Baileys Blog Search
25th April 2016
Plus 7 and drizzling when driving in.
Well that's the 2015/2016 season over..
Watching Sandown on Channel 4 on Saturday made me realise how quickly time flies.. Richard Johnson crowned Champion jockey and it only seems like a few months ago that AP was crowned and retired..
The year has gone so quickly and you can see that on AP’s face.. he has filled out and looks 10 years younger.. we all need a bit of that! Again Channel 4's coverage was brilliant.. ITV have a tough call as the bar has been raised..
Yes Saturday was great for Jump racing, well done to Paul Nicholls too, it has been a trying few weeks for him, but he prevailed..
2015/2016 for Kim Bailey Racing, Thorndale Farm was a good one, even if a very wet one..
Looking back over the season we started with very few summer runners (something that will not happen this time) as we did not have many suitable horses to run. We had 5 summer winners compared to 20 the season before.. Makes a big difference to the stats..
Sunblazer opened our account for the season at Newton Abbott and although he did not win again over hurdles he did win 4 flat races for us on the all weather which was fun and different.
By The Boardwalk rattled in two early wins for John Perris and John went on to have a wonderful season and became our winning most owner with 12 winners from 32 runners..35% strike rate.. John's Emily Gray won 4 for him; not only was she tough and brave but she was also our first ever Irish racecourse winner.. Yes we will remember her fondly, as will we our failed flights to see her run…not so fondly..
Net Work Rouge became a first for us.. a dual winner for 'Uncle Johnny' and David Reid Scott..John and Liz Wills are big supporters of jump racing and point to pointing.
West End won at Perth, my favourite racecourse, for Dan Hall.
Crazy Jack and his owners were fun to train... The Clancy Clan and Oli Bell what a team..
Twelve Roses returned after a lengthy lay off to win first time out in a Novice Chase at Wetherby and set up some high sights. Sadly soft ground scuppered those thoughts, but he came back in the spring to show us that he was the good horse we thought.. sadly leg injured has curtailed his career all too soon..
Flemensmix was another who returned after two years off to win his two races; sadly then his past injury returned to haunt him. Flemensmix, like all who retire from here, now has a lovely new home outside racing.
Younevercall started Peter Kerr’s managed Kim Bailey Racing Partnerships well with an impressive win over hurdles at Uttoxeter and Peter’s other KBRP horses all showed something with Ascotdeux Nellerie, Mor Brook and Milord all winning.
Peter's other KBRP horses Silver Eagle, Knockanrawley, Taras Rainbow, Our Belle Amie and Un Ace all had difficult seasons.. Un Ace cannot jump out of heavy ground so it was back to the smaller obstacles; his hurdle campaign was OK and he did appear at the Cheltenham Festival for the third time in a row.. Something his owners will remember for years to come.. plenty don't even get that chance.
Silver Kayf showed great potential in his only bumper at Newbury and although Peter found it tough at times keeping the KBRP show on the road, he has good things to look forward to for next season.
Moving on..Charbel winning at Stratford was a relief and Julie and David Martin’s horse looked good for the season and did just that by running a blinder at Cheltenham in March.. yes he is a horse with a very bright future. The same can be said about Dueling Banjos.. this huge grey is an all consuming future chaser and watching his two hurdle wins was for me frightening .. he found those little wooden things far too small and I am sure he thought..why bother… DB has some jump in him and next season he goes chasing...exciting..
Mollys A Diva won in bottomless ground at Ffos Las.(why go there? I don't!). we were chuffed but looking back there was a non runner that day in the shape of Unowhatimeanharry off a rating of 123. Molly was handicapped to the hilt after and is now in foal to Telescope.
Talking bottomless ground.. Pulling Power won on it at Towcester for the Turf Club and PP's owner breeder Sandra Steer-Fowler..
Abbreviate won at Southwell and all smiles from owners.. not for long sadly as he found life after a bit difficult.. Red Spinner became our first of eight winners for new owners Paul and Clare Rooney. The Last Samuri, Cracked Rear View and Sainte Ladylime all had a fabulous first season here at Thorndale.. How could you ever forget The Last Samuri and Aintree.. Yes it was magical but also heart breaking.. We were very proud..
Battle Dust was a first winner for Mark and Melinda Laws as whole/individual/sole owners and although BD was involved in a couple of photo finishes he showed that he was capable of winning over hurdles and chasing next season should be fun....that was what he was bought for..
Gallery Exhibition, who loves Kempton, gave Glen and Caroline Swire, Gerard Clinton and Elisabeth Parker Jervis an exciting season and a great run over the National fences in the Topham.
The Drinkymeister and Champagne To Go capped John Perriss's good season with a double on the day at Wetherby.. John's first ever double as an owner.
The ever patient Mindy Partnership were rewarded with a fine bumper win with their horse Laval Noir and Henry Kimbell’s GSTTYKPA Charity Partnership won with Magic Money and King Simba.. many happy faces and much need cash for the charity.. Henry loves his racing and this partnership has been fun.
There were of course many disappointments over the winter..We missed Harry Topper and Derrintogher Bliss (they will be back next season) Matt Lambert not having a winner.. loads of places with his horse Trojan Star..your first will come Matt..
The wet weather did not help but looking back it was a good season and we raised the bar prize money wise and finished 19th in the trainers table with £612,450.00... 43 winners and 95 placed horses from 265 runners..Just under every third runner was placed...We also had 4 winners on the flat and one over fences in Ireland
We missed Jason Maguire as a jockey (we do see him as Paul and Clare Rooney's racing manager), but David Bass certainly raised his game and has forged a good partnership with the yard.. David had his best season with 54 winners, which made him the 14th winning most jockey in the country; David rode 33 winners for us.... David also spent the odd week on holiday for trying too hard..Thanks also to Tom Bellamy who rode 7 winners for us and to Richie McLernon for patiently riding out here on a weekly basis for no reward!
I cannot finish without thanking all my staff who have been wonderful.. Kerry Bellamy 'rules' the office and Sandie Wilkinson my business..
Leigh Pollard and Charlotte Boyce, who do all my travelling, won 73 best turned out awards.. a great testament to all the teams hard work. Mat Nicholls, my assistant has been invaluable..
We have so much to look forward to for the coming season.. But without such wonderful owners and staff I would not be here.. thank you all for a great 12 months.
Rock on 2016/2017 and lets have fun..