Following on from last year, it was a great pleasure to welcome Deron Pearson and Jim Cassidy to the UK last Sunday . Wed rove straight up to Newmarket and started looking at the fillies I had selected for them Although the flight/baggage was late we managed to see most of the Monday lots and we then retired early ready for the next day

On the Monday, we managed to combine looking at Tuesday's offerings with buying four fillies.

We bought an unraced 2yo by The Factor, who looked really nice and was beautifully presented bgy Brendan Holland. We the struck for BOMBILATE a reject from Godolphin. Deron and Jim will try to race her, but she has some issues and if they can't get her ready, she will join the broodmare band. Later in the evening we secured my pick of the first day in SPY RING a stakes placed 2yo filly consigned by Jamie Railton for Qatar Racing. She is not overbig, but I really liked her. Immediately afterwards we secured NICARRA A 3yo who is a half sister to a filly I bought for Jim many years ago, Bahama Mama

On the Tuesday Deron  had to leave for a meeting in Paris, and quite a few of our choices failed the vet ( an excellent job done by Helene Menessier again). So it was a long fairly boring day, but we did pick up a very big unraced 3yo filly by Medaglia d'Oro who could be anything.

Wednesday however ended up being a blank day, although we were underbidders on two lots. Had a nice lunch with Jimmy George from Tattersalls.

On the Thursday we took the Arqana flight from Stansted to Deauville. A few hairy moments in their new russian built aircraft ( I must admit it;s the most afraid I've been on a flight), but we ended up safely. Started looking a horses in  the afternoon and followed up o Friday. Some very nice horses

Then on the Saturday the sale began well for us with me picking up two fillies from Godolphin in BETTY DRAPER and ALLOWANCES.  Later on however ( although we did pick up a nice 5yo with racing potential) we were mostly frustrated at first being underbidders at 800,000 euros on a gorgeous filly in CAMPROCK and the also ending up underbidders on the session's top lot PARVENEH, who cost our opposition Euros 1 million

I was very disappointed we did not get CAMPROCK however I thought PARVENEH was very expensive at that price.

Anyway, it's back to the office now, trying to find some colts for Hong Kong and who knows another good filly for Deron

Watch this space