Spring Has Sprung
About time! The weather has definitely taken a turn for the better, the sun is out, and the temperatures are a little less baltic! Thankfully the weather gods decided to ring the changes around 12.00pm last Sunday - it had been a pretty cold,wet and miserable spring up until then, but just about at the exact time we were pulling in to Egerton Stables in Newmarket for Kevin Philippart De Foys' Owners BBQ, the sun decided to make it's first warm and prolongued apperance of the year. The glorious weather made for a very enjoyable afternoon - I have never seen a BBQ like it - an army of caterers offering an extensive menu, a very nice chilled champagne, and beers, with whole tables dedicated to just puddings and cheese courses! It was great to see some of Reflexion Faites owners there, after a brief parade of a couple of horses, we all had a wander around the yard and a chance to enjoy the stunnung surroundings of the Kings Yard, and see RF in her stable, before joining the queue for the fantastic BBQ. As the afternoon went on the sun just got brighter and the temperatures higher - it turned out to be the most glorious of afternoons in a wonderful setting and in great company. Reflexion Faite herself is in great form. Kevin did have an eye on a fillies novice stakes in Newmarket last Saturday for her debut, sounds very simple, until you realise that the winners of the previous two renewals of the race have gone on to Guineas glory! At the last minute he decided not to give her that baptism of fire, and altered his plans - she will make her dubut over 6f before the end of the month - and we are all very much looking forward to seeing our first ever two year old runner make her debut! She is very likely to benefit hugely from the experience of her debut run, but the reports of her homework are very encouraging, and if she shows on the track what she shows at home she is well up to winning races this summer.
The Kings Yard, Egerton Stables
Cheese Course!
Pudding anyone?
Catering Corps!
When the BBQ is that good you just have to lick your lips!!
Monday and I was without a car for a few hours - having recently driven to Punchestown and back it was hugely frustrating to get within 5 minutes of home on the return leg, only for a nasty little stone to flick up from the other carriagway, and smack into the edge of my windscreen, resulting in a chip that insantly became a crack, and a crack that continued to grow quite quickly. Thankfully Autoglass are just down the road, and despite changing insurers recently the process of getting it repaired was a simple one, completed on line with the minimum of fuss. They had the car for around 3 hours and did a first class job - I would definitely recommend them if you are ever in need of a windscreen or other windows for your car!
Tuesday was spent in the office going through the national hunt stores catalogued in the Goffs UK Spring Store Sale which starts tomorrow. The team have done a good job and assembled some horses with lovely pedigrees - so there are plenty that have made a long list.
Wednesday was a quieter day, and I got the chance to get a gate hung in the garden. The existing gate posts had both rotted out, and were supported by neighbouring structures that they had been either screwed to or wired to. In the end the job went better and more easily than I had expected, and the gate now swings freely!
Thursday was another beautiful,day - perfect to pop over to The Elms to see the stock that is there. Plenty to see now, with the 3 yr old Muhtahthir gelding that is heading for the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale next month well into his prep, lots of the racechorses returning for their summer breaks, and foals everywhere! The Muhtathir will head over to Ireland on Wednesday where the final part of his preparation will be done by Tom Brickley, before he is consigned by Francis Quinn at the sale. He is a stunning individual - he has it all, size, scope and a very lose and athletic walk. Should he arrive at the sales safely he will surely have many admirers, as he has a wonderful pedigree as well, being by a stallion that is now no longer with us, but who is the sire of Envoi Allen, and the 4 yr old filly that made 500,000 Euros at the recent Punchestown Sale - he is out of a winning full sister to Blingless who was a winner of 11 races, including a Grade 3 hurdle, and who was second in a Grade 1 Hurdle, along with four other horses who have gained black type! He is catalogued as LOT 354, and we very much looking forward to seeing what the buyers think of him! We love him!
Gorgeous Muhtathir gelding heading to the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale next month
Stunning looks go alongside a stunning pedigree!!
George (Golden Horn foal x Savingforvegas) is growing well, and is a lovely foal - very excited about him! He will be retained and either sold or syndicated as a 3 yr old. Floyd (Falco yearling x Savingforvegas) is very much in th mould of his half brother Dino Bellagio. He is a handy, strong little lad, and he will be retained and syndicated when he is 3 yrs old, and take a similar path to Dino. Finbar (Falco yearling x Molly Childers) is a typical first foal, he isn't the biggest, but he should be ok for junior bumpers or juvenile hurdles at 3. We will take a view of his future later this summer when he has got through his latest growth spurt, and got his summer coat through. Barry (Blue Bresil two yr old x Savingforvegas) is a lovely horse - he has it all, size, scope, bone and a great temperament to match. His life will take a dramatic change tomorrow as he heads down to Ivy Lodge Farm to be broken in and start to learn what being a racehorse is about, rather than just lazing about in the sunshine as he was on Thursday. I can't wait to see what Maguire thinks of him. He is a very exciting prospect! It was good to see 'the girls' enjoying plenty of grass, and the lovely warm spring sunshine. Greyval, Fortune Forever, Auditoria and Tintagel Queen all looked very happy to be out, and were relaxed and very happily working on developing their summer tummies! Four lovely mares - who should all be winning their races next season!
Barry - Blue Bresil x Savingforvegas 2 yr old - in for a rude awakening tomorrow!!
