Cloud Lifts The Gloom
We start the weeks round up last Sunday – long-time syndicate members Ben and his father-in-law Pat added to their string by purchasing the last remaining share in Rockola. Ben and Pat have had shares in a couple of horses with us – and after recently having had a very bad experience with another syndicate, and leaving that group, they were quick to add to their interests with NBR. We thank them for their continued trust and support, it is never taken for granted – and we work very hard to give every member of every syndicate the best experience and value for money as we can! In taking the remaining share in Rockola, Ben and Pat have added a second horse by Jukebox Jury to their team (they already have a share in Cloud Dancer) and, like me, are big fans of the sire. Last week Debbie headed over to the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Stallion Trail and got to visit some of the top studs in Ireland. On her travels she got to see Jukebox Jury and was lucky enough to interview Victor Connelly who owns Burgage Stud where JJ stands. Having sent over a report of her visit which we published on here last week, Debbie was kind enough to share her interview with Victor about Jukebox Jury, which can be seen below.
Monday morning, and first things first we had to make some decisions regarding Cloud Dancer who had a couple of entries later in the week. After chatting things through with Josh Moore, we decided that he would definitely not be declared in Newbury on Wednesday – this was a race that jumped out at me when I looked through the programme book after his win in Doncaster last month. The long straight that day looked to really play to his strengths, and with Newbury having an equally long home straight it looked like the perfect fit for him. We know that Cloud Dancer does not appreciate soft ground, and with the ground in Newbury looking like it was going to be very deep on raceday, it was an easy enough decision to swerve that engagement. That left the option of Wincanton on Thursday, where their ground looked like it would be significantly better. The tight track was not ideal, but a top eight finish in this race would qualify him for the Challenger Series Final in Haydock in April – a £50,000 handicap run at a track with a long straight, on some (hopefully) decent spring ground. We decided that, as long as the ground was not too deep, (there was a dry week forecast) he could take his chance, but we wouldn’t make the final decision until the last minute, after we had seen what the ground would be and tracked declarations. With nothing being certain in this world, we also discussed races in Windsor and Haydock that we could enter that morning. Haydock was easy – they had heavy ground, and Josh, having ridden Cloud Dancer around Windsor on one of their trials mornings was sure that their ground at the weekend would not be right for him – so he was not entered at either meeting.
One that did get an entry at the weekend was Greyval – who we decided to pop in the £25,000 mares handicap hurdle in Fakenham. Both Fergal and I had reservations about her ability to handle the track, but we would give her the entry and see how things looked nearer to declarations.
Another job that needed to be done was deciding where Nevada Samba (Barry) would head into training. He is coming to the end of his pre training period with Jason Maguire and having had his first ‘away day’ last weekend Jason gave us a couple of options of trainers who he thought had the perfect set up and training regime to suit this exciting young horse. His owners all had a vote and almost unanimously chose to send him to Alan King. Delighted that he will head there – I think that Barbury Castle will be perfect for him, and he will thrive there. He will head to Alan at the end of the month.
Tuesday – Wincanton having given their ground as Good to Soft, Soft in places with a dry forecast, and there being only 2 declared at 9.28am – Josh and I decided to let Cloud Dancer take his chance. We both felt that the track would not totally suit him, but the ground was all important, and we had to go where we could find the best of it. The £20,000 prize fund, with only 2 declared at the time was also a factor it had to be said. In the end a total of 12 would be declared, but it was the right option to run.
There was another declaration made that morning. And She Was was declared to make her debut in the 4 yr old fillies bumper in Ludlow. Her syndicate had been waiting patiently for this day – initially we had hoped to run her in the autumn, but Alan felt that she needed a break in the late summer which set her back a short while. He then had her very close to running in December, but her final preparations for that race showed her trainer that she needed just a little more time, so we waited for this race, as it was perfect for her debut, she would be taking on her own sex, and her own age group. She was declared, with Tom Bellamy taking the ride. There was just one small scare, after breezing very well that morning, she had had a couple of coughs on the way home, and we would have to wait 24 hours for the results of a scope and trach wash to confirm that she was 100% healthy.
