Moving on

Today, Sunday 1 November 2009, is the fourth anniversary of the birth of ONEWAY on 1 November 2005. Today is also the end of ONEWAY as it is the first day in my new role as a partner with Michael Owen and Andrew Black in Manor House Stables LLP. So it is a day of some sadness at the passing of my own business, but it is also a day of great expectations as it is the start of a venture which is potentially bigger and better than anything I could have hoped for five years ago. Visible evidence of this is that I have bought or acquired 50 yearlings at the Sales, probably five times as many as I could have risked buying on my own.

Yesterday I had my last two runners for ONEWAY. It could hardly have gone better. Prince of Dance won the bet 365 Ben Marshall Stakes a listed race at Newmarket. It was a hugely exciting race with three horses crossing the line together. The Racing Post wrote:

“This race was won by subsequent Lockinge winner Virtual last year and, although matching his achievements would be a stiff task, it’s quite possible that Prince of Dance could make his mark in Group company next year, as he retained his unbeaten record despite pulling hard early. Throwing his head about and eager to go faster, a strong pace would have undoubtedly seen him in a better light, but he still impressed in digging deep and seeing off his two main rivals close home. A progressive sort, a bit of ease in the ground is essential to him”.

I am very grateful to his owners, Five Horses Ltd., that Prince of Dance is moving to Manor House Stables with me and I look forward with eager anticipation to his four year old career.

Valmina ran in the evening at Wolverhampton and ran well coming second. It’s an amazing coincidence that my very first runner, when I started back in 2005, finished second at Wolverhampton and I signed off in similar fashion five years later.