Weekend gallop reports
With three weekend work riders down at Dodlands, we just had a couple of lots each day over the weekend. (Although this may soon change - see the second article on the page with news of 4 more additions to this season's string).
Anyway, here's an overview of the work
Lot 1
- Hartforth (Ryan)
- Ellistrin Belle (Garry)
Impressive fast work from the more advanced pair of horses in the string, in fitness terms. Being an ex-flat horse, Hartforth is the type that recovers quite quickly from racecourse appearances, and he showed his toughness in these weekend work-outs. On Saturday, he really did travel well right to the top of the gallop second time up. And Ellistrin Belle showed us that there is more to her than a horse who travels on the bridle, as she knuckled down under Garry's urgings and finished upsides Hartforth.
- Shadow Boxer
- Snapping Turtle (Matthew)
Great to see Shadow Boxer back in full work, and he is working better each day as he builds his fitness back up. Snapping Turtle was given a piece of fast work as well, as he is aiming for a seasonal debut at Hexham on Wednesday in a 2½ mile handicap hurdle. On the other hand, we'll be looking for a Newcastle chasing opportunity for Shadow Boxer around 3 miles as long as the going is soft.
Slightly gentler pace for these 2 staying mares. Mini the Minx does need an expanse of ground on a galloping track, with soft ground preferable, and we may just step Julie up in trip as well. Look for them in handicap hurdles in the next 2-3 weeks.
Ellistrin Belle (Garry) & Hartforth (Ryan) in some fast work
Lot 2
Just once up for recent Hexham scorer Charlie Bucket, and he's in good spirits. Achilles and Yo La Tengo worked a couple of times 'Up the Middle' with the unraced Achilles the more impressive. He'll be aimed at a bumper in the next 2 -3 weeks, and he's the type to come on for a racecourse outing. Yo La Tengo continues to be one of the more backward of the string, but is starting to show occasional glimpses of ability. It may be slightly longer till he sees the racecourse, but hopefully before the year is out.
These pair are having an easier time of it at present, and they were out on the adjacent lanes for some 'road work'.
On Returning
In the last few days, we welcomed back some new faces and old favourites into the yard.
Our home bred filly Nearly May - she made her bumper debut in July at Perth - was always planned to be one of the last 'back in'. She's in 'road work' at present, so it may be around 12 weeks before she sees the racecourse again.
Star Racing (Scott & Alison) have deliberately given their chasing duo a fair break this time, so it felt marvellous to see Sam Patch and Hawaii Klass return - our yard is not the same without you. As usual, they spent some time at Joanna Imray's well run Eildon Hill Stables complex, a few miles away in Boswells. Of course, Hawaii is back with a view to a spring campaign - he was actually our first winner of the season back in May! Sam prefers soft ground, and we'll see how he goes this season as his form dipped slightly last term.
One of our potential bumper horses, an unraced Midnight Legend gelding, returned to Dodlands having been in training for a few weeks in the spring of this year. He's in magnificent shape, and has done very well over the summer (see below). The type that makes you excited in the morning, he'll start off doing road work for the next few weeks, with a racecourse debut around March in the offing.
A Midnight Legend 3yr old gelding comes back into training at Dodlands
