There has been plenty of time for refection over the past week as we have found ourselves in the first race at most meetings so had to take part in the two-minutes silence which every track held before racing each day this week. Everyone has respected the silences but then luckily the mood of the racecourse would pick up as we all know the Queen loved her racing and would want nothing more than the sport to take place.
Yarmouth held its annual three-day meeting and we were there for two days. There was a decent sized crowd and a lovely atmosphere, plus the good weather helped.
The week started great with Fen Tiger making a rare visit to Thirsk for us a winning one. It was a remarkable race to watch as Tiger hit the front two furlongs from home before being headed and a length down passing the furlong pole, However, he rallied tenaciously to win by a head and it continues the fantastic year for owner Carol Bushnell who has enjoyed plenty of winners.
​Tiger loves the soft ground so hopefully he can get another  win before the season is done.

The rest of the runners last week didn't fare so well but they all had their excuses and should bounce back next time.

Looking ahead, we won't be on the road again until Wednesday when Smokey Malone heads to Southwell. He missed his race at Chelmsford last time as the Queen died earlier in the day and racing was cancelled but he has been kept ticking over and still seems in good form. He has won at the track before but, as always, needs things to fall right if he is to win.

Engrave ran no sort of race at Chelmsford last week but hopefully she can put that behind her when she returns to the track on Thursday. She is usually very consistent so hopefully she can bounce back to form.

An extra meeting has been put on at Yarmouth on Sunday and there's quite a few races for our horses so we should be well represented.
Amberdaay struggles to stay six furlongs but isn't quick enough for the minimum distance so placing her is quite tricky but she does have the ability to win when conditions are ideal. Yarmouth is very  flat so maybe she could get away with it there.
Heer's Sadie and Initiate ran against each other last week with not much between them and could re-oppose again but would need so cut in the ground to show their best. Both are up to winning a race like this when in the mood.
Finally, Macho Son could make his debut at Yarmouth too. We bought him at the breeze-up sales in the spring and he has needed time to mature as he is a big type. This will be a good experience for him as he is very  much a horse to thrive next season with some more development under his belt.

Of course there's only one way to start this week's blog and that is by paying our respects to Queen Elizabeth after she sadly passed away on Thursday.
I was never lucky enough to properly meet her but I do remember being at Royal Ascot with Emma's Gift running in the Albany Stakes and the Queen had a runner too. The horse's owner Emma Raffan couldn't believe that she was six feet away from Her Majesty! Her precession was always the highlight of the meeting and racing has lost a huge supporter of the sport and I hope that a member of the family can continue her breeding operation in one way or another.

We were at Chelmsford on Thursday evening when the news was announced and racing was subsequently called off. It meant that Smokey Malone couldn't run in the final race of the night but no one had any complaints as it was fully understandable. We missed out on a trip back there with Engrave on Saturday due to more racing being called off but thankfully things are back to normal today. I expect there will be no racing next Monday when the funeral is due to take place. 

Before the sad occasion, we had reason to celebrate with Mrs Meader getting her second win of the season at Leicester. She bumped into a good horse at the track last time when second and  (typically!) she chose to win this time when her owner Nick had flown back to his home in Hong Kong. He was still delighted though and so was I as it was another winner bred from my old mare Bavarica. She was given a lovely ride by Sam and hopefully she can win another while there's some soft ground about.

​This week kicks off with a trip up north to Thirsk on Monday as we hunt some soft ground for Fen Tiger to run on. He has been running well recently on quick conditions and the all-weather but he is a much better horse when he can get his toe in so hopefully he'll get back to winning ways, granted luck in running as it is a very big field.

It's the three-day festival at Yarmouth this week and, although we'll be missing the first day, I have some other entries there starting on Wednesday.
Heer's Sadie and Initiate have both been wanting some soft ground so it means that they run against each other in the same race but both are at different stages of their career.
Heer's Sadie needs to get back into winning ways after some below par runs recently and she is handicapped to do so. Initiate on the other hand might be a bit high in the weights but I hope this soft ground can see her run better.

Another who should like the softer ground is Queen's Company and she is at Yarmouth on Thursday looking to back up her great run there last time. It's taken us a while to figure her out but seven furlongs with hold-up tactics seemed to bring out the best in her last time so hopefully they work again.
We'll also be at Chelmsford that day with Engrave. It was a shame that her race on Saturday was cancelled as it was perfect for her and this one is a bit higher grade. She always runs an honest race though so should still be in the mix.

Rounding off the week on Saturday will be a trip down the road to Newmarket with a pair of runners.
Lady Clemmie was a bit naughty last time on just her second career run so the plan this time will be to get her to enjoy her day and try and do things the right way. She'll be a better horse next year and this race will qualify her for handicap races.
The Mouse King will be having another go on turf after his good form on the all-weather recently. It remains to be seen whether he is as effective on the green stuff but there's only one way to find out.