15th July

It did not take long for the computer to rate Pinpoint’s Sandown and Royal Ascot performances on a par. This week both runs are rated 105. It could be worth looking out for the horses who finished ahead of Pinpoint at Sandown over the next few weeks. Lovelace apart, the next ones (Ace Of Hearts, Masaalek, Dubai’s Touch and Fifteen Love) may be just a bit ahead of the handicapper as well. At the risk of repeating myself, it was a very strong race.

It is a pity that there are no suitable 8f or 9f races on straight or galloping tracks in the next few weeks. Really courses such as Windsor, Sandown and Goodwood with their sharp bends, which slow the field down and give the front runners a breather, are no good for Pinpoint. Going up in trip hasn’t been tried yet. Personally I think he would just pull hard, not settle and they would kick away from him just as they do in a slow pace 10f race. Better to persevere at 8f imo and hope for some easy ground.

This morning he followed Distant Diamond up the gallops 2nd Lot. Jenny pushed Pinny along in the last furlong and he took closer order, briefly getting within half a length. Sorry no time, but Distant Diamond looked to be going comfortably so I guess it wasn’t quick.

13th July

Pinny will be needing a new rider if he runs at Goodwood. Friday at Ascot saw Adam picking up a four day careless riding ban followed by a two day whip ban winning on Carniolan and Shifting Star. He had so much in hand on Carniolan that he probably did not need to manufacture a gap, but Shifting Star took a great deal of driving to hang on in front.

8th July

Came across Pinny in the small paddock yesterday morning. He was due out 4th Lot for some walking/trotting around the lanes. Taking things easy after Sandown. He is fine.

There has been a change of plan. Instead of Newbury on the 19th followed by Goodwood on the 1st August, Plan B is just Goodwood on the 29th.

The race Pinpoint is to be entered in is the £50,000 Bank Of Scotland Investments Heritage Handicap over 10 furlongs on the opening day of Glorious Goodwood, Tuesday 29th July. For once, and once only, I will be hoping that the Goodwood Clerk of the Course will overwater, as usual, for the start of Glorious Goodwood. Pinpoint’s handicap mark has gone down again to 105.

8th July - Toteswinger Stakes - Saturday 5th July - Sandown




For Pinpoint this was a tough ask, racing off 106 and giving chunks of weight away to improving 3YOs and 4YOs, and older horses such as Ace of Hearts and Flipando who have slipped below winning marks. Altogether a much stronger race than the Wolferton Handicap at Royal Ascot. So although 11th of 15 sounds like a below par effort, Pinny was in the race with a chance until the final furlong and only beaten 4 1/2 lengths. I actually rated the performance slightly better than at Ascot and the computer currently rates it 2lb worse.

The pace was good, the Eclipse and this race being the only ones on the round course to dip under standard. Pinpoint seemed to go comfortably through the race taking a good hold, towards the rear of mid div and on the outside round the bend. Adam challenged several horses wide from two furlongs out, and for a while it looked like he had a chance. But the best place to be was close to the far rail and eventually Pinny faded, with Adam accepting the situation in the last half furlong. The general opinion seems to be that he did not have the pace required for the eight furlongs on fast ground. The way I see it he was comfortable with the pace and made ground whilst the field were quickening, but was not able to sustain the run on a marginally slower part of the track.

The Racing Post (Raceform) rates the run 4lb down and comment that he seemed uneasy on the ground, wanting to hang right. Timeform rate the run 6lb down and think that Royal Ascot may have taken too much out of him. I would be prepared to bet that the computer will rate the two runs more or less on a par come the end of the season and that Raceform and Timeform will have misled their customers yet again.


4th July

Through the week the weather forecasters have been predicting plenty of rain at Sandown but they have only had 3mm so far. More to come early morning but the ground will be fast.

There is a Stable Tour in the Weekender this week which includes a picture of Pinpoint fighting it out with Supaseus in the Suffolk Stakes last year. As for tomorrow’s race, Walter makes the point that he has a tough task giving chunks of weight to the young improvers. On the positive side there should be a good pace from Celtic Sultan, Huzzah, Dubai’s Touch, Prince of Light and possibly Lovelace.

3rd July

The maximum seventeen are due to race in the Toteswinger Stakes. Pinny has a centre draw in 8.

