NEWS AND UPDATES FOR JANUARY 2010

SHEENA'S REACTION ABOUT REACTION WAS IN ONE WORD...." AMAZING!!"

COURTESY OF THE RACING POST

After the temperature dropped to -7 overnight the course had to survive two inspections before racing could go ahead. The times suggested the ground was sticky and testing.

This Grade 2 has proved a good guide to the Triumph Hurdle at the festival, with the last four winners of this race having finished third, first, second and second in the juvenile championship. This year´s line-up appeared to offer one major candidate and a couple of others whose chances were each-way at best.

Reaction, a 7f winner on easy ground on the Flat, was making his hurdling debut. He looked in trouble running down the hill but stayed on nicely and should win in this sphere.

Yes, Hayley won Best Turned Out again! Nice one, Hayley. I think the Kirby grip made all the difference!

===================================================

REACTION - 3RD FIRST TIME OUT OVER HURDLES - NOT A BAD START TO REACTION'S HURDLING CAREER!

OK, I have to admit Sheena has always had high hopes for Reaction. He is clearly talented, he is a dual purpose horse, and has been schooled over hurdles and fences. It may have been seen as fool hardy (by some) to start Reaction's hurdling career at a tough course, in the most testing of conditions and against some excellent horses but Sheena likes to place horses where she feels they may be shown at their best. OK, it doesn't always work but with Reaction her faith in him paid off.

His debut on a racecourse over his first hurdle was greeted with AP McCoy coming upsides and almost taking him out of his stride, but that didn't deter either horse or jockey. Infact, after a couple of reminders the "penny dropped" and Reaction's turn of foot and some good jumping paid dividends. To receive black type first time out cannot be a bad start to any horses career, and certainly gives Sheena and Jamie a rubber stamp to their feeling that this horse could be something quite special. He is a dual-purpose horse with proven ability on the flat too. With a great jumping career beckoning and nearly £2500.00 in the bank first time out over hurdles then he must be on the short list of anybody looking to buy a racehorse.

For obvious reasons, Sheena would love to continue to train him.

GOLAN WAY AT CHELTENHAM. IT JUST WASN'T HIS DAY. HE FINISHED THE RACE A TIRED HORSE.

Front running again in tacky ground over a new distance against some of the UK's best hurdler's took it's toll on Golan Way. A few questions answered but Sheena will now have to chat to the connections and re assess what to do with him next. If the handicapper drops Golan Way a few pounds ths would certainly help Sheena to find other possibilities for this extremely talented horse.

++ STOP PRESS ++ STOP PRESS ++ STOP PRESS ++

REACTION - SUPRISINGLY STILL FOR SALE AND ENTERED FOR CHELTENHAM SATURDAY 30TH JANUARY!

Betfair Finesse Juvenile Novices´ Hurdle Grade 2 (CLASS 1) (4yo)

BUY HIM NOW AND BE AN OWNER AT CHELTENHAM - CALL SHEENA FOR FURTHER DETAILS!

THE STUNNING LOOKING REACTION - FOR SALE.

If you have been waiting to have a horse in training with a successful trainer - now is the time to give Sheena a call for details of either Whipperway or Whiterocks!

WISHING EVERYONE A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAS LUKE HARVEY EVER ASKED A QUESTION AND THEN KICKED HIMSELF AFTERWARDS?

Luke to Jamie Goldstein (rider of Sheena's Geoffdaw at Plumpton on Sunday 3rd Jan)

"So Jamie, how do you think you will get on on Geoffdaw today?"

Jamie Goldstein to Luke: "Via a leg up as usual!"

OK, you had to be there... but it was very funny at the time!!

Luke and Jamie and Jamie's father, Ray looking on!

I hope everybody had a great Christmas and we wish all those reading this a Happy New Year!

December was a tricky month to say the least but it could have been worse as we know hind site is a wonderful thing, but for once fore site was even better.

The dire weather forecast was heeded and with snow due to arrive on the Friday all the horses were worked on Thursday. 10 horses had their flu vaccinations on Thursday and the feed delivery with a few bags of salt arrived Thursday, on a personal note my on-line shopping was delivered Thursday as well, so we were prepared for anything!

