HIGH END HIGH ABOVE LAMBOURN A VISIT TO OWEN BURROWS YARD

Nestled just a stone’s throw from the Membury services M4, and overlooking the Lambourn Valley lies Kingswood House Stables. 

Trainer Owen Burrows, one time National Hunt jockey to the likes of David Nicholson and Josh Gifford,more recently assistant trainer to Sir Michael Stoute, in his first season on his own has been entrusted to train for one of the prolific owners of the racing game Hamdan Al Maktoum.

With the sad loss of John Hills, not only to his family,but also the sport of Kings, has meant this young first season trainer has been pushed to the forefront with 70 horses in his care, all capable of winning somewhere in the country, some capable of picking up the top races.

 Aged 26, serving just under half his life with the master of Freemason Lodge a small, a select group including yours truly, were given the time and patience from this knowledgeable young gun.

Some fine two year olds on display as we watched the horses work a steady canter up the self-contained all weather, the trainer having all that he needs to take things forward. ‘we are self-sufficient here which is nice, you can hear the hum of the M4 but otherwise peaceful, and that’s how we like it.’

On a 16% strike rate for the season. 14 winners from 85 runners, the trainer is honest enough to know how lucky he has been, ‘Michael Hills and Sir Michael Stoute have to be greatly respected for bringing me to the attention of the owner.’ Or the ‘boss’ as he affectionately calls him.
‘They spoke to Angus Gold, and from that to Hamdan Al Maktoum and here we are, I wake up most mornings feeling incredibly lucky.’

All horse looked well, the youngsters on the gallops looked sharp but calm, the trainer mentioning that on Monday mornings he would be worried if some were not bucking and squealing. ‘It’s sad to hear Newmarket has some sort of virus hovering around, I would know straight away if mine were quiet, touch wood at present all is fine.’

Horses cantered, and described passionately by the trainer. Owen mentioned how lucky he was to have a good team behind him, ‘Some were here when I arrived, so I inherited quality which was half the battle.’ The staff worked quietly, but efficiently around the yard as the trainer walked us by each and every box in both his older horse and younger horses yards.

On the gallops with the two year olds

Each Sheikh Hamdan's owned horses have a purpose, each well selected to pick up races and classics, ‘the majority are sourced by the owner and Angus, I can choose a couple a year from my list, but again the boss and Angus have the final say.’

The occupants looked calm and content in the smart, modern surroundings, nothing is left unturned.

Owen Burrows explains about his horses

‘My new addition is the salt chamber,’ Salt being a natural ingredient is ground by a machine into a fine powder and like an air conditioner the power is gently put into the air, the horse ingests it and it settles on their coats. ‘It helps the horse get rid of any bad mucus in the lungs and also is good for the skin, three horses can stand in here at a time and they don’t seem to mind it.’
The brain child of Tom Taaffe, son of Arkle legend Pat, the ‘salt chamber’ seems to be a positive and growing trend, Sheikh Hamdan setting up a few throughout his racing empire.

How fortunate to be shown individually around such fine horses, could possibly we have been graced with a few of a classic winner  as we went from box to box?
 some horse shown were.

Markaz 4yo By Dark Angle Out of Folga, By Atraf 

Mezel 5yo By Tamayuz out of Mumayeza By Indian Ridge

Okool 2yo By Cape Cross out of Seschat By Sinndar

Owen Burrows seems to have a likeable and intelligent nature,you can see why the great and the good of the industry like him, he gives you time.
 And by this I should reckon this would transmit into his training. Patience is need with this game, too rushed and things will break, to slow and things will pass you by. Well you can say for this trainer at Kingswood House he certainly hasn’t let this opportunity pass, gabbed it firmly with both hand and steering it positively forward.

Is Owen Burrows the new kid on the block for the big time flat trainers crown, well with the experienced owners behind him who knows, a possibility I would say, the proof being shown in the pudding, that would put even Mary Berry to shame.

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GREY DANVERS AT JONATHAN PORTMANS YARD

Set at the edge of the Lambourn Gallops, Upper Lambourn based Jonathan Portman resides at the modern, but yet keeping in with the surroundings Whitcoombe House Stables

About 65 at stable at present, the mild mannered master took a group around his stables and proudly showed his stable star two-year-old Mrs Danvers off, in the stables as well as on the Lambourn gallops.

