Small But Mighty
A winning week! A fun few days – a day trip to The Oval – and a weekend winner in Worcester – I have had worse weeks!
Saying that, the week did get off to a very sad start – shortly after publishing last weeks missive, word reached me of the sad passing of former syndicate member and friend Nick Walton. Nick had shares in a few horses with NBR from 2004 through to 2011 and was always great fun to be with. The path of his life had not gone quite as it should have done, a hugely promising football career was ended before it began as a result of an horrific car crash which he was very fortunate to survive. The last few years had been very difficult for him, but it was still a huge shock to hear news that he was no longer with us. We will remember some great days that we had together with Olney Lad and Kikos and cherish those memories. Our thoughts are with his family at this hugely difficult time.
Monday – a rare start to the week – no videos – but all the reports over the weekend were that the team were all in fine fettle. With just three currently in work – this is a quieter time, but we are still working away behind the scenes – as the month of June rolls on, the return to work for the winter team gets ever closer and as a result I start to look at a few early season race options for some of the team. A few have a number of options – possible spins on the flat – switching from bumpers to hurdles, or from hurdles to fences – it is always good to have a rough plan in place for which way you are going to go – so that the trainers can train the horses to a target. It is something I have always done, and something I really enjoy doing. Obviously in the end it is the horses that dictate in which direction you go, some may need more schooling over hurdles and have another run in a bumper before making the switch, some may not take to the bigger fences at home, and have to stay over hurdles when a switch to chasing was planned, but it is always good to have a timescale and a framework to work to.
One who has a plan in place is Rockola, who, despite being in training for a long time, will remain running through the summer months and have a break in the winter. The ground and the level of opposition at this time of year suits her far better than racing on deep ground in the depths of winter. She had a short break away from the yard after running below par on very tacky ground in Huntingdon in February and really did well for it – she has run two very good races in defeat since that spell with Jamie Magee, finishing an unfortunate 3rd in Ludlow before a brave second in Fontwell. She is ready to run again and on Monday morning Alan King gave her an entry in a mares’ handicap hurdle in Worcester on Saturday. This would be the highest calibre race she had been entered in, but I am always keen to keep mares to races confined to their own sex if possible, and this race could well suit her. With an entry in Uttoxeter on Thursday against the geldings, we would look at the opposition and the weather forecast and decide which race to run in later in the week.
Tuesday – and a day out. Not racing this time, but a little jaunt down to The Oval to see England take on the West Indies in the third and final One Day International. The series already in the bag for England who had won the first two matches – this looked like being a fun day with a good group of lads!
While grabbing a coffee and waiting for the ‘rattler’ in St Neots I caught a quick chat with Alan King who was keen to bypass the engagement for Rockola in Uttoxeter on Thursday and head to Worcester with her on Saturday. As mentioned always happy to swerve the geldings and just take on mares – so all good with me!
Rockola worked very nicely on Tuesday – she will never set the world alight at home – saving all of her best work for the track – but she is consistent and very willing!
Our group swelled as we stopped in Biggleswade and Arlesey, and we were 8 strong by the time we alighted from the train at London Bridge and made our way to Kennington. The match was a day/night game, so the first ball was not due to be bowled until 1.00pm, so we headed to a regular haunt, The Duchy for a few pre match libations and a bite of lunch. The weather forecast was a bit sketchy – with a band of rain due across London mid afternoon – but in all probability that would not hold proceedings up for too long and we would get the guts of a 50 over game. Looking out of the pub windows onto a dry street in reasonable light, we were puzzled why the toss, and the start of the game had been put back half an hour – suited us fine, more time for lunch and another pint! Only later did we find out that the teams had been held up in traffic on their way to the ground, with England resorting to biking the last part of the journey!
Very fortunate to have tickets for The Lowry Balcony, situated just to the right of the Pavillion and on the top deck of a big stand. This is probably the best bar in London, with great views across the city, and of course a cricket match below!
A damp spell mid afternoon held up play for about an hour and reduced the game to 40 overs per side - in the end England once again running out easy winners to clinch the series 3-0. Back on the train to St Neots – trying to earwig a fascinating conversation between a very drunk lady and a gentleman she had just met on the train – the lady professing to have been very well connected in racing and chatting about all the famous people she had met through the sport – all this while her daughter had passed out on a seat on the other side of the carriage! The daughter had evidently ‘borrowed’ the bottle of Whispering Angel they were necking from the bottle from M&S before she had a nap! You meet all sorts!!
