Study The Stars has relished the step up in trip to 12 furlongs. Although already a winner over a mile (as well as being placed over much shorter distances as a juvenile) he showed his liking for the new trip when just beaten in a head bobbing photo finish at Kempton over the longer distance for the first time. He then made no mistake at Wolverhampton showing the field a clean pair of heels under top weight and champion amateur Simon Walker. Trainer George Baker said ‘The step up in trip has been the making of him – and hopefully there’s plenty more to come!’ Much to look forward to as the new turf season gets started.

After several near misses our three-year-old Study The Stars deservedly won his first race at Kempton Park over a mile, ridden by PJ McDonald. Our boy started a well-backed favourite and realistically the result was never in doubt as he tracked the early leaders and asserted in the final furlong scoring by a comfortable length. There was no early pace but Study The Stars fractions showed that he put in three 11 second final furlongs suggesting that he might well be suited by a drop back in trip. His rider gave him a very positive post race report expecting him to visit the winner’s enclosure again soon. Trainer Sylvester Kirk says that Study The Stars is only now just coming to himself and so we hope to see continued improvement over the coming summer months.

It would be difficult to get a better professional opinion than from leading jockey Tom Marquand who has had such a stellar season! He’s ridden our two-year-old filly Eaux De Vie in both her initial starts and says “She’s still very green and learning all the time and she’ll have learnt plenty from her first 2 runs which have been over a much shorter trip than she needs. But last time she got amongst them and was clearly doing her best work at the end – she’s definitely. going in the right direction and will appreciate a step up in trip”. She’s shown more in her first starts than her dam – so the hope must be that she’ll better Delagoa Bay’s 5 wins!

Our lovely two-year-old colt Study The Stars (shown here finishing 3rd at Chepstow) has shown that he’s not just a looker but got the performance to match. After a gentle introduction at Kempton over 7 furlongs, he ran at Windsor over 6 furlongs finishing a good third behind a winner who’s gone on to win again at Newbury under a 7lb penalty, jockey David Egan describing him as ‘really lovely horse who’s only going to keep improving’. At Chepstow, Study The Stars finished another good third of 15 beaten just over a length. His jockey David Probert said ‘He didn’t handle the downhill here but on a flat track he’d  probably have won (the winner was behind at Windsor). He’s a lovely, big baby with plenty of scope’. Trainer Sylvester Kirk adds ‘he’ll win as a two-year-old, but will be a much better there-year-old’. So plenty to look forward to!

Our two-year-old colt Study The Stars in training at Upper Lambourn with Sylvester Kirk has been working well and improving fast. He’s now started stalls practice and this is his first attempt showing workmate Free Dancer how it should be done! We’re delighted with his progress at an exciting time when racing is looking to re-start…and have just one share left in this exceptionally good looking colt by leading first season stallion Due Diligence out of our six times winning mare Celestial Bay – please contact us soon if you’re interested…

Usual routine is continuing at Sylvester Kirk’s Upper Lambourn yard where our two youngsters are out on the gallops every day. Our Swiss Spirit filly Eaux De Vie has been coming on well as is our Due Diligence colt Study The Stars. During the lockdown Sylvester has kept in touch with clips of both working on the gallops and we’ve uploaded these to our YouTube channel titled “Keeping up to speed’.

Homebred Racing’s YouTube channel has now had over 50,000 viewings including videos of past and recent winners as well as other clips of general interest. Most popular is Homebred Star’s amazing 100/1 win at Lingfield where, trailing the field turning into the straight, he flew past all the runners inside the final furlong to win a shade easily (ridden by now successful trainer Robbie Brisland)! Next popular is Richard Hughes last to first masterclass on Celestial Bay – but there are plenty of clips for racing fans to to watch during the lockdown…

Our two-year-old Swiss Spirit filly, Eaux De Vie (shown here), is the subject of positive reports from the Lambourn gallops. Trainer Sylvester Kirk said “Eaux De Vie worked with my smart Fastnet Rock filly yesterday and I couldn’t believe how well she went – I thought that I was looking at the wrong horse! She’s made tremendous improvement and moved like a dream”. Sylvester was also upbeat about our two-year-old colt Study The Stars he describes as “a super youngster who should make a smart horse”. Just a couple of shares left – so please contact us if you’re interested