Barney's Blog

Where's my slice of the action?

Evening all,

I had to write a blog update this week to congratulate by new best pal Motawaazy, who clocked up a hat-trick and his fifth win of the season at Pontefract.

What a grand horse he’s turned out to be. He was actually owned by Hamdan al Maktoum to start with, being by champion miler Kingman out of a Storm Cat dam called Shimah. She won a listed race at The Curragh, in Ireland, as a two-year-old when she was trained by a human called Kevin Prendergast.

Anyway, Motawaazy – or Motty, as I like to call him – hasn’t looked back since he came to Denton Hall at the start of the season, winning three times at Catterick, once at Carlisle and now at Ponty.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m very, very pleased for him because he’s a lovely fella, with a great attitude – but I can’t help having a few mixed feelings.

As you may have seen on the stable’s Facebook page, Motty’s owners – pleasant humans called Victoria and Matt – bought a cake and some booze for the staff as a thank you “for all their hard work”.

Did I get a slice of the cake? Did I hell as like! The miserable buggers kept it all for themselves, and I’m thoroughly p****d off about it.

I wouldn’t care but Motty’s success is all down to me. The Gaffer gets all the credit but I had a chat with Motty early on after watching his action on the gallops. I said: “Now, look here, Motty lad, ignore what the Michael human tells you, just put your head down, get to the front, and don’t let the buggers get past you.”

Abracadabra, it did the trick and now everyone’s harping on about The Gaffer getting the best out of him, and how hard the "dedicated" bloody staff have worked. That’s all b*****s – it was me who unlocked Motty’s potential and made him harder to pass than a unchewed carrot.

If the Victoria and Matt humans are reading this, never mind buttering up the staff, get some bloody carrot cake round to my box!

THE yard had three winners on Friday. Apart from Motawaazy, it was great to see Peerless Percy get his head in front for the first time, and we had a nice young ‘un called Clarets Glory get off the mark at the second time of asking.

Peerless Percy is by Sir Percy, who won the 2006 Epsom Derby, and is actually my half-brother because his dad was Mark of Esteem. If you’re related to me, you can’t be bad, can you?

Clarets Glory, who won at Ponty, is by Cotai Glory, who was a Group 3 winner in his day, trained by Charlie Hills.

Well done to the owners. Now you’ve got some prize money in yer pockets, don't be cheapskates - bring carrots.

I HAVE to confess, I’m a bit of an eavesdropper, so I overhear all sorts of stuff from my box and when I’m out in the field.

For example, I heard The Gaffer – the Michael human – talking to the vet the other day and he was on about a horse who’ll have to remain nameless to save embarrassment.

“Do you think I’ll ever be able to race that horse again?” asked The Gaffer.

 “Aye,” replied the vet. “If you get a good start, I reckon you might even beat it!”

AND then, the other day, I heard a conversation between two of the older blokes in the yard. Again, I’d better not name ‘em but you can probably guess who they are.

Anyway, one says to the other: “Do ya take drugs?”

“Just Viagra,” came the reply.

“Really? Can you get it over the counter?” asked the first fella.

The second fella winked and said: “I can if I take two!”

God, I’m bloody funny! Til the next time, take care. Lots of love.