MICK MULLINEAUX STABLE VISIT
Around 25 members eventually made it to the stable on the revised
date of Sept 18th – apologies to the 12 members who couldn't
make
the revised date with the late cancellation due to the yard having
declared several horses to run at Carlisle the previous Sunday –
oh
the joys of 7 day a week racing when trying to arrange such events!
As an aside not all members put a contact number on their letters
when booking and this is something for us all to bear in mind for
the future! To be safe members might like to either check the web
site or phone the organiser to ensure there are no last minute
changes.

Anyway onto the visit. The yard is set in the middle of rural
Cheshire at Alphraham, Nr Tarporley, being fairly close to both Alan
Bailey and Richard Ford's yards. It is a mixed yard with 30 boxes
although at time of our visit about 10 of the jumpers were still to
return to the yard. There is a
1 mile round sand gallop (the local area is rich in sand deposits)
with also a grass gallop albeit due to the dry weather this year the
sand has been used in the main.

Mick is ably assisted by his wife Susan with daughter/partner also
making up the team and acting as apprentice/amateur riders for the
yard. All together a very family orientated set up.

Having ridden professionally and worked in other local yards Mick
was encouraged to set up the current yard in 1996 by Lord Leverhulme
(who later died in 2000 although other members of the family still
support the yard.

Lady Boxer (Chester specialist and Ayr Silver Cup winner) is
retained as a brood mare with many of the inmates being home bred.


TALBOT AVENUE – the current stable star, is owned by Mrs Caroline
Wilson, a granddaughter of the late Lord Leverhulme. The names of
the family horses are it seems all named after roads leading to
Thornton Manor on the Wirral – which was previously the family
mansion. On the day before the visit the 7 year old gelding had run
well in the Ayr Gold Cup beaten only 3 lengths into ninth place
belying the odds of 100-1 (having previously finished 4th when
favourite in a more modest heat at Leicester). The ground at Ayr was
soft and really the horse needs good or better ground to be seen at
best – may now be aimed at York's Coral Sprint on Saturday
8th
October where he was 2nd beaten only 1/2length last year under
Kieran Fallon of a rating of 100 on good ground. After that a trip
to Dubai is again on the cards to run in a series of invitation
races there! Incidentally we were told that the horse is not an easy
ride thus should go best under a strong jockey.

One to consider over longer trips is YOUNG ROONEY a 5yo gelding. Was
placed many times in 2004 and has only just started back in 2005
with two runs in current season – plan is to try over hurdles
then
aim at Chester Cup next May. Whilst still a maiden the horse has
been pushed up the ratings steadily and peaked at 82 now dropped
back to 73 rating and after a 4th place at Pontefract in a 17 runner
field last time is certainly one for e/w followers to consider over
the Autumn/Winter campaign.

Space does not allow us to cover in depth all other inmates thus
brief comments only: MIDNIGHT STAR – 3rd on only outing to date
– a
1M 6F bumper on fast ground. Is bred from a sprinter thus stamina
may be an issue on more testing ground over longer trips. PHOENIX
EYE a 4yo gelding owned by the stable's vet. Three placed runs to
date – two on AW at Wolverhampton (one beaten only short head)
and
other more recently on fast ground at Redcar. Definitely one to
avoid on soft ground – will possibly go jumping but ground would
have to be a concern if softish. LAKE WAKITIPU is a 3yo half sister
of Lady Boxer. Placed once at Chester as a 2yo and yet to race in
2005 – likely to need 1 mile nowadays. LAYED BACK ROCKY is
another
3yo and has been placed twice in 11 starts. Stable recently
discovered the colt is a `rig' and once the offending item is
surgically removed it should bring about an improvement! Likely trip
required 1 Mile. SARN is a 6yo gelding – whilst hasn't won
for 2
years has been placed several times and appears to go best when
ridden by stable apprentice Miss M Mullineaux.

Besides being shown around the boxes with most horses brought out
for closer inspection we also saw a visit by the stable's horse
masseuse and were told a tale about how this treatment discovered an
in bedded blackthorn in Talbot Avenue that the vets couldn't find
and which had been responsible for the horse hanging badly in
several races without any real understanding why.

We also saw a yearling being `lunged' as part of the initial
training process. The yet to be named horse is owned by Phil Lawton
from Oldham who we met on the visit and who has also now joined NWRC
as a member – Phil has been an owner for many years and members
may
remember one of his better horses My Abbey (trained by Eric
Alston). Good luck with the new horse next year and please keep us
informed of progress!

The visit finished with tea and home baked produce in the garden
surrounded by a wide variety of family pets and all members
commented how friendly and caring the yard was.

Susan has promised to keep NWRC advised of any shares available in
stable horses in future – if anyone is interested in taking a
share
of a horse in the yard I shall gladly pass your details onto the
yard.

Another very enjoyable visit – lets hope Talbot Avenue does the
business next time and good luck to all the other stable inmates!