Meydan Thursdays

[Tonge]

I am on 4980 (531st).

I’ve been trying to keep an eye on the US runners in graded races Nathan. I will flag them here if I spot one. I don’t know what Appleby is doing to his horses. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Modern Games joining Adayar & Hurricane Lane in retirement soon.

[Triptych]

Firstly many thanks for the good wishes for Dave, Graham and Andre and I know you all are always there when things get a bit tough for each of us.

We have had a hectic week of hospitals and celebrations and seeing Tina The Musical on Wednesday after Dave’s visit to Barts was a lovely start to our Anniversaty celebrations.

On Friday before the show we were waiting outside the Aldwych for our tickets to be scanned when I saw a little guy on a Segway coming towards us heading for the Delauney Café a very swish dining establishment opposite the Theatre. As he got closer I recognised that it was Warwick Davies followed (on foot) by his wife and some other members of his family. No time to say “hi” as he had disappeared inside quite swiftly his Segway looked after by the Concierge…amazing who you see on your travels..we once saw Cilla crossing the road from the top of a bus on our way to the Royal Albert Hall to see Shirley Bassey, Cilla was with her son and waiting on a pedestrian island to cross the road, she was absolutely lovely and waved to our bus as we passed..loved her.💞
It might give you an idea for a new Thread in the Lounge Nathan, about famous people we have met on our travels, I know you have met a few. … Jac

Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...

[Triptych]

And Mawj Catherine..

Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...

[Triptych]

Many thanks for the updates…
I’m on
4730 – 580th
Had Noble Style running for me today at Chester..He was 5/2 Favourite and he came 4th.
Noticed that Egot 28/1 was running in the Maurice Geest in France and was also unplaced.

With only 2 runners at Goodwood and I believe Dream Of Love being the only one to pick up a place we have to ask ” What on earth has happened to the Godolphin Horses this year”?

Now we hear HL is off to Coolmore Stud, Adayar now retired and as Catherine said who could be next?
Modern Games 💫
Noble Style💫
Mawj💫
Military Order💫
All horses for whom hopes were held high at the start of the season.

Has some sort of awful virus hit the yard or is it about the feed? Just wish they would come clean and make some sort of statement.
Very frustrating not knowing and if they really have no idea why their horses are performing so badly it surely reflects back on the trainer.
Will wait patiently for news
Any thoughts?
Jac

Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...

[BigG]

Bit of a mystery Jac, normally they are always in the thick of
it but they have been a pale imitation for some time. It’s hard
to make any leeway when they are running so under par. Let’s
hope they pick up a bit. I replaced a withdrawn horse with
Mysterious Night who was supposed to be running at Saratoga
on Friday but it seems he didn’t show. Anyway, here’s how I
stand at present.

Points – 4600
Rank – 607
Swaps – 3 left

[Tonge]

Last 3 races at Saratoga were abandoned after a storm Big G. Just like Goodwood. Hopefully they’ll find a suitable race for Mysterious Night if they don’t reschedule.

[Triptych]

Thanks Graham for your updated score and hope you are feeling much fitter now.

It really is a mystery as to the bad running of the Godolphin yard although their 2yo’s don’t seem to be suffering as badly.

How strange that Saratoga also lost 3 races due to the weather yesterday and hope your Mysterious Night surfaces again soon.

Catherine…did you just go to Goodwood the one day or more and did you get to see Paddington?
Also did you manage to take some pictures or was it too wet to take your camera?

Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...

[BigG]

Thanks for that Catherine, I didn’t realise they had meetings
abandoned at Saratoga. At least it wasn’t because he had a
problem. Fingers crossed he gets a chance soon, I could do
with some good news for my stable.

[BigG]

“Thanks Graham for your updated score and hope you are feeling much fitter now.”

You maybe missed my earlier post Jac. Onto my 4th lot of antibiotics and now heading
to the chest clinic. Hopefully they get to the bottom of this

[John Gooch]

Hello to everyone: BigG and Jac I hope you are making some
progress with your heath problems. I am losing touch with
all of your updates.

The older horses from Charlie Appleby are really not
running to their level of ability and there seems to
be some kind of problem in the yard.

Last week Chesspiece (Trained by S&E Crisford) ran well
at Goodwood and looks to be a St Ledger possible. This race
gave me 200 Points.

My Points Total is now 5080 and my rank is 508 with 3 swaps
left. (Still no sign of a Bonus Race ?)

All the best for now.

[Triptych]

So sorry Graham ..I thought I’d read all the posts on here but it was late I must have skipped a page.
Really hope they find out what is going on, our lives seem to be a maze of highs and lows at the moment.
Will be looking and hoping for some positive news soon Graham..take care. Jac

Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...

[BigG]

Many thanks Jac and John. Nothing else for it but trudging on

[Tonge]

Never too wet to take my camera Jac! It did keep telling me that the lens wasn’t attached though so the water was getting in and I had to keep dismantling it (under my coat) and drying it off. The wind made it worse. Managed to get a few shots nevertheless https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAPKqP . Most people were sensibly dressed (with a few hilarious exceptions). I missed the photo of the day of a man & woman chasing a panama hat & fascinator across the desolate betting ring!

