Yard Update

                It has been quiet for us with sending out runners as it appears that a bug came into the yard.  As many of you may have seen, Headly’s Bridge pulled up when fancied at Chepstow back on 27^th December when he ran in a Class 2 handicap chase.  I was disappointed to say the least so had him scoped at the racecourse immediately after he ran and sure enough the scope showed that he had mucopus in his lungs.  We then scoped the others back at the yard and they have all showed the same.  Thankfully it is a low grade infection but it is enough to affect them when they run so the best thing was to pop them on antibiotics and go steady with them.  We have also disinfected the yard just in case.  Headly’s Bridge has finished his course of antibiotics, so too has Kavanaghs Corner and the others are steady cantering away.  We shouldn’t loose too much fitness and I am certainly happy that we didn’t run any when they were not quite right.  Putting fast work into, or running horses that aren’t quite right causes a lot more problems, so it is a quieter time for most of them at the moment whilst keeping them ticking over.  Very frustrating for all but the horses’ welfare comes first. 

               

Below is a brief update on all the horses:

Get Back To Me:  has had his wind operation and is back trotting.  We are looking forward to him running in a handicap hurdle on better ground.  He wouldn’t appreciate the ground as it currently is so it was a good time to get his wind op done.  He too has benefitted from a break and has put on good condition after his operation.

Gustav:  has recently turned 5 yrs old and has been progressing well recently.  He will very soon have his first grid work session and hopefully he will be set to make his debut in the UK in February.  He has had a few niggles since his arrival and has also been a little backward so it has taken time to get him right.  Hopefully we are now on the right track with him.  He is a big, imposing horse by Mahler and I’m excited about getting him onto the racecourse for The Plum Merchants.

Headly’s Bridge:  has finished his course of antibiotics. I’m pleased to say he is enjoying his mini-break and I’m looking forward to getting him back on a racecourse in February if all goes according to plan.

Kavanaghs Corner:  has settled in well now and has also finished his antibiotics.  He arrived from the sales with an infection and was in quarantine whilst getting right.  He is getting stuck in to plenty of work and we may well see him in a novice hurdle in the coming weeks.  A cracking, strong and exciting horse for Norman Cahill & Bridget O’Flynn that was bought at the Cheltenham sales back in November and he will be having his first run for us.

Money Maid:  is now on the walker and has been for a few weeks.  She continues to have treatment from Roger Meacock (Natural Healing Solutions www.naturalhealingsolutions.co.uk ) for her leg as well as his supplements and I am really thrilled with her progress.  Her leg has no inflammation or heat, and to be honest it all looks completely normal now.  You would be hard pushed to tell she had a problem.  Roger is also very happy with her progress.  The plan remains the same and to turn her away in the spring and bring her back to work after a scan in July/August time.  She is in great heart (and is still looking beautiful!).

Water Rail:  is our homebred and he is also not far off his first run.  We may run him in a bumper for education but he jumps for fun and as he has just turned 6 yrs old we may crack on with him and run him in a novice hurdle.  He is a big horse so might be better suited to this route rather than NH flat races.  He is available to lease and is 2-3 weeks off running.

Zakatal:  has improved a great deal since we found out that he has been intolerant to salt and he has been put on potassium chloride.  He too has been on antibiotics but we are hoping that he will be running the first week of February.  He is in super form.

And lastly, our Sakhee foal born last summer that many may have seen on Twitter is now a yearling and has been weaned.  He is currently with some past owners of ours, Derrick & Rosie Scott who own East Lynch Stud near Minehead (www.eastlynchstud.co.uk) .  He is doing well (despite being gelded recently!) and is enjoying running and socialising with others.  His mum is back out in the park with fellow friends (rather pleased to be rid of him!).  Derrick & Rosie’s stud is in a beautiful position between the coast and Exmoor and has just the most incredible views.  It is an absolutely stunning place and they do their youngstock well.  We are hoping to visit him again soon.