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Duffield's Diaries
Ann's Review of 2007
All in all…
On reflection 2007 was a very good year for the yard; however it all started much slower than we would have liked. During the winter of 2006/2007 we made further significant capital investment in upgrading the facilities at Sun Hill. The number of boxes has been increased to accommodate an expanding string, the all weather gallop has been re-surfaced, we added a third horse walker and landscaping was completed around the bottom barn.
A slow start…
The essential re-surfacing work on the all weather gallop meant this was not available for the early part of 2007, leaving the string behind in work leading up to the start of the turf flat season. In 2006 the yard had produced a consistent stream of winners from January through to November but we were certainly not flying at the start of 2007. At the end of March, just when it looked like the horses were coming to hand and we thought we might start to have some runners; all the horses started coughing and developed ringworm.
Despite the efforts of the whole team we could not clear the ringworm or coughing and it became evident that the horse’s immune systems were low. For the first time our routine of steam cleaning and disinfecting monthly failed to be effective so this was stepped up to weekly with additional daily disinfecting rounds. This included everything from the walls, air space, rugs, tack buckets and mucking out equipment to all the staff and visitors to the yard – so the aroma around Sun Hill was far from pleasant!
Full steam ahead in the colts barn
The regular sample tests taken from the walls, air particles, feed, haylage and water by an Irish laboratory were now being done monthly rather than quarterly and as an extra measure we were also sending another set of samples to a UK lab for a second opinion.
The horses, as ever, continued to be scrupulously monitored. Extra blood tests were taken and regular scoping performed along with the administration of the usual medications, lotions and potions where appropriate. The bridge between modern medicine and alternative therapies - which is usually about as close as the Grand Canyon in modern day medicine for humans - continued to be put into daily practice at Sun Hill; horses tend to know what’s best for them and they don’t know anything about the placebo effect either!
Our Vet Simon Stirk and I were still scratching our heads over the continuing problem and as I am not one to leave anything to chance or any stone unturned, it is fair to say the whole episode drove me to distraction so, needless to say, George was far from relaxed about it too! A great deal was riding on this season; we had made significant investment - financial, physical and emotional - it just HAD to go well!
For a whole two months while the 2007 season rapidly marched on, we didn’t even have a two year old entry! It was a very frustrating time, but as the saying goes “patience is a virtue” and in racing it is THE most important requirement, whether you are an owner, breeder, trainer or jockey.
Up and running…
The season progressed and eventually the wins started to come, but for many horses the problems experienced earlier in the year meant it took them quite a while to get their act together. I actually think we did very well in the end to make the recovery we did, as all the horses had been knocked sideways.
Most of the two year olds finally accredited themselves very well as did their older stable-mates, giving their owners a lot of fun. Even those who didn’t manage to win showed enough promise for the coming season.
Bonjour Allure winning at Beverley
A few of the seasons winners really stand out. Bonjour Allure's win at Beverley was impressive, particularly as she was a big, weak, backward filly initially, but she has a quite a lot of class and has hopefully "trained on". The horse she beat when winning at Beverley, Dubai Time, went on to win impressively at Ayr and was then placed 3rd in a group 3 race in France and later sold for 250,000 gns.
Yankee Bravo was another very impressive winner first time out at Redcar and was immediately subject to interest from the USA and was subsequently sold to the States. It was sad to lose a good horse, but business IS business and we couldn’t afford to turn the offer down, especially as we owned half of him and the sale would allow us to make further investment in the yard. He had been purchased by my good friend and Bloodstock Agent, Gill Richardson, at the breeze up sales for only 16,000 gns. We were delighted to see him win his very first race stateside and hope he can go on to bigger and better things; American racing will suit him.
Of the older horses, Just Lille was a star. Her owner was gravely ill and she managed to win three races in a row just before he died, which, his family said had given him great pleasure. She went onto win a conditions race at Hamilton, making it four consecutive wins.
