- Tuesday, 28 June 2011 08:10
- Written by David Pipe
As Chester kindly alluded to earlier in the week, my cricketing skills have not diminished through the years…indeed, for them to have diminished implies that I actually had some skill in the first place! Nonetheless I boldly donned my whites again on Friday night as I participated in Tom Scudamore’s XI in aid of The Children’s Hospice South West.
By way of an incentive my father offered the same bribe that he used to receive from my grandfather during his playing days…a shilling a run! Sadly by the end of my innings he did not have to call his bank manager, but instead owed me the princely sum of 60 pence for my twelve runs! Even so, it was an enjoyable evening (despite the inclement weather) and all in aid of a most worthy cause.
- Monday, 20 June 2011 15:07
- Written by David Pipe
What a wonderful week of racing we enjoyed throughout Royal Ascot. There were some fantastic performances especially from the milers – Canford Cliffs was magnificent while Goldikova was as brave and gutsy as ever and while we may not have seen the best of Frankel, his unbeaten run now stretches to seven. It would be marvellous if we were treated to a showdown between Canford Cliffs and Frankel in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.
- Monday, 13 June 2011 13:59
- Written by David Pipe
Following a few enjoyable days away in Cornwall I am fully recharged and looking forward to the week ahead.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) marks the beginning of Ascot’s Royal meeting and we will have a runner in the 5.00pm race, the Ascot Stakes. Junior, runaway winner of the race last year bids to follow-up under top-weight and he will be partnered by former champion jockey Ryan Moore. We have a good record in the race having finished third with Royal Rationale and second with Mamlook, before Junior provided me with my first Royal Ascot success last year under a positive ride from Seb Sanders – fingers crossed that he will be able to follow-up.
- Monday, 06 June 2011 15:47
- Written by David Pipe
I am making the most of there being not much racing this week and having a few days away with my family in Cornwall. It has been a pretty hectic time with work to be done at home and the sales so it will be nice to have a little break. It was great to have a winner over the weekend and Spirit of Barbados won the opening contest on the card at Worcester yesterday under Conor O’Farrell. He ran so well behind a JP McManus handicap good thing at Bangor last time it was nice to see him get his head in front for the first time. He is a lovely young horse who I hope will progress further. It was particularly nice for his owners, the Peterson family, who were celebrating their Ruby Wedding anniversary yesterday. Many Congratulations to them. I was unfortunately not there to celebrate with them as myself and dad flew to Perth to see our runners up there. It worked out very well as we were able to fly up and back to Edinburgh in the day from Exeter Airport, even though there was a slight delay on the way home everything went smoothly!
- Tuesday, 31 May 2011 15:51
- Written by David Pipe
We picked up four new horses from the sales at Doncaster last week - they are all good looking types and I am very pleased with them. It would be amazing if they could do as well as recent purchases Junior, Minella Four Star and Street Entertainer. I will be thumbing through the catalogues again shortly ahead of the Arqana Sales at Saint Cloud in France at the end of June. It was here that we purchased Grands Crus as an unraced three year old and I will be hoping to unearth some more potential superstars then.
- Monday, 23 May 2011 17:30
- Written by David Pipe
Although we are now in what is generally considered to be our quiet time of the season, the past week has certainly been an eventful one!
I travelled over to France last Tuesday to saddle Notus de la Tour in the Prix Melinoir at Auteuil and he certainly didn't disappoint. Putting up a bold front-running performance under French jockey Anthony Lecordier, he led until collared by the favourite in the dying strides. He kept on gallantly under top weight and had the remainder of the field well beaten off and picked up just shy of £10,000 for finishing runner-up. Notus has earned a nice rest now, but could well make another trip over to France next season prior to commencing his career as a novice chaser. He looks to be the type to make a high class novice and remains an exciting prospect.
- Tuesday, 17 May 2011 08:25
- Written by David Pipe
It’s great to get off to a good start for the new season and already we have enjoyed five winners (as well as our Punchestown success). Indeed, three of those victories came on the same day last Wednesday as we completed an across the card treble at Wincanton and Fontwell.
Businessmoney Judi got the ball rolling under a canny ride from Conor O’Farrell in a race that developed into a sprint. Conor never panicked when the favourite came past her at the second last and he had enough up his sleeve to get back up by ¾ length. She has now won both starts since joining us at Pond House and is an improving mare. It was a special day for owner Bob Le Froy who was completing a notable treble – winning owner, his birthday and wedding anniversary!...I am sure days don’t get much better than that!
