Another Nice One?
As usual – a phenomenal response to the September Syndicate Saturdays once again. Thanks to those that have got back to me and booked their places – these mornings are a great way to meet up with co-owners, fellow syndicate members and friends – and once again we will be busy! The mornings are open to all – everyone is welcome and feel free to bring along any friends or family members that you think may like to see the horses and meet the teams that look after them! Please just book with me so that we can get a handle in numbers attending each yard.
The dates and times are as follows:
Saturday September 6th – Fergal O’Brien – Ravenswell Farm GL54 4DD – 8.00am – 11.00am
Saturday September 13th - Olly Murphy – Warren Chase Stables – CV37 9XG – 8.00am – 11.00am
Saturday September 20th – Donald McCain – Bankhouse Stables – SY14 8AL – 8.00am – 11.00am
Saturday September 27th – Alan King – Barbury Castle Stables – SN4 0QZ – 8.30am – 11.00am
Please email nickbrownracing@gmail.com or call/message me on 07909 518902 to book places for yourself, friends and family – as I said – all welcome!
Like Arkwright – we are ‘Open All Hours’ and that was certainly the case last Sunday night – when we were delighted to receive confirmation that Fran and Sheridan would be taking one of the remaining shares in ‘Gatsby’. Fran and Sheridan have been owners with NBR for years now – and are getting close to receiving their ‘Long Service Medal’. We are very proud of the fact that so many of our owners and syndicate members have been part of our journey for so long – in fact Roger was a member of the very first syndicate I put together almost exactly 26 years ago and has had shares in horses all the way through that period, currently enjoying lots of fun with Greyval – and always wanting to receive information about our new opportunities. I am thrilled that Fran and Sheridan have decided to have a share in the lovely grey – who is now in training with Olly Murphy and we wish them the best of luck with him!
Monday – August Bank Holiday – and a time to be at home avoiding traffic! As mentioned, plenty of folks to be booked in on the stable visits next month.
Dino Bellagio in great form at home and ready to run again – I had spoken to Donald a few days before and we decided that we would give him an entry in Chester – not really sure that the track would suit him – but with the forecast of heavy rain around towards the end of the week we felt that it was worth giving him an entry and seeing how the entries looked and how the ground would be riding. We both felt that Dino would certainly not be suited to the tight turns of Chester on Good or quicker ground – but if the rain arrived and it was riding pretty slow – we may just give it a go and see if he handled the track.
Tuesday – Alan King on early with a couple of clips. Nevada Samba cantering up Sharpridge. He is over his nasty bout of ringworm – and is in tremendous order. He is a different animal to the one that was in training in the spring – the summers break has done him the world of good, and he has matured so much physically that he looks like a different horse. He is a big strong individual now – a man, rather than the leggy teenager we were dealing with earlier in the year. It is little secret what we thought of him then – he can only have improved!!
Tuesday being a work morning – I’d Go Maniac worked, and as usual worked very nicely, but Alan called a short while afterwards and said that he would not be declaring him in Ffos Las on Thursday – as he wasn’t 100% happy with him through the stalls that morning and would like a few more days working on that before he ran. I’d Go Maniac would have been the first horse to carry the colours of The Alan King Racing Club – the exciting new venture that we have put together and are managing for the ‘Master of Barbury Castle’. The Club was only launched a couple of weeks ago and every day shares are being reserved or taken. As there are only 36 shares available in total, it will not be long before the Sold Out signs go up – it has proved hugely popular – with shares being taken by people from all over the British Isles! We believe that the Alan King Racing Club is a bit special – there is no other trainer in the UK with the pedigree of Alan King to have a Racing Club – Alan is a trainer of 18 Grade 1 winners over jumps and multiple Group 1’s on the flat – very few trainers in the UK can boast that resume! Add to that, the fact that he trains at possibly the most beautiful yard in the country, Barbury Castle, which members will be able to visit regularly to enjoy mornings on the gallops, and the fact that Alan has selected three differing but talented horses to represent the Club and you can see why shares have been so popular. Click the link to head over to the website for full details – this Club is outstanding value – three horses, both flat and national hunt means that members will be racing all year round – no breaks – no down time – so great value for money!
