We’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching Royal Ascot this week, albeit from the comfort of home – no rushing to watch the horses before catching the train from Moreton! Stradivarius was awesome and huge congratulations to his owner/breeder Bjorn Neilson. We trained winners for Bjorn’s late brother Anders and the trust in his memory, The Anders Foundation, were our yard sponsor a few years ago. What a NH stallion Stradivarius will make…
Some great winners. Freddie & Harry are always cheering on Ryan Moore as they are great friends with his son Toby so a Ryan Moore winner is always popular in our house. Fabulous to see Alan King train two winners this week too. But the biggest cheer and most emotional winner in our house this week has to be Owen Burrows training his very first Royal Ascot winner when Hukum & Jim Crowley (12-1) won the King George V Stakes by 1/2 length. Owen and Belinda grew up together from Nursery school in Longborough onto their Primary School and onto Senior School and were best friends throughout. So an emotional winner and she was very proud indeed – well done Owen and his team, we’ve picnic’d at Ascot with them regularly so it was a shame we couldn’t be there to support but thankful Ascot is on. Well done Owen – amazing. We’ll come and visit soon.
A busy morning here with a few owners in too braving the weather – not as horrendously wet as it was yesterday – 42mm of rain yesterday and although it was wet today it wasn’t as bad and was warm. From London, Matt Capp and his father Andy to watch Robsam and Dreamsundermyfeet on the gallops, James and Valerie to watch Mozzaro, Mike & Mella Wright here from North Devon too and along with Paul Davis, who lives locally, it was fabulous to see them all. We can’t wait until we are allowed to look after our wonderful owners how they are used to us doing so though! This socially distanced protocol we have to abide by is blo**dy frustrating although we do appreciate why we have to do it. Here we love to welcome all our owners with open arms and plenty of hospitality…..not long hopefully.