Yesterday was a very busy one (although I know I’m always saying that!) The challenge for Belinda was to get me out of the yard, suited and booted and to St Edwards Hall in Stow on the Wold before 12 noon! Beforehand we worked quite a few up the carpet gallop including Capital Force, Forecast, Brillare Momento, Chequered View, Run A Rig, Ten Past Midnight, Lucky Circle, Anaan, Be Thankful, Enforcement, Samtara, City Never Sleeps and Black Prince. The rest cantered.
Andrew and Carol Page were here second lot yesterday to see Mozzaro and we are delighted to welcome them into the yard as they have joined the syndicate who own him. Andrew had shares in horses with the late David Nicholson and we met up at Ascot for the Discover Racehorse Ownership weekend.
Back in February Belinda was asked by Bernice Magson if we would both be Guest Speakers at the Stow on the Wold Christmas Tree Lunch in aid of their beautiful church and she agreed……she tells me that December felt a long way away! A little out of our comfort zone however we needn’t have worried – there were a few familiar faces in the roomful of 65 and they were a very kind audience! Lunch beforehand was delicious too – Susie Harris and her team as fantastic as ever and hopefully lots of money raised.
Last night was a Christmas gathering with Pauline & Robert Wharton, our landlords and a really fun evening with the boys thoroughly enjoying themselves too.
No rest for the wicked as late night checks beckoned and Belinda came too to set up for the Racing Club Christmas morning this morning. Not just members of the Racing Club but owners of Capricia, Black Prince and Lucky Circle. A brilliant morning watching the horses on the gallops then back to the Owners’ Room for mulled wine, sausage rolls and Janne Bishop’s delicious home made mince pies – a really great Christmas gathering with plenty in their christmas jumpers too!
Paul Davis took a gang off to Batsford Stud to see our foals there whilst I headed off to Chepstow to saddle Solstice Star. I was meant to be heading to Yorkshire rather than Wales but my two Wetherby runners didn’t scope very well so we aren’t taking the chance with them and they are non-runners.
Solstice Star has been just that for us – a star and loves Chepstow winning three times out of five runs and seems well. Tom Bellamy rides and it would be great if we could get the Foxtrot Racing Team back into the winners’ enclosure there today. He needs to bounce back from his run at Cheltenham over the cross country fences last time but he jumped a little too deliberately that day and struggled to get the trip too. He’s so versatile though and gives us all so much fun be it hurdles, regulation fences or cross country fences!