Posted in Horse Racing on Aug 30th, 2008 3 Comments »
I bought another yearling filly at Deauville - probably my last expensive purchase for a while. She’s by Sadlers Wells out of Race the Wild Wind - a Grade 1 winner in the states. She’s a half sister to King Charlemagne and Meshaheer. I’d say she’s the best bred filly I have. here’s a picture;
I [...]
Posted in Horse Racing on Aug 27th, 2008 13 Comments »
It was refreshing to read Johnny Murtagh’s comments from the Juddmonte as reported in the Sunday Times. Far from the usual denials and no comment on accusations of team tactics, Murtagh divulges all. Explaining the team’s tactics, he goes on to say “it’s what Ballydoyle is all about”, suggesting that these type of tactics are the [...]
Posted in Horse Racing on Aug 23rd, 2008 11 Comments »
Another day another very suspect group 1 win for Ballydoyle. I watched the Juddmonte on Channel 4 - the commentary was revealing;
” … and Duke of Marmalade has had a wonderful passage through… ”
Sure he did - a nice gap opened up in front of him at exactly the right time between Red Rock Canyon [...]
Posted in Berts Horses, Bet Noir, Marine Boy, Pansy Potter, Winker Watson on Aug 23rd, 2008 4 Comments »
Ugh. My hopes and dreams from Friday lie crushed and broken.
Marine Boy’s run was too bad to be true. He’s a lot better than that - in a sense I’d have been more concerned if he’d been beaten a couple of lengths. He scoped clean after the race and he trotted up fine - we [...]
Posted in Berts Horses, Bet Noir, Bouguereau, Marine Boy, Pansy Potter, Winker Watson on Aug 21st, 2008 13 Comments »
I travelled up to Newmarket late on Monday night with Mick and we checked into a hotel. In the morning I went down to watch work with Pete.
Winker was out first lot. He worked extremely well without seeming to extend himself - Pete thought it was there or thereabouts his nicest piece of work this [...]
Posted in Berts Horses, Lilac Moon, Marine Boy on Aug 18th, 2008 4 Comments »
A brilliant hatrick for Lilac Moon. It shows how much pleasure there is to be had in the lower reaches of the racing game - it doesn’t all have to be about shooting for the stars.
Lilac’s hatrick can be put down to a whole host of things; High on the list is her attitude to racing - puts it all in [...]
Posted in Berts Horses, Horse Racing, Lilac Moon, Pansy Potter on Aug 16th, 2008 15 Comments »
Some interesting racing today, including a couple of runners for me. Lilac Moon goes in the last at Newmarket and Pansy Potter in the 4:25 at Newbury.
Tom Dascombe runs a couple of likely types today, and they may both be worth following. Blakfrankisch runs in the first at Newbury, and is ridden by Michaela Sowerby. Michaela [...]
Posted in Berts Horses, Horse Racing, Marine Boy on Aug 13th, 2008 9 Comments »
The PAs at Betfair had an evening out at Windsor races on Monday night, and they had a £50 kitty for betting on the horses. Chantelle, my PA, was responsible for investing the kitty, and she decided as follows; £20 win Hip Hip Hooray, £10 E/W Acclaimed, £10 win Right Stuff. They won at 14/1, [...]
Posted in Horse Racing on Aug 13th, 2008 2 Comments »
Tina Cook, sister to Nick Gifford and daughter of Josh and Althea, won two bronze medals last night - in the individual and the team eventing competitions. It’s an extraordinary achievement.
I barely know Tina - our paths have crossed a few times in the kitchen at Downs stables and at the odd event - but [...]
Posted in Berts Horses on Aug 12th, 2008 8 Comments »
Further disappointment with Skid Solo, but some encouragement for Pete as Exceptional Art won at Windsor in fine style. It was good to see a Chapple-Hyam 2yo winning in the way they were winning last year. Skid is a really nice horse on the gallops but he won’t do it on the course and it’s pretty frustrating.
I’ve [...]
