Two Smart Gallops
We are really rocking and rolling now – with two runners last week performing really well – Cloud Dancer second in Fontwell and Greyval fourth in Market Rasen – this week saw plenty more of the team get entries – and the next few days will be busy and fun!
We started the week with a drive down to Chichester for the funeral of a wonderful lady. Joan had led an amazing life – and enjoyed her glass of wine and a smoke right up until the end. She had led a long a fun filled life, sadly passing away at the ripe old age of 93!
Before we set off for Chichester, I popped over to see Rob Parrott at BCM Leisure in Kempston. Since we started Nick Brown Racing 25 years ago, Rob has provided all of our branded clothing – tee shirts, hats and jackets. As we have taken over the sponsorship of the three horses we have in training with Donald McCain – it was time to get some new clothing for the grooms to wear at the races when leading up in the paddock. It has been a while since my last visit to see Rob, and it was good to catch up!
On the way down south, we got a couple of very encouraging updates. Fergal sent through videos of Chevelle schooling on turf for the first time in Warwick. She has been a natural from day one – but up until Monday had only schooled over Easy Fix style hurdles off of an artificial surface. Johhny felt it was important to get her away from home and to see the type of hurdles she will encounter on the track and also get the feel of taking off and landing on turf. It was a very worthwhile exercise. Chevelle, seeing the padded hurdles for the first time had a good long look at them the first time up – but was very good from then on – and both Johnny and Ferg were delighted with her.
As we neared our destination I got a call from Donald with an update on Dino Bellagio. Dino suffered a hind leg injury last season – but is 100% over that now and has been working very nicely at home. The previous day – Bangor had hosted a pony racing day – with races run on the inner point to point course, and the recent biblical rain had left the track soft. Donald took the opportunity to take a few horses there on Monday to give them a bit of an away day – they didn’t do a serious piece of work – but they certainly did enough – and Donald was really happy with Dino Bellagio who had done what he had to do very easily! Dino is now close to making he reappearance, and we are all looking forward to putting a line through last season where everything went wrong for him and starting with a clean slate. If all goes to plan, we should be having plenty of fun with him this time round.
Donald also confirmed that he had entered The Red Sash Racing Clubs, Ridin Solo in Uttoxeter and Kelso on Sunday – keeping all options open for him. Another one to get an entry was Intrepide Sud who was entered in the 2m novice hurdle in Uttoxeter.
The funeral was a wonderful service, a perfect service for a wonderful lady who we will all miss.
Tuesday – Alan King sent through an update on the 3 yr old Lindas Lad filly that is back doing plenty of work after a short break at Jamie Magees with the rest of Alans 3 yr olds that had done plenty of work up the Sharpridge Hill gallop since early July. This beautifully bred filly – goes really nicely and Alan is delighted with her. There are just a few shares left in her – email me at nickbrownracing@gmail.com or call 07909 518902 – there is plenty of fun to be had with this young lady this season!
Another entry for Ridin Solo – this one in Stratford next Monday. Finding the best opportunity for each horse is a vital part of getting the very best results – and I always liken race planning to spinning plates – or juggling balls – you keep as many spinning or in the air at the same time as you can – and keep as many options open for as long as you can – always keeping an eye on weather forecasts, going reports and likely opposition – which will involve keeping a keen eye on where the others entered in the same race have entries elsewhere. It can be a time-consuming process, and you need to have a pretty good grasp of the form book – but it is a very big part of the job, and one that you need to spend plenty of time on!
Tuesday is the day that the handicapper publishes his amendments based on the performances of the previous week – Cloud Dancer and Greyval both remained unchanged on their marks of 115. Both are capable of winning off of those marks – so all good on that score!
More ‘plate spinning’ on Wednesday – Intrepide Sud with a further entry in Huntingdon along with another option thee for Ridin Solo as well. Mamoon Star – who is in great order at home – and has been waiting for the chance to run right-handed also got an entry in the 2m4f handicap hurdle.
