The Esteemed Trainer, Holidays and Capital Shares!
- Emris Racing
- Jul 12
- 4 min read
It’s been another busy and rewarding week across the Emris Racing team, with plenty happening both on the training front and behind the scenes. I hope you’ve all had a great week yourselves.
While the football hasn’t exactly been inspiring, reaching a World Cup semi‑final is no small achievement. A huge test awaits, but we go into it with optimism.
A Morning at Ravenswell Farm with Fergal O’Brien
Monday began with a very early start and a trip to Ravenswell Farm to see Fergal O’Brien. Anyone who has visited his yard knows it’s usually buzzing with owners and visitors, and Fergal somehow manages to make time for everyone. This visit was different — quiet, focused, and a great opportunity for some proper one‑on‑one time.
The main purpose of the visit was to discuss plans for our 3‑year‑old Passing Glance filly, Ellie, who joins Fergal’s team at the beginning of August. Being 100% GBB registered, the plan is to target the junior bumpers early. With £30,000 available in bumper bonuses and up to £100,000 across her career, it’s an opportunity we simply have to pursue.
Her pre‑trainers have been very positive. She’s not a slow filly, and there’s every reason to believe she can be competitive in bumpers, even if her long‑term future may lie over slightly further. All being well, her debut will come in one of the earlier junior bumpers.
Ellie boasts a deep and distinguished English National Hunt pedigree. She is out of a placed half‑sister to I’msingingtheblues, a Grade 2 winner and 7‑time scorer, and her family includes some of the most iconic staying chasers of the modern era. She hails from the line of the great Ponmeoth and the legendary Numbersixvalverde, winner of both the English and Irish Grand Nationals — a rare and remarkable double.
Her immediate family is equally impressive. Her own sister Isabel De Clare is a recent point‑to‑point winner, while her half‑sisters include Pique Rock, a three‑time winner rated 126, and Blue Beach, who achieved Grade 2 black type. It’s a pedigree stacked with stamina, class, and proven performers — exactly what you want for a mare starting her career.
Ellie is back in work now after a good summer break and will soon head to Marcus Foley for her first jumping education before moving on to Ravenswell. A busy few weeks ahead for her.
Shares are available from £85/month for a 2.5% lease share, and her syndicate members will soon be voting on her racing name. If you want to be involved in both her journey and her naming, now is the time to join HERE.
Silverhill Freya: Holiday Over, Season Ahead
Silverhill Freya has enjoyed her final week of holiday. She came in slightly later than Ellie, and having run in two point‑to‑points before joining us, we wanted to ensure she had a proper break.
She’ll follow a similar path to Ellie, but as she has already jumped fences, her time with Marcus Foley will be more of a refresher than an introduction. Tom Lacey is looking forward to having her in the yard, and the plan is to aim her at novice hurdles.
Freya is a mare I’m very excited about. A drop in trip should suit her — her siblings have all shown their best form around 2½ miles, and that’s where I see her optimum. She showed plenty of quality in her points, travelling strongly and jumping well before her stamina just ebbed late on.
She’s a striking mare (being grey always helps!) by a very promising young French sire, with well‑rated siblings including Grade 3 Placed Kamyador (RPR 132) and 8 time winner Peejaybee (RPR 130). The damsire Saint Des Saints is among the most influential sire/damsire in National Hunt history. There’s a lot to like.
This week we welcomed Chris as the first capital shareholder in Freya. Capital shares offer long‑term security, and while I’ve always tried to keep costs low, it’s clear some members value that stability. 10% Capital shares are now available alongside our lower‑cost lease shares. Full details are on her page HERE.
A Quiet Week at Charlock Stud
With Graham and Carla on holiday, I decided not to add to the workload at Charlock this week. In their absence, the yard has been unusually calm — no drama, no pyrotechnics!
The yearlings — Emma, Pam and Paul — are all thriving, growing well, and enjoying the sunshine on their backs.
We’re now looking forward to the Charlock Stud Open Day as part of National Racehorse Week. There’s a fantastic schedule planned, including:
Veterinary scan demonstrations
Farrier demonstrations
A full yard tour
Meet the retired racehorses, foals, mares, and yearlings
Raffle with great prizes
And much more
The event is completely free, and you can book your place via the National Racehorse Week website. No they still haven't put me on the payroll!
Looking Ahead
Next week we’ll be catching up with Tom Lacey and heading over to Charlock Stud to see the youngsters and possibly over to Lambourn to see the older girls as they both
return to work. Plenty to look forward to.
Until next time!
