Having watched Dorotas Wildcat so impressive in the Eclipse – what a fantastic performance, I am so pleased for Kevin Hutton – I am pleased to report that one of our Derby finalists, Bruisers Bullet has been given the all-clear.
(Vet) Stefano x-rayed him and found that the chip in his wrist, picked up in a trial at Nottingham in June, has callused over and he would appear to be sound.
At the moment, he is overweight and nowhere near being able to trial. But if all goes to plan, he is a very lightly raced dog and may still come back. I would love to think we could have a crack at next year’s Derby.
I was delighted with Brigadier Bullet’s run in the first round of the Essex Vase.
He trialled the best of our three at Shelbourne, 30.96 for the 575 yards, but wasn’t accepted for the Night Of Stars. I guess it was difficult because we already had two runners in the stayers races and there might have been complaints if we have been given a third.
Normally I would question whether he would have enough early pace for Romford’s 575 metres – he would look better suited to the 750 – but when he traps as quickly as he did on Friday, he is always going to take some beating.
He is in a very tough semi final, drawn between Shotgun Bullet and Mays Thistlecrack, I would gladly settle for getting through to the final.
Looking further ahead, we are already thinking about the Golden Jacket at Crayford.
As a 34.5 kilo dog, I don’t know whether Brigadier would be suited to Crayford. But then his sister, Baroness Bullet, isn’t much smaller at around 31.5kg.
You can never tell how they will run Crayford. There is a theory that if they can run Romford, they should be okay for Crayford, but they are quite different tracks, the Romford bends are actually quite big.
We’ve won the Jacket a couple of times. Hometown Honey had good early pace but could keep going Patchys Kerry couldn’t stay the Hove 695m but got home for the 714m at Crayford.
I am hoping that we have Aayamza Express in the kennel by then. She went out early in the Irish Derby having reached the Irish Oaks Final.
The general consensus is that she has always looked a future staying star. Karol Ramsbottom reports she has been going well in gallops and should be arriving in January.
It’s a sign of the transition in the kennel that we don’t have a pup for the Gain Puppy Derby which starts on Sunday, but I would still expect to have half a dozen runners in supporting opens.
The Sunday afternoon meetings have become one of the highlights of the week. They are well supported by visiting trainers. Just look last week: Seamus Cahill, Kevin Hutton, John Mullins, Pete Harnden, Jim Hayton, June Harvey, Derek Law. . .
There is a terrific atmosphere. But then there is a rally good vibe among the trainers, even for graded meetings. You don’t get the backstabbing that you find in some places if someone gets a couple of winners.
It also has to be said, the money is excellent, £60 for every runner, plus a trainer’s bonus of £15, and all paid into your bank account by the Tuesday.
Tell me where you will find any better!
