Kings For The Day
A little cooler towards the end of the week – but still no sign of rain. Rest assured – with our first big Open Day scheduled for next Sunday at Ivy Lodge Farm – the weather is sure to break and we will get wet!
The teams I support are always doomed from the start – but this week has ended with a positive flourish. The England football team were defeated in the semi final of the World Cup by Argentina mid week– but won a third/fourth place playoff against France last night 6-4! (But who really cares?) Northamptonshire won the T20 Blast, and the England Rugby XV gained revenge on the Argentinians when winning in Buenos Airies last night! That’s more like it – let’s hope the run of good fortune can continue for my other teams!
It has been a fun week – we went to two of the nicest tracks in the country and finished in the money both times. We got more prep done for the Open Day – the marquee is booked, the caterers are pulling out all the stops, and we have been busy buying a few bits and pieces to add a little something to the whole affair! I am really looking forward to it – it is going to be a fun afternoon!
Monday – the morning started with entries for a couple of them. Donald McCain gave Ridin Solo two entries at the weekend – Market Rasen and Cartmel on Saturday. RS is in terrific form at the moment, and we are keen to run him, but we are also mindful of the fact that he is not just a ‘summer horse’ that needs quick ground. He goes on all ground, and as we don’t have to risk him on quick ground during this very prolonged spell of dry weather we are being very picky as to where and when to run him. He was made a non-runner in Worcester the previous week, when both Donald and I were dismayed at the state of their ground – it was like a road – and speaking to a couple of trainers that did run their horses on the night, there were a few wishing they had done what we had and taken them home. So Ridin Solo got a couple of entries, and we would chat later in the week about where to run, if indeed we run at all.
Another one to get a couple of entries on Saturday was the Alan King Racing Clubs, John Harrison. Alan popping him in at Newmarket in the afternoon and Nottingham in the evening. Both races over 1m2f which will very much suit him – he’s in great form and should run well!
With the work done in the office I set off for Ivy Lodge Farm to have a site visit and chat with Jason and Lauren about the Open Day, and to meet up with Debbie to finalise the brochure she has been working on. Debbie needed a couple of pictures.
First things first – a look at the horses. Jimmy Gatz came in from the field the previous week and was back in light work – he looks really well. He is a strapping lad – and has matured nicely from 3 to 4yrs.
Nevada Samba had come in from the field the previous day – and I was absolutely blown away by how he looked. He has summered great and is another one that has really developed since the spring. When I showed Alan King the video below later in the week – he just about said what I said word for word. No secret what everyone thinks of this horse, hopefully we can get a clear run with him this winter and end up in some nice places!
I'd Go Maniac breezed beautifully ahead of his trip to Epsom on Thursday
Our new boy – the 3yr old by Blue Bresil also looks terrific, he has actually bulked up since he has arrived at Ivy Lodge Farm, which is a great sign. He is a wonderfully athletic individual, with the most enormous ears – which would have pleased the late, great, Sir Henry Cecil who loved horses with big ears! They say it is a sign of honesty! Jason has been working away with him – cantering upsides on the sand gallop, and schooling over hurdles. He is a very willing pupil and taking everything in his stride. Nice horse, big future!
We will be launching his syndicate at the Open Day next weekend where I am sure there will be plenty of folks who love the look of him like Jason and I do! Jason will be very much involved in this project, we will be working together, and he will part of the journey with the horse every step of the way. He will be on course when he runs, and you never know, I may even be able to persuade him to pop in and ride him out once or twice, just to give that first hand feedback to the syndicate! (He doesn’t know that bit yet!!) Jason was one of the best jockeys of his generation – we have been very fortunate to work with him for the past few years, especially with the young horses who all start out with him. This new venture will take things to a different level and will be huge fun! It will be fascinating to follow the horses progress through the eyes of a top class jockey and horseman and get another perspective on things. If you’re not coming to the Open Day but would like full details next week – then just drop me a line and I will pop you on the list! We have already had plenty of interest in him! (email: nickbrownracing@gmail.com – or call/message 07909 518902)
One word of warning – the work being carried out to improve the A417 around Birdlip are causing traffic chaos! If you are heading to Ivy Lodge Darm next weekend, please allow a little extra time for your journey. Access to the village from the A417 is nearly impossible, so anyone coming from the north should head to the M5 – joining at Cheltenham and coming up to Birdlip via Brockworth. Those from the south/east should use the M4 and head up through Stroud and on into Birdlip that way. Just avoid the A417 at all costs – it’s not fun!!
