With very few runners and most of the horses turned out in the field, there hasn’t been a huge amount to update on the blog lately.  Both Barry and I, and a lot of the team have been enjoying a bit of a break now that the yard has been well and truly steamed cleaned and painted for the return of the horses after their holidays.

Of what has run recently, Vendredi Trois winning at Worcester on the 14th June was the best of them, with Richard Johnson giving him a masterclass ride and winning from the front.  He has gone up six pounds, but I am hoping now he has his confidence back he can build on that success.  He is a horse that needs the top of the ground so the weather of late has been perfect for him.

Sadly, after bursting a blood vessel at Southwell we are going to retire See The World.  He looked as though he had the world at his feet when he won his bumper at Wincanton, but he has not been the easiest to train. He has the most wonderful temperament and would go on and do any other job but both his owners and I don’t feel it is right to keep him in racing.  So, we are looking for a suitable home for him if anybody might be interested.

It was a busy start to last week at the Land Rover sales at Goffs and we are delighted with the four horses we purchased, an Oscar, a Westerner, a Flemensfirth and a Shantou – so in fairness we haven’t moved far away from our favoured stallions! They are smashing looking three-year olds, and are now off being broken by Claire Bonner who educates all our youngsters.   In my opinion, it’s a very specialist job breaking in horses, and needs plenty of time dedicated to it as it sets them up for the rest of their life and I feel once the yard gets busy here we don’t have the time.  It’s important that the start of their education is done by someone who will teach them not just the basics but how to carry themselves properly and to be a well-balanced happy horse and, over the years Claire has done a great job at that for us.

We didn’t manage to complete the purchase of all the horses we had orders for so we will be back at The Derby Sale at Tattersalls next week, where we may pick up a couple of additional horses to bring back to sell so watch this space…!

The horses have been dong brilliantly out in the field and there’s no doubt that although the weather is currently very hot it is preferable to rain, as they are thriving.  I think the ones in the paddocks are quite relieved that it’s not them going up the gallops whilst they stand and watch the others having to work most mornings in this heatwave!

We will continue to be light on runners for the moment, although Pawn Star is aiming for Uttoxeter on Sunday 2 July for the Summer Cup.  Set List will aim for back to back wins in the £20K handicap at Stratford in three weeks and Casino Markets is getting ready for the summer plate at Market Rasen in July.   So, I am hoping that our strike rate can continue at the level it has been!