Latest News from the stables

Thursday March 2nd 2017

After a technical issue we are back up and running on the website. It’s been a good start to 2017 for the yard with five winners so far. In January we had two winners starting on the 9th January where Peachey Carnehan won well for his owner and breeder Jim Duggan at Wolverhampton. He seems to have improved from two to three years and hopefully he will progress from here.

Monumental Man has been in fine form since his break, and took a six furlong Claimer at Lingfield on the 13th. This was his first win over the trip and since that run has gone close at Chelmsford and more recently back at Lingfield.

In February, the 4th to be precise, Polar Kite finally got the luck he deserves by bursting through to win the seven furlong handicap at Linfield. He’s been knocking on the door and it was good to see him get his rewards.

On the 15th of February another home bred horse in Tractive Effort won his first race of his career in the mile and a half handicap at Kempton. He is bred by Canisbay Bloodstock and I’m hoping that this late maturing type goes on from here and can pick up more races in the future.

And finally the last horse to win for us so far this year was last Saturday at Lingfield, where Music Major stepped up to a mile and a quarter for the first time and a combination of that, and coming off a break, seemed to do the trick. He is a very consistent horse and I hope there’s more to come from him.

In other news at Tattenham Corner stables, it was good to see Professor making his return after a lengthy injury and ran a fine race on the 28th of January at Kempton. He had been off the course for just over 15 months and was nice to see he still retains both ability and enthusiasm.

We have nine two year olds here with three colts, one gelding and five fillies. Some nice types are amongst the nine.

And finally news on two that are having a break, Knight Music has been off with an injury and is back and Squire is having a holiday before a turf campaign. Both I am aiming to be back on the turf around May time.

Wednesday 10th August 2016

Looking back first at July, and two winners in the month. Lord of the Storm won at Chelmsford on the 11th and has now gone on his holidays. He’s a consistent horse and just needs things to fall right which luckily they did on this occasion. At the end of July Embankment stepped up in trip and that seemed to work a treat as he won perhaps with a bit in hand as he was just idling in front at Lingfield. He was off a career low mark that day and hopefully there’s more to come.

Into August, and so far this month it’s a 38% strike rate with our horses, long may that kind of form continue! Music Major kicked off the first of our three winners thus far when winning nicely at Kempton. My only concern was that the going was slower than standard and we were stepping up to a mile on a galloping course where I knew they were likely to go hard, so if anything was going to catch Music Major out it was getting home. Thankfully that wasn’t the case and he made really smooth progress between three out and the furlong pole – using up a bit of petrol – so he understandably got a bit tired late on but I´d like to think there´s more improvement in him. He’s still a lightly raced three year old.

Old favourite Salient rolled back the years as he won under Edward Greatrex in the mile and a half handicap two days at Kempton. Having performed well on a standard to slow surface There in the past. He raced handily, went clear off the home bend and gamely fended off all comers in the final furlong.

Finally the third winner of August came last night at Lingfield as Fleetwood Poppy got back to winning ways. She appreciated getting back on the AW and, off just a 1lb higher mark than when successful over this C&D in February, and with Edward Greatrex taking over in the saddle, came off a nice pace and did just enough to hang on close home.

Monday 16th May 2016

A catch up on two months here at Tattenham Corner Stables and I will start off with a winner in the shape of Ask the Guru. He won nicely at Brighton on the 27th of April and then ran a solid race in defeat on the 9th May at the same course. Hopefully he can build on this as he loves five furlongs on fast ground. Both Brighton and Bath suit him well.

Music Major was third at Kempton on the 13th April over a trip possibly a furlong too short and then was an unlucky loser two weeks later at Wolverhampton when second back up to seven furlongs. He runs tomorrow over a mile at Lingfield and hopeful has more improvement. Another who also runs tomorrow is Firestorm and I haven’t lost faith in him yet.

Concentrating on May and on the 11th and 12th Polar Kite and Knight Music both ran fine races finishing second at Lingfield and Newmarket respectively.

