Two Places
We crammed a whole lot into last week – all done with a huge dose of ‘Man Flu’ as well!!
It may be quieter on the runners front, but there is still plenty to do – a visit to one of Newmarkets leading trainers, two runners, a trip to York, as well as two yard visits and a racecourse in a single day!
Monday – great to get another video of And She Was schooling over hurdles from Alan King; she is very good – in fact she is so accomplished in her jumping that it does open up the possibility of switching her to hurdles rather than giving her a second run in a bumper. It is something we can discuss at the end of the week when I will be popping to the yard to see her.
Intrepide Sud – a non-runner in Huntingdon last week, when Johnny thought the ground was simply too quick for him got an entry in Bangor on Dee. The turning track would not be ideal – but there would be a lot more grass cover on the track – that area always has an abundance of grass and situated right on the banks of the river Dee, they would be able to water well and provide a lovely surface for the runners. IS has had a leg injury in the past and we certainly do not want to do any more damage – there is always a risk to running any horse on any ground, but he has to have a sound surface to be seen at his best, which isn’t ideal on fragile pins – it is a case of weighing up all the relevant factors – a real game of risk and reward – and managing those risks as best we can. If they were to produce Good ground on Saturday, he would run.
With the morning work done – we headed over to Pegasus Stables in Newmarket, the home of James and Jacko Fanshaw. James is a very good trainer, and an even nicer man, and it is always a pleasure to spend time at one of the most historic yards in the town.
Tuesday – Alan King and I had discussed plans for Rockola a few days previously, when we had both decided the right move was to bypass the first race she held an entry for this week. Looking at the horses entered in the other one in Fontwell on Thursday it looked like she was better off swerving that too, and we had settled on a plan to head to Worcester in a around 10 days time. As I always do, I keep an eye on the declarations as they are made for all the races in which we have entries – the advantage of being sat in the office most mornings and not stood on the side of a gallop. As I tracked the declarations for the Fontwell race, it looked more and more likely that the race could cut up a little bit. Among the entries were five last time out winners, two which had finished second, and Rockola who had been a close, and slightly unlucky third – so 8 of the thirteen entries looked to be in pretty good form - but as the morning progressed it started to look very much as though all bar one of the last time out winners would not be running, and that Rockola, if declared would have a very decent chance. I quickly called Alan – who was about to have Rockola out second lot, and we agreed that if he was happy with her work, I would wait until the last minute, and we would declare her. Alan called to say he was happy – I waited, and at 9.52am we popped her in – with just 7 runners it looked like the right thing to do – Rockola would be second favourite in my opinion, and that meant she had to take her chance, even though the race was a grade above the races she had been running in, and she would be taking on the geldings in open company.
I knew that I would not be able to be in Fontwell on Thursday evening as I would be with a small group of friends on what has become an annual ‘pilgrimage’ to York for the Dante – so a quick call to Debbie who thankfully stepped into the breach to host the members of The Lavendon Partnership that would be at the races.
After decs it was fantastic to get the news that Savingforvegas had been scanned and that she was confirmed in foal with a detectable heartbeat! Great news – once again she has been amazing – producing a wonderful filly foal by Nirvana du Berlais in March – travelling over to France with her foal, once again conceiving at the first time of asking and returning to The Elms without turning a hair. She never misses a beat! This year’s foal – a chesnut filly, is a tall, athletic young lady – by far that tallest foal she has produced, I can’t wait to see what next years model looks like!
Wednesday – a day in the office – badges to arrange for Fontwell – there would be plenty of owners attending on Thursday evening – so I made a few attempts during the course of the day to get in touch with the Arena Racing Owners Liaison for Fontwell to chat to her about the arrangements for the Syndicate Lounge at the track, as I would not be in attendance, and had never used the space before. Despite making several calls, and leaving messages, she did not come back to me – and with the 4.00pm cut off for badge allocations fast approaching – I was forced to simply send the list of owners attending by email and wait for her response. I tried to call again after office hours – still with no response – I still could not give my clients, and Debbie who would be hosting, the information that they were due. I knew I would be on the road for York early on Thursday, and as I was driving it would be tricky to check emails and messages from the drivers seat! Luckily Fontwell was an evening meeting – so hopefully I would hear back from them on Thursday morning and update everyone when I arrived in York.
