A birthday winner but I won't get to Epsom on Derby Day; Marie McCabe, wife of leading all-weather trainer Alan, with her weekly diary about life in a busy Flat stable.

Byline: Marie McCabe

IT SEEMS that summer is finally here in all its blazing glory. Derby week is already upon us, even though it feels as though I have only recently taken down my Christmas decorations.

That's the trouble with getting older, the time passes so much more quickly. I had a birthday during the past week, the last one worth marking, as apparently from next year onwards it's all downhill.

I had hoped that Capricorn Run would have given me a nice present at Doncaster on Saturday.

He has previously won on both my father's and uncle's birthdays (my partners in Placida Racing) and I had hoped I would complete the hat-trick.

Unfortunately, he didn't feel like providing me with a memorable day, so it was left to Loose Caboose to give me that birthday winner to make my day complete.

Loose Caboose is half-owned by Andrew Timms in partnership with my brother-in-law, Greg, and Paul Dixon. Andrew joined us as a rookie owner a couple of years ago and has had, I believe, 17 winners since then.

He is obviously a very lucky man and one I hope we can keep with us throughout Alan's training career - a bit of a rabbit's foot, if you will. He is also involved in the Sale of the Century partnership, who own our little speed ball, Fratellino.

Fratellino, or the Frat Boy as he is known at home, is entered to run at Epsom on Derby Day, which in itself is a rather exciting prospect. I have never been to Epsom on Derby Day in my racing career and I'm unlikely to make it this year because I refuse to take my satanic five-year-old and nobody else will look after her.

She is the human equivalent of my old terrier who used to just put her nose to the ground and bugger off for hours, not caring where she was headed or if anyone would ever see her again..

The idea of trying to keep tabs on her at Epsom is one which makes me shudder, so I will content myself with watching it on TV, in between episodes of Spongebob Squarepants! Our two-year-old squad is continuing to please us and this is the time of year when you get a clearer picture of how the land will lie for the rest of the season. Some are obviously better than others, and some may not be seen out as two-year-olds at all as they grow and shape more like three-year-olds.

A couple have turned in some good bits of work, but you never want to get too excited because they can make fools of you. And there's no fool like an old fool. I should know..