Fergal sent through a video update of Greyval working upsides Kamsinas and called later in the morning to discuss her entry in Fakenham and whether we felt that it was a viable option for her. We both had reservations about the track – she had been beaten three times on a tight left handed track in the past – but in fairness to her, one had been on unsuitably heavy ground, and the form of the other two runs when she had tried to give lumps of weight to the mares that finished in front of her had both turned out to be very good performances. We decided that we would wait until the morning of declarations and see where we were. The Fakenham race would qualify her for a final in Cheltenham in April, which was a factor – but I had also spotted a race in Huntingdon, which although it would be run for a fraction of the Fakenham purse, a top 4 finish would qualify her for a €100,000 final on the first day of the Punchestown Festival – and I thought that may be a fun avenue to explore. One thing is for sure, her work earlier in the morning was very eyecatching and she is certainly ready to run!
It was good to get a video update of another of the Ravenswell Farm squad later in the morning. Sadly, Chevelle is currently not at Ravenswell Farm after being diagnosed with a back issue a few weeks ago. She is at Ivy Lodge Farm recuperating from some treatment and receiving the benefit of all the equipment there. Jason sent through a video of her on the water treadmill, and as you can see, her head carriage continues to improve day by day.She will return to Ravenswell at the end of the month.
Wednesday – thankfully the scope results for And She Was were fine – she was healthy, and she would make the trip to Ludlow in the morning.
Badges organised for both Wincanton and Ludlow – I would be making the trip down to Wincanton, leaving the guys heading to Ludlow in Debbie’s capable hands. It was the only way to go – Debbie does have a vested interest – she is a shareholder in And She Was!
Thursday morning – an early inspection had taken place in the dark in Ludlow and the track had passed after an overnight frost. It has certainly not been a straightforward path to her debut for ASW – even up to yesterdays scope results – we have had a couple of false dawns – but come through them all – she would be having her first taste of her new job in the afternoon! The weather forecast looked like I would be having a misty day in Wincanton, and Debbie would have the best of the sunshine in Ludlow. As we chatted on the phone on our way to the tracks – I reached for the sunglasses as Debbie headed into a very cold fog! As I neared Wincanton, Alan’s assistant Robin Smith called to say that travelling head man Mark White who was in Ludlow with And She Was had called to say that parts of the track were still frozen and that they had delayed the first race by 30 minutes to see if it improved. Having walked the affected areas, he was doubtful that it would. I pulled over and immediately updated the members of the And She Was syndicate. There was nothing I could do about it – but everyone had to be kept in the loop. As soon as I arrived at Wincanton I headed to the O&T bar to get a view of a TV to find out the latest. It was not good – Ludlow had been forced to abandon the meeting. This was a very poor show! Obviously I was not there, but while in Wincanton I was told that there were videos circulating of how frozen the ground was – I have also heard from others that when they arrived at the track it was clear that there was a serious issue with frost in certain areas, and that there was little chance of the meeting going ahead. If Ludlow had not passed it fit to race at 7.00am in the morning and had informed everyone that there was still a chance that the meeting could be lost to frost, then everyone could have made the decision to travel to the meeting or not. Everyone apart from the horses and staff of course, they don’t get to choose, if you are declared you are duty bound to run, unless a change of going, or lameness/ill health get in the way. The fact that nothing was mentioned until some of the racing professionals arrived and walked the course is totally unforgiveable in my mind! I don’t think we have heard the last of this one! I felt so sorry for my syndicate members that had made the trip over to Shropshire for nothing – not even roast beef could be seen as a redeeming factor! Debbie did her best to cheer everyone up – and after demolishing lunch everyone headed for home!
Still smiling! A few of the members of And She Was' syndicate manage a smle after a long trip for nothing!
Meanwhile in Wincanton – the sunglasses had come off as I got off of the A303, and the fog lights were on by the time I arrived at the track. You couldn’t see a lot – it had really come down. I am getting used to being at the races and not seeing much of the action! Thankfully by the time Cloud Dancer arrived in the paddock the fog had lifted enough for us to see a bit more – a least we would see his race in full, but one thing was clear – it was a damp day – and the ground was going to be plenty soft enough for him – even though it was still given as Good To Soft Soft in places. Once again CD looked a picture in the paddock, and he went to post nicely. Caolin Quinn who was once again in the plate had said that the ground was certainly softer than he had run on successfully in Doncaster last time out, which would not be ideal and early on in the race it soon became clear that he was not enjoying it at all. Always behind the bridle he was making life hard work for his jockey, but Caoilin kept pushing and shoving and was able to latch onto the tails of the leaders as they swung into the straight. Here, Cloud Dancers abundant stamina kicked in and he started to pass horses. In the end he was involved in a tight finish, going down by just 2 lengths in a competitive heat on ground that was way too soft for him. He will now be targeted at the final of the challenger series in Haydock in April – and on what is likely to be better ground, we are sure to see a different horse!
