Week ending 19 February 2010

Members all received the good news last week that both of our charges have arrived safely at Andy Haynes yard in Bath. No peace for the wicked – that’s a reference to ZEBRANO by the way – yes I still have the bruise on my arm from his ‘love bite’! - They had shoes fitted the following day and were already out on the walker by the end of the week.

I’ve arranged an Open morning for Saturday 27 February – arrival sharp at 10 o’clock to see them on the gallops, all good stuff and providing I don’t leave home with them on the roof of my car again, I’ll bring the donuts! That most likely means a guaranteed attendance from Messrs Oakey, BK and yes, of course, Mr Watson!

I expect John has already started looking at the racing calendar for likely outing dates and he will no doubt – upon request – be pleased to share his thoughts with us on 27th – so please please don’t anybody ask as it may well get dark by 4 o’clock! Only joking John :)

It will be interesting to all get together again so please make your best efforts to come and see the nags – I’m sure we’ll learn all the stable gossip again, with the lads telling us how many races we are going to win and these are the fastest things we have ever sat on etc etc but all very amusing.

If it’s like the last time we visited – despite the fact I’d lost the donuts, the Haynes family made us very welcome with bacon butties. That said I can just picture Oakey, BK and Watson salivating as they read on – what a horrible thought!

Right, mares and foals – all going the right way – farrier was in last week for trims all round, all well behaved. Touch wood, the fields are just beginning to dry up, although wellie boots are still the order of the day.

I decided to give them some fresh grass last week and move the six of them to the other side of the electric fence. Simples, I thought to myself – a one man job, piece of cake. What a damn job that was, two and a half hours later to take down a 100 yards section of electric fencing and encourage, steer, motivate, shove, push and shush six horses through such a damn big gap was bloody well impossible.

At one point I had five through whilst Becky’s foal remained the wrong side of the fence. A military precise plan of action I had prepared but did it include a rope and head collar? – No chance. So I took off my sweatshirt (which was by now covered in mud and crap anyway) and decided to wrap the arms of it round the foals neck and drag it through the gap – simples, I thought – why could it be so difficult, after all she wanted to be on the grass with the other five nags didn’t she?

Bloody thing, every time we got close to the gap – even about 5 yards away – she would take off with me holding in one hand, both ends of the sweatshirt and in the other , as much of her damn mane as I possibly could. Bugger me; I’m even getting angry writing about it now! It was like a damn comedy sketch – I was sweating like a pig, now covered in mud and every time she took off, because the mud was so damn deep and loose, my right leg of my wellie would fill up with mud as we both gathered pace heading in the wrong direction down the field until it came off when I then had to let go to retrieve it. Bastard horse!

Well, to cut a story short – in the end – I had to physically cut a new gap in the fencing then repair it after the damn thing had idled through to join her five mates……next time Becks please make sure you are about……Needless to say I haven’t been able to get near it since as I think she may be slightly wary of me for a while – a one booted topless fat git trying to straddle her has obviously put her back up for a while!

Regards Paul

Week Ending 29 January 2010

Both nags left this week, both bound for the Andy Haynes racing yard.

Needless to say, we are all very excited and looking forward to a new season of flat racing.

Both were pretty tubby and with the state of our home field it was good to see them go as the mud was getting deeper and deeper!

Watch this space for regular updates on their progress.

Gearing up for a stable visit on Saturday 27 February and i'll e mail nearer the time for times etc and directions. New members always welcome, email me direct or ring me on 07919043615 if you may be interested in joining our team. Not a bad deal, £160 per month for two 'winners' in training for the coming year.

Guaranteed winners - well, that's what Andy Haynes tells me so you can take that up with him - nice one Mr Haynes.

 

 

Week ending 15 January 2010

The big thaw seems to be on its way - finally! Even the kids (still call them that despite the fact they are all now over 18!) have had enough, especially the younger one who seems to have bumped her car everyday, must take after her Mother!

