Mirza doubles up

Wednesday, 29 September 2010

Chris and Lesley's Mirza made it two wins for the season in admirable style, in soft ground at Salisbury on Wednesday. It is that ground and gelding that have been the making of him and he is proving a real little star. He will be off like many of these to the horses in training sales in October. Indian Valley ran well in ground that was too soft for her. Midnight Fantasy clearly has her own ideas about racing these days (not quite on Sariska levels but close) and Gaselee ran encouragingly after a long lay off.

Tattersalls sales next week

Saturday, 02 October 2010

Rae is off to the Tattersalls October 1 yearling sales this week, starting looking at horses today. He will be concentrating on fillies as that's what he is most famous for but we are always happy to look at colts as well. The sale starts on Tuesday. If you have thoughts on a yearling you wantto buy or have been left something you want to sell, please ring Rae on 07711 301095. If you'd be interested in a share large or small, now is also the time to let Rae know.

Indian Valley gains confidence giving win

Tuesday, 05 October 2010

Indian Valley won again today at Pontefract, easing away readily from inferior rivals under Silvestre de Sousa. While she has not fulfilled the hopes we all had for her at the start of the year she has proved herself game and consistent; and of course she still has the lovely pedigree and good looks that made us buy her in the first place. She goes to the horses in training sales later in the month. A second win for Triple R Racing.

Fabulous Grade 1 win for Serious Attittude

Saturday, 16 October 2010

Derek Willis and Rae Guest today equalled their biggest win as owners when their own Serious Attitude ran away from an international field in the Grade 1 Nearctic Stakes at Woodbine in Canada. Settled towards the rear of the field by big day jockey Garrett Gomez from a poor draw in 10, she was always travelling and the jockey reported that he never had any doubts about the outcome. She eventually ran away from the rest of the field to win by a widening two lengths. This really was a case of the plan coming together as she is to ship next to Lexington where she will be sold in Fasig Tipton's select sale on 7 November. It will be a sad day to see her sold, but fantastic that her career with us will end on a well deserved high. Sam Davis did a great job looking after her while in Canada and Woodbine have done a great job in looking after all the connections and everyone concerned and are a credit to their country. It's been a great day. Slightly worryingly for the rest of us, Derek plans to celebrate all night!

Serious Attitude update

Tuesday, 19 October 2010

Rae, Rachel, Derek and Derek's brother in law Kim all returned from Canada yesterday morning tired but happy with their weekend away. It was an amazing experience and it is impossible to say how well we, and Sam, were looked after by Woodbine Racecourse particularly Julie and Carl who were responsible for making all the arrangements and ensuring everything went smoothly. Many, many thanks to them. One can only hope that visitors to Britain are treated in the same way - it was notable that all the Grade 1 winners came out of the quarantine barn. It is no small undertaking to prepare a filly to be able to reproduce the best performance of her life on another continent after a cargo trip that started at Newmarket then went via Amsterdam to Toronto and it was a great team effort as there are so many components that can - and inevitably do - go wrong. Starting here, Rae would like to thank Emma, John and the team in the yard for delivering the filly up in great condition; Mark in the office for being the lynchpin administratively; Adrian at the International Racing Bureau for suggesting Garrett Gomez might be a good jockey to ride her (right there, Adrian); Kevin Needham from BBA for arranging the transport and Serious Attitude's constant companion Sam Davis who was so delighted on Saturday and proud of his charge. Everyone there said what a great job Sam had done; and he more than anyone will be sorry to hand her over to the care of Wayne and Cathy Sweezey who will be responsible for consigning her at Fasig Tipton. She will travel in the course of this week to their farm in Lexington. That is likely to be the final chapter in the Serious Attitude story so far as we are concerned, as she has just put herself in the shop window as both a racing and breeding prospect in North America winning a Grade 1 in a very fast time. Many thanks to everyone who has sent us a text, fax, email or called (some from as far away as India) to congratulate Rae and Derek on Serious Attitude's success.