A win for Royal Magic!
Royal Magic defied his huge odds and makes a perfect start to his hurdling career! RM was given a perfect well judged ride from the front by Adrian Heskin and made light work of what looked a competitive field on paper. A steal from Goffs UK back in in May carefully picked out by bloodstock agent Marcus Collie and friend Tom Fillery having had just 3 starts in Irish point to points. He became the first horse to win for the newly formed Luke Harvey Racing Club which forms a group of around 20 very enthusiastic owners! He's come out of the race very well and we'll now give him a couple of quiet weeks before deciding where we'll go next.
Torhousemuir made his seasonal debut at Hereford on Wednesday finishing 3rd first time over fences. He will improve massively for the outing and should be plenty of fun this season for his owners the Honorable Scoundrels!
Golden Friday ran in the bumper at Bangor On Dee on Saturday where he was far from disgraced in a very hot race staying on in gutsy fashion in ground which was far from ideal. He'll be freshened up now before beginning his hurdling career some time into the new year.
We have plenty of entries from Friday through to the weekend which we're all really excited about, many of them having their first starts for us.
The West Berkshire Racing Club came for a yard visit last week, they all enjoyed looking round the yard and seeing some of the horses working up the gallops.
The Pour Moi yearling colt that we bought at tattersalls Ireland a few weeks ago is coming on well, he is now broken in and being ridden away. Billy as he is known as is a cheeky little chap who is lovely to have around the yard.
A little something that owner/author Chris Haslam wrote on his most recent visit to Saxon House Stables, enjoy!
It is always worth getting up early to watch racehorses...I have a share in Torhousemuir, trained by Sam, and went to see him schooling the other morning... Arriving at Saxon House stables is never less than cheering: against the white-washed walls, roses in yellow, pink and bright red hold out, still, in November; Sam's lurchers roam the green lawn in the centre of the yard- he likes to have animals around- and the early- morning banter of his team is warming in itself. There is something genuine going on here. It takes no time at all to walk up to the schooling gallops, from where the view out over the Lambourn valley is captivating, layered in autumn mist. Then comes the familiar sound of hooves, and the horses emerge at a canter. Quiet instructions are given, and 4 thoroughbreds advance on the hurdles. It being a schooling day,not everything goes to plan: 2 horses are, at first, mischievous- I am reminded of my school mastering days-; then they lose fear, improve concentration, and clear the obstacles... Further up the hill are the practice steeplechase fences. Jack Sherwood on Samdibien and Head Lad, Joe Knox, on Torhousemuir,( or Frank, as he is known in the stable) give the fences daylight, with some panache, a fact not unnoticed by Oliver Sherwood, up there with 5 of his string. 2 men blessed with patience tread down the divots for the horses' return...again the novices fly the obstacles in their path...Little is said, but much is taken in for discussion en route back to the stables, where the regular and re-assuring clip- clop of 3 equines on the horse-walk welcomes you, along with a couple of hens and 2 off- white silky Perkins, surprisingly pristine, except for their feet. ( Sam locks them up in the stable at night for safe keeping...) ...and this yard is certainly in safe keeping. The staff are never less than courteous: Quentin welded to his wheelbarrows with their mountains of hay; Emma ready with a smile or quip; newcomers introducing themselves,like Will Featherstone, and the farrier, who comes daily, with essential dog, pausing to say G'day. After the horses have been hosed down, and perhaps rewarded with the odd tit-bit, Sam always has time for a word on his charges, his plans for them, a frank assessment of their progress, and he is unfailingly positive There is a sense of budding excitement at Saxon House, a sense that things are starting to happen, that the adventure is taking off... ...but there is still room for more owners, ideally some with capital to spend. Why not venture down to Saxon House? It will be worth your while, it will be a pleasure in itself, and it could just be the start of something magical...