The snow has cleared from the fields, as I write though the damn water trough still remains frozen so I am still quadding it down in the dark every evening, balancing two containers full of water on my lap, to keep the mares in foals in plentiful supply. All has been fine on that front until the quad turned to the left – unintended, and me and the water containers turned to the right, needless to say, also unintended – the idea is that everything moves in the same direction at the same time – the same as you on your horse Kevin, poetry in motion, simples! I’m sure it was just a one off as I now seem to have mastered it, steering with one hand and balancing two containers with other hand. However, if all goes pear shape, save on costs and simply burry me where you find me…….

Other good news!

The two racers remain very well at home. Chuffed to bits that they have been home during such bad weather conditions and the fact we have not been incurring racing fees, a right result as I said last week. Simon from Andy Haynes yard has been on the phone seeking a return date for MYSTIC TOUCH but as we speak he may as well sit in his box at home instead of being stuck in Bath without access to the gallops, the same for ZEBRANO and Emma’s yard at Hatherden.

I’ve not had any more ‘anonymous’ contributions towards our ponies perceived aspirations for the new season – no surprise there then. Personally, I think if we have a better season than last year eg more than 2 winners then we won’t be doing too badly at all and good times ahead beckon.

Actually, we do need to start thinking about returning our boys to racing especially as the bad weather spell will be ending over next few weeks. I’ve got the farrier booked in to see them, on 26th Jan, for trims so their feet will look neat and tidy when they go back. Both have put on some weight, mainly in the belly area (typical Attwater trait), simply because they have done nothing other than eat, rest and play. That better pay dividends when they start racing again, I’ve had a word with both of them – MYSTIC TOUCH in his ear and after last week, ZEBRANO, over the stable door!

Regards Paul

 

Week ending 8 January 2010

Well it’s obviously not as bad down here as across the rest of the country – the only saving grace, with not much racing on nationwide, is that our two are at home, out of training, are not costing us, Caloona Racing anything. A right result.

Light snow so far this week, heavy at times but nowhere near as bad as forecast.

Right, that’s enough of the weather. Well it has finally happened; it was on the cards as was forecast in last week’s update. ZEBRANO’s teeth finally connected. Whilst doing the rugs and obviously disturbing his eating routine, despite talking to him nicely and reiterating Noel’s views of next seasons forecasted accomplishments, he decided to take a chunk out of me. I had two thick Caloona fleeces on, plus a couple of sweatshirts but the mark the bastard left on my upper arm is the size of a football and as black as the mud in our back fields. Bloody hell, did it hurt. First off I thought it’s just the surprise that he caught me unaware but then I realised no, it’s not that, it bloody well hurt. I won’t go into specific detail but we had right fallout. No, I didn’t bite him back but threw his food bucket at him that fortunately caught him sharply on the nose.

For the time being he seems to also remembered his unpleasant experience as a result of him taking a chunk out of me because he stood like a saint the following morning whilst having his rugs put on – long may it last.

I have received some more input from another source this week who wishes to remain anonymous, regarding his views of Zebrano’s anticipated performance for the new season ahead. It read ‘I think Zeb might win a good handicap, as long as it’s over a mile!! Happy New Year Noel (and everyone else) Regards Kevin Watson’ (oop’s sorry KW).

MYSTIC TOUCH is well, had a slight touch of mud fever last week but with short spell of dry weather, washing off in warm water each evening with hibiscrub and application of sudocream (at night) and smothering his feet in Vaseline each day before he goes out to grass, it’s all cleared up. Who’d have horses?

I traditionally received many racing books for Christmas, this year regarding the lives and experiences of Paul Nicholls, Keiron Fallon, Dave Nevison and Clement Freud. The last was a surprise but there is an excellent chapter in which he states although he has been writing articles as a journalist for many years, he never really had a front page headline story. He goes on to say that even his local village journalist achieved front page headlines of the local village rag, who wrote about a bloke who escaped from the local nut house, assaulted two local women in the launderette and was still on the run at the time of going to print. Needless to say, the headlines read ‘Nutter screws washers and bolts!’

