Our annual owners day at Mount Top Stud took place on Friday August 28th with 21 owners old and new in attendance and great craic had by all.
With a number of the morning flights being delayed (including my own) we had a late kick of around 9.30am watching both Imperial Reprise and Imperial Eloquence complete their roadwork and trotting routines. Imperial Reprise is a very pleasant and well mannered horse who has been given a lot of time and now looks to be improving at a fast pace. He will continue his pre-training at Kevin's with a view to moving to Nigel's this side of Christmas. He looks good enough to make his mark in bumpers this season but his future will undoubtedly lie over fences. He has a touch of class about him.
Imperial Eloquence, the baby of the bunch looked well and was only just out of the field a week ago. He has enjoyed the summer grass and moves very well. Unlike a number of horses we buy he has the pedigree and physique to run as a 3 year old and for that reason he is already now cantering away with a view to have him at Fergal's this side of Christmas. He looks more than capable of winning a bumper or two, though he jumps hurdles beautifully and will be a cracking 2m hurdler in coming seasons.
After a short break next up were Imperial Leader and Winged Crusader both seemed very happy within themselves bucking and kicking and generally showing off to the assembled group of owners.
Since the open day in Belfast both horses have be transferred across to Nigel's. Imperial Leader has had his wind operation and will stand in for three weeks before resuming his training programme. All going we expect him to make the track around mid-November. Winged Crusader is due to hit the track before that, and given a suitable opportunity should run during October. Both horses have their own way of doing things but with a bit of luck should have exciting seasons ahead of them.
The final two horses to grace the gallops were Deputy Commander and An Caisteal Nuadh. Deputy Commander impressed in his bumper last season but the feeling at Naunton was he needed to strengthen up and strengthen up he has. A big immature horse he has filled out his big frame and whilst he has still to regain the muscle definition lost due to his layoff he certainly looks a much more mature horse now.
Having been brought back in with Leader and Crusader we have made the decision to hold him back and extra few weeks at Kevin's to further enhance his fitness and he is due to head to Nigel's at the end of the month.
An Caisteal Nuadh is due to join his full brother Casual Approach at the Gordon Elliott yard. He is showing plenty at home and looks to have been exceptionally well bought at last years Goff’s Land Rover Sale. His full brother looked very impressive winning on his his debut over hurdles by just over 3L at Limerick, and is expected to improve over fences this term. We expect An Caisteal Nuadh to run in a bumper before Christmas before facing hurdles and fences in time. His work with Deputy Commander in Belfast was the most impressive of the day and we will be very surprised if Gordon can't find him a nice opening opportunity.
Whilst Iora Glas didn't make the trip to Ireland he is in great condition at the Fergal O’Brien yard in Naunton. He has taken to the new gallops, and is working well. He schooled beautifully over hurdles on earlier this week. His early season target will be the Perth meeting at the end of the month, we are all hopeful that Fergal's excellent recent run of form continues.
After the gallops we headed to the field to catch up with Imperial Commander, he looked a picture and wouldn't look out of place lining up in a chase today. Enjoying his retirement he was happy to pose for photos and sign autographs.
Kevin and his family all kindly invited the owners to their home for a Champagne breakfast and which was accompanied by a first class spread.We found a different location for lunch this year, and the food and service was excellent. The racing chat was flowing and whilst some of us headed home for an early flight others made it to the evening meeting at Down Royal.
All in all it was an excellent day, getting the chance to see the horses in such a relaxed but professional environment really is a treat and I would urge you all to try and make the trip next year.
Our next social event will be focused on the weekend of the October meeting at Cheltenham with trips to both Nigel and Fergal's yard, though now sharing the same address we will watch each group of horses work before enjoying a lovely bit of breakfast at the newly refurbished Hollow Bottom.With the season upon us and our first runner just weeks away I am really excited about the coming months, both myself and Ian fully believe with a bit of luck we will have all 7 horses winning this season and can't wait to get started!
Finally we will be running a series of adverts for our remaining shares in the Racing Post over the next month starting next week. If anybody would like some more info on the horses before then please get in touch.