Sunday 24th July
July 24, 2016
On Thursday we headed to Sandown with STETCHWORTH PARK. He ran another solid race and did not fail for a lack of stamina stepped up in trip. He never got to the runner-up, but he looks as though he will keep progressing. Later on the card we were delighted to get a win on board with GOODWOOD MIRAGE who was an unlucky loser last time. He toughed it out to notch his first flat win for over three years under Frankie Dettori, the only jockey to have ridden him to success when not hurdling. He was kept in a good position and took it up at the right time, managing to hang on. Hopefully he will be capable of winning again. At Yarmouth we had declared KAISAN. He was wearing first time cheek pieces for his handicap debut and had a perfect position just off the leader throughout. He had every chance to go by had he wanted to, but laboured a bit to take second.
On Friday we started the day off at Thirsk with DANCING ELEGANCE. Slowly into her stride, she made some headway into midfield after two furlongs. She was ridden and could not muster up an effort to prove any danger. At Newmarket we started the evening off with FIRE BRIGADE who is proving to be slightly frustrating. He works so well at home that we did expect better and the only thing that we could put it down to is maybe the ground was too fast for him. He is certainly better than he has shown so far and hopefully it will all come together next time. We rounded off the meeting with BLUE MOON RISING. Held up, she looked to pull quite hard. She was ridden over two furlongs out and weakened inside the final furlong.
On Saturday we started the day off at Newcastle with the two runners. JIVE TALKING started the afternoon off for us. She had stayed on well over seven furlongs on her Newmarket debut, but appeared rather more one-paced here. A likely stayer, time may prove this simply was not to be her preferred surface or that the race may have come too soon for her. Later on the card GRACELAND ran with much more credit on her return to the Tapeta. Sadly she could not sustain her effort and kept on at the same pace inside the final furlong. At Ascot TAUREAN STAR finished nicely, but met traffic while making his move and did not get into the clear until it was too late. He certainly would have been much closer had he got a clear run. At Chester we had declared INSTANT KARMA who was switching the hurdles for a return to the flat. Held up in last he was asked for his effort on the inside two furlongs out. Switched right, he kept on but could never get on terms. We rounded off the day at Newmarket with CLEAR EVIDENCE who kept our good run of form going. Settled at the rear of the field before moving to the front over three furlongs out, he stayed on well to win for the first time at the seventh attempt. He saw the trip out well and could return here on Friday.
Tomorrow our only runner is BONHOMIE at Wolverhampton. She has been in great form at home and it would be great if she could break her maiden tag.
We have no runners Tuesday and then head into Glorious Goodwood where BIG ORANGE and FRANKLIN D are due to run later in the week.
Today the horses worked on the Watered Gallop
Left to right – Armagnac (William Carson – White Sleeves), Je Suis Charlie (Light Blue T-Shirt), American Patrol (Jamie Spencer – Orange Jacket) and Dream Machine (Louis Steward – Blue Jacket)
Left to right – Parsnip and Namirah
Big Orange being followed by Forth Bridge and Giant Redwood
Left to right – Bonhomie and Aid to Africa
Bocking End