A very worthwhile trip to Catterick yesterday with Somewhere To Be winning in good style and justifying the 400 mile round trip from our Condicote base. He put his Towcester disappointment behind him as I’d hoped he would and he soon got into his stride under a confident Aidan Coleman and on the final circuit out-jumped his rivals and went on to win convincingly and delight us all. Somewhere To Be’s delighted breeder, Zara Tindall, was on the phone straight away in the winners’ enclosure too. Zara sold him after his Lingfield win and we were all relieved we managed to keep him in the yard.
Probably no-one was more relieved than Ash Hark who has been with us for a couple of years but before then worked for Zara and helped Zara back him as a youngster. He now looks after him here, rides him regularly and led him up yesterday. He’s all good today, trotted up sound and ate all his supper and breakfast.
A much nicer day here today and the sun has appeared too making it a lovely day for John and Claire Abernethy to bring their family for a Champagne Breakfast won in the raffle at our Owners’ Day in September. We love John & Claire coming to the yard and it was great to meet their family too and we hope they all had a fun morning.
Richard East and James Gibbs here to watch Solstice Star school first lot ahead of his run at Cheltenham on Saturday. We also schooled Fairmount, Cul De Poule, Cup of Ambition and Spice Girl. As usual Champion Court acted as lead horse, under Alfie Jordan today. He really is worth his weight in gold as he leads our lovely youngsters regularly too.
Jon Hughes here late morning for a meeting with our landlord Robert Wharton and myself. Lots of exciting plans.
Heading off to Warwick later on for Cut & Run to have her second racecourse appearance. She’s another Zara Tindall homebred and goes nicely at home. The ground is an unknown although her action suggests she will want some cut in the ground and you won’t be surprised to hear (owned by a World and European Eventing Champion and Olympic medalist) she jumps very well so we’ll see the best of her when she goes hurdling/chasing. Harry Stock rides.
Dinah Nicholson called in late morning to deliver coloured browbands that Belinda & Issy had ordered. Dinah has always made our coloured browbands and they are obviously done in our owners’ colours and it’s another of the traditions we have carried on from The Duke himself.