7 May 2003
The late Ron Smyth called jockeys "the necessary evil".
Thierry Thulliez certainly did nothing to dispel this impression
with his disastrous effort on SIX PERFECTIONS in the 1000 Guineas.
Very disappointing for all concerned, not least my friend and client
Peter Savill who owns the filly's sire CELTIC SWING. I have no doubt
that the best filly did not win, and to be denied a classic winner
by professional incompetence is very galling.
Congratulations nevertheless to Sir Michael Stoute and Chris Richardson
on their success with a very good filly, RUSSIAN RHYTHM. I seem
to remember another classic, the 1986 Derby fell to Sir Michael
'due to jockey error'!
Talking of Peter Savill, I attended the presentation at the Institute
of Directors of the B.H.B's Racing Review. As a blueprint for the
future I thought it was imaginative and intelligent, and it was
disappointing to read ill-informed criticism from the stable lads
union, and the Owners Association, for God's sake! I have cancelled
my membership - we are not singing from the same songsheet. The
owners will be one of the principal beneficiaries of the plan. I
have seen at first hand how much time and trouble Savill has taken
over chairing this magnus opus, and I cannot think of anyone else
who could have produced such a a far-reaching and comprehensively
researched document in such a short gestation period.
I bought a lovely colt by INTIKHAB at Tattersalls Two Year Old
sale for new owners Bob and Pauline Scott. I had considerable difficulty
seeing off Jamie Osborne and my former assistant Amanda Skiffington
- I can only surmise that Jamie's stopwatch agreed with mine! I
clocked the colt fastest of the day, and he did it on the bridle
ridden by Steve Drowne.
The Scotts had not chosen a trainer, so I arranged a beauty parade
of three trainers I respect, and they chose Amanda Perrett after
visiting the premises of all three. One of the also rans did not
help his cause by being uncomplimentary about the pedigree and the
price of their new horse - not a great encouragement to me to send
other owners his way!
A nice THEATRICAL colt for James Bethell for 21,000 guineas (stud
fee $75,000!) and a DESERT KING colt (now a gelding) for Jonjo O'Neil
for 25,000 guineas completed my business at Newmarket. The INTIKHAB
colt cost 70,000 guineas.
Earlier in the month I was at Doncaster when a call from Dominic
Burke enquired if I had seen "the PIVOTAL filly". I certainly
had, and she was soon on her way to Coombelands for 32,000 gns.
New owner Dominic was on his mobile outside a restaurant in London
as I bid - the filly's dam was BOUGHTBYPHONE! Lucinda Harwood rides
her regularly at home and loves her. Let's hope Lucinda is a good
judge.
April brought success to my clients Nick and Jane Forman-Hardy
and their Car Colston Hall Stud, which I designed and set up for
them. A Group III victory for SOLDIER HOLLOW in Germany, Listed
success for ON REFLECTION in France, and a debut win for MISS IVANHOE
at Nottingham improved the records of three of their mares very
pleasingly.
And the quest for a new stud groom for Lawn Stud owners Julian
and Sarah Richmond Watson was rewarded with the outstanding applicant
Mike Hild accepting the move from Barton Stud to take over after
Denis Bignell had served forty years in the job. I hope Mike lasts
as long!
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