bigger time distinction between seasons, with one seeming to always run into another. Surely a break of around 3 weeks would give some identity to the period, and also give everyone a bit of a break. This doesn't mean that the season has to end at the end of April, it could end in mid May, or even slightly later, with a few weeks break before the start of the following season. It is one of a few things that non racing friends struggle to grasp when they ask about my business - they often ask 'Is there a season?' Or 'Is this your busy/quiet/time?' And with just 24 hours between the end of one season, and the start of the next it is very difficult to explain, and my answers are often met with a puzzled look from the enquirer. To compound the confusion, following the start of the 2023/24 season just 48 hours after the end of the previous one, we then had a break of 5 days until we raced over obstacles again! I know this year it seems that every Monday in May is a Bank Holiday - but surely some definition in the seasons, would offer a break for hard working participants, and clarity for many more!
Anyway - as it goes - I'm glad they did race at Warwick on Monday, as it meant that we registered our first winner of the season with our first runner when Blue Bikini battled it out to win the final race on Warwicks card, and make it 3 wins from 4 runs in 2023, which in fact was 3 form 4 for her season but 1 form 1 this season - still with me? Having won on her previous start in Market Rasen she had been raised 6lbs by the handicapper, and with Connor Brace having to go to Kempton, Jack Hogan took over the steering and his 5lb claim would mostly offset the 6lb rise. This race looked more competitive than her previous start, with what looked like plenty of the declared runners favouring being prominent, which would result in a good bit of competition for the lead and plenty of pace early on. BB had benefitted from getting a nice run on the front end the last day, and was able to travel in a nice rhythm, it did't look like she would be afforded that luxury here. The plan was for Jack to jump out and slot in where he was happy, and as it happened the pace wasn't that hot, and he was able to sit upsides in front for the early part of the race, until a keen going mare pulled her way past the front two and took it up. Even then, the pace was not strong, and BB got in a beautiful position and was jumping well, she got in tight to two down the far side on the final circuit, but didn't lose any ground, and was in the main a lot better than on her previious start. The pace lifted at the end of the back straight, and on the turn for home BB came under presure, and we wondered would she start to fall back but we should have known better - this is where she comes into her own, she is one of the toughest mares we have ever had, and after jumping the second last 6 lengths down, she stuck her head down and really battled, touching down over the last just in front. She then pulled a length clear, but was tiring, and hung across to the second mare, but there was no contact, and despite Jack dropping his reins BB crossed the line with a neck advantage. The stewards had a look at the result, but we were always confident that she would keep the race, but that didn't stop a few sighs of relief when it was announced! BB has an amazing will to win, and I am sure she hung across to her rival to eyeball her and lay down a challenge! It was a great result, fantastic for a big bunch of her syndicate members who had made the trip to Warwick (Thanks to Alastair for accomodating so many of them on the day), they all had a really good day - although ice creams at £7 a pop made a few eyes water! Blue Bikini came out of her race in good order, and will now head back to the Elms for a well earned summer break. It was a truncated season with her, as she had suffered a bout of atrial fibrillation in the autumn, and had to leave Ravenswell and go down to Ivy Lodge Farm for a short break to recover. She spent a lot of her time there laying down in the paddock, and I think the AF knocked her sideays for sure, but in typical BB fashion she toughed it out and returned to Ravenswell ready to crack on again. It shows how tough she is to come back from that in such good form so quickly, as it can take a good while for horses to regain their confidence, but she was soon back into the swing of things, and back in the winners enclosure on her first run of the season in February. I had said in the autumn that she was well handicapped and so it has proved, and I still believe that there is scope off of what will be a revised mark of around 113 on Tuesday. Fergal and the team have placed her brilliantly to pick up 3 races over intermediate trips, when it has always looked for all the world that she would improve with a step up to 3m. This all bodes well for next season, and I can't wait to see her out in the autumn, when she could even make a switch to fences after a couple of runs over hurdles. Congraulations to Darren who snapped up a share that became available in her this week, he has followed her since she joined the team, and now has his own share in her!
Blue Bikini in the paddock
A tough girl - very pleased with herself!
More happy owners!
