Saturday 20th June
June 22, 2015
Unfortunately we ended our Royal Ascot without getting a winner on the board. We started Thursday afternoon off with JARGON in the Britannia. He raced on the stands’ side and was held up in a midfield position. He was pushed along and weakened well over one furlong out. It was a disappointing effort and we will see how he is before making further plans. In the King George we were double handed with NEYMAR and TAPER TANTRUM. NEYMAR faired the best running on from the back when it was all over. He possibly could have done with some rain to enhance his chances. TAPER TANTRUM chased the leaders and was ridden two furlongs out. He lost his place having been bumped a couple of times and was eased in the final furlong. In the evening we headed to Lingfield with GOLDEN HELLO and ORANGE BLOOM. GOLDEN HELLO looked a bit one-pace in his race, but he is now eligible for a mark and will hopefully do himself justice in nurseries. ORANGE BLOOM again proved disappointing and will now head for the July Sales. We rounded the day off at Leicester with BAREFOOT DANCER. He was always prominent and had every chance from over one furlong out. He did not find much room and could find no extra well inside the final furlong. He will have his day soon; we just need to find the right race for him.
On Friday after sadly withdrawing FABRICATE due to the ground it left us with just the two runners. We headed to Goodwood in the evening with BANDITRY. He was always near the pace and things seemed to be going well for a long way. He did not appear to be the most game at going past the winner and had to settle for a clear second. We rounded the day off at Newmarket with GEORGE CINQ. He travels so well during the early part of the race and did again here. When asked for his effort he never picks up as hoped, but always is there or thereabouts.
Today we have seen another disappointing effort from SAVOY SHOWGIRL at Newmarket. She was settled nicely in a midfield position and when asked for her effort she did not appear to pick up at all. She is July Sales bound and could run again before then. Later on the card THEM AND US scored his second victory of the year. He was given a lovely ride by Louis Steward who is riding so well at the moment. He was settled nicely towards the rear and when asked for his effort he kept finding more. At Lingfield we have just seen an encouraging effort from THE MAJOR on his racecourse debut. He looked quite green early on and was running on nicely in the closing stages of the race. He should come on for this and will hopefully go close next time.
Tomorrow at Pontefract BIG SKY is hoping to break her maiden tag. She raced encouragingly on her debut at Goodwood and should benefit from the racecourse experience here.
On Monday we start the afternoon off at Chepstow with THUNDER IN MYHEART. She has been unlucky in still being a maiden. She is better than she has shown so far and should be competitive. At Wolverhampton MOTION PICUTRE has a chance of breaking her maiden tag. On the evidence of her previous run she would definitely be in the mix. We round off the evening at Windsor where GIANT SHADOW takes his chance. He looked so green on his racecourse debut at Leicester and we expect a better effort from him here.
The horses worked this morning on the watered gallop
Duck a L’Orange (Black Hat –Jamie Spencer) and Cape Orford
Left to right – Forecaster, Duchy and Carter Pace
Left to right – Down to Earth and Berland
Instant Karma and Big Orange (Tom Queally Black and White cap)