NEWS ARCHIVE

Week Beginning - 28.09.2009

Monday 28th September: Never was it more a case of 'operation successful, patient died'! BIG NOISE went down to Ascot on Saturday afternoon in the finest of fettles! He had worked well, eaten well, weighed well! An early departure on the morning meant he arrived at Ascot in good time and in good nick. Young master Beuzelin was booked to ride, the ground was right, the horse was saddled in the stable yard to keep him relaxed. He repaid us by running a fantastic race. But he didn't win and couldn't win as soon as the number 7 draw was pulled out of the hat. The fact that he was the first home of the runners drawn in single figures, beaten a mere 4 lengths underlines his mighty effort but connections have nothing more tangible than that to take away with them. Lee Mottershead in today's 'Racing Post' calls Ascot's new straight track 'simply unfathomable' (I'd go a bit further and call it 'totally unfair') and describes our race as 'faintly ridiculous' as all the runners made a bee line for the far rail. The going stick hinted at the problem on Thursday with a reading of 8.4 on the far side and 8.2 in the centre and on the stands' side and Friday's races only confirmed fears. Equally unfair was the draw bias on the Ayr straight course the previous weekend when the Gold Cup runners needed a low draw to have any chance. Courses should be prevented from staging races with so many runners when there is such a glaringly obvious advantage from being on one side. The Diadem Stakes at Ascot on Sunday saw 14 runners use the centre of the course and a fair contest resulted.

Rant over (for now) and time to rave a little. Despite it being a Monday, when horses may be forgiven for being a little fresh, both our novices put in pleasing performances. DRIVEMODE, having been 'bounced' at the end of last week, today found his young jockey lying across the saddle in the stable. Once again, there was minimal fuss.

The Royal Applause filly had the rein behind her back legs last week and today was successfully turned on the bit. This is a definite 2 nil to the humans.

Tuesday 29th September: An e-mail sent to the Racehorse Owners Association about the draw bias at Ascot is acknowledged. I mention that both Ayr and Ascot have presented unfair tracks for competitive handicaps over the last fortnight. They have both been awarded the Gold Standard by the ROA but, to my mind, are not providing  a large percentage of owners with winning opportunities. The Gold Standard Committee will review my complaint. We'll see.

Good day again for the 2 learners. One backed and the other driving.

Wednesday 30th September: CONTEMPLATE earns an entry at Leicester on Tuesday in a maiden over 7 furlongs. Her home work continues to please.

More progress with the youngsters as the filly is well enough behaved to leave the confines of the lunge ring to be driven around the yard.

Pleasing to see SANCTUM'S yearling full-sister sell for 65,000 euros over in Ireland yesterday. And TORVER is confirmed in foal this evening.

Thursday 1st October: Today's the day that DRIVEMODE trots around the yard on his own - ridden away.

Friday 2nd October: An entry for CONTEMPLATE on the all weather at Kempton next Thursday although we would prefer to run on the turf if possible.