Tuesday 20 November 2012

Silverheels wins impressivley at Chantilly!

Our good fortune continues in France, it is now six winners and a second from seven runners. I think the reason for this is the dreadful, chopped up, loose, soft ground that we have had all year has not suited the horses.

Silverheels romped home today showing his preference for fast ground and picking up 14,500 euro which seems a massive amount of money compared to the rubbish prize money on offer in this country. Racing at the moment in the UK is purely fodder for the bookmakers and a tiny bit of kudos for the Owner & Trainer. We have six or seven more runners in France during December.

Circumvent not only got lent on at Lingfield last Saturday but also got a few wacks round the head by another jockeys' stick. I have noticed recently that if you are in the lead in the last two furlongs if you lean on the second and stop him in his run you keep the race. I have seen two incidences like this at Southwell & Wolverhampton in the last two days. If this had not happened he would have been second.

Gifted Girl runs at Lingfield on Saturday, she has a tendency to hang left otherwise she would have won at Leicester. Lingfield should suit her, we will try to make all and the left hand track should help. She should go close.

Stormbound showed a glimmer of hope but he has been disappointing, he will like the track at Lingfield but we are hopeful rather than expecting.

I saw an amusing thing at Kempton the other night, we have just had had the HIT sales and a horse travelled down from the north, owned by one of the top five owners, ran in a 0-60 and finished last. Explain that to me?

Monday 12 November 2012

Carlton Blue carries on the winning formula in France

We are keeping some of the string going until Christmas on the the All Weather, not the English All Weather, mainly in Deauville where you are at least racing for a reason (prize money). The English All Weather is basically for kudos and fodder for the bookmakers. We have so far had five winners and a second from six runners. It is no good taking rubbish out there though, they have to have some ability.

We have two runners here coming up on the All Weather, Gifted Girl runs in a handicap at Lingfield next week and Circumvent has been entered in the Listed race at Lingfield on Saturday. Both horses are in good form.

We look forward to next year with twenty or so two year olds, all likely sorts, and better racing ground rather than soft,heavy & chopped racing surfaces that we have had this year.