First Yearling Sale
The August Bank holiday weekend always signals the start of the flat yearling sales in the UK. Doncaster the traditional starting point – and it was there that we all headed last weekend. The horses arrived on Friday and Saturday – Sunday and Monday were viewing days and the first lot went though the ring on Tuesday morning.
We were not in the market for a flat yearling – although that did not stop us almost coming home with one – so we headed up to south Yorkshire Monday lunchtime – we would not be buying yearlings – but we fully expected to sell a few horseboxes!
First thing Monday morning I received a very nice update from Jamie Magee via Alan King – the Lindas Lad filly has been with Jamie for the last few weeks – as she was coming to hand far too quickly, and Alan decided that a short break would do her the world of good. This young three year old filly had been through an awful lot in a very short space of time – sales prep, 5 days at the sales, through the ring and then straight down to Wiltshire where she was broken in by Jamie. When he had her cantering away nicely – she headed over the hill to Barbury, and was doing plenty of work up the hill gallop up until the point that Alan felt that she could use a short break.
She is now back in work – and looks to have really benefitted from her short holiday. Jamie is very happy with her and likes her a lot. There are a couple of shares left in her – all of her seven half siblings are winners – two of them black type performers, she has a wonderful pedigree, a fantastic outlook, and goes really well up the hill gallop. The plan at this stage is to start her off in a junior bumper before heading over hurdles this season. The junior bumpers start in October, so there isn’t long to wait until she is on the track. Get in touch to grab one of the last remaining shares – nickbrownracing@gmail.com – or 07909 518902
Another early bird for a Bank Holiday Monday was Craig who was in to Donald McCains to see his horse Dino Bellagio canter on the round gallop. Dino, as ever was on excellent terms with himself. He is cantering two miles a day and will very soon be switching from the round gallop to the hill. The good news is that he is showing absolutely no ill effects of the injury that he suffered last season – and we have high hopes that this very talented dual bumper winner can start to fulfil the huge promise he showed during his debut season and can go onto be the high class horse that he shows us he is in his homework. Again – two shares remain – sign up and come on a very exciting journey with this very classy young horse. Put a line through his form last term – everything went wrong for him. Before the season started, Donald had planned a very exciting season with him, which involved heading into valuable Grade 2 company very early in his hurdling career – it is hoped that we can pick up that plan again this time round, which will mean he will be running in some rich hurdle races and from what he has shown us already – he should be well up to bringing plenty of prize money home for his syndicate! Don’t miss the chance to get to the winners circle and also win your share of the wealth!
Dino Bellagio
It was lunchtime before we hit the road to Donny for the next couple of days.
Tuesday the first day of the Goffs UK Premiere Sale and it would be very interesting to see the level of trade at the first yearling sale of the year in the UK. The thoughts on the run up to the sale were that there was certainly an appetite for horses, and there would be orders around, but how much money would there be to spend? The first yearling sale of the year in Deauville the week before, had seen a selective trade, with strong demand at the top but less so as the lots slipped down the pecking order. The day started off in fine weather, but it did start to drizzle later in the day. The trade on the whole stood up well, and it was good to see so many people on the sales ground.
A busy sales ground
Later in the day – I spoke to Josh Moore about Cloud Dancer – he had done his first piece of proper work over the weekend, and I was keen to see how he had gone. Tom Queally had ridden him in his work and was very happy with him. He had taken him into the gallop really well and seen it out in good style at the business end as well. Tom felt that he was in good shape, and that he could make his seasonal debut very soon. Cloud Dancer is another one of ours that had a frustrating season last term. He had a lot of niggly problems, that definitely held him back after a very encouraging seasonal debut in Ascot. It would appear that he is over all of those issues now, and we will have a little reset with him – start him off on the better ground that we are sure that he needs, and try to take advantage of the ground at this time of year before the winter really sets in. He is a horse that we have always liked and is another one that we hope will now be able to show his true potential with his problems behind him.
Alan King sent his usual update on Tuesday – Rockola on the hill gallop, quickening up from the 3 pole to the top. She is going really nicely, and it will not be long before we are looking for races for her. She will stick to better ground in mares novice hurdles.
It was a busy afternoon with a number of new clients on the stand to enquire about a new horsebox. I am sure that we will gain at least a couple of new Theault customers over the course of the next few days. Trade for horses was buoyant – plenty of six figure lots – and a really good buzz around the sales ground. Dinner in Vivos – it has been a while since we have made it to our favourite restaurant in Doncaster, and it was good to see Chef Patron George in such good form! It was a busy night in there for sure!
Wednesday – day two of the sale. Plenty of fun had with Nigel Tinkler as always! He always keeps us entertained at the yearling sales in Doncaster, and it was good to see him buy a stunning filly from the first crop of Ubettabelieveit – the speed ball colt that he trained a few years ago. She was a gorgeous girl, and we wish him all the best with her. I nearly came home with one myself – I followed a very strong filly into the ring – with a figure in my head, that if she was available for – I would have a bid. The bidding stopped at my figure, and I was having to try very hard not to raise my hand – but I didn’t. As it was, she could have been brought privately, but I was a good boy, and after chatting with a couple of people – decided to leave her. We could have the chance to buy her again in the spring as she is sure to turn up in a Breeze Up Sale somewhere.
