It's always supposed to be the first swallows which make a summer; or don't quite make a summer, or wha'ever. Well, for me there are different signs, the most obvious being the return of my shorts. I'm pleased to say that they've been sported for much of today - but only, I'm afraid, after I'd finished riding out. But they're back on, so tomorrow they'll have to be on from the outset. And Grand National Day is such a vernal landmark that that would seem to be as good a day as any for them to resume their riding duties. But if the shorts are my main swallow, then there are, of course, others -
and one sign of spring which we have greeted with great excitement this week has been the return of Aisling from sunnier climes. She flew back to the UK on Monday from her winter sojourn in Godolphin's UAE office - and, of course, was in the yard here at 6.30 on the dot on Tuesday morning. Which was really great. Her first morning back here, actually, was one of the few recent dawns which wasn't brilliantly sunny (it was overcast) which seemed, to me at least, to be something of an
anti-climax because I wanted the heavens to give her the same welcome as the rest of us were giving her - but then she gently pointed out that, after her winter in Dubai, sunny weather doesn't currently have quite the novelty value for her as it does for us. Even so, I am sure that this morning's idyllic conditions, as illustrated in this paragraph with her riding Asterisk and Sara on Hotfoot, must still have been as pleasant for her as they were for the rest of us - and the fact that they led into a cloud-free day was the icing on the cake.
Another regular supply of swallows comes simply from the fact that, week by week, the horses who have been out of training over the winter are doing progressively more work. Or faster work, anyway. Whereas six weeks ago we would have had a lot or two of trotters each day, now it is only the odd horse trotting. I can't say that any of the fast work has yet been particularly revealing as none of the horses are quite ready to resume, but it's nice just to see the horses doing more seemingly purposeful exercises, such as this one shown here on Wednesday with Silken Thoughts, Batgirl and Hotfoot going up the Polytrack on Warren Hill under Hugh, Hannah and Adam respectively.
Wednesday was actually a really nice day, easily the hottest of the year so far hitting 23 degrees in bright sunshine late in the afternoon - not that one would know if from that photograph because the sun didn't come out until the end of the morning. Today's maximum temperature would probably have been four or five degrees lower than that, but today did have the advantage of being a day of unbroken sunshine and blue skies and, while the temperatures were pleasant rather than extremely high, it was just a perfect day - as this photograph, taken late morning at the bottom of Long Hill shows. It also shows that we aren't the only ones whose horses are working towards their resumptions: the second of the pair is last year's Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes winner Dream Ahead, who is seemingly on course to resume in the 2,000 Guineas three weeks tomorrow. Chris Hough is riding him as usual in this photograph, with Laura Pike on his mate.
It's always supposed to be the first swallows which make a summer; or don't quite make a summer, or wha'ever. Well, for me there are different signs, the most obvious being the return of my shorts. I'm pleased to say that they've been sported for much of today - but only, I'm afraid, after I'd finished riding out. But they're back on, so tomorrow they'll have to be on from the outset. And Grand National Day is such a vernal landmark that that would seem to be as good a day as any for them to resume their riding duties. But if the shorts are my main swallow, then there are, of course, others - 
and one sign of spring which we have greeted with great excitement this week has been the return of Aisling from sunnier climes. She flew back to the UK on Monday from her winter sojourn in Godolphin's UAE office - and, of course, was in the yard here at 6.30 on the dot on Tuesday morning. Which was really great. Her first morning back here, actually, was one of the few recent dawns which wasn't brilliantly sunny (it was overcast) which seemed, to me at least, to be something of an 
anti-climax because I wanted the heavens to give her the same welcome as the rest of us were giving her - but then she gently pointed out that, after her winter in Dubai, sunny weather doesn't currently have quite the novelty value for her as it does for us. Even so, I am sure that this morning's idyllic conditions, as illustrated in this paragraph with her riding Asterisk and Sara on Hotfoot, must still have been as pleasant for her as they were for the rest of us - and the fact that they led into a cloud-free day was the icing on the cake.
Another regular supply of swallows comes simply from the fact that, week by week, the horses who have been out of training over the winter are doing progressively more work. Or faster work, anyway. Whereas six weeks ago we would have had a lot or two of trotters each day, now it is only the odd horse trotting. I can't say that any of the fast work has yet been particularly revealing as none of the horses are quite ready to resume, but it's nice just to see the horses doing more seemingly purposeful exercises, such as this one shown here on Wednesday with Silken Thoughts, Batgirl and Hotfoot going up the Polytrack on Warren Hill under Hugh, Hannah and Adam respectively. 
Wednesday was actually a really nice day, easily the hottest of the year so far hitting 23 degrees in bright sunshine late in the afternoon - not that one would know if from that photograph because the sun didn't come out until the end of the morning. Today's maximum temperature would probably have been four or five degrees lower than that, but today did have the advantage of being a day of unbroken sunshine and blue skies and, while the temperatures were pleasant rather than extremely high, it was just a perfect day - as this photograph, taken late morning at the bottom of Long Hill shows. It also shows that we aren't the only ones whose horses are working towards their resumptions: the second of the pair is last year's Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes winner Dream Ahead, who is seemingly on course to resume in the 2,000 Guineas three weeks tomorrow. Chris Hough is riding him as usual in this photograph, with Laura Pike on his mate.
5 comments:
I have more than a touch of the green eyed monster looking at those wonderful photos John. Although it hasn't rained here in Manchester and the sun has in fact been shining brightly, the scenery isn't quite the same :-s
Yes Nathan John does a wonderful job promoting the delights of Newmarket. I always feel it is not promoted enough as a tourist destination. The greatest free show on earth is the sight of hundreds of horses on the gallops on a spring morning.
Well said Alan. Having been involved with several horses trained in Middleham i know that wonderful experience well, albeit on a smaller scale. I'm ashamed to say i haven't visited Newmarket since i was a child. I will put that right one day soon.
Do get in touch when you're going to be coming, Nathan.
Very kind gesture John. Thank You :-)
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