George Baker’s Blog

Grey....

But mild out there. The rooks in the nearby rookery having a proper go this morning. I am not sure what has rattled their nests...

Mild yesterday. But a freshness to the wind out on the gallops. Where we worked a few. Up the "long allweather". Baldadash, Belle de Fontenay and Good Old Paul all moving well together. Jacks Revenge and Ancient Greece breezing upsides. A few of the 2-year-olds doing a steady piece.....

Jack Doyle, whose career has been turned upside down by the appointment of Noel Fehily as stable jockey to Emma Lavelle, was here for the first time to ride work. He will not be the last to lose a decent job in this industry, but how those spurned approach the situation will determine how their careers are defined. Jack fully aware that Tinks is our number one National Hunt jockey. And that Trevor Whelan has taken his chances very well when Tinks is elsewhere, or when claiming Trevor's seven pounds makes sense....

But by making the effort to come and see us, Jack obviously puts himself firmly in the frame for picking up any "spares" that may arise....

Dan and Adam (with 2-year-old son Frank) Wain with us to watch George Baker and GB's full-sister Petite Georgia canter "up the hill". Along with Doug, the ex-landlord of their local pub. Some photo opportunities with Frank aboard GB. Don't tell "Elf and Safety" - Frankie only an "ie" away from being a legendary jockey.....

And Lady Cobham here as well to watch her Sakhees Secret 2-year-old filly canter.....

Patrick back into Odstock Hospital. Thankfully, a planned visit. To remove a pin from his ankle. Patrick hobbling again last night when I picked him up, but on the final path to recovery. And back on a horse soon. We hope. I am sure that the initial prognosis was 4 months minimum before he could ride. Ahead of schedule, which will be a mighty relief to him....

Belgian Bill and Humidor safely back on these shores after their Dubai adventure. A few days with Valerie's parents at Brackley to ensure that they have not picked up any bugs on the long trek home. Belgian Bill, typically, in flying form. Loving a voyage. Humidor less enamoured by planes, trains and automobiles. But still appearing in good form. Valerie's mother Christine remarking to me on the telephone how much Humidor has changed in the time he has been with us. The night after his first victory for us in an average Brighton race (off 74), Humidor was stabled overnight with Christine due to horsebox problems. Christine described him as a "tiny little thing". Not anymore. He is a bull of a horse. And we are lucky to have him.....

And finally.......

Great to see that Paul Webber's long-standing Travelling Head Lad Jerry Walsh picked up a well-deserved award at the Godolphin Stable Staff awards earlier this week. Jerry a constant of the Cropredy team for decades. An outstandingly loyal servant to the Webber family, and fantastic to see the "unsung heroes" given their moment in the sun by Godolphin. A fine initiative.....

 

Very mild.....

A spring morning here today. A few of the team out on the bottom yard outside our front door in shirt sleeves. Spring is in the air.....

A very early start yesterday. To London. To attend a meeting, the outcome of which will become apparent in the days ahead. Monday morning traffic into the big smoke is always terrifying. I have commuted into work in several cities of the world, but very little can compare with the M3 and the outskirts of our capital.....

Motorway meltdown. The journey from here taking well over 3 hours. Which is a little bit silly. The train an option, I suppose, but terrifyingly expensive if one wants to travel at "commuter time". And crowded. A frantic and normally fruitless search for a seat. Which becomes irrelevant as there are always more deserving cases for the limited seating than myself. At least for a year or two, I hope....

The motorbikes weaving their way through the static lanes a source of envy. In Johannesburg, I commuted to "work" by motorbike. Under clear African skies. This was during my gap year, when I worked for a while (quite a long while, actually....) in a Lawn Mower shop in Randberg. Or was it Randburg with a "u" ?? A fine way to travel, but the mornings when a motorbike is an alluring form of transport are few and far between in this country....