Regards Paul

 

 

 

Week ending 1 January 2010

Rain, rain and more bloody rain! The fields are soaked, bogged down in mud – I’m moving the nags around different parts of grass so much I think they are getting dizzy. Wellington boots always the order of the day with a sowester, gloves and cap affixed accordingly. The only trouble is, you can keep the rain out but carrying 3 bucket loads of grub to the new field, walking through shin deep mud that is trying to pull your boots off every stride, means you end up so damn hot and sweaty that you are just as wet on the inside! What a lovely life!

The nags look fine, woolly coats; they come bouncing down each morning as they know grubs up. They all seem to get on well and have sorted out their pecking order. Whisper and her foal are top of the tree, then Timberlake and her foal then Bex’s palomino and foal.

The two racers are piling on the pounds and eating us out of house and home. Thriving on stud nuts, plus carrots and apples thrown in (literally) and on best haylage morning and evening – fortunately their field is not so wet as there are only two of them out there and they don’t stand by the gate. They must be keeping reasonably fit as they wind the greyhounds up each day by buzzing up and down the adjacent fence when the dogs are off loose.

MYSTIC TOUCH has certainly quietened down since he was last with us, he was then a bit of a boy but I suppose as he’s now minus two nuts his attitude towards life has changed, understandably I suppose. Alternatively, losing his two marbles appears not to have dampened down ZEBRANO’s enthusiasm for trying to take a chunk out of me each day. Normally when he’s eating, as I try to change his rugs then, ears back, white eyed, I’m standing there literally waiting for fire to come down each nostril!. We have a daily fallout – him usually coming out on top, ending up with me wearing his rug but we get there in the end. I tell him each day about Noel’s plans for the new season, if you recall the winning of a big sprint handicap and he must be happy with the idea as it doesn’t appear to put him off his food.

Now something I must share with you following my last update (the annual summary), again where I mentioned Noels vision for the new season. I had a reply from someone that would wish to remain anonymous (Paul Russell, oops sorry Paul, a slip of the mouse!) who obviously disagrees with Noels window into the future. It read : I think I will have some of what Noel's been taking and then I can tell every one that Mystic will win either the 2011 Supreme Novices or the 2012 Sun Alliance at Cheltenham, he has as much chance as Zeb winning one of the big sprint handicaps.

So there you go – another interesting debate on the way. You are a brave man Mr Russell taking on our wylie old fox (sorry about the old Noel!) Noel ‘boy’ Johnson.

Have a wonderful New Year’s celebration.

Regards Paul

 

December 2009 – Annual Review

Ok you racing freaks – the season started for us in early January with MYSTIC TOUCH having a run in January, finishing seventh. Actually, I’ve just checked to find that this year, between them, MYSTIC TOUCH and ZEBRANO have had 19 races – and as you know, we’ve had two wins, a second, two thirds, one fourth and the rest unplaced.

Highlights of the season must undoubtedly be our two winners. First, ZEBRANO at a wet Chepstow, sent off at second favourite but he had it in the bag a furlong out, at which point I recall Kevin Watson and Becky starting to do the ‘pogo’ and screaming frantically – later, with two hundred yards to go, my high pitched screams of delight joined them – as the nag crossed the line we were dancing round like a bunch of nutters – having won a class 5 race! God help us if Noel’s prediction comes up trumps next year that ZEBRANO will bag one of the seasons big sprint handicaps!

We did have a good pointer from the race before this when he finished an encouraging second at Brighton following Alan Munro’s complete disregard of the paddock instructions!

And then the unthinkable happened – all talk of the sales and knackers yard were completely dispelled when MYSTIC TOUCH proved a sound bet at 10/1 when winning comfortably, very very comfortably at Wolverhampton, coming from last to first place within the last furlong and a half. Aptly named, Mystic TOUCH, I understand we all had a very nice touch indeed. However, I have since given some of my winnings back to that blaggard that stands at Lingfield, Barry Dennis. It’s only a loan Dennis!