He has also been entered in the £150,000 guaranteed Totesport Mile, the Heritage Handicap run at Goodwood on Friday 1st August. It is a shame that it is no longer known by its original name The Golden Mile. There was never any room for doubt with that title. But with the John Smith’s this and the Totesport that who is to know whether it is a red hot valuable handicap or a Class 5 at Folkestone?

2nd July

An Ante-Post market of sorts opened yesterday with four bookmakers offering odds. Pinpoint is best priced 16/1 with Totesport, and as short as 10/1 with Corals.

1st July

Just an exercise canter today with Constant Cheers. Pinpoint scoped well and looks to be in top shape and a happy horse.

He is top weight in the Toteswinger Stakes. There are 30 entries which include a plentyful supply of lightly raced 3YOs and 4YOs, on the way up. There is rain on the way.


24th June

A clear bright morning and Pinpoint was out 1st Lot. Just a relaxed piece of exercise following some horses up the gallops but finishing in splendid isolation, 44.66 secs for the final 3f. He has come out of the race well.

[For Colin - La Rosa Nostra impressed Fossell. He was riding her for the first time. As nice a filly as there is in the yard were his words.]

The Handicapper has taken a quietly satisfied view of the form at Ascot, concluding that he does not have much tweaking of handicap marks to do. He must have pondered whether to raise the placed horses 1lb or 2lb and decided to go for the 1lb option. So Pinpoint is up 1lb to 106.

The racing season waits for no man and it is on to the next race. Well races actually. Pinpoint is to be entered in the following :-

Saturday 5th July - 2.35 Sandown - The Toteswinger Stakes - 8f Heritage Handicap - £100,000 added - (Eclipse Day)
Saturday 19th July - 4.25 Newbury - David Wilson Homes Steventon Stakes - 10f Listed - £30,000 added

All being well, with the going and Pinny, the intention at this point in time, is to run in both races. It will be good to see him back over a mile, though the sharp bend into the straight at Sandown tends to lead to a stop/start pace. However that was not the case last year when Ordnance Row won chasing a very fast pace on easy ground. Another race like that would be ideal, thank you.


23rd June - Wolferton Handicap - Friday 20th June - Royal Ascot

It was a big thrill to watch Pinpoint fight out a finish at Royal Ascot. For a moment or two it looked like he might even win the race. Adam Kirby was adamant that with a better draw and therefore a better position through the race he would have won. He certainly made up a few lengths in a race run to suit those close to the pace. Whatever, it was a excellent effort, and Pinny’s best so far over 10 furlongs. A big relief too, that he has come back to top form after a year of problems, impossible tasks, and stop/start races with small fields. With six withdrawals including the other possible front runners, Supaseus was able to set a moderate pace and get the easy lead that suited him ideally. Many Volumes just held on for second place by a short head as Pinny stayed on strongly all the way to the line.

The going, described as Firm (Good/Firm in places), led to most of the withdrawals. However 8mm of water had been put on the course overnight, and despite our pre-race worries Adam came back saying that he did not know what all the fuss was about.

More conclusions about the run later. Afterwards Walter thought that the Handicapper would put him up a few pounds because of his proximity to the winner. However I would be disappointed if he was raised more than 2lb, the distances being 1 length, short head, head, neck, 3/4, 3/4.









and a fuzzy scan of the finish




19th June

An unusual sight to see Pinpoint one of the unconsidered rags in a race. He is best priced 28/1 with the bookies and around 35/1 on Betfair. If the race was over 8 or 9 furlongs on a straight track it would be well worth a punt, but not at 10f on a turning track. The going and draw in 3 is no help either. Soapy Danger and Supaseus are likely to take them along at a reasonable pace, which will be to his advantage. Also Pinny is now down to a mark of 105, 1lb lower than when he was short headed by Supaseus in the Suffolk Stakes.

17th June

The stable are in good form and the whole string looked fit and well this morning. Stotsfold particularly so. Pinpoint followed Eastern Emperor up the gallops, cruising along with Jenny sitting still, the final 3f in 41.46 secs.

16th June

45 entries for the Wolferton Stakes. The safety Limit is 16 and Pinpoint is 10th on the list. As most of the top 16 are “jocked-up” it looks like not too many will drop out. The list includes recent rivals Many Volumes and Mutajarred.

