9th Febraury 2015
Read Mark Howard's interview on the older horses at Beckhampton.
Mark Howard works for Racing UK and is the author of Ahead On The Flat - http://mhpublications.co.uk/
OLDER HORSES
AL KAZEEM 7 b h Dubawi (
It was hugely satisfying for everyone concerned to see him perform so well last year following his aborted spell at stud. On Timeform ratings, he returned to the level he achieved the previous season, which was a tremendous achievement against all the odds. He took a lot of getting fit last year and it was great to see him win the Group 3 Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor on only his second run back. While some people were disappointed with his run in the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe, I thought he ran well because he was beaten less than six lengths by an exceptional filly. He then ran a fantastic race in the Champion Stakes at Ascot finishing a close second. He is obviously a year older now and this season will be challenging. However, I think he will prove equally as effective over a mile and a half and he may even stay further. In all likelihood, he will start off in the Group 2 Prix d’Harcourt at Longchamp (6th April) and, then all being well, he will return to France for the Prix Ganay. Then we will consider the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, a race he won a couple of years ago.
BE MY GAL 4 b f Galileo (
She enjoyed a good season winning a Listed event at Goodwood and a Group 3 race at Deauville. We are hoping she can build on that this year and hopefully follow a similar route to Thistle Bird, who improved with age. She returned slightly jarred up on her final start at Goodwood when disappointing but she is in good form at home. She stays ten furlongs but I don’t think she wants any further. The Dahlia Stakes (3rd May) is a possible starting point and there is also the Middleton Stakes (14th May) to consider. Later in the summer, there are races like the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom (5th June) and the Group 2 Kilboy Estate Stakes at the Curragh (19th July), which are other possible targets. The Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood has received a huge boost as far as prize-money is concerned and we will also have a look at that. She is suited by some cut in the ground.
CAPTAIN
He had a great season winning a valuable conditions race at Lingfield on Good Friday and Group 3 events at Salisbury and Haydock. Fifth in the QEII at Ascot on Champions Day, he slightly lost his way thereafter. He was below his best in a Listed race at Kempton and then he ran no sort of race in the Hong Kong Mile, despite travelling over well. If he had run well in Hong Kong, we planned to take him to Dubai this winter. Therefore it is a case of Plan B and probably start him off in the Sandown Mile (24th April) followed by the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. The latter has received a big boost in prize-money and the nature of the race would suit him. He looked very good when winning at Salisbury and Haydock and, on his day, I think he is capable of winning a Group 2. He is a big horse so he remains open to further improvement.
DAVID LIVINGSTON (
He joined us during the winter and has obviously shown a good level of ability over the years having won the Group 2 Beresford Stakes as a juvenile for Aidan O’Brien and then he beat Telescope in the Group 3 Rose of Lancaster Stakes as a four year old. He hasn’t raced since disappointing in Dubai over a year ago and has had plenty of time off. We haven’t made any plans but he won’t be running early on. I would imagine we will look towards Group 3 and Group 2 races and see if he retains his ability.
ELEMRAAN 4 b g Shamardal (USA) – Tadris (USA)
Previously trained in France by John Hammond, we bought him cheaply for a group of friends at the Newmarket Horses In Training Sale in October. He has only raced three times winning over a mile at Chantilly last spring. Rated in the 80s, he may be high enough in the weights but we will see if he can improve.
EQUITY RISK (USA) 5 b g Henrythenavigator (USA) – Moon’s Tune (USA)
Another new arrival, we also purchased him at the Horses In Training Sale in the Autumn. A three times winner for Kevin Ryan, he has dropped in the weights and, hopefully, a change of scenery will help.
GRANDEST 4 b g Dansili – Angara
He joined us last year to be a lead horse for Thistle Bird. Yet to run for us, due to a few problems, he needs to improve but he has only had six runs in his career. He won over seven furlongs as a two year old and was placed over ten furlongs last summer when trained by John Gosden.
HUNTSMANS CLOSE 5 b g Elusive Quality (USA) – Badminton
A cheap buy at the end of 2013, I was very pleased with him last season as he won twice, including the Ayr Silver Cup. He surprised us when winning on his reappearance at Windsor and then improved again to win at Ayr. Physically, he has improved again during the winter and, having endured a hard time as a young horse, he appears to be much happier now. He handles most types of ground and has given his owners a lot of fun. Rated 94, he isn’t far off getting into races like the Wokingham and Stewards’ Cup. We will be looking towards the good sprint handicaps.
MAJOR JACK 4 b g Kheleyf (USA) – Azeema (
A rangy horse, I hope he has more to offer. A dual winner at Lingfield and Kempton, he was progressive last season. I thought he was unlucky not to win more races because he narrowly missed out one day at Lingfield and then he was taken wide at Kempton on his final start and wasn’t beaten far. We felt he wasn’t suited by undulating tracks last season hence we kept him to the all-weather. However, he is a stronger horse this year so hopefully he will handle them better and prove equally as good on the turf. A straightforward horse, he has improved physically and, coming from the family of Al Kazeem, he should stay further than six furlongs this year.
MR GREENSPAN (USA) 4 b g Mr Greeley (USA) – In Escrow (USA)
He only joined us in mid December so we haven’t done a great deal with him. Placed behind the likes of Naadirr, Arab Spring and Yuften when trained by Richard Hannon, he is a big rangy horse with a good temperament. Provided he stays sound, he ought to progress, given his size.
QUEST FOR MORE (
A character, he is quite idle and doesn’t tend to win by wide margins. However, he has won four times during his career, including twice last season at Doncaster and Ascot. He stays well and will be aimed at the decent middle distance/staying handicaps. A race like the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting is a possibility because I think he would stay two and a half miles, if asked.
TEMPTRESS (
She was an impressive winner at Ascot on her penultimate start. Unfortunately, she suffered a setback shortly afterwards and we rushed her back for her final run at Newmarket in October. The plan was, if she ran well, we would aim her at a Listed race in the final weeks of the season. She has had a good break since and I think she will be competitive off her mark in fillies’ handicaps. I am optimistic she will improve again and I would like to think she will gain black type at some stage. Her dam won over six furlongs and she is suited by a strongly run seven furlongs or a mile. The form of her win at Ascot has worked out well with the runner-up (Felwah) winning her next two starts and the fourth (Lady Tiana) also won twice, including a Listed event at Doncaster.