https://alankingracing.co.uk/racing-club/
After a short stint in the office, I threw a change of clothes in a bag, and we headed north up the A1 for the Premier Sale in Doncaster. The first yearling sale of the season in the UK and always a great atmosphere. The two day sale would commence on Wednesday morning, but Tuesday is a viewing day, when purchasers can inspect the lots on offer and make their long lists a little shorter. When we arrived at the sales, we were parked so far away from the sales complex we nearly needed a bus to get to it. I have never seen the car park so full – surely a good sign of things to come – plenty of people must mean plenty of bidders and a strong trade. It was great to see that there were evidently still plenty of folks looking to spend money and buy horses – the bloodstock trade has to be one of the most resilient markets there is! It was a bright sunny day – and although we were not that busy – we did still get to chat to plenty of friends and clients including one Irish man who would be buying plenty of yearlings and would be hoping for better luck with them than he had had with his pick up truck recently. The truck had a chip in the windscreen, so he took it into Limerick City to get a replacement. That process takes less than an hour, but they ask you to give them 3-4 hours to allow the glue to set, and to make sure that everything is OK. When he returned to collect his vehicle, they informed him that there had been a little problem – and our Irishman was thinking they had cracked the new screen putting it in, and he would need to come back or leave it with them for another day – Oh No! They had taken the truck for a test drive – and it had been written off!! Not what he was expecting!
After a couple of pints at the sales ground to lay the dust – we headed to the Hilton, checked in – grabbed another livener and headed up to Vivo’s for dinner. Busy as ever – Vivo’s is very popular with the Irish contingent that come over for the sales!
Wednesday – first things first – I needed to get the car washed ahead of the funeral tomorrow – internet research over breakfast sent us to Mr Sponges Car Wash – 3 minutes from Goffs. There early – not first in the queue even at that time – but a very efficient system that had us washed dried and polished in just over 10 minutes – ideal – and somewhere we can take horseboxes if they have got dirty on the way to Doncaster, before they go on the stand – a good little find always makes for a good start to the day!
Debbie popped into Kingy’s to drop off some door cards in preparation for a big yard visit for National Racehorse Week. The door cards have a QR Code which visitors can scan to see the full details of each of the horses in the Alan King Racing Club – a quick and easy way for everyone to find out all about the horse that they are looking at in their stable - all at the press of a button.
The sales were very busy – although trade was a little hit and miss for the first 2-3 hours after which it settled into a more regular pattern – with a decent trade overall.
A busy day with the horseboxes too – plenty of interest – and lots of quotes for the office to send out over the next few days. As the day was ending, I said my goodbyes and hit the road south – I would not be in Donny for the second day of the sales – as it was Margarets Funeral on Thursday.
Thursday would be a tough day – but there was still work to be done first thing. A chat with Donald – we would not declare Dino Bellagio in Chester. As we were waiting to see what the ground would be like – Paul Mulrennan had opted to take rides in Beverly as Dino would have been his only ride in Chester. The ground was still Good to Firm in places – and any rain was now forecast for after racing and it looked like there would be a large and competitive field– so all things considered, not the right race for Dino – we will wait with him, and he will have entries going forward.
More syndicate agreements to send out to new members of the Alan King Racing Club – Welcome packs, which include a welcome letter from Alan – a lapel pin in Club colours – photos of all three horses and a share certificate will be making their way to members from Monday – and with IGM so close to running – it will not be long before we are meeting up on the racecourse.
Her family did Margaret proud – two beautiful services to remember the long life of a lovely lady. A difficult day was certainly made easier by all of the messages of love and support that Cheryl received form you on Thursday morning – and thank you so much to those who came and supported both of us at the memorial service in St Neots after the crematorium.
Friday – office day for me – Birthday for Debbie – who spent her morning in the best possible way – with horses. Debbie and her friend (and Red Sash Racing Club member) Ally popped over to Kingys to see the horses. Debbie has seen Nevada Samba (Barry) very many times over the course of the last 2 years and like us all she has been blown away by his lovely nature, physical appearance and good looks – no better person to have your Birthday snap with!
