Changeover time at the yard

Sunday, 30 October 2011

It is all change at Chestnut Tree Stables at the moment. All change for our equine inhabitants, many of whom are going out to begin their winter breaks, or yearlings who are coming in to begin their education and to start their careers as racehorses.  We have 10 yearlings in at present, with a few more to come we hope and Steve Davies is doing a great job lungeing and long reining them.  There will be a few more to run this year including some two year olds who have not yet been put away, older horses returning from a break and some in search of elusive black type.  We are also taking the chance to paint and give some of the boxes a facelift.  Many of the Indian staff take extended holiday this time of year and they, like the horses, will all be back in January.

Mirza off to France

Sunday, 30 October 2011

Robbie Mills and Mirza 'the two family pets together' (he said it himself) set off this morning for France in pursuit of black type.  Mirza is contesting a Group 3 over six furlongs at Maisons-Lafitte on Tuesday.  Rae says it is a tough, competitive race but there is nothing for him over here.  We all know that the ground (softer the better) is absolutely key for Mirza but he seems in good form and needs to run.  Pray for rain in Paris.

Gaselee scores easy win at Catterick

Tuesday, 25 October 2011

Some would say that Paula Smith's Gaselee has looked a trifle disappointing in 2011 - well that ended this afternoon when she absolutely routed her opposition in a near two mile handicap at Catterick this afternoon.  She won entirely unchallenged, with the distances being 13 lengths and 13 lengths - she beat the fourth by a jumping distance!

Graham Gibbons got an easy lead but he frankly could not have ridden an easier winner all year - there was never any doubt from a mile out.  Gaselee will be off to France next in the hope that the soft ground and her good form will help her put up a career best effort and gain some valuable black type.  Congratulations all.

Update on Kyllachy-Fascination Street yearling for sale on these pages

Saturday, 22 October 2011

Yesterday at Doncaster our Kyllachy - Fascination Street yearling (for sale - please contact Rae on 07711 301095) received a significant update when her year older sister Amy Dorrit, trained by John Gosden for his wife Rachel Hood and Bill Gredley, finished second to Godolphin's smart prospect, Lacily, who is now 25-1 for next year's Oaks.  As the Racing Post points out: "It's also worth noting that in the last two editions of this maiden the runner-up subsequently finished in the top four of the Oaks, namely Izzi Top and Gertrude Bell.  They were both trained by John Gosden and he had the second once again.  Amy Dorrit would have finished a lot closer on debut had she not been denied a clear run  and she showed herself to be quite decent.  According to her trainer the filly "has done a lot of growing this year" and she should continue to progress".

 

So, the half sister to a potential Oaks horse is for sale here.  Don't delay - give Rae a call today.

Other yearlings new at Chestnut Tree Stables (some of them for sale!)

Saturday, 15 October 2011

Rae has also been busy buying other yearlings, some of them on spec and to be offered to partnerships.  If you are interested in participating please call Rae on 07711 301095 and he can let you know prices and put partnerships in touch.  As in previous years, we will see who wants what of our existing owners and then post them as horses for sale on the website.  To give you a first look, there are three that we will be looking for owners for, being:

An athletic, good-moving Cockney Rebel filly whose dam (by Irish River) has produced three winners from four runners from the family of Rose Bowl. 1,000 Guineas winner Cockney Rebel has done well from limited opportunities and all the trainers seem to like him, so we are pleased to have secured her. She is a very likeable filly.

 

 

A strong, bonny daughter of Kyllachy, the champion sprinter of Europe and himself the sire of the likes of Nunthorpe winner Sole Power and Arabian Gleam and a reliable source of speed.  This filly has an excellent pedigree, being the three parts sister in blood to Grade One winner Golden Apples, the winner of the Del Mar Oaks and the Yellow Ribbon Satakes.  As you can see, the looks match the page and she is a very strong specimen.

 

Finally, Rae could not leave without buying the half sister to our own Be My Rock.  Rae thinks highly of Be My Rock although she is unraced to date, and there is nothing wrong with her sister by Oratorio (pictured) either. Although Oratorio is not popular as a sales horse, his stock have proved tough and hardy (remember Eye of Eternity?) and he is capable of siring a very good horse (Dewhurst winner Beethoven).  This is a very sweet, correct filly from a good family.