Royal Ascot Week

Myristica Wins At Newton Abbot!

We only had a handful of runners during the last week but took our season tally to six winners over jumps with an easy win for Myristica at Newton Abbot.  Her task was made somewhat easier by the departure of the third favourite three flights from home but she didn’t come out of second gear all the way round.  She had a little look at the padded hurdles early in the race but led the field and jumped well.  She has a good engine and an attitude to match and is a thoroughly likeable mare.  She has now taken her career record to six wins from 29 career starts, four on the flat and two over hurdles, a healthy 21% strike rate.  She has come out of that race well and we have plenty of options going forwards she may well stick to the jumps or we may try her back on the flat as some point as well.

As well as our winner we had three second places from our seven runners.  Kolisi was second again at Newton Abbot, Only Fools was second again at Worcester and Walk of the Roses was second in her bumper at Uttoxeter on Saturday.  While we haven’t had many runners due to the continuing fast ground, the horses are in good form and long may it continue.

The only sad news from last week is that we unfortunately lost Last Quarter at Worcester.  He was in the process of running a nice race but sadly went wrong on the flat and sustained a fracture to his leg and had to be put to sleep.  These things can happen at any time or anywhere but it never gets any easier and our thoughts are with his owners, Garth and Anne at this time.

This Week

We are unlikely to be much busier on the runner’s front this week than last with just a few entries in the coming days.  Our next runners will be on Wednesday at Worcester while, we also have entries at Uttoxeter on Thursday and Lady Reset has a flat entry at Goodwood on Friday.  Keep checking the daily news for more up-to-date information on the stable runners.

Royal Ascot

Leanne and I are off to Royal Ascot on Tuesday, a tradition we have been doing for as long as I can remember.  While unfortunately we don’t have any runners this year it is nice to put on my top hat and tails (providing it is not too hot!) and go up for a day.  Mum and dad usually come to but mum had a new knee last week and so they aren’t coming this time.  All went well and she is home and starting her recovery and so hopes to be back at the Royal Meeting next year! It is hard to believe that it is 14 years since Junior won the Ascot Stakes on stable debut in 2009.  He then went onto be a Cheltenham Festival winner and he truly was a remarkable horse.  We still get updates on him and he is having a lovely active retirement and is in rude health at the age of 20 which is great to hear.

Holiday Season

The holiday season continues for horses and staff although it won’t be too long before before we are thinking of some of them coming back in – time flies!  Please see a few more photos below Georgina captured of them out at grass.

Deauville Sales

There are store sales in Ireland in the coming months and the trade was very good at the Goffs Arkle sales last week.  Tattersalls have their Derby sales coming up on 28-29^th June while there is also the Arqana Summer sale at Deauville in the beginning of July.  They have both raced and un-raced horses going through their ring and I am hoping to go over to France as it is a sale we have bought well from in the past.