Wednesday 28 September 2011

Handicapping needs an overhaul...

Silverheels is off to Redcar on Saturday for the Listed race over 6f subject to his work tomorrow.

Humungosaur is one of our nicest two year olds and goes for the 1m2f maiden at Pontefract on Monday, we have booked Paul Hanagan.

Joy to the World is a nice filly but will not be fully wound up at Kempton.

We were pleased with Circumvents run in the Cambridgeshire, as it happened the draw went against him and he was checked half way through the race, otherwise he would have been in the frame.

After 70 days in the cold column, which is a nightmare for any trainer, it was nice to see Tom Tate get out in such spectacular fashion winning the Cambridgeshire.

The handicap system is awful, they appear unaccountable and we have seen a string of horses thrown in recently like horses trained by big trainers and owned by big owners picking up the crumbs. Handicappers should be means tested to see they are doing their job properly which we know they are not. Good ones should get a pat on the back and the bad ones sacked.

Monday 19 September 2011

Some big runners coming up..

It's getting to the time of year when a trainer starts to give up on horses and the Newmarket and Doncaster sales are closing. We are supporting Doncaster more this year, the entry fees are less and it may pay to be a big fish in a small pond rather than Newmarket, where they go through in the hundreds.

Silverheels is fit and well and goes for the two year old trophy at Redcar on October 1st.

Humungosaur who's form has been boosted by the winner of his Deauville race winning a Group 3 at Longchamp. He is running at Pontefract on October 3rd over 1m2f.

Kaiser Wilhelm has come on from his race and runs at Goodwood on Wednesday. He is from more of a three year old family.

Gifted Girl is back cantering and has grown. She will make up into a nice three year old.

Joy to the World is looking promising, she will probably run at Kempton next week. She may just need the race.

We were hoping that Pat Dobbs would be able to ride Circumvent again in the Cambridgeshire but having broken his arm we are looking for another jockey.

I am told by people who attended Keeneland Sales that the horses were not spectacular and the prices were high. I was hoping that we would see a bit more value at the sales this year with the dip in prize money and the recession. I think the usual players will be at the English and Irish sales, taking the cream of the crop and the rest of us picking up what is left over.

Monday 12 September 2011

Circumvent Wins in good style!

We have not got many runners this week but we are delighted with Circumvents win at Goodwood. A lot of people were thankful for his long price. It was the first time he had his true trip and as the ground was a little softer than he would like, we were very pleased. We have left him in the Cambridgeshire on 24th September at Newmarket.

Swingland worked on Saturday, on route to run in the Shadwell Fillies Mile at Newmarket on 23rd September, she seems in good form.

Ziefhd may run at Newbury on Friday in the Fillies Conditions race, she has come out of her race well.

Cheherazad was disappointing at Chepstow, we put it down mainly to the ground and possibly the track.

Most of our other runners this week are hopeful not expected.

We bought two yearlings at Doncaster, both speedy sorts by stallions getting winners. They are on our horses for sale page.

It was pleasing to see the two Group 1 winners in France win their races in convincing style and great to see Sarafina show such tenacity. I think this is what racing should be about and not fodder for the bookmakers.

I think the 80 less races next year should be 180 as nobody earns anything out of it at all, it's just going through the motions for the betting industry and the fact that we created all these meetings to create revenue, it seems to be that the reverse has happened as prize money continues to tumble.

Tuesday 6 September 2011

A busy week for runners!

Clianthus runs on Saturday, he is more of a three year old type, he is expected to run well but not win.

Kaiser Wilheim will need the experience of a run on Thursday at Doncaster.

Rainbow Chorus will need all the help he can get to win a race.

Swingland has come out of her race well and has a provisional target of the Shadwell fillies mile at Newmarket on 23rd September.

Ziefhd will have benefited from all her races but ran well at Kempton, she could improve further after giving the winner 4lb.

Velvet Star is not fancied today.

Rimth runs on Thursday at Doncaster, she needs to be settled early and is in good form.

Cheherazad has been unlucky but is expected to go well at Chepstow.

Baltimore Clipper was given a poor ride at Haydock and should have been very close.

Circumvent will go well at Goodwood, he has been unlucky with the ground and draws this year.

I read in the post that Bookmakersthink racing needs quantity not quality. Talk about a biased approach, it would reduce racing to nothing, more like glorified dog racing and sums up their approach to racing generally. We should go our own route and stop pandering to others needs.