Great Royal Week

It was an ultra impressive performance by the winner Simenon and it gave Willie Mullins his first Royal Ascot winner so many congratulations to him. It was probably an even better performance by the horse on Saturday as he doubled up in the Queen Alexandra Stakes! This was an amazing feat by both horse and jockey and clinched Ryan Moore the jockey’s title for the week. It was also great to see Black Caviar come over and defend her unbeaten record against some of the best Europe had to offer. Of course she would have won a little more easily had her jockey not stepped off the gas a little too early but it is fantastic for the World of racing she came over, won and we all got to catch a glimpse of this great mare. It was a truly international week with a winner for Hong Kong and it was also especially nice for the Queen to have a winner. It was great to see the pure joy etched on her face and after a week like that, racing is the true winner.

          Mum Supporting the Champion!

Meanwhile, still on the topic of Royal Ascot, I am pleased to reveal that I used to train the dam of one of this years winners! Ceiling Kitting won the Queen Mary Stakes, Group 2 for 2 year old fillies for owner Andrew Black and trainer Tom Dascombe. Her mother was called Baldovina and she had a short spell at Pond House back in 2007. Marco Botti and then Tom Dascombe trained the mare on the flat where she was placed but never managed to get her head in front, before she had a go at hurdling as a three year old. After two fairly innocuous runs over hurdles she then retired to stud at home with owner who has then bred and owns Ceiling Kitty. I am delighted for all connections and it just shows how you don’t have to be the best yourself but you can still manage to breed a good one! There is hope for my children yet!

I was hoping to have another runner later in the week at Royal Ascot but unfortunately, War Singer did not get in the 1m4f handicap on Saturday. After declarations on Thursday we were officially second reserve and needed two non runners to be declared by 9am on Friday. Only one horse came out and so we were eliminated. What is rather frustrating is that there was another non runner in the race on the day so in fact if the rules were changed to what they are like in Ireland then in fact we would have been allowed to run! I think, why not extend the deadline for when non-runners have to be declared by before a race for a reserve to be able to take their chance? Surely that is better for racing? My owners and I would have been more than happy to have travelled up to Ascot because it is such a prestigious meeting and taken our chance on the likelihood of one horse being declared a non-runner on the day. If we are prepared to do this when why not let us at least have the option? Maybe the deadline cannot be extended to this late but why not extend it until 1pm or even 5pm on the day before a race to give everyone the maximum opportunity? Maybe this is an area that needs some further review.

We only had three runners over jumps last week and unfortunately they did not reach the frame. I have two runners tomorrow at Newton Abbot’s evening fixture, Dandyvic and Kusadasi. Both will be hoping for no more rain as the going is described as heavy, soft in places. The only other jumps fixtures this week are at Worcester on Wednesday and the Uttoxeter on Sunday. I have several entered at both meetings and am likely to have a few runners at each but at the moment the plans have yet to be finalised as we shall just have to wait and see what the weather does. Battle Group is an intended runner at Worcester on Wednesday in the novice chase. He is a very talented but quirky character and has in fact finished runner up on four occasions over fences, including running a great race in an Aintree handicap back in April. We will be hoping he can go one place better this week and get his head in front!

While I am just looking ahead to the next few days I must just make a little point about the flat fixture list. On Wednesday there is flat action at both Bath and Salisbury. This seems a little silly with both tracks being within not many miles of each other. Surely this will lessen the attendance of racegoers at both tracks? I will leave this thought with you.

Back in the yard the horses are still enjoying their summer holiday and we are all busy painting, creosoting, weeding, tidying and any other jobs we can find! I may even treat myself to a rare day off on Friday and have a trip to Lords to watch the cricket but shhh, don’t tell anyone!