Royston Ffrench drives Tobbogan Lady home at Catterick
Toboggan Lady grew up from being a fairly modest and weak 2 year old into a very tough, genuine staying filly. She won three races and was placed in three, her wins came at Hamilton, Catterick (both over 1 ½ miles) and at Pontefract over two miles two furlongs. She also only went down by three quarters of a length to this year’s Triumph hurdle favourite Franchoek at Nottingham. Her owner David McMahon was new to us the previous year, he had telephoned me saying he wanted a share in a national hunt horse and he is still trying to figure out how - after only 10 minutes - he bought an entire 2 yr old for the flat! But suffice to say, he is delighted that I talked him into buying Toboggan Lady. She was also a Breeze up sales recruit, bought on a "shopping trip" to Ireland by Gill and myself. In time I am sure Mr. McMahon WILL have the national hunt horse he came for in the first place!
Winning with Miss Rausing's 2 year old Seta Pura on her third start was a great thrill for us, especially as George won so many races for the owner, most notably on the great grey mare Alborada ( including back to back Champion Stakes, The Nassau, The Pretty Polly and The Weld Stakes). George was saddling her that day, while I watched the race Miss Rausing's racing manager Lord John Fitzgerald, himself a former trainer, at the Newmarket Sales. I don’t think I have ever heard GD quite so elated - he certainly never got that excited when he was riding them!
Winning for any owner is great, but for breeders it is even more important as it proves the ability of the family generally, especially the dam, and can have significant impact on the future sales price of her offspring. In Seta Pura's case her owner also happens to own both the Sire and the Dam, so it was ever more important to get her past the post 1st as a 2 year old if at all possible.
San Silvestro's debut win
San Silvestro was another breeze up purchase of that year, very big and weak, he nevertheless managed to win at the first time of asking in his only race so far, so hopefully there will be even better things to come as 3 year old. He is owned by our long standing patrons Middleham Park Racing (MPR) - along with Coconut Queen (a winner at 2 and 3 yrs old who sold well at Newmarket), Yankee Bravo, Bonjour Allure and others. I love training for MPR because they are such racing fanatics, all very genuine and honest, they let their trainers get on and do the job and – not least - have stood the test of time, unlike so many other racing clubs and syndicates.
Stars in their eyes…
Falcon’s Fire was another graduate from the previous year’s Breeze up sales. Whilst he won on the flat and was placed several times he was always going to be a far better prospect over hurdles after winning his first two starts impressively, including The Blue Square.com Class 2 juvenile hurdle at Market Rasen where he beat this year’s Triumph hurdle favourite Franchoek, out of sight! His rating is only 58 on the flat but 133 over hurdles! He was given a long holiday after running "flat" at Cheltenham but he had been on the go such a long time. Jump jockey Keith Mercer rode Falcon’s Fire in all three of his hurdle races. Keith, a regular visitor to Sun Hill, is great at schooling the horses and is a well respected member of our team.
Lady Rangali at work
Lady Rangali has to be the real star of the show, bought on spec for only 11,000 gns from Newmarket yearling sales she was soon sold to new owners, Joe & Sarah Woodhead. Lady won 4 races during the season, amassing over £150,000 in prize money and boosting her value as a future broodmare (she is by the great Danehill Dancer out of a Thunder Gulch mare). She ended the season by taking home a pot of £134,000 on winning the Watership Down race at Ascot. The 3rd horse that day, Sophies Girl, went onto win a Newmarket maiden, as did the 4th horse Insaaf, with Anosti back in 5th place finishing a neck down in another ultra competitive Newmarket race – so let’s hope she trains on!!!
Trip to the sales…
The yearling sales came round quicker than ever this year, beginning in August instead of September, at Doncaster for the St Leger Sales. Keeneland start even earlier, of course, but we haven’t made it there yet, although hopefully 2008 might allow us to expand our buying power to include some Trans-Atlantic purchases. There is no doubt the market there produces some serious winners on both sides of the pond.
