December 2009

With Christmas & school holidays a few weeks away, the Small stable never sleeps…it’s a busy time of the year for us all.

This year has tested us both professionally and personally. We have been on TV in the paper on computers across the world. But for all that we have learned many valuable lessons along the way.

Never believe what’s in the newspapers, don’t read race café, and thank those that are still with you today.

And yes we would like to thank all those that have stood by us over the years, even though we still have plenty to sort out in the coming weeks.

At the end of it all, what ever may happen horses will always be apart of our lives! A saying that comes to mind is: - If things are easy for us, then they are not lessons, but are things we already know.

NZ Cup Week

This year NZ Cup didn’t go, as smoothly has last year. But then that’s racing one could say. We still managed to get Changeover to run 5th after what could only be his worst preparation leading into the mighty race. Awesome Armbro made the field even if he did have a few problems with the standing starts again.
All Tiger and Zenad never fired a shot over the meeting, which was disappointing.

We had two runners in the Sires Stakes Final Gomeo Romeo and Franco Hendrix both good contenders. With things not going their way on both days.

We still had 6 runners at the NZ Cup, which is a good effort in its self! However winning is what this game is about and I guessed we didn’t win!

Now Cup week is over and the mighty Monkey is king. The great thing is we can remember what that feels like!

Small Racing Team

• Lauraella – had two workouts back since a spell, always hard for class mares to compete against the boys.
• Tintin In America – two workouts under his belt getting ready for an interesting season a head for him.
• Thomas Maguire – has been racing well enough, but will need to step up to be competitive in the next grade.
• Zenstar – getting ready for the big 3-year-old races over Christmas. Has strengthened since her spell.
• Delovely – has always had ability which shone brightly in the Sires Stakes heat at Cambridge.
• Indulge – has shown us she has the will to win, will need to improve to be competitive against the best fillies?
• Highview Winston – has arrived in more ways than one, a horse with plenty of power, lets hope on the track too.
• J Walker – won first up but has since been causing us grief with a soreness problem.
• Sloane Square – won nicely at Cambridge, is on the improve.
• Franco Nouvel – well this is a horse with ability but cant cope with it all yet, time will help.
• Awohali – nice horse in the making, just a little weak still

2-Year-Old Update

With the young gun series in action, the Small babies are making progress.

• Major Dream – Has started to come to it; Art Majors have minds of their own. Therefore one needs to work with them to get the best out of them.
• Clive Bromac – an extra week or two under his belt will help him along. A big strong Christian colt.
• Elias Bromac – has improved with his second preparation, another scopey colt.
• Dougie Maguire- has grown plenty since and starting to put things together nicely.
• Zenola Seelster – amazing this fella is working like he does, was suppose to have had a fractured hip?
• Bono – a naughty wee colt with natural gait and speed.
• Murphy Maguire – will take a little more time to mature but lovely nature to work with.
• Robbie – a stunning colt and starting to put things together nicely.

Fillies

• McAmber – working along nicely, needed a little help but working on it.
• Macy Victory – nice filly with the odd head toss but nice filly.
• Tammy – a huge filly very laid back type at this stage.
• · The Magic – has started to make progress, like the Art Major colt just needs time to work things out.
• Jill – has impressed David with her manners and the way she paces.
• Mhai Elsu – another nice filly that has improved since her last preparation.

Most of our two year olds have completed there second preparation and will most likely have a couple of weeks to refresh before preparing for the races.

New Staff

For the next couple of months we have a new member to the Small stables or should I say old member! Kim Watson has returned from the States to help out for a couple of months before heading back, Kim worked for us when we first started training many years ago at our old Gun Club property.

Rachael Gerard has been with us for a couple of months now, since working for the Thoroughbred industry.

Coming Charges

Australian charges will hopefully be held on the 18th December in Sydney. The charges had been delayed due to the judge being in hospital. Geoff has a very strong case in this appeal against a 2-year-ban.
NZ Charges, no date has been set as yet to these charges.

Overall Geoff will continue training as per normal, however plans will be made for the future, if Geoff looses his trainers licence.

At this stage Geoff will await the outcome of the charges and thinking positively that things will be of a better outcome.

Star Profile


Delovely
Falcon Seelster / Copper Beach
3-Year-Old filly

Performances

Last race 20th November winning
3-year-old fillies Sires Stakes Heat

Statistics
2009-10 starts: 4 2 wins

Good Habits: Quite natured filly
Bad Habits: grumpy at feed times

Personality: keeps to herself, nothing really bothers her unless you annoy her.

Note: All Class

Clive Bromac (colt)
Christian Cullen / On Sky

Only (2) x 16.66% Shares Available
$18,300 incl GST
Bred on the same cross as Stunning Cullen.

Elias Bromac (colt)
Rocknroll Hanover/ Rose Vear

(1 1/2) Shares Available
$14,300 incl GST
The family of Elsu, Copper Beach and Tintin In America.

