Battenberg Silks at Thirsk & Catterick: A day of Progress, Farewells, and Hope
We had a busy and emotional day at Thirsk yesterday with three runners flying the Battenberg silks, starting with Straya for Katie Scott. It was his second outing of the season with Jason Hart aboard, and we were looking for progress from his seasonal reappearance. The plan was to go forward early and make more use of his natural pace. Straya showed improvement, running with more intent and holding his position well, eventually finishing 5th. He got slightly outpaced in the middle stages but stayed on gamely, and we’re confident there’s more to come from him as the season unfolds.
Next up were Kalganov and Falcon Nine, running in the same contest. Kalganov has sadly been regressing in recent runs, and we went into the race with concerns that his enthusiasm for racing might be fading. To their credit, trainer Michael Dods and racing manager Craig tried everything to rekindle his form, giving him every chance to bounce back. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be. After another lacklustre run, we’ve made the tough but compassionate decision to retire Kalganov. He gave us some unforgettable moments, including his win in December 2023 – a day that will stay in the hearts of many of our owners. Horse welfare is at the core of what we do, and when it’s clear that a horse is no longer enjoying their racing, we ensure they are retired into a loving forever home where they can enjoy a peaceful life in the paddocks. Thank you for everything, Kalganov.
As for Falcon Nine, he made life difficult for himself at the start by falling out of the stalls, leaving him with a mountain to climb. However, he showed tremendous heart, finishing like a train and passing a number of rivals in the straight. Jockey Andrew Mullen noted that he seems to be short on confidence, but once things click, he believes Falcon Nine has a fun and fruitful summer ahead. A very encouraging run, and one we’ll look to build on.
Looking ahead to today at Catterick, we’re excited to see Sassy Glory make his return. Like many of ours at this time of year, he’s coming back from a break and may just need this outing to get him fully race-fit. He remains on an attractive mark and is still chasing his first win – something we feel is just around the corner. Keep an eye on him; the winners’ enclosure might not be far off.
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