New trainer decisions, New names & updates from the yards!
A very happy Sunday (or whatever day you’re reading this) to all. It’s been a busy week with plenty of miles on the clock, so let’s get straight into it.
Ellie – Just Passing Bye
Early in the week I caught up with Fergal O’Brien, who reports that Just Passing Bye (Ellie) is in very happy in herself, though still a touch sore behind. Fergal kindly sent over a lovely video for her syndicate members, showing her doing some gentle work in the school and a morning photo after she had has what looks like a very good sleep!
We’re going to take our time with her. At just three years old and still growing, the last thing we want is to push her too hard and risk a serious setback. She’s such a sweet filly who genuinely wants to please, but she’ll tell us when she’s ready to step her work back up. For now, it’s simple, steady, confidence‑building work—exactly what Ravenswell excels at, especially with young fillies.
Ellie's syndicate has welcomed several new members this week, you can join them here.
Maisie – Blue Bresil Filly
Next stop was Kingwood House Stables to see our Blue Bresil filly, who continues to impress. She’s very much a filly who likes to get on with things, and true to form she’s been broken in and cantering away in no time at all. Watching her swing around the round gallop was a real pleasure.
My wife joined me on the visit and enjoyed a lovely cuddle with her—Maisie lapped up the attention. After some discussion with David and Katie, we’ve officially settled on her stable name: Maisie, in honour of her dam Magic Maze.
She’ll now head out for a break before the next stage of her development.
Trainer Visits – Two Excellent Options
Midweek brought a visit to a very big trainer’s yard as part of the decision-making process for Maisie’s future. After a warm welcome (and a cup of tea), we toured the yard—large in numbers but surprisingly easy to navigate… until I proved otherwise. Despite receiving crystal-clear directions to the car park, I still managed to head the wrong way, prompting a very kind shout of correction. Not my finest moment.
The trainer was extremely impressed with Maisie’s pedigree, which didn’t surprise me, and the visit was both positive and productive.
Later in the week, another top trainer visited Maisie at Kingwood House Stables. Katie phoned straight after with glowing feedback, and a follow-up call with the trainer confirmed they absolutely loved her.
So now we have two top-tier trainers—both very high up the leaderboard each season—keen to train her. It’s an excellent problem to have, and one we hope to resolve in the next week or so. Interest in her syndicate is already strong, and you can get involved here.
Silverhill Freya
I also caught up with Tom Lacey, who reports that Silverhill Freya is going very nicely at home. The team are very happy with her progress.
Jo, her regular rider at home has been delighted with her and has been full of praise of her work.
We’re starting to look at the fixture list. I have an ideal target in mind, though it may come just a touch too soon. Freya won’t take long to get fit, but I may be being slightly ambitious with my preferred starting point. Either way, it won’t be long before she’s ready, and I’m looking forward to discussing her debut with Tom in due course.
You can be part of her journey here!
Charlock Stud – The Yearlings
It’s been a quieter week at Charlock Stud, which the yearlings probably appreciate. Emma, Pam, and Paul are eating plenty, growing plenty, and enjoying their time in a field that is now resplendent with green grass after recent rain—even if it’s still a bit firm underfoot. They have all enjoyed a trim from the farrier and they all appear to be glowing!
A busy, productive week with lots of exciting developments across the board. As always, thank you for following the journey.
Until next time!
