Toughing It Out In Donny
Before we crack on – there has been a fantastic response to the invitation to our Open Day at Ivy Lodge Farm in July – for those that missed the news last week – here are the details:
This year, with kind permission of Jason and Lauren Maguire, we will be having an ‘Open Day’ at their stunning Ivy Lodge Farm in Birdlip, Gloucestershire on Sunday 26 July from 12.00pm It is very kind of the Maguires to host us, there will be a parade of the jumps horses, as well as a buffet lunch, and drinks. The whole afternoon will have the atmosphere of a summer garden party, with a few horses thrown in! Most of the trainers have said that they would love to be there, as will some of the jockeys if they are free. It will be a great chance to see the horses before they head back into training with their respective trainers the following day and get a rundown of plans for them from their trainers. It will be a fun afternoon, and we are all hoping that plenty of you can make it. Everyone is welcome, and please feel free to bring any guests that you feel may enjoy the afternoon. I would be grateful if you could let me know if you are coming by Friday June 12th, so that we can get a handle on numbers for the caterers. This will be a cracking afternoon, and we are all very much looking forward to a new date in our calendar and a chance to get together!
Let me now as soon as you can as this day is getting filled very quickly – it will be a cracking afternoon!
This week was spent, mainly at the Goffs UK Spring Sale. Monday to Thursday – with a viewing day, with no sale scheduled for the Tuesday. Always a fun week – a great chance to catch up with lots and lots of people – some of whom you have not seen for 12 months. There is always a good atmosphere, with plenty of socialising in the evening, and a chance to meet new friends!
There was not too much socialising on Sunday night when we got up there – it had been a busy weekend – and we headed for the hotel restaurant and an early night.
Monday – the first day of the sale – over 200 3yr old stores to be sold. As ever a mixed bunch but wandering through the yards there were a few that took the eye – there was certainly a few quality horses on offer. Alan King was on site early, and looking them over, he would be buying a couple. I have had lots of enquiries about another syndicate at Barbury Castle – something to lease that will give us a bit of fun – I got the chance to chat a few options over with Alan and hopefully I will be able to message those that are interested with some details in the next few days.
The trade was OK – steady and solid with the right horses making the right money. One thing that wasn’t steady was the weather – 4 seasons in one day – wind, rain, hail stones and warm sunshine!
News reached us last weekend about the sad passing of Donald McCains mother, Beryl – and as soon as I spied him on the sales ground – I was quickly over to offer my sincere condolences. I would be just one of many to do so – and Derek O’Connor would tell me later in the week – that he deliberately spent most of the day with Donald as he knew it could be a tough day for him if he was on his own – what a gentleman Derek is!
Lovely to catch up with jockey Ciaran Gethings, who was up enjoying the sale and looking over a few horses. Ciaran is an absolute gentleman, and a hugely underrated jockey. It has been an absolute pleasure to see him have such a fantastic 2025/26 season – and I am sure he is going to kick on from it and rise even further up the ranks this season. We had some great times together, and it was lovely to reminisce about the horses that he rode for us and the great times we had. Ciaran’s career has really kicked on in the last 12-18 months – and we wish him all the very best for the future and hope to see him back in our colours again very soon.
We were late away from the sales complex, so it was a quick tea over at Whitbys – the Fish and chip restaurant. Three of us sat down to eat – and there wasn’t a chip left between us – we needed it! Back to the hotel a quick freshen up and then a few pints in the bar – picking the brains of a ‘Newmarket Institution’ – one of the cleverest men in the town – a trainer with a very small string, but who always hits the mark and wins with the horses he needs to win with when he needs to win with them. He and his wife in great order, and interesting to be able to pick his brains.
Tuesday – a ‘blank’ day – set up to allow agents and buyers to view the horses that would be offered on Wednesday and Thursday. A quiet day on the sales complex as most of the work is being done by agents – so we headed into town for a bit of breakfast – The Glass Strawberry – a nice breakfast – albeit a bit pricey! We headed back to the sales complex and were just sheltering from the rain with a coffee, when a couple arrived to view the horseboxes we had on the stand. They were not from the ‘Racing World’ and had arranged the meeting with Andy about a month ago. It was lovely to meet them – they were blown away with the set up at Goffs, and when we went inside out of the rain to continue our meeting they got to see the sales ring, but with there being no sales on that day, they didn’t see it at its dramatic best – that would come the following day!
The blank day can lead to some fun and games as folks drift back to the bars a little early and enjoy some free Rose courtesy of Goffs and a few pints! Our plan that evening was to head up to a favourite spot, Vivos, and have dinner – which we did, we just made it a table of 6! A fun night out – when we left Vivo’s – three headed home – including one trainer who was struggling somewhat and feeling the aftereffects of a heavy Monday night, but three of us wandered over to The Earl of Doncaster for another couple. It is amazing what you can get done in a bar late at night. The young man we were with was selling early on Wednesday morning, and when we met a well-known Herefordshire trainer in the bar (who almost immediately had me drinking Tequila!) it seemed that what the young man had to sell was just what the trainer was looking for – he would look at the horse first thing. Back to the hotel – a night cap – Derek O’Conner looking a lot better than he had the previous night! We were not late, although our new young friend, experiencing his first taste of Doncaster, did slip his leash and head out to Biscuit Billys with a group point to point lads and lasses from Ireland! The hope was that we would see him with his horse the next day!