I also commuted on a motorbike in Saigon. To Harbour View Tower on the banks of the mighty Mekong. Very few cars. Only those carrying communist officials to their ivory towers. The only downside to this mode of traffic being that the monsoon rains could easily catch you out. One minute the skies would be crystal clear. The next a deluge of biblical proportions would be upon us. I remember turning up to one meeting at the Vietcombank, the Vietnamese state bank, literally drenched from head to toe. The kindly bank workers found me an ill-fitting shirt, and a pair of army shorts, which I wore slightly (in fact, "very"...) incrongruously through the meeting.....?!

A quiet week on the runners front. Again. But progress on all fronts as we move closer to being able to launch ourselves onto the turf gallops. The 2-year-olds continuing to progress and please. There are not many "Brocklesby types" amongst them. Which is probably a good thing.....

It was very good to speak to Bruce Millington, the Racing Post editor, last evening. I had a bit of a pop at him in yesterday's blog. Prompting Bruce to call. I am glad he did. We are singing from the same hymn sheet. And both want this great sport of ours to be "shouted from the rooftops". Not all is rosy in racing's garden. Far from it. But there are far more good stories than bad ones. There have been too many negative racing stories in the broader media in recent times. Let's all hope for a stunning Cheltenham Festival that will see the media majoring on the brilliance of the sport on display. And likewise beyond into the summer. Frankel. Black Caviar. Camelot a star waiting in the wings...??

So much to look forward to. And to "shout from the rooftops". We have a magical product....

 

A sunday night blog...

Because on Monday morning I will be in London town....

Not So Sure Dick running creditably at Kempton yesterday. Third to the phenomenon that is Hunt Ball. A very progressive and impressive racehorse. No disgrace at all to be following in his wake....

I watched the race in the bedroom of an excellent pub near Sherborne. Where Tallulah and I were to attend the confirmation of my beautiful and utterly lovely goddaughter India Penny. Sherborne Abbey is spectacular. A fine place...

Dinner last night with Charlie and Anne Oakshott. Charlie the Stud Manager here at Whitsbury. Fleur Cushman with us. Staying for the night. Fleur the editor of the Racing Post Weekender. I thoroughly enjoy the Weekender. The best product of the Racing Post stable. By far....

How pathetic have The Racing Post been this past week over their coverage of The Racing Plus Chase. Playground politics. I would expect better of Bruce Millington. But I am not sure that he is a "racing man", his written words more often than not appearing to be those of a man more interested in scoring a cheap point than dealing with the issues that really matter. Cheap. Weak. Chips on shoulders. A little naive. Which sums up, I feel, our "trade paper". Good luck to Racing Plus. And may it's columnists base their writing on the issues that matter, and not pander to the egos of their journalists....

Badbury Rings today. Point-to-Pointing. Pure sport. No angle. No edges. No chips on shoulders. Alluring. Raw sport....

Thundering Home.....

Doing exactly that last night. He loves downtown Dunstall. As do we all.....

A cool ride by David. The strong pace helping.....

I listened to the race in The Lamb at Hindon. Where we were dining with Pete and Annie Penny ahead of their daughter's confirmation today. Tallulah reckoned that we should have stayed the night. So we did. An early alarm call just now. Back home to work a few this morning, and then to Sherborne for the church service at 11.....

Candida heading to Kempton with Not So Sure Dick. Not many runners recently. In fact, very few. But those that are running are performing with great credit. Hopefully, NSSD can keep the movement going today. Taking on his old foe Hunt Ball, one of the most improved horses in training....

Homeward bound.....

The Dubai team. Patrick back over the weekend. Humidor, Belgian Bill and Valerie home on or around the 28th.....

The ground a little lively for Humidor yesterday. Better behaved than last time. Much better behaved than last time. But unable to pick up on the quickest ground that horses have raced on at this Carnival. As I said yesterday, this trip has been a massive learning curve. We have all learnt plenty....

I should imagine that Valerie in particular is looking forward to getting home. The novelty value of living within the International stables wearing a little thin. But there can be nothing but praise for the way the horses and our team who have spent time out there have been looked after by the Meydan authorities....

One runner today. Thundering Home back to his favourite venue, Downtown Dunstall. One of his opponents tonight, Overrule, barely coming out of a canter when winning yesterday at Southwell. And likely to be a potent threat if turned out again tonight. But TH is in great form, loves the surface and will have the benefit of David Kenny's 5 pound claim to help. Hopeful.....