Mrs Danvers

The versatile grey filly who has won her last four trips over the five furlongs, the last outing being Bathwick Tyres St Hugh's Fillies' Stakes at Newbury, went through a gentle paced piece of work, and looking at this rising speed merchentess, it was plain to see why her wins have been on ground from good to soft to good to firm over the past few months.

To look at from a distance this flint grey filly looks as pretty as spring itself, butter would not melt in her mouth. Up close you can see just what an athlete she is. The engine looks like it’s all there, and up close she looks like a horse, none of this slender, petite two-year-old with this daughter of Hellveyn. She’s the real McCoy to be sure.

Mrs Danvers wins a class II 5 furlong sprint at Windsor in June

Jonathan Portman

The master of Whitcoombe House speaks passionately and knowledgeably about his charges. Having only a small string out at a time, gives the trainer chance to cast his eye over the details. This showed for sure as he described each of his four horses as they went about their work.

The feeling you got as you listened to him was that he genuinely cared not only for his workplace, horses and business. But his staff who went about their work with professionalism and courtesy. All I felt were up to the task of making you feel welcome and part of the experience, a part of the business that is so important in today's market.

Back at the stable three separate barns gave room and space for each of the occupants to freely see their surrounds, no shouting, yelling or cooped up horses at this stable. I tend to judge a stable by putting myself in the horse stand point. What do they see? Smell? Do? And it was evident that the peace and serine environment made for a fine place to be in training.

The yard is peppered with horses that are no slouches. Horses such as Russian Radiance, Pasaka Boy and Ikymasho. Everyone taking their place under the watchful eye of the onetime Amateur Jockey.

Free to Rock 'N' Roll

The conclusion, well the lack of words speaks for themselves, not much to say, more to see really. This is a true horseman’s yard, what you see is what you get. The sign on the trainers horse box Leicester bound with three runners, Intimately winning the last. Clearly states ‘Own a racehorse, it’s easier and cheaper than you think’ well, some may argue in the financial terms, but easy, well yes it would be with Jonathan in charge, simple and quality. Or should I rephrase.

Simply quality.

Simply quality.

More images of the vistit, click on the link below

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And go to the HORSE RACING folder

EARLY AUTUMN AFTERNOON RACING AT ROYAL WINDSOR RACECOURSE 5-9-16

Seven races to start Windsor racecourses Autumn afternoon of racing campaign, and the last racing at the royal course before a few weeks’ break, giving the ground a much needed breather.

 3.8 mm of rain falling overnight at the Berkshire track, leaving the course at the start of racing as going good.

The racing started off with a bang for Pat Cosgrave riding an opening race double when Silver Penny at 20/1 took the six-furlong maiden race by a neck from the Jo Tuite trained Red Alert.

Silver Penny

The two-year-old by Hellvelyn on only her second run of her racing career, finishing last of a seven runner field at Lingfield on her maiden voyage, seemed to enjoy the ground that was giving a little on the top, the ground after the first being reverted to Good to soft. 

Trained by Jim Boyle, whose horses seem to run on from their second outings onwards mentioned, ‘she will come on from that run, her draw helped and Pat kept her on the outside to maintain that advantage in the draw.’

The jockey on the first winner of his double for the afternoon mentioned the filly gave him a nice feel throughout and seems to be an improving sort.

Cosgrave’s second winner of the afternoon came on one of William Haggas’s three year olds in the six furlong handicap. Sirajiah by Exceed and Excel going to post the 4/1/ fav seemed to keep going as she ran to the line, beating Equistar from the Jonathan Portman yard by half a length.

Sirajiah

The jockey mentioned about the filly on her first win from five starts,

'she has been second in most of her runs, and has been doing nothing wrong other than coming up against some nice horses, she is so nice to have in the yard so I’m pleased for her to actually get her nose in front.’

Both of the Cosgrave ‘girls’ seem nice types that have improved to the point of taking their races, now the trick for the trainers is where to place them next and progress. Two certainly for the note books and to follow throughout, now the winning bubble has been burst.

Silver Penny ‘she will come on from that run, her draw helped and Pat kept her on the outside to maintain that advantage in the draw.’

Sirajiah 'she has been second in most of her runs, and has been doing nothing wrong other than coming up against some nice horses, 

The third race of the afternoon a mile nursery event, Denmead trainer Michael Madwick sent his two-year-old colt Quothquan to post at 4/1. 

By group one race winner Myboycharlie out of an Invincible Spirit mare, the colt on now one win from five starts seemed to relish the give in the ground staying on well to beat Richard Hannon’s two-year-old Buskin River.

