Has it really been 3 months since the site was last updated?! Well it just shows what happens when life gets in the way!! Anyway, now life is settling back down to normal I thought it was time for a half term report and possible preview of what might be in store in the next few months. The observant ones amongst you will have seen that several residents of Bally Doyle have (pardon the pun!) moved to pastures new and only one stall being refilled. The reason - simple at the previous rate of breeding we were going to run out of stalls and time to purchase new ones before the breeding season decends upon us again. In the last three seasons we have bred:
- 2013 = 20 foals (or at least there are still 20 foals from that season still in our stable so the figure may have been higher)
- 2014 = 30 foals
- 2015 = 31 foals
Hopefully by the time breeding comes round proper, I will only have 20 mares to find suitable mates for!!! There is also a chance that one or two stallions may be up for sale plus a couple of decent racers who wont fit the long term profile - so watch the sales pages!
Going back to the track performances so far, there has been little G1 excitement but plenty of wins at various levels including Eyes on Fire making a nice niche in the G3/G2 classic dirt division, Edward Cullen enjoying the dirt sprints and Bella Swan going for the turf equivalent. Claire De Lune won herself an early retirement reprive after her dismal 3yr old debut by nearly snatching the English 1000 Guineas. Emmett (like his namesake) is being reliable and keeping the cheques coming in between 7f - 9f.
Other than that our 3yr old crop is below average and many wont be hanging around to turn 4 in our barn. Luckily the elder runners like The Fates over his beloved turf mile and RememberNinentyNine over her favoured 12f on grass are keeping the stable afloat! Champions Dream is currently undecided if she wants to be reliable or not by throwing complete howlers of a race after a brilliant one - one for the barn though : )
The jury is out on the 2yr olds although AngelandTheBadman and TooFrenchForMe have shown early promise. On the plus side as I dont breed for 2yr old seasons most are going to mature at 3 (with a few at 4!) so I can try to justify the poor performances as immaturity.
So with the season now halfway through, the overall stable rating would be B to B+ with the comments - must try harder. Looking ahead to the BC races, its still too early to commit but The Fates will be back for one last shot and RememberNinentyNine will probably go in the van with him.
No post would be complete with the mention of other stables and big shouts go out to Stephen at Golden Acres for taking the Jewel of the American Triple Crown with Hagrid's Backhand, a filly no less and to my good friend Jim Webber at Otsego Farms for the resurgence in his stable, curtesy of new purchases in the staying division and some nice homebreds reminding him why he plays :) At the other end of the spectrum it is no surprise to see a certain HHH Stable selling what appears to be his entire stable for $1 only to turn around and buy a gazillion other horses for 50c! Still - if thats what makes him enjoy the game long may it continue!
Until next time chaps and chapettes - au reviour!
