24 two-year-olds cantering 10 furlongs around our Derby gallop which twists and turns, the horses and lads enjoy the experience !  

 

 

A photograph taken this morning of the horses returning home having done two canters around the woodchip gallop.  It was a beautiful Spring morning but I am a bit concerned about the dry forecast for the next two weeks as it's all ready been the driest March for 50 years in Wiltshire. Most of our more important older horses, Cityscape, Clowance, Border Patrol and Definightly are suited by plenty of cut in the ground.  Last year most of them were ready to run in April but unfortunately we had another very dry Spring, the Greenham meeting at Newbury in mid-April is often run on soft ground.

 

Two three year olds fillies working, Korithi and Primevere nearside.

 Three of our sprinters after their work this morning. Definightly (Steve Drowne), Bated Breath (Paul Vickers) and Run For The Hills (Frankie Braiden) all looking well and pleasing their trainer so far !

Ella my co driver and assistant who will be in charge while I have a day at Cheltenham

The above photographs were taken recently of Border Patrol being ridden by his lad, Uilson De Souza who also looks after our other five year old son of Selkirk, Cityscape.  Border Patrol belongs to Elite Racing and unfortunately  has in the past proved difficult to keep sound which was not helped last season by the lack of soft ground, and I am hoping that this year is not going to be a repeat performance. At present as you will see from the photographs he is cantering up some of the steep Wiltshire hills at Beckhampton which seems to suit him.

Primevere being ridden by her regular rider  Claire Klomp. She is a very attractive filly who has grown and done well during the Winter and as a daughter of Singspiel, she ought to improve and be suited by fast ground.  She broke the course record when she won her maiden at Kempton in the Autumn and I hope she will be running in April or May. She will be entered in the Investec Oaks.

 

An un-named Kyllachy two year old colt and That's Dangerous (Three Valleys) working upsides and being followed by a filly Supreme Quest (Exceed And Excel). They all look fairly forward and barring any setbacks could be visiting the racecourse from April onwards.

 

Bated Breath and Paul Vickers stretching out well up the polytrack. He has done extremely well and is a big powerful colt by Dansili who should be running in Listed and Group races during the summer over 6 furlongs.

 

Bated Breath and Zero Money

 

Discovery Bay is a twice raced three year old colt, being ridden by Ronald Wali who looks well in his coat and could develop into a staying handicapper.

 

Clowance Estate being ridden by Frankie Braiden on his way home from the gallops.  He is a two year old colt from the first crop of Teofilo ex Whirly Bird (Nashwan)  from the family that I know well of Inchinor who I trained. He was bought for Seasons Holidays at the December Sales and although he is a May foal, he is well developed and a good mover.  He is unlikely to be seen out until later in the year but I am pleased to hear that the reports of his sire from various trainers are all encouraging.

 

Captain Cat is a two year old colt being ridden by Jeta Ram who is from the first season sire Dylan Thomas ex Mother Of Pearl (Sadler's Wells). Mother Of Pearl won a Gr. 3 in France and she was second in the Musidora Stakes  Gr. 3.  and she is the dam of 4 winners including Danehills Pearl who was rated 103 and a Stakes winner.  Turtle Island who won the Irish 2000 Guineas in 1993 is a half brother to Mother Of Pearl.  Although he already measures 16.0 hh, he carries himself well and I hope will be visiting the racecourse in the Autumn and develop into a staying three year old for his owner, Barry Hurley (Seasons Holidays) who bought him as a foal at the December Sales in 2009.

Hundred Sen is an unraced three year old colt ridden by Ronald Wali from the last crop of Rainbow Quest. He is in fact related to Quest For Fame (The Derby 1990) who was from his first crop, so it might be fitting for him to develop into a smart racehorse !   He is an attractive horse but has only just started to progress into fast work, but all being well could be running from mid April onwards over 10 - 12 furlongs.

 

Al Kazeem who is a very attractive son of Dubawi, who won his second start at Newbury in October.

 

 

Lovage,  a two year old filly by Exceed And Excel out of Name Of Love,  and a half sister to Love Match.

 

Definightly returning home and hoping that there will be plenty of rain during the year so that he can have his preferred soft or heavy going.

 

The horses returning home after 1st lot yesterday.

 

 

 

 

Toby Lee of Equine Dental Services arrived this week to do the horses teeth, plenty of rasping, caps to be removed and wolf teeth extracted on the young horses.  They come twice a year and will revisit the yard in the Autumn.

Rob Neale with his tractor, roller and labrador.

 

Rob Neale and John Dixon tirelessly treading and knocking in the gallops.

 

 

Clowance out at exercise this week

Clowance went to Newmarket on Sunday to be covered for the first time by Oasis Dream. She had an appointment at 3 o'clock and with the minimum amount of fuss she was covered and returned to Beckhampton on the same day.  She was checked by the vet this morning and he was pleased to see that she had ovulated, we should know whether she is in foal when she is examined in two weeks time.  Assuming that she is pregnant, she will be able to race for 120 days which hopefully will enable us to find some soft ground and another Group race for her during the Spring.