Who’d have thought when we bought Mr Mafia, after being beaten in a selling hurdle at Catterick, that he’d have won three races aged 12 years old and now be on a career high rating and running at a Grade 1 track in a 0-150 chase?! He’s been in the form of his life, winning 3 races this year including breaking the course record at Market Rasen that had been held for over 30 years and annihilating a competitive field at Wincanton last time to win ‘easily’ by 16 lengths. Sean Bowen gets on so well with him and together they have a 43% strike rate.
Obviously today is even more competitive, the ground needs to be on the good side of good to soft for Mr Mafia to be at his most effective and, although he is in fabulous form at home, it could be one run too many which we’ll only know by running him. But, as I said, he is in amazing form, looks a picture and whilst they are in good form they say you should run them. It will be his last run of the year though and he’ll then go back to his 5* winter holiday home with his owners Peter and Jane Boggis who are such great friends and will spoil him rotten, as he deserves. He owes us nothing – what an amazing horse he has been. Good luck Maf!
Meanwhile back at home we have been working hard on a new venture, with our landlords The Wharton Family, a fun ride around the whole estate. Do have a look at the Fun Ride part of the website or through HERE and get booking! It’s available every day and there is also the added option of a spin up our wonderful gallops. It’s £20 for Adults, £15 for children and if you’d also like a spin up the gallops it is an additional £10 each.
Yesterday was a busy Saturday morning with Jason & Lisa Richards, Paul Davis and Tilly Jarrett all in to watch the horses and Warren Marston, Harry Stock, Miranda Theobald and Tim Gibbs all in to ride out. We worked Brorson, Pay The Woman, Sarasota Star, Talkischeap, Back on the Lash, Dreamsundermyfeet, Mahanakhon Power, Ben Buie, Breizh Alko, Brianna Rose and Cut And Run. The rest just cantered and the young horses are coming along really well too.
Katie Frisby was in too to give some of the horses a Salt Treatment, something we’ve started using on some of the horses we feel needs it. Katie has so much experience of working in racing and her Racing Club, The Stars and Diamonds Racing Club, have sent us two nice horses to train – Carumba and Culverwell and they have settled in well. 
A huge thank you to all who supported Belinda & Freddie’s Bingo Night earlier in the week in aid of The Bob Champion Cancer Trust at The Coach & Horses Pub in Longborough. A really fun night and amazingly they raised just over £900 which has generously been made up to £1000 by FBC Manby Bowdler thanks to MD Neil Lloyd – wow! Brilliant! If you’d like to sponsor Freddie separately, as he heads to The London International Horse Show in December representing the Shetland Pony Grand National Team, you can sponsor him HERE.
