After a hectic few days at Ayr & Hamilton, today is a day of reflection in more ways than one. Mostly good. On Thursday, NEVER DARK backed up his Doncaster 2nd by finishing 4th in the 5f Handicap at Ayr, beaten less than a length. Ayr Friday saw Let’s Be Lucky’s ZUMAATY finish 3rd at 25/1, another beaten by a very short margin. Both our runners in the Silver Cup on Saturday ran creditably. Drying ground didn’t do ABOLISH any favours but he ran gamely. JUMP THE GUN has been overlooked by many. Short of room on the stand-side rail saw him caught in a pocket when coming with a run. You could see Paul Mulrennan looking for the gap, he absolutely flew home for 5th. Without doubt, some luck in running would have seen him in the 4. It would have been great to come away with a winner from one of Iain’s favourite meetings of the year but we were satisfied that each had given their all. NEVER DARK has some minor stalls issues to overcome but we maybe encouraged his anxiety on Friday by running him both days.
Hamilton Sunday brought a bit more luck, that said there were still some hard luck stories! ZURAIG finished 2nd in the seller, his best run to date. Sadly, he was claimed after the race. He’s taken a while to settle in his races and it looked like things were starting to come to gather with him but that’s the chance you take running in sellers. We wish his new Trainer every success. His Owners, The Cricketers are lovely people and we now look to finding them an exciting replacement. The Musselburgh Lunch Club ventured away from their beloved Musselburgh for the day. Their ever consistent THE GAY BLADE has been running creditably over 7f at Musselburgh but we knew he was in need of a drop back to 6f. Well represented by Mr Cross, the Lunch Clubbers saw their 3yo come home a length and a half clear of his nearest rival under Andrew Mullen in the familiar Gerry McGladery colours. We were delighted for the The Club but particularly Treasurer, Gordon Wallace who was celebrating his first Lunch Club Winner!
Doreen Monteith’s SIMPLE STAR was up next and gave us another bout of seconditis when called the runner-up in a photo finish. A notorious hard puller, putting hurdles in his way has been the making of this horse and we look forward to 2023 with him as a solid dual purpose contender.
MONROE GOLD was well represent by 11 of the Kildonan Gold Syndicate enjoying a Sunday out. This well bred Highland Reel filly is still weak but has been running well since moving into handicap company. She battled gamely up the Hamilton hill for 5th yesterday and bred to be a stayer, the best is definitely yet to come with her. She probably won’t be out again until next year. A holiday and a growth spurt are on the cards.
Today while we reflect on the success of the team over the last few days. We are in full swing this morning in the hope we can get finished by 11am as today is a day in history, it really is a time to reflect. Orchestrating a Bank Holiday Monday with 65 horses in your care is no easy task however, we started early and are trying our best to get finished early so we can pay our respects to our longest reigning Monarch. Queen Elizabeth II has done so much good for our Country and our sport. We want to say thank you to a Wife, Mother, Grannie & Queen who’s life we hope, will be celebrated today.
