The Blog

9th November

Remarkable, and a little scary, that it is 20 years ago that the Berlin Wall came tumbling down. The BBC footage being played out as I write seemingly from a couple of weeks ago, not a couple of decades. I was working in the City at the time. On the tube at about this hour of the morning, heading into a faceless trading floor filled with egos and, in those days, the smell of stale cigarette smoke. As I was, at the time, a 20 Marlboro Gold a day man, I was certainly more than partially responsible for the latter. How I miss it all......

The Breeders Cup evening organised by Fitzdares (probably the finest bookmaker in the land) a great fun event. The Mandarin Oriental on Knightsbridge. Plasma screens aplenty relaying the action from Stateside. A delicious dinner and some spectacular wines. An evening to savour. Goldikova extraordinary, Conduit given a gem of a ride by Ryan Moore and Zenyatta beyond compare - an utterly compelling evening of sport (and a British Heavyweight Boxing Champion as well....)

A busy week ahead. Entries aplenty. A bit of juggling required. The weather Gods sitting in the wings ready to play their hand. Today the calm before the storm. No runners. But paperwork mountains to address and plans to finalise. A few of the jumpers ready to be unleashed. An exciting, and nerve-wracking, week.....

Breeders Cup Saturday

Thursday evening. About half past seven. The Bath Arms near Longleat....

"Err.... We have no booking in your name, Mr Baker." "You are joining 9 others for dinner ? We have no booking for that number"....

Not a great start. Am I in the right place ?? Am I on the right date ??

A couple of nervy telephone calls - and I establish that I am in the right place at the right time. Which is a bit of a relief...

"We have no rooms left. But there is the gatehouse down in the park..."

And so it came to pass that I spent Thursday night at the end of the Longleat drive, with the most fantastic views of the stately home and grounds. The only marginal downside being the pitch black walk "home" after dinner through the Park, tales of the "Longleat Lions" ringing in my ears. Each hedge that I strode past seemed to rustle and shake as if a giant cat was about to leap out. In all probability, it was no more than a couple of slugs munching on a leaf - but I was relieved to reach "home" unscathed.....

To London this evening for the Fitzdares ("probably the finest bookmakers in the world"...) annual Breeders Cup dinner. Always an eclectic and interesting gathering - and great fun. And hopefully another good time in the Californian sun for the Europeans. 

Thursday 5th November

As I trundled around the gallop before dawn yesterday morning, I foolishly thought that I had had a remarkably "mechanical incident" free few months. Foolish indeed.....  

On the way to downtown Dunstall, I pulled into the services on the M5 to grab a Racing Post. No Racing Post. So I turned on my heels and ran back out to the garage forecourt....

No car. Sh*t !!! My effing car has been stolen. Can you believe how stupid I had been to leave the keys in the ignition. "But Officer, I was only rushing in for a newspaper"..... A split second of feeling completely helpless, trying to remember what belongings of note were in the car...

But then I spied, some 50 yards away, the bonnet of a car protruding out of a hedge. Sheepishly, I approached the hedge, to be greeted by the sight of a decimated brick wall beside the hedge. My car - but if it has careered into and smashed the wall, the damage is sure to be not inconsequential. Gingerly I walked around my vehicle, clambering over bits of splintered branches, and remarkably all seemed in perfect order. The smashed-up wall had not been my car's doing....

Starting the car, I extricated myself from the hedge - and proceeded northwards onto the M5 in an orderly fashion. Note to self - check that hand brake is fully engaged. I expect to see my car's antics on Sky Tv's next blockbuster series, "Cars with minds of their own....."

Some pleasing work at downtown Dunstall. A couple of eyecatching pieces of work. And then a perfectly satisfactory run from Phoenix Enforcer at Warwick. Softer ground and more of a trip and she will be winning again. 

Wednesday 4th November

A downtown Dunstall morning. The horsebox revving up and ready to go....

The big news (only news) from yesterday being the birth of a son to my sister Muffy and husband Charlie. Fred trading at about 2/5 at present, a copying of the Rooneys with "Ki" a rather more generous million to one shot...

London for lunch today with Breeding Capital guru William Sporborg and Jimmy Brecknock. Followed by a bit of Emirates action with Arsenal taking on the might of FC Metal Scrapings from Uzbechistan - I think..

The rain arrived big time yesterday. Warwick could be pretty squelchy this afternoon. Perfect for Phoenix Enforcer....