Polar Kite raced beyond an extended 7f for the first time since November 2012, made up plenty of late ground and was still gaining at the line. This was a good effort. Knight Music who possibly didn’t run to form at Epsom the time before, is a steadily progressive type and ran extremely well against a well-handicapped rival and made him pull out all the stops. He’s one I continue to like.

Squire ran well on his trip up north to Haydock when finishing 4th and we might ride him differently next time. He has had an infection since, and although Sandown was a possible at the end of May, we may wait for Newbury for a mile race there on June 9th.

Thursday 31st March 2016

March has thankfully ended as well as it started with the yard sending out eight runners in the past eight days with six of them finishing in the first four.

Sudden Wish on the 23rd March tackled two miles for the first time on the flat and she ran a respectable race finishing third. Lord of the Storm a day later, was looking to follow up his course and distance victory at Wolverhampton. He stayed on well to finish third after being off the bridle from two furlongs out.

Yesterday (30th March) we sent out six from the yard. Some making their seasonal debuts and one their debut for me. Knight Music kicked it all off in the first at Lingfield and won on his first start since last September. Robert Havlin who rode him said he travelled lovely and was always going to win, although the other horse kept him up to his work. I´ve got the Great Met in the back of my mind. He could be dangerous there off a light weight.

We doubled up with another Music as Music Major having his first run for us scooted clear in the seven furlong handicap. I´ve only had Music Major about three weeks. Adam Beschizza came and rode him work and although he didn´t work out of his skin he worked nicely enough and so we went there pretty hopeful. He´s very light in his mouth, but once Adam got him out he picked up really well. I think I can get him fitter, so we could have a bit of fun with him this season.

It was a then a dash over to Kempton for the evening and Blackasyourhat ran his best race of the season under Rhian Ingram in the apprentice race. Our final runner yesterday was the return of Squire after 163 days off the track. He ran a fine race to finish second behind an unexposed horse of William Muir’s and had a good blow after the race. I was pleased with that effort and he will come on for that run.

Thursday 10th March 2016

Cheltenham fever is hitting the country and Ireland next week and who knows, one day, we might have one good enough going there to report about! In the meantime…. the horses are in fine form here at Tattenham Corner, and long may it continue!

The last day of the month of February we had a new recruit to the yard run on his debut for us in the shape of Lord of the Storm. He hadn’t raced for just over a year but he had been a star at home and had done everything right. I thought he would run well, but you worry after the layoff if he´d be sharp enough; thankfully he was! I’m sure he´ll stay further and will come on for that run. Kieren Fox gave him a nice ride.

March then started well with Ask the Guru only finding one too good for him at Lingfield. The winner of that race nicked it from the front but he will be back tomorrow (Friday 11th) at Chelmsford and hopefully with form figures lately of 5-4-3-2….I’m hoping it runs in number sequence!

Embankment ran yet another solid race in defeat at Kempton being beaten by just over 4 lengths and he possibly would’ve liked a stronger gallop. Sudden Wish has run two good races in defeat finishing 2nd twice in a row now with this run being at Chelmsford. She’s knocking at the door and hopefully she will push it open soon.

And finally yesterday, old boy Palace Moon rolled back the years with a win under another good ride from Kieren Fox. He had been showing plenty at home even at his age and when he got to the front here he thought that was that and was looking around. We´ll give him a couple of weeks to see how he is and then look at coming back here, where he likes it.

Tuesday 23rd February

With almost the whole of the yard in full training now its nice that we have started the season well. Noble Deed followed up his win last month with another fine victory, this time at Lingfield. He’s been a different horse since we sorted out niggling problems with his back with the chiropractor doing a lot of work on him. Since he won last time he is more relaxed, he was living on his nerves before. He was a 90-rated horse before we bought him and it has taken two and a half years to sort him out and hopefully he can go on from this without suggesting he can get back to that level. The turf season starts next month and he likes fast ground so that’s what we will aim for come the flat season.

