29th December

Finally a suitable race has come around at Wolverhampton. Why Wolverhampton? Well Lingfield and Kempton are really too far to travel from Durham, and the fibresand at Southwell is too slow, deep and clingy for Blackheath. So it’s Friday at 7.30pm in another 6 furlong Class 6 handicap. This time a 0-50 which is ideal as he is still rated 50. All we need now is to avoid a high draw. Kelly Harrison is down to ride again.

20th December

As expected he did not get into Saturday’s race.

17th December

There is a 6f Class 6 Handicap in which Blacky as been entered. It is the 7.30 at Wolverhampton on Saturday evening.
Unfortunately it is a 0-60 handicap with 44 entries and the vast majority of them are higher rated, so he will probably be balloted out of that one. The next opportunity will be a 6f Claimer on Thursday 27th.

10th December

Blackheath ran well on Saturday night to finish 3rd. Close to full fitness, he had come on quite a bit for his run on the 27th November. Taking Kelly’s 5lb claim taken into account, I reckon he was only a couple of lbs below his midsummer best. With Philharmonic withdrawn the winner had the run of the race, kicking 3 or 4 lengths clear off the home turn, and he kept on comfortably enough. Blacky was always in around third place and kept on well, gradually cutting back the winner’s lead, but with too much to do. The winner ex-Australian Green Lagonda is rated 60, 10lbs higher than Blacky, and is certainly worth more. The horses in second and fourth are both rated 68. Adjusting for weight carried I think Blackheath put up the equivalent of at least a mid 50s run. If so, he should be able to win off of his current handicap mark of 50.

Hopefully there will be a suitable Class 6 handicap at Wolverhampton over 6f before Christmas and Blacky can give Scott Mason, his new trainer, a nice Christmas present.

6th December

Well he got into Saturday’s race quite comfortably. The £8,000 claiming price tag will have helped. Kelly Harrison is due to ride again. Blacky is drawn in the middle, 7 of 13. The 6f distance will give him more of a chance of getting involved in the race.

Philharmonic is the main fly in the ointment. He won a Conditions Stakes race at Beverley on 25th September when he looked, more or less, as good as ever, and worth his current rating of 96. On ratings adjusted for weight, Philharmonic should be capable of finishing 12 lengths ahead of Blackheath. Unless something goes badly wrong with Philharmonic everybody else is racing for second place. You would also think he would be claimed at the £15,000 price tag. There are also two horses in the race rated 68, and they would be giving Blacky 14lb and 18lb more in a handicap. At the risk of repeating myself yet again, it does not make sense to enter him in Sellers and Claimers where he is meeting horses at very disadvantageous terms compared with handicaps.

Nevertheless there is every chance he will run a creditable race.

3rd December

Blackheath is entered in a race at Wolverhampton on Saturday night. It is a 6f Claimer scheduled for 7.30pm.

There are 41 entries and the chances of getting in the race must be doubtful. Amongst the entries are Philharmonic (rated 96 ! ), Dickie Le Davoir (rated 80) and four rated in the 70s. Sellers and Claimers are not realistic winning opportunities and it should be Grade 6 Handicaps all the way.

He ran OK on the 27th as he needed the race after 90 days off the track and blew up turning into the straight. His chances were not helped by the high draw, or the barging match he had with Tajjree. Hopes are that he will run close to his best next time. He has settled down well at Scott Mason’s stables and looked on good terms with himself.


25th November

Blackheath is in the final declarations for Tuesday. The time of the race has been switched to 2.00pm. Blacky has been drawn 10 of 13, which is towards the outside and a disadvantage. He is to be ridden by Kelly Harrison, a 5lb claimer. In the circumstances, and as he has been off the track for three months, it would be surprising if he troubled the commentator in the closing stages.

One interesting aspect of the race is that one of Blackheath’s opponents is Tajjree who happens to be raced by The Racing Forum, a top horse racing message board. Tajjree has her own thread on the message board which you can find at - http://www.theracingforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12357&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=330. It will be interesting to see if those involved have anything to say about the race.

