On which side you are on, radars are either there to protect or to sneak under…
This has been a long week of the latter for us…
The doorstop catalogue. The shiny needles. Ripping that haystack to pieces…
The very obvious Lots attracting the very obvious folk. On several occasions, I muttered under my breath whilst watching an easy moving trot – “perfect for Australia, 300,000 Guineas plus….”
Followed through the ring just in case. Some might stall within range before raging away into the frenzy of high bids from high steps. Auctioneers playing their role. Spinning out the “drama” – leaving plenty yearning for the crash bang and “make up your mind” way of selling horses in other jurisdictions….
This catalogue spread over 5 treadmill days. In America, it would be done in two. But that would be no fun for the “actors” and their poking gavels…
THINTHREAD and GORDON GREY were added to the Bahrain team on days one and two. Home safe on Epsom Downs, and the desert preparations under way….
And absolutely delighted that NESTHORN will be on the same plane. 5th (admittedly of 5, but no country miles involved….) to Arc winner Daryz in the Spring. But then a setback that always sounds more dramatic than it is…
“A hairline fracture of the pelvis….”
You are right, it sounds dramatic. But the “dramatic” bit only comes about if the “hairline” is not spotted. And is allowed to blunder and evolve into something more serious…
A bit of TLC and rest and all is well again. And veterinary opinion is that this issue very very rarely recurs. And Nesthorn bolted up a fortnight ago at La Croisse-Laroche. From a very strong Juddmonte family and with very few miles on the clock, this is just the type of young horse that we need on the team….
He vetted superbly well – but clearly a few were put off by his recent clinical history…
He is as sound and bonny and happy a horse that has ever walked onto the place. Of course there is that tiny element of doubt – which is why he cost us 60,000 Guineas as opposed to the 300 plus…
His win was too recent to be in the catalogue. He clearly slipped under several radars…
He is FOR SALE. He goes to Bahrain, and is then a Saturday horse back here next Summer…
Delighted. Excited. The Desert Raiders taking shape….