Ask the Guru looked to be in fine form with an unlucky run last time at Kempton. He runs again this Thursday and hopefully he can go close. Also on Thursday we have El Tren running over in Dubai in a handicap on the dirt. With conditions of the race having changed, it’s going to be some performance if he can get anywhere near California Chrome getting only a stone, but we hope he can pick up some prize money before he heads back home to get ready for the Lincoln at Doncaster.

New recruit Sudden Wish has run twice in 10 days and her latest run at Lingfield on Saturday was a fine run only just getting caught late on. Luckily for us she was caught by another one of ours in Fleetwood Poppy. Poppy was unlucky last time, getting taken a dozen wide on the home turn to lose all chance. I thought she would run well and the trip of a mile and a half suits her. It was fantastic to get a one, two.

Speaking of new recruits, we purchased a nice horse at the sales called Monumental Man. He’s run four times at our home track Epsom winning twice, one being the sprint at the Spring meeting in April and that again will be his target. I don’t think I’ve ever had a five furlong runner at Epsom and seeing as this boy acts at the course so well it seems logical to aim for races there again.

Friday 22nd January 2016

So it’s been raining, then cold and then raining again here at Tattenham Corner Stables but no such weather in Dubai as El Tren made his debut for us over at Meydan. It was a solid run by El Tren from an unflavoured wide draw. Slightly slow out of the stalls but stayed on beaten under 7 lengths in the end. We will step him up to 9 furlongs next time and hope for a kinder draw!

On the 15th at Lingfield, old boy Palace Moon ran another fine race and this 11 year old seems to be loving his racing at the moment.

And finally we end this round up on a winner. I was delighted with our 1st win of 2016 with Noble Deed. It was a good ride from Kieren Fox and he just managed to get his nose in front. It’s nice to get the year started and hopefully the first of many!

Tuesday 5th January 2016

First of all I’d like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and apologise for the lack of news reports due to a technical problem, but we are up and running again!

I’ll start off 2016 on a sad note with the sudden loss with the yards highest rated horse in training Empire Storm, who suffered an injury travelling to Dubai and sadly could not be saved. That leaves us with our new horse El Tren as our sole representative. A horse we bought from the sales, El Tren is a lightly raced five year old by Danehill Dancer who is rated 103. He makes his debut on the 14th of January in the mile handicap at Meydan.

Three horses I am hoping will progress even further this season are Knight Music (rated 75) Squire (rated 80 turf, 76 AW) and Firestorm (rated 88). All three have just come back from a holiday and would be three I’ll name that I believe are capable of more in 2016.

We will have a small string running on the All Weather this winter including old favourite Salient who is a grand old age of 12 now, and Ask the Guru who enjoyed success at Lingfield on two occasions last winter.

Palace Moon is a new addition to the yard and this experienced horse has come from William Knight’s to freshen him up.

We have our first runners of 2016 on Thursday at Lingfield and it is a case of ladies first as the Fleetwood duo of Fleetwood Poppy & Bella fly the flag for the girls.

We are hoping to build on last season’s total of 13 winners and I’m sure we can surpass that total and hopefully earn over 6 figures again in win and place prize money. We are always looking for new owners and horses so please contact me if you are interested in joining us here at Tattenham Corner Stables.

Monday 13th April 2015

A catch up over March and a busy month here at Tattenham Corner Stables. Empire Storm and Professor both arrived back from Dubai in good health and have their initial targets mapped out. Empire Storm will take in the Group two Bet 365 Mile at Sandown on the 24th of this month or the mile Listed race at Ascot five days later. Professor will be aimed at the King Richard III stakes at Leicester, a Listed race over seven furlongs and then onwards to the Victoria Cup at Ascot in May.
The Nab won at Southwell on the 25th March and showed determination and grit beating a Godolphin hotpot. I was pleased as that was only his second career start and now switches to the turf to Ascot on May 8th.
Ask the Guru won for us on the same day and the race went to plan perfectly under Rab Havlin. Having set off tracking the fast pace, he took it up just over a furlong out and was always doing enough.
The old boy Salient did us proud yet again winning the apprentice race last week under promising Callum Shepherd. He still goes strong after 125 races!
There were promising runs off breaks for Noble Deed beaten only 4 1/4 lengths and Sunshine Always who finished fourth after two years off the course. Both pleased me with their runs.
Head Space and Bravo Echo are having a break and are on the easy list after not being quite right on their last starts.

