News Archive: March 2008

Monday 3rd March: Breaking in - Final step: A momentous day.  The little filly is kitted out 

with routine exercise bridle and martingale, no breaking bit  and no headcollar.  She is well and truly BROKEN IN.

It is somewhat ironic that our chosen subject for this  project took rather longer to break in than usual!  She was sidelined over Christmas with a nasty cut which required time to heel.

However, she definitely needs to be "handled with care" (just like her granny!). We have treated her with due deference and are delighted with the results.  She is now rapidly catching up with the remaining two-year- old fillies. Now that she's broken in it is THE BEGINNING...   

Tuesday 4th March: Second forfeit stage for the Lincoln Handicap and SILENT APPLAUSE remains engaged.  Next stage is confirmation six days before the race itself!

Thursday 6th March: Watch all the two-year-olds return home after exercise.  In order: Bronx Bomber (hack, not a two-year-old filly!), LADY ANGELICA, Noverre x Esperada, Bahamian Bounty x Emerald Fire, Compton Place x Billie Blue and Johannesburg x School of Deelites.

Friday 7th March: SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND by the Spotter.

Monday 10th March: A busy weekend of varied activities.  On Saturday BOBBY CHARLES completed a successful schooling session under Steve Smith-Eccles.  Meanwhile DOLLY COUGHDROP took a trip to Melton Mowbray to be covered by First Trump.

On Sunday it was BILLIE BLUE'S turn to be covered as she travelled across Newmarket to be covered by the recently retired Notnowcato. 

Tuesday 11th March: Battered by storms we may be but it's all eyes to the summer and Newbury as Johannesburg x School of Deelites and Bahamian Bounty x Emerald Fire are entered for the Weatherbys Super Sprint on July 19.  

Friday 14th March: SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND by the Spotter.

Monday 17th March:  Just happened to be passing Great Leighs on Saturday.

Call me "an old sceptic" but an April 4th launch looks unlikely.  Something to do with the place resembling a building site more than a nearly completed racecourse might have caused such feelings! The stables are currently inaccessible due to the lack of tarmac on walkways.

We were also slightly perturbed by some local "sticky beaks" who informed us that during a recent flood the track had been mobbed by ducks!  Clearly Great Leighs isn't all it's QUACKED up to be.  

Tuesday 18th  March:  The turf season begins in five days and SILENT APPLAUSE stands his ground in the Lincoln Handicap.  

Elsewhere, his full sister SCARLETT ROSE has produced a colt foal by Footstepsinthesand (to go with the Starcraft colt that we bred) and is in foal to freshman sire Strategic Prince.  

Thursday 20th March: SILENT APPLAUSE was declared but, as expected, failed to make the final line up due to elimination.

As for Great Leighs we were right!  The projected opening date is now April 20, we'll see.

Saturday 22nd March:  Early morning sees sharp work upsides on the Racecourse Side gallops.

Earlier in the week Distiller lands a handicap  hurdle at Ludlow to add yet another win to the 

Billie Blue dynasty.

SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND by theSpotter.

HAPPY EASTER FROM RED HOUSE  STABLES.

Week Beginning 24th March                                                        

                                                         Monday 24th March: It's first time lucky for DOLLY 

                                                         COUGHDROP who was successfully scanned in foal to First 

                                                          Trump at 16 days.

                                      Friday 28th March: SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND