Barney's Blog
- 02-Apr-2025: Latest News from Denton Hall Stables the home of Michael Dods Racing
- 26-Mar-2025: Stable apprentice Rhys Elliott rides out his 7lbs claim with 20th winner at Newcastle
- 22-Mar-2025: Sixth winner of 2025 as Lord Abama wins at Newcastle under Sean Kirrane
- 21-Mar-2025: King of Fury wins at Southwell on first run for the yard
- 11-Mar-2025: Nelson Gay wins for the second time this season at Southwell
- 04-Mar-2025: Gale Force Maya's first foal born at Byerley Stud - a colt by Pinatubo!
- 01-Mar-2025: King's Crown goes in at Newcastle under Rhys Elliott for second win of the season
- 27-Feb-2025: Happy 83rd birthday to Zuffolo's owner Roger Saunders. Have a great day, Roger!
- 15-Feb-2025: Second winner of 2025 as Nelson Gay and Lewis Edmunds win at Southwell
Reflections on Royal Ascot
Morning everyone. Happy Sunday.
I’ve had a nice quiet week, watching the racing on telly, and enjoying having a bit of sun on my back on Saturday.
Royal Ascot seems to have gone well, albeit behind closed doors, and no sign of Her Majesty. Nice to see her have a winner though. That was on Wednesday with a horse called Tactical in the Windsor Castle Stakes. Bit of a coincidence because she owns that gaffe, doesn’t she? Fancy having a race named after your house!
Must have been a relief for her. She could probably do with the prize money, what with the tourism industry being so badly affected by this virus business. It’ll help keep those short-legged dogs of hers in Pedigree Chum and Bonios for a bit longer.
Quick shout out for my former rider – the Philip Makin human. His horse, Muker, was a cracking third in that race and he seems to be making a good start as a trainer. Nice lad – we always got on well, me and him.
I was pleased to see the north having some winners as well – I always like to see us get one over on the south, so well done to Mark Johnston, Karl Burke and Kevin Ryan for flying the flag.
That said, you can’t take it away from the Frankie Dettori human – champion jockey at the meeting again – and what a performance on Stradivarius to win a third Ascot Gold Cup. Brilliant!
Mind you, he’s a bit flash isn’t he? I’m not keen on this flying dismount malarkey. He’d get a quick buck from me – that’d give him a flying dismount alright!
I notice they’ve put up a statue of the Frankie human at Ascot, because he once rode seven winners there. Have you seen it? It looks nowt like him. Waste of good metal, if you ask me.
Thinking about it, how come there isn’t a statue of me at Denton Hall? I won nine times, and I'm the only horse I know with his own blog, so surely I’ve earned it. The Carole human needs to start a petition - she's my biggest fan, and she's got the gaffer wrapped round her little finger.
Anyway, hope you have a good week. See you soon, lots of love,
