After a successful afternoon at the local Francheville track on Sunday - Kurt seeing DMH drive Prince des Baux to victory on his first French racing this trip and taking an excellent photo - we headed off to Amiens on Bastille Day with hopes for Porto and the anxious excitement of Orlando's return.
PORTO did a good race and returned his usual time; but the other apprentis/lad-jockeys had decided he wouldn't be allowed to get to the front this time and he ended up fifth, without being punished when it was clear that it wasn't his day. Out again on Saturday at Graignes off 25 metres.
ORLANDO was definitely the most impressive looking horse in the field, but the warm-up - head pic shows David conferring with Marion, who is wearing Laura's colours because I only have one set! - confirmed he is not trotting 100%. In the race the commissaires disqualified him after only 500 metres, a bit severe in our opinion. He followed the field easily and clearly has the fitness and ability to do something if we can solve the joint problem. So it was disappointing but this is not the time to quit!
The disappointments were quickly assuaged chez hue with champagne won by Porto at Chalons (opened in spectactular fashion by Laura, recently back from New Zealand!)and a lovely dinner in the open air.
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