12/12/21

Engrave was our star of last winter and she started this all-weather campaign with another win after she landed her fifth success at Chelmsford last Thursday. She certainly deserved a win after finishing second on her last two runs and getting put up in the weights by the handicapper as a result. Normally she makes the running but the early pace was fast this time so she sat in mid-division before attacking the race at the top of the straight and battling hard to win by a head.

Engrave digs deep to win by a head

Horses that try as hard as her are rare to find so we really do appreciate her fantastic attitude and it sure was the difference between winning and losing on this occasion.
The N.E.T. Racing Club are always out in force to support their horses so it was great that plenty of members could be on course to celebrate a winner.

N.E.T. members celebrate Engrave's win

Arpina put in a good comeback run that same evening too and I think she could go close to winning a similar race over six furlongs as she didn't seem to quite stay the seven furlongs this time.
The following day we made our first visit to Southwell since the new surface went down and I was very impressed with it. Hot Romance couldn't trouble the principals but the track certainly wasn't to blame as she was behind horses most of the way but didn't have a grain of sand on her unlike the old surface where she would have been caked in sand and coughing. This new track has the potential to be the best all-weather course in the country and I will certainly be running there again when opportunity allows.

We have a blank week of runners coming up before a few in the final run-up to Christmas so it's a good time to make a trip to the yard and see the horses if you have a day free.
Thank you to everyone who has already been very generous with presents for the staff and wine for me! It certainly won't be wasted.