10th June

Pinpoint looked in good shape when out first lot this morning. Colin came over from Essex to see what was going on and to our eyes he seemed to have put on a bit of condition since Great Leighs. Also I thought he looked better in his coat. Still not 100% fit imho but Jenny said he is likely to have a piece of fast work on Friday with Adam riding. This morning he followed Hendersyde and Amir Pasha up the gallops, taking closer order 2f out but, in accordance with orders, not attempting to go past, 39.09 for the final 3f.

All systems go for Royal Ascot. For Pinpoint a few spells of rain over the next week would not go amiss, but with my Something hat on I would prefer it bone dry.

4th June

Some photos of the Great Leighs experience on the 28th May. First Jenny and Pinny posing, and Tony hiding. Jenny came well prepared for sodden GL.



Then passing the weighing room and owners and trainers facility, which I thought was the best part of Great Leighs so far. The temporary main “stand” is a bizarre idea which hinders rather than helps watching the racing. Perhaps they had income from hospitality packages as the number one priority?



At The Races made an effort with their coverage in recognition of the public opening of the first new racecourse in Britain for 80 years. In the background you can see the back of John McCririck. Many of us would like to see the back of McCririck.

The main sprint was won by Came Back. I don’t think so.
Well hopefully not with Pinpoint anyway.

3rd June

Had a phone call from Sid this afternoon. Pinpoint’s handicap mark has been dropped to 105. This makes him a possible for more Class 2 handicaps. But for now his next race is to be the The Wolferton Handicap at Royal Ascot on Friday 20th June. It is a 96-110 Listed Handicap over 10 furlongs. The race has been run six times with an average of 16 runners, though only 12 ran last year. Not one of the straight track, hustle and bustle, cavalry charges which have brought out his best in him in the past, but much more Pinny’s sort of race than the last three.

29th May

Racing is full of highs and lows and Wednesday was definitely a low as far as Pinpoint’s supporters were concerned. The race went much as expected up to the 3f marker. He came out of the stalls quickly but within a furlong or so was settled in behind Many Volumes. He raced freely as usual early on, the pace too slow for him, but in a reasonable position on the rail, tracking the leaders. John Egan on Impeller on his outside was doing his usual thing, hemming Pinny in. In that situation I was expecting Pinny to be outpaced by the front two and that started to look the case as the pace quicken on the final bend. But at the 3f marker Pinny got nudged onto the rail, and unbalanced and intimidated. Adam gave him a moment to get balanced by which time the front two were long gone and he was easy on him for the remainder of the race. First reaction was that it was a very poor run and there might be something amiss. However when Adam came in he explained the incident and was happy that Pinpoint had moved well and finished in good order. That he had been intimated was a bit of a surprise, remembering that he had knocked one or two out of the way himself to win the John Smith Stakes.

By now the pattern on turning tracks with a slow or stop/start pace is very clear. In only his second race, at Windsor, we knew that he was not suited by this sort of race. Then there was Windsor again in November 2006, Lingfield and now Great Leighs. Each time he has been outpaced around three furlongs from the finish.

Is there more to it than this? Fitness? Now living in the box? The bleeding at Goodwood?

I would certainly like to see him given the best possible chance to prove he is as good as ever in his next race. For me that means 8 or 9 furlongs and a galloping track (preferrably straight). Also all his best form has come when he has been living outside in the field, and just possibly that could be an issue too.

In most sports performing badly has no compensations. In racing at least you can expect your handicap mark to come down eventually. If Pinny keeps appearing in these 10f turning track races it will not be long before he is back down to his last winning mark.

28th May

Update - Great Leighs passed its inspection. There always seems to be an element of farce with the track. This is the first day that it is open to the paying public and they have sold tickets. On the one hand they want everyone to know that racing will go ahead, but on the other hand it sounds like they are not that anxious to encourage people to come along.

There have been thunderstorms, power cuts and lashings of rain.

28th May

It looks like Pinpoint will be around 11/2 third favourite, with Many Volumes 11/10, Mutajarred 10/3 and not much interest in the other three.

An inspection is planned for 9am. Apparently this is about the BHA giving Great Leighs an ultimatum to deal with outstanding issues including the access for emergency vehicles to the track and the sightlines from the judges box.

Some people rather unkindly call Great Leighs the Building Site. If racing is on and you are going perhaps you should take your wellies.

27th May

Pinpoint had his pre-race canter first lot this morning. It was slow and stately as usual, 44 secs for the final 3f. I do not know what to make of tomorrow’s race. The track and surface should suit him OK. The chances of getting a good pace must be fairly slim, and therefore his chances of winning are probably also fairly slim.

