Outwoods Farm News

BARN NEWS

results,news and views.

SONOMA HORSE PARK II

After such a nice experience the first week, we decided to 'try our luck' for the second week at SHP.

Good decision as it turns out. A very well built Grand Prix course saw a mixture of fortunes. Three clear from 34 starters, but plenty of 4 fault scores, gave the big crowd a good jump off.

Peter Brakewell went 1st on Lucas, an unlucky 4 left the way for Duncan and Mr Whoopy (who has quite the fan club now) to put the pressure on Mandy Porter. This he did in great style, a clear from Whoopy forced Mandys' hand and chasing Duncan left her with 8 faults and Mr Whoopy the well deserved winner. I had to settle for 4th with Lariccello after a fast 4 in the first round.

SONOMA HORSE PARK

A last minute decision to come to Sonoma certainly paid off for us. After three busy weeks at Woodside we decided to just take the Grand Prix horses to this lovely new facility.

Hosted at the Hermans' property and excellently run by Sally and Graves, this is going to be one of the nicest shows around.

The $30,000 GP saw 25 entries and 8 clears. Caballo was 2nd to go in the jump off, and i wanted to do enough to make the others have to chase me and hopefully make mistakes. This strategy worked 'kinda'!!! Duncan and Mr Whoopy came frightenly close to getting me finishing less than 1/2 a second slower. Phew, but then came Mandy on the lovely WTF stallion and beat me by 1/2 second. We were very satisfied with 2nd & 3rd place.

Plenty to do here for non horsey people too, a World Market, trade stands and novelty classes is going to make this show stand out in Northern Californias summer curcuit.

WOODSIDE II & III

All Outwoods Farm horses and riders were absolutly solid at the second and third Woodside shows.

Enzo, Kristies' 5 year old had one rail in 3 weeks of showing. Placed in nearly every class he showed in. What an exciting prospect.

Gretchen kept up her winning ways with everything she rode, Country Boy and Hemmingway being either Ch or Reserve Champion of their divisions.

Simone was placed with Dondero, Fortuna (great to have her back after Simone very kindly lent her for Spruce Meadows) won a great Modified class. Cardano was in the top ribbons also, including a good ribbon in a very tough classic the last week.

Lariccello, Caballo and Whoopy were 3,4&5 in week 2 grand prix. Whoopy AGAIN winning the Welcome Stakes.

Week III saw Whoopy win the Grand Prix with Caballo in 6th.

Caretana was very well placed in the 1.30-1.35 division including a 2nd, as well as double clear in the Welcome.

WOODSIDE CIRCUIT PREVIEW

woodside article

We couldn't have asked for a better start to our 3 week campaign at Woodside. Beautiful surroundings, a wonderful new indoor warm up ring, great office staff, and, helpful, cheery grounds people help make this a lovely show.

Mr Whoopy winning the Welcome Stakes with Duncan, Caballo was the Grand Prix winner, Vizcaya the 1.15 champ., Whoopy reserve champ in the 1.35 section, Hemingway with Gretchen reserve champion Junior/Amateur Jumpers, Gretchen was also place 1 & or 2 in all of her classes with Hemmy or Country Boy.

Simone was very good with Guvernor consistently placed, as was she with both Dondero and the very consistent Cardano.

Enzo was placed very well in his 0.95 &1.00 classes, this 5yr old has come a long way in a very short time. Kristie Stapleton had the pleasure of showing him for the first time, and did a great job on this power house.

Marissa and Bobsie finished off the week with some very good rounds, just need a GPS and we'll be flying.

Caretana Z, was 2nd in a good 1.30 class, and an unlucky rail in the Welcome Stakes. Abso Q was in the top ribbons consistently in the 1.15 & 1.20 section. Lariccello unlucky 4 in the Welcome and Grand Prix, but showing some of his old spark.

PICKWICK

THIRD AND FINAL CHAPTER OF THE TRIPLE CROWN.

Super weather, hospitality and footing, what more do you need?

Our horses loved this venue.

Cardano placed with Simone consistently. Dondero also enjoying his new rider put in some great rounds and was in the ribbons.

Enzo won a class and was placed in another two.

Guvernor also consistant on the grass as well as in the back ring.

Mr Whoopy was placed 2nd in the 1.45 (Helen riding) and then a good try in the Grand Prix, (with his 'proper' rider Duncan) left him 7th, after an unfortunate 'green' rail in the jump off.

Caballo (ATM) was his normal reliable self. A fast 4 in the jump off of the Grand Prix left us 5th, but taking him to 2nd place in the PCHA winnings list thus far.

Caretana z put in a lot of clear rounds in the 1.30-1.45 classes. This interesting mare is going to be a great buy for some competitive rider wanting to move up.

Lariccello, with a change of jockey had an early rail in the GP, and then another at the end of the course whilst trying for the fastest 4 faults.