While on the train on the way back – it did cross my mind that I had not checked on the handicap ratings published that morning – a quick look – and no real surprise to see Greyval go up another 1lb to an official rating of 125. The form of her win in Cheltenham looks stronger and stronger as each week goes by – so no shock to see her creeping up the weights while out in the field!
Wednesday – as ever through the summer, as contract periods come to an end, we restructure a few of the syndicates – which is something I started on Wednesday. There are shares available in a few of our horses – have a look at the options on the FOR SALE Page – there are a couple that are not on there yet – so if you fancy getting involved in NBR – simply get in touch to discuss what options we have available – shares are from £25/week with no capital outlay, to much larger shareholdings. Shares available in gorgeous unraced and unnamed prospects through to established winners on the team – 07909 518902 or email nickbrownracing@gmail.com
Thursday – Fergal O’Brien, who was rambling through the Yorkshire Dales wasn’t at the yard on Thursday morning – but his excellent head man Kevin Brown was good enough to send through a video of Intrepide Sud cantering on the hill gallop. Suddy is very well after his excellent third place run in Bangor on Dee, a race that is working out supremely well, with the well backed winner that day going on to score by 22 lengths on his next start in Worcester. IS looks like he has got to grips with chasing now – and back on more conventional tracks such as Worcester and Uttoxeter, he should go very close next time out! He will be out again in the next 10 – 20 days – with a number of race options for him. There are FREE shares available in him – 07909 518902 for full details!
Alan King called after first lot as usual to confirm that he was going to declare Rockola in Worcester on Saturday. Our little lady would be heading to Worcester’s Ladies Day! I have been to this meeting in the past – the girls of the town get togged up in their finest to enjoy a day at the races! It is always a very busy meeting, and you see plenty of ‘sights’ for sure! Alan had been really pleased with Rockola since her run in Fontwell, and despite going up 2lbs for finishing second we were hopeful that back in mares’ company she would run another nice race.
Friday – a quiet day – just the badges to organise for Worcester – a large group of Rockola’s owners would be making the trip. Oversubscribed for Owners Badges, so it would be the Syndicates Lounge for us. Sadly, when they redeveloped Worcester, they had the chance to make a few changes – and failed big style! Owners were obviously at the bottom of the list when they redeveloped the new weighing room facility and paddock area. Now there are probably very good reasons for not doing the following, but on the face of it I can’t see them. Firstly, they should have at least incorporated a Winning Connections room in the new building. As it stands – Winning Connections are bustled off into a Gazebo by the side of the weighing room. The other massive ‘miss’ was redesigning a paddock – and reducing its size to that of a postage stamp – therefore limiting the number of people that can enter! This means that not all syndicate members can get in to see their horse, which is really disappointing. Surely when they redesigned the whole area they could have made the paddock and unsaddling enclosure a bit bigger and able to accommodate a few more people! Once again, those paying to provide the sport, at the bottom of the list! As a result, we would only get a limited number of wristbands to allow paddock access.
Saturday – Another Barbury Castle video – this one of And She Was working. ASW has come out of Newton Abbot in good order. Unlucky to lose Tom Cannon after the last when his saddle slipped and she was booked for a very satisfactory third place on hurdles debut – Alan has kept her in work, with half a mind to give her another run this summer. She has only had one short break since coming from the sales 12 months ago and will need a holiday – but we may just see her once more before she heads away for a break.
The team at Ravensell sent through a clip of Intrepide Sud working on the hill gallop – he put in an impressive shift – and looks in fine form!
Donald McCain called later in the morning to chat about Dino Bellagio – who has an entry in Hamilton next Wednesday. Donald and I are both keen to run – he is in great order, came out of Haydock in fine fettle, and as there are almost no other options for him through the remainder of the month – I will have to take a deep breath and stump up the cost of him traveling to Hamilton on his own! He is an intended runner. After this run, he will have his handicap mark – and we can start to get going with him in earnest. It is tough for him to give all this weight away at this stage of his and his opponents career, but when he has a mark, and steps up to a more suitable trip, he will be far more competitive! Donald reports that both Old Blue Eyes and Ridin Solo are summering well! Really looking forward to seeing Ridin Solo over fences next season, and very excited to see what Old Blue Eyes can do when he goes hurdling!
