Amy Murphy and Lemos De Souza at the Owners’ Christmas Lunch
AMY MURPHY came down from Newmarket yesterday with husband and Assistant Trainer Lemos De Souza to join Solario Racing owners for the annual Christmas Lunch at Saute Restaurant in St Albans and the fact it went on for three and a half hours speaks volumes!
Some nineteen of us on two tables had our own private dining area in one of the Hertfordshire’s best Turkish restaurants. Starting off with a a Proscecco reception, it was then time to knuckle down to the Solario Racing quiz and the gloves were off from the start with the two tables forming two teams, The Rebels and Team Amy!
Some 30 points were up for grabs and of course the quiz-setter is always there to be shot at, as both teams argued some of the questions were biased in favour of their opponents! Yours truly didn’t rise to the bait but instead gave the odd hint or two on some questions in a very even-handed way to both teams!
Owners enjoying good food, wine and company
The food was excellent as ever with Owners enjoying four courses accompanied by some excellent Turkish wine. After the meal, Amy Murphy gave an insight into what it’s like to train horses in Newmarket and talked about the benefits of having your horse at racing’s Headquarters.
Amy is very much looking forward to training Solario Racing’s latest acquisition, a colt by Royal Ascot winner Buratino out of a winning Arcano mare. The horse has been chilling out at Childwickbury Stud after the yearling sales, where he went through the auction ring but he is due to go into training at Amy’s Southgate Stables in the Hamilton Road next week.
As for the quiz, is was very tight but Team Amy edged The Rebels by one point, winning by 23 to 22 points, so the victors received a bottle of Champagne. However, in the interests of unity, the Racing Manager decided to award a bottle of Champagne to the oh so close runners-up!
