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Off to Worcester today to saddle Father Martin in the bumper. Unfortunately the horse's namesake cannot make it due to a funeral. Shame about his day job.
I was sad to hear of Richard Fox's death. He was lovely man, very witty and told some great stories over the years. My favourite was when he came over from Ireland with just a plastic bag with clothes in it. He ended up in the weighing room in Leicester and was looking for some digs. The boys wound him up by saying he should have a word with Lester Piggott and they dropped him off at the bottom of the ‘long fella's' drive.
He wondered up the long drive, knocked on the door and there was no reply. He knocked twice more when finally the great man appeared at a top window. Foxy looked up and said “I have come to stay here.” To which Lester replied “well bloody stay there then” and shut the window.
Father Martin has been declared in the bumper at Worcester tomorrow. Richard Johnson rides him and he has certainly improved in his work over the last month or so. Hopefully he will show some promise as I believe half the parishioners of Chalfont St Peter will be in attendance.
The RDA had a golf day yesterday at Heythrop Park which Phillips Racing was very pleased to support. One of our owners David Simons, is chairman of the Cotswold branch. There is no more worthy cause and I am pleased to say that racing was represented by Mike Cattermole, Carl Llewellyn, Andrew Tinkler and Jimmy McCarthy. Around £15,000 was raised and well done to all involved.
A busy weekend as ever. I went to Newmarket on Saturday to support the Animal Health Trust in their charity day. I saw a lot of friends and owners there. I think the pre-parade of the July course is one of my favourite areas of any racecourse in the world. It's great to see the horses walking under the trees - the calm before the storm. I enjoyed Tony Morris's article on my favourite mare Dahlia. For those of you who don't remember her, she was a remarkable mare trained my Maurice Zilber and owned by Nelson Bunker Hunt. She won an Irish Oaks, two King Georges, a couple of Woodbines and a couple of Benson and Hedges. When it came to trophies she was a nicotine addict.
Mick's Dancer ran with credit yesterday at Windsor and needs a bit more cut in the ground, on what was a very warm day that brought the horseflies out in abundance.
Phardessa did not get a run in the Summer National and with the dry week ahead, she will now have a little break. We have declared Mick's Dancer for Windsor on Sunday. He has not run on the flat for a while but it will be interesting to see how he gets on returning from a hurdling campaign.
We had a visit from owner Dominic Ryan this morning, who came to see his young horse, Dash Sweeney canter up the gallops. Despite having been with us only a couple of weeks, this big three year old has progressed well and everyone is pleased. We had a very large breakfast at the Horse & Groom and his owner left without hunger.
Yesterday I visited the horses turned out in Idbury, a village not far from Adlestrop. They all look well. I dropped off the Pimms jug that Pak Jack won at The Feathered Nest for tonight's ‘Pak Jack Winning Party.' Then popped in to see owners Nick and Kath Burgess on the way home. They are a great couple and have shares in King Jack and Mr Tingle. Nick runs Chadlington village shop and has David Cameron among his customers – a visit is highly recommended.
Pleased to report Dark n Sharp is in great form. He lives in back garden in the centre of Adlestrop village. Now 16, he looks more like a 6 year old and we often have a chat in the summer evenings.
23rd
June, 2011 We had a visit from Jill Harmsworth this morning. I have known Jill a long time from my Bosley days at Witney college. Hopefully she will be getting involved with an Adlestrop inmate very soon.
We did some stalls work with Mick's Dancer this morning in anticipation for a run at Windsor on Sunday and Phardessa did a final workout in the hope of a tsunami at Uttoxeter. Father Martin has been entered for Worcester on Wednesday and the rosary beads are out.
Last night I had a meeting with Joy Reid re doing a promotional film addition to our website. I have known Joy for many years and I am looking forward to the project as Joy is great to work with.
I have been told by my secretary that I now have a Twitter page www.twitter.com/rtphillips1 Everyone knows how much I love technology – God forbid!
Father Martin worked nicely with Mick's Dancer this morning. The latter will hopefully go to Windsor on Sunday whilst Father Martin will hopefully make his debut in a bumper at Worcester next week. With Phardessa entered in the Summer National on Sunday, chances of her soft ground look pretty distant unfortunately. A shame as she is in such good form.
A busy yard of steam cleaning, painting, paddock changing, water trough cleaning and boss shouting – I have had a very good morning.
I went to the doctors this morning for my test results and have depressed all my staff, with my cholesterol level of 4.8 – which is a result which surprised and disappointed my doctor, John Disney.
I
came out of the doctors to find Paddy Brennan sitting in the
waiting room and got a chuckle from the waiting patients, when
shouting out to Paddy, “haven't got long!”
Who says this is a quiet time of year. Following a wonderful Royal Ascot week seeing lots of owners in great form, I was kindly invited to Marbella by owner Chris Newport. Chris has been a loyal owner for many years and has been in charge of many syndicates in the city. It was a weekend golf trip and my impersonation of Rory McIlroy was fairly moderate, however great fun. Hopefully, thanks to drunken stupors, we might get another syndicate together soon.