Cloud Dancer in the paddock
Heading out
Returning to unsaddle
A close 4th - enough to warrant a photo!
CD gets a well earned drink from 'Dicko'
Ridin Solo is back up to speed after a short break last month. He had run up a little light after his last race in December and was given a easier time to enable him to put the weight back on. He is working well and got an entry in Catterick next Wednesday.
It was good to get an update on Rockola form Alan’s assistant Robin while in Wincanton. She always runs up a little light after her runs and has been given a good while to recover. She resumed cantering this week, and we will look for another 0-100 handicap over a longer trip than the 2m4f she won over the last day. We believe there is more to come from her as she steps up in trip, and that her winning is far from done.
Friday – Cloud Dancer came home, ate up and jogged up sound first thing. Josh and I discussed the path to the final with him – they will train him for that day – he is likely to have a run in between, but the plan would be to head to Haydock a fresh horse!
Tracking declarations for Fakenham, the decision was made to run Greyval. Their ground was drying back which would be ideal, and at the moment that we decided to declare her in Fakenham, there were over 40 entries in the Punchestown qualifier in Huntingdon. She is in great order and ready to run. Looking at the mares in the race I feel that she has just about the strongest form on offer, and having beaten a few of the opposition in them past, if she handles the track she will run a very big race!
Fergal is also really pleased with Intrepide Sud who is working really well and who should be back on track in early February. He was found to be suffering with a respiratory infection after his last run, and it has taken a while to get him back healthy again – now firing on all cylinders he should give his owners a fun spring!
I had a good chat with Donald McCain later in the morning. Ridin Solo fit and well and ready to run. Dino Bellagio and Old Blue Eyes both had flu jabs after their runs on Boxing Day and are just about to start serious faster work again. Dino Bellagio will be dropped back in trip with a change of headgear when next seen, Old Blue Eyes will run again in another bumper on better ground than he encountered in Aintree in the fog.
It was good to see Itchy Feet get an entry in the Pertemps Hurdle Qualifier in Huntingdon next week – a race he won a couple of years ago. Itchy has come out of his race in Cheltenham on New Years Day well and it will be good to see him back in action. While in Wincanton I got an update on Tintagel Queen form Ger Tumelty, who is Olly’s assistant at Warren Chase. TQ is in good order, she is cantering away, and we are trying to get a run into her before the end of the month. If she does not show us that she has regained her form, we will have to seriously consider where we go with her.
Saturday – and great to get a video of Greyval schooling in preparation for her run in Fakenham. Jack Hogan rides her, and he got to pop her over a few hurdles first thing. Jack has ridden her in the past and knows her well, but a little refresher never does any harm!
I settled down to watch the racing in the afternoon, with more than a passing interest in Lulamba in the opener in Ascot. Not only has he been the subject of some glowing reports about his homework at Nicky Hendersons Seven Barrows yard – he is by Nirvana du Berlais – a stallion that I have been very taken with over the past three or four years – and we didn’t have to think too hard about sending our own Savingforvegas to him last spring. She is in foal and is due to him in around 6 weeks time. Having seen what Lulamba did in Ascot, I immediately sent a text message to see if we can get over to him again this spring. That was a very impressive performance by Lulamba, and I am sure that the progeny of his sire Nirvana du Berlais are going to be in high demand in the coming years. I couldn’t be happier that we have one of his on the way!!
Nirvana du Berlais yesterday parading for visitors on the Rue des Etalons (French Stallion Trail)
Fakenham inspected at 6.30am – all good to go – let’s hope they don’t suffer the same fate as Ludlow – but in fairness – I think the ever present clerk of the course, David Hunter will be keeping everyone up to speed, and not go MIA!
