3 June 2003
I decided to reconstitute my success flash advertising in The Racing
Post this year, having discontinued it several years ago. There
have been so many names appearing of agents I would not commission
to buy me an ice-cream that I thought it was time to put my name
before the public again. I was somewhat dismayed to find the price
had doubled - apparently I am being punished for dropping out and
have to start again at the top level. Luckily the winners have been
flowing regularly, so I hope to negotiate a better rate soon. And
my above unworthy comment about my competitors is probably unfair
- they must have bought a winner to be able to advertise it!
I am very concerned about the Office Of Fair Trading investigation
of racing. Their apparent wish to allow racecourses carte blanche
to race whenever they like is unworkable that it must not even be
attempted. The enemies of Savill are getting their kicks out of
this one, but have they thought for a moment of the practicalities.
Never mind the desirability. The existing teams of stipendiary stewards,
judges, starters, clerks of scales, starting stall handlers, vets,
doctors, etc.etc. can not be expected to cover umpteen meetings
at the weekend, then twiddle their thumbs all week. Forget it.
Farewell to my assistant for the last ten years, Anthea Gibson-Fleming,
who has decided to follow in the footsteps of Amanda Skiffington
(also my assistant) and go it alone. Anthea is quite capable of
doing every bit as well as Amanda. She has a very good eye. An encyclopedia
knowledge of pedigrees and form, and an enormous capacity for hard
work. I wish her every success in the future.
I welcome in her place Fiona Needham whose work for German International
and William Haggas I have admired in recent years. Fiona is a very
accomplished rider who has won many races over the jumps including
the Cheltenham Foxhunters in 2002. I hope she will keep herself
in one piece for the autumn sales!
Our first sale together was the Doncaster Spring Sale on May 19th
- 20th. I was delighted with the quality of Fiona's spotting on
my behalf, and we bought three nice horses, one for Dominic Burke
and two for Bob and Pauline Scott.
Dominic's 30,000 gns VIDEO ROCK gelding, closely related to BARTON,
will follow DIAMANT NOIR to Jackdaw's Castle and Jonjo O'Neil. The
Scotts' PRESENTING filly (35,000) will be trained by Richard Philips
whom I recommended to them as being more than just a wisecracking
pretty face. And it will give me an excuse to visit his delightful
girlfriend Rhian. She recently featured on the front page of the
Daily Telegraph, executing an elegant dive headfirst into the lake
at Badminton Horse Trails. Never mind Rhian, I would not want to
go round that course in a helicopter!
Unfortunately my second strike for the Scotts is on the boat back
to Ireland, having proved a very practiced wind sucker.
I am looking forward to seeing all my friends and clients at the
best week of
racing in the world - Royal Ascot, June 17th - 21st. Be there.
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