Tuesday – Alan declared I’d Go Maniac in Epsom on Thursday evening! The plotting and scheming worked. As mentioned last week – Georgia and her Mum, Rachel had devised a cunning plan to try and get Alan to run IGM in the Lady’s Derby in Epsom. Georgia would love a spin on him in the race. Well, it worked! Alan happy to declare – and although this was a 0-80 handicap, IGM was far from out of it – he had been unlucky in Wolverhampton the last day when he broke slowly and got no run through the race. Georgia had ridden him to be second the time before in Windsor when he bumped into a very well handicapped horse, so back on turf, on a big galloping track he was by no means out of it! It would be my first visit to Epsom – and I was really looking forward to it – AKRC members have really bought in to Georgia riding IGM, and I was sure plenty of them would want to be there to see her have her ‘Derby’ ride – it looked like being a fun night!
Alan King sent through the first video of the week, John Harrison working ahead of his weekend engagements. He is in fine form.
I'd Go Maniac breezed beautifully ahead of his trip to Epsom on Thursday evening.
Donald McCain gave Ridin Solo a further entry in Cartmel next Monday – again it was an option – you can’t run if you’re not entered – but he would only go if we were happy with the ground.
I spent the remainder of the day in the office – I have come to realise that event planning is a complex task – no sooner do you think that you have all bases covered, than something else pops up! It’s never bloody ending! Anyway – we are getting there now – I am sure it will all be worth it!
After getting the photos she needed the day before, Debbie sent through a further edit of the brochure, which looks fantastic. I need to get a few things together this afternoon and send them over to her and then that will be off to print tomorrow.
I got a few Confirmation of Purchase letters out to new syndicate members, we have recently welcomed some new faces to various groups – the 3yr old Pethers Moon gelding with Donald McCain is proving popular – when I get next weekends Open Day out of the way I will be arranging a stable visit to Bankhouse to see him canter for anyone that is interested. Just let me know!
In the afternoon I chatted to an existing syndicate member who enquired about one of the shares in Penselwood. He is a regular reader and can see the value in this lovely 2 yr old – particularly as the price of the shares was going up on Wednesday!! More news on Penselwood later!
In the evening we met a group of friends at Corner 5 near Kempston. This place is a bit different, and even though it is local, I’d never been – mainly because it is built on a couple of lakes which are used for cable tow wakeboarding, open water swimming and a giant inflatable aqua park. I’m not one for water unless it’s in a bath, shower, or whiskey – so not a place I would head to – but the restaurant is nice. The food was good to – I just kept it simple with a burger which was good and the rest of the party was more than happy with their meals. It was a lovely night with great company – a lot to catch up on – chatting about old times and old horses – and getting to see some holiday snaps form a trip of a lifetime – the Galapagos Islands and the Amazon rain forest (I didn’t like the look of the snakes!)
Wednesday - As anticipated, there would be a big turnout of AKRC members in Espom to support Georgia on Thursday evening. Thanks to Epsom who were a joy to work with regarding badges – very accommodating!
In the afternoon Jason sent through a clip of Molly’s Lad returning to Ivy Lodge Farm from Timmy Murphy’s Cilldara Stud. He looks great, and with a good summer under his belt – he will be a fun horse to follow next season.
Thursday – decision day. With declarations closing at 10.00am – and both Ridin Solo and John Harrison with entries – it was ‘make you mind up time’. Alan had declared JH in Newmarket early doors but was keeping an eye on the race in Nottingham where he also held an entry. He was hoping that the early statement of intent in declaring in Newmarket may make a few bypass the race. Alan would look at both races again just before 9.30am and see how the respective fields were looking.
