Lets start with Edgar Allan Poe, our now EIGHT year old gelding, and SEVEN times winner on the flat, who ran his first ever hurdle race at Sedgefield yesterday 9th Feb `22.
It was a real journey into the unknown for Edgar, and us guys, as well as Ian Barker, with whom McGoldrick Racing joined forces after Ian moved the 8yo gelding to Sue Smiths from the Bastiman yard.
Its been said many times that if the Smiths can`t get a horse to jump, then nobody can, so the emotions with all of us involved at Sedgefield were high as we waited for our fate…and investment to unfold.
Well the race did unfold, and what we saw was an excellent ride from jockey Ryan Mania, who`s priority was to help Edgar deal with jumping hurdles for the first time at racing speed, thus giving the horse the confidence he will need as his hurdling career develops…….and it has to be said, apart from one slight error, and another more novicey one at the last, Edgar ran a blinder.
Perhaps, with a few more cracks of the whip, and more aggression from the jockey, we might have ended up with some place money, rather than 5th of 11, but why run the risk of asking too much too soon.
Instead, we have a horse who ran well, came home sound, ate up everything in front of him, and, I`m told is now….the morning after…. happily rolling about in the paddock.
In addition, comments from Trainer and jockey regarding Edgars immediate future were extremely encouraging, so expect Round 2 of our work in progress, to be soon.
ROMEO BROWN
Short and sweet. Romeo needs cut in the ground…so to race him on a Market Rasen Course 8th Feb where one half of the track was soft, and the other half, namely the back half where the trees are, was at least GOOD, caught him out big style.
You only have to watch the race video and see how much better Romeo was when he hit the soft ground coming into the straight, making up a tremendous amount of ground to come from nearly last to a staying on 4th.
2ml 4f plus…..soft going…..stiff track will see him at his best.
