Crosshill Pacers
Well-Known Member
We're back!
To say the last 6/7 weeks has been manic would be an understatement, but I think I've finally gotten on top of things. G has kept me posted with regard to Star's progress; he has been very happy with her at home and when away working at the track.
She began her fast work working over a mile in 2.40 (single heat); I was present at the track to watch her complete her second workout in 2.35 (again, single heat). Since then he has taken her for workouts going a time of 2.30, 2.25, and 2.20 (for each of the last 3 'faster' workouts he has taken her around in 2.40 first, given her a short break at the lorry, then gone back for the second heat).
On Monday just gone, J & his dad collected Star from G's stables and brought her to Corbiewood with Stevie. The Jockey was there to drive her, and was told to take her around the first time anywhere between 2.30 and 2.40; he went a mile in 2.32, and came off the track telling me she was lazy and there was no way she would go out of a gate (he hasn't had the benefit of seeing her race in Wales and therefore hasn't witnessed her gate speed). For the second heat, he was told to go 2.16, give her quick first quarter, ease off for the second and third quarter, and then sprint her home. He went 32 for the first quarter, hit the half in 1.07, reached the three quarters in 1.43 and came home in 30.6 seconds to do 2.12. Last year when Missile went 2.12 when he was supposed to be going 2.16, it was a disaster because he wasn't asked to go that speed - he was pulling uncontrollably and had essentially bolted. Star on the other hand was responsive at all times, picked up for the last quarter when tapped with the whip, and the Jockey came off the track and told me I should win races with her. He said that he hadn't really asked her coming home, and had he done so, she would have been flying. It is very rare that the Jockey has nothing bad to say about a horse he has just worked out or raced. J was pleased, even though she'd technically gone too fast, and naturally I was delighted!
Star had in fact done the qualifying time on Monday, but was not running in a qualifier. She is entered for Monday coming to requalify as she has had a season off racing and is required to do so, and I will ask the Jockey to break the back of 2.10 to give her a real workout but the emphasis is on bringing her home. She has always had an early sprint, but she has never been trained to sprint the last quarter home. Unfortunately I'm going to be at the Royal Welsh Show on Monday and Tuesday so will be missing it, however the track secretary is going to video it on her iPad and send me it so I can watch how my girl goes.
Star working out on Monday in the mud with our stable jockey:
The plan then was to enter her to race on Thursday 30th July, where there will be heats and a final for grade 1 up. However, there is a 2 day meeting next weekend at Corbiewood, with a C Class drivers race on the Friday over a mile. G, who has been training Star for me, holds a C Class driving licence and is DESPERATE to drive her in the race, because he wants to be in the winner's enclosure with Star and me having driven her for me. J is unsure as the run may be a run too soon, and would rather work her out at the meeting before racing and head for the following Thursday fixture. We will see how she goes on Monday in the qualifier and what entries the C Class race gets. Provided racing her on the 24th wouldn't set her back the way, she may go in it. Otherwise we wait until the 30th.
Post-workout, pre-bath:
Star came home with us on Monday; on Tuesday I took her for a hack. We both loved it, she marches on and I'd forgotten how great it is to sit on a horse which is forward going (the horses I borrowed from a friend were...slower, let's say). J saw me riding down the street coming home and said she looked a picture, she's absolutely shining and at 80% race fit she's obviously in healthy condition. Wednesday evening I jogged her after work, and the spooking and excitement has gone now. Even when a group of young lads started throwing large rocks at us over the fence and shouting swear words, she kept her head down and carried on trotting around the track, which I was grateful for considering the last thing I needed was her giving a reaction and giving those toerags more ammunition to keep at us.
Marching home on our hack on Tuesday evening:
Anyway, I'm really needing your support and encouragement more than ever! I have never been in this position before with Star. Having been told too many times by people that she is useless, I now find myself being told by a public trainer, an A Class driver, a bookmaker and a handful of horsemen that I respect that I have a half decent horse on my hands. She's never going to win the Crock of Gold, she may never pace a mile faster than 2.07 around Corbiewood, but all she needs to do is win a race. If she wins two races, that makes me the best trainer she's ever had. I'm nervous, excited, terrified, all rolled into one. But what a horse I've got, she's an absolute peach to work with and I love her more than ever!