We kept Gill Richardson busy again this year; George, myself and Gilly were pretty much flat out at all the UK and Irish sales buying in total about 30 yearlings, not counting the privately bred horses which breeders very kindly sent to us this year.
Lady Luachmhar - Goffs Sales
These include horses by first season sires such a Elusive City, Needwood Blade and Pyrus, as well as the more established sires, Galileo, Selkirk, Medicean, Diktat, Dubai Destination, Verglas, Mull of Kintyre, Tagula, Hawk Wing, Piccolo, Namid, Alhaarth, Fasliev, Catcher in the Rye, Barathea, Bahamian Bounty, Lujain, Ishiguru, Fraam and Tobougg.
They seem a very nice bunch and we are really pleased with them so far! But, of course, it’s early days yet - beauty is in the eye of the beholder and handsome is as handsome does!
Many of the yearlings were bought specifically to order and often with owners present at the sales. Many others were bought "with an owner in mind" and others on spec. They are nearly all sold now with just a few exceptions who - interested parties please note - happen to be going rather well! We have welcomed quite a few new owners to the yard for the 2008 season, which is always a pleasure.
The builders are back…
Further improvements were made to the yard in the autumn when the yard and driveway were re-surfaced with non slip gravel which makes it much safer for the horses and very smart too!
A huge new solarium has also been an important addition to the yard. With both infra-red lights for deep muscle penetration and ultra violet lights to mimic bright daylight. It will be important for well being of all the horses, but the fillies especially will benefit from this latest addition. I envisage the lads, beer cans in hand, enjoying the solarium as the rain beats down outside!
Pauvic enjoying his session in the solarium
Another improvement I was keen to make during 2007 included a new feeding regime; the horses are now fed every 6 hours at 6 am, 12 noon, 6 pm & midnight. This is Dexter’s job unless he is away, when Dale or Chips stand in for him. There has been an obvious benefit to the horses digestive systems, which are designed to take feed "little & often".
We are constantly trying to improve our website (all suggestions welcome!). It seems to be doing very well and I gather it is viewed by far more people that I ever imagined would visit! Even I have even managed to move, albeit slowly, into the 21st century!
It’s a team game…
The staff continue to enjoy working at Sun Hill - well they are always smiling and laughing a lot - and the horses continue to benefit from the multi-cultural experience they share with the boys and girls on the ground.
Royston Ffrench has been riding our horses regularly for the last three years and in 2007, after reaching a "Gentleman’s agreement", formally became our Stable Jockey. Ever the professional, Royston arrives every work morning from the start to the end of the turf season, as well as any other extra stalls days he may be required for. It is a huge advantage to the yard that he gets to know each one of the horses individually, just as George did for Sir Mark Prescott all those years ago. Royston is a crucial part of our team and is experienced, strong, determined, reliable and honest. He rides using his brain, is extremely polite and has developed a very professional relationship with the owners.
Along with Royston, apprentice jockey Andrew Mullen has recently joined the team. Andrew has ridden 80 winners and currently has a claim of 3lbs. He has ridden several winners for the yard over the past couple of seasons and we are confident that he will be a valuable addition to the team. He is a young man with a great deal of promise who listens intently to all the advice given to him by George and is determined to make his mark - hopefully on many of ours!
George, of course, continues to put his vast race-riding experience to good use when discussing race tactics with all our jockeys and, as ever, remains the undisputed number one work rider at Sun Hill! When George isn’t riding you can be sure to see him at the wheel of his tractor, cutting grass or designing the next phase of Sun Hill’s latest horticultural development, which, by the way is extraordinary – watch this space!
