Wednesday work day update

Dodlands' work days tend to be Saturdays and Wednesdays, although we do like to make sure the horses exercise each of the seven days in the week. On work days, selected horses - these may be ones for which we have a race in mind in the next couple of weeks - will work in pairs at a nice pace. Of course, the feedback The Trainer receives from the work riders is of vital importance backing up what is seen by the naked eye.

This Wednesday, there were quite a few horses being worked by Callum, Garry and Sarah with forthcoming races in mind. All of the horses still in training were given a couple of gallops on the Up-the-Middle woodchip, but we'll concentrate on the horses that were part of the day's more serious work.

Side of the Road and Eternally Yours comprised the first lot, and both fillies please their work riders. This was the 4 year old Eternally Yours filly's, a daughter of Sulamani, first piece of work after coming back into training in February and being brought along steadily in the weeks that followed. Her companion, the Beneficial filly Side of the Road has already run in a couple of bumpers and is being aimed at a mares' novices' hurdle at Perth next week.

Eternally Yours (Garry) on the left works well with Side of the Road (Callum)

The second lot contained a trio of horses who have engagements in the next week. Snapping Turtle will be retired at the end of this season but we thought we'd give him a final farewell and he's entered in an Amateur Riders' handicap hurdle at Perth next Wednesday. Sarah was in the saddle for a couple of spins Up-the-Middle which left Shades of Midnight (Garry) and the once-raced Keyboard Gangster (Callum) to complete a piece of fast work. The inexperienced Keyboard Gangster impressed the midweek gallop watchers, and he is the more like of the two to take up his Saturday engagement (the bumper) at Ayr's Scottish National meeting.

 
Shades of Midnight (Garry, left) and the impressive Keyboard Gangster (Callum)

The final couple of horses that we worked at a nice pace were Big Bad Dream (Callum) and Tomahawk Wood (Sarah). With Dali Mail following closely, the top pair finished off their gallop well, with Callum bringing Big Bad Dream through to edge out his stable companion near the top of the gallop.
Big Bad Dream is entered at Hexham next Tuesday in a bumper, and Dali Mail will probably re-appear mid May at Kelso.

Big Bad Dream (Callum nearside) works with Tomahawk Wood (Sarah). Dali Mail tracks the pair

Roughing off.....

It's round about this time of year when horses start to show signs of being 'over the top'. We do keep a watchful eye out, especially to the 3 or 4 of the string who've been in training since August.

So, Hartforth and Tomahawk Wood - both handicap hurdle winners this season - will have their shoes taken off in the next few days and roughed off in preparation to a Spring / early Summer at grass.  Progressive mare Baby Ticker is also heading out to grass soon.

 
Hartforth (Sarah) at the head of the string