September 30, 2025 by Mike Madden

Autumn In Paris?

Harvest Festival

Its that time of year when the trees are laden with fruit. Our plum tree was particularly prolific, and we exchanged plums for a basket of Bramley apples. I made Plum Cheese Fruit, which is not a cheese, its more of an accompaniment, like a very sweet chutney. We also made apple crumble and plum gin. For once we did not go near the blackberries, we will save them for next year. Our own apple trees have been bountiful, so much so that the horses at Fern Farm will probably benefit.

Apples from the garden (and a couple of Pink Ladies)

The garden continues to produce, and although they are a bit late the tomatoes are just about ready to ripen. The mystery plant is definitely some sort of pepper, but I think it is probably too late in the season for these to actually grow and ripen. There are also some chilli peppers, but the same applies to them. Might have to start them earlier next year.

Late season tomatoes

Mini chilli peppers

Cookery Corner

The kitchen has a new favourite, shallow fried chicken with sweet chilli dipping sauce and ranch dressing. These get eaten by the kilo! Sausage rolls couldn’t be easier to make (if you cheat with ready made pastry and a packet of sausage meat!) These never last long – especially when given an egg wash glaze.

Sausage rolls

Back To School

Zac was due to go back to university this week, but there has been one cloud hanging over him all summer, He had not opened his results from his first year, because he did not want them to spoil his summer. Finally, the day before his return, he looked. Turns out he got a first in everything, except for an essay in which he got a 2:1. However, even that was not his fault. He doesn’t think he should have to do an essay on a computer science course.

Location, Location, Location

It was my nephew’s wedding recently, at a fantastic venue called Ashes Barn near Leek. It was the perfect day for the happy couple, not so for another of my nephews, Paul, who somehow managed to get himself into a taxi to the Premier Inn Stoke, rather than the Premier Inn Leek just around the corner.

Fore!

A week or so after the wedding I played in a golf competition at Chapel-en-le-Frith. On my team were Zac and Slash, both of whom are better than me, and we had a good day. Zac is a member at Mellor and Slash at New Mills, so they enjoyed the challenge of playing a different course. Our score was certainly saved by Slash having a good back 9, but I’m not sure what he would have made of Zac’s Happy Gilmore style of driving which is more of a rocket launch than a golf shot.

Coming up the last I managed to slightly under hit my approach into the water, to surprising applause from the balcony. Maybe it was a miraculous escape. Sadly not, it was just sarcastic clapping from Sally and Ole who had come to watch.

Still A Secret!

Ole travelled to Manchester to begin rehearsals for his latest acting role. Still not sure I am allowed to say any more about it – so hopefully I’ll update you in a future edition.

Every Cloud…

A neighbour of ours died recently, and we then came across his executor, Simon. Simon is a farmer from Bradwell who is passionate about his animals and Sheffield United. We visited his farm in Bradwell, and spent a good couple of hours walking around his fields and buildings. On the way back we decided to visit Longnor Races. I highly recommend this somewhat random event, featuring pony races, handicap races where the handicap is measured by distance, and trotting races that seem to be for the insane.

Nearest I got to riding on a tractor in Bradwell

Building For The Future

Whaley Bridge Cricket Club has been undergoing some serious renovation. The aim is to turn it into a bar, but there is a lot to do before then.

Destruction!

Structure being built

Its beginning to take shape

We decided to support our club funds by hosting a relay, starting at Dove Holes, finishing at Whaley Bridge, and visiting 20 other grounds in between. We set a new record of 9 hours and 27 minutes, knocking well over 3 hours off our previous record. I kind of think we might not have been trying too hard back in the day. Anyway, it was a great social and sporting occasion for the club, with a desire to make it an annual event. It has raised over £1,700 for club funds, so we can slap a bit more paint on the pavilion!

The Relay timings

When I’m Sixty Four

Its my 64th birthday this week, which has not yet stopped me going on lads trips. This year it was Marseille, with 13 of us on a whirlwind weekend break. Not sure how I managed to keep up with the hard-drinking youngsters – probably by drinking halves and keeping away from the over-exuberance. 

