What a great ending for my jumps team. Waited all year to run union and night in the same race, they were going to be my gold cup team but ended up with good ground and this was their big shot. Their daughter Queen won the king George and both performed to their best today, what a family. My best stayer Stamp goes out on a winner , some bad placement by me by not getting her qualified for the moores finals.

Crush a grape was Stu Francis mainly from days of watching crackerjack in the early 80,s Martin

As for my team 2 winners Day 1 nothing Day 2. Hoping to bag a couple Day 3 surely I can’t come 2nd in more Hunters this season.

In my defence I had always targeted the breeders cup with my US horses when I picked my team but the U.K. ones had fun too. Stupidly good final day on the flat and the NH team were on point all week too.

Congrats mate, fitting ending for the flat season there given your domination. Massive effort over both codes.


I don't think in all my wins over the last few seasons that I've been as pleased as Monterey truth finally getting her day. Had massive hopes for her an Monterey Kool this season, an strangely, both half delivered. truth in the Latter half of the season has really pulled through. Kool however looked a world beater early on, then suddenly looks like he doesn't stay 1m4 in the second half of the season. Very odd horses. Currently breeding from them now tho, so I'll be closer next season hopefully Josh

Not started with my flat team yet, struggling to find motivation to finish my first pass on the NH and trial. I’ll get around to it, the US one is just a factory but the U.K. game I think has a ceiling far higher than my current level.

1 winner on the week but a grade 1 with Spanish Archer hes third top level success . 51 combined wins and 12 grade/group 1s easily my best ever season

Well done to all winners and huge thanks to all that make it happen its much appreciated

The placement and management of your stable in my view has been excellent this year, richly deserved successes.

Josh

Appreciate the compliment Josh and as usual your season in both codes have been superb....try and fill my stables next season and see if i can close the gap a little !!

Just wow! 3 out of 5 and nearly 4. I have little interest in the flat but I couldn't believe it and a second with Prickly Harvest. Best was Nonna a hold up horse who either has so much in hand or the jockey decided to run differently either way she has been my most fun horse ever and 5 seasons I think is enough so she retires on a high.

Thanks to all backstage, great job!

Very happy adding the Irish and Scottish GN to the Aintree one!! Not sure how that happened in what has been a good season. Final week looms and I didnt get Frozen Hope qualified for the Aintree rematch so good luck all in that one!

Incredible commentary for the autumn handicap Martin had me in bits hahahaha ....i have to confess that although the money was down on the straight forecast and despite it looking decidedly to the contrary .....there were no team orders and French Revolution was ridden to gain best possible finishing position at all times !!!!!

For me it's been my most enjoyable jumps season I've been in . What a way to end with 2 hold up winners in Queen and Stalkey, I think it helped them have 2 of my front runners in the races.

I know Martin has said this the last 2 weeks( josh kind said the same earlier in the year) but I think its slightly disrespectful to everyone else by saying if I had run my horses more I'd have more winners, I think I've got everything out of my team and even if I had run 100 more times I'd have the same amount of winners. I had a look back and I've had over 200 runs and it's the most I've had in 13 seasons. My Queen has run 10 times and that by far the most I've ever had from a group rated jumper. This season i let my 150 rated horses run in h'caps, ive never done that before plus thats what made my season more fun. I know mad Josh will run 170 rated horses in h'caps , i wouldnt go that far. I think the jumps h'capper got my horses spot on ratings wise. Running more doesn't equal winning more .

I'm back... not that anyone missed me.

Work/life got really busy and I kept missing the tight entry time for an Melbourne trainer. I would remember thursday night and it's too early, or Saturday morning and it gone. I think the fact the offline game was becoming a grind didn't help my motivation levels.

Not sure if this is possible but for next season can we open entries to the following week a few days earlier? I wouldn't care if my horses get dumped from races due to changes in handicap. It would make life a lot easier. I currently have between 7:30pm and bedtime on a Friday night to put entries in. I have work and 3 kids so thats the earliest I can get to it, as it only opens on Friday for me (being in Aus). No issue if not possible just thought i'd ask.

I was going have a break and go hard at SO8 but see that may be a while now. I might try to get some breeding done soon.

Hope all are well

I had wondered where you were!

As a fellow Australian trainer I can concur with the timing issue, however not quite as bad for me as I am two hours behind you in Perth.

It is open for me on a Thursday at not too bad a time, but if I forget, it is a mad rush to get home from work on a Friday and do it....and being a Friday I've usually had a few beers at lunchtime so who knows what horses I am putting in what races!

Welcome back.