Winner, Loser and Lost
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The weekly update – where we have been, what we have done, and as ever – the latest news on all the horses on the team. If you have shares in horses with NBR you are always up to date!
It was a week that had its ups and downs. It started with a winner and ended with a disappointment – but there was a lot going on away from the track and plenty of updates for owners and syndicate members – a visit to the stud to see the ‘Family’ and a couple of bits of exciting news about both horses and humans!
Monday – started with a bang – Alan King straight out of the traps with a video of 3yr old John Harrison having a school over hurdles once again. He really is very good, and Alan is looking forward to getting him started out in his new discipline. He is a horse that has always worked very well at home, and Alan feels he will be well suited by the switch to obstacles and will give the members of the Alan King Racing Club lots of fun over the winter.
I would be heading off racing later in the morning, so had the chance to get the race report of Vegas Gold’s lovely debut run in Aintree two days earlier, typed up and emailed to his owners. VG has come out of that race very well and will be aimed at the Listed Bumper in Cheltenham on New Years Day as planned. He will improve hugely for that first run and is a lovely horse!
With the office work done I headed up to Stratford to meet up with a large group of Molly’s Lad’s owners, all keen to see their boy make his seasonal debut. Molly’s Lad had run very well in his first season, without managing to get his head in front, but a more in-depth study of his form told you that he had kept some pretty smart company and was very unlucky to have been brought down on his last start in Bangor, when fancied to run well, and travelling very nicely. I always felt that he would benefit hugely for a step up in trip, and this handicap hurdle, over 2m 2 ½f was a lovely way to get him started and keep a ‘bit of powder dry’ for the future. The question was, would he be fit enough on this his seasonal debut – a few horses from a lot of yards have been needing their first runs of the season – would he be one of them? I told his owners – he will run a very big race – not sure if it will be big enough to win – but he will be bang there for sure!
I was very pleasantly surprised when he appeared in the pre parade ring – Molly’s Lad was a different horse to the one that we saw last season. He isn’t the biggest, but how he had strengthened was jaw dropping – he looked fantastic even though his ‘new hair cut’ was far from my liking! You won’t see him look like that again! He really catches the eye now, and even one of the other trainers with a runner in the race commented to me how good looking he was as we walked into the paddock together.
Fern O’Brien in the saddle, Fern knows him very well, and had done a lot of work with him when he was far from easy – she deserved to be back on board – she had earned it! A couple of years ago, Jason Maguire had talked about the best way to ride Stratford, and it just so happened that it was just how it was going to suit Molly’s Lad – get a spot in the front on the inner and stay there. Take a bit of a pull when you need to and fill him up and then kick for home. Keep it simple – Fern would do just that. Molly’s Lad bucked out in front, pricked his ears and had a whale of a time leading them around the tight turns of Stratford. He barely missed a beat and as they turned the bend at the bottom, with one left to jump, he was still stuck to the rail and going very nicely. A super leap at the last and he was clear, Fern just keeping him up to his work to go on and score a cosy success.
Molly’s Lad returned to the winner’s enclosure to be greeted with a mixture of cheers and tears – it was a very special day for those of his syndicate that bred him. They had owned and raced his Mum, Molly Childers who was a fantastic mare for them, and when she retired, a core membership stayed with her and bred Molly’s Lad – this win was very special for them, and they were the ones that shed tears – and rightly so – seeing a horse that you have bred and been a part of from the very start go from a gangly little weak and vulnerable foal, to the winners enclosure is almost beyond description – it takes that winning feeling to a totally different level I promise you!! A special day for all the members of The Ravenstone Partnership – extra special for a few of them!
Debbie had made the trip up from Epsom where she had been photographing the Racing Does Strictly extravaganza the previous night – and arrived with the news that she had once again been nominated for two awards at the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association, Derby Awards in London next month. A wonderful achievement to once again be nominated, last year she was the winner of Picture of the Year – can she retain her crown?? We are very lucky to have Debbie on the team – and are very much looking forward to supporting her at the awards in December!
It was good to catch up with Alan King at the races – he had an update on something that has been ‘cooking’ away in the background for a few months – and it is very exciting. Alan had seen a 2yr old filly earlier in the year and absolutely fallen in love with her – he described her at the time as being one of the nicest fillies he had ever seen. He trains her full brother and likes him – so he suggested to the filly’s breeder that he would love to have her when she heads into training next year – and that I should form a syndicate – and lease her to run in our colours! Her breeder was very happy for that to happen – so it looks like we have a gorgeous horse coming onto the team next year. The exciting update was that her 4yr old half brother was the impressive winner of his point to point over the weekend and would be heading to the sales on Friday in Cheltenham – what would he make??