21st November

Blackheath’s season seemed to have ground to a halt after his last race at Catterick. His future was very uncertain and quite a worry. Matters have been resolved by transferring him to Scott Mason’s yard at Lanchester, north west of Durham. Scott used to work for David Nicholls, as travelling head lad I think, and knows Blacky well. Silvestre rides quite often for Scott so the transition should go smoothly. If all goes well he should be running fairly regularly through the winter, though plans depend on whether he is enjoying his racing and doing OK.

Blacky is entered in the 1.25pm at Wolverhampton on the 27th, which is next Tuesday. It is a Class 6 handicap over 5 furlongs.


31st August

A couple of photos of Blacky at Catterick taken by Sarah.


     
30th August

Another excellent try at Catterick yesterday where he came a good 2nd behind Toy Top, who is well handicapped and on a roll at present. As they say in football it was “Deja Vu all over again”. Blacky just did not quite having the pace for the sharp 5f. It would be oh so easy for him to win a Class 6 handicap over a flat 6f on fast ground with Silvestre riding, but the options are limited in the next few weeks. The easiest chance was missed, and the All Weather where the draw and tactics are important looks like the best option now.

23rd August

Blackheath ran another fair race at Wolverhampton on Monday but the draw (13 of 13) was against him. Silvestre chose to compete for the lead in order to get across from the wide draw. This was a mistake in hindsight as others were trying to do the same thing and he used up too much petrol early on. I was willing him to just drop in and track the leaders, or settle for middiv but he wasn’t listening. :-( Whilst he led into the straight and briefly looked as if he might repel challengers he tired late on to drop back into third place.

It is so frustrating watching this sort of thing knowing that 6f on a straight track would not result in these problems and would allow him to win. The decision makers, mainly Tim Palin but I suppose Dandy as well, have really lost the plot as far as Blacky is concerned. The race at Redcar would have been ideal, but he is not in it.

He seems destined not to win again with present race choices and tactics. Shame !

15th August

Blacky is now entered in a 6f Class 6 Handicap at Wolverhampton on Monday. This is OK bearing in mind that the ground is turning soft in many parts of Northern England and Scotland. However a straight 6f on fast turf would be better.

Blacky’s Optimum

Distance - 6f (or strongly run 5f) - His absolute best performances have been over 6f plus the Hong Kong Jockey Club Sprint over 5f when the pace was very fast. 5 wins at 6f, 5 wins at 5f. All the 5f wins came from off the pace. The 6f wins front running or handy. At 5f he is dependant on the leaders going too fast and coming back to him, although he has come close to stealing one or two from the front given good draws. He is not quite fast enough for the average 5f race.

Going - Fast turf is best. The form book could mislead you in believing that he goes on soft ground but on each occasion the going was substantially faster than the official description eg Haydock September 2003. On soft ground he tends to flounder and tire quickly. It does not suit his comparitively fluent “low” action. Going just on the easy side of Good is fine. Polytrack is OK. Fibresand is very unlikely to suit him.

Jockey/Tactics

Jockeyship has probably become increasingly important towards the end of his career. He has a good cruising speed and needs to settle into stride quickly and be left alone. Jockeys who deliberately hold him up or bustle him along do not get the best out of him. Personally I think they just confuse the horse and negate his best asset, his strong steady cruising speed. He does not find a great deal extra for pressure when in the pack and the jockey needs to be within reach of the lead, or preferably just hitting the front for the whip to produce good results. In front he keeps on well under pressure. However he goes well for gentle handling eg lady apprentices and for quiet riders who understand him. Silvestre De Souza rides him particularly well.

Track

He is not particularly maneouvrable horse sometimes getting unbalanced or at odds with his jockey around bends. A straight flat track is ideal. It allows him to use his comparitively long stride, fluent action and cruising speed to best effect. Given the right opportunity he will just outgallop the opposition at the level he is now at.

