Barney's Blog

Oh, what a Glorious week

Evening all Barney McGrew here – the world’s only retired racehorse with his own blog.

WELL, WHAT A BLOODY DAY!

I’m so chuffed for my old mate Commanche Falls – or Commy as I like to call him – for winning back-to-back Stewards’ Cups at Glorious Goodwood.

He’s the first horse since Skydiver in 1967-8 to win the Stewards’ Cup in successive years and only the sixth horse in the history of the race to pull off the feat.

Did you see the race this afternoon? He was brilliant – sticking his big, long neck out right on the line. How the hell was he 25-1 after winning last year? I was talking to him over the wall in my field during the week and he told me he was going to win.

And what a fantastic race the Connor Beasley human rode – I’ve always rated him.

Well done to Commy’s owners –Doug Graham, Ian Davison and Alan Drysdale. They’re all nice humans. Stingy with the carrots though.

I bet you anything you like they don’t try and hold a press photo-shoot in my Carole’s garden again like they did after Commy won his first Stewards’ Cup. He nibbled at her plants and pooed on her lawn, so I’m pretty sure she’ll put her foot down if it’s suggested this year.

By the way, Tinto ran a cracker too to be fifth in the Stewards’ Cup. He’s been a great addition to the yard since he joined us from the Amanda Perrett human’s yard down in Sussex. In case you didn't know, he’s the daughter of a trainer called Guy Harwood, who trained Dancing Brave.

APART from Commy, we had a good start to the day when Billy No Mates won at the first time of asking this season.

Billy’s been a bit frustrated this season because the ground’s been too firm for him, so it’s nice to see him win at Thirsk. I think it took The Gaffer a bit by surprise because he reckons Billy’s better over a mile and six and today was only a mile and a half.

I’m bloody pleased for his owners, the John and Alwyn Sagar humans. They’re always so friendly.

THEN, just after Commy’s race, we had Azure Blue – or Bluey as I like to call her - go in at Newmarket for the third win of her career with the William Buick on board.

I’ve told you all along that she’s a canny filly and I’m sure she’s only going to get better.

Well done also to her owners, Peter Appleton and Anne Elliott, who are also lovely humans. That’s one thing about Denton Hall – we have a very nice bunch of owners..

SINCE my last blog, Gale Force Maya – or Galey as I like to call her – has won for the 11th time in her career, this time at York last Saturday, with the Connor human riding again.

I’ll tell you what, she just gets better and better - like a fine wine. I just love her to bits.

Congrats to her owner – the Frank Lowe human. Another nice chap and a loyal supporter of the yard.

THEN, earlier this week, we had another Glorious Goodwood winner when a nice young ‘un called Prairie Falcon won with the Hollie Doyle human dynamo on board.

He’s a lovely two-year-old and did very well to win because he’s still got a lot of strengthening up to do. Mark my words, Fally – as I like to call him – is going to be flying high.

BEFORE I go, I have to give a mention to my pal Bold Territories – or Terry as I like to call him – who won his first race at Wolverhampton on Friday.

He's owned by three brothers at Taylor’s Butchers, in Darlington town centre – Paul, Stuart, and Nigel.

Everyone knows Taylor’s Butchers. It’s an upper-crust business, especially famous for its thoroughbred pies. Go there around lunchtime and they’re queueing halfway down Skinnergate – it’s that popular.

In fact, the last time I saw a queue that big was when the Doug Graham human announced he was finally getting a round in at his local pub.

Anyway, I've got my own phone in my stable to do interviews, so I put a call in to the shop after Bold Territories had won, and I had a nice chat with the Paul human.

What a nice chap. He told me they bought the horse off the Michael human in January 2020, just before the lockdown.

“He’s come on leaps and bounds this year and we think he’s capable of winning maybe another couple this season,” said Paul.

I asked why they called him Bold Territories and Paul said it was because he’s by a sire called Territories and it was a bold move to buy a horse just as a pandemic was starting.

Territories, in case you were wondering, was trained in France by the Andre Fabre human and was second to Gleneagles in the 2015 Two Thousand Guineas before winning the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly.

Paul was telling me that his grandad, Jimmy, loved his racing, and his mum and dad, Pam and Keith, have bred and owned horses in the past – notably a mare called Highland Fizz, who was trained by Chris Fairhurst, at Middleham. She ran 87 times and won eight.

Now the brothers have tasted success with Bold Territories, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they buy another one to be trained by The Gaffer. With with such a good business behind them, I reckon the pies the limit!

FINALLY, did you hear about the woman who walked into a butcher’s shop and said: “I’ll take a dozen pork sausages and make ‘em lean.”

“Certainly, Madam?” replied the butcher. "Which way?"

God, I’m funny.

Take care everyone – lots of love til next time.