Tuesday

"The Race that stops a nation...."

One year it would be fantastic to be in situ in Melbourne in November for The Cup. Rather than setting the alarm clock for 3.55 and watching Australia's great horserace through blurred and sleepy eyes. I have been lucky enough to see a couple of Breeders Cups, several Derbys and Arcs and many  more seminal horseraces - but no Racing CV can be complete without attending the Melbourne Cup. Music Box Express for the 2010 running....??!!

To Kempton yesterday. And Friendly King clearly needing his seasonal debut - as ever. He is a stuffy horse who requires plenty of work, and yesterday's run will have brought him on a ton. That is a cliche so often heard from Trainers - but it is one of the more pertinent ones as there is no substitute for racecourse action for bringing a horse on.

No runners today. And so a chance to head down to see Peter and Anne Scott Dunn and their horses near Ascot. Steak and kidney pie and dumplings on the menu. Valerie and I were discussing the merits or otherwise of dumplings on the way home from Southwell the other day - I am definitely in the "pro" camp. 

Yer man who, for whatever reason, was masquerading as me in a Warwick printers on Saturday was described by the police yesterday as "a sandwich just short of a picnic". You do not need to be Sherlock Holmes to work that one out. I struggle at times coping with being me - it would be a complete nightmare for anybody else to try and do it....!!??

Rain lashing against the windows as I write. Pitch black. And a howling gale. Running plans for later in the week in the hands (again....) of those charming, but sometimes frustrating, weather Gods. Who knows where we will have been by Sunday. Potentially confusing. Perhaps I may delegate a few decisions to my picnicking friend of the above paragraph.....    

November 2nd

Back to a degree of normality. Back to Far Westfields Farm after a few days in Sussex. Back to the horses....

A fantastic Remembrance service for Dad on Thursday. Most of the service being chosen by himself. Standing room only. The right hymns. A brilliant and evocative address by Jimmy Brecknock, whom I have known since I was 8 and whom Dad always described as "his second son". Jimmy's oration all the more remarkable as he had somehow conspired to leave his original speech in London - and so the one he delivered had been put together in the minutes before the service....!!

And Dad would have been hugely pleased that Colonel Guy Norrie was present representing the Queen. A very sad and difficult time - but Dad's passing mercifully swift, and he would, I know, have approved hugely of his send-off. We missed him at the "de-brief" around the kitchen table that evening.....

The horses doing us proud. But a bit too much crossbar rattling. Too many seconds and thirds - but the horses look fantastic, continue to win a huge number of "best turned-out prizes" and are running to the top of their form. Frustrating to be missing out in a few close finishes - but better to be involved in them than not. Via Mia a case in point on Friday, returning from a long absence to finish a very creditable second....

We have crept onto that dreaded cold list. But pretty remarkable that it only took us 10 days to get on it. A factor of the strength of depth we now have on the yard and the number of horses fit and ready to run. And with many of the National Hunt team on the cusp of their seasonal debuts (Friendly King goes today at Kempton), these are exciting times. And the upside to the downside of the cold list is that, according to the Racing Post, 100% of our horses are running to form which, I guess, is a pretty difficult statistic to improve upon....??!!

An interesting tale on Saturday. Somebody walked into a Printers in Warwick and asked for 50 Business Cards in my name. Because his spelling was so poor, the lady running the place called me up (strangely, it was my mobile number he had wanted on the card) to query a word or two. Once she had established that this fellow was not me, the Police were alerted and were on hand to greet him when he returned to pick up the cards. "Taken away for questioning" was the last I have heard so far. What can have been his motivation ?? Why put my number on the card ?? All a little confusing, as I hope that a fake business card would be unlikely to be taken as proof of identity...

If he is another George Baker, I could try and sell him a share in a horse by the same name.....

  

Wednesday

To Tattersalls again yesterday morning. But the only thing I bought yesterday was breakfast. Not, sadly, a Saddlers Wells colt by the name of "Breakfast" - but the full English variety. Tattersalls' breakfast is of legendary status - and certainly tees you up for the day....

A couple of cheeky bids failing to hit the target - and then off to Southwell. Back to the scene of Excellerator's debut success - and this little star coming within a nose of adding to that victory. Frustrating - especially as she traded long odds-on in the photo. But great that she ends her season on a positive note and, with another Winter of growing and strengthening behind her, I hope that we will have a sprinter of some promise for next year.