26th May

Just six runners for Wednesday’s race.

No.  Form           Horse             Trainer                     Wgt      Jockey        OR     RP Rating
1(3) 122-02 Many Volumes 18  H R A Cecil           4 9-2 Ted Durcan    108     126
2(6) 210/46 Frank Sonata 28     M G Quinlan         7 8-12 Pat Dobbs       97     118
3(5) -30976 Impeller 14             Jane Chapple-H    9 8-12 John Egan      102    118
4(4) 1142-2 Mutajarred 40        W J Haggas          4 8-12 R Hills            100    125
5(2) 4003-4 Pinpoint 18             W R Swinburn      6 8-12 Adam Kirby   109    121
6(1) /7467- Secret World 286    J Noseda              5 8-12 Eddie Ahern   107   109

Many Volumes is following us around. He was second to Red Rocks at Lingfield, and now we meet him on 4lb better terms.
I have just noticed that Timeform say this about Pinny at Lingfield :-

PINPOINT (IRE)'s strong handicap form from early last year is up to Group standard, and he should show more like it next time, as here he didn't look in peak shape, nor that comfortable on the track, at least not once the pace quickened in the straight; he's just as effective at 8f as this far.

and this will be his summary on the racecard

28 Jan, Pivotal 124 – Alessia (GER) (Warning 136)
240034 (16), tall, close-coupled gelding: has a round action: smart performer: won valuable handicap at Newbury in 2007, when also good third to Mashaahed in listed race at Newmarket final start: backward, respectable fourth of 5 to Red Rocks in minor event at Lingfield on reappearance, ill at ease on track under pressure: best at 1m/1¼m: acts on good to firm and good to soft going: waited with.

It is interesting that they were confident Pinpoint was backward (not in peak shape) and ill at ease on the track under pressure. Both comments I would tend to agree with, although I would not have been as confident or forthright about it as they have been. Pinny certainly was not as wound up in the paddock as he normally is and there was a bit more to work on. Interesting that there is a hint about 8f in their comments as well. Good for Timeform, they are not as dozy as I thought.

22nd May

If we were expecting an easier race in a Class 3 at Great Leighs we are likely to be out of luck. Amongst the 25 entries are two horses who beat Pinpoint at Lingfield, Al Shemali and Many Volumes. Then there is Pipedreamer, and top rated is Sixties Icon (114) who thankfully is more likely to be frying bigger fishes after his Goodwood win today. There are fourteen horses rated 100 or higher.

20th May

Pinpoint (Adam Kirby) did a piece of work with Willow Dancer (Jenny) first lot. I missed the start of the gallop but by halfway Willow Dancer was a length up. About one and a half furlongs from the finish Adam encouraged Pinny to go upsides, then passed, and he went just over a length up before easing down. Jenny did not look as if she got serious with Willow Dancer and I doubt whether the time would have been particularly quick. Afterwards I asked Adam whether he would ever consider front running with Pinpoint if we get another slow pace race. The answer was along the lines of no, but I suppose never say never. Pinny just pulls himself up when he has gone to the front.

He has moved back to his old stable in the barn now, and is spending the afternoons in a paddock. Race fitness has gradually led to more box walking, but the final straw came with the Aldbury Village Fair. That sent Pinny mental, and now he is back doing his Greta Garbo impression, and is perfectly happy on his own. Well almost on his own. He does have a new donkey haybag toy called Eee-Aw.

The first two year old runner of the year runs at Goodwood on Thursday. This is a Compton Place half-sister to Hail The Chief called Champagne Future. The sprinters pedigree had me interested last autumn. She is related to Sampower Star, Fire Up The Band and Strike Up The Band. Maybe worth keeping an eye on.

20th May

Walter and Adam thought that Pinpoint ran OK at Lingfield bearing in mind the calibre of the opposition and the conditions. This morning Adam said that the fastish ground at Lingfield was OK for him. I rated the race mainly around Al Shemali, giving a rating for Pinpoint of 104, about 10lb below his best. The computer currently has it much lower than that at 92, but I would expect its rating to rise significantly when the first three run again. Here are some photos from Lingfield :-





and the obligatory bucket photo



13th May

I will add comments about Pinpoint’s run at Lingfield, and photos, later.

