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Weekend runners
01st July 2008
We are looking forward to getting back to the races this Saturday, when we take Gaborone to Leicester. She runs in the 14.35 over 6F and should go well. The two year old filly (pictured below) has had just one start, coming 2nd at Thirsk having missed the break and been hampered. She will no doubt have learnt from that run and as she's working nicely at home, it is reasonable to expect a good performance from her. Our other possible runner is Danetime Lord, who could head to Brighton on Sunday. The horse is in good form and ready for a race although we will make a decision on declaring him nearer the time as Jeremy isn't 100% certain the course and firm ground will suit him.
A few years ago, shortly after myself and my wife, Oriana, moved to the farm, we discussed the possibility of building ourselves a house down near the start of our hill gallop. We didn't go ahead with it and in true horses first spirit decided to put our new 20 horse barn there instead. The result is that the 10 lucky equines on the far side of the barn have the most amazing view out over the gallops and into the bowl, as you can see from the photo below (the other ten have a nearly as nice view over the fields and the yard).
To ensure they can appreciate it to its fullest we have installed large windows in each stable and understandably the horses enjoy standing with their heads out admiring their surroundings (Silent Dream is pictured admiring the view below). With living quarters like this, combined with acres of paddocks to go out in and world-class facilities to train on, it's no wonder that our visitors often comment that it is an equine paradise.
Jeremy's Australian buying spree is in full swing and he has been seeing some fantastic horses. We will hold the decision making to the end of the trip when we can take some time to look back on the horses he's seen and decide which ones will be best suited to us. He is on the phone several times a day and can't wait to get back here, despite knowing that all is running as it should be under our hugely talented Assistant Trainer Paul Cooper (pictured below). All going to plan, he should be back at the start of next week.
The farm has been buzzing as we prepare more and more horses for the races. The two year olds are coming along well and have been doing more gallop and stalls work to prepare them for their racecourse debuts. The slightly older horses like Ravenna, Cheonmado and Street Power are having the finishing touches put on their race preparation and a couple of our jumpers that we've kept in work, Northern Endeavour (pictured below) and Silent Dream have had a school over hurdles in preparation for their runs. It is also good to see horses like Ouninpohja and Nobelix, who have been off on breaks, progressing in their work and looking fresh and happy.
With two winning picks in the last two weeks - Harry Findlay's dog Flying Winning couldn't have been more impressive when landing the spoils on Tues - I'm under a bit of pressure to keep it going. I stick by the earlier pick of Duke of Marmalade for the King George later this month (the 5's are now well gone and he's now 6/4 so the value is gone). I'm going to switch sports for this weeks nap and go with Nadal to win his first Wimbledon on Sunday. Federer is a legend and one of the all time greats and if, as seems likely, they meet in the final it will be another epic. However Nadal (pictured below with Federer) feels to me like a force of nature right now and I don't think even the sublime Federer can stop him. And yes of course we'll have a small each way on Gaborone on Saturday!