By the way, if anyone fancied Shagraan for the Molecombe, don’t give up on him. He was terrified of the umbrellas and had exhausted himself before he got onto the track. His lad was talking to and stroking him all the time trying to comfort him. No surprise he didn’t last home, especially in that ground. Don’t know why they allow brollies at the front of the paddock. Aside from the impact on horses, it means people behind can’t see anything – and it pokes at the eyes and drips water down the neck of people on either side (as I had to explain to a man next to me at one point).

Hope the chest clinic sorts you out Big G. If they ask you if you smoke, tell them yes (even if you don’t). Smoker friend of mine got an appointment in 2 weeks because she’s a smoker. Other friend with the same problem has been told the waiting time can be up to 4 years!

[Triptych]

Thank you Catherine for a very colourful paddock description and some great photos. I think photos taken on days like you experienced are sometimes the best and it was certainly unusual to see empty seats like that at Goodwood where people would have perched themselves for the whole day had it been sunny.

Your photography is amazing and you must be very confident with your camera taking it racing on a really wet and soggy day. If I tried changing my lense and drying it down under my coat it would have certainly have ended up face down in the mud..lol

Have to agree about the umbrellas a real pain and the horses hate them, I have also had words with people standing in front of me waving brollies about with not a thought for those behind but thankfully the majority are thoughtful and keep them down whilst the race is in progress.
I always just wear a decent rainjacket with a hood and don’t really mind getting wet too much it’s just the slippery ground underfoot that worries me that I might slip. Can imagine how many were not dressed for the weather and spent all day hiding in the beer tents not even seeing a horse by the look of the parade ring and how deserted it was on the rails, shame you didn’t get that shot of the hats blowing across the betting ring.

Take on board you advice re Shagraan and the Molecombe..thank you.

Will get the Godolphin leaderboard up and running later for those of us that have scored a few points and thank you John for your scores.

Hoping to be at Newmarket on Saturday for the Sweet Solera and fingers crossed the sun will be shining.

Thanks for some lovely memories of ‘Glorious’ Goodwood Catherine and glad you enjoyed your day even though the rain never ceased.
Jac

Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...

[Tonge]

Thanks Jac.

Big G Mysterious Night is entered in a G3 at Saratoga on Friday, in case you haven’t spotted.

[Triptych]

Quick update on the scores after a wet and soggy Goodwood. A very low turnout of Godolphin runners has resulted in no large leeps up the Leaderboard but Nathan has retained his lead and will prove hard to catch. Keep going Nathan…

Here are the updated scores, just waiting for Raymo and Ben’s results..

Updated Leaderboard TRF Godolphin Fantasy League Competition – 8th August 2023

6610 Points – NATHAN HUGHES – 212th ….
5300 Points – Andre (Euroalien) – 449th
5080 Points – John Gooch – 508th
4980 Points – Catherine (Tonge) – 531st
4730 Points – Jac (Triptych) – 580th
4600 Points – Graham (BigG) – 607th
3790 Points – Ben – ?
3050 Points – Raymo – ?

Next big meeting is York so here’s hoping we have some better weather and a good turnout of Godolphin horses.

Hurricane Lane retiring to Stud so should be a swap in for those who have him in their stable…I thought I still had him but swapped him out last time.

Good luck and well done all with points added this time and still on 4 swaps.
I have 3 left.. Jac

Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...

[Triptych]

Looking back I realised that I missed a whole page of Meydan Thursdays when Dave and I were at hospital visits on Wednesday and Thursday and then our milestone Anniversary celebrations on Friday coinciding with Raymo’s birthday Hope you had a good one Raymo.

Thank you for all your good wishes… Dave had his pre op scan at Barts Wednesday morning and it went smoothly, he now has to wait for the cardiologist report to ensure he has no blood clots before his heart procedure is performed.
Hopefully it will not he too long before he is called in for another meeting with his surgeon before the operation is booked in. We just have to wait now.

Really wish you well Graham… it sounds like you have picked up one hell of an infection and not helped by your xRays going AWOL. Hope the results come back good and they can pinpoint what is causing you such discomfort. Also that it is not too long before it all starts to ease up and you feel better. We’re all here willing you to get better and at least Al Husn gave you something to smile about winning The Nassau. Well done you never lost the faith.

We have another busy week coming up as we have our Grandson Oscar 2 and a half staying with us for two nights Wednesday and Thursday and on the Thursday we also have our two granddaughters, Jessica and Emily 6 and 10 for the day. They will love playing with Oscar and I hope it takes his mind off mum and dad being away…Looking forward to spoiling them..not had such a full house for years.

Not much time to study horses this week, at least until Friday night when Peace will hopefully fall on our house once more…..
Take care … Jac x

Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...

[Author]

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