- Monday, 07 June 2021 14:05
- Written by David Pipe
Lady Reset Winner at Leicester
We have only had four runners since last writing but I am delighted it yielded two winners, one on the flat and one over jumps. Lady Reset got the week off to a good stark by winning the flat seller at Leicester over 1m2f with Cieran Fallon in good style. Things haven’t quite gone her way in two starts over hurdles since returning from a winter break but she hasn’t had the fast ground she loves. She isn’t very big but has a big heart and tries hard which is all you can ask. On official ratings she should have won the race but as we know it doesn’t always work out like this and it was nice she was able to go and do it on the day. We had to go to £8,500 to buy her back at the auction afterwards but there should be plenty more fun to be had to her while the sun keeps shining this summer.
Dock of the Bay was our second runner of the week but unfortunately could not confirm the promise of his stable debut run last time. Although nothing has really come to light to explain his performance as yet, I do know his run was too bad to be true and he is better than this. Percy Street had his day out in the sun at Epsom on Derby day but found the company a bit tough. He is more than capable of winning dropped in grade and it is my job to get the best out of him.
Koi Dodville was a nice winner of the first juvenile hurdle race of the new season up at Hexham on Saturday. We only claimed him last month after he finished second at Saint Cloud over 1m2f so it was great to get him over within a month, get him jumping and win! He is by a relatively unknown sire called French Fifteen but he has bred a few good ones and I think he is a name that we will become more familiar with over here in the future. He was formerly trained in France by L Gadbin, a trainer we have done well with horses from in the past. Night Edition, Paricolor and To Fly Free all started their careers at his yard in France and have all come over and won for Pond House. He was claimed for 14,500 Euros and so he looks a good buy already! While the form of the Hexham race is not that strong, you can only beat what is put in front of you and it was a nice debut. There is room for improvement in the jumping department but this will come with experience and he showed a nice attitude and galloped all the way to the line. It was great to get a winner for the Stuart Mercer colours who is a long standing owner at Pond House. He has come out of the race in good form and holds an entry at Aintree on Friday. We will see how he is over the next couple of days but he could well run again all being well.
Koi Dodville Winner at Hexham
We always keep an eye on the French claimers and it has been a good source of winners for our yard for many years. While you do need a little luck, you can go through the form with a fine tooth comb and find horses with potential. Adagio was obviously the star claim for us last season but the others have done well also are recent flat winner Ranco plus multiple winner Paricolor who was also claimed after running well in claimers in France. If anyone would like to get involved with owning a horse through this method, please do get in touch as there is plenty of value and fun to be had.
Fergus Gillard Loses 5lb Claim
Many congratulations to Fergus Gillard who rode his 40th career winner at Market Rasen on Friday for trainer Alex Dunn. It means his claim now reduces from five to three pounds so things will be tougher for him but he is a talented rider and the three will still come in very handy. He now rides claiming three until he reaches 75 winners for his career. He has his first ride with his new claim will be at Southwell tomorrow where he rides To Fly Free in the concluding handicap hurdle on the card.
Looking Ahead
The week ahead is looking fairly quiet on the runner’s front but we do have a few entries throughout. Awesomedude will be our first runner of the week in the maiden hurdle at Southwell on Tuesday. Our prolific flat winner made a pleasing hurdle and stable debut at Market Rasen last time. Depsite finishing last of five he was only beaten 3.5 lengths in a race not run to suit as it developed into a sprint turning for home. He has come out of that race well, the brush hurdles and the track should suit and I am hopeful of a good run. To Fly Free as mentioned runs in the 2 mile handicap hurdle. She drops back in trip slightly after perhaps not quite seeing it out over further at Newton Abbot last time. She would still have been placed had she not got rid of jockey Jonjo O’Neill at the last and with first time blinkers on this time she should not be too far away for the David Pipe Racing Club.
Our next entries are not then until Friday evening with Ranco and Miss M entered at Newton Abbot and Koi Dodville and Nordic Combined entered up at Aintree. Over the weekend, Leoncavallo is entered in a 1m6f flat handicap at Sandown on Saturday, a race in which he finished second last year. We could also return to Hexham on Saturday with a couple of entries at our new favourite course (three of our four winners this season have come there)! Story of Friends could make the journey this time along with To Fly Free depending on how she runs at Southwell. Keep checking the daily blog for more news of the stable runners.
Weather Watch
May was the wettest ever recorded here at Pond House. We had 151mm of rain falling over 21 days. 2002 was the previous highest rainfall recorded in the month of May with 136mm that year. Only four times (including this year) in over twenty years have we recorded over 100mm in May while last year only 17mm of rain fell during the month. I am not sure what it all means but I find it interesting looking at it all!!
Devon & Cornwall Point to Point Season Draws to a Close
Yesterday saw the close of point to pointing in the Devon and Cornwall area for this season. I am told that everyone has done a brilliant job in getting these meetings on this year in difficult times due to Covid. Our amateur jockey, Martin McIntyre rode a winner, his fourth of the season on Dr Rhythm in the hunt race while some of our former inmates were in action and doing well on the track. It is always nice to hear how our former horses are getting on and enjoying life in their new careers, whether it be continuing racing or as a riding horse we like to find them nice new homes.
Not Long Now…
All being well Leanne and I will be tying the Knott next month in Ilfracombe. Postponed from last year we are hoping that the government’s announcement next week means we are able to go ahead as planned!
