Tuesday, 17 September 2013
Stable visit
There was a good buzz around Pond House last Saturday . DP was - well - like he is - laid back . Hate to think what stuff is churning around inside - but he doesn't show it . Mind you - don't get near him a week before The Festival in March! Martin was looking really well - bit of a surprise really cos I never thought he would make it this far ! Carol has just celebrated her 70th - in Tuscany with all her friends and family - and looks 10 years younger . She is still 'supreme commander in chief '. Liane and kids - great . Yvonne is still very poorly - bless her . This dementia thing is just awful and she was sadly missed around the table . Her son Paul and his partner Claire were there though and they seem to be keen on carrying on with Yvonne's legacy - which is great .
And horses ? Well - its the first stable visit since we lost Bruce - so a bit sad there . Geoffrey has just had his breathing op - so didn't come up the gallops . But he looks bigger and stronger . I think the plan is to keep him hurdling for the time being and might take a similar route to that of his elder brother ie Brush hurdle . And what about our 'enigma'. George has put on plenty of weight and looked the best he's done for this time of the year . He did two canters on his own - as he always has done - and as far as I can tell was enjoying it - ears pricked and full of himself . He's eating better now since he's been on the ulcer stuff .Only the next race will tell us - and that might come earlier than first envisaged - maybe at the end of October .
Afterwards very nice lunch was readily consumed . I sat next to Professor ( no less ) Caroline Tisdall . Caroline has been enthusiastically investing in new horses and has just spent over 200k on a Frenchie ( can't remember the name ) . One can only wish her all the success she deserves - a lovely lady .
Talk around the table was also about how to buy the good horses - those with proven form are prohibitively expensive . I'm a great believer in getting young store horses and being patient . The problematic thing there is you need to sell sometimes - costly to keep every horse . I do like the French way .
The best photo - which never got taken - was MCP wearing his new - very glitzy - Italian shirt . Unfortunately - he had it tucked in to his very grey flannels and was still wearing his trilby ! CU
Thursday, 5 September 2013
Roger's back
I was interested to know how how the 2yr old by Bucks Boom ( brother of Big Bucks ) and Fee Magic (mum to The Brothers ) was progressing . They intend to keep him as a stallion but would like to win a race first . Although they are happy with him Emanuel doesn't think he's in the same class bracket of Grands Crus or Gevery Chambertin . Keep on eye on that one !
Another interesting thing that Emanuel mentioned that due to the new tax rates in France it is becoming almost impossible to send horse to the sales and come away with making a profit . All the 'gooduns' are now bought privately . Does he mean cash-cash ?
The Clayeux's also intend to have more runners at the Cheltenham Festival . They had an excellent 2nd last March to the brilliant Quevaga and are now smitten ! Although they think the prize money is derisory ( tell me more - we won 5 races last year for a total pot of about 16k ) they feel the prestige of a Cheltenham - and the publicity it attracts for them - is well worth the effort . I think we'll be seeing them again next March !
Emanuel has a high reputation for training fillies - so I'm keen on him looking at our young one - Kaptivating . ( Nicola suggested the name and I like it ) He's not bothered if he's training to race - or training to sale - so she'll be heading to the Clayeux's for her formative years . At least he will be quite blunt about whether she'll ever make a racehorse !
And we're off down to Pond House this Saturday to see how our fellas have faired this summer - so plenty of photos to come . CU
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