Sunday 1st November
November 1, 2015
On Monday we headed to Leicester with FABRICATE who was having his first run after some time off the track. Held up at the back of the field, he responded well for the pressure, but did not look like pegging back the winner coming to the last furlong. Lack of a recent run then started to tell and he appeared to blow up in the final furlong. He certainly needed the run and it was good effort given he had been off the track for a 156 days. He has now gone for a winter break and remains an exciting prospect for next season. At Redcar ROCK OF MAX gave another good effort of himself finishing in the frame. He had his chance and appeared to see out the longer trip in the first-time cheek pieces well. He has an entry in the Autumn Sales at Doncaster this week and he looks as though he could make up into a nice jump prospect.
On Tuesday we headed to Lingfield starting the afternoon off with BIG SKY. She did not appear to have the pace on this drop back in trip and finished fifth. Later on the card PENANG PAPARAJA failed to make any impression in his race. He led after two furlongs until well over a furlong out. He edged right entering the final furlong and soon weakened. It is a shame we could not get a win out of him and he is another candidate for the Autumn Sales at Doncaster.
On Wednesday THUNDER IN MYHEART proved disappointing at Chelmsford. She chased the leaders and drifted wide at the bend. She was soon ridden and headed, weakening inside the final furlong. At Kempton MIDAS HAZE gave a promising effort staying on towards the inside. She could do with being dropped another pound or two and hopefully we will get a bracket by her name before the December Sales.
At Lingfield on Thursday BONHOMIE gave a good account of herself on her racecourse debut. She did well to finish where she did as she was being niggled along early on to stay in touch at the halfway stage. She looked green and should improve as she steps up in distance. In the second division of the race FORECASTER was held up towards the rear and was ridden entering the final two furlongs. She is a filly for next year and it has been great to get a couple of runs under her belt this season.
On Friday the ground possibly appeared to go against BERLAND. In touch in a midfield position he was asked for his effort and was soon ridden and beaten, weakening in the final furlong.
Saturday after the withdrawal of FRANKLIN D due to the ground we were left with the two runners. We started the afternoon off with PURPLE RAVEN who had been dropped down in trip. She was always trapped out wide and found little for pressure. Like all the family she is due to get better with age and is a filly to look forward to next season. Later on the card BOCKING END, who had been stepped up in trip by another furlong for this her nursery debut, could never land a blow from off the pace.
We are all getting excited about BIG ORANGE taking his chance in the early hours of Tuesday morning in the Melbourne Cup. He has not been given the best of draws, but we do not think that it is a terrible stall to come out of and should hopefully suit his style of racing. It would be great to see him give a fantastic effort as he has been our main flag bearer this season. Gill and Robert have worked really hard to get him in peak condition and he looks a picture.
Yesterday we had three workers using the Back of the Flat Gallop.
Instant Karma
Davey Boy (Black Cap – Louis Steward) and Batts Rock