Duo head for Sedgefield tomorrow

We head off down the road to Sedgefield tomorrow with Champagne Agent and Snapping Turtle.

Champagne Agent, of course, returns to the scene (course and distance) of his success over fences at the start of the month. Strictly the gelding has gone up 18lb in the handicap, but this includes the 10lb that 'Fizz' was out of the handicap. So, racing off BHA86, he's in the handicap proper and frankly the weight is not that important.
'Fizz' is quite a fragile horse, and is not the easiest to train, and the question this time around is whether he is able to put back-to-back successes together.

This'll be Snapping Turtle's first appearance on the track since May this year when he ran a fine race in the runner up spot at Perth. We envisage 'Bruce' will need the run, and will come on for the race. 

Champagne Agent leads a couple of stable companions in a gallop earlier this month

Saturday gallops

Welcome rain greeted the brave souls on the gallops on Saturday morning. Less welcome was the strong wind which drove the rain horizontal at times, leaving only the truly committed to take in all the lots. Which is another way of saying our web photographer sought the safe confines of Helen's kitchen pretty swiftly.

But we've several horses who will be making their seasonal debut over the next fortnight, so our stable staff (true tea members) persevered the conditions for the sake of progressing the fitness aspects of the string.

There were half a dozen who did a couple of spins up the gallops, the first a steady canter followed by a faster piece of work. In this category were

• 'Neve', our Gamut filly
•  Snapping Turtle
• Champagne Agent
• Egon Spenglar
• Hartforth
• Shades of Midnight

whilst the following did one piece of work

• Tomahawk Wood
• Bearskin
• Ellistrin Belle
• 'Baby', our Endoli mare

Snapping Turtle (left, Harris) and 'Neve' (Kingy) battle through the rain