On The Prowl
If you spot more spelling mistakes than usual in this weeks news, it is not due to an overly social Saturday night (which is the usual reason for poor spelling)– it was in fact very quiet – but more to do with the fact that I am typing my 3 words per minute with one finger as fast as I can so that I can get this published before England Women kick off in the World Cup Final at 11.00am.
We didn’t quite get as much done this week as we had hoped – diary clashes putting pay to a couple of planned visits, I couldn’t get to Olly’s as he was heading over to Ireland, and I had a meeting when I was intending on popping over to The Elms to see the youngsters there – but we did get out and about, and it was good to see a couple of the team in such good heart.
Monday, I had a day off – we worked away at getting the office back to normality. One good thing about having to refurb the office is that it gave me a chance to go through all of the things that I have collected over the past 24 years of syndicate management. Things that I had forgotten that I had saw the light of day for the first time in years. We found photos, videos, DVD’s – all sorts, even the race video of our first winner – Outplacement in Southwell in February 2000. Luckily – as we still reside in somewhat of the dark ages, we do still have a video/DVD combo, and were able to watch that and a few others as they came to light. Great memories – but also a stark reminder of how long I have been doing this!! Everyone looked so young!! Luke Harvey had hair!! Who doesn’t love a trip down memory lane? It was a fun afternoon!
Tuesday – good to hear from Jason Maguire down at Ivy Lodge Farm, that Intrepide Sud was once again 100% sound and back in the field with his mates. He was sore on his near hind a few days before, but the vet was confident that it was nothing too serious, and with a bit of bute, and a jab he was soon back to normal. He will stay in the field for another 6 weeks before he starts his pre training with Jason. Already a point to point and bumper winner, he is a horse that will thrive when he meets a few flights of hurdles, and we are really looking forward to seeing him back on the track around Christmas time. On Tuesday evening we had a visit from Stanley – a miniature Shetland who has just arrived with his new owner. Stanley needed a bit of TLC, and he will be a great companion for her mare. He was a little bobby dazzler – felt like opening the back door and letting him live in the kitchen!
Intrepide Sud back out with his mates
Stanley popped by!
Wednesday – and early start and a trip up to Cheshire. First stop Donald McCains Bankhouse Stables. Jaguar Landrover Sat Nav is notoriously bad, it has been telling me for weeks that a road close to home has been shut, when in fact there are no roadworks on it at all – so why believe it when it started to tell me that the A41 was closed at Newport? Well because it is – and a slight detour meant I was 10 minutes late getting to the yard! We now have the two half brothers in full training there. Dino Bellagio, and Old Blue Eyes. DB is his usual exuberant self! He just loves life, and has settled back into his routine well, and is doing two canters up the hill. He should be ready to run at the start of October and will make his debut in an ordinary novice hurdle somewhere, before hopefully stepping up in grade before Christmas. He is a very exciting young horse, and one that should take his syndicate members to more big meetings this season! It is always reassuring to listen to the team at Bankhouse talk about him in such glowing terms – he is a ‘little scamp’, but luckily, he is very talented, and he is forgiven his antics every morning. His 3 yr old half-brother, is another one they really like. Peter Kavanagh has been riding him since he arrived there, and he is trying very hard not to let anyone else on him. He says that when he arrived, he was a bit full of himself, and you ‘wouldn’t need to do a DNA test on him to fine out who his half-brother was’ – but he soon knuckled down and now just gets on with his work. He is currently still cantering on the round deep sand gallop, but will soon be going up the hill. Peter says he gives him a lovely feel, he moves really well, and doesn’t hit the ground quite as hard as Dino. He also thinks he has a bit of class, as he seems to find everything very easy which is a great sign at this stage! Peter was not the only one to let on how much they like him, there were other knowing nods in his direction from other members of staff in the yard, so fingers crossed they are right, and we have another good one on our hands. He is of course by Blue Bresil – who is just about the hottest jumps sire around at the moment, and his mum has proved that she can breed a good one already, so he ticks an awful lot of boxes! There are still shares available in him – 10% shares are priced at £3,000 each – which values the horse at £30,000 – just look at what the progeny of Blue Bresil made at this years sales! He is great value - £3,000 per share is basically half of his value – and I have already broken and pretrained him! He is by a super sire, a half brother to a very talented horse, out of a 3x winning half-sister to Chelenham Festival winner Rathvinden – what is not to like?? Have a look at him on the For Sale Page and get in touch – 07909 518902 or email nickbrownracing@gmail.com He really is highly recommended! While with Donald I may have also added to the squad – not definite yet, but after a few conversations later on the week – we may just have got ourselves another one! More on that in the weeks to come!
Dino Bellagio
Dino and Donalds travelling head man, Mark
3 Yr old - Old Blue Eyes (Frank) Share available - don't miss out - highly recommended by those that are with him every day!!
From Donalds we headed about 20miles up the road to Peel Hall, to visit Will Kinsey and see the horses he has there, one of which is the yearling filly by Masterstroke that we purchased last year. She is a half sister to Hidden Beauty, and one that will either be sold as a 3 yr old or retained to run in our colours. She is certainly a nice filly, great size and an awful lot of quality – I was really pleased with her. We had a good look around the stock, and it was lovely to see Ma Councha, the dam of the yearling and Hidden Beauty with her foal. Miss Bailley the dam of Romeo Coolio who we sold as a store last year, and who went on to make £420,000 at the sale at The Cheltenham Festival in March, with her foal, and a host of household names with their offspring.