Donald called and we had a long chat about Ridin Solo and the options open to him. Donald a little concerned about the ground in Cartmel. I have never been to the track – so that one was up to him – I had no constructive input. Market Rasen on the other hand is a course that I have plenty of experience with – and I have always felt that when they host valuable handicaps through the summer, they do a good job with their ground. Donald and I were tracking declarations through the morning, and by the time we chatted, Donald had decided to swerve Cartmel. By the time we had finished our chat we had ruled out Market Rasen too. We are currently in the middle of an unprecedented spell of hot and dry weather. Maintaining good ground on these jumps tracks is very tough – nobody’s fault – it’s just what it is. As I explained earlier, Ridin Solo is not a horse that has to have quick ground – so we are not forced to run him on this ground and as a result Donald and I agreed we would just press pause with him for a couple of weeks and let the weather (hopefully) break. There is a break in the jumps calendar at the end of the month, with NH racing resuming in mid August. We figure that on the balance of probabilities we will have had rain somewhere in the country by then and we can go racing on some better ground. Ridin Solo is a lovely lad – he always gives his all for the Red Sash Racing Club – we should respect that and give him the best chance possible to win!
In the end Alan plumped for Newmarket on Saturday afternoon – far more preferrable than Nottingham at 7.30pm on a Saturday night!
Debbie headed over to Ivy Lodge Farm to get a photo of Molly’s Lad for the brochure – she is doing her best to get portraits of all of the horses on the team – and the only one she had of ML was on the round gallop at Ravenswell. He showed himself off beautifully!
After lunch I headed for Epsom – not the nicest of trips – M1 -M25 – it took 2hrs 40 to get there (1hr 40 to get home). My first visit to the track – and it is quite the place! My first look at the Derby course gave me a completely different perspective to what I had perceived it to be from the TV. We had a stunning viewpoint from the 3rd floor of the Grandstand, and it really was a gorgeous place to be on a warm Thursday evening.
A large group of Club members there, including a couple who had cancelled a reservation at a Michelin Star restaurant to be there and support Georgia. This was always going to be a special evening for Georgia and her family. She would be in the saddle, Dad trained the horse, and Mum, Rachel was leading her up!
IGM looked great in the paddock, and Georgia planned to break and sit just off the pace if she could. Hopefully they would go a gallop, and she could challenge inside the final 2 furlongs and make a good fight of it. The race went pretty much to plan – although not the quickest away, the pair broke well enough and as the pace was very slow early, Georgia easily got to the spot she wanted – 3rd on the rail. The pair travelled great and were going really well as they rounded Tattenham Corner and headed for home. With IGM going so well at the 3 pole Georgia let him stride on, and try to break the race open, but when you looked in behind, your eyes were drawn to a couple travelling ominously well. IGM battled on well but couldn’t quite sustain his run – in the end finishing a very creditable third.
This was a lovely result on what was a pretty special evening. It is a race that I will remember for a long time – for so many reasons! A really nice story for the King family – and wonderful for so many Club members to be there to see it!
Friday – Office all day – Badges to organise for Newmarket on Saturday. Not so many heading there as had been in Epsom.
I’d Go Maniac fine after his run the previous evening.
We are fast approaching the end of the first term for the Alan King Racing Club, with memberships renewing on August 1st. As a result, there is plenty of work to be done before that date. Prize money dividends to calculate, statements sent out to all existing members, and details of their renewal plans. The AKRC has been a huge success, and we do not anticipate too many free places for new members by mid August. The structure of the 2026/27 Club has now been determined, and this year members will get 4 horses for the price of 3! There will always be 3 horses in full training – with the exact line up rotating as they have a short spell of rest etc. To retain the continuity, the four horses will be the same ones that are currently on the team – I’d Go Maniac, Uhtred Ragnarson, John Harrison and Ghost Dancing. If you would like to take advantage of the superb value that the AKRC offers, get in touch – with horses for both codes – you get to go racing all year round – something rarely offered by conventional Clubs! (07909 518902 or email nickbrownracing@gmail.com)
Alan sent through a clip of John Harrison having a final breeze ahead of his run on Saturday.
Saturday – chance to get the race report typed up and emailed out to the AKRC members.
Alan sent through another video – this one of Uhtred Ragnarson on the hill over at Sharpridge. Alan’s videos are fantastic – and he is simply superb in keeping everyone up to speed with the horses’ work. Syndicate and Club members get so many videos! In the past 30 days – he has sent no less than 19 clips – superb communication – and welcomed by everyone involved in the horses at the yard! Other trainers could take note!