I set off early to make the trip up to Donalds to deliver the clothing I picked up from Rob on Monday – he would be needing it if Ridin Solo were to take up one of the many entries that he had. Wednesday is work morning at Bankhouse, and I was really looking forward to seeing Old Blue Eyes work for the first time. I missed his faster work last season – and after hearing all of the reports of how well he went, I was keen to see it for myself. Ridin Solo would also be having his last piece of work before his run, and it would be good to get a clip of his work for Club members. Dino Bellagio would just do two canters as he had been away and worked in Bangor on Monday.
Dino Bellagio
I can safely say that the glowing reports about Old Blue Eyes were spot on – he worked very well with a talented former Irish point to pointer – and Will Maggs who rides him out every day was delighted with him – really happy with the ‘gears he has’! Of course, Old Blue Eyes is special to me – he is another homebred, and they are all special – but this lad seems to have a lot of ability too – and I can’t wait to see him on the track. As he is yet to see the racecourse, he will have an away day racecourse gallop before he makes his debut – as it will be vital to get that experience into him before he runs for the first time. The courses are not open for galloping until later in October – so he is likely to make his debut in early November. He will be worth the wait!
Old Blue Eyes
Ridin Solo did a lovely piece of work – he is ready to get his season underway – he has not had an away day in preparation for his seasonal debut and will improve for his first start – after chatting things over with Donald while up at the yard we decided not to declare him in Hexham on the Friday as their ground was a little quick in the home straight. Kelso was also just Good ground – so we would concentrate on Uttoxeter on Sunday or Stratford on Monday.
Ridin Solo
Ridin Solo after work
Old Blue Eyes after work
Dino Bellagio after work
Dug doing Dug things
Wednesday is also a work morning at Barbury Castle and Alan King sent in another video of Rockola working nicely up the Sharpridge Hill gallop. Rockola is another one in great form, and it is good to see her paired up with impressive Southwell bumper winner Charisma Cat, a horse that I know Alan thinks quite a lot of! Rockola will be ready to run very soon – and will give her owners lots of fun through the season – she will be kept away from the worst of the winter deep ground – and will enjoy stepping up in trip as the season progresses.
On the way back from Donalds I got a call from Fergal to discuss the horses that are at Ravenswell. Maria’s Flame in good form – has had a full MOT and is on course to make her seasonal debut later this month – she will start in a bumper. Mamoon Star – worked well on Tuesday – and will take up his entry in Huntingdon in the handicap hurdle. Intrepide Sud, who has been taking the eye in his work would be ready to take up one of the entries that he has over the next few days. Fergal reiterated how happy both he and Johnny were with Chevelle’s schooling on Monday in Warwick – and she would get an entry in a fillies juvenile hurdle in Ludlow next week. Greyval has come out of her run in Market Rasen on Sunday fine – and she will have entries over 2m and 2m4f towards the end of the month. If she does stay at 2m she will be ridden very handy and plenty of use will be made of her for sure!
Wednesday evening was spent with friends at The Plough in Bolnhurst – our local I suppose – but oddly a lovely restaurant that we rarely visit – and I don’t know why! It is a lovely spot – very warm and welcoming – with superb food and great service! It was a fun night – after a couple of bottles of red, and a very early start in the morning – I slept very well!!
Thursday – a quieter day – Chevelle getting her entry in Ludlow was just about all that happened! It gave me a chance to catch up on some office work, and to work away at the weekend’s entries for Intrepide Sud and Ridin Solo – Sundays Uttoxeter heats would close on Friday.
Friday – declarations for Sunday – Intrepide Sud would go to the Staffordshire track – he would probably be slightly better off on a right-handed track – and therefore his entry in Huntingdon would probably be a better option for him – but unbelievably after the rain we have had – they are already watering there – so IS would head to the meeting with the softer ground. Having had a leg injury in the past – we would not risk him on watered ground in Huntingdon. His work has been really good this autumn, he is a horse that Johnny Burke has always liked, and he looks set for a fun season – especially when he switches to fences – he rarely schools over hurdles at home – he is that good over fences!