Alan also had an update on the Alan King Racing Club horses.
Ghost Dancing very well – he’s really happy with her work and she is about a week off if getting her first entry.
John Harrison schools really well and he is looking forward to getting going with him very soon
Uhtred Ragnarson – is and enigma (not his words – my polite ones) and he will have an entry very soon. A repeat of the antics we saw in Uttoxeter last time out, when he refused to jump off at the start, will see him on the transfer list and a substitute brought off the bench for the winter.
All in all, a fantastic day was had by all!
Tuesday – I was on the ball and got the race report written and emailed to Molly’s Lad’s owners first thing.
Molly’s Lad had come out of his race really well and jogged up sound before breakfast.
There is the promise of more to come from him, given that he will definitely come on for the run and will also improve as he stretches out in trip – he is a horse to follow for the season. He was obviously well suited to the tight turns of Stratford and looks like the sort of horse that will be well suited to somewhere like Fakenham through the winter, where they have small fields and great prize money. He had jumped and travelled so well, that when I saw Fern in the car park after racing, she said she knew she was going to win after jumping the third – she was getting such a lovely feel off him!
The AKRC’s, John Harrison had a breeze around the ring gallop at Barbury Castle – and went really nicely.
Donald McCain called and we chatted through running Ridin Solo in Market Rasen on Thursday. The track would not be ideal for him, but there were only three declared when we spoke. We agreed that if there were still only 3 or 4 declared at 9.59am we would pop him in and run – if there were more than that, we would wait to run him on a more suitable track. He is really well and was ready to run as soon as there was a suitable race for him.
Penselwood had come through a swinging piece of work the previous day with no ill effects and earned himself an entry in Wolverhampton next week. He would do a piece of work on Friday, and if all well, it looked as though we would get that third run into him this autumn – ahead of a winter break.
The Tatttersalls Ireland November Sale was in full swing in Fairyhouse, and we had a couple to keep our eyes on. Maria’s Benefit’s colt foal by Nirvana du Berlais was sold for 60,000 Euros, and Molly Childers filly foal by Luxembourg was sold for 30,000 Euros. As a half sister to Molly’s Lad, his win had been a fantastic update to her pedigree and her owners, the Furlongs were delighted with her price. Both foals will be resold as 3yr olds – so we will have a good look at them when they next appear in the ring.
Hanne at Park Wood Stud sent through a photo of Savingforvegas all rugged up in the field – we would be heading down to the stud on Thursday to see them all.
Jason Maguire had some visitors to Ivy Lodge Farm, and they got to see our stunning Blue Bresil 3yr old canter on the round gallop. He is a gorgeous horse, who does everything right – Jason is very happy with him – hopefully he sold a couple of shares!
Wednesday – we heard the sad news of the death of Tom O’Brien after a long illness. Tom, just 39 was a fantastic jockey, and an even better man. He rode plenty of horses for us, and we got to know him well over the years. A quiet, but funny man out of the saddle, he was as talented, strong and determined as any jockey when he got inside the white railings. He was diagnosed with cancer shortly after his retirement from the saddle, and despite leaving no stone unturned in his battle to beat the disease, he passed away on Tuesday evening. He leaves a wife and young family, and our thoughts and condolences are with them, the rest of his family and all his friends – of which there were many!
Vegas Gold has come out of his excellent debut run in great order and is having an easy couple of weeks. What better way to spend some down time than to turn your hand to a bit of dressage??
He is such a dude this horse – remember he is still only 3yrs old and can turn his hand to absolutely anything. He thoroughly enjoyed his session of flat work!
In the evening Olly Murphy called – he would be running Jimmy Gatz on Saturday – and we chatted about jockey options. With 4 jumps meetings on the same day – jockeys would be at a premium. Stable jockey, Sean Bowen obviously in Cheltenham, so with Olly (rightly) wanting to keep the ride ‘in house’ we had the choice of 2 jockeys. I decided Lewis Saunders was the right man for the job. He is superb value for his 5lb claim – and I have got to know him a little bit over the course of the last 12 months – he would ride.
Thursday – an early start to beat the traffic. I headed down to Park Wood Stud near Tetbury where I was meeting a few members of our Breeding Syndicate to see ‘the family’ – Savingforvegas, her yearling filly (by Nirvana du Berlais), ‘Nancy’ and her full brother, weanling – ‘Nev’. The team arriving at 10.30am – I thought the best thing to do was to head down early, grab a coffee in Tetbury – do some work on the ipad, and then make my way to Park Wood Stud.