Yearling filly - Masterstroke x Ma Councha
Thursday, I had hoped to get over to The Elms to see the youngsters, but the day got away from me, and I didn’t get there, although I did get a call from Louise with an update. Barry, our homebred 2 yr old by Blue Bresil, has had the vet in to do a bit of pimple popping – he had an infection on his shoulder which was lanced and cleaned, so he had spent a couple of days in a stable away from the flies, going out in the paddock overnight. Nothing serious – but something that needed dealing with. All of the others are fine. George the Golden Horn foal is still lovely, I saw a few others by the sire when I was up at Peel Hall, and they are all very nice individuals! George will be retained until he is 3, when we will decide if he goes under the hammer at a store sale or if he is retained on the racing team – a long time between then and now! Our two yearling geldings at The Elms are both doing great. Floyd (Falco x Savingforvegas) is the spitting image of three of his older siblings – I thought he was a stunning foal, but he then went through a stage when I was less impressed with him – safe to say I like him again now! Finbar (Falco x Molly Childers) is more of a typical first foal, slightly smaller in height and build, but he has plenty of time to develop.
On Thursday, Olly Murphy was on the phone to give me the results of some tests that were carried out on his string the day before. They had been busy, they had gastroscoped the entire yard on Wednesday. A gastroscope will show a trainer if, and how badly a horse is suffering from ulcers. Due to the unnatural environment that racehorses live, they are prone to ulcers, and if bad enough, these can severely inhibit performance. A trainer will usually tell with his eye if a horse is suffering with ulcers, they are usually hard to put condition on and are usually a bit stressy or grumpy. Knowing the extent of the problem means that it can be treated, some trainers take the same approach as Olly and gastroscope the entire yard so that they can get on top of a problem before the horses run, others will scope after a poor run to see if the performance was due to ulcers, and treat them then, and believe it or not, some trainers hardly ever gastroscope. I can only speak as I find – and in my opinion gastroscopes are an invaluable tool in the training of a racehorse. Trainers will have a horse in and a scope shoved up it’s nose the minute he/she thinks that it may have a wind issue – that way dealing with the problem and getting the very best out of that horse – now that we have the technology, why wouldn’t you take the same approach with ulcers, which can also inhibit performance, and have a look to see what is there so that they can be treated. Cost may be a factor, but we think nothing of spending thousands on wind ops – why not ulcers. The results we have seen since our team has been gastroscoped and ulcers treated have been phenomenal – and it is something that we think is very important. The results were OK – Tintagel Queen was a rarity – she was actually clear of any ulcers. Ulcers are graded 0-4 – and most will present at 0-2, which will not inhibit performance, so for her to be clear was great news! Auditoria was a grade 2+ and will have a couple of weeks treatment, which should sort them out, and Itchy Feet was a Grade 3 and he will have a slightly longer course of medication to put him right. By the time they are ready to run they will all be A1!
Friday was spent working on the new venture which we will be launching in the Autumn. The framework is now set up, and after jumping through a few hoops the bank account should now be sorted. It never ceases to amaze me how hard it is to open a bank account and give a bank money! Friday afternoon it was good to see Miaharris win the Listed St Hughes Stakes in Newbury. Miaharris had beaten Reflexion Faite into second in Sandown last month, and that day she looked like a lovely prospect – and so she should at £210,000 – but it was good to see the Sandown Fornm franked! She looks like a filly to follow. Talking of Reflexion Faite, she has come out of her Thirsk run well and is back cantering. Kevin is happy with her and will look at novice/maiden company as well as handicaps for her in the next few weeks.
Saturday – carpenter in again – another measure up for more cupboards, wardrobes and storage space. I will soon have to sell a horse or to two cover his account! Around the rest of the team – Cloud Dancer is going well at Ivy Lodge Farm. All the team at Ravenswell are in great order, Mamoon Star, Greyval, Fortune Forever, Hidden Beauty, Blue Bikini, Volkovka and Maria’s Flame are all doing plenty of cantering both on the round gallop and the hill- all moving great and looking fantastic, and at Alan Kings – the unnamed 3 yr old Jukebox Jury filly is going really well too, she has progressed to cantering upsides, and doing it very easily.
Greyval
What are you looking at??
Fortune Forever
Mamoon Star
Volkovka
Maria's Flame
Blue Bikini
A couple of dates for diaries - we have settled on a couple of dates for two stable visits. Everyone is welcome, you do not have to have a horse in training at the yards, you do not even have to have a share in a horse with us - these will be open to all, and we are very much looking forward to catching up with lots of you! The first one will be at Olly Murphy's Warren Chase Stables on Saturday September 9th at 8.30am. The following week,on Saturday September 16th we will all be at Fergal O'Briens - 8.30am again - Please let me know if you would like to come to either or both. There will be food and drink on both mornings, so we will need to know numbers - everyone is welcome, and please feel free to bring guests. We will see all the horses work, and get to spend time around the yard woth the trainers and their staff.
In the rugby – Wales were butchered by South Africa, and England were once again average over in Dublin. They seem to have no fight, and certainly don’t know how to tackle! This could be a World Cup to forget! One World Cup, that will be unforgettable will be the one kicking off in an hours time! The best of luck to the Lionesses!
I’m off to grab a beer and settle in to watch it – catch you next week! COME ON ENGLAND!!
