Blaklion

[LostSoldier3]

I do feel for Kirby, who was on a hiding to nothing with some of these horses. Quite what Yates expected him to achieve with the remains of Don Poli and South Seas it’s hard to tell. These horses were trending down in terms of ability when Yates picked them up for way over their true value.

Kirby is a very good trainer. Anyone who can win a Grade 2 with Nautical Nitwit (no disrespect intended) must be rather canny in placing and preparing a horse. His M.O. is very much either nurturing his young horses and building towards long-term targets, or improving pickups from lesser stables. Take it from someone my side of the fence: Kirby’s strike rate when the market signs are right and is down is excellent – up there in the league of the true masters like Ian Williams and Dr Richard Newland. I expect he could have squeezed some kind of form out of these horses at a much lower level but it would have taken time and patience to come down the weights.

Interconnected will be a big loss for Kirby though – that’s a young horse with potential. Wildly overpriced again of course. I always like to see a shrewd small yard with a good horse.

[Steeplechasing]

I doubt Kirby will be surprised. He has witnessed first hand how impulsive Yates is. I don’t know who advises Yates on his purchases, perhaps he makes his own decisions. I think he needs an objective adviser who will also make purchases anonymously.

[Author]

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