It Was A wet One!
A day late and a dollar short! As predicted last week – the weeks recap was postponed by 24 hours – due to a very enjoyable weekend in the Cotswolds!
The past few days have been huge fun – but we still managed to cram plenty into the run up – a debutant, a stable visit, and one heading to ‘big school’ for the first time.
Monday – the only horse who had yet to make her debut in the Alan King Racing Club colours, Ghost Dancing, had been declared to do so on Tuesday in Hereford. GD would be taking on 6 rivals in the fillies juvenile hurdle, and there would be a good turnout of Club members to see how she faired. Badges to organise, thanks to Louise Daly who was very accommodating with numbers, it is always a great help when racecourses are willing and able to work with syndicate managers – I can assure you it makes life a lot easier!
With owner’s badges organised, I needed to get my car down to a mate’s garage for him to give it a check over. The old Range Rover is getting a bit high on the mileage front now, so when I become aware that ‘she’ has a little issue, I am very quick to get it sorted out – this one got the all-clear after a little bit of an investigation and a half hour cruise round. There is life in the old girl yet!
In the evening Sir Mark Prescott’s business partner and assistant, William Butler called to chat about plans with the Saxon Warrior colt we purchased in Book 2 and who is heading into training at Heath House. The first group of yearlings purchased in Books 1 and 2 would be heading to Heath House at the end of the week, and William would like our colt to head there at the same time. Sir Mark has his yearlings broken in away from the yard – but our lad had not gone with them, instead he had made the trip down to Jason Maguires who breaks in all our youngsters, and he began his education there. He was very straightforward to do – he had been given a super preparation for his sale, and the next phase at Ivy Lodge Farm went very well. He was forward going without being too much of a handful and passed through the various phases of the breaking in process smoothly. In the end he was cantering nicely upsides on the deep sand gallop and was a very easy ride. I was sure that Jason would give him the ‘all clear’ to head back to Newmarket when I chatted with him on Tuesday morning, with Thursday planned for him to travel.
Tuesday – a trip across to Hereford to see Ghost Dancing make her debut. Hereford is one of those trips I never look forward to – it isn’t the days racing when you get there, it is the roads getting you there, the final stretch from Worcester across to Hereford is interminable! This trip was no exception – but during the journey there was a brief few minutes that really made my day!
I had timed my trip to be around Worcester by 11.00am – as this was Armistice Day – and I will always recognise the 2 minutes that the nation falls silent to commemorate our fallen. I only just made it off the M5, but thankfully I did and at 10.58am I pulled over into the first layby off of the motorway and turned off the car. There was one other car in the layby ahead of me, and nothing behind. With just the radio on – tuned into coverage from the service at the National Arboretum – I remembered and gave thanks to all of those that had given their lives for our country. As Reveille signalled the end of the 2 minutes silence, I started the car and went to pull out of the layby onto the dual carriageway and continue my journey – as I checked my mirror to do so, I saw three cars behind me, do exactly the same thing. They had not been there when I pulled in, so they too had taken the time to pause their journeys and respect the 2 minutes silence. I know it is only a little thing – but it really did make me feel as if there were at least a few decent people in the world.
The final leg of the trip was as usual, slow and as annoying, but it did give me a chance to talk to Maguire and sort out transport for the Saxon Warrior colt from his Ivy Lodge Farm up to Heath House. William had said that Thursday would fit in well with the arrival of the yearlings from other yards – as it was, the transport that we use were heading up to Newmarket to collect a horse on Wednesday and it suited them to take our boy up a day early – that worked with William – so the Saxon Warrior Colt would be at Heath House a day early.
I arrived in Hereford in good time and met up with Club members ahead of the first. With Ghost Dancing running in the second it gave us a chance to chat over her race. The nice weather of the morning had given way to a blustery and wet afternoon – and this was going to be a bit of a baptism of fire for GD. She is a homebred and has never been away from Barbury Castle before. No sales, and no away days – so she would be at a distinct disadvantage with her now 5 rivals (1 non runner) who had all had racecourse experience, if not over hurdles, then on the flat. Ghost Dancing was well behaved in the prelims – she did have a very good look at the marquee on the top side of the paddock that was flapping about in the strong wind on one circuit of the paddock but was otherwise very good. The conditions were deteriorating as we gathered in the paddock, and the jockeys were none to keen to come out of the warm weighing room. When he did emerge, Tom Bellamy, said that he would get a lead, settle her in behind the leaders and get her into a nice rhythm, the key to the day was for her to enjoy her first start, and want to go back and do it again. Whatever she did, win, lose or draw, she would benefit hugely from the experience. The race panned out as expected. GD settled nicely behind the pace setters, her jumping a little sticky at first got better as the race developed. She tired on the turn into the straight and Tom was not hard on her, bringing her home safely in fourth. It had been a bit of a baptism of fire in the conditions with mud and rain hitting her in the face all the way round – but she had to start somewhere, and with that run under her belt, she will know a lot more about life and you will all see a different filly when she next steps foot on the track.