I came back on the coach from Gatwick in the early hours and was collected at Oxford by Barnsy. As I placed my golf clubs in the back of his car, his first words were, “are we going clubbing?” Not bad for a 76 year old.
We are not running Phardessa tomorrow as despite a little bit of rain at Worcester , it won't be suitable ground for her. She appears in great form and hopefully the heavens will open for the weekend's Summer National at Uttoxeter. We also have Mick's Dancer entered on the flat at Windsor on Sunday. Having had some runs over hurdles, it will be interesting to see how he gets on back on the flat.
Apparently the village open day went well on Sunday, despite the weather. Jo's dog show was again a great success. One of the dog owners to attend was John Craven, from Countryfile who brought his family to enter most of the classes. Presume they have a ‘newshound'.
A busy Royal Ascot week as ever - but great to see so many owners during the week having a good time and looking forward to winter winners.
I had a fun day with Bob and Pauline Scott on Wednesday with their trainer gang of Haggis, King and Bailey. The line of the day came from my neighbour Eric Painting who said, “Invisible Man, can't see that winning.”
The annual penalty shoot out went to yours truly with three very well played penalties going past Charlie Allan. With Charlie being one of my biggest owners, this is not an easy thing to do.
The tipping competition went to George Kay. George is young, loves his betting and is very jammy if you ask me.
Once again the guest of honour was Father Martin, whose namesake worked well this morning watched by half his parishioners. We look forward to him making his debut in a bumper at Worcester in two weeks time. Once again Father Martin blessed the yard and the horses and therefore we know his namesake is in good hands.
A fantastic days racing at Royal Ascot yesterday - it was a privilege to be in attendance. I was wrong about Goldikova, however delighted to see her run such a fine race carrying two pounds over weight. She was beaten by another brilliant horse and I'm very pleased for Hannon and Hughes.
Frankel was extraordinary and the tactics employed were remarkable but paid off. Anyone who thinks flat racing is boring should get a life.
I felt like the Vicar of Dibley yesterday having attended 14 picnics. Survived, although today I will be wearing a red waistcoat thanks to an accident with a glass of French.
Today's racing looks mouth watering. So You Think looks a superstar, I am told Start Right will win the Hunt Cup. I hope my old boss's Codemaster wins the Jersey . I hope Shamandar gets placed for the Scotts' who I am having lunch with today. I hope Best Terms wins the queen Mary for our owner Bunny Roberts, who I am having an early drink with today and hope I survive the week having set off at a faster pace than Frankel in the Guineas.
Fair Breeze showed her dislike for all weather racing on Saturday evening so we will have to look for a race on the turf for her now. She didn't appear to try too hard and lets hope she can repeat her homework on the track soon.
Colin Pocock came on Saturday to take his two boys, Captain Tidds and Mister Newby on their holidays. He has a lot to look forward to with them over the next 12 months.
I visited my mother on Saturday on the way to Lingfield. Now in her ninetieth year, she has started doing high fives with her grand children, which is extremely worrying. If you wonder where I get it from, she is partly responsible and my father was worse.
This afternoon, I went to David Berry's funeral. For those of you who didn't know him, he was a delightful gentleman and devoted partner to Jo Winter. Based in East Ilsley , I remember fondly his summer parties in that wonderful village where we remembered him again on a sunny afternoon today. He loved Royal Ascot week and I'm proud to say I will be wearing one of his ties tomorrow and thinking of him with a glass in hand.
Ascot week is always a busy one and will hopefully be blogging along the way. I have a feeling that Goldikova will be hard to beat. A great race in prospect, good luck to all.
I love reading Jeremy Clarkson in the Sunday Times. This week's article about hair loss was very funny, read it if you can.
10th
June, 2011 Last night I went to see some of our horses who are turned out in the beautiful surroundings of Idbury, not far from Adlestrop. Took Barnsy with me to feed carrots to Pak Jack, who already has a tummy like his part owner having only been turned out a few weeks.
This morning we had a visit from owner Dave Mason who came to view the schooling of some of the horses in the outdoor school with Sean Quinlan onboard. We went to Daylesford for breakfast, the best scrambled egg about.
Yet to read the article on Fred Done, the new Tote owner. As ever, racing seems to be anti bookmakers, which I have always said, wouldn't get anyone anywhere. The soon racing starts to work with them, bookmakers make bigger profits and a percentage of that goes back into racing, the better. Fair Breeze has been declared for the 7.40pm at Lingfield on Saturday evening. We are trying her on the all weather although ideally she probably wants some cut in the ground on turf. However her family have done well on all weather surfaces in the past and under Steven Drowne, hopefully we will find out a bit about her now that she is handicapped.
A busy morning and we were pleased to welcome owner Roger Skan, owner of La Landiere among others, along with his great friend David Duckham. As many of you will remember, David was a great English rugby international in the seventies and is a top man with it. He is many men of my era's pin up of the rugby world as he was playing in a vintage era and was part of that great Barbarians try against the All Blacks.
