Peak Performance!

As you can see from the photographs, it looks as though Tom Scudamore has some competition for his job as stable jockey at Pond House!  Ronaldo des Mottes is currently away enjoying his summer break but he had a visit from his owners Dan and Kenny Ives who couldn’t resist climbing aboard their eight year old gelding.  Now, Ronaldo isn’t exactly the smallest horse in the yard but the lads are very tall and dwarf him when they climb in the saddle – fortunately for Ronaldo, Timmy Murphy, Tom Scu et al aren’t quite as large as his owners!  Ronaldo has been with us since his four year old days and is a great favourite around the yard – he signed off last season with a creditable third in the Sussex Champion Hurdle and we are looking forward to seeing him back in the stable towards the end of the month when he will embark on his preparation for a novice chasing campaign.

As you can see from the photographs, it looks as though Tom Scudamore has some competition for his job as stable jockey at Pond House!  Ronaldo des Mottes is currently away enjoying his summer break but he had a visit from his owners Dan and Kenny Ives who couldn’t resist climbing aboard their eight year old gelding.  Now, Ronaldo isn’t exactly the smallest horse in the yard but the lads are very tall and dwarf him when they climb in the saddle – fortunately for Ronaldo, Timmy Murphy, Tom Scu et al aren’t quite as large as his owners!  Ronaldo has been with us since his four year old days and is a great favourite around the yard – he signed off last season with a creditable third in the Sussex Champion Hurdle and we are looking forward to seeing him back in the stable towards the end of the month when he will embark on his preparation for a novice chasing campaign.

It is getting very busy around the yard now with horses coming back in from grass or from their summer holidays at their owners.  We had around a dozen come back last week with a further twenty or so expected during the next week.  It is the same story with the staff as many of them are now back from their time off: Zöe Martin has returned today while we are pleased to welcome back David Noonan for another season.  David is a young Irish lad of 17 who I am sure you will be hearing more of in the coming months.  He will be hoping to get his amateur jockey’s licence this season, so watch this space.  We will be missing at least one familiar face this coming term however as Francis Hayes (pictured left) will not be returning to Pond House – Frank, who enjoyed three winners as a conditional jockey aboard Arab League and Home Run during his spell with us, has chosen to stay home in Ireland and will ride freelance this season.  We wish him well for the future.

Well done to Wendy Hartburn for competing in the charity flat race at Newmarket at the weekend.  Wendy, who happens to be Mikey Ennis’ better half was raising funds for Racing Welfare while also fulfilling a lifelong ambition to race ride – although uncompetitive in the race, I am told that both horse and rider had a lovely time!  Mikey is also doing his bit to raise funds for this tremendous cause – you have probably witnessed his prowess in the saddle, showcased by his victory in the Midlands National aboard Big Occasion last season, but few of you will be aware that he is also a skilled carpenter.  Indeed, Mikey has made a number of equicisors, one of which he auctioned last week with all proceeds going to Racing Welfare.  You can find out more about his extra-curricular work on Twitter by following @motionhorse.

Although drawing a blank last week, the horses continued to run creditably with six of our eight runners reaching the frame without quite getting their heads in front.  Purple ‘N Gold once again ran well, finishing fourth at Windsor on Monday night in the 1m2f (0-90) handicap – it was the strongest race he has competed in yet and he fared best of those held up off the pace.  I am sure he will continue to give his shrewd owner plenty of enjoyment on the flat and over hurdles.

We had a pair of seconds at Stratford on Tuesday when both Basil Fawlty and Royal Peak bumped into potentially well handicapped rivals and it was a similar story for High Ville who could also have met a tartar at Southwell on Sunday.  Royal Peak (pictured right) was only narrowly denied from his 15lbs higher mark and another hike in the weights looks to be on the cards, hence we ran him again this afternoon at Worcester where he won from a potentially well-treated multiple winning point to pointer.  He has further entries this week and could turn out again – I am very surprised no-one has been on the phone to buy him yet!

We will return to Worcester tomorrow (Tuesday) where we will have just the one runner, bumper winner Most Eligible in the National Hunt maiden hurdle.  Most Eligible was the ready winner of a National Hunt flat race at the track on his racecourse debut and narrowly failed to follow-up there under a penalty.  He makes his hurdling debut tomorrow having pleased with his jumping at home – he is very well and looks to have Donald McCain’s Clondaw Draft to beat.  Tom Scudamore will do the steering.

Later in the week we will be having runners at Newton Abbot’s two day meeting (Wednesday and Thursday), while we will likely be represented at Ffos Las where they race on Thursday and Friday. My Brother Sylvest is an intended runner in the handicap chase at Ffos Las on Thursday, while both Soliwery and Third Of The Third are likely runners, although they have a number of entries so we will have to look through the races and choose the best opportunity for them.  It will be a quiet weekend for the yard however as we have no entries at Cartmel on Saturday.

Finally, while we are on the subject of Newton Abbot, I would like to wish their clerk of the course Jason Loosemore well with his new posting as clerk at Taunton racecourse following the sad passing of Michael Trickey.  Although he has very big shoes to fill, Jason is extremely competent, has a good local knowledge and I am sure he will be a great success in his new role.