News from Saturday gallops

With young Aiden popping down to Middleham for another few days experience at Mark Johnson's yard, it left Kingy, Pinky and Murray to bolster the weekend numbers, supplementing our hard working weekday staff (aka Sarah).

First lot was a mixture of experience and unraced sorts with Paper Roses, Baby Ticker, Big Bad Dream and 'Dessie' (the Overbury gelding) working steadily a couple of times.

Second lot consisted of five horses but split in two groups in terms of the type of work undertaken.
Stuart and Pinky were on Side of the Road and Shades of Midnight as they did a fast piece of work second time up, after a loosener on the first occasion.

On the left: Shades of Midnight (Pinky) with Side of the Road (Stuart)

The remaining trio did three gallops, albeit a bit steadier. Tomahawk Wood, Paper Promise and Hartforth were ridden by Kingy, Callum and Murray respectively.

Chestnut Trio - Tomahawk Wood (Kingy) leads Hartforth (Murray) and Paper Promise (Callum)

Third lot did a couple of gallops. 'Reeva' (Murray) and Eternally Yours (Kingy) working a shade quicker on the second time up, while 'Sting' (Pinky) and Dali Mail (Callum) were worked steadily to improve their fitness.

Eternally Yours (Kingy) and 'Reeva' (Murray)

Keyboard Gangster was trotted in the adjoining lanes by Pinky as he recovers from a knock, while Night Comes In worked on his own - see separate story below.
Our two 3 year olds - Andy (Arakan gelding) and Jean (Getaway filly) - have now been roughed off for a couple of months to mature and strengthen having pleased us in the last couple of weeks since joining us from Gary Rutherford.

Night Comes In goes back to school

Night Comes In's jumping, up to a very good standard back at Perth in April, was shoddy on his seasonal debut at Kelso last weekend and he seemed to have decreasing confidence over his hurdles as he race wore on. This week, we spent a few days observing our 5 year old gelding closely, to spot any signs of physical ailment.  

Nope.

Night Comes In was eating every bit of feed, appearing in good spirits, so we held a couple of schooling sessions to iron out the all too evident jumping problems. His skipped through our hurdles lane, making a good shape at the 'open ditch' in particular. Callum then led the gelding over to the adjacent chase fences which comprise of a plain fence followed by an open ditch.
Night Comes In was initially very wary of these obstacles, but The Jockey was very patient with the youngster, giving him plenty time to view the fences and compose himself. The gelding jumped the plain fence on its own three times, the last two of which were excellent leaps.
The school was finished by The Jockey taking Night Comes In through the plain fence and open ditch in tandem, and again the jumping was very good.

He can be a nervous horse at times but the intention would be to school him in a similar fashion (through the chase lane) every other day and maybe take him to a nearby yard to have the chance of jumping something different.   

Night Comes In takes the 'open ditch' in the hurdles lane

 A bit of sad news from the yard

We lost a promising young horse a few days ago when Boy In The Bubble was fatally injured on the gallops. The 5 year old Ask gelding had been in training at Dodlands for a couple of years, and was being prepared for a debut racecourse appearance in the next week or so.

Another horse that was acquired at the same time a couple of years ago has also suffered a career ending injury. 'Spud', a 5 year old Spadoun gelding, had been going well since being brought back into the yard after several months on the sidelines but a stress fracture re-surfaced and the decision was made to end his racing career.
This lovely gelding will be given time to recover over the next few months, and will make a nice recreational horse for a good home.  

'Spud'

And finally......

Congratulations to Brother Ali on a rare foray to Flat Headquarters - Newmarket. His stable came away with a nice prize in the shape of a Class 3 fillies' handicap on Friday afternoon. Donnachie's Girl, who was first seen in a Wetherby bumper, came out on top, gamely staying on in the final 3 furlongs to see off her two rivals.

Another Hawick man really blossoming in his career as a flat trainer is 'Scobie' Jardine, who is now based over at Carrutherstown, on the Solway Firth.
A former jumps jockey - he rode on a regular basis for our yard around the turn of the century - Scobie is in Australia for a tilt at The Melbourne Cup with his top class handicapper, and 2017 Ebor winner, Nakeeta.

The gelding is impressing in his morning work down under, and although drawn 19 of 24, is fancied to run a competitive race.
The race is to be shown on AtTheRaces channel on Tuesday morning at 4am.......I know, well just set the record button......
Best of luck!