WHAT A TEAM!

Jockey David Moran, Head Lad Bob Appleton, Groom Dawn Warburton, and regular Exercise Rider Denise Hinds joined me, last Wednesday night at Woodbine to cheer the strapping gelding, Empire Rising in his big win--all going to prove there is no "I" in team! Plenty of elbow grease and patience on everyone's part made this success happen.

This coming weekend will be a big one, as we have runners Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here is the Arravale line up:

Celestial Fire was well tried at two and we have waited until now to turn him out to ensure he is  fit. Ricky Browne has been riding him and is getting a good old cardiovascular workout every morning, because the horse loves his day job and wants to do more. Credit to Ricky and his ability to hold the horse in the morning!

Grace O’Malley, a two year old filly, runs Saturday on the turf.  She is carrying the silks of Kingstead Stables for Jamie Begg and Amanda Motz. This filly is perfectly named: Grace O’Malley, "Grainne Ni Mhaille" (1530-1603) was a pirate in Ireland who, I’m sure, would be thrilled to see that her namesake filly has plenty of pirate-like attitude.  All of the Out Riders at Woodbine are aware of "Gracey", as she is referred to in the barn, and her antics, so she gets a special escort every morning for about 200 yards when she steps onto the track. Without the Out Riders present, she is liable to perform cartwheels or summersaults--to my great displeasure.  “Gracey” is ready to run and I expect (and hope) she will learn a great deal from this outing.

Hoi An will be entered in the Wonder Where Stakes going 1 mile and ¼ on the turf. David Moran was disappointed with the troubled trip dealt to the filly last time, but we are prepared to throw that race out. She has been training well and enjoyed a good, strong open gallop on Monday under David. I was reluctant to breeze her the previous week because of the extreme heat in Toronto.  However she is not in need of a breeze and I send her into this race with confidence that she will stay the distance.

Stay with us over the weekend, and watch this space for updates!

Barn 11 Team - From Left To Right: 
Faith, Kalilla, Ilana, Denise, Charlie, Dawn, Lorenzo, Sarah, Kelly, Trainer and Jockey