How's Life wins first time out

Friday, 12 October 2012

Mr Metzger's Layman filly How's Life won in convincing fashion today under jockey Sylvestre d'Sousa at Wolverhampton.  There was absolutely no fluke about it as she sat handily, despite running a bit keen,and won readily by 1 1/2 lengths.  She had been going pretty well at home and this did not appear to be the strongest race although featuring some of the bigger stables.  A very encouraging start and we are delighted to have a winner for new owner Mr Metzger who has horses in the yard for the first time in 2012.  Congratulations! (33 winners for the year).

Cufflink wins again

Wednesday, 03 October 2012

It was so nearly a double today when Colin Murfiitt's Cufflink won her second race in a row at Salisbury and then the bridesmaid Be My Rock finished a frustrating second yet again at Nottingham.  She has run with nothing but credit in her races and will have learned a lot today from the hurly burly of a big field.

However, it was Cufflink who proved the main event in the premium claimer and she won well under an accomplished and well executed ride from Nicky Mackay.  She was claimed for jumping by Donald McCain junior for the good price of £16,000.  She was the yard's 32nd winner, maintaining our enviable strike rate of 21%.   Well done Colin and Nazi who rides her.

Open Day big hit

Sunday, 23 September 2012

Today saw the first Newmarket Open Day for 12 years with many of the yards in the town opening and various horses including leading Arc fancy Nathaniel cantering on Warren Hill.  Rae's assistant Nick McKee and handyman Kollyn did a great job making the yard look its best and preparing DVDs of Serious Attitude's career and all 31 winners this year.  You can control everything but the weather though, and unfortunately it was cold and starting to rain so Kollyn on the tea and coffee was very welcome.  It is the kind of thing that it was good to be involved in and remarkable to see how many people walked in asking to see 'Princess of Orange', 'Mirza as he owes me £2' or 'Montecristo, is he still alive'!  Mirza was the only one not in evidence as he was on his way back from Ayr.  I also found out to my surprise that someone reads this website!

Do you want to join a winning team?

Friday, 07 September 2012

The yard is flying along right now with 30 winners topping our best ever total and quite a few weeks of the season left, but it is also the time of year to look to the future - this year's yearling intake and the horses we will have in training next year.

Rae is putting together a new part ownership for three yearlings this year on the same principles as the Chestnuts and the Calm Again partnership - four partners put in £20,000 each to own a share in three horses that Rae will buy at the yearling sales.  The big plus of this is that risk is spread between the three horses and if one is sick, injured or no good the party does not grind to a halt and the owners still have an interest to follow. This is a great way to get involved and sure to be popular given this year's successes.  So pick up the phone today and contact Rae on his mobile 07711 301095 for more details.

Mick Duggan wins first time out

Thursday, 06 September 2012

Happily, every horse the yard is turning out at the moment is running for its life and Eamonn Duggan's two year old debutant Mick Duggan was no different at Kempton this evening, winning a weak race most convincingly under David Probert.  In all honesty this was not a result one could have predicted with any confidence, but it was no less welcome as a result.  Given that this was a claiming race, a good win was bound to attract attention and disappointingly Mick Duggan (named after Eamonn's son) was claimed afterwards.  Still, it was good to see another horse run really well and win for Eamonn in a week where his Albany Rose was injured on the gallops and has had to be retired.   Albany Rose was a fantastic horse, homebred by Eamonn and the first foal of Teide Lady who is proving a successful broodmare.  Albany Rose will join her in the paddocks when she is recovered.