Friday morning my brother rang me to ask how many people he needed to pick up from the bottom of our lane as he only had another 5 mins before the land rover would be struggling to get back up the lane, all bar Hayley made it and she was snowed in. I went out to find 6-8 inches of snow and ice everywhere. That was the only day the horses missed work as after that the snow kept the grass insulated and frost free and once tracks had been laid down, although far from perfect we were able to keep all the horses moving enough. We were in effect snow/iced in for a week as only 4x4's could safely use the lane, apart from Yves Fiat that seemed to go anywhere and everywhere! All the effort paid off though.

FLYINFLYOUT
============
2007 bay filly by Fath
Owner The Stewkley Shindiggers

She arrived just before the snow, very much looking 'in the rough' and it requires a little imagination to picture her as a 68 rated winning 2 year old, but this 1/2 sister to Screaming Brave will spend the next month on the walker before coming back into work and will be ship shape before too long.

There is a 10% share available in her at £460 and £125 a month including VAT

EVA
====
2006 bay filly by Beneficial
Owner: Mrs Nye

Eva came beginning of December, she is a tough as tough and like a Samurai warrior would die rather than admit defeat. A great trait in a race horse, but we don't really want her to do that so everything she does is well within her scope and not designed to let her over do it. She is clean winded and active and shouldn't take too long to come to hand for bumpers February time.

MOHANAD
========
2006 bay gelding by Invincible Spirit
Owner: Heart of the South Racing
It's taken time, but he is now appearing to be well on the road to recovery after his injury at Wetherby. It's very hard to put a date on when he will return to the track, other than to say that he will when he's ready to. It's frustrating for all involved but this very talented and now black type horse has much to offer all involved in the coming months, both on the flat and over hurdles.

Le Chiffre
===========
2002 brown gelding
Owner: myself

Despite being sound and working extremely well at home we have decided that Polo doesn't really want to put him self through it on the race track any more. He's won 11 races and placed countless times, so I've bought him myself as I think he is lovely and am thinking that I might do some of those retrained race horse classes with him as he is a lovely mannered horse, he has quickly settled in to the role of escort/trainer's hack and I hope that later in the summer with competing him I can find him the good home he deserves. I must be going soft!

EASTON CLUMP (or Rocky as we know him at the yard)
============
2003 bay gelding by Dancing Spree
Owner: Roger Wheeler

Well now, what was I worrying about? After having made the decision to rush him quicker than ideal to run him, the horse responded in the most positive way imaginable, he kept his head together, kept eating and his work improved phenomenally from mid December. So off to Newbury he went with the knowledge he will come on for the run and the ground would be horrid for any horse, let alone one of his inexperience. The wonderfully named Easton Clump put everything he did know into play and ran a stormer of a race to finish 2nd just a 1/2 length down and giving 10 lbs to a more experienced rival. He has returned safe and sound and end of January we should see this promising horse over hurdles.

GEOFFDAW
========
2005 bay gelding by Vettori
Owner: Mike Moriarty

Geoff is very well and although he ended up beating just the one home at Plumpton in heavy ground with didn't suit I was very pleased with him as a 4 year old carrying top weight against older horses it was always going to be hard, but he was right there between the last 2 before getting tired. Interestingly his timeform and Racing post racing are consistent for all his runs. I believe the horse is running fine and he is better on better ground, so he could be improving a bit as his mark is coming down. Time will tell.

GOODWOOD STARLIGHT
===================
2005 Bay gelding by Mtoto
Owner: Heart of the South Racing

Starlight has been having a break since he arrived, but he is now clipped out and we have started ridden exercise with him in the last week, no plans as yet, just see how he comes along

FORTYTHIRTY
============
2006 bay gelding by Poligate
Owner: Janet Menzies, Stephen Monks and Alan Tappin

Again he has been on a break, and has well and truly let him self down. Clipped out and started ridden work this last week he's happy and well. I shall see how he comes along over the next few weeks, but with a rating of 125 Cheltenham may be a possibility.

WHIPPERWAY
==========
2007 bay filly by Whipper
Owner: For Sale

Boy she's tough! She has done well enough here that we will run her on the AW for a bit, she is entered for Lingfield and Kempton and I am looking forward to her running.

REACTION
========
2007 Chesnut gelding by Alhaarth
Owner: For sale

He has a deal of ability and working well, schooling like the proverbial bunny, I hope he'll be ready for Newbury towards the end of the month.

MISS BOLTE
===========
2005 bay filly by Karinga Bay
Owner: The 0dd Partnership

She is staring to properly come to hand and loving the soft ground. Looking at Bumpers around Jan/Feb time.

APPOINTMENT
===========
2005 chesnut mare by Where or When
Owner:

Flying through the mud needs more schooling as needing to wipe away the idea of falling again.

