Wednesday at Southwell

pippa666 ♦ March 30, 2016

Julie at Doncaster last year on Quadriga

It’s less than an hour and a half until Julie Heneghan bids to get the first winner of her new career plus the first winner for our new yard, Green Oaks. Quadriga, the mount of her first ride in public last summer is taking a massive step up in trip this afternoon and we have yet to find out if he stays this far but he is back down to a winning mark and he seems in great order at home. Good luck to Julie and we hope Quadriga can get his head in front in a competitive amateur race.

City Dreams did her very best to make it a winning start for the yard yesterday and had absolutely no luck in running round the home bend and in to the straight – held in with nowhere to go and the winner just got first run on her. It was painful to watch but she almost got there (the pair coming 11 lengths clear of the 3rd) and she will be back here in about ten days time for another attempt – without any alteration to her handicap mark. She has relaxed in the field today with the Philip Kirby racing Partnership’s ‘Tara Time’.

On their way down to the paddocks…

And admiring the view

The colts in a nearby (but not adjacent!) field watched them with interest and had a good trot about…

Robin (nearside) and Gaspara x Shirocco farside

The sand arena is proving a very handy place for schooling of the young horses and Lauren was doing a great job with Bitumen Belle this morning, teaching her to go in a round and relaxed manner and really using herself – she looked a picture. Carrying and working themselves in the correct way builds up the right muscle bands on these young horses and sets them off in the right way as they get fit and learn to be athletes.

Bitumen Belle – 4 year old filly by Oscar

Upcoming runners:

Mac Tiernan is another AW runner tomorrow as he also goes up in trip to 1m 4f , he has struggled a little after a long abscence and any improvement from his last run will be a step in the right direction. Friday may be given a swerve as the ground at Wetherby may not be as soft as we need so it looks like Transient Bay will go to Uttoxeter on Saturday for the 2m 3f+ handicap hurdle, and ‘Improved’ and new bumper horse, ‘Oakley Hall’ will head to Carlisle on Sunday.

Tomorrow sees our last day at Sharp Hill and all the remaining 12 horses there will be moved to Green Oaks by the evening. Its been an extremely hectic week so far and a huge thankyou to our Team for all their hardwork. We have enjoyed over 140 winners since we moved the in-training horses to Middleham from Castleton 3 years ago, and we are looking forward to many more from our fantastic new base.