Frost….
Which, I suppose, means that “Heavy Frost” is around the corner…
Dark and autumnal and decidedly fresh first thing. In High Summer, the Epsom Stands picked out against bright blue skies resemble a giant white Cruise Liner. Driving past it just now and across the Downs, the Cruise Liner is now more a distant black tanker whose lights shine out of a black sky….
The times they are a changin….
Still plenty of core races to be run and big meetings in the Calendar – but for plenty of flat horses, the change in the season signals that it is time for a break after a long summer in full work. Plenty roughed off with thoughts already turned to Spring and Summer targets. It might seem strange to be thinking of June and July races in 2026 before September ’25 is done and out – but that is the way of it. Plans are hard to execute for a multitude of reasons – but plans are essential. Definitive strategy as opposed to “scatter gun”…..
We hit the ground fast and running out of Downs House. We had to. No point in creating a song and dance and then not dancing. But that meant that a lot of bullets were fired early. Have I mentioned Royal Ascot ?? Thankfully, they proved potent ones, and targets were regularly hit, but now that armoury is looking a little bare as we drift towards the end of the turf season…
Regroup. Reboot. Reset. Across the board….
Sales upcoming. The Bahrain Turf Series with its alluring prize money and owner incentives beginning to loom large on that Middle Eastern horizon…
A long game. To be played as such….