George at the 'milk bar'
Greyval working on her tummy! 
'The Girls' L to R Fortune Forever, Greyval, Auditoria, Tintagel Queen
Foals everywhere!
Thursday night, and I like every West Ham fan was glued to the screen to see the second leg of their Europa Conference League semi final. A nervy night - well it was West Ham, but eventually they scored and went through. A shame about the trouble after the whistle - but it turns out on this occasion English fans were heroes!
Friday was an early start - but it was a beautiful bright morning for the trip to Ravenswell Farm. I don't know why, but there was very little traffic on the roads I was on and I made the trip down there in record time - and was drinking the first coffee of the day well before 6.45am! That did give me chance to have a sit down with Fergal and make a decision about our team at Ravenswell next season. He will train the same squad as he had last season - Intrepide Sud, Greyval, Fortune Forever, Blue Bikini, Mamoon Star, Hidden Beauty, and Volkovka will all return to training with him next year. We will be adding to that team as well - and we will let you know our plans in the coming weeks. Mamoon Star had an unsatisfactory scope and trach wash last week, so he has been on the easy list, but did do three times round the round gallop and was moving well. From Ravenswell Farm I headed over to Ivy Lodge Farm to see the horses that are there - Cloud Dancer, Intrepide Sud and Hidden Beauty are all turned out and enjoying the grass and weather - Old Blue Eyes is coming to the end of his 6 weeks in 'Primary School' and will return to The Elms tomorrow. He has been good to break, but is now a bit tired mentally, and needs to go back to The Elms to relax and take in what he has been through. He needs a break, but Jason will need to do more with him before he heads into training, so he will head back to Ivy Lodge Farm in 6 weeks before he goes into training. One of the reasons for seeing him on Friday was to chat through options with Jason, and between us decide which horses would be best suited to what yards. Old Blue Eyes (Blue Bresil x Savingfoevegas) will join his half brother Dino Bellagio and be trained by Donald McCain. We both feel that he would be suited by the regime at Bankhouse, and as Donald has done such a good job with Dino, it would be the right place for him to go. I rang Donald with the news on the way home, and he was delighted to be getting the chance to train him. Old Blue Eyes will be offered in 10% shares - the details of which will be announced in next weeks news. There is an extensive list of interested parties - if you would like to join the mailing list for the full details when they are announced, then let me know - nickbrownracing@gmail.com or 07909 518902.
Mamoon Star
Three 3 yr olds on the sand gallop at Ivy Lodge Farm. L to R Old Blue Eyes, Mahler x Hillcrest Fire, Jukebox Jury x La Pelodette
The Mahler filly (ex Hillcrest Fire) is also going nicely - her and the filly by Jukebox Jury (ex La Pelodette) will stay at Ivy Lodge Farm for another couple of weeks at least. They are cantering away upsides, and Jason will get them to a stage where they can swing along upsides on Tom Georges woodchip gallop down the road, and then they will return to the stud before going into training after a break. Jason and I are both happy with where we would like to send the Mahler - I just need to finalise that - and when I do that too will be announced next week - but we can confirm that she will be offered in 25 leased shares, with no capital cost, and an all inclusive weekly training/keep fee of £30. The one that we had the longest chat about was the Jukebox Jury filly - she is going very nicely, and will be offered in 10% shares - but we have not finalised who will train her - Jason and I both agree on a trainer that we think will suit her very well - and I will sit down with said trainer at the sales next week and see if he would like to train her for us. Another new trainer on the roster, and one that I have been keen to work with for a very long time! Hopefully he agrees to have her, and we will be able to announce full details of her share issue here next week!
Old Blue Eyes and Jason
The gorgeous Jukebox Jury filly x La Pelodette
Mahler x Hillcrest Fire
Friday night and who doesn't love Thai Food??! A really good spot is 77 - a Thai restaurant and bar in Caxton Cambs. Its a great place, and on a busy night we had a great meal. The food is scratch cooked so the service can take a little while - but who cares when we had great company and the Singha is on draught! If you like Thai, I would defintely say give it a try!
Just another couple to mention - and both are currently on a bit of box rest - nothing serious - Blue Bikni managed to roll her ankle while in the field waiting to come home to The Elms a couple of weeks ago. Scans are OK, she just needs time for the swelling to come down, and then she can join her pals in the field. She should be good to go in about a week. Volkovka did get to The Elms, but has managed to bruise her foot, and is in her box until that settles down, again, scans and xrays are all clear, so we just have to wait until she is a little less sore. Itchy Feet is out in the field at Warren Chase with his pals, he will return and be aimed at a nice staying hurdle early in the season.
Right - I'm off to pack the Calvins for a few days in Doncaster. A few horses to look at, you never know we may just add to the squad - plenty of business to be done with the horseboxes - they are both up there already, and Andy has managed to bag a handy place just by the Bar - which will save a lot of time travelling! This is always a busy week, but a fun one! And you never know there may be the odd tail that we feel we can pass on on here next week, although names may need to be changed to protect the guilty! Stop by next week for a possible exclusive expose!
If you need me next week - I will mainly be found within a 10 yard radius of this area!
Until then - it looks like a nice sunny week ahead - remember to keep hydrated - I will! It is remebering what happened after the hydration that is the problem!!