Put these various factors together and Redcar on the 25th is likely to be ideal given a weeks reasonable weather in N.Yorks. Wolverhampton on Monday not ideal, though off his current mark of 50 even that should be within his capabilities.


13th August

He ran a fair race at Catterick finishing 4th, but went a little too fast in the early stages having started really well and got too close to the lead for his own good. Silvestre looked to have a dilemma; whether to niggle along in order to stay with the leaders or conserve something for the finish. It is an unnecessary problem caused by the bad choice of races.

Which brings me to the next race which is supposed to be another sharp 5f at Catterick on Friday. This time it’s a claimer. Not the brightest decision. The top weight is Raccoon who has been running well in Class 3 Handicaps and is due to give Blacky 11lb compared with the 25lb he would have to give him in a handicap. This Catterick 5f is right up Raccoon’s street, as long as the going doesn’t soften up too much. There are several others able to race on advantageous terms, as there always will be in claimers and sellers now Blacky’s handicap mark has fallen to 52. He should be entered in Class 6 handicaps, of which there are several a week.

If he ran in the Class 6 6f handicap at Redcar on Saturday 25th with Silvestre riding he would win it. Fact. :-)

Anyway let’s not dwell on all that. Here is our hero at Catterick.



 Dandy looking over his shoulder expecting trouble. As if.


When you get adulation for just turning up, why bother to win?
Sarah and Sandra with Blackheath on the occasion of his 114th.


7th August

Blackheath runs in the 5.30 at Catterick today. It is a Class 6 handicap, so common sense has prevailed in going for handicaps now. Unfortunately the race is over a sharp 5f and he is drawn high so enthusiasm for his chance has to be limited. He will probably be outpaced and make headway too late. However with Silvestre aboard there is always hope. The going is Firm (Good/Firm in places) which should be to his advantage.

Personally I do not think that his recent form is representative of what he could do given his optimum conditions, and with Silvestre aboard and reasonable luck in running. Last time out at Catterick on the 18th July the going was much slower than the Clerk of the Course was prepared to admit, as he watered when rain was due. Very foolish ! From the race times the going on much of the course was Soft, not the Good description he stubbornly stuck to. Blacky would have been closer with a clear run. Previous to that he ran on easy ground at Hamilton, and with a high draw he raced wide on the slowest part of the track that day. Before that Adrian was riding so the poor old fella had no chance.

The clock is ticking down to the end of Blacky’s career and It is frustrating, to say the least, to see him mismanaged in this way. Perhaps he can still win despite all this.

9th July

Blackheath is entered for a Seller at Hamilton, 7.20 on Friday 13th. It is a race with a very inaccurate title - the No Nonsense Selling Stakes. If High Reach and Lake Chini stand their ground we will be conceding 6 lb to horses rated 24 lbs above us. Even if they do not declare there are plenty of others in the field who have big weight pulls compared with handicaps.The old fella’s handicap mark is down to 49 now, so the best and easiest option for him is handicaps.

No Nonsense? You have got to be joking.


20th June

Words fail ! Adrian gets worse on Blacky every time he rides.


18th June

The good news is that Blackheath is due to race again on Wednesday, 4pm at Hamilton. His eleventh of the year, his career 111th. Will it be his 11th win?
The bad news is that it is a claimer again, it is over 5f, and Adrian is aboard. I said something to Sue about Adrian earning his riding fee. She indignantly blurted out that surely we don’t pay him for that? Innocently she thought that because he came with the stable ................... :-)

Blacky seemed to enjoy last weeks outing. He trotted down to the start nicely. Beside his jockey. Entered the stalls with jockey and without problems. Had the blindfold taken off almost before the stalls opened and got off on terms. He then tried to keep up with Brut for four furlongs (not easy). Worn out by the exercise he dropped out of contention, job done?

