Camrose Stud

October

Deep King ran a fabulous race at Stratford on Saturday.  He jumped fluently and led the field until the 8th fence, after which he was headed by the younger horses but stayed on well to finish 5th and yet again, he was in the prize money! 

It was a very good end to his 2007 campaign and he has finished safe and sound.  He will now be put away until Spring when the ground comes right for him again although he will be kept ticking over during the winter months.

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Deep King is entered to run at Stratford on Saturday 27th - we hoping that the rain holds off so that we get the good ground that he requires.

We have just purchased a new racehorse called High Bray (GER).  More information about him in due course!

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Sycamore Farm was one of the venues for the Verband der Zuchter des Oldenburg Pferdes e.V. (OL) Mare & Foal Inspection tour. 

Both Florida E and Regazza Gazelle both graded into the Main Studbook.

Firebird C was inspected, branded and we are delighted to announce that she was awarded Fohlenprämie!

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Deep King ran at Lingfield Park on 11th October in the 2m Handicap Chase.  We knew when we delared the day before that the going was not idea after the rain - good to soft (good places) but the Clerk of the Course thought it might dry out.  We walked the course and the ground was a little on the soft side in places for King’s liking but we let him take his chance and he proved us right…he didn’t like the soft patches!!!! 

He actually ran a good race, jumped well and was well up with the pace but just didn’t act on the soft places so was out of the money.  The plan is to go to Stratford on 27th October as long as the ground is no less than good - he will then be put away till Spring.

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High Peak has been sold.

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After much sole searching we have now sold Rozemarijn.  It was a very hard decision but as we have retained her daughter AmaZulu we have the bloodlines to breed the next generation.

September

Deep King is winding up to race again in October before the ground becomes too soft for him. 

Possible races are at Lingfield, Bangor, Uttoxeter and Stratford.

Firebird and the mares making the most of the sunshine!

We attended the first ZfdP grading in the UK on 8 September when the Zuchtleiter Hans Britze came from Germany to inspect mares, foals and stallions. 

Presenting a foal for Jivetime Sport Horses was first on the cards and the lovely coloured filly Jivetimes' Jivetalking (Lennox - Nekoma) impressed Herr Britze and was given Premium Foal (Prämienfohlen) status and then was branded.

Photo: Jivetime Sport Horses

We, ourselves, presented Regazza Gazelle - Hans Britze liked her very much stating that she was a "big, modern riding horse" - she graded with very good marks and was given Premium Mare (Prämienstute)!

Photo: Jivetime Sport Horses

It was obviously a very good day for Camrose Stud and Jivetimes Sport Horses and the venue and hospitality very enjoyable.  Hans Britze commented that he was impressed with the quality of horses presented this year and looks forward to coming back to the UK in 2008. 

After a good day at Addington, we heard that the BEF had announced the final results and AmaZulu was in the "Top Three" of the 2 year old Dressage horses across the country - a nice end to a short but sweet season!

Photo: Snapshot Photography

Another good day for AmaZulu.  She finished a very good 3rd (and only coloured) in the big 2yo Fillies class at the National Hunter Show at Addington under judge Mrs Jennie Loriston-Clarke MBE.

Photo: Pleasure Prints

Dorset County Show with AmaZulu who won the Sport Horse 2yo class under Chris Hewlett gaining a  9 for athleticism.  Out of broodmares, foals, youngstock and 4 - 7 year olds, she then took the Sport Horse Championship. 

Photos: Ann-Marie Fry

August

AmaZulu attended the BEF Futurity at The Grange, Devon.  She did us proud gaining another First Premium and then Reserve Champion 2yo Dressage horse.  She impressed the judges and their comments were:

"Very good looking elegant dressage horse with correct easy paces.  Very well produced". 

Photo: Snapshot Photography

Having failed to sample any of our new shows now that we are in Somerset, we finally found time to visit one - Melplash Agricultural Show! It is not very often that we show in coloured classes but they didn't have a sport horse class.  AmaZulu went along and won the CHAPS youngstock class then took Reserve Champion coloured behind the ridden winner.

Photo: Horsepower Photography

Firebird had her first outing at the BEF Futurity at Catherston Stud yesterday.  She was extremely well behaved and was presented to judges Celia Clarke, Clem Somerset & Lyn Crowden in the Eventing foal section.  She showed herself beautifully and was awarded a First Premium.  The judges also thought that she would  make a very nice dressage horse in due course so we were obviously delighted.

A few photos of Florida & Firebird enjoying the sun at long last!

Our handicap chaser High Peak is for sale. 

Showing on behalf of owner Claire Bevan, Dinah attended the BEF at Sunnybank EC in Wales showing Claire's coloured 2yo filly Uno who is by Suzy Mainprice's coloured stallion Uplift.  It was the mare's first outing since a foal and she was beautifully behaved and gained some good marks from the judges and was awarded second premiums for both her show jumping and dressage sections.

July

A busy weekend at the end of July saw Dinah judging the coloured classes at Clarbeston Road Show in Pembrokshire - the sun shone and the hospitality was good so a good weekend was had!

