Sunday 2nd August
August 2, 2015
Thursday proved to be a fantastic day when the gutsy BIG ORANGE scored another group success for the yard. In front early on, he was soon forced to take a lead from one of his opponents. He travelled well in the slipstream and was set alight to dispute the advantage alongside the runner-up over a furlong out. He stuck out his neck which seemed to get longer and longer to score his victory. It certainly did his Melbourne Cup prospects no harm, but he has other options before then. It was great for his lad Robert who has been with the yard for a long time now and for all the members of staff who work so hard for days like these. Earlier, at the meeting BANDITRY lost his chance on leaving the stalls. He could never get into the race from the back of the field after stumbling at the start and it may be worth putting a line through this run as we know he is better than this. Later in the afternoon MY STRATEGY headed to Nottingham and he again gave another consistent effort. He had his head in front inside the last quarter-mile, but could not hold off his older rivals late on. This was a good effort and hopefully we will be able to find another race that he can get his head in front. He certainly deserves to get another bracket by his name.
On Friday we headed back to Goodwood with TOUCHLINE. She appeared to do too much early on making the running. She was soon ridden and was unable to quicken, when beaten weakening inside the final furlong. Earlier in the day ONE MAN ARMY failed to impress in his event at Thirsk. He soon led and was pushed along when headed three furlongs out. He was ridden and weakened inside the final furlong. He needs to find his form again which hopefully he will do shortly.
On Saturday we started the afternoon off with the promising two-year-old TAUREAN STAR who had been showing plenty at home. He came through looking a danger to all over one furlong out on his debut, but faded back to fourth. He should have little trouble winning a similar contest and hopefully will make into a nice horse. He certainly has plenty of promise and will come on for the run. Later at the meeting TARANDO raced towards the centre of the track close up, when ridden along two furlongs out. She was driven when weakening over one furlong out. At Newmarket we started the afternoon off with BOCKING END who was having his second start. She raced prominently and was ridden and had every chance over one furlong out. She weakened inside the final furlong to finish down the field. Later on the card THEM AND US ran another solid race to finish third. He did best of the hold-up horses and should hopefully remain competitive off his mark. At Ripon INSTANT KARMA proved disappointing. He tracked the leaders and did not get a clear run two furlongs out. He soon weakened to finish down the field. We rounded off the day with a winner when MACHINE LEARNER went in at Lingfield. He appeared to have improved for being gelded. He was tracking the leaders early on and was produced late to get his head in front when it mattered. He looks as though he has the making of a nice staying type and will keep progressing.
We have no runners today and then on Tuesday we have four runners at different meetings. We start the afternoon off at Catterick where THATCHEREEN has been dropped into claiming class. She ran a nice race on her seasonal debut at Wolverhampton, but proved disappointing on her last start at Newmarket. Hopefully she can prove competitive in this sort of grade. Later in the day GRACELAND heads to Salisbury. She has looked progressive this year and hopefully will take a lot of beating. We head to Ripon with MODEST who has failed to deliver so far. She is taking her chance in a nursery for the first time and hopefully she will now get her head in front. We round the day off at Chelmsford where BORN TO REIGN takes his chance. He tackles two miles again and after some consistent effort hopefully the step up in trip will prove the key.
Today the horses worked on the Summer Gallop
General Hazard (Grey Horse), Towerlands Park (Orange Jacket) and Alcanar
Golden Hello (Orange Jacket) and Academy House
Left to Right – Big Sky, Rosecomb and Bella Blur
Penang Paparajah and Storytale (Blue Cap)