Hi jinks in Marseille

Racing Matters

Planning Ahead

I made what is now becoming an annual trip to Goffs sales ground in Doncaster. Its a fascinating place, but the primary objective was to sit down with Luke to discuss breeding plans for Star Of Lady M. After the sales had finished we wandered over to Whitby’s Fish & Chip restaurant and got down to business.

Our plan included a potential trip to Dubai for a couple of races, but Luke cautioned that we should make sure that there is a return flight when we need it, otherwise we would have to fund that ourselves which would be expensive.

I wondered about the possibility of keeping Star Of Lady M in training until the point that we could confirm that she was pregnant. Luke is not a fan of running mares in foal, so at the time of a positive pregnancy test she would be retired. Could David keep her up to her work and prepare her for pregnancy? Could Luke prepare her for pregnancy and keep her up to her work?

If she was in Dubai would this bring her in to season more easily because of the heat? There were so many unanswered questions, and a lot still remained afterwards.

She would be in the Beverley Bullet a few days later, followed by the Arran Scottish Sprint at Ayr. If things worked out well she would head for the Prix De L’Abbaye De Longchamp on 5th October. There were still options at Ascot, Dundalk and Dubai, so it promised to be an exciting autumn and winter.

Back At Beverley

When the time came for the Beverley Bullet, Clarendon House was declared. He has a bit of a reputation for not starting his races, and I thought that the entry was a precaution. He was also entered into a Racing League race two days earlier. Sure enough, he refused to start on the Thursday, and the Stewards intervened. He was withdrawn from the Bullet.

We decided to keep the visor off Star Of Lady M for her first run back, and as she was drawn close to the rail in stall 2 we thought that she would be best getting out quickly and seeing how long she lasted.

Belle Of Beverley

She is well known at Beverley, and they already use an image of Sally with her on their owners’ page. Now they wanted more pictures and videos for their social media posts. I was happy to oblige.

On the day of the race it was an easy drive across to East Yorkshire. We were in the second race, so it did not take long for the action to begin. She drifted out in the betting, but there were mixed messages from the yard. Mark Winn, her jockey, said she might just surprise us, David thought she might blow up after four furlongs.

Star Of Lady M finally returned at Beverley

Without the visor she was very interested in her surroundings, as she was coaxed to the start.

When the race began she was a fraction slow, and then the favourite cut across her. She was pushed to one side and switched to the other, losing valuable momentum. As the race progressed she settled, and began to run on. She fought her way in to third place, which was a magnificent finish after 309 days off. It was decent prize money, and some more black type. We could now look forward to Ayr, and maybe Longchamp.

A brilliant third place in the Bullet

David O’Meara said that sometimes fillies go on a good run, have a break, and are never quite as good when they come back. She had proved that she was as good as ever. The next morning he reported that she was fine, and he was delighted with her. She got an RPR of 91 which was disappointing, but its only her Official Rating that matters. She was dropped 1lb to 108, which was fair enough. We would not want her to drop much further, as the criteria for Dubai is 105.

An Inquest

The Stewards looked at the race afterwards and decided that they would ask some questions. Their report showed that she was perhaps unlucky to only finish third.

THE WILLIAM HILL BEVERLEY BULLET SPRINT STAKES (CLASS 1) (Listed Race)

Permission was given for ADRESTIA and FIRST INSTINCT to wear red hoods to post and for SHAGRAAN (IRE) to go early to post wearing a red hood.

An enquiry was held to consider interference shortly after the start involving REGIONAL, unplaced, ridden by Callum Rodriguez, STAR OF LADY M, placed third, ridden by Mark Winn and ADRESTIA, placed second, ridden by David Allan. Rodriguez was suspended for 2 days as he allowed his mount to shift right-handed when insufficiently clear, causing Winn to be moved off his intended line and take a check which in turn caused Allan to be momentarily tight for room.

Double Jeopardy

Meanwhile, Percy’s Daydream remained on 75 after her recent second place. We would look for something suitable for her. After skipping opportunities at Lingfield and Chester, we opted for Pontefract. It was the day before Star Of Lady M was due to race at Ayr, so it could be a busy end to the week.

