Bay Dude ran well on Tuesday night at Nottingham and we look forward to running him in Handicap company now he has qualified for a mark. George Wood, who rode him on his debut, gave him another lovely ride and it is great to have struck up another partnership with a flat jockey who we can depend on and who gives great feedback. All so important.
Yesterday James Gibbs called in to see us all and have a catch up. James is involved in both Solstice Star and Forecast and both are back in training and looking fantastic. We had a good chat about their plans for the season ahead and it was super to see James’ reaction to how smart the yard is looking after even more upgrading and also how impressed he was with the amount of exciting young horses we have in the yard for the season ahead.
Talking of new young horses, a Mahler 3 year old gelding arrived at the crack of dawn this morning from PJ Colville’s yard in Ireland. We purchased him from PJ and left him with him to be backed and ridden away. He does a great job and works well with us in partnership with our main Bloodstock Agent Gerry Hogan. The Mahler gelding has already settled in and is a lovely type. He’s for sale so do come and watch him on the gallops.
Cooler temperatures which is a relief for the horses as the flies in the paddocks have started to appear. We do put fly sheets on them when it’s cool enough to allow and those who will tolerate it also have fly masks. The threat of rain won’t go amiss either as we could do with a bit however we are so fortunate that our Leisure Ride Carpet Gallop has been waxed so isn’t dusty. Interestingly we were talking to a local jockey last night and one of the Trainers’ he rides out for is frustrated by his dusty gallop and ours was the only gallop in a collection of carpet gallops that wasn’t dusty. Leisure Ride sponsor our yard and supply the brilliant carpet gallop which is the best surface we’ve ever ridden on but without the wax too it does get too dusty therefore it’s a fantastic combination and we are very fortunate.
Last night we were glued to Racing UK as their ‘This Racing Life’ programme featured one of our physios, Hannah Ashton, and watched her treating Primogeniture here and heard all about what she does and why it is so important to keep racehorses in particular in top form. With Alex Steedman doing the interviewing, it’s a fascinating watch and on all week at different times I believe so do try and watch it if you can. They also feature Allen Webb who are our main Saddlers in Stow on the Wold – Webby was based with The Duke many years ago and also used to ride out for us. A top man and a must watch programme.