Wednesday – he was there – his horse plaited, and in the ring ready to sell. The networking in the bar the previous night worked – the Hereford trainer signing for his horse -I should be on commission!
There was a strong trade all day, which saw a rise in all the metrics that the sales are measured by. This bucks the trend of what we had seen at the early sales this spring. We were busy on the stand, meeting new clients and chatting to existing ones. Really good to get to sit down and have a long catch up with Michael and Fiona Kehoe. It has been a while since we have got to talk for so long, and it was lovely to get updates on how things are at their yard, and their plans for the future.
Jason Maguire arrived with his catalogue in hand – he was there to buy a couple of ‘schoolmasters’ for a young jockey to learn his trade on. Olly Murphy popped by several times, his father Aidan basing himself on our stand for a good portion of the afternoon. Olly had given his assistant, Ger Tumelty a rare day out, and I was able to confirm with Ger that Jimmy Gatz would be heading back to Ivy Lodge Farm for his summer holiday around the 27th May. He would have been there by now, but he pulled a muscle in his hind quarters late in the season and has been given plenty of time to get over it.
I caught up with Donald McCain – who gave an update on the 3 horses at Bankhouse. All three are in full work. Dino Bellagio has come out of his seasonal debut in Nottingham in good order and will have an entry very soon. Ridin Solo has come through his first bits of faster work fine, and he is only a couple of weeks off of getting entries now, and Old Blue Eyes stepped up a gear this week and Donald is very pleased with him. He will be ready to run in around 3 weeks.
The new syndicate horse with Donald – the 3 yr old by Pethers Moon – is going very nicely and Donald likes him – he is going to give him a short break in the next couple of weeks, but the plan is to arrange a morning at the yard so that those interested in joining this new syndicate can come and see him in the flesh – watch him on the gallops and meet Donald and the team at the yard. I will be in touch with everyone and let you know the date for that visit.
There comes a time when you just can’t say no to a pint any longer, and that was around 5.00pm – by 8.00pm Maguire had to make his mind up, was he staying in Doncaster, or was he heading home. He would have to be at the sales the following day – so it made sense to stay. Nothing planned, but as we left the sales complex at around 8.00pm, we gave a lift to Max and Charlotte Kendrick and a friend of theirs to the hotel and then found ourselves crammed in a Uber and heading into town for dinner at La Boca. We were met by a couple of Irish vets, and it was a fun meal. I had every intention of returning to the Hilton straight after dinner, but when I tried to book an Uber I realised I had the old car details on the account, and I was unable to book my ride home. According to my dinner mates – it was a sign – and I was heading to Biscuit Billys! Oh dear God! I am too old for that! Anyway, fun to see several trainers, very full shall we say – enjoying their evening! What happens in Donny stays in Donny – but it was fun for an hour or so! Maguire and I soon back in a cab and on our way back to the Hilton.
One of the vets that joined us for dinner had been in to see Uhtred Ragnarson at Alan Kings earlier in the week. UR had jogged up sound after his disappointing run in Aintree the previous Friday where he had hung so badly was in effect unrideable. When he examined him, he could find no reason for him to hang, but he did tend to a couple of areas that may have been a bit sore, and the hope is that this will help in the future.
Thursday – the weather was consistent at least and warmed as the day went on. It was good to hear from Greyval’s new owner – she had gone back to Ireland last week – but that had been a flying visit, and she was now in France and would be covered by Nirvana du Berlais, in the next couple of days. A wonderful cover for her – hopefully it is successful!
Just before the first 2 of Donald McCains horses were due through the ring, Henry Beeby, Chief Executive of Goffs, paused the sale to read a eulogy for Beryl McCain, Donald’s mother. The McCain family will always be associated with the sales in Doncaster as Ginger purchased Red Rum there, and Henry’s words were heartfelt. Those in the packed sale ring were asked to remember Beryl’s life with a round of applause, after which, as I was leaving, I spied Donald, tucked away in one of the offices around the perimeter of the top of the sales ring – wiping away a tear. I stopped in my tracks, went in and put an arm round his shoulders – nothing was said – it didn’t need to be – it was just the right thing to do at the right time!
After 4 days – it was time to head home – and I must admit – I was fairly knackered on the way back down the A1 – it had been a busy week – new clients – and old friends – it is what we love about the Goffs Spring Sale!
