Post by Ripley on Sept 6, 2016 13:10:04 GMT -5
Battle Brook Autumn NewsThere was huge news coming out of Battle Brook in late August. Word of a split of the massive conglomerate and an injury that left their star "quarterback" on the sidelines traveled fast throughout the racing world. Many wondered how such a transition would go and how might the racing world react.
Battle Brook Stable has undergone many transitions since Year Twelve. Of all the big stables in the country, they seem to be on the edge of the best training practices. Multiple course options provide all weather training. Extensive paddocks and pastures allow for maximum relaxation and turnout. And now they have started the practice of gelding horses--not a major trend, but one that has never truly hit the top echelons until now--and split their towering roster into two... Rumors of Intrepid pondering a similar split have circulated, but nothing has solidified as of now. Perhaps, they are waiting to see if the newly formed Full Flight Farm will sink or swim.
If late August has anything to show for it, Full Flight might just swim impressively. With victories coming from Apache Sunrise, Shatter, Radiation Therapy and Nocturnal Runaway, Full Flight seems poised to do some big things if the projects come to fruition.
In other news, both Key West and Fire It Up were gelded in July. Key West is set to make his first start as a gelding against the horse BBS traded to get him--Roussong. Fire It Up won his first race as a gelding and finished third behind Melusine and Sweet Mimosa August Wk 4 at Battle Stone Downs. Although males around the world will gird their loins at the thought of gelding, BBS has made it a point to only geld if they see more of a future racing a horse than in the breeding shed. As geldings, it is likely that both Key West and Fire It Up could remain running until age six.
Just last week it was announced that Sun King has been put up until October to get over a bone chip in his knee. He will enter retraining with the hopes of running by the end of November. The big chestnut son of Native Flame and Hall of Famer El Sol del Mar has been a model patient in the time since his surgery. Greeted by "get well" cards and lots of peppermints, King might just be enjoying his time away from the track a little too much. Not that his connections think it will last very long. The sweets and stall rest are perfectly fine at the moment, but when he starts feeling good he'll likely become a brute. "It'll mean some time in the round pen with Malcolm before he goes back to full training," Ripley quipped amicably while feeding said red-and-white horse crack to the Year Fifteen Three Year Old Colt of the Year.
Ripley also delivered the exciting news that she is set to have her second baby with jockey and BBS roster coordinator, Brookson Wells. It is hard to believe that Keller Wells is now a blossoming baby of two years and that it has been nearly two and a half years since Ripley Marsh has graced us with her presence in a horse race.
A workout report is expected to follow on the horses in training. Perhaps some Breeders' Cup plans will be solidified as there are only just 4 months until the big race series which Battle Stone Downs will be hosting for the first time ever.
