Sunday 25th June
June 25, 2017
On Thursday evening we headed to Chelmsford where we had NEVERBEEN TO PARIS making his racecourse debut. He looked very green early on and was forced wider than ideal on the bend when he came to make his challenge. He should improve for the outing and is sure to get better with his racing.
Neverbeen to Paris
Later on the card sadly things failed to go GRACELAND’S way having failed to settle off a slow gallop. She finished with a flourish but sadly it was just too late. She is such a consistent filly and hopefully we will be able to find another race for her where she will be competitive.
Graceland
On Thursday we were thrilled with the effort shown by BIG ORANGE who battled so well to win the Ascot Gold Cup. He was given a lovely ride by James Doyle who seemed to have him in the right place at the right time and thankfully remained so when the line came. It really is days like this that you work in racing for and everybody has played their part in some way or another. The boss very kindly took us all down to the local pub to celebrate the win and we all had such a lovely evening although some of us were suffering the next day! He is an amazing horse and as you will have seen from the television coverage is much loved in the yard. We are so lucky to have him.
Big Orange
We rounded off the day at Ascot on Thursday with RONALD R and it could have so nearly finished with a double on the day. When making his effort, he had to switch when failing to get a gap which the winner took two furlongs. He deserves a lot of credit for coming back as he did.
Ronald R
Also on Thursday MISS FAY was taking her chance at Chelmsford. She was slowly into stride and did not get the clearest of runs when making her effort. Switched right inside final furlong she stayed on at the same pace to finish fifth. She has taken the race well and we will come up with another plan for her.
Miss Fay
On Friday we headed to Newmarket when WINSTON C was taking his chance. He was settled towards the rear and kept galloping when asked for his effort up the stiff finish. He is a progressive sort who looks as though he will appreciate a return to further.
Winston C
At Bath AIR MINISTRY took his chance and we were hoping to get a win out of him before the July Sales. Sadly he failed to build on his fifth at the track behind the front three earlier in the month on this quicker surface when given every chance.
Air Ministry
On Saturday we started the afternoon off at Ascot with our last runner of the Royal Meeting being Highlight Reel in the Chesham. Steadied at the start he was held up at the rear of the field. He was ridden along and weakened inside the final furlong. At Newmarket we started the afternoon off with ICE DANCING who had disappointed on her last start at York. Dropped back in trip she settled much better but when asked for her effort she did not find as much. Possibly a step back up in trip and some cut in the ground would suit her better. Later on the card two time winner MERLIN was looking to make it a hat-trick of wins. He took a while to settle on the quicker surface and contested the lead. He had no answers to the winner’s late surge on his outer in the final furlong bit it was another, good, consistent effort from our horse. We rounded off the day at Haydock where Tristan Price rode his second winner on RAY’S THE MONEY. He was again slowly away, but he soon made up the lost ground. He quickened up well and when asked for his effort stayed on to win his race. It was a good effort from the horse and he looks capable of winning again.
On Tuesday we head to Beverley with ARABIAN JAZZ. She has run well on her last two starts and hopefully we have found a race that she can break her maiden tag in.
Yesterday the horses worked on the watered gallop.
Arabian Jazz (Black Hat)
Left to right – First Drive (Blue Hat) Al Sultanah and Flying Sparkle
Taurean Star
Instant Karma (Green Hat) and Batts Rock
Fabricate (Light Blue Hat)
Left to right – Becuna, Shimmering Light and Quinquereme