Out with the old and in with the new with Ballymountain Boy kicking off day one of the new season in the best possible way winning in impressive style under a good ride from Andrew Tinkler at Kempton yesterday. He was a little too keen for the early part of the race but eventually settled, jumped for fun and quickened in good style after the last to delight us all. His owners, The Chameleons, have propelled themselves into 8th place in the Owners’ Table!
They are a great bunch of guys and comprise Paul Davis, who runs our Martin Keighley Racing Club and Partnerships and works tirelessly to help us in any way he can, George Thornton who is one of our longest standing owners having been a key part of Any Currency, Mark Holland who is a relatively new owner but was fortunately there yesterday and was still understandably on Cloud 9 today when he came up to watch his other horse, Spice Girl, (he brought some friends up too and they enjoyed champagne and bacon sandwiches and watched re-runs of the race on the fabulous race-replay card that Jockey Club racecourses generously give to all winning owners). Last but not least Ross Hemming, whose company Leisure Ride Group sponsor our yard and supply us with our fantastic carpet gallop surface. He couldn’t be there yesterday but called in late morning to pick up his winning momentoes and have a good catch up – more fizz!
Ocean Eleven was struck into and had a nasty cut on his back leg. Luckily the same vet who did such a fabulous job stitching Cottersrock up also saw him and he’s lucky albeit sore this morning. Brass Monkey ran another good race to stay on to finish 3rd and he was wild when we turned him out this morning. Finally Cup of Ambition and Ash Hark were staying on well when a horse unfortunately fell in front of them and Cup swerved giving Ash no chance of staying on at the 2nd last. Such a shame as he’d surely have been placed but another solid run and both live to fight another day.
Richard East and Paul Townend here this morning to watch Forecast on the gallops.
Fantastic to hear that Any Currency has settled into his new home straight away yesterday. An emotional goodbye but we know he will be loved and hopefully will thoroughly enjoy his new job. Can’t wait to go and watch him in action in the Autumn.