This morning he went out First Lot, fooling those who noted he was down for Second Lot on the website. Anyway I was at least able to get the latest info from Jenny. He has come out of the race none the worse. No soreness or stiffness at all. So he was able to canter this morning and was already out in the field relaxing when I turned up. I thought that the fast ground at Lingfield may have exaggerated his round action and the rear windmill but Jenny thought that was only typical, and just more noticeable because of the small number of runners and almost head-on camera view.

Today’s planning meeting decided on the next race - 3.35 Wednesday 28th May at Great Leighs. It is a Class 3 Conditions Stakes over 10 furlongs with an £11,000 prize fund. I am not sure what the alternatives were but the choice of Great Leighs makes sure that we avoid firm ground. Having given me the news Sid went on to mention that they give free food and drink at Great Leighs, so there could be a bus load going.


10th May

Things are not ideal today. Firstly all the evidence points to Pinpoint being better at 8/9 furlongs than 10f.
The going is now Good/Firm. They watered last night. 5mm on the straight and 3mm on the round course. It is Spring Good/Firm, rather than mid-Summer Good/Firm, with plenty of moisture below the surface so the ground shouldn’t be a problem.
I am not sure whether there are any front runners in the race, though Timeform say that Red Rocks is versatile tactically. Maybe Red Rocks will make it a good test to make sure of not being outkicked in a sprint finish?

I am not expecting much from the race, but who knows, maybe we will have a pleasant surprise.

9th May

All systems are go for tomorrows race. Pinpoint had the normal pre-race breeze from the barn this morning. He led Pendulum Star who runs in the 7.25 at Warwick tomorrow evening. They didn’t go very fast, just 42.75 for the final 3f.

He was his normal placid self this morning. Alison Swinburn told me that their four year old daughter rode Pinny the other day. Let’s hope Mr Hyde reappears at Lingfield tomorrow, and that he gives Red Rocks a good run for his money.
 
8th May

No. Form     Horse                 Trainer ^{RTF %}        Wgt       Jockey       Official Rating
1(2) 0327-1 Al Shemali 107  Saeed Bin Suroor 0 4 8-12t  L Dettori         112
2(1) 5122-0 Many Volumes 6 H R A Cecil 67     4 8-12   Eddie Ahern    103
3(3) 4-3935 Murfreesboro 49 K J Burke 0          5 8-12  William Buick    87
4(4) 24003- Pinpoint 189     W R Swinburn 50    6 8-12  Adam Kirby     109
5(5) 14439- Red Rocks 153  B J Meehan 67      5 8-12   Jamie Spencer 116

Above is the field for Saturday’s race. Al Shemali was third in last year’s Dante Stakes and last seen winning a handicap in
Dubai. Many Volumes has mainly been racing in handicaps but was 4th in last years Derby Trial at this meeting. He is a gallop companion of Henry Cecil’s Derby favourite Twice Over. Murfreesboro was a sprinter when with John Gosden and since has tried almost every trip from 5f to 12f. Red Rocks won the Breeder’s Cup Turf in November 2006 and with it almost £1 Million in prize money. He contested five Group Ones last year finishing 3rd in the Breeder’s Cup Turf again. He also travelled to races in Dubai, Ireland and Hong Kong. However his best performance on ratings was in the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes, where as mentioned below he beat Mashaahed two lengths giving 7lb, and had Kandidate and Notnowcato behind. In 2006 only two horses trained in GB were rated higher, and last year there were only three. A formidable opponent to meet at level weights.

6th May

Despite the strength of the entries I could not find anyone at the stables worried in the slightest. As for Red Rocks the general view is that if they are running him in a Conditions Stakes they must think he has deteriorated. Jimmy and Jenny seem 100% happy with Pinpoint. Danny The Farrier is happier with his feet these days. Keeping him in the box through the Spring has helped. Pinny wears light steel plates now which reduces the need for reshoeing. They stay in place much better, whereas racing plates used to wear quickly and work loose causing problems in widening the nail holes. Jenny thinks that Pinny has improved. He is certainly more lively and eager in his work, probably as a result of confinement to his box. He is starting to box walk more, though not badly.

Today Pinpoint was out first lot with another new galloping partner, Pendulum Star. They came up from the bottom with Pinny leading by a length. PS took closer order halfway and Pinny was just encouraged to stay ahead, when PS threatened to come
past. The last 3f took 39.13 secs.

Stotsfold looked a picture in the sunshine having a pick of grass after exercise. He goes for the Group 3 Huxley Stakes at Chester on Thursday, where he will meet Maraahel who has won it three years running.