I was at Cirencester when Olly Murphy called to say that Lewis Saunders would not be available to ride Jimmy Gatz on Saturday as he was now going to Cheltenham. He put forward another 5lb claimer in the yard – Hugh Horgan, who had ridden over 40 winners on the flat in Ireland when with Joseph O’Brien – in the absence of Lewis - he would ride Jimmy Gatz.
Coffee and a bacon roll from Hobbs bakery in Tetbury – very good – as was the lovely loaf of bread that I bought – it really looked too good to leave behind.
With the admin done I headed to the stud. Rob and Sarah arrived at 10.20am – but still no sign of Alan and Theresa – where were they. Then a call – ‘We’re a bit lost’ – I tried to ascertain where they were, in the end plumping for technology and sending them a pin. As they were going to be a little behind schedule, we headed in for coffee without them. With the coffee pot drained there was still no sign of them, so I called for an update – they were outside the pub in the local village but could still not get their Sat Nav to send them to the stud. They promise me there were no crossed words – but they were very close to aborting the mission and heading in the pub for a stiff drink! In the end the Studs estate manager talked them in and they arrived just in time to see Nancy come in from the field and be paraded.
She has grown into a real ‘Queen’ – she has size, scope and the most athletic walk. She has always been a light framed filly – but is now starting to fill out – and I couldn’t be happier with her! She is gorgeous!
Next – ‘Nev’ her full brother – born in late March this year. He was taken out of the field away from his pals and paraded for the team. He looked fantastic. He has size, scope and is a very strong foal but despite his wonderful physical attributes, it was his outlook and demeanor that struck me most of all. He stood like a statue outside that field for a good 20 minutes – not once calling to his mates and never misbehaving. He just did exactly what was asked of him when it was asked – stand, walk, get strokes and pats - whatever you wanted of him, he just did it. He has a very good mind to go with his fantastic looks. His and ‘Nancy’s’ sire Nirvana du Berlais is very much in fashion at the moment, and his stock were very much sought after at the sales in Fairyhouse. Six of his foals were sold for a total of 301,000 Euros at an average of 50,167 Euros. This off the back of a covering fee of 6,500 Euros. They are lovely animals and very popular. It makes our ‘Nev’ a potentially very valuable commodity – and we will just wait and see what happens in the next 6 months before we decide what to do with him.
Then on to see the star of the show – Mum herself, Savingforvegas. The Breeding Syndicate has leased her from me for the year, and she is in foal to Kingston Hill. She looks fantastic and it was great that the team could get up close to her and meet her for the first time. She loved the attention and all the pats and strokes she got!
As you have heard me say earlier, when Molly’s Lad won on Monday – there were tears of joy in the winner’s enclosure – winning with a horse you have bred is very very special – and that is entirely due to the emotional attachment you have with a horse when you have been with it from the very start. It is a feeling that few get to experience, but through our Breeding Syndicate you have the chance to come along with us on this journey, from conception to the winners enclosure and be a part of it at every step. The added bonus - you get to start with a proven broodmare in Savingforvegas – and a bloody good one at that! Five of her first 6 foals have made it to the track – and the one that hasn’t run yet is getting close to doing so! Four have won and the other one, Vegas Gold was second on debut last weekend. For me, to be able to offer everyone the chance of breeding a foal from such a good mare and offering the opportunity to feel what it is like to follow a young horse through to the racecourse and into the winner’s enclosure is very special – and I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. Click the link below – we have a couple of shares left in this syndicate! You could be in tears in a winner’s enclosure in years to come!
https://www.nickbrownracing.co.uk/ForSale/8316/breeding-syndicate
Rob and Sarah, Theresa and Alan who (eventually) joined us on Thursday all said they got involved in our breeding syndicate, because they wanted something that was not over in 12/18 months, they wanted something they could get fully invested in emotionally and enjoy the journey – learning about breeding and horses as they go – be like them – join us - you won’t regret it!
Lunch in the Royal Oak afterwards – a good pint of Guiness, and tasty food. Having been past the pub about fifty times before getting to the stud, even spending a short while in the car park – Alan and Theresa found their way back there without a hitch – I just hope they made it home!
Friday – with badges organized for Jimmy Gatz’s owners in Uttoxeter on Saturday it was off to Cheltenham for the day – thanks to Paul for the lift. A good day at the sports – but very quick ground – it has not been easy for the Clerk of the Course. Plenty of non-runners throughout the first two days – nobody’s fault, it has just been bloody dry! Good to catch up with a few folks – one man was expecting me to have a few words – but he hadn’t expected to see me quite so soon after he said something in the press – I didn’t disappoint him! All lighthearted – he assures me he was misquoted – even so – I won’t forget!
William Butler called as we were on the way home, to say that Penselwood had come through his work in the morning very well and would be declared in Wolverhampton on Monday evening. It will be great to get his third run done and get him off on his holidays!
