Ballingary, Knight Of Noir, Frankenstorm, Shantou gelding, Kayf Tara Filly, Robin Des Champs, Virtuoso Rouge all went to the grass, I had planned to back off a few of these but they are so well we thought we'd keep at them and see where we are mid December. If they continue to take the work we may a run a few in January. I have no problems with Milborne St Andrew and have ridden there myself. It is a fine track but often soft ground. Richard Barber tends to farm it, but we may go and try and beat him on his home soil. Thrope Lodge, I am told is also a good track, I haven't been there. Larkhill have failed to frame a single race for 4 year olds, as the premier track in the UK I think it is a great shame.
Shantou is a half brother to Back In Focus who won again in Ireland over the weekend - a huge update for him!
Everdon Brook won agian today at Fakenham, he is a horse I had here to help with his jumping, he certainly jumped well today. I struggle with the Yogi Brisener school of thought and what I have seen of his techniques, think that they interfere with the horse too much. In my opinion, teaching a racehorse to jump is very different than teaching an eventer. Captain Radcliffe would have gone ballistic had he seen hands being rasied off their withers, let alone held 6 inches above them going into the wings of a fence. I can vouch first hand that he was a master shot with the long-tom and the jockey would have felt it!
