Highgrove's silks spotted at weekly race meet.

The stable that started small with stock of insignificant lineage was very quick to take the 'Most Improved Stable of the Year' award in Year 17. They had flourished quickly, and not only had their foundation stock running and placing in HOTY meets, but seemed to have a knack for turning sub-par, purchased horses into classy HOTY competitors. We saw some individuals with the likes of Bona Fide and Dark Maiden overcoming stagnant careers in seemingly the blink of an eye. But they weren't all about the cure, as they soon showed us some of their original juveniles winning Triple Tiara legs and the likes. Their presence seemed steadfast as they continued to grow and thrive alongside the big-timers. But, seemingly with the drop of a hat, many of their horses were racing under different silks. And attempts to track them down only suggested something was amiss, but we never knew what.

I would like to say we had somewhat forgotten them, though their legacy continued through the likes of Mild Manic, Atlantic Deluge, Material Girl and so many other successful horses that were bred or previously trained on those rolling, green hills. And yet, with no prior warning, at this weeks races their white and teal silks were spotted rather inconspicuously amidst the mounting yards. The horses were young maidens we hadn't seen before and even the jockey's seemed to be new on the scene. Had the stable been purchased by somebody else? However, we were soon to find a familiar face track-side, none other than Connie Fae as she arrived to collect one of her young maiden's from the winning circle. Closer inspection of the form card revealed the familiar L.Turner as the horses trainer.

We were lucky enough to catch her for a chat as she hosed down the dainty bay juvenile, but she didn't have a whole lot to say. When asked if Highgrove was truly back, she didn't dwell on the question or respond with particular enthusiasm, but her answer was reassuring: "Yes, yes I suppose we are." It was less her words that were convincing and more the proud gaze cast across the sleek physique of the Beyond the Limits lined 2yo; a neat filly by the name of 'Lovely Lucy' who had just won her first start, albeit in an insignificant field. We tried to prod at where they had been all this time, and Connie's answer seemed to vaguely suggest Leo Turner, the stables head trainer, had been ill. It is hard to imagine the cheeky, rambunctious young man as anything less of his red-headed self, but for the head-strong trainer to have gone AWOL, one can speculate on some degree of seriousness.

Though Ms Fae was quick to move on with Lovely Lucy, we managed to persuade the young owner of Highgrove to speak with us more in-depth at a later date. Watch this space.