LAST ONE STANDING
==================
2004 Bay gelding by Dancing Spree
Owner: Mike Moriarty

Was coming on brilliantly, before a cough or two. Back on track now and weather permitting will recommence fast work next week. Schooling well and doesn't want the real mud.

SCREAMING BRAVE
=================
2006 brown gelding by Hunting Lion
Owner: Tracey Walsom and Alex Woodger

Despite all I know about his going prefences, we did run him at Warwick. Needless to say we hoped that we would get away with it and but for a mistake at the last we very nearly did, but at least he returned beaten but unbattered. We did keep him in work with a vain hope that if any where would have suitable ground it might be Kempton over Christmas, but it was not to be. He is now on a 6 week break as the ground won't be right for ages and he has had an awful lot of starts for any horse, let alone a young one. There was a slight temptation to run on the All Weather, but the best way to make a sound genuine horse an un-sound, un-genuine horse is to keep running. We need to keep him sound and genuine and there is a big future ahead of him.

BLAZING BOLTE
==============
2005 bay mare by Karinga Bay
Owner: The Odd Partnership

She is going very well and entries are now being made, trouble is she wants 1/2 decent ground and not to be in a ballot, but it will happen.

GOLAN WAY
==========
2004 bay gelding by Golan
Owner: WRB RACING

Well now........Just how disappointingly was Cheltenham? Stepping at hurdles is his party trick, he did it at Stratford last summer and in the Supreme Novices, Stepping is when a horse could meet a hurdle long or could meet it short and they can not make up their mind end up sort of galloping over it which involves putting a front leg on the hurdle as the horse is still going up. All a jockey can do if hope for the best and sit tight. Jamie did that for as long a possible but it was all over. Some serious regrouping after this abortive run which told us nothing new about him and led us to run him at Wincanton Boxing Day. It's so hard to find a race for him and the time of year is a time that leads to abandonment's so we took the first opportunity to run him which exposed him over a little further but at the least qualified for the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham festival and hopefully find out more about him.

Leading from start to finish after a most excellent wait in front ride from Jamie, he won convincingly. So now our 140 rated hurdler who is hard to place is now 150 and even harder to place. That rating makes handicaps very dodgy. We have decided to carry on as though he is in the minority of horses who are better than handicappers and will head for the Cleeve Hurdle at end of January. A little further won't be amiss to him and by pitching him with the big guys we will find out more. If he is going to be that good then a crack at the World Hurdle awaits. If not, all is not lost as the National Spirit at Fontwell would be well within his scope, or they might take the 10 1lbs off and then the handicaps could be on the agenda again. I made the decision to stick to hurdles this year knowing it would be hard for him and all involved.......it will pay off ultimately though as boy what a novice chaser he will be next season.

KASHMINA
========
2005 Chesnut filly by Dr Fong
Owner: Heart of the South Racing

Have kept her in work and she's been running well on the All Weather without winning. She has been in work a long time now and she will now have a break until the spring.

WHITEROCKS
==========
2006 Chesnut gelding by Imperial Dancer
Owner: For Sale

We wanted to run at Plumpton in December but he got a touch of mud fever so he couldn't and it was abandoned anyway so no harm done. He's schooling ok and working well and there is a race in him.

TOBAGO BAY
==========
2005 bay gelding by Tobougg
Owner: Heart of the South Racing

He is also back from his break and started ridden work, he looks incredibly well and is being prepared for Cheltenham ( race to be decided) although I think he will be a great candidate for the Lad's Race, rated 129 he should get in ok.

TARAWA ATOLL
============
2006 brown filly by Imperial Dancer
Owner: The Stewkley Shindiggers and Janet Menzies

Poor Atoll has meet with a setback which keeps her to her box for a week or two, nothing career threatening she should make a full recovery and be back in full work February.

SON OF KARINGA
===============
2004 chesnut gelding by Karinga Bay
Owner: Stephen Antram

He's happy in his head and looking very promising. A bit of coughing (non viral) has been treated and we all look forward to him running.


SHEENA WEST 1ST JANUARY 2010

THE STUNNING LOOKING REACTION - FOR SALE.

WHITE ROCKS

GOODWOOD STARLIGHT

SON OF KARINGA

WHIPPERWAY

GEOFFDAW

EASTON CLUMP

FLYINFLYOUT

"EVA" A BENEFICIAL 3 YEAR OLD