We also plan to run Not So Sure Dick over the weekend. But the weather Gods, as ever, playing their hand. A 0-130 race at Kempton looking a viable option off a low weight, but "good to firm in places" creeping into the going report. This drought of ours !! An option also at Fontwell on Sunday, where they are calling the ground "Good to Soft". It may well be that I will be forced to declare for both, with the proviso that he will only run at Kempton "if the ground is suitable".....

Our most accurate "Going Stick" is not with us at the moment. The heel of Valerie's shoes much more accurate than any Clerk of The Course's mechanical gadgets. Hurry home Valerie !!!!

I cannot be at the races tomorrow. The confirmation of my Goddaughter India Penny at Sherborne School. Much more important than a horserace....

Darts last night. The Bat and Ball at Breamore. We were favourites. We came second. Another podium finish.....

The Dubai adventure....

Approaching it's end. Belgian Bill definitely on his way home on the 28th. To be freshened up for his summer targets, most of which will require him to travel abroad. Which he thrives upon. A return trip to Turkey definitely on the cards after his Group 2 second placing last september....

Humidor running this evening. Losing his race at the stalls last time. Rearing up and pulling a muscle. He is reportedly in great form. But he would need to go very close to winning tonight to remain In Dubai for the last few fixtures of the Carnival.....

Both horses have been placed out there. Belgian Bill (2nd) and Humidor (3rd) both picking up decent prize money, and more than justifying the trip. And we have learnt plenty. A bit of a reconnaissance mission. But one that has gone well, and hopefully one that can be repeated in years to come....

"Exceptionally mild" the weather man has just told me on the BBC. The weather man from the Midlands. Which is where we lived once upon a time. I still have not worked out why our TV picks up "Midlands Today" rather than "South Today". Which means we get fascinating traffic reports from the centre of Birmingham. Which are of limited use on the Hampshire / Dorset border. I am sure I just need to flick a switch or two. But that would undoubtedly cause chaos, converting the toaster into an alarm clock. And the Aga into a tumble dryer. Not very mechanical, me. Not very at all......

To Port Regis school yesterday. Barney Baker's hockey team maintaining their unbeaten record. In hanging drizzle. Pretty bleak. But the sandwiches were good. And this particular school tea had not been infused with either soap or chlorine......

And then an hour of being beaten up last night by my Personal Trainer. The Marathon now about 2 months away. The training going reasonably. Just. Age definitely catching up on me. In the good old days, those wonderful endorphines would click in, and I could run and run. Just like Forrest Gump. Not any more. Every run is a struggle. Over weight. Too old for this sort of thing. Not long to go. And Cheltenham on the horizon. Which will undoubtedly impact on my "training regime"......

Two RBS stories this morning. The Bank that you and I and every taxpayer in the land own. Set to announce losses in excess of £800 billion. The announcement due now. A report on the "Breakfast News". Followed by the sport. Andy Robinson, the Scottish Rugby coach, interviewed in front of a sponsor's banner. The name emblazoned all across said banner ??? RBS.......

Are we comfortable with RBS, our bank, announcing mind boggling losses whilst at the same time throwing not inconsiderable sums at the sponsorship of Scottish Rugby ?? Perhaps it all makes sense.....

RBS are getting rid of a lot of their peripheral interests. Concentrating on core banking. Which is profitable. Syphoning off the loss leaders. Who knows, by this time next year they may well be in profit. And then perhaps would be the time to throw money at sporting sponsorship....

A bit of tweaking.....

Of an illogical rule. Is what Mr Bittar and his merry men have come up with. Which is a step in the right direction. And announced far enough ahead of the Cheltenham Festival for there to be a reasonable "bedding in" period. A lukewarm response from across the industry. But at least something has been done. An admission that the rules as they stood yesterday morning were plainly wrong and should never have been implicated. Let us see what happens......