5th May

The entries are out for Saturday’s race at Lingfield. I naively thought that the biggest problem might be a small field and false pace. But the quality of the entries is a bigger problem. Firstly there is Red Rocks, winner of the Breeder’s Cup Turf in 2006. The only time he didn’t compete in a Group One last year he won the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes by two lengths, giving 7lb to Mashaahed, with Kandidate and Notnowcato behind. He has five Group One entries and is also in a Listed race at Ascot on Saturday afternoon. Then there is Kandidate winner of two Group races and three Listed races. He is in the Lockinge and three other Group Ones. There are a few other Group and Listed race winners in Saturday’s race too. Fifteen are entered in all. We can but hope that some of these decide not to run.

29th April

Holding an umbrella and wet binoculars and a stopwatch, in the middle of a squall, and trying to watch racehorses gallop doesn’t work. The rain started five minutes before First Lot came up the gallops and all but stopped five minutes after they had finished. In between it was cold, very wet and windy.

Yes I have to admit I missed Pinpoint. I saw Stotsfold move impressively passed his work partner, also Viking Spirit who runs in the Heritage handicap following the 2,000 Guineas, but not Pinny. Pinpoint (Adam Kirby) worked with Overturn (David). A week ago Overturn, a well backed second favourite, took the Mickey out of the Kempton stalls handlers, even though he goes in the stalls with no fuss at home. He is a 4YO half-brother of Arbella, and after only three races is rated 87. David said that he set a good gallop, picking the pace up in stages, and at the business end Pinpoint came passed to go 3/4 length up pushed out. Pinny then tired a little on the bend up to the pull-up area where Overturn came back at him again. Adam was happy, grinning as he confirmed he had “won” the gallop.

Perhaps he will have one more piece of fast work before Lingfield?

25th April

Some faster work this morning. Pinpoint followed Willow Dancer (David) from the bottom just a length or two behind on the bridle all the way. Afterwards Jenny said that the intention was not to come past, and it looked very comfortable. So a pleasant surprise to look down at the watch and see 37.19 for the final 3f. He is getting there.

Noted going very nicely was a 3YO unraced filly called Soft Shoe Shuffle (Danehill Dancer - Why So Silent), a half-sister of Group winner Leporello. Confuchias was out on his solo pre-race spin and runs in the 7f Listed Leicestershire Stakes tomorrow.

22nd April

It was just an exercise gallop this morning for Pinpoint. Carl rode and followed Distant Diamond (I think it was) up from the bottom in what the riders call a swinging canter. On the bridle, more or less, throughout. I timed the final 3f in 39.5. Jim seems very happy, expecting him to do two or three faster pieces of work between now and the 10th. Pinny did not look any fitter than last week to my eyes, and I sense quite a relaxed approach to his preparation, as if the worry is more about overdoing it than the opposite. Or maybe that is me reading something into it that isn’t there.

At Lingfield he should look very well treated. He will not have a penalty, whereas Class 2 winners in the last year, Listed and Group winners will have.

18th April

Firm going at racecourses is occasionally described as being like a road. Last night I dreamt Pinpoint was in a real road race, traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and all. He led, overcame some hampering as the second jockey tried to drag our jockey back by the coat tails. But it was a thrilling race, and of course Pinny won easily. I was horrified imagining the damage that could be done to his legs. Perhaps I was mixing up horse racing and the London Marathon?

Anyway he isn’t going to face a test quite like that, as we heard yesterday that he is to go for the Conditions Stakes at Lingfield on Saturday 10th May. Ten furlongs is not ideal, but none of the other options were either due to race distance, track or travelling.

In the dream Pinny was wearing a sheepskin noseband. Just how likely is that?

15th April

A beautiful bright crisp morning on the gallops, and Pinpoint promoted to First Lot. What more could you want? He came up second pair from the bottom (7f) with Adenium (David), a 4YO maiden currently rated 71. They galloped upsides, Pinny slightly ahead most of the way. Jenny just encouraged him a little towards the end of the 3f (timed at 38.40 secs), and up the hill where he pulled well ahead. So again significantly faster than a week ago.

Afterwards Jenny called it just a swinging canter, and there was some banter about whether that is faster or slower than a half speed gallop. Flat out Pinny can do the 3f in just under 35 secs, so he was going about 90% top speed.

