We have had far fewer summer jumpers than in previous seasons as the quality of the string has risen since our Festival winner and as August rolls on so the intensity of our training begins to warm up…. The majority of the ‘winter’ horses started cantering 2 weeks ago, and we just upped their work again this morning. Bit by bit they are beginning to tighten up, lose their summer tums, and get that bit fitter. We won’t start any faster work until early September, but the intensity has lifted, and with it so has the excitement of the new season.
We did run Zephyr the other day at Newton Abbot, and having finished 2nd on his hurdling debut for us at Market Rasen, it was slightly frustrating that he wasn’t placed. However, he just isn’t quick enough for 2 miles, and in actual fact probably ran a better race this time – he travelled better, and jumped more slickly but was just out paced…. We’ll give him one more run in a juvenile event, and then step him up in trip in a handicap and use his 3 year old allowance against older horses in softer ground.
The schooling of some of the other horses is coming along well – Ravenous has taken to jumping and could be a smart horse for us to go juvenile hurdling with in the autumn. He won a maiden on the flat and was a decent 2nd off a mark of 78 before coming to us, and we’re incredibly privileged to have him in training with us.
Ravenous schooling last week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoBhSh51H1s
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