The 2009 season turned out to be a memorable one. Park Lodge Stables won its first Group 2 race for James Eustace when WAR ARTIST won the Goldene Peitsche Gr. 2 at Baden Baden, Germany in August. This was a particularly exciting success as Rupert Plersch, WAR ARTIST's new owner this year, is German and the trophy for the Goldene Peitsche, which means Gold Whip, is the most coveted racing trophy in Germany. WAR ARTIST was not finished there and he followed up by winning the 5 furlong Petit Couvert Gr. 3 at Longchamp in September before finishing a fine 3rd in the Prix de L'Abbaye Gr. 1 again at Longchamp in October. He finished the year by being invited to the Hong Kong International Sprint in December. A great achievement for a small yard just to be invited. A very interesting and educational trip was enjoyed by all concerned. Sadly the race itself did not give us anything to shout about but WAR ARTIST came home in one piece and lives to fight another day. He and Chloe Madgin, who looks after him, have now gone to Dubai to continue his globe-trotting.

However the year was not all about WAR ARTIST. GENEVA GEYSER had a fine year. He won three handicaps, two at Redcar and one at Newbury all worth decent prize money. James Eustace had, mostly by design, a different type of two year old last year. They are later maturing horses who should come into their own over middle distances this year as three year olds and possibly some go on to be dual purpose horses for both the Flat and National Hunt. Ones to note particularly are TIGER STAR, ORCADIAN's half-brother whose second in a mile maiden at Kempton is looking good form-wise, DOYENNE DREAM, RUBY WINE's half-sister and IRON CONDOR, AT THE MONEY's half-brother. Blue Peter Racing has a more speedily bred individual in SINGIN' THE BLUES who looks like giving the partners a lot of fun this year. There is one share available if anyone is interested.

James Eustace has ten two year olds for 2010. They have done nothing serious yet, indeed some are yet to be ridden, but three more forward-looking ones are a colt by KIRKWALL out of CHILD STAR, a gelding by VAL ROYAL out of AMERISSAGE named HONKERS BONKERS and a filly by NORSE DANCER out of ROSY OUTLOOK.

The jumpers served the yard very well in the 2008/9 National Hunt season finishing with statistics of five winners from 28 runners at a strike rate of 18%. The current team consists of WESTER ROSS and KARKY SCHULTZ. They are both running very well over timber. WESTER ROSS won his maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter and has been placed second twice this season. KARKY SCHULTZ has also been second twice on his last two starts and thoroughly deserves to win. It was great to see him get off the mark on the flat last year.

WINTER FEVER, also owned by Rupert Plersch, has got Park Lodge Stables off the mark for the year already by winning a valuable handicap on the all-weather at Wolverhampton on 15 January. A great start to 2010.

KARKY SCHULTZ battled his way to victory at Uttoxeter on Saturday despite an untidy jump at ....

2 good chances tomorrow