Last week we were lucky enough to welcome Will Carling to Adlestrop along with his wife Lisa and daughter Mimi. Will is also a top man and pointed out that his boyhood hero was Duckham and it just reminds you how much nicer rugby players are to professional footballers on the whole. Just remembered another Bobby Davro line from the other night. He likes his whisky like his women - eighteen years old, single and full of coke.
Yesterday was the Jeremy Kyle Golf Day in aid of Heros. Heros is a great charity for the rehoming of ex racehorses run by Grace Muir near Wantage. Some would say not a vital charity, however anything that stops the antis from accusing racing of being cruel is a good thing. I highly recommend a visit and if you are looking for a riding horse, get in touch with them.
Jeremy Kyle is a fellow patron and as you can tell from his television persona, a bit of a boy. However he and his wife Carla, are passionate about horses and great supporters of the charity.
Among the celebrities turning up yesterday were, McCoy, Francome, Hughes, Fitzgerald, big fella Thompson and Mike Cattermole. From the world of sport were Ray Parlour and the world's greatest presenter Jeff Stelling. Jeff was one of our original owners and now he has given up Countdown, hopefully we will have time to catch up with a game of golf.
Bobby Davro provided the entertainment by doing the auction and his best line was, “took my ex wife last week. Only took one punch, you should try it.”
Most horses are in the field now but still a dozen in and a few to work. All went to plan this morning.
Had a cardiogram this afternoon for my annual check up. Told Barnsy in the office to which he replied, “what was that for mate?” To which I replied, “what do you think it was for, not my kidneys was it?” to which he replied, “ah your kidneys, you can have one of mine if you want.” Forgot his hearing aid again.
We have Fair Breeze entered up at Lingfield on Saturday. Hopefully she will make her seasonal debut then. She has strengthened up over the winter and hopefully will be soon winning like the rest of her family.
I was kindly invited to Lords yesterday by Peter Deal. Peter has been a great friend and supporter for nearly 30 years now. The top on the Mount stand at Lords is one of my favourite places in the summer, despite the fact I was joined by Barnsy and Warren Marston. A jolly day was had by all, with Barnsy taking the money thanks to his prediction of the Sri Lankan innings being 380. Barnsy was one run out but is still twenty five quid richer.
Tiger Line had an unfortunately experience at Worcester on Saturday. Following a mistake at the fourth, her Irish martingale got stuck over her nose and she could not breathe and lost a tooth in the process. However she appears fine now and hopefully she will be running again soon.
The Derby was a great race and the best horse won. It was a very popular victory (in France anyway). Hopefully the winning rider will learn from his ridiculous celebratory gestures. I am a fan of Ryan Moore but I think he let himself down a bit with his post race comments. Obviously frustrated, his defeat was not down to two outsiders running in the race. Although the winner came from behind him, I can't help feeling that Lester Piggott would have been closer turning for home.
I can safely say that you cannot have a bet on talent competitions in Britain anymore. Thanks to the press, Ronan Park got beaten in Britain 's Got Talent. I still wouldn't mind being his agent.
Mister Newby ran a very promising race at Wetherby last night on his debut in the bumper. Showing signs of greenness he moved on the heels of the leaders turning for home and stayed on strongly to be beaten by a more experienced type.
Richard Johnson was delighted with him and thought he was a very promising youngster. He will now be put away for a summers rest before adding to our band of promising youngsters for this coming autumn.
Richard Hughes was very taken with Bold Identity. He was only beaten seven lengths by the winner in a competitive handicap at Sandown. Richard suggested that he would be better on better ground on a flatter track over a mile and a half or a mile and three quarters and felt like a classy type. He looks a promising horse for the future.
We have declared Tiger Line tomorrow in the opener at Worcester on Ladies Day. The three miles should suit her and once again she wears blinkers with Tom Siddall onboard. Let's hope Tom gets rewarded for his dedication shown towards the yard over the last few months. Got home about 12.30am from Wetherby. Always easier when they run well. Spoke to my mother on the way home as she is the only person I know still up at that time. Apparently she had been speaking to some bloke in Mexico on Skype. Not bad for an 89 year old.
Two runners tonight, Bold Identity at Sandown in the 8.45pm and Mister Newby at Wetherby in the 9.05pm. hopefully they will both run well if they can see where they are going and it isn't too dark. I'm off to Wetherby so god knows what time I will get back. With have Richards Hughes and Johnson riding for us so no excuses there.
Sold our sales entries yesterday at Ascot . We have come back with Giovanna who will now hopefully have a decent stud career and will spend her days at Sue Welch's stud near Basingstoke . I am sure she can breed a good one and hopefully they will be as tough as her.
I see Carlton House is declared for the Derby , it will be disappointing if he doesn't run. I heard a whisper for Memphis Tennessee , an Aiden O'Brien runner ridden by son Joseph. Take the 25's now.
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Yesterday
was ladies day at Royal Adlestrop which beats fighting at the
real venue. Unfortunately our bookie John Salmon did not go
away skint this year, so will return. Money was raised for both
the Royal Marsden and Sue Ryder.  | |
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