Teeth, open days and a very special visit!
- Emris Racing
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Good morning or afternoon wherever you’re reading from. And a happy Fathers day to all the Dad's! We regularly see visitors to the blog from all over the world, including: United States, Sweden, Malaysia, Ireland, and of course the UK. It still feels surreal that people take the time to read my ramblings, and I’m genuinely humbled by it — so thank you. The readership isn’t huge, but it’s wonderfully diverse, and the whole point of these blogs is to give our members as much behind‑the‑scenes insight as possible, alongside the updates they receive in their individual groups.
Catching Up at Charlock Stud
The week began with a catch-up with Carla at Charlock Stud, who reported a successful wedding and some enthusiastic dancing that she was still recovering from. I barely drink these days — the four-day hangover simply isn’t worth it — so I sympathized from a safe distance.
More importantly, she confirmed all the yearlings are doing well and are due for a new experience later in the week… more on that shortly.
Sports Day: The Real Competition of the Week
We also had the annual event that some parents dread and others take far too seriously: sports day. My youngest (4 years old, and sadly for those looking for shares, fully sold out) was taking part.
She is the smallest child in the entire school — possibly in the school’s history — but she gives absolutely everything to whatever she does. Anyone who knows me will know I come from a long line of vertically challenged people, although I am the tallest of my siblings, which tells you everything.
She excelled in the bean‑bag‑into‑bucket and egg‑and‑spoon challenges. Good hand‑eye coordination is something I’ve always had, so I’m pleased to have passed that on to my progeny (yes, I’m sticking with that pun).
Her team (Blue) — which I’ve decided was the Royal Blue team — won the overall competition with over 1,000 points. The scoring system bore a suspicious resemblance to BHA stewarding.
Then came the Dad’s Race. Pace used to be a strength of mine in my footballing days, but now in my 40s, with dodgy knees, a floppy ankle, and a belly that has developed a certain roundness, I wasn’t optimistic. The officiating was appalling: over three‑quarters of the field jumped the gun, leaving me “missing the break” and somewhat detached. I did, however, run on strongly to finish mid‑division, which I’m taking as a win.
A Long‑Awaited Visit to Shade Oak Stud
Next came a trip I’d been looking forward to for over two months: a visit to Shade Oak Stud.
The three-hour drive went smoothly, and I arrived just as a group of three visitors from Ireland — a bloodstock agent, a PTP trainer, and an owner — were being shown around. They were a great craic, as were Bryan Mayoh (who didn’t actually know I was coming that day), Peter Hockenhull, and his wife Emma, who makes exceptional cakes.
Tagging along meant I saw far more horses than originally planned, and I was pleased that the horse I liked most was also the one the Irish party was keen on. Always reassuring when your eye aligns with professionals.
The main purpose of the visit was to see the sire and dam of our yearling colt “Paul”: Logician and J’Y Vole.
Logician is an abolute tank — a stunning grey with real presence.
J’Y Vole, now 23, was out in the field with her chestnut filly foal (who Bryan refuses to sell despite both Peter and I trying). She clearly still enjoys a good roll in the mud. She is also back in foal to Logician, and we’ll be watching that one with interest.
A muddy J'Y Vole and her filly foal
Huge thanks to Bryan, Peter, and Emma for their hospitality. I learned a lot sitting around the table with them.
Checking In on the Older Girls
We also caught up with Katie regarding our two “older” horses — though at three and four, they’re hardly veterans. Both are enjoying their breaks:
Freya has two new friends and has moved paddocks.
Ellie is in great shape. She's put on some really good condition during her break to help strengthen up for the coming season.
While at Shade Oak, Bryan mentioned some of his horses go to a yard that takes them for a dip in the River Dee. That immediately reminded me of Tom Lacey’s excellent 75-metre water splash fed by a freshwater spring. I’m a big believer in water work, so it was good to hear Bryan is too.
Yearlings Meet the Dentist
On Friday, the yearlings had their first visit from the dentist. All had a full check-up and had their wolf teeth removed.
For those unfamiliar:
Wolf teeth are the first premolars.
They sit just in front of the first cheek teeth.
Most are in the upper jaw, though some appear in the lower.
They serve no function in modern horses.
They can interfere with bit placement, which is why most trainers remove them before training begins.
All handled the experience well and are now one step closer to their future careers. Charlock Stud posted the video below on Instagram, which includes our yearlings with some highlights of the experience. Make sure to give them a follow; they post some great content.
Tattersalls Derby Sale Ahead
Next week brings the Tattersalls Derby Sale — four days of stores, mostly three‑year‑olds with a two‑year‑old section. Goffs saw very strong trade last week with high prices, so it will be interesting to see whether Tatts follows the same trend.
Until next time
Thank you again for following the Emris Racing journey. Whether you’re a syndicate member, a racing enthusiast, or simply someone who enjoys these updates, your support means a great deal.