Overturn (87 rated, Adam Kirby) and Confuchias (Group 3 winner at Newcastle and aimed at the Listed Leicestershire Stakes) were noted going quite quickly. 35.63 for the final 3f. Viking Spirit is back in work after another minor setback and is aimed at the 6f Heritage Handicap on 2000 Guineas day.


9th April

A few photos from yesterday.



He likes his grass and it is the best way of getting his attention. Otherwise he will stand with his backside to the door
and defy you to do anything interesting enough to get him to turn around.



After exercise with Jenny.




8th April

The recent wintry showers relented and it was a fine bright morning on the gallops. Pinpoint was out 3rd lot again with Amir Pasha (Scott) and Fast Living (Ryan). They came up from the barn with Pinny upsides Amir Pasha and marginally leading for most of the way. They did not appear to be going very quickly and Pinpoint cruised along keeping station throughout. So when I looked down at the watch I was thinking that this must have been a deliberately “easy” day and expecting 45 seconds. In fact they covered the middle 3f in 39.59. Deceptively quick. Pinny’s fitness has improved a lot over the last week.

He is due to come up from the bottom tomorrow (7f). The next step on the road back to full fitness. When we were leaving he had just started a bit of box walking as Jenny tried to check him over and see him settled in. Otherwise he seemed relaxed and happy in his box. Positively friendly when he saw a few handfuls of grass coming his way. Probably when the training programme steps up another notch or two he will go back to his box walking habit and will need to go out in the field.

4th April

He isn’t entered in the Lockinge. Which is no surprise. The cost to enter at each stage is £500, £600 and £400. An expensive gesture. Do not worry though he can always be supplemented on 12th May for £16,000.

1st April

Pinpoint is amazingly 100% fit for his first race of the season which is now only a week away........
No, OK you wouldn’t believe that. No April Fools then.

Today was the first time I had actually seen him on the gallops this year. He came up from the barn (roughly 4f) with two unraced 3YOs. Amir Pasha (Mary) led, with Pinpoint two lengths behind, and Fast Living (Ryan) badly named taking it easy at the rear. I timed Pinny at 43.50 for the usual middle 3f, with Jenny niggling him along for the final furlong. By the time they were approaching the pull-up zone Pinny was 5 lengths down and beginning to get in the way of Fast Living. Compared with some of the laboured early season gallops I have seen it wasn’t bad, and certainly a bit quicker than I was expecting. Everything is going fine and he is pleasing Jenny in what he is doing.

In 2007 he got to this stage by 17th March, and in 2006 it was around 20th April, due to his foot abscess and cut on the hock slowing things down. In 2007 his first run was on 21st April, and in 2006 it was 27th May. So about a five week run-up in each case. My guess is that nobody at Pendley would dream of looking at it quite like this, but in my opinion it helps to have some idea of what to expect if all goes well in his preparation.

Stotsfold is entered in the nine furlong Group 3 Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday 17th April. This is the race we hoped Pinny might run in, until the splints arrived. Stotsfold usually races at 10f, but I would certainly be looking forward to Pinpoint taking him on at 9f in the unlikely event of that ever happening.

Here are the options if Pinpoint is ready by the first half of May :-

4th May  -  Newmarket - 9f Suffolk Stakes - Heritage Handicap - £50,000
8th May  -  Chester - 10f Huxley Stakes - Group 3 - £60,000
10th May - Lingfield - 10f CPG 21st Anniversary Conditions Stakes - £20,000
12th May - Windsor - 8f Royal Windsor Stakes - Listed - £26,000
15th May - York - 8f Hambleton Stakes - Listed Handicap (96-110) - £35,000
15th May - York - 9f Tadcaster Conditions Stakes - £16,000
17th May - Newbury - 8f Juddmonte Lockinge - Group 1 - £200,000

Race distance, suitability of track, geography and owner appeal would make me chose.........

25th March

Sid phoned to say that the vet had given the all clear and Pinpoint is on good terms with himself. It should be regular daily canters now.

21st March

There was a big turn out for the Pendley Good Friday Open Day. Thankfully Pinpoint is looking on the road to recovery. He spent 20 minutes or more in the trotting ring having a thorough workout. He started very fresh and full of himself and ended up tired and being niggled along. A few more of those will improve his fitness no end. Also he seems quite settled in his box at the moment, though glad to get out of it for exercise. Hopefully the vet will give the all clear on Monday for him to start cantering again. He towered over his trotting companion and really is a fine big animal now.

