MONTHLY NEWS UPDATE

JUNE 2008

The last two months have flown by, and we are fast approaching the halfway point of the 2008 season, but the horses remain in excellent form and we find ourselves just two winners short of last year’s total.

Holbeck Ghyll and Hatton Flight have registered three wins apiece this season, with the former recording the biggest win of his career when successful in the prestigious ‘Dash’ at Epsom on Derby Day, while the latter looks to still be improving judging from his latest success at Thirsk.

Whiskey Junction has been earning rave reviews in the last two months, during which he has registered four wins in a row. His will to win is sure to stand him in good stead as he steps up in class to take on some of the best sprint handicappers over the coming months. Western Roots has been another to make a big impression, and his three wins have helped to raise the profile of stable apprentice David Probert, who has partnered him to all of his victories, as he has Isphahan, who won twice this month and looks likely to progress further.

Blue Sky Basin and Rambling Light have both won in fair company recently and look sure to return to the winners’ enclosure this season, while My Learned Friend and Oceana Blue are both on two wins this season and have more races in them.

Little Pete and Brave Bugsy are new additions to the stable this year, but both wasted little time in getting their head in front where it matters, and they look to be thriving in their new home. Ollie George and Border Music are long-term residents here, and it was particularly pleasing to see both running so well of late, with the former following up a string of good efforts with a win at Goodwood, while the latter went close to recording his second win at the course when a close 4^th in the Buckingham Palace Handicap at Royal Ascot.

Royal Ascot week was slightly frustrating, as though all the horses ran with great credit, we were unable to register a win. The three year olds Dream Eater and Top Lock both placed in Group company, while the Peter and Jennifer McMahon-owned pair Buccellati and Jedediah both ran very well in defeat in two of the big handicaps. Last year’s Wokingham winner Dark Missile, All-Weather winners Amanjena and Pinch of Salt, Donegal and Oceana Gold (who was slightly unlucky not to win on his seasonal reappearance) were others to perform well during the week.

Although we’ll have to wait until next year to try for another Royal Ascot winner, there have been plenty of positives to come from some of the lightly-raced three year olds of late. Kalahari Gold, My Aunt Fanny and Transfer have all won impressively in maiden company and are exciting propositions for the season ahead, while Victoria Montoya is another with a progressive profile, and her win at Goodwood last time contributed to the Kingsclere Racing Club’s tally of seven winners in its inaugural season.

Foundation Room and Motor Home have already registered impressive victories, but there has been plenty to like about the way all the two year olds have been progressing at home, and they look certain to contribute greatly to our tally of winners between now and the end of the turf season in November.

APRIL 2008

The start to the 2008 flat season has been a very successful one so far. Our winners total is already into double figures and it has been especially pleasing to see so many of our lightly-raced horses showing so much promise.

Ada River, Restless Genius and Top Lock all won their maidens in very good style. Ada River and Restless Genius have improved over the winter and look set for a productive season, whilst Top Lock finished a fine fourth in the Derby trial at Sandown Park last weekend on just his second start and is now being aimed at the German Derby.

We have also had several winners in handicap company, including Amanjena, who recorded a bloodless victory at Kempton Park. The manner of her victory there suggests the handicapper has been no more than prudent in his decision to raise her 18lbs in the handicap and we are looking forward to running her again soon.

Holbeck Ghyll seems to have turned over a new leaf this year. He was called plenty of names (not all of them complimentary!) during a winless 2007, but 2008 has seen him record two successive victories on the All-Weather at Kempton Park, and though he is now on a career-high mark, he is also in the form of his life and it would be no surprise to see his winning streak continue.

Hatton Flight has now won two of his last three and remains on an upward curve, whilst Oceana Blue, Relative Strength and Western Roots are others to have recorded handicap wins in the past month and all three look sure to enjoy further success as the season continues.

Unfortunately, Wigram’s Turn and Pinch of Salt seem to have missed out on the good fortune enjoyed by the yard at present, with the former finishing second twice in succession (on both occasions coming up against very well-handicapped horses) and the latter suffering a troubled passage in the Rosebery before having victory snatched away from him close to the winning line on his next start. Both deserve a change of luck in the very near future.

Dark Missile is another to have come agonisingly close to victory, having led 50 yards from home in the Listed Abernante Stakes at Newmarket before narrowly losing out in a three-way photo. She again ran with great credit in Listed company on a very wet day at Bath, just finding the 5-furlong trip too sharp. She remains on course for a return to her beloved Ascot, where the Golden Jubilee is the target.

Two members of the older brigade have run with great encouragement on their return to action, with Vanderlin running third at Nottingham and Ollie George battling on to fill that same position at his old stomping ground of Bath. Both are much-loved here at Kingsclere and we are all looking forward to their return to the winners’ enclosure.

Albinus ran with great credit on all three starts this year over hurdles but he will now return to the flat at Salisbury before embarking on his eagerly-awaited chase career in the coming months.

It will not be long before we have our first two year old runner of the season and as they look such a nice bunch this year, we are very hopeful that they can follow in the hoof prints of their older stable mates by getting off to a flying start!

MARCH 2008

THE JUMPERS

It has been a quiet season for Kingsclere’s small but select National Hunt contingent. Briareus, who had looked so promising last year when winning a Grade 2 Novice Chase at Ascot, has been sidelined with an aggravation of a suspensory injury. Whilst this was a blow to all of us, he still has time on his side and it is hoped that he will be back in training in the autumn.

Albinus made a winning start to the campaign at Doncaster in January and in so doing gave the Kingsclere Racing Club its first ever winner from its first runner! He gave the impression that day that there could be more victories to come in the future and that view has not changed in light of his excellent third in the Imperial Cup at Sandown Park.