8th June

Blackheath has been entered in an Amateur Riders Handicap at Hamilton on Wednesday 13th June. It is a 6 furlong Class 6 race and he runs off a mark of 53. The lucky rider is Miss E Ramstrom who claims 7 lb. This will be a novelty for Blacky, as he has never been in an Amateurs race before. Miss E Ramstrom has ridden just two races, as far as I know, both were Dandy Nicholls trained and finished third. If she can get to the start in one piece, get the blindfold off in time and hang on she will be in for one hell of a ride.

1st June

Blackheath ran well today in the 2.00 pm at Wolverhampton, a Claimer over 6f. He would probably have won if he hadn’t been deliberately held in a pocket for a furlong early in the straight by Richard Thomas on Boisdale. With the bargeing and need to switch back inside I thought that might put the old fella off. But he stayed on well for second place beaten only a length or so. Simon Whitworth rode him well, as he did when stable jockey for James Toller in the early years of Blacky’s career. He will be winning again soon if he is kept to 6f.

21st May

As we all know (?) 5f on a sharp track is not the best for Blackheath, so where was he today, Musselburgh over 5f in another Claimer. The betting public know he is better over 6f or a stiff 5f, but in a race devoid of form close to Blacky’s Wolverhampton win he went off an uneasy 7/4 favourite. Perhaps the betting public do not realise just how bad Adrian’s record is on Blacky? Anyway the old fella came 4th, basically outpaced and ridden by someone who hasn’t a clue how to get the best from him. Today it did not matter because he is not quick enough to stay with an in-form Whinhill House over a sharp 5f.

14th May

I have not kept the Blog up to date due to the worry and anger caused by Blackheath running in Sellers and Claimers. There has been a strong difference in opinion on this subject. In my opinion the Blacky should be retired to a good home if he is unable to run in handicaps any longer? He is our responsibility and that is the least we should do for him.

Anyway this season to date he has form figures of 253522. On 16th April he chased Borzoi Maestro home in a Seller over five furlongs at Wolverhampton. Then he led from halfway only to be caught in the final furlong by Le Chiffre over 6f at Brighton in another Seller.

Today he has won a five furlong Claimer at Wolverhampton. Silvestre rode Blacky excellently, as he invariably does. Out of the stalls quickly, into a good cruising speed in touch but going his own speed, leave him alone and stay patient until the leaders come back to him, then through the gap along the rail, and strong riding to get him clear. He won by 2 1/2 lengths. A good effort bearing in mind that 5f at Wolverhampton is really too sharp for him.

It is the tenth win of his career. He has won nine for us, at least one every year, and just maybe he hasn’t finished yet.
I couldn’t be prouder of the old fella.


30th March

There is now a Betting Blog elsewhere on the website where I shall endeavour to make some money backing sprinters.
Feedback to mwwebsite@f2s.com if you wish, but not too much abuse please.

21st March

Blacky is due to run in the 2.55 at Wolverhampton on Friday. It is a 6f Seller. Adrian rides.

Barely believable !

He is drawn 11 of 11.

17th March

Blackheath ran a fair race at Lingfield. He broke quite well, led for a while, then was in close touch to the winner Pride Of Joy, who kicked a length up on the turn off the modest pace. Blacky was caught out when the winner kicked on and found the sharp 5f a bit too quick for him. This is no surprise as he has always been best at 6 furlongs or a stiff 5f. Devon Flame came passed late on, so Blacky finished 3rd. Pride Of Joy is out of a well known Ken Ivory sprinter called Ivory’s Joy. Ivory’s Joy started in Sellers and progressed every year to eventually win a Listed race at 5YO. The Ivory sprinters are often brought along steadily from humble beginnings and it wouldn’t surprise me if Pride Of Joy now progresses, she certainly has plenty of speed.

I did not make it to Lingfield thanks to horrendously slow progress on the M25. In the end I just gave up. Apparently Blacky dumped Adrian in the parade ring. He does get very excitable before a race, and the jockey and lad have to be 100% prepared for his antics to get him out onto the course in one piece.

