Hello!
Can you believe it’s nearly Christmas?! I haven’t even started my present shopping yet, though I am considering not buying Ben anything as he keeps not turning me out on account of the ‘mud’ – unbelievable! We have been getting in the Festive mood here, with the yard Christmas party last week (I don’t have to buy Alice a present either actually, as she wouldn’t let me go!) Apparently a super evening was had by owners and staff alike at The Saddle Rooms, and judging by a few of the faces around here on Sunday, there were some well deserved sore heads. Serves them all right!
We were so hoping for an early Christmas present from George
(Epeius) (left) at Southwell, but sadly it wasn’t quite to be. Drawn right on the outside, it was the draw that beat him (especially as the fatty still seems unable to go round a corner) and he was just denied by a head and a neck to finish 3rd. The poor boy so deserves a win, and one cannot knock his consistency for the Trojan Horse Partnership. It is only a matter of time for him, and as Lynn and Gary said, there will be a big party when he finally gets his head in front!
The yearlings are absolutely flying, and we have added two more to the ranks in the shape of a couple of Sayif fillies from Llety Farms. The colts are loving their racing regime, and are now doing the same work the jumpers are doing, up the grass gallop
and around the Moor – not that it seems to tire them out even a tiny bit! I am having the time of my life leading them around the Moor, but am slightly annoyed that this lot seem to be able to keep up with me – that is quite unusual at this point of their careers! The Dandy Man (right) looks particularly sharp, and it is hard to remember he is a baby at times. Ben also seems very taken with the Lord Shanakill (below left), who is already taller than me but finding his work effortless, which is impressive for a big horse. The Camacho is also a lovely colt, and I am looking forward to taking them along even faster in the New Year.
The fillies are doing really well, going round the Moor as well which does them so much good. They tend to be left in the hands of a more ‘responsible’ lead horse (ahem!), but from what I’ve seen they wouldn’t struggle at my pace either! The Showcasing looks an absolute doll of a filly,
and she really loves her work. She is exquisitely behaved, which seems a real trait of the sire, and if she keeps going in the same direction will be a nice early type. The Champs Elysee, like the Lord Shanakill, is a big filly, but is handling it all with aplomb and looks a nice type for the future. The two Sayif fillies have just been backed last week, but are already going up the three furlong canter with lots of enthusiasm. Plenty to look forward to at the moment anyway!
Christmas day will be, as ever, a relatively normal day here with the added benefit of Mince pies, as we have The Doorman (below) running on Boxing Day at Wetherby. His confidence is coming back to him after a fairly awful run of things in Ireland, and hopefully the race this time will be run more to suit him than his latest outing at Doncaster, where they crawled before sprinting the last couple of furlongs – I can assure you that big black beast is NOT a sprinter! He is on very good form at home, and wouldn’t it be nice if he could give us something to cheer about at Christmas time.
The famously frustrating Mr Mole will be appearing the next day, also at Wetherby. He has so
much enthusiasm for the game at home still, and we have been tweaking things around with him, so hopefully we will see a glimmer of what we know he is capable of. Megan Nicholls, who knows him better than anyone, came and sat on him for us the other day, and was very pleased with how he felt, so fingers crossed we are getting there with this rather enigmatic lad. I am always very glad I don’t have any lots with him, as he takes two strides to every one of mine – I keep telling him unless he pulls his act together, I’ll be borrowing his engine from him for my next outing!
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, and get all the grass and carrots you could want!
Until next time,
Dance.
(Epeius) (left) at Southwell, but sadly it wasn’t quite to be. Drawn right on the outside, it was the draw that beat him (especially as the fatty still seems unable to go round a corner) and he was just denied by a head and a neck to finish 3rd. The poor boy so deserves a win, and one cannot knock his consistency for the Trojan Horse Partnership. It is only a matter of time for him, and as Lynn and Gary said, there will be a big party when he finally gets his head in front!
The yearlings are absolutely flying, and we have added two more to the ranks in the shape of a couple of Sayif fillies from Llety Farms. The colts are loving their racing regime, and are now doing the same work the jumpers are doing, up the grass gallop 
and around the Moor – not that it seems to tire them out even a tiny bit! I am having the time of my life leading them around the Moor, but am slightly annoyed that this lot seem to be able to keep up with me – that is quite unusual at this point of their careers! The Dandy Man (right) looks particularly sharp, and it is hard to remember he is a baby at times. Ben also seems very taken with the Lord Shanakill (below left), who is already taller than me but finding his work effortless, which is impressive for a big horse. The Camacho is also a lovely colt, and I am looking forward to taking them along even faster in the New Year.
The fillies are doing really well, going round the Moor as well which does them so much good. They tend to be left in the hands of a more ‘responsible’ lead horse (ahem!), but from what I’ve seen they wouldn’t struggle at my pace either! The Showcasing looks an absolute doll of a filly, 
and she really loves her work. She is exquisitely behaved, which seems a real trait of the sire, and if she keeps going in the same direction will be a nice early type. The Champs Elysee, like the Lord Shanakill, is a big filly, but is handling it all with aplomb and looks a nice type for the future. The two Sayif fillies have just been backed last week, but are already going up the three furlong canter with lots of enthusiasm. Plenty to look forward to at the moment anyway!
Christmas day will be, as ever, a relatively normal day here with the added benefit of Mince pies, as we have The Doorman (below) running on Boxing Day at Wetherby. His confidence is coming back to him after a fairly awful run of things in Ireland, and hopefully the race this time will be run more to suit him than his latest outing at Doncaster, where they crawled before sprinting the last couple of furlongs – I can assure you that big black beast is NOT a sprinter! He is on very good form at home, and wouldn’t it be nice if he could give us something to cheer about at Christmas time.
The famously frustrating Mr Mole will be appearing the next day, also at Wetherby. He has so 
much enthusiasm for the game at home still, and we have been tweaking things around with him, so hopefully we will see a glimmer of what we know he is capable of. Megan Nicholls, who knows him better than anyone, came and sat on him for us the other day, and was very pleased with how he felt, so fingers crossed we are getting there with this rather enigmatic lad. I am always very glad I don’t have any lots with him, as he takes two strides to every one of mine – I keep telling him unless he pulls his act together, I’ll be borrowing his engine from him for my next outing!
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, and get all the grass and carrots you could want!
Until next time,
Dance.