We rode the Robin Des Champs filly, Mafate Fortin, Antarctique gelding around the lunge pen and the Shantou and Kalanisi geldings around their stables. We seem to have tamed the Kalanisi horse and the others were all great. They were then all turned out into the paddocks. I always keep the sales horses in for a few days just to make sure that they have no vices. Last year I returned a Milan gelding for windsucking. We paid somewhere between 30,000 and 40,000 Euros for him and the vendors failed to declare that he winded sucked.
Yesterday, I had an interesting conversation with Ben Brain about scoping horses at the sales. He was in total agreement that we should be allowed to. He in fact knows of 2 horses that came out of last years sale with completely paralysed larynx's and were immediately rendered worthless. He also eluded to how tough vets were being on the larynx at horses in training sales. No matter how thorough the sales vetting are no one can hear a paralysed larynx.
Emma Spencer is the highlight of the Channel 4 racing team at Royal Ascot. Royal Ascot is by far the most enjoyable flat race meeting throughout the year and I always enjoy it.