Many of our Trinidadian boys have taken an extended holiday to go back home, having worked tirelessly for the best part of two to three years without the usual amount of holidays, preferring instead to take a longer vacation, James, our head man went home for just over two months, while Shaggy and Giant went away for Christmas, returning end of Feb and March respectively. Dexter is due to leave at the end of January in order to be in Trinidad for the Carnival. Sheldon has decided he can cope with the cold and is deferring his trip home while he saves up to build his own house on the land he bought in Trinidad; besides he adores Bill and Gladys, the recent arrivals in George's dovecot and cant' bear to be away from them.
Dale and Chips who both joined us at the beginning of the year have settled in very well despite Dale’s recent exposure to the surgeon’s knife when his body decided it no longer needed its appendix!
Work riders enjoying the cold snap!
Caroline continues to be amongst the minority, being one of the few females to work in the yard, along with Jackie and myself. Jackie is recuperating after a serious fall from one of her fiancé Brian Storey's horses in November. We all miss her bubbly personality and hope she can soon resume her rightful place at the wheel of our horse box. Colm, our resident Irishman, has now completed his Amateur's course and hopes to have a few rides this coming season. So far ALL the lads have volunteered to lead him up on his first outing - that should be quite a sight!
Ian remains at the helm in the office, making sure the business runs smoothly and keeping me out of his way – I "belong", he maintains, firmly outside, with the horses.
The boys have been joined this year by Keith Dalgleish who, now too heavy to race ride, proves to be a very valuable member of the team. Keith also acts as the Middleham Park Racing representative on race days, looking after the owners who have shares in horses trained at Sun Hill. They really appreciate the time he gives to them and it helps the newer owners to fit in and understand racing that bit more. MPR owners will also have their very own "micro web site" in the near future, which is currently under development and should be ready soon. Once complete it will provide MPR owners with the very latest information and future running plans for all of the MPR horses trained at the yard.
Martin McAndrew, a much valued work rider, also doubles up looking after our web site and keeping our IT systems running.
Jimmy Bleasdale joined us as a work rider in the autumn and we have put his skills and wealth of experience to good use. Jimmy was champion apprentice jockey in 1977 with a tally of 67 wins; all told he rode the winners of around 1,000 races before a serious injury led to his eventual retirement from the saddle.
Ian Lightfoot is a new recruit from South Africa. His appointment was quite by chance after a conversation I had with my hairdresser! Ian, who had lived in SA since he was three years old, came back to the UK with his wife and two daughters after the farm killings started up again near his farm. Ian was a successful jockey in SA and is another great asset to the yard.
Saturday is one of our main work days and is as popular as ever amongst the owners. They come along to see their horses work, sample George’s famous cooked breakfast and experience the humour amongst the array of jockeys – past and present - especially our very own comedian "Steve Parkin" who has ridden out every Saturday for the past 6 years and is responsible for introducing several, much valued owners to the yard. Steve, though a former apprentice jockey, has proven to be rather more successful as a mortgage broker!
It is impossible to give mention to all the staff, but suffice to say, they are a fantastic bunch who work hard as a team for the benefit of the yard, the horses, owners, George and myself. They are, without any doubt, the best staff I have ever employed and take the greatest pride in every horse they care for and in the continuing success of the yard. The immense work, effort and dedication from each and every one of the staff at Sun Hill cannot be measured in these few words, but without them I know that Sun Hill and the horses could not thrive. Everyone from the yard men, lads, work riders, head man, vets, farriers, physio’s, blood man, office staff and box drivers all contribute hugely to the success of Ann Duffield Racing in 2007.
And for 2008…
So what are the plans for this year?
To continue to train an increasing number of winners, to carry on enjoying the job of training top quality racehorses, to get the best out of each and every horse in our care and to raise the standard of all aspects of our operation.
We would love you to be part of the adventure, so if you are an existing owner with a horse at Sun Hill, good luck for the forthcoming year and thank you for your support. Or, if you are looking to become an owner with us for the first time, do not hesitate to get in touch to explore how you can become involved with Ann Duffield Racing in 2008.
