The Breeze-Up sales are a great place to buy a ready-made racehorse as the horses sold at these auctions are unraced but perform a public gallop the day before they are sold so you can assess their ability and attitude. Buying from this source usually provides a quicker return on your spending as the horses, in general, are only a month or so from their first race, all being well.
I bought a pair of colts from Ascot's Breeze-Up last month and they will be running in two weeks' time, just showing you how quickly they can strut their stuff on the racecourse.
I am absolutely delighted with the two I bought this week at Newmarket's Guineas Breeze-Up sale and they look quality individuals who will shine not just this year but will improve next year too.
The first one up for syndication is a strapping son of the top-class two-year old Requinto who stands at Coolmore Stud in Ireland and has his first crop of runners this year.
He is a half-brother to a promising horse with Richard Hannon and he particularly impressed me with his attitude when breezing - you can see it here:
http://www.tattersalls.com/av/bup22016/96.mp4His pedigree is a great mix of speed and stamina with Group 1 winning juvenile Primo Valentino and Oaks winner Connaught Bridge in his immediate family.
10% shares are available for £1550 each plus £200 per month all-inclusive training fees. Email me on juliafeilden@aol.com for more details or to arrange a visit.
If you would prefer more of a feminine touch, I also bought a beautiful filly who is built like a tank and looks all quality.
She is by a reliable source of winners in Tagula who has sired a number of brilliant racehorses down the years, including Canford Cliffs, Limato and Tax Free. Her older sister was also by the same sire and she has already won a race so the signs on paper are very promising.
The only person who really knows how good a Breeze-Up horse is is the lad who rides them on the day and the jockey who rode this filly said she was the best that he rode - out of 11! (And he told me this after I had bought her!) You can see for yourself, she is a little green early on but knuckles down well at the finish:
http://www.tattersalls.com/av/bup22016/194.mp4She is available in 10% shares at a price of £1050 each plus £200 per month all-inclusive training fees. Email me on juliafeilden@aol.com for more details.
We had a busy week with lots of runners and although we couldn't get another winner, there were plenty of good runs with Artbeat going closest after a narrow second place at Thirsk. It was promising to see our first two-year old runner of the year, Secret Ballerina, run so well at Chelmsford on Thursday as this gives us a line of form for the rest of our babies. She certainly looks capable of winning a race very soon and I think most of the others will too. It's exciting to have such a great bunch of two-year olds.
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| Secret Ballerina at Chelmsford |
Whilst Ballerina may be in action again next week, I hope to have two of my colts making their debut at Newmarket next week. They will be running in the same race, which is not ideal, but it will be a good introduction to racing for them and I think they could run big races.
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| Valley Lodge (Nick) & Veeraya (Mark) |
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| Elzaam colt (Adam) |
The horsebox had a quiet weekend but it'll be back on the road on Tuesday as we head up north to Catterick with Duke Of Diamonds. He ran really well on his seasonal comeback and I think the soft ground will suit him too. He is still a big baby but hopefully he can take another step in the right direction.
The following day Little Orchid goes to Chelmsford. She is in a maiden race which will be hard to win but I think the step up in trip is ideal and she could land a place before tackling handicaps next time.
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| Kemsing (Ross), Duke Of Diamonds (Adam) & Little Orchid (Mark) |
Then on Friday, Kemsing is entered at Nottingham. He had a great winter with four wins at Southwell but now has a lot to prove back on turf off his high handicap rating. I think soft ground will be best for him and the rest we will know more about after the run.
Artbeat is entered there too but she really does need soft ground so we will wait to see what the weather does.
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| Handheld (Caitlin) & The Ducking Stool (Sarah) |
Both Bavarica and Emma's Gift are now back at ours with their foals and it makes my day seeing them out in the field from my kitchen window. All are doing fine and seem to be enjoying their new surroundings!
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| Emma's Gift with her Sir Percy foal |
THREE TO FOLLOW TOP 10
| Annette Hall | 30 |
| David Haddrell | 24 |
| Phil Gunning | 23 |
| Sophie Feilden | 23 |
| Eileen Turner | 23 |
| Matt Bisogno | 23 |
| Maureen Case | 23 |
| Anthea Telford | 23 |
| Barbara Walton | 23 |
| Chris Shirran | 23 |
| Gay Chalklin | 23 |
