THE TRAINER - news from Rod Millman's yard

Trainer Rod Millman, prior to Cecil´s run in Sandown, Aug. 2006

NEWS!!!! Congratulations to Rod and the team for the wins of Bramaputra and Royal Storm. We highlighted Bramaputra as an exciting horse to follow, she is a 2 year old by Choisir and gorgeous as well as talented.

Royal Storm is a real stunner but had not won since 2004. Young James Millman has an eye for a good horse and Storm was bought at the sales for James to ride. Still an entire at the age of 9 he can be a little tricky - but James gets on really well with him and rode him to victory at Folkstone.


Rod Millman is based at The Paddocks in Kentisbeare, Devon. He has enjoyed a good deal of success over the years under both codes with horses such as Fromsong, Whitbarrow and Lord Kintyre on the Flat and Kendal Cavalier over jumps. Millman's profile was given a huge boost when Whitbarrow brought him his first Pattern race success in the 2001 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood.

Of course Sergeant Cecil has been the stable star for sometime now.

For Rod, his wife Louise and their family stable Sergeant Cecil has been a horse of a lifetime. It is rare that anyone gets this lucky twice but you never know, this is the stable of a natural horseman who not only has a gift for finding special horses but for knowing what to do with them. Each horse is treated as an individual. Yearlings are given careful attention so as not to spoil their interest in racing and the lush paddocks provide turn out for them all after their races or work.

The yard is hidden away deep in Devon, in peaceful rolling countryside perfect for training racehorses and keeping them happy.

Rod has a talent for sweetening up horses who have lost their sparkle and old Whitbarrow is just one who returned to him and won races.

Rod has an instinctive feeling for his charges and you can spot the closeness he and his staff have with the horses.

In one paddock is old Lord Kintyre who made a difference to them when the yard was small. He has been given a happy retirement there and at the age of 12 he looks superb and followed Rod around while we watched the string on the gallops.

The gallops are fantastic and you can see why the horses get fit quickly. Rod does not rush them but can prepare those who are ready to win first time out.

Rod and his wife Louise and sons Patrick and James are very hands on with all of their charges and the much loved Cecil was no exception.

These are some photos from the yard which give a flavour of the peacefulness of the place but also the usual bustle of a hard working stable. When we visited to take photos of Cecil in 2007 (in the Gallery) Head Lad Jim Davis, Rod, lass Sue, work rider Sharon and family dogs all posed with Cecil for us.

And we are really excited because in 2008 we have our own little filly with Rod, a feisty 2 year old by Deportivo out of the Bustino mare Catriona that Rod's secretary Jill helped to name - she suggested Cativo. 1/8th shares were available, but the partnership is now full so if you missed iot catch her on the track and be jealous! She should make a debut soon and her sire deportivo has been doing well with only a handful of runners registering three wins and several places so far. Cativo runs under the silks of Ashley House Racing and was bred by Ashley House Stud.

Ashley House Stud

Lord Kintyre the family pet

The Thoroughbred Breeders Association paid a visit to the stable at the end of April. Co-ordinator Hazel West was really taken with 2 year old filly Bramaputra by Choisir. Rod showed the members of the TBA around the yard. They all enjoyed meeting Sergeant Cecil, who loved posing for their cameras and they watched two lots of horses working. Louise had arranged for coffee and chocolate Marks and Spencers biscuits (Yummy!) to be served while members watched the horses cooling down after work. The TBA then went off to local pub Keeper's Cottage for a wonderful lunch, and then to the Western Counties Equine Centre to learn how they provide a service to many of the top West Country racing yards.

Owner Breeder Brian Hammond of Ashley House Stud drops in to see Cativo 2 year old filly who belongs to the partners of Ashley House Racing do some work with James Millman riding.

HORSES IN TRAINING 2008 SEASON

OLDER HORSES

ADANTINO
CARLITOS SPIRlT
CASTA.NO
DAVENPORT
DOWN THE BRICK
EL BOSQUE
HAWRIDGE MISS
HAWRIDGE PRINCE
JACARANDA
MAKABUL
MASAI MOON
MONTZANDQ
MUSTAJED
OCEAN BLAZE
OLIMPO
PHANTOM WHISPER
PRINCESS ZADA
ROYAL STORM
SERGEANT CECIL
VOGARTH
WHITBARROW

3 YEAR OLDS

ALTO SINGER
BALATA
BATHWICK MAN
BELLE BELLINO
BILBOA
BOBSTER
BOWMANS WELL
BRAMAPUTRA
BRASSINI
FLYING SEASONS
HIGHLAND HOMESTEAD
KING BATHWICK
KYLLACHY/April Stock
LIGHT FROM MARS
MILLDOWN BAY
MINERTON MOUNTAIN
NEW MINERTON
OPERACHY
ORONSAY
PIERIS
STAGE ACCLAIM

2 YEAR OLDS

BAHAMIAN BOUNTY/Crofters Ceilidh
CAPTAIN PEACHEY
CATIVO
FYELEHK
GEORGE THISBY
HI SHINKO
HIGHGATE CAT
INDIAN LODGE/Vinjett
KHELEYF/Villafranca
LEND A HAND/Miss Maisey
MATTAMIA
MILLDOWN STORY
MONSIEUR BOND/Kastaway (C)
MONSIEUR BOND/Anita Marie (F)
MR CLEARVIEW
MY BEST MAN
PEACE CONCLUDED
PQSITIVE OPINION
RESET/Naomi Wildman
SOLDIER BAY
SWIFT CHAP
WANTED
WATERFLOWER
XAAR/

STABLE NEWSLETTER FOR MAY 2008

A QUIET START BUT STILL 2 WINNERS!

