Browse News
News Archive - May 2008
Other news can be filtered by narrowing your results by month, or by topic on the left. Alternatively, if you are looking for something specific, why not try searching for news using our search tool.
More winning sires
27th May 2008
The pedigrees of some of our two year olds received a further boost last week when Haafhd and Stroll had their first winners from their first crop of two year olds. Representing Haafhd was Crystal Moments, who won at Sandown on her racecourse debut. Our own two year old by Haafhd is going well at home and progressing nicely. Despite having quite a few chestnut horses in the yard, he is instantly recognisably by the splash of white under his belly. We are gradually upping his work and aim to race him later on this season. He is pictured walking off the flat gallop alongside our Barathea gelding. Stroll's first winner came in Italy and did it in style, storming home by nine and a half lengths. We have recently purchased a lovely-looking Stroll colt from the breeze up sales who we hope will inherit his family's winning ways.
Summer Breaks & Boost for Street Power
20th May 2008
It's been a fairly quiet week here at Horses First Racing. The ground in the UK has been rather firm due to the unseasonably dry Spring weather and so we have decided to give our jumpers an early Summer break. Some of the horses are already out in their paddocks and having a fantastic time relaxing with each other. Our string of flat horses are looking great and we are continuing to tick them over. Meanwhile one of the yards favourites, 3yo colt Street Power (pictured) had a nice boost over the weekend. While he was happily resting on Sunday one of his relatives was busy winning a Group 1 in Italy!
New facilities and staff
13th May 2008
We had a frustrating week last week with horses being balloted out of races or being injured. The major disappointment was Desert Quest having to bypass the Swinton due to injury after he knocked himself out working. It is always upsetting to miss a big race but as always the welfare of the horse is the main priority and there will be plenty more decent races for Quest (pictured relaxing in his field) to look forward to. We did still have one runner on the Saturday, when Chief Exec headed to Warwick. Unfortunately it proved to be a fruitless trip as the horse didn't get a straightforward run. The Racing Post commented “Chief Exec was closing on the pace when stopped in his run halfway up the straight, and he could never regain momentum after having to be switched”.
Heading for the Swinton
06th May 2008
On Saturday Desert Quest lines up in the Swinton at Haydock to take his chance at the £75,000 prize money on offer. The ground at the course looks like going fast and this couldn't suit our horse more, so fingers crossed. At this stage there look to be some very nice horses in the race, as you would expect from one of its calibre. Border Castle, winner of the Scottish Champion Hurdle will be a formidable opponent if he runs. Group Captain who came 2nd to Pigeon Island at Cheltenham last month, I'm So Lucky, runner up to Auroras Encore in the listed Handicap Hurdle at Aintree a few weeks ago, and La Vecchia Scuola, winner of the Juvenile Novice's Hurdle at Ayr in April, will all be classy opposition if they line up. The race is due off at 2pm and will be broadcast live on the BBC.