While trying in vain to get things sorted for Fontwell we were also in the midst of our latest trophy auction – this one for the trophy package won by Greyval in Cheltenham. Her owners who were at the track on the day had kindly suggested that I should keep it – but having mulled it over for a couple of weeks I decided that the Injured Jockeys Fund would benefit more form the money, and I would ask Debbie to get one of her photos framed and mounted as my own memento. There was a frenzied bidding war in the end between two people – with Chris and Rachel Tagg coming out on top with the winning bid – congratulations to them – although I was not sure about Chris starting to throw in one of his children as part of his final bid – we took his money – he kept Oscar! There will be a tidy sum heading off to The Injured Jockeys Fund next week.
Earlier in the day Alan King sent through a video of And She Was working up the Sharpridge gallop – she is in great form – and it will not be long before she makes her second start.
Thursday – out to Godmanchester to collect Matt and Nick – and then up to Sheffield to collect the fourth and final member of our party – Billy. A quick stop off in Joni’s in Oughtibridge for what is, simply the finest egg and bacon sandwich you will ever have – and then onto the next village to pick up Billy. On to York – and when I arrived at the track, it was lovely to see that whilst driving I had received an email from the Owners Liaison in Fontwell apologising for not picking up her calls the day before and confirming that she had received my emailed list of owners attending and that, as it was a quiet evening for them, they would all receive O&T Badges. A bonus – I had not expected that – but it would keep everything simple, and they would all get a meal at the track as well – very kind of her!
The other thing to happen while we were on the road was the declaration of Intrepide Sud in Bangor. I had got good reports about their ground, and he would take his chance.
Despite feeling decidedly under the weather – I had a great afternoon in York – and I will blame my heavy dose of Man Flu on the fact that it was my selection that busted our Placepot! I must have been felling rough – as not one drop of alcohol passed my lips – I remained on Coca Cola all day! I was very impressed with the winner of The Dante – he looks like a very decent colt, and I would not be surprised to see him run extremely well in The Derby – he looks to have all the right tools for that task! Talking to Alan King later in the week he confirmed that his jockey, Rossa Ryan was hugely impressed with him as well.
It was good to see a few friends and clients at the track – York is always a wonderful track to go to – they really do get it right there – and have created a superb atmosphere to go racing in – other tracks should take note!
As we left the track and were getting in the car, I got a message from Debbie who was on duty at Fontwell – could I call her, and on doing so I learned that there were issues with the Owners Badges in Fontwell.
Having been allocated 15 O&T Badges by the Arena Racing Company’s Owners Liaison that very morning, the – I’ll call her ‘Lady’ (she was far from it) on the desk at the entrance was being very rude to all of Rockola’s owners as they arrived in turn to collect their badges. In front of everyone queuing to collect their badges and lunch vouchers she was loudly tearing into my clients for receiving, what in her opinion were badges that they were not entitled to – stating most vociferously that ‘This will never happen again!’ Debbie was also a recipient of her ‘charm’ and called straight away to report it to me. I immediately sent her the email from the ARC Owners Liaison stating that ‘As it was a quiet night she would allocate us O&T Badges’ which Debbie took to the Owners Entrance and showed the delightful creature on the desk – who compounded the issue by stating that she HAD the email!! So, this was just a case of her stating her opinion and not following instructions that she had been issued – it was not up to her to decide who got the badges or not – it was just her job to hand them out as my clients arrived! If she had an issue – which she clearly had – she should have approached it in a far more professional way – and waited until Debbie arrived, who was clearly marked as Syndicate Manager on the list that I sent and that she said she had, and taken the issue up with her – not publicly shame Rockola’s owners as they each collected their badges. The result of her actions meant that some of my clients were left very embarrassed in the O&T facility, feeling that the eyes of other owners in the room, who had witnessed this woman’s outbursts were on them – thinking that they were obviously in a place that they shouldn’t be! Debbie did a sterling job in very difficult circumstances, and it did give everyone a common topic of conversation! Having spoken to a few of those who were subjected to this, they are really not keen to return to Fontwell and I don’t blame them – this was appalling from one woman at the track – who was wholly unprofessional and spoiled a good night for plenty of people!
