- Monday, 30 December 2024 16:30
- Written by G Edwards
Kingston Queen Sedgefield Winner
We travelled across the country in search of winners on Boxing Day and thankfully our endeavours paid off with and across the card double. The day did not quite start as well as I would have hoped with Walkadina and Vision De Main running below expectations. Vision De Maine returned with a nasty little cut, which he was quite sore on initially, but this is improving every day and I am sure he will bounce back to his true form next time.
American Sniper ran well enough carrying top weight at Wetherby to finish a close third while the day ended very well for us by winning the bumpers at Sedgefield and Fontwell. Kingston Queen got a deserved first success under rules after showing a lot of promise in her first two starts. Gearoid Harney gave her a nice ride from the front and she kept galloping strongly. She is a likeable filly with a great attitude and I cannot wait to see her in a bit better grade of race where she can perhaps take a lead for longer as I think that will see her in an even better light. She has come out of the race in good form and I am just mulling over whether we go hurdling now or wait and tackle one of the nice mares graded bumpers in the spring.
Gentleman Toboot is a horse I have loved from day one and it was brilliant for him to get his first win on the board at Fontwell with Jack Tudor riding. He is a lovely big son Harzand who has a lot of ability but has a bit of growing up to do, as shown by his antics before the start where Jack Tudor did very well to stay on him! Actually, to his credit, during the race he was very professional, dictating the pace from the front and easily pulling clear of his rivals. He is definitely very much one for the future and next season but he has more than enough ability to win another penalty with a penalty on soft going.
Gentleman Toboot Fontwell Winner
It has been a little frustrating on the racing front since Boxing Day, the tale of two possible winners that got away! Phantomofthepoints did everything right bar the final 50 yards at Chepstow where he hung to the paddock and gave the race away. He led the field a merry dance in the thick fog throughout, jumped well and appeared to have all his rivals covered before veering quite dramatically to the right approaching the winning post and presenting the race to his rivals and losing three places in doing so. He has never done anything like this before and it is quite out of character but as we know, thick fog can be very disorientating (like when you are driving in it!) and as the paddock loomed out of the murkiness, perhaps he wanted to go back to where he had come from! There was not a lot Jack Tudor could do about it as it all happened so fast, there were extra rails keeping the runners off the main running rail as well, and he would have crashed into them if he had not taken evasive action. We have had Phantomofthepoints thoroughly checked over since the race and all is well so I am sure he can get back on track next time in hopefully not such foggy conditions. He has shown improved form in two starts this season and I think there is still plenty more to come.
Belfrina is the second winner that unfortunately got away. She came to win her race at Doncaster just before the last but then met that hurdle on a long stride, jumped it well but unfortunately did not get her landing gear out in time. This was such a shame as she had learned a lot from her first run, travelled, and jumped very well up until this point. It was simply, lack of experience that caused her to fall but thankfully and most importantly, she is fine on Monday. The physio has been and checked her over and all is well. She is a lovely filly with a big engine and there is lots more to come and look forward to from her in 2025.
This Week
We are quiet on the runner’s front in the coming days having given the majority of our horses flu jabs in recent days. Horses now have to be flu jabbed every six months, having been every 12 months until more recent times but we have actually always done it twice a year since I can remember. The horses just need a few easy days after their jabs and we monitor their temperature more closely to make sure all is okay. They will be back in the usual routine after a week and then it is onwards and upwards again with upcoming racing.
I do have four runners at Exeter on New Year’s Day, weather permitting! I say weather permitting, as I believe we have more storm warnings with the threat of rain and high winds, which may not be nice on top of Haldon Hill, but we shall just have to see what happens. I have declared Lock Out in the conditional jockeys handicap chase with Gearoid Harney riding and he will enjoy returning to a more galloping track but he may not like the ground too soft. We also have him entered at Wincanton on Saturday so I shall keep an eye on conditions. The 2m3f handicap hurdle divided and we have Chauffeur Driven in one race and Missy Mole in the other division while Toronet makes his stable debut in the 2m3f handicap chase.
The end of the week looks quieter, with probably no runners on Thursday and Friday and just a few over the weekend. Remastered and First Lord Du Cuet hold entries in the Veterans Chase final at Sandown on Saturday while Shot Boii could head to Chepstow on Sunday. Keep checking the Daily News on the website for all the latest information on the stable runners.
Christmas Meal
About 40 of us enjoyed a Christmas meal and drinks at our local Villa Verde restaurant in Wellington. We take over most of the restaurant, enjoyed food, drinks, and told a few stories from years gone by! While us older ones left the younger ones to it at a sensible time and good night was had by all and everyone was in work on Tuesday morning bright and breezy.
Christmas Week
It has been a very busy but enjoyable time over the Festive period with lots of racing, the work at home and family activities. After feeding the horses early, it was time for the opening of presents. Jack has lots of riding and racing gear so he is all set for pony racing in the New Year! Both Sophie and Martha love anything to do with fashion and make up so now have cupboards full of exciting new things! By the time we had finished unwrapping presents, the staff had all arrived it was back down to the yard for the normal routine and we exercised two lots while some horses had the day off. Leanne, her mother and brother and my mum combined to make a lovely Christmas dinner and a few staff members who are away from home joined us round the Pond House table. We all then mucked in to get the horses done in the evening before crashing out on the sofa and everything started again bright and early on Boxing Day morning. Things have continued to be pretty hectic since the big day and I am looking forward to drawing breath in the New Year!
Happy New Year
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for your support of Pond House throughout the last year. We have had a good year on the winner’s front and end 2024 on 38 winners for the season so far with some nice big race successes along the way. I would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy and winner filled 2025. Keep following the racing and if you are interested in getting involved in ownership take a look at this fella…..
ROUBAN - Horse For Sale
2020 Bay Gelding by Laverock who is a half-brother to three winners. He is the winner of an Irish point to point last time out at Moig South in November having finish second and unseated his rider in just two previous runs. Bought from Cheltenham sales earlier this month this is what the sales write up said:
Rouban is a horse with a likeably progressive profile. Having parted company with his rider on debut last spring, he immediately put that behind him when turned out a week later, making amends by finishing second in an auction maiden at Ballingarry on good ground. Showing great versatility in terms of the ground conditions that he encountered, he then made a winning return to action in another auction maiden at Moig South when the going was soft. Again holding a prominent position, this close relation of the Grade 1-winning Mariah Rollins, had to be brave to win, as a mistake two-out could have cost him his chance, and this was further compounded by a slow leap at the last. Whilst he did dead-heat for the spoils, he likely would have been a clearcut winner but for those errors in the home straight, ensuring there is certainly more to come from him.
He has settled in nicely since arriving at Pond House. He shows ability on the gallops and has a nice bit of size and scope. Bought by Tom Malone he could be yours for £8,000 + VAT + usual sales extras and expenses. Fit and ready to run, he could carry you colours in a bumper in the New Year with plenty more fun to be had throughout 2025 and beyond.
Get in touch for more details This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or ring 01884 840715.
Click on the link below to go to the sales website and watch him win his Irish point to point. (Lot 8)
https://www.tattersallscheltenham.com/sales/cheltenham-december-sale/4DCGI/Sale/CDE24/Main