As you know, we’ve got the two racers at home at the moment, they are both in each night, wrapped up warm, both piling on the weight and eating (and pooing!) for England. When I rug them up each evening I often tell them how good they both are and how that big sprint race beckons next year that will pay for all our holidays for ever more!

If only they could talk – just for an hour – I expect they would both think I was dropped on my head as a baby as I come out with a load of crap most of the time. I think ZEBRANO even started laughing this week when I was relaying how easy Noel said he will win a big sprint handicap next year, going away! MYSTIC TOUCH almost choked on one of his stud nuts when I relayed to him that he had actually won at Wolverhampton, I think he thought they had to do another circuit and that’s why he didn’t temporarily mind sticking his head in front!

I expect they will be home for a while, not returning to their respective trainer’s until mid February at the earliest. They have already become so damn attached to each other that I may have to arrange that they both actually go back into training on the same day.

I was hoping to have shoes put on them both before they go away, as I’ve not ridden Zebrano, but the way the Christmas pudding is already going on I think he may well get away without the Hordle Fatboy getting on board. I suppose I could always go up to Emma’s sometime later in the year to ride out but I’ve noticed all the horses seem to hide in their boxes when I walk in the yard!

Before I forget, I’ll arrange a stables visit with Emma the Saturday morning before Cheltenham week in order that you can get your Cheltenham tips straight from the horses mouth so to speak (Emma and Barry).

Ok, during the season we enjoyed a BBQ, I was going to write a summer BBQ but recall we all had to rush inside at one point to avoid the rain. The highlight of my day was Noel sharing his culinary skills with me and supervising, he watched the sausages burn, cheers Noel! Maybe next year I’ll invite Nigella along for a sausage?

I am pleased to report that we’ve syndicated the two foals (sorry, Derby and 2000 Guineas winners 2012). We have a team of five players, each having a 20% share in both of the foals. Dave BK (who also invested in a boat this year – you may have been better off getting a bigger boat BK?), Noel (chef, extraordinaire), Stoney (the major beneficiary of the Mystic Touch coup), Big John (who seems to have a leg in the majority of horses in training!) and moi!

They both look very well, big woolly bears and are out all the time, all weather, we are hard down here! Still with their Mum’s and still feeding from them, funny enough I thought they may have stopped doing by now but both look extremely well on it? They enjoy the comfort of a massive field shelter – big enough for an aeroplane hence, why I’m at odds with the Enforcement Officer from the New Forest National Park!

Our local vet, farrier and my Dad, still show a preference towards the smaller one but I think their hearts rule their heads. The vet says that the smaller one has a rib cage, matching heart and lungs to die for – I’ve told him that he’s more like a rack of lamb on legs – I just hope he can run faster than a damn sheep ( I still can’t catch him in my wellies which is a good sign, in more ways than one!) I would say however, in his defence, when he walks he has such a damn big stride that his back foot travels far in excess of where his front foot was and when he buzzes around the field, when there is food on offer, he certainly covers a lot of ground! That’s a good sign but time will tell.

Now the bigger of the two foals – I can talk about him all day. What a specimen. I think he could carry me now he’s so damn big. He has one hell of a kick on him. Approaching from behind (not a wise thing to do) – in the dark, with a torch strapped to my head – he kicked out with both barrels and connected with two buckets of grub I was holding (one in each hand). To my amazement, and absolute luck, I was left standing literally with the two handles of the buckets only – the buckets had disintegrated and the stud nuts were in two neat piles on the ground besides me. Thank God it was ‘stud’ nuts on the ground and nothing from my person else my voice would have been even higher!

In summary, another great year racing – enjoying the highs and lows and most of all the fun and camaraderie of the group – many many thanks for all your support, I know we are losing a couple of members this year so please keep on the look out for any new takers that may wish to come along for the craic.

Kind regards, have a wonderful Christmas and above all, a PROSPEROUS New Year.

Regards, Paul