Open Day big hit

Sunday, 23 September 2012

Today saw the first Newmarket Open Day for 12 years with many of the yards in the town opening and various horses including leading Arc fancy Nathaniel cantering on Warren Hill.  Rae's assistant Nick McKee and handyman Kollyn did a great job making the yard look its best and preparing DVDs of Serious Attitude's career and all 31 winners this year.  You can control everything but the weather though, and unfortunately it was cold and starting to rain so Kollyn on the tea and coffee was very welcome.  It is the kind of thing that it was good to be involved in and remarkable to see how many people walked in asking to see 'Princess of Orange', 'Mirza as he owes me £2' or 'Montecristo, is he still alive'!  Mirza was the only one not in evidence as he was on his way back from Ayr.  I also found out to my surprise that someone reads this website!

Do you want to join a winning team?

Friday, 07 September 2012

The yard is flying along right now with 30 winners topping our best ever total and quite a few weeks of the season left, but it is also the time of year to look to the future - this year's yearling intake and the horses we will have in training next year.

Rae is putting together a new part ownership for three yearlings this year on the same principles as the Chestnuts and the Calm Again partnership - four partners put in £20,000 each to own a share in three horses that Rae will buy at the yearling sales.  The big plus of this is that risk is spread between the three horses and if one is sick, injured or no good the party does not grind to a halt and the owners still have an interest to follow. This is a great way to get involved and sure to be popular given this year's successes.  So pick up the phone today and contact Rae on his mobile 07711 301095 for more details.

Mick Duggan wins first time out

Thursday, 06 September 2012

Happily, every horse the yard is turning out at the moment is running for its life and Eamonn Duggan's two year old debutant Mick Duggan was no different at Kempton this evening, winning a weak race most convincingly under David Probert.  In all honesty this was not a result one could have predicted with any confidence, but it was no less welcome as a result.  Given that this was a claiming race, a good win was bound to attract attention and disappointingly Mick Duggan (named after Eamonn's son) was claimed afterwards.  Still, it was good to see another horse run really well and win for Eamonn in a week where his Albany Rose was injured on the gallops and has had to be retired.   Albany Rose was a fantastic horse, homebred by Eamonn and the first foal of Teide Lady who is proving a successful broodmare.  Albany Rose will join her in the paddocks when she is recovered.

Sushi off the mark

Wednesday, 05 September 2012

This afternoon at Lingfield clever Sushi was our second three year old filly of the week to break her duck, scoring pretty readily under top jockey William Buick.  We know that we have a winner on paper if William's agent Michael 'seen and not heard' Haggas feels the need to pick up the phone, and so it proved, as the Hightailers' pride and joy took the race with the minimum of fuss, showing that she had improved on each of her runs to date.

Breeders John and Helen Warboys will be delighted with this success and well done them for keeping the faith. Also congratulations to Holly who has been riding Sushi and took her to the races today.  30 winners now for the season.

Headline News post first win to take yard to 29

Tuesday, 04 September 2012

The Chestnuts' Headline News posted a convincing first success at Leicester this afternoon under Chris Catlin. She is a delicate horse who has benefitted from careful and conservative training and she ran really well this afternoon. Although she was a bit green and free throughout the race, she was always going to win provided she got a run. She appears to be the sort to repay patience and improve with time, so you would hope for further progression.

Well done to her owners the Chestnuts - namely Derek Willis, Peter Sakal, Pauline Donald, Lynn Lambert and Val Beeson who have helped the yard to this 29th winner of the year.  Also well done to Maxi, who looks after her and (sorry) me who normally rides her.  29 winners for the year!