Be Careful What You Wish For!
Another cautionary tale, dear reader, to begin the working week.
Having put up Finsbury as a horse to be interested in yesterday in the seller at Leicester, the horse duly obliged at a very fair 3/1 (he was clear on official ratings).
The trouble with sellers though, is that the winner gets auctioned. Obvious I know, but many trainers enter their horses hoping to boost the confidence but not wanting to lose the animal.
My experience of this was when our own Love's Design won a seller at Lingfield back in 2001. He dotted up by five lengths, and our obvious joy soon turned to anguish as Andrew Reid (the owner trainer who had a good few all weather horses at that time) decided to bid for the horse.
We ended up having to go to 7,000 guineas to get him back. "But he was your horse", you might be thinking. Well, yes, so we obviously didn't pay the money to ourselves. But, by the time we'd paid the VAT (about a grand) and the buyers' premium (another 700 notes), we'd done the prize money back!
No matter, for the Lover returned to Exning where Julia's stables were at that time, and he went on to win another six races for us in a distinguished and - for me - unforgettable career.
Julia was less fortunate with Finsbury. Coming only a couple of days after Spirit of Sharjah was 'spirited' away to Peter Chapple-Hyam's by his ambitious (and extremely disloyal) owner, Finsbury was reluctantly let go for 9,500 guineas.
His new trainer will be Milton Bradley, a man who has consistently improved the nags of others. So it will be with much interest that I track Finsbury's future progress.
Julia may find something to cheer about today though, as she looks to have found a good opportunity for another stable standing dish, Three Ships. He's won a handful of races, including three for today's regular pilot, Matt Smith.
He will enjoy the ground, and ran ok when warming up in a flat spin last month. He should be placed at least.
Elsewhere, and its Monday fare again, so there'll be no transactions from my account after last week's carnage, especially not as today is the 13th!
That said, if you want some pointers, look for high numbers over 5f and 6f at Windsor tonight.
Pixie's Blue has the best of the draw, in 16, and her form at 6f gives her a very good chance. Jimmy Fortune is a great jock for getting the best out of a horse (read beating the living daylights out of his nag), and Gosden places his horses better than most.
Aside from that, I shall be watching Peterborough beat Southampton tonight, and thinking seriously about getting stuck into the Posh to win League Two. If I decide to punt them, you can be assured I'll wait until tomorrow. Remember, this scribe has vowed to never bet on a Monday again.... at least not on horses.
Matt
Having put up Finsbury as a horse to be interested in yesterday in the seller at Leicester, the horse duly obliged at a very fair 3/1 (he was clear on official ratings).
The trouble with sellers though, is that the winner gets auctioned. Obvious I know, but many trainers enter their horses hoping to boost the confidence but not wanting to lose the animal.
My experience of this was when our own Love's Design won a seller at Lingfield back in 2001. He dotted up by five lengths, and our obvious joy soon turned to anguish as Andrew Reid (the owner trainer who had a good few all weather horses at that time) decided to bid for the horse.
We ended up having to go to 7,000 guineas to get him back. "But he was your horse", you might be thinking. Well, yes, so we obviously didn't pay the money to ourselves. But, by the time we'd paid the VAT (about a grand) and the buyers' premium (another 700 notes), we'd done the prize money back!
No matter, for the Lover returned to Exning where Julia's stables were at that time, and he went on to win another six races for us in a distinguished and - for me - unforgettable career.
Julia was less fortunate with Finsbury. Coming only a couple of days after Spirit of Sharjah was 'spirited' away to Peter Chapple-Hyam's by his ambitious (and extremely disloyal) owner, Finsbury was reluctantly let go for 9,500 guineas.
His new trainer will be Milton Bradley, a man who has consistently improved the nags of others. So it will be with much interest that I track Finsbury's future progress.
Julia may find something to cheer about today though, as she looks to have found a good opportunity for another stable standing dish, Three Ships. He's won a handful of races, including three for today's regular pilot, Matt Smith.
He will enjoy the ground, and ran ok when warming up in a flat spin last month. He should be placed at least.
Elsewhere, and its Monday fare again, so there'll be no transactions from my account after last week's carnage, especially not as today is the 13th!
That said, if you want some pointers, look for high numbers over 5f and 6f at Windsor tonight.
Pixie's Blue has the best of the draw, in 16, and her form at 6f gives her a very good chance. Jimmy Fortune is a great jock for getting the best out of a horse (read beating the living daylights out of his nag), and Gosden places his horses better than most.
Aside from that, I shall be watching Peterborough beat Southampton tonight, and thinking seriously about getting stuck into the Posh to win League Two. If I decide to punt them, you can be assured I'll wait until tomorrow. Remember, this scribe has vowed to never bet on a Monday again.... at least not on horses.
Matt
posted by Matt at
11:37
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