MORE NEWS AND UPDATES FOR DECEMBER 2011 - WITH SHEENA'S UPDATE'S ABOUT THE HORSES !

Golan Way heads for Kempton and The King George on Boxing Day

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY OWNERS!

First things first so let me take the opportunity to wish a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New year from me, my family and all of the staff here at Balmer Farm.

Well now, what a good time we are having of it lately. For those that don't know the stats speak for themselves.

The horses continue to thrive and as most of you know I do enjoy a double or two ;-) I'm not going to mention the bloody sheep other than that they are all over the place. An incredibly dry autumn meant the summer horses were able to keep running for a bit longer than might be the case, it also meant that the winter horses had their return delayed a few weeks, but all's ok now. It also meant that the grass keep growing for longer than normal so those that are out were able to do so a bit longer. Even the mare and foal are still living out and doing well with plenty of hard feed.

My darling brother is putting the yard's success firmly at his front door as he made the hay and very proud of his hay he is too!

Now, to the other stars of the yard!


REACTION
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He's now back in light work. I'd actually forgotten he was still around which is the best way to be after a horse has had leg trouble. He'll be trained this year but I doubt he will run as, by the time he's ready the ground will probably have firmed up again. I could always rush him which is never a good idea after waiting for so long and he's still quite young.

LEG IRON
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I think he's better than I thought he'd be. He is a tremendous galloper who jumps for fun. His debut has been delayed by a bit of coughing. He should be out in the New Year.

GOLAN WAY
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What can I say? He very nearly went without his tea after the debacle at Wincanton and what didn't happen there, but however head scratchingly disappointing it was we still had a talented horse to bring home and have another day with. The priority was to get his season back to the original plan. Frustratingly, with his rating, races are hard to find and Cheltenham over hurdles was the first available. Marc was chosen to ride him as he knows the horse well. Incidentally and just changing tack slightly, the new whip rules are fine if everybody knows exactly what they are. For example, Golan Way has sometimes needed one or two slaps behind the saddle at the start of the race, fine, no problem with that until now. It is well documented that jumpers are allowed 8 hits in total during a race. Fine, but when does the counting actually start? I've spoken to starters and jockeys and they all say from when the tapes go up. I referred to the BHA memo I received when the rules came in....ermmmm....no mention. I then spoke to the The BHA and they said from when the horses are called in or 'Under Orders' and to compound matters if there is a false start any hits still count. Plus to add even more confusion to this "black and white" rule the stewards are now allowed to use their discretion and no one knows what they will decree until the race is over! This clearly makes this whip ruling potentially very tricky to interpret and fully understand.

Anyway, back to Golan Way... despite my initial worries there was no problem with him and off he popped with not a bother on him. Marc kept the ride at Sandown and it was a joy to watch them both enjoying themselves out in front.

The King George on Boxing Day awaits him now and it's going to be tough. I am sure everybody knows that, but, that said we shall try to make the most of the opportunity as they don't come along very often and this is great for the everyone at the yard, the owners (WRB Racing) and of course for Marc!

MOHANAD
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He's on a winter holiday after such a tremendous season under both codes netting 3 wins. He's funny in that he doesn't seem to mind any ground on the flat but over jumps it has to be fast, but we'll work with that. He will go novice chasing next season and run on the flat as well and maybe improve enough to get a run in the Ceaserwitch next year. I think he's a poor man's overturn!

DUBAI GLORY
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She's enjoying her break as much as she enjoys being in training. Everything she does is to the absolute max. We had another go at the AW with her but it just doesn't suit her. It would be nice if she can make further progress on the flat next season, if not she'd make a lovely hurdler.

BE ALL MAN
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Manny is great. A fabulous second at Ascot was followed up with a battling win at Warwick. He'll go hurdling in the New Year and will make up into a really good 3 miler in a bit of time. Plans are vaguer than anyone wants them to be at the moment as the race programme for 2012 has still not been published which obviously makes it hard to plan where to go with him.

COOLAGAD STAR
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She'd been going well at home then unfortunately met with a bit of coughing. By the time she was over that she missed her intended debut and had to go to Newbury this week instead. She finished 7th under extreme conditions. It was a good run and there is some fun to be had with her.

MR MUDDLE
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He's back now and looks great. He jumps very well and might well go chasing. He needs a bit of variety to keep his brain engaged on his job.

CHILLWORTH LASS
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Very pleased with her. She's a real trier and jumps well too. She had to miss her hurdles debut with an infection and as soon as all's well she will be out.

BRILLIANT BARCA
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Well done to all of you whose faith was duly rewarded by his winning first time out at Warwick. He has a lazy style of racing. He's a very laid back horse at all times, which makes it quite hard to gauge how he's going at home. However, this trait will stand him in good stead when he goes over further or the ground gets more testing as he's never going to pull too hard. Currently looking at Chepstow or Newbury for him at the moment, but really need that Programme book to see what else is around. Without it, it makes getting a race plan together for the horses very difficult.

FEB THIRTY FIRST
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Behaved himself well on his debut and we were expecting to see an improvement next time, however it was not to be.

YA HAFED
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He continues to impress at home and although it was a hot race I was expecting to see more from him at Newbury where he was very disappointing. There's far more to this horse than that and you will see it soon...I hope!

HI NOTE
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What a little star she's been. She handles mud and stays well and very tough with it. Currently no one wants to buy her though so I think I shall keep her and possibly take her away from Fontwell even. She's rated 115 but I'm sure there has to be a couple more to be won with her yet. It was a good run last week and she would have been second if she'd been ridden to do so but that's sometimes just the way it goes.

JUST JOSIE
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All those weather hold ups and things last year meant she went home quite early in the spring after just 2 runs in good races which earned her a mark of 87. When she came back a few weeks ago it was quickly clear she had done unbelievably well over the summer and finally starting to fill out her big, gangly frame. I was a bit concerned that when she started fast work she might melt away again, but she didn't. She's always jumped like a spider on acid and 3 miles+ chasing was always the plan with her. It's so nice to see it all come together this week at Folkestone. She'd been there before as a 2 year old over 7 furlongs... how bizarre! She and Mr Muddle are actually brother and sister and her owner/breeders (Ron and Christine Muddle) are understandably both very proud.

MAC FEDERAL
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Blimey, he may be getting on now but there's no doubting his ability and his enthusiasm is still clearly there. We'd love to retire him but he just doesn't want to know. Hard to find realistic races for him, but he's won at Kempton and it's a fair track for his dodgy legs so he'll go there on Boxing Day!

GALLOPING QUEEN
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She's got that love of second place which is a little annoying. She'd picked up a little cough but will be out in the New Year with any luck.

QUAILS HOLLOW
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I bought him at Newmarket. A beautifully bred strong type if not overly big but was progressive on the flat last year so with luck he will make a good dual purpose horse for his new owners.

SILVER SIX
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Has shown absolutely zilch on the flat, but plenty of NH form in his family. He is only two and as he comes recommended from Mick Channon's yard anything might happen with him.

ALFRAAMSEY
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A truly fantastic little horse whose exceeded all expectations. He's currently on holiday until the spring as he must have fast ground. Also, despite being only 3, I think he's had about 50 odd starts now and really deserves his break.

GEORDIE BOY
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He has a bit of ability and still has a big frame to furnish. It should all gel together for him soon I hope.

Sheena West - Friday 16th December 2011