Twenty four two year olds spilt in pairs, warmed up with a canter before their stalls schooling, having mostly been as good as gold in the yard stalls, and were ready to take the final steps and learn about jumping out of stalls with a horse, or horses in the next door stalls. This particular set of stalls is in the schooling field and are surrounded by racecourse rail, with a decent amount of distance for them to get up some real speed as they jump out of the gates. Swift Encounter partnered Seattle Sounder (recently named after the first club his part owner Harry Redknapp managed in America), next up was the still un-named Diamond Green colt who flew out ahead of the slower thinking Vulcan Mission. Iberian Rock, who used to get slightly worried about the stalls in the yard, enjoyed the field stalls more, and jumped well alongside Chevanah, who also pinged the gates well. Morning Air was a real lady, and so well behaved, as was Minniehaha. Midnight Tryst was a madam while Heidi's Delight watched her friends naughty behaviour with a degree of disgust. Eventually, we won the day and she behaved, but she will need careful watching and handling. The Key of Luck colt and Beecheys Beauty went in the yard stalls rather than the field stalls as they were not quite ready to experience the main starting gates. After stalls work George and the boys erected the new racecourse rails, the old rail now runs alongside the first furlong of the all weather, while the new rail is situated along the final furlong and around the final turn of the gallop. The remaining ten yards of rail were put up at the entrance to the grass canter. Eddie decided the old rail at the start of the gallop resembled Catterick racecourse, while the glossy, smart modern white rail at the top, resembles Ascot. No offence to Catterick, but he could have a point.
Other news, one of our smart and exciting three year old's, Riverdale has been sold. Mixed emotions prevail as the heart says we will miss him and miss him winning for Sun Hill, but the head says it was good business and the very good offer could not be turned down. There is, after all only one time to sell a racehorse when an offer comes in, and that is usually when you dont want to. He past the vet this afternoon and will join his new trainer next week to continue his racing career in the UK ahead of racing in Hong Kong.
