Just a reminder

... that there are important people in my life, as well as horses.
Like son Craig, partner Sheila and my 3 and a half year old twin grandaughters Mia (centre) and Alice.


As is so familiar in racing PORTO developed a minor muscle problem at the beginning of the week of his targeted race so no action today. He should be back in 3-4 weeks.

Querido ran a very good race in the Group 1 Prix d'Etoile last weekend, rating 1.13 (1.57.5) for the 2150m (walk-in start) in finishing fourth. This is one of the 4 'pursuit' classics in which the 3yos get 50m start from the 4 and 5yos. (Orlando ran in the monte equivalent 2 years ago, finishing fifth.) 50m is now a totally unrealistic handicap over 2150 m on the new Vincennes piste and with the new generation of 3yos. Only Olimede took on the youngsters this time and mile-rated 1.54.7 for fifth!.

SNOWBALL is rolling

A trip to Breteuil to celebrate Clara's second birthday in grand style (merci beaucoup Teresa!!) provided the opportunity to see MOONLIGHT's second foal (by Eclat de la Crau) for the first time in a year. Like ROSKO he's a big boy, even though just under 18 months old. He was in the cart for just the third time (great grandad Bernard in charge) and still being harnessed up with the help of the trailer used for the introductory sessions. Who knows what he will be... but his owner is proud of the first action photo (note all feet off ground!)
Of course we had to go racing... three hours to Laon near Reims, where Perle (like POLINA by Jasmine de Flore) ran a super race to finish second off 25m, driven perfectly by the promising David Marion Hue, father of the fore-mentioned Clara. David seems to be the only one to be able to get Perle to perform, so well done all round to him.
We really wanted PORTO to race at Laval on Tuesday to get him race-fit for the 20th, but he was eliminated, so expectations will need to be lowered. At Laval Prince Djo ran a very big race for third off 25m after very little work and has tremendous potential - if his head can be sorted.

Querido, Qualita and Offshore

Querido ran an excellent race in his last Group 2 before the Group 1 Prix d'Etoile on the 15th, without troubling the ones ahead of him. Rating 1.14.2 for the 2700 m (1.59.2 mile rate)
"Rapidement en bon rang en épaisseur, ce pensionnaire de Marion Hue s'est retrouvé à la pointe du combat dans la montée, se montrant courageux jusqu'au bout sans pouvoir rivaliser dans les deux cents derniers mètres avec les poulains ayant composé le jumelé gagnant."
Quatre Juillet was absent today, but Qualita Bourbon easily won the fillies equivalent for Love You.
Offshore Dream may not be favourite for the 27 January 2008 after being beaten by Ozio Royal (by Cezio Jocelyn, by Armbro Goal) in the Criterium des 5 Ans, rating 1.13.8 for 3000m. Occitane was a very impressive 4th but is also not quoted yet [The unibet site is at https://www.unibet.com/punter/index.jsp]

N.B. The Os will be 6 on January 1 and the Ps will be 5.