A successful day at Stratford albeit not quite a winner. It was very wet and the ground was very soft! Not many horses went in it so there were very wide margin winners where one did and the rest didn’t! Sarasota Star made a pleasing seasonal debut over hurdles, jumping well in the main under James Best and running a good race to finish 3rd. He’d appreciate better ground.
It was a tough ask for Beneagles to make his seasonal debut and debut for us after 10 months off the track in that ground over 3m 2f but Lilly Pinchin rode a sensible race, got him jumping well and he ran a blinder. There was a very long margin winner of his race but there wasn’t much between 2nd and 4th which is where he finished. Lilly reported that he hated the ground so we’ll give him time to recover and find another opportunity on better ground. There are still shares available in him and he was A1 yesterday and I’m sure we’ll have fun with him. He has the option to go chasing too.
Finally Found On ran in the bumper making her debut for us too after winning a point to point. She’s not been easy at home and James Best, who rode her at Stratford, has ridden her a lot and has done really well with her as she’s been buzzy and keen and very hard to switch off. I was therefore worried she may run her race either in the preliminaries or by being too keen early on however she was so professional before James got on and I was thrilled how quietly she cantered to post. In the race he also settled her well – we decided as there was pace up front to not take on the leaders and to drop her out last and switch her off. He rode a very intelligent race and pressed on when he was happy with her and needed to get her racing and she ran a huge race to finish 2nd to the delight of all of us including Ollie & Irene Ryan. So a great day with a 2nd, 3rd and 4th and all trotting up sound yesterday and eating up too.
Be Thankful at Newton Abbot tonight (James Best) over hurdles and frustrating that Raving Bonkers has been balloted out due to the stable restrictions and having just 8 runners in his race. She may, like our winter horses so far have, need the run but she’s another mare I like a lot and I think she should give our racing club some fun this season.