Alan sent through another video of I’d Go Maniac working – once again, very well – he will have entries over the course of the next two weeks.
Louise Kemble called mid morning – for a catch up. All well at The Elms, this years foal, the chesnut filly by Nirvana du Berlais, ‘Nancy’, is developing nicely, and those that have seen her like her – including one of the reps from one of the sales companies that I ran into on Wednesday in Doncaster. He was impressed with her physically – she has size and scope, and we did have a brief discussion about a spot in their sale in a couple of months – but I very much doubt that she will be heading for a sale this year. One thing is for sure – the sales companies are fans of her sire and they think that she would be well received both on pedigree and physicality when/if she is offered for sale. That is on the agenda for the meeting Steve, and I will have over lunch next week. We will be in to see the stock at the stud later on in September.
After a good catch up with Louise – it was time to pay her some money – monthly bills to pay – so the rest of the day in the office!
Great to catch up with Alex in the afternoon – Alex co syndicated Greyval with me and had so much fun he came in with me on ‘Gatsby’ as well. Alex called to say that he is well along the road to selling the remaining shares in Gatsby – although he won’t be able to finalise the deal for a couple of weeks as his man is off on holiday. He has been told that the shares will remain on the market – so if you would like one of the remaining shares in this cracking grey son of The Grey Gatsby – let me know in the next few days – when they are gone, they are gone!
Gatsby has slotted in really well at Warren Chase, and Olly Murphy says he swings round the sand gallop very easily – he a lovely big horse – who is also being aimed at Junior Bumpers this autumn. By a very good sire (the same sire as Greyval) he is a horse who would appear to have a big future. His dam was a winner on the flat in the USA and is the half sister to a filly who was third in a Group 2 at 3. A lovely mix of speed and stamina on his page – and we all know that The Grey Gatsby can sire very good jumpers – just look at our own Greyval – his first pattern winner in the UK!
Having been couped up indoors on Friday I felt that I needed to get out and see some horses myself on Saturday – and having not been up to see Donald McCain for a few weeks – he was my chosen victim for a yard visit. A good trip up, although Donald had failed to tell me about the road closure through the estate about a mile from his yard – so figuring that he definitely would have done so – I ignored my sat nav when it tried to divert me off the main road about 3 miles from the yard – I ignored the Road Closed signs on the estate, as it said businesses were open as usual – I couldn’t ignore the huge barriers across the road as I got to within a mile of Bankhouse! Turn round – re route – and 10 minutes late!
Donald was in great form – his new gallops have bedded in well, and a change of feed has them looking fantastic in their skins – they are gleaming! Donald was not happy with the results last season – and has made some changes – feed, vets, gallops have all seen a change or an upgrade – and the changes seem to be having a good effect. The horses look great and the few that he has run have run really well.
Second lot – Dino Bellagio and Ridin Solo headed out to the deep sand round gallop. Dino as we know is fit and well – and did three on the round gallop before doing one up the hill on the new woodchip surface.
Ridin Solo stayed on the round gallop and did another three circuits. RS looks great, he is building up to full fitness, but after a course of medication to treat ulcers he is carrying more condition than at this stage last year and has a real shine to his coat. I may be imagining it – but he seemed to be moving better to my eye as well! I think we are in for a really fun season with Ridin Solo – there are still shares available in The Red Sash Racing Club – hit the link and get involved!
Third lot – great to see Old Blue Eyes cantering on the deeps sand. He has certainly strengthened from last season – even though he won a bumper on debut in Sedgefield, he was quite weak and after another run on unsuitably soft ground in Aintree, he found the rigours of training all a bit too much and Donald wasn’t able to get another run into him. Immediately after Aintree, Brian Hughes had said that just one more run would be enough for him last term, so we didn’t miss out on too much action – Brian very much likes OBE and thinks he has a bright future – he is sure to give his owners lots of fun this winter.
