Frankly - You Would Be Mad Not To!
We crammed lots into the last week – three days at the Premier Yearling Sale in Doncaster is always fun – not quite the full on fun of previous years, as this time round I managed to catch a bug, which for all money you would have said was Covid, but tests said otherwise. Anyway, we muddled through with an early night or two and had a great time. Lots of laughs, plenty of salacious gossip (there always is at the sales), which sadly I won’t be able to share with you here, and a lot of business done! It was good to see so many existing customers at the sale, and we took a number of forward orders for horseboxes in readiness for the start of the 2024 flat season.
A busy sales ground
Hopefully off to a new owner later this month!
We travelled up on Monday, and as we were travelling north, Judd and Alison were heading south after a weekend in the North West, taking in Cartmel’s meeting on the Saturday. On their way back down the M6, they popped in to see their new horse, Old Blue Eyes who is in training with Donald McCain. It was the first time Judd and Alison had seen him, and they chose a good morning to go, as, having been on the round, deep sand gallop since he arrived at Bankhouse in July, Monday was the first day that ‘Frank’ headed up the hill gallop. Everyone that has sat on him thus far has been really impressed with him and it was clear from the footage that Judd sent over that he came up the hill very easily too – another test passed with flying colours! He really does everything very easily! Monday afternoon was when I was feeling at my worst – I was persuaded to try the ‘pint cure’ – I managed one, but the second was abandoned half way through – a sure sign I was unwell! It was paracetamol for tea, and an early night!
My early night definitely helped, and although far from fighting fit on Tuesday morning, I felt a lot better. I felt even better when the first man we saw when we got to the sales complex decided to press ahead and buy a horsebox! The Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale is a fairly niche sale – over 450 yearlings catalogued, and all of a type – the ‘Donny Rocket’ – handy strong horses with pedigrees that would suggest they would be early fast two year olds.It was good to see Clive Cox and have a chat with him on the Tuesday. Clive won the £300,000 Goffs UK sales race in York the week before, and as a result his team will be driving a new Theault Horsebox for the 2024 flat season – as part of our tie up with Goffs we supply a horsebox as part of the prize package for two Goffs sponsored races during the year – the York sales race, and the Goffs Spring bumper in Newbury for the National Hunt fraternity – won last year by Anthony Honeyball. We wish both trainers the very best of luck!
Being in Doncaster on Tuesday afternoon meant that I missed out on joining a good bunch of Reflexion Faite’s owners in Ripon, where she was making her handicap debut. She had been running well in 5f Novices and Maidens, and we had hoped that she would go very close on her debut in a nursery. She is a small, light framed, good moving filly, that we thought would handle the undulations of Ripon well, but sadly that was not the case, and when she became unbalanced and lost her place it was game over for her. She will return to 6f, and a flat track for her next run later this month. Tuesday was a busy day, plenty of visitors to the stand, and with the sale not concluding until 7.15pm, it was a bit of a mad dash back to the hotel, to get changed and make our table reservation at Vivos. Once again, a fantastic dinner – the restaurant packed again! A night cap in the Earl Of Doncaster turned into something a little longer – but really good to catch up with a good friend and client, and catch up on a lot more juicy goss! Tuesday night, not as early as Monday night, but not as late as usual for sure – some of the Racing Post crew and others pushing on to the wee small hours – finally pulling up at 4.30am – they think!
Reflexion Faite in the paddock
Wednesday – feeling slightly better again, but definitely not firing on all 12! And for once – not self inflicted! Another good day at the sales – good to catch up with Jason Maguire and sort out when Cloud Dancer would be leaving Ivy Lodge Farm and heading to Gary Moore. Mid-morning it was good to get another video update from Alan King – plotting the progress of our (as yet) unnamed 3 yr old filly who we have in training there – always good to get these clips – all of our team of trainers are superb at updating us on the horses progress, and it really does keep the owners and syndicate members right up to date with how their horses are going. Communication is key, and we do everything openly and honestly – it is the only way. During nearly 25 years of syndicating racehorses we have learned plenty about the right and wrong ways to do things, but saying that, we are forever learning, and if there was one good thing to come out of the Covid pandemic, and the lockdowns that ensued it was the increased use of videos to keep all of our members and owners up to date with their horses progress. Alans clips are great and getting a couple like this every week is fantastic. It was nearly 7.00pm when we got away from Doncaster and after dropping one of the horseboxes back to the yard, it was pushing 10.00pm when I got home. A quick shower and off to bed – an early start on Thursday – on the road to Ravenswell!
