Plenty of visitors in yesterday morning as it was the first of our VIP syndicate mornings where individual syndicates come to watch their horses on the gallops and then enjoy champagne and brunch in our Owners’ Room. It was the turn of Owners for Owners members yesterday headed by our Chairman Jon Hughes and his wife Jack who organise their syndicates so superbly. Obviously the Rugby was on and England easily won which added to the excitement!
In particular we watched Sarasota Star (who also schooled up the hurdles), Mozzaro. Ben Buie, Dreamsundermyfeet, Lord Condi, Enforcement and Gold Mountain. The horses are looking really well and they either cantered on the loop or cantered or worked up the grass/carpet.
Freddie even decided to school his shetland pony Blackie over his mini hurdles in front of our visitors and thankfully he jumped safely too! Andrew Jones was here on Friday watching World War on the gallops and has kindly agreed to sponsor Freddie and Blackie when they run at Plumpton on 21st October in a Shetland race there. It is raising all important funds for The Bob Champion Cancer Trust and we are very grateful that Andrew has agreed to sponsor him and Freddie will be wearing his colours too.
Yesterday we also entertained Dave Whittaker and his girlfriend Cherise who were making their first visit to our yard. Keen racing fans they were recently at Worcester Racecourse when Jonjo O’Neill JR’s mount swerved towards the crowd when looking like the winner. Not only did Jonjo JR get unseated but, Dave, taking evasive action, pushed Cherise out of the way causing her to fall over – actions that weren’t missed on the replay shared on Twitter! The clip took the internet by storm and has been watched by nearly a million viewers! Thankfully, the horse didn’t come through the rails & Cherise was absolutely fine albeit a little embarrassed – the least we could do was offer them a much more relaxed morning with us! It was great to meet them both and they seemed to enjoy being on the gallops and looking around the yard too, meeting the team and our other owners.
It’s that time of year when the coats are starting to change and get woolly so the clippers are out and thankfully we have two top class people to help us. Both Deb Butler, who also rides out too when she can, and Helen Diment had their clipppers in action yesterday. They are whizzing through them and they are looking very smart – great to have such a top team behind us. Deb is now an owner here aswell now and we have known her since we were all at The Dukes together. She currently spends much of her time assisting Bristol University with research into Racehorse Welfare, Owner Retention etc. and we are fortunate that she can still find time to come and help us too. Helen worked for us many years ago and as well as Any Currency being one of her favourites she also loved Havingotascoobydo who is now lucky enough to still be living with her as his owners gave her Scooby when he retired. It was a fantastic decision as he wants for nothing and her young son Alfie even rides him a bit now.