In a small yard like ours where everyone works tirelessly to ensure the horses are as happy as possible, every winner is special and fully appreciated. Some are a bit more special than others though as they have extra meaning and one of those came this week. Bavarica was a star filly, after buying her from Juddmonte for 4,000gns in 2005, she won 11 races for us and provided a first career winner in the saddle for Ross, Adam and Shelley. Having been such a legend, we were never going to sell her so decided to dip our toes into the world of breeding. Things didn't start too well as her first foal, Big Bang, was pretty useless and never made it to the racecourse but he was a very kind horse and now teaches the jockeys of the future how to ride at the British Racing School. Her second try came good this week though as Gas Monkey won at Kempton on Friday and thus became the first winner I've bred and trained. I also bred the jockey as Shelley rode him! This was only the fourth run of his career so hopefully there is much more to come and it provided a great day for the N.E.T. Racing Club who were out in force to cheer home their winner. The Club has some nice horses on their roster this year and the £200 per year membership is a bargain considering how many days out you will get at the races. More details can be found on our OWNERSHIP page. Bavarica now has a 100% strike rate having had one runner and one winner so hopefully her next progeny can keep it up. She has a two-year old filly who we sold and is now in training with Brian Barr whilst we have kept her yearling colt who is currently at the stud and will go into training with us next year. The evening at Kempton was almost doubly good as Oud Metha Bridge ran another cracking race to finish second in the following race. He was unlucky not to win last time but had no excuses on this occasion and remains an exciting horse for the season. The horses clearly seem to be in top health and hopefully that can continue as we have some good chances this week. Our last trip to Newcastle proved to be lucky as Pitch High won there and he returns in a bid to double his tally on Thursday evening. He likes a straight galloping track so the place really suits him and it's probably why he hasn't run so well at the other all-weather courses since then. I've been wanting to run him on the turf but with all the fixtures waterlogged, there has been nowhere to go with him. Accompanying him will be Lulu Star. She showed promise in her maiden races but hasn't had much luck in two handicaps since. I think the straight mile at Newcastle will really suit her and she should have a good chance. Closer to home on Thursday, Boxatricks will make his racecourse debut in the Wood Ditton maiden at Newmarket. He is a big and strong horse who has needed time to mature but is physically ready to run now, it is just that he is still very immature mentally so will improve a tonne for the experience. It is likely to be a hot race with all the big boys in but it will be a good opportunity for him to get some racecourse experience close to home. We will be at two separate meetings again on Saturday with Sir Fred running first at Nottingham. He has needed his three maiden runs for experience and now goes handicapping off a rating that looks appropriate. The step up to 1m2f should see him in a better light but I think he will stay further in time. Soft ground shouldn't trouble him so hopefully he can get in the frame. The other runner will be Maazel at Wolverhampton. He had to miss his race last Wednesday due to a pulled muscle but he has recovered well after some physiotherapy and should continue his consistent run of form if not too slow from the starting stalls like he can sometimes be. You have just over a week to pick your 'four to follow' stable and send them into us before the fun starts on April 24th. There's a great prize to the winner and it's free to enter!
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