99 Not Out
No winners to report but our horses have been running with great credit and have posted plenty of placings over the past 3 weeks.
A personal highlight was Rockley Point showing plenty of zest to finish 3rd at Newcastle last night on what was his 99th visit to the racecourse. Affectionately known as Danny at home he has been running below par and had managed to finish 9th on his last 6 starts which is quite a feat in itself. Not the kind of consistency we want!!!
He has still been working well at home with plenty of enthusiasm but the R word has been mentioned recently! He would be a great miss to the yard and I was relieved when he put his best foot forwards last night. Danny changed the trajectory of my training career when he arrived and got me started on the flat. Since joining us he has won 6 races with a further 26 placings to boot, I would love to see him add to that tally in the twilight of his career.
Rockley Point enjoying some turnout this morning
Elladora has been running with great consistency posting a second at Redcar last week and a third last night at Newcastle. She has transformed in to a big strong mare that has given her owners plenty of fun this season with 15 visits to the racecourse including a win, three 2nds and two thirds. She will likely have a holiday now and we look forwards to having her out early next season.
Elladora and connections winning at Ayr
Slainte Mhath also heads on her holidays following her good third at Redcar last week. She has had a fantastic summer despite the ground not often being in her favour and I think she is the type that could improve again for having a holiday under her belt. Like Elladora she has given her owners some fabulous days around the Scottish tracks.
Slainte Mhath after she won at Ayr in May
Last week at Catterick was a great day with two horses we have in training for Making Headway Racing both running great races in second place. Seconds are always a bit frustrating but we have to be very proud when the horses are running well and being competitive. Spartakos signed off his season with that pleasing run and we will be hoping for a bit of soft ground for him in the spring. Jackmeister Rudi ran well in defeat from a bad draw at Southwell last night and will have a couple spins on the AW before his holidays. Making Headway Racing have built up a great bunch of owners and they are coming in for a visit to see their horses this Saturday which is always good fun and a chance for everyone to catch up.
Jackmeister Rudi after his 2nd at Catterick
Our two fillies that ran in to fourths yesterday gave us some excitement for the future. Justathimble improved from her debut run to finish fourth beaten only 4 lengths at Newcastle and looks like she may want slightly further when she heads handicapping. Flash Bulb ran over an insufficient 7f at Southwell and will improve for a bigger test in stamina. They are both lovely fillies and I am excited for their futures.
Justathimble at Newcastle
Of our other runners in the past fortnight Samurai Sneddz got caught in traffic off the bend at Wolverhampton before finishing a frustrating 5th. On the same day Castlegrange finished 6th at Ayr which was an encouraging starting point to the season for him as he is a big lad who will most definitely improve for the run. Also out at Ayr last week That’s You Lottie finished a staying on 4th and Halcyon Dreams finished in 6th, both pleasing runs.
Today saw the return of my winter column in The racing Post’s Racing And Football Outlook. This is my third winter with them and I quite enjoy the Sunday debriefs with Nick who writes up the column. Hopefully we have plenty winners to report on over the winter!
Our next entries are on Friday where Ginger Pointe makes his handicap debut in a competitive looking handicap at Hexham under Craig Nichol. Guest List heads to Newcastle over 6f under Kevin Stott.
Ginger Pointe looking fabulous ahead of Friday
As well as being busy with our runners and horses in training we have made a good start with our Land Force filly that we brought home from The Somerville sales at Tattersalls Newmarket. Known as Saffie around the yard she is almost ready to back . This morning she had her first encounter with the hose, at the moment she thinks everything is for chewing!
Land Force filly ‘Saffie’