Tomorrow's runner
If we make it through the predicted wind and rain, and arrive at Hexham
in time then Snapping Turtle will run in the last tomorrow.
He goes in the 3 mile 0-100 handicap hurdle, and Callum will take 5lb
off his back. Talking of Callum, he got himself off the mark for the
season (from relatively few rides) at Musselburgh today when giving an
excellent ride to Claude Carter in the opening 2 mile handicap hurdle
for Brother Ali. This was a win which sent both trainer and jockey to
the top of the respective Mussleburgh leader boards for the season.
Anyway, back to the Hexham race and we've noticed that
friend-of-the-stable Ryan Nichol also has a ride in the race, Amore Mio
for boss Lucinda.
Talking of Kinross and Nichols, we wish another of our former team, and
brother to Ryan, Craig a speedy recovery from injuries sustained recently. No bones
broken, we gather, so fingers crossed it won't be long before he's back
in the saddle adding to his super start to the season....
Snapping Turtle (Jordan) leads his companions in a recent gallop
DBS Autumn HIT sales
I made a visit to the Doncaster Bloodstock Sales on Tuesday for day 1 of
their well organised Autumn Horses in Training sale. On a slightly
smaller scale to the 6 day Tattersalls (Newmarket) equivalent the week
before, we found horses equally difficult buy. I mean, there were
several flat horses with a 8-10f profile that we had our eye on, but so
did other parties which made the prices quite competitive.
So, unless you employed a Bloodstock Agent and told him to hold his arm
in the air until the hammer dropped, you probably end up disappointed.
Still, one fellow Borders trainer did find a bombproof way of making sure he
got the horse he wanted. Strategically placing an assistant in the
'bidder's area' beforehand with clear-cut instructions, he then made sure his own bid was the final bid,
and duly secured the lot.
Pity that the underbidder was his own 'strategically placed' - but out
of vision - assistant!
Isn't fresh air expensive these days........
