Lovely Introduction
I have a friend who reads this nionsense evey Sunday, and gauges how good my Satyrday nighjt was by how many speling mistakes I make – I’ll let you be the judge!
This week seems to have flown by – Bank Holidays can do that. It started with a trip to Windsor on Monday afternoon to see Reflexion Faite make her debut in their 6f novice. RF is our first venture into ‘flat racing proper’, we have run horses on the flat before, either before they go hurdling or when we think that a change from hurdles or fences would do them some good – this was our first ever two year old runner. I purchased Reflexion Faite in Deauville last autumn; she was not expensive – in fact in the world of flat racing she was ‘pennies’ but from what she has shown the team at home she has turned out to be very good value. Her debut on Monday was all about experience – she has an impeccable temperament, but this was her first day at school and the sole purpose of the outing was to get her some experience. Windsor 2 yr old novice races are never weak affairs, and with just 3 weeks to go until Royal Ascot this race was a notch above the usual standard too. She was in against the colts and was always going to be up against it to win it, but Windsor is a lovely track to start them on and it was a great day out for her owners. The sun shone, the filly looked fantastic, and Danny Muscutt gave her a lovely ride to teach her about racing. She reared slightly in the stalls but travelled well for a long way in a race run at a furious pace and was not given a hard time when her chance had gone in the latter stages of the race. Danny was very pleased with her, and RF will have learned a great deal for the experience. She will develop and strengthen as the summer progresses and there is a lot of fun to be had with her. My first experience of Windsor was excellent – I could have done with a bit of communication with the team re badges on the Saturday and Sunday before racing, but other than that they looked after us very well, and it made a refreshing change to go racing in warm sunshine – I could get to like this flat racing!
A view down the home straight in Windsor
Reflexion Faite in the paddock
Post race
Tuesday we headed over to The Elms to meet up with the folks that own and bred Finbar – the Falco yearling out of Molly Childers. Finbar is out with a couple of mates and is doing fine. He is a typical ‘first foal’ in that he isn’t overly big, but he is big enough, and the plan is to break him in at two and aim him at some three year old races in the 2025. While we were there, we got to see a few of the others that are summering at The Elms – including the girls, Greyval, Auditoria, Fortune Forever and Tintagel Queen. They were all chilled out and relaxed and are summering well. Volkovka, who had been on box rest for a few days, with what turned out to be a deep-seated foot abscess was able to join them back out in the field late morning too.
Fran and Sheridan meeting up with Finbar (Left)
Tintagel Queen - just look at her! What a mare she will be this season!
Fortune Forever
We had hoped to be running Mamoon Star on Thursday, but he was found to be a bit tight in his back after schooling on Monday, and after treatment, he has been let off for the summer. He is currently at Ivy Lodge Farm and will head back to The Elms on Friday. He will be joined on his journey back to Northamptonshire by 3 others. The Jukebox Jury and Mahler fillies that have both been with Jason for a couple of months are heading home for a break before heading into training with Alan King and Fergal O’Brien next month, and Blue Bikini, who ‘turned her ankle’ while out in the field at Martins Hill, just before she was due to go back home and has been on box rest since, has now fully recovered and can start her holidays!
On Wednesday I had a spare couple of hours so decided we had better launch a couple of new syndicates for next season. Both are now on the FOR SALE page. Shares available in both of the 3 yr old fillies that have been with Jason Maguire for a couple of months. Having worked with them for a few weeks, Jason really likes the pair, they have done a couple of swinging pieces of work up Tom Georges woodchip gallop, and Jason has very much liked what he has seen, and those that have ridden them have liked them both. The Jukebox Jury filly heads to Alan King next month and will be aimed at junior bumpers and juvenile hurdles, from what we have seen of her, a tilt at the Listed 4 yr old bumper in Cheltenham on New Years Day is not out of the question, she is highly regarded and recommended by everyone that has had anything to do with her. It is fair to say that she was well received when shares were released on Wednesday, and already half of the 12 shares have been snapped up. Don’t miss this one! The Mahler filly is another that we like a lot, she is being syndicated in 25 shares, is available with no capital outlay as she is leased from her owner/breeder, and the £30/week fees are inclusive of all racing and training costs – there are absolutely no hidden charges, and you will receive 100% of her prize money for your share, and receive an owners badge every time she runs, with extra badges available depending on availability. She too has done plenty with Maguire, and he likes her as well, she has blossomed over the last 3 weeks, and really come into herself. She has also shown a real aptitude for jumping and looks like she will have a lovely future over obstacles. She heads into training with Fergal O’Brien, and she will take a similar route to the Jukebox Jury filly, starting in junior bumpers before graduating to hurdles. She has a fantastic pedigree and represents great value – so much so that 11 of the 25 shares have already been snapped up – so don’t delay!
