A quiet time racing-wise with nothing for us until Musselburgh and Sedgefield next week. After so much going on, it’s been good to spend time on the yard, working the horses and planning what we’re doing to do next with them over the coming months.
We have had a good run over the last month so there’s plenty to be excited about with some talented youngsters and other old yard favourites all running well.
At Newcastle last weekend we went mob-handed and the highlights were the super run from Doktor Glaz on his long-awaited comeback and Okavango Delta in the bumper.
Doktor had been off the track for 950 days but showed he still has plenty of the old ability by chasing the winner Valadom all the way to the line, finishing second by just over five lengths. He’s a real yard favourite and we’ve all waited a long time to get him back racing again, so it was good to see he still has the same amount of enthusiasm for the game.
With the cobwebs blown away now, we’ll have a look for another race - he’s been kept on the same mark so hopefully a bit of improvement from the run will see him competitive again.
Okavango delighted us with his attitude and the mentality he showed, even despite being kicked at the start! This was a great starting point for him and he'll build on the experience.
Last One To Show was in the same race but unfortunately left us coming away scratching our heads because he’s so much better at home than we’ve seen at the track. We need to work out how to get him to transfer his morning form at Hazelrigg to the course.
Geordielandgangsta also frustrated us because he allowed himself to be beaten far too easily for my liking so he’ll get some headgear next time out to sharpen him up because he’s got more ability that he showed too.
The ground, as predicted, wasn’t soft enough for Final Fling or Espoir Moriviere in their races, while in Shanbally Rose’s one they went quite slow before it turned into a sprint and that didn’t suit.
All three of them will go on to better things as the season progresses and conditions turn in their favour.