We finally got to the first show of the season with AmaZulu!  We attended the BD Breeders show and AmaZulu was a crediable 7th out of 14 two year old fillies - once again, the only coloured in her class.  She gained some good marks and was only 1 point behind the winner who was by the wonderful stallion His Highness.  The judge was Richard Stiles who's comments were "A  fine upstanding, mature filly who should have an exciting future.  Lots to like!"

Photos: Image Point Event

Our youngest "Diva" (aka Firebird) is definately becoming quite a charater - as you can see, she goes everywhere at top speed!!!

Deep King has enjoyed a break after his win at Stratford - he is now back in work with the plan to run again in August/September.

After nearly two years off the track, High Peak has finally started work - the plan is to take him slowly and run him when he is ready.

Florida has scanned in foal to Sir Oldenburg for April 2008.

June

Bangalore's owner Jo has sent a recent picture of him - he is growing well and still a beautiful boy!

A few photos taken last week of Firebird aged 9 weeks - she is changing by the day!

Firebird at 8 weeks.

May

Another winner for Camrose Stud!

Photo: Ian Headington

We are delighted to report that Deep King WON  his first race for three years when battling on really bravely to win the Barteak Developments Hunters Steeple Chase at Stratford on Friday (25th) evening.  Although he started at a very generous 16-1, we had waited two years to run him on a left handed track and we were confident he would run a big race.  He jumped and travelled well throughout but turning for home when upsides the well backed favourite, it looked like we would have to settle for second (again).  However, JJ threw caution to the wind at the last and got a magnificent jump while the favourite emptied.  King ran on really bravely and scored by 21/2 lengths. 

All credit to the jockey who had ridden a very intelligent race and success is probably due in no small part to the fact that he ignored the trainer's  instructions!  This was a very pleasing effort and King knew he had done well!  It looks like it is left handed tracks from now on and the horse clearly hasn't completely lost his liking for the game.

AmaZulu has just turned two and is standing at around 16.1hh-ish!  She has been entered for a few shows but unfortunately, racing & inseminating the broodmares has been priority so she has lost out so far this season!

We hope to get her out to a few shows before too long.

AmaZulu at 2 years old

We are very pleased with how Firebird is growing on and how her character is coming out!

Firebird at 7 weeks 

Robert and Deep King "cooling off " after a piece of work

We had hoped to run Deep King at Newton Abbot on 10 May but sadly he was balloted out.  A further Hunter Chase opportunity was lost when the meeting at Newton Abbot on 15 May was abandoned due to unsafe ground but he finally made it to the course at Folkestone on 17 May.  Once again we were obligued to go right handed, which does not suit him, but he put in a brave performance and was prominent throughout the race before being beaten into 5th place in the last few strides.

April

Firebird is growing up - picture at 2 weeks.

Deep King ran at Hereford on 20 April - we were trying the a new trip in distance and we were pleased with the run.  It now gives us more options that he will now get 3 miles so we are aiming for Newton Abbot mid May. 

Firebird at 9 days.

Madley leaves us for her new home in Scotland.  She is a lovely mare and we hope that her new owner has as much pleasure from her as we have had.

After a  lot of deliberation, we have finally settled on a name for the filly.  In accordance with the registration rules of the Oldenburg Verband, all fillies should be named with the first letter of their dam.  We have therefore chosen the name Firebird C.  This is a very fitting name as one of Igor Stravinsky's best-known works is the ballet "The Firebird" and since Stravinky is the filly's sire, this seems a very suitable name!

Firebird C at 1 day old.

Below taken at 7 hours old having her first taste of freedom!!

Exciting news - Florida produced a beautiful coloured filly by Stravinsky xx at 8.50am on Saturday 7th April - we are delighted with her!

We were very pleased that Deep King completed around Ludlow on Thursday in what was a competitive hunter chase after 322 days off the track.  He travelled well for a long way and jumped well but we now feel that he may be suited by a longer trip where he can dominate through his front-running tactics.  We are therefore looking at stepping him up in trip to 3 miles and he may run again as soon as next Thursday at Taunton.

March

JJ came down to school Deep King prior to his first run of the season.  All went well and JJ was delighted with how well the horse is.

Deep King is extremely well  - he has had a "pop" and is working well on the gallops.  We are hoping that the ground will begin to dry up so that we can look for a race for him for next month.

February

Exciting news from Holland:

Zospecial (AmaZulu's full older brother & son of Rozemarijn) has been licensed by the AES and is now standing at stud in Holland. 

He is now under saddle and will be trained by Trea Mulder.

www.zospecial.nl

A few dry days made it easier to get the camera out so a few snaps of AmaZulu!

Florida is looking well albeit a little bit pregnant!

Leaving Robert to hold the fort, I managed to get time away to attend the KWPN Stallion Show at Den Bosch.  An excellent trip looking at the up and coming young dressage stallions for the future.  Much to my surprise I found that I was even taken by some of the jumpers!! 

The "short" list for future dressage sires has now turned into a "long" list!

January

Everyone is settling in well at Sycamore Farm and life in Somerset is rather enjoyable!

High Peak is now back in training after a long lay off.  It will be a slow old job but fingers crossed that he gets to the track and stays in one piece.