Debbie has ‘connections’ at the very top level of ARC and during the evening called a friend to tell her of the situation – her friend who is local to the track – was not surprised – it seems this was not the first occasion this had occurred! I would be on the phone to the ARC Owners Liaison on Friday morning for sure!
We headed from York across to a lovely pub just outside Barnsley for a meal before dropping Billy off. The Strafford Arms in Stainborough was a good find by Matt last year – and we were all keen to go back. We arrived just in time to get seated and watch Rockola’s run. She was a little keen early but was jumping really well – and when she dropped the bit she got into a great rhythm. She had to be coaxed away from the stands as they went out for the final circuit, but she soon picked up the bit again as they swung down the far side, and was travelling very strongly again. Three jumped the second last upsides, and Tom sent her on, but there was always a big danger on her outside, and despite trying her very best she couldn’t quite repel the challenge eventually tiring on the run in to finish second. Another very brave effort – she gives her all every time – her early overexertion probably taking it’s toll on what is a deceptively stiff finish in Fontwell, but she had run a fine race – upped in class and in open company.
Rockola - Fontwell - photos Debbie Burt
After an excellent dinner – we dropped Billy off at home, collected another passenger from Oughtibridge – Sarah’s Mum, Doreen, and headed back towards home. I dropped Matt, Doreen and Nick off at about 11.30pm and got home on the stroke of midnight – it had been a bloody long day fuelled with plenty of cold and flu tablets, Coca Cola, an egg and bacon sandwich and a bloody good gammon steak for dinner!
Friday morning – still feeling decidedly sub par! Badges to arrange for Intrepide Sud’s owners in Bangor – they know how to treat people! Having had a 17 hour day on Thursday I decided to not give myself such a long day on Saturday which was looking like a 5.00am start and an 8.00pm finish, as I was still feeling bloody rough – I booked myself into the Chisledon House Hotel again for the evening and would save myself a couple of hours in the morning. It also meant that I could catch up with Debbie in the evening and get a full debrief of the events of the previous evening in Fontwell.
Talking of which – I did make the call to the ARC Owners Liaison – and made it very clear that we were disgusted by the way our owners had been treated as they arrived. She was very apologetic and did phone Debbie to get the full facts and to apologise.
Rockola had pulled out sound in the morning and I got the race report typed and emailed to her owners before I headed down to Wiltshire.
Good to catch up with Debbie in the evening and get her perspective of the previous evening first hand. A warm sunny evening to sit out and enjoy a glass of red and a few nibbles. Not sure that the second bottle was entirely necessary, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. With Debbie having to be in at Olly Sangsters in Manton for a very early assignment first lot – it was not an overly late evening but it was nice to get the chance to chat over a few things and get some ideas flowing!
Still riddled with man flu – and having not had the best nights sleep – Saturday morning was not easy. I checked out of the hotel at 7.00am – and headed straight for the shop that I knew was on the way to Barbury Castle, to restock on the cold and flu tablets and get a bottle of water for what was going to be a very long day! It is always a pleasure to be at Barbury, and the chill breeze of first lot – and the first round of tablets helped no end – certainly blew a few cobwebs away.
Debbie arrived from Manton for second lot – and we saw And She Was work very nicely with an 80 odd rated flat filly. ASW has certainly grown and looks in fine form. Over breakfast Alan and I discussed the plans for both Rockola and And She Was – Rockola will be kept on the go through the summer – we see her as a summer filly – she loves decent ground – is light framed and will definitely be at her best with the sun on her back. And She Was has schooled so well – she will switch to hurdles and make her debut over them in the next couple of weeks. She will have to have a break at some stage and will not go right through until autumn – but we will get another run into her as another part of her education before she has a little downtime. She will come back a much stronger filly for sure.
And She Was - photos Debbie Burt
Having seen second lot, we jumped in the cars and raced across to Ivy Lodge Farm to get some pics and videos of Gatsby – our 3 yr old by The Grey Gatsby who is in pre training with Jason Maguire. This horse has been in our system for 18 months and has really flourished. He is a big, strong sort, who has done several pieces of work and who goes as well as he looks. He has a lovely lose, athletic walk to him and you know what they say – if they can walk well, they can gallop!
