News

News from the yard

Well you might think that - because we aren't having many runners at the moment - there's not much going on at the yard.  That's actually very far from the truth as the place is a hive of activity, although it is not the most glamorous time of the year.

future_wonder_at_grassNearly all the older horses and the two year olds who have had an uninterrupted campaign are out having their winter break or being roughed off ready for a few weeks out (Future Wonder pictured below with Emperor's Waltz in the background enjoying themselves in the field).

Others are returning from injury or have been held up and these are still in full work.  In the meantime the yard is having a revamp, with handyman Colin doing a great job painting and refurbing the boxes, including installing new rubber floors, ready for the return of the main string in January.

dutch_art_being_longreinedThe yearlings are trickling in and we welcomed two more this week. These are gradually being broken in and ridden away.  The ones that have been sales prepped are quite accustomed to the routine but some of the home breds are probably wondering what on earth is going on (Dutch Art filly pictured right being long reined).

Sunday sees a special treat for our loyal owners as we are combining a yard visit with a behind the scenes tour of the World famous Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket and Sunday lunch.  We are all looking forward to that very much.

Rose of Sarratt wins by a head

Eamonn Duggan's Rose of Sarratt won at Redcar this afternoon to give champion jockey elect Paul Hanagan a three timer on the card.  This was a significant win for this well bred filly from the last crop of Sadler's Wells as it cements her future as a broodmare, although the current plan is that she stays in training next year, like Eamonn's sprinter Albany Rose.  All the 'Roses' Eamonn has had now have won, no less than seven winners this year!  Eamonn is a great enthusiast and supporter of the yard and deserves every bit of success he gets, so many congratulations to him, Steve Davies who has been riding Rose of Sarratt of late and Sam Davis who looks after her.

Having made the running and kicked 6 lengths clear with fully three furlongs to go Rose of Sarratt kept finding when challenged by the runner up and they finished 10 lengths clear of the third, although she won by just a head.

Mirza ran well to finish around 8th in France, a creditable run in a Group 3.

Some buff will tell me different but, by my calculations, that brings up 16 winners for the year from 74 runners, versus 14 winners from 109 last year (albeit one of those was a Grade 1 winner).  We may not be done yet for the year either.  Let's hope not.

Changeover time at the yard

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

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

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.