Friday – lovely to get a photo and a video from Louise at The Elms. ‘Nev’ our 2026 foal by Nirvana du Berlais out of Savingforvegas is an absolute beauty! He has size and strength and looks terrific. Plans are still fluid with him – I have a range of options with him – offer him as a foal at the sales at the end of the year – keep him until he is 3 and sell him as a store or retain him to run in our colours. We are very confident that his half-brothers Nevada Samba, Old Blue Eyes and the unraced 3 yr old by Golden Horn will add some eyecatching updates to the page, so a lot will depend on how the pedigree looks later this year. Whichever route we go down – the future is very bright with this young lad! Savingforvegas will be scanned again in the next week or two to confirm that she is still in foal, which we very much hope she is!
Time to catch up on a bit of form from the past few days. Saxon Warrior’s stock have been having quite the time of it. When you have a young horse by a certain stallion, you always check to see how their progeny are faring on the track and in the sale ring. Since we purchased Penselwood last October, Saxon Warrior has been having a very good time of things in both spheres! It was great to see that 3 of his last 4 runners in the UK had been winners – he is certainly getting plenty of winners! On the dam side of Penselwoods pedigree, his half-brother Blarney did not take up his engagement in the Grade 1 mid-week, but he was left in the race right up until the last confirmation stage – a sign of how highly he is regarded by his excellent trainer Jerome Reynier. Blarney looks likely to run in a Class 2 conditions race with a penalty before stepping up into Group company. Either way – his 4 wins from 5 starts this year have been a massive boost to Penselwoods pedigree!
Penselwood is now back in work – and will be prepared for a return to Sir Mark Prescott’s, Heath House Stables in Newmarket in June.
One that is enjoying his holiday is Nevada Samba – he is out in a field of very nice young horses and resetting after a long season in training. Things did not go to plan with him, after developing an issue that made him untrainable in the autumn. Lots of research by me, excellent work by a specialist vet, and hard graft by the team at Barbury Castle saw him win easily on debut in Wincanton – a victory that meant an awful lot to a lot of people! He is a horse with a big future – and with a clear run with him next term, he will hopefully be heading to some very nice places indeed!
Cloud Dancer is going very well. The vets checked him over again this week – and were happy with his recovery. The tendon is going through everything that you would expect it to do now that he is in faster work – and they are pleased with his progress. To take the strain off his forelimbs, Jason is taking him over to Kim Baileys gallop which is an uphill sand gallop and one that will suit Cloud Dancers rehab – this means that Matt Nicholls who is the joint trainer at Thorndale Farm, with Kim Bailey, gets to see quite a bit of him – and every time he does he sends me a cheeky video!
God loves a trier!
Friday night we headed into Bedford to The Park for the next round of Cheryl’s Birthday celebrations! There had been a few while I was away – not sure what number of gathering, lunch or dinner she is up to – but it is a few – and there are plenty more to come!
A really good night – frequent checks to see how Bedford were fairing in their semi-final just round the corner – it was a close first half – but The Blues played as good a rugby as anyone has seen at Goldington Road in a long time in the second half and ran out easy winners. Worcester awaits in the final!
Saturday – the Alan King Racing Club’s, I’d Go Maniac worked really well in the morning and earned himself an entry in Haydock on Friday evening. Having run a near personal best in an amateur rider’s race in Windsor last time out – ridden by Alan’s daughter Georgia – there was every chance that he would make his next start in a similar race. Georgia had been through the programme book – and this race looked the obvious choice – just as long as it doesn’t come too soon after Windsor.
Having been away to work on Friday – Cloud Dancer got to enjoy a cool session on the water treadmill on Saturday morning. It really is a huge help to have the horses at Ivy Lodge Farm – the facilities and staff are top class and each horses gets everything he/she needs in terms of rehab or education.
Sunday – Jason popped over to see the horses he has with Timmy Murphy. Molly’s Lad is summering there once again – and Jason had great delight in telling Timmy what a ‘little shit’ he was to break in!! You wouldn’t believe it now – he is an absolute saint! Such a lovely character!!
This afternoon will be nervy – the last day of the Premiership season – and my team one of two that could be relegated. I am not holding out much hope! It won’t be a fun watch!
Around the remainder of the team: the Alan King Racing Club’s, Ghost Dancing is on a break – she has been replaced on the squad by a well handicapped 3yr old who we are looking forward to meeting very soon.
Our unnamed 3 yr old by Golden Horn, ‘George’ is going very nicely. He has been over to Thorndale Farm again this week – and is learning plenty every time he goes. The away days sharpen him up, and he is a horse that Jason rides every time – and he told me this week – he likes him a lot. Share details will be released this week.
Floyd our homebred 4 yr old is having a break and will be back in training in the autumn.
Next week – a big Birthday on Monday – a pub visit on Wednesday – a night away – and plenty more going on! It will be a busy one for sure!
Drop by next week to see what we have been up to!
C'MON YOU IRONS!!!!
