Barney's Blog

Horses for courses

Evening folks,

Barney McGrew here – equine legend, still going strong at the age of 21.

I just wanted to congratulate my mate Arkenstaar – or Arky as I like to call him – for winning his fourth race at Hamilton, up in Scotland, where the humans talk funny.

I was having a chat to Arky when he got back to the yard tonight and I asked him why he likes Hamilton so much.

“It’s the stiff uphill finish, Barney, old lad,” he told me. “Suits me down to the ground, and it slows the t’others down. Makes me look good.”

Horses for courses is a common saying because a lot of horses just like certain tracks for whatever reason. Take Dakota Gold – or Goldy as I like to call him – as an example. He’s won seven races at York, and I wouldn’t put it past him winning there again before he retires. Just needs to find his handicap mark, now he’s a 10-year-old.

As for me, I won my nine races at eight different tracks: Thirsk, Ayr, Newcastle, York, Lingfield, Newmarket, Goodwood, and Wolverhampton. That’s just down to the fact that I was more talented than your average horse.

Anyway, well done, Arky, and congratulations to those jammy buggers Peter Appleton and Anne Elliott. They have to be amongst the luckiest owners in the country because they also owned that flying filly Que Amoro, and now have Azure Blue.

Bluey – as I like to call her – is aiming to repeat last year’s Group 2 success in the 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes at York later this month. After that, she’s entered in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. And, if she wins that, I’ll be expecting some very expensive carrots!

NOW, as you all know, I like this blog to be educational and, while we’re on the subject of Hamilton Park, did you know it was the first British racecourse to hold an evening meeting all the way back in 1947? If it comes up in a pub quiz, send me a bag of carrots.

TALKING of course specialists, did you see that Marcello Si – or Marchy as I like to call him – won again at Newcastle the other night? That’s three times he’s won there, so it’s becoming a bit of a habit.

What you may not know is that me and Marchy are closely related. His mum, Serenata Mia, is a daughter of Mark of Esteem, who was my dad. Small world, eh?

FINALLY, some breaking news that one of our owners has died suddenly – after drowning in a bowl of muesli. A strong currant pulled him in.

ON that sad note, that’s all from me folks. Have a nice bank holiday and remember this – every day’s a holiday for me!

Bring carrots. Lots of love, Barney.

• Picture shows Arkenstaar and the Connor Beasley human winning at Hamilton earlier today.