Tuesday

The day started well with one of our long-standing owners arriving for a visit. He recently purchased a nice young horse (by Flemingsfirth) from us and this was his first time viewing him on the gallop. He was very pleased to see that he is cantering well and looks like he could be a good prospect for the future.

Shane Jackson, Donal Macauley and Declan Bates had a busy morning with 20 young horses to be schooled, it was nice to see them all jump well with no casualties to be had for the mornings work. There looks to be a few nice young horses in the bunch, and we hope that these will appear on the Point-To-Point front over the next two months.

The entire yard is devastated to hear about the death of Ronan Lawlor. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends of Ronan.

Niamh

A Horse For the Future

Ballyburke won the Ladbrokes Series Pro-Am Flat Race yesterday in great style by eight lengths from Fire Belt. It really was a treat to see Ballyburke win with such ease, what a bright future he looks to hold. The occasion seemed even more special, seeing his jockey Padraig Roche wearing the famous J.P Mc Manus colours. It really has been a fulfilling week and the start of a new chapter for us all here at Fairwood Stables.

Mr J.P Mc Manus purchased Ballyburke from us only a week ago, and we certainly wish to congratulate him on his first winner here at Fairwood Stables we truly hope there will be many more winning days to follow.

We were disappointed with Vardas Partner in the 1.40 Maiden Hurdle, also at Navan yesterday but we felt he just did not handle the heavy ground having made all the running.

We really should finish off by apologising on our head Lads behalf to his wife Roisin for having him take off and leave her on their one weekend away, only to come back and check all the horses coming off the lorry on Sunday evening. Unfortunately, we do not think he is going to change now! However, we do thank him for his dedication.

Niamh

Thirty First Time lucky.

Patience, commitment and determination is the key to any good racehorse trainer, and this was proved by Philip yesterday in Limerick, as he watched his charge Got the Urge romp home in style by a clear cutting ten lengths under jockey Donal Macauley. This was a special occasion for the staff of fairwood stables, to see this horse finally get his head in front, although placed on a majority of his thirty outings, we lived in hope that he would eventually battle forward to win, which he did in great style. Thirty First time lucky! A combination of a patient, brave ride by Donal, excellent choice of race by Philip, and perfect preparation by his work rider, our head lad Micheal  Jordan, succeeded in yet another win for Fairwood stables and its team.

Without doubt, a huge thank you must go to his owner Mrs Joan Lambert, who has been extremely patient with this horse. It is Mrs Lambert's second win in two weeks, as Current Recession, one of her other charges won his bumper in Naas by 10 lengths last week. We hope that we can continue to have many more winners for her in the future.

Our two other horses in Limerick yesterday also ran super races. Ballyburke a beautiful bay horse by Tikkanen, haven previously won his  point-to-point was only beaten into second by 1 3/4 lengths behind Some Target under jockey Declan Bates, he is without a doubt an exciting prospect  for the future. Smack that was 3rd in the Greenmount beginners chase behind Presenting Massey, which was also an excellent run for him over fences under the mount of Paul Townend.  

Thankfully, all our horses here at Fairwood Stables are in great spirits and performing to the best of their ability. We can look forward to the coming week with great anticipation.

Double at Thurles

This is what horseracing is all about. I am getting a great taste of what it is like to be a winning racehorse owner in Ireland, and I can tell you there really is no better feeling than shouting at the top of your lungs and shaking with anticipation when your  pride and joy is romping down to the last in a Grade 2.  We have had a double in Thurles today with Paddy O Dee winning the first in great style under the mount of Shane Jackson for owner Oliver Barden. This is our first winner for Oliver and we hope that there will be many more.

Tally Em Up put up what seemed like an easy win in the Grade 2 mares only Steeplechase today, well that’s at least how David Russell made it seem. However, at this side of the water it was very difficult to watch. I bought this mare jointly with Leigh Murphy at the Tattersalls August Sales in 2007 and although she was placed in some competitive bumpers, it took her a while to get off the mark when winning a maiden hurdle in Wexford. She is a big mare and it has taken time for her to develop into the star she most certainly is today. There will be a large pot of feed in her stable this evening and I think maybe a large feed of alcohol in our bellies by tomorrow morning!!!  Well done to Mick and Leigh Murphy who are joint owners of Tally.  Without Mick beside me at the sales ring, I may have backed out of our decision to purchase.

One final note would be to say a big thank you to Rosie who looks after Tally Em Up and really has a long established love for this mare, which has without any shadow of doubt, paid off.