While at Donalds, Jason Maguire sent through an update on Intrepide Sud, who has been at his Ivy Lodge Farm for a couple of weeks. IS is not moving great and appears to be in some discomfort. He has improved, but not quickly enough to be thinking of heading him back into training any time soon. Instead, we decided to turn him away for a few months of R&R to let his system reset and get him back moving well again. He will have a few months in the field and come back into work in early 2026 in preparation for a spring/summer campaign.
Alan King called too – an update on And She Was, who has been back in and on the walker for a week – she will be ridden from Monday onwards – and Alan tells me she has summered well – with little rain there has been virtually no grass growth, so the horses have been getting plenty of hard feed in the field. ASW being a tough little madam – made sure she got her share and more, and as a result has bulked up really well. It will be good to get a clear run with her. She will be very well handicapped when she gets a mark and is sure to give her syndicate a lot of fun – there is some winning to be done with her!
Alan also gave an update on Ghost Dancing – who has been on a short break with Jamie Magee. This gorgeous filly had come to hand really quickly, and would have been ready to run way sooner than necessary as the races she will be aimed at don’t appear in the calendar until October. GD is the third horse in the Alan King Racing Club and will be aimed at Junior Bumpers before a switch to National Hunt Juvenile Hurdles. She works very well – and her schooling has been very good indeed. Ghost Dancing will be back at Barbury Castle next week.
For anyone interested in joining the Alan King Racing Club – you are more than welcome to join us on the syndicate visit on Saturday 27th of September – but if I am honest – I think the Club will be fully subscribed by then – so if you would like to see the horses ahead of that just let me know – 07909 518902 or email nickbrownracing@gmail.com
I headed back from Donalds having enjoyed a really good morning and thought there was no better time to catch up with another one of our trainers – Fergal O’Brien. Ferg in top form as ever. I let him know that Intrepide Sud would not be back to him in the next few weeks as planned and that Jason and I had decided to give him a break. I was keen to hear about the two that he has in full work. First up – ‘Finbar’ – our homebred 3 yr old gelding. Fergal is clearly very happy with him – we know that Finbar can be a bit sharp – but other than that, he is very much going the right way. Fergal is very impressed with how he has taken to the switch to ‘big school’ – we have always said how tough and hardy this lad is – and it means that he is well up to the rigours of harder work, both physically and mentally. Our system prepares then so well for the switch to full training – and with that behind him and a very tough outlook, he is taking everything in his stride. Physically he continues to develop, and Fergal describes him as a ‘little bull of a horse’ although he did go on to say that ‘he isn’t actually that small’. Fergs daughter Fern is doing plenty with Finbar and he said that she really likes him – that he has such a big athletic stride that he rides a lot bigger than he is. They clearly like what they have – and love the way that he is progressing, taking each step up in workload very easily – he takes every bit of work you can throw at him. Finbar has not been back out on the hill gallop yet, as Fergal is having the surface sorted out, but that should be ready to use again by the middle of next week – and be in use in time for our yard visit next weekend. There is a share left in Finbar – 10% is just £1000 – he has a fantastic pedigree, and as you have just heard – he has the physical and athletic attributes to go with that pedigree. He looks ideal for the Junior Bumpers from October, and in an ideal world – he would follow the same path that we took with a similar horse Mamoon Star, who ran well on debut and then headed to Cheltenham on New Years Day – finishing third in the Listed Bumper that closes the card. Have a look at Finbar’s full details on the FOR SALE page and get in touch – remember – ‘Finbar is just his stable name his syndicate will be choosing his proper name in the next two weeks – so if you get involved now you even get the chance to name him! 07909 518902 or email nickbrownracing@gmail.com
Fergal also had a very positive update on Greyval who everyone agrees is moving better than ever – as he does with all the horses, she had a full MOT in July when she came back in from the field – then she had a small amount of treatment – when reassessed last week – the vets confirmed that she was moving great and needed no further treatment. Greyval will have a run on the flat in September, before a run in the Silver Trophy in Chepstow and then head over fences.