20th March

For the Flat Racing form student Spring is the time for reflecting on the season past and trying to learn lessons from it to apply in the season to come. There are the usual rash of Annuals published to jog the memory.
 
In Timeform’s “Racehorses of 2007” Pinpoint has been rated at 117, down 2lb on their rating through the summer. A more accurate reflection of his ability in my opinion. These days, with the enormous racehorse population, even horses of his high rating rarely get more than a few lines in “Racehorses” but at least there is a photo of him clearly recognisable in the Newbury Spring Cup finish to remind us in the years to come.

John Whitley’s Computer Racing Form Annual which covers three season’s form clearly shows Pinpoint’s better form figures at eight and nine furlongs, compared with his mile and a quarter ratings. The best 8/9f ratings - 114, 113, 112 and 110 - are solid, backed up with 113 and 110 timefigures. The four 10f ratings - 100, 100, 103, 105 - are now well down and the pattern is well established. Of course Pinny does stay 10f thoroughly, the Newbury and Windsor races proved that, but he doesn’t get the strong early pace he needs to produce his best at that trip. The evidence suggests that 8f/9f Listed races will be the best direction to go in 2008.

Tomorrow is the customary Good Friday Open Day at Pendley and Pinpoint is still on the easy list. So it is 4th Lot trotting in the ring and still no cantering until given the vets all clear.


10th March

Two steps forward, one step back. Last week Pinpoint did some more cantering, but now the splints are troubling him again and he is back on the easy list. He is on anti-inflammatory medication and it is just spins on the roundabout (horsewalker) for him this week. Delving into the Programme Book for likely targets means looking at May onwards now. So many nice races to go for. Sigh!

26th February

Last week Pinpoint started cantering up the gallops. So this morning I was expecting to see him in full flow, or at least struggling to keep going for four furlongs without holding the others up too much. But it wasn’t to be. Pinny has a splint which developed last week and now has him on the easy list. So this week’s routine is three spells on the horsewalker each day, and hopefully he will be able to resume cantering next week. For those, like me, that hoped he might appear as early as the Craven meeting at Newmarket, we can probably forget that. Pinny is now a little behind last year’s schedule.

He was rather more sociable today, saying hello, and getting quite enthusiastic about a few handfulls of grass. Jenny thinks that he has grown a bit more over the winter. Plenty of racehorses don’t reach their peak until they are six years old and Pinpoint may be one of those. Perhaps it is too much to hope that he will be even better in 2008?

8th February

Visited Pinpoint today. He has been ridden a couple of times this year and Jenny was due to take him out again 4th Lot, apparently trotting in the trotting ring. Next week there will be trotting up Tom’s Hill on the schedule. A valuable part of the conditioning work before he is allowed on the gallops.

He is well, and to my surprise, living in a box at the moment. Apparently he hasn’t box walked much so far and will stay out of the field for as long as he is OK in the box. As the training regime is stepped up he will probably go back to old habits and then it will be life in the field once again. The usual Pinny, he wasn’t sociable, choosing to stay with his backside to the door in typical dozy don’t-bother-me pose.

All the horses looked woolly but perhaps a fraction more forward than this time last year.

22nd January

This week will see Pinpoint start on the long road back to fitness. This begins on the horse walker. Early next month he will start walking and trotting along the lanes around Albury, with those first laboured canters up the gallops probably in mid February. Hopefully his feet will be better than last year and he will have an uninterrupted buildup.

16th January

The World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings were published in the Racing Post today. Sadly Pinny missed inclusion by just one lb, having dropped 2lb from 111 after the Cambridgeshire. An official handicap mark of 110 was required to be included. Stotsfold did get in following his fine win at Goodwood in September. So in the World’s population of mature thoroughbreds (4YO+) in 2007, over all distances, there are supposed to be around 230 better than Pinpoint.
No.
Pinny will put the record straight in 2008.


7th January

Pinpoint is still living out in the field behind the village. There is a dwindling herd there now, with most of the horses back in their boxes. Soon Pinny will be switched back to his own field with his new companion. He hasn’t been ridden since last season but soon the steady conditioning work will begin again, preparing for the 2008 season.

Sid Horn sent me this picture of him taken on 29th December.




When we went to see Pinny on New Years Day he was nowhere to be seen. Obviously well over on the other side of the field.