The half brother to the filly that will hopefully be running in our colours in the future, who had won his point to point the previous weekend made his appearance at the sales after racing. He would set a new record for the sale when selling to Dave Rabson and the KTDA boys for £560,000. We won’t struggle to fill the syndicate for his half sister when the time comes!
Saturday – I was roused from my slumbers by a message from Olly Murphy – ‘Ring me as soon as you are up please’ – Not the message you need first thing! I called straight away. Jimmy Gatz had trod on a shoe as he had his breakfast,and then stood on the nail and pricked his sole. He had bled, and was sore, but as this had happened at 6.15am and his farrier couldn’t get to him before he was due to leave for Uttoxeter, so he had sent him to the races in a poultice and the farrier at the track would put the shoe back on. His worry was that JG had been quite sore and he may still not be sound when the shoe was out back and would therefore not be able to run. Hopefully he would be OK and the BHA vets would pass him fit to run.
The other worry was the weather – minus 6 degrees at the track overnight and the ground was described as ‘crispy’ – they would inspect at 9.30am. Temperatures were rising, but it was still unraceable at 9.30am so they would look again at 10.30. In the end it was nearly 11.00am before we heard that the meeting was on. As we did so, Olly called to say that Jimmy was fine with the shoe on and the vets were happy for him to run.
Nevada Samba did a cracking piece of work up the hill at Sharpridge and earned himself an entry in Ascot on Friday. If the ground is suitable, he will reappear in another bumper as Alan has just not been able to school him on grass, and he really wants to do that before he makes his hurdles debut.
Ghost Dancing breezed around the Ring Gallop and went really well – she’s not far off a return to the track.
Penselwood was declared in Wolverhampton, the race divided and he will face 8 rivals. Rhys Clutterbuck will ride.
I set off for Uttoxeter – on the way I called Donald McCain to see how Theo Gillard was – he had taken a horrible fall in Sedgefield on Friday and was in a hospital near the track. Donald wasn’t totally sure what injuries he had sustained, but he knew he had injured ribs and had suffered a punctured lung. It sounds a lot like the injury Tom Bellamy suffered a few months ago! We wish him a speedy recovery.
Donald updated me on the team at Bankhouse.
The Pethers Moon 3yr old, had gone for an away day in the week and although not asked to do anything too strenuous, he did it nicely and his trainer was happy with him. That away day will sharpen him up!
Old Blue Eyes continues to go well – and his workload has been stepping up gradually. Donald is very happy with him.
Dino Bellagio is fit and well and could run tomorrow – as soon as there are suitable races for him he will be entered.
Ridin Solo is also in great order, and he will have entries going forward – in staying chases on big galloping tracks.
On To Uttoxeter and Jimmy Gatz. It was a lovely afternoon – good to see a few members of the Astwood Partnership and meet Hugh Horgan in the paddock – he would sit midfield, as Olly felt that JG could be a little keen, get him settled and come with one run at the end and be in the shake up. I thought it was a big ask for him to win – but I did think he would be 3rd or 4th. It was clear from the moment the tapes went up, that wasn’t going to happen, He never picked up the bridle or travelled a yard. Hugh was always ‘at him’ to keep him in touch, and with his ears flat back – JG wasn’t going forward at all. In the end Hugh did well to keep him in touch – give him a slim chance with 3 furlongs to run – and get him to finish ahead of 3 of his rivals. It was a bad run, and certainly not what was expected. He is much better than that, and it could only be that he was feeling the effect of standing on that nail earlier in the day. Speaking to Olly on the way home he held his hands up and admitted that he shouldn’t have run – but what can you do if your horse is sound and able to do so? I could have told him not to run – so I was as much to blame. Put a line through it and move on – he is better than that and hopefully he would be OK in the morning.
Sunday – Jason sent through a clip of the Blue Bresil gelding cantering at Tom Georges on Saturday – he likes him – shares are available – click the link and get in touch.
https://www.nickbrownracing.co.uk/ForSale/8342/jason-maguire-syndicate
Jimmy Gatz is fine after his poor show in Uttoxeter – Olly convinced it was the foot and he should not have run him. No harm done – he will be out again in a couple of weeks over hurdles.
Cloud Dancer is in good form and is nearing a return to the Moores.
‘Floyd’ worked very nicely this week – and we are beginning to formulate and plan with him.
Next week – Wolverhampton on Monday. I could head to a yard on Tuesday – and Ascot on Friday if the rain arrives and the ground is suitable for Nevada Samba.
It is sure to be a fun week! If you made it this far – well done and thank you! Drop by next week for another round up!