Debbie had an early start – and was in Newmarket first thing. In town to photograph John Harrison in the afternoon, she took the opportunity to head into Heath House and get some pics and vids of Penselwood, and chat to Sir Mark and William Butler. Penselwood is doing plenty of cantering on the heath, and after a warmup in the indoor ride, he led his group of 3 up the all-weather on Warren Hill. He has returned to Heath House looking great and is moving really well. He has grown into a lovely big horse, and with the recent significant updates to his pedigree he looks to have a really bright future! I’m not even going to say it this week!!
I headed over to the July Course in Newmarket at 1.30pm – a lovely afternoon – 20 degrees – so positively chilly in the breeze! Not used to this cold weather!
I took the chance to have a chat with Sir Mark when I spotted him shortly after arriving. He reported that he was absolutely delighted with the job Jason had done with Penselwood while he was at Ivy Lodge Farm from January and said how happy he had been with him since his return to Heath House last month – ‘A thoroughly likeable horse’
When we purchased him in October last year – I said to the folks that purchased shares that there were 4 possible outcomes to the venture. One – he would be useless, and we would move on from him sooner rather than later. Two he would be an average horse on the flat, one which we could kick on with over hurdles in the autumn of 2027. Three – he would be an above average stayer on the flat, and could make a nice price at the sales or Four – He would turn out to be pretty smart and we would receive offers for him from overseas – particularly Australia, where his sire is well known, and his pedigree would appeal. At his early stage, from what we have seen it would appear that we can rule out one of the four outcomes – and thankfully it isn’t the last one! That remains intact – but I think we can take the first one off the table – it looks pretty certain that he isn’t useless – he has ability – now we have to hope that he has enough ability to give us all plenty of fun!
John Harrison came here off the back of a lovely seasonal debut in Salisbury last month, and the step up in trip was very much a positive. The only slight concern was the going – David Egan had said after the Salisbury outing that he would prefer a slightly softer surface, but once again – no rain – hot weather – limited options.
David Probert booked and the plan to settle him at the start, make a move 3 furlongs out and be staying on at the death. JH broke well, but was a little free early, so David steadied him into rear. A little outpaced as the race developed, he switched wide to make his challenge and really put his head down and tried. Having been a little tapped for toe at halfway he couldn’t quite peg the leaders back, the fact that he didn’t really let himself down on the quick ground not helping his cause. In the end he has run a nice race to finish third, and David was very complimentary about him. He will certainly appreciate a bit of cut in the ground and could even step up in trip when the time is right. In the meantime, he remains well handicapped and capable of winning over 10 furlongs on a bit of slightly more juicy ground.
Saturday evening, and a lovely dinner at a very nice local restaurant, that has been open for decades, but one that I have never been to. We will be back – great atmosphere, terrific food, excellent company as always – and an absolutely delicious wine! So good we had to a make sure with another bottle!! St Helena’s in Elstow just south of Bedford – go there – it’s very good!!
Sunday – John Harrison jogged up fine first thing. He will be out again – on turf if we get rain – but we do have the option of the all-weather if we remain in the grip of this long hot summer!
An update on the rest of the team – Dino Bellagio is in fine fettle and working well. He was dropped 1lb for his latest run in Southwell and is now down to 72. He probably still needs to be eased another couple to get into a lower grade but every little helps!
Old Blue Eyes continues to recover from his little set back, and is on box rest, and finally up at Donald McCains, the Pethers Moon 3yr old, is going well – back in full work – we will arrange a stable visit to see him in the next two weeks.
Down at Ivy Lodge Farm – Floyd, ‘George’ and Cloud Dancer are still in the field – ‘George’ and Cloud Dancer will retune to work tomorrow, Floyd will remain out for a while longer but will be paraded at the Open Day next Sunday.
The weekly news will not be published next Sunday – as we will be a bit busy with 120 guests at our Open Day – instead it will be out on Tuesday. Really looking forward to seeing those of you who are coming. A couple of spaces have become available should you be at a lose end and would like to join us – just let me know – it will be a fun afternoon!
Please let it be dry!!!!
