Royal Ascot Update…

Wow what a week Royal Ascot was, I think we have all just about recovered now! The horses all ran exceptionally well and although there weren’t any winners at the meeting this year we were extremely pleased how the week went.

 

On Tuesday we had Chillingham who set the week off to a very high standard and ran a huge race in very strong company to come 4th. He didn’t have the most ideal textbook race throughout, from missing the break to racing on the outside line around the bends the whole way, but to run the race he did and to finish 4th was and is a huge achievement for him and for all of his connections. To be able to walk back into the paddock to stand by the 4th post was a surreal moment and gave us all a taste of wanting to go up three spaces on another occasion at the meeting! We couldn’t have asked any more of him as he behaved impeccably throughout, with the huge atmosphere you never know how the horse as an individual is going to react, he was such a professional and dealt with it as if had been there before. A huge thank you and well done to his owners who have been very patient with Chillingham from the very start of his career and this season with only having one run and saving him for Royal Ascot. We all very much look forward to the rest of the season with him.

 

On Wednesday we had Point Lynas running in the Royal Hunt Cup under Tom Marquand, a race where anything can happen. Point Lynas ran a very good race throughout but unfortunately, in his race, he made the running from the front and the speed they were travelling at, it just wasn’t sustainable for the distance. He finished his race well and finished in mid-division which we were all pleased with considering how the raced played out. He has had a busy enough season so far so he will have a quiet time now before picking up for the rest of the season. He really is such a character and loves his job, we are all very much looking forward to seeing this quirky one of a kind horse back out on the racetrack in the near future.

Thursday saw Oviedo run a huge race, we were all cheering him on as he came into the home straight, we thought this was it, that he was going to go and win. He tried so hard and ran a huge race throughout, he also made the running in his race like Point Lynas did in his race. From the draw Oviedo had, 16 of 16 (the widest draw on the track) into a bend Callum who was riding him had to go with how Oviedo jumped out of the stalls, which was extremely well which put him towards the very front of the field. They went a strong gallop throughout, unfortunately Oviedo couldn’t sustain this very strong pace in front and the winner came from behind after Oviedo had done all of the hard work! He really did wear his  heart on his sleeve and ran a huge race, although he didn’t win all of his connections were very pleased and are all extremely excited where he could go next!

On Saturday we had James McHenry running in the Golden Gates race, he behaved impeccably well at the racecourse and throughout the whole day, he can get a little bit on his toes but he handled the atmosphere extremely well, he ran a very good race but was held up a bit in the field and couldn’t find his spot to make his move. Unfortuenlty, this race was one of those things and we save him for another day.

A huge well done to Callum Rodriuez who rode all of the horses this week, apart from on Wednesday and he certainly clocked up the mile in his car travelling back and forth due to other race meeting commitments in the north of England. It is a huge effort to ride the horses so well on one of the biggest stages in the world.

We want to say a huge huge thank you to our team at home and our staff who travelled with the horses and looked after them so impeccably. Not only are we so thankful to our team who travelled, looked after, led up, washed down and travelled the horses so professionally throughout but also to our team at home who kept the show on the road from making sure the Royal Ascot runners had their final canter and were prepared for their races, to our yard staff who made sure the yard ran as smoothly each and every single day to the next. A huge thank you goes to Keith, Ed’s Assistant who worked long hours, making sure everything was running like clockwork so Ed could focus on his runners at Ascot. Communication is key in this sport like any other, and working within a big team this really showed how well oiled a machine the team is. Thank you again!

There are so many thank you’s, a huge thank you also goes to our owners and all of their connections for making days and weeks like this possible. Without them we wouldn’t have our sport and we are so thankful for the support they gave to all of us!

Now time for a cup of tea before the rest of the season!