There was plenty of post race fun in the bar – there always is when A King and A Gemmell get together, and it was practically dark by the time we left the track.
During the afternoon Debbie announced that she had once again been nominated for an award at the annual Horserace Writers and Photographers Awards lunch next month. This year - not just once but twice!! Huge congratulations to Debbie for the recognition - we will be there to support her!
I dropped one of the Club members, Mark, off at the train station in town and rather than head home, I made my way to Wroughton, just outside Swindon for the night, as Debbie and I were going into Barbury Castle early on Wednesday morning. Alan had said that the rooms had been improved at the White Hart, so as I stood in the O&T Lounge in Hereford, I had booked myself in – dangerous to be staying in Kingy’s local! When I arrived, Robin Smith, Alan’s assistant, had just got to the bar and we had a couple of pints before a very decent supper – if you are ever there and hungry, the honey roasted ham hock is a must – it’s bloody huge – just make sure you haven’t ordered two – a slight misunderstanding almost lead to me having two joints the size of an elephants knee on my plate, luckily this was averted, and I only had to tackle the one – I managed, but a few of the accompanying chips were left on the plate!
After a nice comfortable night, I headed down to Barbury Castle for first lot. Wednesday was the day for the stable visit that I had put together with Venatour, who would be hosting members of the Racehorse Owners Association, Arena Racing Members and their own clients. There had been over 50 people booked on the visit, but heavy overnight rain, and a less than pleasant forecast for the morning, saw a good few of them cancel their trips.
Before the 25 hardier souls arrived Debbie and I saw two lots up Sharpridge. Alan has his team in great order, and they really do look in rude health. Alan had left early to get to Bangor on Dee, so the morning was hosted by Robin. Between first and second lot we got to see Nevada Samba out for a leg stretch – he is recovering from a mystery ailment that has had the vet scratching his head. He is not sure what he did to himself, but a few days box rest, and a week of daytime turnout in the paddock seem to have improved him no end, and he was back being ridden again by the previous Monday. Nothing strenuous, just a little walk and jog round the lunge pen, but it is progress and hopefully whatever it was that he did is healing, and he will soon be back in full work once again.
Some of first lot warm up
Nevada Samba
Ghost Dancing, having run the day before was having the day off, Uhtred Ragnarson was just back cantering after his win the previous week, and I’d Go Maniac, would work later that morning. IGM is almost ready to run again. He would work that day, and two more bits of strong work after that, on Saturday, and the following Wednesday, should see him ready to make his flat handicap debut.
Third lot, the visitors got to see three really nice prospects parade in the paddock before they cantered on the round sand gallop. It was lovely to see Edwardstone looking so well ahead of his seasonal bow in Cheltenham at the weekend, another one heading to HQ paraded for visitors as well, Hellnwein – who I must say really caught the eye, he is a lovely individual. The other two were bumper winner Baron Noir, and an ex Irish Pointer, called Out In De Wild.
After watching these four at exercise, it was back to the yard, for a hot drink, lovely warm pastries, Claires cake and then time for everyone to have a wander around the yard. Despite the forecast, the rain just about held off, and it was a fun morning. As we were drinking coffee and eating pastries and cakes, And She Was headed out for her mornings work – she did two routine canters up Sharpridge and is in good form.
Ghost Dancing gets a well earned carrot on her day off
Edwardstone parades for visitors
Edwardstone on the round gallop
On the way home I called William Butler to check how the Saxon Warrior colt was after his trip from Gloucestershire. He had travelled up really well, come off the lorry, gone straight into stable and tucked into his lunch. Not a lot seems to phase him which is a fantastic for a young horse at this stage of his career!