Tuesday 3rd February 2015

February has started with a winner as Ask the Guru dead heated in the five furlong handicap at Lingfield yesterday. We changed the tactics on him and despite winning, Jim Crowley said he would be even better going right handed at Kempton which might be his next port of call. We started yesterday with Squire in the mile and a quarter handicap. The slow early pace didn’t suit him and he was short of room two out before staying on into fourth. I think there’s more to come from him. Finally Plover ran in the last and finished just under five lengths behind in seventh. It may not have suited her to try and make all and she remains in good heart.

On Thursday Professor makes his debut over in Dubai in a mile handicap on the turf. He is fit and well and has been working nicely over the trip. He will like the ground and we are hopeful of a nice run with Oisin Murphy on board.

Empire Storm is well and is entered up next Thursday in two races. The first being the Group 3 he contested last year finishing third over a mile on the dirt and the second a handicap over a mile and a furlong on turf.

Monday 19th January 2015

I’ll start off this round up of January so far by wishing you all a Happy New Year. I’m hoping 2015 is a lucky one for Tattenham Corner Stables and although thus far we haven’t had a winner for January we certainly have had some good performances. Judging on her last two runs, Plover has already shown us more this year than last and I’m hoping she is about to produce what we all hoped she would when she arrived here. On the 7th January at Lingfield she put in an improved performance when finishing fourth under young Sophie Killoran, getting outpaced but staying on well in the closing stages. Just over a week later, Sophie rode her again, this time over 10 furlongs, and at a vital stage of the race was short of room and lost her position. Her chance was all but gone then, but I was encouraged the way Plover stayed on again. It just might be that a female jockey on board suits this mare.

Bravo Echo ran well at Kempton on the 10th of January finishing 4th. He was all wrong at the weights and if that race was a handicap he would’ve been receiving 17lbs from the winner. It was a fine run under the circumstances.

Embankment was another unlucky story finishing only 2 1/2 lengths down in fifth on the 14th January at Kempton. Slow out of the stalls, Graham Lee had no choice but to send him up the far rail which is renowned to be the slowest part of the Kempton track and with the winners coming down the centre of the course he put in a performance to suggest to me that with a bit more luck in running, he could be winning again soon.

Polar Kite had his first run for me yesterday (18th January) and ran really well. He too should be taking his turn in the winners circle soon.

Finally an update of the horses over in Dubai. Professor unfortunately knocked his leg on the morning of the race on the 8th January but is fine now and takes his chance in a mile handicap on the turf in just over two weeks time. Empire Storm ran a great race in defeat on the same night. He was drawn widest of all in 15 of 15 and goes for a seven furlong handicap on Thursday. With a much better draw I think he will go very well.

Friday 23rd January 2015

An update from yesterday’s racing and Empire Storm ran yet another fine race in defeat when finishing 3rd in the mile handicap on the dirt and Meydan. The winner looked decent but the proximity of ours to the second proves that it was a very solid run. There was five lengths back to the fourth and he came out of the race well. We will probably try a nine furlong handicap on the turf next with him as it looked like the early pace of the dirt races are not entirely suiting him. After banging loudly on the door since joining us he now deserves to win a race for all his efforts, and for his owner too.

I can confirm Professor, our other horse out there, is fine now having had to miss his initial engagement two weeks ago and is on course to make his debut for us on the 29th in the mile handicap.