NY video

D'Arcy works out well

No one in a great hurry (1.25km rate) but did everthing nicely and ME pleased Nice pic Kurt Full story on his blog.

Ecurie in full swing 101010

Very lucky to have all four sound and racing. Twilight will hopefully be eliminated on the 14th because in Paris this guarantees a start the next time. Sierra may not get in at Graignes and is running out of suitable races this year... but has done good! Snowball behind gate for first time at Amiens on Saturday, hopefully not number 8! Ulster took his race well but needs to be 'straightened out a bit' for Enghien.

By the way the little graphic tells you how far the horse is away from the money won limit for the race, so you want the arrow to be as close to the end as possible.

Ulster wins impressively

video

Slow initially but last km at 1.14 (1.59mr) and last 500 at 1.10 (1.53mr)

Ready to go


Well done!

Orlando's first qualifier!

At 1.19.4 Ulster was 3rd fastest of the 65 who qualified from the 173 who attempted. Unixa was next at 1.19.5.

Ulster qualifies nicely

Timed at 1.19.5 for 2000m but track was 2 seconds off says MH. He came last 400 at 1.12 rate. Unixa also qualified well.


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Ulster des Baux

The best from Orlando's first crop. How good will he be out in the real world? We start to find out at Caen on Friday.

TWILIGHT's win at Pontchateau

TWILIGHT's win at Pontchateau... was easier than it looks says MH (Click on link to see video)

Annalisa and All Black developing well

Snowball's win at La Clayette

Sierra and the NZ records

Sierra's record is 1.13.4 (mile rate of 1.58.1 ... a mile = 1609 meters so a 2 minute mile rate equals 1.14.6 kilometer rate). It was established in a 2050m mobile start at Cabourg on 3/8/10. How does she compare with NZ record-holding mares of her age? In NZ the records are for '4yo and over' mares and each distance has its own record. Here are the mobile records:
1609 One Over Kenny 2007 1.12.7 (one mile)
1700 Allegro Agitato 2007 1.13.2
1950 Valley of the Moon 2001 1.15.1
2000 Glenfield Girl 1990 1.15.1
2200 Gee du Jour 1991 1.14.9
2400 Perfect Hold 2004 1.15.7
2600 Jasmyn's Gift 2005 1.15.0
2700 One Over Kenny 2008 1.15.3
Not sure why those 1950-2200 records are so old. Maybe they are not run much for trotters at Addington or Auckland or Ashburton any more? John??

Super Sierra

Watch Marion extricate himself in the straight the first time... this was one key to the race, the other being that she was able to go for last 800 meters and not just 200. Obviously getting stronger and is very well at moment.


Of the three of us Mr William Green seems happiest for some reason!

Sierra at Cabourg

Sierra

as been running well without much luck. In the video she runs on well for second at Mont St Michel on 16 May (race 4)off 25m. She then had a frustrating run aat Reims where Marion eventually got her clear from behind the leader/winner but was disqualified for going through too narrow a gap (hmmm..). Then at Caen yesterday he was forced to go 3 wide on the first turn and, ending up in the 3 wide death at the 500, wisely decided there was no point in pursuing a doomed cause. There is always another race... Meanwhile Snowball is ready to race when the grass tracks dry out.

All Black and Annalisa

My Mood West babies look very nice ! All Black (Festina) at top two and Annalisa (Polina) bottom two

I'm finally getting around to processing the images (photographic and mental) from a wonderful month down under. Here are the Love Yous being worked by Murray (D'Arcy) and daughter Lisa (Lucie) in behind ?? ( a year older) driven by son Scott. Lucie (centre ) trots very much like her dad according to Laura and won't require any weight. D'Arcy (bottom) was neat and effective. All vibes are good with both for the moment and everyone is pleased with the way they are progressing. This was their last work before going back to Wendy of Gerolstein for a final six weeks in the paddock before back to Motukarara and the real thing.

the ecurie 070310

Ulena (Festina) survived the cut, whereas United (Moonlight) didn't. Kurt has lost track and he's not the only one, so here is the current state of pay... play. Interests in 14 in France in a few weeks time if the coming foals are ok. C'est ridicule!
Stallion: Orlando
Broodmares: Festina and Polina
4yos: Sierra (Festina) and Snowball (Moonlight)
3yos: Twilight (Moonlight) and Titus [Tina went off be a rider]
2yos: Ulena (Festina), Underland and Uranie (see below)
1yos: Venus (Festina) and Veronique (Polina)
0yos: A (Festina) and A (Polina)
In NZ
Dutchess (Monarch), Lucie and D'Arcy (Love You).

the Orlando colts on view

And now there are seven 2yos (Ulric from Lune not having survived the winter cut, along with Moonlight's United). I liked Underland (above, from Milady) not least because I have an interest in him. And Ulster (below, from Olda by Coktail Jet) who I should have an interest in given his name is where my parents come from! Udon from Ivana and Uriel from Kalima were also on show and it was thrilling to see the progeny of one's stallion in action rather than that of one's mares. The fillies will be back in action in the next week or two including Uranie from Her majesty (who I have a share of) and Umaelle from Omaelle and Une Fleur from Mademoiselle Fleur.


Opposite the 2yo boxes was a field full of another bunch of Orlandos, plus the petite and very gentle Veronique from Polina and Venus from Festina (by Gros Grain in both cases). Babes by Mood West will be arriving shortly and I have ordered a boy and a girl because we are back to A in the naming system. And both will go to Querido next time to help give him his chance as Orlando has had his.

And just to show that trotting people have other interests here are Jack and Fabienne Planqueel (owner of Querido, Raurelia and a rather interesting Orlando Vici 2yo) with Pascal (toasting) and Marion and Teresa drinking champagne. Naturellement, but where? In the club after the Evreux-Boulazac basketball match which 'our team' won by 16 (I had them by 10 watching the warmups and studying the form).

Love You colt fetches $NZ140,000 (72000 euros)

Top price of the day including mainly pacers. Out of a Chiola Hanover mare. The filly out of a Pine Chip mare fetched 107,500 the day before.

prix d'amerique 2010

great site to explore

Dutchess moves on

John McD reports:

... Just to let you know that Dutchess went back to work yesterday at Vicki"s. ... she certainly looks a picture and I cannot see any benefit in giving her 6 months off as Murray suggested.

The horse that won her qualifying trial by Muscles Yankee is highly regarded and has already won a race. You never know, you may just see her on the track in April, keep your fingers crossed.

Lucie on the track!

Kurt reports :
At the end of the trials, Murray brought baby Lucie out on to the track. Amazing! Lucie, who was figuratively sucking a sugary hoof a few weeks back, now with a work-cart behind her, trotting neatly (give or take the occasional ooooh! at the sight of a vehicle or a flowering irrigation system or … a corner) round the Motukarara grass track…
Heavens! The ‘family’ are up and going!
Maybe she will be one of the first Love You babes to race in New Zealand.