Although we have endured a quiet start to the turf campaign, we still had two winners and the horses were running much better towards the end of the month. With the horses starting to come in their coats, there is much to look forward too, especially when the sunshine finally comes!

MONTZANDO WINS AGAIN!
Having endured a spell in the -doldrums, Montzando seems to have recaptured a bit of fonn and recorded his second victory, winning a competitive seller at Wolverhampton. It was James comeback ride so it made it even better but the handicapper meted out some punishment with a 12lb rise. Lets hope it doesn't stop him winning again.

CARLITOS POWERS HOME
Having missed the break, Carlitos Spirit was left outpaced before flying in the final two furlongs to run out a convincing winning under Alan Munro. Although fit from the AW, he enjoyed the soft surface but could go in again in a similar event, although the handicapper has raised him to 71, which means a step up in class.

BRAMAPUTRA CLASSY IN DEFEAT
Although runner-up on both her outings, Bramaputra has certainly made a promising start to her career. She started off in a useful maiden at Newbury and after a tardy start, ran on gamely to finish second to Musical Bar -a full sister to dual Guineas winner Finscaeal Beo. Being such a big filly, she wouldn't want too tight a track and with no suitable maidens coming up, we sent her to Ascot for a competitive fillies conditions event. Having made the running she was only collared in the final furlong by Rosaleen, who was fourth in the Nell Gwyn and was five lengths clear of the rest. With the size and scope to improve over the coming months, she's certainly one to look forward to in the future.

HANDICAPPERS RUNNING CREDIBLY
The older horses have being running well on the whole with many placed efforts amongst them. Adantino ran a cracker when 2nd at Windsor, having won the corresponding race in 2006 and was 3rd last year. King Bathwick hasn't been far away in both runs this year and should soon shed that maiden tag. Davenport's getting here slowly and shouldn't be far nom returning to winning ways. Meanwhile Masai Moon also ran on well at Leicester and will be better over 7f under quick conditions. All of these should find success in due course. Light From Mars also made a promising debut when third at Nottingham, on ground we felt would be too soft.
He's one to look out for.

TWO YEAR OLDS STILL QUIET
Due to various niggling problems, the 2yo's have been fairly quiet. However, we should have some exciting prospects to run in the coming weeks including Mattamia, Cativo, Bahamian Celidih and Swift Chap.

CECIL GOES FOR REPEAT YORKSHIRE CUP
With circumstances conspiring against us, we weren't disappointed with Sergeant Cecil's effort in the John Porter at Newbury. Having come in later and had a slight setback, he wasn't disgraced and shouldn't be far away at his beloved York.

PATRICK MAKES RACE DEBUT
All being well Patrick will make his race-riding debut on Vogarth at Redcar on May 27. School makes riding difficult but he's improving all the time.


STABLE NEWSLETTER FOR APRIL 2008

ALREADY OFF THE MARK
Montzando got the yard into the winners enclosure when winning a Banded event at Wolverhampton. Although he has been slightly disappointing of late, the ability is still there and it would be no surprise if he pops up in a similar event in the near future.

EXCITING TIMES AHEAD
After a very quiet winter, we have lots to look forward to, with many of last season's stars about to embark on the comeback trail this month. All being well, Sergeant Cecil will make his traditional return in the John Porter at Newbury on Greenham weekend. He seems as well as ever at home but having come in slightly later than usual, will come on for the outing. Our other useful stayer Hawridge Prince looks to have recovered well over the winter and wasn't disgraced at Nottingham the other day. He has come out of the race well and should progress through the season.

CREDIBLE RETURN EFFORTS
Many of our runners in the opening weeks of the season have been needing their first outings, so Davenport, Masai Moon and Mustajed all shaped pleasingly on their respective comebacks at Doncaster and Kempton. All are horses to look out for in the coming weeks, especially the first two who enjoy a bit of cut in the ground.

TWO YEAR OLDS ENTER THE FRAY
As usual we have a nice bunch of two year-olds to go to war with in 2008. However, there are not so many early types but plenty to look forward to slightly later in the season.

Mr Clearview and Fyelehk have already made their debuts and will learn a lot from their respective experiences, plus they will be better suited by a sounder surface. They should be out again in the coming weeks along with Bahamian Ceilidh a half sister to Cop Hill Lad (second in the Super Sprint) whose showing plenty of early speed.

THREE YEAR OLDS TO STAR
We also have a nice bunch of three year olds that have done well over the winter and look sure to have-a profitable season, including Balata, King Bathwick and Bilboa that look well handicapped. We also have a few that failed to make the track in 2007 but have done better for it. The most interesting of these is Bramaputra a half sister to Vital Equine, second in last years 2,000 Guineas.

She has been working well enough to have a speculative entry in the fillies version and all being well will make her debut at Newbury on Greenham weekend.

JAMES BACK FROM DUBAI
James has just returned from a three month spell in Dubai. He had a great experience out there, especially during the run-up to the World Cup when with Yellowstone, who performed credibly considering all his problems in the Sheema Classic. He will be back riding a few of our own, including Whitbarrow who looks as well as ever in a bid to add to last year's six successes, in the hope of reducing his claim to 3lb.




BUSINESS AS USUAL - PHOTOS OF THE YARD IN ACTION

Much loved member of staff, family dog Charlie who is 18 years old. He only goes around the yard or on the gallops now if owners visit when he feels obliged to show them a welcome. Following our walk out to see Lord Kintyre and the horses exercising he was all tired out and went to sleep in Rod's office while we had coffee.

Whitbarrow plays coy with the camera. Still an active member of the team and loving it.

Ready for a day at the races and on the gallops; after the gallops Whitbarrow & James Millman share a quiet moment; and the postcard village of Kentisbeare.