Ascot, big Jim, Hamandio, sales & other news

A drizzly day but very mild and due to warm up again.  It was hot at Ascot last week where I was lucky to be on Thursday; I enjoyed watching plenty of the rest of the coverage on ITV who I thought once again did the most fantastic job bringing such exciting racing to us all wherever we were.  A seriously stamina sapping five days in the heat for them all but they never faltered and I think they deserve a massive vote of thanks.  For me Royal Ascot this year was as good a festival of racing as I have ever seen anywhere and it is brilliant that it receives so much airtime on terrestrial television – a massive plus for the sport.

There were so many wonderful equine performances at every level; new heros were born for us to follow but surely the most incredible performance was Jim Goldie winning the King Charles III Stakes with American Affair.  This was Scotland’s first ever Group One winner and it was achieved by a locally bred horse by a cheap sire out of a mare Jim trained by his own sire Orientor.  Jim is understated and underrated; seeing the almost tangible pride he quietly displayed as his 17yo grand daughter led his horse into the Ascot winner’s enclosure was a moment I will never forget.

For him to beat bloodstock’s global juggernauts on the biggest stage was simply wonderful.  Wonderful also for Paul Mulrennan, a champion of the North who poignantly later learned that his Father had died that day.  And of course for the Owner/Breeders John and Wendy McGrandles, extraordinary for them. Worth noting that they also bred the favourite for this year’s Champion Bumper at Cheltenham; perhaps no fluke and they were straight back up the road to show sheep at the Highland Show on Thursday, history doesn’t relate how that went but probably very well.

Back here the horses have done well at grass but look ready to come in and that they will do, on Monday, when many of the Team will also return.  There will be plenty of new equine face for them to meet as I’m delighted with our progress at the sales this summer, we have seven lovely new young horses that have shown good form in point to points or bumpers.  That doesn’t include Hamandio who completed his hat trick in France at Dieppe last week; Kit’s well handicapped purchase is now 24lb less well handicapped so will stay in France for another run.

Next up on the sales front is Arqana at Deauville next week – 2yo stores, horses in training off the flat and jumpers in training as well.  It’s been a very lucky sale for us so we will be searching hard again though with temperatures forecast to hit 38 degrees I will have to ensure I spend sufficient time in the shade sipping something cold.

A few excitments looming at this end; we plan to have three runners at Perth next Thursday (Everyday Champagne, Beat the Retreat and Maillot Blanc), I hope to be back but please forgive me if I am too hot to post a blog in advance from France.  Then Mack the Man runs in the Ladies Charity Race at Carlisle next Saturday with team member Katie Morrison on board.  Well done her for volunteering, it may be Mack’s swansong so hopefully he will run well.  Katie is raising money for Racing Welfare and if so inclined you can donate here