Yesterday was a great day, Billy Biscuit and Full Shift won the maiden races at Milborne St Andrew. Both horses jumped well and Sam gave them smashing rides. There is improvement in both of them, they won in spite of the ground and neither was completely wound up. The snow held us up for a good 12 days. Although, we were able to keep them on the move we were unable to do anything more than a hack canter, no matter what we all like to believe they lose that vital edge in fitness terms. Richard Barber's horse fell 3 out in Billy Biscuits race, we'll never know if the result would have been different had he stood up, the way our lad galloped to the line I doubt it. His horse had a tongue tie on and I wonder if he had just started to feel the pressure when falling. Full Shift served it up in the fashion I expected. Both horses have returned in good order and will now take it quietly for a day or 2. Their next entries could easily be sales entries! It is a great team effort, I can't do any of this on my own and I'm lucky to have some great and hard working staff. Going to Dorset and winning 2 maidens in Richard Barber country was very pleasing.
Trouble Digger has been entered for the Novice Riders Intermediate race at Larkhill on Saturday, 14 entries, Louis Muspratt has been booked to ride and comes highly recommended. He will be up to school him later in the week if we feel that we may go. We'll be watching the weather and the ground will have to be safe otherwise he'll be staying at home. There seems to be a lack of opportunities for intermediate horses at this time of year and I have no idea why. The last thing I want to do is take Sam off any of our horses, he works hard for us and deserves the rides. However, with all the shuffling of meetings going on due to the weather and opportunities being few are far apart to race, we have to take them when we can.
