Spectre
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Thanks very much gentlemen. We were very pleased with that. Some of you will know that his seasons plan went west fairly early as we've had a few things come to light through the season. We started off with a copper deficiency, then a wobble and treatment after his first race, we found ulcers after his second race, and then he wasn't well after Boxing Day. We've been pretty patient with him since then, with this race as the target.
I thought Harry gave him an absolute peach of a ride on Saturday. They went bloody quick for a 3m2f chase, and he was allowed to be close enough to that pace without having to do the real hard yards. Harry just pulling him out for a bit of daylight to see his fences without lighting him up. He produced him perfectly, and he won going away from them. We'd discussed some time ago, that we agreed we'll see him at his best over an extended 3 miles, on good or good to soft, and when there is a really good pace on. So it proved. The race was run to suit (we'd have taken it up if it wasn't), and he powered home up the straight with the whole field spread out like washing.
I'm particularly pleased for Dan, because he's taken some figuring out, and we needed a very good Plan B. We now know he's ground dependant to be at his best, and doesn't want it too slow. It's not that he won't go on soft or heavy, he'll guts it out, but he's likely to be beaten by something that enjoys the conditions. And to be fair he's run into some very well handicapped horses that have won plenty of races since that really enjoyed those conditions. So he's probably over-performed on it really. Plus he's a bit of a head case, very immature, and concentration has been an issue. He has his head in the clouds most of the time, and during morning work he's very easy to spot amongst horses, because he's usually the one messing about trying to see what's going on everywhere else but where he's supposed to be. I guarantee very few trainers would have figured him out the way Dan has. They wouldn't have had the patience. In most yards he'd be running every other week by now, and would have been burnt out with miles on the clock long before he was able to win a race like Saturday's. Knowing what's happened behind the scenes, I can't even begin to tell you how good a trainer Dan is.
The race, while not perfect on Saturday, was the nearest we've seen Jeff to being a man. He was a bit 'jig-joggy' and on his toes beforehand, and hung left for a little bit, but it was all very minor stuff compared to what we've seen before. Now we know exactly what he needs trip and ground-wise, and he appears to be growing up mentally. So we're very hopeful he'll now start to fulfil his potential. The handicapper has given us 8lbs this morning which puts him up to 120 which is line with what we expected. He'll have a couple more races before he has a break, but only a short break, because we'll be going to Chepstow's Persian War Meeting season opener in October, and then a holiday to avoid the winter ground. Fingers-crossed we have a successful time of it over those three races, because if we do we should have a good mark to use for something nice next Spring.
Once again thanks for the well wishes, and the interest you guys all show in Jeff. It's very much appreciated.
I thought Harry gave him an absolute peach of a ride on Saturday. They went bloody quick for a 3m2f chase, and he was allowed to be close enough to that pace without having to do the real hard yards. Harry just pulling him out for a bit of daylight to see his fences without lighting him up. He produced him perfectly, and he won going away from them. We'd discussed some time ago, that we agreed we'll see him at his best over an extended 3 miles, on good or good to soft, and when there is a really good pace on. So it proved. The race was run to suit (we'd have taken it up if it wasn't), and he powered home up the straight with the whole field spread out like washing.
I'm particularly pleased for Dan, because he's taken some figuring out, and we needed a very good Plan B. We now know he's ground dependant to be at his best, and doesn't want it too slow. It's not that he won't go on soft or heavy, he'll guts it out, but he's likely to be beaten by something that enjoys the conditions. And to be fair he's run into some very well handicapped horses that have won plenty of races since that really enjoyed those conditions. So he's probably over-performed on it really. Plus he's a bit of a head case, very immature, and concentration has been an issue. He has his head in the clouds most of the time, and during morning work he's very easy to spot amongst horses, because he's usually the one messing about trying to see what's going on everywhere else but where he's supposed to be. I guarantee very few trainers would have figured him out the way Dan has. They wouldn't have had the patience. In most yards he'd be running every other week by now, and would have been burnt out with miles on the clock long before he was able to win a race like Saturday's. Knowing what's happened behind the scenes, I can't even begin to tell you how good a trainer Dan is.
The race, while not perfect on Saturday, was the nearest we've seen Jeff to being a man. He was a bit 'jig-joggy' and on his toes beforehand, and hung left for a little bit, but it was all very minor stuff compared to what we've seen before. Now we know exactly what he needs trip and ground-wise, and he appears to be growing up mentally. So we're very hopeful he'll now start to fulfil his potential. The handicapper has given us 8lbs this morning which puts him up to 120 which is line with what we expected. He'll have a couple more races before he has a break, but only a short break, because we'll be going to Chepstow's Persian War Meeting season opener in October, and then a holiday to avoid the winter ground. Fingers-crossed we have a successful time of it over those three races, because if we do we should have a good mark to use for something nice next Spring.
Once again thanks for the well wishes, and the interest you guys all show in Jeff. It's very much appreciated.
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