Thursday – a quick bit of work scheduled for the car – and with that done – it was booked in for a clean and a valet ahead of our annual trip to the Cotswolds for the Open meeting in Cheltenham. You have to go looking your best!
As we headed west, Debbie was heading east to an assignment at the National Stud. Her being in Newmarket, and the Saxon Warrior colt arriving a day earlier, meant that she could be in Heath House and capture his first morning at ‘big school’. A great memory for his owners to have. He was quietly introduced to the covered ride in the company of an older horse who has seen it all before, and he was really good – he took everything in and was very well behaved. Having got the ‘lie of the land’, he would be able to show off to his new classmates when they arrived the following day.
A long held ambition - colours on a door at Heath House!
On the way down to Broadway I caught up with Donald McCain – Old Blue Eyes had been a little lame after work 12 days ago – and the feeling at the time was that he had pulled a muscle. He had improved hugely since then but was still slightly off – so they investigated a little further and found that he had a small injury to a fibia in a hind leg. He will be off games for 4 weeks and then be able to resume work. Very frustrating as he had just had his first entry of the season, having waited for softer ground. I am convinced these horses can read the Racing Post – and when they see they have an entry they find a way to get out of it! The only saving grace is that he is a horse with plenty of ability and one that will be very much worth waiting for!
We checked into our usual ‘haunt’, The Fish late afternoon – probably our 20th visit to this excellent hotel just outside Broadway. We would not usually keep returning to the same spot, and would try different places, but The Fish suits us so well we keep heading back there. It is a very nice spot, go if you get the chance! https://thefishhotel.co.uk/
A good start to the weekend
It is fair to say that the forecast for Friday in Cheltenham, and in fact across most of England was dire – storm Claudia arriving and bringing with her an awful lot of wind and rain. The course had put out a press release that the meeting could be abandoned due to high winds and torrential rain but at 7.30am it got the go ahead, and we headed off to the races. On arrival it was damp, but not too bad although the wind was picking up. We got ourselves ensconced in our usual spot and didn’t intend to leave. The weather then took a major turn for the worst, the wind really picked up, closing off access to the end of the new stand, as it was deemed to dangerous to be in that area, and in fact you just wouldn’t go out to the front of the stands if you could as it was simply awful that side. Paddock side was in the lee of the wind and rain and was about the only place to get any shelter and was where I caught up with Fergal O’Brien during the afternoon. He reported that Greyval was in fantastic form. We had chatted over race options for her earlier in the week – and decided that she would have an entry in Bangor On Dee at the end of November and if that race was not suitable for her, she would have her next entry in Cheltenham in mid December. Ferg also confirmed that Molly’s Lad had come out of his race in great form and it was all systems go for Cheltenham on New Years Day for him!
Olly Murphy continues to bang in the winners, and he popped over to say that he is hoping to get ‘Gatsby’ away for another spin on turf in the next couple of weeks. He is very happy with him!
I ventured out to see two of the owners of Molly’s Lad, Demi and Alex, half way through the afternoon – and after trailing round a few bars I eventually found them, but even in that short time, I was pretty wet, and windswept. It was good to see them both, and hopefully the weather will be better when we meet up at Ravenswell Farm in the near future. Demi has not been down yet. Molly’s Lad is having an easy couple of weeks after his excellent second on debut in Aintree.
When I got back up to the bar – I simply said to everyone, don’t leave – don’t go out there – it is horrific.
One person who didn’t have the option of staying indoors was poor Debbie, who was doing her best to take photos of all the action! Having briefly experienced conditions for myself, I can’t imagine how it must have been to be out in it all day! In Debbie’s words – ‘It was shit!’ Having spoken to her this morning – she has just about dried out – some of her clothes have yet to do so, and she thinks she could well have caught a cold as well! If she has, she can consider herself lucky it isn’t pneumonia! She freely admits that Friday was the worse conditions she has ever had to work in in her life!
Still smiling despite the best efforts of Claudia!
It took us nearly an hour to get out of the course and on the road to Broadway, but we got there in the end and consoled ourselves with more excellent food and wine!
During the day Louise Kemble sent through a picture of ‘Nancy’ our weanling filly by Nirvana du Berlais, out of Savingforvegas. She really is thriving and looks great. NdB’s stock were certainly in demand at the recent foal sales in Ireland, and she looks to be a really nice individual.
