Monday 25th August, 2025

Shibuya Song did not respond to her second race in a visor at Newton Abbot which can sometimes be the case and we will leave her headgear off for her next run.  Harry Bannister said that she didn’t travel as well as she did at Worcester when she wore the headgear for the first time and that she probably prefers to come off a strong pace on a more galloping track.  As ever, she stuck to her task and was running on at the line and hopefully we can get another win out of her before the ground eventually softens.

Sad news to hear of the passing of Bruce Raymond.  As has been well documented since the announcement of his passing, Bruce was one of racing’s good guys with a wonderful sense of humour and a gentle charm.  For those who have followed racing during my era, he was associated with some of the best horses and trainers in the seventies and eighties.  After retirement he was racing manager to the Maktoum family and their associates and it was always good to meet up with him on and off the track.  Racing has lost a legend.

Fighting Poet appears to have come out of his victory well and tomorrow is visiting the African Caribbean Centre in Leicester as a guest of the Urban Equestrian Academy.  With National Racehorse Week having begun on Saturday, many yards, studs, retraining centres and community visits are planned and we are delighted that the ever popular Poet will be spreading so much of the good news the sport has to offer.  He visited an after school club in Birmingham last year and won at Brighton two days later, so he obviously loves the attention.

With our own open day on Wednesday and a visit from Box4Kids charity on Friday, Adlestrop Stables like many, will be celebrating the racehorse and it’s an opportunity for all lovers of the sport to get involved.