Browse News
News Archive
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.
A date with Denman
04th December 2007
It was not quite a pick up thy bed and walk command but when Harry Findlay called on Friday night and said "Eamonn, I know you ain't been well but you have to bring Jeremy to Newbury to see a proper horse race tomorrow" I felt compelled to oblige. Thanks to everyone who has sent me get well messages and notes enquiring to my demise. Fortunately I'm doing better although still taking it a little easy. On Saturday we walked into the box and there was Paul Nicholls chatting with Paul Barber and you could feel the tension before the big race. As the Hennessy Gold Cup started the energy in the box was electric. There had been a lot of negativity about Harry's runner Denman before the race but I'd had the biggest bet of my life on him and just couldn't imagine him getting beat. When Denman flew the water jump the cheer from the 30 or so of Harry's friends and family was deafening. When Denman cruised into the lead about four fences from home everyone in the box was almost hushed with hope and possibility, then Harry spun around from the TV in the box to rush to the rail shouting jubilantly "He WINS, he wins easy!" The actual wording was a little bit more colourful, but the effect was absolute uproar. All the emotion, all the pent up hopes and dreams held by everyone present simply exploded. The last few fences were sublime to witness almost like watching a slow motion movie that you know is going to end in perfection. The magnificent horse (pictured below) was absolutely foot perfect - a league above his rivals, and even during such high emotion you could feel deep inside the privilege of seeing a sporting moment that would live forever in your memory. He may yet be the greatest horse of our generation and it was a day I'll never forget.
The farm is sending out 4 possible runners this week so there are plenty to look out for. The first to go will be Eleanor Eloise who is entered in a 7 furlong race at Kempton tomorrow night (Wednesday) at 6.50. 'Ellie', as she is known at home, made her debut 2 weeks ago at Wolverhampton and ran a promising 6th finishing very well. We have no doubt that she should come on for the experience and, with her in good form at home, are expecting a nice run from her. Sunday looks like being the day when our 2 year old Street Cry colt, Street Power gets to make his debut. He has been slow to mature and will no doubt come on for the run but we are all very much looking forward to seeing how he goes. Because of the colt's breeding we are unable to run him in a Median Auction Maiden and so his race will be a better quality one than Ellie's (his half sister), with a number of top trainers having runners entered. Street Power (pictured below left working with Ellie) currently has a ballot mark but needs just 7 of the current entries to not be declared for the race for him to get a run, which we are very hopeful should happen. His race is at Lingfield at 1.30, also run over 7 furlongs.
On Monday we send two runners to Lingfield and it will be an exciting day for owner Richard Page who owns one and has a share in the other. First up is Richard's young horse Joshua who is having his second start. Joshua has been gelded since his debut run at Bath in October and we are hoping to see some improvement from him. He runs in the 2pm selling stakes over 6 furlongs. Making his debut for new owners, the Resurrection Partners, at 3.30pm is ex-Godolphin horse Maidanni. Jeremy thinks quite highly of this horse and it will be interesting to see how he goes in his first run since October 2004. He only ever had 3 runs before he damaged a tendon but one of these he won easily under Frankie Dettori at York. Maidanni is going well at home (see photo below) and, fingers crossed, his legs appear to be OK. He runs over 1 mile on Monday and it will be great to see him back on the track.
Owner Evelyn Smith popped by this week to visit Northern Seren, Northern Destiny and Northern Endeavour who are all going well. She also checked on her retired broodmare Northern Jinks out in the field. Evelyn (pictured below with Destiny) is off to the Caribbean for Christmas and stopped by to see her 'family' before she went. There is a possibility that Northern Seren could run while Evelyn is away so she got a good luck pat and a few extra carrots from the infamous carrot bag that accompanies Evelyn on every visit.
Quote of the week has to go to Harry Findlay even if it is a slightly sanitised version of what the big man was actually shouting:
“He WINS. He wins easy!”