Over and out,
Sarah & Shes Some Deal (aka Star/Big Ears)
To say the last 6/7 weeks has been manic would be an understatement, but I think I've finally gotten on top of things. G has kept me posted with regard to Star's progress; he has been very happy with her at home and when away working at the track.
She began her fast work working over a mile in 2.40 (single heat); I was present at the track to watch her complete her second workout in 2.35 (again, single heat). Since then he has taken her for workouts going a time of 2.30, 2.25, and 2.20 (for each of the last 3 'faster' workouts he has taken her around in 2.40 first, given her a short break at the lorry, then gone back for the second heat).
On Monday just gone, J & his dad collected Star from G's stables and brought her to Corbiewood with Stevie. The Jockey was there to drive her, and was told to take her around the first time anywhere between 2.30 and 2.40; he went a mile in 2.32, and came off the track telling me she was lazy and there was no way she would go out of a gate (he hasn't had the benefit of seeing her race in Wales and therefore hasn't witnessed her gate speed). For the second heat, he was told to go 2.16, give her quick first quarter, ease off for the second and third quarter, and then sprint her home. He went 32 for the first quarter, hit the half in 1.07, reached the three quarters in 1.43 and came home in 30.6 seconds to do 2.12. Last year when Missile went 2.12 when he was supposed to be going 2.16, it was a disaster because he wasn't asked to go that speed - he was pulling uncontrollably and had essentially bolted. Star on the other hand was responsive at all times, picked up for the last quarter when tapped with the whip, and the Jockey came off the track and told me I should win races with her. He said that he hadn't really asked her coming home, and had he done so, she would have been flying. It is very rare that the Jockey has nothing bad to say about a horse he has just worked out or raced. J was pleased, even though she'd technically gone too fast, and naturally I was delighted!
Star had in fact done the qualifying time on Monday, but was not running in a qualifier. She is entered for Monday coming to requalify as she has had a season off racing and is required to do so, and I will ask the Jockey to break the back of 2.10 to give her a real workout but the emphasis is on bringing her home. She has always had an early sprint, but she has never been trained to sprint the last quarter home. Unfortunately I'm going to be at the Royal Welsh Show on Monday and Tuesday so will be missing it, however the track secretary is going to video it on her iPad and send me it so I can watch how my girl goes.
Star working out on Monday in the mud with our stable jockey:
The plan then was to enter her to race on Thursday 30th July, where there will be heats and a final for grade 1 up. However, there is a 2 day meeting next weekend at Corbiewood, with a C Class drivers race on the Friday over a mile. G, who has been training Star for me, holds a C Class driving licence and is DESPERATE to drive her in the race, because he wants to be in the winner's enclosure with Star and me having driven her for me. J is unsure as the run may be a run too soon, and would rather work her out at the meeting before racing and head for the following Thursday fixture. We will see how she goes on Monday in the qualifier and what entries the C Class race gets. Provided racing her on the 24th wouldn't set her back the way, she may go in it. Otherwise we wait until the 30th.
Post-workout, pre-bath:
Star came home with us on Monday; on Tuesday I took her for a hack. We both loved it, she marches on and I'd forgotten how great it is to sit on a horse which is forward going (the horses I borrowed from a friend were...slower, let's say). J saw me riding down the street coming home and said she looked a picture, she's absolutely shining and at 80% race fit she's obviously in healthy condition. Wednesday evening I jogged her after work, and the spooking and excitement has gone now. Even when a group of young lads started throwing large rocks at us over the fence and shouting swear words, she kept her head down and carried on trotting around the track, which I was grateful for considering the last thing I needed was her giving a reaction and giving those toerags more ammunition to keep at us.
Marching home on our hack on Tuesday evening:
Anyway, I'm really needing your support and encouragement more than ever! I have never been in this position before with Star. Having been told too many times by people that she is useless, I now find myself being told by a public trainer, an A Class driver, a bookmaker and a handful of horsemen that I respect that I have a half decent horse on my hands. She's never going to win the Crock of Gold, she may never pace a mile faster than 2.07 around Corbiewood, but all she needs to do is win a race. If she wins two races, that makes me the best trainer she's ever had. I'm nervous, excited, terrified, all rolled into one. But what a horse I've got, she's an absolute peach to work with and I love her more than ever!
Over and out,
Sarah & Shes Some Deal (aka Star/Big Ears)