There are a couple of shares remaining in him – he has had the very best start to his career – been broken in by one of the best in the business in Maguire, he did plenty of work last year as a two year old and showed that he can handle every piece of work you can throw at him – the only thing he dislikes is a day off! His schooling over hurdles has been pure class – Archie Bellamy schooled him a lot as a 2 yr old, and he couldn’t get over how good he was. From what we have seen thus far – this horse has a very bright future – he heads into training with Olly Murphy – don’t miss your chance to get involved, he will be aimed at 3 yr old bumpers in the autumn – and will either head to Cheltenham on New Years Day and possibly stay in bumpers next season – or take advantage of his excellent jumping a head over hurdles after his bumper debut. Call 07909 518902 or email nickbrownracing@gmail.com to book your share!
Debbie made a quick exit as she was heading back to Newbury for an assignment on Lockinge Day. I had arranged to meet Chris and Rachel who live locally to hand over the trophy he won in the auction on Wednesday. This was perfect as it gave Chris and Rachel a chance to see Gatsby in whom they have a share, and also another one of their horses, Cloud Dancer – who is rehabbing from a leg injury he suffered in March. CD is such a lovely horse and is a model patient – he is being hand walked on a daily basis and is progressing well.
Chevelle is in the box next door – another recovering from an injury. Sadly, she will not be back on track as she has been retired, but she looks fantastic and after her period of box rest we will find a new home for her and a new career away from racing.
I left Jasons at 1.45pm and headed up the M5 to Bangor on Dee to see Intrepide Sud make his third chase start. He would have to show more than he had on his first two starts in that sphere, otherwise he could be another one heading for a change of career, but we were hopeful that given a change of tactics he would be seen in a better light. IS looked fantastic in the paddock on a hot afternoon. Johnny was keen to line up very handy with him, and although there was plenty of pace on, he would not be sitting off it. Five went to the first in a line, but a novicey leap from IS saw him shuffled back in the pack. Johnny kept him wide and his jumping improved until another slow leap down the side left him in a share of last place, and seemingly in a bit of bother. Johnny managed to keep him in contention and a few good leaps saw him back in the mix but still with plenty to do. As the race unfolded the leaders started to come back to him and he started to gather momentum. As they approached two out Johnny felt he has a squeak, but IS got right into the bottom of that one which all bar did for his chance of winning. To his credit he stuck his head down and stayed on really well to the line to finish third behind a very well backed favourite. We were all delighted with the run – it showed that he still has it in him, and Johnny is convinced that he is very close to winning again as he gains more chasing experience. This track did not suit him, as we feared, and he lost a front show during the race, so his performance can be marked up a fair bit. Great to see him put in a decent run and we can’t wait to see him out again!
Another long day – but a good day – I still felt rotten, but got through it, arriving home at 8.00pm.
I was soon in bed I can tell you – it had been a busy few days!
While in Bangor I caught up with Donald McCain who reports Dino Bellagio to be in rude health, and ready to run at the end of the month. Old Blue Eyes is out in the field at Bankhouse, and Ridin Solo is turned out at Tim Leslies in Shropshire. Debbie will be heading into Bankhouse on Monday to get some photos of Dino and OBE.
Sadly, I didn’t have time to see Nevada Samba when I was in at Ivy Lodge Farm – but I do know that he is very chilled out and enjoying his summer holiday – as is Greyval who is enjoying her R&R with Fergal and Sally. Floyd and Finbar are also having a whale of a time – they have moved down to another bit of pasture from Ivy Lodge Farm – as Jason didn’t want to overstock the field they were in in the hot dry weather. There is enough grass there at the moment, but he didn’t want to be short in 3 weeks time should we get appreciable rain.
Off to Doncaster later today for their Spring Sale – one day of national hunt stores on Monday – a blank day on Tuesday – which is a little odd – but I’m sure we will find something to do – rumour has it there is a little party planned in the afternoon – followed by two days of point to pointers and horses in training on Wednesday and Thursday. Another busy few days – hopefully I will have shifted this bloody lurgy by the end of it and be back on some sort of form by this time next week!
