Thank you so much for all your messages on Any Currency’s retirement, we’ve been overwhelmed and are thrilled that so many people love the old boy like we do and have enjoyed following his career. Dickie Barrett is unsurprisingly so excited about the prospect of Team Chasing him and we can’t wait to go and watch him keeping our fingers crossed that he takes to it like we hope he will.
Madame Fiona surprised us last night as she looked to be tailing off turning for home but then ran on through the field to finish a decent 2nd place in her bumper under Andrew Tinkler at Exeter. She came to us via Claire Hardwick’s pre-training yard at Adlestrop and, since here, Ash Hark has been the only one that has ridden her as she’s not been easy and he has got on so well with her. Yesterday we tried to be one step ahead of her all the way trying her in a hood and ensuring that Ash & Issy both led her up and kept her as calm as possible, only entering the parade ring at the last moment. Ash even led her down to the start and led her in too so a huge thanks must go to him. So a very promising debut and no doubt she’ll have learnt a lot and will come on for the experience too.
Andrew Tinkler was in this morning for a few lots and most horses did a swinging canter. No runners today but lots of decisions this morning for tomorrow as we have entries at both Chepstow and Huntingdon.
One new arrival later today is The Kvilleken (Kevin) who has been wintering with John Suthern in Broadway and been back in work with him for quite some time. No doubt he’ll look superb as John does a great job with his pre-trainers and we are really excited to have him back. His owner, Patrick Spittle, sadly died last week after a spell in hospital but thankfully before The Kevin went on his winter break we’d chatted with Patrick about the prospect of Kevin joining our Martin Keighley Racing Club to replace Buckle Street when he returned to Mrs Hambro at the end of March. Patrick was then going to be an Honorary member of our Club saving him a few pennies but still giving him the enjoyment of the horse. Sadly he isn’t here to enjoy that with us but his sons have agreed for us to buy The Kvilleken and so Patrick’s wishes are being carried out and you can be sure we’ll raise a glass to Patrick whenever he runs.
Seven years ago today my father in law John Malcom died suddenly and unexpectedly and we miss him a lot and wish he was here to see the new changes and enjoy them with us. However, we’re in the process of setting up a new syndicate with two horses – one to run on the flat to start with and one starting in a bumper – and we’ll reveal all in the next few days as one of the horses will be named after John. We hope he would have approved. Belinda is going to be running it so I can assure you it will be plenty of fun – watch this space!