Cloud Dancer did his second piece of work on Wednesday morning, and Josh sent through the clip – he does look to be going really well, and he is on course to make his seasonal debut next weekend in Fontwell.
Another trainer I caught up with on Wednesday was Fergal O’Brien – I have some funky plans that I want to put into place for the stable visit next weekend – and I needed Ferg to do a couple of things for me. It is going to be a fun morning on Saturday September 7th at Ravenswell Farm – a large number of syndicate members and owners have booked their spots on the visit – with a good number of guests coming too – if you have not got your name(s) on the list – let me know – the morning will start at 8.30am and end at 11.00am. Breakfast will be provided as usual, you will see the horses on the gallops, and get loads of time to wander around the yard, meet the horses and chat to the staff who look after them. I am really looking forward to seeing so many of you!
Fergal reported that all the horses were in good order. Mamoon Star fine after his run last week. No options on the flat for him, so he will return over hurdles again in a week or two. Intrepide Sud, for such a big horse is coming to hand very quickly and could well be one of the first ‘winter’ horses to run this autumn. Greyval is ripping up the hill as usual, and Marias’s Flame is full of beans as ever, and is doing plenty on both the round and hill gallops. New girl Chevelle continues to impress, and with a couple of juvenile hurdles having been run in the last week, there is a little bit of form on offer, and judging by what we have seen thus far – and with some comparable form on show – she should be very capable of winning a juvenile hurdle very early on in her new career.
It was good to see Jason Maguire up in Donny – at the sale buying yearlings for his boss, we had a good chat about all of the horses he has had through his hands this spring and made a lose plan for a few of them.
It was a late finish to the sale – and that, along with a 15 minute standstill on the A1 on the way home, meant that the evening out with friends had to be postponed until next week.
Thursday – in the office all day – end of month accounts. Fergal sent through a video of Intrepide Sud schooling over fences. He has always schooled over fences at home, as he is a really big horse, and doesn’t show hurdles too much respect. Even though he has run over hurdles in his track career to date, he schools over the bigger obstacles. He is very good over them, and it will not be long into the season when he switches to chasing which is where he is sure to be seen at his best. Johnny Burke is sure that there are hurdle races to be won with him first and he could start over the smaller obstacles in around a month.
Friday – Johnny Burke got another sit on Chevelle and having schooled her last week – he got the feel of her on the hill gallop on Friday. She is a beautiful mover, and Johnny was very happy with her.
Johnny and Chevelle
Friday evening - a few beers with friends - a warm evening under dramatic skies!
Saturday – a catch up with a friend/client ended with an invite to the first day of the Oval Test Match next week – should be a fun day – and the start of a busy weekend – Oval Friday – Ravenswell Farm Saturday – Fontwell Sunday. There could even be a trip to Perth on Monday!
This morning’s ramblings have been slightly delayed as we decided to nip down the road to Colmworth Golf Club for a cheeky breakfast and coffee. A beautifully warm morning, and a super breakfast – we will be doing that again! Who knows – I may even take golf up again – although I may take some lessons before I do – my golf was appalling when I used to walk around a field losing balls!
The remainder of the squad are all progressing back to full fitness very nicely. At Warren Chase Tintagel Queen is doing two miles of catering around the deep sand gallop. In another couple of weeks, she will head down the road for the first of her away day gallops, and if there is some suitably soft ground around in early/mid October she will be back on the track. Tintagel Quenn is a daughter of Camelot – who hit the headlines this week – when his yearling son set a new record price at the BBAG yearling sale in Baden Baden, Germany. TQ is a huge mare – with a real national hunt physique – as the full sister to a Grade 1 hurdler- by a superstar sire - she has the most fantastic pedigree and will give her syndicate a lot of fun this winter. There is a plan in place for her – which will feature a pattern race in the spring, which is a race her whole season will be geared around. There is a share available in her – lease to race - £25/week – get in touch!
Itchy Feet continues on the roads around Broadway with Connor Brace and Alex Knight. With Donald McCain – Old Blue Eyes is really taking the eye – as you would expect from a young son of Blue Bresil, he has really developed over the summer and is moving very well! If I had to pick one horse out of the whole squad that I was looking forward to the most it would be OBE – but as I bred him – I might just be a bit biased! Ridin Solo is another one doing plenty of cantering and looking as though he has really developed over the summer.
Old Blue Eyes
Next week – Car MOT – Cricket – the first Owners morning – and a possible runner – should be fun! I hope to get over to The Elms as well to see the team there while the sun is out. Barry, Floyd and George are all in the same field – I need a snap for the family album!