Kervriou seems to be developing into a really fun handicap chaser. He was narrowly beaten in a Novice Chase at Ludlow, before being brought down at Plumpton in early February which was desperately bad luck as he jumped the fence perfectly but could not avoid a stricken horse that lay on the landing side of the fence. He has since run twice at Sandown Park finishing behind Noland in a novice chase before returning on Imperial Cup day to finish a good second in the handicap chase.

Alecia has made a good start to her career over hurdles, running a race full of promise at Plumpton before proving unsuited by the awful ground at Taunton. She jumps very nicely, and looks sure to win her races in due course.

THE FLAT

We have had a very quiet All-Weather season this time round, which is no bad thing, as the coming turf season looks like being one of our busiest ever!

That said, it has been a very productive year so far for Kingsclere jockeys with both Neil Chalmers and Liam Keniry already amongst the winners in 2008. Neil has enjoyed somewhat of a resurgence in the last few months, partnering nine winners since January 1st, whilst Liam Keniry is already into double figures in terms of winners this year. Both Neil and Liam deserve every success they might achieve as both are prepared to put in the hard work and long hours in the pursuit of winners and we all hope that their current run of form continues into the summer.

Franny Norton is also now back riding with some considerable success on his return from an operation to remove screws inserted to mend his broken leg last winter, whilst William Buick, who quickly became one of the best apprentices around in 2007, has spent the winter riding out for the leading American trainer Todd Pletcher in Florida and it is very unlikely that his allowance will last for long once the season starts. Young apprentice David Probert has been getting plenty of rides since riding his first winner in December and he too is looking forward to a successful year.

The 2008 Flat Season will get underway at Doncaster on the 22^nd March with the Lincoln Handicap It is some years since Fair Season beat stablemate Be Better to land a famous Kingsclere 1-2 in this, one of the oldest races in the Racing Calendar and it falls to Yeaman’s Hall to represent the stable this year. Whatever happens in this most competitive of handicaps, he has always been thought to have plenty of ability and he looks likely to have a successful season.

Border Music is almost part of the furniture here at Kingsclere, having been foaled over 7 years ago at the Kingsclere Stud. This will be his sixth consecutive season, however he seems to have lost neither his ability nor his enthusiasm for racing, and he looks sure to provide the members of the Kingsclere Racing Club, as well as his many followers, with plenty of excitement over the coming months.

Dark Missile did exceptionally well last season, winning the Wokingham at Royal Ascot and taking the step up to Group Company in her stride when failing by just a short-head to win the Group 2 Diadem Stakes at Ascot. Her record there of 2 wins and 2 seconds from four runs makes her an obvious candidate for further honours there this season.

Plenty of the older horses look capable of making big impressions on the racecourse this year, amongst them the lightly-raced pair Rambling Light and the aforementioned Yeaman’s Hall, along with the siblings Lochstar and Lochverdi, who look capable of adding further to the considerable success enjoyed by their family!

The three year olds also look an exciting bunch this season, led by Dream Eater, who last year decided that the valuable St Leger sales race would be the ideal time to shed his maiden tag! His last run of the season in the Group 1 Middle Park suggests that he will prove capable of mixing it with the best of his generation over the coming months.

Those that look likely to have a say in some of the better handicaps this season include the lightly-raced pair Relative Strength and Wigrams Turn as well as Donegal, whose smart early-season form last year took a disappointing turn but who could improve for the resulting gelding operation. Jedediah, whose owners Peter and Jennifer McMahon enjoyed some considerable success last season with the potentially Melbourne Cup-bound Buccellati, looks another type to do well this year.

The two year olds have recently started faster work, and they look a very nice bunch. Whilst it is always difficult to assess their exact individual merits at this early stage, Advertise is quite forward and should be making his debut at an early stage in the season, whilst Swindler and Inhibition are others to look out for as the season progresses.

FEBRUARY 2008

LAUNCH OF THE KINGSCLERE RACING CLUB

2008 sees the launch of the inaugural Kingsclere Racing Club, with 15 horses running under its banner this year, in the colours made famous by Derby winner Mill Reef. The concept is a novel one, as the horses are all leased, allowing members maximum involvement in every aspect of the sport with only a limited financial outlay. This is possible through the involvement of the historic Kingsclere Stud. The Stud has produced several high-class winners in recent seasons, including black-type performers Hidden Meadow, Dashing Blue and Passing Glance. Another to have regularly performed at a notable level is Border Music, already the winner of 8 races including in Listed Company and currently in training for the Kingsclere Racing Club.

This link with the stud allows us to remove the ever increasing cost and indeed risk of purchasing unproven bloodstock and with regular visits to the stud planned for this year, members will get the chance to see the future Kingsclere Racing Club horses in the form of foals and yearlings.

With space for up to 50 members in the Club, the social side of racehorse ownership is also significantly enhanced. Events will be taking place throughout the year, with morning gallops, summer barbeques, a Sportsman’s dinner and a golf day all offering Club members the opportunity to meet with other like minded racing enthusiasts. The Club already has the support of several famous sporting and television personalities, from rugby icons Matt Dawson and Ian Robertson to broadcaster Clare Balding, all looking forward to many successful days at the races for the Club this season. Albinus got the Club off to a fine start when winning easily at Doncaster in January before running a fine third in the ultra-competitive Imperial Cup at Sandown Park in March.

Andrew Balding

With the other Club horses in great form on the gallops in preparation for the flat season ahead confidence is high at Park House Stables, and with good reason, as trainer Andrew Balding, who in addition to those horses in the Club has over 100 others in his care, has in his five year career to date trained the winners of 260 races, amassing over £6 million in prize money.