Daydreaming In Pontefract

And so it was that the syndicate headed to Pontefract for a five runner contest. David Nolan took the ride on Percy’s Daydream, but something was amiss early on. She was first into the parade ring, and she was bouncing around and sweating. She seemed to be unnerved by the crowd, and her team quickly removed her. When she reappeared she was much calmer, until it was time for David to get on her when she got fractious again.

Percy’s Daydream was not comfortable at Pontefract

They made their way to the start, and our tactics were to hopefully get a lead off something, but if not we would take the initiative. As it turned out we took up the running and stayed in front until the top of the straight. She battled gamely, but her race was run. David eased her down to finish last of all, but she did still sneak some prize money. It was not her day, and the preliminaries may have been to blame. It could also have been the tactics, or she might have been in season. We know only too well that it is very difficult to pinpoint the reason for a bad performance, it was usually just something you had to move on from.

Enjoying a well-earned drink

The following day she was fine, and we took the decision that the ground was turning too soft for her, so it would be best to initiate her winter break. She had given us a very good season, and she deserved a rest.

Percy’s Daydream heading for a winter break

Up In The Ayr

After Percy’s Daydream’s race Sally and myself headed for Ayr. The forecast was for a dry day on the west coast of Scotland, but on the way there we drove through a deluge that lasted from Scotch Corner to Scotland. Approaching Prestwick there was evidence of rain, but it was much dryer.

Fun In The Sun Again

The following morning Terry, our driver from Middlethorpe, again sent us the front page of Sun Racing. There she was, Star Of Lady M was their NAP of the day. We rushed out to buy copies. There was some not quite so good news as it was raining, and we wanted as little of that as possible for Star Of Lady M. However, the clerk of the course said they had had just 0.5mm overnight, the going stick had improved, and the ground was good to soft.

Headline news again

We had a brief trip to Prestwick beach to breathe in some of the Scottish sea air, but then it was time to go. We made our way to the course in a taxi, having unofficially tipped our girl to several other punters who were also waiting for a ride.

Bit chilly on Prestwick beach

We’ve Been Ayr Before

We took up our position in some lovely tall armchairs, and I relaxed with a couple of pints of Guinness. After the first race the going changed to Soft, which was not a good sign. We were in fourth race, and we were not far off favouritism after the display at Beverley. In the parade ring there was an air of confidence, but slightly tempered. Danny Tudhope said there was the possibility of the Bounce factor, a situation where a horse performs well after 300+ days off, but then next time out disappoints. He thought the ground would be fine as she had won on it before, but David was not so sure as she had not really beaten much on Soft.

Talking tactics

We talked about he Abbaye, and I asked Danny if he would be able to ride her in the Paris showcase. He said he would, and he reminded me that he had won it before. David had another horse in the race, Tiva, owned by Akela Thoroughbreds. She was not expected to be in contention.

We made our way to the stands and the race was under way. Star Of Lady M broke well and took the lead. She was soon passed, but she was still up there. After 4 furlongs she faded through the pack and finished twelfth and last. Tiva was eleventh.

It was disappointing, but the ground and the Bounce and her shortness of recent races all counted against her. Danny said she just got tired, which was encouraging. On better ground she would have seen out the trip, and the Abbaye is half a furlong less. On the way to the bar I discussed options with David. He thought we could win the Mercury Stakes at Dundalk, a race in which she finished sixth last year. The Abbaye was still a possibility, and in fact we could do both. Dubai was also still an option.

Star Of Lady M at Ayr

Planning For Paris

David then showed me how his meticulous planning led to Danny riding the winner of the Abbaye for him back in 2014. Move In Time did not lead, but he was ahead at the line. He used the same insight when he won the Woodbine International with Mondialiste, and after a few minutes I was convinced!

We spent a wonderful afternoon with the Akela Thoroughbreds team, and I am sure we will come across them again. It was a long journey home, with a lot to think about. Two days later it was confirmed. Percy’s Daydream would be given a winter break, and Star Of Lady M would head to Paris for the Prix De L’Abbaye De Longchamp. Our cheap 15,000 guineas yearling had now grown up into a Group 1 contender!

You can read the previous edition here

She’s Back!