Eileen visits Corbalis Stud

It's a small world.

Ron and Eileen Smith have lived in Hawick for a fair number of years. Eileen herself hails from Ireland, and was originally a member of the Potassium Partnership who have had horses King Kalium and Ellistrin Belle in training at Dodlands in recent years.

Having leased Ellistrin Belle to the partnership for a couple of seasons, Ron and Eileen owned 'Belle' outright when she won a couple of handicap hurdles.
Most recently, Eileen is involved in the ownership of Paper Roses and, from this autumn, her full sister 'Brooke''.

These 2 fillies were bought at Tattersalls Ireland NH August Sales in 2014 & 2016 respectively, and Donald has kept in regular contact with the vendor Niall Delany. Niall runs a farm (Corbalis Stud) in Ireland and owns the mare Rose Vic, dam of Paper Roses and 'Brooke'.
On a recent holiday, Ron and Eileen popped into the stud to visit Niall and Rose Vic.

Nothing unusual so far, except that Eileen's mum lives (and always has lived) about 100 yds down the road from Corbalis Stud, and of course Eileen was brought up in the neighbourhood before moving on as a teenager to college.
So, a few hundred miles and several decades later, and you end up owning a couple of horses that were bred a stone's throw from where you were brought up.............

Eileen with Niall Delany and Rose Vic

Dumbarton is retired

A good-looking, gentle natured horse, but the tendon injury which has plagued Dumbarton's racing career has re-occured, and the decision was taken to retire the lovely gelding.

He quickly became a stable favourite in the few short months he was at Dodlands - where he ran three times and was placed on each occasion during the summer. He's off to a good home at Kelso, and after a short convalescence he'll make a smashing riding horse.