Horses First Racing
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Ok ..Ok I'll get it over with quick. Well done to the English cricket team and thanks to all those who sent the many messages via text informing of the score during the morning.
To be honest it makes for a good series doesn't it! Enough said on that subject!
Looking forward to going to Ffos Las tomorrow and inspecting the new track. HORSESHOE REEF runs in the 1m 4f handicap and i am hoping for a good run. He is very well in himself, will relish the trip and though it was only a relatively weak affair last time i think he will be in the thick of things.
SUTTON VENY runs in the 3:00 over 6f. I do like this filly and she will make the grade when she learns. I just love her attitude, nothing seems to phase her and she has just kept doing all that is asked. First time out wasn't a great experience as she had to avoid a badly injured horse in front of her which did put her off her game slightly.
She is an interesting one in that, like MEDECIAN MAN, she showed very little last season before being given a break and time to mature into herself. Since then she has been a different horse and I like the way she keeps improving at home.
I spent time out on the main gallop with Steve our head groundsman going over it with a new machine to have a look at the way it worked and the surface it produced. I am often accused of being completely "anal" about the gallops and yes I may be a little obsessed by them. However I really do think it is so important to have a good sound surface. Sure the horses don't always race on such a good and kind surface, but i strongly believe it keeps the horses sounder for longer if they can do as much work on good ground as possible.
We have only had our new gallop for a couple of months now and i feel it has brought about the return to the form we showed in the winter months. It was a challenge training flat horses with only a hill gallop that rises about 250 feet over 5 furlongs but we now have lovely variety of gallops and i can't tell you how grateful I am to have such top class facilities to work with. The sole focus can now be on the horses and training plenty of winners.
We have made steady progress this year with a strike rate of 46% first four finishers on Turf and 55% on the All Weather. The win rates of 8% and 16% are lower than i expect but it will improve as the young lightly raced brigade get experience during the season.
The 2yo's are a group i would have wanted to get going earlier however having the gallop works early led to us giving some of them a short break. Time however never hurt anything and they will begin to show out in the coming months.
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