Jukebox Jury x La Pelodette filly - far side front
A 5-00am start and a good trip down to Gloucestershire – the day started dry, but a light rain soon set in. Good to catch up with Fergal before first lot, and also good to see Luke Harvey who was in the yard with his point to pointer to use the hill gallop. I have known Luke a long time, and it was good to get the chance to chat to him about some ideas I have going forward – he’s a great bloke, and always very helpful! Chris, Emma and little Elizabeth were in to see their mare Blue Bikini, and Steve and Dawn made their first trip to the yard to see their first horse, Maria’s Flame. All of the squad were out second lot – all cantered on the round gallop, after which a few went across for a school. With Maria’s Flame, Volkovka and Fortune Forever staying on the round gallop, it meant that Mamoon Star, Hidden Beauty, Greyval and Blue Bikini all got to bend their backs over hurdles. They were all very good. Johnny Burke got to sit on Greyval and he was impressed with her, Conor Brace schooled Blue Bikini and she jumped great. Liam Harrison was on board Hidden Beauty and Daire Davis was on Mamoon Star – both horses excellent, MS keeping straight and true, which had become a problem last season. There is nothing that is making him do it physically – he has had every test going – it is just his ‘default’ setting, and hopefully he will improve with experience. I would usually head to Ivy Lodge Farm after Ravenswell, but Jason had popped over to Ireland with the family, so I headed home. A really fun morning as always – great to see all the horses looking so well – and meeting happy syndicate members! Good to catch up with a few of our trainers with a call on the way home. Alan King is very happy with the Jukebox Jury Filly, he is delighted with her progress, and reports to her to be quite sharp! She continues to very much go the right way! Donald McCain is thrilled with Old Blue Eyes. He has taken the next step from sand gallop to the hill very well, and he describes him as a very nice horse. After speaking to Donald and with a handful of shares left for sale in him I sent out a few messages to inform folks that if they were thinking of having a share in something new then this one was THE on to have. Robert and Dave were quick off the mark and snapped up a share – he is a very exciting prospect – you have seen him move and heard what the trainer thinks of him! He is by a fantastic stallion, out of a 3x winning mare, who is a half sister to a Cheltenham Festival winner, and who has already bred a dual bumper winner who is very very highly regarded! Add to this the fact that 10% shares are £3,000 which is half of his value, and you can see why I would recommend him to anyone – he is an absolute no-brainer – GET INVOLVED! Don’t say you were not warned when you miss out! Full details are on the FOR SALE PAGE – have a look and get in touch 07909 518902 or email nickbrownracing@gmail.com
Maria's Flame
Hidden Beauty
Greyval
Blue Bikini
Mamoon Star
Volkovka
Hidden Beauty
Fortune Forever
Heading Home
Old Blue Eyes - Frankly you would be mad to miss him!!
Friday was a quiet day – improving – but still coughing! We had planned to head to the coast for the evening, but shelved plans, instead heading over to grab a bit of tea and watch Luton v West Ham with the Griggs/Nicholsons. Not a bad match – a good result, with West Ham coming away the 2-1 winners. A late penalty shout could easily have gone the way of Luton, a fact that was pointed out by more than one Luton Town supporter among our clients!
Saturday – another clip from Kingy – the Jukebox Jury filly another of our 3 yr olds that is very much impressing her trainer. She gets better and better every day! I also received an update from Fergal who had given the big girl Hidden Beauty a pop over fences earlier in the morning. She did it really well, and it gives us an option going forward this season. She is likely to start over hurdles, but now has the option of switching to fences should we think it is the right thing to do! On Saturday afternoon we had a share come available in Maria’s Flame which was soon snapped up by Drew – we wish him the best of luck with his new horse – he has a couple of lovely young horses to run for him this season.
Hidden Beauty gets her first tatse of chasing!
Around the rest of the team – all three in at Warren Chase Stables are in great shape. Auditoria, Tintagel Queen and Itchy Feet all building back up to full fitness. I hope to get in to see them next week. Up at Donalds, Dino Bellagio is popping out of his skin as always – and will start faster work this coming week – really can’t wait to see him make his hurdling debut in the next few weeks! I am also aiming to get in to see him next week as well. As mentioned, Cloud Dancer will head back to Gary Moore next week – Jason is thrilled with him, and he is another one that really should be adding to his win in the spring over the winter months! He is a lovely young horse! Intrepide Sud is back at the yard – in form his summer turn out field. He is due to start pre training on October 1st.
Next week looks like being more fun! Car MOT on Monday – after which we could make the most of a nice forecast and head off for a bit of a day trip. Tuesday we are back in Doncaster, for a short sale, Wednesday there is a sale of national hunt 2 yr olds and yearlings over at Yorton Stud nr Welshpool – and I plan to be there. I hope to get in to at least one more yard as well.
September is the month for stable visits – we are still taking names for the mornings at Olly Murphys on Saturday 9th and Fergal O’Briens on Saturday 16th. Remember – the visits are not limited to those with horses in either yard, they are open to everyone with a share in any of our horses – and we would love to see you there – you will get a bite of breakfast, and the chance to wander around the yards and meet the horses and the people who look after them, as well as seeing them all on the gallops – bring your friends – it will be fun! Drop me a line to book your spots!
I hope to see lots of you over the course of the next 3 weeks! Enjoy the warmer weather this week – hopefully it will hold into next weekend!