On Tuesday it was good to get pics and videos of Old Blue Eyes (Frank) who is now backed and ridden away at Ivy Lodge Farm, he is proving to be very popular, and every time I post a picture of him on Twitter, I get plenty of interest, and there is now a very long list of folks that I will be emailing when he has completed his six weeks with Jason, and we have decided on who he is best suited to go into training with. Being by Blue Bresil (sire of the mighty Constitution Hill) and a half brother to dual bumper winner Dino Bellagio he has an awful lot going for him, and we can't wait to offer shares - but we will hold off doing that until we can put the full details together, which will of course include his new trainer! So far his time at Ivy Lodge Farm has gone smoothly, he is like all of his siblings that we have had anything to do with, in that he has plenty of his mothers traits about him, which is certainly no bad thing, and he is a horse that Jason likes a lot! Please drop me a line if you would like to receive details of his share offering later this month. 07909 518902 nickbrownracing@gmail.com.
Old Blue eyes (Frank)
On Wednesday we were in the office arranging the return of a few horses back to The Elms for their summer holidays. Greyval, Volkovka and Fortune Forever have been at Martins Hill since the middle of April in preparation for going in the field, they have been on the walker and turned out during the day to wind down, and get acclimatised to a but of free range, outdoor living. Now that there is plenty of grass, and the nights are a little less chilly they will head to the stud tomorrow. Blue Bikini will return 'home' once she has been let down a fraction. Intrepide Sud, Cloud Dancer and Hidden Beauty are all out in the field at Ivy Lodge Farm enjoying the rich pick of grass that Jason has just down the road. Dino Bellagio also headed out to grass last week, and after what he went through prior to Aintree, it was decided that he and a few friends would spend a couple of months with Dave Sherlock, who is a mate of mine, and a good friend of Donalds - at Daves he is turned out in a paddock right next to Daves house, and he can keep a very close eye on him there. Another one that will be heading to the field next week will be Tintagel Queen - we had considered running her once more in a bumper this spring, but the ground didn't come for her, but the time was not wasted, and she has done plenty of schooling, starting off with Laura Collett over poles in the arena, to jumpimg hurdles in the loop under various jockeys, and then progressing to the all weather jumping lane this last week. She has a real apptitude for jumping, and it looks like we will have a fun season with her over hurdles come the autumn.Tintagel Queen will head to The Elms for her holidays. Itchy Feet has beaten her to it, and he has already got his sun hat and Ray Bans on and is in his holidays - he stays at Warren Chase with Olly.
Cloud Dancer on his holidays!
Hidden Beauty and Intrepide Sud
Thursday was a glorious morning, and no better way to spend an hour in the sunshine than a quick visit to The Elms to see 'George' I have only managed to se him once since he was born last month, but Louise has been really happy with him - he was big when he was born, and he has continued to pile on the weight since he arrived - she loving called him a 'beast' on the phone, and when I saw him on Thursday it was clear why! He is some lad! I would say he is comfotably the biggest foal she has produced to date, and he is a very good model to go with it! This lad just about has it all - we will see how he develops over the course of the next few months and make a decision as to what route we take with him. We have the option of selling him as a foal, or retaining him to sell as a three year old store, or keeping him on the team and syndicating him at 3 years old. I think I know which route we will go down - especially as he has Dino to run for him this autumn!
Savingforvegas and George - Golden Horn colt foal.
Thursday was not such a glorious day for last years foals - Floyd (Falco x Savingforvegas) and Finbar (Falco x Molly Childers} as they underwent the 'unkindest cut of all' and ended up 'two stone lighter' - they were gelded - always a procedure that when mentioned to any man, makes him cross his legs slightly! They came through it fine, and will be better off for it - they can continue to live out together without getting to boisterous and causing themselves a mischief!
One that really takes the eye is Barry the 2 yr old by Blue Bresil x Savingforvegas. He is a stunner, and is out in a paddock with Stanley the pony until he heads down to Jason Maguire in a couple of weeks when his full brother, Old Blue Eyes (Frank) returns. Jason will spend six weeks with him and get him broken in and ridden away. Barry has size, scope and is very well put together. I am delighted that I purchased a 30% share back in him a few weeks ago - as I think he is a fantastic horse to have on the squad! Should anyone be interested in a 10% share in him - please get in touch 07909 518902 or email nickbrownracing@gmail.com - he is some prospect to get involved with - and the pedigree is only going to get better!
