Stable news from Dodlands

Well, it's been some summer!

Highlight for many has been that event that takes place every 4 years.
Eagerly anticipated, never failing to deliver, an indelible mark in the calendar, and now it has passed leaving a feeling of how short a time it was really.

But enough about Les Dodds standing his round..............

FIFA World Cup, well done France.....the Auld Alliance, hey...one of our string is French bred.

Talking of Les, his 11yr old Wor Lass was a bit sore in the morning after her second victory this season (and eleventh in all), so Les decided to retire his home-bred mare. A marvellously consistent sort, a credit to her owner who looks after her when she's not in training. It's been a pleasure to train her over the last couple of seasons - several placed efforts, and a couple of wins this year. She was as good as she's ever been last time.
Les has already been scouring through the Thoroughbred publications for a suitable sire and she'll probably be covered early in 2018.

Just a couple of flat horses in the stable at present. Princess Apollo is now qualified for sprint handicaps but we'd rather see a bit of naturally inspired give in the ground before running.
Now, rain can't be far away, can't it?

Keeping the 4yr old company are a couple of yearlings bought last year to train on the flat. Late April foals, we've brought them along as back-end 2yr olds. There is a gelding by Pastoral Pursuits and a filly by Coach House.
The filly is the more progressive at the moment, so she may be the first to run, maybe in a couple of months time.

Other than that, deep cleaning, power hosing, dis-infecting all the empty boxes has been the order of each day. In preparation for the winter string coming back in at the end of this month.  

An to end this section of an upbeat note, we've kept our dual hurdling winning racemare Bollin Julie as a broodmare - she has an attractive pedigree to match her looks - and several weeks ago she gave birth to her first foal, a filly by Yorgunnabelucky.
'Julie' is absolutely beaming in her new career as a mum, as you can see below.

Bollin Julie pictured with her filly foal

Out in the fields......

At various locale's in the Scottish Borders, our winter horses have been enjoying a relaxing time at grass.

There's 7 of the mares sharing a huge field, and being checked on a regular basis by Ron (Smith) and Ian (Aitken). The Paper sisters, Stainsby Girl, Side of the Road, Danced Every Dance, our Getaway filly and a 3yr old Yeats filly always seem pleased to see you - maybe they smell the apples and carrots from afar!

The Trainer with (l to r) Stainsby Girl, Paper Roses and Side of the Road

As always, Baby Ticker is spending the summer with Rachel out at the family farm on the edge of town. She is so well looked after, she positively sulks when brought back into the yard........but this lightly raced 9 yr old clearly thrives on the attention, as she ran several fine races last season.

Out at Bonchester, under the watchful eye of Ruth Jardine, are another couple of our string, Dali Mail and Eternally Yours.
Eternally Yours is sharing her portion of the field with her younger brother, a 2yr old gelding by Midnight Legend (look out for him in a couple of years time, all being well).

A lovely summer's evening at Bonchester - Ruth presents Eternally Yours and 'Mac'