TBA Forum
Members enjoyed a terrific tour of Nick Alexander’s Kinneston Stables
Scottish regional day and forum The final regional day of 2019 was held in Scotland at Nick Alexander’s Kinneston Stables on September 25. Members were given a warm welcome by Nick and his team on arrival at the yard, with coffee and homemade cake served. Kinneston was originally a working farm that Nick has turned into a very successful training establishment, with an original set-up tailored to each individual horse. With over 40 horses already in training at Kinneston, and more due, a new American barn is being built, along with a second walker. Another new addition is a spring-fed cold water walkway, which the horses pass through daily. Several horses were paraded in front of the group including stable star Lake
View Lad and the well-bred Travail D’Orfevre, with members entertained by Nick’s training stories. The members were very interested to hear how Nick adapts an individual training regime for each horse on one of the three gallops that he uses. Nick revealed that he is lucky to have a very high staff retention rate. He believes in involving the whole team in the training of the horses and keeps all informed by way of a weekly update on the yard’s social media group. With the yard winning the inaugural Lycetts Team Champion Award and his assistant trainer Catch winning the Stud and Stable Staff Award for Leadership as well as the overall Employee of the Year Award, it is clear to see why Kinneston is a very successful team. A trip up to the gallops, by way of
a novel mode of transport, gave the group the opportunity to see third lot. It was also a full house for the regional forum at Perth racecourse, which followed the morning at Kinneston. A talk from the TBA’s CEO, Claire Sheppard, updated the members on the TBA’s vision for British breeding and racing. Included in the presentation was an update on the schemes that the TBA promotes, such as NHMOPS and the Elite Mares Scheme, as well as information on veterinary research and training opportunities that are available to each member. Nick Craven from Weatherbys GSB gave an informative talk that included an update on the E-Passport and Smart Card along with the challenges caused by Brexit.
Monica Sheriff romps home at Goodwood The second of three TBA-sponsored races for staying fillies was held at Goodwood racecourse on Wednesday, September 25. The 14-furlong contest was won by Monica Sheriff, who relished the testing ground to cross the line 20 lengths in front of I’ll Have Another, winner of the TBA-sponsored staying fillies’ race at Newmarket in August. Monica Sheriff, trained by William Haggas, races for her breeder, the Duke of Devonshire. She is a daughter of Lawman out of Require, who is closely related to Group 1 winner and sire Ask.
Splendid isolation: Monica Sheriff wins by 20 lengths at Goodwood
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