Racing yard visits, Surprises and the search for a new trainer!
It’s been a busy week with plenty of miles travelled, starting with a trip to Tom Lacey’s Cottage Field Stables to see our beautiful grey filly, Silverhill Freya. I was joined by syndicate member Chris and his wife Vicki, who were in the area for a few days. Freya looked fantastic, and her work was impressive.
Tom was away on his annual holiday, but we were very well looked after by Cameron Iles, who I must say is a far more careful driver than Tom! Freya came to meet us in the yard before heading out for her work: a few spins on the round gallop, through the water walk, and then up the hill gallop before being washed off and cooled down on the walker.
It was great to see Chris again after our last meet‑up at Huntingdon, and I was able to drop off the scarves he ordered — always a bonus. Cam reported that everyone at the yard is delighted with Freya, and she remains firmly on track for a racecourse debut in the near future.
Blue Bresil Filly – Progress and Planning
Midweek was earmarked for admin as we continue the process of selecting a trainer for our Blue Bresil filly, currently at Kingwood House Stables in Lambourn with David Fehily and Katie Croft.
Her breaking‑in is going very well, and I’m pleased to report she is now being ridden. She’s very forward, enjoys her work, and David — who rides her — is a big fan. The plan is to give her a break once the breaking‑in phase is complete, let her strengthen, then bring her back for a couple of months of pre‑training before she heads to a trainer for next season.
If she continues to progress as she is, that timeline could move forward and she may debut this season, but next year remains the sensible target.
We’ve been discussing trainer options — myself, Katie, David, and Jerry McGrath — and two clear candidates have emerged, with a third more northern option also being explored. One visit is booked, with two more pending.
A Night at Walton Hall – Charm, Sleep Deprivation, and a Very Good Waitress
On Thursday I decided to book a hotel ahead of Friday’s visit to Ravenswell, purely to avoid a 4am start. My wife will tell you I’m utterly miserable without enough sleep, and given I was part of a big surprise for someone, the extra planning felt wise.
I stayed at Walton Hall Hotel & Spa, and at £50 it was an absolute steal. The venue is picturesque, slightly dated in places, but full of charm. The grounds are lovely, and with more time you could enjoy some great walks.
Dinner came with a mishap: my medium‑rare steak arrived cremated. Despite having eaten three‑quarters of it, the waitress insisted on replacing it, and her service was superb. The carrot soup was excellent, and the pie I had instead of the steak was delicious (even if I’d have preferred a touch more veg).
All in all: a glass of wine, soup, steak, and pie for £38 — and excellent service throughout.
The only downside was being woken at 4:40am by slamming doors. Not ideal, but would I stay again? Absolutely. A slightly worn venue with charm is fine by me, and the surroundings were stunning.
A Special Morning at Ravenswell – A Gift Revealed
Friday’s visit to Ravenswell was for a special reason. A few weeks ago, a share in Just Passing Bye (Ellie) was purchased, and after sending out the usual welcome bits it became clear the share was actually a gift.
After some secret organising with Sally and the brilliant Charlotte at Ravenswell, we arranged for Fergal O’Brien himself to present Roy with his share at the yard — a lovely touch.
I arrived early and awaited their arrival. After some chatting and pleasantries, Fergal presented Roy with his share, and we all headed out to watch Ellie work on the round gallop. Her workload has increased since the last visit: one trot, four canters, and a walk around the round gallop as we build her core fitness.
She looks visibly stronger than she did just a week or two ago, and her coat is gleaming. At only three years old it will be a steady build‑up, with a likely debut around November. Fergal and the team are happy with her, and she’s enjoying her work — the main thing for me.
Website Refresh & Stud Updates
After the long drive home it was back to admin. Some of you may have noticed one of the website pages had a makeover earlier in the week — I decided the rest deserved the same treatment.
Several pages have now been updated, including all racing syndicate horses and our premium share horse Paul. The text remains the same, but the layout is much cleaner. As always, feedback is welcome.
Speaking of Paul — he, Pam, and Emma at Charlock Stud are all doing very well. After a busy time last weekend, they’ve enjoyed some downtime back in the field.
Looking Ahead
A heads‑up for next week’s blog: it may be slightly delayed as I’ll be at Tom Lacey’s on Sunday morning, having been invited to a parade of horses and lunch at the yard.
In addition to Tom’s, we also have planned visits to Lambourn and Charlock Stud.
Until next time!