Mahler x Hillcrest Fire 3 yr old filly - she simply loves her jumping!
Thursday – summer here – a Lords Test Match. I remember being at Lords for the first day of the last test between these two – England all out before lunch that day! Not quite the same drama this time, and in the end in was a pretty one-sided affair, with England getting a nice blow out before the Ashes later in the summer.
Friday we finally got to auction the winners trophy from Ayr, won by Dino Bellagio last November. This auction had been delayed somewhat, as initially I managed to leave the trophy in Ayr, and then when it finally got back to Donald McCains yard, it took me a while to get it back to the office. Our hectic schedule over the course of the last 3 months meant that this was the first chance we had to get it done. It was a fun auction – with a few extensions at the end – Hamish eventually coming out on top with a winning bid of £510, which will be winging its way to The Injured Jockeys Fund next week! Our winners trophy auctions have raised well over £2,000 for the IJF so far, with three still to auction, thanks to all of the owners and syndicate members who have been so generous. Offering these trophies is something that we really enjoy doing, and hopefully we can keep the horses in the winners enclosure so that our chosen charity can benefit.
Well done Hamish!
It was good to get a video from Tom Brickley in Ireland who is finishing the prep of our 3 yr old Muhtathir gelding that is heading to the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale in a few weeks. Tom is very impressed with the horse and is sure that he will be well received when he gets to Fairyhouse!
Muhtathir gelding heading to The Derby Sale
Saturday, really enjoyed getting a few video updates from Ivy Lodge Farm – Barry our homebred 2 yr old is an absolute star – he is such a good boy, and is doing really well. He is well into the breaking process, and is being long reined around the farm, and the lanes. He has a superb attitude and is another lovely young horse to have on the squad. The Derby went off without a hitch yesterday despite the best efforts of a group of demonstrators. Credit where it is due, Epsom, The Jockey Club and Surrey police did a fantastic job of keeping a small group of ill-informed crack pots off the track and spoiling a truly magnificent event- which was won well by Auguste Rodin. He was a good winner, only time will tell how good he is, but the way that Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore talk of him, he could be very good indeed!
Barry being lomg reined.
Last night we were at a BBQ to catch up with my great mate Steve and his wife Gill who emigrated to New Zealand two years ago. Good to see them back in the UK for a few days, it was a very long night, with plenty of catching up to do and memories to share! Judging by my head this morning – we did a lot of both, and it won’t be the last I see of him before they head back to NZ next weekend – I am fully prepared for another sore head later in the week!
Oh how I have missed him!!
With Mamoon Star now heading for the field, it means that we only have Reflexion Faite in training, and by the end of next week, all of the ‘racing team’ will be on their holidays. They will have a nice time relaxing and putting on weight, but in the blink of an eye they will be back into their trainers in preparation for what will be an exciting 2023/24 season. Dino Bellagio is up with Dave Sherlock at his Birch Farm Stud, Cloud Dancer, Hidden Beauty (in whom a single share has become available) and Intrepide Sud are summering at Ivy Lodge Farm. Itchy Feet is enjoying his lazy days at Olly Murphys and the remainder will be back at The Elms next Friday!
Next week we will be popping down to Ravenswell, and Ivy Lodge Farm to see the horses there and if I can find the time I will get up to Cheshire, where I didn’t manage to get to this week!
Well – this took longer to type than normal – focusing was a slight issue first thing! Please have a look at all of the share options we have available for next season on the FOR SALE page, we have a number of options, including a 10% share in Itchy Feet who will take you to all of the biggest meetings next winter. With the end of the season we have a number of shares that have come available, in addition to those on the FOR SALE page we have a share available in the following - Hidden Beauty, Fortune Forever, and Auditoria – please ping us an email (nickbrownracing@gmail.com) or give me a call/text on 07909 518902.
Until next week – when I should get this out more smartly! Have a good one!