14th March

The draw and puddingy fibresand at Southwell were enough to stop Blackheath from quite getting into contention. He finished 5th. Sarah says that he was awkward and reluctant to go to post, which is not unusual but may have been brought on by running him too soon after Wolves. He also had a long blow afterwards.

Blacky runs in the 1.50 at Lingfield on Friday. It is a 5 furlong Claiming Stakes. He has the 1 stall which will be a signicant advantage if he can break reasonably well. There are 10 runners and the field looks weak to me, well it is a claimer. Devon Flame, the highest rated horse, I have always thought of as better at 6f, and really needing at least a stiff 5f. Possibly the only other threat on ratings is Pride Of Joy. Neither of those has a good draw. If Silvestre was riding I would fancy Blacky to win it despite the sharp 5f trip. Adrian rides.

27th February

Blackheath runs at Southwell tomorrow, in the 2.20 pm, a five furlong Claimer. On ratings three runners stand out from the rest Blacky, Hamaasy and Charlie Delta. Blacky may well be made favourite, but he is drawn 12 of 12 on the stand rail, which is usually a significant disadvantage on the Southwell straight five furlongs. Also it is quite likely that Fibresand will not suit him as much as Polytrack does. On the plus side Silvestre rides him again. The opposition is very weak, so he might win, but it is unlikely to be at value odds.

25th February

Some pictures of Blackheath at Wolverhampton, courtesy of Sarah and Laura.
 
  


21st February

Blacky is a confirmed runner for the 3.45 at Wolverhampton on Friday. There are only seven runners, which include stablemate Native Title. On handicap ratings Quiet Times should be a warm favourite. However Native Title would be my selection. He looks to be steadily coming to hand. He won two claimers this time last year and the booking of Paul Hanaghan is interesting. Paul rode Native Title when winning the valuable six furlong handicap on Derby Day 2004. The race in which Banjo Bay was pacemaker and Blacky came a strong staying-on sixth having been held up in his run. Native Title also beat Blacky a neck for the Ayr Silver Cup in 2003; the two of them split by the width of the track. In addition to the Epsom win Hanaghan has finished second on NT, from just three rides. Blacky will be ridden by Silvestre de Sousa. He is drawn 1 with NT in 2. Perfect for giving NT a lead. With Dandy, Blackheath has always needed a race or two to reach peak fitness, and I can’t see this season being any different. Expect him to run free early, lead, and fade in the straight. My main preoccupation will be in hoping nobody is silly enough to claim him for £10,000.

19th February

Blackheath looks set to start the season in a six furlong Claimer at Wolverhampton on Friday. He is entered at a claiming price of £10,000. Several entries have significantly higher handicap marks, including Quiet Times (84), Magic Glade (81) and Gifted Gamble (81) and even giving Blacky 4 lbs you would expect all three to finish well ahead of him. Stablemate Native Title is also in the race.

Whilst a claim seems very unlikely I am not in favour of risking it. The situation, though, is rather different to last year,. Then he was entered at Catterick at the top of his form a ready made runner for anyone willing to claim a ten-year-old. This week £10,000 would have to be shelled out for a half-fit eleven-year-old with no guarantee that he will get back in top racing form, or be as good as previously.

4th February

Latest news is that Blacky is in good shape and well forward in his steady preparation for the new flat season. If things continue to go well I am expecting an all-weather outing in a months time, hopefully. It will be great to see the old fella running again. Dandy has quite a few on the go already this year including five who ran in Dubai last week.

7th January

Blackheath is back in training, being prepared for an “early campaign”. Apparently Dandy says he is in great shape.
So far so good.

Just a couple of pictures to whet the appetite.



Blacky winning at York on Timeform Charity Day 2006. Also in the photo Knot In Wood (3rd) and No Grouse (5th).

Can you tell from the faces, and the fists raised in triumph, who backed our boy?.........................Not Many !
I love these crowd action shots, so here is a link to another one at full resolution taken a few yards on (You may need to refresh the webpage and click on the photo for the full Supersize version).


and himself at Ripon in April 2005.