The next race
20 April 2013
After recovering well from Cheltenham and continuing with her work, we started looking for another race for Indy. It is clear that she is not as strong yet as much of the opposition, and probably needs another season to grow and mature, so the ideal race would be on a flatter track or over a shorter distance. Two possibilities have arisen, a 2 mile run over the virtually level track at Kempton on Sunday 12th May, or a 1 mile 6 furlong NHF race at Fontwell on Wednesday 15th May. It all depends upon how many entries there are in each, and what our ballot number is, if any.
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With the entries for both Kempton and Fontwell now closed, and after looking at the numbers entered in each, and with Indy in the ballot for Kempton but guaranteed a place at Fontwell, we are going to Fontwell on Wednesday 15th May. The race is another National Hunt Flat race and is scheduled for 5.20 pm.
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Well, the dream always has to be that you will have a Classic winner first time out, but the reality is that it usually takes time to even get into the Winner's Enclosure. We engaged an excellent young 7lb claiming jockey this time and instructed him to strike off in front and make the running for as far he he could, without beating her up in any way. Indy set off at a good gallop and led for the first 6 furlongs or so before tiring at the top of the hill and being overtaken by the rest of the field. This was effectively the end of her race and she was allowed to tail off again and canter on at her own pace with another horse which was also clearly beaten.
Immediately after the race, the jockey's comments were almost identical to the previous time, in that she is genuine and wants to run, is absolutely sound and good in her wind, but is still too weak and needs to be turned out for the summer after which she should come back a different horse!
The advice is good, and so Indy will come home to the farm in a week or so and enjoy the summer out at grass with Spike, her companion pony. We will start again in the autumn and continue to concentrate on building her core strength and stamina, alongside pure speed work.