Quartet Kicker. Joey Ramsden trained two of the top four in the Gr1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint.
This is going to be an extremely busy and hectic week. It is lovely to have my father, Jack, and Lynda Ramsden here from the UK. Both are big in personality and fun to be around. I just hope I get to see more of them than I usually do. I have so many commitments at this time of year that I don’t have a moment to myself.
It was fun taking the girls over to the Vineyard Hotel to see the grandparents and have a swim on Sunday. I’m not sure the other guests enjoyed a 4 and 7 year old who are more than competent swimmers bobbing up and down in their serene pool like a pair of seals. The only thing missing was a beach ball on their noses. And as for the noise; well, barking seals are quieter than those two when they are having fun. It is great to watch.
We managed to crack 4 winners on Saturday which was really satisfying. It was great to win again for Martin Wickens and Gisela Burg, and Mary Slack, particularly with Tiger Ridge having passed away the day before. Tiger Ridge had the most amazing stats and I am sure they will continue to improve even though he is no longer around. It is another huge loss to the breeding industry in South Africa and most certainly in the Western Cape. My heart goes out to all.
It was fantastic to win a nice race and get some black type with Silver Holly for Markus and Ingrid Jooste and their racing manager, Derek Brugman. It was even nicer that the filly is called Silver Holly as our daughter is called Holly. Sometimes she is silver, sometimes she is gold and sometimes she is indescribable. But lately she has been like gold so maybe she will have to have a name change.
I did love the filly at the sales. She is by my favourite stallion in Silvano and I am really pleased we got black type with her as she has a lovely pedigree and a great nature. It was good to see them go a quick pace in a race like that which certainly helped our cause. I think it also helped the 2nd horse which, with a big weight, was probably unlucky in following the wrong horse through and the dice rolled our way.
Endearment has taken her time winning but is another one I can describe as being a little bit unfortunate. She has certainly grown a lot and provided the handicapper is reasonable with her, there is no reason she will not win again soon. I was happy with all our runners, the only disappointment being Diamond Dynasty.
I have been warned not to be controversial by my lifestyle manager so I will try not to be. However, not all is honey and roses in life. Today is also Met day declarations. I find the Juvenile race most interesting. It is no fault of Phumelela or the NRB but I think we have had three or possibly four Juvenile races cancelled due to lack of interest/small field sizes with trainers choosing not to run.
I find it astonishing as, if we were in the Northern Hemisphere, we would now almost be in the equivalent of August and I can promise you, over there one would be looking where one could get a run due to the fields being oversized, not looking to see where one could get a run due to races being cancelled as there are not sufficient entries. While it would be terribly difficult on the guys who have had juvenile winners and those who were lucky enough to get a run when they have run these races, I am not far off thinking that the race should be done away with altogether. How can one have a race if you can’t get any training in? Particularly a Listed race.
It is a bit like someone pitching up for the 100m sprint final at the Olympics when he has never run publicly before. He might well be fast; he might well have the ability but a) he would not get a run and b) who knows how good he really is? I am sure it will still be an ultra-competitive affair and a good horse will come out of it. I only wish I was able to be part of it.
I am off to the sales and I am lucky enough to have Craig Carey with me which makes it all the more enjoyable. Sales are terribly tough on one mentally and physically so it is great to have someone to chat with and have some fun along the way. What is great about the CTS sale is that it is undercover, air-conditioned and is flat. There is no walking through long grass in the heat which can be extremely tiresome. I cannot wait to get to the sales and to view the yearlings. I see Dr McVeigh has just come in which either means good or bad news. Here’s hoping! Till next week.