4/5 fav Mister Blue sky well beat back in fourth took the field over to the far side rail in front, in a tightly contested final furlong, the jockey on the winner 5lbs claimer George Wood mentioning,

’He is a nice horse, we have all taken the far rail following Jamie Spencer on Richard Hughes’s Jumping Jack, but he has done that well.’

’we have a small string and I’m happy with the improvement of the horse, I do not over run my horses. 

Quothquan

The trainer happy with the efforts of his colt mentioned,

’we have a small string and I’m happy with the improvement of the horse, I do not over run my horses. 

He was slightly unlucky at Sailsbury and George said he settled well into his race today, he can get a bit hot beforehand.’ 

The trainer who said that the 5 lbs claimer who has ridden the horse as a two year old did a fine job getting over to the other side of the track and commanding the race.

The fourth race, a mile three maiden saw six runners go to post. Roger Varien sending 5/4 fav 

West drive into the race with only one trip to the winners enclosure in seven running's.

West drive

Andrea Atzeni on board the good looking grey by Sea the stars looked every much the winner, the jockey explaining 

‘he seems to have come into himself since being gelded and then having blinkers on,he has matured also and has run in some nice handicaps so he was entitled to win another race really.’

The three year old looking like still having a bit of maturing to complete his education, looks the part, as a three year old it would be hoped with time would become a little more on the genuine side. 

A nice type well put together horse and one surly to watch.

‘he seems to have come into himself since being gelded and then having blinkers on,he has matured also and has run in some nice handicaps so he was entitled to win another race really.’

Fire Jet at 3/1 lit up the one mile three furlong handicap for three year olds and upwards. Trained in Church Broughton by John Mackie the three year old filly seemed to enjoy the softer ground, electing to stay on the stand side of the track. at 3/1 lit up the one mile three furlong handicap for three year olds and upwards.

 Trained in Church Broughton by John Mackie the three year old filly seemed to enjoy the softer ground, electing to stay on the stand far of the track.

Fire Jet

Ridden by Tom Queally who mentioned,
’she has won that quite comprehensibly really, not the easiest of races for her and she was off the bridle a lot sooner when winning at Newmarket, but it was good to get a win for the trainer.’

The trainer mentioning that the horse was still a little immature mentally but happy with her improvement. 

‘She didn't really have the greatest of journeys here really, along time in the box due to heavy traffic, so she has done well.’

The filly by Ask out of a Dutch Art mare seems to be the versatile sort winning on both firm and soft ground, the jockey also hinting she could get a little further.

’she has won that quite comprehensibly really, not the easiest of races for her and she was off the bridle a lot sooner when winning at Newmarket, but it was good to get a win for the trainer.’

Tom Queally like Pat Cosgrave onto a quickfire double when he partnered 20//1 shot Tom’s Rock to win the one mile two furlong handicap beating John Bridgers Betsalottie. 

‘He is a horse that is slowly getting the hang of things, but improving also, I have had to get after him today but in the end has taken the race well.

Tom’s Rock

Trained in Newmarket by John Butler the three year old by Rock of Gibraltar off top weight has come on well from a disappointing run at Linfield last time out.

‘We have come over to the stand side but to be honest I don’t think that it makes much difference really, it’s were the race wanted to go, and I’m delighted for the owner Tom Burredge who is unwell at the moment. But he is a brave horse that has dug deep today.’

'I’m delighted for the owner Tom Burredge who is unwell at the moment. But he is a brave horse that has dug deep today.

The final race of the afternoon came in the shape of a ten runner, five furlongs dash. The in form trainer Kevin Ryan coming down south to take the five furlong handicap.

Ridden by Kevin Stott, Fast Act the well bred four year old took the race well to beat Clive cox with Silken Skies who seems to run horses well at the Berkshire course.

Fast Act (left) Silken Skies (right)

‘Kevin's horse seem to be running well at the moment and he has sent this fella down here with a good chance.He was not a bad two year old really, just didn't fire as a three year old but seems to have come back to himself as he has matured.’

With two wins from fifteen starts the Fast Company gelding out of a Green Desert mare dose not look the striking type. But on the course seems to show his quality breeding.

’ He has a good lot of speed and battles well and I hope with a little cut coming into the ground we can get him out quick again.’

With two wins from fifteen starts the Fast Company gelding out of a Green Desert mare dose not look the striking type. But on the course seems to show his quality breeding.

One to put in the note books if entered and out quick enough to catch the ground just on the turn, I would expect more on northern tacks rather than trips too often down south.

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