Well - Two of my favourite men have been very poorly these last couple of days - Roy (Popaway's part owner) had a nasty fall during the night due to a kidney infection and spent 12 hours on the floor before his daughter, Carol, found him. He was rushed to hospital and we were all very worried about him as it looked as though his kidneys had packed up, but thankfully and in true fighting fashion he has made huge progress and was determined to get home in time to watch the Derby today, which he did, thank goodness. He is looking after Top Garry this summer as he normally has Popaway, so he hasn't got time to be poorly!  Doug has been very ill with a stomach bug (he is convinced I have tried to poison him) and he was too unwell to go to Stratford, so we missed it for the first time in years. It looked like good racing though and we watched most of it on TV.

 

Popalong - This amazing photo was taken by my good friend Niki who has been staying with us for the past few days with her husband Andrew

The foals are giving us huge enjoyment and are really growing -  This was Popalong at just a few days old. We are now trying to decide which mares should go to which stallions - We have got a nomination for a very nice horse at the Irish stud called Elusive Pimpernel so we may be taking a road trip across the water with Velvet Steel and We Never Give Up - I was in two minds what to do with her - She actually ran really well this season although her form doesn't reflect that because of a couple of tumbles but she certainly hadn't lost her zest for racing. She is surprisingly very well bred and she isn't getting any younger so now is the time for her to have babies....

Velvet Dream's foal - Stacey (by the 'bit of rough' stallion!) Only six days old but very grown up already...