A Lot Of Seconds

In the last 14 days we have saddled 13 runners, that has yielded one winner but a slightly painful 6 seconds, taking our total number of seconds to 25 this year. It is amazing to have the yard performing so well but always a little frustrating when the stats are skewed that way.

Our winner came in the form of Falaise Blanc at Newcastle and there is a nice story with him. Cliff, as he is known in the yard was picked up at La Teste Yearling sales by Connor Quirke for Lamont Racing, not fashionably bred but a nice stamp of horse for the budget he came in at. A big backwards type he showed flashes of promise on the gallops and in his early runs but on the whole is a moderate type who should continue to improve for time. Lamont Racing were looking to upgrade their stock at the start of the year and he came onto the market at the same time as I was looking for a horse to run for our own yard syndicate due to an injury. It all worked out as he has gave us some fantastic days racing. He really deserved to get his head in front this season and was incredibly gutsy at the closing stages of the race. Hard to believe but it was our first winner with Rowan Scott in the saddle, a jockey we much admire but has never been on the right horse on the right day for us until now, a happy night at Newcastle! Cliff will now head to Musselburgh on Saturday.

The same night saw two seconds from Black Storm and Cooperation, both doing nothing wrong and just bumping into horses that beat them fair and square on the night. They are both recent arrivals in the yard that have settled in well to life at Lindean and will hopefully be winning soon.

We have only ran one two year old so far this season and it came in the form of Figjam at Hamilton last week where she ran a lovely professional race to be second in behind an experienced colt with a lofty mark in the 90s. A beautiful stamp of a filly by Dandy Man, her owners, Lamont Racing, have been patient over the summer and can hopefully see the rewards from that going forwards.

We are a small yard and only get a limited number of 2 yo’s through our hands so I think it is important that people see when we are sent one that is capable we can prepare them well at home. Eva as she is known on the yard was professional in every aspect of the job and is a big credit to Abby who does a lot of work with her at home. We have 3 other 2yo’s at home just now but they have been backwards to come to hand and are likely to be seen more towards the turn of the year.

Figjam After Finishing Second at Hamilton

We can’t have a blog and not talk about the amazing Luna A Inbhir Nis who really bumped into one at Haydock on Saturday when she filled the runners up spot off a career high mark of 89. Robert Cowell’s gelding, Democracy Dilemma, previously a Beverley Bullet winner never looked like getting caught in refitted visors but Luna held her own. The only filly in a competitive race against older horses, she seen off the rest of the field in determined fashion and as painful as seconds are myself and Team Summerstorm could not be anything but proud of her. Hard to believe but she ran the course in 2.43 seconds faster than her win there a few weeks previously, showing she is improving all the time.

I also have to give a mention to Baby Rover who finished second last night at Carlisle. The full sister to stable star Curious Rover she has always shown us ability but she sometimes gets in her own way with her exceptionally sassy attitude. She has been difficult in the parade ring, difficult in the stalls, difficult loading into the stalls, among many other things…….. you name it and she has tried it. She enjoys her work and loves galloping but sometimes the occasion gets to her. I can’t read her mind but it is almost like she overthinks the job. Anyways, all the team at home and her owners at URSA Major Racing have been incredibly patient with her and she has now repaid us with a win, 2 x seconds and some other nice runs to boot. William gave her a lovely ride last night and a big shout out to Chloe who went down to the start and took care of the stalls side of the job. There is something extra sweet when the troublesome ones pull it together.

The consistent and talented Epidavros has ran two nice races over the past week but is on a mark where everything needs to go right and a spot of rain may just be the answer there. Curious Rover slipped out the stalls at York and could never get back in to the race, he was perhaps still feeling the effects of a hard race at the track a fortnight previously to, sometimes its hard to tell exactly how much a horse has taken out of itself, especially if they are hardy like he is. Orbital Chime ran a cracker to be second at Musselburgh then ran lacklustre at Hamilton under top weight, probably my fault for turning him out quickly with a combination of top weight and tiring ground.

Looking forwards we send 3 to Newcastle tomorrow, hopefully all with each way chances, and we also have 3 to declare for Musselburgh on Saturday.

The start to next week will be quiet as we plan to send plenty of the team to The Western Meeting at Ayr next week!

Ups and Downs