I probably picked the short straw by going to Market Rasen on Monday, but there you go. (Do I mean the short straw? I'm never quite sure which way round that saying goes). It meant that I missed out on 'being there' when Kauto Star made history. Even so, it was still really special just seeing it on the TV at Market Rasen. What a horse. And we must salute all responsible for his continued success, especially his trainer. The horse has won at least one Grade One steeplechase every year from 2005 to 2011 inclusive. That's seven consecutive years. Amazing. And it would be a rash man who'd say that he won't win a Grade One steeplechase during 2012 too. Terrific. Anyway, at a less exalted level, our two runners both did their best on Monday.
Alcalde ran a gritty race to finish in the first half of the field in his very competitive handicap at Kempton, and Kadouchski again tried his heart out at Market Rasen. One never fears that Kadou is going to fall because he's a very sensible jumper, but he does just find jumping the fences hard work. He has to put so much effort into every jump and he tries his heart out. It was my dream that he could win Flat, hurdles and fences in the same year; he's done his best, as usual, to make it come true, but it hasn't happened, so I'll keep him to hurdles and the Flat from now onwards. His steeplechase form is 2235 and I am sure that he would win a steeplechase eventually, but it's not fair on him. He is so genuine that I don't like to keep asking him really stiff questions, as he does come back so tired
from his steeplechases. I think that these first two pictures makes it clear that his lack of size is an issue (and bear in mind that the excellent Jack Quinlan is not big by jumps jockeys' standards) while the third picture, taken with one circuit still left to go, shows that the whole race becomes hard work for him. Still, judging by the way he and Alcalde have been playing around and rolling in the field in the two days since their races, one can tell that they've both come back in good shape. So Alcalde has shown that he deserves his place in the line-up in these good hurdle races; while Kadou can look back with pride on a year which has seen him finish in the first three 13 times, and can look forward knowing that I'll try not to make things too hard for him henceforth. I had a little chuckle when we were asked to go to the dope-box after the race, which isn't an obvious thing when a horse who starts joint second-favourite finishes fifth - but it's so rare for him to finish out of the first three that I can perhaps see the stewards' point!
Talking of the field, I gave the horses a treat on Christmas Day as I moved them over from the field they had been in for the past half a year (which had just become very muddy from all the pre-Christmas rain, but which is actually not too bad again now after our mild and dry few days) to the smaller field of fresh grass which had been waiting to be re-opened. I think that you can see from the Christmas Day joie de vivre of Karma Chameleon and Frankie (Douchkirk) in this photograph that the change was appreciated! That's particularly nice for Karma as we want to keep him nice and fresh: it's no rest for
the tiny because, having won last week and the previous week, he's running again tomorrow. Southwell this time, which will be new and less pleasant for him. But he's an in-form horse who seems to be taking his races well - so, while the race won't be a formality by any means and while he has top weight in it, he'll likely start favourite and one would have to hope that he'll acquit himself well again. If he doesn't, it certainly won't be for the want of trying (on his part and ours) as he's a wonderfully genuine little horse who always tries to please. He's done a bit of trotting and a bit of cantering since he ran, and plenty of playing and plenty of eating, so let's just hope that that's what he needs.
I probably picked the short straw by going to Market Rasen on Monday, but there you go. (Do I mean the short straw? I'm never quite sure which way round that saying goes). It meant that I missed out on 'being there' when Kauto Star made history. Even so, it was still really special just seeing it on the TV at Market Rasen. What a horse. And we must salute all responsible for his continued success, especially his trainer. The horse has won at least one Grade One steeplechase every year from 2005 to 2011 inclusive. That's seven consecutive years. Amazing. And it would be a rash man who'd say that he won't win a Grade One steeplechase during 2012 too. Terrific. Anyway, at a less exalted level, our two runners both did their best on Monday.
Alcalde ran a gritty race to finish in the first half of the field in his very competitive handicap at Kempton, and Kadouchski again tried his heart out at Market Rasen. One never fears that Kadou is going to fall because he's a very sensible jumper, but he does just find jumping the fences hard work. He has to put so much effort into every jump and he tries his heart out. It was my dream that he could win Flat, hurdles and fences in the same year; he's done his best, as usual, to make it come true, but it hasn't happened, so I'll keep him to hurdles and the Flat from now onwards. His steeplechase form is 2235 and I am sure that he would win a steeplechase eventually, but it's not fair on him. He is so genuine that I don't like to keep asking him really stiff questions, as he does come back so tired
from his steeplechases. I think that these first two pictures makes it clear that his lack of size is an issue (and bear in mind that the excellent Jack Quinlan is not big by jumps jockeys' standards) while the third picture, taken with one circuit still left to go, shows that the whole race becomes hard work for him. Still, judging by the way he and Alcalde have been playing around and rolling in the field in the two days since their races, one can tell that they've both come back in good shape. So Alcalde has shown that he deserves his place in the line-up in these good hurdle races; while Kadou can look back with pride on a year which has seen him finish in the first three 13 times, and can look forward knowing that I'll try not to make things too hard for him henceforth. I had a little chuckle when we were asked to go to the dope-box after the race, which isn't an obvious thing when a horse who starts joint second-favourite finishes fifth - but it's so rare for him to finish out of the first three that I can perhaps see the stewards' point!
Talking of the field, I gave the horses a treat on Christmas Day as I moved them over from the field they had been in for the past half a year (which had just become very muddy from all the pre-Christmas rain, but which is actually not too bad again now after our mild and dry few days) to the smaller field of fresh grass which had been waiting to be re-opened. I think that you can see from the Christmas Day joie de vivre of Karma Chameleon and Frankie (Douchkirk) in this photograph that the change was appreciated! That's particularly nice for Karma as we want to keep him nice and fresh: it's no rest for
the tiny because, having won last week and the previous week, he's running again tomorrow. Southwell this time, which will be new and less pleasant for him. But he's an in-form horse who seems to be taking his races well - so, while the race won't be a formality by any means and while he has top weight in it, he'll likely start favourite and one would have to hope that he'll acquit himself well again. If he doesn't, it certainly won't be for the want of trying (on his part and ours) as he's a wonderfully genuine little horse who always tries to please. He's done a bit of trotting and a bit of cantering since he ran, and plenty of playing and plenty of eating, so let's just hope that that's what he needs.
5 comments:
best of luck tomorrow John,
best of luck tomorrow John,
Thank you. Win, lose or draw, he'll have given it his best shot.
horse ran a great race and I know you've mentioned before how difficult it is to get a hat rick, so an extra well done to all the team. I thought hayley turner rode the horse very well, although when karma slightly lost its pitch with around 2f to go I was slightly worried.
Keep up the good work and hopefully "douch" can run well,
All the best to for the new year John and to all the team.
Thanks
Ian
Thank you, Ian. Yes, the race yesterday was a bit of a muddle in the middle stages, but the horse's toughness got him through.
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