06/08/23

We had a busy week of runners so it was important that they all ran well and the results showed just that with a winner, two seconds, two thirds and a few close-up efforts in defeat.
The star of the week was Spanish Mane who landed her eleventh career win off an all-time high rating at Lingfield on Monday under Josephine Gordon and still maintains all her enthusiasm at the age of eight. Trying her on softer ground this year has seemed to really help her as she was coming back a bit sore from racing on faster ground previously. She loves racing and training at home so I see no reason why she can't keep going as long as she is enjoying it. She gives us all lots of pleasure and fun.

Spanish Mane and connections after her 11th win

The other good efforts came from the two runners-up Smokey Malone and Macho Son who weren't beaten very far and will get their heads in front soon.

We rounded off the week with our Owners' BBQ & open morning. Thankfully the weather played ball on Friday evening and we had a lovely barbecue with over 50 people all getting along great. 
Things were a lot wetter on the Saturday morning and I must congratulate the hardy souls who still made an appearance and watched the team at work.
Thank you to everyone who contributed and came along to the weekend, we look forward to doing it again soon.

Even after a busy week, we still have plenty of other horses to run and we will kick things off on Wednesday with a double-header.
It's Brighton's big three-day festival this week and Heer's Sadie will be bidding to make it a hat-trick of wins by the seaside under jockey Aidan Keeley when she heads there on Wednesday. She surprised us with the first win and then surprised us even more with the second so we go there just hoping that the place can work it's magic on her again and she doesn't seem to mind whatever the ground is.
On the other coast at Yarmouth, Trinidad Calypso will be having her second career run and it'll be a bit more experience for her as she is likely to do better in handicaps over a long trip later in the season.

On Thursday we are back to Yarmouth but who runs will depend on the ground. We are finally due some hot and dry weather so conditions might dry out a fair bit.
I've got three entered in the same race that day but Macho Son wants very soft ground.
Corporate Raider and Clenched don't mind a quicker surface so they might take their chances. Raider has been very consistent since wearing blinkers but the soft ground was against him last time.
Clenched made her debut for us recently and she should have come on for the effort so I expect a better run this time as we continue to learn about her.
The other entry there will be Lady Clemmie. Dylan rode her last week and said she'd be worth running over a longer trip so we're giving it a go and hopefully she can show a bit more form.

We haven't had many runners on a Sunday this year but we'll be at two meetings this coming one.
The ground will need to be soft enough for Stintino Sunset and Alibaba to run at Leicester but both have been in good form recently and would have a strong chance if running.
Macho Son and Fen Tiger will be entered at Windsor that day too with Macho needing very soft ground. Fen Tiger is a bit more versatile and will run unless it's very firm. He needs to bounce back after some below-par runs this year but he has been given a chance by the handicapper and seems in good order at home.