Barry - Blue Bresil x Savingforvegas
Our three year old store horse by Muhtathir x Kpalime looks great too, and he has just started his sale prep. He will do a month at The Elms before heading over to Ireland where Tom Brickley at Ard Erin Stud will complete his preparation before he heads to Fairyhouse at the end of June for the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale. He is a fine big horse, witrh a great step to him, and a pedigree stacked with black type performers!
Friday was an easy day - a few very badly needed jobs done around the house and in the garden - it's a good job we have a small cottage garden - otherwise we would be well into several years of 'rewilding'!
Saturday - Coronation Day - but it wasn't Kings we had on our minds - it was our little 'flat Queen' Reflexion Faite. I had to be in Newmarket on Saturday morning, so I popped over slightly ahead of time and nipped in to Egerton Stables to see Kevin and watch RF do a piece of work on the grass gallops. It was good to see the trainer moving better than he has been recently - after undergoing knee ligament surgery. He is still not very sound and is wearing a brace - but he is getting about well. Reflexion Faite is moving much better than the trainer thankfully, and she did a lovely piece of work. Her regular rider, MJ was really pleased with her, and said that she is simply getting better and better with every piece of work she does. As a result, Kevin chose not to declare her in Southwell tomorrow. The intention had been to introduce her over an inadequate 5f trip and have her running on at the end of 5, and enjoying herself - he has now chosen to run her over a more suitable 6f when those maidens kick off in a couple of weeks. Everyone that has had anything to do with her really likes her - from her rider MJ, to Charlie, Kevins assistant, and the trainer himself - they all think she is a nice filly, and one that we will have a lot of fun with. Kevin even suggesting on Saturday that she is well capable of winning a maiden this summer. Exciting times! It was really good to meet up with Debbie Burt at the yard - Debbie, in town to photograph the Guineas Meeting. Debbie is our 'unofficial, official' photographer and takes all of the wonderful pictures of our open days in September. Her photos are stunning, and the ones that she took of Reflexion Faite yesterday are superb! Debbie is also an artist, and she had a few of her pieces in an exhibition at a yard on The Hamilton Road, so I was very grateful that she took the time out from her hectic weekend to spend with me. Debbie is a leading figure in the Arab Horseracing scene, and it was very interesting to chat with her about that - a real eye opener - every day is a school day! After spending an hour at Egerton House I nipped up the road to the Rowley Mile course to meet up with Andy, Jenson, and Mark Richards to hand over the keys to a new Theault Horsebox to Richard Hannon. Richard had won the Goffs sales race in York last August, and part of his prize was a Theault Horsebox for free for six months. Hannon is always good company and was in fine form yesterday! The filly that had won the sales race last year had actually won in Newmarket on Friday - so this was a timely exchange!
Reflexion Faite - great photos by Debbie Burt. 
Richard Hannon collecting the keys of his prize from York last year.
He was not hanging around in case we changed our mind!!
As I type - Olly has just called and we have decided to declare Auditoria in Fakenham on Tuesday, where she will meet a couple of old foes! She is in good heart, and will be off for her summer holiday after this run.
That leaves just a couple left to mention - both of the three year old unnamed fillies that are currently doing 'secondary school' with Maguire. They are now both cantering upsides and going great. They will remain down there, until Jason has them swinging along, and after they have had a couple of trips across to Tom Georges's woodchip gallop and been allowed to stride on on that, they will return to The Elms. We will, by then have decided between us which trainer would suit them best, and then shares will be issued in them. The only thing I can confirm at this stage is that the Mahler x Hillcrest Fire filly will be leased in 4% shares, with no capital payment. Please let me know if you would like to go on the mailing list to receive details of her when they are released - 07909 518902 or nickbrownracing@gmail.com.
Jukebox Jury x La Pelodette far side - Mahler x Hillcrest Fire nearside.
Right that's that - time to bake a Coronation Quiche and enjoy the rest of the Bank Holiday!!
Have a good one! Check back in next week for more inane blitherings! You never know, with all the horses heading for their holidays - I may find something to bore you with!
