SIERRA and SUPERBOWL

Off to Grosbois first thing Friday morning after watching Riposte run 4th at Enghien the previous evening. All four of the 2yos Marion, Bernard and David took qualified respectably, but not brilliantly, in the 1.20 to 1.21 km rate range (for 2000m) Of course everything was new to them and 3 false starts used up a lot of Sierra's energy. (Sierra top pic, Superbowl below). But the time has come to get the ecurie in hand (with Tina and Twilight coming into work any day!)and so all four were worked exactly the same way on Sunday. The fillies had progressed the best, so Sierra (along with Salima, the other Lutin Malin filly) will stay but Superbowl (along with Seul, the full brother to Querido) will go the sales at the end of the month. (Rosario with them.)
David reports that Porto is jumping out of his skin and that Orlando is trotting perfectly for the moment. No need to say that everything is crossed. (Nov 18 will hopefully be D day.)

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Every good horse deserves favour.. and a little rest! After 10 starts in 17 weeks and 45,300 euros in gains Porto will take it easy for a while before being got ready for a nice ALJ-AUTO race (2150m) at Argentan on October 26th. He should be on the front line having 76,420 in gains with a limit of 78,000. But it's a long way off and anything may happen (and often does in trotting!)
Attention switches to Sierra, who may be off to the qualifiers by the end of the month as the first of the stable 2yos.

PORTO en trombe - deuxieme

Another super race by Porto and DMH. As was very predictable drawing number 1 left him with the task of extracting himself and he only got clear with 100m to go but then flew home down the outside for second - en trombe (like a whirlwind) according to the ZE commentary and Paris-Turf. Robin had discovered the ZE site (Malta-based) which gives streaming text commentary of the above sort on selected non-PMU race meetings in France - and bets on them too (presumably at PMH odds). Porto's race is here, scroll down for the commentary. (click at top right to turn into French or German.)It may disappear at some point of course.
So Monday evening I can follow Marion's progress with Prince Djo at La Croise-Laroche(about 1745BST), even though it is not a PMU meeting.. and bet if I were to set up an account with ZE (3rd favourite according to ZE experts). Better not.... But isn't it time the PMU allowed people to do this?

A Big Day in the family

Twin grand-daughters Alice and Mia setting off to School on their first day... unaware and unconcerned (thank goodness) that Porto has drawn 1 at Amiens on Saturday evening