Andy Luckhurst and Ian Fitzpatrick (owners of the 2-year-old Lawman colt, Lucky Blackstar) here with us late morning yesterday morning. Which was a nice surprise. Because we were expecting them today. Our diary error. Thankfully, we were here. Because Andy and Ian had travelled south from Birmingham. Which would have been a long way to come to find an empty house......

Andy runs the Financial Services company BBT who have been massive supporters from Day One. Our stable sponsor from Day One. A crucial and integral part of our business. And sponsors also of European Tour Professional Robert Rock who has taken a huge step forward in recent months. Winner of the Italian Open last year, and then in Dubai recently. And about to line up against Adam Scott in the World Matchplay that starts today......

England "white-washing" the Pakistanis in the Cricket One Day series. Winning the one dayers 4-0. Losing the Test Matches 3-0. A strange tour. Played out in front of empty, cavernous Grandstands. The atmosphere surreal. At best. Pakistan possessing some match winning players. And for as long as Dubai is the venue for their "home" Test Matches, they will be very difficult to beat.....

But the overriding impression will be of the total lack of crowds. A County Championship crowd for Test Match cricket. A little odd. And subdued.....

The West Indies and South Africa coming here this summer. The West Indies struggling, sadly, to be competitive. How their supporters must yearn for the glory days of Richards, Holding, Garner, Roberts, Croft, Marshall et al.....

But South Africa a very potent opposition. Just a shame that the demands of television and the shortened version of the game have restricted the length of Test Match series. England v South Africa should be a 5 Test series. But, apart from the Ashes, 5 Test tours seem to have disappeared under a frenzy of floodlights and 20/20 chaos.....

The children home from school for the night. Barney has a new (to him) Horseracing Game for his X Box. He trains and rides the horses. He has already passed us by, training Group 1 winners for fun. Although his use of the whip would not be looked upon very favourably, in any jurisdiction.....

Much much milder......

A pretty hard frost yesterday morning. Though not enough to impact on our cantering plans. No problems this morning. The mornings getting lighter by the day. The evenings drawing out. The sound of skylarks above the gallops. Spring just over the horizon....

A thoughtful and well crafted piece in yesterday's Racing Post by Jim McGrath. Apologies for mentioning the "w" word once more, but Jim advocating a complete U-Turn on the whip issue. Worth a read if you can find it. Rumours of an imminent announcement from Mr Bittar. Maybe even today. We all hope and pray that he comes up with a complete overhaul of an unworkable and incorrect rule. And does not settle for just a little tinkering.....

Patrick and Valerie both in Dubai. Patrick moving up a decade over the weekend. To an age at which they say life begins. Humidor scheduled to run out there on Thursday. Having recovered from the pulled muscles sustained when he reared up leaving the stalls on his latest outing. Hopefully, he can get back on track this week....

C and I to London last night. For a dinner with Roddy Campbell in Notting Hill. Roddy the father of Edie, the very clever and brilliant supermodel who steered George Baker to victory at Glorious Goodwood last summer. Edie hoping to retain the Magnolia Cup this year. As are we. A fun, eclectic and too late gathering. Paddy Lawrence, the son of the legend that is Lord "Carruthers" Oaksey. And Otis Ferry. Who had hunted hounds in Shropshire during the day. And did well to make it to London in time for the grouse.....

As I say, "too late"......

Worked a few....

On saturday morning. Some of the jumpers including Not So Sure Dick, Baldadash, Oscar Close and Belle de Fontenay. And Ancient Greece and Jack's Revenge, both well back into training after their winter break. And a couple of the 2-year-olds, Sutton Sid (Dutch Art) and "Gina", the unnamed Multiplex filly......

Paul Bowden with us to watch Ancient Greece (in whom he has a leg) and Sutton Sid (who he owns outright). I have always considered myself to be an avid sports fan, but Paul is in a different league. Travelling the world and the seven seas, following English teams of all descriptions. He has secured a very impressive array of Olympic tickets. On Saturday, he was dithering about taking in Bristol Rovers at home to Oxford. He assured me that if he attended, Bristol would lose 5-0 or the match would end goalless. Nil-Nil. Guess you were then, Paul !!

