NEWS ARCHIVE

Week Beginning - 10.08.2009

Monday 10th August: The week after the weekend before! Saturday and Sunday were busy and thought-provoking days. On Sunday a lot of our thought was provoked as we sat parked on the M25 and M4 on the way to Windsor. A journey that normally takes 2 hours took twice that time and saw us arrive just in time for SANCTUM to run. Not in the least bit ideal but the filly ran encouragingly to finish 5th of 11, a marked improvement on her 2 all weather runs. And it was the same position that BIG NOISE filled at Newmarket the previous afternoon. It goes without saying that he encountered no problems on his journey to the July Course but he could have done with a few traffic problems in a race that scarcely went in his favour. Thursday evening's deluge had left its mark on the track and it was still riding on the slow side and our draw, 13 of 15 left us too exposed in a slow run race. Somehow we never quite got the cover we needed and were left exposed in the centre of the track while the race developed on the far rails. Despite all this, our old boy picked up as he ascended the hill to finish a close fifth. Louis-Philippe Beuzelin rode both horses and acquitted himself well each time. He came over very well on Channel 4 when interviewed before his ride on BIG NOISE and confessed to connections afterwards that he was 'gutted' not to have won on a horse he considered the best in the race! SANCTUM will certainly have learnt a lot from her trip round the bends of Windsor.

Tuesday 11th August: Today we learnt the desperately sad news that Pip Payne has died. Pip was head lad at Bruce Hobbs's yard as Jon dived headfirst into life in a racing stable. With patience and great humour, he helped our dream of training take shape. He was without doubt one of Newmarket's 'good guys'.

Thursday 13th August: Saturday is Chris Wotton Cup Day 2009. The sixth running of the race takes place at Newmarket this year where we sponsor the final race on the card. The weather looks set fair for the day which is also 'Newmarket Experience Day'.

Sunday 15th August: A fine day was had by all as the clans gathered for our sponsored race at Newmarket. Having spent an hour or 2 mulling over the form down here  before the action started on the July Course we sallied forth for an afternoon of sun-drenched racing. Chris's race was won in decisive fashion by Nick Littmoden's Lord Theo and we shouldn't be surprised that he was also elected the best-turned out in the parade ring by our eagle-eyed judges.

Wednesday 19th August: SANCTUM has been allotted a handicap mark of 55 after her rather stressful day at Windsor races 10 days ago. The handicapper's assessment will be put to the test as soon as a suitable contest is found. Coincidentally, her already impressive pedigree has found further recent improvement with Icelandic adding more black type to the 2nd dam. He came home 3rd in a 6 furlong Group 3 in Ireland on Sunday.