I looked at the weather forecast and saw that there was a large band of rain hitting Worcester at around 3.00pm – with a dry spell from 4.00pm onwards. Knowing what the crowd would be like – we timed our arrival for 4.00pm. The only way to describe the rain as we rounded Birmingham was torrential! The only thing I kept thinking was – the ground – would it get too soft for Rockola. I have bored folks about summer and winter going for years – you will all have heard it – due to grass growth and root structure, summer soft ground is a lot different to winter soft ground. Having coped with softer ground in the winter I was confident that Rockola would not be inconvenienced. It was clear that a fair few of the huge crowd had been inconvenienced by the cloud burst that had hit the track for the previous hour – with hordes of racegoers, girls in their finest – some of them nearly out of their finest - leaving the track and heading for the towns pubs! Even those leaving at 4.00pm as we arrived looked like they had had a good afternoon!
We headed to the Syndicate Lounge – described by the lady on the gate as ‘Not very good’ to meet the rest of Rockola’s owners. Great to catch up with them, and although the facility was far from salubrious, we did keep hearing that it was better to be in there with a bit of space rather than in the O&T facility in the grandstand which was described by more than one owner and trainer as a ‘boiling bunfight!’
Last race of the day – time for Rockola, who looked very much up for the fight in the paddock – marching round and looking on great terms with herself! She loves being a racehorse! Tom Bellamy taking over from Tom Cannon, and after riding in the previous race he decided that he didn’t want to be round the inner where the ground, now officially Good to Soft was cut up. He planned to get her settled early, get her into a good rhythm and pick his way round on the best of the ground.
The plan went perfectly, he got her in a lovely rhythm in rear, and although always in the last two of the seven runners on the first circuit she was travelling beautifully and was never far off the lead. The pace was strong, and Tom let Rockola jump her way through the field as they ran down the back straight. In a very clever move, by using her excellent jumping, he took her from second last to second place down the far side without once asking her to use more energy – he had let her jump her way into contention. Two pulled clear as they straightened for home and it looked as though Rockola was booked for second as the leader was travelling the better of the two – but another great leap three out got Rockola rolling again, and they met two out locked together. Rockola landed just ahead over the last – but as she has done in the past – just started to prick her ears and idle. It was a long run to the line – and from looking like she would be a comfortable winner over the last she gave her only rival a bit of a sniff - but was a cosy winner in the end! Great to see her back in the winners enclosure, she may not be the biggest mare in the world, but she has a huge heart and loves to race. Typical of progeny of her sire, Jukebox Jury she is unbelievably tough, and despite this being a career best – the way that she did it would suggest that her winning isn’t finished yet!
Rockola and Tom return to the winners enclosure
Whitey threatening to give the winning owners a bit of a splash - yes there is water in that bucket!
Fran and Rockola
Unbelievably, a share could well come available in Rockola next week, as one of her owners is looking to get involved in another of our youngsters. With a race record of 3.3.U,2,4,1,1,6,3,2,1 – in the first 3 on 8 of her 11 starts - she is admirably consistent, hardy and tough – and will give her syndicate a huge amount of fun going forward. As a three times winning half sister to a black type winner and a full sister to a Listed placed horse – she will have a value when her racing days are over – limiting your capital exposure. Get in touch if you would like a share in Rockola. The share, should it become available will be offered to the remaining syndicate members late next week should it not be sold beforehand.
Sunday – Kingy on to say that Rockola is fine after her run. She has run up a little light and will have a short course of ulcer treatment while she is having a few days off and will be out again in 3-4 weeks. Alan will school And She Was tomorrow, and we will chat about her when I see him later in the day. Her syndicate will be updated on where she goes next – racetrack or field - in the afternoon.
Around the remainder, Nevada Samba is enjoying his holiday with his mates at Ivy Lodge Farm where Cloud Dancer continues his rehab. Chevelle is back walking after her injury, and we have someone coming to see her next week to see if she is suitable for her to rehome and retrain. Gatsby – our gorgeous 3 yr old – is also having a short break – but will not join a herd in the field, his weight will be managed nearer to home for the next month before he resumes work in early July. He heads into training with Olly Murphy and will be ready to run in October.
Floyd and Finbar – our two homebred 3 yr olds are enjoying their summers at Timmy Murphy’s Cilldara Stud near Cirencester.
Next week – a meeting with Alan King tomorrow, may involve lunch! Heading to London for a couple of days on Wednesday and Tuesday, with another meeting scheduled for Thursday. Dino Bellagio will head to Hamilton on Wednesday, so we will have one runner during the week.
Get in touch if you are interested in any of the horses we have on the team with available shares – they are all highly recommended, and those with form are all winners! Give me a call – 07909 518902.