For Sale
Racing & Broodmare Gem

Zenola Starbuck
Christian Cullen / Zenola Star
3-year-old filly

Ready to resume work, a stunning filly with the breeding to match.

A half sister to

Zensational 1.54.8 colt by Soky’s Atom
Zenterfold 1.56.6 filly by In The Pocket
Zenola’s Gift 2.03 by filly Badlands Hanover
Zenad 1.55.4 by Soky’s Atom
Zenola’s Princess 2.04 filly by In The Pocket
Zenola Starbuck filly, by Christian Cullen
Zenola Seelster colt by Falcon Seeslter
Zensu filly by Elsu

Closely related to

Copper Beach, Delovely, Elsu, Tintin In America and Zenstar

Price $60K

Contact: Aria 092385226 or email geoff.small@xtra.co.nz

A Laugh or two…

The Three bears

A far more accurate account of the events of that fateful morning…

Baby bear goes downstairs, sits in his small chair at the table. He looks into his small bowl. It is empty.

“Who’s been eating my porridge?” he squeaks.

Daddy Bear arrives at the big table and sits in his big chair. He looks into his big bowl and it is also empty.

“Who’s been eating my porridge?’ he roars.

Mummy Bear puts her head through the serving hatch from the kitchen and yells, “For God’s sake, how many times do I have to go through this with you idiots? It was Mummy Bear who got up first. It was Mummy Bear who woke everyone in the house. It was Mummy Bear who made the coffee. It was Mummy Bear who unloaded the dishwasher from last night and put everything away. It was Mummy Bear who swept the floor in the kitchen. It was Mummy Bear who went out in the cold early morning air to fetch the newspaper and croissants. It was Mummy Bear who set the dam table.
“It was Mummy Bear who walked the bloody dog, cleaned the cat’s litter tray, gave them their food, and refilled the water.

“And now that you’ve decided to drag your sorry bear-asses downstairs and grace Mummy Bear with your grumpy presence, listen carefully, because I’m only going to say this once…

“I HAVEN’T MADE THE F----ING PORRIDGE YET!!!”

*****************************

MAN OF THE HOUSE

A husband had just finished reading a new book entitled, “You Can Be THE Man of Your House.”

He stormed to his wife in the kitchen and announced, “From now on, you need to know that I am the man of this house and my word is law. You will prepare me a gourmet meal tonight, and when I’m done eating my meal, you will serve me a scrumptious dessert. After dinner, you are going to go upstairs with me and we will have the kind of sex that I want!

Afterwards, you are going to draw me a bath so I can relax. You will wash my back and towel me dry and bring me my robe. Then, you will massage my feet and hands. Then tomorrow, guess who’s going to dress me and comb my hair?”

The wife replied, “ The funkin’ funeral director would be my first guess.”

Hi Geoff and Aria,

I thought it was about time I emailed you and updated you on the horses that you helped us with.

The gelding and mare we first picked up that you took me down to pick up were named Hunter (gelding) and Sofie (mare). These two have been really easy to get settled in and work with. They both were really sweet. Sofie was the one we had to win over a little more than Hunter.. Geoff not dealt you wont be surprised to hear you were right on the money with her age. She is in her 20s. Basically because of her age we aren't going to put the work in and back her, seamed a bit silly to even think about it really. We had a story done about us in the new paper just before we came aware of theses horses. The most lovely couple rung us and ask to become a foster family. Due to the heavy paperwork the story gave me was unable to get back to them for a little while. After talking to them Sofie was perfect. She has worked out really well and we of cause hear updates and go and check her. She has put on a lot of weight and a lot friendlier.

Hunter: Hunter stepped into a very protect role.. He thought it was his job to look after the Sofie and become more so after the next two mare arrived. After Sofie left we brought Hunter up to be with the other geldings and away from the other mares. After that we saw a big chance in him. More willing to be handed and more interested in doing what was asked. I started working with him to get him ready to back. Saddle was no trouble but the bridle was very weary off. After the arrival of a few more horses, I decided to let Hunter go out to another foster family to get used to being around people more, so he will gain more trust in people. He is working out well with them.

The week after you took me down we were asked to go and collect two more mare that were causing a lot of trouble as none could get near. They took Elaine and I 3 hours to catch. They have been named Shilo and Izzy, there are photos of when we picked them up and photos of what they look like now on the website if you what to have a look at the big change in them. We have another 40 days to wait til we can find out if they are in foal or not.

I’m not sure if you remember the very poor looking Stallion that was down there, but he was in a very poor way. I am pleased to say that we were able to go and get him on the third week. He is doing well and has put on weight. It will be some time for his recovery but I am feeling very sure we are out of the woodworks and that he will recover. I will be placing before and after photos on Danny soon on the website.

I want to thank you again for helping me with taking me down there it really does mean a lot to me. I will email you photos of the two collected when I next go out and check them.

Kind Regards
Debbie Barker