Ridin Solo was very close to joining Intrepide Sud in Uttoxeter – but in the end, Donald decided that he would start him off over 2m and then step up in trip on his next start. RS likely to head to Stratford on Monday.
Usual Friday work morning postponed for 24hrs as Ferg was away from the yard – but great to get a clip of Maria’s Flame at exercise up the hill alongside Mamoon Star. Both moving great – hopefully a return to a right-handed track will see Mamoon put his best foot forward in Huntingdon on Tuesday – if that doesn’t work we may have to have a rethink with him. Maria very much on track for a return later this month.
Another update received later in the morning – Olly Murphy called, and to say that he was buzzing was an understatement! The plan had been to take Tintagel Queen down to Salisbury to work over 2 miles on turf – something that Olly felt would be far better for her than working over 6 furlongs on an artificial surface and around a bend. Plans for Salisbury changed and, in the end, – he sent a team down to Lambourn instead.
Tintagel Queen worked with a mare she had met before – Queen Annie who had finished a short
head in front of TQ when winning a Chepstow bumper last year. Queen Annie is now with Olly, and made for the perfect workmate. Olly has been telling me ever since TQ went back into work this term that he felt she was a different horse – much more balanced and definitely stronger – well, the tone of his voice when he called was all I needed to know that what he had seen in the gallop had confirmed all that he had thought. His opening words – even before a ‘hello’ had been uttered were,
‘She’s worked fxxking well Nick’! TQ had put in a sparkling shift and had left Queen Annie trailing 10 lengths in her wake. As long as she comes out of this work OK, she is ready to run, and we will start to look for races for her in 10-14 days. She will need cut in the ground – and will not be risked on anything too quick – but she looks like she is going to give her syndicate a lot of fun this season – and with a nice target in mind for her in the spring – she should take them to some very nice meetings. There are still a couple of shares remaining in her – get in touch quickly if you would like to join in with her – no capital cost – and just £25/week training/keep costs! Email me nickbrownracing@gmail.com or call/message me on 07909 518902. This piece of work has proved that she is more than capable of winning plenty of races this season – what is not to like?!!
Saturday morning – and we headed up to Warren Chase Stables for another stable visit – this one not one of our Syndicate Saturdays this one an invite from Olly to get the chance to meet up with other owners at the yard and have a chat about plans form the season.
It was a glorious morning – warm and sunny and a great turnout of owners in support of Olly and the team. The team had all the work done by the time that we arrived at 10.00am, and Olly only paraded 5 horses (all for sale) in front of those that were there, but we did get to wander around the yard and the good news was that Tintagel Queen had come through her racecourse gallop yesterday in fine fettle and had cantered earlier in the morning. Those that were in Lambourn yesterday were all full of praise about the sparkling piece of work that Tintagel Queen had done and it is safe to say that we are all looking forward to getting going with her as soon as we get some genuinely juicy ground for her – it is unbelievable that by the time you read this they will have put on over 30mm of irrigation in Huntingdon just to try and maintain Good ground form their meeting on Tuesday!
Tintagel Queen
Itchy Feet is in fine form – he was enjoying all the attention in his stable as the visitors came by to see him – Olly really happy with him – and he will be ready to run around Nov/December.
Itchy Feet
When I got back from Ollys it was straight back to work, to inform the Red Sash Racing Club members that Ridin Solo had been declared in Stratford on Monday. Looking forward to seeing him run!
Sunday, we head up to Uttoxeter to see Intrepide Sud make his seasonal debut in the first division of their novices hurdle that opens the card. He is in great form – and it will be a fun afternoon with his owners for sure. Johnny Burke rides and if he isn’t too fresh on this return after a summers break he should run a nice race.
We are racing for the next couple of days as well – Mamoon Star will head to Huntingdon on Tuesday, and Chevelle has an entry in Ludlow on Wednesday.
