Sunday 17th August
August 17, 2014
On Wednesday we were delighted to get off the mark with GRAND MEISTER at Kempton. He was allowed to find a nice rhythm on the outside of the field by Louis Steward and stuck on well in the straight to come clear of the field. He has run well twice over course and distance now and should be able to see out a longer trip. At Yarmouth we started their evening meeting off with VALEN. She took a keen hold early on chasing the leaders. She appeared unable to quicken when under pressure entering final two furlongs. We rounded off the evening with DORSET GIFT. She was steadied at the start and was held up off the pace towards the rear. She was ridden and asked to make her run, but never looked never dangerous.
On Thursday we started the afternoon off with STONE ROSES at Newmarket. We had been impressed with her work leading into the race and expected a decent effort. She would certainly have finished a lot closer had she been able to get out when her rider wanted her to do so. This is her best effort so far and on this evidence a win is very much on the cards for her. It was good to see RAVEN RIDGE make a decent return after a while off the track and he would certainly have needed the run. He was rallying well in the closing stages and shaped as though this trip was maybe too sharp for him. He has some really good handicap form to his name and will surely be able to win more races when he goes back up in trip.
Yesterday we started the afternoon off at Newcastle where MANTOU provided us with our third winner of the week. He finally got his head in front at the fifth time of asking with a gutsy effort. He essentially looked a galloper when losing out from a poor start at Ascot on his handicap debut. He duly raced more professionally here and won the race when kicking on around two furlongs from home. He certainly has more to offer and should stay further. He looks as though he will keep progressing with age. At Nottingham, sadly THATCHEREEN finishing position failed to match the way that she ran. She tracked the leading pair and made some headway over three furlongs out. She challenged with every chance until driven inside the final furlong and could find no extra towards finish. The first four finished in a line and she just missed out. It was another good effort from the filly and hopefully we can find a winning opportunity for her shortly. Later on the card BORN TO REIGN was disappointing, but his chance would have been greatly enhanced had some rain arrived. In the evening we were pleased with the racecourse debut of LE ROUQUIN at Newmarket. He chased the leaders and was ridden entering final two furlongs. He appeared to get tired coming up the dip and kept on at the same pace in the final furlong. He will come on for the run and should certainly know a lot more next time. We rounded the evening off with HOT MUSTARD who raced in touch in midfield. He was ridden three furlongs out and made no progress when beaten one furlong out. He was behind and eased inside the final furlong.
Yesterday we started the day at Newmarket with PIAZON and the day certainly did not start that well for us. He raced keenly early on and soon led. He looked un-steerable and hung left across track from over two furlongs out. He was soon headed inside the final furlong. Poor Louis got a four day ban and we will see how the horse has come out of the race before making further plans. Later on the card MALVIA had been expected to make a decent racecourse debut but he spoilt his chances by racing too freely early on. He is better than this run would suggest and I am sure he will be seen to better effect next time. It was great to see WIGMORE HALL bounce back to form and he proved that there is still life in him at this level. He looked like winning when showing narrowly ahead inside the last furlong, but the winner rallied and outstayed him near the finish. It was a great effort and really pleasing to see him run well. Our last runner GALIZZI is another who found his form and appears better having been gelded. He was ridden to deliver his challenge, and looked marginally in front up the hill before the filly found more. The operation might enable him now to fulfil his potential. At Newbury ZACYNTHUS stumbled on leaving the stalls. He recovered well and was soon prominent. He was ridden and had every chance two furlongs out before weakening entering final furlong. It is a shame the ground did not dry up a bit more for him but we will see how he takes the race before making further plans. Our last runner was RISKIT FORA BISKIT who has struggled to find her form this year. Close up she was ridden along two furlongs out and was soon driven.
We have no runners today and then tomorrow we head to Thirsk with BANDITRY. He appears to have come on for his Newmarket run and hopefully we have found a race he will be competitive in. In the evening we head to Windsor with SALTWATER CREEK. She ran a nice race at Ascot under Cam Hardie on her last start and he gets the leg up again on her here.
On Tuesday we have declared WHITE VIN JAN. She goes into the race on the back of a win at Lingfield. Hopefully she can deliver the goods again here.
Today the horses worked on the Back of the Flat Gallop
http://youtu.be/oA0JqY3o-ec
One Man Army and My Strategy (White Cap)
http://youtu.be/G9HrKK4uUbc
Barefoot Dancer and Brotherly Company (White Cap)
http://youtu.be/7fp4s5QYSfc
Storytale (Maroon Cap) and Penang Paparajah
http://youtu.be/g8NW3Nm895E
Tarando and Touchline (Grey Cap)
http://youtu.be/PRZdB2SWsMU
Arousal (Maroon Cap) and White Vin Jan
http://youtu.be/WjEShMUrQJY
Role Player and George Cinq (Maroon Cap)
http://youtu.be/4TVuyK7M42s
Invoke and Hala Hala (White Cap)
http://youtu.be/XC1BTyym3g4
Big Orange (Red Cap) and Hyperlink