A cold day for sure, thankfully no wind. No problem with our all weather gallop and the horses were all worked as normal. I then went to watch Tilly in her school carol service, Tilly was the only one chosen from her class to join a select few of older children to sing a few carols on their own. She did extremely well and I am a very proud father. Tilly obviously takes after her mother and can hold a tune, something I am not too accomplished at!
I was rather annoyed to read one p2p journalist has decided that Knockdhu won't be racing again, I wrote in my blog that he won't race again for me, not that his racing days were finished. He won't be the first horse to recover form such a injury and go on to race again. He won't race for me as any horse I have a financial interest in is sales bound, trying to sell him with a pre-existing injury would not be easy. For me the risk to reward isn't a viable option. It is a huge sadness and once we have accessed his injury we may then look to re-home him with someone that wants to take him on in the hope that he will race again, that is what he is breed for.
Isn't it sad after so many fantastic days together that Kauto Star leaving Ditcheat has caused bitterness between the owner and trainer. Clearly, from what Paul Nicholls said in the press he was pretty put out. As Paul mentioned, the horse is owned by Clive Smith and he calls the shots, yet he obviously thinks differently! Of course it is sad for them all at Ditcheat, I can empathise with them about much lesser horses than Kauto Star that haven't been with me for anything like the time Kauto has been with them. Surely they should support and help with the owners choice. As for his staff tweeting their opinions I thought that was a step too far. I am sure Laura Collett will look after him and do what is best for the horse, if Paul hasn't burnt his bridges he may find his wish comes true and that the horse ends up back at Ditcheat.
