Friday 25th September
Friday, September 25th, 2009We’ve had a very good week but a little frustrating to say the least……….
We started last weekend with racing at Wolverhampton on Friday evening with KINKY AFRO being beaten by a nose. Onto Newbury on Saturday, with CRAICATTACK running out of his skin to finish 3rd in the Nursery Handicap. Then came our big moment of the weekend with TOTAL GALLERY just getting beaten into 2nd by Strike The Deal in a thrilling finish to the Dubai Duty Free World Trophy. It was a fantastic run from him on ground faster than he would have liked and making the running is not really his thing either - so all in all, we were thrilled with his performance. His next target is the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp next weekend. Our other runner on Saturday, AVOW also finished 2nd at Wolverhampton in the evening.
At Goodwood on wednesday we ran EXCEEDTHEWILDMAN for the second time. He finished 3rd and is still a little green. CHAT de SOIE also ran well under Ryan Moore to finish 4th but she is still a little weak and wants further.
We have two runners this afternoon, PYRUS TIME and QUINSMAN up at Haydock - Latest Update (4pm) - Pyrus Time made it 2nd again (!) with Quinsman grabbing 3rd in what turned into an eventful finish to say the least !!
Saturday sees another big day for the yard, this time at Ascot with LADY DARSHAAN in the Meon Valley Stud Fillies Mile (Group 1). She is in cracking form at home and we are very hopeful that tomorrow she will shine. She recently had a good workout under Richard Hughes at Everleigh and he takes the ride on her tomorrow so we are hoping he goes one better for us this weekend.
Stan has been away at the Tattersalls Sales in Ireland this week and today saw the arrival of three more yearlings to the yard including a full brother to our good old servant SOUTHANDWEST. We will put pictures of the new babies up onto the website within the next couple of days so keep looking……
Nikki continues to break-in our two previous purchases and this week the Pastoral Pursuits colt was ridden away by our apprentice, Sophie. There were a few hair-raising moments in the sand ring but he has settled down well and has been ridden around the yard yesterday - see picture below.