Most observers on track were convinced that she had won - and some muttered to me that they were concerned about "shadows" on the photo print. But the photo clearly showed that there was daylight between her and the game winner, Rowe Park, and so, despite our hopes, the result was clearly correct and definitive.....

Back to Tattersalls in a minute. And then Nottingham. And then Sussex. Dads Service of Remembrance tomorrow - 2.00 at Chiddingfold Church for those of you who have been kind enough to ask for details. We will give him a proper send off..... 

October 26th

Tattersalls yesterday for Day One of the Horses-In-Training Sales. A sale which we have been particularly lucky at, several of our winners having been purchased here. And hopefully another will be added to that list after we bought Lot 232, Mawsem, an unraced Monsun 3-year-old consigned by Shadwell.

And George Baker and The Blue Dog coming home after the dispersal sale of the Findlay and Bloom consignment. And, remarkably, I was approached by a Mr Baker (middle name George) after GB's sale, expressing an interest in taking on half of the horse. Any other George Baker's out there interested in a share, however small, for this horse's 3-year-old career......?? A couple of you got in touch a while back. The horse GB will have a break now - with a few to a sprinting summer on good ground....

Stand In Flames running a much better race than at Brighton recently. And Kenyan Cat giving us much hope for next season with a third placing in the maiden at Leicester. She will improve physically and mentally - and now heads off to her Winter holidays at Owner David Botterill's farm giving him, co-owner John Guest and us much to look forward to next year....

Yarmouth and Southwell today. Excellerator back to the scene of her debut victory. She will remain in training next season - and it would be great to end her year on a positive note... 

Sunday 25th

To Towcester at very silly o'clock tomorrow morning to gallop a few - and then onto Newmarket and the Horses In Training Sales at Tattersalls....

Thrilled with Bugsys Boy yesterday at Stratford. He looked in trouble along the back straight, but stayed on very gamely to finish a highly creditable second. Looks like he has booked himself an outing, all being well, to Cheltenham on 15th November.

A fine dinner last night in The Plough at the bottom of Jonjo's gallops. The steak always delicious. Patrick and Valerie, Candida and I, and Tinks poring through the programme book. Plans made for the jumping team. Lets hope that many of them come to fruition...

And the chance to turn the mobile off today at Swinley Golf Course. I played appallingly. But a lovely afternoon to be on the course - walking off an enormous lunch...

An interesting tale in the Racing Post. Mondego the subject of a BHA investigation. I will, of course, be cooperating fully, and hope very much that the inquiry will be swift, and behind us soon. Nobody here has done anything wrong or stepped out of line as will be revealed in the weeks ahead...   

Saturday

Fakenham. Miles from anywhere - but an absolute delight when you arrive. Valerie and I driven there yesterday by my great friend, Jeremy Dougall, whose Oliver Sherwood trained Sprosser ran a fine race to be beaten a head in the staying chase....

None of us sure whether we took the direct route or the "alternative tourist" version across the Anglian flatlands - but, having spent two and a half days in the ring road systems of Peterborough and Wisbech, we eventually arrived at the track...

Now, the more observant of you may well have noticed that food on racecourses is one of my specialist subjects. In fact, if I ever have half a moment, I feel a book coming along.

Entering the Racecourse, one is immediately met by the smell of oven baked pizzas. 10 yards further on there are three stalls selling delicious local produce - Jeremy's car filled with pork pies and sausages (garlic and chilli my favourite) for the drive home. Which is probably sensible as on a journey of this magnitude it would be deeply irresponsible to head off without sufficient supplies...

And in The Owners and Trainers Bar (small, but seemingly never crowded), fresh rolls and cakes on offer. And a sizeable and well informed crowd around the course. The feel of a grown-up Point-to-Point. The ground on the fast side but in good nick. Robert Cooper similarly happy to be here for ATR - despite having left last Sunday to be here in time....

Thrilled with Shut The Bar. He tried his heart out but was just unable to get on terms with the odds-on winner in the last half mile. He will come on massively for this. A good beginning to his season. Poor Di Mitchell has had to travel to all four corners of the country to watch her horse (Kelso, Exeter, Catterick and Fakenham), but at least he always runs a race. In the interests of continuity and maintaining Di's travel-log, we will be looking for a little Novice Hurdle in Uzbechistan...

Mondego a non-runner at Wolverhampton. I was advised that the reason I should give was "other". A tale that may run and run.....