No runners for us, but plenty of exciting National Hunt action to keep me glued to the television through the afternoon. The occasional slice of allweather action from Lingfield thrown in. But very dull in comparison......

On Saturday morning the Black Caviar bandwagon rolled on. Royal Ascot still the plan. Frankel versus Black Caviar. Something, finally, to match the epic Bustino / Grundy. I was there that day. A young child, but I can still remember vividly walking into the course with everybody all around asking which of the two I fancied. (Go and watch the race on Youtube if you have never seen it. Or you have not seen it for a while).....

There was something in the small print of Black Caviar's victory that struck a nerve. Mr Bittar will be well aware of the prize money disparity between here and Australia, but this race further polarised this fact in my mind. Black Caviar picking up £297,697. 9 runners. Only the 9th placed 200/1 shot out of the money. The 6th, 7th and 8th placed horses, who went off as "no hopers" at 100/1 and 200/1 twice, each picked up £9868.42. Now, I have no idea what training fees in Australia are charged at. But I am pretty confident that one 8th place finish has paid off a considerable amount of the owner's annual bill. Jealous ?? Very very......

To Milborne St Andrew yesterday. The South Dorset Hunt Point-To-Point Races. A good viewing circuit. Apart from the half mile that happens behind a thick wood. A relaxed atmosphere. A very well organised meeting. Well supported. Grass roots sport, but all the more appealing for just that reason. A day at the races without a runner a highly enjoyable and relaxed experience. I hope that we will be able to fit in a couple more point-to-points before this "calm before the storm of runners" comes to an end....

I am hugely looking forward to the summer ahead. To going racing most days. To having lots of runners. But all the same, it will be difficult to beat a days pointing in the watery sun of early spring.....

A stunning exhibition.....

It is all too rare for the performance of a racehorse to literally take the breath away. But at Newbury yesterday, not long after noon, Sprinter Sacre put in a performance of such mind blowing brilliance that may well have heralded his arrival as a racehorse of extraordinary ability....

Of course, each and every sport is prone to hype and over exaggeration. Sport needs it's heroes and heroines, and requires exceptional performances to put as a benchmark against which the efforts of others can be judged. This might well have been a "flash in the pan". This particular bubble, which received a massive pump of air yesterday, could well be pricked, like so many have been in the past, at Prestbury Park in a little under a months time....

But this was a performance of raw class. Barry Geraghty a passenger as Sprinter Sacre tugged his way to the front half way down the back straight. Barry clearly looking for a lead for longer, but his horse giving him no option. Still hard on the bridle jumping the cross fence and turning for home. As he approached Barney and I at the second last, Barry saw a stride. A long stride. A very long stride. Sprinter Sacre answered his jockey's every call, coming up from well outside the wings......

Never remotely off the bridle. Always "tanking along". Doing too much, to be critical, but never looking as if his headstong charge down the back straight would see him tie up on the run to the last and beyond. Surely, if he stands up, he wins at The Festival.......

The sort of performance that had those of us lucky to be there speaking of little else through the day. Remarkable. I bumped into Peter Thomas of The Racing Post and his wife on the lawn in front of the stands. Like a huge number of people, they had been caught up in the horrendous traffic and had missed the first race. I tried to convey what I had witnessed. But then, as ever, couched my words with the concern that we can overhype our stars. I hope that Sprinter Sacre will go on to prove himself to be half as good as the mighty impression he created in my mind yesterday....

For the Cheltenham Gold Cup Winner to be an anticlimax was a little strange. "Workmanlike". This did not have "repeat victory" writ large to me......

Whilst Long Run's performance was anti climactic, Ruby Walsh's ride on Zarkandar was most certainly not. In Ruby and AP we have two complete masters of their trade. As Zarkandar passed the line, AP lay motionless behind the second last. A ghastly, bone crunching fall. For any normal man. But AP on his feet, albeit gingerly, and lifting home the winner of the bumper to crown an extraordinary day.....

I had no runners. I had nil involvement. Barney and I only stayed for three races. But I am mighty glad we went. A fabulous afternoon of high drama. The sort of day our sport and our administrator's need to bottle. And sell over and over again. We were glad to be there.....