Blog Seventy-five

Good Monday Morning

To start the week off, a thought, something I read this week, funny but true; “Want to know how to turn £40 into £400? Put the £40 into your gas tank, then drive to work!”

Just before I send this blog off this morning, I’m standing up here on the magnificent Warren Hill, and just reminded of what a privilege it is to train in such a historic and beautiful place, where the greatest trainers and horses have graced themselves. Wow!

We ended last week off and started the new week off with the same runner, Faro De San Juan, who came out of Sunday’s run at Haydock so well we decided to run him at Ripon 24 hours later. He’d run poorly at Haydock and not even the Yorkshire air could make Faro regain his best form and he was beat over 2 out through plugged on to be last of 4 but only just over 3 lengths behind the winner. Faro returned home and looked an absolute picture - he will have a short break now and we’ll step him up in distance on his return in a couple of weeks.

Makuri was expected to run at Kempton this week but she coughed after a routine canter, so her first run in handicap company will have to be delayed. It added further fuel to the fire over the well being of the yard; we’re certainly not firing on all cylinders.

Friday didn’t start off in the best of ways . Battleofbaltimore was due to run on Sunday but shortly before declaration time I pulled him out as he had a snotty nose to put it mildly. Within the hour I was travelling south to Brighton on the train contemplating our recent run of form and general health of the yard. Our first runner in the UK was Mr Fayez and this was to be his last run before we retired him. This would be the twentieth time he’d ran for us; always giving his best - if he didn’t run a big race I would have something to worry about as he is well suited to Brighton and felt he must go close. I got to Brighton to be greeted by a sea mist that had rolled in and covered the racecourse. It was debatable whether conditions were suitable for racing to go ahead. Then I was informed the stall handlers were not on track but stuck on the M25 and the race would be a flip start. Whats that proverb about happenings in 3’s? Sure enough next thing I become aware Fayez’s jockey David Probert is also stuck in traffic and it’s touch and go if he makes it in time or not. Well at least that’s the 3 and Fayez had travelled well and was ready to do himself justice.
David Probert arrived in time to weigh out and my confidence was now sky high as David was brought up with Pony Racing in Wales and that had to be a massive advantage given the flip start. The race itself was a bit of a farce with only 4 of the 10 runners who started getting away with  the start with the rest of the field strung out like the washing from the off. The cameras soon lost the field in the sea mist but I knew Fayez was well up there from the off, thanks in no small part to his jockey who put his Pony Racing experience to good use. In what seemed a lifetime later I saw shapes emerging from the fog and after a few seconds I picked out Fayez’s colours battling with the favourite Notre Maison & it wasn’t until 50 yards from the post that Fayez got the better of her and passed the post a neck clear. He’d Won!!!!
Relief more than rejoicing was my overriding emotion. Fayez to the rescue again! I can’t tell you how important Fayez has been to our operation here in the UK. He flew the flag for us on his own for so long last season and finishes his career with 2 wins to his name but he’s a horse I’ll never forget and will always have a special place in my heart. Sure on ratings he is no superstar, in fact to be honest he’s a modest handicapper at best, but racing is more than the superstars & ratings. It’s horses like Fayez who are the backbone of the game. Fayez though retired from racing will stay with us in the yard ( I couldn’t let him leave the yard as he’s all the kids, owners ans staff’s favourite and they’d kill me if Fayez left us). Fayez will now have a long and happy retirement - he’ll be ideal to lead up the babies so he’ll be busy enough. We had a Retirement party in Fayez’s honour Saturday morning in his honour . We’ll have many better horses than Fayez in ability for sure but not many more important no matter how long I train here at HQ. By the way, the rest of the Brighton card was eventually called off - how Lucky were we ??

We run All About Alice on Tuesday at Lingfield in an apprentice race over over 1m 5f. Harry Burns takes the ride for us and she’s a clear form pick. I am a bit wary of Alan King’s Star Turn who has had 3 runs and has a low mark and is the type to improve with distance and experience. All things being equal assuming Alice wins we’ll run her at Brighton next week without a penalty and before she’s reassessed by the handicapper. First things first though lets win at Lingfield - but that’s Plan A.

Confederation will also be out this week and hopefully he gets his head in front for Catch Us If You Can Racing to give Andrew & his owners their first winner. He’s in at Beverley on Wednesday, but I’ll be checking the decs on Monday morning as there’s a few I wouldn’t want to take on there. If the race breaks up he’ll go to Beverley, if not he will go to Bath on Saturday - he could even double up . The Bath race will suit him well.

We’ve got the option of running Ace Rothstein @ Ponte on Sunday. I’ve not made my mind up over that yet. He’ll have an entry and Angela the owner and I will make a decision  during the week, as we also have Goodwood planned for him the following Saturday.

We’re in a bit of a race against time with Silver Sword and running at York. One thing for sure, we won’t be running at York if the going is on the soft side. York is not the ‘be all and end all’ there’s other options for him. You watch given his ground Silver will show us what he is made of. He’s a seriously good horse I tell you.

Even with the yard running slightly flat, we are still running at a 18% win strike rate and our 3 year olds at a 38% win strike rate, which is personally the important statistic for myself. Our team are working really hard and it will be great if this is noticed just as sales time is in sight.

We head to the Sommerville Sale in a few weeks as well as the August Horses In Training Sale and then into the main sales Book 1,2,3,4 and all the other sales. Our pedigree man Luiz Cunha @pedigree_to_win is flat out studying all the catalogues. This takes hundreds of hours. When we started he purchased 3 horses for less than £20k for us to start out, which have won 6 races already between them and offers 50 times their original value. This takes some skill. If you’re serious about horse racing, you want to contract us, and join us at the sales. We have ambitious and exciting visions and plans for the future and our pedigree man is the one who can find you the value at the upcoming sales.

Our yard still seeks a brand and sponsor that wants to team up with us into the future. Get in touch.

If you’re a golfer, Quest Thoroughbreds is hosting a Golf Day on 6 September at Newmarket Golf Course. Have a look at their website and join us for a day out.

Catch Us If You Can Racing has its 1st birthday party this Saturday the 19th at our yard from 8am to 12pm. Come along and meet the team and enjoy a morning on the gallops and at the yard.

Finally, a thought to send you into the week with; “You don’t have to always tell your side of the story, time will.”

Stay updated daily following our social media and check back next Monday for another blog.