The Brocklesby winner?

For those of you with an eye on next year's flat ten-to-follow competition, look no further than this yard for some early points. I feel certain we have the Brocklesby winner under our roof at the moment - none other than Jack and Jill Dawson's little sister, JD, by Catcher In The Rye (pictured here meeting big sister Jill for the first time).

We've possibly broken a record in having two yearlings ridden away already - James Eustace was certainly surprised as we passed him on The Severals yesterday. The 1997 Partnership's Hernando filly was the first and was incredibly straightforward, wandering around the horsewalks through town in a very bold manner. JD has been more of a suprise package. The Hernando already looks really quite grown up and is nearly as big as Polly (who has just been officially named Polychrome). There's no doubting that JD is a yearling - she's the tubbiest little horse on the heath, barring Rosie Margarson's pony Saucy Simon who has been on half-term patrol this week. But what she lacks in stature she makes up for by having the most relaxed and professional attitude I've ever seen in such a young horse.

Martha's been riding her and she and I have had some lovely rides over through the woods on racecourse side with Southfields all covered in frost. Yesterday she ventured onto the heath for the first time, walking alongside the Town Canter with not a flinch as other strings passed us. Not even Neckstrap Corner holds any fear for her - though our current lodger Olly may be avoiding it having fallen off there on his first morning working for Neil King on Monday (sorry Olly, couldn't resist and there's a reason my nickname at Darley was Gobby).

If she does go on to become a winner, it will be thanks in equal maeasures to Martha's calm riding and Panto's even calmer chaperoning. Biggest praise of all, of course, will go to the wonderful mare Dream Of Jenny, now 20 (and in foal to Antonius Pius), and still happily munching away at John and Catherine Burke's farm in Baltinglass. She's now the dam of seven winners, a great record for any broodmare. Let's hope JD becomes her eighth (and shares are still available!)...