On the back of another record-breaking season at Folly House, for which we won the Timeform “special recognition” award, we move swiftly into the new season. Thankfully, we’ve started in terrific form with 10 winners on the board already, and over £80,000 in prizemoney. We’ll have about 15 horses for the summer season as the winter horses are on their annual holiday and we are now going through the annual steam clean and painting of the yard to keep it in good order for the coming season. I’ll head off to the various sales through the summer as we look to restock for the future.
The season could not have started much better as Cinnodin made a winning seasonal debut at Uttoxeter. He had shown ability on the Flat previously but benefitted enormously from a break and the switch into handicaps. He stayed on strongly over 2m7f to win in determined fashion under another good ride from Gavin Sheehan. Cinnodin followed up that effort with a very creditable second last weekend. He very much looks a horse on the upgrade this summer.
Maximum Offers followed up his memorable success at Hereford — when all the children (his owners) were there to cheer him home — by winning again at the same track. Sadly, the children were at school this time and missed the occasion, but he looks a progressive staying handicapper who should continue to pay his way through the summer months.
It was a particularly good day at Hereford as we also completed a double courtesy of Machete Beach, who defied a lengthy absence to win on just his second start for us and his seasonal debut. He is a very talented individual who has unfortunately had his fair share of setbacks, so hopefully, if we can keep him sound and healthy, he can continue to win more races for Value Racing Club.
Quick Sharpener made a winning stable debut at Hereford. His previous form figures were not especially inspiring, but thankfully a combination of some TLC and plenty of hill work has helped him thrive. I suspect he will improve again, although we may look to give him plenty of time between his runs.
It was lovely to see Move With The Beat continue his excellent run of form when winning at Newton Abbot. That was his fourth victory from his last five starts and he thoroughly deserved it. Izzi Ryder has struck up a wonderful relationship with him and gave him another excellent ride. He now deserves a summer holiday before hopefully returning in the autumn to continue where he left off.
I was thrilled with Cameron De Fiacre, who won a bumper on his racecourse debut at Fontwell. He was a horse we bought as a two-year-old from the middle of France and, after being educated in Ireland, he has done nothing but impress since arriving with us in England. He beat a horse that subsequently sold for £140,000 and looked a very exciting prospect in doing so. He jumps well and has a bright future ahead of him, although he will now enjoy a break before returning later in the year. A Listed bumper at Cheltenham could potentially come under consideration before novice hurdling in the autumn.
Cameron De Fiacre wins a bumper on debut.
It was wonderful to see Our Guide follow up his Exeter success from last season when winning under a penalty at Stratford. That was his third win from just four starts under Rules, and he looks the type to continue progressing through the handicap ranks. He could easily develop into a horse for a valuable autumn target.
Ride Like A Girl made a successful seasonal debut at Huntingdon and looked an impressive winner. She is a mare we have always liked, although she has been a little tricky to train at times. Thankfully things clicked perfectly here. She did make a mistake at the second-last and picked up a small knock, which may just take a little time to recover from, but she should continue to progress nicely through the summer.
Our ninth winner of the month came courtesy of Rebel Tribesman, who won his maiden hurdle at Warwick last week. Having finished second in two novice hurdles following a bumper success, it was good to see him finally get his head in front and I would imagine he can defy a penalty before moving into handicaps.
It was lovely to see Machete Beach winning under a penalty last night at Stratford. He was given an excellent ride from Gavin, and I think there is an awful lot more to come from him in handicaps now, and we might work back from the valuable summer hurdle at Market Rasen.
We have also had our fair share of seconds during the month – 10 to be precise. She Is For Me Boys perhaps did not entirely enjoy the twists and turns of Fakenham when runner-up there, and we will likely head to Worcester next where a more conventional track should suit her much better. Donnie Azoff made a pleasing seasonal return when second under Izzi. He has been a tremendous servant to the yard over the years and this admirable 10-year-old should continue to give everyone plenty of fun throughout the summer.
Enya hit the crossbar at Ludlow where her jumping just lacked a little fluency, but I am sure she will win races once everything falls into place. Whilst, Mirabello ran a fine race to finish second in a bumper at Newton Abbot and will now go novice hurdling. Regarde was second at Aintree in what was very much a prep run before the Summer Cup. Interestingly, it was the same route we used with Only The Bold before he won the Summer Cup last season, so hopefully Regarde can follow a similar path.
Obsessedwithyou was second in a valuable contest at Bangor where a mistake at the fourth-last fence probably cost her victory. We may switch her back over hurdles now where she can avoid carrying a penalty and hopefully take advantage during the summer months.
Super Survivor, our admirable ten-year-old, also filled the runner-up spot earlier in the month. He will now enjoy a working holiday before returning for what will likely be his final campaign. Remarkably, he still appears to be improving with age, having won twice and finished second twice already this season. La Dame Ecarlate made a promising racecourse debut when second at Fontwell. She too will now enjoy a break before returning when the ground softens later in the year.
Our tenth second of the month came in unusual circumstances at Stratford last night as Hope Rising whipped around at the start and gave the rest of the field a 15-length head start, only to reel them all in bar one as she was denied by a length! A cracking effort in the circumstances, and surely that goes down as “one that got away”.
We have not had a huge number of runners this month, which makes the strike rate all the more pleasing. It has been a fabulous opening month to the season and, hopefully, there is plenty more to come over the summer.
We had a productive time at the Goffs Doncaster Spring sale where we bought one store horse by Shirocco out of a sister to J'y Vole, who is the dam of Madeforlovingyou, who won on her racecourse debut for us last season. The son of Shirocco will have a season Point-to-Pointing prior to coming into training with us at Folly House. Whilst, we bought two lovely Irish Pointers called Impact In Line and Mon Missel, for a new and exciting partnership. There are a few 10% shares available in Impact In Line, and there are more details about him in our ‘Horses for Sale’ page attached to this newsletter. We also said goodbye to our 7-time winner, Idy Wood and 3-time winner, Jack Sprat. It’s always a sad day when we have to sell these lovely horses, but it was the right time as both were 8 years old, and have more to give their new connections.
Some other recent new recruits to our team include the 4-year-old Irish winning Point-to-Pointer Chicks For Free, who looks a smart mare for Johnny and Sam de la Hey and the 5-year-old winning mare, Lady Jetfire, who is a new addition for Oliver and Sasha Brendon. Whilst Value Racing Club have purchased the 5-year-old gelding Treasure Born. I am also delighted that Lieutenant Mayne will be joining our team for the winter too. This 133 rated hurdler looks sure to make up into a smart novice chaser for the McNeill Family & Stone Family.
BetVictor have kindly sponsored us over the last few years, and I have to say it has been a wonderful relationship, but time moves on and I am delighted to announce that Fitzdares are taking over the mantle. I very much look forward to seeing the two of us working together over the next few years.
Although the majority of our horses are out in the field enjoying a nice holiday, we will have a few to run over the next few months who will appreciate the better ground. We’re also pretty busy at home as the steam cleaning continues, painting and carrying out routine maintenance to the yard. I’ll be off to more sales over the summer and hope to pick up a few more in order to strengthen our team for the coming season. It has been great to start the new season off with 10 winners, and over £80,000 in prizemoney. I hope we can keep the momentum up through the summer before the winter team come back in. It promises to be another good season ahead…..!
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