HOLIDAY MODE

With all of the big races having been run and dusted, all except the Perth Cup that is, we have tended to slip into holiday mode a bit over the past week or so. That is not to suggest that the horses are being cared for any less, just that with not many starters of late we are able to get done a few things which we are to busy to do for the rest of the time.

We have all survived Christmas and the scorching few days which followed and apart from watching the first test from the MCG, things have been a bit quiet. We do have two runners in the second race at Ascot tomorrow with ESTIARTE and FAIREST AND BEST both starting over 1000m. Both horses have had slightly interrupted preparations with either niggling problems or lack of ideal races available however I am looking forward to seeing how they perform tomorrow. Neither are probably genuine 1000m horses however the way they race suggests that the distance may suit them this weekend.

We are taking a few horses to the trials on Monday and we are not far off getting a few of the young guns back up and firing. While we have been a bit quiet of late, things will really liven up around here from February onwards. The Autumn is a period I really love with young horses having a few months extra maturity on their side to help them cope better with the pressure of racing. The three year old classics including the Derby and the Oaks are races we tend to target but none more than the big two year old race the Karakkatta Plate.

While we will certainly be looking at those races this coming year, I feel we have some lightly raced young horses who are also likely to pick up a few races over the next six months. Meanwhile it is nose back to the grindstone and making sure that everything we hope to have happen over the next few months, we help to make happen with careful planning and programing.

All the best to everyone for the festive season and I hope you all have a happy and prosperous new year.

Good luck and happy punting.