Picking up the pace

Things in the program have still been great. I’ve been able to have some experiences that I would have never dreamt of before. Probably the most memorable was being able to see the two best horses in the world cement themselves in the record books on the same day. Being at the Irish Champion Stakes and seeing Sea the Stars in the flesh was amazing in itself. Watching him crush the field in an overpowering stretch drive on the other hand was indescribable. I can’t wait to watch him continue on his historic path in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Ten of us from the group are going to fly to France for the race and the Arc festivities. Thanks to Ludovic Cornuel, the French representative of the group.
The day was made even better when the group sat down that evening and watched Rachel Alexandra battle for the win in the Woodward. Out of sheer heart and class she got the job done. It would be fantastic to see these two great stars face off. Maybe we’ll get lucky and they’ll both run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2010 at Churchill Downs.
The course work has really picked up pace but the material is great nonetheless. We’re learning so much. Whether, it’s been in our anatomy and physiology course or a guest lecturer on a topic such as proper sales preparation for a buyer at the sales, it’s all been very informative and I’ve learned a lot.
We started our hands on work about three works ago. It was as exciting as a trip to Disneyland to start working with horses again. We’ve started breaking yearlings and I’ve had a blast thus far. I have two yearling fillies that I’m breaking currently which I am very fond of. One of them in particular I think has a very bright future ahead of her. It’s a joy every morning to wake and work with them. I am looking forward to their continual progression. Training horses, no matter if it’s horses at the track or breaking yearlings is a true joy and I’m loving every minute of working with these yearlings.
This weekend and part of next week we are going to the Goffs Orby yearling sale to inspect yearlings. It’s been arranged for all of us to shadow some agents at the sales. All of us are studying our sales catalogues, after our exam this afternoon, in preparation for the upcoming sale. I’m really excited about the agent that I’ve been assigned to. He’s a very successful English based trainer named Mark Johnston. I’m looking forward to learning from him.