Alan King also sent through a clip of And She Was working earlier that morning. She is well on the road to full fitness and will be making her seasonal debut in the next few weeks.
Saturday, and thankfully much improved weather. The track had taken Friday’s rain well, and it was all systems go for a good day. Great to catch up with lots of friends and clients, and really good to catch up with Kate Tracy, who I see all over social media and the TV these days! It has been a while since we have met up, and it was fantastic to get the chance to catch up with her career, chew over what has been happening in her, and her partner Ciaran Gethings lives and share some memories. Safe to say we put the world to rights and there was plenty of juicy gossip!!
Huge congratulations to Louise Kemble who’s Shotgun Shirley was a superb second in the Listed Bumper that closed the card. We watched this race from the Champaigne Bar, where Steve had tipped her up (each way) to all who would listen – she got a good roar home! Hugely important Black Type for Louise’s brave young mare – and it just shows what you can gain for rolling the dice!
Sunday – the third and final day of the November meeting. We would head down to the track but leave a little early – it had been a long weekend! The girls went shopping in the shopping village – another new coat was evidently needed!
Regular readers (sufferers) will possibly remember me writing about a couple of hours I spent at the Shetland Pony Grand National assessment day in Keysoe. One of the best 2 hours of my year – yesterday was the end of a long season for the ponys and jockeys, the final heat up the Cheltenham hill. Sadly, a messy start ruined any chance that Freya Maguire had of emulating her dad and riding a winner up the famous hill, but the disappointment of not winning was tempered by the news that she could be riding at the Horse Of The Year Show next year! Jason and family up in the bar later -all in good form, better than Lauren’s tips anyway! Nice to get the chance to chat with Jason over a pint and get his thoughts on the Saxon Warrior colt he had just broken in, and who had headed up to Sir Mark Prescott on Wednesday. He was very complimentary about the horse. He was very impressed with his mind and attitude to life. And from what he had seen of him cantering, he confirmed that he thought he was a very well balanced, athletic individual. Those that had ridden him were all very impressed with the feel that he gave them, so it looks like has a really nice future.
Unbelievably – still 2 shares available – have a look at him on the FOR SALE Page and get in touch. The capital share price will increase on December 1st so don’t delay! https://www.nickbrownracing.co.uk/ForSale/8274/sir-mark-prescott-bt
Checking the results when we got home – it was great to see Nirvana du Berlais sire the first and third home in a Grade 1 chase in Auteuil – he is a sire that is going to be a superb source of winners in the coming years, he already has the mighty Lulamba running for him in the UK, and I am sure he is a stallion to follow. We are very happy with Nancy – our foal, and even more delighted to have Savingforvegas back in foal to him this time round too!
Around the remainder of the team. Dino Bellagio and Intrepide Sud are both in good order with Jason Maguire and will both be back in work in January. Cloud Dancer is looking great at Timmy Murphy’s, and he too should be back in work in early January. ‘George’ our gorgeous Golden Horn 2 year old will over winter at Timmy’s and then head into Ivy Lodge Farm for his ‘secondary school’ in the spring. He is a very exciting individual and will follow the path we have trodden with the likes of Dino Bellagio, Cloud Dancer, Mamoon Star and this year Molly’s Lad, and he will be trained for junior bumpers next autumn and have a crack at the Listed bumper in Cheltenham on New Years Day. Golden Horn is proving to be a fantastic source of jumps winners, and this horse really does have it all! One that will be heading back to Ivy Lodge Farm in the next few weeks is ‘Floyd’ our 3 yr old gelding by Falco out of Savingforvegas. He will be back in work in the next few weeks – be prepared for a bumper in the spring and syndicated before-hand. He is a cracking looking individual, and I think he has a big future.
Up with Donald McCain – Ridin Solo is going really well – he was given plenty of time after his seasonal bow, as he gave himself a bit of a bash – but he is back in full work, and going really well.
This week – plenty of office work to catch up on – no runners, but there should be a yard visit or two!
Please get in touch if you would like one of the remaining shares we have on offer. We will be visiting Sir Mark Prescott’s Heath House in the next 2/3 weeks to see the yearling there. If you are interested in taking a share in him – and would like to join his owners on the visit, please let me know and I will add your name to the list. 07909 518902, or nickbrownracing@gmail.com
