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Sadly no more 4m races at Hexham until next Autumn. I’ve been in this game a long time and I know exactly what you mean, don’t worry I put this idea of retirement to the partners in January, as a syndicate horse we must get everyone’s views. Tom means a lot to me personally as he will retire to us and he came home for summer to ours,he was with us for 6 months whilst injured and we got him back. His “home” is three fields from Hexham racecourse so he clearly enjoys the air around this part of Northumberland with his strike rate at the track.
If we have to go down the road of changing head gear I’d say that is the time to stop with him, he’s in at Carlisle over 3m2f in a 0-110 on Thursday and if he runs we’ll review after the race.
The plans for his retirement are straight forward, but he’s not an easy horse at home, quite a character and isn’t straight forward, so he’ll spend most of his time out and about in the hills around Hexham, he’ll do some hunting and maybe do the odd p2p at the likes of Corbridge and Hexham to keep him ticking over (members races) but that is all “ifs and buts”
You wrote a very good assessment of him and I would not argue with you, he is no gold cup horse, but he’s been a real star for us, not many people have a winner, he’s supplied us with some memorable days.
Many thanks
PAUL
Hi Ginger,
Interesting thoughts about Outlaw Tom, but a he’s by Luso and we’ve had him for a while now and we know him very well. The fact is he’s a much better horse on better ground (6 wins, 3 Good ground, 2 Good to Soft and 1 Soft…………0 on heavy), Campbell Gillies and Peter Buchanan wouldn’t lie to us as their agent was and still is our racing manager.
“Tom” has always been liable to make mistakes, from the day we bought he seems to miss one during the race, usually when its soft ground
We nearly retired him last year after he was out for 18 months injured and he lost his zest, he had one run to prove himself or he was being retired, he went and won by half the track!!!!
The good news for you is we’ve discussed his future and he will more than likely retire at the end of this season under rules, we respect your thoughts and we are saving him for better ground and maybe a finale at his favourite track Hexham. If Tom has an x in Timeform so be it, although a squiggle for being ungenuine is for from true, 19 out of his 35 runs (rules/ptp) have been in the first four placings.
You can rest assured, he is cared for very well and his retirement home is all secured and we will make sure he is looked after very well.
Many thanks for you concerns
I must admit, as a jockeys agent and having a "big chance" at Cheltenham I did protect one of my jockeys from riding any horses which he has never ridden if they had never ran over hurdles or first time over fences. The form figures would probably have put me off, but to be fair I would have had 10 lads wanting to ride the horse.
He did ride one for his boss the day before which was a potential problem but he schooled it at home and was happy, it usually just happens when its an outside ride.
Cheltenham can be make or break for some lads and thankfully it paid off as my lad won on Brindisi Breeze.
Paul
quick note to say Outlaw Tom is fine after his race, not sure where to next as with that win on ground and trip he has opened some new options for us
But this is my honest opinion, just in my book not the way to train racehorses in 2011
Irish, I know, but sorry his strategy is old school, all his horses are running poor, no excuse nowadays, with all the facilities available they should be fit enough to run races, 0% RTF on racing post sums it up, it just drives me mad to think this is his way of training in 2011, its so old school
Tom fine this morning, such a shame as he jumped really well and didn’t deserve that, would have been in first 4 again for us as well. His time will come as he’s a genuine horse, he’s no Kauto Star, but he tries and thats all we can ask for.
