25 January 2025
Sue Huntingdon was up on the gallops on Wednesday of this past week to photograph some action shots, which have now been posted in a Gallery album.
Pictured here are the two year old colt Terranoble, owned by Imelda Coakley, and also West Ilsley Racing's Golden Phase giving a lead to the two year old filly of the Bramble Syndicate, named Dijon Gone
24 January 2025
A great start has been made with the New Year at Keeper's Stables, and it is always an exciting time with the lengthening days and brighter mornings already quite evident. The winter weather has posed the normal challenges with some very cold snaps and the odd storm, but the group of horses have been working very well. The new intake, set to race as two year olds in the coming season, are headed by the sole filly Dijon Gone and a group of four colts - the "Class of 2025" - who have been getting along together very well and showing their progressive talents in schooling as well as strong showings up on the gallops. Recently they have been learning how to challenge, go upsides and through with their runs to pass a rival. There is a real camaraderie among the group, who each seem to have terrific prospects once readied for racing.
The older horses are all returning to work after their winter breaks, with a number of three year olds set to build on the real promise they showed last season - Barry's Boy and four fillies all ready to make an impact. The yard is very busy now to get ready for an exciting season ahead.
Pictured above the two year old colts : Sparking Partners' Chelio, by Sergei Prokofiev and an as yet un-named colt by Earthlight, owned by Mrs Chris Young;
walking down from the gallops these two colts are followed by Terranoble, by Ubettabelievit, owned by Imelda Coakley.
01 January 2025
There was to be no deserved winning end to 2024 for Definite Dream, as she headed up to Warwick to contest the first race on the card - a 2m 3f handicap hurdle. Having competed so well in all of her races she set out to defy the odds with a prominent run, taking the lead with four flights remaining. The winner soon asserted, however, and looked to be very well placed and indeed well in at the weights, hanging but going clear into the straight to win by a widening sixteen lengths. Having been well outpaced, Definite Dream kept up to her work well to finish three lengths ahead of all the other rivals, and now she will have to wait a little longer to break her maiden tag. The next run will be ground dependent, so she may well have to wait for some spring ground before she races again.
26 November 2024
Yesterday at the Tattersalls December Yearling sales in Newmarket, Chris van Hoorn Racing acquired a bay colt foaled March 2023 - by the very successful stallion Zoustar and out of a German mare Felissa, a dual winner herself and from a prolific line of Group winners, mostly in Germany and Italy but also in the family is the Group winner in Australia named Zoustyle. The sire Zoustar has been responsible for over a hundred stakes performers and 51 stakes winners, including the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint winner Starlust with his spectacular last to first victory at Del Mar. Let us hope the colt will show some of that speed and class for Chris ! The yearling arrives in West Ilsley today and photographs of him in the sunshine will follow shortly.
22 November 2024
Definite Dream went up to Warwick yesterday for a 2m 3f hurdle race, with jockey Sean Bowen booked for the ride. Once again she travelled and hurdled very well indeed, to lead the race through the first two miles at a good tempo. Then approaching the third last, she was deceived by a shadow in front of the flight and so jinked to her right, which meant that she stepped at the hurdle and stumbled, sufficiently for Sean to part company with her and her race was over. This really was the first time she has made an error with hurdling in all her races, and she seems to be just a little sore for the experience. This could mean that she will now take a short break from racing again this year but hopefully she will be OK to resume quite soon in the New Year.
Telephone:
01635 281622
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01635 281624
Mobile:
07768 658056
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Keeper’s Stables
West Ilsley
Newbury
Berkshire
RG20 7AH
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Photography courtesy of Sue Huntingdon. © Copyright Denis Coakley. All rights reserved. Privacy & Cookie Policy, Website Terms & Conditions