Busy Saturday at Dodlands

For those who are social media conversant, you'll have already noticed just how full the Car Park was at Dodlands on Saturday morning via the stable Twitter account. Not that we're complaining, it was a lovely morning all round - pleasant sunny weather to welcome numerous sets of owners.

First out bright and early for lot 1 were Jake & Squeak for their very own Bollin Julie, who along with her galloping companions Paper Roses and Tomahawk Wood did a steady 3-time half pace gallop on the Up The Middle track.
Paper Roses would be the most forward of the trio in terms of fitness, but Bollin Julie impressed the gallop watchers with her looks and work. Tomahawk Wood is visibly carrying more condition, but worked well when tucked in, tracking his stable mates.     

Bollin Julie (Callum) leads Paper Roses (Garry) and Tomahawk Wood (Milky)

The Potassium Partnership (see next story below) soon swelled the number on the gallop around a dozen of the successful syndicate joined Fozzo, Al and The Trainer near the top of the gallop for Lot 2.

Featuring four horses who've been in work since mid August, they all worked at slightly faster face than Lot 1, and they (bar Snapping Turtle) too came up for 3 pieces of work. Each of Hartforth, Shades of Midnight and Goodknight Percy can't be far off a seasonal debut - maybe 2 or 3 weeks - with the runs looking dependent upon soft ground as the crucial criteria.

Right to left - Shades of Midnight, Snapping Turtle, Hartforth (Aidan) and Goodknight Percy

Final Lot of the morning on the gallops consisted of our Mountain High gelding, our Beneficial filly and novice hurdler Baby Ticker. Not the easiest of our string on which to ride work through a mixture of green-ness, lack of fitness, and downright awkwardness - no names to protect the guilty - the trio did a couple of pieces of work on the gallop, and looked mighty pleased with themselves afterwards!

r to l : 'Katie' (Milky), Baby Ticker (Aidan) and 'Cliff' (Callum)

Lot 4 consisted of 4 horses doing road work - 'Zidane', Keyboard Gangster, 'Arthur' and 'Spud' with only young 'Sid' on the quiet list (he's coming along just fine and will be in work in about 10 days time).

And this week's winners of our occasional 'best of the morning' work outs are
Most impressive horse : Goodknight Percy
Best work rider : Aidan Redpath, all 5st of him, dripping wet

The Potassium Partnership

The partnership were out on force on Saturday morning, arriving on schedule to have a look round the stables before heading across the road for Lot 2, which included their 2 horses - Shades of Midnight and new recruit Goodnight Percy.

 
'Shady' (second from left) and 'Percy' (third from left)

It was great to see Ian, Belinda & daughter (you mean her sister, surely - ed) , Colin, Keith and a host of Bannermans. Back down at 'Helen's Kitchen' after viewing 3 exhilarating pieces of work from their duo, The Trainer presented the group with a print-out of suitable races cropping up over the next couple of months, and the content was studied and debated over tea/coffee and (home made) scones & jam.

 
'"Phew!! That was impressive, wasn't it"