July Already!!!

As July unfolds, the breeding season is so close now that the mares due in August are eyeing off the foaling yards whilst Dane Shadow anticipates a busy season approaching.

At this time of the year, where we roll into some of our coldest months, the mares are well insulated with thick winter coats and are enjoying the lush Oats and Rye grass that we have been busily planting since early May.

It"s also time to observe the pregnant mares closely and make sure that they are happily in foal and showing no signs of an early birth. Having mares due early August, to stallions such as Commands, Flying Spur, Snitzel, Red Ransom, Holy Roman Emperor, Charge Forward, Dane Shadow, Danzero, etc, make the monitoring process up there with one of the most important jobs on the farm.

Over the next two weeks we will bring our dry mares down from the hills and organise them into suitable groups where we paddock them on the river country that is flush with winter feed, commencing them on a rising plane of nutrition. The addition of lights in their paddocks artificially extending daylight hours, along with rugging and the rising nutritional plane helps to stimulate spring conditions.

Abroad

Yearling manager Bess Lamont departs for England this afternoon for her 4 month stint at Watership Downs Stud near Berkshire. Bess will be attending all the major sales throughout Ireland and the UK and will return to Australia for the start of Kitchwin"s Magic Millions preparation in early October. Although she is a tad nervous, we are confident she will knock the socks off them with both personality and horse handling skills.

We would like to wish her the best of British luck and look forward to her returning so as she can utilise and share the valuable experienced she will have gained.

Weekend Acceptances

With the major racing carnivals over and done with the racing this weekend is certainly a little quiet. Most horses are either out spelling or in early preparation for the beginning of the new season and the spring carnival and we eagerly await their return. One horse racing of note this weekend is last start winner Coroner who gets his chance in town and all though drawn awkwardly has been pleasing in his work since his dominant performance last start.

Saturday July 4

Australia
BRC
12:25pm Race 2 Play, Gather, Compete, Belong 2YO H., A$50000 1400m
Coroner (AUS) 2006 (G. by Dane Shadow-No Finding) Good luck Gino

STC
2:20pm Race 5 Inghams Love"em H., A$70000 1500m
Future"s Dream (GB) 2003 (G. by Bertolini-Bahawir Pour) Best of luck Neil Werrett and the Waller Racing Camp